USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Fifty-seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry > Part 7
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a regiment reenlisted, the regiment was allowed to go in a body with their arms to place of organization, and from thence the men could go to their homes on furlough. They were also entitled to be designated as "veteran regiments," and each man was allowed to wear the veteran stripes on the sleeves of his coat.
On the 24th of December the regiment was formed in a hollow square in front of headquarters, and was then briefly addressed by Chaplain McAdam on the propriety of reenlisting. At the conclusion of the chaplain's remarks, Colonel Sides requested those who were willing to reenlist, to step three paces to the front. Over three-fourths of the men stepped for- ward, and, after giving three hearty cheers for the Union, were dismissed. Then for several days the officers and first sergeants were busy making out muster rolls, furloughs, and reenlistment papers.
Among the men the furlough was the all-absorbing theme. When were they to be granted? It is safe to say that a bounty of $1,000.00, without the furlough, would have secured but a small number of the men. But the assurance of spending thirty days at home was the great inducement for reenlisting, as most of the men had been absent from home for two years or more.
January 8th, 1864, was the time appointed for the regiment to depart for the north, and long before day- light the boys were up and getting ready for their departure. The men who had not reenlisted were temporarily assigned to the 14Ist Pennsylvania. At 7 o'clock a. m., in the midst of a snow storm, we
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boarded a train at Brandy station and were soon on our way to Washington, where we remained for a day and a night, and then started for Harrisburg. Here we deposited our arms and accoutrements in the arse- nal, and then the men departed by different routes for their homes.
Our stay at home was one continual round of pleasure. There were parties, festivals and sleigh- rides without number and the men will never forget those halcyon days of our "veteran furlough."
After the men had been at home for some days, many of their friends were anxious to enlist and re- turn with them to the army. On account of our suc- cess in obtaining recruits our furlough was extended. When we left for home the regiment numbered barely two hundred men. After an absence of forty-five days we returned with nearly five hundred men in our ranks.
Our old flag which had been torn by the bullets of many battles was left at Harrisburg while we were on furlough, and when we returned to the front we received a new one, with an appropriate speech, from the hands of Governor Curtin.
On the 25th of February we rejoined our old bri- gade near Culpepper, Va., and on the 27th we went with the division on a reconnoissance to James City. We were gone two days, during which time nothing of importance occurred.
General Grant, having been appointed lieutenant- general, and placed in command of all our armies, made his headquarters with the Army of the Potomac 8
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some time in March, 1864. About the 16th of March the army was reorganized, the Ist and 3d corps were disbanded and the divisions assigned to other corps. The Ist and 2d division of the 3d corps ( the old divi- sions of Kearny. and Hooker) were assigned to the 2d corps, commanded by General Hancock. The 3d division was assigned to the 6th corps. Our division, now designated as the 3d division, of the 2d corps, was commanded by General Birney. It consisted of two brigades commanded by Generals Ward and Hays. Our brigade (now designated as the 2d bri- gade, 3d division, 2d corps) was commanded by Gen. Alexander Hays and was comprised of the following named regiments: 4th and 17th Maine; 3d and 5th Michigan ; 93d New York ; 57th, 63d and 105th Penn- sylvania, and Ist United States Sharpshooters. The 68th and 114th Pennsylvania of our old brigade were detached, and acted as provost guard at army head- quarters. The 14Ist Pennsylvania was attached to Ward's brigade.
The men were proud of the record of the army corps to which they had formerly belonged, and felt very glad to know that they would be allowed to wear the old badge of the corps in which they had pre- viously served. Under the reorganization the Army of the Potomac consisted of three corps, as follows: 2d corps, General Hancock; 5th corps. General War- ren; 6th corps. General Sedgewick. The 9th corps, under General Burnside, joined the Army of the Potomac about the 5th of May.
The great campaign of 1864 began soon after mid-
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night on May 3d. Our corps, preceded by Gregg's cavalry, moved out, and about daylight crossed the Rapidan on a pontoon bridge at Ely's ford, and on the night of the 4th we bivouacked on the old Chan- cellorsville battlefield, on the ground over which we had fought one year before.
