Action at Nineveh

This article is about an 1864 American Civil War action fought in Virginia. For the battle fought in what is now Iraq around 612 BC, see Battle of Nineveh (612 BC).

The Action at Nineveh was a cavalry action that occurred on November 12, 1864, during the American Civil War. A Union cavalry division led by Brigadier General William H. Powell defeated a Confederate cavalry brigade commanded by Brigadier General John McCausland. The fight took place in Nineveh, Virginia, near the road from Newtown to Front Royal, which is known as the Front Royal Pike. Nineveh is located in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley south of Winchester and north of the Shenandoah River in Warren County.

Action at Nineveh
Part of the American Civil War
Warren County in Virginia
Date November 12, 1864 Location Warren County, Virginia Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Br Gen William H. Powell	Br Gen John McCausland
Units involved
Second Cavalry Division  1st Brigade 8 OH Cavalry 14 PA Cavalry 21 NY Cavalry  2nd Brigade 1 WV Cavalry 3 WV Cavalry 1 NY Cavalry	Lomax's Division  McCausland's Brigade 14 VA Cavalry 16 VA Cavalry 17 VA Cavalry 21 VA Cavalry 22 VA Cavalry 62 VA Mtd Infantry Lurty's Battery
Casualties and losses
17 2 killed 15 wounded 0 captured/missing	216 20 killed 35 wounded 161 captured

Powell's 1st Brigade was sent south on the Front Royal Pike to search for Confederate cavalry. Commanded by Colonel William B. Tibbits, the brigade encountered a portion of Confederate Major General Lunsford L. Lomax's cavalry commanded by McCausland. The Confederates slowly pushed the 1st Brigade back, but Tibbits sent a messenger to notify Powell of the situation. Repelling the attackers twice, Confederate leadership believed they had driven the Union cavalry away. Powell, riding with his 2nd Brigade, brought it to the front while the 1st Brigade moved to the rear. The 2nd Brigade charged, resulting in a short clash that ended with the Confederates being chased for 8 miles (12.9 km). Powell captured all of McCausland's artillery (two guns), the ammunition train, numerous small arms, and took over 150 prisoners.

Two men received the Medal of Honor for their undertakings in this action. Private James F. Adams from Company D of the 1st West Virginia Cavalry received his award for the capture of the state flag of the 14th Virginia Cavalry. Sergeant Levi Shoemaker from Company A of the 1st West Virginia Cavalry received his award for the capture of the flag of the 22nd Virginia Cavalry.

Prelude

Winchester–New Market Region

On October 19, 1864, a Union army defeated a Confederate army in the Battle of Cedar Creek in the American Civil War.^[1] The battle took place in the Shenandoah Valley of Northern Virginia, near Cedar Creek, Middletown, and the Valley Pike.^[2] The Confederate Army, commanded by Lieutenant General Jubal Early, appeared to be victorious early in the battle. During the afternoon, Major General Philip Sheridan rallied his troops for a victory, and Union cavalry played an important role in both saving the army during the morning and the counterattack in the afternoon.^[3] Following the battle, Early's army reorganized further south at New Market, while Sheridan's army stayed on site until it moved north to Kernstown on November 9.^{[4][Note 1]}

At New Market, Early received reports from his scouts concerning Sheridan's November 9 movement. While Sheridan's purpose was to have a shorter line of supply and better winter quarters, Early believed that Sheridan could be detaching some of his troops to eastern Virginia. Early moved his army north from New Market to Middletown.^[7] Sheridan became aware of Early's movement before noon on November 12, and countered with his cavalry. On Sheridan's right (west), the Union cavalry divisions commanded by Brigadier General Wesley Merritt and Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer were sent south where they would oppose cavalry commanded by Major General Thomas L. Rosser. On Sheridan's left (east), Brigadier General William H. Powell was sent with his division south on the Front Royal Pike. His cavalry expected to oppose cavalry commanded by Major General Lunsford L. Lomax.^[8]

Rosser's cavalry was driven back and required assistance from Lomax.^[9] While a portion of Lomax's division left to provide the assistance, McCausland's brigade remained at Cedarville on the Front Royal Pike. McCausland's position enabled his cavalry to protect Early's troops at Middletown from having their Valley Pike escape route cut off if the Union cavalry was able to circle behind.^[10] Between Cedarville and Newtown on the Front Royal Pike was the small community known as Nineveh.^{[Note 2]} Located in Warren County, Nineveh is one of the county's oldest communities. Earlier in the 19th century it had been known as Stoney Point.^{[12][Note 3]}

Opposing forces

Union

W. H. Powell

Brigadier General William H. Powell called his division Second Cavalry Division, Department of West Virginia, and on November 12 it consisted of two brigades.^[14]

