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 19
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wounded men from one end to the other. Where there was room for a man you would find one. The hay mows, the feed room, the cow stable, the horse stable and loft. There was a work bench in one end of the barn with a few tools, and a comrade by the name of Jesse Soys, had the two middle fingers of his left hand cut off by a piece of a shell. He was busy making crutches, they were not very handsome, but they answered the purpose. I was the first doctor that had come to the barn .... and I soon went to work dressing wounds. Sergeant Lantz was the first patient. We named him Dad. He had been shot through the thigh. Sergeant Lilly of Co. D was the next, he was also wounded in the thigh. Wm. Riehl was the third. He was shot in the shoulder, the ball was in his back. It was cut out the next day. Three of us sat on him while the surgeon cut out the ball. The ball was all battered, looking as much as if it had gone through a stone fence. I dressed wounds until I got out of bandages, and afterwards who should turn up but the chaplain, whose friendship I had lost by hinting for a drink of whiskey. He had about a bushel of hard-tack in a bag, but they did not amount to much in that crowd-only one apiece. Provisions be- gan to come in that evening, and the days following the natives brought in wagon-loads of bread, apple butter, and ham. To get something from every wagon had to be worked by a sort of sys- tem, and the way it was done was that two or three would escort the chaplain to the wagon, and the instruction to him was that he must tell the parties in charge of the wagon, that we in the barn had had nothing to eat for three days, which resulted in getting something out of every wagon. But the chaplain had to repeat this story every hour, and the consequence was we had plenty to eat and some left over when I left the barn. This was the only time in my life when I thought a preacher was any benefit to his fellow man .... One word more about the chaplain .... I got into the barn on Saturday, and on Sunday morning the chaplain started to have services on the barn floor not over five feet from me. He got down on his knees and was offering a prayer to the Deity, and he was just getting nicely started when some hard Christian in the cow stable yelled, 'put the preacher
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out.' I felt sorry for my friend, the Chaplain, and praying seemed hard under the circumstances. The yelling was kept up during the service and consequently the prayer was cut short and the hymn shorter. I never was in a meeting where I felt so much like laughing, but as I was so near the preacher, out of respect for him, I controlled myself and kept in.
Among my patients in the ward was a case of typhoid fever .... I expected every hour to be his last .... and all I had to give him was water .... on the second day, another preacher came into the barn. He did not belong to the army ... . he had a big jug of whiskey. .. . and a small glass, and coming up on my side of the floor gave each man a glass .... my patient lay on the opposite side from me and when it came his turn he tried hard to get up, but he could not. The preacher told him that he felt sorry for him, but in his condition he dared not give him whis- key. The sick man begged for a drink, and when the gentleman shook his head the poor fellow looked disappointed. I could not stand this any longer, and as my mind was made up that the fellow was going to die anyhow, that if he wanted a little whiskey in this world before going to the next one he should have it. I interceded for him, telling the preacher that this man was one of my patients, that he had typhoid fever, and that the stimulant was just what he needed. The man replied that if I said so he should have it. He handed me a glass and I raised his head and gave it to the patient. He drank it and lay down to sleep. The thought with me was that will fix him either kill or cure. In the last few days I had looked upon so many dead men, that one more made no difference. My patient took a long sleep, and I thought he would never again awake. But on that night he look- ed up and asked me for a drink of water. He said he felt better. The drink of whiskey had saved his life. On leaving the boys I went round to bid them good-bye and when I called on iny patient he asked me to get his knapsack. He was then sitting up, though very weak .... He presented me with a pair of canvass leggings. He was a zouave, and stated, 'I give you these leggings, to re- member me by, for you have saved my life .... '
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I learned on the third morning of my stay in the barn, that a train left Littletown every afternoon, at five o'clock, for Balti- more, and all those who could get to Littletown could go on to Baltimore and Philadelphia. I did not like to leave three of my comrades and they could not walk, for it was eight miles to the station. Presently a native came along with a democrat or spring wagon, and one horse. I stopped him and asked him to take my three comrades to Littletown. Oh my ! he did not have the time to spare and could not possibly do it. I called this fellow down in great shape. I told him he was not much of a man, that here were men who had driven the enemy from their homes, and pro- tected their property, and that these men had gotten wounded in doing so, and were unable to get to a railroad station, and that lie could not do them the small favor to haul them to the railroad station. He told me to let up ; that I was right, and