USA > Pennsylvania > Bradford County > History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 55
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Reed W. Damfee, prin. mas., Sept. 10, 1861 ; promoted from mus., Co. K, April 13, 1865; mastered out with regiment. Vet.
llenry Hoffman, prin. mus., Sept. 30, 1861 ; discharged by general order, Aug., 1862.
Company G.
Wm. H. Telford, capt., Aug. 8, 1861; promoted to lieat .- col., Feb. 8, 1865.
Chas. Forbes, capt., Sept., 1861 ; promoted from corp. to sergt .; to 1st sergt. ; 2d lieut., April 29, 1865; to capt., May 12, 1865; mus- tered out with regiment. Vet.
Michael McMahon, 1st lieut., Sept., 1861 ; died at Hilton Head, S. C., Nov. 20, 1861.
Fred. R. Warner, 1st lieut., Sept. 6, 1861; promoted from Ist sergt., Co. D, to 1st licut., Feb. 15, 1862; resigned, Oct. 31, 1863.
Henry J. Christ, Ist lieut., Feb. 29, 1864; promoted from priv., Co. K, to 1st lieut., Dec. 11, 1864; mustered out with regiment.
Charles F. Cross," 2d lieut., Aug. 8, 1861; promoted to 1st lieat., U. S. Signal Corps, March 3, 1863.
Company K.
Jas. B. Ingham, capt., Sept. 9, 1861 ; killed at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862.
A. J. Hantzinger, capt., Sept. 25, 1861; promoted from 2d lieat., Co. I, Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out, Sept. 30, 1864, expiration of service.
Geo. V. Meyer, capt., Sept. 9, 1861; promoted from sergt. to 1st sergt. ; to 2d lieut., May 1, 1864; to capt., May 1, 1865; mastered out with regiment. Vet.
Chas. 11. Kellogg, 1st lieut., Sept. 9, 1861; died Sept. 1, 1862, of wounds received at Bull Run, Aug. 29, 1862.
Stephen R. Ormsby, 1st lieut., Sept. 9, 1861 ; promoted from corp. to 2d lieut., Aug. 1, 1862 ; to Ist lieut., Dec. 15, 1863 ; mustered out, Sept. 24, 1864, expiration of service.
Wm. K. Taylor, Ist lieat., Sept. 9, 1861; promoted from sergt. to 1st lieut., Dec. 4, 1864; mustered out with regiment. Vet.
Joseph S. Ingham, 2d licut., Sept. 9, 1861 ; promoted to 1st lieut., Co. B., Aug. 1, 1862; resigned, Nov. 4, 1862.
George N. Merrithew, 2d lieut., Sept. 9, 1861 ; promoted from priv. to sergt. ; to 2d lient., May 18, 1865; mustered out with regiment. Vet.
THE FIFTY-SECOND REGIMENT.
The 52d was one of the sixteen regiments called for by the president in July, 1861. Authority to recruit it was granted by Governor Curtin to John C. Dodge, Jr., Aug. 1. Dodge had served in the 11th Regt., of the three months' service. The men were principally from the counties of Luzerne, Clinton, Wyoming, Union, Bradford, and Columbia, and rendezvoused by squads and companies at Camp Curtin, a regimental organization being effected thereat, October 7, as follows: John C. Dodge, Jr., of Lycoming county, colonel; Henry M. Hoyt, of Luzerne county, licutenant-colonel ; John B. Conyngham, of Luzerne county, major. Young men, well formed and hardy, and accustomed to the use of the riffe chiefly, were the rank
and file of the regiment. The Wyoming cornet-band, of Wilkes-Barre, consisting of sixteen pieces, accompanied it.
One full company, Capt. Greenleaf P. Davis (E), and one partially recruited by Treat B. Camp and Ransom Luther (F), went into the 52d from Bradford County.
On Nov. 8. the regiment left Camp Curtin and pro- ceeded to Washington, being handsomely entertained at Baltimore by the Union Relief Association of that eity. It went into camp at Kalorama Heights, where it was most rigidly drilled and indueted into camp duty.
In January, 1862, the 52d went into winter-quarters in commodious barracks on Meridian Hill, at Fourteenth street, in rear of Columbia college. The winter was passed in drill and camp duty, mueh sickness prevailing. Ten men were detailed for gunboat service (volunteers) in the western waters, the most of whom were lost by the explosion of the " Mound City," on which they were serving, in the action of White River, in June, 1862.
