USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and its centennial celebration, Volume I > Part 55
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The term of service of the regiment having expired, it was ordered to Washington, and on May 13, 1864, it was mustered out at Pittsburg.
Company H of this regiment, whose captain was John Cuth-
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bertson of New Brighton, was the first to leave Beaver County and the first from Beaver County to be mustered into the service of the United States.I
1 Beaver County furnished three companies to that famous organization, the PENN- SYLVANIA RESERVE VOLUNTEER CORPS, Company H, Ninth Regiment, Captain John Cuthbertson, Company F, Tenth Regiment, Captain Milo R. Adams, and Company K, Tenth Regiment, Captain Samuel Miller, and also a number of men to the First Cavalry and Cooper's Battery, both part of this corps.
At the battle of Glendale, or Charles City Cross Roads, Virginia, on June 30, 1862, these companies suffered severely, the three captains being wounded and captured by the enemy. Captain Miller died on or about the fourth of July, on the battlefield, in the hands of the enemy. Captain Adams still survives, although a constant sufferer from a musket ball through the lungs. Captains Cuthbertson and Adams were appointed members of the board of enrollment of the 24th Congressional District of Pennsylvania in the spring of 1863, Cuthbertson, as Provost Marshal, Adams as Commissioner of Drafts, in which posi- tions they remained until the close of the war, Captain Cuthbertson dying on September 21, 1865.
The following report of Captain Cuthbertson, temporarily commanding the Ninth Regiment, shows the desperate character of the fighting in which these three officers and so many of their men were placed hors de combat.
Brig .- Gen. GEORGE A. McCALL.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4, 1862. SIR:
In answer to questions submitted to me as to the conduct of the oth reg't P. R. C. in the battle of June 30th before Richmond, also as to the positions it held and the time and place of my being wounded, I would respectively reply as follows:
This regiment was, at commencement of battle, in support of Capt. Cooper's battery and in a line parallel to road leading to James river. The enemy consumed a couple of hours in a number of ineffectual attempts to take this battery, several times charging up almost to the muzzles of the guns, but were driven back every time with great slaughter.
About 6 P.M., this regiment was ordered to the left, the enemy apparently making head- way in that direction. It proceeded to change direction perpendicular to road under a heavy fire and advanced to position assigned, leaving other troops to support the battery. The progress of the enemy being arrested, and learning that Capt. Cooper's battery had been captured, it again changed direction and by a flank movement got in the rear of the battery. The regiment was then ordered to retake it, though held by a much superior force, and the men advanced, cheering lustily; and, though it was defended with great vigor, the enemy were driven from it with the bayonet. The enemy fled, our men pursuing them across the open ground into the woods on our front and through the woods to the road leading to Richmond. Here our men were with difficulty halted, being eager to advance, I catching hold of the color bearer to stop him.
The regiment then fell back to the open ground and dressed up the line on a position 300 or 400 yards in advance of original line. While in this position a body of the enemy several times * the numbers of this regiment came up on our left. On observing their approach, we changed direction under the fire the enemy was pouring into us as they advanced and at once engaged them, our men behaving with a valor and heroism that could not be surpassed. Though not over 50 yards of level ground, without a tree or bush, separated us from the enemy; and though officers and men fell fast under the terrible fire, not a man faltered.
In a few minutes a musket ball passed through both my thighs. I strapped them up on the ground where I was wounded and while so engaged learned that reinforcements were arriving on the field, the first we had seen that day, and sent an orderly sergeant, now a lieutenant, to give notice of our position, lest, being so far in advance of original line of battle and it getting dark, we might be mistaken for the enemy.
I was then carried off and I could see my gallant comrades were maintaining the un- equal contest. I never saw such recklessness of danger as was exhibited that day. I was wounded about, or near, 8 o'clock P.M., getting dark.
This regiment, during this battle, was not in rear of line of battle adopted by you. Very respectfully,
JNO. CUTHBERTSON, Sen. Capt. oth reg't P. R. C.
* Capt. Cooper, who still lives, recently informed the writer that the force of the enemy referred to was ten times the strength of this attacking force.
Captains Cuthbertson, Adams, and Miller were all wounded at or about eight P.M.
Company C, 63d P. V., Captain Jason R. Hanna, also participated in this engagement, but on another part of the field.
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1
Colonel J. A. Vera.
Captain John Cuthbertson.
