A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania : from its first beginnings to the present time, including chapters of newly-discovered early Wyoming Valley history, together with many biographical sketches and much genealogical material. Volume IV, Part 45

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851-1922; Smith, Ernest Gray
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Wilkes-Barre : Raeder Press
Number of Pages: 468


USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania : from its first beginnings to the present time, including chapters of newly-discovered early Wyoming Valley history, together with many biographical sketches and much genealogical material. Volume IV > Part 45


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 (link on the Part 1 page).


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 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68


The recruiting of the 81st regiment commenced in August, 1861, and in October, it proceeded to Washington. Company H was recruited in Carbon and Luzerne Counties, and Company K in Luzerne. The regiment was engaged only in police and scout duty till the 1st of March, 1862, when it took the field.


STRINGING TELEGRAPH WIRES UNDER FIRE


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During the advance to the Penisula it was engaged mostly in fatigue duty. It built the Sumner bridge and crossed on it with its brigade, had a skirmish with the enemy and returned. At Fair Oaks, on the 31st of May, the regiment was engaged and Colonel Miller was killed. On the 25th of June, three Companies, D, H and K, were engaged in a picket fight. On the 29th the regiment was in action at Peach Orchard, and on the 30th at White Oak Swamp and Charles City Cross Roads, losing heavily. July Ist it was engaged at Malvern Hill, at which battle Lieutenant Colonel Connor was killed.


The regiment returned to Acquia creek by transports, thence to Alexandria, and to the second Bull Run battle field, but was not engaged. It was next in action at Antietam on the 17th of September, where it again lost heavily. Thence it moved to Harper's Ferry and afterwards to Warrenton. When Burnside assumed command of the army the regiment moved to Falmouth, and on the 13th of December it was engaged at Fredericksburg. In this battle Lieutenant Colonel Swain was killed and Colonel McKeen wounded. It returned to quarters at Falmouth, where it remained till the latter part of May, when it broke camp and during the month of June moved from place to place, and arrived at Gettys- burg on the 1st of July, having marched thirty-eight miles the preceding day. On the 2nd and 3d it was "in the thick of the fray" and lost half of its effective strength.


During the remainder of the summer it was in Virginia with the second corps, to which it was attached, and went into winter quarters near Stevensburg. In January a portion of the men re-enlisted and received a veteran furlough, and its ranks were recruited. It took the field in the Spring of 1864. During three days early in May the regiment was engaged at the battle of the Wilder- ness, and on the 12th at Spottsylvania. It was again engaged at Cold Harbor on the 3d of June, and its colonel was killed there. It participated in the siege of Petersburg, and was engaged there and at Strawberry Plains, Ream's Station and Deep Bottom, in all of which actions it sustained its character for bravery. It remained in front of Petersburg during the winter of 1864-5, and participated in the campaign of the next Spring. It was frequently engaged, but did not suffer severe loss except at Farmville, on the 7th of April, two days before the surrender of Lee. This concluded its fighting. It returned to the vicinity of Washington and was mustered out on the 29th of June.


Its losses and casualties during its term of service were: Field and staff officers, two from disease, one prisoner, five wounded and four killed; line officers, two prisoners, forty wounded and fourteen killed; enlisted men, seventy-nine deaths from disease, one hundred fifty-two prisoners, five hundred sixteen wounded and two hundred one killed.


COMPANY K, SIST REGIMENT


This company was recruited in Wilkes-Barré almost exclusively


Officers-Captains-Charles E. Foster, resigned July 9, '62. Cyrus W. Straw, promoted from first lieutenant May 1, '63. James M'Kinley, promoted from corporal to second lieutenant September 1, '63, to captain April 22, '64, resigned June 4, '65. First lieutenants-Alonzo E. Bennett, promoted from first sergeant, July 13, '63, transferred to veteran reserve corps October 12, '63. Peter Dougherty, promoted from first sergeant to second lieutenant October 3, '64; to first lieutenant October 30, '64. Second lieutenants-William Belford; Emanuel C. Hoover, promoted from sergeant June 6, '64, killed at Ream's Station, Va., August 25, '64. Washington Setzer, promoted from first sergeant, February 18, '65, resigned May 27, '65. John Graham, promoted from first sergeant, company B, June 16, '65. First sergeant, Alexander Kocher, promoted to sergeant November 1, '64, wounded April 7, '65. Sergeants-James Carrol, promoted to sergeant, March 1, '65. Wm. Callaghan, promoted to sergeant, May 1, '65. Conrad Hock; William Richards, killed at Farmville, Va., April 7, '65. John Williamson, Archibald Gilmore. Corporals-


