The following letter was written by Waldo Spear (1843-1907), the son of Hiram Spear (1810-1872) and Lucy C. Ripley (1806-1893) of Springfield, Bradford county, Pennsylvania. Waldo enlisted in Co. C, 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry on 1 November 1861. He was taken prisoner at Gallatin on 25 August 1862 and was paroled due to his injuries. Following his release, he was detailed a courier of the 2nd Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland. He continued in this capacity until he was discharged in November 1864.

Waldo’s letter gives us an account of the Battle of Lebanon—a relatively small affair that took place in and near Lebanon, Tennessee on May 5, 1862. We learn that Waldo was not a witness to the event because he had been detailed to guard the baggage, but he relates how the regiment won the praise of General Ebenezer Dumont led the Union troopers into Lebanon and then pursued Colonel John Hunt Morgan’s Confederate cavalry all the way to the Tennessee river. Dumont’s force consisted of detachments from the 1st Kentucky Cavalry under Colonel Frank Lane Wolford, the 4th Kentucky Cavalry under Colonel Green Clay Smith, and the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry under Colonel Wynkoop. Morgan’s force was the 2nd Kentucky Cavalry Regiment. Dumont surprised Morgan early on the morning of May 5, 1862. A 15-mile running battle ensued in which the Confederates were forced to retreat. During the fighting Confederate sympathizers in the town fired upon the Union Cavalry. Many of the remaining Confederates barricaded within the buildings surrendered when Dumont threatened to set the town on fire.

See also—1862: Waldo Spear to his Parents & Brothers.

Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Greg Herr and was transcribed and published on Spared & Shared by express consent.

Transcription

Murfreesboro [Tennessee]
May 9th, [1862]

Dear Parents,

The second and third Battalion of the 7th have won a noble victory at Lebanon, Tennessee. They charged through the village when the fire was streaming from every window and door. Gen. Dumont, Colonel Wynkoop, Capt. Dartt led them on, Company C at the head of the column. The first charge one of our company was killed and several wounded—Lieut. Greir among the rest. They made five charges before they routed the rebels and then they chased them 25 miles, firing into them all the way and they came to the Tennessee River and swam it and there was only 15 men to swim the river besides Morgan himself. There was about 63 killed and two hundred & 15 taken prisoners. The General says he never will part with the boys that he led in that battle as long as he stays in the service. He says they made the best charge that ever was made on this continent and he went through the Mexican War.

The reason I was not with them is because they detailed me as guard and to assist in bringing the baggage along. We started Monday and arrived in Murfreesboro Tuesday evening. Wednesday our Boys got back from Lebanon with prisoners, horses, arms, &c. Saturday we all came back to Nashville. The reason we marched with the baggage is because Old Morgan cut the telegraph in two and he had a battery and he telegraphed for us to come on.

I got a letter of the 3rd stating that you have received the money. I will send five dollars now and if you get it, write and tell me. If I can get a paper, I will send it to you if it has an account of the battle in it. I am enjoying good health and living in hopes that we may see more fighting before the war is closed for I will not die in the battlefield unless I was born to.

This is the most even country I have ever seen. We saw one range of mountains just before we got to Murfreesboro. They must have been 30 miles from us at least. The forest trees are oak, spruce, and some maple. If you get any account of our battle in the papers, I wish you would send it. — Waldo Spear, Co. C, 7th Pennsylvania Vol. [Cavalry]. Camp Worth, Nashville.