USA > Pennsylvania > History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. II > Part 47
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202 | Part 203 | Part 204 | Part 205 | Part 206 | Part 207 | Part 208 | Part 209 | Part 210 | Part 211 | Part 212 | Part 213 | Part 214 | Part 215 | Part 216 | Part 217 | Part 218 | Part 219 | Part 220 | Part 221 | Part 222 | Part 223 | Part 224 | Part 225 | Part 226 | Part 227 | Part 228 | Part 229 | Part 230 | Part 231 | Part 232 | Part 233 | Part 234 | Part 235 | Part 236 | Part 237 | Part 238 | Part 239 | Part 240 | Part 241 | Part 242 | Part 243 | Part 244 | Part 245 | Part 246 | Part 247 | Part 248 | Part 249 | Part 250 | Part 251 | Part 252 | Part 253 | Part 254 | Part 255 | Part 256
Mustered out with company, July 1, 1865 -- Vet.
3 Not on muster-out roll.
Perkins, Julius G. do Perkins, Charles L .. do Prothro, Morgan. .do .do
Richards, Lemuel
Mar. 27. '64, April 25, '63,
3
Mustered out with company, July 1. 1865-Vet. Drafted-mustered out with Co., July 1, 1865.
3 Not on muster-out roll.
Not on muster-out roll.
Disch. for wds., loss of arm, rec. at Union. Not on muster-out roll.
Not on muster-out roll.
Swisher, Andrew J
.do
Feb. 2, '64,
3
Smothers, De Witt C .do
Mar. 15, '65, 1
Smith, Christian .... .. do
Mar. 15, '65,
Sanders, James E ... do
April 5, '62,
Slade, James. do
Mar. 24, '62. 3
Stevenson, William .do
Mar. 24, '62, Sept. 24, '63,
3
Smith, Jonathan .. do
Smith, Lewis .. do
Sept. 25, '63,
Stanford, John W. do Spaulding, Edward .do Sept. 24, '63,
Sanders, Benj. F. do Sands, Theodore. do do
St. Clair, George W Thompson, John J .. do
Feb. 24, '62, 3 1
Tinilin, James E. .do
Trout, Washington .. do
3
Updegraph, Theoph do Vaughan, John ...... .do
Aug. 19, '62,
3
Vergason, Newell J .do
3
Wetman, Gottlieb ...
.do
Wagner, John
.do
do Mar. 15, '65, Mar. 15, '65, Feb. 27, '62, Feb. 27, '62,
Westhrook, John do
White, William ...... do
Whitford, Adney J .. do
Wally, Colvin. .. do
Walters, David .. do
West, John D .. do
Wilbur, Charles .do
Wehr, Samuel. .do Feb. 10, '62,
3
Killed in action, August 20, 1864-Vet.
Wishey, Andrew J. .do
Discharged by General Order, July 6, 1865.
Warren, Edward .... .do Mar. 5. '64, 3 Not on muster-out roll.
:
-
Mustered out with company, July 1, 1865-Vet. Mustered out with company, July 1, 1865-Vet. Drafted-mustered out with Co., July 1, 1865. Drafted-mustered out with Co., July 1, 1865. 1
3 Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Dec. 9, '02. Discharged on Surg. certificate-date unknown. Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Oct. 2, 1862. Drafted-discharged by G. O., June 15, 1865. Drafted-transferred to Camp Chase, Ohio-date unknown.
Drafted-discharged by G. O., July 19, 1865. Discharged by General Order, June 5, 1865. Disch. on Surg. cert .- date unknown.
Disch. on Surg. cert .- date unknown.
Mustered out with company, July 1, 1865. Drafted-mustered out with Co., July 1. 1865. Drafted- transferred to V. R. C .- date unknown. Drafted-mustered out with Co., July 1, 1865. Discharged by General Order, May 31, 1865. Disch. on Surg. cert .- date unknown. .
Sept. 25, '63, 3 Drafted-mustered out with Co., July 1, 1865. 1 Mar. 15, '65. 1 Drafted-mustered out with Co., July 1, 1865. Drafted-mustered out with Co., July 1, 1865. 1 Drafted-mustered out with Co., July 1, 1865. 3 Discharged on Surgeon's certificate. Jan. 28, '63. 3 3 Discharged on Surg. certificate-date unknown. Discharged April 26, 1864-Vet.
