History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 23

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 967

USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 23
USA > Pennsylvania > Fulton County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 23
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 23

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).

duty until the 16th, when it moved to Bunker Hill, and occupied the camps just vacated by the rebels, taking possession of their forage, and their camp-fires still alive.

A forced march was made to Charlestown,. on the 17th, and nearly the whole distance, over dusty roads, was performed at a "double-quick." At a crossroads, called Smithfield, a halt was made, by order of Gen. Patterson, a line of battle formed, the artillery placed in battery, and everything put in readiness for action. This maneuver was executed with the design of pro- tecting the column against a sudden dash of the enemy's cavalry, which hung upon the flank and rear of the army in considerable force. The regiment remained in camp at Charlestown until the 21st, when it was ordered to Harper's Ferry. Starting without guides, and mistaking the way, it made a wide detour of some half dozen miles, and arriving at the Potomac late at night, was obliged to ford the river in the darkness, leaving some of the wagons in the middle of the stream until morning. On the evening of the 22d it again struck tents and marched to Hagerstown, Maryland, whence, on the 25th, it moved by the Cumberland Valley railroad to Harrisburg.

Here, for the first time since their organiza- tion, the men began to exhibit impatience. Their campaign had been a bloodless one. Demagogues endeavored to convince them that they were no longer under obligations - their term of service having expired-to obey the orders of their officers. This state of affairs might have resulted disastrously, had not the previous good discipline created a feeling of confidence in their officers, and made their ex- pressed wish equivalent to an order. As soon as transportation could be furnished, the regi- ment moved to Pittsburgh, where an ovation awaited it. On the 6th of August, 1861, it was paid and mustered out of service.

Prior to this time, however, it had been de- termined to organize a new regiment for three years, or the war, and within two weeks from the disbandment Col. Rowley, with five compa- nies, departed for Washington, D. C., and before the end of the month had ten full companies in camp. Recruits still continued to arrive, until the organization embraced twelve hundred men. Reporting directly to the war office of the United States, the regiment was not recognized by the state authorities, nor its officers commis-

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sioned, until a large number of three-years regiments had been placed in the service. Hence, although it was among the first recruited for three years, it was numbered the One Hundred and Second.

THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, EIGHTH RESERVE.

This regiment consisted of companies which had been organized in the counties of Alle_ gheny, Armstrong, Bedford, Fayette, Clarion, Greene and Washington, for the three-months service, but had failed to secure acceptance by the government for that term. Co. F was a Bedford county organization, being the second to take the field, and the first mustered into service for three years from that county.

The regiment was organized at Camp Wil- kins, near Pittsburgh, June 28, 1861, and on the 20th of July it was ordered to proceed to Washington, D. C., by way of Harrisburg and Baltimore. Additional equipments were ob- tained at Harrisburg, tents at Baltimore, and on arriving at Washington, the 23d, the regiment encamped at Meridian Hill. On the 2d of August it moved to Tenallytown, Maryland, where it encamped with other regiments of the reserve division, under Maj .- Gen. George A. McCall. The 8th, under Col. George S. Hays, together with the 1st reserve, Col. R. Biddle Roberts ; the 2d, Col. William B. Mann, and the 5th, Col. Seneca G. Simmons, formed the 1st brigade, under command of Brig .- Gen. John F. Reynolds.

After remaining at Tenallytown about two months, a period which was passed. in camp routine, picket duty and frequent alarms along the line of the Potomac, the regiment, with its brigade and division, moved on the 9th of Octo- ber across that historic stream, and took posi- tion in the line of the Army of the Potomac at Langley, Virginia, at which place the reserve corps made its winter quarters. In the battle of Dranesville, which was fought on the 20th of December by the 3d brigade (Gen. Ord's) of the reserves, neither the 8th regiment nor any part of Reynolds' brigade took part, being ab- sent on a reconnoissance to Difficult creek.

