USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume II > Part 18
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Thirtieth Regiment (First Reserves) .- So nobly and so well did the men of Pennsylvania respond to President Lincoln's call for volunteers, that for a time it seemed probable that none save those already accepted, would be mus- tered into service. But. Gov. Curtin, who perhaps had a better knowledge of the condition and requirements of the time than any other man in official cir- cles in the North (excepting Simon Cameron), realized that many more troops would be needed, and determined to form several military camps, and there to mobilize the various organizations of the state, to equip and discipline them, and to have them in readiness for any emergency. This purpose Gov. Curtin carried into effect, and the name Pennsylvania Reserves will ever cling to the companies thus formed ; and to Gov. Curtin. Pennsylvania owes much of the honor it received, for having played such important part in the war.
In May, 1861. Samuel A. Dyer recruited from Chester and vicinity a company of infantry, named the Keystone Guards. For ten days the company was quartered in the Chester town hall, maintained by the subscription of sev- eral citizens of the borough. After changing the name of the company to the Slifer Phalanx, in honor of Hon. Eli Slifer, then secretary of the common- wealth, the organization was mustered in at the Girard House, Philadelphia, May 31, 1861, where a handsome flag, the gift of the ladies of Chester, was presented to the company of Hon. Edward Darlington. On June 4th, the Sli-
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fer Phalanx left for Camp Wayne, at West Chester, where it became company C, 30th Regiment, Ist Pennsylvania Reserves.
Another Delaware county company which had difficulty in being accepted, but which was extricated from the difficulty by Gov. Curtin's formation of the Pennsylvania Reserves, was the Rockdale Rifle Guards, recruited by Wil- liam Cooper Talley, at Crozerville and Rockdale. Subsequently the name was changed to the Archy Dick Volunteers, in honor of Archibald T. Dick, a de- ceased member of the bar of Delaware county, in which he had held an hon- ored position. On May 30th, 1861, the company was mustered into the 30th Regiment, Ist Reserves, as Company F, for three years service. The organi- zation of the regiment was not fully effected until June 9, 1861, when Biddle Roberts was chosen colonel, he appointing Lieutenant Joseph R. T. Coates, of Company C, quartermaster. On July 4, Gov. Curtin reviewed the First and Seventh Reserves at West Chester, and on the 21st the Ist Regiment was or- dered to Washington. At about dusk of the next day the regiment reached Baltimore, and Col. Roberts was met outside of the city limits by the police authorities, who advised against attempting to pass through the streets because of the excitement and possible rioting. Col. Roberts, however, distributed ammunition among his men and ordered them to proceed, marching through the city without molestation. The regiment was mustered into the United States service at Camp Carroll, July 26, thence marching to Annapolis, where it was quartered until August 30th in the Naval School, and then moved to Tenallytown, Maryland, where it was assigned to the Ist Brigade, under Gen. Reynolds, of McCall's division. It took part in all the movements preceding the peninsular campaign, and in that campaign, at Mechanicsville, was on the extreme right of the Army of the Potomac. In the battle of June 26th, 1862, it was under command of Fitz John Porter. There the Ist held the cen- ter, and after a three hours fight repulsed the enemy, sleeping that night on the hard won field. The next morning it was ordered to fall back, the brigade retiring in the direction of Gaines' Mills. On the 27th, the Ist and Sth Re- serves moved to the rear for ammunition. Their action alarmed Fitz John Porter, who thought they were in flight, and he appealed to Col. Roberts to stop them, which upon the general's promise to provide them with ammunition, the colonel did with a word, winning the general's warm approval for the prompt action, coolness and precision of the Reserves. At New Market, on the 30th, the Ist Reserves maintained its position for five hours, repulsing three heavy attacks with a gallantry that won special mention in McCall's of- ficial report. On August 29th and 30th, in Pope's campaign, it was marching nearly all the time, constantly under fire, and for the entire forty-eight hours was totally without food. On Sunday, September 14, 1862, at South Moun- tain, the regiment charged the gorge and summit of a hill held by a part of Hill's corps, gaining the summit with a brilliant rush. The Ist Reserves were ready at the break of dawn to resume the struggle, but the Confederates had withdrawn under cover of darkness. The following morning. Gen. Hooker came to the field to compliment the regiment personally. In that headlong
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charge, Second Lieutenant John H. Taylor, of Company C, fell, leading his command. On September 16, the eve of Antietam, the First's pickets were firing upon the enemy, and at daybreak of the 17th it engaged with the Con- federates, fighting until relieved at 9 o'clock. During the greater part of the battle, Captain Talley commanded the regiment, Col. Roberts having command of the ist Brigade, and after Hooker was wounded, March 1, 1863, Captain Talley was promoted to the colonelcy.
At Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, the Ist Reserves charged across an open plain under a heavy artillery fire, driving the enemy two hundred yards behind its entrenchments, when, finding he was flanked on the right, the enemy strongly reenforced in front and no supporting troops coming up in the rear, Col. Talley "was compelled to retire after having opened the way to victory."
An inspiring scene was enacted when the Reserves, on June 29, 1863, were marching with the main army to Gettysburg to repel Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania. Col. Talley, as soon as the state line was crossed, halted his troops, and, in a few earnest words, besought his men to fight as they had nev- er fought before, to cleanse the soil of their native state from the polluting step of the invader. With this incentive and their colonel's heartfelt words ringing in their ears, the men were sent to the front immediately after arrival on the field, July 2, and by a splendid charge upon the right of Little Round Top, drove the enemy back upon their reserves. On July Ist, the Ist Regi- ment, commanded by Col. Talley, occupied the centre of the line in the terrific charges made by the Ist Brigade. The regiment also took part in the battle of Bristol Station, and in the numerous movements of the Army of the Poto- mac during the latter part of 1863. In Grant's campaign, on the 5th of May, 1864, it was engaged in the battle of the Wilderness, and on May 8, Spottsyl- vania. In that battle Col. Talley was in command of the brigade, and on the enemy's third charge through the pine thickets, was captured by soldiers of Ewell's corps, but the following day he and several hundred other prisoners were rescued by Sheridan's cavalry. The Pennsylvania Reserves saw their last day of service May 31, 1864, when the Ist Regiment played a prominent part in the battle of Bethesda Church. The next day the Reserves were or- dered home, and on June 13th were mustered out of service at Philadelphia. On March 13th, 1865, Col. Talley received the rank of brigadier general of volunteers, by brevet, for distinguished services in the field.
Fifty-eighth Regiment .- Delaware county receives no credit whatsoever in the official records for citizens enlisted in the 58th Regiment, except in so far as "Philadelphia and vicinity" applies to the county, a condition which is found in other organizations as well. The fact is that almost one-half of Company H was recruited in Delaware county, while in companies B, C, and K, many Delaware county men were the first to enlist.
On March 8, 1862, the 58th was ordered to Fortress Monroe, arriving there the following day, Sunday, while the battle between the "Monitor" and "Merrimac" was in progress. On May 10th it led the advance of Gen. Wool's
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troops, and after the surrender of the city of Norfolk on that day, the flag of the 58th was raised over the custom house, where it remained until the regi- ment was ordered to Beaufort, North Carolina. While at Norfolk, First Lieu- tenant Thomas I. Leiper, of Company A, who had been appointed adjutant while the regiment was in Philadelphia, before being ordered to the front, was assigned to the staff of Gen. Thomas L. Kane, under whom he saw ser- vice in the battles of Antietam and Gettysburg. When on September 9, 1863. Leiper was promoted to the captaincy of Company A, he at once returned to his command. On June 27, 1862, the 58th was ordered to garrison Washing- ton, North Carolina, at the head of navigation of the Pamlico river, and while there, heavy artillery practice was held daily. One of the most dashing raids of the entire war was made on December 16, when Captain Theodore Blakeley, of Company B, a daring soldier from Chester, with a detachment of one hun- dred men, made a foray into the country, fifteen miles to the south, and sur- prised a Confederate cavalry encampinent, capturing a captain and sixty men. with their horses and equipment, so completely surprising them that they yielded without a single shot. Captain Blakeley was accorded the high honor of having his expedition especially mentioned in an order from department headquarters, and was complimented therefor. The regiment joined the Army of the James, May 1, 1864, and was in action in the operations against Richmond under Gen. Butler. On the 9th, the 58th was engaged near the Appomattox river, and the following day destroyed the Petersburg & Rich- mond railroad for a considerable distance, thus greatly handicapping the Con- federates in their transportation of ammunition and supplies. The regiment was subsequently transferred to Grant's army, and at Cold Harbor, June 3d, charged the enemy's works, capturing the rifle pits, and in the words of a New York Herald correspondent, "Here, however, the men found themselves close prisoners, for it was utterly impossible for a head or an arm to make its appearance without being riddled by bullets. For two long hours the regiment held its position until it was reenforced."
