USA > Pennsylvania > History of the One hundred & sixth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, 2d brigade, 2d division, 2d corps, 1861-1865 > Part 9
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ing of September 2d, and awaited their attack; no demonstration, however, was made until just as our brigade was leaving, when they threw a few shells into our ranks. Sedgwick continued to fall back about a mile, to a place called Flint Hill, when the enemy again overtook him and again opened with their artillery, using not only shot and shell, but railroad iron, and wounded two mem- bers of our Regiment. It was necessary to save time as well as to put a stop to these repeated attacks, so disposition was made ąs though he intended to make a hasty retreat, and sent our brigade quickly to the rear ; by this, they were drawn into an ambush pre- pared by Colonel Sully with his Regiment, the First Minnesota, and they came so close to that line that their commanding officer inquired of our men "Who are you?" Colonel Sully made some evasive answer and allowed them to advance within twenty-five or thirty yards, and then commanded "Fire!" His men being prepared, this volley almost annihilated them. What were not killed or wounded went flying to the rear, so that they made no further attack upon our line.
It was now dark and Sedgwick pushed on rapidly towards the Chain Bridge; arrived at Langley about midnight, and the men, completely worn-out, lay down to sleep, then about half-past I o'clock.
While on the march, about 10 o'clock that night, a fearful panic occurred among the troops, a crashing noise was heard in the rear, then the rapid tread of horses' feet. Some one yelled, "Clear the road", and several horses dashed up the road and hundreds of men followed them. Some one injudiciously fired a shot, then others began to fire and before it could be stopped no less than one hun- dred shots must have been fired ; no one knew what he was firing at, and hardly who did fire-and resulted in a loss of eight killed and twenty wounded and many others hurt by that mad rush of horses and men-all in a few minutes. It appears that a wagon broke down and so frightened the horses that they became unman- ageable and ran away and dashed into some other horses and they started too, their dashing up the road in the darkness impressed the men that it was a raid of rebel cavalry, and they became panic- stricken and joined in the rush, which was, however, soon quieted down, but not before the great damage mentioned above had been
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done. Next morning proceeded to, and crossed the bridge, thence to Tenallytown, and encamped. Pope's campaign was ended, and, notwithstanding all those fine phrases in his orders, his army was badly beaten, driven back with heavy loss, with "Headquart- ers still in the saddle", moving rapidly to the rear, disgracefully scattered, thousands not stopping until safe within the entrench- ments around Washington.
While lying at Harrison's Landing, the writer was taken very sick with the scurvy, and when the movement to go to the relief of Pope began, was unable to march with his Regiment for the first and only time during the entire three years' service, and was sent by the Regimental Surgeon, Dr. Dwinelle, with the rest of the sick and wounded to be transported by boat to Fort Monroe. Unfortunately, some bummers had managed to play off and get on the same boat. Upon our arrival at Fort Monroe the captain went ashore for orders, and received them, to take us to New York as soon as rations could be put on board; these bummers had managed to get some liquor from the boat hands, and while we were lying there got drunk and began fighting among them- selves, and tumbling over those too sick or too badly wounded to get out of their way. Finally, one tumbled overboard, and a boat had to be lowered and sent for him. The captain reported this condition of affairs and refused to take his vessel to sea with such men aboard, as there was no officer there to enforce discipline. We were then ordered back to Newport News, and were placed in the hospitals there, instead of going to New York; this was a sad and bitter disappointment to those helplessly sick or wounded, who expected to get so near home and be among their friends so soon.
In a few days, learning that his Regiment had arrived and were embarking on transports, he applied to the surgeon in charge for permission to join his Regiment ; this the surgeon refused to grant, as he was not sufficiently recovered, but the next day he took the responsibility and gathered together his things and left the hospital, arriving at the river in time to take the last boat to the steamer "Baltic" on which were the Sixty-Ninth, Seventy- Second and the One Hundred and Sixth Regiments, and reported to the colonel for duty, telling him he had left the hospital against
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the orders of the surgeon in charge. But on the night march from Alexandria towards the Chain Bridge, he fell down in the ranks from weakness, and was carried to one side of the road, made comfortable and left to rest, and did not again join the Regiment until its return to Fairfax Court House, and returned with it and crossed into Maryland.
