History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. I, Part 153

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 153

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On coming into position at Harrison's Landing, it was found that the two grand divisions of the army were separated by a broad and deep tidal stream, with no bridge for its passage. Generals Porter and Seymour entrusted the

1862

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FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT-BUCKTAIL.

location and construction of a bridge to Major Stone, the latter saying that the Engineer Corps would require several days to complete it, and in the meantime the army might be sacrificed in detail. They expressed the hope that the rafts- men of the Bucktail Regiment might construct it in two days. The space to be bridged was five hundred feet, and in places the water was ten feet deep. The only material at hand was the timber growing along the banks of the streams and in the swamps. At five P. M., the bridge was commenced, the gal- lant lumbermen stripping to the work and swimming and wading to raise the cribs. At sunrise on the following morning, to the great satisfaction of the Generals, the bridge was ready for the artillery to cross.

Soon after the arrival of the command at Harrison's Landing, Major Stone resigned to take command of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regiment, and Colonel M'Neil, who had been absent sick, returned and assumed com- mand. On the 8th of August, a portion of the men captured at Mechanicsville having been exchanged, returned to duty. From the Peninsula the battalion proceeded to Warrenton, where it joined the Army of Northern Virginia, and was engaged on the 29th and 30th of August, in the second battle of Bull Run, losing five killed, nineteen wounded and three missing.

The four companies which had been under command of Lieutenant Colonel Kane, remained with Fremont's Corps, now Sigel's, after the battle of Cross Keys, and were next engaged at Cedar Mountain. On the 19th of August, they were encamped at Brandy Station, on the Orange and Alexandria rail- road, where Lieutenant Colonel Kane, who had been a prisoner since the affair at Harrisonburg, rejoined them. He had not yet thrown aside his crutch, but he immediately issued an order that "the soldiers carry at all times, until further orders, one hundred rounds of ball cartridge, forty or more rounds in the cartridge-box, the remainder in the haversack." On the morning of the 22d, the battalion was ordered to accompany the staff trains, and marched back to Catlett's Station, to the rear of the army, where were the wagons con- taining the private baggage and papers of General Pope, and where several regiments were encamped for their protection. The Bucktails numbered one hundred and sixty men. Of these, Captain Winslow with fifteen, was posted at night of the 22d on picket. Early in the evening a terrific thunder storm came on, which caused the men to hug closely their tents. Between nine and ten P. M., a heavy body of rebel cavalry, under command of General J. E. B. Stuart, charged directly over the camp of the Bucktails, taking Winslow and his picket guard prisoners before they had time to give the alarm. Stuart was on his famous ride in the rear of the army, for the purpose of capturing Gen- eral Pope and his headquarters' train, destroying the bridge across Cedar Run, and cutting off the only avenue of escape for his column. Colonel Kane imme- diately rallied his men under fire in a wood adjoining, and succeeded in bringing sixty-eight into line. He sent a few picked men out on a scout, and himself took a small squad (six) to the bridge, which was supposed to be the main ob- ject of attack. At the railroad station he had a slight brush with the enemy, but found all quiet at the bridge. In returning, and while but a short distance from it, he met a considerable party of the enemy's horse, which was repulsed and driven in confusion by a single volley. Returning to his main body left in the skirt of the wood, Colonel Kane received satisfactory reports from his scouts. The enemy was in great force, but over crowded and not well in hand. He was forming in the open space above. Knowing that the enemy's pickets would

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POPE'S CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA.

prevent a satisfactory surprise, Colonel Kane moved his men quietly over into the Manassas road, and awaited until the foe got fairly into the throat of it, when he opened fire at short range in their very faces, dropping the troopers, and sending riderless horses galloping about in wild affright. A panic scized the entire force, and a stampede ensued. A mile away, it was halted in the midst of M'Dowell's staff train, which it fell to plundering. The wagons were in the open field, and the rebels could be plainly seen by the light of the fires. Approaching from the darkness, Kane boldly charged with his little band, pouring in a deadly fire, which again sent them fleeing from the presence of imagined thousands. Much of the pillaging of the staff trains was done, after the enemy was ronted, and in full retreat, by camp followers who knew well what wagons contained valuables. Of the sixty-eight men rallied for the de- fence of the bridge and the trains, five were wounded, one mortally. In the midst of the thick darkness, it was difficult for the enemy to distinguish friend from foe, and the Bucktails, by their novel tactics and excellent training, real- ized the language of scripture, "five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight."*

