Giesboro' Point, Feb. 24, '64.
I left Vienna, not from
choice, but because I had to. I am sent over here to straighten out the Cavalry
Depot, — the Depot which supplies all the Eastern Departments. There has been
no head here, and there was a sad want of system. They say at the War
Department, at the Cavalry Bureau, and at General Augur's Headquarters, that I
should only be here two or three months, — in that case I shall not object.
There is a great deal of work to be done, and I am getting interested in it, —
but shall leave when I get the machine fairly running. The command of 16,000 to
25,000 indifferent (or worse) horses is not much for glory.1
About going into active service I cannot tell: I wrote to
General Gregg and got answer that he would apply to Pleasanton for the Regiment
and could probably get it, — I have heard nothing more.2
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1 The official documents show the activity of the
brigade during the later months of 1863, scouting parties and counter raids and
picket attacks, of which I mention a few specimens: —
October 13. Colonel Lowell reports a scouting expedition he
had made through Thornton, Herndon Station, Frying Pan, to Gum Spring, —
nothing found. Reports Captain Rumery's (Second Cavalry) encounter with White's
men, capturing one man and three horses from them.
October 22. Colonel Baker (under Colonel Lowell's orders)
reports that a detachment of his command, and one from the Californians in the Second
Massachusetts, met some of Mosby's men near Fairfax; killed one, and captured “the
three celebrated guerrillas, Jack Barns, Edwin Stratton, and Bill Hanover,”
whom he forwarded to the Old Capitol Prison.
October 19. Mosby reports to Stuart a very successful raid
on an army-train near Annandale; that he captured over one hundred horses and
mules, wagons with stores, seventy-five to one hundred prisoners, arms, etc.,
with no loss. Then comes a rumour of another great invasion by Lee and
Longstreet about to occur, and General Pleasanton sends General Gregg to
operate with Colonel Lowell at Fairfax. General Corcoran reports to Washington
that Lowell is scouring the country. It proves that there is no invasion.
October 27. Mosby reports that, the night before, he
attacked the centre of a long wagon-train hauling supplies for the army to
Warrenton. His men unhitched the teams from more than forty wagons, and ran off
one hundred and forty-five horses and mules and “thirty negroes and Yankees.” “I
had forty men.”
November 5. Mosby reports that he has killed Kilpatrick's
division commissary, and captured an adjutant, five men, six horses, etc.
November 17. Colonel Lowell reports one sergeant and three
men of the Thirteenth New York Cavalry captured by rebels — twenty or thirty,
in Union overcoats, advancing to the sentries with a pretended pass, — wounded
one man.
November 22. Mosby reports that, since November 5, he has
captured seventy-five cavalrymen, over one hundred horses and mules, six
wagons, etc.
Each of these raids, at a new place, in a wide region, was
followed by a pursuit; but the freebooters had scattered in every direction,
having no camp, only to muster again when ordered.
November 26. Colonel Lowell reports a reconnoissance by one
of his captains, with twenty-five mounted and seventy-five dismounted men (the
latter concealed as far as possible, and marching chiefly by night), towards
the Blue Ridge; Yankee Davis and Binns (a rebel deserter) as guides. Colonel
Lowell, later, with one hundred mounted men, joins these at Middleburg.
December 13. Colonel Lowell reports: “This morning, at about three o'clock, the picket at Germantown
were surprised by a party of guerrillas, dismounted, some twenty strong. They
crawled up and shot (without any warning), mortally wounding two men and
capturing five horses and their equipments.”
December 20. Colonel Lowell reports a reconnoissance led by
him, on the 18th, on the trail of Rosser's and White's large force, which had
cut telegraph lines and burned bridges, and gone farther. On his way back he
chased some of Mosby's men, and brought in two prisoners and sixteen horses.
December 21. Colonel Lowell reports twenty to thirty
guerrillas near his camp the night before, who attacked one of his picket
stations, got four horses and wounded two men. The same night they attacked an
officer and his escort on Fairfax Road, and wounded two. “One of the wounded
men, near Hunter's Mill, was shot a second time through the body by a
guerrilla, after he had surrendered and given up his pistol. Party sent in
pursuit, but to no purpose.”
December 27. Colonel Lowell reports a scout to Leesburg by
fifty men of the Thirteenth New York Cavalry, guided by Binns, who had deserted
the Confederates. They searched houses, and brought in eight prisoners, “among
them Pettingall (a notorious scout), Joe White, Bridges (one of Mosby's men),
and Beavers, with other suspicious citizens pointed out by Binns.” Had a few
shots at distant parties.
December 31. Colonel Lowell reports the return of his parties
sent on extensive scouting expeditions to Hopewell's Gap, White Plains,
Middleburg, Upperville, Philomont, Dranesville, etc. It was supposed that
clothing was to be issued to the rebels, but they did not appear at the place
specified. A party fell in with some of Mosby's men and some Virginia cavalry;
captured one captain, one lieutenant, seventeen privates, forage contractor,
and ten suspicious citizens, most of whom were thought to be recruits or
conscripts.
