History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. I, Part 117

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 117

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).

On the 24th of August the regiment was ordered to march to Great Falls, on the Potomac, where it remained two weeks guarding the ford, which was threatened by the enemy. His pickets were in full view on the opposite shore, and on the morning of the 4th of September a considerable force suddenly appeared and opened fire from a battery of five guns, two howitzers and three rifled pieces. As Captain Cooper, who commanded the Union battery, was pro- vided with only two smooth bore guns of short range, Colonel Harvey ordered him not to reply. A brisk fire of shot and shell was kept up for three hours from the rebel guns. Sergeant William Harper, of company A, received a flesh wound from the fragment of a shell, which was the only casualty. A few days later two rifled cannon were sent to the command, with which the Virginia shore was vigorously shelled, but without eliciting any reply. In his official report of the state of his division at this time General M'Call says: "The Seventh Regiment, which has been on picket duty at Great Falls for two weeks past, returned last night. It has rendered valuable service and is in promising condition."

While in camp at Tenallytown the Seventh, with other regiments, was on two occasions formed in line of battle to mect an expected advance of the rebels, and on another marched to Chain Bridge to reinforce General Smith's Division in the event of an attack. Although the clash of arms did not occur on cither of these occasions, the resolute spirit manifested by officers and men gave ample proof of the excellent discipline and efficiency to which they had attained.

On the 9th of October, under orders from General M'Clellan, the Seventh, together with the division, broke camp and moved to the neighborhood of Langley, Virginia. Here the division formed the extreme right of the Army of the Potomac, resting on the south bank of the river fronting Washington. In this camp the regiment remained inactive during the winter of 1861-2, but the time was not spent in idleness. To give thorough training and secure per- fect discipline in the division was the constant aim of the commanding general. Rigorous obedience to orders was strictly enjoined and enforced, the policing of camp and quarters carefully attended to, and rigorous sanitary regulations made to secure the health and comfort of the troops. Picket duty was regu- larly performed; dress parade and guard mount were observed in strict con- formity with army regulations; periodical inspections were rigidly made;

* Organization of the Second Brigade, Brigadier General George G. Meade, Pennsylvania Reserves, Major General George A. M'Call. Third (32d) Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Horatio G. Sickel; Fourth (33d) Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Albert L. Magilton; Seventh (36th) Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel E. B. Harvey ; Eleventh (40th) Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Thomas F. Gallagher.

t On the 3d of September the President of the United States, among other appointments made the following : Captain George G. Meade, of the Topographical Engineers, to be Brigadier General .- Moore's Rebellion Record, Vol. 3, p. 14, Diary.

722

THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT -- SEVENTH RESERVE. 1862

battalion and brigade drill was required daily in favorable weather, and schools of instruction for officers were regularly held. The regiment was frequently exercised in long marches, and the division was on frequent occasions called out for review. Occasional foraging expeditions were sent out into the neigh- boring country in which the regiment participated. On the 18th of October, under orders of the commanding general, M'Call's Division made a reconnois- sanee in foree, marching beyond Dranesville, eleven miles distant from camp. On the 20th of December the battle of Dranesville was fought. At the first sound of the enemy's guns, the Second Brigade was put in motion and reached the battle-field, eleven miles away, in less than three hours, arriving too late, however, to participate in the engagement.

On the 10th of March, the Seventh, in connection with the entire division, broke up winter quarters and proceeded to Hunter's Mills, with the expecta- tion of joining in the attack on the enemy' at Manassas. It having been as- certained that the enemy had left his works and withdrawn towards Gordons- ville, a change in the plan of campaign was adopted, and further march was stayed. The men were here supplied with the small shelter tents, which they continued to use during the remainder of the war. A furious storm prevailed, and on the 12th, in the midst of a delnge of rain, the division broke camp and marched to Alexandria. That mareh through mud and rain and over swollen streams, proved one of the most wearisome and painful made during the war. The Reserves were here assigned to the First Army Corps, commanded by Gen- eral M'Dowell. It was expected that the regiment would embark from Alex- andria with the rest of the army for the Peninsula, but in this the men were disappointed. The First Corps, with the exception of Franklin's Division, was reserved for the protection of Washington. At Fairfax Station, near Alexan- dria, the regiment went into eamp, where it remained four weeks.

