History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. IV, Part 70

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 70

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).

Healy, John .. do

Aug. 17, '62,

Harkins, John .. do

Aug. 17, '62,

Horan, Michael do

Aug. 17, '62,

Hemstead, William .do

Aug. 22, '62,

Hathaway, Jesse. .do

Aug. 17,

Hannon, John P. do

Aug. 23, '62,

Joiee, Thomas do

Aug. 20, '62, Jones, Elias .. do Aug. 28, '62,

Knapp, Abram S. do Aug. 29, '62,

Kuight, Valentine .. do

Kingsbury, David C .do

Aug. 23, '62, Aug. 29, '62,

King, Charles F .. do

Aug. 17, '62, Aug. 20, '62,

Lester, George .do

Aug. 28, '62,

Lester, Alton .do

Aug. 28,'

'62,

Lord, Dionysius. do

Aug. 28, '62,

Lord, Stephen. .do

Aug. 29, '62,

Lester, Charles .do Aug. 23, '62,

Langton, John. .do Aug. 17, '62,

Lord, Wilson do

Aug. 28, '62,

Lord, Benjamin. do

Aug. 17, '62,

Martin, David E do Aug. 28, '62,

Morgridge, George do

Aug. 28, '62,

Meredith, John S. S ...

.do

Aug. 20, '62,

Monaghen, Bart'w .. do Aug. 17, '62,

Monaghen, Lawr'e do Aug. 20, '62,

Malarky, Rodger do Aug. 17, '62,

M'Mannamen, O .. ... do Aug. 17, '62,

M'Barron, John N do Aug. 17, '62,

M'Keon. Edward .. do

Aug. 17, '62,

Naylor, Thomas. do

Aug. 17, '62,

Oehs, John F do Aug. 20, '62,

Pendergrast, James .do Aug. 17, '62,

Price, Job .do

Peigh, Ellis .do

Aug. 28, '62, Aug. 17, '62,

Taylor, William P .. do Aug. 28, '62,

Tyler, William. do Aug. 2%, '62,

Treat, Joseph R do Tighe, Michael. do Aug. 17, '62,

Weed, Edgar do Aug. 28, '62,

Aug. 28, '62, Watson, Harvey .do

Wainright, Samuel .. do Aug. 28, '62,

Wolf. Henry .. .do Aug. 28, '62,

Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1853. Mustered out with company, June 1, 18.3. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1563. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1$63. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1803. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out withi company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Died at Hagerstowu, Oct., 21, 1862-buried in Nat. Cem'y, Antietam, Md., see. 26, lot D, grave, 3$2. Deserted December 1, 1862.

Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1853. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1$63. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1563. Absent, siek, at niuster out.

Mustered out with company, June 1, 1833. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1S63. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1963. Died at Hagerstown, Oct. 31, 1862-buried in Nat. Cem'y, Antietam, Md , sec. 26, lot D, grave, 380. Wounded at Chaneellorsville, Va., May 4, 1833- died at Philadelphia, Pa., June 3, 1863. Absent, sick, at uluster out.

Died at Washington, Mar. 11, 1863-buried in Mili- tary Asylum Cemetery, D. C.

Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Apr. 2, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Deserted May 2, 1863.

Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1865. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863.

Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Absent, in hospital, at muster out.

Deserted August 28, 1862.

Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1863. Mustered out with company, June 1, 1853. Mustered out with company, June 1. 1863.

UNASSIGNED MAN.

Ferree, Lake B

Private April, 1863,

Deserted-dishonorably discharged, May 12, 1865.

Aug. 23, '62,

Kelley, Patrick. .do

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.'

