USA > Pennsylvania > Mifflin County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 1 > Part 47
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 1 > Part 47
USA > Pennsylvania > Union County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 1 > Part 47
USA > Pennsylvania > Juniata County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 1 > Part 47
USA > Pennsylvania > Snyder County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 1 > Part 47
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western corner of the island, nearly surrounded by an impenetrable swamp, approached in front by a single causeway, which was swept by the guns of the fort. Upon arriving at the edge of the swamp, Reno's brigade was sent to the left to cut off the enemy's retreat south, while Foster was directed to penetrate the swamp to the right of the road, and attack the enemy upon that flank. Hartranft soon found his way completely blocked, and returned upon the track of Foster, leaving two companies of the Fifty- first, which had the advance, still groping in the mire before he had reached the lines, but Foster had already opened upon the enemy with infantry and artillery, and as the regiment came into position on the right of the line, Foster or- dered a final charge, and the enemy was driven from his works, and fled in confusion. The de- monstration upon the left seemed to heighten the confusion, as he anticipated that his way of retreat was effectually broken. A hot pursuit was immediately made, and the entire force, with numerous heavy guns and small-arms, was captured.
On the 3d of March the regiment embarked for the expedition to Newbern, and on the 4th changed its muskets for Enfield rifles. The fleet sailed on the 11th, and entered the Neuse River on the 12th, anchoring off Slocum's Creek, fifteen miles from Newbern, where, on the following day, the regiment debarked. A portion, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Bell, was detailed to assist in moving the ar- tillery. The rain was descending in torrents, and the roads were soon trodden into a stiff mud, which rendered the movement of the pieces next to impossible. Many of the men lost their shoes and went into battle on the following day barefoot. But without faltering or pausing by the way, they toiled on over the weary miles and brought up the pieces in time for the attack. For this important service General Burnside personally thanked Lieu- tenant-Colonel Bell. In the mean time Colonel Hartranft, with the remaining companies, puslied on with the advance column. Upon its arrival in front of the enemy's carth-works dispositions for attack were made, Foster occu- pying the right, Reno the left and Parke in
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support upon the centre. The enemy's line upon the left was masked by timber, and in the thick fog which prevailed the extent of his works was undiscovered. They proved to be of great strength, consisting of " thirteen fin- ished redans" bristling with cannon, protected in front " by an almost impassable morass filled with fallen timber," Land stretching away far beyond the railroad, where his right was sup- posed to rest. Foster attacked upon his left ; but the enemy, concentrating his strength, proved too much for him.
As soon as he could gain his position on the left Reno attacked, and the battle soon became general, raging with great fury for three and a half hours. The Fifty-first had been held in support, and, though exposed to a severe fire, had not been allowed to return a single shot. General Reno, becoming impatient at the delay and at the losses he was sustaining, ordered up Colonel Hartranft for the decisive charge. Form- ing within a short distance of the confederate intrenchments, the regiment was led forward through the ranks of the Fifty-first New York, which cheered the column as it passed to a little hill beyond. General Reno in person, his face beaming with an expression seen only in battle, ordered the charge. With determined valor the regiment rushed down a ravine choked with felled timber, up the opposite bank and, without a falter, carried the redan in front, planting the old flag upon the ramparts. "All this," says General Reno, in his official report, "was gallantly executed, and the enemy fled precipitately from all their intrenchments. Some fifty prisoners were captured in these works, many severely wounded. Upon reach- ing the rebel intrenchments I was rejoiced to see our flag waving along the entire line of the enemy's works." After setting fire to the rail- road bridge and a number of factories, the Confederates abandoned Newbern.
