Hunters_Raid

Hunter's Raid on Lexington and Lynchburg
June 1864

On May 22, the regiment began moving toward Union General George Crook's camp at Meadow Bluff in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. From Barboursville, they marched to Guyandotte and boarded the transports Mattie Roberts and Le Clare. Companies A, B, E, and K, having united at Coalsmouth, joined the regiment the next day. On May 24, they arrived at Loup Creek and camped for the night at Gauley Bridge. The next day the journey was resumed and the regiment reported to Colonel Hayes on May 27.⁶⁸

In the meantime, upon returning to Meadow Bluff from Cloyd's Mountain, Crook, commanding the Second Infantry Division, was ordered to ". . . make a demonstration against Staunton as soon as possible." The order had been received on May 19, but supplies were low and many of Crook's men were barefoot, so he felt the need to remain at Meadow Bluff until stores could be brought up from Gauley Bridge.⁶⁹ It was not until May 30 that he began moving troops toward Staunton. (See Figure 7, below.)

Figure 7 - Crook's route to Lynchburg, June 1864

Hayes, however, noted that he spent that day watching the Fifth and Thirteenth West Virginia Regiments drill.⁷⁰ That same day Colonel Brown received orders to march his regiment (now with 720 men) at eight o'clock the next morning.⁷¹ On May 31, they "camped at Berger's Mill," and on June 1 passed through Lewisburg, camping "near the White Sulphur Springs."⁷² On June 2, the regiment "crossed the main Alleghenies and camped at Callihan's [sic] Station" and on June 3, "crossed Jackson's river and camped within eight miles of the Warm Springs."⁷³On June 4, part of the Thirteenth was "deployed as skirmishers at Warm Springs mountain, at which place the rebels appeared in some force on the top of the mountain."⁷⁴ The enemy abandoned its position, "blockading the road occasionally as he retreated" and the Thirteenth camped that night at "McClung's farm."⁷⁵ On June 5, the Thirteenth was involved in skirmishes at a ford on the Cow Pasture River, along the Virginia Central Railroad, and "with Mud Wall Jackson's command through Panther Gap."⁷⁶ That night they camped at Goshen on the Virginia Central Railroad. June 6 was spent destroying portions of the railroad, and that night camp was made "about one mile above the forks of the Deerfield and Staunton road."⁷⁷ It was here that Crook's forces joined with General Averell's division. On June 7, they crossed North Mountain at Pond Gap and while passing the town of Middlebrook, part of the Thirteenth was deployed as skirmishers ". . . to a rebel camp, which was found deserted."⁷⁸ Traveling by way of the Waynesboro Road, they reached Staunton on June 8, joined forces with the army of Major General David Hunter, and for the next two nights camped on the northeast side of town.⁷⁹

Hunter's united army (the entire Department of West Virginia) started toward Lexington, Virginia, on June 10, ". . . moving up the valley in four columns by roads nearly parallel."⁸⁰ Crook's column traveled on the Lexington road and at Newport skirmished with McCausland's force of fifteen hundred men, then marched 24 miles and camped at Brownsburg.⁸¹Colonel Brown reported that two privates of the Thirteenth were wounded in the skirmish.⁸²

McCausland, knowing that Crook was headed toward Lexington, rushed ahead of him. After crossing the North River into Lexington on June 11, he burned the bridge and took a stand in the cliffs across the river, with sharpshooters "occupying the buildings of the Virginia Military Institute which stood near the river."⁸³ Crook's column arrived at 10:30 A.M., and as it approached the bridge, McCausland "opened a severe fire of musketry and artillery" which continued until 3:00 PM.⁸⁴ During the fight Hunter's artillery bombarded the Virginia Military Institute, and to this day three cannon balls remain imbedded in the rear wall of the building. Crook sent the 2nd Brigade about two miles upriver to cross at the ford and Averell, who had been marching west of and parallel to Crook, also crossed the river several miles upstream. When McCausland realized what was happening, he fled toward Buchanan, Virginia. The advance guard of the 1st Brigade was the first to enter town.⁸⁵ The Thirteenth entered about 6:00 P.M.⁸⁶

Hunter's army took possession of the town and captured "a large amount of military stores, artillery, &c."⁸⁷ He burned the Virginia Military Institute on June 12, and also the home of former Virginia Governor John Letcher, whom he believed had incited guerilla warfare against his army. He stayed in Lexington another day to wait for supplies, and on June 14 marched to Buchanan. There they found that McCausland had burned the bridge over the James River, but were able to cross at a nearby ford.⁸⁸ The Thirteenth crossed the river at 6:00 P.M. and camped there for the night. McCown reported that "a large amount of military stores were destroyed at this place."⁸⁹ The next day they crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains near the Peaks of Otter, killed two Confederate pickets in the gap there, and camped at "Fancy Farm" in Bedford County, Virginia. On June 16 at 9:00 A.M., they passed through Liberty. Throughout the day they traveled along and destroyed sections of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, "which was effectually done to within a short distance of Lynchburg."⁹⁰ That night they camped near "Big Otter on the Forest road."⁹¹

