USA > Pennsylvania > History of the One hundred & sixth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, 2d brigade, 2d division, 2d corps, 1861-1865 > Part 35
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GROUP AT DEDICATION OF TABLET, JULY 24TH, 1882.
2.
3. Lieutenant John F. Hassett, Co. II. Captain William N. Jones, Co. D.
4.
5. 6. Dr. Philip Leidy, Staff.
7. Captain Paul J. Hallowell, Co. B.
8. 9.
IO.
II.
Corporal Giles M. Coons, Co. D.
12.
F'idello Biddle, Co. D.
13.
Samuel W. Arbuckle, Co. C.
. 20.
21. Corporal Jos. R. C. Ward, Co. I.
22. Corporal Rufus G. Brown, Co. C.
23. 24.
26.
25. E. J. Flanagan, Co. H. Sergeant Joseph J. Taylor, Co. C.
27. Sergeant-Major William H. Neiler.
14. Sergeant John E. Rockwell, Co. D.
15. 16.
Musician G. J. R. Miller, Co. H .!
17. 18. 19. Joseph White, Co. K.
I. Captain James C. Lynch, Co. B.
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DEDICATION OF MONUMENTS
A granite tablet, bearing appropriate inscriptions, will be erected to mark the position occupied by the Regiment on the 3d day of July, 1863. It will be placed on Cemetery Hill and dedicated with fitting ceremonies-speeches, music, firing of cannon, &c., &c.,
It is hoped that every survivor of the Regiment will be present. Very respectfully,
S. M. SMITH, Secretary.
About thirty of the survivors of the Regiment responded to those calls, and assembled that afternoon on East Cemetery Hill at Gettysburg, to attend the ceremonies incident to the dedica- tion of that tablet.
The meeting was called to order by Comrade S. Macy Smith, Secretary, who was selected to preside and he addressed the Com- rades as follows :
A year ago when a few of the survivors of the 106th Pennsyl- vania Volunteers were going over this historic field, they came to the conclusion that there ought to be some enduring marks to designate at least two of the positions occupied by the Regiment in this most sanguinary and important battle. They pledged them- selves to labor faithfully and earnestly for the accomplishment of this laudable undertaking. But there were difficulties to over- come. The survivors, though few, were scattered throughout several counties in this commonwealth, principally Philadelphia, Bradford and Tioga; but their hearts were in the work. Meet- ings were called at Canton and Philadelphia, organization effected, a committee appointed to collect the necessary funds, and an- other to select designs and procure tablets. Of the latter com- mittee, I have the honor to be chairman. Up to the time this committee has procured but one tablet-that around which we are now gathered. We are here to dedicate it to the purpose for which it was intended. The occasion is an impressive one. Here on this battlefield 19 years ago struggled 200,000 men in mortal combat. That struggle practically decided the great question of human liberty in our Republic. Comrades, in erecting this tablet, we add one more line to the soldier's chapter in the great volume of human history.
Grand and impressive indeed, would be that chapter which should unfold, in its full significance and in all its grandeur, the
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THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
. story of the war for the Union. But it never has-it never can be written. Language is inadequate to express, in its full mean- ing, the heroism, patriotism and sacrifices of those who took their lives in their hands to lay them down or save the nation from disruption, disunion and dishonor.
If all the granite in the rock-bound hills of New England could be formed into tablets, and those tablets erected on the many battlefields of the South and covered with inscriptions, the story would be incomplete.
Ever since men learned the art of war, battlefields have been places of great interest. The battle of Marathon was fought nearly 500 years before the Christian era, and yet the field is still visible by tourists from all parts of the civilized world. Who shall say that the battlefield of Gettysburg will not be a place of interest a thousand years to come? As the years roll away, the interest becomes more intense. Monuments and tablets will be erected ; avenues and walks will be laid out; sweet flowers of beauty will bloom above the ashes of the brave; and this battle- field, once the scene of carnage and death, will become a thing of beauty, and will no doubt be visited by thousands of people of generations yet unborn.
And now, Mr. President, as Chairman of the committee, I have the pleasure of presenting to you, for the Gettysburg B. F. Association, this tablet, and in doing so permit me to express the hope that it may stand, untouched by vandal hands, until the nations learn war no more.
The tablet was received on behalf of the Association by Gen- eral James C. Lynch, President, in a few and appropriate remarks ringing with patriotism which were received with cheers. Comrade Smith then read the following letter of General Wm. W. Burns, our old commander, who at the last moment was prevented from attending.