On the morning of the 5th we moved down the plank road to a point about two miles beyond the Chancellor house, when we turned to the right, which brought us to Todd's tavern about noon. Here we cooked our coffee and then resumed our march until we struck the Brock road, where we turned to the right and formed a line of battle facing west. Soon after we were ordered back into the road, and then at double quick we went up the road until we reached the Orange plank road. Here we saw General Han- cock, who ordered General Hays to throw in his first regiment on the right of the plank road. This hap- pened to be the 57th, and as soon as our left had cleared the road we were faced to the left and advanced in line of battle facing west, with the left of the regiment resting on the plank road. We were now in what is known as the Wilderness. This is a tract of land of about twenty thousand acres covered principally with small pines and scrub oaks. It formerly belonged to Governor Spottswood, and was once covered with heavy timber, which was cut down and made into charcoal, used for smelting iron in the old fashioned furnaces, of which there were many in this vicinity. We continued to grope our way through the thicket and swamps and finally met the enemy and
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opened fire. The whole division was soon engaged and the roar of the musketry was terrific. In our front the enemy was less than two hundred feet from us, but so dense was the underbrush that it was almost impossible to see them. We had the advantage of the enemy, who were on higher ground, and many of their balls passed over us. The left of the regiment had the hottest part of the line, as it rested on the plank road and was subjected to the fire of the rebels who were on the other side of the road. The left began to break, when the 17th Maine coming up on the left of the road soon gave the enemy enough to do on that side. The battle lasted until nearly dark. when we were relieved, and moved a short distance to the rear, where we remained for the night.
On the morning of May 6th our corps was ordered to begin the attack at 5 o'clock. We at once moved out the plank road and soon attacked the enemy, this time on the left of the road. The fighting for a while was all in our favor and we drove the enemy ( Hill's corps) back for over a mile and were just about enter- ing the open fields around the Widow Tapp's house, when Longstreet's fresh corps arrived and reenforced Hill, whose corps was in great confusion. Owing to the density of the woods through which we had been chasing the enemy, our lines had become much dis- ordered, and before that could be rectified, Longstreet attacked with his usual vigor and we were in turn forced back. We retired fighting until we reached the Brock road, where we took a position on the left of the plank road in rear of the entrenchments that had
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been thrown up along the Brock road. Here about 4:15 p. m. the enemy charged the works and drove back the first line, when we advanced and retook them, capturing a number of prisoners.
On the morning of the 7th we made a reconnois- sance, crossing over to the right of the plank road and advancing over three-fourths of a mile, when we found the enemy entrenched behind strong works. We had a sharp fight, and were then withdrawn, and again took position on the Brock road.
According to the monthly report of the regiment. dated April 30, 1864, we had present for duty 18 officers and 357 men. As this was but a few days before the battle, it will give a nearly correct estimate of the number of men the regiment took into the field on May 5th, on which day our greatest losses occurred. During the three days' fighting our losses were 22 enlisted men killed; 4 officers and 128 enlisted men wounded and 3 enlisted men missing. Of those killed none was more deeply mourned than First Sergeant Duke Miller, of Company E. He was one of the bravest and best men in the regiment, and his social and intellectual qualities were admired by all who knew him. Colonel Sides and Lieut. F. V. Shaw were among the wounded.
Senior Captain A. H. Nelson had command of the regiment as Colonel Side's successor until the last week in June, when Major Neeper, who had been captured at Gettysburg, returned and took command.
Gen. Alexander Hays, commander of our brigade. was killed in the battle fought on the afternoon of the
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5th. He was one of the bravest men that ever lived, and an accomplished soldier. With the exception of a short time when he served in the 2d corps, in 1863, he had been identified with the old Ist division of the 3d corps since the Army of the Potomac was organ- ized. He was a native of Venango county, Pa., and was a graduate of West Point and had served with honor in the Mexican war. He entered the war for the Union as colonel of the 63d Pennsylvania Volun- teers. At Gettysburg he commanded a division in Hancock's corps. His reputation as a fighter was well known in both the Union and Confederate armies.
The writer was wounded on the morning of May 6th, and went to the rear in company with the color sergeant, Cyrus P. Slaven, also wounded. On our way to the rear we turned into the woods along the plank road where we had fought the afternoon before. The wounded and killed had all been removed, but the trees were witnesses of the terrible musketry fire that had raged here. Not a tree or a bush but bore marks of being hit by a bullet. How any of us got out of there without being hit is a mystery.
