History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 50

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534

USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 50

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It was a critical moment. The enemy, exulting in his successes, was pushing on to break iu upon the column while impeded by its trains, and to erush it in its crippled condition by a single blow. Graham's piecas were admirably posted for its protection, and were already dealing their death-laden volleys upon the advancing foe ; but should his supports fail him, his guns would be lost, and our whole left flank ex- posed. Ferrero 'saw the necessity of holding these guns at all hazards and of keeping them in full play. Undaunted by the masses of the foe hurled against him, he elung to the ground, and poured in double- shotted canister and rapid rounds of mnsketry until the enemy's lines were broken aud driven in con- fusion. Again and again they returned to the contest with fresh troops and with renewed zeal; but no valor could withstand the shock of Ferrero's column, and the enemy finally retired, leaving our lines in- tact and our trains safe. Ferrero, with the Twenty-

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first Massachusetts, now moved off, and had become separated from the rest of his brigade. The command of the two remaining regiments devolved on Colonel Hartranft.

Retiring across Bull Run, the two regiments filed into the fields to the right of the pike, and bivouacked for the night. In the morning they moved on to Centreville, and rejoined the army. It was soon after discovered that the rebels were in motion to strike the Union column by a movement upon its right and cut off its retreat. Reno's corps was immediately put in motion, with the cavalry in advance, and was soon joined by Stevens and Kearny. Hartranft had the rear of the column, and was moving with two bat- teries, though under no orders to support them, when he suddenly found himself confronting the enemy. The two armies were moving on divergent roads, and the lines were here first struck. Seeing that these batteries were in peril, he instantly ordered them into a commanding position on the left of the road, and drove back the foe. It was nightfall, and a terrible thunder-storm prevailed; but Kearny and Stevens and Reno, three impetuous leaders, immediately form- ing, moved upon the foe, and fought in the darkness. They knew nothing of his strength and little of the ground, and contended to a great disadvantage ; but the enemy was beaten back, which was the principal point, though Kearny and Stevens both yielded up their lives.

At his own request Pope was now relieved of the command of the Army of the Potomac, and MeClellan was restored. On the 3rd of September the Nintli Corps moved through Washington, and on the 11th reached New Market, on the Maryland campaign. The passage of the Monocacy was not disputed. On | pet above, this parapet to some extent flanking the the 12th the command entered Frederick, and had a brisk skirmish with the Cavalry, which was covering the withdrawal of the rebel army, now concentrating in the passes of the South Mountain, which it was determined to hold. Before reaching the mountain Ferrero's brigade moved by a country road leading up to the summit on the left of the Sharpsburg pike. Upon encountering the enemy's lines the Seventeenth Michigan, a new regiment, full of enthusiasm, but little schooled in those cardinal virtues of the soldier imparted by veteran discipline, made a most gallant charge diagonally across the road from left to right, in the face of murderous fire, which swept the ranks at every step, and soon disappeared in the woods beyond. General Reno coming up soon after, and supposing that his regiment had established a line in the woods and was holding the ground it had so gal- lantly won, ordered Colonel Hartranft to lead his reg- iment across the open field in the rear of the supposed line, and close up to the edge of the woods. While the regiment was thus moving, and was stretched out upon the march unsuspicious of danger, the enemy suddenly opened upon it from the wood a most with- ering fire. The Seventeenth Michigan had advanced

and driven the enemy, but had neglected to hok its advantage, and the rebels returning, had awaited until the Fifty-first was upon their bayonet ends, when they deliberately opened fire. The column was instantly drawn under cover of the wall that flanks the road, and soon after was deployed to the left of the road, under a fence that stretches at right angles to it. Fire was immediately opened upon the enemy, which was kept up until the ammunition was spent, wlien it was relieved by the Fifty-first New York, Colonel Potter, lying in close supporting distance. Returning again to the contest, fire was continued until the enemy, finding himself liard pressed on all sides and his position rendered insecure, fled under cover of darkness, and in the morning the col- umns advanced without opposition. General Reno was killed early in the contest.