R ECRUITING was commeneed for the companies which ultimately com- posed this regiment, under the call for nine months' service, but before it was completed, an order was issued forbidding the acceptance of more men for a less period than three years, and the terms of enlistment were accord- ingly changed to three years. Companies A, C, I, and K, were recruited in Montgomery county, B, and G, in Adams, D, E, and F, in Bedford, and company H, in Bueks. The companies rendezvoused at Camp Curtin, the first, company arriving on the 16th of August, 1862, and by the 26th their organiza- tions were completed, and they were mustered into the United States service. Charles L. K. Sumwalt, of Adams county, was appointed Colonel, and under his command, on the 30th, it moved to Baltimore. It reported to General Wool, in command of the Middle Department, and was by him ordered to duty at the Relay House, the Washington Junetion of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- road. Shortly after its arrival, Captain M. R. M'Clennan, of company A, was appointed Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain Lewis A. May, of company F, Major. It was employed in guarding the railroad, to prevent mischief by secession sympathizers, and to prevent any interruption of communication with the Capital. For this purpose, company A was stationed at Jessop's Cut, C, at Dorsey's Switch, E, at Hanover Switch, D, at Elk Ridge Landing, G, at Fort Dix, a small earth-work mounting six guns, commanding the Wash- ington Viaduct, a handsome stone structure spanning the Patapsco River, B, at Ellicott's Mills, a detachment of I, at Elysville, and the remaining four companies, F, H, I, and K, at head-quarters, near the Relay House. This was the original disposition, and the relative strength remained the same, though the companies were periodically changed to give all an opportunity for regi- mental drill. During the time of the Maryland campaign, which culminated in the battle of Antietam, this road was the scene of great activity, and the force at this point was strengthened by the addition of the One Hundred and Eighteenth New York, and battery B, of the Fifth New York Light Artillery. After the campaign was ended, the regiment was again left to perform the duty alone. Many deserters and stragglers from the Union army, and aiders and abettors of the enemy, were arrested and committed. The winter and spring of 1862-3, passed with little to change the regular routine of duty. On

" The facts embraced in this narrative are principally drawn from a neat volume of one hundred and thirty-eight pages, prepared by Osccola Lewis, and printed by Wills, Ireloll & Jenkins, of Norristown, Pa.

352

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT,

the 2d of May, Lieutenant Colonel M'Clennan was promoted to Colonel, in place of Colonel Sumwalt, whose eonneetion with the service was severed on 30th of March preceding.

On the 16th of June, the regiment was ordered to active duty, and pro- ceeded to Harper's Ferry, where it was assigned to Elliott's Brigade, a part of the command with which Milroy had in vain battled with the advaneing columns of Lee's Army, at Winchester, on their way to Pennsylvania. Gen- eral Freneh was in command at Harper's Ferry, with the brigades of Kenly, Morris, and Elliott, under him. The Heights were strongly fortified, the trees in front were swept away, artillery was advantageously posted, strong picket lines were established, and every precaution taken to give the foe a warm re- ception. But he wisely shunned this route, his bivouae fires, and his long trains visible in the distant valley, as they passed, and erossed the Potomae at Williamsport. Harper's Ferry was evacuated on the 1st of July. All munitions and stores that could not be removed were destroyed, and the re- mainder was loaded on canal-boats, and sent to Washington. Elliott's Brigade was charged with guarding it, and taking it through, the rest of Freneh's Di- vision moving to Frederick. From Washington, the brigade proceeded by rail, on the 7th, to Frederick, and re-joined the division, and on the following day joined the army in its pursuit of Lee, now fresh from the field of Gettys- burg. General Freneh assumed command of the Third Corps, in place of Sickles, who had fallen in the desperate fighting of the 2d, and General Elliott succeeded the former in command of the division, now attached to that corps. On the 16th, the corps erossed the river at Harper's Ferry, and on the 23d, eneountered the enemy in a strong position at Wapping Heights, his in- fantry, screened by stone walls, making a determined resistance. He was finally dislodged by a gallant charge of the Excelsior Brigade, and was driven into the valley beyond. Elliott's Brigade did not become engaged, though held under fire a considerable portion of the time during the engagement. At Warrenton the corps halted, and remained until the 1st of August, when it moved out to the Rappahannock, the regiment being posted at Fox's Ford, charged with out-post duty. On the 15th of September, the corps moved on to Warrenton, where it remained in comparative quiet, with the rest of the army, for nearly six weeks. In the meantime, two eorps, the Eleventh and Twelfth, had been detached from the army of the Potomae, and sent to the support of Rosecrans, cooped up in a precarious condition at Chattanooga. Feeling that he eould now with safety assume the offensive, Lee commeneed a sudden ilank movement by the right, and Meade, to save himself, retreated to Centreville. In this movement, the regiment was divided, a portion being as- signed as guard to the ammunition train, and the remainder to the corps · ambulanees. At Centreville, the movement of the two armies was reversed, without coming into conflict, and Lec retreated, and Meade pursued. On tho 23d of October, the regiment was relieved from guard duty with the trains, and re-joined its brigade. After erossing the Rappahannock, and when within two and a-half miles of Brandy Station, the enemy's rear guard was eneonn- tered. Elliott's Division had that day the advanee, and the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Pennsylvania, and the One Hundred and Tenth Ohio, were immediately deployed, the former to the left and the latter to the right of the railroad, and with Berdan's Sharp-shooters, and company A, of the One Hun- dred and Thirty-eighth, thrown forward as skirmishers, advanced with support-

