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Source: January 1986 Volume 24 Number 1, Pages 9–16

Sergeant Harry Burns and the 7th Pennsylvania Volunteer Calvery

Franklin L. Burns

Page 9

Henry C. Burns [Note 1], of Reeseville, was determined to fight for the Union in the Civil War. After he was rejected at the West Chester recruiting station, with George L. Beatty, James C. Smiley, and others from Howellville he enlisted at Harrisburg on October 25, 1861 in Company H, 7th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry. Their friends Isaac "Chalky" Singles, Joe Horne, and James Phillips were also enlisted in the same outfit.

Through a series of letters from Quartermaster Sergeant Burns to his parents, brother and sisters, in conjunction with other documents, published account's and oral narratives of surviving comrades, a sketch of the activities of the unit, one of the most effective fighting regiments of the Civil War, is made possible.

After receiving their colors from Governor A. G. Curtin on the Capitol steps in Harrisburg, the regiment immediately left for St. Louis and were sent by General Buell to a camp of instruction at Jefferson, Ind. The camp at Jefferson was a flat, muddy place, and they were glad to leave it on January 9, 1862, after an intensive drill of men and horses, to move on Nashville.

As they moved on Nashville, the battalions were separated for a time. Company H was in the 2d Battalion, which in company with the 3d Battalion, commanded by Col. Wynkoop, on May 3, defeated General Morgan and took 170 prisoners.

Page 10

This was followed by wild and romantic campaigning in the mountains of Tennessee to clear the country of the pestiferous guerillas. The confiscation of countraband concealed in cabins and caves was a work that required considerable personal prowess, since the Battalion was often broken up in detached squads.

It was in early May that Sgt. Burns, with two coirrades, surprised and captured three "bushwackers" lounging in front of a cabin, rushing them before they could recover their rifles. One of these beautiful Kentucky rifles, owned by the surprised prisoners, was sent' home by express. It was long of barrel and of heavy metal, made by Henry Elwell, England. The stock was of curly maple, age-darkened, and ornamented with brass and silver countersunk pieces. The cap and grease cavities were covered with hinged brass, and the hickory ramrod was embellished in the backwoods fashion of scorching a corkscrew pattern by twirling it over a red hot iron.

On June 10, 1862 Sgt. Burns wrote to his brother from Franklin, Tenn.

"Bro. Peter: It is strange you did not receive the letter I sent two days after I sent you the rifle. I enclosed a 5 cent Tennessee note I thought would be a curiosity in your neighborhood. I suppose that some one thought they were getting a 10 dollar bill.

"We had information that 800 men were marching on us to take us prisoners, but they did not make their appearance last night. I would not be surprised if they try it tonight, as we have only 50 fighting men here now. The infantry all left about 2 o'clock yesterday morning for Murfreeboro, about 25 miles from here, so that it leaves us in a bad fix. They captured one of our companies 10 miles east of Murfreeboro, killing 5 and captured all of the rest except 6 who escaped. We heard that it was Andress' company of West Chester, but are not certain. I expect to get the particulars this evening.

"If we are not reinforced today, we may be taken before daylight tomorrow. We will do the best we can and if there are not more than three to one we will be all right.

"I sent the rifle by Adams Express to Philad. It was sewed up in a grass coffee bag, not in a box as you expected, and sent on the 9th. Direct to Nashville.

Your, Bro. Harry"

The country in which they operated was largely "Secesh", and the inhabitants were required to feed both the cavalrymen and their beasts. This seemed pretty hard to Sgt. Burns, as the people were wretchedly poor.

The two battalions led the advance of General Dumont's expedition over the Cumberland Mountains to Pikeville, where the enemy was met and routed. Shortly afterward they formed part of General Nelson's command in his advance from M'Minnville to Sparta.

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At Calf Killer River General Forrest was overtaken, and a sharp engagement ensued. Forrest was illiterate, but a born fighter who believed in "getting there fustest with the mostest". He had enlisted as a private in the same company of the 1st Virginia Confederate Cavalry of which, ironically, Harry Burns' first cousin was a member.

By mid-summer the enemy's cavalry had become troublesome, and a provisional brigade, consisting of the 2d Battalion, 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry; the 4th Kentucky Cavalry; and two companies of the 3d Indiana Cavalry; with General Johnson in command, was sent in pursuit. About ten days later, on the morning of August 21, the brigade came up to the united and superior forces of Morgan and Forrest. Disregarding the desire of his subordinate officers to charge, General Johnson arranged his troops in line after the manner of infantry and ordered a retrograde movement. Dismounting his men, he ordered an advance on foot, each man leading his horse, then mounted them to fall back. He also divided the command and sent separate companies to detached and isolated positions, under fire from the entire Rebel forces, and held them there until they were almost surrounded. When he drew them together and ordered a retreat, the Battalion adjutant, Col. Wynkoop's son, was among those killed. Arriving on the banks of the Cumberland, they were once more dismounted and formed into line with the flanks entirely unguarded, and there surrendered.