3 Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Feb. 11, '65. Mustered out, Feb. 10, 1865-expiration of terni. Drafted-discharged by G. O., June 8, 1865.
Transferred to battery B, Ist Pennsylvania Ar-
3 Died at Harrisburg, 1862.
Wilbur, Isaiah S. .do Feb. 13, '64, Mar. 15, '65, 1
Transferred to battery B, Ist Pennsylvania Ar- tillery-date unknown.
Hess, Daniel
- Heatherington, Jas Heimback, Charles Jewett, Allen.
.do
Jan. 29, '62,
3 Not on muster-out roll.
Killed in action, June 18, 1864.
3 Mustered out, March 23, '65-expiration of term. 3 Mustered out, April 5, 1865-expiration of term. Drafted-discharged by G. O., May 15, 1865.
Knight, George W. do
King. Morris. Lynn, Daniel
do
do
Mar. 15, '65, Sept. 25, '63,
3
Lindsay, Ezra D
do
Linsernere, Monroe .do Lynch, Harvey W. .do Mason, John .. .do Morrison, John do
Oct. 25, '62, Sept. 25, '63,
Morris, Edward do
Maher, Michael
.do
do
Mar. 25, '62, Feb. 14, '64,
Otis, Leander. do
Feb. 27, '62, 3
3
Mustered out with company, July 1, 1865-Vet. Not on muster-out roll. Not on muster-out roll.
Ranagan, William .. do Reynolds, Wm. H .. do .. do .do Rhinevault, Syl'r P Rose, George. Richards, Charles F .. do do Rogers, Jonathan Snyder, Philo J. do Feb. 21, '64,
3 3
3
3 3
3 3 3 Not on muster-ont roll.
M'Kinny, Chester. O'Grady, John
do
Jan. 19, '64,
3 1
Loregrow, John.
do
Mar. 28, '62,
.do
.. do
TERM-YEARS
3
Mar. 15, '65, 1 3 3 3 Not on muster-out roll.
Mar. 15, '65, Sept. 24, '63, Mar. 15, '65, 1
Whethill, Henry B Wetzel, John F ..... do
Mar. 28, '64, Nov. 16, '61, Feb. 3, '62, 3 3 Oct. 22, '63, Feb. 27,'62, 3 tillery-date unknown.
-
245
THREE YEARS' SERVICE.
UNASSIGNED MEN.
NAME.
RAXE.
DATE OP MUSTER INTO SERVICE.
REMARKS.
Anthony, James C
Private do
Mar. 30, '64,
3
Not on muster-out roll.
Aarons, William.
do
Mar. 23, '64,
3 Not on muster-out roll.
Borer, Peter .
.do
Feb. 17, '65, 1 Not on muster-out roll.
Corbet, Peter
.. do
April 15, '64, 3 Not on muster-out roll.
Collard, John
.00
April 12, '64,
3 Not on muster-out roll.
Colton, Henry
do
April 18, '64,
3 Not on muster-out roll.
Conway, Michael
do
Mar. 17, '6-1,
3 Not on muster-out roll.
Carmine, Silas
do
Aug. 16, '64,
1 Not on muster-out roll.
Eli Charles
do
April 15, '64,
3 Not on muster-out roll.
Flood, Thomas.
do
...
April 15, '64,
3 Not on muster-out roll. Not on muster-out roll.
Griffin, Aaron H ...
do
April 20, '64,
3 Not on muster-out roll.
Hatter, William
do
April 15, '64,
3 Not on muster-out roll.
Harris, Thomas .. do
3 Not on muster-out roll.
Hughes, William do
April 15, '64, April 15, '64, 3 Not on. muster-out roll.
Lany, James. .do
Mar. 31, '64,
3 Not on muster-out roll.
Murray, James .do
April 15, '64,
3 Not on muster-out roll.
Prichard, Wm. R. do
Mar. 11, '64,
3 Not on muster-out roll.
Ritter, Charles. do
Mar. 22, '64,
3 Not on muster-out roll.
Shelden. Henry .do
Mar. 30, '64,
3 Not on muster-out roll.
Seuret, Edwin do
April 15, '64,
3 Not on muster-out roll.
Treat, Aner R .. do
Mar. 30, '64,
3 Not on muster-out roll.
Vanscover, Wm do
Mar. 11, '64,
3 Not on muster-out roll.
Williams, John do
April 15, '64,
Not on muster-out roll.
