USA > Pennsylvania > History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. II > Part 54
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RANK.
DATE OF MUSTER INTO SERVICE
REMARKS.
Archer, James.
Private
Bowers, Henry C ...
.do
Feb. 10, '64,
3
Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865-Vet. Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865.
· Brownell, Simon D
.. do
Oct.
2, '62,
3
Brubaker, Conrad.
... do
Oct.
2, '62,
Burtnu, Henry
.. do
Oct.
7, '62, 3
Brown, John F
.. do
Mar. 28, '65,
1 Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865.
Bender, Ephraim
.do
Oct. 2, '62,
Barnes, Edward.
do
Mar. 31, '64,
Bennett. Wm. H.
do
Mar. 31, '64,
Bicket, E. H.
.do
Barber, Theodore ..
do
Nov. 1, '61,
Bucktooth, Ira.
do
Nov.
7, '61, 3 Died April 17, 1863.
Buckley, Joseph
.do
Jan.,
'62.
Buckley, Thomas .do
Cassiday, Christ'r.
.. do
Colmer, George ...
do
Jan.
1, '64, 3
Campbell, Samuel ..
do
Oct.
2, '62, 3
Cocklin. Daniel
do
Oct.
7, '62, 3
Casev, Patrick.
.. do
Conklin, R. J
.do
do
Feb. 27, '64,
Carson, James
.. do
Nov.
1, '61,
Calkins, John
.do
Nov.
1, '61,
Calkins, Orrin E.
.do
Feb.,
162. 3
Curry, Plumer.
do
Feb.,
'62,
Derrick, John B
do
Mar.
4, '64,
Devore, Samuel B ..
.. do do
Oct.
2, '62, 3 Wounded-absent at muster out.
Derrick, Levi H.
.do
Mar.
April 20, '64,
Nov. 1, '61,
Davidson, James
.do
Nov. 1, '61,
3
Eicholtz, Levi.
.. do
Oct.
2, '62, 3
Everhart, Alfred
.. do
April 7, '64,
Fisk, Joseph L.
.. do
Jan.
1, '64,
French, James.
.. do
Nov.
1, '61, 3
Fleming, Robert B ..
.. do
Nov.
8, '61, 3
Farrington, Rich'd ..
.. do
Nov. 1, '61, 3
Flowers, William.
do
Nov. 1, '61,
3
Granger, George T ..
do
Sept. 27, '64,
I
Absent, on detached duty, at muster out.
Graham, Robert ..
.do
Feb. 27, '64, 3
Getts, Benjamin
.. do
Oct.
2, '62, 3
Garrigan, Thomas
.. do
Nov. 1, '61, 3
Hair, Samuel
do
Jan. 1, '64, 3
Hepburn, James
.do
Jan.
1, '64, 3
Hiller, Charles.
do
Nov. 1S, '62, 3
Henwood, Theo. F.
.do
Oct. 2, '62,
Hulse, Samuel H.
do .do
Mar. 23, '65,
I
Mustered out with company, June 29, IS65. Mustered out with company, June 29, IS65.
Haney, Theodore
.do .do .do
Nov. 1, '61,
Hummer, Joseph C
.do
Nov. 1, '61,
Harris, Reese E.
.do
Nov.
1, '61, 3
Harrington, Fred'k ... do
Feb.,
'62, 3
Hare, Amos J ...
.do
Nov.
1, '61,
3
Harrison, Rich'd C
.. do
Nov. Nov.
1, '61,
3
Harrison, Edw'd J Johnston, Samuel ... Jordoo, Fred'k H ...
.. do .. do
1, '61, Feb. 27, '64, 3
3
Jameson, Chauncey Jameson, Thomas ... Kunkle, George J.
.. do
Nov. 7, '61,
3
.do
Nov.
7, '61, 3
3
Kerr, James H.
do
1, '61,
3
Kerr, James A.
.do
Nov. 1, '61, 1, '61,
3
Kerr, William I. .do
King, Wooster.