In the second battle of Bull Run, Colonel Kane not being under orders, re- paired to the bridge across Cub Run, over which the disorganized troops were falling back, and sought, with his small command, to check the panic and se- cure an orderly retreat; but the feeble barrier interposed, by his line deployed, was soon swept away. Abandoning this design he pressed forward towards the front, and met a Lieutenant commanding four mountain howitzers, willing to turn back. At the Bull Run Bridge he formed his line, where he found Cap- tain Mathews with one three-inch rifled gun, Captain Thompson with one rifled gun, and Lieutenant Twitchell with one brass Napoleon, ready to make a stand, if assured of support. The enemy did not attempt to drive them, and their

* EXTRACT FROM MEMOIRS OF THE CONFEDERATE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE, BY HEROS VON BORCKE, CHIEF OF STAFF TO GENERAL J. E. B. STUART .- Late in the evening we entered this little town, (Warrenton.) *

* * We were now again exactly in the rear of the Federal army. the right wing of which we had marched around, and our bold design was nothing less than to capture the Commander-in-Chief and his headquarters, which, as our scouts reported, had been established at Catlett's Station, a point on the Orange and Alexan- dria railroad. #

* * The enemy's pickets, in the fury of the storm, indifferent to everything but their own personal comfort, were picked up, one after the other, by our ad- vanced guard, to the last man, and we had thus arrived within the immediate neighborhood of the main body of the enemy without the least information on their part of our approach. * * * We halted at the distance of about two hundred yards to form our long lines and make our dispositions, which we did without attracting the attention of our adver- saries in the heavy rain and incessantly rolling thunder. The sound of a single trumpet was the signal for nearly two thousand horsemen to dash, as they did with loud shouts, upon the utterly paralyzed Yankees, who were cut down and made prisoners before they had recovered from their first astonishment. I myself had instructions to proceed with a select body of men to General Pope's tent, which was pointed out to us by a negro whom we had captured during the day, and who had been impressed by one of Pope's staff officers as a servant. Unfortu- nately for us, the Commander-in-Chief had, for once, this day his "headquarters in the sad- dle "-an intention which he had so boastfully announced at the commencement of his cam- paign-and had started a few hours before our arrival on a reconnoissance, so that we found only his private baggage, official papers, horses, &c., &c. I obtained as booty a magnificent field glass, which was afterwards of great service to me. Night attacks, as my later expe- rience taught me, are always dangerous and ought never to be undertaken if they can be avoided Even the bravest and best disciplined troops may, by an unforseen accident, be got into a stampede, and inexperienced troops it is almost impossible to control .- Blackwood's Edin- burg Magazine, No. DC, p. 415-6.

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presenee, restoring confidence, contributed to diminish the haste and confusion of the retreat. The position was held until three o'clock on the morning of the 31st, when, the last of the Union forces having crossed, Colonel Kane received orders from General Pope, conveyed to him by General Sigel, to destroy the bridge, which were executed by the Bucktails, assisted by company G, of the Fifth Reserve. In recognition of his gallantry at Catlett's Station, and at Bull Run, Lieutenant Colonel Kanc was, on the 7th of September, commissioned a Brigadier General, and the four companies which he had commanded with such signal advantage to the service, were united with the six, from which they had been separated during the Peninsula campaign, amid loud cheers of wel- come from the rank and file of both battalions. The vacancies occasioned by the promotion of Lieutenant Colonel Kane and Major Stone, were filled by the appointment of Edward A. Irvin, of company K, Lieutenant Colonel, and Alanson E. Niles, of company E, Major.

On the 7th of September, the regiment, now led by Colonel M'Neil, was ordered to move to meet the enemy in Maryland, and arrived in his front at South Mountain on the 14th. General Meade, in command of the division, or- dered Colonel M'Neil to deploy his men as skirmishers in front of the division, to move directly up the mountain, and attack the enemy where found. The movement commeneed at four P. M., and his line of battle was encountered at the foot of the mountain, protected by artillery on the top. A charge was ordered, and the skirmishers, supported by the entire division, rushed forward with loud cheers, driving every thing before them, capturing prisoners at every step, until the top of the mountain was reached. It was now too dark to con- tinue the pursuit, and the command rested. The loss was eighteen killed and forty-five wounded. Among the latter were Captains Irvin and Mack.

