Skirmish at New Market Bridge December 1861 III- Postscript

 From the New York Times of March 2, 1862

MISCELLANEOUS REBELLION NEWS.; AFFAIRS AT FORT MONROE.

Correspondence of the Philadelphia Ledger.

NEWPORT's NEWS, VA., Sunday, Feb. 23, 1862.

The French Emperor seems resolved to secure proper respect for his Government in our waters. To the vessels already lying in Hampton Roads -- the Pomone and the Catanet -- another, bearing the flag of the Empire, has been added -- making altogether an armament of thirty-eight guns. The officers in command on these vessels bear themselves with characteristic politeness, and there is no want of salutes and other naval courtesies on every occasion allowing them.

The Roanoke, whose disability has not yet been repaired, is coolly laying for the Merrimac, which is reported fully ready for active service and very anxious to get out of Norfolk harbor. She is completely iron-clad, but so clumsily that her decks are merely above water. A queer experiment has been tested, I believe satisfactorily, on the Roanoke, for the benefit of the resurrected Merrimac. The object was to determine whether an anchor could be thrown from the mainmast upon a vessel alongside, and the intention is to run, by the aid of a tug, upon the secession steamer, when she makes her long-looked-for appearance, and introduce her to the bottom of the James River sans ceremonie(sic).

What all reconnaissance and scouting has failed to resolve, has at length, accidentally, as you have doubtless learned, been made evident -- the actual nature and strength of the works at Big Bethel. A party from Newport's News, with a flag of truce, was lost among the roads in that neighborhood a few days ago, and instead of approaching the place in front, blindfolded, they positively stumbled into the redoubted position with their eyes wide open, having in their wanderings got to its rear. It appears to have always been a very incomplete affair, consisting, in all, of three parallel intrenchments, directly beyond each other, with their accompanying earthworks, without any flank trenching worthy the name. But the strength of the place consisted of an almost impassable swamp, between the battery and the ground on which the First New-York Regiment deployed, with the idea of storming the works, an the 10th of June, 1861, immediately before all self-possession departed from the commanding General.

"Let by-gones be by-gones." Whatever Big Bethel was on that unfortunate day, it is certainly a pitiable sight now, dismantled, not containing a single piece of ordnance, and with its hundred miserable and woe-begone occupants, wan with sickness and privation, and wretched in the hopelessness of their cause, defeat echoing in their ears from every direction. You will regret, of course, to learn that the ancient edifice from which we have the title "Big Bethel," the great and venerable church in which the picus sires of "degenerate sons" delighted -- lists been destroyed. It had been transformed into a sort of barracks by the rebels, and not the ghost of sanctity lingered, but was dispelled by the odious rascals. It was the Pennsylvania Eleventh Cavalry that did the business for it. When Gen. MANSFIELD issued orders retaliatory for acts of incendiarism committed by the enemy, they drove the Secessionists like chaff before them, compelling their exit just at meal-time, when they had their beefsteak frying on the stove -- a state of things which must have added inconceivably to their distress. From the conflagration of the building nothing was saved but the builder's account-book, a portion of which is in the hands of a private of Company L, and which is a quaint relic, containing debits and credits concerning worthy masons and carpenters dating in the last century. The Secessionists had been using it to express their whims, and in a blank place was freshly written, "Miss Dolly Carter, of Kentucky, the belle of the Southwest;" and coupled with it, no doubt by the faint-hearted lover himself: "Brig.-Gen. Walter R. Tally, New-Kent troops." By the same hand also was inscribed: "The New-Kent Light Horse Dragoons are spoiling for a fight with the Mounted Dutchmen" -- obviously referring to the Pennsylvania Cavalry, which did not let them "spoil" long; and again, "The New-Kent Light Horse -- the TERROR of the Yankee Pups." This, in connection with the unceremonious flight of the "Terror" upon the advent of the identical "Mounted Dutchmen" and "Yankee Pups," is very good of the Brigadier-General -- also, of the "New-Kent Light Horse." By the way, the Eleventh, which has been at Old Point (Camp Hamilton) over two months now, has done yeoman service in this quarter, in hunting out and chasing the rebels away. It consists of twelve companies, and is a full regiment. The Colonel, a brave soldier and a true patriot -- JOSIAH HALLAN* -- is a Philadelphian, though his troops are from all parts of the State. In fact, found a whole company of Pittsburghers and Western Pennsylvania men, (among them, Company L, Capt. LOOMIS and Lieut. MAHON,) and quite a number of Ohioans. The health of the inch has been bad, owing to exposures, and in the short space of six months over thirty deaths from disease have occurred. Only yesterday, a member of Company K was carried to his last home, a victim of typhoid.

