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 34
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The morning of the 4th of July found the command back in their original position. After burying the rebel dead, in their immediate front, a recon- noissance was ordered nround and through Gettysburg, company K occu- pying the right of the line. From Gettysburg back again to Littlestown, through Frederick City, across the South Mountain at Crampton's Pass, over the field of Antietam, when the column closed up on the left of the Army of the Potomac, near St. James' College, in front of Williamsport, Maryland. Lee having effected his retreat across the river at " Falling Waters," and at Williamsport, the command marched to Sandy Hook, opposite Harper's Ferry, where it rested a few days, Thence across the Potomac and Sheunn- doah Rivers, at Harper's Ferry, through Thoroughfare Gap to Warrenton Junction, and on to Kelly's ford, ou the Rappahannock. Here the enemy was found in possession of the south bank of the river. Biyouncked for the night, and in the early morning pushed the enemy from the ford, and crossed to the opposite side, Remained on the southern bank for several days, when they were recalled, and went into camp to rest and refit for the next call- paign.
While in camp at Kelly's ford, company K received twenty-five (25) con- scripts, which again filled up the ranks pretty well. These conseripts were principally from the vicinity of New Brighton, on the Allegheny Kiver. General Meade having ordered an advance of the whole army, the column was put in motion, and took up position at the Raccoon ford of the Rapi- danna River, to the left and in advance of Culpepper Court House. Here it remained until about the 26th day of July, when orders came from the head-quarters of the army, ordering the Twelfth Corps to march to Brandy Station. Of course, the subalterns knew nothing about the movement, but every one supposed that a reconnoissance in force was on foot. But when the command reached Brandy Station, and wagons were ordered to he left behind, they soon ascertained that they were going to reinforce the Army of the Cumberland, via the Baltimore aud Ohio Railroad, to Benwood, below Wheeling, across the Ohio, on a pontoon bridge, to the town of Bellair.
The scenery through Western Virginia, was of the grandest description. The transition from the wasted fields of Virginia to the picturesque mountain region, along and over which their route lay, infused new life into the troops, and, though this was no holiday excursion, the spirits of the men rose with each new scene, and all was life and jollity.
From Bellair to Columbus, from Columbus to Indianapolis, to Jefferson- ville, across the Ohio to Louisville, and on to Nashville, Tennessee. The trip across the great States of Ohio and Indiana was a grand ovation; the citizens along the route sceming to vie with each other in their attention to the troops. If there were any in the great crowds which welcomed the men from the Potomne, who would much rather have greeted the "men in gray," they prudently held their peace. The great heart of the peuple was trute to the cause; and many encouraging smiles and words of good cheer did the "boys" get from the fair daughters of Ohio aunt Indiana. The battle of Chickamauga had been fought, and resulted disastrously to our arms-hence the transfer of the Eleventh und Twelfth Corps to the banks of the Tennessee, with General Hooker iu command. The Eleventh and Twelfth Corps were consolidated and designated the Twentieth Corps. The rebel General Wheeler, having made a raid into Tennessee, thus threatening our line of communication, the command was hurried forward to War-trace, on the line of the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. Here a portion of the command was ordered to Shelbyville, for the purpose of intercepting Wheeler, but he and his rough-riders had retreated and reerossed the Tennessee. From
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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
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Shelbyville to Decherd, where the Forty-sixth regiment was stationed during the Winter of 1863. Scouting and picket duty, with ocensional inenrsions into the country, in search of the guerilla bands that infested the strip of territory lying between the Tennessee mul the Elk Rivers, made the Winter months pass rapidly. But when the grass began to grow in the Spring, the command was ordered to be in rendiness for a forward movement.
General Sherman, having been assigned to the command of the "military division of the Mississippi," after the battle of Chattanooga, had determined on a campaign against Atlanta, the great railroad centre, and one of the chief manufacturing cities of the South. At Atlanta, were cast the shot and shell, and the plating for gunboats, forged for a great portion of the armies und anvy of the Confederacy.
