History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. IV, Part 7

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 7

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Burnside's second campaign, which was entered upon on the 20th of January, 1863, was cut short by impassable roads. The artillery could not be moved, and after four days of exposure to the chilling weather, the army returned to its encampments. In returning, the regiment was left behind to assist in extricating the artillery, and afterwards to explore its way through an unknown country back to camp. This and another fruitless expedition to Port Conway, which the rebels, from the southern shore of the Rappahannock, were suspected of visiting, were the only variations from the usual routine of camp duty experienced during the winter.

The spring campaign opened with the march of the army to Chancellors- ville. The First and Fifth corps were at first moved to Franklin's Crossing, of the Rappahannock, where they remained in support of the Sixth Corps, which made the passage of the stream, while Hooker, with the remaining three corps, marched and crossed several miles above. After remaining here until the 30th, the Third Corps, and on the 2d of May the First Corps, also moved above, and crossing, re-joined the army at Chancellorsville. After the

4 reverse of the Eleventh Corps, on the evening of the 2d of May, the First Corps was hurried away from the extreme left, where it had halted on its way to the front, to the right, to meet a triumphant foe. The regiment, although much worn by fatiguing duty, suffered but slight loss. When the army withdrew to the neighborhood of Falmouth, after the battle, the regiment was stationed near the banks of the Rappahannock, three miles in advance of its former camping ground.

On the 12th of June the Gettysburg campaign opened, the regiment moving by steady, rapid marches to Centreville, which it reached on the 16th, thence to Broad Run, crossed the Potomac at Edwards' Ferry, passing through Middletown, and arriving at Emmettsburg on the 29th. On the night of the 30th, the regiment formed the advance picket. of the Third Division, Double- day's, at a point about seven miles from Gettysburg, covering the ground from Marsh Creek to Middle Creek, the centre of the line being near the Cross Roads at Ross White's house. On the morning of the 1st of July, the regi- ment marched at the head of the brigade, composed of the One Hundred and

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT.

1863

Twenty-first, One Hundred and Fifty-first, and One Hundred and Forty-second Pennsylvania regiments, the Twentieth New York Regiment, and a battery of artillery, all under command of Colonel Biddle, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Biddle being in command of the regiment. As the brigade approached Gettys- burg, the noise of artillery was heard, and shells were secn bursting over some distant woods. Crossing the hills to the west of the town, it came upon Buford's Cavalry, which was engaging the enemy, and formed in a field facing to the westward, with a wood in front held by the enemy. Soon afterwards it moved to the north, and united with the left of the First Division, under General Wadsworth, arriving in time to meet an advance of the enemy through the woods to the west of the Theological Seminary. The position thus occupied, was held during most of the day, though frequently changing front as the enemy manifested a disposition to advance from the north or from the west. ' With his numerous batteries, the enemy kept up a vigorous shelling of the position, until he made his final assault at half past two in the after- noon, advancing from the north and the west in overpowering force. To meet his attack from the west, a change of front was made, which brought the One Hundred and Twenty-first on the extreme left of the line, having upon its right the Twentieth New York, then a battery, and upon the extreme right, the One Hundred and Forty-second. The One Hundred and Fifty-first Penn- sylvania having been previously detached to support the Second Brigade, commanded by General Roy Stone, was posted near the pike, farther to the right, and just in rear of the Seminary, but was subsequently brought up and formed on the right of the One Hundred and Forty-second. The enemy's line of battle extended far beyond the extreme left of the Union line, lapping around it, his fire completely enfilading the One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment. When the direct assault on the front of the brigade came, it was at first successfully resisted. His line was received with an effective fire, and wounded men of the brigade, who were left upon the field, afterwards reported that none but scattered troops ever passed over the position; but his forces swarming in upon the left, and completely outflanking the brigade, gave no chance for successful resistance. The ground was, however, held until the brigade battery was withdrawn in safety, when the fragment of the command remaining, retired to a barricade in the woods, to the rear of the Seminary. Clinging to this until a large portion of the troops engaged, and the artillery and ambulances had passed on through the town, the brigade withdrew to Cemetery Hill, and re-formed in rear of its crest. Receiving a fresh supply of cartridges, the regiment was held in readiness to repel an anticipated assault from Gencral Ewell, who had come in from the north ; but no assault came, the rebel troops seeming content with their successes, and the men bivouacked at night, feeling that though beaten and driven back from their position of the morning, they had successfully checked the enemy, in vastly superior numbers, until a new position could be taken, immeasurably better than the first, and until the army could come up in sufficient strength to successfully cope with its adversary. A beautiful rainbow seen in the west seemed to promise better fortune for the morrow. Out of seven officers and two hundred and fifty-six men who entered the engagement in the morning, there were left at night but two officers and eighty-two men, an aggregate of one hundred and seventy. nine, either killed, wounded, or missing, upwards of sixty-five per cent.