An amusing illustration of what soldiers will do to get things to eat occurred while thus temporarily absent from the Regiment : A party of us had wended our way along, not knowing where we were going, until we arrived at the Chain Bridge crossing the Potomac River to Georgetown; the guards would not allow us to cross, so we sought a shady place on the bank of the river, where we left our things, and, after taking a swim, wandered around to see if we could get any information of the Regiment or any other news and something to eat. We met one of the many wagons carrying things up to the troops garrisoning the forts in that neighborhood, who were nine months' men, just from home, and were blessed with the means to purchase what to us veterans were luxuries, so that these venders were able to do quite a thriv- ing business. The man hailed us and asked if we did not wish to buy some cider ; some one answered yes, though not one of us had a cent. We gathered around his wagon. He got down and undid the back of his wagon, got out his glasses, filled them, and we drank it, commenting on its fine flavor and good quality and decided to try another glass. In the meantime, one of the party had seen a box in the wagon and had managed to get the side curtain loose, and succeeded in finding a bottle of whiskey hidden in the straw in the box, and was stealthily removing it when dis- covered by the man ; but securing his prize started to run and the man after him. Away they went on a full run, and we improved the opportunity of continuing to "sample the cider", and each had about as much as he wanted. The man, finding it impossible to re- cover his bottle of whiskey. and seeing his cider fast disappearing, concluded to return to his wagon and save the rest of his stock, but, by the time he got back, we had left. A little while elapsed when another wagon came over, loaded with watermelons; this was a luxury we had not seen, much less tasted, for a long while; the driver was also anxious to sell to us, and we were just as anxious
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to purchase of him, yet we had nothing to purchase with. We got up on the back, front and sides of his wagon, admired his fruit, priced this one and then that one, and when his attention was attracted to one side some one on the opposite side would slip out a melon. He soon saw his melons disappearing and he getting no pay, and having a new wagon of which he was very careful, he very kindly said he would give us each a melon if we would only get down from his wagon, which offer we accepted after we each got the melon in our hands ; he then drove off, much less in stock, and, perhaps, a wiser man. We were now in for it ; our success made us more bold ; we hailed the next man our- selves, and found he had apples, cookies, crackers, cheese and cider. We purchased some of each, which were nicely wrapped up and delivered, and he demanded his pay, we told him he would be paid at our next pay day ; this he was disposed to resent and demanded his pay or return of the goods, but not being able to force a compliance of either demand, he was compelled to drive on.
The bridge across the river was very long, and at about one- third of the way were stationed guards to prevent the men from this side crossing over into Georgetown, and thence to Washing- ton, without passes; they had seen what was going on but were unable to leave their posts to offer any protection to the wagons, but they did the next best thing they could, and warned the men not to stop. One man who had a low, open wagon stopped in- side the guard and tied a large canvas over the wagon, and then came on. By this time our party had got down on the bridge, half way to the guard; as that man came along we hailed him, but he refused to stop; all hands made a rush for his wagon, jumping on behind, trying to undo the canvas ; the man then stood up with lines in one hand and whip in the other, and cut alternate- ly at the horse and then back at those behind. The boys had succeeded in getting the canvas partly undone, and got hold of a barrel of apples, but a sudden jolt of the wagon threw them off, and the barrel with them; the top being out, the apples flew in every direction ; the man drove on without any further molesta- tion, glad, I suppose, to get away, as he made no effort to regain his apples. While the boys were helping themselves to the
