USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of the 127th regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24
NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES 3 3433 07952789 5
1. United States - Hist. Civil war as Militare. - Regt mint, - Pennsyl rice infantiet 127th rest, 262-1863
TK
δΈ€
Ennailtonya
!
COLONEL WILLIAM W. JENNINGS.
Pennsylvania infantry 127the 4. 1862- 5
HISTORY
OF THE
127TH REGIMENT
Pennsylvania Volunteers
FAMILIARLY KNOWN AS THE
"DAUPHIN COUNTY REGIMENT"
Authorized by the Regimental Association and Prepared by its Committee
943778 A
PRESS OF REPORT PUBLISHING COMPANY LEBANON, PA.
DEDICATION. Affectionately dedicated to the cherished memories of our departed comrades.
PREFACE.
HIRTY-EIGHT years is a long time to wait in describ- ing successive facts, occurring daily, and indeed hourly, during a period of nearly a year. Memory is treacherous, and diaries begun by the hundreds, were neglected, lost, and when required for reference, but four were found which could render historical aid, and those four were made and preserved by Major Rohrer, Comrade D. C. Reinolil, Comrade John Reinoehl and Lieutenant Fager. To them we are under many obligations in fixing dates and getting at accu- rate details.
For equalizing honor and labor, the work was apportioned among the committee,-the chairman taking on himself the prep- aration of the First chapter, on the Formation of the Regiment. The other chapters were assigned as follows, namely: Chapter 2, on the Formation of Companies,-Company "A," Captain F. Asbury Awl; Company "B," Lieutenant A. J. Fager; Company "C," Comrade Levi F. Heicher: Company "D," Captain James B. Keene; Company "E," Comrade Cyrus R. Lantz; Company "F." Lieutenant Thomas G. Sample; Company "G," Corporal Henry A. Swartz: Company "H," Major J. Rohrer; Company "I", Corporal S. G. Stevens; Company "K," Sergeant Henry J. Euston. Chapter 3, on the Marches, Lieutenant A. J. Fager. Chapter 4, on the Battle of Fredericksburg, Comrade George D. Rise. Chapter 5. on the Camps of the Regiment and Camp Life, Senator C. R. Lantz. Chapter 6, Battle of Chancellorsville, Ma- jor J. Rohrer. Chapter 7, Officers, Lieutenant-Colonel H. C. Alleman. Company 8, Return of the Regiment, Comrade John Reinoehl. Chapter 9, Incidents of the Service, and Chapter 10, Regimental Association, assignments were disregarded, so the matter was prepared by the sub-committee.
The two most important chapters, relating to the battles in which the regiment participated, gave the committee the great- est concern, as accuracy was demanded; and the colonel during
his lifetime, fearing that full justice might not be done to the regiment, appealed to the lieutenant-colonel in the spring of 1893 to carefully prepare historical sketches of both battles. This was done, and he afterwards referred them to the regimental historian, who submitted them to Colonel Jennings afterwards, which he approved; and papers on them, later on, were read before the Association. Comrade Rise, as the regimental his- torian, prepared an account of the Battle of Fredericksburg; and Major Rohrer made copious notes from his diary, and after- wards wrote out his version of both battles. While these dif- ferent accounts tallied in the main, they differed from the several standpoints at which the respective writers viewed the situa- tion; so it was concluded best to strike out the repetitions, and compile one account of each battle from the separate accounts, which, it was concluded, would result in greater satisfaction to the reader.
Invitations were freely extended to the surviving comrades to send in contributions of their recollection of the service, and incidents of the several companies and regiment. Captain Keene, of Company "D," Corporal Swartz, of Company "G," and others responded, so that manuscript of some 1,500 pages accumulated, all of which were carefully examined and scrutin- ized by the committee, condensed and purged, to the extent which was concluded would be the most acceptable to the sur- viving comrades of the regiment.