Washington City, D. C., July 15, 1882.
Dear Sir :-
If possible, nothing will give me greater pleasure than to be present on the 24th of July, to witness the ceremonies of erecting a tablet commemorating the glorious part taken by the 106th Penn- sylvania Volunteers at the battle of Gettysburg, on the ever memor-
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DEDICATION OF MONUMENTS
able, July 3d, 1863. One of the cherished Regiments of my First Brigade, disciplined for war-and demonstrating it during the trying times on the Peninsula and in the Seven Days battles before Richmond. The heroic conduct at Gettysburg, was a glorious consumation of that grand old Brigade which the old hero, Sumner, pronounced the elite of his Corps-baptized in fire under our brave Sedgwick. The forms of Morehead, Curry, Stover and many more rise before me as I write. Our comrades who have gone be- fore to "the silent camping ground, the bivouac of the dead", will look down from Elisium fields upon your tablet and bless it.
"Honor to the brave."
Very truly yours, WM. W. BURNS, Brevet-Brigadier General.
S. M. SMITH, EsQ., Secretary.
Comrade Smith then introduced Colonel Jos. R. C. Ward, who had been selected as orator of the day.
Colonel Ward delivered a well written address, giving a full and complete history of the valuable services rendered by the Regiment throughout its whole three years service, prepared from a diary kept by him during his whole term of enlistment. He spoke of the many brave and heroic deeds performed by many members of the Regiment, the many battles they had fought, the long campaigns they marched, the sacrifices made and the heavy loss sustained, and mentioned the names of many of the brave heroes who gave their lives for their country. It was from this address-that was so well received by those who attended that reunion, and who, at a meeting held that evening, unanimously requested its publication-that the present history of the Regi- ment was written. Therefore the publication of that address is omitted, as it is all included in the pages of this book, elaborated to include a more minute and complete record of the valuable services rendered by the Regiment and describing more fully the many battles fought and campaigns in which it took such pro- minent part.
A copy of the address was, however, placed in the monument and sealed.
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THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
DEDICATION OF MONUMENT ON CEMETERY RIDGE, AT CLUMP OF TREES, GETTYSBURG, PA. Marking position of the Regiment on July 2d and 3d, 1863
The following circular was issued for a reunion of the survivors of the Regiment to be held at Gettysburg on August 13, 1885, to dedicate the monument erected by the association on Cemetery Hill :
HEADQUARTERS ASSOCIATION 106th PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS. Philadelphia, July 30th, 1885.
Comrade:
A reunion of the survivors of the 106th Regiment Pa. Vols. will be held at Gettysburg, Pa., on Thursday August 13th, 1885, for the purpose of dedicating with appropriate ceremonies the granite monument which has been erected upon the spot at that historic clump of trees where the Regiment fought so gallantly on July 3d, 1863, in the repulse of Pickett's charge. On its tablets are inscribed a short statement of the deeds performed by the Regiment on that and other portions of the field during the battle, with a list of losses, etc.
General Alex. S. Webb has consented to deliver the oration at 5 o'clock p. m., on that day, and it is hoped that Generals Hancock, Gibbon, Burns and Owen will be present.
A special meeting of the Philadelphia Association of the 106th Pennsylvania Volunteers will be held at G. A. R. Headquarters, 1202 Chestnut St., on Tuesday evening, Aug. 4th, 1885, at 8 o'clock, when all survivors of the regiment who can possibly arrange to go to Gettysburg will be furnished with tickets at very low rates. The tablet committee will present its report at this meeting. -
It is earnestly hoped that all survivors of the Association will make some sacrifice for the purpose of being present on this occasion.
Those Comrades residing out of the City can obtain at any Grand Army Post room an order enabling them to purchase ex- cursion tickets to Gettysburg, at less than one-half the regular fare. Comrades desiring information, can obtain it from the Secretary at No. 717 Sansom Street, at any time.
By order of
JAMES C. LYNCH, President.
WM. B. ROSE. Secretary.
CLUMP OF TREES AT HIGH WATER MARK, GETTYSBURG.
Monument, 106th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Erected, Aug. 25, 1885.
Later removed to the Codori House on the Emmittsburg Road.
Codori House.
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DEDICATION OF MONUMENTS
About fifty of the members responded to the call and the monu- ment was dedicated with appropriate services. General Alex- ander S. Webb, who commanded the brigade at Gettysburg, delivered the oration. Unfortunately the manuscript of that oration was lost therefore cannot be included here.
