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 14
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to carry them. I found a sutler and laid down the bill for the cakes. But the sutler said, 'I won't take that money.' I said, 'Why not? It is your own money.' He replied, 'yes but our money won't go in England, and yours will.' I went back and reported to the Colonel, who made some remarks which were not very complimentary to the rebel sutler, and
*He died on Sunday, 10th.
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gave me a five dollar greenback. For this I got about three or four pounds of what we call 'ginger snaps.' On returning I handed them to the Colonel, but he said, no, 'pass them among our men.' I did so and had only four or five left. These the Colonel refused, so I ate them.
A heavy thunder storm arose and we were thoroughly drenched. We left the Station on the 8th of May about noon, and marched to Hanover Junction. Here we remained over night, and had rations dealt out to us, consisting of two crackers and about one and a half or two ounces of boiled ham to each one. I asked the Colonel of our guard how far it was to Richmond. He said it was thirty-two miles and that we must march the dis- tance without stopping, which we did excepting short stops for rest. We arrived at Libby prison about ten o'clock that even - ing. About nine o'clock the next morning we were given a five cent loaf of bread for eight men. At 9 p. m. we were served with three-fourths of a cup of black bean soup, which was very poor stuff. This ration was a sample of our daily rations dur- ing our confinement. Every day the officer of the floor would come in and say. 'Yanks, fall in in groups of fours.' In this way we were counted instead of having roll call.
When we came out of prison, confederate women were wait- ing to supply us with one cent biscuits at twenty-five cents a piece. I paid two dollars for eight biscuits. We marched to Peters- burg the first day. We were in the rain all day and all night, but with cover at night. We left the woods about daylight and marched to City Point a distance of nine miles and arrived at 2 p. m., having marched about 32 miles. We were under escort of Cavalry and Infantry. The rebels were moving empty cars in the same direction we were going to bring back their prisoners and could have taken us on board the cars as well as not. We left City Point about 4 p. m. on eight steamers, which our government had sent for us. The next day we arrived at Fortress Monroe where we received rations and water. We left in the same boats for Washington, D. C. We were con-
Captain Joseph A. Frey. Co. B.
Lieutenant Joseph T. Wilt. Co. B.
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ducted to Camp at Alexandria and afterwards to the Soldiers Re- treat in Washington where we remained over night. From there we went to Philadelphia where we slept in the depot, and on the following morning started for Harrisburg. Here we remained, awaiting the arrival of the regiment after the battle of Gettysburg, and with them went to Easton where we received a great re- ception. When Company A. reached Nazareth they had a fine reception by the citizens,
Narrative by Rev. George W. Roth, Co. C.
"While working at my trade, carriage smithing, in Coopers- burg, Lehigh County, the 153d Regiment being organized, I learned that many of my former associates were enlisting in the army, I at once determined to be among them and enlisted in Company C. Dates of events and names of places I cannot now definitely recall. My diary was lost with my knapsack, and my memory through sickness did not retain many things I would be now glad to know and be able to relate. One of the things I best remember while encamped at - somebody in camp had liquor, at least our Captain's little French cook seemed to have had too much. During the night he accidentally discharged a rifle in his tent. The Captain was very much frightened, and greatly excited called the Company to ranks. He wanted to know who attempted to shoot him, and under great stress of alarmed feelings demanded to know. We were finally dismissed and returned to our tents, but not to sleep much that night. While we were entrenched at Gettysburg our Brigadier General, von Gilsa passing our Company, wondered whether the bullets whistling near his head were intended for him. About that time comrade Aaron espied a sharpshooter in a tree in front of us, and soon brought him down. When the General was told about it he asked to see Comrade Aaron, thanked him, and handed him a green back.
At Chancellorsville I was on the picket line when the rebels
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came rushing upon us through the woods yelling like fiends. At the command of the officer in charge I fell back into line, and soon the command to fire was given. My comrades dropped by my side. Soon the retreat commenced, one of the provost marshalls trying to rally the scattered forces, struck at me with his saber, hitting my rifle, cut a deep gash into the barrel, by which I knew it ever after. I soon found the Company again. I will never forget the days of hunger when we ran short of provisions. I stretched out my bill of fare with the hard-tack until finally the last one was consumed and yet the hope of a new supply was not realized. Having nothing else to eat I gathered up the grains of corn the mules left in their feeding troughs and had scattered on the ground. It was scanty fare, but I was thankful for even that. "This is for insulting the Quarter-Master,' was the inscription on a placard tied on the back of several comrades who were marched through the streets of the regiment. They had said some hard things because there was nothing to eat.
