No. 338.
Reports of Col. William Gamble, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, commanding
First Brigade.
HDQRS. FIRST CAVALRY
BRIGADE,
June 22, 1863.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report the part taken by this
brigade in the cavalry fight of yesterday.
The brigade—composed of the Eighth New York, Eighth
Illinois, three squadrons Third Indiana, and two squadrons Twelfth Illinois
Cavalry, with one section of the First U.S. Artillery, under Lieutenant
Michalowski, in all about 1,600 strong—left Aldie at 5 a.m.; marched to
Middleburg; from thence west across a ford at Goose Creek. The rebel
skirmishers occupying the opposite bank under cover of a stone wall at the
ford, one squadron of the Third Indiana Cavalry was dismounted, and, with the
advance guard deployed, drove the rebels from the opposite bank, when the
column crossed, and advanced south on the Upperville road. Encountered the
enemy 1 mile from the ford, on the right of the road: deployed the column in
line of battle, and a few well-directed shells into the enemy's column
dispersed him rapidly in retreat through the woods southward. One mile farther,
found the enemy behind stone walls, near a house; a few more shells drove them
again toward Upperville. Two miles farther, the enemy's skirmishers, supported
by artillery, were found strongly posted. I deployed the column in line;
advanced and drove the enemy from two strong positions behind stone walls, his
guns continually throwing shells at us.
We continued the march, and found the enemy strongly posted
west of Upperville, at the base of the mountain. The Eighth Illinois, Third
Indiana, and Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, about 900 strong, leading the column,
came on rapidly at a gallop; formed in line; charged up to the enemy's five
guns amid a shower of shells, shrapnel, and case shot; drove the rebel gunners
from their pieces, when the enemy's cavalry, seven regiments strong, emerged
from the woods, and a hand-to-hand conflict ensued, the enemy outnumbering us
three to one. We retired a short distance behind a stone wall, and maintained
our position, repulsing the repeated charges of the enemy by well-directed
carbine and pistol firing.
The enemy then, on account of his superior numbers,
attempted to turn both flanks, when a squadron of the Eighth Illinois and one
of the Third Indiana Cavalry were deployed to cover the flanks, and, after a
sharp conflict, repulsed the enemy, after which the section of artillery
arrived, supported by the Eighth New York Cavalry, and shelled the enemy from
his position. The enemy then retreated toward Ashby's Gap, pursued for 2 miles
by the First and Second Cavalry Brigades, which at sunset returned, and
encamped on the battle-field, buried the dead, and took care of the wounded.
Eighteen dead bodies of the enemy were buried, and over 30 of their wounded
were found, in addition to what they carried away, besides prisoners, the exact
number of which the provost-marshal of the division will report.
Our loss is as follows:
|
Command.
|
Killed.
|
Wounded.
|
Missing.
|
Total.
|
|
8th Illinois Cavalry
|
2
|
17
|
....
|
19
|
|
3d Indiana Cavalry
|
....
|
4
|
1
|
5
|
|
12th Illinois Cavalry (Captain Brown wounded)
|
2
|
14
|
4
|
20
|
|
Total
|
4
|
35
|
5
|
44
|
Horses killed—Third Indiana Cavalry, 18; Eighth Illinois
Cavalry, 17. Total, 35 horses of enlisted men; 1 horse of Colonel Gamble; 36
horses in all killed.
All of which is
respectfully submitted.
WM.
GAMBLE,
Colonel, Commanding First Cavalry Brigade.
Capt. T. C. BACON,
Assistant Adjutant-General,
First Cavalry Division.
_______________
HDQRS. FIRST CAVALRY
BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION,
Camp near Catlett's,
Va., August 24, 1863.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of
the part taken by this brigade in the several engagements with the enemy, from
June 28 to July 31 last, in accordance with orders from division headquarters:
NEAR GETTYSBURG, PA., JULY 1.
