USA > Pennsylvania > Bradford County > History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 53
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James B. Goodman, com. sergt., April 22, 1861 ; promoted to 2d lieut., Co. H, April 13, 1863.
Perez L. Norton, com. sergt., July 2, 1861 ; transferred to 191st Regt. P. V. Vet.
L. D. Montanye, hosp. stew., Oet. 11, 1861; discharged on sur- geon's certificate, Sept. 30, 1862.
John S. Stearnes, hosp. stew., July 15, 1861 ; promoted from priv., Co. C, to hosp. stew., Dec. 24, 1863 ; mustered out with regiment.
D. Henry Barston, hosp. stew., Aug. 21, 1862; promoted to asst. surgeon 173d Regt. P. V., June 19, 1863.
James S. Drake, hos. stew., June 22, 1861 ; died, Oct. 18, 1861.
Emanuel Kurtz, prin. mus., April 22, 1861; promoted from priv., Co. A, to prin. mus., Nov. 1, 1862 ; mustered out with regiment.
James A. Nicholson, prin. mus., April 22, 1861; promoted from priv., Co. D, to priu. mus., Aug. 1, 1863 ; mustered out with regiment.
Henry A. Burbank, prin. mus., April 15, 1862 ; discharged on sur- geon's certifieate, Sept. 30, 1862.
Christopher Woods, prin. mus., May 14, 1861; promoted to prin. mus., Sept. 1, 1861 ; discharged, Aug. 11, 1862.
J. W. Chamberlain, prin. mus., July 13, 1861 ; transferred to Co. A, April 15, 1862.
Company F.
Daniel Bradbury, capt., April 23, 1861 ; wounded at Drainesville, Dec. 20, 1861; diseharged on surgeon's certificate, June 7, 1862.
Wm. Aug. Mecker, capt, April 23, 1861 ; promoted from 2d lieut. to capt., Aug. 1, 1862 ; wounded at Wilderness, May 8, 1864; absent in hospital at muster out.
Leman D. Forrest, let lieut., May 15, 1861 ; deserted, Nov. 28, 1862 ; dismissed, April 6, 1863.
Wm. S. Briggs, Ist lieut., April 23, 1861 ; promoted from 2d lieut. to Ist lieut., Aug. 2, 1863; prisoner from May 8 to May 26, 1864 ; mustered out with regiment.
Company I.
W. H. II. Gore, capt., April 22, 1861; promoted to maj., Sept. 1, 1863.
John M. Guyer, capt., April 22, 1861 ; promoted from Ist lieut. to capt., Feb. 8, 1864 ; killed at Spottsylvania Court-House, Va., May 12, 1864.
Peter States, Ist sergt., April 22, 1861 ; promoted to 2d lieut., April 1, 1862; Ist lieut., March 18, 1864 ; mustercd out with regiment.
Henry B. MeKean, 2d lieut., April 22, 1861 ; promoted to adj., July 11, 1861.
THE TWELFTH RESERVE-FORTY-FIRST REGIMENT.
One company from Bradford County, Capt. Gustin's, was assigned to the organization of the 12th Reserve, which was composed wholly of men who had enlisted under the three months' call and could not be accepted as such. The field-officers at first commissioned were John H. Taggart, of Philadelphia, colonel; Samuel N. Bailey, of York, lieut .-
# The date given immediately following the rank is that of muster into service.
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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
colonel ; Peter Baldy, of Northampton county, major. The companies of the regiment were recruited as follows: Co. A, Philadelphia ; Co. B, Wyoming county ; Co. C, Brad- ford County ; Co. D, Dauphin county ; Co. E, Northamp- ton county ; Co. F, Westmoreland county ; Co. G, York county ; Co. H, Indiana county; Co. I, Huntingdon county ; Co. K, Franklin county.
When the Reserves were ordered to the front immedi- ately after the battle of Bull Run, the 12th was retained in Camp Curtin, and remained there until Aug. 10, 1861, when it was mustered into the United States service, and marched to Baltimore, with orders to join Gen. Banks at Harper's Ferry. The regiment protected the State arsenal at Harrisburg from a threatened attack by the three months' troops, disbanded there during the latter part of July, per- forming the delicate duty so considerately as to avoid the precipitation of a conflict, and gaining thereby the approval of the governor.
The regiment arrived at Baltimore on August 11, when the order to march to Harper's Ferry was countermanded, and Col. Taggart was ordered to report to Gen. McCall at Tenallytown, near Washington. On August 20 the 12th was attached to the 3d Brigade, Col. John McCalmont commanding. The other regiments of the Reserves form- ing, with the 12th, the brigade were the 10th, Col. McCal- mont ; 6th, Col. Ricketts ; and 9th, Col. Conrad F. Jackson.