On the 10th of March, 1862, the 8th, with the entire division, moved from the winter quarters at Camp Pierpont (Langley) to IIun- ter's Mill, Virginia, with the expectation of joining in a general advance of the army on the confederate position at Manassas. But it was

found that the enemy had evacuated his line of defenses and retired toward Gordonsville, and thereupon the plan of the campaign was changed by the commanding general, McClel- lan, and the reserve regiments were ordered back to the Potomac. On the 12th the retro- grade march was commenced, and continued through mud, darkness and a deluge of rain to Alexandria, where it was expected that the di- vision would embark with the rest of the Army of the Potomac for the peninsula ; but this was not the case. The division of McCall was as- signed to duty with the 1st corps, under Gen. McDowell, which, with the exception of Frank- lin's division, was held between the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers for the protection of the city of Washington.

From Alexandria, the 8th, with its brigade, marched back to Manassas, thence to Warrenton Junction, to Falmouth and (May 24) across the Rappahannock to Fredericksburg, of which place Gen. Reynolds was appointed military governor. An advance from Fredericksburg along the line of the railroad toward Richmond was intended, but this was found to be inexpedient, and as Gen. McClellan was calling urgently for rein- forcements in the peninsula, Reynolds' brigade was recalled from its advanced position on the railroad ; the entire division was marghed to Gray's Landing, and there embarked for White House, on the Pamunkey river, where it arrived on June 11. A vast quantity of stores had been collected at White House for the use of the Union army, and the timely arrival of the reserves prevented the destruction of these stores by a strong detachment of Confederate cavalry under Fitzhugh Lee, who was then on his way toward the Pamunkey for that purpose.

With the division the regiment marched from White House by way of Baltimore Crossroads, to join the Army of the Potomac in the vicinity of Gaines' Mill. Thence the division was moved to the extreme right, where it took position at Mechanicsville and along the line of Beaver Dam creek.

On Thursday, June 26, was fought the battle of Mechanicsville, the first of that series of bloody engagements known collectively as the seven days' fight, and also (with the exception of the severe skirmish at Dranesville in the previous December) the first engagement in which the Pennsylvania reserves took part. In this battle the 8th (having in the morning of that

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day relieved the 2d) occupied the left of the brigade line, and about the center of the line holding the bank of the Beaver Dam creek. The 1st reserve regiment was on its right. On a crest of ground northeast of the creek was posted Easton's battery. At the margin of the swamp which skirts the creek the 8th was deployed, Cos. A, D, F and I being thrown for- ward as skirmishers under command of Lieut .- Col. Oliphant. The battle commenced at about three o'clock in the afternoon, the Georgia and Louisiana troops of the enemy wading the stream and gallantly rushing forward to the attack. "A brief artillery contest, in which the shells burst in rapid succession in the very midst of the infantry, was followed by the advance of the rebel columns, and the battle became general. A charge of the enemy below the swamp, with the design of capturing Eas- ton's battery, caused the skirmishers to be recalled, and the regiment moved to its support. But the enemy being repulsed by other troops, it returned to its former position. Three times the close columns of the enemy charged down the opposite slope with determined valor, but were as often repulsed and driven back. At night the men rested upon the ground where they had fought. The dead were collected, wrapped in their blankets, and consigned to the earth, and the wounded were sent to the rear. The loss of the regiment in killed, wounded and missing was nearly one hundred. Co. F* [the Bedford county company] being upon the- skirmish line, and not comprehending the order to withdraw, remained at its post, and fell into the hands of the enemy."-Bates.

At daylight on the morning of June 27, the 8th with its companion regiments of the reserve corps, was withdrawn from the battle-ground of the previous day, and moved down, parallel with the Chickahominy, some two or three miles, to Gaines' Mill, where Fitz John Porter's corps (of which the reserves formed a part) was placed in line of battle for the renewed conflict which was inevitable. Butterfield's brigade oc- cupied the extreme left, Sykes' division of regu- lars the right, and McCall's Pennsylvanians were placed in the second line. Approaching them were the Confederate commands of Gens.

