Lomax, Rosser, and Events in the Shenandoah Valley, March-May 1865, with an Emphasis on Imboden's Brigade
On January 1, 1865, Confederate Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early's Army of the Valley District consisted of two cavalry divisions commanded by Major Generals Lunsford L. Lomax and Thomas L. Rosser, Brigadier General Gabriel C. Wharton's division of infantry (three brigades), and six battalions of artillery (four assigned to the infantry and two to the cavalry) commanded by Brig. Gen. Armistead L. Long and Col. Thomas H. Carter.
Early's headquarters of the Valley District were at Staunton, Augusta County in the upper (southern) Shenandoah Valley. Lomax's division of cavalry was posted east of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Greene and Orange Counties. Three brigades--McCausland's, Jackson's, and Imboden's--comprised his division. McCausland's brigade was at Stanardsville in Green County, Jackson's at Liberty Mills on the Rapidan in Orange County, and Imboden's at Burton's Ford on the Rapidan River just north of Burtonsville. Division headquarters were at Barboursville in Orange County, about six miles northeast of Gordonsville. Three regiments from Lomax's division were on picket. The outer line of pickets began at Craiglersville, on the left; then, via Madison Court-house, to Locust Dale. Interior reserves were at Culpeper Court-House, and vedettes were placed at Fords of the Rappahannock River (OR, Ser. 1, Vol. 46 (Part I), p.511). McCausland's brigade contained the 14th, 16th, 17th, 21st, and 22nd Virginia Cavalry regiments. The brigade commanded by Brig. Gen. Henry B. Davidson and Col. William L. Jackson was composed of the 19th, 20th, and 26the Virginia Cavalry regiments and the 37th Virginia Battalion. The 18th and 23rd Virginia Cavalry and the 62nd Mounted Infantry constituted Imboden's brigade. In addition, the 25th Virginia Cavalry, which had been part of McCausland's brigade at the end of October 1864, had been attached to Imboden in late November. On December 6, 1864, Brig. Gen. John D. Imboden had been temporarily reassigned to duty in Georgia for health reasons. Since then Col. George H. Smith of the 62nd Mounted Infantry commanded his brigade. On December 28th, Company D of the 18th and Company A of the 23rd had been sent back over the Blue Ridge to go on picket at Milford in the Page Valley.
Rosser's cavalry division consisted of three brigades: Payne's, Wickham's (Munford's), and his own "Laurel Brigade". The first two had been under the command of Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee until his wounding at the battle of Winchester on September 19, 1864. Brig. Gen. William C. Wickham would have succeeded Fitz Lee as division commander, but he had been elected to the Confederate Congress and was resigning from the army. Col. Thomas T. Munford was given command of Wickham's brigade. When Gen. Thomas L. Rosser and his Laurel Brigade arrived in the Shenandoah Valley at the beginning of October 1864, Payne's and Wickham's (now Munford's) brigades were added to his command. The Laurel Brigade was made up of the 7th, 11th, and 12th Virginia Cavalry regiments, and the 35th Virginia Battalion. Many of its men had homes in the Valley. Headquarters for Rosser's division were at Swoope's (also Swope's) Depot near Buffalo Gap on the west side of Augusta County. Wharton's three infantry brigades-- Forsberg's, Smith's, and Echol's--and the artillery were encamped at Fishersville between Staunton and Waynesboro in eastern Augusta County. Col. Augustus Forsberg's infantry brigade consisted of the 45th, 50, and 51st Virginia Regiments, and the 30th Virginia Battalion; Col Thomas Smith's of the 36th and 60th Virginia Regiments, and the 45th Virginia Battalion; and Brig. Gen. John Echol's (a.k.a. Patton's) of the 22nd Virginia Regiment, and the 23rd and 26th Virginia Battalions. (On August 22, 1864, Echols was given charge of the District of Southwestern Virginia. Command of his brigade fell to Col. George S. Patton of the 22nd Infantry. Patton, grandfather of U. S. Gen. George S. Patton of World War II, had been killed at Winchester, September 19, 1864.) The Virginia Central Railroad ran west from Gordonsville to Charlottesville, through the Blue Ridge Mountains at Rockfish Gap to Waynesboro, to Fishersville, to Staunton, to Swoope's Depot, through Little North Mountain at Buffalo Gap, to Milboro in Bath County, to Jackson's River Depot.
Early's Union counterpart, Major General Philip H. Sheridan, commanded the Middle Military District of the United States Army, which was headquartered at Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia. Shenandoah County bordered Frederick on the south and marked the transition of control by the Confederates in the upper (southern) Valley to control by the Federals lower down. Rosser's men, in particular the 12th Virginia Cavalry, maintained pickets at Edenburg and along Stoney Creek in Shenandoah County. Pickets were also placed on Lost River and the South Fork of the South Branch in Hardy County, West Virginia.
With the coming of the new year the shortage in the Valley of forage for the horses became a serious concern. Some of it's effects was described by Private William Clark Corson of Company G, 3rd Virginia Cavalry (Wickham/Munford's brigade) in a letter to his wife:
Cavalry Camp, Wickham's Brigade
Orange County
Jan. 17th,/'65
... I have had a most horrible time since I reached camp which was not till the morning of the 10th.
...
I found the Command encamped near Middle-Brook in Augusta County. The horses were starving to death and the men on the eve of mutiny. The brigade had been marching every day for ten consecutive days stopping any where that they could get a day's rations of forage. The day I got to camp the command was ordered to report to Gen. Fitz Lee at Waynesborough. We marched down there in the night through a cold freezing rain over roads that were barely passable in the day time. We reached Waynesborough about 2 oclock at night and went into camp cold, wet and hungry. I thought I would not live to see morning, but I did, and such a wretched scene I have never before witnessed in or out of the army. Our poor horses shivering with cold and famished with hunger were neighing piteously and biting the bark from the trees to which they were tied. The men looking like graven images were crowded around the sickly fires that we could scarcely keep burning the rain came down in such torrents. We remained at W [Waynesborough] a day and night drew rations for the men and a small handful of hay for the horses. We then started across the ridge crossing the mountains at Rock-Fish Gap. When I tell you it was cold on the top of the mountain I mean but faintly to describe the severity of the weather. The wind blew bleak and chilling from the Blue ridge and North Mountain making it difficult for a man to stand on his feet. After we got to the foot of the mountain on this side I thought I had been suddenly transferred to a different climate. We soon went into camp and managed to make ourselves quite comfortable for the night. The next day we came to Charlottesville, encamped a few miles from town, managed to steal a plenty of hay for our horses and slept that night with clear consciences. The following day we marched to this place where we are now encamped in a large body of woods with an abundance of wood, water, and persimmons. We get nothing for our horses but a little wheat-straw, not a half enough of that. If the Cavalry is not disbanded Wickham's Brigade will not have two hundred men for duty in the Spring. A large majority of the men who go home on details now come back without horses. They say they will not bring horses here to be starved. I have only drawn two feeds of corn for my horse since I got to the regiment and only one feed of hay and two of wheat-straw. You would not know my horse he has fallen off so much. We have only 12 men for duty in my company. The surgeons send every man to the hospital who reports sick as they have no medicines. Maj. Grigg and Macon Raine who had just returned from home started to the hospital this morning. Pompey Branton, Thos. Hubbard, and Goodrich Mosby started home today. I expect to follow suit very soon. I do not intend to stay here and see my horse starved to death. I learn that we were ordered here to relieve Gen. Lomax's command that has been picketing the Robertson river and guarding the Orange and Alexandria R.R., Gen. Rosser has been on a raid over in the Moorefield Valley. It is rumoured in camp that he surprised and captured the garrison at Beverly in Randolph County charging into the town whilst the Yankees were feasting at a grand-ball. You see my paper is out so I must tell you good bye. Excuse this horrid penciling. Write in answer particularly and a long letter to
Your devoted
William
The situation east of the Blue Ridge Mountains was no better. Perhaps it was felt that a brigade could find a sufficient forage there whereas an entire division could not. Gen. Lomax was forced to take his division west, beyond the Shenandoah Valley, to find hay for his horses. Jedediah Hotchkiss, the topographical engineer for the Confederate Army of the Valley District, kept an invaluable daily journal of events during the war. He wrote on Wednesday January 18th, "McCausland's Brigade came to Fishersville and he to Hd. Qrs. on his way to Alleghany and Greenbrier..." Hotchkiss also recorded that the 14th Virginia Cavalry was detached from McCausland and would be sent to Weldon (in North Carolina, south of Petersburg) and that Echols' brigade of Wharton's division was going to be sent to Dublin Depot in southwest Virginia. Also heading southwest was the 25th Virginia Cavalry, which had been part of Imboden's brigade for the past two months.
On January 19th, Hotchkiss wrote, "The cavalry of Lomax's Division is on its way westward to subsist." Two days later Lomax camped at Buffalo Gap, the next night at Goshen, and on January 23rd reached Milboro in Bath County, where he established his headquarters. His division was dispersed into winter quarters in Pendleton, Highland, Bath, Alleghany, and Greenbrier Counties (Goggin, p.17).
McCausland's brigade headquarters were at Callaghan in Alleghany County. Jackson's brigade headquarters were at Warm Springs in Bath County. Col. Arnett's 20th Virginia Cavalry were ordered to Crabbottom in Highland County. The men of Imboden's 18th and 23rd Cavalry who had been on picket in the Page Valley also came west. Their place was taken by more of Rosser's men. Imboden's main camp was at the Upper Tract in Pendleton County. One of Imboden's pickets was placed at the junction of the North Fork and the South Branch Rivers in Hardy County. Another camped on the North Fork west of Franklin to watch the pro-Union forces of Pendleton concentrated along Seneca Creek. Confederates called the Pendleton County Union militia "Swamp Dragons" or simply "Swamps".
During January and early February, transfers continued to reduce the size of Early's army. The shortage of forage in the Valley became so severe that Early was forced to send off many of the men with the horses of the artillery to winter elsewhere or risk starvation. At the beginning of February, Col. Thomas Carter and two battalions of artillery were ordered to Gen. Lee's army to man stationary batteries on his lines. This left Gen. Early with only Nelson's artillery battalion. With the departure of Echols' brigade, Early's infantry was reduced to only two very small brigades of Wharton's division. Rosser's command was also downsized. At the end of 1864, the men of the 35th Battalion of the Laurel Brigade headed home to Loudoun County for the winter. In the latter part of January, Gen. Fitz Lee, who had been convalescing at the hospital in Charlottesville, returned to active duty with Early's army. Then in early February he was recalled to Robert E. Lee's army at Richmond and took with him Munford's and Payne's brigades. (Payne's had been posted at Lexington in Rockbridge County.) The only cavalry remaining in the Valley belonged to Rosser's Laurel Brigade.
A bit of wrangling occurred during the month of January over who would command the brigade of Brig. Gen. John D. Imboden. Imboden expected to return to command in the spring when the weather warmed, but he had become aware of a "rascally scheme" by Lomax and Gen. Henry B. Davidson to put the latter general in permanent command of it. On January 2nd he wrote from Georgia to his brother George that "if Lomax doesn't manage his affairs cautiously he will lay himself open to a prosecution for conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman and on my return to Va. I will put him through." On January 20th, 1865, William L. Jackson formally took command of the brigade which bore his name but which lately had been under Davidson's command. For whatever reasons, Davidson, did not take command of Imboden's brigade. Instead he took command of the Laurel Brigade on January 28th, although his tenure in that role was short-lived. Over the next few days much of the Laurel Brigade was furloughed. On February 3rd, Davidson and Col. Massie of the 12th Cavalry sought to get the remanent of the brigade disbanded for the winter. The men were allowed to go to their homes with their horses, to sustain them, with orders to report when called on. One or two companies, whose homes were down the Valley, remained on duty to picket and scout in front of New Market in Shenandoah County (Early, Autobiographical Sketch, p.459). Some men did not go home but remained at Swoope's during the month of February.
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OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part II), p.1243:
SPECIAL ORDERS, } HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE C. S.,
No. 2. } February 20, 1865.
The command of Lieutenant-General Early is extended to embrace the
Department of Southwestern Virginia and East Tennessee, and the
department thus formed will hereafter [be] designated the Department
of Western Virginia and East Tennessee.
By command of General R. E. Lee:
W. H. TAYLOR,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
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Below is the strength of Lieut. Gen. Jubal A. Early's Army of the Valley District as shown by the inspection report dated February 20, 1865 (OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part I), p.387):
Present for Duty Aggregate Present
Officers Men
Staff....................................................................................... 16 -- 16
Wharton's infantry division:
Forsberg's & Smith's brigades............................................. 84 1,112 1,584
Lomax's cavalry division:
McCausland's, Jackson's, & Imboden's brigades................. 174 1,383 1,790
Rosser's cavalry division**:
"Laurel Brigade" (7th, 11th, & 12th Va Cav)...................... 30 206 283
Long's artillery................................................................... 32 368 457
____ _____ _____
Total Early's command 336 3,069 4,130
**Numbers as shown by inspection report dated January 30, 1865 (OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part I), p.387).
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Many years after the war, DeWitt Clinton Gallaher, who had been a courier for General Rosser, compiled an annotated diary based on memo books and surviving scraps of paper. He summarized the situation as it was in mid February, 1865:
The winter of 1864-5 was fearfully cold and "The dark foreboding days of the Confederacy" in very truth. Lee's army was practically starving down at Petersburg. All our sea ports were blockaded -- no supplies of any kind could reach us. Many saw that the end was near but still had stout hearts, "Hoping against hope." In the valley there were but few Confederate troops left. General Early had been compelled to send every man he could spare to Lee. So he had left only Wharton's Division of Infantry and one of Rosser's Brigade remaining. The infantry were in Winter Quarters at McLures, near Fishersville and the Cavalry scattered at their homes and a few at Swoope's and picket was kept up and down about Harrisonburg. The enemy was also in Winter Quarters and they too had a picket force near and below Harrisonburg. All operations by either side were stopped until the weather permitted the campaign to open in the early spring. Everything was comparatively quiet in the Valley, except little dashes of the picket force. We were all expecting now to be called out at any day. This was the situation until [March 1st] ...
=========
OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, vol 46, Part 2 (Appomattox Campaign), p.358:
CUMBERLAND, February 2, 1865.
Col. JOHN H. OLEY,
Charleston, W. Va.:
The following has just been received from General Sheridan, and is
sent for your information:
On the 19th of January General Early's headquarters were at Staunton. On that
day General McClausland's brigade passed through Stauntion en route to West Vir-
ginia. The whole of Lomax's division, not exceeding, 1,000 men, have been ordered
to West Virginia, and have got there by this time. On the 21st Echols' brigade, 400
strong, was sent by railroad from Lynchburg, by Virginia and East Tennessee road,
to Dublin Station. Rosser has about 400 men in camp seven miles from Staunton, on
the Jackson River railroad. Fitz Lee's headquarters are at Waynesboroguh; nearly
all of his River railroad. Fitz Lee's headquarters are at Waynesborough; nearly
all of his division and Rosser's have been disbanded for the winter, to report in March
next. Some few of Fitz Lee's men are at Orange Court-House and a few troops at
Stauntion and Lynchburg. Some little artillery and two brigades of infantry at
Fisherville.
JAS. W. FORSYTH,
Chief of Staff.
By command of Major-General Crook:
ROBT. P. KENNEDY,
Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.
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OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, vol 46, Part 2 (Appomattox Campaign), p.413:
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
Winchester, February 5, 1865.
Maj. Gen. GEORGE CROOK,
Cumberland:
My information is that the old valley cavalry came from east side of
Blue Ridge for want of forage, and went over toward Warm Springs
or south of that point. Wickham's brigade, of Rosser's division, went
east of Blue Ridge. Rosser's brigade, 400 strong, six miles west of
Staunton. Payne's brigade, Rosser's division, back near Lexington.
Two horse batteries disbanded; guns sent to Lynchburg; horses some-
where else. Many of the men have come in here as deserters with
their furloughs. Wharton's division at Fishersville. Everything much
scattered. Great suffering for want of forage.
P. H. SHERIDAN,
Major-General.
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OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, vol 46, Part 2 (Appomattox Campaign), p.495:
CITY POINT, VA., February 8, 1865.
Major-General SHERIDAN,
Winchester, Va.:
There has been considerable movement of troops from the Valley or
elsewhere over the Virginia Central road. Field artillery has been
coming in for three days past. Rodes' division was reported in front
of Meade yesterday. We learn from Richmond that 2,000 infantry passed
through there, going south, last Saturday. Wickham's brigade of cav-
alry has arrived here, and Butler's gone from here south. We have
extended our lines over four miles to our left. This brings us no nearer
the South Side Railroad, but will enable us to secure a good crossing
of Hatcher's Run when we do move. I believe there is no enemy now
to prevent you from reaching the Virginia Central road, and possibly
the canal, when the weather will permit you to move.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
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OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, vol 46, Part 2 (Appomattox Campaign), p.496:
WINCHESTER, February 8, 1865--8.30 p. m.
Lieutenant-General GRANT:
Your dispatch of to-day received. I feel very certain of being able
to break the Central railroad and the canal as soon as the weather
will permit. At present we have twelve inches of snow of the ground,
and have had snow on the ground since the 10th of last December,
with extremely cold weather. All the late expeditions to break up
guerrilla bands have had many men frost-bitten. The following
is my latest information as to the movements of the enemy; this
information I have had through different sources for the last ten days:
Two divisions of the troops from the Valley were encamped on the
road from Petersburg to Richmond; the other division was in the
trenches, having taken the place of a division sent south, said to be
Kershaw's. Wharton's division, from 3,000 to 4,000 strong, was on
the railroad, near Fisherville, between Staunton and Waynesborough.
Lomax's cavalry moved from the east side of the Blue Ridge to
the Valley, and thence to Warm Springs, scattered through the
numerous little valleys in the vicinity of Harrisonburg. Rosser sent
Wickham's brigade to the east side of Blue Ridge; his own (Rosser's)
brigade was six miles west of Staunton. Payne's brigade was near
Lexington. Two horse batteries were disbanded and the pieces sent to
Waynesborough or Richmond. There was considerable artillery in the
upper Valley in the vicinity of Lynchburg. This artillery belonged to
the infantry division sent by Early to Richmond, as these divisions I
know did not take their batteries with them. It has been reported
to me within a day or two that one brigade of Wharton's division had
left for Dublin Station; probably it went to Richmond. The foregoing
information was obtained from a man that I sent to Richmond; also
from my scouts sent to Staunton. Since then I have sent down to
burn the bridge at Lynchburg. There has been the report here, and it
has undoubtedly reached the rebels, that there was to be a big cavalry
raid sent out from this point. This report was brought here from
Washington, where it originated. It may have caused this movement
of artillery by the rebels.
P. H. SHERIDAN,
Major-General.
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OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, vol 46, Part 2 (Appomattox Campaign), p.545:
WINCHESTER, VA., February 12, 1865.
(Received 10 p. m.)
Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT,
Commanding Armies, City Point, Va.:
The weather here still continues very bad. The deep snow is still on
the ground and very cold. It is utterly impossible to do anything here
in such weather. I never have experienced a colder or worse winter.
I cannot learn as yet that any troops have left here for Richmond.
Echols' brigade went to the Narrows, on New River, about twenty
miles from Dublin Depot. I do not know what this move means, except
it is to collect provisions from about Pearisburg.
P. H. SHERIDAN,
Major-General, Commanding.
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OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, vol 46, Part 2 (Appomattox Campaign), p.553:
CITY POINT, VA., February 13, 1865-10.30 a. m.
Maj. Gen. P. H. SHERIDAN,
Winchester, Va.:
I do not care your moving until the weather and roads are
such as to give assurance of overcoming all obstacles except those
interposed by the enemy.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
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OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, vol 46, Part 2 (Appomattox Campaign), p.605-6:
CITY POINT, VA., February 20, 1865--1 p. m.
Major-General SHERIDAN,
Winchester, Va.:
As soon as it is possible to travel I think you will have no difficulty
about reaching Lynchburg with a cavalry force alone. From there you
could destroy the railroad and canal in every direction, so as to be of
no further use to the rebellion. Sufficient cavalry should be left behind
to look after Mosby's gang. From Lynchburg, if information you
might get there would justify it, you could strike south, heading the
streams in Virginia to the westward of Danville, and push on and join
Sherman. This additional raid--with one now about starting from East
Tennessee under Stoneman, numbering 4,000 or 5,000 cavalry; one from
Vicksburg, numbering 7,000 or 8,000 cavalry; one from Eastport, Miss.,
10,000 cavalry; Canby from Mobile Bay, with about 38,000 mixed troops--
these three latter pushing for Tuscaloosa, Selma, and Montgomery; and
Sherman with a large army eating out the vital of South Carolina--is
all that will be wanted to leave nothing for the rebellion to stand upon.
I would advise you to overcome great obstacles to accomplish this.
Charleston was evacuated on Tuesday last.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
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OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, vol 46, Part 2 (Appomattox Campaign), p.701:
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
February 25, 1865--2.30 p.m.
Lieutenant-General GRANT:
I could not get off to-day, as I expected in a previous dispatch to
you, but will be off on Monday. I was delayed in getting the brigade
from Loudoun County and the canvas pontoon bridge, which was
necessary for me to have, as all the streams in the country are at pres-
ent unfordable. Where is Sherman marching for? Can you give me
any definite information as to the points he may be expected to move
on this side of Charlotte? The cavalry officers say the cavalry never
was in such good condition. I will leave behind about 2,000 men,
which will increase to 3,000 in a short time.
P. H. SHERIDAN,
Major-General, Commanding.
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OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, vol 46, Part 2 (Appomattox Campaign), p.685:
WASHINGTON, D. C., February 25, 1865.
(Sent 11 a. m. 26th.)
Lieutenant-General GRANT,
City Point, Va.:
General Sheridan’s dispatch to you of to-day, in which he says he
“Will be off on Monday,” and that he “will leave behind about 2,000
men,” causes the Secretary of War and myself considerable anxiety.
Have you well considered whether you do not again leave open the
Shenandoah Valley entrance to Maryland and Pennsylvania, or at least
to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad ?
A. LINCOLN.
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OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, vol 46, Part 2 (Appomattox Campaign), p.701:
CITY POINT, VA., February 25, 1865--7.30 p.m.
Major-General SHERIDAN,
Winchester, Va.:
General Sherman's movements will depend on the amount of opposi-
tion he meets with from the enemy. If strongly opposed he may
possibly have to fall back to Georgetown, S. C., and fit out for a new
start. I think, however, all danger of the necessity for going to that
point has passed. I believe he has passed Charlotte. He may take
Fayetteville on his way to Goldsborough. If you reach Lynchburg
you will have to be guided in your after movements by the information
you obtain. Before you could possibly reach Sherman I think you
would find him moving from Goldsborough toward Raleigh, or engag-
ing the enemy strongly posted at one or the other of these places, with
railroad communication opened from his army to Wilmington or New
Berne.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
=========
On February 26th, 1865 Maj. Gen. Winifeld S. Hancock received orders to proceed without delay to Winchester, Virginia and to assume the command of the Department of West Virginia, and temporarily of all the troops of the Middle Military District not under the immediate command of Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan. He arrived at Winchester about 2 a. m. on the morning of the 27th and relieved Sheridan. Three hours later, Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan and his Army of the Shenandoah, two divisions of nearly 10,000 cavalrymen, marched from Winchester up the Valley pike toward Staunton. Each division was accompanied by one section of artillery (3-inch rifled guns). Sheridan's orders were to destroy the Virginia Central Railroad, the James River Canal, capture Lynchburg if practicable, and then join General William T. Sherman wherever he might be found in North Carolina, or return to Winchester. Each man carried five days' rations in his haversack, and thirty pounds of forage and seventy-five rounds of ammunition on his horse. Carried in wagons per man were fifteen days' days rations of coffee, sugar, and salt, and 100 more rounds of ammunition. A pontoon train of eight boats with a company of engineers accompanied the expedition. The entire train of the command was seventy-five wagons, including twelve ambulances, two medical wagons, one wagon for division headquarters, an ammunition train, and the pontoon train (OR, Ser. 1, Vol. 46 (Part I), p. 475, 485). Maj. Gen. Wesley Merritt had been appointed Sheridan's Chief of Cavalry (in place of Maj. Gen. A. T. A. Torbert who was absent on leave). Brig. Gen. Thomas C. Devlin commanded the First Cavalry Division. The other cavalry division, the Third, was commanded by Bvt. Maj. Gen. George Armstrong Custer.
Effective force First and Third Cavalry Divisions, Army of the Shenandoah, February 28, 1865, Major General Wesley Merritt, Chief of Cavalry (OR, Ser. 1, Vol. 46 (Pat I), p.475).
Officers Men Total
First Cavalry Division, Brig. Gen. T. C. Devlin commanding....................... 260 4,787 5,047
One section Companies C and E, Fourth U. S. Artillery............................. 2 52 54
Third Cavalry Division, Bvt. Maj. Gen. G. A. Custer commanding.............. 240 4,600 4,800
One section Company M, Second U. S. Artillery....................................... 1 45 46
____ _____ _____
Total.............................................................................................. 503 9,484 9,987
On the first day's march the army went thirty miles, passing through Newtown, Middletown, Strasburg, and Woodstock, and encamping a mile or so beyond. The Sixth U. S. Cavalry and Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry were sent ahead to seize and hold the bridge across Stony Creek at Edenburg.
