USA > Pennsylvania > History of the One hundred & sixth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, 2d brigade, 2d division, 2d corps, 1861-1865 > Part 8
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In giving the history of troops serving in campaigns the success of the commander represents their success. Without their character his credit would be nothing; with their bravery his success is entwined. A company takes its reputation from the glory of the regiment, the regiment of the brigade, and so on. The One Hundred and Sixth Regiment was an integral of the force represented in the encomiums of Sedgwick, Sumner and McClellan.
A general officer, writing of our brigade and these events, says :
Burns' Brigade, with Sedgwick's Division, was chosen by the Gen- eral-in-Chief from Banks' Corps, and transferred to join the noble Army of the Potomac in the struggle against the enemy's main army in front of his capital, a distinction for which he ever after felicitated himself. When imminent danger threatened he never called in vain for their services. He ordered Sedgwick's Division to support the direct attack on Yorktown, in April, 1862. He ordered Burns' Brigade to make the first reconnoissance of the enemy's works from Yorktown to Lee's Mills, which was perform- ed by the Seventy-Second and One Hundred and Sixth Regiments with success, and was of vital importance. Sedgwick's Division was selected to join Franklin's turning expedition to West Point, and again to support Porter's attack on Hanover. It was at West
77
1862]
THE SEVEN DAYS' FIGHT
Point that General Sumner pronounced Burns' Brigade the "élite of the Army of the Potomac". Sedgwick's Division crossed the Chickahominy on its own bridge and saved Casey's Division from disaster at Fair Oaks. Burns' Brigade, on the night of the first day's battle of Fair Oaks, discovered and occupied the opening in Sumner's rear at Goldey's farm, and checked the enemy moving to gain the bridge across the Chickahominy. General McClellan said it was the key to the position. Burns' Brigade cleared the woods of the enemy in front of Sumner's position, capturing his rifle-pits at the edge of Garnett's farm, and held that contested ground for twenty-eight days, losing many valuable men, including Lieutenant-Colonel Curry, of the One Hundred and Sixth Regi- ment, captured. The first and second days of the Seven Days' Fight, Burns' lines were furiously attacked and firmly held; the third day his brigade was in the front line of battle at Peach Orchard, and checked the enemy; the same day they were sent back to Savage Station to meet the approaching enemy and pro- long Heintzelman's position at Seven Pines. General Burns, advancing with the Seventy-Second and One Hundred and Sixth Regiments, found that Heintzelman had fallen back across White Oak Swamp, leaving Burns to meet all of the army of the enemy then on the right bank of the Chickahominy. He with the Seventy-Second, One Hundred and Sixth Pennsylvania and the First Minnesota, sustained an attack of several hours of artillery and overpowering numbers of infantry, until reinforcements ar- rived and extended the flanks. This was designated by General Sedgwick as "Burns' fight". The fourth day Burns' Brigade was held in reserve behind McCall's Division at Glendale. McCall having a faulty position, not joining Hooker on the left, was struck in the flank and crumbled; his broken line passed through Burns' Brigade, who advanced the Sixty-Ninth, Seventy-First Penn- sylvania and the Nineteenth Massachusetts, and their crushing volleys checked, and with reinforcements drove the advancing enemy from the battlefield, thus saving the Army of the Potomac from being pierced in the center. General Mcclellan pronounced this success as vital to the movement then in progress as Frank- lin's was at White Oak Swamp and Porter's at Malvern Hill, twelve miles apart. The fifth day at Malvern Hill, Burns' Brigade was sent to the extreme right to meet a supposed flank movement of the enemy and returned, and was under close artillery fire during the battle. After arriving at Harrison's Bar the enemy again attacked with artillery, and Burns' Brigade went to the front, but, the firing ceasing, returned to their camp. The Seven Days' Fight was over, this brigade taking no small part in that move- ment, the most delicate and dangerous in war-change of base.
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[1862
THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
And General McClellan says of the battle of Savage Station :
At 4 P. M. the enemy commenced the attack in large force by the Williamsburg road. It was gallantly met by General Burns' Bri- gade, supported and reinforced by two lines in reserve; and Hazzard's, Bramhall's, Pettit's and Osborn's Batteries also took part effectively in this action, which was continued with great ob- stinacy until between 8 and 9 P. M., when the enemy was driven from the field.