In the organization of the army for the field, the 52d was assigned to the 1st Brigade of the 3d Division of the 4th Corps, Col. Davis in command, but on reaching the field, Brig .- Gen. Henry M. Naglee commanded. The organization of the 1st Brigade was as follows : Brig .- Gen. Henry M. Naglee, 3d Division, Brig. Gen. Silas Casey, 4th Corps, Maj .- Gen. E. D. Keyes. 52d Reg. Pennsylvania Vols., Col. John C. Dodge, Jr. ; 104th Penn- sylvania Vols., Col. W. H. H. Davis; 56th New York Vols., Col. Chas. H. Van Wyck ; 11th Maine Vols., Col. John C. Caldwell ; 100th New York Vols., Col. James M. Brown.
The regiment with the brigade left camp March 28, 1862, for the field, via Newport News, to Yorktown, the brigade numbering 4200 men and officers. Yorktown was evacuated about May 1, and on Sunday morning, May 4, the brigade entered the deserted works. A torpedo planted under the parapet of the fort exploded under Co. F, 52d Regt., killing 1 man and horribly mutilating 6 others. As the troops emerged from the valley of the Warwick upon the high plateau beyond, as far as the eye could reach were seen the national banners, borne by cavalry, infantry, and artillery. The brigade did not close in with the flying rebels, they being driven from the field before its arrival, though its marching was done at the double-quick to the support of Hancock.
On May 20, Keyes' Corps bivouacked on the left bank of the Chickahominy, opposite Bottom's bridge. One hundred picked men from the regiment were organized as a company of sharpshooters by Gen. Naglee, and placed under command of Capt. Davis, of Co. E. These men were from the lumber districts of Pennsylvania, and, being skilled marksmen, soon achieved distinction. They were immediately ordered forward on a reconnoissance to the Chickahominy, at the railroad and Bottom's bridges, and, supported by the brigade, crossed the river under a heavy fire of musketry and artillery. The foot-hold was main- tained, and during the night a number of regiments crossed.
On the 23d, the 52d and 104th slashed the timber, and threw up a long line of intrenchments about the head of the bridge, facing towards Richmond, fourteen miles distant.
On the evening of the same day, Gen. McClellan ordered
# Lieut. Cross was first assigned to signal daty Jan. 6, 1862 ; was promoted to 1st lieutenant of U. S. Signal Corps Oct. 20, 1863, to rank from Mareh 20, 1863, on recommendation of his superior officer, for services rendered during siege of Fort Waguer. He was distin- guished at Dutch Gap by his maintenance of communication with the gunboats aud water-battery, and was chief sigual officer of the army of the Shenandoah from Feb. 27, 1865, till his discharge ; was bre- vetted captain and major March 13, 1865, on the recommendation of Gen. Alfred II. Terry, whu complimented him highly for efficiency and courage ; mustered out Sept. 16, 1865.
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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Gen. Naglee to make a reconnoissance towards Richmond, " as far as practicable without incurring too much danger," which order was obeyed and executed most successfully by the 52d and 104th Pennsylvania Regiments, Battery H, 1st New York Artillery, and Regan's 7th Independent New York Battery, the two latter under command of Col. Bailey, the whole force under the immediate command of Gen. Naglee himself. The column moved about nine A.M., and was joined by Gregg's Cavalry at one P.M. Ascertaining that the force in front was Hatton's Brigade of five regiments of Tennessee infantry, two batteries, and a portion of Stuart's Cavalry, all under command of Gen. Stuart, Gen. Naglee pressed forward his forces to a wood beyond Savage Station, where the enemy was prepared to resist his farthier advance. He brought up the rest of his brigade, and, by a judicious handling of his troops, forced the rebels out of their covert in the timber, and was preparing to charge a second time with his cavalry, when an aid brought orders from Gen. Keyes that no further pursuit should be made, lest he " should bring on a general engagement." In this engage- ment the sharpshooters of the 52d did most excellent service.
The picket-line of Gen. Naglee, on the night following the engagement, was six miles long. The troops slept on the wet ground, rain having fallen all day. On the next day, the 25th, the reconnaissance was pushed forward about a mile, and found the enemy in force in front again, and beginning to assemble. At four P.M. Gen. Naglee ordered up his artillery, and advanced the 11th Maine and 104th Pennsylvania to the support of the 52d, and a few shells thrown over the wood, being fortunate in their range, dis- persed the enemy. On the 26th, Gen. Naglee advanced his lines to within about five miles from Richmond, which was as far as he deemed it prudent to go, and on the next day strengthened his lines and held the position, far in ad- vance of any other Union troops in that campaign, and for a time isolated from the main body of the army. Gen. Naglee, in his report of the four days' reconnoissance, paid a well-deserved compliment to the colonels of his command, and to Capt. Davis and his sharpshooters, who, he said, " contributed more than any others to the successful advance of our lines from Bottom's bridge, nine miles, to the most advanced line held before Richmond."
