History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. IV, Part 1

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902. cn
Publication date: 1869
Publisher: Harrisburg, B. Singerly, State Printer
Number of Pages: 1350

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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01776 3720

GENEALOGY 973.74 P38B V.4

B.Sigerly Lith, 74 34 Avenue, Pittsburgh,

THE FALL OF REYNOLDS.

HISTORY

PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS.

1861-5;

PREPARED

IN COMPLIANCE WITH ACTS OF THE LEGISLATURE,

BY SAMUEL P. BATES, MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

For there is nothing which takes place on earth more acceptable to that Supreme Deity who gov- erns all this world, than those councils and assemblies of men, bound together by law, which are termed States; the governors and preservers of these go from hence, and hither do they return. . . Therefore, Scipio, like your grandfather here, and me who begot you, cultivate justice and piety ; which, while it should be great towards your parents and relations, should be greatest towards your country. Such a life is the path to Heaven and the assembly of those who have lived before, and who, having been released from their bodies, inhabit that place which thou beholdest .- CICERO'S VISION OF SCIPIO.

VOL. IV.

HARRISBURG : B. SINGERLY, STATE PRINTER. 1870.

Entered according to an act of Congress, in the year 1870, by SAMUEL P. BATES, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.

19-11-21

5 V.

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Jeff belcow

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THE FALL OF REYNOLDS.

BUFORD, with four thousand cavalry, met the advance of the enemy on the Chambersburg Pike, on the morning of the 1st of July, 1863. REYNOLDS, who was in command of the right wing of the Union Army, consisting of the First, Eleventh, and Third Corps, came up to the support of BUFORD, at ten o'clock, A. M., with two brigades of Infantry of the First Division (WADSWORTH's) of the First Corps, and immediately proceeded to post one of these (CUTLER's) across the old railroad bed to the north of the pike, and returning to the left rode towards the other, the Iron Brigade, (MEREDITH'S,) which DOUBLEDAY, who had command of the First Corps, was leading into action in a triangular piece of wood skirting Willoughby Run, where ARCHER's rebel brigade, which had just crossed the run, was advancing in line of battle. At the moment when three regiments of this (Iron) brigade, led by the Second Wisconsin, (FAIRCHILD'S,) had entered the wood and were becom- ing desperately engaged, REYNOLDS, accompanied by his staff, rode into the neck of the wood in the rear of these rapidly advancing troops, to examine the ground and the dispositions of the enemy, when he discovered a portion of the hostile line still advancing, and sweeping up on his left. Immediately turning to look for his supports, he received a ball in the back of the neck, from the . direction in which he had seen the enemy, which entered the base of the brain, passing upward. For a few seconds he sat quite still in his saddle, and his horse, a powerful black, carried him back towards the open field, where, swaying to and fro, he fell to the ground in a group of massive oaks, just at the opening. VEIL, his devoted orderly, sprang from his horse, and raising the General's head, held it tenderly in his lap. But the General never spoke, and soon after expired. So calm and peaceful were his features that it was hard to believe that he was dead, a slight bruise upon his cheek, which he had received in falling, being the only visible mark of injury. In a rudely con- structed litter his body was borne back to a little farm house just outside the village, on the Emmetts- burg Pike, and at evening was removed to the tent of the General-in-Chief, Late at night it was sent, with a suitable escort, to Baltimore, where it was embalmed, and thence via Philadelphia to Lancaster, where, on the Fourth of July, with the simplest service, it was buried in the family grave.

CONTENTS.

THREE YEARS' SERVICE.

PAGE,

ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH REGIMENT,

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT, 30

NINE MONTHS' SERVICE.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SECOND REGIMENT, - 54

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT, 71

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT, 90

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT, 108

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT, 127 .

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, 147

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT, 166

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT, 184

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTIETH REGIMENT, 204

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIRST REGIMENT, 224

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SECOND REGIMENT,

243

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-THIRD REGIMENT,

263

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FOURTH REGIMENT, -

282

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIFTH REGIMENT, 302

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT, 318

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, 335

THREE YEARS' SERVICE.

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT, 351

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-NINTII REGIMENT, 378

ONE HUNDRED AND FORTIETH REGIMENT, 407

ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FIRST REGIMENT, 437

ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 464

ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-THIRD REGIMENT, 487

ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FIFTH REGIMENT, 518

ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT,

551

ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT, - 577

ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-NINTH REGIMENT, BUCKTAIL, 611

CONTENTS.