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III
PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS.
CHAPTER X.
BY R. G. MADGE AND M. C. ZAHNIZER.
The Movement to Spottsylvania Court House-General Sedg- wick Killed-Hancock's Grand Charge of May 12 h- Great Capture of Prisoners, Guns and Colors-The Fa- mous Oak Tree-Ewell's Effort to Capture Our Wagon Train-Losses in the Fifty-Seventh at Spottsylvania- Movement to North Anna River-Fight at Chesterfield Ford-We Cross the Pamunkey -- Skirmish at Haw's Shop and Totopotomoy Creek-Battle of Cold Harbor-Ou" Colors Struck aud Badly Torn by a Piece of Shell-Flank Movement to the James River-March to Petersburg- Severe Fighting at Hare's Hill-Battle of June 22d- Losses in the Fifty-Seventh-Fort Alex. Hays-Peters- burg-We Move to the North Side of the James-Straw- berry Plains -- Return Petersburg-The "Burnside Mine"-General Mott in Command of Our Division --- Deep Bottom-Other Marching and Fighting Around Petersburg.
Many of the men in the Army of the Potomac. after the battle of the Wilderness had ended, were heard to say: "We have had the usual three days' fighting on this side of the river, and by about to- morrow night we will be back in our old camps." That had too often been the case before, but there was one at the head of the army now whose motto was "for- ward," and "Grant is making another movement by the left flank," soon became a common saying.
On the night of the 7th the movement to Spot :- sylvania Court House began. We moved along the Brock road in the direction of Todd's tavern. On the morning of the 8th we had a severe engagement,
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when we entrenched and had more fighting during the day. On the 9th we were not actively engaged. except in skirmishing. On this day Gen. John Sedg- wick, commanding the 6th corps, was killed while directing the fire of a battery.
On the morning of the roth. Hancock's corps crossed the Po river. The resistance to our (Bir- ney's) division was stubborn and we had some severe fighting, after which the 57th was detailed to go out the Anderson's tavern road, to reconnoiter. We were driven back across Glady run near Waite's shop, Capt. A. H. Nelson, commanding the regiment, losing his horse. The whole corps was then drawn back across the river. In the afternoon there was some hard fighting and very heavy artillery firing.
On the HIth we built a line of breastworks, and at night, in the rain, we took up our line of march for Spottsylvania Court House, moving all night. The 2d corps had been selected to charge the enemy's works on that part of the field held by General Johnson's division of Ewell's corps. Long before daylight our troops were being massed for the impor- tant work in hand. Major Mitchell, of General Han- cock's staff, says that the line was formed with Bir- ney's division on the right in two lines, Barlow's division on Birney's left in column of regiments, and Mott's and Gibbons' divisions in rear of Birney and Barlow as supports. This force formed a rectangu- lar mass of about twenty thousand men.
The troops stood in the cold rain shivering, and anxiously waiting for the dawn and lifting of the
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fog, that they might be ordered forward. At 4:30 a. m., the order to advance was given, when the huge mass moved forward, and soon after burst into cheers, and under a hot fire captured the enemy's works. This charge resulted in the capture of four thousand rebel prisoners, among them Maj. Gen. Edward Johnson, Brig. Gen. George H. Stuart, thirty battle flags, twenty pieces of artillery, with horses and cais- sons, and several thousand stand of small arms. Among the prisoners were nearly all that was left of Jackson's famous "Stonewall brigade." In the advance, the 57th was directly in front of a rebel battery, where in passing over the works, Color Cor- poral Spencer killed one of the batterymen by club- bing him with his musket. The advance was con- tinued until we reached the second line of the enemy's works, when they were reenforced by fresh troops. when we fell back to the first line we captured, and took position behind the works.
Our position was just to the left of where the notable oak tree stood. The tree was eighteen inches in diameter and was actually cut down with musket balls fired from the opposing lines. A section of this tree, showing the work of the balls, has been on exhi- bition at the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia. and at the World's Fair at Chicago, and is now in the Army Museum at Washington, D. C.