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Joseph Eshenbrenner, promoted to corporal March 1, '65. John W. Hammer, John H. Painter; Reuben Andy, transferred to veteran reserve corps, discharged on surgeon's certificate, May 11, '65. Michael Carroll, died June 14, '64. Noah Moyer, wounded in action, discharged May 31, '65. John Patton, James West, died June 11, '64. Charles W. Fellows, killed at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, '62. John Bantz, William Powell, William Klinger. Musicians-John Haney, Henry Straw and Michael O'Donnell.


Privates-William Aubrey, Joseph Acker, Abraham Andreas; John Andreas, died at Falmouth, Va., December, '62. George Bond, Henry Brunner, John Britt, Hugh Boyle, Edward Buminghoff, Adolph Becker, Joseph Brooks; Frederick Bloom, died May 4, '63. Wilson Beers, Lorin H. Butts, John Brindle, David Crawford, Alfred Cool, Nathan Culp, Michael Conner, James Carty, John Deal, died June 6, '64. Benjamin F. Davis, died at Portsmouth Grove, R. I., August 15, '62. George W. Dreisbach, George Detwiler, John Dougherty, Francis Eisele, Joseph Fritzinger, Michael Farley, Daniel Fisher, John C. Fisher, Abram Felton, Robert T. Farrow, John C. Fritz, Thomas Felton, Philip Gallagher, Dennis Gallagher, killed at Antietam, Md., September 17, '62. Joseph Hayman, David Henry, William Hobson, Redman Hurley, John Hughes, Charles Hanning, promoted to sergeant, Company I, February 6, '65, James Hammond, Condy Hagerty, Samuel Henry, Lewis Hopkins, James Johnson, Isaac Kenvin, Edward Klinetop, James M. Kresge, Charles Kelly, Stephen Koons, John Klotz, Samuel Kuchner, James K. Kurtz, Martin Karchner, Barney Kelley, David Kloss, Thomas Lutz, Jesse Lines, Penrose Lowers, killed at Spottsylvania Court-house, Va., May 12, '64. Otmar Miller, Michael Mullherron, Jacob Miller, George W. Miller, Samuel Miller, William Morgan, died July 26, '64. John B. Maiger, died at Philadelphia, Pa., May 9, '65. William Magee, William Meckus, Joseph Matthews, killed at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, '62. Henry Martin, Robert M'Murray, Francis. M'Kensay, James M'Carron, Peter M'Gee, Dennis Northstein, David O'Connor, Manasseh Roat, John Rutter, John Ryan, killed at Farmville, Va., April 7, '65. Daniel Raver, Penrose Sowers, Jonathan Smith, John B. Smith, Aaron Stahr, Anthony Shaugh, John Smith, Edward Steinbrick, John Sweeney, captured, died at Salisbury, N. C., November 27, '64. John G. Satorious, Alexander Stetler, died October 27, '61. Samuel Shaffer, John Stein, Henry Shaffer, Henry Schleppy, A. Shoepp, Charles Thurbur, Burton Tubbs, George K. Wilkins, Henry Whipple, William Wallace, William Williams, Christian Wolfe, Daniel Washburn, Edward Willis, David D. Wilson, William I. Worrell, James S. Wells, died February 20, '63. James Washburn, W. S. Walters, Henry Zigler, Paul Zollinger.


Another cavalry unit in whose career Luzerne County was to have a part was the "Lochiel Cavalry" recruited originally as the 92d Regiment, Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, but having its official title changed to the Ninth Cavalry. Its recruitment was completed by the Fall of 1861, Company D, or later Troop D of the regiment being composed exclusively of residents of Luzerne County and Troops K and L being composed in part of en- listments from the country at large.


It moved to Pittsburg, thence by the Ohio to Louisville where it did extensive patrol duty both in Kentucky and Ten- nessee, where upon two occasions the regiment met and defeated the famous raider, Morgan.


After campaigning against Bragg in Tennessee and spending the winter in the eastern section of that state, the 9th was re-organized, many of its Luzerne mem- bers volunteering to continue after their terms had expired.


