USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > History of Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania. With illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories > Part 33
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Captain, C. Strouse; 1st Lieutenant, William J. Allcu; 2d Lieutenant, George B. Cadwallader; Brevet 2d Lieutenant, George Shiff; Orderly Ser- geant, John Harris; 2d Sergeant, A. Kreeger; 3d Sergeant, John B. Sny- der; 4th Sergeant, Ferd. Rhodes.
Privates-Jacob B. Rhonds, Jacob Meutchler, Israel Stambach, William P. Caldwell, Alexander Caldwell, Henry Startzel, Cyrus Bittenbender, Michael Dooley, Frederick Dipuer, Michael Salter, Charles Kreeger, David Shiff, Thomas R. Williams, William Booth, Jacob Getter, William Culp, William Colier, John Colier, Thomas Harris, Henry Holshoe, Patrick Colier, Charles Conrad, Jacob W. Irich, Henry Irich, Hugh Boyd, William Stillwagner, Michael Meisberger, John Meighau, -John Hancock, John B. Zuender, Thomas Caldwell, John E. Eisenhart, C. L. V. Hans, John R .. Lake, Jacob Dindorf, Peter Wentz, Frank Baronosky, Ephraim Folk, Wil- liam Shock, John Brennan, Nicholas Curo, James Darms, Jacob Guskey, David Eveland, Wesley Van Gosken, James H. Haas, Guy MeColley, Johu Weis, Francis Toby, Benjamin Culp, P. P. Danaren, J. B. Eaton, Jolin Neufer, Charles Brand, H. C. Bofst, D. J. Woudley, John W. Heilner, Wil- liam Bone, Charles Morganes, Daniel Jones, William Smith, Charles Madorn, John Doronis, August Schensil, William B. Osmun, Samuel Clou- ser, Reuben Mullen, Samuel Barnesley, Joel Holshoe, Jacob Peiper, Wil- liam Farrell,, Moses Reed, John Hartline, Benjamin Crist, Jacob Shiel, Jonas Holston, John McCulley, John Lannnn, J. M. John, Josiah Roup, George Roup, Michnel Ragan, James Sterret, Francis Hollister, Michael Dawson, John McManns, George W. Weaver, George Kramer, Jeremiah Maize, George Blanksley, J. W. Philips, John Shillehood, J. Pennypacker, John Vanzant, Daniel Money, Ziba Bird, Thomas R. Jones, G. Klase, and B. F. Lake.
On Sunday morning, the company attended services at the Methodist Church, which was festooned with the stars and stripes, and listened to a patriotic sermon, suitable to the occasion, by Rev. Mr. Dixon. During the evening they attended services at the Presbyterian Church, and were elo- quently addressed by Rev. A. D'Haron, the pastor, and the Revs. Wampole, and Swenk, of the Lutheran und United Brethren Churches. On Monday morning, April 22d, they took their departure for Harrisburg. Hundreds of people from the town and the neighboring townships hnd assembled to witness their departure, and to give them a good-bye. They arrived at Har- risbury the same day, and were at once marehed to Camp Curtin, where they were formed in the Eighth regiment, as company A. The next day they were hurried on to Chambersburg, and entered into quarters at Camp Slifer. Their trip from Shamokin all the way to Chambersburg, was a per- feet ovntion; refreshincuts were supplied by the people at the different towns, and the greatest enthusiasm prevailed. They were placed under the com- mand of General Robert Patterson. On June 9th, they moved to Camp Emely, nbout seven miles from Hagerstown. From this point, Colonel Cald-
well will take up the narrative, and pursue it through the whole Rebellion. Having been one of that devoted band of veterans that served through the entire war, one of the heroes of the gallant Forty-sixth, that followed the victorious Sherman in his glorious march to the Sen, none are better pre- pared to relate their martial record. And he has done it well. Not a com- rade bas been overlooked, not an engagement forgotten, and he "fights bis battles o'er," as though they occurred but yesterday.
Soon after their arrival at "Camp Emley," the Eighth regiment, to which the Shamokin Guard (company A) was attached, was ordered to Williams- port, Maryland. Orders were received to have three days' cooked ratious in haversacks, and to be prepared for a forward movement. By the time the rations had been stowed away in haversacks, came orders to "strike tents." This order was hailed with delight, for, novices in the art of war, the com- mand was anxious to meet the enemy.
