USA > Pennsylvania > History of the One hundred & sixth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, 2d brigade, 2d division, 2d corps, 1861-1865 > Part 38
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My mind carries me back those thirty-four years, and I see you as we crossed the Antietam Creek near Pry's Mills on that bright and beautiful September morn, forming in Brigade lines in that woods over there under the gallant Sedgwick, marching
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DEDICATION OF MONUMENTS
in compact and solid lines through that woods, across that historic cornfield under that terrible fire, where the dead and dying lay so thick that you could hardly maintain your line, then crossing the Hagerstown Pike, over those two fences, then across this field and into that, the west wood; I seem to hear again the sound of that terrible fire that opened upon you almost as soon as you entered that wood; I see the two front lines give away before that fire ; I see the brave Howard holding you well in hand, until your front was cleared and you became the first line, and so directing your fire that you held your ground; I see grand old Sumner rising in his stirrups, and with his slouch hat wave you back; I see many of you rise and answer him with a cheer as you fix your bayonets ready for the charge you thought he wanted you to make, but he motions you back shouting "Back boys, for God's sake move back you are in a bad fix", and slowly you go, stubbornly contesting every foot of ground until you emerge from that wood into this field again, and are met with a most terrific enfilading fire from Walker's Division, that had rushed around your flank, and the fire of many guns that had been brought to bear upon this field. No troops could stand that fire, all formation was lost; back you go in confusion, hundreds of your brave comrades go down before that fire; down goes the veteran Morehead, the gallant Wister, and the brave Devereaux. Among the killed are Captains Bierwirth, 69th, Roussel and Willets, 72d, and Clark, 106th, and Lieutenants Dunn and Mc- Hugh, 69th, Conroy and Wilson, 7Ist, Peabody, 72d, and Bryan, 106th, as you were driven from this field. I see again the little band of the 106th, plant their colors on that fence over to the north, and joined by others again open fire and by its directness checked the further advance of the enemy, and end the battle on this part of the field. But Oh! at what sacrifice? What terrible loss ; 545 of our brave comrades fell, 118 yielding up their lives. Their life's blood mingling with the soil and hallowing it forever- more.
Are you not justly proud of having been a member of that Brigade? Then realize how honored I feel, in having been called upon to represent you here, to speak for you and in your name receive this beautiful monument, commemorating as it does your
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heroic deeds and the noble sacrifice of your comrades, who gave their lives upon this field ; methinks I see them now, in spirit forms hovering over us and holding down their shadowy arms to receive from us, their survivors, this imposing monument, and to whisper in our ears "we will faithfully guard it throughout all time".
Sir, on behalf of that same "Philadelphia Brigade", so named because the four Regiments that composed it were raised, re- cruited and organized mostly in that beautiful city of Philadelphia, well and truly named the "City of Brotherly Love" and entirely within the confines of the grand old commonwealth of Penn- sylvania, the 69th, 71st, 72d and the 106th Regiments of Infantry, a Brigade that began its service in 1861, and continued together without intermission until 1865, marching together, tenting to- gether, fighting together, until bound together by such ties that each member seemed willing to lose his regimental association in the satisfaction of being a member of the Brigade, a Brigade that fought with the grand old "Army of the Potomac", in every battle from its organization under McClellan, until it ceased to exist under Meade, investing the works at Yorktown, charging to the support of that battery at Fair Oaks, holding the line in those woods at Savage Station, charging to save Meade's line at Glendale, repulsing the assault upon that battery at Malvern Hill, covering the retreat at Second Bull Run, and twice repulsing that victorious army, in the thickest of the fight on this, Antie- tam's bloody field, storming those works on "Mayres Heights" at Fredericksburg, and all day long, lying on that field under that most terrific fire of shot and shell and bullets, holding the ford on the Rappahannock, for the retreat of the army from Chan- cellorsville, holding the "Bloody Angle", at Gettysburg, July 2d and 3d, and repulsing the grandest assault ever made, of Pickett's Division of brave Virginians, ready to charge those works at Mine Run, fighting all day in that terrible Wilderness, and charg- ing over those burning works, assaulting and capturing that line of works on Spottsylvania's bloody field, trying it again at Cold Harbor, and not succeeding, refused to go back, staid there and threw up works of your own within thirty yards of their line, and held them against every assault, crossing the James, you
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GROUP AT DEDICATION OF BRIGADE MONUMENT AT ANTIETAM.