The aforementioned Walter R. Tally, was in fact Walter Richard Talley, 18, son of William C. Talley. Enlisting in June of 1861 he would serve until Appomattox attaining the rank not of Brigadier General but Corporal. He died in 1906 at the Soldiers Home Robert E. Lee Camp in Richmond.

*This is none other than Joisah Harlan, the famous Prince of Ghor

 

Skirmish at New Market Bridge December 1861- II

 

NEWS FROM FORTRESS MONROE.

Full Account of the Newmarket Bridge Affair.

GALLANTRY OF OUR GERMAN TROOPS.

Plan of the battle field.

Money and Clothing Sent to Our Soldiers with the Rebels,

&

Fortress Monroe, Dec. 26
Via Baltimore, Dec, 28, 1861

A flag truce took an immense quantity of clothes to Norfolk this afternoon, destined for the Union prisoners at Richmond, New Orleans and elsewhere.

The gunboat Keystone State arrived hero this afternoon from Bermuda. She has two cases of smallpox on board. She will remain at Quarantine.

The Keystone State has been in pursuit of the privateer Sumter, but has not seen her. She brings no news.

The brig Empire, from Boston, via Newport, arrived here this afternoon. She has, an assorted cargo of apples, preserved meats and such articles, destined for Port Royal.

 

           OUR FORTRESS MONROE CORRESPONDENCE.

                                                          Fortress Monroe, Va, Dec 23, 1861

 

Brilliant Skirmish of a Battalion of the Twentieth Regiment New York Volunteers, Colonel Max Weber, with the Rebels- Graphic Description of the Engagement- The Rebels have an Entire Company of Infantry Composed of Negroes- The Enemy Driven Dark- Ten Rebels Killed and upwards of Twenty Wounded-  Gallant Behavior of Our Troops- Major Schnoepf Bravely leading His Troops- Reinforcements Arrive after the Enemy had Retreated- Two Rebels Shot, and, Falling into the Back River are Floated Off with the Tide- One of them Proves to be John Hawkins, Adjutant of the Alabama Minute Men- Released Rebels Sent to Norfolk, &.,&,

The monotony of camp life here and at Camp Hamilton* was broken yesterday by the intelligence that an action of some magnitude had taken place between a detachment of 150 men of  the Twentieth Regiment New York Volunteers, in command of Major Engelbert Schnoepf, and about hundred rebel soldiers. The particulars of the affair are as follows:- Major Schnoepf having lost a man from his command the day before, left Newport News on Sunday morning at eleven o'clock at the head of one hundred and fifty men, and wended his, way towards Newmarket Bridge in search of him. Arriving near the bridge, the Major detailed some of his men to cross the creek, and charged them to search closely in the woods, as the man may have hidden himself from the enemy, who was soon about the place for several days previous. The reserve was placed behind the Newmarket Bridge (that is, where the crossing normally was), and another detachment at Sinclair's farm. The position of our men had scarcely been taken up, when the skirmishers of the Twentieth regiment discovered the enemy, consisting of three companies of infantry, among them one company of negroes, who approached in the front, and made an attack. The left flank was attacked at the same time by two squadrons of cavalry, who came dashing along at a terrible gate and deafening yells. Our men stood their ground manfully, and, as soon as the proper moment came to fire, the cavalry being near enough (about 100 yards), the order to fire was given, and obeyed with alacrity. The reserve drove the cavalry back, killing several of them while retreating.

The skirmishers on the other side or the bridge were recalled by the Major, and owing to the bridge having been destroyed, they were compelled to swim across hotly pursued by the enemy.

