Diary of a Soldier
BY 2nd Lieutenant
William A. McIlhenny
Transcribed by
John Allen Miller
Submitted by: Mark Dudrow
Sometime after that Colonel Mosby's
command of rebel cavalry, knowing that
we were somewhat weakened by the
capture of so many of our men,
concluded he would surprise us and
capture our whole camp; there was only
one road leading into camp and we had
a strong picket on that road and we
felt sure they could not get past our
pickets without their knowing it and
thought there was no other way for
them to get into our camp and we felt
very safe, but the rebels found a
by-path through the mountain where
they could lead their horses through
and got in the rear of our camp about
midnight and charged into out camp
while we were all sound asleep, firing
into our tents and crying to us to
surrender. They had a good many of
company A captured but the other
companies rushed out of their tents
and commenced firing at every man on
horseback and crying "shoot everyman
on horseback", and the rebels yelling
to us to surrender. Finally it got too
hot for the rebels and they commenced
to retreat and we drove them out of
camp. Captain Smith of the rebels was
left dead in our command. Lieutenant
Colston, an aide of General Lee, was
also killed. Our Battalion had six
killed and fourteen wounded and was
publicly congratulated by General
Halleck, General-in-Chief of the army
at Washington.
An incident occurred at this fight
which I would like to mention. About a
year before we had a fight at
Leesburg, Virginia, and Samuel McNair
of our company was badly wounded
through the lung. His brother H.S.
McNair, requested a man by the name of
Paxton, who lived close by, to give
him his wagon for the purpose of
taking his wounded brother across the
River. Paxton consented to do so if
McNair would promise him that he
would, under similar circumstances, do
a favor for his son, who was in the
Confederate Army under Mosby's
command.
He promptly promised he would do
this and Paxton gave him the wagon and
he got his brother away in safety. At
this fight on Louden Heights a young
man was shot and fell near our tent.
Some of our men went to him and ask if
Samuel McNair was in camp and we told
him that he was. He said he would like
to see him. We called him and when he
came the young man told him he was the
son of Mr. Paxton who gave his wagon
to haul him off the Battlefield on a
previous occasion. We carried him into
a tent and cared for him but he died
in a few minutes. We sent word to his
parents who came and took his body
home and they thanked us very kindly
for what we had done.
On February 14th, l864, at the end
of two years of service, the
government made an offer that if any
of the three year soldiers would
consent to reenlist for three years
more they would receive a furlough of
thirty days and a Government Bounty of
$400.00 About three-fourths, of our
Battalion re-enlisted and came home on
a thirty days' furlough. We greatly
enjoyed our visit, but the thirty days
passed a great deal quicker than they
did when in the army. During the
thirty days Major N. A. Cole received
orders from Governor Bradford of
Maryland, to recruit his old Battalion
to a full regiment of twelve companies
and when we returned to camp at
Frederick City, Maryland, we found our
old Battalion of four companies
increased to twelve, but none of the
new companies was mounted and only
about one-half of the old Battalion
was mounted (I forgot to mention that
when we got our thirty days furlough,
the Battalion had orders to march from
Harper's Ferry to Frederick City,
which was the home of Major Cole and
most of Company A, so the citizens of
Frederick turned out and gave us a
grand reception and provided a public
dinner for us, to which we did ample
justice. Then we left for home.)
After returning from our thirty
days furlough we found our officers
busy re-organizing the regiment and we
expected to stay at Frederick for
sometime, but behold, we were in camp
only a few days when an order came for
every mounted man in camp to get ready
to march at once. As I had furnished
my own horse I had to go, No one knew
where we were going, but behold this
was the beginning of the movement up
the Shenandoah Valley and was
afterwards known as Hunter's raid to
Lynchburg, Virginia. We were put under
the command of Major Daniels, a new
recruit. Captain Wood had command of
the company of about two hundred men.
Captain A.M. Hunter acted as
Quartermaster.
