History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. I, Part 63

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 63

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Upon its return to White Plains the command proceeded to examine the lines of the Manassas railroad and to make needed repairs; also to re-construct the telegraph lines and re-build sundry bridges that had been burned or other- wise destroyed. Detachments were placed upon the railvoc 1 from Salem to - Linden, a distance of more than thirty miles, to guard the workmen employed

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TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.

1862

in making repairs. The labor was extremely arduous. Bridges of considerable length were to be re-built, much of the requisite timber being cut in the neigh- borhood. The road is tortuons, winding along a broken country among deep ravines and wooded hills. The mountains are well adapted for the concealment of gnerrillas and rebel cavalry with which they were infested, and always on the alert to destroy the work as it progressed, and annoy the operatives and their guards. A severe storm, which lasted from the 18th to the 22d, also con- tributed to retard the operations. The streams were greatly swollen, and bridges that had been re-built over Goose Creek, Bull Run and other places, were again swept away: Means of communication were very limited, supplies difficult to obtain, and to a great extent the troops were compelled to forage on an impoverished country. Still the workmen persevered with unremitting toil, and by the 1st of May the telegraph lines were in operation and the railroad in working order. It is here worthy of remark, that notwithstanding the cx- traordinary services required of this command, so acknowledged by the Com- manding General, comparatively little sickness occurred, and the labors of the efficient Surgeons, than whom none could have been more attentive to their duties, were by no means onerous. This was not only attributable to the rigid physical examination of the men before their admission into the several com- panies comprising the regiment, but also to the order and cleanliness of their camps and persons, and other sanitary measures adopted and observed after the regiment was organized.

On April 25th Colonel Geary received from the War Department the com- mission of Brigadier General of Volunteers. Gratifying as was this well- merited promotion to the Colonel and the officers and men of the Twenty- eighth, it was not more so than the fact, that by his and their earnest entreaty the regiment, of which he was so justly proud, was permitted to remain at- tached to his command; and so intimately inter-woven and blended together were their subsequent operations, that it is impossible to give a comprehensive account of the doings of the regiment independent of those of the brigades and divisions to which it was attached. A history of the one becomes necessarily a part and parcel of the others. Colonel Geary was succeeded in command of the Twenty-eighth by Lieutenant Colonel De Korponay, whose promotion to the rank of Colonel bears date of April 25th, and who remained in command until the 30th of September following, when he was honorably discharged the service.# Major Tyndale was promoted to the Lieutenant Colonelcy, who was succeeded by Ario Pardee, Jr., as Major of the regiment. Upon his taking leave as commanding officer, the regiment complimented their late Colonel with an clegant and costly sword, sash, epaulettes, and a full and splendid set of horse equipments. The ceremonies on the occasion of the presentation were unusually interesting and impressive. A congratulatory letter from Major General Banks was read, in which he says :- " I congratulate you on your late promotion, and

" In taking command Colonel De Korponay addressed the regiment as follows:

"SOLDIERS OF THE TWENTY-EIGHTH :- Having, by Divine Providence, assumed the com- mand of such noble material, composed of tho finest men of the army, I promise you sincerely that I will endeavor to do amplo justice to the position which is entrusted to my hands. May God Almighty guide and strengthen mo in all my undertakings in which I may have to lead you, and may He never leave mo to falter in guiding you to assured victory.

"Having had a noble examplo before me in my predecessor, our beloved Brigadier General, and having been carefully trained under him, I hope that I will meet your cordial support at all times, whether in peaceful or warlike associations."

425

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BATTLE OF FRONT ROYAL.

regret only that your brigade is not to join us again. Our connection has been long, and to me most pleasant, and I shall be glad at all times to acknowledge the efficieney, alaerity and unsurpassed energy and ability with which you and your command have discharged all your duties."

At the time of his promotion the line of railroad being guarded by General Geary extended to Manassas, making a distance in all of fifty-two miles. His head-quarters were one mile and a half from Rectortown, the troops occupying Front Royal, Shenandoah, Happy Creek, Linden, Markham, Piedmont, Rec- tortown, Salem, White Plains, Thoroughfare Gap, Manassas, and intermediate points. For their protection all available means were employed in the erection of bloek-houses, abattis and other necessary defences.

