The National tribune., 1901-07-25
WITH THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
Adventures of a 18th Pa. Cavalryman in
Virginia.

adventures OF loJn fa CaValryman j
Virginia.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The Arm,
of the Potomac camped in front of Pc
tersburg, Va, in the Winter of 1864 "a
Gen. Greggs cavalry was camped on tn
left of the main army, and the 18th Cav
was ill the Second Brigade, Second Divi
sion. We did a great deal of scouting
and not only scouting, but u good bit o
hard fighting. Gen. Gregg knew how t
handle division. We also had gooC
Colonel in our regiment. We had oul
defects, but we always made our mari
when Col. kerwin was in command.
During the Winter the 18th Pa. Cav
became pretty well acquainted with Col
Mosby and his men. We had a grea
many fights with them. They were
daring set of fellows. One night our reg
iment was on picket about five miles from
camp on the left of the main army. Thi,
was in December, 1864, or January, 1863
Word came to the reserves that Mosby':
men were having a party about i've mile:
outside the picket line. Between anC
) o'clock in the morning about 40 of us
started from the reserve picket post, un
der command of Capt. Brown, Co. G., anC
Lieut.. John Leahy, Co. f. This party
was composed of Co. + men, Co. G men
and Co. ID men, and there may have
been a few from another company. Co
ID was commanded by Capt. Bell, who il
now a General in the Regular Army.
We reached our destination just at day
break. The residence was in a field to
our left, and a colored boy was standing
outside the house. We called to him to
come over, which he refused to do, as by
mistake one of our party had fired a shot.
We threw down the fence and charged
up TO the house. About - men were in
the house, bat nearly all made their es-
cape by a back door into n thick growth
of pines. We killed FIVE and wounded
others, who got away. We took one pris-
oner. He tried to escape, and Capt.
Brown shot him dead.
A man named Moudy was with us that
morning. l remember him so well, be-
cause he always rode a gray horse. In
charging up to the house Moudy ran into
an apple tree and was nearly brushed
off his horse, but he got there with the
rest and did his full duty. Moudy was a
good soldier, particularly in time of dan
ger.
We captured nearly all the guerrillas'
arms and all their equipments, such as
blankets, saddles brides and guns; also
their horses. Better horses had never
been captured than those we secured that
But they did US no good, as
we had to turn them in.
There were several young ladies at the
house, and while they had lots of fun
that night, their eyes beheld a sad scene
in the morning. John Myers, Co. F, Sc
cured the oYeTcoat Of the rebel shot by
Capt. Brown. 1t had been worn by
of the Sd n. j. 1t had three bull
let holes in it. We knew it belonged to
a New Jersey regiment, as the cape was
lined with yellow flannel and the breast
had yellow stripes. The overcoat was too
big for Myers, so Moudy and Myers e1-
changed coats.
Whenever an important detail was made
Moudy was generally among those select
ed. On one occasion there was q detail
near Catlett's Station, on the Orange &
Alexandria Railroad. Moudy was on a
detail. John Hickman, of Chambers
burg, wanted to take Moudy's place, to
which Moudy consented, with the ap-
Droval of the Orderly ySergeant, John
Sailer, of Newport, Pa. Hickman was
killed by Mosby's men. Several others
we're wounded
Mosby's men tried TO return the compli
nent five or six days after we had sur
)rised them, but they did not succeed,
although they made it mighty hot for us.
Our regiment was again on picket, and,
alions and squadrons a certain distance
part. One of our battaliOns, commanded
~ Maj. Burns, Of Philadelphia, was on
eserve. The night was very stormy, and
[ was hard for pickets to hear anything.
Iosby's men came through the
utter picket line and made their way TO
he inside picket line not far from the
main reserve and located themselves right
outside the barricade. There were 10
II 20 of them, as near as l can tell. Our
Irst picket was inside the barricade.
When the regiment went on picket w.
\ Moudy was on detail away from camp.
When he returned Serg't B. Dock, Co. +,
rdered him to pack up and follow the
egiment. When he reached the reserve
ost, Maj. Burns would not allow him to
% any farther, but had him remain ON
uty there. So Moudy had to act as su-
and, as a matter of course,
Vhen the third relief went out at u
clock at night, one of the boys was sick,
s was generally the case when there was
n extra man. There were % men on
he relief. We went a little way from
he reserve post, and then IL men took
righthand road to establish their picket, |
nd the other II went straight ahead un-
il they came to the first picket. The |
icket halted them and made the Cor
oral 'dismount and give the cOuntersign. |
We advanced on the main road. Moudy
as one of the II men, the only member
Co. f, and rode the only gray horse
| the party. We were not expecting any
anger, but to our surprise came the stern
Halt! Surrender, you Yankee
.p followed by a volley. Moudy's
orse received four balls in his hip and
lree in his shoulder and two in his jaw.
he halter-strap was shot off and the
ride rein nearly severed. Moudy wore
U. S. belt buckle. An ounce ball
ruck the buckle, passed through it, but
as stopped by Moudy's heavy clothes.
he overcoat l have already mentioned
ad five additional holes through it. One
the party was killed and others were
ounded. Our men who were able quick
retreated.
lie rebels made their escape through
vamp. Some of them were badly hurt,
nd it wasn't as much of picnic as they
lought it would be.
One thing more that l wish to say about
Loudly. He was always playing tricks
some one. On one occasion he caught
toad, wrapped it up in paper and put
le of the comrades name on the wrap
II. OF course, when the mail came into
mp the package was delivered to the
and he thought 1t was from
1me. When he opened it the toad
mpcd into his face.
! had the pleasure of meeting at a Re
ZION in Gettysburg, June 4, 1901, a small
mnant of the regiment. Only 40 were !
ere, but it did my heart good to meet
e boys again. Col. kerwin; Gen. Bell,
no was Captain of Co. d; President 2.
Bricker, Capt. Glassimer, Lieut.. Nc
akin and others were there l cannot
me them all. My good old friend Moudy