History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. IV, Part 128

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902. cn
Publication date: 1869
Publisher: Harrisburg, B. Singerly, State Printer
Number of Pages: 1350

USA > Pennsylvania > History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. IV > Part 128

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).

Upon arriving at the Cemetery, it was re-formed, and rested in line during the night. On the following day it was held in reserve, in rear of Cemetery Hill, and at night, was sent with the One Hundred and Forty-ninth to rescue some pieces of artillery of a regular battery, which had been lost. Two guns and four caissons were secured, and brought off, the regiment remaining on the field during the night, and retiring in the morning with only small loss. It was under a severe fire of artillery in the afternoon, and was held in readiness to charge, when the enemy made his last attack a little to the left of the position which it held; but before the order to advance was given, he had been most disastrously repulsed, and the battle was at an end. The regiment went into the battle with seventeen officers, and about four hun- dred men. Of these, forty-three were killed, one hundred and thirty-eight wounded, and sixty-nine taken prisoners. Licutenants E. B. Weidensaul, Charles P. Keyser, and Henry Chancellor, Jr., werc of the killed; Colonel Wister, Lieutenant Colonel Huidckoper, Major Chamberlin, Adjutant Richard L. Ashhurst, Captains William P. Dougal, John W. Sigler, and Lieutenants

653

THREE YEARS' SERVICE.

Gilbert B. Perkins, C. W. Sears, and Miles F. Rose, of the wounded, and Captain Cornelius C. Widdis, Henry W. Gimber, and Lieutenants John Q. Carpenter, and Joseph Chatburn, were of those taken prisoners. But two officers remained, and one of these was wounded. The companies uniformly lost heavily.

Two ineidents connected with this regiment, at the opening of the battle, which are related by Major Chamberlin, are worthy of commemoration. "Soon after taking up our line in the orehard," says he, "an old gentleman ap- proaehed us from the direction of the town, dressed in a blue, swallow-tailed coat, and high silk hat, rather worse for the wear, carrying a musket, and asked me if he could be allowed to fight with our regiment. I answered that there could hardly be any objection, but referred him to Colonel Wister, who stood near. On repeating his question to the Colonel, Wister asked him if he could shoot. 'Oh, yes,' said the old gentleman. 'But where are your cartridges,' asked the Colonel ? Slapping his hand on his pantaloons poeket, he replied, 'I have them here.' 'Certainly you ean fight with us,' said the Colonel, 'and I wish there were many more like you.' The Colonel, however, told him that he had better go into the wood to our left, as he eould do more damage there, and be less liable to be hit. The old man went into the wood, and joined one of the regiments of the Iron Brigade, and history will preserve the memory of old John Burns, as long as it tells the story of the great battle of Gettys- burg." It may be added, that he fought heroieally, and was wounded in the side and leg, and left insensible upon the field. He was finally rescued, and taken to his home. He survived his injuries, and is now a hale old man, on the verge of eighty.

" Dennis Buckley, company H, Sixth Michigan Cavalry," continues Major Chamberlin, " whose horse had been shot under him in the cavalry eneounter that morning, joined our regiment with his earbine, and asked permission to fight with us. Soon after, a shell from a rebel battery exploded in the midst of company C, killing two men instantly, and dangerously wounding three others, when Buekley joined that company, saying, 'that is the company for me.' He remained with the regiment during the whole of the enagagement of the first day, doing good service with his earbine, and eseaping unharmed."

