The Third Pennsylvania at Kelly's Ford
The story of March 17, 1863 has been told many times from the viewpoint of the Southern cavalry. Captain Frank W. Hess, Co. M, 3rd Pa. Cavalry, recounts the events of that fateful day from the viewpoint of the Federal cavalry. Captain Hess' account is Chapter XIV of History of the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry in the American Civil War, 1861-1865 by William Brooke Rawle (Philadelphia: Franklin Printing Company, 1905), pp. 201-214.
On the 16th of March, 1863, about three thousand men of his [General William W. Averell's] command, including a battery of horse artillery, left their camps near Potomac Creek and marched to the vicinity of the ford (Kelly's) and bivouacked for the night.
The enemy's pickets were met before arrival at this point, and were pushed back, and pickets of his own command were placed well down toward the ford, in order to mask the intended movement of the morrow. A force of nine hundred men was here detached with instructions to drive the enemy all across the river and take up a position some miles westward, with a view of protecting the flank of the main body, which was to move southerly toward and across Kelly's Ford.
These two commands started very early in the morning, and by 6 o' clock the ford had been reached. An advance guard for the main body had been selected with a view of carrying the crossing by a dash, if it was found to be defended. The enemy, through his scouts, had been apprised of our approach, and the guard at the fording had been increased, and they were on the lookout for us. Here occurred a very stubborn resistance on the part of the rebels, who were posted behind an intrenchment which commanded thoroughly the fording and its approaches. The stream was swollen by recent rains until it was four or five feet deep at the fording, and much deeper both above and below, so there was no possibility of getting over except at the fording. A dash was made at the crossing by the advance guard but it was repulsed....
While this was going on, General Averell had placed himself on a little knoll to the left of his column, and from this point overlooked and directed all subsequent operations. He perceived that the enemy had dismounted a large number of his men and thrown them into a well-constructed rifle-pit which thoroughly commanded the ford. The ri ver at this point, at this stage of water, is about three hundred feet wide. In addition to the rifle-pits, the enemy had thrown trees into the road on both sides, and on the river bank had driven stakes into the ground, interlacing them with brush in such a manner as to prevent horses froin'getting out of the ford at all.
The left bank of the river is traversed for a short distance by a sunken road, having been worn away to the depth of about three feet by long usage. Into this General Averell directed the placing of one hundred men, dismounted, with orders to keep up a constant fire on the rifle-pits opposite, with a view to preventing the men therein from rising to take aim when they fired. Of course, the battery, which had now come up, would have made short work of the defenses behind which the enemy crouched, but the General wished to exhaust all other means in efforts to cross before using it, as the sounds from his guns would have apprised Lee [Fitzhugh Lee] in his camps Of the precise place at which the crossing was being made, as well as of the magnitude of the expedition, of both of which he was ignorant ....
The pioneers (axmen) of the brigade were now ordered forward to clear the way of obstructions on one side of the ri ver , under the command of Lieutenant D. M. Gilmore, Third Pennsylvania Cavalry. At this time volunteers were called for by the General to carry the crossing. The opportunity to volunteer for this duty was given to the regiment nearest him (the First Rhode Island), and was responded to by the whole regiment moving to the front. The nearest platoon, that commanded by Lieutenant Simon A. Brown, was selected and made ready for the dash.
The fire from the sunken road was now keeping down that from the pits, and under its protection the axmen partially succeeded in making an opening to the ford. The remainder of the Rhode Island regiment was moved up to Brown's support, the word was given, and away he went. Of the eighteen men of Brown's platoon who entered the ford with him, but three men came out on the enemy's side, all the rest having been ei ther killed or wounded or had their horses disabled . The Lieutenant [Gilmore] rode up the bank and, looking down on the men in the pit, fired a shot among them, and, it is claimed, killed one of the enemy. Turning, he waved his sword to the balance of his regiment, and called on them to come on. This they were already doing, and a few of the leading files arriving, they broke through or over the obstructions. In the meantime the enemy, perceiving their inability to longer hold their position, commenced retiring toward their horses, which were some distance in the rear. They were pursued by the mounted men and twenty-five of them made prisoners....
