History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. I, Part 49

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 49

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).

347

1862

SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN.

during the night and at early dawn marched to Harrison's Landing. Owing to the entire want of orders from the commanding general to regulate the march of the different corps, the whole army was moving by the same road at the same time; consequently the troops were huddled together, the officers were utterly unable to find their men, and for several hours the army was little better than a mob. While the army was encamped at Harrison's Landing, near the end of July, General Hooker returned to Malvern Hill and re-occu- pied that stronghold. In this movement the Twenty-sixth had the advance and was actively engaged. The losses in the several engagements before Rich- mond, in which the regiment participated, was twenty killed and forty-five wounded. Eleven died of disease contracted in the miasmatic swamps of the Chickahominy.

The moral and religious interests of the men were studiously cared for by the chaplain, Rev. Charles A. Beck. In July, 1862, a few patriotic ladies in Philadelphia presented the regiment with a chapel tent. This was regularly pitched in the camp while in winter quarters, and was kept well supplied with books, magazines, papers and writing materials, making it a favorite place of resort. Preaching twice on Sunday, with prayer meetings twice in the week, singing class and temperance meetings during week day evenings, exerted an ex- cellent influence, the tent being regularly filled with a quiet, attentive audience.

About the middle of July, Lieutenant Colonel Wells left the regiment and was succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel Rush Van Dyke, and upon his resignation, Major Tripp, of the Eleventh Massachusetts, was temporarily assigned to the command. Captain Bodine, of company K, was soon after commissioned Major, relieving Major Tripp. On the 16th of August, 1862, the regiment left Harrison's Landing with the main body of the army, and on the 20th embarked at Yorktown, on the steamer Baltic, for Alexandria, Virginia.

Heintzelman's Corps was immediately pushed out to Warrenton Junction to the support of General Pope, now facing the rebels on the line of the Rappa- hannock. Scarcely had it arrived when intelligence was received that Stone- wall Jackson, with a heavy column, had struck the railroad at Bristoe Station, thus cutting off all communication between Pope's army and his base of supply. Kearney's division was immediately ordered to Gainesville, and Hooker's to march upon the railroad towards Manassas Junction. The regiment was now under the command of Major Bodine, and took the advance of the brigade. A sharp engagement ensued at Bristoe Station, wherein the rebels were defeated and driven back. Bivouacking for the night, it pushed forward on the follow- ing morning and re-established communication with the base of supplies. In this movement the Twenty-sixth lost all its baggage and books by the burning of the train of cars upon which they were deposited, rendered necessary by the destruction of the bridge over Kettle creek.

After a tiresome march through Centreville the regiment reached the Bull Run battle-field on the 29th, and at once went into the fight, taking position on the right of the turnpike leading from Centreville to Groveton. The brigade was manœuvered with little skill. Thrown into a dense wood without skir- mishers or support, with both flanks exposed, it was marched directly up to an old railroad embankment, where it received a sudden and destructive fire from the enemy lying in heavy masses behind it. In less than an hour two officers were killed, and sixty-three men killed and wounded. It bivouacked upon the field, and on the following day was held in support of three different

348

TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.

1863

batteries, rapidly moving from point to point, where most needed. In the evening it retired with the main army, in good order, to Centreville. On the afternoon of the 1st of September it was sent to the support of Kearney, whose division was hotly engaged at Chantilly, and where that heroic officer was killed. On the 2d the brigade marched to the vicinity of Alexandria and en- eamped at Fort Lyon. Since leaving Alexandria on the 23d of August, pre- ceding, the regiment had lost two officers killed and three wounded, twenty-one enlisted men killed, forty-seven wounded and six taken prisoners.

The Twenty-sixth did not take part in the battle of Antietam, being at that time ordered to duty in front of Washington. While encamped at Fort Lyon about forty recruits were received, and the Eleventh New Jersey Volunteers was added to the brigade, to the command of which Brigadier General Joseph B. Carr was assigned, and Brigadier General Daniel E. Sickles to the command of the division.