.. do
Nov. 7, '61,
3 Killed at Charles City Cross Roads, June 30, '62. Killed at Charles City Cross Roads, June 30, '62. Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Dec., 1862. 3 Discharged on Surgeon's cert .- date unknown. Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Dec. 12, '62. Wounded at 2d Bull Run-tr. to V. R. C., 1863. Discharged on Surgeon's cert .- date unknown. Mustered out with company, June 29, '65-Vet. Mustered out with company, June 29, '65-Vet. Discharged on Surgeon's cert .- date unknown. Deserted January, 1862.
Wounded-discharged by G. O., July 20, IS65. Killed at Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862.
Kerr, William A. do
Nov. Nov.
3
Discharged on Surgeon's cert .- date unknown. Discharged on Surgeon's cert .- date unknown.
1, '61, 3 Discharged on Surgeon's cert .- date unknown. 3 | Disch. for wds. rec. at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, '62.
·
3 Mustered out with company, June 29, '65-Vet. Mustered out with company, June 29, '65-Vet. Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865. 1 Substitute-mustered out with Co., June 29, '65. Des .- returned-mus. out with Co., June 29, '65. Discharged by General Order, May 29, 1865.
3 Died at Harrisburg, Pa., January S, 1862.
Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Sept., 1862. Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Sept. 2, '62.
3 Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Jan., 1863. Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865. 3
3 Mustered out with company, June 29, '65-Vet.
Daron, Josiah Ditmore, George
.do
Oct.
2, '62, 3 Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865.
Dunn, John.
.do
Davis, George M.
.do
3
Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, IS63. Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865.
3 Transferred to Vet. Reserve Corps, Feb. 30, 1865.
3 Mustered out with company, June 29, IS65-Vet. Died at Portsmouth Grove, R. I., Feb. 13, IS63. Mustered out, Nov. 10, 1864-expiration of term. Captured at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863-mustered
out, January 26, IS65-expiration of term.
Diea near Fair Oaks, Va., June 26, 1862.
Mustered out with company, June 29. '65-Vet. Captured November 27, 1863 -- died at Anderson- ville, Ga., May 31, 1864.
Wounded at Fredericksburg, December 13, '62- transferred to Vet. Reserve Corps, IS63.
Mustered out with company, June 29, '65-Vet. Mustered out with company, June 29, '65-Vet. Absent, sick, at muster out.
Wounded-absent at muster out.
3 Absent, sick, at muster out.
Hunsberger, John. Henderson, David Hart, Peter S
.do
April 4, '65,
I
.do
Mar. 16, '64, 3 Transferred to Vet. Reserve Corps, Sept. 11, '64. 3 Dec. 23, '61, Captured August 11, 1864-absentat muster out. 3 Died at Philadelphia, Pa., March 4, 1862.
Howard, Levi.
Hopkins, T. Allen ..
.. do
Jan. 1, '64, 3
.do
Oct. Nov.
2, '62,
TERM-YEARS.
Not on muster-out roll.
3 Mustered out with company, June 29, IS65. Absent, sick, at muster out. »
3 Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Apr. 8, '65. 3 Transferred to Vet. Reserve Corps, Mar. IS, '65. Transferred to Vet. Reserve Corps, Mar. 16, '65. Died at Andersonville, Ga., September 11, '64- grave, 8,499.
Killed at Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863.
3 Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, July, 1862. Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Sept. 29, '62. 3
Nov.
1, '61,
Feb. 27, '64,
Dec. 23, '61,
3
Cassiday, Solomon ..
Feb. 27, '64,
3 4, '6+, 3 Discharged by General Order, May 29, 1865. Not on muster-out roll.
Mar. 31, '64,
283
THREE YEARS' SERVICE.
N AME.
BANK.
DATE OF MUSTER INTO SERVICE.
BEMARES.
Knapp, Byron ..