And of Glendale he says :
General McCall's troops soon began to emerge from the woods into the open field, batteries were in position and began to fire into the woods over the heads of our men in front. Captain De Russey's battery was placed on the right of General Sumner's artil- lery with orders to shell the woods. General Burns' Brigade was advanced to meet the enemy and soon drove him back. Other troops began to return from White Oak Swamp.
And adds :
The battle of Glendale was the most severe action since the battle of Fair Oaks. About three o'clock the action commenced and after a furious contest till after dark, the enemy was routed at all points and driven from the field.
Bryant gives the losses of both armies in the Seven Days' Fight as follows : Federal, 1,582 killed, 7,709 wounded and 5,958 missing, a total of 15,249. The Confederates, exclusive of Ma- gruder's Division, lost 2,472 killed, 11,774 wounded and 399 missing, a total of 14,645. Magruder's Division lost at least 4,500, making a grand total of over 19,000. This, upon examina- tion, shows that the losses of the enemy were much greater than ours, our killed and wounded being but 9,291, and theirs was at least 18,500; we losing nearly 6,000 as prisoners, and they only about 600.
We were now to rest awhile, rest after the severe ordeal through which we had passed. The intense excitement and the wearisome fatigue of the last seven days-fighting day after day, and march- ing night after night, out of provisions and scarcity of water-sadly did we need rest ; and yet, while resting, we thought of those who were now taking their final rest, and those suffering with wounds, who a few days before stood by our side. Our loss in the Seven
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THE SEVEN DAYS' FIGHT
1862]
Days' Fight, as far as the writer has found reported, was eleven killed, twenty-five wounded, seventeen missing, total fifty-three. Yet Colonel Morehead in his report puts the total loss in killed, wounded and missing at one hundred and twenty-three. Many of these were, perhaps, reported missing, who afterward reported for duty, and others may have been so slightly wounded as not to appear on subsequent reports.
Those killed were: Private Fred. Sheak, of Company A; Wil- liam H. Comfort, Company C; Wickham Harding and Robert M. King, Company D; Michael Campbell and Patrick Shaye, Com- pany E; John Robb, Company G; William Blackburn, Isaac Campbell, James Fulton and John Stevenson, Company I.
COMPANY
KILLED
WOUNDED
CAPTURED
TOTAL
A
I
6
4
4
C
I
2
4
2
I
5
F
2
G
I
H
I
I
I
4
IO
I
I5
K
5
5
II
25
I7
53
31
6
D
2
7
E
2
I
I
I
7
B
We were encamped by the side of a running creek with a large mill-dam a short distance through the wood. This enabled the men to keep themselves and their clothes clean, and to enjoy frequent baths, many of us going in twice a day. The intense heat made the days almost unbearable, and the nights were hardly long enough to recover thoroughly from the effects of the day; innumerable quantities of flies of various kinds, and other insects, annoyed us by day, and mosquitoes by night ; fevers, scurvy and diarrhea prevailed to an alarming extent. The active force was fast becoming the hospital force. Men were stricken down with disease, and would be carried to the hospital to be carried out dead in a few days. Many! Alas too many good men were thus lost, and the transports carried away over twelve thousand sick. But for the kindly services of the Christian and Sanitary Commissions,
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[1862
THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
and their life-giving supplies, many more would have died, and a great many more would have had to be transported to northern hospitals. The steamer John Brooks, chartered by the Sanitary Commission, was constantly employed, plying between Harrison's Landing and Washington, bringing up supplies, the value of which cannot be estimated. The paymaster having paid us a visit, many were enabled to purchase luxuries that the close proximity to the river afforded ample means to bring up, by the sutlers, and those self-constituted sutlers, the men, as many members of the different regiments did a thriving business in retailing cakes, apples, cheese, lemons and lemonade. New clothing was issued and the many necessary things that were lost, destroyed, or worn- out on the march were replenished.
On July 8th we were reviewed by the Commander-in-Chief, President Lincoln, accompanied by Generals McClellan, Sumner and Sedgwick. He was greatly cheered along the whole line. On the same day, General Burns left for Philadelphia on account of his wound, and Colonel Baxter, of the Seventy-Second Regiment, assumed command of the brigade.
Lieutenant Wetzler, of Company I, accidentally shot himself in the leg with his pistol that day. The ball not going through had to be extracted; he went home on the 12th, and was soon after discharged.
On the 9th, four companies of the regiment were detailed to build breastworks, and remained out all day.
