The Virginia in the Civil War Message Board

E.A. Paul's Account of Lee's Retreat on April 3 65

DETAILS OF THE PURSUIT
BATTLES OF THE CAVALRY
Capehart’s Attack Upon the Retreating
Rebels – Brilliant Fighting – Narrow Escape

From Our Own Correspondent
Amelia County, Tuesday, April 3, 1865

The cavalry has been moving down the left bank of Deep Creek to-day. Bushrod Johnson and the remainder of Pickett’s division with two divisions of cavalry falling steadily back, making no decided stand until just before dark, in our front, about six miles east of Amelia Court House, when the darkness prevented the attack being made. A part of Stagg’s Michigan brigade was thrown in to develop the enemy’s position and they opened from pieces of artillery. As the infantry force is near at hand on our left it is not expected the enemy will make a determined stand here, at all events not a long one, and all of whom seem determined not to fight again.

This morning General Mackenzie’s cavalry started out in the advance, and had a little skirmish near camp and a few brief skirmishes have taken place during the day but not real stand has been made.

The fight on Cedar Creek last night was, for a small affair, one of the most brilliant of the present campaign. In the hasty account forwarded last night some mistakes were made in details. After passing Namozine church Capehart took the advance on the road leading to the right and pushed forward until his command was completely exhausted. When 3 miles out he met the enemy at wintecomuk creek but promptly flanked and charged them out of this position without loss. The third Virginia, major Witcher, which had up to this time been in front was sent on the left flank and the first New York (Lincoln) advanced. At one point the enemy charged and drove in the first upon the head of the main column, to within 20 yards. Colonel Capehart emptied his revolver into the head of the charging column as did the staff officers and escort, and the enemy were forced back with considerable loss. Our loss and killed in wounded was eight men. A ball struck Colonel Capehart’s pants tearing up the cord on one leg and a ball lodged in the lower job jaw of a horse rode by one of his aids. A little beyond this point, the second New York, Captain Randol, third New Jersey, lieutenant colonel Robson, and first Connecticut Colonel lives, were sent forward and the enemies, and was pushed forward to and beyond the bevel bridge road, thus cutting the whole command off for a time. The third New Jersey on the left and the second New York on the right was here sent in a dismounted, and for half an hour the little band fought against 7000 of the enemy, made more fierce by being cut off from their line of retreat. The enemy rallied behind a rail and log breastwork, checked the progress of our line, resisting several charges successfully, and finally with two line of infantry succeeded in forcing back the two regiments named and regaining the road again. For half an hour the firing was continuous as the troops engaged fell back on their supports – Capehart’s brigade and Ives’ 1st Connecticut regiment. Lord got his guns into position and poured in a raking fire upon the enemy’s line when they fell back toward the Appomattox in some confusion This ended the fighting for the day

Wells’ brigade, which took a road to the left at Namozine Church, drove the enemy about nine miles on that road, stealthily charged, captured some prisoners and several wagons loaded with supplies, but upon attempting to return, it was found the enemy had run a line of infantry across the road and the advance guard was forced to abandon the captured property and make a wide circuit to escape, which was done successfully Col. Wells finding his way checked by infantry, behind breastworks, took a cross road to the right and rejoined the main column.

In the heat of this fight the Second New York, being forced back by Johnson’s infantry, split right in two, one wing going to the right and the other to the left, and a heavy force of the enemy moved down a road leading through the gap thus made., Col. Randol, of the second, not being quite well, had become much exhausted and was caught in front in this gap, and the enemy advanced to within a few yards of him firing rapidly. Falling to the ground he crawled into the woods and endeavored to drag himself along by pulling at tufts of grass. As one tuft yielded a ball struck the sod knocking it out of his hand. Succeeding finally in reaching his horse by the assistance of an orderly he mounted and came in with his regiment. The colonel escaped with no other injury than a ball hole through his hat.

Colonel Capehart had a horse killed under him during the day, and there were quite a number of hair-breath escapes. Prisoners taken today said that they had 7,000 men in this affair and we have positive information that Rosser was wounded in the leg, not dangerous, however. The house was visited to-day where his wound was dressed. The enemy left seven dead (one a colonel) on the field that have been seen and fourteen men seriously wounded in a house near the scene of the strife. To-day two slightly wounded men gave themselves up; three more were found in a house near the roadside, making nineteen wounded; and these men say a large number of wounded men were carried away.

The result of to-day’s operations foot up as follows:

7 caissons captured
19 wagons captured
300 privates captured
9 officers captured
30 boxes fixed artillery ammunition captured
3 ambulances and 5 pieces of artillery, four of which were found stalled in the woods by Maj. Young,

Almost Got It

In the fight at Five Forks, On the 1st inst., Capt. Hougton of the 2nd Ohio in a charge upon the enemy’s works reached out his hand to grasp a rebel flagstaff and just as he seized it a rebel ball struck his arm which compelled him to drop his prize and some more fortunate person obtained it.

In the brief fight yesterday the Second New York lost 22, three killed (one an officer) and nineteen wounded.

The credit of Capturing General Brannning [Barrnger] belongs to scout McCahn of the Seventeenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.

In the fight on the 1st Lieut. Stonebreaker of the Seventeenth Pennsylvania captured the Eleventh Virginia battlefield. And Capt. Morgan of the First New York Dragoons captured another battle flag.

Capt. Blunt of Fitzhugh’s staff had his horse killed, and every officer in the charge had his clothes cut by bullets, viz Col. Ives had the breast of his coat pierced by two bullets, one of which broke a gold watch chain attached to a button hole on his coat.

Maj. White of the sixth new York was one of Fitzhugh’s staff officers who had their clothes torn by bullets.

Fitzhugh’s bugler Trapper was also mortally wounded.

Wounded April 3

3rd New Jersey – 0 k 9 w – 9
2nd New York – 0 k 12 w = 12
1st Conn. - 0 k 1 w = 1

2nd Va. 0 k 4 w = 4

E. A. Paul
The New York Times
April 14, 1865
Page 8 col. 1