Private
Nov. 1, '61,
Knapp, Horace
.. de
Nov. 1, '61,
3 Transferred to Vet. Reserve Corps, Ang., 1863.
Lupin, John ..
... de
Feb. 27, '64,
3 Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865.
Laughlin, John
.. de
April 6, '65, 1 Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865.
Landis, Jacob
Mar. 27, '65, 1 Mustered out with company, Jnne 29, 1863.
Lydic, Robert L.
.. do
Lyons, William.
de
Dec. 23, '61,
Miller, Adam
.. do
Dec. 5, '61,
3 Deserted -returned -mustered out with com- pany, June 29, 1865.
Morket, George
do
Jan. 1, '64,
Mark, John
.. de
Feb. 27, '64,
Moore. James W.
de
Sept. 1, '64,
Murphy, Thomas
do
April 3, '65,
Merrett, William ..
.do
April 12, '65,
Miltenberger.Jacob
.. do
Mar. 27, '65,
Mead, James A.
.. do
Jan. 1, '64.
3
Miller, George W
.de
Mar. 31, '65.
M'Ginley, James.
do
Jan. 21, '65.
M'Donald. James ..
.do
June 13, '64,
1
M'Knatt, Uriah
ae
April 30, '64,
3
M'Cutchen, George .do
Nov. 1, '61, 3
Netzel, Christopher
do
Oct. 2. '62,
Poll, Jehn
de
Oct. 13, '64,
1
Peck, Albert J.
.do
Nov. 1. '61, 3
Died at Andersonville, Ga., Mar. 9,'64-grave, 30. Killed at Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862.
Plumer, Cornelius ..
do
Dec. 13, '61, 3
Presten, Edward.
.. do
Nov. 1, 61,
Absent. in hospital, since May, 1862.
Reep, Jacob ..
de
Dec. 7, '61, 3
Rotky, Robert L. do
Feb. 28, 64, 3
Rotky, Samuel J
de
Feb. 22, '64, 3
3
Ramsey, George W de
Oct.
2, '62.
3 3 3
Discharged by General Order, July 1. 1S65.
Reams, A. B.
.de de
Aug. 30, '62, 162. Jan., Jan. 1. 164.
3
Mustered out with company, Jurie 29, 1865-Vet. Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865-Vet.
Shirmel, John H
uo
Shaffer, David .. de
Shugas. John .do
Stair, John.
Sept. 2. '62,
Smith, Joseph ..
Oct. 2, '62,
Absent, on detached duty, at muster out.
Stoner, Franklin Stoner, Philip B
de
Oct. 2. 62. Mar. 31, '64.
3
Swords, Joseph
do
3
Shugas, Joseph
Sidwell. Josiah M.
de
Shotts, Henry J
do
Schalls, Solomon do
Spalding, George ...
do
3
Shindle, Daniel
.do
do
Jan. 1, '64. 3
Shankell, John B ... Snoddy, Thomas
... do
Oct.
2, '62, 3
Shaffer, Adam .do de
Nov. 18, '62, 3 Died at Alexandria, Va., January 3, 1865.
Sullivan, Patrick
1 Deserted June 12, 1865.
Sallade, Henry ..
de
Mar. 21, '65, Jan. 17, '65, Nov. 1, '61, Nov. 7, '61, Nov. 1, '61. Feb. 19, '64,
3
Stanford, John W .. de
Trude, Nathan B
.do
Thempsen. John.
do
Mar. 31, '64, Jan. 1, '64,
Thompson, J. F.
.do
Thompson, J. Watt
de
Nov. 1, '61, Nov. 1, '61, 3 Dec. 13. '61. 3
Thompson, Thos. K .. do Weaver, John F. do
Wilson, Jacob ...
do
Mar. 31, '64, Oct. 2, 62. Oct. 4, '62. April 6, '65, Nov. 7, '61,
3
Wagoner, Geo. W ..
do
3 Absent, sick, at muster out.
Williams, Jehn ... de
Williams, Levi T ... .de
do
Oct. 11, '62. 3 Absent, wounded, at muster out.
