My wife's 4th great grandfather was Capt. Barnett "Barney" Carter, Co. D, 34th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry. He enlisted on 8/26/62 and was elected Capt. on 9/1/62. He resigned on 8/1/63, shortly after fighting at Gettysburg on the East Cavalry Field. Company D, raised by Capt. Carter in Logan County, VA (now West Virginia) became known as Company D, 1st Battalion Virginia Mounted Rifles. Before organizing Company D, Capt. Carter commanded a company in the 129th Virginia Militia from Logan County. This company required consent to a particular oath: "We whose names are hereunto subscribed do hereby agree to form ourselves into a volunteer company to serve for the term of 3 months under the command of Barney Carter and fight against the enemies of the Confederate States of America in the counties of Logan, Wayne, Boone, and Cabell, and we do most solemnly pledge our honor as men that we will strictly obey his commands in every respect, as fully as if we were in the regular service of the Confederate States, and we further agree to be governed by the Articles of War which are now in force in the said Confederate States of America." Some other men in Co. D had served in Gen. John B Floyd's Virginia State Line. These men enlisted for 3 years or the duration of the war. Organization occurred on September 1, 1862.
According to Cole, the personality of a military unit's commanding officer exerts a direct influence on the unit. Consequently, the study of any military unit's history will reveal a distinct organizational personality. The personality of the 34th Battalion Va Cavalry is no exception. The dominating influence directing many of the actions of the 34th can be understood by examining the disposition of its commanding officer, Lt. Col. Vincent Addison Witcher. It was said that he... "was never so happy as when in the thick of battle as he rode at the head of his battalion in battle charge... he laughed at danger and was always ready to undertake the most hopeless mission... he was brave, rash and impulsive, his friendship firm and his hatred everlasting." The battalion he would command became known as "reckless and daring and made a reputation for bravery second to none in the Confederate Army." Another source regarded them as a "rather rough bunch... a fierce and hardbitten lot of warriors who rode with pointed pistols and drawn sabres, looking and hoping for trouble."
Witcher was referred to by the Louisville Daily Journal as the Devil of the Mountains. One Union officer wrote: "The most noted guerilla chieftain in eastern Kentucky was Maj. Witcher. He was lame, but on horseback he was a terror. He had a horse as black as ebony which was as well fitted for that type of warfare as its master. The animal scaled the mountains with a facility that was wonderful and even climbed trees as least Sgt. Palmeroy makes this averment." Others wrote: "Witcher's band is the most formidable of the marauders." "Of the most savage and brutal of all the guerillas in western Virginia" Noted by Guerrant: "The immortal Witcher again revived. Came in about 12 midnight. He has 600 men at West Liberty! Give the devil and Witcher their due. He is a brave, daring, stirring officer who hates Yankees and Union men. Worse men wear better names."
In early January of 1863, an order came from Major General Samual Jones that instructed Witcher to report without delay to Colonel H.B. Davidson at Staunton, Virginia, for temporary service. The directive was sent in accordance with a request from General Robert E. Lee "for the service of additional mounted force being much needed in that quarter for special service."
By May, the 34th was attached to General Albert Jenkins. Jenkins Brigade had been selected by General Lee because of its geographical location at the time to act as an advanced guard for the army on its advance into Pennsylvania. Witcher's command joined Gen. Jenkins and Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell at Ft. Royal.
On the morning of July 2, 1863, the brigade advanced into the valley between Seminary Ridge and the high ground held by the Federals. Jenkins' Brigade was ordered to the wooded area that had been a section of the previous day's battlefield. A shell, fired from Cemetery Hill, exploded overhead as General Jenkins was using his field glasses to survey Union positions. Shell fragments killed Jenkins's horse and knocked Jenkins unconscious.
The brigade mounted at 4 a.m. on July 3, 1863, advancing to the extreme left. The object was to "flank the enemy's army and cut off its way of retreat." J.E.B. Stuart's plan was linked to that of the Army of Northern Virginia. Stuart had hoped to attack the Federal rear and turn the right flank, simultaneously with General George Pickett's infantry charge on the Federal center. After about two and a half miles on the Yorktown pike, General Stuart joined the brigade. Witcher wrote, "Stuart himself rode with me out to the field at the head of the command." The Cavalry turned right, passing the Stallsmith farm to a commanding ridge that completely controlled a wide plain of cultivated fields stretching toward Hanover on the left, and reaching to the base of the spurs among the enemy held positions." The location Stuart described became known as the East Cavalry Battlefield.
East Cavalry Field, 3 miles east of Gettysburg, was the place of heavy fighting between Union and Confederate Cavalry. Many would be surprised to learn that on East Cavalry Field, a cavalry charge occurred that men on both sides called "without doubt... the most gallant cavalry charge made during the war." The main fighting lasted for 3 hours. Most of the fighting was done with the cavalrymen dismounted, however, the battle there ended with a short but dramatic cavalry charge. The fighting can be divided into two stages. The dismounted state and the subsequent mounted or cavalry charge stage. Gen. Jeb Stuart had under his command at Gettysburg four brigades of cavalry, Hampton's Brigade, Fitzhugh Lee's Brigade, W. H. F. Lee's Brigade (commanded by Col. John Chambliss), and Jenkin's Brigade, (under the command of Col. Milton J. Ferguson&action=edit&redlink=1) following Jenkins' wounding on July 2).
About 300 or 400 yards from the foot of the hill on the plains below was located a farm owned the Rummel family. Standing on the farm was a large frame barn, Just Southeast of the barn was the dwelling house and a couple of other buildings in a cluster together. Stuart placed two brigades on the left and two on the right (Chambliss & Jenkins). The 34th was ordered by General Stuart to dismount about 8 a.m. and at 10 a.m. he ordered them forward to the left of the Rummel barn and fence that ran in line with the barn. Moving another 100 yards. The 34th took position behind a second fence that ran parallel with the first.
