.0^ o°" a * * 1 ^ %'■ .0 o » " ' '^0^ ■a5 ^ &'. \/ F ♦^ A^ • l ' • ♦ ^ CT 6 ° " * * *°o " /^v* °V ,** /Jcitev. «, .^ v ;&o < \. THE RED NECK TIES," OR HISTORY OF THE FIFTEENTH NEW YORK VOLUNTEER CAVALRY CONTAINING A Record of the Battles, Skirmishes, Marches, etc. , that the Regiment participated in from its organiza- tion in August, 1863, to the time of its discharge in August, 1865. COMPILED AND EDITED BY CMATJNOEIY S. NORTON. HI ^ 1 W)\ ITHACA, N. Y. : Journal Book and Job Printing 1 891. 7- v-^ W^) .4 „ Co-joy a Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1891, by CHAUNCEY S. NORTON, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. TO THE SURVIVING MEMBERS OF THE Fifteenth New York Volunteer Cavalry, AND TO THE FRIENDS AND RELATIVES OF THOSE WHO FELL IN BATTLE OR DIED IN REBEL PRISONS THAT THE UNION MIGHT BE PRESERVED, IS THIS VOLUME RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Authority to Raise the Regiment— Company Officers— Field and Staff— Where the Different Companies Composing the Regi- ment were Raised— Location of Camp— How the Men Passed Away Time— Cook's Coffee House— How the Boys Worked the Scheme to Get a Free Meal— Visitors in Camp. CHAPTER II. Mustered into the United States Service- Laughable Incidents- Part of the Regiment Leave for Staten Island and the Rest for Washington— Camp Stoneman— A Sightly Place— Drawing Horses and Equipments— Our First Experience on Horseback —A Cavalryman's Duties— The Russian Fleet— Inspecting Boxes Received by Express— The First Casualties. CHAPTER III. Breaking Camp— Our First Day's March— Arrival in Loudon Val- ley. Va.— Mud Ankle Deep— First Night on Picket— Mobley the Guerrilla— The First Engagement— A Retreat Ordered— Death of Capt. Morgan of the First New Vork Veteran Cav- alry—Lieut. Hampton of the 15th Badly Wounded and Taken Prisoner— Bravery of Our Men CHAPTER IV. Scouting and Foraging— The Faithful Old Darkeys-Disloyalty of the White Element— An Episode— Off for Burlington or "Mud Camp"— An Isolated Place— Companies L and M Join the Regiment— Col. Richardson Arrives and Takes Command vi TABLE OF CONTENTS. A Mounted Band— Shot on Picket— Saltpetre Works De- stroyed — Disagreeable Weather— Night Alarms — Punished for Insulting Women. CHAPTER V. Arrival at Winchester — Our Pay Increased to Sixteen Dollars a Mouth — Assigned to the Second Brigade, First Division West Virginia Cavalry— Massing of Troops— A Reconnoissance Or- dered The Skirmish at Lost River Gap — The Skirmish at Newtown — Capt. Brett of the First New York Cavalry Killed — The Noted Rebel Guerrilla Harry Gilmour Captured but Manages to Escape. CHAPTER VI. A Forward Movement— The Battle of New Market — Repulse of the Union Forces— The Gallant Stand Made by the Second Squadron of the Fifteenth— Gen. Sigel Superseded by Gen. Hunter — Another Advance Ordered — Capt. Auer Taken Pris- oner—The Battle of Piedmont— The Enemy Routed— The Af- fair at Waynesboro— The Fifteenth Hold in Check a Targe Force of the Enemy — Complimented by Gen. Duffle — The Battle of Lynchburg — Disastrous Retreat of Our Troops— A Skirmish at Salem— Hardships and Privations — Arrival at Parkersburg. CHAPTER VII. Back to the Valley Again — Lieut. Shearer Murdered — Tracks Torn Up— Engagements at Martinsburg, Snicker's Gap, Berry's Ford, Ashby's Gap, Winchester and Charlestowu — Scouting Through Maryland and up into Pennsylvania— The Inhabi- tants Treat the Men to Soft Bread and Other Luxuries— Back Again to Virginia— Mosby's Guerrillas Committing Depreda- tions—The Regiment Reduced to Seventy-five Mounted Men —Sent to Cumberland, Md., to Recruit Up. CHAPTER VIII. In Camp at Cumberland— A Beautiful Location— An Occasional Drill— Receiving Horses— Execution of a Murderer— Political TABLE OF CONTENTS. vn Excitement— The Men Discuss their Favorites for President- Casting their Votes— The Paymaster's Welcome Visit— The Fight at Green Springs Run— Death of Lieut. Hatch— Break Camp Again— Cold Weather— Distressing Accident— The Shenandoah Valley — The View From Maryland Heights. CHAPTER IX. At Winchester — The Regiment Assigned to the Second Brigade, Third Division— The Fight at Lacey Springs— Bitter Cold Weather — Hands and Feet Frozen— Christmas in Camp — Win- ter Quarters — Deserters Shot — Furloughs Given — Col. Rich- ardson Resigns— Gen. Sheridan Reviews the Cavalry— Snow Ball Fight— Sharpening Sabres— Orders Issued for a Forward Movement. CHAPTER X. The Great Raiding Column Moves — The Fight at Waynesboro— Tearing up Railroad Tracks— Skirmish at Ashland— Arrival at White House Landing— The Victory at Five Forks— The Johnnies on the Run— The Fight at Appomattox Station— The Fifteenth Captures Seventeen Pieces of Artillery — Death of Lieut. -Col. Root— The Surrender— Custer's Farewell Ad- dress. CHAPTER XL After the Surrender— Off for North Carolina — The Orders Counter- manded — The March to Washington— In Camp at Bladens- burg — The Grand Review — In Virginia Again — Consolidated with the Sixth New York Cavalry— Off for Louisville— Doing Patrol Duty— Mustered Out— En route Home— Paid Off and Disbanded. APPENDIX. The Mare Fanny— The Last Charge Made in the Army of the Po- tomac — A Prophetic Dream — A Brave Soldier— Sergeant Conkling's Bravery — The Lacey Springs Affair — In Memoriam — Died in Prison — A Thrilling Adventure— Original Muster In Roll — List of Battles and Skirmishes — Etc., etc. INTRODUCTION HE year 1863 opened dark and gloomy for the Union cause. Burnside's magnificent army had been hurled back from the heights of Fredericks- bur^ the month previous, and thousands upon thou- sands of our brave boys had been needlessly sacrificed. In the spring of 1863 Gen. Hooker took command of the Army of the Potomac, and the loyal people of the North, having confidence in him, awaited the coming shock with the expectation that victory would perch upon our banners. The battle of Chan- cellorville was fought and the gallant army was again beaten back with enormous loss. The enemy, em- boldened bv their success, now planned an invasion of the North. The term of the two years' men hav- ing expired, and the terrible losses sustained by the army in its numerous engagements necessitated the calling for more volunteers, and under that call the 15th New York Cavalry was organized and sent to the front. In the meantime another change of commanders had occurred, Gen. George C. Meade assuming com- mand. The rebel army was brought to bay at Gettys- burg, Pa., and there on the 1st, and and 3d of July, 10 INTRODUCTION. 1863, occurred one of the most desperate and san- guinary conflicts ever fought on the American contin- ent, victory finally perching on the banners of the Union army. This battle was considered the turning point of the rebellion, the high water mark, for from that time on, under the vigorous blows of Grant, Sherman and Sheridan, the structure began to decay and finally went to pieces at Appomattox Court House, Va., in the spring of 1865. The part you took in bringing about this glori- ous result is one that you and future generations can look back to with pride. Under the lead of the gal- lant Custer, who commanded the "red neck tie" division, you did your full share in crushing treason and upholding the honor of the dear old flag. Ithaca, N. Y., April, 1891. THE RED NECK TIES. CHAPTER I. .Authority to Raise the Regiment — Company Officers — Field and Staff— Where the Different Companies were Raised — Location of Camp — How They Passsed Away Time — Cook's Coffee House— How They Worked the Scheme to Get a Free Meal- Visitors in Camp. ^fHE 15th New York Volunteer Cavalry was or- \Q ganized at Syracuse, N. Y., in the summer of 1863, under the following Special Orders : General Headquarters, State of New York, Adjutant General's Office, Albany, May 29, 1863. Special Orders \ No. 251. J Authority is hereby given for the reorganization of the 1 2th regiment New York State Volunteers as a regiment of cavalry, to be known and designated as the Fifteenth Regiment of Cavalry, New York State Volunteers. The following named officers are hereby appointed : Colonel— Robert M. Richardson. Lieutenant-Colonel— Augustus I. Root. Col. Richardson will establish his headquarters at Syracuse, in the County of Onondaga, and proceed with the organization of the regiment in conformity with the provisions of General Orders No. no War Department, current series, and General Orders No. 12 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 20 from this office, together with such orders and instructions as he may from time to time receive from these headquarters. Sixty (60) days is allowed for the organization of this regi- ment, and if not completed in that time will be liable to consoli- dation. By order of the Commander-in-Chief. Signed, John T. Spraguk, Adjutant General. The regiment was raised principally in the counties of Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Oneida, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Genesee, Tompkins and Erie. The commanding officers of the different companies were as follows : Co. A— Capt. Michael Auer. Co. B— Capt. Thomas G. Putnam. Co. C— Capt. Jefferson C. Bigelow. Co. D — Capt. Orson R. Colegrove. Co. E— Capt. George M. Ellicott. Co. F — Capt. Leonard F. Hathaway. Co. G— Capt. Wallis M. Boyer. Co. H— Capt. John F. Moschell. Co. I — Capt. Joseph Herron. Co. K— Capt. John S. Hicks. Co. L— Capt. Marshall M. Lovdon. Co. M— Capt. Seth J. Steves. FIKLD AND STAFF. Colonel — Robert M. Richardson. Lt.-Col. — Augustus I. Root. Majors— Joseph H. Wood, Robert H. S. Hyde. Adjutant— Sydney Tuttle. FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 13 Quartermaster — Edward R. Trull. Surgeon — George .V. Skiff. Commissary — Courtland Clark. The men as fast as enlisted were sent to the camp of instruction located at Syracuse. The spot selected was just on the outskirts of the southern part of the city, or where is now located the old fair grounds. Many of the enlisted men were old veter- ans, having seen service under McDowell, McClellan, Pope, Burnside and Hooker. Others had never fired a gun or handled a sabre, but had become soldiers and willing - to put on a soldier's garb and battle for their country's honor. To them camp life and camp rations were a novelty. Camp discipline was not very severe. Occasion- ally a patrol would be sent out, but for what purpose no one could tell, as no passes were required to go in and out of camp. Many of the men to pass away time would seek employment in the city whereby they could earn some money. Some helped load and unload canal boats, some worked at other trades, and your historian remembers of putting in several days' work in the job room of the Syracuse Journal. Cook's l 'Coffee House" was then in all of its glory. It was situated on the spot where the Vander- bilt House now stands, and its tables fairly groaned under the weight of its toothsome dainties. It was the headquarters in those days for the privates, es- pecially about dinner time, and there was generally a 14 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. scramble to see who could get in first, and in many instances get out without paying for it. I attribute that to a trick learned during their two years' service and which they had imparted to the new recruits. The scheme was to walk into the dining rooms, sit down to the table and eat a square meal, and watch when a crowd was about to go out and mingle with them. As they were not required to pay until they came out of course there was generally a crowd around the cashier's desk, which was the opportun- ity offered for the u boys" to slide out. Nightfall would generally find them all wending their way to camp to repose upon the soft side of a plank wrapped up in their blankets, or upon the ground if the weather was favorable. The camp was visited every day by the friends and relatives of the enlisted men, who came to see how they fared and were getting along. FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 15 CHAPTER II. Mustered into the United States Service — Laughable Incidents- Part of the Regiment Leave for Staten Island and the Rest for Washington — Camp Stoneman — A Sightly Place — Draw- ing Horses and Equipments — Our First Experience o?i Horse- back — A Cavalryman' 1 's Duties— The Russian Fleet — Inspect- ing Boxes Received by Express — The First Casualties. ^tTHE companies composing the first and second \G) battalions were mustered into the United States service between August 8th and 26th, 1863, and those of the third battalion between November, 1863, and January, 1864. Some amusing incidents occurred during the muster in of some of the companies. One especially coining under the writer's notice was that of Sewell Babcock of Co. G. Babcock was quite small, and his comrades were doubtful of his passing muster. But he was full of patriotism and deter- mined to go with his company, so after being marched out to the place where the ceremony took place, and while the officers were going through the prelimina- ries, Babcock, who was in the rear rank, with the aid of some of his comrades, built a little mound of earth, covered it with grass, and stood on it. He passed. I have no doubt instances of the same nature oc- curred in other companies of the regiment. 16 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. "Fall in ; fall in," was the joyful sound heard on Saturday, August 29th, and Cos. A, B, C, and E took up their line of march from camp to the railroad station, where they boarded the cars and were off for Staten Island, their place of rendezvous, under com- mand of Lieut. -Col. Root. On Monday, September 21st, two companies of the second battalion, under command of Capt. Colegrove, left for Staten Island. On Friday, October 16th, the companies remain- ing at Syracuse boarded the cars and were transport- ed direct to Washington, arriving there on Sunday, October iStli. The following day they went out to Camp Stoneman, where they found the first battalion in camp, they having arrived there nearly a month before and had received their horses and been out on several reconnoissances. Camp Stoneman was situated on a slight knoll commanding a beautiful view of the country. Wash- ington lay to the north of us, the Potomac to the west, and the ancient city of Alexandria to the south. Although the camp was high and dry, there was quite an amount of sickness among the men, and several deaths, due no doubt to homesickness and a change of climate and diet. In due course of time the second battalion drew clothing and sabres, and drilling commenced. Before many weeks every man was an expert in the hand- ling of a sabre. Recruits continued to arrive daily, and were put through the same ordeal. On the 29th of November, 1863, they received FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 17 their horses and equipments, and then commenced the fun for them as no doubt it was for the men of the first battalion. Scarcely one out of a hundred of the men composing the regiment had ever rode a horse to any great extent while at home, and to witness their attempts to mount and go through the evolu- tions was amusing to say the least. They were first put through a course of drill bareback for several days. After becoming used to that, a blanket was o-iven them, which afforded them some relief. Next came saddles without stirrups, and the agony was in- creased tenfold. But we had enlisted to be soldiers, and must take the bitter with the sweet. Finally stirrups were put on and our troubles were over, but some of the men were nearly used up with the hard- ships endured. On the 30th of November, Co. I, Capt. Joseph Herron, was mustered in and put through the same ordeal. A cavalryman's life is not an easy one by any means. The first thing in the morning he has to feed his horse. The horse eats his grain out of a nose bag which is held on by a strap that goes over his head. While he is eating the men groom him, which usually occupies an hour. After that the men get their breakfast and then go and water their horses. Guard mounting follows, then drill ; next comes dinner, to be followed by more drilling ; then dress parade, feeding and watering horses again, supper, and in a little while to bed. On a march or a scout, 18 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. no matter how tired you are, your horse has to be taken care of when you halt for the night, whether you have anything to eat or not ; for if neglected they would soon give out and become worthless. Several patrols were sent out while we lay at Camp Stoneman, one detachment going as far as Port Tobacco, in Lower Maryland, 35 miles down the Potomac. On December nth a detachment went over into Virginia after some horses. During our stay here a Russian fleet, consisting of four men-of-war, hove in sight and anchored in the Potomac in plain view of our camp. While ly- ing there the vessels on several occasions were decked from top to bottom with flags and bunting, present- ing a beautiful sight. Thus the days passed and the holidays ap- proached. Boxes began to arrive from home contain- ing dainties that only a soldier knew how to appreci- ate. There was an order issued from headquarters that all boxes must undergo an inspection, and if any liquor was found in them it was confiscated by the "powers that was." It was amusing to see how the boys trembled for fear it would be discovered. But their injunction to those at home how to prepare a box had been obeyed, and the box would generally pass muster. Once inside the tent the soldier would throw off all restraint and a search commenced. The little "joker" sometimes would be found inside of a roll of butter, again in a roll of tobacco, or inside of a cake or a loaf of bread ; and last, but not least, FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 19 would serve as the stuffing for a chicken or turkey. Mail was sent and received from the absent ones daily. Passes were granted quite often to the men who wished to visit the capital. Four inches of snow fell on the 9th of January, 1864, which made the men think of their northern homes. The first casualty in the regiment was that of private Augustus Holburton, who was shot and killed by guerrillas about the 1st of November, 1863. Private John C. Clark, of Co. H, was also killed by a stray bullet while in the act of cooking his meal. 20 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. CHAPTER III. Breaking Camp— Our First Day's March— Arrival in Loudon Valley, Va.