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 12
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Sergeant Major George G. Beam.
Philip D. Wireback, Quartermaster Sergeant.
Quartermaster S. H. Knowles.
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water. But this he also declined. The reasons for declining were sufficient, but apparently provoked resentment. The invitation was an act of courtesy ; the refusal was also proper. The Gov- ernor (Curtin) was invited to visit the Camp. Captain Frey, Dr. Neff and Major Frueauff were the committee to convey the invi- tation. The Governor's visit occurred March 26th, and the occa- sion was one of great interest to the regiment. The festive green of the forest never did more to suitably decorate a city of soldiers than on this occasion. The Colonel was in gleeful spirits, and remarked that he would be ready to go out again at the expira- tion of the regiment's term, and thought that two-thirds of his men would re-enlist .. Dr. Neff playfully said to the Governor, "The Colonel is all right, but he is a Democrat." "Yes," said the Colonel, "but I am not a Copperhead." The Governor was invited to walk through the Camp, and the regiment was formed in dress parade, when the Governor delivered a speech which touched many hearts and made him many friends. Major Frue- auff was placed on General McLean's Staff about April 1, 1863. Both the Chaplain's and the writer's Diaries make a note of the illness of Captain Stout. The Chaplain says, "Stayed all night with Captain Stout, Captain is very sick, I fear dangerously, he having had a relapse. He is now in the hospital. Lieutenant, I think, is better." April 1, General Howard took command of the Corps to-day. The death of Charles B. Shaffer occurred April 7th. Surgeon Neff is sick in his tent. Henry Agnew was taken to the hospital April 8th. April 10th, a grand review by President Lincoln, wife, and little son. The boy rode a small pony. The officers appealed to the Governor for the back salary of the men on the 17th. On this day we had a sermon in German, by the Rev. Mr. Hogan, from Nazareth. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Rice of the 129th Regiment. We had Communion (Lord's Supper) this evening at 5 o'clock. About 100 men re- ceived the communion.
"April 27th. Marched toward Hartwood Church, distant 15 miles. Started at sunrise. 28th, left at 4 a. m., marched 15 miles, arrived about 1.30 p. m. Tented in neighborhood of Mt. Holly Church. About 5 p. m. Gilsa rode along the line, gave verbal
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order to be ready in ten minutes. Lay on arms until near mid- night. Crossed by 2 a. m. of the 29th, and drew up in line of battle, marched about two miles, then rested until 9 a. m."
The crossing of the Rappahannock and the experience of the next several days, including the battle, are elsewhere described.
We returned to our old Camp on the 6th of May, at the close of the affair in the Chancellorsville forest, and now resuming gleaning from the Diaries, the writer says: In accordance with the wishes of Chaplain Melick we built a temporary inclosure of logs and pine boughs for chapel service. We fitted it up in good style and called it "Chapel Grove." We held our first meet- ing in the new church, May 29, 1863. On the evening of the 3Ist, General O. O. Howard attended the meeting and made an address which greatly encouraged all present. On June 7th, Captain Oerter commanded the regiment. Glanz and Frueauff returned to the regiment on the 16th of June.
From the writer's Diary: May 5th. The regiment is still on the South side of the Rappahannock. The crossing was at the United States Ford. I assisted in carrying the wounded across the river. A very heavy rain fell toward evening. I was all day of the 6th on the road with the ambulance loaded with wounded. We arrived at Brooks Station Hospital, the band having pre- ceded me. I remained with them that night. The hospital joined the band tent. The removal of the wounded from the battlefield began on the 4th, a temporary hospital having been established in a brick house on the left side of the road from Chancellorsville House to United States Ford.
May 17th, Sunday .- On this day it was reported that Stone- wall Jackson died last Sunday. The intelligence reached us through Dr. Junkins from a neighboring regiment. The doctor was a brother-in-law of the deceased.
Captain Owen Rice, Co. A.
2d Lieutenant Clyde Millar, Co. A.
ist Lieutenant Benjamin F. Shaum, Co. A.
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Captain Owen Rice, Co. A.
