6th U.S. Cavalry: Barr letters #3

13 Monday Jan 2014

Posted by dccaughey in 1862, 6th U.S. Cavalry, letters

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6th U.S. Cavalry, Civil War newspapers, Harrisons Landing, Peninsula Campaign, U.S. Cavalry

The third and final Barr letter discusses the Confederate shelling of the cavalry camps between Westover and Harrisons Landing on July 31, 1862. While I’ve seen several accounts of the incident that we included in our book, I don’t recall an account of the punitive expedition that crossed the river afterwards. Burning every house sounds like a bit of exaggeration.

It seems unlikely that this would be Barr’s last letter to the paper over the next two years of his enlistment. At a minimum I would have thought the band’s detachment from the regiment and attachment to Pleasonton’s headquarters would have drawn comment. I haven’t been able to locate any additional letters, however.

Columbia Spy August 18, 1862 page 2

Head Quarters 6^th U.S. Cavalry,

Harrison’s Landing, Va., Aug. 4, ‘62

Friend Spy,

Again I send you a few items of news, which I hope will be interesting to your readers. War news have been a little below par with us for some time. On the night of the 31^st of July, at about twelve o’clock, we were aroused from our peaceful slumbers by the booming of artillery. We turned out of our tents in “double quick,” and found the shot and shell coming into our camp as thick as hail. The Rebels had opened on us from the other side of the river, from five different points. Every person was taken by surprise. Soldiers and civilians were seen flying in every direction, filling up every safe place that could be found. Some were in groups behind bales of hay, while others were behind trees; the firing was kept up for an hour, when they were finally compelled to retire, no doubt by the appearance of two or three gun-boats, which threw a few hundred pound shells in among them. The only damage done in our camp was one horse killed, some few tents ripped, &c.; what was done to other camps I have not been able to hear, but it is supposed to be slight.

At 6 o’clock P.M., August 1^st, two or three regiments of infantry, cavalry, &c., were landed on the other side of the river, just opposite our camp. They had not been there many minutes until every house on the river bank was burned to the ground, the burning timbers and stone chimneys coming down with a crash. The yelling of the soldiers could be heard for miles.

Today, August 4^th, we have news from the other side of the river of the capture of some few prisoners, five pieces of artillery, and the destruction of a rebel camp. Soldiers could be seen marching up and down the banks with turkeys, chickens, geese, &c., suspended from their bayonets. Col. Tyler’s battery of five siege guns are now planted on the river bank, about two hundred yards in rear of our camp, which I think, will send them to the last hole if ever they try it again. All is quiet at present along the river, the only enemies we have to contend with now are the flies and mosquitoes; they march in upon us in whole brigades, while “Old Sol” comes down with a vengeance.

I am told that “Bowery” is coming out with a company. Michael, can’t you manage to send a keg of lager with him; and let him stop at the quarters of the 6^th U.S. Cavalry Regimental Band? He will find the happiest set of boys he ever beheld. Oh, whew! But it’s hot! And our friend Lewis Trodenick, is sweating as much as any of us. Lewis is as jolly as ever, and has come to see the sights.

B.F.B.

6th U.S. Cavalry: Barr letters #2

07 Tuesday Jan 2014

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The second installment of the Barr letters covers the movement of the regiment from the York River side of the peninsula to Harrison’s Landing on the James River.

Columbia Spy August 2, 1862 page 2

Head Quarters 6^th U.S. Cavalry,

Harrison’s Landing, Va.,

July 15, 1862

Friend Spy,

Since my last letter, we have had to “skedaddle.” Doubtless, your readers have heard of the retreat , of a part of Gen. Stoneman’s forces, therefore, I think it is hardly necessary to give a full account of it, only, that we made good our retreat to Camp Hamilton, near Fortress Monroe, arriving there on the Fourth of July. We remained there until the 11^th, when orders were received to march to Fortress Monroe, arriving there at 7 o’clock A.M., we embarked on the steamer Thomas A. Morgan, one of the most beautiful boats now on the James River. At 10 o’clock we left the dock and steamed up Hampton Roads. On arriving at Newport News it began raining, making the trip very unpleasant. About 10 miles above Newport News is Jamestown, which consists of some half-dozen houses, and the corner of an old church, which, it is said, has been standing since the first settlement.

When about five miles above Jamestown, we met a gun-boat, the Captain of which took up his trumpet and told our commander to keep his men low, as the Rebels were drawn up in line on the banks of the river. That instant the boys were seen flying in every direction over the boat, filling every hole and corner that could be found, some rolled up in small heaps on the cabin floor, while your correspondent struck a bee line for the lower deck, expecting every minute to hear the dogs of war sending forth their missiles of death; but we passed unmolested.

Our gun-boats are shelling the banks every day. A good many steamers coming up the river at present, have their pilots protected from the rebel sharp-shooters, who are lurking around the river, by placing bales of hay around the pilot-houses.