On the following day, the brigade occupied a position on the Taneytown

BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.

1863

Road, to the left of the Cemetery, and during the cannonade in the afternoon, was much exposed, the enemy's shells, from opposite directions, frequently bursting in the same field. Early on the morning of the 3d, it was moved into line of battle on the left centre, the regiment occupying a position immediately in front of General Doubleday's headquarters. A barricade of rails was thrown up for its protection, in case it should be pressed by infantry ; but in the fierce cannonade by the enemy in the afternoon, which preceded his last grand charge, this barricade was shattered, and levelled with the dust. The men slept on their arms during the succeeding night, and on the two following days were employed in clearing the field, and in burying the dead. On the afternoon of the 5th, the enemy being in full retreat, it moved with the corps by the Emmettsburg Road, and crossing the mountains opposite Hagerstown, came up with the enemy, in position near Williamsport. His skirmishers were speedily driven in. Pausing before his intrenched line, until the forces could be brought into position, an advance was ordered; but the enemy had made good his escape across the Potomac, and his intrenchments were possessed with but the feeble opposition of a line of skirmishers.

Returning over the South Mountains to Berlin, the regiment crossed the Potomac, followed substantially the route of the previous year to Warrenton and Rappahannock Station, and thence, after the lapse of some weeks, through Brandy Station, and Culpepper, to a point near Raccoon Ford on the Rapidan, where it remained until Lee attempted to turn the right of the Union army, causing a retrograde movement. The regiment then moved via Paoli Mills to Kelly's Ford, where it was engaged in throwing up rifle-pits, and guarding the crossing, until it was ascertained that the rebel army had passed the stream above, when it marched at midnight, passing Warrenton Junction, Catlett's and Bristoe Stations, and arrived with the division up on the Centreville Heights, in time to prevent their occupation by Lee's advance, which had arrived in close proximity. As the rest of the army came up, the division moved out towards the Chantilly battle ground, and upon the abandonment of offensive operations by the enemy, and his consequent retirement, advanced again towards Haymarket and Thoroughfare Gap. At Haymarket, a force of of the enemy, supposed to be Stuart's Cavalry, dismounted, attacked at night, and in the conflict the regiment received a volley in the darkness, but fortu- nately without loss.

As the enemy continued to fall back, Meade advanced. At Catlett's Station, the One Hundred and Twenty-first was detailed for special duty in defending the Cedar Run Bridge, and in guarding the depots of stock, provision, and hospital stores deposited there, which duty it continued to perform until the close of the Mine Run campaign, when the army retired to winter-quarters on the left bank of the Rapidan. The regiment was then ordered to Paoli Mills, and subsequently to Culpepper, where it went into camp, and finally to permanent quarters.

During the winter, the First Corps, which, since its great sacrifices at Gettysburg, had been composed of little more than skeleton regiments, was broken up, and distributed to other corps. By this change, the One Hundred and Twenty-first became part of the Fifth Corps, and though increased in numbers by the addition of a full company, which had been on duty at head- quarters, was never after able to bring more than two hundred men into the 5-VOL. IV.

1864

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT.

field, no facili .ies having been afforded for recruiting. Colonel Chapman Biddle was honorably discharged on the 10th of December, 1863, and Lieutenant Colonel Alcxander Biddle, on the 9th of January, 1864. Thereupon, Thomas M. Hall, who had been promoted to Major, in December, 1863, was made Lieutenant Colonel. During the winter the regiment remained in camp a short distance from Culpepper, engaged in the usual routine of camp and p cket duty.

