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

1864 IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG. 367
ceed to Washington and report to General Halleck, Chief of Staff, and those
who were to remain in service to be organized into three companies, as an independent battalion, known as the Veteran Battalion of the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, commanded by Major J. W. Walsh, officered respectively by
Captains F. W. Hess, Charles Treichel, and Louis R. Stille; First Lieutenants
William F. Potter and Miles G. Carter; Second Lieutenants William Rawle
Brooke, G. S. Luttrell Ward and Thomas Gregg, and Assistant Surgeon Henry
J. Durant, and to report for duty with the Provost Marshal General of the
army. In obedience to this order, on the 27th of July the two portions of
the regiment separated, the veteran battalion remaining at General Meade's
headquarters, and the balance of the command moving by transports to Washington. Upon its arrival at the Capital, although its term of service had expired, it was ordered to duty in the Cumberland Valley, on the occasion of the
rebel raid of that year, and continued on duty there until the enemy was
driven back into Virginia. After performing signal service and acting with
its accustomed gallantry, the Third was sent to Philadelphia, where it arrived
on the 20th of August, and on the 24th was mustered out of service.
The veteran battalion continued at its camp near Meade Station, until the
movements to the left, during October, rendered a change of headquarters, to
a point near the centre of the lines, necessary. During the previous months
it had been actively employed in most important service, at times co-operating
with its old division under General Gregg, now commanding the cavalry of the
Army of the Potomac, at others engaged with the various infantry corps, at
all times commanding the respect and calling forth the encomiums of its superior officers. It was engaged at Boydton Plank Road, in the many conflicts at
Hatcher's Run and along the Weldon Railroad, and in the assaults upon the
fortifications of Petersburg. In the engagement at Hatcher's Run, on the 9th
of December, while gallantly leading an assault upon an almost impregnable
position covering the ford, Captain Ward was severely wounded and several
men were lost.
During the fall and winter, a large number of recruits joined the battalion,
increasing the number of companies to eight. Major James W. Walsh was
promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the battalion, and Captains F. W. Hess,
and Charles Treichel were promoted Majors. The companies of Captains
Potter, Carter, and Brooke were detached, early in the winter, for duty at
City Point, at the headquarters of General Grant, where they remained for
three months, until the opening of the spring campaign of 1865 called them
to the front. Upon the occasion of the final attack upon Petersburg, the battalion was employed in maintaining communications, and occupying the lines
between Sheridan at Five Forks, and the left of the infantry line. On the 3d
of April Petersburg was taken, and early in the morning Generals Grant and
Meade, under the escort of the battalion, entered the city. They did not remain long in the place, which, for so many weary months, they had sought to
gain; but joined in the pursuit of the retreating enemy. Jettersville, Sailor's
Creek and High Bridge followed in quick succession, and on the 9th of April
the battalion occupied a position between the opposing lines of battle of the
two armies, when the surrender of Lee to Grant took place.
On the 11th the command moved back to Burkesville Junction, in company
with a considerable part of the army. On the 1st of May, it commenced the
march for Richmond, which it entered on the 4th, and was there assigned to