MILITARY: Sabre Strokes of the Pennsylvania Dragoons in the War of 1861-1865 - Chapter 16
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________________________________________________
SABRE STROKES
of the
PENNSYLVANIA DRAGOONS
in the
WAR OF 1861-1865.
INTERSPERSED WITH PERSONAL REMINISCENCES
By T. F. DORNBLASER
190 SABRE STROKES
CHAPTER XVI.
PURSUIT AND DESTRUCTION OF HOOD'S ARMY.
DURING the month of September, Sherman's army rested in camp in the vicinity
of Atlanta. The city had been badly damaged by Sherman's heavy siege guns.
Many houses bore the mark of cannon shot. The citizens had built caves in
which the women and children remained during shelling seasons.
Garrard's division shifted its camp during the month, from Vining's Station
to Atlanta, from Atlanta to Cross Keys, and from Cross Keys to Roswell.
We watched the movements of Hood's army, and feasted on watermelons and
turnips. The following is taken from a letter written to sister Kate, dated
at Roswell, Ga., Sept. 25, 1864.
"This is Sunday morning. The weather is delightful, after a week of continual
rain. The country around Roswell is very productive. Corn, apples, and sweet
potatoes are plenty. We have sweet potatoes for breakfast, dinner, and
supper. The citizens have nearly all left the country; no one to oversee the
plantations. However, the corn and potatoes are well taken care of.
"Yesterday I took some shirts to a house to have them washed. I am getting
too lazy to do my own washing.
PENNSYLVANIA DRAGOONS. 191
"The poor women and children have a hard time of it. Most of the women are
puny and delicate, scarcely able to do any work. An old lady complained to me
yesterday about our pickets. She wanted to take some wheat to mill, and they
refused to let her pass. I sent her to the provost marshal, and he gave her
permission to go to mill.
"I saw two women yesterday driving a steer in a truck-wagon. They had beans,
grapes, and watermelons, to sell to the soldiers. A comrade bought two melons
for ten dollars, Confederate money. The women much preferred greenbacks. These
women could chew tobacco and spit like old regulars."
On the first of October, we discovered that Hood had crossed to the west side
of the Chattahoochee, south of Sweet Water creek, and was moving rapidly with
his whole army against Sherman's line of communications.
Garrard's and Kilpatrick's divisions patrolled the north bank of Sweet Water
and Powder Springs creeks. We found every ford strongly guarded by the enemy.
While Stewart's corps, the advance of Hood's army, was tearing up the
railroad, capturing the garrisons at Big Shanty and Acworth, and moving upon
our depot of supplies at Allatoona, our cavalry corps under command of
General Elliott was fighting Hood's infantry between Dallas and Kenesaw. The
enemy occupied the old fortifications of the National army in front of Pine
mountain.
Sherman stood on Kenesaw Mountain, and watched the issues of the battle at
Allatoona. He signaled
192 SABRE STROKES.
over the heads of the enemy, to General Corse, commanding the beleaguered
garrison, "Hold the fort, for I am coming," to which the gallant Corse
replied, "I will." The enemy had already shot him in the one cheek, and he
was ready to turn to them the other also. The repeated assaults of Stewart's
corps, were repulsed with a loss to the enemy of one thousand men. Sherman
was not only concerned for the safety of the garrison, but also for the ten
hundred thousand rations of bread stored at Allatoona.
The signal defeat at Allatoona induced Hood to withdraw his army from the
main road, and threaten Rome, Georgia, with his cavalry, while his main
column crossed the Coosa, at Gaylesville, twelve miles southwest of Rome.
Garrard's division was hurried forward to intercept the enemy at Rome. When
our advance arrived at Rome, Wheeler's cavalry had already occupied the hills
on the north and west, commanding the town.
Garrard deployed his division in line of battle, and drove back the enemy two
miles the same evening.
Next morning, the thirteenth of October, we found a brigade of Wheeler's
cavalry still in line of battle, occupying a strong position in our front.
When our column came up within range of their artillery, they opened on us
quite lively.
As luck would have it, the "Old Seventh" was
PENNSYLVANIA DRAGOONS. 193
again in advance. The regiment halted in the road in column of fours,
supported in close order by the Fourth Regulars. Wilder's brigade dismounted
and formed line in a swampy ravine on the left of the road.
The Fourth Michigan deployed on the right of the road. Beyond the muddy
ravine in our front, the road led up a tolerably steep and rocky hill skirted
with timber, on which the enemy's battery was posted, and supported on right
and left by a brigade of dismounted troopers.
The "Seventh" was ordered to "draw sabre." The signal-gun was fired, and the
whole line leaped forward with a piercing "yell," and a determination to
conquer or die. The "Seventh" dashed through mud and water belly-deep, and
charged up the hill-side under a scathing fire of grape-shot and rifle-balls.
