History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. I, Part 85

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 85

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"Our peaceful pursuits in Pennsylvania have been broken. Many of our people have abandoned those arts of industry which lead to development and progress, and have been forced to bear arms. They have responded to the eall of the National Government, and while you are here in obedience to that call, your fellow-citizens at home are occupying the eamps you have lately vacated. All our material wealth, and the life of every man in Pennsylvania, stands pledged to vindieate the right, to sustain the Government, and to restore the aseendeney of law and order. You are here for that purpose, with no hope of acquisition or vengeance, nor from any desire to be enriched by the shedding of blood. God forbid ! Our people are for peace. But if men lay violent hands on the sacred fabrie of the Government, unjustly spill the blood of their breth. ren, and tear the sacred Constitution to pieces, Pennsylvania is for war-war to the death !

"How is it, my friends, that we of Pennsylvania are interrupted in our pro- gress and development ? How is it that workshops are elosed, and that our mechanical and agricultural pursuits do not secure their merited reward ? It is because folly, fanatieism, rebellion, murder, piraey, and treason prevail over a portion of this land; and we are here to-day to vindicate the right, to sustain the Government, to defend the Constitution, and to shed the blood of Pennsylvanians, if it need be, to produce this result. It will do no harm to repeat here, in the presence of so many Pennsylvanians in arms, that in our State the true principles of human liberty were first promulgated to the world; and there also the Convention met that framed the Constitution ; and Pennsylvania, loyal in the Revolution, now stands solidly and defiantly to arrest the treason and re- bellion that would tear into pieces the sacred instrument of our Union of States.

"My friends, one might regret to see so many men of Pennsylvania here in arms to-day. But there is a pleasure in the recollection that you have been willing to volunteer your services in the defence of the great principle of hu- man liberty. Should the wrong prevail, should treason and rebellion sneceed, we have no government. Progress is stopped, civilization stands still, and Christianity in the world, for the time, must eease-cease forever. Liberty, civilization and christianity hang upon the result of this great contest.

"God is for the truth and the right. Stand by your colors, my friends, this day delivered to you, and the right will prevail. I present to you to-day, as the representative of the people of Pennsylvania, these beautiful colors. I place in your hands the honor of your State. Thousands of your fellow-citizens at home look to you to vindicate the honor of your great State. If you fail, hearts and homes will be made desolate. If you succeed, thousands of Penn-

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RESERVE CORPS.

sylvanians will rejoice over your success, and on your return, you will be hailed as heroes who have gone forth to battle for the right.

"They follow you with their prayers. They look to you to vindicate a great Government, to sustain legitimate power, and to crush out rebellion. Thou- sands of your friends in Pennsylvania know of the presentation of these flags to-day; and I am sure, that I am authorized to say that their blessing is upon you.

" May the God of Battles, in His wisdom, protect your lives, and may Right, Truth and Justice prevail."

"General M'Call responded :

"GOVERNOR CURTIN :- Permit me, in the name of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, to return, through your Excellency, to the State of our birth, the thanks with which we receive the splendid banners that, in accordance with an act of the State Legislature, you have this day presented.

" The bestowal of these noble banners devolves upon the regiments of this division, a responsibility they cheerfully accept; and they trust, with the aid of the God of Battles, to bear these stars and stripes proudly in the conflict, and to place the banner of our State amongst the foremost in the cause of the Constitution and the Union of our common country."

By the terms of the act authorizing the organization of the Reserves, the Governor was authorized to commission such officers as the several companies and regiments should clect. In this manner the original officers were selected. As vacancies occurred, from time to time, after the corps took the field, elec- tions were held and the commissions issued as at first. This course was pursued until sometime in July, 1862, when an order was issued through the division headquarters directing that thereafter elections should not be held, the evils of this system being looked upon as greater than the system of promotion and appointments without election, practiced in other volunteer regiments of the army. But the act of Congress under which the volunteer forces were received into the United States service, provided that vacancies should be filled by the Governors of the respective States in the same manner as the original appoint ments were made. Hence the Governor was prevented, by the positive provi- sions of the State Statute, from commissioning any officers of the corps so long as the order forbidding elections was in force. For nearly a year this impedi- ment remained, all efforts to remove it proving fruitless. From this cause the efficiency of the corps was greatly crippled, many vacancies occurring which re- mained unfilled, and meritorious officers being debarred those promotions which their heroic conduct on many a hard fought field had fairly won. Subse- quently, through the recommendation of Governor Curtin, the provisions of the State Statute, providing for clections, was repealed, and promotions and appointments were thereafter regularly made.