3
Sears, Robert
Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865. Discharged by General Order, June 22, 1865. Absent, sick, at muster out.
Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 29, IS65. Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865. Discharged by General Order, May 31, 1865. Transferred to Vet. Reserve Corps, Mar. 7, 1865. Died March 6, 1865-Vet.
Captured Aug. 16. 1864-died at Salisbury, N. C., November 11, 1864.
1 Deserted June 13, 1865.
3 Died at Richmond, Va., October 24, 1863. 3 Mustered out, Nov. 18, 1864-expiration of term. Died at Harrisburg, Pa., November 9, 1861. Died near Culpepper, Va., March 1, 1864. Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865. Captured May 12, 1864-absent at muster out. Discharged on Surg. certificate -- date unknown. Discharged on Surg. certificate-date unknown.
Missing in action, June 30, 1862.
3 Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865.
1 Substitute-mustered out with Co., June 29, '65. 3 [ Killed at Charles City Cross Roads, June 30, '62.
1 1 1 Drafted-mustered out with Co., Juue 29, 1865. 1 Substitute-mustered out with Co., June 29, '65. Substitute-mustered out with Co., June 29, '65. Substitute-mustered out with Co., June 29. '65. Died at Patrick Station, Va., Jan. 7, 1865-Vet. Deserted May 18, 1865. 1
Substitute-mustered out with Co., June 29, '65. Drafted-mustered out with Co., June 29. 1865. Substitute-deserted-returned-mustered out with company, June 29, 1865.
Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Dec. 6. 1862. Transferred to Vet. Reserve Corps, Mar. 18, '65. Deserted -returned - mustered out with cont- pany, June 29, 1865.
Deserted-returned-absent,sick, at muster out. Mustered out with company, June 29, '65-Vet. Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865.
Robinson. Hiram B do
Jan. 1, '64.
Mustered out with company, June 29. 1865-Vet. Mustered out with conipany, June 29, 1865. Absent, sick. at muster out.
Rogers, George W .. de
Robinson, James G .do
Sept. 30, '62, Mar. 31, '64,
3 3
Discharged by General Order, May 31, 1863. Died near Fair Oaks, June 28, 1862.
Randall, Bradford .. Solomen, John. do Snyder, Charles do
Jan.
1. '64.
3 3 3
Jan. Oct. 2. '62, 3 1, '64. 3 Mustered out with company, June 20, 1865-Vet. Oct. 2, '62, Mustered out with company, June 29, 1835. Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865.
do de
Nov. 18, '62, 1 Feb. 16, '65, Sept. 20, '64, 1 1 1 Sept. 19, '64, Sept. 21, '64, Sept. 25, '64, 1
Stoffer, Joseph F.
Aug. 11, '62, Oct. 2, '62,
Spear, William J. do Shongo, Thomas. do do
Siddles. Charles.
TERM-YEARS.
3 Absent, in hospital, since May, 1862.
Feb. 27, '64, 3 Transferred to Vet. Reserve Corps, Jan. 17, 1865. 3 Deserted June 26, 1864.
3 Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865-Vet. 3 Mustered out with company, June 29, 1865.
284
FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.
NAME.
RANK.
DATE OF MUSTER INTO SERVICE.
REMARKS.
Whitford, C. R.
Private
Whitford, H. H
do
Webster, Geo. N
.do
Weed, David H.
do
White, Joseph
.. do
Young, R. L.
.. do
TERM-YEARS.[ 33330363
Nov. 1, '61, 3 3 Nov. 1, '61, Died at Harrison's Landing, Va., July 29, 1862. Disch. on Surgeon's certificate-date unknown. Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Dec. 11, '62. Nov. 1, '61, 3 Nov. 1, '61, 3 Disch. on Surgeon's certificate-date unknown. Disch. on Surgeon's certificate-date unknown. Nov. 7, '61, 3 Aug. 30. '62, 3 Absent, wounded, at muster out.
