FIFTH CAVALRY REGIMENT.

497

"Gen. Ord advanced from Burkesville towards Farmville, sending two regiments of infantry and a squadron of cavalry, under Brevet Brig.-Gen. Theodore Read, to destroy the bridges. This advance met the head of Lee's column near Farmville, which it heroically attacked and detained until Gen. Read was killed and his small force overpowered. This caused a delay in the enemy's movements, and enabled Gen. Ord to get well up with the remainder of his force; on meeting which, the enemy immediately intrenched himself."

The regiment performed courier guard-duty in Richmond, after Lee's surrender, until Nov. 14; when it was mustered out of service, and finally discharged at Galloupe's Island, Nov. 26, 1865.

FIFTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.

The Fifth Regiment was composed of colored men, the only regiment of colored cavalry organized in the State, and under the following command:

It was mustered into the service of the United States by companies, at dates ranging from January to May, 1864. The First Battalion, Major H. N. Weld commanding, left the State May 5, 1864; the Second, under Capt. Z. B. Adams, May 6, 1864; and the Third, commanded by H. P. Bowditch, May 8, 1864.

The battalions reported to Major-Gen. Casey at Washington, D.C., and proceded to Camp Casey.

Col. Russell took command of the provisional brigade of colored troops there; and Major Weld succeeded him at the head of the regiment until May 13, when orders came to report to Gen. Butler at Fortress Monroe. Thence it moved to City Point on the 16th, and was assigned to the command of Gen. E. W. Hinks, third division, Eighteenth Army Corps.

Picket-duty and infantry drill followed. June 15, the affair at Bailor's Farm, on the Petersburg Road, occurred. The main body of the regiment engaged the enemy's batteries, and Col. Russell and Major Adams were severely wounded; when Major Bowditch. assumed command. The main body of the regiment crossed at Point of Rocks the 17th, and Major Weld joined it with the troops

he held the whole force was then transferred to Weld's third brigade, of Hinks's division. On the 28th, the regiment reported to Gen. Butler at Point of Rocks, and was assigned to Gen. Terry's division, and sent to Point Lookout, Md., to guard rebel prisoners.

No narrative of this regiment for 1865 was received. The monthly reports of January and February gave their station as "at Point Lookout, Md. ;" March, as "in the field, near Richmond, Va.;” April, "near Petersburg, Va.;" May, "near City Point, Va.;" June, "Camp Lincoln, Va. ;" and from that time, to date of muster-out, at Clarksville, Tex., Oct. 31, 1865.

It was engaged for a long time as guard of rebel prisoners at Point Lookout, Md., and afterwards was sent to Texas, where the men were chiefly employed in digging and other laborious work. At one time, a great many of the men were on the sick-list, caused by exposure and over-work. This was the condition of the regiment when Col. Chamberlain arrived in Texas, and assumed command; after which the men were better cared for, and sickness decreased.

The regiment, on its return from Texas, came from New Orleans in transports to New York. It remained in New York only a few hours, and then proceeded by steamboat and railroad to Boston. Upon arriving here, the regiment was sent to Galloupe's Island, where it remained until it was discharged and paid, the latter part of November.

In addition to the regular cavalry, there was organized, between Dec. 29 and Jan. 3, the First Battalion of Frontier Cavalry, composed of Companies A, B, C, D, and E.

The battalion was attached to the Twenty-sixth Regiment of New-York Cavalry, and honorably performed guard-duty on the frontier of the Empire State. 30, 1865.

It was

mustered out June

CHAPTER XXX.

THE LIGHT BATTERIES.

First Light Battery.-Joins the Army of the Potomac. - At Fredericksburg. Gen. Sedgewick. Gen. Sheridan. Nims's Battery goes to the Department of the Gulf. Hard Marches. Gallant Conflict. - Second Light Battery. Organization.

- Goes to New Orleans. At Port Hudson, Pleasant Hill, and Sabine Cross-roads. -Goes to Barancas. At Fort Blakely. — Cavalry Fight. — Return Home. — Third Light Battery.— Organization.-Peninsular Campaign. - Antietam. - Fredericksburg. Gettysburg. -Mine-run Wilderness. - Before Petersburg. - Mustered out. Fourth Light Battery. — In Louisiana. - Expedition. - Battle of Baton Rouge. Bonfonca. Port Hudson. -Furloughed. Returned to the South. - In Tennessee.. Goes to Alabama. - Spanish Fort Blakely. - Returns Home. - Fifth Light Battery.— Reports to Gen. Porter. - Yorktown. - Seven-days' Fight. - Fredericksburg. · Campaigns of 1863. The Wilderness and Petersburg. Mustered out. Sixth Light Battery.Goes to New Orleans. - Baton Rouge. Laberderville. - Port Hudson.Bayou Lafourche.

