Cavalry at the Crossroads- 1863

      The Crump's Crossroads mentioned in this article is the crossroad of Route 249, Airport Road and Tunstall Road i.e. our most recent traffic circle.

                                               THE SENTINEL. 

                               SATURDAY MORNING. JULY 4, 1863. 

FROM THE PENINSULA.

 At 2 o’clock yesterday; morning we received the following: 

 “Dispatches were received last night by Maj. Gen. Elzey, commanding department of Richmond, stating that our troops under Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill, attacked the enemy yesterday evening, at Crump’s Farm, four miles below Bottoms’ Bridge, and drove him within five miles of the White House.

 “We lost one man killed, none wounded. We took six prisoners, who state that the enemy has not less than twenty thousand men.”

 Since the above was written we have received the following:

 We are informed, by an officer from the Peninsula, that our forces, under the command* of Major Gen. D. H. Hill, advanced to the attack of the enemy, on Thursday afternoon, about o’clock. Gen. Jenkins’ (S.C.) brigade, and Gen. Ransom’s (N.C.) brigade, formed in line of battle one-fourth of a mile this side of Crump’s cross roads, with Col. Shingler’s (Holcombe Legion) cavalry on both our right and left wings. Six pieces of Major Branch’s artillery were near the centre of our line. The enemy’s force consisted of four pieces of artillery, three regiments of infantry, and portions of two regiments of cavalry, under Colonel West, commanding U.S. forces. Skirmishing immediately commenced by sharpshooters on both sides. Several of the enemy were wounded and a few taken prisoners.

 Major Branch’s Virginia artillery commenced a terrific shelling, firing with accuracy and telling effect. Our infantry made a splendid advance at the double-quick, and though the enemy, under cover of his artillery, offered Home resistance, he soon commenced a hasty retreat, at which point General Hill ordered Colonel Shingler to charge with his cavalry. The latter taking his force of some 200 well mounted troops, made a most impetuous and daring charge. Three times the enemy ambushed him, firing volley after volley, but onward he dashed, calling to his men to “forward; never mind the fire—forward!” He drove them three and and a half miles, near the White House, and reined up long after nightfall. One officer and three of the enemy were killed and four wounded. Our loss, one killed, one wounded, and two missing.

 Too much praise cannot be accorded to the gallant behavior of the brigades of Jenkins and Ransom, and to Shingler’s cavalry and Branch’s artillery. General Hill’s brilliant advance has thus scattered the forces of the enemy once again menacing our cherished capital. 

 It was rumored yesterday, that the enemy has abandoned the idea of another “On to Richmond” movement at the present time, and pressing forward in a more Northward direction with a supposed intention of attempting to cut our communications at Hanover Junction or Milford depot, or, possibly at some point farther West on the Central road. 

 

Carnival of Mars- July 1863

A re-posting of a Gettysburg piece from two years ago with a few additions and changes.


New Kent County's two infantry companies in the Confederate Army, the Pamunkey Rifles and the Barhamsville Greys, were elements of the 53rd Virginia Infantry Regiment (along with the Charles City Southern Guards and the Mattaponi Guards[King William County]). The 53rd Virginia was part of Armistead's brigade of Pickett's division and as such was one of the lead elements in Pickett's Charge on the final day of the Battle of Gettysburg. Below, part of a much longer piece about his experiences during the war, are the recollections of Benjamin Lyons Farinholt (Pamunkey Rifles) about the battle.

Finally the supreme trial came, when, after having lost thousands at Chancellorsville and the Wilderness, and, as Gen. Lee aptly said, "lost our right arm" in the death of that great and inimitable Christian soldier, Stonewall Jackson, and after many other small battles — small only in comparison with larger engagements — we crossed once more the Potomac and took up our line of march for the fat pastures of Pennsylvania.

Our especial command, Pickett's Division, was engaged in the destruction of a railroad near Chambersburg by piling up the wooden ties and kindling them into huge fires, on which the iron rails were heated and bent, when, on the 2d of July, we received orders to prepare three days' rations, and in a few hours thereafter were on the road for Gettysburg, where we arrived about daybreak, after a hard march of twenty- eight miles, and took our place in line on the verge of the battle-field on the morning of that memorable 3d of July, 1863.

These two mighty armies, after rapidly concentrating their forces during the heavy fighting which had lasted for two days with thundering cannon, charge of infantry, and onset of cavalry, with varying fortune for advantage and position, and so far without any decisive result, now plumed their banners, reformed their lines, and confronted each other on this arena for the greatest battle of modern times — Lee with sixty-five thousand, Meade with one hundred and seventeen thousand, trained and tried veterans of two years' hard service. Thus, on this lovely midsummer day, when all nature in her luxuriant garb seemed wooing peace, was fought the battle which made the whole world stand aghast. Absolute chaos seemed to reign — the resounding boom of three hundred pieces of cannon, the incessant whir of bombs, the deafening explosion of whole caissons of ammunition, the whiz of canister and shrapnel, followed by the at first sharp crack and then steady roar of musketry, as regiments, brigades, and divisions would come to close quarters, forgetful of everything but this grand carnival of Mars.