After the battle, the regiment joined with the army in following up the re treating enemy, to the neighborhood of Williamsport, where, failing to inter- cept him, or to bring on another general engagement before his escape aeross the river, the two armies returned to the Rappahannock. At this time, the regiment was reduced to less than two hundred men, and was deficient in arms, aecoutrements, and elothing. Captain Jones, and Lieutenant Kilgore, were sent to Philadelphia, on recruiting service, and during the fall it received considerable aeeessions of strength. On the 16th of September it erossed the Rappahannock, and advanced with the army to the Rapidan, but soon after retired to Centreville, the rebel foree boldly taking the initiative, and moving upon the right flank of the Union army. Frustrated in his purposes, Lee be- gan again to retire, and Meade to follow. On the 1st of November, the bri- gade was posted at Warrenton Junetion, and until the return of the army from Mine Run, it was employed in guarding the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, after which it went into quarters near Paoli Mills, and subsequently at the town of Culpepper. Upon the resignation of Colonel Wister, in Feb- ruary, 1864, Lieutenant Colonel Huidekoper was promoted to succeed him, but

654

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH REGIMENT,

being disabled by the loss of his arm, and the wound being still open, he was obliged to resign. Soon after, for similar reasons, Major Chamberlin also re- signed, whereupon, Captain Cornelius A. Widdis was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain George W. Jones to Major.

The Spring campaign opened on the 4th of May, and the fighting on the 5th and 6th, in the Wilderness, on the part of Wadsworth's Division, of the Fifth Corps, to which the brigade was transferred, was very severe, the charge of the brigade towards the close of the latter day, in which the One Hundred and Fiftieth bore a conspicuous part, resulting in the complete dis- comfiture of the enemy, and the recovery of the works. Captain Horatio Bell was among the killed in this battle, and Captain Roland Stoughton was mor- tally wounded. On the morning of the 8th, the brigade again charged the enemy at Laurel Hill, driving him into his works, and establishing a line of defenses under severe fire. At two P. M., of the 9th, a charge was delivered by the entire division upon the enemy's intrenched line. The woods, through which the charge was made, had been fired, and the men were subjected to the double torment of the blazing faggots and the enemy's missiles. The assault was fruitless, and many of the dying were left to perish in the flames. Charges were again made on the 10th and 11th, but with no better success. On the 12th, the brigade moved to the support of the Sixth Corps, in front of that part of the enemy's line known as the bloody angle, and lay at the front, exposed to a severe fire, until the morning of the 13th, when the enemy having re- tired, it returned to its former position. On the following day, the Fifth Corps, which had occupied the extreme right, swung around to the extreme left, coming into line near Spottsylvania Court House. Severe figliting re- sulted, and the corps intrenched in front of the enemy's well formed lines. On the 21st, the corps moved on to North Anna River, crossing that stream on the 23d. Soon after crossing, and near night-fall, the enemy suddenly poured out of a wood in front, in heavy force, showing a desperate determina- tion to flank and capture the division. The troops which were on the left of the line, fell back, and there seemed for the moment a prospect of another Ball's Bluff disaster; but the firm front and dauntless courage displayed by the Bucktail Brigade, stayed the rebel onslaught, and re-assured the timid. The ground was held and fortified. For its gallantry here, it was highly com- plimented, and Colonel Bragg, its commander, was made a Brigadier General. At Tolopotomy Creek, on the 30th, it again met the enemy, battling with the Pennsylvania Reserves, who there fought their last battle. On the 1st of June, the division moved to near Bethesda Church, where it again fought, and lost heavily, but was unable to drive the enemy from his intrenched line. Soon afterwards. the brigade was transferred to the First Division, General Griffin, the One Hundred and Eighty-seventh was added to it, and Colonel Chamber- lain, of the Twentieth Maine, was assigned to its command.

By the middle of June, the army was across the James River, and was arriving on the Petersburg front. On the afternoon of the 17th, a fierce battle opened, in which the enemy was driven from his first lines, and on the 18th the Fifth Corps became heavily engaged. At noon the brigade crossed the Suffolk Railroad, and took position to the right of the Fourth Division, in a ravine, within three hundred yards of the enemy's strong works, which were subsequently blown up by the Mine. When the brigade had been formed, the order was given to advance and carry the works by assault. Presenting an

655

THREE YEARS' SERVICE.

unbroken front, the brigade rushed forward in the most gallant manner, in the face of rapid discharges of grape and canister, and gained a position close up to the enemy's lines, but was unable to carry them. In this engagement, Colonel Chamberlain was severely wounded, and was afterwards made Brigadier General, the troops receiving the warmest commendation for their valor, from General Griffin. Heavy skirmishing occurred on the 21st, on the Jerusalem Plank Road, and here, in a clump of bushes, close up to the enemy's lines, was built Fort Hell.