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The 39th Regiment, roth Reserve P. V. I. (three years) .- This regiment was recruited in the western section of the State, two companies in Beaver County, viz., F. and K, the former, under Captain Milo R. Adams of Beaver, and the latter under Captain Samuel Miller. Most of the companies were organized for the three months' service, but at the first call for the three years' service responded promptly. They had had but little military training, but were composed of men of more than usual intelligence and education, many of them having been teachers, or being college graduates. The companies rendezvoused at Camp Wilkins, near Pittsburg. The regimental organization was effected during the last days of June, 1861, John S. McCal- mont of Venango County, a graduate of West Point and an officer of the Regular Army, being chosen Colonel; James T. Kirk, Lieutenant-Colonel; and Harrison Allen, Major. On the 2Ist of July, at Harrisburg, the regiment was mustered into the United States service for three years. On the 22d it moved by rail to Baltimore, and on the 24th proceeded to Washington. On the Ioth of October, the regiment moved into Virginia and took position in line with the army on the Potomac. It took part in the engagement at Dranesville, but sustained no casual- ties. But in the series of battles which began at Mechanicsville the loss of the roth was over 200.
From the Peninsula the regiment passed to the army of General Pope, and participated in the second Bull Run battle, suffering severely on the 29th (August, 1862), losing 12 killed, 34 wounded, and 19 missing. At South Mountain it lost 4 killed and 19 wounded, and was highly complimented on the field, both by General Hooker and General Meade, for its great gal- lantry. At Antietam the roth rendered splendid service, pro- tecting the right flank of Hooker's Corps, and checking the enemy at a most critical moment. In this undertaking Colonel Warner was hit several times, receiving one wound that was thought to be mortal, but from which he recovered. At Freder- icksburg heavy losses were sustained by the regiment, 11 being killed, 75 wounded, and 51 captured.
Further engagements of the roth were at Gettysburg, where they did good service, but escaped serious loss, at Spott- sylvania Court-House, and several other places, closing with the Wilderness. Their time of service had now expired. Many of
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the regiment, however, re-enlisted as veterans and formed part of the 190th and 19Ist Regiments. The remainder of this brave, but now greatly reduced, organization, after having fought in nearly every battle in which the Army of the Potomac had been engaged, was mustered out of the service at Pittsburg on the IIth of June, 1864.
The 63d Regiment, P. V. I. (three years) .- Company C was from Beaver County, principally recruited in Rochester and New Brighton; Jason R. Hanna, Captain. The regiment was raised by Alexander Hays of Pittsburg, who had early in August, 1861, received authority from the Secretary of War to recruit one. Orders being received from Washington to rush the men to that city, whether in companies or singly, about 400 men, without arms, uniforms, or equipments were hurried forward by rail to the Capital. Recruiting went on at Pittsburg, and during the month of September enough men were in camp to complete a regiment, and they were then transferred to Wash- ington, and united to the companies which had preceded them. The following field-officers were commissioned: Alexander Hays, a graduate of West Point and a soldier in the Mexican War, Colonel; A. S. M. Morgan, Lieutenant-Colonel; Maurice Wal- lace, Major. Wallace resigned shortly after being commissioned and William S. Kirkwood succeeded him.
At Fort Lyon the regiment remained in camp until the spring of 1862, engaged in the most arduous drill and study of military science. In March a detachment of the regiment had a brush with the enemy while on picket duty near Pohick Church, in which two were killed.
At the battle of Fair Oaks the 63d, with the 105th, gained and held a key point on the Union left, where they stood against great odds until nightfall, when, the forces on the right having been broken, they were flanked by the enemy and narrowly escaped capture. The 63d lost heavily in this engagement.
Joining the movement to the James the regiment was again hotly engaged at Charles City Cross Roads. Their conduct here was so notably fine that the general officers, in their reports of the battle, vied with each other in rendering them praise. De- scribing the battle, General Kearny says that the attack on his line commenced with a determination and vigor, and in such
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masses as he had never before witnessed. He estimates the force attacking at quite 10,000 men, and says that, notwithstanding the fearful slaughter which they suffered from Thompson's bat- tery, they came on in wave after wave irrepressibly. "It was then," he says, "that Colonel Hays, with the 63d Pennsylvania and half of the 37th New York Volunteers, was moved forward to the line of the guns. I have here to call to the attention of my superior chiefs this most heroic action on the part of Colonel Hays and his regiment. The 63d has won for Pennsylvania the laurels of fame. That which grape and canister failed in effect- ing, was accomplished by the determined charge and rapid vol- leys of this foot. The enemy at the muzzles of our guns, for the first time, retired fighting. Subsequently, ground having been gained, the 63d was ordered to 'lie low,' and the battery once more reopened the ceaseless work of destruction. This battle saw three renewed onsets with similar vicissitudes." The loss of the regiment here was serious.