Some idea may be gained of the concentration and intensity of the artillery fire when, within thirty minutes after the opening guns announced the battle commenced, the stretcher and ambulance corps had to be doubled to take off the wounded and dying. As the heavy artillery fire, kept up for hours, gradually ceased, it proved only a prelude to the general advance of our infantry all along the line. When, after advancing about a thousand yards under a withering fire from both infantry and artillery in front and a galling fire from several batteries stationed on Little Round Top Mountain, on our right flank, with unbroken ranks, save to close the gaps as men fell to the right and left, our decimated ranks pressed forward, delivering their fire in the very faces of the brave Federals, who defended their guns with great coolness and sheer desperation, but could not withstand our impetuous charge with the bayonet. Over we went into the Federal rifle-pits and over the re-enforced stone fence (called now the Bloody Angle), behind which the foe was entrenched. There, in a hand-to-hand engagement, where bayonet and pistol and butt of musket were liberally used, we captured all who wen killed or had not tied, virtually conquering and holding for a time the strongest position of the Federal line of battle on Cemetery Ridge, the very center and key of the Federal defense. Gen. Armistead claimed the day as ours, and, standing by one of the captured pieces of artillery, where the brave Federal Capt. Gushing had fallen, with his dead men and horses almost covering the ground, called on us to load and use the captured cannon on the fleeing foe.

Just then Hancock's command came forward with full ranks and fresh for the struggle, attacking us with great impetuosity and delivering against our much decimated ranks at close range at least fifty bullets to our five. Gen. Armistead was laid low by three wounds at their first fire: Gen. Kemper had also fallen in the charge, desperately wounded: Garnett had been killed, and three-fourths of our field and company officers were either killed or wounded. The writer was shot through the thigh, and Col. Martin, our gallant regimental leader, received a shot through the hip which almost proved fatal. Pandemonium complete, and for a time no quarter was asked nor given, and many on each side lost their lives. Many shots were fired at such close rang afterward to burn the clothes or flesh of the victims with powder. From sheer exhaustion and overpowering numbers, the remnant of Pickett's Division, the flower of Virginia's contribution to the Confederacy, yielded themselves captives, being literally surrounded and beaten into submission. Heth's Division, on our left, having given away, the enemy had advanced their columns so as to overwhelm us.

While we were receiving and returning as best we could the fire of Hancock's fresh regiments, at the extreme climax of this fight the writer saw a grandson of President Tyler, Robert Tyler Jones, himself already bleeding profusely from a serious wound, wave his pistol and threaten to shoot the first man who offered to surrender. 

What must have been the feelings of the handsome and brave Picket as he saw the greater portion of his division, of which he was justly so proud, killed, wounded, or captured, and only about six hundred return from the bloody charge. 

The writer was taken from the field with other wounded who were captured, and we were guarded for the night with a cordon of infantry and cavalry. In being taken to the rear we could see the terrible loss we had inflicted upon the Federal army, for every nook in the fence, every little stream of water to which they could crawl, every barn and shed, every yard and shade-tree were literally burdened with their dead, wounded, and dying. The writer remarked to a fellow officer, who was terribly disconsolate over our loss, that, while our division was nearly annihilated, it must have been the dearest victory ever purchased by any commander, and a few such, while crippling the Confederacy, would almost destroy the enemy. 

The next day we were taken to Westminster, Md., under a heavy guard, but not before Gen. Meade had ascertained that Gen. Lee would not again give battle, for really Meade was in no hurry to keep up the fight after so heavy a loss as his army sustained. Lee presented with his depleted ranks, after three days of this conflict, such a front as kept the Federal commander in doubt as to what he would do.

-Confederate Veteran Magazine, September 1897

From the site The Civil War in the East

The regiment was commanded by Colonel William R. Aylett and brought 435 men to the field. It woke at 3 a.m. on July 3 and moved to Seminary Ridge. In the afternoon it took part in Pickett’s Charge as the support brigade on the right flank of the attack, breaking the Union line at The Angle before being thrown back with heavy casualties. Casualty figures are incomplete, but around 30 men were killed. 

All of the field officers became casualties, with Colonel Aylett wounded, Lt. Colonel Rawley W. Martin wounded and captured, and Major John C. Timberlake captured. Captain Henry Edmunds took command of the regiment. Colonel Aylett recovered from his wound by July 4 to take command of the brigade, then resumed command of the regiment on July 5. 

Officer casualties were high. Captain James Lipscomb was killed killed. Lieutenants Harvie Bray and William Burruss were mortally wounded and captured. Captains William Tredway and William Turner and Lieutenants Andrew Anderson and Evan Ragland were wounded. Captain Lyons Fairholt and Lieutenants Robert Ferguson and James Whitehead were wounded and captured. Captain John Latane and Lieutenants Robert Campbell, Hutchins Carter, Henry Coalter, James Harwood, John Ligon, Sylvester Richardson, Eugene Robinson, James Sale, and Joseph Walton were captured.