The 12th remained in the camp until October 10, par- ticipating in the duties of the same, and receiving the same thorough instruction in the drill and manual of arms, given under the immediate supervision of Gen. McCall to the Reserve Corps, that made them so noted in their proficiency in the art of war, and elicited the unqualified commenda- tion of their commanding generals.
On the date last named the 12th and the brigade took up the line of march for Virginia, and at Langley went into winter quarters, occupying the right of the line and making occasional reconnoissances towards Drainesville. They were but a short distance from that place on the night preceding the disastrous affair at Ball's Bluff, returning to camp on the morning of that day. A different story history would record than the terrible one it now does could the forces already on the Virginia shore have co-operated with the gallant Baker.
Brig .- Gen. E. O. C. Ord was assigned to the command of the 3d Brigade soon after the same arrived in camp at Langley, Col. McCalmont re-assuming the command of his regiment.
The first engagement of the 12th with the enemy was at Drainesville, on Dec. 20, where it held the left of the line of the brigade. " On approaching the village our flanking- parties were driven in, and the regiment was again formed in line to receive the attack on the turnpike, the right rest- ing on a hill and the left opposite a brick house on the left of the pike, and behind which the enemy appeared to be in force. Before it was fairly in position the enemy opened with a heavy fire of shot and shell, which fell thick and fast about the left of the regiment. Easton's battery soon opened and partially silenced his guns, but the infantry could only hold their position, the enemy's infantry being still concealed from view. The steadiness with which the
men held their position under a hot fire without the possi- bility of returning it is the best evidence that can be adduced of their good discipline and soldierly qualities. Soon the word was given to advance into the woods in front and capture the enemy's battery if possible. Before reach- ing it the pieces were withdrawn, but the ground was strewn with his dead and wounded, piles of cannon-balls, shells, and munitions of war, and a gun-carriage the pioneers had destroyed. The enemy fled precipitately, leaving the field in possession of the victors. The loss of the regiment was, fortunately, but one wounded."
On March 10, 1862, the regiment broke camp at Lang- ley and marched to Hunter's Mills, in the movement upon Manassas; but it being soon ascertained the rebels had evacuated that stronghold, a halt was ordered until the 14th, when it returned to Republican Mills. During the march a terrible storm prevailed, and on the 16th the com- mand bivouacked, exposed to intense cold, rain, and snow, without shelter, and only six miles from Camp Pierpont, where were tents, stores, and other comforts.
Soon after leaving winter quarters, Lient .- Col. Bailey was discharged, and Martin D. Hardin elected to fill the vacancy. While encamped at Alexandria the Reserves were attached to Gen. McDowell's command. From April 19, to May 6, the 12th performed guard duty over the Orange and Alexandria railroad, and on the date last named marched to join the division at Falmouth. May 17, Gen. Ord was promoted to be a major-general, and Gen. Truman Seymour succeeded to the command of the 3d Brigade.
McClellan was now calling loudly for reinforcements, being within a few miles of Richmond, on his Peninsular campaign, and the Reserves were ordered to his assist- ance, embarking at Belle Plain Landing, on the Rappa- hannock, June 12. The 12th debarked at White House on the 14th, and marched to Dispatch Station, where the brigade awaited the arrival of Gen. MeClellan, who had ordered the division to be held in readiness for review. The rebels, however, occupied the whole time of the gen- eral, as they continually passed in review before him, and the inspection of the Reserves never took place by him. From the 18th to the 26th the regiment was on picket- duty on Beaver Dam creek and along the swamps of the Chickahominy, where every moment required watchfulness and constant alertness.
" On the morning of the 26th the regiment was relieved by the Bucktails, and the 5th, Col. Simmons, and returned to Ellerson's Mills. Here, a few days before, rifle-pits had been dug, in anticipation of the advance of the enemy, and trees felled on the west side of the creek in front of the works. About noon intelligence was received that Lee and Jackson were advancing with the main body of the rebel army. The position selected behind Beaver Dam creek was now occupied by the Reserves, the 12th Regt., in the original formation, holding the extreme left of the line, and on either side of the road leading from Ellerson's Mills to Cold Harbor. Co. C, Capt. Gustin, was posted in the mill and in the archway underneath it, where, well shel- tered, the men could pick off the enemy as they appeared in sight. Co. B occupied rifle-pits on the right of the
27
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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
road; but there being a grove of fine old trees in their front, the men preferred fighting from behind them, whenee, poising their guns, they could fire deliberately. Co. A, armed with Springfield rifles, occupied the right of the line ol' rifle-pits, resting on the road. As some were better marksmen than others, a number were selected to fire while others loaded for them. Co. K, also armed with Springfield muskets, did excellent execution."
