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HISTORY 1863
History of the 35th Battalion Virginia Calvary 1863
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JANUARY
- January 2nd--After the Poolesville raid the 35th reports to Gen. William E. "Grumble" Jones. Gen. Jones leaves to gather supplies in the Moorefield Valley in West Virginia. Major. White is left in command of his battalion and portions units left behind. Now that the battalion was in regular service, it caused insubordination and almost mutiny. Major White's firmness cooled these problems but they never lost their desire for independent service.
- Major. White reverts to command of his battalion only, as Gen. Jones returns and the rest of the month is spent drilling and sabre grinding.
- January 30th--Lt. Richard T. Watts, 2nd Virginia Cavalry, is assigned to the battalion as adjutant.
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FEBRUARY/ MARCH
- February 4th--Major. White is promoted to Lt. Colonel and Captain Myers is promoted to the rank of Major to fill the vacant spot left by Lt. Col. White's promotion. Though Captain Myers promotion did not become official until the close of the war. The promotion of Capt. Myers to major would be overshadowed due to the election of Capt. Ferneyhough, who was the senior Capt., was appointed to serve with this battalion.
- Gen. Jackson gives orders to Lt. Col. White to go to Loudoun County and arrest certain citizen, as witnesses, to go to Richmond for the trial of Capt. A. C. Webster, who was captured during the battle with the Loudoun Rangers at the Waterford Baptist Church. Capt. Webster was charged with violation of his parole and murder of a soldier and a civilian. These citizens are delivered to Richmond ending the assignment.
- The rest of the months of February and March brought drilling and sabre grinding. The battalion continues to become organized with the appointment of Lt. Richard T. Watts as adjutant. The quartermaster department changes department heads with the resignation of Capt. J. M. Kilgour and the appointment and promotion of Sgt. John J. White to Capt.. Capt. White properly staffs the department and it was no longer a problem. The ordinance and medical departments begin to show improvements.
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APRIL/ MAY
- Early April--Gen. Jones makes almost daily inspections of horses, arms, and equipment. This created an excitement that an operation was about to begin, but the men were not told about it.
- April 20th--Orders are given to the regimental and battalion commanders to issue eight days rations and forty rounds of ammunitions. Men and horses that are unfit for duty are left at Harrisonburg under Col. Funsten of the 11th Virginia Cavalry. The raiding party consists of almost 4,000 men of the 6th, 7th, 11th and 12th Virginia Cavalry, the 35th under Lt. Col. E. V. White, and Chew's Battery all from the Valley brigade of Gen. Jones. Witcher's Mounted Rifles, the Baltimore Battery of Light Artillery, the 1st Maryland Cavalry Battalion, Col. Herbert's Battalion of Maryland Infantry, and a company of engineers with a pack mule train carrying powder to destroy railroad bridges and trestles were added to the force.
- April 21st--All forces move out to rendezvous at Cootes' Store at the mouth of Brock's Gap in North Mountain where they camp for the night. A continuous rain makes the roads slippery and the streams dangerous. They intended to cross the South Branch of the Potomac River at Moorefield and go through Greenland Gap in Knobley Mountain to isolate a Union force that is supposed to be in Petersburg. It would also give them a shorter route to the railroad. The force is made to move upstream about nine miles to find a safer crossing due to the high water at Moorefield. The high water and mud make it impossible for the artillery and wagon train to go on and they are sent back to the Valley.
- April 24th-- Men with weak horses were not forced to cross the river and were sent back to the Valley including 50 of Lt. Col. White's troopers. With the weak culled out the force started across the South Branch. The 35th got across with difficulty and without loss, although the 6th Virginia Cavalry lost one man and a horse by drowning. That night they camp at Old Fields.
