Coi,. AND BvT. Maj. Gen'l Luther S. Trowbridge 
 
Prepared at the request of the Adjutant- 
 General of Michigan 
 
 A Brief History 
 
 of the 
 
 Tenth Michigan Cavalry 
 
 By General L. S. Trowbridge 
 
 Late Colonel of the Regiment 
 
 Together with half-to7ies of the photographs of 
 all its Officers, front its organization to its 
 muster out, and a map showing the 
 theater of its active operations. 
 
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 To My Comrades of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry : 
 
 I think a word of explanation is due. In consenting to 
 prepare this history for the Adjutant General, I did not 
 fully appreciate the limitations that were imposed. The 
 space to which I was limited necessarily prevented giving 
 to many matters the importance which they really de- 
 served, while much of the details and many of the minor 
 matters had to be omitted altogether. 
 
 I thought a map would be of interest, but I could find 
 none published that was available, and I was therefore 
 put to the necessity of having one made. Thanks to the 
 generous ofifer of my friend, Mr. F. C. Leeseman, late an 
 officer of the German Army, now residing in this city, 
 who volunteered to do the work under my direction, I 
 am able to present a map which shows accurately the ac- 
 tive operations of the regiment, except in West Tennes- 
 see in the fall of 1865. To have extended it so as to em- 
 brace that territory would have made it too large, and as 
 the service there was after the war was over, it was 
 thought to be unnecessary. In East Tennessee the coun- 
 try was marched over and fought over so many times 
 
that it was impracticable to show each expedition by it- 
 self. It is thought, however, that the names of places 
 and dates of engagements in connection with the history 
 will sufficiently indicate the different expeditions in which 
 the regiment took part. 
 
 The preparation of the history and the map has been a 
 
 great pleasure to me, and my chief regret is that more 
 
 full and ample notice could not have been given to all, 
 
 and the many minor engagements in which they took 
 
 part. With this parting salutation, I bid you all hail 
 
 and farewell, 
 
 L. S. TROWBRIDGE. 
 
 Detroit, Mich., March 15, 1905. 
 
History of the 
 
 Tenth Michigan Cavalry 
 
 The Tenth Michigan Cavalry was organized in the sum- 
 mer and fall of 1863, under authority given to the Hon. F. 
 W. Kellogg, Representative in Congress, who had shown 
 great zeal and efficiency in raising troops. It rendezvoused 
 at Grand Rapids. All the field officers of the regiment had 
 seen service in other regiments — the Colonel and Junior Ma- 
 jor in the Sixth Michigan Cavalry; the Lieutenant-Colonel 
 in the Fifth Michigan Cavalry; the Senior Major in the 
 Third Michigan Infantry, where he had won merited dis- 
 tinction in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, in 
 the latter of which he was seriously wounded while serving 
 on the staff of General De Trobriand ; the Second Major in 
 the Third Michigan Cavalry, where he distinguished him- 
 self by the capture of a large band of troublesome guerillas 
 in Western Tennessee. 
 
 The full organization of the regiment was as follows : 
 Colonel Thaddeus Foote, Grand Rapids. Lieutenant Col- 
 onel Luther S. Trowbridge, Detroit. Senior Major, Israel 
 C. Smith, Grand Rapids. Second Major, Cicero Newell, 
 Ypsilanti. Junior Major, Wesley Armstrong, Lapeer. Ad- 
 jutant, Charles E. Soule, Muir. Quartermaster, Oliver N. 
 Taylor, Grand Rapids. Commissary, Don A. Dodge, Grand 
 
8 History of the Tenth Michigan Cavai^ry 
 
 Rapids. Surgeon, David C. Spalding, Muir, Assistant 
 Surgeon, Charles W. Leonard, Newaygo. Assistant Sur- 
 geon, William D. Scott, Greenville. Chaplain, Henry Cher- 
 ry, Owosso. 
 
 Co. A. Captain, John H. Standish, Brooks. First Lieu- 
 tenant, Henry W. Sears, Muskegon. Second Lieutenant 
 Wallace B. Dickinson, Newaygo. 
 
 Co. B. Captain, Rhoderick L. Bryan, Franklin. First 
 Lieutenant, Adam R. Insley, Muir. Second Lieutenant, 
 Samuel T. Bryan, Franklin. 
 
 Co. C. Captain, Benjamin K. Weatherwax, Grand Rap- 
 ids; First Lieutenant, Stephen V. Thomas, Elba. Second 
 Lieutenant, L. Wellington Hinman, Elba. 
 
 Co. D. Captain, Archibald Stevenson, Bay City. First 
 Lieutenant, F'rederick N. Field, Grand Rapids. Second Lieu- 
 tenant, William H. Dunn, Ganges. 
 
 Co. E. Captain, Harvey E. Light, Eureka. First Lieu- 
 tenant, Edwin J. Brooks, Leelanaw. Second Lieutenant, 
 Robert G. Barr, Grand Rapids. 
 
 Co. F. Captain, Chauncey F. Shepherd, Owosso, First 
 Lieutenant, William E. Cummin, Corunna. Second Lieu- 
 tenant, Myron A. Converse, Corunna. 
 
 Co. G. Captain^ James B. Roberts, Ionia. First Lieuten- 
 ant, Ambrose L. Soule, Lyons. Second Lieutenant, George 
 W. French, Lyons. 
 
 Co. H. Captain, Peter N. Cook, Antrim. First Lieuten- 
 ant, Edgar P. Byerly, Owosso. Second Lieutenant, John 
 Q. A. Cook, Antrim. 
 
 Co. L Captain, Amos T. Ayers, Bingham. First Lieu- 
 tenant, Enos B. Bailey, Bingham. Second Lieutenant, 
 George M. Farnham, St. Johns. 
 
Capt. and Bvt. Maj. James H. Cummins 
 
History of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 9 
 
 Co. K. Captain, Andrew J. Itsell, Marion. First Lieu- 
 tenant, William T. Merritt, Eaton Rapids. Second Lieu- 
 tenant, William Yerrington, Muir. 
 
 Co L. Captain, Elliott F. Covell, Grand Rapids. First 
 Lieutenant, James H. Cummins, Holly. Second Lieutenant, 
 Edwin A. Botsford, Fenton. 
 
 Co. M. Captain, James L. Smith, Plainfield. First Lieu- 
 tenant, B. Franklin Sherman, Virginia. Second Lieutenant, 
 Jeremiah W. Boynton, Grand Rapids. 
 
 The organization having been completed, and the ranks 
 filled, the regiment was ordered to Lexington, Kentucky, 
 where it arrived on the 5th of December, and there received 
 its horses and camp and garrison equipage. After remain- 
 ing at Lexington one week, the regiment was ordered to 
 Camp Nelson, where it arrived on December 13th, and re- 
 mained there until January 25th. On December 30th, Co. 
 H, under command of Captain Cook, started for Knoxville 
 in charge of a drove of cattle for the army in East Tennessee, 
 but a superior force of the enemy relieved them of the fur- 
 ther care of the cattle, and they were appropriated by the 
 enemy's commissary. The stay at Camp Nelson was ex- 
 ceedingly unpleasant, the weather intensely cold, and much 
 sickness in camp. There were other troops there and large 
 depots of supplies for the quartermaster and commissary de- 
 partments, and some hospitals not well constructed for cold 
 weather, as many men were reported as having frozen to 
 death in them. The regiment suffered much from sickness 
 and disease, and it was a great relief when orders came to 
 move to Knoxville, via. Burnside Point. After a very leis- 
 urely march, mostly in pleasant weather, the regiment 
 
10 History of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 
 
 reached Burnside Point February 1st. The question of sup- 
 plies, especially of forage, was still a serious one at Knox- 
 ville, and consequently the march to that point was not has- 
 tened, and it remained at Burnside Point, protecting boats 
 while collecting forage on the Cumberland river, and dis- 
 charging other appropriate duties until February 39th, when 
 it started for Knoxville. To all who participated in it, that 
 march across the mountains will long be remembered as one 
 of especial discomfort. Rain, snow, sleet and ice made the 
 marching very imcomfortable for both men and horses. 
 Heavy branches overloaded with snow were breaking on 
 all sides. One man of Co. E was seriously injured, and had 
 to be left behind at the first available stopping place, while 
 the Colonel narrowly escaped injury from a large branch, 
 which struck his horse. Ail discomforts, however, have an 
 end some time, and as the regiment wound down the side of 
 the Cumberland Mountains above Jacksboro, it presented a 
 sight worthy the attention of the greatest artists. The view 
 from the top of the mountains was one of rare beauty. After 
 a tedious delay in crossing the Clinch River at Clinton by a 
 small and inadequate ferry, Knoxville was finally reached on 
 the evening of March 6th. Remained at Knoxville until the 
 9th, when ordered to report to the Major General Command- 
 ing at Morristown, via Strawberry Plains. At Mossy Creek 
 received orders to make a reconnaissance to the mouth of 
 Chucky River, thence to Springvale, if possible, thence to 
 Morristown. The reconnaissance was made, and although 
 no enemy was seen, it gave the men a taste of real business. 
 Upon reaching Morristown, ordered to report to Colonel 
 Gerrard, commanding Cavalry Division. The whole army 
 fell back to Mossy Creek. One incident of the ser\'ice with 
 
