Fort Sedgwick, Colorado

Rarely do I get the chance to feature something on the blog from here in Colorado, but the mention of this fort in the last post stirred my curiosity, and I found a couple of ties to the regular cavalry

Originally established on May 17, 1864, this post was known initially as the Post at Julesburg Station, then Camp Rankin once it was more permanently established. It was renamed Fort Sedgwick on September 27, 1865 for Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick, pre-Civil War member of the 1st U.S. Cavalry, who was killed during the battle of the Wilderness in 1864. Colonel Christopher McNally was the senior officer to command the post during its existence.

Fort Sedgwick was located at a strategic area of several river crossings that included a branch of the overland trail and the emigrant trail westward to protect the routes from hostile Indians. The south branch of the Platte River was ¼ mile away from the fort.

Fort Sedgwick was abandoned on May 31, 1871, and transferred from the War Department to the Department of the Interior on July 22, 1884. The remains of the fort are currently located on private land in Sedgwick County, near Julesburg, Colorado.

Fiddler’s Green: Christopher H. McNally

Christopher Hely McNally was born in Middlesex, England in June, 1820. He immigrated to the United States as a young man, arriving in New York City on August 24, 1835. He served an enlistment from December 1, 1848 to 1853, but it is unclear in which regiment he served. I was unable to locate his enlistment papers for this first enlistment. According to Heitman, he also served that enlistment the Regiment of Mounted Rifles, but he is listed in the 1850 census as a soldier at Columbia Barracks, Clark County, Oregon Territory, which was not one of that regiment’s postings.

On October 31, 1853, McNally was enlisted into Company D, Regiment of Mounted Rifles at Bellsville, Texas by Lieutenant Robert Ransom. He was 32 years old, and claimed his previous occupation was a soldier. His enlistment documents describe him as 5’8” tall, with brown hair, gray eyes and a fair complexion. McNally earned promotions to corporal and sergeant in the company prior to his discharge on June 16, 1855 at Fort McIntosh, Texas to accept a commission as a second lieutenant in the Mounted Rifles. His commission was dated May 23rd, but notification of the promotion didn’t reach McNally and the regiment until the following month.

Lieutenant McNally continued to serve with the regiment, and was commended for his actions in an engagement with Mogollon Indians in New Mexico. The regiment remained on the frontier after Texas seceded on February 1, 1861, and he was promoted to first lieutenant on May 5th.
As Confederate troops advanced into New Mexico from El Paso, Lieutenant McNally fought in the regiment’s first engagement of the Civil War on July 25, 1861 in a skirmish at Mesilla, New Mexico. McNally was seriously wounded in the skirmish, and later received a brevet promotion to captain for gallant and meritorious service in the action.

He was among the companies of the 3rd U.S. Cavalry and 7th U.S. Infantry surrendered by Major Isaac Lynde at San Augustin Springs a few days later. He accompanied these companies of paroled prisoners of war on their long march to Fort Wayne, Michigan. After a brief stop at Fort Union, New Mexico territory, they marched to Fort Leavenworth, where they arrived in November. They reached Fort Wayne the following month, and remained there until they were exchanged in September 1862. Lt. McNally was promoted to captain, 3rd U.S. Cavalry on September 28, 1861 during the long march.

After his exchange, Captain McNally returned to duty with his regiment, after another long march from Michigan to Tennessee. He commanded an independent squadron of Cos. B and E, 3rd U.S. Cavalry in Gen. Grant’s Army of the Tennessee from January to April 1863. His command served with the cavalry assigned to the Sixteenth Army Corps, specifically in Brig.Gen. Alexander Asboth’s District of Columbus. With the great difficulty in procuring horses and mules for the armies in the western theater, he was subsequently assigned as an inspector of horses and mules in St. Louis, Missouri until March 1865.