- April 25th--The 35th breaks camp and follows the 7th Cavalry who have the lead and head for Greenland Gap, where reaching the western end of the gap find the 23rd Illinois Infantry are there and fortified in a log church. The 7th Cavalry charges the church and is repelled with casualties including their commander Col. Richard Dulany. Lt. Col. White is ordered by Gen. Jones to dismount his men and attack the church. Information is now known that another unit of around 30 men of the 14th West Virginia Infantry occupies a log building to the right of the church. The Confederates resume attack with Maj. Brown's Maryland Battalion brought through the Gap and making an oblique to the left of Lt. Col. White's men as they move forward. The 35th cross a rocky and rapid stream while facing immense fire from the two buildings. Witcher's Mounted rifles took positions on the mountainside to add firepower to the attack but also caused friendly fire on Lt. Col. White's men as they were hit whenever Witcher's men missed the church. During this attack Private Tippet of the 35th carries a bundle of straw, while under severe fire, and climbs the chimney of the church and sets fire to the roof. As the roof burns he makes a safe escape. The men of the 23rd Illinois Infantry, about 53 men, soon surrender as their building crumbles around them and attention is turned to the log building beside the church causing it's surrender. The 35th's losses are one dead, Sgt. Kenneth Grogan of Co. F, and eight wounded. Five were sent back to Virginia and three placed in homes nearby that were used as hospitals. The Confederates move out around 11P. M. through the Allegheny Mountains to Cheat River
- April 26th--The three wounded are captured by the Federals when they return through the Gap. The 35th battalion make camp for the night along the Cheat River.
- April 28th--The 35th Battalion arrive with the main body at Morgantown, WV. Only a few Union home guards were at Morgantown and quickly disappeared as the Confederates approach. As the Confederates drew closer to Northern West Virginia it caused near panic in Pittsburg and many western cities of Pennsylvania causing Governor Curtain to appeal to Washington for help. Panic ensues in these cities until the Confederates turn south. That night the battalion camp on the road to Fairmont.
- April 29th- May 21st--The 35th Battalion move against the town of Fairmont with the help of the 11th Battalion Virginia Cavalry. Scouts inform Lt. Col. White that 900 militia and home guard defended the town. Company E. commanded by Captain Grabill captures pickets along the roads to the town and the rest of the 35th and 11th battalions move against the right of the enemy driving them from their positions. Lt. Col. White's men pursue the enemy and take refuge in a rail road bridge. Lt. Conrad and four men of Company A. capture and a piece of artillery, spike it and throw it into the Monongahela River. They destroy railroad bridges, tear up track and damage rolling stock.
Gen. Jones leads his men south toward Clarksburg and then southeast toward Bridgeport, which was located on the main line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The 35th Battalion protect the men destroying the railroad bridge over Simpson's Creek, with that done they tore up track west of town. The 35th Battalion is attached to Col. Lomax's 11th Regiment to move west to destroy track at Cairo. Once at Cairo, one company is ordered to destroy a railroad tunnel which is done by piling wood soaked in kerosene and set fire heating up the rock and burning the tunnel props causing the tunnel to collapse.
The Confederates come under fire from bushwhackers as they move through the oil fields in the mountains but their fire was ineffective. They tore up track, burned railroad buildings whenever and wherever they were found on the approach to Elizabeth City and Oiltown. They set fire to oil barges at Burning Springs and let them drift down the Little Kanawha River.
The force camps at Lewisburg where Gen. Jones gives the men permission to visit the Greenbrier White Sulpher Springs.
- May 21st--The battalion goes into camp at Mount Crawford. This operation consisted of 700 miles in 31 days.
- Orders for the brigade to join Gen. Stuart's cavalry division camped at Culpepper Court House are received by Gen. Jones.
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JUNE
- June 1st--Gen. Jones moves his brigade out through Harrisonburg toward the Blue Ridge Mountains. Capt. Myers of Company A, was left sick in the Valley and would be absent from this operation. They reach the South Fork of the Shenandoah River this day.
- June 2nd--The battalion crosses the mountains at Swift Run Gap and march through Stanardsville, camping that night at Wolfton.
- June 3rd--The march continues through Madison Court House and camp near the Robinson River.
- June 4th--The brigades reaches Culpepper Court House and are unhappy to find that they are to participate in a grand review on the 5th after having completed a 700-mile march and the need of horses and men to have time to recover from the recent operation. All arguments of non-participation in the event were denied and the grand review went on.
- June 6th--The brigade moves out to and camp at the vicinity of St. James Church two miles south of Beverly Ford.
- June 8th--Gen. Stuart orders another grand review, which causes near mutiny until it was learned that Gen. Lee would review the troops. Though this simmered the grumbling it was still considered foolish by Gen. Jones and Lt. Col. White and considered by them as a way for the enemy count their numbers. After the review, orders were given to move out the following morning. Lt. Col. White's premonition was correct, fore the Federal Cavalry had noticed the review and Gen. Pleasanton began placing his men behind the fords of the Rappahannock River.
