USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 60
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202 | Part 203 | Part 204 | Part 205 | Part 206 | Part 207 | Part 208 | Part 209 | Part 210 | Part 211 | Part 212 | Part 213 | Part 214 | Part 215 | Part 216 | Part 217 | Part 218 | Part 219 | Part 220 | Part 221 | Part 222 | Part 223 | Part 224 | Part 225 | Part 226 | Part 227 | Part 228 | Part 229 | Part 230 | Part 231 | Part 232 | Part 233 | Part 234 | Part 235 | Part 236 | Part 237 | Part 238 | Part 239 | Part 240 | Part 241 | Part 242 | Part 243 | Part 244 | Part 245 | Part 246 | Part 247 | Part 248 | Part 249 | Part 250 | Part 251 | Part 252 | Part 253 | Part 254 | Part 255 | Part 256 | Part 257 | Part 258 | Part 259 | Part 260 | Part 261 | Part 262 | Part 263 | Part 264 | Part 265 | Part 266 | Part 267 | Part 268 | Part 269 | Part 270 | Part 271 | Part 272 | Part 273
Aaron Weikel, Ist sergt., must. in Ang. 11, 1862 ; pro. from sergt. Dec. 6, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
Jacob Rapp, sergt., must. in Aug. 11, 1862; must. out with company May 18, 1863. .
Henry Longstreth, sergt., must. in .Aug. 11, 1862 ; must. out with com- pany May Is, 1863
Joseph Culp, sergt., must. in Aug. 11, 1862; pro. from corp. Jan. 1, 1863; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
William Heebner, sergt., must. in Aug. 11, 1862; pro. from corp. Jan. 1, 1863 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
Richard Moore, corp., must. in Ang. 11, 1862 ; pro. to corp. Jan. 9, 1863 ; must. vut with company May 18, 1863.
Bethel M. Yerkes, corp., must. iu .Aug. 11, 1862 ; must. ont with company May 18, 1863.
Edward F. Houser, corp., must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; must. out with com- pany May 18, 1863.
William K. Faust, corp., must. in Aug. 11, 1862; must. out with com- pauy May 18, 1863.
William Harley, corp., must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out with company May 18, 1863.
Eher H. Beaumont, corp., must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; pro. to corp. Jan. ? , 1863 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
John 11. llartzell, corp., must. in Aug. 11, 1862; pro. to corp. Jan. 9, 1863 ; must, out with company May 18, 1863.
Michael S. Kelly, corp., must, in Ang. 11, 1802; died at Falmouth, Va., Feb. 19, 1863.
Enos Poley, musician, must. in Aug. 11, 1862; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
Privates.
William Alderfer, must. in Aug. 11, 1862; must. out with company May 15, 1803.
Dillman Bean, must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; must. ont with company May 18, 1863.
Cadwallader HI. Brooke, must. in Aug. 13, 1862 ; must. out with company Olay 18, 183.
William T. Clemmens, must. in Aug. 11, 1862; must. ont with company May 18, 1863.
George W. Colehower, must. in Ang. 11, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
Edward B. Conrad, must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
John T. Cox, must. iu Ang. 11, 1862 ; nuist, out with company May 18, 1863.
Jacob Curry, must. in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863 ; absent, in hospital, at muster out.
Joseph H. Cole, umst. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; disch. on surg. certif. Jan. 14, 1863.
Nathan Davis, must. in Aug. 11, 1862; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
John Dechert, must. in Aug. 11, 1862; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
Benjamin F. Detra, must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
244
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
William Dorworth, must. in Ang. 11, 1862; must. ont with company May 1x, 1863.
William Doubman, must. in Ang. 13, Is62 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
William Dunmore, must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; must. ont with company May 18, 1×03.
Andrew Dunn, minst. in Aug. 13, 1862; must, out with company May 18, 1863.
James K. Espenship, must. in Ang. 11, 1862; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
Henry D. Espeuship, must. in Aug. 11, 1862; must. out with company May 18, 1×63.
