I have spent the last couple days researching, beginning with "Harlan's Light Cavalry" in it's formation at Philadelphia in August of '61.
The command was present at Five Forks where Lieut. Wolfe was briefly captured, but reclaimed by his troops, who pursued, driving the enemy forward. Under Sheridan's drive when the U. S. Army swung around and cut off the rebels at Appomattox, the same detail on the last battle of the 8th instant, was led by the 11th. They were mustered out in August after 4 years, 1861-1865.
I begin at Camp Palmer. Can anyone include roster sheets when this regiment was the 108th at Philadelphia and organized by direction of Josiah Harlan with the authority of the Secretary of War in Washington, please?
Lubliner.
Report of Lieut. Col. Franklin A. Stratton, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry.
HDQRS. ELEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY,
Near Richmond, Va., April 29, 1865.
SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of operations of this
regiment during the late campaign:
Breaking up the winter's camp on the north side of the James on the
evening of the 28th of March, the command during the night crossing
the James at Varina and the Appomattox at Point of Rocks, moved to
the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad, in the rear of the lines of the
Army of the Potomac. The following day the regiment proceeded to
Reams' Station, at which point it remained, with the division, until 3
o'clock on the morning of the 1st of April, when the march was
resumed. The command proceeded to Dinwiddie Court-House and from
there took the road leading into the White Oak road, the Eleventh
Pennsylvania Cavalry, having the advance. At 1 p.m., about half a mile
from the White Oak road, we struck the enemy's pickets, and pushing
on soon developed a considerable force strongly posted in rifle-pits in
the edge of a wood along the road named, with an open field in their
front. Maj. McFarlan, commanding the advance battalion, deployed
Capt. Menzies' squadron (Companies G and H) on the right and left
of the road, mounted, and Capt. Elliott's squadron (Companies F and
B) farther to the right and left, in the woods, dismounted. The
remaining six companies were then ordered up under Maj. Skelley,
temporarily in command of the regiment, to support the advance
battalion. As soon as formed, about a quarter of a mile from the
enemy's line, Maj. Monroe, with two squadrons (Companies A, E, K
and C), was directed to charge the enemy's position, which was
promptly done, the general commanding the division charging at the
head of the column. The squadrons moved at first on the left of the
road, and then crossing it obliquely struck the left of the enemy's
position, charging over the works into the road and driving the enemy
out in confusion; meantime Lieut. Meekins, with Company I, had dislodged
the left of the enemy's line, and Capt. Ring, with part of his company,
gallantly charged the enemy for a considerable distance along the
White Oak road to the left. Capt. Elliott pushed his dismounted men
rapidly across the road into the wood, driving the enemy for some
distance. Maj. Skelley supported the attack with Capt. Nimmon's
squadron (Companies D and M), moving up at a gallop on the right of
the line. The rebels were completely dispersed at every point. Their
number, as afterward ascertained, was 600, double the number of my regiment.
We have to mourn the loss in this charge of Maj. Monroe and
Lieut. Mathews, mortally wounded, and Capt. Lancaster, killed,
all brave and gallant officers, who fell gloriously while leading their
men to the attack. Lieut. Wolfe was taken prisoner, having pushed
out too far on the left. Our loss otherwise was not heavy.
The command during the afternoon took part with the Fifth Corps in its
right flank movement at the Five Forks which resulted so disastrously
to the enemy. A considerable number of prisoners were captured by the
regiment and turned over to the infantry.
The regiment moved with the division on the 2d, 3d, and 4th to the
vicinity of Amelia Court-House. At Deep Creek we attacked the rebel
rear guard, strongly posted, and after half an hour's skirmishing drove
them out with considerable loss, having only one man wounded on our
side. On the 4th, upon nearing the Court-House, Maj. McFarlan,
commanding the advance battalion, met and charged the enemy's cavalry
outposts, driving their skirmish line back upon their infantry support. He
was followed up in the charge by the remainder of the regiment, which
was ordered forward by Col. Evans, commanding the brigade. Only
two or three men were lost. The next day I supported the First
Maryland Cavalry in its attack on the enemy at the railroad, to the left
of the Court-House. Two or three men were slightly wounded in this
affair. Moving thence, via Burkeville, to Prince Edward Court-House,
on the 7th, we there, in conjunction with Maj. Baker's battalion,
captured a considerable number of rebels, including one or two officers.
the following day we marched to the vicinity of Appomattox Station, on
the South Side Railroad, and on the morning of the 9th moved out to the
main road from Appomattox Court-House to Lynchburg, about a mile
westerly from the Court-House, this regiment having the advance.