On the 18th of August, the corps made its first move upon the Weldon Railroad. When within a mile of the road, the brigade was thrown into line of battle, the One Hundred and Fiftieth in advance as skirmishers. Soon the enemy's pickets were met and driven, and the work of destruction commenced. In the afternoon, heavy fighting occurred, but the enemy was repulsed, and the work of destruction was not interrupted. On Saturday, the 20th, the troops were kept busy in building fortifications to hold the position. The works were en echelon, the Bucktail Brigade holding the part upon the extreme left, which was partly in rear of that occupied by the Fourth Division, which stood next, shielded from view by forest. On Sunday morning, the enemy moved to flank the position, and supposing the left of the Fourth was the end of the Union line, marched boldly in. When arrived close upon the brigade, it poured in a most withering fire, almost annihilating the rebel column. Several stands of colors, and five hundred prisoners were taken. On the same evening the brigade was hurried farther to the left, where it remained several weeks, and was engaged in building Fort Dushane.

On the 27th, the Fifth, with the Second Corps, moved to Hatcher's Run, striking it at Armstrong's Mill. The enemy withdrew upon the approach of the Union forces, leaving strong works, which were immediately occupied by the division. While the division was manœuvring on the afternoon of the 27th, the One Hundred and Fiftieth was acting as skirmishers, and after the engagement, became separated from the division, and was supposed to have been captured ; but in the morning it was discovered in line, on the opposite side of the run, still skirmishing with the enemy, and was then withdrawn, having maintained its ground in a position of great peril. After the return of the corps from Hatcher's Run, the regiment occupied works to the right of the railroad, and performed picket duty. On the 6th of December, the entire corps proceeded on its grand raid upon the Weldon Railroad. The weather was severe, and the troops were forced to endure great suffering. The road was completely destroyed for a distance of nearly twenty miles, the rails being heated and bent, so as to be forever unserviceable. Upon the return from this expedition, the regiment went into permanent winter-quarters. The quiet of the camp was undisturbed until the 5th of February, when the corps moved out in light marching order, and proceeded to Hatcher's Run. The brigade was in advance, and the One Hundred and Fiftieth was thrown out as skirmishers. The enemy was met in well ordered lines, and gallantly driven to his strong intrenchments. For nearly a week the contest was continued, with varying success, at the end of which the One Hundred and Fiftieth, and One Hundred and Forty-ninth were relieved at the front, and sent to Elmira, New York, where they were placed in charge of rebel prisoners there collected, and where they remained until near the close of June, when they were mustered out of service.

656

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH REGIMENT,

COMPANY K-PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S BODY GUARD.

The plans for taking the life of Mr. Lincoln, which were boldly pushed from the moment he left his home at Springfield, Illinois, to assume the duties of President, and which were only frustrated, on his journey, by the ingenious devices of the agents employed by General Scott, were not abandoned upon his arrival in Washington. The enemies of the government who were lurking in every part of the Federal Capital, were ever busy in their machinations for forcible abduction or assassination. It was accordingly decmed prudent by the military authorities, though Mr. Lincoln, in his honest simplicity, could never be brought to see the necessity of it, that a body of soldiers should be kept within easy call of the President's person. Two companies of regulars had been employed for that purpose, until about the time that the One Hun- dred and Fiftieth Regiment arrived in Washington. As the plots against the President thickened, it had been determined to change the guard, and the regu- lars werc ordered to rc-join their regiment.

