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Gc 973.74 P38pea 1764837
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00825 1107
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2009 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/seventyseventhpe00inpenn
THE
77th SEVENTY-SEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA
AT SHILOH.
HISTORY OF THE REGIMENT.
Pennsylvania- Shiloh battlefield commiss !! 1
THE BATTLE OF SHILOH.
:
1905.
1.54837
John Gbreiter. CHAIRMAN
3. 7. Davis SECRETARY
WhAmmer.
TREASURER
WaRobinson.
Sf. P. Krebs.
nunnally.
PRINT: JULIUS BIEN & CO NEW YORK
THE SHILOH BATTLEFIELD COMMISSION.
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Pennsylvania. Shiloh battlefield commission.
The Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania at Shiloh. History of the regiment (by John Obreiter] The battle of Shiloh by David W. Reed. Harrisburg, Harrisburg publishing co., state printers1 1905.
408 p. 21 pl., 13 port. on 7 pl. (incl. front.) 2 fold. maps. 24.
"A full report of all the work and proceedings of the [Pennsylvania Shiloh battlefield, commission."
OHELP CARD 1. U. S .- Ilst .- Civil war - Regimental historles - Fa. inf. - 77th. 2. Pennsylvania Infantry. 77th regt., 1861-1800. 3. Shiloh, Battle of, 1862. I. Obrelter, John. 11. Reed, David Wilson, 1841- IN. Titie.
302435
6-7845
IMbrary of Congress
E527.5.77th
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HARRISBURG, PA .: HARRISBURG PUBLISHING CO., STATE PRINTERS. . 1905.
39-529.
302435
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TO THE SOLDIERS OF THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS. IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE DAYS OF 1861-1866, WHILE
TOGETHER IN CAMP-ON THE MARCH-IN , BATTLE-AND IN CONFEDERATE PRISONS.
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TO THE READER.
T HE Pennsylvania Shiloh Battlefield Commission," having completed all the work and duties, for the performance of which, it was appointed; now as a proper finale, here- with presents to the Comrades and the Public, the following pages; containing a full report of all the work and proceed- ings of the Commission.
The dedication of the monument, erected by the State to the Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, on Shiloh bat- tlefield.
A brief, but complete history, together with list of casual- ties in action and roster of all enlistments of the Regiment.
An accurate and impartial description of the Battle of Shiloh, compiled after much research and labor, by Major David W. Reed, the Secretary and Historian to the National Shiloh Military Park Commission.
This is doubtless the very best history of the Battle of Shiloh yet produced, and is here given to the reader by the kindly permission of the compiler.
We also give representative reports from Commanders of all the armies that were engaged in this great battle, viz: General W. T. Sherman, of the Army of the Tennessee, com- manded by General Grant, who, however, made no report on the Battle of Shiloh, therefore this duty fell upon his second in command, General Sherman.
Generals Buell and McCook, of the Army of the Ohio, and General Beauregard, of the Army of the Mississippi, Confed- erate. These reports, if carefully read, will be a great help to the reader and will enable him to better understand the various movements of the armies of both sides, during the engagement.
This work has been very arduous and trying by reason of defective and, in some instances, of the entire absence of reports bearing on the movements of the Regiment, it was at times, very difficult to arrive at exact facts.
We have, however, in the writing of this Regimental His- tory, used our utmost endeavor and diligence, to secure, as
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Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment.
nearly as possible, absolute truth and correctness, but possi- bly may have erred in some instances, if so, it was not inten- tional, and all we ask, is that the reader will, in such in- stances, kindly exercise that greatest of all virtues, "Charity."
As a whole, we flatter ourselves, that, we have, all circum -. stances considered, here produced a volume, which, we trust, will meet with the approval of all its readers; and one, that will be a permanent addition to the History of the old Key- stone State in the great war between the States.
To the members of the "Shiloh National Military Park Com- mission," Colonels Cadle and Patterson, Majors Ashcraft and Reed, Captain Irwin and Mr. Atwell Thompson, Engineer in charge of the Park, his efficient assistant, Mr. W. S. Keller, and such other members of the Staff whom we have met while on our visits of duty to Shiloh, we feel very much indebted for their very kindly and valuable asistance and for the many courtesies shown us while with them. We do here desire to express our most sincere thanks and high appreciation, with . the assurance that the very pleasant and agreeable friend- ships thus formed, will ever be cherished as some of the brightest spots in memory until we shall all have been called from this to a better world.