We left camp at Frederick,
Maryland, marched to Harper's Ferry
and on to Hall town, Virginia, about
25 miles, on the 28th day of April,
1864. On the 29th we were
ordered to Join General Seigle at
Winchester, Virginia, a march of
twenty-five miles.
April 30th. Were attached to 1st
Brigade, Colonel Taylor's Division.
May 1st. Was ordered out on a
scout, took the advance to Strausberg.
May 2nd. Our Battalion
reconnoitered to Strausberg, returned
to Winchester at one o'clock at night.
May 3rd. Remained in camp at
Winchester — short of rations.
May 4th. Still at Winchester, no
news of any account.
May 5th. All quiet — was detailed
for picket.
May 6th. Heard that the Army of
Potomac was moving.
May 7th Good news from the Army of
the Potomac.
May 8th Detail of 80 men to go on a
scout under Colonel Boyd.
May 9th. Broke camp at Winchester,
marched to Cedar Creek, 18 miles.
May 10th Remained at Cedar Creek;
engineers built a bridge; report that
Lee was defeated.
May 11th. Broke camp at 5 P.M.;
marched to Woodstock; had a skirmish
with the rebels
May 12th, Remained at Woodstock;
rained all day; rumors of good news.
May 13th. Still at Woodstock; some
of the boys went on a scout; captured
one rebel.
May 14th. Still at Woodstock; heard
that the men sent out from Winchester
under Colonel Boyd were defeated; some
of the boys came in pretty near dead;
fighting in our front; most of the men
that went out with Colonel Boyd were
captured.
May 15th, Sunday. Were ordered out
early in the morning; marched to New
Market were in the advance; were
thrown out on the skirmish line North
of the town; rebel line of "battle
just South of the town, under General
Breckenridge; rebels advanced on us;
our infantry was away back; shells
were dropping all around us and musket
balls were whistling. When the rebel
line got within gun-shot of our line
we were relieved by an infantry
regiment; we fell back of our infantry
which was in forming line of battle,
but before they got in line, the
rebels were on us and put the whole
force to rout. I with some more of our
Battalion and with detachments of
other cavalry under Colonel Taylor
formed a rear guard and was the last
to cross the North Branch of the
Shenandoah River. We then burnt the
bridge and then retreated all night to
Mount Jackson.
May
16th. Retreated back to Cedar Creek in
good order; almost dead with fatigue
after being almost continuously in the
saddle from early Sunday morning to
Monday morning with very little to
eat.
May
17th. Still at Cedar Creek; rebels did
not follow us any farther; 40 men
joined us from dismounted camp.
May
18th. Still at Cedar Creek; short of
rations and no forage for horses.
May
19th. Still camped at Cedar Creek;
short of rations and no forage for
horse
May
20th. At Cedar Creek; moved camp; I
was one of 20 men detailed to take the
mail to Martinsburg; over 50 miles;
traveled all night.
May
21st. Arrived at Martinsburg about
seven o'clock in the morning; very,
very sleepy and tired.
May
22nd. Remained at Martinsburg; had a
good rest; met Cousin - — -.
May
23rd. Still at Martinsburg; was
ordered back to front at 10 o'clock at
night to keep out of clutches of Mosby.
May
24th. Arrived at camp at Cedar Creek
about 8 o'clock in the forenoon; a
hard
night's ride; received three letters,
May
25th. Remained in camp; General Seigle
was relieved from command and General
Hunter put in command of the army.
May
26th. Broke camp and marched to
Woodstock; rumor of good news.
May
27th. Camped at Woodstock; our men
were sent on a scout; captured two in
a skirmish.
May
28th. Still at Woodstock; no, forage
for our horses and short of rations.
May
29th. Got ready to march at 4 o'clock
in the morning; marched to New Market;
camped at old Battlefield, where we
were defeated under General Siegleby
rebel General Breckenridge.
May30th. Remained in camp until
evening; detailed for picket; remained
on picket for two nights.
May
31st. Still on picket; one of bur
picket posts was attacked by the
rebels.
