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

1863 GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN. 363
ment, unfit for further service, were sent to the rear for fresh horses and new
equipments.
A complete re-organization of the entire army was now effected, and Gen.
eral Pleasanton succeeded Stoneman as chief of the cavalry. General Averell
was relieved from the command of his division, and sent to lead the cavalry in
Western Virginia, a trying position, in which by his skill and daring he soon
rendered his name famous. Colonel M'Intosh was placed in command of the
First Brigade, Second Division of the cavalry, and Lieutenant Colonel Jones
succeeded to the command of the regiment. After a brief respite, passed in its
old quarters near Potomac Creek, a campaign of manoeuvring commenced, and
the Third was again in the saddle. For a time the cavalry was kept busily engaged scouting and reconnoitring to discover the enemy's intentions. On the
9th of June, Pleasanton crossed the Rappahannock, Duffie's Division, to which
the Third then belonged, at Kelly's Ford. The enemy was soon encountered and
a running fight was kept up as far as Stevensburg, when Duffie moved to the
right to the support of Gregg, who was battling against superior numbers and
in danger of being overpowered. Breaking through the rebel lines, he formed
ajunction with Buford and retrieved the waning fortunes of the day. Tho
corps withdrew, re-crossing the river at Rappahannock Station, the Third
acting as rear guard, having driven the rebel cavalry, who were in superior
numbers, with the great body of the rebel infantry at their backs, and greatly
retarded the march of their army for the invasion of the North. Two weeks
later, the rebel horse was again encountered at Aldie, and was driven with considerable loss to Upperville and Ashby's Gap, a distance of eight miles. This
engagement resulted in cutting off the enemy's cavalry from the main body of
his army, and by pushing the advantage thereby attained, and by constantly
engaging him, Stuart was prevented from re-joining Lee until after the battle
of Gettysburg, a circumstance which the rebel chieftain bitterly laments in
his report. In this campaign the marching was unusually severe, and for eight
days the men were kept in the saddle on an average of twenty hours out ol
the twenty-four, with little to eat and no forage for their horses. The regiment
arrived upon the field at Gettysburg on the 2d of July, and taking position on
the right flank between the York and Bonnaughtown roads, was immediately
thrown in way of the enemy's cavalry, which, just then advancing to the
attack, was handsomely repulsed. During the morning of the 3d, Gregg now
commanding the Second Division, with Custar's Brigade of the Third Division,
was in position overlooking the entire field of conflict, which was held during the
terrific cannonade of that day. When at length, after two hours of incessant
fire, it finally slackened, and the rebel infantry moved out for their last grand
attack, Hampton's Division of cavalry advanced upon the Bonnaughtown road,
determined to force its way, and gain the flank and rear of the Union army.
The Third being upon the skirmish line first felt the shock, and after a stubborn resistance was driven in. Gregg's supports were close at hand, and when
Hampton charged in close column of squadrons, Custar met him face to face
with his Michigan Brigade, his wolverines he called them, and the skirmishers
rallied and charged upon his flanks. The enemy started with drawn sabres,
but according to their individual habits, many dropped them and took their
pistols, while the Union men used the sabre alone. After a hard fight, hand to
hand, the rebels were driven back with heavy loss. A more magnificent or
triumphant sabre charge than this, is rarely witnessed. The loss was severe.