On the morning of June 17, Crook was ordered "to march across to the main road at New London." He arrived there at 10:00 A.M. and stopped to wait for Union General Jeremiah C. Sullivan's division. At 4:00 P.M., Crook led the two divisions forward on the main road to Lynchburg. Averell was marching "on a road to the right, which intersected the main road some four miles from Lynchburg" and when Crook reached the intersection, Averell was engaging the Confederates "at the church on the hill beyond." (See Figure 8, below.)

Figure 8 - Battle of Lynchburg, June 17-18, 1864

Crook sent a brigade of infantry to support Averell and the fighting continued until it was too dark to pursue.⁹² Hunter, in the meantime, was trying to ascertain the strength of Lynchburg's defenses. He wrote in his report later as follows:

The best information to be obtained at this point of the enemy's forces and plans indicated that all the rebel forces heretofore operating in the Valley and West Virginia were concentrated in Lynchburg, under the command of General [John C.] Breckinridge. This force was variously estimated at from 10,000 to 15,000 men, well supplied with artillery, and protected by strong works.

During the night the trains on the different railroads were heard running without intermission, while repeated cheers and the beating of drums indicated the arrival of large bodies of troops in the town, yet up to the morning of the 18th I had no positive information as to whether General [Robert E.] Lee had detached any considerable force for the relief of Lynchburg.⁹³

Hunter was being tricked. The cheers he heard were for empty trains which were being run into and out of town, all part of a scheme devised by Confederate General Jubal A. Early to make it appear that large numbers of Confederate troops were arriving in Lynchburg.⁹⁴

McCown reported that the Thirteenth "did not get up to the front until 9 o'clock P.M., when it was assigned to its place in line of battle for the next day."⁹⁵ On June 18 ". . . at sunrise the enemy opened heavily with artillery."⁹⁶ Crook took his division to see if he could turn the enemy's left, but decided against it. As he was returning, the Confederates suddenly came out of their works and attacked him on the Bedford Turnpike, hoping to cut his line in half. Sullivan, however, was able to hold the enemy until Crook had safely returned.⁹⁷

That afternoon, however, Hunter wrote: "It had now become sufficiently evident that the enemy had concentrated a force of at least double the numerical strength of mine, and what added to the gravity of the situation was the fact that my troops had scarcely enough of ammunition left to sustain another well contested battle."⁹⁸ Hunter began preparing to retreat as soon as darkness came, but meanwhile, because there were still five hours of daylight left, he ordered the army to continue fighting.⁹⁹ The Thirteenth was "deployed in the line of battle in front of brigade at 1:00 P.M., and slowly advanced under a heavy artillery and musketry fire toward the enemy's works."¹⁰⁰ The Confederates were "repulsed with loss" and "fell back to their works and kept a desultory fire until 8 o'clock P.M., when learning that the enemy had been re-enforced [sic] by Earleys [sic] Corps from Richmond, we were ordered to withdraw"¹⁰¹ At 8:00 P.M., they were ordered to march "one mile beyond the village of New London" where they camped for the night.¹⁰² Their losses stood at six wounded and missing.¹⁰³

The soldiers were stunned. Private William B. Stark, a member of the Thirty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteers, expressed their feelings in these words: "After the battle, Hunter made preparations to retreat . . . but we did not think such a thing possible. We must and would take Lynchburg at all hazards; rations we must have and we could get them only in Lynchburg. We could never retreat, that was impossible; if we were not all captured we should most certainly starve."¹⁰⁴ He continued:

We thought when we were going to Lynchburg that we had an awful large army and nothing could stand before it. We have since learned, to our cost, that it was too small to go where we went. We also found that it was not impossible to overcome us. The troops are not so very differently constituted. Rebel soldiers fight splendidly and there is no better soldiers to bear burdens or suffer privations or defeats.

We were hundreds of miles away from reinforcements and supplies. Our amunition was nearly exhausted and we had no rations or place to get any. We were already worn with hunger and exhaustion from the last 4 days and nearly sleepless nights. Some . . . had no control of themselves. They fell and were of course gobbled.¹⁰⁵

Hunter wrote that on the 19th "at our leisure, moved toward Buford's Gap, occupying the town of Liberty until late in the afternoon unmolested by the enemy."¹⁰⁶ His report conflicts with McCown's, who wrote that the Thirteenth "halted two miles west of Liberty for the night; stood in line of battle all night, the enemy having pursued us and heavy skirmishing going on in the rear since noon. The 1st Division, having brought up the rear to this place, now passed us leaving us to deal with the Johnnies who were in hot pursuit."¹⁰⁷ The march resumed the next day (June 20) with Colonel Hayes' brigade as rear guard. (For a map of Hunter's retreat, see Figure 9, below.)