that he had not seen things in the true light. He said he would go, but first feed his horse. I took him into the barn and showed him whom to take. He asked me how I was going to get there. I told him I would walk. Ile did not think I could make it, but I told him I had a little over seven hours in which to make eight miles and I would try it. Istarted with some others, but was soon left be- hind and did not get to the station until 5 p. m .. .. . my limb grew very bad from the effects of this walk. I got lunch in a charity place, for I had not one cent to my name. On reaching the de- pot, I met a captain of a battery. He had five flesh wounds, and was bloody all over. He told me he had taken into battle at Gettysburg a full battery of six guns, eighty horses, and eighty- four men. He asked me how many of these I thought he brought out. I replied that by the looks of him I thought there were not many left to bring out. He told me that all he got out was forty men and one horse. By this time the train backed in, and I found it to be an army Pullman train, composed of box cars of a freight train, with a bundle of hay in each car. We entered and lay down on the hay. This was very comfortable. Our train stopped at Hanover, where the citizens handed in a big basket of eatables, with the request to return the basket, which we did with thanks. We arrived in Baltimore some time in the night. Here we receiv-
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ed the very kindest treatment; the people assuring us that we ·deserved the best of the land. The invasion had helped the citi- zens, making them very friendly. My comrades could not walk, so I left them in Baltimore (it being quite a distance to go from one station to another) took train for Philadelphia. The night before Christmas I met Dad Lantz in Easton, just on his way from a New England hospital. Lilly I never met again. Twenty- five years after the war I met Riehl in Gettysburg. We shook hands three times, and he said, 'Rube I am poor, but it does me more good to see you than it would to find a ten-dollar gold piece.' He said then, 'I wonder if it is safe now to talk about our sleeping on picket?' .... I boarded the train for Philadelphia and arrived in the city about 9 o'clock that night. Here we got good meals, had wounds dressed, but instead of taking a cot as the rest did, I lay down on the floor. About midnight the fellows commenced getting out of their cots and complaining of back- ache, took positions on the floor. The beds were too soft for an old soldier. That night and the next morning, the train-load with which we came, was sent to West Philadelphia. Our men, twenty in number, belonging to the 153d Regiment, requested to be sent to Harrisburg, and our request was granted. After re- porting to general hospital, where we got dinner, we left for Harrisburg, arriving there that night about 9 o'clock. The first thing we looked for was Uncle Sam's boarding house, known in war time as the Soldiers' Retreat .... We had one corporal in our squad and we sent him to see about supper. He came back and reported that the man in charge told him that we could not have supper, that he was expecting a regiment of militia in that night. This crowd was composed of twenty men and a corporal. We looked ragged, bloody and dirty. Some with heads tied up, some with arms in slings, some with crutches and canes. In fact-we looked as if we had seen service, had been to the front, and this report was not acceptable to us. So we held a council of war, and its decision was that we storm the retreat. I think there were two or three old pistols or revolvers in the crowd, and none of them loaded. We had no trouble with the guard, for they were on our side ; the guard easily passed, we got in. After
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we got in a big fellow made his appearance, told us we could come so far on one table and no further. One of the fellows showed him an old revolver and the big man got out of our way. We ate all we wanted, then retired to look for a place to sleep. We had fully decided to report that gentleman in charge of the Retreat to the governor. We found quarters for the night in a covered portion of the depot. Just at daybreak as I awoke I heard commands, 'Fall in.' The militia had arrived which had been expected the evening before .... As they marched off we could hear the officers calling, 'left, left, left.' .... we found water back of the depot, took a wash, and curled our hair, and soon after that a messenger arrived inviting us back to the Re- treat for breakfast. The old man apologized for his actions the night before, said he was off, took out his jug, that softened our hearts, and we forgave him his sins. It was a little after breakfast when Colonel Glanz, Captain Stout and Dr. John Kohler came to look for us, being very anxious about the regi- ment. I told the Colonel it was too hot and dry to talk much. He treated to the beer. The doctor had started out to look up a hospital for us. My captain said to the colonel, 'there is only one man here of my company, and I want to talk with him, and you can have all the rest.' The Captain and I were seated at a table. He went over the list of his men, inquiring after every one by name. I reported either killed or wounded, as there were only twelve left of the company after the battle. As I reported the tears rolled down his cheeks .... the doctor returned with ar- rangements, and we were placed in a hospital on Mulberry Street .... If I remember right the regiment arrived in Harrisburg on the 17th. The citizens of the town treated us to everything to make us comfortable.