History of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 11 
 
 Colonel Gerrard will be recalled with interest by all who 
 participated in it. The whole division made a reconnais- 
 sance to Morristown and Russellville, when the regiment, 
 under the command of Lt.-Col. Trowbridge, was 
 sent to Hugh Kane's to get forage. On March 23 a violent 
 storm of wet snow came on, and as the snow balled greatly 
 under the horses' feet the march was very hard on the horses 
 and very cold and chilly for the men. When they reached 
 Mr. Kane's (he was a very thorough union man) they were 
 received by a most hearty welcome. Mr. Kane came out to 
 welcome them, and said, "Come in. I have been looking for 
 you. The day they were fighting at Bean's Station I hid a 
 lot of corn in the hay mow, as I thought you would want it 
 some day." "But, Mr. Kane," said the commanding officer, 
 "there is one thing that we want almost more than corn. 
 My men are almost frozen with this wet storm. We want 
 some fires." "Oh, well," said he, "don't you see all those 
 fence rails? Help yourselves, only leave those around the 
 house." Then he took all the officers in and gave them such 
 a dinner as they had not had before in Tennessee. Of such 
 stuff were made the sturdy union men of East Tennessee. 
 The regiment returned to Mossy Creek, and the next 
 day received orders to report to General Thomas 
 J. Wood, commanding a division of the Fourth 
 Corps at Rutledge. The service with General Wood 
 was made up of outpost duty — scouting and reconnaissance 
 — with nothing worthy of note except the lessons learned in 
 practical campaigning, of which the men were in need. It 
 continued until the 6th of April, when the regiment was or- 
 dered to Strawberry Plains to recruit the horses. 
 During the month of March, two companies, under Captain 
 
12 History of the Tenth Michigan Cavai^ry 
 
 Light, were detached for service at Knoxville. The com- 
 mand was afterwards increased to four companies under 
 the same officer. The service was pleasant and important, 
 consisting of picket duty, courier and escort duty, with some 
 scouting when occasion required. They had the disadvan- 
 tage, however, of being away from the regiment and missing 
 many of its interesting and exciting experiences. Captain 
 Light was highly commended by Generals Tillson and Am- 
 men for his fidelity and zeal. East Tennessee 
 had been so much of a thoroughfare for the two 
 armies that it was pretty well stripped of all supplies, and it 
 was difficult to obtain forage for the horses or provisions 
 for the men away from the railroad. April 20th the regi- 
 ment was ordered to move with all effective force to Bull's 
 Gap, to report to General Cox. The Colonel being indis- 
 posed, the command fell on Lieutenant Colonel Trowbridge. 
 Upon reporting to General Cox he was informed that he 
 was to take six companies of the Third Indiana Cavalry, be- 
 sides the Tenth, with Hanson's Brigade of Infantry in sup- 
 port, and move to Carter's Station to destroy a large railroad 
 bridge over the Wautauga River. The movement was to be 
 made with as much ostentation as practicable, so as to lead the 
 enemy to believe that it was the advance of an army in the 
 hope that at its approach the enemy might destroy the bridge, 
 but if he did not, then the force was to destroy the bridge, 
 and falling back, destroy the railroad as much as possible 
 back to Bull's Gap. Upon reaching Jonesboro, it was 
 learned that the bridge was defended by General A. E. Jack- 
 son with a strong force on the north side, occupying a re- 
 doubt, and extensive and well constructed rifle pits on the 
 south side of the river. Colonel Trowbridge, thinking it 
 
Maj. Harvey E. Light 
 
History of the Tenth Michigan Cavai.ry 13 
 
 possible to capture the entire force, divided his command 
 and directed Major Smith with one portion to cross the 
 river at a ford below the bridge and get in the rear. Upon 
 the approach of Smith's command the detachment guarding 
 the ford precipitately lied, but the river was found to be not 
 fordable, and the attempt had to be abandoned, and Smith 
 rejoined his command on the south side of the river. The 
 cavalry was dismounted and deployed and advancing soon 
 received the enemy's fire. In addition to the force in the 
 redoubt and rifle pits, the force on the other side of the river 
 swept the open ground with a hot cross fire. The ground 
 in front of the redoubt and rifle pits was perfectly open for 
 two or three hundred yards, and it seemed a risky thing to 
 attempt an assault with a thin line of dismounted cavalry. It 
 was apparent, however, that if the bridge was to be de- 
 stroyed, these men must be driven out. Moreover as this 
 was the first serious business in which the regiment had been 
 engaged, the effect upon it of a successful assault would be 
 very marked, while to retire without accomplishing anything 
 would be very dispiriting. So the assault was ordered, and 
 as the long thin line sprang forward with a cheer the enemy 
 broke and fled. Major Smith was the first man inside the 
 works, and Captain Weatherwax the second. As soon as 
 they were joined by sufificient men, they dashed over the hill 
 on which the redoubt was built, expecting to further rout 
 the enemy and capture many prisoners before they could 
 cross the river. They were met, however, by a destructive 
 volley from a mill in which the enemy had taken refuge. 
 That volley killed Captain Weatherwax and two men, and 
 wounded sixteen. The rest of the men fell back under cover 
 of the brow of the hill. Although a strong position had been 
 
14 History of the Tenth Michigan Cavai,ry 
 
 gained, it was found to be still impracticable to reach the 
 bridge without exposure to a destructive fire. Word was 
 therefore sent to General Manson at Jonesboro that the ene- 
 my was in too strong a force and held too good a position to 
 be dislodged by the cavalry, and suggesting that if he 
 thought the destruction of the bridge of sufficient importance 
 he would better come on with his brigade of infantry. He 
 replied that he did not consider the destruction of the bridge 
 important enough for that, and directed the cavalry to re- 
 turn, doing such damage to the railroad as they could. This 
 was done, and so ended the first serious business in which 
 the regiment had been engaged. Should it be thought that 
 too much space has been given to this unimportant affair, it 
 may be answered that the importance of a matter cannot al- 
 ways be determined by immediate results. The effect on the 
 regiment of a successful assault on superior numbers in well 
 constructed defenses had not been miscalculated, and un- 
 doubtedly had much to do with making the regiment the 
 strong aggressive force which it afterwards became. Men- 
 tion of this incident should not be closed without a just 
 tribute of praise to Captain Weatherwax. He was a noble 
 man, and a soldier of dauntless courage. His loss was 
 most deeply felt. The command of the company naturally fell 
 to Lieutenant S. V. Thomas, who was promoted to fill the 
 vacancy, and proved himself a worthy successor. 
 
 On reaching Bull's Gap it was learned that preparations 
 were being hurried for the infantry to join General Sher- 
 man's army at Chattanooga. The Tenth was directed to 
 remain at Bull's Gap until the last train had left, and then to 
 move out immediately. This being done, the regiment re- 
 turned to camp at Strawberry Plains. 
 
History of the Tenth Michigan CavaIvRy 15 
 
 All available troops, except necessary garrisons, had gone 
 to join Sherman's army. The Tenth was the only cavalry 
 left in East Tennessee. Its outpost and picket duty, its con- 
 stant scouting and responsibility for the frontier in the di- 
 rection of Virginia, gave it plenty of work to do. It was 
 important work, too, and work that must be done by some- 
 body, but there was no chance for glory in it, except such 
 glory as attaches to the faithful performance of duty. There 
 was plenty of scouting — plenty of hard work — plenty of 
 fighting — severe and gallant fighting, but on a small 
 scale. When such great things were going on in 
 other parts of the great theater of war, as in 
 Virginia and Georgia, it could not be expected 
 that the operations of a single regiment of cavalry in East 
 Tennessee would attract much attention. Headquarters and 
 a permanent camp were established at Strawberry Plains, 
 and the regiment assigned to the Second Brigade, Fourth 
 Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, commanded respec- 
 tively by Generals Tillson, Ammen and Schofield. After 
 matters had settled down to working order. General Tillson 
 sent for Colonel Trowbirdge and informed him that a small 
 fort had been laid out and partially constructed by an en- 
 gineer officer for the protection of the large railroad bridge 
 at Strawberry Plains, and he was directed to go on and fin- 
 ish it. Upon examining the work, it was thought that a 
 mistake had been made in laying it out unless it was intended 
 to put the guns in barbette. General Tillson was consulted 
 about it, and declared most emphatically that he would never 
 put guns in barbette, but always in embrasures, but he thought 
 no mistake had been made in laying out the work, as he had 
 done it himself. Colonel Trowbridge being still satisfied 
 
18 History of the Tenth Michigan Cavai<ry 
 
 that a mistake had been made, prepared a diagram of the 
 work and a sketch of the surrounding country, which showed 
 plainly enough that if the guns were put in embrasures, not 
 one could be brought to bear on any one of the prominent 
 points where the enemy would be likely to plant his batteriea 
 On being shown this diagram and sketch, General Tillson 
 burst out laughing and said, "I wrote you that I laid out 
 that work ; I did not actually lay it out myself, but I ex- 
 plained to the engineer what I wanted. It is plain to see 
 that he did not understand me, or he did not know how to 
 do it. You are clearly right, so go ahead and change the 
 faces of the work according to your ideas." 
 