JOHN OBREITER,
Chairman Penn. Shiloh Battlefield Commission.
Lancaster, Pa.,
May 10, 1905.
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CONTENTS.
Page.
Report of the Commission, 11
Dedication of Monument . 35
HISTORY OF THE SEVENTY-SEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS.
CHAPTER I.
Recruiting for the Regiment-Camp Slifer-Camp Wilkins-On to Kentucky-Camp Nevin-Company K-Reorganization of the Army-General Buell in Command-Munfordville-Division Moves North to aid Grant at Fort Donelson-Countermarch- Bowling Green-Nashville 69
CHAPTER II.
Pittsburg Landing-Battle of Shiloh-Company E Joins Regiment- Siege of Corinth-March Across Alabama-Battle Creek, . 77
CHAPTER III.
Bragg moves Northward-Buell follows-Louisville, Kentucky- Re-organization of the Army-Fern Creek-Clay Village, Frank- fort-Lawrenceburg-Capture of Convalescents and Quartermas- ters-Scarcity of water-Perryville,
CHAPTER IV.
Buell relieved from Command-Rosecrans succeeds him-Reconnois- sance to La Vergne-Reorganization of the Army-On to Mur- freesborough-Battle of Stone River-Review of the Army, ..... 99
CHAPTER V.
Liberty Gap-Tullahoma, 115
CHAPTER VI.
Chickamauga Campaign-Battle of Chickamauga-Night attack on Jolinson's Division-Seventy-seventh men prisoners-Escape from . Confederate prisons, . 123
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Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment.
CHAPTER VII.
Page.
Chattanooga-Short Rations-Rosecrans plans to open communica- tions, plan approved by Grant, successful-Rosecrans relieved, Thomas placed in command-Grant takes supreme command- Skirmish at Lookout Creek-Reorganisation of the Army-White- side-77th Re-enlistments-Home on Veteran Furlough, ...
136
CHAPTER VIII.
Regiment returns and joins the Army at Blue Spring, Tennessee- Atlanta Campaign-Colonel Rose returns from prison, 141
CHAPTER IX.
Confederates move Northward-Thomas sent to Nashville-Spring Hill-Battle of Franklin-Battle of Nashville-Pursuit of the Enemy-Winter quarters at Huntsville, 149
CHAPTER X.
East Tennessee-Strawberry Plain-Bull's Gap-New companies of one year meu join regiment-Embark at Johnsonville for Texas- New Orleans-Texas-Return to Pennsylvania-Discharged Jan- uary 16, 1866, at Philadelphia, 160
List of casualties in action, 165
Roster, 173
CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE OF SHILOH.
Field of operations, 255
Battle of Shiloh, 263
Organization of armies,
Army of the Tennessee, Union, 353
Army of the Ohio, Union, 361
Army of the Misissippi, Confederate, 363
Commanding and Staff officers,
370
MOVEMENTS OF ORGANIZATIONS, 281
SHILOH MISUNDERSTOOD, 349
REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS, UNION AND CONFEDERATE.
Report of General Sherman, 385
Report of General Buell, 391
Report of General McCook, 395
Reports of General Beauregard, 400
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ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page.
The Shiloh Battlefield Commission. Frontispiece.
Shiloh Church,
11
Committee on Location, 18
Hornets' Nest, 272
Shiloh Monument, S. E. View,
Shiloh Monument, N. W. View, 22
Bronze Bas-relief panel, Surrender of Col. Battle,
26
Bronze Bas-relief panel, Capture of Battery,
Bronze Inscription Panel, 27
Inspection of Monument,
28
Steamer Clyde at Pittsburg Landing, Tenn.,
33
Program of Dedication of Monument,
34
Survivors of 77th Regiment at the Dedication of Monument, 61
The Commanders of the Regiment in all its Battles:
Colonel Frederick S. Stumbaugh, 69
Lieutenant Colonel Peter B. Honsum, 106
Colonel Thomas E. Rose, 115
General D. C. Buell,
77
. General A. McD. McCook,
79
Colonel Edward N. Kirk,
101
Hamburg and Purdy Road at Review Field,
80
Shilolı Spring, where the 77th men got water after the battle,
82
Monument on Chickamauga Battlefield, front view,
135
Siege Gun Battery,
273
Tablet on site of First Field Tent Hospital, 309
Fifth Brigade Tablet on Shiloh Field,
277 .
Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment, Tablet on Shiloh Field, . . Bloody Pond on Shiloh Field,
313
348
Monument on Chickamauga Battlefield, back view,
Maps of Shiloh Field, in pocket in back cover.
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OLD SHILOH CHURCH.
PRINT: JULIUS BIEN & CO. NEW YORK
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REPORT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA SHILOH BATTLEFIELD COMMISSION.
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M ANY years ago the good people of Harding county, Tenn- essee, hewed timber from the surrounding forests, and builded for themselves a house in the woods. Their lowly temple was erected on the main road to Corinth, Missis- · sippi, about two and one-half miles from Pittsburg Landing .. Here they peacefully assembled to worship the Lord of Hosts. Little did they dream, that their humble meeting-house would, one-day, become famous throughout the civilized world. They called it Shiloh Church. To-day the name Shiloh is written upon the pages of history, as the title of one of the greatest and most fiercely contested battles of modern times.
In the great war between the States, on the sixth day of April, 1862, two large armies, one from the North and one from the South, met there in deadly conflict, that raged in all its fury, for two long days. In the very center of this dreadful contest, so destructive to life and limb, stood this humble, little log-church, from which the great battle of Shiloh took its name. Upon its site still stands a larger House of God, replacing its more lowly predecessor, and bear- ing the same historic name.
So important and far reaching were the results of this great engagement, that the National Government determined to forever preserve its historic field, and to properly mark upon it the lines of battle and the various positions of both armies on the ground over which they fought. To accomplish this purpose the Congress of the United States enacted the fol- lowing law:
AN ACT
To establish a national military park at the battlefield of Shiloh.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in order that the armies of the southwest which served in the civil war, like their comrades of the eastern armies at Gettysburg and those of the central west at Chicka- mauga, may have the history of one of their memorable battles preserved on the ground where they fought, the battlefield of Shiloh, in the State
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Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment.
of Tennessee, is hereby declared to be a national military park, whenever title to the same shall have been acquired by the United States and the usual jurisdiction over the lands and roads of the same shall have been granted to the United States by the State of Tennessee; that is to say, the area inclosed by the following lines, or so much thereof as the commis- sioners of the park may deem necessary, to wit: Beginning at low-water mark on the north bank of Snake Creek where it empties into the Ten- nessee river; thence westwardly in a straight line to the point where the river road to Crumps Landing, Tennessee, crosses Snake Creek; thence along the channel of Snake Creek to Owl Creek; thence along the channel of Owl Creek to the crossing of the road to Purdy, Tennessee; thence soutli- wardly in a straight line to the intersection of an east and west line drawn from the point where the road to Hamburg, Tennessee, crosses Lick Creek, near the mouth of the latter; thence eastward along the said east and west line to the point where the Hamburg Road crosses Lick Creek; thence along the channel of Lick Creek to the Tennessee River; thence along low water mark of the Tennessee River to the point of beginning, containing three thousand acres, more or less, and the area thus inclosed shall be known as the Shiloh National Military Park: Provided, That the boundaries of the land authorized to be acquired may be changed by the said commissioners.
Sec. 2. That the establishment of the Shiloh National Military Park shall be carried forward under the control and direction of the Secretary of War, who, upon the passage of this Act, shall proceed to acquire title to the same either under the Act approved August first, eighteen hundred and eighty-eight, entitled "An Act to authorize tlie condemnation of land for sites of public buildings, and for other purposes," or under the Act approved February twenty-seevnth, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, en- titled "An Act to establishi and protect national cemeteries," as he may select, and as title is procured to any portion of the lands and roads within the legal boundaries of the park he may proceed with the establishment of the park upon such portions as may thus be acquired.