David Y. Eisenberry, must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
Jonathan (. Evans, must. in Ang. 13, 1862 ; must. unt with company May 18, 1863.
James W. Essig, must. in Ang. 11, 1862; died near Falmouth, Va., Dec. 29, 1862.
Henry II. Fretz, must. in Ang. 11, 1862 ; must. ont with company May 18, 1863.
Samuel C. Foust, must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; must. ont with company May. 18, 1863.
William Finger, must. in Ang. 11, 1862; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
Daniel W. Fisher, must. in Ang. 11, 1862; minst. out with company May 18, 1863.
Sylvester G. Fretz, minst. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
Benjamin Fudge, must. in Aug. 11, 1862; died near Falmouth, Va., April 18, 1862.
Albert L. Gehman, must. in Ang. 11, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
Levi Gotchall, must. in Aug. 13, 1862 ; must, out with company May 18, 1863.
James Grasy, Jr., must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
William H. Gristock, must. in Ang. 11, 1862 ; most. out with company May 18, 1863.
Christian Groff, must, in Ang. 11, 1862 ; most out with company May 18, 1863.
Jesse K. Gordon, most. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; died at Snicker's Gap, Va , Nov. 5,1862.
George Harpst, must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862 ; must. ont with company May 18, 1863.
Ephraim Harner, must. in Ang. 11, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
Joseph A. Henry, must. in Ang. 11, 1862 ; must, ont with company May 18, 1863.
Andrew Hiser, must. in Ang. 11, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
William Iloffner, must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; must ont wiih company May 18, 1863.
John B. Horn, must. in Ang. 11, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 18G3.
Morris Hunsicker, must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862 ; must. ont with company May 18, 1863.
Jobn Q. Hunsicker, must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; must. ont with company May 18, 1863.
Jesse Jarrett, must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; must, out with company May 18, 1863.
John Jarrett, must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; minst. out with company May 18, 1×63.
Henry Kooker, must. in Aug. 11, 1862; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
Joseph D. Keyser, must. in Ang. 11, 1862; died at Washington, D. C., Jan. 8, 1863.
Abraham Landis, must. in Ang. 13, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
Emanuel Longaker, must. in Ang. 11, 1862; must. ont with company May 18, 1863.
Jos. L. Mancill, must. in Ang. 11, 1862 ; absent, in hospital, at muster ont. Isaac T. Miller, must. in Ang. 11, 1862 ; must, out with company May 18, 1863.
Abraham R. Moyer, must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
Aseph S. Morris, must, in Aug. 11, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
Edwin L. Nieman, must. in Ang. 11, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
Canning F. Peixoto, must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
John A. Prizer, must. in Ang. 11, 1862 ; must. ont with company May 18, 1863.
John Place, must. in Aug. 11, 1862; must. ont with company May 18, 1863.
John Quay, must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
John S. Rabn, must. in Ang. 11, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1803.
Hezekiah B. Rahn, mnst. in Ang. 11, 1862 ; muist. out with company May 18, 1863.
Andrew S. Rahu, must, in Aug. 11, 1862; must. ont with company May 18, 1863.
John S. Rapp, must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; must. ont with company May 18, 1863.
Thomas J. Rapp, must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; must. but with company May 1x, 1863.
Aaron M Richards, must. in Aug. 11, 1862; must. ont with company May 18, 1×63.
William Sheaf, must. in Ang. 11. 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
John Smith, munst. in Ang. 11, 1862 ; must. ont with company May 18, 1863.
Thomas M. Snyder, must. in Ang. 11, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
John Stern, must, in Ang. 11, 1862; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
Benjamin Swartly, wuust. in Ang. 11, 1862 : must. out with company May 18, 1803.
Robert II. Tyson, must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
Charles C. Watts, must. in Ang. 11, 1862 ; mnet. out with company May 18, 1863.
Joseph D. Watson, must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; must. ont with company May 18, 1863.
Isaac T. Weer, must. in Aug. 11, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
Jacob R. Weikel, must. in Ang. 11, 1862; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Der. 13, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
William W. Wisler, must. in Ang. 11, 1862 ; must. ont with company May 18, 1813.
