USA > Pennsylvania > History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. III > Part 89
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Berringer, Thomas
... do
Sept. 14, '64,
TERM-YEARS.
Capt ..
Oct. 10, '64,
Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865.
1 Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865.
1 I 1 Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. 1 Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with comoany, June 17, 1865. Promoted fr. Corporal, Jan. 1. 1865-mustered out with company, June 17, 1865.
1 Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865.
1 Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Promoted to Corporal, April 14, 1865-mustered out with company, June 17, 1865.
Orrin Frederick
Muc. ... Sept. 9, '64, 1 1
Derosa, Isadore.
.do
do
Sept. 6, '64,
do
Oct. 10, '64,
* This company was composed of men transferred from the 193d 'and 194th Regiments P. V., in October, 1864.
462
NINETY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.
SAME.
RANK.
DATE OF MUSTER INTO SERVICE.
REMARKS.
· Howell, Benjamin ..
Private
Sept. 6. '64. 1
. Herman, George .....
do
Sept. 22, '64,
1
Ibach, James A ..
do
Sept. 6, '64,
1
Jessner, Joseph
do
Sept. 6, '64, 1 Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865.
Johnson, William.
do
Sept. 15, '64,
Keys. Thomas. do
Sept. 29. '64,
Keefer, Adam do
do
Sept. 6, '64,
Sept. 13, '64, 1 Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865.
Larrimer, James. do
Law. Samuel do
do
Martin, George
do
Miller, Philip
.. do
do
Sept. 10, '64.
Mackey, Alex. H ..
.do
Oct. 7, '64,
Manville, Byron O .. .. do
Sept. 6, '64, 1
M'Canna, James .. do
M' Donald, Theo.
do
M'Gee, Thomas
do
M'Gee. Joseph D .... M'Intyre. William
do
Sept.
Sept.
Sept. 10, '64,
Patrick, John B ...
do
Sept. 22, '64,
Patterson, William
do
Oct. 7, '64,
Penrod, Henry C ..
do
Sept. 6, '64,
Queeney, William .. do
Sept. 6, '64, 1
Quest, Philip
do
Sept. 15, '64,
Robinson, Edward ..
do
Sept. 14, '64,
Ritchey, Adam. S ...
do
Sept. 10, '64, 1
Rodgers, James W
.. do
Sept. 15, '64, 1
Steely, Jacob E.
.do
Sept. 6, '64,
I
Sweeney, William .. Smith, John
do do
Sept. 10, '64, 1
Stevens. Valentine .. Steele, William
do.
do
Sept. 22, '64,
Smith, Philip
do
Sept. 14, '64,
1 Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865.
Showers, Adam.
do
Sept.
15, '64,
1
Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865.
Shoaff, Amos J
.do
Sept.
6, '6-4,
Steffee, Andrew.
do
Sept.
6, '64, 1
Swartz, John W do
Sept.
6, '64, 1
Serenee, Lewis.
.do
Sept.
6. '64, 1
Spahr, John B.
.do
Sept. 10, '64,
1
Sibson, Henry ..
.do
Sept.
6, '64,
1
Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865.
Schlender, Elijah ào Sept. 10, '64,
1
Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865.
1 Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865.
Torner, John. do Oct. 10, '64,
1
Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865.
Ulmer, George.
.do
Sept. 6, '64,
Vanzant, John .. do
Sept. 9. '64,
1 Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865.
Wills, George do
Wright, George A. do
Sept. 15, '64,
Willis, Joseph .. do Wren. Thomas .do
Sept. 6, '64,
1 Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865.
Wickham, John do
Sept. 10, '64,
Williams, James A .do ...
Williams. Thomas .. do
Sept. 10, '64, Sent. 6. '64, 1 Discharged by General Order, May 16, 1865.
Wilcox, George ...... do
Weaber, William ...
.. do
Sept. 10, '64, |1
UNASSIGNED MEN.
Cummins, Thos. J ..
Private
Aug. 8, '64,
1
Doll, George A ...
... do
Feb. 27, '65,
Kissell, William A
... do ....
Feb. 27, '65,
Lauer, Alfred.
.. do
May 15, '64, 3 Not accounted for.
M'Neal, Joseph
.. do
Mar. 4, '65,
1| Discharged by General Order, Nov. 14, 1865.
Rice, John R. .. do
April 9, '64,
3 Not accounted for.
Sandoe, Franklin ... do
Feb. 22. '05,
1
Discharged by General Order, May 23, 1865: Not accounted for.