The advance rode over the gunners and the dismounted horsemen, and captured
the battery. At the moment of victory a brave soldier, Lewis Catherman, of
Captain Schaeffer's Company, was mortally wounded in the breast, and reeling
from his horse, he fell violently against a stump on the side of the road,
which augmented his pain, and hurried his death in the hospital at Rome.
In looking over my army diary of October 13th, 1864, I find a detailed
account of a personal adventure, which, so far, has been related only to
intimate friends; but, as such a story is likely to be exagger-
194 SABRE STROKES.
ated or perverted by passing from one person to another by word of mouth, the
writer has concluded to lay before the reader the sum and substance of the
occurrence, as translated from the original.
My clumsy sorrel lost his footing on the slippery rocks just in front of the
rebel line. He was going at full headway when he dropped on his knees, and
rolled over on his left flank. A mule and his rider came tumbling over my
horse, and for half a minute both riders were pinned to the ground.
Fortunately, neither of us had any bones broken. We re-mounted and hurried to
the brow of the hill. We turned to the right, into the woods, which was
swarming with bewildered "Johnnies." Many surrendered without firing a shot.
Several hundred prisoners were taken to the rear.
The bugle sounded recall. All our skirmishers fell back and re-formed column
in the road. But as I had taken so little part in the fight, I did not obey
the "call." Before me was an open field, crossed by a ravine beyond which the
rebel cavalry was forming line within range of my carbine. The temptation to
empty the magazine of my "Spencer" was too strong to be resisted.
After firing a few shots, I saw a rebel officer leaping the fence twenty
yards to my right, and starting to run across the open field to join his
comrades. In his right hand he held a navy revolver, and in his left an
officer's sword. I leveled my
PENNSYLVANIA DRAGOONS. 195
"Spencer" and ordered him, sharply, to halt and throw down his arms, which he
did. But seeing that I was altogether alone, he seized his weapons again,
sprang to the stump of a broken tree, twenty paces from me, fired two shots
from his revolver, and said in a defiant tone, "I'll fight you!" To run was
about as dangerous as to stand my ground, so I dismounted and prepared to
fight on foot. He took advantage of this parley, and ran to a fence-corner
only ten paces to my right. He laid his revolver between the rails and took
deliberate aim. I could not get a sight at him, I had no ammunition to waste,
I had only one cartridge left in the magazine, and I prayed God that it might
not fail me in this hour of my extremity. Discretion, the better part of
valor, suggested an immediate change of base. I took my horse by the rein,
and made a left about wheel, two paces to the rear, taking position on the
left side of my horse. My antagonist in the meantime fired two more shots,
wounding my horse in the hip; and mistaking my maneuvers for a retreat, he
rushed forward and peremptorily demanded my surrender. He came to the fence,
which was partly thrown down a few paces in front of me. He was in the act of
stepping across when I ordered him a second time to halt. My gun was leveled;
he raised his revolver with a threat: I fired! His arm dropped without
discharging his revolver. His tall form sank to the ground as he
196 SABRE STROKES.
exclaimed, "I'm a dead man." At once I dropped my carbine, and offered him my
hand; he gave it a friendly grasp and said, "You have killed a good man." "I'm
sorry for it," said I, "and why did you take up your arms again?" Said he, "I
made a vow that I would never surrender to one man. You were the only man I
saw, and I determined to fight you, and get possession of your horse - then I
could have made my escape. You did your duty, but you might have surrendered
to me."
After making him as comfortable as I could with overcoat and blanket, I
inquired his name and rank. He said his name was William H. Lawrence, Captain
and acting Colonel of the Eighth Alabama cavalry.
He said he had a wife and two dear children living at Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
His wife and daughter were devoted Christians, and he lamented that he had
not lived a better life in the army. He did not feel prepared to die. He knew
that he must die. The ball struck the corner of his belt-plate and passed
through his body, inflicting a mortal wound. His mind was perfectly clear,
and for one-half hour we were alone, undisturbed, and we wept and prayed
together, invoking the Infinite Mercy of God to forgive us both. Seeing the
bugler of our regiment at a distance, I called to him to bring up a stretcher
to carry back a wounded officer. We carried him three-quarters of a mile to
the field
PENNSYLVANIA DRAGOONS. 197
hospital, and had his wounds dressed. Before I left him he gave me his diary,
and requested me to send it to his wife, and tell her that he died happy.
After his death next day, the surgeon found on his person a ten-dollar gold
piece, and a signet-ring with his wife's photograph set in it, in miniature."
The officers at our brigade head-quarters persuaded me to give up the diary,
and after examining it, they promised to forward it to Mrs. Lawrence.
