Archive for the 'Civil War 1861-1865' Category

THE CIVIL WAR 1861-1865

December 1st, 2008

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

CWAt the beginning of the unfortunate conflict of the Civil War, our cavalry was scattered over the vast new territory in the west just acquired from Mexico and Britain. Some of it was in the great plains west of the Missouri River protecting the ever westward moving frontier settlements against Indian depredations. We have seen how the Second Dragoons was located in several different states of the frontier at this time. Like most of the regular army, this regiment began concentrating in the east. However, by the time Bull Run was fought, only one of the companies, K, had arrived at Washington. It left Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, July 2, 1861, and went to Arlington Heights, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from the capitol.

When the Army of the Potomac under McDowell moved south from Arlington to meet the Rebels, it contained only seven companies of cavalry, under Major Palmer. These were Company K, Second Dragoons, and two companies each of the First, Second and Fourth Cavalry regiments. Captain Francis C. Armstrong commanded Company K at Bull Run, but he resigned soon after the battle and later became a brigadier general in the Confederate Army.

BULL RUN – COMPANY K

November 30th, 2008

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

CW2On the morning of June 19, 1861, the cavalry was attached to various divisions of the main army, Company K being placed with Colonel Hunter’s division. The entire command marched toward Bull Run on the 21st led by Hunter’s division. When the battle began, the cavalry was concentrated on the right, where Company K was protected at first by heavy timber. The presence of these regulars among the volunteers steadied the latter along this part of the line. But the untrained men finally gave way at a time when it looked as if the day was won. After the infantry left, the cavalry formed a line across this part of the field to check the enemy in his pursuit. Finally, when the infantry was gone, the cavalry moved out in good order until they reached Sudley’s Church, where they dismounted. Keeping in rear of the army, the cavalry marched slowly along, occasionally driving away the Rebel horsemen assisted by Arnold’s artillery. General Heintzelman says: “We relied entirely for our protection on one section of artillery and a few companies of cavalry.”

Colonel Porter reports: “The Commanding General then ordered a retreat upon Centerville, at the time directing me to cover it with the battalion of regulars, the cavalry and a section of artillery. The rear guard thus organized followed our panic stricken troops to Centerville, resisting the attacks of the Rebel cavalry and artillery, and saving them from the inevitable destruction which awaited them had not this body been interposed.” Upon reaching Centerville the cavalry returned to their old quarters and unsaddled and fed their horses a meager meal, after which they lay down to sleep using the saddles as pillows. Lieutenant David S. Gordon, recently appointed, was taken prisoner in this action. Sergeant Sacks captured General George H. Steuart, formerly Second Lieutenant Company I, Second Dragoons, and transferred to the First Cavalry when it was organized in 1855, but now a staunch Rebel.

WILSON’S CREEK – COMPANY C

November 29th, 2008

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

CW2The next company from the regiment to enter the great arena was C at the battle of Wilson’s Creek, Missouri. Since leaving Utah in 1859 it had been almost constantly in the field in Kansas and Nebraska. But in the general drift of the army toward the east, Company C arrived at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, February, 1861. It marched again on June 11th, under Lieutenant Farrand, First Infantry, and arrived at Springfield, Missouri, August 6th to form part of General Lyon’s force.

General Price with about 20,000 Confederates had been trying hard to catch up with General Lyon’s force of only about 5,000 men. Despairing of overhauling them on August 9th, the Rebels went into camp on Wilson’s Creek, Missouri. Fearful of the loss of prestige in the doubtful state of Missouri if he retreated beyond Springfield, General Lyon decided to attack early the next morning. His plan called for dividing his force into two parts in the face of a vastly superior enemy. Major Sturgis commanded one part and Colonel Sigel the other, which included Company C, Second Dragoons. Early on the morning of August 10th Sturgis’ wing attacked the enemy from the front, while Sigel made a wide movement and approached from the rear. The attack was a complete surprise and threw the Confederates into confusion. Advancing slowly with the cavalry in front, Colonel Sigel cut off small parties of the Rebels who were in the outskirts of their camp. This was done so well that the enemy was not aware of their approach until they were within sight of his tents. During the ensuing engagement the cavalry was placed on the flanks.