- June 9th--After dawn Gen. John Buford's division drives back the pickets of the 6th Virginia Cavalry of Gen. Jones's brigade and moved towards his camp at St. James Church. The attack was so quick and sudden that the Confederate horse artillery were close to being overrun by the Federals. The guns were barely saved.
Gen. Jones sends in the remainder of the 6th and 7th Cavalry but the action was not soon enough and then commits his whole brigade. First the 11th and then the 12th Cavalry supported by the 35th Battalion. The 35th charges on the left as the 12th is forced back, but checks the Federal Cavalry for a short time which allows the horse artillery to go into battery. This charge cost the 35th forty-six men being captured. The 35th is eventually driven back.
Maj. McClellan an aide to Gen. Stuart sends urgent messages to the general that the enemy is attacking from the rear and within sight of his headquarters but was not believed until he heard the sounds of the guns. The 35th are ordered to move against this threat. The 12th was to lead while supported from with the 35th. Maj. McClellan was trying to hold the position with a piece of artillery with limited ammunition. As he saw Col. Harmon and Lt. Col. White approaching he races out to meet them an orders them forward in column of fours at a gallop in order to beat the 1st New Jersey Cavalry to the hill. Col. Harmon beats the 1st New Jersey to the hill but was in no position to effectively charge the Federals, but did so anyway. Lt. Col. White halts his battalion in order to close up and deploy his line. He then charges but is thrown into confusion as the 12th Cavalry breaks into his line. He quickly reforms the battalion into two squads this time, one commanded under Maj. Ferneyhough to charge the Federals in front of the building and the other commanded by himself to charge the rear and left of the house. The 1st New Jersey is driven back to near the railroad where the 35th are forced back due to another regiment of Federals that were starting to endanger their rear.
Enemy batteries with thirty-six men of the 6th New York had set up about 300 yards west of the top of Fleetwood Hill and were shelling the 35th as they cleared the hill of the enemy. Lt. Col. White focuses his attention on this battery with the support of a company of the 6th Calvary they charge the guns. The battery held until most of their men and horses were killed. Six men from that battery were unscathed, while the other 30 were either dead, wounded or missing. The battery could not be held in possession as the 35th are soon surrounded and have to cut their way out. Lt. Col. White leads his scattered battalion back as other units from Gen. Jones and Gen. Wade Hampton arrive to help secure the hill. The 35th had captured four stands of colors, though losing one in the attack of the battery, 100 prisoners, an amount of guns, horses and equipment that were handed over to other quartermasters due to needing all available men to repel the enemy.
The cost of this engagement was great on the 35th. Of just the defense of Fleetwood Hill the totals for the battalion were 8 killed, 39 wounded, and 20 captured. The totals for the day including the morning's engagement were close to 100 men. Of the missing and wounded, were three company commanders Capt. George Chiswell, Co. B, whose wounds would keep him out for the remainder of the war; Capt. John H. Grabill, Co. E, who was captured at Beverly that morning an would be kept a prisoner until February 1865; Lt. James Anderson, Co. D, also captured at Beverly Ford. Many horses were also lost but most of the troopers could remount on the captured horse though these were of lesser quality than those the troopers had brought from home.
After the battle of Brandy Station the 35th is detached from Gen. Jones and were ordered to report to Gen. Ewell and the 2nd Corps. Lt. Col. White requests a delay in reporting to Gen. Ewell in order to attack Federals around Point of Rocks, Maryland. This request is granted.
- June 17-18th--The 35th leaves camp near Snicker's Gap and crosses at Grubb's Ford located about 3 miles above Point of Rocks with about 165 men, where he divides his command into two groups, Lt. J. R. Crown with 62 men of Co. B to the Frederick Road and Lt. Col. White with the other 5 companies.
