Model 1840 Cavalry Saber Identified to David M. Merrifield, 5th Michigan Cavalry, Severely Wounded at Gettysburg, East Cavalry Field/ SOLD
Model 1840 Cavalry Saber Identified to David M. Merrifield, 5th Michigan Cavalry, Severely Wounded at Gettysburg, East Cavalry Field - Inventory Number: SWO 243 / SOLD
Died of Wounds – Buried at Gettysburg National Cemetery
Imported Model 1840 cavalry saber with “D M Merrifield Co F 5 Mich” lightly scratched into the inside of the brass guard. Merrifield enlisted in August 1862 as a private in the 5th Michigan Cavalry. As part of George Armstrong Custer’s Michigan cavalry brigade at Gettysburg, Merrifield was severely wounded through both arms during the fighting at East Cavalry Field. Assistant Surgeon Henry C. May (of the 145th New York Infantry) reported on his wounds the day Merrifield was admitted to the General Hospital at Gettysburg, August 20, 1863. “When wounded (he) was mounted and on a charge, the enemy’s cavalry being dismounted and deployed as skirmishers. (Merrifield) saw his antagonist about to fire, being four rods from him – turned his horse quickly and received the ball from the enemy’s carbine through both arms. … Was wounded at noon of July 3 and (arm) amputated at noon of July 4th.” The bullet passed through both his left and right arms severing the ulnar nerve in the left and severely fracturing the humerus bone in the right. Documents in his pension file indicate that it was necessary to amputate his right arm at the shoulder joint in the field, and that the nerve damage in his left arm caused a “prickly” numbness down to his fingers. The July 18, 1863 edition of the Detroit Free Press indicated that he also suffered saber cuts to his head, arm, and side. For three years after Gettysburg, Merrifield could not use his left arm well enough to feed himself or accomplish simple tasks such as combing his hair. He testified that even light work was very difficult. He suffered debilitating pains in the stump of his amputated arm until his death in 1899. Despite the fact that a grave in the Michigan section of the Soldier’s National Cemetery is marked “D. M. MEREFIELD CO. E 5. CAV.”, this is a misidentification. Merrifield is buried at Abilene Cemetery in Abilene, Dickinson County, Kansas.
Merrifield’s saber has an unmarked blade with a dark gray/grown patina with numerous edge nicks. The grip retains about half of its original leather wrap and is missing most of the twisted brass wire. The guard has a deep, uncleaned brass patina. The steel scabbard displays a dark plum patina with strong, period repair near the lower third. A fantastic saber wielded by one of Custer’s “wolverines” at the Battle of Gettysburg.
David M. Merrifield - Residence LeRoy MI; 27 years old. Enlisted on 8/13/1862 at White River, MI as a Private. On 8/28/1862 he mustered into "F" Co. MI 5th Cavalry. He was discharged for wounds on 10/15/1863 at Philadelphia, PA. He was listed as: Wounded 7/3/1863 Gettysburg, PA. Other Information: Buried: Gettysburg National Cemetery, Gettysburg, PA. Gravesite: MI D-8
MICHIGAN Fifth Cavalry.(Three Years)
The Fifth Cavalry was organized at Detroit and was mustered into the United States service Aug. 30, 1862. It left Detroit Dec. 4, 1862, for Washington, D. C., with an enrollment of 1,144 officers and men.
The field, staff and line officers at organization were as
follows.
Colonel, Joseph T. Copeland, Pontiac. Lieutenant Colonel, William D. Mann, Detroit. Majors, Freeman Norvell, Detroit; Ebenezer Gould, Owosso, and Luther S. Trowbridge, Detroit. Surgeon, John P. Wilson, Pontiac. Assistant Surgeon, Addison R. Stone, Memphis. Adjutant, Richard Baylis, St. Johns. Quartermaster, Arthur Edwards, Trenton. Commissary, Dwight A. Aiken, Pontiac. Chaplain, Oliver Taylor, Detroit.
A. Captain, Wellington W. Gray, Pontiac. First Lieutenant, William M. Underhill, Detroit. Second Lieutenant, Samuel Harris, Rochester. Second Lieutenant, Egbert B. Clark, Clarkston.
B. Captain, Allyn C. Litchfield, Blendon. First Lieutenant, David Oliphant, Detroit. Second Lieutenant, Myron Hickey, Davisburg. Second Lieutenant, Robert A. Haire, Georgetown.