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apples, some one spied a company of soldiers coming towards the bridge. Those men who had first suffered had reported their misfortune to the troops at the camps above, and a guard was detailed to come down and arrest the amateur highwaymen; and down they came at double-quick, with bayonets fixed, and were nearer the end of the bridge than those on the bridge, so there was no chance of getting away that way, and the other guards would not allow us to go the other way, so we were in a trap. But old soldiers were not so easily caught, and over the sides of the bridge we went like so many rats, notwithstanding that that por- tion of the bridge was about twenty feet above the river bank, so that by the time the guards met not one of us was there. One was unfortunate enough to fall into the river, but being a good swimmer, he swam around the other side of the pier and hid until the guards left. Two others, instead of running as soon as they struck the ground, undressed under the bridge and ·went into swim, and when the guards came around and under the bridge they were enjoying a good bath, and when questioned as to what occurred above, or if they had seen the men that jumped from the bridge they said they knew nothing about it, except that they saw the men jumping down and run down the river bank ; so down went the guards. On reaching the point where I was sitting with our knapsacks and equipments, as I had succeeded in getting there before them, the officer questioned me very closely ; but, denying all knowledge of anything connected with the affair, I stated that I was too sick to march with my Regiment, and had been sent back to await their return, and that the things I was minding belonged to those who were in swimming. But my thin, pale face did more than anything I could say, and gave force to my words-they believed what I said, and they went on in search of the marauders. Had they but lifted the gum blanket covering part of our things, a tell-tale watermelon, a few apples and cakes, left there by my companions, would have convicted me as the receiver of stolen property, if not a participant in the actual steal- ing. We did not think it safe to stay there any longer so soon packed up and left as soon as possible and, marching out to the Fairfax Court House, rejoined the Regiment on its return from Centerville.
CAPTAIN PAUL J. HALLOWELL.
Aug. 28, 1861. Jan. 4, 1863.
As First Lieutenant of Company H. Promoted to Captain, Company B, July 17, 1862. Discharged, Jan. 4, 1863.
COMPANY B.
SERGEANT ALONZO C. SCHANK. Aug. 28, 1861. July 1, 1863.
Wounded at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, July 1, 1863.
€
HENRY VAUGHAN.
Aug. 28, 1861. June 30, 1865. Re-enlisted, Dec. 29, 1863. Veteran. Mustered out with Company H, June 30, 1865.
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CHAPTER X.
ANTIETAM.
W E are back again in Maryland, returned with sad hearts, sad at giving up so much ground, gained by the sacrifice of so many noble lives, sad for the many we had left behind with the unnumbered dead, who had given their lives for their country, and sad for the many sent on before, crippled with wounds or weakened by disease, many of whom never resumed their places in our ranks. Sad, that with all the privations, trials and conflicts through which we had passed, and with all that vast expenditure of life and resources, that we were no nearer our objective point "Richmond". Nothing had been gained; it will all have to be gone over again.
It was now necessary that some additional changes in the army should take place. The withdrawal of the Army of the Potomac from the Peninsula placed it in the department of General Pope, and McClellan was without a command. The disastrous defeat of Pope's army and the advance of the enemy towards the National Capital rendered it necessary and important that a large and effective force should be at once concentrated in Maryland to resist the rebel invasion and drive them from our shores. All confidence in General Pope was gone and he was relieved from the command of that army by the following order :
WASHINGTON, D. C., September 5, 1862.
MAJOR-GENERAL POPE, Arlington.
The Army of the Potomac and Virginia being consolidated, you will report for orders to the Secretary of War.
HENRY W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief.
General McClellan had told General Halleck that he had learned that things were not very satisfactory at the front and urged him to go and see for himself, but General Halleck declined, and sent
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his Adjutant-General, Colonel Kelton. The next morning, Colonel Kelton returned and reported that the conditions were much worse than reported by General McClellan, that the army was de- moralized and falling back; that he saw at least 30,000 stragglers on the road.
President Lincoln, realizing the affection of the Army of the Potomac for their former commander, "Little Mac", and that their confidence in him would better enable him to overcome the de- moralizing effects of the defeat of the "Army of Virginia" and accomplish what was now required of the whole army now de- fending Washington, he and General Halleck went at once to General McClellan's house, while he was at breakfast, and directed him to at once assume command of the army, and without waiting for any preliminaries he did so and took immediate steps to arrest the retreat, and the following order was issued :
WASHINGTON, September 2d, 1862.
General Order No. 122.
Major-General McClellan will have command of the fortifica- tions of Washington, and of all troops for the defence of the capital.