PAGE.

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH REGIMENT, BUCKTAIL, 649

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIRST REGIMENT, NINE MONTIIS, 677

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SECOND REGIMENT, THIRD ARTILLERY, 697

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-THIRD REGIMENT, NINE MONTHS, 772

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENT, NINE MONTHS, -

795

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIFTH REGIMENT,

800

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, 833

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-NINTH REGIMENT, FOURTEENTH CAVALRY, 851

ANDERSON TROOP, 898

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTIETH REGIMENT, FIFTEENTH ( ANDERSON) CAVALRY, 902 ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIRST REGIMENT, SIXTEENTH CAVALRY, 950

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SECOND REGIMENT, SEVENTEENTH CAVALRY, 1001 ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-THIRD REGIMENT, EIGHTEENTH CAVALRY, 1042

NINE MONTHS' SERVICE-MILITIA.

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT, 834

ONE HUNDRED ARD SIXTY-FIFTH REGIMENT, 108.4

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SIXTH REGIMENT, 1100

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, 1116

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT, 1134

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT, 1150

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIRST REGIMENT, 1165

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 1182

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-THIRD REGIMENT, 1197

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT,

1213

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT, 1226

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT, 123S

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, 1253

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT, 1269

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-NINTH REGIMENT, 1285

INDEX TO MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

Frontispiece.

THE FALL OF REYNOLDS,

MAP OF THE GETTYSBURG BATTLE FIELD, - Opposite 1

AUTOGRAPH LETTER OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN,

66 657

MAP OF THE CHANCELLORSVILLE BATTLE FIELD,

1002

CONTENTS.

ABBREVIATIONS.

Ab. absent. Adj. Adjutant. Asst. Assistant. Asy. Asylum. Bu. buried or burial. Bv. brevet. Bd. band.

Capt. Captain. Capt'd. captured.

Cem. Cemetery. Cert. certificate. Chap. Chaplain.

Cor. Corporal.

Com. commissioned or com- missary. C'y or Cav. Cavalry. Cyp. Cypress. Des. deserted.

Dis. dismissed.

Priv. private.

Dis'y. disability.

Reg. regiment.

Disch. discharged.

Red. reduced. Rem. removed.

Div. division.

Exp. expiration.

Res. resigned. Ret. returned.

Fr. from.

Fur. furlough.

Sec. section.

G'ds .. Grounds.

Sen. sentenced.

G. O. General Order. Hos. hospital.

Lt. Lieutenent.

Mil. military. Mis. missing. Muc. Musician.

Stew. Steward.

Mus. mustered.

Nat. National.

Pr. promoted.

Wd. wounded.

Pl. principal.

. Serv. service. S. O. special order. Surg. Surgeon. Sgt. Sergeant. Sub. substitute.

Tr. transferred. Vet. veteran volunteer.

Wds. wounds.

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ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH REGIMENT.

N TEAR the close of July, 1862, Peter C. Ellmaker, of Philadelphia, who had organized in the Spring of 1861, a regiment for home duty, known as the Gray Reserves, and which he commanded, received authority from Gov- ernor Curtin to raise a regiment for three years' service. Recruiting com- menced on the 5th of August, and on the 31st, before the organization had been perfected, it was ordered to Washington. It proceeded thither on the following day, eight hundred strong, and was assigned temporarily to duty at the Arsenal. It was here joined by a company of one hundred and thirty men, recruited by Captain John B. Adams, and the organization was com- pleted with the following field officers : Peter C. Ellmaker, Colonel; Gideon Clark, Lieutenant Colonel; Charles C. Knight, Major. On the 19th of Sep- tember, two days after the battle of Autietam, it was ordered to fatigue duty on the northern defences of the Capital, and was employed in the construc- tion of forts Mansfield and Reno. A month later it joined the Army of the "Potomac, still in camp in the neighborhood of the Antietam battle-field, and was assigned to the First Brigade, * Second Division, Sixth Corps. Though suddenly thrown among veterans of two campaigns, it was prepared, by its thorough training, to hold its place with credit. After crossing the Potomac, it moved with the Corps to Acquia Creek, thence to White Oak Church, and on the 11th of December started on the Fredericksburg campaign. Moving up to the river bank near the lower crossing, it remained in position, awaiting the laying of the pontoons, until the following day, when it' crossed, and was posted on the left of the corps, along the Bowling Green Road. The battle opened on the 13th, and the regiment was exposed to a heavy fire of artillery, under which it manfully maintained its ground, though for the first time un- der fire. Skirmishing was renewed on the following day, but there was little more determined fighting on that part of the line, and on the night of the 15th, it re-crossed the river, returning to its former camp on the 19th. The loss was five wounded, among whom was Major Knight. On the 20th of January, 1863, the regiment moved on Burnside's second campaign, marching up to Banks' Ford. But before any troops had crossed the river, the 'move-

