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The Independent Cavalry left Milesburg of August 10th, 1861. They marched 120 men strong, made up of wood-choppers, lumbermen, miners, etc., under the command of Lieut. Lipton. Upon reaching Harrisburg, they were mustered into Federal service as Company E of 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry (or 44th Pennsylvania Regiment) on August 12, 1861.
History of Pennsylvania Volunteers 1861-65;
Bates, Samuel; Vol. 1 p1014-1025
FORTY-FOURTH REGIMENT, FIRST CAVALRY.
"The First Pennsylvania Cavalry was recruited, company A in Juniata county, B in Montgomery, C in Mifflin, D in Cameron and Clinton, E in Centre, Clinton and Clearfield, F in Greene, G in Blair, H. in Fayette, I in Washington, K in Allegheny and Washington, L in Berks, Lebanon and Lancaster and M in Berks. The first seven companies rendezvoused at Camp Curtin, where they were mustered into the State service during the months of July and August, 1861, and thence moved to Camp Jones, near Washington. Three companies H, I and K, rendezvoused at Camp Wilkins, at Pittsburg, where they were mustered into the State service during the month of August, and soon after joined the other companies at Washington. Company L was mustered into the United States service as an independent company, on the 30th of July, and was stationed in the city of Baltimore, where it remained five months. Company M was mustered into the United States service, also, as an independent company, on the 5th of August, and was stationed in Baltimore from the 6th of August, until the 3d of October, when it was ordered to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where, in conjunction with the Fourth Wisconsin Infantry, and Nim's Battery, all under command of Major General Lockwood, it was engaged in scouting and picketing. Numerous excursions were made down the bay, in which smugglers were overhauled, and large quantities of contraband goods seized. On a scout made to Pontateague Landing, the company captured seven cannons, caissons, and harness; and again at Eastville, a cannon and about fifteen hundred stands of small arms.
The men were, for the most part, from the rural districts, well formed and hardy, good riders, and accustomed to the use and care of horses. Few were dismounted by accident or awkwardness while on drill. Some had belonged to militia, cavalry companies, and a few of both officers and men were experienced soldiers; but most were unaccustomed to arms. The five companies which first assembled in Camp Curtin, had effected an organization by the choice of Captain Hastings, of the regular army, Colonel, and Captain Owen Jones, Major; but failing to secure a sufficient number of companies for a regiment, the officers elected declined the command. The three companies from camp at Pittsburg, also had a partial organization, under the title of the Sixth Cavalry; but failing to perfect it, they were attached to the First. In the early days of the war little countenance was given to the cavalry arm of the service, and these companies were suffered to remain some time in camp in an unorganized state, the company officers having little knowledge of cavalry tactics, and the command making little or no progress in drill.
Finally, on the first of September, through the kind offices of General Stoneman, Chief of Cavalry, and the influence of Governor Curtin, Lieutenant George D. Bayard, of the Fourth Regular Cavalry, a young officer of great promise, and of considerable experience in Indian warfare, was selected to command, and the organization was completed by the choice of Jacob Higgins, Captain of company G, Lieutenant Colonel, and Owen Jones, Captain of company B, Major. Drill was now commenced in earnest, and- prosecuted with a zeal characteristic of its enterprising commander. -. The line officers were daily instructed by him, and they in turn instructed their subordinates, and put their lessons in practice on the field, under his immediate supervision. The men were at first armed with sabre and pistol, and ten carbines to each company, which number was subsequently increased until each man was supplied with one. A part of the horses were selected by the company officers, and were chosen with special reference to cavalry service. The remainder were selected by Colonel Bayard himself from the government corral at Washington. Under good care and training these horses became notable for excellence, and many of them remained the best after several lots of fresh animals had been worn out. This regiment was organized as the Fifteenth of the Reserve Corps, the law authorizing the organization of the corps requiring "one regiment of cavalry." It joined the division at its camp at Tenallytown, where it remained until the 10th of October, when it moved to Camp. Pierpont, Virginia. Here details of one officer and thirty men were daily sent during the winter on picket, and frequent expeditions were made into the country.
On the 27th of November, Colonel Bayard was ordered to scout the, country beyond Difficult Creek, a small stream crossing the pike about six miles from camp, and make a descent on Dranesville, a village seven miles further on. Marching all night and arriving at the village just before daylight, several houses were quickly surrounded, and a search for guerrillas, reported to harbor there, commenced. Several suspicious persons were arrested, and after a, half hour's halt, he took up the march for camp. Two miles from town, the head of the column was fired on by guerrillas concealed in the pine thickets by the roadside. Detachments were immediately dismounted and, pushed into the woods, and in a few minutes had killed or captured the whole party. Assistant Surgeon Samuel Alexander, and private Joseph Hughling, company D, were killed, and two men were severely wounded. Colonel Bayard was slightly, wounded, and had his horse killed under him.
