USA > Pennsylvania > Northampton County > History of the One hundred and fifty-third regiment Pennsylvania volunteers infantry which was recruited in Northampton County, Pa., 1862-1863 > Part 10
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WELCOME HOME
of the Federal cavalry, quickly hurried his men to Williams- port, an important crossing of the Potomac, and also to Hagers- town. Meantime Meade's main army had reached Middletown, and after procuring the necessary supplies and had gotten his trains up, moved through the mountains and continued harassing the enemy until he reached the Rapidan. Meade's army finally encamped near the Rappahannock.
The point reached by the Eleventh Corps was Boonsborough and Funkstown, when the 153d Regiment was dismissed by reason of the expiration of its term. The regiment had reached Hagerstown. Here von Gilsa delivered his farewell address to the 153d Regiment. On the morning of the 14th the regiment started for home, passing through Funkstown, Boonsborough and Middletown, arriving at Frederick City in the evening. The next day it took train for Baltimore, where it arrived at about 7 o'clock in the evening, and after enjoying the hospitality of Baltimore, returned by rail to Harrisburg, where the boys roamed the old familiar town on arrival at noon of the 16th.
The muster-out required a week, and early in the morning of the 25th, having been discharged the day before, the regiment left for home, arriving at Easton at 10 o'clock a. m.
Welcome Home.
The Welcome extended the soldiers of the One Hundred and Fifty-third Regiment excelled any reception ever given an army in the City of Easton. The 25th day of July was a day of thrilling interest, yet to some a sad one. Thousands of the citizens of the surrounding country thronged the streets to wit- ness the procession of returning soldiers and greet the dear ones who had escaped the perils of war. The scenes of many of the meetings were enough to melt the most stolid heart. Aged par- ents, sisters and brothers, and shy, but joyful sweethearts, mingled in the happy crowd. The homes along the streets were decorated with bunting and everywhere were demonstrations of gladness. The wounded in carriages presented a most pathetic sight. The
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HISTORY OF THE 153D REGT.
bands and drum corps never played so well. The military es- cort was superb.
The collation at the Fair Grounds was the best the land af- forded. The address of welcome was historic, and the narration of the deeds of the returned soldiers was a fine memorial of the patriotism of the brave men. The allusion to those who had fallen in battle was most touching, and cast a shadow of sorrow over the throng.
At the close of the exercises Colonel Glanz was presented, in an appropriate speech, by Captain Howard Reeder, with a beau- tiful sword, which was gratefully acknowledged in a few brief remarks by the beloved commander of the regiment.
The Reception of Company B.
At a county meeting in Bath, in the month of June, a Commit- tee of Reception was appointed. The men upon that honorable Committee were Caleb Yohe, Wm. Wilson and J. B. Sweitzer. These gentlemen were charged with the pleasant duty of arrang- ing the details of the public reception. At that meeting the battle of Gettysburg had not yet been fought, and all the men of the regiment who had survived Chancellorsville were expected home by loving friends. But who can measure the sorrow of the circle to whose homes the anticipated meeting was turned to grief. Language cannot paint it : the gloom hung like a pall over very many stricken families.
The Roll of Honor of the Comrades who died in the Service will be some measure of compensation, though the vast majority of those who then mourned have themselves passed over the last stream to greet the dear ones who never returned from the war.
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COLONEL VON GILSA'S FAREWELL ADDRESS
Colonel von Gilsa's Farewell Address.
"Officers and soldiers of the One Hundred and Fifty-third Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers :
I cannot permit you to leave for your homes without addressing to you a few parting words. It is with the deepest regret that I see you mus- tered out of the brigade, for, during your stay here, myself and the regi- ments of this brigade have become so fondly attached to you, that the gap which your departure from this brigade opens, will be most deeply felt, and hard to fill again.
I must give you this testimony, and I do so with the greatest satisfac- tion, that you have, on every occasion, done your duty in the fullest sense of the term; with the deepest devotion have you ever remained faithful to the oath you had taken.
