USA > Pennsylvania > History of the twenty third Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, Birney's zouaves 1861-1865; comp. by the secretary > Part 10
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While the old man could never be taught to keep step, he was a most excellent, brave, obedient and fearless soldier ; tough as nails, standing the campaign until the end with the best of us.
When the Twenty third DR. G. W. YEOMANS, Asst. Surgeon. Pennsylvania went into camp near White Oaks Church in November, 1862, the wagon trains were away back, so the regiment went on picket duty without rations. This part of the country had been for- aged by both armies, so there was little left ; but some of the boys on the picket reserve found a cache of potatoes and divided them as far as they would go. While they were roasting them, an ex-Confederate who had lost his leg in one of the battles on the Peninsula, loomed up on his wooden leg and told the boys that he was living in a log house back in the woods and when he went to the cache for some potatoes, found that some one had cleaned him out. Of course they did not know that they had cleaned out an old Johnnie Reb, so the reserve picket invited him to share with them the meal of roasted potatoes. When they got back to camp the wagons were up, rations were distributed and a cracker box loaded with sup- plies was carried out to the old Vet. Before leaving here, two more box loads were taken out to his log house, so Johnnie was bridged over for that winter.
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Dr. William C. Roller, Surgeon of the Twenty-third Pennsylvania, says the most singular wound he was called upon to attend while in the service was that of Major Healy, of the Chasseurs, Sixty-fifth New York, in the early morning of the day that Marye's Heights was assaulted, after the Sixty-fifth New York had charged and cleared the way at Hazel Run, the Twenty-third took the advance into Fredericksburg. When the regiment got into the town, he told Stiney, who carried the medicine chest, to find a house with a piano and saw the legs off so it could be used as an operating table. Stein soon reported and Roller was arranging mat- ters to transact business when the first one to be bought in was Major Healy. They were old time friends and upon examin- ing him found he had been wounded in the abdomen. Not being able to find the place where the ball had passed out, he concluded he was mortally wounded, and cheering the Major up, told him he would send him across the river and home to his parents in New York City, which was done. Some time that winter the doc- tor was writing a letter when a rap came on the tent pole and ARCHIBALD MCCORKILL, Co. D. calling out "Come in", who should appear but Major Healy ; he was more than agreeably surprised to find him alive. "Why, Major, old boy, how did you manage to survive?" Haley remarked " it wasn't such a bad wound after all. When I got home and was carried to bed, the old family doctor was called in, and of course started to exam- ine me, but I was so sore and swelled up that I kicked about being turned over, but he would have his own way and turning me over he found that the ball had passed entirely around me, coming out at the point of entrance, it could be plainly traced by the line of inflammation." Dr. Roller was a most noted surgeon in the field during the entire war. He died in 1900, at Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Major Healy served the war out and resides in Washington.
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One of the boys of the Twenty-third Pennsylvania, tells this story of Pat Hickey of Company F. They were chums at home, and when under fire Pat always covered him in the ranks. At Fredericksburg they were both wounded, no doubt by the same ball, one in the head, the other in the left arm. On the way back to the rear, assisted by Billy Craig, they struck a double ambulance. Putting the other fellow into it, Craig bid them good-bye and crawled back to his place in the · company, as the enemy was at this time sweeping the ground with his batteries. Just then a shell passing near the ambu- lance, frightened the driver, and jumping off, away went the team. Hickey with his one arm tried to check them and find- ing it was no use, got out on the step and catching his chum's waist-band jumped off and out he came, sock on the ground completely knocking him out. Just then one of the wounded passing, helped him back to the rear, where he fell into the hands of Surgeon Roller of the Twenty-third. After doing what was possible to stop the flow of blood, he told Hickey to stick to him. This he did, remaining with him until the army re- crossed the river, although, during Sunday and Monday, he had the chance like all others who were able to travel to go North. Hick got a $5 bill from one of the officers and walked six miles to the train and bought a can of beef tea. It was eleven days before they reached the hospital at Wash- ington, he caring for his chum during that time. When they came up before the surgeon for examination for furlough, given according to the disa- bility, not exceeding sixty days, Hickey got thirty and his chum sixty, his chum asked JOHN MOFFITT, Co. F. that his be reduced to thirty. This surprised the surgeon and when told how faithful Pat had been, gave him sixty days. As they passed down Pennsylvania Avenue on the way to take the train, they ran across Dr. Roller who had taken a run up for a few days
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from the front. He had just drawn his pay, was glad to meet the boys, found them dead broke and gave each a $5 bill. These facts are a sample of the Twenty-third, they always stuck to each other.