On the 5th of October, Major Bodine was ordered to report with the Twenty- sixth to Colonel Sharp, of the One Hundred and Twentieth New York Vol- unteers, at Upton's Hill, and, in conjunction with that regiment, to hold and picket that position. Soon afterwards Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin C. Tilgh- man re-joined the regiment, after a severe illness, assuming command, and on the 2d of November marched to Fairfax Court House, and on the 3d proceeded via Centreville to Union Mills, to hold the Orange and Alexandria railroad, and the bridge across Bull Run at that place. Two companies were detached under command of Captain S. G. Moffitt, to guard the bridge at Blackburn's ford.

Early in December the army was concentrated in the neighborhood of Fred- ericksburg, under General Burnside, in preparation for a general engagement. The Twenty-sixth marched in that direction, but was detained on the way nearly a week, in guarding ordnance stores near the Occoquan. Arriving at Falmouth it returned to its brigade, and on the morning of the 12th of December was posted in the rear of batteries showering shot and shell into Fredericksburg. Late in the day the Third Corps, under General Stoneman, embracing the Twenty-sixth, was sent from Hooker's Grand Division in the centre, to reinforce Franklin on the left, and reached the pontoon bridges at about eight o'clock, P. M. At noon of the next day it crossed to the right bank of the river, and was moved at once to the front. The regiment was briskly engaged with the enemy's skirmishers during the afternoon and under fire from his batteries .- 'For thirty hours, with only a brief interval, it was in the front line of battle continuously, and up to the time of re-crossing the river. The total loss in this engagement in killed and wounded was seventeen.

Returning to its former camp it remained till the first of January, Gen- eral Carr commanding the brigade, General Berry the division, and General Sickles the corps. The regiment was then moved to a grove near corps headquarters, where it was placed in permanent winter quarters. Burnside's second attempt to cross the Rappahannock was suddenly arrested while in full progress and with every prospect of success, by the sudden breaking up of the roads. The Twenty-sixth participated in the advance, but its principal service consisted in building corduroy roads, and assisting in extricating teams and ar- tillery from the mud. During the month of January it was detailed to support a cavalry raid on the Upper Rappahannock, which resulted successfully, the railroad bridge across the river, which had been re-built by the enemy, being destroyed, and the incursions so frequently indulged in by his cavalry and

1863

BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. 349

scouts broken up. The march lasted three days, during two of which the rain and snow fell without cessation, causing much suffering.

While in this camp, a school of instruction for officers was established, and placed in charge of Major Bodine, and another for non-commissioned officers, under Lieutenant Henry Jacques, of company G. The elementary principles of military science and army regulations were studied and discussed, and in- tricate manœuvers illustrated. In February its active 'strength was sensibly increased by the return to its ranks of a full and well disciplined company, under Captain Adams. This company had been detached to guard commis- sary stores in Washington, soon after entering the service, and notwithstand- ing the repeated applications from the successive commanders of the regiment, approved by the superior officers, to have it ordered to the field, and the de- sire of Captain Adams himself to have it relieved and placed on active duty, every application had been returned with the endorsement "not granted." Its long retention is its best certificate of good soldierly conduct. In March, 1863, Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin C. Tilghman was commissioned Colonel, and Cap- tain John B. Adams, Lieutenant Colonel. Upon the resignation of Lieutenant Colonel Adams, soon after, Major Bodine was promoted to fill the vacancy.

The battle of Chancellorsville commenced on the 29th of April. Prepara- tions had been for a considerable time in progress. The regiment broke camp and moved with the Third Corps, about fifteen miles down the Rappahannock to divert the attention of the enemy, while the principal part of the army was crossing about twelve miles above the town. On the 1st of May it re- turned, and crossing at United States ford rejoined the main body, in position near Chancellorsville. On the morning of the 2d of May, the Twenty-sixth was ordered to advance up the road in front of General Hooker's head-quar- ters, to drive back the enemy's skirmishers who occupied the wood, and ascertain whether the road was held in force. This order was successfully exe- cuted, but involved a brisk skirmish and some loss; several prisoners were taken, and the enemy were found in line of battle with artillery well posted on the road. The result was reported to General Hooker in person, who ex- pressed his satisfaction,

At about four o'clock, P. M., the division marched to cover the retreat of the Eleventh Corps, and at dusk formed line a of battle in the woods. Colonel Tilghman, finding his right entirely uncovered, reconnoitered the ground, and found, about six hundred yards distant, an intrenched line, held by Griffin's Division, with several batteries. The scouts reported the woods in front clear of the enemy, but that about three-fourths of a mile beyond they could hear troops marching, apparently in force, towards our left. This intelligence was promptly reported to an officer of General Berry's staff. During the night several attacks were made on the left of the division and repulsed, none of them reaching the position held by the Twenty-sixth.