H. C. ALLEMAN, Chairman,
J. ROHRER, C. R. LANTZ, A. J. FAGER, D. C. REINOHL, JOHN REINOEHL, GEORGE D. RISE, THOS. G. SAMPLE,
Committee.
On the death of Comrade George D. Rise, Comrade D. C. Rein- oehl was chosen to fill the vacancy.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. FORMATION OF THE REGIMENT .- Roster of the Field and Staff Officers-Permanent Regimental Detail-Drum Corps and Band
9-22
CHAPTER II.
COMPANY ORGANIZATIONS .- Company "A"- Roster of Company "A"-Company "B"-Ros- ter of Company "B"-Company "C"-Roster of Company "C"-Company "D"-Roster of Company "D"-Company "E"-Roster of Com- pany "E"-Company "F"-Roster of Company "F"-Company "G"-Roster of Company "G" -Company "H"-Roster of Company "H"- Company "I"-Roster of Company "I"-Coni- pany "K"-Roster of Company "K". 23-101
CHAPTER III.
MARCHES. 102-115
CHAPTER IV.
BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG 116-145
CHAPTER V.
CAMPS AND CAMP-LIFE .- Camp Curtin-Camp Welles-Camp Boas-Camp Jennings-Camp Dauphin-Camp Alleman-Camp Rohrer-Camp J. Wesley Awl 146-163
CHAPTER VI.
BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE
164-179
CHAPTER VIL.
OFFICERS .- Field Officers-Staff Officers-Non- Commissioned Staff-Officers of Company "A" -Officers of Company "B"-Officers of Company "C" -- Officers of Company "D"-Officers of Company "E"-Officers of Company "F" -- Offi- cers of Company "G"-Officers of Company "H"-Officers of Company "I"-Officers of Company "K"
180-196
CHAPTER VIII.
RETURN OF THE REGIMENT .- SUMMARY ... 197-205
CHAPTER IX.
INCIDENTS OF THE SERVICE .- A Commuted Sentence-The Vicissitudes of a Soldier-My First Experience on Picket Duty-Incident of the Bat- tle of Fredericksburg-Anecdotes-Occurrences- Camp Fires-Forlorn Hope-Gratitude-Obedi- ence to Orders-What is Camp Life ?- My Person- al Experience as a Wounded Soldier-Incidents of Camp Life-Frank-Fatigue Duty-Corporal Lemuel Moyer-From Major Rohrer's Diary .....
CHAPTER X.
THE 127th REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION .- Address of Colonel W. W. Jennings-Address of Dr. Simeon H. Guilford-Address of Colonel J. Wesley Awl-Address of Major J. Rohrer-Ad- dress of Colonel H. C. Alleman-Address of Hon. Thomas G. Sample-Address of Adjutant Augustus L. Chayne-Address of Major John T. Ensminger-Address of Comrade C. R. Lantz- Address of Comrade William H. Siple-Greeting of Comrade John L. Whisler-Address of Comrade Levi F. Heicher-Address of Lieutenant Albert J. Fager-Address of Captain Henry T. Euston- Eulogy on the Death of Col. Wm. W. Jennings ...
206-298
299-335
PORTRAITS.
Page
Col. Wm. W. Jennings, in 1862
Frontispiece 9
Lt .- Col. H. C. Alleman, in 1862
Maj. Jere. Rohrer, in 1862 19
Capt. F. Asbury Awl 24
Lieut. John T. Ensminger 30
Capt. J. Wesley Awl
34
Capt. Jas. Henderson
42
Capt. Jas. B. Keene
Capt. Lorenzo L. Greenawalt
Lieut. Joseph A. Bowman
Capt. W. H. Hummel
Capt. John J. Ball
76 82 93
Capt. C. A. Nissley
146
Camp Boas
151
Comrade John Reinoehl
199
Corporal Henry A. Swartz
217
Comrade Geo. D. Rise
245 299 304
Col. Wm. W. Jennings, in 1893
Dr. Simeon H. Guilford
306 314 320
Hon. Thos. G. Sample
Adjutant Augustus L. Chayne
Maj. John T. Ensminger
321 322 323 325
Comrade Wm. H. Siple
326
Comrade Levi F. Heicher
327
Lt. Albert J. Fager 328
Capt. Henry T. Euston 329
Hon. H. C. Alleman, in 1902 330
49 61 63 69
Capt. John K. Shott
Comrade Cyrus R. Lantz
Comrade Benj. Brandt, Treasurer
Maj. Jere. Rohrer, in 1902
Hon. Cyrus R. Lantz, in 1902
Comrade John L. Whisler
Presidents of 127th Pennsylvania Volunteers Association.
