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 2
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HISTORY OF THE 153D REGT.
battle, with the ground strewn with the dead and dying the most enthusiastic and hilarious shouts rent the air. Any one standing listening on a distant point of the extended field could dis- tinguish by the peculiar huzzas which side was winning, and which ensign would continue to wave over the bloody scenes.
The Patriotism of the Keystone State.
In nothing can a State show her loyalty more than in her votes for a presidential candidate who has issued his proclama- tion that he will stand by the Government. Lincoln came to the throne at the most critical hour of the Nation. In a table showing the aggregate votes by States in 1860 and 1864, we note the following figures :
Out of 25 states then casting their votes the three largest have been selected for comparison :
Ohio, 1864, cast . 470,745
Ohio, 1860, cast 442,441, showing an increase of 28,304
Pennsylvania, 1864, cast 572,697,
Pennsylvania, 1860, cast 476,442, showing an increase of 96,255 New York, 1864, cast ยท730,664,
New York, 1860, cast 675,156, showing an increase of 55,508
Thus showing an increase over Ohio of 67,951
Thus showing an increase over New York of 40,747
Total of both States 108,698
Pennsylvania increase 96,255
Pennsylvania increase over both 12,443
As if the above figures of comparison were not sufficiently astonishing what will be thought of the patriotism indicated in the following superb showing :
Abraham Lincoln.
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THE PATRIOTISM OF THE KEYSTONE STATE
The total number of votes cast for the war President in 1864
footed up to the enormous figure of 4,015,773
Total in 1860 3,870,222
Total majority of the 2nd election over the Ist 145,55I
Of this majority our gallant old State cast 96,255
Leaving the small remnant to the credit of all the rest .. 49,296
Can there be any stronger reason why she is called the "Key- stone?"
As a seal of their integrity 22,000 of her brave men were in the great battle in their native State-Gettysburg. The names of all the comrades of the 153d Regiment who were in this world famed battle will be inscribed on the noble cenotaph now in course of erection on those sacred grounds. For this object the War Department has complied with the re- quest of the Battle Field Commission and has furnished a per- fect roll of all participants of our Regiment.
Immortal significance is attached to the words of the lamented Lincoln in his speech at his second inaugural, "Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray that the mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away;" and by the great sacrifice they (our sol- diers) made furnished the subject matter of the most unique memorial address ever delivered over the graves of heroes. The Classics of two thousand years had not been so highly en- riched before the addition of the Gettysburg Speech of the martyr Lincoln.
Our regiment enlisted and went to the front at a time when varied conflicts had left the majority of successes on the confed- erate side. The Proclamation issued by the President left no more doubt in the mind of the south and their sympathizers as to the ultimate success of the slave cause, if their victories at arms con- tinued in ratio as in the past.
The success of the Army of the Potomac was not secured to the entire satisfaction of the Government, and changes of com-
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HISTORY OF THE 153D REGT.
manders occurred in rapid succession. The second battle of Bull Run (on the 30th of August, 1862) was lost but the troops two days afterwards, under Hooker, Reno and Kerney, after a fierce and short engagement, defeated the enemy. On the 7th, (September, 1862) General Mclellan was appointed to the com- mand of the Army of the Potomac and on the 5th of November, after two months service, was relieved in favor of Burnside. Burnside served two months and twenty three days, and on the 28th of January retired, and General Joseph Hooker was placed in command. The term of Hooker was also short (just five months), when on the 27th of June General George G. Meade was placed in command. Thus four great generals were in command of the Army of the Potomac within the short space from September 7, 1862, to June 27, 1863. It is a fact worthy of note that the 153d Regiment had the distinguished honor of rendering its time of service with the Army of the Potomac under every General who commanded it ; E. A. Weaver, of Philadelphia, a gentleman of accredited ability as a student of military affairs. a son of a veteran and a contributor to the reminiscent department of our history, referring to the service of the regiment, makes the following observation: That "in the ten months the regiment was in service, it served under every commander of the army of the Potomac, and in the campaigns at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, its position was unique, and its services at both places of great importance considered from a military stand- point."