On the morning of the 28th, Sheridan's two divisions marched from Woodstock in the rear of the pontoon trains to Mount Jackson, crossed the North Fork of the Shenandoah River on the pontoons, passed through New Market, and late that evening went into camp at Lacey Springs nine miles north of Harrisonburg. While on the march between Woodstock and Edenburg the pontoon train had been attacked on the right flank by a party of fifty rebel cavalry who were quickly driven off by a squadron from the 6th New York Cavalry.
In Staunton, Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early was notified of Sheridan's move by signal and telegraph. About noon on the 28th, Early telegraphed Lomax at his headquarters at Milboro stating that the enemy had driven in his pickets at Edinburg and were advancing in force with pontoon-bridges (Goggin, p.18). Lomax was directed to gather together all his cavalry as soon as possible. A similar order was sent to Rosser at Swoope's Depot. General Echols in Southwestern Virginia was ordered to send his brigade by rail to Lynchburg.
The Federal army resumed the march at 6 a.m. on March 1st and had reached Harrisonburg by 10 a.m. Col. Henry Capehart's brigade of Custer's Third Division, composed of the First, Second, and Third West Virginia and the First New York (Lincoln) Cavalry, was ordered to move rapidly to Mount Crawford seven miles farther south and secure the bridge over the North River there (OR, Ser. 1, Vol. 46 (Part I), p. 485). In the meantime Rosser had succeeded in collecting some of his cavalry. They attempted to delay the Federals at the river by erecting a line of barricades on the south bank of the river which were occupied by dismounted cavalry and setting the bridge on fire. Two of Capehart's regiments (the First West Virginia and the First New York) swam the river upstream of the bridge and and flanked Rosser's position while a third charged through the burning bridge, thus saving the bridge and driving the Confederates away. Some of Rosser's dismounted men were taken prisoner. An itinerary of the Third Brigade of the Third Cavalry Division (OR, Ser. 1, Vol. 46 (Part I), p.127) reported "capturing 5 commissioned officers and 37 men prisoners of war, and a quantity of wagons loaded with supplies."
DeWitt Clinton Gallaher's March 1st diary entry relates the story from the Confederate side:
Tonight Capt. Hugh McGuire [of the 11th Virginia Cavalry] came home about midnight and alarmed us all by the news that the Yankees were coming up the Valley towards Staunton in heavy force. His squadron of Cavalry had been on picket at the bridge on the Valley Pike near Mt. Crawford, about 150 Cavalry were all that were there between Harrisonburg and Staunton. His squadron made the best stand they could at the bridge, but the enemy sent a large force up the river, which they forded and come in behind our men. It then became a race up the Pike towards Staunton. Some of our men were captured.
The main part of the Union army crossed Middle River at Cline's Mill and pitched camp within four miles of Staunton on the evening of March 1st. Early knew that morning that Staunton could not be defended. In his Memoir of the Last Year of the War for Independence he wrote that "there were no troops at that place except a local provost guard, and a company of reserves, composed of boys under 18 years of age, which was acting under the orders of the Conscript Bureau. Orders were therefore given for the immediate removal of all stores from that place." Some time in the 1890's, Robert White, who had been colonel of the 23rd Virginia Cavalry, presented an account of a delaying action he had conducted on the first day of March:
"The regiment of cavalry which I commanded had temporarily disbanded during the latter part of the winter and early spring of 1865, in order that the worn horses might be recuperated, as far as possible, before the expected opening of the spring campaign. The regiment was, in the phrase of the time, 'out on horse furlough.'
"It was a beautiful, bright spring morning in March when I rode from a country home into the town of Staunton. General Early was there, but without an army. Large quantities of quartermaster and commissary goods were stored within the town without any protection except that of a small provost guard. It was perhaps about 9 O'clock in the morning when I dismounted at General Early's headquarters, and never will I forget his looks as I saluted him. In his quick and decisive manner he said:
" 'Colonel, General Sheridan is coming up the valley with all his cavalry and artillery. His is not more than ten miles from Staunton. I have here no army to meet him, not even men to attempt to protect the quartermaster and commissary stores, and not cars enough to carry them away, even if I had the means to load them for transportation. Go into town and gather together as many cavalry soldiers as you can, and as quickly as possible start down the valley and see what can be done to check Sheridan's advance, and I will do the best I can to save our stores.'
"Mounting my horse, I at once passed into the main street of the town, and the first man I met, known to me, was General Lilly, who had lost his arm at the first Manassas fight [sic]. I told him what General Early had said, and he replied at once: "Get what men you can and I will go with you," and off he started to get his horse. Riding up and down the street, I was fortunate enough to gather together twenty-eight old, tried and true veteran cavalrymen.
"North of Staunton about four miles is what then was known as 'Harman's Hill'; south of the extended valley and bottom land, perhaps a mile or more in width, through which a branch of the Shenandoah river passed in its eastwardly flow, over a hill and down its northern side, for perhaps a quarter of a mile, passed the old valley turnpike, and on across the valley to the higher land beyond the river, it continued. There were no fences there then. General Lilly soon joined our little command. We passed out of town, and reached the brow of Harman's Hill about half-past 10 o'clock in the morning. The scene around and below us was beautiful on that bright and clear spring morning. On reaching the brow of the hill, the order was given for the twenty-eight men to dismount, deploy in a sort of skirmish line along the top of the hill, fourteen on either side of the road, and there was to stand upon the brow, about twenty or more paces apart, and await the approach of Sheridan's army; and there to stand until I waved my sword in a circle around my head as a signal, and not until then to leave the brow of the hill. Hiding themselves under its protection, they were to rally as rapidly as possible in the roadway and lie down in the road, and not 'pull a trigger' until the word 'fire!' was given.
"General Lilly and myself remained upon horses on the top of the hill. Scattered so far apart on that hilltop, each man's form, standing out with the sky as a background, could easily be seen at a long distance by General Sheridan as he approached, and the skirmish line thus extended would certainly present to him the thought that it must be the advance skirmish line of General Early's army, awaiting battle on the other side. We had not been there long until General Sheridan's force appeared and entered into the valley, ten thousand or more strong, cavalry and artillery. As this army advanced, it was formed into battle array, in brigades and batteries. Never can I forget the splendor and grandeur of the scene we witnessed in the valley below. The gay uniforms, the glittering swords and guns and cannon; the moving of men in the sunlight from column into line; the quick changing of officers from place to place as they gave command, presented to us a never to be forgotten scene.
"Our skirmishers stood in their places upon the hilltop. An hour, perhaps two hours, passed and no advance was made from the valley toward us. During the afternoon, however, a squadron was detached from the right and front of General Sheridan's army, moving rapidly to the road, and up the hillside in a rapid gallop. At this juncture I gave the signal agreed upon by waving my sword with circulation motion above my head. At once each skirmisher left his place and quickly the twenty-eight men were gathered in the roadway, lying flat, with their faces at the very brow of the hill. Onward and upward the squadron rapidly came, and were almost upon us, when the word 'fire!' rang out. In one volley every rifle sent its bullet into the ranks of the advancing squadron. The horses, frightened and astonished at the suddenness of the volley, reeled, turned and fled rapidly down the hill to its bottom. Immediately the twenty-eight veterans left the road and almost as soon as the squadron had reached the valley below each veteran was in his place in skirmish line upon the hilltop again, fourteen upon the right and fourteen upon the left.
"Some time elapsed, perhaps an hour, and then again a squadron advanced rapidly up the roadway. The signal of the waving sword was again made, and the second time, as the squadron approached the hilltop, at the command 'fire!' the volley poured forth. Again the horses were astonished, reeled, and down the hill they went. At once each veteran resumed his place as a skirmisher upon the hilltop. Another hour or more passed, when a regiment of cavalry was sent from the right and front of the army upon the same mission as that of the squadron which had been repulsed. Up the roadway this regiment came with sabres drawn, the men standing, bent forward in their stirrups. Again the signal was given with the waving sword; again each veteran fell flat in the road upon the brow of the hill. The regiment advanced almost to the very top, when at the command 'fire!' the twenty-eight rifles sent forth in one volley their messangers of death. The scared horses of the regiment turned and rapidly rushed in one confused mass to the bottom of the hill.
"At once each veteran passed to his place on the skirmish line. From that time until the darkness of night rested upon hilltop and valley there was silence along that line. Night came on and we withdrew, and passing through Staunton, found General Early had left and carried with him upon the railroad the stores away across the Blue Ridge Mountains..."
(Source: White, Robert, Colonel C.S.A., "Heroes Unsung" in Campfires of the Confederacy: A Volume of Humorous Anecdotes... by Ben LaBree (ed.) (1898); p.166-171.)
Unfortunately White never identified the twenty-eight veteran cavalrymen for whom he had so much admiration. Presumably they were furloughed men from various units who lived or were staying in Staunton. Some may very well have been from his own 23rd.
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Lt. George H. Murphy, Company D, 23rd Virginia Cavalry, kept a diary from March 1st to April 13th, 1865. As was the case in Robert White's narrative, his diary also indicates that the 23rd Regiment had been disbanded for the winter. It is not known if any soldiers of the 23rd spent this time in camp at the brigade headquarters at the Upper Tract. Many lived in the lower Shenandoah Valley close to or behind enemy lines. Even though they risked being captured, some certainly made surreptitious visits home. From his diary, it appears that Murphy had a wife and a home in or near Woodstock. It is likely he was staying there while his regiment was disbanded. Then as Sheridan's army approached on February 27th, he hurried up the Valley, probably via the Middle Road or Back Road, to find his command.
Diary of Lt. George H. Murphy, Company D, 23rd Virginia Cavalry:
March 1st 1865
Came to Bridgewater with the view of meeting my Regt which was disbanded. was to start for Pendleton County to join the Brigade, but few of the Regt came. Received late in the evening an order from Genl. Early to report to Genl. Rosser. Capt. Richardson went with fifteen or twenty men. Stayed all night at Mr. Davis. Enemy advanced to Staunton.
(source: the George H. Murphy Diary, Department of Special Collections, Hesburgh Libraries of Notre Dame)
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Gen. Early had expected that Sheridan's main objective was the capture of Lynchburg and that he would follow the route via Lexington which Gen. Hunter had used the previous June. On the afternoon of March 1st, Early telegraphed Lomax at Milboro to concentrate his cavalry at Pond Gap and "to follow and annoy the enemy should he move towards Lynchburg." [Pond Gap Depot, now Augusta Springs, was about eight miles southwest of Buffalo Gap along the railroad line and the Little Calfpasture River. Pond Gap itself was east of the depot on Little North Mountain.] The same day Gen. Jackson arrived at Milboro to consult with Lomax. The next morning Early moved his infantry and artillery from Fishersville to a position on a ridge west of Waynesboro. He explained in his memoir that "My object in taking this position was to secure the removal of five pieces of artillery for which there were no horses, and some stores still in Waynesboro, as well as to present a bold front to the enemy, and ascertain the object of his movement, which I could not do very well if I took refuge at once in the mountain. The last report for Wharton's command showed 1,200 men for duty; but as it was exceedingly inclement, and raining and freezing, there were not more than 1,000 muskets on the line, and Nelson had six pieces of artillery. I did not intend making my final stand on this ground, yet I was satisfied that if my men would fight, which I had no reason to doubt, I could hold the enemy in check until night, and then cross the river and take position in Rock-fish Gap; for I had done more difficult things than that during the war."
At 8 p.m. on March 1st Col. Peter Stagg, commanding the First Brigade of Merritt's First Cavalry Division, received orders "to go through Staunton out on the Waynesboro road burn the railroad bridge across Christian's Creek, five miles east of Staunton. I was detained until after midnight by one of my regiments, which was picket. I met with slight opposition, although I found the enemy in small force within 1,000 yards of our lines," he wrote in his report of March 22nd. Fence rails were placed on the bridge and set on fire. When it began to rain, the men then took axes to the timber supports until the heat drove them away. After an hour and a half at the bridge, the brigade returned to Staunton.
Later on the morning of March 2nd, Sheridan's main force entered Staunton. "The question then arose in my mind," Sheridan wrote in his report of the expedition dated July 16, 1865, "whether I should pursue my course on to Lynchburg, leaving General Early in my rear, or go out and fight him with my cavalry against his infantry and what cavalry he could collect, defeat him, and open a way through Rockfish Gap, and have everything in my own hands for the accomplishment of that portion of my instructions which directed the destruction of the Central Railroad and James River Canal. I decided upon the latter course, and General Custer’s division (Third), composed of Colonel Wells’, Pennington’s, and Capehart’s brigades, was directed to take up the pursuit..." (OR, Ser. 1, Vo. 46 (Part I) p.476). Before leaving Staunton for Waynesboro, Sheridan obtained information of a large amount of rebel property at Swoope's Depot, eight miles west of Staunton. He ordered a detachment of 300 men from Twentieth Pennsylvania Cavalry to proceed there and destroy the quartermaster's and commissary stores. The items destroyed were the depot itself and four neighboring barns, containing 3,000 blankets, 2,000 pairs of boots, and a like number of shirts, drawers, pants, and jackets, 50,000 pounds of ham and bacon, and a small quantity of ordnance stores, consisting of small-arms and ammunition. Swoope's Depot had also been the winter quarters of Rosser division. The Sixth New York Cavalry was sent to destroy all government property at Staunton, which included the government blacksmith shop, a large tannery, and a number of wagons and stage coaches.
Rosser met with Early at Waynesboro on the morning of March 2nd. "I was directed by him [Early] to go back and get my little force together, and hang on the flank of the enemy and to damage him all he could" (Riding With Rosser, p.62). So while the 20th Pennsylvania systematically demolished their winter quarters on the far west side of the Valley, Rosser with all of his available cavalry, about 100 men, were observing a column of Federals approaching Christian's Creek four miles southeast of Staunton. He issued some orders to the officer he left in charge and, taking half a dozen men with him, rode southwest toward Greenville and Middlebrook to ascertain if Sheridan's army were heading for Lexington and Lynchburg. During the day they heard artillery fire coming Waynesboro. Rosser concluded, incorrectly, that Early had succeeded in holding them off and therefore the Federals would be coming his way. When no enemy appeared by 4 p.m., he sent Gallaher to Waynesboro to inform Early (Diary of DeWitt Clinton Gallaher).
Custer arrived at Waynesboro to find "the enemy in force, posted behind a formidable line of earth-works," as he described the scene in his report written a few days after the battle. He admitted that Early's position was well chosen, "being upon a range of hills west of town, from which his artillery could command all the approaches, while the his infantry could, by their fire, sweep the open place extending along their entire front." It did not take long, however, before a careful reconnaissance uncovered a fatal flaw. "The enemy's left flank, instead of resting on the South River, was thrown well forward, leaving a short gap between his left and the river. The approach to this point could be made under cover of the woods." Three regiments were ordered to move dismounted under cover of the woods to the gap. The remainder of his division demonstrated in front to hold the Southerners' attention. About 3 p.m. Custer ordered a simultaneous frontal and flank assault on the Confederate line. "So sudden was our attack and so great was the enemy's surprise that but little time was offered for resistence. ... The rout of the enemy could not have been more complete; no order or organization was preserved. The pursuit was taken up by my entire command, and continued through Rockfish Gap for a distance of twelve miles" (OR, Ser. 1, Vol. 46 (Part I), p.502).
On the southern side, the journal entry Jed. Hotchkiss made for March 2nd echoed much of Custer's commentary. "[T]hey massed, and moving through the woods turned our left flank, which made a feeble resistance and gave way, followed by the giving way of the whole line, and one of the most terrible panics and stampedes I have ever seen. There was a perfect rout along the road up the mountain, and the enemy (all the force being cavalry or mounted infantry) dashed rapidly forward into the swarm of flying men, wagons, &c., and passed over the mountain at Rockfish Gap, capturing over 1,000 prisoners and all the artillery and train. No artillery had been posted on the other side of the river, as I had suggested to General Long [Brig. Gen. Armistead L. Long, Early's Chief of Artillery], so there was nothing to check the enemy. The mud was very deep, and it rained and sleeted all day and became very foggy. The whole army was captured or accoutered, and we had no cavalry to aid us, as it was back toward Lexington. The general comitted an unpardonable error in posting so small a force with a swollen river in its rear and with its flanks wholly exposed, the left having an interval of one-eighth of a mile between it and the river and with a body of woods that concealed every movement that might be made. The only precaution taken was to have boards put on the railroad bridge for a foot bridge in the morning. The only other recrossing was a foot bridge by the roadside, two or there feet wide. Nothing was done to cover a retreat. I had just gone to the fire to warm when the stampede began. I went to that stable and got my horse and rode rapidly across the river, expecting to find artillery on the hill there, and by it said rally the men who were crossing by the railroad bridge; but, to my surprise, there was none there, and the situation, as I turned and saw it, convinced me that all was lost, especially when I saw general officers rush by me in the headlong stampede."
One of those officers was Early himself. He tried to rally his men at the bridge in order to check the Federal advance but to no avail. Then Union cavalry forded the river upstream and got in their rear. "I now saw that everything was lost, and after the enemy had got between the mountain and the position where I was, and retreat was thus cut off, I rode aside into the woods, and in that way escaped capture. I went to the top of a hill to reconnoitre, and had the mortification of seeing the greater part of my command being carried off as prisoners, and a force of the enemy moving rapidly towards Rock-fish Gap." Col. Robert White noted, "I saw General Early on the afternoon of that disastrous day standing away up on the side of the mountain and overlooking the scene of the disaster. It was the last time I saw him until the unveiling of the Lee monument at Richmond in 1890." Early and his staff made their escape by crossing over the Blue Ridge north of the Gap. By a circuitous route he managed to reach Gordonsville on the 3rd, where he found Gen. Wharton, who had also gotten away. The Federals began to cross Rockfish Gap in large numbers during the night of March 2nd and went on toward Charlottesville, which they occupied the next day. From a safe vantage point Hotchkiss had watched "the enemy's pontoon train, &c., cross the mountain." Custer reported, "A deputation of the citizens of Charlottesville, headed by the mayor and common council, met me outside the town and formally surrendered the town. Moving through the town, in the direction of Gordonsville, the enemy was again encountered, and a skirmish ensued, which resulted in the rout of the enemy, we gaining possession of 3 guns and 1 battle-flag" (OR, Ser. 1, Vol. 46 (Part I), p.503). Bvt. Maj. Gen. Wesley Merritt's letter of March 5th, written shortly after the event, provides more details: "Some skirmishing took place between the brigade and the enemy; a picket of about thirty men were driven in at Keswick Station, and a battle-flag of the Twenty-third Virginia Cavalry (rebel) taken" (OR, Ser. 1, Vol. 46 (Part II), p.848-9). Sgt. Richard Boury of Co. C, 1st West Virginia Cavalry, was awarded a Medal of Honor on March 26th, 1865 for the capture of a flag at Charlottesville on March 5th.
Col. J. L. Thompson of the First New Hampshire Cavalry was left at Waynesboro with the task of escorting the captured Confederate soldiers back to Winchester (OR, Ser. 1, Vol. 46 (Part I), p.528-9):
Report of Colonel John L. Thompson, First New Hampshire Cavalry, of operations March 3-8.
HEADQUARTERS DETACHMENT OF CAVALRY,
Winchester, March 9, 1865.
SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the conducting a convoy of prisoners from Waynesborough to our lines at this place:
Some 1,300 prisoners, including 56 officers, were turned over to me at Waynesborough on the 3rd instant, with instructions to conduct them to Winchester. I was furnished with an escort, consisting of the dismounted men and those with poor horses, from all the cavalry, about 600 men, together with seven small organizations, numbering about 600 men in the ranks.
I destroyed at Waynesborough 4 guns and caissons and 6 ambulances, leaving the sick and wounded in the houses, the horses and mules being too weak to draw them. I took 1 gun, with a train of 14 horses and 2 mules. I was provided with no forage for the horses nor rations for the escort or prisoners, except three day's rations of coffee, sugar, and salt.
I encamped at Fisherville on the night of the 3rd, and before daylight [of the 4th] sent the Fourth New York Cavalry, Major Schwartz commanding, to secure the two bridges between Staunton and Harisonburg, as the streams were so swollen that it was impossible to ford them. They arrived only in time to save them from burning.
Major Schwartz was directed to inform the citizens of Staunton that a large number of prisoners would pass through the town, and that they must supply them with food. On reaching Staunton I found a few females bringing out a poor pittance in small baskets. I refused to allow them to approach the prisoners, and told the citizens that they could have a half hour to provide food or I should take it from the insane asylum. They brought none, and I took flour and bacon from the asylum, upon which the prisoners subsisted until they arrived at Winchester. I learned at Staunton that General Rosser was collecting his command, which had all been furloughed, for the purpose of releasing the prisoners. He had then only fifty men, with whom he skirmished with the rear guard and prevented foraging except with large parties.
At Harrisonburg McNeill's company joined him, together with about 100 more of his regular troops. He had sent dispatches in front of us to all parts of the country, directing the citizens and soldiers to rendezvous at Mount Jackson to prevent our crossing the North Fork of the Shenandoah, stating that he would follow with his forces, and certainly capture us. I arrived at Mount Jackson at noon on the 6th, and found the river impassable, even for horsemen, except at the ford near the pike. A force of 200 men had collected, and held all the fords. I spent the afternoon in trying to build a bridge by felling trees, but was unsuccessful. The river was falling rapidly, however, and would be fordable the next morning. At daylight [on March 7th] I directed Major Brown, commanding Twenty-second New York, with his own regiment and the First Rhode Island, to force the ford above the pike, and drive the enemy from the main ford. This was executed very handsomely; in ten minutes the enemy was scattered in the mountains, and we had taken several prisoners. At this time the enemy attacked our rear, which had taken a position on Rude's Hill, but was repulsed. The dismounted men and prisoners forded the stream in groups of fifty or sixty, holding each other by the arm. It was impossible for a single footman to ford, the water being breast high, with a rapid current. When the fording was nearly completed General Rosser, with about 300 men, made a vigorous assault upon the troops guarding our rear, and was again repulsed, with a loss to him of 10 killed, several wounded, and 25 prisoners. The enemy made no other attack, though I was informed by the citizens that Mosby's men were to join General Rosser, and they would attack us in our camp that night. We marched, however, across Cedar Creek, and encamped [on the evening of March 7th] in the earth-works at that place, reaching our lines at Winchester at noon on the 8th. I think General Rosser gave up the pursuit at Woodstock. During the night at Mount Jackson [on the evening of the 6th] the gun we had brought was spiked and the carriage destroyed, as I was fearful that it could not be drawn over the ford, and it might fall into the hands of the enemy. I had no ammunition for it, the cartridges having been taken, by order of General Merritt, to destroy the bridge at Waynesborough. Lieutenant-Colonel Nichols, Ninth New York Cavalry, who was detailed by General Sheridan to take command of the troops belonging to the First Division, rendered very efficient services. Lieutenant-Colonel Boice, Fifth New York Cavalry, whom I put in charge of those from the Third Division, deserves high commendation. He covered the rear during the entire march. His repulse of the enemy in the two assaults at Rude's Hill was brilliant. The prisoners could not withhold their commendation, but shouted with our own men.
Major Brown, Twenty-second New york, also merits praise for the manner in which he forced the ford, and cleared the enemy from our front. The troops were all severely tried with labor and hunger, and behaved perfectly.
Our loss was 1 officer (Captain Wyatt, First New Hampshire) and 5 men wounded, and 2 captured. The number of prisoners was increased by 4 officers and 30 men.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. L. THOMPSON,
Colonel First New Hampshire Cavalry, Commanding Detachment.
Maj. WILLIAM RUSSELL, Jr.,
Asst. Adjt. General, Cavalry Corps, Middle Military Division.
On March 9th, Gen. Robert E. Lee sent a report to John C. Breckinridge, the Confederate Secretary of War, giving Rosser's version of events (OR, Ser. 1, Vol. 46 (Part I), p.540-1):
General Rosser reports that on the 6th [5th] with a few of his men he attacked the enemy near Harrisonburg, who were guarding prisoners taken at Waynesborough, and captured a few prisoners.
On the morning of the 7th he again attacked them near Rude’s Hill, having detained them for a day and night at the river. He caused them to retire in haste, abandoning the only piece of artillery they had and their ambulance. He annoyed them a good deal and enabled a good many of our men to escape.
In Rosser's postwar account he wrote,"I attacked the guard near Harrisonburg on the night of the 4th [sic-5th] and enabled a few prisoners to escape, and as the Shenandoah was high I sent a detachment over the river to hold the fords and to detain the enemy in Meeny Bottoms [sic-Meems Bottom], below Rude's Hill two days, and on the morning of the 7th I collected all the force I could and attacked him as he was crossing the river and caused him to abandon his artillery" (Riding With Rosser, p.62).
