MILITARY: Sabre Strokes of the Pennsylvania Dragoons in the War of 1861-1865 - Chapter 10 Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/1pa/1picts/dornblaser/sabre-strokes.htm ________________________________________________ SABRE STROKES of the PENNSYLVANIA DRAGOONS in the WAR OF 1861-1865. INTERSPERSED WITH PERSONAL REMINISCENCES By T. F. DORNBLASER 110 SABRE STROKES. CHAPTER X. SABRE CHARGES ON WHEELER'S CAVALRY. - TULLA-HOMA CAMPAIGN. THE object of resting the troops at Murfreesboro, was to make preparations for a long and vigorous campaign. In view of this, a new base of supplies was established at this point. The most elaborate and invulnerable fortifications were erected, so that a small body of men could resist the assault of overwhelming numbers. The army was re-organized and re-enforced by additional cavalry and mounted infantry. The troops were now divided into three corps d'armee, the Fourteenth, the Twentieth, and the Twenty-first, corresponding in the main to the former grand divisions, and retaining the same corps commanders - Thomas, McCook, and Crittenden. The Cavalry corps consisted of two divisions, and was placed in command of General D. S. Stanley. The "Seventh" belonged to the First Brigade of the Second Division, commanded by Colonel Minty, consisting of the "Seventh," Fourth Michigan, Fourth Regulars, and Third Indiana. After the re-organization of the army was com- PENNSYLVANIA DRAGOONS. 111 pleted, Rosecrans and his staff reviewed the army. When he rode by in front of our regiment, he said, "And this is the gallant 'Seventh.' You are the boys that know how to use the sabre. When you have a determination to go in, you are always sure to win." It is doubtless true, that the general was very lavish with his compliments on that day. During the months of January and February the men were fed on half-rations, and many of the horses died for want of sufficient provender. The cavalry was sent out almost daily to guard forage trains; but the enemy had so completely drained the resources of the country, that it became difficult to find any considerable quantity of hay or corn; and where it could be found, it was exceedingly dangerous to get at it. Early in February a train was attacked on the Shelbyville road, and several members of the "Seventh" were severely wounded. This "foraging business" became so unpopular, that most of our men would rather risk a general engagement, than to accompany one of these mule-team expeditions. In the latter part of January, Wheeler threw a heavy force of cavalry in the rear of our army. Davis' division of infantry and two brigades of cavalry under Colonel Minty were sent in pursuit. At Rover, Minty's cavalry made a sabre charge and captured an entire regiment of Wheeler's command, numbering three hundred and fifty men. 112 SABRE STROKES. The following is a chapter from my diary for eighteen hundred and sixty-three: February 14th. Camped in front of Murfreesboro. Four soldiers severely whipped, heads shaved and drummed out of camp, for misdemeanors committed against citizens. February 20th. Camped in Auburn last night. This morning routed the "rebs" at Liberty. Wounded and captured a few prisoners. The Fourth Regulars pursued them three miles beyond Liberty. March 1st. Guarding forage-train on Bradyville pike. Secreted ourselves in the hills among the rocks, watching for the "Johnnies." March 4th. Ordered out this morning with six days' rations - our brigade of cavalry, Sheridan's division of infantry, and a battery of artillery. We started for Franklin. The cavalry was sent to Unionville, and the infantry to Eagleville. The "Seventh" was in advance. We soon encountered the enemy's pickets. Captain Schaeffer was ordered to deploy Company "E" on the left of the road as skirmishers. We advanced rapidly through the fields, woods and swamps. Soon the bullets began to whiz by us uncomfortably close. The "rebs" would fire a volley from behind fences and trees, and then fall back. Colonel Minty now ordered the "Seventh" to charge. Five hundred sabres leaped from their scabbards. Five hundred PENNSYLVANIA DRAGOONS. 113 horses chafed the bit, and sprang forward at the touch of the spur. The charging column moved down upon the enemy like an avalanche. The enemy's column was also moving forward to re-enforce their picket-line; but when they saw the forest of gleaming swords, they broke and ran. The "Seventh" was close upon their heels, helping them on by pelting them with the sword. The road was strewn with shot-guns, pistols, saddle-bags, and haversacks well filled with cornbread and biscuits. We charged three miles, into Unionville, where there was a regiment of Alabamians encamped. The officers tried hard to rally their men and save their camp equipage, but they were so badly frightened that they forgot to shoot: leaving everything behind them, they fled in confusion. We pursued them three miles on the Shelbyville road. We captured sixty prisoners, fifteen wagons with teams, all their tents, baggage and provisions. Quite a number of the prisoners had sore heads and bloody faces. None of our men were hurt except by horses falling in the charge. Lieutenant Allison had his leg badly bruised in this way; his horse fell in the road when at the top of his speed. March 5th. Came to