At one o'clock on the morning of the 4th of May, the regiment moved on the Wilderness campaign. On the following morning, having crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford, it moved forward, and as it became evident that the cnemy was in front, took position in a dense thicket, through which it was compelled to cut alleys before it could advance. At noon it came upon the foe, and became hotly engaged, holding its ground by hard fighting until four P. M., when it was obliged to retire, after having lost heavily in killed and wounded, and was moved to the left to the support of the Second Corps. Early on the morning of the 6th, in conjunction with the Second Corps, which was formed in three lines of battle, it moved forward under a galling fire from the enemy in front, and a raking flank fire from his batteries. The ground was fiercely contested, and the command was finally checked and forced to fall back. But renewing the attack, it soon regained the lost ground. The enemy was here heavily reinforced, and succeeded in pushing the Union column back to the Gordonsville Road, where temporary works had been hastily thrown up. Ar- tillery could not be used on account of the nature of the ground, and the three lines with which the advance was made had been gradually moulded into one. At the Gordonsville Road, the brigade to which the One Hundred and Twenty- first was attached, was posted in rear of, and supporting a portion of the Sec- ond Corps. Late in the afternoon the enemy, with a recklessness rarely wit- nessed, charged upon the works, and in face of the deadly volleys of the in- fantry, and the more terrible fire of the artillery, succeeded in carrying a part of the line on the left, and in planting two of his standards upon the defences. At this juncture the brigade, with the One Hundred and Twenty-first on the extreme right, which until this moment had been lying prostrate upon the ground a few yards in the rear, was ordered to advance, and springing forward, came down upon the victorious enemy with a steady and unflinching front, pouring upon him volley after volley, wrenching from him his dear bought ad- vantage, and driving him in confusion to the woods beyond. With the ex- ception of slight skirmishing, this ended the fighting for the day. After re- filling the cartridge boxes, the men rested during the night in the works, and on the morning of the 7th were led to the rear, where they remained until night-fall, and then commenced the march towards Spottsylvania Court House, the enemy in the Wilderness having taken to his works. All night long the march was continued, reaching Laurel Hill, on the morning of the 8th, re- lieving a portion of the First Division, of the Fifth Corps, which was engaging the enemy under a heavy cross-fire from batteries in position on an eminence to its left. Finding him too strongly posted to be driven out with the force at hand, the ground was held, and temporary works were thrown up. During the following day the command was occupied in keeping the enemy at bay, being subjected the while to an annoying fire from two of his pieces. On the 10.h the command advanced, and engaged him in front of the works until late in the afternoon, when bayonets were fixed, and all preparations made for a

1864

WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN.

1288733

charge. But before the advance was made, the order was countermanded, and during the 11th it lay in the works. At night a second line in rear of the first was thrown up, and on the 12th the command again advanced in column, under a heavy cross-fire of artillery ; but after a fierce struggle, in which many of the bravest fell, it was compelled to retire. In the action of the 10th, Captain William W. Dorr, in command of the regiment, was among the killed, At evening it was taken to the left, where it relieved a portion of the Sixth Corps, and lay during the night in line of battle.

On the morning of the 13th it returned to its former position, and towards mid-day resumed the march towards Spottsylvania Court House, getting into position on the enemy's front at daylight of the following morning. On the 18th it again advanced and threw up a line of works, which it occupied under continual artillery fire, with occasional sharp skirmishing, until the 21st. On that day it moved on to Guinea Station, where the regiment was deployed as skirmishers, and advanced two miles, capturing a number of prisoners, and routing a rebel battery. On the 23d the command again met the enemy in force at Jericho Ford, and immediately engaged him, and with the assistance of the artillery, forced him to withdraw. In this affair the conduct of the brigade was warmly complimented by General Cutler, then in command of the division. On the 25th a movement was made to the left, and the regiment was thrown forward as skirmishers, acting as such during the entire day, and losing ten in killed and wounded. Lieutenant and Adjutant John Iungerich was here mortally wounded, expiring a month later. On the 28th, the Pamunky River was crossed, a little in advance of the enemy, when works for the defence of the position were hastily thrown up, and on the 30th the command took posi- tion on the right of the Pennsylvania Reserves, which were hotly engaged. On the 1st of June the regiment advanced on the Mechanicsville Road, near Bethesda Church, under a raking fire of artillery, suffering considerable loss, but driving the rebel skirmishers, and throwing up breast-works in the edge of the woods from which they retreated. After dark a further advance was made through the woods, and to within a stone's throw of the rebel pickets, where entrenching was quietly but diligently prosecuted, and the morning light disclosed to the astonished rebels a strong line of works under their very noses. Their artillery was hurried away to safe positions, and for five days the brigade held the ground under a continuons fire of artillery and sharp- shooters.

