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160th
Pennsylvania Regiment, 15th PA Cavalry
Online Books
160th
Pennsylvania Regiment, 15th PA Cavalry Soldier Roster - History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers, 1861-5, Volume 4 by Samuel P Bates, 1869
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Fifteenth Cavalry. — Col., William J. Palmer; Lieut.
-Cols., William Spencer, Charles B. Lamborn, Charles M. Betts ; Majs.,
Adolph G. Rosengarten, Frank B. Ward, Charles M. Betts, George E.
Gouraud, William Wagner, Abram B. Garner, H. McAllister, Jr. The 160th
regiment, known as the 15th (Anderson) cavalry, was recruited by William
J. Palmer, formerly captain of the Anderson troop, from the state at
large, rendezvoused at Carlisle, and was mustered into the U. S. service
from Aug. 22 to Oct. 10, 1862, for three years. As in the case of the
Anderson troop (q. v.) it was originally intended to employ the regiment
on escort and headquarters duty and the members of the command were
therefore selected with great care, many coming from the most
influential families of the state. Early in September, before the
regiment was fully organized, 250 picked men were sent into the
Cumberland valley to assist in repelling the threatened invasion of the
state by Lee's forces and rendered efficient service. This detachment
charged through Hagerstown, captured 30 stragglers, and was employed in
bringing up stragglers during the battle of Antietam. Capt. Palmer was
captured the day after the battle, while on dangerous service within the
enemy's lines. On Nov. 7, the regiment left the state for Louisville,
Ky., where it was mounted, and a month later it joined the army
assembled at Nashville. An unfortunate incident occurred at this time
for which the regiment was much criticised. The command had never been
fully officered, having only seven field and staff, twelve line, and
about two-thirds of its complement of non-commissioned officers. It
sought in vain to have this deficiency remedied and when it was ordered
to advance with Gen. Stanley's division of cavalry on the eve of the
Stone's river campaign, only the few officers and about 300 of the men
responded. On Dec. 30 about 100 more of the men made their way to the
front, and by order of Gen. Mitchell, in command at Nashville, the
others were sent to the workhouse. On Jan. 20, 1863, Gen. Rosecrans
agreed to have them reorganized and fully officered if they would return
to duty. This seems to have been all the men desired and the proposition
was accepted. On Feb. 7, 1863, Col. Palmer returned from captivity and
resumed command, horses and full equipments were received, and the
regiment was organized into twelve companies with W. J. Palmer, colonel,
and Charles B. Lamborn, lieutenant-colonel. Meanwhile the battalion
under Majs. Rosengarten and Ward, which had advanced with Stanley's
division, behaved most gallantly at Wilkinson's cross-roads, losing 13
killed or mortally wounded and 69 wounded and missing. Among the killed
were both majors. Led by Capt. Vezin, the battalion joined in a charge
on Wheeler's cavalry on the 31st, driving the enemy. During this charge
private Holt of Co. H captured the colors of the 10th Tenn. cavalry. On
Jan. 1, 1863, it was detailed to guard a train to Nashville, losing
several more in killed and wounded en route. A detachment was engaged
near Woodbury and Snow Hill, Tenn. and captured 18 prisoners near the
Barrens. On Rosecrans' campaign from Murfreesboro to Tullahoma, Tenn.,
Cos. B, H and K served as escort to the general commanding, and the
other campanies were employed in courier duty between the right and left
wings of the army. In the Chickamauga campaign the command was engaged
in scouting, preparing maps, guarding flank roads, carrying despatches
and at headquarters. Late in November it was ordered to Knoxville and
the day after its arrival was ordered to meet and disperse a force from
North Carolina, under Col. Thomas, at Seviersville, Tenn., the enemy
being completely routed and his camp burned. It now engaged in scouting
on the left flank of Longstreet's army moving towards Virginia, and was
sharply engaged at Dandridge, losing 75 killed, wounded and prisoners. A
few days later it was again engaged for 6 hours at Mossy creek, losing a
few men. In Jan., 1864, the 15th was posted at Dandridge to watch the
movements of Longstreet's army and harass his foraging parties. About
the middle of the month Col. Palmer, with about 125 men, made a daring
detour against Brig.-Gen. Vance, coming up with the enemy near Newport,
captured the general, 2 staff officers, 50 men, 150 horses, a wagon
train and a large amount of stores. For his gallantry Col. Palmer was
strongly recommended for promotion. On the 24th it engaged in an
expedition to the Big Pigeon river and captured 72 of the enemy and
large stores. The command had become skilled in scouting duty and full
reliance was placed on the information gained by it. On Feb. 11 it
returned to Chattanooga and for the next three months was employed in
reconnoissances and scouting duty. In May it was ordered to Nashville to
refit and it was August before the regiment was again ready to take the
field. For the next two months it was engaged in numerous minor
expeditions, portions of the command being engaged at Jonesboro, the
Holston river, and in numerous skirmishes and scouting expeditions.
During October and November, with headquarters at Chattanooga, it was
employed in scouting, frequently meeting bands of the enemy. On Dec. 20
it moved to Decatur, whence it moved in pursuit of Hood's demoralized
troops on their retreat from Tennessee, capturing many prisoners and a
large amount of supplies and greatly harassing the enemy. It brought all
its captures to Decatur with a loss of only 1 killed and 2 wounded.
Expeditions in Jan. and Feb., 1865, against Gen. Lyon at Fort Deposit
and a guerrilla band in the Cumberland mountains were entirely
successful and resulted in the capture of numerous prisoners. Refitted
for active service, it moved with Gen. Stoneman on April 1 on his raid
into North Carolina. After the capture of Salisbury, N. C, it turned
towards Knoxville. Near the close of April, 1865, it was ordered with
its division, now commanded by Gen. Palmer, to proceed south in the
effort to capture Jefferson Davis and train. On May 8, it captured 7
wagons, containing the effects of the banks of Macon, numerous other
valuables, and the private baggage, maps and official papers of Gens.
Beauregard and Pillow. Two days later Co. G captured Gen. Bragg, his
wife, 3 staff officers, and 3 wagons. Soon after the capture of
President Davis the regiment returned to Nashville, Tenn., and with the
exception of Co. A, was there mustered out of service on June 21, 1865.
Co. A was mustered out at the same place on July 18. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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