The regiment encamped on the right of the Nine-Mile road, a half-mile beyond Fair Oaks, as a support to the pickets along Garnett's field. Gen. Naglee's troops con- structed a bridge across the river to open up his communi- cations with the general-in-chief, completing it ready for passage on the day of the battle of Fair Oaks, May 30.
The position of the 52d, on the opening of this terribly sanguinary fight, was a half-mile to the right and front of the Seven Pines, which brought it into action on a different part of the field from that of the rest of the brigade, and at a later hour. Two companies were on the picket-line, and a heavy detail on the Chickahominy bridge. It moved from its camp in line of battle towards Seven Pines, and at first held the extreme right. By the time it had become en- gaged, the enemy had turned the left flank and had broken through on the Williamsburg road. Gen. Naglee, who had been on this part of the field, in his official report says,-
" Returning rapidly to my 56th New York, 11th Maine, and 52d Pennsylvania, my anticipations here were realized. Being successful in turning our left flank, the enemy had opened a most destructive cross-fire upon them from pieces near the redoubt, and this, with the fire from their imme- diate front, was no longer to be endured, and they were withdrawn, marched down the Nine-Mile road, and placed in position in rear of this road, about three hundred yards from Seven Pines, where soon their services were required. In the mean time, Col. Neill, of the 23d Pennsylvania, had come upon the ground occupied by Col. Dodge, and induced him to advance in front and to the right of the position that had been assigned to him, whilst he, Col. Neill, occu- pied that which the 52d Pennsylvania vacated. But these dispositions were scarcely made before the masses of the enemy broke through, and a few minutes sufficed to leave the half of Dodge's command on the ground, and to force Neill precipitately from his position. The remaining por- tion of the 52d-for it was now reduced to a little more than 100 men-was conducted along the Nine-Mile road to the Seven Pines, where, finding the rifle-pits occupied, they took possession of a fence and some out-houses, and did most effective service. Afterwards they crossed to the left of Couch's position, and advanced two hundred yards into and along the woods, to the left and front of the Seven Pines, where they remained actively employed until near dark, when the enemy, advancing rapidly in masses to the rear of the Nine-Mile road, inclined towards the Williams- burg road, sweeping everything from the field. Our forces made one general, simultaneous movement to the rear, which did not stop until all had arrived at the line of defense. The 52d, having their line of retreat cut off, escaped by passing through the woods to the left and rear of the saw-mill, at the White Oak swamp, and thence to the line above referred to, where they rejoined their companions of the Ist Bri- gade." The brigade was commended for its gallantry by Gen. McClellan.
Of the 249 officers and men who went into the conflict, 125 were killed or wounded ; Capt. Davis, who lost an arm, and Capts. Lennard, Chamberlain, Weidensaul, and Cars- kaden, being among the latter. At the time of the battle Casey's division was much misrepresented, but was subse- quently done full honor by the general-in-chief. In fact, the troops of Casey and Couch, numbering but 12,000 men, were fighting five divisions of the rebel army, led by Gen. Lee himself.
The 52d was engaged at the bridges of the Chickahominy on June 27, the day after the attack of the rebels on the right wing of the Union army at Mechanicsville. The sharpshooters of the 52d Pennsylvania and 11th Maine were posted on the banks of the river between the bridges and for a mile above and below them. The railroad bridge was under the especial charge of Col. Plaisted, with the remainder of his regiment, the 11th Maine. The remain- der of the 52d, under Lieut .- Col. Hoyt, the 56th and 100th New York, were distributed in the redoubts and rifle-pits and on picket-duty. The orders to Gen. Naglee were to hold the bridges at all hazards, and if pressed to destroy them.
No enemy appeared during the 26th, his attention being
28
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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
entirely occupied by the conflict going on at Mechanicsville, and on the 27th but small reconnoitering parties approached, who were taught that prudence was better than familiarity by the 52d Pennsylvania and 11th Maine, who were con- cealed in the swamp, waist-deep in water.
On the 28th an attack was menaced upon Gen. Naglee's position by a force of the enemy, consisting of a battery of artillery with cavalry, supported by two regiments of in- fantry, who, under cover of the wood, took an advantageous position on high ground, about one thousand yards from the bridges. The Union batteries of Miller, Brady, and Mor- gan, however, soon corrected their range so nicely, and held it so persistently, that the rebels were compelled to with- draw, and their battery was silenced.
The railroad bridge was destroyed at seven P.M. on the 29th, the enemy being occupied fully at Savage Station.