The above reports, taken from the Rebellion Record, show
how constant and exacting was the service of holding the guerrilla bands in
check.
The views of the General-in-Chief on the “Partisans,” as
tried by the standard of military ethics, is shown in the following extracts
from an official letter of Major-General Halleck: —
washington, Oct. 28, 1863.
Most of the difficulties are caused by
the conduct of the pretended non-combatant inhabitants of the country. They pretend
to act the part of neutrals, but do not. They give aid, shelter, and
concealment to guerrilla and other bands, like that of Mosby, who are
continually destroying our roads, burning our bridges, and capturing
wagon-trains. If these men carried on a legitimate warfare, no complaint would
be made. On the contrary, they fight in citizen's dress, and are aided in all
their rascalities by the people of the country. As soon as they are likely to
be caught they go home, put out their horses, hide their arms, and pretend to
be quiet and non-combatant farmers. . . .
It is not surprising that our people get exasperated at such men and shoot them
down when they can. Moreover, men who act in this manner in disguise and within
our lines have, under the laws of civilized warfare, forfeited their lives. (Rebellion Record, xxix, ii, 347.)
General Stoneman, in a letter from the Cavalry Bureau to
Colonel Kelton, A. A. G., written Oct. 30, 1863, tells of the enormous numbers
of sick, disabled, and unserviceable horses there, and of the wilful or
necessary neglect of them, and their misuse or overuse in the field and camp.
The average issue per month to the Army of the Potomac was
6000. In the details of the number of horses he lately issued to different
commands, were only one hundred to Colonel Lowell, against much larger numbers
to others. [Yet the guerrilla-hunting service was very destructive to horses.]
General Stoneman writes : —
“There are 223 regiments of cavalry in the service. Of
these, 36 are in the Army of the Potomac. At the rate horses are used up in
that army, it would require 435,000 a year to keep the cavalry of that army up.”
2 Colonel Lowell's letters during the winter and
spring are very few, because his wife was now with him in camp, and his
military duties were many. He still commanded the brigade, with
headquarters at Vienna. Of his own regiment, the battalions commanded by Major
Forbes and Captain Read were there; Major Thompson with his battalion being
stationed on the Maryland side of the Potomac, guarding that approach to
Washington. From Vienna, picketing and scouting parties went out against the
ever-active foe.
On Feb. 4, 1864, a painful incident — desertion to the enemy
by a private of the Second Massachusetts Cavalry — occurred. I tell the story
as told to me by Mrs. Lowell and some of the officers. There was in the
regiment, as has been said, besides the Californians and the better class of
the Massachusetts contingent, unfortunately a bad element of would-be
bounty-jumpers and roughs still present, and desertions had been frequent. An
example of severe punishment was needed for the good of the service, yet
deserters had been pardoned by the President. One night a picket-guard deserted
“off post,” taking his horse, arms, and accoutrements with him. Very
soon after, a scouting party of the regiment returning from Aldie were attacked
in rear by Mosby's men. Making a counter-charge, the soldiers recognized the
renegade among the enemy. A rush was made for him, and he was run down and
taken. Colonel Lowell at once summoned a “drumhead court-martial,” which sat
all night, and condemned the man to be shot at ten o'clock the next morning. It
was done with all the attendant circumstances usual at military executions, to
make the incident an impressive one to the brigade. The regiments were drawn
up, forming three sides of a hollow square on the drill-ground, and the
prisoner, guarded, and accompanied by the chaplain, and preceded by his coffin and
the firing-party, was marched slowly, to solemn military music, around the inside
of the square, so that each man could see his face, and then shot.
It not being warranted by the Army Regulations for a
subordinate officer to call a “Drumhead Court-martial” and execute its
sentence, except in case of emergency, when too far away to communicate with
his superiors, and Colonel Lowell being in daily communication with
headquarters at Washington, he expected, on reporting the matter that
afternoon, to receive at least a severe reprimand. On the contrary, no mention
was made of it at all. The fact probably was that General Augur, and Mr.
Stanton, who would naturally be consulted in such a case, were both pleased at
Colonel Lowell's action, for if the case had been referred to Washington, the
President would probably have pardoned the man, who was young and infatuated of
a Southern girl; but they could not commend Colonel Lowell for going beyond the
authority of the regulations, therefore deemed silence the best means of
expressing their approval.
Feb. 20. A severe disaster befell the regiment. A large
party, under Captain Read of California, a much valued officer, on their return
from a two-days scout, were ambuscaded and routed by Mosby, the captain and
nine men were killed, many were wounded, and two officers and fifty-five men
were taken, — more than half the command.
March 8. The First Battalion ordered to relieve the Second
Battalion in Maryland, the latter rejoined the regiment. Several officers of
the Second Massachusetts were commissioned in the Fourth and Fifth
Massachusetts Cavalry — a serious loss to the regiment.