• 1st Brigade was commanded by Colonel William Badger Tibbits of the 21st New York Cavalry Regiment. It consisted of three cavalry regiments: the 8th Ohio, 14th Pennsylvania, and the 21st New York cavalries.^[14]
• 2nd Brigade was commanded by Colonel Henry Capehart of the 1st West Virginia Cavalry Regiment. For the day's action, it consisted of three cavalry regiments: the 1st West Virginia, 3rd West Virginia, and 1st New York.^[14] The three regiments were commanded in this action by Major Harvey Farabee, Lieutenant Colonel John Lowry McGee, and Colonel Alonzo W. Adams, respectively.^[15] A fourth cavalry regiment, the 2nd West Virginia, was stationed in Martinsburg at the time and absent for the action.^[16] Capehart and the 1st West Virginia Cavalry had already fought in numerous battles in Virginia and West Virginia.^[17] They had been armed with Spencer repeating rifles since 1863.^[18] The 1st New York Cavalry was also very experienced, and by the end of the war it had participated in nearly 230 battles and skirmishes.^[19] It was also known as the "Lincoln Cavalry".^[20]

Confederate

J. McCausland

Brigadier General John McCausland commanded the Confederate brigade in the action at Nineveh on November 12. He submitted a "brief report of the engagement" on November 13, and did not list the units under his command.^[10] The units listed below are based on Union Brigadier General William H. Powell's November 17 report.^{[14][Note 4]} A year earlier, some of these units had been involved in the Battle of Droop Mountain, where the Confederate Army had been nearly surrounded—and fled the battleground in defeat as a second Union force threatened to cut off its escape route.^[26]

• 14th Virginia Cavalry Regiment - This regiment was listed as part of McCausland's Brigade (which was commanded by John McCausland) during the previous month at the October 19 Battle of Cedar Creek.^[25] It fought in the Battle of Droop Mountain.^[27]
• 16th Virginia Cavalry Regiment - This regiment was listed as part of McCausland's Brigade during the previous month at Cedar Creek.^[25] In addition to Cedar Creek, it had experience fighting in the Battle of Gettysburg.^[28] This regiment did not directly participate in the Battle of Droop Mountain, but it was part of the rear guard as the Confederate Army fled.^[29]
• 17th Virginia Cavalry Regiment - This regiment was listed as part of McCausland's Brigade during the previous month at Cedar Creek.^[25] In addition to Cedar Creek, it had experience fighting in the Battle of Gettysburg.^[30]
• 21st Virginia Cavalry Regiment - This regiment is listed as being part of Bradley T. Johnson's Brigade in the previous month's Battle of Cedar Creek.^[25]
• 22nd Virginia Cavalry Regiment - This regiment is listed as being part of Bradley T. Johnson's Brigade in the previous month's Battle of Cedar Creek.^[25]
• 62nd Virginia Mounted Infantry Regiment - This regiment is listed as part of Imboden's Brigade for the previous month's Battle of Cedar Creek.^[25]
• Lurty's Battery - This artillery battery had two guns (artillery pieces).^[14] It is listed in the order of battle for the previous month's Battle of Cedar Creek, and also fought in the Battle of Droop Mountain.^[31]

Fight

Descriptions of the action at Nineveh differ somewhat on the cause of the victory. One point of view revolves around leadership and direct participation by the division commander, another blames negligence by Confederate leadership, and a third credits the size of the Union force. All points of view agree on the end result.^{[32][Note 5]}

Union point of view

1st Brigade

Sheridan moved to Kernstown and Early to Middletown

The morning of November 12 began with Powell's division resting near Winchester. Colonel Tibbits and his 1st Brigade began a probe south on the road to Front Royal.^[16] Near the small community of Nineveh, they began fighting with a Confederate brigade commanded by Brigadier General McCausland. The fighting did not go well for Tibbits' soldiers, and they began falling back.^[16] According to a letter written by Colonel Capehart, McCausland was using a "heavy line of dismounted skirmishers".^[34] An orderly was sent north to notify Powell of the situation.^[16]

Hearing the news, Powell immediately gathered his remaining available cavalry, which consisted of three regiments from Capehart's 2nd Brigade. They moved south on the Front Royal Pike at a trot. After about eight miles (13 km), they met Tibbits' brigade falling back in a hard fight. Powell formed the Second Brigade in battle formation, with the 3rd West Virginia Cavalry riding on the left, the 1st New York in the middle, and the 1st West Virginia on the right.^[16] The 1st Brigade passed to the rear in intervals, and then the 2nd Brigade moved to the front. McCausland's soldiers were posted on high ground with two well-posted artillery pieces.^[35]

2nd Brigade attacks

Charge by 1st New York (Lincoln) Cavalry at Nineveh

Powell was said to be on the field and guiding the battle formation.^[36] He instructed the two West Virginia regiments to move around the Confederates as if in a flanking maneuver, while the 1st New York maintained the front line. The New Yorkers charged and overran the Confederates, who either surrendered or retreated.^[37] At the same time, the two West Virginia regiments on the flanks moved toward the center.^{[38][Note 6]}