1889 . Col. W. W. Jennings
1889-1890 Dr. Simeon H. Guilford
1890-1891 . Col. J. Wesley Awl
1891-1892 Maj. Jeremiah Rohrer
1892-1893
Col. H. C. Alleman
1893-1894
Hon. Thomas G. Sample
1894-1895 Adjt. A. L. Chayne
1895-1896
Maj. John T. Ensminger
1896-1897
Hon. Cyrus R. Lantz
1897-1898
. Com. Wm. H. Siple
Com. John L. Whisler 1898-1899
1899-1900 . Com. Levi F. Heicher
1900-1901 Lieut. Albert J. Fager
1901-1902
Capt. Henry T. Euston
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R L
LAbol. 127 Ruter Hol. 36 Retros.
CHAPTER I.
Formation of the Regiment.
HE result of the first fifteen months of the great Civil War, proved to be very unsatisfactory to the Government at Washington; but little headway was made, and the Confederates were becom- ing aggressive; so the authorities at the Capital concluded to call for more troops, and on the 7th of July, 1862, President Lincoln issued his Proclamation, calling for 300,000 more volunteers to serve for "three years, or during the war."
Recruiting had become languid, a draft was imminent, and the designated officers, authorized to raise regiments, were meeting with indifferent success. It was apparent that the men did not care to volunteer for so long a terni as three years, notwithstanding the inducement of liberal bounties offered. The great War Governor of Pennsylva- nia, joined by the Governors of the other States, made an appeal to the President to accept the required quotas from their respective States for a shorter terms of service, and the consent of the War Department was reluctantly se- cured, accepting a limited number of regiments for a term of nine months. Governor Curtin issued his proclama- tion under date of July 21, 1862, appealing to the patriot- ism of the people of Pennsylvania, and eloquently urging them to fill up the quota requirement of the Keystone State, to serve for nine months. It was generally sup- posed that this privilege of entering the service for the
9
b
10
MEMORIAL HISTORY
designated comparatively short period would be kept open during the summer ; but after sixteen Pennsylvania regi- ments were recruited, orders from Washington were sud- denly issued, refusing to accept any more men for a shorter term than three years, or during the war.
Soon after the muster-out of the Lochiel Grays of Har- risburg, of which William W. Jennings was first lieu- tenant, he was appointed by the Adjutant General of Pennsylvania, Adjutant of Camp Curtin. In this posi- tion he developed executive ability of a high order, and became ambitious to fill a more prominent position. He applied to the Governor for authority to raise a regiment under the proclamation of the President ; and later on, on the proclamation of the Governor, he received assurances from both the Governor and Adjutant General Russell that, on raising the required ten companies, he would be commissioned colonel of the regiment.
Captain W. H. Hummel and Lieutenant Thomas G. Sample, of Harrisburg, were recruiting a company for the nine months' service, and they tendered the captaincy of the company to Adjutant Jennings, who at once accepted the offer, and the company by consolidation was soon filled to the maximum. With this company as a start, he went to work to secure additional companies, inducing Captain John J. Ball, who was then drill master of Camp Curtin, to raise a company.