The battle of Antietam opened on the afternoon of the 16th of September, General Hooker crossing Antietam Creek and attacking the enemy's left with great impetuosity and the most triumphant success, and was followed up on the morning of the 17th with even greater impetuosity by the commands of Mans- field and Sumner. In the mean time the left and cen- tre of the Union line, stretching away towards the Potomac on the left bank of the creek, remained quiet spectators of the desperate encounter on the right. At nine o'clock on the morning of the 17th, when the struggle upon the right had been four hours in prog- ress, General Cox, in command of the Ninth Army Corps since the fall of Reno, was ordered to advance and carry the stone bridge on the extreme left of the line, firmly held by the enemy. "The bridge itself is a stone structure of three arches, with stone para- approach to the bridge at either end. The valley in which the stream runs is quite narrow, the steep slope on the right bank approaching to the water's edge. In this slope the road-way is scarped, running both ways from the bridge and passing to the higher land above by ascending through ravines above and below, the upper ravine being some six hundred yards above the bridge, the town about half that distance below. On the hill-side immediately above the bridge was a strong stone fence running parallel to the stream; the turns of the road-way were covered by rifle-pits and breast works made of rails and stone, all of which defenses, as well as the woods which covered the slope, were filled with the enemy's infantry and sharp- shooters. Besides the infantry defenses, batteries were placed to enfilade the bridge and all its approaches."1 Against this position, strong by nature, rendered doubly strong by art, the Eleventh Connecticut and Crook's brigade, supported by Sturgis' division, were ordered to the assault. As this force advanced up the open valley by the road

I General Cox's Official Report, Moore's " Rebellion Record," Docs. vol. v. p. 454-455

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which leads along the river-bank to the bridge, it was exposed to so warm a fire from the opposite heights, alive with the enemy, that it was forced to halt and reply. Sturgis' troops reached the head of the bridge, and the Second Maryland and the Sixth New Hamp- shire charged at double-quick with fixed bayonets ; but the concentrated fire of the enemy npon it forced them to fall back. After repeated efforts these regi- ments were withdrawn. Burnside, nettled at the fail- ure of this attempt and the consequent delay of his columns, and knowing full well in whom he could trust, ordered forward the Fifty-first. General Ferrero dashing up to the regiment, said, "General Burnside orders the Fifty-first Pennsylvania to storm the bridge." Hartranft, avoiding the road by the river bank, led his men in rear of the heights overlooking the river until he arrived opposite the bridge, when he moved boldly down the slope for the crossing. The instant his men came into the open ground in the valley they received a withering fire from the enemy's well-posted infantry, and many fell. A fenee skirt- ing the road proved a serious impediment, and in crossing it the men were particularly exposed. Here fell Captains Bolton and Hart, severely wounded, a serious loss at this juncture. Unheeding the enemy's bullets or the obstruction, by the way, the column moved forward with a determined front, and made

A regiment was quickly advanced, and took posi- tion on the heights commanding the bridge and its approaches, driving out the enemy and rendering the crossing for infantry secure. The whole corps now advanced rapidly, took position on the heights above the bridge, and immediately advanced to the attack. The Fifty-first was posted on the second range of hills overlooking the creek, some distance below the bridge. Here it was soon hotly engaged with the enemy under cover of a stone wall and in a cornfield on its left. Its ammunition was soon exhausted, and a fresh supply failing to arrive as ordered, the men held their position with the bayonet until relief came. But all this struggle and costly sacrifice was vain. The enemy, relieved by the slaekening of the battle on the left and the arrival of a fresh corps from Harper's Ferry, was enabled to concentrate an over- whelming force upon this single corps, and it was forced to yield. The loss of the regiment was one hun- dred and twenty-five. Among the killed was Lieu- tenant-Colonel Bell,1 a most vigilant officer and most

estimable man, and Lientenants Beaver and Funsicker. Of the wounded were Captains Bolton and Hart, Adjutant Shorkly, Quartermaster Freedly and Lien- tenant Lynch. Upon the fall of Lieutenant-Colonel Bell, Major Schall was promoted to fill the vacancy, and Captain William J. Bolten, of Company A, was promoted to major.