On the 15th of May, company O was ordered to Linden. A detachment of seventeen men, guarding the company wagon, reached there before the main body, which was on a train. They were attacked by rebel cavalry, who came upon them suddenly from different directions. The men resisted bravely, but after a stout defence, were overpowered, one being killed and fourteen taken prisoners, three of whom were wounded. The balance of the company coming up the rebels fled under their fire with loss.

On the 17th of May the command was re-attached to the division of General Banks, in telegraphing which fact he expressed his "very great gratification." About this time the enemy was actively engaged in making preparations to capture the commands of Generals Banks and Geary. His troops were gath- ered in overwhelming foree at Swift Run Gap, and moving down the valley by way of Luray, made a fierce attack at Front Royal, in which engagement a section of Knap's Battery took a conspicuous part. Rebel seouting parties were constantly seen along the entire line, and skirmishes between these and the piekets and scouts, at various points, were of daily oceurrence. On the 24th, overwhelming forces of the enemy, approaching from the north, south and west, the command was ordered to fall back to Manassas, whenee, on the 28th, it advanced to Ashby's and other gaps in the Blue Ridge, to assist in expelling Jackson from the upper valley, and preventing his return through the gaps.

Position was resumed on the Manassas Gap railroad on the 5th of June. The transportation and railroad property west of Rectortown, having all been removed east by order of General M'Dowell, and General Geary having, on the 23d, received orders to report with his whole command, to General Banks, at Middletown, the detachments were directed to join him at Snickersville; from which point they moved at one o'clock, P. M., on the 26th, fording the Shenandoah at Snicker's ferry, and passing through Winchester on the 27th, reached Middletown at four o'clock on the afternoon of the 29th. Here orders were received on the 30th to march at daylight on the following morning, July 1st, with the whole command to a suitable position opposite Passage Creek near Buek's ford, which order was promptly executed, the distance marched being four miles. By order of General Banks the post at Buck's ford was broken up on the morning of July 6th, at five o'clock, and the command of General Geary proceeded to report to Brigadier General A. S. Williams, at his eamp beyond Front Royal, reaching there at three o'clock, P. M., marching thirteen miles, the weather being extremely warm. At 11 o'clock, A. M., of the 7th it proceeded eight miles further through a heavy storm of hail and rain. Starting. again at six o'clock on the morning of the 8th, it marched ten miles, 54

1862

426

TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.

passing through Flint Hill and eneamping at Gaines' Cross Roads. The wea- ther was so warm that three men died of sun-stroke. Remained in camp all day of the 9th. At 3 o'clock, A. M., of the 10th, an attack was threatened by the enemy, when the 28th was formed in line of battle, in which position it re- mained for several hours. On this day an order was issued by General Wil- liams to the effect that "the Twenty-eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers and Knap's Battery, together with such other troops as might thereafter be added to General Geary's command, would henceforth be known and desig- nated as the Second Brigade of the First Division, Second Corps." The brigade left Gaines' Cross Roads on the morning of the 11th, and marched ten miles, passing through Amissville and Blackwell, and eneamping one mile beyond Hedgeman river. On the 12th it proceeded five miles further and encamped near Warrenton. At this date General Pope took command of the Army of Virginia, embracing the commands of Generals Banks, Fremont and Sigel, and issued stringent orders relative to the conduet and movements of the eorps- The officers were restricted to the smallest possible amount of baggage, and the Sibley tents gave place to simple shelter tents.

The line of march was resumed on the 16th, and the corps, passing Blaek- well, reached Little Washington the same day, a distance of twenty-three miles, marehing through a storm of rain, and wading several heavily swollen creeks. Here it eneamped on the side of the Blue Ridge, and in the adjacent. fields, where it remained till the close of the month with daily company, bat- talion and brigade drill. On the 28th the troops of the command were re- viewed by General Banks, the review occupying five hours. Five thousand men and fifty pieces of artillery were in line. On this occasion the Twenty- eighth Regiment made so fine an appearance as to attraet the special attention of the reviewing General, and receive from him the most flattering commendation.

On the 1st of August the entire corps participated in appropriate cere- monies on the occasion of the death of ex-President Van Buren, and on the 3d was reviewed by Major General Pope. On the 6th the Second Brigade struck camp at Little Washington and moved towards Culpepper Court House, ar- riving there on the evening of the Sth, the brigade consisting of the Twenty- eighth Regiment, Knap's Battery, the Fifth, Seventh, Twenty-ninth and Sixty- sixth Ohio Infantry, and one company of the First Virginia Cavalry, numbering in all about two thousand one hundred effective men. It was here changed by order of General Banks, commanding Second Corps, to the First Brigade of the Second Division, under command of General Augur.

