History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. I, Part 102

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902. cn
Publication date: 1869
Publisher: Harrisburg, B. Singerly, State Printer
Number of Pages: 1360

USA > Pennsylvania > History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. I > Part 102

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).

At Martinsburg they found General Averill's Cavalry. His command had just returned from a raid upon Salem, in Roanoke county, Virginia, an impor- tant point on the Virginia and Tennessee railroad, where they destroyed a great quantity of commissary stores which the enemy had collected there. On their return they were pursued by a heavy force of rebels. It was thought that the enemy designed pushing forward to the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, perhaps into the border counties of Pennsylvania, and hence the specdy forwarding of these two regiments to the rescue. No attempt was made to execute this pur- pose, and there was no immediate work for the detachment upon its arrival.

The Third was commanded by Major William Briner, the Fourth by Lieu- tenant Colonel T. F. B. Tapper, the whole under command of Colonel Woolworth of the Fourth. The detachment performed picket duty on the roads in the vicinity of Martinsburg from January 7th till the 28th. On the latter date it was ordered to take transportation on cars westward, and was halted at New Creek, a station in a wild mountainous district one hundred miles west from Martins- burg. The detachment reported to Colonel Mulligan who had command of this post. The exigency which called the Third and Fourth to this wild forlorn spot appeared to have passed, and they were ordered to pitch their tents on a flat on the north branch of the Potomac. Early in the night of January 31st, in the midst of a rainstorm, they were ordered to report at Colonel Mulligan's headquarters with two days' rations. It was reported that the rebels had at- tacked a train of eighty wagons going from New Creek to Petersburg, in Hardy county, a point some forty miles south, an extreme out-post, garrisoned by a small federal force. Under the command of Colonel Mulligan the Third and Fourth, accompanied by several small squads of cavalry and infantry commenced the night pursuit. They were marched and counter-marched for six successive days and nights without shelter over muddy and rocky roads, compelled to ford swollen mountain streams, scour the sides of mountains, penetrate gaps on either side of the narrow valley through which they marched, for the double purpose of finding the enemy and guarding against surprise.

Within five miles of Moorefield they formed a junction with Averill's Cay- alry, which had marched from Martinsburg through Winchester and Romney. The enemy moved with rapidity, and succeeded in escaping with most of the wagon train, together with about five hundred cattle stolen from the people of Hardy and Hampshire counties.

Completely exhausted from constant marching, want of sleep and exposure, the two regiments returned on the evening of February 6th to their tents left standing on the banks of the Potomac. On the 10th of February, the Third Regiment was furnished with transportation to Martinsburg. The Fourth followed two or three days later. On the night of February 11th, a force of rebel brigands said to have been under the command of the "chival- rous" Harry Gilmore, threw a passenger train off the track eight miles east of Martinsburg, and robbed the passengers of all their valuable effects. This was represented as the advance guard of a large rebel force in the vicinity of Win- chester. Early on the morning of the 12th, Colonel Rodgers who had com- mand of the troops in and about Martinsburg, put the Third Reserve, Eigh-

641

WEST VIRGINIA CAMPAIGN.

1864

teenth Connecticut, One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio and two batteries, in motion towards Winchester. Several regiments of cavalry preceded the in- fantry and artillery. Winchester was reached in the afternoon, but neither robbers nor enemy in force were found. On the following day this force re- turned to Martinsburg.

Wednesday, February 7th, the Third moved from Martinsburg to Vancleves- ville, five miles east of Martinsburg on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and the Fourth to Kearneysville, nine miles east on the same road. From these two points the regiments performed picket duty on the railroad until March 27th, when the Fourth was moved to Harper's Ferry; two days after, the Third joined it. The detachment performed picket duty at Harper's Ferry till April 3d. All baggage that could possibly be dispensed with was here stored. Each man was ordered to have on his person sixty rounds of cartridge, an extra pair of shoes and four days' rations. Thus relieved of many camp comforts and having received additional burdeps, the Third and Fourth were again sent westward, across the Alleghenies, to Grafton, two hundred miles from Harper's Ferry; from thence, five miles on the South Branch road leading to Parkersburg, to Webster. Several loyal Virginia regiments had preceded the Reserves at this point, and two batteries followed. Averill's cavalry went into camp several miles further north. Wagons, ambulances, and pontoon bridges were collected at Webster. The design of the expedition, which was to start from this point, was to advance upon the Virginia and Tennessee railroad, by marching through Barbour and Randolph counties, and thence directly south through the mountainous districts. The continuous rains, however, made the roads impas- sable; in addition to this, the enemy, having some knowledge of the design and route, had dug down the mountain road in several narrow passes, and felled trees over other portions. It was eventually concluded to abandon the enter- prise. The force that had been collected about Webster was divided and sent east and west. Several Virginia regiments marched to Martinsburg to join the command of General Sigel, about to move on Staunton and Lynchburg. The two Reserve regiments were among the infantry sent west, and, on the 22d of April, started for Parkersburg, on the Ohio river. At Parkersburg they were transferred to steamboats and went down the Ohio to the mouth of the Great Kanawha, thence up this river to Brownstown, ten miles above Charleston. Colonel Sickel, who had been retained at Alexandria to fill an important trust, was ordered, at his own request, to rejoin his old command. He received, upon his arrival, a hearty welcome from the officers and men of his regiment.

