Dated “Nashville, Tennessee, January 4, 1863.” From Private Lancaster to sister “Hannah Thomas, Quakerstown, Bucks County, PA.” 14 pp., in ink, on lined paper, 8 x5”. Exhibits horizontal fold marks and light yellowing, slight staining chipping throughout, while remaining clean and entirely legible. Overall VG.

Thomas Lancaster mustered as private in Co. “E”, 15^th PA Cavalry, 8/22/1862, later transferring to Co. “M”. On 10/26/1864 he was discharged for promotion, presumably to another regiment, possibly as an officer. Invites further research, national archives.

Lancaster’s regiment, the 15^th PA Cavalry was formed around the “Anderson Troop”, which served as the headquarters body guard of General Anderson (Major Anderson of Ft. Sumter fame), who briefly commanded the western Army of the Cumberland at the beginning of the war. The “Anderson Troop”, commanded by Captain William J. Palmer, formed the cadre around which the remainder of the regiment was organized in August 1862. This unit remained an independent escort and scouting regiment, serving under the orders of the Army of Cumberland commanders, Gen. Rosecrans and Thomas. Although present at the Battle of Antietam, the 15^th PA served exclusively in the west, participating in the Battle of Stones River, and was later engaged at Chickamauga, while participating in the Tullahoma, Knoxville and Nashville campaigns. It was mustered out in Nashville, 6/21, 1865. During service it lost 25 men killed and mortally wounded, and 103 by disease for a total of 128.

One major regimental episode during service was the December 1862 “mutiny” which the saw six hundred 15^th trooper refusing to leave barracks when ordered from Nashville to participate in the forthcoming action at Stones river. Their major grievance was that the regiment had an insufficient number of company officers and was essentially leaderless and badly organized to boot, and therefore in no condition to fight. (A condition aggravated by the absence of Captain (later colonel) W.J. Palmer, who had been captured at Antietam, and had yet to be paroled and returned to the regiment).

Letter writer Thomas Lancaster was among the 300 hundred troopers who broke ranks elected to ride with regiment to Stones River. His lengthy letter covers regimental affairs during this turbulent period and includes considerable Stones River battle content. Lancaster was well educated and his 14 page letter reads smoothly. His sister Hannah in Bucks Country received an fascinating earful of the 15^th in turmoil at the Battle of Stones River. Text as follows:

“Having another opportunity I again write you thinking that you did not receive my last letter which was written at Louisville, Ky. I received yours on Christmas Day and was glad to hear from home and to know that you were all well. I wrote Ed: the same or next day and told him to write home and tell you of my whereabouts and welfare as I had not time so to do. As we were ordered to go to murfersboro where a battle was expected to take place, about 200 of the troop had a skirmish with the enemy on Christmas Day while out foraging. I was along and standing picket at the time we were attacked, but having 150 wagons to guard we had no time to make battle so we skedadled as orderly as possible leaving two wagons behind as booty for the rebs. in the afternoon of the 26^th we left for Murfersboro and on the morning of the 27 came in contact with the enemy in force. we skirmished with them all day and drove them about 8 miles. the 28^th being Sunday morning of the 27 came in contact with about 8 miles the 28^th being Sunday morning I was in hopes that we would not resume the fight but we started after I had been on picket all night with but two hours sleep but no enemy could be found as they had taken a rather excentric course to evade us on Monday about 2 p.m the rebs were found and our regiment being in the advance at least ½ mile of the entire force they were again driven and as yet we had not lost a man (this was rebel cavalry that we had been fighting up to this time) but suddenly a volley of musketry was heard and no where to be seen but the subtle devils had chosen their own ground and were laying on their bellies in a cornfield behind a stone fence the result was that six of our number were killed and ten wounded and I believe all friend of mine with the exception of three or four who I did not know, one Major was killed and one wounded, who has since died, three
Sergeants were killed and one Wounded, all the rest were privates. we of course fell back to the main army and reported to Gen. Stanley chief of Cavalry under Rosecrans and he immediately ordered Artillery and Infantry to the front but it was near dark before they arrived and nothing more was done on Monday. but the next day at daylight we heard the “Bulldogs” barking in front and it was at once evident that a general engagement had taken place. all day we remained in the rear waiting for something to transpire in which we might participate but night came and yet we were idle. We returned to our place of rest the night before where there was corn plenty for our horses and had just turned in as snug as a soldier can when the bugle sounded (boots and saddles) a call which means for you to be in your saddles less than no time. What could be the matter was the inquiry but no one knew. At last it was a certained that our whole wagon train had been burned about 9 miles back by that desperado Morgan and his band. We rode all night and cold it was too, but Morgan had performed his mission on this road and left it for another. On hearing this we built a fire and had some coffee and crackers for breakfast which we were fortunate enough to get from a train of wagons that had just come in and excaped being seen by Morgan. What was to be done now was the conjecture but no one could tell presently. An orderly rode up stating that our right wing was in danger, that it had been taken while napping as it were, by the rebs in the morning early, that sixteen pieces of artillery had been capture unloaded, and the gunners eating breakfast . This was a pretty tale to tell, and scarcely gained credence, but we were ordered back and on our way met straggler, scared to death I might say, without arms, knapsacks or anything in fact they could dispose of. But still onward we wended our way., jumping fences, ditches and the like, the cannonading all the time becoming more distinct until at least we saw red flags on the chimneys showing that they were hosptials. But yet we did not stop until a shot from a battery in the woods seemed to say so far shall you go but no farther. What we cannot be in the enemy lines yet but here another and another until about a half dozen were fired when a flag of truce was sent in for an explanation, and this it was, rebel cavalry had been operating in our rear all morning and had just been driven away and the artillerist thinking it was the same had been fired on friends. However but one man was hurt. He had his arm badly broken. Had we been further off the the loss would have been much greater. It now became our duty to hunt up the rebs as they had interfering with our ammunition wagons in the rear and had that morning captured a train twice and were as often driven away from it. The search now began but we were not long in it. A regiment of Ohio Cavalry had been after them and found them. They then watched them all day in front and we about 200 yards in the rear to support them (this had been the contested ground in the morning and here and their could be seen a dead rebel or a horse, all the wounded had been taken to the hospitals). About a half an hour before sundown the rebs had got a piece of artillery to support them and soon commenced the attack by firing on the Ohio boys, killing about a half dozen. The rebs being in the woods had every thing their own way so we all fell back together, they thinking that we were whipped and that they would ride us down and capture us. So out of the woods they came cheering ready to split their throats formed a splendid line of battle (which looked as though they were forming dress parade) and in another moment would been ready to devour the Yankees before them. At this moment Gen. Stanley rode up and called for the “Anderson Troop” saying they were the boys he wanted as he was going to make a charge (he has seen us fight before). Sabres and pistols were no sooner called for than they were drawn and at it we went, but when within about 150 yards the rebs fired a volley and fled. My horse was shot from under me and of course I could not pursue. They followed them into the woods, barely giving them time to run away with their battery. Their color bearer was shot by one of our boys in Co. L and the flag secured by him. On one side is this motto, “Death Before Subjugation” and on the other, “third Batallion Tennessee Cavalry.” It is a beautiful silk flag withy eleven stars. I secured my saddle and was coming back. He dismounted and put my things on his horse and so we walked off the field that night. I walked through the hospitals and was informed by a surgeon that the number already wounded was about six thousand by a Surgeon that the number already wounded was about six thousand and that nothing definite as yet had been accomplished on either side. The next morning I had some difficulty in finding the regiment but finally succeeded and ascertained that we were ordered back to Nashville to guard a train of wagons going for provisions and ammunition.