 It became necessary to change every one of the five faces 
 of the work, and when completed it was a strong fortification 
 of its class. This matter would not have been considered 
 v/orthy of mention except for the fact that on two occasions 
 afterwards a small force was enabled by it to repulse attacks 
 from largely outnumbering forces of the enemy, whereas if 
 the fort had been finished as originally laid out, the enemy 
 could have maintained a constant fire from a dozen batteries, 
 indefinitely, without coming within the range of a single gim 
 from the fort. As it was, their guns were knocked out of 
 commission very soon after they showed themselves. 
 
 Startling reports came from headquarters in Knoxville of 
 large bodies of the enemy coming down from Rogersville. 
 After several such alarms, it was thought best to make a 
 good preparation for any such attack, and work at the fort 
 was suspended, and all hands put to work constructing some 
 rifle pits of permanent value. It was astonishing how much 
 could be accomplished by concentrated eflFort, with a few 
 picks and spades, and in one afternoon some very respectable 
 
Officers of thk Tenth ]\Iichigan CAVALR^■ 
 
 Col. 
 Thaddeus Foote 
 
 Col. and Bvt. Mai. 
 
 Gen. 
 
 Luther S. Trowbridge 
 
 Col. and Bvt. Brig. Gen. 
 Israel C. Smith 
 
 ^^ ^ 
 
 Major 
 Cicero Newell 
 
 Lt. Col. and Bvt. Col. 
 John H. Standish 
 
Okfickrs ok THiv Tenth Michigan Cavai.kv 
 
 1st Lieut, and Adjt. 
 Charles E. Soule 
 
History op the Tenth Michigan Cavai^ry 17 
 
 rifle pits were dug, which gave the men a sense of security, 
 and furnished a rallying place easily found in the darkest 
 night. These rifle pits were extended and strengthened until 
 in a short time the camp had become an entrenched camp of 
 no small strength and importance. With frequent reports 
 of the enemy, and necessary scouting in different directions, 
 with work on the fort between times, the time was well oc- 
 cupied. 
 
 On May 28th Colonel Foote, with 160 men, made a recon- 
 naissance to Greenville, where he encountered Major Arn- 
 old's Battalion. A brisk fight ensued, in which the enemy 
 was completely routed, losing 84 men killed, 14 wounded 
 and 26 taken prisoners, besides 38 horses and mules and 17 
 negroes. One man, Sergeant Clark, of Co. A, was wounded 
 in the knee. It was a very creditable affair, and served to 
 increase the reputation of the regiment as a fighting organi- 
 zation. On the return march Colonel Foote was slightly 
 wounded in the foot by the accidental discharge of his own 
 pistol. 
 
 June 14th General Tillson was informed that the enemy 
 had a large number of horses, estimated at 1,000, in pasture 
 near Kingsport, and Lieutenant Colonel Trowbridge, with 
 such force as could be spared from the camp, was directed 
 to attempt their capture. He very unexpectedly met a party 
 of the enemy at Bean's Station, which was promptly charged 
 by the advance guard and portions of Companies C and M, 
 under Captain Roberts. The charge was a spirited one, and 
 the enemy was put to flight. One of them was badly wound- 
 ed and left at Colonel Garrett's house. After charging them 
 for about two miles, Captain Roberts wisely called a halt. 
 
18 History of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 
 
 Lieutenant Brooks of Company M, however, being in ad- 
 vance, and smarting under some ill-treatment from a superior 
 officer, kept up the pursuit with a few men for about ten 
 miles. The command went into camp about eight miles 
 from Rogersville. Taking an early start the next morning, 
 the enemy was again met before proceeding a mile, and an- 
 other brisk fight ensued. Co. D led in a charge in which 
 three of the enemy were killed and one mortally wounded. 
 The only loss sustained by the charging party was one man 
 of Co. D — Corporal Benton — wounded in the leg. The com- 
 mand moved on to Kingsport, but all hope of capturing the 
 horses had to be abandoned, as couriers had been sent on to 
 give warning, and the horses had been removed. The next 
 morning, while giving the horses a much needed feed in a 
 meadow near Blountsville, the enemy made a sudden dash 
 on our pickets, but was promptly driven back. One man of 
 Co, M, coming in from picket when the attack was made, 
 was mistaken for one of the enemy and lost an arm by a 
 shot from one of our own men. For conveience in foraging, 
 the command was divided into three parts and sent by differ- 
 ent routes for the camp at Strawberry Plains, where it ar- 
 rived on June 21st without further incident worthy of note. 
 In a brief history like this it is impossible to make mention 
 of every movement of every detachment of the regiment. 
 An affair occurred at Wilsonville, about twenty-five or thirty 
 miles north of east from Sevierville, which showed the stead- 
 iness of the men in presence of sudden danger. Lieutenant 
 Dunn was ordered with twenty-five men to attempt the res- 
 cue of Colonel Fry of the East Tennesseeans, a valuable 
 scout and guide, who had been captured by a roving band of 
 guerrillas. Soon after leaving Sevierville, he struck the 
 
History of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 19 
 
 track of a party of about the same size as his own, which 
 had been robbing the citizens right and left, and was mak- 
 ing for the mountains. He followed them all day, and part 
 of the next, until they reached the mountains without bring- 
 ing them to action. As he could learn nothing of Colonel 
 Fry, and there were no prisoners wuth the band he was pur- 
 suing, he deemed it proper to return. At Wilsonville, while 
 unbridled and unsaddled and feeding in a meadow, they were 
 charged by the same party they had been pursuing, rein- 
 forced by about sixty men, who killed one of the pickets, 
 Bert or David A. Crammer, of Ottawa County, but when 
 they reached the field where the horses were feeding, they 
 were met by a sharp fire from the Spencer carbines, which 
 killed and wounded six men and two horses. As soon as 
 the men could be mounted, pursuit was made, but the enemy 
 seemed quite unwilling to come within range of the Spencer 
 carbines again, and kept at a respectful distance. 
 
 It must be sufficient for many such matters to say that 
 there was constant scouting in pretty much all directions to- 
 ward the Virginia line. Reports were made of the approach 
 of the enemy in larger or smaller bodies, and in order to keep 
 well informed and ready for any emergency, it was neces- 
 sary to keep scouting parties out all the time. On July 31st 
 orders were received by Colonel Trowbridge to take 250 men 
 and go up the country to destroy bridges on the Wautauga 
 and Houlston Rivers. Major Smith went up with three 
 companies from Knoxville to join the expedition. At Alor- 
 ristown they met Major Arnold's battalion of rebel cavalry. 
 Major Smith, with one battalion, immediately charged them 
 and drove them through the town and up the road to Russell- 
 ville, where Major Smith was detached with one battalion 
 
20 History of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 
 
 to get in their rear at Bull's Gap, but they succeeded in get- 
 ling away by taking the Snapp's Ferry road. The Tenth 
 then moved on to Greenville, where it being evident that the 
 attempt to destroy the bridges would be fruitless, the com- 
 mand returned to Strawberry Plains, where it arrived on 
 the 5th of August. On that day Colonel Foote went home 
 on leave of absence, and on the 10th word was received of 
 the acceptance of his resignation. Exciting rumors contin- 
 ued to come in of the proximity of large bodies of confeder- 
 ate cavalry, and their threatening attitude, which caused 
 work on the defenses at Strawberry Plains to the pushed 
 with the greatest vigor, although it is doubtful if anyone 
 really apprehended a serious attack. It is easy to be de- 
 ceived, and so in order to be well prepared for such an 
 event, work was rushed and scouting parties sent out in 
 every direction where a confederate force was reported. An 
 indented line of rifle pits had been run from the fort to the 
 railroad, and strengthened by piling up railroad ties. On 
 the 17th of August General Joe Wheeler, of Hood's Army, 
 and later of much repute in the Spanish- American war, was 
 reported to have cut the railroad at Athens, and was ap- 
 proaching with his corps of cavalry, with several batteries 
 of artillery. It seems that. Mashing to get into Middle Ten- 
 nessee, to cut up the communcations of Sherman's Army, 
 he was obliged to go above Knoxville, in order to cross the 
 Holston River, there being no fords below Knoxville, and 
 the ferries all being in possession of the Union troops. On 
 the same day there arrived at Strawberry Plains from Mid- 
 dle Tennessee a brigade of three regiments of cavalry, under 
 command of General A. C. Gillem. These regiments were 
 well armed and splendidly mounted, having had their pick 
 
Officers of the Tenth Michk^ax Cavalry 
 
 1st Lt. and R. Q, M. 
 Alphonso A. Maxim, ir 
 
 1st Lt. and R. C. S. 
 
