A Lincoln Cavalryman - Edwin Savacool
There was some research of Captain Edwin Savacool required for my post on American soldiers associated with Jackson County (MI) that have received the Congressional Medal of Honor. He started as a private in a cavalry company that was formed in Marshall, Michigan. He was initially denied enlistment due to his small stature. Savacool's fellow soldiers conspired to hide his presence in the unit until it was too late. Their officers eventually relented and he remained with the company that was eventually formed into a brigade known as The Lincoln Cavalry.
Below is an excerpt from a 19th-century book on The Lincoln Cavalry.
You will note that the term "fac simile" is used to describe the money that the Union soldiers used when they were in the Confederacy. This was counterfeit scrip printed by the Union to devalue the southern currency. As an enlisted soldier, Edwin Savacool became a talented scout who would range ahead of his unit obtaining intelligence about Confederate units. He used the fac simile scrip to purchase food and supplies from southerners as it was deemed easier than simply taking those goods from the Southerners.
You may note that in the passage below that they purchased a young slave boy using the fac simile script, brought him back to the unit, and then set him free.
It should also be noted that the passage that follows comes from the 19th century. Language is used that might offend those immature enough to recognize it for what it is; a sign of the times from which this passage comes rather than an excuse to insult and dismiss old-fashioned people for using old-fashioned language during an old-fashioned time.
As a final note, it would seem that much of Edwin Savacool's time as a scout was spent dressed in Confederate grey. He would approach through guile and then take prisoner members of the Confederate forces. At one point, Edwin Savacool dressed as a Confederate postal carrier; collecting and delivering the mail as a means of gathering useful intelligence.
Such behavior by modern military forces is frowned upon by the Geneva Conventions. Such actions can get someone dead in a hurry. I suppose the same could be said during the Civil War. The primary difference being that the official stance of our modern military leadership is officially far less accepting of such behavior than was the case 150 years ago.
The following passage comes from "The bravest five hundred of '61. Their noble deeds described by themselves, together with an account of some gallant exploits of our soldiers in Indian warfare. How the medal of honor was won" by Theophilus Rodenbough that was published in 1891. I accessed an electronic copy that is maintained by the Cornell University Library via Archive.org.
The following excerpt is from pages 272 to 280. The wound received at Soldier's Creek would take Edwin Savacool's life a few weeks later. The details of his actions at Soldier's Creek are regrettably thin.
[The preceding has been modestly edited for clarity.]
The following text has been edited in a couple of spots where the OCR software severely mistranslated some text but is otherwise unchanged from the original.
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" The regiment reported for duty to General Franklin the day after the battle of Bull Run. Their first collision with the enemy occurred during a reconnoissance made by Capt. Boyd's troop near Pohick Church, Va. Although the ' Lincolns ' retained possession of the field, they lost one — Private Jacob Erwin — killed. It is claimed that he ' was the first cavalryman killed in defense of the Union, and this the first charge made by volunteer cavalry in the war, on the Federal side.' "
The regiment, although designated the " First N. Y. (Lincoln) Cavalry " was not, especially, representative of the Empire State, comprising companies from New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan, with a personnel of every nationality on the face of the globe, of which perhaps fifty per cent, were Americans.
Passing over the service of this body of horse under McClellan on the Peninsula, Milroy in the Shenandoah Valley, and Meade in Pennsylvania, during which it made a reputation on both sides of the line for great efficiency in partisan warfare and invaluable service in procuring information of the enemy's movements, the Lincoln cavalrymen returned to the Valley once more, to become a thorn in the side of the Confederacy. Major Stevenson says of them in concluding his stirring record :
" During their term of service they had marched thousands of miles; had killed and wounded hundreds of the enemy; and had captured about 4,000 prisoners, 3,000 horses, 400 wagons, 4 cannons, 1,000 muskets, 2,000 revolvers and 700 sabres."