More details of the prisoners' march to Winchester can be found in the memoir of Augustus Forsberg, colonel of the 51st Virginia Infantry, captured at Waynesboro:
… A new Brass band was under organization for the Brigade, the members of which were giving concerts for the amusement of the troops. The last concert was given the last day of February [1865]. The next day [March 1st] it was ascertained that the enemy were advancing on us, we knew not in what number. For weeks it had been rumored that the Federal General Sheridan was moving up the Valley with 15000 Cavalry, but it was not credited that lie would leave the macadamized road in such a season. March 1st we remained in camp ready to advance or fall back at a moment's notice. During night orders were received to move on Waynesboro a few miles in rear of camp. The whole command under Gen. Early was now reduced to two small [army] Brigades, two Batteries, some Cavalry perhaps not more than one effective company, and a company of the Valley reserves, in all about 1200 men. Shortly after daybreak [of March 2nd] we took position in front of town, while all stores were removed to a safer place. A cold rain was falling during the forenoon, the troops without fires were very uncomfortable. Many a longing eye was cast towards the mountain gap only two miles in our rear, where we could have defied Gen. Sheridan's whole Army, but the order to remain in front of town was peremptory, I suppose, on the ground that it had been reported to Gen. Early that only two Brigades of the enemy's Cavalry were moving on us. A choice of position would have been a matter of indifference to us while not engaging larger force of Cavalry, but it proved to be Sheridan's whole force. Brigade after Brigade were deployed in our front, some moving on our flanks, others towards our rear. In a short while we were so completely surrounded that escape was impossible and resistance would have been madness. Many a veteran who had been with me for years and never shirked duty or refused to fight, now, discouraged and disgusted, hardly cared to fire his gun but doggedly threw down his arms and marched to the rear as a prisoner of war. Some were of the opinion that we had been sold to the enemy, but every one acquainted with the Generalship, courage and patriotism of Gen. Early is ready to scorn such a charge.
...
The prisoners, 990 all told, were formed in line in a field ankle deep with water, and kept there the whole night. The following morning [March 3rd] we naturally looked for the issue of rations but were sadly disappointed. A young Lady from town received permission from the Fed. Commander to distribute some food among us. She labored assiduously during the day, with some other good Samaritans, in providing for the wants of the Confederates, and displayed that fortitude and endurance, which never was wanting with the women of the South.
...
In the afternoon our long march as prisoners commenced. Mounted Officers were deprived of their horses and ordered to the head of the column. The road to Staunton was in a horrible condition. So much of Artillery, wagons and horses had been moving over this road during several days of rain, that the mud in some places between the banks was three feet deep. Through this slush we were forced to march, the mounted guard on both sides preserving for themselves the better passable banks. Onward at a rapid pace through the mire, where some stuck fast and could not extricate themselves without the assistance of others; until after dark [on March 3th] when we bivouaced about 6 miles from Staunton. During the march the Federals exhibited a great deal of fear of something, and fired one of the captured field-pieces several times, probably for the purpose of intimidating some 20 or 30 men of Gen. Rosser's cavalry we supposed to be in the neighborhood. The Federal guard, I believe, could not have numbered less than 2000.
...
Early next morning we were ordered to form in companies of one hundred each for the purpose of receiving rations. The hungry men readily obeyed end were kept awhile in anxious expectation of the promised rations, but in its stead order was given to continue the march. 'The effect of such cruel deception and mockery can easily be imagined.
Near Staunton the prisoners were brought to a halt...
The Federal Commander at Staunton gave notice to the citizens that as he had no provisions to spare they were at liberty to provide their friends, the prisoners, with some food. Generously the citizens of Staunton responded to such a call, but a large number of the prisoners were already so exhausted that their appetite was greatly impaired; and few thought of or were able in their feeble condition, to burden themselves with the provisions left on the ground. After some rest the column moved on and encamped next night [March 4th] on Middle river. The following night [March 5th] we camped near Harrisonburg...
The Confederate prisoners had yet received no rations from their captors, and their lives were only sustained by the charitable contributions of the Ladies living near the road. Few men dared to show themselves as they were often arrested and added to the number of prisoners. Several times did I see Federal sabres raised over the charitable hands that offered us food, but the women of the South were too well accustomed to such treatment to be easily intimidated. With baskets filled with bread and meat they followed the column and when refused access to the prisoners they threw the food over the guard into the ranks of the prisoners, who in some instances fought like hungry hounds over the bread thrown at them.
[NOTE: According to Col. Thompson, they arrived at Mount Jackson at noon on March 6th. During the night at Mount Jackson [still the 6th] they spiked a gun. Forsberg does not mention this. Consequently he incorrectly begins the action of Rude's Hill on the 6th instead of the 7th.]
The Confederate Gen. Rosser with a handful of his cavalry had been hovering around the column, and many a hopeful prayer was offered for our deliverance at his hands. The Feds. showed too Plainly their uneasiness notwithstanding their strength in number of men, and most unmercifully pressed us to move faster. Before daybreak of the 6th [sic-7th] we were aroused by distant firing and cheering. A few of Rosser's men had made a feint on the Federal Detachment in front, no doubt intending to give us an opportunity to overpower the sentinels nearest to us, and to make good our escape to the woods. But the prisoners were too much exhausted and dispirited to make any such attempt. At early dawn of day the Feds. professed to have made attempts to bridge the North fork of Shenandoah river for one safe crossing, but that the Confs. on the opposite bank had made them desist. We were therefore forced to wade the river, which was four feet deep in the middle, and the water so rapid that no one man could stand its pressure. The only way of crossing with some chance of safety was for half a dozen men or more to lock arms and support each others, the flank man down the stream assisted by a stout pole. In the confusion and hurried to cross we could not ascertain if any of the men were drowned, but the fact that some dead horses were seen floating down the river, makes it very probable that some unhappy men there found a watery grave. On the opposite bank we witnessed a charge made on the rear of the column by the indefatigable Rosser with perhaps two hundred of his men, of whom a few were captured and added to our number. After crossing the river the pursuit of Rosser's men was discontinued. The night of the 7th we bivouaced on the old battle field of Cedar Creek. Approaching Winchester, the 8th, the Feds. had another scare. A column of U. S. troops, which came to relieve the prisoners' guard, was taken for Confederates. The excitement was intense, contrabands sent to the rear, prisoners halted, and preparations made for defence, but before anybody was hurt the mistake was discovered. At Winchester the garrison was paraded and joined the procession through town, salutes fired and a great ado made over the capture of a thousand Confederates, which proved in what estimation they held such an important event.At Stevenson's Depot, some miles below Winchester, our march ended...
Diary of Lt. George H. Murphy, Company D, 23rd Virginia Cavalry:
March 2d.
Came to Bridgewater this morning. Received an order from Rosser to report to him at Mt. Crawford bridge. Made the attempt but when got in sight of pike found enemy had passed up, made several efforts to get to pike, but failed. Came to Mt Solan [sic-Solon]. Remained all night.
March 3d
Came to Stribling Springs... Still raining. waters very high. Remained here all night.
March 4th
The day spent in rolling ten pins. Cannot learn whether our Brigade has left Pendleton for the Valley. are in a quandry about it. The enemy are between Staunton and Waynesboro. No possible chance of getting thru. The roads are miserable. The water comes higher than they have ever known to have been before. do not like the idea of laying here idle when we know how badly in need of cavalry Genl. Early is, but to get to him is impossible... am much distressed at the idea of family being in enemies lines... Have just learned that the Brigade had not left Pendleton on the 3d. If this is true, will leave here tomorrow. have just heard of the capture of Early and staff. Lt Dardon [sic-Darden] [Co. F] with the dismounted men came up this eve.
March 5th
Nothing from the Brigade yet except a report that it is still in Pendleton; Here we have been three days debating among ourselves what is best to be done. ignorant of either the exact whereabouts of our Brigade or Genl. Early. Many propositions have been made, discussed and rejected. Seven officers: Capts Richardson [Co. D], Adams [Co. K] and Walden [Co. A]. Lts Glaze [sic-Glaize] [Co. F], Cushing [sic-Cushen] [Co. K], Dardon and myself. one non commissioned officer Hogsett [Co. D] and seven privates. Personally I am disgusted with this mode of life. We should certainly make a greater effort to join our Brigade to return down the Valley and collect our companies.
(source: the George H. Murphy Diary, Department of Special Collections, Hesburgh Libraries of Notre Dame)
Lomax had spent March 2nd and 3rd trying to collect his command. By the 4th it was obvious that Sheridan's army would not pass his way. The threat to Lynchburg by the Federals now came from a movement southwest from Charlottesville. Lomax sent orders to McCausland's command and to Jackson's 19th regiment and 37th battalion to move at once to Lynchburg. He then set out for Lynchburg himself, arriving there on the 6th (Goggin, p.18). The rest of his division, Imboden's brigade (the 18th, 23rd, and 62nd) and Jackson's 20th and perhaps the 26th remained near Staunton. With Lomax's departure, Jackson became senior officer in command. He had moved his headquarters to Buffalo Gap by the 4th when he receive a dispatch from Rosser requesting assistance in freeing the prisoners.
Jackson replied:
I have no men with me. One of the Regts is at Goshen water bound. I expect about one hundred and fifty men at Buffalo Gap to night, and if they come I will bring them as you desire.
Perhaps it was Jackson's 26th Cavalry trapped at Goshen.
Hotchkiss's journal entry for March 5th states, "I went on to Staunton [from Fishersville's, where he had spent the night], quite early, and then up to Buffalo Gap, to Gen. W. L. Jackson, and got him to send cavalry to aid Gen. Rosser in recapturing our men who went down the Valley guarded by about 900 men. He sent a regiment (Arnett's [20th Cavalry]) and Imboden's Brigade, under Col. G. H. Smith, which went down the Warm Springs Road. The cavalry could not rendezvous for the high waters, and these only got here [presumably Churchville] today." The 20th Cavalry spent the night of March 5th-6th at Churchville. [The Warm Springs Road ran northeast from Warm Springs, Bath County, past Deerfield, Augusta County, along a segment of the Calfpasture River, through Jennings Gap and along the Jennings Branch to Churchville, and finally on to Staunton. The Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike ran northwest from Staunton, through Buffalo Gap, to the Calfpasture River where it intersected the Warm Springs Road, then on to McDowell, Monterey, and past Crabbottom in Highland County. When Hotchkiss wrote that they had come down the Warm Springs Road, he apparently meant they came by way of McDowell on the Turnpike to where it interescted the Warm Springs Road on the Calfpasture River; then they took the latter road through Jennings Gap to Churchville. They may have been delayed by high water on the Bullpasture and Cowpasture Rivers.]
Diary of Lt. George H. Murphy, Company D, 23rd Virginia Cavalry:
March 5th (continued)
Left Stribling Springs at 10 1/2 o'ck AM having heard the Brgd[Brigade] would be in the Valley to-day. fed at Churchville in Augusta County about 3 o'clk PM and arrived here, Burke's Mills[now called Burktown, about 3 miles NW of Weyers Cave] at 9 o'clk. stop again fed horses and got something to eat for ourselves.
(source: the George H. Murphy Diary, Department of Special Collections, Hesburgh Libraries of Notre Dame)
The itinerary of Imboden's Brigade to March 5th is recorded in the diary entries of Sergeant Charles William Bennett of Company D, 18th Virginia Cavalry. At 7 a.m. on March 3rd, Imboden's brigade, which had wintered in Pendleton County, traveled up the North Fork to Highland County, making camp at Crabbottom about 4 p.m. The next day it moved to McDowell and camped on the Bullpasture River. On March 5th the brigade went to Parnassus, a few miles northeast of Churchville. Col. George H. Smith and his staff had spent the night at the home of Jed. Hotchkiss in Churchville before joining the brigade early in the morning. On March 6th both Imboden's brigade and Arnett's 20th cavalry headed toward Harrisonburg to link up with Rosser. The direct distance from Parnassus to Rude's Hill is about 40 miles. Arnett's and Imboden's men may have caught up with Rosser just in time to participate in the action at Rude's Hill on the morning of March 7th.
They are mentioned in a letter by Mortimer Johnson. At age 48, Johnson was a member of the Rockbridge County Senior Reserves. He wrote from Lexington to his wife at their home in Brownsburg in northern Rockbridge, telling her of the recent events:
Lexington, March 7 65
My Dear Wife
The latest news from Staunton is about as we first heard. Our loss--1200 in prisoners, only 4 killed and wounded...
Jackson is expected at Brownsburg tonight --whether he will have any troops with him or not I do not know. If you are all well send Leake [Mortimer's son] to the Gen and ask him to stay all night.
Jackson's and Imboden's men united with Rosser and pursued the enemy down the valley and may attack the guard and try to rescue the prisoners--but I hardly expect it as the Guard is a large one and Sheridan said to be along the the guard.
Truly yours, MHJ
Evidently proceeding independently from Burke's Mills, George Murphy and his companions had caught up with Rosser on the 6th.
Diary of Lt. George H. Murphy, Company D, 23rd Virginia Cavalry:
March 6th
Left Burke's Mills at 1 1/2 o'clk AM, passing through Harrisonburg just at day-light. overtook Genl. Rosser at Lacey's Springs who was skirmishing with the enemy from 800 to 1000, guarding about one[?] thousand prisoners captured from Genl. Early at Waynesboro. Am now between Dr. Rice's and Rood's Hill. the enemy occupying the latter position. have been here for the last three hour. various surmises why the enemy do not go on. have too small a force to compel them to leave by direct[?] attack. river[?] very high in[?] their nar[?-short for neighborhood?] at Mt Jackson, one cause, it is supposed, why they do not go on...
[Capt.] Adams moved back on the pike to within two miles of Newmarket. staid all night.
March 7th
in the morning Rosser order charge the enemy occupying Rude's Hill. drove the enemy from there but were driven back. two hours afterwards charged in Meams[sic-Meem's] bottom. again driven back. the enemy made their escape, crossing at Neff's Ford, from which point Rosser turned back and went to Harrisonburg. came on[?] again[?] in company with Capts. Brown[?-not identified] Adams and Richardson and Lt Cushing[sic-Cushen]. got home** at 4 o'ck pm.
(source: the George H. Murphy Diary, Department of Special Collections, Hesburgh Libraries of Notre Dame)
**note: Evidently Murphy's home was in or near Woodstock, Shenandoah County.
---------------
As Mortimer Johnson's letter indicates, on March 7th Gen. Jackson started from his Valley headquarters to join Lomax at Lynchburg. He may have been accompanied by his 26th Cavalry, or it may have already been ordered to Lynchburg. His 20th Cavalry also headed south. Probably about the same time Col. Smith took his 18th and 62nd regiments to Lynchburg, leaving only the 23rd Cavalry to guard the upper Valley.
On March 7th, Lomax assumed command of the forces at Lynchburg and hurriedly erected works on the north side of the city in preparation for the expected assault by Sheridan's troops. On March 8th Lomax had an estimated strength of three thousand men. Gen. Basil Duke's command formed on the left and the remainder of Wharton's brigade on the right. That night the Federals were reported south of Amherst County Court House and still advancing toward Lynchburg. The following day, however, Lomax's scouts reported that the enemy had changed direction and were instead moving down the James River. Sheridan explained why he decided not to attack Lynchburg in his report of July 16, 1865 (OR, Series 1, Vol. 46 (Part I), p.477):
The roads from Waynesborough to Charlottesville had, from the
incessant rain and spring thaws, become so terribly cut up and the mud
was of such a depth that it was impossible for our train to reach
Charlottesville under two days. I therefore notified the command that
we would remain two days at this point, for the purpose of resting,
refitting, and destroying the railroad. Parties were sent well out
toward Gordonsville to break the railroad, and also about fifteen miles
toward Lynchburg for the same purpose, to prevent troops massing on
me from either Richmond or Lynchburg. A thorough and systematic
destruction of the railroads was then commenced, including the large
iron bridges over the North and South Forks of the Rivanna River, and
the work was continued until the evening of the 5th instant, when
General Gibbs reported, with our trains. Forage and subsistence were
found in great abundance in the vicinity of Charlottesville.
Commodore [George N.] Hollins, of the Confederate Navy, was killed while try-
ing to escape from a scouting party from General Custer’s division.
This necessary delay forced me to abandon the idea of capturing
Lynchburg, but trusty scouts had been sent there to find out the state
of affairs in that vicinity.
When the time to start came I decided to separate into two columns,
sending General Devin’s division, under immediate command of General
Merritt, to Scottsville, thence to march along the James River Canal,
destroying every lock as far as New Market, while with Custer’s division
I pushed on up the Lynchburg railroad, through North and South Gar-
dens, destroying it as far as Amherst Court-House, sixteen miles from
Lynchburg, and then moved across the country and united with Gen-
eral Merritt’s column at New Market.
Lomax remained at Lynchburg through March 13th, awaiting a possible return of the Federals and gradually assembling his scattered cavalry command.
=========
Back in the Valley, on March 9th, Maj. Charles Otis of the 21st New York Cavalry was ordered to take a detail as far south as Edenburg to ascertain the situation.
TROY DAILY TIMES.
MONDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH 20, 1865.
From the Griswold Cavalry.
Correspondence of the Troy Daily Times.
NEAR WINCHESTER , Va., March 12.
...
Friday morning, a scout of about six hundred men under command of Major Charles G. Otis, went up the valley to look after Rosser, and "to see what they could see." They returned this noon, bringing with them about thirty prisoners, who tell pitiful stories of the depredations and sufferings from want of the rebel troops.
...
(source: http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/civil/cavalry/21stCav/21stCavCWN.htm
21st Regiment Cavalry, NY Volunteers - Civil War Newspaper Clippings)
---------------
The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. / Series 1 - Volume 46 (Part II), p.945-6:
HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-FIRST NEW YORK CAVALRY,
Camp Averell, Va., March 12, 1865.
Maj. WILLIAM RUSSELL, Jr.,
Assistant Adjutant-General:
MAJOR: I have the honor to report that on the 9th of March I received
a detail from headquarters Second Cavalry Division, Middle Military
Division, to take charge of a detail of 530 men--430 from First Brigade,
Second Cavalry Division, and 100 Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
Pursuant to instructions from General Torbert I proceeded with my
command to Woodstock and bivouacked. Took up the line of march
at 6 a.m. and reached Edenburg at 8 a.m. Crossed the bridge and
moved to within three miles of Mount Jackson, found no enemy in force,
and learned there was none this side of Staunton, where General
Rosser's command was assembling. I returned by the Back road,
picked up ten prisoners and three deserters, viz: William B. Craw-
ford, Company B, Second Foreign Battalion; William D. Stout, clerk
in hospital at Staunton, and J. H. Slasher, hospital steward, general
hospital, Harrisonburg. They all report General Sheridan will cross
the James River, and on his way to join General Grant's army. There
was quite a number of rumors, both regarding General Sheridan and
General Sherman, to the effect that General Sheridan had been repulsed
at Gordonsville, losing 1,500 prisoners, and again, that was contradicted,
and asserted that General Sheridan had captured two railroad trains,
one having on board 500 paroled prisoners, which he released--the other
had 1,800 exchanged prisoners. The trains were burned; also, nearly
all the bridges on the Virginia Central Railroad from Charlottesville to
Lynchburg. Putting all information and rumors together, I judged
that General Sheridan crossed the James River at Scottsville and was
going, when last heard from, in the direction of Burkeville. It was
rumored that General Sherman had been defeated, losing 20,000 pris-
oners--however, the rebels themselves did not credit the report, but
hoped it was true. On my return I bivouacked at Strasburg the night
of the 11th of March. Marched the next morning and reached Win-
chester about 1 p.m. Sunday.
I have no casualties to report. Two horses were wounded at Eden-
burg by some party who fired on the rear guard. Two men who fell
out of the column to get a horse shod were picked up by the rebels,
their arms and horses taken from them, and then released. I left one
wounded rebel on the road. One of my men was wounded accidentally.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
CHAS. G. OTIS,
Major, Commanding Twenty-first New York Cavalry.
Lt George Murphy had been staying in the vicinity of Woodstock and recorded the progress of Otis's troops in his diary.
Diary of Lt. George H. Murphy, Company D, 23rd Virginia Cavalry:
March 10th
...while sitting this evening between 4 and 5 o'ck at Alberts, in came the Yankees, and out went the subscribed. came to Mr. Isaac Huddels.
March 11th
Staid all night at Mr Huddels. am very anxious to know what has become with the Yankees. do not think, from what I could see yesterday eve, that their number exceeded three hundred. Barfelt[?-a name] has just come out and says that the Yankees left town about 7 o'ck going up the pike in search of Sheridan or to learn if possible his whereabouts. Still at Huddels. have remained here all day awaiting news from town. Jim Williams Willy Haas Jim Rosehefpen(?) and myself went in sight of Town and there learned that the Yankees had gone in the direction of Newman's furnace. This is the last furnace that we have left us in the Valley. had my mare shod all around by Jno. Boseman. Barfelt(?) also here. [note: Newman's Furnace was Liberty Furnace.]
(source: the George H. Murphy Diary, Department of Special Collections, Hesburgh Libraries of Notre Dame)
From her home in Woodlawn, three miles north of Mt. Jackson on the Middle Road between Rinkerton and Hamburg, Anna Kagey Wayland also noted the approach of the Union soldiers.
Diary of Anna Kagey Wayland of Shenandoah County:
March 11, 1865.- Yankees at Hamburg.
(source: Wayland, John W. A History of Shenandoah County, Virginia., p.306)
---------------
Rosser, after the failed attempt to release the Confederate prisoners, had returned to Staunton. Hotchkiss found him there on March 9th. The next day, the 10th, Hotchkiss recorded that Imboden's brigade came to Staunton.
Rosser's intention now was to pursue Sheridan. His movements over the next several days are documented in Hotchkiss's journal. At 7 a.m. on the 11th, the general and about 500 men from his division started toward Lexington but stopped three miles south of Midway [now Steele's Tavern] on the border of Augusta and Rockbridge Counties. At sunrise the next morning Rosser crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains at Tye River Gap, passed Massie's Mills, and at midnight stopped three miles east of Lovingston in Nelson County. On March 13th, the division marched from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The men passed through Scottsville, where they observed the great damage wrought by Sheridan's men, and encamped five miles farther down the river road. They set out at 8 a.m. on the 14th and rode twenty miles to Columbia, where they again saw much damage. After a three hour rest, they went another eighteen miles to Hodenville, which they reached at 11 p.m.
Joseph Waddell recounted the principal events which had occurred since the first of the month in his diary entry for March 14th:
[On Wednesday, March 1st, Waddell had evacuated Staunton by taking the train via Charlottesville to Lynchburg.]
Thursday night [March 2nd] we learned by telegraph from Charlottesville that Gen. Early had made a stand near Waynesboro and been utterly routed -- nearly his whole force captured and he himself killed or a prisoner. On Friday the local forces were called out to man the fortifications, and the Commandant of the Post notified officers having papers or public property to have them ready to move to a place of safety. Where was there a safe place if Lynchburg should fall! For the first time my spirits gave way. I felt that our cause was hopeless. On Friday we heard that the whole force of the enemy had crossed the mountain at Rockfish Gap, and were sneaking for the James River at Hardwicksville Bridge.
[The following Sunday, March 5th, he took the train from Lynchburg to Salem.]
When I left Lynchburg a few troops had arrived from the S.W. and a small force of Reserves by the Southside Railroad. Many parolled prisoners just from the North, were on board.
[On Monday the 6th he took a government wagon from Salem to Buchanan.]
At Buchanan I received the first news of the conduct of the Yankees in Staunton, although one or two men connected with the army had told me, while on the road, that no enemy was there now... The running of the stage had suspended on account of the movements of the enemy, and also, perhaps, because of the very bad roads. Consequently I could not leave Buchanan for Lexington till Wednesday morning, the 8th inst. The time passed away pleasantly except when I was oppressed with the dread lest the enemy should return through Staunton and complete the work of destruction. I heard that Rosser had collected a small cavalry force, and was endeavoring to rescue the prisoners taken up at Waynesboro -- that there had been no fight and only three or four persons killed -- that Early instead of retiring to Rockfish Gap, had formed a line of battle in the open country and that his men finding themselves surrounded by a vastly superior force, had laid down their arms that Early, Long &c had escaped, but that nearly all the command, with artillery, wagons, &c had been captured. [On Wednesday, March 8th, Waddell left Buchanan for Lexington by stage.] Early Wednesday morning the stage started for Lexington. A lady and myself were the only passengers. The road was almost impassable. The distance by way of the Natural Bridge, is 26 miles, and the stage fare was $39, or one and a half dollars per mile, Confederate currency. We paused at the Bridge an hour or two, and arrived at Lexington before dark [still Wednesday, March 8th], in a hard rain. As it was the first stage that had arrived for some time, a crowd assembled at the hotel as we drove up, to inquire the news...
