USA > Pennsylvania > History of the One hundred & sixth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, 2d brigade, 2d division, 2d corps, 1861-1865 > Part 14
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division, where the fighting was not expected to be so severe as at the center. Colonel Owens' "Philadelphia Brigade" occupied the right of Howard's Division, and was directed to be ready at short notice to lead the attack, if one at that point was determined upon. General French was to lead the attack on the center and to be sup- ported by General Hancock.
At about 9 o'clock in the morning of Saturday, French's Division moved toward the front, and the struggle commenced. The troops advanced gradually, driving the enemy's pickets and skir- mishers. On went French's Division, and rapidly followed Han- cock's in support. But the slaughter was terrible, and soon some of the regiments began to waver, and finally to fall back. Forward went Hancock's line and passed to the front. Louder pealed the enemy's fire; more terrible than before, was the slaughter. But little care had been taken to get the men under cover. The sup- porting line seemed to stagger; soon it must fall back, and then what can be done if the enemy should come into the city upon the heels of the fugitives? No, some regiments of French's and Han- cock's rally ; the enemy plows through their ranks with his can- isters, round shot and shell; his sharpshooters pick off the officers. What can be done to prevent the disaster ?
Quick, or all is lost. General Couch directs General Howard to send for one of his brigades. General Howard sends his brother to bring down Colonel Owens' Brigade from the right on a double-quick. The fugitives increase in number-the wounded are being brought in by hundreds. Men jump into the canal for shelter from the hail-storm of iron. The enemy brings his guns to bear upon the houses in town. The fields are covered with the fugitive and with dead and dying.
The Sixty-Ninth cheer the "Battery Boys", and these in turn cheer the "Fighting Brigade". On they come-the colonel, with his staff at the head of the column, on his gray horse.
Generals Couch, Howard and Hancock give him their directions. General Hancock tells him where best to display his column. There are Baxter, Morehead, O'Kane, and-and where's the gal- lant Markoe? Where's the brave California Regiment? They are on picket, and the brigade feel their absence keenly. But on they go, their ranks thinned at every step. They begin to cross the road, swept by a whole battery of the enemy's guns. The Col- onel cries out : "Men, cross the best way you can, and form on the other side of the canal, under that hill". They at once see the pro- priety of the direction. Over they go in twos, in threes and every other way, and yet many fall to rise no more. But see how well they form under that hill.
Now the line is formed, and Colonel Owens draws his sword and,
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[1862
THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
waving adieus to the generals who are watching him, leaps over the fence, crosses the canal, and rising in his stirrup gives the command, "forward !"
Just then his horse is shot; instantly he dismounts, and running in front of the Sixty-Ninth waves his sword and cries, "On, Second Brigade, double-quick !" A shout is heard, and on rush the regiments in good order. Heavens! what a fire the enemy opens! From the top of the hill, from the sides of it, and from the bottom, behind a stone-wall, and from three batteries, one con- tinued shower of shells and balls is poured.
But, alas, it is soon discovered that the lines, which Colonel Owens was to support with his brigade, have been almost annihilat- ed. Some scattered companies and parts of regiments are still there fighting bravely, and one long line of battle, lying down two deep, but it is a line of dead men. All dead? Yes, all. To advance further is certain destruction, to retreat is dishonor. Here was a crisis. Colonel Owens had no support. If he was destroyed or forced to retreat, the enemy would rush into the city and utter ruin would follow. But see! he halts his line and tells his men to "lie down, close, close, close".
He deploys skirmishers into the contiguous houses. The enemy is puzzled. They do not know what to make of it. Their fire slackens. They begin to leave the stone-wall. The sharpshoot- ers pick off their artillerymen. A charge is attempted by the enemy. It is repelled by the men rising to their feet and deliver- ing such a volley as would stagger any lines. The enemy find that they cannot reach Owens' line with artillery. His right is pro- tected by some houses. In front, the declevity of the hill is so great that they cannot point their guns to reach him. In the meanwhile he peppers them wherever they can be seen. Quickly he sends his aide back to General Howard for orders what to do and asks for a battery and some support on his left, and, if possible, he will try to take the works. But alone it is impossible. He is told to hold the position at all hazards, and a battery, to- gether with infantry, will be sent to him. He sends word back: "Never fear, I will hold the position".
An hour passes. All honor to the Second Brigade; it is still there, fighting on with unbroken ranks. A column is seen going out on the railroad. It deploys ; it charges up towards the enemy on Owens' left. Gallantly the line moves on; but the enemy are evidently reinforced, or, intending to turn Owens' left, they are massed there-for, see what awful fire of small arms is poured from the hill 'and from behind the stone-wall. The lines stagger and fall back in confusion. Now, Owens' left will surely be turn- ed and his gallant men be captured or cut to pieces. He realizes.