On the 9th of April, it moved with the division to Manassas Junetion, where it went into eamp, some of the troops oceupying the comfortable and commo- dious log huts built by the rebels during the previous winter. On the 17th, it marehed to Catlett's Station, and on the 11th of May, to Falmouth. While en- camped here, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Totten resigned, and in the absence of Major Lyman, who had been detailed as Division Provost Marshal sinee November, 1861, Henry C. Bolinger, Captain of company D, was elected to fill the vacaney. Chafing under the restraint which seemed to be imposed upon them in being withheld from the army moving upon the Peninsula, the men received with joyful acelamations the order to join it. Embarking upon trans- ports on the 9th of June, the regiment moved to White House, on the Pamunky, and thenee along the line of the West Point railroad towards the front. Halt- ing within six miles of Richmond, on the left bank of the Chickahominy, the division was placed in position on the extreme right of the Army of the Poto- mac, and was attached to the Fifth Corps, under command of General Fitz John Porter.

The Reserves were now face to face with the enemy, and eager for the fray. They had not long to wait. On the 26th of June, the enemy was encountered near Mechanicsville by the Bucktails, when the First and Third Brigades im- mediately took up a position on the line of Beaver Dam Creek, and awaited the onset. The Second Brigade was at Gaines' Mill, but as the battle opened it marched rapidly to their support. By direction of General M'Call, the

723

BATTLE OF GAINES' MILL.

1862

Seventh Regiment was posted on the left of the line .* Three companies, A, H and C, were deployed as skirmishers, their line extending along the left slope of the hill on which Captain Easton's Battery was posted, nearly parallel with the creek below. The other companies, from their position on the hill- side, could fire over the skirmishiers. For six hours the regiment occupied this position, and as the enemy again and again charged the batteries, poured in an enfilading fire on his left flank. At nine o'clock in the evening, Lieutenant Colonel Bolinger was ordered to take several companies and so dispose them as to watch the enemy during the night. A part of this command was moved up so near to the rebel line, that the conversation of the men could be distinctly heard, being only separated by a small stream. All night long the wounded on the hill-side in front of the batteries, appealed with pitious moans and cries for aid, but nothing could be done for them. A little before day-break these companies were withdrawn, and joining the rest of the regiment retreated by orders from the commanding general.

Retiring to Gaines' Mill, where Porter's Corps was drawn up to receive the enemy now advancing in heavy force on the right flank of the army, the Re- serves, upon their arrival, were posted in the second line as a reserve. The Seventh held the left of the line, near the open ground stretching out to the Chickahominy, and immediately in rear of the brigade commanded by General Butterfield. Its position was several times changed during the engagement, and was entirely separated from the division. Towards evening it was ordered by General Meade, at the request of General Martindale, to move to a ravine near the centre of his division line, to fill a gap between two regiments hitherto disconnected; but before reaching the point designated, it was met by General Martindale in person-the position having been filled by a regiment from another part of the field-who directed that it be led to the left of the line, where a des- perate charge was being made by the enemy. Dashing forward, and cheering lustily as they went, the men met and checked the charging column. It was then ordered to move to the centre of the line of Butterfield's brigade, where it united with the First Maine in resisting an attack directed upon Butterfield's Artillery. The struggle was desperate; but the enemy in overpowering num- bers was precipitated upon onr weakened lines, which were obliged to yield. Falling back some distance, the regiment was twice rallied to save the artillery ;*

* EXTRACT FROM GENERAL M'CALL'S OFFICIAL REPORT .- Somewhat later in the day, a heavy column was launched down the road to Ellerson's Mill, where another most deter- mined attack in force was made. I had already sent Easton's Battery to General Seymour, commanding the left wing, and I now dispatched the Seventh Regiment, Colonel Harvey, to the extremo left, apprehending that the enemy might attempt to turn that flank, by crossing the creek below the mill. Here again the Reserves maintained their position, and sustained their character for steadiness in fine style, never retiring ono foot during a severe struggle with some of the very best troops of the enemy, fighting under the direction of their most distinguished general, (Lee.) For hour after hour the battle was hotly contested, and the rapid fire of our artillery, dealing death to an awful extent, was unintermitted, while the greatly superior force of the enemy enabled him to precipitate column after column of fresh troops upon my nearly exhausted lines .- Moore's Rebellion Record, Comp. Vol. p. 664, Docs.