Wharran, Robert .do
April 22, '64, 3 Not on muster-out roll.
Williamson, C. H.
.do
April 12, '64, 3 Not on muster-out roll.
TERM-YEARS .!
3
Not on muster-out roll.
Avery, George
Mar. 30, '64,
Galoway. Edwin T
.do
Mar. 29, '64,
FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.
THE Fifty-seventh Regiment was principally recruited in the counties of Mercer. Crawford, and Venango; though a considerable number were from the counties of Tioga, Bradford, Susquehanna, and Wyoming. Company K, Captain Cornelius S. Chase, was originally recruited as an independent company of sharp-shooters; but failing of acceptance in that capacity, it hecame a part of this regiment. Recruiting commenced early in September, 1861, the men rendezvousing in squads and companies at Camp Curtin, where a regi- mental organization was effected by the choice of the following officers: William Maxwell, of Mercer county, Colonel; Elhannan W. Woods, of Mercer county, Lieutenant Colonel ; Jeremiah Culp, of Bradford county, Major.
On the 14th of December the regiment moved to Washington, and encamped on the Bladensburg Pike, near the toll gate. Considerable sickness had pre- vailed before leaving Camp Curtin, and the exposure of the men on the journey, confined in box cars without fire, contributed to increase it. The new camp, unfavorably located on low wet ground, and the inclemency of the weather while there, caused a still further increase of the sick list, and several died. In February, 1862, the regiment was ordered into line with the Army of the Potomac, and crossing the river went into camp at Fort Lyon below Alexan- dria. It was here assigned to Jameson's Brigade* of Heintzelman's Division. On the 1st of March Colonel Maxwell resigned, and was succeeded in command hy Charles T. Campbell. On the 17th of March the regiment embarked with the division for Fortress Monroe, and upon its arrival encamped near the little village of Hampton. Upon the formation of Army Corps, General Heintzel- man was promoted to the command of the Third, and was succeeded by General Hamilton, who, shortly afterwards, was superseded by General Philip Kearny. Drill was here earnestly prosecuted. On the 4th of April the army moved to Yorktown, where the enemy was intrenched to dispute its progress. After remaining a few days within range of the enemy's guns, the brigade was moved back to a wood, or rather swamp, in the rear, and the men were kept at hard labor in the trenches for a month. "Here," says Surgeon Lyman, "for three weeks, the men walked in mud, slept in mnd, and drank water from holes scooped out of the mud. The combined remonstrances of the medical officers of the brigade, 'that a month's continuance in that place would deprive the government of the services of one-half of its numbers,' were met by the silence-
* Organization of the First Brigade, Brigadier General Jameson, First Division, Brigadier General Philip Kearny, Third Corps, Major General Samuel P. Heintzelman. Fifty-seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Charles T. Campbell; Sixty-third Regiment Penn- sylvania Volunteers, Colonel Alexander Hays; Eighty-seventh Regiment New York Volun- teers, Colonel Stephen A. Dodge; One Hundred and Fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Amor A. M'Knight.
247
BATTLE OF FAIR OAKS.
1862
ing reply, 'it is a military necessity.' The event showed that our fears were well founded. The malaria of the marshes and swamps of Yorktown, with the excessive labor performed in the trenches and on picket, debilitated our men for months, sending dozens of them to their graves, and rendering hun- dreds unfit for service, many for life. We had one man killed by a shell, and five wounded, while before Yorktown." On the afternoon of the 11th of April, the Sixty-third Regiment was attacked while on picket, and the Fifty-seventh was ordered to its support. Advancing at double-quick, it formed in line of battle and moved over an open field, in face of a hot fire, and with the help of Weeden's Battery, soon put his columns to flight. The enemy having evacu- ated his works about Yorktown, the army moved forward on the 4th of May towards Williamsburg, where he again made a stand. The Fifty-seventh had reached a point within four miles of the battle-field, when it was ordered to throw off knapsacks, blankets, and overcoats, and march, at double-quick, to the front. Upon its arrival it formed line on the right of the road, but night coming on, the fighting ceased, and it was not engaged. The men, overheated by rapid marching, and wet to the skin by a drenching rain, without rations, fires or blankets, remained under arms all night. "It seemed," says Colonel Per- kins, "immediately after, as though the regiment had been struck with a pes- tilence. Nearly, or quite one-half of the men were taken sick, and the number of discharges, from that night's exposure, was greater, I think, than our casu- alties in any battle during the war."