On the 11th, Captain Theo. J. Fimple, of Company K, was sent home sick and did not return again, but was discharged the follow- ing January.
On the 22d the whole corps was reviewed by General Sumner about 7 o'clock in the morning. Brigades were formed in column of regiments, making each brigade four or five lines deep, accord- ing to number of regiments, about twenty paces between the lines, the artillery drawn up in the rear ; the whole line extending over a mile. As General Sumner appeared, a salute of thirteen guns was fired by the artillery ; after he rode down the line, the corps passed in review, division front, and all returned to camp in time for dinner. Fortunately there was a good breeze, so the men did not suffer with the heat.
CORPORAL JOHN S DOVE. Aug. 10, 1861. Sept. 10, 1864.
As Private. Promoted to Corporal, Dec. 30, 1863. Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. Mustered out with Company. Sept. 10, 1864.
COMPANY A.
GEORGE S. SMITH.
Dec. 9, 1861. Oct. 20, 1862.
Wounded at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. Discharged, Oct. 20, 1862. Wounds.
JOHN S. TURNER.
Dec. 9, 1861. Nov. 20, 1863. Transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, Nov. 20, 1863.
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THE SEVEN DAYS' FIGHT
1862]
On July 25th, while on dress parade, orders were read from the Secretary of War accepting the resignation of Captain S. H. New- man, of Company D, and dismissing from the service Captain James J. Vaughan, of Company B.
On the night of July 30th the rebels ran two batteries of artil- lery down near the river, on the opposite side, and opened fire on our shipping and hospitals. Our gun-boats immediately re- plied and drove them away before they did much damage.
On August 4th, the whole division made a reconnoissance to- wards Malvern.
On the 8th, we moved camp to a higher and newer ground.
On the morning of the IIth, were ordered in line and orders were published to prepare to move at short notice, but did not take up the line of march until the 16th.
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THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
[1862
CHAPTER IX. TO THE RELIEF OF POPE.
A S stated in the previous chapter we rested at Harrison's Landing. Yet we knew not how long that rest would last ; we were constantly in receipt of orders to move and were taken out on reconnoissances ; finally, on August 1Ith, def- inite orders were issued to prepare to move at once, but we did not leave until August 16th.
Before leaving camp, on the 15th, the Regiment was drawn up in line to witness the execution of the sentence of a court- martial upon Private John Mansfield, of Company B, for deser- tion, which was to have his head shaved, be drummed out of the service, branded with the letter "D", and sent to Fort Wool, op- posite Fort Monroe, to serve out the term of his enlistment at hard labor, to forfeit all his pay and bounties, and wear a twenty- four pound ball attached to his leg by a three and a half foot iron chain. The severity of this sentence ought certainly have put a stop to desertion, as it must be far more preferable to do the work in camp than the work of a convict, even with the risk of one's life in the battles, and I know that Mansfield would readily have exchanged, as we looked upon him, marching under guard through our lines, with his head shaved, after having his sentence read to him before the whole command.
At half past five in the afternoon of August 15th the Regiment broke camp and started, but got no further than headquarters, as the road was filled with wagons, a constant string moving steadily all day and night, so we lay down where we were. At 2 o'clock in the morning of the 16th, another effort was made to get started, but still no use ; at five the men were up, getting their breakfast, and at 7 o'clock the line was again formed, but it was not until eight that they got started for Williamsburg' via Charles City Court House. Thus were we fifteen hours getting started ; it seems to me that those in charge of our part of this movement should have known that considerable time would have been con- sumed to transport that large supply train, and have left us in camp until the morning of the 16th, and not taken us out there
-
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TO THE RELIEF OF POPE
1862]
to lie in the road all night. The road was very dusty, rising in clouds so that one could hardly see ten yards distant ; after a march of about twelve miles, a halt was made for the night, about half past three in the afternoon. Leaving camp at half past six the next morning we passed Charles City Court House about 9 o'clock ; there a halt was made for nearly two hours; about II o'clock started again, the road occupied by the artillery and wagons, the infantry marching through the fields on each side, and continued so until about 10 o'clock at night when they arrived at the Chickahominy River, where we found but a single pontoon bridge was thrown across, over which the entire army was ex- pected to cross, and were still crossing. At 5 o'clock in the morn- ing of August 18th, the line was reformed as our turn had come, and at half past five the One Hundred and Sixth Regiment again crossed the Chickahominy River. Below were two or three gun-boats. From their sides bristled the guns ready to open their mouths upon the enemy that should interfere with our crossing.
