The Mutiny of the Anderson Cavalry on the eve of the Battle of Murfreesboro, from late December of 1862 to early January of 1863, is one of the most interesting episodes in the history of the regiment. It receives significant treatment in the Official Records, but is mentioned only in sketchy terms in Kirk's regimental history. Its causes and treatments offer an opportunity to examine the mind set of a group of men of the period who volunteered for one sort of service, but were ordered to perform a different one and took offense. Their grievances boiled over when they were ordered to march to the front, and the lack of sufficient numbers of trained officers and N.C.O.'s in the regiment allowed barracks-room lawyers within the unit to gain control of a large percentage of the young men in the ranks.
Major Nelson Davis, The malcontents, through family and connections back home, managed to lodge a complaint with Secretary of War Stanton himself, concerning their case and treatment. Major Nelson Davis, of the Inspector General's office, was sent to investigte the matter, and he submitted a lengthy report of the episode to the War Department. When Colonel Palmer returned the regiment was reorganized and the charges were dropped on the condition that the troops cause no more such trouble.
The Complaints of the Mutineers
Nashville, Tenn., January 10, 1863.
To the Rev. Alexander McCauley,
chairman, and others, committee of the citizens of Philadelphia deputed to inquire into the condition of the Anderson Cavalry:
SIRS: In behalf of the members of Buell's Body Guard, otherwise the Anderson Troop, otherwise the Anderson Cavalry, otherwise the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, otherwise the One hundred and sixtieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, we would respectfully submit the following brief statement of facts concerning our enlistment and treatment since being mustered into the service of the United States:
In August last, Capt. William J. Palmer and others opened recruiting offices in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and other cities in Pennsylvania, causing advertisements to be inserted in the most influential and widely circulated public journals, aided by flaming, conspicuous posters, to the effect that they were authorized by General Buell, which authority was sanctioned by the War Department, to recruit a battalion of picked men, to act in the capacity of a body guard to Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell, commanding the Department of the Ohio; further positively asserting that the duty of the troop would be precisely like that being now performed by the old Anderson Troop, viz, to act as an escort for the major-general commanding the aforesaid department, and to do special service at headquarters, as an independent organization.
It will be remembered that at this time there was much excitement in Philadelphia, as well as elsewhere, concerning enlistments to fill the calls for volunteers made by the President; but the inducements held forth by Captain Palmer being considered superior to those held forth by other organizations, he was soon enabled to recruit his battalion, while others only drew their slow length along, making but comparatively slow progress in filling their regiments. Indeed, the recruiting office at the southwest corner of Third street and Willing's alley was daily crowded by anxious applicants for membership in the Anderson Troop, none being accepted unless coming well recommended by some well-known, influential person or persons. In a word, the chance was considered so rare and the troops so superior, that doctors, lawyers, teachers, and other professional men were induced to close their offices to join the troop as private soldiers, while many left lucrative positions and closed their places of business, and parents and guardians were anxious to have the names of their sons and wards enrolled as members thereof on the same footing.
Captain Palmer, finding his efforts crowned with such perfect success in recruiting a battalion of men, caused advertisements again to be inserted in the daily periodicals, stating that he had received permission to raise his command to two battalions, upon the same grounds and for the same purpose specified when the first battalion was recruited. In this effort he was likewise successful. He then advertised that he had been clothed with further authority to increase his command to a full regiment of three battalions, still holding forth the idea that the regiment was to act as a body guard and do special service, as originally announced to the first 400.
Many of those previously enlisted becoming alarmed lest they were not to be used as specified when enlisted, began to make some inquiries concerning the disposition to be made of the troop, thinking so large a body of men would not be required to act as a body guard, when Captain Palmer caused an order to be read to us on dress-parade at Camp Alabama, Carlisle, Pa., that, notwithstanding the increase of numbers, we were still to be General Buell's body guard. This order for a time quieted our fears; and at about this time the rebels invaded Maryland and threatened to make a raid into Pennsylvania.
The Governor, becoming alarmed for the safety of the State, called for 50,000 militiamen, to defend the borders against the threatened invasion. In response to this call of our patriotic Governor, we rallied and went immediately in defense of our glorious old Commonwealth. The doings of the Anderson Troop while acting as scouts in the Cumberland Valley are well known to the public, and need not be enlarged on by us any further than to observe that we were not regarded as cowards in that short, but glorious, campaign.
