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

742 SEVENTIETH REGIMENT-SIXTH CAVALRY. 1862
About the middle of December the regiment moved to Washington and
went to Camp Barclay, on Meredian Hill, near Columbia College. It was soon
afterwards inspected by General Stoneman, Chief of Cavalry of the Army of
the Potomac, and on the 1st of January, 1862, paraded through the Capital,
eliciting much admiration. On the 10th of March it crossed the Potomac and
taking position in line, moved upon the Manassas campaign, which was suddenly cut short by the discovery that no enemy was in front. Returning again
to Camp Barclay it remained until the 3d of May, when it embarked at Alexandria upon transports, and proceeded to Fortress Monroe. A few days later
it moved to New Market Bridge, where it was brigaded with the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Near the close of the month it was assigned to the Second
Brigade, General Emory, composed of the Fifth and Sixth tUnited States and
Sixth Pennsylvania, of General Philip St. George Cookers Division, known as
the Reserve Brigade.
On the 4th of May the regiment marched to Yorktown, and upon its arrival Major Morris with a squadron was sent to Mulberry Point on a reconnoissance. Leaving Yorktown on the 9th, it proceeded by easy marches to the
neighborhood of Old Church. Here the regiment was temporarily detached
from the brigade, and was employed for some days in picketing and reconnoitring towards HanoVer Court House. On the 23d of May a reconnoissance
with the Fifth New York Infantry, and First Connecticut Artillery, all under
Colonel Warner of the Fifth New York, discovered the enemy in some force
near the Court House, as if to demonstrate upon the right rear of our
army. Accordingly, General Porter was ordered with the Fifth Corps to drive
him away, which he did. On the 25th, Lieutenant Leiper, with a part of company C, charged the enemy's advance cavalry pickets with the lance and drove
them in upon their infantry supports. In the battle of the 27th the regiment,
which had been for severalddays acting independently of the brigade, was sent
to the extreme right of the line for the purpose of attracting the attention of the
enemy, and was under fire during the day. Upon the discomfiture of the rebels
it followed up the retreating foe, captured eighty of iis-men and two commissioned officers, and burned the bridge over the Pamunkey, when the pursuit
was staid. On the 4th of June the regiment re-joined the Reserve Brigade.
On the 13th of June news was brought into camp of Stuart's start on his
first ride around the Army of the Potomac. Owing to unaccountable delays
the column of pursuit was not fairly started until after sunset. Major Morris
of this regiment with one squadron overtook the successful raiders as their last
men were crossing the Chickahominy, and were the sole pursuers who had a
shot at them. On the 18th two squadrons, consisting of companies B, G, C,
and H, under command of Captain Clymer, were detached and ordered to report to General MICall. They were posted to picket and patrol the roads and
approaches to the Chickahominy from Mechanicsville northward to Atlee's
Station. On the same day two squadrons under Lieutenant Colonel C. Ross
Smith, companies A, D, I and K, were sent to Hawes' Shop to picket the right
and rear of the army. Here they were undisturbed until the evening of the
26th, when Jackson made his sudden attack which cut them off from the main
army, and they retired with General Stoneman's flying column, sent by MCl1ellan to destroy the depot at White House. They escorted the wagon train to
Yorktown, and thence marched to Fortress Monroe, where they remained until
July 10th, when they re-joined the regiment at Harrison*s Landing.