Report of Maj. Crawley P. Dake, 5th Michigan Cavalry

06 January 2007 by Published in: Union Cavalry No comments yet

After Col. Russell A. Alger and his lieutenant colonel were both wounded, and after the senior major, Noah Ferry, was killed on East Cavalry Field at Gettysburg, the next senior officer was Maj. Crawley P. Dake. Dake put together an extremely cursory review of the activities of the regiment for the rest of the campaign–an itinerary, really. E. A. Paul published it in The New York Times, and it also appears in Michigan in the War. It has been published twice since then, once by me as an appendix to At Custer’s Side: The Civil War Writings of James Harvey Kidd, and it also appears in the Broadfoot Supplement to the Official Records. In spite of its recent publication, I will nevertheless include it here.

July 9th. Remained quietly at Boonsborough during day and night.

July 10th. Proceeded to the right of Funkstown and picketed the right during day and night.

July 11th. Still on picket and support for the battery.

July 12th. Moved towards Hagerstown; charged through the city, everywhere driving the enemy. Lieutenant Colonel Gould was wounded in the charge. Two squadrons dismounted on the left of the city and drove a superior force from its position. Picketed during the rest of the day and night.

July 13th. The regiment remained on picket in and around the city during the day and night.

July 14th. Moved out of Hagerstown in the advance to Williamsport, charged into the town, met no considerable force, moved to the right of the town, and up the river bank, and drove a small force of the enemy’s rear guard across the river, capturing a considerable number of prisoners. Rejoined the brigade at Falling Waters.

July 15th. Marched to Boonsborough.

July 16th. Marched to Berlin, on the Potomac, and remained day and night.

July 17th. Crossed to Purcelville and Snicker’s Gap, arrving at the latter place about noon. Dismounted and deployed as skirmishers. After skirmishing some time, took possession of and held the Gap for the night. Several prisoners were captured.

July 18th. Remained in possession of the Gap all day, and then returned to Purcelville.

July 19th. Marched from Purcelville to Upperville.

July 20th. Moved toward Ashby’s Gap; dismounted, deployed as skirmishers, and moved up into the mountains–the advance resisting a cavalry charge while the skirmishers, driving the enemy from the Gap, took possession of it. Returned to Upperville same night.

July 21st. Still at Upperville. On the 22d moved to Manassas Railroad.

July 23rd. Moved to Newby’s Cross Roads, in advance, ten squadrons dismounting to fight; deployed as skirmishers and moved on the right. Two squadrons mounted, remained in line in front. After some skirmishing obeyed orders to fall back.

What’s interesting is that most of the Union officers don’t seem to have considered the Gettysburg Campaign ended until the armies returned to their original starting positions astride the Rappahannock River, which did not happen until the end of July. Modern historians have arbitrarily chosen to call it ended with the crossing of the Potomac, but there was still quite a bit of fighting to be done.

For those interested in the Shoot-out at the Okay Corral, Crawley P. Dake became the U. S. marshal for the Arizona Territory. Dake was the one who commissioned both Virgil and Wyatt Earp as marshals. Dake was known for his effective use of special posses. He is inexorably tied to western lore.

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