Figure 9 - Hunter's Retreat from Lynchburg, June 1864

By 2:00 P.M., the Thirteenth had reached Buford's Gap. McCown wrote that at this point "the enemy pressed us so closely that we halted . . . and drew up in a line to receive them.¹⁰⁸ Realizing what was happening, the Confederates fell back. The Thirteenth lost one man mortally wounded in the fighting that day.

They continued marching all night, the regiment passing Bonsack's Depot at daylight on June 21.¹⁰⁹ As the army traveled along this section of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, they destroyed the bridges, water tanks, and depot buildings on the way.¹¹⁰ Private Stark wrote: "Whenever we halted for a few minutes fences were fired, rails piled on the RR track and fires started. Dwelling Houses, Mills, Furnaces, Manufactorys of all kinds were burned."¹¹¹ The Thirteenth passed through Salem at 11:30 A.M. that day, and had reached the foot of North Mountain by sunset.¹¹² At Salem, the enemy cavalry demonstrated against their rear and although driven off, followed all the way to the eastern slope of Catawba Mountain.¹¹³ McCown wrote that after the whole column had crossed North Mountain, Hayes' brigade "fired its parting salute at the enemy, crossed the mountain and camped at the foot for the night."¹¹⁴ Private Stark wrote that on June 22, "Crook commanded now: `Take the lead and keep it until we reach the Ohio.' His troops are acquainted with the route."¹¹⁵

The Thirteenth camped at New Castle that night, and near the "Sweet Springs" on June 23, having crossed Potts and Nine Mile Mountains that day.¹¹⁶ On June 24, the regiment crossed the Alleghenies and camped at White Sulphur Springs. On June 25, they crossed the Greenbrier River, passed through Lewisburg and Berger's Mills, and continued marching all night reaching Meadow Bluff at daylight on June 26. By this time, Hunter's army was completely out of rations. On June 26, the regiment camped "two miles west of Big Sewell mountains," and on June 27 had marched nine miles when they met a supply train near Dogwood Gap. There, rations were issued and eaten, and the march continued to Camp Ewing.¹¹⁷

Although Hunter considered the trip to Lynchburg a success, he has been criticized for the great suffering endured by his men on the week-long retreat. The conditions during the last few days of the march were described by Private Stark:

June 25th 1864–We wished to go into camp but were not permitted to do so. We marched through Lewisburg. . . . It was almost impossible to lift our feet from the ground. . . . We passed some good farms but soon were in the wilderness again. Squad after squad fell out.

On and on we went; at last we halted. Of course we did not pitch our tents. We had dispensed with almost everything of that kind long ago. All we wanted now was to lie down anywhere and be let alone. Our clothes were fast passing away. Many had worn out their shoes and were barefoot. . . .

We expected to meet rations tonight and that gave us encouragement to travel on. . . . A calf came in sight and it was soon made meat of. This gave me a new start.

Everything that was eatable . . . was eaten, such as roots and herbs. We pealed the black birch trees and ate the bark. . . . The men and teams continued to give out. What amunition we had left was thrown away to lighten our burthen. . . . Trunk valises, Knapsacks and all kinds of baggage was thrown from the train and left or burned.

June 26th–. . . We came through Meadowbrook, a dismal swampy wilderness between mountains with corduroy roads and broken bridges. We did not get any rations here as we had expected. Rumor said that we would get them next day. . . . I crossed over what is called Little Sue [Sewell] Mountain. . . . Our brigade was several miles in the rear and this was rough for the wounded. They suffered for want of food and care and were roughed about until they died. . . .

June 27th–We marched at early dawn and were soon climbing Big Sue [Sewell] Mountain, last of these monsters. . .

We were getting very ravenous and weak. It was some 8 or 10 miles up this mountain, and about the same distance down. I happened to find some carrion where a beef had been killed a few days before. I managed to get some meat from the carcase. . . . The carcase was not inhabited by bees, neither was there any honey found in it, yet it was virtually the same, for swarms of living creeping worms were there and yet the meat was sweet to the taste. Had a splendid meal. A few others shared with me. . . .Rations came in just before dark. The mountains ring and echo back the shouts of joy. Cheer on Cheer now went up until we were hoarse and out of breath.We were saved; bread and life was ours at last. . . . We slept sound and awoke cheered and refreshed. Thanks be to God!

