MANSFIELD MEN

IN

THE

SEVFNTlT

PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY

1861 - 1865

MANSFIELD MEN

IN

THE SEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY

EIGHTIETH REGIMENT

With Letters Of

Charles M. Rumsey

and

Personal War Sketches

1861 - 1865

Chester P. Bailey

Mansfield, Pennsylvania

1986

Copyright - 1986

Chester P. Bailey

Mansfield, Pennsylvania

Printed in the United States of America

This Book is Dedicated to the Memory of

John F. Bailey, Jr.

My great grandfather

Born February 26, 1835

EnHsted September 4, 1861 in

Co. H, 106th Pa. Vol. Inf.

Discharged September 22, 1862

Reenhsted as a Veteran

February 19, 1864 in

Co. H. 1st, Reg. N.Y. Prov. Cavalry

Transferred to

Co. H 10th N.Y. Vol. Cavalry

Honorably Discharged July 19, 1865

Died Mansfield Pa. March 30, 1903

PREFACE

"Mansfield Men in the 7th Cavalry" is a sequel to the "Tioga Moun- taineers" which was published in 1982. In searching out information about the 101st Inf. Regiment I soon found I was also picking up bits and pieces about the 7th. Several of the men joined first one then the other, some from each outfit met at Annapolis parole camp as prisoners or were sent to the hospital there, although they had been in different theatres of action.

My interest was further attracted to the 7th when I realized they had been in Louisville, Ky., Jeffersonville Ind., Nashville, Tenn.. Chat- tanooga and other places in the south where I have traveled, taken military training, gone to school, married and visited battle grounds, especially Perry ville, Ky., near where my wife lived.

Winfield Scott, Secretary of War under President Lincoln suggested that because of the size and length he thought the war would take, the Union should blockade the coast and send an army down the Mississippi. After this they would invade at various points to break the south into bits. But the politicians could not agree. As things worked out it was not far from the plan that was actually followed.

The Tioga Mountaineers written about previously became a part of the force that cut off North Carolina from their coastal cities and har- bors. The 7th Cavalry helped cut the south off from the Mississippi and the border state of Kentucky.

This book is not an attempt to describe in detail the battles the 7th Cavalry was in, nor to show who won or lost, but to follow the events that members from the Mansfield area in Tioga Country, Penn- sylvania played in the war that took the lives of so many.

Letters and war sketches of men of the Seventh are also included. I thank the late Warren L. Miller for the letters of Charles M. Rumsey. The war sketches are from the record book of Mansfield Post 48 G.A.R. now in the Mansfield Public Library.

I also thank Mrs. Arron Smith for the loan of her book, MINTY and THE CAVALRY by Captain Joseph G. Vale. This book contained per- sonal notes by Lt. Henry W. Calkins, Mrs. Smith's great grandfather.

Information was gathered from the following sources:

Minutes of the Mansfield Borough Council 1861 - 1865.

PERSONAL WAR SKETCHES, General Mansfield Post 48, Department of Pennsylvania Grand Armv of the Republic.

PRESIDENTS, SOLDIERS, STATESMEN, Vol. II (H. H. Hardestry Pub., Chicago, 1895.

PERRYVILLE - Battle for Kentucky, Kenneth A. Hafendorfer.

THE CIVIL WAR DAY BY DAY, an almanac 1861 - 1865. E. B. Long and Barbara Long.

Papers from the Bradford County Library on Troy during 1861 -1865, Burlington. Pa.

HISTORY of the SEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY. 1861 -1865. William B. Spies. Colonel. 1905.

About the Cavalry.

CONTENTS Chapter I

1

Chapter II Recruiting 3.

Chapter III Foramtion of the Seventh 5

Chapter IV The Enemy at Last 7.

Chapter V Together Again 9.

Chapter VI Murfreesboro to Chattanooga 1 O.

Chapter VII The Atlanta Campaign 14.

Chapter VIII Across the Gulf States 16.

Chapter IX Letters and War Sketches 18.

Chapter X Tioga County Men with the Seventh 34.

Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive

in 2011 witii funding from

LYRASIS IVIembers and Sloan Foundation

http://www.archive.org/details/mansfieldmeninseOObail

Chapter I

ABOUT THE CAVALRY

It is known that the cavalry reached a high degree of efficiency in Europe, where two years of training were needed before it was of real value. The urgency of getting units into the field following President Lincoln's call for volunteers did not allow for much training as was done in Europe. The U.S. Cavalry of 1861 and 1862 made little impres- sion on the war effort. The regular army units were scattered and divided in their loyalty to the section where they were located.

Many commanders misused and mishandled the cavalry units assigned to them. For the first two years of the war the cavalry was ex- pected and were used as small units for guides, orderlies, carriers and grooms for staff officers.

In the south General "Jeb" Stuart, leader of the Virginia Con- federate Cavalry developed the cavalry under General Lee to its peak during 1861 to 1863, after that its losses were so great and replacements decreased rapidly so that it lost most of its effectiveness.

Generals Grant and Rosecrans saw the need and used the cavalry with wide spread effect in 1864 and 1865.

General Rosecrans, as early as 1862, organized the cavalry of the Cumberland into three brigades. Under General Wheeler, with Sher- man in the Atlanta campaign the cavalry numbered 15,000 in four divisions.

The Cavalry unit was usually made up of one hundred enlisted men plus officers. During the last two years of the war the maximum strength of the cavalry had twelve companies of 100 men each when recruited to full strength. The cavalry regiment had 200 more men than the infantry regiment. Though armed with sabres, the cavalrymen did much of their fighting dismounted with carbines. However it did not take the 7th Pennsylvania cavalry long to become an exception to the rule. Usually the cavalry losses were not as heavy as the infantry in an engagement. The cavalry because of its mobility had many more engagements than the infantry.

The cavalry spent many hours each day and night in the saddle without food or sleep, riding picket lines and facing sudden encounters with enemy raiders. The typical cavalryman develped by the Civil War fought equally well on foot or horseback. The 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry fought so much at close quarters that it was known as "the sabre regiment".

The plan was to recruit men with some knowledge of the use and handling of horses. There were delays of organization, arming, and equipping, months of patient training, dismounted and mounted before a unit was qualified to take the field.

1.

This plan did not always work as the need for cavalry to help make up fighting units in the field increased. This is brought out in the let- ters of Charles Rumsey.

Both the Union and Confederate armies captured many of the enemy's horses. They even raided areas not only for food but for horses to replace those lost in battle, sickness or crippled.

The Quartermaster Department purchased all horses. Inspection of horses for purchase was made by experienced U. S. Cavalry officers.

A cavalry depot was established at Giesboro in the District of Col- umbia in July 1863, there were stables for six thousand horses. Hay and grain depots were also established in other areas, Nashville, Tenn. served a large area.

The Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, 80th Regiment set a fine exam- ple of war service that cavalry units could perform. In April 1864, the regiment started on a march from Nashville, Tenn. to Blake's Mills, Georgia. It had nine hundred and nineteen horses fresh from the Nashville remount depot, and among its enlisted men were three hun- dred recruits, some of whom had never been on a horse before.

In a little over four months the regiment marched nine hundred and two miles, including fatiguing picket duty and troop scouting, during this period the horses were without regular supplies of forage for twenty-six days, on scanty forage for twenty-seven days and for seven consecutive days were without food of any kind. In one period of seventy-two hours the horses remained saddled for sixty hours. Dur- ing the expedition, two hundred and thirty horses were abandoned or died, one hundred and seventy-one were killed or captured by the Con- federates. This is a total of four hundred and one horses or nearly fifty percent of those starting on the march.

In this, General James H. Wilson's Selma expedition, each trooper carried, besides his ordinary kit, five days rations, twenty four pounds of grain, one hundred rounds of ammunition and two extra horse shoes.

The Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry's favorite formation when facing the enemy was to charge in a column of four, that is four men abreast or the whole regiment in a column, thus presenting a front of four men. When the enemy line was reached the units would open out like a fan. With sabres held high until contact was made. They would meet the enemy at a gallop and run over or through cutting and slashing as they went.

The Seventh ground their sabres as did the Fourth United States Cavalry, also in their brigade. This caused some furor among the Com- manders of the Rebel Army but a general order authorized their use and the Confederates were notified that any execution of prisoners because of the sharpened sabre would be met by retaliation in kind. At a later date the Seventh met a Georgia Cavalry who bragged about their newly ground sabres.

Chapter II

RECRUITING

Troops called for by President Lincoln on April 15, 1861 were for 75,000 volunteer militia. The Pennsylvania quota for this was for four- teen regiments. However because of the communication difficulty through Baltimore, Maryland, between Washington and Harrisburg, Governor Curtin had issued a call for 25,000 men. By the time the com- munications were reopened through Baltimore the troops were not needed.

Govenor Curtin at once organized Camp Curtin north of Harrisburg, for there was no way of stopping the flow of volunteers pouring into Harrisburg. The men were organized into the Pennsylvania Reserves, this also brought about much discontent among the men who were held in camp with only a promise of action and little to do and no pay. Many began to return home, others stuck it out waiting for federal du- ty. Units were made up, clothed, paid and left camp. As the need con- tinued recruiters were given rank or the promise of rank to recruit in their home areas. Benjamin S. Dartt of Charleston Township became one of the recruiters for the Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, Eightieth Regiment. He recruited in Tioga and Bradford Counties. He received the rank of Captain, September 28, 1861 and was given com- mand of Company C. Many of the men from both counties were recruited in Troy, Pa. Troy because of its location in northern Bradford County, on a direct line railroad to Harrisburg became a mustering point for a large area of north central Pennsylvania. A large group of Rutland Township and Roseville men signed up for Company C at Roseville in Tioga County.

Charles M. Rumsey of Sullivan Township, Tioga County was one of the boys who went to Troy and signed up. In his letter written May 9, 1861 he was disappointed that they had not done anything worthy of telling. He was not given his company assignement and enlistment un- til October 14, 1861.

From the very first call Troy found itself a rail center. The first men who marched from Tioga County to Troy arrived there late in the day, after an all day march and found many already there.

Hiram Rockwell Bennett in writing of the period said that the railroad was well established and that trains south were always loaded with troops for Harrisburg. In 1864 through 1865 north bound trains were filled with Confederate prisoners for prison camp at Elmira, N.Y.

A number of Northern Pennsylvania men took the Blossburg to Cor- ning railroad and signed up with New York Companies.

3.

It was reported that the ladies of Troy spent much time giving flowers and food to the thousands of soldiers "going to the front" on the "cars". So many had to wait over and on occasion for several days that private homes and churches were opened to the men. Later a camp for returning soldiers was set up on Taylor Street in Troy, below the present High School grounds, to accommodate the men. Troy ladies were again the volunteers to help the wounded. On every occa- sion of news of victory, Troy would celebrate with bond fires and parades.

Much confusion occured at the railroad station as there were never enough cars to accomodate the men waiting to go to Harrisburg. After complaints were made, more cars were made available. A Provost Mar- shal was appointed, who would stand on a balcony on Main Street across from the old Troy Hotel (building burned in 1870) and caU out the units to go on the next train.

After each campaign of the Seventh Cavalry recruiters would work hard to send the needed men to Nashville. On a least one occasion the veterans who would sign up again were given a 30 day furlough to return to Pennsylvania and encouraged to recruit.

4.

Chapter III

FORMATION OF THE SEVENTH

The Eightieth Regiment, Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry was a mixture of nationalities. Many of the men recruited in the Lan- caster, Philadelphia area were German, Irish and Scottish. Company B and C were mainly English from Tioga, Bradford and Lycoming coun- ties. Later replacements were recruited from Ohio, Kentucky and Alabama. The records show also a number from Canada and New York state. A number of recruits "of African decent" were signed up in Alabama as company cooks.