The names I have made bold and italicized are officers from New Kent or were serving in New Kent units.

With the "Monitors" in the Summer of 1863- IV

The conclusion of the story of the 127th New York and their time in New Kent in 1863 . . .

On Sunday, July 5th, part of the regiment was on picket on the Railroad, about two miles from camp, thirty-two men and an officer on each post, while others were taking up the rails and loading them on boats. General Dix ordered General Keyes to vigorously attack the enemy toward Bottoms Bridge, and notified him that if he failed to do so he would be superseded by General Gordon. The men on picket feasted on blackberries, which were very abundant, and which afforded an agreeable change from the salt horse and pork furnished by Uncle Sam; they also opened the ice house of a Confederate, who "left in too much of a hurry to be able to take his ice away with him." That portion of the regiment left in camp had nothing to do but amuse themselves, and the little negro, "Dick," with his brother, furnished an entertainment in the shape of plantation dances which brought them a harvest of small coins. 

On July 6th Confederate General Hill informed the Richmond War Office that a considerable battle had been fought on the North Anna, with musketry and artillery, and that a mere skirmish occurred at the Bridge over the South Anna, and that the Federals had retired across the Pamunkey River. The Richmond War Office also notified General Hill that for the purpose of removing the menace to Richmond, it was desirable that the Federals at White House should be dispersed, chastised or captured. But General Hill in reply stated that the streams were all flooded, the roads impassable for artillery, and that no movement against the Federals could be made. He also expressed the opinion that the Federals would probably change their base to Petersburg or Washington. 

On Tuesday, July 7th, General Getty returned to White House, having been unable to destroy the bridges over the Annas, but he reported having torn up the track of the Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad for several miles. The picket line was evacuated at midnight, and the 127th returned to camp in a heavy rain. After being furnished with rations, at daylight we started on our way back to Yorktown; the rain was still falling, and the roads were in fearful condition, the mud being deep and slimy, while the corduroy road was broken in places, making the marching most trying. Mud was thick enough to take the shoes off your feet, some of the men actually losing them from that cause. The regiment halted one hour at New Kent Court House for breakfast and rest, and then resumed the march through Slatersville, resting near Barhamsville for supper, after which we again took up the march till we arrived at Burnt Ordinary at 9 p.m. While on the march we had one alarm, and were ordered to halt and get our traps, i.e., knapsacks and haversacks, ready to throw off in case we were attacked; but the alarm proved false and the march was continued. General Gordon, who commanded our Division, says that we marched twenty-four miles through deep mud and over broken roads, while Colonel Boughton of the 143d gives the distance as twenty-eight miles through mud six inches deep. But this rapid marching, however difficult, had been necessary to prevent our rear guard being attacked by General Hill. Wood says: 'On this march one of the boys, being in the rear, came across a number of men from another regiment who tauntingly asked 'where is the 127th;' and the reply came 'ten miles ahead and marching like H---- .' "He also states that although the 127th were called "clam diggers" by the 144th, the main portion of the 127th came into bivouac with their colors, while the majority of the men in the other regiments had straggled badly, causing one of the officers to remark "that the 127th could march the 144th to death and then dig clams enough for supper!" It is the writer's impression that the 127th called the 144th "Bark peelers," because many of them had before enlistment worked at gathering bark for tanning leather.

-The History of the 127th New York Volunteers, "Monitors," in the War for the Preservation of the Union -- September 8th, 1862, June 30th, 1865

by McGrath, Franklin, ed

With the "Monitors" in the Summer of 1863- III

Lt. Col. Stewart Lyndon Woodford, of the 127th

The next morning (Saturday) at 8 a.m. the regiment marched for White House. The roads were still heavy with mud and marching was very tedious. The ground at White House has a beautiful flat two miles long, lying about thirty feet above the level of the river, where boats were passing up and down within fifty feet of the bank. This plantation was the property of the Widow Custis when Washington married her, and it was here that the first three months of their married life was spent. The house had been destroyed, but the ruins, including the large chimney, were plainly visible. 

At sunset the steamer John Brooks passed up the river loaded with troops; also a schooner which brought up a locomotive and freight cars. On the next day we had a regimental inspection, followed by a storm in the afternoon; seven transports with troops arrived, among whom were the 13th Indiana that was camped alongside our regiment at Suffolk; our men cooked supper for them, and their officers were entertained by ours. Troops continued arriving all day. Rain had fallen every day from the 24th, when the regiment left the Six Mile Ordinary. The confederate Adjutant General Cooper advised General Lee that the concentration of 20,000 to 30,000 Federal troops on the Peninsula, either for the purpose of assaulting Richmond or interrupting Lee's communication, rendered it impracticable to carry out General Lee's wish to have an auxiliary force concentrated at Culpeper, Virginia. 

