USA > Pennsylvania > History of the One hundred & sixth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, 2d brigade, 2d division, 2d corps, 1861-1865 > Part 16
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of his brave men, many of whom also fell, and the rest fell back, but they had accomplished their object, had checked the enemy's advance, and warned our men of their close proximity, gained time to re-form and strengthen our line, and then withdrawing, opened the way for our batteries to discharge their double-shotted guns as they opened fire and poured grape and canister into that still advancing line of the enemy, cutting them down like grass, or blowing them to pieces. That noble officer and his brave band had been sacrificed, but our army was saved, and repeated charges of the enemy were repulsed by Berry and Pleasanton. It was a more gallant, heroic and nobler charge than that of the Light Brigade at Balaklava, for greater issues were at stake, the men engaged were less, the opposing forces larger and the loss much greater. This ended the fight for that day, about 9 P. M., Satur- day, May 2d. It was fearful odds for Howard, who had only about 9,000 men to meet this attack of Jackson with 26,000, yet for want of proper precaution he was taken so by surprise that he could make no attempt to check them, but fell back in wild confusion. No advantage could be said to have been gained by Jackson by this movement other than completely demoralizing Howard's Corps, and capturing a number of his men. The small ground gained was of no advantage and it was here after the fight- ing had ceased that General Jackson was mortally wounded by his own men. He had ridden out with a small escort to recon- noitre, and was returning, when they were mistaken for a detach- ment of our cavalry and fired into. Jackson received three wounds, was carried to the rear, and died eight days after ; nearly all of his staff and escort were either killed or wounded.
During the night our lines were strengthened. Reynolds' Corps was brought up from near the United States Ford and placed where Howard's Corps had been, their line extending further to the right, Slocum in the centre, and Sickles on the left. Hooker had unfortunately directed Sickles' withdrawal from an elevated position he held, known as Hazel Grove, which was im- mediately taken advantage of by the rebels under Stuart, now commanding Jackson's Corps, who planted his artillery there, and as soon as daylight of Sunday, May 3d, appeared, opened an en- filading fire on Hooker's line, and then fiercely assaulted Sickles,
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who, after repulsing their attack three or four times, and re- peatedly calling for reinforcements in vain, was finally compelled, with his 10,000 men, to yield before the 20,000 of Stuart, whereas, had either Meade or Reynolds been sent to Sickles' assistance, they could have held their ground and gained the victory. French had with his division of the Second Corps been ordered to Sickles' assistance, and struck Stuart sharply on the flank by a charge of Carroll's Brigade, but he too was soon repulsed. The enemy, then making another charge, captured our artillery on Fairview Heights, only to be driven back and guns recaptured. In the meantime, Lee had thrown his forces against Hooker's centre, held by Slocum, and gradually worked around to effect a union with Stuart, which he finally consummated. Hooker had his headquarters at the Chancellorsville House, which was now in range of Stuart's batteries at Hazel Grove, and while leaning against a pillar he was knocked insensible from concussion of a shot that struck the pillar, and was for a time succeeded by Couch, who assumed command, and was soon strengthening his lines, having taken a much stronger position, with both flanks retired, to reach the Rapidan river, covering both Germania and Ely Fords. The position was a strong one, and could have repulsed any attack that Lee might make against it, when Couch was again relieved by Hooker, who, remembering only the condition of the army when he was compelled to relinquish the command of it, immediately ordered them to fall back. This was a serious mis- take, for Hooker had about 35,000 men in the First and Fifth Corps that had not been engaged, and were fresh and eager for a chance to assault. This could not fail to have been successful, as Lee's troops were all tired and fought out. Lee made no at- tack that morning, May 4, and a violent storm lasting all the after- noon prevented any movement. That night Hooker's whole army recrossed the Rapidan, and then the Rappahannock, and daylight of the 5th of May found them fast making their way back to their old camps opposite Fredericksburg. As has been said, Sedgwick's Corps and our Division (Gibbon's) recrossed the same night at Banks' Ford. Lee made no attempt to follow, being prevented mainly by the rapidly rising river.
