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1863So stealthy did Lee move from his camps on the Rapidan, in his march to Pennsylvania, in 1863, that he reached the Shenandoah Valley, and approached the front of Milroy, in comnmand at Winchester, without being discovered or his approach being suspected. On Friday, the 12th of June, two reconnoitring parties were sent out, the one on the Strasburg, the other on the Frout Royal Road, to discover if there was any augmentation of force beyond the usual cavalry strength. That on the Frout Royal Road was headed by the Twelfth Cavalry, four hundred strong, under command of Lieutenant Colouel Joseph L. Moss, who had succeeded Lieutellant Colonel Kohler. At Cedarville, a point twelve miles out from Winchester, Colouel Moss encountered a heavy force of the enemy, composed of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, he immediately returned and reported the facts at headquarters, which were discredited. " The report was discredited, " says General Milroy, in his official report, " by myself and by General Elliott, my second in command. I deemed it impossible that Lee's Army, with its immense artillery and baggage trains, could have escaped from the Army of the Potomac, and crossed the Blue Ridge. " This delusion was soon dissipated, and the correctness of the report made apparent, by the advance of Lee's Army on all the roads leading from the south. Soon afterward, a force under Colonel Ely, consisting of the Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry, the Eighty-seventh Pennsylvanians Eighteenth Connecticut, and Fifth Maryland Infantry, and a section of Battery L, Fifth Artillery, was again sent forward on the Strasburg Road, and a mile out encouutered the enemy with a battery posted in a wood to the right of the Frout Royal Road, where a light artillery skirmish ensued. Retiring to the junction of the two roads, to prevent being flanked, Colonel Ely took position, where he remained unmolested during the day, with the exception of the occasional advance of detachments of rebel cavalry, which was easily repulsed. At evening, Colonel Ely retired his forces behind the Creek and Race, which cross the Strasburg and Front Royal Roads, and which afforded Some protection. The enemy followed in two lines, as if to attack, but was thrown into confusion by a rapid fire of artillery opened upon him from Carlin's Battery, stationed on the Southern extremity of Apple-pie Ridge. The enemy's skirmishers now advanced, and a brisk fire was opened on Ely's front, which was kept up during the following day. For three days Lee's Army was held in check by this small force of less than twelve thousand men. The enemy refused to assault, but gradually gathered in around the town, until nearly every way of escape was cut off. At a council of war, held on the night of Sunday, the 14th, it was decided that an attempt should be made by the command to cut its way out, and push for the Potomac. under cover of darkness, the brigades moved at a little after midnight, in the order of their numbers. Four miles out, on the Martinsburg Road, the enemy was encountered in strong force, and a heavy night engagennent took place, in which the Twelfth participated, sustaining considerable loss. Lieutenant Colonel Moss had his horse shot under him, and was disabled by the fall, the command devolving on Major Titus. Taking advantage of the noise of the contests the column separated, one part moving towards Harper's Ferry, the other by way of Math, and Hancock, to bloody nuu. The Twelfth was with the latter. At Bloody Run the regiment was rallied, Colonel
Pierce resuming command, and advanced to M'Connellsburg, skirmishing
lightly with parties of the,enemy by the way.Here it was joined by
Captain Wallace, with a company of militia having a piece of
artillery, which was moved up to the mouutain. On the 5th of July,
two days after the close of the battle of Gettysburg, a detachment
from the First New York Cavalry, and the Twelfth, came upon the
enemy's trains at Cunningham Cross Roads, near the Maryland border,
making captives of the guard, Six hundred and forty in numbers and
capturing five hundred and fifty horses and mules, one hundred and
twentyfive wagons, and three brass twelve pounders. This success was
not achieved without a struggle; Lieutenant Irwin, of company E,
being among the wounded. In a subsequent encounter near Mercersburg,
sixty of the enemy were captured, and txventy-four wagons taken. 'At the close of the Gettysburg Campaign, the
regiment marched to Sharpsburg, where it remained until the 3rd of
August. It then crossed the Potomac, and moved up to the
neighbrohood of Martinsburg, where, with the exception of an
occasional collision with the rebel cavalry and bushwhackers, it
remained employed in the usual guard, scout, and picket duty,
without serious molestation, until the opening of the campaign of
1864. In the meantime, the regiment had, upon the expiration of its
original term of service, re-enlisted for a second term, and
proceeded in a body to Philadelphia for a veteran furlough. On
returning to the front in April, 1864, with ranks strengthened by
recruits, it resumed its duties in guarding the frontier, Colonel B.
S. Rogers being in command of the Post. In July previous, Lieutenant
Colonel Moss had resigned and had been succeeded by Major Bell, who
now had the active command of the regiment.
"History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-1865"] |
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