USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of the 127th regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers > Part 12
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The few days' stay in Camp Welles, although the first in the life of the regiment near the front, made no partic- ular impress upon the men, because of its brevity and comparative quiet; so that when the orders came to "strike tents," the boys felt that it was a relief, although they knew not where they were marching, and expected to go with McClellan to participate in the pending great battles, which culminated at Antietam and Short Moun- tain.
CAMP BOAS.
Colonel Jennings selected the knoll of a hill to the right of Fort Ethan Allen, immediately opposite division head- quarters, for the new camp, and named it "Camp Boas," in compliment to his patriotic uncle, Colonel F. K. Boas, of Harrisburg. He laid out the camp in one of the most uninviting places in that entire neighborhood, in close proximity to Chain Bridge; and yet, after the camp was formed, the good judgment of the Colonel was developed, and it was made an exceedingly attractive place, and was, without exception, the most delightful camp of the regiment during its entire term of service. The grounds sloped in three directions, but mostly south, towards General Abercrombie's headquarters, only distant
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R L
Corp
On the left. Fort Ethan Allen.
On the 11th of December, 1.62, the Third Brigade placed and crossed the pontoot On the Sth of December. 1862, the Third Brigade consisted of 7th Michigan, 19th The First Brigade consisted of 127th Regiment, P. V., 27th Connectient. 24th a
The house in front, don't Abererol
LINE OFFICERS.
Co, B.
J. Wesley Awl, Capt. Albert J. Fager, 1st Lient. William MeCarral. 2d Lient. Robert F. Bell, 1st Sorgt.
Co. G.
John J. Ball. Capt. Geo. Ilynicka, 1st Lieut. Hudson Donny. 2d Lient. Saml. Eberly, 1st Sorgt.
Co. K.
William Fox, Captain. Jos. W. Dougherty, Ist Lient. David S. Long, 2d Lient. Daniel Downey, Ist Sorgt.
Co. E.
I. L. Greenawalt, Capt. W. P. Carmany, 1st Lieut. Ios. A. Bowman, 2d Lieut. Jacob J. Stein, 1st Sergt.
Co. H.
John K. Shott, Capt. Isaiah Willis. 1st Lient. James R. Shreiner, 28 Lient. J. R. Knisley, Ist Sorgt,
Field Officers-Colonel. Wm. W. Jennings; Lieutenant-Colonel, IL. C. All Major. Charles H. Small; Commissary Sergeant. Clement B. Care: Quartermast Staff Officers-Adjutant. A. L Chayne; Quartermaster, John F. Orth; Surge
Hospital.
. M.
Surgeonl.
1.t .- Col.
127th Regiment, P. V., on Dress
%
Majt.
Major.
(laplai.1.
Co. C.
James Henderson, Capt. William R. Orth. 1st Lient. Charles D. Wise, 2d Liont. David Ilummel, 1st Sorgt.
Co. I.
C. A. Nissley, Capt. J. S. Shoemaker, 1st Lient. Jerome W. Henry, 28 Tient. Charles G. Miller. Ist Sorgt.
Co. D.
James B. Keene, Cant. Wm. B. Osman. 1st Lieut. Marcus Novinger. 24 Lient. Jautther Fisher. 1st Sorgt.
Co. F.
WE II. II. Inmmel. Cant. I T. Morgan. Ist Lient. Thus. G. Sample, 23 Lient. Andrew Santo, Ist Seret.
Co. A.
I. Asbury Awl, Capt. John S. Pitzer. 1st Lient John T. Eusminger, 2d Lient. Thos. F. Maloney. Ist Sorgt.
By order of Goal. Waal, Co. A was detached for provo duty.
ergeant. D. Campbell: Hospital Stewart, W. P. Oglesby.
Col.
ade, Camp Boas, Va., September, 1862.
; Major, Jeremiah Rohrer.
E. IL Horner; Assistant Surgeop, Jacob H. Vasfine; Chaplain, John C. Gregg: Sergeant
's Headquarters.
Sth New Jersey, and 127th New York: Abercrombie's Division, Fort Ethan Allen, Va.
1 20th Massachusetts, 42d (Tammany) and 79th New York, and 127th Regiment. P. V.
Fredericksburg, Va. Third Brigade, 2d Division. 2d Corps, Army of the Potomar.
Fort Marcy in front.
dge, Trefoil.