The remainder of this brigade pushed rapidly across the river, the regiments forming promptly on the south side. The ammunition for the battery was carried over by the cavalrymen in their nose bags, the water being so deep as to flood the ammunition chests. Some delay was occasioned here, as it was necessary to water the horses, and only those occupying the fording could be watered at one time. While this was going on the remainder of the division was moving into the position assigned, the General galloped to the front with a detachment, and made a hasty examination of the field. Satisfying himself that the proper place for the expected battle was farther from the river, the whole command was moved forward on the road to the Culpeper Court House via Brandy Station, on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad.
The division, properly protected by skirmishers, moved in "order of battle" as nearly as the conformation of the ground would permit, McIntosh having the right and Duffie the left, while Reno commanded the reserves, composed of the detachments from the Regular cavalry. With him was the battery. After moving about three-fourths of a mile from the fording, the advance of the enemy was discovered coming rapidly from the direction of the railroad. This was what General Averell had anticipated ....
By his order McIntosh deployed his small brigade, with the Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry on his right, the Third Pennsylvania next, advancing the meanwhile toward the Wheatley house, which was in front of the right of General Averell's line. These two regiments were now a considerable distance to the right of the road. Immediately to the right of the road the Fourth New York was formed, and its left the Fourth Pennsylvania. One section -- two guns -- of the battery was advanced and went into the position between the left of the Third Pennsylvania and the right of the Fourth New York, a little retired, while Reno, in support of the two regiments on the right and the guns, formed a little to the right and rear of the latter.
The enemy was now advancing rapidly in line, preceded by a heavy line of mounted skirmishers, whose fire became very annoying to the two regiments near the road, and to which they were now ordered to reply, while the section in position also opened. Under this severe fire from the Confederate sharpshooters, now at a halt, these two regiments ... exhibited a little unsteadiness, requiring some personal exertion on the part of himself [Averell] and his staff to correct.
A little after this a charge was ma'de by about a regiment of the Confederates, perhaps not so great a number, on McIntosh's right, with a view, apparently, of obtaining possession of Wheatley's house and outbuildings. Gregg (Colonel Irvin), who commanded the Sixteenth Pennsyl vania, dismounted a squadron or two, and hurrying them forward toward the buildings, a brisk fight for the possession of them ensued, resulting in the enemy retiring with several empty saddles. A few moments later came another charge ... this was the Third Virginia Cavalry, joined by the Fifth.
Immediately after the Virginians had passed Duffie's flank, he passed through a gap in the stone fence, and formed his leading regiment (... First Rhode Island) in line. This was without orders. It is presumed that the temptation to pitch into men who so boldly threw themselves at him was too much for the volatile Frenchman, and he was resolved at all hazards to try his hand at charging, too. He had not long to wait, for as Averell advanced McIntosh on his right up to and past Wheatley's house, clearing the ground from the charge of the Confederate left, ... Lee himself, with ... his First, Second, and Fourth regiments, moved out against Averell's left. They came on in fine style, and were met at a short distance from our line by Duffie.... As the enemy's line broke up and retired they were pursued a little too far by some of our men, and as a squadron or two of fresh Confederates were thrown into the melee, two officers and eighteen men of Duffie's regiment were captured. This reinforcement to their charge was met by a charge of two or three squadrons from McIntosh, but it failed to recapture the men who had been made prisoners. The enemy had now been driven at every point, and Lee withdrew from the field, taking up a position about one mile further to the rear.
After a short delay, in which his front was cleared of the wounded of both sides and his regiments formed again, General Averell moved forward his whole command, and soon met the fire from Lee's battery of four guns. These guns were well served, and their projectiles were very annoying. Firing sometimes at a single squadron advancing, they very frequently knocked out a horse or man. The firing from our own battery was discouraging, as the ammunition was of very poor quality and the fuses thoroughly unreliable. Prisoners captured in the last charge informed us that Stuart himself, with his Chief of Artillery, was on the field, and from this we had reason to believe that more than Fitz Lee's Brigade would soon be before us. It afterward transpired that Stuart and Pelham were accidentally there. Unfortunately for the artillery of the Confederacy, the brave Pelham did not leave the field alive.