The pursuit of the rebels was so determined that a hand to hand engagement occurred. The pursuing party was joined by the negro soldiers, and Captain Stumpf, of the Twentieth regiment, was struck upon the back with the butt end of a musket, but not seriously hurt.

Major Schnoepf hereupon took a position. deploying his entire force along the river banks as skirmishers, and a terrible fight ensued. The enemy fired by companies, whereas the fire of our men on the pursuers was by files, and so rapid that one rebel officer and a private that stood on the opposite shore were killed and tumbled into the river on their faces. The enemy thereupon withdrew as fast as possible, firing as they ran, leaving their dead and wounded behind. Six men of the Twentieth regiment were slightly wounded. The enemy's loss, as far as ascertained, was ten killed (three were picked up yesterday and seven to-day) and probably twenty or more wounded One of the letter was brought off the field and treated by Assistant Surgeon Heiland, of the Twentieth regiment. Several horses of the cavalry were also killed. The corpses of the two mon who fell into the crook floated off with the tide, and Acting Brigadier General Weber sent a detachment off to pick them up, if possible, in order to have them decently interred.

One of the bodies only was found, and in the centre of the forehead was a hole from a bullet, which evidently was the cause of the death of this poor man. In his pockets ware found a number of letters, and by that we ascertained that his name was John Hawkins, Adjutant of the Alabama Minute Men. On his coat the buttons bore the letters A.M.M. About thirty dollars in shinplasters was found on his body, and a small bag, slung about his neck, contained nineteen dollars in gold. The bills were on the banks of North Carolina and Virginia, and as low as ten cents in value. The enemy had retreated about three hundred paces, and having again taken up a position, commenced to pour a terrible fire upon Major Schnoepf's command, without however doing any execution. The shower of bullets was so terrible that the houses, trees and fences in the vicinity were completely riddled. The Turners† . however, being greatly inferior in strength, kept a safe distance and did not reply to this fire.

Immediately after the fight commenced Major Schnoepf, seeing that he had to cope with a force three to one, Sent off an orderly to Newport News, and also a messenger to Acting Brigadier General Max Weber, for reinforcements, Col. Max Weber instantly dispatched the six companies of the Twentieth regiment, in command of Lieutenant Colonel Francis Weiss stationed at Camp Hamilton and in company with Captain H. M. Burleigh, Provost Marshal of the camp proceeded to the scene of action. Brigadier General Joseph R.T. Mansfield also hastened to the battle field leading the remainder of the Twentieth regiment battalion at Newport News and the Second regiment New York Volunteers.

I herewith send a 

 TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP SHOWING THE SCENE OF THE ACTION

 

 

The Union Coast Guard, in the command of Colonel D.W. Wardrop, being anxious to participate in the affair, were in marching order in the shortest possible time, and reached to Hampton Bridge, where they were kept in reserve. Such was the anxiety of the Coast Guard to be in the fight that a number of them smuggled themselves into the ranks of the Twentieth regiment, and were only discovered after having crossed the bridge. The other regiments of General Weber's brigade were very much disappointed in not being able to march forward and mingle in the impending bottle as they thought.

When General Weber arrived at the scene of action the fight was over, and the enemy was still visible in the distance, on the retreat. General Weber, however, received information that several of the men belonging to Major Schnoepf's battalion were missing. He thereupon sent Lieut. Colonel Weiss in command of one company across Newmarket Bridge to follow the enemy in quest of the missing Turners. Colonel Weiss found three men who had been sent ahead as skirmishers, before the action and had(?????) the enemy the entire action between them end the Twentieth regiment, but had remained undiscovered by the rebels, lying in the woods.

Shortly after the arrival of the reinforcement, headed by General Weber, from Camp Hamilton, Brigadier General Mansfield and staff, an accompanied by the Second regiment N.Y. Vols. Colonel J.B. Carr came to the scene of action.

The enemy, however, had by this nine probably reached a distance of five miles, and the bridge being taken up our men could not march in pursuit.

