Sgt. David Royer of Company G, Seventeenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, killed in action during the battle of Gordonville, VA. was shot in the groin, and taken to a Confederate hospital near Gordonsville where he died, as described by one Private A. Shockey, after the war his remains were brought home.
In a letter, later written to Lieutenant Henry G. Bonebrake, Prvate A. Shockey described the circumstances at the battle of Gordonville, V., on December 23, 1864, and those of his comrade, Sergeant David Royer. Private Shockey described having left camp near Winchester, moving directly to Strasburg, accross the mountain into eastern Virginia, arriving at Madison Court House on December 21, 1864, and crossing the Rapidan river early in the evening, nine miles beyond which they bivoaucked. The weather was very cold with a heavy snow. There they passed the night. "The following morning, December 23d, dawned clear, but intensely cold, with high winds. The command moved early in the morning in the direction of Gordonsville. When we approached the Southwest Mountains we saw the smoke of the enemy's campfire. A short time after we heard skirmishing and we hurried to the front.. when we had reached an open field, we made a headlong dash in an attempt to dislodge the enemy. They evidently expected us and were prepared, for they opened on us with a rattling of musketry. Fourteen horses went down in the charge alone, and a number of men were wounded and missing... The only thing I could do to avoid the shot of the Rebels was to lie flat on the ground and crawl to a depression a short distance away. In this place I was joined by William Cooper and Sergeant David Royer of my company. the latter badly wounded. Conditions were such that I could not examine his wound carefully. I could not till where the ball struck him, but he was bleeding freely, and soon became very weak. We were in short range of the enemy, who were hidden by a barricade...I expressed a determination to take the risk of exposure and run to the rear in hopes of reaching our line. The dying man by my side pleaded earnestly for me not to desert him in his distress.. I took Comrade Royer by the hand and bade him good-by forever.
Sgt. David Royer of Company G, Seventeenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, killed in action during the battle of Gordonville, VA. was shot in the groin, and taken to a Confederate hospital near Gordonsville where he died, as described by one Private A. Shockey, after the war his remains were brought home.
In a letter, later written to Lieutenant Henry G. Bonebrake, Prvate A. Shockey described the circumstances at the battle of Gordonville, V., on December 23, 1864, and those of his comrade, Sergeant David Royer. Private Shockey described having left camp near Winchester, moving directly to Strasburg, accross the mountain into eastern Virginia, arriving at Madison Court House on December 21, 1864, and crossing the Rapidan river early in the evening, nine miles beyond which they bivoaucked. The weather was very cold with a heavy snow. There they passed the night. "The following morning, December 23d, dawned clear, but intensely cold, with high winds. The command moved early in the morning in the direction of Gordonsville. When we approached the Southwest Mountains we saw the smoke of the enemy's campfire. A short time after we heard skirmishing and we hurried to the front.. when we had reached an open field, we made a headlong dash in an attempt to dislodge the enemy. They evidently expected us and were prepared, for they opened on us with a rattling of musketry. Fourteen horses went down in the charge alone, and a number of men were wounded and missing... The only thing I could do to avoid the shot of the Rebels was to lie flat on the ground and crawl to a depression a short distance away. In this place I was joined by William Cooper and Sergeant David Royer of my company. the latter badly wounded. Conditions were such that I could not examine his wound carefully. I could not till where the ball struck him, but he was bleeding freely, and soon became very weak. We were in short range of the enemy, who were hidden by a barricade...I expressed a determination to take the risk of exposure and run to the rear in hopes of reaching our line. The dying man by my side pleaded earnestly for me not to desert him in his distress.. I took Comrade Royer by the hand and bade him good-by forever.
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