I. Governor D. H. Hastings, of Pa.
2. Governor Lloyd Lowndes, of Md.
3. Adjutant General Thomas J. Stewart, of Pa.
4. Adjutant General Wilmer, of Md.
5. Rev. I. V Peterson, 72d.
6. Captain Thos. Furey, 69th.
8. Captain Edward Thompson, 69th.
9. John W. Frazier, 71st.
10. Jos. R. C. Ward, 106th, and Mrs. Ward.
II. Miss Mary A. May.
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assault the works at Petersburg, repulsing their three assaults at Jerusalem Plank road, fighting your way at Deep Bottom, Wel- don Railroad, Ream's Station, Boydton Plank road, Hatcher's Run, and until the final surrender at Appomattox-Fighting in all forty-eight battles, and sustaining a loss of 3412 men. A Bri- gade, many of whose members answered the first call for troops in 1861, and the final muster in 1865.
It is Sir, in the name of that Brigade, and on their behalf, that I accept this monument and promise to care for it as long as life lasts and exact the same from our successors.
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BIOGRAPHIES.
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THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
GENERAL TURNER GUSTAVUS MOREHEAD.
GENERAL TURNER GUSTAVUS. MOREHEAD, was born at Balti- more, Maryland, on March 18, 1814, was educated and grew to young manhood in that city, but shortly after arriving of age, re- moved to Philadelphia, Pa., and at once became indentified with the soldiery of our commonwealth, by becoming a member of the "Artillery Corps Washington Grays" in May, 1835, one of the crack military organizations of the city of Philadelphia. He re- ceived his first promotion, to corporal, on the train as his company was proceeding to Harrisburg, to participate in what was then called the "Buckshot War," and rose by successive steps to the command of that excellent company and was its Captain during the Riots of 1844.
When the Mexican War broke out, his company voted not to go. This was a great disappointment to their Captain, who felt that when his country called for her sons to protect her flag and maintain her honor, it was the duty of every good soldier to cheer- fully respond ; he therefore at once resigned the command of the company and offered his services to the State, and was immediately elected Captain of Company G, First Pennsylvania Regiment, known as the "Jefferson Guards", and with it proceeded to the front. He took an active part in nearly all the engagements of that war, principally the seige of "Vera Cruz", "National Bridge", "Cerro Gordo", "Castle Perote", "Unamantla", and the seige of "Puebla," at the latter he commanded Guadaloupe Heights, which, by rebuilding of the old fortifications, he rendered it im- pregnable, and was of great service to the garrison of "San Jose". He received the following complimentary notice in Frost's his- tory of that war: "Captain T. G. Morehead, First Pennsylvania Volunteers, commanding at Guadaloupe Heights, succeeded by constant labor in placing the dilapidated works of that place in
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GENERAL TURNER GUSTAVUS MOREHEAD
good condition, and although he sustained no serious attack, yet by frequent sorties, he was of great assistance to the garrison at San Jose."
Mustered in on December 9, 1846, was mustered out August 5, 1848.
He returned to the City of Philadelphia, an honored soldier with conscientiousness of duty well done, but could not long re- main a private citizen, for he soon became identified with the "Philadelphia Blues" and was Colonel commanding, when the War of the Rebellion broke out, and at once tendered the services of the Battalion to the Governor of the State, was accepted and authorized to complete the Battalion to a full regiment and on April 17, 1861, was mustered into the United States' Service, as the Twenty-Second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, with Turner G. Morehead as Colonel, William L. Curry, Lieutenant- Colonel, and George A. McClain, Major. The Regiment at once proceeded to Baltimore, where it rendered efficient services to the Government, part as Provost Guard, and Colonel Morehead assumed command of the city, when the Police Commissioners were arrested by General Banks.
At the expiration of this term of service, the Regiment returned to Philadelphia, and was mustered out on August 7, 1861.
Almost immediately, Colonel Morehead received authority to recruit a Regiment for the full three years' service, and on August 21, 1861, only two weeks after being mustered out, he was again mustered in as Colonel of what afterwards became the One Hundred and Sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, but at that time was known as the Fifth California Regiment, of Baker's California Brigade, which regiment he commanded with signal ability, and brought it up to a state efficient discipline, and with it rendered most signal service to our country throughout the whole war, as the preceding pages of this book fully indicate.