On the 29th a conference of Generals Dix, Keyes, Terry, Getty, Gordon, Harlan and Foster was held, at which Colonel Spear of the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry reported that in his raid he had destroyed the Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad Bridge over the South Anna and had captured General Fitz-Hugh Lee and one hundred prisoners; he also reported that the available force protecting Richmond was from twelve to fourteen thousand men. It was then decided that the Richmond fortifications could not be successfully attacked with our force of 20,510 men, and it was decided to request General Halleck to transfer the troops to General Meade's army. 

On June 30th it was still raining, and troops were still arriving; the regiment was mustered for pay and the lost shoulder scales were charged to the men. On July 1st General Getty with 10,000 troops started to seize and destroy the railroad bridges over the North and South Anna Rivers, while General Keyes with about 6,000 men was to cause a diversion in his favor by vigorously attacking the enemy at Bottoms Bridge, with orders to maintain his position two or three days; while General Gordon, reinforced by Spinola's Brigade, was ordered to Tunstall’s Station as a reserve for both columns. The 127th were kept on guard at White House with pickets well thrown out, all the troops but our brigade having marched with these two expeditions. July 2d was very hot; at 4 p. m. firing was heard from the direction of Bottoms Bridge and continued for half an hour and at intervals during the evening and through the night there was both heavy musketry and cannon firing. 

General Keyes, who had been ordered to vigorously attack the enemy at Bottoms Bridge and to hold his position for two or three days, made the attack, but afterwards fell back, and the Confederate General Hill reported to the Richmond War Office that the Yankees had been driven back toward White House, and offered to send up Cooke's Brigade, 2,751 strong, to reinforce the troops defending the bridges over the Annas. It was therefore evident that General Keyes' attack was of little value as a diversion in favor of General Getty. 

On July 3d the men of our regiment on picket were relieved at 3 a.m. and were ordered to pack up and be ready to move; wagons were loaded and horses kept harnessed, and it was rumored that we were going to Baltimore or Washington; but after waiting all day marching orders were countermanded. 

July 4th, which was another very hot day, was observed by firing a national salute at noon, while the sound of distant guns indicated that General Getty was attacking the bridges over the Annas. Troops in camp kept pretty quiet during the day, but at night we were allowed to build a large fire and addresses were made by General Gordon, Colonel Gurney and Lieutenant Colonel Woodford. General Gordon read a dispatch from General Halleck announcing General Meade's victory over Lee at Gettysburg, and our drum corps played patriotic airs.

-The History of the 127th New York Volunteers, "Monitors," in the War for the Preservation of the Union -- September 8th, 1862, June 30th, 1865

by McGrath, Franklin, ed

With the "Monitors" in the Summer of 1863- II

Part two of an account of the 127th New York Volunteers on the Peninsula in 1862 . . .

On June 14th Colonel Porter of the 40th Massachusetts reported that he had captured Diascund Bridge without serious opposition, and General Halleck the same day informed General Dix that General Lee's army was in motion up the Shenandoah Valley, and directed him to concentrate all of his available force and threaten Richmond, to seize and destroy the railroad bridges over the North and South Anna Rivers, and to do the enemy all the damage he could. General Dix was unable to promptly comply with this order, as the transports necessary to transfer the portion of his force from Norfolk were being used at Acquia Creek by the War Department; still the probability is that the delay made little difference, as General Lee had on the 12th ordered General Hill to move troops forward, and protect the bridges over the two Annas, and also to protect the approaches to Richmond. 

On the 15th the weather was again oppressively warm. The pickets brought in about a dozen prisoners, suspected of bush-whacking, and a wounded Union cavalry man, who had been fired upon from ambush, while picking berries, passed through camp on his way to the rear. The 16th was another very warm day, and as the regiment was camped in an open field with no other shelter than a rail fence the heat was very oppressive. Rations, which consisted of hard tack, pork and coffee, were getting scarce, and the visit of the paymaster afforded no relief, as nothing could be purchased in the neighborhood. 

On the 18th General Dix ordered General Gordon to make his troops as comfortable as possible, and on the 19th we were glad to get our knapsacks and shelter tents which had been left behind at the Williamsburg camp. The regiment had been since the nth in bivouac under such shelter as could be improvised by the use of fence rails and rubber blankets, and the officers had not only fared the same as the men in this respect, but some had been glad to share the men's rations. The Field and Staff occupied a four foot high shelter made of fence rails and rubber blankets, and the dignified Lieutenant Colonel and the gruff Major could, at times, be seen crawling in and out on their hands and knees. The whole situation tended to laxity in dignity, and the customary lectures to delinquent officers, which were usually followed by the "good morning'" style of dismissal, were for the time omitted. The writer recalls seeing General Schimmelfennig and Staff crawl out at reveille from among the bivouac of the rank and file when the troops first reached Newport News on their way to South Carolina, but he never again had the pleasure of seeing any of the Field officers of the 127th regiment roughing it as the enlisted men had to do, though they enjoyed that privilege when the regiment marched up the Charleston and Savannah Railroad from Pocotaligo to Charleston. The shelter tents were received and pitched not any too soon, as on the night following their arrival it rained very hard, and we were glad to have even this partial protection. 

