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159th
Pennsylvania Regiment, 14th PA Cavalry
Online Books
159th
Pennsylvania Regiment, 14th PA Cavalry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 4 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Fourteenth Cavalry. — Col., James N. Schoonmaker;
Lieut. -Cols., William Blakeley, John M. Daily; Majs., Thomas Gibson,
Shadrack Foley, John M. Daily, William W. Miles, John Bird. In Aug.,
1862, James N. Schoonmaker, a citizen of Pittsburg, and a lieutenant in
the 1st Md. cavalry, was authorized by Sec. Stanton to recruit a
battalion of five companies of cavalry. Recruits were rapidly obtained
and authority was given to recruit a full regiment. The men were
principally from the counties of Allegheny, Fayette, Armstrong,
Washington, Lawrence, Erie and Warren, and the city of Philadelphia.
They rendezvoused at Camp Howe, afterwards at Camp Montgomery, near
Pittsburg, and were mustered into the U. S. service from Aug. 21 to Nov.
4, 1862, for three years. On the latter date it moved to Hagerstown,
Md., where it received horses, arms and equipment and was drilled in the
various cavalry evolutions. On Dec. 28, it proceeded to Harper's Ferry
and was engaged for several months in picket and scouting duty. A
detachment of unmounted men under Maj. Foley was left at Harper's Ferry
and the remainder of the command joined Gen. Averell's forces at
Grafton. It skirmished at Beverly and Huttonville early in July, a few
days later rejoined Gen. Kelley's forces at Cumberland, and proceeded
thence to Williamsport, where it joined the army of the Potomac, being
engaged with the enemy's cavalry near Martinsburg on the 15th. Shortly
after it was joined by Maj. Foley's detachment. On Aug. 4 it moved with
Gen. Averell on the Rocky gap raid in West Virginia and was hotly
engaged at White Sulphur springs losing 80 men, killed, wounded and
missing. On this raid it marched over 600 miles in 27 days, being
frequently engaged. On Nov. 1, it moved with Gen. Averell on the Droop
mountain raid and was engaged at Mill Point, and Droop mountain.
Returning to New creek by easy marches, it shared in Averell's second
raid into southwestern Virginia in December, when an immense amount of
stores and merchandise, many miles of rail-road track, and numerous
bridges were destroyed. Its loss during the raid was about 50 and the
command marched over 345 miles under very trying conditions. It went
into winter quarters at Martinsburg and was almost constantly engaged in
picket, guard and scout duty until the opening of the spring campaign.
As a part of the 1st brigade, (Col. Schoonmaker) of Averell's division,
it broke winter quarters on April 12, 1864, and moved to Parkersburg,
whence it proceeded south to the Virginia & Tennessee railroad, aiming
to destroy the salt works at Saltville. The regiment was heavily engaged
at Cove mountain in May, losing 12 killed and 37 wounded. At Union,
Averell's forces effected a junction with Gen. Crook, advanced to
Lewisburg and then to Staunton, to join the forces of Gen. Hunter, who
was about to move on the Lynchburg campaign. A detachment of the
regiment, which had been left behind at Martinsburg under Capt. Duncan,
was meanwhile hotly engaged at New Market and Piedmont, carrying an
earthwork, capturing a number of prisoners, and winning praise for its
gallantry in the latter action. At Staunton the detachment rejoined the
regiment and started on the Lynchburg campaign. The Union cavalry drove
Imboden at Lexington, destroyed the Virginia military institute,
skirmished at Buchanan, and June 17-18 fought the battle of Lynchburg,
but was forced to retire. During the retreat, the 14th, as part of
Hunter's rear-guard, was warmly engaged at Liberty on the 19th, holding
the enemy in check for several hours and losing 6 killed and 18 wounded.
It was active at Salem on the 21st and finally reached Parkersburg,
after a march which entailed great hardship and suffering from hunger
and fatigue. From Parkersburg it moved by rail to Martinsburg. In July
it was twice engaged with Early's forces at Winchester, being forced to
fall back to the Potomac with the rest of Averell's command. After the
burning of Chambersburg, Pa., it followed in pursuit of McCausland,
overtook him at Moorefield, Va., where severe punishment was
administered to the forces of McCausland, Johnson, Gillmore, and
McNeill, the 14th losing here 10 killed and 25 wounded. It now returned
to Martinsburg and later participated under Sheridan in the brilliant
campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, losing heavily at the Opequan and
being active at Fisher's hill. For gallantry displayed in the action at
Weyer's cave, against the forces of Fitzhugh Lee, the name was inscribed
upon its battle flag by general order. A detachment under Capts. Miles
and Duff was engaged at Cedar creek, on Oct. 19. The regiment soon after
made a reconnaissance in the Luray valley and was hotly engaged with
McCausland at Front Royal, losing 15 killed and wounded. During the
winter of 1864-65, it suffered severely in expeditions to Millwood and
Ashby's gap. After Lee's surrender it was stationed for two months near
Washington and the latter part of June moved to Fort Leavenworth, Kan.,
where it was consolidated into a battalion of six companies on July 17,
1865. The field and staff and Cos. B, C, D, E and F were mustered out
here, on Aug. 24, and Co. A on Nov. 2, 1865, the last named having been
detailed as an escort to Gen. Dodge, commanding the department, on a
tour of inspection. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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