Soon after our regiment returned to Camp Alabama, news of the removal of General Buell from his command reached us; and thinking that, inasmuch as we were enlisted as his body guard, and could not act in that capacity to him when he was without a command, that, in justice to us, we should be immediately disbanded; but our fears were again quieted and concerted action frustrated by Maj. F. B. Ward causing an order to be read to the different companies composing the troop, to the effect that we were still to act as a body guard and to be permanently attached to headquarters as special escort to General Buell's successor in command, Major-General Rosecrans, as an independent organization.
Relying on the good faith and integrity of our officers, we were induced to forego any decisive action to attain our just rights at this time, and, placing confidence in their assertions, we were induced to leave the old Keystone State for Louisville, Ky., at which place we expected to find, according to the promises made, commissioned officers ·waiting our arrival, the regiment not having yet been more than one-third officered. Imagine our surprise, on reaching Louisville, to find the whole theory concerning officers to be a farce, there being but one commissioned officer for our regiment, viz, Maj. A. G. Rosengarten.
Feeling that we were grossly deceived, and learning, through what me deemed to be good authority, that General Rosecrans refused to accept us as his escort, and that on arriving at Nashville we would be brigaded, we thought it our duty to make a stand here and demand our rights. Accordingly, petitions signed by nearly every member of the regiment were sent to Governor Curtin and to the War Department, respectfully asking that our regiment be disbanded (it having been enlisted under false representations). In addition to this, when marching orders were received, a large percentage of the regiment refused to move, and consequently stacked their arms in front of their tents, and were induced to take them up only when solemnly assured that everything should be made right on arriving at Nashville.
Acting on these promises, the march to Nashville was cheerfully performed, in anticipation of at least having our organization completed, and do service as originally intended, but in this, also, were we doomed to be disappointed. In lieu of commissioned officers joining the regiment, those of the old troop, acting as such in this organization, were imperatively ordered back to their old company, and, instead of being attached to General Rosecrans' headquarters, as we were led to believe, we were ordered to report to General Stanley, chief of cavalry in this department.
Having thus far been deceived by the misrepresentations of our officers, a committee, representing every company in the regiment, waited upon Lieutenant-Colonel Spencer, December 25, 1862, to ascertain from him authoritatively what disposition was to be made of the regiment, and further to inquire if we were brigaded, and why we were not properly officered as promised, to which inquiries he, in substance, replied that he did not know what would be done with the regiment; that we were not brigaded yet, and he did not suppose we would be, but he could not see what difference it could make to the boys if they were, and that he had sent a list of names to Governor Curtin to be commissioned, but did not know why they were not commissioned. This proving unsatisfactory to the committee, they again waited upon him, stating that they were instructed to inform the officers that, in case marching orders were received before they were satisfied in regard to these inquiries, they would stack their arms and refuse to obey the order.
So on the morning of December 26, 1862, when requested by our officers to prepare to march to the front, the regiment, in a quiet and gentlemanly manner, stacked their arms in front of their tents, as previously agreed upon. Subsequently, however, upon the representation of General Stanley that, if the regiment would move, it should be held as a reserve, and upon the assertion of Major Rosengarten that our forces had been repulsed, and that every man was needed at the front, about 200 were induced to go with the officers, the others firmly adhering to their original design of remaining until their wrongs were righted, and until they were properly officered, there being in all but 17 commissioned officers in the regiment, including 2 surgeons.
Had we obeyed the dictates of patriotism alone, we would have disregarded our grievances for the time being, and gone, but reason - calm, cool reason - forbade us to go, with only about one-third of our complement of officers, and they mostly rash and inexperienced; our horses jaded and worn down by the long, tedious march from Louisville to Nashville, just finished, and we but partially equipped, in many instances with worthless arms. All the officers, except Lieutenant Fobes, acting quartermaster, having left camp, and the regime, it in almost a starving condition, those left saw fit to act for themselves, and try and bring order out of chaos.
Committees were sent to wait upon Brigadier-General Mitchell, and make a plain statement of facts, and ask for a court of inquiry, in order to have our case investigated. However, nothing was gained by this save an order detailing Captain Atkinson to take the regiment to headquarters, to represent their case to Major-General Rosecrans. Accordingly, about 85 started with him, and about 150 started the same day for the same purpose, under Colonel Wood, who was detailed for that purpose by Brigadier-General Morgan. Colonel Wood having overtaken the party under Captain Atkinson, some miles from camp, the whole marched under his command until near La Vergne, at which place General Wheeler's (rebel) brigade was burning the wagon train of Davis' and Sheridan's divisions.