UNASSIGNED MEN.
Buchanan, Hugh
Private' July 27, '64,
Clark, Thomas
do.
Mar. 16, '65.
Hinkle, Amos,
do ... April 8, '65,
M'Garvey. Henry ...
do ... April 5, '65,
Thompson, J. H ..
do Nov. 11, '64,
Schlotman, Alex. do
Mar. 16, '65,
3 Substitute-discharged by G. O. Aug. 14, 1865. 1 Substitute-discharged by G. O., Nov. 2, 1865. 1| Substitute-discharged by G. O., Sept. 28, 1865. 1 : Substitute-discharged by G. O., Nov. 2, 1865. I Substitute-transferred to Army of the North West, Jan .. '65-disch. by G. O., Nov. 11, 1865. 1 Drafted-discharged by G. O., Aug. 14, 1865.
1
FIFTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.
THE right wing of the Fifty-eighth Regiment, consisting of companies A, B, C, D, and K, was recruited in the city of Philadelphia and vicinity, under the direction of J. Richter Jones, who had received the requisite authority from the Governor, and rendezvoused at Roxboro', near Philadelphia. The left - wing, companies E, F, G, H, and I, were recruited in the counties of Warren, M'Kean, Cameron, Clinton, Northumberland, Luzerne, and Potter, under Carl- ton B. Curtis, who had likewise received authority to raise a regiment, and rendezvoused at a camp near Huntingdon, subsequently at Camp Curtin, and finally at Camp Curtis, near Philadelphia, and was designated the One Hundred and Fonrteenth. Failing to secure a sufficient number of men for two full regiments, by mutual agreement, the two were consolidated, and the combined force received for its designation the lowest number of the line. Recruiting com- menced in the autumn of 1861, and the final organization of the regiment was effected on the 13th of February, 1862, by the choice of the following field offi- cers: John Richter Jones, of Sullivan county, Colonel; Carlton B. Curtis, of Warren county, Lieutenant Colonel; Montgomery Martin, of Philadelphia, Major. On the 21st the regimental colors were presented, a gift from ladies of Roxboro'.
· The regiment broke camp on the Sth of March, and moving through the city amidst cheers and joyous demonstrations, proceeded to Fortress Monroe, the right wing direct by water, the left wing by rail to Baltimore and thence by transport, and encamped a mile and-a-half from the fortress, at Camp Ham- ilton. The day of its arrival was signalized by the world renowned contest between the iron-clad Merrimac and the Monitor, the camp alive with the ex- citement. On the 13th it was rumored that General Magruder was advancing to attack the camp. The pickets were driven in, and the troops were ordered into line; but no attack was made.
On the 10th of May, a force consisting of six regiments of infantry, the Fifty- eighth Pennsylvania, Tenth, Twentieth, and Ninety-ninth New York, First Delaware, Sixteenth Massachusetts, a battalion of mounted rifles, and a battery, was ordered from camp, and after passing in review before President Lincoln, embarked upon transports, for an expedition to Norfolk, all under command of Major General Wool. As the transports passed the Roads, the fleet was in the act of bombarding Sewell's Point and Craney Island, and the mon- ster Merrimac was in full view. At daylight on the following morning the troops debarked at Ocean View, and commenced the march. The Fifty-eighth was the last to land, and consequently had the rear. At Tanner's Creek it was ordered to the front, and, as it approached the hostile forces, advanced as skirmishers. The enemy had set fire to the bridge, but the flames were quickly extinguished. He had some small guns in position, but as soon as the regiment
286
FIFTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.
