The National tribune., 1906-10-25
THE 9TH MICH. CAV.
With Fitzpatrick and Sheridan On Their
Raids Around Richmond.

Editor National Tribune: In late
number of The National Tribune you
published a partial history of the 9Th
Mich. Cav, showing the number of
engagements where the regiments suf-
fered loss. 1 am proud to have been
a member of such grand organization.
The regiment belonged to what was
known as the Michigan Cavalry Bri-
gade, which was composed of the 1st,
5th, 9Th and 7th Mich. Cav, and while
Gen. Custer commanded the brigade,
it was known as the First Brigade
First Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of
the Potomac. My first service during
the civil war was with the 4th Mich.
from September, 1861, to March, 1863
Was with that regiment at Yorktown,
New Bridge, Mechanicsville, Gaines's
Mill, Savage Station, Malvern Hill,
Second Bull Run, Antietam, Shepherds
Ford, Fredericksburg, etc. No Michigan
regiment did more or better service
than the 4th Mich. What other regi-
ment lost three Colonies killed in bat
tle-Woodbury at Malvern, Jeffords at
Gettysburg. and Lumbard in the Will
derness? 1t is claimed that Col. JEFF
fords was the only man killed by bayo-
net at Gettysburg.
But / started to write of the 9th
Mich. Cav. When l joined the regiment
(January, 1860. they We're in camp at
Steyensburg, Va, and l want to say
right here that from that time on there
was something doing nearly every day.
When Grant and Sheridan came TO the
Potomac, the cavalry got in line, and
the fun commenced. About the first
thing the 9th was called upon to do
was to join Gen. Fitzpatrick in q raid
to Richmond. The object in this was
the liberating of Union prisoners Col.
Dahlgren, who Joined with us in that
raid, was to perform a very important
part. History gives us the result. Col
Dahlgren lost his life, and the prison.
ers still occupied cells in Libby l will
only mention some few incidents that
took place on that and other raids that
we made later.
We left our camp on the Rapid Ann
one Saturday night late in February.
Sunday morning we rode into Spotsyl-
vania Court House. Our march to that
point had been a rapid one. Many of
| the men had come in contact with
brush during the night, and lost their
| hats. When we arrived at the Court
| House the church-going people We're
assembling at their respective places of
worship, no doubt with the intention of
offering up prayers in behalf of the
Confederate cause. little thinking that
a brigade of Yanks was about to pounce
down upon them and disturb their wor-
ship. A tall Virginian sat upon the
fence in front Of the Court House. The
sudden appearance of the boys in blue
had so amazed him that he did n ot have
! time to get off the fence before a
naughty Yank rode up and took from
his head his Sunday-go- go-to-meetir.s
! silk tile. AS most of the church,
goers We're old men and women for
whom the Michigan boys always had
respect, we moved on at q rapid gate
toward Richmond. The next morning
we were in sight of the Confederate
Capital. We halted at three-corners
west of the city. Looking south we
saw a group of men who seemed to be
on duty. We were strangers in the
country, and wanted to make some in
quiries. So we motioned them to come
to us, and one of them came, and when
he got so that he could distinguish who
We were it was too late for him to
turn back. So We took him in. He
wore a Lieutenant's uniform; was on T.
very fine young horse, which cane in
very handy for, us at that time. He
had on new pair of boots, which he
lsaid cost him sT5 in Confederate m oney.
We didn't take his boots. They were