The main body of the enemy had crossed the Blue Ridge at Rockfish Gap, and was then so far as known, prowling about the Orange Railroad in Amherst, threatening Lynchburg. [Part of Sheridan's force was at Amherst Court House, about 16 miles from northeast of Lynchburg, on March 7th or 8th. Instead of moving against Lynchburg, Sheridan had decided to proceeded eastward to New Market, eventually linking up with Grant at Petersburg.]... After [words missing -- the affair?] at Waynesboro, a body of the enemy returned to Staunton with the prisoners (1000 to 1200), and proceeded down the Valley on Saturday, the 4th. Rosser, with a few cavalry was pursuing them. Then we heard that Rosser had returned to Staunton, unsuccessful, but that many prisoners had escaped. Much apprehension was felt at Lexington lest the enemy should return into the Valley, I heard there of the burning of Swoope's Depot, Swoope's Mill, barns and other property in that neighborhood. Col. R. H. Lee, who was captured by the enemy, but escaped, was in Lexington. Having many friends in L[exington]. and feeling comparatively easy about friends at home, I spent a pleasant time there. Staid two night's at A. Alexander's, and visited at Dr. McClung's, Mrs. N. Graham's, Miss Reid's, Col. Preston's, Mrs. Alexander's, besides Mr. Campbell's. No vehicle was running to Staunton, and I had no means of getting on home. The roads were said to be almost impassable. Lomax and Jackson had passed through Lexington going to Lynchburg, and their men were straggling along in the same direction. They were in Bath, Highland, Pendleton &c when the enemy advanced up the Valley. On Saturday morning [March 11th] the ground was frozen, and I proposed to Kayser that we should start home. He had a horse and we rode and walked alternately. We started at eleven o'clock, A.M., (11th) -- met soldiers on the road straggling up the Valley, one or more of whom had escaped from the Yankees near Woodstock. We reached the Providence Church before night, and were hospitably entertained at Mr. John Withrow's. Sunday morning we started on the road in dreadful condition, making walking or riding very laborious. We heard that Rosser had gone to Tye River Gap. At Middlebrook we heard that the enemy were about to recross the mountain at the Gap. Dr. Wm McChesney invited us to spend the night with him and wait further intelligence. There was a good deal of excitement in the country, but before dark we became satisfied that the enemy was not then coming back. -- McChesney loaned me a horse, and Monday morning, the 13th, I came home.
---------------
Charles T. O'Ferrall, lieutenant colonel of the the 23rd Virginia Cavalry of Imboden's brigade, had been on furlough recovering from a knee wound he had received at the battle of Fisher's Hill. He had spent the winter visiting his siblings in Enterprise, Mississippi and had even managed to get married. "On the first day of March I took leave of my wife, kindred, and friends and started to rejoin my regiment. I did not arrive at Staunton until about the 12th, and as quickly as possible reported for duty with my regiment, in the vicinity of Edenburg [in Shenandoah County]... My regiment, the Twenty-third; Gilmore's battalion and McNeill's Partisan Rangers were the only Confederate soldiers in the [Shenandoah] Valley on my return from the South. The first two were on picket and scout duty, with a long range of country to watch and guard with so small a force. They were kept extremely busy and their service was hard. McNeill, who was a 'free lance,' with authority to go where he pleased, and almost do what he pleased, was constantly searching for opportunities to surprised a picket post, scouting party, or wagon train, and was most successful." (O'Ferrall, p.125-6). Gilmore and McNeill typically worked behind enemy lines, and consequently were primarily active north Winchester. This left the only 23rd Cavalry to defend the upper Valley--the other two regiments of Imboden's brigade, the 18th and the 62nd, apparently having left Staunton to join Lomax at Lynchburg.
---------------
Diary of Lt. George H. Murphy, Company D, 23rd Virginia Cavalry:
March 12th
Staid all night at Huddels. came to town [Woodstock] at 9 o'clk this morning...
March 13th
...Started from home about 10 o'clk. got to Newmarket about 5.
March 14th
Staid all night at Thornton Thomas' 3 miles west of Newmarket.
March 15th
Staid all night at N Market... left there at 9 o'ck AM. Staid with army[?] all night. Remained here all day.
March 16th
Got to Mt Solan[sic-Solon] at 2 o'ck...
(source: the George H. Murphy Diary, Department of Special Collections, Hesburgh Libraries of Notre Dame)
---------------
In addition to the 23rd Cavalry, a significant number of Rosser's men were still on winter furlough in the Valley and other places when their commander took off in pursuit of Sheridan. They had orders to assemble at Staunton, which many did during mid March. For several days they may have awaited Rosser's return, but by the last week of March it became apparent that he would be staying with Lee's army. William Lyne Wilson was a soldier in Company B, 12th Virginia Cavalry, a regiment of the Laurel Brigade of Rosser's division. His brigade at Swoope's Depot had been disbanded for some thirty days in early February, and he had gone to King and Queen County to visit an uncle. He had heard of Sheridan's raid just as he set out on his return journey on March 4th. Yet the news seemed to have imparted no particular sense of urgency. On March 9th he had arrived at Mr. Hudnall's, who lived a mile from Linden, a small town on the east side of Manassas Gap in Warren County. There he remained, rather nonchalantly, for the next two and a half weeks. His diary entry for March 12th stated, "The companies of our brigade are ordered into Camp." On March 25th he wrote,"I shall start to the Brigade Camp at Staunton on Monday [the 27th]". He reached Luray on Tuesday the 28th only to discover that the brigade had gone to Petersburg, and so he headed off alone in that direction to find them.
---------------
By March 14th Lomax had gathered together most of his division. His movements over the next few days were summarized in E. B. Goggin's postwar report. The men set out from Lynchburg on a line with the James River and encamped 25 miles away. On the 15th the division continued its march and made camp that night between Charlottesville and the James River. That morning Rosser's division, as recorded in Hotchkiss's journal, started at 8 a.m. from Hodensville and went to Thompson's Cross Roads, then to Poague's Mill, and via Salem Church to the Louisa Road and down it to Goodall's Tavern, and finally to Ashland, which they reached at 11 p.m. On the 16th, Lomax's division reached the vicinity of Cobham Station on the Virginia Central Rail Road, about 13 miles east of Charlottesville. On the 17th, Rosser, who was still in pursuit of Sheridan, was ordered to Petersburg (Riding With Rosser, p.62). Lomax's division encamped at Fredericks Hall, Louisa County, and on the 18th made camp two miles from Negro Foot, Hanover County, where they remained until the 21st. On March 20th Lomax was informed that McCausland's brigade was reassigned to Rosser's division, which would be staying to fight with Lee at Petersburg. Gen. Early gave orders to Lomax to return to Staunton with his division, which now included only Jackson's and Imboden's brigades. March 21st to 26th were spent marching back to the Valley. On the 27th the division went into camp near Churchville at "Camp Parnassus". Lomax made his headquarters at Staunton. Hotchkiss had also returned to the Valley but by a different route. A journal entry for Tuesday, March 28th read, "Found Wm. L. Jackson's and John D. Imboden's brigades near Churchville. They reached there Monday from Hanover Junction."
O'Ferrall's regiment had, while the 18th and 62nd had marched with Lomax, been encamped in the Churchville-Parnassus-Mt. Solon area of Augusta County with pickets in Shenandoah and Rockingham Counties. "The Twenty-third had many 'scraps,' as the boys called them--minor engagements, but always costing blood and frequently lives, during March and April, until the surrender," wrote O'Ferrall (p.129). Unfortunately, O'Ferrall recounted only his final two encounters, which happened during the first week of April. The scraps he and his men were involved in during March can only be guessed at based on reports by Union officers of their encounters with Confederate forces while on patrols (scouts) up the Valley. The units the Federals skirmished with were not usually identified. They did capture a few individual soldiers whom they identified as being from Imboden's brigade, the 12th Virginia Cavalry (Rosser's division), and even Gilmor's battalion. Probably these were men who had been on furlough at their homes in the Valley when Sheridan's army marched past and had not yet reported for duty with their respective commands. Perhaps some preferred to stay near home and fight a guerilla action or not fight at all.
---------------
From Winchester, Brevet Major-General Alfred T. A. Torbert commanded the forces remaining in the Middle Military Division which had been left there by General Sheridan. They consisted of the First Brigade, Second Division (Department of West Virginia), and the Artillery Reserve Brigade.
---------------
OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, Vol. 46 (Part 2), p.958:
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
March 13, 1865.
Brevet Major-General TORBERT,
Chief of Cavalry:
GENERAL: The major-general commanding desires you to send a
scouting party to Woodstock to-morrow morning. There are two scouts
there who have been several days at Woodstock, who will return with
party you send out with such information as they may have collected...
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. H. MORGAN,
Brevet Brigadier-General of Volunteers, &c.
---------------
OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, Vol. 46 (Part I), p.530:
Report of Lieutenant John M. Webb, Ninth New York Cavalry, of operations March 14.
CAMP OF DETACHMENT NINTH NEW YORK CAVALRY,
March 16, 1865.
MAJOR: I have the honor to make the following report after making
a reconnaissance to Woodstock:
I left camp at 6 o'clock on the morning of the 14th instant; arrived
at Fisher's Hill at 12 m., where I discovered a small party of the enemy's
cavalry, not exceeding twenty in number, filing from the top of Round
Top Mountain to the right. I halted the column a short time, when I
pushed forward, arrived at Woodstock at 4 p. m., where I found about
fifteen of the enemy, but they made well their escape as we entered the
town. I stopped the column on the north side of the town, forming a
picket-line around the city, and went into camp. At 8 o'clock in the
evening my line was attacked in three separate places; the enemy
charged the post on the pike leading to Edenburg, capturing one man
and wounding the second. I then established the line again, but the
enemy were continually harassing the line, and about 11 p. m. I
withdrew the line to the north side of the town, also moving the reserve
back about 100 rods, where I was troubled only by an occasional shot.
At 4 o'clock on the morning of the 15th I returned to camp, finding
nothing to impede the march, arriving at camp at 1 p. m.
Very respectfully,
JNO. M. WEBB,
First Lieutenant, Ninth New York Cavalry, Commanding Scout.
Maj. WILLIAM RUSSELL, Jr.,
Asst. Adjt. General, Cavalry Corps, Middle Military Division.
---------------
OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, Vol. 46 (Part III), p.17
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
March 16, 1865.
Brevet Major-General TORBERT,
Chief of Cavalry:
GENERAL: The major-general commanding desires you to send
to-night a scouting party up the Valley as far as Woodstock or Edin-
burg, by such roads as you may think proper; also, a detail of fifty
men for special service, to be ready to move at 6 p. m. to-day, the
officer commanding the detail to report for instruction at these head-
quarters at 6 p. m.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. H. MORGAN,
Brevet Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.
---------------
OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, Vol. 46 (Part I), p.532-3:
Report of Major Charles C. Brown, Twenty-second New York Cavalry, of operations March 17-19.
HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-SECOND NEW YORK CAVALRY,
March 19, 1865.
MAJOR: I have the honor to report that, in compliance with orders
from Brevet Major-General Torbert, commanding Cavalry Corps, Middle
Military Division, I left Winchester on the morning of the 17th at 1.30
o'clock, and moved up the Back road to Cedar Creek, with the intention
of crossing at tether Fawcett's or Mount Hope Gap. On arriving at
Cedar Creek I found the water so high that it was impossible to cross.
I then moved by a mountain road and struck the Moorefield pike, mov-
ing up Cedar Valley, crossing Cedar Creek at the entrance of Rudolph's
Pass, crossed the mountain by that pass, and struck on the Back road,
moving up on that road as a far as the cross-road leading to Woodstock,
where I encamped for the night. The guide (Sailor) judging from
Cedar Creek and all the runs that we passed that it would be
dangerous, if not impossible, to cross Stony Creek, and also the fact
that it would be impossible for me to reach Columbia Furnace without
the enemy being notified of my approach, I decided to move directly to
Woodstock, and then to Edenburg, if I found it necessary. On arriv-
ing at Woodstock the scouts dashed through the town, followed by the
advance guard, capturing two rebel cavalrymen, dismounted, belong-
ing to Gilmore's battalion; one or two others managed to get away.
From information gained from Union families along the route and at
Woodstock, I found that there was no force at all this side of New Mar-
ket, and doubtful if any this side of Staunton. From the time we left
Winchester till we reached Woodstock but two rebel soldiers were
seen; all that I conversed with gave the same information, that all the
soldiers were moving up the Valley. By one Union family in Wood-
stock I was told that there was an order for all of Rosser's command
to meet at or near Staunton, and that small parties of six or eight were
passing about every day through Woodstock and on the Back road up
the Valley, and none moving down. The scout Stearns, who had been
lying at or near Woodstock for a week, confirmed this information from
his own knowledge. His impression was, he told me, that Rosser had
gathered about 800 men between New Market and Staunton, and that
his intention was to make a raid in some direction down one of the val-
leys. Among the Union families in Woodstock the impression prevailed
that Rosser was gathering in his cavalry with the purpose of withdrawing
toward Richmond, instead of a raid down the Valley. Having been frus-
trated by the high water in my my intention of passing to the rear of
Edenburg unheralded, and being certain from all the information gained
that there was no force at all this side of New Market, and also from the
fact that the detachment of the Eighteenth Pennsylvania had joined
me without a pound of forage or rations, I decided to return to Win-
chester without proceeding farther.
...
I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. C. BROWN,
Major, Commanding.
Major WILLIAM RUSSELL, Jr.,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
---------------
Diary of Lt. George H. Murphy, Company D, 23rd Virginia Cavalry:
March 20th
Beautiful day. puplic[sic] speaking in the church in the state of the country by Col. White and Mr[?] Celvin[?] Harris... Elejant Ball at Mt. Solan.
March 21st
Still beautiful weather. we are delightfully situated. pleasant Society. plenty of nice girls no[near?] to camp...
(source: the George H. Murphy Diary, Department of Special Collections, Hesburgh Libraries of Notre Dame)
---------------
OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, Vol. 46 (Part I), p.534-5:
Report of Captain William H. Oliver, Fourth New York Cavalry, of operations March 20-21.
HDQRS. FOURTH REGIMENT NEW YORK CAVALRY,
March 22, 1865.
I have the honor to make the following report of the scout upon which
I was ordered on the morning of the 20th instant:
I left Winchester at 7 a. m. on the morning of the 20th, by the way
of the Winchester grade road, traveling a distance of twenty-two miles
and encamping at 4 p. m. at Big Paddy's Gap, in Cedar Valley. Started
the next day at 2 a. m. for Woodstock, at which place I arrived at 10
o'clock. I immediately pushed on for Edenburg. My advance guard
charged the town, capturing a captain of the Twelfth Virginia Cavalry
and two prisoners. I learned at this point from a Union refugee on
his way from Staunton that there were but two small companies of rebel
cavalry stationed at New Market, numbering sixty men, and that they
were picketing Rude's Hill with a picket of one non-commissioned offi-
cer and six men. I also learned from parties whom I deemed good
authority (Union citizens of Woodstock) that General Rosser's head-
quarters were at Staunton by the way of Buffalo Gap. I also captured,
on the way from Winchester to Woodstock, two privates of Imboden's
and one of Rosser's command.
On my return from Edenburg I halted at Woodstock for an hour to
feed horses, &c. Started from there at 1 o'clock, and when near Fisher's
Hill my advance encountered a force of rebel cavalry, whom fired on
them, killing the lieutenant's horse in command of the advance guard.
I estimate that their force did not consist of more than thirty or thirty-five men.
I arrived at Winchester at 10 p. m. without suffering any loss, either
in killed, wounded, or missing. Two of my men were dismounted, but
I succeeded, however, in remounting them.
I have the honor to remain, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
WM. H. OLIVER,
Captain, Commanding Fourth New York Cavalry.
Colonel IVES,
Commanding Detachments First and Third Cavalry Divisions.
Cavalry Corps, Middle Military Division.
---------------
In it interesting to note that in Brown's March 19th report, the Union families in Woodstock were more perspicacious than the scout Stearns in ascertaining Rosser's true movements. Oliver correctly accepted the view of the Woodstock citizens that most of Rosser's forces had gone over the Blue Ridge south of Staunton, although the captain misidentified Rockfish Gap as Buffalo Gap.
---------------
Diary of Lt. George H. Murphy, Company D, 23rd Virginia Cavalry:
March 26th
Nothing has [missing word? e.g. happened] since the 21st of note. Still at Mt Solan... [Major Fielding] Calmes and [Lt. Col. Charles T.] OFerrall both joined the Regt. this morning...
(source: the George H. Murphy Diary, Department of Special Collections, Hesburgh Libraries of Notre Dame)
---------------
OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.216:
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
March 27, 1865.
Brevet Major-General TORBERT,
Chief of Cavalry:
The major-general commanding desires you to send a cavalry scout
tomorrow morning to Woodstock for the purpose of getting as accu-
rate information as possible concerning the location and strength of the
parties of the enemy in the Valley.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. H. MORGAN,
Brevet Brigadier-General of Volunteers and Chief of Staff.
---------------
OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, Vol. 46 (Part I), p.536-7:
Report of Major William Russell, jr., Assistant Adjutant-General, U. S. Army, of operations March 27-29.
HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY, MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
March 29, 1865.
GENERAL: In compliance with your orders, I left Winchester on the
morning of the 27th instant, with a detachment of 300 men, to go up the
Valley as far as Woodstock, for the purpose of ascertaining the position
and strength of any force of the enemy in the Valley. I arrived at
Woodstock at 4 p. m., and three ascertained through citizens, and two
refugees who came from Staunton on Saturday last, that there was no
force of any nature between Staunton and this place. At Edenburg
there is a small picket of not more than twenty men, stationed there for
the purpose of preventing deserters and refugees from coming north.
At New Market there is a small provost guard, left there for the pur-
pose of collecting any men of Rosser's command and sending them to
Gordonsville, where it is said that Rosser is collecting what forces he
can; also, that Imboden's command has been ordered to report to him.
The present whereabouts of Imboden's command I could not ascertain.
The most significant information I received was that the re-enforce-
ments sent to Lynchburg at the time General Sheridan was approach-
ing that place consisted of the Engineer Brigade from Richmond, com-
posed of 1,800 men, who were to strengthen the works, and it was the
opinion of my informant (a citizen of Woodstock) that no other troops
had been sent there.
The inhabitants of the Valley being cut off from southern communi-
cation by the destruction of the Virginia Central Railroad, it is difficult
to learn anything of late occurrence. Aside from some half dozen
scouts at Woodstock and a party of some fifteen guerrillas, who fired
into my rear guard to-day at Newton, I saw none of the enemy.
I am, general, very respectfully, &c.,
WM. RUSSELL, JR.,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
Brevet Major-General TORBERT,
Chief of Cavalry.
---------------
By March 29th Rosser's Valley stragglers were not stopping at Gordonsville but were continuing on somewhat blindly toward Rosser's command which they knew was somewhere in the vicinity of Petersburg. The identity of pickets Russell encountered at Edenburg is uncertain. Possibly some of the 23rd Cavalry may have been posted there. The provost guard may have been a reserve unit. Russell did not know that it was McCausland's brigade, not Imboden's, which had joined Rosser. The rest of Imboden's command, the 18th Cavalry and the 62nd Mounted Infantry, only returned to Churchville from Hanover County on the 27th. Their return permitted more of the 23rd Cavalry to relocate further down the valley.
Diary of Lt. George H. Murphy, Company D, 23rd Virginia Cavalry:
March 31st
Encamped at the "Flat Rock Church" in Shenandoah 6 miles from New Market.
April 1st
Left "Flat Rock Church" at 8 o'clk. got to Jackson's school house in Shenandoah Co. on Stony Creek 5 miles from Edenburg 2 from Columbia Furnace and 6 from Woodstock. Major Calmes with the whole Regt came up this eve.
(source: the George H. Murphy Diary, Department of Special Collections, Hesburgh Libraries of Notre Dame)
---------------
For the moment the Federals were satisfied that there was no imminent threat from the the upper Valley. This perception abruptly changed, however, when a deserter from the Confederate army reported that Gen. George Pickett's division had gone to Staunton. The report was later determined to be incorrect, but it precipitated two encounters in early April between the Federals and the 23rd Virginia Cavalry, which O'Ferrall detailed in his autobiography.
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.444:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON,
TWENTY-SECOND ARMY CORPS,
Washington, D. C., April 1, 1865—8.45 p. m.
Major-General HANCOCK,
Commanding Middle Military Division, Winchester:
General Gamble, commanding at Fairfax Court-House, reports that
a rebel deserter just arrived there states that Pickett’s division passed
through Staunton on Monday last to join Early in the Valley.
I send the report for your consideration. I will have the deserter
sent in here in the morning and get his story in full.
C. C. AUGUR,
Major-General.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.444:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON,
TWENTY-SECOND ARMY CORPS,
Washington, D. C., April 1, 1865.
General GAMBLE,
Commanding at Fairfax Court-House:
Have the rebel deserter who brings the story of Pickett’s division
having gone to the Shenandoah sent in to me in the morning under
guard.
C. C. AUGUR,
Major-General, Commanding.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.444:
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
[Saturday] April 1, 1865.
Brevet Major-General TORBERT,
Chief of Cavalry:
General Augur telegraphs that a rebel deserter states that Pickett’s
division passed through Staunton on Monday last [March 27th]. The general desires
you to send the scouting party well down the Valley and get such
information as you can.
C. H. MORGAN,
Brevet Brigadier-General of Volunteers and Chief of Staff.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.506-7:
WINCHESTER, April 2, 1865. [Sunday]
(Received 11.30 a. m.)
Major General AUGUR:
The general wishes me to ask you if you have seen the deserter yet
and what you make of his story. We had a man here some days ago
who passed Pickett’s division at Hanover Junction, but as it was at
the time Longstreet was trying to intercept Sheridan nothing more
was thought of it. A scout is on its way to Edinburg this morning.
For several days there have been rumors here of a raid by Rosser, who
has collected a large part of his force.
C. H. MORGAN,
Brevet Brigadier-General, &c.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.507:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON,
TWENTY-SECOND ARMY CORPS,
Washington, D. C., April 2, 1865.
General MORGAN,
Headquarters Middle Military Division, Winchester:
The rebel deserter is now here. He says he left Staunton, to-morrow
will be a week. There were but two companies there. He afterward
saw a courier who told him that Pickett’s division was on its way to
Staunton from Lynchburg. He reports Rosser as having gone to Lee
with his own and McCausland’s divisions of cavalry, and that Lomax,
with Imboden’s and Jackson’s brigades, were to reoccupy the Valley
with what there is left of Early’s infantry. He states the men are
through the Valley now collecting all men on leave. He is a young
Irish boy, apparently not very intelligent. It is only from the courier
that he knows anything of Pickett’s division. His report does not
impress me as being very important. He brought his horse and equip-
ments.
C. C. AUGUR,
Major-General.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.540:
WINCHESTER, VA., April 3, 1865—6 p. m.
(Received 7 p. m.)
Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK,
Chief of Staff:
I sent a scouting party of 300 men up the Valley yesterday morning.
They went but little beyond Woodstock. There seems to be no doubt
but that Pickett is at Staunton; at least all reports agree on this. My
information is that he has about 2,500 cavalry and 10,000 infantry, and
occupies Staunton and Harrisonburg. I shall send Torbert with all
his cavalry, about 3,500, to Strasburg to-night.
W. S. HANCOCK,
Major-General.
WINCHESTER, VA., April 3, 1865.
(Received 7 a.m., 4th.)
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.390-1
Abstract from return of the Middle Military Division, Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock,
U. S. Army, temporarily commanding, for the month of March, 1865.*
Command Present for Duty Aggregate Present Headquarters
Officers Men
...
Cavalry forces (Torbert): Winchester, Va.
Staff and cavalry........................ 138 3,729 4,833
Artillery..................................... 20 593 751
...
* Maj. Gen. Philip H.-Sheridan, the proper commander of the division, temporarily
absent in command of cavalry operating against Richmond.
---------------
Journal of Jed. Hotchkiss:
Monday, April 3.-... News came up the Valley that 300 Federal cavalry came to Woodstock yesterday... Colonel O'Ferrall attacked the enemy in camp at Hawkinstown[sic-at Pugh's Run] and routed them.
---------------
Diary of Anna Kagey Wayland of Shenandoah County:
April 3, 1865.- O'Farrel attacked the Yankees at Pugh's Run.
(source: Wayland, John W. A History of Shenandoah County, Virginia., p.306)
---------------
In response to the news of Federal cavalry at Woodstock, on the morning of April 3rd, the rest of Lomax's division--Jackson's brigade and the 18th and 62nd regiment of Imboden's brigade--moved from Camp Parnassus near Churchville and went into camp five miles east of Staunton (source: Bennett diary).
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.540:
Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK,
Chief of Staff:
Have you any information which will throw any light upon the prob-
ability of a movement in the Valley? If it be true that Pickett is at
Staunton, as all reports agree, it seems to me that he is thrown out to
cover Lynchburg. The direction of Lee's retreat will show something.
I suppose he holds the line from Burkeville over to Lynchburg.
W. S. HANCOCK,
Major-General.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.570:
WASHINGTON, D. C., April 4, 1865--10 a.m.
Major-General HANCOCK,
Winchester, Va.:
I presume General Grant will send your orders as soon as he can
ascertain Lee's intentions. If he goes to Lynchburg you will probably
move up the Valley. If he goes south toward Danville you will prob-
ably go by water to Sherman. These were General Grant's views a
few days ago. Be prepared for orders at any moment.
H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General and Chief of Staff.
---------------
OR Ser. 1, Vol. 46 (Part III), p.570:
WINCHESTER, VA., April 4, 1865--12 noon.
(Received 1.30 p.m.)
Major General H. W. HALLECK,
Chief of Staff:
I am moving all my infantry-about 18,000-to Kernstown for the
double purpose of putting the troops in condition and being prepared
for any movements in the Valley. Torbert has gone up the Valley
with about 3,000 cavalry on a reconnaissance. It is understood the
enemy's cavalry picketed at Rude's Hill last night.
WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Major-General.