1862
was deployed, his pickets discharged their pieces and fled. The column moved by the flank, on the Princess Anna Road and upon approaching his intrench- ments, it was discovered that they were deserted. The troops immediately took possession, and bivouacked for the night. In the meantime, the Mayor and city councils of Norfolk came out and formally surrendered the city, which was followed by the possession of Portsmouth, Newtown, Gosport, and the Navy Yard. The flag of the Fifty-eighth was taken to Norfolk, and unfurled upon the Custom House, where it floated in triumph while the regiment re- mained. The camp was early aroused on the following morning by the blowing up of the Merrimac, causing the solid earth to tremble. After performing pro- vost guard duty in Norfolk for a few days, the regiment marched to Portsmouth and encamped near the Navy Yard, performing guard duty in Portsmouth, and picket on the intrenchments. Subsequently, it was moved upon the in- _ trenched lines, and was encamped near the "Marine Hospital," where it was . engaged in guard and picket duty.
On the 18th of August company G, Captain Winn, was ordered to proceed by the Great Dismal Swamp Canal, to South Mills, North Carolina, near to one of the battle-grounds of Burnside, to break up a rendezvous of rebel recruits. Having accomplished its mission, it returned to camp without having encoun- tered any hostile force. On the 11th of October, the regiment was ordered to Suffolk, where were some fifteen thousand troops encamped under command of General Peck. On the 24th the regiment made an expedition in company with the Ninety-ninth, One Hundred and Twelfth, and One Hundred and Thirty- second New York, a battery and a regiment of New York mounted rifles, to the Black Water, meeting and skirmishing with the enemy at Zuni. Again, on the 12th of December, the regiment moved with an expedition to the Black Water, and in a skirmish which ensued two men in company C were wounded. During the month of November, the Fifty-eighth furnished large details for fatigue duty upon the fortifications, and for picket. .
1
.
On the 5th of January, the Fifty-eighth embarked with a force under com- mand of Major General Foster, for Beaufort, North Carolina, arriving at noon of the following day. Proceeding to Bachelor's Creek Station, eight miles west of Newbern, the regiment encamped, and with the Twenty-fifth Massachu- setts, and a company of North Carolina Cavalry, all under command of Colonel Jones, held the outposts of General Foster's command, extending from the Neuse River on the right, to the Trent on the left. A fine block-house was constructed near the camp, so situated as to command the bridge, which was protected by a stockade and intrenchment provided with chevaux de frise, and another, at a picket station a mile in advance, where the railroad crossed at right angles a public road, which formed the outer picket line. The camp was in addition strongly fortified with earth-works. During the first month the pickets had frequent encounters with rebel scouting parties. These beginning to be trouble- some, on the evening of the 12th of February, Colonel Jones led his regiment in search of their camp. Arriving at Cone Creek, he left company E to guard the bridge, and sending companies A and D to the right, on the Neuse Road, with the balance of his force struck into the woods to the left, and marching all night around the head waters of Cone Creek, crossed the railroad at daylight, and soon arrived within sight of the rebel camp-fires on Sandy Ridge. Com- panies B and K were immediately sent to right and left to flank the position, while the rest of the command charged full upon its front. The rebel force was
1863
CAMPAIGN IN NORTH CAROLINA.
287
surprised and routed. One hundred and forty-three prisoners were taken, four of whom were wounded, and six were killed. The camp was burned, and the command returned in triumph to its quarters.
On the 14th of March, the rebel General Pettigrew, with a heavy force of infantry and sixteen guns, attacked Newbern. Colonel Jones* was in danger of being cut off and captured. Small reinforcements were sent to him, and by skillful dispositions and manœuvring of his handful of men, he managed to keep the rebels at bay, who finally retired without gaining any advantage. But the enemy still continued to manifest much activity, and scarcely a day passed in which some portion of the regiment was not out scouting the country between the Trent and the Neuse. On the 15th of April two men of company I were captured by a party of rebel scouts. On the following day a brigade from New- bern, on its way to the relief of the Union forces at Little Washington, passed through the camp, and the Fifty-eighth was ordered out upon the Neuse Road . for the protection of the right flank of the column in its passage of the river. In this movement the regiment encountered the enemy under General Ransom, and a sharp skirmish ensued, in which the loss was one killed and three wounded. Sending back to camp for a squadron of cavalry, the command bivouacked upon the field for the night, during which the enemy withdrew. Holding the position until the 20th, it fell back towards camp. At Cone Creek, on the Dover Road, it was again attacked by a considerable force of the enemy. The engagement lasted an hour and a half, the rebels giving ground, and finally withdrawing. The loss was seven wounded.