* As an illustration of the nature of the contest over these guns, the following extract of a letter from Sergeant Harper, of company A, written from the field, is given :- " Hendrick's fate is not known. I am the one who saw him last. I asked him to help defend our battery, on which the enemy was strongly pressing. He was worn out and could hardly stand. I then told him to lie down by the fence and rest. I never saw him again. He probably fell asleep;

1862

724

THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT-SEVENTH RESERVE.

but in vain, and the efforts of the men were now directed to bringing off the caissons filled with ammunition, which, if suffered to fall into the hands of the enemy, would be used for their destruction. As our men were mounting the horses attached to one of the eaissons, a rebel soldier placed his musket elose to the head of the leader, a large gray horse, and fired, killing him instantly. With perfect self possession the soldiers eut away the harness, and with the remaining three horses hastened away, bringing off the ammunition in safety. Among the officers especially active in rallying the men to the support of the artillery, was Captain King, of company H. Remaining on the field to the last, he was captured with twenty of his own company and a number of others belonging to the regiment, who stood by the grins until they found the enemy in their flank and rear. Early in the engagement Colonel Harvey became separated from his regiment, and the command devolved upon Lieutenant Col- onel Bolinger. Falling back in the evening, the regiment halted on the hill- side for the night, and on the following morning was withdrawn aeross the Chiekahominy, taking position in the rear of General Smith's Division. The loss in this engagement was very heavy, comprising in killed, wounded and missing nearly half of its effective strength.

At ten o'eloek Saturday night, the entire division moved on, in a body, over the corduroy road leading to Savage Station. On the way, while passing through a dense forest, in the darkness, a body of rebel cavalry attempted to charge upon the column from an opening on the side of the road, but finding the Seventh ready to receive them, they quickly withdrew. At daylight the regiment passed Savage Station, and marehed through White Oak Swamp towards Charles City Cross Roads, The progress of the column was slow, the Reserves being charged with the protection of the reserve artillery of the entire army, consisting of thirteen batteries, in command of General Hunt. In addition to the trains, a drove of twenty-five hundred beef cattle encumbered the way. The men were several times halted on the march by the road side, but were not allowed to make fires to cook their eoffee, lest it should attraet the notice of the enemy.

The trains so blocked the way that the Reserves were not aeross White Oak Creek until near noon of the 29th. It was anticipated that the enemy would advance on the roads leading from Richmond, and make a determined effort to break through our lines for the purpose of eutting off and erushing a portion of the army now struggling to save its trains. General M'Call was ordered by the General-in-Chief to put his division in position to repel any attaek from the direction of Richmond. At ten o'clock P. M. the Seventh reached the Charles City Road, and was immediately placed on pieket. In a short time it was with- drawn, and ordered to the support of batteries commanding the roads. In the morning it was relieved and ordered back about a mile and a half, where it lay in the open field until afternoon, the feeling beginning to prevail that the hard fighting for the present was over. This impression was confirmed by an order from General M'Call, which was read to the troops, commending in the most flattering terms the conduet of the division in the battles of Meehaniesville and Gaines' Mill, and promising a brief respite from the fierce eonfliets in which it had been engaged. Hardly was the reading of the order finished when the

and in ten minutes the fight was hand to hand over the guns of the battery. We fell back, lost the guns and the ground, and he was, I suppose, awakened by Southern friends to go back with them to Richmond."

725

CHARLES CITY CROSS ROADS.

1862

picket line was attacked and driven in by the skirmishers of Anderson's Divi- sion of the rebel army. The line was hurriedly formed to receive the attack which was not long in coming, the Seventh occupying a position on the right of the line and of the road leading to Richmond. The enemy's artillery at once opened, eliciting a prompt reply, and after a half hour's vigorous firing from either side, he sent forward a regiment which was promptly repulsed by the Seventh. Noticing a movement of the enemy in a clump of woods in his front, General Meade ordered the Third, Fourth and Seventh regiments to enclose the timber, and by sweeping over the ground, capture the party. The attempt was made; but through some misunderstanding of the officers commanding, was only partially successful, and the troops were thrown into some confusion. Some time after this, the regiment was stationed in rear of the Fourth Regiment, in support of Randall's Battery, when the enemy made a determined attack upon the latter, which resulted in a fierce hand to hand struggle, the men club- bing their muskets and freely using the bayonet. Until darkness put an end to the contest the struggle to gain the Quaker City Road, on which our trains were moving, was continued with a desperation and recklessness rarely paral- leled in warfare, but without success. The material of the army was brought safely through to Malvern Hill, and during the night the troops were all with- drawn to the new battle ground. In the sanguinary contest which ensued on the following day the Seventh was not engaged, the division being held in re- serve. A triumphant victory was achieved. On the following day the army was withdrawn to Harrison's Landing, where it encamped and fortified.