---------------
Torbert's command consisted of the two cavalry brigades of Bvt. Brig. Gen. Willam B. Tibbits and Col. Marcus A. Reno. Tibbits' brigade included the 14th Pennsylvania and his own 21st New York. The cavalry brigade of Col. Reno included the 22nd New York, the 5th New York, the 18th Pennsylvania, and his own 12th Pennsylvania.
---------------
OR Ser. 1, Vol. 46 (Part III), p.570-1:
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
April 4, 1865.
Brevet Major-General EMORY,
Cumberland:
A movement up the Valley is liable to be ordered at any moment, and
the general desires you to see that the troops available have their trans-
portation, ammunition, and supplies on hand. It is probable a concen-
tration would be made at Beverly of the Fourteenth, Seventeenth, and
Second West Virginia, the Twenty-eighth Ohio, the Third Mary-
land Potomac Home Brigade, the Seventy-fourth Pennsylvania, and
the Twenty-second Pennsylvania Cavalry with two batteries, to move
into the Valley by way of Warm Springs. General Hayes will be
assigned to the command. The cavalry in the Kanawha must also be
ready to move. The general desires all arrangements short of actual
concentration to be made at once. A schedule of proposed arrange-
ment of troops on Baltimore and Ohio Railroad will be sent you
to-morrow.
C. H. MORGAN,
Brevet Brigadier-General, &c.
---------------
Williams, Charles Richard (ed.). Diary and letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Nineteenth President of the United States, Volume II: 1861-1865. The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, 1922, p.571-2:
NEW CREEK, [WEST] VIRGINIA, April 5, 1865.
DEAR LUCY [his wife] : — I am assigned to a new command of cavalry,
infantry, and artillery--mostly West Virginia troops. I hated
to leave my old command and at first was disposed to rebel. I
am ordered to take command of an expedition through the moun-
tains towards Lynchburg. It is over awful mountain roads,
through destitute country, and is in all respects a difficult, if
not impossible, thing to do. I hope Lee in his retreat will
take such a direction as will make it plainly useless. If so, it will
be abandoned, I trust. There will be little danger or hardship
to me, but great hardships for the men. I will write you often
till I start. I am to make my headquarters here while getting
ready. I am to start from Beverly in Randolph County. Warm
Springs, Staunton, and Lexington are named as points.--Love
to all.
Affectionately ever,
R.
...
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.571:
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
April 4, 1865.
Brevet Major-General TORBERT,
Chief of Cavalry:
Major-General Hancock directs me to say to you that his information
leads him to believe there can be no truth in the reports brought in by
your officers. Pickett’s division is reported in to-day’s papers as hav-
ing been engaged with Sheridan at Petersburg. The general desires
you to make as thorough a reconnaissance as possible and dispose of as
much of Rosser’s [sic] cavalry as you may be able to reach with your supply
of rations. When you return you can go into camp with your force
concentrated near Kernstown, with one brigade at Berryville. The
force at Berryville need not be over 1,000 men. When you arrive at
Kernstown the infantry now there will be withdrawn.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. H. MORGAN,
Brevet Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.
---------------
Diary of Sgt. Henry Petrikin, 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry:
Tuesday, April 4 - Seader Run [sic-presumably Cedar Creek]
Was up early and struck tents and started at 9 o'clock a.m. with two brigades, Gen. Tippit's[sic-Tibbits'] command first, and Col. Reno's the second, the first in advance. We encamped at night on Seader Run [sic-Cedar Creek] battlefield.
Wednesday, April 5
This morning our brigade took the left and our Regiment had the advance. We drove in a few rebels at Woodstock and Edenburg and camped at or near Mt. Jackson. Had no alarms in the night.
Thursday, April 6
This morning instead of advancing we started back - to our surprise, and at night went into camp at Kernstown. The trip was a very pleasant one but we did not want to come back so soon.
Friday, April 7 - Winchester
...We moved camp near to Winchester...
(source: unpublished excerpts of the diary provided by Larry B. Maier (see below))
Excerpt from letter of Pvt. William P. Graham, 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry, dated April 7, 1865:
... charged and drove them through Edenburg and to the Mountain 'double quick,...'
(source: page 303 of Maier, Larry B. LEATHER & STEEL: The 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry in the Civil War (2001), Burd Street Press, Shippensburg, PA, 380p.)
---------------
Diary of Lt. George H. Murphy, Company D, 23rd Virginia Cavalry:
April 3d
Ugly times this AM. a dispatch from Col. O'Ferral (who is now comdg Regt., White [i.e. Col. Robert White] being in arrest**) that the Yankees were advancing. Staid one half hour and nothing from them. Col. OF. attacked the enemy two hundred strong with about sixty five men at Pugh's Road before day light, capturing 33 horses - 3 prisoners including one capt. wounding 5. one killed: Bad treatment towards ours and Adams Coms: in not letting us know.
...
**No documentation has been found which explains why Col. White had been placed "in arrest".
April 5th
Still on picket at Jackson's school house. Expect to be releaved tomorrow Thursday. Rec'd notice at 11 o'ck that the enemy were advancing. fell back to Forrestville. At 8 ' ck moved across to Newmarket. there met the Regt. and moved to one mile and a half beyond Lacey's Springs, between Harrisonburg and the latter place, to a church, where we remained all night. The enemy came up to Hawkin's town about 4000 cavalry under command of Genl. Torbet[sic-Torbert].
April 6th
Still at the church. The enemy have retired towards Winchester. Have just heard of the evacuation of Richmond. ...Are awaiting orders from Genl. Lomax whether we shall return to our picket line or move on up the valley. a windy rainy disagreeable day. have 24 men rank and file for duty in the company. Regt 120 men.
(source: the George H. Murphy Diary, Department of Special Collections, Hesburgh Libraries of Notre Dame)
---------------
Journal of Jed. Hotchkiss:
Wednesday, April 5.-... The enemy is again advancing up the Valley. Encamped last night at Fisher's Hill and came to-day to Maurertown, our cavalry skirmishing with them.
Thursday, April 6.-... The enemy is still advancing up the Valley... Late in the p. m. it was reported that the enemy had gone back down the Valley.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.616-7:
WINCHESTER, VA., April 6, 1865.
(Received 9.10 p. m.)
Lieutenant-General GRANT:
General Torbert has just returned from his reconnaissance. He
found nothing in the Valley excepting a few hundred cavalry under
Rosser [sic] at Staunton. He is satisfied from the reports from all the people
that a movement of Pickett’s division was anticipated, and quite a
number of his men are on furlough near here. Some deserters from his
division also report that it was the talk among the men that they were
coming to the Valley.
WINF’D S. HANCOCK,
Major-General
---------------
Diary of Francis McFarland, a Presbyterian minister in Augusta County:
April 6. [1865] Thurs
Exciting rumors afoot that a Yankee force of 12,000 men are coming up the Valley & are within some 50 miles of Staunton. James went to Staunton to get the news. Gen. Lomax's Division is said to be skirmishing with them & falling back.
April 7. [1865] Fri
The Enemy down the Valley have fallen back to Cedar Creek.
---------------
Charles T. O'Ferrall's account of his encounter with the Federals is presented below. However, in recollecting the events some thirty-five years after the fact, O'Ferrall erroneously set the date exactly one week later than when the events actually occurred. Correct dates have been inserted in brackets:
O'Ferrall, Charles T.; Forty Years of Active Service: Being Some History of the War Between the Confederacy and the Union and of the Events Leading Up to It.... NY: Neale, l904. 367p.
p.129-132
...
On the 8th day of April (Saturday) [sic-1st day of April] I was encamped at a hamlet called Paintertown, not far from Edenburg. About two o'clock on that day I received a message from the signal station at the point of the Massanutten Mountain at Strasburg, eighteen or twenty miles below or north of me, that a force of Federal cavalry was approaching Strasburg; the signal man estimated the number at 400. When they reached Strasburg another message came that the atmosphere had become so hazy and misty that it was impossible to tell what direction they had taken. There were three routes open to them. I immediately sent out scouts to find them and report to me as soon as they were located. My scouts did not return until late in the night, when they reported that the Federal cavalry had continued on the pike from Strasburg, and had encamped at Pugh's Run, two miles beyond Woodstock and eight or nine miles from my camp. All told, my numbers in camp did not exceed thirty-five men.
I determined to attack the Federal camp. There was no time to call men from the picket line, so I mounted 32 men, including myself and my major [presumably Fielding H. Calmes], all without sabres, and started. With the aid of a citizen guide we avoided the enemy's pickets and got inside their picket line and within three hundred yards of the camp without being discovered. Here I dismounted the men and had the horses securely tied, and leaving four men to look after the horses, I moved the remainder across a field to a piece of woods in which the Federal cavalry, in blissful ignorance of a Confederate being within miles of them, were wrapped in sleep.
There was not a sound in their camp, except now and then from a horse. Just at the first indication of daybreak we had crawled to within a hundred feet or less of the sleeping men, on the south side of their camp. Here we rested for perhaps ten minutes to get our breath well, and then I gave the command "charge!" The men sprang to their feet and made the rush. The surprise was complete. In the shortest time imaginable the whole force, except the prisoners, and we had four or five each, were running for dear life in every direction. No twenty-eight men in the world ever made more noise or did more shooting in so little time. We were loaded down with pistols and carbines, which we had captured, and we kept up a perfect fusilade, at the same time my bugler, who was Ammie Blackemore, at present a worthy resident of Staunton, whom I had left with the horses, was, as I had directed him, sounding the cavalry charge with all the lung power his Maker had given him, making the impression that our numbers were large.
As soon as the Federals had fled from the camp I thought it prudent to get away, for light was coming, so I ordered my men to secure as many horses as possible and retire to our rallying point. The order was promptly obeyed, and in a few minutes we were on our horses, leading the captured ones, and making fast tracks, under the leadership of our citizen guide, through the woods and bushes toward North Mountain.
We brought out many horses, some of them very fine. We were not pursued a yard.
We reached our camp about ten o'clock, but the captured horses were taken to a more secure place, though I hardly expected the Federals to advance farther. I predicted that their flight and the loss they had sustained would induce them to return, and my prediction was right. They did not venture back into their camp until full daylight, and then they moved slowly and cautiously, evidently fearing that they might strike trouble, to Woodstock, and there turned about and retired down the Valley, with their wagons loaded with wounded men, and several dead, as I was informed. We had one man, Wash Walters, of Mount Jackson, a faithful and true soldier, painfully but not dangerously wounded. He is still living, and has been for years a passenger engineer on a Western railroad.
The Federals, consisting of detachments from several regiments, and numbering 375, under the command of Major Martindale [Franklin G. Martindale of the 1st NY (Lincoln) Cavalry], had started from Winchester to go to as far up the Valley as Harrisonburg, but they stopped at less than half way the distance to the point of their destination. It is due to my little squad of brave young fellows who were there with me that April morning, 1865, to say that I do not think the records of our war can furnish an instance where 28 men attacked 375 men with more signal success. For them I claim that their work was not excelled during the four years of strife.
It was said Major Martindale, upon arriving at Winchester, reported that he had been attacked by a large body of infantry and cavalry, and that there was a considerable Confederate force in the Valley. Whether he made such a report or not, I do not know. [The "considerable Confederate force" O'Ferrall cited no doubt referred to Pickett's division which was reported to be at Staunton. Martindale's scouting party had been sent to check out that rumor.] But on the following Tuesday [the 5th] a force of 3,500 cavalry, under the command of General Torbert, moved up the Valley as far as Mount Jackson. In front of him I had perhaps as many as 350 men. He moved slowly, and only a few times was my advance charged or driven back upon the reserve. What General Torbert's purpose was I never learned, but it gave color to the rumor as to Martindale's report--particularly his slow and deliberate movement. [Torbert's purpose was the same as Martindale's--to acertain if Pickett's division was at Staunton.] During Tuesday night General Torbert commenced to retire; we followed close on his heels, and at or about sunrise on Wednesday [April 5, not April 12 as O'Ferrall implied] we charged his rear guard, a short distance below Woodstock, and captured two or three prisoners and I sent them to Staunton.
And now I come to make the claim that it was upon the soil of Shenandoah County that the last Confederate line was held, the last fight made, and the last prisoner captured by any part of the Army of Northern Virginia. I make the further claim that my little command held the last Confederate line, made the last fight, and captured the last prisoner held, made and captured upon the soil of old Virginia.
If there should be "a doubting Thomas" anywhere, these claims can be established, I am sure, by the records and a host of living witnesses. I have never heard them questioned, and I record them here simply that they may be perpetuated and not fade away as the coming years run their cycles.
Since other contemporaneous records show that his attack on Torbert's forces occurred on April 5 rather than on April 12, his claim to have captured the last prisoner in old Virginia cannot be supported. O'Ferrall is missing a week in his chronology.
Below is an account of events from a Union source:
Beach, William H. The First New York (Lincoln) Cavalry from April 19, 1861 to July 7, 1865. New York: The Lincoln Cavalry Association, 1902.
PREFACE.
THE writing of the records of the first, and for a time
the only, volunteer cavalry authorized to be raised,
was undertaken at the request of the association of the survivors
of the regiment, expressed in a formal resolution.
The work has been done in intervals of leisure in an almost
constant occupation.
The material has been taken from the diary of the
writer, regularly kept during the entire four years; from
letters written home, and from diaries and communications
of comrades. For the details of related events all available
authorities have been freely consulted.
...
p.473
CHAPTER XLIV.
TO GRANT'S ARMY.
COLONEL ADAMS was on leave of absence on ac-
count of a lame foot, the result of a fall of his horse,
and Lieut. Col. Battersby was in command. At Custer's
request, the [1st NY Cavalry] regiment had been transferred to the Third
brigade of the Third division, Custer's. A detachment
under Major Martindale, with some other forces, was to be
left at Winchester, to keep watch in the Valley.
The First division under Merritt and the Third under
Custer, with Capehart's brigade of the Second, 10,000 in
all, started at daylight of February 27.
...
p.479
CHAPTER XLV.
THE LAST RAID UP THE VALLEY.
THE cavalry that had been left about Winchester did
not rest in absolute quiet and security while Sheridan
was riding across the country to Grant. Scouts were out
continually to learn the news. It was "bad weather under-
foot." There were scouts in hot haste, all hands. New
horses that showed a disinclination to be mounted, and others
whose condition suggested the expression, "Go it, ye crip-
ples!", all had to do their part.
The first of April, two days before Richmond was evac-
uated, there was a midnight call for every man having a
serviceable horse to "saddle up." There were about two
hundred of the regiment here at the time, those who had
stayed with Martindale, a few who had come back from
Waynesborough with Early's men as prisoners, and some
who had come up from Remount Camp. Details from
these and from parts of other regiments numbered three hun-
dred. It was the morning of the 2nd when they started
up the familiar pike. They forded Cedar creek, that was
up to their saddles. At Strasburg they halted to rest and
feed. To "rest" meant to unsaddle, rub down the horses
thoroughly, and after feeding, saddle them again. Late in
the afternoon they reached Woodstock and bivouacked in
some woods by the side of the pike and near Pugh's creek,
a small stream over beyond a hill. Rails were getting
p.480
scarce in this part of the enemy's country. Pickets were
posted. A scouting party was sent into town, two miles
beyond. Horses were unsaddled, groomed, and saddled
again. They were to remain saddled and the men were to
rest with their arms at hand all night.
Two hours before daylight there was an alarm. A
number of shots were fired in quick succession. Men
sprang to their horses. Captain Daber of the German bat-
talion called out, "Fall in mit your carbines!" How the
Confederates got inside the line of pickets, who were sup-
posed to be within hailing distance of each other, without
being challenged, was not known. Knowing all the coun-
try they found some way to slip in. But apparently they
went away, and all was quiet. Some of the men thought it
must have been a false alarm, and there had not been any
Confederates there at all, and went to sleep again.
But at daybreak they were there, in reality, right in the
camp, firing right and left, and calling upon the suddenly
awakened men to surrender. The most of Daber's men got
away — to come back a little later.
Le Moyne Burleigh had gone with Sheridan as far as
Waynesborough when, on account of the condition of his
horse, he had returned to Winchester. Now he was on this
last raid. He was not one of the first to awake on the morning
of this attack. When he reached his horse and was
untying him, he was seized from behind, struck on the head
with a revolver, and told to "surrender!" The man who
made the demand was in gray. Our scouts were generally
in gray. Not wishing to have any serious mistake made,
Burleigh asked, "Who are you?" "I'm a rebel," was the
unexpected reply. Burleigh's impulse was to fight, but on
looking around he saw there were too many at hand, and
one of these had snapped his revolver at him, it missing fire,
and now was aiming another at his head with the chance
p.481
that this might go off. He surrendered, was disarmed and
hurried to the rear. Here under guard was Welch of the
same regiment. A sergeant major armed with a sabre and
three revolvers, one in his belt and two in his boots, marched
the two prisoners away. They had heard the Union bugle
sound the "rally", and were looking for the cavalry to make
a charge upon their captors. The charge was made as ex-
pected, and the Confederates were routed. But the pris-
oners were hurried by their guards through some woods,
across a field, over a brook, through a torn-down fence and
across another field. Here the horses of some of the enemy
had been tied. The two prisoners were mounted on one horse
and taken across the country to the pike, and then toward
the south.
Burleigh asked his guard "who they all were." "Oh,
we're rebels." "I supposed that. Do you belong to Ros-
ser?" "No; we're Imboden's men," rather reluctantly.
"What regiment?" "Twenty-third rifles."
O'Farrel, now a lieutenant colonel, was in command of
the larger body which they soon joined. He directed the
two prisoners to ride "alongside", and asked many questions
about the forces at Winchester and elsewhere. They were
too sharp, with all their apparent frankness, to give answers
of any value. The whole party were nervously watching to
see if the Union cavalry were following them. A Major
Calamy[sic-Calmes] asked for their greenbacks. They had none. He
asked after some of the officers of the regiment. He seemed
to know something about Col. Adams and Lieut. Col. Bat-
tersby, and Major Young of the scouts, and expressed a
favorable opinion of all of them. The captors traded boots
and other articles with the prisoners, always getting the best
of the trade.
. . .
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
=========
On March 20th Gen. Early had started from Petersburg, where he had been consulting with Gen. Lee, back to the Shenandoah Valley to reorganized what was left of his command. He went by way of Lynchburg. There he received a troubling dispatch from Brig. Gen. John Echols, commander of the Confederate army in southwestern Virginia. While Torbert's cavalry probed the Confederate defenses in the upper Valley, a more earnest invasion was underway by Union forces coming from eastern Tennessee. Major General George Stoneman had started from Knoxville with a cavalry force of about 5000 men to penetrate Southwest Virginia as far toward Lynchburg as possible (OR, Ser. 1, Vol. 46 (part III), p.67). Early immediately went by train to Wytheville. He probably was accompanied by Brig. Gen. Henry B. Davidson. Seven weeks before Davidson had been appointed commander of the Laurel Brigade. That brigade was placed under the command of Brig. Gen. James Dearing and remained at Petersburg to fight with Lee's army. Now Davidson was Early's Inspector General. On March 22nd he inspected the troops at Joneville, Lee County.
From Wytheville Early and General Echols traveled to Bristol, on the state line between Virginia and Tennessee, where they confirmed that the enemy was on the move. The two generals returned to Abingdon. In the days that followed Early was busy organizing the small force in that section, so as to meet the enemy in the best way he could. Then he received a telegraphic dispatch from Lee relieving him of command (Early, p.466).
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 49 (Part II), p.1166:
HEADQUARTERS,
Petersburg, March 28, 1865.
Hon. J. C. BRECKINRIDGE,
Secretary of War, Richmond:
GENERAL: General Early who has been so far as Bristol telegraphs
from Abingdon, on the 27th, that the enemy with considerable force of
infantry and cavalry has advanced into East Tennessee and is repairing
the railroad. Vaughn has been compelled to fall back across the
Watauga and Holston. Enemy's cavalry advanced to Carter's Station,
on the Watauga, but is reported to have retired. Infantry is said to be ten
miles below Jonesborough. Another force of cavalry is represented to
be advancing on road by Bean's Station and Kingsport toward Blounts-
ville. The developments are not sufficient as yet to enable a correct
judgment to be formed of the extent of his force or designs. The
reports of the former are various and no doubt extravagant. Such are
always disseminated by the enemy to encourage themselves and alarm
our people. General Early's troops are not sufficient, I fear, in number
or condition to oppose effectual resistance. I have directed that the
whole strength of the country be called out. I have some doubts
whether General Early can the most effectually accomplish this. I con-
sider him an officer of great intelligence, good judgment, and undoubted
bravery. Yet the reverses of his last campaign and his recent defeat
at Waynesborough, have materially shaken the confidence of the troops
and people, and though he may be entirely blameless the ill effects
would be the same. If this feeling does exist a change of commanders
would be advantageous, and so high an opinion have I of General
Early's integrity of purpose and devotion to the country, that should
such be the case, I believe he would be the first to propose it. Your
acquaintance with the troops in that department and the feelings of
the community may enable you to have better information on this sub-
ject than I possess, and I therefore solicit your counsel and advice. I
confess that should it be advisable to relieve General Early I do not
know with whom to replace him.
I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
General.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.1366:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA
March 29, 1865. (Received 30th.)
Lient. Gen. J. A. EARLY:
I desire you to turn over the command in Southwest Virginia and
East Tennessee to Brig. Gen. John Echols, and of the Valley District
to Major-General Lomax. I will address you a letter to your house in
Franklin County, to which you can return, and await further orders.
R. E. LEE,
General.
---------------
Early complied immediately. Leaving Abingdon on the 30th, he rode to Marion, where he became seriously ill that night and was left prostrate for several days. During this time Stoneman's cavalry division crossed into Virginia. The division, which was under the immediate command of Brig. Gen. Alvin C. Gillem, reached Mount Airy, NC on the evening of April 2nd and by 1 p.m. the next day had arrived at Hillsville, Va. From there 500 men of the Third Brigade under Col. John K. Miller were sent west to destroy the supply depot at Wytheville. The rest of Gillem's division continued toward Jacksonville [now Floyd] and bivouacked about midnight. Marching resumed again at daylight on the 4th, and the command arrived at Jacksonville [now Floyd] at 10 a.m. There Major William Wagner of the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry, with 250 picked men, was detached with orders to proceed to Salem, VA, and from that point to destroy the railroad bridges as far east as possible, and then rejoin the command wherever it might be. The main body of the division spent the next two days destroying the railroad tracks and bridges for miles around Christiansburg. On the evening of the 6th Gillem moved from Christiansburg back toward Jacksonville, arriving there on the morning of the 7th. On the 8th the command proceeded to Taylorsville, where it was joined by Miller's brigade. The division continued south over the next three days and on the evening of April 11th bivouacked at Statesville, NC. There Wagner's battalion caught up with the division. Wagner was later commended for the destruction of all the bridges on the Tennessee and Virginia Railroad from thirty miles east of Christiansburg to within four miles of Lynchburg, Va and then for succeeding in withdrawing his command in the face of a superior force, with the loss of but one man, and in joining his regiment at Statesville (OR, Ser. 1, Vol 49 (Part I), p.330-6).
In the meantime, once Early had become well enough to be moved, he traveled east on the railroad from Marion to Wytheville, beyond which were the bridges destroyed by Col. Miller. From Wytheville he continued by ambulance. He was still on his way home when he learned of Lee's surrender at Appomattox on April 9th (Early, p.466-7). About that same time Wagner's battalion, heading toward North Carolina after completing its task near Lynchburg, had marched through Lawrence Town and Sydnorsville in Franklin County, VA, only a few miles southeast of Early's birthplace (OR Atlas, p.277, Plate 118).
---------------
After being forced to evacuate Richmond on April 2nd, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his cabinet went by railroad to Danville on the Virginia-North Carolina border and established headquarters there. The progress of Stoneman's march was monitored by Gen. P. T. Beauregard at Greensborough, North Carolina and instructions sent to Danville.
OR, Ser. 1, Vol. 47 (Part III), p.751:
GREENSBOROUGH, N. C., April 4, 1865.
Brig. Gen. H. H. WALKER,
Commanding, Danville, Va.:
Stoneman's commands is reported to have crossed Yadkin at Jones-
ville and Rockford on 2nd instant, p. m., and moved toward Dobson and
Mount Airy, destination probably Taylorsville. From there he may
continue to Lynchburg, if he is protecting flank of column reported
moving along Virginia and Tennessee Railroad; or from Taylorsville
he may march on Danville. Establish at once scouting parties at Tay-
lorsville and a line of couriers to that point.
G. T. BEAUREGARD.
General.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol. 47 (Part III), p.757:
GREENSBOROUGH, N. C., April 5, 1865.
Brig. Gen. H. H. WALKER,
Danville, Va.:
Scouts report enemy 4,000 strong, with four pieces of artillery, left
Mount Airy on 3rd instant in direction of Wytheville, crossing at
Fancy Gap. He may advance with Thomas' force on Danville, when
he shall have heard of fall of Richmond. Why don't you put another
operator at Burkeville?
G. T. BEAUREGARD,
General.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol. 47 (Part III), p.760:
NEAR SMITHFIELD, N. C., April 6, 1865.
General G. T. BEAUREGARD,
Greensborough:
If there is no longer danger from Stoneman please send on our troops
rapidly. It is important to consolidate.
J. E. JOHNSTON.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol. 47 (Part III), p.760:
GREENSBOROUGH, N. C., April 6, 1865.