A. P. Hill, Longstreet, D. H. Hill and the re- doubtable " Stonewall " Jackson, in all more than fifty thousand men, against half that number on the Union side. The battle opened by a furious attack on the regulars composing Porter's right. These, after having repulsed the enemy in his first attack, finally gave way before a renewed assault. The 8th reserve, in the second line, was posted where a road was cut through rising ground, and the excavation afforded some shelter, but the regiment suffered quite severely from the shells of the enemy, which were di- rected at a battery which it was supporting. The battle raged furiously during all the after- noon. At about five o'clock the enemy advanced in heavy masses from the woods, and the 8th reserve with the 2d regulars were advanced to meet the assault in their front. The hostile line recoiled before them and was swept back to the woods, but they rallied in superior numbers and the two regiments were in turn driven back, with a loss to the 8th of twenty-four in killed and wounded. During the battle the heroic Reynolds, the brigade commander, was taken prisoner.

The day of Gaines' Mill closed in blood and defeat to the Union forces, and during the night the shattered Pennsylvania reserves, with the other troops, succeeded in crossing the Chicka- hominy and destroying the bridges behind them, though two bridges farther down the stream (Bottom's and Long bridges) still remained, and it was not long after sunrise on Saturday morn- ing when the Confederate force under the indomitable Jackson was massed at the upper one of these and making preparations to cross to the south side. Other hostile forces were also advancing directly on McClellan's left wing, and in view of this rather alarming situation, the general had, as early as Friday evening, decided on a retreat by the whole army to James river, where a base of supplies could be held, and com- munication on the river kept open by the co- operation of the Union gunboats. The troops were informed of the proposed change by an apparently triumphant announcement (intended merely to encourage the soldiers and lighten somewhat the gloom of the great disaster) that a new and mysterious flank movement was about to be executed which would surely and swiftly result in the capture of Richmond. No such as- surance, however, could conceal from the intelli- gent men who formed the Army of the Potomac

* Regarding the capture of Co. F, at Mechanicsville, Lieut. James Cleaver says that about two-thirds of the company were captured ; he being one of the unfortunates. That after having been marched into Richmond and detained there some six weeks, all were exchanged.

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that their backs and not their faces were now turned toward the rebel capital, and that the much-vaunted " change of base " was made from necessity rather than choice.

During all the day succeeding the battle (Saturday, June 28th) the 8th lay at Savage Station, on the York River railroad. On Sun- day it moved with the other regiments. to and across White Oak swamp, and at about sunset came to the vicinity of Charles City Cross- roads, where on the following day a fierce battle was fought, in which the 8th took gallant part. The first assault of the enemy was re- ceived at about one o'clock in the afternoon." In the formation of the line the 1st brigade was held in reserve, but as the struggle became des- perate the 8th was ordered in. Its position fell opposite the 6th Georgia, which was upon the point of charging, when Gen. McCall gave the order for the 8th to charge upon it, and, Col. Hays leading the way with a shout that rang out above the deafening roar of the conflict, it dashed forward, scattering the Georgians and driving them beyond the marsh in front. A few prisoners were taken. Later the enemy pressed heavily upon that part of the field, and the line was forced back, the 8th gradually retiring until it reached a new line which had been es- tablished, where it remained till darkness put an end to the conflict." The loss to the regi- ment at Charles City Crossroads was sixteen killed and fourteen severely and many others slightly wounded.

In the terrific battle of Malvern Hill, which was fought in the afternoon of the following day, the 8th was not actively engaged, being held with its division in reserve. The battle was opened at about four o'clock P.M., and from that time until darkness closed in, the roar of musketry, the crash of artillery and the howling of canister were unintermitting. Finally the carnage ceased, and the men of the North lay down on the field (as they supposed) of victory. But at about midnight orders were received to fall in for a march, and the Pennsylvania re- serves, with other commands of the Army of the Potomac, moved silently down the hill and away on the road to Berkeley (or Harrison's Landing), where they arrived and encamped on July 2. The loss of the 8th reserve regiment in killed, wounded and missing, during the seven days' battles, was two hundred and thirty.