 Don A. Dodge 
 
Officers of thf; Tenth Mjchk;an Ca\ alkv 
 
 1st Asst. Surg. 
 William D. Scott 
 
 2nd Asst. Surg. 
 Thomas Shaw 
 
History of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 21 
 
 of horses from the well stocked farms of Middle Tennessee. 
 General Gillem claimed to have a command independent of 
 the officers at Knoxville, and to have been sent to East Ten- 
 nessee at the urgent request of Andrew Johnson, then Mili- 
 tary Governor of l^nnessee, to rid that section of the state 
 of the presence of confederate troops. Colonel Trowbridge 
 was ordered to report to him with every available man that 
 could be mustered in his regiment. Such a force judiciously 
 handled in contesting the fords of the Holston, hanging on 
 the flanks of Wheeler's command, and attacking whenever 
 and wherever opportunity ofifered, could have greatly im- 
 peded the march of Wheeler, and doubtless could have 
 picked up many prisoners. Instead of that course, however. 
 General Gillem decided to go towards Virginia, and on the 
 19th moved to New Market, with the Tenth in advance. An 
 incident occurred on this march which tested the steadiness 
 of the regiment in a new and unexpected manner. The com- 
 mand stopped at a small stream to water. Company A, 
 under Lieutenant Converse, was in the advance of the col- 
 umn, with two companies under the command of Captain 
 Sears a mile or so further in advance as an advance guard. 
 The General, with his staff and an escort of two full com- 
 panies, had moved out after watering. Co. A had finished 
 watering, and the Colonel, after giving directions how to 
 hasten the watering, went to the head of the column, when 
 back from the front in a wild race came the General with 
 his staff, orderlies and escort, wildly shouting, 'T'm ruined, 
 I'm ruined, I'm ruined — they are right on us, they are right 
 on us," and went galloping back to the rear, apparently very 
 much in a panic. It would not have been remarkable if the 
 panic had communicated to the rest of the command, but 
 
22 History of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 
 
 the voice of the Colonel rang out clear and strong, "Steady, 
 Co. A, draw sabre, forward, trot, march," If there had 
 been any fear of a panic it was over, and the regiment 
 trotted on to the advance guard, only to learn that the 
 alarm was without any foundation in fact. But the Tenth 
 had a chance to show its nerve, and it showed it. On the 
 23rd Giltner's brigade was met at Blue Springs, and a sharp 
 fight ensued, in which six men in Co. A and one in Co. L 
 were wounded, three of whom died. The enemy was dis- 
 lodged from a strong position, pursued for several miles and 
 driven in confusion through Greenville. Instead of follow- 
 ing the enemy up, the command was switched over to 
 Rogersville, and for several days nothing was done worthy 
 of note except to march down to Bean's Station to keep away 
 from Wheeler, when it was learned that Wheeler had gone 
 into Middle Tennessee. Colonel Trowbridge was sent to 
 camp by General Gillem on some duty, leaving Major Newell 
 in command. 
 
 While the Colonel was away occurred an affair reflecting 
 great credit on the regiment and all the ofificers concerned, 
 and worthy of a more extended notice than the writer can 
 give it by reason of lack of authentic information on the 
 subject. He cannot recall that any written report was made 
 at the time, of the part taken by the regiment, and he has 
 endeavored by correspondence and otherwise to get at the 
 facts. While the different accounts agree as to the principal 
 facts, they differ widely in matters of detail. 
 
 Mrs. Joe Williams, a loyal woman of Greenville, rode one 
 dark night to General Gillem's camp at Bulls Gap and noti- 
 fied the General of the presence at Greenville, eighteen miles 
 away, of General John H. Morgan and his command. It was 
 
History of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 23 
 
 a very dark and stormy night, the ith of September. Gillem 
 moved out with his command, with the 10th Michigan in the 
 advance. They struck the pickets of Vaughn's brigade at 
 Copper Ridge a few miles west of Greenville. They cap- 
 tured the first picket post, and moved on the second, when 
 Vaughn's brigade opened fire on them from behind Copper 
 Ridge. Major Newell dismounted and deployed the advance 
 battalion under Captain Light, and followed the enemy 
 towards Greenville. There was more or less firing on the 
 way, and it seems strange that it did not arouse the force 
 in Greenville. A story was current at the time that General 
 Morgan had given orders the night before to have all the 
 fire arms discharged at daylight, and when the firing was 
 heard it was supposed to be only the result of that order. At 
 all events, when the 9th Tennessee and the 10th Michigan 
 charged into town, the enemy was in no condition to resist, — 
 some were getting their breakfasts, others cleaning up their 
 equipments, and all unprepared for an attack. The 12th 
 Tennessee under Colonel Miller had gone around to the east 
 of the town to come in on the flank and rear of the enemy. 
 General Morgan and staff were at the house of Mrs. Will- 
 iams, the mother-in-law of the woman who had carried the 
 information to General Gillem at Bull's Gap. The men of 
 the 9th Tennessee learning that fact surrounded the house. 
 Morgan ran out of the rear door, seeking to escape by hid- 
 ing in a grape arbor. He was seen by a member of the 9th 
 Tennessee, who ordered him to halt, and upon his disregard- 
 ing the order, he was shot and killed. His staflf, among 
 whom was a grandson of Henry Clay, 100 prisoners and 6 
 pieces of artillery were captured. 
 
 In this fight the 10th did its full share, and great credit 
 is due to Major Newell for the coolness and skill with which 
 
24 History of the Tenth Michigan Cavai,ry 
 
 he handled his men, as well as to the officers and men of his 
 command for the promptness and zeal with which they 
 executed his orders. 
 
 When Colonel Trowbridge reported to General Gillem for 
 duty, he took with him every man from Strawberry Plains 
 who was fit for duly, leaving behind 125 men who were con- 
 valescent, blacksmiths, horse farriers, and other special duty 
 men. There was also in the fort which the regiment had 
 constructed a section of a field battery of light artillery, 
 Colvin's Illinois Battery. While the regiment was away 
 Wheeler came up with his cavalry corps of six thousand men 
 and nine pieces of artillery. Standish played a splendid game 
 of bluff, blazing away with his two field pieces as if he had a 
 great sufficiency of men stowed away somewhere. General 
 Williams, commanding one of Wheeler's divisions, and 
 known in the old army as Cerro Gordo Williams, was told 
 by some of the rebel citizens that there were no troops there, 
 that they had all gone up the country. He replied, "Oh, you 
 can't fool me. Those Yankees are full of tricks. Those men 
 wouldn't be walking about there so unconcerned if they 
 hadn't plenty of men to back them." Standish had sent a 
 sergeant, Edward Drew, and seven men to guard McMillan's 
 ford. One of the men, formerly a corporal, was disgruntled 
 at having been reduced to the ranks, and went ofif on his own 
 hook, so that only seven were left. One of them was a horse 
 farrier of Co. B, by the name of Alexander H. Griggs, of 
 Wayne County. These seven men actually kept 
 back a rebel brigade from crossing at that 
 ford for three hours, and a half by desperate 
 fighting — disabling more than fifty. The rebels 
 finally, by swimming the river above and below this little 
 
Officers of the Tenth Michigan Cavai,rv 
 
 Capt. and Bvt. Maj. 
 William H. Dunn 
 
 Capt. 
 
 Ben. K. Weatherwax 
 
Officers of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 
 
 Capt. 
 Stephen V. Thomas 
 
 Wk ^ 
 
 Capt. 
 George M. Farnham 
 
 Capt, 
 James B. Roberts 
 
 Capt. 
 Ambrose L. Soule 
 
 Capt. 
 William E. Cummin 
 
History of the Tenth Michigan Cavai,ry 25 
 
 party, and out of their sight, succeeded in surrounding and 
 capturing them all. During the fight Griggs was badly 
 wounded. General Wheeler, who crossed over with the 
 brigade, was much impressed by the valor of these men, and 
 at once paroled a man to stay and take care of Griggs, par- 
 ticularly cautioning him to take good care of him, as he was 
 too brave a man to be allowed to die. Approaching the 
 wounded farrier, the following dialogue is said to have taken 
 place. 
 
 General Wheeler — Well, my man, how many men had you 
 at this ford ? 
 
 Griggs — Seven, sir. 
 
 Wheeler — My poor fellow, don't you know that you are 
 badly wounded You might as well tell me the truth; you 
 may not live long. 
 
 Griggs (indignantly) — I am telling you the truth, sir. We 
 only had seven men. 
 
 Wheeler (laughing) — Well, what did you expect to do? 
 
 Griggs — To keep you from crossing, sir. 
 
 Wheeler (greatly amused and laughing) — Well, why 
 didn't you do it? 
 
 Griggs — Why you see we did until you hit me, and that 
 weakened our forces so much that you were too much for us. 
 
 Wheeler was greatly amused, and turning to another pris- 
 oner (who happened also to be a horse farrier — John Dunn, 
 of Co. I), inquired to what regiment they belonged. On 
 being informed he said, "Are all the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 
 like you ?" "Oh, no," said Dunn, "we are the poorest of the 
 lot. We are mostly horse farriers and blacksmiths and spe- 
 cial duty men, and not much accustomed to fighting." 
 "Well," said Wheeler, "if I had 300 such men as you, I 
 could march straight through h — 1." 
 
