History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. II, Part 120

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902. cn
Publication date: 1869
Publisher: Harrisburg, B. Singerly, State Printer
Number of Pages: 1386

USA > Pennsylvania > History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. II > Part 120

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Not on muster-out roll.

Welsh, Christopher Widel, William.

Woolover, B ...

Weyer, William

.do .do

Waltmau, Valent'e Winters, Peter.

Wilson, George

Which, Peter.

1 Discharged by General Order, May 21, 1865.

Yost, Charles A.

Yost, William H do

April 1, '34, 3 Not on muster-out roll.

Yaina, August.

.do April 7, '64, 13

Not on muster-out roll.

1 1

Substitute-not on muster-out roll. Substitute-not on muster-out roll.

Shelly, Joseph. do

Sept. 2, '64, Sept. 3, '64,

1 Not on muster-out roll. Not on muster-out roll.

Schmidt, John. do

Mar. 27, '65,

Smith, Thomas M ... .do Sept. 14, '64,

Sweeney, Thomas .. do Skipper, Samuel. .do

Sept. 6, '64,

3 Not on muster-out roll. 1 1 Not on muster-out roll. Not on muster-out roll.

Shaffer, Samuel P ... Seids, Adamn.

9, '64, 3

Schreiber. Frank M .do

1 Not on muster-out roll.

Sept. 9, '64, 1 Not on muster-out roll.

Soffel, Jacob, .. do

Sept. 24, '64,

Sanders, William

Sept. 9, '64, Sept. 10, '64, April 4, '65, Sept. 5, '64, Jan. 28, '64, Sept. 9, '64,

1 Not on muster-out roll.

1 Not on muster-out roll. Not on muster-out roll. Not on muster-out roll.

1 Not on muster-out roll.

1 Not ou muster-out roll.

Not on muster-out roll.

1 Not on muster-out roll.

.do

3 Not on muster-out roll.

Feb. 24, '64, Feb. 24, '64, 3 Not on muster-out roll.

Wisman, Henry

3 Not on muster-out roll. 1 Not on muster-out roll. Feb. 26, '64, Sept. 10, '64, 1 Sept. 2, '64, 1 Sept. 14, '64, Not on muster-out roll. 1 Not on muster-out roll. Not on muster-out roll. Sept. 16, '64, 1 Not on muster-out roll. April 4, '65, April 4, '65, Mar. 5, '64. 3 Not on muster-out roll.

Oct. 17, '64,

TERM-YEARS.

SIXTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.

TN the latter part of May, 1861, Alfred W. Chantry, of Philadelphia, who had been for several years connected with the Second Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division of the State militia, recruited a company for service in the Reserve Corps, and tendered it to the Governor. But the full propor- · tion of troops from Philadelphia for that corps having been already authorized, it could not be accepted. He accordingly applied to the Secretary of War, who gave him verbal authority to recruit a regiment. Recruiting stations were immediately opened in various parts of the city of Philadelphia, and, aided by James Harvey, also of the militia, and Henry C. Cooper, the ranks were rapidly filled. Impatient of delay, some of the men who had been re- cruited for this, joined other organizations, among others Captain Harvey with his company.

On the 13th of June notice was received that if the regiment was fully re- cruited and clothed in ten days' time from that date, an order for mustering it into service would be issued. This promise gave a new impetus to recruiting, and in a few days fully eight hundred men were enrolled. But the government had no clothing to issue, and the order for mustering was delayed. Disap- pointed in their expectations, the men began to drop off and join other com: mands. It was accordingly decided, to more effectually retain the men, that barracks should be secured. The Girard House, then unoccupied, was taken for this purpose. This precaution proved unavailing, and in three days, from the 26th to 29th of June, fully four hundred withdrew. On the 1st of July, the requisite orders having been received, the first company was mustered into ser- vice. The companies now greatly reduced in numbers, and the officers un willing to consolidate their commands, it was found impossible under existing regula- tions to have them mustered in. Headquarters were changed from the Girard House to Richmond Hall, in the northern part of the city. Clothing had been ordered on private account, but the contractors were unwilling to deliver it without an order from each man, securing the price from his monthly pay. In the midst of these difficulties, Benjamin L. Berry, Esq., of Philadelphia, who had, from the beginning, manifested much interest in the regiment, came forward and generously offered to become personally responsible for the entire clothing of men and officers. The offer was accepted, and complete outfits of grey cloth, it being impossible to obtain blue, were speedily supplied. On the 22d of July, the Collector of the Port of Philadelphia, William B. Thomas, assigned the building west of the Custom House to the use of the regiment, and headquarters were accordingly moved thither. On the 26th a meeting of the line officers of companies already mustered in was held, at which John Patrick was elected Lientenant Colonel, and James B. Freeman, Major, in place of James Harvey and Henry C. Cooper, who had to this time acted as

633

SIXTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.