Five companies, under Lieutenant Colonel Higgins, participated in the battle of Dranesville. At the opening of the engagement, the cavalry was ordered to push forward, and compel the enemy to unmask his position. Colonel. Higgins sent two companies, H and I, under Captain Streck, forward on the road--north of the. town, while companies C, D and E, under Captain Taylor, charged directly through it, and pushed on until the enemy, opening on their flank and rear, compelled them to withdraw. The infantry, now became engaged, and the cavalry was ordered to the support of Easton's Battery, where it remained until the close of the action, which resulted in the total route of the enemy.
On the 3d of January, 1862, Lieutenant Colonel Higgins resigned, and Major Jones was promoted to succeed him. Adjutant S. D. Barrows, who had previously been commissioned Second Major, was now promoted to First Major, and Richard J. Falls was commissioned Second Major.
On the 7th of January, the two independent companies, L and M, which had been stationed in Baltimore, joined the regiment. Upon the opening of the spring campaign it moved with the army towards Manassas, and after ten days of most exhausting service, exposed to pelting rain, sleet, and snow, it returned to Falls Church, where it remained until the advance of M'Dowell upon the Rappahannock. Starting on the 9th of April, it marched to Catlett's Station, where it performed scouting and picket duty until the middle of the month. On the 17th two battalions, supported by the Second New York Cavalry, skirmished with the enemy, driving him towards Falmouth, and late at night the men slept a few hours at the feet of their horses. At two o'clock the march was resumed, squadron L and M leading. The morning was cloudy and intensely dark, and as the command was moving quietly along, it was suddenly brought to a halt by a barricade across the road, from which a heavy fire of musketry was poured into the very faces of the men. They were immediately withdrawn, and the command was deployed to attack the enemy upon his flanks. At daylight he fell back, and Colonel Bayard occupied Falmouth. Encamping a short distance from the town, the regiment was -engaged in picket duty along the Rappahannock, and had frequent skirmishes with the enemy across the river. On the night of the 13th of May, a party of. the enemy attacked and attempted to re-capture a schooner in charge of men from the First New Jersey Cavalry. -Five companies, F, G, H, L and M, turned out, and after a brief but sharp skirmish drove off the enemy, brought the schooner in, and rescued the men on board, several of whom were wounded.
Colonel Bayard having been appointed a Brigadier General, Lieutenant Colonel Jones was elected Colonel, and First Major Barrows, Lieutenant Colonel; On the 25th of May, when M'Dowell commenced his advance overland to join M'Clellan, the regiment crossed the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg, and marching rapidly towards Richmond, reached on the evening of the 27th a point on the Pamunky River, within fifteen miles of MClellan's right wing, the enemy falling back as it advanced, and the whole route showing evidences of a hasty retreat. At this juncture, when all were jubilant over the prospect of soon joining the- grand army, orders were received to return immediately to Fredericksburg. Stonewall Jackson, cutting loose from the rebel army, was in the Shenandoah Valley with a heavy force, and M'Dowell was ordered to the support of Banks and Fremont, concentrating in Jackson's front. Re-crossing the river on the 28th, it marched with the brigade, via Catlett's Station and Thoroughfare Gap to Front Royal, which was reached on the 1st of June. With but an hour's rest, the command proceeded at full gallop towards Strasburg, and when near the town. crossed the Shenandoah River, where it came up with Jackson and skirmished with his rear until dark. General M'Dowell not having arrived upon the ground, the brigade, consisting of a battalion of the Bucktails, the Second Maine Battery, the First New Jersey Cavalry, and the First Pennsylvania Cavalry, proceeded alone, and driving the enemy's rear guard out of Strasburg, were soon after joined by the advance of Fremont's army, entering from another direction. A gallop of six miles brought the command again upon the enemy's batteries,* and after three attacks, drove them
* Near Woodstock another attack was made on the rear guard. The extreme rear was held by Caskie's Battery, supported by about two hundred men from Patton's command, as sharpshooters. This was regarded by Ashby as sufficient to hold the enemy in check; and his cavalry was quietly pursuing its way, in advance of the artillery, when the enemy's horsemen gallantly charged through the sharp-shooters on the guns, captured some of the cannoneers and nearly succeeded in cutting off the retreat of a rifled piece. It was withdrawn, however, beyond Woodstock. Thus for eight days it was constantly under the fire of his guns, making his "retreat," says Cooke, "one long battle between the Confederate rear and the Federal vanguard." Bayard's Brigade was pressing hotly to strike Jackson and delay him until General Shields reached Port Republic, there to intercept his retreat, and no efforts were spared to break through the obstinate impediment which Ashby, who commanded the rear guard, presented, and force Jackson to turn and defend himself. At Harrisonburg a severe fight occurred, in which the First New Jersey first, and later the Bucktails and the, First Cavalry engaged a vastly superior force of the enemy, inflicting severe loss. On the 8th, the command participated in the battle of Cross Keys, but being, in reserve was but slightly engaged. On the following day it led the advance of the centre column to Port Republic, where it arrived too late to arrest the flames to which the a enemy had consigned the bridge across the Shenandoah.