At day-break a heavy artillery fire was opened on the left, followed by mus- ketry, which rolled steadily nearer. The skirmishers in front were attacked, and the Seventy-second New York, soon after giving way, left the flank uncovered. Colonel Tilghman endeavored to change front, but being under a heavy fire and in a thick wood, it was imperfectly done, and in making the at- tempt, was himself severely wounded. The fire, though irregular, was well sustained for some minutes, when, judging from the increasing numbers and direction of the enemy, that the division had been broken and its position lost,

----

350

TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.

1863

an order was given to retreat to General Griffin's intrenchments, which was effected in good order, the men keeping up a steady fire so long as the enemy followed. Taking position in rear of batteries, it remained in support while the army held the field, and upon its withdrawal returned to its camp near Falmouth. The loss in the engagement was four officers wounded, eighteen enlisted men killed, sixty-four wounded and ten taken prisoners. The severity of Colonel Tilghman's wound rendered it necessary for him to retire from the field, and he did not again rejoin the regiment. Upon his recovery his resig- nation was accepted to enable him to take command of the Third United States colored troops, to which he had been appointed. Lieutenant Colonel Bodine succeeded to the command, and was soon after commissioned Colonel.

New eamping ground was soon after selected on a beautiful knoll, and the men labored zealously in laying out streets with proper drainage, building bowers of green foliage over and in front of their tents, and vieing with each other in eleanliness and good order. Early in June the regiment was detailed to accompany the wagon train of the Third Corps to Morrisville, a tedious march of twenty-nine miles through dust and heat, re-joining the brigade at Beverly ford. This was the initiation of the march to Gettysburg, which was continued through Centreville and Gum Springs, crossing the Potomac at Ed- wards' ferry. Moving up the South Mountain and guarding its passes to pre- vent the ineursion of rebel eavalry, it proceeded through Middletown valley to Frederick, Maryland, and thenee to Emmittsburg. Here General Sickles received an order from General Meade, now in command of the army, to march to the neighborhood of Middleburg, and soon after a message from Howard, advising him of the fall of Reynolds, and calling loudly for help. Perplexed as to his duty, he decided to follow the Napoleanic precept, to march to the sound of the enemy's guns, and arrived in the vicinity of Gettysburg on the evening of July 1st. The Third Corps bivouacked for the night near the bat- tle-field, and early on the morning of the 2d the regiment was detailed to tear down the fenees along and near the Emmittsburg road, to facilitate the move- ment of artillery and troops. The lines were then formed with the Twenty- sixth on the extreme right of the eorps and on the Emmittsburg road. The advantage of position in this part of the line was in favor of the enemy, as it was exposed in the open field and liable to be swept by artillery from the ridges beyond. Late in the day the regiment changed front while under severe fire, in order to receive the charge of a Florida brigade, advancing in m uss obliquely from the left front. No sooner was it checked than the Twenty-sixth in turn charged the enemy and drove him in confusion across the road, making numerous captures. The day proved disasterous to the eorps, but it fought with deter- mined bravery, and inflicted severe losses upon the enemy. On the 3d the brigade was principally oeeupied in supporting batteries, and was marched to the weakest and most threatened points. The Twenty-sixth went into battle with three hundred and sixty-four enlisted men, of whom two hundred and thirteen were killed and wounded; out of eighteen officers two were killed and nine severely wounded; two of the nine died of their wounds, and five were disabled from further service and made eripples for life; three color bearers were killed The severity of the loss was owing to the faulty position of the line, and the entire absence of shelter, either natural or constructed; but it inflicted as well as suffered great slaughter.