Colonel Morehead was an officer that was greatly admired and loved by all of the officers and men that served under him, all of whom rendered him every aid and assistance needed to perfect the organization, not through fear or martinette force, but for the affection and admiration they had for their commander, who, ever exercised over them a fatherly care, and watched with un-
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failing persistence for their comfort and welfare, and seeing that they each and all got all that could come to them. The writer perhaps more than anyone else has reason to feel deeply grateful to that dear old man. He was so small when he tried to enlist that none of the recruiting officers would accept him, but Colonel Morehead's kind sympathetic nature led him to appreciate and encourage the patriotic feeling that animated the little fellow, and accepted him for his regiment, and at once took him under his fatherly care, and many a time when provisions were scarce, those of the Colonel were shared with the Drummer Boy, and on many of the long weary marches did the Drummer Boy ride one of the Colonel's horses, and whenever the Colonel came home he would go to see the mother and tell her how her little boy was getting along, and so it was with many other men of the Regiment, to whom he was not only their Colonel, but their guardian.
In action he was cool, courageous, inspiring, brave, leading his men into action or walking quietly among them as they lay supporting a battery, or behind their works, inspiring and encour- aging them with the same cool, courageous bravery. At Fair Oaks, Savage Station, Malvern Hill, Antietam and Fredericksburg, he shared all the dangers and exposures of his men, and though never wounded, was badly injured when his horse was shot from under him at Antietam, yet he remained with his Regiment.
Detailed frequently to the command of the different brigades of the Corps, yet he only received his merited promotion as he returned home, disabled by disease, and mustered out on account of those disabilities, April 5, 1864, with the award of services well rendered, and was promoted to Brigadier General on March 15, 1865.
General Morehead was married to Louisa A. Kidd, and had three children born to them, two sons and one daughter, of whom, one son and the daughter survive him. His son, Gustavus K., followed in the footsteps of his father, and early became as- sociated with the military of Philadelphia, entering the National Guard in 1875, like his father, rose to the command of the same company "The Artillery Corps Washington Grays", now company G, First Regiment National Guards of Pennsylvania.
General Morehead entered mercantile life and engaged in the
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wholesale shoe business until appointed Weigher of the Port of Philadelphia, which position he held for many years.
He early entered the Grand Army of the Republic, and became commander of E. D. Baker Post No. 8 of Philadelphia, also a member of the Union Veteran Legion and the Military Order of the Loyal Legion.
In 1882, he moved to Asbury Park, N. J., where he resided until his death on May 28, 1892, in the 78th year of his age.
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COLONEL WILLIAM L. CURRY.
COLONEL WILLIAM LOVERING CURRY, second son of William and Mary (Lent). Curry, was born in Philadelphia, Penna., January 29, 1833. Was educated at the Public Schools and graduated at the Central High School in 1850, and engaged in business with his father in the manufacture of paper hangings.
From early boyhood he manifested a desire for the military and early entered a militia regiment of many years standing, known as the Philadelphia Light Guards, which upon the break- ing out of the war, entered the service as the Twenty-Second Pennsylvania, three months service, with William L. Curry as Lieutenant-Colonel.
Upon the formation of the One Hundred and Sixth Pennsyl- vania, or as it was then known, the "Fifth California Regiment," which contained many officers and men of the Twenty-Second, Colonel Curry became its Lieutenant-Colonel and ably assisted Colonel Morehead in raising and completing the organization, was assigned to the California Brigade, commanded by General Baker, United States Senator from Oregon, and while he remained in command of it, Colonel Curry became quite a favorite and was several times sent by him to command the advance guard with these minute instructions: "Report by messenger any change observed across the river. Let your reports be full, and carefully digested before sent. Be assured of the reliability of information, make no movement of your troops without orders, unless attacked, and then only in holding your position."
The winter at Camp Observation was exceedingly a trying one to the officers in their laborious efforts to make soldiers of the men under them, and increase the discipline and efficiency of their commands. Colonel Curry, fully alive to the importance of well disciplined troops, lost no opportunity to impress the
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COLONEL WILLIAM L. CURRY
same upon both officers and men under him, and to enforce obedience when requests were unheeded, and greatly assisted his Colonel in bringing the Regiment to the state of drill, discipline and proficiency it acquired, in fact it was more through his personal efforts and example that the Regiment attained such proficiency, as the improvement. was plainly notable each time when left in command of it by the frequent absence of Colonel Morehead.
On January 13th, 1862, he was elected President of the Burial Association of the Regiment, an organization formed for the purpose of sending home the bodies of officers or men who died in the service, or were killed in action.