Where all were brave it is difficult to pick out one deserving especial notice. Yet such an one there was, and one or two incidents in his career will serve to illustrate the character of the service and the sort of mettle required from a " Lincoln cavalryman." Again we quote from the regimental history :
" After being in the ' valley ' awhile, our men became so familiar with every road and path that we dispensed with the citizens, and organized a band of scouts from the men of our regiment. We had a. number of brave fellows to whom adventure and danger were a pleasant excitement, and we soon had a body of the best scouts in the army. The principal men among them were Savacool, Atkins and Vosburg, of Company K ; Peavy and Valentine, of Company B ; and Forkey, Dunn and the Goubleman brothers, of Company D. On one occasion a party of these men went clear down to North Carolina- They had plenty of Confederate money, which they procured from Philadelphia, in sheets, for a trifling sum; the words ^ fac simile,' printed at the bottom of each note, so that it could easily be cut off. This money was pronounced genuine by the cashier of the bank at Winchester, and passed current everywhere in Rebeldom. The boys always had plenty of poultry, eggs, butter, milk, etc., when on scout, without the trouble of taking them. They bought them, and were always welcomed by the inhabitants.
" On the trip to North Carolina, the boys brought back a lot of fine horses and a negro whom they had purchased from his master for three thousand dollars "fac simile.' The poor darkey was astonished when he found himself in the camp of the Yankees, a free man.
" Savacool went through the valley as a mail carrier, collecting letters at all the houses, and much information was obtained in this way. On. one of his trips he met Gilmer's battalion, and could not hide, so he boldly faced the music. He had captured many of these men, and was afraid some of them would recognize him. Gilmor quizzed him closely, but his suspicions were allayed by Savacool taking a letter from his pouch addressed to Gilmor himself. It was from a lady in Winchester, and he was so well pleased with the contents that he gave Savacool a pull at his canteen of apple-jack. He then informed Savacool that they were on their way to burn the bridge of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad over Back Creek.
" Savacool had no sooner got away from them than he made a detour, and rode for Martinsburg with all haste to inform Colonel McReynolds of what he had heard. Captain R. G. Prendergast was immediately sent to Back Creek Valley with one hundred men to look after the bridge-burners. Fifty of the men were from our regiment, and fifty from the Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry under Captain Henry.
" Prendergast, learning that the party were concealed in a piece of woods, disposed of his men so as to cut off retreat, and then charged into the ambush, capturing Captain Blackford and his lieutenant, and thirty men with all their arms, besides thirty-six horses with their equipments complete.
" On our way up the Valley, Sergeant Edwin F. Savacool of Company K, of our regiment, was in the extreme advance, as he usually was, dressed in a full suit of Confederate gray, and ' roped in ' several prisoners.
" Between Berry ville and Millwood he found a fine horse with full set of military equipments, tied to a fence, and his rider up a tree picking persimmons. He hailed the ' Johnny ' and told him he had better get down, as the Yankees were coming up the road from Berryville.
" The fellow showed great alacrity in descending from the tree, but when he attempted to get his horse, Savacool pointed his revolver at him and informed him that he was a prisoner. ' That's bad,' said the Johnny, heaving a sigh, and at once handed over his arms and accoutrements. Savacool turned his prisoner over to the first men who came up, and passed on ahead as before.
" On arriving at the Shenandoah River, near Front Royal, he learned from a negro that young Baylor, of Mosby's gang, was at his mother's house, on the point of land between the forks of the river, which meet at that place- It was known as Richards' Farm House, Mrs. Baylor having married Mr. Richards. As Savacool entered, with cocked revolver, the inmates were much surprised, as they thought he was a Confederate soldier, on account of his clothing.
" While the old lady was talking to him, her son edged up and made a spring for his throat, at the same time grasping the pistol with one of his hands. Savacool pulled the. trigger, causing the hammer to come down on Baylor's thumb, and he let go his hold and jumped behind his mother. She then begged Savacool not to shoot him, which he promised not to do, provided he would quietly surrender. This Baylor agreed to do, and Savacool took a seat, pistol in hand, to await the arrival of our troops.
" The old lady got up on a chair and began to rummage the shelves of a closet, and Savacool noticed her putting something behind her as she turned to get down. His suspicions were aroused, and he told her to show her hands. She did not obey, but kept backing towards her son, and Savacool told her to halt or he would blow her son's brains out.
" She then burst into tears, and begged him not to kill them, as she produced a small revolver from behind her back. At that moment we rode up, and Baylor was placed under guard ; his mother begging of us to treat him kindly. If I am not mistaken he slipped away from the guard that night at Strasburg, and made his escape.