Here a halt was ordered, and, eventually, a retreat, although the boys urged Colonel Wood to lead them on to the attack. However, the day following, December 31, they continued their journey to headquarters, and the whole regiment was ordered back to camp. Meanwhile those remaining in camp were again waited upon, December 31, and all that were willing to obey all orders emanating from their superior officers were requested to step two paces to the front. As there were scarcely any willing to do this, they were then ordered to turn in their arms and equipments, and informed that they would be taken to the work-house as military prisoners. This order was performed by a battalion of men under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Quackenbush, by orders of General Morgan.
On this occasion about 200 men were placed under arrest in Work-House No. 1, who were subsequently joined by others, swelling the number to 309. In addition to those confined here, there are 101 confined in the yard of the county jail, with no covering but the blue canopy of heaven, making a total of 410 of our troop held in durance vile, leaving only about 210 in camp. The query will doubtless be asked, where are the other 350 men necessary to fill our troop to maximum number enlisted? Some are quietly sleeping the sleep of death, fallen among the heroes who have sacrificed their lives for their country's honor: others are wounded or sick, and have found a temporary refuge in various hospitals, but the vast majority are missing. Why they are missing, or where they are, the future alone can disclose.
We have, gentlemen, endeavored to give an authentic and concise account of the affairs of our troop since its organization (if it can be so called) to the present time, and would respectfully solicit you to carefully consider our statement, as well as to ponder our helpless and useless condition.
In conclusion, we would impress upon your minds the facts that we were falsely enlisted; never mustered in as a regiment; never properly officered or armed; and that in taking this stand we have been actuated by a desire only to have justice done unto us. Having taken our position in advance of any orders to march, therefore, we claim only what the humblest in the land may demand - simple justice from the hands of a Government we would have died to save.
Believing in the integrity and justice of our Government, we place our cause in your hands, humbly praying that we may be rescued from our incarceration amid smoke and vermin, whose name is legion, and be honorably discharged from the service of the United States, thus being relieved from an organization which has become odious and unbearable to us, thereby enabling those who wish to re-enlist an opportunity of doing so, where they can do justice to themselves, their country, and God-given principles of self-government.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
M. COOPER PAUL.
OSCAR B. MORRIS.
HARRY M. GEARY.
WALTER G. WILSON.
WILFRED H. KEELY.
"A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it." ~Oscar Wilde~
History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-65 - Samuel P. Bates
Major Nelson Davis, The malcontents, through family and connections back home, managed to lodge a complaint with Secretary of War Stanton himself, concerning their case and treatment. Major Nelson Davis, of the Inspector General's office, was sent to investigte the matter, and he submitted a lengthy report of the episode to the War Department. When Colonel Palmer returned the regiment was reorganized and the charges were dropped on the condition that the troops cause no more such trouble.
The Complaints of the Mutineers
WORK-HOUSE, NO. 1,
Nashville, Tenn., January 10, 1863.
To the Rev. Alexander McCauley,
chairman, and others, committee of the citizens of Philadelphia deputed to inquire into the condition of the Anderson Cavalry:
SIRS: In behalf of the members of Buell's Body Guard, otherwise the Anderson Troop, otherwise the Anderson Cavalry, otherwise the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, otherwise the One hundred and sixtieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, we would respectfully submit the following brief statement of facts concerning our enlistment and treatment since being mustered into the service of the United States:
In August last, Capt. William J. Palmer and others opened recruiting offices in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and other cities in Pennsylvania, causing advertisements to be inserted in the most influential and widely circulated public journals, aided by flaming, conspicuous posters, to the effect that they were authorized by General Buell, which authority was sanctioned by the War Department, to recruit a battalion of picked men, to act in the capacity of a body guard to Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell, commanding the Department of the Ohio; further positively asserting that the duty of the troop would be precisely like that being now performed by the old Anderson Troop, viz, to act as an escort for the major-general commanding the aforesaid department, and to do special service at headquarters, as an independent organization.