* Organization of Pratt's, formerly Hancock's Brigade, Smith's Division, Franklin's Corps- First Brigade, Second Division, Sixth Corps. Fifth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers, Colonel Amasa Cobb; Sixth Regiment Maine Volunteers, Colonel Hiram Burnham ; Forty-ninth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel William H. Irwin; Forty-third Regiment New York Volunteers, Colonel Francis L. Vinton; One Hundred and Nineteenth Regiment Penn- sylvania Volunteers, Colonel Peter C. Ellmaker.

1-VOL. IV.

1863

ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH REGIMENT.

ment was eut short by impassable roads, and the columns, with great labor and suffering, returned to camp.

Upon the organization of the "Light Division," the One Hundred and Nineteenth, and Forty-ninth Pennsylvania, were assigned to the Third Brigade of the First Division, where they were associated with the Thirty-third New York, and Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania, and were under command of General David A. Russell, General Brooks being in command of the division, and General Sedgwick of the corps. On the 28th of April, the brigade again moved to the Rappahannock, at the lower erossing, and under cover of dark- ness, passed the stream in pontoon boats, captured and drove the enemy's piekets, effecting a permanent lodgment on the right bank. On the fol- lowing morning it moved forward in line of battle, three-quarters of a mile, engaging the enemy's piekets, and taking his rifle-pits. In this position it remained until the 3d of May, when his intrenehed position on Marye's Heights was carried by assault, and his works were occupied. The corps was immediately put in motion in pursuit of the flying foe. The One Hundred and Nineteenth, and the Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania, were detached from the brigade, and moved upon the plank road towards Chancellorsville. At Salem Church, midway, they came upon the enemy posted in a wood, con- cealed from view, and were at onee heavily engaged at close quarters with his infantry. They were posted on the left of the road, and with other troops, were under the immediate command of General Sedgwick. With great gal- lantry they held their position, sustaining grievous loss. Sedgwick, finding himself confronted by vastly superior numbers, and likely to be overpowered, retired on the following day by Banks Ford. Out of four hundred and thirty- two present for duty, the regiment had twelve killed, and one hundred and twelve wounded. Captain Peter Rogers was among the killed, and Captains Charles P. Warner and Andrew T. Goodman, and Lieutenant John M. Cook, among the wounded.

Upon the disbandment of the "Light Division," soon after the battle, the Fifth Wisconsin, and Sixth Maine, were assigned to the Third Brigade. Re- turning to its former camp, it remained until the 7th of June, when a detach- ment of two hundred and sixty men, under Major Henry P. Truefitt, who had succeeded Major Knight, with details from other regiments, was ordered to Hartwood Church, whence, under command of General Russell, it moved, and erossing the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford, pushed forward to the sup- port of the cavalry, hotly engaged at Beverly Ford. Returning at sunset, it proceeded to Bealton Station, remaining until the 14th, when it started to re- join the rest of the regiment, already on the march for the Pennsylvania eam- paign, coming up with it at Fairfax Station. At Fairfax Court House, the regiment went into eamp, and remained a week. The march was then resumed, arriving at Manchester, Maryland, on the evening of July 1st. From this point, the corps was summoned in haste to Gettysburg, and at nine o'clock commeneed the march. It was continued without interruption until four P. M., of the following day, when it arrived upon the field, and the brigade remained massed in rear of the Fifth Corps during the night. On the morning of the 3d, it was moved to the extreme left of the line, in rear of Round Top, to meet any flank movement from that direction, but did not become engaged, the enemy making no determined demonstration on that part of the field. On the 4th, it moved to the summit of Little Round Top, where it remained during the

1863

RAPPAHANNOCK STATION.