" Edwin F. Savacool was, in many respects, one of the best, if not the very best soldier in our regiment. If any man ever possessed a ' heart that knew no fear,' that man was Savacool. His modesty was equal to his courage, and it was a long time before his merits were properly recognized.
" He enlisted as a private in the first one hundred cavalry that left New York, and was transferred to the New York Lincoln Cavalry. He was promoted to a lieutenancy, in 1864, for his daring conduct in capturing, single-handed, the notorious Blackford, and for other daring deeds was soon promoted to a captaincy. He brought into camp, in two years and five months, single-handed, 72 prisoners. Within five months he had five horses shot under him. On the day before he was wounded the horse, which he rode, received seven balls.
" His services, and the severe wound he had just received won for him a commission ; and the colonel presented him with a costly pair of shoulder straps, in the presence of General McClellan, at our re-enlistment reception in New York, after overwhelming the poor fellow with praise, which confused and frightened Him more than ' grim-visaged war ' had ever done.
" On another occasion. Sergeant Charles N. Warren, of Company K, and a man named Hogan, were in advance of the advance guard, dressed in Confederate gray. On entering Newtown they went into a house and inquired if any of their men (meaning Confederates) were in town. 'What do you belong to?' said the lady of the house. 'We belong to Gilmor's battalion,' was the reply. She then informed them that Captain Blackford and half a dozen of his men were around the corner, in ' Aunt Mary's,' getting supper. This was a little inn kept by a widow lady, who went by the above name.
" On hearing this, Warren rode back to meet the column, and told Sergeant Savacool, who was that day in command of his company, and these two, accompanied by several others, set out at a gallop to look after Blackford. (This is the same Blackford who was captured in Back Creek Valley with his company, in the previous September; but had escaped from Fort McHenry a short time afterwards.)
" The approaching horses were heard by Blackford and his men, and they got out of the back door into the garden, and hid among the currant bushes. On entering the house Savacool inquired where Blackford and his men were, and ' Aunt Mary ' stoutly denied having seen them.
" Savacool and his men then passed through the house into the garden, and began a search. The 'Johnnies' were concealed in the farther end ; but fearing discovery, they broke cover, jumped over the garden fence, and made for the pines. Our men gave chase, firing at them and commanding them to surrender. Blackford was on top of the fence, and shouted, ' I surrender,' and the soldiers advanced to take him ; but the moment they lowered their pistols he leaped from the fence and ran for his life. Warren had captured one of the Johnnies, and was taking him back to the house, while Savacool pursued Blackford, each firing at the other as rapidly as they could. At length Blackford was hit, and then he turned on his pursuer like a stag at bay. Savacool stopped also, and both took deliberate aim, each at the other. Both fired and both fell together.
" Warren was just returning, after having delivered his prisoner, and on reaching Savacool he found he had been shot in the thigh, and seriously though not dangerously wounded. Blackford called for help, and Warren ran to him and gave him a drink from his canteen ; but he was mortally wounded and died in a very few minutes.
" By this time many of our men had reached the scene of this fatal duel, and Blackford's body was carried up to 'Aunt Mary's' and laid upon the table from which he had eaten his supper about fifteen minutes before. Such is War."
On the morning of April 6, 1865, Lee's columns were discovered at Sailor's Creek, on a road leading directly to Burk's Station, on the Danville Railroad, which point they still hoped to make ; but the Sixth Corps, under General Wright, was ready to dispute the way, and a battle was begun by the enemy in order to force a passage.
At this battle Custer's division again covered itself with glory. The First New York (Lincoln) Cavalry were the first to enter the enemy's lines, and in so doing the brave and intrepid Captain Edwin F. Savacool was seriously wounded at the moment he snatched the first Confederate battle flag from the hands of its bearer.
Want of space prevents us from dwelling upon this soldier's service on this day, for which a Medal of Honor was conferred. Suffice it to say that as private, sergeant, lieutenant or captain, he had always done his whole duty. He was foremost in every action, inspiring his men with enthusiasm to follow where it was possible for soldiers to go.
In his simplicity, manliness, and straightforwardness; in his discreet but fearless bravery, that won for him the admiration even of his enemies; in his large heart, with an intense hatred of the Rebellion, yet so full of generous impulses and fervent love of country, we recognize the character of a true hero and patriot.
