History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

1118 EIGHTIETH REGIMENT-SEVENTH CAVALRY. 1863
On the 31st of January, the First Brigade was ordered to proceed to Rover
and break up a rebel outpost. Arriving near the place, his pickets were encountered and driven in by the Fourth Michigan, when the Seventh Pennsylvania was ordered to draw sabre and charge, which was executed with a cheer,
breaking the rebel line and utterly routing his entire command. The pursuit
was maintained for ten miles, causing a loss of half his force. After scouting
inside the rebel lines for two weeks, inflicting considerable damage upon the
enemy, the brigade returned to camp at Murfreesboro. Shortly afterward,
learning that the enemy had re-occupied Rover in force, and had strengthened
it by an intrenched infantry and artillery camp at Unionville, a town five miles
from Rover, and sixteen from Shelbyville, where a large part of the rebel army
was in camp, General Sheridan was ordered to move with his division to Eagleville, three miles west of Rover, for a diversion in favor of the cavalry.
When, therefore, at sunrise on the 4th, the First Brigade attacked the enemy
at Rover, the surprise was complete. After a sharp skirmish the pickets were
driven in, and the Seventh was ordered to charge with the sabre. It was made
in column, half platoon front, and received the concentrated fire of over two
thousand rifles; but without faltering, being supported by the Fourth United
States on the right, and the Fourth Michigan on the left as carbineers, it dashed
forward, broke the centre of the rebel line, and drove it in confusion towards
Unionville. Not satisfied with his success, Colonel Minty threw the flanking
regiments into columns, on roads parallel with the pike on which the Seventh
was moving, and, sounding the charge along the whole line, burst upon
the astonished rebels at Unionville, entering their camp on the heels of the
flying fugitives from Rover. Bqlt little resistance was offered, only one regiment of infantry attempting to form line, the artillery having been moved the
day before to resist the threatened advance of Sheridan. The Seventh charged
through the camp, and then gave chase to the rebel cavalry retreating towards
Shelbyville. The loss of the Seventh was two killed and seven wounded.
From Unionville the command marched, the same day, to Eagleville, where
it joined Sheridan, and with him proceeded to Franklin, then to Columbia,
skirmishing with Van Dorn and Forrest at Spring Hill, and Rutherford Creek,
and returned to Murfreesboro via Franklin, reaching camp on the 15th of
March. The command was engaged with Morgan at Snow Hill, near Liberty,
on the 3d of April, with a loss of one killed and one wounded; fought Duke's
Brigade on the 20th; assisted in the capture of M'Minnville, May 6th; repelled
a rebel demonstration on Murfreesboro on the 14th; and fought Morgan at
Alexandria on the 3d of June, in all of which the Union forces were victorious
except the last. A little later Colonel Wynkoop was honorably discharged,
and Lieutenant Colonel Sipes was commissioned to succeed him.
On the 24th, General Rosecrans commenced his advance on Tullahoma and
Shelbyville. The cavalry, under General Stanley, moved on the right flank of
the army. On the morning of the 27th, Colonel Minty was ordered to charge
and carry Guy's Gap, on the Murfreesboro Pike. With the Fourth Michigan
Cavalry leading the advance, and the First Division supporting the flanks, he
moved rapidly on through the gap, driving the rebels towards Shelbyville, and
making captures on every hand. Arrived within five miles of the town, the
enemy opened with artillery from his intrenchments. Colonel Minty promptly
deployed the Fourth Michigan, and Fourth UTnited States, as skirmishers,
mounted, and held the Seventh in column. The advance was sounded, when,