About 8 o'clock on the morning of the 1st instant, while in
camp at the seminary building, the officer commanding the squadron on picket in
front gave me notice that the enemy, consisting of infantry and artillery, in
column, were approaching his pickets from the direction of Cashtown, with
deployed skirmishers in strong force, about 3 miles distant. This information
was immediately communicated to the general commanding the division, who
ordered my command to be in immediate readiness to fight the enemy. My brigade—consisting
of the Eighth New York, Eighth Illinois, three squadrons of the Third Indiana,
and two squadrons of the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, about 1,600 strong, with
Tidball's battery, Second U.S. Artillery—was placed in line of battle about 1
mile in front of the seminary, the right resting on the railroad track and the
left near the Middletown or Fairfax [Fairfield] road, the Cashtown road being a
little to the right of the center, at right angles with the line. Three
squadrons, part dismounted, were ordered to the front, and deployed as
skirmishers to support the squadron on picket, now being driven back by the
enemy's artillery and skirmishers. Our battery of six 3-inch rifled guns was
placed in battery, one section on each side of the Cashtown road, covering the
approaches of the enemy, and the other section on the right of the left
regiment, to cover that flank. The enemy cautiously approached in column on the
road, with three extended lines on each flank, and his and our line of skirmishers
became engaged, and our artillery opened on the enemy's advancing column, doing
good execution. The enemy moved forward; two batteries opened on us, and a
sharp engagement of artillery took place. In a short time we were, by
overpowering numbers, compelled to fall back about 200 yards to the next ridge,
and there make a stand.
In the meantime our skirmishers, fighting under cover of
trees and fences, were sharply engaged, did good execution, and retarded the
progress of the enemy as much as could possibly be expected, when it is known
they were opposed by three divisions of Hill's corps. After checking and
retarding the advance of the enemy several hours, and falling back only about
200 yards from the first line of battle, our infantry advance of the First
Corps arrived, and relieved the cavalry brigade in its unequal contest with the
enemy.
In the afternoon, the enemy, being strongly re-enforced,
extended his flanks, and advanced on our left in three strong lines, to turn
that flank. The general commanding division ordered my brigade forward at a
trot, and deployed in line on the ridge of woods, with the seminary on our
right. Half of the Eighth New York, Third Indiana, and Twelfth Illinois were
dismounted and placed behind a portion of a stone wall and under cover of
trees.
The enemy being close upon us, we opened a sharp and rapid
carbine fire, which killed and wounded so many of the first line of the enemy
that it fell back upon the second line. Our men kept up the fire until the
enemy in overwhelming numbers approached so near that, in order to save my men
and horses from capture, they were ordered to mount and fall back rapidly to
the next ridge, on the left of the town, where our artillery was posted. The
stand which we made against the enemy prevented our left flank from being
turned, and saved a division of our infantry.
My brigade fought well under disadvantageous circumstances
against a largely superior force. Every officer and soldier did his duty. The
list of casualties is large, but could not be less, considering the position we
occupied. Major Lemon, Third Indiana, was mortally wounded, since dead;
Lieutenant Conroe, Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, killed; Captain Fisher and
Lieutenant Voss, same regiment, wounded; Captain Follett, Eighth New York,
severely wounded; Captain Martin, Third Indiana, wounded; Captain Morris,
Eighth Illinois Cavalry, serving on my staff, was wounded, and one of my
orderlies killed. Tidball's horse battery, under Lieutenant Calef, attached to
my brigade, was worked faithfully, did good execution, and fully sustained its
former high reputation. This brigade had the honor to commence the fight in the
morning and close it in the evening.
NEAR WILLIAMSPORT, MD., JULY 6.
This brigade was ordered to engage the enemy on the left of
the Boonsborough road, near Williamsport, the Reserve Brigade being on the
right of the road. The Third Indiana Cavalry was ordered to capture and destroy
a train of seven wagons of the enemy on our left, on the Downsville road, which
was successfully accomplished, making prisoners of the drivers and those in
charge of the train. The brigade was then placed in line of battle, and
three-fourths of it dismounted to drive in the enemy's skirmishers; and
Tidball's battery of four guns, placed in position, supported by the balance of
the mounted men, opened on the enemy, many times our superior in numbers, and
did excellent execution; the dismounted men in the meantime, keeping up a sharp
carbine fire, drove in the rebel pickets on their reserve. The dismounted men
were under the immediate command of the gallant and lamented Major Medill,
Eighth Illinois Cavalry, who fell, mortally wounded.