By command of MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK. E. D. TOWNSEND, A. A. G.
But no order was ever issued definitely settling Mcclellan's command and when he made inquiries as to the commander of the active column, he was told that that commander had not been decided upon, and it never was, until he was afterwards relieved. But McClellan, realizing the importance of the active column having its commander on the spot, decided the question himself by leaving Washington on September 8th, and joining the active command, and changing the heading of his orders from "Head- quarters Defences of Washington", to "Headquarters Army of the Potomac".
There is no denying, but that this order gave almost universal satisfaction to both officers and men of the army, no matter what may have been the opinions of the politicians and some others in and around Washington, and a few officers anxious to be advanc- ed by his removal. The men only knew that "Little Mac" was again in command and were satisfied.
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The work of reorganizing the army began at once, even while on the march. General Sumner in addition to retaining command of the Second Corps, had the Twelfth Corps, Banks' old command, now commanded by the veteran General Mansfield, under his con- trol and formed the center, and General Banks was placed in com- mand of the fortifications of Washington, which now included the Third Corps, General Heintzelman, Fifth Corps, General Porter, and the Eleventh Corps, General Sigel, making about 70,000 men. Hooker was promoted to the command of the First Corps, McDowell's, and the Ninth, Burnside's Corps, was placed under General Reno, these two corps forming the right wing under General Burnside, and the Sixth Corps and Couch's divi- sion of the Fourth Corps, under General Franklin, formed the left wing; this completed the infantry force. The cavalry was placed under the command of General Alfred Pleasanton, and General H. J. Hunt commanded the reserve artillery. This made an effective force of all arms of about 87,000 men, and was moved on to Frederick as follows: Franklin via Darnestown, Dawson- ville, Barnsville and Buckeystown on the left; Sumner in the center by way of Rockville, Clarkesburg, Hyattsville and Ur- bana; and Burnside on the right via Brookville, Cooksville and Ridgeville, our left flank resting on the Potomac river and the right on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, thus covering the cities of Baltimore and Washington.
Colonel Banes says :
The Philadelphia Brigade remained under the command of General O. O. Howard during the continued absence of General Burns. All of the regiments had received additions to their effective strength by the return of officers and men who were con- valescent from wounds or sickness.
The brigade was in good condition, and, although numerically weaker, compared with the roster at the time of landing on the Peninsula, it had increased its effectiveness by the rough ex- periences of war.
Upon our arrival in our camp at Tenallytown on the Washing- ton and Frederick turnpike, General Howard rode to each regi- ment of the brigade and addressed them. He spoke very highly of their conduct during that campaign, and how well they stood
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that long and tedious march; that the brigade had been highly complimented by Generals McClellan and Burns, and he himself was very much pleased with them, and unless called suddenly away, we would remain there for some time and rest, draw our pay, new clothes, with plenty of rations, and when we did go, would go as new men; then told us to remember that we were among friends, and not in Virginia, and must respect the property and rights of the citizens. At the close of his address he was loudly cheered.
We were not, however, to remain long at our camp at Tenally- town, as Lee's invasion of Maryland, and marching northward, compelled us to join the rest of the army pursuing him, and at 4 o'clock on the afternoon of September 5th we left camp and marched about ten miles, and camped within one mile of Rock- ville. The next day we passed through Rockville and two miles beyond and camped. On the 8th the Regiment went out on picket, relieving the 34th New York, returning on the 9th, and re- ceived a visit from Lieutenant-Colonel Curry, who had been ex- changed on parole. He was warmly received by officers and men. He remained until we left camp, and returned to Washing- ton. We marched about seven miles that day, and four miles further on the 10th.
