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 16
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George King, Co. F.
Comrade King was an expert horseman and on that account was detailed by the Quartermaster for teamster and was con- nected wth the brigade trains.
To supply ammunition in the battle of Chancellorsville, hie was sent in company with another team to deliver a load of cartridges to the army beyond the Rappahannock. A six mule team could draw 25 cases of 100 lbs. each. He was one of the men who foraged for corn at the time when men and animals were destitute of food at the encampment of Stafford Court House. He relates the sad case of a soldier who in great desperation for food asked permission to eat corn from the mess the teamster was about feeding to his team, and the man ate so ravenously of the raw whole corn that in three hours he died from the effects. He relates an incident of men in a half starved condition eating meat taken from the head of an animal which had many days before been killed for food and the skeleton of the carcass left entire. ,
On the march from Brooks Station to Gettysburg Comrade King was attacked with typhoid fever, and with many other sick
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men was removed to Columbia Hospital, Washington, D. C. There he remained until October. On his arrival in Easton at night, though still weak from his long illness he started for his home and on the way in the darkness was overtaken by a man on horseback ; who happened to be a neighbor of his parents. On speaking to him to his great joy he learned that he was Charles Long, who instantly dismounted and placed the soldier in the saddle and accompanied him to his father's home. The joy of the family was undescribable, and all sleep was suspended for the entire night.
Notes by W. H. Marsteller, Co. F.
"The men I recall who were detailed to assist in the cutting of the trees in front of the line May 2d, were James Woodring, William Stover, Amos Queer. General von Gilsa was present and directed the work. He rode a sorrel mare. Andrew Seigler was the first man killed from the regiment. I fired five rounds before we retired.
I recollect many things about the boys. At Gettysburg dur- ing the first days fighting Comrade Philip Halpin was killed between the Almshouse and Barlow's Knoll. I knew Sergeant Edward Kiefer. He always looked out for us in dealing out the bread. Charles M. Shively was a prisoner ; so was Cham- berlain. John Kressler was a good, pious soldier. So was Edwin Boder. Captain Stout was sick and wholly unfit for duty most of the time. Lieutenant William Beidelman was a regular rooster, very patriotic. Steven B. Frick was a wagon- driver. So was Blackley. Abraham Benner was a good sol- dier, was wounded at Chancellorsville. Then there was Stephen Romig and William Raub both good soldiers. William H. Riehl was the life of the Company. Ira Scherry was 'trans- ported,' did camp duty. I knew Jesse Soys who was wounded, he has since died. George Steckel was Company cook, and was promoted to Brigade cook; John Balliet was his assistant.
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Jackson Stein was dubbed "Stonewall Jackson." He got the mules through the mud by using strong arguments. Willian Stoneback had charge of the medical donkey. He said the mule was wounded and that he destroyed part of the medicine to keep it from falling into the enemy's hands. There was Aaron Sandt, of Bath, and John Snyder a member of the Band. Joseph D. Stocker was a mule driver. William H. Taylor was a fine man. Charles Wassar drove the ambulance wagon, and since became a veterinary surgeon. Nathaniel Weigner was a tanner and the base drum of the Band having been bursted, Weigner entered a tannery at Burkettsville and found a calf skin in the vat which he tanned for the drum."
William G. Tomer, Co. F.
Comrade Tomer has passed from the scenes of the earthly life. He was a much respected and loyal comrade, and filled an unusually important position in the army. His talents for clerical work, and his superior penmanship brought him to the notice of General Howard who at one time gave him employ- ment of responsibility and recommended him to a position of trust in the government after the war. He was also private secretary for Captain Stout of Co. F. He was honorably dis . charged with his Company.
John Kressler, Co. F.
A young man of excellent christian habits, who from pure patriotic and conscientious motives enlisted in the defense of his country, was highly esteemed by the men of his Company and, especially of the mess to which he belonged in camp.
Abraham J. Benner, Co. F.
Philip R. Halpin. Co. F.
John Kressler. Co. F.
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Reuben Transue, Co. F.
Comrade Reuben Transue was a friend of the writer. We very much regret that he left no account of his experience. All his associates have also died. Fortunately his family have fur-
Reuben Transue, Co. F.
nished a picture of him which we cheerfully add to the list of well remembered comrades. He served his country and has gone to his reward.
Wm. H. Taylor, Co. F.
