USA > Pennsylvania > History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. IV > Part 127
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Transferred to Vet. Res. Corps, August 11, 1863. Died at Washington, D. C., October 29, 1862-bu- ried in Military Asylum Cemetery.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863.
Died at Washington, D. C., July 26, 1863-buried in Military Asylum Cemetery.
Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864. Des .- ret .- tr .- date and organization unknown. Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863.
Birchard, Dan'l, Jr
April 5, '65, April 5, '65, April 5, '65, Oct. 1, '63, Aug. 28, '63, Aug. 17, '63,
Aug. 26, '62, Aug. 17, '63, Aug. 26, '62, Aug. 26, '63, Sept. 23, '63,
646
ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-NINTH REGIMENT,
NAME.
RANK.
DATE OF MUSTER INTO SERVICE.
REMARKS.
Cortright, Abram ..
Private
Aug. 26, '62,
Dunlap, George W.
... do
Aug. 27, '63, Aug. 15, '63,
Danner, Frederick ..
... do
Danner, George ..
.. do
Darr, Michael P ..
... do
...
Dawley, Isaac
.do
Aug. 26, '62,
Captured at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864-disch. by General Order, June 12, 1865.
Downs, Asa ...
do
Aug. 26, '62, Aug. 26, '62,
Delany. James.
.do
Emerick, Daniel E.
.do
Aug. 15, '63, Oct. 1, '63.
Evlin, John
do
Aug. 26, '62,
Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863-absent at musterout.
Elliot, Daniel Eastman, John.
do do
Aug. 26, '62, Aug. 26, '62,
Missing in action at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864. Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1. 1863-mus- tered out with company, June 24, 1865.
Estes, George M
do
Ellsworth, Darius F
do
Aug. 26, '62, Aug. 26, '62,
Fesenden, Joseph ...
do
Aug. 26, '62,
Fitz, Martin
.. do
Oct. 14, '63,
Drafted-missing in action at Wilderness, Va., May 5. 1864.
Foust, Adam
do
Mar. 21, '65,
Fisher, Lewis J
.do
Aug. 26, '62,
Died at Washington, D. C., April 25, 1864-buried in Military Asylum Cemetery.
Ferguson, Martin. do
Deserted October 3, 1862.
Ferrand, Sam'l B. do
Deserted December 1, 1862.
Green, Samuel S. do
Mar. 15, '65,
Mustered out with company, June 24, 1865.
Grandy, John E ... do
Aug. 26, '62,
Gustin, Henry F. .. do
Aug. 26, '62,
Geiss, Peter.
do
Aug. 14, '63, Aug. 26, '63,
Goodman, Wm
do
Oct. 1, '63,
Gossard, Wesley .. .do
Aug. 20, '63, Oct. 1, '63,
Gross, Wmn .. do
Heggie, Lyman E .. .. do
Hoskin, Jossin. ...
.. do
Harder, John E. .do
Herring, Nathan W ... do
Harrison, John 'T .. do
Halleck, Canvas T. ... do
Hasafluck, Joseph .. .. do
Heggie, Adelbert J .. .. do
Haynes, John .... do
James, Henry C ..... .do ...
Johnson, Elias P. .. do
Aug. 26, '62,
Johnson, Joshua ..
do do
Aug. 26, '63, Aug. 17, '63, Aug. 26, '62,
Jones, John J .do
Jacobs, Win. A .. .....
do
Aug. 17, '63, Aug. 14, '63, Aug. 26. '62, Aug. 17, '63;
Knapp, Joseph. Lusk, Abraham .....
... do ...
Aug. 26, '62, Aug. 14, '63,
Moore, Isaac C.
do
Aug. 26, '62, Aug. 26, '62,
Miller, Henry S.
.. do ...