البيـ
ALONG THE CHICKAHOMINY.
General Alexander Shaler, the brigade commander, in responding to the toast of Marye's Heights, at the Twenty- third's banquet, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, in 1886, stated he was glad that Chaplain Shinn had so ably gone over the
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ground in his vivid description of the events of that engage- ment, that he could but add that he had the honor to be there, and it was his fortune to have command of the supporting column on the right, composed of the Eighty-second Pennsyl- vania and Sixty-seventh New York. The charging column, Sixty-first Pennsylvania and Forty-third New York, was under the command of that brave and efficient officer Colonel Spear, who was killed while leading the charge across the causeway.
These regiments were prepared for the charge in the streets of Fredericksburg under shelter of the houses, and the long wait before we had orders to move, was a most severe strain on the officers and men. We all realized what was to be done and anxiously awaited the order to advance ; messages were hastily written home, and when the order came it seemed · a relief. As the column moving by fours passed to the outer edge of the town, the enemy opened a most destructive fire of artillery and musketry from the Heights, rifle pits and from the famous stone wall at its base, and for a moment the head of the column staggered and wavered. Spear fell, the ranks were closed, and the rush made but only to be again checked. Perceiving this, I pushed up the supports and in a solid mass the column rushed onward over the wall and up the Heights. We knew that after passing the stone wall we had turned their flank. Hastening up the Heights my first thoughts were to get the men into some forma- tion and this required no little effort, as they were wild with enthusiasm and filled with ecstasy over the important cap- ture. Looking around, I saw my two gallant aides-Lieuten- JOHN YOUNG, Co. E. ants Armstrong and Johnson of the Twenty-third Pennsylvania-at my side and gave them orders to have the regimental flags stationed in line and to instruct in speedily forming line of battle without regard to companies or regiments, as one thousand resolute men that
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Jillian Frank Beard
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UPS AND DOWNS OF CAMP LIFE.
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might possibly be rallied behind the hill, would have swept us back from the heights. Our lines were soon formed upon the colors of the Sixty-first and Eighty-second Pennsylvania within the works.
I remember in looking off towards the left to see our lines of battle which plainly told the whole position had been taken.
Before moving, out on the charge, I remember seeing the Twenty-third Pennsylvania lying in front of the stone wall or sunken road where I had placed them, holding that position un- der a severe fire, and I want to say to the Twenty-third, that they are entitled to great praise, not only for the patient manner in which they uncomplainingly held so exposed a position six long hours, but for volunteering to join the charge on the Heights as they were not of the charging column. Seeing troops over at a redoubt, near the little brick-walled cemetery on the apex of the Heights, I sent Lieutenant Johnson over to learn what troops they were, and upon reporting to me learned it was the Twenty-third ; they had gone in with the Sixth Maine and Fifth
Wisconsin, under Colonel Johns, crossing the sunken road and scaling the Heights.
Your Chaplain mentions in his oration, that I was the first mounted officer inside the enemy's works. Well, really, I won't say as to that, but if I was, Lieutenant Armstrong of my staff was a good second. Poor fellow, he was a brave, gentle- manly officer, and now lies sleeping in a heroe's grave. Lieutenant Johnson, also of my staff, had his horse injured in the charge as we approached the DANIEL FOW, Co. E. base of the hill, but he crawled up with the rest of the column and reported to me-dis- mounted, and was there almost as soon as I. Before closing, I want to add my endorsement of Chaplain Shinn's description of the fight, and particularly that part in the vicinity of Marye's Heights as being a most truthful story, much more accurate
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than any I have read. The advance to Salem Church, you will remember, did not begin until late in the afternoon, the delay being caused by the First Division under General Brooks being ordered from this position, three miles below, to take the advance. Many things might have been done, but it is not my place to criticise superior officers then, and no good can come from doing so now. One thing is certain, we should not have allowed Wilcox's Brigade, who were at Bank's Ford to escape. The whole country to the left was open, giving a splendid opportunity to move in deployed lines and so encompass the fugitives in the woods to the right and capture them all. It was a brilliant feat of arms to take the Heights and was another laurel added to the coronet of the Old Sixth Corps.
The part taken by the Twenty-third Pennsylvania, you may well be proud of, and I congratulate you that in this, as in all the battles of the Grand Old Army of the Potomac, the gallantry of the regiment was conspicuous.
NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF. W'M. H. ALBERTSON, Q. M. Sergt. IRA WEBSTER, Sergt .- Major. OLIVER T. ECKERT, Com .- Sergt. F. A. NEVILLE, Hospital Steward.