[The author has endeavored to get copy of the order of exercises and address of General Webb, but has been unable to do so owing to death of General James C. Lynch, who had all the papers, and the family has been unable to find them.]
The monument bears the following inscription on its four sides :
FIRST Position of the 106th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers 2D BRIGADE, 2D DIVISION, 2D CORPS JULY 2D AND 3D, 1863
TOOK INTO ACTION : 23 Officers, 263 Men
Loss :
Killed
I Officer
IO Men
Wounded IO
49
Missing
2
-
Total
II
61
106TH PENNSYLVANIA
LIEUT. COLONEL WM. L. CURRY
SECOND JULY 2D-MORNING Companies A and B on skirmish line. Company B, by order of General Meade, advanced and uncovered enemy's position on Seminary Ridge.
AFTERNOON
Company B advanced to Bliss House, held by 16th Mississippi, where it was repulsed, losing 1 officer and 12 men.
LATER In connection with 4 companies of 12th New Jersey again advanced and captured the Bliss House and number of prisoners.
2D BRIGADE BRIG. GENERAL ALEX. S. WEBB
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THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
THIRD
JULY 3D
The Regiment with IIth Corps on East Cemetery Hill, except Companies A and B and a detail of 50 men from the other com- panies, who remained with Brigade at this point and assisted to repel Pickett's charge.
The Regiment also participated in the following battles : Fair Oaks, Savage Station, Malvern Hill, Antietam, Fredericks- burg, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Po River, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon R. R., Ream's Station, Boydton Road, Hatcher's Run.
2D DIVISION BRIG. GENERAL JOHN GIBBON
FOURTH
JULY 2D-EVENING
The Regiment assisted in repelling the charge of Wright's Georgia Brigade, made a countercharge to the Emmitsburg Road, recap- tured the guns of Brown's Rhode Island Battery and captured 250 prisoners, including Col. Wm. Gibson, wounded ; 5 captains and 15 lieutenants of the 48th Georgia.
The Regiment, except Companies A and B and a detail of 50 men and 3 officers, was subsequently ordered to reinforce the 11th Corps, and was assigned position on East Cemetery Hill supporting battery, where it remained during the battle.
2D CORPS MAJOR GENERAL W. S. HANCOCK
The monument is made of Goat Hill granite from near Lambert- ville, New Jersey ; is very hard and susceptible of high polish, and is over ten feet high and three feet square at base. The inscription contains over 1,500 letters, cut in the polished surface of the four sides.
When the monument furnished by the State of Pennsylvania was placed in position near the spot where this monument stood it was decided best to remove it, and through the liberality of Captain John W. Lynch a lot of ground was purchased by the. Association at the Codori House on the Emmitsburg Road, and this monument was moved and placed there, where the Regiment captured so many prisoners on the afternoon of July 2, 1863.
393
DEDICATION OF MONUMENTS
DEDICATORY SERVICES AT GETTYSBURG September 11th and 12th, 1889, of the
106th REGIMENT, PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS (INFANTRY)
OF PHILADELPHIA
2d Brigade, 2d Division, 2d Army Corps Army of the Potomac
ORDER OF EXERCISES (September 12th, 9 A. M.)
I. PRAYER, . REV. J. NEWTON RITNER Chaplain Geo. G. Meade Post No. I, G. A. R.
2. NATIONAL HYMN-"My country 'tis of thee."
3. ADDRESS, COMRADE JAMES THOMPSON President of the Association.
FELLOW SOLDIERS, MEMBERS OF THE 106TH REGIMENT :-
As we stand upon this historic ground, it causes the blood in my veins to burn with renewed patriotic fire, and memory to fly thick and fast before me, as I think of the great work performed by the Regiment (in which we all feel so proud of holding mem- bership) on this bloody field now over a quarter of a century ago.
But I must not dwell upon that work, which will live forever in every patriotic heart, because that history is left to be told over again by one who is now present with us.
As the President of your Association, an honor which sinks deep into my heart, it is perhaps proper (before introducing the orator of the day) for me to say, that the 106th Regiment left for the front on September 30th, 1861, with a total enrollment of 1020 men. And as you are aware participated in all the battles, in which the grand old Army of the Potomac took part, remaining in the field actively until the death knell of the Rebellion had been
* Owing to a heavy rainstorm on the afternoon of September 11th, the services had to be postponed until the morning of the 12th.
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THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
sounded at Appomattox; during all those years our loss in killed was 99, wounded 397, and death by disease 95, captured 157; total loss 748.