Numerous trophies were captured by the gallant Twentieth. One beautiful saddle, belonging evidently to the horse of an officer that had been shot, wag brought back to Newport News, as also numerous muskets, sabres and pistols. 

The engagement commenced about one o'clock, and lasted until after three. Acting Brigadier General Weber and General Mansfield complimented General Shnoepf highly on his bravery and the steadiness of his men.

The Twentieth regiment acted with the precision of regulars, and not the first man was found to waver or fall back.

Dr. Heiland, Assistant Surgeon of the Twentieth regiment, accompanied the battalion, and proved himself not only a very efficient surgeon, but also a brave and courageous soldier. His ambulances and instruments were in readiness as soon as the first volley was fired, and to his care and skill it is owing that the few men wounded are in such good condition. None of our men who were hit by the enemy's shots are fatally injured. Julius Kumerie, of Company G, was shot In the arm; Christian Teubner, Company K, shot in the elbow and below the wrist; Orderly Sergeant Ruhr, of Company K, of Williamsburg, was wounded in the neck, but not fatally. The names of the other three I could not ascertain, they being at Newport News.

The rebels, although retreating before the steady fire of our men, behaved bravely fired their smooth bore muskets, notwithstanding well handled, were no match against the sharp arid deadly fire, handled with murderous aim by the gallant Twentieth regiment.

The main fight began at Sinclair's farm; but the enemy's line extending to Newmarket bridge, and the Twentieth regiment men being in a body there, the rebels concentrated their entire force at that point.

                 -The New York Herald, December 28, 1861

* Named for Lt. Col. Schuyler Hamilton.

† The 20th New York was know as the "Turner Rifles". The "Turner" refers to the turnverein movement, an athletic/gymnastic society originating in Germany and popular among German-Americans. The 20th New York was a heavily German-American regiment.

Skirmish at New Market Bridge December 1861

 A cotemporary article about the first serious engagement of the New Kent Cavalry in the Civil War.

THE FIGHT AT NEW MARKET BRIDGE.

at CAMP NEAR BETHEL, Dec. 23, 1861.

To the Editor of the Whig.-

As you have had No item from the Peninsula of late, I write you a brief account of the fight which came off at New Market Bridge, on yesterday, between two small parcels of our cavalry and infantry, and a body of the enemy, said to be 100 strong.

At an early hour yesterday morning, a detachment of fifty cavalry, (from New Kent, Old Dominion¹ and Black Walnut Companies²,) under the command of Major Phillips³, together with two small companies of the Eighth Alabama Regiment, all under the command of Col. Winston of said Regiment, started on a road in the direction of New Market Bridge, where it had been understood the enemy could be found in some force most every day; and having proceeded down the “Sawyer Swamp road" for about three miles, the commands divided, the infantry scouring the woods to the right of the road, aid the cavalry proceeding slowly forward. When within three miles of the bridge, Major Phillips, with a few men, moved forward as an advanced guard, leaving the remainder of the cavalry under the command of Lieut. Taylor⁴, of the New Kent Company, with Instructions to halt until he bad gotten a mile ahead, when his column proceed, to within a short distance of the bridge, the Major obliquing  to the right to ascertain the position of the infantry.

In a few moments a sharp firing of musketry announced that a skirmish had begun between our men and the enemy, in a field separated from us by a body of woods. The cavalry were immediately put in motion, and galloping through the intervening woods, soon appeared in the field, but only in time to see the Yankees beat a retreat across the creek to a place of security from our horsemen. They were, soon observed running in the direction of New Market Bridge, and spies were seen, evidently endeavoring to ascertain the amount of our force.

The Colonel ordered an advance guard from the cavalry, with which he hastened across to the little field in front of the bridge, the remainder of the cavalry bringing up the rear. In a few moments the firing announced that the enemy were again seen, and this time they happened to be in their favorite haunt, where they seemed for a time willing to make a stand. The body of the enemy were across the bridge, which was barricaded with barrels, and along a fence and ditch; running at right angles to the creek. At these latter the cavalry made a dash, compelling them to seek shelter with their comrades on the other side of the Creek, and out of the reach of our brave horsemen.