We remained in position during the day and did some fighting, in which Corporal Spencer was shot through the head and killed. On the 13th we helped to bury the dead, and in the evening we moved fur-
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ther to the right. On the next morning the regi- ment made a reconnoissance, during which we had some skirmishing. On the 18th we attacked the enemy in their new works, but were repulsed, and in the evening we moved to the vicinity of Anderson's Mills, on the west side of the Ny river.
On the evening of the 19th we fought Ewell's corps, which had made its appearance on the Freder- icks pike and were trying to capture our wagon train. Tyler's division of new troops held them in check. until our division came up. when the enemy were repulsed, and our wagon train saved. About four hundred rebels were taken prisoners in this affair. About 9 o'clock in the evening the enemy retreated rapidly across the Ny. On the 20th we rejoined the corps at Anderson's Mill.
In our fighting at Spottsylvania and vicinity our losses were 2 officers and 5 enlisted men killed, 2 officers and 19 enlisted men wounded, and 4 enlisted men missing. First Lieut. Jeremiah Green. of Com- pany A, and First Lieut. John Bowers, of Company I. were killed. Both were promising young officers and their death was much regretted. Lieutenant Bowers had command of Company K, when he received a mortal wound. Capt. Edgar Williams, of Company E, who had for a long time been our color bearer, was mortally wounded about this time and died on May 23d. He was a man of undaunted courage and a Christian sollier.
On the night of the 20th we started south by way of Guinea Station and Bowling Green, through to
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Milford Station, and took up a position on the right bank of the Mattapony river. This was twenty miles distant from our position of the morning.
We had a fight at Guinea Station on the 21st, and on the 22d we had a skirmish with the enemy's cav- alry at Athens, still holding our position at Milford Station.
At 5 o'clock on the morning of the 23d we moved to Chesterfield Ford on the North Anna river, and took position on the north bank. At 6 p. m. we advanced and took the enemy's works by a charge of Pierce's and Egan's brigades of Birney's position.
On the morning of the 24th part of our corps crossed the river, but the 57th did not cross, it being on the skirmish line during the day at a point further down the river, but at night we crossed the river and joined the rest of the corps.
During the 25th and 26th we lay in the entrenched line on the south side of the North Anna. On the night of the 26th we recrossed the river and marched to the Pamunkey river, crossing it at Huntleys, four miles above Hanovertown, about noon on the 28th. We then moved to the vicinity of Haw's shop. where we had a skirmish with the enemy's cavalry and some South Carolina infantry.
On the morning of the 29th, we moved up the Haw's shop road, with considerable fighting at Toto- potomoy creek, keeping in close proximity to the cne my's lines. On the goth we had severe skirmishing in which artillery was brought into action, when at 7:40 p. m. General Meade ordered the attack to cease.
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On the 3Ist the infantry line was pressed up close to the enemy, and heavy skirmishing was kept up all day, but without bringing on a general engagement, the enemy being strongly entrenched.
On the night of June Ist we left the Totopotomoy, and moved to Cold Harbor, arriving at 6 a. m. on the 2d, when Birney's division was detached and sent to support the 18th corps on our left. Our army was now on ground over which it had fought during the Seven Days' battles, two years previous.
The order for a general attack was counter- manded for June 2d, but the next day at 4:30 a. m. we made an assault and drove the enemy back to their main line of entrenchments, but could proceed no further on account of the heavy cross fire we were 'subjected to. We were under a heavy fire until noon. when our division (Birney's) was ordered to the sup- port of the 5th corps.
On coming into line for their support, the colors of the 57th were struck by a piece of the enemy's shell, cutting the flag staff in two, and tearing out one entire stripe right in the center of the flag.
We were under a heavy fire until darkness set in. when the fighting ceased. We remained in this posi- tion until June 12th, being under heavy skirmish and picket firing during the daytime and under heavy artillery fire at night, allowing scarcely any sleep, and during the day it was extremely warm and sultry.
On the evening of the 12th we were stationed in our entrenched line and remained there until the other troops had cleared the roads, when we moved by way
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of Dispatch Station to Long Bridge. crossing the Chickahominy river, and then moved towards Charles City Court House, by way of St. Mary's church and Walkers. We arrived at the James river on the evening of the 14th, crossing at Wilcox's Landing on transports to Windmill Point, arriving on the south side of the river early on the morning of the 15th. On the afternoon of that day we started for Petersburg, arriving at that place on the evening of the same day after a march of sixteen miles. At Harrison's creek on the way we had a brisk skirmish, and then halted for the night near an old dirt fort.