Authority for the Seventh Cavalry was given August 28, 1861 to William B. Sipes of Philadelphia by Secretary of War Simon.

Company A and F were recruited in Schylkill County. B in southern Tioga and Lycoming Counties, C. in Tioga and Bradford Counties. The largest percent signed up in Troy, Pa. D. was recruited in Nor- thumberland and Montour counties; E in Clinton and Center; G in Chester; H in Montour and Luzerne; L in Berks and Company M in Allegheny county.

Field Officers appointed were Colonel W. Wynkoop of Pottsville; Lieutenant Colonel William B. Sipes of Philadelphia; Major James J. Siebert, Philadelphia; James Given, West Chester, and John E. Wynkoop of Pottsville.

The companies were first armed with Belgian rifles but these were soon replaced by Smith and Burnside carbines. The Spencer carbines were used by the Seventh cavalry in their drive across Alabama and in- to Georgia.

The regiment after getting their authorization moved to Camp Cameron for drill and military training. They received side arms and issue clothing. Horses were supplied but not issued until after they left Camp Cameron. Cameron was also near Harrisburg. Charles Rumsey's letters of May 9, 1861 from Curtin and October 18, 1861 from Camp Cameron give much detail of that period of forming the command into a fighting unit.

The Eightieth Regiment received its State Colors in a presentation by Governor Curtin on December 18, 1861. The ceremony was held on the steps of the Capital. The regiment left the next day for Louisville, Kentucky. They were assigned to General Buell, Army of the Ohio.

The trip across Pennsylvania by train to Pittsburgh and then down the Ohio river, on six steamers was hard on the horses and men alike.

They were unloaded at Jeffersonville, Indiana, December 26 across the river from Louisville. Kentucky. The weather had warmed enough to "take the bottom out" and they went into camp in knee deep mud. A number of the horses bolted and escaped. Private Rumsey notes that experience in his letter from Camp Crittenden, Indiana. January 8, 1862. During the night the temperatures fell and a number of the horses had to be cut out of the frozen ground. Many went lame and had blisters caused by their skin freezing.

5.

It must have been a rough month; training both men and horses, many of the horses had never been ridden and some of the men had never been on a horse. Their first review was in Louisville, January' 26, 1862. But the men had had one purpose in mind since April 1861, and that was to get into the action. They passed the review with flying col- ors and were ordered to report to General Thomas near Cumberland Ford, which was near Nashville, Tenn. They moved leisurely southward from Louisville to Nashville by way of Bardstown and Bowling Green, a distance of about 190 miles. Some of the men would ride this route again but on a forced march at a later date.

General Buell after reviewing the troops at Louisville said in an of- ficial communication to the Secretary of War: "The Pennsylvanias are the finest troops in this command. Send more Hke Negley's Brigade. I am confident the Seventh Cavalry will be a credit to the state".

The Seventh upon arrival at Nashville, was divided. The First Bat- talion under Major John E. Wynkoop was attached to General Negley's Brigade and moved to Columbia, Tennessee.

The Second under Colonel George W. Wynkoop was assigned to General Dumont and took on garrison duty at Nashville.

The Third under Major Givens was assigned to Colonel Duf field and moved to Murfreesboro. Two companies being stationed at Mur- freesboro and two at Lebanon. They were placed on scouting duty in western and middle Tennessee and as far east as the Cumberland Mountains,

Private Rumsey in his letter written April 6, 1862 from Camp W^orth near Nashville gives a good description of his camp life and that of several of the men from his home area in Pennsylvania. His Company C. was guarding Nashville.

Chapter IV

THE ENEMY AT LAST

The first real test to face the enemy came in May, 1862 when Com- pany F, scouting near Pulaski, Tenn. north of the Alabama line, met a party of Morgan's raiders and lost two men, taken prisoner. Morgan moved from Pulaski in the direction of Murfreesboro. The Third bat- talion met him and turned the raiders toward Lebanon. The Seventy Third battalion was reenforced by the Second battalion and the Ken- tucky troops, determined to attack Morgan who had moved into Lebanon. The Second battalion took the advance and made repeated sabre charges. The battle lasted nearly two hours. Morgan gathered the reminents of his command and retreated towards Carthage with the Seventh in hot pursuit. Col. George W. Wynkoop was given much credit for the one hundred and seventy prisoners taken. However Lt. Caulkins in his notes wrote that Captain Dartt should have been given much credit for leading the men which resulted in a surprise attack on Morgan. This was not to be the last of Morgan, and the Seventh would find themselves in his presence many more times. It was during this engagement that Private Charles Rumsey and Private Henry Mor- rison were captured, after the fight near Lebanon. (Letter of June 3, 1862.) The "particulars" he did not repeat to his sister was that his horse was shot from under him and he suffered several broken ribs as the result.

From the first of June 1862 through July the First Battalion under Major Wynkoop with Negley's column moved to Chattanooga. Several skirmishes took place with the rebel cavalry. Sweden's cove, a demonstration in front of Chattanooga was designed to bring the rebel troops out of Cumberland Gap. The Union troops returned to Shelbyville, Tenn.

The Third battahon with two companies of the Kentucky Cavalry, in the meantime, moved out of Murfreesboro and met Confederate forces under General Forrest near McMinnville and drove him into the Cumberland Mountains. Later in the month the two forces met again near Readyville. Forrest had the advantage and turned the Third back Luwafds Murfreesboro, losing six taken prisoner. Forrest made a sud- den move upon Murfreesboro and after eight hours of hard fighting took the garrison under the command of General Crittenden. The force included the Ninth Michigan infantry, four companies of the Seventh including B, G, L, and M: Second Minnesota infantry and the Fourth Kentucky battery. A number of the Seventh Cavalry escaped and returned to Nashville, including a Captain McCormick and Lt. Gar- rett. Others of the Seventh joined the infantry troops. The Union prisoners were sent to the Annapolis Parole camp. It was this group that Private Rumsey joined, (see letter dated July 31, 1862.)

For the rest of the summer the enemy became very active. The Se- cond battalion of the Seventh and the Fourth Kentucky Cavalry, with two companies of the Third Indiana Cavalry under General Johnson, were ordered to move against the raiding forces of Confederate Morgan and General Forrest. They were out numbered by the two forces and after retreat actions near Gallatin on the Cumberland River were surrounded. The Seventh Pennsylvania commander Colonel Wynkoop got his men together, as did the Third Indiana commander and when it became apparent that General Johnson was going to sur- render his forces to General Forrest, drew sabres and cut their way out and reached Nashville. The loss in this action was only two additional men lost.

In September the First Battalion under Major Wynkoop as assigned to General Buell as he moved into Kentucky. The Seventh was put in the advance as they, by forced marches reached Louisville, Ky. At Louisville General Buell organized the troops into three columns, with new recruits and additional veterans. Eventually on October 8, 1862 part of the Union army under Buell and part of the Confederate army under General Bragg met at Perryville, Kentucky. What some thought at the time was a fight over a water hole became the deciding battle, the high water mark, for Kentucky, with heavy losses on both sides. The Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry with the First Kentucky Cavalry lead the way for Crittenden's Corps as they approached Perryville on the Lebanon Road. They forced the rebel pickets of the Confederate Cavalry under Wheeler back and a short fight resulted. Only four com- panies of the Seventh Cavalry were at Perryville. They suffered the loss of four men wounded and three taken prisoner. The Seventh sat out the rest of the biggest battle every fought in Kentucky. The Se- cond and Third Battalions remained with the garrison at Nashville and were attached to General Negley's command. They were employed in scouting and foraging, and assisting to defend the city. Other Penn- sylvania units were at Perryville including Anderson Escort Troop Pennsylvania Cavalry, the Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry and the Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry. The Seventy- ninth suffered heavily.

8.

Chapter V

TOGETHER AGAIN

Following the battle of Perryville in which Confederate Generals Bragg and Smith were able to withdraw from Kentucky, the Ad- ministration in Washington, in November 1862, removed General Buell. General William Stark Rosecrans was placed in command of the Army of the Cumberland. General Rosecrans made a complete reorganization. The Cavalry had been scattered over Kentucky, Ten- nessee and a portion of Alabama, doing lots of heavy and tiring duty but not accomplishing much. General D. S. Stanley was given the com- mand of the Cavalry. The Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, Eightieth Regiment was assigned to the First Brigade of the Second Division. Thus putting them all together again for the first time since arriving in Nashville, Tenn. in early February, 1862.

The First Brigade. Second Division was commanded by Colonel R. H. G. Minty. The Brigade was made up of the following: Fourth Regi- ment United States Cavalry, Captain Mclntryre; Fourth Regiment Michigan Cavalry, Colonel Minty: Third Regiment Indiana Cavalry, Colonel Kline; Seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry, Colonel George C. Wynkoop.

Under Colonel Minty the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry saw almost continuous action. Minty formed the Brigade into an efficient fighting unit. The Seventh soon became known as the Sabre Regiment, using the sabre in every major engagement from Columbia, Tennessee to Macon, Georgia. The Brigade made five successful sabre charges against larger infantry. Four successful sabre charges against artillery and one hundred sabre charges against enemy cavalry.

General Rosecrans in recognition of the dash and gallantry of the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry in General Orders directed that it should be known henceforth in the department as "The Sabre Regi- ment of the Army of the Cumberland."

9.

Chapter VI

MURFREESBORO TO CHATTANOOGA

After Perry ville General Braxton Bragg' s Confederate Army moved into Tennessee. They had been encamped at Murfreesboro about a month when General Rosecrans after two months preparation moved out of Nashville towards Murfreesboro on December 26, 1862, in three columns on the Nashville and Murfreesboro pike with the regiments alternating daily. The Seventh Pennsylvania was at the head of the column on the 27th, It was a continuous battle from outside of Nashville to Stone river between the cavalry of the two armies. The Confederates had placed their pickets within ten miles of Nashville. The resistance became too much for cavalry units as they approached Stone river, west side, on December 29. The Confederate forces were concentrated in front of Murfreesboro on the east bank of the Stone river.

On December 30 the Seventh Pennsylvania saw plenty of action, bringing up the rear and engaged the Confederate Cavalry under General Wheeler who had done considerable damage by circling the battlefield and cutting the supply train. Mansfield's George Colony in charge of the headquarters supply unit had several narrow escapes that day. (See soldiers War sketch.)

Colonel Minty with the Seventh Pennsylvania and the Fourth Michigan forced Wheeler back to the river.

The enemy came back in force on January 1, 1863 but was met by the Fourth United States Cavalry, the first Tennessee Infantry and the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry and the Fifteenth Pennsylvania In- fantry were all engaged. The Seventh fought both mounted and dis- mounted as the battle turned completely around. The enemy finally left the field with great loss. January 2 the Confederate troops recross- ed the river and started their retreat.The Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry with its Brigade went into camp about a mile from Mur- freesboro. The Seventh had lost sixty-one men, including wounded, missing and killed.

Captain Dartt and the action of Company C were mentioned in the General Orders for distinguised service, along with Companies B, L, K, and H.

After almost a month's rest the First Brigade was ordered to break up a rebel outpost at Rover, Tennessee. Near Rover the Fourth Michigan forced the enemy pickets in and the Seventh Pennsylvania was ordered to draw sabres and charge. This they did with a shout and breaking the enemy line, routed the entire command. In the ten mile pursuit that followed the enemy lost half its men. The Brigade remain- ed in the area two weeks causing considerable damage before returning to Murfreesboro.

10.

It was not long after this that the Confederates began reorganizing Rover, set up artillery camp at Unionville between Rover and Shelbyville. At Shelbyville there was a large rebel army in camp.