On the 5th of July it moved with the army in pursuit of the enemy, pass-

351

BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.

1863

ing through Emmittsburg and Frederick, crossed the South Mountain, and proceeded to the neighborhood of Williamsport. After the successful escape of the rebel army into Virginia the regiment marched to Harper's Ferry, where necessary supplies were received. Again taking up the line of march, pass- ing Snicker's Gap and Upperville, to Manassas Gap, with orders to intercept any force of the enemy retreating up the Shenandoah Valley, it succeeded in striking his rear guard at Wapping Heights, where a sharp action ensued. At this place Colonel Bodine was ordered to lead his own, with a section of ar- tillery, to a commanding position on the extreme right, for the purpose of check- ing the rebel cavalry operating in that direction. The force was withdrawn on the following day towards Warrenton.

General Sickles having been severely wounded at Gettysburg, and no longer in the field, the command of the corps was assigned to Major General W. B. French, and that of the division to Brigadier General Henry Prince. At War- renton the regiment halted for a few days for rest and much needed supplies. On the 20th of August it marched at daylight in advance of the army, to picket the Rappahannock from Freeman's to Beverly ford, and on being relieved on the following day rejoined the brigade near the latter place. A camp was laid out and the routine of drill, parade and picket duty resumed. While here one hundred and ninety-two recruits were received and distributed to the compa- nies, and their drill and discipline commenced. On the 15th of September it marched from camp, and, on the following morning crossing the Rappahannock at Freeman's ford, proceeded to Culpepper Court House. Here the regiment was detailed to guard the approaches from the south, and protect the wagon trains parked near the town.

The ladies in California who had manifested their regard for this regiment, and their desire for the success of the national cause, by presenting it on its entrance into service with a beautiful stand of colors, had, with never-failing interest, watched it in its many campaigns, and believing that the fiery scourge of battle, to which it had been so frequently subjected, had rendered the first flag useless, sent a new one, a counterpart of the first, which was received with every manifestation of gladness. Upon the occasion of its presentation the regiment was drawn up in hollow square, in the centre of which were the generals commanding the division and brigade, with their respective staffs, and other invited guests. The flag was presented by Major Charles Hamlin, son of Vice President Hamlin, and was received in behalf of the regiment by Colonel Bodine; an appropriate prayer was offered, and the band played patriotic airs, after which the invited guests sat down to a collation.

General Meade, having ascertained that Lee had dispatched Longstreet to East Tennessee, pushed forward to the line of the Rapidan, and was prepar- ing to cross, when orders were received from Washington to detach the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, under command of General Hooker, for the relief of Rose- crans, at Chattanooga. Meade, accordingly, found it necessary to retire .- When the movement commenced, the Twenty-sixth was ordered to escort the wagon train of the corps. At Bealton station, on the Orange and Alexandria railroad, it was called by General Owen to the support of a battery in position to prevent an attack upon the supply trains. At Beverly ford it was again placed to defend the approaches, and was detailed on the flank of the army on the march to Centreville. Encamping at Union Mills it remained doing guard duty and engaged in drill until the army again commenced a forward move-

352

TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.

1864

ment, along the Orange and Alexandria railroad, when it was employed in re-laying the track upon that road, which, upon its abandonment, had been destroyed by the enemy. When it was finished, the army again passed the Rappahannock, the Twenty-sixth crossing at Kelly's ford, where it was actively engaged in pushing back the enemy. At Brandy station, November 19th, the regiment went into winter quarters; but as the sequel proved for only a brief period.

