by Unknown
I smiled, “We wouldn’t want that either sir. Ill just take ten men. It will be easier to get close to their lines that way.”
“I appreciate this Captain.”
“Sergeant Major, I need nine volunteers for a patrol tonight.”
“Eight sir, I’m coming.”
He was always keen, “Very well. Make sure they are all experienced. This will be no place to learn on the job.”
Dago walked with me to the horse lines. “I could go you know, Jack.”
“I know but Stuart asked for me and besides I never ask a man to do something I am not willing to do myself. Make sure you are ready to move the troop at a moment’s notice. We are the nearest troops to the Yanks right now. If they come through you’ll have to get out as fast as you can.”
“What about the major and the other boys?”
That thought had been worrying me too. “They might just be trying to get back to our lines. If we hadn’t found that railroad we would have still been trying to find a way back here wouldn’t we?”
I put on my deer hide jacket. It gave me a little more protection, especially from swords and it made me harder to see at night. “Ready sir.”
I took my pistol out and held it in my right hand. We needed to be quicker than any enemy we met. I was the lead rider and so I had to be alert and quick witted. I did not take the patrol down the road; I rode through the fields and woods to the side. It made us harder to see. I could see the flickering of fires in the distance but I had no idea of distance. They could be a hundred yards away or two miles. The night was deceitful.
Once again it was Copper who alerted me to the presence of the enemy. I halted the patrol. I signalled for them to dismount and we led our horses forward. None of my men smoked and I could smell the pipe tobacco from their sentries. I tapped Irish on the shoulder and held up five fingers. He tapped five of the others and we left the horses with the other four. We slipped silently through the woods taking advantage of the trees and the undergrowth. I could see the glow of the fire from their camp and it illuminated the sentries. There looked to be about six of them and there each had a hundred yard section of the perimeter. I worked out that the men at the end furthest from the road would be our best chance and I led the patrol in that direction.
I took out my cosh and gestured for the others to do the same. Cecil and two men slipped through the woods to reach the man furthest from us. We would, at least, have two prisoners. They might not know much but we might glean some information from them. I nodded to the two troopers and they crept up on the sentry who was peering back at the camp fires. He was knocked cold and trussed up. We tied the two of them together and they were taken back to the horse holders.
The remaining four of us crossed through their picket line and into their camp. We crouched low and headed for their tents. I held up my hand and we halted. I saw four men detach themselves from the fire and head into the woods. We would avoid that direction; that would be where they had their latrines. We turned left towards the large tent. There were a number of officers gathered around a table lit by an oil lamp. We lay down under the bushes which were close to the tent. I had no idea who was speaking but I could hear everything.
“Looks like we caught Lee napping, general.”
“I know that wily old bird. I served with him. It doesn’t do to underestimate him. Where are General Stonehouse’s cavalry?”
“They have surrounded Jeb Stuart’s cavalry.”
“And the bridges?”
“We have pontoons across both rivers. General Sedgwick is ready to cross at Fredericksburg and the other corps will be ready to attack by noon tomorrow.”
“Excellent. Make sure those pickets on the pike keep the Rebs at bay until tomorrow. I want our attack to be a complete surprise.”
We had heard enough and I crawled backwards through the undergrowth. Suddenly I heard a voice above me say, “What have we here?”
I rolled on my back and drew my Colt in one movement. I shot the sergeant who was peering down at me. There was no point in hiding any longer. “Run!” I turned and fired three shots at the general’s tent. The others all popped a couple of shots off and then we ran. We ran directly for their pickets. We knew there were just four of them and they would hesitate when they saw us for fear of hitting their own men.
Trooper Harris was a fast runner and he streaked ahead of me. It was he who saw the sentry and he fired as he ran. The sentry was thrown to the ground but a second sentry, less than thirty yards away fired at Harris. Cecil shot his assailant and Trooper Crow and me grabbed Harris and carried him towards out horses. I hoped the others would have our horses ready. We would have to forego the prisoners. We had to escape.
I heard the sounds of pursuit. The worst thing you can do when pursued is to turn around; you waste time and risk tripping. I just ran faster. “Here sir; to your left.”
We edged left and saw the horses and our men. “Leave the prisoners where they are. Fire a volley at the Yanks while we get Harris on his horse.”
Harris was conscious but in a bad way. We put him on his horse. “Crow, you watch him. Now ride.”
I jumped on to Copper and drew one of my saddle pistols. I fired at the sea of white faces which raced towards us. “Come on, let’s go!”
We wheeled around and galloped away. Balls buzzed around us like angry bees. We soon overtook Trooper Crow. “Sergeant Major, head for the road, we’ll have to risk it.” Our pursuers were making almost as much progress through the woods as we were. We needed the road to increase our lead.
We burst on to the road and, mercifully, we were alone. I knew that there would be pickets on the road and they would have heard the noise. I took out a fresh pistol. “Sergeant Major, you ride next to me.”
He grinned, “Yes sir. The mad Irish again eh sir?”