On March 3d, he was selected by General Burns to command the detachment of the Regiment, consisting of five companies and two pieces of artillery, sent to take possession of and hold Loudon Heights, across the Shenandoah river at Harper's Ferry ; rejoining his Regiment and accompanying it in the advance on Winchester, and then to the Peninsula. In front of Yorktown he was also of great service to his commanding officer, and at Fair Oaks he had ample scope for the exercise of his military talent, and gallantly did he acquit himself. The Regiment was supporting Kirby's Battery, against which General Magruder threw his whole force to capture it, recognizing it as the battery he had commanded before the war. The Regiment assisted in hurling back that foe, who were determined to secure those guns, and Colonel Curry, by his cool bravery, inspired the men and en- couraged them in their duty.
On the night of June 9th, 1862, while serving as Field Officer- of-the-Day, in visiting the pickets at early dawn, not knowing that they had fallen back, he walked into the enemy's lines, was taken prisoner, marched to Richmond, thence to Petersburg and finally to Salisbury, where he was subject to privations and experienced some very harsh treatment.
On September 9th, Colonel Curry visited the Regiment on its march towards Antietam, having been released, but as his ex- change had not been effected, he could not report for duty ; but did so on October 9th, at Harper's Ferry, and was very cordially received by both officers and men.
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At Fredericksburg the Regiment was among the first to cross the river, and was engaged in driving the enemy from the streets. On the 13th, he accompanied the Regiment in that fearful charge, and remained with it during the entire day, subjected to that terrible fire and exposed to that still more dangerous fire of the sharpshooters, who picked off seven of the commissioned officers of the Regiment, and received from Colonel Morehead, in his official report, the following testimonial : "My confidence in Lieu- tenant-Colonel Curry and Major Stover, by their cool and daring courage and their unexceptional deportment, is only increased if possible."
Colonel Morehead being assigned to the command of a Bri- gade, the command of the Regiment devolved upon Lieutenant- Colonel Curry almost the entire winter of '62 and '63, and again upon Lee's second invasion of Pennsylvania, consequently he led the Regiment at Gettysburg, and on the afternoon of July 2d, when ordered by General Hancock to support Sickles' right, ad- vanced with his regiment, upon reaching the crest found the enemy within sixty yards, at once directed his men to open fire, and after two or three volleys, seeing their lines waver, ordered a charge and drove them back beyond the Emmitsburg road, re- capturing three guns of Brown's Battery; and at the Codori House took as prisoners Colonel Gibson, five captains, fifteen lieu- tenants and over two hundred men of the Forty-Eighth Georgia ; and would have captured or spiked a six gun battery, if he had not been ordered to withdraw his command to the position of the Brigade. That same evening, he was ordered to report to Major- General Howard, commanding the Eleventh Corps, to support his batteries, and during the 3d of July, greatly aided in repelling the many and determined assaults made by the enemy to dislodge our troops from their position at that point; and early on the morning of July 4th, led his command, by order of General Ames, down into, and through the town of Gettysburg, taking a posi- tion on the north of the town, which he held until withdrawn by order of General Ames. Thus was his command the first to enter the town after the repulse of the First and Eleventh Corps on the night of the Ist, and on the 5th, rejoined his Brigade. (See his official report, page 208.)
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COLONEL WILLIAM L. CURRY
Colonel Curry may be said to have remained at the head of his Regiment from that time (as Colonel Morehead was present but a little while at different times), except such times as he was called to higher command, as on August 17, to the command of the Brigade, returning on September 5th, and on September 12th was assigned to the command of the First Brigade, returning to the Regiment October 10th; he commanded the Regiment on the flank march on Centerville, during which the battle of Bristoe Station was fought, and during the Mine Run Campaign, and an engagement at Robertson's Tavern or Locust Grove.
When Grant opened his campaign in the spring of 1864, Colonel Curry was the only field officer of the Regiment, Colonel More- head having resigned, and was discharged April 5, 1864, and Major Stover promoted to Colonel of the One Hundred and Eighty-Fourth Pennsylvania. Lieutenant-Colonel Curry was therefore, commissioned Colonel, but owing to reduced command was not mustered.