The ordinary means for recruiting regiments in the field having languished, on the 30th of September, 1862, Governor Curtin addressed a communication to the President of the United States, proposing to receive ten skeleton regi- ments at a time from the front, and to recruit them in a body to the maximum standard. Inasmuch as the Reserve Corps was among the first of Pennsyl- vania troops to enter the service, he requested that it should be first returned for this purpose. This application, though repeatedly renewed and warmly seconded by the commanders of the corps, Generals Meade and Sickel, was not received with favor, and was never accorded; though the measure, had it been adopted, would doubtless have restored the corps to its pristine strength and power.

THIRTIETH REGIMENT, FIRST RESERVE.

THE First Regiment of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps was organized at Camp Wayne, near West Chester, on the 9th of June, 1861. Captain Henry M. M'Intire, who led the Brandywine Gnards, was the first to occupy the camp, and was assigned to its temporary command. The formal organization was effected under the immediate direction and orders of Major General George A. M'Call, who had been designated as the commander of the division, and re- sulted as follows: R. Biddle Roberts, of Pittsburg, Colonel; Henry M. M'In- tire, of West Chester, Lieutenant Colonel; Lemnel Todd, of Carlisle, Major. Soon after his election Colonel Roberts assumed command of the regiment, and of the camp, and appointed Lieutenant Charles B. Lamborn, of company A, Adjutant, and Lieutenant Joseph R. T. Coates, of company C, Quarter- master, the Army Regulations at that time in force requiring these officers to be detailed from the line officers of the regiment. In addition to his own, Colo- nel Roberts also proceeded to organize, arm and equip the Seventh Regiment, for which companies were daily arriving. On the fourth of July Governor Curtin reviewed the two regiments, in the town of West Chester, in the presence of an immense concourse of people, the citizens entertaining the troops at Ever- hart's Grove.

On Saturday, July 20th, Colonel Roberts received by telegraph, an order to hold his regiment in readiness, and on the following day, one to move by rail to Harrisburg. The battle of Bull Run. having on this day terminated disastrously to the national arms, urgent calls from Washington for troops awaited his arrival. At daylight of July 22d, the regiment marched for Balti- more, and arrived at nine o'clock that evening. Having reported to General Dix, who had that morning received the command of the district from General Banks, it was ordered to Carroll Hill, in the suburbs of the city, to which point it moved on the ensuing morning, and encamped.

As the regiment approached Baltimore on the 22d, the troops were warned of the danger of marching through its limits, and on its arrival at the outer depot, Colonel Roberts was met by a body of the police, and advised, on ac- count of the excited state of the public mind, not to attempt to pass through the city. But before reaching the depot, he had caused ammunition to be dis- tributed to the men, and without heeding the admonitions of the police, or those met on the way, the command moved in good order and without molestation, though the side-walks and houses were crowded with rebels, and those sympa- thizing with treason, On the 26th of July, while at Camp Carroll, the regiment was mustered into the service of the United States, and on Sunday, the 27th, in obedience to orders received from General Dix, it moved to Annapolis, Ma- ryland. Headquarters were established in the naval school, Six companies 69

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THIRTIETH REGIMENT-FIRST RESERVE.

1862

were stationed in the town, and four companies were detailed to guard the rail- road from Annapolis to Annapolis Junction, on the Washington aud Balti- more road, with headquarters at the junction. Contraband supplies for the enemy had been constantly forwarded by rebel sympathizers at Baltimore, by means of wagons and private carriages, which were sent sonth from below, to- gether with irregular mails, and communications of spies, everywhere moving about in the national camp. The agents engaged in this business were inter- cepted and the line of intercourse effectually broken up. The seizure of an im- mense amount of drugs put up for the enemy's use, called forth the special com- mendation of General Dix, who, in his official report of the operations on the line of the Annapolis road, commended the conduct of the officers and men of this regiment, for their care and faithfulness in discharging this duty. Perfect order was enforced in Annapolis, and the excellent discipline of the regiment, and decorons conduct of the men, elicited the good will of the inhabitants.

