USA > Pennsylvania > History of the One hundred & sixth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, 2d brigade, 2d division, 2d corps, 1861-1865 > Part 21
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This was one of the rare opportunities offered during our war for the movement of troops in battle, in level open country, afford- ing a fine view of their magnificent array and manœuvring, that could not fail to inspire all who witnessed it. Advancing direct from the river, on the right, is a large hill, on which were con- structed works for artillery, that could command the surrounding country for a long distance ; on the left runs the railroad at right angle from the river ; between, is flat, open space, about a mile wide, on which our Corps, the Second, was formed in nine lines, a brigade in each line, with the regiments formed in close columns by division, our center division, slowly advancing parallel with the railroad ; between each line were the Brigade Commanders and their staffs and colors, with their aides riding rapidly from point to point, as it became necessary to carry instructions to the Regi- mental Commanders. Around each regiment were its mounted officers ; in the rear of each were the surgeons and their helpers ; following in the rear of all, was the ambulance corps, with their ambulances and stretchers, ready to do their humane work of caring for the wounded. Then looking to the left beyond the railroad, on a road running parallel with it, could be seen the Artillery keeping up with the Infantry, all plainly seen at one time. Presently in front almost as far as the eye could see, where the ground by gradual ascent seemed to be meeting the sky. a flash was seen, then smoke; soon the report is heard and a shell came crashing towards us, bursting over our heads, quickly fol- lowed by many others ; yet the lines slowly advanced, making no reply. The line of skirmishers slightly in advance of the first
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line hurried rapidly forward, closely followed by the first line, and when very near the enemy's guns, the firing ceased, the battery and its support disappeared. Our lines halt, as the enemy had left, and the battle was over; thus was one of the finest oppor- tunities for a fair open field fight lost. But that sight can never be forgotten by those who saw and noted it. Over 15,000 men- veterans-tried by the fire of many battles, and by the march of many campaigns, there formed in line of battle, advancing amid shot and shell as quietly and orderly as if on parade or drill, and the whole field seen at a glance. It was a magnificent sight, that advance of the Second Corps on Brandy Station, on the afternoon of October 12, 1863, the First Division on the advance, followed by the Third, and the Second bringing up the rear, with the Phil- adelphia Brigade the advance of the Division.
We prepared to make ourselves comfortable for the night where we lay, about a mile and a half from Brandy Station, but about II o'clock we were awakened and soon started backwards, recrossed the Rappahannock, passed Bealton, and arrived at Fayetteville, near Sulphur Springs, about sunrise, where we halted for breakfast. It had now been ascertained that Lee was executing another movement northward, and with his whole army was then north of the Rappahannock, making for Washing- ton, while Meade was south of the river facing towards Rich- mond. Prompt action was necessary to extricate himself from this position, hence our midnight march and rapid movements. About II o'clock we left Fayetteville and arrived at camp near Warrenton Junction, having marched about twenty-three miles.
Leaving camp about 5 o'clock the next morning, October 14th, the One Hundred and Sixth Regiment was deployed as skirmish- ers and advanced to Catlett's Station, where we halted and, while the Division was forming in line of battle, General Meade, who was walking up and down close by, consulting his map, and con- versing with his officers, came and inquired what Brigade ours was, and when told that it was the "Philadelphia Brigade", said, "That is just the one I want", and immediately gave orders to Colonel Baxter, then commanding the Brigade, as General Webb was in command of the Division, to escort the ammunition train to Centreville. We at once moved on, the One Hundred and
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Sixth and Seventy-Second deployed as flankers. We arrived at Bristoe Station about noon, where we halted for dinner, the train still pushing on. Just as we were leaving Bristoe Station the Rebs opened on us with a light battery ; our battery was soon in position replying to them, and leaving them to fight it out, we pressed on after the train, crossed Bull Run about 4 o'clock and arrived at the fortifications around Centreville about dark. We were thus absent from the fight at Bristoe Station that day, in which our Corps was hotly engaged, and as the brunt of that fight was borne by our Division under General Webb, we would have had to take an active part, and our loss might have been great, but we could have shared in the honors of that victory, in which about four hundred and fifty prisoners were captured, together with five guns and three battle-flags, while our whole loss did not amount to two hundred and fifty, and included in that number, were three representatives of our Brigade, serving on detached service, Lieutenant Michael Coste, of the Seventy- Second Regiment, on the staff of General Owen, who was then commanding the Third Brigade of the Third Division, and Cap- tains James C. Lynch and Francis Wessels, of the One Hundred and Sixth Regiment, the former an aide on the Third Division staff, and the latter on General Webb's Staff, Second Division, all wounded.