26 History of the Tenth Michigan Cavai,ry 
 
 On the same day Major Smith, of the Tenth, was sent out 
 from Knoxville with seventy-two men, all the mounted force 
 
 that could be mustered, to scout in the direction of Straw- 
 berry Plains, and ascertain the strength and position of the 
 enemy. The authorities at Knoxville had become a little 
 anxious over the near approach of so large a body of the 
 enemy's troops, for while the fortifications were extensive 
 and very strong, the garrison was sufficient to man them 
 only very inadequately. General Tillson therefore desired 
 Major Smith to get as much accurate information as pos- 
 sible. Accordingly the Major gave orders to his advance 
 guard. Sergeant Rounsville and ten men, to charge the first 
 body of the enemy that they should meet, regardless of its 
 strength. Two and a half miles from Flat Creek bridge the 
 enemy was discovered and charged by the advance guard in 
 gallant style, the Major following up with his command. 
 The enemy proved to be the Eighth Texas Cavalry, 400 
 strong. Major Smith routed them completely, capturing 
 
 their commanding ofificer, a Lieutenant Colonel, and thirty 
 or forty prisoners. Thinking that he could capture the 
 whole party before they could recross the Holston River, he 
 pursued them at full gallop until he came to Flat Creek 
 bridge. Over this he dashed, to find himself confronted by 
 Hume's entire division of cavalry drawn up in line of battle, 
 scarcely 300 yards from the bridge. Of course he was ob- 
 liged to retire, and the pursuit was the other way. All his 
 prisoners were recaptured, and about one-half of his men, 
 but he obtained a good deal of information. The officers, 
 among whom were Lieutenants Barr and Weatherwax, and 
 men were paroled after having been stripped of their boots 
 and shoes and much of their clothing, and being obliged to 
 
History of the Tenth Michigan Cavai,ry 27 
 
 walk barefoot over the rough and stony roads for more than 
 twenty-five miles. They were so used up by their ill-treat- 
 ment as to be unfit for duty for a considerable time. 
 
 September Ith Lieutenant Colonel Trowbridge received his 
 commission as Colonel. 
 
 On the 5th General Gillem was ordered to send the Tenth 
 back to Strawberry Plains, but refused to do so. On that 
 day Colonel Trowbridge, Major Smith and Captain Thomas, 
 of General Carter's staff, were appointed commissioners to 
 negotiate for the exchange of citizen prisoners, and went up 
 to Greenville to meet the rebel commissioners. After several 
 days' delay waiting for them a meeting was held on the 
 11th and 12th, but could accomplish nothing, as they had no 
 lists, and adjourned to meet at Danbridge October 1st. 
 
 The regiment returned to Strawberry Plains, but nothing 
 worthy of note occurred until the 15th, when the regiment 
 was ordered out with General Tillson and about 850 infantry 
 to intercept a large force on the other side of Clinch River, 
 said to be four brigades of Wheeler's cavalry going to Vir- 
 ginia from Middle Tennessee. The movement to intercept 
 them was too late, however, as they had all passed Walker's 
 Ford before the Tenth reached there. On the 21st Colonel 
 Trowbridge was ordered to move to Bull's Gap, which he 
 reached on the 23rd, and reported to General Ammen. The 
 joint command of Generals Gillem and Ammen marched 
 toward Carter's Station. At Jonesboro, on the 29th, the 
 rebel commissioners were met on their way to Danbridge, 
 under flag of truce. Colonel Trowbridge was directed to re- 
 turn with them, and turned the command of the regiment 
 over to Major Newell, who gained for the regiment fresh 
 laurels and the hearty commendation of General Ammen for 
 
28 History of the Tenth Michigan CAVALRy 
 
 their steadiness and gallant conduct in a stubborn fight at 
 Carter's Station the next day, when the enemy was driven 
 from his position. 
 
 October 9th a party of 75 men, under Lieutenant Sherman, 
 a loyal and gallant officer from Virginia, of Co. M, was sent 
 out by General Ammen to find a band of guerillas under 
 Hipshir, Sherman's party was led into an ambush at Thorn 
 Hill, and lost 1 man killed, 4 wounded and 15 captured. 
 
 On the 13th Colonel Trowbridge was ordered to Michigan 
 to hurry forward a large number of men who were said to 
 have been enlisted for the regiment, and were awaiting 
 transportation. The command devolved upon Major Newell. 
 Nothing of unusual interest occurred beyond the usual scout- 
 ing until the 12th of November, when occurred a series of 
 actions worthy of careful notice. General Gillem had re- 
 mained at Bull's Gap with his brigade without any good 
 reason apparent. There was nothing in particular to be de- 
 fended there, and the position was easily turned. General 
 Breckenridge was coming down from Virginia with quite a 
 little army, larger than the one with which General Taylor 
 fought the battle of Buena Vista. He had several thousand 
 infantry, under the command of General John B. Palmer, 
 formerly of Detroit, about 1,500 cavalry, under Basil Duke, 
 an experienced officer from Kentucky, and a full complement 
 of artillery. Undoubtedly his object was to capture Knox- 
 ville, and in that way relieve the pressure at other points. 
 The movement excited much interest, and aroused much 
 apprehension in the minds of those charged with responsi- 
 bility for affairs in that region, as was shown by dispatches 
 between the Secretary of War and Generals Thomas and 
 Ammen. General Gillem remained at Bull's Gap until nearly 
 
Officers of the Tenth INJichigan Cavalry 
 
 Capt. 
 Myron A, Converse 
 
 Capt. 
 B. Frank Sherman 
 
Officers of the Tenth Michigan Cavai.rv 
 
 Capt. 
 Amos T. Avers 
 
 Capt. 
 Enos B. Bailey 
 
 Capt. 
 Elliot F. Covall 
 
 Capt. 
 Andrew J. Itaell 
 
History of the Tenth Michigan Cavai,ry 29 
 
 surrounded by General Duke's cavalry, and then attempted 
 to withdraw. In doing so he seemed to have lost his head, 
 and much confusion followed. In answer to appeals for re- 
 inforcement, Major Smith of the Tenth was sent up by train 
 from Knoxville with one hundred men of the 
 Tenth dismounted, and one hundred men of 
 Kirk's North Carolina regiment to Morristown. There they 
 disembarked and formed, Major Smith on the right of the 
 railroad and Kirk on the left. When Smith arrived panic 
 and confusion reigned supreme in Gillem's command. That 
 officer, for reasons best known to himself, had gathered to- 
 gether a few officers and twenty or thirty men, abandoned 
 his command, and taken the shortest route through the 
 woods for Knoxville, where he safely arrived the next day. 
 The officers and men of his command, being deserted by 
 their commanding officer, naturally thought that everything 
 was lost, and the only safety was in flight. There was one 
 notable exception, brave and gallant Colonel Miller, with his 
 sturdy regiment, the Thirteenth Tennessee, seeing no hope 
 of any successful resistance to Duke's victorious legions, 
 wisely withdrew to the north side of the river and escaped 
 the rout. The other regiments were streaming past Smith 
 in wildest confusion, hotly pursued by the enemy. The 
 captain of the battery of six Parrott guns, a brave and 
 gallant officer, whose name is not recalled, seeing Smith in 
 position, thought he would be supported in making a fight, 
 and took position some little distance in the rear. Smith 
 sent him word by two or three mounted men not to stop, 
 but to keep on down the road. He did not get the order. 
 Smith, having cautioned his men not to fire until the order 
 was given, waited until he thought the last of Gillem's men 
 
30 History of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 
 
 had passed, and the enemy was within a few rods when his 
 challenge rang out clear and strong, "Halt! Who comes 
 there?" "Johnny rebs" was the quick response. Then, 
 "Ready, aim, fire," and the Spencer carbines belched forth 
 their fiery blast. It was reported that those volleys killed 
 seven officers and thirty men, and doubtless wounded many 
 more. The effect of the sudden and unexpected shock was 
 tremendous and most stunning. The enemy broke and fled 
 in the greatest alarm. A Colonel commanding one of Duke's 
 brigades told the writer afterwards that he was in the rear 
 that night, and that if those volleys had been followed up by 
 a charge of a single squadron of cavalry, the whole of Duke's 
 command would have been thrown into a panic. As it was, 
 they came pouring back upon him in the greatest confusion. 
 But there was no squadron to make the charge. Smith, see- 
 ing that with the confusion of Gillem's command, it would 
 be hopeless for him to contend against such overwhelming 
 odds, and doubtless supposing, too, that the check which the 
 enemy had received would enable the balance of Gillem's 
 men to make their escape, wisely drew off into some timber 
 and quietly withdrew, and after an all-night's march brought 
 his men safely into camp the next day at Strawberry Plains. 
 After recovery from the shock of their bloody repulse, the 
 enemy advanced again and captured the battery and wagon 
 train. The most of Gillem's remaining force, however, made 
 good their escape, with the loss of about 300 prisoners. 
 There is no doubt that except for the timely arrival of Smith 
 and his men of the Tenth, and the bloody check which they 
 administered with their Spencer carbines, the bulk of Gil- 
 lem's force, or of two regiments of it, would have been cap- 
 tured, for up to that time the enemy had had things all 
 