On March 4, 1863, General Sheridan was ordered to move with his division to Eagleville, west of Rover and again called upon the Cavalry for action. The First Brigade took the enemy by surprise. The Seventh was ordered to charge with sabre. They charged in column, half pla- toon front with the Fourth United States Cavalry on the right and the Fourth Michigan on the left as carbineers. They faced a concentration of one thousand rifles. The dash forward broke the center of the rebel line and drove it in confusion toward Unionville. Colonel Minty decid- ed not to lose the momentum and moved the flanking regiments into columns on parallel roads with the Seventh and they charged upon the astonished rebels at Unionville, entering their camp with the' flying fugitives from Rover. The Seventh went through the camp and gave chase to the rebel cavalry retreating towards Shelbyville. They rejoin- ed Sheridan at Eaglesville, they moved with the entire force to Franklin, then on to Columbia. They had skirmishes with Van Dorn and Forrest at Spring Hill and Rutherford Creek returning to Mur- freesboro, by way of Franklin on the 15th of March. The Seventh was in engagements on the 3rd of April with Morgan at Snow Hill, fought Duke's Brigade on the 20th of April, and assisted in the capture of McMinnville, May 6. They repelled a rebel demonstration on Mur- freesboro. May 14 and fought Morgan at Alexandria on June 3.

The first change in the immediate command of the Seventh Penn- sylvania Cavalry took place in late June 1863 when colonel Wynkoop was honorably discharged and Lieutenant Colonel Sipes was commis- sioned to take command.

General Rosecrans started his advance on the enemy at Shelbyville and Tullahoma on the 24 of June, 1863. Colonel Minty was ordered to charge and carry Guy's Gap, on the Murfreesboro Pike. This was on the 27th. The Fourth Michigan Cavalry lead the advance and with the First Division in support, the enemy was driven towards Shelbyville. As they approached within five miles of the town the enemy opened with artillery. Colonel Minty used the Fourth United States Cavalry and the Fourth Michigan as mounted skirmishers and held the Seventh Pennsylvania in column. The advance was given, suddenly for some reason the men started cheering, the skirmish Hne«harged and there was no holding the Seventh, who got a favorable order from Col- onel Minty. Dashing forward with wild shouts, the entrenchments were stormed and taken. Many prisoners were taken as the units ad- vanced on the town. Six pieces of artillery in the town square held up the advance. Minty placed the Fourth United States Cavalry and the Fourth Michigan on a parallel street to the right and the Ninth Penn- sylvania Cavalry of the First Division on the first street to the left.

11

Three companies of the Seventh took the center street. The signal was given. The troops filled the narrow streets from side to side, the shouts ringing above the noise of battle. It was a short run, then hand to hand and a brief struggle over the guns. The slashing sabres of the Seventh and the rapid fire of the carbines and pistols of the other columns was too much for the rebels. The enemy was driven to the Duck river.

The powerful battery was taken as few had been, by a direct charge of Cavalry. After several attemps to hold off the Union force while try- ing to cross over a bridge, a wagon overturned on the bridge and the rebels broke and attempted a water crossing. Hundreds entered the river where large numbers were drowned. Shelbyville with all its military stores fell.

During the period of July 6 to August 17, 1863 the Seventh was engaged in skirmishes at Elk River and Ringgold. Scouting along the Tennessee River they were engaged on the 17th at Sparta, Tennessee. From the first of August they had been in pursuit of General Wheelers Cavalry covering the area from East Tennessee into Alabama. This march lasted eighteen consecutive days and nights with little or no rest and frequent running fights.

In early September the Seventh Regiment moved with the army on the Chickamauga campaign. This march was wearisome to men and horses, for they were required to move rapidly across rugged moun- tains and forge streams. Rosecrans Army had forced General Bragg's Confederate Army out of his position in Middle Tennessee and he was now at Chattanooga. As Rosecrans moved into the area Bragg moved his army south of Chattanooga. The two armies met on the banks of Chickamauga Creek, about 12 miles south of Chattanooga in Georgia. Minty's Brigade was positioned on the left flank. The battle was fought on the 19th and 20th of September, 1863. The Seventh was in constant motion and performed important service in the preliminary operations and during the process of the battle. They were assigned with Minty's Brigade on the Tennessee River to guard Reeds Bridge, the Seventh Pennsylvania, Fourth Michigan and the Fourth United States Cavalry numbering less than eleven hundred, disputed the ad- vance of seven thousand Confederate forces from 7 o'clock in the morn- ing until 5 o'clock in the evening. During that time they fell back only five miles.

The Union Force was able to move into Chattanooga after a near disaster at Chickamauga and General Bragg prepared to lay siege. General Grant now in command of all Union forces brought General Sherman from Memphis with part of the Army of Tennessee. Using Navy boats, they opened a supply hne to Chattanooga. Bragg withdrew the Confederate forces after a battle for Chattanooga in which the Seventh again saw action.

12.

The Brigade after doing guard duty on the Tennessee River moved into Alabama. The Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment with time running out turned in their now worn out equipment and horses unfit for duty at Maysville, Alabama. The Brigade was transferred to Hunt- sville Alabama and from November 15 to December 1, 1863 went into permanent camp.

The Seventh was engaged in guarding the railroad. Early in 1864 a large part of the Regiment reenlisted and the veterans given furloughs left for Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Upon returning, after being refitted and remounted at Nashville, every company filled by recruits, they numbered about eighteen hun- dred. The Regiment was stationed at Columbia, Tennessee, where it was ordered to drill and make preparations for the opening of the Spr- ing campaign. Colonel Sipes drew the new Spencer carbines, improved sabres and horse equipment for the entire regiment.

The Mansfield Boro minutes list Sgt. Jonathan L. Moore, Cpl. Charles Hertel, Private Martin V. Lovell and Private Charles Coveney receiving $100 bonuses for reenlisting. They were in Co. C of the Seventh Cavalry.

13.

Chapter VII

THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN

On the 30th of April 1864, the Eightieth Regiment under Colonel Sipes, broke camp and joined Garrard's Division. They set out with General Sherman toward Atlanta.

By the 15th of May 1864 it was again in action at Rome, Georgia, and on the 27th at Dallas and Villa Rica Road. At Villa Rica Road it became involved in a sharp skirmish losing three killed, six wounded and one taken prisoner. June 9 found them at Big Shanty, on the 11th at M'Afee Cross Roads and by the 20th of June were at Monday Creek. During the period June 9 through June 20 the Seventh Cavalry lost 7 killed, 22 wounded and 9 taken prisoner. They took part in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain on the 27th of June.

In their fight at Kenesaw Mountain and at M'Afee Cross Roads the Seventh Cavalry depended entirely upon their sabres with the Fourth Michigan and Fourth United States Cavalry backing them.

Raids on the Augusta and Atlanta Railroad near Decatur destroyed the railroad as far as Stone Mountain.

Sometime in this period the Seventh Cavalry accepted a challenge from the First Georgia Cavalry to a sabre fight. The Georgia Cavalry came out of a wooded area and lined up. As soon as the Seventh Cavalry was formed in their front, they began their charge. The Seventh met them at a trot. The Georgia Cavalry was no match for the Pennsylvania Sabre Regiment and in less than five mintues they were cut to pieces. The Georgia unit retreated and formed a second time, retreated again and tried a third time. This time the Seventh counter charged and the Georgia Cavalry retreated to the shelter of their ar- tillery.

On the 21st of July they were in a raid on Covington and caused more destruction of the railroads at Flat Rock. On the 28th of July, and on 1st of August they entered the trenches in front of Atlanta.

The Seventh moved with Kilpatrick on his raid on the 17th of August, and on the 19th were in a skirmish as Fairburn and Jonesboro. They were engaged on the 20th at Lovejoy Station and their campaign closed with Leads' Cross Road. Before Atlanta during the period of August 18 to August 24, 1864, the Fourth Michigan and the Seventh Pennsylvania depended on their skill with the sabre to cut through in- fantry lines and even to the guns of the artillery.

The Seventh Cavalry had suffered severly in men, horses and eq(iiip- ment and were no longer fit for active field duty. They were ordered to Louisville, Kentucky for remount and equipment.

14.

The Atlanta Camapign had in May covered 363 miles and nine fights; in June 103 miles and eight fights; July, 269 miles and nine fights. In August 160 miles and five fights. They had done duty as in- fantry in 31 battles and had ridden day and night for 5 days before Atlanta and had spent 14 days in the trenches at Rome, Georgia.

During their stay at Louisville a number of the officers with three years service were mustered out. Promotions included Major Ben- jamin S. Dartt to Lieutenant Colonel.

15.

Chapter VIII

ACROSS THE GULF STATES

In Louisville, Kentucky on the 16th of November 1864 the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry again ready for duty, was assigned to the Second Division Cavalry Corps, Military Division of the Mississippi; Colonel R. H. C. Minty, Commanding Officer.

The Seventh returned to Nashville, Tennessee but not in time to take part in the battle of Nashville. General Thomas defeated and put to rout the rebel army under Hood. This battle was fought December 15 and 16, 1864. The Seventh Cavalry was moved to Gravelly Springs, Alabama on the Tennessee River. Here it was engaged in drill and com- pleted its reorganization and equipment for the Spring Campaign of 1865.

The Regiment joined the Command of General James H. Wilson. The Division now numbered 10,000 cavalry.

The expedition from Eastport, Mississippi across the Gulf States started on March 22, 1865.

On the 1st of April the Seventh took part in the battle of Plantersville, and on the following day arrived in front of Selma. Alabama. The Seventh Cavalry was in General Long's Division and were the third regiment in the line of march on the 2nd of April. As the army took up its position before Selma, the Seventh was ordered to the front to lead the assault upon the works. They were in position by 4:00 p.m. and dismounted and without hesitation assaulted and carried the works in a single charge. The distance over which they charged expos- ed to the enemy's fire was 600 yards. The Selma fortifications con- sisted of a bastion line with a radius of three miles, well defended by musketry and artillery. It had a parapet 6 to 8 feet high and a five foot ditch in front.

The Confederate force on the line against which the charge was made was 1500; the Union troops engaged were 1550. The Seventh Cavalry in front of the others was fearfully exposed and lost heavily in killed and wounded. The Union forces captured 31 field guns, a large number of prisoners and quantities of stores of all kinds. The Regiment's loses included Colonel McCormick who fell severly wounded at the foot of the works. Colonel Andress became their commander for the rest of the campaign.

The Army moved rapidly from Selma to Montgomery. Ala. and cap- tured that city on the 12th of April, 1865. The Seventh Cavalry saw ac- tion next at Columbus, Georgia on the 16th of April. Here after storm ing the works on the Chattahoochee River they captured an immense

16.

store of artillery. They arrived in Macon, Georgia as the army of oc- cupation, after the surrender of General Howell with over nine thou- sand Confederate troops. With the capture of Macon, the fighting days of the old First Brigade ended.

General U. S. Grant had pierced the line at Petersburg, Virginia, April 3 starting the march of General Lee that ended at Appomattox, April 9, 1865. Jefferson Davis escaped from Richmond, the Con- federate Capital, ahead of the union force that entered the city on April 3, 1865. He was captured in Georgia, May 11, 1865, by the First Divi- sion troops.

On May 7, Brig. General Minty sent the Fourth Michigan Cavalry on patrol along the south bank of the Ocmulgee River and the Penn- sylvania Seventh was sent south and east of Macon. The Seventh had overtaken some of Jefferson Davis original part on the 6th of May. On the 7th of May the Seventh again struck the trail of the Davis party, dispersing the soldiers, they captured a wagon loaded with boxes marked ammunition. As they moved to intercept Davis they learned that the Confederate President had been captured that morning by the Fourth Michigan Cavalry. Who discovered that the boxes of ammu- nition was gold is not known, but some time later the officers noticed that the ammunition had disappeared. A search was made of the men and their horse equipment and the gold was returned to the U.S. Treasury.

