Campaign of the Fourteenth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers

by J. Newton Terrill

The ground was covered with the munitions of war, as our victorious army pressed on after the flying rebels. The groans of the wounded and dying were forgotten. Ghastly sights everywhere presented themselves to the eye, but to the soldiers were as nothing, as such scenes were every day sights. The houses in Winchester were filled with rebel wounded, who were kindly cared for by the ladies of the place, both loyal and disloyal. The news of our success was telegraphed immediately to Washington, and the papers North were full of praises of our gallant little Sheridan and his noble army; there was now no fear of another invasion, and our National Capital was out of danger. The army now reposed every confidence in Sheridan, and gave him the name of "Little Phil," and those who but a few weeks before were ever ready to denounce him were now the loudest in his praise. One hundred guns were fired at Washington in honor of this great victory, which in itself was considered one of the decisive battles of the war. Had our forces been defeated and driven back, both Washington and Baltimore would have been taken, and before another army could have been raised, both places would have lain in ashes. This was the third and last attempted invasion of the North by the Confederate army, which had each time ended in disaster. The rebel papers were clamorous for the removal of Early, who had praised him so highly but a short time before.

The enemy retreated during the night, and made a stand in their strong position at Fisher Hill; here they were confident of success, as it was thought impossible to dislodge them from their position. Here Early intended to make a stand until he received re-enforcements from Richmond, and then retrieve his fast falling reputation. He supposed General Sheridan would not attack, and he would have time to recruit. Our column had halted at Winchester until daylight the next morning, when they rapidly pressed on; the enemy were at this time on Fisher Hill, twenty-two miles from Winchester; the troops halted at nine o'clock at Newton for breakfast. The men had marched up and down the valley so often, that every house and barn was familiar to them. Kurrentown was the birthplace of the rebel General, Stonewall Jackson, whose remains now repose there; had he then been living, and in command of the rebel forces in the valley, it would have been different, for as a strategic leader he had no equal. One day he would be in our front, the next day in our rear, and it would have required all the skill of our leaders to oppose him; as it was, Early was completely out-generaled by General Sheridan.

The troops halted at Newton one hour, and then moved forward; squads of rebel prisoners were picked up, as they were too tired to proceed farther. The number of prisoners captured in all was about five thousand, while our loss at Winchester would not exceed one thousand five hundred. After marching twenty-two miles, we crossed Cedar Creek on a bridge built by the enemy, halting in the same woods the troops were in five weeks before. The rebel army had just been paid in Confederate money, which to them was as nothing; gold, which had been up to its highest notch, now fell some twenty per cent., and produce in proportion.

The 21st of September was spent in forming the troops in position, as General Sheridan had determined to attack; but nothing was accomplished till night, when the 126th Ohio and 6th Maryland regiments charged the enemy's skirmish line, driving them back two miles, and occupying a splendid position for artillery; batteries were placed and the enemy shelled, they not replying, as their ammunition was scarce. The morning of the 22d found the troops in position; batteries from all parts of the line opened, but as yet no response from the rebels. At three o'clock Sheridan ordered an advance, the troops moving forward in eight lines of battle. Early, expecting an attack in his immediate front, withdrew his forces from the left of his line; taking advantage of this, the 8th corps, with the 3d division, moved on their flank, and before they were aware of it our cavalry were completely in their rear. A desperate battle now ensued, which lasted until dark, when the enemy were driven pell mell from their fortified position and retreated in confusion, flanked both right and left, and their cavalry, under Imboden and Jones, were compelled to run in one demoralized mass, followed by our victorious columns pouring shot and shell into their retreating ranks. The 3d division captured six pieces of artillery, two of them were taken by the 14th regiment. Twenty-four pieces of artillery, fifteen stand of colors, and one thousand one hundred prisoners were the fruits of this victory. Sheridan was now almost worshiped by the men, as Fisher's Hill had always been considered as impregnable, but "Cavalry Phil," or "Flanking Sheridan," as he was called, had accomplished what Fremont, Hunter, Banks and Shields had failed to do in the early days of the rebellion. He was appointed a Maj.-General in the regular army, to fill the place vacated by McClellan. In the battle of Fisher's Hill, the loss in the 14th regiment was small, as they were on the flank with the 8th corps; the 2d division lost heavily in killed. The casualties in the regiment were but ten killed and thirty wounded. Captain McKnight's battery of the 3d division created considerable panic in the enemy's ranks, as every shell they fired fell among them. Under cover of this battery, the division advanced and captured a line of works with four hundred prisoners and four pieces of artillery. No time was allowed the men to rest, although tired and weary and begrimed with dirt and powder. The flying rebels were pursued during the night of the 22d, marching twelve miles, through Strasburg and Woodstock, halting for a few hours' rest in the morning. The enemy had a mortal fear of Custer and his cavalry, as he was always on their flank and rear when least expected; with one brigade to charge and another to blow the bugle, they could not stand. Their cavalry leader, Imboden, was called "Runboden," as he was always first to run when our cavalry appeared in sight. Four days' rations were issued the men at Woodstock, the trains having followed. The 87th Pennsylvania had served their three years, and were ordered to return home, with the exception of the re-enlisted men, whose term of service had not yet expired.