SERGEANT JONATHAN C. BARNES. Sept. 24. 1861. Sept. 24, 1864.
As Private. Promoted to Corporal, Sept 17, 1862. Promoted to Sergeant, March 1, 1863. Discharged, Sept. 24, 1864.
SERGEANT CHARLES H. HICKOK. Oct 16, 1861. May 6, 1864.
As Private. Promoted to Corporal, Dec. 12, 1862. Promoted to Sergeant, March 1, 1863. Badly injured at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862, by being trampled upon during battle. Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864.
COMPANY C.
1861
1905
WILLIAM W. SMITH.
Oct. 16, 1861. Oct. 29, 1862. Wounded at Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, 1862. Discharged, Oct. 29, 1862. Wounds.
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the danger ; he is preparing for it. His men are up, and pour a volley obliquely to the left. The enemy is checked, and lo! an- other column appears, greater than the first.
The enemy has not yet seen it, or is making new preparations for its reception. On it comes, and at its head is gallant Hooker, the hero of Glendale. Now butternuts look out. Up comes, also, Hazzard's First Rhode Island Battery right in Owens' rear, only about one hundred and fifty yards off. They blaze away, and Hooker advances. "One shout now for the Stars and Stripes, my men !" The shout mingles with the roar of cannon and rattle of musketry, and the combat thickens. General Hooker comes to the front. "What men are you?" "Colonel Owens' Brigade, your honor." "Ah, Sixty-Ninth, are you there. Now men, let us give them -. " The earth shook beneath that tremendous volley. But Hooker's men break. Another awful volley. They run, and are checked by Generals Hooker and Humphreys in person. Again they advance. Another and another volley. They break, they rally, but they stagger up like drunken men.
The earth shakes again, and amid that smoke which envelopes friend and foe alike, how many pass to their dread account? The smoke clears away. Hooker's column is gone, and the battery is going, but Owen's line is still there and harder at work than ever. One of his regiments has left. but it was one attached temporarily to his brigade that morning. His brigade proper still remained intact, their ammunition nearly expended, but their bayonets ready. And there they stayed until midnight, when they were relieved by Syke's regulars. They may be proud of their day's work. Three hearty cheers for the "Philadelphia Brigade" .*
At II o'clock at night what was left of our three Regiments was quietly withdrawn, being relieved by General Sykes' Divi- sion of Regulars. Orders were given in whispers, canteens and cups muffled, and silently we returned to the city, having lain for nearly ten hours under that murderous fire, without food or water, surrounded by the dead and wounded. The latter were unable to get to the rear, but compelled to lie there, suffering even for water, in addition to the pain of their wounds. Even after dark their friends could only be guided to them by their moanings, as any attempt to carry a lantern or light of any kind drew the fire of the enemy. The Seventy-First Regiment under Lieutenant- Colonel Markoe was relieved from their position on the right, and
* From The Inquirer of Wednesday, December 31, 1862.
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THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
[1862
sent forward with the regulars to hold the ground on the right of the Plank road.
Upon our return to town our shattered ranks were closed up; but there were gaps made never to be refilled. We parted with many there, never to meet again in the service, and some not again in this world. Saddened at our loss, we were yet thankful that so many were spared after passing through such a terrible ordeal. General Howard came and thanked us for doing our duty so well, and holding our position so long, exposed to such terrible fire. He called us the "Stonewall Brigade". Roll-call of the Regi- ment or rather "Counting the Muskets", revealed but one hundred and six men present for duty. This peculiar incident of "Count- ing the Muskets" of the Regiment in the streets of Fredericks- burg, sadly impressed those present, as it revealed the absent guns of many brave and noble comrades. They were counted twice by Adjutant Pleis and verified by Lieutenant-Colonel Curry, and told of a loss of six killed, seven officers and forty-nine men wound- ed; total, sixty-two. Total loss from December Ist to 15th in- clusive, seventy-eight.
Those killed were Privates Wensil Hartman of Company A, David Long and John H. Painter of Company C, George Upjohn of Company H, and John Green and Joseph W. Spaulding of Company K. Among the wounded were Captains F. H. Achuff, William N. Jones, and William V. Farr, and Lieutenants John A. Steel, Benjamin F. Sloanaker, John F. Hassett and William May.
Company A.