Their fighting days over the Fourth Michigan Cavalry was escorted to their train by their fighting buddies, the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry. The Pennsylvania Regiment was ordered to Eufaula, Ala. where they remained until the 13th of August, 1865, when they were mustered out of service.

17.

Chapter IX

LETTERS AND WAR SKETCHES

The letters of Charles M. Rumsey are from the late Warren L. Miller. Charles was his great uncle. The Mary that the letters were addressed to was Warren Miller's grandmother and older sister of Charles Rumsey.

Charles Rumsey was born July 30, 1837 on a farm on Rumsey Hill just west of the State Road in Sullivan Township.

His parents were Noal (jr.) and Sally Gitchell Rumsey. He was the eldest son of twelve children. He was educated in the Sullivan Township Schools and taught school in Sullivan Township at the age of nineteen. His father died when he was twenty-one and he took over the farm work and taught school in the winter time. Charles enlisted at Troy, Oct. 14, 1861 as a private in Company C, Eightieth Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry.

His letters and war sketch give details of his Civil War experiences. He returned to Sullivan Township after he was discharged. In 1866 he married Miss Matilda Gifford of Richmond Township and they took up their home on a farm near the Shaw Camp Ground. He was a member of Mansfield Post GAR No. 48.

Most of the war sketches given here are from the General Mansfield Post No. 48 record book. The book was presented to the GAR Post by Miss Byrissa Butts in 1896. Miss Butts was the daughter of Dyer J. Butts, a veteran of the 101st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, Co. B. The "Tioga Mountaineers."

18.

COPY

Dear Brother & Sister

Harisburg, May 9th, 1861

I had determined not to write again until! I had heard from Home; or a least untill I had done something wor- thy to tell, but as at first, I am still disappointed, we are lying in Camp Curtin with but little to do. And with deep anxieties for the future, we drill a little every day, or at least a part of us do, a great many of the Boys say they shall not drill untill they are mustered into the U.S. service and such ones lie in the tents the most of the time, about 7 of our brave soldiers have left for Sullivan as we have good reason to suppose and some more will go as soon IVlonday if not sworn in by that time but you need not look for me until my three months are up unless I am honorably discharge. There is a great deal going on here in the military line such as ar- resting deserters & filling up the guard house with drunkards but this will not be interesting to you. Our legislature is fighting over the Army appropriation Bill and as soon as that is settled we shall know what we are going to do.

There has over 7,000 men gone out of this encampment since we came here, tliey were all well armed. The people about here are all the time talking about a great war & what a tight scrub we will have but for all that they have sent some Companies home because they will not enlist for three years. All the regiments that have left here have gone secretly we cannot any of us tell where they have gone.

I will tell you what the Boys did last Eve for pastime. They got a rail and placed it upon the shoulders of four men and then they got a fellow to dress up with an old coat & hat and with moustache from 6 to 8 in- ches in length & set him upon the raill, and they fixed up another in a similar manner to personate Beauregard and marched them around the camp ground just one mile with over 5000 men following them and hurrahing with all their might and the next performance was to kill and bury them which they did in real mock style and then dispersed for the night.

This is the 5th letter I have written home and have not received a line as yet but I live in hope. Now don't wait me for another-all write.

C. IVl. Rumsey

Direct your letters to C. M. Rumsey, Camp Curtin, Harisburg, Penna., In care of Captain Card

C>^

19.

COPY CampCameron.Oct 18. 1861

Dear Sister

I have just come in from drill and am consequently a little foot sore, otherwise I am well and able to eat my rations, but you know I could allways do that. Noah Wheeler is quite unwell to day from the effect of a bad cold. F.S. IVIorgan is well & so are the rest of our boys. Are you & Darwin well & the rest of the Stateroad folks, & how is the baby? We have drawn our uniforms except boots & stockings. We are uniformed the best of any Reg. on the ground. Our Coats, Pants, and Jackets are made of fullcloth, 2 pr. shirts. 2 pr. drawers. 1 pr, pale blue pants, 1 deep blue coat, trimed with about 40 yds. yellow ribbon or tape & 14 large buttons made of brass & large brass epaulets on the shoulder to protect them from sabre strokes. Our overcoats are pale blue & reach down to our ankles with a cape sewed on at the collar which reaches down to the to the waiste & has 18 large brass buttons (more brass then brains) & weighs 10 lbs. besides this we have coats made of canvasing to slip on when we go to clean our horses & a pr. of riding gloves when it comes cold weather. Our fodder is not as good as it should be, but we must put up with it. The location of our camp is beautiful with large well cultivated farms on either side of us. A large apple orchard but no apples. (Vlary they have a poor way of punishing soldiers here, so I think. There is a large tree within the encampment around which they are made to walk, sometimes for 24 hours. I have seen upwards of twenty walking at one time, it is known as the Bullring. f\/lary I would not be obliged to walk that Bullring for the best farm in Sullivan & have our tolks find it out. We all feel proud of our Company associates. I wish you could see our Reg. drawn up in order of battle. & then see them make one charge for I believe no equal no. of men can withstand such a charge. Six of our boys tented together when we came here because we did not wish to seperate. but we found it so inconvenient on account of the size of the tents which are 7 ft. sq. that N. Wheeler. A. Dart & myself withdrew to another close by. The Poorhouse is close by our encampment. I visited it once & the most dirty place you ever saw is nothing compared with it. I did not stay there a great while & will not try to describe untill I get lome which will not be this week. They got a fellow in the Bullring this morning who would not walk <;o they tied him to a barrel and better speech than he mad on the treatment of soldiers you never heard. & then to shut his mouth they gaged him & it is supposed that choked him to death and how he died soon after they untied him. His Cap. has been taken to Post & will be courtmarshalled soon.

Mary, excuse good writing for you know I cannot help it, writing as I do on a straw bed. every time my pen slides over a straw I do not make a straight mark. Write soon to you loving Brother.

C. M. Rumsey

Direct to: C. M. Rumsey, Camp Cameron, Harisburg, Pa., Col. Wyncoop's Reg. care Capt. Lynch.

I will direct this to Darwin, think you will get it sooner consider this written to you both and answer it accor dingly.

Charlie

20.

COPY

Camp Crittenden January 8th, 1862

My Dear Sister,

I would like to clasp your hand as you see in the picture & hear you say that you & all the family are well, which I shall believe until I hear from you.

I am enjoying good health & so are all our boys except L. J. Reynolds he has had the measles, but is now getting better. Morrison Rose has had sore eyes, but they are about well now.

The first & second Ky. Regs, arrived here today from Western Va. They have lost over one third of their men in battle or sickness. They were in three battles in Va. under McClellan & they say there is not a rebel in Western Va. that dare show his head. This morning's paper states that there is over 150.000 Union troops now in Ky. & as many rebels, so you see there must be something done in this quarter before long.

Ind. IS just what we have allways had it described, full of bogs & swamps. When we landed here we lost about 40 horses that got away while we were pitching our tents & while hunting for them we had a good op- portunity for viewing the country. Yesterday Eli Verbeck was with us & we stoped at an old farmers to warm they gave us apples & cider a plenty & made us stay to dinner & when we came away the girls filled our knapsacks with apples and invited us to call again when we had disposed of them.' I think we will. The people are very hospitable here in Ind. I have dined out in the country 4 times once 15 miles north of camp, we found some our horses 20 mi. from camp. We are now having our horses shod & as soon as we can get ready we march into Ky. Mary I have not heard a word from you since Reynolds came back, but it cannot be because you have not written.

I have not heard from home since I left Camp Cameron, but I look for a letter every day. It is dark & you must excuse my writing any more.

From your Brother, C. M. Rumsey Mary Rumsey Direct to: Camp Crittenden, Co. C, 7th Pa. Cal., Col. Wynkoop's Com., Jeffersonville, Clarke Co., Ind.

21

COPY CampWorth, April 6th, 1862

Nashville, Davison Co., Tennessee

Dear Brother & Sister,

I received a combination letter from you, Olivia, & Lura, this morning dated March 26th & one from you last Wednesday dated l\/larch 9th, & one from 0. last Thursday of late date. & as Olivia is at your house I will try & answer them all at once. I also got a letter from Joseph, one from Elizabeth. & one from Mother last week, none of them are answered but you may bet I'll answer some of them to day, for I am not on duty.

The most joyful news I have to write is that Ford is really better, & getting well. Morrison received a letter from Russel this morning & he says he can get a discharge for Ford & is going to take him home as soon as he is able to bear the fatigue of so long a journey. He writes that Ford can sit up an hour at one time. Is not that encouraging? Noah sat up & took care of Ford until he is pretty well worn out. I am afraid he is going to be sick, he has some fever today but is & shall be well cared for. Adin Cleveland is not very well today. The rest of us are well & hearty & have plenty of good wholesome victuals to satisfy our keen appetites, but nothing very inviting for sick folks. One of my tent mates (Un Hans Mccolum) died in Louisville last week with the Typhoid fever. Probably you knew him, he was a carpenter & |oiner & helped build the Union Meeting House on the state road. Four of our Boys returned from the hospital today with renewed health,

I have scouted about considerable & can say that the country about here is equal to any I ever saw. for richness of soil, beauty of scenery, size & management of plantations, & scarcity of union men. It is said there is not a union man in this County but that is a mistake I am here yet. It is planting time here the blacks are busy planting corn. Peach and apple trees are in the blossom. Every plantation has from 8 to 10 or 15 acres of land covered with peach trees, a few apple trees, & from 10 to 100 negroes.

I will tell you what has become of Col. Wyncoop's Regt. as near as I can. Co. C, D & K are here guarding Nashville. Co. H & B are at Franklin -25 miles from here. Co. G, F. & M are at Murphysboro 20 miles south. I do not know where the first Battalion has gone to. Maybe you think we are doing nothing m particular, because we have had no battle, but not so. Co. A has captured a rebel captain that was not quite well enough disguised & was a little inquisitive for his own safety. Co. H has captured $4000.00 worth of coffee the rebels had hidden. Co. C. captured 10 what they supposed to be secession cavalry &.took their arms away from them but they turned out to be Union men. They way it happened was like this - ten of the Ky. Cavalry a little worse for liquor, 8 not dressed in uniform, rode up to the hospital and ordered every man out sick or well & one of them slid away to our camp half scared to death & told that the secesh had driven the sick all out of the hospital so Co. C. was ordered out to give them chase, not a gun was fired. Co. C. has had some picket fireing but no one hurt exce^'-t from the rebound of their own guns.

Our Regt. is ordered to get tc."'ether again next Thursday at Columbia ■ 40 miles south of this place K & we will soon be on the move unless the orders are countermanded. We have not been paid since we were at Camp Crittenden, Ind.

Dar, if I were at your house tonight I would go with you to protracted meeting upon the mountain & hear the new exhorter, or else stay at home & play with the children. I guess that would be the most pleasant after all, don't you, eh? Olivia I think I ought to have been there and went with you & the other two girls for warm sugar. Oh! Why did you not let me know you were going. & I would went along. Give my respects to all the young folks on the state road & tell them if they wish to hear from me directly to write & write yourself often & long letters too.

Mary, write to your Brother often. I read you letters with pleasure if I do not answer them so readily, recollect that I have a great many letters to answer but not half enough after all.

From your Brother Charlie C.M.R.

Darwin, Mary, Olivia

22.

COPY

Camp Wd^th. Tennessee June 3id AD 186?