Meantime, the main force of the army attacked and made good progress in driving the enemy south. While heading a regiment of Kansas troops General Lyon was killed. During the fight in Sigel’s front, a force was seen to approach carrying Union Flags and in Federal uniforms. His troops did not fire upon them, thinking they were a part of Lyon’s force. It was an unfair strategem of the Confederates, and they suddenly opened an intensive fire upon Sigel’s men at close range. There was an utter rout of the little force, which fled panic stricken toward Springfield. The other half of the command under Sturgis was now forced to withdraw, and a bold effort against a superior force had failed.

REDESIGNATION, REORGANIZATION, REEVALUATION

November 28th, 2008

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

CW2On May 3rd, 1861, the President issued a proclamation increasing the regular army size, one of the additions being another regiment of cavalry. With the two regiments of Dragoons and one of mounted riflemen there were now six mounted regiments. An act of Congress of August 3rd changed the designation of the regiments so that all were known as cavalry.

In this way the First Dragoons became the First Cavalry, the Second Dragoons became the Second Cavalry, the Mounted Riflemen became the Third Cavalry, the First Cavalry became the Fourth Cavalry, the Second Cavalry became the Fifth Cavalry, and the Third Cavalry became the Sixth Cavalry. Up to this time each had its various marks and among these were the facings of the uniforms, orange for Dragoons, green for Riflemen, and yellow for Cavalry. The Dragoons were now forced to give up their beloved orange color and adopt the common color of yellow. As they were allowed to wear out uniforms now having orange for facings, it was late in 1863 before the old colors disappeared. Since all these regiments, with the exception of the Sixth, had built up a new spirit of morale through many years of campaigning, it was extremely depressing to adopt the new number and colors. The special reputation of the Second for discipline and elan had been built up by its first colonel, David E. Twiggs, while that for dash and nerve was largely due to the exploits of Captain Charles A. May, of Mexican War fame, who was long an officer of the regiment. Continue Reading »

FORT HENRY, FORT DONELSON – COMPANY C

November 27th, 2008

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

CW2Regimental Headquarters, Band, and Companies B, E, and H left Fort Crittenden (Camp Floyd), Utah, July 27, 1861, en route to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. After a march of over two months, during which time they had very little knowledge of the stirring events in the East, they arrived at that post October 6. Taking a train to Washington, D.C., they reached Cantonment Holt October 19. Companies A, D, and F joined them there in December, and as Company K was already there, seven of the ten companies were assembled as a unit. At the end of the year 1861 Company C was at Paducah, Kentucky, Company G at Fort Craig, New Mexico, and Company I at Fort Garland, Colorado.

After the battle of Wilson’s Creek Company C was transferred to St. Louis August 30. From here it proceeded to Paducah, Kentucky, and was assigned to the command of Brigadier General Charles F. Smith of McClernand’s Division along with one company of the Fourth Cavalry. At this place it was engaged in scouting and escort duty until February 5, 1862, when operations against Forts Henry and Donelson, Tennessee, were begun under Grant. During this time the cavalry was opposed to Forrest, the famous Southern cavalry leader. Fort Henry was captured without much struggle and the army moved on to Donelson. While on reconnaissance duty near Fort Donelson Company C had a skirmish with the enemy February 10 and another on the 12th. Arriving at that place, the army soon bottled up the Confederates, causing the surrender of the entire garrison except the cavalry. The company then marched south with the army to Nashville, Tennessee.

VAL VERDE, NEW MEXICO – COMPANY G

November 26th, 2008

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

CW2During this same month Company G was defending the Union in the new territory of New Mexico. Under the strange events of war this company was undergoing some unusual experiences. Left practically to shift for itself, it was commanded by four different officers from other branches in five months time. Finally it was assigned to duty with a battery of light artillery October 8, 1861. This battery of six guns, commanded by Captain Alexander McRae, Infantry, was made up of Company G, Second Cavalry, and one company of the Third Cavalry.

