USA > Pennsylvania > History of the One hundred & sixth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, 2d brigade, 2d division, 2d corps, 1861-1865 > Part 11
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The writer has already shown that the One Hundred and Sixth Regiment moved back well in hand, and Colonel Wistar further says of the Seventy-First :
Under its surviving Captain (all of the field officers were wounded and left upon the ground), what was left of it marched to the rear, served with fresh cartridges, called its roll and re- ported to General Meade, ready for any duty, and was put into action by that gallant General within half an hour.
This regiment was cut off from the Division, and General Meade, then commanding a Division of the Pennsylvania Reserves, was
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THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
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the first General officer the Captain then in command, met, and, knowing that the Regiment was still capable of some service, re- ported to him, as he had called for aid. He placed it again in action.
Palfrey again errs when he says: "There were no fences at that part of the pike where they crossed"; for there was a fence on each side of the pike, a strong post and six-railed fence, that the One Hundred and Sixth Regiment had to climb and the mounted officers ride some distance to the right to get through an opening, and many members of the Regiment will remember the dead rebel hanging on that fence. He is also in error when he states that: "It is doubtful whether the third line even entered the west wood".
* "If they did, they did not stay long". They not only enter- ed the wood, but advanced through it down the slight inclination until the cornfield beyond, in which the enemy was concealed, and the elevation on which their batteries were placed, were plainly visible, and they stayed there longer than either of the other two brigades, which we grant was not long, but long enough to receive from General Sumner himself the order to move back.
In the afternoon the scattered portions of the Regiment were withdrawn back to the edge of the woods, east side of the corn- field east of the Hagerstown road, supporting artillery, where they remained for the night and the next morning rejoined the brigade.
Colonel Wistar closes his letter, after referring to the quality and service of the gallant regiments of the other brigades, as follows :
It is to be regretted that they should have possessed a single officer willing to give currency to unfounded statements, to the prejudice of other troops of equal merit, who, on the same field and in the same corps and division, loyally and cheerfully shed their blood in the same cause.
About noon, after the contest had ceased in our front, General Burnside began his attack on the left and tried to force his way over the stone bridge in his front, but after three attempts gave it up and sent Rodman's Division down the stream to cross at a ford. This they did and came up on the other side, fighting their way against Tomb's Division, then Burnside made the final attempt to carry the bridge by assault and by a gallant charge of
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the Fifty-First Pennsylvania, Colonel Hartranft, and the Fifty- First New York, Colonel Potter, with bayonets fixed and on a run, they captured the stone bridge, under a heavy fire from Tomb's Division that defended it, which will ever after be known as Burnside's Bridge. Sturgis' and Wilcox's Divisions were hurried across to help Rodman who was fiercely attacked by A. P. Hill's Division, just arrived from Harper's Ferry, and had forced his way through a gap between Rodman and Wilcox, inflicting a very heavy loss on Rodman, who fell trying to rally his men. Sturgis was thrown into the gap and succeeded in driving Hill back and connecting with Wilcox, and the Battle of Antietam was over.
The loss to both armies was very heavy, ours being 2,010 killed, 9,416 wounded and 1,043 missing, making a total of 12,469, and in- cluded many good and prominent officers, principally Major- Generals James R. F. Mansfield and Isaac B. Richardson, Brigad- ier General Isaac P. Rodman and Colonels Kingsbury, of Con- necticut ; Hinks and Dwight, of Massachusetts ; Crossdale, Childs and McNeill, of Pennsylvania, and Coleman, of Ohio, killed and Generals Hooker, Sedgwick, Crawford, Dana and Hartranft, wounded.
As far as can be ascertained the Confederates' loss was 14,000. Lee, in his reports, sums up 1,567 killed, 8,274 wounded, total 10,29I, to which is to be added the missing ; but by a collation of subsidiary reports appended, shows at least 2,000 killed, 10,000 wounded and 5,000 missing, making a total of 17,000. It was certainly heavier than our own, and included Generals Starke, and Newton, of Georgia; Tew and Douglass, of North Carolina ; Liddell and Barnes, of Mississippi, killed, and Generals Lawton, Anderson, Gregg, J. R. Jones, Ripley and Rhoades, wounded.
The Twenty-Seventh Georgia had every commissioned officer killed, and the Fourth North Carolina every officer killed or wounded.