day. On the 5th, it took the advance in pursuit of the retreating enemy, striking his rear near Fairfield, where a slight skirmish ensued. Direct pursuit was here abandoned, and the column moved to the left, following down the south side of the mountain, and crossing it with the trains, attended with great hardship and suffering, came up with the enemy in the neighborhood of Hagerstown, at once engaging his skirmishers; but on the night of the 14th, he made good his escape. The two armies now moved down over the old Virginia battle-grounds, the regiment reaching Warrenton on the 26th, where it remained for several weeks. This time was given to drill and discipline, which was studiously employed. While here, two hundred and five substitutes were received. On the 5th of October, the regiment relieved the pickets of the Second Corps at the fords of the Rapidan. Soon afterwards the rebel leader initiated a movement upon the right flank of the Union army, com- pelling it to fall back rapidly to Centreville. Defeated in his purpose, he in turn began to retreat. At Rappahannock Station he was found, on the 7th of November, in an entrenched position, covering his pontoon bridge. At his earnest solicitation, General Russell, in command of the division, was directed to storm the works. His own brigade, now led by Colonel Ellmaker, Lieutenant Colonel Clark commanding the regiment, was selected to lead the charge. With the Fifth Wisconsin and Sixth Maine deployed as skirmishers, supported by the One Hundred and Nineteenth and Forty-ninth Pennsylvania, aided by Upton's Brigade, it went forward in the face of a fierce fire of infantry and artillery, carried the works at the point of the bayonet, and captured the en- tire force, with artillery, battle-flags, and small arms. In his congratu- latory order, General Meade says : "The commanding General congratulates the army upon the recent successful passage of the Rappahannock, in the face of the enemy, compelling him to withdraw to his intrenchments behind the Rapidan. To Major General Sedgwick, and the officers of the Sixth Corps, participating in the attack, particularly to the storming party under Brigadier General Russell, his thanks are due, for the gallantry displayed in the assault on the enemy's intrenched position of Rappahannock Station, resulting in the capture of four guns, two thousand small arms, eight battle-flags, one bridge train, and one thousand six hundred prisoners."* In this fierce struggle the regiment lost seven killed, and forty-three wounded. Captain Cyrus M. Hodg- son, and Lieutenants Edward Everett Coxe and Robert Reaney, were among the killed.

Crossing the Rappahannock, the pursuit was continued to the Rapidan, the regiment encamping near Brandy Station. On the 26th, it joined in the Mine Run campaign, the brigade being under Colonel Ellmaker, and the regi- ment under Lieutenant Colonel Clark. On the 28th, the pickets of the regi- ment engaged the enemy in front of his strong works behind Mine Run. Upon the abandonment of operations, it returned to its former camping ground near Wellford's Ford, on the Hazel River, where it went into winter-quarters. On the 12th of January, 1864, Colonel Ellmaker resigned, and was honorably discharged, the command devolving on Lieutenant Colonel Clark. With the exception of a movement to Robertson's River, made on the 28th of February, 1864, in support of cavalry, the regiment remained quietly in quarters until the opening of the spring campaign under General Grant.

Moving shortly after daylight on the 4th of May, the brigade crossed the

* Moore's Rebellion Record, Vol. VIII, page 166, Docs.

1864

ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEENTH REGIMENT.

Rapidan at Germania Ford, and at noon on the following day, became hotly engaged in the thickets of the Wilderness. With the Fifth Wisconsin on its right, and the Forty-ninth Pennsylvania on its left, the regiment battled man- fully, the enemy disputing the ground with desperate valor. The fighting ceased at night-fall, the regiment having lost seven killed and sixty-three wounded, Lieutenant George G. Lovett, mortally. Four color-bearers were either killed or wounded. Early on the following morning, the advance was ordered, and the fighting continued at intervals throughout the day. At night-fall, after the noise of battle had died out, and the two armies, appa- rently utterly exhausted, had sunk down to rest, the enemy massed his troops and struck heavily upon the extreme right of the line, held by the Sixth Corps, crushing it in and making some captures, among them the hospitals and wounded. This sudden onset was, however, soon checked and the lines re-possessed. On the 7th, the corps moved by flank via Chancellorsville, to. the vicinity of Spottsylvania Court House, where the enemy was again found. On the 9th, General Sedgwick, while examining the ground, was killed by a