Murray, Isaac N. .. do
Aug. 17, '63, Aug. 26, '62,
Drafted-mustered out with Co., June 24, 1865
Mantania, Albert .. do
Mayer, Wmn. L .. do
Aug. 26, '62, /
Captured at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863-mus- tered out with company, June 24, 1865. Drafted-mustered out with Co., June 24, 1865. Drafted-missing in action at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864.
Drafted-wd. at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864- mustered out with company, June 24, 1865. Drafted-mustered out with Co., June 24, 1865. Drafted-deserted Oct. 15, 1863.
Mustered out with company, June 24, 1865. Captured at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863-mus- tered out with company, June 24, 1865.
Discharged by General Order, June 20, 1863. Discharged ou Surgeon's certificate, Nov. 26, '62. Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Jan. 11, '63. Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Sept. 10, '64. Drafted-transferred to Dep't N. W., Feb. 4, 1864. Promoted to Hospital Steward, Sept. 12, 1862. Died December 13, 1863.
Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864-mus- tered out with company, June 24, 1865.
Wd. at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864-tr. to V. R. C., Mar. 7, 1865-disch. by G. O., June 28, 1865. Drafted-absent. sick, at niuster out.
Drafted-missing in action at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864.
Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863-trans- ferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, May 1, 1864. Drafted-died Feb. 1, 1864.
Drafted-absent, sick, at muster out.
Kubb, Charles .. .do ... Knowlton, Aaron. ... .do ...
Kingsbery, Rob't R ... do ...
Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Apr. 14, '63. Drafted-wd. at Laurel Hill, Va., May 8. 1864-tr. to Vet. Reserve Corps, Mar. 13, 1865-discharged by General Order, July 31, 1865.
Transferred to V. R. C., July 1, 1863.
... do ...
Drafted-wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5,'64- transferred to V. R. C .- discharged by General Order, July 31, 1865.
Missing in action at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863. Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864-absent at muster out.
Transferred to Vet. Reserve Corps, Sept. 16, 1863 -. discharged by General Order, June 29, 1865. Transferred to V. R. C., March 15, 1864.
Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863-killed at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864.
Drafted-mustered out with Co .. June 24, 1865. Drafted-pris. from May 5, 1864, to Feb. 25, 1865- discharged by special order, May 20, 1865. Drafted-mustered out with Co., June 24, 1865. Drafted-wd. at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864- mustered out with company, June 24, 1865.
Dayton, David.
.do
Transferred to V. R. C., Mar. 15, 1864. Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863. Drafted-killed at Wilderness, Va., May 5. 1864. Drafted-mustered out with Co., June 24, 1865.
Transferred to V. R. C., July 8,1863.
Promoted to Quartermaster Sergeant, Feb. 21, '63. Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864-mus- tered out with company, June 24, 1865.
Mustered out with company, June 24, 1865.
Wounded at Weldon Railroad, Va., Aug. 19, '64- absent at muster out.
Grim, William.
do
Aug. 26, '62, Aug. 26, '62,
Aug. 26, '62, Aug. 26, '62, Aug. 26, '62, Aug. 26, '62, Aug. 26, '63, Aug. 26, '62, Aug. 20, '62, Aug. 26, '62,
Jacobs, John
Aug. 26, '62, Aug. 26, '62,
Sept. 2, '63, Aug. 15, '63,
647
THREE YEARS' SERVICE.
XAME.
RANK.
DATE OF MUSTER INTO SERVICE.
Marsh, William
Private
Aug. 14, '63,
Drafted-capt'd at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864- died Sept. 20, 1864-bu. rec., August 20, 1864-at Andersonville, Ga .- grave, 9,315.
M'Cauly, Michael.
.do
Mar. 9, '65, Aug. 26, '62,
Mustered out with company, June 24, 1865. Died at Washington, D. C., Nov. 18, 1862-buried in Military Asylum Cemetery.
Mustered out with company, June 24, 1865. Drafted-captured at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864-died at Andersonville, Ga., Sept. 20, 1864- grave, 9,314.
Poff, John Phillips, Charles M.