The Eighth regiment was ordered to escort Captain (now Major-General) Doubleday's thirty-pounder battery to Martinsburg, theu in possession of om army. The battle of Falling Waters-simply an affair of outposts-had been fought and won; the way had been opened by the adynnee-guard, so that the work of occupation for the Eighth regiment was only a hard march -no glory, no senrs. From Martinsburg, the company-the right of the Eighth-marched to Bunker Hill; from thence to Charlestown, where it remained abont ten days. The battle of Bull Run having been fought and lost, and the term of the troops comprising General Patterson's column having nearly expired, the command was withdrawn to Keep Ferry, on the Shenandoah River; thence to Harper's Ferry, and from there, via Baltimore, to Harrisburg, where they were mustered out of the service. By the expirn- tion of the term of service of the three-months' troops, the curtain fell upon the first act of the great dramn of war-a war in which the Shamokin Guard neted a prominent part; a war which resulted in the emancipation of a race- the striking off the shackles of four millions of human beings.
The company having returned to their homes, the work of recruiting for "three years or during the war," begno in earnest, as the results of the three- months' emmpnign had demonstrated that this was to be no ordinary war.
On the 20th of August, 1861, the ranks were nearly full, with the following officers: Captain, Cyrus Strouse; Ist Lieutenant, G. B. Cadwallader; 2d Lientenant, William P. Caldwell. The company rendezvoused at "Camp Curtin," where, on the 4th day of September, 1861, it was mustered into the service of the United States by Captain D. II. Hastings, United States Army, and assigned tu the Forty-sixth regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers as com- pany K, Colonel Joseph F. Knipe.
Having remained in camp of instruction for about six weeks, the regiment was ordered to Washington ; thence to "Camp Kalernwn," where it remained a short time, and from there, one stormy Saturday night, marched for Darnestown, western Maryland, where it was assigned to the brigade of General A. S. Williams, of Michigan, Major-General N. P. Banks' division.
The 'usual routine of duty pertaining to a camp of instruction was here instituted; drills were regularly established; enmp and picket duty rigidly enforced, thus to prepare the command for the serious work of the impend- ing enmpaign. (As the Shamokin Guard was now part and parcel of the Forty-Sixth regiment, Peausylvania Volunteers, with whose history it was identified during the whole struggle, it will not be necessary to mention it as n company, save recording the number of its killed and wounded.) With the exception of an occasional picket rencontre, nothing occurred to break the monotony of enmp life, until the day of the battle of Balls' Bluff. For several days the air had been thick with rumors of impending battle, but with the "happy-go-lucky" disposition so characteristic of the soldier en- guged in the desperate game of war, they were passed hy unheeded, until about twilight of that bloody day, when a courier, who had been riding post-haste, brought the news of the disaster to our arms, of the death of the gallant Baker, and the urgent need of assistance. With the exception of the head-quarters, the command was, of course, in ignorance of what was in progress, and when the order enme to prepare for n forward movement, long and loud were the shouts that went up-for soldiers soon get tired of camp- life, with its restrictions, and long for n change. The change in this case came, alas, to soon. The distance from Darnestown to Poolesville is about twenty-three miles, and all night long the troops marebed stendily forward, and cheerfully, for, as they neared the scene of the disaster, eouriers from the front brought the ominous news of defeat, and they longed to wipe out the disgrace. At Poolesville, the command had its first look at the dark side of war. Long trains of ambulances, Inden with the crushed and broken forms of those who, in the early morning, were all buoyant with life, and the hopes that young life begets were lirrying to the rear, thus confirming the story of
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
defeat. Notwithstanding the cheerless outlook, the men went gallantly forward, no stragglers, all impatient to close with the foe. Bivouacking on the field, near the river, the rain falling in torrents, the wearied troops sought such repose as they could find, and "eagerly awaited the morrow."