Remaining on duty until August 30th, it was relieved by the Twenty-first Massachusetts, and marched by rail to Washington, where it remained until the following morning, and thence marched to Tennallytown, Maryland, and encamped with other regiments of the division, under the command of Major General George A. M'Call. While here, the Reserve Corps was organized in three brigades, the First Regiment being assigned to the First Brigade, Briga- dier General John F. Reynolds.# On the 10th of October, it marched with the division via the Chain Bridge to Langley, Virginia, and encamped at Camp Pierpont. In December, shortly before the action at Dranesville, the regiment made an armed reconnoissance to near that point, where it remained two days. On the 20th of December, it marched to Difficult Creek, where the command halted for a few moments within sound of the engagement in progress at Dranesville. The regiment was immediately put in motion, marching to the sound of the enemy's guns, and reached the battle-field just as the action closed, the enemy having been routed and put to flight. Returning with the com- mand, it reached camp at midnight. On the Sd of January, 1862, Colonel Roberts was assigned to duty as Assistant Provost Marshal General of the Army of the Potomac, under Brigadier General Andrew Porter, with head- quarters at Washington, when the command devolved on Lieutenant Colonel Henry M. M'Intire.

On the 10th of March, the regiment marched with the division via Hunter's Mills to Alexandria, through deep mud and a pelting rain, and went into camp near Fairfax Seminary. Colonel Roberts, having been relieved from duty at Washington, resumed command March 19th, and soon after the brigade moved by rail on open trucks, in a blinding snow storm, towards Manassas Junction, and halting after nightfall on the south bank of Bull Run, encamped in the huts lately occupied by the rebels. On the following morning, the command marched to Manassas Junction, where it remained until the 17th, when the First Brigade moved forward to Catlett's Station, and soon after the whole division moved towards Fredericksburg. The First Corps, under General M'Dowell, was ordered into camp at Falmouth, and the Reserves, now assigned to his command, were quartered at Fort Washington, to the rear of the town.

* Organization of the First Brigade, Brigadier General John F. Reynolds; Pennsylvania Re- serve Corps, Major General George A. M'Call. Fifth (34th) Regiment Pennsylvania Volun- teers, Colonel Sencca G. Simmons; First (30th) Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel R. Biddle Roberts; Second (31st) Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel William M'Candless ; Eighth (37th) Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel George S. Hayes.

547

1862

BATTLE OF MECHANICSVILLE.

After the departure of two divisions of the First Corps for the Shenandoah Valley, the Reserves were moved to the bank of the Rappahannock, opposite Fredericksburg. On the 26th of May, Reynolds' Brigade crossed the river, and marching through the town, encamped about a mile and a-half beyond. General Reynolds was appointed Military Governor, and his brigade performed dnty as provost guard until the 31st of May when it re-crossed the river, and again encamped near Falmouth.

General M'Clellan having been placed in chief command of the army, had decided to operate against Richmond, by way of the Peninsula, and had already opened the eampaign. On Sunday, June Sth, the division left Falmouth, and proceeded along the bank of the river to Gray's Landing, reaching that place about two o'clock A. M., after a fatiguing march of ten miles. On the follow- ing morning it embarked upon the Rappahannock, and entered Chesapeake Bay about sunset on the 10th of June. Sailing southward to the month of York River, it reached the White House via the York and Pamunky rivers at three P. M., on the 11th. On the morning of June 12th, it marehed along the York River railroad and encamped at Dispatch Station. On the 13th, Reynolds' Brigade was ordered back to Tunstall's Station, eight miles to the rear, to assist the railroad guard at that post, who had been attacked by rebel raiders under com- mand of Fitz Hugh Lee. It met and skirmished with the enemy. through the woods on each side of the railroad, reaching the station in time to save a train of ears and a bridge from fire. The command returned to Dispatch Station on the 15th.