Leaving Williamsburg on the 7th, where after the battle it had performed picket duty, the regiment marched to Cumberland Landing, on the Pamunkey, ` and for ten days it acted as guard to the supplies stored there. It re-joined the brigade at Baltimore Store, and on the 24th crossed the Chickahominy, at Bottom's Bridge. Upon the opening of the engagement at Fair Oaks, on the 31st, the regiment made a forced march to the battle-field, and was soon hotly engaged. It had been detached from Jameson's, and ordered to duty with Birney's Brigade. But without awaiting orders from Birney, who, from some cause of difficulty with Kearny and Heintzelman, was left behind, Colonel Campbell led his men promptly into action, and by desperate fighting, Heint- zelman's Corps succeeded in staying the rout into which Casey's Division had been thrown. The loss in this short engagement was very severe, being eleven killed and forty-nine wounded. Major Culp was killed, and Captain Cornelius S. Chase, of company K, mortally wounded. Colonel Campbell was severely wounded in wrist and groin. The command of the regiment now devolved on Lieutenant Colonel Woods, and Captain S. C. Simonton was promoted to Major.
After the battle, the regiment was encamped amid swamps and marshes, where the water was insufferably bad, and was employed in throwing up breast- works and picketing the lines. The swamp fevers carried many to the hospi- tals, and the grave. While on picket duty at the front, on the 25th of June, the enemy attacked with artillery, using grape and caninister, resulting in a loss, to the regiment, of several wounded, but soon withdrew. The camp at this time was in the front line of works, a half mile to the left of the Williamsburg stage road. The air was now full of rumors of battle, and on the 26th and 27th, while the fighting was in progress across the Chickahominy at Mechan- icsville and Gaines' Mill, the regiment skirmished with the enemy in its front. · Withdrawing from the breastworks on the morning of the 28th, it encamped in an open field to the rear, where one hundred and fifty rounds of cartridge
.
248
FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.
1862
were issued to each man, an ominous circumstance. To readily distinguish his' officers, General Kearny here ordered that each should wear a patch of red' upon the top of his cap, the beginning of distinguishing badges.
On the morning of the 29th the regiment was placed upon the picket line, where it remained for several hours, when it was re-called and stood in line of battle during the fighting at Savage Station, but did not become engaged. Towards evening it marched through White Oak Swamp, and went into position on the 30th, in an open field, near Charles City Cross Roads. Heavy cannon- ading was heard far to the right and left, but in front all was quiet. Suddenly - the picket line was fiercely attacked and driven in, which was followed up with artillery, filling the air with bursting shells. After a momentary confusion a line was taken up at the edge of a wood, about a thousand yards to the rear of the Charles City Road, and the fighting in earnest commenced. The regiment was posted on the extreme left of Kearny's Division, and joined on the left the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. The contest was severe, lasting until long after dark, and though attacked by vastly superior numbers, every assault was repulsed with great slaughter, the conduct of the regiment drawing from that accomplished soldier, General Kearny, the highest encomiums. The loss was seven killed and fifty-six wounded, most of whom fell into the hands of the enemy. Major Simonton and Lieutenant Morse were among the wounded.
.
Remaining upon the field, watchful for a surprise, the enemy still in heavy force in its immediate front, until two o'clock on the following morning, the regiment silently withdrew and proceeded to Malvern Hill. Upon its arrival it was soon ordered to the front, and at three P. M. was hotly engaged. After a short, but severe contest, the enemy withdrew. The regiment during the entire day was exposed to a heavy artillery fire. The loss was two killed, and eight wounded. Lieutenant Charles O. Etz was of the killed. Remaining on picket until nine o'clock on the following morning, it marched through a drench- ing rain to Harrison's Landing. Lieutenant Colonel Woods here left the regiment on account of sickness, and was soon after honorably discharged. Without a field officer, and with but few line officers fit for duty, reduced by battle, by sickness, and severe duty in the trenches and on the march to fifty- six effective men, it presented a marked contrast to the thousand strong that scarcely three months before had marched forth to battle. " All were exhausted," says Surgeon Lyman, "and disheartened, scarcely a well man in the regiment, with two hundred and thirty, for the first few days, on the sick list. Scurvy made its appearance to a small extent, yet sufficient to complicate and multiply other ailments." The command now devolved, for a time, on Captain R. Max- well; but subsequently, Major William Birney, of the Fourth New Jersey, an excellent officer, a brother of General Birney, who was now in charge of the brigade, was assigned to its command. The sick now rapidly returned to their places in the ranks, recruits were received, a wholesome discipline was enforced, drill regularly held, and the regiment in a short time, restored to its origi- nal efficiency. Birney's Brigade, to which the Fifty-seventh had been trans- ferred, was composed, in addition to it, of the Thirty-eighth, Fortieth, and One Hundred and First New York, Third and Fourth Maine, and the Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania.