The Confederate Field returns on the 20th showed 10,176 troops "for duty" in the defenses of Richmond, and on the 21st the Confederate Secretary of War notified General Hill that the Federals were concentrating 20,000 troops at Yorktown for an advance on Richmond, but General Hill expressed the opinion that the Federals were going to attack the bridges over the Annas. On the 23d our regiment was ordered to pack our woolen blankets into the knapsacks that they might be sent back to Fort Magruder to be stored. General confusion now prevailed in camp; cooks were preparing rations, and those men who had received boxes from home were distributing their contents among their best friends, that the good things of this life, which they had just received, might be put where they would do the most good. 

At 11 p.m. the regiment fell in and marched about eleven miles, reaching Barnesville(Barhamsville?) about three o'clock the next morning (24th), where we bivouacked near the camp of the 144th N. Y. We did not break camp until the 25th, and the men made themselves as comfortable as possible by the use of small pine poles and shelter tents. Colonel Spear with eight hundred Pennsylvania and two hundred and fifty Illinois and Massachusetts Cavalry started out to attempt the destruction of the Virginia Central Railroad bridge over the South Anna River. 

It rained hard during the night of the 24th and the day of the 25th, and while other troops were still marching by the regiment remained in bivouac until 4.30 p. m., when we were ordered to fall in and follow them. After marching about 1 1/2 miles we came to a large piece of woods near Ropers Church, in which the other troops were camped and where we also bivouacked. It was raining hard and the outlook for a comfortable night was not promising, but the shelter tents were quickly pitched and floored with a rubber blanket, and large fires were soon started at which the savory coffee furnished by Uncle Sam was cooked, and the groups of three could soon be seen sitting in the edge of their tents laughing and joking as they ate their supper of coffee, crackers and pork. The ground outside of the tents was speedily ditched enough to keep out the running water, and it was not long after supper before the men were dreaming of the "good time coming." General Gordon in commenting upon the cheerful bearing of the troops under such gloomy circumstances said it indicated the ability of the American soldier to adapt himself to his surroundings. 

The same day the Confederate Secretary of War notified General Hill that the Federals had landed six thousand troops at White House, and he ordered Jenkins' Confederate Brigade (2,632 strong) up to Richmond. At an early hour on the morning of the 26th, the regiment with the rest of the column broke camp and in a drizzling rain resumed the march toward the White House; as the roads were heavy with mud and the clothing and equipment damp, the march was very trying. At 3 p.m. we passed New Kent Court House on our left and arrived at Cumberland Landing on the Pamunkey River about 6 p.m. and bivouacked with many other troops already there.

-The History of the 127th New York Volunteers, "Monitors," in the War for the Preservation of the Union -- September 8th, 1862, June 30th, 1865

McGrath, Franklin, ed

-TO BE CONTINUED

With the "Monitors" in the Summer of 1863- I

Find below the beginning of an account of the movements of the 127th New York Volunteers(the "Monitors")across New Kent during June and July, 1863 . . .

At 4 p.m. the men embarked on the steamer Belvidere, and, arriving at Yorktown at 7 p.m., marched to a point about one mile to the rear of the town and there pitched their shelter tents. The camp was named "Howland," presumably in honor of Captain Howland, the former Commandant of Company A. The same day the Richmond War Office, which had been keeping a close watch on our troops at West Point, notified General Lee of the evacuation of the place. As soon as we were fairly in camp at Yorktown drills and camp routine were resumed, and on the 5th and 6th of June the regiment participated in a Brigade drill, and was also drilled at target firing. This camp was situated about half a mile from the river and the same distance from the village of Yorktown, a place consisting of a few houses, the most of which are venerable looking; the country about is level and swampy, and gives evidence of the desolation of war; the river is quite salt here and abounds in fish, oysters, clams, crabs, etc., which were quite a treat to us (when we were lucky enough to get any of them). June 3d the whole of Company H went in bathing in salt water for the first time since leaving old Long Island's "sea-girt shore." At 10 a.m. of the 9th the 127th Regiment with two brigades of infantry, six batteries of light artillery and some cavalry left Yorktown and marched to within one and one-half miles of Williamsburg, and then filed to the right and camped, about 6 o'clock, within sight of the York river. The day had been excessively warm, and the roads very muddy. The next morning we pitched our shelter tents, expecting to remain at the new camp a few days. 

The Confederates were still closely watching every movement of our troops, and the Richmond war office notified General D. H. Hill that the Federals were about to make a movement to cut the railroad between Richmond and the Rappahannock, and perhaps march upon Richmond, and General Lee advised that General Cook's brigade be sent to Hanover Junction, and Jenkins' brigade to the crossings of the Chickahominy. 