We held our position until dark, and were then relieved by
Colonel Devin's brigade, and ordered to fall back to Jones' Cross-Roads, in the
direction of Boonsborough, which we reached about midnight, the delay being
caused by Kilpatrick's division having been driven back in confusion from the
direction of Hagerstown, completely blockading the road in our rear, making it
impassable for several hours.
NEAR BOONSBOROUGH, MD., JULY 8.
The enemy was reported advancing on the Hagerstown road.
General Buford ordered my brigade to take position on the crest of the ridge on
the right of the road to Hagerstown, about 1½ miles from Boonsborough, my
dismounted men thrown out to the front and in the strip of woods on the right
of the road; the battery in position in the center of the line, supported by
the mounted men. The rebels moved forward to drive in our skirmishers, supported
by their battery, but after a sharp contest were unable to drive me from my
position on the right. The enemy, however, gradually worked round on the left,
driving in the skirmishers of Kilpatrick's division; placed a section of
artillery so as to bring a cross-fire on my brigade, when I was ordered to'
fall back on Boonsborough. Afterward Kilpatrick's division was relieved on the
left and placed on the right, but being unable to dislodge the enemy from the
woods I formerly occupied, my brigade was again ordered forward; the battery
placed in position under a heavy fire; three-fourths of the brigade dismounted
and ordered to drive the enemy out of the woods in front, which was
accomplished rapidly under a heavy fire of shell and musketry, General Buford
in person leading the advance line of skirmishers; drove the enemy 3 miles, and
across Beaver Creek, on the Williamsport or Funkstown road. General Kilpatrick,
with two squadrons of his command, galloped down the road within a short
distance of the enemy; halted, looked at each other, and retired, when the
dismounted men of my brigade came up and drove the enemy across Beaver Creek.
NEAR FUNKSTOWN, MD., JULY 10.
The brigade having driven the rebels along the Hagerstown
road from Beaver Creek to within 3 miles of Funkstown on the 9th instant, we
advanced again on the 10th instant with dismounted skirmishers and artillery,
supported by the balance of the mounted men. The division advanced in line of
battle, Reserve Brigade on the right, First Brigade in the center and on both
sides of the road, and the Second Brigade on the left. Drove the enemy rapidly,
under a heavy fire of artillery and musketry, into Funkstown, on a large
reserve of the enemy. We occupied the heights above Funkstown, with Tidball's battery,
under Lieutenant Calef, which did good execution, and our skirmish line was
advanced to the suburbs of the town. The enemy tried hard with a much superior
force to dislodge us from our position, but so long as our ammunition lasted he
was unable to do so. Our infantry finally arrived to within half a mile in our
rear, and although we were hard pressed by the enemy, and nearly all our
ammunition expended, the infantry pitched their shelter-tents, and commenced
cooking and eating, in spite of repeated and urgent requests to the commanding
officer of the infantry to occupy our excellent position and relieve us. When
our ammunition was expended, we were ordered by General Buford to fall back.
The rebels then occupied our position, and our infantry afterward had to retake
it, with the unnecessary loss of several killed and wounded.
NEAR FALLING WATERS, MD., JULY 14.
On the morning of the 14th instant, the brigade was ordered
to march on the enemy in the direction of Downsville from our camp, near
Bakersville. We proceeded in that direction, found the enemy's earthworks at
Downsville abandoned, and were informed that the enemy had retreated toward
Falling Waters and Williamsport, to cross the Potomac during the night. The
brigade marched rapidly toward Falling Waters, and when near there observed a
division of the enemy intrenched on a hill, covering the approaches to the
ford. While the brigade was moving round to flank and attack the enemy in rear,
to cut them off from the ford and capture them all, in connection with the
other two brigades of the First Cavalry Division, which we could easily have
accomplished, I saw two small squadrons of General Kilpatrick's division gallop
up the hill to the right of the rebel infantry, in line of battle behind their
earthworks, and, as any competent cavalry officer of experience could foretell
the result, these two squadrons were instantly scattered and destroyed by the
fire of a rebel brigade, and not a single dead enemy could be found when the
ground there was examined a few hours afterward. This having alarmed the enemy,
he fell back toward the ford before we could get round to his rear. We,
however, with our dismounted men, attacked him in flank on rough ground, and
had a sharp carbine engagement, taking about 511 prisoners, 61 of whom,
together with 300 stand of arms, were turned over to an officer of Kilpatrick's
division by mistake; also a 3-inch Parrott gun, captured from the enemy by the
Eighth New York Cavalry, which was afterward sent by General Kilpatrick to the
camp of this brigade, where it properly belonged.