I nodded. He knew what I intended. We would just charge the guards. We trotted along the road. We would save our burst of speed for the last few yards. I saw the two braziers up the road. There were just four guards and they peered, through the darkness at the shapes which approached. Our casual gait disarmed them and they looked to be unconcerned. As soon as they saw our uniforms that would change. When we were a hundred yards away I kicked Copper and he leapt forwards. Cecil followed a heartbeat later. As soon as we did so they recognised us and their rifle muskets came up. A horse can cover that distance really quickly and the four men were struggling to hold the rifles steady. When Irish and I began firing their aim went altogether and the four shots whistled over our heads. One man was down and the others were knocked out of the way by our horses.
I slowed down, “Keep them going!” I turned and fired at the soldiers who were struggling to their feet. As Trooper Harris galloped past me I followed and we rode down the road. It was with some relief that I heard Cecil shout to our own pickets, “1st Virginia Scouts coming in.”
I left the Sergeant Major to see to Trooper Harris and I went directly to Stuart’s tent. The sentry saluted. “The general said to wake him when you returned.” He put his head around the tent flap and said, “General Stuart. Captain Hogan has returned.”
I heard a sleepy voice say, “Send him in and get me some coffee.”
As the sentry emerged he said, “You can go in sir.”
“Make that two coffees eh trooper?”
“Sir.”
The general had slept in his uniform. He lit the oil lamp and got directly down to business. “Well?”
I filled him in on all that I had overheard. “We are surrounded by General Stonehouse’s cavalry. There is at least one Corps ready to attack Fredericksburg and the rest will attack from Chancellorsville.” I paused, “Sir it is a big army. I think we are outnumbered.”
“I think so too.” He rubbed his beard, “General Stonehouse eh? Well I think we can extricate ourselves from this little trap this morning. If there are just cavalry then we can give them a bloody nose eh?” He looked up as the sentry came in with two cups of steaming c
offee. “Have this and then get some rest. I think we will soon be in action again.” As I sipped it he said, “The major and your comrades arrived last night. We have the 1st Virginia Scouts back together again.”
Dawn was just an hour away when I finally crashed into my tent and fell asleep. Despite the coffee I was so tired that a cannonade would not have kept me awake.
The bugle brought me from my comfortable dream. I had not bothered undressing; I had merely taken off my two jackets. I raced from my tent, donning my shell jacket as I did so. Danny strode over. His hand outstretched, “Glad you made it. That was a little hairy out there.”
We shook hands. “Did Harry and Jed make it?”
He nodded, “We all lost a couple of men but it could have been worse. I understand from Irish that we have a couple of Corps facing us?”
“It looks that way but I think we are going to take on the Yank cavalry today.”
Sergeant James led our mounts over, “We need more grain for the horses sir. The grass around here is almost done with so many cavalry regiments eating it.”
“Well I guess after this battle we can look for some. Hopefully it will be Yankee grain.”
The courier found us and saluted Danny. “General’s compliments and the 1st Virginia are on the left of the field. He says to stop them outflanking us.”
After he had ridden off Danny said, “Easier said that done.”
“From what I have seen Danny, they still favour the sabre over the pistol.”
“I know but we are short of ammunition.”
I remembered that I had planned on acquiring some but we had not done so. I hoped that would not come back to haunt us.
Our regiment rode towards the unfinished railroad. We were next to the 5th North Carolina. They were an experienced regiment and it showed in their uniforms and low numbers. The troopers engaged in good natured banter as we rode to our allotted position.
“I guess us boys from North Carolina will have to save Virginia for you boys.”
“That is only because no-one wants your piss poor plantations anyway.”
I had no idea what Stuart’s plan would be but I guessed that it would be adventurous. That was his way. The bugle sounded for the advance. We could only see the Carolina boys but we moved forwards. It was broken terrain with too many obstacles for a charge and so we all rode with our carbines in our hands. We heard the pop of muskets to our right and the smoke began to drift from the action.
Dago pointed and shouted, “Yankees!” There was a regiment of cavalry ahead of us.
Danny halted the line and ordered, “Fire!”
We all used a different technique when firing our carbines from our horses. I leaned my elbows on the saddle and Copper’s neck. It was a stable platform. I aimed my first shot carefully. Once I had fired I would be able to see little. I squeezed the trigger and saw a horse wheel away as I struck its shoulder. That trajectory would work. I began to fire steadily.
The colonel of the 5th North Carolina was obviously in the mood for a little glory and he ordered a charge. Danny cursed and ordered, “Aim further left. Don’t hit those boys from North Carolina.”
An action like this becomes smaller somehow. All you can see is a wall of smoke. You might be able to see the men next to you but not always. I went to load my carbine and found that I was out of ammunition. I took out my Colt. There was little point in firing, they were too far away.
Suddenly, from the smoke, came the remnants of the 5th North Carolina. From the empty saddles I could see that they had taken casualties. I turned to my troop. “Watch out boys. There will be Yankees chasing the 5th.” It was inevitable. Even if an officer ordered them not to charge, the sight of a retreating enemy was always too much for many men.
Danny yelled, “Echelon right.”