Leaving Woodstock on the afternoon of the 23d, the troops marched six miles, passing the village of Edenburg, and encamping in woods near the railroad. The enemy had again halted on a hill and were skirmishing with the cavalry. In the battles of Winchester and Fisher's Hill, the enemy had lost in killed, wounded and prisoners, fifteen thousand men, fifteen stands of colors, and thirty pieces of artillery, while the Union army had lost but four thousand men. The troops were now pretty well rested, and moved again on Saturday, the 24th, marching twenty miles, passing the villages of Mount Jackson, Hawkenstown and New Market, still following the enemy and skirmishing with the entire march. The pike was level, and the retreating rebels could be plainly seen. McKnight's battery was placed on the skirmish line, continually shelling the rear. It was a splendid sight; the troops, in four parallel lines, with cavalry on either flank, pursuing the flying rebels, they making a stand several times, but our skirmish line compelled them to leave. The weather was yet very warm. At dark the enemy opened upon us from a hill with four pieces of artillery, but were soon compelled to leave. It was a splendid picture for an artist—the sun setting behind the hills; the flash of the cannon and musketry was grand beyond description. The men foraging lived well, as the country was filled with vegetables of all kinds; the army was now forty-two miles from Winchester and thirty miles from Staunton. The troops entered camp for the night, marching the next day eighteen miles in line of battle up the valley; the enemy could not be seen, having moved during the night up the Luray Valley; halting at Harrisonberg, 3d division headquarters at the house formerly occupied by Fremont and Hunter as their headquarters. The troops remained in camp at Harrisonberg ten days, confiscating tobacco, sugar, matches, etc.; Harrisonberg is a very pretty place, twenty miles from Staunton, of about one thousand inhabitants. Squads of men were sent out each day to forage on the country, as the troops were out of rations, and it was necessary the men should be supplied. The army was now one hundred and four miles from Harper's Ferry, the base of supplies; it took the teams four days to go and four to come; the route was infested with guerillas, making it necessary to have a strong guard; but in spite of all vigilance numbers of men were killed and the wagons captured.

On the 29th the troops moved out at four o'clock, marching seven miles to relieve the cavalry at Mount Crawford. Finding the enemy in strong position they were driven back, as they were strongly posted in a gap in the mountains; they were not again attacked and the troops moved back to Harrisonberg.

On the first of October the supply train arrived from Harper's Ferry, with mail and papers, also the paymaster; the troops receiving two months' pay. It was rumored in camp that Grant had moved at Petersburg, capturing fifteen guns and four hundred prisoners. The cavalry again started off, reaching Staunton, destroying the bridges and a large amount of supplies, and advanced as far as Charlottesville.

On the 6th of October orders were given to move; marching back, the valley was now clear of the enemy. As it was feared they would again return, every barn, out-house and hay-stack was burned on the route, to prevent the enemy from subsisting in the valley, as most of the farmers were secesh and helped the guerillas along. It was a splendid sight to see the fires as the troops moved up the valley, from mountain to mountain one continual blaze of fire. Twenty-four miles were made that day, as it was cool, and the men were out of rations; the supply train could not get up, and the valley was stripped by troops continually passing. The troops slept that night in sight of Mount Jackson with nothing to eat. The next day we marched seventeen miles, through Mount Jackson and Woodstock, halting at dark; on the 8th marching twelve miles to Strasburg, passing Fisher's Hill, where the enemy were whipped so badly on the 22d of September. After stripping the valley of the most of their supplies for the rebel army, the troops halted at Strasburg, and took position on the north bank of Cedar Creek.

Having received considerable re-enforcements, Early again returned to the valley, and on the 9th of October encountered our cavalry near Strasburg. Custer with his brigade advanced, and after a brief encounter the enemy captured thirty wagons from General Torbert; the weather was very cold and windy. Our whole force of cavalry now arrived, and the enemy was driven back some distance, with the loss of eleven pieces of artillery, a number of prisoners, and all their wagons, with those captured from Torbert, our forces following them vigorously.

As the valley was supposed to be clear of the enemy, the 6th corps was ordered to Petersburg. Grant had moved several times and had captured the Weldon Rail Road, extending his lines some distance. On the 10th, orders were given to move, marching seventeen miles, passing through Strasburg and Middletown, halting at Front Royal near Manassas Gap. During our stay there, a man was accidentally shot in the Regiment, dying the next day; his name was Ayers, of Co. B. A petition was circulated among the Jersey soldiers to return home and vote; it was signed by the officers, but was not carried through. The Legislature of New Jersey was opposed to it, and used their utmost endeavors to prevent it. While all other troops were allowed to vote in the field, New Jersey was in the hands of the Copperheads, and her soldiers were not allowed the privilege, and with bitter feelings of enmity towards them the soldiers were compelled to stand it.