In the campaigns of the preceding year, the original regiment of Bucktails had won a reputation for efficiency, gallantry, and devotion, which had at- tracted the attention of the whole country. In selecting troops for this guard to take the place of the regulars, men of like efficiency and devotion werc sought, and General Martindale, Military Governor of Washington, ordered Colonel Stone to detail two companies from his new Bucktail Brigade for this purpose. Companies C and H, of the One Hundred and Fiftieth, were accord- ingly designated, and were ordercd to proceed to the Soldiers' Home, the Pre- sident's summer residence, and relieve the regulars. Being without a guide, and the officers of these companies as well as their men being strangers in Washington, they proceeded to the Soldiers' Rest ncar the depot of the Balti- more and Washington Railway, instead of the Soldiers' Home, which was three miles out of the city. On arriving at the Rest, it was found that no orders . had been issued for a change, and the troops on duty there refused to be re- lieved. Companies C and H accordingly returned and re-joined the regiment. In the meantime the regulars had received marching orders, and had departed, leaving the Home unguarded. The authorities becoming alarmed on account of the non-appearance of the companies which had been sent, ordered a new detail, and General Martindale dispatched Captain Lockwood of his staff to conduct the new command to its destination. Companies D and K, Cap- tains H. W. Crotzer and D. V. Derickson, were sent and were duly installed on duty as guard to the President. Company D not long afterwards was or- dered to duty at the Soldiers' Rest with company A, leaving company K alone at the Home.

The Home is situated about three miles north of the White House, the grounds for which had been purchased by the government a few years previous; and the buildings erected for a home for the disabled soldiers and sailors of the United States. The buildings are of stone, consisting of a main edifice and separate structures for the Military Governor, Surgeon, and Steward, and a mansion which has since been used as a summer residence for the President of the United States. This was now occupied by President Lincoln and his family. To keep constant guard, night and day, of this residence, its. com- mander accompanying the President morning and night to and from the White

Executibe Mansion,

Washington, Nov. 1 , 1862

Whom it may concern 1

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657

THREE YEARS' SERVICE.

House, whither the President went daily for the transaction of business, was the duty which the company was required to perform.

On the morning after his arrival, Captain Derickson was invited to break- fast with the President, after which he rode with him to the White House, the carriage being escorted by a detachment of cavalry from SCOTT'S NINE HUN- DRED, and returned with him in the evening. Supposing that the invitation to breakfast was a merely complimentary introduction to his duty, Captain D. did not report on the following morning until the President was ready to start. In the course of the day the Captain was summoned to the mansion, and was requested to breakfast daily with the President, which he continued to do until the family returned, in the fall, to the White House. It was the custom of Mr. Lincoln at this time, on account of the great pressure of public business, to breakfast before the rest of the family was up, and to proceed immediately to his duties. Accordingly the Captain made it his practice to enter the Presi- dent's room at a little after six in the morning, and usually found him engaged in reading, either the Scriptures, or some work on the art of war, as Jomini or Hamley. Upon the entrance of the Captain he would commence reading aloud and would offer comments and explanations, of his own, as he read. His whole demeanor and conversation in this intercourse showed him to be most mag- nanimous and kindly hearted. He never spoke in terms of bitterness or se- verity of any one, but seemed desirous of believing every one else as earnest and honest as himself.

The President usually returned to the Home at about five o'clock in the evening, after which he was accustomed to work diligently in the composition of his State papers. He always carried his little portfolio, in which were the manuscripts upon which he was engaged, back and forth to the White House, and he sometimes discussed and conversed about points that troubled him on the way. In the beginning of November, the presidential family removed to the White House, and thither the company went, encamping for the winter in the grounds near the mansion. On Christmas Day the President and his wife walked in the part where the company was quartered, and it was drawn up to. salute him. He spoke a few words complimenting the men upon their fine sol- dierly bearing, referred to the rapidity with which time was passing and great. events transpiring, said that he had come to regard them as a part of his. family, and more than this, that there had never been any family jars.

