Company L, 108th Regiment, Penna. Volunteer 11th Cavalry
History of Clarion Co. Pennsylvania, by A. J. Davis, D. Mason & Co, Publ, 1887, Syracuse NY. Pp. 277-283.
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Company L in August and September 1861 was recruited at various points throughout Clarion County by Captain John B. Loomis. Part of the company was mustered into service at Philadelphia, PA on 13 Sept. 1861 by Capt. Starr of the U. S. Army. Fourteen others were mustered on 16 Sept. 1861 by Capt. Dye of the U. S. Army. Company L went into camp near Hestonville, West Philadelphia. On 7 Oct. 1861 they broke camp and started to Washington D. C. where they arrived on Oct. 9th. They went into camp there and remained so until 14 Oct. when they crossed into Virginia, going into camp at Ball's Cross Roads near Fairfax Court House, VA. On the 18th of Nov. they broke camp and recrossed the Long Bridge, passed on through Washington to Annapolis, MD, where they boarded the steamer George Washington on the 22 Nov. and arrived at Old Point Comfort, VA on the 25th of Nov. 1861. They went into camp at Camp Hamilton, Fortress Monroe, VA. The company remained there till 15 May 1862, drilling and scouting on the Peninsula of Yorktown. On 15 May 1862, Company L crossed over to Norfolk, VA on the steamer South America, and occupied Portsmouth, VA. On 5 June the Company went into camp at Suffolk, VA, 28 miles from Norfolk.
Company L remained at Suffolk until 22 June 1863, scouting on the Blackwater and in N. C. On 23 June they took transports at Portsmouth, Va. and started for White House on the Pamunkey River, Va., where they arrived on 25 June 1863. Before embarking for White House, the regiment had taken a prominent part in the battle of Deserted House, or Kelly's Store on 30 Jan 1863; and Co. L had been attacked at Woodville, NC by 200 guerilla soldiers on 16 May 1863. The regiment reached White House on 25 June 1863, and on the 26th it captured General William F. H. Lee and 84 men, 500 mules and horses, and a wagon train and ammunition. General Wm. F. H. Lee was a son of General Robert E. Lee.
On 4 July 1863 the company was engaged at Hanover Jct. and on 28 July was hotly engaged at Jackson, NC. The company was with the regiment in the fight of Bottom's Bridge on the Chickahominy, 7 Feb 1864. The company then marched from Portsmouth 6 May 1864 and on 8 May it skirmished with the enemy for 3 miles along the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad. At Jarrett's Depot, the Eleventh, assisted by the First Dist. of Columbia Cavalry, defeated the enemy and captured 259 prisoners. On 23 May 1864 the company went to the front with General Butler, between the James and Appomattox Rivers. From 26 May until 8 June 1864 the company skirmished with the enemy daily. On 9 June the company participated in the action in which the pickets of the rebels were driven in, and the Eleventh was in the streets of Petersburg.
On 29 June 1864, Co. L passed through its most terrible ordeal of the Civil War. The Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry was in advance when the charge was made upon the rebels. The battle lasted from early in the morning till 2 o"clock in the afternoon. In the charge many officers and brave men of the Eleventh fell. The regiment lost 130 killed, wounded, and missing. Captain Loomis was one of those killed in the charge. The regiment had to bear the brunt of the fight, and it also covered the retreat of General Wilson's cavalry. On 11 July 1864, Company L was ordered to the eastern shore of Virginia. It remained on duty at Accomac Court House until discharged by reason of expiration of term of service at Fortress Monroe, VA on 28 Sept 1864. The veterans of the regiment and the recruits served till the close of July 1865.
Company L shared the vicissitudes of the regiment during the closing scenes of the war. The Eleventh Regiment had the honor of opening the battle which terminated with General Robert E. Lee's surrender. Major John S. Nimmon of Lancaster County, and Samuel R. Stratton of Clarion County led the first squadron of cavalry, which were the first troops in sight at Appomattox Court House on the day of the surrender of the Confederate Army under General Lee, 9 April 1865. It is also worth noting that at Appomattox, a Clarion County boy, Lt. James Clover, was the first man on the field with his wagons. The regiment, the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, attained considerable distinction during the war, mainly through the reckless dash and dare-devil charges so frequently made by it. Company L probably had fewer men on the sick list than any other company of the same number of men in the service. It was the company's boast that there was not a coward in the company.
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