Detachments were frequently sent out by General Burnside to reconnoitre and hold im- portant points upon the coast. One was in- trusted to Colonel Hartranft, who moved with his regiment into the interior and acquired val-
uable information. On the 16th of April a force was sent out consisting of the Fifty-first Pennsylvania, Ninth and Eighty-ninth New York, Sixth New Hampshire and the Twenty- first Massachusetts, which proceeded by trans- ports to a point four miles below Elizabeth City, where it landed. Pushing inland about twenty miles, the weary troops came upon the enemy strongly posted. Two companies of the Fifty- first, A and F, Captains Boulton and Hart, were considerably in advance of the main column, and when they had arrived within an eighth of a mile of the confederate line they were sud- denly opened upon from the enemy's guns. They were ordered to shelter themselves as best they could and to hold their position. General Reno now led the Twenty-first Massachusetts and the balance of the Fifty-first Pennsylvania through the woods to the right, bringing them into position upon the enemy's left flank, where they immediately opened fire. In the mean time the Ninth New York had taken position on the enemy's left centre, and had prematurely charged upon his guns. The ground was open, and, being fearfully exposed, the Ninth was re- pulsed with considerable loss. The Sixth New Hampshire advanced upon the left, and, with the two companies of the Fifty-first holding the road, kept the enemy well employed upon that part of the line. The Fifty-first had now turned his left flank and was pouring in most deadly volleys. " In the mean time," says General Reno, "the Fifty-first Pennsylvania and the Twenty-first Massachusetts kept up an incessant fire upon the rebels, who had now withdrawn their artillery and had commenced to withdraw in good order. The Sixth New Hampshire had steadily advanced in line to the left of the road, and when within about two hundred yards poured in a most deadly volley, which completely demoralized the enemy and ended the battle. Our men were so completely fagged out by the intense heat and their long march that we could not pursue them. The men rested under arms until about ten o'clock P.M., when I ordered a return to our boats, having accomplished the principal object of the expedition, conveying the idea that the entire Burnside expedition was marching upon Nor-
! General Reno's official report.
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folk." The loss in the regiment was three killed and twenty-one wounded.
On the 30th of June the regiment embarked for Fortress Monroe, but was detained until the 5th of July, when it set sail with the rest of the command, and arrived on the 8th. Here Gen- eral Burnside commenced organizing the Ninth Corps, destined to win an enviable place in the national armies, and the regiment was assigned to the Second Brigade of the Second Division, composed of the Fifty-first Pennsylvania, Fifty- first New York and the Twenty-first Massachu- setts, commanded by General Edward Ferrero.
On the 12th of August, Burnside hastened with his command to the support of General Pope, and landed at Fredericksburg, whence he pushed forward two divisions to Cedar Moun- tain, where they formed a junction with General McDowell. The enemy had already made his appearance on the Rapidan, and Ferrero's bri- gade, under Colonel Hartranft, was sent to guard the fords from Mitchell's Station to Rac- coon Ford. Lee's columns soon after arrived in force on the opposite bank, and began to press heavily to gain a crossing, when the bri- gade was withdrawn, and returning through Stevensburg, recrossed the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford. Four companies of the Fifty- first were detailed for the rear-guard, and held the enemy at bay until so far separated from the main body as to excite serious apprehension for their safety ; but they succeeded in bringing in the gun with which they were entrusted and crossed the river in safety, losing only a few stragglers. General Pope's army, manoeuvring for several days, finally formed in line on the old Bull Run battle-ground. Kearney held the right, with Reno on his left. Several bat- teries were posted on a commanding ridge, and away to the right was a wood in which the enemy was concentrated in heavy force. The Fifty-first supported these batteries, On the afternoon of the first day of the battle (the 29th) Lieutenant-Colonel Bell, with a portion of the regiment, was detailed to advance to the pickel line in Kearny's front, and remained in this position until the morning of the second day, when it rejoined the regiment, which had been withdrawn during the night. Towards evening
our forces, having been driven back, began to move from the field. The line of retreat was along the Centreville road to the right of the position held by Graham's battery. This road was soon completely blocked with the artillery and trains, and much confusion prevailed.
It was a critical moment. The enemy, exult- ing in his successes, was pushing on to break in upon the column while impeded by its trains, and to crush it in its crippled condition by a single blow. Graham's pieces were admirably posted for its protection, and were already deal- ing their death-laden volleys upon the advanc- ing foe ; but should his supports fail him, his guns would be lost, and our whole left flank exposed. Ferrero saw the necessity of holding these guns at all hazards and of keeping them in full play. Undaunted by the masses of the foe hurled against him, he clung to the ground, and poured in double-shotted canister and rapid rounds of musketry until the enemy's lines were broken and driven in confusion. Again and again they returned to the contest with fresh troops and with renewed zeal; but no valor could withstand the shock of Ferrero's column, and the enemy finally retired, leaving the Union lines intact and the trains safe. Ferrero, with the Twenty-first Massachusetts, now moved off, and had become separated from the rest of his brigade. The command of the two remaining regiments devolved on Colonel Hartranft.