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FIRST LIGHT BATTERY.

HE officers of the First Light Battery were,

THE

Captain

First Lieutenant

Second Lieutenant

Josiah Porter.
William McCartney.
Jacob Federhen.

Under the above command, the battery went to camp Cameron Aug. 27, 1861; and left for Washington, Oct. 3, to form a part of the Potomac Army. Nothing excepting a change from the first division, Sixth Corps, to the artillery brigade, and heavy marching, occurred until Dec. 12, when the battery went into position south of Fredericksburg, and was under fire.

The next day, ordered by Gen. Howe in front of the Barnard House to take the place of a battery of rifled guns which had been driven before the enemy, the troops fought so gallantly, they were complimented on the field by the commanding general. After guarding Franklin's Ford, resting in camp at Oak Church, making the "mud march" early in 1863, the battery May 3, went into the fight at Chancellorsville, and handsomely repulsed Barksdale's brigade.

In the official report of the battle, the honor of routing the rebels at this point was given to the First Light Battery. The work on the 4th at Salem Church, when the Mississippi brigade was encountered again, was no less brilliant. Three times the enemy advanced across the open plain with hideous yells, and as often were beaten back, until the attempt to dislodge the battery was abandoned. Gen. Sedgewick, in his report, attributed "the success on this part of the line greatly to the fire" of the battery. Recrossing the Rappahannock, and shelling rifle-pits to protect the laying of pontoon-bridges; under severe fire at Gettysburg; marching from place to place, and engaged with the enemy at Sander's House, the battery passed the spring and summer. It was encamped at Brandy Station during the subsequent winter; and in May, 1864, entered the Wilderness.

At Guiness Station, North Anna River, Pamunkey River, Cold Harbor, and, June 18, at Petersburg, the battery maintained its honorable bearing, losing men and horses, but neither loyalty nor heroism. About the middle of July, it was ordered to Washington, thence to Harper's Ferry, Snicker's Gap, and Strasburg. It was engaged at Winchester and Fisher's Hill. It then moved with the Sixth Army Corps to Staunton, Va.; and, Oct. 2, was ordered to Boston to be mustered out. Wrote an officer,

At Winchester and Fisher's Hill, this battery received distinguished honors on the field of battle, personally, from Major-Gen. P. H. Sheridan. It also affords me much pleasure to be able to report, that but three men of this command were ever captured by the enemy, and they have been exchanged; and, during all the time this command was in the service, it did not lose, by capture by the enemy, even the smallest portion of its armament or equip ment; and not a man of this battery ever shirked a fight, or failed to do his • duty in action.

SECOND LIGHT BATTERY.

This company was projected originally by Major Cobb, who had gained considerable distinction as a good artillery-officer in our militia service. Before the battery left the State, private engagements rendered it necessary for him to decline serving with the battery. Capt. Nims, also an excellent artillery-officer, was then appointed captain, and has remained in command ever since.

The battery was mustered into the United-States service July 31, 1861, to serve for three years, or until the end of the war.

We give only a mere outline of the splendid career of this battery.

On the 8th of August, the company left the State, proceeded to Baltimore, and went into camp. On the 4th of November, it was sent on an expedition, under Gen. Lockwood, to the Eastern Shore, Va., and, after an absence of forty-one days, returned to Baltimore. Thence, on the 25th of February, it sailed to Fortress Monroe, and went into camp; where it remained until the 19th of April, when it received orders to report to Major-Gen. Butler, commanding Department of the Gulf.

The principal facts of interest in the history of 1862 for this battery were the siege of Vicksburg and the battle of Baton Rouge, in both of which it took an active part.

During the spring months, the endurance of the troops, and their readiness for duty, regardless of danger, were proved along the Vermilion River, at Opelousas, and in marches from point to point. Two sections of the battery united again before Port Hudson on the 29th of May, and took part in the assault of the next day.

From the 1st to the 14th of June, the battery was in different positions, front, left, and right, - dismounting the enemy's guns, and otherwise doing good execution. On the surrender of this stronghold, the company moved inside the fortifications. On the 11th of July, it took up the line of march for Baton Rouge, and thence proceeded to New Orleans, via Donaldsonville and Carrollton. Having been fitted out with horses and artillery, it set out, early in September, for New Iberia and Vermilion, camping at various points, and having frequent skirmishes.

At Carrion Crow, one section was attacked in camp; and after an exciting running fight in front and rear, against greatly superior numbers, it succeeded in joining Gen. Cameron's command. Then returning to the field, it drove the rebels in disorder, who left their dead and wounded on the field.

The battery then returned, and went into camp at New Iberia.