Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: Wednesday, October 19, 1864

Firing again on picket. Turned out. At daylight heavy firing commenced on left with infantry. At 8 A. M. learned the infantry had fallen back in confusion, losing 24 pieces of artillery. 8th and 19th corps broken. 6th corps firm and in line. Cavalry went into position immediately and gave infantry time to form. Crossed the pike and formed again — under heavy fire all the time. Kept the position until Sheridan came up, then sent over to the right again. Charged rebel cavalry. Little before dusk whole line advanced — routing the rebs. Two regts. of 3rd Div. charged to the right, driving reb cavalry over Cedar Creek and the rest charging on right of 19th corps, 5th N. Y. in advance. Overtook the artillery and wagon trains, capturing it and many prisoners.

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Note — The modest entry under date of Oct. 19, 1864, refers to the historic battle of Cedar Creek, Va., when Sheridan made his famous ride on his black horse from Winchester, “twenty miles away,” and saved the day. During Sheridan's temporary absence from his army, Gen. H. G. Wright, the next in command, permitted himself and the army to be totally surprised at three o'clock in the morning, by the recently defeated army of Gen. Jubal A. Early. The Union troops were nearly all sleeping in their tents when the enemy's cannon and musketry opened on them in a terrific onslaught at close range. The Union artillery was mainly captured, nearly 5,000 Union soldiers killed and captured, and our army, except the Cavalry and one Division of Infantry, started in panic and confused retreat towards Winchester in the rear — where Sheridan had spent the previous night. Up to that point the event had been one of the greatest Union disasters of the war. But about 10 o'clock in the morning Sheridan arrived on the field in the dramatic manner described in the poem, "Sheridan's Ride," and instantly all was reversed. Meanwhile the Cavalry, which had not been involved in the surprise and panic and slaughter, being encamped on the right and left flanks of the army out of the line of the attack of Early, had promptly been ordered to the center and front, where they held the Confederates back from further pursuit until Sheridan's arrival. Sheridan's presence promptly restored confidence. The retreating and disorganized troops quickly rallied, and by 3 P. M. a general charge was ordered all along the line occupying some four miles front. The Cavalry charge on this occasion was the finest performance and spectacle at any time witnessed by the writer during the war. The astonished and recently victorious Confederates broke in confusion, their retreat was a worse panic than that of the Union army in the early morning. All our artillery was retaken from the enemy and some thirty cannon captured in addition, besides great numbers of prisoners and the entire wagon train of Early. Early's army never made another serious rally. — A. B. N.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 133

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: Sunday, October 9, 1864

Ma's birthday. God bless her and grant her many years to live. 55. Packs and train ordered back. Moved back to fight rebs. Found them at Tom's Brook hill. 5th N. Y. in advance. 3rd N. J. support. Line soon formed and advance sounded, then charged. Went in with 2nd Ohio. Completely routed the Johnnies and ran them pell-mell several miles, capturing 6 pieces of artillery, 12 wagons, 14 ambulances, 154 prisoners. 1st Div. about the same success. 5 pieces of artillery.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 132

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: October 6, 1864

Moved back, burning every barn and stack on road. Followed closely. Camped near Brock's Gap. 5th N. Y. and 18th P. V. driven back. Considerable uneasiness during night.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 131

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: Friday, September 2, 1864

At daylight fell back. Left the main road. Passed through Kabletown and reached the fortified position 3 miles from C. On picket two miles toward B. Nicely settled down, when ordered to march. Reached B. about midnight. 5th N. Y. had skirmish with pickets.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 129

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: June 29, 1864

By daylight, all our force save three Regts. and brigade for rear guard had moved out towards Ream's Station. Heavy firing in rear. Soon heard that rebs had got between horses and men and captured nearly all. Reached Ream's Station about noon. Rebels in heavy force, cavalry and infantry. Longstreet's Corps being along the railroad to Weldon. Kautz went on in morning to take position. Sent back word that the command could not get through. Wilson said we must. Soon organized to charge through. Then this was given up. 5th N. Y. partly dismounted and part in reserve. Same with 2nd Ohio. Then mounted as reserve. Wilson got ready to leave by the road we came — burned the wagons and moved on. Soon rebs came on dismounted in our rear. Very heavy force. Moved off regularly towards the battery, which opened with grape and canister. Moved up to Kautz' division through the woods. Col. absent — don't know why. Kautz said the orders were to get out the best way possible. Columns moved near together. Moved to the southwest to near Stony Creek Station and crossed the R. R. Advance charged the rebs. Kautz had considerable fighting at first. Soon after crossing the R. R. rebs came upon our rear and we had a run of several miles — 5th Penn. and Detachments of several regts. — Col. West in command. No advance or rear guard. Had I been a line officer, I should have organized a force rear guard. Did propose the thing to Capt. Easton, but he couldn't see it. Held up and walked determined if there were any more firing to fall out and call upon 2nd Ohio and wait. Tom Wood, brave and true boy, fell out with several others and formed rear guard when almost within our lines. Rebs in ambush fired upon them and killed Tom. Poor fellow. How sorry I am for his young wife. Camped soon after passing our picket.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 122-3