The day came to return home. Our first stop was at Reading. Here we were met by a committee from Easton, and they pre- sented each man of the regiment with a badge of honor contain- ing the corps mark, the battles we had been in and the following poem :
PLURIBUS
UNU
Northampton Welcomes Her Brave Sons
CHANGELLO GETTYSBURG, JUL 1863 MAY 30 53d Pa. Vol. × 1-2-3
"We hail the hero's safe return, To home and friends again ; And mourn with tears of sympathy The gallant patriots slain."
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"We hail the hero's safe return, To home and friends again ; And mourn with tears of sympathy The gallant patriots slain."
The boys were in fine spirits. The Colors and our Brass Band were on the roof of the car. Our next stop was Allentown Junc- tion. I had informed Captain Stout that I lived six miles up the valley from the Junction, that I could not walk it, and that I had no money. He started through the car to see if he could find twenty cents for my fare. He returned with the twenty cents all in pennies. I told him from the looks of the change he must have got all there was. He said he would not undertake to get twenty cents more out of that crowd. I and some more got off at the Junction, and by the time I got up to the Allentown station there were about twenty to go up the Lehigh Valley Railroad. They all expected to walk but myself ; for there was but twenty cents in that crowd, and I had it. But we were fortunate. An old man, I think his name was Laubach, learned of our misfor- tune and bought tickets for all of us. I had been traveling two months without any money in my pocket, and I did not feel safe with twenty cents in the crowd I was in .. .. . Our train came along and we were soon at our destination. A coal train was passing at the time we arrived, and being between other cars and the station and the passenger train having to wait, I got out on the platform of the car, and on the platform of the depot stood my mother, sister and two brothers. They were expecting an uncle of mine from New York city. They did not know me. The con- ductor was helping me off the train, and in alighting my back was turned to them, and my name was on my knapsack,-that was enough. I cannot describe how glad they were to see me. They never said a word about my running away, and going to the army. It was the same with Captain Howell ..... (To be con- tinued)."
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Captain Howard James Reeder, Co. G .*
This precocious, youthful officer was of fine presence, and possessed of excellent military traits. His accomplishments were of a high order, having been reared in a family of learning and refinement-one of the most distinguished homes of our native city. He had been commissioned a lieutenant of Company A, Ist Regiment, of the United States Infantry, on October, 1861, being then but 18 years of age. On the organization of the 153d in September, 1862, he was commissioned its adjutant, and on the 29th of January, 1863, was promoted to captain of Company G. In both official relations he was a favorite with the regiment, and served with great ardor and efficiency. His memory is highly cherished by the regiment. He was wounded at the battle of New Madrid, Mo., March 13, 1862. At the close of the war he rose to positions of honor and trust. He was delegate to the Republican National Conventions of 1872, 1876, 1880 ; Judge of Court of Common Pleas, Third Judicial District of Pennsyl- vania, 1881-1882 and 1884-1894; Judge of Superior Court of Pennsylvania 1895 to date of his death, December 22, 1898.
Reminiscence of Lieutenant Jonathan Moore, Co. G.