At the close of the war, the writer addressed her at Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She
replied that she had not received the diary. The writer informed her that he
had in his possession a sword and revolver which belonged to her husband, who
fell in battle near Rome, Georgia, and if she desired it, he would forward
them to her by express. She said her husband wrote her on the morning of that
fatal day, and feared the results of the approaching conflict. She said her
boy " Willie," eleven years old, would like to have his papa's sword. The
sword and revolver were forwarded immediately, and a prompt answer came back,
with many thanks from the mother and her son.
Sherman followed in the wake of Hood's army as far as Gaylesville, Alabama.
Here he halted his columns, and prepared for that illustrious "March to the
Sea." The writer saw this modern Xenophon sitting on a camp-stool in front of
his head-quarters
198 SABRE STROKES.
at Gaylesville - with his head leaning on his hands, engaged in profound
study, and evolving in his brain a plan of campaign, which surpassed anything
ever dreamed of by the most celebrated Athenian general.
He divided his army - sending Thomas, with thirty thousand men, back to
Tennessee, to take care of Hood, while he, with sixty-five thousand, would
move seaward "Marching through Georgia."
Minty's brigade was ordered to turn over its horses to Kilpatrick's division.
The "Seventh" turned over horses and mules to the Ninth Pennsylvania cavalry.
While this work was progressing, Major Jennings and Captain Schaeffer of the
"Seventh," were mustered out, their time of service, three years, having
expired. The writer accompanied them to Rome, the nearest railroad station.
The next day he returned to camp unattended, and not a little uneasy
concerning guerrillas and bushwhackers.
On the twenty-fifth of October, Minty's dismounted brigade was ordered back
to Middle Tennessee - to be re-mounted. We reached Kingston - weary and
foot-sore. We boarded a train of box cars, and via Chattanooga, Tullahoma and
Murfreesboro, we reached Nashville. The supply of horses in Thomas's army was
already exhausted. Our brigade was sent back to Louisville, Kentucky, with
PENNSYLVANIA DRAGOONS. 199
instructions to seize the best horses we could find on the street and in the
livery stables. Family horses were pressed into the service, and in some
cases, where the horses were special favorites with the family, they were
returned.
Thomas stood in great need of mounted troops to contend against Forrest, the
bold Confederate raider, who was co-operating with Hood in middle Tennessee,
with a mounted force of eight thousand men. Minty's brigade was ordered to
report to General Thomas at Nashville as soon as possible.
Before leaving Louisville, a message was read to our company from President
Lincoln, dismissing from the service of the United States Second Lieut. E. F.
Nixon, "for disgracefully surrendering the block-houses near Columbia,
Tennessee." Nixon was a prisoner at Selma, Ala., and knew nothing of his
disgrace until the close of the war. Nixon had charge of two block-houses, on
opposite banks of Duck river, guarding the railroad bridge on the Nashville
and Decatur road, occupied by a garrison of seventy men. These stockades were
regarded bomb-proof. Large letters were posted on the inside, "No surrender to
any force for twenty-four hours."
On the first of October, 1864, General Forrest invested this small garrison,
with a force of eight thousand men and two batteries of artillery. He sent a
flag of truce, and requested an interview with the officer in command.
200 SABRE STROKES.
Nixon mounted the horse which was provided for him. He met Forrest, who was
exceedingly pleasant and social, and as the story goes he offered the the
lieutenant his canteen, and possibly drugged him. He displayed his forces
with the ability of an actor, then taking a bottle from his pocket containing
Greek fire, he threw it on a stump, and instantly it was wrapped in flames.
Turning to the lieutenant, he said: "If I must sacrifice any of my men in
taking your block houses, I shall refuse to take any prisoners! Those
dismounted grenadiers yonder will charge down that hillside and close up your
port-holes, and throw this unquenchable fire all over your stockade, and burn
you to cinders! " The lieutenant was allowed only a few minutes in which to
return an answer. He conferred with his men, and with one or two exceptions
they voted in favor of an immediate surrender.
Forrest at once took possession. He burnt the bridge and the stockades, then
advanced upon Linnville, twelve miles south, and demanded a similar interview
with First Lieutenant Jacob Sigmund. His reply was, that he had no business
with General Forrest: "My business is to defend this block-house, and I
propose to do it!"
After firing a few solid shots with his artillery, Forrest withdrew in the
direction of Spring Hill. Colonel Sipes, commanding the garrisons at Col-
PENNSYLVANIA DRAGOONS. 201
umbia and the neighboring stations, at once recommended the dismission of
Lieutenant Nixon, and the forfeiture of nearly one thousand dollars back-pay.
This sentence, in my humble judgment, was too severe. He should have had a
hearing, as well as his superior officers. He produced in his defense a
number of sworn statements, certifying that his ammunition had been badly
damaged by the recent rains, that he had repeatedly made application to Col.
