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| Gilmer map from VHS collection |
Wherein Frederick W. Browne describes how the 1st United States Colored Cavalry took
Jones' Bridge . . . . twice.
MY SERVICE IN THE U. S. COLORED CAVALRY
Having served over two
years in a good, hard-fighting infantry regiment, and being encamped at
Newport News, Va., holding the dignified rank of Sergeant, I one day met
our little fighting Major John G. Chambers who asked me if I would like
a commission in the 1st U. S. Colored Cavalry, then forming at Fort
Monroe, to which I made answer that I would, and two or three days
thereafter I received an order, mustering me out of the service and also
an order to report to Colonel Garrard for duty as an officer of the new
regiment. Early the next morning, going down to the wharf to embark for
Ft. Monroe, I showed to the sentry on the wharf (as my authority for
leaving) the order mustering me out. He looked it over and said in a
home-sick way, “I would give $800 for that paper.” I reported to Colonel
Garrard, and for the first time saw this officer with whose reputation
as a brave and efficient Major of the 3d N. Y. Cavalry I had been well
acquainted in the Department of North Carolina. This regiment, being the
first colored cavalry regiment, had in its ranks a rather better class
of men than the infantry regiments had; some being from the North and
some being the outlaw negroes who, in slavery times, had been able to
maintain their liberty in the swamps of Eastern Virginia and North
Carolina. The regiment was officered largely from the 3d N. Y. Cavalry,
and they were a thoroughly efficient and capable corps of officers. The
regiment was soon filled, mounted and equipped, and constant drill soon
made it have the manner and bearing of soldiers. Every one knew that the
Campaign of 1864 meant business, and therefore all was in readiness
when about May 1st orders came to move. We marched out through Hampton,
of which not one house was left except the little old stone church which
is still standing there. Through Big Bethel, the scene of one of the
earliest disasters of the war, to Yorktown, memorable for its two sieges
in two wars, and thence on to Williamsburg, passing between Yorktown
and Williamsburg our infantry who, much to our surprise were marching
very hurriedly back to Yorktown. We learned afterward they were put on
board transports at Yorktown and sent up the James to City Point and
Bermuda Hundred. The next day we went up the Peninsula, passing 6 and 12
Mile and burnt ordinarys, camping at night at New Kent Court House. I
commanded the picket that night on the Bottoms Bridge Road and the
enemy’s scouts were against us all night, keeping matters well stirred
up. The next morning we turned South and met the enemy at Jones Ford on
the Chickahominy. They were in an earthwork across the Ford and we
opened on them with our howitzers in front and deployed as to cross in
front, but a force was sent to the right up stream who managed to cross,
and, coming down on the opposite side of the river, took the enemy in
flank and soon drove them away from the ford. Killing some and capturing
some of the enemy, and having some killed and wounded, our movement
having been a feint to make the enemy believe that Butler’s Army of the
James, as it was afterward called, was moving up the Peninsula, having
been accomplished, we returned to Williamsburg, arriving there the next
day, where, to our astonishment, we met an order to go back at once and
cross the Chickahominy at Jones Ford, sometimes called Jones Bridge, and
proceed to Harrison’s Landing, which we at once did, again fighting our
way across at Jones Ford. Steamers were lying at the wharf in front of
the old Westover mansion, and, going on board, we were soon thereafter
landed at Bermuda Hundred and passing out took the advance of Butler’s
Army, being at the time the only cavalry he had.
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My Service in the United States Colored Cavalry
Paper of Frederick W. Browne, Second Lieut. 1st U.S. Colored Cavalry
of Cincinnati, Ohio,
Read before The Ohio Commandery of The Loyal Legion,
March 4, 1908.
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| MOLLUS Massachusetts Civil War Photographs- USAHEC |
The (unfortunately watermarked) photograph of Col. Jeptha Garrard, commander of the First USCT Cavalry.