Our old fifer, George Lee, one day discovered a quarter of beef. He reckoned it would be as good for Company C. as for the regimental officers. He managed to bring the tempting food to his tent and covered it with blankets and leaves. We were all too hungry not to keep the secret, so he dealt it out among us, and we cooked it undercover of hard-tack. Never was meat as good as that. Thank you, George.
The only case of real home-sickness I ever saw was that of a comrade in Company C. The home feeling seized him so strong- ly, that he was rapidly being reduced to a skeleton and his mind was in danger of becoming unbalanced. He was discharged and sent home, and finally recovered. Later he prepared for col- lege under the same private tutor that I did, and entered the gospel ministry. He died a few years ago.
Shortly before the march to Gettysburg, I was taken sick with typhoid fever. When the march began I was shipped to Colum- bia College Hospital, Washington, D. C., where I remained until
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the expiration of our time. I was longing to be with the boys at Gettysburg, but the fever prevented it. This illness may have been the means of saving my life, but the effects of the fever clung to me for more than a year. I was mustered out with the regiment at Harrisburg. After I had gained sufficient strength to do a day's work I took up my trade at Bethlehem. Later I prepared for the gospel ministry, and here I discovered that the fever had very much impaired my memory. But with constant effort and exercise, its powers have been greatly re- stored, although many things of the past are lost to me.
At present I am located in Boyerstown, Berks County, Pa., and am serving a charge of three congregations. I have been in the ministry since 1876, and in the present field sixteen years. Uncle Sam is using me well."
Isaac E. Smith, Co. K.
Comrade Smith relates the following: "At Gettysburg when we were ordered back from our position of the first day I retired through the town. Many of the men got confused in the con- gested streets. Other troops from other regiments had come in from the west at the same time. I saw a man who was wounded in the foot. He was hobbling along and coming to a stoop with an opening beneath, the fellow crawled under and that was the last I saw of him. I withdrew to the south side and lay that night behind a wheat field where I remained until the next day evening. General von Gilsa was walking around, in open sight of the many sharpshooters and I told him he had better sit down. He replied, 'Perhaps I had better ; for they may keep on shooting at me all day.' About dusk the cannon shots behind us were fearful. Above the noise of battle I distinctly heard the clear voice of Gilsa giving directions and encouraging his brigade."
1
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Comrade Theodore Keller, Co. C.
Comrade Keller, who shared the trials of camp life, the hard marches and the fierce battle at Gettysburg, has written us to notify the Battle Field Memorial Commission that he fought in that famous battle. This communication reminds the author of the duty of informing the men of the 153d that it will be impos- sible for the War Department to get an absolutely correct list of the men who were there on the occasion, and who by participa- tion in the engagement July 1-4, 1863, are entitled to be recorded on the tablet of the State Monument.
The following is the substance of a letter addressed to the writer: "I now mail you the roll of the 153d-your gallant regiment. We want you to go over this roll and see that the names are spelled correctly. It is a copy of the roll when you were mustered for pay on the day before the battle of Gettysburg, June 30, 1863. It is presumed that as the men were present on that day, June 30th, they were present at the battle. He further states that, "Every man on this roll was present on June 30th, and answered to his name 'present,' and it is certified to by the mustering officer that they were present. The names of all deserters should be stricken off the list."
The facts we find are that there were less than 600 men carried into action in this battle, and the records above referred to show that there were 910 men present at the muster the day before the battle. The monument on Barlow's Knoll shows less than 600 taken into action.
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Notes by Rev. Anthony Straub, Co. A.
"I am very sorry that all the letters I wrote to my dear mother, while in the service have been lost, which, if I had them, would furnish me plenty of material to comply with your request. Yet I will undertake to give you some of my recollec- tions as well as I am able to do.