On the 1st of May, 1863, Captain Derickson resigned to accept the position: of Provost Marshal of the Twentieth District of Pennsylvania, and was suc -. ceeded by Lieutenant Thomas Getchell. A strong desire was felt by the field. officers that this company should be ordered to the front to re-join the regi- ment, as the strength and efficiency of the command was, in a measure, im- paired'by its absence. This feeling was shared by a number of the men be- longing to the company, who had their desires gratified by being transferred to other companies. Applications were made to the President for this purpose, and he seemed desirous of complying with these requests, feeling that he had no necessity for a guard, and that so fine a body of men should not be kept from the ranks of the army, where they were so much needed; but the military authorities were inflexible, and he at once decided that so long as it should be deemed necessary to have any guard, he would have this company of the Buck- tails, and wrote an order to that effect, a lithograph of which is here presented.

When the rebel General Early invaded Maryland, in July, 1864, and. ap- 83-VOL. IV.

658

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH REGIMENT,

proached Washington from the north, the company was in the fortifications and was under fire, but suffered no loss. The President was in the trenches during the progress of the battle. The company remained on duty, alternately, winter and summer, at the White House and at the Home; until the expr- ration of its term of service, in June, 1865, when it was mustered out.

FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS.

NAME.

RANK.

DATE OF MUSTER INTO SERVICE.

REMARKS.

Langhorne Wister ..

Colonel

Sept. 5, '62, Aug. 30, '62,

Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July' 1, 1863-res signed Feb. 22, 1864.

H. S. Huidekoper ...

Lt. Col

Pr. fr. Capt. Co. K. Sept. 6, 1862-wd .. with loss of arın, at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863-com. Col .; Feb. 23, 1864-not mus .- resigned Mar. 5, 1864.« Wd. at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863-com. Lt; Col., Mar. 6, 1864-resigned Mar. 15, 1864 .-

Thos. Chamberlin ...

Major

Sept. 23, '62,

George W. Jones.

... do

Aug. 25, '62,

Pr. fr. Capt. Co. B. April 30, 1864-com. Lt. Col., May 16, 1865-Col., June 15, 1865-not mus .-- mus- tered out with regiment, June 23, 1865.

Rich'd L. Ashhurst Adj ...

Aug. 20, '62, Aug. 28, '62,

Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 1863-dis- charged on Surgeon's certificate, Sept. 10, 1863.

William Wright

.. do

Promoted from Com. Sgt., Sept. 11, 1563-mus- tered out with regiment, June 23, 1865.

Michael O'Hara

Surg ...

Aug. 29, '62, Sept. 12, '62,

Promoted from Assistant Surgeon, Nov. 13, 1862- resigned April 8, 1863.

Philip A. Quinan Henry Strauss.

do co

May 2º, '63, Sept. 19, '62,

Dis. November 23, 1863.

Promoted from Assistant Surgeon, Dec. 30, 1865- mustered out with regiment, June 23, 1865.

James Fulton

As. Sur do

Aug. 20, '62, Jan. 29, '63, Jan. 16, '64, Ang. 30, '62,

Transferred to 143d regiment P. V., Nov. 18, 1862. Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, June 30, 1:63. Mustered out with regiment, June 23, 1865.

.ColumbusCornforth Joseph Chatburn ... 1

Promoted from Ist Sgt. Co. B, Nov. 14, 1862-to 2d Lt. Co. F, Feb. 1, 1863.

· Charles P. Keyser ..

Promoted from 1st Sgt. Co. A, Sept. 19, 1862-to 2d Lt. Co. B, Nov. 14, 1862.

Lyman M. Kilgore ..

... do

Promoted from 1st Sgt. Co. K, Feb. 1, 1863-to 2d Lt. Co. A, Feb. 22, 1863.

Thomas M. Lyons .. .. do

Promoted from 1st Sgt. Co. F, Mar. 1, 1863-to 1st Lt. Co. F, Jan. 28, 1864.

Benj. W. Topping ...

... do

Promoted from Sgt. Co. H, Feb. 7, 1864-to 1st LL Co. H, Mar. 29, 1865.

Promoted from Sgt. Co. B, March 2S, 1865-mus= tered out with regiment, June 23, 1865.

John A. Smith

Q.M.Sr

Aug. 28, '62,

Promoted from private Co. E, Jan. 1, 1863-con- missioned 2d Lt. company E, June 15, 1865-not mus .- mus. out with reg., June 23, 1865.

