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Regiment: 1st Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned: Falling Waters, West Virginia; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; Hanover, Pennsylvania
Historical Figures: George A. Custer, Hugh J. Kilpatrick, Julius Stahel, Robert E. Lee
Camp near Hartwood Church
Aug. 14th, 1863
Dear Uncle:
Not having held any
correspondence with you since I have been
in the army, it is with some reluctance
that I write
now, for I
know that, through
different sources, you hear enough and
more perhaps, of this war than you care
about already: but thinking that a letter
from me giving a short account for the
part “we wolverines” have taken in the
late campaign, might be of
some interest
to you. I concluded to write to you.
Mother informed you I presume that
our Regt. was on duty in the defences
of Washington and that we were en-
camped near Fairfax C.H. previous to
Lee’s invasion of Md and Penn:
in Gen. Stahl’s Div of Cav there was
two Brigades: in our brigade which was
the 2nd there was four Mich. Regiments:
the 1st, 5th, 6th, and 7th the 7th Regt and ours,
were armed with Sharp’s and Burnside’s
carbines: The 5th and 6th had the Spencer
rifle or “seven shooter’s” as they are often
called; they shoot seven rounds in them
in succession without reloading or cap-
ing: they have proved to be very effective
during the late campaign: well we left
Fairfax the 22nd of June, crossed the Potomac
near Edward’s ferry and
marched to Fred-
erick City, Md; here Gen. Stahl was re-
lieved of his command, and Gen Kil-
patrick took command of the Division:
Gen Custer, a Mich Man himself, took
command of our brigade: the Div was
about 3200 strong: and our brigade about
1600 strong: there was two batteries in the
Div: one to each brigade: we moved from
Frederick via Emitsburg to Hanover,
Penn: the greatest enthusiasm prevailed
among the people wherever we went
they gave
freely of whatever they had
in the way of provisions; the Cumber-
land Valley you know is one of the
richest Valleys in the world: and the
farmers, who are partly dutch- are well
off and
independent: their barns are
the finest ones I ever saw; in Architect-
ure many of them exceeded their houses:
many of them had taken their stock
across the Susquehanna: but I am digress-
ing: we passed through Hanover and
had marched as far as Abbotstown
when our rear guard was attacked
by Stuart’s Ca: we returned to Han-
over and after a short engagement
we drove them back; our Regt supported
a battery, and the 5th went into action
as skirmishers; but the 1st Brigade par-
ticipated more in the fight than our
brigade did: the rebs got the worst of it:
Stuart then marched by a long cir-
tuous route to Gettysburg: we moved as
far as Berlin on the road to York; finding
that they ad left the vicinity of York,
we moved the next day after the battle
of Hanover, to Gettysburg; arrived at or
near Gettysburg, about sundown on the
2nd of July; they were fighting
then: the
cannonading was
very heavy; we moved
up to the enemies left flank; commenced
skirmishing with them; our battery
opened on one of theirs on their extreme
left and we compelled them to with
draw theirs from that part of the fields:
our brigade then moved back and
encamped for the night; in the morn-
ing “boots and saddles,” was called, and
we had to leave for the battle field
without any rations; we had had no
breakfast either; I
suppose they thought
we could fight all the better not
to have anything to eat! and I
dont know but we did! well we
moved to our extreme right,
for the purpose of protecting our right
flank; it was only our brigade and
battery “M” of the 2nd U.S. Artillery
that took this position; the rebs tried
severel times to turn our right
with their Cav and Artillery, but they
did not succeed in doing it; we had
to change our position several times
and in whatever direction our cannons
were pointed or aimed, we had to
tare down the fences for some dis-
tance in front so that we could
make a charge in case they advanced
to near the battery -we- that
is- our Regt,- was supporting; our
battery did good execution that day:
a rebel Cav Col that we took prisoner
afterwards, said that our battery killed
and wounded half of the men that
manned their battery, and another
battery had to relieve this one along
in the afternoon; about 4 oclock P.M.,
the General had the 7th Mich charge up towards
their battery to draw them out of
the woods if
possible; they moved up
through to
near the woods, and when
in good range of their rifles, they
opened upon the 7th from the woods
and emptied about fifty saddles!
of course the 7th could’nt stand before
this fire, and they fell back, followed
by Hampton’s Brigade of Reb Cavalry!