He led his Regiment through that terrible battle of the Wilder- ness, when the commanders of all the other Regiments of the Brigade were either killed or wounded, and came out without a scratch; and following up the movement towards Spottsylvania, he was ordered on May 9th to cross the Po River, which he did, and driving in the enemy's skirmishers, effected a lodgment for the Division to cross, and on the 10th, participated in the assault at Laurel Hill, where they charged under a most terrific fire, meeting with terrible loss and forced to retire; the loss in the two Corps amounting to nearly five thousand; during the night the lines were advanced and the men at work entrenching, and at daylight of May 11th the position of the One Hundred and Sixth Pennsylvania was found to be a very exposed one, requiring the men to labor hard on the works they were erecting to protect them- selves, subjected to a heavy fire of the enemy, which told with fatal effect upon the Regiment. It was here that Colonel Curry fell mortally wounded and was carried to the rear and sent to Washington ; the wound being on the right leg, too near the groin to admit of amputation ; he was taken to the Douglass Hospital, where he received every attention which medical skill and good nursing could afford, but in vain, and he died July 7th, 1864.
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His remains were removed to Philadelphia, where he was buried with full military honors, on Tuesday, July 12th, at Laurel Hill Cemetery.
Colonel Banes, in his "History of the Philadelphia Brigade", speaks of Colonel Curry as follows: "He had won a good reputa- tion as a faithful and intelligent officer, and at different periods of the service had been entrusted with the command of a brigade".
His was a great loss to the Regiment; his men had full con- fidence in his ability to lead them, and became very much attached to him-brave and fearless himself, he instilled the same into his men; an efficient officer; he won the respect and admiration of his superior officers, who regretted his loss as much as his men.
Post No. 18 of Philadelphia Grand Army of the Republic, one of the oldest Posts in the Department of Pennsylvania was named after him, and is now known as Wm. L. Curry Post No. 18, Department of Pennsylvania, Grand Army of the Republic.
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COLONEL JOHN H. STOVER
COLONEL JOHN H. STOVER.
COLONEL JOHN H. STOVER was born at Aaronsburg, Centre County, Pennsylvania, April 24th, 1833. He received a common school and academic education, studied law, and was admitted to practice at Bellefonte, Pa., in 1857. In 1859 he was elected District Attorney of Centre County, which office he filled at the breaking out of the Rebellion. In April, 1861, when news came of the firing on Fort Sumter, although he had been prostrated by a lingering fever for six weeks previously, yet with the assistance of a friend he walked to the Court House to a hastily-called meet- ing and was one of the first to enroll his name as a soldier. At Camp Curtin being still too weak for active duty he was discharg- ed by Surgeon's certificate, but Governor Curtin immediately authorized him to raise a company of his own. In three days the Company was full and was mustered in as Company B, Tenth Pennsylvania Regiment, three months' service.
Captain Stover commanded this company during the three months' service, his Regiment being attached to General Patter- son's command, and while near Falling Waters, Va., his Com- pany was sent out on a scout, he soon fell in with a battalion of Rebel Cavalry, and although outnumbered three to one, he suc- ceeded in putting the enemy to flight, after a spirited engagement.
In November, 1861, he was commissioned Major of the One Hundred and Sixth Pennsylvania, and joined his Regiment which was lying near Poolesville, Md. From that time forward he remained with the Regiment, ably seconding Colonel Morehead and Lieutenant-Colonel Curry in bringing the Regiment to that standard of discipline and efficiency which proved of such signal service in the near future. He participated with the Regiment (unless on detached service) in all its engagements, and by his cool, daring and unflinching bravery, won from the men their respect, admiration and affection. At Savage Station, Va., he
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was in command of the skirmish line, consisting of two companies of the One Hundred and Sixth and two companies of the Seventy- Second Regiments, and had the honor of opening that sanguin- ary fight, while the brigade was being formed in the line of battle. His example of personal bravery inspired his men with courage, who faithfully executed his commands, given in a voice so loud and clear as to be heard along the whole line, and thus , kept the enemy in check until General Burns advanced with the Brigade. Major Stover then acted as aide to General Burns and rendered him such assistance as to receive from General Burns special mention in his official report. He says: "Here Major Stover of the One Hundred and Sixth Pennsylvania was of the greatest aid to me. I had sent all of my staff officers to conduct re-enforcements, and was wounded in the face by a minie ball. Major Stover was the only mounted officer on the field, and volun- teered his efforts to carry orders and report movements of the enemy during the hottest fire-timely to me." In February, 1864. Major Stover was authorized by the Secretary of War to raise a new regiment, and was mustered out of the One Hundred and Sixth, in April following, to receive promotion, and was appointed Colonel of the One Hundred and Eighty-Fourth Pennsylvania, which was attached to, and remained with the Second Division, Second Corps, until the close of the war.
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