April 8. Colonel Lowell returned and resumed command of the
Brigade, and, soon after, three expeditions were made into the neighbouring
counties, resulting in the capture of thirty-five officers and men of Mosby's
command, and of twenty-five thousand dollars' worth of cotton, wool, blockade-run
goods, and Mosby's papers were found in one of his hiding places.
April 18. Major Forbes brought in six prisoners, taken when
on the point of burning some bridges.
April 19. Colonel Lowell reports to Washington on the
enemy's forces and the amount of corn in Loudoun County, and brings in eleven
prisoners.
April 23. Colonel Lowell reports an attack on his pickets.
His truthfulness in giving evidence, even against his command, and his absence
of all brag, make all his reports remarkable, in contrast to many others of
officers on both sides.
April 26. General Tyler writes to General Augur, now
commanding the Department, about some expedition about to start from
Washington: “With Colonel Lowell in command of the cavalry, I have no fear of
trouble.”
Early in May, the regiment furnished a patrol for the Orange
and Alexandria R. R.
May 18. Major Forbes conducted a successful night expedition
to Rectortown with two hundred men, and returned with ten guerrillas and thirty
horses.
June. Early in the month, a large part of the regiment went
with ambulances, to help bring in the wounded left in the Wilderness after the
battle.
July 6. The regiment suffered another severe disaster,
largely due, like that of Captain Read, to the party's being ordered to remain
out for a considerable time, visiting certain towns, which allowed time for the
hostile inhabitants to send word to Mosby of the exact number of men in the
command, and to direct him where to find them. Colonel Lowell reported that he
had sent Major Forbes, with one hundred and fifty men, on a three-days scout
towards the gaps in the Blue Ridge, with orders to visit Leesburg on two days.
Major Forbes found all quiet, and on the second day learned that Mosby was
absent on a raid north of the Potomac; next day he returned to Leesburg, found
all quiet, and, in accordance with his orders, began his return march towards
Vienna. Meanwhile Mosby, returning from his raid, had been notified of the
strength and probable whereabouts of the command, and with a force of two
hundred men or more, and a gun, came suddenly upon them at Zion's Church, near
Aldie, and opened fire with his gun. The result was a victory for the Partisan
force, who killed forty men of the Second Massachusetts and Thirteenth New York
Cavalry, wounded many, and took about one hundred horses. From the accounts of
officers there engaged, I add the following. While Major Forbes was feeding and
resting his command in a field on the edge of some woods, his vedettes brought
in word of Mosby's force being close at hand. He had hastily mounted and formed
his squadrons, when the large guerrilla force appeared before them and sent a
shell among them. This was an absolutely novel experience to men and horses,
who till then had never faced artillery, and made them very unsteady,
especially the new squadrons. The obvious and necessary move was an instant
charge with the sabre, but a stiff fence before them rendered this
impracticable without moving the command. The first squadron behaved well as
long as they faced the enemy, but the moment Major Forbes gave the order “Fours
right,” to shift to a possible charging ground, the spell was broken, and the
men began to break away from the rear. Mosby's men, who had taken down a panel
or two of the fence meantime, under cover of the gun, “got the yell” on their
opponents, rushed in on their flank with the revolver, and, in spite of efforts
of their officers to rally them, the greater part of the command fled. Many
were shot in close pursuit. Major Forbes, with a few of the best soldiers,
charged and fought gallantly, but these were overpowered or killed. The major
ran his sabre into the shoulder of a Captain Richards, and it flew from his
hands. At that moment Colonel Mosby shot at him at close range, but the ball
fortunately was stopped by the head of his horse thrown up at that minute. The
horse fell dead, pinioning Major Forbes to the ground, and helpless, with half
a dozen pistols at his temples, he had to surrender. Lieutenant Amory was taken
with him. They were at once robbed of part of their clothing and their boots,
but when their captors undertook to search Major Forbes's pockets, he is
reported to have said they might have his brains, but he meant to keep what
money he had, and ordered them to carry him to their officers. Some one of
these prevented any further outrage, but the officers had to walk “stocking
foot” on the first day's march towards a Southern prison.
Years after, Colonel Mosby, in a newspaper article, said: “One
of the regiments I most frequently encountered was from about Boston, the
Second Massachusetts Cavalry, Colonel Lowell. I once met a detachment of it
under command of a Major Forbes of Boston, and although our encounter resulted
in his overthrow, he bore himself with conspicuous gallantry, and I saw him
wound one of my best men with his sabre.”
The day after the fight, Rev. Charles A. Humphreys, the
chaplain of the Second Cavalry, who was with the expedition and had bravely
stayed by a mortally wounded private until his death, was, while burying the
body, in spite of his cloth, captured and robbed by a young guerrilla, and sent
to join Forbes and Amory in prison.
SOURCE: Edward Waldo Emerson, Life and Letters of
Charles Russell Lowell, p. 315-6, 445-55
