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

324 FIFTY-NINTH REGIMENT-SECOND CAVALRY. 1884
heights aroundRcappahannock Station. The regiment lost five wounded and two
captured. On the 23d it again advanced and attacked the rebels in their chosen
position. Their skirmishers were met atten A.M.,nd a fierce engagement opened,
the enemy retreating to his strong line of defences. Unable to carry these the
command retired to Bealton, closely pursued. On the 24th Colonel Brinton received orders to draw in the regiment to the infantry line, as the enemy was
advancing in force to flank the position. Word soon came that the Seventeenth
Pennsylvania had been captured, and that the enemy was rapidly following,
which served to quicken the speed. When arrived within four miles of Warrenton, the brigade was found in line of battle with guns in position, and
every precaution made for a determined fight. On the 30th the regiment
moved towards the Rappahannock for picket duty. A detachment was stationed at Beverly Ford, opposite which was a division of rebels engaged in
taking up the iron from the railroad, and dispatching it to Richmond, at'which they worked diligently the entire night. On the 1st of November,
the pickets were attacked by several hundred of the enemy's cavalry, and
were driven back; but soon rallied and re-established their line. The regiment moved with the army across the Rappahannock, and was constantly
engaged in scouting, skirmishing with the enemy, and picket duty, frequently
meeting with losses in killed, wounded, and captured. On the 29th the regiment, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Brinton, encountered the enemy
at Parker's Store, and fought with determined bravery, losing thirty-five men
killed and wounded, but handsomely repulsing him and inflicting heavy loss.
After participating in the raid on Luray, in December, it went into winterquarters at Warrenton. While here many of the men re-enlisted, and received
a veteran furlough. Upon the opening of the spring campaign, the Fifty-ninth,
with ranks recruited and re-fitted, moved with the Army of the Potomac, and
crossing the Rapidan, in advance of the Second Corps, at Ely's Ford, was thrown
forward towards Todd's Tavern, bivouacking on the old battle-field of Chancellorsville. It covered the front and flanks of the infantry, engaging the enemy
at every available point, in the fierce battle which ensued. The cavalry made
a reconnoissance in force on the 5th, and on the 7th met and defeated Fitz Hugh
Lee at Todd's Tavern. Lieutenant iungan of company A was among the killed.
On the morning of the 9th a heavy cavalry force, of which the regiment was
part, under command of General Sheridan, was sent to sever Lee's communications with Richmond. The movement resulted in one of those raids for which
its leader became celebrated —short,but destructive. Cutting loose from the army,
he crossed the-North Anna and reached the Virginia Central Railway at Beaver
Dam Station. He destroyed ten miles of the road, its rolling stock, a million
and a half of rations, and released four hundred Union prisoners, who had been
captured at the Wilderness, and were on their way to Richmond. Stuart's
Cavalry attacked the rear and flank of the command at this place, but effected
nothing. It crossed the South Anna at Ground Squirrel Bridge, and possessed
Ashland Station, on the Fredericksburg Road, at daylight of the 11th, destroying six miles of the railroad, a train, and large quantities of stores. Moving
towards Richmond it encountered Stuart at Yellow Tavern, a few miles north
of the city, he having passed it by a rapid march, over a circuitous route and
massed all his available cavalry. A sharp fight ensued in which the enemy
was driven towards Ashland Station, with the loss of its leaders, Generals
Stuart and Gordon mortally wounded. Passing rapidly along the turnpike