— Mud Ankle Deep— First Night On Picket -Mob- ley the Guerrilla — The First Engagement — A Retreat Order- ed—Death of Capt. Morgan of the First New York Veteran Cavalry— Lieut. Hampton of the 15th Badly Wounded and Taken Prisoner — Bravery of Our Men — The Losses. N the 1 6th of January, 1864, the regiment broke camp and took up their line of inarch for Vir- ginia. A few dismounted men were left behind in command of Quartermaster Trull. The column passed through Washington and Georgetown and en- camped the first night at Frederick, Md. From there we went to Harper's Ferry, reaching that place on the 19th and crossing the river, encamped in Loudon Valley. The night previous to our arrival, the rebels under command of one Mobley had attacked the troops that we had relieved. Being acquainted with the country, they had surprised and taken prisoners the Union pickets and then charged their main camp, killing and wounding quite a number while lying in their tents. The members of the 15th were told of the exploits of this guerrilla leader and his men ; what he had done, and how treacherous he was, and FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 21 the detail sent out on picket that night for the first time in the enemy's country, will never forget their experience and what thoughts were conjured up. The location of our camp was far from being a favorable one, as it was situated in a ravine with the mud ankle deep. Thanks to Lieut. Hurd of Co. H who was acting Quartermaster, enough lumber was secured so that each tent was provided with a board floor. The regiment remained here for a number of days and made frequent scouts up the valley after Mobley and his men but never succeeded in captur- ing him, although some of the 15th were roundly abused by his mother, to whose house in the moun- tains they went one night in hopes of capturing him. Breaking camp again we recrossed the river and encamped at Halltown, Va. On January 31st, 1864, a detail left camp for several days' scout. On Feb- ruary 4th they were at Moorfield, Va., and saw a rebel wagon train ascending a mountain road. The men were eager to capture it, but Col. Mulligan, who was in command of the troops composing the expe- dition, refused to let them. The casualties on the raid were two men wounded. We were brigaded when we went to Halltown with the 21st New York, 1st New York Veterans and 22d Pennsylvania Cavalry. On Friday, February 19th, 1864, seventy-five men from the 15th New York cavalry, under com- mand of Capt. Michael Auer, and Lieuts. Hurd and Hampton ; twenty-five men from the First New York 22 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. Veteran cavalry, under command of Capt. Morgan, and fifty men from the 2 2d Pennsylvania cavalry, were sent by Gen. Hunter from Harper's Ferry to Uppersville and Front Royal to meet a detachment. Leaving at 9 p. m. under Major Cole of the 22d Penn- sylvania cavalry, they arrived at Uppersville at 2:30 o'clock the next morning, halted in a piece of woods with pickets out till early dawri, and then charged on Col. Mosby's headquarters. This was the first caval- ry work taken part in by the 15th New York cavalry, and the result was the capture of sixteen privates and three officers, besides killing several and scatter- ing the rest of the rebel raiders. The next order was "Onto Front Royal !" But the little Union force had not gone more than a mile and a half before the rapidly gathering squads of Confed- erate horsemen showed that a continued march would probably result in disaster and capture. A retreat was ordered with the nineteen prisoners placed in front under guard. Capt. Morgan was in command of the rear guard, and the force had only just re- traced their steps through Uppersville when the reb- els made a charge on the rear guard, killing Capt. Morgan and driving his men into the main column. A counter charge drove the Confederates back and the retreat was resumed. The worst was to come. The column was mov- ing down a steep icy hill between two stone walls less than three rods apart. All of the horses were smooth shod, and the retreat was slow. At the foot of the FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 23 hill was a sudden turn in the road to the right, and the rebels conceived the plan of cutting across lots, intercept the front of the column and rescue the pris- oners before the rear guard could come down the slip- pery hill road to their assistance. Capt. Auer, of the 15th, was then in command of the rear guard, and seeing the movement he ordered Lieut. B. N. Hurd, also of the 15th, to go back with a detachment of twenty men to hinder the plan, while he dashed across the field with a force to stop the rebels' ad- vance. Capt. Auer led his men across till they reached a rail fence which their horses could not vault on account of its being up hill. A hay stack just over the fence was sheltering the rebels, and be- fore a gap could be made in the fence the horses of Capt. Auer and Lieut. Hampton, of the 15th, had been shot, and Lieut. Hampton shot through the shoulder and knocked senseless by a sabre blow on the head. Deprived of its officers, the company fell back just as Lieut. Hurd with his twenty men were coming down to their aid from the top of the hill. Lieut. Hurd soon took in the situation and re- alized that he was completely cut off from the main line unless he could reach the road and join the col- umn by running the gauntlet of the icy track down the hill with the rebels firing from the walls. Some of the twenty succeeded, but .not all. "Surrender, you ," yelled the rebels, leaning over the walls with their pistols. Lieut. Hurd was one of the last to run the gauntlet, and fir- 24 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. ing his last shot as he passed the enemy, he dropped over on the side of his big black horse. The first fire pierced the horse through, and he fell mortally wounded with his rider clinging to his neck. In try- ing to extricate his feet from the stirrups, however, one of the spurs pierced the horse's flank, at which he leaped again to his feet and dashed with his rider past the enemy's line. No sooner had he reached the main body than the noble animal again sank to the ground, and died of his wounds. Capt. Auerhad obtained another horse in the meantime and was urg- ing: on the lieutenant in his race for life. Lieut. Hampton was not killed, but on regain- ing consciousness found himself in the hands of the enemy. His wounds were dressed by the rebel sur- geon, and he was treated like a gentleman while he remained with them. He had but lately joined the 15th New York Cavalry, having been transferred from the 8th New York Cavalry. While serving in the latter regiment he was also taken prisoner and was confined four months. The casualties of the Fifteenth were six men wounded and captured. The rebel loss was several killed and wounded, besides the nineteen prisoners captured and brought safely into camp. Sergeant Hatch, of Co. A, (who was afterward killed at Green Springs Run), was very conspicuous for bravery in this action. FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 25 CHAPTER IV. Scouting and Foraging— The Faithful Old Darkeys— Disloyalty of the White Element— An Episode— Off for Burlington or "Mud Camp"— An Isolated Place— Companies L and M Joins the Regiment Col. Richardson Arrives and Takes Command —A Mounted Band —Shot on Picket— Saltpetre Works De- stroyed—Disagreeable Weather— Nigh t A la rms —Pu n i shed for Insulting Women. OCOUTING and foraging expeditions were theal- ($F) most daily occupations of the regiment while ly- ing at Halltown. The inhabitants of the Shen- andoah valley were intensely disloyal and showed their hate in a variety of ways towards the Union soldiers. Charlestown, the hot-bed of secession in the valley, was visited several times, the citizens showing their spite by keeping in doors and peeking out through closed blinds, while the boys retaliated by singing "John Brown's Body." The court house at Charles- town was an object of interest, it being the place where John Brown was tried and condemned. No little amusement was occasioned while out foraging, by the pitiful wail of the inmates of the houses that you 'uns had taken everything and Jhad left them nothing to eat. But the faithful old dark- eys with a comical wink would pilot the boys to a 26 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. hay or straw stack or a mound of earth, which being torn down or uncovered would disclose a quantity of bacon and hams, and the wagons would return to camp at night well laden with the necessaries of life, while across the pommel of the saddles might be seen dangling many a fowl. One day while the regiment was marching along the turnpike, returning to camp from one of their frequent scouts, a member of the regiment, whose haversack was empty and whose hunger must be ap- peased, entered a house whose only occupant was a lady, and accosted her thus : "Madam, can I get anything to eat here ?" "No, sir, your folks have taken everything I have." "What do you live on ?" In the meantime the soldier's eyes had not been idle, and he espied a cupboard in one corner of the room. Addressing the woman again, he said : il Well, I must have something to eat, so I will just look around and see what I can find." Advancing towards the cupboard, the woman halted him with the remark that she might possibly find him something, and opening the cupboard door she took out a nice piece of boiled ham and half a loaf of bread, and handed them to him. The soldier politely thanked her and rejoined his regiment. February 24th. — A detail of about 200 men left camp early on a scout. They were gone all day, catching here and there a glimpse of small squads of FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 27 rebels, but their horses were too fleet for us, and they managed to keep out of harm's way. On returning to camp at night they found it deserted, the rest of the regiment having left for Burlington, West Va., and the rest of the brigade sent to other places. It being late, and men and horses tired out, they unsaddled and concluded to remain all night, being served with hot coffee by the members of the 21st New York Cav- alry who were encamped near by. February 25th.— Got an early start and overtook the balance of the regiment. February 26th.— Arrived at Romney and en- camped all night, a number of the boys taking up their quarters in the court house and some staying in private houses where they regaled themselves on hoe- cake and bacon served up to them by those ever faith- ful friends of the soldiers, the negroes. February 27th.— Reached Burlington and went into camp ; and what a place for a camp. It was appropriately named k 'Camp Mud." It was situated between two high hills, the ravine being not over 75 to 100 feet wide, and when the tents were pitched there was not much spare room left. Why we were sent there is a problem not yet solved. One single regiment in the enemy's country, some 40 or 50 miles from any other command. Some one blundered, but as it was, the Johnnies did not molest us much. February 28th.— Companies L and M joined the regiment. 28 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. February 29th. — A scouting party of 300 started out. March 1st. — Snowed and rained all day. The camp in a horrible condition as regards mud and slush. March 2d. — A detail started off on a scout to- wards Petersburg. March 3d. — After an early breakfast boots and saddles sounded, the inarch was resumed, and soon afterwards the picket fires of the rebels were seen but no enemy encountered. Passed through Peters- burg during the day and went into camp beyond the town for the night. March 4th. — The scouting party returned to camp. March 10th. — Boots and saddles sounded three times at night. Co. K put under arrest for causing a disturbance. March 12th. — A scouting party sent out to Moor- field. March 13th. — Colonel Richardson arrives and as- sumes command of the regiment for the first time since we left Syracuse. A novelty to be seen in camp is a brass band mounted. The members com- posing it were taken from the different companies, and after a little practice rendered some excellent music. March 15th. — The weather becomes quite cold. March 22d. — Another detail started off on a scout at 3 A. M. They proceeded as far as Franklin FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 29 and destroyed the saltpetre works located there. The column was gone several days and endured many hardships as the weather was very disagreeable. They captured a jackass battery but lost it on their return trip while coining down the mountain side. March 25th.— At ten o'clock at night picket firing was heard, boots and saddles sounded, and the camp was in a state of excitement for a few minutes. The men were finally dismissed with the injunction to sleep on their arms all night to be ready for any emergency. March 30th. — Three inches of snow fell. April 8th. — The regiment was ordered out dis- mounted and they were inarched to the vicinity of the guard house and formed in a hollow square. Several members of the regiment, who had been ar- rested for insulting women, were then brought out and underwent the humiliating operation of having their heads shaved. April 10th. — Another scouting party sent out to the vicinity of Moorfield. Scouting seemed to be the chief occupation of the regiment and served in a measure to keep them out of mischief. The paymaster was a welcome visitor while we lay in camp at Burlington. Some of the regiment were off on a scout when he arrived, and on their re- turn had to take up with what sort of money he had left. One man was paid off entirely in "shinplasters" in small denominations, and he had a wad nearly as big as a roll of wall paper lugging off to his tent. 30 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. April 17th. — Thomas Emily, of Co. G, while out on picket was shot through the wrist by a bush- whacker, and subsequently died from the effects of the wound. All of the inhabitants in the vicinity of the camp would profess to be staunch Unionists dur- ing the day, but as soon as night came they would sneak up to the pickets and shoot them down in cold blood. April 19th. — Called up at 3 A. m., as an attack on the camp was momentarily expected. April 20th. — Boots and saddles again sounded at 4 A. M., and the men stood to their horses anxiously awaiting events. There being no cause for the alarm they were ordered back to their tents, but cau- tioned to be on the alert. April 23d. — Orders were received to pack up and be ready to leave at a moment's notice. April 24th. — The regiment left camp at 10 A. m., traveled all day and went into camp at Frankfort. April 25th. — Resumed the march and went as far as Springfield and went into camp. Laid here for several days, being joined by several other regiments. April 29th. — Everything packed up ready for a move. The dismounted men sent to the rear. The regiment left camp and reached Romney at 5 A. M. on the morning of April 30th. FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 31 CHAPTER V. Arrival at Win Chester- Our Pay Increased to Sixteen Dollars a Month- Assigned to the Second Brigade, First Division, West Virginia Cavalry— Massing of Troops— A Reconnoisance Ordered— The Skirmish at Lost River Gap -The Skirmish at Newtozvn—Capt. Brett of the First New York Cavalry Killed - The Noted Rebel Guerrilla Harry Gilmour Captured but Manages to Escape. ^\N Saturday, May ist, 1864, the regiment reached Winchester, arriving there about 7 p. m. , and going into camp on Senator Mason's plantation. The government to-day increased the pay of her sol- diers to $16 a month. Our brigade at this time was known as the Second Brigade, First Division, West Virginia Cavalry. The division was commanded by Brigadier-General Duffie and the brigade by Col. Wynkoop, and consisted of the 15th New York and 20th and 22d Pennsylvania Cavalry. May 2d. — The troops in the vicinity of Winches- ter were reviewed by Gen. Stahl. They comprised infantry, cavalry and artillery to the number of 15,000 or more, under command of Gen. Sigel. The caval- ry were kept busy scouting in various directions, and everything betokened a movement against the enemy. May 6th. — A detail of 200 men from the 15th New York cavalry under the command of Lieut. -Col. 32 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. Root, Capts. Hathaway and Bigelow, and Lieuts. Hurd and Ruliffson, together with a battalion of the 22d Pennsylvania cavalry, all under command of Col. Jacob Higgins of the 22d Pennsylvania, were order- ed to make a reconnoisance in the direction of Moor- field and left camp that evening. As they were par- ticipants in some exciting scenes your historian thought it might be of interest to give an account of their jouineyings. They arrived at Moorfield on Saturday evening, May 8th, losing one man on the way, and drove the rebels out of the place and encamped there for the nio-ht. On the morning of the ioth they broke camp and resumed their march. Nothing of importance occurred until about 10 A. m. when the enemy's cav- alry were discovered and the 2 2d Pennsylvania, who were in advance, immediately charged them and they retreated into a mountain pass hotly pursued by our men. This was just what the Johnnies wanted, for they had led us into an ambush. They had artillery and infantry posted in the gap, and no sooner had our men entered it than they opened a destructive fire, but luckily not doing much damage. Our boys were compelled to retreat, the enemy closely pursu- ing in overwhelming numbers. A running fight was kept up to and beyond Romney when the pursuit was abandoned. This affair was known as Lost River Gap. The loss to the detachment of the 15th was eight. The detachment brought up at Cumberland, Md., FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 33 and thence proceeded to Green Spring- Run, and after remaining there a day or two took up their line of march for Martinsburg at which place they went into camp. On the 24th of May what was left of the detach- ment of the 15th New York, together with a small remnant of the 21st New York Cavalry and a few infantrymen, in all about 125 men under command of Lieut. -Col. Root, left Martinsburg for the front in charge of twelve or fifteen wagons loaded with hos- pital supplies. Capt. Brett of the 1st New. York cav- alry was one of the party on his way to join his regi- ment. The command halted for the night within a mile or so of Winchester. The next morning the march was resumed. Passing through Winchester safely they soon reached Newtown without any signs of the enemy being seen. Continuing their march they had not proceeded far when shots were heard in the rear. Lieut. Hurd of the 15th who was in com- mand of the advance guard immediately led his men back to the town and found the wagon train in posses- sion of the enemy and the rear guard scattered. He immediately ordered a charge which served to hold the rebels'in check. At the first onslaught of the enemy Capt. Brett was killed and Lieut. Ruliffson received a clip over the head with a sabre. The rebel force outnumbering our troops, the command fell back about a mile when they encountered a Union force consisting of a regiment of infantry on their way to Martinsburg. The situation was quickly explained 34 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. to the colonel of the regiment who urged forward his men, and on arriving at Newtown a charge was made which ended in the complete rout of the enemy, the recapture of the train, and the recovery of the body of Capt. Brett. During the charge L,ieut. Hurd captured the noted guerrilla, Harry Gilmour, but he managed to escape during the melee. Several of the 15th were taken prisoners, among them being Sam- uel Webber of Co. Land George Sturdevant of Co. I, who subsequently died at Andersonville. The com- mand retraced their steps to Martinsburg and in the course of a few days again started for the front, rejoining the regiment on the night of June 5th. In this affair the 15th lost sixteen in wounded and missinof. FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 35 CHAPTER VI. A Forward Movement— The Battle of New Market Repulse of the Union Forces— The Gallant Stand made by the Second Squadron of the Fifteenth— Gen. Sigel Superseded by Gen. Hunter— Another Advance Ordered— Capt. Auer Taken Pris- oner—The Battle of Piedmont— The Enemy Routed— The Af- fair at Waynesboro— The Fifteenth Hold in Check a Large Force of the Enemy— Complimented by Gen. Duffle— The Bat- tle of Lynchburg— Disastrous Retreat of Our Forces— A Skir- mish at Salem— Hardships and Privations— Arrival at Park- ers burg. y^TO return to the operations of the main army. On \£J the 9th of May another forward movement was made and the army went into camp the first night on the banks of Cedar Creek. Companies A, C, and D, were detailed for picket duty at Front Royal. May nth. — Resuming the march, Woodstock was reached where the troops went into camp and remain- ed there several days. The weather was very disa- greeable, and to make matters worse rations and for- age were scarce. May 12th. — A detail of the 15th was sent out in the direction of Front Royal on a reconnoisance. May 14th. — Capt. Auer with a detachment of the 15th left camp and proceeded in the direction of New Market. They soon became engaged with the 36 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. enemy's pickets, but not wishing to bring on a gen- eral engagement they returned to camp. On the morning of the 15th boots and saddles was sounded at an early hour, and the army moved out with drums beating and flags flying. The ad- vance guard soon came upon the enemy's pickets who slowly retired disclosing to view a large force of reb- els. The troops were quickly formed in line, artillery was brought up, and the battle of New Market open- ed. The contest raged furiously nearly all day, nei- ther side gaining any decided advantage, when for some unaccountable reason our forces were obliged to retreat with a loss of nearly 1,000 in killed, wounded and missing. The second squadron of the 15th made a gallant stand at Rude's Hill during the retreat, but being overpowered were forced to give way. They made for the bridge crossing the