Company B ride about two miles and capture a straggler who tells them he is part of two companies of Maryland cavalry on their way to Point of Rocks. Lt. Crown doubting the soldier story, sends Lt. N. W. Dorsey and six men to secure another prisoner. They find two men away from the main force capturing one and shooting the other. The sound of the shooting alerts the Union cavalry which cross the Catoctin Creek and form a line of battle. The second prisoner's story is the same as the first. Lt. Crown charges the companies of Col. Cole's Union Calvary around the intersection of Catoctin Creek and the Potomac River, despite being out numbered 2 to 1. Company B charges across the creek in the midst of heavy but inaccurate carbine fire, closing in with pistol and sabre. They soon break the Federal formation and a running battle ensues for four miles at which time Lt. Crown breaks off the action to secure prisoners and to aid Lt. Col. White if needed. Thirty-seven horses and men are captured by Company B. Lt. Col. White's squad advances down the tow path and surprises Capt. Samuel Means' Loudoun Rangers and drives them off, capturing and set fire to a train of 18 cars and much of the camps equipment. Lt. Col. White captures twenty horses and men. The 35th cut telegraph wires, tore up track, burned the train and then recrossed the river taking what equipment they could carry. They were back in their Snickersville camp by 9 A. M. on June 18th.
- June 23rd--The 35th moves northward along the west side of the Blue Ridge Mountains and cross the Potomac River at Shepardstown. Following a route through Sharpsburg and Hagerstown, Maryland.
- June 24thThey cross into Pennsylvania and arrive in Chambersburg where they report to Gen. Ewell where they are ordered to join Gen. Early on the Gettysburg Road.
As the Confederate forces invade Pennsylvania, panic ensued in Harrisburg and through the border counties knowing that their home guards and militia would be no match for the Confederate veterans. Gov. Curtin places Gen. D. N. Couch in command of the state's militia and home guards. These green defenders are rushed toward Gettysburg by train but is derailed after hitting a cow. Repairs are made and continue on.
- June 25th--The 35th catch up with the general at Greenwood, Pa. The 35th is now the only cavalry unit from the Army of Northern Virginia to be in Gen. Lee's advancing columns until July 2nd.
- June26th--Lt. Col. White with his manpower reduced to a little over 200 troopers leads the advance of Gen. Gordon's forces along the York road through Cashtown and Gettysburg to capture the bridge over the Susquehanna River at Wrightsville.
The state defenders ordered by the governor arrive before noon at Gettysburg. Capt. Robert Bell and the Adams County Cavalry (21st Pennsylvania Cavalry) composed of 10 regiments lead the advance on the Cashtown road. Col. W. W. Jennings commander of the 26th Pennsylvania Emergency Regiment, with a manpower of 743 officers and men, places one company of 40 men as pickets 3 miles on the west side of Marsh Creek as the main body of the force makes camp in the meadows along the creek.
Col. Jennings sights the Confederate Cavalry (the 35th Battalion) approaching from the Cashtown pass around 2 P.M.. Lt. Strickler commanding Co. E led the way down the grade to Marsh Creek.
Col. Jennings quickly withdrawls his green infantry as Capt. Bell withdrawls his Adams County Cavalry. Lt. Strickler takes this oppurtunity and charges the withdrawling Federals, overrunning the slow moving infantry and driving Capt. Bell's cavalry into Gettysburg. The 35th charge into Gettysburg with pistols firing and rebel yells which cause many of the soldiers to thrown down their weapons and beg for mercy.
While some of the 35th stop to search stables for horses and stores for goods, others pursue the fleeing cavalry. The first Union fatality occurrs in Gettysburg on the Baltimore Pike. Prvt. George W. Sandoe of Capt. Bell's cavalry Company B is on picket duty when the 35th approaches. He attempts to jump a fence causing his horse to fall, he then draws his pistol and is shot.
While this is going on, the citizens of the town offer liquor to the rebels in order to gain their favor. This tends to do nothing more than get them drunk and create a riot among the men.
Gen. Early rides into town and the 35th move out the York road and camp two miles from town.
Gen. Early orders Lt. Col. White to make a raid on Hanover Junction the next day to destroy telegraph line and burn railroad bridges on the North Central Railroad cutting off communications between Harrisburg and Washington.
- June 27th--Lt. Col. White leads his men toward Gulden's Station following the York road where they turned off and followed the railroad passing through New Oxford and stopping at McSherryville (now called Mcsherrystown) around 10 A.M. to ascertain whether there were enemy troops in Hanover. Around 11 A.M. they enter Hanover from each end of the town in order to eliminate the possibility of a surprise attack.