Captain Owen Rice, in command of the first Company of the regiment, was conceded to be the most distinguished officer of his rank, in the Command. His daring, special achievements on the Chancellorsville battlefield, won for him fame of high order, and gave him unusual prominence in military circles. His second cousin, Chaplain Wm. H. Rice, of the 129th Regiment of the State, now residing in Gnodenhütten, Ohio, gives us a family tracing of Comrade Rice, and speaks of him as having been a fine worthy character. "His father." the writer says, "was Rev. Edward Rice, President of the Moravian Theological Seminary, Bethlehem, Pa., at the time of his death. Edward was the son of Owen Rice III., who was the son of Owen Rice II., who was the son of Reverend Owen Rice I., who came to Bethlehem in June, 1742. Captain Owen Rice was a very able man ; his enlist- ment was truly characteristic of him."
An account of this brave and noble officer will appear else- where in our history.
Benjamin F. Shaum, Ist. Lieut. Co. A.
I was captured about May 3d with some men on the skirmish line in the battle of Chancellorsville, and was sent to Libby Prison and was confined there about 29 days. I was then paroled and sent to Annapolis where I was held about 5 days, then exchanged and sent to my regiment.
On arrival at the old Camp, near Brooks Station, I found my regiment had started on the march towards Gettysburg. I followed it up with the baggage train and rear guard to Emmits- burg where I caught up with the Command and took charge of my Company A.
At Gettysburg I commanded my Company and was wounded on the first day while on the skirmish line. And again I was in the rebel lines three days.
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While lying on the field a boy by the name of Aaron Meyers, of Co. I, with a flesh wound in his leg, carried water to me. I cautioned him to be careful but I understood he died in four or five days.
After being mustered out I was taken to Easton, Pa., and cared for in the U. S. Hotel for about three months with my wounded leg.
On April 23, 1864 I was appointed Second Lieut. in the Veteran Reserve Corps and was assigned to the Seventh Regi- ment of that organization. At the time of the raid of General Early on Washington, July, 1864, I served with my regiment in front of Fort Reno and Stevens with convalescents, teamsters and department employees, rather a motley crowd.
After the rebels were repulsed, we were ordered to the War Department barracks and did duty around the old Capitol Prison, and also the Navy Yards Prison, where were confined Mrs. Sur- ratt and other accomplices of Pres. Lincoln's assassination. From there I was sent to Trenton, N. J., under Major Newton, U. S. Army, and was employed in conveying troops to various regiments.
They were drafted men and substitutes. I continued in this duty until July, 1865, when I joined my regiment at Washington and remained with it until it was disbanded and the organization discontinued.
On July 12, 1866, I was ordered to duty in the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Land. While on that duty' on the reorganization of the state I made the registration of Bedford and Botetourt Counties and held the election. Dur- ing March, 1866, I received the brevets of First Lieut. and Cap- tain of Volunteers for meritorious services. I was honorably discharged and left the army January 1, 1868.
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Letter from Lieut. J. Clyde Millar, Co. A.
The march from near Falmouth Heights, in Virginia, to and beyond the town of Gettysburg, was a long and toilsome one. The heat frequently was so intense that many of the rank and file dropped by the wayside, some to report later on, others now camping in what is known in the National Cemetery as the "un- known dead" who were gathered there several months after- wards, with those who had fallen in battle.
On the night we reached Winchester there seemed to be a mistake about going into camp. The brigade would halt and then start, possibly making a mile and then halt again. This movement would be repeated over and over again. A laughable incident was noticed while the occurrences were taking place. A soldier by the name of Jemison, who was a cook for Captain Howell's headquarters, and who had succeeded in getting quite a supply of fence boards to start his camp fires with. It was con- siderable of a load and after the third order had been given to forward, he threw them down in disgust and swore he would carry them no longer, when "halt" was sounded he went back and got them again. No sooner had "forward" been ordered again, when down he threw them, and for several minutes the volume of epithets that poured forth would not have been suit- able for the uplift of Christianity. When the Pennsylvania line was reached and crossed, what glad shouts went up from the Keystone boys, of "home again." Alas, how many never left it, but lie now mouldering in that silent city of her beloved dead !