This was the position of the 12th when the battle of Mechanicsville opened at three o'clock, and which lasted until nine at night.
" With reckless daring the rebel lines rushed forward to the attack, but were swept back by the steady fire of the Reserves. Early in the action the enemy attempted to outflank our left, but the 7th Regt., Col. Harvey, was promptly brought up, extending our line farther to the left, and Easton's battery was posted by Gen. Seymour so as to command the swamp, and thus defeat the enemy's design. A section of Cooper's battery, consisting of two guns posted just back of and above the 12th, did fearful execution, its shells being thrown over the heads of the men in the pits, who, as the smoke raised, could see the effeet and guide the gunners in aiming their pieces. For six hours the ground was held, though the trees, earth, and everything around were ent and hurled in the most fearful manner. Over one hundred rounds of ammunition per man were expended, and finally, as darkness closed in, the troops bivonacked upon the field their valor had won.
" Before daybreak the 7th Regt. with the artillery moved off to the rear, and Col. Taggart was ordered to hold his position until daylight, and then to retire quietly, without bringing on a renewal of the engagement. At five o'clock the enemy, discovering that the troops in their front had nearly all been withdrawn, commenced shouting, when the men still in the rifle-pits opened fire upon them, and soon the action became more fieree than at any time during the day previous. The regiment was soon after withdrawn by order of Gen. Seymour, the movement being executed in good order, and without confusion."
Pryor, in his account of the "Seven Days' Fight," in the rebel archives, says, "Ellerson's Mills was defended with desperate obstinacy, and was only captured with desperate valor." The capture was a mere matter of oecupaney when quietly vacated by the United States troops, after having been successfully held against the most persistent but futile assaults, and only yielded in obedience to the peremptory orders of Gen. McClellan.
On the evaenation of Ellerson's Mills, where for two days the 12th had had but little refreshment and sleep, it went into the battle of Gaines' Mills, repulsing under a terrifie fire the attacks of the enemy upon the guns of Griffin's battery, and assisting in driving back an over- whelming foree in the latter part of the day, against the right of the Union lines. The loss of the 12th in this battle was 6 killed and 25 wounded. "Two men of Co. C, Miles M. Cooper and Newton Ford, were killed by the ex- plosion of a single shell, and a third lost his leg, while the colonel was knocked from his horse by the eurrent of air as the missile passed him. Cooper never spoke after he was struck, but Ford said as he was raised up, 'It's no use,
colonel, my time has come. Haven't I always done my duty ?' These were his last words, and he expired almost immediately."
June 28, the regiment remained under arms at Trent's Hill, and that night, with the 3d Brigade, burned three bridges of the Chickahominy, and during the 29th per- formed one of the most exhausting and terrible marehes in the history of the Army of the Potomae, under an intensely hot sun, and without water or food. At night the 12th was ordered on picket towards the James river, but mis- taking the direction, was unable to find the position to be held, and returned to a green field at the forks of the New Market and Quaker roads, and, thoroughly worn out with fatigue, fell upon the ground and slept soundly.
Col. Taggart in his report thus depicts the miseries of his men in that dreadful march : " The White Oak creek, which we erossed about noon, was a complete quagmire, from the thousands of horses, teams, and artillery which were continually passing, and water to drink was not to be had. Some of the men became almost delirious from thirst, and once, when I halted for rest for a few minutes, I discovered them drinking from a stagnant puddle in which was the putrid earcass of a dead horse. Poor fel- lows ! I pitied them, but I could not permit this, and I promised them good water at White Oak swamp (as I was informed there was by an engineer officer), but as we ar- rived there we found it utterly unfit to drink. The disap- pointment was intense, but we pushed on, and at evening, when we halted on the green, and Gen. McCall eame up and told us there was plenty of good spring water in a rivulet near by, the joy of the men knew no bounds. Alas! little did they think that on that very spot, in less than twenty-four hours, many of them would pour ont their life's blood, and the waters of that little brook would be reddened by the vital current. Yet so it was."