.do .. do
Mar. 18, '65, Aug. 26, '62,
Powell, John
.do
Aug. 17, '63,
Palmatien, Francis
.. do
Aug. 26, '62,
Pearce, Isaac.
.do
Aug. 26, '62,
Perrin, Hosea
.do
Aug. 26, '62,
Post, Reuben M .do
Quick, Morgan J.
do
Aug. 26, '62, Aug. 26, '62, Mar. 9, '65,
Rose, Wilson
.do
Oct. 1, '63,
Robbins, Wm. B
do .do ...
Aug. 18, '63, Aug. 15, '63,
Ramp, Jacob
Ream, Samuel.
do
Aug. 26, '63,
Roberts, Jolın
.do
Aug. 26, '62,
Ream, Henry ...
.do
Aug. 20, '63,
Stecle, Thomas
.do
Aug. 26, '63,
Strock, William do
Shelinan, Jerry
.do
Oct. 1, '63, Aug. 15, '63,
Shoop, John .... do
Simington, Wm. J. ... do
Aug. 17, '63, Aug. 17, '63,
Samber, Frank L .. ... do
Smith, Charles L .. .. do
Shattuck, Alonzo ..
.do
Oct. 9, '63, Mar. 16, '65, Aug. 26, '62,
Sackett, Morris W. .. do .do .....
Aug. 26, '62, Aug. 26, '62,
·Smith. Daniel E
.. do
Stockton, John
do
Shearer, Arnold
do
Aug. 26, '62, Oct. 16, '63, Aug. 14, '63,
Shary, Austin . Taubert, Edward.
do
Aug. 26, '62,
Wilber, Girdon R do Aug. 26, '62, Aug. 26, '62,
Ward, George W. do
White, George W .. do Aug. 26, '62,
Wise, Jacob . do Mar. 16, '65, Mar. 16, '65,
Webb, Thomas B ... do
Weidt, John ..
.. do
Aug. 14, '63,
Warriner, Levi do
Weimer, John. .do
Wilson, Charles do
Wilson, Washingt'n .do
Aug. 26, '62, Aug. 26, '62,
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863 .. Mustered out with company, June 24,, 1865:,
..... Zerby, Daniel H .. .do Aug. 14, '63, [ Drafted-discharged by special order, Sept. 7; '63;
UNASSIGNED MEN ..
Burns, Cornelius
Private ... do ......
April '6; '65, April 11, '65,
Not accounted for. Not accounted for,
Burns, John ..
Bonvirt. Baize
.do ...
Nov. 7; '63/ Not accounted for.
Cook, John
.do
Norris, Benjamin .. Orwan, Martin V. B.
.do
.. do .....
Mar. 16, '65, Aug. 17, '63,
Mustered out with company, June 24, 1865. Discharged Oct. 2, for wounds, with loss of hand, received at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863. Wd. at Petersburg, Va., June 20, 1864-discharged on Surgeon's certificate, March 30, 1865. Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Jan. 3, 1863. Discharged on Surgeon's cert., March 30, 1863. Captured at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863-died at Elmira, N. Y., April 1, 1865.
Deserted February 14, 1863.
Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Jan. 6, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 24, 1865.
Drafted-inissing in action at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864.
Drafted-captured at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64. Drafted-prisoner from May 5, to Dec. 11, 1864- mustered out with company, June 24, 1865.
Drafted-wd. at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864- mustered out with company, June 24, 1865. Discharged on Surgcon's certificate, Nov. 26, 1862. Drafted - captured at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864-died at Andersonville, Ga., Aug. 21, 1864- grave, 6,341.
Drafted-wounded at Laurel Hill, Va., May 8, 1864-mustered out with company, June 24, 1865. Drafted-mustered out with Co., June 24, 1865. Drafted-mustered out with Co., June 24, 1865. Drafted-mustered out with Co., June 24, 1865. Drafted-wd. at Hatcher's Run, Va., Feb. 6, '65- absent at muster out.