Harry Burns wrote that Col. Wynkoop had informed General Johnson, in council immediately before his surrender, that his men would never surrender, and had requested the privilege of leading them out. The Indiana companies also decided to follow him. The men were all in an ugly humor after being sniped at and betrayed all day, and proposed to show the General what horses and sabres were for! Word had been received some time previously from a Georgia regiment that they had sharpened their sabres and were anxious for battle; when the 7th captured several of this regiment, and indeed found that they had put an edge on their sabres, Col. Wynkoop's troops did likewise.

Col. Wynkoop charged so swiftly that the Rebels were taken completely by surprise, and had no time to fire before the cavalry was upon them with drawn sabres, cutting, slashing, and trampling all who opposed them. In five minutes they had cleared the Rebel line, with a loss of only about 45 men.

In the meantime, General Morgan claimed the entire command as his prisoners, and wrote to General Buell demanding the surrender of Col. Wynkoop's troops along with the others, citing a note from General Johnson in which he had stated that he had capitulated with that understanding. General Buell's reply was that the most convincing evidence that the gallant 7th were not General Morgan's prisoners was the fact that they were on duty with Buell at Nashville!

In November 1862, General Rosencrans superceded General Buell as commander and reorganized the cavalry. The 7th was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 2d Division, Foraging was accompanied by sporadic fighting until December 20, when the army advanced upon Murfreeboro.

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The 7th Cavalry led the center, with the regiments alternating daily. The entire march from Nashville to Stone river was a continuous battle between the cavalry of the two armies. On the 30th troops of the 7th and the 3d Kentucky formed a line of videttes in the rear of the line of battle. Later that day, under Col, Minty, they moved in relief of the 28th Brigade, which had been attacked by General Wheeler.

"I met the enemy," Sgt. Burns wrote later, "who were dressed chiefly in our uniforms. The Seventh Pennsylvania drove them until dark."

On the 31st the 7th, now reduced to 950 men, took position near Overall's creek. The enemy, with 2500 cavalry and three field pieces, attacked and drove back the 4th Michigan to the line of the 1st Tennessee, and then attacked the 7th Pennsylvania with great fury. This was met with determined resistance, but when their support gave way the regiment was obliged to retreat.

A charge the following March drove the enemy in confusion toward Uniontown, the 7th dashing in upon the fugitives as they entered the town, and putting the garrison to flight. Next came a march to Eagleville, where the unit joined General Sheridan and proceeded to Franklin, then Columbia. After skirmishes with troops of General Van Horn and General Forrest at Spring Hill and Rutherford Creek, they returned to Murfreeboro by way of Franklin on March 15.

On March 19, 1863, Sgt. Burns wrote from Nashville in reference to some money which he wished to lend to the school board.

"I am kept very busy now," he reported, "We drill five hours every day and have other duties to attend to. The weather has been rather cool for comfort in the evenings."

An engagement with Morgan's troops at Snow Hill, near Liberty, followed on April 3, and then on the 20th they fought Duke's brigade. On May 6 the unit assisted in the capture of M'Minnville; on the 14th repelled a Rebel demonstration on Murfreeboro; and on June 3 fought Morgan's troops again at Alexander.

On June 24 General Rosencrans advanced on Tallahoma and Selbyville with the 7th Cavalry on the right flank, under General Stanley. On the next day Col. Minty was ordered to charge and carry Guy's Gap.

"The advance was sounded," Sgt, Burns wrote, "when from some cause, the men commenced cheering. The skirmish line charged and Col. Minty, taking advantage of a favorable moment, ordered the 7th Penna. Cavalry, which had been held in reserve, to charge also.

"Dashing forward with wild shouts, the entrenchments were taken. A mile from town a Rebel regiment was hemmed in and captured in the open field. As the troops advanced to the town, they were suddenly checked by the rapid fire from a battery of 6 pieces posted in the public square. Capt, Davis' company filled the street from curb to curb and drove them out. Wheeler's boasted cavalry was broken and Selbyville taken."

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On July 3 there was a skirmish at Elk River; on August 17 at Sparta; and early in September the unit moved with the army in the Chickamauga campaign. In October, for eighteen consecutive days and nights, with little rest, they were in pursuit of Wheeler through eastern and central Tennessee and Alabama.