In the meantime the infantry charged nearly to the bridge, and regardless of the storm of bullets poured upon them from the concealed foe, they held their ground, advancing step by step, until the enemy were drive from their stronghold, abandoning their flag, which, together with a prisoner, fell into the hands of our men. The cavalry were much exposed during the action (which lasted twenty minutes) while the position of the enemy would not admit of a charge.

Both officers and men received like veterans several volleys from the bridge, and were also fired upon from an ambuscade, as they were led from their exposed position in front of the bridge. It is almost miraculous that one of them were killed. One of the Old Dominion Dragoons received a ball in the foot, while several of the New Kenters narrowly escaped with their lives! One of them had his horse shot under him, a ball grazed the top of his ear, taking off the skin, another had one barrel of his gun penetrated by a minnie(sic) ball, while two others received a ball through, their clothing. Colonel Winston was everywhere in the fight, exposing himself with perfect indifference to danger. Major Phillips acted with his usual coolness and bravery. Of the Infantry one man was killed and two wounded. The loss of the one enemy is ascertained to be thirteen killed and several wounded. After the fight our men returned in good order to camp.           A SPECTATOR

 

                -Richmond Whig, 2 January 1862

¹- Made up of men from Elizabeth City County(present day city of Hampton) it latter became Company B, 3rd Virginia Cavalry

²- Made up of men from Halifax County, it latter became Company B, 3rd Virginia Cavalry

³- Jefferson C. Phillips, formerly Captain of the Old Dominion Dragoons. A uniform coat worn by Phillips here.

⁴- This would be 28 year old Lt. Telemachus Taylor, who was acting commander of the company due to the illness and death of Capt. Melville Vaiden.

New Pages- New Rosters

You will see on the left, as part of an ongoing program, links to pages with rosters of the New Kent Cavalry (Co. F, 3rd Virginia Cavalry) and the Barhamsville Greys ( Co. B, 53rd Virginia Infantry).


Here are the direct links


Barhamsville Greys


New Kent Cavalry

Roster of New Kent Cavalry, Co. F, Third Virginia Cavalry Regiment

A simplified roster, a more complete one to follow, of the troop known as the New Kent Cavalry also known as the New Kent Dragoons, first Capt. Melville Vaiden's company of cavalry, later Co. K, then Co. F, of the Third Virginia Cavalry regiment.

Officers

Capt. Melville Vaiden - Original commander- died Dec. 1861

Capt. Telemachus Taylor - May 1862—resigned due to illness July 1862

Capt. Jones R. Christian - Elected 2^nd Lt. Apr. ’62 promoted Captain Dec. ‘62- captured May 18, 1864

Brumley, George T., 1^st Lt. (1^st Sgt. elected 1^st Lt. –Jun. ’61,– resigned Aug 1861)                

Clopton, William E., 1^st Lt. (promoted 2^nd Lt.- Sept. ’61, promoted 1^st Lt.- Apr.. ’62, resigned Sept. 1862. Captured July 1, 1863, exchanged Mar. 1864)

Lacy, Benjamin W., 1^st Lt. (promoted 1^st Sgt. Sept. ’61- 1^st Lt. – Jan. ’63)

Chandler, Oliver M., 2^nd Lt. (orig. 1^st Sgt., 3^rd Lt.- Sept. ’61, 2^nd  Lt. - Feb. ’62, discharged Apr. ’62.)

Christian, James S., 2^nd Lt. (promoted 2^nd Sgt. Feb. ’62, elected 2^nd Lt. – Apr. ‘62 – Killed Sept. 15, ’62, Boonsboro, MD)

Crump, Edgar M. 2^nd Lt. (elected 3^rd Lt. Jan. ’63, promoted 2^nd Lt. Aug. ’63)

McCheny, R., Lt.

Stamper, Henry W., 2^nd Lt. (elected from Sgt. Jan. ‘63- resigned commission June 1863 effective Aug.)

Savage, Southey L., 2^nd Lt. (promoted Feb. 1862. April ‘62 attached to the Adjutant and Inspector-General's Department of the CS Army.)

Non-commissioned Officers

Apperson, Robert C., Sgt.