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The orders were to rendezvous at Chattanooga ; therefore, about the 30th of April, the camp was "struck," and the line of march taken up for Chat- tanoogn. Across the Cumberland Mountains, that giant ehnin which bisects Tennessee, and on to Bridgeport; thence to Shellmonnd, to Wathatchie- the scene of Geary's desperate night encounter with Longstreet-round the point of " Lookont," and thence to Chattanooga. From Chattanooga, on the 6th of May, 1864, began the grand campaign which culminated in the capture of Atlanta, that great arsenal of the Southern Confedercy, At a terrible cost, however, for among the gorges of the mountains of northern Georgia sleep in death many of the bravest and best of the young men of the North. The Twelfth Corps wus deflected from Dalton, and debouched from Snake Creek Gap on the 13th of May, and took position on the left, closing well in toward the Tilton road, which leads from Dalton to Resaca. The 14th was spent in skirmishing for position, but at nighttall, the Fourth Army Corps, General Howard, having asked for reinforcements, the First division, General A. S. Williams, was harried to their assistance, and arrived in time to drive back the enemy, who had nearly turned Howard's Hank. The fight was short, sharp, and decisive, and the wearied troops bivouacked on the field they had se gallantly won.
About noon of the 15th of May, Sunday, orders came to" fall in." From the ridge, which they had taken the night before, the Forty-sixth marched to an open space on the rond. The regiment was formed in columns of divi- sions, en massc, company K, being the right of the First division, and iu the extreme advance. They were ordered to charge down the Tilton road, and take a battery, which was annoying our troops, and right gallantly did they respond to the call, taking the charging step as handsomely as if on parade. They had reached an angle in the road, and were pushing forward rapidly, when a fire from the flank caused a change in the order ; the column was deployed, front changed, and over a wooded slope the brigade charged, driv. ing the enemy before them in handsome style. All day long the men fought magnificently, and when night hid the combatants, the battle of Resaca had been fought and won by the Nationals.
The wearied soldiers threw themselves upon the ground to seek a few hours of much needed repose. The stars came out in the sky, and shone peacefully upon the soldiers, living and dead, upon friend aud foe. With their faces upturned to the sky, lay the broken and bruised forms of hun- dreds, who, in the flush of young manhood, had that pleasant May after- noon, flung themselves upon the enemy's works. The enemy gave us a parting fusillade about midnight, and then precipitately Hed, leaving their dend and many wounded in our hunds.
In the battle of Resaca, company K did not suffer much, as the position was on the top of a ridge, and was superior to that of the enemy. The only casualties were several men slightly wounded.
Private Joseph MeCarty had a narrow escape, a rifle-ball having passed through his waist-belt, through eight thicknesses of his rubber blanket, and finally, finttening on his coat button. The ball did not penetrate the skin, and he fought all through the engagement. After burying the dead, and caring for the wounded, the command pressed on across the Ostenanla and Coosawattie rivers, in close pursuit of Johnson, and in the afternoon of the - came upon the enemy in battle array at Cassville. The enemy had intended to give battle, but during the night, fell back neross the Etowah, and took position in the woodeel country about Allatoona Pass, New Hope Church and Dallas. A short balt was made here, to allow supplies to be brought forward, as well as to allow the men the rest they so much needed; as they had been marching, skirmishing, and fighting continually since the 6th of May. On the 23d, the march was resumed, and in the evening of that day, the command was across the Etowah ; the next night they bivouacked nt "Burnt Hickory." Early in the morning of the 25th, Williams' division of the now Twentieth Army Corps, marched out in the direction of Dallas, company K, of the Forty-six regiment, in the extreme advance, as skirmishers. The command
pushed steadily forward, not meeting with much opposition, when about four o'clock, P. M., un order was received to halt the skirmishers, aud retire ou the main column. This was done at once, and with company K as rear guard, the column hurriedly retraced its steps. When near the bridge, which spanned Pumpkin-Vine Creek, the order for the retrograde movement was fully explained.
Artillery was planted, covering the bridge, and over it at a run went the gallant fellows, though wearied through the exertions of the morning. While reconnoitering on the western side of the bridge, General Hooker had suddenly eome upon the enemy in force, near the New Hope Church. Using his escort, he kept the enemy at bay until General Gray's division could be brought up. They passed the bridge, and engaged the enemy, but finding him in henvy force, they took position until the division of Williams could be brought up. The strange coincidence occurred here which has often occurred in wooded countries, where the opposing commanders are not well informed as to the topography: Johnsen was manœuvring for position at the same time that Sherman was making bis movement on Dallas, the objective of the latter being the Allatoona Pass, a strong defensive position, through which ran the railroad from Chattanooga to Atlanta. The First Division was at once deployed, the Forty-Sixth Regiment going in on the right of the First Brigade. With lines well dressed, and ranks well closed up, the column advanced rapidly, driving the enemy's skirmishers, and soon came upon the main body, strongly entrenched, occupying a strong natural posi- tion, with artillery well posted and supported. When well up to the enemy's works, a terrible storm of grape and canister, shell and shrapnel, was poured on the advancing column, which caused them to halt. Again and again the attempt was made to carry the enemy's position, but as often was it repulsed, and when night came the battered column was relieved by fresh troops, and bivonacked a short distance to the rear of the pasition they had so gallantly maintained during the afternoon. From the position occupied by our troops, it was impossible to bring artillery into netion, while the enemy, with his artillery entrenched, and in good positions, opened great gaps in our lines.