river amid a perfect show- er of shot and shell. No sooner had the last man crossed over the structure than the engineers applied the torch to prevent further pursuit. The 15th lost in wounded and missing 21. The retreat was kept up all night, the 15th act- ing as rearguard, until Strasburg was reached, where the weary troops halted and went into camp. Gen. Sigel was soon afterward relieved and Gen. Hunter took command. He found the army some- what demoralized from their recent defeat and sadly deficient in shoes and arms. He immediately pro- ceeded to reorganize his forces for another forward FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 37 movement. Reinforcements were constantly arriv- ing and soon he had an army of from 12,000 to 15,000 men. The weather at this time was beautiful, and the men soon regained their wonted cheerfulness and were ready and eager to try conclusions with the foe again. Rations were very scarce and foraging par- ties were sent out in every direction to scour the country, but they invariably returned empty handed, as the ground had been pretty well gone over by the two opposing armies. May 19th. — A detail of thirty men from the 15th were sent to guard a wagon train to Martinsburg, and a detail sent to Front Royal on picket. While there Mosby's guerrillas swooped down on them on the 22d and succeeded in capturing Capt. Auer and carrying him off a prisoner, together with eleven men, principally from Co. D, and forty-five horses. May 26th. — Another forward movement made by the army. Encamped for the night at Woodstock. May 29th. — Arrived at Mt. Jackson at 2 P. M. Our Brigade acted as flankers to-day. June 2d. — Left camp at an early hour, passing through New Market, the scene of our late disaster, and took the road to Harrisonburg, encamping at night near that place. We laid here until the morn- ing of .the 4th, when we crossed the river at Port Re- public on pontoons. The bugler of Co. E drowned while fording the river. Captured part of a rebel wagon train and burned a woolen factory. On the morning of June 5th the rebels, under 38 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. command of Gen. Jones, were encountered in force at a place called Piedmont, when a general engage- ment took place, which resulted in the complete rout of the enemy. Their loss was about 500 killed, (among whom was Gen. Jones), 1,500 wounded, about 1,000 taken prisoners, besides several pieces of artillery captured. Our loss was about 800 killed and wounded. It was a glorious victory and served in a measure to wipe out the disgrace of New Market. June 6th. — The army moved out early in pursuit of the rebels, who continued to fall back as we ad- vanced. Took possession of Staunton in the after- noon. June 7th. — At 10 A. m. the 15th was sent off in the direction of Buffalo Gap, encountering the forces of Gen. Averill and Crook who had been operating in southwestern Virginia. Returned at night to Staunton and went into camp. Capt. Moschell and three of his men taken prisoners. June 8th. — Troops engaged all day in destroying railroad property. June 10th. — Boots and saddles rang out early, and the cavalry division, under command of Gen. Duffle, started off on a reconnoisance. Col. Richard- son was ordered by Gen. Duffle to take his regiment and hasten with all possible speed to Waynesboro as if intending to go through the gap as the vanguard of an army, and at all hazards prevent the enemy from following up our army and attacking it in the rear, and if it became necessary to engage the enemy FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 39 even if he knew it to be a desperate and hopeless fight. The regiment, numbering about 300 men, fell out of line and started at once on its mission. The surface of the country was rolling and we found heavy hills on our way. Several squads of the enemy were encountered on our march concealed behind barricades who kept up a lively fusilade on the ad- vance guard, but they succeeded finally in clearing the route. Arriving in front of the town we discovered the enemy. A force of about seventy-five men were thrown out on the skirmish line, dismounted, and their horses left behind with the main body of the regiment. The skirmish line occupied a ridge in plain view of the town and also the enemy, but the reserves could not be seen from the town nor by the enemy, being concealed behind a ridge. A sharp fusilade was kept up between the opposing forces for several hours, the enemy occasionally sending their compliments in solid shot. A number of the regi- ment had already been wounded and the officers begged the colonel to order a charge, he assuring them he would do so when the proper time arrived. The situation was becoming exceedingly critical. The enemy outnumbered us six to one, and if they chose could have soon annihilated the little band confronting them, or compelled them to flee for their lives. But so long as the enemy made no move to advance the boys held their ground. Suddenly a 40 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. commotion was discovered in the enemy's camp, and it was seen that they were retreating through the gap in great haste, having learned that the main body of our army would soon be in their rear. The object of the recounoissance having been ac- complished the regiment retreated and soon regained the main road, and after some seven or eight hours of constant marching rejoined the division encamped on the other side of the mountain. Although it was after midnight when the regiment reached camp Gen. Duffie was awakened and acquainted of our safe ar- rival and of the work performed. His joy knew no bounds, for he told the colonel he never expected to see the regiment again. He complimented the of- ficers and men in glowing terms, and ever afterwards exhibited a marked partiality for the regiment. Nineteen of the regiment were reported wounded and missing in this affray. Iyieut. Ruliffson's horse was severely wounded in the jaw. June nth. — In the saddle all day and at night encamped on the banks of the river near Ty Mills. Sergeant Putney of Co. F killed by our own pickets. June 1 2th. — Made another march of over twenty miles and encamped at a place called White's Gap for the night. Three men of the regiment were wound- ed during the day. June 13th. — Gen. Hunter's forces occupied Lex- ington, at which place our division joined him. June 14th. — Another hard day's inarch. The FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 41 weather being extremely hot, men and horses suffer- ed intensely. Reached Buchanan late at night. June 15th. — Forded the river at an early hour, ascended the mountain, and at midnight encamped on its highest summit, called Otter Peak. The scenery at daylight was magnificent. June 16th. — Left camp early and after a fatigu- ing march under a broiling sun, encamped for the night about five miles beyond Liberty. Heavy firing heard in the direction of Lynchburg. June 17th. — Resumed the march in the direction of Lynchburg. Nearing that place we encountered the rebels who seemed disposed to dispute our further progress, but we held our ground and concluded to stay there all night. June 1 8th. — The battle of Lynchburg, Va., was fought. The Union forces were commanded by Gen. Hunter and the rebels by Gen. McCausland, who were strongly intrenched. Several assaults were made by our troops but they were repulsed in every instance. The enemy receiving heavy reinforce- ments during the day from Richmond our forces were obliged to retreat and they fell back to Liberty. The Union loss was about 1,000 in killed, wounded and missing. The rebel loss was much less, the}' being protected behind intrenchments. The 15th came in for their full share of glory, losing 32 in killed, wounded and missing. Our position was on the left of the line. June 19th. — The retreat was kept up during the 42 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. day, the Fifteenth acting as rear guard. Finding es_ cape down the valley cut off there was no alternative for the army but to make its way across the moun- tains and so on in the direction of Parkersburg. The men were in the saddle all day and all night, when about daylight a halt was called to allow the men and horses to obtain a little rest. Rations had now begun to grow scarce with no prospects of obtaining any more just then. June 20th. — Still on the retreat with the 15th acting as rearguard to the wagon train. Another all night march. June 21st. — Reached a place called Salem where a brief halt was made, but the rebels making things too lively the retreat was resumed, the rear guard con- tinually skirmishing with the enemy. A few miles beyond Salem it became necessary to abandon eight pieces of artillery and also destroy a large quantity of ammunition. Another siege of it ail night and on the morning of the 22d the command reached a place called Fin castle, which was found to be in pos- session of Major Hyde of the 15th who had gone on ahead with a squadron of cavalry. June 23. — The different squadrons of the 15th having been separated for a few days past were at last reunited and passing through Fincastle, encamp- ed for the night at Sweet Sulphur Springs. June 24th. — Lay at this place all day unmolested and at 6 P. M. took up the line of march, traveling all night. FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 43 June 25th.— Arriving at Lewisburg, Gen. Hunter's forces divided. The infantry go to Martinsburg, Averill and Crook to Beverly, and Duffle's forces, in which the 15th are, go to Charleston. June 26th. — At 5 p. m. boots and saddles sounded and the weary column was off again. A halt was called at midnight as human endurance was at its limit. Rations and forage, there were none to speak of. Roots and berries was the chief subsistence of the men. June 27th. — Daylight found us in the saddle again plodding our weary way over the mountains. Haifa day's rations of coffee and sugar were issued to the command, the first since June 14th. June 28th. — After drawing two day's rations of hard tack the march was resumed at 6 A. m., and after traveling all day arrived in the vicinity of Gauley Bridge and went into camp. June 29th. — No marching to-day. What few men and horses were left were completely played out. Nothing worthy of note transpired. June 30th. — Broke camp, forded the river, and went into camp at a place called Loup Creek. July 1st. — Off again, and at 2 p. m. reached the headwaters of . navigation on the Kanawha river. What a relief, and what a shout went up, knowing for a certainty that we were out of the wilderness. July 2d. — Broke camp at 6 A. M. and arrived at Charleston in the afternoon and lay here during the 3d. The dismounted men were sent off to the dis- 44 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. mounted camp. The men were gladdened by re- ceiving their mail, the first they had received since leaving Staunton. July 4th. — Independence Day but no celebration for us. Left Charleston for Parkersburg at 2 p. m., acting as an escort to the artillery. Traveled fifteen miles before we went into camp. July 5th. — After a march of twenty-five miles to- day we encamped at Ripley Creek. July 6th — Resumed the march and at sundown of July 7th reached Parkersburg where we were kept busy all night loading the horses on the cars for a run down the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. FIFTEENTH NEW Vo?" CAVALRY. 45 CHAPTER VII. Back to the Valley Again—Lieut. Shearer Murdered— Tracks Tom I T p— Engagements at Martinsburg, Snicker's Cap, Ber- ry's Ford, Ashby's Gap, Winchester and Charleston u Scouting Through Maryland and up into Pennsylvania— The Inhabitants Treat The Men to Soft II read and other Luxuries — flack Again to Virginia— Mosby's Guerrillas Committing Depredations— The Regiment Reduced to Seventy- Tree Mount- ed Men— Sent to Cumberland, Md., to Recruit Up. WHILE en route to Cumberland, Md., on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, (July 8th), Lieut. Shearer, of Co. B was brutally murdered by one of his own company. Arrived at Cumberland at daylight on July 9th and turned over the murderer to the Provost Marshal. The train then proceeded on its way, but on arriving at Cherry Run could go no farther as the tracks had been torn up by the rebels. The horses were unloaded and were found to be more dead than alive after their close confinement. After a brief rest boots and saddles was sounded at 10 P. m. and the regiment started off for an all night march. Passed through Hedgesville at daylight on the roth and took the road leading to Marti nsburg. The effec- tive strength of the regiment at this time was 125 men. 46 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. On nearing Martinsburg Col. Richardson detail- ed Lieut. Hurd and a half dozen men to make a re- connoissance and discover whether the town was in possession of the rebels or not. Leaving the main road they managed by following up ravines and along- side of hedge fences to gain a point near the main street without being discovered. The squad imme- diately charged down the street and discovering a number of Johnnies skedaddling out of the houses pursued them and succeeded in capturing seven of them. The balance of the command having arrived, and learning that the rebels were encamped in force just west of the town, Colonel Richardson decided that discretion was the better part of valor and with- drew a few miles farther back, having obtained all the information necessary. Early the next morning, July nth, the command again advanced on Martinsburg and succeeded in scooping in a few more of the enemy. One of them was audacious enough to try conclusions with Lieut. Hurd, but the latter not wishing to die yet gave the rebel a dose that required the immediate aid of a surgeon and a few days later that of an undertaker. The lieutenant (who afterwards became a captain) in referring to this episode modestly avers that it was the only rebel he was positively sure of killing dur- ing the war. The command went into camp on a Mr. Faulkner's estate and remained there for several days doing picket duty and scouting. During the day Col. Richardson was placed under arrest by order FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 47 of Gen. Sullivan on a trivial charge, but Gen. Duffie learning- of it speedily had him released by order of Gen. Hunter, and Gen. Sullivan himself sent to the rear. July 14th. — The regiment moved to Bolivar Heights and on the 15th crossed the river at Harper's Ferry and went to Sandy Hook. Drew rations, cross- ed the river again at Berlin and went into camp at Hillsborough, Loudon county, Va. July 1 6th. — The regiment acted as advance guard for a brigade of infantry during the day and night following, and at daylight on the morning of the 17th halted for a brief rest. At 10 a.m., the march was resumed. x\t Snicker's Gap we had a little skirmish with the Johnnies losing four men. As it was impossible to ford the river here the command fell back a short distance and bivouacked for the night. July [8th. — Off in the direction of Ashby's Gap. As the column went through the Gap and down to the river the artillery was in the road, the 15th New York Cavalry on the right of the road inarching pla- toon front, and the 20th Pennsylvania Cavalry was on the left of the road, inarching in the same order. The column had nearly reached the ford when the rebels on the opposite side of the river opened up with grape and canister. The 20th Pennsylvania scattered like sheep and ran back up the hill, and did not show up again. The two advance companies of the 15th (F and H), were ordered to cross the road and take up a position that should have been held by 48 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. the runaways. In doing so several of Co. H's men were wounded, as was also Lieut. Phillips. They held the position until the next morning before they were recalled, only to find out that orders had been given the day before to an officer of the 20th Penn- sylvania to relieve the 15th, but his excuse was that it was too hot down there for him. Lieut. Hurd, in the presence of Gen. Duffie and staff and the rest of the 20th Pennsylvania, called the said officer a "cow- ardly s — n of a b — h." Said officer was cashiered and dismissed from the service shortly afterwards. The total casualties of the 15th were sixteen men wound- ed and missing. July 19th. — The command resumed its march and attempted to cross the river at Berry's Ford, but found it impossible on account of the vigorous oppo- sition of the enemy. Acting Lieut. Hatch was wounded during the day. The regiment was out on picket all night. July 20th. — Relieved from picket by the 21st New York Cavalry and fell back to Paris, where we encamped all night, and on the 21st moved to Snick- er's Gap and so on to Winchester, which place we reached on the 22d. Ambulances were sent back to Berry's Ford under an escort of the 15th in command of Capt. A. O. Skiff to bring in the wounded in the affair of July 19th. July 23d. — A small skirmish took place near Winchester, but the 15th being off on the right of the army took no active part in it. FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 49 On Sunday, July 24th, the rebel forces under Gen. Early moved down upon our army, composed of Gens. Crook and Averill's cavalry and a small force of infantry, and made a furious onslaught on our po- sition. Our troops fought bravely, but being largely outnumbered were compelled to retreat with a loss of 1,200 killed, wounded and missing. The brave Col. Mulligan of the Union army was killed during the day. The retreat was kept up all night, the enemy closely pursuing us, the 15th having a lively skirmish with their advance guard on the outskirts of Martins- burg. The rebels giving us no rest, we continued to fall back until Williamsport was reached, where we snatched a few hours' rest and then resumed the re- treat as far as Sheperdstown and halted for the night. Our casualties for the two days were 15 killed, wounded and missing. July 27th.— Went from Sheperdstown to Pleas- ant Valley. July 28th.— Moved again and went to the vicin- ity of Charlestown. From this time until August 2d the regiment was moving from one point to another, and at the date mentioned above found ourselves at Hagerstown, Md. From thence it moved to Clear Springs. At daylight on the morning of the 3d of August it proceeded to near Hancock, Md., where We remained until the 4th and then went back to Clear Springs. We lay there until the 6th when we sad- dled up and went to McConnellsburg. The men be- ing without rations, the loyal citizens of the place 50 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. supplied them with soft bread and other luxuries. At 3 p. m. of the 7th we were off for Hancock again, reaching there after dark and going into camp. After a couple of days' rest another move was made in the direction of Harper's Ferry. August nth. — Reveille was sounded at 4 A. m., and the march was resumed. The tow-path of the canal was taken, and after a fatiguing march reached Harper's Ferry at sundown and went into camp near Halltown. August 13th. — The regiment was again on the move. Its effective force consisted of seventy-five mounted men for duty under command of Lieut.-Col. Root and the following company officers : Capts. Hathaway and Skiff, and Lieuts. Maxwell and Cam- eron. Winchester was reached at night and on the morning of the 14th the command passed through Newtown and encamped between that place and Mid- dletown. Mosby's guerrillas were committing dep- redations in that neighborhood, having captured and burned a wagon train a few days before near Berry- ville. On the morning of the 15th the march was resumed, the command arriving at Middletown at 3 p. m., from which point the 15th were ordered back to Berryville where it remained for several days. August 1 8th. — Moved camp to Charlestown. Strict orders were issued to allow no one out of camp, as Mosby was raiding between there and Harper's Ferry destroying supply trains and gobbling up stragglers. We laid here until the 21st when we FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 51 broke camp and proceeded in the direction of Shep- herdstown, having a slight skirmish with the en- emy en route. Skirmishing was kept up the next day and we were forced to retrace our steps as the Johnnies were showing up in strong force. We reach- ed Halltown and from there went to Point of Rocks. On the 24th and 25th the regiment was maneuvering from one point to another, but it had become so reduced in numbers that active operations on its part had to cease. August 30th. — The few mounted men that re- mained and the dismounted men left camp and after several davs' march arrived at Ha H / ' ■ !'