November 3, 1862 (Tuesday): Affair Near Snickersville

Colonel Casper Crowningshield (quinnbradleesancestors.blogspot.com)

HDQRS. CAVALRY ESCORT, FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
Snickersville, Va., November 3, 1862.
    GENERAL: I have the honor to report the result of a reconnaissance made by me this day, by command of Brigadier-General Sykes, over the belt of wooded country bordering on the pike leading from this place to the Shenandoah. My orders were, first, to determine the number and the position of any hostile force on this side of the river, in this direction; second, to determine the exact position of the Shenandoah; and, third, if able to reach it, to ascertain, without crossing the river, the rebel force and position on the other side. I left General Sykes' headquarters, after receiving very full and careful instructions from him, with a command, consisting of 46 mounted men of the First Massachusetts Cavalry, 219 of the Seventh Infantry, and a part of the Sixth and Fourteenth Infantry (United States troops); number not yet reported to me.
    After sending a lieutenant and 12 men to feel of the wood to the right, I attempted to thread the wood on the left side of the pike road (which was at first open) with the cavalry as skirmishers, but was soon compelled to move by file, having infantry skirmishers in advance. After moving about a mile and debouching upon the road, I met a considerable force of cavalry, variously estimated at from 50 to 100 men, who commenced firing upon the infantry skirmishers in the wood, on the right of the road, who returned the fire. After a few shots, I moved my cavalry upon them at a trot, exchanging fire, until I saw a horseman enter the Shenandoah, when I sent a dozen men to the right, to act as dismounted skirmishers, and charged with the remainder until the rebel horseman entered the river, when I poured an incessant fire upon them. A severe fire of small arms opened upon us from every window of a house on the opposite bank and from the shore, which killed a captain and wounded 3 men of my cavalry force, and a severe fire of shell from one or two  heavy guns on the ridge compelled me to withdraw the cavalry under cover, and advance the infantry skirmishers to protect it, and make the enemy display his force. Some time elapsed after the shelling commenced before the skirmishers were able to come to my support. Those on the right of the road deployed from their cover and made an effective fire; but I regret to say that the Fourteenth Regulars, mishearing or misconstruing the order to move, made a splendidly gallant but disastrous charge in line of battle to the river bank, and only halted and laid down in part, after repeated orders, evidently unheard amid the noise. Several of these brave men fell, dead or mortally wounded; but their charge was apparently understood by the enemy to be an attempt to force the river, and instantly drew the fire of eight guns in position on the crests opposite to the ford, and caused the deployment of one or two regiments of infantry on the opposite bank. The infantry seemed to be drawn in part from behind a ridge on which their guns were placed, and in rear of which I learned there were several regiments. The three objects of my scrutiny being effected, I withdrew the forces from fire as soon as possible, bringing off our dead and wounded.
     If I knew the names of all the officers commanding the infantry supporting me, I should be glad to express my thanks for their ready service and efforts to second my wishes.  If it is not improper, I should be glad to bear my testimony to the courage with which my deceased officer, Captain M. C. Pratt, confronted his fate, and to the gallant behavior of my second officer, Captain Casper Crowninshield; also Lieutenant Blagden, Lieutenant Davis, and the men of their command; also Lieutenant Forbes.
I have not been able to obtain an official statement of the killed and wounded in this affair, although I am promised one, if possible, to-night.
    I have the honor to be, general, your obedient servant,


    HORACE BINNEY SARGENT,
    Lieutenant Colonel First Mass. Cav., Commanding, Escort, Fifth Army Corps.

    Major-General PORTER,
   Commanding Fifth Army Corps.

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 19, Part 2, Page 134.

The war record is dominated by battle, but skirmishes were important to feeling out the enemy and determining its intentions.  This affair, near Snickersville, offers a good example.