Moving leisurely from the field of Antietam, the army crossed and again proceeded to the Rappahan- nock. General Burnside, now in chief command, de- termined to cross the river at Fredericksburg, and seek the foe beyond. Much delay was experienced in bringing up the pontoons, and when they were at length at hand, the enemy had concentrated in his immediate front, and stood ready to dispute the pas- sage and eontest the ground on the impregnable heights beyond. General Wilcox was now in com- mand of the Ninth Corps, and on the afternoon of the 13th of December, the day on which the troops under Franklin had attacked on the left, it crossed the river upon the pontoons in front of the town, and advanced by the road leading to the left towards the heights. At a point intermediate between the heights and the town, the brigade, consisting of five regi- ments, under command of General Ferrero, was de- ployed to right and left under partial cover. Upon emerging from the town the troops were at once met straight for the bridge. As they entered, a storm of by the enemy's fire. A steady fire was returned but missiles swept it, but no danger could stay that tide of living valor. Ilartranft, who led the way, paused in the midst, and was hastening on the rear of his col- umn when he was joined by Colonel Potter, with the gallant Fifty-first New York. With a shout that rang out above the noise of the battle the two columns rushed forward, and were soon firmly established on the thither bank. The bridge was carried !

with little effect, his lines lying close and securely be- hind his entrenehments. A lime-kiln marks the position where the brigade was deployed, whence it advanced gallantly, in face of a murderous fire, to a position on the left of the line occupied by the Second Corps. On the evening of the 14th, Sunday, one regiment, the Eleventh New Hampshire, was ordered forward on pieket, and was hardly in posi- tion when Colonel Hartranft received orders to pro- ceed with the remaining four regiments and relieve a division upon the skirmish line. On passing the neighborhood of a hospital some entrenching tools were discovered scattered abont, and the men were ordered to take them forward. Arriving upon the

halted. When the regiment was re-formed I moved it from the bed of the road towards the creek, and rested while several other regiments passed up the road. Colonel Bell bere came up to me, saying that more troops should be sent over. I replied, ' Well, go and see about it.' He weut, but no farther than the bridge, and soon I saw him coming back on the bed of the road (which was now clear of troops), a few feet from the edge of the road nearest the water. When ahout thirty yards from the bridge I saw him struck on the left temple, as I at that time thought and now believe, by a canister shot. He fell backward and rolled off the road to within six feet of the water. He spoke freely, saying 'Never say die, boys ;' 'Stand by the colors ;' ' Take care of my sword.' He was immediately taken back to the Barn Hospital and examined by some surgeon (our own surgeons being at another hospital), who pronounced his wound not dangerons. Bleeding soon stopped. I directed Sergeant- Major Stoneroad to remain with him and take charge of bis effects. I was under orders at this time to move forward, and could not leave the regiment. In little less than an hour after I received permission to go back to the hospital to see the colonel. I saw him (sergeant-major with him), but he did not recognize me. In an hour after he passed off calmly."-Letter of General Hartranft.

1 "After, crossing the bridge I took the regiment to the right and

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line they were directed to throw up a breast-work for their protection. This they at first refused to do, dig- ging not having at this time become fashionable. The command was renewed and the men fell to work, and when they began to see the fruits of their labor they prosecuted it with a will, and by morning of Monday had a good line of works formed. This was the first experience of digging by the Fifty- first. Here the line was under a fierce infantry and artillery fire, and the men were obliged to hug closely their cover. But the enemy manifested no disposition to attack, and after remaining in position until the morning of Tuesday the brigade was with- drawn, and recrossed the river upon the pontoons, which were soon after taken up. The advantages in this engagement were all on the side of the enemy, the attacks in front of the town proving futile; but nevertheless the history of the war furnishes few instances where the mettle of the troops was more severely tested than in the blows aimed at the fast- nesses of those frowning heights. The loss was twelve killed and seventy-four wounded.

On the 25th of March, 1863, the regiment was ordered to Fortress Monroe, where it joined the bri- gade, now consisting of the Fifty-first Pennsylvania, Fifty-first New York, Twenty-first Massachusetts and the Eleventh New Hampshire, and thence pro- ceeded, with two divisions of the Ninth Corps, to Kentucky. At Cincinnati General Burnside met the troops, welcoming them to his new department and encouraging them to deeds of patriotic devotion. The regiment moved by rail to Paris, and was posted successively at Winchester, Lancaster, Crab Orchard and Stanford, principally engaged in holding the in- terior of the State against the invasions of the raiders Wheeler, Morgan and Pegram.