/ 1 ^,^V^%:^A% FANNY. FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 91 COMMUNICATIONS FROM COMRADES. THE LAST CHARGE MADE IN THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC ; THE LAST SHOT FIRED, AND THE LAST UNION SOLDIER WOUNDED. BY ALBERT O. SKIFF, CAPT. CO. A, I5TH N. Y. CAY. Letting my thoughts wander back o'er the cruel days of bloody war, I find that the remembrance of the 8th of April, 1865, is still written upon the tablets of my memory in characters so vivid that it has failed to become erased by the years, which since that time having winged their flight into the past, and as such reminiscences always warms up and sends rushing through our veins the sluggish blood that has been lying dormant for over twenty-four years, once more it brings to mind the time when to our ears came daily the shrill notes of the bugle, the clanking of the sabre, the rumbling of the wagon trains, the stern words of command, and lastlv the wild carnage of the battle-field. And as I have never seen it men- tioned in any account written of Lee's surrender that a number of the Union troops found their way to 92 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. Appomattox Court House, on the eve of the above named day, I now put myself on the skirmish line for the purpose of describing the event which occur- red at that time, I myself being a participant of the scene. The sun had not yet descended beneath the limits of the western horizon when Sheridan's corps reached Appomattox Station. There meeting some resistance, a charge was made that soon dispersed the rebels, who were drawn up in line to protect the depot and also the wagon trains which extended from the station to the Court House, the distance being about two miles ; and while the 15th New York Cavalry were capturing that, the rest of the com- mand were securing four immense railroad trains. Some of the teams had become so completely entan- gled as to form a barricade, and to avoid the confu- sion we were obliged to leave the road. How vividly it all comes back to me now ! I re- member I was riding beside Col. Root, and leaning- forward in my saddle to move a top rail we leaped the fence side by side. Soon after our horses regained the road we charged past wagon after wagon, cannon after cannon, and mule team after mule team ; on to- wards Appomattox, little dreaming the fate in store for us. Night had settled down wide and still. The sky- above us was completely overcast by thickly flying clouds, through which now and then a few glimmer- ing stars cast a pale and sickly radiance, causing the FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 93 darkness of earth to become denser and making- more ghastly the grey gloom of heaven. Banishing from our minds all thoughts of fear and trepidation we madly galloped on and soon dashed into the streets of Appomattox. When we reached this place the party consisted of about a dozen troopers of the 15th New York Cavalry, among which number were Col. A. I. Root and myself. In the distance we could dis- tinctly hear the heavy tramp of marching feet and the officers issuing their quick, decisive orders of command, which rang out sharp and shrill upon the chill evening air. Col. Root leading the onset, we charged immediately in front of the Court House ; there receiving a volley of rebel bullets, we were in- stantly driven backward. In a moment all was confu- sion, and after exchanging several shots we were obliged to retreat. I was just at the point of turning about when a riderless horse sprang to my side. I grasped the reins of his bridle, and as my eyes fell upon the empty saddle I realized that another true and noble life had been sacrificed at the shrine of our suffering country, and the bullet which had pierced the brave and manly heart of our gallant colonel had secured to the cruel and relentless war another ghast- ly victim. I shall never forget the scene through which we passed while making our retreat. The wagon train was completely enveloped in flames, and the boys turning themselves into teamsters, the leader of which was that gallant soldier, Sergeant Gibbs, hitched the 94 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. mules to the cannon and drew them rapidly to the rear. Leading Col. Root's horse back over the ground which his brave master had passed but a moment before, I gave him to Adjutant Mann, who was the Colonel's most intimate friend. When we informed him of our loss the tears rained down his cheeks in torrents and his manly frame shook with heartfelt sobs, for he realized, as did the rest of us, that we had lost a friend who was both brave and noble and of whom his country might well be proud. His body, stripped of all outer garments, was found in the streets the morning after the surrender, and was conveyed to the home of a staunch Confederate lady at her own request, her womanly heart being full of reverence and respect for the gallant man whose intrepidness cost him his life. She had the body interred in her own door yard and kept his grave covered with a profusion of beautiful flowers. A year later, when his remains were conveyed to the home of his early childhood her tears fell thick and fast, for she had learned to love the grave of the man- ly hero and had taken special pride in keeping as a sacred spot the final resting place of our daring Col- onel. And as another mark of esteem and honor, attributed to his memory, a G. A. R. organization in Syracuse, N. Y., is called the "Root Post, No. 151" after the "bravest of the brave." Among other relics placed in their room is a fine painting of the colonel presented by Major Michael Auer of the 15th New York Cavalry, and in a prominent place may be seen FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 95 the well known saddle which carried Col. Root to his last charge, and who, after giving his life for his coun- try's sake, sleeps peacefully among his thousands of brave comrades who fell while "fighting for home and native land." The following extract, taken from the Elmira Morning Telegram, of March 1st, 1885, shows our position on the night of April 8th, also the exact place where Col. Root was killed. Major T. U. Wil- liams, of Lynchburg, Va., who is now a leading law- yer of that place, who had charge of the rebef skir- mish line at Lee's surrender, said : "A Federal Colonel and half a dozen soldiers did a foolhardy act. the evening before the surrender. They galloped through the town and immediately in front of Lee's headquarters. I saw their dead bod- ies the next morning lying by the roadside. It was supposed that they were intoxicated. I did know the Colonel's name but it has passed from my mem- ory." But the above narrative, written in reply to this correspondence, tends to infer that Major Williams was mistaken, and that he did the memory of a brave and gallant soldier a great injustice when he says that we were "intoxicated" and the act. was "foolhardy," for we made that charge at the command of Gen. Custer, who expected it to be obeyed. Doing as all soldiers do, we went as far as we could. But we overlook all this seeming injustice when we read the following manly explanation, written bv 96 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. Major T. U. Williams, and appearing in the Tele- gram April 1 2th, 1885 : "I have seen the letter of Capt. Albert O. Skiff in your paper of March 29th, in which he says I have done injustice to the memory of a brave and gallant soldier. In the information I gave your correspond- ent, whose letter was published March 1st, in refer- ence to the persons whose dead bodies I saw lying in the street at Appomattox Court House, I meant only to say that a little after dark, the evening before the surrender, I saw the soldiers lying in the road, one of whom I was told was a colonel, and when my in- formants told me of the daring bravery of the men, we thought they were foolhardy and perhaps intoxi- cated. I hasten to say that I am glad to be correct- ed. Far be it from me to intentionally do injustice to the gallant men who fought on the other side. It was I who proposed to the Telegram? s correspondent the toast — 'To Grant and Lee ; health for the living and respect for the dead." And now in view of the critical health of living heroes, allow me to say I, with thousands of braver and better Southern men, repeat the sentiment — 'To the health of the living and memory of the dead.' Please say to Capt. Skiff that I am sorry to have done the seeming injustice to his gallant friend, Col. Augustus I. Root. Yours truly, T. U. Williams. We will now go back to the eve of the 8th of April, 1865, where I had given the colonel's horse FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 97 into the hands of Adjutant Mann, after which our regiment retired into a piece of woods near Appomat- tox Station to rest for the night. The light from the burning wagon train enabled me to find my supper, which consisted of two or three dozen warm wheat biscuit tied up in a pillow case and abandoned by some poor Johnny Reb in his haste to escape. Hav- ing satisfied my hunger, for wheat biscuits in those days were a rarity, I looked about me and seeing the moss-covered roots of a large tree standing near by I took my horse by the bridle and lying down slept soundly until the shrill notes of the bugle told us that another day had dawned and duty urged us onward. Time can never erase from my memory the sen- sation of fear and dread which took possession of me as I mounted my horse that morning. In all my four years' experience I had known no feeling to equal this. Perhaps the sad fate of Colonel Root may have had something to do with it, but I felt as I rode out that morning that to me it was to prove an eventful day. All mortals are more or less superstitious, but the sensation which then stole over me I could not shake off. But as the stern command of our officers rang out on the morning air we knew that the move- ment was forward. Gen. Sheridan moved his whole cavalry force over the fields south of Appomattox Court House early that morning, consequently what more I have to say will be confined to the doings of the Third Division 98 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. of cavalry commanded by Gen. Geo. A. Custer. His command came up where the colored troops were ly- ing in line of battle, and a black line it was too. They opened ranks for us to pass by, crawling on their hands and knees, as a battery in our front was making it uncomfortable for them. Gen. Custer ordered Col. Markell of the 8th New York cavalry, who had the advance, to deploy his regiment as skir- mishers, and then Gen. Custer and staff placed them- selves at the head of the 15th New York Cavalry, commanded by Col. John J. Coppinger, the entire division following in column of fours, at a brisk trot, straight to the front. Shells were tearing up the ground all about us at the time and the tumult be- came deafening. Suddenly Gen. Custer obliqued to the right and dashed forward at a gallop, soon turn- ing down a road into which we charged in column. Continuing down this road for a short distance we took to the fields again and came up in rear of the rebel army. We were just on the point of charging into the enemy when Col. Markell came dashing up to us with a bare headed rebel major, who carried in his hands a white towel. Instantly all tumult and confusion was hushed ; there was not a shot to be heard, while cheer after cheer resounded all along the lines. The charge our cavalry was about to make was arrested and we stood awaiting orders. It has always been my opinion, by what transpir- ed at that time, that Gen. Custer took the rebel and flag of truce to his superior officer, as during the time FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 99 we were waiting he was not with his staff at the head of his division. But E. W. Whittiker, lieutenant- colonel of the ist Connecticut Cavalry, then acting Assistant Inspector General of the Third Cavalry Division, in a letter written to the New York Times, makes the matter perfectly plain. He says : "Upon receiving the flag of truce Custer instant- ly halted and turning to me by his side said : 'Go with this officer and say to Gen. Lee that I cannot stop this charge unless he announces an uncondition- al surrender.' On returning to Gen. Custer I learned that Confederate cavalry had been trying to charge through our lines on the right but had not succeeded. ' ' When we saw the flag of truce, as above stated, we immediately came to a dead halt, and cheer answered cheer from one end of the line to the other. After remaining in this position about ten minutes the 8th New York Cavalry, who were still ont as skirmishers, were driven back upon us. The 15th New York Cavalry instantly made a charge led by Col. Coppinger and a part of Custer's staff, your hum- ble servant commanding the first squadron at the head of his regiment. Those of the enemy that escaped onr fire went back, for our bullets flew a doz- en to their one; but during the charge a rebel ball struck me on the right jaw, passed downward through my neck, emerging therefrom in the vicinity of my jugular vein and trachea. I immediately reined up my horse and turned him about. Just at that mo- ment Gen. Custer dashed past me, and close behind 100 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. him came his bugler sounding the recall, and at a short distance the flag of truce again appeared in sight, probably carried by Col. Whittiker on his re- turn from an interview with the enemy. I made at once to the rear and every step I took cheer upon cheer, arising from hundreds of thankful hearts, was all that could be heard. Not a single shot sounded along the line ; the wild tumult of cannon and shell, which had hitherto been the prominent feature of the day, had ceased, and only the thousands of voices which now rose clear and strong in one grand proc- lamation of joy, broke the stillness which suddenly reigned over friend and foe. I write this as I saw it, and as others of the Third Division witnessed it, and if the brave boy gen- eral, or those of his gallant staff that led with Col. Coppinger at that time were alive to-day they could certify to the truth of my statement. But alas, the greater part of that brilliant staff went down to the grim gates of death with their gallant leader on the wild plains of a western prairie. A leader who could say to us in his farewell address : "You have within the last year captured one hundred and eleven pieces of field artillery, sixty-five battle-flags, ten thousand prisoners of war, including seven general officers, and never lost a gun or a color." Where among the heroes that the war produced, who had attained only to the age of twenty-six years, could you find a cham- pion or an equal ? If this should meet the eye of any of those who FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 101 made the last charge in the Army of the Potomac, and if I have in any particular misstated anything, I would be glad to be corrected. Col. Coppinger is at the present time doing active service somewhere on the frontier line, and Col. Markell, of the 8th New York Cavalry, is an honored man in the city of Roch- ester, N. Y. Now while I do not assume the honor of putting down the whole rebellion, I do claim that I was the last Union soldier wounded in the Army of the Po- tomac. A PROPHETIC DREAM. Comrade James A. Hines, of Co. H, gives the following version of a dream he had the night pre- vious to the skirmish at Lacey Springs, and how true it was verified the next morning : After I fell asleep I dreamt that we were sud- denly attacked by the enemy ; that our regiment were all dismounted ; that they tried to mount their horses, some of whom were saddled and some not ; general confusion followed, in which I lost my horse. I ran, and in my flight came across a wagon train, and some one called me by name. I went to him and found him to be the regimental surgeon hiding under the wagons, and he told me to stay with him and I would be all right. Soon after the train was sur- rounded by the enemy and one who appeared to be in command said : u Go on, boys, and give them 102 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. Yankees h — 11 ; these are ours." They left the train and I also left. I had gone but a short distance when I heard this command : "Rally for the hollow, 8th." I went to the hollow. A man rode up to me and asked me what regiment I belonged to. I told him. "Surrender, you d — d Yankee son of ab — h." I asked him what command he belonged to, and he said the 8th Virginia. He stripped me of my watch, gloves and boots and then turned me over to another man. An officer rode up and ordered him to take me to a piece of woods on the right. While going I saw a line of troops moving out from the woods. The command halt was given, and my captor was asked what regiment he belonged to. He answered : "Twenty-Second New York Cavalry." The com- mand was then given : "Don't shoot, for he is one of our men." I then awoke. Now for the reality as I saw it the next morning : I was awake before boots and saddles was sound- ed on the morning of the 2ist of December, 1864. I was very chilly. I warmed myself and then went to work to get breakfast for myself and tent-mates — H. L. Warner, W. P. Straits and Sergt. West. After the meal was finished boots and saddles sounded and we saddled up. I asked Sergt. West if I had not better make some pancakes to eat during the day, and receiving an affirmative reply went to get the frying pan off of my saddle, when I heard a shot and the enemy's bugles sounded the charge. I sprang for my horse but in the confusion he got away and I FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 103 took leg bail. I made for our ambulance train hop- ing- to get another horse. While en route I met Gen. Custer riding along through the lines giving his com- mands. I final! v reached the train and was trying to get another horse, when our doctor asked me what I was doing. I told him: He told me to crawl under the ambulance. I did so. No sooner had I hid my- self than the train was surrounded by rebels. One who appeared to be in command, said: "Boys, this train is ours ; now go and give the Yankees h — 11." They all left and then I heard the command : "Rally for the hollow, 8th." I thought the 8th New York Cavalry was going to make a stand, so I went down there in hopes of gobbling some poor devil's horse. No sooner had I reached the hollow than up rode a rebel and asked me what regiment I belonged to. I told him. He said : "Surrender you Yankee son of a b — h." He took my watch, gloves and boots, when an officer rode up and told me to go with him. He turned me over to another man and told him to take me to a piece of woods which he pointed out to him, and we started. Just before reaching the woods a regiment moved out. The command halt was given. "What regiment do you belong to?" "Twenty-second New York Cavalry," my cap- tor said. "Don't shoot boys, he is one of our men." "He lies," said I, "he has got me a prisoner." Of course the Johnny was gobbled. It proved 104 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. to be the ist Vermont Cavalry which charged down in the hollow and made the rebels get up and get. On my way back to my own regiment I fell in with Sergt. McAllen of my company. Proceeding along together we discovered Timothy Coughlin of the 15th pinned to the ground, his horse having been shot and falling on him. Having extricated him he was ask- ed if he was hurt. "No, n was his answer, "but be jasus my carbine is broke." Comrade Hines has a hard tack in his possession to-day that was issued to him on the 26th of Febru- ary, 1865. A BRAVE SOLDIER. Comrade Brill, of Co. H, had quite an experi- ence at Lacey Springs. He had not been long in this country when he enlisted, having emigrated from Germany. The only English he could speak was "Son of a b — h." He managed to mount his horse on the morning of the scrimmage, but in his haste he forgot his sabre. During the melee a rebel rode up to him and demanded his surrender. Brill replied, "Son of a b — h." For this he was whacked over the head with a sabre in the hands of the rebel. Brill succeeded in wresting the sabre from him and knocked him senseless from his horse and took him prisoner to headquarters. The Johnny proved to be a rebel major who afterwards told Gen. Custer that Brill was FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 105 too brave a man to remain in the ranks. After reach- ing Winchester Gen. Sheridan sent for Brill, and it was rumored he was sent to West Point on Sheridan's recommendation. A BRAVE SERGEANT. Sergeant Eli Conklin, of Co. G, who was cap- tured at the battle of Lost River Gap, Va., May ioth, 1864, tells a rather interesting story of his early ac- quaintanc| with the "gray coats." During the fight his horse became exhausted and Captain Hnrd order- ed him to shoot the animal and take to the woods to avoid being captured. The horse was shot but his escape was not so easily efFected, and the sergeant soon found himself a prisoner. He had just obtained before starting out on the reconnoissance a new pair of high topped cavalry boots which were much cov- eted by his newly made il friends," and their desire for possession was promptly made knowm. The blue coated, high booted and high spirited prisoner in- formed the rebel General Imboden that the first man who took those boots would have to pull them from his dead body, and he also volunteered to whip any man in the general's army who thought he could capture those boots. However the interview im- pressed the officer and the boots were not molested, but the rebels robbed him of his coat and other valu- ables. He wore the boots for two or three weeks 106 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. and then traded them off to a Confederate for a pair of good shoes and $40 of southern money as a bonus. While on his way to prison the train on which he was ran into a deep cut at Danville, Va., and stopped. Rebel hospitals were located in a field near the railroad, and soon quite a crowd gathered on the banks above to look at the Yanks and chaff them. Sergeant Conklin was sitting on top of one of the box cars on which the officer in command of the train was riding, and had taken no part in the con- versation. Suddenly he looked up into the officer's face and said : "Cap, let me go up to that fellow," meaning one who seemed to be the bully amongst the crowd. 