In the second Bull Run battle the 63d was desperately en- gaged, and suffered severely in making a charge upon the foe concealed behind a railroad embankment. In his report of this battle General Kearny says: "The 63d Pennsylvania and the 40th New York Volunteers, under the brave Colonel Egan, suf- fered the most. The gallant Hays is badly wounded."
At Fredericksburg the 63d remained for forty-eight hours on the front line, exposed to the fire of the enemy and the frost of the severe winter nights. At Chancellorsville the loss of the regiment was very heavy. It went into the fight with 330 rank and file. Of these 120 were either killed, wounded, or missing. In the battle of Gettysburg it rendered important services. On the 2d it was at the extreme front the entire day, and uninter- ruptedly engaged from nine in the morning. On the following day it remained in support of a battery directly in front of Gen- eral Meade's headquarters until the battle closed and the rebel army withdrew.
At Kelly's Ford, on the 8th of November, the regiment was again engaged, and here fell Captain Timothy L. Maynard, struck down at the moment he was giving a drink from his can- teen to a wounded rebel officer. It took part also in the fighting in the Wilderness, where, on May 5, 1864, the gallant General Hays was killed, and at North Anna and Petersburg. On the
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9th of September the original term of enlistment having ex- pired, the regiment was mustered out of service, the veterans and recruits having been transferred to the 99th and later to the 105th Pennsylvania. At muster out but 3 officers and 64 men remained.
The 76th Regiment, P. V. I. (three years) .- This regiment was known as the "Keystone Zouaves." It was raised by order of the Secretary of War in August, 1861. Company K was largely composed of Beaver County men, John S. Littell, Cap- tain. It rendezvoused at Camp Cameron, Harrisburg, where the following field-officers were chosen: John M. Power, of Cam- bria County, Colonel; D. H. Wallace, of Lawrence County, Lieutenant-Colonel; and Oliver M. Irvine, of Blair County, Major.
In November, 1861, the regiment sailed from Fortress Mon- roe for Hilton Head, South Carolina, arriving there December 8th. On the 8th of April, 1862, it was ordered to Tybee Island, at the mouth of the Savannah River, to assist in the reduction of Fort Pulaski, and was selected, with the 8th Michigan, to make the assault. The fort was, however, surrendered before the assault was begun.
The regiment participated in the unsuccessful attack on Charleston, June 16th, and took a conspicuous part in the expe- dition that was sent on the 22d of October, to sever the com- munication between Charleston and Savannah, by destroying the bridges across the Pocotaligo. On this expedition the enemy in heavy force was engaged, and in the fight the regiment lost 75 officers and men killed and wounded.
The 76th participated in the two assaults made on Fort Wagner in July, 1863, losing in the first assault 187 killed and wounded, of whom 53 were killed; and in the second 17 killed and wounded.
In May, 1864, the regiment was ordered to Virginia, and was there attached to the Army of the James. Its brigade moved from Bermuda Hundred toward the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad, and destroyed several miles of track under heavy fire. Here the 76th lost 65 in killed, wounded, and missing, and was engaged near Drury's Bluff for several days, but with no decisive action taking place.
Soldiers' Monument in Grove Cemetery, New Brighton.
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May 27th, the regiment, with the Second Division of the Tenth Corps, was detached from the Army of the James, and, moving by transports to White House, took position on the right of Grant's lines at Cold Harbor. The regiment was here engaged with its division from the Ist to the 3d of June in a furious fight; the 76th rendering most important service in supporting a battery which was posted in advance of the charg- ing column. Their loss in this three days' fight was consider- able. Rejoining the Army of the James, the regiment moved on June 16th, 1864, on a reconnoissance toward the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad, destroying the road and the enemy's works; and on the 23d proceeded to Petersburg, performing picket duty on the front line of works. In the various opera- tions here it took part, sustaining many casualties.
From the middle of August to the end of October, 1864, the regiment was almost constantly skirmishing and fighting, for the most part about Deep Bottom and Bermuda Hundred, taking part in the sanguinary engagement at Chapin's farm, resulting in the capture of Fort Harrison, in the unsuccessful assault on Fort Gilmer, and in the fight at Hatcher's Run, sustaining severe losses everywhere.