The position occupied by our regiment, on this famous and most brilliant battle field of the war, seems truly Providential; be- ing at least one of the most remarkable coincidences that our Northampton Regiment, the brave sons of the Keystone State, under the command of the State's celebrated Chiefs-Meade, Rey- nolds, Hancock and others, should take so conspicuous a part on their native soil, in turning back the formidable commands of the flower of the southern army, led by the greatest chieftains of their cause. Of no small significance is the fact also that Gen- eral Doubleday, one of the ablest commanders on the field, should
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THE PATRIOTISM OF THE KEYSTONE STATE
have aimed the first gun in the defense of Fort Sumpter, and should be the first to stand in the breach on the first day's
Bugler Wm. H Beaber, Co. I. Call to Arms.
ferocious attack by the rebel forces after the death of the lamented Reynolds.
The mortification and depression which had so greatly seized our troops over the defeats of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville was forgotten in the great joy over the glorious victory of Gettys-
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HISTORY OF THE 153D REGT.
burg. This was the proudest act of their entire experience while in the service. The consciousness of having remained a month beyond their term of enlistment, and having fought for their loved ones and homes with such enduring results, and the enobling emotions, in anticipation of soon meeting those dear ones again around the old fireside, were beyond the power of words to describe.
Our regiment had waited to see what would come of the war, and when the crucial period arrived their response to the nation's call in the perilous hour was with such promptitude as to become astonishing to the citizens of the county, and gained for the Northampton men the warm commendation of the authorities of the State. The enthusiasm of the officers was unbounded. Those were memorable days ; greater patriotism and general excitement had never been known in the County. The war was the all ab- sorbing theme of conversation at home, in places of business and in the churches. Newspapers were read with great avidity, and letters, from soldiers who had preceded us in the field were read and re-read with much eagerness. Mothers sat up until late hours of the night to hear the last news from the seat of war.
On account of your fatiguing marches, dark nights of lying in sleet and drifting snow, in loneliness of the woods, or walk- ing your dismal beat within hearing of the vigilant foe, or fac- ing the cold steel of the defiant enemy, or amid the hail of minies or beneath bursting shell whose fragments killed con- rades by your side, we chronicle the following words for your comfort :
"The memorial art, in the preservation of scenic and historic objects of the Rebellion, will continue to erect appropriate and imposing sculp- ture, while with reverence the passing generations will pause long and pensively to read the inscriptions of the monuments our grateful country has erected to the memory of its heroic dead. Those grounds which you trod on those memorable hot days of July, and which were hallowed by the blood of your fallen brothers, are already listed with the classics in monumental literature, and will forever remain consecrated by the ashes
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THE ITINERARY OF THE REGIMENT
of your comrades who sleep in the soil they stained with their blood, while dying for the preservation of their own and our beloved country."
As many comrades witnessed the fearful scenes of which your historian has so unworthily written, we most cheerfully accord to them a large space for the relation of the story they have to tell.
The Itinerary of the Regiment.
"In Lieu of a Draft" was printed on the knapsacks of the boys of the new Regiment just organized in old Northampton. August 4, 1862. The Order of the War Department was read all over the land: "That a Draft of 300,000 militia be im- mediately called into service of the United States, to serve for nine months unless sooner discharged. The Secretary of War will assign the quotas to the States and establish regulations for the draft.
If any State shall not by the 15th of August furnish its quota of the additional 300,000 volunteers authorized by law the de- ficiency of volunteers in that State will also be made up by special draft from the militia. The draft for 300,000 militia called for will be made Sept. 3d.
Washington, D. C., August 4, 1862."
Hence the Call to Arms. Governors of most of the loyal states in the 2d year of the war seeing that the losses in the army where the earliest activities had been going on, and know- ing the feeling of the people on the necessity of a more de- termined effort to crush the haughty South, hastily in formal communications requested the President to issue an appeal to the states for the recruiting of more men for suppression of the Rebellion.