History of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 31 
 
 their own way. This fight occurred on Sunday night. On 
 the following Tuesday morning Colonel Trowbridge re- 
 turned and found Major Newell calmly awaiting Brecken- 
 ridge's approach, keeping well informed of his movements 
 by frequent scouting parties. Colonel Trowbridge kept Gen- 
 erals Tillson and Ammen at Knoxville well informed, and 
 suggested that, if it was considered important to hold the 
 post, it would be well to send up some reinforcements. 
 General Gillem heard of the suggestion and stoutly pro- 
 tested against it, as the post was certain to be captured, and 
 sending any reinforcements would be just throwing the men 
 away. General Tillson, however, sent up two companies of 
 Ohio Heavy Artillery, acting as infantry, which brought the 
 force at Strawberry Plains, including hundred days' men, 
 scouts and a small battalion of Kentucky cavalry that had 
 happened to stop there, up to about 700 men — besides a sec- 
 tion of an Illinois field battery, under Captain Wood, which 
 was in the fort of which mention has been made. Two hun- 
 dred of the Tenth had been sent to Kentucky for horses and 
 had not returned. Scouting parties were kept out on both 
 sides of the river Tuesday and Wednesday, and Wednesday 
 night it was thought that an attack would be made in the 
 morning, and the men were ordered to sleep on their arms 
 in the trenches. The next morning the enemy opened with 
 three guns from College Hill, and drew a prompt response 
 from Wood, who had the hill covered with his guns. At 
 the same time a strong skirmish line was thrown out to the 
 rear, which developed the enemy about a mile from the camp. 
 A brisk fight was kept up with that portion of the enemy 
 all Ihe forenoon, while an equally sharp fight was main- 
 tained with the enemy across the river, both artillery and 
 
82 History of the Tenth Michigan Cavai<ry 
 
 infantry. About half past three the force in the rear was 
 seen to be moving away up the river. Undoubtedly the hot 
 reception which they had met at Morristown had made them 
 cautious about coming near the Spencer carbines. Brecken- 
 ridge remained in the vicinity for several days, when he 
 withdrew, and the fear of the capture of Knoxville was re- 
 lieved. Should inquiry be made why the conduct of General 
 Gillem was not officially investigated, it might be answered 
 that he had in Governor Johnson a very warm and powerful 
 friend, and the influence of personal and political considera- 
 tions was so great as to make the institution and prosecution 
 of charges a matter of extreme difficulty. No one familiar 
 with the facts seemed to be willing to take the responsibility 
 of pressing an investigation. 
 
 On December 6th, the regiment broke camp permanently 
 and moved to Knoxville to refit. On December 10th Captain 
 Roberts, with 50 men, was sent as an escort to General Stone- 
 man, in command of Gillem's and Burbridge's Cavalry, on 
 an expedition to the Salt Works in Southwestern Virginia. 
 The regiment remained at Knoxville engaged in the affairs 
 of the camp, until March 20th, 1865. During this time some 
 changes had occurred. Lieutenant Colonel Trowbridge had 
 been promoted to be Colonel ; Major Smith to be Lieutenant 
 Colonel, and Captain Standish to be Major. But these offi- 
 cers could not muster in their new grades by reason of the 
 paucity in numbers. An order was received from Washing- 
 ton to send an officer and six men to Michigan on recruiting 
 service. Captain Light was selected for that service, which 
 he discharged with his accustomed energy and zeal, and the 
 ranks were filled. 
 
 On the 20th of January Lieutenant Colonel Trowbridge 
 
Officers of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 
 
 Capt. 
 Chauncey F. Shepard 
 
 Capt. 
 James L. Smith 
 
 Capt. 
 Archibald Stevensc 
 
 1st Lt. 
 Adam R. Insley 
 
 1st Lt. 
 Fred. N. Field 
 
Officers of the Tenth Michigan Cavalrv 
 
 ist Lt. 
 
 Alfred A. Garlock 
 
 I St Li. 
 Robe.t G. Bar 
 
History of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 33 
 
 was appointed Provost Marshal General of East Tennessee, 
 to relieve General S. P. Carter. Major Newell, having mus- 
 tered out, the command of the regiment devolved on Major 
 Standish. Colonel Trowbridge remained in the position of 
 Provost Marshal General until March 20th, when he was 
 relieved at his own request to take command of the regiment 
 on an important expedition organized by General Stoneman, 
 who had come to Knoxville to take command of the cavalry 
 , in Kentucky and East Tennessee, and to organize an expedi- 
 tion into Virginia. General Grant, with his great foresight, 
 anticipating, as a possibility, that General Lee, when driven 
 out of Richmond, might attempt to retire into the moun- 
 tainous and easily defensible regions of South Western Vir- 
 ginia and East Tennessee, determined to send an expedition 
 to destroy as much as possible of the railroad running to the 
 southwest by way of Lynchburg. That was the Stoneman 
 expedition of which the Tenth Michigan was a part. It 
 consisted of three brigades and one field battery. It left 
 Knoxville on March 20th and moved to Jonesboro. On the 
 26th there was an issue of rations for eight days, the last 
 regular issue for nearly two months. The destination was 
 kept very secret. In order to deceive the enemy, one brigade 
 was sent to Bristol, to draw the attention of the enemy in 
 that direction, afterwards rejoining the column as it crossed 
 the mountains, while the other two brigades struck directly 
 across the mountains to Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The 
 appearance of a large body of cavalry in Western North 
 Carolina, threatening both Salisbury and Greensboro, must 
 have been somewhat disturbing to the confederate authori- 
 ties. It was reported that troops were hurried to both of 
 those places in anticipation of an attack. After waiting a 
 
34 History of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 
 
 few days for the subsidence of a freshet in the Yadkin River, 
 and incidentally for its presence to be fully felt, the com- 
 mand turned square off to the north to strike the railroad. 
 Five hundred picked men of the Tennessee brigade, under 
 Colonel Miller, were sent to Wytheville. A battalion of the 
 Fifteenth Pennsylvania, under Major Wagner, was sent to 
 the immediate vicinity of Lynchburg, while the main body, 
 by a rapid march, moved to Christiansburg, arriving there 
 April 4th about midnight. The Tenth was immediately sent 
 about 20 miles east to destroy six railroad bridges over the 
 Roanoke River, which was thoroughly accomplished. While 
 engaged in the work at Big Spring, Colonel Trowbridge 
 found a Lynchburg paper of the day before containing an 
 account of the fall of Richmond. He immediately sent it to 
 General Stoneman at Christiansburg, and thus was the first 
 to convey intelligence of that important event. After resting 
 at Salem the 5th and 6th, he received orders at 1 a. m. of the 
 7th to move by the shortest and best route to Rocky Mount, 
 thence to Martinsville, or Henry Court House, to be there 
 by 9 o'clock on the morning of the 8th, and there await the 
 balance of the brigade, which was to move by a different 
 route. The distance was 75 miles. The regiment moved at 
 4 a. m., and by a forced night march reached Henry Court 
 House about 7 a. m. of the 8th, to find it occupied by about 
 500 of Wheeler's cavalry, said to be a regiment commanded 
 by Colonel Wheeler, a brother of General Joe Wheeler. The 
 regiment was encamped about a mile from the town, in a 
 piece of woods, leaving a picket post in the town. Captain 
 James H. Cummins, commanding the leading battalion, im- 
 mediately charged and routed the party in the town, and 
 drove them back on the main body. The noise of the firing 
 
Officers of the Ten'Th Michigan Cavalry 
 
 ist Lt 
 Guorge W. French 
 
 1st Lt- 
 Sam W. Harback 
 
Officers of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 
 
 2nd Lt. 
 
 John H. Starkweather 
 
 2nd Lt. 
 Persons H. Brace 
 
History of the Tenth Michigan Cavai^ry 35 
 
 aroused the main body, which quickly saddled and formed, 
 and when Cummins reached them they were in line of battle. 
 Nothing could restrain the Tenth, however, and they at- 
 tacked with vigor, and the enemy was driven out of the 
 woods. They mainly took refuge in a deep depression so 
 common at the South, and there, huddled together, they 
 formed an excellent target for the Spencer carbines of Cap- 
 tain Dunn and his plucky boys. The casualties of the enemy 
 were reported as 27 killed. How many were wounded was 
 not learned. The fight was not without loss to the Tenth. 
 Lieutenant Kenyon, a gallant young officer, who had been 
 promoted but not mustered, and four men were killed, and 
 Lieutenant Field, a brave and gallant officer, and three men 
 were wounded. As the regiment was ordered to remain 
 there until the balance of the brigade came up, the men 
 were drawn in and placed in the most available positions for 
 defense in case they should be attacked, and then waited the 
 balance of the brigade until 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The 
 next day the command started for Germantown and Salem. 
 General Stoneman, with two brigades, crossed the Yadkin 
 at Shallow Ford and moved on Salisbury. The Tenth was 
 sent to burn bridges on the railroad between Greensboro and 
 Salisbury. One battalion under command of Captain J. H. 
 Cummins was sent to High Point to attract the attention of 
 the enemy, if any there should be, in that direction, while the 
 other two battalions, under Colonel Trowbridge, proceeded 
 towards Lexington to burn some bridges over Abbott's 
 Creek. Captain Cummins at High Point captured and de- 
 stroyed a large amount of Confederate Government prop- 
 erty, four warehouses filled with quartermaster and commis- 
 sary stores, one woolen factory, one engine, 20 box cars, one 
 
36 History of thb Tknth Michigan Cavalry 
 
 baggage car, about $75,000 of medical stores and 7,000 bales 
 of cotton. 
 