By the explosion of a shell in the lines of company K, 2d Lieutenant John W. Phillips was killed, the left side of his head being shot away. 1st Lieutenant Jacob B. Getter was severely wounded in the leg by a grape-shot or a fragment of shell, and Corporal John Raup had both legs carried away by n grape-shot. Always heroic in action, he was doubly a here in this fight; for though terribly hurt, he urged his comrades to leave him where he fell, and avenge him. Brave fellow; death put an end to his sufferings, and he sleeps side by side with the gallant Lieutenant Phillips, on that Georgia hall- side. Comrades in life, they were not separated in death. Private Elias Maurer was wounded severely; others slightly. The brave Corporal John Medlycott, though suffering from a severe wound in the arm, received at Resaca, come into the fight when the battle was raging the hereest, and although remonstrated with, and requested to go to the rear, laughingly re- plied "that he wanted to see what was going on." His own gun having been turned over to the ordnance officer, (as he was unable to carry it,) he took a musket from a rehel prisoner, and used it until the close of the engagement. This is an illustration of pluck. Atter the withdrawal of the command from the front, line was formed and the roll called. After, a battle, this is always a sad duty. Familiar forms are missing; comrades who have stood shoulder to shoulder on many hard-fought fields, who have felt that touch of the elbow which has nerved them in many u desperate conflict, are now sleeping the sleep that knows no waking, or are stretched on beds of suffering in the hastily improvised hospitals. As if to wipe out all traces of the conflict, all the bloed-stains which erimsened mother earth, who was about to take back again to her bosom her dend ones, slain in freedomy's holy cause, the rain fell steadily during the night succeeding the battle. "New Hope Church" had passed into history ; on the wings of the death-augel had passed to the good Father the spirits of patriots, as true as ever died for Liberty.
The battle was not renewed in the morning, thongh all was in readiness, and the armies, National and Confederate, contented themselves with watel- ing each other. This state of affairs continued for several days, when the Twentieth Corps swung to the left toward the railroad. Communication with the rear having been established, the command again moved forward, skirmishing continually, sometimes far into the night. During this memora- ble campaign, the men slept on their urms every night, ready for anything that might occur, as the country was mountainous and densely wooded, and the enemy coutested every foot of ground.
On the 22d] of June, when turning " Kenesnw," and trying to find the left flank of the foe, the First Division of the Twentieth Corps encountered Stewart's Division, of Wood's Corps, on the Powder Springs rond, near
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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
the Kulp House. The battle was a sharp, and so far as the Nationals were concerned, a decisive one. The enemy left his dend and many of his wounded on the field. The battle of the Kulp House resulted not only in victory to the Union arms, but it compelled the evneuation of Kenesaw and Manetta, and all the country north of the Chattahoochee, and gave us the railroad. The railroad was our "eracker line," and as an old war maxim says, that an "army marches on its belly," this was all important. Kulp's farm, or Knlp's house was an ensy victory for the National troops, as the enemy came out of his entrenchments, and was the attacking party. The Forty-sixth regiment occupied a small elevation in full view of the rebel lines. They supported Woodberry's Battery M, 1st New York Artillery, the guns being placed at intervals in the line, thus allowing the infantry an op- portunity of firing. Company K was on the right of the line, connecting with the One Hundred and Fiftieth New York regiment.
The rebels advanced to the attack several times in magnificent order, but were as many times repulsed, and finally withdrew. In this hattle, Private William Jones was killed. Two days before June 20th, Private Zancoler was shot dead while in the act of pouring water on Captain Caldwell's hands. Always thoughtful of others, his last act was one of kindness. Peace to his ashes.