Hooker left his killed and wounded behind, and lost 14 guns
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and over 20,000 stands of arms. Our loss is reported at 17,197 in killed, wounded and missing, being 12,197 in killed and wound- ed, and 5,000 missing ; and that of the enemy 13,000, over 10,000 killed and wounded, and about 3,000 missing.
Bryant reports the loss as follows: "Federal losses 17,000, of whom 12,000 were killed and wounded, and 5,000 missing; of the killed and wounded, 7,000 were in the corps of Sedgwick and Sickles, and 4,400 in those of Slocum, Couch and Howard, and only 600 in those of Meade and Reynolds ; of the missing nearly one-half were from Howard's corps. Confederate, 13,000, of whom 10,300 were killed and wounded, and 2,700 missing". An- other writer, speaking of Howard's defeat, says: "The rout of Howard's Corps was possible only from the greatest neglect of all military precautions"; and further says: "The blame of this sur- prise cannot however fairly be laid upon Hooker".
5
LIEUTENANT JOSHUA A. GAGE.
SERGEANT JOHN E. ROCKWELL.
Aug. 26, 1861. May 12, 1864.
As Sergeant.
Promoted to Second Lieutenant, July 19, 1862. Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 1864.
Aug. 26, 1861. Sept. 10, 1864.
As Corporal. Promoted to Sergeant, Sept. 1, 1863. Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 1864. Mustered out with Company, Sept. 10, 1864.
COMPANY D.
CORPORAL ELLERY J. HOLCOMB.
Aug. 26, 1861. May 12, 1864.
As Private.
Promoted to Corporal, March 14, 1863. Wounded at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1852. Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 1864.
CORPORAL PETER W. SCHEIK.
Aug. 26, 1861. June 30, 1865. Reinlisted March 30, 1864. Veteran. Captured at Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864. Prisoner from June 22, 1864 to May 17, 1865. Promoted to Corporal, Co. K., Jan. 1, 1865. Mustered out with that Co., June 30, 1865.
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CHAPTER XV.
INVASION OF PENNSYLVANIA.
G I ENERAL LEE had resolved to make another invasion of the North, this time on a scale that he believed would enable him to dictate terms of peace for the South by the capture of some of the principal Northern cities. He reorganized his army into three Corps and placed them under the command of Generals Longstreet, Ewell and A. P. Hill, numbering nearly 100,000 men with 15,000 cavalry under Stuart. With this army, the largest and by far the best equipped the Confederacy ever placed in the field, he started early in June up the Shenandoah Valley to Win- chester, and on the 24th and 25th of June crossed the Potomac once more into Maryland, almost within sight of the battlefield of Antietam.
General Hooker, suspecting some movement of Lee, tried by re- connoissance to ascertain where, first by sending Sedgwick to cross the Rappahannock river four miles below Fredericksburg where Franklin crossed the December before, who, pushing for- ward, found the enemy in force behind their works on the heights, but gained no other information. General Pleasanton was then sent with a large force of cavalry and a brigade of infantry to the north; he struck the rebels at Brandy Station, where he had a short but severe engagement, and he there learned of Lee's movement northward. Hooker immediately put his army in motion to follow Lee, but by the time he got started Lee was in Winchester, having surprised General Milroy commanding there, whom he forced to retire, losing about 2,300 prisoners.
Up to this time we remained quietly in our camp around Fal- mouth, moving our camp on May 9th to a more pleasant location. The paymaster again visited us on May 24th, this time giving us two months' pay. On May 10th, Colonel Morehead left us to take command of the First Brigade, taking Adjutant Pleis as
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his A. A. A. G., leaving Lieutenant Colonel Curry in command of the Regiment and Lieutenant Steel, of Company B, Acting Adjutant.