 Colonel Trowbridge wishing to get the bridges destroyed 
 before daylight, sent on Captain Roberts with two companies 
 to go ahead at a trot, while he followed more leisurely. It 
 was an all-night march. About half-past six, to his great 
 surprise, he came on a party of the enemy. All his informa- 
 tion up to that time was to the effect that there were no 
 confederate troops in that section. They had all gone to 
 Greensboro to join General Beauregard. Such was the in- 
 formation, but before him quietly in camp was Ferguson's 
 brigade of confederate cavalry from Wheeler's corps. His 
 orders were, after destroying the bridges, to proceed on the 
 direct road to Salisbury to co-operate with General Stone- 
 m.an, who had gone to attack on the other side. But what 
 had become of the two companies which had passed over 
 the same road only a few hours before? And the bridges, 
 what of them? Had Roberts been able to destroy them, or 
 had he been gathered in and left no sign? It was a per- 
 plexing situation. Apparently the Confederates were quite 
 unaware of the approach of an enemy, and, with horses and 
 men fresh, it might be possible to stampede them by a sudden 
 dash, but after a nearly continuous march of more than 
 twenty-four hours, neither horses nor men were in good con- 
 dition to make an aggressive fight against such large odds, 
 six companies against a brigade. Moreover, if it were pos- 
 sible by any good fortune to drive the enemy, which was 
 very doubtful, he would simply go towards Salisbury, and 
 make General Stoneman's task the harder. On the other 
 hand if by falling back the enemy could be drawn after and 
 still kept at arm's length, it was thought to be a good move in 
 
Ofi-ickrs or THE Tenth Michk^an Cavalry 
 
 2nd Lt. 
 Sam White, Jr. 
 
 Walter A. Pal 
 
Oi'i'icKRS oi' THE Tenth Michigan Cavai.rv 
 
 2no Lt. 
 
 Henry L Covell 
 
 2nd Lt. 
 Charles H. Dumont 
 
History of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 87 
 
 this game of military chess, Hke capturing a bishop or a 
 knight at the expense of a pawn. These considerations 
 quicky passed through the mind of the commanding officer, 
 and he decided to retire by alternate squadrons. But he did 
 not wish to begin the movement without hearing from Cap- 
 tain Roberts, and so he placed his men in the best positions 
 available, threw a barricade across the road, behind which 
 he placed Captain Dunn with his reliable and plucky com- 
 pany. He had scarcely completed his arrangements when 
 Captain Roberts came in with his two companies in good 
 order, and reported that he had destroyed tw-o bridges. 
 "Rut," said he, "there is a large force about a mile down 
 the road." Upon being asked how he knew, he said he had 
 slipped passed them on their flank, and could see the whole 
 camp. He was quite sure that besides the cavalry there was 
 a good force of infantry. The object of the expedition, the 
 destruction of the bridges, having been accomplished, the 
 movement to retire by alternate squadrons was explained, 
 and without longer delay commenced. It was not long be- 
 fore it was discovered, and the enemy attacked with great 
 vigor. Then for two hours ensued a remarkable fight, in 
 which the officers and men of the Tenth acquitted themselves 
 with great credit. The enemy repeatedly charged with great 
 gallantry, and as he attempted to pass a column around each 
 flank, it became necessary to retire rapidly, but never at any 
 time was there the slightest evidence of uneasiness or panic. 
 The men wheeled out of line into column and into line again, 
 when new positions were reached with the same coolness and 
 precision as if on the parade ground and no enemy near. 
 Their conduct was worthy of the highest praise. Strange 
 as it may seem, the only losses in the Tenth were two men 
 
38 History of the Tknth Michigan Cavalry 
 
 captured during the night while trying to get some horses 
 out of a barn. From rebel newspapers, deserters and men 
 who came in to be paroled, it was learned that the losses of 
 the enemy in killed and wounded were between 75 and 100. 
 Where all did so well, it may seem invidious to mention any 
 specially, and in the lapse of years some names may have 
 been lost sight of, but the following named officers are dis- 
 tinctly remembered as worthy of special mention for their 
 coolness and courage: Major Standish, Captains Roberts, 
 Dunn, Minihan, Lieutenants Beech, Wild and Sergeant 
 Dumont, commanding Co. D. 
 
 Upon rejoining the brigade at Salem the command 
 moved to Shallow Ford to join General Stone- 
 man in his attack on Salisbury. On reaching 
 the South Fork of the Yadkin, about three miles from Salis- 
 bury, General Stoneman was unable to cross. The stream, 
 though narrow, was deep, with high precipitous banks. It 
 was spanned by a bridge, the planks of which had been re- 
 moved, and it was covered by artillery well supported. Gen- 
 eral Stoneman, with his battery, tried to drive them away, 
 but could not succeed. After some delay he said to Major 
 Smith, of the Tenth, who was serving on his staflf, "I want 
 you to take 20 men of the Tenth Michigan, with their 
 Spencer carbines (he had an escort from the Tenth), get 
 across this stream in some way, and flank those fellows out 
 of there." Smith got across on logs and fallen trees, and 
 creeping up on the flank of the rebels, delivered some rattling 
 volleys from his repeating carbines, when the whole force 
 broke and fled. Stacey, with his Tennesseeans, who had 
 been waiting for the chance, quickly relaid the planks on the 
 bridge and charged across. The fight was over in a very 
 
History of thb Tknth Michigan Cavalry 39 
 
 short time, and the city, with 900 prisoners, 19 pieces of 
 artillery and immense quantities of stores was captured. It 
 was estimated by General Gillem's quartermaster that 
 enough quartermaster stores were destroyed to equip an 
 army of 75,000 men. About midnight of the 14th news was 
 received at Statesville of the surrender of Lee's army. On 
 the 17th the Tenth was sent to Newton to guard the fords 
 of the Catawba, and to gather in any stragglers from Lee's 
 army who were seeking to get away without being paroled, 
 being busy at that work for several days. News of the 
 assassination of President Lincoln was received at Newton 
 on the 23d. Then came the ill-judged armistice between 
 Generals Sherman and Johnson, and the division was or- 
 dered to East Tennessee. When about fifteen miles from 
 Ashville, an order was received reciting that the armistice 
 had been disapproved, and directing General Palmer, com- 
 manding the division (Generals Stoneman and Gillem hav- 
 ing returned to East Tennessee) to return to the Carolinas, 
 and make sure by laying waste the country, if necessary, that 
 no supplies should reach General Johnson's army from south 
 or west of the Catawba River. The Division returned, but 
 before the work of laying waste the country had begun, 
 Johnson had surrendered, and that painful necessity was 
 avoided. 
 
 Thus ended what has been called the Stoneman Raid of 
 1865. It may be safely said that no similar enterprise in the 
 history of the war accomplished so much of importance with 
 so little public attention. General Thomas, in his official 
 report, said that no railroad was more effectively disman- 
 tled than the road running to the southwest from Lynchburg. 
 For 125 miles substantially every bridge and trestle of any 
 
40 History of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 
 
 importance had been destroyed, while several bridges on the 
 Danville road had met a similar fate. Large quantities of 
 military supplies and property of the Confederate Govern- 
 ment had been captured and destroyed at High Point and 
 Salisbury. That it attracted no more attention ought not to 
 be wondered at under the circumstances. With P'arragut 
 and Canby knocking at the gates of Mobile, with Wilson and 
 his splendid army of cavalry sweeping over the states of 
 Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, with Sherman striding 
 like a giant through the Carolinas, and Grant tightening his 
 relentless grip on the army of Northern Virginia, it was not 
 strange that a small division of cavalry in Virginia and 
 North Carolina, away from the scenes of great achievements, 
 should attract but a small degree of public attention. In all 
 the operations of the division, the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 
 bore a conspicuous part. 
 
 On the 29th an order was received from the Secretary 
 of War reciting that Jefferson Davis and his Cabinet, with 
 a large amount of treasure (estimated at $6,000,000.00 in 
 coin), with a large escort of cavalry, was making his way to 
 the southwest, and directing the commanding officer to spare 
 neither men nor horses, but to pursue him to the ends of the 
 earth if necessary, and to obey no orders except such as 
 should come directly from the Secretary of War. Mr, Davis 
 and his party, with an escort of 6,000 cavalry, had been 
 reported two days before at Yorkville, two days' march in 
 advance. By making a wide detour and a rapid march, the 
 Division was thrown across his front on his line of march. 
 All the commands of the escort had been embraced in the 
 terms of surrender of Lee's and Johnson's armies, and con- 
 sequently were not in condition to do any more fighting. 
 