As we advanced it was discovered that their cavalry had been formed in line on both sides of their battery, and their sharpshooters opened on us again with effect. It was now found necessary by General Averell to extend his line farther to the left, and to this part of it was sent the Fifth United States Cavalry, until this time held in reserve.
The enemy's front was again masked by his sharpshooters, deployed in a heavy line, and they soon commenced advancing and firing rapidly, while his battery of four guns seemed to redouble its energies. Under cover of this he was seen moving forward his main line, and preparing for a charge with a very large part of his command. Our whole front at this time was assailable at any point by a charge, and as the enemy's long lines moved forward all felt that the great struggle of the day was about to commence. He led off with his left wing, heading for the center of our right wing, and at a gentle trot swept down a slope at the foot of which ran a stream that now separated us. Crossing this and forming again, he pressed forward, directing his course on the three squadrons of the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, which had been posted on the outer edge of a small wood. The fields in front of these squadrons, through which the charging column was now coming, were heavy, and the horses were sinking from hoof to fetlock deep, and the whole Union line halted to await the attack. In the squadrons of the Third Pennsylvania the front rank had advanced carbines, and the rear rank had drawn their sabres. The men were cautioned to reserve their fire, and await the approach of the enemy, that it might be more effective.
On came the Confederates, but the soft ground, a scattering fire from some squadrons of the Sixteenth Pennsylvania, which I think was on the right of the Third, and the steadiness of the troops in their front, who stood like a wall, all contributed to destroy the vim and enthusiasm of this charge.
Before arriving within a hundred yards of its objective, the charging column had lost its momentum, and commenced sifting to pieces. More than half had halted or were proceeding in a half-hearted sort of way, and a few only of the most daring spirits on the best horses, arrived within from twenty-five to fifty yards of the objective....
As soon as General Averell had perceived that it was the purpose of the enemy to charge on this part of the line, he hurried up Reno's command -- the First United States Cavalry -- it having been in reserve until this moment, and placed it in position some distance -- about one hundred yards -- to the left of and slightly in advance of the Third Pennsylvania, with the intention of making a counter-charge on the right flank of the enemy's column, as soon as he had made contact with that regiment .... But the abortive effort of the enemy to reach our line in the face of the withering fire of the Third Pennsylvania rendered the preparations being made for the counter-charge of no avail. The order for the Third Pennsylvania to charge now came, and carbines were dropped and sabres drawn, and the enemy were driven entirely from the field, numbers being captured and wounded.
While the events narrated above were happening, the right of the center, the Fifth United States Cavalry, under Walker, was pushing forward on the extreme left as rapidly as the deep ditches which traversed the fields here would permit, driving back a strong mounted skirmish line.
Lee now, with his other two regiments (the Second and Fourth Virginia), estimated by our officers at seven hundred or eight hundred, charged on Averell's left, the objective being the battery, which was hurrying into position. Prisoners captured from this column stated that the charge was led by General Stuart in person. It was better managed than that on the right, and was driven home. It was gallantly met by the Fifth Regulars, the Sixth Ohio, and by Reno, with his squadrons of the First United States, and repulsed with severe loss to the enemy, who was now driven from this, his third position, at all points. Reno, with the reserves, did not return to the line at all, but reached a point nearly one mile in advance, where he was joined by the whole command. From this point there was no enemy visible, except flying detachments and two guns.
This left General Averell's command victorious on all points. Not a foot of ground once gained had been yielded by any part of the line ... It was now 5:30 o'clock; not much of daylight was left. The horses, having marched thirty miles over heavy roads the day previous, and seven miles the morning before the action commenced, and after that having been engaged directly with the enemy or in support, making many charges, and rapidly shifting from place to place on the field over soft ground, were much fagged. Reno remained at the farthest point reached by our people, without being assailed by the enemy, and until the field was cleared. The prisoners and wounded were carried across the river, and the dead buried .... The whole division retired across the river that evening without molestation, and encamped at Morrisville, and on the following day returned to the army, bringing with it an experience which thrilled the country and assured the cavalry arm of the service that the days of unjust criticism of its operations had come to an end.
This article first appeared in Volume 3, No. 3 of The Cannoneer.
