In the last installment of this series, we see the regiment safely ashore and Captain Kautz still in the hospital.

“March 31. — … Everything is in great confusion here and there are more vessels here than there is means to land….” (Supplement to the OR, Volume 1, page 113)

Returns for the Army of the Potomac dated March 31, 1862 show the strength of the four regular cavalry regiments present for duty as 99 officers and 2,502 enlisted men. The 6th, with nearly 1,000 men, would have comprised nearly half of this number. This did not include the two companies of the 4th US Cavalry assigned as the army’s headquarters cavalry escort. Companies A and E consisted of 4 officers and 104 enlisted men present for duty under Captain McIntyre. (OR, Ser I, Vol 11, pt III, pg 53)

“April 1. – I felt much worse to-day and finally went into the hospital of the Hygeia Hotel, no longer able to get about. A portion of the regiment got ashore to-day. The balance are still in the steamers….” (Supplement to the OR, Volume 1, page 113)

The Hygeia Hotel, built in 1822, was located adjacent to Fortress Monroe on Old Point Comfort near the town of Hampton. During the campaign, most of the hotel was used as a hospital and offices for the army’s Provost Marshall and Medical Director, while part of the building remained a hotel. It was ordered to be destroyed in September, 1862. A copy of the Harper’s Weekly article on the order, with a very nice sketch of the hotel, is available on the Son of the South blog here. No reason is provided for the order.

“April 2. — … The company was landed and I obtained such of my personal effects as I needed and Birgner, one of my men, to attend on me, as the attendance in the hospital is very limited. Savage and Doctor Pooley came to see me to-day….” (Supplement to the OR, Volume 1, page 113)

Kautz’ attendant was Private Louis F. Bergner of Company B. On the regimental muster rolls for the month, he’s listed as “on detached service at Fortress Monroe.” Captain Savage commanded Company H, and John Pooley was the regiment’s assistant surgeon at this time.

“April 4. — …Gelbreath brought in my horse and the intelligence that the regiment had received orders to march at once. I am still on my back and utterly unable to travel and for the first time in my life am left behind on the march. They will be compelled to abandon quite a lot of property for want of transportation. I sent Birgner to look after what was left behind from my company.” (Supplement to the OR, Volume 1, page 114)

Kautz is referring to Corporal Joseph S. Gilbreath of Company B. The regiment moved to Ship Point, at the mouth of the Poquoson River, and established their first camp in enemy territory.

Captain Kautz’s diary contained more details on the regiment’s cruise to the Peninsula as it progressed.

“March 28. – The rest of the regiment embarked this morning, and the steamer, loaded with troops, began to take the schooners in tow, without a reference, however, to what company or squadron they belonged, and I lost sight of Balder. About 2 o’clock my schooner was taken in tow. We were towed down as far as Mathias Point and there the steamer anchored. We are not going to make a very rapid passage. Captain Mercer is the skipper, a pious Jerseyman from Cape May. The steamer Long Branch has us in tow.” (Supplement to the OR, Volume 1, page 113)

One item nearly always found in personal accounts is the weather conditions. This personal detail, important to the person riding or fighting or sleeping in it, is often absent from historical accounts.

“March 29. – We reached the mouth of the Potomac and anchored about dark. Since noon a snow storm has been prevailing and the atmosphere is so thick that we cannot possibly travel after night. Nothing of note transpired. My health is improving. There has been a considerable snowfall, and it now lies three inches deep on the docks.” (Supplement to the OR, Volume 1, page 113)

In a message to Major General McClellan from the steamer Commodore on the 29th, Assistant Adjutant General S. Williams stated, “All the regular cavalry except the Second Regiment has now embarked.” (OR, Ser I, Vol 11, Pt III, pg 51)

“March 30. – The weather did not promise very fair this morning but the wind was favorable, and with steam and sail together we reached Hampton Roads and anchored without any event of importance. We found the harbor full of vessels.” (Supplement to the OR, Volume 1, page 113)

On this day in 1862, the 6th Cavalry began embarking on ships to move with the rest of the Army of the Potomac to Fortress Monroe on the peninsula in Virginia. Captain August Kautz of Company B provides an account of the move from his diary, which will be featured here for the duration of their trip.

“March 27. – The regiment marched down to the wharves at Alexandria to-day and after much delay, a portion were embarked. My company was first embarked on two schooners, I with a portion of the company on the North Halifax and Balder on the Kasbee. We were hauled out into the stream but did not get off. Captain Savage’s family was here to see us embark but bade us good-bye in the afternoon. The weather is very fine and we should be making the best of our way down the river. A portion of the regiment had to camp on the wharves.” (Supplement to the OR, Volume 1, page 113)

2nd Lt Christian Balder was temporarily attached to Company B this month, in the absence of both of the company’s assigned lieutenants. He was normally assigned to Company G. Lieutenant McQuade had died in prison in December, and Lieutenant Herbert M. Enos was still in New Mexico at Fort Union. Captain Savage commanded Company H.

The 6th Cavalry finally began campaigning in March 1862. They remained in camp at Camp East of the Capitol until the 10th, then received abrupt orders to break camp and move. As Captain August Kautz of Company noted in his diary,

“March 10. – At breakfast this morning the order came to march at 11 with three days’ provisions and forage. We were, of course, very busy until the hour to leave. I could not pack up all my things. It rained a good portion of the day. It was after dark when we reached Fairfax Court-House.” (Supplement to the OR, Vol 1, pg 361)

By the end of the month, the majority of the regiment would be on the Peninsula near Fortress Monroe. Company C, not yet at full strength, remained in Washington. Captain Brisbin of Company L was in Philadelphia this month, still recruiting his company, along with 1st Lt Henry Tucker. The regiment’s assigned strength this month was 890 officers and enlisted men in the ten active companies.

Of the 42 officers assigned, only 23 were listed as present for duty, including Assistant Surgeon J.H. Pooley. 12 of the missing 14 were on detached service. March saw the sudden departure of the regiment’s commander, LtCol William H. Emory. He was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on March 27, 1862 and assigned to the command of the 1st Brigade, Cavalry Reserve, Army of the Potomac. He took two other officers from the regiment with him. Lieutenants Joseph Audenried and James F. Wade were appointed to his staff the following day as assistant adjutant general and aide de camp respectively. Major Lawrence A. Williams assumed command of the regiment. Captain David McM. Gregg was promoted to colonel of volunteers and commanding the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Captain August Kautz was sick at Fortress Monroe at the end of the month, and 2nd Lt Andrew Stoll was sick in Washington.

The regiment had 849 enlisted men at the end of the month, but only 745 present for duty as campaigning began. Health conditions improved in the camp as the weather improved. A total of 58 troopers were sick, the majority of them absent in hospitals from Pittsburgh to Washington. 33 continued to serve on extra duties away from the regiment, mostly as teamsters for the Quartermaster Department. Two were in arrest or confinement. Two troopers were absent on leave, and one was absent without leave.

Private Jackson Loyd enlisted in Company H on March 19, 1862. Frank Gormley was transferred from Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant to private in Company E on March 1st. Sergeant Chas. Gilliams of Company M was advanced to 2nd Chief Bugler and assigned to the regimental staff. Corporal William Shorts of Company K was discharged by order on March 22nd in Alexandria, and four privates were discharged for disability.

Eleven men deserted from the regiment this month, all of them during the last ten days of the month as the regiment was embarking for the peninsula. Two soldiers died in March. Private James McCormick of Company I died in the hospital at Camp East of the Capitol on March 6th. Private John W. Jones of Company G died of disease in Alexandria, Virginia on March 18, 1862.