Dear Sister,

I seat myself after a long silence to let you know my true situation in all probability you have heaid that Morrison and myself are prisoners of war, released only on a parole of honor, or exchange & that we cannot take up arms again until regularly exchanged by the proper authorities, which I hope will be soon as I wish to be armed again & help to wipe out rebellion. The war in Tenn. is carried on by bands of guerillas which he secreted in the woods during the day & run about & burn the property of union men. tear up railroads, cut telegraph wires & burn bridges by night. Our camp was routed last night at about 10 o'clock by the firing of some of our pickets & drawn up m line of battle, but no enemy made its appearance. & the men again retired to rest until daylight. Today they were ordered Out double & crossed the river & have gone into Ky. It is rumored tonight that they have surround Col, Morgan & 300 of his men but I fear it is a mistake. I wish I was there, then I would know.

Mary, you have heard the particulars of our being taken prisoner ere this so I will only reiterate the heads of the story. Our Com, was ordered to march with one day's rations. I was guite unwell at the time but did not ask to be excused, thinking that I could stand it to ride one day at least, but the one day proved to be five. On the 3rd day I was unable to eat anything at all & could not ride any further, but was left behind, Mort stayed with me, I could eat nothing for three days without vomiting & by that time could hardly turn in bed. On the 4th day I began to eat a little, on the afternoon of the 5th day. I rode 5 miles towards camp & a hard side it was too. The next day we were taken prisoners by 1 0 men without resistance & released as you see it was written above. We came into camp on borrowed principles for stealing is not prevalent among us, I have gam- ed in health very rapidly & am now quite as well as ever, but have lost 10 lbs. of flesh, I am on track of it however & shall soon have all I care about, Morrison, Noah & Seyman are all well & in boyant spirits. Mary, if you get these few hastily written lines, send them up to Mother for fear she will not get those written to her. Tell Darwin I wish him & all the household all sorts of good things. Look for me when I come. Mary,

Charlie

23

COPY St. John's College. Anapolis. Maryland

Thursday, July 31 si., A.D. 1862

Mary.

Do not think because I am at college that I am really going to school & taking dry lessons in grammar & mathematics. No, I am studying natural history, philosophy & human nature. Experience is my teacher & good soldiers my classmates. I have been through college & when I get my sheepskin I am coming home for a visit. Maybe you w/ould like to know how I came to be admitted to college. I will tell you it was through the recommendation of Col. Morgan, but no thanks to him for it. I don't like the drill.

The 3rd battalion of our Regt. were all taken prisoners at Murfresboro & sent to Camp Chase where they arived last Saturday night. & were ordered to this place Monday afternoon. Morrison went down to Colum. Thursday even, went to the directory & found where Wm. Montgom. lived & started to go there but got lost & did not find until 10 o'clock & barely escaped going to the watchhouse. We had a good visit but short for we were ordered to this place with the 3rd Battalion where we arrived yesterday 11 o'clock a.m. We came by the (way) of Chest (?) Mountain. Va. a rather rough place for a battlefield, it is now garrisoned by only 12 men of the 47th Pa. Regt.

We have found a few old acguaintances here, one is Justus Clark, he was badly wounded in the shoulder. He says there was 2 killed and 25 wounded in Captain Eliott's Co. & that last accounts he got Bryon Shaw was sick, J.S. Hoard has been promoted to Liet. Col. I saw two of the Bucktails today. They say that Cap. Niles was wounded & taken prisoner at the battle of Richmond. Two co's were also take prisoner. Clark says he heard that the Com. Henry Seamans & Laertis (?) Grandy belonged to were surrounded & taken prisoners & that Laertis was the only one that escaped. Henry was thrown from his horse & badly wounded. George Forest was killed at Murfreesboro, probably you have heard all this before.

Anapolis is a small dirty looking the poorest I was in since I left home. Washington (?) is 40 miles from here & can be for the (?) dome of the Capitol without a glass, i can distinguish Baltimore with the naked eye. The fellow who went up on the Capitol with me said we could see Fortress Monroe (?) on a clear day with a glass. We had a good glass but there's a heavy fog hang over the Bay in that direction.

Mary, I am in good health & like oysters, my present weight is 1 62 lbs. gross & I think should have gained more if I had heard from home regular. I have not stayed in any one place long enough to get a letter from home. I have not heard from home in six weeks. Tell our folk all to write as soon as you get this. Direct to An- napolis, MD. in care Maj. Givens, 7th Pa. Cavalry.

Charles Charles Rumsey

24-

COPY

Cattip Pardlc Aug 10th 1862

Dear Brother.

I was to get your letter of Aug the 8th this morning & happy to hear that you were in favorable cir- cumstances notwithstanding, the bad cold you caught at Elmira, sleeping for the first time like soldier (on the floor) rather than get into bed with the Big Bugs which generally hang about city boarding places, but you must learn to put up with that class of nobility if you make a soldier.

I am well & in comfortable circumstances but still it is not very desirable to stay here. & know that tht Rebels are about to invade our own loved state & treatening to burn our Capital. Oh. if I were now in Pa. I would bushwack, I think, notwithstanding my Parole. I did not swear away my right of self defense.

Joseph you are right it is foolish but I will not tell any body just as true as I live & breathe. Morrison read it for himself. Joseph, I am glad to hear is turning out so many men of the union & hope

these drafting done there, but it seem as if you were needed in but it is not my

business to complain if Mother has consented to your going. I think you will be better used as a Regular than as a volunteer & if I am soon exchanged or discharged. I think of going with the Regulars.

Tell mother in ans. to her guestion that it would not be hardly safe for her & you to come down here and visit at the present time. I am sorry to say so, for I would like to see you very much before you go east, & maybe I shall. If you should come down here you might not see me for I have vague presentments that we shall not stay here long. This morning about 100 Pennsylvanianas shouldered their knapsacks & left camp. They said they had some of them been in a Rebel prison ten months & then released on parole, & sent here where they have been two months and have never received one cent of pay & their families are at home suf- fering for the want of it, & they were going to their relief, but they go a great way before to the Commander of the a guard. He urged them to camp without a fuss them to do all in his power to alleviate them. He said he would get them their pay this week if they would return to Camp peaceably. They did so. but the leader has |ust been marched off to jail & the rest are considered under arrest for the present. It is a serious affair & I am glad I kept out of it, but still I hoped them success. I wish they might have got to Harrisburg where they might have possibly got sufficient pay to relieve their families for the present.

Give my love to my Mother, Brothers & Sisters. Goodbye for the present.

Yours truly. Charles M. Rumsey

J. B. Rumsey Joseph, write soon & tell the rest to do the same.

C. M. Rumsey

ipp»iii^'

25.

copy CampSangster

Oct. 18. 1862

Darwin.

I received those few line you found time to write to me witti mucti pleasurer: they told me that you had not forgotten one of your true friends, I & all of my friends here, so far as I know them, are well & hearty. One of my messmates here has had the fever & chills, but is rid of both now. In the camp hospitals there is several cases of fever and ague. The general health of the camp is good, much better than could be expected where so many men are encamped.

There came an order into Hdgtrs. today for the removal of several hundred men from this camp the first of the week. I may be one of the number but I hardly think so, I have made up my mind to stay here contented a while yet. It is as you say, I am safe from the enernys bullets while I stay, but that is hardly suited to the pur- pose for which I enlisted, as you well know, but I have become so disgusted with the way the War is carried on that I hardly care, but I had much rather run my chance of being hit by a mime ball than stay here & bear none of the hardships of the field. Joseph has gone to try his hand at the shooting business. If he succeeds as well as I have done the Union army will have more than one less Rebels to contend with.

Darwin, I admire the great consolidated American lottery scheme which you said was to come the 16th In- st. & hope it will be well patronized, although I have nothing to invest. I should like to know how many & (who) are the lucky ones & how many cripples there is in our town that never before was thought to be in- valids. Tell Mary that there is wenches enough to wash for all hands at 6ds a piece, one of them )ust now brought me a clean shirt & drawers for Sunday. Tell her my clothes are not getting old. on the contrary they are guite new & I can more just for the asking, but I do not want them. I have 3 new blankets & can draw another if I want it. Ford thinks I do not get his letters. I began to think he never wrote any until this morning when I found one at the office that had no 7th Pa, C. on it. That is why I did not get that one sooner. I never got but one letter from him before in my life & I will ans. that in the morning.

Darwin, if you get a long letter from me I pray you to excuse it for I do not often indulge in such things. I will write again when I feel a little more like writing. Give my respects to all who ingure after me.

Yours as ever. C. M. Rumsey

Darwin & Mary Miller

26.

COPY

Camp Sangster of Paroled Prisoner

Near Annapolis, Md.

Nov. 27th, 1862

Dear Sister,

I received your letter of the 21st this morning & hasten to ans. it, asking your pardon for my negilence, which I am ashamed of, but can partly excuse myself from the number of my correspondents, but the most prominent of my excuses is that I sprained my right hand about ten days ago, & it is not quite well yet. It bothers me a little about writing. I sprained it fooling with the Boys, but it will be all right in a day or two, Mary, I am still a Prisoner of war. There has been several squads of exchanged men sent from this Camp lately to |oin their Regts. & I am anxiously waiting my turn to leave this for a more active life. It is said by some of our officers that we are exchanged & will leave here to go to our Regts. next week, if so, I will try to get home a few days before going back to Tenn.

Sister, we are well used here now. We have pleanty to eat & good too, & when we have a little odd change we can eat Oysters, & fat.

IVIary, we have been very busy for a couple of days moving our camp. We moved about half a mile & had to carry all our camp utensils on our backs, tents too, thereby making pack mules of ourselves. I go a fishing at times in the bay. The day before yesterday I caught enough to make all in our tent a good meal (9 in number). Mort & I content ourselves at such times as we have nothing else to do walking the streets, & but little time we get to walk.

Mary, I am glad you gave Joseph such good advice. I have been talking to him in the same way for some time back. Mary, tell Darwin I will write to him in a day or so. Give my love to all the household inclusive, kiss the baby for me, & tell Mary I will write to her soon. I would write more, & write it better, but my hand cramps & is too lame to write a good common hand, as you see. Give my respects to all who inquire after me & tell them to write especially the girls of your neighborhood, from your affectionate Brother,

Chas, M, Rumsey

Mary M. Miller, Mainsburg

27.

COPY Camp Sangster of P. Prisoners

Near Annapolis. Md. Tuesday, Jan. 20th, A.D. 1863

Dear Sister,

I know It IS a long time since I have written to you, & I am ashamed of my neglect. & will try to atone for it by writing oftener. If I remember right I have received two letters from you, & one from Lulu (?) which I am about to ans. Mary, you cannot imagine how tired I get of Camp Parole & its mummery, it is too much of one thing over & over, & nothing new to excite one's fancy. There is a plenty of excitement every day. but there is too much of a sameness to it to be interesting to anybody but a lot of drunken rowdies. It is a little different today. The Prisoners were all drawn up in line last night & all that were delivered at City Point, Goldsborough. fHarpers Ferry, or Pittsburg Landing are declared to be exchanged, & today about 4.000 of them are to be seen on the plane in front of this Camp drilling, they will be armed in a few days & sent to their respective Regts. where it is hoped they will be of some use. ,for we are none of us any good here except to enrich Q.M. of the U.S. Army & I hope to be out of this camp soon, a load of Uncle Sam's Greenbacks came into Camp this morning. I am well I guess it is healtheir here than at home. I thought the smallpox is raging in Tioga.

Mary, I hardly know how to write a letter anymore. I have written the same thing over & over so often that you must have learned it by heart. If there is anything that I have not written about it is the temperance lec- ture...I went to last night, when it was over & while I stood in the Hall, a Lady, & a beautiful Lady. too. came up to me & says she John (at the same time catching hold of my arm) how did you like the lecture, says I, it was good never heard a better, then says my fair partner, hadn't we better go. says I. are you going to Camp with me. She turned her beautiful black eyes up to my face & gave a sudden start. Oh! says she. Excuse me I thought It was John Whaley. Of course it is needless to add that I excused her & as her real beau had gone I could hardly get rid of gallanting her home, don't tell anybody I couldn't see the young thing go alone.