On the 6th of June the brigade reached Cold Harbor, where it was trans- ferred to the First Division, in command of General Chamberlain. Intrench- ing, skirmishing, and hard marching was kept up until the 14th, when it reached the James, and on the 16th crossed and took position in front of Petersburg. On the 18th it again advanced, and crossing the Norfolk Rail- road, drove in the enemy's skirmishers, sustaining a heavy loss, but establish- ing a permanent line. This was held until the night of the 20th, when the troops were relieved by the Ninth Corps, and retired to the rear. On the night of the 21st the brigade advanced in line on the left, through a thick wood, and under the fire of the rebel skirmishers threw up a breast-work, and was here employed in constructing what was subsequently known as Fort Hell. As the location was particularly exposed, much care had to be exercised in the early stages of the work, to elude the attention of the enemy. The ort was finished and occupied by two batteries of heavy artillery before the

1864

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT,

springing of the mine, which occurred on the 31st of July, and sustained with- out damage, the heavy rebel fire which was then brought to bear upon it.

On the 18th of August the regiment moved with the corps for the destruc- tion of the Weldon Railroad. and after crossing the Blackwater, was deployed as skirmishers, driving in the rebel skirmishers as it advanced. The road having been effectually destroyed for a long distance, the brigade retired to works throw up along the line of the ruins. On the 21st the regiment occu- pied a position in line on the left, and about two hundred yards in rear of the extreme left of the Fourth Division, which was on that day hotly engaged. The enemy finally advanced in column, charging the works in front of the Fourth Division, and sweeping around its left, thinking to come in upon an unprotected rear, but suddenly encountered the brigade, prepared to receive them. Determined not to be foiled in their purpose, they fought obstinately for some time, returning the fire that was poured in upon them, with the ut- most spirit and determination, and only when almost annihilated did their spirit forsake them. But few escaped, hundreds being killed and wounded ; while many seeing no other alternative, threw down their arms and came pour- ing over the works, bringing in several stands of colors. After this short but decisive contest, the brigade moved farther to the left, and erected new works. On the 12th of September the regiment was transferred to the First Brigade of the Third Division, and five days later was transferred to the Third Brigade of this division. With this brigade, it marched on the 30th to Pee- ble's Farm, to the extreme right of the enemy's line, and, during the night succeeding, threw up a line of works on the crest of a hill. Early on the following morning the enemy, in great force, supported by artillery, made a furious attack. The works were held by the brigade until the line was broken to right and left of it, when, the enemy coming in upon both flanks, compelled it to give way, and nearly half of the regiment, including the Colonel and seven line officers, were captured. The morning report of the following day showed but four commissioned officers and eighty-five enlisted men present for duty.

During the succeeding winter the regiment remained in camp with the bri- gade, on the extreme. left of the line, participating in but two movements of importance. The first was made on the 4th of December, by a force consisting of the Fifth Corps, one division of the Second, and a division of cavalry, all under command of General Warren, the purpose of which was to destroy the Weldon Railroad, as far south as possible. Striking the road twenty miles out from Petersburg, the work of destruction was continued, with little oppo- sition, as far as Bellefield. The troops being without camp equipage, and exposed to a fearful storm of rain and hail, suffered severely. The second was entered upon on the 6th of February, 1865, and extended to Hatcher's Run. It resulted in severe fighting, without decisive results. Upon the occasion of the rebel attack on Fort Steadman, on the 25th of March, the regiment was put in motion with other troops, for the scene of conflict, but the assault was successful y repelled before it reached the ground, and immediately returned to its quarters. On the 31st of March it participated in the attack on the enemy's position at the Boydton Plank Road, and on the following day on his position at Five Forks, where he was completely routed, losing most of his artillery. The advantage here gained was rapidly followed up, and on the 9th the rebel army laid down its arms at Appomattox Court House. While

THREE YEARS' SERVICE.

the rebel troops were being paroled, the regiment performed guard duty in the town, with headquarters at the Court House. On the 12th it moved in charge of captured property, and proceeded with it to Burkesville Station, on the South Side Railroad, after which it was encamped for two weeks along this road. It then moved to Petersburg, thence to Richmond, and finally went into camp on Arlington Heights, opposite Washington, where on the 2d of June, it was mustered out of service.

FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS.

NAME.

RANK.

DATE OF MUSTER INTO SERVICE.

TERM-YEARS.

REMARKS.

Chapman Biddle ..

Col

Sept. 1, '62,

Discharged by special order, December 10, 1863. Discharged by special order, April 20, 1863.

Elisha W. Davis.

Lt. Col do

Sept.

1, '62,

Alexander Biddle

Sept.

1, '62,

3 Pr. fr. Maj., July 26, '63-com. Col., Dec. 11, '63- not mus .- disch. by S. O., Jan. 9, 1864.

Thomas M. Hall.