On June 30 the 12th partipated in the battle of Charles City Cross-Roads, being posted " in line of battle facing the sun," by order of Gen. McCall himself, at one o'clock on the extreme left of the line. "Soon afterwards, when in position as directed, Gen. Seymour rode up and ordered it to be divided, and four companies to erect and oeeupy a stockade near a farm-house, with two companies in the rear for support, and the other four companies to support a bat- tery which had that day been left under command of Gen. McCall, leaving a gap between the two wings of two hun- dred yards. This arrangement made the line almost perpen- dicular to the one pointed out by Gen. McCall, and brought. the left out in the open field without support, Hooker being nearly half a mile in the rear. These dispositions were hardly made, when a shrieking rifled shell from the enemy on our left was the only admonition of his approach, followed almost instantly by the well-known rebel yell, and his line, closed in mass, without skirmishers, eame pouring forth from the woods on the left, aiming to gain the rear of the unprotected flank of the 12th. The stockade afforded little protection, being not more than eighteen inches in height. The men behind it were posted in a single rank, and before they could do any execution they were engaged in a hand- to-hand conflict with the rebels, who pressed forward in overwhelming numbers, the whole force of their attaek
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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
seeming to be concentrated on this one point. Col. Taggart ordered the six companies comprising the left wing to fall back across a little rivulet to a new line, which they obeyed, but with some confusion. The four companies with the battery held their ground for a time, but the artillerymen, instead of turning their guns upon the advancing rebels, immediately limbered up and daslied away to the rear, tramp- ling in their mad haste the men of the 12th posted for their support. These companies, suffering from an enfilading fire, and in danger of being captured, fell back to the rear, where the regiment was rallied and brought into line on the right of a Massachusetts regiment belonging to Gen. Hooker's division, and continued in the action till it ceased.
" In this engagement, which is admitted on both sides to have been one of the most hotly-contested of the campaign, First Lieut. William W. Arnold, of Co. G, was killed, and Capt. Thomas D. Horn, of Co. D, and Capt. Franklin Daniels, of Co. A, were wounded, and First Lieut. Henry S. Lucas, of Co. C, was taken prisoner. The entire loss was 6 killed, 36 wounded, and 23 missing."
At midnight the 12th moved towards Malvern Hill, where it arrived at daybreak, and was, with the division, held in reserve during the bloody engagement, the regi- ment being posted in front of the Malvern mansion, at the highest point of the hill, commanding a magnificent view of the whole field ; the battle commencing at six o'clock A.M., and lasting until nearly nine at night.
On the morning of July 2 the 12th arrived with the division at Harrison's Landing, where, in the midst of a drenching rain, the whole army was drawn up under arms, expecting another attack from the enemy. The entire loss of the regiment during the Peninsular campaign was 13 killed, 60 wounded, and 36 missing.
July 8, 1862, Col. Taggart resigned, and was succeeded in command by Lieut .- Col. Martin D. Hardin.
The 12th participated in Gen. Pope's campaign in Virginia, seeing much severe service, losing several men killed, wounded, and missing. On July 30, Col. Hardin, in command of the 3d Brigade, held a difficult position, forced upon him by the retreat of the 9th, 5th, and 10th N. Y. Regts., under Col. Warren, from the skirmish-line, against an overwhelming force of the enemy, pouring in a deadly fire on the left flank. Just as reinforced, Col. Hardin was severely wounded, and the command of the brigade devolved on Col. Kirk, of the 10th Reserves, who was also almost immediately wounded, and was succeeded by Col. Anderson, of the 9th. Gen. Reynolds says of the brigade, in his report of the battle, that it "sustained itself most gallantly, and, though severely pushed on both front and flank, maintained its position until overwhelmed by numbers, when it fell back, taking up new positions wherever the advantage of ground permitted."
Upon the fall of Col. Hardin the command of the 12th devolved upon Capt. Gustin. The loss of the regiment was 5 killed and 38 wounded.
Under Capt. Gustin the 12th ocenpied the centre of the line of the assault on South Mountain, in Maryland, made by the brigades of the Reserves in command of Gen. Meade, the regiment moving on the mountain with the most determined gallantry, and carrying the heights tri-
umphantly, in connection with the rest of the division. Its loss was 6 killed, and 19 wounded.
At Antietam the 12th displayed its accustomed gallantry, losing in the two days of that sanguinary engagement 13 killed, 47 wounded, and 4 missing.