After crossing, the Regiment was marched a short distance and halted. The men then had a chance to wash up. At II o'clock made another move of about five miles and camped for the night ; at about half-past six the next morning left camp and arrived at Williamsburg at ten, but halted for about two hours outside the town, and at 12 o'clock marched through the town with bands playing and colors flying ; then through the fortifica- tions, still in good state of preservation, needing only the guns and men to make them strong enough to resist any attack, continuing on through the woods beyond, which still plainly told of the fierce conflict that had been fought in them, by the marks upon the trees and their broken limbs and trunks cut off by shot and shell, when Hooker fought this battle and carried these works. About 3 o'clock we halted for the night, having marched near fifteen miles. About 8 o'clock on the morning of the 20th, continued the march and about noon arrived in sight of the York River, a few miles above Yorktown, and soon after camped for the night. Soon the river was lined with men washing themselves and their clothes, others hunting for oysters and crabs, which were found by those who took the trouble to hunt and fish for them, while others made free with some young "porkers" found near the camp,
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THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
[1862
and soon the old hogs had to go, as the men felt in need of a change of diet from crackers and coffee.
Reveille was sounded the next morning, August 2Ist, at 3 o'clock, but line was not formed until seven, and at eight started, and in an hour arrived at the fortifications around Yorktown, passing through them and the town with colors flying and the band again playing; then through the fortifications on the other side and continued with frequent halts until about 4 o'clock, when they arrived at Big Bethel, where a halt was made and the men directed to get supper and what rest they could as at 2 o'clock they were awakened and again pressed forward rapidly, and about 7 o'clock on the morning of August 22d arrived at the forks of the Hampton and Newport News roads, where a halt was made for half an hour; then continued and arrived at Newport News about half-past nine, in a heavy thunder shower, which continued until about II o'clock and were camped on the James River, about two miles from Newport News, there to await transportation by two boats, which were daily arriving and departing with their living freight, transporting that large army back to Alexandria and vicinity.
Our turn did not come until the 25th, when, about 7 o'clock, the brigade broke camp and marched to the wharf at Newport News and boarded the steamer "Hero", which took the One Hundred and Sixth, the Sixty-Ninth and the Seventy-Second Regiments out to the large steamer "Baltic", of the Collins Line, plying between New York and Liverpool, now lying out in the middle of the stream or bay. All day was consumed in loading these three regiments and their effects. Remained at anchor during the night; at 5 o'clock the next morning steamed away, having in tow a large ship named "The Planter, of New York", loaded with cavalrymen and their horses; rounding Fort Monroe and up the bay, with other steamers ahead and behind us, loaded with troops, heading the same way. About half past 5 o'clock passed Smith's Point and entered the Potomac, and set the signal for a pilot, none coming aboard, anchored for the night about 9 o'clock. Pilot came aboard about 3 o'clock, but it was about six before we got started again, and about noon ran aground, and being unable to get off, the steamer "Nellie Baker", which was
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TO THE RELIEF OF POPE
1862]
coming down the river, was hailed and came alongside and took off our Regiment, and continuing up the river landed us at Aquia Creek. We were far more comfortable on this steamer, as we were not so crowded; other steamers stopped and took off the other regiments and continued up the river with them. We were landed at Aquia Creek about 4 o'clock and marched inland for about two miles, and were getting ready for camp when we were ordered back to the landing, and embarked on the steamer "City of Norwich", about 6 o'clock; here we found General O. O. Howard, who had been assigned to the command of our brigade until General Burns should return. He had sufficiently recovered from the wound received at Fair Oaks, which cost him his right arm.
We left Aquia Creek about 7 o'clock and started for Alexandria, where we arrived about 10 o'clock at night. Disembarked about 5 o'clock the next morning, August 28th, marched through the city and about four miles beyond on the road to Fairfax Court House, and joined the brigade.
The next day, August 29th, General Halleck, in a dispatch to General McClellan said: "I think you had better place Sumner's Corps, as it arrives, near the fortifications, and particularly at Chain Bridge." In compliance therewith, towards dark we start- ed for the Chain Bridge, a distance of twenty miles, marched until midnight, halted and lay down along the roadside. The next morning arrived at Chain Bridge, and the men, anticipating a few days' rest, and being near the river, began to clean up body and clothes, but before night received orders to move at once, and pushed on rapidly to Centreville via Fairfax, to join Pope's Army, where we arrived at 10 o'clock on the 31st, having made a march of about forty miles with only a few hours' rest and part of the time in a heavy rain-storm, and some of the men without shoes ; continuing towards the battlefield of Bull Run, near where Pope had been engaged, but did not arrive there in time to participate in the decisive part of that engagement.