Of course I must have a horse but where to get one I could not tell.l More horses had been killed than men the before and I was in a bad way. There were plenty that had been worn out and turned out to die but they did not suit my shop as “Wm Man Says”. I however selected one that I thought about the best, saddled and bridled him but no sooner had I done so that I found myself on the ground and the horse beside me. Of course he would not do. I got another with better success as he could bear my weightbut could not go faster than a walk. And so we started and when about 13 miles from Nashville where just as we had anticipated attacked by Morgan with 3000 cavalry and 2 pieces of artillery (I should have stated that the Ohio Cavalry accompanied us). We formed line of battle but he did not want to fight. A few volleys were exchanged when he made for the wagons and tried to cut them from us and burn them. The drivers became panic stricken and had you been here yourself you would have almost died with laughter to have seen the hubbub. They cut their mules from some of the wagons and mounted them and rode as if the very devil was after them and I was behind with my old horses with all the ills that horse flesh is heir to taking, is as I could only could go at a slow walk.

Finally the teams were out of the way after many had been thrown down the hillside to clear the road. The rebs concluded that if they could not get the teams that they would scare us so badly that we would jam them to pieces, which they in a measure did. They now got in our rear and fired upon us and I feeling too much exposed, with my nag took to the woods for a few miles and found some of our boys that had done the same. We held a council whether to to go on or encamp for the night, but concluded to endeavor to strike the pike at the nearest point after being satisfied that we were inside our lines. This for a New Year’s celebration I will no doubt refer to when I again resume civil life as being one of the most note in my past life and in fact the whole week has been of as rather an exciting nature to those that cannot keep cool on Chjristmas day until New Year. I have not been out of the sound of cannon and for three days out of the week. I was under fire almost constantly. Our Regiment has suffered severely in killed, wounded, and prisoners. I suppose it will number probably 100 men. Harry Meyers is safe and so is Georg Kline. The whole regiment was not along with us. Some 200 or over staid at Nashville when we left as they were not satisfied with the officers. They have all been put under arrest and will be tried by court martial which I think will be easy as there is a great probability of the regiment disbanded. We have no officers that rank above a Capt. And really not fit to go into an engagement, as yet I have never said anything concerning it although I knew it some two months ago. I suppose that nearly 100 men deserted at Louisville because we could not go as Buell’s Body guard. I went to guard my own body and that of my country and as yet have been submissive to its demands, but should things remain in a disorganized state much longer I will leave Active Service for that of a more satisfactory kind as I can get a situation in the Commissary Depart. Here in Nashville which is termed detached service. But should the regiment be properly officered and organized again I am willing to consign my fate with it. Of the result of the battle you will probably hear before this reaches you. The first The first, second and third days fighting were not very satisfactory, but I understand that they have been completely whipped and that Murfersboro is in our possession and also that John Morgan the guriella has been captured.

I have now written you fourteen pages for which I expect fourteen letters of your size and fourteen postage stamps and then I will write you another of the same size should I find anything worth writing about. I thank God that my life has been spared through the week of battles and am enjoying perfect health. The rainy season has just ____ bout a week since and will last about a month. With love to all, hoping that you are all well.

I subscribe myself your Affectionate Bro. LancR”.

This letter is one of the meatier soldier letters the Horse Soldier has seen. Superb 15^th PA Cav collectible. In protective sleeve, includes brief amount of research material and transcript.  [jp]

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