USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of the 127th regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers > Part 13
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CHAPTER VI.
M AJOR ROHRER was assigned to prepare a chap- ter on the part taken by the 127th Regiment in the celebrated engagement, historically desig- nated the "Battle of Chancellorsville ;" and Lieu- tenant-Colonel Alleman having prepared a general ac- count of that battle, the two sketches were found suscep- tible of consolidation.
BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE.
Two of the bloodiest battles of the middle period of the great Civil War were stubbornly fought at Fredericks- burg and Chancellorsville ; in both of which great battles the 127th Pennsylvania Regiment took a prominent part, and distinguished itself.
The memorable battle of Chancellorsville was fought during the first three days of May, 1863. General Hooker commanded the Federal Army, numbering 130,000 troops ; while General Lee reported the Confederate forces under his command at but 62,000, which were, since the great battle in December, entrenched behind Fredericks- burg.
General Hooker's plan of battle was a bold, offensive movement across the Rappahannock, at two points, about ten miles apart, turning the flanks of the enemy, and crushing them between two fires. It was Napoleonic in conception, but in execution it turned out to be a sad and disastrous failure ; if not a series of stupendous blunders,
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caused by detached actions and cross-purposes, resulting, to some extent, from want of proper support by corps commanders, and culminating, at the critical hour, in the commander's disability, and practically leaving the army without a head.
General Hooker crossed the river at Kelly's Ford, with the right wing of the army, comprising the 5th, IIth and 12th Army Corps, commanded respectively by Generals Meade, Howard and Slocum, on the 29th of April, 1863; leaving General Couch with the Ist and 3rd Divisions of the 2nd Army Corps to cover Bank's Ford; while a bri- gade and battery of artillery were placed at United States Ford to facilitate the crossing.
The left wing of the army, as originally planned, com- prising the Ist, 3rd and 6th corps, commanded respec- tively by Generals Reynolds, Sickles and Sedgwick, was ordered to cross the river below Fredericksburg, and await results of the attack of the right wing of the army, and of orders from the General-in-chief. Afterwards, however, the Ist and 3rd Corps were withdrawn, and ordered to join the right wing of the army, leaving General Sedg- wick, with the 6th corps, supported by the 2nd Division of the 2nd Army Corps, to deal with the enemy in the vicinity of Fredericksburg.
The 2nd Division of the 2nd Army Corps, com- manded by General Gibbon, was left at Falmouth, to make an independent crossing at Fredericksburg, upon an agreed signal to be given, and then join General Sedg- wick.
Th 127th Regiment broke camp on the 27th of April, and with six days' cooked rations in their haversacks, and ninety rounds of ammunition, bivouacked at Falmouth. ready to march at a moment's notice.
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During the night there was a snow storm, and on the following morning the regiment, including both officers and men, found themselves, on awakening, covered with a blanket of four inches of snow. The expected marching orders were not received, and on the prospect of remain- ing here awhile, a camp was formed, and in honor of the Major, was named "Camp Rohrer."
On the morning of the 2nd of May, Lieutenant-Colonel Alleman. who was detailed as General Officer of the picket line for the 2nd Division of the 2nd Army Corps : and Major Rohrer, who was detailed as commandant of the line, both reported to General Gibbon for instructions.
The General particularly impressed upon them the im- portance of their detail, and the very great responsibility which he confided to their keeping. He then said, "The Ist and 3rd Divisions of the 2nd Army Corps went to the right, and our line here is very weak, and Gen- eral Lee knows it ; so both of you will be held responsible if you allow yourselves to be surprised ; and if it would re- sult in the capture of our stores at Falmouth Station and Acquia Creek, you will be held liable, and will certainly be shot." He then instructed the General Officer to go over the line twice during the day, and at least once after midnight, and instructed the commandant to go over the line continuously both day and night.
At Falmouth the river is comparatively shallow in some places in dry weather, being the head of tide water, and can sometimes be forded. The three brigades of the division were posted along the Rappahannock from the extreme left of the line, to the right, about six miles. Troops were passing to the right all day, and General Doubleday's division passed about noon. He had some new troops in his rear, and it being warm, they threw
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away their overcoats and blankets. As they had been sta- tioned about Washington, this was evidently their first march. The plain about the Lacey House was literally covered with thrown-away clothing and blankets. Old soldiers were too wise to do such a foolish thing, as ex- perience taught them to hold on to their belongings.