It was in the attack of the Army of the James, to which it had been re- turned, on the enemy's lines in front of Petersburg, when the outer works were carried. When on June 24 the re-enlisted soldiers were ordered to Phila. delphia on the furlough granted to veterans re-entering the service, the second term men of the 58th were allowed twenty days beyond the usual time because of good conduct and commendable service. Great self-denial was shown by Captain Leiper, who remained at the front in command of the men who had not re-enlisted and the recruits assigned to the 58th. AAfter the furlough the regiment rejoined the army on the north of the James, and on September 28, the 58th and the 108th Pennsylvania made a desperate assault upon Fort Harrison, under a scathing fire from sixteen heavy calibre guns, when the colors of the 58th were shot away three times. Out of the 228 men of that regiment who had made the charge, 128 were killed and wounded. Among the former was Captain Theodore Blakeley, of Chester. As a result of this determined and intrepid attack, the fort, with its cannon, small arms, battle
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flags and garrison was captured. Although it would seem that the 58th and 108th regiments had done sufficient service for one day, nevertheless they were ordered to assault Star Fort, a mile to the left of the fortification just captured. This they did, and although they were able to scale the works and spike the enemy's guns, their fatigue and lack of support obliged them to fall back under the heavy fire to which they were subjected by the enemy's gun- boats. In the final campaign of the war, resulting in the surrender of Gen. Lee, it acquitted itself with great credit, and after the disposal of the enemy's field force was assigned to duty in the lower counties of Virginia, being mus- tered out at City Point, Virginia, January 24, 1866.
Sixtieth Regiment (Third Cavalry) .- It is believed that the first Pennsyl- vania men to enlist for a term of three years were those of Captain William L. Law's company of cavalry, organized in Delaware county in July, 1861. As Pennsylvania's quota was full at the time, Col. William H. Young asked per- mission to raise a regiment in any part of the country, the organization to be known as Young's Light Kentucky Cavalry. Law's company, for some un- known reason, was not accepted as a whole in this regiment, the greater part of the men being assigned to Captain William K. Grant, of Company I, and the remainder distributed among the other companies. The regiment, which was entirely recruited in Pennsylvania, excepting Company D (from Wash- ington City), was later credited to the Keystone State, and Col. Young's resig- nation requested by Gov. Curtin.
On October 31, 1861, William W. Averill, an officer of the 5th United States Cavalry, was appointed Young's successor. The strict discipline and adherence to rules exacted by the new commander made him most unpopular with the men at first, for under Young their conduct had been lax and unsol- dierly, but the honorable record which the regiment now bears is in large measure due to the training and discipline of Col. Averill. During the winter and spring of 1862 it was constantly in the advance of the army, and was the first Union force to enter the Manassas fortifications and ascertain that the enemy had abandoned the works. In the peninsular campaign, the regiment did most of the reconnoitering for the army staff, and during that week of fighting, while the base of the operations was being changed, was almost con- stantly in the saddle. At Antietam it was centrally engaged, and when in Oc- tober the army crossed into Virginia, it covered the right flank, which brought it constantly into contact and battle with Stuart's and Hampton's commands, meetings which finally forced the latter to retire to the Blue Ridge. On March 16th the Southern cavalry learned that their neighbors of the North were quite as skilled in mounted warfare as they, when the 60th encountered Fitz Hugh Lee and Stuart's cavalry at Kelley's Ford and decisively defeated them. The 60th rode in the noted raid which, previous to the battle of Chancellorsville, traversed the country in Lee's rear and for a time severed his railroad com- munication with Richmond. On June 19th, 1863, it took part in Buford's and Gregg's attack on Stuart, between Culpeper Court House and Beverly Ford, in which the latter was so signally defeated that for a time it compelled a de-