:. K PUBLIC LIBRARY 1
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R L
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I27TH REGIMENT, P. V.
about three hundred yards, and in full view. There was no camp in the near neighborhood of the Fort which was as attractive, or commanded the same general attention. The streets were laid out with mathematical precision ; there was a grand parade ground, with a flag staff in the center. The eminence commanded a splendid view of the country for many miles around ; it was a camp of natural drainage, beautified by the pride of the officers and men ; and there was probably no camp during the entire term of service of the regiment which promised more pleasant associations, and stamped themselves so strongly upon the memory. As it was only six miles distant from Washing- ton, it was visited by friends of the officers and men of the regiment, and was honored among the rest, with a visit from the Secretary of War, who felt a pride in the regiment from his own county, and who dined quietly with the Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel. His son, Ma- jor Brua Cameron, U. S. Paymaster, visited the camp a number of times, and declared that he felt more at home in this camp than with any other regiment.
The associations of the officers at the Fort, as well as division headquarters, made it exceedingly pleasant for the officers of the regiment, and here both officers and men lived in more luxurious style than in any of the other camps. This camp was visited by a great many ladies, as it always presented a clean, neat and attractive appear- ance, impressing itself favorably upon its many visitors. Considerable taste had been displayed in beautifying both headquarters and the quarters of the field officers, staff and line officers. It was a very high compliment to the regiment that it was selected from among upwards of one hundred new regiments, as the one best fitted for the care- ful and vigilant duty required in guarding an avenue into
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MEMORIAL HISTORY
Virginia, and in performing picket duty, with Stuart's Cavalry in the front.
The requirements of the regiment while in Camp Boas were to guard Chain Bridge; man Fort Ethan Allen, (with its sixty-four-pounders) in emergencies, perform picket duty from Langley to the Potomac River ; dig rifle pits and entrenchments; devoting all possible time each day to squad, company, regimental and brigade drill. As the 127th Regiment was composed of intelligent men, and was well officered, during its stay in this camp it became, by its daily practice and strict discipline, a thoroughly well drilled regiment. Many of the officers and men saw service in the first call for troops ; others were proficient in company drill as home guards, and this experience, with the daily drill practice, produced satisfactory results. Both the Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel were first lieu- tenants, and the captain of Company "A" was an adju- tant, the captain of Company "B" a second lieutenant, in the three months' service, while the captain of Company "K" was a conscript in the Confederate army. There was a school at headquarters for officers almost every night. With the instructions in the school and the regular daily practice in drill, the 127th Regiment was considered pro- ficient in company, battalion, regimental and brigade drill before it left this camp, and well fitted for active field service.
The regimental parade was in full view of division headquarters, and the regiment was a favorite with Gen- eral Abercrombie. He frequently sat in front of his head- quarters watching the field officers take off dress parade. There were few regiments in the service of its size-nine hundred men of nine companies-that could compare with it. One day the colonel of the 127th New York Regiment,
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127TH REGIMENT, P. V.
and Colonel Jennings met at General Abercrombie's head- quarters, when the question was put to Colonel Jennings, "In what time can you form dress parade?" Without hesitation, Colonel Jennings replied, "In two minutes." The Colonel of the 127th New York said, "I'll bet you a box of cigars that you can't do it." "All right," said Colonel Jennings, who, on his return to the regiment in- structed the captains of each company to be ready to double-quick punctually at the first tap of the drum. The regiment formed on Captain Henderson's color company, and when the adjutant called out "guides post," the time was found to be one minute and thirty seconds. This was a surprise to the New York Colonel, and the bet was won by thirty seconds, to the admiration of division headquar- ters, and the discomfiture of the New York Colonel.
The regiment remained in Camp Boas upwards of two months, and every one connected with the regiment be- came very much attached to this camp. Photographs were taken, and plates made of this delightful camp, from which copies were made and liberally distributed, and these are now preserved as souvenirs of the war.
CAMP JENNINGS.
For a change, sanitary reasons, and probably with some expectation that the regiment would remain in winter quarters in the defences of Washington, a new locality was selected on Miner's Hill, about three miles south of Fort Ethan Allen, where the regiment marched on the 17th of October, 1862. This camp was named by the ad- jutant in honor of the Colonel, "Camp Jennings."
For some reason or other, this camp was very short k
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MEMORIAL HISTORY
lived ; and after a stay of only four days, it was concluded to form a new camp near Fort Ethan Allen.
But little preparation was made for permanency, and there was nothing particularly attractive about this camp to stamp recollections of it upon the memory of those who occupied it. It was altogether probable that General Ab- ercrombie preferred having this regiment near his head- quarters, as he was fond of saying that he could always depend upon its officers and men. He had experience with other officers and other regiments, but they did not seem to come up to his expectations, and he openly ex- pressed a decided preference for the 127th Pennsylvania Regiment, which moved and encamped about a mile near- er Fort Ethan Allen.