44 All right, go ahead," said the officer. Down went Conklin off the car and up the bank he went like a cat, and as,, he reached the top he sprang clear off his feet and let the fire eater have it between the eyes. The rebel turned a double back somersault, and when he arose to his feet he made off at a 2:40 gait, amid the jeers of the crowd. Sergeant Conklin's honesty is shown by the fol- lowing transaction : The boots he had on when cap- tured he purchased of a member of his company who had received a box of them from home. The ser- geant agreed to pay for them at the next pay day, the price being $8. That was the last seen of the ser- geant until after the regiment was discharged, when one day in walked the sergeant into the office where the man was employed who sold him the boots, and FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 107 handed him the money for them. The man tried to convince him that the debt was cancelled, but he would not hear to it and insisted on his taking the money. LACEY SPRINGS. The following account of the skirmish at Lacev Springs, Va., is kindly furnished bv Capt. William F. Weller : One among the many most vivid and distinct recollections of stirring events occurred to the 15th New York Cavalry on the morning of December 21st, 1864, at a place called Lacey Springs, Va. The weather at the time was all that could be desired for stirring as well as exciting events. On this fateful morning at about 5 o'clock the regiment was called to horse amid one of the worst snow storms for that region, and under rather peculiar circumstances. Perhaps I ought to have stated how we came to be there and by whom commanded. If I recollect rio-ht the expedition was of the nature of a reconnoissance in force, consisting of Gen. Custer's division of cav- alry and a battery of artillery, with orders discretion- ary, which generally meant finding the enemy as well as feeling of him. I always thought Gen. Cus- ter had a weakness that way : that is, simply finding the enemy might satisfy belief, but feeling of him came nearer the naked truth. Well, to return to the "stirring" event of the 108 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. expedition. The 15th then brigaded with the 1st Vermont and 8th New York Cavalry (the comrade should also have said the 22d New York and 1st New Hampshire) and constituting the Second Brigade of the Third Cavalry Division, encamped in a field on the right of the pike after a long inarch the day pre- vious. The squadron, Cos. G and H, then under my command, picketed along a fence parallel with the pike and facing it. The 8th New York occupied a position along a fence at right angles with said pike and facing up the valley. Just about two minutes after the bugle sounded "to horse" in the morning, and about 5 o'clock, the well known rebel yell sounded, interspersed with fir- ing, cutting and slashing of sabres, coming down in the direction of the position held by the 8th New York, the result of which caused a momentary con- fusion in the last named regiment as they were in the act of mounting. It so happened that I had mount- ed my command a little more prompt than usual, and hearing the cyclone of horse coming down on us I at once brought carbines to an advance, but dare not command fire ; had I done so our gallant comrades of the 8th would have suffered more than the enemy, as not a man could be recognized on account of the fast falling snow and the dense fog prevailing at the time. I at once gave orders to move to a more favor- able locality. Whether the squadron moved by my orders or the more emphatic orders of the cyclone I never knew, but circumstances and the nerve, and FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 109 sinew of the "white mare" soon found me on the pike passing a regiment of the enemy's cavalry at a halt and headed in the direction of New Market or down the valley. Upon reaching the head of this column, where some sharp skirmishing took place, my horse made some of her most energetic leaps, and upon closer examination found several horses and their riders hors du combat in the road and blocking the way. At the same time not a man could be rec- ognized upon the closest inspection. I never placed much confidence in the theory of being born to luck, and even to the present time am inclined to think that the instinct of my horse led me to where the squadron had again partially reformed — not unlikely by the same horse instinct — on the opposite side of the pike, where I found Capt. Moschell who had also reformed all of the 15th that could be recognized, and many others that were not. Daylight, however, soon came and order was again restored. The enemy could be seen moving off in various directions towards the mountains. The object of the expedition having been accom- plished, we took up our line of inarch in the direc- tion of Woodstock, not without frequent skirmishing in the rear with those who hurried us into the saddle in the early morning. The march of the regiment from Lacey Springs to Woodstock, I believe to have been one of the severest of its experience, necessitat- ing the relieving of pickets every hour of the night. 110 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 3rt ITIcmoriam. The following is a sketch of the life of the late surgeon of the 15th New York Cavalry, George V. Skiff, who died while the history of the regiment was being compiled : LFrom the Pike, (Wyoming Co.) Gazette.] As briefly announced in last week's issue of the Gazette, Dr. Geo. V. Skiff died in New York City on the morning of January 28th, 1890. He was born at Pike, at that time in Alleghany county, March nth, 1836, and was therefore in the 54th year of his age. Early in life he attended the district schools of his neighborhood, and was later a student at the Rush- ford Academy. At the age of nineteen he began teaching school, which business he followed for two years until he began the study of medicine under the instruction of Dr. Isaac Minard of this village. He attended his first course of lectures at Ann Arbor, Mich., afterwards receiving his degree from the University of the city of New York. He first located at Perry, N. Y., but in a short time removed to Wiscoy. He remained at Wiscoy until 1862 when he went to the war, bearing a commission as assistant FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. m surgeon of the 12th New York Infantry. With this regiment his service was chiefly before Fredericks- burg under Generals Hooker and Burnside. Upon the expiration of the two years' term of enlistment of this regiment, he, with others of the officers, went to Syracuse and organized the 15th New York Caval- ry, of which he was commissioned surgeon. This regiment was assigned to the Third Cavalry Division, then under command of Gen. Custer. His service with the 15th Cavalry was in the Shenandoah Valley under Gens. Sigel, Hunter and Sheridan. At the close of the war he was division surgeon of the Third Division of Cavalry on the staff of Gen. Wells. The regiment was mustered out of service in August, 1865. After a brief rest at home he went to New York City and established himself in the prac- tice of his profession, remaining there until his death. Dr. Skiff's well earned popularity as an army surgeon had preceded him, and immediately after opening an office in the city he became associated with the leading physicians and surgeons. He was placed in charge of the Eastern Dispensary, one of the large medical charities of the metropolis. He held this position to the entire satisfaction of the city until his increasing private practice necessitated his resignation of it. His acknowledged success won him many patrons both within and beyond the limits of the city. He was an active and useful member of the lead- ing medical societies of New York, and of various 112 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. social organizations in the part of the city where he resided. He was also prominent in the Grand Army of the Republic and in several other secret societies. Dr. Skiff was noted for his devotion to his pro- fession and its duties, and for his earnest, patient at- tention to those who committed themselves to his care. He was always a close student, and believed that the experience and studies of each day should prepare him for a more intelligent and successful performance of the duties of the morrow. Socially he was genial and attractive, and was always a wel- come guest in the best families in any community where he lived. Religiously, he made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ in early life. Remembering this early choice of the Lord he sought to be faithful in this highest vocation, as in all his other duties. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth." The funeral services were held Thursday after- noon, January 30th, 1890, at the residence of his father, M. P. Skiff, conducted by the Rev. H. T. Chadsey, assisted by Rev. S. Hough. The interment was at the beautiful cemetery at East Koy. FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 113 A THRILLING ADVENTURE. COMRADE HAVIEAND'S NARROW ESCAPE FROM HANGING — HIS CONFINEMENT AT ANDERSONVIELE AND OTHER PEACES, AND HIS ESCAPE. Some time the latter part of May, 1864, while on detached service as scout at headquarters Army of the Shenandoah, myself and a comrade were ordered to go across the mountains from Mt. Jackson toward Orkney Springs and reconnoiter the country to find out if there was any force of the enemy in that direc- tion. We did as directed, and while we were return- ing overtook a mail carrier with his sack of mail <>o- ing to Harrisonburg. We rode along in company until we came to where his road turned off, and we then persuaded him to accompany us, as we told him, to Imboden's camp. We rode on until we were within about five miles of Mt. Jackson and had met with a guard to a forage train, when feeling perfectly safe we stopped at a house for dinner, hitching our horses in the yard. Our host took his own time about preparing din- ner and while we were waiting a squad of our own men stopped for water and would have taken us all 114 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. prisoners, but they knew my comrade to be one of the scouts, as he wore his hair very long, curling down his back in natural ringlets. Poor fellow, it cost him his life. When they were carrying us through Richmond he was recognized as one of Averill's scouts that burned the bridges near Salem on Averill's celebrated raid, and he was hung. As we were sitting at the table eating, our prisoner, who sat facing the door, jumped to his feet and ran out, shouting "take them ; they are Yanks." We jumped up and drew our revolvers, and as we cleared the door commenced shooting and jumped on our horses. By that time they were all aiound us with their pistols and carbines at our heads, and as there appear- ed no other way, we made the best of a bad bargain and surrendered. The old fellow we had as prisoner became perfect- ly wild and demanded a pistol to shoot us with, but they told him to keep cool and they would show him a trick worth two of that, and commenced to make preparations to swing us to a tree in the yard. Things began to look exceedingly squally, but about that time a lieutenant who was in command of the party, but had stopped back a distance for some purpose, put in an appearance and stopped their little matinee, but as he told me as we rode back to the mountains he did it merely that it might be done regularly and in order, which was not at all encouraging to us. He said that every Jesse scout (the name by which Hunter's scouts were known) were pre-condemned FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 115 criminals. We both denied belonging to them. Well, he said, it made no difference ; that the United States war department had ordered that all rebels caught wearing the Union uniform should be huno- (a fact, as I had read the order myself a few days be- fore) and that probably if they should hang a few Yanks for the same offence it might act as a restraint and cause them to refrain from putting the murder- ous order into execution ; all of which was very en- couraging to us. We rode on without meeting with any adventure, except a woman came out and drew a revolver and requested the lieutenant to let her practice on us. She was young and pretty, and I have always regret- • ted that I did not go back after the war ended and get revenge on her by marrying her. But the officer believed in doing things regular, so he told her to put up her revolver and he would look to it that we were taken care of. He was a lieutenant in one of the Virginia regiments and was home on wounded furlough, (although the party he was in command of were guerrillas) and he believed in performing his duty according to the articles of war, and as we were dressed in grey he looked upon us as self-condemned. Finally about dark we came to the house of a Captain Wm. Miller who was in charge of the Columbia iron works, and had under him about two or three hundred men. He and his brother, who had been crippled at Bull Run and was the sheriff of the county, tried our case, they sitting on the porch 116 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. while we sat on our horses in front of them surround- ed by our guards. -The sheriff and lieutenant were for hanging us at once, but the captain, backed by his wife and beautiful daughter, were for giving us time, and finally they all agreed to it. We were then taken up on the side of the moun- tain. There each of us, tied by the wrist to a guard, lay down and slept till morning. We were then tak- en back to Capt. Miller's and turned over to him. He took us to his rendezvous, a strong stockade fort on top of the mountain, where we were put in a hut and a guard with drawn revolvers placed over us. For the first two days we had no intercourse with any one, but on the third day the captain held quite a long talk with us. He said if we had told the truth and were really members of the regiments that we claimed we were that he would turn us over as pris- oners of war, but if not, (and he would be sure to find out) and that we belonged to the Jesse scouts he would surely hang us, and w r e knew he would keep his word as he was a very religious man and looked upon it as a duty, although a very unpleasant one. He also told us how he expected to find out. He said that his scouts would be almost certain to pick up some straggler from one of the regiments to which we said we belonged, and if the prisoner recognized us it would be evidence that we had told the truth. If he failed to do so it would be equally certain that we had lied, and according to his code that crime alone ought to be enough to condemn us. FIFTEENTH NEW VORK CAVALRY. 