Captain McNally received a unique opportunity on March 31, 1865, when he was appointed Colonel of the 3rd U.S. Volunteer Infantry. This was one of the “galvanized yankee” regiments composed of paroled Confederate prisoners sent west to protect overland routes from hostile Indians. The 3rd U.S. Volunteers were assigned to the Overland Route, with two companies each initially assigned to Fort Kearny, Nebraska Territory, Cottonwood Springs, Nebraska Territory and Fort Laramie, Wyoming Territory. Colonel McNally, regimental headquarters and the final two companies were assigned near Julesburg, Colorado Territory.

McNally received a brevet promotion to major in the regular army on March 13, 1865 for meritorious service during the war. He was honorably mustered out of volunteer service on November 29, 1865, and rejoined the 3rd U.S. Cavalry in New Mexico in August, 1866. He was retired from active service on December 24, 1866, for incapacity resulting from wounds received in the line of duty, in conformity with an Act of Congress, of August 1861.

McNally returned to the northeast after he retired, living in New York and New Jersey. He married Martha M.E. Dawson in Manhattan, New York on August 28, 1879.

Christopher McNally died February 14, 1889, at the age of 68 years, 8 months. He is buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Newark, New Jersey. His headstone lists his military service only as Colonel, 3rd U.S. Volunteer Infantry. His widow listed both the 3rd U.S. Cavalry and the 3rd U.S. Volunteer Infantry when she applied for his pension in New Jersey on April 5, 1889.

Here’s to Christopher McNally, most likely the most travelled regular cavalry officer during the Civil War. In less than four years, he marched from El Paso to Kansas to Michigan to Tennessee to Colorado, with fighting in between.

Fiddler’s Green: Henry Sachs

Henry Sachs was born in Bavaria about 1836. He immigrated to the United States at age 16, aboard the ship Emperor from LeHavre, France. He arrived in New York City on September 27, 1852. Five years late, Sachs lived in Boston and worked as a laborer. He was enlisted into Company K, 2d Dragoons there by Lt. McArthur on October 1, 1857. His enlistment documents describe him as 5’9” tall, with hazel eyes, dark hair, and a fair complexion.

Sachs served in the regiment on the frontier and in Utah until the outbreak of the war, earning promotions to corporal and sergeant in Co. K. His was the only company of the regiment to reach Washington, D.C. in time for the battle of Bull Run in July 1862, where he distinguished himself. According to Colonel Porter’s report on the battle, “While the cavalry were engaged in feeling the left flank of the enemy’s position, some important captures were made --- one by Sergeant sachs, Second Dragoons, of a General George H. Steuart, of Baltimore.” This exploit earned him a promotion to first sergeant of the company, and later a second promotion.

On October 24, 1861, First Sergeant Sachs was discharged in Washington, D.C. to receive a commission as a second lieutenant assigned to Company C, 3rd U.S. Cavalry. The regiment was then fighting in New Mexico Territory. He started west not long after, but took a long time to reach his new regiment.

By the following June, Lt. Sachs had only reached Fort Leavenworth, Kansas Territory, where the post commander assigned him as the post adjutant. Sachs was promoted to first lieutenant, 3rd Cavalry and assigned to Company L on July 17, 1862, but remained at Fort Leavenworth for the next nine months working as the post adjutant and acting assistant quartermaster. While at the post, he participated in skirmishes at Rocky Bluff and Hickory Grove, Missouri in August 1862. He was wounded in a separate skirmish with Quantrill’s raiders in Missouri the following month.

After he joined his regiment, Lt. Sachs commanded a detachment in Tennessee in June 1863 for several months. On October 15, he was assigned as the Regimental Quartermaster and served in that position until June 1, 1864. After his relief from this position, he commanded an independent company of cavalry near Van Buren, Arkansas for several months. Something that he did during this time brought him to the attention of his superiors, for on November 7, 1864, Lt. Sachs was assigned to headquarters, Department of Arkansas, on the staff of Maj.Gen. Frederick Steele. He served the next two months as an acting assistant quartermaster for the department.