1862

Lieutenant Colonel and Major respectively, the former having been transferred by order of General Mansfield, from being Captain in the Twenty-seventh to accept this commission. Early in August the companies mustered into service went into camp at Camac's woods, in the northern part of the city.

On the 24th of August, in compliance with the urgent appeals of the Sec- retary of State, Colonel Slifer, the battalion, consisting of five companies under command of Colonel Chantry, proceeded to Washington, and was as- signed to the first of three brigades which constituted the provisional division then under command of General Fitz John Porter. In the meantime the addi- tional companies, recruited in Philadelphia, joined the regiment.

On the 20th of September the regiment was ordered to Darnstown, Maryland, to join the command of General Banks. Upon its arrival it was assigned to General Abercrombie's Brigade. The Adjutant's morning report of October 10th, showed a total strength of six hundred and twenty officers and men. Previous to this time it had been known as the Thirtieth Regiment, and was considered as an organization independent of the State of Pennsylvania. It was now made, by an order of the War Department, a part of the State quota, and was designated the Sixty-sixth of the line.

On the 21st of October, Abercrombie's Brigade was ordered across the Po- tomac, and upon landing was brought into position where it was held during the day, the enemy failing to appear. On the following morning it was ordered by General Banks to return. The forces under Colonel Baker, which crossed on the previous day at Edwards' Ferry, a few miles above, encountered a heavy force of the enemy at Ball's Bluff, and suffered a grievous defeat, Colo- nel Baker being killed. Returning to camp the regiment remained until No- vember, when the division moved to Frederick, Maryland, where it went into winter quarters. On the 18th of January, 1862, Colonel Chantry was relieved of his command, not having succeeded in raising his regiment to the maximum standard. Subsequently Lieutenant Colonel Patrick was commissioned Col- onel, and Major Freeman Lieutenant Colonel. On the 6th of February the fol- lowing officers resigned their commissions : Colonel Patrick, Captain J. N. Taylor, and Lientenants Warnick, Freno, Hand, and Chantry.

Near the close of February the regiment was ordered to Washington. In consequence of its disorganized condition and the lack of sufficient numbers, an order was issued on the 1st of March, by the Governor of Pennsylvania, to disband it and to transfer the enlisted men to the Seventy-third and the Nine- ty-ninth Pennsylvania Regiments. Lieutenant Smith, of General Casey's staff, was directed to carry the order into effect. Much dissatisfaction prevailed in consequence, and the men, unwilling to obey the order, became mutinons. Finally through the influence of Captain Haslett, on whom, in the absence of field officers, the command devolved, they reluctantly yielded. Company B, Captain John R. Haslett, C, Lieutenant Henry J. Giltinan, and D, Captain Michael A. Strong, were transferred to the Seventy-third Regiment, Colonel Koltes. Company A, Captain Alexander Thompson, and G, Captain John Moore, were transferred to the Ninety-ninth, Colonel Peter Fritz. Companies E, F, and K, commanded respectively by Captains Butcher, Pollard and Else- good, were disbanded and the men distributed among the several companies of the Seventy-third. The supernumerary officers were mustered out of ser- vice, and thus the Sixty-sixth Regiment, after a term of service of nearly eight months. ceased to exist.

SIXTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.

0 N the 24th of July, 1861, John F. Staunton, of Philadelphia, received authority from the Secretary of War to recruit a regiment. A camp was established at Camac's woods, near the city, and recruiting was immediately commenced in various parts of the Commonwealth. The first company was raised in Carbon county, and was mustered into service on the 28th of August. Recruiting for the remaining companies was prosecuted with vigor during the fall, but in the winter, owing to the belief which widely prevailed, that no more troops would be wanted, the progress was slow, and the companies were not all in camp and the organization perfected until the spring of 1862. The men were principally recruited in the counties of Monroe, Carbon, Wayne, Jeffer, son, Schuylkill, Indiana, Westmoreland, Luzerne, Northampton and Philadel- phia. The field and staff officers were John F. Staunton, Colonel, Horace. B. Burnham, Lieutenant Colonel, Harry White, Major, John F. Young, Adjutant, Thomas P. Parker, Quartermaster, Robert Barr, Surgeon, James W. Pit- tinos, Assistant Surgeon, and Edward C. Ambler, Chaplain. Thomas F. Cor- son subsequently joined as Assistaut Surgeon.