This exemplary man was an intimate friend of the writer, and it is a singular incident that he is the only one to whom the writer spoke while in the entrenchments at both battles. The first occasion was while our men lay behind carthworks near the United States Ford, and the second instance occurred behind a low stone fence near the cemetery entrance on Cemetery Hill. He advised us of the danger of the sharpshooters, which suggest- ed retirement to duties in the hospital. All the men of our mess are dead and very few of our Company are now living.
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A. J. Benner, Co. F.
Abraham J. Benner, born on December 29, 1840, in Lower Saucon Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. First enlistment, April 18, 1861, Company A, First Regiment, Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry, discharged July 23, 1861, at Har- risburg, Pa., expiration of term of enlistment. Re-enlisted September 30, 1862, Company F, 153d Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.
He was in engagement, Chancellorsville, Va., May Ist, 2d and 3d, 1863, and was wounded by gun shot in right shoulder, May 2d.
Comrade Benner's regiment occupied a position on the right wing, facing the southern army under General Jackson. In the beginning of the engagement the regiment had been ordered to lie down on their stomachs to shoot, roll over on their backs to load guns, thereby escaping the rebel balls. While in the act of loading his rifle a cartridge became jammed in the barrel, Comrade Benner arose to his feet to force the cartridge into place, while doing so, a Rebel soldier about ten paces in front of him, took deliberate aim and fired, wounding him in the right shoulder, bringing Comrade Benner to his knees, but he returned the Rebel soldier's fire. At this very moment the Union army was ordered to retreat, while retreat- ing Comrade Benner met an ambulance which took him to the field hospital. Here he remained all night, when next morning, the hospital being in line with the ammunition train which the Rebels were shelling, the order came for all the wounded that were able to run, to hurry across the Rappahannock at United States Ford. He stayed here at signal station all that day and night. The next morning the Rebel army commenced to throw shells across the river towards the signal station and ammuni- tion train, when again the order came for all the wounded soldiers that could, to run. Fifteen of the wounded soldiers including Comrade Benner were loaded into an army wagon
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and taken to Stoneman's Switch, here they were loaded into a cattle car and taken to Aquia Creek Hospital. Stayed here two weeks, transferred to the Regimental Hospital for one week, then sent home on a ten days furlough.
After coming home Comrade Benner's wound becoming worse, he was unable to return to the front and was finally mustered out with his regiment on July 24, 1863, at Easton, Pa.
The Men of Company F.
Comrade John Koken, whose widow lives at 328 Lehigh St., Easton, was a good soldier. We were school boys together. living in the same neighborhood from early childhood. He was wounded in the battle of Gettysburg. While I was around the hospital, assisting in the care of 1500 wounded, I strolled ont back of the barn (our hospital) and wholly unexpected I found my friend John lying under shelter of a few boards which had one end laid on a fence. It was along side a bar- rack. He was very glad to see me, and his case was pitiable enough. He had been wounded in the chest, and the great profusion of blood had saturated his clothes, pocket book and all. There were $60 in bills so covered with blood that they required soaking and washing. I laid them out on the boards, with some pieces of garments, also, to dry. He requested me to send his money home. He was subsequently removed to a hospital, I think, in Newark. He lived many years and was employed in railroading.
There were 24 men of my Company wounded and 7 killed. I was acquainted with but two of those killed, Philip Halpin, and Jacob Unangst. Sergeant John Seiple died of wounds. He was in the ward of the barn and died near where I was in at- tendance. He suffered intensely from lockjaw, and when I saw that he could not live I thought death was preferable as I witnessed him breathing his last.
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The Experience of Comrade Reuben Ruch, Co. F.