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Sec. 3. That the Secretary of War is hereby authorized to enter into 'agreements whereby he may lease, upon such terms as he may prescribe, with such present owners or tenants of the lands as may desire to remain upon it, to occupy and cultivate their present holdings upon condition that they will preserve the present buildings and roads and the present outlines of field and forest, and that they only will cut trees or underbrush under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, and that they will assist in caring for and protecting all tablets, monuments, or such other artificial works as may from time to time be erected by proper authority.
Sec. 4. That the affairs of the Shiloh National Military Park shall, subject to the supervision and direction of the Secretary of War, be in charge of three commissioners, to be appointed by the Secretary of War, each of whom shall have served at the time of the battle in one of the armies engaged therein, one of whom shall have served in the Army of the Tennessee, commanded by General U. S. Grant, who shall be chairman of the commission; one in the Army of the Ohio, commanded by General
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Shiloh National Park.
D. C. Buell; and one in the Army of the Mississippi, commanded by Gen- eral A. S. Johnston. The said commissioners shall have an office in the War Department building, and while on actual duty shall be paid such compensation out of the appropriations provided by this Act as the Secre- tary of War shall deem reasonable and just; and for the purpose of assisting them in their duties in ascertaining the lines of battle of all troops engaged and the history of their movements in the battle, the Secretary of War shall have authority to employ, at such compensation as he may deem reasonable, to be paid out of the appropriations made by this Act, some person recognized as well informed concerning the history of the several armies engaged at Shiloh, and who shall also act as secretary of the com- mission.
Sec. 5. That it shall be the duty of the commission named in the preceding section under the direction of the Secretary of War, to open or repair such roads as may be necessary to the purposes of the park, and to ascertain and mark with historical tablets or otherwise, as the Secretary of War may determine, all lines of battle of the troops engaged in the battle of Shiloh and other historical points of interest pertaining to the battle within the park or its vicinity, and the said commission in establishing this military park shall also have authority, under the direction of the Secretary of War, to employ such labor and services and to obtain such supplies and material as may be necessary to the establishment of the said park under such regulations as he may consider best for the interests of the Government, and the Secretary of War shall make and enforce all needed regulations for the care of the park.
Sec. 6. That it shall be lawful for any State that had troops engaged in the battle of Shiloh to enter upon lands of the Shiloh National Military Park for the purpose of ascertaining and marking the lines of battle of its troops engaged therein: Provided, That before any such lines are permanently designated the position of the lines and the proposed methods of marking them by monuments, tablets, or otherwise shall be submitted to and approved by the Secretary of War, and all such lines, designs and inscriptions for the same shall first receive . the written approval of the Secretary, which approval shall be based upon formal written reports, which must be made to him in each case by the commissioners of the park: Provided, That no discrimination shall be made against any State as to the manner of designating lines, but any grant made to any State by the Secretary of War may be used by any other State.
Sec. 7. That if any person shall, except by permission of the Secretary of War, destroy, mutilate, deface, injure, or remove any monument, column, statues, memorial structures, or work of art that shall be erected or placed upon the grounds of the park by lawful authority, or shall destroy or remove any fence, railing, inclosure, or other work for the protection or ornament of said park, or any portion thereof, or shall destroy, cut. hack, burk, break down, or otherwise injure any tree, bush, or shrubbery that may be growing upon said park, or shall cut down or fell or remove any timber, battle relic, tree or trees growing or being upon said park, or hunt within the limits of the park, or shall remove or destroy any breastworks, earthworks,
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Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment.
walls, or other defenses or shelter on any part thereof constructed by the armies formerly engaged in the battles on the lands or approaches to the park, any person so offending and found guilty thereof, before any justice of the peace of the county in which the offense may be committed or any court of competent jurisdiction shall for each and every such offense forfeit and pay a fine, in the discretion of the justice, according to the aggravation of the offense, of not less than five nor more than fifty dollars, one-half for the use of the park and the other half to the informer, to be enforced and recovered before such justice in like mauner as debts of like nature are now by law recoverable in the several counties where the offense may be committed.