As has been stated, Sedgwick's Division sustained the heaviest loss of any division on our side, being 355 killed, 1,579 wounded and 321 missing, total 2555, and our Brigade lost 93 killed, 379 wounded and 73 missing, total 545. Of these the One Hundred and Sixth contributed the following: Two officers and thirteen men killed, two officers and fifty-three men wounded and two men
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THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
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missing, making a total of fifteen killed, fifty-five wounded and two missing, total seventy-two.
The killed were: Captain Timothy Clark and Lieutenant Wil- liam Bryan, of Company F, and Sergeant Charles E. Hickman, and Privates Joshua Beckley and Patrick Scullen of Company A; Sergeant John H. Chambers, of Company B; Corporal William M'Neal and Private William A. Dibble, of Company C; Privates Thomas Daud, George G. Mason and Elwood Rodebaugh, of Company D; Private John Mclaughlin, of Company E; Sergeant Richard Sanders, of Company F; Privates Walter Leggett, of Company G, and Henry Diemer, of Company H.
The wounded were :
Company A.
Sergeant Crewe, Corporals Steinmetz and Walton, and Privates Connelly, Morris, Nichols, Sharpley, Smith and Waldron.
Company B.
Lieutenant John A. Steel, Sergeant A. C. Schank, Private John Masterson.
Company C.
Sergeants Neiler, Taylor, Corporals Baile, Ward, Privates Ar- buckle, Cole and Spencer.
Company D.
Privates Etler, E. J. Holcomb and Kendall.
Company E.
Corporals Stroup, Hart, Schaer and Privates Montenay and Rice, who died from same.
Company F.
Sergeant Clark Whitmoyer, Privates Coffman, Howlett, Liver- good, Lucke, Pfoust and Soars.
Company G.
Privates Ehler and Townsend.
Company H.
Sergeant Rose, Weideiman, and Privates Anderson, Miller and Rawnsley.
Company I.
Sergeant Witter, Privates Outen, McNalley and Sterling.
CAPTAIN RALPH W. P. ALLEN.
Aug. 13, 1861. Jan. 9, 1863.
Promoted to Lieut .- Colonel, 188th P. V., Jan. 9, 1863.
SERGEANT THEO L. LOCKERMAN.
Aug. 19, 1861. Nov. 14, 1863. Promoted to Lieutenant, 137th P. V., Nov. 14, 1863.
COMPANY C.
1861
1905
SERGEANT GEORGE W. WHITE.
Sept, 2, 1861.
Feb. 9, 1863.
Discharged, Feb. 9, 1863. Disability
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Company K.
Corporal Henry Darrah, and Privates Clark, McBride, McCann, McGinn, McGuffin, McVey and Ward. Darrah and McVey dying from same.
Captured :- Privates Steinrook, of Company B, and Paddock of Company K.
As to the number of troops engaged, the same diversity of opinion that usually occurs as to estimates of opposing forces is again used in giving the estimated number of each army engaged at Antietam. General Lee in his official report as published in "Reports of the Army of Northern Virginia", says :
The great battle was fought by less than forty thousand men on our side, all of whom had undergone the greatest labors and hard- ships in the field and on the march.
Colonel Taylor in his "Four Years with General Lee", puts the number down at 35,255, but if this estimate is made up in the same ratio as General D. R. Jones' statement in regard to his division, who said he had but 2,430 men in his six brigades, containing twenty-seven regiments, and then adds that two regi- ments had 403, leaving but 2,027 to be divided among 25 regi- ments, that would mean not over eighty men to a regiment. I think we may safely discredit General Lee's report and put them down at 60,000.
McClellan in his report put his force at 87,164. Of these the Fifth and Sixth Corps and the Cavalry Division, all numbering according to the same report 29,550, were not engaged, would leave but 57,614 of our troops actually reported present for duty. From these there must be considerable reduction to arrive at those actually engaged, for Hooker, whose corps is reported as having 14,856, says he took into action but 9,000 men, and Williams, who succeeded to the command of Mansfield's Corps, which is reported as having 10,126 men, says his corps numbered but 7,000. Taking the same ratio of reduction throughout the whole army, which is but fair as the reports show all those marked present for duty, and include all non-combatants such as musicians, teamsters, hospital and ambulance details, besides the guards that were left behind to guard the knapsacks and regimental property, and we would have the following :
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THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
[1862
First Corps.