Officers of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 
 
 illPlll^Mi. 
 
 r 
 
 N 
 
 2nd Lt. 
 Charles Watson 
 
 •^'"'"tP ''*\ 
 
 Jik J^ 
 
 2nd Lt. 
 John Q. H. Cook 
 
 2nd Lt. 
 Adoniram J. Cole 
 
Okkicers of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 
 
 Hospital Steward 
 James Cilley 
 
 Hospital Steward 
 Hiram C. Luce 
 
History of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry 41 
 
 When they found further progress disputed by an armed 
 force, they broke up into small parties and scattered in dif- 
 ferent directions for their homes. Many of these small 
 parties reported having Mr. Davis with them, so that accord- 
 ing to apparently very reliable authorities Mr. Davis was 
 reported in many diflferent places in many different directions 
 at the same time. The plan of the pursuers was to occupy 
 all the roads running to the west, and all the fords and 
 ferries on the rivers, and this was done for a distance of 
 probably one hundred and fifty miles from north to south. 
 It was while tr\ing to avoid these forces as well as General 
 Wilson's cavalry at Macon by a wide detour to the south of 
 Macon, that he was captured by the Fourth Michigan Cav- 
 alry near Irwinsville. While the Tenth had no part in the 
 capture itself, there is no doubt that the close watch they 
 kept by scouting parties on the roads, bridges, fords and 
 ferries, contributed very largely to the result. The capture, 
 however, was not known for several days at General 
 Palmer's headquarters, and the Tenth was ordered to move 
 to McDonough and guard the road from there to Sandtown. 
 At McDonough orders were received to move to the west 
 side of the Coosa River in Alabama, and there take up a 
 line as had been done in Georgia. At Newnan, May 13th, it 
 was learned that the railroad and telegraph lines were 
 opened to Atlanta, and a halt was made to get rations and 
 forage, the first regular rations that the men had received 
 since the issue of March 26th in East Tennessee. While 
 waiting for them information was received by telegraph 
 from Atlanta that Mr. Davis had been captured, and passed 
 through Atlanta for Savannah under good escort. This 
 information was at once sent to General Palmer, in the hope 
 
42 History of the Tenth Michigan Cavai,ry 
 
 that it would soon be followed by an order to return to East 
 Tennessee, but Division Headquarters were about 100 miles 
 away toward the north, and it necessarily took some time to 
 reach there, and a long and tiresome march through a 
 sparsely settled country, affording scant provender for men 
 and horses, was unavoidable. But there is an end to all dis- 
 agreeable experiences, and there was an end to this pursuit 
 of President Davis, whom we knew to have been captured, 
 and the Tenth returned to East Tennessee on the 31st day 
 of May, having marched not less than 1,800 miles in the 
 enemy's country, without any base of supplies, living on the 
 country, except for the few days' rations received from 
 Atlanta, for 58 days, counting from the end of the eight 
 days for which rations were issued on the 26th of March. 
 Much to the disappointment of the men, the regiment was 
 not to be mustered out at once. There was a reorganization 
 of the Division at Linoir Station. Colonel Trowbridge was 
 assigned to the command of the First Brigade, and Major 
 Standish to the regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Smith being 
 still on staff duty at Headquarters in Knoxville. This as- 
 signment continued at Linoir Station and Sweetwater until 
 the latter part of August, when the Tenth was ordered to 
 Jackson, West Tennessee. Colonel Trowbridge's term of 
 enlistment would expire on the 1st of September, and he 
 thought as the war was over- it would be but fair for him 
 to muster out and thus make possible a promotion in each 
 grade. By permission he remained at Knoxville until he 
 mustered out on September 1st. On August 24th the regi- 
 ment, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Smith, left for 
 Jackson, West Tennessee. Captain Light had returned, hav- 
 ing had great success in recruiting, and the ranks were full 
 
Ofkicers of the Tenth Mkhicax Cavalr> 
 
 R. Q. M. Sergt. 
 Henry M. Cronkite 
 
History of the Tenth Michigan Cavai^ry 43 
 
 enough to permit promotion and muster in all the grades. 
 The regiment remained in West Tennessee until the latter 
 part of October, when it was ordered to Jackson, Mich., 
 where on November — it was finally mustered out and paid 
 ofif. 
 
 In the short space allowed for this general history, it has 
 not been practicable to mention in detail all the engagements 
 in which detachments of the regiment participated, and only 
 the more important ones are selected for special mention. 
 The monthly returns of the regiment show that some por- 
 tions of it came in contact with the enemy on the following 
 occasions : 
 
 At House Mountain, Tenn., Jan., 1864; Bean's Station, 
 March 27 and June 14, 1864; Powder Spring Gap, Tenn., 
 March 88, 1864; Rheatown, Tenn., April 24, 1864; Jones- 
 boro, Tenn., April 25 and Sept. 30, 1864; Johnsonville, 
 Tenn., April 25, 1864; Wautauga, Tenn., April 25, 26 and 
 Oct. 1 and 2, 1864 ; Dandridge, Tenn., May 19, 1864 ; Green- 
 ville, Tenn., May 30, Aug. 3 and 23 and Sept. 4, 1864 ; White 
 House, Tenn., May 31, 1864; Morristown, Tenn., June 2, 
 Aug. 2 ,Nov. 13, 1864; Rogersville, Tenn., June 15, 1864; 
 Kingsport, Tenn., June 16, 1864; Blountsville, June 16, 
 1864; Cany Branch, Tenn., June 18, 1864; New Market, 
 June 19, 1864; Mooresburg, June 25, 1864; Williams' Ford, 
 June 25, 1864; Dutch Bottom, June 28, 1864; Seviersville, 
 July 5, 1864 ; Newport, July 8, 1864 ; Mossy Creek, Aug. 18, 
 1864 ; Bull's Gap, Aug. 21 and 29, 1864 ; Blue Spring, Aug. 
 23, 1864; Flat Creek Bridge, Aug. 24, 1864; Rogersville, 
 Aug. 27, 1864; Sweet Water, Sept. 10, 1864; Thorn Hill, 
 Sept. 10, 1864; Seviersville, Sept. 18, 1864; Johnson's Sta- 
 tion, Oct. 1, 1864; Thorn Hill,Oct. 10, 1864; Chucky Bend, 
 
44 History of the Tenth Michigan Cavai.rv 
 
 Oct. 10, 1864 ; Newport, Oct. 18, 1864 ; Irish Bottoms, Oct. 
 25, 1864; Madisonville, Oct. 30, 1864; Morristown, Nov. 
 13, 1864 ; Strawberry Plains, Aug. 24, Nov. 17, 18, 19, 20 
 and 21, 1864; Kingsport, Dec. 12, 1864; Bristol, Dec. 14, 
 1864; Saltville, Dec. 20, 1864; Chucky Bend, Jan. 10, 1865; 
 Brabson's Mills, March 25, 1865 ; Booneville, N. C, March 
 27, 1865; Henry C. H., N. C, April 8, 1865; Abbott's 
 Creek, N. C, April 10, 1865 ; High Point, N. C, April 10, 
 1865; Statesvllle, N. C, April 14, 1865; Newton, N. C, 
 April 17, 1865. 
 
 The writer of this short history himself a companion in 
 nearly all the hardships, dangers and successes of the Tenth 
 Michigan Cavalry, desires to put on record his high appre- 
 ciation of the courage, patient endurance and conspicuous 
 gallantry by which it established and maintained to the end 
 a high reputation. Whether acting on the defensive, as at 
 Strawberry Plains, Morristown, McMillan's Ford and Ab- 
 bott's Creek, or on the oflfensive, as at Carter's Station, 
 Morristown, Blue Springs, Greenville, Bean's Station, Rog- 
 ersville, Flat Creek and Henry Court House, it was always 
 the same cool, courageous and reliable body of citizen 
 soldiers, never seeking to provoke useless or unnecessary 
 fighting, and never declining or seeking to avoid in any 
 way a fight where fighting was the thing to-be done. It is 
 and ever will be a source of profound satisfaction that he 
 was permitted to serve with such a manly, resolute, cour- 
 ageous and patriotic body of men. He rejoices with them 
 in their enviable record of hardships patiently endured, 
 dangers bravely met and victories nobly won. 
 
 L. S. TROWBRIDGE, 
 Colonel 10th Mich. Cavalrv. 
 
1H»S>» 
 
 * Iff*.-- ^ '■ 
 
 .«.-!^> 
 
Total enrollment 1,886 
 
 Killed in action 13 
 
 Died of wounds 12 
 
 Died in confederate prisons 11 
 
 Died of disease 121 
 
 Discharged for disability (wounds or disease) 80 
 
^s\ 
 
 gkC//? n c in 03 fi 
 
 Loxingfon 
 
 'Nicholasvilfe 
 
 MAP 
 
 ShowingTheafre of Operations of 
 
 THE lOTH MIClHG.Ai^ CAMALRY 
 
 IN mvi-C)'). 
 
 Drawn under the personal direction of 
 
 General L.S. TROWBRIDGE, 
 
 by F. C. Le esemann. 
 
 K E Nl TUCK Y.^y^ 
 
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 ^S'-*' 
 
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 si(/o fhint 
 
 9u ^C'- 
 
 
 Cumber It, nc 
 
 »<!'•%, ■^'fex.'Tv*^^ ^***'^^,^^^ JhalloK For. 
 
 Clinton 
 
 K, 
 
 
 ^SalJihuryJ^Affil II 6S 
 
 1' E N N E S^^'^A E.i^^'^" 
 
 <^^ N. 
 
 lajfariqpf^ _ _ .1 _ ..5r^ 
 
 O^' 
 
 >? C*^^^"' 
 
 Spartanburg 
 
 S. C A RV L 1 N A 
 
 
 
 Charleston 
 
 ALAl^AMA 
 
 .0 
 
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 Irwinyille 
 
 where f^esident Davis rras captured. 
 
 V 
 
 Scale : / /nc/i * JS Miles