The next morning the Brigade joined the Division at Bull Run, and was formed in line of battle on the right of the First Divi- sion, with orders to keep out of sight, and Colonel Morehead was assigned to the command of the Third Brigade of our Division, leaving Lieutenant-Colonel Curry in command of the Regiment. We were now in possession of Bull Run and Centreville, and had beaten Lee on that race towards Washington, who, finding him- self outmarched, if not whipped, began leisurely to fall back to- wards Richmond, but made several feints before retiring from our front, furiously attacking our pickets. On October 15th Colonel Curry was ordered to deploy the One Hundred and Sixth Regi- ment as skirmishers and advance to the support of the pickets. At the same time the enemy opened with artillery upon our supply train, then in sight, sending the shells in quick succession among them, which created the greatest confusion and started them to
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the rear in great haste, which soon terminated in a stampede- each one for himself; wagons, ambulances, battery wagons and forges, with the drivers whipping their horses and mules to urge them out of range. They were also surrounded by the usual number of bummers, and stragglers, and pioneers and musicians, who also made tracks out of sight as fast as their legs would carry them. This, I believe, was all the damage that was done, as no one was hurt so far as I could learn. In the meantime the picket firing ceased soon after the arrival of the One Hundred and Sixth Regiment. The next three days all was quiet ; but at daylight on the morning of the 19th we started after Lee. Crossing Bull Run on a pontoon bridge, we marched to Manassas Junction, and re-formed our line between there and Bristoe Station; on the 20th pushed forward to Auburn, wading Broad Run twice and then Little Run. Continuing our march, we passed through Green- wich and Auburn, waded Cedar Creek and camped about II o'clock, having marched about sixteen miles. On the 23d marched about eight miles to near Warrenton Junction, where we remained until November 7th, having Division drill on the 2d, 3d, 4th and 5th. On the 2d Major Stover returned from recruiting service and presented to the Regiment a very handsome pair of guidons.
Upon the completion of the repairs to the Orange and Alex- andria Railroad, which had been completely destroyed by Lee, as he fell back, and which repairs were necessary for the forwarding of supplies for our army, we again renewed our advance toward the Rappahannock, leaving our camp about 7 o'clock on the morning of November 7, marching along the railroad, halting for an hour at Warrenton Junction, then on to Bealton, having then got beyond where the road was relaid, passing the men still at work replacing the ties and rails all new ; then left the railroad and marched direct for the Rappahannock. We camped for the night within half a mile of the river; could hear firing all day. Our Corps with the Third formed the left wing or column, and the Fifth and Sixth Corps formed the right, and the firing we heard was that of the right wing which had crossed at Rappa- hannock Station, where they met with considerable opposition but finally charged and captured the enemy's works with about 1,500 prisoners, four guns and eight flags ; the left met with little or
LIEUTENANT JAMES C. BIGGS.
Sept. 17, 1861. Oct. 19, 1864.
As Sergeant, Company H. Promoted to Sergeant-Major, May 1, 1862. Promoted to First Lieutenant, Co. F., Sept. 19, 1862. Discharged, Oct. 19, 1864.
SERGEANT RICHARD F. WHITMOYER. Sept. 12, 1861. June 30, 1865. Re-enlisted March 30, 1864. Veteran. As Corporal. Promoted to Sergeant, March 20, 1864. Promoted 10 First Sergeant, June 13, 1865. Captured at Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864. Prisoner from June 22, 1864 to Nov. 26, 1864. Mustered out with Company, June 30, 1865.
COMPANY F.
JACOB FOCHT.
Aug. 12, 1861. June 25, 1865.
Re-enlisted March 30, 1864. Veteran. Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864. Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 1864. Discharged, June 26, 1865.
THOMAS PURCELL.
Aug. 14, 185r. June 1, 1864.
Re-enlisted March 30, 1864. Veteran. Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 1, 1864.