I am an old soldier, but never did I know soldiers who, with greater alacrity and more good will, endeavored to fulfill their duties. In the battle of Chancellorsville you have, like veterans, stood your ground against fearful odds, and, although surrounded on three sides, you did not retreat until by me commanded to do so. In the three days' battle at Gettysburg, your behavior has put many an old soldier to the blush, and you are justly entitled to a great share of the glory which my brigade has won for itself, by repulsing the two dreaded Tiger Brigades of Jack- son. In the name of your comrades of the First Brigade and myself, I now bid you a cordial farewell. Whenever you look back with pride upon the time of your service, remember your comrades, who now part from you with painful regrets. Think sometimes of your commander, who ever will consider you as a dear member of his numerous family, and who will always recollect with pride that you have given him satis- faction and pleasure.
But remember, also, the braves in your midst, who fell on the field of honor, who have sealed with their death the truth of the oath they had sworn. Remember, likewise, the poor relicts of these fallen ones. Be ever a friend to them in the hour of necessity, and evince your grati- tude to the Almighty that he has mercifully shielded you, by taking charge of the widows and orphans of your fallen comrades, by never forsaking them, and lending them a helping hand whenever they need it. In the same manner be a friend to the poor invalids, who, though sound and right at heart, return to their beautiful hearthstones infirm and sick in
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HISTORY OF THE 153D REGT.
body. God will most richly recompense you for the good you do them.
Farewell, comrades, God be with you! Lovingly remember your com- rades remaining on the field of battle, and your old brigade commander. LEOPOLD VON GILSA, Commanding First Brigade, First Division." Eleventh Corps D'Armee.
The Regimental Flag.
A regiment should have two flags; one for the State and the regular flag of the Nation. Our color-bearer was John Henning, of Portland. His appointment dated from January, 1863. He was in possession of the flag during the entire service of the regi- ment and many were the days it floated in the breeze over the tent of the Colonel. The staff was broken in the battle of Chan- cellorsville. The colors stood over the rifle pits near the Chan- cellorsville House before midnight of the opening day of the battle, and all day Sunday, and was borne over the pontoons on the night of the 5th, and reached the old camp ground with the body of the regiment on the 6th. Its faithful bearer, whose photo stands by the side of the old ensign, carried it in the battle of the first day at Gettysburg, and on the evening of that memorable day planted "Old Glory" on the ramparts of Cemetery Hill, where it waved during the three eventful days of the battle. The flag was sorely wounded in this battle. It led the triumphant command in its pursuit of the retreating enemy down to Hagerstown. It was for many years in possession of the Colonel and the Lieutenant Colonel and had often been displayed on special occasions when the old regiment tramped the streets, It was always the idolized flag of the loyal soldier and his many friends. When the old colors of the regiments of the State were assigned a safe en- casement in the Capitol at Harrisburg the familiar bunting with its insignia of service and maimed staff was given a resting place among the honored standards of the Old Keystone State. Though tattered and faded, and its form is a mere shadow of its former self, its glory has not departed.
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STANDING ON CEMETERY HILL
Color-Bearer John Henning.
Standing on Cemetery Hill.
Here on this spot, one of the three forming the pivotal center of the famous Cemetery Ridge, the writer stood forty-six years ago. Here nearly a half century ago the thunder of those hun- dreds of cannon reverberated on these and the distant hills over this historic valley of death. Here the most distinguished geniuses of the age contested the disputed rights and sectional 8
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HISTORY OF THE 153D REGT.
issues of the greatest Civil, national strife. Here powerful armies engaged in the decisive conflict. Here our fallen comrades were among the thousands who gave their lives for their country, and consecrated these memorial fields and hills with their blood, and covered the world-renowned arena with imperishable glory. To this spot where our dear comrades lie, gathering generations will continue to come to read the inscriptions on the marble and granite marking the resting place of the Nation's dead ; the dead whose deeds of heroism will continue to be commemorated to the end of days. Here events occurred whose significance and glory will last as long as these natural rocks and chiselled granite en- dure. Here for centuries of all time the same stars that shone on the mangled forms of our mortally wounded comrades during those nights of awful suffering will keep sentinel over the ashes of those who, dear to us, sleep here.
