The Virginia in the Civil War Message Board

Re: McCausland's Brigade at Appomattox

This is what my regimental volume on the 16th VA Cavalry by Jack Dickinson says:

On April 7 the cavalry resumed its role as rearguard for the infantry. Also on that day the Federal cavalry attacked the Confederate wagons trains which had become bogged down in the heavy mud. Fitz Hugh Lee reported: "They were met by Mumford in front, whilst Rosser attacked their flank, and [the Federals] were driven back with considerable loss, including amongst the captured their commanding general, J. Irvin Gregg. Our position was held near this point of attack until 12 p.m., when the march was resumed toward Appomattox Court-House."

On April 8 Confederate Generals R.H. Anderson, George E. Pickett, and Bushrod R. Johnson were relieved of duty because they had no troops left to command. Rosser's Division with McCausland's Brigade was ordered from the rear of the retreating army to a forward position on the road to Lynchburg. The brigade had been able to secure rations and therefore had a little something to eat that night. Another trooper remarked: "McCausland's fires looked larger than that of a division." That night many men from the remnants of the Confederate cavalry decided to head for home; they knew that the war was almost over.

It is difficult to locate McCausland's Brigade or Rosser's Division on the morning of April 9. They probably combined with W.H.F. Lee's Division in a skirmish against the Federal cavalry. McCausland recounted after the war: "My command-by that time a mere skeleton reduced to not more than 200 men-was next to General Tom Munford's on a hill above the town [Appomatox Courthouse]. Suddenly there was a lull in the fighting which for days raged with fury of hell. I noticed the man along the battle line below stacking arms. Just at that moment General Fitzhugh [Lee] came dashing by on his charger. 'Hi, Fitz, what's going on out there,' I asked. 'Uncle Bobby has surrendered' he shouted back. I turned to Munford and said 'Let's get out of here.'

There are two more pages, but basically it says that of those that surrendered at Appomattox, 27 men were from McCausland's Brigade, 5 of which were from the 16th VA. McCausland said he and his men went to Lynchburg and disbanded there. Achilles Tynes of the 8th VA said that about May 17 he "left home in company with Gen. John McCausland, Col. Milton Ferguson of the 16th, Capt. James Ferguson, Maj. James Noonan and 13 others, mostly of the same brigade. After a weary and tedious march of four or five days we halted several miles above [south of] Brownstown [Marmet, WV]; sent in a flag offering to surrender on the same terms granted to Lee at Appomattox, or we would take to the woods as guerrillas and return South. Our terms were granted by the Federal commandant of the post, Gen. Oley. We marched into Charleston, were paroled; Gen. McC. at once leaving for Canada, I on a business trip to Cincinnati, and all the others to their respective homes.

Many members of the 16th VA Cavalry were paroled in Charleston, WV.

Messages In This Thread

McCausland's Brigade at Appomattox
Re: McCausland's Brigade at Appomattox
Re: McCausland's Brigade at Appomattox
Re: McCausland's Brigade at Appomattox
Re: McCausland's Brigade at Appomattox
Re: McCausland's Brigade at Appomattox
Re: McCausland's Brigade at Appomattox
Re: McCausland's Brigade at Appomattox
Re: McCausland's Brigade at Appomattox
Re: McCausland's Brigade at Appomattox
Re: McCausland's Brigade at Appomattox
Re: McCausland's Brigade at Appomattox
Re: McCausland's Brigade at Appomattox