Sec. 8. That to enable the Secretary of War to begin to carry out the purpose of this Act, including the condemnation or purchase of the neces- sary land, marking the boundaries of the park, opening or repairing neces- sary roads, restoring the field to its condition at the time of the battle, maps and surveys, and the pay and expenses of the commissioners and their assistant, the sum of seventy-five thousand dollars, or such portion thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and disbursements under this Act shall require the approval of the Secretary of War, and he shall make annual report of the same to Congress.
Approved December 27, 1894.
Upon the approval of this act, the Secretary of War ap- pointed the following Commission to carry its provisions into effect: From the Army of the Tennessee, Colonel Cornelius Cadle, of Cincinnati, Ohio, Chairman; from the Army of the Ohio, General Don Carlos Buell, of Paradise, Kentucky; and from the Confederate Army of the Mississippi, Colonel R. F. Looney, of Memphis, Tennessee. Major David W. Reed, of Evanston, Illinois, an ex-Union officer, was appointed Sec- retary and Historian to the Commission, and Captain James W. Irwin, an ex-Confederate from Savannah, Tennessee, was appointed their Land Purchasing Agent.
The Commission at once went earnestly to work, acquired the desired lands, and began to improve them under the very able management of their engineer in charge, Mr. Atwell Thompson. Within the park limits now run thirty miles of gravel roads, unsurpassed anywhere. All undergrowth has been removed from the land except on that part of the field known as the Hornets' Nest. All lines of battle and all posi- tions of both armies have been definitely located and per- manently marked by metal tablets, bearing inscriptions which detail accurately and concisely the various occurrences of the
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Shiloh National Park.
battle at the different points. Even the roads are completely marked with metal signs, making it impossible for strange visitors to the Park to lose their way. .
Monuments mark the sites of General Headquarters during the battle, and the spots were General officers were killed or mortally wounded. The tablets showing the lines of the first day's battle are square, while the second day tablets are oval shaped. Red borders and letters are used on the Con- federate tablets, blue on those of the Army of the Tennessee, and orange on those of the Army of the Ohio. This arrange. ment is very readily understood. Visitors can see at a glance just what troops occupied a particular position, when they were there, and what part they took. Taken together, the inscriptions constitute a complete history of the battle.
The locations of camps are shown by tent shaped markers. This diversity of color and shape of tablets makes the Park much more interesting to visitors than other battle parks where but one shape of markers is used.
The plan of the Park, which is being faithfully and effi- ciently carried into effect, is to restore the whole field, as nearly as possible to the condition, in which it was at the time of the battle. To that end, all clearings made since the bat- tle, are replanted in forest trees. The new roads have been closed, and all the roads, which were there at the time of the battle, have been properly graded and gravelled. .
The only perceptible change made, is the clearing out of undergrowth, in order to give a better view of the grounds, . and to make them more accessible.
Thus far, a great deal has been accomplished, but much yet remains to be done.
Since the appointment of the Commission, two of its mem- bers have answered their last roll call on this earth, and have passed to their reward in a better world. They are Gen- eral D. C. Buell, and Colonel R. F. Looney. The vacancies caused by their deaths, were very creditably filled by the appointment of Major J. H. Ashcraft, of Paducah. Ky., to sneceed General Buell, and Colonel Josiah Patterson, of Mem- phis, Tennessee, to succeed Colonel Looney.
By the death of Colonel Patterson, which occurred at Mem- phis, on the 12th day of of February, 1904, a vacancy again
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Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment.
occurred on the National Commission to fill, which the Sec- retary of War, has appointed General Basil W. Duke, of Louisville, Kentucky.
Under the provisions of the Act of Congress, establishing Shiloh Park, all states that had troops engaged in the battle were requested to co-operate, and to erect monuments or other memorials to such troops, on lines or positions occupied by them, during the engagement.
To this request a number of the states have already lib- erally responded. Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Iowa, the states most numerously represented at the battle, have all their monuments in place. Other states are moving in the matter, and soon all of them will no doubt, have appropriate memorials erected. There are now about 120 monuments in place on the Park.
Our own old Keystone State, always honoring the patriot- ism and valor of its sons, has shown its appreciation by the following act of the Legislature, providing for a monument, which has been erected on Shiloh Park, to commemorate the services of the 77th Regiment of Infantry, the only Pennsyl- vania regiment that participated in the Battle of Shiloh:
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