353

THREE YEARS' SERVICE.

ing regiments to the attack. The fire of the enemy's artillery was severe. Early in the engagement, a shell struck and exploded in the ranks near the centre of the regiment, mortally wounding Captain Lazarus C. Andress, and carrying away the left arm of Sergeant Abraham G. Rapp. The missile burst as it struck the former, fearfully mangling his hip and thigh, and shivering his sword. The hill was carried, and the enemy barely eseaped with his artillery. The loss was seven wounded.

At Brandy Station the army halted, and remained until the 23d of Novem- ber, when it set forward on the Mine Run Campaign. The Third Corps crossed the Rapidan at Jacob's Ford, and on the 27th eame up with the enemy at Locust Grove. The Second Division was first engaged, and being hard pressed, the Third, now commanded by General Carr, was sent to its support, and formed on its left, the One Hundred and Thirty-eightlı being on the extreme left of the line. The fighting soon opened on its front, at close range, and buck and ball were hurled with telling effect against the advaneing enemy. Colonel M'Clennan, while moving along the line encouraging his men, and directing the fight, was stricken down and carried from the field. Captain Fisher had an arm shattered, and Adjutant Cress, was disabled. At dark, after having gallantly held the ground, and repulsed repeated eharges, infliet- ing great slaughter, it was relieved by fresh troops, and rested for the night on the field. The loss in the engagement was seven killed, forty-five wounded, and three missing. During the night, the enemy withdrew to his fortified position behind Mine Run. After advancing to, and reconnoitring his ground, it was deeided to abandon the campaign, and the army returned to eamp near Brandy Station, where the regiment was soon settled in comfortable winter- quarters.

Colonel M'Clennan having measurably recovered from his wounds, returned to duty on the 13th of March, 1864, and was received in eamp with demon- strations of warm regard. The smooth bore muskets with which the regiment was armed, were soon afterwards exchanged for Springfield rifled muskets. In the re-organization of the corps, preparatory to the opening of the spring eam- paign, the Third Division of the Third Corps, became the Third Division of the Sixth, General Rieketts in command. The army moved on the 3d of May, and on the 5th, soon after erossing the Rapidan, it was attacked in the tangled thickets of the Wilderness. It was near midday before Rieketts' Division was put in motion. Towards evening, after having marehed and eounter-marched, the brigade, to the command of which General Truman Seymour had that morning been assigned, was detached, and hurriedly led to a position on the extreme right of the corps, passing on its way the seene of a most sanguinary struggle, where the dead of both armies were thickly strewn on the wild wooded battle-field. At dark it was formed in two lines, the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth on the second line. It was thought that only a picket guard of the enemy's extreme left was in front, and in swinging around to envelop it, the command was suddenly brought under a severe front and flank fire, from strong columns For two hours, with the most stubborn fighting, the ground was held, when on both sides the firing gradually died away, and the lines rested on the field where they had fought. The casualties in the regi- ment were slight, Sergeant Bieseeker, and John H. Ashenfelter, of the color-guard, being killed. All night long the moans and cries of. the dying

45-VOL. IV.

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ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT,