Eagleville last evening. Went on a scout toward Chapel Hill. March 6th. Our company sent toward Triune to guard a distillery. This is a dangerous institution 114 SABRE STROKES. for soldiers to guard, and we dare say that no other company in the army would have held that position for twenty-four hours and come off with less casualties. March 7th. The enemy captured a brigade of infantry under Colonel Coburn, near Spring Hill. Wheeler and Van Dorn surrounded him with fourteen thousand men. March 9th. Our brigade took a by-way to Thomson's station, a few miles south of Franklin. The Fourth Regulars made a sabre charge and routed the enemy. Two of the regulars were killed, and Colonel Minty had his horse shot. March 10th. Rained all night. Cold and wet to-day. Moved south to Rutherford Creek. Stood in line of battle until midnight. March 11th. Cannonading commenced early this morning. We crossed Rutherford Creek and made a reconnoissance to Duck River. We found no enemy remaining on the north side of the river. In the night we recrossed Rutherford Creek. The water was very swift, and the bottom of the creek was a smooth bed of rock. Captain Schaeffer's horse fell and threw him into the water. The current carried him down stream into deep water; but fortunately the captain could swim, and although encumbered with his side-arms and accoutrements, he succeeded in paddling his dismantled canoe to shore. The writer brought his horse to him as he PENNSYLVANIA DRAGOONS. 115 stood shivering on the bank, and accompanied him to the nearest house, where a warm fire was kindled and his clothes thoroughly dried. March 22. Our brigade sent to Statesville. Saw no enemy in force. Captured a few stragglers. Lieutenant Allison is very sick in a private hospital in Murfreesboro. Sergeant Hayes volunteered to serve as his nurse. April 3d. Attacked the enemy at Liberty. The "Seventh" on the skirmish line. On the hill opposite Liberty we had a full view of the gray-jackets. After a few shots from our artillery, the enemy fell back to Snow Hill. One of our boys was killed, belonging to Company "H," and was buried on the spot; and another was wounded. April 6th. Our regiment and the Tenth Ohio charged into Lebanon, Tennessee, and captured a few prisoners. April 21st. Wilder's brigade of mounted infantry and Colonel Minty's brigade of cavalry moved through Woodbury early this morning on their way to McMinnville. Before reaching McMinnville the enemy began to show determined resistance. Company "E" was thrown forward as skirmishers. A mile from town the "Seventh" was ordered to charge. One hundred and eighty prisoners were captured; a train of cars loaded with pork, and three mills, were destroyed; over six hundred mules and horses were captured and brought back 116 SABRE STROKES. to Murfreesboro - all done with the loss of one man wounded. The prisoners wore the usual sabre marks on their heads and faces. April 30th. Got back to camp dusty and dirty. Exchanged our Sibley tents for "dos tents." These consisted of two pieces of light canvas, each about six feet square. Each soldier received one piece, and two comrades splicing their pieces together, could put up what they called, in polite language, a "shelter-tent." May 8th. This morning the writer was surprised by an order to report with Sergeant Metzgar, of Company "E," at General Turchin's head-quarters. We reported for duty, and were assigned a place on the general's escort, consisting of fifty men, under the command of Lieut. Shumaker. May 9th. Served as orderly to General Turchin. Rode after him to Thomas' head-quarters. Held his horse when he dismounted. When he returned I handed him the rein of his horse, and then proceeded to mount my own; but the short-legged Dutchman said, "Dot von't do, you hold my hoss till I gets on." As soon as he got into the saddle, off he went like Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, leaving his orderly to mount his prancing "bone-setter" as best he could. It was my privilege to attend revival services, conducted by Chaplian Lozier, in the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Generals McCook and PENNSYLVANIA DRAGOONS. 117 Johnson were regular attendants at church on the Sabbath. May 21st. Turchin led a brigade of cavalry out on the Salem pike. All night long we followed our file-leader through swamps and cedar thickets. At daylight we struck the rebel pickets near Middleton, charged into the enemy's camp, and captured one hundred prisoners with their arms and horses. May 27th. The writer was appointed Clerk to Captain Teetor, Judge Advocate on Turchin's staff. It was my duty to copy the proceedings of the court-martial, before which deserters and criminals were tried. The presiding officer of this Court was Captain Gotwald, of the Fourth Ohio Cavalry. The writer soon learned that the Captain was a brother of the Reverend Doctor Gotwald, of York, Pennsylvania, and the acquaintance thus formed was mutually pleasant and agreeable. On the twenty-fourth of June, the "Army of the Cumberland" broke camp at Murfreesboro, and advanced in three main columns upon Tullahoma. Turchin's division led the column on the left, passing through Woodberry and heading for Manchester. The tents were scarcely struck in our old camp, when it began to rain in