Wilson, Thomas ... do
Aug. 19, '64,
3
White, Samuel .. do
Westlake, Robert ... .. do
Sept. 12, '64. 1 Substitute-discharged by G. O., May 14, 1865. Discharged by special order, Nov. 3, 1864.
TERM-YEARS.
Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865.
Kaufman, Sam'l B .. Lea, William
do
Sept. 14, '64,
Sept. 14, '64, 1 Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. 1 Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. 1 Sept. 6, '64, Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Sept. 1 6, '64, 1 Sept. 15, '64, Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865.
Murray, James.
1 1 Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865.
O'Brien, Thomas .... Pickart, Henry .
.do
.do
1 Sept. 9, '64, 1 1 Sept. 10, '64, Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. 1 Sept. 6, '64, Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Sept. 1 Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. 6. 64, 9. '64, 6. '64, 1 1 Mustered out with company, June 17. 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. 1 1 1 Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. 1 Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. 1
Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865.
Sept. 10, '64, 1 Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Sept. 10, '64, 1 1 Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865.
1 Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865.
Trax, William F. .do
Sept. 14, '64,
1 Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865.
July 16, '64,
3 1 Drafted-mustered out with Co., June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. 1
Sept. 6, '64,
1 1! Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Discharged by General Order, May 19, 1865.
Sept. 22, '64, 1 Discharged by General Order, May 29, 1865. Died at Philadelphia, April 11, 1865.
.do
Sept. 10, '64,
1 Mnstered out with company, June 17, 1865. 1 1 Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 17, 1865. - 1
Long, William P.
Not accounted for.
1 | Substitute-discharged by G. O., July 10, 1865. Sub .- disch. March 16, to date Feb. 27, 1866. 1
NINETY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.
B Y order of the War Department, of August 1st, 1861, Colonel John F. Ballier was authorized to raise a regiment of infantry to serve for three years, in place of the Twenty-first Regiment of the three months' service, which he had commanded, the term of which had expired on the 29th of July, though not mustered out till the 8th of August. Recruiting was immediately commenced, and on the 17th the first company, I, was mustered in. Com- panies D, C, F, A, E, K, and B were mustered at intervals between that date and the 26th of September, and as mustered were sent to Camp Ballier, within the limits of the city of Philadelphia, where the regiment was exclu- sively recruited. The majority of men and officers were of German origin, had served in the Twenty-first Regiment, and many of them in the armies of their native land. They received clothing immediately on entering camp, but arms and accoutrements were not delivered until two months later. The arms were the Belgian rifled musket, an excellent piece for distance and accu- racy, much prized by the men, which in 1863 were exchanged for the much lighter Springfield rifle. A regimental organization was effected by the se- lection of the following field officers: John F. Ballier, Colonel; Adolph Meh- ler, Lieutenant Colonel; George Wynkoop, Major.
The first eight companies left Philadelphia on the 30th of September, for Washington, and upon their arrival encamped at Kalorama Heights for nine days, when they were ordered to join General Peck's Brigade,* stationed at Ten- allytown. During the month of December the two remaining companies, G and H, joined the regiment, bringing the number up to the full standard. Evolutions of the line, which had been commenced while in camp at Phila- delphia, were continued at Tenallytown, and a thorough drill with the use of arms was instituted. A school for officers was established, which was in ses- sion one hour nightly, and the non-commissioned officers received instruction in artillery drill at Fort Pennsylvania, later Fort Reno. The monotony of the camp was not disturbed until the 10th of March, 1862, when the brigade was ordered across the Chain Bridge to Prospect Hill, where it lay under arms for nearly a week, exposed to a severe rain storm, when it returned again to its old quarters.
On the 26th of March it embarked from Alexandria for the Peninsula, where, upon its arrival, it encamped near the ruins of the little village of
* Organization of Peck's Brigade, Couch's Division, Keyes' Corps: Ninety-third Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel James M. M'Carter; Ninety-eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel John F. Ballier; One Hundred and Second Regiment Pennsylvania Vol- unteers, Colonel Thomas A. Rowley ; Sixty-second Regiment New York Volunteers, Colonel John L. Riker; Fifty-fifth Regiment New York Volunteers, Colonel Regis De Trobriand.
At the conclusion of the Peninsula Campaign, the Fifty-fifth New York was detached and the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Pennsylvania, Colonel Frederick H. Collier, was added to it.
.
464
NINETY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.