In many important respects this was the most salient spot of the several prominent elevations of that vast field. The reasons are abundant. From this spot General Meade made his careful and earliest observations on his arrival on the morning of the second day. General Howard makes the following reference to the event :
"Slocum, Sickles and myself remained together that night (of the first) near the Cemetery Lodge and the good keeper's wife refreshed us with hot coffee. A little after three o'clock in the morning, July 2d. General Meade with his staft came to where we were reclining and soon asked me concerning the situation. I said, 'I am confident we can hold this position.' General Sickles, who was near, added in his clear shrill voice, 'It is a good place to fight from, General.' General Meade replied, 'I am glad to hear you say so, gentlemen, for it is too late to leave it.' Meade and I then rode along the lines behind the soldiers sleeping on their armis. These lines were yet thin, but Meade said, 'The other corps are near at hand.' We rode to the cemetery to the point where the soldiers' monu- ment now stands, and while I explained matters, General Meade surveyed the hill and its environments through his field glass as well as he could in the early dawn. . . . Meade now saw for the first time the Cemetery Ridge very like a fortification; on the north terminated by Rock Creek
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STANDING ON CEMETERY HILL
and near the right of us could be seen Culp's Hill, a rough, rocky, wooded knoll. Running his eye from Culp's Hill around the curve of the cemetery front and then turning to his left, he noticed the trees of Zieg- ler's grove. Beyond that was the lower ground ascending southward to an abrupt, rocky spur called Little Round Top. Beyond this he saw in the distance the highest point of all, a more prominent hill covered thickly with a forest, called Big Round Top. This outline which his eye had traversed was like a great fish hook with the concavity toward him, the barb at McAllister's Mill, the bend at the cemetery, and the shank extend- ing southward along the stone wall to Little Round Top. From end to end this line with its sinuosities was five miles long."
It was at this point where General Schurz met Howard on his arrival in advance of the two divisions over the Tanneytown road, and from here they surveyed the entire field on the north of the town and settled the location the Eleventh Corps was to occupy as soon as it should arrive on the ground. This point commanded a range of five miles, east, north, and west. This central position was the most important for either side to select in the initial and also to hold in the final part of the three days' fighting. All mili- tary critics agree that the gaining of this crest by Lee would have doomed the Federal cause. From this point as possibly from no other on the vast field our Eleventh Corps could redeem its ap- parent lost prestige. It seems that the old Eleventh was pre- destinated to be the pioneer Corps to receive the onslaughts of the two great battles in which it was engaged, and hold back the overwhelming Confederate forces until reinforcements could ar- rive. This was all that any General could do under the circum- stances in which our Corps had the misfortune to be placed on the first day.
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HISTORY OF THE 153D REGT.
A General's Testimonial.
General Slocum referring to the battle of Gettysburg at the dedication of New York's monument said :
"The duty assigned to me to-day was to speak of the operations of Culp's Hill (near the foot of which the 153d had its position in defence of those higher grounds). Every Confederate report shows that on their side it was regarded as of great importance. How near we came losing it is shown in the report of General Ewell. Speaking of operations at the close of the first day, he says: 'The enemy had fallen back to a commanding position known as Cemetery Hill. On entering the town I received a message from the commanding general to attack this hill if I could do so to advantage. I could not bring the artillery to bear on it, and all the troops with me were jaded by twelve hours' marching and fighting. I determined to take possession of a wooded hill to my left on a line with and commanding Cemetery Hill. Before Johnson got up, the enemy was reported moving to outflank our extreme left, and I could see what seemed to be his skirmishers in that direction. I received orders soon after dark to draw my corps to the right in case it could not be used to advantage where it was. I represented to the commanding gen- eral that the hill above referred to was unoccupied by the enemy, as re- ported by Lieutenants Turner and Early, who had gone upon it, and it commanded their position and made it untenable so far as I could judge. He decided to let me remain, and on my return to headquarters, after 12 o'clock at night, I sent orders to Johnson by Lieutenant Turner to take possession of this hill if he had not already done so.
General Johnson stated in reply to this order that he had sent a recon- noitering party to the hill with orders to report as to the position of the enemy with reference to it. This party, at or near the summit, was met by a superior force of the enemy, which succeeded in capturing a portion of the reconnoitering party ; the rest of it making its escape.
During this conversation with General Johnson, a man arrived, bringing a dispatch dated at twelve midnight, taken from a Federal courier mak- ing his way from General Sykes to General Slocum, in which the former stated that his corps was then halted four miles from Gettysburg, and would resume his march at 4 a. m. Day was breaking and it was now too late for any change of place.'"