Lt. Col. White then road to the central hotel and addresses a large crowd. Telling them that though they wore uniforms of gray, his men were gentlemen fighting for a cause they believed in and that no one would be harmed. The other men stop and make purchases at local stores. An officer with a lame horse stops at a blacksmith shop to have his horse shoed. The smithy would not put shoes on the horse because the rebels were in town, he was quickly pursuaded with a cocked pistol. The horse was shoed and the smithy was paid in Confederate currency.
The main body of the 35th start toward Jefferson after 12 P.M. with one squad continuing to follow the railroad burning bridges and tearing down telegraph wires as they go. Around 2 P.M. both groups meet at Hanover Junction where they began their work of destroying telegraph wires and burning the railroad bridges above and below Hanover Junction as well as the bridge across the Codorus Creek. A guard of emergency militia had been put in place to protect the railroad center but were quickly driven off.
The 35th returned to Jefferson, now their needs were food and horses. Area residents were kind enough to supply the food. The horses were anther problem as the farmers had driven most of them off into hiding. Those that did keep them for the harvest were confiscated by the 35th, but they soon learned that these horses did not make good cavalry horses.
While some of the 35th search for food others move to the rail road station north of town and burn a carload of tan bark saturating it with two barrels of whiskey.
That night they set up camp on the Wiest farm near Nashville. There they receive a message from Gen. Early to report to Gen. Gordon encamped on the York road near Gettysburg.
- June 28th--The 35th report to Gen. Gordon in the morning and taking the lead of Gen. Gordon's brigade move toward the Susquehanna River, destroying rail road bridges as it moved along.
As the battalion reaches Wrightsville, they find the bridge at the river in flames. The 35th is ordered to York where they go into camp two miles east of the town, where they rested until the morning of July 1st.
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JULY
- July 1st--Gen. Gordon's Brigade hurries toward the sound of Gen. A. P. Hill's Guns at Gettysburg with the 35th leading the way. The 35th battalion guard Gen. Gordon's flank as they go into action against the Army of the Potomac. The 35th take up position on the left of Gen. Early's division and drive back skirmishers along Rock Creek where they come under fire from Union artillery.
- July 2nd--The 35th is broken into scouting parties to search out the right flank of the Federals, but most of the day is spent watching the battle unfold.
- July 3rd--The 35th receives orders to march out the York road to support Gen. Smith in the early part of the afternoon. They encounter Union cavalry picketts and proceed to drive them in and Gen. J. E. B. Stuart arrives and helps to take the pressure off of the 35th's front. The battalion continues to operate on the infantry's flank and does not become involved in the overall battle of Gettysburg.
- July 4th--The 35th spends it's day rounding up stragglers and helping to bury the dead.
- July 5th--The retreat of Lee's army begins. Gen. Gordon's Brigade acts as the rear guard for the army with the 35th protecting Gen. Gordon's retreating men out of Gettysburg.
Once out of Gettysburg, Maj. Ferneyhough take three companies and moves out in advance of Gen. A. P. Hill's 3rd Corps and engaged Federal cavalry near Waynesboro, Pa. and drive them off.
At Fairfield, Pa., Lt. Col. White's remaining companies hold off the enemy as they press the rear of the Confederate column until Gen. Gordon send a regiment of infantry to assist them. They reunite with Gen. Ewell at Hagerstown, Md.
Note: In the three weeks of this operation, the only casualties incurred by the 35th were eight men captured as prisoners of war. Straggling and carelessness were responsible for several of these.
The 35th also had the prestigious honor of being the first to enter Gettysburg on June 26th and among the last to leave Gettysburg on July 5th.
- July 14th--The 35th crosses the Potomac and reverts to the command of Gen. Stuart and the regular cavalry. Lt. Col. White asks permission, and is granted by Gen. Stuart, to return to Loudoun County and operate in an independent status. The 35th head toward Snickers Gap to begin their operations.
- July 16th--The 35th reach Castleman's Ferry on the Shenandoah River where they found the River flooded from the heavy rains.
- July 17th--Impatient that the waters did not receed to allow passage across they move down to the river's edge and swim their horses across while some crossed on skiffs, leading their horses. When they reach the opposite shore they find that the Federals have beaten them to Snicker's Gap moving strong Union infantry columns south along the eastern base of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The 35th move upstream to Ashby's Gap in attempts to find elements of the enemy of lesser strength.
- July 18th--The 35th camp around Paris to await the approach of the enemy.