Sergeant Strohm, Corporals Wagner, Schaefer and Walton, and Privates Fesmire, Lukens, Newell, Otley, Robinson and Strickler.
Company C.
Sergeant Neiler, and Privates Barclay, Crandle, Donahue, O'Don- nell, H. H. Spencer and Trexler.
Company D.
Sergeant Conklin, and Privates Buckley, Fuller and Wilbur.
Company E.
Privates Collum, Hilt and Howland.
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Company F.
Privates Bambleson, Little and Sanes.
Company G.
Private Hall.
Company H.
Sergeant Creamer and Privates Collister, Glass, F. Landon, Lee, Rich and Ryan.
Company I.
Sergeant Phillips, Corporal Pyewell, and Privates Collins and O'Leary.
Company K.
Sergeants Grogan and Parker, and Privates Harvey, Holt, Lee, Maloney, Mills, O'Neill, Pratt, White and Windell.
On the morning of the 14th, Colonel Morehead being detailed as Field Officer-of-the-day of our Division, left Lieutenant-Colonel Curry in command of the Regiment and took up his position with the Seventy-First Regiment, then stationed in the yard of a tannery on the right of the town, where they were sent during the night. It was a very exposed position causing the Regiment to suffer heavy loss, for as soon as the fog lifted the enemy opened fire, their sharpshooters firing at every one that afforded them even a chance shot. Finally about noon Colonel Morehead dir- ected their withdrawal back beyond the canal to a more sheltered position, as the enemy had opened a heavy artillery fire which made that position no longer tenable.
It was while the Regiment lay in Caroline street, and while some of the men were cooking their coffee at a large fire, that a shell struck the roof of one of the houses, rebounded and rolled off into the fire and exploded scattering fire, coffee and men, but fortunately only one man was slightly wounded.
During the morning of that day Burnside's own corps, the Ninth, was brought forward and massed in the town, ready to renew the attack and once more attempt the capture of the works, General Burnside intending to lead in person his line of eighteen regiments. The other general officers, however, especially Gen- eral Sumner, whose reputation as a soldier gave value to his opinions, so strongly protested against such action that Burnside was finally persuaded to give it up, and the charge was not made,
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THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
thus saving many lives in what must have been another fruitless attempt. The battle was not therefore renewed, and the troops remained inactive during that and the following day, when it was decided to vacate the city. Orders were issued, and towards midnight of the 15th, the army began to recross the Rappahannock river. By daylight the next morning, all were safely across, the pontoon bridge removed, and the men returned to their former camps, our Regiment reaching theirs at 2.30 in the morning ; mor- tified at the result and saddened at the terrible loss, they had done their duty well, knowing that though no advantage had been gained they were not responsible for the failure.
The good fortune that seemed to follow our Regiment again attended us here, and although subjected first to their fire from the houses the night we crossed the river, then the charge on the 13th and lying all day exposed to that terrible fire, our loss was com- paratively light, as per statement given and Colonel Morehead's official report appended.
Palfrey closes his volume and his account of the battle of Frede- ricksburg with the following paragraph :
It would be too much to say that there are no sadder stories in military history than that of the Army of the Potomac, but its story is sad enough. Always better than its commanders, always ready to "stand in the evil hour" and "having done all to stand", it marched, and fought, and hungered, and thirsted for four years, hardly ever animated by victory. It showed in all that it endured and achieved, that it was an admirable instrument for the hand that knew how to wield it, but it never had the good fortune to be commanded by a soldier who was worthy of it. It fought through to the end, it did its work and gained its crown, but its path was long and rough and seldom cheered, and one of its saddest and sharpest experiences was its brave, hopeless effort at Fredericks- burg.
General Burnside reports his whole loss as follows:
Killed
Wounded Missing
Total
Right Grand Division,
491
3933
737
5161
Center Grand Division,
316
2398
755
3469
Left Grand Division,
373
2697
653
3723
Total,
1180
9028
2145
I2353
[1862
.
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FREDERICKSBURG
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Colonel Morehead submitted the following as his official report of the battle of Fredericksburg :
HEADQUARTERS 106TH PENNA. REGIMENT. 2D BRIGADE, 2D DIVISION, 2D CORPS.
Camp near Falmouth, Va., December 18, 1863.
LIEUT. FERDINAND M. PLEIS, Acting Ass't Adj't General.
Sir :- In pursuance to orders, I marched on the morning of the IIth inst. to a point near Fredericksburg, Va. At about 5.30 o'clock P. M. I crossed over the Rappahannock under a heavy fire of artil- lery and musketry. We immediately formed in line of battle on the left of the bridge. While forming the line, we were consider- ably annoyed by sharpshooters on the left of us. Company B was detached to act as skirmishers and clear the street to front and left. Shortly afterwards Company G was detailed as a support to Company B.