117 It turned out as he had expected. On the eve- ning of the fourth day we heard the leaves rustling down the mountain side and soon in walked the last man in the regiment I would have wished for them to capture, as I had not a particle of confidence in his discretion. You all knew him — Old Grif, horse far- rier of Co. F, but he recognized me at once and said he saw my brother Ed the day before and that he told him about my having been reported missing, and never said a word about my having been a scout at all. They allowed us together about an hour, then the captain took him to another hut and questioned him very closely about me, which he repeated the next day, and then put us all together saying he was satisfied and would turn us over as prisoners of war. His brother then came up and spent most of his time with us, and his daughter sent us many books to read which helped very much to pass the time away pleas- antly. The captain told us that he was very glad to have escaped the performance of a very disagreeable duty, and that he would parole us and send us back to the Potomac but that he was afraid the bush- whackers would murder us on the way back. I final- ly got him to promise that he would turn us over to regular troops instead of to Mosby or McNeil. He gave us his promise which he religiously kept, hav- ing to take us forty miles farther to do so. We re- mained with him ten days and then started on our journey for Richmond. We crossed the valley through Harrisonburg and Port Republic, and on top 118 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. of the mountain we met a Virginia regiment that our forces captured at Crampton Gap in 1862, when Capt. Miller turned us over to the Colonel, shook hands with us, and departed for his home. I have never seen him since but have received several letters from him. And here I wish to say that 110 more noble and generous man fought with either army — north or south. We were awakened the next morning about day- light by quite a spirited argument in front of our quarters. It seems the colonel of the regiment that we had been turned over to had employed two natives to guard us on our way as far as Charlottesville and there turn us over to the Provost Guard, and as it was quite a long tramp they were anxious to get an early start so they could get back that night. The boys were getting our breakfast for us and the guards were unwilling to wait until it was ready and we had eaten it, hence the row, and of all the cursing you ever heard men get "them mountaineers got it. And they were a hard looking couple too. Tall, long haired, gaunt looking specimens of bushwhackers, armed with navy revolvers which never left their hands ; they were about as undesirable looking speci- mens of a guard as any Yank would wish to have placed over him. Finally one of them says : "Trot them out ; we ain't going to wait a min- ute longer." "Well," says the sergeant in charge of us, "go ahead with them you G — d d — 11 hogs, but if you FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 119 don't bring back a receipt for them signed by the Provost Marshal your d — d hides won't hold water to-night." At that he came to our quarters and told us he guessed we would have to go as the d — d hogs would not wait, and they were the only mounted men they could get to guard us. He said he was sorry he could not turn us over to gentlemen, but thought they did not raise any in that part of the country. We crawled out and off we started down the moun- tain, minus our breakfast, but as the boys had furnish- ed us a good supper the night before we thought we could make the trip without suffering any inconve- nience, but before we had gone two miles we heard a horse coming at full gallop and up rode one of our friends from the regiment with our breakfast in a basket. "Now," he says, "d— n you, you will let them stop and eat it, won't you?" u No, keep on." That was all the reply he got, and it was all he got to the volley of oaths and vile names he poured out on them as long as he staid with us. He rode alongside of us and carried the basket until we had eaten all we wanted, done up the remainder in a paper and gave it to us, bade us good bye, and with a parting oath to the guard turned and rode back to his command. We had not gone very far after he left us when we came to quite a good sized stream, and as there was a log across it on one side of the 120 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. road, I being in the lead started for it, but "halt" and click", click, in rapid succession. u Keep in the middle of the road." You can just bet that I changed my course quite suddenly and split that stream wide open. Ugh, but it was cold, being fed from springs from the moun- tains and about waist deep. After that whenever we came to a stream I never looked to see if there was a log or not but kept the road. With the exception of that order I don't think our guards spoke a word either to us or among themselves until we arrived at Charlottesville. There we were turned over to the Provost Marshal and that night were placed on a train with a lot of other prisoners and started for Petersburg, but had not gone far when they started back in great haste and we soon learned that our cav- alry were in front of us and had torn up the track. They then ran back to Charlottesville and put us in an old warehouse where they kept us four days. There were two long rooms and they were full of Yankees and rebel deserters and citizens who had been conscripted. The windows were boarded up but we could see out through the cracks. On the second day we heard a great commotion on the street and on looking out we saw regiment after regiment passing and after them came a long wagon train. I got permission to go to the well with a guard and fill a canteen, and while there I found out that the troops we had seen passing were part of Ewell's corps under Early, and that one division had been sent through FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 121 Brown's Gap to cut off Hunter in the rear, and the rest were en route to Lynchburg to take him in front. I then decided that it was my place to get to Hunter if it were possible, and that too without any unnec- essary delay, so as I went back I took particular notice of the building we were confined in and dis- covered that there were several holes in the founda- tion. I waited until dark and then told some of the prisoners of my plan. I borrowed a knife, got them to sit around me on the floor to hide me, and I com- menced cutting through the flooring. I soon had a hole twelve by eighteen inches made and was just getting through when I felt something cold touch my head, and looking up, there stood the officer of the guard with a cocked revolver at my head who with an oath invited me to come back. I came. I after- wards found out that one of the deserters had found out what we were up to and had went and reported it. If it had not been for him I would have g-ot throuo-h and I believe would have reached Hunter's lines in safety in time to have reported the force in his rear and enabled him to have turned and crushed it before the balance of the corps could have reinforced them. As it was he had to retreat and after great hardships and loss reached the Ohio river. We remained in Charlottesville three or four days longer and then started for New Canton, a small place on the canal some 35 or 40 miles distant. They had ordered out the home guards to see us through to Richmond, and a motley looking crowd they were. 122 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. The officers were uniformed in their old militia regi- mentals — chapeaus, dress swords and epaulettes — and all a great deal the worse for wear. Nothing of im- portance occurred until the second day as we halted for dinner. We heard a shot up at the head of the column and some of the guards allowed that some d — d Yank had tried to get away and had got his quietus, but soon the word came down the line that it was a horse of another color. One of the foot guards had stepped up to a mounted one to speak to him. He had his gun resting across his saddle and it went off killing the man on foot instantly. The home guards were all armed with double barreled shot-euns loaded with buck shot. We reached New Canton that evening and were crowded into the hold of a canal boat and started for Richmond where we arrived on the third day and were placed in Castle Thunder in an upper room. We were then taken out in squads of fifty, marched to a lower room and searched and everything of value taken from us. They made us strip naked and the search was thorough. They found a good many things in the hair of some who wore it long. There was one place that they failed to examine, and there were a good many greenbacks that went through by placing them there, and that was the belt knots on the back of the cavalry jackets. The boys would rip them open, take out the cotton, then stuff them full of bills and sew them up. As fast as they searched us they would march us over to L,ibby prison and FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 123 there I got the first glimpse of what we had to go through. When they brought us our dinner it con- sisted of about two ounces of rotten bacon which no one could eat, and soup made of the water it was cooked in, and thickened with peas which had never been cleaned and were nearly half hulls and full of weevils floating on top. They also gave us a small piece of bread. Our delicate stomachs could not stand it, but good Lord how our mouths used to water for that rejected dinner afterwards. It was amusing to hear the boys mourn and wish they could have one good diiiner like that, and they were in earnest too, but this was after they had been in Andersonville. We only remained in Libby prison two days and nothing of any importance transpired. I was stand- ing at the window one day looking out and all at once I heard the crack of a rifle and felt the wind of a bullet pass my head and saw where it went through the floor above. Some one had thrown out some water or spit out from the window above me, and the guard looking up saw me and acted accordingly. It was the rule at Libby prison to u kill the Yankees and investigate afterwards." All the time we re- mained in Richmond we could hear our guns boom- ing away at Petersburg, and the guards would enter- tain us with stories of how they were whipping us every day, but we believed as much of that as we had a mind to. On the morning of the third day of our stay in 124 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. Libby prison, they hustled us on to the cars for An- dersonville. The only thing that occurred on the trip of any importance was the escape of one whole car load of Yanks. It happened in this way : The orderly sergeant of one of our companies (I think it was C), knocked the guard out of the door with his fist, and when the train came to a bad piece of road where they had to run slow they all lit out. We were then away down in Georgia and I think they were nearly all recaptured. When we arrived at Andersonville we were marched to Wirz's quarters and he came out to count us. He was a villainous looking old Dntchman and carried a revolver in his hand while he was counting us. He was a long time about it and I got tired so I squatted down and as he came by he said "stand up G — d d — n you or I will blow your head off." I stood up. As they marched us over to the prison we passed under a gallows which had been recently erected. I don't know whether it was ever used or not, but think it was put up for a kind of scare crow to keep us from trying to get away. When the train stopped at Andersonville we met with an experience that sent the cold shivers running down my back. As soon as we got out we were surrounded by Yankees, some two or three hundred of them, and as they were outside of the prison we were anxious to know what they were doing outside. They said they were out on parole. We asked them what they were doing. They said they were digging graves to bury FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 125 dead Yankees in. We said for God's sake it don't take such a crowd to dig graves for those who die here does it. They said yes, and we have to work hard to, and we soon found out that what they had said was true. As soon as I got inside I commenced to hunt up my old comrades who had been captured before I was, and soon found Eli Conklin, Silas Schoonmaker and William H. Norton of my own Company (G). They received me with open arms, and as I had nothing stale except the clothes on my back they invited me to share their tent with them which I gladly accepted. It was very hard work getting used to prison life. The water was horrible. All we had to drink came from the branch that passed through the camps of our guards and collected all of the filth from them and then ran through the prison for our use. At times it would have made very good soup, so thick was it with filth. Our quarters were pitched close to the branch and in consequence were very wet and muddy, so on the fourth day after my arrival when the orders were issued for the new arrivals to move into the new stockade we packed up and secured more desirable quarters. After we had got settled in our new place I went one day over on the north side of the prison to see Charley Creque (one of the old ^d boys — Co. I) as I had been told he was over there somewhere. I found him without much trouble, and while we were talk- ing I witnessed the beginning of what terminated in 126 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. quite a tragedy. There was a man sitting near us on a log with his clothes off killing the vermin that was on them (a common enough sight there). He had a watch and pocket-book lying beside him. Presently a big burly man came along and seeing them stooped and picked them up and started to walk off with them, when the owner of them said : "Put them down ; that is my property." The thief turn- ed and struck him with a pair of brass knuckles knocking him down. Eight or ten more of the thief's pals happening to come along they jumped on the prostrate man and when they left him he was covered with blood from head to foot and his face was terribly cut and bruised. I said to Charley Creque : "What does this mean. Why don't the prison- ers stop it. It is barbarous to let a gang of roughs rob and murder a man in such a manner." He laughed and said they were called the raid- ers, and if they should hear you say that they would not leave a whole bone in your body. So I kept quiet, but as soon as they had left I went up to the poor man and told him to come with me. He obeyed, and we walked down to the gate and called for the officer of the guard. When he came I asked to see the quartermaster. (I don't know as that was his title, but that was what we all called him. He was a great big, burly fellow, and could out curse a ship load of sailors). He came in with a "What in h — 11 do you want," and as soon as he saw the man all bloody and I had told him how he came to be in such FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 127 a fix, he ripped out a big oath and says: I'll fix them. Sergeant, bring in a dozen files of men with loaded guns and fixed bayonets." The men were soon ready and then he said : ( 'Show me the , n As soon as the prisoners found out they had the pro- tection of the rebels they commenced to point out the raiders, and in less than an hour they had taken out over two hundred and had dug up about half a bushel of watches and I don't know how manv o- r een- backs that they had stolen from their fellow prisoners and buried under their tents. After they had picked out the worst of the gang and placed them under a strong guard they turned the balance back into prison. The prisoners formed two lines from the gate clear across the prison enclosure, and as they came in they had to run the gauntlett of sticks in the hands of the men they had been beating and plundering, and so well did they lay it on that two were killed and sev- eral badly crippled. The next day Wirz gave notice that the prisoners could form a court martial and try the raiders he had put under guard, and that they could use the enclosure in front of the south gate for a court room. What transpired from then on to the hanging of the six and the sentencing the balance to wear a ball and chain during the balance of their imprisonment is historical and not necessary to repeat. The man who stole the watch and pocket-book broke away from the guard when they were marching him to the scaffold and ran clear across the enclosure, but he was finally captured, led back and executed. The 128 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. condemned men had looked upon the whole proceed- ings as a huge joke and had no idea the prisoners would hang them, but when they saw the gallows with six ropes dangling from it they began to realize they meant business. About a month after their execution, Wirz got nervous and was afraid that the thousands of skele- tons he was guarding would make a break for liberty, so he put up poles with flags on marking a space about one hundred yards square from the gate back into the prison, and gave orders that* no crowd would be allowed to collect inside this space, if they did he would open on them with canister. Now this space was occupied by the prisoners the same as the balance of the prison, and whenever the men all crawled out of their quarters and stood up the whole prison was a perfect jam of men. The first day after he put up the flags, when the wagons came in with the rations, the men all got out to draw their share and of course there was a crowd on the forbidden ground as there was in the balance of the prison, and the first thing we knew bang went a gun from the fort that over- looked the prison and a shell went whizzing over our heads. But they did not send any more. The yell that went up from thousands of throats decided him not to repeat it. At one time during a heavy rain the branch rose and washed away a portion of the stockade, but before the prisoners knew anything of it the guards had formed a line of battle in front of the break. FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 129 To give you an idea of the mortality of the pris- on I will mention an instance. There was a spot of ground in front of our tent where the rations were issued, and men who had no tent would come alono- and lie down there and stay until they died. We kept count of the number and it was something over thirty that died on that little spot of ground about eight feet square. There was an old man who be- longed to the Pennsylvania Reserves who came into the prison with five other comrades, all young, stout, hearty boys, and they set up their shelter tents ad- joining ours, and in less than six weeks the old man was alone ; the rest had all died. Oh, it is horrible to look back upon those days now, but we did not seem to realize it then. I have seen men walk delib- erately across the dead line on purpose to be shot, and they always got their wish. There were a great many tunnels dug, but they all turned out so badly that our mess never took any hand in them. When- ever any one did succeed in getting out they were in- variably brought back, as they would put blood- hounds on their track at once, and in their feeble condition it was next to impossible to escape. When taken back Wirz would keep them in the stocks in the broiling sun for days. We remained at Andersonville until Sherman besieged Atlanta, when we were taken out and trans- ported to Florence, S. C, where we remained until the latter part of February, 1865. While there our sufferings were increased. Rations were cut down to 130 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. a pint of corn meal a day for each man. Conklin had a good pair of boots which he traded off for a pair of brogans and got eight bushels of sweet pota- toes to boot, and while they lasted we fared pretty well. At one time the rebels found out that there was a tunnel being dug somewhere but did not know the exact location of it, so they issued an order that there would be no more rations issued until they found it, and they kept their word and we got noth- ing for three days. Another cause of misery to us was counting us once a week to keep from issuing rations for any one who had died. Every Sunday they would move us across the prison to the south side and then count us as we marched back. We would have to stand around on the cold ground for hours at a time waiting our turn to be counted. All the clothing I had on was an old grey coat and a pair of ragged pants ; no shoes, hat or shirt. I tore the tails off from the coat and wrapped them around my feet and that was the only foot covering I had until I escaped. The guards kept up their shooting of prisoners at Florence. I asked one for a chew of tobacco one day and he attempted to shoot me but his gun missed fire. They issued wood to us at this place. A day's ration was a stick about the size of stove wood. In the latter part of the fall of 1864 or the first of winter an order came to take out a lot of the worst sick and wounded, and that the sergeant of each hundred squad could go along as nurses and be ex- FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 131 changed, and as Conklin belonged to the latter class he was taken out. and I was left alone so far as any of my company was concerned. I then had for my tent- mate a little fellow by the name of Weeden who be- longed to the 22d New York Cavalry, and a jolly good messmate he was. Some time during February there came an order to move us to Wilmington, and the time for our hundred to leave came about midnight, O 7 one cold freezing night. I awoke Jimmie and told him to get up and make ready. He said he was too sick, (we both had fever at this time). I begged of him to come, but he said no*, you go on and try and escape, for we had both made up our minds if they ever moved us again we would make one bold effort for freedom. Seeing that all of my efforts were futile I pulled out and left him. I gave him all the cover- ing we had, two old pieces of shelter tent, and that was the last I ever saw of him. I have since learned that Jimmie got out alive and was living in Texas lately. I had always supposed until then that he died at Florence. They rushed us into Wilmington as fast as they could get trains to carry us until there were several thousands of us. We staid there about a week and all the time we could hear the guns of Gen. Schofield's army thundering away at Foit Anderson. One even- ing they hustled us on the train and started us for Salisbury, but as there were more than they could carry at once they stopped about twenty miles out and put us off in a clearing and put a guard around 132 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. us. Right here I decided to part company with Johnny Rebs. I confided my determination to a Mich- igan man who had not been a prisoner long and he said he would go with me, so we lay down close to the dead line and watched our chance. It being quite cold the guards had a small fire at the end of each beat. It was a starlight night with a few clouds but no moon, and I knew that the fire light would serve to blind the eyes of the guard to some extent. I told my Michigan friend to watch me and do just as I did. He said he