On the 18th the division marched to Gaines' Farm, and on the 19th moved with the brigade to Beaver Dam Creek, near Mechanicsville, on the extreme right of the Army of the Potomac, and was assigned to the army corps com- manded by General Fitz John Porter. On the 26th four companies of the regi- ment were ordered to Mechanicsville on fatigue duty, and remained till late in the day, when they were driven in by the enemy, and rejoined the rest of the regiment which was then supporting De Haven's Battery. It was soon after ordered, by General Reynolds, to the support of Cooper's Battery, which was being fiercely assaulted by large forees of the enemy. The First Regiment held the centre of the brigade, and for three hours of terrifie fighting against vastly superior numbers, maintained its original position, repulsed the enemy and slept upon the ground so gallantly held. The loss in this engagement was seven killed and twenty wounded.

Next morning. June 27th, an order to fall back was received with surprise, and the command reluctantly withdrew under the fire of the enemy, who at daylight opened his batteries that had been posted during the night in front of the position occupied by Cooper's guns. Resisting the attack step by step, the brigade retired in the direction of Gaines' Mill. It had been determined, on ae- count of the severe duty performed by the Reserves on the 25th and 26th, that they should be held in reserve during the battle about to ensue; but on the afternoon of the 27th they were again ordered into the fight. The First was sent to the relief of Duryea's Zouaves, who were engaged with a large force of the enemy on an open field. Taking position immediately in the rear of the line held by the Zouaves, the regiment met and repulsed every attack of the enemy for nearly three hours, retiring only when the last round of ammunition was exhausted, and relief was sent. The First and Eighth Regiments, march- ing to the rear for ammunition, were met by General Porter, who, excited by

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THIRTIETH REGIMENT-FIRST RESERVE.

1862

the breaking of our lines, exclaimed "Colonel Roberts, can't you form a line with these two regiments and stop those flying troops ?" The Colonel replied that he could, but demanded a supply of ammunition that he might stop the enemy. The two regiments immediately formed in line with coolness and pre- cision under the eye of General Porter, and elicited from him expressions of enthusiastic admiration. The position taken was held until nightfall. In this engagement the First lost seven killed and twenty-eight wounded. Among the killed was Lieutenant Stewart, of company H, who had been ordered by Colonel Roberts, on entering the field, to the command of company B, which was without a commissioned officer. He was shot through the head and in- stantly killed at the moment of assuming the command.

Crossing to the right bank of the Chickahominy, the division remained in camp during the day, and at night marched through mud and rain as wagon guard, and reached Savage Station Sunday morning, June 29th. After a brief halt it moved forward towards New Market Cross Roads, and, after a fatiguing march of fifteen hours, the regiment was ordered on picket duty.

June 30th, the First and Third Reserves were ordered to the support of the cavalry pickets and videttes. While posting his men Colonel Roberts discovered that, through the treachery of a guide who had been sent to him, he had led his regiment within the enemy's lines. Immediately re-forming, he withdrew to the New Market Road, and soon after placed it in support of Cooper's Bat- tery, where it maintained its position with great steadiness for five hours, re- pulsing three distinct and heavy charges of the enemy,* and holding the posi- tion until relieved, after nightfall by one of the regiments of Meagher's brigade. The Reserves having retired to a road on the right of the line, the officers en- deavored to re-form their shattered ranks. Generals M'Call and Reynolds having been captured, General Meade wounded, Colonel Simmons, command- ing the First Brigade, killed, Colonel Roberts being the ranking officer on the field, assumed command and ordered the men to form on the road. This rem- nant.of the division remained in position immediately in the rear of the original line of battle, until about midnight, when an order to withdraw was given, and it marched to Malvern Hill. For his gallantry in this engagement, which was one of the most desperate of the war, the Colonel received the special thanks of the General commanding the division. The loss of the regiment in this battle (variously known as Charles City Cross Roads, New Market Cross Roads, Glendale and Nelson's Farm) was eleven killed and eighty-five wounded. Cap- tain John F. Bailey, of company K, was among the killed; Lieutenant Colonel Henry M. M'Intire, and Captain George H. Hess, of company D, were severely wounded, and the hospital to which they had been carried having been cap- tured, they fell into the hands of the enemy. Captain Hess died from the effects of his wounds, at Richmond, on the 4th of July, 1862. Lieutenant Colonel M'Intire, after his release, endeavored to rejoin the regiment, but was pro-

EXTRACT FROM GENERAL M'CALL'S OFFICIAL REPORT.