Sipes for a fresh supply of ammunition, and the requisition remained
unfilled. His superior officer took advantage of his absence as a prisoner of
war, and had him disgraced without any opportunity to make a defense. If this
had been the only surrender made of the kind during the war, such severity
might have been justifiable; but history points to a score or more instances
of unconditional surrender, even less excusable, and yet the officers in
command escaped without a reprimand.
Nixon's record as a soldier brands the lie on the statement that he was a
coward. He rode at the head of his regiment in the charge at Lebanon, at
Unionville, McMinnville, Shelbyville, and on the Atlanta campaign, as far as
Kenesaw, from which point he was sent to the rear on account of sickness.
If only a small tithe of the influence had been brought to bear in his favor,
which was exerted in the case of Fitz John Porter, he would have had his honor
restored long before this; but it is now
202 SABRE STROKES.
too late. A few years ago he met a sad death, on a wrecked train near Renovo,
Pennsylvania. His body was crushed and scalded between the engine and tender.
As comrades, let us mantle his tomb with that charity which never faileth!
Sigmund returned to Louisville, and assumed command of the company. He was
justly entitled to a captain's commission, as successor to Captain Schaeffer.
But a young spurt from Philadelphia, who had won considerable celebrity as a
match-peddler, and had served a few months as Adjutant, was promoted as
Captain of company "E." Lieut. Sigmund at once presented his resignation, and
the company unanimously protested against the new appointment. Colonel Seibert
promised to make it all right. The aspiring Adjutant resigned, and
Adjutant-General Inhoff, on Garrard's staff, was appointed nominal captain of
company "E," leaving the command in the hands of Sigmund.
The writer, somehow, came to be appointed company commissary; the duties of
which were, if anything, more disagreeable than those of "corporal of the
guard." To know just how many crackers and fractions of a cracker to give to
each man, how many grains of coffee, how many spoonfuls of sugar to put into
each man's poke; to know just how large a slice of flitch would furnish
enough grease for three days' hard-tack, and still have enough
PENNSYLVANIA DRAGOONS. 203
left to run the machinery of the cook-shop, was a problem whose correct
solution required a thorough knowledge of the higher mathematics, especially
differential calculus.
In the latter part of December, Minty's brigade, mounted on sleek horses,
started for Nashville. We took substantially the same route we had taken
three years before.
On leaving camp at Louisville, the writer had a serious time with the company
pack-mules. These interesting animals now took the place of baggage wagons. It
was measurably a new experience for the writer and his "contraband" help, to
pack one of these omnibuses on legs.
We loaded down three of them with camp-kettles, cooking utensils, cracker
boxes, and a thousand other things too numerous to mention. On one mule we
failed to draw the saddle-girths sufficiently tight. The omnium gatherum (not
being well-balanced), turned under, and the mule kicked the bucket, in a
lively sense.
Before we had gone ten miles my fat gray charger, which was the pick out of a
hundred, could be heard for forty rods wheezing with the heaves. Never was
mortal man worse deceived by "looking on the outward appearance."
At Bardstown, Kentucky, Captain Robert McCormick and Surgeon J. L. Sherk, of
the "Seventh," left the main column on the afternoon of December
204 SABRE STROKES.
29th, 1864, and made a friendly call on a family living near our former camp
- at the same house where Lieutenant H. H. Best died in sixty-two. While they
were engaged in social conversation in the parlor, eating fruit from plates
which had been served to them by the ladies of the house, a band of
guerrillas rushed to the doors and windows, and opened a murderous fusilade
with their revolvers, on the two officers. Disregarding all entreaties, they
stripped their victims of watches and money, and left them dead, with four
and five bullet-holes in their bodies. The murderers were mounted on fast
horses, and made their escape to the mountains.
We marched through Kentucky in mid-winter; the cold, some days, was intense.
At night we frequently camped on six inches of snow.
On the first Sunday in January, 1865, we reached Nashville.
General Thomas was in pursuit of Hood's shattered army. Minty's brigade
pushed rapidly southward through Franklin, Columbia, Lawrenceburg, to
Gravelly Springs on the north bank of the Tennessee, opposite East Port,
Mississippi. On this gravelly ridge, where nothing ever grew for man or
beast, Wilson's cavalry corps spent the winter of sixty-five. One week we
subsisted on parched corn - one quart only allowed per day, for a man and
horse. Half rations of bread, and two
PENNSYLVANIA DRAGOONS. 205
days in five some beef-bones and blue-gristle, constituted the average supply
for the winter.
The boys said the beef-cattle were driven through a swamp every day, and the
weakest and boniest ones, that stuck fast in the mud, were killed at once and
distributed.