The quota of Pennsylvania was 45.321. The men in various sections of the County had been in training in a private way for a long time. The writer attended numerous gatherings where
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HISTORY OF THE 153D REGT.
drill in arms was conducted. Sermons were preached. The air was permeated with war news. It was quite natural the dis- ciplined men should be among the first to enlist. These meet- ings greatly stimulated enthusiasm, resulting in the formation of thirteen companies instead of ten. These Companies were not all full, so that on arrival at Harrisburg suitable adjustments were made and resulted in the complement of 100 men to each Company. The Roster, furnished by Comrade N. H. Mack,
Clyde Millar and brother. Brothers in War.
of Bethlehem, will show the assignments and official list com- plete. The first meeting for organization of the Regiment took place in Easton on the 22d of September, 1862. The days of the 23d and 24th were spent in the City of Easton in complet- ing the formation, and on the 25th we took train for Harris- burg where the regiment arrived at 10 o'clock in the evening, remaining in the cars for the night. On the morning of the 26th
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THE ITINERARY OF THE REGIMENT
we marched to the camp and had our first experience in the erection of Soldiers' Tents. It may interest the sentimental, and will be remembered by the christians of the regiment that the first evening after our settlement there was a public prayer meeting held in front of Company "F". The meeting consisted of the reading of the 91st Psalm, prayer, singing, and dismis- sion.
Our stay at Harrisburg offered excellent opportunities for the exercise of camp life, so necessary to health and enjoyment. We soon became inured to the restraint of army discipline, and eagerly sought the equipment necessary for service. We were not long improvising methods and devices for the employment of time. Those familiar with the art of writing domestic letters found ample employment, and were sought by those of the regi- ment who had not had training in this department of an active life; artists did sketching; poets wrote poems; journalists kept diaries ; tailoring, plain sewing, darning, etc., had not yet re- quired attention. Washday was indefinitely deferred. Some had brought with them text books for College preparatory work ; some had Institutes of theology; Usually there was an accumu- lation of enough books to fit out a small library. The desire for pastime was early gratified, having ample room for its exercise. Among the great variety were those who could not quit the habits of home life, and there were many noble instances of the practice of moral principles in the ranks of the men. It was also sad to witness the decline of the religious fervor of some who before coming to the army had been men of fine christian character at home.
Another perplexing item had to be disposed of about the time of our seemingly useless detention in camp. It was the delay of getting the promised bounty. The committee had really no authority to pay the money until the men were mustered into the service. In the settlement of the difficulty the kindly in- fluence of the great-hearted Colonel Glanz interposed, and set- tlement was promptly made.
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HISTORY OF THE 153D REGT.
At the muster-in and equipment of the men, with uniforms and other outfit (barrel drums and iron swords for the drummers) the full fledged soldier bloomed out for service at the front. Orders for moving had been received and necessary prepara- tions made to march when the first installment of the many countermands was received. We were obliged to spend another week in Camp Curtin. The last sermon some of us had heard on the Sabbath evening before our departure was based upon the text, "I have fought a good fight ;" the first sermon we en- joyed in Camp Curtin was on the same text. They were very inspiring discourses, but would have been of more literal appli- cation if they had been preached to the boys after the two nota- ble battles in which they participated.
The muster-in of the regiment occurred on October 7th, and our equipment at the arsenal on the IIth, whereupon we boarded the cars where we spent parts of two days and a night impatient- ly waiting to move, but to our dissatisfaction returned to the old camp for another week. On the 18th of October we left for Baltimore, arriving there in the evening and were served with a substantial meal. Slept in the Railroad Station and on the 19th went to Washington where we arrived at 8 p. m. Crossed Long Bridge and encamped at Camp Seward on the next day. While in Camp Barker, we received information concerning our assignment to the IIth Corps, and removed to Camp near Fort Meigs, where on the 30th the command joined the Corps of General Sigel, reporting to him at Gaines- ville, Va., where the Corps was lying at the time, on the 4th of November. We left Gainesville on the 9th of November and reached Aldie from where we marched to Chantilly arriving there on the evening of the 18th. Here we spent twenty-two days made blithesome by our new band. The places we next camped at were Fairfax and Stafford Court House. The "star- vation" period at Stafford and the "mud march" from Fairfax to Stafford are events that cannot be forgotten. Our next move was on the 18th, when we went about two miles to a position in the woods near Accakeek Creek, some of the men going on
1
Winter Quarters of the 153d Regt., Pa. Vols., at Brooks Station, as it appeared decorated for the reception of Gov. Andrew G. Curtin. From a sketch made on the spot April 11, 1863, by Newton H. Mack (of Co. K).
