Regimental History of the First New York Dragoons
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This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. https://books.google.com WIDENER LIBRARY HX 2P7E C History First New York & Dragoons & ils 5968.5.130 THE COLLEGE LIBRARY Purchased from the income of a fund for American History bequeathed by Annielouise Bliss Warren in memory of her husband CHARLES WARREN '89 VERI TAS HARVARD UNIVERSITY 1 { 1 1 REV . JAMES R. BOWEN From a late photograph REGIMENTAL HISTORY OF THE First New York Dragoons ( Originally the 130th N. Y. Vol . Infantry ) DURING THREE YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE IN THE GREAT CIVIL WAR BY REV . J. R. BOWEN ALFRED GIBBS 130 30 YORK N.Y.VO , . 1865 CAV . NY Our Motto : “ SEMPER PARATUS " ( Always ready ) PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR 1900 1 : 5.178.5.10 HARVARD UNIVERSITY LIBRARY SEP 24 1965 PREFACE The preparation of this history has been carried forward with mingled feelings of pleasure and pain . In my really laborious search after historic material I have been singularly carried back , and have lived over those three eventful years of our regimental service . Like the successive presentations of a moving panorama , their scenes have vividly seemed to pass in review . · Names of comrades , with their forms and faces , are recalled after the lapse of more than a third of a century , as if but yesterday . The battlefield with its movements of troops , the roar of cannon and rattle of small arms , the ringing commands of officers , the groans of the wounded and dying soldiers , are again living realities . Looking back over a period of thirty - eight checkered years I behold a magnificent regiment , with full ranks of patriotic young men , taking their departure for the front . Three years later a portion return as battle - scarred veterans , some with a missing limb or serious wounds , and all more or less injured , and life shortened by the exposures and hardships incident to army experience . To - day we gaze upon the fragments that survive . We are but the rear guard , the main body having crossed the dark river and pitched their shining tents " where glory guards with solemn rounds the bivouac of the dead . " In this connection a word as to why the history has been written so long after the ending of the war , will be in place . Aside from the excellent little pamphlet prepared by Lieut . J. N. Flint , at the close of the war , we have no record of our splendid service as a regiment , although nearly every survivor has felt the desire for a more complete history . Several efforts in this direction have failed , although it is probable that had our iv PREFACE beloved Major Smith been spared he would have succeeded . Some of the material he collected has been utilized in this volume . Excellent contributions have also been received from Lieutenant Flint and many others . At our memorable reunion in Buffalo the author heard many expressions of regret that our history should go unwritten . But who should undertake the task ? No one more competent seemed disposed , so after an extended correspondence , receiving many assurances of assistance and best wishes for my success , the work was entered upon with the knowledge that it would necessarily require a large degree of patience , perseverance , and hard labor ; but I had then no conception of the difficult and burdensome undertaking before me . Explanatory circulars were sent to comrades whose addresses could be obtained , with the request that each contribute some items of interest for the history . In answer to these personal appeals , much valuable data came to hand , gathered from carefully preserved army letters , newspaper correspondence , old army diaries , and from personal recollections . During our entire three - years ' service it was my custom to write quite elaborate descriptions of our battles , raids , marches , and camp life , for the gratification of friends at home , or for publication in home newspapers . Fortunately much of this material has been preserved and drawn upon in this work . These letters , written when all the facts were fresh , are more reliable than accounts written after the lapse of years . In a few instances I have copied largely from them , as containing a more complete record of our transactions than elsewhere obtainable . Various war histories containing descriptions of campaigns or battles in which our regiment was concerned have been consulted ; also some forty large volumes of official records pertaining to the War of the Rebellion have been searched for official reports of nterest in this history . Such official reports made by command ing officers of both armies , immediately after the battles or cam PREFACE paigns , are considered more reliable than any other source of information . It may differ from most war books in that it is comparatively free from dry statistics and