The Ist and 3rd Divisions moved to Bank's Ford, about four miles above. Everything passed off well on the picket line.
During the day strenuous efforts were made to throw a pontoon bridge across the river at Fredericksburg. The enemy was well fortified on the Heights, behind the city; while sharpshooters were strongly entrenched along the southern bank of the river, and kept up an incessant fire upon our men, who were engaged in building the pontoon bridge.
Lieutenant-Colonel Alleman took observations from the top of the Lacey House, and communicated direct with General Hooker on the right, and General Sedgwick on the left. In the evening he reported the absence of many camp fires, surmising the evacuation of the main body of the Confederate camps, and the withdrawal of the bulk of the enemy.
Later on, while riding along the picket line on the Rap- pahannock, he was overtaken by an aid-de-camp, with orders to report immediately to General Gibbon at division headquarters. On reporting, General Gibbon said, "I have sent for you, Colonel Alleman, to fill a very important gap. Two officers of rank in the construction of the pontoon bridge have been killed today,-you will be the third. I want you to take immediate charge, and expect the bridge to be completed by daylight tomorrow morning." The re- sponsibility was great, and gloomy as the proposition was,
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it was cheerfully received, and the Lieutenant-Colonel asked for detailed instructions, which were promptly given. He then requested a detail of three hundred men. "All right," said the General, "I will order a detail from the Philadelphia brigade." The Lieutenant-Colonel rode over to General Owen's headquarters, presented the order requiring 300 men for special duty. The General inquired the nature of the duty required. He then unhesitatingly said that he would gladly furnish the detail, when Colonel Alleman responded that he would prefer to have the men volunteer. The General then ordered out the brigade, and made a short, fervent speech to his men, introducing the Lieutenant-Colonel, who spoke briefly. "Boys, I want 300 volunteers for a "Forlorn Hope"! I am a total abstainer myself; but I promise you as much whiskey as you can drink-or at least as much as is good for you !" His ap- parent sacrifice of moral principle seemed justified in a merciful effort to deaden the sense of danger, where there was no chance either to defend or retaliate.
A previous detail had been made of three companies of the 127th Regiment, namely Company "D," Captain Keene ; Company "H," Captain Shott, and Company "K," Captain Nissley, to assist in putting down the pontoons.
Most of the men at once stepped out of the ranks, and the 300 were soon chosen, while the rejected volunteers were loud in their expressions of disappointment. A requi- sition was made on the commissariat for two barrels of whiskey, and the men were marched to the Rappahan- nock and placed in three reliefs. On the arrival of the whiskey the barrels were placed one on each side of the first pontoon. The Lieutenant-Colonel seizing an axe broke in the heads of the two barrels. The first relief was marched to the first pontoon, and ordered to fill their can-
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teens with whiskey. There was a strong rivalry for the first relief ; while the order to fill canteens was obeyed with amusing alacrity.
The bridge was completed by three o'clock in the morn- ing, although many of the men were fatally shot, some drowned, and many were wounded. The losses were great ; but the order was executed, and the bridge com- pleted before daylight. The Lieutenant-Colonel reported his success to General Gibbon, and an order was issued for the entire 2nd Division of the 2nd Army Corps to im- mediately cross the river for active duty against the enemy.
On reporting to General Gibbon, the successful pontoon bridge builder received his congratulations and thanks, and was at once tendered a position on his staff. This Colonel Alleman declined, preferring to rejoin his own regiment and participate with it in the pending battle. Without delay he reported to his own regiment, and by daylight the 127th Regiment was on the march, and before sunrise, they crossed the pontoon bridge, and again en- tered the familiar city of Fredericksburg.
General Sedgwick, in reconnoitering, discovered a very considerable force of the enemy behind the breastworks, in the rear of Fredericksburg. It became necessary to dislodge them from their stronghold, which had been found impregnable at the battle of Fredericksburg. The enemy held a strong position at Marie's Heights, and for- tified themselves behind the deadly stone wall, which was so repeatedly assaulted without success, on the historic 13th of December, 1862.
General Sedgwick found it necessary to form a storm- ing party, which was divided into two columns, under the immediate command of General Newton. One column
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passed out the Plank Road, while the other marched out the Telegraph Road.