In the Fall of 1864, the troopers of this regiment were in the field at Chatta- nooga and then joined Sherman for the full extent of his famous march. In Jan- uary, the 9th, as part of a brigade of inde- A YOUTHFUL DRUMMER BOY pendent cavalry, covered a large part of the two Carolinas, destroying many


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sources of supplies of the enemy and being engaged upon frequent occasion. The 9th was given the honor of being the escort for General Sherman when he went to negotiate with General Johnson, terms of final surrender of the latter's gallant army.


TROOP D, 9TH CAVALRY


Officers-Captains-Jacob Bertels, resigned August 7, '62. Michael O'Reilly, promoted from first lieutenant, August 8, '62. First lieutenants-George Smith, promoted from second lieutenant, September 8, '62. Captain Company L, September 1, '63. Christopher Walthers, promoted second lieutenant, from company L, May 30, '64. Second lieutenants-Lewis Praetorius resigned October 31, '62. David R. P. Barry, promoted from sergeant Company M., May 22, '63; resigned July 24, '64. Frederick Smith, promoted from first sergeant May 19, '65. First sergeant, Jacob Hassler, promoted from sergeant, May 20, '65. Q. M. Sergeant-John Sorber, promoted Q. M. Sergeant, January 1, '64. Sergeants-Cornelius Reilly, Benjamin Dunn, William H. Lape, and William T. Smith, promoted sergeants January 1, '64. Philip Rineman, promoted sergeant January 1, '65. James Brady, promoted sergeant May 20, '65. Joseph Byran, discharged December 21, '64. Elijah Conner, discharged on surgeon's certificate, February 15, '64. John D. Sutliff, discharged on surgeon's certificate May 10, '62. Frederick Gick, died at Franklin, Tenn., May 3, '63. Corporals-Bernhard Lehm, promoted corporal January 1, '64, absent in hospital at muster-out. Adam Fraley, promoted corporal May 1, '64, prisoner from October 12, '64 to April 29, '65. Thomas J. Turpin, promoted corporal May 1, '64. Joseph Sittig, promoted corporal January 1, '65. Sylvester Masters, promoted corporal January 1, '64. Alexander Keithline, promoted corporal May 20, '65. Abraham Fraenthal, discharged December 24, '64. William Fleshman, discharged on surgeon's certificate, August 22, '62. George Fritz, discharged on surgeon's certificate May 3, '63. James Peters, veteran. John Reilly, captured August 26, '62, prisoner from October 12, '64 to April 21, '65, discharged May 19, '65. John Bowman transferred to veteran reserve corps July 30, '63. Frederick Schnellnach, transferred to veteran reserve corps, November 15, '63. Buglers-Frederick Koppler, promoted bugler, October 31, '64. Lewis Hetchler, promoted bugler, January 1, '65. John Bertles, discharged on surgeon's certificate February 15, '64. Saddlers-Michael Long, discharged May 29, '65. Jacob Young, killed at Averysboro, N. C., March 16, '65. Farriers-George Obitz, prisoner from September 10, '64, to March 15, '65; discharged June 12, '65. Simon Shoemaker, died at Stevenson, Ala., October 5, '63. Blacksmiths-Jacob Liddick, Isaiah Vandermark.