Drafted-killed at Wilderness. Va., May 5, 1864. Mustered out with company, June 24, 1865.
Wounded at Gettysburg, July 1, 1863-mustered out with company, June 24, 1865.
Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Jan. 3, 1863. Tr. to Veteran Reserve Corps, Feb. 15, 1864-dis- charged by General Order, June 28, 1865. Died at Washington, D. C., October 22, 1862. Drafted-died at Culpepper C. H., Va., Jan. 16,'64 .. Drafted-captured at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64 -. died at Andersonville, Ga., August 12, 1864. Deserted May 6, 1865.
Wd. at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 11, 1864- mustered out with company, June 24, 1865 .. Mustered out with company, June 24, 1865 .. Mustered out with company, June 24, 1865 .. Missing in action at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 24, 1865 ..
Mustered out with company, June 24, 1865. Drafted-wounded at Spottsylvania. C. H., Va., May 12, 1864-absent at inuster out .. Drafted-mustered out with Co., June 24,, 1865., Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Dec. 18, 1862. Died at Washington, D. C., Oct. 14, 1862-buried in Military Asylum Cemetery.
Aug. 15, '63, Aug. 26, '62, Aug. 26, '62,
Yeomans, John V .. ... do
do
May 4, '65,
Stilson, James H.
....
REMARKS.
M'Cean, William ...
Reed, William do
Mar. , 14, '65; | Substitute-not accounted for
648
ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-NINTH REGIMENT.
NAMB.
RANK.
DATE OF MUREST INTO SERVICE.
REMARKS.
Cummins, John
Private
April 7, '65,
Not accounted for.
Davis, Wm. Wilson
... do
Mar. 14, '65,
Substitute-not accounted for.
"Dover, George ..
do .
Mar. 14, '65,
Not accounted for.
Dunn, Patrick
... do
Mar. 9, '65,
Not accounted for.
Dore, Stephen ..
do
April 7, '65,
Not accounted for.
Gardner, John Goff, Michael
... do
Mar. 14, '65,
Substitute-not accounted for. Not accounted for.
Harvey, Richard. .. do
July 21, '64, Jan.
7, '64,
Not accounted for.
Knight, Charles F. do
Mar. 14, '65,
Substitute-not accounted for.
Muller, Henry ...
do
Feb. 25, '65,
Mar. 9, '65,
Not accounted for.
M'Donough, Wm ...
do
Mar. 27, '65,
Not accounted for.
M'Cauley, Dennis
do
April 7, '65,
Not accounted for.
M'Grath, Thomas .. do
April 7, '65,
Not accounted for.
Nagle, John S. do
Nolan, John do
Fcb. 3, '65, April 8, '65,
Not accounted for.
O' Donnell, John. do
April 7, '65,
Not accounted for.
Peck, Thomas. do
Mar. 21, '65,
Not accounted for.
Roberts, Lewis T ... .do
Mar. 7, '65,
Not accounted for.
Riley, John .. .do
Rogan, James.
do
Mar. 9, '65,
Not accounted for.
Ryne, Henry .. do Sturenbery, Wm do
Aug. 25, '64,
Substitute-not accounted for.
Shaughnessy, Thos .do
Mar. 14, '65,
Substitute-not accounted for.
Selwargenbach, J .. do
Mar. 14, '65,
Substitute-not accounted for.
Sanderson, T. C do
Feb. 25, '65,
Not accounted for.
Sullivan, John ... .do
Mar. 31, '65,
Not accounted for.
Sweeny, Daniel. do
April 7, '65,
Not accounted for.
Seip, Frank J do
Aug. 7, '63,
Drafted-discharged by G. O., June 28, 1865.
Shriver, John H. .do
Aug. 7, '63,
Drafted-discharged by G. O., June 28, 1865.
Wallace, John ........ do
Mar. 31, '65,
Not accounted for.