C. Captain, George W. Hunt, Detroit. First Lieutenant, Horace W. Dodge, Detroit. Second Lieutenant, Jacob Bristol, Detroit. Second Lieutenant, Edward G. Granger, Detroit.
D. Captain, Eli K. Simonds, Northville. First Lieutenant, George S. Wheeler, Green Oak. Second Lieutenant, Thomas J. Dean, Northville. Second Lieutenant, Henry Hitchcock, Lyons.
E. Captain, Crawley P. Dake, Armada. First Lieutenant, Edward M. Lee, Port Huron. Second Lieutenant, William H. Rolls, Trenton. Second Lieutenant, George R. Barse, Detroit.
F. Captain, Noah H. Ferry, Grand Haven. First Lieutenant, Abram C. Vanderburgh, Port Huron. Second Lieutenant, William Keith, Detroit. Second Lieutenant, Elmer C. Dicey, White Pigeon.
G. Captain, William T. Magoffin, Bingham. First Lieutenant, Stephen B. Mann, Palmyra. Second Lieutenant, George W. Townsend, Green Bush. Second Lieutenant, John Gunderman, Essex.
H. Captain, Stephen P. Purdy, Detroit. First Lieutenant, Henry Starkey, Detroit. Second Lieutenant, Edgar W. Flint, Detroit. Second Lieutenant, Henry K. Foote, Detroit.
I. Captain, William B. Williams, Allegan. First Lieutenant, George N. Dutcher, Saugatuck. Second Lieutenant, Charles H. Safford, Detroit. Second Lieutenant, Henry H. Finley, Detroit.
K. Captain, John E. Clark, Ann Arbor. First Lieutenant, Henry H. Petee, Flint. Second Lieutenant, Hobart Miller, Detroit. Second lieutenant, William O. North, Lapeer.
L. Captain, Robert F. Judson, Kalamazoo. First Lieutenant, Benjamin F. Axtell, Kalamazoo. Second Lieutenant, David G. Kendall, Kalamazoo. Second Lieutenant, Robert C. Wallace, Detroit.
M. Captain, Frederick A. Copeland, Pontiac. First Lieutenant, Smith H. Hastings, Coldwater. Second Lieutenant, Andrew D. Hall, Quincy. Second Lieutenant, George Fairbrother, Detroit.
Soon after the arrival of the regiment at Washington it was assigned to the Michigan Cavalry Brigade, composed of the First, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Michigan Cavalry, and these regiments served together during the war.
Colonel Copeland was commissioned Brigadier General Nov. 29, 1862, and was in command of the brigade when General Lee crossed the Potomac on his northern campaign.
June 27 the Fifth and Sixth Cavalry, under command of General Copeland, started on a reconnoisance through Pennsylvania to find General Lee's army and gather any information possible that would be of interest to General Hooker, who at that time was the union commander.
The Fifth on the afternoon of the 28th entered the town of Gettysburg and learned that a part of General Lee's forces had passed through the place on their way to York, Pa. The corps of Generals Early and Longstreet were located and couriers were sent to inform General Hooker of the situation at Gettysburg. Just at this time General Hooker was superseded by General Meade and General Custer was assigned to the command of the Michigan Brigade and General Kilpatrick was assigned to command the Cavalry Division.
Russell A. Alger was commissioned Colonel of the Fifth Feb. 28, 1863. The brigade met the confederate General J. E. B. Stuart's cavalry June 30, near Hanover, Pa., and drove them back in a spirited charge, afterwards dismounting and fighting
July 3 the Fifth, with the Michigan Brigade, had one of the severest cavalry engagements of the war with General Stuart's forces. The confederate general had marched to the right and rear of the union army at the battle of Gettysburg and was a serious menace to the Union troops and the reserve artillery, but the Michigan Brigade realized the critical situation and by their determined gallantry won a decisive victory in repelling General Stuart's attack, driving him back so he could no longer threaten the rear of the Union lines.
It is not too much to say that had not the Union cavalry repulsed General Stuart, that a disaster would have befallen the army of General Meade that might have changed the fate of that day.
The next day the Fifth started to intercept General Lee's army that was in full retreat upon Williamsport. The Fifth charged across a bridge on the side of the mountain leading to Williamsport, where the enemy's wagon train was passing, and with the brigade captured 1,500 prisoners and destroyed a large wagon train.