First of all I will never forget the night we spent in the Universalist Church in Easton where all of our Company A., of Nazareth, spent the night on the hard benches. Sleep was entirely out of the question as the noise, the turmoil, and the fun-making were something great. Some would bark like a dog, some imitate a cat, some a cow, and while others were snoring, others would shout, dance and tell stories, and so the night passed. The next day we were loaded on cars and transported to Harrisburg and marched out to Camp Curtin where we were afterward mustered in the service.
Here we received our bounty money. Then followed the trip to Washington. We marched through Baltimore, and en- camped on Camp Glanz outside of Washington. We crossed the long bridge a day or two after and were shipped on to Alexandria ; from there by rail to Manassas Junction and Gaines- ville and from there to Bull Run battle field; from there back to Chantilly and Aldie and then marched on to join General Burnside; next on to Stafford Court House. We had marched two days without provisions of any kind. The first thing we got to eat the third day was salt pork, the fat of which was a hand high, which in our great hunger we ate without any other kind of food. In consequence many of the men were taken with dysentery.
We arrived at Fredericksburg too late to help Burnside, who was defeated before we arrived there. When we were en- camped at Brooks Station, our winter quarters, we had every- thing we needed for our comfort. The winter we spent there I shall never forget. We had some in our Company who could not write very well, and these asked me to write letters for them
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to their folks at home. I was kept busy day by day writing letters. We also held prayer meetings in camp, such of us as were so inclined, from the several Companies. Some were from my Company and from Captain Buzzard's Company not a few. We had one very profitable visit from General O. O. Howard, who addressed one of the meetings. Among other interesting inci- dents was the receipt of mail, often containing clothing. The drills given us by General von Gilsa, were very entertaining. The variety of life of varied experience broke the monotony, and made things cheerful.
I shall never forget the day when we finally broke camp on the 27th of April, 1863, and crossed the Rappahannock river above Fredericksburg, also the Rapidan and arrived at Chancel- lorsville. Here on the 30th day of April we, for the first time, smelled powder. Amidst shot and shell on the memorable even- ing of May 2d, when we were surrounded by the enemy, routed and scattered in all directions. Here our Colonel and many of Company A were taken prisoners. Here I got separated from my regiment and got into a regiment of U. S. regulars, and stayed with them over night, and on Sunday morning, May 3d, I found my regiment. At six o'clock that morning, was com- manded to join a detachment of six from each Company, who were to be employed as skirmishers, between the two armies, and had to stay out between two lines, from 6 o'clock in the morning until 4 o'clock in the afternoon, before we could be relieved. In two days we retreated back to our old camp. From here we marched to Gettysburg, crossing the Potomac at Edwards Ferry, encamping at Goose Creek. Here we all took a bath. On the march we threw away our overcoats, knapsacks and everything which was burdensome, reaching Emmitsburg where we encamped over night. On reaching the town of Gettysburg we were marched out to the Franklin County Poor House. I received a wound back of this building, after which we were ordered to retreat to join our army on the heights of Gettysburg. I was detained during the 2d and 3d day's fight, having been detailed to assist the doctors. I found my own
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Lieutenant Benjamin F. Schaum wounded and brought him in on a wheel barrow. I also brought in comrade John King, who had received eight or nine wounds, I did not mind mine so much because it was but a slight flesh wound. God saved my life that day.
The fourth day after the beginning of the battle, and after the glorious victory, I joined my regiment at Hagerstown, Md., and with them marched to Frederick city. Here we received orders to be mustered out of service. The home-coming was a day never to be forgotten. There was great joy over meeting dear ones after an absence of ten months. We received a great reception at Easton, and our Company A had a fine reception at Nazareth in front of the Moravian church.
God be praised, all the hardships, dangers, and fighting are over and we have again been a united country for the last forty-three years, and hope we may so continue for all time to come."
Edward Young, Co. A.
"When the attack came at Chancellorsville I saw the rebels coming through the tree tops. I saw Colonel von Gilsa on a black horse. As I retreated I came to entrenchments, and as- sisted in digging the earth works for the cannon which had halted there. When we came to our entrenchments on Sunday, we remained there for many hours. John Johnson was taken sick. It rained very hard during some of the time, and I cov- ered the sick man with a coat and piece of shelter tent. On the retreat I saw two cannon caught among the trees as they were emerging from the woods, and a pair of mules tied together and fast in the mud.