From Kentucky the corps, under the command of General Parke, was ordered to the support of Grant at Vicksburg. The Fifty-first broke camp on the 4th of June, and arrived in the rear of the great strong- hold of the Mississippi on the 14th. Its camp was established in Mill Dale, where little of interest oc- curred until the 23d, when it was detailed to dig rifle- pits and cut away the woods for the protection of the rear against a rebel army under Johnston, now as- suming a threatening attitude. Working-parties were relieved every two hours, and the duty was diligently prosecuted until miles of pits and field-works were constructed and whole forests slashed away. On the morning of the 29th the division was ordered to Oak Bridge, where it relieved a portion of McPherson's corps, and was again employed in fortifying. At ten o'clock on the morning of the 4th of July came in- telligence of the fall of Vicksburg, and with it twenty one bags of mail matter for the division, of not less interest, for the moment, than the sur- render.

The regiment accompanied Sherman in his cam- paign to Jackson, and on the 11th arrived upon the

enemy's front. It was immediately placed in posi- tion on the left of the line in support of the Second Michigan, Colonel Humphrey. At eight o'clock on the morning of the 12th a heavy cannonade was opened on both sides, which was kept up during the entire day, the regiment suffering considerable loss, During the night the men were busy digging rifle- pits, at many points within a few yards of the rebel sentries. On the morning of the 14th, after three days and two nights of constant skirmishing and fatigue duty, the regiment was relieved and with- drawn to the rear of the Insane Asylum. On the 15th detachments from several regiments, embracing two companies, F and H, of the Fifty-first, all under command of Major Wright, of the Fifty-first New York, were sent to reconnoitre the left as far as the Pearl River, and ascertain if a crossing could be effected. By accident the command struck the river opposite to the point where the enemy's trains and reserved artillery were parked. The appearance of our troops in this quarter was reported to Johnston, who, supposing it to be a demonstration in force, and fearing for the safety of his army, at once commenced a retreat.1 The city was occupied on the 18th, the regiment stacking arms in front of the State-House. Remaining two or three days to complete the work of destruction, Sherman marched back to Vicksburg.

The Ninth Corps now returned to Burnside's com- mand, and went into camp in Kentucky, the Fifty- first leaving the railroad at Nicholasville, and taking post at Camp Nelson. Here it rested and refitted. The service in Mississippi had been very severe. Dig- ging, felling forests and making forced marches un- der the burning suns of the south had broken down the health of many a strong man, and had induced fevers peculiar to that region. Colonel Hartranft fell a victim to their influence, and was for a long time prostrated. From Camp Nelson the regiment moved to Crab Orchard, where it received recruits, and thence marched across the mountains, via Cumberland Gap, to Knoxville.

Soon after its arrival it was ordered down the valley to Loudon, where preparations had been made for go- ing into winter-quarters; but scarcely had it arrived when it was ordered back to Lenoir, where it re- mained several days. Here Colonel Hartranft, who had so far recovered as to take the field, rejoined the regiment, and immediately assumed command of the Second Division of the Ninth Corps. His arrival was opportune. Longstreet, cutting loose from Bragg at Chattanooga, was threatening Burnside with a force

1 " All night Sherman heard the sound of wagons, hut nothing that indicated evacuation, for the picks and shovels were at work till mid- night; but at the dawn of day it became evident that the enemy had withdrawn across the Pearl River. The rebele had burned all the bridges in retreating and placed loaded shells and torpedoes on the roads leading out from the river. All the materials of war had been removed, in advance of the retreat, hy means of the railroad running east." -- " Military History of U. S. Grant," Badeau, rol. i. p. 396.