John W. Worrell, must. in Ang. 11, 1862 ; must. out with company May 18, 1863.
Edward B. Watts, must. in Aug. 13, 1862; disch, on surg. certif. Oct. 30, 1862.
Abraham Zollors, must, in Ang. 11, 1862 ; must. ont with company May 18, 1863.
One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers.1-Recruiting was com- menced for the companies which ultimately composed this regiment under the call for nine months' ser- vice, but before it was completed an order was issued forbidding the acceptance of more men for a less period than three years, and the terms of enlistment were accordingly changed to three years. Companies A, C, I and K were recruited in Montgomery County ; B and G in Adams; D, E and F in Bedford, and Company H in Bucks. The companies rendezvoused at Camp Curtin, the first company arriving on the 16th of August, 1862, and by the 26th their organiza- tions were completed, and they were mustered into the United States service. Charles L. K. Sumwalt, of Adams County, was appointed colonel, and under his command, on the 30th, it moved to Baltimore.
1 The farts embraced in this narrative are principally drawn from a neat volume of one hundred and thirty-eight pages, prepared by Osceola Lewis, and printed by Wills, Iredell & Jenkins, of Norristown, Pa.
245
THE GREAT REBELLION.
It reported to General Wool, in command of the Middle Department, and was by him ordered to duty at the Relay House, the Washington Junction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Shortly after his arri- val Captain M. R. MeClennan, of Company A, was appointed lieutenant-colonel, and Captain Lewis A. May, of Company F, major. It was employed in guarding the railroad, to prevent mischief by secession sympathizers, and to prevent any interruption of com- munication with the capital. For this purpose Com- pany A was stationed at Jessop's C'ut, Cat Dorsey's Switch, E at Hanover Switch, D at Elk Ridge Land- ing, G at Fort Dix, a small earth-work mounting six guns, commanding the Washington Viaduct, a hand- some stone structure spanning the Patapsco River B at Ellicott's Mills, a detachment of I at Elysville, and the remaining four companies-F, H, 1 and K -at headquarters, near the Relay House. This was the original disposition, and the relative strength remained the same, though the companies were periodically changed to give all an opportunity for regimental drill. During the time of the Maryland campaign, which culminated in the battle of Antie- tam, this road was the seene of great activity, and the force at this point was strengthened by the addition of the One Hundred and Eighteenth New York and Bat- tery B ofthe Fifth New York Light Artillery. After the campaign was ended the regiment was again left to perform the duty alone. Many deserters and strag- glers from the Union army, and aiders and abettors of the enemy, were arrested and committed. The winter and spring of 1862-63 passed with little to change the regular routine of duty. On the 2nd of May, Lieutenant-Colonel MClennan was promoted to colonel, in place of Colonel Sumwalt, whose con- nection with the service was severed on 30th of March preceding.