There was now a gap next to us and the Union cavalry would be pouring through that soon enough. I slid my sabre in and out of its scabbard. It was some time since I had used it and I did not want it to stick if I had to pull it. The first cavalry burst through on our right. I took a snap shot and saw one of them hit but he carried on. I fired again and again until my gun was empty. The Union Brigadier General must have decided to charge because this was not one or two troopers, this was a brigade.
Most of my men had emptied their guns and we would have no time to reload. “Draw sabres!”
Danny was a few yards from me and I heard him roar. “Charge!”
We both knew that we would not get up to a gallop but we would be hitting them in the flank and that would hurt them. “Come on boys. Give the rebel yell!”
I knew the effect the yell had and my men screamed it as they leaned forwards with their sabres held in front of us. We struck the Union cavalry on their right and they found it hard to defend themselves against us. I stabbed a trooper through the shoulder and he fell to the ground clutching the wound. I raised the blade and slashed it downwards as a corporal tried to turn and engage me. He was too slow. My sword cut through his kepi, down his face and across his hand. Blood spurted as he dropped his sword. This kind of savage encounter did not allow you the luxury of ensuring that your opponents were dead; as long as they were incapacitated you moved on to the next man.
Copper was still moving at speed and crashed into the side of a bugler who fell to the ground. I swung my blade at him but he blocked it with his bugle and then rolled away. He was a lucky bugler. A major saw me and wheeled to engage me. Union officers tended to be well trained in fencing whilst those in the Confederate army were less so. The grim smile on his face told me that he thought I would lacking skill. He was not to know that Colonel Boswell himself had trained me and I was more than competent.
His first blow was intended to disarm me. He gave a flick of his wrist as his blade touched mine. That was easy to parry and I flicked the opposite way. My edge caught his leg and he flinched. I stabbed at him whilst kicking Copper on. My horse was a weapon too. He found himself trying to control his own horse with his left hand. I reached forwards and grabbed his reins, pulling them from his hand. I could ride Copper just using my knees and my body weight. As I pulled I turned Copper with my knees and he began to slide forwards. I stabbed him in the neck and he fell dead.
I kept hold of the reins and sheathed my sword. I took out a fully loaded Colt and began to aim at the men who were closest to me. As the smoke cleared I could see that we had broken the back of the enemy and they were retreating. I heard the recall being sounded. It was not for us but the other regiments who were plunging through the smoke after the retreating Yankee cavalry.
I tied the dead major’s horse to Copper and searched him. He had a full ammunition pouch which I took as well as his sword. Cecil’s sword was little more than a lump of metal. This one would serve better. I found two more dead troopers and I relieved them of their ammunition. Unlike their officers they also had ammunition for carbines.
“Sergeant Major!” Cecil appeared from behind me. I threw him the sword, “There you go Cecil, have a decent sword.”
He beamed, “That’s lovely that is. I’ll make the other into a knife.” Cecil was a master at making and repairing equipment. He was the first one any one went to with a faulty gun and they were normally mended within an hour.
“Did we lose any?”
“Troopers Lowell and Sandy. A few of the lads have wounds but nothing serious.”
“It could have been worse.”
“That it could.”
“Get the boys to take anything of value from their dead. Some have some nice boots. If the dead major’s fit you Cecil…”
“I have tiny feet but Dawesy might be able to wear them.”
Trooper Dawes was the tallest man in the regiment. We had learned not to be fussy when it came to the enemy dead; they were well provisioned and well provided for. I knew some infantry regiments where half the soldiers had no shoes at all.
Chapter 5
We had little time to rest on whatever laurels we had won. The Union began
their attack. We were not privy to General Lee’s plan but we later found out that he intended to hold Fredericksburg with a little over eleven thousand men while Generals Jackson and Stuart marched around the enemy’s flank. We did not know that. All we knew was that we had left many dead on the battlefield close to Chancellorsville but the Union had lost more. On that last couple of days in April we were a thin screen of cavalry in front of General Anderson’s men who began to dig trenches and earthworks close to Zion Church.
We were stood down to help us to recover. We had been riding for the best part of four days and we needed rest. The new horses we had acquired were allocated those whose horses had suffered the most. This would allow the weaker beasts to recover. We now had more ammunition; we would not run out in the middle of the battle but we were still desperately short of men. While we had not lost many men it was like being bled to death slowly. The trickle of casualties made us weaker each time we went into action. Unless we received reinforcements soon we would be back to the numbers we had had when we were Boswell’s Wildcats.
The last day in April saw us rise wearily to a sunless dawn and be confronted by a fog so thick that you could barely see you horse from five paces. I wondered if the enemy would choose to attack under cover of the fog but Stuart’s aide, Captain George, who was delivering our orders shook his head. “No, Captain Hogan, the enemy have much larger numbers. They don’t need the fog. The fog helps us by disguising our inferior numbers. The fog means no attack today.”
We took the opportunity of reorganising us into three troops. Dago and some of his men joined the major while Jed and some of his joined Harry’s troop. I was reinforced by the rest of their men. I now had a hundred men in my troop. I had no junior officer but I didn’t need one. The Sergeant Major and Sergeant James more than made up for a pip on the shoulder.