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no opposition and crossed at Kelly's Ford on pontoon bridges ; our Brigade crossed early on the morning of the 8th, forming in line of battle, our Brigade in the advance; the Sixty-Ninth Regiment was deployed as skirmishers ; advancing for about a mile, passing a rebel camp, where the main body halted. This was the camp of the Twenty-First Georgia, Twenty-Fourth North Carolina, Second North Carolina Cavalry, a regiment from Florida and one from Virginia, and they had already begun making themselves comfortable for the winter by building log huts. Those of the Twenty-First Georgia were very fine, built regular, all about the same size, about fourteen feet long by six feet wide, with board roofs, fireplaces built in them, also beds and stools ; and then they were compelled to leave all by our unexpected advance, and the haste in which they were compelled to go is shown by what they left behind. In one camp two bullocks already dressed and partly cut up, in some huts the meals were partly prepared, in one they were baking griddle cakes or "slap-jacks", and did not have time to eat those baked or take them with them, another had shot a squirrel and had it all ready to cook, and had to leave it; one had commenced a letter and had got far enough to say that they "were ordered to put up their winter quarters, as the Yankees had gone into winter quarters and could not follow them any more". As soon as we broke ranks our men rushed in and out of the cabins to see what they could find ; it was amusing to see with what eagerness they would seize on to parts of newspapers, reports, letters, or postage stamps, even old buttons, and anything and everything that was found was prized because it belonged to a Rebel.
About 2 o'clock we moved off by the right flank and soon came upon a large body of troops. The One Hundred and Sixth Regi- ment were immediately deployed as skirmishers, and advancing cautiously, found that we had struck our right wing, and the troops were the Fifth Corps and Cavalry. At dark, the Regiment was relieved and returned, and joined the Brigade. On the 10th, we moved two miles and camped in a large woods, near Wilson's Mills, not far from Brandy Station, around which our whole Corps was encamped. Expecting to make a long stay, we began to put up log huts.
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Lee, in the meantime; had withdrawn from around Culpepper, and across the Rapidan, leaving us to occupy about the same posi- tion we did before we began the movement towards Washington. Now, Meade determined to follow him up, and force him to fight, before winter set in to prevent any further movements. So, on the 24th, we were awakened about 4 o'clock, and ordered to pre- pare to move at daylight-rations for ten days were issued. About 7 o'clock we left camp, and marched as far as Mountain Run, when the order was countermanded, and we returned to camp. On the 26th, we again started, crossed Mountain Run, marched to the Rapidan, and about 4 o'clock, crossed at Germania Ford. Considerable difficulty was experienced in getting the artillery up the steep banks of the river ; the infantry had to lend a helping hand to get up each piece. Pressed forward to Wilder- ness Run and camped, having marched about thirteen miles.
Early the next morning, continued some distance along the Orange Plank road, then took to the woods and moved towards Robertson's Tavern, and between 10 and II o'clock, 'skirmishing began. Our Division was still under command of General Webb, and Colonel Devereux, of the Nineteenth Massachusetts, com- manded our Brigade, General Warren commanding the Corps. Our Brigade was now on the advance of the Division and was sent to occupy a position on the right of the road. The Seventy- Second Regiment was deployed as skirmishers, and advanced into the woods under command of their Lieutenant-Colonel, Theodore Hesser, who was almost instantly killed while gallantly leading his men. The remainder of the Brigade was formed and advanc- ing in line of battle to the crest of the hill lay down. Soon Gen- eral Webb sent orders for a regiment to move to the right of the picket line, to occupy an important position; and the One Hun- dred and Sixth Regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Curry, was ordered forward, and immediately gained the point. About the same time, the Seventy-First was sent to support the left, and the Sixty-Ninth came to the assistance of the One Hundred and Sixth, which, with the First Brigade, were hotly pressed, but soon re- pulsed the enemy and held their ground, and only skirmish-firing was kept up the rest of the day.
