The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-10-23
FIGHTING THEM OVER,
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
READY FOR A RAID.
Some or the EXPLOITS of the 18th Pa. Cav.

Some Of the Exploits of the nth Pa. Cav.
To THE EDITOR: l don't see anything i'll
your valuable paper about the 1lth Pa Cav
the regiment that captured Gen. Robert l..
Lees son brighten. Lee at South Anna RIVER
Bridge. June 26, 1868, and the regiment that
opened the last great battle of the war at APP
pomattox Court house, April 9, 1869
Tho 18th Pa. CAY. was originally organized
as "IIarlan's Light Cavalry" 1t was raised
as an independent regiment in 1851 by Joseph
Harlan, of Philadelphia. under special author
ity of the Secretary of War. Companies were
raised in different States, Go. A being from
Iowa portions of Cos. and + from New \ ork,
part of from New Jersey. Co. NJ from Ohio,
and the remainder of the regiment from Penn
srlyania The organization was completed
Oct D lS6l by the muster In OF the held and
staff at Washington, ID. [. 1t numbered al
officers and ,0S9 men. On the 18th OF Nov,
lS6l, the regiment was attached TO the Penn
sylyana State organization. Congress had
only authorized the raising of regiments by
States. Nov. l., 1861 the regiment was order
ed 10 Fort Monroe, and part of 80 regiment
was under Mcclellan in his famous Peninsnlar
campaign. On the 9Th day of May, 1861, the
regiment reached the Weldon Railroad, near
Nottowav River On the al. and on the follow
ing day the Stony Creek Bridge was destroyed.
Tie IIth assisted by the 1st ID. G. Cav, charg-
ed and drove back a rebel infantry regiment
guarding the railroad bridge over the Nottoway.
We burned the bridge on the same day the
enemy WAS defeated at JarrettS Station. FROM
there the command proceeded TO City Point,
where il arrived on the evening OF the 10Th OF
Nav. 1861 having marched 300 miles in six
DAYS The loss was one killed-Lieut. Prud-
homme-and 10 men wounded. On the 18th,
the next day, without rest, the regiment start
ed out on another raid.
The DanYiile Railroad was struck the same
night at Coalfield, II miles from Richmond,
rIn linz of a-nll he fal fnT nT
day as far as Nottoway. At Flot Creek we had
a fight with the enemy, and Lieut.. Shrlver
was killed. From there We crossed the South
side Railroad. thence to Lawrence and Jarretts
Station and Sussex Court house to City Point,
arriving Oh The 18th. On this expedition the
regiment destroyed many miles of the South
side. Danvile and Weldon Railroads and much
rebel Government property, travelling 500 miles
in six days or COO miles i'll u days, with only
one nights rest, On the two raids.
On the 21st the regiment was with Gen.
Wilson on his famous raid south of Richmond.
On this raid we were severely handled by the
rebels Capts Reynolds LOomis, Bailey and
Roberts and Lieut. Sears were killed: Maj.
Ockerly and Lieut. Barclay wounded, and
Surg. Harlan captured. For rapidity of march
and endurance of the men this raid was not
excelled during the war.
On the 25th the regiment was with Gen.
Hancock at Ream's Station and the brave
Lieut.. Nelson was killed.
On Oct. Z. 1864, a severe engagement took
place in front of Richmond, iii which Maj.
Titus and Lieut.. Barber were badly wounded
and Can't. Bacon and Lieut.. Beers were cap
turcd. In engagement on Dee. 10, 1864,
Capt. Trip was severely wounded.
At the battle Of Five Forks on April /, 1866,
the regiment had the advance of the division,
which was ordered TO attack on the extreme
right of Gen. Sherdan's forces. A charge was
at once made and the enemy driven from his
position. This was not achieved without heavy
loss. Maj Monroe and Capt. Lancaster were
killed. Lieut. Matthews mortally wounded, and
Col Spear wounded. The regiment followed
up this attack to the right of the Fifth Corps,
swept around with it 10 the enemy's rear in
the final movement OF the day, which resulted
in the capture Of 10000 prisoners. From this
on TO the surrender of Lee the regiment was
fighting almost constantly. On the morning
of the 9th the regiment had the advance of the
division and moved forward to the Lynchburg
pike, about one mile from Appomattox Court
house, near which Lees army lay This move
ment placed the regimant directly across Lees
line of escape. The reg iment having been
ordered forward, Co. VI, under command of
Lieut.. J. S. Weaver. leading the advance, the
regiment had the honor of opening the last
great hattie of the war. He soon found hor-
nets nest and was re-enlorced by Cos. ID, T
and 3 aud finally by the whole regiment, then
the whole brigade, assisted by Davies Brigade;
then Deyen'S and Crooks Division of Cavalry;
but the heavy force of the enemy was too
much for our cavalry until the brave and gal
liant Foster with division of the Twenty
fourth Corps, emerged from the woods in our
rear in solid line of battle. He moved for
ward and swept the enemy from the field
and halted on the HILL In the valley
below lay the shattered and denoralized
remnant of the Army of Northern Vir-
ginia. Hostilities were suspended and the
surrender took place. In this short cam
paigu of nine days the 18th, it will be seen,
took conspicuous part. 1t captured, took
possession of and delivered to the proper
officers ITO field pieces, Al mortars. six heavy
guns, 120 carriages and caissons, seven FORCES
and large quantity of ammunition and other
stores. Its losses on this nine days campaign
were three officers killed and % enlisted men
killed and wounded.
On the 18th day OF August, 1865, the regi
ment arrived atCamp Cadwallader, near Phila-
delphia. Pa. and on the 18th the men were
paid and mustered out. The regiment took
part in % important battles and in 136 Skin
misheS. During the four years it was in the
service / 500 officers and men have performed
its field service. ~ brave and gallant officers
laid down their lives on the field of battle and
$50 enlisted men died from disease or were
killed. Their surviving comrades will cherish
their memory with sad yet fond remembrance
j. S. WEAVER, Co N, 18th Pa. Cav, w. Ii.
Lytle Post, No 81, Fort Scott. Kan.