Mary, I have heard nothing of Joseph in a long time, say two weeks. Tell Darwin next time he writes to give me his views on the emancipation Proclam. & what affect it has on the people up north. I have seen no paper but the Baltimore Clipper in 3 months & that stated this morning that Burnside had crossed the Rap- pahannock river again. It is hoped here, by all loyal people that he will not come back in guite as big a hurry as he was forced to do so before.

Give my compliments to all the neighbors & tell them to write to your Brother soldier.

Charlie Mary - Burn

28.

COPY

Cotton House Hospital Harnsburg, Pa.

Dear Brother & Sister,

I am almost sorry I promised to write to you, for it is such a bother for me to write, but I will fulfill my pro- mise. You know I always mean to about as I agree but sometimes I can't & this comes very near being the case this time. My eyes are about as they were when I left you enjoying the quiet of your peaceful home. I have been in the hospital ever since I came here gapering & stretching as usual out of pure laziness.

I came here Tuesday. When I got to town I went to Sen. Wilson he took me to the Provost Marshal got an order to go to the surgeon & report for examination & as I have no discription of course had to the Hos. until it could be sent for. As soon as I am well enough I can get transportation to my Reg't. & I shall hail the time with ]oy, although we are well treated here. We have good straw tick to lie on & everything to subsist on that we could ask for. We get butter & applesauce once a day. Potatoes & mackeral once, tea when we want it. Well, we have almost everything & what we can't see we call for. The Town Ladies came in today & brought us a lot of cheese & other delacacies & this afternoon the Choir of singers belonging to the Lutherian church came in & sung several pieces of church music & wound up by singing "We are marching along". They are splendid singers.

There is several young ladies that come here very regularly to inquire about the sick & blind one very handsome one but I have never yet had the courage to ask whether she is married or neigh. The women of Harrisburg are doing a great deal for the comfort of sick soldiers.

We had services today at two o'clock, the Chaplain of the Bucktail Reg. preached to us. He is not very smart however. I am likeing it well here. At first I was a little lonesome, but I soon got acquainted with some very good Boys & am now perfectly at home. Dennis Smith is a nurse in the ward I am in.

Give my repsects to all. Tell Ford not to look for a letter from me just now. Let our folks see this for I may not write again this week.

Your Brother,

C. M. Rumsey

Darwin & Mary

29.

COPY Camp Distribution

near Alexandria, June 26th, 1863

Dear Brother & Sister,

I will try to write you a few lines but I hardly know how I shall make out for I am in a state of excitement owing to the way in which things are earned on in these troublous times. Lee in Maryland & every day likely to cut off the communication of Washington with the north, with Hill & a large force to keep Hooker in check, Ewell in Tennessee & 7000 convalescent & soldiers to guard them here nna.)idle praying to be sent their Regts. but kept here on purpose for large contractors to speculate on. Well! Darwin, if I was home & had such an old granny as to boss things I should expect to soon be bankrupt. Darwin, the Rebs have more

forces in the field today than honest Abe & still he is calling for six months men or the emergency to serve m Penna. alone.

There has not been a day this week but there is some hard fighting near here. Rebs two to one our forces partially successful in as much as they hold their own, but you hear as much of that as I do except the canonading & that is not very musical at this distance but it may be nearer & then it will be more interesting. Has the most of Boys in Sullivan enlisted for the emergency, if so wish them good luck for me & say I would like to be with them, poorly as I am, in health I can carry a small canon.

Darwin, do you belong to the Butler & McClelland clubs'? Are you for trying another Republican. I do not mean another for I know you as well as myself never like the stock. McClelland forever, let us have a mlliltary man for the next President.. If I was at home now I would immediately commence stumping for Little Mac. I think I hear you say "sound on the goose". All I see in the paper is Halleck gone to Inspect the for- tifications, at Baltimore. Darwin, the army of the Potomac is reported to be in good spirits. Bully for them. they have had more reverses than any army in the world and a wonder that they are ready to fight again. This army is possessed of more courage & fortitude with superior forces. & seem to be poorly Officered. I think Harrisburg must soon fall unless they give McClellan command of the militia.

Give my love to all who inquire for me which is few by the number of letters I have had lately.

Your Brother, C. M. Rumsey

Darwin

30.

COPY

Maysville, Alabama Nov 10. 1863

Dear Brother & Sister,

This IS a happy day for me. I have been reading & writing letters all day. Since we came to this place three days ago I received 9 letters, 7 at one time, & today I have ans, nearly the whole of them. I was excused from Picket two days to help make out the (Vluster Rolls. Noah Wheeler & I worked at it all day yesterday & finished them & today I have been writing all day again. I have 6 le'ters now in a pile before me & just 7 more p. stamps left to put on them, one for this & not another to be had in this region. I have plenty of money & ex pect more tomorrow but can't get stamps.

Mary, the state of Alabama so far as I have any knowledge of it is a handsome country, the soil is very rich if one may judge by the weeds that abound in the once but now deserted cotton fie'ds. The Plantations as far as we go are mostly deserted by the owners, niggers & all, but we mange to find nigs, enough to wait upon the Officers & do all their drudgery which is much help to the common soldier for it keeps him more in this place & not quite so much of his time spent cooking & waiting upon Lazy Officers. Officers are as unlike in this as privates & privates as Citizens. Mary, only for the Society & institutions here, I should be strongly tempted to come here & live after the war is over, & I may as it is, for there is not much of the institution left, & that little should be rooted out. The Cursed Institution of Slavery should no longer be a hindrance to the on- ward march of Civilization in so beautiful a country as this and with the advantages of trade that this State has. Mary, I have seen corn stalks in this state 1 6 ft. high & I could not as I rode through pluk the ears sitting on my beautiful roan charger. Mary, tell Dar. I have a good horse. I think he likes good horses.

Oh, how my mind bounds from one subject to another, but you will excuse me for I am tired of scribbling & have done enough for one day & the Boys in my tent (or hovel for we live in a hut made of boards split logs & bark & a comfortable place it is too, better than we can always have) are calling on me to stop writing or I will get no supper. We have fresh pork for supper & beef steak fried crakers (not fish) thrown in. Oh, is it not delightful to sit down to such a supper. How I shall relish (I am getting so that I cross everyting whether it is a "t" or not & make my eyes much like a figure three) it, I almost think it is better than a King deserves. Oh, my eyes, the boys say the bean soup is burnt. Yes, & Noah has found a bean in it too & if I don't go I will not get my V4 of it (there is just 4 of us to get that bean). (Supper over) Our soup was as good as water would make it (we have plenty of good water). Our fresh pork was a little too much so for we are out of salt. Our crackers were a little too hard (there, if I haven't crossed a "h" in my hurry) for they were not put to soak un- til after meeting Sunday last wee well & yo so write & rest to

C.M.R.

31

COPY Columbia. Tennessee

April 18. 1864

Dear Btother.

I have no doubt you are looking (or this same scribble I am about to send to you and Mary this morning. I am well as usual. I have this morning been doing some writing for the Lt & consider it a good opportunity to address a few stray thoughts to you You will see by the heading of this paper that we have changed location since I wrote last. We left Huntsville the fourth mst. & arrived here on the eighth inst. We (the Escort) took up our quarters in tents on a green plott in the middle of Town, we chose tents, rather than building, for siiinmet. I went to Nashville soon after coming here, and while there made the V V s C) a short visit They are mostly in good spirits and anxious to renew their exploits on the battle field. Success attend them Morrison is look- ing well days he is gaming slowly. He is a little lame yet. he is Co Clerk and excused from all other dutv He IS no: going into the Corps.

Yiiu wish to about our fare, it is the same while m Camp, We go out into the Country occasionlav for a dm ner & then we get something better We can get apple pies in the shape of a half moon at all times from pie peddlers They are made with a tablespoonfull of apple or peach sauce, and crust half an inch thick and like India rubber and tought as whitleather. These are sold from 10 cts to 25 cts. The 25 ct one are the 10 c: one. after streching, of course it is done by machines the hands being unequal to the task. Everything is cheaper here than m Huntsville, Aples one dollar per doz. Cigars 1 0 cts, each, writing paper 2 cts, per shet & other things in Military proportion Noah Wheler & Lyman Reynolds are well and like myself have easy tasks to perform.

Excuse short letter this time and write soon to your Brother

CM Rumsey Escort 2nd Oiv Cav Columbia. Tenn

Darwin & Mary Miller

32.

COPY Camp near Columbia, Tennessee

September 20th, 1864

Dear Brother & Sister,

Your kind letter ot Aug. 20/64 came to hand a few days ago, but I have had only a poor chance to reply, but will try to send you a few lines. You may guess I was very sorry to hear that you were both unwell & that Mary was guite sick, but now I feel better that she is no worse but getting along fmely. I don't see but what our folks are getting on as well as could be expected with so little help. They write to that they are up with their work & will be able to let Aaron go to school this fall. That is good. If I come home this fall what can I go at to make $75 00 per month as easy as I can here; if I stay this winter. Darwin, by the time you get this you will be able to tell me who was drafted & who was not. I heartily hope you may escape and on account of your health for you will never be able to stand the service, & besides you are wanted at home. You had better give a thousand in greenback than go but let us hope for no such alternative.

Darwin, if Mother was not so lonesome I would not think of going home to stay as long as this Rebellion lasts but as it is Joseph still away I must come home for her sake, & I know Aaron & Gitchell have to work to hard. Say nothing of the girls going into the harvest field to work. Have you had to employ any girls this sum- mer to help do your work out of doors or have you been able to do it yourself, or like some others let it go un- done. Mary, you write that the farm has run down some to what it was years ago. That puts me in mind of speaking of the farm on which we are at present encamped. It was once the handsomest plantation in Middle Tenn. The garden was kept by a gardener whose salary was a thousand dollars per year and five negroes to help him. That cost something sure (?) just for posies and boguets. The orchard of butternut, maple & wild cherry trees in which we are encamped in front of the house covers 4 acres. The trees are planted in squares to make pretty walks, but I see that the horses have gnawed all the bark from the trees and the most of them are destroyed. What a pity. Our Regt. may want to camp in their shade next year, but they will be gone. There is not a fence on the place & wood is a scarce article here.

Mary, how much would you and I feel if our farm was in this condition & Mother & the younger sisters left to pick up their living as best they might & obliged to clothe themselves with gunny bags picked up about camps deserted by our enemies. I will tell you we would think of how the women & children suffered to sup- port our armies in the field in the time of the Revolution of 76 when the founders of our govement & Freedom fought for their rights as we are now fighting to sustain the constitution & Union of the states, for in union & union only is there sufficient strength for the safety of that freedom we all adore, which has never prospered under any other but a Republican form of Government. Mary, you will have to excuse the mistakes & this sudden conclusion but there are so asking for paper and &&& that I can write no more now & the mail will soon go out.

Your Brother, C. M. Rumsey

33.

Chapter X

SEVENTH CAVALRY MEMBERS OF POST 48

Members of the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry from the Mansfield Area included the following. Manv were members of General Mansfield Post 48. G.A.R.

BENJAMIN F. ASHLEY. Sullivan Township, Tioga County, enlisted at Troy, Pa. Age 25 years. Company B., Private.