torrents. The mud was immense. Teams failed to make one mile a day. One night the writer lay at the root of a tree, using his saddle for a pillow, and his rubber blanket for 118 SABRE STROKES. a cover. He slept soundly, until he felt the water running into his boots. A stream was suddenly formed by the heavy showers, and furiously it dashed the spray against the tree where he lay; and had he remained in the same quarters a half hour longer, he would have found himself afloat on the angry current, or stranded in some friendly tree-top. Colonel Minty's brigade led the advance on the direct road to Shelbyville. The enemy's cavalry, under Wheeler, offered stubborn resistance to our advance. Minty's brigade, supported by Mitchell's brigade, charged into Shelbyville, and completely routed Wheeler's command. He lost all his artillery and five hundred men, while nearly two hundred were either killed or drowned in attempting to swim Duck river. Wheeler escaped with a portion of his command by swimming the river. On the left Turchin moved through Hillsboro, and advanced to the north bank of Elk river, on the road to Decherd Station. Here we halted for a few hours. Turchin took a nap in the shade of a tree. While he was napping the writer saw the enemy on the south side of the river, placing a battery in position. The orderly felt it his duty to wake the general, and before a "mad Dutchman" was done growling at the unnecessary interruption, the aforesaid battery opened fire, and dropped the PENNSYLVANIA DRAGOONS. 119 shells in such close quarters as to cause the general and his staff to "get up and dust." The negroes and pack-mules lit out for more comfortable quarters. After quiet was again restored, the general sent Lieutenant Shumaker and six of his escort to examine a ford on the left of the main road. We rode down to the water edge, and all was quiet. Not an enemy was in sight. Suddenly a few caps snapped on the opposite side, then a volley followed from a dozen sharp-shooters hid behind the trees. Instantly our horses wheeled and retreated beyond the range of their guns. The lieutenant had a bullet wound in his arm, and my "bone-setter" had a shot in the ribs. In the afternoon Stanley, came up with the first division, and at once crossed the river and moved toward Decherd. It was now evident that Bragg had retreated across the Cumberland mountains. Rosecrans rested his army for two weeks at Decherd before advancing on Chattanooga. While in camp at this point the writer had considerable opportunity to converse with rebel prisoners and disloyal citizens. He also had access to Southern papers. He endeavored to find out, through every possible source, what the South was fighting for. "Are you fighting for your negroes?" "No." "What then are you contending for? " 120 SABRE STROKES. "We are determined to set up an independent government." This was the universal answer. Never, in the history of the world, perhaps, was there such a fermentation and revolution of political sentiment as was now going on in the minds of the Union soldiers. Many of us were taught by eloquent "stump orators," that slavery, as it existed in the South, was not only a humane, but also a divine institution. Proud of our democratic ancestry, which could be traced in an unbroken chain of descent back to Jackson and Jefferson, we felt exceedingly jealous of any apparent encroachment upon an institution so long recognized by our fathers as constitutional and scriptural. Accordingly, when the "Emancipation Proclamation" was issued by the immortal Lincoln, we threatened to desert the army. We denounced that document as an infringement upon the rights of our democratic friends in the South, and as a misapplication of the results to be attained by the war. But, strange to say, as we neared Damascus the scales fell from our eyes. We learned to our complete satisfaction, that our democratic brethren were not contending for slavery, but for the "stars and bars" - a slice torn from the old flag. This was disunion, this meant destruction, and our Jacksonian blood forbade the wrenching of one star or one shred from the old flag of our fathers. Besides, our democratic eyes began to see the PENNSYLVANIA DRAGOONS. 121 true inwardness of this abominable institution of human slavery. Like Moses in the brick yards of Egypt, we had an opportunity to see the whipping-posts, the auction block, the menial cringing under his master's lash; and in that dusky face our time-honored democracy, by and by, discovered a human soul, a brother-man, and, like the deliverer of Israel, we felt like striking down the man with the lash, and lifting up the oppressed and setting the captive free. This revolution in sentiment accounts for the transfer of the writer's "army correspondence" from the Clinton Democrat to the Clinton Republican. Company "E" lost a gallant officer in the resignation of First Lieutenant Allison. He recovered sufficiently from his severe illness, occasioned by the fall of his horse in the charge at Unionville, to undertake a journey home; but not wishing to hold a position which he was unable to fill for months to come, he resigned. The second lieutenant, John C. McGhee, also resigned on account of disability. Sergeants Sigmund and Nixon were promoted to fill these vacancies.