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LETTERS FROM GENERAL HOWARD
In General Lee's report of the operations at the time he says he had commanded General Ewell on the 2d day to attack the right of the Federal position (Culp's and Cemetery Hill) simul- taneously with Longstreet's on the extreme left. (The writer was eye-witness to the repulse of the rebels on the low grounds in front of these hills). Between the clouds of smoke from the musketry I could see men march, throwing up their caps and shouting, in the charge. Ewell's attack was not made until one hour after Longstreet opened on the south. The delay of Ewell prevented him realizing how nearly he came capturing the works our engineers were throwing up on the hills.
Letters from General Howard.
"Newton H. Mack, Secretary.
Dear Sir :
I thank you very much for your letter to me. For some reasons I had not seen before this time what Colonel von Gilsa said of the 153d Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Certainly it is a very nice tribute which he gave to the fidelity and gallantry of the regiment.
The right division at Chancellorsville was commanded by General Charles Devens. The brigade to which you belonged with a portion of a battery, held the extreme right of his line. Of course I expected him and his division to hold on until he could be reinforced by all our reserves. Surely if every regiment had done its duty as well as the 153d Pennsylvania did, according to Colonel von Gilsa's report, it would have taken even Stone- wall Jackson much longer than was the case to displace the division and the corps.
I shall be glad to see a copy of the history of the regiment, and con- gratulate you and the men still living upon the excellence of their record.
Very truly yours, OLIVER O. HOWARD, Major-General U. S. Army."
To W. R. Kiefer, Historian :
"As you have touched upon Chancellorsville, let me say that Gen. Fitz- hugh Lee told me that Jackson's lines would not have extended beyond
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HISTORY OF THE 153D REGT.
von Gilsa's right had he not from his (Fitzhugh Lee's) reconnoitering ascertained the exact location. As soon as he did so he rode back and guided Jackson a half mile northwestward. Jackson immediately re- turned to his troops and marched his whole command at least a half mile further, so that he must have overlapped von Gilsa's right by at least a quarter of a mile. His lines were over two miles long. They came toward us with an irregular rather than an elliptic front, as Col- quitt's command did not participate in the first assault.
I could not answer with reference to which regiment was first struck, nor which first retired. You have probably found the facts with refer- ence to that. The right brigade supported Dickman's two guns, and, as I understand, the 153d Penna. and the 4Ist New York were to the right of this section of the battery.
Now for Gettysburg. I did notify Gen. Doubleday as soon as it was possible to do so after General Reynolds' death was reported to me. It could not have been more than twenty-five minutes after I received the report on Fahnestock's Observatory, near the Court House, before Doubleday had the information. I was in absolute command of the field from that time, about eleven o'clock, until Hancock came, which was between four and five p. m., according to the same record of time which I had all day. I did not know that Hancock was actually in command as he gave me no order whatever until I received Meade's order. and that was after Gen. Slocum's arrival. I recognized, how- ever. Hancock's authority, because, as he said, Gen. Meade had sent him to represent him (Meade) on the field. I found some time after the battle that Gen. Meade did not know of my arrival at Gettysburg until after he had sent Hancock from him.
You ask, 'Did you select Cemetery Ridge?' My answer is that I spent considerable time in reconnoitering after my arrival on the field. while my command (the 11th Corps) was coming up by two separate roads. I saw clearly then that the Cemetery Ridge should be the place for a defensive stand, and by Cemetery Ridge I mean the whole country from Culp's Hill to Little and Big Round Top. It is plain that I did select the line from all my operations subsequent to Reynolds' death. I put my reserve artillery there and also my headquarters, and Steinwehr's division in support of the artillery, and then I hold the most positive testi- mony of several officers now living who were with me, that I did make
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LETTERS FROM GENERAL HOWARD
the selection of the position. The contention against me has been sim- ply that somebody else suggested the position to me. Some say Rey- nolds, other say a civilian residing in the city, but all this is simply not true.
You say, 'How long were you in command?' Everybody acknowledges that I was in command five hours. After that Hancock and I worked together without conflict.
'How long was Hancock in full command?' Two hours and a half, for it was about 7.30 when Hancock and myself met and talked with Slocum. At my request Slocum had sent up his two divisions long be- fore that.
'How long was Schurz in command of the 11th Corps?' From the time of his arrival on the field until about 7.30 p. m., because I did not for- mally resume command of my corps until that hour.
'Was Stahl in command?' I do not know. We will have to look to the Rebellion Records for answer to that.