The 2nd Division of the 2nd Army Corps, com- manded by General Gibbon, in which the 127th Regiment held the extreme right, marched out through the west end of Fredericksburg, and up the slope, with the intention of flanking the enemy on the left. Out near the stone wall, Lieutenant-Colonel Alleman was struck by the rebound of a cannon ball, falling from his horse. The beast, evidently frightened, ran up the hill, and made a distinctive mark, and was plainly visible from the opposite side of the river.
Major Rohrer, on his return from the right of the line, met Quartermaster Orth, and both rode to the pontoon bridge. The Major not having been relieved as command- ant, and seeing the troops charging up the slope of Marie's Heights, recognized the dun horse of the Lieuten- ant-Colonel. Quartermaster Orth said, "Look there! Colo- nel Alleman fell off his horse, and the horse is running away." Major Rohrer then said, "I am not relieved from picket duty ; but you take my horse and I will join the regiment." He hurriedly crossed the pontoon bridge on foot, hastened to the right, near the river until opposite the 127th Regiment, then hurried straight up to his place and post in battle line. The cannon balls from the cele- brated Washington Battery, of New Orleans, flew thick, bouncing like gum balls all over the field. In front there was a stone wall; and from the slope up to the summit, two rifle pits, one above the other, well manned, on the summit or heights above, the artillery operated vigorously. A skirmish line was formed in charge of Lieutenant Knis- ley, of Company "H," which advanced in splendid forma- tion. In a short time Lieutenant Knisley was shot in the
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groin, and fell fatally wounded; but while lying on the ground he bravely waved his sword, urging his men on, regardless of his death wound and inability to further lead them.
When General Lee withdrew to confront General Hooker on his left at Chancellorsville, he left Early's Di- vision and Barkesdale's Brigade, comprising a force of about 10,000 men to hold Fredericksburg and Marie's Heights. This force, with the protection of the strong works, and supported by what was considered an abun- dance of artillery, was deemed sufficient to resist any at- tack which would likely be made by the remaining Union forces left by General Hooker.
The assaulting columns made repeated assaults, and finally, about II o'clock in the morning, succeeded in scal- ing the stone wall and driving the enemy in confusion be- fore tliem. The advantage was followed up, and the regi- ment with the vim of well-disciplined veterans, behaved splendidly.
The regiment manoeuvred as a feint, and about noon the 127th Regiment moved by the right flank up the river as if to turn the Confederate left. Their artillery on the hill limbered up and moved to our right to head us off. When they had unlimbered, and were ready for work, our regiment about-faced, and marched back to its old position. Then the enemy's artillery again limbered up and galloped at full speed to resume their former position, and about the time they were ready for hot service, the 127th Regiment again moved to the right, when the Con- federate artillery again galloped back to our right. This manoeuvring of ours was done repeatedly to keep the enemy from working their guns on the 6th Corps, who were forcing their way in the rear of the enemy.
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Two sections of a Rhode Island battery had taken posi- tion on the left of Company "B" of our regiment ; and up in front, some distance along the slope of the hill, near the Plank Road, they worked to great disadvantage, one wheel of the gun carriage being about one foot higher than the other wheel, apparently hanging on the side of the hill, firing on the flank of the enemy's artillery, and doing good work. Some of the enemy's guns were dis- abled, while the loss of the Rhode Island artillery, at this point, was eleven men and seventeen horses killed.
Again the 127th Regiment moved up, and took posses- sion of the heights. The battery of six pieces also moved up, and took position at right angles on our left and front, and entertained the enemy's battery in their front and on our right flank until a number of the enemy's guns were disabled, while the others were withdrawn from that por- tion of the field.
Major-General Sedgwick had crossed the river with his forces on the Ist and 2nd of May, below the city, at Deep Run or Belle Plain. His corps numbered about 23,- 000 men at that time. Their skirmish line had been ac- tive for two days, and moved up to the city, operating in the rear and flank of the enemy, with the intention of compelling them to evacuate, and to enable General Sedg- wick's command to join Hooker at Chancellorsville.
