History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. I, Part 134

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 134

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Died January 16, 1863, of wounds received at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862-buried in Military Asylum Cemetery.

Weeks, William ..

May

4, '61,

3 Descrted June 1, 1863.

Zents, Philip.

.. do

May

4, '61,

3 Transferred to Vet. Reserve Corps, Feb. 11, '64.

Shaw, Joseph

July

18, '61,

Shaw, Andrew.

July 18, '61,

Trant, Philip.

May

4, '61,

Woods, Matthew do

May

4, '61,

3 Discharged on Surgeon's certifieate, Dec. 19, '62.

Williams, William ... do

May 4, '61,

Mustered out with company, May 12, 1864.

3 Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Mar. 9, '63.

Singleton, Lewis ..

do July 18, '61,

TERM-YEARS.

THIRTY-NINTH REGIMENT, TENTH RESERVE.

THE Tenth Regiment was recruited in the western section of the State, for the most part in the counties of Warren, Crawford, Mercer, Venango, Lawrence, Clarion, Beaver, Washington and Somerset. Most of the companies „ were organized for the three months' service. Some were accepted and went into camp, where, the quota being full, they awaited further orders. Others remained at home, but preserved their organizations, and upon the first call for the three years' service were in readiness to move. The companies were composed of men of but little previous military experience, but of more than usual intelligence and education. Some had been teachers, many were grad- uates of colleges, and a large number were students at college when they en- listed. Company I was largely composed of the under graduates of Allegheny College at Meadville; company D of those of Jefferson College at Canonsburg ; and company G comprised many of this class.

The companies rendezvoused at Camp Wilkens, near Pittsburg, which was under command of Colonel Hays of the Eighth Regiment. This camp was in a filthy condition, and much sickness prevailed in consequence. The regimen- tal organization was effected during the last days of June, 1861, by the choice of the following officers : John S. M'Calmont, of Venango county, a graduate of West Point and a regular army officer, Colonel; James T. Kirk, from Cap- tain of company D, Lieutenant Colonel; Harrison Allen, from Captain of com- pany H, Major. Blankets of a superior quality were issued immediately after arriving in camp, and good, wholesome rations, plentiful in quantity, were regularly supplied. On the 1st of July the regiment moved twelve miles up the Allegheny River to camp Wright, most excellent camping ground, beauti- fully located. Here its organization was completed, and it was thoroughly dis- ciplined by its experienced commander.

On the 18th of July, the regiment left camp under orders to move to Cum- berland, Maryland; but before reaching Bedford Springs, the order was coun- termanded, and it was hurried to Harrisburg, where, on the 21st of July, it was mustered into the United States service for three years. The unexpected defeat at Bull Run, the news of which was here first received, darkened the hopes of many who had believed that a few months at most would end the re- bellion; but none faltered. Late on the afternoon of the 22d the regiment moved by rail to Baltimore, and bivouacked in the open square, near the depot, until the evening of the 23d, when it marched with loaded arms and fixed bayo- nets, and encamped on the common south of the city. On the 24th it proceeded to Washington. While at the depot it met a regiment of New York troops, which had been enaged at Bull Run. A single battle had made sad havoc in its ranks. Many were maimed, and hobbled along as best they could; some

1861

814

THIRTY-NINTH REGIMENT-TENTH RESERVE.

were borne upon stretchers, and 'here and there one who had lost a leg or an arm. Later in the contest such things were scarcely noted, but they produced a deep impression then. Moving about a mile east of the Capitol, it encamped and remained until the 1st of August, when it proceeded to the camp at Tenal- lytown, where the Reserve regiments were assembled. Early in September it was detailed for picket duty at Great Falls, on the Potomac, where it remained a week. At Camp Tenally the usual routine of drill and camp duty was ob- served, and General M'Call, in his report of its condition, pronounced it "well drilled." It was assigned to the Third Brigade, at first commanded by Colo- nel M'Calmont, but subsequently by Brigadier General E. O. C. Ord.

