The National tribune., 1890-06-12
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What0Hr Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
ST. MARY'S CHURCH, VA.

81. MAX - Cf1 XIII, VA
A Raitling Fight by One OF Gregg's Cavalry Bri.
gadoS.
EDITOR NATIONAL tribune: ] had hoped
that some member of the 9th Ohio Cav. who
was present in the cavalry engagement at st.
Marys Church, or Charles City Courthouse, Va,
(either is correct) on June "a, 1864, would
feel sufficiently thankful for his continued ex-
istence 10 write q brief sketch of that engage
ment- / think perhaps had not Major Barrett
ran away with Capt A. w. Fenton's horse on
that occasion and the horse i'm turn run away
with the Major and tore of the saddle-bags
against a tree, losing the entire contents,
among which was diary containing much in
formation OF interest 10 the participants in
that disturbance, we might have long since had
an occasional article which would jog our menu
oTy and keep before us the fact we once were
soldiers.
can tell very little Of what transpired out
side Of the squadron 20 which belonged, and
much which could have been told years ago
has now passed from mind. / think at no time
during our four years Of service did the regi-
ment or the brigade get into a hotter nest than
on the above date. But the field was so hidden
under the thick cloud Of both smoke and dust,
IS TO obscure any extended range of vision had
ono the opportunity and desire TO have added
20 their knowledge of the occurrence, and in my
case L was too intensely interested in the sue
cess OF the main point at issue to either look
CT hope for anything beyond the present The
immediate cause for the engagement was in the
successful attempt TO protect a train of 900
wagons moving under the direction OF Gen.
Sheridan from White House 10 near City Point,
TpOn Our return from the Trevilian raid.
As Sheridan reached White House on June
2lst, he received orders from Gen Meade TO
break up the depot at that place, and bring ey-
erything forward 10 the army, then south of
the James River encircliUg Petersburg. Sheri-
81, L
lie would have 10 march FOR three or four DAYS
through the territory held by Lees forces,
which must neccsSltate much fighting and con-
Siderable loss without anything to be gained
other than getting a lot Of old canvas-back
wagons down 10 the front. But Sheridan WAS
true soldier and be obeyed orders, and on the
Zzd commenced crossing the Pamunkey, and
moved forward with his cavalry on front and
right flank OF the train; aud notwithstanding
Tie numerous attempts 10 capture or destroy
IL, every one Of the 500 were, within few days,
turned over TO Mesdes Quartermaster in front
OF Petersburg.
The weather had been intensely hot and dry.
the dust 10 inches in depth, and the grass,
what little there WAS about the color of a Jer-
Bev COW.
On June "a, Gen. d. Mem. Gregg. rising on
his elbow just as the little stars had gone 10
rest, and that great aud glorious air-heater was
getting itself into shape to make man mis-
erabie another day, noticed away across the
pine woods three or four miles distant Gen
Wade Hampton just crawling from his beautiful
couch Ia couple OF rails. aud turning back the
cOFerlet, which consisted Of pine bough and
the canopy OF heaven, aud reaching around un-
Ger that downy pillow, which was an old cav
airy saddle, pulled out canteen and elevatiug
j over has face bottom up, as If trying 10 look
through u. Gregg noticed il was labeled
Juice" and IS the contents trickled down
HamptOn's esophagus Gregg observed way of
IN TIE northwest corner OF Hampton's eye
dark spot resembling Kansas cloud burst-or
o storm OF lead.
So Gregg climbed ont from under that Gov
eminent pOncho, and told the BOYS they had
better III up on another Of those 1899 Govern
neut biscuit and about two inches Of SOW
bosom, aud make themselves heavy, so IL they
CHANGED 70 run foul Of Gen. Hampton that day
he couldn't blow them of their horses Since
starting on the Treyilian raid, June Z, we had
been living chiefly on horsehair, dust and hot
ness, aud while VIC didn't complain Of il as
food 10 Eight upon, we did not consider il as
composed Of material which would produce
corpulency, and most Of the men had buttoned
the front lapel Of their pantaloons around onto
Their back-suspender buttons as a necessary
pFecsution against falling through them when
they disIBounied.
Gen. Gregg never yet had been caught nap
ping when anything depended upon him, aud |
near vicinity until the long train was past |
Charles City Courthouse be left the Second |
Brigade, under Gen. Irwin Gregg, in the open 1
country, 10 await orders: and taking the First l
Brigade, under Gen. II. l.. Davies. with all his |
surgical implements be mcaudered out TO see /
d dc could not remove that cataract from |
hamptoAs eye. Our route led through q |
WOODS which for nearly the distance Of two /
miles was heavily tlmbeTed on either side As 1
We came out into an opening near ST. MaTy's /
church II suppose II was, but / didn't see any /
cBurchl and assembled d slight elevation 10 It's /
crest, about oBc-thIld Of a mile from where the /
Tcad leaves the wood, aud seeing 10 indica- |
Tons o. an enemy, the 9th Ohio fled OF 10 the |
lclt OILY lev rods into the woods aud dis i
mounted, with orders to throw I'D some kind /
Of light brcastwOrks in case Of future need. /
now The future need " had no surface indica- |
lions, a more peaccablc possession OF acquired
territory was never granted than the one given /
1s On iAls occasion; but as we had learned 10 |
obey orders, commenced tearing down a rail |
ieHce ID our front and piliug them up for pro- /
lection. Our horses were hItched 10 the trees /
and very soon half Of our men were asIeep, /
h14e the balance were making necessary re- 1
pairs' Cleaning arms, making coffee etc / /
think d must have been about II a N. when /
We reached this quiet corner Of the great South
ern ConiedeTacy. Even orr pickcts could see /
nothing 70 shoot al and were getting restless /
d III.
bngles sounded, To horse! double quick!" |
aud the orders, Mount; mount" were ring- |
ing through tie woods
Just Al this instant from OF or our right |
trout, came the boom Of q cannon, then an /
other, and the next instant could be heard the |
Tattlc q caTb.nes from our pickets Just az /
We our rude bTeastwOTks and rushed for /
tlc horses, either the fret or second solid shot
from TIE ehemy'g gun came meandering down /
through The trec-tops looking Tor gore and /
pouncga directly upon one of the rail piles /
behind HAIcn tic men only few moments he 4
lore lad felt wonderfully secure That nile If /
TallE danced Confederate cau-can 10 the or. 1
oeTE Of
Johnnie Ret your gun,
AND get ~ aHill quick.
That Of course Was only chance shot as the 4
enemy from TIER battery could see nothing
but evidently supposed Us 10 be occupying tic 4
woods, IS We really were We mounted ~ /
hastily Sc possible aud formed squadron in Tho /
open fed, each squadron hurTyiug 10 the place 4
o. the lEc assigned them. Co.'S &, q. / and one |
other which cannot recall, were that dav
commanded ~ Capt. J. II. Leenan, Of Co. &. /
and no man ever acquitted himself Of any dutv
D. more satisfactory manner than be did an /
that occasion. de Sat on his horse 70 the RIGHT |
O the EqUadrOn, showing no indication Of fear
% alarm ~ 70 the result but directed US Ia fire
BY yOlley, IS he gave The necessary orders in a
clear, steady voice, " Load -ready-ainl-lrc 80 |
Our squadron under Capt. Leenan. was on The /
leit o. the regiment. The lst Pa. Cav. con-