First Lieutenant Sachs resigned his commission on January 25, 1865 for unknown reasons, and I was unable to find any further record of him following the war.

Will the Real George H. Steuart Please Stand Up?

While compiling the list of Civil War officers of the 3rd U.S. Cavalry (see previous post), one of the names on the list caught my eye, Henry Sachs. I knew I had seen the name somewhere, and knew it was from the 2nd U.S. Cavalry during the war, but couldn't remember exactly where. At first I thought he was the sergeant featured in the Don Stivers print "Medal of Honor," where the first sergeant of Company K, 2nd U.S. cavalry saved his company commander, the badly wounded Theophilus Rodenbough at the battle of Winchester on September 19, 1864. As it turns out, I had the right company, but the wrong guy.

Company K of the 2nd U.S. Dragoons (later 2nd U.S. Cavalry)was the only company present at First Bull Run, part of the battalion of regular cavalry under the command of Innis Palmer. One of the sergeants of Co. K, Henry Sachs, is credited with the capture of "General George H. Steuart, of Baltimore" in Colonel Porter's official report of the battle. In regimental histories of the battle, it is noted that General Steuart had formerly served as a lieutenant in the regiment, and in one account I saw that Sachs captured his former commander.

This is not the case. After a good bit of digging for research and a check with Harry Smeltzer, whose blog Bull Runnings is the premier online resource for the battle, I have determined that while Col. Porter's report is correct, the account in Joseph I. Lambert's One Hundred Years With the Second Cavalry is not. Rodenbough's From Everglade to Canyon simply quotes Porter's report.

There were two George H. Steuarts at First Bull Run, father and son, both from Baltimore. George the Elder, born November 1, 1790 and captured on the battlefield, was a veteran of the War of 1812 and promoted to brigadier general of the Maryland militia in 1833. 71 at the time of the battle, he was not actually a serving officer in the Confederate Army, and was subsequently released. It is not known what he was doing on the battlefield, but there were numerous spectators from both sides at the battle. It has been postulated that he was looking for his son, but I have not been able to corroborate this.

George H. Steuart, Jr. graduated West Point 37th in the class of 1848, serving as a lieutenant in the 2nd Dragoons after he graduated. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant, 1st U.S. Cavalry on March 3, 1855. He resigned his commission on April 22, 1861. He initially received an appointment as a captain of cavalry in the Confederate regular army, but subsequently received an appointment as the lieutenant colonel of the 1st Maryland (CSA) Infantry. This was the position he held during the battle. He was promoted to Brigadier General in March 1862 and served through the war, though he too was captured --- with his division commander at the battle of Spotsylvania Court House. Later exchanged, he was present with General Lee at Appomattox, and returned to Baltimore after the war.

So it was the father, not the cavalryman, who was captured at First Bull Run. He and Sachs never served together, as Sachs didn't enlist in the regiment until 1857, two years after Steuart moved on to the 1st U.S. Cavalry.

As for Henry Sachs, more about him tomorrow.

Officers of the 3rd U.S. Cavalry in the Civil War

With the help of the Army Registers for each of the war years and the monthly regimental returns, I’ve been able to piece together all of the officers who served in the 3rd U.S. Cavalry (formerly Regiment of Mounted Riflemen) during the Civil War. I’ll feature a few of the more interesting members in the Fiddler’s Green series. Since I included the entire war, those members of the regiment who resigned their commissions are listed. Each member is listed at the highest rank they achieved in the regiment during the war. Departures from the regiment are listed when possible.