-
On the morning of August 15th, the division commenced. the march down the Peninsula. At Liberty Church, the Fifty-seventh and the Fourth Maine moved off the main road, and acted as flankers to the right of the column.
249
BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.
1862
From the Peninsula Kearny's Division proceeded to Alexandria, and moved out by rail to Warrenton Junetion, and thence marched to Bealton Station, where it joined Pope's army. On the 29th the regiment was in line and under fire at Bull Run, and on the 30th became engaged, losing three wounded, two of whom died. The admirable manœuvring of Kearny, keeping up a show of great strength, and the holding his command well in hand for a final stand, deterred the enemy from pushing his advantage on that ill-fated field. The Fifty-seventh left the ground in good order, and marched back to Centreville. Late in the afternoon of Monday, September 1st, it was ordered into line and hurriedly marched to Chantilly, where a fierce battle was in progress. A heavy rain was falling, and it was nearly dark when it arrived. Company K was immediately sent out on picket, while the balance of the regiment was held in reserve. As soon as the picket line was formed, it was ordered to advance and reconnoitre the ground in front, and soon arrived within speaking distance of the enemy, when it was ordered back. In the morning, the enemy having with- drawn during the night, the regiment marched to Fairfax Court House. In this battle, the gallant Kearny, while reconnoitring, having ridden into the ene- my's lines, was killed, and his body, left upon the field, fell into the hands of the enemy. On the following day, four companies of the Fifty-seventh were sent as an escort, under flag of truce, to receive his body and bring it to our lines. At Alexandria, where the regiment arrived on the 3d, General Kear- ny's death was announced in orders, and each enlisted man of his division was directed to wear the Kearny badge, a red patch one inch square, on the right side of the cap.
General Stoneman succeeded to the command of the division, which, after remaining a few days at Alexandria, where it received supplies, proceeded up the Potomac, arriving at Poolsville on the 15th. The enemy had now reached the South Mountain, in Maryland, and to protect the left wing of the Union army, hastening to meet him, Stoneman was ordered to hold the line of the Potomac, from the mouth of the Monocacy, south. The Fifty-seventh was · stationed at Conrad's Ferry, where it remained a month, two companies being . on picket daily. A well laid plan to entrap Stuart on his return from his ride to Chambersburg, around our army, failed by reason of the weakness of the forces at White's Ford, where he escaped across in safety. On the 10th of October, Colonel Campbell having recovered from his wounds, re-joined the regiment and resumed command. During the march of the army to Warrenton, six men of company K were captured, while ont with a foraging party.
Upon the assumption of chief command by General Burnside, a re-organi- zation of the army was made, whereby General Stoneman was assigned to command of the corps, General Birney of the division, and General Ward of the brigade. On the 25th of November, the regiment arrived at Falmouth, opposite Fredericksburg, where it went into winter-quarters. On the afternoon of the 12th of December, it marched with the division down the river to Franklin's crossing, and at noon of the following day, passing over on pontoons, marched to the front. After remaining for an hour and a half under a hot fire of shot and shell, the Fifty-seventh was ordered to advance and relieve the Fortieth New York. "We marched," says Captain Strouse, "by the flank, until we cleared a battery of ours in front, when Colonel Campbell gave the command, ' By company into line,' and then, 'Forward into line on first company,' which was executed in beautiful order, under a murderous fire of the enemy, who had
250
FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.
1862
by this time driven some of our troops from the woods, and were coming upon us, yelling, as they advanced, like savages. Our men soon got into position in a ditch, but we could not return his fire for fear of shooting our own men. As soon as our front was cleared, we opened with telling effect, and held him in check for some time. In the midst of the engagement, Colonel Campbell received several severe wounds, and was borne from the field, the command devolving on Captain Maxwell, of company F. The regiments on our right and left had been posted beyond our reach, or had now been driven back, and seeing that resistance by our regiment alone was useless, Captain Maxwell gave the order to retreat. As soon as we had cleared Randolph's Battery, which was posted about ten rods in our rear, Randolph opened on the masses of the enemy rushing forward, checking their impetuosity, and causing fearful slaughter."