rebel sharp-shooter. General Wright succeeded him, General Russell taking command of the division, and General Eustis of the brigade. On the 10th, the fighting was very severe. At 4 P. M., a charging column was formed, under cover of a wood, in three lines, the Fifth Maine, Ninety-sixth Pennsylvania, and One Hundred and Twenty-first New York, in the first, the Fifth Wis- consin, Forty-ninth Pennsylvania, and Sixth Maine in the second, and the One Hundred and Nineteenth Pennsylvania, Seventy-seventh, and Forty-third New York, in the third, all under command of Colonel Upton, the whole supported by the Vermont Brigade. Clearing the woods, it went gallantly forward, and when arrived upon the open ground, in front of the enemy's works, was saluted by a torrent of deadly missiles from front and flanks. Nothing daunted by this terrible death storm, it swept on and over his first line, capturing nine hundred prisoners. Rushing bravely on to his second line, the colors of the One Hundred and Nineteenth were borne boldly up, and planted on his works; but here the color-bearer was shot down, and the storming party failing of support on the left, was exposed to a severe enfilading fire, before which the bravest could not stand, and it was obliged to fall back, losing its dearly bought advantage, and suffering fearfully while retiring. Lieutenant Edward Ford, Jr., was among the killed. At seven o'clock on the 12th, it again went into action in front of a salient in the enemy's works, captured at daylight by the Second Corps, and until night-fall was unceasingly engaged, expending two hundred rounds of ammunition per man. Major Henry P. Truefitt was killed early in the engagement, and almost immediately thereafter, Captain Charles R. Warner, who succeeded him in command, was also killed. The scene of this struggle was known as the " Bloody Angle," or the " Slaughter Pen." In the series of engagements up to this time, commencing on the 5th of May, out of an aggregate for duty of four hundred, the regiment had lost two hun- dred and fifteen.

On the 18th, Lieutenant Colonel Clark resumed command, the regiment having been led since the fall of Warner, by Captains Gray and Landell. At noon of the 1st of June, the command reached Cold Harbor, and at five P. M., attacked in column by battalion, developing the position of the enemy in heavy earth-works. At dawn of the 3d, the attack was renewed, advancing by parallels, and in the operations of the day, Lieutenant George C. Humes,

CAMPAIGN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

1864

acting Adjutant, was among the killled. Until the 12th of June the command remained on the front line, within one hundred and fifty yards of the enemy's works, constantly under fire. On that day, General Eustis was relieved, and Colonel Clark succeeded him, Major Gray assuming command of the regiment, the latter officers having had temporary command on the 1st, and during the fierce fighting which succeeded. Moving again to the left, the command reached the James River on the 16th, and embarking upon transports, proceeded to Ber- muda Hundred, whence it marched out to Butler's intrenchments. On the 19th, it crossed the Appomattox, and moving up to the Petersburg front, went into position along the bank of that stream, on the extreme right of the army. On the 29th, it proceeded to Ream's Station, on the Weldon Railroad, to the relief of the cavalry under Wilson, and joined in tearing up the road and intrenching the position, returning on the 2d of July. A few days later, four additional regiments were assigned to the brigade, Colonel Oliver Ed- wards, of the Thirty-seventh Massachusetts, succeeding to the command.

The threatening attitude assumed by the enemy under General Early, who had entered Maryland, and was pushing down, unchecked, towards the National Capital, rendered it necessary that troops should be sent to its relief. The Sixth Corps was accordingly dispatched. Early was driven, and beat a hasty retreat to the Shenandoah Valley. For more than two months the troops were kept upon the march, under a burning sun, between the Valley and Washing- ton, without gaining any apparent advantage. In the meantime, the veterans and recruits of the Twenty-third Pennsylvania, had been added to the regiment, and General Sheridan had assumed command of the army. At three A. M., on the morning of the 19th of September, the regiment moved from camp, crossed the Opequan, and engaged the enemy in the battle of Winchester. At a little before mid-day, the line having been formed, it advanced to the attack, driving the entire rebel force for half a mile, when it was temporarily checked, the enemy making a most determined stand. At four P. M., the lines being re-formed and strengthened, and Sheridan leading, it again went forward ; and now, nothing could withstand the fiery zeal of the troops, the enemy being driven in utter rout, the victory the most complete and grati- fying in which the One Hundred and Nineteenth had ever had a share. In this engagement General Russell was killed.

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History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. IV, Part 1

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902. cn Publication date: 1869 Publisher: Harrisburg, B. Singerly, State Printer Number of Pages: 1350

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902. cn
Publication date: 1869
Publisher: Harrisburg, B. Singerly, State Printer
Number of Pages: 1350