General George Crook had command of the troops concentrating in the Kanawha Valley. He spent but four days in organizing his fragmentary eom- mands, reducing baggage, sending off the sick and getting in order his supply and ammunition train. Immediately after landing at Brownstown, General Crook placed Colonel Sickel in command of his Third Brigade, composed of the Third and Fourth Reserve and the Eleventh and Fifteenth West Virginia regi. ments. The Third was under command of Captain Jacob Lenhart. Major William Briner, while at Webster, had received a severe injury in his right hand in extinguishing the fire that was burning his tent, and was sent to the hospital at Grafton, to the deep regret of his men. The Fourth was commanded by Colonel R. H. Woolworth.

On Saturday morning, April 30th, the Third Brigade started from Browns- town, and for two days marched up the narrow Kanawha Valley. The swollen 81

642

1864

THIRTY-THIRD REGIMENT-FOURTH RESERVE.

tributaries of the Kanawha had no bridges and the men were obliged to ford them. On the morning of May 2d, the command started from Great Falls, at the confluence of Gauley and New rivers, (forming the Kanawha,) and climbed the heights of Cotton Mountain. The morning was bright and beau- tiful, quite warm, and many of the men, as they toiled up the steep rough way, became exhausted, and threw away overcoats and blankets. Before noon, dark clouds arose succeeded by a cold chilly rain, and by the time they reached the ragged village of Fayette, they were greeted with a driving snow storm. Men divested of overcoats and blankets, wet to the skin, shivering with the cold, presented a pitiable sight. Fayette was the extreme out-post held by the Union forces. The brigade of infantry and battery on duty here, were added to General Crook's command.

The force was now composed of three brigades of infantry, three batteries, General Averill's cavalry, and a train of one hundred and fifty wagons with about fifty ambulances. The design of the expedition was to strike the Vir- ginia and Tennessee railroad at Wytheville and Dublin, tear up the track, burn the bridge across New river and thus co-operate with the army of the Potomac, by cutting the main artery which furnished supplies to Lee's Army. General Averill moved by Logan Court House, intending to strike at Saltville, to which point there was a branch from the main road.

To deceive the enemy as to the route, General Crook sent the Fifth Virginia Infantry, under command of Colonel A. A. Tomlinson, with Lieutenant Blazer's scouts on the Lewisburg road. This feint succeeded admirably in drawing off M'Causland's Brigade in that direction.

From Fayette Court House the three brigades of infantry with artillery and wagon train, marched through Raleigh county, and across the Great Flat Top Mountain, which was set on fire by our advance. The mountain was system- atically fired on both sides of the road. This was done to give General Averill a signal and mark the course of the infantry. On this day the Third Reserve was acting as a guard to the wagon train. The road was lined with the trunks of dead chestnut trees which burned with great fury. Occasionally a flaming limb or top of a tree would fall across the road, terrifying both horses and men. It was by no means a pleasant duty to guard wagons loaded with ammunition, while passing through such an ordeal as this. Even veteran soldiers were in trepidation lest there should be a premature explosion from sparks that might find their way among the wooden boxes to the missiles of death. On the south side of the Great Flat Top Mountain many trees were found felled across the road-the first intimation of the presence of an enemy. On the 6th of May the advance had a lively skirmish with the Sixtieth Virginia, at Princetown, the county seat of Mercer county. Our forces came upon them suddenly. They left their tents standing, and dropped their tools in the trench of the formi- dable fort they were erecting. During the next two days the command made a forced march, skirmishing by the way with small detachments of the rebels, crossed East River Mountain, passed through Rocky Gap in Tazewell county, and moved through Walker's Valley. It was after a march of thirty miles, on the 8th, that the gap near Shannon's bridge was gained. This gap opens up to the north-west slope of Walker or Cloyd Mountain.