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thrice his number, and had already arrived in the neighborhood of Loudon. Perceiving his advantage, the rebel chief pushed across the Tennessee, and put bis columns in motion for Campbell's Station, a point where several important roads centre, with the design of reaching it in advance of Burnside's forces, and thus cutting off and capturing his whole command. In this he had the advantage of the shortest and most direct road. Burnside discovered his danger just in time to avert it. The Fifty-first was charged with moving Benjamin's heavy battery. The mud was very deep, and the roads, badly cut up by the trains, were next to impassable. All night long the regiment toiled through the mire to bring up the guns. The station was reached in advance of the enemy, and im- mediately proceeding out upon the Kingston road, Colonel Hartranft deployed his division across it, with his left thrown forward to cover the London road, along which our army and trains were moving. Before these dispositions had fairly been made the head of the rebel column appeared. Held back for awhile by a few mounted infantry, Longstreet soon brought up heavy columns and opened a furious at- tack. This was met by a destructive and continuous fire from Hartranft's lines, which caused the enemy to recoil in confusion. Steadfastly holding his ground until the remainder of the army and all the trains had safely passed the threatened point, Hartranft with- drew his troops, regiment by regiment, and took position on the left of the new line of battle, which had been formed on a low row range of hills beyond the station. In the mean time Benjamin's battery, which had been brought safely in, took position and did most effective service, engaging and driving the enemy's artillery wherever it made its ap- pearance. So much were the Union forces out- numbered, that the contest was waged with no hope of victory, but only to save the army and its material. Accordingly, successive lines of battle were taken up in advantageous positions, and each was held until forced from it, when the troops retired behind fresh troops that had occupied the next. In this way the enemy was held at bay until dark, when he rested, and Burnside's columns, under cover of darkness, were all brought off safely iuto Knoxville.

danger more imperious and fatal than rebel bullets. It was hunger. During all the hardships of the siege the men had been compelled to subsist on meagre ra- tions of a quality hardly capable of sustaining life. The days were couuted when even these would fail. Fortunately, before they were numbered, Grant, hav- ing relieved the army at Chattanooga from its toils, sent a powerful force under Sherman to the support of Burnside, and the siege was raised.

Trains soon after arrived with provisions, and pur- suit of the enemy was at once commenced. In this the Fifty-first joined, and came up with the rebel rear- guard at Rutledge, in the valley of the Holsten, where skirmishing ensued. Here the pursuit was stayed, and the regiment retired to the neighborhood of Blaine's Cross-Roads, where it went into winter- quarters. Still only meagre supplies of food and clothing were received, and the troops suffered much. On the 5th of January the regiment re-enlisted for an additional term of three years, and received orders to commence the homeward march. Poorly clad and short of rations, the men braved the perils of a win- try march across the mountains of East Tennessee, and after enduring untold snfferings and hardships by the way, finally arrived at Camp Nelson, where abundant supplies of food and clothing were received. Pausing a few days at Cincinnati for the preparation of the company rolls, the regiment proceeded to Har- risburg, where it received a veteran furlough. Upou his arrival at Norristown, Colonel Hartranft and the five companies from Montgomery County received a flattering ovation, in which the speaker upon the oc- casion, Mr. B. E. Chain, said : "It is to you, colonel, that the regiment owes the character it bears. Your discipline in the camp, your foresight on the march, your coolness, bravery and judgment on the battle- field, have won the confidence and love of your men, and made them heroes in the fight. They knew that you never ordered where you did not lead."

So popular was the regiment at home that it was soon recruited to more than the maximum strength, and upon the expiration of the veteran furlough ren- dezvoused at Annapolis, Md., where the Ninth Corps was assembling. It was here assigned to the First Brigade of the First Division, consisting of the Fifty-first Pennsylvania, the One Hundred and Ninth New York and the Second, Eighth, Seventeenth and Twenty-seventh Michigan, Colonel Hartranit in command, Lieutenant-Colonel Schall leading the regi- ment.

Here the troops were immediately put to fortifying. Ferrero, with the First Division, held the left of the line, with the river upon his flank, and Fort Sanders, an earth-work mounted with Benjamin's guns, in the centre. Hartranft held the right, bis line crossing the principal road leading from Cumberland Gap to Upon the opening of the spring campaign under Grant the Ninth Corps broke camp, and moving through Washington, where it was reviewed by the President, joined the army, and on the 5th of May crossed the Rapidan. It immediately moved to the front and took position between Hancock and War- ren. Hartranft's brigade was upon the centre of the line, and it was with considerable difficulty that it Knoxville. Upon his right was a mill fed by a small stream. Across this a heavy dam was built, which flooded the ground for a considerable distance around. Upon this lake the right of the line rested securely. For many days the work of fortifying was prosecuted without cessation. Fortunately, Longstreet delayed his attack until the works were completed and the army was secure. But the troops were exposed to a | could be got into position. Captain Hart, who was

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 50

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534