Apperson, Samuel H., Sgt.          

Bland, Robert E., Sgt.     

Calthorn, M.A., Sgt.       

Christian, William, Sgt.

Jones, Chesley M., Sgt.

Minor, Ed C., 1st Sgt.

Tyree, George W., Sgt.

Royster, J.J., Sgt.

Williams, James C., Sgt.

Apperson, John C., Cpl.                

Bradenham, John R., Cpl.

Hicks, William A., Cpl.    

Mills, Archer W., Cpl.     

Pollard, William A., Cpl.

Royster, Littleton, Cpl.

Sherman, Michael, Cpl.

Marston, William W., Surgeon

Slater, Leonard A., Surgeon

Gregory, William T., Surgeon

Wilkinson, William L., Quarter Master

Privates

Adkins, W.F.                      

Apperson, William A.     

Atkinson, Frank               

Atkinson, Henry A.         

Atkinson, William E.       

Baldwin, George T.         

Ballard, William                

Blayton, John

Blayton, William A.

Boswell, James W

Boyd, George G.                             

Bradley, Pleasant            

Bradley, R.         

Bradley, Robert               

Burnett, Washington     

Burr, Henry D.

Christian, Armistead                      

Christian, John D., Jr.     

Christian, Robert O.       

Christian, William C.       

Clark, Wm. Alpheus       

Clarke, Richard A.            

Clarke, William R.                            

Coke, W.A.        

Cook, William E.               

Crump, D. W.                    

Crump, George T.           

Crump, H. Clay

Crump, Hammond F.     

Crump, John W.

Crump, L.            

Crump, Z. Taylor

Cumber, Wm. N.  - bugler           

Dandridge, Bat C.            

Davis, John A.   

Davis, William B.              

Dell, John D.      

Dixon, Richardson           

Elliott, Walter A.              

Ellyson, Alfred B.             

Ellyson, D.B.      

Ellyson, Lemuel G.

Ellyson, Samuel W.         

Eppes, Edward C.            

Estes, John M.  

Farley, Richard G.            

Faunholt, L. (sic)              

Frayser, Richard E. – promoted Signal Corps, Capt. on Staff of J.E.B Stuart            

Gilliam, Thomas Q.         

Gilliam, William O.           

Gills, G.A.           

Goddin, John    

Griffith, W.H.    

Gunn, James M.              

Harman, Benjamin         

Haynes, W.G.   

Hill, Beverly W.

Hill, George W.

Hill, John A.        

Hubbard, Benjamin C.   

Hubbard, Bowles S.        

Hubbard, J.S.    

Hubbard, R.H.   

Hubbard, William N.       

Johnston, J. Silas             

Jones, William W.                            

Lacy, P. F.           

Lacy, Richard Terrell                

Lacy, Theophilus S.         

Larus, T. P.         

Lipscombe, James          

McKenzie, James M.     

Meanly, John P.               

Mills, William P.                

Moseley, Benjamin        

Mosely, Robert                

Odell, John D.   

Osborne, John W.           

Parkinson, John F.          

Parkinson, Joseph W.    

Parr, John           

Parrish, John B.                

Perkins, W.G.   

Perkinson, J.F.  

Pierce, Joseph

Poe, John

Pomfrey, George M.

Pomfrey, William A.

Rabineau, William

Ratcliffe, William T.

Richardson, Colas

Richardson, John A.

Slater, John S.

Spencer, James D.

Stewart, Robert F.

Talbott, Charles H.

Talley, Richard W.

Taylor, Robert S.

Terrell, William A.

Timberlake, James P.

Turner, Edmund P. – promoted to Staff of Gen. Magruder 1861, later went with him to the Trans-Mississippi Dept.

Turner, George W.

Turner, Hezekiah

Vaiden, Galba

Vaiden, John B.

Vaiden, Micajah

Vaiden, Vulosko

Vaughan, William H.

Waddill, Littlebury G.

Walker, Harman B,

Waring, C.

Waring, T.B.

Waring, T.H.

Waring, William H.

White, W.

White, William F.