Sunday, the 3rd of May, was the culmination of the operation on the right by General Hooker, and on the left by General Sedgwick. The distance between the two ex- tremes of our line was upwards of ten miles. Sedgwick moved up to the city and out the Plank Road leading to Spottsylvania Court House, to meet General Hooker at Chancellorsville, and as soon as General Sedgwick's com- mand had fought its way over Marie's Heights and fol-
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lowed the enemy on the run, General Sedgwick consider- ed it prudent to send back a force and hold Fredericks- burg at all hazards; so Colonel Hall, commanding the 3rd Brigade,-of which the 127th Regiment was a part, -was ordered back in the afternoon to hold that city, pro- tect the pontoon bridge, and keep open the line of commu- nication to Acquia Creek, as well as the Plank Road to the summit of the ridge. The 127th Regiment thien filed to the right on the heights, and formed into battle-line in a wheat field, parallel with the river. The ground was well covered with conical shells, thrown there by our artillery on the 13th and 15th of December, 1862. Our artillery formed at right angles to our left of line. Cannonading was lively from both sides. The Confederates took posi- tion some distance to the right and front of our line, and the manoeuvreing was interesting for a time; but when their shells came closer, bouncing over our line and among us, it became sort of monotonous. The enemy finally withdrew. We were under fire from 6 A. M. to 2 P. M., and about 3 P. M. the 127th Regiment, in obedi- ence to orders, marched back to Fredericksburg to do vigilant patrol duty.
The 6th Corps with General Sedgwick marched out of sight, and later in the day becanie hotly engaged with Stonewall Jackson's old troops, re-enforced by Lee's army ; and as a consequence, from lack of support, Sedg- wick was beaten back to Bank's Ford, where he moved for re-enforcements.
While General Sedgwick, holding the left, fought his army splendidly, and succeeded most admirably, he was not properly supported, as he had a right to expect, by the army of General Hooker on the right. Instead of Hooker advancing his army toward Fredericksburg, and
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crushing his enemy between two fires, he returned to his old position at Chancellorsville; and Sunday, the 3rd of May, while promising a glorious victory at Fredericks- burg, became an ignoble defeat at Chancellorsville. Gen- eral Sedgwick met with a heavy loss, 5,000 of his army were taken prisoners by the enemy. The battle of Chan- cellorsville, (on our right), so well planned by General Hooker, and stubbornly fought, was lost earlier in the day. Then Lee could spare his forces to fall on Sedgwick and crush him. If Sedgwick's force could have reached Hooker, or if Hooker had gone to the relief of Sedgwick, the result might have been reversed. Stonewall Jackson was killed in this battle, and reports differ as to how he lost his life.
When Sedgwick's command went to the right, our 2nd Division of the 2nd Army Corps became the extreme left of the line-which was a very important and responsible position to hold.
Colonel Hall held Fredericksburg, notwithstanding the attacks which were made upon his forces by invading par- ties on the three sides of the city, requiring the whole of his command to be on constant picket, skirmish and ac- tive duty, as his pickets were constantly fired upon by the enemy attempting to force their way into the city. Colo- nel Jennings was in charge of the main body of the regi- ment, in the cemetery, while Major Rohrer had command of the pickets at the railway and eastern section of the city.
The 127th Regiment quartered in the streets of Freder- icksburg, the officers taking possession of a vacant house. About ten o'clock on Sunday night an order came, "Colo- nel Jennings, you take your regiment to the left and sup- port the 20th Massachusetts Regiment." Lieutenant-Colo-
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nel Alleman suffering and incapaciated from his wound was unable to join us, so Colonel Jennings said, "Major, you know who goes." We marched to the left, below the city, and supported the 20th Massachusetts Regiment, with Company "H," Captain Shott ; Company "C," Cap- tain Henderson, and Company "D," Captain Keene. Company "B," commanded by Lieutenant A. J. Fager, guarded the corral to the rear of us. At early dawn, on May 4th, Colonel Jennings said, "Major, I am going for my breakfast, if any one comes, say I went to see Com- pany "B" at the corral." A little later on a faint voice was heard in the distance, "Bring over that regiment," and a man was seen approaching on a double quick, and beck- oning urgently with his hand, repeating, "Bring over your regiment, the Rebs are coming back." Just then Colonel Jennings returned, and an orderly rode up with an order to bring half of his regiment to the right, and use the other half to man the rifle pits on the other side of the creek, close by the railroad. Colonel Jennings then said, "Major Rolirer, you take Company "B" and Company "I" across the creek and man the rifle pits." The Colonel marched his four companies to the right, near Mrs. Washington's tomb. Major Rohrer's command crossed the creek and the railroad, there being an excavation of about twelve feet, the table land being so much higher than the railroad. At the edge, facing west, there was a basin about thirty feet deep, and flat surface, to Marie's Heights. It was about two hundred yards wide, and seemed to have been the bed of a lake or river, with a lit- tle creek, as an outlet to the river below. Captain Awl had been detailed as provost marshal, and was in the perform- ance of his duty at Fredericksburg, so that Company "B" was in command of Lieutenant Fager, and his company