Williams, George .do
April 7, '65,
Not accounted for.
.do
April 8, '65,
Substitute-not accounted for.
Irwin, Samuel ... do
Mortimer, Farley .. do
Mar. 31, '64,
Not accounted for.
Not accounted for.
M'Cluskey, James. do
M'Croskey, John A. do
Aug. 17, '63,
Mar. 14, '65,
Not accounted for.
Mar. 31, '65,
Not accounted for.
Drafted-discharged by G. O., June 28, 1865. Not accounted for.
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH REGIMENT-BUCKTAIL.
C YOMPANIES A, B, E, and F, of this regiment, were recruited in Philadel- phia, C, H, I, and K, in Crawford county, D in Union, and G in M'Kean. They rendezvoused at Camp Curtin, where, on the 4th of September, a regi- mental organization was effected with the following field officers : Langhorne Wister, of Philadelphia, Colonel; Henry S. Huidekoper, of Crawford county, Lieutenant Colonel; Thomas Chamberlin, of Union county, Major. Colonel Wister had served with distinction in the battle of Dranesville, and in the entire Peninsular campaign, in command of a company of the old Bucktails ; Lieutenant Colonel Huidekoper had applied himself closely to the study of tactics, and to squad drill, during the year previous, at Harvard University, where he had graduated in June, and Major Chamberlin had served through the Peninsular campaign, as Captain in the Fifth Reserves, a regiment not inferior in soldierly qualities to the Bucktail. When the Major received his commission, he was lying in hospital at Baltimore, of a severe wound, received at Charles City Cross Roads, but learning that the enemy was invading Mary- land, instead of looking for his new command, he sought out his old regiment, and fought with it through the fiery battles of South Mountain and Antietam. It will thus be seen that the field officers were well fitted for their duties.
Soon after its organization at Harrisburg, it proceeded to Washington, and was immediately assigned to duty as guard, in and about the city. Companies D and K being stationed at the Soldiers' Home, the summer residence of the President, where they were drilled by a field officer, and company A at the Soldiers' Rest, near the Baltimore depot, where, later, it was joined by com- pany D. Company K continued to act as the President's body guard, until after the assassination of Mr. Lincoln, and until the end of its term of service. A brief sketch of this service will be found at the close of the regi- mental narration. During the pleasant weather of the fall, the balance of the regiment was drilled at Meridian Hill. Before mid-winter, nearly all the companies were taken away for guard duty, at various points in and around the city, Lieutenant Colonel Huidekoper, in the meantime, served on a General Court Martial, and Major Chamberlin was detailed on the 23d of October, as commandant of Georgetown, where he remained until his regiment was ordered to the field.
About the middle of February, 1863, the Bucktail troops moved to Belle Plain, where a brigade was formed, consisting of the One Hundred and Forty- ninth, One Hundred and Fiftieth, and One Hundred and Forty-third Pennsyl- 82-VOL. IV.
650
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH REGIMENT,
vania regiments, under command of Colonel Stone, which became the Second, of the Third Division, First Corps. On the 21st of April, the regiment marched with the division to Port Conway, opposite Port Royal, where a feint of crossing was made, returning to camp on the 23d, after a fatiguing march. This expedition was the prelude to the grand campaign about to open, and on the 28th the whole army was in motion, the First Corps moving to Pollock's Mills, and on the following day to the bank of the river, where por- tions of the command were subjected to a vigorous shelling from the enemy's batteries on the opposite shore, but from which the regiment suffered no loss. On the 2d of May, the corps made a forced march to Chancellorsville, taking position on the extreme right of the line, the brigade holding the left of the corps, joining with the Fifth Corps, the regiment standing upon the right of the brigade. Pickets were immediately thrown out, advancing cautiously through the thickly wooded ground, uncertain as to the strength and where- abouts of the enemy. Many stragglers from the Eleventh Corps, which had occupied this part of the field on that evening, but from which it had been driven by the impetuous charge of Stonewall Jackson, were picked up, and some prisoners taken. At daylight, strong breast-works were thrown up, and here the corps remained, without being actively engaged, until the close of the battle. On the 6th, with the rest of the army, the regiment re-crossed the Rappahannock, and went into camp with the division at White Oak Church, where it remained, with slight changes, until it marched, about the middle of June, on the Pennsylvania campaign.