Upon the heels of the success at Rappahannock station was initiated the Mine Run campaign. On the 26th of November the regiment marched to Jacob's ford on the Rapidan, and was immediately deployed as skirmishers. Moving to the attack, it drove the enemy steadily about two miles through the wood, leading the Union column. On the following day it was again engaged near the Orange Court House road, where it held the left of the line, the affair resulting in a brisk fight lasting from two o'clock, P. M., until dark. Having moved by a wrong road too far to the right of the army, it was ordered to with- draw to Robinson's tavern, and arrived on the afternoon of the 28th. On the following day it was sent on a reconnoissance to ascertain the exact position of the enemy, now holding a line of works along Mine Run." Preparations were made for an assault, the Twenty-sixth holding a position on the right of the Second Corps, the extreme left of the army. On account of the severity of the weather and the strength of the enemy's works, it was deemed advisable not to attack, and further operations were abandoned. The regiment was then or- dered to report to General Gregg at Parker's store, on the plank road leading from Fredericksburg to Orange Court House, where it arrived at one o'clock, P. M., and was immediately placed in position to repel an attack of the enemy following up the line of retreat. At daylight on the 2d of December it resumed the march, bringing up the rear of the army, crossing the Rapidan at Culpepper Mine ford, and returned on the 3d to camp at Brandy station, with a loss in the expedition of one officer and five men killed, and one officer and twenty- three men wounded.

During the ensuing winter the command was engaged in constructing roads, in drill and picket duty, and in the general routine of camp life. More than half of the men re-enlisted in conformity to the terms of the government, re- ceiving the tendered bounty and a thirty days' furlough. Thirty-five recruits were received and distributed among the several companies.

In March, 1864, by the order of General Meade, the Third Corps was broken up, and the brigade to which the Twenty-sixth had, from the first, been attached, was re-organized by taking from it the Eleventh Massachusetts and Eighty- fourth Pennsylvania, and by adding the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth New Jeffey and the One Hundred and Fifteenth Pennsylvania. General Mott was assigned to its command, and General Carr to that of the division ; but subse- quently General Mott was placed in command of the division, and Colonel Robert M'Allister, of the Eleventh New Jersey, to that of the brigade.t In

* During the operations at Mine Run, an officer of another regiment was wounded, and the bearers of a stretcher belonging to the Twenty-sixth started to carry him from the field. They had not gone far when a round shot from the enemy's battery struck the bearers, taking off the head of one and the ear of the other; the stretcher dropped, and the ludicrous part of the story is, that the officer jumped up and ran away towards the rear at a high rate of speed, to the sur- prise of those around.

t Organization of the Second Brigade, Colonel Robert M'Allister, Third Division, General G. Mott, Second Corps, Major General W. S. Hancock. First Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers,

1864

BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 353

the meantime General Grant having been placed in command of all the Na- tional forces, had fixed his head-quarters with the army of the Potomac, and in connection with General Meade, was directing its operations.

On the 4th of May, 1864, the regiment, under command of Major Samuel G. Moffitt, took up the line of march for Ely's ford, and crossing upon the pon- toons reached the old battle-ground at Chancellorsville late in the afternoon, bivouacking upon the same field where it had fought just a year before. On the following day it moved with the corps towards the Wilderness, and was deployed as skirmishers on the extreme left of the army, where the enemy was soon met in force and the engagement became general. Remaining on the left through the entire battle it steadily held its position against every attempt to turn it. The loss * was twelve killed and twenty-seven wounded.

On the morning of the 8th the regiment was detailed with the Eighth New Jersey and Sixteenth Massachusetts, as a provisional brigade, under Colonel Ramsey, to guard the ammunition train, en route for Todd's tavern. It rejoined the brigade on the 10th and marched with the corps to Spottsylvania Court House, when it was formed in line of battle on the extreme left of the army, where it was engaged in constructing rifle-pits. In the afternoon a charge was made upon the rebel works, but without success. On the 12th the regiment participated in the grand charge of the Second Corps. Advancing in two lines, Barlow's and Birney's divisions forming the first, and Gibbon's and Mott's the . second, under cover of a dense fog, Hancock swept over the earth works held by Edward Johnson's Division, of Ewell's Corps, completely routing it, taking five thousand prisoners, forty guns, and capturing Generals Johnson and Stewart. The regiment took two Napoleon guns, which they turned upon the enemy, with good effect. The captured works were held during the continuance of the battle, from the 10th to the 15th. In this engagement, known as the battle of Spottsylvania Court House, the loss in the Twenty-sixth was twenty killed and forty-five wounded.

In the advance of the army, the regiment, while posted to defend the left flank was attacked by Rosser's cavalry. The shock was sudden and severe. Nine men were killed and two wounded by a single discharge from his light battery, but he was repulsed with slight additional loss.

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 49

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