- July 20th--The battalion fire into the advancing Federal column, but succeed in killing one man before being forced to retreat back through the gap. The 35th waits at Ashby's Gap for a few days to await any unguarded wagon trains. When none appear the 35th moves back to Snicker's gap.
- Late July-AugustThe 35th move toward northwest Loudoun County where they receive information of a Federal Cavalry regiment leaving Harpers Ferry and scouting toward Waterford.
Arriving at Waterford, the battalion receives information that a squadron of the 6th Michigan Cavalry has camped southwest of town. Lt. Col. White decides to attack them under the cover of darkness.
The 6th Michigan failed to put out picketts while they encamped in the field. The battalion dismount and approach the Federals on foot with Lt. Col. White leading the way with his cocked pistol in hand ready to give the signal to attack when he fell over a hay shock and fired his pistol prematurely. The prewarned Federals fire into the darkness as they make their way to their horses. The Federals scatter in all direction leaving the dismounted 35th without a way to pursue. The losses to the 35th were two wounded and two dead. The two dead were identified as Capt. Richard B. Grubb and his cousin Prvt. John C. Grubb.
Lt. Col. White gathers up his men and goes into camp along the Blue Ridge Mountains.
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AUGUST
- August 27th--With information of the 11th New York Calvary picketted near Edward's Ferry, the 35th, with 100 men, crosses the river at White's Ford and attacks their camp. The Federal camp had been fortified with entrenchments that did not hinder the 35th as they charge the camp. Their horses jumped the berms with only few not making it to the other side. The Federals caught by surprise, retreated down river leaving two killed, two wounded, sixteen prisoners, and thirty-five horses captured.
- August 29th--Lt. Col. White receives orders to take prisoner, two prominent members of the Society of Friends living in Waterford. These were to be taken in exchange for two Confederate sympathizers being held by the Federals. William Williams, a merchant and Quaker, and Asa Bond, an operator of the local tanyard had been selected. These two have remained neutral during the war, but since the Society of Friends were opposed to slavery and secession they were considered hostile to the Confederacy.
A squad is sent from the 35th to capture these to two. Upon reaching the home of Asa Bond they found that he was not at home and the situation explained to his daughter who went into an uproar firing a pistol into the air and ringing a large dinner bell in warning. The squad beat a hasty retreat during which they found and arrested Robert I. Hollingworth, a Quaker school teacher, as a substitute before arresting William Williams from his home. All were released in three months.
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SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER
- September 1st--The 35th attack the 6th Ohio Cavalry near Barbee's Crossroads in Fauquier County, killing six men, wounding ten, capturing twenty-four prisoners and thirty horse with equipment. The 35th is left with one man missing. Lt. Col. White's horse was the only other casualty being shot out from under him.
- Early September--Lt. Col. White learns of a shipment of horses being carried in on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad on the 16th of September. He made plans to captured the train at Point of Rocks. He orders Lt. J. R. Crown, commander of Company B to Gray's Farm, two miles north of Leesburg, Va. to wait for his call. Captain Myers receives orders to take Company A and protect Company B from surprise.
- September 13th - 14th--Col. Henry Cole's Maryland Cavalry and Capt. Means' Loudoun Rangers camp at Waterford and were either missed by Capt. Myers or he felt they were to strong of a force to attack. This allowed Col. Cole to surprise Company B at dawn of the 14th.
Col. Cole's force strike in a two prong attack, surprising Company B who fled into the mountains with one man wounded. Col. Cole captures a wagon load of flour intended for Lt. Col. White's camp near Snickersville.
Lt. Col. White divides his force and leads a fifty-man force against a Union cavalry camp at Lewisville in Fairfax County; killing four, capturing twenty prisoners and sixty-four horses. Lt. Dowdell leads Company C on a raid toward Harpers Ferry and drives Capt. Means' company back until reenforcements are sent from the garrison causing Company C to fall back. Major Ferneyhough with the rest of the battalion leads his men to The Trappe, and old camp of the 35th, and finds Col. Cole raiding that same area. Both sides fell back, Major Ferneyhough to the east and Col. Cole toward Harpers Ferry. At Woodgrove Col. Cole finds several men of the 35th, having there horses shod, and captures them along two blacksmiths.
- Late October--Gen. Stuart orders the battalion back into regular service.