On the morning of the 9th, the command passed through this gap. The Second Brigade was under command of Colonel C. B. White. The Third Re- serve and Eleventh Virginia filed off the mountain road to the left, marched

643

BATTLE OF CLOYD MOUNTAIN.

1864

down a densely wooded ravine for half a mile, and climbed directly to the sum- mit of the mountain. While this was being done, Colonel Sickel with the Fourth Reserve and Fifteenth Virginia proceeded up the mountain road, and the First Brigade advanced up the mountain on the right of the road. General Crook dismounted and climbed the mountain on the left with the Second Brigade and the two regiments of the Third. When the summit was gained the posi- tion of the enemy was discovered on a bold ridge running along the foot of the mountain. His artillery was placed so as to command the mountain road, rake the open fields on either side and the bridge that spanned a deep stream at the mountain's base. The rebel infantry extended on either side of the bat- teries across the open space until their right and left were lost in woods on either side of the road. In this open space the rebels were well protected by a fortification of logs and rails.

General Crook, from his commanding lookout, formed his plan of battle and issued his orders for the advance. The Second Brigade crept secretly along the south side of the mountain to operate upon the enemy's right. The Third Reserve and Eleventh Virginia rejoined Colonel Sickel's Regiment on the moun- tain road. The First and Third Brigades moved down the mountain and formed in the edge of the woods immediately in the enemy's front under a constant fire from rebel artillery. As soon as the Second Brigade had fairly engaged the enemy, the First and Third Brigades were ordered to charge across the open field, in the face of the enemy's battery and over the rail and log for- tification of his infantry. The moment they came out from the cover of the woods, the enemy opened upon them a terrific volley of grape and canister, which told frightfully on the advancing column. Colonel Sickel, who saw his men falling rapidly, ordered his command to move by the left oblique, so as to secure the protection of the hill over which they were charging. This was done in good style, the ravine was gained and they plunged through the deep stream. They paused but a moment on the bank and with a cheer pressed up the steep ridge, the enemy receiving them with a withering fire, as they climbed the height. With an intrepidity that can not be overawed nor baffled, those who survive the deadly volley, rush on and scale the enemy's breast-works. While the First and Third Brigades gain the front, the Second, with heavy loss, break in on the right. The rout of the enemy both in front and on his right is simultaneous and complete.

The enfilading fire that was poured into the rebels on the right, and the fire from the front, as they fied panic-stricken and in disorder, told with terrible effect. The flight of the enemy was followed up by Colonel Oley with four hundred cavalry. Morgan, who had just arrived at Dublin with six hundred men from Saltville, was coming up to the support of the rebels, when he met them discomfitted and fleeing. The advance, which pressed on to Dublin drove him before them. He soon sought refuge with his fleeing comrades.

The loss in this engagement was one hundred and seven killed, five hundred wounded and twenty missing. The two Reserve regiments, number- ing from five to six hundred, had from seventy-five to one hundred killed and wounded. Chaplain Pomeroy buried the remains of Colonel Woolworth, who fell, mortally wounded, at the head of his regiment, together with six private soldiers of the Third and Fourth, underneath a locust tree near by the stream over which the regiment charged. Captain Lenhart was wounded early in the engagement. The command of the Third then devolved upon

644

1864

THIRTY-THIRD REGIMENT-FOURTH RESERVE.

Captain Robert Johnson, and the Fourth, after the fall of Colonel Woolworth, on Lieutenant Colonel T. F. B. Tapper. Captain P. M. Davis died on the field from the effect of his wounds. Captain James H. Waites and Lieutenant Jacob Wheeler, of the Fourth, and Lieutenant B. F. Hemming, of the Third, were among the wounded. The Third Regiment had three color bearers shot down in the charge upon the enemy's works. Owing to the lack of transportation, about two hundred of the most seriously wounded were left in the large brick mansion of James Cloyd, on the battle-field. Supplies were left with them and medical attendance provided for.

In the battle of Cloyd Mountain the enemy is supposed to have had at least four thousand men engaged. This force was under the command of General Jenkins. He was mortally wounded in the engagement, and died a few days after the battle. Over two hundred rebels were buried on the field; at least two hundred wounded were left in our hands, and two hundred and thirty were taken prisoners.

After the complete rout of the rebels here, they did not make a stand at- the railroad. General Crook's force marched into Dublin without firing a gun. Here a great amount of rations and military equipments of different kinds fell into our hands. The rations were appropriated, the warehouses with military stores were destroyed.

On the morning of the 10th, General Crook's command pushed on from Dublin towards the bridge across New river. When within a short distance of this point the enemy opened with artillery. The federal artillery, which was not used in the battle of Cloyd Mountain, was now brought into play and soon silenced the rebel guns. The enemy spiked his pieces and fled. The Third and Fourth regiments were on the left, supporting our batteries during this artillery duel .. In the engagement the Third had one man killed and several wounded.