On the night of June 30, I was ordered out with part of my company, and some of Company F men on the picket line. Or- ders were to fire on any one, or force appearing in front, and not to demand the giving of the countersign. It was a murky, misty night, and not liking the looks of what I thought was sus- picious in front of my line, I told the boys I would scout out in front to see if there were any Johnnies there, and that on my return I would be whistling "Yankee Doodle" softly so they would know who it was; but when half way back, the firing commenced on the left of the line, and .hearing the rush com-
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ing through the cornfield, and thinking it was cavalry, and know- ing my men would also commence firing to prevent a break through, I admit, candidly, that I forgot all about my whistling "Yankee Doodle," and got back into line far quicker than when I went out. The laugh was on us when day light came, as the numerous dead in our front was seen to be not rebels, but inno- cent sheep, which would not even bite a Union soldier.
Rations had been issued during the night at the regimental head- quarters, and having hurried forward to join the regiment, those of my men who had been on picket, went through that battle with what little they could beg from others. Let me state here, that with but one single exception, there was no complaint made to me about it, whatsoever. As the regiment was on the march when I joined it, this threw the picket detail in the rear. After the town was passed, the line of battle was being formed, and through somebody's error, the color division was ordered out on the skirmish line. This was wrong, as Companies A and F were the proper divisions to go. In rectifying the mistake, a slight confusion occurred. Right here I remember several things dis- tinctly. In right filing my men on the double quick, then when the front was clear, by the left flank into position, as I passed the right flank of Co. D, I saw Brave Beaver killed while in the act of repeating his Captain Howell's command of "Forward, men, Forward!" A moment afterwards, a rebel shell passed in front of me; the swing of its fuse, striking me across the face. The skirmish line, when formed, ran through a small piece of timber with the ground sloping down toward Rock Creek; the under- brush was also heavy; the line of battle had been formed on the brow of a hill some three or four hundred feet behind us. The fact was soon ascertained that we were being fired on, front and right flank. Accidentally, we had got into an angle of General John B. Gordon's Corps. About this time, if I remember rightly. Sergeant Keifer of my Company, reported the woods in front of us was being massed with men behind the thickets for a charge, and that by crouching down, I could see their legs up to their knees. I did so, and saw the force was a large one. I ran back up the slope to report the fact, when I met Adj. Reeder
Band Leader Eugene Walter.
Robt. H. Wilson, Musician, Co. A.
Corporal Valentine Heller, Co. A.
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with drawn sword, who said, "Go back and hold your line at all hazards." I told him it was useless as the force massing in front was a heavy one. I then happened to look up and asked him, "Where is our battle line?" He looked and remarked: "It's gone. Get yourselves out the best you can; report at Cemetery Hill," and we surely got. I also remember that in retreating, I noticed Lient. Yeager, who had gone down with a terrible wound, having been shot through the hip, urging his men to retreat or they would be taken prisoners.
Another incident : The next day, while on the skirmish line, Lieut. Barnes and myself were standing under a small tree and discussing how soon the Louisiana Tigers we had discovered lying in a depression in the ground at our front, would charge us. About this time something came sailing along through the air, that had not the familiar sound of a shell, and I remarked to him, "I think that must be a piece of iron." As it passed through the tree tops, it broke off a limb about an inch thick and as this dropped to the ground it knocked Barnes' cap off. "I think it was iron, Miller," he remarked, "and the next thing they will be throwing blacksmith shops." As expected, after sundown, along came the Tigers, with many others, charging in two lines deep. When near enough the skirmish line fired, fell back its usual distance, loading as it went, and then halted and fired again, and at the command, retreated on the double quick to the line of battle at Cemetery Hill. The regiment had moved farther to- ward the left than when we had left. This threw us amongst what I think was the 41st N. Y., who informed me our regi- ment had moved toward the left flank. We double quicked toward it, and the few minutes it took to get there, the Jolinnies were almost on us. I heard Lieut. Beidelman without orders give the command "Fire!" which the whole line obeyed. Gen. von Gilsa was standing a short distance in the rear, up the slope, who commenced commanding, "Cease firing; they are our friends." I ran to him and said: "No, General, they are the enemy, and charging in two lines." When I got to my Company again, the fight was on in all its fierceness, muskets being handled as clubs ; rocks torn from the wall in front and thrown, fists and bayonets
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used, so close was the fighting. I remember distinctly of seeing a Rebel color bearer, with his musket in one hand and flag in the other, with outspread arms jump upon the little wall, shout- ing "Surrender, you damned Yankees." In an instant a Com- pany A or F man, I could not tell which, as the smoke was com- mencing to get heavy,-ran his bayonet through the man's chest and firing at the same time. I can still see in my mind's eye how the shot tore into shreds the back of his blouse; as he fell back- wards holding to his musket and colors, part of the flag staff was on our side; some one grabbed it while some one on tlie other side got hold of it and the tussle was lively for a few sec- onds, who should get possession of it. I think the Rebs must have gotten it, as I never saw or heard of it afterwards.