At Gettysburg, on the 1st of July, it met the enemy, and really fought its first battle, winning a reputation for valor that will be imperishable. "The One Hundred and Fiftieth Regiment," says the report, "came upon the field of battle near Gettysburg, about eleven P. M., July 1st, 1863. We halted in front of the Seminary, to the west of the town, and throwing off our knap- sacks, moved forward about half a mile to a position behind the crest of a hill, our right near a large barn, our left joining the Iron Brigade, consisting of Wisconsin and Michigan troops. The ground was gently rolling and open, the only shelter being a slight fence. We had not been long in position before the enemy began to shell us heavily, when, finding that they produced little effect in front, they opened a new battery on our right flank, and began an entilading fire upon us. Our right flank was exposed, as our brigade held the angle of the two fronts of our army, and the new Whitworth projectiles from this bat- tery killed two and disabled three in company C. We then shifted our position so as to obtain a partial shelter from the barn, before mentioned, the One Hun- dred and Forty-third, and One Hundred and Forty-ninth, meanwhile, being es- tablished in a dug-out road, fronting towards the north, and forming a right angle with the One Hundred and Fiftieth, which fronted westward. The encmy continued to shell our position until about two P. M., without, however, disabling more than ten or twelve men. Company B, Captain Jones, which had been sent forward as skirmishers, was, meanwhile, actively engaged in our front, sustaining considerable loss. About this time, Colonel Stone,* com-
* " It was in this affair," says General Doubleday in his official report, "that Colonel Stone was severely wounded, and Colonel Wister assumed command of the brigade. The rebels now advanced from tho north-west to flank tho two regiments in the road, but the One Hun- dred and Fiftieth Regiment, under Lieutenant Colonel Huidekoper, changed front forward, and met the enemy precisely as Dwight had met them, with two volleys of musketry and a
651
THREE YEARS' SERVICE.
manding the brigade, having gone forward to reconnoitre, was hit in the hip and arm by two balls from the enemy's skirmishers, and was carried into the barn. Colonel Wister then assumed command of the brigade, and Lieutenant Colonel Huidekoper of the regiment. Soon after, a strong force of rebel in- fautry advanced from the north on our right, and we then changed front for- ward, so as to come into line with the other regiments of the brigade. This movement was accomplished rapidly, though under a heavy fire. The enemy now approached within less than fifty yards, when they were staggered by our fire, and halted, exchanging shots with us for several minutes. A new line of rebels was seen approaching from the west, against the left, at a distance of half a mile, and Colonel Wister here ordered a charge, to free us from our old assailants, before the new ones were upon us. This movement was entirely successful. The enemy, who had suffered terribly from our fire, gave way at once and fled in confusion. The danger of injuring their own troops being now removed, the rebel batteries opened upon us with terrible effect, and the infantry fire from the line advancing upon our left became also very severe. In view of this, Colonel Wister gave orders to change front to the rear, so as to resume our original position. This movement was successfully and rapidly performed, though with a terrible loss. The colors of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth had been placed at a little distance to draw the enemy's fire, and had been captured by them in the advance spoken of, but were re-captured by a squad of the One Hundred and Fiftieth in this charge. The One Hundred and Forty-ninth then reinforced us in our new line, and we were in position none too soon, as the advancing lines of the rebels were soon upon us. Our men were partially sheltered by a post-and-rail fence, from behind which we poured so severe a fire upon the enemy that their line also gave way. After retreating a short distance, however, they moved off by their right flank, and fixed themselves in a thick wood in front of the Iron Brigade on our left. Colonel Wister was wounded in the face during this encounter, but did not leave the field. No charge was made from this time, a quarter before three, for a considerable interval, but a very heavy artillery and infantry fire was kept up upon us. During this time, Lieutenant Colonel Huidekoper was severely wounded in the right arm, which has since been amputated, and was compelled to leave the field. Adjutant R. L. Ashhurst was wounded in the shoulder, Lieutenant Gilbert B. Perkins in the thigh, and Lieutenant H. Chan- cellor, Jr., had his leg almost torn off by a solid shot. Not long after three P. M., our whole line began to give way. Our brigade, however, had no orders to retreat, and continued to hold its ground for some time, when, find- ing ourselves almost surrounded by the enemy, we at last fell back, slowly,
