4th. Yesterday moved on to Charlottesville and burned three heavy bridges on Va. Central. Awful roads. Rainy still. Camped at C. Nice place. Burned bridges. Went out on Lynchburg road and tore up track. Clear and pleasant. Worked hard. Went back to old camp. Plenty of forage. Slept well.
War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.
2nd. Thursday. Commenced to rain early. Our div. in advance. Massed just before reaching S. Reached our old camp at Waynesboro at 3 P. M. The Va. Brigade formed mounted. We formed dismounted. Went out where we could see the rebel line on a hill and in the woods, running almost around W. 2nd Ohio in advance as skirmishers. Forward was given and the 2nd went forward until it carried the woods and the hill, driving the Johnnies pell-mell. I was mounted and went in on the muscle, when the rebs gave way. Took a great many prisoners myself. Captured 1,300 prisoners, 10 guns and 150 wagons and 10 stands of colors. Advance charged through the gap and burned a heavy amount of supplies at Greenville. Gen. Early barely escaped capture. It is a wonder to me how the boys stood it so well. Gen. Custer gave us great credit. Camped just through the gap. Raining.
1st. Wednesday. By mistake up before daylight. Brigade in rear of column. Did not move out till 9 A. M. Advance captured the two bridges between Harrisburg and Staunton. Several prisoners captured. Camped six miles from Staunton. Wagons captured.
27th. Reveille at 3 A. M. Moved at 6. Moved through Winchester. Formed several times in crossing streams, etc. Seemed good to see Gen. Sheridan along on his black horse. Halted many times. Went into camp at 10 P. M. Very good rest. Woodstock. 28th. Reveille at 4 A. M. Brigade moved out in advance at 6. Waited at the Shenandoah for the pontoons to come up. Most of our brigade forded. One 3rd N. J. man drowned. Our regt. did nicely. Camped at Lacey’s Springs.
26th. Every preparation made to move. Ordnance and Q. M. stores condemned and turned in. Several orders and circulars came around. All bustle and commotion. Wrote home.
25th. Furloughs stopped and pontoon train came up today. The Col.’s leave failed. He was in great trouble, having promised his wife to come home and yet expecting to remain with regt. after leave. Muddy, but pleasant overhead.[1]
[1] Extract From Letter of Brevet Brigadier General Nettleton to Mrs. Luman H. Tenney
Lakeside, Mich., June 20, 1911.
* * * Today in looking over war-time papers I came across the originals and copies of certain letters from General Custer. They relate so closely and importantly to the history, career, and military standing of the Second Ohio Cavalry that it occurs to me that you might like to file copies with the War Records which you are now collating and arranging.
Luman Tenney’s admirable service, his high qualities as a disciplinarian, and as a commander of men in the battlefield, so largely contributed to the good record made by the regiment that that record is in one sense a part of his own. These letters from General Custer, the idolized commander of our Division, are exceptional in the history of Army experience.
________
Headquarters 3rd Cavalry Division, Mid. Mil. Division,
Feb. 24, 1865.
His Excellency Gov. Brough:
As Lt. Col. Nettleton of the Second Ohio Cavalry is about to proceed to his home in Ohio with the intention of procuring as many men as possible to fill his regiment, I desire to urge upon your Excellency the propriety of rendering Col. Nettleton all possible facilities for accomplishing this end.
The Second Ohio has been under my command for a considerable period, during which time they have been repeatedly engaged with the enemy. Upon all such occasions their conduct has been most gallant and deserving. I have known this regiment to hold positions against vastly superior forces of the enemy under circumstances which most regiments would have considered as warranting a retreat; and I take pleasure in assuring your Excellency that in my entire division, numbering twelve regiments from different states, I have none in which I repose greater confidence than in the 2nd Ohio. For these reasons I feel assured that the interests of the service would be greatly promoted by filling the regiment to the maximum number.
Your Excellency cannot find among the many gallant sons of Ohio a more gallant or deserving officer than Lt. Col. Nettleton.
Very Respectfully,
G. A. Custer, Bv’t Major General.
__________
Headquarters 3rd Cav. Div.
Feb. 24th, 1865.
Lt. Col. A. B. Nettleton,
Comdg 2nd Ohio Cav.,
Through 1st Brigade Headquarters. Colonel:
The General comdg Divis. has directed me to express to you his great and entire satisfaction with the manner in which the pickets from your regiment were performing their duties today while he was inspecting the line. Not a man failed to understand and execute the orders issued from these and superior Headquarters, not a man but who did credit to himself and his regiment. The General is much gratified to see that your men on the picket line are anxious, like true soldiers, to keep up the excellent reputation your regiment has won on the battle field.
Very respectfully yours, etc.,
L. Siebert, A. A. Genl.
The incident which called forth the above letter occurred the day before and while Sheridan’s army was in winter quarters at Winchester, Va. Gen. Custer with his staff and escort galloping out the Romney Pike, came suddenly upon the sentinel at the picket post, who ordered “Halt” and demanded the countersign.
An attempt by the General to awe the sentinel, who was told that certainly he knew well who it was seeking to pass, made no difference; and the General proceeding to ride forward was again abruptly stopped before the sentinel’s raised gun and the declaration that he would shoot anyone attempting to pass without first giving the countersign. Thereupon the General dismounted, advanced, gave the countersign and was permitted to pass.
24th. Wilmington ours! Went to Winchester to get some barbering done—Smith and I. Pleasant time. Beautiful day overhead. Roads bad. On board of administration with Barnitz and Easton to make appropriation of Regt’s fund for colors. Regt. on picket. Felt most sick. Proposition to go home when A. B. returns with Lissa to Washington.
23rd. Soon after breakfast received one wagon to each company to fix up stables with. Worked all day in rain. Great improvement in them. Macadamized them. Not done yet. Interesting school in evening.
22nd. Spent the day in camp. Read Scott’s “Heart of Midlothian.” Much interested. Smith and I studied our lesson together. Capt. Barnitz in class. Got the bundle from home. Am pleased with the new clothes. Good friends.
21st. Went down and saw Chester. Went home with Houghton and played chess. Beat him three games. Cold and chilly. In P. M. studied my lesson. No school in evening—very stormy. Signed and returned a Warranty Deed for a lot.