He was detailed as guard at the railroad bridge in Tennessee for 14 months, scouting and skirmishing. He was in the hospital at Nashville and at Murfreesboro, Tenn. with chronic diarreha during 1862. He was in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga. and Lookout Mountain. He reenlisted at Chattanooga, Tenn. and was captured at Huntsville, Alabama. He was held prisoner at Cahaba for six months, then sent to parole camp at Vicksburg and then to St. Louis, Mo. He was discharg- ed in June 1865 at Harrisburg. Pa. After his return to the area he made his home in Delmar Township, Tioga County.

JESSE C. BRYANT, Covington Township. Tioga County, enlisted at Wellsboro, Pa. Private in Company L, February 1864, age 19.

He was injured at Nashville, Tenn. in December 1864 and was given a thirty day furlough. He did scouting and skirmishing, guard and gar- rison duty. He died at Nashville as the result of his injury. His brother Seth was in Company J, Seventh Cavalry. Brothers Daniel, Samuel, Jonathan and William were also in service. William died in Libby prison in Richmond, Virginia.

AMOS D. COLEGROVE. Middlebury Township, Tioga County, enlisted as a Private in Company C at Troy, Pa.

He was in the hospital at Nashville, Tenn., due to a lung infection and detailed as a cook for several weeks. He took part in the engagements of Big Shanty, Flat Rock, McAffee's Cross Roads. Noon Day Creek and in front of Atlanta. He was on Kilpatricks Raid through Georgia and Lovejoy Station, Ga. He was given honorable mention for this action on August 20. 1864. He was discharged at Gallatin, Tenn. May 27, 1865. He made his home in Mansfield and was a member of the G.A.R. Post 48.

His brother, Hiram L. Colegrove was also in the service. Enlisted in 136 Pa. Vol. Inf. and later reenlisted as a veteran in Company C of the Seventh Cavalry.

CHARLES COVENEY, Richmond Township, enlisted at Covington, Pa. age 20 years, Private in Company L, November 22, 1861.

34.

He did scouting and skirmishing through middle Tennessee. He was captured during the battle of Stone River at Murfreesboro, Tenn. by General Forrest and held at McMinnville, Tenn. for three days, paroled and sent to Annapolis, Maryland, In November 1862 he was discharg- ed. He reenlisted and after a thirty day leave at Harrisburg was sent to Nashville, Tenn., as provost guard at Brigade Headquarters. He was in action during the Sparksville, Columbia, Shelbyville and Chickamauga battles. He also saw action in the Atlanta campaign. His most intimate comrades were F. W. Reed, H. H. Snyder, John Graves and Jessie Robbins. He was discharged August 23, 1865 at Macon, Georgia. Coveney returned to Mansfield and farmed in Richmond Township. He was a member of General Mansfield Post 48.

WILLIAM H. COLONY, EnHsted at Columbia Cross Roads, Pa., as a Private in Company C, 19 years of age.

He was wounded in the head by the accidential discharge of a gun while in Camp Rosuzan, Nashville, Tenn. He was in the Nashville hospital eleven weeks. He was engaged in the following battles and skirmishes: Stone River, Sparta, Shelbyville, Pike Town of Shelbyville, Chattanooga, Noon Day Creek, Rosaia, Selma, Snake Creek Gap, Kenesaw Mountain, Big Shanty and Atlanta.

Three times during the third day of the battle of Stone River, Mur- freesboro, December 31, 1862 he narrowly escaped being killed or cap- tured. He went out of camp in charge of the companies supply wagon as the enemy came in. A mile in the rear of the Company he passed a battery of four guns with horses hitched waiting orders. After going half a mile further he rode back and found that the battery had been captured except for one piece that was over turned and the six horses attached to it had just been shot. He turned back and caught up with his wagon. The wagon train had been ordered to Stewart Creek, But through a mistake went towards Nashville, and was captured at Lavergne. When firing began he rode to the ridge and finding a line of rebel infantry a short distance in front, rode back to warn his wagon driver to get out of the way. Just afterwards the driver was stunned and his horse killed by a cannon ball.

In February 1863 his Company with others was ordered tp Harper's Shoals on the Tennessee River with three days rations. The fourth day they rode through rain which turned to snow and layed down at night without food, in six inches of snow. At 2 A.M. they received orders to march at 4 A.M. as the enemy under General Wheeler was coming. They marched thirty miles through snow to Nashville without food for man or beast. Here rations were issued with a gill of whiskey for each man. This was the only time whiskey wa issued to the Regiment. That night they camped on a hillside covered with ice and snow.

35

In August 1864 he was detailed to General Thomas' Headquarters as driver of supply wagon. In December he was transferred to General Wilson's Headquarters as assistant forage master. In March 1865 he was detailed as quartermaster's clerk at General Wilson's Head- quarters and was in charge of camp equipage. At the close of the war he was wagonmaster of headquarters supply train.

He was first discharged in January 1863 at Nashville, and reenlisted as a veteran with his company. He was finally discharged at Har- risburg, September 4, 1865 at the close of the war.

Among his intimate comrades were W. R. Sims, W. N. Verbeck, Lewis Eighmey, J. D. Moore and Charles Rumsey.

D. L. COPP, Covington, Pa. enlisted as a private in Company B on February 29, 1864. He took part in the Atlanta and Gulf States Cam- paigns. He was honorably discharged August 23, 1865 at Macon, Ga.

J. B. COMFORT, Sullivan Township, enhsted as a private in Company H, February 26, 1864. He was in the Atlanta and Gulf States cam- paigns. Discharged August 23, 1865.

H. W. CALKINS, Charleston, Tioga County, Pa. enlisted Nov. 1, 1861, Company C as a private.

He served as Sergeant and was promoted to Lieutenant March 3. 1863. He took part in all battles of the Regiment through the Atlanta Campaign. Captain Dartt and Lt. Calkins with 40 men captured 4 pieces of artillery and took numerous prisoners in the sabre charge at Shelbyville on June 27, 1863. At Shelbyville the Seventh Cavalry charged and captured entrenched fortifications built to resist infantry. This was the first time in the war tha^ defended entrenchments were captured by mounted Cavalry. He was discharge July 24. 1864.

E. Z. DECKER, enhsted November 26, 1861 as a private in Company L. He served in all the Regiments battles through the Atlanta cam- paign. He was discharged December 6, 1864.

LEWIS EIGHMEY, enhsted November 1, 1861 as private in Com- pany C. He was made Sergeant, and promoted to First Sgt.

He was sited for distinguished service at Selma, Ala. Appointed Lieutenant April 2, 1865. He was discharged August 23. 1865.

CURTIS P. FULLER. Springfield . Bradford County, enlisted March 29. 1864 as private in Company C.

Ke joined the Regiment in Tennessee. He shared its hardship until his discharge at Harrisburg, October 3, 1865. He was in the Gulf States Campaign. He was in General Hospital No. 1 at Columbia. Tenn. in August 1864 because of sickness. Fuller died at Lambs Creek.

36.

Tioga Co., Pa. September 6, 1891. His brother Josephus C. Fuller enlisted in the 24th N.Y Cavalry. Another brother Guy T. enlisted in the 112 Pa. Vol. Inf. He died in Andersonville prison.

WILLIAM GILBERT, age 20 years, enhsted October 4, 1864 at Williamsport in Company M as a private.

He took an active part in the battle at Selma, Ala. and other engagements of the Gulf States campaign. He was discharged with the regiment at Macon, Georgia, August 23, 1865. He returned to the Mainesburg area and engaged in farming.

OTIS G. GEROULD, Covington, Pa. enlisted as a private in Company L.

He was first discharged November 1862 at Huntsville, Ala. for reenlistment and promotion. His second discharge was November 1864 when he was appointed 1st Lieut, by Governor Andrew G. Curtin at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He was discharge August 17, 1865 at Macon, Ga.

He was in the battle of Stone River and many skirmishes in Georgia. He was wounded in Georgia and confined to a hospital at Rome, Ga. for six months.

O. C. HILFIGER, age 22, enHsted September 21, 1861 at Troy, Pa. in Company B. as a private, and was promoted to corporal.

In July 1862 he was captured at Murfreesboro, Tenn. by General Forrest and held on march six days and paroled and sent to Annapolis, Maryland, he was transferred to Louisville, Ky. to the 79th company, 2nd Batl. Vol. Cavalry. He was in the battle of Stone River, and receiv- ed a wound to the right leg. He was in the hospital four weeks at Nashville, Tenn. and again at Louisville for general disability. He was discharged Oct. 12, 1864 and reenlisted in Company K 97th Vol. Ind. and saw action in North Carolina. He was discharged at Goldsboro, N.C. July 25, 1865.

Corporal Hilfiger was a member of General Mansfield Post 48 and operated a farm in Sullivan Township.

WILLIAM HILFIGER, enlisted in Company B. Seventh Cavalry. He was a brother of O. C. Hilfiger. William died at Murfreesboro, Tenn., July 13, 1862.

JOHN M. HALL, 33 years old when he enUsted at Troy, Pa. February 25, 1864 in Company C.

He was taken prisoner at Columbia, Tenn. and sent to Cahaba prison for seven months, then paroled and sent to Vicksburg, Miss, and on to Annapolis, Maryland. He was discharge June 23, 1865. He returned to Rutland Township to farm.

37.

WILLIAM HORTON, enlisted in Company C. He was from Rutland Township and was killed in service.

HALLOCK KENNEDY, Rutland Township, enhsted February 23,

1864 in Company C, age 18 years.

He was in the hospital at Nashville, Tenn. March 1864. He did guard duty along the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad for four months. Saw action in the Atlanta and Gulf States Campaigns. He was discharged at Macon, Ga. August 23, 1865. He returned to Rutland Township.

HENRY KNIGHT, enlisted at Troy, Pa., age 18 in 1864 as a private in Company C.

He was detailed to guard duty of civilian property at Columba. Tenn. for six weeks. He was in hospital at Columbia, Tenn., did scouting and skirmishing. He was in the battle of Selma, Ala. and the Gulf States campaign. He was discharged at Macon Ga. August 23,

1865 and returned to the Mansfield area.

F. S. MORGAN, Sullivan Township, enlisted as a private in Company C.

He was a substitute for E. E. Rose and was paid S50.00. He was discharged September 29, 1862 on account of physical disability at Nashville, Tenn. He was a member of Mansfield Post 48.

HENRY G. LEVALLEY, Covington, Pa., enhsted in the Seventh Cavalry and was assigned to Company L as a private.

He served the entire war and was discharge August 23, 1865 at Macon, Georgia.

JOHNATHAN L. MOORE, Wells Township, Bradford County, enlisted at Mansfield, Pa., October 14, 1861 as a private in Company C, age 18 years.

In January 1863 he was promoted to the rank of Corporal and on November 1, 1864 he was made Sergeant which rank he held to the close of service. He reenlisted at the end of his term as a veteran in the same company, November 1863.

He was first engaged in battle of Lebanon, Tenn. May 5, 1862 and afterwards was in battles at Sparta, Gallatin. Brentwood, Unionville, Thomas Station and many others. While on march from Chattanooga to Atlanta, at Brentwood he was captured by guerrillas and was con- fined in Lafayette Co. jail for about ten days. He was then taken to Chattanooga, later to Knoxville and finally sent to Libby prison in Richmond. Va.; in all being thirty-one days. He was paroled October 20, and sent by boat to Baltimore, then by rail to Annapolis. Md. where he was exchanged on December 20 and returned to his regiment.

38.

In the battles mentioned he had two horses shot from under him. In the advance from Chattanooga to Atlanta under General Sherman, his regiment was constantly in front skirmishing and picketing and said to be under fire a hundred times. In the campaign of 1865 under General Wilson from Louisville, Ky. through Tennessee and Alabama to Macon, Georgia, He traveled 2000 miles on horseback. He was never absent from his Company (except as a prisoner) nor excused from duty during the four years. He was discharged at Macon, Ga. August 23, 1865. He returned to Lambs Creek, Pa.

