Letter from NY 8th Cavalry - June 1864

Letter from New York 8th Cavalry

Chenango American, July 7, 1864

Camp Near Prince George Court
House, Va., June 20th, 1864

Eds. American:  I noticed a communication addressed to, and inserted in your paper, a few days since, speaking of the 8th N.Y. Cavalry.  The statement therein contained that the regiment had been at Baltimore recruiting.  I wish to correct, as I am a member of company "C" of the 8th N.Y.C., and anxious to correct all such errors, whether they are made through mistake or intention.

We broke camp from near Culpepper May 4th at two o'clock a.m., and crossed the Rapidan river at daylight.  We found nothing but a few Rebel pickets on the south side of the river, who scathpered off at our approach.  May 5th were occupied in looking after the enemy; we had poor success, for we found none.  May 6th at six o'clock a.m., we were in the saddle and on the road leading to Cragg's Church, near Mine run at eight o'clock a.m. We found the enemy in force; they charged on us in the road, and we had hand to hand fighting for ten or fifteen minutes, but we were too strong for the Rebels, and they retreated in haste back to their main force of Cavalry.  Our Brigade then dismounted and fought on foot; we drove the enemy two miles, and met the advance of Gen. Lee's army; then came our turn to retreat; the Rebel Cavalry charged us six or seven different times, but were repulsed with heavy loss each time; in one charge Samuel Lenox from the town of Greene [Chenango Co., NY], was killed; at two o'clock, Gen. Gregg came up and relieved us, and drove the Rebel Cavalry back to their infantry again. We were on the left flank of Grant's army, and had some fighting every day, until the 9th of May when we started for Richmond; we had but little fighting the first day.  May 10th the Rebels attacked our rear guard several times, and we repulsed them with loss every time. We participated in the fight at Yellow Tavern May 11th where the Rebel Gen. Stuart was killed, and three pieces of artillery captured; the same night at eleven o'clock we started on toward Richmond and got inside the first line of fortifications at four o'clock a.m., May 12th two and one-half miles from the Rebel capital. We could see the gas lights in the city. We were all very tired and sleepy, and as soon as a line of battle was formed, we fell into a sound sleep, and began to dream of home and pleasant associations. We did not enjoy this long, for a column of Rebel infantry, that lay in waiting, poured a shower of lead into our ranks, and then the Rebels opened eight pieces of artillery on us, and threw grape and canister over our heads at a wonderful rate. There was some confusion in our ranks, but it did not last long; we saw that the Rebels must be held in check, or the 3d Division of Cavalry would be cut to pieces.  Our Brigade (2d) dismounted and drove the Rebels a short distance, then fell back and secured a strong position, which we held till three o'clock p.m. At seven o'clock a.m., it was discovered that the Rebels were in force in our front and rear, and had us completely cut off; at Meadow bridge Gen. Custer charged the Rebels with his Michigan Brigade of seven shooters, and made them seek safety by flight.  At four p.m. the road was clear of Rebels, and the whole corps fell back on the Mechanicsville road and bivouacked for the night at Gaines' Mills. We saw no more of the Rebels while on the raid; they did not like our style. We arrived at Haxalls' landing on the James river May 15th.  Here we drew rations, which were very gladly received, for we had scarcely anything to eat for the last three days.  Left Haxalls' on the 17th, arrived at White House May 22d, and joined Grant's army again May 25th; rested one night, and then started again, and commenced destroying the rail roads North of Richmond, and at the same time guarded the rear of the army.

June 3d our Brigade, 3d Indiana, 1st Vermont and 8th New York attacked Hampton's Brigade of mounted infantry near Salem Church, and drove them from their breast works.  We killed a number, and took a few prisoners.  Here Col. Benjamin of the 8th N.Y., was wounded.  Left Salem Church June 5th, and scouted through the country between the Panmunky and Chickahominy rivers until June 11th, but found not many of the enemy.  On the night of the 12th we crossed the Chickahominy, and skirmished all night on foot; attacked Wade Hampton's Brigade of mounted infantry on the 13th.  Our Brigade dismounted and charged the Rebels, drove them from their camps, killed a number of them, and got some prisoners.  I saw in one pile of dead Rebels two Captains, two Lieutenants and six privates, nearly all shot through the head.  But it soon came our turn to "skaddadle."  Our Brigade was attacked by a Division of Gen. Hill's Corps; they charged us, and we poured volley after volley into their ranks, until they were within a rod of us and around on both flanks. We were compelled to retreat in haste, but soon got under cover of another wood, where we were supported by a regiment of infantry, and held the Rebels in check until dark, and then retreated in good order.

In this fight David Myers formerly from Greene, was wounded and left on the field; Burgess from Smithville [Chenango Co., NY] was mortally wounded early in the morning; the 8th N.Y. lost about thirty men in this engagement.  We went to Malvern Hill and attacked some Rebel Cavalry on the 15th, and tried to make them fight, but they would not.

We crossed the James river June 17th, and are now in camp near Prince George Court House, enjoying a short season of quietude, the first we have had since the 3d of May.  Last evening we had regimental dress parade, and listened to an order issued by Gen Meade, praising in high terms the gallant actions of our Cavalry Division.

Yours Truly, C.B Dunning
__________________________________________________________

From Adjutant General's Report - 8th NY Cavalry
DUNNING, CHARLES B.:  Age 21 years. Enlisted August 30, 1862 at Smithville; mustered in as private, Co. C. August 30, 1862, to serve three years; wounded in action, near Brandy Station, Va., August 4, 1863; appointed corporal. November 2, 1864; mustered out, June 7, 1865, at Alexandria, Va.