.do

Aug. 4, '62,

Pr. from Adj. to Maj., Dec. 31, 1863-to Lt. Col., Feb. 11, 1864-disch. by S. O., May 27, 1864.

James S. Warner. ...

... do

...

Aug. 29, '62,

West Funk

Major ..

Sept. 3, '62,

Pr. fr. Capt. Co. A, Sept. 5, '64-pris. fr. Oct. 1, '64, to May 4,'65-mus. out with reg., June 2,'65. Pr. from 1st Lieut. Co. G., Jan. 16, 1865-Bv. Lt. Col., April 1, '65-wd. at Dabney's Mills, Va., Feb. 6, 1865-mus. out with reg., June 2, 1865. Pr. from 1st Lieut. company B, Jan. 1, 1864- died June 24, at Philadelphia, of wounds re- ceived at Jericho Ford, Va., May 25, 1864.

Robert F. Bates.

.do

Aug. 13, '62,

3 Pr. fr. 1st Lt. Co. D, Aug. 17, '64-pris. fr. Oct. 1, '64,to Apr. 16,'65-mus.out with reg., June 2,'65. Discharged by special order, Jan. 3, 1863.

Joshua Garsed.

.. do

Sept. 1, '62, Aug. 12, '62,

3 3 Promoted from 2d Lieut. Co. K, March 1, 1863 --- discharged by special order, Oct. 9, 1863.

Philander R. Gray ..

Aug. 23, '62, 3 Promoted from Ist Licut Co. A., Nov. 1, 1863- mustercd out with regiment, June 2, 1865. Aug. 4, '62, 3 Pr. from Assistant Surgeon, Sept. 3, 1862-dis- charged by special order, October 23, 1862.

J. Allen Ramsey. .do

Sept. 18, '62,

3 Pr. fr. Assistant Surgeon, Nov. 19, 1862-mus- tered out with regiment, June 2, 1865.

Charles E. Cady.

As.Sur.

Aug. 20, '62,

Jon. J. Comfort. .. do

Pressly M. Kerr .. do

Aug. 18, '62, Dec. 15, '62,

Alex. M. Wilson .. do Jan. 20, '63, 3

Francis F. Davis. do

Wm. C. Ferriday ... William G. Dickey

Chap'n Sr. Maj.

Sept. 21, '62, Aug. 23, '62, Aug. 21, '62,

Chas. C. Connelly ..

Aug. 23, '62,

Wm. E. Dunham ...

Q.M.Sr.

Aug. 22, '62, 3

William H. Atlee.

Charles Robinson.

.do Com.Sr do

Aug. 5, '62, Aug. 11, '62, Aug. 16, '62, 3 Aug. 14, '62, 3

3 3

Samuel B. Haines.

Edw'd D. Chipman Hos. St.

James H. Elliott.

Pl. Muc

Aug. 23, '62,

3 Discharged by special order, Sept. 2, 1862. 3 3 Pr. to Surgeon 42d regiment P. V., Dec. 17, 1862. Discharged by special order, January 9, 1863. Dismissed August 7, 1863.

Sept. 9, '63, 3 Mustered out with regiment, June 2, 1865.

John Lusby. dc

3 Discharged by special order, December 22, 1862. Promoted from Sergeant Co. A, May 1, 1865- mustered out with regiment, June 2, 1865. Promoted from Sergeant Co. K, April 27, 1863- died at Washington, D. C., June 17, 1863.

H. P. Hottenstein ..

Surg ...

John Iungerich

Adj't ...

Sept. 5, '62, 3

William C. Atwood

Q. M

3 Promoted from Sergcant Co. A, Oct. 23, 1863- mis. in action at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864. Promoted fromn private Co. K. Feb. . 4, 1863- mustercd out with regiment, June 2, 1865. Discharged on Surgcon's cert., Jan. 31, 1863. Promoted from private Co. G, April 13, 1863- mustered out with regiment, June 2, 1865. Pr. fr. private Co. B, August 16, 1862-com. Q. M., Jan. 5, 1863-not mus .- died Feb. 23, 1863. Promoted from private Co. I, August 22, 1862- mustered out with regiment, June 2, 1865. Promoted from Musician Co. D, Sept. 7, 1864- Inustered out with regiment, June 2, 1865.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT,

COMPANY A.

NAME.

RANK.

DATE OF MUSTER INTO SERVICE.

REMARKS.

George E. Ridgway

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History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. IV, Part 7

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