After a hurried breakfast, the column was formed, and the roll called. Arms were then starked, and orders to march waited for. The day was passed in expectation of getting marching orders, varied by watching our skirmishers on the southern bank of the Potomac, engaging the enemy on the battle-field of the day before. At twilight the orders enme, the regi- ment was formed, on the river bank, but the order to cross was counter- mandedl, General MeClellan having arrived on the scene. From Ball's Bluff the command was ordered to their old encampments, where they remained . until Inte in the Fall of 1861, when they were ordered to Frederick. Here they remained in enmp of instruction until Winter, when they marched to Hancock, on the Potomne, to aid in repelling the threatened invasion by Stonewall Jackson. Jackson having retrented, the command went into Wiu- ter-quarters, and in the early Spring marched to Williamsport, crossed the Potomac, aud entered on its first real campaign in the Shenandoah Valley. The Shamokin Guard, company K, was one of the advanee skirmishing companies in the " affair" at Bunker Hill, Va., and entered Winchester on the 11th of March, 1862. Remaining at Winchester a short time, the com- mand was ordered to march to Warrenton, via Berryville and Berry's Ferry, on the Shenandoah. They had proceeded as far as the latter place, when couriers brought the news of Shield's battle at Winchester, and asking assist- ance. The movement on Warrenton was abandoned, the column was fueed toward Winchester, and, after a long night-march, arrived on the field, and took the advance in pursuit of the retreating enemy. In this night-march, the Shamokin Guard were in the extreme advance. The pursuit of Jack-
son ended at Port Republic. After a week's delay, the command returned to the vicinity of Woudstock, where it remained for several weeks. Jackson, having been reinforced, came down the Luray Valley, and threatened our communication with the rear. The command fell back to Strasburgh, and there nwnited developments. Captain Strouse was at the latter place, pre- siding at a court-martial. The command having received orders to proceed at a forced march to Middletown, passed hurriedly through the town of Strasburgh, and on to Middletown, where, assisted by Woodberry's Battery M, of the First New York Artillery, it repulsed the enemy, who had juter- posed ucross its line of march, and pushed on to Winchester, the objective, and took position on the right of the road to Front Royal. Here it biv- quacked for the night, the men lying on their arms, thoroughly wearied, trying, in a few fitful hours of repose, to gain strength for the impending conflict. Long before the day had dawned, the reveille was beaten, and the roll called. The wenried men partook of' a burried breakfast. The bright rays of the morning sun dispelled the fog, which had settled over the field, (it had rained the day before,) and out of the dissolving mist came the bright flash of the enemy's guus, posted on a ridge about half a mile away, ou the Front Royal road, the hurling of shot and the whistling of shell telling that the second battle of Winchester had begun. Battery F, Fourth United States Artil- lery, commanded by the brave Lieutenant Cushing, afterwards slain at Get- tysburg, replied to the enemy, and for a short time the artillery had it all to themselves. This was, however, of' short duration, for Jackson, knowing our strength, advanced his infantry, aml theo came the " tug of war."
Company M occupied the extreme right of the First Brigade, For a while, they acted as skirmishers, but the enemy advancing rapidly, and in force, they were recalled and fought in the line during the continuance of' the en- gagement. The men fought splendidly, and soon repulsed the foe. In this contest, the Forty-sixth regiment wus pitted against the 'Twenty-seventh North Carolina, and the numbers of new-made graves, afterward counted on the field of this brief, but de-perate struggle, showed how well the regi- ment conld fight, and was an earnest of its future achievements.
As the only object in engaging the overwhelming force of the enemy was, to cover the withdrawal of our large trains, and the enemy, with his superior force, having seriously menaced our flank, thus jeopardizing our line of retreat, the troops were withdrawn in good order, and with little opposition, made good their retrograde movement to the Potomac and across to Wil- linmsport. There was no demoralization, as the humblest private soldier in the command knew that the enemy outnumbered them three to one, but, as this was the test of their bravery, they nobly responded to the orders of their chief. This, their first serious lesson in the art of war, monde the men self- reliant, and they never disgraced the record made on their maiden-field. A short halt on the north bank of the river, to repair damages and bring up material ; thence across the swollen stream one stormy Saturday night, com-
pany K in the advance, as usual, on to Martinsburg, to Winchester, which the enemy bad hurriedlly evacuated (as a force was coming down on their flank from Fredericksburg and from Remney), thence over the battle-field of the 25th of' May, to Front Royal, on the Shenandoah. The usual round of camp and picket duties, and a reconnaissance up the Luray Valley, kept the troups employed for several weeks, when eamp was struck, and the line of march taken up for Warrenton, and thence to Culpepper Court House. Major-General John Pope was, about this time, assigned to the command of the "Army of Virginia."
Except a reconnaissance toward Gordonville, nothing necurred to vary the monotony of camp life, until the afternoon of the 8th of August. The enemy having become unusually bold, General Bayard was ordered to push them back with his cavalry. This be accomplished ; but when he renched Cedar Run, about nine miles ont from Culpepper, he found the enemy strongly posted, and he asked for reinforcements. The First Brigade, to which tho Forty-sixth regiment was attached, was at once ordered forward to his sup- port. After a very fatiguing march, they reached the field about six o'clock in the evening. Here they bivouacked for the night.