CAMP DAUPHIN.
This camp was named by Colonel Jennings, "Camp Dauphin," in honor of the county home of the great ma- jority of the regiment. It was pleasantly located in a young peach orchard, on level, or slightly sloping ground, and was an ideal spot. Both officers and men got the im- pression that this would be a permanent camp for the win- ter, and they immediately fell to work to build spacious log cabins, and were on a fair way to make this a very comfortable and attractive, as well as a desirable camp.
The Colonel and the Lieutenant-Colonel contented themselves in their wall tents, while the Major, the Adju- tant and the Quartermaster went to Washington and se- cured lumber with which they built commodious and rath- er pretentious winter quarters. When completed, and hearing these officers loudly boast of their "palatial" quar-
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127TH REGIMENT, P. V.
ters, the Lieutenant-Colonel paid them an inspection visit. After looking them over, both on the outside, and inside, he said, "Major you seem quite satisfied, and even proud of your quarters : I will bet you a big apple that you have a better pig-sty at home for your porkers than this shanty." The Major admitted the fact, and refused to take the bet, and yet he was happy with such shelter.
It was here that the colors were officially presented to the regiment.
The sudden and hasty departure of the regiment for the front, without State colors, while awkward, could not be avoided. Governor Curtin made it his duty to present officially each regiment with a superb silk flag, bearing the coat-of-arms of the Commonwealth. He was always happy in the brilliancy of those presentation speeches, which were usually made before the regiment left the State, and mostly in camp. Even when regiments were ordered off before their colors were ready, he would fol- low them up and present them, in person, on the march, in camp, or on the field.
By reason of the great pressure of official duties, he was unable to go to Virginia in October, when the stand of colors was ready, to present them to the 127th Regiment, so he sent Colonel Thomas, one of his aides, to represent him. Without notice, he appeared in Camp Dauphin on the 22nd of October, with the standard, taking the regi- ment, and particularly the field officers, by surprise. Many of the men were on picket, while a strong detachment was off on fatigue duty ; nevertheless those in camp were has- tily called together and formed in dress parade, and at II a. m. were formed in a hollow square, facing inward. Colonel Thomas was introduced by Colonel Jennings, and said in part : "I have a special message for you, from His
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MEMORIAL HISTORY
Excellency, the Governor of Pennsylvania, that he deeply regrets his inability to perform, in person, the ceremony of presenting to you the stand of colors provided by the Legislature; particularly so, as he feels much interest in the Dauphin county regiment, and would have been most happy to pay you an official visit, greet you and your offi- cers in person, in your pleasant camp, named after your native county. He delegated me to present to you in the name of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, those em- blems of both National and State authority, which he feels confident that you will safely guard, and honor them as worthily representing the Keystone State, in the group of States, in the rigid enforcement of law and order, and the supremacy of the Nation.
"With the Governor's message and good will, and all good wishes to you, his expectations are for your success, with honor upon the battlefields. I present these im- maculate and beautiful colors to you, and in the name of the great State which you now represent, I bid you carry them, cling to them, guard them, march under them to battle with the enemy ; protect them, and never surrender them to the foes of your country, or permit them to be captured, or polluted by traitorous hands. They repre- sent your loyal and great home State; and the govern- ment of the Nation. With full confidence in your loyalty, your patriotism, your gallantry and your honor as citizen soldiers, I confide these emblems of State sovereignty and National supremacy to your faithful keeping. Your dear old State will watch your movements with anxiety, your battle record with interest, and will rejoice with you; and if weep she must, she will weep in sympathy with you; but she confidently trusts to your power, and in your honor, in the fond hope that you will return with these
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I27TH REGIMENT, P. V.
colors to your native State, crowned with the laurels of victory, and with martial glory."
The band played the Star Spangled Banner, and the regiment gave three cheers for Governor Curtin, and three cheers for his representative, Colonel Thomas.
The State flag is of dark blue silk, fringed with yellow silk. The coat-of-arms of Pennsylvania is surrounded by thirty-four stars, and occupies the prominent center posi- tion. On a red band, scrolled at each end in gilt letters are the words, "127th Regiment, Penna. Vols." This flag which cost $157.00, is of the best material, and of superb finish.
Colonel Jennings received the flag, and said, "Lieuten- ant-Colonel Alleman will speak for me, and for the regi- ment."