On the 10th of October, the regiment moved into Virginia, and took posi- tion in line with the army, the right resting on the Potomac, and the left con- necting with General Smith's Division. On the 10th of December, the enemy, under Stuart, was met at Dranesville by General Ord's Brigade, both parties being out upon a foraging expedition in force. The action opened at a little past midday by a smart firing between the skirmishers, soon followed by the artillery of the enemy, which was replied to by Easton's Battery. During the action four companies of the Tenth were posted on the left, and in support of the artillery. Colonel M'Calmont, noticing that the gunners were firing over the heads of the enemy, rode up to them and called out, "Point your pieces lower, my boys! You are firing over them, you must lower your guns!" The suggestion was at once heeded, and the result was the blowing up of one of the enemy's ammunition boxes, the killing of several horses, and the killing and wounding of many of his men. Company B was thrown forward as skirmish- ers, and did good execution. The remaining five companies were with the wagon train and were not engaged. There were no casualties in the Tenth. The enemy was completely routed and driven from the field. This success greatly elated the spirit of the troops engaged, and tended to counteract the depressing effect of the Ball's Bluff disaster.t On the 14th of February Major Allen, having been for a long time in ill health, resigned, and Adjutant Sion B. Smith was elected to succeed him. Sergeant Major O. H. Gaither was appointed Adjutant.

Early in March the army commenced a general forward movement upon Manassas, and the Tenth moved with the division to Hunter's Mills. The re- treat of the rebel army producing a change in the plan of campaign, the regi- ment made a forced march to Alexandria. While on the way a terrible storm prevailed, and on account of the destruction of a bridge, it was forced to make a long detour to reach the Alexandria and Leesburg turnpike. On its arrival it encamped without tents or shelter, and suffered severely from the inclemency

*Organization of the Third Brigade, Brigadier General E. O. C. Ord; Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, Major General George A. M'Call. Tenth (39th) Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel John S. M'Calmont ; Sixth (35th) Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel W. W. Ricketts; Ninth (38th) Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Conrad F. Jackson ; Twelfth (41st) Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel John H. Taggart.

+ "At Dranesville," says Colonel Ayer, "before the battle fairly commenced it was found by General Ord that our artillery were too far advanced. The Tenth was at the time on the pike awaiting orders. Not knowing what might happen, our Colonel was manœuvring us for the moment in 'forming square.' Just then Ord came dashing up, 'make way for this artillery !' he shouted, and without slackening his speed dashed by while his 'war dogs' followed close behind. The General was an old artilleryist and knew well how to value and use this arm of the service. The scene was, I think, one of the most animated that I witnessed during the war."

815

1862

MECHANICSVILLE AND GAINES' MILL.

of the weather. From Alexandria it moved tia Fairfax and Centreville, to Ma- nassas Junction, and thence to the neighborhood of Fredericksburg, where the Reserves were attached to the command of General M'Dowell, charged with the defence of Washington. While here General Ord was transferred from the command of the Third Brigade to that of a division, and was succeeded by Brigadier General Truman Seymour. On the 9th of May, Colonel M'Calmont resigned, and Lieutenant Colonel James T. Kirk was elected to succeed him. Captain A. J. Warner, of company G, was elected Lieutenant Colonel.

· About the middle of June, the Reserves were detached from M'Dowell's Corps, and ordered to the Peninsula, to reinforce the army of M'Clellan. Pro- ceeding by water to White House, on the Pamunky, the regiment marched to the neighborhood of Mechanicsville, where, with the division, it was attached to the Corps commanded by General Fitz John Porter, holding the left bank of the Chickahominy River, and covering the line of supply to White House. At the battle of Mechanicsville, which was fought on the 26th of June, the Tenth occupied the ground immediately to the right of the road leading to Mechanicsville, near its crossing of the Beaver Dam Creek, only a short dis- tance above its confluence with the Chickahominy. Its left rested upon the embankment at the old mill, and connected with the right of the Ninth. On the sloping ground extending down to the creek, a line of rifle pits was dug, under the direction of Captain M'Daniels and Lieutenant Pattee, the first ex- perience which the troops had in this line of duty, but which subsequently be- came as much a matter of necessity to success as the musket or the cartridge- box. A part of the regiment was posted in these pits, and a part in a piece of woods to the right of them, while companies C and I, Captain Ayer and Lieu- tenant Cochran, were thrown forward as skirmishers. Easton's Battery was stationed on the brow of the hill, just in rear of the Tenth. On both sides of the creek, which is here a sluggish stream, the ground is swampy and was cov- ered with a growth of underwood. On the Mechanicsville side the ground de- scends for a quarter of a mile to the creek bottom. As the enemy came down the descending ground, through the fields and along the road, Easton's Battery opened a rapid fire, and when within rifle range, the men posted in the pits and along the old mill-dam, poured in so destructive a fire that he was forced back with terrible slaughter. Notwithstanding this bloody repulse, again and again he renewed the attempt to reach the creek and to force a passage, his main at- tacks being made along the road and upon the bridge near the mill. But noth- ing could withstand the steady fire of the Reserves, and his columns advanced only to be broken and beaten back with most grievous slaughter. The line of the Tenth was every where preserved intact, and a joyful exultation was felt when night put an end to the battle. Its wounded were promptly cared for; but all night long the rebels left on the field, mangled and torn in the dreadful conflict, filled the air with their cries and groans. On account of the favorable position which the regiment occupied it suffered small loss, Captain M'Connell was severely wounded.