On the 16th of June the regiment was ordered to active duty and proceeded to Harper's Ferry, where it was assigned to Elliott's brigade, a part of the com- mand with which Milroy had in vain battled with the advancing columns of Lee's army, at Winchester, on their way to Pennsylvania. General French was in command at Harper's Ferry, with the brigades of Kenly, Morris and Elliott under him. The heights were strongly fortified, the trees in front were swept away, artillery was advantageously posted, strong picket lines were established and every precaution taken to give the foe a warm reception. But he wisely shunned this route, his bivouac fires and his long trains being visible in the distant valley as they passed and crossed the Potomac at Williamsport. Har- per's Ferry was evacuated on the Ist of July. All munitions aud stores that could not be removed were destroyed and the remainder was loaded on canal- boats and sent to Washington. Elliott's brigade was charged with guarding it and taking it through, the rest of French's division moving to Frederick. From Washington the brigade proceeded by rail, on
the 7th, to Frederick, and rejoined the division, and on the following day joined the army in its pursuit of Lee, now fresh from the field of Gettysburg. General French assumed command of the Third Corps, in place of Sickles, who had fallen in the desperate fight- ing of the 2d, and General Elliott succeeded the former in command of the division, now attached to that corps. On the 16th the corps crossed the river at Harper's Ferry, and on the 23d encountered the en- emy in a strong position at Wapping Heights, his infantry, screened by stone walls, making a deter- mined resistance. He was finally dislodged by a gallant charge of the Excelsior Brigade, and was driven into the valley beyond. Elliott's brigade did not become engaged, though held under fire a consid- erable portion of the time during the engagement. At Warrenton the corps halted and remained until the Ist of August, when it moved out to the Rappa- hannock, the regiment being posted at Fox's Ford, charged with ont-post duty. On the I5th of Septem- ber the corps moved on to Warrenton, where it remained in comparative quiet, with the rest of the army, for nearly six weeks. In the mean time two corps, the Eleventh and Twelfth, had been detached from the Army of the Potomac and sent to the support of Rosecrans. cooped up in a precarious position at Chattanooga. Feeling that he could now with safety assume the offensive, Lee commenced a sudden flank movement by the right, and Meade, to save himself, retreated to Centreville. In this movement the regi- ment was divided, a portion being assigned as guard to the ammunition train and the remainder to the eorps ambulances. At Centreville the movement of the two armies was reversed without coming into conflict, and Lee retreated and Meade pursued. On the 23d of October the regiment was relieved from guard duty with the trains and rejoined its brigade. After crossing the Rappahanoek, and when within two and a half miles of Brandy Station, the enemy's rear guard was encountered. Elliott's division had that day the advance, and the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Pennsylvania and the One Hundred and Tenth Ohio were immediately deployed, the former to the left and the latter to the right of the railroad, and with Berdan's sharpshooters and Com- pany A of the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth thrown forward as skirmishers, advanced with support- ing regiments to the attack. The fire of the enemy's artillery was severe. Early in the engagement a shell struck and exploded in the ranks near the centre of the regiment, mortally wounding Captain Lazarus C. Andress and carrying away the left arm of Sergeant Abraham G. Rapp. The missile burst as it struck the former, fearfully mangling his hip and thigh and shivering his sword. The hill was carried and the enemy barely escaped with his artillery. The loss was seven wounded.
At Brandy Station the army halted, and remained until the 23rd of November, when it set forward on
246
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
the Mine Run campaign. The Third Corps erossed the Rapidan at Jacob's Ford, and on the 27th came up with the enemy at Locust Grove. The Second Division was first engaged, and being hard pressed, the Third, now commanded by General Carr, was sent to its support and formed on its left, the One Hun- dred and Thirty-eighth being on the extreme left of the line. The fighting soon opened on its front, at close range, and buek and ball were hurled with tell- ing effeet against the advancing enemy. Colonel McClennan, while moving along the line enconraging his men and directing the fight, was stricken down and carried from the field. Captain Fisher had an arm shattered and Adjutant Cross was disabled. At dark, after having gallantly held the ground, and repulsed repeated charges, inflieting great slaughter, it was relieved by fresh troops, and rested for the night on the field. The loss in the engagement was seven killed, forty-five wounded and three missing. During the night the enemy withdrew to his fortified position behind Mine Run. After advancing to and reconnoitring his ground, it was decided to abandon the campaign, and the army returned to camp near Brandy Station, where the regiment was soon settled in comfortable winter-quarters.