"First I think of the home-leaving ; the sad thoughts of separat- ing from dear ones and the quietude and comforts of home, to engage in the turmoil of war-for which I had no taste whatever. Why did I with others, decide to enlist and join the 153d regi- ment ? It was in response to the call of my country in her great struggle. That call was stronger than the ties which bind us to our loved ones. We spent a few days in Easton, our county seat, where we received our first military training. We were then moved on to Harrisburg and quartered in Camp Curtin. One of my most distinct recollections is that I was glad to get away from the place, though it meant going to scenes of active service. The sudden transition from home life to the camp life
*Joseph Reimer resigned Jan. 28, 1863, and Adjutant Reeder was appointed Captain.
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Captain Howard J. Reeder, Co. G.
Lieutenant Jonathan Moore, Co. G.
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had a deleterious effect upon my health ; so that I felt that it was very important that I get away. When we reached Baltimore my health was much changed for the better. It was not long until I could relish the soldiers' diet ; even a piece of bacon scorched over a hasty fire on the march. The boys had concluded that Comrade Moore had gotten about as near the front as he would ever get. My reply to them was, 'Boys, if you keep up with me from now on you will do well,' and my prediction proved quite correct.
By the time our regiment passed Washington and reached camp on Virginia soil the devastation of war had become real, and some of the boys began to realize that entering the army was not going on a picnic. They began to learn that privations were a part of a soldier's life; and to think of the good things they had left on leaving home. The cloudy water of this place did not compare with the limpid streams of old Mt. Bethel's hill sides, and the pure water which bubbles up from the base of the Blue mountain in sight of their home. They missed the cakes and pies of their mother's table. One of the boys was heard to say, 'Oh! If I only could get home to get a drink out of our old spring!' But they were told to be courageous, for we had en- listed in a cause so good we could afford to undergo self-denial. These Blue Mountain boys were as worthy in soldierly qualities as the 'Green Mountain boys' of Revolutionary fame. From close and constant relations with these men of my company dur- ing the ten months we were together I can say they were men that could be relied upon for the doing of faithful duties where- ever called upon. When our regiment reached Alexandria we were shown the building in which the young and gallant Colonel Ellsworth was shot while descending the stairs from the roof where he had replaced the national flag which had been pulled down. The contemplation of the circumstances connected with that event tended to stimulate patriotism in the boys and em- bolden them to hasten on to the front. We reached the front in due time, and from there they had active and arduous duties. They were conspicuous in the two battles-Chancellorsville and
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Gettysburg, and in both these great conflicts they were entitled to great credit for their soldierly conduct.
After the winter of '62 and '63, the spring gave indications of active service all along our lines. The entire army of the Poto- mac then lying on the north bank of the Rappahannock river was then ordered to be in readiness for an aggressive movement, and on the morning of the 27th of April, 1863, the advance began. The army moved in three columns, crossing in different places. General Hooker's plans for getting his army across the river were well made and successfully accomplished. Having his forces now just where he wanted them, and the positions and other conditions so satisfactory, he was greatly elated and his address to the men was the occasion of great enthusiasm all along the line. How successful his plans were, remained to be told. At this time it was confidently expected that by the movements then going on all railway communications between General Lee and his base of supplies would be severed. The Army of the Potomac was now supposed to be in such a position that there was nothing to pre- vent it moving successfully on the enemy. The bands played. the men shouted and threw their hats in the air and we were just then the boys who would have the honor of accomplishing what had long been the motto :- 'On to Richmond.' But Hooker had evidently overlooked the fact that he had Stonewall Jackson to deal with.
Leaving others to deal with this question, I will pass on to re- late some items connected with our recent visit to those grounds, which was made June 11, 1894. Arrived at Chancellorsville, alighting from the carriage at a farm house, we entered the yards and were immediately interested in the surroundings. In the rear we readily recognized the open field where at the time of the battle in the shades of night, before and after the midnight hour, we were in a bedlamitish scene striving to gather together the fragments of a scattered regiment of a broken corps which had been driven by the surprise of an unexpected and sudden massing of Jackson's troops on our weak and . unprotected lines. In viewing the ground over which we had fought, we came
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to the monument of Stonewall Jackson. Nearby was a large stone which marked the spot where he fell. Here I was deep- ly interested, as all through those years since the event, I have been impressed with the belief that I was near the spot at the time when he fell, and now being more fully able to trace the spot, the impression is confirmed. One of the inscriptions on the monument is as follows: "Last words of Stonewall Jackson, Lieut. General C. S. A. 'Let us pass over the river and rest under the shade of the trees.'"