The seven days fighting ended, upon mustering the regiment, only about two hundred out of that full ranked, well disciplined body of men who embarked upon the Rappahannock less than a month before and marched to the Penin- sula with brave hearts and exultant spirits, were present to answer to their names. The loss in killed, wounded and missing, was three hundred and one. Captains R. M. Henderson, E. G. Lantz, W. W. White and S. B. King; Lieu- tenants L. G. M'Cauley and J. L. Zug, and Lieutenant E. Beatty, acting ord- nance officer on the staff of General M'Call, were among the wounded.

On the 4th of July, Colonel Harvey resigned, and Lieutenant Colonel Bol- inger was promoted Colonel, Captain R. M. Henderson, of company A, Lieu- tenant Colonel, Major Lyman being still absent as Division Provost Marshal. A number of promotions were also made among the line officers, and several meritorious non-commissioned officers were promoted to be Lieutenants. On the 31st, the camp was shelled by the enemy from a position occupied on the opposite side of the James. Soon after, the Seventh, under command of Lieu- tenant Colonel Henderson, marched with the brigade to dislodge them, and to protect the camp and shipping from further annoyance. Sharp shooters taking refuge in the house of Edmund Ruffin, who boasted that he fired the first shot at Fort Sumpter, had fired upon the transports. Orders were given to take possession of the house, and to destroy it if found occupied by rebel soldiers. On the 15th of August, the purpose of the expedition having been accomplished, the brigade was relieved, and embarking upon the James, proceeded via Fort- ress Monroe to Aequia Landing, arriving on the 17th, and soon after marched to Kelly's Ford, on the Rappahannock. This movement united the Reserves now commanded by General Reynolds, with the Army of Northern Virginia, under General Pope. Remaining on the line of the Rappahannock disputing with the enemy the passage of the fords until the 22d, the division moved by

726

THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT-SEVENTHI RESERVE. 1862

devious ways to the neighborhood of Groveton, where it again confronted the enemy. The Reserves occupied the left of the line and joined the corps of Sigel on the right. On the 29th, desultory fighting, resembling a series of heavy skirmishcs, was kept up during the entire day without bringing on a general engagement. This manœuvring was continued during the early part of the following day, and finally resulted in a heavy battle, in which the Sev- enth, gallantly led by Lieutenant Colonel Henderson, maintained its ground with heroic bravery, eliciting the warm commendation of Generals Reynolds and M'Dowell. . At the close of the day the division was ordered back to Aque- duet Bridge, and thencc, two days later, to Upton's Hill. Late in the action Colonel Henderson was severely wounded and borne from the field. The loss of the regiment was very heavy. On the 31st, a severe engagement occurred at Chantilly with the forces of Jackson, but the Seventh did not become en- gaged. On the same day, Colonel Bolinger returned and resumed command.

At the close of Pope's campaign, the Seventh went into camp at Munson's Hill, near the Potomac, where it remained until the 7th of September, when, with the Army of the Potomac, it moved to Washington, and thence to Meri- dian Hill, encamping upon the same ground that it occupied in the flush of its full ranks and enthusiasm, in July, 1861. Two days later the regiment marched through Maryland to Frederick City, and upon its arrival was immediately or- dered forward to meet the enemy, holding the passes of the South Mountain. Moving to within a mile of the base of the mountain, it struck off, by a by-road, a mile and a half to the right of the main pike, where it was deployed on the open ground and advanced toward the enemy, driving back his skirmishers to the foot of the mountain. Here the enemy was met in force; but the impetu- osity of the assault upon his line caused it to break, and he retreated up the rugged side of the mountain, closely pursued by the Reserves. Just as the line reached the summit-the enemy in full retreat, but still firing from behind rocks and trees-a rebel soldier turned and deliberately fired at Colonel Bolin- ger, who was in the front urging on his men, the ball entering and tearing the flesh from his right arm and passing through his right breast, inflicting a se- vere and dangerous wound. The command then devolved upon Major Lyman; but the victory was already complete.