·1862
Hampton. After ten days it proceeded to Warwick Court House, where it was principally employed in building corduroy roads, bastions and breast- works. On the 4th of May, the enemy having retreated, the works constructed with so great care were abandoned, and after a weary march, it arrived in front of Williamsburg, where it fought its first battle. The Ninety-third was in the advance and was first engaged. The Ninety-eighth followed, or rather relieved it. The conflict was severe, but more keenly felt than subsequent . contests of greater magnitude, because here the men looked upon their first dead and wounded. The loss was four killed and four wounded.
On the 7th of May the Ninety-eighth was ordered to General Stoneman's command, and moved with the advance guard, comprising in addition Rob- erts' Battery of Sixth United States, the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, and the Second Rhode Island Cavalry. The three weeks spent on the march from Williamsburg to Mechanicsville, for ease and comfort, were not excelled during the campaign. Starting on the march at the precise hour of the morn- ing appointed, and bivouacking at an early hour in the evening, with plen- teous food at regular hours, travelling through a beautiful country, with just enough of skirmishing to give a pleasant excitement, the command was brought to its destination near Mechanicsville on the 26th of May. Being thus detached from the brigade it was prevented from participating in the battle of Fair Oaks. It made a forced march to Hanover Junction, where it intercepted a train of cars, which was destroyed with a portion of the track. Upon its return to camp it was ordered to re-join its brigade, advance guards being now no longer needed. Crossing the Chickahominy it proceeded to the neighborhood of White Oak Swamp, where it was put upon picket, in line facing Richmond. From the morning of the 27th to the morning of the 28th, it was engaged near Fair Oaks in holding the enemy in check, having one . killed and nine wounded. Skirmishing its way back to Malvern Hill, it was there engaged on the 1st of July, during the entire day, and until its ammu- nition was exhausted, of which it had been very saving, only using it when brought into actual conflict with the foe. The loss was severe; two officers and nine men killed, one officer and thirty-three men wounded, and several missing, supposed to be killed. Captain William Sehr and Lieutenant Chris- tian A. Gallas were killed.
Worn and fatigued to the last degree, the regiment got into camp on the 3d; but it proved an nnhealthy locality and many sickened and died, their constitutions probably weakened by previous hardships and exposure. The order, which came on the 11th, to break camp and move, was not unwelcome. Proceeding to Yorktown, it encamped in a' peach orchard, a most agreeable spot, until the 30th, when it was taken by transport to Alexandria. The bag- gage was sent by separate transport, which was sunk on its way, and all the property, books, and papers of the regiment were lost. After its arrival it lay along the streets of the town for two hours, and then was ordered to go for- ward; "and forward we did go," says Colonel Ballier; "but soon it became evident that something must be wrong, for ambulances, army wagons, ammu- nition trains, artillery, and straggling cavalry and infantry came hurrying to- wards us in the most complete confusion, faster than we could hurry onward. Besides it appeared that ours was the only brigade out of our division, Couch's, that had been sent on. This division had, at Yorktown, been taken out of the Fourth Corps, and had not been assigned to any other command. Still on-
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1863
465
FREDERICKSBURG AND SALEM HEIGHTS.
ward we hurried, without rest, all night, until we reached the neighborhood of Centreville, where the brigade halted at last. As the hours wore on, the confusion increased. Soon after daylight one regiment of infantry after an- other, mixed up with artillery and vehicles of all description, came hurrying down the road, and the firing came nearer and nearer. It was the route from Bull Run! We rested on our arms until morning, and then, too, began to fall back gradually, about one hundred paces at a time, and always coming to a front again, until we reached Fairfax Court House."
After a few days rest the regiment took up the line of march, crossing the Potomac on the 12th of September, into Maryland, at Edwards' Ferry, and proceeded to Rohrersville, where it was kindly received. Here it remained until the morning of the 18th, when it proceeded on a reconnoitring expedi- tion to Maryland Heights, overlooking Harper's Ferry, the battle of Antie- tam having been fought on the previous day. It returned at night to the neigb- borhood of Sharpsburg, and rested upon the ground where the battle had been raging. On the 20th it marched to Williamsport, to intercept a raiding party of the enemy, but arrived too late to effect anything.
Re-crossing the Potomac at Berlin, the regiment marched to New Baltimore, where M'Clellan surrendered the command of the army to Burnside. At White Oak Church, near Falmouth, it went into camp apparently for the win- ter; but on the 12th of December was called out, and crossing the river at the lower bridges, was held in reserve near the river, during the battle of Fred- ericksburg, retiring with the army from the fruitless struggle on the 15th, and returning to its old camp. It spent four days, from the 20th to the 24th of January, marching and counter-marching in Burnside's Mud Campaign, and again returned to its camp.