Privates-William W. Allen, Jacob Andrew, Stephen Allen, Dennison Arnold, James Atherton, Edward Avery, John Bauer, James Boyd, Thomas Boyd, Joseph Burns, Noah Brinly, John Broombauch, Martin Burst, L. Bardenmerper, William Bauers, John Batherton, August Baker, George Bowman, Samuel Crook, Thomas Cook, James Coursen, James Croop, Jonathan Croop, Charles Deetz, Ira Durland, John Dowling, Thomas Dumm, John Delany, Solomon Dunkle, John English, Joseph W. Evitts, William H. Fisher, James Farrell, Samuel S. Fastnacht, Frederick Fritz, John Farron, R. Fenstermacher, Lewis Foust, Franklin Frazer, Reed Garringer, George Gettis, David Gracey, Isaac Grace, Jacob George, George Grukey, Valentine Hass, Anthony Haake, John F. Hanle, Cranville Harper, Frank Helmans, Frederick Hauss, Henry Holsclaw, Henry H. Hand, W. J. Hartzell, Jacob Haynes, Edward Hughes, Anthony Heredo, Nathan Herrick, Wilson Haynes, William H. Haynes, Daniel Inord, Jackson Jennings, Lewis R. Jones, Zacharias Jones, Charles Klein, Patrick Knole, John Kepperle, Charles Ketchen, George Keller, Frank B. Kinneard, Hugh G. Krise, Charles Kaiser, Lewis Kern, Jacob Keller, John Kennedy, Joseph Keller, John Lyons, Michael Leonard, Andrew Lape, Frederick Loeffler, William Masters, Frederick Miller, Vinzenz Munzer, Daniel Masaker, William Madden, Alexander Morrison, John M'Gee, Anthony B. M'Curdy, Abner M'Donald, John M'Donnall, Joseph M'Donnall, Thomas M'Clusky, Thomas M'Crey, Peter Newhard, Michael Neil, John Obel, John Obitz, Randolph L. Pease, Patrick Paul, John Piles, Harvey Remington, Isaiah Reechy, George Rice, James Raub, James Reilly, Lorenzo Reilly, John Ryan, Lorenzo Ruggles, Henry Royce, William Snyder, Bloomfield Sutliff, Stephen H. Sutliff, James Stevenson, Nathan Sharp, John Smith, Theodore Snyder, Daniel Sorber, John Stewart, William H. Stout, Jacob Shetter, Henry Shweizer, Hermon Searles, Nathan Sorber, John Scott, Charles Shultze, Franklin Snyder, William Smith, Ezra Tooney, William Thomas, William Thompson, James Thearney, Patrick Tye, Henry Walters, Edward and William Walters, Albert Williams, Joseph Wagner, Nathan Walp, Thomas Williams, George Winerman, William Waddel, Peter Wentzel, John Wheeler, James Young, Henry Zeigler, Philip Zimmer.


Luzerne County had responded nobly to the President's call for three year service men. Its full quotas of troops demanded had invariably been met and in the ranks of other organizations had volunteered many citizens whose enlistment helped swell the figures well above allotted numbers.


But elsewhere over the country this ratio of volunteers had not been so generously preserved. Midsummer of 1862 found the War Department working on details of the Draft Act but found, also, the President unwilling to avail himself of its terms unless as a final resort.


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In this emergency, Governor Curtin offered, in September, 1862, to re- cruit some twenty-five regiments of troops for a period of nine months. The first intention was to use this unusual military force only as a protection against actual invasion of the Commonwealth itself, but circumstances were to alter this intention and later campaigns found nearly all of these provisional regiments in Federal service and engaged in some of the most deadly fighting of the war. One of the first organizations to answer this special call of the Governor was the 132d Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers.


Company B was raised in Wyoming County, and Companies I and K in Luzerne. The field officers were: Colonel, Richard A. Oakford, of Luzerne; lieutenant colonel, Vincent M. Wilcox, also of Luzerne, and major, Charles


A SIGNAL CORPS STATION


Albright, of Carbon County. On the 19th of August, 1862, a few days after the organization was completed, it moved to the field, and at once commenced drilling. It marched from Rockville, Maryland, on the 2nd of September, and continued its march with the army, arriving at South Mountain after the close of the battle.


It was first engaged at Antietam, on the 17th of September; maintained its position under a galling fire four hours, and when relieved retired in good order-very creditable behavior for fresh troops. The loss of the regiment in this action was thirty killed, one hundred and fourteen wounded and eight missing. Colonel Oakford was among the killed. The regiment moved to Harper's Ferry after the battle, participated in two reconnoisances while en- camped on Bolivar Heights, and moved with the army toward Fredericksburg on the last of October, From Falmouth, where it first encamped, it went to Belle Plain, and after a month returned to Falmouth. In the battle of Fredericks- burg it was actively engaged and participated in a charge on Mary's Heights, where it displayed a coolness and bravery that would have done honor to veterans. Out of three hundred and forty men who went into action, the regiment lost one hundred and forty.


At the battle of Chancellorsville, though the terin of a portion of the men had expired, all took part in the action. On the third day of the battle the regi- ment mnade a gallant bayonet charge in which a number of prisoners were taken.


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Its loss in this action was about fifty. It was relieved from duty on the expiration of the term of service, and was mustered out on the 24th of May, 1863. It is said two-thirds of the men entered the service again.


As has been said, Companies I and K were recruited wholly within Luzerne County, the rosters of the two units disclosing the following information at date of muster out.