The enemy beaten, the railroad bridge, an immense structure, was de- stroyed and General Crook's command commenced its return. New river was crossed on the night of the 10th at Pepper's Ferry. The troops were pushed across in a single flat-boat, and the ambulances loaded with wounded men, to- gether with the wagons, were driven through the deep rapid stream. Several men and teams were reported as lost in this perilous crossing. On the night of the 10th, rain began to descend, making the roads horrible. On the 11th, the command marched in rain during the entire day and reached Blacksburg in the afternoon. Here comfortable quarters were found for the wounded in a large brick academy building. On the following day, the rain still contiuning, the march was pursued to the summit of Salt Pond Mountain. The rebels op- posed the advance at several points. Owing to the impassable nature of the roads, and the worn out and almost starved condition of the animals,it was found necessary to destroy part of the loads and in some instances the wagons. On Peters' Mountain, one cannon and ten ambulances were taken from the enemy.

May 15th the command reached Union, the county seat of Monroe county, and on the evening of the 16th the Greenbrier river. The banks of the stream were full to overflowing. The ambulances and wagons were taken across in a single flat-boat.

On the 19th of May, the command halted at Meadow Bluff, in the Southern extremity of Fayette county, after twenty days continuous marching. Half

645

1864

RETURN AND MUSTER OUT OF SERVICE.

this time it was skirmishing with the enemy. Every night a strong guard had to be posted around the camp to avoid surprise. On most of this expedition it had to depend on the country-most of it poverty stricken-for subsistence for both men and animals. By the time it reached Meadow Bluff some of the men were suffering terribly from hunger, and no less than three hundred were without soles to their shoes.

The suffering of the wounded, riding for ten consecutive days over horrible roads, fording deep streams that frequently entered the ambulance beds, and over rugged mountains, cannot be described. From Meadow Bluff the wounded were sent to the Kanawha river, loaded on boats, and from thence taken to Gailipolis, on the Ohio river. On the 22d of May, General Sickel's Brigade was ordered to Millville near Louisburg. While here, their term of service having expired, the Third and Fourth Regiments received orders to return to Pennsylvania, to be mustered out.

On the 30th of May, these two regiments turned faces homeward, leaving be- hind the recruits that had been received into the regiments since their organiza- tion, whose term of service had not yet expired, and the men who had re-enlisted.

The Third and Fourth marched from Millville to Meadow Bluff, and thence across the Great Sewell Mountain to Great Falls and down the Kanawha Valley to Camp Piatt, a point directly opposite Brownstown, on the Kanawha river, from which General Crook's expedition started April 30th. On the 4th of June they embarked upon the steamer Jonas Powell and proceeded to Pittsburg. On the way up the Ohio river, the reception at Pittsburg and transit from Pittsburg to Philadelphia, these veterans received a welcome and hearty greet- ing from a grateful people. The brass band of the detachment gracefully re- turned the greeting in the same soul-stirring strains as reverberated amid the hills and mountains of West Virginia in the daring advance and victorious return.

This band has a peculiar and honorable history. Captain N. A. Penny- packer, of the Fourth, originated it while the detachment was on duty in the Department of Washington. The members were officers and privates, principally from the Fourth, several from the Third. After leaving Washing- ton, in all the wanderings and buffettings of the West Virginia experience, this musical organization was still preserved. Bands and drum corps are usu- ally in the rear when there is danger or fighting to be done. In this case instru- ments were simply sent to the rear, and Captain Pennypacker and his fellow musicians were always found in their places when the enemy was to be met in deadly conflict. Helping to overcome the rebel foe, they were the men to sound forth the paans of victory when the field was won.

Arriving at Philadelphia on Wednesday, June Sth, they were mustered out of service, the Fourth on the 15th and the Third on the 17th days of June. After the order for muster out was received, Colonel Sickel detailed six offi- cers, together with those remaining in the field, to command of the veterans and recruits, as follows: Lieutenants George B. Davis, Amos N. Seitzinger, John H. Crothers and William M'Carty of the Third, and J. N. Blundin and W. H. Derickson of the Fourth. The veterans and recruits formed a bat- talion of five companies, commanded by Captains Sweet, Davis, Blundin, Seitzinger and Moulton. The battalion was in command of Captain Sweet, Captain Blundin acting as Adjutant and Captain Davis as Quartermaster. It participated in all the engagements from Meadow Bluff to Staunton and thence

646

THIRTY-THIRD REGIMENT-FOURTH RESERVE,

to Lynenburg, being employed as skirmishers. They were the first to break the lines of the enemy at Lynchburg, and were upon the point of entering the town when they were ordered to retire. It was afterwards consolidated with the Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania, Colonel Campbell.

FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS.

KAME.

RANK.

DATE OF MUSTER INTO SERVICE.

TERM-YEARS.

REMARES.

Robert G. March.

Col.

July 17, '61, July 22, '61,

Promoted from Lt. Colonel 31st regiment P. V., to Colonel 33d regiment, October 4, 1861 - re- signed December 23, 1862.

Rich. II. Woolworth

.. do

July 28, '61,

3 Promoted from Major 32d, to Lieut. Colonel 33d regiment P. V., June 1, 1862-to Col. March 1, 1863-killed at Cloyd Mountain, May 9, 1864.

John F. Gaul.

Lt. Col.

July 17, '61, 3 Discharged by special order of War Department, February 15, 1862.

Thos. F. B. Tapper ..

.do

May 29, '61,

3 Promoted from Captain company G. to Lieut. Colonel, March 1, 1863-com. Colonel, May 10, 1864-not mustercd-mustered out with regi- ment, June 17, 1864.

Rob't M. M'Clure ...

Maj .....

May 25, '61,

Discharged by special order of War Department, May 12, 1862.

John Nyce.

.. do

June 11, '61,

3 Promoted from Adj. to Major, June 1, 1862-to Colonel 174th Pa. Militia, November 29, 1862.

Enos L. Christman

Juno 6, '61, 3 Promoted from Captain company K, to Major March 27, 1863-resigned April 26, 1863.

Fred'k A. Conrad ..

... do

May 25, '61,

3 Promoted from Captain company B, to Major, July 21, 1863-mustered out with regiment, June 17, 1864.

Frank Wilson.

Adj

June 5, '61,

3 Promoted from Corporal company C, to Sergeant Maj., Feb. 1, 1862-to 1st Lt. and Adj., June 2, 1862-mus. out with regiment, June 17, 1864. 3 Resigned July 22, 1862.

Ambrose A. Lechler Q. M .... Edw'd F. Brothers .. .. do

July 17, '61, July 5, '61,

Promoted from Q. M. Sgt. to 1st Lt. and Q. M., July 24, 1862-mus. out with reg. June 17, 1864. Resigned November 1, 1862.

Adolphus Patze ..

Surg .do

July 17, '61, Dec. 20, '62,

Promoted from Asst. Surg. 34th reg. P. V., Dec. 20, 1862-mus. out with reg. June 17, 1864.

W. T. W. Dickeson As.Sur.

Pr. to Surg. 99th regiment P. V. July 2, 1862.

Fred'k D. Ritter. .do

July 17, '61, 3 June 23, '62, 3 Resigned August 18, 1862.

John B. Greismer ... .do

Aug. 2, '62,

Mustered out with regiment, June 17, 1864.

Wm. B. Brinton.

.. do

Mar. 23, '63,

3 Promoted to Surg. 181th reg. P. V., May 3, 1864. Resigned March 24, 1862.

Adam L. Horn.

Chap'n .do

3 Nov. 1, '61, Dec. 26, '63, May 29, '61, 3

Promoted from Sgt. company G, May 10, 1863- mustered out with regiment, June 17, 1864.

I. H. Clay Becker .. Roger S. Searle.

.do do

July 17, '61, July 6, '61,

3 Promoted from private, Oct. 1, 1861 -- reduced to private and transferred to Co. HI, Jan. 31, 1862. Promoted from private to Sgt. Major, July 1, 3

Isaac W. Ranck

.. do

Mar. 5, '62,

1862 -- to 2d Lt. company E, May 1, 1863.

Jos. Pennypacker ...

Q.M.Sr. Aug. 19, '61,

Promoted from private company K, Jan, 1, '63- mustered out with regiment, June 17, 1864.

William J. Tate ..

Com.Sr May 29, '61,

Promoted from Cor. company G, Jan. 12, 1862- mustered out with regiment, June 17, 1864.

NOTE .- The following abbreviations have been used in the preparation of remarks :

Ab. absent.

Cor. Corperal. Fr. from.

Asst. assistant.

Cem. commissioned er Furl. furlengh.

Pl. principal. Priv. private.

Szt. Sergoant.

Adj. Adjutant.

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.

History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. I, Part 102

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902. cn Publication date: 1869 Publisher: Harrisburg, B. Singerly, State Printer Number of Pages: 1360

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902. cn
Publication date: 1869
Publisher: Harrisburg, B. Singerly, State Printer
Number of Pages: 1360