While the Army of the Potomac was lying quietly at Harri- son's Landing changes were being made at Washington and with other portions of our army. Major-General Henry W. Halleck was called from the western army and made Commander-in-Chief,
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[1862
THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT
with headquarters at Washington, and assumed command of the whole army. McDowell's Corps had been detached from the Army of the Potomac, and with the Corps of Banks and Fremont was formed into the "Army of Virginia", and Major- General John Pope, also from the west, was placed in command during the latter part of June. General Fremont, not wishing to serve under an officer inferior in rank, asked to be relieved, and General Sigel was placed in command of his corps. General Pope, soon after assuming command, issued an address which seemed to reflect upon the commander of the Army of the Potomac, and the noble army he commanded, by drawing unjust comparisons between the troops of the west and those of the east, stating that he came from the west, where "they have always seen the backs of their enemies", that his army was for advance and not for defence, and was to hear no more of "taking strong positions and holding them-of lines of retreat and bases of supplies", etc., etc., and announced his headquarters in the saddle. Orders were also issued for the withdrawal of the Army of the Potomac from the Peninsula, and sent to join Pope, and Mc- Clellan relieved from command. In the meantime President Lin- coln had issued a call for three hundred thousand additional men, for nine months' service.
Pope's army then lay at Culpepper Court House and at Fred- ericksburg, and numbered about forty thousand men. It was against this army that the Confederates, about August Ist, began their movement which led to the Maryland Campaign. On the 8th, Jackson crossed the Rapidan at Raccoon Ford; the next day attacked part of the forces under General Banks at Cedar Mountain, where a closely contested fight was fought, and was clearly a victory for Jackson, but both sides meeting with heavy loss. Our loss is reported at 1661 killed and wounded, and 723 missing, total 2393. Jackson reports 1283 killed and wounded, and 31 missing, total 1314. Jackson then pushed around Pope's right flank and got between him and Washington. Pope thought he had Jackson penned-up and cut off from all avenues of escape, when Jackson again slipped around his flank, and massed his troops near Groveton, then turned and attacked Pope furiously on August 29th, and thus began the second battle of Bull Run.
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TO THE RELIEF OF POPE
1862]
Pope repulsed each assault and reinforced his lines with portions of the Army of the Potomac as fast as they arrived and Jackson, reinforced by Longstreet, continued the attack until dark.
On August 30th, Pope attempted to force the enemy's left, but as soon as Jackson learned that he was massing his troops on the right, he at once attacked his left and by repeated assaults with his infantry, ably assisted by his artillery, admirably placed, he gradually forced Pope to yield, notwithstanding he was being greatly reinforced by McClellan's army as fast as it could arrive, and while portions of his line remained firm, Popeordered a retreat which soon became a rout and his whole army was sent flying back towards Washington, and the second battle of Bull Run not only proved disastrous to Pope, but to the country, and very demoralizing to the army.
As has been stated, our return from the Peninsula was not in time for us to participate in the second battle of Bull Run, but we arrived in time to save Pope's Army from annihilation or capture, and our division, after their forced march of over forty miles in about fourteen hours, was detailed as rear guard, General Sedgwick still in command of the Division, and Brigadier General O. O. Howard temporarily in command of our Brigade. On September Ist, a reconnoissance was made by the Division for about three miles. Passing through McDowell's Corps, falling back in great confusion, General Sedgwick formed the whole Division as a skirmish line, and advanced on the enemy; this movement impressed the enemy with the belief that a large force must be in reserve of so large a skirmish line, and arrested their onward march, and, expecting an attack, they began to form their lines to meet it. Sedgwick thus checked their advance for several hours, which was of vital importance to our army on the retreat, and, making for Maryland, instead of attacking, Sedgwick with- drew to Chantilly. This piece of strategy won for him and his command the highest praise. He then continued to fall back, and again was our brigade the rear guard of the whole army, as on the retreat from Richmond, during the Seven Days' Fight. Being closely pressed by the enemy, who at every point attacked him, he again formed in line of battle, about a mile and a half to the left of the town of Fairfax Court House, early on the morn-
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