would. I went first. I took a point about half way between two fires, and when the guards backs were both turned towards me I started on my hands and knees across the dead line. From there it was about ten feet to the guards beat and then freedom or a bullet ; probably the latter, as I had heard the officer of the guard give the order that if any of us tried to escape to shoot us without halting. I kept on and had got about twenty feet past the guard line when a train of cars came thundering along. I kept my eyes fixed on the guard and quickened my pace a little, or rather "crawl." About that time I heard twigs breaking and looking to my right there came Michigander on a dead run. Both guards heard it at the same time and started towards me. Michigander kept on and was soon out of sight and hearing. The guards came to within ten feet of me and stopped and listened, but as they could hear nothing they turned and went back to their posts, FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 133 but all the time they would keep looking out my way. I lay still for about half an hour and by that time the guards had got cold again and returned to their fires, so I started for a big pine tree I could see outlined against the sky, and when I reached it who should I find behind it but the Michigander. He was awful glad to see me, but I was in bad humor and blowed him up in "whispers," as we were less than fifty yards from our late captors. I told him I did not want him to go any farther with me as he would be sure to get us both captured, but for each to take a separate path. He begged so hard that I finally con- sented for us to stay together. I knew there was a wagon road to the north of us as I had heard teams passing before dark, but I had determined to avoid the roads and keep to the woods and swamps. So I singled out the north star for a guide and then started straight east, but had not gone more than a quarter of a mile when we came to a swamp. I plunged boldly in through mud, water and bamboo vines but had not gone far before I was up to my neck in water. Michigander came puffing and blowing along behind. I soon saw that we could make no progress that way, as the vines were so thick they had already torn my coat and pants in strings, so we backed out and de- cided to try the road until we got past the swamp. So we turned north and soon came to the road, then turned east and proceeded on our way, all the time keeping a sharp lookout and listening every minute for straggling rebels. But at last we entered a piece 134 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. of open pine woods only to discover a line of picket fires in front of ns. They were about one hundred yards apart and extended both ways as far as we could see. We came to the conclusion it was estab- lished there to pick up stragglers from the army at Wilmington. We selected a point about halfway be- tween two of the fires and started in on hands and knees to pass the line, and after a very weary time of it suc- ceeded without being discovered. We then kept on east for about a mile when we came to another swamp, but this one was more open and the water not so deep, so we waded in and at last came to Cape Fear river close to where the wagon road we had left crossed it. Here we found a pontoon bridge and a company of rebels guarding it, and as we were afraid they would not accept our pass we decided not to attempt to cross, and feeling very much exhausted we selected a hum- mock thickly covered with galeberry bushes, about fifty feet back from dry land, crawled into the bushes and went to sleep. Next morning we could hear the guns much nearer than they were the day before so we decided that Gen. Terry's army was advancing and that Wilmington had fallen. Later in the day we heard some rebels talking and they confirmed our opinion. We remained here all day and night and the next day until about three o'clock when the firing was getting close enough so we could occasionally hear the sing of a Yankee bullet as they drove the rebels before them. We decided that as there would be FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 135 some desperate fighting at the bridge, and as we could be of no use there and did not want to be killed just then, even by a friendly bullet, we would go farther back and be out of harm's way. But we went almost too far. We passed back through the swamp and through the open pine woods until we came to an- other swamp. Just to our right was a cleared field with stock grazing in it. We decided that there must be a house near by and we would go to it and try at the negro cabins for something to eat. My fever kept getting worse all the time, and although we had eaten nothing since we escaped I was not very hungry but sick. We started down along the edge of the swamp and just as we turned a point that ran out in the field we discovered eight or ten rebels about fifty yards from us. They discovered us about the same time we did them and gave chase at once. We dodged back behind the point of the swamp and lit out at as rapid a gait as possible until we came to a path that ran into the swamp. We dodged into it and as we did so I looked back and saw the rebels just coming around the point. We ran about twenty feet from the edge of the swamp and dropped down in the thick under- growth and held our breath. Soon in came the Johnnies on a run past us and so close we could have touched them with our hands. But they never saw us, although they had a dog with them. It surely was no hound or we would have been hunted out in short order. To make matters worse a battery came 136 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. along in a few minutes, unlimbered, and commenced shelling our men across the river. We expected every minute our men would reply, and in case of an artillery duel our position (not over fifty feet directly in rear of the rebel battery) was surely not a desirable one, especially as there was no chance for us to move, as the rebels who had discovered us at first had re- turned and were keeping up their search, which they continued until about nine or ten o'clock at night. I had a dreadful cough and would hold it back all I could. When I could hold it no longer I would stick my face down in the mud and smother the sound. Finally we went to sleep and slept until mid- night, when we were awakened by heavy firing which we at first thought was in the opposite direc- tion from the bridge, but in the morning we decided that it was at the bridge as we could still hear an occasional shot from the same direction, and as we could not tell whether our men held the bridge or not we started to work our way over near the road so we could see if there were any of our men passing. We got out of the swamp at last and crawled into some bushes on a hillock in the pine woods and staid there until about 3 p. m., when I told Michigander I was not going to stay there any longer. I was get- ting very sick. My cough was so bad that I coughed every minute, and my fever was very high. Michi- gander said he would stay where he was as he would run no more risk of being captured. So I started on by myself. When I came to the swamp I noticed FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 137 that the long grass in the edge of it was all trampled down as was also the path through it. The grass all leaned one way, and that was towards me, and I knew it was not that way the day before, so I decid- ed that the rebels had run out that way during the night. Feeling very much encouraged I kept on and soon came out where I could see across the river, and there proudly floating from a tall pole was the dear old flag and the whole country around covered with tents, and, God bless them, blue coats too. I soon came in sight of the bridge and there I saw a "blue belly" inarching up and down on guard. I started for the bridge and as I neared the sentry the sergeant of the guard came to meet me, and his first words were : "In the name of God what are you?" I was certainly a horrible looking object. I only weighed 114 pounds ; when I was captured I weighed 200 pounds. He took me to Gen. Terry's head- quarters, which were just at the end of the bridge. Gen. Terry and his staff were sitting on the porch of the house. When they found out I was a Union soldier there was not a dry eye in the crowd, but all I could do was to laugh. You can imagine how I looked. Six foot one and one-half inches tall ; weighing only 114 pounds ; had not seen a piece of soap in nine months ; my coat and pants hanging in strings ; my feet and legs swollen and covered with sores ; hair long and matted and beard the same ; it was no wonder that I looked scarcely human. One of his aids took me in charge and turned me over to 138 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. a company of infantry that were encamped near by. They had just cooked up a lot of rations and I came very near killing myself by eating, but was stopped in time by the Orderly Sergeant. I told Gen. Terry where Michigander was and he sent out a detail and had him brought in that night, and next morning sent us in an ambulance to the hospital at Wilming- ton. When I got there they had to carry me in and that was the last I remembered for about ten days. When I came to my senses I was in an old negro woman's cabin about a quarter of a mile from the hospital, and she was feeding me chicken broth with a spoon, telling me to eat it u honey" it will make you well. All I had on was a shirt and a pair of drawers and an army blanket around me. I had wandered away from the hospital. She said I came into her cabin and told her 1 was hungry. She saw I was sick and killed a chicken and made me some broth, and when she got it ready I did not have sense enough to eat it so she had to feed me. She sent out and got two soldiers to get an ambulance and I was carried back to the hospital, where I remained sever- al days. In the meantime there had been an ex- change of prisoners and the city was full of them, and I was finally sent to Annapolis, Md., with a boat load of them. My brother Frank was stationed at the dock to count the men as they came off. I was carried off on a stretcher and he counted me in with the rest with- out recognizing me. The next day after I got there FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 139 I got one of the nurses to write to Conklin to come clown and see me (he being as I supposed at parole camp near Annapolis). And sure enough he was, and he and another young fellow came down to see me the next day. After they left me they met my brother and told him where I was. He came right down to see me, and then I had the first news from home in nearly a year. All were well and I was happy. 140 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY, THE REVEILLE. By Miss Agnes C. Atwater, Ithaca, N. Y„ Fall in ! fall in I Old comrades come, With noiseless step and silent drum ; Our eyes across the long years see When mem'ry sounds the reveille. Across the mists of thirty years We see the first young volunteers, We hear the music of the band, The sound of marching in the land. And through the cheering crowd there slips A tender thought of trembling lips ; Of clasping hands and tear-wet eyes ; Of hope-filled words and brave good byes. But soldiers grew from raw recruits Before the rebel's grim salutes ; And through the battle's dust and smoke, With fire and death our purpose spoke. We learned the four years' lesson well, The voice of bullet, shot and shell ; The prison pang, the hunger vain, The homesick longing worse than pain. The roll-call's still increasing list, Of comrades wounded, killed or missed ; Yet on we marched and watched and fought, Till slowly came the end we sought. Fall in ! fall in ! Again we hear Brave Custer's words of praise and cheer : "No color lost, no missing gun," The Union saved, the victory won. Now call the roll of quick and dead, And listen with uncovered head ; For still our comrades old we see, When memory sounds the reveille. FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 141 DIED IN PRISON. The following list of members of the Fifteenth New York Cavalry, who died in Andersonville prison, has been kindly furnished by G. E. Dolton, of St. Louis : No. GRAVE. Name. J Co. Date Death. Disease. 7,007 Alderman, F. F Aug. 27, '64 Diarrhoea 6,548 Answell, J. A Aug. 23, '64 Dysentery 5,802 Clemens, A. F Aug. 15, '64 Diarrhoea 6,404 Davidson, M. M Aug. 21, '64 Diarrhoea 8,588 Dighard, F. A Sept. 12, '64 Scorbutus 9,779 Ferguson, J. M. G Sept. 26, '64 Scorbutus 9,347 Graham, J. L Sept. 20, '64 Diarrhoea 6,114 Hore, R. L Aug. 19, '64 Diarrhoea 9,562 Hudson, S. R. L Sept. 23, '64 Scorbutus 11,781 Ivespeck, W. E Nov. 3, '64 Scorbutus n,499 Lane, J. W. M Oct. 26, '64 Diarrhoea 9,864 McCardell, W. H Sept. 27, '64 Scorbutus 12,241 Nott, S. A. E Dec. 7, '64 Scorbutus 3,386 Parker, J. F July, 16, '64 Diarrhoea 1,542 Pellett, Ed. I June 1, '64 Diarrhoea 9,667 Shaw, T. I. M Sept. 24, '64 Diarrhoea 7,845 Sturdevant, G. I Sept. 4, '64 Diarrhoea 10,661 Sutliff, E. M Oct. 11, '64 Diarrhoea 7,9 T 5 Turden, E. S. D Sept. 5, '64 Diarrhoea 6,753 Tallette, D. K Aug. 24,^64 Dysentery 7,635 Van Buren, J. B Sept. 2, '64 Diarrhoea 142 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. Names and Dates of Engagements. Upperville, Va., Lost River Gap, Va., New Market, Va., Front Royal, Va., Newtown, Va., Piedmont, Va., Waynesboro, Va., Lynchburg, Va., Salem, Va., Martinsburg, Va., Snicker's Gap, Va., Ashby's Gap, Va., Berry's Ford, Va., Winchester, Va., Martinsburg, Va., Charlestown, Va., Green Springs Run, Va., Lacey Springs, Va., Waynesboro, Va., Ashland, Va., Dinwiddie, C H., Va., Five Forks, Va., Kepponeck Creek, Va., Namozine Church, Va., Appomattox Station, Va., Appomattox, C. H., Va., February, 20, 1864 May 10, 1864 May 14 15, 1864 May 23, 1864 May 25, 1864 June 5, 1864 June 10, 1864 June 17-18, 1864 June 21, 1864 July 10, 1864 July 17, 1864 July 18, 1864 July 19, 1864 July 23-24, 1864 July 25, 1864 August 21-22, 1864 November 1, 1864 December 21, 1864 March 2, 1865 March 15, 1865 March 30, 1865 April 1, 1865 April 2, 1865 April 3, 1865 April 8, 1865 April 9, 1865 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY, 143 PROMOTIONS. NAME. Colonels : Robert M.Richardson John J. Copinger Lieut. -Colonels : Augustus 1. Root. . Henry Roessle Majors : Joseph H. Wood. Henry Roessle... Jefferson C. Bigelow Robert H. S. Hyde . . Michael Auer George M. Ellicot Adjutants: Sidney Tuttle Frederick Mann. . Charles H. Lyon. . . (Brevet Capt. N. Y. V.) Quartermaster : Edward ti. Trull . . Commissary : Cortland Clark — Surgeon : George V. Skiff.... Date of commission Feb. Jan. Nov. 20, May 10, Nov. 30, April 6, May 10, Nov. 30, Nov. 9, June 17. Nov. 30. May 31, June 17. Assistant-Surgeons : John P. Robinson . . . John C. Wall Milton A. Halstead Chaplain : Isaac O. Fillmore . . Captains : Michael Auer John M. Rulifson . . Albert O. Skiff Thomas G. Putnam . . Jefferson C. Bigelow. George N. Truesdale. Nov. Feb. Nov. May Feb. !<•, May 18, '64 Nov. Nov. Feb. Nov. Nov. June 20, 9, 15, 30, 30, 17, Date of rank. Jan. 6, Jan. 19, Sept. 16, May — , Sept. 16, April 6, Mar. 8, Nov. 35, Aug. 30, June 9, June 30, May 33, June 7, June 13, Jan. 6, June 12, Aug. 38. May 3, Jan. 6, '63 y:; '»>-> •til y,:; Yl April 30, '64 July 34, Aug. 30, Feb. 13, July, 30, Aug. 30, May 8, Remarks. Resigned January 19, 1865. Discharged by reason of con- solidation, June 17, 1865. Killed in action April 8, 1865. Discharged by reason of con- solidation June 17, 1865. Discharged April 14, 1865. Promoted to Lieutenant-Col- onel May 10, 1865. Discharged by reason of con- solidation June 17, 1865. Transferred to Second Provi- sional Cavalry, June 17, '65. Not mustered as Major. Not mustered as Major. Resigned May 22, 1864. Discharged by reason of con- solidation June 17, 1865. Not mustered as Adjutant. Disc barged by reason of con- solidation June 17, 1865. Discharged by reason of con- solidation June 17, 1865. Discharged by reason of con- solidation June 17, 1865. Died Feb. 3, 1864, of disease. Transferred to Second Provi- sional Cavalry June 17, '65. Transferred to Second Provi- sional Cavalry June 17, '65. Not mustered. Discharged March ti. 1865. Mustered out on expiration of term of service June 17, Y.5. Discharged by reason of con- solidation June li, L865. Discharged by reason of con- solidation June 17, 1865. Discharged DJj reason of con- solidation June 17, L865. Not mustered as Captain. 144 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. NAME. Date of commission Date of rank. Remarks. Orson R. Colgrove — Fred'k J. Maxwell . . . Charles G. Hampton. George M. Ellicott. . . . Leonard F. Hathaway WallisM. Boyer. .... Burritt N. Hurd Nov. 20, '63 Aug. 26, '63 Richmond Finch John F. Moshell (Brevet Major N.Y.V.) James C. Rennison. . . John S. Hicks Feb. 15, '65 Feb. April 11, '65 1 Feb. Nov. 20, '63 Aug. Nov. 20, '63 Aug. Aug. Sept. Feb. Sept. William F. Weller.. Marshall M. Loyden Morris J. McUornall Seth J. Steve First Lieutenants Joseph La Beff Albert (). Skiff Edgar F. Johnson. . . William P. Shearer. Richmond Finch — Silas S. Bigelow. Ralph D. Short Robert Cameron, Jr. . William Stanton. Nov. 20, '&3 Nov 9. '64 Feb. 15, '65 Nov. 20, '63 Feb. Nov. Tune Feb. Nov. 4, 20, 17, 4, Jan. Oct. May Jan. Oct. Jan. 16, '64 Nov. Dec. 20, 29, Feb. 15. '65 Nov. Sept. Feb. 15, '65 Nov. Nov. Feb. 15, '65 Frederick J. Maxwell Paul Tarcott William D. Pearne. . . Edgar L. Miller Henry S. Krum . Burritt N. Hurd. Nov. Feb. Nov. June Nov. Dec. SethB. Walworth. Joseph Herron William F. Weller. G. N. Truesdale Jerry Lester Morris J. McCornall LeviT. Sheldon 2(1, 15, 20, IT, 20, Nov. 9, '64 Nov. Dec. Feb. Nov. Feb. Nov. 12, 13, 13, 26, 26, n\ 6, '64 5, '63 8, '65 6, 'tit 5, '64 Jan. 6, '64 July Dec. Feb. 12. '65 Tuly July Feb. 12, '65 Aug. Oct. Feb. 12, '65 July Feb. Aug. Mar. Aug. Dec. Sept. Sept. Dec. Jan. Oct. Jan. Oct. Mustered out on expiration of term of service Dec. 24, '64. Not mustered as Captain. Not mustered as Captain. Discharged by reason of con- solidation June 17, 1865. Transferred to Second Provi- sional Cavalry June 17, 1865. Discharged September 14, '64. Mustered out on expiration of term of service Dec. 12, 1864. Not mustered as Captain. Transferred to Second Provi- sional Cavalry June 17, 1865. Discharged by reason of con- solidation June 17, 1865. Transferred to Second Provi- sional Cavalry June 17, 1865. Not mustered as Captain. Died Oct, 5, 1864, of disease. Discharged by reason of con- solidation June 17, 1865. Discharged by reason of con- solidation June 17, 1865. Discharged November 30, '63. Promoted to Captain Febru- ary 18, 1865. Discharged by reason of con- solidation June 17, 1865. Missing since October 30, '64. Mustered out on expiration of term of service June 17, '65. Transferred to Second Provi- sional Cavalry June 17, 1865. Died January 20, 18<>5. Mustered out on expiration of term of service Dec. 17, 1864. Discharged by reason of con- solidation June 17, 1865. Resigned February 13, 1865. Discharged by reason of con- solidation June 17, 1865. Dismissed March 9, 1865. Not mustered as First Lieu- tenant. Resigned November 30, 1863. Promoted to Captain Novem- ber 9, 1864. Discharged by reason of con- solidation June 17, 1865. Discharged Dec. 28, 1863. Transferred to Second Provi- sional Cavalry June 17, 1865. Discharged by reason of con- solidation June 17, 1865. Discharged by reason of con- solidation June 17, 1865. Promoted to Captain Novem- ber 9, 1864. Discharged by reason of con- solidation June 17, 1865. FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 145 NAME. Charles H. Lyon Second Lieutenants John H. Phillips Edgar N. Johnson Edward Pointer... Oscar R. Colgrove. John M. Rulifson Lorenzo W. Hatch . . . Orlando E. Dickinson Levi T. Sheldon Silas S. Bigeiow James Holahan Charles G. Hampton . Hezekiah B. Ranney S. B. Walworth Date of commission Date of rank. Remarks. Jan. 16, '64 Edgar Miller J. Beman William Whitlock . . Walter V. Banning. Roswell S. Heggie. . . John S. Hicks William Stanton. John W. Frazer . Burritt N. Hurd. Edson Griffls Henry A. Maynard Richmond Finch. PaulTarcott John Gallagher. .. Levi Kraft Samuel Hunter. Peter Boehm. Duncan Campbell. Edward Fuller Heman H. Griswold. . William Carpenter. . . Nov. Nov. Feb. Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov. Feb. Nov. Nov. Feb. Nov. 9, June Nov. Dec. Sept. Nov. Nov. Mar. Nov. Jan. Jan. Feb. Sept. Feb. Nov. Jan. Mar. Feb. Jan. Aug. Feb. Jan. July Nov. Feb. July Nov. Oct. Nov. Aug. Oct. Feb. Oct. Aug. Jan. 6, '64 Discharged by reason of con- solidation June 17. 1865. Oct. 14, '64 Mar. Aug. Dec. July Aug. Oct. Mar, Sept.. Jan. Jan. Jan. July Feb. Oct. Jan. Mar. Jan. '»').". I Hsrharged October 30, 1864. '64 Promoted to First Lieuten- ant February 15, 1865. *•'>") Transferred to Second Provi- sional Cavalry June 17. L865. '03 Promoted to Captain Novem- ber 30, 1863. '63 Promoted to ("apt. Nov. 9, 'til. "64 Not mustered ; killed in action. '64 Discharged by reason of con- I solidation June 17, 1865. '63 Promoted to First Lieuten- I ant Nov. 9, 1864. 64 Promoted to First Lieuten- ant February 15, 1865. Transferred to Second Provi- sional Cavalry June 17, 1865. Discharged by reason of con- solidation June 17, 1865. Discharged January 5, 1864. Promoted to First Lieuten- ant November 9, 1864. Transferred to Second Provi- sional Cavalry June 17, 1865. 65 i Not mustered. '63 Resigned December 11, 1863. '63 Not mustered ; declined. '64 Discharged by reason of con- I solidation June 17, 1865. '63 Promoted toCapt. Nov. 20, '63 '64 Y>3 Jan. '64 Aug. '65 Feb. Anthony Dever*. Emory Ornisby*. Promoted to First Lieuten- ant February 15, 1865. Discharged June 28, 1865. 63 Promoted to First Lieuten- ant December 29, 1863. 6, '64 Resigned January 7, 1865. 18, '6o Discharged by reason of con- solidation June 17, 1865. 6, 64 Promoted to First Lieuten- ant September 16, 1864. 8, '64 Promoted to First Lieuten- ant Februarv 15, 1865. 12, 65 Transferred to Second Provi- sional Cavalry June 17, I860. 5, b3 Discharged December 11, '63. 6, 64 Died February 26, 1865. 3, '65 Discharged by reason of con- solidation June 17, 1865. b, 64 Transferred to Second Provi- sional Cavalry June 17, 18(55. 6, ^1)4 Resigned December 17, 1864. ~b, 64 Not mustered ; declined. '65 Transferred to Second Provi- sional Cavalry June 17, 1865. Discharged May 24, 1864. Discharged January 11, 1865. *On records of War Department ; not commissioned. 146 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. ORIGINAL MUSTER IN ROLL. Through the kindness of Comrade Charles B. Sturdevant, of Co. I, the original muster in roll of the regiment is presented. It is a document that will bear careful perusal and will no doubt cause a smile on the faces of some of the members who be- longed to one company and was mustered in another. COMPANY A. Michael Auer, Captain, Joseph LaBeff, . First Lieutenant, John H. Philip, Second Lieutenant Adel, Henry Albriz, Frederick Barr, Frank — Baldwin, Amos B Barnes, Geo Behim, Joseph Bennett, James Bessey, Wellington . . . Brown, James Bucher, Peter Burns, Milo Burnham, Parris W.. . Butter, Nicholas Cain, Lewis Carney, Anthony Garden, Patrick Cornell, Alonzo Corney, Jeremiah — Glune, John Delaney, Daniel Diamond, James Diamond, Patrick — Deput, Anthony Doran, Joseph Dwyre, Timothy Doyle, Francis Eberling, Valentine. Felleon, Geo Fielding, Geo Fleman, Wm Gillboy, James Green, Chas. W Henon, Henry C Huntley, John Howd, Wm. C Huson, Joseph Houck, Jacob Hatch, Lorenzo W Hallam, Wm Harwood, Wilton James, David F Jenks, Jos Kelling, Levi Keys, John Laderick, Christian — Lawton, Pyrhus H. r Leshure, Chas Lebender, Thos Lewis, Wayland Lewis, Eli Magee, Oscar Martin, John Marchise, Jos. E McManus, Fred McMath, James McGovern, Geo McGough, John McCormick, Samuel . . McCue. Patrick Mead, Chas. A. M Melvin, John Middendorf , Peter Miller, Matthew Maser, Christian Miller, Chas Mosbrook, Andrew Morrison, Edward N. Ostrander, Edwin Orr, Francis H Pardee, John Phelps, Geo. E Pointer, Edward Rath, Geo Rapp, Conrad Richmond, Eugene . . Robinson, Geo. W Richardson, Jas Rills, David Scull, Richard Sidel, Frederick Schuert, Frederick . . Selwood, Chas Szotthefer, John Smith, Geo Spaulding, John Spaking, Joseph Springer, Frederick . Stokey, Henry Turney, Wesley Warn, John Webb, Jas. W Whitney, Asa Wilson, James Wheel an, John Wilcox, Geo. W Wells, Rolla Wright, Chas Walters, Chas Yager, Jacob FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 147 COMPANY B. Thomas G. Putnam, — Captain, Wm. B. Shearer, First Lieutenant Oscar R. Colgrove, Second Lieutenant. Ackley, Adelbert S — Allen, Francis Anderson, Geo. W. . . Baldwin, Edward J. . Bacon, Walter A Bennett, Win. H Brown, Chas. C Brown, Frederick Bryant, Jerome W — Buckley, Daniel Burnell, Win Burden, Henry Brooks Alonzo D Burdick, Alonzo E. . Bennett, Alfred G Case, Oscar I) Case. Willard Casey, Patrick Clancy, John Coleman, Washington Corbett, Patrick Crawford, Chas Ellehoat, John Flit craft, Thos Gates, Jas. H Genn, Wm Gillespie, Francis . . . Gladwell, Robt Gorman, Daniel Greenbush, John Jefferson C. Bigelow, — Levi T Anderson, Chas. J. . Arnold, William Babcock, Hiram Beeman, Henry Benedict. Wm. D Burch, Milo Bird, Peter T. B Blackwood, Neil Booth, Wesley Bortle, Seymour Broakaw, James C. . . Brooks, John H Brown, Asa Brown, William H. . . Calf, Benjamin Call, Matthew Clark, Charles Cleveland, Turner . . . Cloys, Benjamin F. . . Commings, Alonzo... Commings, Thomas. . Condon, William Dean, Joel M Dempsey, Jeremiah. . Donahue, John Dulle^han, Tbos Fisher. Charles H Finn, George (ireen, Jas. N (Gardner, Fernando .. Harrington, John Hennessy, Michael... Henhulse, Frederick. Hessait, Patrick Hickey, John Hill, William HollaLan, Jas Hulbertson, Jas. A. . . Hunt. James Hull,Dewitt Hardee, Wm Hammond, Wm Johnson, Jas Kinson, Jacob Lappin, Jas Loomis, Almarin D. . Lucus, Jas. B Lapham, Gilbert T. . Martin, Geo McGuire, Michael Mettleton, Wm Morse, Leander G Murphy, Edward Nichols, Martin F. . . . Orton, Martin Pape, Geo. H Pitney, Byron Randolph, Lucius F. . COMPANY C. Captain, Ralph D. Short, First Lieutenant Sheldon, — Second Lieutenant. Newell Geo. Reed, Chas. W Re^an, John Renaw, Geo Rhoades, Christ -)phei Ri.i^s, Kneeland Rohan, Richard Rones, John Ryan, Michael Schuyler, Wm. P Scully, John Sexton, Robt. M Sibe 1 , Wm Smith, John Sherry, Adeib.it Stafford. Samuel Stiles, Chas. H Sweet, Chas Thursting, Geo Tiffany, Leonard . Tracy, Abel Tripp, Geo. S Van Buren, John A. Vosburg, Marion E. Walker, Frank S... Welch, Patrick ... Wheeler, Gilbert R. Wilbur, Rufus Woods, James. ..... Wright, Jas. B Falkner, George Frazer, John J Fuller, Martin (ouwood, William. . Gregg, Leslie Hacket, William Hart, Joel S Hattens, Williarn Hathaway, Frank Hennessy, Arthur Herbenson, Geo. B. Hodges, Amos Jarvis, Benj. F Johnson, James H. Johnson, Chas. H Keller,. Jacob Knowles, Albert Lewis, Henry W Madigan, Frank McGary. Charles McLaughlin, Major, Henry Middlebrook, Aaron . . . Milligan, Patrick .. Mann, Frederick McCormick, Francis... Norget, Robert Norman, A bram Oakley, John J Otis, James E. Parsons, Chester F Peacock, Ambrose Raymond, Chas. E Reed, Thomas J Reeves, William W. Rockwell, James L. . . Rockwell, Lewis A. Savers, Chas. A Scamting, Michael Sevoy, Lewis Shutliff, Geo Singleton, Edward Spendlove, Philip C. ... Saline, Lorenzo H Thompson, Melville C. Townsend, Henry Tuttle, Henry X.* Van Antwerp, John . . . Vescelius, Afanson S.. . Waters, John Wood, Charles Warner, John C. Youngs, John 148 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. COMPANY D. Orson R. Colgrove, . . .Captain, Robt. Cameron, Jr., . . .First Lieutenant (.'has. G. Hampton, .. .Second Lieutenant. Adams, El win ... ... Alexander, Ephraim . . Anderson, Edwin Balslay, Lucius D Barnes, Corridon Bennett, Wm. S Benson. George Bigelow, Cyrus S Bostwick, Glassford H. Burney, James L Brown, Frederick E — Colgrove, Wm. H Cooper, Robt. I Costello, Charles Crilley, John Dearlove, Robt Decker, Wm. H Deevesy, Andrew Dervin, Patrick Ebart, Frank Francis, James Gibbs, Hiram H Glover, Thomas Gorman, Henry. Gorman, Nathaniel... Grier, James Haynes, Sylvanus Harrington, Wm. W. . . Herrick, Wm S Hewitt, Robert Hoag, Geo. W Holmes, Clark .... Holmes, John Hunter, Nathan S. . Irvine, John Johnson, Francis B. Jones, John J Jordan, William . . . Kratz, Jolin Laraby, Edward . . . Laraway, Ben. T. . . Magher, Michael . . . Mahon. Michael. . . . Maganic, James — Miller, Gurdon H. . . Mitchell, David — Moore, James Miller, Edgar Morse, Jerome Morgan, Alfred — Morgan, Edward. . . Nash, Morris E Nichols, Wm. H.... Payne, Robt Pri'ndle, Wm. J Reed, Chas. L Reynolds, Edwin . . . Riley, Thomas Robinson, Gustavus — Rogers, Amicha J Resner, Scott Schrader, Daniel Schrader, Jacob Sherman, Wesley Sheapard, John Shoals, David L Siglar, Wm. A Slagut, Gilbert Smith, Edward Snook, Theo. D Stanley, Calvert Stanton, Calvin P Stearnes, D. Philander. Stewart, Addison Slingerland, Geo. W. . . Taylor, Azariah S Taylor, Samuel Travis, Geo. W Travis, Warren J Vogul, Fred R Walter, Chas. A Wells, Levi. Willis, Edward Warden, Squire Walters,Charles COMPANY E. Geo. M. Ellicott, Ashman, Robt Beesman, John Birmingham, John Boreal, Paul Boughton, Wm Bushbee, Frank Butter, Chas. H. . . . Bond, Geo. A Bragdon. Edward . Bean, Richard Cole, William Connine, Richard H Conley, James Corcoran, James . . . Coughlin, Joseph . . Coughlin, Peter — Cooper, William . . . Dodge, Melvin C. . . Duffner, Chas Dwyre, Dennis . . . . Dickerson, O. E Ebert, William Emms, George Frazier, Geo Gleason, James . . . . Good, George Guman, John Gormly, Thomas. . . Halbut, Civilian . . . . .Captain, H. B. Ranney, Harris, John Hayes, John Hogan, Thomas . . Heal, William — Heath, Alonzo — Hollis, Geo. C Huff, Henry Huffmartin, John Hyoth, Frederick Hawkins, Wm. . Hamilton, Robert Hoxie, Wm Holmes, Geo James, John Jacobus, John — Ken yon, Jonas . . . Learman, Geo Lilly, Richmond,. Lincoln, Noah B. . Lake, William . . . McClellan, John . McGrath, John . . Metzler, John — Michels, John P. . Michlian, Peter . . Miller. John Morgan, James H McGurn, Aeph . . . Fred J. Maxwell, First Lieutenant, . . Second Lieutenant. McLean, John G Neston, John Oothoudt, Richard Pagefall, Max Perry, Congdon O Primmer, Sylvester Roberts, Thos. S Rollo, Peter Russell, Luther Sabel, Peter Schneidtr, Theo Scott, William Shaw, Hozea L Sherman, Frank Silverson, Edward Slattery, Michael Smith, James Smith, Walter W Smith, William Snvder, Peter Scott, Thos. H Sherwood, Geo. W Temple, Charles Turner, William LTnelauf, Oscar Whitney, Frank Wright, Albert Wells, Franklin H FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 149 COMPANY F. Leonard F. Hathaway, . . Captain. William D. Pearns, — First Lieutenant. William Whitlock, Second Lieutenant. Akins, Harrison T Bagley, J. A Balcomb, John J Bowers, Henry Burke, Edward Burt, Elihu C Brown, Harvey Barrows, Stephen Beebe, Nathan Chrysler, Mathias Cooper, Wm. F ('alien, John Chafry, Thos. J Crane, Wm Cronk, Ledrick Curly, Fogus Carpenter, Stephen — Devine, Peter Donahue, James Durkee, Chas Duffy, John Durston, Thomas W . . . Dwyer, Roger Durkee, Nathan Dawbree, Anthony — Deahan, Edward. Demander, Nathaniel S Echter, Gustavus Fitzgerald, John Fahomsswold, Chas . . Graves, John W Graham, George Greenfield, John Goodrich, Chas Helser, Edward A. . Johnson, John Johnson, Edgar Kipp, Joseph Keefe, Michael — Larkin, Michael LeRoy, Wm Livingston, John Lounsbury, Jas. V Lee, Francis McCarthy, Dennis — Mclntyre. Geo. W — McCoy, William McCoy, Henry McGaun, Chas Murpby, John Nash, Geo. W Noro, Leander O'Donald, Pat Phillip, James Prescott, Albert Peters, Wm. G Patten, William... . Peters, George Pellett, Edward Pettock, Robert Putney, John H ■ Robinson, Oliver Rennie, Albert Riley, John Snyder, Theo Sharp, John Shepard, Henry H . . Storing, Homer H. . . Standen, John St. Germain, John. . Stratchin, John Savalien, Moses Taylor, William Tobin, John Tobin, Richard Tobin, Thomas Turner, Thomas. . . . Wilkinson, Lorenzo. Wilcox, Nelson B . . . Washburn, Stephen. Welch, Barnard. . . . Zeller, Edward COMPANY G. Wallis M. Boyer. Captain, John S. Hicks,. Henry S. Krum, First Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant Apgar, Melville Ashfield, Jno. H Baldwin, Jno. G Beeman, John B Benson, Peter Barton, Seymour Bradshaw, Silas Brown Joseph R Bontley, Geo. W Brown, Geo W Bailer, Chas Barton, James R Buntey, Byron D Babcock, Sewell Canfield, Jas. M Coalman, Edward Clark, John C Clinton, Edward P Covelle, M. C Cheesebrough, Peleg... Demaranville, Seth L.. Davis, William Doyle, Edward Daily, Thomas Delain, Paul Dwire, Wm Drew, William Ediek, Harvey Everts, Byron Frisbee, Samuel Fruzakerly, Wm. . . Freer, Martin P — Gordon. William. . . Ginemer, Lewis . . . Haviland, Edgar. . . Hennesy, John . . . Heggie, Roswell H. Hayes, Henry O. . . . Halsey, John J Jewell, H. S. Jones, Wm. E Knapp, Charles — Kimball, Wm. E. . . Kenyon, Chas. W. . Landon, Daniel Lane. Emory A McCarthy, James.. Matson, Geo. J Moulton, Allen McClenthu, Chas. . . Moor, James Meher, Anthony . . . Manning, John Maynard, Henry A. Mandeville, Chas. . . McLean, Joseph McGovern, Michael.. Mulligan, John Moseley, Chas. D Nepage, Otto Norton, Wm Norton. Chauncey S. . Perry, Ebenezer . ... Patterson Frank H. . Reynolds, John D Rusher, Alonzo Slater, Jos. H Strong, Wm. A Sweeney, Thomas — Squires, Chas. H Stanley, Orrin Strowbridge. Geo. W. Sweeney. Dennis Sikes, Orlando Turney, Norman Teeter, Charles Van Marter, Enos — Vanderburg, Wm . . . Wat kins Amos R Wood, John L Webster, Solomon . . Wallace James J 150 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. COMPANY H. John F. Moschell, Captain. James HeiTon, First Lieutenant. Burritt N. Hurd .Second Lieutenant. . Babet, Frederick — Bailey, John Belsea, Lewis Bisgrove, Joseph Brown, Willi am Burt, William Button, Geo. H Casler, Allen Cegga, Pierce Comstock, Orville . . . Cronk, John J Clark, Aaron P DeGarney, Wm Dewey, Wm. H Downer, Wm. ■ W Dovle, Hugh Duff, John Emily, Thomas Etter, (ieo Clifford, Martin Grey, George Guider, John Gallagher, John Haffey, Dennis Hardin, James Helser, Edwin A Henderson, Deforest. Hiiliker, John H Hines, James Hubbard, Oliver Haviland, Samuel T.. . Huntley, Delos Hurlbut, Albert H.... Jefferson, James Jennings, Thomas, Jr. Jones, John King, James Leach, Ephraim Leonard, Harvey Manihan, James Markey, Patrick McCabe, John McCabe, John McDonald, James McGan, William Maxwell, McAilen McNamy, Peter Miller, John Morse, Leonard D Nash, Virgil M O'Brien, Patrick Oliver, Samuel C Pauik, Loan J Phillips, Herbert L — Porter, Henry T Reed, Edmund Sadler, Asa Sayres, David Sherwin, Fred C Sloan, Geo. B Smith, James Stapleton, John Stuid'evant, Geo. H.. . Tierney, John Thornton. James Tarcott, Paul Utter, Stephen A Van Arsdale, Geo Van Buskirk, Martin VanBuren, Abram... VanOrder, Kimball.. Wallace, James Warner, Henry L. . . . Webster, Herbert West, Roswell Wheeler, Alvin Whitcomb, David L. . Williams, Arthur Williams, Orrin Wood, EJa West, L. Nathaniel. . . Zimmerman, Jacob.. COMPANY I. Joseph Herron, Captain. Abbey, Ohas Allen, Hiram Avery, Francis W . . Barber, Gideon Barr, Hiram H Belanger, Joseph I. Bender, Charles — Blake, Edward Blythe, Chas Bowen, James Breen, Thomas Bisgrove, Joseph . . . Brownell, Morton. . Burger, Wm. N Barnes, Geo. W — Buttey, Edwin Butler, James Caliban, Jerry Canty, Michael. . . . Carter, Henry L — Casilman, Lorenzo. Cavilier, Benj. B.... Connor, Geo Churchill, Flavius . Clark, Stephen D. . . Clary, Thos Cochlin, Timothy . . . Cones, Geo. W Cook, Newton G Conroy, John ( 'rot'oot, Henry Delaney, John Derosse, Paul Dix, William Doyle, Joseph Drake, Horace L Ehle, Seymour Evans, Darwin Featherly, Harvey . . . Fredenburgh, Henry. Gaines, Anthony Gal ens, Peter Goudy, Jabez Harvey, Edward E. .. Hinman, .las. B Hoag, Harlan Hopkins, Wm. H — Hauser, John A Howes, John Hoyt, Jason W Hyde, Michael Kasson, Wm Kelly, John McCarthy, Dennis. . . McCracken, John — McLane, Edward — Mead, Albert Monroe, Conger Murphy, John Mundy, David Murray, James Price, Wm. H Reynolds, Burton . . . Richardson, Jos. M.. Rowe, Beazor Scott-, David F Secord, John L Shoff, Alexander Smith, James Sturdevant, Chas B., Seir, Leonard Trowbridge, W. IP. Van Nelson, Hosea... Watkins, Robt Whitewell, Chas. B.. Wiles, Leonard Wright, Eldred FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. 151 COMPANY K. John S. Hicks, Captain, .lerry Lester, First Lieutenant Levi Kraft, Second Lieutenant. Albring. Win. IL Avery, Daniel J. . Barber, Jolin P Batterson, Asa ... Bet Is. Milo Bowman, W m Boyce, Lyman Brewer, Sidney Broudock, Martin.. Brower, Wm. H. . . Brown, Geo Burgess, Thos. G. .. Carol 1, Edward Conklin, Eli Cook, Walter Coony, John C Davis, Nathaniel. .. Decker, Thorpe Devan, Win. W.. . Dockstaver, Geo.. . Dykenian, Delos. . Dennis, Caleb — Downer. Benj. H. Edick, Harvey Finck, Anthony. Finny, James ... Fowler, Ernest Gardner, Peter Galligher, Thos.... George, ('has. W. Greaves, Wm Halienbeck, David. Hammond, John F. Haskell, Josephus. . Higgins, Michael . . Ilorel. (has Hunt, Geo. W. Kresinger, Thos. . . . Kling, Peter Lamay, Peter Leach, John Lorter, Pur Leonard, Win. H . . . Maguire, Michael . McGovern, Henry . McGrath, Henry. . . Meher, Peter Mellville, Joseph. . . M it ice, Henry M. .. Nelson, Edward. . . Newbeaur, Geo Newcomb, Patrick. Perry, Wesley S.. '" Peterson, John Pew, Chas. S Preston, Alonzo H. Looi. Amos Robinson, .los Ryan, Geo. A Ryan, John A Schoonmaker, Silas W Seymour, Harvey Smith, Mclvin A Smith, George Sterling, John StelleS .lames W Stewart. David Sweeney, Rom Spurlock, Hubert J Torry. Robert E Turner, John Tarcott, Chas Van Allen, Peter Van Wagoner, John.. Vedder, Elisha Weaver. Ceo Welch, John West Joseph West, Newell Williamson, Edward . WiUoughby, Anson . . . Woodhridge, Henry. . . Yager, Luther E COMPANY L. Marshall M. Loydon. . Captain. Morris J. McCornell . .First Lieutenant, Babcock, Wm. H . . . Bailey, Lewis H Baldwin, Caleb Banta, Aaron T Bargus, Jos Barker, John Barr, Albert 8 Beck with, Thos Benjamin, Dunn &.. Bloomer, Wm Bowen, Samuel Broadhead, .las Bryan, Nathan Buchanan, .las. A... Burdick, Geo. K Burdiek, Jesse Burdick, Peleg Burns, James. Chilson. David W.... Clune, Frank Corey, Hiram ( 'art w right, Geo. W. Decker, Geo Decker, Jeremiah C. Dickson, David It Downey, James Downing. S. B Dunn, David L Edwards, Win Frazer, John W Gilson, Oliver P Gilson, Samuel H Goble, Thos. O Graham, James Heaton, Amos Ilighy. Chas. F llindlev, ('has Hudson. Sidney R .Johns, ('has Kelly, Michael Kent, .lames Kinney, Edward Lozier, Joseph Marshall, Chas Massen, Geo. R Mc< 'ahe. Owen McDonald, Leander. . . McDonald, Thos Milliken. Robt. S Murdock, Joseph S — Myers, Isaac Nicholak. ( 'lark Ogden, Gilbert B O'Neil. Nathaniel II. Page, < 'harles Puckard, Matthew 11.. Patten, Esau S Patterson, Chas. H — Patterson, Theodore. Peck, John .1 Penney, Theo. P Phillips, Courtland.. . ITesseV. Daniel O . . . . Puff, John W Remington. Jason I '• Robinson, Seth K — Rosecrans, Elijah Ross, Charles E Rump, Benj. A Say, John Sherman. John N Smith, Charles Smith. John W Spamback, John Stanton, William Thompson, James. . . Travis, John Turner, Thomas G.. Van Order. Charles.. Wallace. John II Webber, Samuel Westfall, Aaron T.. Westfall, ecu. w Welter, James II. . Wliilniniv.l 'has. W Willy, Jonas Wright. Wm. II 152 FIFTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. COMPANY M. Seth J. Steve, Captain, Edward Fuller Second Lieutenant Aklo, Levi Baker, Josiah Ballf, James Bates, James A Bennett, George Blackwell, Andrew J. . . Boynton, Huel K Beecher, Milton Bulus, Oscar . * Burk, Michael Butcher, John Carpenter, Wm Celle, James R Clark, Frank Clark, Geo. M Cole, Charles Corcoran, Richard Cosgriff, Peter Crandall, Noyes F Culver, John H Curry, Joseph Curry, Jas. Jr Daly, John Dampsy, James Davison, Maxwel Dawson, Thomas Delemater, Hezekiah . . Depew, Wm. H Donovan, Charles Fox, William Gardner, Thos. O Gracey, James Griffin, Jesse Gough, Philip Grady, Michael Hall, George Hennessy, Patrick Hesse, Herman Higens, John Hill, Theodore Hurkley, Dier Holmes, Henry H Hubbell, Charles Huycke, George Jarvis, Kobert Jones, Edward Jones, Edwin Jones, Walker D. Keeting, John Kelly, Samuel Kent, Sanford L King, Bernard Kipp, Geo. B Lane, John YV Linderman, H. Willett. Little, Edward W McConnell, James McLaughlin. John E... Miller, Frederick A Monaghan, Patrick K. Norton, Ashbel Palmer, Lory Parker, John R Perry, Theodore A Porter, Edward Porter, William Raidy, John Shaw, Thos., Jr Sheldon, Thomas Shorey, Joseph Skelley, John Sneed, Henry C Spanier, John P Sutliff, Edward Thayer, Warren Turck, Abram Uncer, John Van Beuschoten, Geo. . Watson, Winslow J Williams, John Wilson, George Wilson, James H 122 80 , i i » —^fyv " y sty- **. *+ : v«* N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962 *b