On July 8 the Fifth met the enemy near Boonsboro, where the regiment was dismounted and charged the confederates, who were behind stone walls, but the charge of the Fifth was so impetuous that the confederates were driven in confusion to the rear. In this action Colonel Alger was severely wounded and carried from the field and was not able to take command of the regiment again until September.
Major C. P. Dake assumed command of the Fifth after Colonel Alger and Lieutenant Colonel Gould were wounded and the regiment took an active part in the engagement at Falling
Waters, Md., where the confederates were put to flight by the gallant charges of the Michigan men.
The Fifth returned to Virginia after General Lee had crossed the Potomac and in September was at Culpepper Court House, Raccoon Ford, White's Ford and the 26th was at Jack's Shop. General Kilpatrick's Cavalry Division was at James City, where it was attacked Oct. 9 by confederate infantry, artillery and cavalry, and fell back before such superior numbers to Brandy Station. Here he found the confederate cavalry under General Fitz Hugh Lee drawn up in line to dispute his further progress.
General Custer, commanding the Michigan Brigade, asked for and obtained permission to attempt to break the enemy's lines, now completely enveloping the Union forces. Placing the Fifth and First Michigan in advance, supported by the other two regiments of the brigade, he ordered his band to the front and directed them to play "Yankee Doodle." As the strains of the familiar tune floated out upon the ears of the troopers they drew sabers and, by order of General Custer, dashed forward at head-long gallop and drove the enemy from the front.
The Fifth had a severe engagement with the enemy at Buckland's Mills, Va., Oct. 19, where it first fought on foot and then in a mounted charge drove the enemy pell mell for two miles.
In February, 1864, a cavalry force of 5,000, under command of General Kilpatrick, started from Stevensburg, Va., for a daring raid upon Richmond. The well mounted men of each regiment of the Michigan Brigade formed a part of this force. The command started Feb. 28 and crossed the Rapidan at Ely's Ford and, marching by way of Spottsylvania, soon reached the Virginia railroad, which was destroyed, as well as all other public property in the vicinity.
General Kilpatrick with his main force moved upon Ashland and was then to attack Richmond by way of the Brook turnpike.
But the confederates learned that a Union cavalry force was advancing upon the city and troops were sent at once to repel the attack. Kilpatrick's men rode over the outer works of Richmond, but the inner lines were too strongly guarded with artillery for his mounted command to force.
He reluctantly withdrew his troopers and started by way of Louisa Court House to join the Union lines, which he eventually reached in safety.
The Michigan Cavalry Brigade started on the Wilderness campaign in May, 1864, with the army of the Potomac, which ended in the siege of Petersburg.
The Fifth crossed the Rapidan at Ely's Ford and moved to Chancellorsville. It was soon engaged in the terrible battle of the Wilderness on the Brock road. The command moved by the way of Todd's Tavern to Beaver Dam Station, fighting the enemy the whole way, and at the station destroyed supplies for the confederate army estimated in value at several million dollars.
The command crossed the South Anna at Ground Squirrel Bridge and on the 11th met the confederate forces under General J. E. B. Stuart and a severe cavalry engagement ensued. Here the enemy was routed and met with a disaster in the death of the confederate leader General Stuart from which the cavalry of the confederacy never recovered. It is believed that he received his death wound from Private John A. Huff of company E of the Fifth Cavalry, who was afterwards mortally wounded at Hawes' Shop.
May 15 the command marched to Bottom's Bridge and reached Malvern Hill the 14th, where it opened communications with General Butler. After a series of engagements the command again joined the army of the Potomac May 25. The next day it started in conjunction with the army of the Potomac and on the 28th met the enemy at Hawes' Shop, where the Fifth was dismounted, as the country was too wooded to successfully maneuver cavalry, and, with the other regiments of the brigade, were greater than in any other battle in which it was engaged, testifying to the severity of the conflict. The Union men finally drove the confederates from their works and were masters of the field.
In July, 1864, the Michigan brigade was ordered to the Shenandoah valley, where it took part in all the brilliant engagements that resulted in driving the confederate forces under General Early from the valley and securing that important vantage ground so it was never occupied again by confederate troops during the war.
Two battle flags were captured by the Fifth at Opequan and the regiment did gallant service at Winchester, Luray, Port Republic, Mt. Crawford, Woodstock, Cedar Creek, Newton and Madison Court House.