From Manetta, across the Chattahoochee, and on to " Peach-tree Creek." Hood, having succeeded Johnson in command of the Confederates, attacked the Twentieth Corps, while making the passage of the Peach-tree Creek, on the 20th of July. He assaulted vigorously, expecting no doubt to catch the command in the "air," but he was sadly mistaken. To quote his own words, he says, "I attucked the enemy while making the passage of' Peach-tree Creek, hoping by a vigorous assault to break his lines, separate his columns, and beat him in detail." He also says, that instead of finding the column in the confusion incident to the crossing of a stream, whose banks were as marshy as those of Peach-tree Creek, "I found there, (at the 'point of at- tack,) the veteran Twentieth Army Corps from the Potomne."
The battle raged fiercely all that hot Jidy afternoon, aud when darkness fell upon the scene, what were not killed or wounded of that arrogant baud, who were " going to drive the Yankees into the river," were seeking safety in flight. General Sherman says that it was one of the best contested battles of the war. The enemy was driven behind his inner defenses, and the second day after the battle, Sherman drew his lines of investment around Atlanta. The goal was in sight, but at a fearful cost. At Peach-tree Creek, the Twentieth Corps lost about one thousand six hundred men, killed and wounded. The Forty-sixth regiment suffered very severely. The following were the ensualties in company K: 1st Sergeant Alderson, severely wounded; in trying to get to the rear, he was captured by the enemy, and afterwards taken to Andersonville, whence he was finally exchanged, and rejoined his company at Raleigh, North Carolina. Private Brady lost a leg; the gallant Medly- cott, before mentioned, was mortally wounded, and died nt Nashville soon afterward; Sergeant Joseph Long was killed; Privates Kerlin and Daly were killed; Private Baker killed, and Privates Derk and others, slightly wounded. In battle, the proportion of killed is abont one to five wounded; here the conditions were reversed. During the siege of Atlanta, Private William H. Liebig was killed on the advance picket-line, and Private Samuel W. Clay- berger wounded by n fragment of shell. In all the operations around Atlanta, company K did its full duty, and was one of the first companies to enter the captured stronghold.
During the occupation of Atlanta, the command indulged in a general rest, making np for its hardships and privations during the campaign which had culminated in the capture of the "gate city" of the South. Company K. accompanied Sherman in his magnificent march from " Atlanta to the Sen;" sharing in its fatigues-rejoicing in its brilliant success. In the brilliant and arduous campaign through the Carolinas, it bore its share of duty, always occupying the post of honor, "the right of the regiment." It participated in the battles of Averysboro, March 16th, 1865, und Bentonville, March 19th. In the former battle, Sergeant August Shensel was wounded. The sergeant was always fond of smoking, and if a battle lasted too long to allow him to indulge in his favorite pastime, he would denounce the rebels roundly, nad blaze away more energetically than ever. At Averysboro, a bullet struck him in the arm, and he was disabled temporarily. He did not lose his self- possession nor his pipe, but, shouldering his musket, he marched leisurely to the rear, as though nothing out of the ordinary routine had occurred.
From Bentonville to Goldsboro, where the command refitted. When the head of column marched down the principal street of Goldsboro, in columns of companies, in semi-review, to do honor to their chief-the gallant Sher-
man-one of his staff-officers remarked: "Very dirty, but covered with glory." So far as the dirt was concerned, it was literally true; history has taken care of the rest.
A wurd in passing. Had General Sherman been unsuccessful in his cam- paign from Atlanta to the Sea, and again, in his Carolina campaign, the military crities-so-called-would have enid: "I told you so." Since he was successful, he is the hero of' the hour; so prone are we to judge by results, rather than hy the possibilities of results.
The column had reached Goldsboro, after a campaign which has no parallel in modern warfare. The Spring campaign was about to open. Grant against Lee, Sherman agaiast Johnson. The army of the Mississippi knew that Johnson could not successfully fight them, having fought him all the way down from his mountain fastnesses in Tennessee and north Georgia, and suc- cessfully too, but they feared, a long campaign, should Lee elude Grant. Trained to discipline, they patiently awnited developments, and when on the afternoon of the 7th of April, 1865, came the news that Grant has carried the defenses of Richmond, such a shont went up as soldiers ouly knew how to give.
The next day, April 8th, all the columns were in motion in pursuit of Johnson. At Smithfield, on the Neuse River, on the morning of the 9th of April, came the news that Lee had surrendered the "Army of Northern Virginia" to Grant. Across the Neuse and on to Raleigh. A linlt of a few days, and again in pursuit of Johnson, who finally surrendered to his old adversary.