mere details of military movements . On the contrary , the effort has been made to supply a missing part in soldier history by the introduction of suitable anecdotes , daring adventures , thrilling incidents , and descriptions of camp life , as well as the wreck , roar , and carnage of battle ; all , how ever , drawn from experiences within our own regiment . War , though a grim reality , had its humor as well as its tragedy , and our history would be incomplete without an occa sional presentation of the humorous side of army life . In fact , no effort has been spared to place in permanent form a reliable record of the entire three - years ' service of the regiment , its heroic deeds , desperate battles , bold achievements , and undy ing glory ; such a record as every dragoon will appreciate , and which will be prized by his family when the veteran has passed to the eternal camping - grounds . It is also impartial , giving credit and honor not only to the gallant officers who led us , but also to the brave boys in blue who composed the rank and file , for none should overlook or underestimate the courageous men who , in the carnage of battle , stood behind the bayonets or wielded the gleaming saber , and in the midst of whistling bullets and cannon's roar pressed with an unfaltering tramp , tramp , tramp , into the very jaws of death ; or in the thunderous cavalry charge , with waving sabers and savage yell , swept down upon the enemy like a besom of destruction . As before intimated , this history has been prepared under peculiar embarrassments and difficulties . The survivors were scattered from the Altantic to the Pacific . Besides sending out nearly two thousand printed circular letters , I have actually written by hand and mailed over two thousand three hundred letters and postal cards . In many instances from ten to twenty . letters have been written to secure reliable imformation regarding PREFACE some one circumstance . Notwithstanding the care exercised errors may have crept in . Comrades , this book is sent out without hope of pecuniary remuneration for the time and labor bestowed upon it . I do not even expect to get back the actual cash expenditures , therefore please be indulgent regarding its faults and failings . Among those who have placed me under obligations for assistance are Capts . J. N. Flint , A. J. Leach , W. C. Morey , G. Wiley Wells , R. A. Britton , S. Culbertson , and W. H. A. Godfrey ; Col. A. B. Lawrence ; Drs . B. F. Kneeland and Robert Rae ; Lieuts . Henry Gale , W. W. Tadder , and A. J. Aldrich ; Sergts . Walter H. Jackson , Ezra Marion , M. C. Grover , Harrison W. Green , Chester B. Bowen ( for army letters ), M. T. Hills , James D. Bishop ; Q. M. Sergt . John W. Barnard ; Com . Sergt . S. S. Morris ; Sergt . Merritt Norton ; Color Sergt . W. A. Ferris ; W. W. Stebbins , A. Bigelow , R. C. Jefferson , M. C. Grover , Geo . A. Peavy , A. F. Robinson , Henry Sawyer ; Sergts . R. E. Robinson and E. D. Humphrey , also H. S. Mc Master , for loan of army diaries ; Mrs. Mary Joslyn Smith , for use of valuable papers of her late husband , Major Smith , Mrs. Marvin W. Lindsley , for writings left by Mr. Lindsley ; Miss Emma A. Norton , for valuable information secured at Albany , N. Y ; Dr. D. W. Harrington , for encourage ment and assistance in many ways ; Col. T. J. Thorp , and others ; n fact , to every comrade who has sent words of encouragement and cheer . I am specially grateful for the numerous contribu tions and words of cheer from Lieutenant Flint , who has stood by me like a brother . Last , but not least , am I indebted to my ithful wife , with out whose sympathy and co - operation during the weary weeks and months , I should have given up in despair . J. R. B. Lyons , Mich . , June , 1900 . CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. PORTAGE TO SUFFOLK .. ng II . VARIOUS EXPERIENCES AT SUFFOLK . 15 III . EVERYDAY LIFE IN CAMP .... 35 IV . BLACK WATER MARCHES AND BATTLE OF DESERTED HOUSE .... 48 V. SIEGE OF SUFFOLK . 69 VI . SUFFOLK TO MANASSAS PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN . 82 VII . MANASSAS TO MITCHELL'S STATION ... 96 VIII . WINTER QUARTERS AT MITCHELL'S STATION , 112 IX . THE SPRING CAMPAIGN — 1864 . 134 X. SHERIDAN'S FIRST RAID ..... 153 XI . FIVE DAYS OF AWFUL FIGHTING ( MAY 28 TO JUNE 1 , INCLUSIVE , ... 168 XII . THE TREVILIAN RAID AND BATTLES .. 183 XIII . FROM WHITE HOUSE LANDING TO THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY ... 199 XI V. WITH SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY . 208 XV . SWEEPING VICTORIES AND DECISIVE BATTLES THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY REGAINED ... 224 XVI . BATTLES OF FISHER'S HILL AND WOODSTOCK RACES .. 239 XVII . BATTLE OF CEDAR CREEK .. 250 XVIII . VARIOUS EXPERIENCES - THE LOUDON RAID .. 263 XIX . THE GORDONSVILLE RAID 269 XX . WINTER OF 1864-65.- LAST RAID .. 277 XXI . APPOMATTOX CAMPAIGN , THE FINAL BATTLES . 282 XXII .