June
1st. Relieved from picket. Our
Battalion was attached to General
Hunter's headquarters for special
duty; got orders to march next
morning. While we camped at New Market
we found quite a number of our wounded
in some of the houses in the town that
were lying there for fifteen days
without having their wounds dressed
and were in miserable condition.
June
2nd, Left New Market at daylight. We
were in the advance; were thrown out
as skirmishers on right. Skirmished
with the rebels all the way to
Harrissonburg. Charged through the
town and drove the rebels out; camped
at Harrissonburg.
June
3rd. Camped at Harrisonburg. We had
some pretty bad boys among us and
after we drove the rebs out of town,
one of our boys discovered a saloon
and he very politely told the
proprietor that he would take charge
of the place. He soon found a barrel
of whiskey and commenced dealing out
whiskey over the counter at a lively
rate. General Hunter, finding some of
the men were coming into camp under
the influence of whiskey, made an
investigation and the sale of whiskey
was soon stopped and the men put under
arrest.
June
4th. Marched toward Port Republic; now
at Port Republic the rebel army
occupied a strong, fortified position,
and General Hunter determined to flank
the position, took off to the left,
crossing the South Branch track of the
Shenandoah River; we forded the River;
our Battalion was the first to cross
and were thrown out on picket until
the whole army got safely across,
which took nearly all night; we got
only half an hour's sleep.
June
5th, Sunday. Was wakened up before
daylight and ordered to mount; took
the advance; our Battalion was
deployed as a skirmish line on the
right. We advanced but a short
distance when the rebel cavalry
charged us; we opened fire on them and
held them for a short time, but they
came on with greater fore. I had
charge of a squad of men, following
immediately behind the skirmish line,
when Captain Wood, who was in command
called out "Sergeant McIlhenny, take
your men up to the skirmish line and
deploy them along a fence that runs in
front of you." He also told us to
dismount and pick our men. We did so
and not a man flinched. We did not
occupy this position very long, when
we heard command from behind to throw
down the fence, we commenced to throw
down the fence and on looking back we
saw General Stahl, who had command of
the reserve cavalry coming on a
charge. We hastily mounted and joined
in a general charge on the rebs who
were put to flight in every direction.
One "Johnnie" who had lost his horse
was shinning it across a field to get
out of the way. I took after him and
when he saw me coming he darted into a
large hedge fence and hid.
When
I came to the place I saw him go in, I
called to him to come out or I would
send a ball through him. He
immediately walked out and I marched
him back to the rear. We drove the
rebels back to their infantry line
about three miles from where the fight
opened in the morning. In his cavalry
charge Thaddeus Maxwell, of our
company, was shot through the head and
instantly killed. In following up the
retreating cavalry some six or seven
of us were on the extreme right of the
line and we came to a small cottage
occupied by a very nice old lady who
came out to inquire where the hated
Yankees were, she supposing we
belonged to the Confederate Army, I
told her she could rest easy for we
had driven the Yanks out of the
country and she exclaimed "God bless
you." I asked her if she had anything
good to eat and she ran into the house
and brought us some good bread and
butter. I often wonder if she found
out her mistake. We soon came up to
the rebel infantry where they had
hastily thrown up breast-works the
night before, and were preparing to
meet us and give us battle. After
considerable artillery fighting, our
infantry formed line of battle and
advanced on their first line and drove
them back behind their breast works.
Our line then made several charges
against their breast-works, but were
driven back each time. Then there was
a lull in the fighting for some time
while General Hunter was preparing a
flank movement on the left. He
directed Lieutenant Rivers, of our
Battalion, to take about a dozen of us
over to the right of the line and
charge into a wheat field and make as
much noise as we could to draw their
attention from the movement on the
left. We did so, but got a warm
reception and had to get back as
quickly as we went. We came back to
where General Hunter was standing and
about ten minutes later we saw the
rebels breaking through the line
directly in front and coming toward
us. Our first thought was that they
were charging us, but we soon
discovered they had no arms; they had
thrown their arms away and were coming
in as prisoners. The rebel army was
now in full retreat. We followed on
over the Battlefield and saw many
distressing sights of the dead and
wounded. I saw General Jones, who
commanded the rebel army, lying dead
on the field with a fragment of shell
sticking in his forehead which killed
him. One of the boys pulled the piece
out and kept it. We went into camp on
rebel line of battle and I was sent
out with a squad on picket duty.