On the 16th General Hancock was placed in com- mand of all the troops on the south side of the river. During the day we made several reconnoissances, and in the evening at 6 o'clock we made a charge down the hill and through an old rebel camp, but were obliged to fall back to our first position.
On the morning of the 17th Birney's division pushed forward across Harrison's creek, and at night we built a line of works on the west side of the creek.
Early on the 18th, with General Birney in com- mand of the ed corps, we moved up to. and in. the Prince George Court House road, in front of the Hare house, and from there we made a charge on the enemy's works, which ran across a fieldl about two hundred yards in our front and almost parallel with the before mentioned road. Our line advanced about one hundred yards, when the enemy's fire became a) severe that we were obliged to fall back to the road and seek cover. During the day we made three dif
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HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT
ferent charges on the enemy's works, but they were so formidable and well manned that we failed to reach them. In the third attempt the 57th reached a ditch. where we lay down and let them fire over us from both sides until about 6 o'clock in the evening, when we were recalled, and then returned to the main line in the Prince George road. We were then relieved by the Ist Maine heavy artillery (acting as infantry ). when we moved back to the rear of the road. The Maine regiment made a gallant charge, but were also repulsed with great loss. While they were making this charge, a minie ball from the enemy's lines pierced the flag staff of our regimental colors about eight inches above the color sergeant's head.
During the night of the 18th we moved out in front of the Hare house, and built a line of breast- works, which position remained substantially the same during the entire siege. We remained in these works during the 19th and 20th. On the 21st we moved to the left of the Jerusalem plank road and took a position on the left of the 5th corps, and there built another line of works.
It was during these first days of the fighting around Petersburg that our adjutant. Clark M. Lyons, was killed, as was also Henry M. Adams, second lieutenant of Company I. Captain J. R. Lyons was severely wounded, and about twenty-five enlisted men were killed or wounded.
On the morning of the 22d we advanced about half a mile toward the rebel line, where we built a line
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PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS.
of works, with nothing to work with but our bayo- nets and tin plates.
In the afternoon we had a hard fight with Mahone's division, which succeeded in making a flank movement, and getting on our left flank and rear, when we were compelled to fall back to our position of the 21st. In this action our brigade lost heavily in prisoners, our regiment losing about twenty, among them Lieut. James F. Ruger, of Company F. A brave and gallant sergeant of Company K, Pat. Dempsey, was also captured here, and died in Ander- sonville prison. In the evening we again advanced and retook our former position. It was between these two lines that Fort Alex. Hays was built afterward, and named in honor of our old brigade commander. We remained here for some time, doing picket duty and building entrenchments, for it was now decided that Petersburg must be besieged. This old Virginia town had, in 1860, a population of a little over eighteen thousand. It is situated on the south side of the Appomattox river about twenty-five miles from its mouth at City Point, and is twenty-three miles south of Richmond.
When we first reached the front of Petersburg. Lee's army depended for its supplies on two rail- roads, running south,-the Weldon railroad. and the Lynchburg (South Side) railroad. To encircle Petersburg as completely as a siege demanded. it was essential that these two roads should be covered by our army. The first was controlled by us, in the
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HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT
last week in August, but the South Side never, until the city fell.
Before the fall of the city our lines of investment extended from Appomattox, below Petersburg to Hatcher's Run, on the southwest, a distance of about twenty-five miles. To supply our army a railroad was constructed in rear of our lines, which connected with the Petersburg & City Point railroad near Broadway Landing. City Point at the confluence of the Appo- mattox with the James, was our depot of supplies, and was also the headquarters of General Grant. It was a very busy place in 1864, but in ordinary times it is but an unimportant hamlet. Our front line of works consisted of huge earthen forts, and redoubts in which were mounted heavy siege guns and mor- tars. The forts were connected by well constructed breastworks, in front of which was slashed timber or abattis. So strong were these works that with the aid of the artillery, they could be held by a small force of infantry, which enabled General Grant to detach largely from his forces for operations against the enemy's flanks, and elsewhere. Our cavalry was also kept busy raiding the enemy's communications and doing him as much damage as possible.
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