On the 9th of August it marched for Orange Court House, the heat being so intense that several deaths occurred from sun-stroke. When four miles from Culpepper, the Twenty-eighth, Lieutenant Colonel Tyndale commanding, was detached and ordered to re-take and hold at all hazards, the signal station on Thoroughfare mountain, from which the signal offieers had been driven. This order was successfully executed, and the signal station re-established, at that time a matter of vast importanee. The remainder of the brigade under General Geary proceeded a few miles further, where the advanee troops had taken position in line of battle near and beyond Cedar creek, They were im- mediately put in line and did good service in the fierce struggle that ensued. Knap's Battery gained fresh laurels for the splendid manner in which its guns were handled. In this battle General Geary was slightly wounded in the left foot and severely in the left arm, but remained on the field until nine o'clock

427

SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN.

1862

m the evening, when he was compelled to retire from exhaustion produced by pain and loss of blood. The battle raged furiously from two o'clock, P. M., until midnight, and was partially visible to the main body of the Twenty-eighth, who saw the bursting shells and heard the rattle of musketry and roar of can- non, without being permitted to take part in the strife. A number of their men, however, who were on guard duty with ammunition and other trains, rushed to the field and shared the glory of the fight. Two of these were killed and two wounded. Knap's Battery lost seven wounded and one killed.

At seven o'clock, P. M., on the 10th, the regiment rc-joined the brigade, which, in consequence of the wounds of General Geary unfitting him for ser- vice, was then commanded by Colonel Candy of the Sixty-sixth Ohio Volun- teers. Colonel De Korponay was in command of the regiment. On the 13th, six companies, under command of Major Pardee, were dispatched to the Rap- pahannock bridge to guard its approaches. Here they remained until the 19th, when, after Generals Pope and Banks, with their commands, had crossed the bridge, they re-joined their brigade and passed the river early in the evening. During the remainder of the month the regiment was constantly in motion and was engaged in frequent skirmishes, some of them of considerable importance, in all of which it supported Knap's Battery. On the 30th it reached Bristoe Station and was the only regiment there. The enemy being reported as ad- vancing, orders were given on the morning of the 31st to destroy the trains of cars at that place, which were promptly executed by the speedy destruction by fire and otherwise, of five first-class engines and one hundred and forty-eight cars, containing a large amount of government property. At noon it marched towards Bull Run and reached the bridge at six o'clock, P. M., having been attacked several times on the march by rebel cavalry.

On September 1st, eleven non-commissioned officers and two privates were adetailed, by order of Major General Banks, to go on a scouting expedition in the direction of Leesburg, to ascertain the movements of the enemy. These men were carefully selected, as the expedition was one of great responsibility and danger. During the march they were several times pursued by parties of the enemy's cavalry, and near Chantilly were fired upon. Having accomplished their object they proceeded to the Potomac, and crossed upon a raft which they hastily constructed, when, meeting a canal boat, they started upon it for Wash- ington City, where they arrived on the 7th, taking with them sixteen rebel pri- soners whom they had captured on their expedition. One of the party, a pri- vate, was captured by the enemy. So admirably was this difficult duty per- formed, that the men were complimented by Brigadier General A. S. Williams in the following General Order:

" The General commanding takes great pleasure in commending the conduct of Sergeant Bonsall and twelve men of the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Vol- unteers, who being detailed on important special duty beyond the lines of the army, discharged that duty promptly and faithfully, and, on their return, cap- tured nineteen armed confederates, sixteen of whom they brought safely to camp. This act is deemed worthy of special commendation as an example to their comrades."

At four o'clock, A. M., September 2d, the regiment left Bull Run bridge, and commenced a long and toilsome march on the Antictam campaign, arriving at Antietam creek and crossing at eleven o'clock on the night of the 16th. The men were so overcome with fatigue and loss of sleep that they stacked arms and

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TWENTY-EIGHTHI REGIMENT.