Quite a number of changes were made in our officers since the beginning of this year. Captain R. W. P. Allen of Company C was discharged to accept promotion; Captain Francis H. Achuff of Company E and Lieutenant Benjamin F. Sloanaker of Company C were discharged on account of wounds ; Captain P. J. Hallowell of Company B and T. J. Fimple of Company K on account of disability, which necessitated the following promotions: First Lieutenant James C. Lynch of Company A to Captain of Com- pany B, and the following First Lieutenants to be Captains of their respective companies: John W. Lynch of Company C, Salatial R. Townsend of Company E, Lynford D. C. Tyler of Company H, and Francis Wessels of Company K. The follow- ing non-commissioned staff officers to be commissioned officers : Sergeant Majors Theodore Wharton and James C. Biggs to be Second Lieutenants and then First Lieutenants, and William A. Hagy to be Second Lieutenant, and the following Sergeants to be Lieutenants of their respective companies: Charles S. Schwartz of Company A to Second and then to First Lieutenant, and Wil- liam M. Casey to Second Lieutenant, William H. Smith of Com- pany B to Second Lieutenant, Harry Neville of Company C to Second and then to First Lieutenant, Joshua A. Gage, Company D to Second Lieutenant, Jacob M. Miller of Company E to Second and then to First Lieutenant, Clark Whitmoyer of Company F to Second Lieutenant, John F. Hassett of Company H to Second and then to First Lieutenant, and William B. Rose to Second Lieuten- ant, William A. Hughes, Company I to Second Lieutenant, Wil- liam May, Company K to Second and then to First Lieutenant, and Horace B. Rutherford to Second Lieutenant.
On June 14th, orders were received to prepare to move at once and to destroy all things that would not be needed while on the march or could not be carried, but not to make any fires, as the attempt to destroy them by fire would have revealed our inten- tions to move to the enemy, so everything was either cut, torn or broken to pieces. The wagons were all loaded and sent to the rear, but the tents were left standing until after dark. Some of
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the men amused themselves stuffing old clothes and stood them up in different parts of the camp with old guns fastened to them, so that, from a distance, they looked very much like men on guard, yet presented a very comical appearance when close, and we had a good laugh at them. After tattoo or about 9 o'clock, we were ordered in line and soon started. We had gone only about three miles and got safely across a large swamp, wetting ourselves al- most to the knees, when we were ordered back to camp, where we arrived about 11 o'clock and told to rest. So, wet as we were, we were soon asleep, but not long to remain so, as at 3 o'clock we were awakened and again ordered in line, and went as far as Division Headquarters, were halted again and kept there until after daylight ; we then started in earnest and pushed on rapidly, arriving at Stafford Court House about 10 o'clock, having made ten miles ; we halted about an hour and a half and then continued our march. The weather then became very warm, the sun so hot that a great many of the men were sunstruck, and nearly one half of the men gave out, causing heavy straggling, so that when we crossed the Chopawamsic near Aquia creek, and went into camp about a mile beyond, we had marched about eighteen miles, and there was only about one half of each command present. It was one of the hottest days we had experienced, and then being loaded down with our full accoutrements and three days' rations, and extra ammunition, the men could hardly get along. Over 500 in our Corps alone were sunstruck or overcome with the heat, some dropping in the ranks as they marched along. The writer was one of them ; without a moment's notice as he was marching at the head of the Regiment, he dropped in his tracks as though shot down, and unconscious was lifted to one side of the road, placed in the shade, and left, how long he remained there he knew not, but late in the afternoon he regained consciousness and realized his danger of capture, as not a vestige of our troops were in sight, so gathering up his remaining strength he started after the retreating column. Just before dark he reached the Chopawamsic creek and halted long enough to take a good bath, which cooled his heated body and greatly benefited him, so that he continued his lonely march greatly improved. He did not see one of his comrades from the time he dropped in the ranks,
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until about dark when he caught up with the rear of the army, and about 9 o'clock reached the camp of his regiment and was soon asleep. Had he delayed his march much longer he would have been captured as the enemy followed closely on his heels and reached our outposts about the same time he reached his regi- mental camp. Several of the cases proved fatal.
About 2 o'clock on the morning of the 16th we were again under arms, and before daylight again tramping along; our Bri- gade was on the advance, the Seventy-Second leading. We arrived at Dumfries at 7 o'clock, making nine miles before break- fast ; halted for about two hours, drew rations, got our breakfast and then continued our march until about 3 o'clock, then halted for half an hour, and at 4 o'clock reached the Occoquan Creek at Wolf Run Shoals, which we waded, and moved about a mile farther and camped ; we had made that day twenty miles. It was another very hot day, and large numbers of the men were overcome by the heat, so that when we arrived at the Occoquan Creek nearly all took advantage of the fine opportunity for a good bath and swim in its clear, deep and cool waters, so that very few went into camp with the regiments, and many of those who did came back to enjoy a bath, which was very refreshing.