Well to prevent them from charging
upon our battery our Regt was ordered
forward. we then charged upon one
of their Regts; our Regt was formed in
three squadrons, and we charged
by squadron so impetuous was the
charge of the 1st squadron that their
line was broken, and the other squadrons
keeping up close, the enemy was driven
back some distance: but the 1st
squadron moving up rather to far
were flanked by another Regiment
of their Cav and a large number of
them were taken prisoners: a part
of the other squadrons had followed
the first squadron and some of
them were also taken: The batteries than
as both sides were rallying commenced
shelling on either side, and then both
our Cav and the reb Cav withdrew
from the field: it was now about
sundown: our General had heard
that our army had won a complete
victory over Lee’s army, and that all
had gone well! This was cheering
news to us –
hungry,
wearied and
nearly worn out with the work
of the day: as we were well the rebel Cavalry
and Artillery soon left the field
to us, and about 10 ‘oclock in the evening
we went back, unsaddled our horses
and laid down to rest: so
ended the memorable 3rd day
of July: a day never to e forgot-
ten by the Army of the Potomac!
for
here we proved to the world
that we
could fight, and that
we were
not so
much demoralized
as to be the unable to cope
again with
the Army of Gen Lee, as many
supposed or
asserted, that we
were;
our Brigade lost 150 killed, wounded
and missing or held as prisoners by the
enemy: our Company lost one killed two
wounded and four taken prisoners:
the next day Kilpatrick was ordered
to move with his Div into Pleasant
Valley, to harass and anoy the rebels
in their retreat: after drawing rations
we moved back via Emitsburg,
and crossed the mountains to Smithburg
through Fairfield gap; we found the
Rebs in the gap, and a squadron of
our Regt by order of Gen Kilpatrick
charged up and took a hill command-
ing the gap, and held it until our
Division passed, we lost several in
this charge: we had one
killed in our
Company. we moved on then and
destroyed a rebel wagon train of 100
wagons, and by the time we reached
Smithburg, had taken or paroled 1900 pris
oners: most of them the sick and part of
the wounded of Lee’s Army: we moved from
Smithburg to Boonsboro, we were here attacked
by Stuart’s Cav with Artillery, after fighting
or skirmishing with the enemy from noon
until night, of one day, Stuart was driven
back with considerable loss, to Hagerstown;
our next move, was to Hagerstown; along with
the 11th Corps; here our squadron which our Co
was, charged into the town, and drove out
three times our No of reb Cav; along with the rest
of our Regt we took 90 prisoners; the rebs lost
six killed by shell from our battery, we
had only two wounded that day! Our next
battle was at Falling Waters: you probably have
seen Kilpatrick’s official account of this battle:
our brigade and a squadron of the 8th NY Cav
were the only troops we had engaged in the
battle: the engagement was with the rear guard
of Lee’s Army: it consisted of four Regts
of infantry and a battery: we completely routed
them killing, over 100 of them and wounding a
large number: we took over 1000 prisoners:
also 3 battle flags; two of these colors fell into the
hands of our company: one of them the 40th Va Infan-
try I found, deserted with a large number of
arms, by the enemy: the 6th Mich fought with
great bravery in this battle: we lost 28 killed
and 30 wounded: our Co lost 2 killed: we moved
from here via Berlin across the Potomac into Va
again: but I fear Uncle that I have tired your
patience with this long and hastily written acct.
of our doings: we are now on picket at or near
Hartwood Church 7 miles from Falmouth: I
should be very glad to hear from you Uncle
or any of that cousins either: the health of our
regt is good: if you have time to write Uncle direct to E. H. Ives Company L First Mich Cav via Washington D.C. Hoping to hear from you soon. I remain your humble nephew E.H. Ives
Our company was at the battle of Antietam and we know that the cannonading at Gettysburg was much heavier than it was at the Antietam
It was just two years ago today that I enlisted time flies fast in the army.
Will you please to send me a copy of a Boston paper? while we are on picket we do not have a chance to get papers
Please give my love to all: Should like to hear from Uncle Eli’s folks.
We were at Warrenton Junction in camp there on the 11th we got four month’s pay just before leaving: I have sent home thus far 10
dollars per month since I have been the the service: get 13: the 6th NY Cav has been attached to our brigade since we have been here:
Mother wrote that she had sent an allotment that I had sent home to Detroit to get a draft for it for the purpose of sending you the interest money due up to the present time I hope you have Received it: you cannot imagine Uncle how much we have been benefited by that loan of money: We shall ever be under great obligations to you for it: my Brother Homer is in the 8th Cavalry Kentucky I have not heard from him for a long time I am very anxious to hear from him How are Uncle Eli’s folks where are they now? Got a letter from Cos Mort last night.