1862

threw themselves down upon the plowed fields to seek the repose they so greatly needed. During this tedious march of about one hundred and twenty-five miles, in the hottest season of the year, they passed through Centreville, Alex andria, Long Bridge, Georgetown, Tenallytown, Rockville, Middlebrook, Dam ascus, Ijamsville, Frederick and Boonsboro'. They also crossed the Cotoctin and South mountains, and waded the Monocacy and other streams.

At daylight on the morning of the 17th the battle of Antietam began, and scareely had the wearied troops time to partake of a hastily prepared meal, when they were ordered forward to take part in one of the fiercest eontliets of the war. The regiment got into position under a murderous fire of grape and eanister just as the exultant enemy, having driven back the main army, was rapidly advaneing in large force, when Lieutenant Colonel Tyndale, in charge of the brigade, Major Pardee commanding the regiment, charged with fixed bayonets and checked his advance, and the Twenty-eighth, instantly pouring in a destructive fire, eaused him to waver and fall baek. The fight continued until late in the afternoon, the regiment being under fire about eight hours. It cap- tured two guns and five flags. Its loss in killed and wounded was two hundred and sixty-six. Among the latter was Lieutenant Colonel Tyndale, who was struck on the head with a Minie-ball. The wound was considered mortal but he subsequently recovered. On the 18th the enemy, under a flag of truce, re- treated across the Potomac, and the division moved a short distance to the right of Antietam.

On the 19th of September the Second Divison again moved in advance, and on the 23d the Twenty-eighth Regiment, being the first to cross the river at Harper's Ferry, took position on Loudon Heights, which the division held while the main body of the army encamped in Pleasant Valley, north of the Potomac. On the 25th, General Geary, who had been absent, on leave, in consequence of the wounds received at Cedar Mountain, returned with his arm still in bandage, and was enthusiastically received by his command. He at once took charge of his brigade, and being senior officer present, under orders from General Sum- ner, he assumed command of the Second Division, Twelfth Army Corps.

On October 21st, under orders from General M'Clellan, the division made a reconnoissance in the direction of Leesburg, and encountered and defeated rebel cavalry near Wheatland, capturing a large munber of prisoners and horses with cavalry equipments. In this, the Twenty-eighth bore a conspicuous part, and upon its result the movement of General M'Clellan to the south of the Poto- mac was determined. On the 28th, companies L, M, N, O and P, with another company that had been temporarily attached, were withdrawn from the regi- ment to form the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, of which Major Pardee was promoted to the Colonelcy.

General Mansfield, commanding the Second Corps, was killed at the battle of Antietam, and the eorps, its number being subsequently changed to the Twelfth. was placed under command of Major General Sloeum, General Geary taking command of the Second Division, his old brigade being placed in charge of Col- onel Ruger, to which was attached the Twenty-eighth. General M'Clellan having advaneed with the army, the Twelfth Corps was left to garrison Harper's Ferry, the Second Division encamping on Bolivar Heights. Frequent reeon- noissanees were made by it in advance, in which heavy skirmishing occurred.

December 2d a reconnoissance was made to Winchester, where the rebel General Jones, with superior numbers, after five engagements, continuing

1863

BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE.

429

through three successive days, was defeated, and on the 5th the place was cap- tured with one hundred and twenty-nine prisoners. On the 7th, the division returned to Bolivar Heights, having been absent five days and travelled sixty- five miles. The Twenty-eighth accompanied this expedition. Two days later the Twelfth Corps was relieved at Harper's Ferry and ordered to join the army of General Burnside, to participate in the battle of Fredericksburg. The corps was afterwards ordered to Fairfax Station, the Twenty-eighth Regiment, with its brigade, being left to garrison Dumfries. On the 17th of December, this brigade was attacked by Steuart's cavalry, twelve thousand strong, and eight pieces of artillery. After a desperate struggle the rebels withdrew, intending to renew the attack, but General Geary, attracted by the firing upon this por- tion of his command, hastened at night to its relief with the rest of his division, and encountered them at Occoquan, while marching to attack his camp, routing them and inflicting serious loss.

In January, 1863, the division moved to Acquia, and remained there until the latter part of April, principally engaged in fortifying the place, slashing the timber around it, and reconnoitering the surrounding country. Leaving there on the 27th of April, it made the famous forced march by way of Stafford Court House, to Kelly's Ferry, on the Rappahannock, and Germania ford on the Rapidan, to Chancellorsville, during which the Twenty-eighth distinguished itself in skirmishing with and defeating the rebel cavalry upon the right flank, in the latter part of the movement.