Report 14,856 present for duty, but took into action only about 9,000 men.
Second
18,813
66
.6
11,500
Fifth
.6
12,930
66
66
66
Sixth 66
12,300
60
66
66
9,000
66
Twelfth "
66 10,126
=
7,000
Fourth " & Cav'y "
4,320
66
87,164
36,500
To this may be added that portion of the Sixth Corps that moved into position in the afternoon, but was not actively engaged, and we will put down our number at 40,000, and we have both armies about equal in point of numbers, for General Lee says, "the battle was fought by less than 40,000", and not that his re- ports show he had 40,000. Now his line was formed as a semi- circle, curved outward, and as McClellan attacked his line at only one place at a time, beginning on their left and ending on their right, Lee was enabled to move his forces from left to right, and some of the same troops that fought in the morning on his left were also engaged in the afternoon on his right, or acted as support to those engaged.
Swinton speaks of this invasion as follows :
Its failure was signal. Designed as an invasion, it degenerated into a raid. Aiming to raise the standard of revolt in Maryland, and rally the citizens of that state around the secession cause, it resulted in the almost complete disruption of that army itself. In- stead of the flocks of recruits he had expected, Lee was doomed to the mortification of seeing his force disintegrating so rapidly as to threaten its utter dissolution, and he confessed with anguish that his army was ruined by straggling.
And Lee, speaking of the hard marching of his men, and the want of rest and food, and shoes to their feet, says :
These causes had compelled thousands of brave men to absent themselves, and many more had done so from unworthy motives. This great battle was fought by less than forty thousand men on our side.
While Hill is not so generous in his Report, he says :
Thousands of thievish poltroons had kept away from sheer cowardice; the straggler is generally a thief, and always a coward.
Ninth
66 13,814
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On the morning of the 18th no movement of either army was made. Neither seemed anxious to renew the fight that had cost each so much the day before. McClellan made no advance to again attempt to force Lee from his position, notwithstanding that he had Porter's and Franklin's Corps, numbering about twenty-five thousand men that had not yet been engaged. We think he should have used them, and again attacked Lee. He certainly knew the ground better, its strong as well as its weak points, and he had all his resources back of him, while Lee was far removed from his, his effective force reduced one half, and the rest much demoralized. All this was known to McClellan then. We do not propose to add all that has since become known, and how easy it would have been to have defeated Lee, as writers are too prone to say, when they are in possession of many import- ant facts that were unknown at the time. But with such facts as above stated, then known to McClellan, we feel bound to repeat that he should have renewed the attack as soon as it was daylight on the eighteenth, and there would have been no doubt of his suc- cess. His excuse was that many commands of his army were badly cut up, and many of his prominent leaders were killed and wounded. This applied with much more force to the enemy and he must have known that no matter how bad he thought his army was, Lee's army was much worse.
Lee, not able to take the offensive, quietly awaited the attack that was not made. So the day following that terrible battle passed with both armies quietly facing each other. Early on the morn- ing of the 19th, when McClellan had decided to renew the fight, it was discovered that Lee had quietly withdrawn and re-crossed the Potomac. Porter's Corps was immediately sent in pursuit, and at dark crossed a detachment and captured five pieces of artillery, the next morning crossing a much larger force ; but the enemy re- turned, and with a larger force made a furious onslaught and drove Porter's men back across the river with heavy loss, many being shot while in the river.
On the 19th we were moved back to our first position in the woods at the edge of that fatal cornfield east of the Hagerstown road, where we remained for three days, details being made to bury the dead of both armies. As nearly all of the dead of the
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enemy were left within our lines or on the ground that lay be- tween the lines, the larger number of the Confederate dead that lay in our front warrants the assertion that their loss was much heavier than ours. McClellan states that twenty-seven hundred of the Confederate dead were counted and buried by our men. The writer visited that now famous cornfield, where the batteries of Hooker annihilated almost an entire regiment, that of the Twenty-Seventh Georgia, and saw then their line as marked by their dead, as it must have been when living, and they, in line of battle, advanced to the fight ; there lay almost the entire regiment, he saw their three field officers, twenty line officers and nearly two hundred men, lying as closely as they had stood in line of battle in life. It was heartrending to see such a sacrifice of life. Their ragged and worn-out clothes, their many bare and bruised feet, told of their want and suffering, and made one almost feel glad that death had relieved them of their suffering in such a hopeless cause.