On 27th of April, parts of two brigades, commanded by Generals Palmer and Prince, consisting of the Eighth, Twenty-third, Twenty-fifth and Twenty- seventh Massachusetts, Ninth New Jersey, with two batteries and a small force of cavalry, arrived in camp, for the purpose of a demonstration upon Kinston. The force advanced in two columns, one led by General Palmer upon the rail- road, the other by Colonel Jones by the Dover Road. Company G and two companies of the Twenty-seventh advanced as skirmishers. At Sandy Ridge skirmishing commenced, the enemy retreating to Gum Swamp, where the Dover crosses the railroad. Here he had a formidable line of breastworks erected across the junction, flanked on either side by an impassable swamp. Upon their arrival in front, the skirmishers attacked, but were soon checked by the . fire of the enemy from his well sheltered position. As soon as the main body came up, dispositions were made, and after a sharp contest the works were carried. The loss in the Fifty-eighth was one killed. A few prisoners were taken, but most of the enemy escaped. The regiment immediately fell back to camp, and Palmer's command to Newbern.
The enemy, still in force at Kinston, on the 21st of May a body of four in- fantry regiments, a squadron of cavalry, and a battery, joined the Fifty-eighth, all under command of Colonel Jones, in another expedition for the breaking up the rebel encampment. Leaving quarters soon after dark, the command pro- ceeded to Cove Creek, where Colonel Jones with his own, and the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts, struck into the swamp to the left, and by a long detour, march-
* "There are thousands at the North who curse the army for inaction, who, if they knew half the brave things done by the men in the field, would be shamed to silence by their deeds of valor. Colonel Jones and his heroes of the Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania, have done some splen- did work, and by his vigilance has made the bushwhackers cry for quarter."-Moore's Rebellion Record, Documents, Volume VI, page 451.
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FIFTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.
1863
ing all night in single file, at times in water to their arm-pits, arrived at sunrise in rear of the rebel works at Gum Swamp, where he found the enemy fighting the column which had arrived in front. The appearance of the column in rear, was timely. Jones immediately charged and captured the works, taking one ; hundred and seventy-five prisoners, one gun, many small arms, and valuable medical stores. The command commenced the return march with prisoners and booty; but the enemy, greatly exasperated, followed up and shelled the retiring column. Upon its arrival in camp, the enemy manifesting no dispo- sition to attack, Colonel Jones ordered his co-operating force back to Newbern. On the afternoon of the same day, the company left to guard the bridge on the Neuse Road, across Bachelor's Creek, suddenly found itself confronted by a con- siderable force, and was hotly engaged. Proceeding hastily to the threatened point with companies F, K and I, he deployed them as skirmishers, and drove the enemy's line back across the creek. Boldly crossing with his small force, he formed his line of battle, and sent back to camp for a battery. Turning to go forward with his men, he was shot through the heart by a rebel posted be- hind the chimney of a house just beyond the bridge, and instantly expired. The artillery was soon brought up and the enemy dispersed. On the following day the regiment was relieved, and ordered to Newbern. In a general order announcing the death of Colonel Jones, General Foster says, "Colonel Jones won the admiration of all in this department by the indefatigable, able, and gallant manner with which he filled the arduous duties of Commander of the Out- posts. He died whilst yet enjoying the triumph of a victory won by his valor and counsel." Lieutenant Colonel Curtis was promoted to Colonel, Major Montgomery Martin to Lieutenant Colonel, and senior Captain Henry Metcalf to Major.
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