"On the 29th of May, 1863, I made my escape fi un the Corps hospital at Brooks' Station, where I had been tor four weeks under treatment for rheumatism and diarrhea results of typhoid fever. I had been on the sick list four months, and had became very lean. We had a big, fat, good-natured doctor .... I think his name was Shaw. I had been buzzing the doctor for about ten days to let me go to the regiment, and his answer always was that I was not fit for duty. The stench in the hos- pital among the many wounded was unendurable, and I told the doctor that fresh air would do mne good, and if he would let me go to the regiment I would soon be all right. But he said 'If the regiment should start on a campaign what would you do?' I told him I could find my way back to the hospital again. So luckily .... I got permission, on condition that I would report to the regimental doctor .... it did not take me very long to get out of that place. It was two long miles to where the regiment was encamped, and it was a warm day. I had to rest two or three times before I got there. Instead of report- ing to the doctor as I had agreed to, I reported to the Captain of my Company for duty. I informed him on what condition I got out of the hospital, and told him to use me gentle, as he always did. We remained in this camp only a few days .... I was detailed for camp guard, and it fell to my fortune to guard a lot of bailed hay. I remember the relief had a good time finding me under the hay, when it came time for guard relief. I must have been sleeping, for who ever thought of keeping awake on so good a bed-not I. We left this camp and re- moved about two miles to another. I think we were moved for the benefit of our health more than for anything else. This short march seemed to me about ten miles long, and I was very near the end of my strength when we went into camp. Here we put up a comfortable tent .... so arranged that we could roll up the sides during the day which made it nice and cool. But we did not enjoy our tent very long; I think about a week. During the week we had a good deal of excitement, being called
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Reuben F. Ruch, Co. F.
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out almost every night. It was either a tramp to the picket line, or forming line of battle before daylight. The orders, four days rations, and one hundred rounds of ammunition in the cartridge-box and knapsack. I must say that we always had ammunition in abundance even if the rations were a little short at times. This with us made no difference. During the last of the short time we spent in this camp we could hear heavy cannonading every evening in the direction of Freder- icksburg, and we knew there was going to be trouble somewhere before long. Under these circumstances many of our men might have been thinking about the next world, but we had not yet gotten through with this one, and our minds got to running on a plan how to clean out the sutler before leaving the camp. On the evening that this work was to take place, the old fellow was on guard all night and kept his lamps burning. I always thought that he had gotten wind of our intentions. This be- ing the last night that we remained here in camp, the sutler was not cleaned out as he should have been. But then I think I am square with him for I still owe him a bill of five dollars.
On the 12th of June, (1863), at about 2 o'clock p. m., we commenced the famous march to Gettysburg. It was very dry for we had had no rain since the 9th of May. The dust was from two to three inches deep; and one could see the heat waves curl up from the dry roads about twenty-five feet, hav- ing the appearance of the sun shining on a piece of hot iron. The wells and springs were about all dry, and the creeks very low. The clouds of dust would rise about one hundred feet above us, and I was informed that these clouds of dust could be seen for miles.
Here is where I failed to carry out my part of the agreement with the doctor when I left the hospital. Instead of returning to the hospital I shouldered my knapsack, one hundred rounds of am- munition, three days rations, and a new Austrian rifle, I stepped in the ranks with the boys. I had gained somewhat in flesh and strength, but could not cat the coarse rations .... but kept
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in ranks for eight or ten miles, when I called a halt. I took a look through my knapsack, and found I had some clothing which I could get along without .... and when I got through with my search the knapsack looked about as thin as I did. After this I met the Chaplain, and he was very anxious to know how I was getting along. As the water in the canteen had given out and I was very thirsty, I told him that water was scarce and hard to get and I thought a good drink of whiskey would be a great help to move a fellow along. I was hinting very strongly for a drink. But instead of getting a drink, I lost the friend- ship of the Chaplain. ... I soon came u with my Company, and here I found a negro wench in the ranks hoofing it along like a good fellow, but she soon dropped to the rear. We went into camp about dark, and, oh, my! such sore feet as I had. When I pulled off my socks .... every toe had a blister and on the big joint back of the big toe the skin came off with the sock, as big as an old fashion copper cent. I did not stop to eat supper that night, but I lay down on my rubber blanket with my over- coat for cover, and was soon in the land of dreams.
June 13th reveille sounded at 3 a. m., and we left camp just at the break of day. There had been considerable speculation the day before as to where we were going. And as the road had been bearing toward the left, or south, the word was 'left to Richmond;' when the road turned toward the right this morning, saying was 'right for Washington.' My feet were in a very bad condition .... after marching .... for eight or ten miles, two large blisters formed on the bottom of my feet about an inch wide and two inches long. I had to stop and open these blisters and it was just like walking on coals of fire after this operation. It was not long before I was getting into the rear. I got so far behind the columns that I finally got into the ambu- lance corps, when I caught hold of a wagon which pulled me along three or four miles, and I was quite relieved. I got off the road looking for water, for I was very thirsty. I came to a pond in a field not far from the road. This was the worst water I ever had tried to drink. It was covered with a thick
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green scum with a lot of big long-legged flies skating over it. The pond was about two inches deep and filled with young frogs-the water was thick and smelled so strong that I could not drink it. But I must have water and filled my canteen out of this pond. I put into the canteen about two teaspoonfuls of coffee to flavor it. I came up with my Company shortly after,-and as I stepped into the ranks the boys asked me 'have you got any water?' Not a drop was my answer, still having about half a canteen of the stuff I had gotten out of the pond. But water was water and I could not give it away. I drank it all before we came to water again.