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occupied the right of the pit, and Company "I," Captain Nissley, the left of the pit. The rifle pits were dug by the Confederates to protect themselves against us; yet there was enough earth thrown up to protect our heads. The pickets that supported the 20th Massachusetts joined our left at right angles to the river. A fine strip of oak wood was in their front, while the Confederate cavalry occupied the wood further south. Our picket line consisted of five companies of the 127th Regiment. The Confederates were filling up the rifle pits across the way on Marie's Heights. An officer, riding a white horse, entered the trench at the south end, and the men followed in single file into the pits, filling them. On the top of the ridge some half dozen officers, mounted, were taking a survey of the situation. The enemy sent out a skirmish line from the first rifle pit, which advanced to the outer edge of the Richmond pike, when Companies "B" and "I" opened a lively fire upon them. The enemy retired to the rifle pits in quick order, remaining there the balance of the day. Their dead were left upon the field all day in the hot sun, as they evidently did not care to risk their lives for their recovery. Their wounded crawled back of the stone wall for protection. The officers on the hill could not stand our Miniè balls, so they, in great haste, gal- loped to the rear.
While Monday, the 4th of May, was a sort of watch day for both armies, General Hooker on the right, had de- termined to recross the river to the north bank, and so notified General Sedgwick, ordering his retreat ; but Mon- day was a day of watchful vigilance on the extreme left, in the endeavor to hold Fredericksburg.
Sully's brigade was on the extreme right of our divis- ion line, on top of Marie's Heights, near where we were
-
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engaged the day before. Opposite to us, and to the left, the hill sloped south gradually, the hill farther south slop- ing north, making a broad ravine. In this ravine the Confederate infantry were stationed for hours, and about 5 o'clock the enemy marched up the ravine to the top of the hill, making a wheel to the right, and cheering in their peculiar way. Here they met the 15th Massachusetts Reg- iment of Sully's Brigade, resulting in a beautiful face to face fight. The two lines fired and loaded ; but at last the reinforcements of the enemy outnumbering the 15th Massachusetts, they prudently fell back in beautiful order. The Massachusetts Regiment fired and fell back of the rear line; the second line fired and fell back of the first line, a short distance, reloading on the way back ; then the first line fired again, and so alternated. It was a fine sight, one line firing and falling back, and then the other line repeating the same tactics, which was the masterly way of covering a retreat.
In front, and immediately below us, a company of Con- federates were lying in ambush among the undergrowth of brush all day, without our knowing it. Corporal Mil- ler, of Company "B," went out on a reconnoitering expe- dition. On the right of Company "B" was a narrow path leading down the side of the hill, which Miller followed ; and on reaching the bottom, he was shot and instantly killed by a captain of the hiding company. This was evi- dently done for self-protection, for had Miller been per- mitted to return and report the presence of the enemy, a fight would have been the inevitable result. On our right flank, beyond the creek, the 42nd New York Regiment of our brigade was on picket duty along the bank of the rail- road, while the remainder of the brigade was nearer to town. Colonel Mallon, of the 42nd New York, was
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officer of the day. At dark the picket lines were drawn to the edge of the city, forming a continuous picket line from the railroad to the Rappahannock River. Major Rohrer's two companies were formed, Company "B" on the right of the country road, joining the picket line on the right, and Company "I" on the other side of the road, towards the river. From our left, on the other side of a swamp, the 20th Massachusetts Regiment completed the line to the river.
Sometime during the night both officers and men, tired and drowsy, some one on our right, said to be the "officer of the day," fired a revolver. One of the boys in his ex- cited confusion ran to Colonel Jennings and reported that the major and his two companies were captured. This was about three o'clock in the morning. Colonel Jen- nings immediately sent Company "B," Captain Greena- walt, and Company "G," Captain Ball, to fill the reported gap. These two companies reported to the major at his post, who utilized them by forming them into a reserve line.
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