Colonels

William W. Loring- resigned May 13, 1861
John S. Simonson- retired for incapacity, September 28, 1861
Marshall S. Howe

Lieutenant Colonels

George B. Crittenden- resigned June 10, 1861
Charles F. Ruff
George Stoneman

Majors

Benjamin S. Roberts
Thomas Duncan
Edward W.B. Newby
Kenner Garrard

Captains

Andrew J . Lindsay- resigned May 5, 1861
Thomas Claiborne Jr.- resigned May 14, 1861
John G. Walker- resigned July 31, 1861
Llewellyn Jones- transferred to Major, 1st Cavalry, retired November 1, 1861
Washington L. Elliott- transferred to Major, 1st Cavalry
Robert M. Morris
John P. Hatch
Gordon Granger
Alfred Gibbs
William B. Lane
George W. Howland
Alexander McRae- killed at Valverde, NM February 21, 1862
Joseph G. Tilford
Christopher H. McNally
Edward Treacy- died at Cincinnati, OH February 15, 1864
John V.D. DuBois
William W. Averell
Edward P. Cressey
Leroy S. Elbert
Andrew J. Alexander
Elisha W. Tarlton
William Hawley

First Lieutenants

Laurence S. Baker- resigned May 10, 1861
Hyatt C. Ransom- appointed AQM, vacated regt commission June 10, 1861
Roger Jones- appointed AQM, vacated regt commission July 31, 1861
Sidney Banks
James R. Kemble
Charles E. Hay
Frank Stanwood
William A. DuBois
Frederick Van Vliet
Henry Sachs
Philip K. Thomas
William G. Hoffman
Francis H. Wilson
William M. Watts
John E. Phelps
Frederick J. James- died near Cold Spring, NY August 4, 1864
Charles Meinhold
Richard Wall
Gerald Russell

Second Lieutenants

William H. Jackson- resigned May 16, 1861
Henry C. McNeill- resigned May 12, 1861
Joseph Wheeler Jr.- resigned April 22, 1861
John Falvey
Deane Monahan
William Ewing
George O. McMullin
Samuel Hildeburn
Alexander Sutorius
William J. Cain
George Harrington- killed in attack at Memphis, TN August 21, 1864
George J. Campbell
Henry Carroll
Charles Newbold- transferred to 5th U.S. Infantry August 20, 1862
Armon Trimble- commission revoked September 18, 1863
Carter B. Harrison- declined appointment
Theodore Texter- commission revoked September 18, 1863

Brevet Second Lieutenants

Mathis W. Henry- resigned August 19, 1861
George O. Watts- resigned August 10, 1861
John M. Kerr- dismissed

Military Justice, Part 2

General Orders No. 19.
War Department
Adjutant General’s Office
Washington, January 12, 1864.


I. Before a General Court Martial, which convened at the Headquarters, Cavalry Reserve Brigade, near Culpeper Court-house, Virginia, November 25, 1863, pursuant to Special Orders, No. 66, dated October 31, 1863, and Special Orders, No. 70, dated November 5, 1863, Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division, and of which Major H.C. Whelan, 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry, is President, was arraigned and tried ---

2. Private Walter Sheets, Company “B,” 2nd U.S. Cavalry

Charge – “Desertion.”

Specification – “In this; that the said Private Walter Sheets, of Company ‘B,’ 6th U.S. Cavalry, did, on or about the 10th day of July, 1863, at or near Funkstown, Maryland, willfully desert the service of the United States, with his horse, arms, and accoutrements. All this at or near Funkstown, Maryland, and remained absent until apprehended at Lewistown, Maryland, October 27, 1863, by Captain Smith. For his apprehension was paid thirty dollars ($30).”

To which charge and specification the prisoner, Private Walter Sheets, Company “B,” 2nd U.S. Cavalry, pleaded “Not Guilty.”

Finding.

The Court, after mature consideration on the evidence adduced, finds the prisoner, Private Walter Sheets, Company “B,” 2nd U.S. Cavalry, as follows:

Of the Specification, “Guilty, except the words ‘at Lewistown, Maryland, October 27, 1863, by Captain Smith. For his apprehension was paid ($30) thirty dollars.’”
Of the Charge, “Guilty.”

Sentence.