The Fifth was with General Sheridan when the Union forces moved in the direction of Gordonsville and Richmond and drove General Rosser from Louisa Court House, where a large amount of property was destroyed, together with the depot and railroad and acqueducts on the line of the James river canal, seriously interfering with General Lee's sources of supplies. The command returned to the army in time to participate in the movement around Petersburg, fighting desperately at Five Forks, also at the South Side railroad, Duck's Pond, Sailor's Creek and Appomattox.
After the surrender of General Lee the Fifth marched to Washington, where it took part in the grand review, May 23.
The Fifth, with parts of the other regiments of the brigade, were then ordered to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., where detachments were sent on various expeditions against the Indians, and in September the brigade was consolidated by muster out of part of the officers and men and the balance formed into the "First Michigan Veteran Cavalry."
The order sending this brigade to the far West after its long and gallant service in the East was considered an unjust act and a long and acuminous correspondence between Governor Crapo of Michigan and the War Department ensued.
Only partial justice was done these men by an act of Congress passing an appropriation to repay them for being mustered out in Utah with no way of returning across the plains except on foot or by wagon train.
A mere outline of the campaigns of a regiment like the Fifth can give no adequate idea of the marches, hardships and fighting endured by such a command and only a detailed and daily account of its marches, reconnoisances, scouts and battles can furnish a comprehensive history of its officers and men. That this volume is compiled primarily to give the individual military history of each member of the regiment is the apology for the abridged account of the movements of the
regiment.
During the service of the Fifth with the brigade it had been engaged with the enemy at:
Hanover, Pa., June 30, 1863;
Hunterstown, Pa., July 2, 1863; Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863;
Monterey, Md., July 4, 1863; Cavetown, Md., July 5, 1863;
Smithtown, Md., July 6, 1863; Boonsborough, Md., July 6, 1863;
Hagerstown, Md., July 6, 1863; Williamsport, Md., July 6, 1863;
Boonsborough, Md., July 8, 1863; Hagerstown, Md., July 10,
1863; Williamsport, Md., July 10, 1863; Falling Waters, Md.,
July 14, 1863; Snicker's Gap, Va., July 19, 1863; Kelley's
Ford, Va., Sept. 13, 1863; Culpepper Court House, Va., Sept.
14, 1863; Raccoon Ford, Va., Sept. 16, 1863; White's Ford, Va.,
Sept. 21, 1863; Jack's Shop, Va., Sept. 26, 1863; James City,
Va., Oct. 9, 10, 1863; Brandy Station, Va., Oct. 11, 1863;
Buckland's Mills, Va., Oct. 19, 1863; Stevensburg, Va., Nov.
19, 1863; Morton's Ford, Va., Nov. 26, 1863; Richmond, Va.,
March 1, 1864; Wilderness, Va., May 6, 7, 1864; Beaver Dam
Station, Va., May 9, 1864; Yellow Tavern, Va., May 10, 11,
1864; Meadow Bridge, Va., May 12, 1864; Milford, Va., May 27,
1864; Hawe's Shop, Va., May 28, 1864; Baltimore Cross Roads,
Va., May 29, 1864; Cold Harbor, Va., May 30 and June 1, 1864;
Trevillian Station, Va., June 11, 12, 1864; Cold Harbor, Va.,
July 21, 1864; Winchester, Va., Aug. 11, 1864; Front Royal,
Va., Aug. 16, 1864; Leetown, Va., Aug. 25, 1864; Shepardstown,
Va., Aug. 25, 1864; Smithfield, Va., Aug. 29, 1864; Berryville,
Va., Sept. 3, 1864; Summit, Va., Sept. 4, 1864; Opequan, Va.,
Sept. 19, 1864; Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864; Luray, Va.,
Sept. 24, 1864; Port Republic, Va., July 26, 27, 28, 1864;
Mount Crawford, Va., Oct. 2, 1864; Woodstock, Va., Oct. 9,
1864; Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 19, 1864; Madison Court House,
Va., Dec. 24, 1864; Louisa Court House, Va., March 8, 1865;
Five Forks, Va., March 30, 31 and April 1, 1865; South Side R.
R., Va., April 2, 1865; Duck Pond Mills, Va., April 4, 1865;
Ridge's or Sailor's Creek, Va., April 6, 1865; Appomattox Court
House, Va., April 8, 9, 1865; Willow Springs, Dakota,
Territory, Aug. 12, 1865.
Total enrollment...........................................1866
Number killed in action.....................................101
Number died of wounds........................................24
Number died while prisoners of war...........................69
Number died of disease......................................109
Number discharged for disability............................196
Inventory Number: SWO 243 / SOLD