At three o'clock on the morning of the 27th, an order was received to fall back in the direction of Gaines' Mill, the position at Mechanicsville being no longer tenable. The withdrawal was skillfully and successfully executed in the face of the enemy, and the column retired in good order. In the neighbor- hood of Gaines' Mill, Porter's Corps had taken position with the river at its back, to resist the enemy, now moving heavily upon the right flank of the army.

816

THIRTY-NINTH REGIMENT-TENTH RESERVE. 1862

Gaines' Run is a small stream which has worn for itself a deep channel, and has rough wooded slopes on either side, except near its confluence with the Chickahominy, where the ground is low and cleared. The battle on the centre and left was principally fought in the rough wooded slope on the left bank of the stream. Behind this belt of woods were level fields. The army was drawn up in three lines, the front in the woods, and as one line was broken and driven back another was sent in to take its place. The artillery, posted in the open fields, was of little service until the enemy had driven our infantry from the woods and began to emerge therefrom.

The Tenth Regiment was posted in the second line, and was not engaged until half-past three in the afternoon. It was then moved hurriedly a half mile to the right in anticipation of an attack, but was almost immediately taken back at a double quick, and placed in support of a battery to the right, and front of the original position. At this time the battle was raging furiously along the entire line. In its immediate front was felled timber, through which the line receded, and as reinforced, drove back the enemy. A half hour later the Tenth was ordered further to the left, where it was brought in under a heavy fire, ready for a charge. It was here in a trying position, just upon the brow of the ravine, where it caught a heavy fire from the enemy without the possi- bility of returning it. Many here fell. Soon the order came to charge, and with resistless power it swept forward, crossed the ravine, and up the opposite bank, and clearing the woods of the enemy held this advanced position against every attempt to dislodge it. It was then ordered to retire to the brow of the slope next the enemy, where it was partially under cover, and from which a heavy and uninterrupted fire was delivered until near sundown, when our left having been turned, it was compelled to fall back, emerging from the woods just in time to save itself from being cut off by the advancing and exultant enemy. Night soon put an end to the contest, and under cover of darkness its broken ranks were closed, and it retired across the Chickahominy. In this en- gagement the loss was very heavy. In a single company, I, six were killed, three missing, probably killed, and seventcen wounded .*

On the 28th, the regiment was detailed to pickct duty on the Chickahominy, and at three o'clock on the morning of the 29th commenced the march towards White Oak Swamp and the James River.t The march was a weary one, the trains in many places blocking the way, and extended far into the night. On the morning of the 30th of June, the regiment was mustered for pay, and

* Corporal Edwin B. Pier had his right arm shattered, and afterwards died from the effects of the wound. * * * When the war broke out he was one of the most promising students of Allegheny College. Of fine mind and devout and refined feelings, he was a devoted chris- tian and an earnest patriot. He was an excellent Greek and Hebrew scholar, and spent much of his time when off duty in the reading of the Greek Testament. Of modest deportment, he was as courageous as he was humble. * * * The last hours of his life have often been de scribed to me by a kind lady who watched over his dying bed, as being such a remarkable in- stance of christian triumph in the final hour, as she had never witnessed .- Extract from Colonel Ayer's Account of the Battle.