COPRIGHT, 1895, BY N. H. MACK, ARTIST.
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THE ITINERARY OF THE REGIMENT
picket duty. On the 20th marched to Brooks Station and en- camped in a woods. Men were guarding the Railroad. The
Copyright, 1888, by THE CENTURY CO.
The right wing of Hooker's Army crossing the Rappahannock at Kelley's Ford. From war-time sketch.
Regiment finally settled in its winter quarters at Potomac Creek Bridge. Here we spent the memorable winter of the campaign of 1862-3. The Camp is more familiarly called "Brooks Sta-
2
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HISTORY OF THE 153D REGT.
tion." Much sickness and numbers of deaths occurred during the four months of our stay here.
With the opening of spring we set out with Hooker for the famous battle field of Chancellorsville. March 27th, the troops, which had been in Camp here for the winter, started for Kelley's Ford which we crossed on the night of the 28th.
The Comrades who have contributed to the history have re- lated sufficient narrative matter to interest the reader, so that there seems no reason for further historic data on itinerary.
An Interesting Item of the Itinerary.
The following incidents of the itinerary of the regiment giv- ing the places where the command halted and the time spent at each place will be of great interest to the comrade by way of comparison with the diary kept by so large a number of the boys.
The days spent were: At Easton, 3; Camp Curtin, 18; Balti- more, I; Washington and forts, 16; Manassas Junction, I ; Gainesville, 4; Aldie, 9; Chantilly, 22; Stafford Court House, 2; Dumfriez, 2; Camp near Brooks Station, 134; these days foot to 212. The time required to fill the 300 days of the term of en- listment begins with the 27th of April and ends with July 24th, when the muster-out occurred.
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THE DISTINGUISHED I53D REGIMENT
The Distinguished 153d Regiment.
The position assigned the 153d Regiment at Chancellorsville was the most unique of all the organizations in line. It was a lone kid before a crouching lion. As indicated on a State Map its formation was somewhat in shape of a semi-circle, in which form it presented three fronts of the three strong enveloping lines of Jackson's attack. The only favorable conditions for the formation of either army were afforded by the turnpike and plank roads, and on these the Federal army was mainly posted. These leading thoroughfares were the only means for the movements of artillery and cavalry, excepting the occasional field by the road side. The line of the enemy's attacking forces extended one mile either side of the turnpike on which the Eleventh Corps was aligned, but in their impetuous rush upon our regiment the rebel troops soon lost all organization and mainly poured down the roads like wild beasts before a forest fire. It is of equal importance to note that our regiment was not only the first at- tacked, but is shown on the military maps as among the last troops to retire from the scene as Hooker's troops recrossed the swelling Rappahannock. It is also remarkably true that we were among the first troops to meet Early in the first day's fight at Gettysburg, and among the last posted on Cemetery Hill, on the retreat of the Confederate army. From the best evidence at- tainable we take special pride to state that our men were among the first and most courageous troops to attempt a rally of the fleeing crowd before the avalanche on the memorable 2d of May, having been the last regiment to retreat from the line when attacked by Jackson's mighty army which was closing in upon our defenseless men like the arms of a huge cuttle-fish. To the everlasting memory of the quick, vehement command of the brave von-Gilsa our heroic 700 boys would have become boarders at the hotel-de Libby at the metropolis of the Confed- eracy.
The spread of the Jackson troops so far north (as they came in upon us) was to prevent the retreat of our army towards
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HISTORY OF THE 153D REGT.
the Fords; for it was part of his plan to get possession of these crossings.
The Activities of Friday, May 1st.
Quoting from the diary of the writer the following appears : "Friday, May Ist, 9 a. m., started out of camp in the direction of Fredericksburg. Ordered to fall back and go west of camp along the turnpike. About 5 p. m. or a little later a battle commenced as nearly as I could tell about 8 miles west of Fredericksburg. It commenced with musketry, soon, in half an hour artillery, then tremendous cannonading till dusk. Still firing at 8 p. m.