Colonel Adams of the 1st New York was personally involved in apprehending the first of the two artillery pieces captured.^[39] Three companies from the 1st West Virginia Cavalry captured the other gun.^[34] The two artillery pieces captured were said to be 12-pounder howitzers.^[40]

The Confederates were chased south across both branches of the Shenandoah River and through the town of Front Royal—a distance of about eight miles (13 km) that was covered by the faster horses in 40 minutes. The chase was led by Colonel Adams of the 1st New York and a lieutenant from Capehart's staff. Those with slower horses picked up prisoners and abandoned Confederate property.^[41] Union Major General Alfred T.A. Torbert reported that the Confederates were pursued two miles (3.2 km) south of Front Royal.^[42]

Confederate point of view

Union pursuit of Confederates across Shenandoah River

Hotchkiss and Early

The journal of Confederate Captain Jedediah Hotchkiss' describes the Action at Nineveh as happening "late in the p.m." at Cedarville. It concluded that after repulsing two attacks, McCausland believed he had driven the Union cavalry away. McCausland's brigade paused to eat, and was caught unprepared by a third attack. McCausland was driven through Front Royal, and lost two pieces of artillery.^[43]

Two Union soldiers had experiences that agree with Hotchkiss. A soldier from Company E of the 1st New York Cavalry, which was positioned on the left end of the middle regiment, wrote about his company's reconnaissance mission before the 2nd Brigade attacked. He said that the Confederate soldiers "looked at us in astonishment, and did not fire one shot".^[44] On the Union right, a soldier from the 1st West Virginia Cavalry noted that McCausland's fighters were dismounted and stood without a skirmish line—something the Union soldiers thought "was strange".^[45]

At least one historian agrees that McCausland was caught unprepared as his soldiers relaxed, ate, and fed their horses. Robert K. Krick wrote that McCausland's soldiers ignored "the basic disciplinary and security measures necessary in disputed country".^[46] Lieutenant General Early punished some of the soldiers "for misbehavior before the enemy on Nov. 12th 1864" by publishing their names, having them forfeit their horses, and transferring them from the cavalry to the infantry.^[46]

John McCausland

McCausland's report agrees that two Union attacks were repulsed, and claims Powell's division was driven back two miles (3.2 km) until it was reinforced by a "command supposed to be a division".^[10] He said the Union force charged and broke his lines, and mentions the loss of two lieutenant colonels. He reported that his retreat ended at Front Royal, and the fight lasted from noon until 3:30 pm.^[10] His report also said that the "men and officers behaved with great gallantry".^[10]

Aftermath

Beginning of newspaper account of the conflict

The November 12 confrontation at Nineveh has been classified as an action in Frederick H. Dyer's A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion.^[47] Two men from the 1st West Virginia Cavalry were awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in the fight. Private James F. Adams, from Company D, received his medal for "Capture of State flag of 14th Virginia Cavalry (C.S.A.)".^[48] The other medal winner was Sergeant Levi Shoemaker from Company A. His citation is "Capture of flag of 22d Virginia Cavalry (C.S.A.)".^[49] The performance of Capehart's 2nd Brigade did not go unnoticed. General Sheridan was soon calling it "the fighting brigade".^[50] Later in 1865, the nickname became "Capehart's Fighting Brigade".^[51]

Union casualties for the Nineveh action, plus actions fought by other cavalry divisions on the same day closer to Newtown, totaled to 184 killed, wounded or captured/missing.^[47] Powell's November 17 report listed his casualties (a subset of the 184) as two killed and 15 wounded.^[52]

Powell's November 17 report said Confederate casualties were 20 killed, 35 wounded, and 161 captured. In addition to the two artillery pieces, two caissons, two wagons, and one ambulance were captured. Fleeing Confederate soldiers also left numerous small arms behind.^[14] McCausland's November 13 report said 10 soldiers were killed, 60 were wounded, and 100 captured—but also said that he "cannot state exactly the number of men killed, wounded, and missing, and the above may be considered as the nearest approximation that can now be made."^[10]

A newspaper account, and Major General Torbert in his November 12 report, said McCausland was slightly wounded.^[53] Other Confederate casualties included Lieutenant Colonel John A. Gibson of the 14th Virginia Cavalry, who was wounded at Nineveh and left behind in Cedarville.^[54] That regiment's Major Benjamin Franklin Eakle was also wounded and captured on that day at Cedarville.^[55] The 22nd Virginia Cavalry's Lieutenant Colonel J. T. Radford was mortally wounded.^[56] A newspaper report claimed that Colonel Milton J. Ferguson of the 16th Virginia Cavalry leaped from his horse and ran into a woods to escape capture—losing his mount and equipment.^[57]