And the Court does therefore sentence him, Private Walter Sheets, Company “B,” 2nd U.S. Cavalry, “To forfeit all pay and allowances that are now or may come due him; to be indelibly branded on the left hip with the letter D, one and a half inches long, in presence of his Regiment; and to be confined at hard labor, with a ball and chain attached to one of his legs, for the period of (10) ten years. The place of confinement to be designated by the Secretary of War.”


The disparity between the two sentences is interesting. Two years of desertion is worth five years of hard labor, but three months of desertion with all equipment is worth branding and ten years of hard labor.

So who was this fellow?

Walter Sheets was born in Salem County, New Jersey in 1843. He worked as a blacksmith before the war. He initially enlisted into Company F, 5th New Jersey Infantry on August 22, 1861 at the age of 18. This regiment was commanded during the Peninsula campaign by Samuel H. “Paddy” Starr, on detached service as a colonel of volunteers while a captain in the 2nd U.S. Cavalry. On October 26, 1862, Private Sheets was discharged to join the Regular Army.

On October 27th, Walter Sheets enlisted into Company B, 2nd U.S. Cavalry at Alexandria, Virginia. His enlistment documents confirm his age and birthplace, as well as describing him as 5’ 5 3/4” tall, with gray eyes, brown hair, and a dark complexion. The officer who enlisted him? Captain Samuel Starr, who had resigned his volunteer commission and was serving on recruiting duty for his regular army regiment.

Military Justice, Part 1

I recently came across the court martial proceedings for two cavalrymen from the regulars in 1864, and thought I would share them. As I perused the General Orders for 1863 and 1864, it struck me that relatively few cavalrymen were court martialed, and even fewer regular cavalrymen. I’m curious if there was another way that these results were published, as I have primary source material indicating courts martial in the Reserve Brigade from members of the court during this time, but haven’t been able to find any records of the proceedings. The entries ran a bit long, so I’ll post the first one today and the second one, from the 2nd Cavalry, tomorrow. As is frequently the case, both of these randomly encountered soldiers have ties to other research threads.


General Orders No. 19.
War Department
Adjutant General’s Office
Washington, January 12, 1864.


I. Before a General Court Martial, which convened at the Headquarters, Cavalry Reserve Brigade, near Culpeper Court-house, Virginia, November 25, 1863, pursuant to Special Orders, No. 66, dated October 31, 1863, and Special Orders, No. 70, dated November 5, 1863, Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division, and of which Major H.C. Whelan, 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry, is President, was arraigned and tried ---

1. Private Matthew Hayden, Company “A,” 5th U.S. Cavalry

Charge – “Desertion.”

Specification – “In this; that the said Matthew Hayden, of Company ‘A,’ 5th U.S. Cavalry, being a soldier in the United States service, did desert said service on or about October 17, 1861, at or near Camp Cliffburn, D.C., and was arrested October 9, 1863, at Washington, D.C., by Captain Scheetz; $30 paid for his apprehension. The said Matthew Hayden also acknowledges that he is a deserter.”

To which charge and specification the prisoner, Private Matthew Hayden, Company “A,” 5th U.S. Cavalry, pleaded “Not Guilty.”

Finding.

The Court, after mature consideration on the evidence adduced, finds the prisoner, Private Matthew Hayden, Company “A,” 5th U.S. Cavalry, as follows:

Of the Specification, “Guilty of so much of the specification as follows, viz: ‘In this, that he, the said Matthew Hayden, of Company ‘A,’ 5th U.S. Cavalry, being a soldier in the United States service, did desert said service on or about October 17, 1861, at Camp Cliffburn, D.C., and was arrested.’”
Of the Charge, “Guilty.”

Sentence.

And the Court does therefore sentence him, Private Matthew Hayden, Company “A,” 5th U.S. Cavalry, “To forfeit all pay and allowances, that are now or may become due him; to be confined at hard labor for the period of (5) five years in a military prison, to be designated by the Secretary of War, wearing a ball weighing (12 lbs.) twelve pounds attached to one of his legs by a chain.”