Preceding the battle of Val Verde, the force concentrated at Fort Craig, New Mexico, consisted of parts of the Fifth and Seventh Infantry, Company G, Second Cavalry, one company of the Third Cavalry, and two regiments of New Mexican volunteers under Kit Carson. Leaving the post February 21, 1862, under Brigadier General E.R.S. Canby, it marched north along the east bank of the Rio Grande River. At 6:00 a.m. the light battery received orders to move to the front, and going forward at a gallop, it crossed the river and took a position opposite a Rebel battery about four hundred yards distance. Here it remained during the morning, when it dislodged the opposing battery, enabling the infantry to cross to the opposite bank. At noon it crossed to the east bank and for some time fired occasional shots at the enemy cavalry. Later, the battery was advanced to the front and on the left of the line of battle. Soon after arriving here it was found they were within one hundred yards of two enemy batteries which were masked behind a hill. These Texas batteries soon did great damage to them, and followed this cannonade with a charge of their infantry. The New Mexican volunteers fled, leaving a few Union troops to repulse the charge, which was gallantly done. The Texas troops soon charged again, led by General Henry H. Sibley, formerly a captain in the Second Dragoons. There followed a severe hand-to-hand fight resulting in many casualties to both sides. General Canby ordered a withdrawal to the east bank and after a short time the whole command fell back to Fort Craig. The casualties in G Company were nine men killed, eight wounded, and two missing. Colonel Joseph MacBell has this to say of the cavalrymen who were now artillerymen:

“Too much praise cannot be given to the companies of the Second and Third Cavalry, manning the battery, for the part they took in the fight. Failing in no duty, regardless of themselves, and having in view the honest performance of all that was to be done, they bore themselves as men of courage throughout the day.”

THE REGIMENT REASSEMBLES

November 26th, 2008

CW2We left Company I at Taos, New Mexico, in 1861, under Captain Sibley. That officer went over to the Confederacy, leaving it in command of Lieutenant Walker. On October 9, 1861, it moved to Fort Garland, Colorado, where it remained until September, 1862.

During that month it joined forces with Company G at Camp Picket Wire, New Mexico, and started for Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, as an escort to General Canby, where it arrived October 27. The two companies soon proceeded to Washington, arriving there November 23, 1862. During October Companies L and M were authorized; their officers were assigned, and recruiting began at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. In December Company L, having received its recruits, went into camp at Fort Albany, Virginia. During this month Companies A, B, and D joined Company L at this place after also receiving recruits. Company M received its quota of recruits in February, 1863, and went into training at Washington, D.C. It joined the regiment at Warrenton Junction, Virginia, in May, 1863.

Company C was detached from the remainder of the regiment and was fighting in the West during the first two years of the war. It was moved from Holly Spring, Mississippi, and arrived at Memphis, Tennessee, January 15, 1863, where it acted for some time as escort to General Grant. During April, 1863, it was moved to Washington, D.C., and remained there until June, when it joined the regiment in the field. This company never received its quota of recruits as did the others, and during the rest of the war was considerably below them in strength. By June, 1863, the entire regiment of twelve companies, consisting of an aggregate of 832 officers and men, was assembled as a unit.

PITTSBURG LANDING (SHILOH) – COMPANY C

November 25th, 2008

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

CW2Arriving at Nashville, Tennessee, February 28, 1862, Company C remained there until March 1 when it marched south with Grant’s army to Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. The regimental returns have the following to say about this company during the year:

Engaged in the battle of Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh) April 6 and 7, 1862. Left there the 14th under command of General C.F. Smith, and drove back the enemy’s, returning to camp at Pittsburg Landing the same day. Left Pittsburg Landing on a reconnaissance April 27 and marched within five miles of Purddy, returning to camp at Pittsburg Landing April 30, 1862.

Left Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, May 4 and arrived at Corinth, Mississippi, June 7, 1862.

Remained at Corinth, Mississippi, until September 25 when we marched to Pocahontas Farm same day and engaged and dispersed the Confederate Cavalry. The Company lost five men and eighteen horses in this engagement. It returned to Corinth, Mississippi September 26, 1862.