It was while resting at Huntsville, Ala, that the following fragment was penned by Sgt, Burns.

"- home on a recruiting trip if I reenlist. I do not think I could do better. I may get home between now and spring. They are giving $400 for veteran volunteers. I sent a check to Peter for $110. about a month ago, but I have not heard from it since. $50. of it was Joe Horne's. I am afraid it is lost. I do not think we will lose the money but it will put us to some trouble,

"My 4 months' pay amounts to $68, and I send $60. of it to you. You will think I am getting very eccnomical all at once, but so I have enough to keep me in tobacco, I am satisfied. A soldier's real wants are few."

Most of the men reenlisted, received the bounty, a silver medal in the shape of a Swiss cross inscribed "Legion of Honor 7 P.V.C.", and a 30 days furlough, which they were obliged to spend in the West. Some of them, freed of all restraint for the first time in three years, became a terror to the town in which they spent their money, (When the company reenlisted on January 4, 1864, Captain Green suggested to Joseph Home that he was getting old and better not reenlist. A veteran of the Mexican War and an expert swordsman, he replied, "Captain, I am going to see the end of the quarrel" - and he did, reenlisting and returning without a scratch!)

Harry Burns was able to come home in January. He returned some time in late February, taking with him Jonathan M. Lewis, Ethelbert Lobb, William H. Mullen, John and Westley Linsley, and doubtless other recruits - for the 7th had a great reputation - conducting them to Columbia for drill. At this time Sergeant Burns was a muscular man of 37 years, about 180 pounds weight, and wore a full beard. His papers describe him as fair complexion, grey eyes, black hair, and five feet nine inches tall.

Col. Sipes, who had succeeded Col. Wynkoop as commander, drew Spencer carbines and improved sabres and horse equipment for the entire regiment, now freshly mounted and swelled by recruits to 1500 rank and file. The first arms had been the almost useless Belgian rifles, which had been quickly discarded and replaced with Smith and Burnsides carbines.

Page 14

After a couple of months of intensive training of the most practical kind, they broke camp on April 30 for the last round, joining General Sherman on his famous march towards Atlanta. The 7th Cavalry was in action at Rome, Ga. on May 15; at Dallis and Villa Rica road on the 27th; at Big Shanty on June 9; at M'Afee cross roads on the 11th; at Monday creek on the 20th; and at Kenesaw Mountain on the 27th, They also took part in the raid on the Augusta and Atlanta R.R. on July 18; the raid on Covington and destruction of the railroad on the 21st; and at Flat Rock on the 28th. On August 1 they entered the trenches at Atlanta. Then, on the 17th, they moved out with General Kilpatrick on his famous raid, skirmishing at Farrbun and Jonesboro on the 19th and becoming involved in a pretty sharp engagement at Lovejoy Station on the 20th.

From a camp near Atlanta, on August 31, 1864. Sgt. Burns wrote to his brother

"Bro. Peter: Your letter of July 17th came to hand in due time. I would have written before this but I have not had the time or when I had the chance I had no paper, stamps, or the money to buy any. We have not been paid for 8 months. I have now $248 coming to me. I have not stood in need of money except for stamps and paper.

"We captured enough tobacco to keep us without buying. I have enough to keep me for 3 months. I could sell what I have for $3 a plug, but I have none to spare. Paper sells for one sheet and envelope, 10 cents. E. Lobb is well. Jack Linsley has not been with us since May. Joe Kugler is also in Columbia; he was to have been one of the Band but he could not blow the horn and was put back in the ranks to guard the bridge. I had a letter from Linsley some time ago and he said that Joe Kugler had blowed h out of Columbia and blowed himself into the ranks,

"What do you think about the greenbacks? Do you think they are going to depreciate in value? Do you not think father had better pay out all he can raise? If they pay me up, I can send $225., which will help. I suppose you have heard about Kilpatrick's raid before this. Our brigade was in it for 5 days and nights, in which we got no sleep. We destroyed the railroad at Jonesboro for about 2 miles, burnt the depot and all the public buildings and the tavern, and left the place about 11 o'clock that night.

"We marched all night and struck the road again about 10 o'clock the next day and commenced tearing it up, when we were fired upon from all sides. We fought them for about an hour and found we would have to surrender or cut our way out. We chose the latter.

"We formed in a cornfield so that we could not be seen by the enemy; our brigade on the advance and our regiment in the advance of all. After we had formed, we were ordered to draw sabres, then charge.