gallant bayonet charge, led by Colonel Wister in person. This dispersed them. Another des- pcrate onslaught came from the north, passed the railroad cut and almost reached the road, only, however, to encounter another defeat from the irresistible bayonets of our men. Tho next attack came from the west, but was again repulsed by the indomitable Ono Hundred and Fiftieth Rogiment. Coloncl Wister was now severely wounded in the face. Colonel Dana, who assumed command, contested tho position with varying fortune until the closo of tho battle. Just previous to this, the brave and resoluto Lieutenant Colonel Huidekoper had faced four companies of his regiment to contend with the opposing forees from the west, while six companies kept off an entire brigade from the north. Lieutenant Colonel H. lost his arm at this point, and as Major Chamberlin was also wounded, the command devolved on Cap- tain Widdis. Every regiment of Stono's Brigade changed front forward, and two regiments changed front to rear, while closely engaged. The most eminent military writers regard the first movement as difficult, and tho last as almost impossible to execute under fire."
652
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH REGIMENT,
under a very severe fire. The Iron Brigade had fallen back some time before ours, and had formed a new line on the crest of the next ridge, midway be- tween the Seminary and the front. Here we again halted, and withstood the enemy's attacks for some time; but the line giving way on all sides, and find- ing ourselves again becoming surrounded, we were compelled again to fall back. On our retreat, we found one of our batteries on which the enemy was directing a heavy fire, and which they were preparing to assault. Here the remainder of our men again rallied in an orchard, and succeeded in repelling a desperate rebel charge on the battery. We held this position, though the rest of the line had given way, until the guns of the battery were limbered up, horses hitched, and the commanding officers said they were ready to move to a place of safety. An aid rode up soon after, with orders for us to retreat through the town to the new line formed on the south side. This we proceeded to do ; but our retreat had been so long delayed, that many of our men were captured in the streets of Gettysburg, the enemy having closed in both on our right and left."
" Up to this time," says Major Chamberlin, "our colors were safe. The Color Sergeant had been killed in the orchard, and all the color guard had been killed or wounded, except one, some of them receiving three or four balls. The colors were held by Corporal Gutelius, of company D, who carried them to the town, and insisted on keeping them, although he was slightly wounded. Stopping a moment to rest, the rebels were on him, and he was shot dead with the colors clasped in his arms. This is the same flag which was presented to Jefferson Davis, with a flourish of trumpets, at the request of a North Carolina Lieutenant, who, it was alleged, with a handful of sharp-shooters, scattered a Pennsylvania regiment, and captured their colors; but in doing so, was him- self mortally wounded. The flag was found with Jefferson Davis' effects, when he was overhaulcd in Georgia, in the spring of 1865." This flag was held by the Secretary of War, until October 25th, 1869, when it was transmit- ted to the Adjutant General of this State, with a letter, in which he says: "I am directed by the President to send herewith, the flag of the One Hundred and Fiftieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, said to have been captured at Gettys- burg, and re-captured in the baggage of Jeff. Davis." It is now deposited with the other tattered ensigns of the State, in the Capitol at Harrisburg.
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