On the following morning the troops moved forward in pursuit of the enemy, and at three P. M., reached the Antietam battle ground. At two P. M., on the 16th, the regiment moved with the division to the right of the army, when General Meade directed Colonel M'Neil to deploy, as at South Mountain, in front of his division, and to advance to a piece of wood in front of the Dunkard Church then visible. The enemy was soon found in strong force posted behind a fence in front of the wood indicated. Supports coming promptly up, the order was given to advance. The Bucktails rushed forward, with a shout, through a terrific fire of artillery and musketry, and gained the wood; but at a fearful cost. Colonel M'Neil, Lieutenant William Allison, and twenty-eight men, were killed, and sixty-five officers and men wounded in this single charge. The last words of Colonel M'Neil were, as he faced the death laden storm, and led the way, "Forward, Bucktails, forward!" The division came promptly to their support, and the position was held during the night. At three A. M., on the following day, the battle was renewed. The Bucktails, now under command of Captain Magce, as senior officer, aided by Adjutant Hartshorn, were at once hotly engaged, and fought with their accustomed gallantry until relieved by order of General Meade. The loss in killed and wounded in the two days of battle was one hundred and ten officers and men.

Captain Charles F. Taylor, of company H, (brother of the renowned traveler, Bayard Taylor,) who was taken prisoner with Colonel Kane at Harrisonburg, was held in captivity until after the battle of Antietam, when he was released and returned to his regiment. As senior officer, he at once assumed com- mand, and was soon after commissioned Colonel. From Antictam, the army

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ANTIETAM AND FREDERICKSBURG.

moved to the Potomac, and thence to the neighborhood of Warrenton, the Bucktails, upon the march, having the advance. On the 10th of December, preparations were made to cross the Rappahannock below Fredericksburg, and attack the enemy. During the following day, pontoons were thrown across, and on the 12th, the Reserves crossed to the right bank. Late in the afternoon the Bucktails moved down the bank of the river, until they found the enemy's pickets posted in the edge of a wood, and across a road running parallel with the river. Remaining on picket during the night, firing opened early on their front, and during the morning the Bucktails remained in support of artillery, and in the formation for the attack, they occupied the extreme left of the line. The enemy was posted in the edge of a wood, and as the Bucktails moved forward were obliged to cross an open field, under a very heavy fire of musketry and artillery. Upon the order to advance, they rushed forward and soon reached the railroad, where was a cut of a few feet, which, for a short time, was used as a breast work, affording some protection. Again the order to advance was given, and leaping upon the bank, they moved on in the face of the enemy, pushing him from his sheltered position, and gaining, at a fear- ful cost, a signal advantage. But supports failing to come, it was deemed im- prudent to push the advantage further, and the division fell back, suffering se- verely while executing the movement. The loss was nineteen killed, and one hundred and thirteen wounded and missing. Lieutenant W. B. Jenkins was among the killed, and Colonel Taylor, Lieutenant Colonel Irvin, and Lieuten- ants O. D. Jenkins, D. G. M'Naughton, Thomas B. Winslow and R. F. Ward, were of the wounded.

On the 6th of February, 1863, the Reserves were ordered to the defences of Washington, to rest and recruit, being transferred from the First to the Twen- ty-second Corps. The Bucktails, with the First Brigade, were ordered to Fair- fax Court House, where a permanent eamp was established. Here Lieutenant Colonel Irvin, on account of his wounds, resigned, and Major Niles was pro- moted to fill the vacancy. Adjutant Wm. R. Hartshorn was commissioned Major, and Sergeant-Major Roger Sherman, Adjutant. A large number of men who had been absent, sick or wounded returned to the ranks, and Colonel Tay- lor applied himself with tireless energy to the work of drilling and disciplining his command. The First Brigade, to which the regiment was attached, was com- manded by Colonel William M'Candless, and the division by Brigadier Gen- eral S. W. Crawford. On the 25th of June, the First and Third Brigades were ordered to rejoin the Fifth Corps, now on its march to meet an invading army in Pennsylvania. At noon on the 2d of July, the regiment reached the neighbor- hood of Gettysburg, where a great battle was in progress. After a short rest, the roll was called, and, to the great satisfaction of its commander, every man was found in his place-a force of five hundred strong. At four P. M. the division was ordered to the front, and moved over in the direction of Little Round Top, where the Union lines were being hard pressed, the artillerists ready to spike their guns. Colonel M'Candless hastily formed his brigade in two lines, the Bucktails on the left of the second line, and charged down the slope in the face of a heavy fire. At the foot of the hill was a deep swamp, thirty or forty yards in width, and upon reaching it, the second line deployed to the left, and wading across, drove the enemy into the woods beyond the stone wall which skirted it. The left, with Colonel Taylor at its head, continued the pursuit through the woods to a wheat field beyond, where in the act of steadying his men, he