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lay in the proposed invasion of Pennsylvania. Two weeks later it was in the engagement at Aldie, which resulted in cutting off Lee from the whole of Stuart's command, so that the former was without the greater part of his cavalry until after the battle of Gettysburg. On July 2, in that battle, the 60th Regiment sustained the charge of Hampton's division in the latter's at- tempt to gain the rear of the Union army, and although driven back by weight of numbers, when Custer arrived with reenforcements it rallied and joined in the charge, in which the enemy was defeated with heavy loss. After taking part in the action at Old Antietam Forge on July 10, and at Shepherdstown on the 16th, it led the brave charge near Culpeper Court House, September 13, and was complimented in a general order for valor. On October 14 it was en- gaged at Bristol Station, and the next day, when the cavalry covered the army wagon train of seventy miles, the 60th was detailed as rear guard and re- pulsed the attack of Gordon's division, holding its ground for over two hours, before supported. Once again Gen. Buford issued an order commending its skill and bravery. At New Hope Church, on September 26th, while dis- mounted, aided by the ist Massachusetts, it maintained a position against the attacks of the Stonewall Brigade for two hours until Sykes' Regulars had time to advance to its support. It was constantly engaged in the Wilderness campaign under Grant, and acted as escort when Grant and Meade crossed the James on pontoon bridges. The history of the engagements preceding Lee's surrender is the history of the 60th Regiment, and when on April 3. Grant and Meade entered Petersburg, it formed part of the General's escort. At Lee's surrender it was in the advance between the lines of battle of the two armies. The 6oth was mustered out of service August 7, 1865.
Ninety-seventh Regiment .- Henry B. Guss, of West Chester, was au- thorized by the Secretary of War in the latter part of July, 1861, to raise a regiment for three years' service. The companies recruited mainly from Media, Chester and neighboring vicinities were composed almost entirely of men who had been in the three months' service, and had some knowledge of military tactics and duties. The following companies were enrolled: Com- pany D, the Concordville Rifles, Captain William S. Mendenhall, recruited in the western end of the county ; Company G, the Broomall Guards, ( named in honor of Hon. J. M. Broomall), Captain Jesse L. Cummings, recruited mostly in Media, Chester and neighborhood; Company I. Brooke Guards (so called in honor of Hon. Hugh Jones Brooke, post commissary of Pennsylvania, who contributed largely to the outfit and comfort of the men), Captain George W. Hawkins, recruited mostly from Springfield and Ridley townships. The companies encamped at Camp Wayne, near West Chester, where Gov. Curtin presented the state colors to the regiment on November 12, the day it left for Washington. Shortly thereafter it was ordered to Fortress Monroe and sub- sequently to Port Royal, South Carolina, arriving off the harbor December II, but was compelled by heavy weather to put out to sea, and disembarkation was delayed for three days. In January, 1862, it took part in the expedition to Warsaw Sound, Georgia, which resulted in the capture of Fort Pulaski, and
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on March 5 the 97th was landed from the transport in the Florida expedition, capturing Fermandina and Fort Church. In March, Gen. Hunter, relieving Gen. Sherman, ordered an evacuation of Florida. In a bold expedition to Legarsville, South Carolina, in June, 1862, Company G (Broomall Guards) and Company H occupied the town. In the Confederate attack at Secession- ville, June 10, the 97th held the most exposed position and bore the brunt of the fight until the gunboats could get into position and open an effective fire. The physical condition of the regiment in the fall of that year was very poor, and its members suffered severely with intermittent fever, five hundred men being on the sick list at one time, while there were also many cases of yellow fever, a number of which proved fatal. In April, 1863, it was at Folly Island, Charleston Harbor, during the bombardment of Fort Sumter. One of the most humane acts in war history, and one which displayed the true bravery and true courage of a band of soldiers, more than any fighting against odds. or any other war peril could possibly do, was performed at the storming of Fort Wagner. The 54th Massachusetts Regiment (colored ) led the assaulting column and suffered dreadfully under the murderous fire from the fort. When the attack failed, Companies C and D ( Concordville Rifles), stacked their arms, and during the entire night busied themselves carrying off the wounded colored soldiers, urged on in their work of mercy by Brig. Gen. Stevenson with the oft repeated words, "You know how much harder they will fare at the hands of the enemy than white men." With never a thought of self, these men crawled to the very brink of the enemy's entrenchment. dragging away the wounded black men. No nobler spectacle ever lightened the dark days of the war. War may dull men's finer feelings, but then it strengthened the bonds of human brotherhood. a gospel as old as creation.