June
6th. Marched to Staunton. The first
Yankee soldiers that ever marched into
Staunton captured a lot of stores, two
large pieces of artillery. Our
Battalion was sent out to the West of
Staunton to find General Averil who
was to join us at Staunton. We rode
all night, came to Buffalo Gap, saw
fires burning for miles along the road
and we did not know what it meant, but
when we got through the Gap about
daylight we found that a Brigade of
rebels under "Mudwall" Jackson had
just passed through the Gap going
South; we did not see or hear anything
of General Averil. We then returned to
camp at Staunton; in the saddle all
night and two days; a large furnace
was burned in Staunton.
June
8th. Generals Crook and Averil joined
us from West Virginia troops in fine
spirits; our Brigade was sent out to
reconnoiter the enemy; found them in
force.
June
9th. Still in camp at Staunton; got
orders to march next morning.
June
10th, Friday. Ordered out at one
o'clock; the cavalry took a separate
road while the main command took the
road to Lexington; had some
skirmishing with the rebels; camped
for the night at Rock Creek Gap;
General Duffle had command.
June
11th, Saturday. Passed through Rock
Creek Gap; our Battalion was put in
the advance; captured two prisoners;
got information of a wagon train being
some distance ahead and we were
ordered forward to capture it. We
pushed forward for about 15 miles and
captured about twenty wagons and
thirty prisoners. I personally
captured a Captain of the
Quartermaster Department and a Captain
of the Commissary Department that had
been stationed at Staunton. I have one
of the saddles that I brought home
with me. We fell back to main force
and went into camp and kept our horses
saddled and bridled all night to guard
against surprise.
June
12th, Sunday. Marched early in the
morning, do not know in what direction
or where to we had a skirmish with the
rebs, who marched all night to cut us
off from main force but did not
succeed. We had one killed and three
wounded and captured thirty prisoners;
traveled in the mountains all day and
night almost dead for sleep and rest;
lost some wagons in the mountains.
June
13th, Monday. Making our way toward
General Hunter's main force which we
joined at Lexington; the Military
Institution was burned of which
General Lee was President. A wagon
train arrived from Martinsburg with
supplies received mail from home; saw
General Stonewall Jackson's grave;
went into camp at Lexington.
June
14th. Tuesday. Marched to Buchanan on
the James River and did not get into
camp until 12 o'clock at night; passed
within three miles of the Natural
Bridge.
June
15th. Wednesday. Crossed the James
River; left Buchanan at 1 o'clock;
traveled all day and night in the
mountains. A rebel spy was discovered
along with our cavalry; he had been
with us for several days. General
Averil ordered him to be shot. I saw
him lying along the road after he was
shot.
June
l6th. Thursday. Still on the march
toward Lynchburg; passed through the
town of Liberty; heard cannonading in
front; camped on road to Lynchburg
almost tired to death.
June
l7th. Friday. Moved on toward
Lynchburg, Our Division was on the
extreme left of the battle; had a
skirmish in a swamp; fighting all
along the line; halted and held our
horses in line all night,
June
18th. Saturday. Fighting was renewed.
We were advanced some and ordered to
dismount left our horses behind, then
we were advanced to the firing line on
foot, Newton Gilson, of our company,
who was left with the horses, was
struck with a piece of shell and died
afterward in a Confederate Hospital;
three of our horses were killed; we
held our ground all day; Confederates
constantly receiving reinforcements
from Richmond; orders were quietly
passed along the line to fall back
after dark; I was ordered to take
three men besides myself and advance
to the edge of the woods and keep up a
constant fire until dark while the
rest of our company was to commence
the retreat. We were then to fall back
and get our horses at a certain point
agreed upon. We did as we were ordered
and when dark we fell back and found
our horses all right; recreate all
night; no rations; almost dead for
sleep and rest.