On securing official assurance that he would be ap- pointed colonel of a regiment, Colonel Jennings assumed that he was fully authorized to nominate his associate field officers, together with the adjutant and quartermaster of the regimental staff. He immediately called at the law office of H. C. Alleman, Esq., in Harrisburg, and intro- duced himself,-for up to this time they were personal
127THI REGIMENT, P. V.
strangers to each other,-stating that he had a very lively experience and kindly recollection of a friendly act per- formed in April, 1861, and that, as an evidence of his grateful appreciation of that kindness, he tendered him the position of lieutenant-colonel of his regiment. The re- cipient of this unexpected favor expressed both surprise and delight, and after thanking the embryo colonel, in- quired what would be expected of him in assisting to raise this regiment? Colonel Jennings replied that it was usual for a lieutenant-colonel to bring in two, three or four companies, and added : "But I will not require that of you." Mr. Alleman then replied, "as little as I can do will be to raise one company, and I shall start in at once with the determination of securing a company without unneces- sary delay." This pleased Colonel Jennings, and within an hour of the interview a printed call was nailed upon his office shutter calling for recruits ; and in the course of a few days he marched his company into Camp Curtin, and was commissioned and mustered into the United States service as captain.
During the interview it was concluded that the posi- tion of major should be left open for the present ; Colonel Jennings proposing to consult with Captain Alleman freely in the selection of the major, the commissioned and non- commissioned staff officers of the regiment.
In a subsequent interview, Colonel Jennings reported that he had the offer of three companies from the Cumber- land Valley, two of which hailed from Carlisle, and all of them were particularly friendly to Captain John Lee, who aspired to be major of the regiment to which they would be attached. As Captain Lee was a personal friend of both Colonel Jennings and Captain Alleman, they agreed to make this offer an accomplished fact.
12
MEMORIAL HISTORY
Captain Jennings having authorized Captain John J. Ball, of Harrisburg, and also Dr. James Henderson, of Hummelstown, each to recruit a company, with his own, and Captain Alleman's company, he virtually controlled four prospective companies from Dauphin county, and with the proposition from Captain Lee for three com- panies from the Cumberland Valley, three additional companies were suggested from the northern portion of the State, whose captains proposed to join the organization for the respective regimental positions of adjutant, quar- termaster, and sutler. These arrangements were speedily consummated, and the roster of ten companies was sub- mitted to the Adjutant General to be formed into one reg- iment, of which Colonel W. W. Jennings was designated as colonel ; Captain H. C. Alleman as lieutenant-colonel, and Captain John Lee as major.
The general policy of the State administration, in the formation of these new regiments, was in the direction of local organization ; and, as much as possible, the companies of a county and adjoining counties to the number of ten companies were required to form a regimental organiza- tion. There were exceptions to this rule, and Colonel Jennings felt that he had some reason to be favored in the exception.
In the meantime some decided opposition was manifest- ed, and new candidates presented themselves for promo- tion. The contest necessarily delayed the organization of the regiment, and time only intensified the contest. An enforcement of the general policy of the administration was demanded, and, notwithstanding the friendliness of both the Governor and the Adjutant General, it was deemed expedient to enforce the rule.
Governor Curtin proposed a compromise, suggesting
13
I27TH REGIMENT, P. V.