General Gordon having received orders from General Dix to move his Division forward as far as seemed prudent, with a view of locating the Confederates and keeping them on the move, the Division left Williamsburg, soon after daybreak of the nth, in light marching order, leaving tents standing, and taking only rubber and woolen blankets, 60 rounds of ammunition and three days' rations, the march being up the old Richmond post road, the 127th New York leading the way. From about ten miles beyond Williamsburg the right wing of the regiment was deployed as skirmishers. At 3 p.m. column halted for dinner at Burnt Ordinary, about twelve miles from Williamsburg. At 4 p.m. the 127th New York, accompanied by a company of cavalry and a battery of artillery, were ordered forward toward Diascund Bridge, in front of which a body of Confederates was supposed to be posted in a strong position. The left wing of the regiment, consisting of Companies A, D and I, were deployed as skirmishers. After marching about four miles, as the regiment approached Edward's Mill, several men were seen to run from the mill toward the bridge. After crossing the bridge over the mill stream, one section of artillery and Company H were left to guard the bridge and about one mile further on Company B were posted at a cross road. The balance of the regiment pressed forward for about one-fourth of a mile, when the skirmish line was met by a brisk fire from the Confederates concealed in the woods, and by the time the rest of the troops reached the top of the hill the firing became general. 

Private Bookstaver of A was wounded in the first fire and taken to the rear, as the regiment moved to the front. The musketry fire was kept up by both sides for about an hour, but no further advance was made, and as darkness was approaching and the section of artillery could not be brought into position the regiment was withdrawn and returned to Burnt Ordinary about 11 p.m., and there bivouacked, the men being thoroughly tired and thirsty, as the day had been hot and the water scarce. 

The march had extended over 26 to 28 miles, and when the regiment finally halted, the men were glad to roll themselves in their blankets without waiting to find particularly soft spots to lie on, and they did not permit the shots fired by the pickets at some stray sheep to disturb them. 

On this day Confederate General Jones reported the Federal troops, between two thousand and twenty-five hundred strong, advancing as far as the Burnt Ordinary, and General Wise also reported the Federals in force at Hickory Neck Academy and also on the Diascund Road. 

While on the skirmish line in the advance toward Diascund Bridge, the second platoon of Company H lost their way and was unable to join the regiment until the following afternoon. While wandering around they visited several houses, possibly with a view of adding to their store of rations, which was not especially inviting. 

Learning at one house that the old man '"had just returned from Richmond," and was at a neighbor's half a mile distant, Corporal Hunting and four men were sent to find him. Each man had his position assigned him, the approach of the house being made from the rear. As the Corporal came in front of the house two supposed Confederates dodged in. He, the Corporal, soon saw a double barreled gun pointed at him from a window, to avoid the contents of which he slipped behind an out-building. The gun was fired either at him or at one of the men, and, thinking they had run into the picket line, the squad hastened back to the main body. Then they learned that Jacob Reese¹ was missing, and recollecting having heard a cry they concluded that he had received the shot fired. 

Saturday, the 13th, a force from the 4th Delaware Cavalry² was sent to the house, which they burned, and the body of Reese was recovered. He had been shot through the body and had lived three hours and had been buried by the negroes on the place. Men were detailed to recover the body and give it a soldier's burial, the place of interment being near a church about two miles from our camp. The scouts of Holcomb's Confederate Cavalry reported that they killed one of the Federals at Dr. Jennings', whose residence it probably was from which the shot was fired. 

Then on the march from Williamsburg a point was reached where a fine stream of clear, cool water flowed alongside the road, and several men quickly stepped out of line and dipped their tin cups in the stream; but they were ordered back in words more forcible than polite. The captain having resumed his place, the temptation proved too great to resist, and the attempt to quench the thirst was again made, and in some cases met partial success, which even the presence of a dead horse discovered in the stream a few feet further on did not materially mar. The water was wet and had cooled the parched throats, and we had long since ceased to be fastidious in supplying our various wants. 

The next morning found the men footsore and ready to rest. The bivouac was moved into the edge of a piece of woods, and most of the men were soon taking advantage of a stream flowing near the camp, washing and getting in trim for the next movement. At 2 o'clock the regiment was marched back four miles to Airy Plains, near the Six Mile Ordinary, where it bivouacked without, however, any shelter except what could be improvised with the blankets. 

¹Jacob Reis, enlisted, August 22, 1862, at the age of 22 in Greenport, New York
Greenport,

²There was no 4th Delaware Cavalry, most likely this was the 4th Delaware Infantry which was on the Peninsula at the time.


Burnt Ordinary= Toano
Six Mile Ordinary= Norge

-The History of the 127th New York Volunteers, "Monitors," in the War for the Preservation of the Union -- September 8th, 1862, June 30th, 1865

by McGrath, Franklin, ed

-TO BE CONTINUED

July 3 1863- Grand Carnival of Mars

New Kent County's two infantry companies in the Confederate Army, the Pamunkey Rifles and the Barhamsville Greys, were elements of the 53rd Virginia Infantry Regiment. The 53rd Virginia was part of Armistead's brigade of Pickett's division and as such was one of the lead elements in Pickett's Charge on the final day of the Battle of Gettysburg. Below, part of a much longer piece about his experiences during the war, are the recollections of Benjamin Lyons Farinholt (Pamunkey Rifles) about the battle.

