Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 9.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[153]

Feeling assured that never will the hour come when dishonor will be breathed in connection with the First brigade, but that each day and every battle will but serve to win them new laurels and brighten their fame, I again return to them thanks for their gallantry and soldierly bearing.

For list of casualties, number of prisoners taken, artillery captured, etc., see accompanying report.

Respectfully submitted.

Captain: I respectfully report that the Ninth Pennsylvania cavalry marched from Marietta, Georgia, on the fourteenth day of November, 1864, with the First brigade, Third division of cavalry attached to the army of Major-General Sherman, and on the sixteenth participated in the action against Wheeler at Lovejoy's Station, on the Macon and Atlanta Railroad. Marching against Macon, it participated in the skirmishes before that place on the twentieth, and on the twenty-first, at Griffin, covering the rear on withdrawing toward Gordon. On the morning of the twenty-second, shortly after daylight, the picket of the regiment on the Griffin road was attacked by the enemy under Wheeler. Major Kimmel at once reenforced it by two companies under Major Charles W. Appel. The enemy, being in strong force, succeeded in flanking the picket, who did not fall back until nearly surrounded, and had eighteen captured, one killed, and two wounded; and upon the enemy appearing on the open ground, Major Kimmel charged them with four companies, driving them three fourths of a mile to and over a creek, where the main line was posted in order of battle. After receiving their fire and being charged by a largely superior force, he fell back toward our main line, and again drew up his men in order of battle. The artillery now opened upon the enemy, and a brigade of infantry coming up, under Brigadier-General Woods, of the Fifteenth corps, took up the fighting and drove the enemy from the ground. The loss of the regiment on this occasion was five killed, twenty-one wounded, (two of whom have since died,) and forty-three missing, supposed to be captured. In this action Major D. H. Kimmel particularly distinguished himself for his bravery, coolness under fire, and ability to command.

On the twentieth of November, by order of Brigadier-General Kilpatrick, through Colonel E. H. Murry, commanding First brigade, Captain E. A. Hancock was detached, with one hundred men of the Ninth Pennsylvania cavalry, at Clinton, with orders to take a road leading to Macon, to the right of the main column, and to engage any enemy he might meet. In obedience to this order, he marched on the road indicated, and engaged two regiment of the enemy, holding them in check for two days, when he again rejoined the regiment. His loss was two wounded. For his bravery and good management he deserves much praise.

From Griswold we marched through Gordon to Milledgeville, and thence toward Waynesboro. On the morning of the twenty-seventh the enemy again made demonstrations against our picket, and attacked the Eighth Indiana and Fifth regiments, and my picket on the left, heavily, but were repulsed, and we moved forward, and that night encamped south of Waynesboro on the railroad, which my regiment destroyed for half a mile, where the enemy again (November twenty-eighth) attacked the position of the brigade, in which all the regiments participated, but without loss to my regiment. During the march of the twenty-ninth the enemy made several attacks upon our rear-guard, and about two P. M., the division was drawn up on the Louisville and Millen road, to give battle to Wheeler. The Ninth Pennsylvania cavalry defended the centre of the position, having barricaded their front; the enemy soon charged that position and our whole line, but were most disastrously beaten, after three attempts, and we retired toward Louisville, the Eighth Indiana and Ninth Pennsylvania cavalry acting as rear-guard. But one man of my regiment was wounded in this action. In the battle of Sunday, the fourth day of December, my regiment was brought into action about ten o'clock A. M., forming on the left of the Third Kentucky, and with it driving the cavalry of Wheeler and Williams (more than three times their number) from their barricades and the houses of Waynesboro. Major Kimmel, commanding First battalion, and Captain John M. Porter, since promoted Major, commanding a portion of the Third battalion, assaulted the barricades on the main street, and Major Appel, with the Second battalion, drove in the right of the enemy, posted in the woods, from their position, exposing their flank to so hot a fire that the whole line gave way and victory was secured. My loss on that occasion was one killed, two mortally wounded, (since died,) and eleven wounded.

From Waynesboro we marched on Savannah, passing to the south as far as Midway, and from thence to this place, occasionally skirmishing with Colonel Hood's battalion of rebel cavalry, but without any loss. On the morning of the thirteenth, Captain E. A. Hancock, with detachments from the brigade, (one hundred and twenty men,) marched on an expedition to Altamaha Bridge, but found the enemy (two regiments of infantry and artillery) too strongly posted to attack them. He destroyed, however, several small bridges and a large trestle-work, and captured sixteen of the enemy, returning to camp at mid-day on the fifteenth.

Since the movement commenced, my command has destroyed forty-nine cotton-gins and presses, containing seven hundred and thirty-one bales of cotton, and a large amount of cotton unginned. My men, for the most part, have subsisted on the