On the 17th, left camp about 8 o'clock and marched about eight miles to Sangster's Station on the Orange and Alexandria Rail- road, and not very far from Fairfax Station, and formed in line of battle facing Bull Run; remaining there on the 18th, and on the afternoon of the 19th pushed on to Centreville, arriving there about 5 o'clock.
On the 20th, about 12 o'clock, we left camp, passed through Centreville and over the battlefield of Bull Run, still showing marks of the hard-fought battle on the trees and fences, some of them completely riddled with bullets or cut in two with shot or shell; carcasses of horses scattered all around, giving out their foul odors, and, worst of all, the hastily-made graves for those whose lives had been required of them, with scarcely dirt enough on them to cover their bodies. From one, the knee of a man was sticking out, another the hand and foot, another the greater part of the head; the hand and foot of another man was lying in a ditch, and further on the bones of a man's leg; these were seen
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just as we passed along the road. What must have been the case had one gone over the field? It seemed hard to give one's life for their country and harder yet, so long after the battle, not to be decently buried, or at least have dirt enough to cover one's bones ; our pioneers were finally detailed to fill up the graves and bury the loose bones.
We arrived at Gainesville about dark, where we thought we would rest for the night, but after a short rest on we went, passed through Haymarket about 8 o'clock and pushed on to Thorough- fare Gap, where we arrived about II o'clock; it raining all after- noon and evening. Our Brigade only, going that far, the rest of the corps lying between Gainesville and Haymarket; we having made a march of twenty-one miles, and that part after leaving Haymarket was very hard on us, the road being muddy, rough and stony ; the night being very dark, we would tumble over large stones or into mud puddles, so that when we arrived at the Gap we were nearly exhausted ; and, tired, wet and hungry, we threw ourselves down to sleep, a sleep that only worn-out soldiers can enjoy ; we were worn out then, and, I think it would have been almost impossible to have gone any further. On the morning of the 21st, moved up into position on the mountain and posted pickets down on the western side, on a slight elevation about three-quarters of a mile in advance of our line.
We remained at the Gap unmolested until June 25. Our posi- tion, a very pleasant one, afforded us a fine view of the surround- ing country ; stretching far away in front of us, lay the beautiful Loudon Valley reaching to the Blue Ridge in the distance; to our left and rear a fine, level plain, comprising part of Prince William County, through which we had just marched; to our right the high mountains continuing their rugged sides north- ward until cut in two by the Potomac, and thence on into Mary- land as the Catoctin Mountains ; even our line of battle added to the picture, formed with the right resting on the side of the mountain extending southward, the Seventy-Second Regiment on the right, the One Hundred and Sixth on their left, the battery with the Sixty-Ninth and Seventy-First Regiments formed in the rear ; thus were we prepared to meet an attack and dispute the passage of the enemy at that point.
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At daylight on that day, June 25th, our pickets were attacked ; the Seventy-Second Regiment was sent out double-quick to their relief, followed soon after by the Sixty-Ninth, but the enemy not pressing their attack, those regiments were relived by the Seventy-First and One Hundred and Sixth, as soon as they got their breakfast, so that they could return to their camps for theirs. Shortly after the Brigade was withdrawn and started to rejoin the corps at Haymarket, but had gone but a little way when they were halted and formed in line of battle, the One Hundred and Sixth Regiment supporting the battery. About noon again fell back, and when about a mile from Haymarket, while marching along the road, the rebels ran a light battery into position on a slight elevation, on the right of, and about four hun- dred yards from the road, and opened on us with shot and shell, one of the latter bursting in Company I of our Regiment, wound- ing four men, and one man in Company C; other shots knocked over two of our caissons ; one we righted and got along, the other we had to leave; one of our batteries was soon run into position and returned their shots and soon dismounted one of their guns and drove them far from their position. . Upon reaching Hay- market we left the main road; turning to the left, we made for the Potomac so as to cross into Maryland, and arrived at Gum Spring about 9 o'clock and camped, having marched about twenty- three miles-the latter part in a drizzling rain over muddy roads, coating our pants with clayey mud up to the knees, making them very heavy and wet. As we were, when we halted for the night without stopping to clean them off, we went to sleep and slept soundly.
