George Washington Shriver was elated to see his wife and two daughters during the Christmas season in December 1863. He was still a soldier of the Union Federal Army and had to return back to duty.
He reported back for duty on December 29, 1863 to Cole’s Cavalry. After the battle of Gettysburg, the Federal Army was driving the Confederacy out of major river valleys throughout the South. However, around the Shenandoah Valley and Harpers Ferry, daily skirmishers were a common occurrence with the Cavalry riding back and forth. Much of the area south of the river was under the control of Mosby’s Cavalry. This area of battle was mainly against the Cavalry sections of Cole (Union) and Mosby (Confederate) throughout the region. Luckily, Cole’s Cavalry had some of it soldiers from the region, so they knew back trails and mountain roads and hunting lanes to catch the Confederate Cavalry off guard. However, in this case, on January 1st, 1864, it backfired.
The stage was set in late December 1863. Cole’s Cavalry once everyone reported back after furlough was sent into the Valley for a two-week long raid ending in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Cole’s soldiers destroyed telegraphy lines and captured over 100 prisoners. However, as the men came into central Virginia, Mosby’s Confederate Cavalry was lying in wait.
Company C, of Cole’s Cavalry was mainly soldiers from Adams County. One of the commanders was Captain Albert Hunter, who was selected to command the raid. He enlisted in 1861 as the bugler for Company C but was soon promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and eventually Captain of the company.
Courtesy of the United States Army Heritage and Education Center – Capt. Hunter
Remember, it’s January: The weather is cold, snowy, and an icy mix at times. Riding on horses with no shelter, the wind and the precipitation weighing down on wool uniforms. The Cavalry had to find shelter in a foreign and driven farmers protecting the Confederacy. Luckily, the Union raiding party of about 60 soldiers found shelter in a bank-barn and farmhouse. The next morning, things took a turn for the worse.
The Union suffered a major blow as they were shot at by Mosby’s Raiders and captured. In the end, the list of casualties was staggering:
- Confederate reports show that 57 men were killed, captured, or wounded
- Union reports show that 4 killed, 10 to 12 wounded, and 41 captured
- Private Jeremiah Wiley of Franklin County, Pennsylvania died in the initial clash
- Private George Young of Germany Township, Pennsylvania died in the initial clash
- Wounded were the following: Privates John Sponcler, George Heilner, William Millholland, Sergeant Lewis Zimmerman
- Thirty soldiers were captured in total on January 1st, including George Washington Shriver
Thus, George Washington Shriver would never see his family again. Most of these soldiers who were captured were sent to the famous Civil War prisoner camp called: Andersonville.