At Gettysburg I was among the detail made up from three men from each Company. We were called out to a place called Miller's town. I was in the skirmish line with Lieutenant
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Clyde Millar. We remained out two days and nights. We lay in front of the cannon on the hill which fired over us. The flash and roar of the guns was awful."
Sergeant David Mall, Co. B.
"I was born in Hanover Township, May 22, 1840. Enlisted in Company B of the One Hundred and Fifty-Third Regiment. My enlistment dates from the twentieth of September. During my term I was in the two battles, Chancellorsville and Gettys- burg. In the latter battle I was slightly wounded in the knee but remained on duty. I enjoyed unusual health during all the while I was in the service. I endured all hardships of the march and exposure and dangers of the battlefield with resignation, having voluntarily given my service for the good of my country. The many descriptions of battle given by my comrades are a faithful record of what I saw and experienced and now with the survivors of our loyal regiment share the benefits of our beloved and saved country."
Henry A. Miller, Co. B.
Theodore Miller was wounded at Gettysburg, July 2, and died in the Eleventh Corps Hospital on the 4th day. Following is 3 letter which he wrote to his parents on the 25th of May, 1862: "Dear Mother: Yours was duly received the 24th inst. Brother Theodore received one from father the same day. It always affords us much joy to hear from home, especially to hear that you are all well. Health is a great blessing which we enjoy in this troublesome world. Let us lift our eyes to heaven and give God the praise. We are all well at present. We know not exactly when our regiment will get home. I think we will return the 22d of next month, when our time of enlistment will have expired. Some say we have to stay until the 7th of July. I hope and pray that the Lord will spare us to return. Let us put our trust in the Lord and all shall be well. This experience will teach many a
Sergeant David Moll. Co. B.
Henry Kuester, Co. B.
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man to lead a different life. No news at present. The weather has been very warm. There is appearance of rain. Mr. Snyder is with us in the regiment for a few days. I would be very glad to get home and get to work. I am tired of this mode of life. Theodore and I unite in love to you all.
Your son in much love, HENRY A. MILLER."
Camp near Brooks Station, Va.
The following letter from Comrade Rudolph Rossel gives a more detailed account of Henry Miller. It was written to the father of Henry.
"Dear Friend Miller :- Your kind letter was duly received and read with much pleasure. As you desired I went and got all the information I could concerning Henry, and you will pardon me for not answering sooner, as I did not get to see Mr. Doll until this morning. I have in- quired also of David Moll, who says that Henry was wounded on the 2d of July in the evening. He was not with him at the moment he was wounded, but he saw him shortly afterwards. Henry spoke to David asking him to get a blanket for him if possible, and while he was gone in search of one an ambulance came along and removed him to the hos- pital. That was about 7 o'clock in the evening, (the writer was in the ambulance corps at the time) but whether he died on the third or fourth he could not say for certain, because he was not at the hospital at that time. (Many of the wounded near the cemetery gate were hurriedly placed in the arched building (see cut) and these the writer assisted in removing to the Eleventh Corps hospital in a barn on a farm south of the Baltimore pike). Comrade Doll says he was brought to the Corps Hospital on the 4th of July in the morning after the Rebels had evacuat- ed the town, and shortly before Mr. Doll came there Henry had been removed for burial. He undoubtedly died on the Glorious 4th. How sad that we who were within a mile or two from where he was wounded could not have been with him to at least pour cold water on his wounds. Henry was a good boy.
This is all the information I could get here concerning your son. If I can do any more for you I will do it with pleasure"
Bethlehem, Pa., 1863.
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Letter from Comrade Joseph Hillpot.
July 7, 1863.
"I heard yesterday that Henry A. Miller was killed in the great battle. To-day Captain J. A. Frey told me that he heard that Miller was buried at the Eleventh Corps Hospital, which is about two miles south of Gettysburg. This afternoon I walked out to the hospital to see where he is buried and to ascertain the particulars regarding his death. I found his grave in a field at a stone wall marked by a board on which was written : 'Henry A. Miller, Company B, 153d Regiment, Penna. Volun- teers.' I wrote my name together with a few lines on the board with a pencil. I then went to Dr. Armstrong and ascertained the following particulars. As nearly as the surgeon could inform me he was shot on the first day and died on the 4th. He was shot in the thigh, the ball having shattered the bone and flesh so that the wound was mortal. The surgeon gave me a pocketbook which contained twenty cents, also a letter found on his person after death."