We stopped to cook a cup of coffee about noon. Here was a little stream of water not over one foot and a half wide and about three or four inches deep, running water. It was pure, but as far as I could see up the stream the boys were washing their feet in it, and by the time it got down to where we were it was pretty well flavored. But this use of it made no difference to us. We made coffee out of it, drank of it, and washed our feet in it, and as far as I could see down the stream everybody was using it for the same purposes.
I bought a pair of woolen socks from one of my comrades for fifty cents on credit, for we had no money. I do not re- member now whether I ever paid for them, but I promised to do so, and that was enough those days. By the time I got my feet fixed up .... the bugle called for us to get up and travel. I started with the regiment, and kept up for some time, but I had to frequently stop to fix up my feet by the operation on their bottoms .... and under these circumstances got away to the rear of my regiment into the wagon train. By degrees I caught up with the regiment, about a mile before it reached camp, on Cedar Run ... . when I came up my Company gave three cheers for me as they always did on my arrival. We were just starting when a big fellow by the name of Benjamin Mann, dropped in the road with sun-stroke and was carried out under a shade tree and the doctor called. He was with us again in a
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few days but the poor fellow was killed at Gettysburg. I will mention him again before the end of my story. We went into camp at Cedar Run about 5 o'clock p. m. We made thirty miles this day. It was on a wager with the 2d Brigade. Brigadier von Gilsa had put up three hundred dollars that the Ist Brigade could out-march the 2d. The Ist Brigade was in camp about one hour before the 2d arrived. The General (Gilsa) made a fine little speech to us congratulating us on our marching quali- ties, and thanking us for making the distance in the short time and beating the 2d Brigade.
After supper (coffee and hard-tack)-I went down about one hundred yards through a nice meadow, to take a bath. I thought I would return to camp in my bare feet, but I could not walk, so I got down on my hands and crawled back to camp .... an incident happened on the march. We came to a well which had an old fashioned oaken bucket and windlass. The crowd around the well was about two rods deep, and every man as dry as harvest hands. I worked my way up through the crowd and came behind a big fellow by the name of Wolf who belonged to Company D. He looked over his shoulder and said to me, 'hang on to me Rube.' I got hold of Wolf with my tin in hand, and held to his waist. He got hold of the bucket as soon as he could reach it. Three men on the other side of the well got hold of it the same time Wolf did. Wolf got the bucket and two of the men on the other side came very near falling in. My tin was full of dust, but was the first one in the bucket. But to get the tin out full of water was quite another thing. All that could crowded their tins on top of mine, and by the time I got mine out I had a half tinful of dust and water. By the time I had drank this the bucket had fallen to the bottom of the well. The boys went marching on. I think Wolf did not get a drop of water for his trouble.