Lieutenant-Colonel Alleman responded : "When we left Camp Curtin, we felt that there was something wanting ; but we well knew that the great war Governor of Pennsyl- vania could be confidently relied on to make that some- thing good, and that too in good time. We left our peace- ful avocations and our happy homes, with the dear, dear ones we love so well, at the call of our country, in her peril, and in her extremity, to assist in compelling the res- toration of those wrested States to their proper places in the bond of Union. We are here to do our duty and faithfully obey orders. We have voluntarily and cheer- fully offered ourselves as sacrifices upon the altar of our country ; and if our blood is required to appease the tur- bulence of treason, we are both willing and ready to pour it out as a libation, that our country may profit by those sacrifices in a restored Union, with all of those rebellious sister States returned, regenerated, and in full communion with the loyal States of the North.
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MEMORIAL HISTORY
"In the name of Colonel Jennings, I accept, for the regi- ment, this beautiful stand of colors, which represent the integrity of the Nation, and the sovereignty of our great Commonwealth. The azure banner with the escutcheon of the State of Pennsylvania emblazoned upon it, will be a constant reminder to us of the State motto which means so much, and guarantees the word of honor spoken by its first and greatest citizen. The other lovely and proud emblem of our nationality is typical of national power in the past ; an assurance for the present, and a guarantee for the future. These alternating folds represent sacri- fice and purity,-are commemorative of the thirteen origi- nal colonies; emblematic of the struggle and the bond of unity ; while the clustered galaxy of glittering stars sym- bolize the sovereign States, clothed with authority and ad- mitted into the Union, forming one compact whole, unit- ed, cemented and enshrined; one and inseparable! now and forever, as one great, free and independent Nation. All deference and all honor to the United States flag, which will be our mascot !
"Under these beautiful emblems of National honor and State sovereignty, we have buckled on our armor to com- pel the restoration to the Union of all the States, at any and every sacrifice. With these treasured flags floating over us, we will wield the sword, use the musket, and if nec- essary employ the bayonet in enforcing submission to the supremacy of the Government of the United States. These flying colors will be our constant reminder of our honor to our State, and our duty to the Nation. They will be our inspiration, our faith, and our baptism. Yes, we will guard, protect and defend them with our sacred honors, and with our lives.
"Tell Governor Curtin that one and all of the members
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127TH REGIMENT, P. V.
of the 'Dauphin County Regiment' will be true to their solemn oaths of allegiance, true to their honor as citizens of the State, and of the Nation, and that they are devoted to the faithful performance of their duty as soldiers in up- holding and maintaining the integrity of the Nation at all hazards, and regardless of consequences, and that they will not permit the proud escutcheon of the great Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania to be sullied, or tainted with dishonor. As Pennsylvanians we are justly proud of our State; but as American citizens, and volunteer soldiers of the United States Army, we are prouder yet of our citi- zenship of the great Republic of free speech, free schools and free men, which a merciful and just God will not per- mit to be permanently disrupted, and perish from the face of the earth."
The regiment gave three cheers for Colonel Alleman, . and three times three cheers for the Union, and the band played "Yankee Doodle" and "America."
After a few weeks, when the log cabins presented a cosy and homelike appearance, the order come on the 30th of November to move to the front, and the men commenc- ed growling and vowing that they would never make an- other attempt at trusted permanency; for just when they were becoming comfortable, after hard labor in lugging logs and building their new homes, they were compelled to leave them amidst the cold blasts of winter, for im- promptu quarters, and go on a march to the north bank of the Rappahannock.
The march through Maryland and into Virginia in a terrific snow storm, with the thermometer down to about zero, without wood to build fires, compelling both men and officers to bivouac, and march through the snow down to the Rappahannock, is one of the unpleasant memories of
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our advance to the changing front. It was on this march that the coveted refuge of the field officers occupy- ing a deserted pig-pen for their quarters, and their delight in having this miserable hut to shield them from the in- clement weather, is one of the varied memories treasured up. But through this terrible snow storm and intensely cold weather they reached the north bank of the Rappa- hannock opposite Fredericksburg, pretty well hardened in their early life as soldiers.
CAMP ALLEMAN.
The next camp was pitched in what was once a dense wood, but with all the trees cut for miles around, leaving nothing but thick undergrowth, and stumps about three and four feet high, in one of the most forbidding and des- olate regions of Virginia, with the village of Falmouth about a mile and a half to the south, in full view of the Rappahannock river, the city of Fredericksburg and the formidable Confederate camps on Marie's Heights.