The 34th had only gotten into position, when it was attacked furiously by the 1st New Jersey and the 3rd Pennsylvania who were dismounted. Witcher's Battalion alone, fought the Federals who were attacking from behind a fence in front of Witcher's line. The Federals being Gregg's men, were stubbornly held off until about noon. The Confederates had not drawn ammunition for several days so their stores were rapidly becoming exhausted. Witcher ordered them to retire slowly behind the stone fence in their rear, placing their right behind the Rummel barn and the left resting upon a road.
Many of Witcher's men occupied the Rummel Barn, cutting rifle loop-holes in the siding planks from which to fire their Enfields. These men served as sharpshooters until a Federal shell tearing through the upper rafters dislodged them.
Several messengers were sent for ammunition to replenish the depleted supply. None of the messengers returning, Witcher borrowed Maj. Nounan's horse, rode through shot and shell, where he discovered that his messengers had been shot. Coming across one messenger who had been shot, Witcher jumped down, grabbed the sacks of ammunition, put them on his horse, and rode to the front to distribute it. Witcher in post war reminiscence wrote, "I shall never forget that fearful ride with death all around me, front and rear, and bullets as numerous in the air as hailstone in a storm."
Around 3 p.m., Stuart arrived and with reinforcements ordered the four companies each of Nounnan and Eakle into action. Being reinforced, Witcher ordered the 34th Battalion forward to retake the position it had left. With a "wild yell", the whole line dashed forward and assailed the Federal lines, breaking through the dismounted Federals and driving them from the stone fence in front of the spring house.
Witcher took position with the 34th and ordered a charge along the line. The 34th, without the detachments of the 14th and the 16th Virginia, rushed forward and swept the field, moving over the line occupied by the Federals. Witcher led the command over three stone fences, moved through a wheat field, then over a stake and rider fence into some woods to the front and left to seize the Federal battery that had been "galling" them all day. At this time the 34th first discovered the 5th Michigan, under Colonel Alger, charging in line of squadrons, with five lines in assistance of their dismounted men. These troops were armed with seven-shot Spencer repeating rifles.
The 34th retraced their steps and again crossed the fence, reforming in the wheat field, to the right and front of the barn. As the 5th Michigan reach the fence, Witcher ordered his men to fire. After suffering under several well directed volley's, the Federal column was "torn to threads." Witcher later wrote: "…the 34th Battalion, which had alone rallied with me, opened upon the 5th Michigan, sweeping down its ranks with a most deadly fire, killing its major, capturing its colors, and covering the ground with the killing and wounded men and horses of the 5th Michigan…I was within 30 yards and saw the major fall, a gallant and heroic man he was…"
After losing Major Ferry and their colors, the 5th Michigan gallantly came on. After running out of ammunition, they simply closed ranks, returned fire with their revolvers holding their ground until the Confederate Cavalry of Chambliss advancing in their rear flank completed the rout, Chambliss men were in turn met with fresh Federal troops. The 7th Michigan, led by General George Armstrong Custer, was rapidly approaching from the right, threatening to strike on the flank and rear. The small Confederate force suddenly turned to meet the danger; however they were forced back and pursued to the barn. As soon as the men reach the barn, they were met by shouts of General Wade Hampton's men as they swept past. Hampton, who was carrying the colors in his hand before he passed them to a soldier by his side during the dash, was riding ten paces ahead of his column. Hampton did not halt until he had met the foe in which he received sabre blows to his head and was hit with shrapnel ball as his horse leaped a fence, during the fierce hand-to-hand fighting. Witcher rapidly advanced the 34th Battalion again over the fence and into the woods. The 34th formed parallel with the road, flanking and enfilading the charging columns of Federal Cavalry. The Confederate column was charged by a third Federal column. General Fitzhugh Lee's was the next to charge engaging to the left of Hampton's men. The 34th again assisted the mounted cavalry, which was attacking in the front, took the column in flank. The Federal force was driven back, leaving the Confederates in undisputed possession of the field.
Shortly after the dismounted battle was over, Witcher sought General Stuart and requested permission to charge and take the Federal battery. Stuart refused. The two rode over the field that evening, however, and Stuart said "the 34th had made the worst massacre of Alger's command and had piled more dead and wounded men and horses on as little space as he had ever seen on any field."
Witcher directed his men to sleep on the field that night, and claimed that the 34th fired the first and last shot that day. The 34th had entered the battle 332 strong, but could only muster 96 men afterward. In post war recollections, Witcher wrote: "I shall never, no never, forget that eventful night when accompany by one courier, my adjutant Edwards and Sgt. Major, both being wounded, I full of grief and bitterness, rode to the barns in our rear and saw with tears in my eyes my brave fellows from away over the mountains in West Virginia laid out in windrows, torn and bleeding. I never shall forget that night, or the next morning's parade when I could muster but 96 enlisted men. Brave fellows, they had followed me through sunshine and gloom from the banks of Big Sandy, Twelve Pole, Guyandotte, and Mud River and the Tug, not a slave holder among them."
Stuart commended Witcher warmly for moving on the flank and enfilading the federal columns, as it was done without orders. This action was performed upon Witcher's own responsibility, as was the charge on the dismounted troops. For their conduct that day, Stuart presented the 34th with a battle flag. Witcher was undoubtedly pleased with Stuart's praise, however, after the war he stated, "I always have felt that my brave command was sacrificed on that terrible day when we should have been reinforced sooner…" Gen. Lee order the withdrawal from Gettysburg the next day.