Retiring across Bull Run, the two regiments filed into the fields to the right of the pike, and bivouacked for the night. In the morning they moved on to Centreville, and rejoined the army. It was soon after discovered that the Confeder- ates were in motion to strike the Union column by a movement upon its right and cut off its re- treat. Reno's corps was immediately put in motion, with the cavalry in advance, and was soon joined by Stevens and Kearny. Hartranft had the rear of the column, and was moving with two batteries, though under no orders to support them, when he suddenly found himself confronting the enemy. The two armies were moving on divergent roads, and the lines were here first struck. Seeing that these batteries were in peril, he instantly ordered them into a commanding position on the left of the road,
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and drove back the foc. It was nightfall, and a terrible thunder-storm prevailed ; but Kear- ny and Stevens and Reno, three impetuous leaders, immediately forming, moved upon the foe, and fought in the darkness. They knew nothing of his strength and little of the ground, and contended to a great disadvantage; but the enemy was beaten back, which was the princi- pal point, though Kearny and Stevens both yielded up their lives.
At his own request, Pope was now relieved of the command of the army, and MeClellan was restored. On the 3rd of September the Ninth Corps moved through Washington, and on the 11th reached New Market, on the Maryland campaign. The passage of the Monocacy was not disputed. On the 12th the command en- tered Frederick, and had a brisk skirmish with the cavalry, which was covering the withdrawal of the Confederate army, now concentrating in the passes of the South Mountain, which it was determined to hold. Before reaching the moun- tain Ferrero's brigade moved by a country road leading up to the summit on the left of the Sharpsburg pike. Upon encountering the ene- my's lines the Seventeenth Michigan, a new regi- ment, full of enthusiasm, but little schooled in those cardinal virtues of the soldier imparted by veteran discipline, made a most gallant charge diagonally across the road from left to right, in the face of the murderous fire, which swept the ranks at every step, and soon disappeared in the woods beyond. General Reno coming up soon after, and supposing that his regiment had es- tablished a line in the woods and was holding the ground it had so gallantly won, ordered Colonel Hartranft to lead his regiment across the open field in the rear of the supposed line, and close up to the edge of the woods. While the regiment was thus moving, and was stretched out upon the march unsuspicious of danger, the enemy suddenly opened upon it from the wood a most withering fire. The Seventeenth Michigan had advanced and driven the enemy, but had neglected to hold its advan- tage, and the confederates returning, had await- ed until the Fifty-first was upon their bayonet- ends, when they deliberately opened fire. The column was instantly drawn under cover of the
wall that flanks the road, and soon after was deployed to the left of the road, under a fence that stretches at right angles to it. Fire was immediately opened upon the enemy, which was kept up until the ammunition was spent, when it was relieved by the Fifty-first New York, Colonel Potter, lying in close supporting dis- tance. Returning again to the contest, fire was continued until the enemy, finding himself hard pressed on all sides and his position rendered insecure, fled under cover of darkness, and in the morning the columns advanced without op- position. General Reno was killed early in the contest.