In December, 1864, the Government sent an expedition of land and naval forces to Wilmington to reduce Fort Fisher, and stop the introduction of supplies for the Rebellion by blockade running. This expedition having failed, another was organized, which, leaving Fortress Monroe, January 6, 1865, under the command of General Alfred H. Terry, arrived at Beaufort on the 8th, where, by bad weather, it was detained until the 12th. The 76th went with this expedition and took part in the assault which was made on the 15th, and which was noteworthy both for the impetuosity with which it was made and the stubborn- ness of the resistance offered by the brave rebel garrison, who were driven from traverse to traverse and finally lost their leader-General Whiting-by a mortal wound, before they sur- rendered. In this assault the 76th lost heavily. Its flag, car- ried by Sergeant Albert Sanders, was twice shot from the staff and completely riddled. After the fall of Wilmington the regi- ment was stationed at Raleigh on provost guard duty until July 8th, when it was mustered out On the passage homeward one of the transports was wrecked on the North Carolina coast
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and several of the men were lost. It was finally disbanded at Harrisburg.
The 77th Regiment, P. V. I. (three years) .- Company H of this regiment was recruited in Beaver and Lawrence counties. Its captain was Paul F. Rohrbacher, of New Brighton, Pa. The Company was assigned to the regiment in 1865, and though, on account of lack of numbers it was never fully organized, it con- tinued with the regiment some time, marched hundreds of miles, and was actually engaged in one battle.
The 78th Regiment, P. V. I. (three years) .- This regiment was organized at Camp Orr, near Kittanning, Pa., under Colonel William Sirwell. It served in the Army of the Cumberland, having in October, 1861, moved by transports to Louisville, Ky., with other regiments, all under the command of that gallant officer, Brigadier-General James S. Negley. It took part in most of the operations about Nashville, doing some hard fighting against Bragg at Stone River and Murfreesboro, at Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge, and elsewhere. Its term of service ex- pired October .II, 1864, and it was mustered out on the 4th of November at Kittanning. The recruits and veterans remained at Nashville under the command of Lieutenants Torbett and Smith. To these the Governor of Pennsylvania assigned eight new companies, one of which was Company G, which was re- cruited in Beaver County, David S. Cook, Captain. This was in March, 1865.
The Tooth Regiment, P. V. I. (three years) .- This regiment was popularly known as the "Round Heads." It was recruited among the people of the southwestern portion of the State, many of whose forefathers had been Covenanters and followers of Cromwell. The story goes, too, that when Captain Daniel Leasure, who organized the regiment, asked permission of Simon Cameron, Secretary of War, to do so, and received it, General Scott, who was in the office of the Secretary at the time, said, "Well, we will call them 'Round Heads,'" this in compliment to Secretary Cameron, who prided himself on being a descendant of the old English Round Heads. Company D of this regiment was recruited in Beaver County, with Wm. C. Shurlock, Captain.
On the 2d of September, 1861, the regiment, which had ren-
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Soldiers' Monument, Oak Grove Cemetery, Freedom.
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dezvoused at Camp Wilkins, Pittsburg, and there been sworn into the service of the United States, was ordered to Washing- ton. There it camped on Kalorama Heights, north of George- town, and soon effected the following organization: Daniel Leasure, of New Castle, Colonel; Captain James Armstrong, Lieutenant-Colonel; Captain David A. Leckey, Major.
The Round Head Regiment was soon sent with the Sherman- Dupont expedition to the coast of South Carolina, embarking with five companies of the 50th Pennsylvania on the Ocean Queen, which sailed from Fortress Monroe on the 29th of Octo- ber, 1861, under sealed orders. On the second day out the fleet was struck by a violent storm, which lasted thirty-six hours. Having been driven out of sight of the other vessels, Colonel Leasure opened his orders and read, "Sail for Port Royal en- trance "; which was the first intimation to any one on board of the destination of the fleet. The fleet arrived off Hilton Head, S. C., November 4, 1861, where, after the reduction of the forts in the channel, the troops were landed. One month later General Sherman moved the troops inland to the beautiful little town of Beaufort, where for five months they remained, occupied mainly in drill.