So who was this fellow?

Matthew Hayden was born in Dublin, Ireland, about 1835. He worked as a laborer after immigrating to the United States, and was 26 years old when he was enlisted into Company A, 5th U.S. Cavalry by Lt. Ogle in New York City on August 21, 1860. His enlistment documents describe him as 5’8” tall, with blue eyes, brown hair and a sallow complexion. It is interesting how records differ. His enlistment documents show he deserted on September 16, 1861 and was apprehended on November 10, 1863, versus the information contained in the charges. The regimental returns for November reflect the October desertion date, though he deserted by not returning from furlough and it may have started on September 16th. November 10th was most likely the date he was returned to the regiment’s custody.

If Hayden’s enlistment data and company sound familiar, it is because he was enlisted into the same company as yesterday’s Henry Baker, by the same officer, at the same place, eight days later. It would be a clever tie-in, but I confess that I didn’t find his enlistment records until this morning.

Fiddler's Green: Henry Baker

There hasn't been a Fiddler's Green post in far too long. I thought a regimental color bearer from one of the most famous cavalry charges of the war would be an appropriate choice for the blog's record of forgotten cavalrymen.

Henry Baker was born in Kent, England in 1839. After immigrating to the United States, he worked as a clerk prior to serving in the army. He was enlisted into the 2nd (later 5th) U.S. Cavalry by Lt. Ogle in New York City on August 13, 1860. His enlistment documents describe him as 5’6 ½” tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a ruddy complexion.

He served as a private, corporal and sergeant in Company A. He served in Texas until the state seceded, when he accompanied the second detachment of the regiment to Carlisle Barracks, by way of Indianola and New York City. He reached Carlisle on April 27, 1861.


Sergeant Baker participated in General Patterson’s Shenandoah campaign of 1861, and was engaged in the action at Falling Waters and in skirmishes near Martinsburg and Bunker Hill. During the winter of 1861-1862 he served in the defenses of Washington. The following spring he accompanied his regiment to the Peninsula, where he served during the advance on Richmond, the battle of Hanover Court House and the reconnaissance toward Ashland.

By June 1862, Baker served as the regimental color sergeant. During the battle of Gaines Mill, he “carried the standard with conspicuous gallantry in the famous charge which the regiment made at that place,” according to the regiment’s post-war history, Across The Continent With The Fifth Cavalry. Surprisingly, he was not even wounded in the charge, according to the regiment’s monthly returns. He also fought at Savage Station, Malvern Hill and White Oak Swamp. Baker was promoted to regimental sergeant major on August 1, 1862, and accompanied his regiment as part of the army’s rear guard during the evacuation of the Peninsula.

During the Antietam campaign, he served in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam, and the skirmish near Shepherdstown. On September 22, 1862, he was notified of his appointment as a second lieutenant in the regiment, effective July 17th. After joining his company, he participated in engagements at Halltown, Union, Upperville, Markham Station, Barbee’s Crossroads and Amissville. Following the battle of Fredericksburg, he served on picket duty with his company in the winter camp near Falmouth.

Lieutenant Baker was promoted to first lieutenant on April 13, 1863, and participated in Stoneman’s raid the following month and the battle of Brandy Station in June. In September 1863, he became an aide de camp to General Pleasonton, and served with his headquarters until June 1864. He then served on special duty at First Cavalry Division headquarters for the remainder of the war, including the Central Virginia, Shenandoah and Appomattox campaigns. He was brevetted to captain and major for gallant and meritorious service during the war, to date from March 13, 1865.

First Lieutenant Baker served at the headquarters of the Department of West Virginia from May to August 1865. He then joined the detachment of the regiment serving on escort duty with general Grant in Washington, where he commanded a company.

On November 5, 1865, Baker was granted a twenty day leave of absence. He failed to return for duty at the expiration of his leave, and was dropped from the Army’s rolls on January 12, 1866. I have not been able to find any information on him following his dismissal.