On the 3d of April, 1862, the regiment in compliance with orders moved by rail to Baltimore, and thence by water to Annapolis, Maryland, where it re- lieved the Eleventh Pennsylvania. It was here employed in guarding the Branch Railroad, in performing provost guard duty in the city, and in various special duties at the post, and in different parts of Eastern Maryland. After the establishment of Camp Parole near the town, early in the summer of 1862, guards were also furnished for it. This latter duty was thoroughly performed, and although there were several thousand paroled prisoners constantly at the camp, the city under the charge of Captain Troch, Provost Marshal, was as quiet and orderly, and its citizens as safe as in times of peace. During the pe- riod that it was on duty here, drill and discipline were strictly attended to, and a high degree of proficiency attained.

Iu February, 1863, the Sixty-seventh, numbering about nine hundred men, was relieved by a regiment of Maryland militia, and proceeded by rail to Har- per's Ferry. After performing garrison and guard duty at that point for a few weeks, it was transferred to Berryville, where it joined the Third Brigade of General Milroy's command. The headquarters of the department were at Winchester, and the force under him was charged with holding the rebels in the valley in check, and in securing the eastern portion of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad against depredations. "Late in March," says Milroy in his offi- cial report, "in pursuance of an order issued upou my own suggestiou, I sta- tioned the Third Brigade of my division, consisting of the Sixth Regiment Maryland Volunteer Infantry, Sixty-seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer

635

1863

ADVANCE TO THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

Infantry, First Regiment New York Volunteer Cavalry, and the Baltimore Battery, at Berryville, Colonel M'Reynolds, of the First New York Cavalry, commanding. My instructions to Colonel M'Reynolds were to keep open our communications with Harper's Ferry, and to watch the passes of the Blue Ridge, (Snicker's and Ashby's Gaps,) and the fords of the Shenandoah River, known as Snicker's and Berry's. To this end he was to cause to be diligently scouted, the country between him and those localities, and as far south as Mill- wood. I was expressly instructed to undertake no offensive operations in force." Berryville is situated about ten miles from Winchester, and four from Snicker's Ferry .. The only forces of the enemy known to be in the immediate front of General Milroy's command, at this time, were the cavalry of Jones, Imboden, and Mosby. With the exception of expeditions across the Shenan- doah in the direction of Upperville, for the purpose of breaking up the haunts of Mosby's men, little of note occurred while here.

On the evening of Friday, the 12th of June, Colonel Staunton, who had been at Winchester, returned with the intelligence, that the enemy in large force was moving down the valley, and was then but a few miles distant. Orders were soon received from General Milroy to hold the command in readiness to retire at a concerted signal, and reinforce him at Winchester. On Saturday morning, at a few minutes before eight o'clock, the cavalry patrols on the Front Royal Road reported the enemy advancing in force. Deeming it advisable to unite the command as speedily as possible, the signal was given, four discharges of a heavy gun, for Colonel M'Reynolds to move. His command was in order and marched at once, but as his rear guard left the town, the advance of the enemy appeared in sight on the Millwood Road. It was soon discovered that the enemy were already within striking distance of the Berryville and Win- chester Pike, and it became necessary in order to avoid exposing the force to flank attack, to make a detour by Summit Point and Bunker Hill. While en route and just after passing the former place, the rear of the column was at- tacked by a large force of cavalry under General Jenkins. He was quickly checked and repulsed with considerable loss. After a long and fatiguing march of over thirty miles, the command reached Winchester at ten P. M., in the midst of a drenching rain. The tired troops had scarcely thrown themselves upon the wet ground for rest, when they were again put in motion, and after having been shifted about for several hours, the Sixty-seventh was, at daylight of Sun- day, ordered into the rifle pits encircling the Star Fort, a mile and a half north- west of Winchester. There are three ranges of hills on the north of Winches- ter. The first range was occupied by three forts. That to the left, was the main fort, mounted with twenty-pounder parrotts, and occupied by General Milroy in person with the greater part of his command. The Star Fort was intermediate, and was held by the Third Brigade, under Colonel M'Reynolds. Away to the right, on the hill commanding all the others, was an unfinished work. The second range was occupied by Battery D, First Virginia Artillery, Captain Carsen, on the left, and Battery L, Fifth United States Regulars, Lieu- tenant Randolph, on the right. On the third range the enemy appeared in force.