At daylight the next morning, November 28th, the whole Divi-
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sion was formed in line of battle and advanced for over two miles through dense woods and over fences, until striking the enemy's skirmishers near Mine Run, the Brigade was then placed in re- serve. On the 29th we were relieved by the Fifth Corps and moved off to the left, making a detour so as to reach the enemy's right flank, passing Robinson's Tavern and White Hall Church and reformed in our new position about dark, and about fifteen miles from where we started in the morning by the road we took. At 2 o'clock on the morning of the 30th, we moved forward for about three miles along the plank road at double-quick and were soon outside the pickets ; the Division was formed in two lines, the Philadelphia Brigade in the first line, and were ordered to lie down, keep very quiet and make no fires. Were informed by Colonel Curry that at 7 o'clock we would charge the enemy's works in our front. General Webb also addressed each regiment. and said that our Division had been selected for that particular duty, and must carry the works; that we had 28,000 men while their force was considerably less, principally North Carolina troops. About 8 o'clock cannonading began on our left, but we remained quiet. The enemy's works in our front were now plain- ly visible with their colors planted on them. The men could be seen in large numbers moving around. All day long we lay there in that position, suffering with the cold, with nothing to eat, expecting every moment to get the order to charge, and knowing that it was a forlorn hope, that few would ever reach their works, or get back alive. Instead of being merely rifle-pits they were regularly constructed works with a very heavy force defending them ; with sixteen pieces of artillery so constructed as to sweep all of the open ground, about four hundred yards wide, over which we would have to charge; but fortunately for us, the order to charge was not given, and towards dark we were moved back about three hundred yards in a large, dense woods, where we were allowed to make fires and able to attend to the inner man.
We remained in the same position all day of December Ist; in the afternoon threw up breastworks. About 9 o'clock, just as we were making ourselves comfortable for the night, orders were issued to fall back, which had to be done very quietly ; everything was muffled, and in order to still further conceal our movement
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from the enemy, it was necessary that two men from each regi- ment should remain behind to keep up the fires until 3 o'clock, and volunteers were called for, two from each regiment in the Brigade. CORPORAL WILLIAM H. MYERS, of Company A, and PRIVATE PETER SCHEIK, of Company D, were the two who volun- teered from the One Hundred and Sixth Regiment. This was no pleasant duty, deserted as it seemed by their comrades, liable at any moment to be captured and the prospect of starvation in a rebel prison staring them in the face-yet those eight men re- mained firm at their post during those six long hours of that night and faithfully discharged their duty, leaving just before daylight, and in safety reached their regiments. The men from the other regiments were Corporal Frederick Murphy, Company H, and Private Francis M'Kee, Company D of the Sixty-Ninth ; Sergeant Edward Teague and Corporal Isaiah B. Tapp, of Company F of the Seventy-First, and Corporal William H. Hill, Company E, and Corporal Nathaniel Rhodes, Company I of the Seventy- Second Regiment.
We moved off quietly, our Division again covering the rear, We had to move very slowly, with frequent stoppages ; this made it very hard on the men, as the night was very cold and we did not move fast or long enough to keep warm; presently, those ahead of us must have started fires to warm themselves while halting, and gone and left them burning; soon the woods on both sides of the road caught fire, and we were virtually marching through fire ; this made it more comfortable for the men. About 12 o'clock we passed White Hall Church, near which we found our Cavalry massed; they were sleeping on their arms, as they had their accoutrements on and were taking such naps as they could sitting around the fires, with their horses saddled and ready to mount and move off at once. About 2 o'clock we left the plank road and turning to the left shortly after daylight passed Culpepper Gold Mines, and soon after recrossed the Rapidan river on pon- toon bridges at Culpepper Ford. Making a halt for about an hour, between IO and II o'clock, to get breakfast and a short .rest, then continued the march the entire day, December 2d, making for our old camp as fast as we could; about dark, the roads becoming very muddy, we took to the woods and soon became mixed with
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part of the Sixth Corps that was maching parallel with us; this broke our line and each one then started for camp on his own hook, where some of us arrived about 9 o'clock at night, com- pletely used up, having made a forced march of forty-two miles in twenty-four hours. Our men were coming into camp all night long ; some rested on the way and came in the next morning.
We were now back again where we started from on the 26th of November ; we had done much marching and some fighting. Our loss in the whole Brigade at Robinson's Tavern was only ten killed and twenty-five wounded, and the enemy's loss, as copied from a Richmond paper by Colonel Banes, was "fully five hundred in killed and wounded".
Thus ended the campaign in the Valley of Virginia. The One Hundred and Sixth Regiment bore its full share of the long marches, and the ceaseless vigilance required by the constant manœuvring of the enemy, in the sharp conflict at Robinson's Tavern, or Locust Grove, the suffering from cold when active operations at Mine Run were abandoned, and in that long march back to our camp, and were now ready to make themselves a comfortable home for the winter.
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CHAPTER XVIII. WINTER QUARTERS AGAIN.