There was considerable firing for some time, but the companies detached, in connection with one company of the Seventy-Second Regiment, finally succeeded in clearing the streets. About twenty prisoners were taken, and ten (10) rebel mail bags, which I im- mediately forwarded to your headquarters.
The Regiment bivouacked for the night upon the ground of their line. On the morning of the 12th inst. I marched my com- mand to, and formed in, the second or Caroline street, where we remained under arms during the day.
The morning of the 13th inst. found us again under arms. About 12.30, in pursuance of orders, we marched to the front, where the battle was already raging. When within about four hundred (400) yards of the enemy's works, our line of battle was formed under a very heavy fire of musketry and artillery, the One Hundred and Twenty-Seventh Pennsylvania Regiment being on our left and the Sixty-Ninth on our right. We then moved for- ward in line, and took possession of a slight elevation within about eighty (80) yards of the first line of battle of rebels. Their first line was at the base of the hill behind a stone-wall; their second line was immediately above the first, on the crest of a very steep hill; consequently we were exposed to the fire of their two lines. The proximity of our line to the hill sheltered us from the fire of the rebel artillery, as they could not depress their pieces sufficiently to bring them to bear upon us. Their musketry fire soon told heavily upon us, and unless wounded, not a man left his place in the line. We remained in this position until II o'clock in the night, when we were relieved by the Second Regiment, United States Infantry. The command was then marched to the quarters they occupied the night previous.
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THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
[1862
At daybreak of the morning of the 14th inst. the Regiment was again under arms, and remained so during the day.
On Monday, the 15th inst., the Regiment remained under arms until about 6 o'clock P. M., when it was detailed for fatigue duty, with orders to report to Division headquarters. While engaged in throwing up a redoubt the order was countermanded, and the Regiment was marched to its quarters. Shortly afterwards, pur- suant to orders, we recrossed the Rappahannock, and arrived at camp at about 2 o'clock A. M.
Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon officers and men of my command for their unwavering courage and gallant conduct during the whole of this trying period. They did their duty well, and what more can be said?
I cannot but refer to the gallant conduct of my entire field and staff. My confidence in Lieutenant-Colonel Curry and Major Stover, by their cool and daring courage and their unexception- able deportment, is only increased, if possible. Assistant Surgeon H. D. McLean, fully alive to the importance of his position, was always to be found alleviating the sufferings of the dying and wounded. I am also much indebted to Acting Adjutant Lieutenant J. C. Biggs and Sergeant-Major Hagy, for their invaluable ser- vices.
Below you will please find the number of the killed, wounded and missing.
Killed Wounded Missing Total
Officers
0
9
0 9
Men
5
60
4 69
-
-
Total
5
69
4 78
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
T. G. MOREHEAD, Colonel Commanding 106 Pennsylvania Regiment.
JAMES C. BIGGS,
Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant.
LIEUTENANT JOHN IRVIN.
Aug. 26, 1861.
Oct. 6, 1864.
As Second Lieutenant. Promoted to First Lieutenant, July 19, 1862. Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1862. Discharged, Oct. 6, 1864. Brevet-Major, U. S. V.
FIRST SERGEANT WILLIAM IRVIN. Aug. 26, 1861. Sept. 10, 1864. As Corporal. Promoted to Sergeant, July 26, 1862. Promoted to First Sergeant, Aug. 13 1862. Wounded at Savage Station, Va., June 29. 1862. Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864. Mustered out with Company, Sept. 10, 1864.
COMPANY D.
SERGEANT SAMUEL IRVIN.
Aug. 26, 1861. Sept. 10, 1864.
Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 10, 1864. Mustered out with Company, Sept. 10, 1864.
CORPORAL DAVID IRVIN. Aug. 26, 1861. Sept. 10, 1864.
As Private. Promoted to Corporal, March 14, 1863. Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864. Mustered out with Company, Sept. 10, 1864.
FOUR BROTHERS.
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WINTER QUARTERS
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CHAPTER XIII. WINTER QUARTERS.