The battle of Antietam opened on the after- noon of the 16th of September, General Hooker crossing Antietam Creek and attacking the ene- my's left with great impetuosity and the most triumphant success, and was followed up on the morning of the 17th with even greater impetu- osity by the commands of Mansfield and Sum- ner. In the mean time the left and centre of the Union line, stretching away towards the Potomac on the left bank of the creek, re- mained quiet spectators of the desperate en- counter on the right. At nine o'clock on the morning of the 17th, when the struggle upon the right had been four hours in progress, Gen- eral Cox, in command of the Ninth Army Corps since the fall of Reno, was ordered to advance and carry the stone bridge on the extreme left of the line, firmly held by the enemy. "The bridge itself is a stone structure of three arches, with stone parapet above, this parapet to some extent flanking the approach to the bridge at either end. The valley in which the stream runs is quite narrow, the steep slope on the right bank approaching to the water's edge. In this slope the road-way is scarped, running both ways from the bridge and passing to the higher land above by ascending through ra- vines above and below, the upper ravine being some six hundred yards above the bridge, the town about half that distance below. On the hill-side immediately above the bridge was a strong stone fence running parallel to the stream ; the turns of the road-way were covered by rifle-pits and breast-works made of rails and stone, all of which defenses, as well as the woods
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which covered the slope, were filled with the enemy's infantry and sharpshooters. Besides the infantry defenses, batteries were placed to enfilade the bridge and all its approaches."! Against this position, strong by nature, rendered doubly strong by art, the Eleventh Connecticut and Crook's brigade, supported by Sturgis' di- vision, were ordered to the assault. As this force advanced up the open valley by the road which leads along the river-bank to the bridge, it was exposed to so warm a fire from the oppo- site heights, alive with the enemy, that it was forced to halt and reply. Sturgis' troops reached the head of the bridge, and the Second Maryland and the Sixth New Hampshire charged at double-quick with fixed bayonets ; but the concentrated fire of the enemy upon it forced them to fall back. After repeated efforts these regiments were withdrawn. Burnside, nettled at the failure of this attempt and the consequent delay of his columns, and knowing full well in whom he could trust, ordered for- ward the Fifty-first. General Ferrero, dashing up to the regiment, said, " General Burnside orders the Fifty-first Pennsylvania to storm the bridge." Hartranft, avoiding the road by the river-bank, led his men in rear of the heights overlooking the river until he arrived opposite the bridge, when he moved boldly down the slope for the crossing. The instant his men came into the open ground in the valley they received a withering fire from the enemy's well- posted infantry, and many fell. A fence skirt- ing the road proved a serious impediment, and in crossing it the men were particularly exposed. Unheeding the enemy's bullets or the obstruc- tion by the way, the column moved forward with a determined front, and made straight for the bridge. As they entered, a storm of mis- siles swept it, but no danger could stay that tide of living valor. Hartranft, who led the way, paused in the midst, and was hastening on the rear of his column when he was joined by Colonel Potter, with the gallant. Fifty-fira New York. With a shout that rang out above the noise of the battle the two columns rushed for-
'General Cox's Official Report, Moore's " Rebellion. Record," Does, vol. v. p. 454 - 455.
ward, and were soon firmly established on the right bank. The bridge was carried !
A regiment was quickly advanced, and took position on the heights commanding the bridge and its approaches, driving out the enemy and rendering the crossing for infantry secure. The whole corps now advanced rapidly, took position on the heights above the bridge, and immediately advanced to the attack. The Fifty-first was posted on the second range of hills overlooking the creek, some distance be- low the bridge. Here it was soon hotly en- gaged with the enemy under cover of a stone wall and in a cornfield on its left. Its ammu- nition was soon exhausted, and a fresh supply failing to arrive as ordered, the men held their position with the bayonet until relief came. But all this struggle and costly sacrifice was vain. The enemy, relieved by the slackening of the battle on the left and the arrival of a fresh corps from Harper's Ferry, was enabled to concentrate an overwhelming force upon this single corps, and it was forced to yield. The loss of the regiment was one hundred and twenty-five. Among the killed was Lieutenant- Colonel Bell, a most vigilant officer and most estimable man, and Lieutenant Jacob G. Beaver, of Company II. Of the wounded were Adju- tant Shorkly and Lieutenant Lynch, also of Company H. Upon the fall of Lieutenant- Colonel Bell, Major Schall was promoted to fill the vacancy, and Captain William J. Bolton, of Company A, was promoted to major.