Strong columns of infantry being pushed forward, developed the thet thut the advance guard of Lee's army, under Stonewall Jackson, was in the im- mediate front. If Lee's advance was to be checked, in order to allow the army of the Potomac time to reach Washington first, here is where it was to be done. All knew that the struggle ou the morrow was to he desperate, yet all were cheerful. With the exception of the usual skirmishing for posi- tion and to gain time, nothing serious occurred until about three o'clock in the afternoon of the 9th, when the bugles sounded the assembly, the troops " fell in," took arms, and were ready for the fray.
The First Brigade was sent to the right, company K occupying the ex- treme right of the line. The day was extremely hot, and the men suffered considerably. They were formed in the edge of the woods, a whent-field in their front. Beyond the wheat-field was a dense pine woods, filled with a thick undergrowth. In this woods the enemy was strongly posted, but cou- cealed. On a road running diagonally through the woods was a six-gun battery. This battery the Forty-sixth regiment was ordered to take. With u cheer, their colors well to the front, they advanced in battle-line, eleared the fences, and in oue grand, magnificent charge, swept the enemy back to and across the road. But that passage across the whent-field cost them ter- ribly, and when they reached the battery, finding themselves unsupported and outflanked, they were compelled to relinquish what they had won and retire from the field, which they did in good order. Although the line was broken and the command somewhat scattered, yet there was no panic, the meu, after a display of magnificent gallantry, only retiring before an over- whelming force of the enemy. Cedar Mountain has passed into history ; all the historians of the war elassing it among the most desperately-fought bat- tles of the whole struggle.
Company K received its baptism of fire on the wooded slopes of this new historie mountain. The company went into action with forty-five men and two officers. It came out with no officers and twenty-six men. The action did not last more than two hours, so far as company K und the Forty-sixth regiment was concerned, yet the loss was very heavy. Among the killed, were the gallant Lieutenant William P. Caldwell, who commanded the com- pany ; the brave Sergeant James H. Hass; the heroic Corporal Shock ; and those true soldiers, Coder, Tietsworth, Eurfels, Gillinger, Arter, and Werzkowski.
Among the wounded, were 2d Lieutentant Alexander Caldwell, and those brave soldiers, Sergeant Gilger, Corporal Shipp, Corporal McElien, Ser- geant Thomas Caldwell, Corporal J. Weimer Young, and Privates Paul, Sharp, Roth, Bird, Donovan, and Neufer." Heroes all, .they paid with their young lives "their full measure of devotion" to Liberty, having offered themselves a willing sacrifice on the altar of Freedom. As incidents of the battle of "Cedar Mountain," let us quote the opinions of' eye-witnesses of the struggle :
"I have witnessed many battles during this war, but I have seen none where the tenacious obstinacy of the Amerienn charneter was so fully dis- played," says one correspondent.
Lessing suys : " None were more desperately fought during the war. A port of the sanguinary struggle was hand-to-hand, under the dark pall of smoke that obscured the moon."
At the close of the battle, " Banks' Division" was a thing of the past. The flower of the command were either dead or wounded ; the shattered remnant sudly buried their comrades, and vowed eternal fealty to the Republic. In this desperate fight, Ist Lieutenant Caldwell was shot dead at the heud of his column. 2d Lieutenant Caldwell was wounded through the
PLATE XXII
RES. OF JOHN EYSTER, DISTILLER, DELAWARE TP , NORTH'D CO., PA. (WHISKEY WAREHOUSE
RES. OF JOHN NICELY , DELAWARE TP., NORTHUMBERLAND CO, PA.
95
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
thigh, had five bullets through his cont, and one through his haversack. 1st Sergeant Gilger was wounded through the right arm ; he was again wounded at Gettysburg (while on the atatl' of Brigadier-General Kuipe) by a fragment of shell in the same arm, making him a cripple for life. Ser- geant James H. Ilass was mortally wounded, and lived only long enough to regret that he had no more lives to give to the Union. The brave Gillinger went down, with "three cheers for the Union" on his lips. Corporal Shipp was terribly hurt, his shoulder having heen almost shot away. He was cap- tured by the enemy nud taken to Staunton, where a capital operation was performed upon him. He lived through it; was taken to Libhy Prison, and was finally exchanged. Private Roth had five bullets in his person ; Private Tharp five; Private Arter, five, and Private Werzkowski five. Had the leaden compliments been more equally distributed, company K would not have suffered so much. The soldiers who were not hurt, deserve as much credit as those who were, for never in the history of the war did men march more gallantly into the smoke and flame of battle. Reinforcements having arrived, the battle-scarred remnant of Banks' Division marched back to their camp; regiments commanded by captains; companies by non-commis- sioned officers.