- October 25th--The 35th march to the camp of the brigade near Flint Hill in Rappahannock County. Upon reaching the camp, the 35th found that changes had been made in their absence with the transfer of Gen. Jones to the District of Southwest Virginia and Col. Thomas Rosser being promoted to Brigadier General and placed in command of the brigade. Gen. Rosser seamed to make a good impression on the 35th.
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NOVEMBER
- Early November--The 35th remains in camp with some scouting duties and a few inspections as the new general becomes acquainted with his command.
Another change in the cavalry is made at this time with the promotion of Gen. Wade Hampton to division command. Gen. Rosser brigade is attached to this division.
- The 35th follows the brigade into camp at Hamilton's Crossing below Fredericksburg, Va..
- November 26th--Gen. George Meade starts parts of the Army of the Potomac toward the Rapidan. Infantry fought along Mine Run as the cavalry fought on it's flanks.
- November 27th--Gen. Rosser moves his brigade from Hamilton's Crossing to Todd's Tavern, where he could guard roads leading to the Virginia Central Railroad and protect Gen. Lee's flank.
Capt. Myers and Sgt. George Everhart conduct a night reconnaissance and bring information back of a large cavalry camp located less than a mile from their own position.
- November 28th--At dawn the Federal Cavalry move out and the men of the 35th spot their wagon train moving on the Plank Road. Gen. Rosser's brigade quickly strikes the train capturing several ambulances and a large number of wagon with their teams. A large number of wagon were set on fire. It was learned quickly that they were loaded with ammunition that the brigade quickly moved out.
- November 29th--Around noon, Rosser's brigade reach Parker's Store and find a regiment of Gen. D. M. Gregg's Union Cavalry already there. The 7th Virginia Cavalry charge and capture the Federal picketts. A Federal dismounted force takes position on Gen. Rosser's left at a railroad bank with their flanks protected.
Gen. Rosser orders Lt. Col. White to charge this force and the 35th battalion went into action with the horse's hooves pounding and such a terrifying yell from the troopers that the Federal force was soon routed. The charge carried them far into enemy lines and were forced to stop and fall back to the Plank Road when the swamp became too soft for their horses. They drop back to the Plank Road and help the rest of the brigade to drive off the rest of the Federals.
Because of this charge, Gen. Rosser gives the 35th Battalion the name of the "Comanches", for their wild riding and ear-piercing yells. They would carry this name throughout the war.
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DECEMBER
- December 1st - 2nd--Gen. Meade withdrawls his forces. Company A is detached and left to pickett along the Rapidan River, while the rest of the battalion return to their camp at Hamilton's Crossing.
- December 14th--The battalion was not prepared to go into winter quarters, their tents had been left at Mt. Crawford on June 1st when they marched out toward Brandy Station with Gen. Jones and other equipment had been left at Flint Hill when they rejoined the brigade in October. An attempt was made to secure equipment from the government but was met with only successfully meeting a small part of their need.
About 60 men from Loudoun County, mostly of Companies A and C desert and leave for their homes to get warm clothing since they could not understand why they, men who did their duty faithfully, could not be supplied with equipment needed.
- December 16th--Orders are received for the brigade to move out for the Shenandoah Valley and attack a Federal force at Sangster's Station on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad.
The 35th were not engaged a Sangster's Station as the 7th Cavalry, supported by the 11th Cavalry drove off and captured the enemy before the 35th arrived.
The brigade moves on to Centreville, where the 35th, acting as rear guard, hold off a Federal Cavalry attack as it enters the Bull Run. The confusion of the attack knock some troopers from their horses, but with no casualties. The brigade continues through the Little River Turnpike and a halt is called at Upperville to feed and rest the horses and men.
While the battalion was at Upperville, the men who had deserted appear but stay only a short while for fear of the punishment they would receive from the army.
- December 20th--With the Shenandoah River flooding, Gen. Rosser lead the brigade up the right bank until a crossing could be made at Conrad's Store. The 35th go into camp at Timberville in the Shenandoah Valley. Christmas week was considered a holiday and the men were able to rest, the horses were shod and regained some of their strength on the plentiful forage of the valley.
The deserters from Companies A and C had travelled to Loudoun and Fairfax Counties fearing they would be shot and refused to return until Capt. Myers is sent to bring them in. Soon most of them were back in ranks at the end of the year.
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