Finally the supreme trial came, when, after having lost thousands at Chancellorsville and the Wilderness, and, as Gen. Lee aptly said, "lost our right arm" in the death of that great and inimitable Christian soldier, Stonewall Jackson, and after many other small battles — small only in comparison with larger engagements — we crossed once more the Potomac and took up our line of march for the fat pastures of Pennsylvania.

Our especial command, Pickett's Division, was engaged in the destruction of a railroad near Chambersburg by piling up the wooden ties and kindling them into huge fires, on which the iron rails were heated and bent, when, on the 2d of July, we received orders to prepare three days' rations, and in a few hours thereafter were on the road for Gettysburg, where we arrived about daybreak, after a hard march of twenty- eight miles, and took our place in line on the verge of the battle-field on the morning of that memorable 3d of July, 1863.

These two mighty armies, after rapidly concentrating their forces during the heavy fighting which had lasted for two days with thundering cannon, charge of infantry, and onset of cavalry, with varying fortune for advantage and position, and so far without any decisive result, now plumed their banners, reformed their lines, and confronted each other on this arena for the greatest battle of modern times — Lee with sixty-five thousand, Meade with one hundred and seventeen thousand, trained and tried veterans of two years' hard service. Thus, on this lovely midsummer day, when all nature in her luxuriant garb seemed wooing peace, was fought the battle which made the whole world stand aghast. Absolute chaos seemed to reign — the resounding boom of three hundred pieces of cannon, the incessant whir of bombs, the deafening explosion of whole caissons of ammunition, the whiz of canister and shrapnel, followed by the at first sharp crack and then steady roar of musketry, as regiments, brigades, and divisions would come to close quarters, forgetful of everything but this grand carnival of Mars.

Some idea may be gained of the concentration and intensity of the artillery fire when, within thirty minutes after the opening guns announced the battle commenced, the stretcher and ambulance corps had to be doubled to take off the wounded and dying. As the heavy artillery fire, kept up for hours, gradually ceased, it proved only a prelude to the general advance of our infantry all along the line. When, after advancing about a thousand yards under a withering fire from both infantry and artillery in front and a galling fire from several batteries stationed on Little Round Top Mountain, on our right flank, with unbroken ranks, save to close the gaps as men fell to the right and left, our decimated ranks pressed forward, delivering their fire in the very faces of the brave Federals, who defended their guns with great coolness and sheer desperation, but could not withstand our impetuous charge with the bayonet. Over we went into the Federal rifle-pits and over the re-enforced stone fence (called now the Bloody Angle), behind which the foe was entrenched. There, in a hand-to-hand engagement, where bayonet and pistol and butt of musket were liberally used, we captured all who wen killed or had not tied, virtually conquering and holding for a time the strongest position of the Federal line of battle on Cemetery Ridge, the very center and key of the Federal defense. Gen. Armistead claimed the day as ours, and, standing by one of the captured pieces of artillery, where the brave Federal Capt. Gushing had fallen, with his dead men and horses almost covering the ground, called on us to load and use the captured cannon on the fleeing foe.

Just then Hancock's command came forward with full ranks and fresh for the struggle, attacking us with great impetuosity and delivering against our much decimated ranks at close range at least fifty bullets to our five. Gen. Armistead was laid low by three wounds at their first fire: Gen. Kemper had also fallen in the charge, desperately wounded: Garnett had been killed, and three-fourths of our field and company officers were either killed or wounded. The writer was shot through the thigh, and Col. Martin, our gallant regimental leader, received a shot through the hip which almost proved fatal. Pandemonium complete, and for a time no quarter was asked nor given, and many on each side lost their lives. Many shots were fired at such close rang afterward to burn the clothes or flesh of the victims with powder. From sheer exhaustion and overpowering numbers, the remnant of Pickett's Division, the flower of Virginia's contribution to the Confederacy, yielded themselves captives, being literally surrounded and beaten into submission. Heth's Division, on our left, having given away, the enemy had advanced their columns so as to overwhelm us.

While we were receiving and returning as best we could the fire of Hancock's fresh regiments, at the extreme climax of this fight the writer saw a grandson of President Tyler, Robert Tyler Jones, himself already bleeding profusely from a serious wound, wave his pistol and threaten to shoot the first man who offered to surrender.

What must have been the feelings of the handsome and brave Picket as he saw the greater portion of his division, of which he was justly so proud, killed, wounded, or captured, and only about six hundred return from the bloody charge

The writer was taken from the field with other wounded who were captured, and we were guarded for the night with a cordon of infantry and cavalry. In being taken to the rear we could see the terrible loss we had inflicted upon the Federal army, for every nook in the fence, every little stream of water to which they could crawl, every barn and shed, every yard and shade-tree were literally burdened with their dead, wounded, and dying. The writer remarked to a fellow officer, who was terribly disconsolate over our loss, that, while our division was nearly annihilated, it must have been the dearest victory ever purchased by any commander, and a few such, while crippling the Confederacy, would almost destroy the enemy.