It will be remembered that at this time there was much excitement in Philadelphia, as well as elsewhere, concerning enlistments to fill the calls for volunteers made by the President; but the inducements held forth by Captain Palmer being considered superior to those held forth by other organizations, he was soon enabled to recruit his battalion, while others only drew their slow length along, making but comparatively slow progress in filling their regiments. Indeed, the recruiting office at the southwest corner of Third street and Willing's alley was daily crowded by anxious applicants for membership in the Anderson Troop, none being accepted unless coming well recommended by some well-known, influential person or persons. In a word, the chance was considered so rare and the troops so superior, that doctors, lawyers, teachers, and other professional men were induced to close their offices to join the troop as private soldiers, while many left lucrative positions and closed their places of business, and parents and guardians were anxious to have the names of their sons and wards enrolled as members thereof on the same footing.
Captain Palmer, finding his efforts crowned with such perfect success in recruiting a battalion of men, caused advertisements again to be inserted in the daily periodicals, stating that he had received permission to raise his command to two battalions, upon the same grounds and for the same purpose specified when the first battalion was recruited. In this effort he was likewise successful. He then advertised that he had been clothed with further authority to increase his command to a full regiment of three battalions, still holding forth the idea that the regiment was to act as a body guard and do special service, as originally announced to the first 400.
Many of those previously enlisted becoming alarmed lest they were not to be used as specified when enlisted, began to make some inquiries concerning the disposition to be made of the troop, thinking so large a body of men would not be required to act as a body guard, when Captain Palmer caused an order to be read to us on dress-parade at Camp Alabama, Carlisle, Pa., that, notwithstanding the increase of numbers, we were still to be General Buell's body guard. This order for a time quieted our fears; and at about this time the rebels invaded Maryland and threatened to make a raid into Pennsylvania.
The Governor, becoming alarmed for the safety of the State, called for 50,000 militiamen, to defend the borders against the threatened invasion. In response to this call of our patriotic Governor, we rallied and went immediately in defense of our glorious old Commonwealth. The doings of the Anderson Troop while acting as scouts in the Cumberland Valley are well known to the public, and need not be enlarged on by us any further than to observe that we were not regarded as cowards in that short, but glorious, campaign.
Soon after our regiment returned to Camp Alabama, news of the removal of General Buell from his command reached us; and thinking that, inasmuch as we were enlisted as his body guard, and could not act in that capacity to him when he was without a command, that, in justice to us, we should be immediately disbanded; but our fears were again quieted and concerted action frustrated by Maj. F. B. Ward causing an order to be read to the different companies composing the troop, to the effect that we were still to act as a body guard and to be permanently attached to headquarters as special escort to General Buell's successor in command, Major-General Rosecrans, as an independent organization.
Relying on the good faith and integrity of our officers, we were induced to forego any decisive action to attain our just rights at this time, and, placing confidence in their assertions, we were induced to leave the old Keystone State for Louisville, Ky., at which place we expected to find, according to the promises made, commissioned officers ·waiting our arrival, the regiment not having yet been more than one-third officered. Imagine our surprise, on reaching Louisville, to find the whole theory concerning officers to be a farce, there being but one commissioned officer for our regiment, viz, Maj. A. G. Rosengarten.
Feeling that we were grossly deceived, and learning, through what me deemed to be good authority, that General Rosecrans refused to accept us as his escort, and that on arriving at Nashville we would be brigaded, we thought it our duty to make a stand here and demand our rights. Accordingly, petitions signed by nearly every member of the regiment were sent to Governor Curtin and to the War Department, respectfully asking that our regiment be disbanded (it having been enlisted under false representations). In addition to this, when marching orders were received, a large percentage of the regiment refused to move, and consequently stacked their arms in front of their tents, and were induced to take them up only when solemnly assured that everything should be made right on arriving at Nashville.
Acting on these promises, the march to Nashville was cheerfully performed, in anticipation of at least having our organization completed, and do service as originally intended, but in this, also, were we doomed to be disappointed. In lieu of commissioned officers joining the regiment, those of the old troop, acting as such in this organization, were imperatively ordered back to their old company, and, instead of being attached to General Rosecrans' headquarters, as we were led to believe, we were ordered to report to General Stanley, chief of cavalry in this department.
Having thus far been deceived by the misrepresentations of our officers, a committee, representing every company in the regiment, waited upon Lieutenant-Colonel Spencer, December 25, 1862, to ascertain from him authoritatively what disposition was to be made of the regiment, and further to inquire if we were brigaded, and why we were not properly officered as promised, to which inquiries he, in substance, replied that he did not know what would be done with the regiment; that we were not brigaded yet, and he did not suppose we would be, but he could not see what difference it could make to the boys if they were, and that he had sent a list of names to Governor Curtin to be commissioned, but did not know why they were not commissioned. This proving unsatisfactory to the committee, they again waited upon him, stating that they were instructed to inform the officers that, in case marching orders were received before they were satisfied in regard to these inquiries, they would stack their arms and refuse to obey the order.