On the IIth, we left camp about 6 o'clock, passing through Clarksburg ; pushed on to Hyattsville, about nine miles, meeting there the outpost of the enemy; line of battle was formed, the Seventy-First Pennsylvania was deployed as skirmishers, and advanced to the woods in our front. Our artillery opened, and shelled the woods, the line was then advanced, and dislodged them ; but the skirmishing was kept up all night, the One Hundred and Sixth Regiment supporting the battery. On the 12th, ad- vanced about seven miles, passing the camp occupied by the enemy the night previous. Our whole march that day was through the fields, fresh plowed ground and meadow, through corn-fields and woods, the road being occupied by the artillery and cavalry. We camped for the night near Urbana. On the 13th, we passed through Urbana and soon afterwards the city of Frederick. Here we met with a royal and patriotic welcome, the whole population turning out to cheer us on our way, men giving ice-water and
1
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milk to all who were thirsty, and the women and children supply- ing us with pies, cakes and bread, waving their handkerchiefs and flags as we passed ; all manifesting the greatest joy on their release from the presence of the enemy. We went into camp one mile from the city. General McClellan passed us while on the march, and as usual was received with cheers along the whole line, and upon his entrance into Frederick the people were almost wild ; they blocked the streets, almost covering him and his horse with flags, as many as could shaking him by the hand, and all cheering him as long as he was in sight.
No doubt this was the welcome and enthusiasm General Lee expected to receive himself when he issued the following stirring appeal :
HEAD QUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, near Frederickstown, September 8th, 1862.
TO THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND:
It is right that you should know the purpose that has brought the army under my command within the limits of your state, so far as that purpose concerns yourselves :
The people of the Confederate states have long watched, with deepest sympathy, the wrongs and outrages that have been in- flicted upon the citizens of a commonwealth allied to the states of the South by the strongest social, political and commercial ties.
They have seen, with profound indignation, their sister state de- prived of every right, and reduced to the condition of a conquered province.
Under the pretense of supporting the Constitution, but in viola- tion of its most valuable provisions, your citizens have been arrest- ed and imprisoned upon no charge, and contrary to all forms of law; the faithful and manly protest against this outrage, made by the venerable and illustrious Marylander, to whom in better days no citizen appealed for right in vain, was treated with scorn and contempt ; the Government of your chief city has been usurped by armed strangers; your Legislature has been dissolved by the unlawful arrest of its members; freedom of the press and of speech has been suppressed; words have been declared offences by an arbitrary decree of the Federal Executive, and citizens ordered to be tried by a military commission for what they may dare to speak.
Believing that the people of Maryland possessed a spirit too lofty to submit to such govenment, the people of the South have long wished to aid you in throwing off this foreign yoke, to enable
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you again to enjoy the inalienable rights of freemen, and restore independence and sovereignty to your state.
In obedience to this wish our army has come among you, and is prepared to assist you with the power of its arms in regaining the rights of which you have been despoiled.
This, citizens of Maryland, is our mission, so far as you are concerned.
No restraint upon your free-will is intended; no intimidation will be allowed.
Within the limits of this army at least, Marylanders shall once more enjoy their ancient freedom of thought and speech.
We know no enemies among you, and will protect all, of every opinion.
It is for you to decide your destiny, freely and without con- straint.
This army will respect your choice whatever it may be, and while the Southern people will rejoice to welcome you to your natural position among them, they will only welcome you when you come of your own free-will.
R. E. LEE,
General commanding.
This was certainly a very manly appeal, looking from their side, yet it had very little effect; there was no enthusiastic reception given them, nor any record of any material aid furnished, either of men or resources.
General Lee had organized his army into two columns : the right, commanded by General James Longstreet, contained the divisions of Lafayette McLaws, R. H. Anderson, D. R. Jones, J. G. Walker and J. B. Hood ; the left, commanded by General Thomas J. Jack- son (Stonewall Jackson) contained the divisions of D. H. Hill, A. P. Hill, J. R. Jones and A. R. Lawton. The cavalry was under General J. E. B. Stuart and the artillery under General W. N. Pendleton, altogether numbering about 60,000 men.
On the 14th, left camp early, but did not gain much headway for awhile, as we went some distance on the wrong road, and had to turn back almost to our starting point. We could distinctly hear the cannonading in the direction of South Mountain, and this had the usual effect upon our brave commander Sumner, who became very restless, and he urged us rapidly forward; and as we wended our way up over the high Catoctin Mountain we could
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