It was impossible to bury the dead fast enough ; the action of the sun and the warm weather impregnated the whole atmosphere with the foul odors arising from their fast decomposing bodies, and those of the enemy became swollen and turned black, so that they seemed like so many negroes, and although large details worked hard all day long, and long trenches were dug in which were placed fifty or sixty at a time, yet even then they could not be buried fast enough, so that many were put into piles and at night burned ; the terrible stench which was blown over our camp made it almost unbearable; one had almost to dig one's nose into the ground to get a good breath. We were almost sickened, with no appetite to eat, as even the food seemed tainted with the foul odor that enveloped us, so that when, at the expiration of three days, we received orders to move, it was with the greatest joy, and at daylight on the morning of the 22d, we left that camp, and forever the battlefield of Antietam.
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MCCLELLAN RELIEVED
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CHAPTER XI.
MCCLELLAN RELIEVED.
L EAVING our camp on the battlefield of Antietam at 5.30 on the morning of September 22d, we passed through the town of Sharpsburg. Here the terrible havoc of war was plainly visible by the shattered houses and deserted town. Almost every house showed the marks of shot and shell, and many were badly damaged ; nearly all the inhabitants had left and only soldiers were occupying the streets ; many of the houses and large build- ings were converted into hospitals for the wounded of both armies, all telling of the terrible battle that had been fought in its im- mediate vicinity. Artillery, ambulances and wagon trains block- aded the streets or were slowly pushing their way after the pursu- ing army. Our brigade was on the right of the corps and the One Hundred and Sixth Regiment leading the brigade. Upon arriving at the Potomac at Harper's Ferry, found that the enemy had burned the railroad and pontoon bridges, and to gain the town we were compelled to ford the river. This was rather un- pleasant, as in the center it was waist deep. As on our first crossing the Potomac at this point at the beginning of our first active operations just seven months before, the One Hundred and Sixth Regiment was then on the lead, so again does the Regi- ment lead the advance into Harper's Ferry. Upon reaching the opposite bank about half past one o'clock, we pushed rapidly through the town and then through Bolivar, taking our position on Bolivar Heights; forming a line of battle with the battery on our right and Dana's Brigade on our left. Our march of about thirteen miles that day, over that hilly country and wading the river waist deep was a very laborious and tiresome one, so that we were tired out when at last we took position on Bolivar Heights, where we remained until October 30th.
General Sedgwick being absent on account of the wounds re- ceived at Antietam, General Howard was in command of the
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Division, and Colonel Baxter of the Seventy-Second Regiment commanded the Brigade.
On October Ist we were reviewed by President Lincoln. He was accompanied by Generals McClellan, Sumner, French, How- ard, Gorman, Caldwell and Meagher and their respective staffs ; and as they rode along the line, the whole command again mani- fested their pleasure at the visit, and their affection for that great and good man, the head of our nation, by long and continued cheers and the President's salute of twenty-one guns.
On the afternoon of the 9th the whole Brigade turned out en masse, to receive back our old commander, General Burns, who had so far recovered from his wounds as to return to duty. The enthusiastic reception given so overcame him that he could only say "How do you do, men?" which elicited additional applause.
The same day Lieutenant-Colonel William L. Curry returned to the Regiment, and reported for duty, together with some of the men that had been captured and were then exchanged. He also was warmly received.
The men were now in need of many things that "Uncle Sam" did not supply ; and although clothing and rations were plenty and freely issued, the need of money was great, and the absence of the paymaster was much regretted. Many of the men were continually receiving letters from home telling them of the wants of their families, and they unable to assist them; so that when on the 17th of October our Regiment was paid off, it was a great relief to many and a source of joy to all. The town then began to be temporarily filled by that throng of vultures which follow in the trail of the paymaster, to extort from the soldiers their pay for the few things they really needed, or felt they needed. For these, they had to pay two or three prices, and particularly for that which really did them no good, but which the proverbial soldier would have if he could get it, no matter what it cost- whiskey. Although the orders were rigid, that none should be sold to the men, or even brought over the river, yet in spite of all care and precaution by many ingenious devices it was smuggled and abounded, and those men who wanted it and had sufficient money to pay for it, did not have much trouble in getting what they wanted. The mere fact of it being denied and requiring
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MCCLELLAN RELIEVED
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some strategy to get it no doubt urged some to persist in obtain- ing it, who otherwise would not, that they might boast that they got it. Frequently the stock of the unfortunate one who was caught in the act of selling it, or to whose door it could be traced, would be seized and sold at auction, and the owner sent out of the town, or put to work on the fortifications.