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fell, shot through the heart. Lieutenant Colonel Niles having been wounded early in the engagement, the command devolved on Major Hartshorn, when, finding his regiment unsupported, he fell back to the wall. This position was held by the First Brigade until three P. M. of the 3d, when Major Hartshorn was ordered by Colonel M'Candless to deploy a single company as skirmishers upon his left flank at right angles to his line, and to advance against the enemy. While this movement was being executed, the brigade was formed in column of regiments, closed in mass, the Bucktails in front, and advanced, charging through the wheat field and into the woods beyond. Here it was discovered by Colonel M'Candless that the enemy was in large force upon his left flank. Hc accordingly halted, and changed direction by that flank, and ordered Major Hartshorn to charge, while he followed close with the balance of the brigade. The movement resulted in a complete success. The Bucktails were soon en- gaged hand to hand with the enemy, and nearly the entire Fifteenth Georgia Regiment, with its colors, was captured. The rebels were in a short time driven from the wood into the open country, where the brigade deployed in line, and a large number of prisoners was again secured. Night coming on, the bri- gade rested nearly a mile in advance of the position held in the morning. On the morning of the 4th, the brigade was relieved by a division of regulars, and the regiment moved to the rear to replenish its ammunition, which was ex- hausted. Colonel Taylor, a brave and accomplished officer, Lieutenant Robert Hall and six men, were killed. Lieutenant Colonel Niles, Captains Hugh M'- Donald, J. D. Yerkes, Neri B. Kinsey and Frank Bell, Lieutenants J. E. Krat- zer, T. J. Roney, J. R. Sparr and thirty-onc enlisted men were wounded.

On the morning of the 5th, it having been discovered that the enemy was in full retreat, the army marched in pursuit. The regiment moved with the Fifth Corps, by the Emmetsburg road to Middletown, and thence by the Ha- gerstown road, until, on the 12th, it came up with the enemy strongly posted in the vicinity of Williamsport. Sharp skirmishing was kept up during the nights of the 12th and 13th, and on the morning of the 14th, the troops moved forward to attack at daylight, when it was discovered that the enemy had fled.

In the manœuvres of the two hostile armies during the remaining months of 1863, the Bucktails were constantly upon the skirmish line, frequently en- gaging the enemy, rarely in a position to be secure from attack, and finally, at the close of the campaign, went into winter quarters at Bristoe Station, where they remained until the close of April, 1864.

The campaign in the Wilderness opened on the 3d of May. The regiment broke camp on the 29th of April, and reached Culpepper on the 30th, where their Sharp's rifles were exchanged for Spencer's seven shooters. On the 4th of May, it crossed the Rapidan and bivouacked that night near the Lacy House, in close proximity to the ever memorable battle-field. At daylight on the morn- ing of the 5th, the Reserves, with the Bucktails in advance as skirmishers, moved forward in the direction of Parker's Store. At nine A. M., Major Harts- horn reported to General Crawford that he had come upon the enemy's skir- mishers, and that their line extended considerably beyond both his flanks. Other regiments were at once distributed upon the line, and Colonel M'Cand- less with the First Brigade moved to his support. These dispositions com- pleted, the Bucktails advanced and attacked the enemy's skirmishers, push- ing them back to their line of battle, and to a point in full view of Parker's Store. The enemy was discovered to be in great force, and the skirmish line

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WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN.

held its position with difficulty. At one P. M., intelligence was communicated to Major Hartshorn that the division was falling back, and that his command was being surrounded. The skirmishers were immediately withdrawn, and the- regiment re-formed in the open ground which had been occupied by his supports. The march to the rear was commenced upon the same road by which it had ad- vanced in the morning. After proceeding a short distance it was discovered that the enemy had possession of this road and was rapidly extending his line to the right. The woods being very dense the Major closed up his regiment, and cautiously moved on, as close as possible to the rebel column, and, in a favorable position, ordered a charge, by which he succeeded in breaking through the cordon that had been drawn around him, and in reaching the division with a loss of but fourteen men.