YORKTOWN, CHICKAHOMINY, NEW BRIDGE, GAINES’ MILL, SEVEN DAYS, SAVAGE STATION, MALVERN HILL – COMPANIES A, B, D, E, F, K, H

November 24th, 2008

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

CW2The seven companies of the regiment encamped near Washington, D.C., were selected to form part of McClellan’s army which was to invade Virginia from the Yorktown Peninsula. In March, 1862, this army was transported south and the siege of Yorktown began. The Second Cavalry was fortunate in being unloaded soon after its arrival at Fort Monroe, as the harbor was crowded with over 250 ships, and many of the transports had waited for some time with men and animals still on board. On April 4 the regiment encamped at Hampton about four miles from Fort Monroe.

When McClellan’s army made its advance April 5, Company H, Second Cavalry, was selected as the escort for the General Headquarters. The company hurried along the road with the General for fifteen miles toward the front and went into camp. The next morning the remainder of the regiment joined, along with four companies of the First Cavalry, which made up the mounted force at General Headquarters. The Second at this time formed a part of the cavalry reserve, about five regiments, under its old commander Brigadier General St. G. Cooke. During the campaign this force performed picket and reconnaissance duty. After the withdrawal of the Confederates up the Peninsula, they were engaged further on reconnaissance duty and had skirmishes almost daily on the advance to Chickahominy. The regiment was prevented from participating in some of the engagements during this period, as it usually acted as escort for the General.

Companies H and K, under Captain George A. Gordon, were engaged with the enemy at New Bridge, Virginia, on May 24, 1862. The squadron was sent on reconnaissance as a support to the Fourth Michigan Volunteers. At this place the nature of the marshy ground and the deep Chickahominy River prevented the squadron from taking a very active part in the engagement. The enemy artillery, which was posted on the opposite bank, fired two pieces at the squadron for nearly an hour, causing some casualties. The Fifth Louisiana regiment was driven away from the bridge where they had been acting as pickets.

In the passage of the Army of the Potomac over the Chickahominy, June 27, 1862, the cavalry, with the Fifth Army Corps, was placed under the orders of General Porter, who was charged with covering the movement. The line of battle formed a semi-circle parallel to the river and Cooke’s cavalry was placed on a plateau in the rear of the left of the line. As the day drew to a close the Confederates made a desperate assault to cut the left of the line off from the bridge. The infantry gave way and uncovered the artillery, which was left exposed. General Cooke then ordered the artillery to remain there and brought up the cavalry to support it. Under cover of a charge the artillery was safely withdrawn. After the fight at Gaines’ Mill, the Second Cavalry was the last to leave the north bank of the Chickahominy and took up the pontoon bridge under a heavy fire from the Confederates.

The Second was now on the dangerous service of opening the route for the Union army from the Chickahominy to the James River, which it accomplished on June 29. After some skirmishing by the advance guard of the regiment it reached Carter’s Landing and made contact with the gunboats that evening. During the remainder of the Seven Days battles at Savage Station and Malvern Hill the regiment was an active participant in the combats.

RECRUITING

November 23rd, 2008

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

CW2During July, 1862, Companies A, B, and D were broken up, the privates transferred to other companies, and the officers, noncommissioned officers, and buglers were sent on recruiting duty. Company A went to New York City, Company B to Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, and Company D to Morristown, Pennsylvania. The regiment had not received a detachment of recruits for four years, and was now reduced to nine officers and 240 enlisted men present for duty.

Other regiments were in a similar depleted condition. This was partly as a result of the lack of apparent knowledge of the possible use of cavalry in the war. General Stoneman was doing good work in organizing and training the cavalry during the year. Unfortunately the commanders of corps, divisions, and brigades asked for a large number of cavalrymen at their headquarters to act as orderlies. This duty in addition to that as escorts and pickets absorbed much of the cavalry. While Pope and other commanders were using up their mounted corps on fruitless missions, Stuart was winning fame for the Southern horseman by judicious use of them, especially on reconnaissance and raids.

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