Under General Hooker's organization of the army, the brigade, now com- manded by General Wheaton, was attached to the Sixth Corps. In the Chan- cellorsville Campaign, this corps was left to operate upon the flank and rear of the enemy. It crossed the Rappahannock at the lower, or Franklin's cross- ing. The Ninety-eighth passed over on Saturday evening, the 2d of May, and moved up to the city of Fredericksburg, the enemy who had been left to guard the town being easily routed, and rested at night upon the streets. At dawn, on Sunday morning, it was saluted with rapid rounds of grape and canister, and was soon in position, pressing forward upon Maryes' Heights, which were carried and occupied, the Ninety-eighth losing one killed and one wounded. Without pausing longer than to re-form the columns, Sedgwick pressed on in pursuit of the flying enemy, and came up with him intrenched near a cross roads, known as Salem Heights. "During the battle at Salem Heights," says General Wheaton, in his official report, "the Ninety-eighth Pennsylvania and the Sixty-second New York were necessarily left on the south side of the main road, where they performed gallant service, under the officer in charge of that part of the line. They lost heavily, and held their positions to the last. Col- onel Ballier, of the Ninety-eighth, at that time received a severe wound in the foot, and was taken from the field. During Sunday night the brigade, except the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Pennsylvania, which could not be relieved from its important position in front, was assembled in a field near the junction of the main and Banks' Ford Road: here we bivouacked, filled our ammunition boxes, received our knapsacks, sent by train from Fredericksburg, and rested after having fought two battles in twelve hours, and skirmished all day. .
59-VOL. III.
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1
466
NINETY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.
1863
# * At three and a half P. M. on the 4th, the left of the Third Division was attacked by a strong column of the enemy, but our batteries soon drove them back. At five P. M. our extreme left, held by the Second Division, was hard pressed, and I was ordered to send a regiment to Howe's right. The Ninety- eighth, under Lieutenant Colonel Wynkoop, was immediately dispatched, with a staff officer, and almost immediately after, I was ordered to the same point with the whole brigade. We moved down the Plank Road at a double quick and turned into a field on our left, and formed line of battle advancing. The most advanced rebel battalions of the attacking column were within fifty yards of a low furze fence, just as the Ninety-eighth was at an equal distance from this side. Shouting and firing as he advanced, Lieutenant Colonel Wynkoop reached the fence first, and checked the rebels, who found an unexpected line to meet them. Seeing it well supported, and my other three regiments ad- vancing, they fell back and were easily captured." Sedgwick's Corps being overpowered and nearly surrounded, was obliged to retire, and crossing the river at Banks' Ford, returned to its former camp. The loss in the regiment was one officer and four men killed, and three officers and seventeen men wounded. Lieutenant George Busch was mortally wounded.
Until the 20th of June the regiment remained in camp, when with the divi- sion it proceeded to Kelly's Ford, and crossing the river was engaged in build- ing a line of entrenchments. When completed, they were abandoned, it hav- ing been ascertained that the enemy had determined to invade the north, and was already far on his way. The march north was accordingly commenced, and on the 1st of July it arrived at Manchester, Maryland. On the evening of that day, in response to urgent calls, it commenced a forced march to Get- tysburg. Soon after its arrival on the field, on the afternoon of the 2d, Whea- ton's Brigade was ordered into action on the left, and took position on the low wooded hillock to the right and front of Little Round Top, the Ninety-eighth occupying the right of the brigade. When the troops of Sickles' Corps, which had been posted on a more advanced line, were driven back, this brigade held its position unmoved, and on the following day advanced a little, and though exposed to a terrible artillery fire, had few casualties, except from sharp- shooters. Two officers and ten men wounded, was the extent of its losses in the entire battle.
The 4th was given to burying the dead and removing the wounded, and on the morning of the 5th the corps started in pursuit. Beyond slight skir- mishing with his rear guard, no serious collision took place, until in the neigh- borhood of the Antietam battle-field, where he was overtaken and preparations were made for a battle; but before it was delivered, he escaped. And now ensued a campaign over the old ground in Virginia, reaching from the Blue Ridge to the Potomac and the Rapidan, in which were frequent minor colli- sions of parts of the army with the enemy, but no general engagement, and at its close at Mine Run, on the 2d of December, where great suffering and hardship were endured, it returned to camp at Brandy Station, and went into winter-quarters. Atits entrance into service, the regiment numbered one thou- sand and ten men; in the summer of 1862, and subsequently, bodies of re- cruits were added to it; it was now reduced to three hundred and twenty-nine. Of this number two hundred and twenty-nine re-enlisted for a second term, and were mustered on the 23d. The promised furlough, which had operated as a strong inducement to re-enlist, was long delayed. At the close of De-
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1864
WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN.