We arrived at our destination, at 5 o’clock P.M., disembarked, and marched to Harrison’s landing. Business of every description is going on as lively as ever. The songs of the contraband can be heard throughout the camp, as they pitch the “hard bake” and the “old jake,” from the boats. Mr. Editor, we have a regular “Tow Hill” here, “Sawneytown,” nothing to compare to it.

On the 15^th I paid a visit to Company K, of the 5^th P.R.V.C., and found them all in good spirits; also the 23d P.V., who are now in the front. Some I found busy throwing up entrenchments. They think of nothing but success, under “Little Mac.”

Good bye,

B.F.B.

6th U.S. Cavalry: Benjamin F. Barr letters

02 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by dccaughey in 1862, 6th U.S. Cavalry, letters

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The first post of the New Year will introduce the Benjamin Barr letters. As noted elsewhere on this blog and in our book, the Mount Joy Brass Band was enlisted into the 6^th U.S. Cavalry in toto by Stephen S. Balk in 1861 as the regimental band. They were apparently very talented, as the band was detached by Gen. Pleasonton for service at Cavalry Corps headquarters, and remained there under Gen. Sheridan through the end of the war. One of the members of the band, Benjamin Barr, wrote at least three letters home to the hometown paper, The Columbia Spy, during the war. Thanks to Vince Slaugh for bringing these to my attention.

Benjamin Franklin Barr enlisted in the 6^th U.S. Cavalry on October 15, 1861, at the age of 23. He was born in Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in 1837. He was discharged at the expiration of his term of service at Strasburg, Virginia on October 15, 1864.

I have looked, but haven’t been able to find any information about the Bowery or Buck Beer. Below is the first of the letters.

Columbia Spy July 5, 1862 page 2

Headquarters 6^th U.S. Cavalry,

In the Field, near Richmond, Va.,

June 22, 1862

Friend Spy,

None of the boys attached to the 6^th U.S. Cavalry Regimental band has written one word to the Spy since their departure, so I take the liberty to do so. —

On the 28^th of October, 1861, the Mount Joy Brass band, to which are attached three Columbia boys, viz: Barr, List and McAnall, was sworn into the United States service at Mount Joy and left for the war. We are now encamped about eight miles from Richmond, close by a large pine woods, where the wood ticks are quite as numerous as the mosquitoes. We are stopping to rest while Gen. McClellan is preparing a dose to be administered to the skulking scoundrels.

The invincible Sixth have been in the advance since the evacuation of Yorktown; we have been in several skirmishes and heard the whiz of shot and shell in close proximity. The booming in front of Richmond foretells the downfall of the Rebel cause and its advocates. This thunder is heavy and shakes the earth on which we lay. Old Seth, or California Jo as he is called, is at his post picking the rebels from their guns with that coolness which he exhibited at Yorktown. He is of the regular backwoods stamp: is about fifty years of age, his hair, which he parts in the centre, hangs down over his shoulders with very heavy whiskers which makes him look fierce. He carries a Sharp’s rifle on which he places his dependence. He is a hard looking chap — looks as though he has seen many hardships. Your correspondent had a chat with him and heard him tell some very interesting stories about the rebels at Yorktown. A hand, or anything that size, at a distance of a thousand yards is sufficient for his sharp eye, and it is very seldom he fails to hit his mark. Jo has taken a dislike to the army of the Potomac on account of the “tarnal wood ticks.”

Mr. Editor they are worse than the itch.

They are about the size of a “bed-bug,” and when they get inot the flesh it is with great difficulty that they are extracted, often leaving their heads stick in your skin, which gets very sore. We retire at eight o’clock thinking to get a good night’s rest: we are hardly asleep when away go the blankets and away goes the inmate. In a moment the boys are all up to know the cause of the disturbance when we are told that a wood-tick is in the shanty. Well, such faces you never saw. You may know men aroused from their slumber would naturally d— the “tarnal critters.” Our boys are healthy and enjoy soldiering very well. There has nothing of importance transpired since the 14^th of June. At or about eight o’clock on the morning of the 14^th, a messenger came galloping through the camp to Gen Cook’s [editor: Brigadier General Philip St. George Cooke, commanding the Cavalry Reserve] headquarters: in five minutes from his arrival the bugle sounded “boots and saddles.” Well, such flutter you never saw.

The report was that the enemy was in our rear, the command, “forward, Sixth Cavalry,” was given, so we struck off at a double quick towards Old Church, but we were too late, the rebels had gone by. We laid there all night, and at three o’clock the next morning we were after them hot foot, but saw nothing of them, so we returned to camp on the 15^th at three P.M., pretty well roasted. After everything was fixed in its place, we partook of some refreshments which consisted of pork and beans, after which we took a smoke. Whew! But it is hot! We often wish for a glass of Bowery’s “Buck Beer.” Everything is very quiet around here at present, with the exception of the booming of cannon at night, which keeps the boys gaping through the day from their loss of sleep. There is a mail going out, so by-by, till the next time.

B.F.B.