Our next searchi was for the location where the attack was first made on our line, and the effort to find the place cost no little trouble. Nothing seemingly had been done since the war to in- prove the land here and in the surrounding country. The fields are more grown with bushes and the woods are more dense. We called at several little farm houses to make inquiry for the exact spot. At length we came to an old farm house where the inmates knew something which was of great interest to us. Here was the headquarters of one of our division generals (Devens ). The inmates treated us with the kindest regards, knowing as we told them we were Union soldiers. Here the kind lady opened the cellar door and invited us down to see the place where during the battle she, and twenty-four other women and chil- dren, were huddled together for protection, all the able-bodied men being out in the field of contest. From the information re- ceived here we soon found our old brush defense, and the critical spot where the 153d was posted. Will the men of our regiment ever forget that balmy Saturday afternoon; will they ever forget the blast of the enemy's bugles calling their forces to advance; the horde of Grays coming down upon us like an avalanche; when the enemy was pouring volleys into our ranks, and the dense smoke which rose in our front and on our flanks, and when we were unable to discover our relations to the enemy in the low ground they occupied ; when suddenly turning to look up to higher ground, we saw one of our officers directing us to bring the men out at once from the place where if we had remained a few moments more, all would have been taken prison-
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ers? That memorable occasion will never be forgotten while we live.
The question in which all are interested is how did our men behave in that critical situation? For some time the regiment was under a cloud of censure. The members, when asked what part of the army they belonged to, were invariably answered, 'O, you were the fellows who run so well.' But we were never much disturbed by such slurs ... . having the conscious satisfac- tion that our men did all that any body of men could have done under like circumstances, and never took any pains to defend ourselves. We simply let truth vindicate itself as it always does. Let any one who is in doubt read our Brigadier General Gilsa's address. Our last day at the battle of Chancellorsville was to us one of great suspense. On our arrival on the field, as pre- viously stated, we were flushed with the prospect of success. Later conditions had changed the spirit of our troops. There were indications that we were not holding our own, notwith- standing efforts to make the impression that we were. When the night came on (and a chilly night it was) and we were placed in line to be in readiness to move at a moment's signal, we received strict orders that no man should speak a word; none knowing whether to expect an attack or a retreat, the suspense constantly increased. This condition of things con- tinued until morning. Though 46 years have passed away since that memorable night, there is not a surviving comrade who was in that line that night, who has not very distinct recollec- tions of it. We well remember how eagerly we watched the head of the column when it moved to see what direction it was taking. We soon found we were going toward the Rappahan- nock. Our surprise was over. We were now hastily falling back to cross the river, which was then rapidly rising, and threat- ening to impede our crossing. We were glad of our escape, but our mortification was greater than our joy. To realize that our Chancellorsville campaign had been a disaster instead of a victory. Though those years have gone by, we well remember many of the incidents which occurred on the way back to Brooks
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Station. How well we recollect the wallowing through the Vir- ginia mud, and seeing some of our comrades from weariness fall helpless in the mire. The sight was truly pathetic; words cannot describe the feelings of sympathy we had for our exhausted men.
Our stay at the old camp was brief, but a few weeks, and was taken up with drilling and preparation for further exercise, and engagement with the enemy. Soon we got upon the march. Lee's army was on one side of the Blue Mountain and we on the other ; neither knowing where the converging point would be. We knew we were going northward, and that meant homeward. We traveled in the direction of home for weeks, but well knew that we would again meet the enemy before meeting our friends. The whole enlightened world knows to-day where that meeting was-it was Gettysburg, the most memorable battlefield in the annals of American history. No true Union soldier who was a participant on that occasion, and who did his duty, will need blush to have it known that he was there.
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