filled the air, and the ominous sounds of the enemy chopping and fortifying in front, and far out on the right flank, were distinctly heard. General Sey- mour was apprised of these threatening indications, but the order of the pre- vions evening to renew the assault in the morning, was not modified, and at nine o'clock the brigade moved to the desperate work, and now the One Hun- dred and Thirty-eighth on the front line. The men were charged not to fire a shot until they had reached the enemy's works. Apprised by the clanking of arms, of their approach, he was ready to receive them. The pattering fire of his skirmishers decpened into showers, as they went, and finally a perfect storm of deadly missiles greeted them ; but without wavering, the lines moved on, until within fifty yards of his breast-works, where the flash of his guns was plainly visible through the tangled wood. And now, when the moment for a final dash had come, impatient soldiers began to stop and to fire. Felled trees and tangled branches made it more and more difficult to advance. The momentum of the charge was lost, and the men taking shelter behind trees, and lying prostrate upon the ground, for an hour, in the face of a most de- structive fire of infantry and artillery hurling grape and canister, held their ground. Seeing that there was no hope of success, the brigade was finally ordered back to the position of the morning, unavoidably leaving many of the dead and wounded on the field. Late in the evening, while the men were pre- paring their coffee behind their hastily constructed breast-works, Shaler's Bri- gade, which had been posted upon the right of Seymour, was suddenly attacked, in flank and rear, by a powerful body of the enemy under Gordon. Sweeping down upon the unsuspecting troops, as did Jackson upon the Eleventh Corps, at Chancellorsville, Gordon scattered and drove all opposed to him. He was finally checked by reinforcements from other parts of the line, and the lost ground re-gained. Generals Shaler and Seymour, with numbers of their troops, were taken prisoners. Weakened by two fatal and unsuccessful charges, the brigade was in no condition or heart to resist, and the General who had refused to listen to the representations of danger in the early morning, added another to the misfortunes which had attended his career at Charles City Cross Roads, Fort Wagner, and Olustee. The regiment lost in these en- gagements twenty-seven killed, ninety-four wounded, and thirty-five missing, of whom twenty-six were known to be prisoners. Lieutenant John H. Fisher was killed, and Lieutenants H. C. Grossman, and John E. Essick were wounded, the latter mortally.

On the 7th, the contending parties acted on the defensive, operations being confined to skirmishing. On the night of the 8th, the first of Grant's move- ments by the left flank began. In the fierce fighting which occurred about Spottsylvania, and in the subsequent movements during the month of May, the regiment shared, and was frequently under fire, losing five wounded on the 12th, three wounded on the 13th, one killed on the 18th, one wounded on the 19th, two wounded on the 20th, and one wounded on the 31st, but did not become involved in the more desperate fighting.

On the 1st of June, the troops from Butler's Army of the James were met in the vicinity of Cold Harbor, and orders were given to prepare for an on- gagement. "A hasty disposition of these commands was made," says Lieutenant Lewis in his narrative of this regiment, "skirmishers were ad. vanced, the enemy's position partially developed, a plan of assanlt selected, and at five o'clock the attack was commenced. The Third Division, on the right

335

THREE YEARS' SERVICE.

of the corps, adjoining General Smith's left, moved forward in four lines of battle, and with great promptness. The front line of the Second Brigade con- sisted of the Sixth Maryland, and the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Penn- sylvania, and these two regiments were the first to encounter a galling fire from the enemy's sharp-shooters, and a difficult swamp which had to be crossed. These obstacles overcome, the rebel main linc, situated on a ridge thickly wooded with pine, was found defended by strong numbers. The Sixth, and the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth, were the first troops to clamber the works and break the rebel front, which was only accomplished by a solid rush and hard fighting. The confusion and flight of the enemy resulting from this breach in his line, was quickly followed up, and in a short time the two above specified regiments had captured more prisoners than their own numbers. On other portions of the line our troops had not carried the works, and we, in our zeal to drive the enemy, soon distanced all supporting columns, to the jeopardy of our own safety. At one period the men of our regiment drove the gunners from a battery ; but when within a few yards of its position, and about to seize it, our scattered and weakened numbers became apparent to the enemy, who rallied heavily against us, returned to his guns, and checked our fur- ther advance by a raking charge of canister. We were hard pressed, but the captured ground was maintained. The entire Third Division joined in the work with alacrity, at the first onset, and to this command belongs the credit of being the only division of two corps to successfully accomplish the task as- signed it in this battle." The conduct of the division drew from General Meade a congratulatory order, in these words: "Please give my thanks to Brigadier General Ricketts and his gallant command, for the very handsome manner in which they conducted themselves to-day. The success attained by them is of great importance, and if promptly followed up will materially ad- vance our operations." During the night the lines were re-formed, and the rebel works were reversed. On the 3d another assault was made, but without success, and the two armies fell to digging, which was continued until the 12th, when the Union army was quietly withdrawn, and moved off towards the James. The loss was seven killed, fifty-four wounded, and seven missing. Lieutenant Charles P. M'Laughlin was among the killed.

