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OUT OF SUPPORTING DISTANCE OF ANY CONSIDERABLE UNION FORCE, FAR REMOVED FROM A DEPOT OF SUPPLIES, AND POSSESSED NO STRONG NATURAL POSITIONS FOR DEFENSE. THE VALLEY WAS INFESTED WITH BANDS OF REBEL CAVALRY, THEIR LEADERS FAMILIAR WITH THE GROUND, AND GLORYING IN FEATS OF ACTIVITY AND DARING. FROM THE TIME OF ITS ARRIVAL IN THIS DEPARTMENT UNTIL THE OPENING OF THE BATTLE OF WINCHESTER, PRELUDE TO THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, THE REGIMENT WAS CONSTANTLY ENGAGED IN PICKET, SCOUT, PATROL, AND ESCORT DUTIES, PARTICIPATING IN THREE RECONNOISSANCES IN FORCE, HAVING PART IN NUMBERLESS SKIRMISHES, AND LOSING IN THE MEANTIME, UPWARDS OF TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY OFFICERS AND MEN, KILLED, WOUNDED, AND MISSING."
THE FOLLOWING IS SOME OF THOSE NOTED ENGAGEMENTS:
04/28/63 Fisher's Hill, VA Skirmish. Strasburg Road scouting to Strasburg 25-30.
04/29/63 Fairmount, VA Skirmish
05/04/63 Hampshire Co., VA Reconnaissance. duty 4-9.
05/09/63 Hampshire Co., VA Skirmish near Moorefield & Cacapon Bridge, VA
05/12/63 Buck's Ford, VA Reconnaissance. duty 12-26.
05/16/63 Piedmont, VA Skirmish(Detachment)
05/19/63 Winchester, VA Skirmish
06/09/63 Piedmont, VA Skirmish
ON THE 15TH OF MAY, A DETACHMENT FROM THE 13TH REGIMENT SKIRMISHED WITH THE REBELS AT PIEDMONT STATION. THE DETACHMENT RECAPTURED ALL OF SUMMERS' MEN AND THEIR HORSES. FROM MAJOR GENERAL ROBERT C. SCHENCK'S REPORT " THIS PUTS THE SADDLE ON THE OTHER HORSE. TWO REBELS KILLED, LOSING ON OUR PART CAPTAIN UTT AND A SERGEANT."
FROM MAJOR GENERAL ROBERT C. SCHENCK'S COMMUNICATION TO GENERAL MILROY, DATED MAY 17TH , "YOUR DETACHMENTS OF THIRTEENTH PENNSYLVANIA AND ( THIRD) (WEST) VIRGINIA CAVALRY HAVE DONE MOST HANDSOMELY. THE GENERAL COMMANDING DESIRES YOU TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR PROMPTNESS, ENERGY, AND GALLANTRY."
WINCHESTER VA, MAY 31ST
2ND DIVISION , BRIG. GENERAL ROBERT H. MILROY
1ST BRIGADE, BRIG. GENERAL WASHINGTON L. ELLIOTT, U. S. VOLUNTEERS
110TH OHIO, LIEUT. COLONEL WILLIAM N. FOSTER
116TH OHIO, LIEUT. COLONEL THOMAS F. WILDES
122RD OHIO, LIEUT. COLONEL MOSES M. GRANDER
12TH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY, COLONEL LEWIS B. PIERCE
13TH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY, LIEUT. COLONEL JAMES A. GALLAGHER
87TH PENNSYLVANIA, LIEUT. JOHN W. SCHALL
1ST WEST VIRGINIA ARTILLERY, BATTERY D, CAPTAIN JOHN CARLIN
FROM BATES " ON THE 12TH OF JUNE, GENERAL MILROY SENT OUT TWO STRONG RECONNOITERING PARTIES UP THE VALLEY, ON THE STRASBURG AND FRONT ROYAL ROADS. " THE ONE ON THE STRASBURG ROAD," SAYS GENERAL MILROY IN HIS OFFICIAL REPORT, " CONSISTED OF THE EIGHTY-SEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY, THIRTEENTH PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER CAVALRY, AND ONE SECTION OF BATTERY L, FIFTH UNITED STATES ARTILLERY, ALL UN
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