Capt. Nimmon's squadron was deployed, dismounted, and pushed
across the road to develop the enemy's position. I moved the remainder
of the regiment into the wood on the left, dismounting four companies,
under Maj. Skelley, holding Capt. Nimmon commenced skirmishing
I discovered the enemy pushing out about a brigade of infantry from the
wood on our right and moving down the slope at right angles with our
line. Changing from to the right, I opened fire with some effect, but
receiving orders in a few minutes to fall back retired slowly to deploy
again, about 200 yards in front of the road, to protect the left flank,
which I did. Capt. Ring's squadron and one squadron under
Lieut. Cook were formed in line on the main road to repel the
enemy, who were following closely our dismounted men, retiring under
their orders to fall back. The enemy's cavalry being reported moving to
our left and rear, I sent Maj. McFarlan to move the led horses as his
judgment might direct for their safety. This duty he creditably performed,
and afterward had the horses ready for mounting as soon as wanted by me.
While affairs were in this position Davies' brigade, dismounted, aided
by our dismounted men, repelled the attack of the enemy on this road.
At this moment some of the rebel cavalry dashed in upon our rear, and
were met and checked by such men as could be brought up in time.
Almost at the same time our infantry, a part of the Twenty-fourth
Corps, advanced in line from the woods in our rear, sweeping back the
head of the column of rebel cavalry, and pushing beyond us toward the
Court-House soon left us in the rear. During this cavalry attack Capt.
Ring made a dashing charge on a superior force of cavalry in our rear
with some effect, although I had no men at hand mounted to support
him. Receiving orders to mount the regiment I did so without delay,
and, under orders, moved down the road about a mile westerly to meet
the rebel cavalry, thee posted across the road. Before any decisive
operations were commenced at this point orders to suspend hostilities
were received. Although a portion of the engagement was quite sharp
this morning I lost but one man killed and three or four wounded.
From this place, on the evening of the 9th, I detached Capt. Elliott's
squadron to search for artillery supposed to be abandoned by the enemy
in the vicinity of Red Oak Church. A copy of his report has already
been forwarded, from which it will be seen that he captured 60 prisoners,
54 pieces of field artillery, 36 gun carriages and caissons, and 1 battle-flag.
On the 12th the command marched to Lynchburg and occupied the town
about 4 p.m. Upon entering the place I received orders to take command
of the troops in the place, consisting of the Eleventh Pennsylvania
Cavalry and Maj. Baker's battalion, and to take possession of and
destroy all public property. These orders were carried out as far as
possible during the evening. The next day I turned over the command
and the captured property to Lieut.-Col. Potter, of Gen.
Turner's division, of the Twenty-fourth Corps. Very large amounts of
military stores were found here, comprising ordnance and ordnance
stores of every kind, quartermaster's property, a large amount of
subsistence stores, 25 locomotives, many cars, and much other railroad
property, and much property of a miscellaneous nature. This property
was all turned over by me to Lieut.-Col. Potter as stated. I
found here 56 field pieces, 6 heavy guns, 41 mortars, 7 forges, 75
caissons and gun carriages, 15,000 muskets, several hundred sabers, and
a large quantity of ammunition.
Including the guns, &c., captured on the 9th, at Red Oak Church, the
Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry has captured and taken possession of and
delivered to the proper officers 110 field pieces, 41 mortars, 6 heavy
guns, 111 caissons and carriages, a large amount of ordnance stores, 1
battle-flag, and many prisoners.
Leaving Lynchburg on the 16th the regiment marched with the brigade
to Burkeville, and thence, via Goode's Bridge, to Richmond, at which
place it arrived on the 24th instant.
I cannot speak too highly of the soldierly conduct of both officers and
men of the regiment during this brief campaign. I have heretofore
recommended several officers for promotion and others as deserving
honorable mention, but their service, under the eye of the commanding
general, has enabled him to judge of their merits.
FRANKLIN A. STRATTON,
Lieut. Col. Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, Cmdg. Regt.
Maj. AUGUSTUS H. FENN,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Mackenzie's Cav. Brig., Army of the James.
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