that he would at once commission Jennings as colonel of the regiment, and would direct the Adjutant General to issue an order empowering the captains of the respective ten companies to elect the other two field officers ; Colonel Jennings to preside at the election. This proposition from the Governor required seven Dauphin county companies to form a regimental organization to be designated the "Dau- phin County Regiment," and it then became simply a question of what other three companies should become part of the organization. Cumberland county is con- tiguous territory, and if the three companies from Cum- berland county had been required, or permitted, to join in the formation of the regiment, the same result of the ros- ter formation would have been accomplished; but other influences were at work, resulting in an order from the Adjutant General's office requiring the seven companies from Dauphin county, with the companies of Captain Greenawalt, of Lebanon county; Captain Fox, from Schuylkill county, and Captain Shipley, from Adams county, to form the organization. The proposition of the Governor took the form of an order, after the likelihood of an amicable agreement seemed to be entirely out of the question. Notices were sent out to each of the nine cap- tains to meet at the office of Captain Alleman forthwith, and go into an election for field officers. Colonel Jennings was ordered to hold the election. At a late hour on Sat- urday night, the 16th of August, 1862, all of the captains reported and were present except Captain Fox, who had gone to Schuylkill county for recruits to fill his company. Colonel Jennings called the meeting to order, and inform- ed the captains of his order from the Governor requiring him to preside at the election for the two remaining field officers of the regiment; and stated further that he had concluded not to vote in the election of these officers.
14
MEMORIAL HISTORY
The result of the first and only ballot for lieutenant-col- onel showed a majority in favor of Captain H. C. Alle- man, who was duly declared, by Colonel Jennings, elected lieutenant-colonel of the regiment.
A number of ballots were then cast for major, result- ing in a tie vote, and Colonel Jennings was appealed to, to cast the deciding vote, which he declined to do. Finally a majority of the votes were cast for Captain Jeremiah Rohrer, and he was declared duly elected major of the regiment.
A certificate of election was prepared after midnight, and certified to the Governor, who, however, took no ac- tion until the following Monday.
In the meantime, Colonel Jennings received orders to take his regiment to Washington ; and about nine o'clock on Sunday morning, the 17th of August, 1862, nine com- panies of the regiment were on their way to the front.
But for the controversy for field officers, the regiment would have been numbered 122, instead of 127, as it was entitled by seniority to that number.
Immediately after the election on Sunday morning- for it was past midnight when the election poll closed- an order from General Wool, commanding the Depart- ment, was received by Captain F. Asbury Awl, detaching his company-the First City Zouaves-from the regiment, and assigning it for special duty within the department. A copy of this order was duly received by Colonel Jen- nings. This detail continued until February, 1863, when, on an urgent appeal to the War Department, Captain F. Asbury Awl was ordered to join his regiment, which was then in the front, on the Rappahannock, near Falmouth, Virginia. He proceeded with his company to Washing- ton City, and reported to General Heintzelman for trans-
15
127TH REGIMENT, P. V.
portation to the regiment ; but an inspection of the com- pany was reported to headquarters, which showed the company to such admirable advantage, that the General, instead of furnishing the requested transportation, order- ed the captain with his company to Cliffburn Barracks, with instructions to report to the Governor of the District.
The company was kept in Washington, and its vicinity, until the expiration of its term of service; and, notwith- standing the urgent appeals of the captain to join the regi- ment, and be mustered out with it, the company was or- dered to Harrisburg, and mustered out of the service on the 8th of May, 1863.
While there were regrets expressed by both the officers and men of the regiment that one of the companies of the organization was detached-and probably there were also some regrets felt and expressed by the detailed company- yet they remembered that it was the first duty of a soldier to obey orders, and they consequently submitted to the "fate of war." It was, nevertheless, a source of constant annoyance in regimental drill, and regimental details, that the awkward number of nine companies only, appeared in regimental formations; and this reduced number im- posed additional burden for picket and fatigue duties, as the regiment was charged with its full complement of ten companies.
While the regiment was formed with celerity, and was on its way to the front before the meridian of the day of its formation, hundreds upon hundreds of the relatives and friends of those patriotic lads assembled at Camp Curtin on that memorable Sunday morning to bid them "good-bye,"-perhaps forever,-and witness their depart- ure to the sunny, but inhospitable, fields of the South; and with streaming tears and earnest prayers; with patriotic
16
MEMORIAL HISTORY
cheers and fervent blessings, they wafted the parting cry, "God bring you safely home again with victory and with honor."