At noon of Sunday, the regiment was ordered to relieve the Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania, which had been briskly engaged in skirmishing with the enemy on the southern outskirts of the town. It advanced promptly and took posi- tion, though under a severe fire, and held the town until dusk, when, in com- pliance with orders, it retired to the Star Fort. During the day large masses,

636

SIXTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.

1863

of the enemy were seen moving northward, and it was apparent to all that the force investing the place was not, as at first supposed, the cavalry of the rebel army out upon a raid, but was a part of the main body, and that before even- ing the small command of General Milroy would be completely surrounded. General Lee, having quietly broken camp upon the Rappahannock, and moved through the passes of the Blue Ridge, was now on his way for a second grand invasion of the north .* The isolated command of General Milroy was the first obstacle that he encountered. About four o'clock in the afternoon the enemy opened upon the two principal forts. The troops within replied, and with several batteries kept up a furious cannonade until night closed in.

At a council of war held during the night, in which General Milroy was met by his three brigade commanders, General Elliott, and Colonels Ely and M'Reynolds, it was decided to evacuate, and attempt to cut a way through the enemy's lines. At midnight an order was issued accordingly. Owing to va- rious delays the column was not put in motion until two A. M. of the 15th. Artillery, supply trains, baggage wagons, and everything that by movement would apprise the enemy of the retreat, were abandoned. With all possible secrecy the troops filed- out on the Martinsburg Pike, and hastened away. At a little before dawn, when only about four miles from Winchester, a large body of the enemy was encountered strongly posted and supported by artillery which immediately opened a heavy fire. The troops in advance deployed in good order and made a gallant effort to turn the enemy's right. Again and again the lines, led by General Milroy in person, charged his well supported guns and succeeded in capturing some of his pieces, but was unable to hold them. With fresh troops and in overpowering numbers he drove back our weak force and overlapped its flanks, rendering every attempt to break through or turn his lines futile.

At the opening of the engagement, the Sixty-seventh and the Sixth Mary- land, instead of forming on the left of the road and moving to the support of the troops fighting in front, were deployed to the right. They remained in position under partial cover for a short time, when, having received no orders and it appearing certain that the attempt made to turn the enemy's right had failed, they moved still further to the right with the design of cutting their way through upon the enemy's left. Scarcely had they advanced three- quarters of a mile in this direction, when they found themselves in the very

* EXTRACT FROM GENERAL MILROY'S REPORT .- In this affair, which occurred about six o'clock in the evening, we captured a prisoner, from whom I learned that he belonged to Hay's Louisiana Brigade, which was a part of Ewell's Corps, the whole, of which, and also that of Longstreet, was in our immediate vicinity. A deserter, who came in shortly afterwards, con- firmed his statement. This was the first Intimation that I received that Lee's Army had quietly retired before the lines of the army of the Potomac, and had performed a five or six days' march. Telegraphic communication with my headquarters continued until twelve o'clock M., on Saturday. The Blue Ridge screened the operations of Lee's army from me. I had always relied with implicit confidence upon receiving timely notice by telegraph of its advance in my direction. On Saturday, under cover of night, I withdrew my forces on the Strasburg and Front Royal roads, in front of Winchester, to the southern suburbs of the town; under orders to retire to the forts north of the town at two o'clock in the morning. Colonel M'Reynolds arrived with his command between nine and ten o'clock P. M., and was assigned to the Star Fort, immediately north of the main fortification. At this time it was evident that at least two corps of Lee's army, numbering not less than fifty thousand men, and abundantly supplied with artillery, were in my immediate vicinity, and that my retreat by the Martins- burg and Berryville roads was cut off .- Moore's Rebellion Record, Vol. VII, p. S1, Docs.

637

MILROY AT WINCHESTER.