NEAR CHESTER GAP, VA., JULY 21 AND 22.
In obedience to orders, this brigade marched from near
Rectortown, Va., to Chester Gap (about 20 miles), arriving in that vicinity at
3.30 p.m., July 21. About a mile from the Gap our advance line of skirmishers
encountered the enemy's pickets. I dismounted six squadrons, and drove the
enemy's pickets to the crest of the Gap their reserve, which was found to
consist of Pickett's division of infantry, one regiment of Jones' cavalry, and
a battery of six guns, occupying the Gap, on the crest of the mountain. Upon
obtaining this information, and not having a sufficient force to drive the enemy
from the Gap, having no support nearer than 20 miles, we fell back 1½ miles
from the Gap, and took position so as to cover the two roads leading from the
Gap, one toward Barbee's Cross-Roads, the other to Little Washington and
Sperryville; placed the guns in battery, and a strong line of pickets in front
and flanks.
We captured to-day 23 prisoners, 84 horses, 12 mules, 664
beef-cattle, 602 sheep, all purchased and on the way to be delivered to the
rebel army at the Gap, in charge of a commissary agent and his son, who were
also captured.
July 22, at 8 a.m., my pickets reported the enemy advancing
in column with skirmishers on the road from the Gap toward Sperryville. When
the head of the enemy's column came within easy range, we opened fire on it
with artillery and the carbines of the dismounted men so effectually that his
column, with his wagon train, halted and fell back out of our range, his
advance guard and skirmishers being still engaged with ours, and continued
firing, we holding our position, and preventing the head of Longstreet's corps
from moving forward from the Gap from 8 a.m. till 6 p.m., when the enemy
brought five regiments of infantry around out of sight in the woods, and,
approaching my left flank, drove in our skirmishers, and only by overwhelming
numbers compelled me to fall back slowly toward Barbee's Cross-Roads, keeping
my vedettes and pickets watching the enemy.
I think it proper to state that our battery, under
Lieutenant Heaton, Second U.S. Artillery, had the very worst kind of ammunition,
and consequently could do but comparatively little execution. About one shell
in twelve would explode, and then it would be prematurely, over the heads of
our own men.
A tabular recapitulation of killed, wounded, and missing is
herewith appended, the usual list of casualties by name having previously been
forwarded, according to orders.
All of which is
respectfully submitted.
WM.
GAMBLE,
Col., Comdg. First Brigade, First Cavalry
Division.
Capt. T. C. BACON,
Assistant Adjutant-General,
First Cavalry Division,
[Inclosure.]
Number of killed, wounded, and missing of
First Cavalry Brigade,
from June 28 to July 31, 1863.
|
Locality.
|
Date.
|
Killed.
|
Wounded.
|
Missing.
|
|
Gettysburg, Pa(*)
|
July 1, 1863
|
16
|
80
|
29
|
|
Williamsport, Md.
|
July 6, 1863
|
3
|
....
|
1
|
|
Boonsborough, Md.
|
July 8, 1863
|
2
|
14
|
1
|
|
Funkstown, Md.
|
July 10, 1863
|
3
|
3
|
1
|
|
Failing Waters, Md.
|
July 14, 1863
|
....
|
5
|
....
|
|
Chester Gap, Va.
|
July 21, 22, 1863
|
1
|
8
|
16
|
|
Total
|
|
25
|
110
|
48
|
WM. GAMBLE Colonel,
Commanding First
Cavalry Brigade.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST CAVALRY BRIGADE,
August 24, 1863.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
27, Part 1 (Serial No. 43), p. 932-8
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