Cooper's and Kern's batteries, in front of the centre, were boldly charged upon, each time a regiment dashing up to within forty or fifty yards. They were then hurled back by a storm of canister and the deliberate fire of the First regiment, Colonel Roberts, whom I had placed immediately in the rear of Kern's, and the Ninth, Colonel Jackson, in the rear of Cooper's. The contest was severe, and put the steadiness of these regiments to the test ; both suffered heavy loss, but particularly the First Regiment, whose gallant Lieutenant Colonel (M'Intire) was severely wounded .- Our Campaigns, 1861-4. Woodward, page 140.

549

BATTLE OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN.

1862

nounced physically unfit for further duty in the field. He was accordingly mus- tered out of service on the 7th of January, 1863, and soon after died.

Malvern Hill was reached early in the morning of July 1st, and during the action on that day the fragment of the division now remaining was held in reserve, having fought three battles, and performed severe duty and fatiguing night marches, since the 26th of June. About midnight the division marched for Harrison's Landing, and upon its arrival was ordered on picket duty in the midst of a furious storm. Soon after reaching the landing, Colonel Roberts obtained leave of absence on account of sickness, and was succeeded in com- mand by Major Lemuel Todd, Lieutenant Colonel M'Intire being at that time wounded and a prisoner. Upon the return of Colonel Roberts, August 8th, he was ordered to the command of the First Brigade.

The regiment remained in camp at Harrison's Landing until the evening of Thursday, August 14th, when it embarked upon transports, and sailed next morning to Fortress Monroe. On account of boisterous weather, it remained here until August 19th, when the steamer upon which it was embarked, sailed for Norfolk for fuel, and on the following day reached Acquia Creek. The regi- ment immediately moved by rail to Falmouth and encamped. After sundown on the 21st, it marched for Kelly's Ford, on the Rappahannock, to meet the old. enemy left upon the Peninsula. On the 23d, it proceeded to Rappahannock Sta- tion, and thence to Warrenton, where the division was again attached to the First Corps, under command of General M'Dowell, now a part of Pope's army. On the 28th, the corps marched to the left towards Manassas, and subsequently moved in the direction of Centreville. At daylight on the 29th, the Reserves engaged the enemy, and for two entire days, were continually under fire, al. most constantly moving, and totally destitute of rations. The First Regiment was on picket duty during the 29th, within sight of the enemy, and but a few yards in front of his line. Its loss in the engagement was six killed and twen- ty-two wounded.

On the 1st of September, the army was withdrawn towards Fairfax. On the evening of the following day, the division marched to Hall's Hill, Virginia, and thence to Upton's Hill, where it encamped until the 6th, when it crossed the Long Bridge, and passing through Washington, marched via Leesboro,' Brook- ville, New Market, Frederick and Middletown, and engaged the enemy at South Mountain on the afternoon of Sunday, the 14th. The gorge and summits of the mountain were held by Hill's Corps which was strongly posted, and deter- mined to maintain its position. The First Brigade held the extreme right of the line opposite the troops of Longstreet's Corps, which had now come up and joined those of Hill. As the men approached the stone wall at the base of the mountain, the rebel skirmishers and sharp-shooters posted behind it, opened a destructive fire. General Seymour, commanding the brigade, called out to Colonel Roberts, "Can't your regiment take that height ?" The Colonel imme- diately gave the command "forward," when the column rushed on with a yell, driving the enemy from the wall, and unchecked in its intrepid charge by the bullets of the foe, or the rugged acclivity of the mountain, drove every thing be- fore it, until the summit was gained and made secure from attack. The men slept upon their arms during the night, ready to renew the contest in the morn- ing; but the enemy finding themselves thus suddenly turned out of their fan- cied security in this stronghold of nature, withdrew during the night, leaving the victors in possession of the field. On the following morning, General

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THIRTIETH REGIMENT -- FIRST RESERVE.

1862

Hooker came upon the ground, and amidst the relics of the struggle, in pres- ence of most of the general officers of that portion of the army, presented in person his thanks to Colonel Roberts, for the heroic conduct of the regiment. In this engagement the loss was ten killed and thirty wounded. Captain Thos. P. Dwin, of company H, First Lieutenant John D. Sadler, of company K, and Second Lieutenant John H. Taylor, of company C, were among the killed.

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History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. I, Part 85

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