1863

midst of the main body of his army. A severe engagement ensued in which the little force made a gallant but hopeless defence. The Sixty-seventh which was in the advance, finding itself completely overpowered, and surrounded on all sides by masses of the enemy, was obliged to give up the unequal contest, and surrender. The men had had no rest from the morning of the 13th, and were completely exhausted by marching and fighting, and the unceasing vigilance demanded. Many of the officers and men, resolving not to be captured so long as escape was possible, scattered, and taking advantage of the shelter afforded by a broken and wooded country, succeeded in eluding the vigilauce of the enemy and made their way into the Union lines. The Sixth Maryland, retiring while the Sixty-seventh was engaged, and making a detour around the enemy's left, escaped nearly intact and re-joined the forces under General Milroy at Har- per's Ferry. Major White, who fought with the regiment dismounted, fell into the enemy's hands. Captain Lynford Troch was among the killed. About sev- enty-five men made their escape. The officers who were taken prisoners were .kept for more than a year in confinement. Major White, who was a member of the State Senate, and whose vote was necessary to a majority of either party in that body, was subjected to a separate and more strict confinement, involv- ing great hardships and sufferings. By his detention the Senate was prevented from organizing or transacting any business for a protracted period and until his resignation could be secured. The enlisted men who were captured were sent to Libby Prison, in Richmond, and were soon after transferred to Belle Isle, in the James River, near the city, where they suffered the pains and pri- vations of rebel imprisonment for two months, at the end of which they were paroled and returned to Annapolis.

The fragment of the Sixty-seventh which escaped capture, was re-organized at Harper's Ferry, and with the rest of Milroy's command was formed in two brigades, which subsequently became the Third Division of the Third Corps. The regiment, with the division, was engaged in fortifying Maryland Heights, which it continued to defend until the 30th of June, when, the works having been dismantled, the ordnance, ammunition, and stores were shipped to Wash- ington, General Elliott's Brigade, to which the Sixty-seventh belonged, acting as guard. It arrived on the 4th, when intelligence of the victory at Gettys- burg, and the fall of Vicksburg, was first received. From Washington the di- vision marched a few days later, to join the army of the Potomac, meeting it at Frederick.

In the campaign which followed during the fall and winter of 1863, the regi- ment shared the fortunes of the Third Corps. On the 11th of October, the paroled prisoners at Annapolis were declared exchanged, and returned to the ranks. After the abandonment of active operations, it returned to the neigh- borhood of Brandy Station, where it went into winter quarters.

During the winter, a large portion of the men re-enlisted ; but so many had originally joined the regiment at a late date, while stationed at Annapolis, that there were not a sufficient number eligible to re-enlistment at this time to en- title it to a veteran furlough. General Meade, however, in consideration of the fact that nearly all who were eligible had done so, permitted the veterans to be furloughed in a body, and to take their arms with them. The remainder of the regiment consisting of about two hundred men, being left without officers, was temporarily attached to the One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Pennsylvania. The veterans, numbering three hundred and fifty, accompanied by their officers,

638

SIXTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.

-1864

departed from their camp late in March, 1864, and proceeded direct to Phila- delphia. At the expiration of the thirty days' furlough, they again rendez- voused in the city, and proceeded to Washington. Here they received orders to proceed by transport to Belle Plain, at that time the base of supply of the army, and report to General Abercrombie. For a week after its arrival, it was re- tained here and was employed in various duties. At the expiration of that time, Colonel Staunton was ordered to go to Fredericksburg and report to Colo- nel Shriver. A few days after his arrival, the latter turned over the command of the post to him, with instructions to proceed as soon as the sick and wounded had been removed, to Port Royal, the new base of supply. Here Colonel Staun- ton was placed in command of a regiment of cavalry and a battery, in addi- tion to his own, and directed to proceed with it without delay to White House, which had again become the base of the army. He arrived early in June, and the Sixty-seventh was retained by General Abercrombie for duty at this post.

The wagon train of General Sheridan, who was at this time on a raid upon Lynchburg, which culminated at Trevilian Station, was lying at White Honse. The only troops here previous to the arrival of Colonel Staunton's command, was a small force of dismounted cavalry, a regiment of the Invalid Corps, and a small regiment of colored troops. A little after daybreak on the morning of the 13th, the enemy approached under cover of a dense fog and drove in the pickets. It was at first supposed to be only a small raiding party, but as the fog lifted, it was discovered that his cavalry in large force was in front. At eight A. M., he opened with several pieces of artillery. The train, which had been held in readiness to move, was transferred under a severe fire to the north bank of the Pamunkey. The Sixty-seventh, that for twenty-four hours had been on picket duty, was at once deployed as skirmishers. The enemy kept up a fire of artillery during the entire day, but did not attempt an assault. On the following morning, Sheridan arrived with his command, and the enemy was compelled to retire.

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History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. II, Part 120

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902. cn Publication date: 1869 Publisher: Harrisburg, B. Singerly, State Printer Number of Pages: 1386

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902. cn
Publication date: 1869
Publisher: Harrisburg, B. Singerly, State Printer
Number of Pages: 1386