The new camp was laid out and christened by Adjutant Chayne, in honor of the lieutenant-colonel, "Camp Alle- man." Time, and the necessity of some voluntary impro- vised comfort, made this a noted camp ; and here the regi- ment lived longer than in any other camp during the en- tire term of service. The weather, for Virginia, was in- tensely cold, and in order to reach some degree of com- fort, the boys, while out on picket duty, discovered a south- ern Methodist church a few miles distant, which they ap- propriated because the congregation were secessionists, and the late pastor deserted it for a chaplaincy in the Con- federate Army. They tore it down brick by brick, carry-
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I27TH REGIMENT, P. V.
ing those bricks to camp and utilizing them for chimneys, which they built in or at the end of their tents ; and in lay- ing small pavements in front of their quarters to protect them from the Virginia mud of memorable sticking qual- ity. In those chimneys, which they speedily erected, com- modious fire-places were built, so that the tents became measurably comfortable, notwithstanding the frigid in- tensity of the weather during the winter of '62 and '63 in old Virginia. From this camp the regiment marched to Fredericksburg and had their baptism of fire. On the retreat, the regiment returned to this camp and remained until the latter end of April, frequently under marching orders-notably, with "Burnside stuck in the mud" expe- ditions, performing picket duty, acting as scouts, and al- ways in readiness for the projected attack on Lee's army. Although the stay in Camp Alleman was somewhat pro- tracted, life in it was to a degree monotonous. The regi- ment finally broke camp on the 27th day of April, 1863, marched to Falmouth, in readiness to cross the Rappa- hannock to join Hooker in dislodging General Lee.
CAMP ROHRER.
On leaving the old camp, which was the extreme right of army encampments, the regiment bid farewell to Camp Alleman, although in expectation of returning after the pending battle. The regiment bivouacked in Falmouth and established a temporary camp, which was named after the Major, "Camp Rohrer." The initiation of this camp made an impression upon each and every officer and man of the regiment, for rank made no difference, as each and all were compelled to lie upon the hard ground the first night
.
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MEMORIAL HISTORY
without any shelter, and in the morning they found them- selves covered with several inches of new snow. Soldier- like, they made the best of the situation and got all of the enjoyment out of this camp that was possible. It only lasted five days, and from this camp, the regiment, on the third day of May, recrossed the Rappahannock, re-entered Fredericksburg, marched out to and over the old battle- field of Fredericksburg, on and over Marie's Heights, rendering efficient service in the great battle of Chancel- lorsville.
The regiment returned to Fredericksburg, but were finally in turn driven out by the enemy, and under cover of a dense fog recrossed the pontoon to the north bank of the Rappahannock back to the Lacey House. Here the regiment formed a new camp, which was named "Camp J. Wesley Awl," in honor of the captain of Company "B."
CAMP J. WESLEY AWL.
Little or no effort was made for either beautifying this camp or making it even comfortable, as the term of ser- vice of the regiment had expired, and it was waiting or- ders from headquarters for either fighting duty or a re- turn home. The order for discharge came in about a week, and when the regiment broke camp, it was the last camp of the regiment of its own formation. The regi- ment marched gladly and joyously to Aquia Creek, sing- ing "Home, Sweet Home;" was transported up the Poto- mac, reached Washington, was officially received at York, and soon returned to Camp Curtin, where it was mustered out of service-perhaps a little prematurely, as the sequel proved.
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The daring invasion of the State by Lee and his army made it the patriotic duty of those honorably discharged veterans to defend the integrity of their native common- wealth, and to utilize their well-trained experience in up- holding the honor of the general government. The three ex-field officers, as a committee, waited on Governor Cur- tin and tendered the united services of each and every sur- viving officer and man of the old 127th Regiment, to the State of Pennsylvania, to assist in repelling Lee's invas- ion. They not only tendered their services, but strongly urged tipon the Governor the importance of its immediate acceptance, and further stipulated to recruit the decimated ranks with desirable volunteers without unnecessary de- lay. The Governor refused the offer, and doubtless greatly erred in judgment in doing so, for the old organi- zation, with its long, well-tried and successful experience, was worth a dozen of green regiments for immediate fighting. To the credit of those unselfish patriots let it be known, and not forgotten, that almost to a man they re- entered the military service in other organizations, or re- cruited new regiments, and did their duty as good soldiers and loyal patriots, in not only assisting their comrades-in- arms, already in the field, in driving out the invading hordes from the sacred soil of the Keystone State; but many of them re-entered the United States service and did valiant duty as soldiers till the end of the great Civil War.
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