On the 11th of August the 8th, with the other

reserve regiments, proceeded to Acquia creek on the Potomac, under orders to reinforce Gen. Pope. It joined Gen. McDowell's 3d corps in the vicinity of Kelly's Ford, and in the engage- ments of the 29th and 30th of August the regi- ment took gallant part, losing five killed, seven- teen wounded, and about thirty missing, out of a total strength of about one hundred effective men with which it entered the campaign.

Immediately after the close of Pope's dis- astrous movements and battles in Virginia, the reserve division moved with the army into Maryland and fought at South Mountain and Antietam. In the former battle the 8th lost seventeen killed and thirty-seven wounded, and in the latter twelve killed and forty-three wounded. In this battle (Antietam) the re- serves, being in the corps of Hooker, moved across the creek with that fighting general in the afternoon of September 16, and opened the fight, the position of that corps being on the right of the army. On the following morn- ing the battle opened early, and the 1st brigade moved forward, passed through a small wood, and formed line in a large cornfield beyond. The 8th was ordered into a grove to the left to dislodge a body of the enemy who had sheltered themselves there, and were engaged in picking off the Union artillerymen. This duty was gal- lantly performed. "The grove was soon cleared, and from it a steady and effective fire at close range was delivered upon the rebel line con- cealed in the cornfield. For four hours the battle raged with unabated fury and with vary- ing success when the reserves were relieved by fresh troops." On the ensuing day the enemy commenced his retreat to the Potomac, cover- ing his design by the feint of bringing in fresh troops from the direction of Harper's Ferry.

At the battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia, on the 13th of December, 1862, the 8th again fought with the greatest gallantry, and experienced a heavier loss than on any previous field. In the crossing of the Rappahannock the Reserves covered the laying of the pontoons for the pas- sage of Gen. Franklin's grand division, and after the crossing they were selected to make the first attack on that part of the field. "In the heroic advance of this small division in the face of the concentrated fire of the enemy's intrenched line, in scaling the hights, and in breaking and scattering his well-posted force, the 8th bore a conspicuous and most gallant part. Never

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before had it been subjected to so terrible an ordeal, and when after being repulsed and driven back by overwhelming numbers it again stood in rank beyond the reach of the enemy's guns scarcely half its numbers were there. Twenty-eight lay dead upon that devoted field, eighty-six were wounded, and twenty-two were captured."

Early in February, 1863, the reserve regi- ments were ordered to the defenses of Wash- ington, where the 8th remained until the open- ing of the spring campaign of 1864, when it was again ordered to the front, and rejoining the Army of the Potomac moved forward with Gen. Grant into the Wilderness. On the 4th of May it crossed the Rapidan, and on the 5th was once more engaged with the enemy, losing six killed and twenty-seven wounded. On the 8th, it moved to Spottsylvania, and in the series of conflicts which continued until the 15th, it was almost constantly under fire, and behaved with its accustomed steadiness, though its loss dur- ing that time was but three killed and sixteen wounded. Its three years' term of service hav- ing now expired, an order of the war depart- ment was received on the 17th of May relieving it from duty at the front, directing the transfer of its recruits and re-enlisted veterans to the 191st regiment, and the mustering out of its other officers and men. Under this order those whose terms had expired proceeded to Wash- ington, and thence to Pittsburgh, where, May 26, 1864, the remnant of the regiment was mus- tered out of the service.

Following are the names of the Bedford county men, etc., who served in the regiment :

COMPANY F.

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

Captains: John Eichelberger, m. June 11, 1861; disch, by order war dept. March 30, 1863. Eli Eichelberger, m. June 11, 1861; pro. from 1st It. Oct. 30, 1863; wd. at Wilderness May 6, 1864 ; ab. at m. o.

First Lieutenant: Lewis B. Waltz, m. June 11, 1861; pro. from 2d It. Oct. 30, 1863; m. o. w. co. May 26, 1864.

Second Lieutenant: James Cleaver, m. June 11, 1861 ; pro. from Ist sgt. Oct. 30, 1863; wd. at Wilderness, Va., May 10, 1864; ab. at m. o.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

First Sergeant : D. B. Armstrong, m. o. w. co.