These sudden changes of position, the long and hurried marches to make them, in different directions, and the haste in which they were made, necessarily provoked anxiety to know why, and rumors as to the cause found rapid transit. Among those, then currently believed, was that the Second Corps was cut off from the rest of the army, by Stuart pushing forward his cavalry and occupying the road between Gainesville and Centreville-that Hancock's orders were to withdraw from Thoroughfare Gap and join the army at Centreville. To have executed that order would have placed him at the mercy of Stuart, who had selected a strong
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position, covering the road leading to Centreville, and with his whole force well posted and supported by artillery, would have given him a decided advantage over us. But Hancock was equal to the emergency. Knowing that Stuart was so posted, he pro- posed to keep him there, and knowing also that the objective point of the Army of the Potomac was Maryland and perhaps Pennsylvania, after Lee, if he could not join it at Centreville, he could in Maryland; so he hastily writes a dispatch to General Hooker at Centreville, saying that he would put his corps in motion for that place via Gainesville, and would be there that evening; he then sent an orderly full speed in that direction, knowing that he would not go far before he fell into the hands of the enemy, and the dispatch would reveal Hancock's intentions and make them wait there to receive him, and allow him to pro- ceed on his way unmolested; he therefore made direct for the Potomac by taking a small road that branched off to the left of Haymarket, and pushed on rapidly to Gum Spring, where as has been said we arrived about 9 o'clock that night, thus putting a long day's march between his command and Stuart. It was also said that General Hooker did not know what had become of the Second Corps until it turned up in Maryland. As to their full truth the writer is unable to say; but this much was known, that we were making as fast as we could towards Centreville until the attack at Haymarket, when almost immediately the main road was left and the small road taken, even after some of the troops had passed it and they had to come back to it-that with consid- erable turning and rapid marching, which was kept up till nearly midnight, we reached Gum Spring, a distance of about twenty- three miles.
After a night of continuous rain, 6 o'clock on the morning of the 26th found us again moving fast, and a march of twelve miles brought us to Edwards' Ferry about noon, where we rested until dark, when we moved down to the Ferry, but were not able to cross until 10 o'clock at night ; we then went about a mile further and camped, sleeping once more on the soil of Maryland. Back once more in "Maryland my Maryland." We remained in camp on the 27th until about 2 o'clock when we again continued our march, passing through Poolesville about 4 o'clock and Barns-
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[1863
ville late at night, and after going two miles further stopped for the night, having marched about sixteen miles.
It was here that the writer had rather an uncomfortable ex- perience, which goes to make up a soldier's life. Being very tired when we halted for the night, he, together with the comrade* that nearly always slept beneath the same blanket, prepared to get what sleep the rest of the night afforded, without waiting for supper, and selected a spot behind a large boulder, spread down the gum blanket, taking off coat for a pillow, and shoes for com- fort, covered themselves with the woolen blanket and went to sleep. It was a disturbed sleep; without being fully awake, the writer was conscious of being used to satisfy the hunger of a number of some small insects, and as the bites would occur on different parts of the body, was aware of scratching to relieve them, and came to the conclusion that the "graybacks" or the "soldier's body-guard", as some called them, had suddenly made their home with him, and knowing, as every soldier always did know, that they must have come from somebody else, felt not very well disposed towards his comrade with whom he shared his blanket, who also seemed far from enjoying his rest; was finally aware that his companion got up and left him before it was yet day, and shortly after, just as day was breaking, the writer also left his bed in no very pleasant humor. Going to a fire nearby he found his companion seated there with his elbows on his knees, supporting his head with his hands, looking into the fire as glum as the writer felt, and found that he had not rested any better, and entertained the same very complimentary opinion of the writer as the writer did of him. Each declaring that he was not in that condition before, began an examination of their clothing, when instead of "graybacks" what was their surprise to find their tormentors to have been large black ants, a number of their bodies being found among the clothes of each, killed by our scratching, and our bodies having the appearance of being affected with the measles. Going to where we slept, we found large quantities of them among the blankets, dead, partly dead, and alive. After expressing ourselves in no very complimentary or choice terms
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