June
19th, Sunday. Still retreating; rebels
pursuing; passed through Liberty;
procured a light breakfast for myself
and a comrade by giving a lady a ten
dollar confederate note; halted about
two hours; crossed the Blue Ridge
Mountain on road to Salem; rested a
couple of hours.
June
20th. Monday. Still retreating; a
small body of rebels in front; burnt a
large cotton factory; tore up a
railroad track; burnt a large depot of
supply at Big Lick; rested a couple of
hours at Salem.
June
21st. Tuesday. Still retreating;
passed through Gap in Allegheny
Mountains; rebels in front had the Gap
barricaded by cutting down trees and
logs; rebels following close on our
rear; captured a few pieces of our
artillery; General Duffle's Division
of Cavalry was pushed forward to New
Castle to hold a pass in the mountain;
marched all night.
June
22nd. Wednesday. Holding a pass in the
mountains until the army passed by;
our company on picket.
June
23rd. Thursday. Still retreating; our
division in the rear; rebels did not
follow us; all day and night crossing;
slept about two hours at a spring;
lost a great many wagons and horses;
no rations; many of the infantry died
from starvation and fatigue.
June
24th,Friday. Marched to White Sulphur
Springs, a beautiful place; our
division brought up the rear. Marched
all night.
June
29th. Saturday. Took up the march at
four o'clock in the evening; marched
all night crossed the Green Briar
River; passed through Newburg; almost
starved to death.
June
26th. Went into camp about daylight;
went out to get something to eat; took
up inarch again in afternoon; on road
to Charleston, West Virginia; 100
miles yet to march without rations of
any kind.
June
27th, Monday. Marched at daylight;
crossed over several mountains;
traveled all day in the mountains;
almost starved to death when a wagon
train met us with rations; procured a
half day's rations at 12 o'clock at
night.
June
28th. Again on the march; horses
starved to death; met more wagons with
crackers; got two days' rations from
them; passed Meadow Bluff; crossed
Ganly Mountain; passed the Crow's Nest
on the New River; camped on Thompson's
fields where rebel General Wise was
whipped by Rosencrans.
June
29th. Wednesday. Remained in camp in
Thompson's fields in the forks of the
New and Ganly Rivers waiting for wagon
train to cross.
June
30th. Thursday. Crossed the Ganly
River at Loop Creek on the Kanawah
River. The head of navigation at High
Water.
July
1st. Friday. Marched at five o'clock
on road to Charleston; camped at head
of steam navigation on Kanawah River;
passed the salt wells; saw the first
steamboat I had ever seen.
July
2nd. Saturday. Marched to Charleston,
West Virginia; went into camp; going
to rest and recruit on streets for a
few days.
July
3rd. Sunday. Resting in camp and
drawing new clothing; 30 dismounted
men left for dismounted camp.
July
4th. Monday. Still in camp at
Charleston; infantry took boats for
Parkersburg; received a letter from M
—— ; not feeling well. Artillery fired
a National salute.
July
5th. Tuesday. Still in camp; was on
guard duty; I was detailed on detached
duty as Forage Master with a New York
Infantry Brigade.
July
6th. Wednesday. Still in camp;
delivered rations; got orders to march
in the morning.
July
7th. Thursday. Took up the march for
Parkersburg on the Ohio River; I had
charge of Headquarters' wagons;
marched about l6 miles; went into
camp.
July
8th. Friday. Took up the march at
three o'clock in the morning; traveled
all night; had some trouble with the
wagons; marched about thirty miles.
July
9th. Saturday. Stopped to feed; still
on the march all day very hot; went
into camp 10 miles from Parkersburg.
July
10th. Sunday. Marched at daylight;
arrived at Parkersburg about seven
o'clock; went into camp.