A S has been stated, the men returned to camp, saddened and mortified ; we could go still farther and say gloomy, de- moralized, and our leaders were called upon to try to overcome this despondency. At a regimental inspection held the next day after returning to our camp, General Howard ad- dressed the men at length, told us to keep in good heart, thanked us for doing so well and proving ourselves such good soldiers under the terrible ordeal through which we had just passed, hoped we would continue to do our full duty as citizens and soldiers, defend the constitution and laws of our country and pre- serve her institutions, paid a high tribute of respect to the fallen and kindly remembered the wounded, thanked us again for sus- taining him and so readily obeying the orders of our officers, and closed by proposing three cheers for the Union, which were given ; Colonel Morehead then proposed three more for General Howard, to which the men also responded. A few days afterwards the Regiment was personally inspected by General Sumner, who minutely examined the guns, equipments, clothing, tents, and asked particularly about the rations. Yet the men still felt the effects of that fight.
The result of that campaign was known to be disastrous and that of the future uncertain. While they admired General Burn- side as a man, "for his high personal character, and his candid ยท assumption of the responsibility of the failure at Fredericksburg and his acknowledgment that the fighting of the troops entitled them to better success", they had lost confidence in him as a commander, and no one seemed available to take his place unless, as a great many seemed to think, McClellan could be brought back again. Yet this feeling would not prevent them from quickly responding to the call for duty, no matter who should lead ; their experience of the past had schooled them for just such emergencies, and
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throughout the whole Army of the Potomac the reaction from this despondency seemed more slow than usual. Many men lost heart, and those reported "straggling" or "absent without leave" were steadily increasing, and many officers sought for their dis- charge on surgeon's certificate of disability or for slight wounds, thus, as they thought, leaving "honorably" the service of their country, at this one of the times of her greatest need of true and staunch hearts and willing hands. The issue of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Lincoln, on January Ist, 1863, met with considerable opposition among the rank and file, and assisted to increase the demoralization ; many freely giving expression to their feelings and boldly stating that they would not have entered the army had they thought such would have been the action of the Government, and some almost as boldly admitting that they were not even then ready or willing to assist in its enforcement. Yet the wisdom of such a step by our now martyred President, who then seemed to look into the future and see its great good to humanity, will now freely be admitted by those who were then most pronounced in its denunciation, but such was their feeling at that time. This despondent or demoralized feeling was well demonstrated on January 17th, when General Burnside reviewed the army. As he passed our Corps he was accompanied by Generals Sumner, Couch, Hancock and Howard, and their respective staffs, and when passing along our lines General Howard rode out and proposed three cheers for General Burnside, but not a man re- sponded and no cheer was given; this was a small matter, but "straws tell which way the wind blows"; they were in no humor for cheers, there was no enthusiasm; they did what their duty required of them but no more.
The Regiment began at once to make themselves comfortable for the winter, so far as they could with the limited means at their disposal. Huts were built of logs, plastered with mud, large fireplaces built, and the shelter tents used for roofs, and thus they had very comfortable homes ; but until they were built they suffer- ed greatly from the cold, a member of the Seventy-Second Regi- ment was frozen to death, also the colored servant of Captain Ford of Company I of our Regiment. Picket duty by companies was resumed, battalion and brigade drills were instituted, reviews
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WINTER QUARTERS
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by brigade, division, corps and the entire army, and the usual routine of camp life while lying in winter quarters lived over again, including the usual rumors, jokes and growls. Efforts were made to overcome the despondency of the men, and fur- loughs were granted of ten days each and transportation furnish- ed the men to their homes and back. One field and two line officers, and two members of each one hundred men were allowed to go at a time, and, upon their return, others went. We received here the first vegetables, potatoes and onions, since leaving Harri- son's Landing, and then the paymaster made his appearance on January 27th, and we were paid for two months. These in- fluences for good were felt.
It was while hurriedly preparing for picket on the morning of December 18th, that the colored servant of Captain Ford of Com- pany I, was found dead. Captain Ford and Lieutenant Hibbs occupied the same quarters, and the latter, after repeatedly calling for the servant, started out to wake him up, as he slept in a small A tent in rear of the Captain's quarters. The Lieutenant went to the tent and called him, then opened the tent and called again, and then hearing no response, kicked him, as he thought, to waken him, and still seeing no sign of moving, took hold of him to shake him, and found him cold and stiff. He was dead! frozen to death. Lieutenant Hibbs immediately reported to the Captain that he was dead, who asked him how he knew it, and when told that he had tried to waken him by kicking him, the Captain re- plied "My God, you have kicked him to death", and slyly told two or three of the other officers, and Lieutenant Hibbs never heard the last of "kicking that nigger to death". The death of their servant was the means of making the Captain the victim of an- other joke: having no servant they were compelled to get their own breakfast in addition to getting themselves ready, or go on picket without any, so the Captain at once began to prepare it.
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