Colonel McClennan, having measurably recovered from his wounds, returned to duty on the 13th of March, 1864, and was received in camp with demon- strations of warm regard. The smooth-bore muskets with which the regiment was armed were soon after- wards exchanged for Springfield rifled muskets. In the reorganization of the corps, preparatory to the opening of the spring campaign, the Third Division of the Third Corps became the Third Division of the Sixth, General Ricketts in command. The army moved on the 3rd of May, and on the 5th, soon after erossing the Rapidan, it was attacked in the tangled thickets of the Wilderness. It was near midday before Rickett's division was put in motion. To- wards evening, after having marched and counter- marched, the brigade, to the command of which Gen- eral Truman Seymour had that morning been assigned, was detached and hurriedly led to a position on the extreme right of the corps, passing on its way the scene of a most sanguinary struggle, where the dead of both armies were thickly strewn on the wild wooded battle-field. At dark it was formed in two lines, the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth on the second line. It was thought that only a picket guard of the ene- my's extreme left was in front, and in swinging around to envelop it the command was suddenly brought under a severe front and flank fire from strong columns. For two hours, with the most stub- born fighting, the ground was held, when on both sides the fighting gradually died away, and the lines rested on the field where they had fought. The cas- nalties in the regiment wereslight, Sergeant Bieseeker, and John H. Ashenfelter, of the color guard, being killed. All night long the moans and the cries of the
dying filled the air, and the ominous sound of the enemy chopping and fortifying in front and far out on the right flank was distinctly heard. General Seymour was apprised of these threatening indica- tions, but the order of the previous evening to renew the assault in the morning was not modified, and at nine o'clock the brigade moved to the desperate work, and now the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth on the front line. The men were charged not to fire a shot until they had reached the enemy's works. Apprised by the clanking of arms of their approach, he was ready to receive them. The pattering fire of his skirmishers deepened into showers as they went, and finally a perfect storm of deadly missiles greeted them; but without wavering, the lines moved on until within fifty yards of his breast-works, where the flashes of his guns were plainly visible through the tan- gled wood. And now, when the moment for a final dash had come, impatient soldiers began to stop and to fire. Felled trees and tangled branches made it more and more difficult to advance. The momentum of the charge was lost, and the men, taking shelter behind trees, and lying prostrate upon the ground for an hour in the face of a most destructive fire of infantry and artillery hurling grape and canister, held their ground. Seeing that there was no hope of suc- cess, the brigade was finally ordered baek to the posi- tion of the morning, unavoidably leaving many of the dead and wounded on the field. Late in the evening, while the men were preparing their coffee behind their hastily constructed breast-works, Shaler's bri- gade, which had been posted upon the right of Seymour, was suddenly attacked in flank and rear by a powerful body of the enemy under Gordon. Sweeping down upon the unsuspecting troops, as did Jackson upon the Eleventh Corps at Chaneellorsville, Gordon scattered and drove all opposed to him. He was finally checked by reinforcements from other parts of the line, and the lost ground regained. General Shaler and Seymour, with numbers of their troops, were taken prisoners. Weakened by two fatal and unsuccessful charges, the brigade was in no condition or heart to resist, and the general who had refused to listen to the representations of danger in the early morning added another to the misfortunes which had attended his career at Charles City Cross- Roads, Fort Wagner and Olustee. The regiment lost in these engagements twenty-seven killed, ninety- four wounded and thirty-five missing, of whom twenty-six were known to be prisoners. Lieutenant John H. Fisher was killed, and Lieutenants H. C. Grossman and John E. Essick were wounded, the latter mortally.
On the 7th the contending parties acted on the defensive, operations being confined to skirmishing. On the night of the 8th the first of Grant's move- ments by the left flank began. In the fierce fighting which occurred about Spottsylvania, and in the subse- quent movements during the month of May, the regi-
247
THE GREAT REBELLION.
ment shared, and was frequently under fire, losing five wounded on the 12th, three wounded on the 13th 1 one killed on the 18th, one wounded on the 19th, two wounded on the 20th, and one wounded on the 31st, but did not become involved in the more desperate fighting.
On the 1st of June the troops from Butler's army of the James were met in the vicinity of Cold Harbor, and orders were given to prepare for an engagement. "A hasty disposition of these commands was made," says Lieutenant Lewis, in his narrative of this regi- ment, "skirmishers were advanced, the enemy's posi- tion partially developed, a plan of assault selected, and at five o'clock the attack was commenced. The Third Division, on the right of the eorps, adjoining General Smith's left, moved forward in four lines of battle, and with great promptness.