Saturday 2d, lay on arms all night, slept in woods. Firing commenced early this morning. Heavy cannonading, toward Fredericksburg, and south of us all day, more or less. Attack expected at several places. The 153d did the first firing, at 2 or 4 p. m. The Ist Brigade was the first attacked. A fine day."
A few hours before the attack by Jackson's men, and while our men were resting on arms, in expectation of attack, I was sitting near the trunk of a large tree, under a canvas stretched for pro- tection from the sun, engaged in writing a poem. I here pro- duce the poem by way of confirmation of the more detailed ac- count given by Simmers and Bachschmid in their book published in the year 1863.
The noise of distant cannonading, and the skirmishing along our south line during the entire day, and the activities which had been going on during most of the hours we were in the woods hourly expecting the engagement to come on, had put every man in a pensive mood. It is always a serious time on the eve of a battle, and very properly so. It is of peculiar interest that so many writers have spoken of the mildness and calm of that memorable Saturday morning. The atmosphere was balmy and not a leaf stirred. Supreme quiet reigned in the region where our regiment was in line. The men had just stacked the arms upon which they
2I
THE ACTIVITIES OF FRIDAY, MAY IST
had lain the night before. It was drawing toward the hour for the evening meal, and some of us were preparing it.
The writers above mentioned, whose account the poem certi- fies, say :
"There was nothing to disturb the stillness of the night. The sun rose brilliantly on the Ist of May, and, having sufficiently recovered from hard- ships of the previous days, the men were in the best of spirits. The con- gratulatory order of Major-General Hooker, which was received at an early hour, and in which he promised his troops such an easy victory, was calculated to increase this buoyancy of spirits still more. All felt con- fident of success; the fate of Fredericksburg was considered sealed, no one dreamed of a reverse. At II o'clock a. m. the booming of cannon on our right told us that the struggle had commenced. The numerous aids that were seen hurrying to and fro reminded us of the fact that the time of inactivity was passed, and that the time of activity had arrived.
About noon orders were received to strike tents, pack knapsacks, and to be ready to march at any moment. The order was at once complied with, in twenty minutes had formed into line, and was just on the point of leaving when our movement was countermanded-we were to remain until further orders. The bands of the returning regiments were play- ing 'Yankee Doodle,' while everybody considered the victory already achieved. The prevailing belief was that Hooker's strategical move- ment had obliged the Confederates to evacuate Fredericksburg, and that the firing heard was that of the fleeing columns. Strange delusion !
Half an hour after this we were again in motion and continued in mo- tion with but few interruptions until nearly midnight. Where the emer- gency seemed to require our presence there we were. About the middle of the afternoon heavy firing was heard in the rear, while toward evening it had shifted more to our immediate left. The enemy was evidently 'feeling' our position. However, the day and evening passed without our being called upon to participate in the fiery ordeal. This was reserved for us until the following day. It was nearly midnight, when having occupied a position in the woods facing northwest, we were permitted to lie down. At daybreak everybody was 'up and doing.' Our slender meal was soon dispatched. It was a lovely morning. Old Sol seemed to have put on his holiday robe. while peace and the deepest silence reign-
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IIISTORY OF THE 153D REGT.
ed around us. A calm usually precedes a storm. It having meanwhile been decided that we should hold our position, large fatigue parties were detailed to clear a small space in front of our lines. And more willing hands never wielded an axe than our boys did on that memorable day. The trees were soon felled and distributed in such manner as to seriously impede the progress of the enemy should they attempt to attack us. The balance of the forenoon was spent in comparative inactivity. The numerous scouts and aides that were continually leaving our lines, in- variably reported 'all right in the front,' on their return. That all was not right in front the sequel will show. At about I o'clock p. m. three shots were fired immediately in our front. These were the enemy's scouts, sent out to sound our position. The report of the discharged pieces had hardly died away, when, by some fatality the enemy's fire was answered by a tremendous volley from our lines. This deplorable mis- take furnished the enemy precisely the information they had wished to obtain. It disclosed to them our true position and informed them of our strength.
A party of skirmishers, composed of men from the different regiments of the brigade, under command of Captain Owen Rice, were at once thrown forward, and such other precautionary measures taken as the exigency seemed to demand. The men rested on their arnis, nor was any one permitted to quit his post. For an hour or two, everything re- mained quiet.
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