The National tribune., 1901-02-21
FIGHTING THEM j ! OVER.
What the Veterans Have TO Say
About Their Campaigns.
ON THE PENINSULA.
A Regular Cavalryman's Story of Interest
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| EDITOR NATIONAL pTRIBUSE: 1 read
some time ago with considerable interest
a sketchy picture of day with bullets and
bandits, by Theo. Brown, Hospital Stew
ard, Z. s. A., retired; also, an interesting
story by Serg't Patrick Breen, entitled
'Recollections of Regular" Having
served on exactly the same lines as these
two comrades, L can verify most of their
experience. especially the reference Of
Comrade Breen TO the charge of five com
panies of the 9th U. 5. Cav. at Gaines
Mills.
My opportunity for observing the Pen
insular Campaign was much more extend
ed than that of either of the above-named
comrades. i did duty at Headquarters
of the Army from October, 1861, until
June, 1862, being Orderly to Custer, Chief
Engineer on McClellan's staff, and Second
Lieutenant of my company IF, 9Th u. S.
Cav.). The dashing young Custer, when
not engaged on McClellan's organization
plans, was continually on the move with
some portion of the Regular or other cav
airy commands, in gaining information Of
the enemy. So / became as familiar with
every inch of ground from Hanover Court
House to Charles City Crossroads as with
an open book.
The attack of the Confederates at Fair
Oaks was encouraged by a fearful rain
storm of 40 hours, coupled with the fact
that Johnston knew that no portion Of
McClellan's army except Casey's troops
had crossed the Chickahominy, and that
none could cross the swollen stream to
his relief. This was. Johnston's op-
portunity, of which he made the
most. l shall never forget the look
of dismay on McClellan's face as he rode
from one bridge to another, to find vast
sheets of raging waters between our
troops and the bridges, which prevented
any relief reaching Casey's hard-pressed
troops; whilst the exultant rebel yells
plainly told him that his men were bat
tling brayely against fearful odds. The
food abating toward evening, and during
the night reinforcements reaching the
south side of the river, Casey was en-
abled to hold his ground.
All troops in the immediate vicinity
crossed the ChickahOminy except the
Fifth Corps and the Regular Cavalry
Brigade, which composed the reserve to
guard our line Of communications at
White House Landing.
On June 5, i, being sent with some dis
patches, on my way passed some cherry
trees heavily laden with black cherries.
On my return / lost no time In getting up
one of them, but Capt. Lord, LIST U. S.
Cav, being out on scout as Provost-Guard
with two companies Of his regiment, took
me prisoner and at hdarquarters charged
me with neglect of duty! After receiving
a reprimand / was ordered to report to
my regiment, and found my company at
Old Church, on the Pamunkey, guarding
Mrs. Robert e. Lees mansion, quarter
Of a mile from that place.
On the morning of june, 13, 1862, Co.
r prdprah n ospOrf NrG Inciia
the enemy's lines, whilst my company F)
was ordered to make a reconnaissance to
Hanover Court House. When we got
within half-mile of the old battle-ground
we discovered the enemy's cavalry under
Stewart drawn up in battle line, about
5000 strong, with neither picket nor skir-
mishers out.
Our Lieutenant halted and ordered
Serg't Mahon, with 10 men, to advance to
a ravine or creek and to, send your hum
BILE servant to inquire what troops they
were and what their business was. To
my assurance that they were rebels, and
that l could distinguish the rank of their
officers, the Lieutenant commanded me to
obey orders.
l rode down the hill to the ravine and
up the hill toward and within 70 yards
of the enemy's lines, and, coming to a
heavy blackjack gatepost at the roadside
the hight of my breast when on horse
back, l laid my Sharp's carbine on top
of the post and took aim at a rebel Of
fcer who was made conspicuous by the
heads of the other officers horses be-
ing turned toward him. I blazed away
and instantly a company Of rebel cavalry
advanced, deployed and opened fire on me
and my 10 comrades beyond the ravine.
Needless to say l lost no time, except
while returning their fire, in joining Lieut..
Lieb Oh top Of the hill. His first Ques-
ton was:
"Did you ask those troops who they
wereY
l looked around as 1 thought hard for
an answer, and in the direction of the
enemy saw coming at full gallOp at least
100 of the 4th Va. Cav. on both sides of
the road. / answered:
Lieutenant, here they come; ask them
yourself"
We got out Of that scrape, but l was
never sent by the Lieutenant on just
similar errand.-JoHN MCCORMICK, Co.
f, 9th U. s. Cav, 217 Georgia ST., Val
lejo, Cal.