"The front line of the Second Brigade consisted of the Sixth Maryland and the One Hundred and Thirty- eighth Pennsylvania, and these two regiments were the first to encounter a galling fire from the enemy's sharp-shooters and a difficult swamp which had to be crossed. These obstacles overcome, the rebel main line, situated on a ridge thickly wooded with pine, was found defended by strong numbers. The Sixth and the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth were the first troops to elamber over the works and break the rebel front, which was only accomplished by a solid rush and hard fighting. The confusion and flight of the enemy resulting from this breach in his line was quickly followed up, and in a short time the two above specified regiments had captured more prisoners than their own numbers. On other portions of the line our troops had not carried the works, and we, in our zeal to drive the enemy, soon distanced all supporting columns to the jeopardy of our own safety. At one period the men of our regiment drove the gunners from a battery; but when within a few yards of its position, and about to seize it, our scattered and weak- ened numbers became apparent to the enemy, who rallied heavily against us, returned to his guns, and checked our further advance by a raking charge of canister. We were hard-pressed, but the captured ground was maintained. The entire Third Division joined in the work with alaerity at the first onset, and to this command belongs the credit of being the only division of two corps to successfully accomplish the task assigned it in this battle." The conduct of the division drew from General Meade a congratulatory order, in these words: "Please give my thanks to Brigadier-General Ricketts and his gallant command for the very handsome manner in which they con- ducted themselves to-day. The success attained by them is of great importance, and if promptly followed up, will materially advance our operations." During the night the lines were reformed and the rebel works were reversed. On the 3d another assault was made, but without success, and the two armies fell to digging, which was continued until the 12th, when
the Union army was quietly withdrawn and moved off towards the James. The loss was seven killed, fifty-four wounded and seven missing. Lieutenant Charles P. MeLaughlin was among the killed.
After crossing the James, about the middle of the month, the Third Division moved up to Point of Roeks, and was assigned a position in the trenches at Bermuda Hundred, but subsequently rejoined the corps in front of Petersburg, and near the close of the month joined in the movement upon the Weklon Railroad, at Ream's Station, in which several miles of the road were destroyed.
On the 6th of July, Ricketts' division was ordered to City Point, and thence moved by transport to Bal- timore. Cars were in waiting, upon which it imme- diately proceeded to Monocacy, and there awaited the advance of the enemy under Early, who, with a powerful division of Lee's army, was advancing on Washington. Line of battle was hastily formed, the troops of General Wallace, who commanded the de- partment, occupying the right, which rested on a high fortified bluff overlooking the railroad and Monocacy Creek, and Ricketts' division, drawn up in two lines, the left, the whole in crescent shape, stretching across the railroad and the Washington turnpike. By ten on the morning of the 9th the skirmishing was brisk, and it soon became evident that the Union force was vastly outnumbered. To equal his front, Ricketts' division was stretched out in a single thin line, and against this the enemy came on in heavy force, re- joicing in his strength and confident of victory. The One Hundred and Thirty-eighth occupied a position on the unprotected left flank. To prevent this from being turned, which seemed to be the object of the enemy, the line was refused until it became impos- sible for him to execute his purpose without dividing his force. Foiled in this, he made a direct assault in three lines, As soon as he came within range a well- directed fire was opened, and rapid rounds were poured in with admirable effect. His first and second lines were broken, and the third advanced in their places; but still the division held its ground. At five P.M. the troops on the right gave way, and Ricketts was compelled to order a retreat to save himself from cap- ture. The enemy was well supplied with artillery, which was admirably handled, while upon the Union side the few guns in play did little execution. Colonel MeClennan commanded the brigade during the en- gagement and Major May the regiment. The loss was thirty-nine men wounded, twenty-one captured and eight missing. Captain George W. Guss was among the wounded and Captain Richard T. Stewart among the prisoners. The division retired to Baltimore and encamped at Druid Hill Park, and Early pushed on towards Washington; but here he was met by the rest of the Sixth Corps and driven ingloriously into Vir- ginia. The Union forces joined in pursuit and pushed him to beyond Berryville, in the Shenandoah Valley, Ricketts' division having in the mean time rejoined
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.