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: June 1, 1864

Skirmishing all the way to Ashland under McIntosh. 5th N. Y. in advance. Soon after reaching Ashland rear was attacked. Then commenced a fight lasting till near sundown, when we left up the R. R. track by order of Gen. Wilson, who was on the telegraph road with the remainder of Div. Reached Hanover C. H. about 11 P. M., the object of the movement being accomplished, viz.: bridges over the North Anna were destroyed. Again the 2nd O. V. V. C. did splendidly — probably saving the Brigade.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 117-8

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: Sunday, June 5, 1864

Rainy and cool this morning. Would that I could see some of the dear home friends. A letter from Minnie Friday did us much good. Hear the glad result of the fighting last night. Rebels charged our center from five to eight times and every time were repulsed. Passed the day mostly under the fly, visiting with the boys, reading my testament and thinking over old times, troubles, joys, blessings, etc. The phantom form still haunts me day and night. Cleared off before sundown. All the commissary corps here now. Gen. Wilson remarked today to Gen. Sheridan that the 2nd Ohio was the best regiment in the Div., that the 5th N. Y. was formerly but it had to yield to the 2nd now.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 118

The Battle At Front Royal

BALTIMORE, May 26 – The following is the statement of Capt. Geo. Smith, in the first regiment who succeeded in effecting his escape in the fight at Front Royal about one o’clock in the afternoon.

A negro mounted upon horseback came dashing into camp crying out that the rebels were coming in great numbers, and they will surround you and cut you off.  At first the men laughed at him saying they had waited so long for them that they did not believe a word of it.  As soon  however as Col. Kenly saw the man he became satisfied of their approach, the long roll was beaten and the men responded by springing hastily to arms and forming in line by companies.  Very soon the rebels made their appearance and strange to say not a single gun was fired by the pickets of the 1^st regiment.  It may have been in consequence of sudden turn in the road and they were surprised and captured.  Company A was ordered to deploy as skirmishers and support a section of Knapp’s Pennsylvania battery, in the meantime the Lieut. Col. of the 29^th infantry with a small detachment of his men who had been acting as a _____ corps also formed and prepared to receive the enemy, the battery was soon engaged and discharged shot and shell for near two hours until nearly all its ammunition had been expended, the firing was spirited and there is no doubt of its efficiency.  Unable however to withstand such an overwhelming force the order was given to retire which was done and the entire column moved over the Shenandoah river, the retreat being covered by a company of the 5^th New York Cavalry about eighty strong.

Whilst passing over the bridge the Captain distinctly saw the rebel forces.  There was a very strong column of cavalry, say four squadrons – eight companies – and five regiments of infantry.  Of this two squadrons of cavalry were fording the stream – the water being very low.  The order to double quick was given and the Federals took to the pike, where another stand was made.  Col. Kenley addressed the men and told them that their only chance was to stand and fight to the last as the rebel cavalry were fast pushing on and displayed a black flag.  Capt. Smith states that he did not see them display the white flag.

A second stand was made, and many shots exchanged when the New York cavalry, still in the rear of the column broke and retired, riding through the ranks of the infantry.  A part of the Maryland command retired to a wheat field and there made another stand firing rapidly and with deliberate decision.  Presently on came the rebel cavalry cutting right and left yelling like Indians.  In some instances neither the dying nor the wounded were spared and in two instances the Captain saw the rebels draw their pistols and shoot them in the head whilst laying on the roadside.  The Captain told the men they had better escape as best they could.

There were but six companies of the regiment engaged in the fight, the remaining four being on picket duty as provost guard at Front Royal.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 31, 1862, p. 4