So on the morning of December 26, 1862, when requested by our officers to prepare to march to the front, the regiment, in a quiet and gentlemanly manner, stacked their arms in front of their tents, as previously agreed upon. Subsequently, however, upon the representation of General Stanley that, if the regiment would move, it should be held as a reserve, and upon the assertion of Major Rosengarten that our forces had been repulsed, and that every man was needed at the front, about 200 were induced to go with the officers, the others firmly adhering to their original design of remaining until their wrongs were righted, and until they were properly officered, there being in all but 17 commissioned officers in the regiment, including 2 surgeons.
Had we obeyed the dictates of patriotism alone, we would have disregarded our grievances for the time being, and gone, but reason - calm, cool reason - forbade us to go, with only about one-third of our complement of officers, and they mostly rash and inexperienced; our horses jaded and worn down by the long, tedious march from Louisville to Nashville, just finished, and we but partially equipped, in many instances with worthless arms. All the officers, except Lieutenant Fobes, acting quartermaster, having left camp, and the regime, it in almost a starving condition, those left saw fit to act for themselves, and try and bring order out of chaos.
Committees were sent to wait upon Brigadier-General Mitchell, and make a plain statement of facts, and ask for a court of inquiry, in order to have our case investigated. However, nothing was gained by this save an order detailing Captain Atkinson to take the regiment to headquarters, to represent their case to Major-General Rosecrans. Accordingly, about 85 started with him, and about 150 started the same day for the same purpose, under Colonel Wood, who was detailed for that purpose by Brigadier-General Morgan. Colonel Wood having overtaken the party under Captain Atkinson, some miles from camp, the whole marched under his command until near La Vergne, at which place General Wheeler's (rebel) brigade was burning the wagon train of Davis' and Sheridan's divisions.
Here a halt was ordered, and, eventually, a retreat, although the boys urged Colonel Wood to lead them on to the attack. However, the day following, December 31, they continued their journey to headquarters, and the whole regiment was ordered back to camp. Meanwhile those remaining in camp were again waited upon, December 31, and all that were willing to obey all orders emanating from their superior officers were requested to step two paces to the front. As there were scarcely any willing to do this, they were then ordered to turn in their arms and equipments, and informed that they would be taken to the work-house as military prisoners. This order was performed by a battalion of men under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Quackenbush, by orders of General Morgan.
On this occasion about 200 men were placed under arrest in Work-House No. 1, who were subsequently joined by others, swelling the number to 309. In addition to those confined here, there are 101 confined in the yard of the county jail, with no covering but the blue canopy of heaven, making a total of 410 of our troop held in durance vile, leaving only about 210 in camp. The query will doubtless be asked, where are the other 350 men necessary to fill our troop to maximum number enlisted? Some are quietly sleeping the sleep of death, fallen among the heroes who have sacrificed their lives for their country's honor: others are wounded or sick, and have found a temporary refuge in various hospitals, but the vast majority are missing. Why they are missing, or where they are, the future alone can disclose.
We have, gentlemen, endeavored to give an authentic and concise account of the affairs of our troop since its organization (if it can be so called) to the present time, and would respectfully solicit you to carefully consider our statement, as well as to ponder our helpless and useless condition.
In conclusion, we would impress upon your minds the facts that we were falsely enlisted; never mustered in as a regiment; never properly officered or armed; and that in taking this stand we have been actuated by a desire only to have justice done unto us. Having taken our position in advance of any orders to march, therefore, we claim only what the humblest in the land may demand - simple justice from the hands of a Government we would have died to save.
Believing in the integrity and justice of our Government, we place our cause in your hands, humbly praying that we may be rescued from our incarceration amid smoke and vermin, whose name is legion, and be honorably discharged from the service of the United States, thus being relieved from an organization which has become odious and unbearable to us, thereby enabling those who wish to re-enlist an opportunity of doing so, where they can do justice to themselves, their country, and God-given principles of self-government.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
M. COOPER PAUL.
OSCAR B. MORRIS.
HARRY M. GEARY.
WALTER G. WILSON.
WILFRED H. KEELY.
"A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it." ~Oscar Wilde~
History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-65 - Samuel P. Bates
Bringing the