T "HE day following our return to camp from Mine Run, Dec- ember 3d, we moved our camp about half a mile into a large wood, and were told that it would be our winter camp, but the ground was so low and damp that many of the men went to General Webb and complained about it, and he, ever ready to look after the welfare of his men, at once gave instructions for a change, and we were taken back to our old camp, where we commenced to make ourselves comfortable; when on the 5th, were moved to Stevensburg, and camped in a large open field, far away from any wood. This was not satisfactory, so on the 7th were marched again, passing through Stevensburg and two and a half miles further toward Brandy Station, and camped in a large wood, on a high hill. Our camp was regularly laid out and we were directed to build our cabins and make ourselves comfortable for the winter.
On the 8th that welcome visitor, the Paymaster, arrived and we were paid off. This enabled us to get many things that we needed for comfort in winter quarters, that cannot be carried dur- ing a campaign.
We were now very comfortably fixed and had uninterrupted rest for five months ; our past experience of the previous years taught us how to enjoy ourselves ; soon many received boxes from our loved ones at home, sending us many luxuries both for the inner and outer man. Many hands and feet were made more comfort- able by the warm gloves and good boots sent from home, and our bodies kept warmer with the heavier woolen underclothes. Papers were again plenty, and all the news known, and we really were comfortable and happy.
The men seemed soon to forget the privations, hardships and fatigue of the long marches and the excitement and dangers of battle as they settled down in their winter camp, and devoted
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themselves to making every arrangement for a comfortable winter, building comfortable homes and sending home for a few luxuries and comforts, to help out, and so pass the time in easy enjoyment and comfort, accepting the only hardships that came to them then, the guard and picket duty, as a necessary evil, the interval between each gave them sufficient time to rest up and be ready for the next turn.
Many comrades contributing more than their share to make the lives of the others more pleasant. Among them was Sergeant Jonathan C. Barnes of Company C, who having a fine tenor voice was always ready and willing to entertain his comrades, officers as well as men, with his good singing, he was frequently assisted by Corporal Wm. H. Myers and John S. Turner of Company A, and Quartermaster Sergeant Wm. M. Mehl, and others, and many times during those long quiet winter evenings would their voices be heard as they gave pleasure to their com- rades ; frequently being invited by the officers to their quarters to help them entertain their friends.
And then this winter specially as we sat arount our camp fires, would we with much pleasure talk over, and count up the days when our enlistment would be over and we would be going home to our friends and loved ones, for this was to be the last winter in camp for many of us, even if the war was not over, and sad to relate it was the last winter on earth of many. Of the three others who occupied that comfortable little log cabin with the writer, two were killed in action, one at Wilderness and the other at Spottsylvania Court House.
Christmas day soon came upon us like all other days, but was enjoyed differently. All the members of the Brigade were taken to Brigade headquarters, and treated to a "drink of whiskey", and then the Regiment and Company officers took their turn in ex- tending the same courtesies to their men until some got too much, and then indulged in a row. Several fights occurred, which drew crowds, until dispersed by the officers; it even extended to regi- ments, whose camps joined, but after all no serious damage was done, and Christmas day passed away like others, many thinking they really enjoyed it, notwithstanding the "swelled heads", "black eyes", or smashed noses".
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The next day the Regiment received a new silk national flag, and the remnants of the old bullet-riddled and storm-tossed one, that had been carried as our standard throughout all our cam- paigns, through the siege of Yorktown, the battles of Fair Oaks, Peach Orchard, Savage Station, Glendale, Malvern Hill, Antie- tam, Fredericksburg, Flint Hill, Haymarket, Gettysburg, Auburn, Locust Grove, or Robinson's Tavern, were now to be kindly and sacredly laid way, to receive from future generations the honor and veneration due to it from a loyal people. During the two years and four months of its service, it never drooped before the enemy, except when its bearer was shot down, and then to be quickly held aloft by the next man, though always carried into the thickest of the above-named engagements, and no member of the One Hundred and Sixth Pennsylvania, when looking at it, as it now rests quietly in its case, in the Capital at Harrisburg, tatter- ed and torn by its hard service, but will bow his head in reverence, and still feel coursing through his veins a spirit of loyalty and devotedness that will prompt him to again respond to the call, and cheerfully follow its duplicate, should our glorious country ever call upon him to defend its honor. Rest! and may your battle-torn remnants inspire future generations to emulate the example of those who rallied around you.
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