About this time, quite a number of the enemy forced me and some of my Company with others of the N. Y. Regiment on
Infantry Charge.
my right, up into our batteries. Here the mix up of artillery- men, cavalry, infantry and rebels was something long to be re- membered. I cannot help but think as I look backward, that the day and night of July 2, 1863, was certainly a hot time in the old town of Gettysburg.
Another incident: A Lieutenant of the 7th Louisiana was taken prisoner with quite a number of others. He was slightly wounded in the arm and was somewhat downhearted. I told him I would give him a note to our Surgeon, Neff, and make the re- quest to give him special attention. Sometime during the night he died. I found an envelope in his blouse pocket, in the morn- ing, with a photograph in it of three little girls. This I for-
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warded to mother with a description of the man and circum- stances, as the directions on the envelope were so dim and worn that the name could not be easily deciphered. This was for- warded to Harper's Weekly for insertion as a war incident, and eventually was returned to my mother, and has been in my pos- session for years. Now, here is the strange solution of the incident. Some years ago, when my daughter was a graduate at the Tuscaloosa Seminary she had a room-mate from Louisiana by the name of Berwick, who invited my daughter to go with her to her Southern home and spend some months there. She did so. One evening while sitting on the veranda, Mr. Berwick remarked : "My daughter tells me you are from Pennsylvania, and that your father was a Union soldier. Well, I was up their in your country one time also with the 7th Louisiana Tigers at Gettysburg. Our reception was so warm and of such a charac- ter, that I did not stay long. Was your father in that battle, also?" "Yes," she replied, "I have heard him speak about it." And then she related the circumstance of the photograph of the three children; and strange to say, they are still living some twenty miles from Mr. Berwick's sugar plantation, and that it was the first authentic statement they ever had of what had be- come of their father. She requested me to forward to Mr. Berwick the photograph, but like other things badly wanted, when needed turns up missing, and has never been found since.
One thought more, and I will close. On the backward march at Boonsboro Gap, I was detailed to take charge of some men to pull a battery up the mountain side. It was dark and raining, but when in place on top of the mountain, you could look down and see by the campfires the army taking its different positions into line for defense. It was a sight never before witnessed, and often still remembered.
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W. R. Kiefer, Co. A.
Wm. R. Kiefer (cousin of the writer) was a Sergeant in Com- pany A. In the opening of the battle in the Chancellorsville campaign he had been detailed to command a detachment of men on skirmish duty, and was among the first to discover the ap- proach of the Jackson skirmishers. Of all the accounts yet given the historian on the subject of the barricade before the Gilsa brigade, is his statement as to the nature of the obstructions. The slashings of the trees had been done under the direction of the General in person, and were of the nature of abattis. While returning from the skirmish line Sergeant Kiefer was badly wounded by the sharp point of a tree. Comrade Clyde Miller mentions an incident, showing the Sergeant's bravery in the first day's engagement at Gettysburg, as follows: "Accident- ally we got into an angle of General John B. Gordon's corps. About this time, . . Sergeant Kiefer of my Company, re- ported the woods in front of us was being massed with men be- hind the thickets for charge, and that by crouching down, I could see their legs up to their knees. I did so and saw that the force was a large one." The Sergeant was captured near the Alms- house, and was a prisoner for several weeks, but was paroled. Was at Camp Chester for ten days and was mustered out with the regiment July 23. 1863.
Sergeant Wm. M. Shultz, Co. A.
You will remember we were driven back at Chancellorsville on the afternoon of May 2d. With several of my Company (A) we retreated across an opening in our rear, and about half way across we stopped to help Captain Oerter of Company C, who was doing his best to rally some of the retreating men. We remained with him as long as we could and when it got too warm we found it would be madness to continue there any longer. We then went to the rear and entered the woods and bearing away to the left discovered our mistake, finding ourselves in the rear of the enemy, who had advanced its lines in pursuing our forces. We spent
Sergeant Win. M. Shultz, Co. A.