From Raleigh the command marched to Washington, via Richmond, and participated in the grand review at Washington, May 24th, 1865. The war had ended. The Union for which they had fought so long and so well was saved. On the 24th of July, 1865, company K of the Forty-sixth regiment Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers ceased to exist. They had fought the fight of freedom ; they had kept the faith, and were hereafter to be enrolled among the patriots wit, in all ages have given their lives for enlarged liber- ties for the people. In a military point of view, company K. ceased to exist on the 24th of July, 1865; but so long as valor has a worshiper, their deeds will be remembered; so long as patriotism shall be a cardinnì virtue in the breasts of American freemen, their names will be cashrined in the hearts of a grateful posterity.
Participants in some of the most desperate struggles of the war, they have written the story of their valor on twenty-six battle fields. The meo of company K have fallen by the river, by the mountain and the sea, but they have not died in vain.
" On fine's eternal camping-ground Their silent tents are spread, And glory guards, with soleinn sound, The hivoune of the dead."
It has been truly said, that "the memory of our dead, is their nohlest monument." ' By the Shenandoah's stream, on the sunny slopes of Cedar Mountain, in the green fields of Maryland, in the valley of the Tennessee, by the Allatoona Pass, in the shadow of Kenesaw, and down where the waves of the Savannah meet the sen, are lying the remains of gallant spirits of' company K. They shall never be forgotten, so long as any of their eont- rades are above ground. Peace to their ashes! May the recollection of their deeds be an inspiration, and our thought of them, in the coming years, be that of love, and love for the cause for which they died.
DIED IN HOSPITALS.
Daniel G. Startzel, William H. Slenker, Peter G. Zimmerman, Samnel Clark, Isnae N. Robinson, John Duncan, Joseph Jaggers, William J. Me- Dowell, Charles W. Mittler, Jacob W. Hesson.
Captain Strouse, having been promoted to major, of the Forty-sixtlı regi- ment, 2d Lientenaut Caldwell was promoted to the captainey of company K. Major Strouse was killed at Chancellorsville. Io his fall, the nution lost one of its noblest defenders.
SOLDIERS NOT ENUMERATED IN THE MUSTER-ROLL OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
36th Regiment-Company K.
Major, H. C. Harper; Captain, A. R. Fiske; 1st Lieutenant, J. M. John; 2d Lieutenant, J. A. Shiff.
Ist Sergeant, E. B. Rhodes; 2d Sergeant, John Harris; 3d Sergeant, Ferd. Rhodes; 4th Sergeant, John MeEbice; 5th Sergeant, M. Sholl.
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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
1st Corporal, F. Dubner; 28 Corporal, W. H. Carlisle ; 3d Corporal, Wil- liam Booth; 4th Corporal, John Weis; 5th Corporal, J. M. Best; 6th Cor- poral, John Hancock; 7th Corporal, David Eveland; 8th Corporal, John Fincher.
Musicians-H. Startzel, Jolm &, Bittenbender.
Privates-Henry Allison, Hiram Bird, William Brown, William H. Bowler, William Buse, G. N. Carlisle, Thomas Curtin, Nicholas Corrau, William C'urlin, John Clifford, John Curtis, Lewis Chamberlain, Adam Derk, T. S. Dewees, John Dower, M. Dooley, J. B. Eaton, M. Emes, Wil- Bam Endie, William Early, W. Il. Gilger, James I. Getter, Jesse Gensel, A. Helt, Jacob Hess, E. Henninger, William Hume, I. Hlower, J. P. M. Haas, Isaac Hause, David Hinc, Sol. Hill, Henry Irich, J. J. John, George D. John, Robert Jones, William Kissinger, Joseph Kopp, Isaac Keiser, . Frederick Kuseman, John R. Lake, Withington Lake, George Lichig, Charles Liebig, William Liebig, M. MeCarty, El. Matthews, George Madara, George W. Miller, Henry Neihoff, John Roach, Jer. Rothermel, John Rupp, Daniel Rupp, Thomas Reese, Johu E. Reese, Isaac P. Raup, William Stillwagner, Jacob Stillwagner, Edw. Stillwagner, Daniel Stohler, John Strickland, John Sterrett, Jacob Triebley, Samuel Tiley, Jacob Tiley, John Tiley, Francis Tahey, M. Taney, Daniel Unger, Juhu Vauzant, David Wearer, Elias Wagner, William E. Walter, Lucius Wynn.
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