JEREMIAH and SEYMOUR D. MOORE were brothers, both enlisted in Company B, Seventh Cavalry.

Seymour was captured after being wounded and in prison. Another brother Carollus S. Moore enlisted in the 171st Pa. Vol. Inf. Their father was Martin Moore who enlisted in Company B, 101st Pa. Vol. Inf. The TIOGA MOUNTAINEERS from Mansfield.

STEPHEN M. MILES, Richmond Township, first enHsted in the Tioga Mountaineers, Co. B, 101st Pa. Vol. Inf. on October 14, 1861 as a private. He was discharge after Fair Oaks on account of physical disability, on July 28, 1862. After recovering form his illness he reenlisted in the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry Company C as a veteran, December 12, 1863. The Seventh was preparing for the Atlan- ta Campaign when he^eigned up. He joined the regiment at Nashville.

CHESTER C. SMITH, enHsted August 28, 1862 at Troy, Pa. as a private in Company C, Seventh Pa. Cavalry.

He was hospitalized in Louisville, Ky, with typhoid fever. He was in most of his Companies engagements and was captured at Penn Hook, Tenn. by General Wheeler, held 24 hours and abandoned. He was again captured at Columbia, Tenn. by General Forrest on October 1, 1864 and held at Cahaba, Ala. for seven months. He was discharged at Har- risburg, Pa. May 1865. Smith's brother ALBERT SMITH was also in the 7th Pa. Cavalry, Company C. Chester Smith returned to Richmond Township.

WALDO SPEAR, was 18 years old when he enlisted at Troy, Pa. on October 14, 1861 as a private in Company C.

He was injured at Gallatin, Tenn. in a fall from his horse August 21. 1862 and was captured by John Morgan's men on the field. He was treated by a Confederate doctor, paroled at Huntsville, Tenn. and sent to Annapolis, Md. In January 1863 he was released and sent to Mur- freesboro, Tenn., as a currier for the 2nd Cavalry Division for one year.

He was in the hospital in Nashville, Tenn. with diarreha for one month. He took part in the following battles: Lebanon, McMinnville, Gallatin, FrankHn, Stone River, Milton, Shelbyville, Elk River, Ring-

39.

gold, Chickamauga, Little Washington, Chattanooga and the Atlanta Campaign. He was discharged at Harrisburg, Pa. December 31, 1864.

JOSEPHUS STOUT, Rutland Township was just 14 years old when he enlisted at Troy, Pa. as a private in Company C, 7th. Pa. Cav.

He was captured at Lavergn, Tenn. May, 1863 by General Forrest forces and held on the field for fifteen minutes when he escaped. He was in the hosptial at Murfreesboro with lung trouble. He reenlisted when his term was up as a veteran and detailed at Columbia, Tenn. and did military survey work for twenty-five days in middle Tennessee. He took part in the battles at Franklin, Tenn., Stone River, and all the engagements of the Atlanta Campaign and Selma, Ala. He was discharged at Macon, Ga. with his regiment, August 1865.

RICHARD C. STOUT, age 33, Rutland Township, (brother of Josephus Stout) enlisted at Troy, Pa. in the 7th, Pa. Cavalry, Company C as a private.

He went with the regiment to Tennessee but the exposure and hard- ships to which he was subjected affected his health so severly that after a long time in the hospital at Nashville, he was discharged from the service on a surgeon's certificate of disability. He returned home and after nearly a year and a half he had so far recovered his health that he again entered the service this time as a veteran in the 11th Pa. Vol. Inf. He was engaged at Spottsylvania Court House, battle of the Wilderness, Hatches Run and other battles and skirmishes, being wounded several times. He was in the hospital at Washington, D.C. He was discharged from Washington hospital, September 1, 1865 at the close of the war.

JACOB STOUT a nephew of Richard and Josephus Stout also enlisted in Company C. of the 7th Pa. Cavalry. He was a farmer in Rutland Township.

RANDALL WYATT SUMNER, Richmond Township, enlisted as a private in Company C of the 7th Pa. Cavalry at Harrisburg, Pa. November 20, 1861.

He was discharged the first time at Huntsville, Ala. He reenlisted November 27, 1863, and afterwards was transferred to the 20th Cavalry Brigade in 1864. His second discharge was at Macon, Ga. at the close of the war. He took part in the following engagments: Mur- freesboro, Tenn., Stone River and Sparks ville, also in a number of skir- mishes in Middle Tennessee. He took fever soon after the mud march and then rheumatism.

40.

CHARLES M. RUMSEY, Sullivan Township, enlisted October 14, 1861 at Troy, Pa. as a private in Company C, 7th Pa. Cavalry.

He was detailed in Indiana to hunt horses that bolted when unloading at Jeffersonville, His company did guard duty in Nashville in April 1862. He was captured near Lebanon, Tenn. and sent to parole camp at Annapolis, Md. He was at parole camp nearly a year before be- ing exchanged. He returned to Maysville, Ala. and was assigend to the Escort 2nd. Division Cavalry at Columbia, Tenn.

Charles Rumsey's letters from May 1861 through April 1864 are a part of this book.

He took part in the battle of Chickamauga, Hills Grove, Woodberry, Pulaska, Tenn. and other skirmishes. He was in the Division Com- missary at Huntsville, Ala. the last six months of his enlistment. Some of his comrades were Noah J. Wheeler, Morrison D. Rose, Fordyce S. Morgan, Adam Cleveland, William Colony, Uri Verbeck, and Lyman Reynolds. He was honorably discharged November 1, 1864 at Colum- bia, Tenn.

CHARLES RUNDELL enlisted October 8, 1861 as a private in Co. G of the 7th Pa. Cavalry at Canton, Pa. He was discharged after the Selma campaign November 1, 1864.

WILLIAM WARTERS, born in Sussex, England, EnHsted at Troy, Pa. November 1, 1861 as a private in Company C, 7th, Pa. Cavalry. He was 29 years old.

His first discharge was at Nashville, Tenn. for reenlistment. He was finally discharged September 4, 1865 at Harrisburg, Pa. at the close of the war. He was engaged in the following battles and skirmishes: Lebanon, Tenn., Stone River, Shelby ville Pike, town of Shelby ville, Snow Hill, McMinnsville, Noon Day Creek, Chattanooga, Nashville, Chickamauga, Resaca, Snake Creek Gap, Kenesaw Mountain, and Big Shanty. In the summer of 1864 he was in a field hospital, near Atlanta for two weeks. He was also in the hospital at Columbia, Tenn. at Nashville and Louisville, Kentucky.

At Chickamauga in September 1863, 1000 men of Wilder's Brigade, with Walters and a citizen as guides, were sent to guard some fords. 500 men with three pieces of artillery were left at the first ford. 300 men and two pieces of artillery were left at the second ford. The re- maining 100 men in command of the Major went on with no advance guard to look after a bridge on the other side of a hill, the guides riding in front. At the top of the hill they found a rebel battery in position with riflemen in ambush on one side of the road. The enemy opened fire and only five men including Waters escaped death or capture. Walters rode a short distance in the bushes, when he found a wounded man to whom he gave his horse. He then proceeded on foot until he saw the Majors horse without its rider. He secured it and rode to the fords

41

where the men had been posted. Finding neither men or artillery at either ford, he rode around Roseville and followed on until he overtook his command.

On one occasion when the Union forces were going out of Nashville on one pike, the rebel forces were coming in on another. Walters discovered and reported the advance of the enemy in time to save the union forces from capture. The latter turned, drove the Confederates back and reentered Nashville.

Among his intimate comrades were Albert Smith, John Moore, Charles Rumsey, Uriah Verbeck and Anson Fish. He was a member of General Mansfield Post 48, GAR.

PRISONERS AND DESERTERS

There were a number of deserters recorded by the Companies of the Cavalry. However many had the charge of desertion removed from their record as did Francis M. Copp, Company L. It was changed from desertion to Absent With Out Leave, August 13 to 23, 1865. He had reenlisted in an artillery company after he had become separated from his Cavalry company just a few days from the end of his enlistment.

Some who had had their horses shot from under them were able to get another horse which had lost its rider and continue with their com- pany. Others were not so lucky and would become prisoners of war. Some were released later, others were sent to prison.

Andersonville records show that twelve men from the Seventh Penn- sylvania Cavalry died in that Georgia prison.

42.

TIOGA COUNTY MEN IN THE SEVENTH PENNSYLANIA CAVALRY

COMPANY B

William Albeck

John Albeck Benjamin F. Ashley Charles Ault David C. Copp

Captain, John M, Essington

Sargeants; Holland J. Marvin

Corporal Henry Sechrist

Privates George Freer Nelson Fulkerson Henry Hutenstine

COMPANY C

Stephen L Omstead

Jeremiah R, Moore Seymour D. Moore Joeh Sechrist Henry Schevenck

Captain, Benjamin S Dartt 1st. Lt. Chauncey C. Hermans

2ndLt. Albert J. B. Dartt

Peter J. Wilcox Albert S. Cobb

Rozel Giles Thomas S. Gillet Henry Morrison

Milo H. Allen George W, Ayres Dewitt Backer Milo Blackmer Thomas Brown Robert Calhoun Adam E. Cleveland William H. Colony Charles Clark Herrick A. Clark Paxton Clark Onn L. Canedy Amos D. Colegrove Hiram L. Colegrove J B. Comfort Osburn Derter Stephen W. Darling Lewis Eighmey Anson Fish Curtis Fuller John M. Hall

Sergeants Jonathan L. Moore Lyman L. Sperry James H. Howe

Corporals Charles H. Hertel Albert Smith

Privates Philander Hall Layfayette Haven Francis Haven Charles H. Hermans William Hilfiger William J. Horton William J. Howe Edward Kelly Hallock Kennedy Henry Knight David Lent Martin L. Lovell Abner S. Layton Neoland Marvin Uri H. McColum Lee G. Miles Stephen M, Miles John D. Moore George W. Moore Fordyce S. Morgan Onn Nelson

2ndLt, Henry W. Calkins

Charles H. VanDusen Noal J. Wheeler

John Ruggles D. M. Rose C. D, Warner

Lyman S. Reynolds George B. Robinson Edward D. Roberts Warren Robinson Charles M. Rumsey W. R. Sims Wesley Sherman Anson Smith Chester C- Smith-' Jacob B. Stout Josephus Stout Richard C. Stout Waldo Spear William H. Thomas Uriah Verbeck W. N. Verbeck George N. Wood Merritt Woodard William Warters Augustus Warters Caleb C. Whitney

43.

COMPANY G

Albert Osburn Ashley Husted

1st. Sgt. James W. Childs

Corporals

George Putman

George Graham Ira M. Warriner

Sampson W. Babb Sampson Babb George S. Dodd Lewis S. Dodd

Privates Frederick Campbell Henry Hart Henry Moyer

David H. Root Bertett Root Albert Root Charles Rundeii

COMPANY L

Cpt. Lloyd P Husted

Jesse 0. Bryant Seth Bryant Charles Coveney Horace Dartt E. Z. Decker Henry Emberger Jacob Hartman William S. Hoagland

1st. Lt. Otis G. Gerould

Privates Martin L. Havens David Ireland Alonzo J. Johnson Miles Lee Henry J. Levalley Charles L. Marvin Henry Marvin

Cpl. James Seibert

Isaac Marvin Edward W. Maynard Nathan Moyer George Nelson Warren Robinson Isaac Walker James Walker Richard Videan

44.

45.

1

i

e

i S . P

- vsn

03 3inHN093aO

	r 1
				rn
		rn
^^^J	r n
■ uk'ii 1
	™ — 00 — 1