467
cember, the brigade was ordered to Harper's Ferry. The weather was in- tenscly cold, and the movement, by rail, in box cars, and in open trucks with- out fire, was attended with great suffering. From Harper's Ferry the brigade marched to Halltown, where the Ninety-eighth was detached and sent forward to Charlestown. Colonel Ballier was made commander of the post at Charles- town, and the companies were comfortably quartered in unoccupied buildings about the town. .
On the 1st of February the long promised furlough was granted, and leaving the one hundred, who had not re-enlisted, at Harper's Ferry, the veterans departed for home. On the 18th of March, the furlough being ended, they assembled at Chester, where they remained until the 26th. They then returned to their old camp at Brandy Station. Meanwhile the men left at Harper's Ferry had performed guard duty at the Harper's Ferry prison, and subsequently had been ordered to Halltown, whence they had been sent at intervals on picket to Snicker's Gap. Towards the close of March they joined the veterans at Brandy Station.
With the corps, the regiment moved on the 3d of May on the Wilderness Campaign, and on the morning of the 5th, while on the march, was suddenly attacked, before the line of battle could be formed. The One Hundred and Thirty-ninth was in advance, and received the first shock. The enemy, who at first seemed to be retreating, was followed up; but he soon made a deter- mined stand, and fought desperately, the Ninety-eighth holding its ground for two hours under a furious musketry fire, and until its ammunition was all spent, when it was relieved. The loss in this day's fight was one officer, Lieu- tenant Charles H. Wiedman, and eight men killed, and four officers and fifty- two men wounded.
The men slept in the rifle pits at night, and in the morning went forward, past their dead comrades, still lying where they fell, and followed the enemy up for nearly two miles, when he was found behind breastworks, and was at- tacked. By a movement in concentrated force upon the flank, he compelled the Union line to fall back in some confusion. General Getty was here wounded, General Wheaton succeeding to the command of the division, Col- onel Ballier to that of the brigade, and Lieutenant Colonel Kohler of the regi- ment. On the evening of the 7th the regiment moved away towards Spott- sylvania. At four o'clock on the morning of the 11th, eight companies, under Lieutenant Colonel Kohler, were ordered to picket duty near Spottsylvania Court House. The firing upon the picket line was incessant, and these com- panies lost two killed and four wounded. The remaining two companies were engaged with the brigade, and had one killed and six wounded. The picket was relieved on the 13th, and on the 14th the regiment moved to Anderson's Farm. At evening of the 17th it was summoned back, and marched or rather crept all night, and crossed the breastworks at daylight of the 18th. It was saluted by a shower of shot and shell as it passed the open field, having five men wounded, without an opportunity of returning the fire. At eleven o'clock it was relieved, and marching, crossed the North Anna, but soon re-crossed, and on the 28th crossed the Pamunky, and moved to Hanover Court House. On the 1st of June it was ordered to Cold Harbor. After being exposed to the hot sun all day, it was obliged to work all night on the rifle-pits. Here, while out upon the picket line, Major John W. Beamish was killed. On the
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1
468
NINETY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.
1864
following day it was called away from the works, and ordered to attack farther to the right. The fighting lasted the entire day, in which Adjutant Edward Schwatlo and thirteen men were killed, and two officers and thirty-nine men wounded. Marching and fighting, it finally reached the James River, and crossed on the 16th of June.
.
In the operations in front of Petersburg, the regiment was engaged on the 18th in an unsuccessful charge, in which it had two killed and eleven wounded, and on the evening of the 21st, with the corps, moved upon a raid to the Weldon Railroad, which it partially destroyed. The enemy having made his appearance in force in front of Washington, on the 9th of July the Sixth Corps started for the Capital, where upon its arrival, the brigade, now under command of Colonel Ballier, marched to Fort Stevens, and the Ninety- eighth was ordered to establish a picket line in front of the fort. The enemy kept up a rapid fire, and before the line could be formed the regiment had five wounded. On the following morning the enemy made a serious attempt to force the line, which was defeated, and the regiment held its ground during all that day and the following night, with a loss of eight killed and twenty- eight wounded. Colonel Ballier and Lieutenant Colonel Kohler were wounded, the former seriously. He was soon after promoted to. Brigadier General.
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