t "I think," says Colonel Ayer, "I have never seen examples of greater endurance than ex- hibited upon the part of the wounded in this retreat. Saturday they were lying all day at the hospital with little or no attention. The weather was exceedingly warm. Sunday they march- ed all day through a sweltering sun, resting perhaps two hours in the middle of the day. The garments of many of them were stiff with blood. They had no nourishing food. Their wounds had simply been bound up without further attention, and they were already much annoyed with worms. * *

* Still there was not a murmur. All endured cheerfully. Towards

817

1862

BATTLE OF CHARLES CITY CROSS ROADS.

at a little after noon it was drawn up in line of battle. The left of the division was posted by General M'Call in person, in a zigzag line, the Twelfth on the left, the Tenth and Ninth next in order, with the Eighth and Second in sup- port. A German battery occupied an elevated position near a house, partly between and in rear of the Tenth and Twelfth regiments. . A heavy fire was suddenly opened upon this battery from the rebel guns just brought into posi- tion. The fire was feebly returned, and in a few minutes the battery was desert- ed. The left of the Tenth, which had been extended to protect these guns from infantry, remained at its place under Lieutenant Pattee. Immediately after this the rebel lines advanced, and a charge was ordered by General M'Call. The Twelfth was posted so as to form a considerable angle with the Tenth, with which the Ninth formed nearly a right angle. An order for all to advance at the same time led to considerable confusion ; but Lieutenant Colonel Warner held the left under a sharp fire until the regiment had executed a half wheel, then charged forward with the rest of the line upon the advancing foe, whose ranks were quickly broken, and his whole line driven from the open field back to the cover of the woods and to his guns. The Tenth captured sixty prisoners and a stand of colors. A sword taken from an officer of the Seventeenth Vir- ginia, manufactured at Richmond, bearing the letters "C. S. A.," was presented to Colonel Warner on the field, by General Seymour.

Unfortunately the two supporting regiments were ordered forward in the same charge, and all were necessarily thrown into more or less confusion. The regiments becoming intermingled, and the men elated with the success of the charge, it was impossible, by every effort the officers could make, to restore the ranks before the enemy again came forward in increased force and unbroken columns. Colonel Warner, with a hundred men, was thrown forward to occu- py a house and some temporary breastworks. The enemy advanced rapidly in heavy force and played upon our confused lines with his batteries. Warner opened a sharp fire from the breastworks, checking the rebel advance and hold -. ing him back at that point until the position was flanked in consequence of the yielding of the troops on the left, when a number of Warner's men were cap- tured, a part escaping with much difficulty. Here Adjutant General Biddle was mortally wounded. He very imprudently came to this point to look at the advancing line, and declared that they were our men, when he was struck by a musket ball or canister shot. The supports, at this juncture, commanded by General Seymour, and Colonels Simmons and M'Candless, had been lying close to the ground for protection from the enemy's shots. As they rose up to charge a volley seemed to sweep them. Colonel Simmons was killed, General Sey- mour's horse was shot and he fell out of the column. At almost the same in- stant nearly every officer to whom the troops looked for support was cut down. Bewildered by the suddenness and impetuosity of the attack, they were borne back in-some disorder to the woods; but so stubbornly had the field been con- tested by the Reserves, and by a portion of Hooker's Corps, which came oppor- tunely to the support of the left wing, that the enemy failed to push his advan- tage, and night soon coming on the battle ended, leaving the Reserves in pos-

evening the wounded men passed through a field in which were a number of sheep, when Ser- geant Hollister, notwithstanding his arm was so shattered as afterwards to require amputa- tion, took his revolver, and in company with others, after a hard chase, succeeded in bringing- one of them down. Having detailed one of my men to help them along, he made them a good kettle of mutton broth, of which they all partook and were much invigorated." 103

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THIRTY-NINTH REGIMENT-TENTH RESERVE. 1862

session of nearly the same ground which they occupied at the opening of the battle. The men were completely exhausted, and they dropped down to rest where they stood; but at the expiration of two hours they were again sum- moned into line. It was with the utmost difficulty that they could be aroused. Many, after being awakened and ordered out, fell asleep again, even dropped down after taking their places in the ranks, and in the darkness that prevailed, were left behind to be awakened next morning by the enemy, and marched to Richmond. During the night the regiment moved to Malvern Hill, and dur- ing the battle of the succeeding day was not engaged. The loss in the Tenth, in the series of battles which commenced at Mechanicsville, was over two hun- dred. Captain Miller was killed; Lieutenant Gaither was mortally wounded; Captains Adams, Ayer, M'Connell and Phipps, and Lieutenants Moore, Wray and Shipler were wounded.