General J. E. JOHNSTON,
Smithfield, N. C.:
Danville is not yet free from danger. Shelley's brigade and Colonel
Wheeler's regiment cavalry are still required there. Everything else
has left here to join you. Ferugson's brigade has ordered to report at
Danville in place of General Wheeler's cavalry.
G. T. BEAUREGARD,
General.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol. 47 (Part III), p.761:
NEAR SMITHFIELD, N. C., April 6, 1865-11 p. m.
General BEAUREGARD, Greensborough:
Following just received:
General Walker, with all the reserves he can collect, has been ordered to Danville.
R. E. LEE.
ARCHER ANDERSON,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
---------------
On April 5th, as news of an approach of Union troops (Wagner's battalion) reached Lynchburg, Gen. Raleigh E. Colston, commandant of the military post in the city, telegraphed Gen. Lee, asking for reinforcements. Lee telegraphed the next day that none would be coming but that Colston was to make a firm defense at Lynchburg. Lee did send orders to Lomax to unite with Echols against Stoneman. Sometime on April 6th, probably in the late morning or in the afternoon, Lomax telegraphed the following message to Col. O'Ferrall:
After enemy reach Harrisonburg, Move back promptly and form your brigade[sic?], leaving out a small squad to act as scouts to report to me on the Greenville Road. So what do you estimate their force of Cavalry or Infantry
[source: Duke University Library Collection]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/rbmscl/alfredelizabethbrandcolcivilwarleefamily/inv/
Lomax, L.L., Maj. Gen., Confederate Telegraph to Col. C[harles] T[riplett] O'Ferrall, 1865 April 6 (1 item) Lomax asked O'Ferrall to send some of his troops as scouts to report to Lomax on the Greenville Road.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Greenville Road was a main route connecting Staunton to Lexington on the way to Lynchburg. The fact that Lomax had used the word "brigade" instead of merely "regiment" in his communication would seem to suggest that O'Ferrall may have had temporary command of the 18th and 62nd regiments in addition to his own 23rd, but this would not seem likely. Col. George Smith, the acting commander of Imboden's Brigade, was still present. Probably Lomax had intended to say regiment.
Fortunately for the Confederates, Torbert elected not to proceed beyond Mount Jackson. On the afternoon or evening of April 6th, Lomax began the march from Staunton toward Lynchburg. Whether this happened before or after he had received word that the enemy had turned back is unclear, but since he had asked for scouts to report to him on the Greenville Road, it would seem that only O'Ferrall's forces were between Torbert and Staunton. Now with the immediate danger to Staunton passed, any soldiers of the 18th and 62nd regiments who might have been with O'Ferrall would have gone south to join Lomax at Lynchburg. As had happened three weeks before, O'Ferrall's 23rd Virginia Cavalry remained behind to monitor the activities of the Federals in the Valley.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part I), p.520-1:
Journal of Jed. Hotchkiss:
Thursday, April 6.-... The enemy is still advancing up the Valley... Late in the p. m. it was reported that the enemy had gone back down the Valley.
Friday, April 7.-Lomax's division started toward Lexington yesterday in the p. m. and went some ten miles, and to-day it went through Lexington and to the mouth of Buffalo Creek. I accompanied it. Supped at Colonel Preston's. We marched until 10 p. m. General Lomax went ten miles farther to the "Rope Ferry." Fine day. Country full of rumors and much excited. Rode forty-six miles.
Saturday, April 8.-We continued the march to-day by the Amherst road to Lynchburg. Got there after dark. General Lomax reached there about 2 p. m. The citizens had determined to surrender the place, and were much excited at the near approach of the enemy from the west, a few hundred [Wagner's battalion]; but General Lomax soon restored confidence, and got convalescents, &c., into the trenches; but he soon found that only a small force was coming from the west and that it had retired, so he put his cavalry toward Farmville, as reports came of disasters to General Lee's army, which was at Appomattox Station. We traveled thirty-six miles. Fine day. Peaches, apples, &c., in full bloom.
---------------
As described by Hotchkiss in Confederate Military History, Vol. 3, upon learning that the force from the west had retired, and hearing rumors that disaster had overtaken General Lee's army at Appomattox Station, Lomax's cavalry marched toward Farmville, but returned and encamped near Lynchburg, his command having traveled 36 miles.
It would appear that if Wagner had attempted, he might have been able occupy the city on 7th or the morning of the 8th. Prior to the arrival of Lomax's cavalry, the city's soldiers consisted only of hospital convalescents, stragglers, and reserves. Was this the face of the superior force in front of which Wagner successfully withdrew?
---------------
Journal of Jed. Hotchkiss (continued):
Sunday, April 9.-We rode around the city to see its defenses. Went also to the cavalry camp three miles down the river. news came rapidly that our army lost most of its train and artillery yesterday, and that there was a fight this morning and the army had surrendered. It was confirmed later in the day, and sadness and gloom pervaded the entire community. Generals Rosser and Munford came in late in the day, and the town was full of fugitives. Cool, part of the day. I went out to General [William L.] Jackson's camp for the night.
---------------
Rosser and McCausland and much of their cavalry had escaped before the formal surrender of Lee's army at Appomattox. On the afternoon of the 9th, Lomax had encountered McCausland ahead of his command and was informed that behind the cavalry which followed was a flag of truce demanding the surrender of Lynchburg. After obtaining details of the surrender from McCausland, Lomax infomed his two brigade commanders, Jackson and Smith, that he did not regard the terms of surrender as including his command or the city. He instructed them to oppose an enemy advance and if hard pressed to retire with their respective commands well in hand through the city and upon the pike to Salem (Goggin, p.21). That evening Rosser disbanded his cavalry. He told his men that there was still hope, that President Davis was free and Gen. Joseph E. Johnston and several other able generals were still in the field, and that he would push on rapidly to see the President (then at Danville), and if the services of his men were required, he would return and collect them (Riding With Rosser, p.73). That night Gen. Colston prepared to evacuate the city and urged Lomax to do the same. At daylight on the 10th, Lomax's division marched out of Lynchburg for Danville, VA.
---------------
Journal of Jed. Hotchkiss (continued):
Monday, April 10.-We marched at 6 a. m. toward Danville, via Campbell Court-House [now Rustburg]. The command went to Pannill's Bridge. General Lomax went by the Ward road. The train and artillery started yesterday. I crossed to it [i.e. the Ward road] from Campbell Court-House, and went across Ward's Bridge and four miles beyond to McDaniel's. Saw General Rosser on the road, going to Danville to see General R. E. Lee, who was said to have gone down the day before [sic-the rumor of Lee being at Dansville was false]. It rained a good deal of the day. Rode thirty miles. The country is full of fugitives from the surrender.
[Note: The Staunton (a.k.a. Roanoke) River forms the southern boundary of Campbell County. Ward's bridge was located at the present town of Mansion and crossed over into Pittsylvania County. Pannill's bridge was located farther east and crossed over into Halifax County. Pannill's bridge was on a more direct route from Appomattox than was Ward's bridge.]
[Upon hearing of Lee's surrender, President Davis left Danville, VA for Greensboro, NC on the evening of April 10th.]
Tuesday, April 11.-We rode to seven miles beyond Pittsylvania Court-House [then called Competition, now Chatham], toward Danville. The division came by Chalk Level to a few miles beyond the Court-House. It misted in the morning, cool in a. m., warmer in p. m. Vegetation quite forward. Majors Howard and Rowland and myself spend the night at Doctor Hutchins'.
Wednesday, April 12.-We went to the division camp at --- Meeting-House. Heard positively that General R. E. Lee had surrendered himself. A good portion of the division went off last night, and Colonel Nelson to-day disbanded his artillery, leaving everything at Pittsylvania Court-House. I soon ascertained that the Virginia troops had all determined to go home, and that the surrender of General Lee had caused nearly every one to give up all hopes for the Confederacy. Though many had escaped without being paroled, only now and then one had a gun. A complete demoralization had taken place. General Rosser saw the Secretary of War [John C. Breckenridge] at Danville, and to-day passed through Pittsylvania Court-House toward Lynchburg, where he disbanded his division on Monday last. General Lomax went to Danville to see the Secretary of War. The division melted away during the day, and but few were left to follow General W. L. jackson when he turned back toward the Valley. Major Howard and myself went to the Courth-House, dined at Judge Gilmer's, and then, in company with Colonel Nelson and others, went to Bergers Store and two miles beyond, toward Toler's Ferry. Nearly every house was full of soldiers going home, and we had much trouble in finding quarters. Fine day, but it rained most of the evening and night. Skulkers and deserters are coming out of their holes.
---------------
Rosser wrote after the war that Secretary of War Breckenridge had commissioned him to return to central Virginia and collect all the soldiers who had not been paroled, organize them, and report to the governor of the state (William "Extra Billy" Smith, who was not present), and act under his orders if he [Rosser] could not communicate with President Davis or the War Department (Riding With Rosser, p.74).
Lomax remained at Danville and assumed command of the troops there, Brig. Gen. Charles M. Shelley's brigade and Rear Admiral Raphael Semmes's Naval brigade.
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.1394:
DANVILLE, April 12, 1865-1 p. m.
His Excellency President DAVIS:
No news from the front. Secretary of War left yesterday evening--
troops will leave this evening for Greensborough. Enemy's cavalry
reported in Henry County. General Shelley will command troops leav-
ing here unless ordered to contrary. My force, 100 men, sent to the
Valley. Upon consultation with governor, should like to join them.
Am ranking cavalry officer in Virginia and can collect the three divis-
ions. But few cavalry surrendered; Fitz Lee did not.
L. L. LOMAX,
Major-General.
[Indorsement.]
AIDE-DE-CAMP:
Get answer from General Cooper.
J. D.
---------------
DANVILLE, April 12, 1865.
General COOPER,
Adjutant and Inspector General:
Most of my division is in the Valley. Shall I order it to report to
General Rosser? The Reserves have all deserted. I will leave here
with troops this evening.
L. L. LOMAX,
Major-General.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 47 (Part III), p.795-6:
GREENSBOROUGH, N. C., April 12, 1865--11 p. m.
Maj. Gen. L. L. LOMAX,
Danville, Va.:
Send by trustly messengers orders to General Echols, or com-
manding officer in Southwestern Virginia and East Tennessee, to take all
the troops in that department by the most practicable route to the north-
western part of South Carolina, say to or near Flat Rock, and communi-
cate as soon as possible with General J. E. Johnston and with the War
Department. Let same orders be given to General Martin and other
commanding officers in Western North Carolina. Send the orders in
the form of a copy of this dispatch and acknowledge the receipt. Send
the copies sealed and give strict injunctions against capture.
JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE,
Secretary of War.
---------------
Danville [April] 12th [1865]
Genl Beauregard
The Secty of War ordered me
to take command of the troops in
this place & reporting to Genl
Johnston & confering with Gov
Smith of Va But did not
order me to move with the
command. The Cavalry of the army
of N Va was not surrendered &
I think can be collected.
L. L. Lomax
Maj. Genl
[source: Confederate Collection, Wyles Mss 52/Box 1, University of California, Santa Barbara]
---------------
HEADQUARTERS,
Greensborough, N. C., April 12, 1865.
Maj. Gen. L. L. LOMAX, Danville, Va.:
The aid of your cavalry will be required in executing the order com-
municated to Brigadier-General [H. H.] Walker this morning, which is now
repeated for your instructions:
Send cars loaded with the most important supplies to break in road, which, if not repaired, unload and return them to Danville for other supplies. Should the enemy advance in large force, sacrifice everything; save your command.
Recall your cavalry from the Valley, bringing them and all others
you can collect to this place, after the shipment of supplies as above
described. To economize transportation, fully equip your troops from
the supplies. What has become of the rest of your command?
G. T. BEAUREGARD,
General.
---------------
Also on April 12th, Lomax issued an order to Buckner [McGill] Randolph to collect all cavalry units at Lynchburg and send them to Joseph E. Johnston's army in North Carolina.
It is difficult to tell if the order from Beauregard to send his cavalry to Danville and the order from Lomax to send the cavalry at Lynchburg to Johnston were both part of the same plan, or if one order was intended to supercede the other. Apparently neither order was even carried out. There were no Confederate cavalry at Lynchburg. The city had surrendered on the 11th and been occupied by Federal troops on the 12th.
---------------
In 1924, David Milton Grabill, who had been a corporal in Company D of the 18th Virginia Cavalry, wrote an article for Confederate Veteran Magazine which told of the march of Imboden's brigade in April 1865 from Staunton to Pittsylvania Courthouse and of his role in the burning of Pannill's bridge over the Staunton River:
LAST BRIDGE BURNED IN VIRGINIA - D. M. GRABILL, TOMS BROOK, VA.
A few days before the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, Gen. John D. Imboden's Brigade of Virginia Cavalry left Staunton, Va., with orders to form a junction with Lee near Richmond [sic-to join with Echols against Stoneman]. Those were perilous days for the Confederacy, and the march was made hurriedly. Arriving at Lynchburg [on the evening of the 8th], camp was made on the Fair Grounds, and here the news reached us that General Lee had surrendered [sic-He had probably heard the news of a disaster befalling Lee's army at Appomattox, but the surrender did not occur until the 9th]. The following morning [the 9th] we broke camp and marched about two miles south of Lynchburg and halted for the rest of the day. While waiting there, many of General Lee's soldiers passed, going home, from whom we learned for a certainty of the surrender. We also met there General Rosser's Brigade of Cavalry, which had not surrendered, but had cut its way out through the lines of the enemy. We marched some distance [on the 10th] and went into camp with them [sic?-Rosser had disbanded his men at Lynchburg] for the night, and the next day [the 11th] we went as far south as Pittsylvania Courthouse [a.k.a. Competition, now Chatham], with Colonel [George H.] Smith, of the 62nd, as our commander. [Smith had also been acting commander of Imboden's brigade since December 1864.] There he made a speech to the boys, asking them to follow him and form a junction with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston somewhere in the South, or else keep on and go into Mexico. The men readily agreed, and preparations were made to carry this plan into effect. [The willingness of the men to join Gen. Johnston was shorted lived. Hotchkiss wrote on April 12th, "A good portion of the division went off last night. ... I soon ascertained that the Virginia troops had all determined to go home. ... The division melted away during the day, and but few were left to follow General W. L. Jackson when he turned back toward the Valley."]
At Pittsylvania Courthouse a detail was made from the 18th Virginia Cavalry - Milston Hotel and myself from Company D and a man from Company F - and we were sent back to burn the Staunton River bridge. [Probably this happened on the 11th.] We set out to obey these orders, which we did not understand, as General Lee had surrendered and we thought it unnecessary to further destroy property. But it is not a soldier's part to question his superiors; so we started, rather reluctantly, to carry out the last orders received from a Confederate officer. About one o'clock the next day [the 12th] we reached the bridge we were supposed to burn and set about preparing to do so. We met a lot of soldiers on the way, and squad after squad inquired what we were going to do, and upon learning our orders, they would ask that we delay a little longer, as there was another squad just a little way back. This occurred time after time, and we delayed till it was about sunset, when a captain from Rosser's Brigade rode up and asked why we had not burned the bridge. We explained to him, but he said, "Burn it at once," and just as the sun was sinking in the west we applied the torch. It made a great fire, and many were the soldiers who came that way and found their progress blocked by the river.
When we got back to Pittsylvania about sundown the next day [the 13th], we learned that our brigade had left, and neither direction nor destination was known. We then decided to go to our homes, and the next morning [the 14th] found us on our way to the Shenandoah Valley, already so famous as the great battlefield of Stonewall Jackson. Going by the way of Staunton, we followed the Valley pike as far north as Harrisonburg and there turned off and followed a back road so as to flank the paroling officer at New Market, Va. We were thus able to get by without ever surrendering, and are still "Rebel soldiers." Just waiting orders to join our brigade.
While in Lynchburg in 1905, I learned from a son of George Miley, a native of the Staunton River section, that the bridge was not the public road bridge, but the private property of one Sam Pannell; That the other bridge [Ward's bridge] was still standing and doing service. Any one knowing about this burning will please communicate with me. So far as I know, that was the last bridge burned in Virginia during war days.
---------------
Journal of Jed. Hotchkiss (continued):
Thursday, April 13.-We started early; crossed the Staunton River, much swollen, at Toler's Ferry. Fed at Mr. Leftwich's, and went on through Liberty to Nichols', on the Peaks road. Rode thirty-four miles. Very fine day. The full spring tide of growth. vegetation much advanced. Fully six weeks earlier than last year. Some Federal cavalry at Lynchburg. Country getting quite quiet. The paroled men are getting home. We wish to find the wagons to get our baggage.
Friday, April 14.-We started quite early and went by the Peaks Gap to Buchanan, working our way through the blockade made against Sheridan in March. Found everything gone from Buchanan, so went toward Salem as far as Blue Ridge Tavern; then went home with Mr. Obechain for the night. Fine spring day; apples, peaches, &c., in full bloom in the Valley. Rode thirty-six miles. Heard that Echols had disbanded his force at Wytheville, save a few cavalry with which he had started for the Trans-Mississippi Department, via Kentucky. It rained some late in the p. m.
---------------
On April 14th Lomax, who was still at Danville, received orders to disband his cavalry for a time (Goggin, p.22). As mentioned previously, there are no records to indicate that Beauregard's order of April 12th for Lomax to recall his cavalry from the Valley was carried out. At Christiansburg on April 11th, Echols had "furloughed" his infantry for sixty days, with the understanding that if the Confederacy survived, they might possibly be returned to the service. The cavalry went not toward the Tran-Mississippi but toward North Carolina to join Gen. Johnston (Basil Duke, LAST DAYS OF THE CONFEDERACY , p.762-3)
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 47 (Part III), p.802:
HAW RIVER RAILROAD BRIDGE,
April 15, 1865--8 a. m.
Lieutenant-General HAMPTON:
I left Greensborough yesterday morning at 3. 30 o'clock. Up to that
time there had been communication by telegraph with Danville, occu-
pied by Major-General Lomax with something above 1,000 men. His
scouts range, as I understood, as far as Staunton River, and had heard
of no movement of the enemy in that direction. It is intended to
withdraw these troops when we reach Greensborough.
...
Respectfully, &c.,
J. E. JOHNSTON.
---------------
On April 15th Lomax left Danville for Greensboro with Shelley's and Semmes's brigades. They arrived at Greenboro about noon of the 16th. There Lomax received orders to return to Virginia and collect all the cavalry in his power, but these orders were countermanded before proceeding three miles on his return march (Goggin, p.23). These orders to collect the cavalry are reminiscent of Beauregard's orders dated April 12th. Were they a new set of orders, or were they Beauregard's orders which only reached Lomax on the 16th, or were they Beauregard's orders and Goggin recalled the dates incorrectly? It is difficult to tell. Lomax remained near Greensboro through April 21st. The next day he received orders to return to Danville to collect supplies. He left on April 22nd and arrived at Danville on the 23rd, where he remained until the surrender of Joseph E. Johnston's army near Greensboro on April 26th.
---------------
Journal of Jed. Hotchkiss (continued):
Saturday, April 15.-I spent the day at Mr. Obenchain's, suffering from a boil on my left breast. Major Howard went to the turnpike to ascertain where the train was. It was quite cool and rained most of the day.
Sunday, April 16.-We went to Buchanan, met Robinson there, and found where the train had gone to, and where the property had been distributed. Major Howard went back toward Salem, and R[obinson] and myself went on to Lexington; got there about dark and put up with the Rev. W. H. Ruffner. Pleasant day; road muddy. Jackson's and Lomax's divisions [sic-Jackson's and Imboden's brigades] disbanded at Buchanan yesterday until the 1st of May.
[The regiments of Imboden's brigade disbanded at Buchanan on the 15th were the 18th Virginia Cavalry and the 62nd Mounted Infantry. (The 23rd Virginia Cavalry was still in the Shenandoah Valley.)]
Monday, April 17.-We spend the morning in Lexington, arranging some business. Saw Colonel George [H.] Smith [commander of Imboden's brigade] and General W. N. Pendleton.
Learned many particulars about the surrender of General Lee's army. The disposition is general to submit to the Federal Government in consideration of the mild policy proposed by Lincoln, especially if there be no truth in the many rumors of French recognition and armed intervention. [Winfield Scott] Hancock, in command of Federal force in the lower valley, invites all the stragglers, &c., of the Army of northern Virginia to come and be paroled on the same terms those were that were captured at Appomattox Court-House, saying they may remain undisturbed at home. Many are disposed to go and seek this parole. We rode to Brownsburg, and spent the night with Dr. Morrison. Pleasant day. Rode fourteen miles.
Tuesday, April 18.-Went on home, via Summerdean, where we dined at Dunlap's. Got home about dark. The Soldier's Aid Society of Churchville had just adjourned as I got there. Many of the soldiers have reached home. Found all well at home; not expecting me, thinking I had gone on south. The minds of soldiers much exercised as to what course to pursue. Lincoln's proposition for Virginia to come back as she was, &c., has worked a revolution in sentiment. Pleasant day. Rode thirty-two miles.
=========
Activity in the Shenandoah Valley during O'Ferrall's missing week of the 5th to the 12th was uneventful.
Williams, Charles Richard (ed.). Diary and letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Nineteenth President of the United States, Volume II: 1861-1865. The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, 1922, p.573:
NEW CREEK, [WEST] VIRGINIA, April 9 (Sunday), 1865.
DEAR MOTHER : — The good news is coming so fast and so
much of it that I hardly know how to think or feel about it. I
expect to see no more fighting with any part of my command, and
in all quarters the severe fighting must, I think, soon cease. I
was assigned to the command of an independent expedition
through the mountains towards Lynchburg some days ago. We
are still preparing for it, but I now think it will not go. In the
meantime my headquarters are temporarily at this place. I do not
much care where I am during the short time I shall probably now
remain in the army. I want to stay a little while longer until
the smoke of these great events blows away enough to let us
see what the Rebels will try to do next. I expect to see many
of them give up, but the Rebel organization will hold on I suspect
some time longer. My four years is up in June ; after that
I feel at liberty to resing. Sooner if matters [don't ( ?)] suit.
Write me at this place for the present.
Affectionately, your son,
R.
---------------
Diary of Lt. George H. Murphy, Company D, 23rd Virginia Cavalry:
April 7th
Left the church at daylight. came to Newmarket. was sent with three men to Strasburg to discover the movements of the enemy. got to Woodstock at 3 o'clk. found all well at home... got to Strausburg at 11 o'clk PM. could find out nothing of any importance.
April 8th
got to W-- [Woodstock] at 8 o'ck AM. left there at 11 - . got to Zirkles[?] Mill where Regt was encamped late in the eve.
April 9th
set for picket at Mt. Jackson.
April 11th
Still on picket at Mt Jackson... went to Woodstock. Remained untill 1 o'ck AM : got a Baltr[i.e. Baltimore] paper of 10th giving the news of the surrender of Genl. Lee's army.
April 12th
got back to camp at 4 o'ck this morning. A sad terribly gloomy day. The capture of Lee's army is fearful and I fear a fatal blow to our cause :
April 13th
A conformation of the report of the surrender of Lee's army from Southern sources. The surrender was made on Sunday eve last : None of the particulars yet.
(source: the George H. Murphy Diary, Department of Special Collections, Hesburgh Libraries of Notre Dame)
Diary of Anna Kagey Wayland of Shenandoah County:
April 7, 1865 - ... Our men put out pickets at Woodlawn.
(source: Wayland, John W. A History of Shenandoah County, Virginia., p.306)
---------------
From April 6 through the next fifteen or so days, of more concern to Hancock's Union forces at Winchester was the whereabouts of John Singleton Mosby.
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.699:
WASHINGTON, D. C., April 10, 1865--3 p. m.
Major-General HANCOCK,
Winchester, Va.:
The Secretary of War directs that you will have printed and circu-
lated the correspondence between Generals Grant and Lee on the sur-
render of the Army of Northern Virginia. All detachments and strag-
glers from that army will, upon complying with the conditions agreed
upon, be paroled and permitted to return to their homes. Those who
do not so surrender will be brought in as prisoners of war. The guer-
rilla chief Mosby will not be paroled.
H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General and Chief of Staff.
---------------
Returning to O'Ferrall's autobiography, the paragraph immediately following the last one quoted--in which he mistakenly declared that he had captured the last prisoner on Virginia soil--continued seemlessly with events which occurred after the one-week gap in his narrative:
On Wednesday, April 12th, I moved back to New Market and went into camp near town.
Thursday morning [the 13th] I was startled by a rumor that General Lee had surrendered. My men heard it as the same time. I denied it. "It could not be true. General Lee has not surrendered! It is impossible!"
My men denounced the rumor and the man who circulated it. In a little while Captain A. J. Adams sent for me to come to New Market. I rode there rapidly, and I found Adams talking with a half dozen or more cavalrymen [presumably Rosser's men]. He said, "These men say General Lee has surrendered, but I don't believe a word of it." I questioned the men. They were perfectly frank, and told me they were returning to the army, but when they got to Staunton they were told that General Lee had surrendered.; that everybody there knew it. I asked them where they were going? They replied to their homes. I said, "No, you can't go through my lines. You must go out to my camp and stay there for the present." They readily consented and rode to camp with me.