Whitlock, Robert

Wilkinson, Lee

Wilks, Christopher T.

Williams, R.L.

Willis, R.A.

Woodward, West

Wright, G.B.

Young, Henry

The Chaplain and the Captain

The Rev. James Junius Marks, D.D.(1809-1899) was a chaplain in the Union Army from August 1861 until resigning because of ill health just before Christmas 1862.* He served first with the 12th Pennsylvania, and then in the field with the 63rd Pennsylvania during the Peninsula Campaign. The below is from his 1864 account of his Peninsula experiences.

During the afternoon we were at work removing the stores of provisions from the railroad track to the hospital. I had all the nurses engaged in bearing these across the fields on their backs and on stretchers, and in various ways we were securing what had been spared for us.

During one of these trips we observed a company of horsemen riding swiftly towards us. When they approached within fifty yards of us, I saw the young men around the captain throw the strap of their carbines over their shoulders placing their guns over the pommel of their saddles cock them and moving slowly they drew near. I thought the action was strange and threatening and commanded the men to drop their loads and sit down on the grass. I advanced in front. When the captain came within ten paces of us, I saw him turn and wave his hand to his followers. They uncocked their pieces, threw the strap over the neck, and came up to us.

The leader bowed and introduced himself as Captain Taylor, of New Kent, and the commander of a company in the celebrated Stuart cavalry. He was much of a gentleman, asked me when we were taken prisoners? how we were treated? how many sick we had? After he had satisfied himself, he asked me if I was not a chaplain. I replied that I was. 

"I thought so," said he. "Do you know Chaplain Sloan?"

I told him I did not. (I subsequently saw Mr. Sloan at Harrison's Landing.)

"Mr. Sloan," said he,"once preached for us at New Kent; we thought a great deal of him. My mother and myself and wife were members of his church. These young men said he were all students in the classical school he superintended at New Kent. He was a very valuable and useful man amongst us. At the commencement of the war he left us and went, as we understood, to Philadelphia. But we afterwards heard that he had become a chaplain in your army, and we all took a solemn vow that wherever we should meet him we would shoot him; and when we first saw you we supposed that you were Mr Sloan, and you may have observed the young men cocking their guns; this was when we took you for him. And now," said he, "I am very glad that you are not Mr. Sloan, for it would have troubled me all my life to have shot him." I told him my pleasure at not being Mr. Sloan was fully equal to his in not finding him.

He then went on conversing, with the manner of one who had thrown a mighty load off his soul. He evidently did not relish the thought of being the murderer of Mr. Sloan, and sincerely hoped that he might never come in their way. He then told me that he had left his family, mother, wife, and children, at New Kent; and the families of most of the men about him were in that same neighborhood, and that their anxiety had been intense when our army advanced to New Kent. "But," said he, we have been fifteen times in your rear and know all that was done by your troops; and to your credit I must say that your men behaved well. They did not rob the families nor molest them, and I have not heard of a single case of violence. We have heard, indeed, of your taking pigs, turkeys, and chickens; this is what is to be looked for in an army; but we have not heard of a single case of violence or insult to families; that speaks loudly for the discipline of your army."

I told him "I thanked him for that drop of comfort. I knew that the officers aimed to restrain the troops, but sometimes men broke over all discipline."

"Your men," said he, behave well, but don't fight like our men."

"Pray, captain," said I, "where did your men show any superiority to ours?"

"Why, I think in battle fought and nowhere more than at Williamsburg. We fought you with our rear guard we had no expectation of being able to do more than hold you in check until the main body of our forces were out of harm's way. But when your generals were so easily checked this emboldened us to hurry back reinforcements and attempt greater things and I do believe that if we had resolved to make a final stand at Williamsburg we could have bound you there another month and then the heat and fever would have finished the work we began."

"Captain," I replied, "you know that the battle of Williamsburg was mainly fought by one division, General Hooker's. Generals Kearney and Hancock rendered very essential aid, but it was almost night when they reached the field. We had not so many men in that battle as you had, and yours were all the advantages of position, intrenchments, and strong earthworks and we had to debouch into the fields in your front, over a narrow neck of land. You had every advantage that men should ask; the storm was drenching and disheartening; our artillery was engulfed in the mud; yet, notwithstanding all these things, General Hooker, with the aid of three or four regiments of General Kearney's, held his position for five hours, until, by a flank movement of General Hancock, you were driven from the field. In the strength of your intrenchments you ought to have held out against fifty thousand men."