Upon the assumption of the command of the army by Gen- eral Hunter, who had relieved Sherman, the reduction of Charles- ton was undertaken. At Lagareville, on James Island, June 3, 1861, the Round Heads carried the enemy's defensive works with a loss in killed and wounded of 19, and 15 men and a cap- tain taken prisoners. On the 15th orders were issued for an attack on the following morning on Tower Fort, a strong work of the enemy near Secessionville on James Island. The assault delivered on the following morning was a magnificent one, but the enemy proved to be too strongly fortified and the recall was sounded. The Round Head Regiment sustained in this assault a loss of 41 killed and wounded out of a total strength of 421 officers and men with which it went into fight.
The operations against Charleston having been abandoned, the brigade returned to Hilton Head and soon after was ordered to Virginia, where it was to reinforce General Pope. August 29th the command was in the hottest part of the fighting in the second Bull Run battle, the Tooth losing in killed and wounded over one half the number of its men engaged.
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At Chantilly the 100th was again hotly engaged, September Ist, helping to check Stonewall Jackson's attempt to cut Pope's communications with Washington. The loss here was 2 killed and 34 wounded. Here also fell General Isaac I. Stevens, a brave soldier; and the gallant Phil Kearny, who, while reconnoitering, rode by mistake into the enemy's lines and was shot before he could escape.
In the battle of South Mountain, on the 14th of September, the regiment took active part, and in the charge up the moun- tains lost 8 killed and 28 wounded. In the battle of Antietam they acted as skirmishers, losing I man killed and 4 wounded.
Transferred with General Burnside to the Department of the Ohio early in the year 1863, the regiment spent about two months soldiering on the neutral soil of Kentucky, and in June was ordered with its corps to the support of Grant at Vicksburg. Its services here consisted in helping to keep back Johnston, who was raising an army to attack the besiegers and raise the siege. In this campaign the command suffered most from want of water fit to use, that of the Yazoo and the Big Black being very bad, the health of the men being seriously affected by it.
From Vicksburg the corps was ordered to East Tennessee, reaching Knoxville in October. Then followed the siege of Knoxville by Longstreet, which lasted eighteen days, during which the Round Heads occupied the front line of works, assist- ing effectively in repelling the assault which McLaw's rebel division made on Fort Saunders. In this assault Company A lost 2 killed and had 4 or 5 wounded. The rebel loss in this engagement was very severe, being according to their own reports 128 killed, 458 wounded, and 226 prisoners, three battle- flags and 600 stand of arms. The siege was raised on Long- street's learning that General Sherman was coming on his rear from Chattanooga with a strong detachment from Grant's army.
On the Ist of January, 1864, "while subsisting on less than two ears of corn a day per man, the entire regiment, with the exception of twenty-seven, re-enlisted to the number of three hundred and sixty-six, for a second term of three years, and immediately started for home on a veteran furlough." They marched in mid-winter over the Cumberland Mountains for the railroad at Nicholasville, Ky., nearly two hundred miles, many of the men being bare-foot and without sufficient clothing. At
Soldiers' Monument, 1861-1865, Darlington, Pa.
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Cincinnati the regiment was paid, and on the 8th of February reached Pittsburg, where the men were dismissed to their homes.
After their furlough, being recruited again to a full regiment, they joined the remainder of the Ninth Army Corps at Annapolis, Md., and took part in all the battles of the Army of the Poto- mac, from the Wilderness to the evacuation of Petersburg. The last-named action ended the fighting of the Round Heads. Appomatox followed closely, the 100th marched to City Point, was taken thence to Washington, and there, on the 24th of July, was mustered out of the service.
The IoIst Regiment, P. V. I. (three years) .- Companies F and H were recruited in Beaver County, and C in Beaver and Lawrence counties. The captains of F and H respectively were Chas. W. May and Alex. W. Taylor. The companies compos- ing this regiment, seven in number, assembled at Camp Fre- mont, near Pittsburg, under the command of Joseph H. Wilson, of Beaver, who had served successively as captain, major, colonel, and major-general of militia. In October they were ordered to Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, where they were joined by other companies, recruited in other counties, and a regi- mental organization was effected as follows: Joseph H. Wilson, Colonel; David B. Morris of Pittsburg, Lieutenant-Colonel; and Joseph S. Hoard of Tioga County, Major. On the 26th of Feb- ruary, 1862, the regiment proceeded to Washington and was assigned to Keim's brigade. On the 16th of April it was ordered to the front, and with its brigade joined Casey's division in the siege of Yorktown and in the subsequent pursuit of the enemy, after he had abandoned his works.
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