After crossing the James, about the middle of the month, the Third Division moved up to Point of Rocks, and was assigned a position in the trenches at Bermuda Hundred, but subsequently rc-joined the corps in front of Petersburg, and near the close of the month, joined in the movement upon the Weldon Railroad, at Ream's Station, in which several miles of the road were destroyed.

On the 6th of July, Ricketts' Division was ordered to City Point, and thence moved by transport to Baltimore. Cars were in waiting, upon which it immediately proceeded to Monocacy, and there awaited the advance of the enemy under Early, who, with a powerful division of Lee's army, was advancing on Washington. Line of battle was hastily formed, the troops of General Wallace, who commanded the department, occupying the right, which rested on a high fortified bluff overlooking the railroad and Monocacy Creek, and Ricketts' Division, drawn up in two lines, the left, the whole in crescent shape, stretching across the railroad and the Washington Turnpike. By ten, on the morning of the 9th, the skirmishing was brisk, and it soon became evi dent that the Union force was vastly outnumbered. To equal his front,

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ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT,

Rieketts' Division was stretched out in a single thin line, and against this the enemy eame on in heavy force, rejoicing in his strength, and confident of vietory. The One Hundred and Thirty-eighth occupied a position on the un- protected left flank. To prevent this from being turned, which seemed to be the object of the enemy, the line was refused until it became impossible for him to execute his purpose, without dividing his force .. Foiled in this, he made a direct assault in three lines. As soon as he came within range, a well direeted fire was opened, and rapid rounds were poured in with admirable effeet. His first and second lines were broken, and the third advanced in their places ; but still the division held its ground. At five P. M., the troops on the right gave way, and Ricketts was compelled to order a retreat to save himself from capture. The enemy was well supplied with artillery, which was admira- bly handled, while upon the Union side, the few guns in play did little execu- tion. Colonel M'Clennan commanded the brigade, during the engagement, and Major May, the regiment. The loss was thirty-nine men wounded, twenty-one captured, and cight missing. Captain George W. Guss was among the wounded, and Captain Richard T. Stewart among the prisoners. The division retired to Baltimore, and eneamped at Druid Hill Park, and Early pushed on towards Washington ; but here he was met by the rest of the Sixth Corps, and driven ingloriously into Virginia. The Union forces joined in pursuit, and pushed him to beyond Berryville, in the Shenandoah Valley, Ricketts' Division having in the meantime re-joined the corps. And now, for a period of nearly a month, during the intense heat of the season, marches and counter-marclics between Washington and the Shenandoah Valley, over the soil of Maryland and Virginia, followed, apparently to little purpose.

Finally a new department was created, and General Sheridan assigned to its command. His army was composed of the Sixth, Eighth, and Nineteenth corps, with a force of cavalry sent from the army of the Potomac. Manœuvr- ing at once commenced, by which the enemy was drawn from his stronghold at Fisher's Hill. On the 29th of August, the cavalry, under Merritt, supported by Rieketts' Division, met and defeated a body of the enemy near Smithfield. Encouraged by this suceess, at two A. M., on the morning of the 19th of Sep- tember, Sheridan moved from his camp at Berryville, to attaek Early resting on the line of the Opequan, six miles away. By daylight the strcam was erossed, and dispositions were at once made for attack. The One Hundred and Thirty-cighth occupied the first line in the brigade, with the Sixth Mary- land, and Sixty-seventh Pennsylvania on its right and left. The first attack was made by the Sixth and Nineteenth corps, in which a decided advantage was gained, but was lost by a fatal gap between the two eorps, which, widen- ing as they advanced, allowed the enemy to break through. Some confusion resulted ; but the command was soon rallied, when the grand advance was made, and under a terrific fire of musketry and artillery, it swept forward full upon his front, and at every point was victorious, the enemy retreating in pre- cipitation and confusion. The pursuit was continued to Fisher's Hill, where he was found prepared to offer formidable resistance. Rieketts' Division occu- pied a position in front of a strong rebel carth-work, on the extreme right of the line, and when the Eighth Corps, under Crook, had, by a mountain path turned that flank, the whole line moved simultaneously upon the enemy, and again drove him in utter rout, making extensive captures of prisoners, guns, and small arms. The loss of the regiment in these engagements was four

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History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. IV, Part 70

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