At Fredericksburg, in the attack on that stronghold by Burnside, the contest on the part of the 12th was brief, but the slaughter in its ranks was terrible, 13 being killed, 70 wounded, and 34 taken prisoners. In the attack the Reserves, about 4500 strong, under Gen. Meade, were selected to lead. The 3d Brigade was commanded by Col. C. Fager Jackson, and the 12th Regt. by Capt. Gustin. The 3d Brigade was formed on the left of the 1st, and in the early part of the action suffered severely from the enemy's artillery and his sharpshooters. "Silencing tliese, it advanced with intrepidity, flanked the enemy's battery and his intrenched line, reached and drove him from his strongholds on the heights. At this juncture Gen. Jackson fell, and many of his subordinate commanders being either killed or wounded, the brigade was forced to retire, having displayed in the advance the most undaunted courage, and for the time won a signal advantage."
In February, 1863, the division, now reduced to a mere skeleton, was ordered to the defenses of Washington, and attached to the 23d Army Corps, the 3d Brigade performing picket-duty, under command of Col. Hardin, who had re- covered sufficiently from his wound, received at Bull Run, to resume command of his regiment soon after the battle of Fredericksburg. On Col. Hardin's assuming command of the brigade Capt. Gustin resumed command of the regi- ment, and on Feb. 15, on the discharge of Lieut .- Col. Baldy, Capt. Gustin was commissioned to succeed him. In April the brigade was ordered to Washington, where it remained six weeks, performing provost duty.
In the Gettysburg campaign, in June, the 12th, under Col. Hardin, joined the main body of the army at Fred- erick, Md., and reached the battle-field at ten A.M., July 2, participating in that desperately-contested field. Just after dark the 3d Brigade, with the 20th Maine, Col. Chamber- lain, in advance, and the 12th on the right, advanced upon and took Round Top, and fortified the same, connecting it with Little Round Top by a stone wall. From its position on the summit of the mountain the 12th had a magnificent view of the headlong but unfortunate charge of Kilpatrick's cavalry on the left, and the grand assault of the enemy on the left centre. No heavy fighting occurred in its imme- diate front after the first day's battle, but sharpshooters killed one man and wounded several of the regiment.
In the campaign following the retreat of Lee across the river, the 12th, under Col. Gustin, Col. Hardin command- ing the brigade, was engaged at Bristoe Station, Oct. 14, preventing the enemy from planting his artillery on the heights which it held, and the cutting off of the 2d Corps from its connection with the army ; also at Rappahannock Station, Nov. 19, and at Mine Run, Nov. 26.
At the close of the campaign the regiment went into winter-quarters along the Orange and Alexandria railroad, with headquarters at Catlett's Station, the 5th and 12th being in command of Col. Hardin, with orders to guard the road from Catlett's to Broad run. The section of the coun-
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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
try thus guarded was infested with guerrillas, who were so troublesome that block-houses were constructed for the pro- tection of the pickets. On Dec. 13, Col. Hardin, Lieut .- Cols. Dare and Gustin, and an orderly were attacked by five mounted guerrillas, dressed in the uniform of the United States cavalry, who approached within a few feet of the unsuspecting party, and when accosted suddenly raised their pistols, which they had kept concealed, and poured in a rapid fire. Col. Hardin's left arm was shattered so badly as to require amputation, and his horse was killed, being pierced by several bullets; and Col. Gustin was severely wounded in the right hand. The rebels then turned into the woods and galloped away.
On May 4, 1864, the great campaign on Richmond opened, and the 12th, with ranks recruited, was in line under command of Lieut .- Col. Gustin. During the three days' fight in the Wilderness it was hotly engaged, but Jost, fortunately, but few men. Col. Hardin, who since the loss of his arm had been assigned to light duty, was at his own request restored to his regiment, and on May 18 was placed in command of the 1st Brigade, in line of battle in front of Spottsylvania Court-House. In the battle the success of the Reserves was varying, the 12th participating in the checkered fortunes of the day.
On the 23d the Reserves received the onset of the enemy again at North Anna, repelling his fierce assaults, and hold- ing their position until the lines were established and intrenched.
On the 30th the Reserves once more met the enemy at Bethesda Church. The 1st Brigade being pushed forward in advance of the division, encountered stout resistance from the enemy, who was supported by a heavy force, and with- drew to a favorable position on the Mechanicsville road, joining the 3d, and throwing up slight breastworks to meet the attack. The 12th occupied the right of the line. Upon this the enemy made repeated and desperate assaults in heavy force, but was bloodily repulsed, and finally yielded the ground, which was covered with his killed and wounded.
On this day the term of service of the 12th Regiment expired, and proceeding to Harrisburg, where it was en- thusiastically received, on June 11 it was mustered out.
FIELD ANO STAFF OFFICERS.#
John H. Taggart, col., July 25, 1861 ; resigned, July 8, 1862; re- commissioned, Aug. 19, 1862 ; mustered out, Sept. 23, 1862.
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