May 1st, General Hooker gave battle to General Lee, at Chancellorsville, and the bloody three days' fight at that place ensued. In these terrific actions the Twenty-eighth Regiment took a prominent part and added new laurels to those already earned on other sanguinary fields. When the command was ordered to fall back it remained with its division and did not quit the field until two hours after the other troops had retired. Its loss during these three days was over one hundred killed and wounded, out of three hundred engaged, it being one-fifth of the entire loss of the brigade. Among the killed was Major L. F. Chapman, who was then in command of the regiment, and who was one of the most heroic and efficient officers in the army. After the pro- motion of Colonel Geary, Major Chapman took great interest in keeping up the character the regiment had acquired for its admirable drill and discipline, and to his untiring exertions in this regard is owing much of its subsequent fame. First Lieutenant William C. Shields fell in this engagement and several other officers were wounded. The division captured five battle-flags. Its loss was one thousand two hundred and nine men killed, wounded and missing. At the battle of Chancellorsville the men of the Twenty-eighth Regiment performed a herculean task in the construction of their temporary breast-works. They were without spades, shovels or axes; but with an energy which signalized them during the war, they applied themselves to the arduous task with the only tools they could command, consisting of bayonets, tin cups and plates. With these alone their fortifications were constructed. Another incident occurred illustrative of their indomitable courage and heroic ardor. During the first day's fight they were designated to lead a charge against a column of the ad- vancing enemy who poured in upon them a perfect tornado of balls, dealing frightful destruction along their ranks. They were under a new commander who had never led them in the fight. As they faced the fearful volcano of death, they, for the first time, halted and wavered. General Geary, then com-

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TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.

1863

manding the division, witnessed their indecision, when he suddenly sprang from his horse, and brandishing his sword, leaped the breast-works, crying aloud, "Men of the Twenty-eighth, follow your old commander." His appearance and words operated like an electric shock. A tremendous shout ran along the line, and simultaneously the men dashed forward with such impetuosity as to instantly stop the progress of and soon repulse the enemy.

At dawn on the morning of May 5th the army re-crossed the Rappahannock at United States ford, below its junction with the Rapidan, and the regiment marched with its division to its former position and duties at Acquia. On June 3d, Colonel De Korponay having resigned, Captain Thomas J. Ahl, of company HI, was commissioned Colonel of the regiment; and on the 5th the Enfield rifles with sword bayonets, with which it started from Philadelphia, were ex- changed for Springfield muskets. The camp at Acquia was broken up on the 13th of Junc, and the division marched through Stafford Court House, Dum- fries, Drainesville, Leesburg, Poolesville, Point of Rocks, Petersville, Knox- ville, Frederick and Littletown, reaching Gettysburg in time to participate in and share the glorious achievements of July 1st, 2d and 3d. In these brilliant engagements the Twenty-eighth again distinguished itself for its bravery and intrepidity. In consequence of heavy breast-works thrown up by order of General Geary, its loss was only twenty-five in killed, wounded and missing. Two hundred prisoners and four thousand small arms were captured by the Second Division. The regiment, on the 4th, assisted to bury the enemy's dead, (twelve hundred of whom lay in front of General Geary's lines,) and gathered up five hundred of his muskets before its own works.

The Twenty-eighth left the breast-works at Gettysburg on July 5th, and marched to Littletown in pursuit of the retreating enemy; thence on the 8th marched thirty miles to Jefferson, on the 9th to Rohersville, 10th to Hagers- town, and 11th to Fair Play. Many of the men were barefooted and suffered con- siderably during this march of more than seventy-five miles. On the 13th the rebels crossed the Potomac, and on the 18th, the march being continued, the division encamped near Sandy Hook, where the regiment was provided with shoes and clothing. From this time the Twenty-eighth moved with its division southward across the Potomac, along the Blue Mountains, in pursuit of the retreating forces of General Lee, and marched thirty-five miles in one day to be present at an engagement with Lee's troops at Manassas Gap. Afterwards it procceded, by way of Catlett's station, to the Rappahannock at Kelly's ferry, and was engaged in guarding the line of that river, near Ellis' ford, during the month of August.

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History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. I, Part 63

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