The realization of the truth of the rumor I had heard earlier in the day began to take possession of me. The more I talked with the returning men, the more I became convinced the death knell of the Confederacy had been sounded, and yet ever and anon hope would well up in my breast and I would cast aside even they possibility of such a thing.
My men were more incredulous than myself; the most of them believed it to be a canard, and they were inclined to look suspiciously upon the men who had come from Staunton, and to hint they had better be watched. The night passed; a sleepless night to me. I could not imagine why, if the surrender had occurred on the previous Sunday as these men said, no official information had reached me. Then I remembered that there was no telegraph line, and any information would have to come by mounted messenger.
"Who would send it?" This question would constantly be asked mentally? It would be presumed, I would argue, that the news would fly on swift wings and it would certainly reach me and I would govern myself accordingly. But, I would still argue, suppose the presumption was correct, and the news did reach me, how could I know what to do unless I already knew the terms of surrender. How could I know whether or not my command was included in the surrender unless I was informed as to the terms. If I acted upon the presumption that my command was embraced and it was not, what an embarrassing position I would be placed in if I struck my colors, stacked my arms, and surrendered. If, upon the other hand, my command was embraced in the terms of surrender and I continued in the field, what would be my position under military law?
...
---------------
A few days before O'Ferrall received notification of Lee's surrender, at Winchester Gen. Hancock had attempted to induce Mosby to surrender:
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.714:
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
April 11, 1865.
Colonel JOHN S. MOSBY,
Commanding Partisans:
COLONEL: I am directed by Major-General Hancock to inclose to
you copies of letters which passed between General's Grant and Lee
on the occasion of the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia.
Major-General Hancock is authorized to receive the surrender of the
forces under your command on the same conditions offered to General
Lee, and will send an officer of equal rank with yourself to meet you
at any point and time you may designate convenient to the lines for
the purpose of arranging details should you conclude to be governed
by the example of General Lee.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. H. MORGAN,
Brevet Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.
---------------
These would be the same terms offered to all the Confederate soldiers in the Shenandoah Valley south of Winchester, including O'Ferrall's command.
---------------
O'Ferrall's narrative continues:
By sunrise I had arisen from my restless bunk. It was Friday morning [April 14th]...
The thoughts of the previous night had brought sadness to the faces of my men, and they who on the evening before would not tolerate the idea of Lee's surrender had evidently changed their minds during the still, reflecting hours between the setting and rising sun. They were realizing the probably truth of the rumor of the downfall of the Confederacy and its consequences. There was absence of the usual mirth and hilarity of the camp--no songs or laughter were heard, everything was as quiet as a Sabbath day.
The morning hours wore away and midday came, and no more tidings reached us. But the suspense was soon to be relieved and all lingering doubts removed, for under a flag of truce I received a message: it was from General Winfield S. Hancock, commanding the Federal army in the Valley. I cannot after so many years give the language, but he informed me that General Lee had surrendered, and unless I did so at once he would be compelled to bring me and my men in as prisoners of war.
---------------
Diary entry of Joseph Addison Waddell (at Staunton, Augusta Co., VA) for Friday, April 14, 1865:
We heard last night from an authentic source that Gen. Lee has certainly surrendered himself with his army. His address to his men states that the surrender was made in consequence of the immense superiority of force against him and the consequent uselessness of shedding more blood. He returned to Richmond, having been paroled with all of his officers and men. We do not know of the fate of President Davis. -- When last heard of he was between Burksville Junction and Lynchburg. Soldiers from the army have continued to arrive only one who was paroled. A call has been made by Gen. Lilly [Robert Doak Lilley] for soldiers to meet at Lexington and Staunton to proceed South. I presume that very few will respond as the cause is generally considered useless. ... O'Farrel [O'Ferrall] is still operating in the lower Valley. The Yankees sent him word he was violating the parole given by Gen. Lee, and he (O'F) has sent him to ascertain the terms of Lee's surrender -- whether the whole army of Northern Va was included. ...
[Note: The text of the April 14th entry as it appears in Waddell's Annals of Augusta County, Virginia, is a bit different with regard to O'Ferrall. There he writes "O’Ferrall is still operating in the lower Valley. The Federal commander in that quarter notified him that he was violating the terms of Lee’s surrender, and O’Ferrall has sent to Staunton for information."]
---------------
O'Ferrall's narrative continues:
For some time after the war closed the rumor was circulated that I sent him word to go to a place not made for the righteous. The rumor was without foundation, and I could never imagine how it originated. His message was entirely courteous, and of course my reply was equally so, and to the effect that I had no official information of the surrender; that I had certain orders and should endeavor to obey them until they were countermanded, and that I had no idea of surrendering.
In an hour or two after I had replied to General Hancock's message a courier rode into my camp from Staunton, and handed me a communication from Maj.-Gen. L. L. Lomax, commanding the Valley District, informing me officially of General Lee's surrender, and saying, "you can either surrender or disband." I determined very quietly I would not march to Winchester to surrender; but whether I should disband or hold my men together and attempt to join Johnston's army, which was still in the field, was a question I could not easily decide. I finally came to the conclusion that I had no right or power to hold the regiment together as an organization; that I must disband it and leave every man free to do as he pleased--go to his home or to Johnston.
Assembling my officers, I read General Lomax's communication to them, and announced my conclusions, in which they concurred. I then ordered the regiment to be formed, and when all the companies were in line I took my position in front of them and addressed them, as near as I can recall my words, as follows:
"Officers and men of the Twenty-third Cavalry:
I am in receipt of a communication from Maj. Gen. L. L. Lomax, commanding the Valley District, informing me officially of the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, by General Lee. That this act was necessary and wise admits of no doubt when we know that it was the act of Robert E. Lee. The communication states that I can either surrender or disband. I shall not not surrender, but I do not feel that I have the right or power to hold you together as a regiment, so I shall presently disband you and leave each one of you to determine for yourself whether your duty as a Confederate is ended and you are fully absolved from your obligation to your Southland. So far as I am personally concerned, I shall not unbuckle my sabre or lay aside my pistols as long as there is a Confederate army in the field anywhere upon Southern soil. Two such armies--Johnston and [Kirby] Smith--still have their colors flying, and I shall leave this night to join Johnston.
"Be for taking leave of you, I must congratulate you upon the faithful manner in which you have discharged your duty and the courage and heroism, patriotism and devotion, you have displayed, even amid privations and sufferings of the severest kind. No soldiers of the South are more justly entitled to her gratitude than yourselves.
"I desire to thank you for the uniform kindness and consideration you have showed me at all times, and the promptness with which you have obeyed my orders. I shall carry you all in my memory to my latest day.
"I now declare the Twenty-third Regiment of Virginia Cavalry relieved from further service and disbanded."
...
After the disbandment the regiment gathered in little groups, and so far as I ever heard there was not a man who did not think his duty was not ended; but most of them felt they should go to their homes, look after their families, get clothes or fresh horses, and then if Johnston's army continued in the field, join it.
That evening O'Ferrall and about thirty of his men left New Market for Staunton, entering the latter place early the next day, Saturday, April 15th. Many of its citizens gave them credit for their loyalty in seeking to join Johnston's army but also considered it to be futile. A prominent gentleman told him the Confederacy could not survive without Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia. "These boys are allowing their feelings to drive out their senses. They had better go to their homes and put their horses to the plow and then take hold of the handles." "As I look back now," O'Ferrall wrote, "I am ready to admit there was wisdom in these words, but none of us thought so at the time. ..."
---------------
In 1901, John W. Hockman, who had served as a private in company G, 23rd Virginia Cavalry, wrote an autobiography which gave a brief account of the regiment. (The first page is missing.):
. . . battles during the campaign Say Berryville, Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek. We
had a very hard year of soldier life. We wintered at Luray on the Rapdan. In the spring came back in the
valley was in several engagements. Surrendered a Zircle's Mill at the Shenandoah river near New
Market or rather disbanded and paroled at J. J. Stoneburger store in Edinburg,, Va.
Col O'ferrel made us a speech on disbanding the regiment and started for the south to join the
Southern Army that had not surrendered. I went to my home and worked at farming.
[source: Hockman, Dennis L. and Hockman, Richard P. A Hockman Family History (1994), p.93]
---------------
Not all men of the 23rd Virginia Cavalry were present at New Market when O'Ferrall. Some were on detached service. The pension application for James H. Bowman indicates that he, James W. Saum, and Milton J. Spiker, all of Company L, were stationed at Charlottesville at the time of Lee's surrender. Their captain then was Algernon S. Tebbs of Leesburg, who was paroled in June as a captain in the Signal Corps. Two more men of Company L were George W. Doll and George Henry Wright. In writing in support of Wright's pension application, Doll stated that in the latter part of the campaign they were detailed as guards for the signal corps. (Doll was taken sick and was sent home several months before the surrender.)
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.762:
WASHINGTON, April 15, 1865--2 a. m.
Major-General ORD,
Richmond, Va.:
Attempts have been made to-night to assassinate the President and
Secretary of State. Arrest all persons who may enter you lines by
water or land. Particulars will be given hereafter.
H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General and Chief of Staff.
(Same to Major-General Hancock.)
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.764:
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
April 15, 1865.
Major-General HALLECK,
Chief of Staff:
I understand that most of the forces in the Valley will surrender, and
have made arrangements to meet them Wednesday [April 19th] next at New Market
for this purpose. The commanders surrender their detachments and
battalions without regard to higher organizations. I do not know
what effect the intelligence of the murder of the President will have on
their determination.
WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Major-General.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.764:
WINCHESTER, VA., April 15, 1865.
(Received 12. 30 p. m.)
Major-General HALLECK,
Chief of Staff:
I would respectfully inquire whether your dispatch* directing the
arrest of all persons coming into the lines is intended to make any
paroles. They have just commenced coming in, and I expect a regi-
ment of Imboden's command in this morning. I am particular in ask-
ing, as the disposition made of those who come in first will effect the
conduct of those now hesitating about giving themselves up.
WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Major-General.
*See 2 a. m., p. 762.[above]
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.774:
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
April 15, 1865.
Brevet Major-General TORBERT,
Commanding Cavalry:
The major-general commanding directs that you send a detachment
of cavalry to Strasburg, so as to arrive there at an early hour on Mon-
day morning, for the purpose of receiving the surrender of a part of the
Twenty-third Virginia Cavalry, and such other men as may avail them-
selves of a parole.
* * * * * * *
C. H. MORGAN,
Brevet Brigadier-General.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.803:
WINCHESTER, VA., April 16, 1865.
General WILLIAM DWIGHT:
The commanding officers are authorized to parole Confederate
soldiers, Mosby's men included, when they come to these lines, on
terms given by General Grant. While the strict ruling required that
private horses, which have been used for Government purposes, should
be delivered up, the general will not require this as a condition to
surrender. It is, however, desirable that all horses that formerly
belonged to the United States should be required. After being paroled
the prisoners will be allowed to return to their homes. The arms of
the men be given up, unless there is good evidence to show that
they have been lost, not secreted. All offensive operations against
Mosby's men will cease until further orders, as negotiations are in
progress for the surrender of his command. Blank paroles of the pre-
scribed form will be furnished from these headquarters.
C. H. MORGAN,
Brevet Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.
----------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.803:
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
[Sunday] April 16, 1865.
Brevet Major-General TORBERT,
Chief of Cavalry:
The major-general commanding directs that you send a command to
New Market for the purpose of paroling a considerable number of Con-
federate soldiers. who will assemble there on Wednesday, the 19th. The
command should reach New Market on Tuesday night and should be
provided with several days’ rations and forage. A quantity of blank
paroles will be furnished you during the day. They are to be adimin-
istered in duplicate, the duplicate copies to be sent to the provost-
marshal of the division. It is desirable that each man be paroled
individually if practicable. The terms are the same as those given to
the Army of Northern Virginia. It is understood that General Grant
did not insist on the private horses of soldiers being given up and the
general will not demand it, but all horses with U. S. brands should be
brought in, and the men should deliver up their arms. The general
desires you to send officers to conduct the paroling, who will have it
properly attended to, and also desires the greatest care taken to avoid
depredations on citizens or property en route. You will please notify
the general what force you send and under what officer.
C. H. MORGAN,
Brevet Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.804:
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
April 16, 1865.
Brevet Major-General TORBERT,
Chief of Cavalry:
Major-General Hancock directs me to notify you that offensive oper-
ations against Mosby will be discontinued by mutual agreement until
further orders, as negotiations are in progress for his surrender. This
will not interfere with your movement up the Valley.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. H. MORGAN,
Brevet Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.
---------------
The mission to parole Confederate soldiers at Strasburg and New Market was given to Col. Marcus A. Reno. He took with him his own 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry. As colonel of the 12th Pennsylvania, he had spent most of 1865 fighting Mosby's rangers. The truce with Mosby on the 16th delayed Reno's departure up the Valley until that evening, and his command got only as far as Newtown (now called Stephens City), six miles south of Winchester. By the next day, soldiers of the 23rd Virginia Cavalry who lived in the lower Valley behind Union lines were already beginning to arrive in Winchester. Here they were paroled before completing their journey home. Although his home in Woodstock was not technically behind enemy lines, one of the men to be paroled on the 17th was Lt. George H. Murphy. His parole states that he was a 1st Lieutenant in Company G. Thus sometime in the last few weeks of the war he evidently had been promoted and transferred from his previous position as 2nd Lieutenant in Company D. Soldiers with homes farther up the Valley waited for the provost marshall to arrive in their vicinity before seeking to be paroled. Some soldiers refused to ever be paroled.
---------------
Diary of Sgt. Henry Petrikin, 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry:
April 16 - ...Three o'clock p.m. orders to move with three days forage and rations--got started at 5, at 10 p.m. in camp at Newtown.
April 17 - Started [from Newtown] at 4 a.m., got to Strasburg, found the town filled with rebels. We went into camp and the day was spent in paroling rebels that belong to the the valley, they are all surrendering.
April 18 - Left Strasburg at 5 a.m. and went into camp at 5 p.m. at Mount Jackson. The road all the day long was filled with rebels coming home...
April 19 - Started the morning - a detail of 10 men from each Co. went up to New Market with the Colonel--He was busy all day parolling rebels...
Letter of William P. Graham, 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry, dated 4/19/65:
...The Rebs have a chain picket in our front [at Mt. Jackson?] to keep in their men but still some flank around and come in to get paroled. Col. Reno is gone to New Market to parole 700 men.
(source: for Petrikin, page 306; for Graham, page 307 of Maier, Larry B. LEATHER & STEEL: The 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry in the Civil War (2001), Burd Street Press, Shippensburg, PA, 380p.)
---------------
On April 19th the 1st Rhode Island Cavalry left Winchester to join the 12th Pennsylvania at Mount Jackson.
Record of Frederic Denison, chaplin of the 1st Rhode Island:
April 19th. Ordered up the valley, over roads and fields, where so many hard battles had been fought; but now on an entirely different service; we went to parole rebel soldiers.
April 20th. Arrived at Mount Jackson, where we remained two days, and paroled about fifteen hundred Confederates. But many others had fled to their homes before the surrender.
(source: page 460 of Denison, Rev. Frederic, chaplain, Sabres and Spurs: The First Rhode Island Cavalry in the Civil War, 1861-1865. The First Rhode Island Cavalry Veteran Association, 1876.)
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.868:
WINCHESTER, VA., April 20, 1865--11.30 p. m.
(Received 8.15 a. m. 21st.)
Brig. Gen. JOHN A. RAWLINS,
Chief of Staff:
The Confederate officers and soldiers coming on here daily for parole
amount to above 100. A great many others have been paroled by my
advanced cavalry at Strasburg, Woodstock, and New Market, in the
Valley, embracing the small commands in that section of country; also
a great many of Mosby's men, guerrillas, straggles, and men on leave
are coming in at other posts. In the Kanawha Valley the command
of Lieutenant-Colonel Hounshell which is being surrendered, amounts
to about 400 or 500 men. Several others detachments have applied at
Lewisburg to surrender on the same terms. They are understood to be
of General Echol's command, who himself has left. Colonel Mosby
in person was met at Millwood to-day at 12 m., when the truce with
him ended. He stated, and I have no doubt it is true from the corrob-
oration of paroled officers and citizens, that his command has disbanded
with the exception of a few officers and soldiers. When Mosby found
that no further truce or terms would be offered to him he was very
much agitated. The Confederate officers and soldiers who have sur-
rendered and the citizens are hostile to him. My impression is that
everything in this country shows a state of pacification. The worst
band of guerrillas in Loudoun Country (Mobberly's) have all been killed
or surrendered. If Mosby is in Loudoun Valley I will hunt him out.
WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Major-General.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.898:
GENERAL ORDERS, } HDQRS. MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
No. 44. } Winchester, Va., April 22, 1865.
I. The headquarters of the Middle Military Division are hereby
transferred to Washington, D. C., corner of F and Seventeenth streets.
The following-named officers will report for duty there: Bvt. Brig.
Gen. C. H. Morgan, chief of staff; Lieut. Col. Duncan S. Walker,
assistant adjutant-general; Maj. E. B. Parsons, assistant adjutant-
general.
II. The senior officer present, Bvt. Major General A. T. A. Torbert, chief of
cavalry, Middle Military Division, will assume command of the troops
composing the Army of the Shenandoah. The staff of the Middle Mil-
itary Division, which exception of those named above, will report to him
for duty.
III. The senior officer present in the Department of West Virginia,
Bvt. Maj. Gen. W. H. Emory, will assume command temporarily of
that department, headquarters at Cumberland, Md.
By command of Major-General Hancock:
DUNCAN S. WALKER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
---------------
WINCHESTER, VA., April 22, 1865.
(Received 9.15 p. m.)
Hon. E. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War:
Nearly all of Mosby’s command has surrendered, including nearly or
quite all of the officers except Mosby himself, who has probably fled.
His next in rank, Lieutenant-Colonel Chapman, surrendered with the
command. He is as important as Mosby, and from conversation had
with hhn I think lie will be valuable to the Government hereafter.
Some of Mosby’s own men are in pursuit of him for a reward of $2,000
offered by me. As near as I can tell about 380 of Mosby’s men are
paroled. Colonel Reno has paroled about 1,200 or 1,500 men at New
Market, and has sent down for more blanks. I leave here for Wash-
ington City to-morrow morning.
WINF’D S. HANCOCK,
Major-General.
---------------
The 12th Pennsylvania and the 1st Rhode Island regiments returned to Winchester together.
Diary of Henry Petrikin, 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry:
April 22 - We started at 5 o'clock towards home [from New Market or Mt. Jackson] and had quite a pleasant day of it and encamped at Strasburg for the night...
April 23 - Was up early and started. Got back to our old camp at Winchester at 10 o'clock a.m...
April 24 - ...Hundreds of rebels coming in and being paroled.
(source: page 307-8 of Maier, Larry B. LEATHER & STEEL: The 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry in the Civil War (2001), Burd Street Press, Shippensburg, PA, 380p.)
Record of Frederic Denison, chaplain of the 1st Rhode Island:
April 22d. Commenced our return march.
April 23d. Encamped south of Winchester, about two miles on the road to Front Royal.
(source: page 460 of Denison, Rev. Frederic, chaplain, Sabres and Spurs: The First Rhode Island Cavalry in the Civil War, 1861-1865. The First Rhode Island Cavalry Veteran Association, 1876.)
=========
Rosser, meanwhile, was returning to the Valley from his meeting at Danville with the War Secretary Breckenridge to collect all the unparoled soldiers.
Diary of Joseph Addison Waddell:
Sunday night, April 16. [1865]
Easter Sunday. -- ... Reported that Rosser is coming to Staunton to collect a force.
Thursday night, April 20. [1865]
...
Rosser is expected here to organize his men, and then it may be said he has taken Staunton. If his men rally to him, and the horses, in the county will be taken off [sic-confusing sentence. Does he mean "If his men rally to him, then the horses in the county will be taken off"?]. I anticipate nothing but evil from his attempt. With our armies captured or scattered and all munitions of war lost, it is impossible for us to accomplish anything against the overwhelming odds of the North; and a guerrilla warfare will only result in general ruin. We are now in a condition of anarchy.
...
Saturday, April 29. [1865]
...
Past 2 o'clock, P.M.. -- For the first time I have seen a force of armed Yankees. Just as we finished the appraisement of Aunt Sally's property, it was announced that they were coming near town. As I came home to dinner I observed men in pairs upon several of the hills, and presumed they were scouts. While we were at dinner, Jenny came in and said "The Yankees are coming." We all went on the front porch, and I finally went to Moses' shop; and saw the whole force pass. There were six companies of the 22nd N. Y. cavalry, decidedly mean looking men -- generally. Gen. Rosser left town this morning, and there was, of course, no opposition...
Night. -- It was a curious spectacle this afternoon to see Federals and Confederates mingling on the streets. Every body seemed to be at ease. The Yankee force is composed of two regiments, both making 400 or 500 men. A Col Reid [sic-Reed] commands. He is said to be very affable. I have not spoken to one of them. How can we ever get along with a people who have waged such warfare against us, and at last conquered us! I felt greatly cast down this afternoon. The Federals are camped near the Cemetery, but on the opposite side of the turnpike. We could see some of their camp fires to-night . Jimmy Tate says the men are not allowed to cut down trees, but are made to divide up for branches here + there. Col. Reid says he will remain on, for possibly two days. His object appears to be to afford an opportunity to our men to be paroled.
...
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part I), p.1323:
HEADQUARTERS JACKSON'S BRIGADE,
April 30, 1865.
OFFICER COMMANDING U. S. FORCES AT STAUNTON:
I send Captain G. W. Silcott, acting assistant adjutant-general, with a
flag of truce to ascertain upon what terms the U. S. authorities will
accept the surrender of the troops under my command; and to that
end I respectfully ask an interview, at such point as you may designate,
to arrange the terms, or for me to decide whether they ought to be
accepted or not. If they are not accepted. I am sure that the U. S.
authorities will not attempt to interfere with myself or the troops under
my command until they have at least five hours' notice of the disposi-
tion on the part of the U. S. forces to attempt mine and their capture;
and I respectfully ask that such assurance be given me.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. P. THOMPSON,
Colonel Nineteenth Virginia Cavalry, Commanding, &c.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part I), p.1323:
HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES,
Staunton, Va., April 30, 1865.
Col. W. P. THOMPSON,
Commanding Jackson's Brigade, Lomax's Division, &c.:
COLONEL: I have had the honor to receive at the hands of Captain
Silcott, with flag of truce, a communication from you asking upon what
terms you can surrender troops under your command. I beg to say in
reply, that the United States Government will receive your command
upon the same terms given to the Army of Northern Virginia, viz, officers
and men to give their parole of honor not to take up arms against the
United States until exchanged; all arms, horses, and public property
to be turned over to the United States, officers to retain their side-arms,
private horses, and personal baggage.
I have the honor to remain, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
H. B. REED,
Col., Twenty-second New York Cav., Comdg. U. S. Forces at Staunton.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.1065:
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
May 1, 1865.
Lieut. Col. T. S. BOWERS,
Asst. Adjt. General, Hdqrs. Armies of the United States:
I am informed that 39 officers and about 600 men of Echols' com-
mand surrendered and were paroled yesterday at Lewisburg, W. Va.
A company of the Eighteenth Virginia Cavalry, numbering 56 men,
also surrendered to General Emory on Saturday. All the forces in
the Valley seem to be coming in. Concurrent reports leave little room
for doubt that General Early died of congestive fever near Salem last
week.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Major-General of Volunteers, Comdg. Middle Military Division.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.1065:
WASHINGTON, D. C., May 1, 1865—5 p. m.
Brevet Major-General TORBERT,
Commanding Army of the Shenandoah:
GENERAL: I wish to send an expedition to Staunton with twenty-
five days’ rations, consisting of one brigade of infantry, under a good
commander. I would suggest General Duval. I also wish Brigadier-
General Carroll to be ready to march here through Loudoun County,
with his three regiments of veterans, to join the remainder at Camp
Stoneman. I will send you orders in detail. Have them ready. I
also wish a good regiment of cavalry to go with the brigade to Staun-
ton. Blank paroles should be sent with the command, and all regular
supplies should be paid for, or proper vouchers given. The greatest
order should be preserved in the marches, and no depredations upon
private property whatever should be permitted.
I am, very respectfully,
W. S. HANCOCK,
Major-General, Commanding Middle Military Division.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.1065:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE SHENANDOAH,
May 1, 1865.
Brevet Brigadier-General MORGAN,
Chief of Staff, Middle Military Division, Washington, D. C.:
Dispatch from General Hancock received. Colonel Reed with 600
cavalry is now in Staunton with seven days’ supplies. Does the gen-
eral wish the expedition to go up there before Colonel R.’s return?
A. T. A. TORBERT,
Brevet Major-General.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.1071-2:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE SHENANDOAH,
May 2, 1865.
Brig. Gen. I. H. DUVAL,
Commanding First Brigade, Fourth Provisional Division:
GENERAL: In pursuance. of orders from headquarters Middle Mili-
tary Division, the commanding general directs that you move with
your command, excepting the Thirteenth West Virginia Infantry, with
twenty-five days’ rations in wagons and three days’ rations in haver-
sacks, on the morning of the 4th instant, as soon after daylight as pos-
sible, for Staunton, Va., for the purpose of paroling such officers and
men of the so-called C. S. Army who may wish to avail themselves of
the terms granted by General Grant to General Lee, of bringing in as
prisoners of war all you may be able to capture who refuse to sur-
render, and of administering the oath of allegiance to such as may wish
to take it.