Wm. L. Binghurst .. Albert Haldeman ...

.. do Com. Sr

Aug. 21, '62, Aug. 29, '62,

Deserted January 1, 1863.

Promoted from private company E, Feb. 3,. 1861- mustered out with regiment, June 23, 1865 .-

Henry M. Keifer ....

Hos. St. Aug. 29, '62,

Frank M. True ......

... do ....

Aug. 29, '62,

Promoted from private company D, Nov. 15, '63- mustered out with regiment, June 23, 1865 .. Promoted from Sgt. company K, Sept. S,, 1863- transferred to company K-date unknown

. I . I

16. .

... . .Hellivi. 11 Px

. 5.

M. A. Henderson

John L. Morris .do

Wm. M'Cormick

Chap ... .. do Sr. Maj .. do

Jonathan Hall

.. do

Dec. 29, '64, Aug. 19% '62, Aug. 19, '62, Aug. 29, '62, Aug. 19, '62, Aug. 28, '62, Aug. 30, '62,

Promoted from private company C, Feb. 13, '63- discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Jan. 14, 1864 Mustered out with regiment, June 23, 1865.

Arthur S. Voorhis.

Q. MI ..

Mustered out with regiment, June 23, 1865.

659

THREE YEARS' SERVICE.

COMPANY A.

NAME.

RANK.

DATE OF MUSTER INTO SERVICE.

REMARKS.

Corn's C. Widdis ...

Capt ....

Aug. 23, '62,

William M. Taylor

1st. Lt .. do

Aug. 23, '62, Aug. 23, '62,

Harvey Fisher.

Lyman M. Kil . re ..

2d Lt ...

Aug. 29, '62,

Henry H. Folwell ..

Ist Sgt.

Aug. 19, '62,

Albert Meley

Aug. 19, '62, Aug. 19. '62,

Charles P. Keyser. John Herd ..

.. do

Aug. 19. '62,

Transferred to Vet. Reserve Corps, Sept. 11, 1863- discharged Aug. 19, 1865-expiration of termn.

Wm. F. Williams.

Serg't ..

Aug. 19, '62,

Henry C. Boyd ...

ào ....

Aug. 19, '62,

Robert E. Patton

Aug. 19, '62,

William S. Moore ..

.do ...

Aug. 19, '62,

Henry Laut

... do

Aug. 19, '62,

Gab'l B. Thompson ... do

Aug. 19, '62,

Edward Austin John N. Mitchell

do do

Aug. 19, '62, Aug. 19, '62,

Charles P. Haupt do

Frank W. Clark.

Corp.

Aug. 19,'62, Aug. 19, '62,

George A. Dixon ... .do Aug. 19, '62,

Paul Hoffman .. do

Aug. 19, '62, Aug. 19, '62,

James Fitzpatrick .. ... do

Aug. 19, '62,

Albert Kooker.

.. do

Aug. 19,

'62,

John Houseman.

.. do

Aug. 19, '62,

Samuel Barres

... do

Aug. 19, '62,

John Zippler

.do

Aug. 19, '62,

Samuel J. White ...

dc do

Aug. 19, '62, Aug. 19, '62, Aug. 19, '62,

Elvin S. Reaver do Aug. 19, '62,

Thomas M'Coombs.

.do

Aug. 23, '62,

Philip W. Hammer

Muc.

Aug. 19, '62,

Aucott, Frederick ..

Private

Aug. 19, '62,

Brown, James .. do

Bryce, Thomas P. ...

Aug. $0, '62, Aug. 30, '62,

Baum, John .do Aug. 19, '62, Cook, Newbern W. do Aug. Collom, John J do 19, '62, Aug. 19, '62, Dewees, Isaiah B. do ... Aug. 19, '62,

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History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. IV, Part 128

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902. cn Publication date: 1869 Publisher: Harrisburg, B. Singerly, State Printer Number of Pages: 1350

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902. cn
Publication date: 1869
Publisher: Harrisburg, B. Singerly, State Printer
Number of Pages: 1350