Sergeants : John Paul, John H. Williams, David Horton and Jacob B. Linn, m. o. w. co. Jacob R. Callahan, pro. to sgt .- maj. March 1, 1864.

Corporals : John B. Tobias and William H. Dasher, m. o. w. co .; Edmund H. White, disch. Jan. 14, 1863; John Q. Leichty, died Sept. 21, of wds. rec. at Antietam Sept. 17, 1862; George Heffner, killed at second Bull Run Aug. 29, 1862; Luther R. Piper, died

Jan. 1, 1863, of wds. rec. at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; George Horton, died of wds. rec. at Antietam Sept. 17, 1862; George Juda, wd. at Wilderness May 8, 1864 : tr. to 191st P. V. May 15, 1864 ; vet. William D. Ritchey, pris. from May 8 to 12, 1864 ; tr. to 191st P. V. May 15, 1864 ; vet.

PRIVATES.

[The following paragraph contains the names of the original privates of the company. Those whose names appear in italics were mustered out with the company, May 26, 1864.]

George W. Amick, Daniel Adams, Levi Brumbaugh, James Bar- ber, John Barmond, George Brown, James A. Bradley, Nathaniel Barmond, Emanuel Bowser, Joseph S. Cook, James Capstick, John Carnell, Franklin Dean, Isaiah M. Davis, W. H. H. Eichelberger, Allison Edwards, Christ. Eastwright, Hiram Edwards, Samuel S. Foor, Aaron Foster, Mark W. Foor, William H. Foor, Henry Figart, Wilson Grubb, Robert Gamble, Christ. C. Garlick, Alexander A. Garrett, James Gates, William Holdcraft, David Headrick, Frank Holsinger, Zopher P. Horton, Aaron Imes, Daniel Jordon, Will- iam H. Kay, George Leader, Joseph Leichty, Jacob Lines, Daniel Mc Furland, Joseph Maugle, Henry Marshall, David Martin, William Malone, David Manspeaker, B. Manspeaker, Henry C. Penrod, John B. Penrod, Jr., Oliver P. Ross, Joseph Ritchey, Conrad Robb, James Shields, Henry Showalters, Charles S. Smith, Cornelius Shoaff, Mathew P. Shaw, David Scutchall, Thomas A. Taylor, George Tricker, William H. Whisel, Alexander Warsing, Joel T. Young, Alexander Young.

Recruits-when mustered in: David Bollinger, Sept. 4, 1861 ; Johnston Evans, Aug. 2, 1861; Abel Griffith, March 11, 1864 ; Michael Griffith, March 25, 1864; George Leichty, Feb. 22, 1864; Alexander H. McKee, Aug. 23, 1861 ; Joseph Me.Farland, Sept. 5, 1862 ; Charles Malone, Sept. 5, 1862; John 8. Malone, Jan. 26, 1864; Jacob Madara, Aug. 23, 1861 ; John B. Penrod, Sr., Nov. 12, 1861; Lewis M. Piper, Sept. 4, 1861; S. P. Showalters, April 28, 1862; John P. Williams, Sept. 5, 1862.

Killed: Emanuel Bowser, at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; William H. Foor and Alexander A. Garrett, at Charles City Cross- roads, June 30, 1862; David Martin, at Mechanicsville, June 26, 1862; David Manspeaker, at Spottsylvania C. H., May 18, 1864; B. Manspeaker, at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862; Matthew P. Shaw, at South Mountain, Sept. 14, 1862.

Wounded : Johnston Evans and George Leichty, at Wilderness, May 6, 1864; Christ. Fastright, Aaron Foster, Joseph McFarland, Charles Malone and John P. Williams, at Wilderness, May 8, 1864; Joseph Leichty, at Spottsylvania C. H., May 12, 1864.