Some men were sent back as far as practicable after those that had given out by the way. Many were . . . in [a] most pitiable condition. . . . Some died soon after. They were starved! Starved to death!¹¹⁸

Crook said his division "became a little straitened for provisions" but he praised his men for the "uncomplaining fortitude with which they endured the hardships and privations incident to the march."¹¹⁹ On June 28, the Thirteenth crossed the Gauley River and camped at Loup Creek, and on June 29 marched to Camp Piatt.¹²⁰ On July 1, the regiment "marched to Camp Crook, one mile below the mouth of Elk river on Judge Summer's farm." McCown reported that the regiment had, during this campaign, marched 528 miles and traveled by transport 131 miles, for a total of 659 miles.¹²¹

Back at Charleston, Hunter worried that the Confederates would take advantage of the absence of troops in the Shenandoah Valley. Because his men and animals were exhausted from their recent march, he immediately began arranging for boats to transport them to Parkersburg, which would save time and allow them to rest.¹²² At Parkersburg, they could be transported by rail back into the Shenandoah Valley. Thus, on July 9, the Thirteenth, still at Camp Crook, was ordered to board the transports T.J. Pickett and Cleremont at the mouth of the Elk River. Landing at Gallipolis, they boarded steamer Caroline and continued their journey.¹²³

Adding to Hunter's frustration was the fact that the Ohio River was low due to drought. This meant that at shallow areas the boats had to be disembarked, and the shallows marched around. In some places even lightening the boats did not work, and it was necessary to arrange for additional boats to receive the troops above the shallows and proceed until the next shallow area was reached.¹²⁴ This explains the next few entries in McCown's report concerning the Thirteenth. Departing Gallipolis, they "debarked at 8 mile Island and marched above Cheshire July 10th; embarked again, and again landed one mile below Racine and marched to the head of Buffington's Island and camped the evening of July 11th awaiting transports."¹²⁵ On July 14, the regiment boarded the Mattie Hartuper and Cottage No. 2 and traveled to Blennerhassett Island, where they again transferred to different boats. McCown reported that on July 14 they "arrived in Parkersburg on steamer `Julia' and went on board the cars."¹²⁶

Hunter himself had arrived in Parkersburg on July 4.¹²⁷ There, his fears were confirmed. While he had been retreating from Lynchburg, Early's corps had proceeded down the Valley, fought a force at Monocacy, Maryland, and approached Washington. When reinforcements were sent to Washington from Petersburg, Early withdrew and turned south again on July 12-13. He was pursued by "a Union force, composed of the VI Corps, part of the XIX Corps and the remnants of Hunter's command under Crook." Major General Horatio G. Wright, who commanded them, however, "moved cautiously, apparently unwilling to engage the Confederates."¹²⁸ On July 18 near Cool Springs, Wright sent those of Crook's soldiers under his command across the Shenandoah River toward Early's forces, but Early counterattacked and Crook's men fled. Early continued his retreat and Wright, on July 20 ". . . turned back toward Washington, . . ." leaving Crook's men in place on guard duty.¹²⁹ Additionally, the enemy had driven General Franz Sigel out of Martinsburg and was demonstrating against the railroad. Hunter remained in Parkersburg until July 8, arranging for his troops to be transported to New Creek and Cumberland by train. He himself arrived in Cumberland at 10:00 A.M. the next day and remained there until July 14, waiting for his army to be collected. On that day, he traveled to Harpers Ferry.¹³⁰

On July 16, the Thirteenth arrived at Martinsburg and camped there for the night.¹³¹ On July 17, Hayes wrote to his wife "Half my brigade went this morning to General Crook, thirty miles east."¹³² His diary entry for the same date says that the Fifth Virginia and Twenty-third Ohio moved to a point near Charlestown and camped on a farm,¹³³ while McCown reported that on July 17, the Thirteenth passed through Halltown and "camped near the Shenandoah river, about six miles above Harper's Ferry, near a large spring." (See Figure 10, below.) Here the enemy attacked the Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, on picket duty.¹³⁴ On July 18, Hayes wrote that his troops moved on ". . . toward Harpers Ferry and [the] Shenandoah at Keys Ferry," that he had his whole brigade together again, and that they skirmished all night.¹³⁵ McCown reported only that the Thirteenth marched "out to the vicinity of Charlestown and camped for the night at Isler's Mill."¹³⁶ Hayes wrote that on July 19 they skirmished "with Bradley Johnson's cavalry between camp on Bull Skin and Kabletown," and McCown wrote only that the Thirteenth skirmished near Charlestown.¹³⁷ On July 20, the Thirteenth went to Keys Ferry and Harpers Ferry, and then back to Charlestown to rejoin Crook.¹³⁸ The next day they marched to Snickers Gap, and on July 22 passed Berryville and camped "one mile above Winchester on the Staunton Pike.¹³⁹

Figure 10 - Movements of the Thirteenth West Virginia Volunteer Infantry in the Shenandoah Valley, July 16-27, 1864

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