" The destruction," says Gen. Naglee, " was completed by running into the gap a locomotive and a train of cars filled with immense quantities of ammunition, which exploded with sublime and terrific power that shook the whole earth, and the white smoke ascended in a column so grand, so magnificent, that all stood spell-bound, impressed to that ex- tent that it cannot be forgotten."
The trains of Mcclellan's army having passed, together with the army itself, two miles in the rear of the bridges, the position was abandoned at ten P.M., and on the morning of June 30 Gen. Naglee bivouacked with his command at White Oak swamp bridge, and at eleven A.M. the brigade was in line of battle again, protecting the rear of McClel- lan's retreating army. Gen. Naglee says, . . " For
seven days were the men of my brigade constantly on duty. On the 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th of June the safety of the army depended on our holding the railroad and Bottom's bridges, and on the 30th upon holding the bridge at White Oak swamp. Many, day and night for four days, stood to their middle in the water of the Chickahominy swamp, and all, impressed with the responsible duty required of them, served their country in this hour of trial, enduring the most excessive labor, fatigue, and exhaustion with ex- traordinary endurance and cheerfulness. And well may they and all of their many friends in the future refer to those gallant deeds and trials with the conscious pride that they are deserving the thanks and remembrance of their country."
The brigade occupied the immense fortifications of York- town during Pope's campaign, where it was thoroughly trained as heavy artillerists, which proved of great value subsequently.
In December, the 52d, with its own and several other brigades, en route to Gen. Foster in North Carolina, en- countered the fearful storm off Hatteras in which the fa- mous " Monitor," the victor of the " Merrimac," foundered and was lost.
On Jan. 29, 1863, the 52d, in company with a large fleet, left Beaufort under sealed orders, which, when opened, showed its destination to be Port Royal, S. C., where, on its arrival, it found Dupont's fleet of iron-clads, monitors, frigates, consorts, and supply-ships covering the harbor. On March 9, Gen. Naglee was relieved of his command by Gen. Hunter, commanding the department of the South,
much to the regret of his men, whose love and confidence he had won by his devotedness and gallantry.
The 52d participated in the futile attack of April 6 on the defenses of Charleston.
In the bombardment of Morris island by the forces then under the command of Gen. Gillmore, a diversion was made in favor of the attacking party by an expedition consisting of the 52d and 104th Pennsylvania, under command of Gen. Alfred Terry, who on the night of July 9 was sent up Stone river, preceded by the monitor " Nantucket," Commodore Beaumont of Wilkes-Barre, which covered the advance by throwing fifteen-inch shells right and left, as he proceeded. The troops floundered through the mud from the steamers to the solid ground of James island about midnight, and were ambuscaded, and halted until daylight on a causeway on which they were advancing. At daylight the march was resumed, and the rebels were driven into their strong lines at Secessionville, by which time the descent on Morris island was complete, under Gens. Strong and Seymour, who held the island as far as Fort Wagner. Terry's position on James island now becoming critical, he was reinforced by several regiments and a battery. Before daylight on the morning of the 16th, the enemy, with several pieces of light artillery, opened on the gunboat " Pawnee," the principal reliance of the command for safety. The camp was assaulted by a brigade of rebels, but Capt. Rockwell's Connecticut battery delivered so effective a fire that, being supplemented hy a charge by the infantry, the enemy was sent back to his intrenchments, his flight being hastened by the shells of the " Pawnee." But it was evident that Gen. Terry could not hold his position, and accordingly it was evacuated the next night, the 52d, only 250 strong, being sent upon the picket- line in the afternoon to cover the withdrawal. The night was intensely dark and rainy, and towards morning, the evacuation being completed, the piekets were safely with- drawn, the enemy discovering the movement, but being helpless to frustrate it. The next night the 52d were at the head of Folly island, and witnessed the desperate and bloody assault on Fort Wagner, which left 1600 men in the front of its fatal trenches.
The siege of Wagner which followed, and lasted fifty days, was participated in by the 52d, all arms of the ser- vice being engaged in the work. " By turns, each was en- gineer, artillerist, and infantry," and the instruction the regiment received in the Yorktown intrenchments did not come amiss.
The final bombardment of Wagner lasted forty hours, one hundred guns opening on it from sea and land, and it was evacuated on the night of Sept. 6, when the second assault was about to be made upon it.
In December a large portion of the regiment re-enlisted, and received a veteran furlough. On its return it was re- cruited to 1000 strong, all armed with the improved Spring- field musket and well equipped, and was, by some mischance, unknown to officers and men, kept in the department of the South.