The regiment ordered off so suddenly, before commis- sions were issued to the field officers, the lieutenant-colonel and the major retained the command of their respective companies ; but when the regiment reached Camp Welles, in the defences of Washington, a telegram announced that commissions were signed and forwarded to each of the field officers, in accordance with the election. So on the following day the three commissions arrived, when Colonel Jennings and Lieutenant-Colonel Alleman rode to Washington, and were accordingly sworn into the United States service, respectively as colonel and lieutenant- colonel of the 127th Regiment, leaving the major in com- mand of the regiment. A few days later, Major Rohrer, accompanied by Adjutant Orth, went to Washington City, and were duly sworn into the United States service, re- spectively as major and adjutant of the regiment.
The three field officers, although personally unac- quainted with each other until a few days before the or- ganization of the regiment, worked together harmoniously and there never was the slightest official difference or fric- tion between them. They became firm and fast friends during life. Colonel Jennings was the executive officer ; Lieutenant-Colonel Alleman was the administrative offi- cer ; while Major Rohrer was the emergency officer, and, as the third member of the board of field officers, was con- sulted from time to time ; and it was understood between them, that if any differences of policy or judgment should arise between the colonel and the lieutenant-colonel, Major Rohrer should cast the deciding vote.
Although Captain F. Asbury Awl's company was de-
17
127TH REGIMENT, P. V.
tached from the regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Alleman insisted that his company should be given the post of hon- or on the right of the regiment, and, in alphabetical for- mation, be designated Company "A"; and that Captain J. Wesley Awl's company should be given the second post of honor, on the left of the regiment, and designated Company "B," which was agreed to and named accord- ingly. Colonel Jennings nominated Captain Henderson's company for the color company, and it was designated Company "C." Lieutenant-Colonel Alleman's old com- pany was named Company "D"; Captain Greenawalt's company became Company "E"; and Colonel Jennings' old command was made Company "F"; Captain Ball's company was named Company "G"; Captain Rohrer's old command was made Company "H," while Captain Ship- ley's company became Company "I," and Captain Fox's company was named Company "K."
Colonel Jennings stated in conference that he had prom- ised Captain Henderson one of the staff offices of the regi- ment, so Lieutenant John F. Orth was designated as ad- jutant. The lieutenant-colonel claimed one of the staff officers for his old company, and Frederick R. Gilbert, of Millersburg, Pa., was named as quartermaster. These two nominations were certified to the Governor, and they were promptly commissioned and mustered.
The surgeon, the two assistant surgeons and the chap- lain were appointed by the Governor, and this completed the commissioned regimental staff.
Colonel Jennings claimed for his company the position of sergeant-major, and Charles H. Small was accordingly appointed sergeant-major of the regiment. In compli- ment to Captain J. Wesley Awl, Clement B. Care, of Com- pany "B," was made commissary-sergeant of the regi-
18
MEMORIAL HISTORY
ment ; and on the personal request of Lieutenant-Colonel Alleman, Washington Porter Oglesby, of the same com- pany, was honored with the position of hospital steward of the regiment. Major Rohrer claimed for his company one of the non-commissioned Staff, and David Campbell, of Company "H," was made quartermaster-sergeant. This completed the non-commissioned staff officers of the regiment.
Quartermaster Gilbert, after serving a while, expressed a decided preference for the position of sutler ; so he re- signed his position as quartermaster, and was appointed by the regimental board sutler of the regiment. Adju- tant Orth then resigned his position as adjutant of the regiment, and was commissioned quartermaster of the regiment ; while Second Lieutenant Augustus L. Chayne, of Company "D," was promoted to adjutant of the regi- ment.
This regimental formation continued until the muster- out of the 127th Regiment. There were but a few changes in the staff ; and this was one of the very few Pennsylva- nia regiments where no changes were made by the vicissi- tudes of war among the field officers ; who were mustered out with the regiment, as they were mustered in; and for more than a generation after their term of service, ap- peared at the annual reunions of the regiment to greet their old surviving comrades.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.