Page 15

"It would have done you good to have seen us before we reached their lines, for we had to jump fences and gullies at least ten feet wide. Such a scatterment of Rebs I never saw before, We captured 4 of their guns, spiked 3 and brought 1 off. If we had some support, we could have captured half of their forces, I think, after we broke their line. There were 2 divisions of Reb infantry and 1 of cavalry.

"They followed us to South River, where we burnt the bridges and arrived at camp on the second day with a loss of 40 men out of our regiment. I do not know what our losses were altogether.

"Gen. Kilpatrick said that if it had not been for our brigade, he would have lost all of his command.

"My respects to all. Yours in haste. Harry."

Burns also astonished the recruits in daring and unheard of feats in foraging. One time he gathered up a hive full of bees and carried it in front of him on his horse until a halt enabled him to extract the honey!

The battle of Rome, Ga. occurred on October 12, and on the next day they charged the infantry, routing them and capturing two pieces of artillery. A detachment which included part or all of the 7th Cavalry was then sent to Galesville, Ala. On October 21, the regiment received orders to clear an entrenched hill occupied by some Rebels; it was accomplished with the usual dispatch and, agreeable to their orders, the cavalry retired toward their camp.

Through some blunder, the Michigan Brigade, ordered to occupy the position, also retired. The Rebels swarmed back, making necessary another charge by the cavalry. Both Sgt. Shingles and Sgt. Burns were wounded. (George Lobb was under the impression that Sergeant Burns was carrying the flag.) Joe Home rode in line next to Burns, and said later that he knew Burns had been struck when he pulled up and rode out of line, for he never missed a fight.

His last letter was from Chattanooga, Tenn., dated November 7, 1864.

"Dear Father: I will try to write you a few lines to let you know how I am. Well, I have not very good news to write. I was wounded on the 21st day of October at Galesville, Alabama with a musket ball below the knee. I laid in the hospital at Rome until about a week ago when I came here. Both bones of my left leg are fractured, so I had to have it amputated about six inches below the knee, last Wednesday.

"I think I am getting along as well as can be expected and if nothing happens to me, you may look for me home in about 2 or3 months. You must not worry about me for I think I am getting along fine, altho' it is a pretty hard row to hoe.

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"P.S. I would say that I have as good care as I can expect. Of course I can't have as good care as a Mother or Sisters can give me. I want you to write as soon as you get this, that I may know how you are getting along at home. Direct to Chattanooga, Tenn., Hospital No. 7, Sec. B, Ward 3. You must excuse me for a time.

This from your son, H. C. Burns"

Twelve days later he died of gangrene. He was buried in the National Cemetery, grave 104., "Vet, 18th Regiment of 7th Cavalry", (His intimate friend and tentmate throughout the war, Sgt, Isaac Shingles, who was wounded in the arm by the same volley, also died the same day in the hospital.)

On January 11, 1865, Captain Green, the commander of Company H of the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry, wrote from Nashville, Tenn.

"Mr..Peter Burns, Dear Sir: It becomes my painful duty to inform you that I have just received Official Notice of the death of your brother, Sergt. Henry C. Burns. He died in Hospital at Chattanooga, Tenn, on the 19th day November, 1864., by reason of wounds. Sergt. Burns was with me when wounded, and I assure you that no man fought braver than he did that day and while I have to mourn his loss which to me is like losing a brother, it gives me great satisfaction to mention his good conduct as a soldier and as a gentleman since I have been associated with him. Very respectfully Your Obedt. Servant

/signed/; C. L. Green, Capt., Co. H, 7th Pa. Cav,"

His parents did not even have the melancholy satisfaction of treasuring his sabre, since the soldier to whom it and his other accoutrements were entrusted for delivery proved unfaithful to his trust. Surgeon John H. Phillips turned over to the 2d Auditor at Washington, D.C, the ninety cents in money found in Burns' possession; it is probably there yet. The bounty and back pay were collected through a Philadelphia solicitor in May 1865.

After the engagement at Leeds cross roads in Alabama, the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry, worn out, was ordered back to Louisiana to remount and reequip. In the closing scenes of the war they helped rout General Hood, and scoured the country for Jefferson Davis. They were then stationed at Gravely, Ala. and Eastport, Miss, before being mustered out of service on August 13, 1865,

The 7th Pennsylvania, the 4th Regulars, and the 4th Michigan for two years had marched, camped, fought, and endured many hardships together. They had been faithful to each other in many trials and, together, won a reputation second to none,

I am indebted to Colonel Sipes' history of the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry and to the Brigade history of Colonel Minty for many of the facts stated herein.

See Volume XVI, Number 3