Sergeant Wm. M. Shultz-wartime.
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the entire night in endeavoring to get out of the woods, and elud- ing some of the enemy's scouts.
On the morning of the 3d we were discovered by the enemy and taken to the rear, where we joined other game which had been bagged, and with whom we fell in and started on our march to Richmond. On the evening of the 3d we stopped at Spottsylvania Court House, in the yard of which we encamped for the night. It was here I met Colonel Glanz, footsore and weary and completely disheartened. He had nothing to eat, so I made him a cup of coffee and gave him something to eat, which cheered him up a little. Early on Monday the fourth, we resumed our march, and at about 2 p. m. we halted at Guiney's Station. At this place we expected to be paroled, or at least treated to a ride to Richmond; but our expectations were not realized. About noon of Thursday the 7th, orders were given to fall in, the Colonel and officers going by rail.
During the afternoon we passed through Bowling Green, and early in the evening struck Milford Station. At each place we attracted the attention of the inhabitants both old and young, who were surprised to see so many Yanks-there were about 4000 of 11s. After leaving Milford Station a mile in rear, and fording an over-flowing stream which soaked us up to our waists, we laid down in the woods for a rest-and such rest. Bright and early the next morning we were again on the tramp and that night halted at Hanover Junction. Early the following morning "fall in" was again heard and remembering the old adage, "no rest for the wicked," we entered the march with good grace or as much as possible under the circumstances. After tramping, as it appeared to us, over all the southern Confederacy, we reached Richmond at about dark, and 9 o'clock found us safely lodged in Libby prison, our escort on the march being the Twelfth S. C. Volunteers. On arrival at the prison we found the Colonel and officers there, but in another part of the mansion. We remained there until the 13th of June. We were paroled during the day, and about 3 p. m. bade the place good-bye and started (on foot, of course, ) for City Point under guard, reaching our destination the
IO
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following day at about 2 p. m. And I must say the sight of "Old Glory" on our transports anchored in the harbor, was a sight never to be forgotten. Some cheered; others who had been in Libby for months, wept for joy, while many others dropped upon their knees and thanked the good Lord for his merciful deliver- ance.
Uncle Sam now took charge of us, and when all were gotten aboard the transports we set sail for Annapolis, which place we reached the following day. Remaining there a few days, we were sent to Alexandria and given quarters in Camp Convales- cent, Va. On our march from Chancellorsville to Richmond those men who guarded us, treated us kindly, even sharing their food with us. While in Libby we were treated like dogs. Thanks to the officer there in charge-a Major Turner, a brute in hu- man form.
Sergeant Wm. Henry Weaver, by his son, Ethan Allen Weaver, Germantown, Pa.
In the Autumn of 1862 when the war trumpet was sounded throughout the North, calling for recruits to strengthen the Union forces, and repulse the enemy, which then threatened northern invasion, and Northampton County in lieu of a draft, raised a full regiment of volunteers, he enlisted in Company A, 153d Regiment, Penna. Vol. Infantry, most of whose officers and enlisted men were close intimate friends and neighbors. Upon the organization of the Company he was elected Corporal, and on February 25, 1863, promoted to Sergeant.
In the battle of Chancellorsville his regiment occupied a unique position at the extreme right of the Army of the Poto- mac, where it was the first to receive the attack of "Stonewall" Jackson's Corps of Lee's Confederate army, in which attack a rebel bullet grazed one of his fingers, merely breaking the skin, and in the retreat of the Eleventh Corps it was his misfortune ' to be captured and confined in Libby prison. After being paroled
F
Ma A Maver Serjis Coct1530d Pre Pairal. First Brigade First. Vivilon Eleventh ating Corps
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he was taken to Camp Convalescent, Alexandria, Va., where he remained until the expiration of his term of service, without ever being exchanged.
Upon the expiration of his military service he returned to Nazareth and remained there until 1864, when he removed to Easton, where he continued to reside until about 1889, at which time he removed to Chester county, Pa., where he died on April 14, 1893, in the sixty-fourth year of his age.
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