Is this not a record to be proud of, and are we not all proud of our work, for each and every one of you helped, and can truthfully say, well, we are abundantly satisfied ?
For these who lie beneath this historic ground we bow our heads in silent prayer, they are not forgotten, and will ever live in our memories as true heroes who did a noble work and gave up their lives in defence of right against wrong, and in order that the greatest nation on the face of the earth might not be torn asunder.
Pardon me for talking so long, and in presenting to you the orator of the occasion, let me say that he was throughout the active history of the Regiment an honor to it. Leaving the dear old City of Brotherly Love as a Lieutenant of Company A, he commanded Company B at Gettysburg, and shall I tell you how under his heroic leadership his Company charged beyond our picket line on that memorable second day of July, 1863, how he dislodged the enemy's sharpshooters, who were seriously annoying our gunners, all this he did, and a braver set of men commanded by a braver officer would be hard to find.
I refer to Colonel and Brevet-Brigadier General James C. Lynch, whose great work on that day was the prime stepping- stone to rapid promotion, and I think he will tell you that he owes his single star to the men, not alone of Company B, but to the entire Regiment.
Every soldier loves a brave man, and I think I can say there is not a member of the 106th Regiment who does not admire General Lynch, for he was a stalwart among the brave men of the Army of the Potomac.
The beautiful monument, which will for all time adorn this spot, shining where the Regiment was engaged, speaks wonders for the patriotism and valor of the men who earned the right with their blood and sufferings to place it here.
Soldiers, Comrades, I now have the pleasure and honor of pre- senting to you, General James C. Lynch.
MONUMENT OF 106TH REGIMENT, PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS. Erected by State of Pennsylvania, at Gettysburg, Fa. Dedicated, Sept. 12, 1889.
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DEDICATION OF MONUMENTS
4. ORATION, GEN. JAMES C. LYNCH
Late Captain of Co. B, 106th P. V.
Comrades :- The first member of the One Hundred and Sixth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, was enlisted into the service of the United States on August 8, 1861, and the last survivor was honorably mustered out on June 30, 1865. During this period 1,020 officers and men were borne on its rolls and fought in twenty-eight engagements, losing one hundred and ninety- four by death and having three hundred and ninety-seven wounded in action. Through this long and desperate struggle to preserve the Union of the States the One Hundred and Sixth was always ready to answer the call of duty, and whether facing death by disease before Yorktown, or among the swamps of the Chickahominy; toiling its wearisome way through the dust and heat of a long summer day's march; freezing on the picket-line knee-deep in a winter night's snow drift, or presenting an ada- mantine line in the front of battle-wherever and whenever, the regiment or any detachment of it was directed to go it went and stayed until ordered by superior authority to leave. What regiment in the service can say more? From Ball's Bluff to Appomattox the One Hundred and Sixth Pennsylvania preserved its honor unstained-its escutcheon untarnished-never defeat- ed-though sometimes unsuccessful, still holding its place in the line of battle until that fateful day of the 22d of June, 1864, when, assailed in front, flank and rear, it destroyed its colors to pre- vent their capture and died on the field. Much of this "esprit de corps" was due to its first commander, Colonel Turner G. More- head, a veteran of the Mexican war, whose soldierly qualities and steadfast bearing left their impress on the regiment.