In June, 1864, the capture of Charleston was planned, the department being in command of Maj .- Gen. Foster, but the execution of the plans failed miserably, at the expense and loss of the 52d wholly. The plan involved a move-
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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
ment from John's island, James island, and Morris island, the first under Gen. Foster in person, the second under Geu. Schimmelfening, and the last under Col. Gurney, of the 127th New York Vols. The force from Morris island was composed of the 52d Pennsylvania, 127th New York, and a detachment of the 3d Rhode Island Artillery, and was to embark in small boats in the creek running through the marshes between Morris and James islands, and as soon as the tide permitted, to pull across Charleston harbor. The route lay between Fort Sumter and Battery Simpkins, mounting heavy guns on James island. The 52d, in ad- vance, was to pull directly for the beach, six hundred yards in front of Fort Johnson, land, and assault the fort, while the 127th New York was to land at Battery Simpkins, a half-mile nearer, and carry it. The artillery were to take possession of, and turn against the city, any guns found in the works. The success of the bold undertaking depended on the celerity of its execution, and by being a surprise to the enemy. Full preparations were made by the regiment for the perilous enterprise, and the night of July 3 was selected for the execution of the same. The bar in front of Battery Simpkins could only be crossed when the tide was at its flood, and when the boats reached the rendezvous at Paine's dock the tide was at its lowest, and many of the boats grounded.
" By 2 A.M., the fleet was together, and the tide turned. As it covered the shoals, the 52d in advance, they moved ont in single file, and headed into the darkness for Fort John- son. Either through ignorance or misconduct, the pilot, selected by Col. Gurney from the 127th New York, failed to find any passage over or around the bar. Daylight began to streak the east when the leading boat passed the bar, close under the slopes of Simpkins. Towering in the dis- tance, at one thousand yards, frowned Fort Johnson. Stead- ily the boats pulled on. The lookout at Simpkins had, however, discovered the procession of blue coats. Dis- charging his piece, he, with the rest of the pickets on duty, fled up the beach. It was an even race now between the boats and the rebel sentinels. Soon the guns in Fort John- son opened, sending their shells hissing over the heads of the men, now pulling for dear life. Discovery was no longer to be avoided. With a hearty cheer, 125 men of the 52d landed from the five leading boats at the designated points. Promptly forming, they charged a two-gun battery, mount- ing Brooks rifled guns, and carried it handsomely. Fort Johnson was still four hundred yards in advance. The fire from the batteries and muskets of the fort had now grown hot, but there was no halt. The parapet was reached and scaled, shots were exchanged, breast to breast, over the crest, and the men of the 52d jumped down into the works. The garrison was now fully aroused, and at their posts. The long distance traversed had somewhat destroyed the impe- tus of the assault, and the assailants had become separated in the steep ascent to the fort. The assaulting party, now outnumbered (there were supposed to be about 400 men in the garrison), found itself without support, and a glance back revealed the appalling fact that through some mis- chance none of the 127th New York had landed. The struggle was hopeless, and retreat impossible. The entire party were, therefore, made prisoners of war, although the
fort was fairly in their grasp. It had proved a complete surprise, and its very boldness bewildered the enemy."
The casualties in the 52d were 7 killed and 16 wounded, Lieut. S. A. Bunyan, of Co. E, acting adjutant, and Lieut. George Scott, of Co. D, being of the former number. Of the men captured, more than 50 died amid the horrors of Andersonville and Columbia; the officers-Col. Hoyt, Lieut .- Col. Conyugham, Capt. Camp, and Lieuts. Stevens and Evans-being confined at Macon, and afterwards at Charles- ton, and placed under the fire of the batteries of Morris island.
The regiment remained on Morris island during the summer and antumn of 1864, the men becoming very ex- pert in handling the heavy guns which all the works mounted, sending one hundred and two hundred pound shells into the city, through rifled Parrots, a distance of ten thousand yards in some instances.
During the winter the regiment performed picket-duty on the harbor as boat infantry,-a very difficult and ardnous duty, involving great hardships and exposure. On Feb. 18, 1865, Maj. Hennessey, in command, conceived there was less vigilance manifest on the ruins of Sumter than usual, and taking Lient. Burr, Co. B, and a picked boat-crew, and the old flag of the 52d, he pulled for the battered and ruined walls. No challenge came from its crumbled parapet as he cautiously scaled the still formidable remains ; and with a shout of triumph, the first that had re-echoed in the old fortress for four weary, bloody years, the banner of the free floated again from the battlements. Though tons of metal had been hurled against the sides of the stronghold, and its walls were a shapeless ruin, yet was it still a safe and impregnable refuge for its garrison, who, sheltered in its bomb-proofs, defied the hurtling hail of our Parrots and Dahlgrens.
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