Died of disease or wounds : Isaiah M. Davis, at Camp Pierpont, Va., Nov. 28, 1861 ; Hiram Edwards, Aug. 12, 1861, bu. in Mil. Asy. Cem., D. C .; Mark W. Foor, at Camp Pierpont, Va., Dec. 4, 1861 ; Henry Figart, Sept. 17, 1862, of wds. rec. at Bull Run, Aug., 1862, bu. in Mil. Asy. Cem., D. C .; James Gates, of wds. rec. at Antie- tam, Sept. 17, 1862 ; William H. Kay, Sept 18, 1862, of wds. rec. at South Mountain, Sept. 14, 1862; Jacob Lines, May 3, 1862, bu. at Fortress Monroe, Va. ; William Malone, Oct. 24, 1862; Cornelius Shoaff, at Camp Pierpont, Va., Dec. 17, 1861; David Scutchall, at Belle Plain, Va., Jan. 5, 1863; Robert Gamble, at Alexandria, Va., Sept. 2, 1863-grave 936.

Discharged before expiration of term : John Barmond, Apr., 1862 ; James A. Bradley, Feb. 3, 1863; John Carnell, Jan. 7, 1863; Frank- lin Dean, Feb. 7, 1863; W. H. H. Eichelberger, Oct. 31, 1862; Wil- son Grubb, Jan. 5, 1863: Frank Holsinger, Feb. 11, 1864, to accept promotion ; Aaron Imes, Dec. 16, 1863; Alex. H. McKee, July, 1862 ; John B. Penrod, Sr., Nov. 26, 1862; Joseph Ritchey, Feb. 26, 1862; James Shields, by sen. of gen. court martial, Feb. 22, 1862; George Tricker, Jan. 81, 1863 ; William H. Whisel, Jan. 24, 1863, by reason of wds. and loss of arm at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec., 1863; Alexander Warsing, Mar. 4, 1863; Joel T. Young, Aug. 7, 1862.

Transferred : George Brown, George Leader, Henry C. Penrod, John B. Penrod, Jr., S. P. Showalters, to 6th U. S. Cav., Oct. 27, 1862; Daniel Jordon, to Bat. C., 5th U. S. Art., Dec. 3, 1862; David Bollinger, Allison Edwards, Christ. C. Garlick, Abel Griffith, Michael Griffith, Zopher P. Horton, John S. Malone, Jacob Madara, Conrad Robb, Henry Showalters and Alexander Young, to 191st P. V., May 15, 1864; Lewis M. Piper, to V. R. C., May 11, 1863.

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THIRTY-NINTH REGIMENT, TENTH RESERVE.

The companies comprising this regiment were chiefly recruited in the counties of Som- erset, Crawford, Mercer, Venango, Warren Lawrence, Clarion, Beaver and Washing. ton. Co. A was a Somerset county organiza- tion. Camp Wilkins near Pittsburgh became the regimental rendezvous, and at that place during the last days of June, 1861, the field officers of the regiment - Col. John S. McCal- mont, Lieut .- Col. James T. Kirk and Maj. Har- rison Allen - assumed command. On the 1st of July the regiment moved up the Allegheny river twelve miles to Camp Wright, a beautiful location, where its commander, a regular army officer, thoroughly inculcated the first principles of discipline.

On the 18th of July the 10th was ordered to move to Cumberland, Maryland, via Bedford, Pennsylvania, but before reaching the latter place the order was countermanded, and it was hurried to Harrisburg, where on the 21st of July it was mustered into the service of the United States for three years. The unexpected defeat at Bull Run occurred the same day, but though it darkened the hopes of many of the men who had believed that a few months, at most, would end the rebellion, none faltered. Late in the afternoon of the 22d the command moved by rail toward Baltimore, and on the evening of the 23d with loaded arms and fixed bayonets it marched through that city and en- camped near by. On the 24th it proceeded to Washington, and from thence, August 1st, to Tenallytown, where the Pennsylvania reserves were being rapidly assembled. There it was assigned to the 3d brigade, at first commanded by Col. McCalmont of the 10th, but subse- quently by Brig .- Gen. E. O. C. Ord.

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History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 23

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co. Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Number of Pages: 967

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 967