The next day we were taken to Westminster, Md., under a heavy guard, but not before Gen. Meade had ascertained that Gen. Lee would not again give battle, for really Meade was in no hurry to keep up the fight after so heavy a loss as his army sustained. Lee presented with his depleted ranks, after three days of this conflict, such a front as kept the Federal commander in doubt as to what he would do.

-Confederate Veteran Magazine, September 1897

1863: Sunken Mules and Quick-Pig

An excerpt from Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865: A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day by S. Millett Thompson (Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888)

July 8(1863). Wed. Hot; heavy showers. Reg. marches at 6 a.m. to New Kent Court House and about six miles beyond. Distance twelve miles. Roads one mass of mud. Two wagons are mired in one place, cannot be extricated and are burned. The worst roads and worst mud we ever saw. As we march to-day over a bad corduroy road, old, rotten and strewn with army waste, a big darkey, leading a mule, gets off the road with his charge and into a deep slough. The darkey is rescued with a pole, but the mule goes down down, until his ears and sorry countenance are alone visible- a sudden struggle, a gulp or two, and a few bubbles are the last signs of the mule. The darkey's sole comment, given with a scared grin, was: "I, golly! Done gone forebber!" as he plainly saw how he himself might also have gone under, but for that pole and a few strong men. The Thirteenth are all placed on picket, tonight as rear-guard, and forage far and wide for something good to eat. 

During the first halt, near New Kent Court House, of scarcely half an hour and in a pouring rain, some of the men have a lunch of 'quick-pig.' They had caught him a mile or two back, had knocked him on the head and partly dressed him while they marched. Instantly upon halting the pig is cut into very thin slices and distributed, a fire is built- of dry wood found in some wood-shed by the way, rolled in a rubber blanket and lugged may be for a mile or more- the thin slices of meat are rolled in salt, put on a green stick, and broiled in the fire. When a dozen veteran soldiers start upon an affair of this kind, a halt of ten or fifteen minutes suffices to furnish them with a hearty meal.

After this first halt, the 13th moves a little way to drier land near some buildings, and remains there for nearly two hours. Then marches about four hours to make six miles; the teams in the train, we are guarding, sticking fast in the mud at every few rods. We are marching to Hampton as a convoy to the wagon train. 

Keyes Tries to Justify his Actions . . . and Inactions

Some final words on the July 1863 raid/diversion . . .

 . . . well I have to admit this is the first time I've heard New Kent compared to the Vendée
  
. . . but in the end his justifications did him little good.

Report of D. H. Hill

-The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies: Chapter XXXIX - Operations in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Department of the East. June 3-August 3, 1863.

Depredations and Dear Vegetables

High prices.

--Vegetables of every kind continue to command exorbitant prices in the markets, notwithstanding the large quantities cultivated in the city and its vicinity. Choice articles are kept high by the demand for them in eating houses and other public places. Just now Hanover and New Kent are not furnishing their usual supplies; and the fact that hams are scarce, and some neighborhoods have no means of sending to market gives the speculators a good opportunity for keeping up prices.

 The Yankees on the peninsula.

We learn by the York River train yesterday that yesterday morning there was not a Yankee at the White House. The Yankees who were there have embarked, and a good many more from the other side of the Pamunkey. An officer who was scouting near the White House on Tuesday night heard a long train of artillery pass, to that place, accompanied by infantry. As this force had all disappeared yesterday morning, it is supposed to have embarked there in transports for Washington. 

A gentleman who resides in King William, and who has been a refugee in this city since the enemy entered his county, yesterday received information that they had left the county, moving down in the direction of the White House. Before they left they committed more than their usual number of thefts, and enticed and forced off a large number of negroes. In the neighborhood of Mangohick Church their depredations were more extensive than in any other part of the county.

-from the Richmond Daily Dispatch of July 9 & 10, 1863 respectively.

". . . was not paid"

The Ninth "on to Richmond."

The Federal in King William have fallen back from Mangohick Church to Acquinton Church, about 20 miles. They destroyed all the crops in their track. By the York River train, yesterday afternoon, we learn that it was supposed the Yankees were leaving and going down the Peninsula. A deserter from the 163rd New York regiment, who was brought to the city, slates that Getty's division embarked at the White House Tuesday afternoon, at 4 o'clock, in transports for Washington. Foster's troops from Newbern, he said, were also reported, in Dix's army, to have gone to the same destination. A division of brigade of Dix's troops had left for Portsmouth Colonel Spear's cavalry were still on the Peninsula. This is a deserter's story, which may be true of may not. The fellow very frankly said that the reason he deserted was because he was not paid.

-Richmond Daily Dispatch, July 9, 1863

"All testimony corroborates the correctness of our decision . . ."

-The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies: Chapter XXXIX - Operations in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Department of the East. June 3-August 3, 1863.

The Affair from a Naval View

-Official records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. ; Series I - Volume 9: North Atlantic Blockading Squadron (May 5, 1863 - May 5, 1864)

More on the USS Shokokon 

Captain Peirce Crosby some twenty years later, after he had risen to the rank of Rear Admiral.