On the 14th the regiment was employed as provost guard to bring up strag- glers, and in the evening in company with the One Hundred and Forty-first Pennsylvania, was ordered to the extreme front line, where it remained .until the night of the 15th. In the afternoon a truce was sounded, which lasted for an hour and a half, for the burial of the dead and taking off the wounded. During this time, the men of the two opposing armies, which but a few hours before had joined in deadly conflict, were peaceably intermingled upon the battle- field, each party seeking out its wounded companions, and bearing them away. The Fifty-seventh brought off not only all of its wounded, but its dead. As soon as night set in, preparations were made for burying the latter; but before it could be completed, the order to retire was received, and the long line of dead bodies which the men had labored so industriously to bring together, was left .. finally unburied. Upon re-crossing the river, the regiment returned to its old camp. It went into the engagement with three hundred and sixteen men, and lost twenty-one killed, seventy-six wounded, and seventy-eight missing. Among the wounded were Colonel Campbell, Captain Strohecker, and Surgeon Kennedy. Colonel Campbell had, a few days previous to the battle, received his commission as Brigadier General, but chose to lead his old regiment once more into action before leaving it. "As we resumed our old camp," says Colonel Perkins, "on
. our return, after the battle, we began, again, the work of recuperation. Our losses had been very heavy. A striking proof of this, and a sad one, was the number of vacant huts in each company street."
Captain Peter Sides, of company A, who had been promoted to be Lieuten- ant Colonel after the discharge of Colonel Woods, assumed command of the regiment upon the fall of Colonel Campbell. About the 1st of March, the army, now under Hooker, was re-organized, and the Fifty-seventh was re-as- signed to the First Brigade, commanded by Colonel C. H. T. Collis, subsequently by General Charles K. Graham, which now consisted of the Fifty-seventh, Sixty- third, Sixty-eighth, One Hundred and Fifth, One Hundred and Fourteenth, and One Hundred and Forty-first Pennsylvania Regiments. General Birney com- manded the division, and General Sickles the corps.
On the 28th of April the corps moved on the Chancellorsville campaign, and after marching down the river to Franklin's crossing, and manœuvring in front of it, making feints to cross, it finally on the evening of the 30th, moved fifteen miles up the river, to United States Ford, where it crossed, and marched to Chancellorsville. The Fifth, Eleventh, and Twelfth corps were already in position, and after marching back and forth upon the plank road, at evening,
.
1863
CHANCELLORSVILLE AND GETTYSBURG.
251
it bivouacked near the Chancellor House. At five A. M. of the 2d of May, it moved to the front, three-fourths of a mile south-west of the Chancellor House, near a pine grove, and took position behind breastworks erected there. The Fifty-seventh was on the extreme right of the corps, and joined the left of the Twelfth Corps. At two P. M. Birney's and Whipple's divisions, the First and Third, were ordered to the front, where some skirmishing ensued, which lasted until dark, when, suddenly, a tremendous crash of artillery was heard away to the right and rear, followed up by the mingled roar of musketry. It was the onset of Jackson upon the Eleventh Corps. Shortly after dark, falling in quietly, the two divisions marched to the rear, and were halted in an open field in front of the works occupied in the morning, now in the hands of the enemy. General Ward's Brigade made a bayonet charge during the night, and drove the enemy from a part of the line. At daylight of the 3d, the enemy made a vigorous attack; but not knowing from what direction he would come, the division was not in line, and when it was delivered the brigade was in column of regiments. It was immediately moved by the right flank, at double-quick, and deployed in line of battle near the Chancellor House, to the left of the Plank Road, and at right angles to it, and charged, driving the enemy, but was in turn driven back. In this charge the regiment suffered a grievous slaughter. The brigade steadily fell back, fighting as it went for nearly a mile, when a new line was formed, which was held until the morning of the 6th, when the army re-crossed the river, and the regiment returned to its old camping-ground. The loss was two officers and eleven men killed, three officers and forty-five men wounded, and twenty-three missing. Among the killed were Captain Edson J. Rice, and Lieutenant Joseph Brady.
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.