Moving leisurely from the field of Antietam, the army crossed and again proceeded to the Rappahannock. General Burnside, now in chief command, determined to cross the river at Fredericksburg and seek the foe beyond. Much delay was experienced in bringing up the pontoons, and when they were at length at hand, the enemy had concentrated in his immediate front, and stood ready to dispute the passage and contest the ground on the impregnable heights beyond. General Wilcox was now in command of the Ninth Corps, and on the after- noon of the 13th of December, the day ou which the troops under Franklin had attacked on the left, it crossed the river upon the pon- oons in front of the town, and advanced by
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the road leading to the left towards the heights. At a point intermediate between the heights and the town the brigade, consisting of five regiments, under command of General Ferrero, was deployed to right and left under partial rover. Upon emerging from the town the troops were at once met by the enemy's fire. A steady fire was returned, but with little effect, his lines lying close and securely behind his en- trenchments. A lime-kiln marks the position where the brigade was deployed, whence it ad- vanced gallantly, in face of a murderous fire, to a position on the left of the line occupied by the Second Corps. On the evening of the 14th, Sunday, one regiment, the Eleventh New Hampshire, was ordered forward on picket, and was hardly in position when Colonel Hart- ranft received orders to proceed with the re- maining four regiments and relieve a division upon the skirmish line. On passing the neighborhood of a hospital some entrenching tools were discovered scattered about, and the men were ordered to take them forward. Ar- riving upon the line, they were directed to throw up a breast-work for their protection. This they at first refused to do, digging not having at this time become fashionable. The command was renewed and the men fell to work, and when they began to see the fruits of their labor, they prosecuted it with a will, and by morning of Monday had a good line of works formed. This was the first experience of digging by the Fifty-first. Here the line was under a fierce infantry and artillery fire, and the men were obliged to hug closely their cover. But the enemy manifested no disposition to attack, and after remaining in position until the morning of Tuesday the brigade was with- drawn, and recrossed the river upon the pon- toons, which were soon after taken up. The advantages in this engagement were all on the side of the enemy, the attacks in front of the town proving futile; but nevertheless the his- tory of the war furnishes few instances where the mettle of the troops was more severely tested than in the blows aimed at the fastnesses of those frowning heights. The loss to the regiment was twelve killed and seventy-four wounded.
On the 25th of March, 1863, the regiment. was ordered to Fortress Monroe, where it joined the brigade, now consisting of the Fifty-first Pennsylvania, Fifty-first New York, Twenty- first Massachusetts and the Eleventh New Hamp- shire, and thence proceeded with two divisions of the Ninth Corps to Kentucky. At Cincin- nati General Burnside met the troops, welcom- ing them to his new department and encourag- ing them to deeds of patriotic devotion. The regiment moved by rail to Paris, and was posted successively at Winchester, Lancaster, Crab Orchard and Stanford, principally engaged in holding the interior of the State against the in- vasions of the raiders Wheeler, Morgan and Pegramı.
From Kentucky the corps, under the com- mand of General Parke, was ordered to the support of General Grant at Vicksburg. The Fifty-first broke camp on the 4th of June, and arrived in the rear of the great stronghold of the Mississippi on the 14th. Its camp was es- tablished in Mill Dale, where little of interest occurred until the 23d, when it was detailed to dig rifle-pits and cut away the woods for the protection of the rear against a Confederate army under Johnston, now assuming a threatening attitude. Working-parties were relieved every two hours, and the duty was diligently prosecu- ted until miles of pits and field-works were constructed and whole forests slashed away. On the morning of the 29th the division was ordered to Oak Bridge, where it relieved a portion of MePherson's corps, and was again employed in fortifying. At ten o'clock on the morning of the 4th of July came intelligence of the fall of Vicksburg, and with it twenty-one bags of mail matter for the division, of not less interest, for the moment, than the surrender.
The regiment accompanied Sherman in his campaign to Jackson, and on the 11th .arrived upon the enemy's front. It was immediately placed in position on the left of the line in sup- port of the Second Michigan, Colonel Hum- phrey. At cight o'clock on the morning of the 12th a heavy cannonade was opened on both sides which was kept up during the entire day, the regiment suffering considerable loss. During the night the men were busy digging rifle-
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pits, at many points within a few yards of the Confederate sentries. On the morning of the 1 4th, after three days and two nights of con- stant skirmishing and fatigue duty, the regi- ment was relieved and withdrawn to the rear of the Insane Asylum. On the 15th detachments from several regiments, embracing two com- panies (F and HI) of the Fifty-first, all under the command of Major Wright, of the Fifty- first New York, were sent to reconnoitre the left as far as the Pearl River, and ascertain if a crossing could be effected. By accident the command struck the river opposite to the point where the enemy's trains and reserved artillery were parked. The appearance of our troops in this quarter was reported to Johnston, who, supposing it to be a demonstration in force, and fearing for the safety of his army, at once com- menced a retreat.1 The city was occupied on the 18th, the regiment stacking arms in front of the State-House. Remaining two or three days to complete the work of destruction, Sher- man marched back to Vicksburg.
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