* * * * * *
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. RUSSELL, Jr.,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
---------------
Diary of Joseph Addison Waddell:
Monday night, May 1. [1865]
...
Gen. Jackson ("Mudwall," as the Yankees call him, in contradistinction to "Stonewall") is said to be in the county with fifteen men.
...
---------------
Journal of Jed. Hotchkiss:
Tuesday, May 2.—The troops left Staunton this morning and returned
toward Winchester, leaving large numbers of unparoled soldiers in
the community. Rosser and Jackson, with a few followers, left yester-
day for the Southwest...
---------------
Diary of Anna Kagey Wayland of Shenandoah County:
May 4,1865 - ... Grandstaff's Co. [Capt. George Grandstaff, Co. K, 12th Virginia Cavalry] took their parole.
(source: Wayland, John W. A History of Shenandoah County, Virginia., p.306)
---------------
General William L. Jackson's brigade--the 19th, 20th, and 26th Virginia Cavalry--had disbanded at Lynchburg on April 15th with the plan to meet again at Staunton on May 1st. In his book Personal Reminiscences of the Civil War, published in 1908, David Poe, 1st lieutenant of Company A of the 20th Cavalry, recalled the final days of the brigade:
Before May 1st, the Federal forces had occupied Staunton and the word was spread for us to meet at Lexington, Rockbridge county, instead of Staunton. About one-half of the brigade was there on the 3rd day of May.
Gen. Jackson tried to say something to those war worn veterans, but his emotions were too strong. He did ask us if he should surrender us, or if we would surrender ourselves, that he could get the same terms that Gen. Lee got at Appomattox. The men said, "We will surrender ourselves," but some never surrendered.
---------------
Rosser wrote after the war that when news of Johnston's surrender reached him he had collected about five hundred men--although this high number seems inflated given the attitude of the citizens described in the contemporary accounts of Waddell and Col. Reed. His intention now was to take his men across the Trans-Mississippi to join Gen. Kirby Smith, but first he wanted to say goodby to his family in Hanover County.
Riding With Rosser, p.74:
While my little command was getting ready at Swope's Depot, I rode to Hanover Court House to take leave of my wife and my baby, and in a few moments after I entered the house Federal troops surrounded it and carried me off as a prisoner [of war]. Upon reaching Richmond I learned that I had been surrendered by General Lee, at Appomattox, but by denying this and appealing to General Lee, who was in the city, I was released from this charge... General Lee then advised me to go to the valley and disperse my troops, and I made arrangements to give them parole certificates giving them parole, guaranteeing them immunity from arrest. I took an escort and proceeded to Staunton, and had Colonel Ball [M. Dulaney Ball of the 11th Cavalry] and the "rear guard" of the Army of Northern Virginia paroled, so that they might be "permitted to return to their homes unmolested."
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.1123:
RICHMOND, May 10, 1865.
(Received 2.30 p. m.)
Lieutenant-General GRANT,
Washington:
General Rosser came within our lines to arrange for the surrender of
his command at Staunton. A cavalry force was sent out with him to
receive their arms and paroles. He was not captured, but surrendered
himself on the terms of Lee's capitulation and promised that his entire
command should lay down their arms...
H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General, Commanding.
---------------
Three days after the return of Reno's force to Winchester on April 23rd, part of his Provisional Brigade conducted another mission up the Valley. This one was commanded by Col. H. B. Reed of the 22nd New York Cavalry and was scheduled to last up to ten days.
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part I), p.1322-3:
APRIL 26-MAY 5, 1865.--Operations in the Shenandoah Valley, Va.
Report of Colonel Horatio B. Reed, Twenty-second New York Cavalry.
HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-SECOND NEW YORK CAVALRY,
May 5, 1865.
MAJOR: In obedience to orders from the major-general commanding,
I moved on the 26th of April, 1865, from the Provisional Brigade with
a force consisting of the Twenty-second New York and Eighteenth
Pennsylvania Cavalry, and camped for the night at Cedar Creek. On
the following day I marched to Mount Jackson, campaign there for the
night. At the last-named place, as I was about going into camp, I
sent forward a small force. When within carbine range they fired on my
advance, and immediately retired over the hills and into the woods, out
of my sight. I deployed a company to ascertain if these men were con-
nected with a larger force, but soon satisfied myself that they were a
small party of guerrillas, having no connection with troops.
On Friday, April 28, I marched to Harrisonburg, and while there
in camp, agreeable to orders, I sent forward a force with one of the
scouts from army headquarters to arrest a man named Richerbuker,
at whose house the detective from Washington was said to have been
last seen. The force arrested three men, who were brought to my head-
quarters. They all proved satisfactorily to me that neither of them was
the person in question and that no such man lived in the country.
On Saturday, April 29, I marched to Staunton. Learned at this
place that General Rosser had left there the same morning, but with-
out any force. He had been for several days, in connection with a
General Lilley, endeavoring to raise a force for the purpose of going
south, but without success, the men refusing to join him, and in justice
to the citizens it should be stated that they were opposed to his oper-
ations.
On Sunday, April 30, I received a flag of truce from Colonel Thomp-
son, commanding the force known as Jackson's cavalry brigade, ask-
ing upon what terms he could surrender his command to the United
States. I informed him that he could surrender upon the same terms
as the Army of Northern Virginia, to which he properly belonged.
On Monday, May 1, the force not appearing to accept my terms, I
sent out a scout to ascertain their whereabouts. He returned with the
information that the force consisted of about 100 men, perhaps a few
more, and they were widely scattered in the mountains. I did not think
it proper to attempt to capture them, as it would occupy more time and
labor than was justifiable under the circumstances (as I was under
orders to return within ten days and was then very short of forage).
The correspondence between Colonel Thompson and myself you will
please find inclosed. [See the two letters above dated April 30th, 1865.]
On Tuesday, May 2, I left Staunton, and arrived at my camp in this
place this morning.
During my journey up the Valley upward of 900 soldiers belonging
to the Army of Northern Virginia were paroled at different points by
Captain [Simon] Snyder, acting assistant provost-marshal-general.
I remain, major, very respectfully, you obedient servant,
H. B. REED,
Colonel, Commanding Twenty-second New York Cavalry.
Major WILLIAM RUSSELL,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Shenandoah.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.1095
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
May 5, 1865.
Lieut. Col. T. S. BOWERS,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Hdqrs. Armies of the United States:
COLONEL: I have the honor to report that General Torbert, com-
manding Army of the Shenandoah, reports to me by telegram of this
date that the cavalry force under Colonel Reed, of the Twenty-second
New York Cavalry, has returned from Staunton having paroled about
750 men, in addition to those heretofore reported. Generals Rosser
and Lilley left Staunton the day before Colonel Reed arrived there,
having been engaged without success in endeavoring to raise men to
go south. General Torbert expects to receive on Monday the surrender
ot the remnant of Dearing’s old brigade**. The people are reported as
well disposed. Guerrillas are reported as troublesome in the vicinity
of Mount Jackson. I have directed a force to be sent against them,
and no quarter to be shown.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
WINF’D S. HANCOCK,
Major-General of Volunteers, Comdg. Middle Military Division.
**This was the "Laurel Brigade", the 7th, 11th, and 12th Regiments and the 35th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry.
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part III), p.1089:
WINCHESTER, VA., May 4, 1865.
(Received 1 p.m.)
Brig. Gen. C. H. MORGAN,
Washington:
Carroll started at daylight this morning, and will march via Berry's
Ferry and Upperville. A delay of one day was caused by the laying
of the pontoon bridge. Duval left for Staunton this morning with
2,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry.
A. T. A. TORBERT,
Major-General, Commanding.
---------------
Diary of Joseph Addison Waddell:
Saturday night, May 6. [1865]
...It was reported during the day that a Federal force was coming up the Valley, but not believed till the stage arrived, when we learned that the Yankees would be at Harrisonburg to-night. It is said that the force consists of infantry, artillery and cavalry. The object is supposed to be to garrison Staunton.
Tuesday night, May 9. [1865]
The Yankees entered town this morning. First came three or four scouts, next the cavalry -- three regiments -- and then the infantry, three regiments. Gen. [Isaac H.] Duval commands... The private soldiers seem good-natured enough, but they are a low order of men, much inferior to our men, who have always whipped them when not outnumbered more than three to one. The officers are a splendid, dapper-looking set. They have about one hundred and fifty (150) wagons, and supplies for 30 days. We have not learned what they came for. Some of them say, we are to vote whether we will belong to East or West Virginia. Rosser is in town, having been paroled in Richmond. He was drinking with Yankees to-day, and giving them his autograph. I felt sad and humiliated to hear of his walking through the streets drunk this evening...
Wednesday night, May 10. [1865]
The Committee appointed by the County meeting on Monday, called upon Gen. Duval this morning. He was extremely civil, said the only orders he had were to restore order by suppressing guerilla parties, and to parole our soldiers...
---------------
OR, Ser. 1, Vol 46 (Part I), p.1324-5
MAY 6—14, 1865.—Expedition from Richmond to Staunton and Charlottesville, Va.
Report of Lient. Col. Franklin A. Stratton, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry.
HEADQUARTERS ELEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY,
Charlottesville, Va., May 14, 1865.
SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of my expedition
from Richmond to Staunton, and thence to this place, under instructions
received from department headquarters on the 5th instant:
I left Richmond on the morning of the 6th instant with the entire
effective strength of my regiment, consisting of 500 men, accompanied
by fifty-five wagons. Marching via Louisa Court-House, Charlottes-
ville, Rockfish Gap, and Waynesborough, I arrived near Staunton on
the evening of the 10th of May. Learning there that General Rosser
had that morning left for Lexington, I did not enter town until the
next day. I found Brig. Gen. I. H. Duval stationed there with one
brigade of infantry and a regiment of cavalry [5th NY Cav], being a portion of his
division—the Fourth Provisional Division of the Army of the Shenan-
doah. General Duval had arrived there two days previous to my
arrival, and had already paroled a large part of Rosser’s men and taken
possession of the trivial amount of rebel government stores found
there. General Duval therefore directed me to return to Charlottes-
ville, in accordance with my instructions. A copy of his order is
inclosed. I therefore, after resting my horses one day, left Staunton
on the 13th, and returned to this place to-day. General Rosser, up to
the time of my departure, had made no visible preparation for paroling
the remainder of his men, nor was there any tangible evidence of his
intention to turn over any rebel government property whatever. After
several interviews with him, I ascertained that the men of his com-
mand were entirely dispersed, and would only come in in small detach-
ments, or singly, to be paroled. This would occupy, perhaps, several
weeks, and as my supplies would permit me to remain but three or
four days, it seemed proper that General Duval should complete the
business he had commenced.
General Rosser stated, or rather admitted, that about nine pieces of
artillery were concealed somewhere about Staunton and four pieces at
Lexington. These, too, I left for General Duval to find and dispose
of. About eight pieces of artillery are said by General Rosser to be at
Pittsylvania Court-House. I have information of there being consider-
able rebel property concealed about Charlottesville, but have not yet
had time to find it. This comprises small arms buried or concealed in
buildings and quartermaster and commissary stores in the hands of
citizens in various localities.
Not many disorders have come to my notice through the country,
but there is much need of a military post at this place to preserve
order and protect the citizens from small bands of marauders and rob-
bers infesting various localities between here and the Blue Ridge. The
large number of negroes here will require for some time the interposi-
tion of military authority to adjust differences in regard to labor, prop-
erty, and personal rights. I have maintained the strictest discipline
and order in my own command during the march, and permitted no
injury whatever to the property of citizens. The railroad is now open
to Keswick’s Station, about seven miles from here, and will be opened
within two or three days to the Rivanna River, some two miles distant.
Supplies for troops at this point could, therefore, be furnished over this
route.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
FRANKLIN A. STRATTON,
Lieut. CoL. Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, Comdg. Regiment.
Col. ED. W SMITH,
Assistant Adjutant- General, Department of Virginia.
---------------
O'Ferrall's narrative concludes:
Before our party could reach Johnston's army it had surrendered, and we disbanded and scattered.
In a few days I arrived at Lynchburg. There I met Captain Francis Berkeley, who had been the Adjutant-General of Imboden's brigade, and together we rode by way of the tow-path of the James River and Kanawha Canal to Lexington, and thence to Staunton, his home, and where I located and entered business pursuits.
...
Soon after I had located at Staunton I was paroled by a General Duval of West Virginia, who was in command of some Federal troops stationed there, and this ended my life as a Confederate soldier.
[Note: Records indicate that O'Ferrall was paroled by Capt. Simon Snyder on April 30th at Staunton. Duval did not arrive in Staunton until May 9th.]
---------------
So what exactly had happened to Robert White in the latter part of March that caused O’Ferrall to become the “acting” colonel of the 23rd Virginia Cavalry?? O’Ferrall made no mention of it in his book.
Unfortunately, White's activities during these final days of the Confederacy have not been sufficiently documented.
According to the diary of Lt George Murphy, on (Monday) March 20th, Col. White spoke in a church on state of the country. On March 26th, O’Ferrall and Calmes both joined the Regiment. Then on April 3rd, Murphy noted that O'Ferrall was now leading the regiment, "White being in arrest." The phrase "in arrest," if Murphy's handwriting is correctly interpreted, is intriguing. It suggests Col. Robert White had done something which would have caused his superior officers, Col. Smith and Gen. Lomax, to place him under arrest and hand command of the regiment over to O'Ferrall. Perhaps "in arrest," as used by Murphy, had a more benign connotation. For example--and this is just speculation--perhaps he meant White was not physically able, due to illness or wounds, to command in the field.
On Thursday, April 6th, Lomax, presumably while still at Staunton, had telegraphed instructions to O'Ferrall, who was somewhere below New Market. Then sometime that afternoon, Lomax's division (with the exception of the 23rd Cavalry) started towards Lexington. By the evening of the 7th, the division had gone through Lexington and had encamped at the mouth of Buffalo Creek. Lomax went ten miles farther, to the Rope Ferry.
William J. Cowger had been a private in the 62nd Mounted Infantry. In his pension application written in 1918, he stated: "Was courier & was sent with dispatch on Friday night before surrender after Col Bob White & did not get back to surrender." The dispatch would have come from Lomax, or possibly from Smith. It could be that the dispatch was intended for, and delivered to, O'Ferrall, but that after the passage of fifty-three years Cowger could only recollect that Robert White had commanded the regiment. Alternatively, Cowger may have been ordered to deliver his dispatch specifically to White, just as stated in his application. This would suggest that White was still playing some sort of leadership role.
Solomon Vanmeter was a private in George Smith’s 62nd Mounted Infantry. He described meeting Col. White shortly after the war had ended:
… April 4, 1865, while at home on a furlough to get a fresh horse, I heard that General Lee had surrendered, which was untrue, as he did not surrender until the 9th. I bought a horse, and with my captain (Chipley) and two others of our company started for Staunton to join our command, but had only passed Mt. Solar[sic-Solon] a few miles when we met Colonel White, of the Twenty- third Virginia Cavalry, who informed us that the Federals had possession of Staunton, and my captain, after complimenting me upon having always done my duty as a soldier, told me to go home and take the first opportunity to secure a furlough, which I did, at New Creek (now Kyser), a few days after this.
[Source:
https://books.google.com/books?id=hvMTAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA143
Genealogies and Sketches of Some Old Families who Have Taken Prominent Part in the Development of Virginia and Kentucky Especially: And Later of Many Other States of this Union
Benjamin Franklin Van Meter
J.P. Morton, 1901 - Kentucky - 181 pages
The quoted passage is from page 143.]
Whatever the reason, White’s being “in arrest” did not damage his postwar standing.
=========
EPILOGUE
Imboden’s Brigade was unfortunate in having had a poor reputation. Their fighting ability had been undeservedly impugned at the Third Battle of Winchester (or Battle of Opequon) on September 19, 1864. Isaac White, the assistant surgeon of the 62nd Mounted Infantry made this clear to a letter his wife:
On Picket Near Newhope Va
October 6th/64
My Dear Jinnie
I saw a few days ago in the Richmond Whig the greatest prose of injustice I have
ever seen. Someone writing for that paper blames Imbodens command for the
disaster at Winchester + says that this command was badly stampeded. it is all
false from beginning to end + the many dead + wounded are proof of it. The
command acted elegantly + was complimented by all that saw it while McCoustins [McCausland’s]
acted shamefully + is the command that the writer of the piece in the Whig thought
was Imbodens. There is no excuse for such a mistake + I hope that the auther of it
may yet get his deserts. Col Smith who is + has been commanding this Brig
has replied to it + pronounced it a lie + ----- him a ----- ----- going over there is no ----- by
every one for so doing (Not is in a fighting line) I do not know what Gen Ealy intens
doing both ----- our yet stationary + from all I can see one likely to ----- so. …
Your devoted
Isaac
[source: Digital Library and Archives (DLA), a department in the University Libraries at Virginia Tech, Isaac White Letters, http://spec.lib.vt.edu/mss/white/white.htm#oct6,64 ]
Imboden’s Brigade had again been made the scapegoat for Early’s defeat two days later on September 21-22 at the Battle of Fisher’s Hill. This is best illustrated in a passage from the history of the Twenty-Third North Carolina Regiment:
For some cause known only to their whimsical philosophy,
Imboden's cavalry was an especial object of their[the foot soldiers’] disesteem.
By way of derision they called it "Jimboden's" cavalry. The
confidence in General Early had met with that impairment
which is almost sure to be the lot of the unsuccessful leader,
no matter from what cause. This spirit in the troops mani-
fested itself at Fisher's Hill in the most drolly humorous in-
cident of the writer's whole war experience. Close beside the
road along which the troops poured in confusion, a ragged, de-
jected, unkempt "Confed" crouched over a little fire, regard-
ing naught, absorbed alone in warming numbed fingers and
toes, for the day was chilly. As he crouched and shivered he
droned a song in whose tone disgust, despair and disdain all
strove for the mastery. The song, which must have been
rich, was lost except the following stanzas caught as a group
of officers rode by:
"Old Jimboden's gone up the spout,
And Old Jube Early's about played out."
"Gone up the spout" was war lingo for passed into noth-
ingness, even as water in a kettle does when it evaporates
and goes up the spout. The singer seems to have believed
that Imboden's instead of Lomax's cavalry was the force that
proved unable to cope with the enemy on our left flank
that morning.
[Source:
http://www.34nc.com/pdfs/NC-History.pdf
HISTORIES OF THE SEVERAL REGIMENTS AND BATTALIONS FROM NORTH CAROLINA, IN THE GREAT WAR 1861-'65
WRITTEN BY MEMBERS OF THE RESPECTIVE COMMANDS
EDITED BY WALTER CLARK, (LIEUT.-COLONEL SEVENTIETH REGIMENT N. C. T.)
VOL. II.
NASH BROTHERS,
BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS
GOLDSBORO, N. C.
TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT, by Captain V. E. Turner and Sergeant H. C. Wall : pages 181-268
The quoted passage is from pages 257-258.]
Yet despite the Brigade’s putatively poor reputation, the principal officers went on to have very successful postwar careers.
Col. George H. Smith was the step grandfather of Gen. George S. Patton of World War II fame.
Charles T. O'Ferrall served as the Governor of Virginia from 1884 to 1888.
Robert White served as the State Attorney General of West Virginia from 1877 to 1881.
---------------
Here is a George Smith biography:
http://www1.vmi.edu/archiverosters/Search.asp
George Hugh Smith, Class of 1853 [Virginia Military Institute] : Genealogy: Born- Feb. 2, 1834 in Philadelphia, PA. Father- Rev. George Arch Smith; Mother- Ophelia Ann Williams. Pat. Grandfather- Hugh Smith; Pat. Grandmother- Elizabeth Watson. Mat. Grandfather- Isaac Hite Williams; Mat. Grandmother- Lucy Coleman. Married- Susan Thornton Glossell Patton, widow of Col. George S. Patton. Children- Anne O. Smith who married Hancock Banning. VMI Record: Entered VMI- July 1, 1850 as 3rd Classman (Sophomore); Graduated July 4, 1853. Military Record: Enlisted June 11, 1861 in Co. E, 25th Va.; Elected Captain July 1, 1861; Captured July 11, 1861; Paroled at Beverly Court House July 16, 1861; Exchanged in early 1862; promoted to Col. May 1, 1862; slightly wounded in action at McDowell; slightly wounded in action Aug. 29, 1862 at Second Manassas; Became Col. of 62nd Va. May 19, 1863; In hospital in Harrisonburg Oct. 1864; Paroled June 7, 1865 at Amherst Court House. Careers: Before the War: Lieut. and Asst. Professor of Languages and Assistant Instructor of Tactics at VMI 1854-55; Practiced Law in West Virginia; Employed for two years on a government expedition for the construction of a road from Dallas through Oregon to Ft. Benton on the Missouri; After the War: Lived in Mexico for two years surveying and planting cotton; Moved to California in July 1868 practicing law; In California Senate during 1877-78; Reporter of Supreme Court Decisions 1880-81; Supreme Court Commissioner 1900-05; Justice of the Court of Appeals after that. Died- Feb. 15, 1915.
=====================================================================
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APPENDIX
As shown by these pension applications below, some of the men in Company L of the 23rd Virginia Cavalry were posted at Charlottesville when the war ended.
Civil War pension application of James H. Bowman, 23rd Va Cav, Co. L
James H. Bowman
Confederate Pension Roll Page #2
6. In what branch of the service were you?
.........23d Regmt. Va. Cav...............Regiment
..................L.................................Company
7. Who were your immediate superior officers:
Colonel. ....C T Oferrall
Captain. ...Betlette[?]...and...Tebbs (A. S.)
Confederate Pension Roll Page #7 & #8 (duplicate of #7)
Woodstock, Va., March 31, 1913
To the Auditor Public Accts
Richmond, Va
We the undersigned James W. Saum and Milton J. Spiker
do hereby solomnly swear that were were members of Co. L
23rd Virginia Calvary[sp], Imboden's Brigade, Breckinridge's
Division during the late civil war, that we joined that Company
at New Market, Shenandoah County, April 17, 1864, that
James H. Bowman, who is now seeking a pension, joined
the same company at the same time and served with
us therein until the end of the war when we were dis-
charged at Charlottesville; that said Bowman was a fine and loyal
soldier from his enlistment until his discharge as above;
that we have no interest in his application except to see an
old comrade get the pension which we believe he deserves.
Jas. W. Saum
Milton J. Spiker
Subscribed and aworn to before me by Jas. W. Saum &
Milton J. Spiker, both of whom are personally known to me to be reli-
able and trustworthy citizens.
Given under my hand this 31st day of March 1913
M R Hinder[?], County Clerk
(over)
Confederate Pension Roll Page #7
I have heard the foregoing affidavits read and fully
concur therein so far as my personal knowledge goes.
I joined the company named at the same time as the
affiants and the applicant and know that the ap-
plicant (Mr Jas. H. Bowman) was a good soldier
as long as I was with the company, but I got sick
and was sent home several months before the
surrender & hence cannot speak personally as to
the latter part of the forgoing affidavit. However
Mr. Bowman (the applicant) was a near neighbor of
mine & I believe I would have learned the fact if he had
not remained loyal to the end of the war & I have never
heard any doubt or suggestion to the contrary
Given under my hand this 1st day of April 1913
Geo W. Doll
Sworn to before me by Geo W Dull this 1st day
of April 1913
M B Hunder[?]. County Clerk
The affiants are the "Comrades" who signed the application & all reliable
& no one here, so far as I have been able to learn, doubts Mr Bowman's
loyalty as a soldier to the end & if there is any further testimony needed
please let us know
Rispectfully
M B Hunder[?]. Clerk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spiker, Milton J. -- confederate pension application:
16. When did you leave the service, and under what circumstances? Ans.:
in April 1865. being disBanded after surrender [continued below after question 17.]
17. If suffering from a disease, state what physician or physicians have attended you for the same? Ans. S. J. Huffman
was then stationed at Charlottesville - Va -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wright, George Henry - confederate pension application:
23rd Virginia Cav Regiment
Capt. Tibbs Company [actually Algernon S. Tebbs who was paroled as Capt. in Signal Corp.]
Comrades: Jas Saums and Geo. W. Doll
Letter from Jas. W. Saum
page #7:
Maurertown Va
Sept. 24, 1917
Mr. A. M. Cooper, Berlin. I received your letter OK. I will just say that [we] were called out in the spring of 64. Our Captains name was Algernon S. Tebbs, company L.? 23rd Va Regiment under General Imboden. I trust this will be satisfactory. ----- comrade George May [or may]...illegible..
page #8:
P.S.
Captain Tubbs was from Leesburg Va. I am not able to say if he is yet living or not. Jas. W. Saum
page #9:
Letter from George W. Doll or Dull who says he (Doll) and Wright were both in Company L:
Maurertown, Va
Sept. 27, (19)17
This is to certify that Geo. W. Wright was in the same company, Imboden's brigade, 23rd Va. Regiment, Company L, with me during the Civil War. The latter part of the campaign we were detailed as guards for the signal corps. I was taken sick the latter part of the war and was not with him at the surrender. Geo. W. Doll
[note: Doll's pension application says he entered service May 1864. Comrades: J. S. Coffman and S. A. Copp]
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