You say, 'Where did the 153d take position?' On Cemetery Ridge, I suppose you mean? On what I call the round of the Cemetery Ridge, as I think, partly to the north of the Baltimore pike and partly to the south of it. Von Gilsa's brigade was located in support of the batteries near the position where the line turned from its northward to its east- ward trend. I could not answer you in detail with reference to the ceme- tery gateway. Doubtless your own recollection is clearer on that sub- ject. It was near and east of that building where Sickles, Slocum and myself waited for General Meade, having our headquarters a little apart from each other.
'Exactly where did the hand-to-hand episode over a battery take place ?' A large portion of the brigade was between the turning point and Culp's Hill, and the struggle for the battery was behind the infantry line. Your regimental reports ought to tell you the detail which you desire with reference to that specific conflict.
'Did the regiment have any part in the defense of Culp's Hill?' Lieut. Col. Otto took three regiments with him-I cannot tell which three without further search. Otto reported to General George S. Green on the night of the 2d of July and participated in the defense of Culp's Hill.
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HISTORY OF THE 153D REGT.
Now returning to Chancellorsville, I think you are right when you say that only about 700 of the 153d Penna. were in line; but I must refer for further detail to the Rebellion Records, especially to the regimental reports. I understood that von Gilsa's whole brigade was on the north side of the old turnpike at Chancellorsville, that and the section of the battery to which you have referred.
The above are the best answers I can make to the questions you pro- pound to me, and I give them without giving the time needed to verify my statements.
With reference to Chancellorsville, thus far I have never seen any statement from any General as to what I ought to have done which I did not do, except what has come from the pen of Gen. Schurz. The simple truth is, that had General Hooker realized for one moment that General Lee was sending the great bulk of his Army around his right flank under the cover of the forest, he should have thrown the 5th Corps at once to fill the gap of more than two miles between my Corps and the Rapidan, that is, extended his right by at least one Army Corps. This he doubtless would have done had he not believed that Lee was in full retreat. I sent to General Hooker the day of the attack, by swift horseman, every iota of information which I could get, and, as I under- stand, his headquarters had information even more direct than mine.
Very sincerely yours, OLIVER O. HOWARD, Major-General, etc .. (Retired) .
Daniel A. Skelly, a merchant of Gettysburg, was a young man at the time of the battle, and has given the writer the following valuable information respecting the Eleventh Corps, and especially items of rare interest to the 153d Regiment. Fahnestock's Ob- servatory, from which General Howard made his observations of the field northwest of the town on the morning of the Ist of July, is the store building in which Mr. Skelly now conducts business, though some changes have been made in the building. He was standing on the sidewalk at the store when at about 10.30 a. m. Howard rode up accompanied by his aides and stopped im- mediately in front of the Court House on the corner opposite the store. An aide dismounted and tried to secure an entrance to the Court House so as to get to the roof for observation. Seeing
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LETTERS FROM GENERAL HOWARD
there was no possibility of the General's getting up Mr. Skelly ran across the street and informed him that there was a small place of outlook on the top of the store and volunteered to con- duct the General and his aides to the top of the building. Mrs. Col. E. G. Fahnestock, Isaac L. Johns, Augustus Bentley and Mr. Daniel A. Skelly, all of Gettysburg, accompanied General Howard to the place of observation. R. M. Elliott, a resident, informed the writer that he saw Mr. Skelly notify the General of the place on the store.
Mr. Skelly continues: Howard received the notice of the death of Reynolds while on the observatory and immediately came down and gave orders, one of which was to Steinwehr. He also sent an order to the Regimental bands requesting them to play lively airs. Mr. Skelly also states that Buford arrived on the ground the day before the arrival of Howard, and that his cavalry encamped beyond the Seminary, while Devin's cavalry encamped beyond the Penna. College. Reynolds came through the town between 8 and 9 a. m. on the first. He saw him and his staff as they passed up the Chambersburg Pike. Buford made his ob- servations from the Seminary cupola. It has for a long time been a matter of uncertainty as to the exact street through which the First Brigade (to which the 153d belonged) passed when it left the Emmitsburg pike. Mr. Skelly took the writer over the entire ground on the north end of the town and fully explained the many changes which since the war have occurred in the formation of building sites and the erection of houses and public buildings, by which the open field into which our regiment entered on its arrival on the first day, is now largely covered by the improve- ments of that side of the town. Our regiment occupied a front position in the line as we entered the town. Our arrival was at about 12.30. General Howard says :
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