On the 14th reveille sounded at about 5 o'clock. After break- fast of coffee and hard-tack, a rumor came through camp that this was Sunday, and that it would conflict with General How- ard's religious principles to march on Sunday. I for one was
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wishing that the General's religious spell would last all day, but by ten o'clock a. m. the bugle sounded calling us to get ready to march. While we were packing the band gave us lots of music. But music had very little effect on us for we were too near dead .... If I had been offered ten thousand dol- lars this morning to march ten miles I would have refused it; for in my condition it was impossible for me to march. After the music, came the old familiar command 'fall in." But the boys did not get up and fall in, but answered the call in lan- guage I have requested the historian to omit if he thought best. As our officers could not get us started, finally our old Brigadier General von Gilsa gave the command in his strong vernacular (full of expletives) which had the desired effect to get the command in motion. On account of the condition of the men it was almost impossible to move them. We rested at the end of the first half mile; the next coming at the end of a mile ; then we made a few miles when we began to get warmed up then there were no more stops until we came to Broad Run. Being behind when the rest came into camp I told the doctor that I could not go any further. Dr. Stout told me that when the column started I should drop out and he would give me a pass for the ambulance, and that he knew that I was .... not able to keep in ranks ... . I went down to the run for some water .... it was the same old story everybody's feet needed a washing and as far as I could see up the creek it was full of men, horses, and mules. I got my dinner of hard-tack and coffee .... started be- fore the regiment and came to a nice shady place by the road- side. Here I waited to keep my appointment with the doctor, but when the regiment came along the boys all dropped into the shade. After a little rest I felt better and started off with the regiment, having put off my appointment with the doctor. After a mile or so we had another rest, then they got us down to business again. We struck the Orange and Alexander rail- road near Catlett Station then followed the railroad. to Manassas Junction. Here were some general officers reviewing us. The dust from Manassas to Bull Run was about three
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inches deep. Just as I had thought of dropping out to wait for the doctor we heard a few cannon shots in the direction of Bull Run. We were lined on the side of the road for two batteries and a regiment of cavalry to pass in that dust. I think that for a distance of four miles ahead of us we could see nothing ten feet in front of us on account of the dust ... . my hips were raw from the belt of my cartridge box. I took off the belt and placed it about my shoulders, and kept in ranks until 1 got to Bull Run. Here I was attacked with a sort of blindness and dropped beside a tree. I had a fellow with me when I stopped, but when he left me I did not know, but found myself alone in the dark at Bull Run. I filled my canteen and took the road to Centreville. After crossing the Run I met an artillery- man. I asked him about the Ist division of the Eleventh Corps, and he informed me that they had gone on to Centre- ville, five miles distant. This bit of news was not very encouraging. Five miles to go alone after night, tired and footsore. I soon met another fellow and he said they were encamped on the McHenry farm, and pointed out to me the campfires. I took a cross-cut and came to an old mill race with about a foot of water in it, and wading through it soon came to a camp. But the men around the campfire looked strange to me; they were so dusty, that their uniforms looked more like the Rebel gray than the Union blue. I knew none of the men. I asked for the Ist division of the Eleventh Corps, then for the Ist brigade and to both inquiries the answer was, here. I then asked for the 153d Regiment and the answer I got was, here. Then I asked for Company F, and got the same answer, here. Here I was in my own Company and did not know them.
I tried to make a cup of coffee, but a fellow stepped on a stick and upset my coffee pot into the fire. I gave him a dutch blessing and went to bed without my supper. This day we had marched twenty-two miles ... . Bull Run was always looked upon as dangerous ground, and whenever we got into the neighbor- hood of it we looked for a fight ....
On the 15th we drew some rations and among them was the
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same old mess pork, the fatty portion of which was six inches thick. This was the first meat of any kind we had received since the 12th of June, the meals of the intervening days had been crackers and coffee and coffee and crackers. We had no time to cook the pork so we would cut off a slice, run a stick through it and toast it over the fire to fry the salt out of it. 'Then scrape the salt off it and eat it just about raw .... It was not long after we left camp the drinking commenced, and we drank all the water we could find along the road. It made no difference to us whether it was good or clean, only so it was wet. The weather was very warm and drinking so much water caused many poor fellows to fall by the wayside. We came along where they were burying men who had died from the effects of drinking too much water .... we did not know how soon our time would come to go hence. We got to Centre- ville somewhere between 8 and 9 a. m., and I was not long finding a spring, with a crowd about three rods thick. I crowded into the spring. By lying down I could reach the water, could get about one-third of a tin full at each dip, and got my canteen full of mud and water. I got out of the crowd and came up to the village and soon saw another well with a wooden pump in it. I was the first man on the ground. I met a boy about ten years of age at the well. .. . He said let me fill your canteen. I told him to let me see some of the water first as my canteen was full of spring water. Such excellent water I had not seen for many a day. I told him he might fill my canteen and he went to work at once. He commenced to pour out the contents-mud, water, coffee grounds, lemon peels and the like. It was truly laughable to see the look of astonish- ment on the lad's face as he saw the contents of the canteen. ... well my tin cup, coffee kettle, canteen, myself included were all full of that good water, and I left the boy with a soldier's blessing .... on my arrival in the street I met doctor Stout, and asked him whether he wished a drink. . . . he emptied the tin cup for me and said, 'where did you get that water?' I told him and he went to fill his canteen .... we removed our camp to a
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