Company "A" served as company "S" of the First California Regiment until the rest of the "Blazers" reached Poolesville, when it took its proper place on the right of the One Hundred and Sixth. During its service with the California Regiment, Company A participated in the affair at Dranesville. The whole regiment was at Ball's Bluff, Charlestown, Yorktown, West Point, was heavily and successfully engaged at Fair Oaks-and in front of Richmond furnished details for picket which had several sharp skirmishes. The morning of June 29, 1862, found
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THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
it under fire at Peach Orchard, but its first great and glorious service was at Savage Station on the afternoon of that day when, with the Seventy-Second Pennsylvania on the right and the First Minnesota on its left, it held the center firmly and without waver- ing-standing without protection in the open field facing the woods through which the enemy poured its legions-the "Blazers" with the "Fire Zouaves" and the wood-choppers from Minne- sota presented a veritable stone wall to the advancing foe. Four different times did Anderson hurl his troops upon us including that boastful brigade from South Carolina, which imagined that one South Carolinian could whip five Yankees-but the One Hun- dred and Sixth met their fierce attacks with a coolness and in- trepidity that were unconquerable. Each discharge of a musket sent three buckshot and a bullet on their errand of death, and the orders of the officers to fire low were so faithfully obeyed that the dead and wounded were literally piled in rows in front of the One Hundred and Sixth. Not even on this dreadful field, or in the "Bloody Angle" at Spottsylvania, were the dead and wound- ed laid so close as at Savage Station, and yet it was many years after the war was closed before meagre credit was awarded to the troops who so nobly held that pass; the One Hundred and Sixth never had any newspaper correspondent to magnify its skirmishes into battles, and even the official reports of its officers were so modestly drawn and briefly composed that some of its most important services are not recorded among the archives of the Nation, and future historians will refuse to mention them as unverified. The Commissioners appointed by the State to act in conjunction with our regimental committee in erecting the monument we dedicate to-day refused to accept the testimony of some of the actors in the fray, and declined to place on the monu- ment inscriptions crediting detachments of the One Hundred and Sixth with participating in two of the most important episodes of the battle of Gettysburg. They say that Company B did not attack the Bliss House, giving as a reason that the official reports of the brigade and regimental commanders are silent on that subject. That Captain Ford and Lieutenant Irwin and the picket detail from companies C, D, E, F, G, H, I and K did not partici- pate in the repulse of Pickett's charge, because the regimental
397
DEDICATION OF MONUMENTS
commander did not say so in his official report-ignoring the fact that Lieutenant-Colonel Curry was on Cemetery Hill with the main body of the regiment and that the detachment was acting under direct orders of General Webb, the brigade commander, who did mention its services in his official reports. But we know that Lieutenant Smith of Company B, One Hundred and Sixth Pennsylvania, and four enlisted men were killed and seven men were wounded in the attack on the Bliss House, and that Captain Ford and Lieutenant Irwin were wounded and over one-half of the men of their detail were killed or wounded in repulsing the charge of Pickett on July 3, 1863. Their blood sank into the soil of yonder field and moistened the earth and stained the stones on this consecrated spot, and to-day rises up in mute witness of the valor of those from whose veins it was drawn and of their presence and services here.
After nightfall on June 29, 1862, the regiment was withdrawn from the field of the glorious victory of Savage Station and moved across White Oak swamp to Glendale or Frayser's farm where, on the afternoon of the 30th, it reaped fresh laurels on that field, so disastrous to the reputation of the Pennsylvania Reserves, so honorable to that of the Philadelphia Brigade, each regiment of which moved steadily forward through the mass of fugitives, and occupied the position assigned it-and held it against a vic- torious foe until ordered, during the night, to take the route to Malvern Hill, where, on July I, the One Hundred and Sixth cheerfully and well performed the part assigned to it.
After a period of inaction at Harrison's Landing, it marched down the Peninsula to Newport News and took steamer to Alexandria, where, after disembarking, it made one of the most severe marches of the war and with Sedgwick's Division arrived on the field of the Second Bull Run in time to take the place of McDowell's routed corps and hold the enemy in check until other dispositions could be made to meet him and save Pope's army from further disaster.
Again at Antietam, when near the Dunker Church, the Philadel- phia Brigade attacked in flank and rear by an overwhelming force, the One Hundred and Sixth maintained its reputation for coolness and obedience, and when ordered to leave the field it
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THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
marched off backward with its face to the foe-sullenly retiring to new vantage ground, where it formed a line on which other troops were rallied. Well may the survivors of the One Hundred and Sixth be proud of its conduct on that fateful field.
Again at Fredericksburg did the One Hundred and Sixth, and all of the Philadelphia Brigade, give renewed proof of its devo- tion to duty and that it did not know when it was whipped. Ad- vanced to a position within one hundred and fifty yards of Marye's Heights, it remained there all the afternoon suffering fearful loss until II o'clock at night when General Howard came and told the men that he supposed they had run away long before. It was your conduct there which gave him so much confidence in you'at Gettysburg.
The One Hundred and Sixth passed with undiminished credit through the disastrous battle of Chancellorsville which led to the invasion of Pennsylvania by the army of General Lee, closely followed by the Army of the Potomac, first under General Hooker and then (after June 28) under General Meade.
Toilsome marches, enlivened only by a few skirmishes, brought the One Hundred and Sixth Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Brigade to Gettysburg, and when it was formed on this hallowed spot to do battle on Pennsylvania soil, for human rights and a nation's unity, it could proudly boast that it had never been beaten in action and brought with it a self-confidence which was a guerdon to its commanders, that the Philadelphia Brigade might die here but could not be driven by an assault on its front from the position given it to defend.
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