Letter from Comrade Theodore Miller, Co. B.
"Camp near Potomac Creek Bridge, Va., May 27, 1863.
Dear Parents: Your kind letters duly made their appearance. Un- doubtedly much consolation was afforded you on being informed that we were spared in the recent battle. Many of our soldiers have fallen in the late battles around the Rappahannock. As you have heard so many rumors about the Eleventh Corps, and our 153d Regiment, of our falling back, I will endeavor to give you a correct statement of the position we held at the time we were so unexpectedly attacked on Saturday, May 2d Our Corps (11th) was placed on the exteme right of the line of Hooker's army. Between its left and the right of the Twelfth Corps, our nearest support, there was a space of about a mile and a half (one-half mile) . Some say it was intended by General Hooker that our corps should form a crotchet on the right flank of the army, and that through a misconcep- tion of orders it was placed as above stated. The enemy did not advance upon us in front as he should have done ; but General Jackson by a well- executed turning movement, suddenly appeared in oblique order with close columns and attacked us in flank and rear. So suddenly and un-
Captain Theo. H. Howell, Co. I).
Lieutenant Wm. H. Houser, Co. D.
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expectedly were we assailed that some of our men were shot in the back while sitting on their knapsacks. Surprised in this manner by an over- whelming force and a murderous volley, we were commanded to fall back, as any troops should have done under like circumstances. The poorest kind of generalship was displayed in placing us where we were. Being placed in a dense woods and nearly two feet abreast, having but a few pieces of artillery along the line. Our Corps has the honor of having given General Jackson his death wound. In the fork formed by the roads leading to Ely's and Germanna Mills, the woods had been fired and burned, consuming the dead of both armies, and perhaps also some of the wounded who were so seriously injured as to disable them from escape. Their sufferings must have been intense. Where private soldiers had been burned the fire had communicated with their cartridge boxes, exploding their contents and had terribly mutilated the body. The doctor said, 'May God deliver me from another such sight.' Our dead were stripped of their clothing by the enemy, but the treatment given our wounded was as kind as their own needy circumstances would allow. The Rebels admit their loss to have been much greater than ours. Thanks to Him who rules over us for our preservation of health and life. Brother Henry sends his love to all. Remember me to all.
Your son faithfully, THEODORE MILLER."
Captain Theodore H. Howell, Co. D.
"I know that my men stood at least ten minutes firing in the line at Chancellorsville on Saturday evening, May 2d. Many of them fired as many as twenty rounds, and even had time to have fired more. I doubt not the statement of George Seigfried that he discharged as many as nine shots. The various com- panies as they stood in line of battle did not all retire at the same time. There was much confusion and the men did not retire until commanded by the superior commander. We were on the left of Company F. and were well enveloped before we made our escape. The 54th N. Y. of our Brigade was im- mediately behind our extreme right of the regiment. The 68tlı
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N. Y. was also near by. The two Dickman cannon were small and were near Co. A on the left of the line. Captain Howard Reeder, of Company G, was on my left. Lieutenant Yeager of Company C was also on our left. He was also an excellent officer. The flag which the 153d bore through the battles was long after the war in possession of Colonel Glanz and Lieutenant Colonel Dachrodt. It had been exhibited on various gatherings of the regiment, and on request of the State authorities was returned to the Capitol of the State at Harrisburg. The Colonel presented a new one instead of the old tattered one. Subsequently the old one was sent to the Archives of the State. A cut of the dear old flag is furnished by our thoughtful Secretary, Comrade Mack. Through the courtesy of Adjutant General Thos. J. Stewart, a photographer, with whom Mr. Mack had made the arrangement, made the photo for the cut. The design of the colors is that of the ordinary United States ensign on which were printed the battles through which the old flag had passed. All imprints have become illegible and the fabric reduced to mere rags-pathetic to look upon."
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