July
11th. Monday. Camped at Parkersburg;
2nd Brigade of Infantry embarked on
cars
for Martinsburg.
July
12th. Tuesday. Still in camp; our
brigade (to which I was attached as
Forage Master) embarked on the cars
for Martinsburg, Virginia; I was left
back with the wagon train; could not
get transportation.
July
13th. Wednesday. Still at Parkersburg;
nothing to do; a show came to town;
went' to see the show at night.
July
14th. Thursday. Still at Parkersburg.
July
15th. Friday. Still in camp; drew
forage for the horses; crossed the"
Ohio River on a ferry boat; was in the
state of Ohio.
July
16th. Saturday. At Parkersburg; was
over to Ohio for some horses.
July
17th. Sunday. Dressed up and went to
Trinitarian Church and to Presbyterian
Church at night.
July
l8th. Monday. Got orders to move;
loaded our wagon train on the cars;
Left Parkersburg at 10 o'clock;
traveled all night; passed through
Clarksburg and Grafton.
July
19th. Tuesday. On road to Martinsburg;
passed through Cumberland; arrived in
Martinsburg at sundown; remained on
cars all night.
July
20th. Wednesday. Unloaded our wagon
train and parked near town; saw
Lieutenant Horner of my old company;
heard that Lieutenant Lott was killed
in front of Petersburg.
July
21st. Thursday. Still at Martinsburg;
Generals Crook and Averil whipped he
rebels near Winchester, Virginia; 150
prisoners and 4 pieces of artillery
were captured and arrived here.
July
22nd. Still at Martinsburg; good news
from the front.
July
23rd. Still at Martinsburg; more good
news from the front,
July
24th. Hard fighting at front; still
good news.
July
25th. Monday. Our forces were defeated
at Winchester; were driven back to
Bunker Hill with considerable loss.
July
26th. "Tuesday; "Started with the
wagon train for Williamsport. Got to
the River about three o'clock; crossed
the River.
July
27th. Wednesday. Passed through
Hagerstown. Camped near Sharpsburg.
July
28th. Thursday. Marched to Maryland
Heights. Passed Harper's Ferry. Camped
at Pleasant Valley. I was very sick.
July
29th. Friday.Still in Pleasant Valley.
Still sick.
July
30th. Saturday. Moved to Halltown,
Virginia. Still very sick.
July
31st. Sunday. Got a pass to go to
Pennsylvania. Moved back over the
River. I rode in an ambulance. Was all
night crossing.
August 1st. Took the Middletown
road toward Pennsylvania. Camped at
--- town.
August 2nd. Moved a little farther
toward Hagerstown. Camped some little
time.
August 3rd. Moved through
Hagerstown and marched to Clear
Springs.
August 4th. Thursday. Moved toward
Hancock. Camped near Millstone Point.
August 5th. Friday. Moved to
Hancock and camped. Short of rations.
August 6th. Saturday. Still at
Hancock, Maryland.
August 7th. Sunday. Rebels crossing
at Williamsport. We moved to
McConnellasburg, Pennsylvania. We were
then under General Duffie; sent after
the rebels that burned Chambersburg.
August 8th. Monday. We moved back
to Hancock, Maryland.
August 9th. Tuesday. Stayed at
Hancock, Maryland.
August 10th. Wednesday. Moved to
Williamsport, Maryland.
August 11th. Thursday. Moved to
Harper's Perry. Camped at Halltown.
August 12th. Lay at Halltown.
August 13th. Friday. Marched within
a few miles of Winchester.
August 14th. Marched through
Winchester to Newtown and camped.
After the re-organization of the
Regiment Lieutenant O. A. Horner was
promoted to 1st Major of Regiment;
Sergt. Buckingham of Company C was
promoted to Captain of Company C;
Sergt. O. D.McMillan of Company C was
promoted to 1st Lieutenant of Company
C, and Sergeant W.A. McLlhenny to
second Lieutenant of Company C.
|