The enemy allowed but little time for rest The result of the fight at Cedar Mountain having demonstrated the fact that Lee's entire army was marching on Washington, Pope's column fell back to the line of the Rappa- hannock. Company K participated in the series of engagements on the Rappahannock, ending with the second battle of Bull's Run, August 29th, 1862. From Bull's Run to South Mountain, and on to Antietam. At this battle the column to which company K was assigned, fought under the lamented Mansfield, at the famous Duuker Church, one of the key-points of the fight. Here the brave Charles Brandt was killed, and privates Epler and Barinoske wounded, the latter losing his arm. From Antietam to Maryland heights, where the command was reorganized and assigned to the Twelfth Army Corps-Major General Slocum. About two months in camp, doing only the routine duty that pertains to all camps, whether of instruction or of temporary location, thence to Fairfax station, and on to Stafford Court House, where the command went into winter-quarters. In the latter part of April, 1863, the command crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly's ford, and the Rapi- danna, at "Germania ford," and marched to Chancellorsville where it partici- pated in the battles of the 1st, 2d, and 3d of May. The engagement having resulted in the defeat of our army, the command was ordered to its old camps at Stafford Court House. The halt here was of short duration, fur Lee, encouraged by his success at Chancellorsville, determined to invade Mary- land and Pennsylvania. When the invasion had became a fixed fact, the column to which company K was attached, marched by way of Dumfries and the Occognan, to Fairfax Court House. A halt here for a day, then on to Leesburg, as a corps of observation. A short halt here, only long enough to learn the intention of the enemy, then across the Potomne at Nolan's ferry, thenee to the Monocacy and Frederick City, Maryland. The command was halted at Frederick only long enough for the wagons to come up. The advance guard of Lee's army having pushed forward as far as York, the command was ordered to pursue. Forced marches were the order of the day, and with weary limbs, but buoyant spirits, the troops pushed steaddy forward, and on the 30th of June, (in the afternoon, ) struck a portion of Ewell's column, which was falling back from York, at the village of Littles- town, about ten miles from Gettysburg.
The enemy's force was soon brushed out of the way, and the command bivouacked for the night. Early the next morning, July 1st, the head of column was put in motion, toward Gettysburg. Arrived at the "Two Tay- erns," about midway between Gettysburg and Littlestown, arms were stacked, and the men ordered to prepare their dinner. As dinner on the march, in close proximity to the enemy, is not usually an elaborate affair, this did not consume much time. While lying along the road, the rebel brigade of General Archer passed to the rear prisoners of war. This was evidence sufficient that the enemy was in force in the front, and soon the heavy boom of artillery, and the smoke rising from the plain helow, told in unmistakable terms, that the battle of Gettysburg had begun. Gettysburg! ah, what memories cluster around the name. A battle, whose results not only stayed the title of invasion, but saved the nation; n battle which was the turning- point of the war, for here perished the flower of the " Army of Northern Virginia."
The position of company K was on the extreme right of the First Brigade, First Division, Twelfth Army Corps. The position was one of great natural strength, being on the slope of n wooded ridge among the rocks. Although assailed by the enemy in heavy force, the line did not waver, but poured a
stream of fire into the faces of the foe. To the strong position occupied by the command, can be attributed the fact that company K did not lose n man killed, in all the three days' fight. Toward evening of the second days' battle, the command was withdrawn from their position and sent to reinforce the extreme left. As the enemy had been repulsed, they were not put into action, but were ordered to occupy their first position. During their absence, the enemy had pushed bis skirmishers into the position occu- pied by the Brigade, and had not darkness minde his movements very cautious, the result of the battle might have been vastly different. It was only after a severe struggle in the enrly morning of the 3d, that he was dislodged, and forced to yield the advantages he had gained by their withdrawal. When the grand assault on the centre was made, in the afternoon of the 3d, the command (a thin skirmish-line having been left to occupy the barricades which had been hastily thrown up) was sent to reinforce the Second Corps, and orrupied a position to the left of the "cemetery." Their services not having been needed, they remained in this position until the shattered rem- naut of Longstreet's column, flying from the field, proclaimed that the battle of Gettysburg was fought and wou.
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