COMPANY I, 132ND REGIMENT


Officers-Captains-James Archbald, Jr., August 18, '62, discharged on surgeon's certificate January 7, '63. Phillip S. Hall, promoted from second lieutenant January 14, '63. First lieu- tenants-Robert R. Miller, discharged on surgeon's certificate, December 19, '62. Benjamin Gardner, promoted from sergeant January 14, '63. Second lieutenant, Michael Houser, promoted from private January 14, '63. First sergeant-George A. Wolcott, promoted from corporal January 14, '63. George W. Conklin, discharged on surgeon's certificate January 18, '63. Ser- gents-John M. Miller, John Jones; Isaae Cornell, promoted corporal January 14, '63. A. Rittenbender, promoted from corporal January 14, '63, prisoner from May 6 to May 22, '63. Orlando Taylor, discharged on surgeon's certificate December 4, '62. Corporals-Alfred J. Barnes, Joseph Sharp, prisoner from November 8, '62, to Jan. 1, '63. Owen J. Bradford; William H. Hagar, promoted to corporal January 4, '63. Lewis G. Reed, promoted to corporal April 15, '63. James A. Sargent, promoted to corporal January 14, '63. Robert Gray, discharged on surgeon's certifi- cate October 6, '62. Daniel S. Gardner, killed at Antietam, Md., September 17, '62. Musicians- Orrin C. Hubbard and Theodore Keifer.


Privates-Thomas Allen, Moses H. Ames, George L. Bradford, William Bracy, John Burnish, Nathaniel D. Barnes, James Barrowman, Thomas Barrowman, Milton Brown, Lewis A. Bingham, Brooks A. Bass, John Berry, Abijah Bush, Jr., Burton J. Capwell, Thomas Carnart, George H. Cator, Horace A. Deans, Frederick M. Ellting, H. L. Elmandorf, Edward Ferris, John Fern, George E. Fuller, Henry M. Fuller, Benton V. Finn, John Finch, William Gunsauler, Jolın Gahn, Elisha R. Harris, Samuel Hubbard, J. Hippenhammer, Charles Hamm, Richard Hall, William H. Harrison, Henry P. Halstead, William Hazlett, John L. Hunt, Roderick Jones, John J. Kilmer, H. L. Krigbaum, Michael Kelly, George C. Lanning, Thomas Z. Lake, Lyman Milroy, George Meuchler, James J. Mayeock, Stephen Moomey, James H. Miller, Robert O. Moscrip, James S. Morse, Joseph Niver, Aaron Owen, John Owen, John E. Powell, Charles Pontus, James A. Parker, Joseph Quinlain, Freeman J. Roper, Eliazer Raymond, Nelson Raymond, James S. Randolph, George W. Ridgeway, Daniel Reed, William H. Smith, William H. Seely, Laton Slocum, Michael Sisk, John Sommers, Richard A. Smith, Orvice Sharp, Reily S. Tanner, James L. Tuthill, Henry Vusler, David J. Woodruff, Samuel Wiggins, Daniel Winnich, Burr C. Warner, John B. West, Harrison Young.


COMPANY K, 132ND REGIMENT


Officers-Captains-Richard Stillwell, discharged March 31, '63, for wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, '62. Jacob B. Floyd, promoted from first lieutenant March 31, '63. First lieutenant, Noah B. Jay, promoted from second lieutenant March 31, '63. Second lieutenant, Sylvester Ward, promoted from sergeant to first sergeant December 25, '62, second lieutenant March 31, '63. First sergeant, Francis Orchard, promoted from sergeant March 31, '63. Sergeants-George M. Snyder, promoted from corporal September 24, '62. John Bottsford, promoted from corporal September 24, '62. William C. Keiser, promoted from corporal March 31, '63. Martin L. Hower, died October 28, of wounds received at Antietam, MId., September 17, '62. Corporals-Philetus P. Copeland, George A. Kent: George W. Johnson, promoted corporal September 24, '62. John S. Short, promoted corporal September 24, '62. George H. Taylor, promoted corporal September 14, '62. Emil Haugg, promoted corporal March 31, '63. Austin F. Clapp, promoted sergeant major November 1, '62. Musicians-Lor. D. Kemmerer, William Silsbee.