On the morning of the 6th, the Reserves were moved to the right of the Fifth Corps, and formed in two lines, the Bucktails on the left of the First Brigade, when they advanced to the attack. The fighting was severe, and was kept up throughout the whole day without advantage to either side. At night the regiment moved with the division to the support of the Sixth Corps, on the extreme right, suddenly attacked, but was relieved, and returned to the Lacy House before the morning of the 7th. At one P. M. Major Hartshorn was di- rected to deploy his regiment to the front, and move forward to ascertain the strength of the enemy's works, which had been constructed during the night. Colonel Ent, of the Sixth, was ordered to protect his flanks. Approaching the rebel line of skirmishers, a charge was made, driving him back into his en- trenchments, when his artillery opened with grape and canister. The object of the reconnoissance having been accomplished, Major Hartshorn fell back to his old position, carrying with him his killed and wounded, two of the former and twenty-one of the latter.

During the night of the 7th, the march was commenced towards Spottsy .- vania. At ten A. M., of the 8th, the enemy was encountered three miles north of the town. When the Bucktails came upon the field, the First and Second Divisions of the Fifth Corps were already hotly engaged. Forming in line under a severe fire, on the left of the road leading to the Court House, a charge was made by the division across an open field, driving the enemy out of a wood beyond, which position was held until three P. M., when, finding that the enemy was massing in great force in front, and was moving around on its unprotected flanks, the order was given to fall back to the position held in the morning. During the evening the Reserves made three charges and were as often repulsed. On the 9th, the regiment was sent to the right of the corps, and as skirmishers advanced to the Po River, taking up a position which it held until the 10th, when it was withdrawn and placed on the right of the division, in line at Moun- tain Run. Here the regiment participated in the two assaults made on the enemy's works, in both of which our forces were repulsed. On the night of the 10th, it was again placed at the front, and kept up a constant fire throughout the night.

On the 11th, an assault was made by the entire army. The position of the Reserves was in front of a double line of works which the enemy had thrown up during the previous night. Two attempts were made to carry them by as- sault, but in vain. The Bucktails were employed during the 12th in picking off rebel artillerymen, and driving them from the guns in the works which they had unsuccessfully charged on the previous day. On the 13th, the regiment 116

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was, for the first time since the opening of the campaign, relieved from the front and allowed a day of rest. On the following day, together with the divi- sion, it marched several miles to the left, where it remained actively employed upon the skirmish line until the 20th, when the march was" continued to Gui- nea Station, and from thence, on the 22d, to Jericho Ford, on the North Anna River, which the men were forced to cross by wading, holding their cartridge- boxes above their heads. After the division was safely across, Colonel Hardin, commanding the brigade, directed Major Hartshorn to advance with his skir- mishers and clear the woods in front. This movement was successfully accom- plished, and upon the advance of the brigade took position on its right, where a determined attack, made by the enemy at five P. M., was handsomely repulsed. The interval between the 22d and 26th was occupied in skirmishing, and in strengthening the position held. During the night of the 26th, another move- ment to the left was commenced, and after a three days' march the command reached the vicinity of Bethesda Church.

On the morning of the 30th, Major Hartshorn was ordered to advance his skirmishers to the Mechanicsville road, a mile in his front. The enemy's skir- mishers were soon met and driven a half mile, when the Major found that a large force of rebels was advancing, with lines extending beyond both his flanks. Re- porting the fact to Colonel Hardin, he fell back slowly until he met the brigade coming to his support. Forming line on the right of the brigade, a charge was made upon the advancing enemy driving him back to the shelter of some woods. Discovering that the line which he had driven was only the advance of a larger force, Colonel Hardin ordered his brigade to fall back to a position in line with the Third Brigade, and immediately commenced throwing up rifle pits. He ordered Major Hartshorn to hold the enemy in check with his skirmishers, to fall back slowly, and to take position on the left of the brigade. This manœuvre was so successfully executed that ample time was given to complete a strong line of works. On the near approach to the lines, Major Hartshorn was so hard pressed that he was obliged to throw two companies to the right, upon the line occupied by the Third Brigade. With the remaining eight companies he suc- ceeded in reaching the position designated by Colonel Hardin, in time to bear his full part in the handsome repulse given to the enemy as he advanced to the assault. Colonel Fisher warmly commended the conduct of the two companies which had been driven into his lines, and which fought with his brigade. This was the Bucktails' last battle, their time of service having this day expired. The casualties during the campaign were two officers and twenty-six enlisted men killed, and six officers and one hundred and twelve enlisted men wounded. The veterans and recruits were transferred to the One Hundred and Ninetieth, of which Major Hartshorn was appointed Colonel, and the regiment was mus- tered out of service at Harrisburg on the 11th of June, 1864.

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History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. I, Part 153

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