On the following morning the division received orders to move, and on reach- ing the turnpike found that the entire army had passed. Proceeding to Boons- boro', and thence by the Sharpsburg pike to Keedysville, it moved a short dis- tance to the right of the town, near Antictam Creek, and encamped for the wight. On the following day, the 16th, at twelve o'clock, the division marched to the right, and took position in the skirt of woods near the Hagerstown turn- pike, on which the right rested. It was here deployed and was soon engaged, driving the enemy's pickets a half mile, and attacking his main line. It was twilight when this point was reached, and at dark our artillery was placed in position and opened a most terrific fire upon the enemy at short range. This lasted until ten o'clock. At daybreak on the following morning, the regiment moved forward with the brigade six hundred yards along the pike, towards Sharpsburg, the right still resting on the turnpike, when the enemy was en- countered in the cornfield in force. A fierce infantry contest ensued, in which the enemy was driven back a distance of fifty yards, but subsequently regained the ground. Here the line received a raking fire of musketry from the woods on the left, around which the left of the division line made a curve, sustaining

727

1862

ANTIETAM AND FREDERICKSBURG.

a heavy loss. At this juncture a battery was brought into position on com- manding ground in rear of the line, and opened a fire of canister upon the enemy, that enabled the infantry to advance to the fence, which was held until nine o'clock, when the division was relieved. The Seventh, holding a position which could not for the time be filled, was retained a half hour longer in line, when it also was relieved; but as it was withdrawing, the regiment which had taken its place being new and unused to battle, fell into disorder and aban- doned the ground, when the Seventh was again ordered back. At ten o'clock it was again relieved and marched back to the woods in the rear. On reaching the woods General Sumner rode up and asked, " What regiment is this ?" "The Seventh Reserves," was the answer. "I want you," said the General, "to again advance to the fenee in your front, on the rising ground in view of the enemy." This was promptly done, though at a fearful cost. Captain Colwell, and pri- vates John Callio, Leo Faller, David Spahr and William Culp, all of company A, being killed or mortally wounded by the explosion of a single shell. On reaching the fenee, Sumner's Corps having repulsed the enemy's onset, the regi- ment was ordered back to the rear, and at eleven o'clock rejoined the division.

On the 18th a detachment of the regiment, under Captain King, was ordered out for the burial of the dead. On the 19th it moved forward two miles to the Potomae, when it was discovered that the enemy had escaped into Virginia. On the 3d of October the division was reviewed by the President, and on the 12th the Seventh was detailed as a part of the force sent out to meet the rebel cay- alry on its raid under Stuart. Clothing was soon after provided, and on the 26th it moved by way of Berlin aeross the Potomac to Warrenton, arriving on the 6th of November, and was immediately placed on the picket line. The regiment remained in camp here until the 16th, when it moved with the army, now in command of General Burnside, in the direction of Fredericksburg. After a three days' march the division halted at Belle Plain, near Acquia Creek, where the regiment went into camp on familiar ground.

On the 10th of December demonstrations were commenced in force against the enemy, to secure the crossing of the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg. A general bombardment of the city was opened on the 11th, and on the following day the army crossed the river and took position on the right bank below Fredericksburg. Standing in line of battle for several hours, in front of the heights bristling with cannon and bayonets, the Seventh was exposed to an almost continuous enfilading fire from Stuart's Light Battery on its left,* while at the same time the enemy's guns in front were kept actively at work. Dur- ing this artillery duel, which it bore with unshaken firmness, the horse of the Adjutant, Lieutenant Stout, was struck by a shell, and the Adjutant himself slightly wounded. To remain quiet under such a fire was more trying than active conflict with the foe, and it was a relief to hear the order to charge, the Seventh obeying it with alacrity. Moving forward upon the heights, leaping ditches, and disregarding every obstruction, the line penetrated deep into the woods, until it surprised in their very trenches the soldiers of Longstreet's

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 117

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