The Union Cavalry Comes of Age by Eric J. Wittenberg

Author:Eric J. Wittenberg
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing Inc.
Published: 2016-03-09T16:00:00+00:00

Brigadier General William Henry Fitzhugh “Rooney” Lee, Robert E. Lee’s second son, was a Harvard-educated farmer who became a competent cavalry commander. His brigade dogged Stoneman’s Raid. Rooney Lee was badly wounded at Brandy Station and was captured a few days later. USAHEC.

However, Stuart had ordered Rooney Lee to break off from Averell and ride off toward Gordonsville to confront the main body of Stoneman’s raiders.48 Thirty men of the 9th Virginia Cavalry stayed behind to create a distraction for the Federals. Although the Virginians captured more than two dozen troopers and a captain, a counterattack freed the prisoners and drove off the intrepid little band of Virginians, costing Colonel Beale two casualties of his own as the railroad bridge blazed in the gathering darkness. One Federal was killed and two or three other men were wounded in the exchange before the Southern horsemen finally withdrew after twelve long hours.49

The men of the 6th Ohio captured a captain of the 4th Virginia Cavalry who was returning to his regiment after a visit home. “He had no idea that the Yankees were in that part of the country,” recorded Captain Delos Northway of the 6th Ohio, “and when he saw our boys coming toward him with orders for his surrender, he said he thought it was some of his own men trying to play a trick on him.” The captain surrendered, and the Ohioans moved on, surprising the local populace, which was unaccustomed to the sight of large parties of Northerners riding about the countryside unhindered.50

Hooker, whose army was engaged in mortal combat at Chancellorsville, recognized that his flank was largely uncovered by the lack of a strong force of cavalry. When Hooker learned that Averell’s force was not far off on its raid, he concluded that Averell had not fulfilled his orders and that his 3,400 men had neither brought the enemy cavalry to battle nor joined Stoneman’s main body. As a result, Hooker grew livid. He fired off a testy dispatch to Averell, having an aide write, “I am directed by the major-general commanding to inform you that he does not understand what you are doing at Rapidan Station. If this finds you at that place, you will immediately return to United States Ford and remain there until further orders, and report in person.” Averell retorted, “I have been engaged with the cavalry of the enemy at that point and in destroying communications,” and enclosed a copy of Stoneman’s April 30 orders to support his position.51

The next day, May 2, Averell decided to cross the Rapidan at Raccoon Ford and try to join Buford’s command. He drew in his pickets on the right and prepared to march. Averell was surprised to receive an order from Hooker directing him to “report in person with your entire command, save one regiment.” The single regiment left behind was to patrol the area between the RF&P Railroad and the Orange & Alexandria Railroad and “be kept well thrown out, for the purpose of

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