"Well," said he, "we have thought that one of our men was equal to four of yours: that may have been slightly too large; do you not think, in all honesty, doctor, that our men are greatly superior to yours in military qualities?"

"No," said I, "our men are fully equal to yours, and in many respects superior. We are cooler, will endure more, suffer greater hardships, and fight more unflinchingly than yours."  

"Well," said he, smiling, "you have never shown those qualities yet; but I hope, for the honor of the American name, you may in the future. We have had several battles on the Peninsula: in which of these do you think you were victorious?"

"Were you at Savage Station last night, captain, in the battle.?"

"No, we were on the left. But what of it?"

"Why, simply this: that you were most thoroughly whipped, and if you had been there at the conclusion of the firing you would have seen our columns standing where they did at the commencement of the fight; and of your men, there was not one in the open fields, and all your artillery was removed or silenced.'

"And how many men do you suppose General Jackson brought into action?"

"I do not know, certainly, but suppose from forty to fifty thousand.- Well, sir, we had but twenty thousand, all told; and men who have been under arms for twenty-five days, who, during all this time, were enduring the severest toil and exhausting duties, and yet they repulsed twice their number of fresh troops; and in the engagement of last night your men pursued their usual tactics: they crept into ravines, hid behind fences, and skulked like Indians into forests. No captain you have asked my opinion and I have given it to you. Your men, as a general thing are not equal to ours."

He laughed, and said: "Doctor, I have provoked this; we will not be likely to agree, but I don't think less of you for answering and defending your soldiers with spirit. But do you not think that your cause is fatally defeated and the independence of the South certain? We have just come up from the left of your army; we consider the escape of General McClellan hopeless. We have seventy thousand in your rear, and fully as many in front; and entangled in the forest and swamp, how can you escape? It was understood when we left that General McClellan had sent an aid to General Lee, to arrange the surrender of his entire army."

"you may believe it, but I will not; if twenty thousand men could beat back your army last night, I feel sure that seventy thousand will do more than that to-day."

"Well," said he, "there are some things which even brave men cannot do; you cannot drag your cannon through swamps; you cannot move your trains through forests so deep and dark that the light of the sun never reaches the earth; you cannot bridge rivers in the face of a powerful and victorious enemy; we know all this country well, and I assure you the escape of your army is impossible."

"Well, captain, you will find that when you press such men as ours to the wall, they will defend themselves with a desperation which will end in your defeat. Even now, the roar of the battle is the proof that we still have an army."

In the meantime the men on both sides had become quite familiar, and were fully exchanging views. The captain bade me good-bye, and hoped we might meet in better times.

-The Peninsular Campaign in Virginia, or, Incidents and scenes on the battle-fields and in Richmond James Junius Marks
J. B. Lippincott & co., 1864

*Biographical information in Under the Red Patch: Story of the Sixty Third Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1864 by Gilbert Adams Hays.


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Reaction in New Kent to the Harpers Ferry Raid

More Volunteers.- Capt. Vaiden(Melville Vaiden) of the New Kent Troop, with Lieut. (Telemachus)Taylor and Surgeon Tyler(Tazewell Tyler??), arrived in this city yesterday afternoon, to tender the services of that company, 60 strong. to Gov. Wise, to go to Charlestown and aid in repelling any invaders who might attempt to release from prison the famous land pirate, incendiary and murderer, John Brown. News reached New Kent yesterday morning that 5,000 armed men were marching upon Charlestown, and the Troop of that county determined at once to join their brother soldiers in repelling the invaders. Of course they were very much surprised to hear that there was no truth in the report, and that their services were not needed. For their promptness and patriotism, however, they deserve all praise, and will doubtless receive the thanks of the Commander-in-Chief on his return to the capital.

- Daily Dispatch, November 22, 1859