The 97th was active in the siege of Fort Wagner, which was evacuated the night of September 6, 1863. The following month it was ordered to Flori- da, where it was engaged mainly in destroying Confederate supply stations. In April, 1864, it was attached to the Ist Brigade, 3rd Division. Army of the James, under Gen. Butler. On May 9 it led the advance on Petersburg, de- tailed to destroy the railroad and telegraph wires; after the accomplishment it was engaged at Swift Creek. When Beauregard, on the 18th, attacked the Army of the James, the pickets of the 8th Maine were driven back and the 97th was ordered to retake the position, which was done under a hot and de- structive fire of musketry. On the evening of the 19th, when four of the companies had been driven back with fearful slaughter and the line broken, the remainder of the regiment, including all of the Delaware county compan- ies, was ordered to regain it. The attempt to obey the command was made eagerly, and the line advanced steadily, despite holes torn in their ranks by volleys of grape, canister, and a steady fusilade of musketry. At last they were recalled. having sustained the awful loss of 200 killed and wounded. Because of its well known calmness under fire and its dauntless courage, the regiment was constantly in the advance, and on June 30th, Captain Menden- hall, of Company D. (Concordville Rifles) with 300 men from the companies,
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was ordered to attack the enemy's works in front of the cemetery, to divert the latter's attention from the real point of assault. The order was gallantly obeyed, the works were captured and held until nightfall, although the real at- tack was not made. Over one-third of the force under Mendenhall was either killed or wounded. When the mine was exploded, July 30th, Captain Haw- kins (Brooke Guards), in command of five companies, successfully charged the enemy's riflepits, an attack in which Captain Mendenhall was wounded.
On the 15th of August, the regiment took part in the action at Deep Bot- tom, and on the 16th at Strawberry Plains. At Bermuda Hundred, on the 25th, it was attacked by the enemy while being relieved, and a part of its line was captured, which, however, was shortly afterward retaken. It participated September 28th, in the capture of New Market Heights, and the same day in the unsuccessful attack on Fort Gilmore. In a short engagement with the enemy at Darbytown Roads, on October 27, 1864, Captain George W. Haw- kins was mortally wounded. Here the relation of the 97th Regiment and Del- aware county ceases, for the period of enlistment expired at the end of 1864, and when the regiment was re-formed but little of its original elements re- mained.
One Hundred Sixth Regiment .- The 106th Regiment was recruited in Philadelphia during the late summer and carly fall of 1861, forming part of Baker's brigade. At the battle of Ball's Bluff, the 106th was just across the Potomac on the Maryland side, but for want of transportation could not cross to the assistance of the other division, which was overpowered by superior numbers, Col. Baker being mortally wounded. At the battle of Fair Oaks it supported Kirby's battery against Magruder's assault, the latter having sworn to regain possession of the battery, as it had been formerly under his com- mand in the United States army. Magruder's efforts, however, were unsuc- cessful. At Savage Station, exposed to a severe and raking fire. it withstood for nearly three hours every attack made against it. at one time being en- gaged in a hand-to-hand conflict with the enemy. At Antietam the regiment suffered greatly, and at a fence near Dunker church one-third of the entire body was stricken down in ten minutes. . At the battle of Fredericksburg, De- cember 13. 1862. it charged under a heavy fire to within seventy-five yards of the enemy's works, and from noon until sundown hekl its ground, and on May 3, 1863, came to the support of Sedgwick, commanding the Sixth Corps, at Salem Church, when the latter was engaged with overwhelming odds.
At Gettysburg the 106th arrived on the field at midnight of July 1, and took up a position behind the low stone wall on the right centre of the line in front and to the left of Mead's headquarters. The next day, when Sickle?' line was broken, the 106th was part of Webb's brigade, which marched to the gap in the line. As it reached the crest of the hill, the enemy. less than sixty yards away, was advancing to what seemed certain victory. The brigade, giving one close volley of musketry, charged. striking the enemy on the left flank and hurling back the advancing column, the 106th and two companies of the 2nd New York pursuing them to the Emmitsburg road. The following
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day it was at Cemetery Hill, stationed on the right of the Baltimore Pike, near Rickett's battery, and there remained under a terrific cannonade until the end of the battle.
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