From Malvern Hill the army withdrew to Harrison's Landing. While here Major Sion B. Smith resigned, and Captain James B. Knox, of company E, suc- ceeded him. On the night of the 31st of July, the camp was cannonaded by a party of the enemy on the opposite side of the James, and the Tenth, with others, was thrown across the river as a working party to clear away the trees and underwood, and to picket the right bank of the river. It was, accordingly, the last to embark in the transfer of the army from the James to the Rappa- hannock.

At Fredericksburg, Lieutenant Colonel Warner was detailed by General Burnside to take charge of a party of convalescents and stragglers, left behind out of the whole army, and to follow it in its march to join General Pope; but he afterwards moved them by steamer to Alexandria. During the ten days that followed he collected and forwarded to their commands seven thousand men.

From the Peninsula the regiment passed to the army of General Pope, and participated in the second Bull Run battle. On the 28th, M'Dowell's Corps was manœuvred during the greater portion of the day with the design of cutting off and capturing Jackson's Corps; but finding, towards evening, that this pro- ject was likely to prove abortive, and that its own safety was in peril, it suddenly shot off in the direction of Manassas Junction, infantry, cavalry, and artillery. Scarcely had it reached that point, when it made a sharp turn and marched rapidly back, coming to a stand near the position from which it had started a few hours before.

During the 29th, several feints were made by the Reserves, with a view of drawing off the enemy from other points of attack. The Tenth was several times under fire during the day, but was withdrawn without severe loss. Late in the evening it was vigorously shelled by the enemy, but was removed and sent out on picket, Captain Ayer having charge of the line. Early on the fol- lowing morning it was withdrawn and posted with the division on the extreme left of the army. Towards the close of the day, a heavy and combined attack was made upon that part of the line, and the Tenth was hotly engaged with varying success, the men fighting bravely and suffering severe loss; but it was found impossible to withstand the superior force concentrated against it. It had been pressed back a half mile when night put an end to the engagement. The army at once began its retreat, falling back upon Centreville. The division was here under command of General Reynolds, and was handled with great skill throughout the three days of conflict. The loss in the Tenth was twelve

1862

SOUTH MOUNTAIN AND ANTIETAM.

819

killed, thirty-four wounded and nineteen missing. Of the killed were Captain Hindman and Lieutenant Fox, and of the wounded, Colonel Kirk, Captain Ayer, Adjutant Phelps and Lieutenant Williams.

The regiment next met the enemy at South Mountain. It was at first held in reserve, but was soon ordered in, to cover the space between the First Bri- gade and the left of the division. At the crest of the first ridge the column was swept by a heavy fire, and many fell. Lientenant Colonel Warner, now in command of the regiment, had his horse shot under him, and the men, dis- pirited by their defeat at Bull Run, hesitated to advance,-hesitated in the very position in which they were most exposed; but urged forward by their officers, they rushed on driving the enemy before them. After passing the first crest and descending into the ravine, they suffered much less, though nearly every rock and tree concealed an enemy. In ascending the rugged mountain side, his shots generally passed harmless over head, while theirs told with fearful effect. To the right of the regiment was a low gap and an open field. When half way up the mountain side a considerable body of the enemy was discovered retreat- ing along the crest in this field. Moving to the right, the regiment rushed up the acclivity with all possible speed to cut off the party, now flying before the First Brigade. The men reached the summit in a state of complete exhaustion, but in time to intercept from two to three hundred, a portion escaping. At this point the Tenth was relieved by General Duryea, but bearing to the left to close with the Ninth and Twelfth regiments, it fought its way to the summit, where it rested* for the night, greatly elated with the victory gained. The wounded of the regiment were speedily cared for, and many a union soldier gave up his blanket to a wounded rebel. It was highly complimented on the field for its gallantry, both by General Hooker and General Meade. The loss was four killed and nineteen wounded.

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History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. I, Part 134

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