Colonel Banes adds :
After the failure of several efforts to find the illicit traders, the men were set to work as detectives. The result of two or three nights of experimenting in the role of carousers divulged not only the names of the dealers, but the place of concealment for the "Contrabands". The discovery exhibited many ingenious devices to avoid capture and punishment. Some of the dealers had barrels constructed to draw either cider or whiskey; others used, as disguises, boxes of tobacco and other substances not at all sug- gestive of their real contents. In some places the boards of the floor were removed, and "the stuff" hidden between the joists; and in others, concealed in parts of furniture. After reprisals and forfeiture had taken place, the offenders were cautioned and put under surveillance. In spite of all, however, some persons per- sisted in the business and met the consequences-a seizure of all their wares, to be sold at auction, and the owners put to work at the fortifications on Loudon Heights.
On October 16th a reconnoissance in force took place by the whole division, but our Regiment did not participate, as they were preparing for the paymaster and were paid off the next day. We could see the skirmishing from our camp.
On October 29th the One Hundred and Sixth Regiment was sent out on picket to relieve a portion of Hancock's Division, who were to move forward at once, and the next morning, before we were relieved, received orders to move ; returned to camp, packed up and about 12 o'clock took up the line of march again, through the town, crossed the Shenandoah River on the pontoon bridge and rejoined our Brigade ; moved over Loudon Heights and down into that beautiful part of Virginia, "Loudon Valley", and went into camp just before dark, having marched about nine miles.
The next day, October 3Ist, we remained in camp and were mustered for pay. While lying there Chaplain Harris returned from Philadelphia, where he had gone to execute the many little
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[1862
THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
commissions for the men, principally to take their money home to their families, and brought with him a fine new horse and full set of equipments for Adjutant F. M. Pleis, presented to him by the officers and men of the Regiment, for the one that was killed at the battle of Antietam. The Regiment was drawn up in line and Chaplain Harris presented them on behalf of the Regiment, and Colonel Owen, of the Sixty-Ninth, received them for the Adjutant ; the usual jollification followed, which was principally enjoyed by the officers.
On November Ist, moved to Snickersville and camped. Dur- ing the march there was considerable trouble with the Sixty-Ninth Regiment, "Paddy Owen's Regulars", owing to the profusion of whiskey that in some way or other found its way among the rank and file (I believe mostly received in boxes sent to the men from their homes, that should have reached them while at Bolivar Heights) ; large numbers of them were tight and enjoyed the Irishman's privilege and pleasure, "free fight", so that by the time the Regiment arrived at camp it was considerably demoral- ized in appearance, and its numbers greatly reduced on account of so many being unable to keep up.
During the night, when nearly all had retired, our camp was surprised by a flock of sheep; the little bells attached to some of their necks gave warning of their approach; soon many of the men were up and rushed boldly to the charge; the loss was all on one side, and judging from the quantity of fresh mutton that was served for breakfast the next morning, they must have suffer- ed heavy loss for their boldness.
On the 2d, moved to Snicker's Gap, and when relieved during the day by Porter's Corps, continued our march down the valley for about nine miles and encamped. Shortly afterwards the One Hundred and Sixth Regiment was again ordered in line, and in light marching order started out after a body of rebel cavalry that had been seen prowling around our front. The men were cautioned by Colonel Morehead as to the object of the movement, and Companies A and B were advanced as skirmishers; we ad- vanced for nearly three miles and not overtaking them, returned to camp without any skirmish, only to find the rest of the brigade on the march, so joined them and continued our march for about
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MCCLELLAN RELIEVED
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four miles and camped for the night in a cornfield, near Bloom- field.
The next day, November 3d, General Burns formally took final leave of us, he having been assigned to the command of the First Division of the Ninth Corps. The men were drawn up in line behind their stacks, and he rode along the line, stopping in front of each Regiment, to our Regiment he said, "Men, always do your duty as well as you have done and you will always be victorious. Good Bye". Shaking hands with some of the officers, he rode down the road with his staff, the men giving him three hearty cheers. The following order was read to the brigade:
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