On the 10th, the command returned down the valley., and after a halt of two days at Mount Jackson, returned through Front Royal to Manassas, which place it reached on the 23d, having been engaged-thirty days in incessant and fatiguing duty, having in that time marched nearly four hundred miles, and skirmished and fought almost constantly, in the face of a powerful and vigilant foe, led by his most trusted leaders; Suffering severely in this campaign, the regiment remained at Manassas two weeks to rest and re-fit. It then marched with the advance of Pope, who had recently been placed in command of the army of Northern Virginia, to Culpepper, whence it made various marches and performed important duty. On the 1st of August, General Bayard advanced to the Rapidan, where he was engaged for eight days in guarding the fords for several -miles along the river against a wily foe, and watching at all points inland for his approach from above and below. Jackson finally advanced in force, and on the night of the 7th of August, forced a crossing at several points and attempted in the darkness to capture the entire brigade; but was so skillfully baffled as to succeed in carrying off but two men. On the first alarm the outpost rallied upon the reserve, holding the enemy in check until the regiment withdrew to Robertson River. When within two miles of the stream, the different detachments of the brigade on picket were rapidly withdrawn, and before they were all in, the, advance of Jackson's army came dashing up the road. Captain Taylor, at the time, was in conversation with General Bayard and before they were aware of the enemy's presence, a shower of bullets came whistling by them. General Bayard cried out to the Captain - `deploy your squad at once, and hold the enemy in check until the brigade is safely over the ford -611 Men never obeyed an order more promptly nor behaved more gallantly than they dad in- deploying under a heavy fire of musketry; they held the enemy in check until the brigade was safely over. Its loss was two killed and two wounded.
The command slowly withdrew towards Cedar- Mountain, and though under an safety, a: portion of the enemy rapidly following, and, before they were aware of the intended attack on them, the Confederate cavalry was thrown into disorder. The men retreated in confusion, and ran into the rear of the. Forty-eighth Virginia, then passing along a narrow causeway with a ravine on one side and a. steep embankment on the other,-and so sudden was the -appearance of the disorganized cavalry in the midst of the infantry, that a number of men -were knocked down before they could get out of the way." Stonewall Jackson, J Eston Cooke, (Rebel,) p. 164.
a brisk fire of artillery supported by Jackson's 'whole force, by skillful maneuvering, the enemy's pursuit was so completely baffled, that nearly the whole day was spent in moving the eight miles, from the point of attack on the previous evening. Here the command formed and held the position until General Banks' force arrived, keeping a determined front and slowly giving ground as the weight of, the -enemy's overwhelming force pushed it back. The regiment was in front on the following day as advance skirmishers, and supported Knapp's Battery. At a crisis in the battle, this battery was in imminent peril.. A charge of the cavalry was ordered. The first battalion, under Major Falls, dashed upon the enemy, broke his lines of infantry, and turning, fought its way back. Of the two hundred and sixteen men who charged, only seventyone returned mounted, so severe was the enfilading fire of the enemy's infantry from right to left. The advance of the enemy was checked, and the battery saved. The third battalion, commanded by Colonel Barrows, after the battle had opened, was withdrawn from the skirmish line, and stationed in rear of the centre. The second, posted on. the extreme right,--was at one time entirely cut off, but succeeded in eluding--the trap prepared for it, and came in under cover of night. Upon the retreat of Pope, on the 19th of August, Bayard's command, now increased to five regiments, formed the rear guard. Contesting the ground stubbornly until it reached the Rappahannock, the enemy suddenly attacked with great impetuosity, with the design of cutting- off retreat. The First New Jersey and Second New York Cavalry, unexpectedly struck while forming, were broken and thrown into confusion. The First Pennsylvania having passed on in advance, upon. the first alarm, drew up in line ready to receive an attack, and stood one half in the open field and the other concealed by a wood. As the enemy came on, the regiment charged on him from the front, and sweeping around came suddenly upon his rear. The other two regiments having now rallied and reformed, joined in the charge, completing his utter route.
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