Privates-Augustus Ashton, David Brooks, Charles Boon, Lewis H. Bolton, Adolf Bendon, Charles Bulmer, William H. Carling, William W. Coolbaugh, Harrison Cook, Jacob M. Corwin, John Coolbaugh, William Coon, Moses Y. Corwin, Benjamin Daily, F. J. Deemer, Richard Davis, Thomas D. Davis, Jacob Eschenbach, Charles Frederick, George Gabriel, John C. Higgins, Peter Harrabaum, J. H. Havenstrike, George Hindle, Edward T. Henry, Wilson Hess, John P. Heath, John M. Kapp, Michael Kivlin, Robert Kennedy, Jesse P. Kortz, George W. Lynn, Andrew Landsickle, John Lindsey, George Matzenbacher, Samuel W. Mead, William L. Marcy, George B. Mack, Charles A. Meylert, Jeptha Milligan, Richard Nape, Daniel J. Newman, John R. Powell, Joseph Pellam, Downing Parry, John Ryan, Samuel Rupel, Simon P. Ringsdorf, George Smithing, Harry M. Segar, Daniel W. Seull, Joseph Snyder, Simon P. Snyder, William D. Snyder, Charles B. Scott, Peter Seigle, John Scott, Walter A. Snyder, Martin L. Smith, James Stevens, John Stitcher, Allen Sparks, Obadiah Sherwood, Samuel Snyder, James Scull, Solon Searles, Alonzo L. Slawson, Leander T. Smith. David Vipon, George C. Wilson, Martin Wilmore, Orestes B. Wright, John Westfall, Henry W. Whiting, John W. Wright.


One of the last regiments to be raised under Governor Curtin's final call, and one of the most distinguished units of that galaxy of patriotic citizen- soldiers who rallied to the colors of nation and state in all the period of Civil War times, was the 143rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers.


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As was the case with the Sth Regiment, which included the first units of volunteers which left Luzerne County, the 143rd was practically allocated to Luzerne alone. Its officers were citizens standing high in the community.


A large per centage of its members were veterans who had seen service in other organizations but whose terms of enlistment had expired.


It was distinguished at the time of organization by being the only regiment of the war whose rendezvous was on the soil of Luzerne County and whose mem- bers left their home communities drilled, disciplined and equipped for actual participation in the titanic struggle.


Companies H and K of this regiment were raised in the counties of Lycom- ing, Susquehanna and Wyoming, the others in Luzerne County. Their place of rendezvous was a camp about three miles from Wilkes-Barré, near Luzerne,


AN OUTPOST TELEGRAPHER


in what was known as Mill Hollow. There the regiment was organized on the 18th of October, 1862, with Edmund L. Dana as colonel, George E. Hoyt, lieu- tenant colonel and John D. Musser, major. The appointment of Colonel Dana was made without his knowledge, but his well known ability and energy of character, and the military experience which he had acquired in the Mexican War, rendered the choice a fitting one.


After a few weeks spent in drilling, the regiment moved to Harrisburg, and thence to Washington. It remained near that city, engaged in drill and fatigue duty, till February, 1863, when it went to Belle Plain and was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 3d division, 1st corps. In April, with its division, it went to a point on the Rappahannock below Fredericksburg, where it made a feint of crossing and returned. In the latter part of the same month it went to Pollock's Run, where it was under fire from the opposite side of the river while fighting was going on in Chancellorsville. Thithier the regiment proceeded on the 2nd of May, and on the 3d and 4th it was under fire. On the 8th it went into camp at Fal- mouth. The 1st corps was the first to reach the battle at Gettysburg, where it went into position on the 1st of July. Colonel Dana soon came in command of lis brigade, and Lieutenant Colonel Musser of the regiment. The fighting was


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severe at the position held by the 143d, and after repeated charges on it had been made and repulsed it was compelled to fall back, which the men did doggedly and unwillingly. It was afterward related, in a foreign magazine, by an English officer, who was present with the enemy, that when the Yankee troops were compelled after an obstinate resistance to retire from this position, a color bearer, who was the last of his regiment to leave the position, was seen occasionally to turn and shake his fist at the assailants. While doing so he fell, and died clinging to his standard. The rebel General Hill expressed his regret at seeing this gallant soldier fall. This color bearer was Sergeant Benjamin H. Crippen, of Company E of the 143d. The flag to which he clung in death was borne from the field by his comrades .* On the 2nd and 3d the regiment was engaged, but not as heavily as on the 1st. It went into the engagement four hundred and sixty-five strong, and lost in killed, wounded, missing and prisoners more than half that number. Among the killed were Lieutenants Lee D. Grover, Lyman R. Nicholson and Charles D. Betzinberger.




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