Balto Sept 5^th 1914

 

Col Winfield Peters

 

            Dr Sir

                        You requested me to give you an account of Genl Fitz Lee's movements at the time I was captured near Hartwood church in 1863, and my trial for treason by the U.S. authorities. You will remember that the U.S. Government had long comtemplated making an example of Marylanders engaged on the Confederate side, and unfortionably selected your humble servant & a fellow soldier for such example.

 

On the 9^th of Feby 1863, Genl Fitz Lee's brigade broke up camp in Caroline County, where it had been stationed since the battle of Fredericksburg, and moved to Culpeper Court House, where on the 12^th, it relieved Hampton's brigade, and assumed the duty of picketing the upper Rappahannock. On the 24 Feb General Fitz Lee crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford, with about 400 men from the 1^st Virginia (my regiment) and the 2^nd and 3^rd Virginia regiments, to make a reconnoissance on the Falmouth road, under orders from Major General Stuart. From the time we crossed the river the men the two companys from the 1^st V^a "K" and "D" headed the column, "K" my company leading the advance to Hartwood church, where we encountered the enemy's Cavalry, capturing their outpost pickets, 4 in number, near the out-skirts of a field to the left of the Falmouth Road. This we did without firing a shot. The four pickets were captured by Ned Pue, / Ben Morgan, Wash Mercer and myself, we being the first set of fours. We then charged the reserve camp of the 17^th Pennsylvania regiment cav and capturing 150 prisoners, with their horses, arms and equipments, among whom were five commissioned Officers. Of these I captured five but lost the last two by being captured myself by Lieutenant Young, with a squadron of the 17 Pennsylvania who had been out, relieving his pickets and came up just as I was bringing the last two prisoners from the woods. He them marched marched to the left of the Falmouth road with his squadron to Col Winslow's headquarters, of the 10^th New York Zouave's, who sent me to General Meade's headquarters, who commanded the 5^th US Army / Corps and who in turn sent me under heavy guard to General Hookers headquarters. What followed is best told by the Balto Sun in its articles of "50 Years Ago Today From Chancellorsville to Gettysburg"

            From The Sun May 30 1863

"A few days ago James R Oliver, a native of Maryland, was tried before a millitary commission in the Army of the Potomac, of which Gen Daniel E. Sickles was president. The nature of the case is apparent from the charge and specification, which are as follows: "Charge, treason, Specification: In this, that James R Oliver, being a citizen of Maryland, was taken prisoner while in arms in the ranks and uniform of the rebel army at Rappahannock Ford Feb- / ruary 24 1863 (—It was not at Rappahannock Ford that I was made prisoner, but at Hartwood church J.R.O.—). The accused pleaded guilty to the specification, but not guilty to the charge. The charges filed with the commissioners set forth that in April 1862, he went to Richmon Richmond intending to make his home there and enlisted in the course of the same month. Upon this state of facts the court found the accused guilty of treason and sentenced him to be hanged. General Hooker forwarded the proceedings with the endorsement strongly approved", but the President disapproved, adding that the man in question was a prisoner of war and entitled to be treated as such and to be exchanged." J R Oliver

 

            Corp Co K 1^st V^a Cavalry

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