Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-11-25
A CRACK CAVALRY BRIGADE.
SHORT HISTORY OF BUTLER'SD
SOUTH CAROLINA HORSEMEN.

SHORT HISTORY OF " BUTLER'SD
SOUTH CAROLINA HORSEMEN.
In the spring of 1864 the Fourth,
Fifth and Sixth regiments of South
Carolina Cavalry were transferred
from duty on the seaCOast Of South
Carolina to Virginia, and c0usti-
tutcd what was thereafter known as
Buffers Brigade" though subse-
quently commanded by Generals
Dunovant, Law, Logan and Colonel
Hugh *. Aiken. Being armed with
Enfield rifles, its chief fighting was
done on foot, and it soon won for
itself throughout the Army of North
ern Virginia, as we'll as the Army of
the Potomac, the soubriquet of
4" that fighting cavalry of South
Carolina" No doubt the character
and reputation of the brigade was
due in great measure to the example
and leadership Of two such generals
as Nj. {. Butler and Wade Hampton.
During the spring, summer and fall
of 1864 this brigade was constantly
engaged in active and arduous SER
vice, as reference to the battles in
which it was engaged will show.
Beginning with Drury's Bluff,
Chester Station and Atkinson's farm,
fought by the Fifth Regiment,
which served as infantry between
Richmond and Petersburg while
awaiting the arrival of the horses,
and the other regiments of the brig
ade from South Carolina, followed
by the battle of Charles City Court
house, Hawes' Shop and Cold Har-
Dor in May; Trevillion Station,
White House. White Oak Swamp,
and Riddles Shop in June; Nance's
Shop and Sappony Church in July :;
Gravelly Run in August; Reams's
Station and the Vaughan Road in
September; and Cummins'S Farm
and Burgess's Mill in October, be-
sides innumerable skirmishes, which,
though sometimes unplensantly hot,
did not attain TO the dignity or i'm.
portance Of being mentioned as bat.
ties, and record is shown of pretty
vigorous campaign.
This constant service and fighting
made fearful havoc in the ranks of
both men and horses. | do not re-
member the losses of the other regi-
ments, but my own (the Fifth lost
over 400 officers and men in killed
and wounded, besides about 80 CAP.
tured, during the six months above
mentioned. The chief fighting was
done on foot, with the rifle, but
there were not wanting the brilliant
dash and headlong charge with pis-
t0l and sabre, the shock of which
the enemy seldom waited to meet.
During this campaign Butler had
been promoted to be major.general,
to command Hampton's Division.
ana Colonel John Dunovant, Of the
Firth, to the command of the brig
ade.
In the fall Of that year Wade
Hampton, then lieutenant general,
and commanding all the cavalry of
the Army of Northern Virginia, 0c.
cupied with part Of the corps the
eXteme right of Lees army. From
Hatcher's Run, ten miles south of
Petersburg, his lines extended in
definitely to Stony creek and beyond,
so as to protect the Southside rail
road and The Boydton plank road,
and thus keep open the country
from which General Lee drew a
large part of his supplies. The
Southside railroad was cne of the
main arteries by which supplies
were brought from Southern Virginia
and North Carolina, and repeated
efforts had been made by the enemy
to reach and destroy it. The first
attempt of any strength was made
by the cavalry Of Generals Wilson
and kautX, which, however, was in.
tercepted and literally cut to pieces
oy Hampton at Sappony Church,
After this frequent attempts were
made by the enemy to dislodge our
cavalry on Vaughan road, and to
cross the Boydton plank road in or
der to get possession of the White
Oak road, in the rear, upon which
they might advance and destroy the
SOuthside railroad, as well as to en-
deavor to turn Lees right flank and
force him to alter his lines. for the
defence Of Petersburg and Rich
mond, or to evacuate them entirely,
(Which General Grant finally sue.
ceeded in accomplishing i'm April,
1861
One of these demonstrations was
made in force on the morning of
October lst, 1864, but the enemy
was driven back from several sue
cessive lines of battle to Cummins's
farm across Hatcher's Run. The
brave DunoVant was killed by bull
let through the brain while leading
his brigade in a brilliant charge on
that day. The last and most for
midable attempt to break our lines
during that year (1S64) occurred on
the 9th of October. The enemy's
force, as We afterwards learned from
prisoners, consisted of parts of three
army corps, numbering upwards of
10000 men. They advanced by sew
eral roads, which necessitated the re-
firing and concentration of our cav
airy at the junction of the Boydtun
plank road and the White. Oak road,
near Burgess mill ,on Hatcher's Run.
About 3. p IN. Buffers Brigade
charged (dismounted) across an open
field on the right of White Oak
road, and drove the enemy back to
the cover OF a dense pine thicket on
the BoydtOn plank road, where their
entire infantry was massed, while
they had placed several batteries of
artillery in position on the brow of a
hill just beyond the thicket, and out
of view Of the battlefield. Our line
OF battle was halted at the crest of a
small hill and along a rail fence,
only hundred yards or so from the
enemy's line Of battle, and heavy
and continuous firing was kept up
till long after dark. During the pro-