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Gettysburg Campaign 1863
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At Gettysburg a ball hit John Quinn of E Company, Twenty-third Pennsylvania, on the heel of his shoe, glancing off, striking Henry Dougherty on the breast. When examined it was found the ball had struck a daguerreotype of his best girl, thus saving his life, while he had a very painful breast for some time; he lived to serve his time out and married the girl.
Chaplain Shinn, of the Twenty-third Pennsylvania, took the pains while in service to ascertain the average age of the men of the regiment at enlistment, and found it to be nineteen years. After the dedication of the monument at Gettysburg, the writer, in company with Sergeant James Spence, visited the field, and upon reaching the Twenty-third monument, Spence after having inspected it and reading the inscription, ex- pressed himself as being very much pleased with it, with the exception of the statue surmounting it, which he thought was too youthful a figure. "Why, what age do you think that figure represents?" "I should say it was a boy of nineteen years of age." "Spence, when were you born?" "In July, 1844." " Well add nineteen to that and you will find you were nine- teen years old when you laid over there in the line on July 2d and 3rd, 1863."
One of the Boys of the 23d in Hospital at York, Pa., Wounded, Tells of Gordon's Advance Upon That Place and Wrightsville
On Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania in 1863, we were in hospital at York, Pa., recovering from wounds received at Fredericksburg. When the Governor of Pennsylvania sent a request to the hospital for volunteers, the surgeon in charge assembled the boys on dress parade, and after reading Governor Curtin's telegram he requested all those who desired to volun- teer for field service, in the State, to step one pace to the front, when 187 of the boys responded, it being left to their decision to choose their officers to command the battalion. Canvassing
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was commenced and after casting ballot, a sergeant of the Second Wisconsin was elected our captain, and if my memory serves me right, a one-armed Philadelphia boy was selected first lieutenant, and a New York high private our second lieutenant. Of the 187 it was said 185 were wounded men, the balance of the hospital boys looked upon the whole affair as a huge joke or I might say scare of the Governor's. After organizing we were dis- missed with orders to be ready at any moment. The first night we were placed on picket to try how the old thing worked, as the Johnnies at that time were probably near South Mountain, some fifty miles or more away. After W. J. BAKER, Corporal Co. E. several days of lounging around the hospital during the day and picketing at night, one of our scouts, for we had selected a sergeant of the First Maine Cavalry and another Philadelphia cavalryman, who had been off on scout duty since our entree into the new service, rode into the hos- pital grounds, and after a hurried consultation with the sur- geons, preparations were at once made for the removal of the hospital inmates and property to Columbia, ten miles in rear 'on the north bank of the Susquehanna, and before the next morning, about the only ones left was the battalion. About 4 P. M. we marched out the pike towards Gettysburg. When four miles out we returned hurriedly and took the last train for Wrightsville, none too soon, for the mounted infantry of Early's Corps appeared on all the hills and formed a cordon around the town. After an exchange of shots at very long range, we arrived at Wrightsville, opposite Columbia, where some militia were entrenched, and about daylight we were thrown out on picket skirmish line. Some time about noon the Rebs began feeling their way in by shelling, the first shell passing over to the entrenchments. A cloud · of dust then going towards the river, indicated that the
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militia were being withdrawn across the bridge and the bat- talion left to get all the glory. We hadn't long to wait as skirmishers soon appeared and we had it quite lively for some time.
Our captain thought it about time to end the fun, or else we might have become boarders at Libby, Andersonville, etc., and word was passed along the line to rally on the centre, which was in an open field, in full view of the Johns. As soon as all were in, he gave the command left face, and we marched steadily by the flank, until we reached a deep road along the river, from where it was everyone for himself, to reach the bridge. We found it barricaded with heavy timbers. The bridge was a covered one, one and a quarter miles long, with a foot walk on the east side. One of the boys took the foot walk, and after running one-quarter mile, discovered his retreat cut off, as the bridge on that side had been cut and not know- ing how to swim, he took his chance of going back to the mouth of the bridge. Fortunately, he found a window, crawled through and landed across the dead line. The bridge was not only sawed in two a quarter of a mile from the mouth, but was saturated with oil and combustible matter. Soon the rebs came dashing into the bridge and we had a soft thing on them, firing from behind the uprights of the bridge-but orders must be obeyed and the bridge was fired. We lounged around, until the smoke and flames made it a race for life to reach the other end, a mile away, and when we got there, found that the artillery boys from the hospital had two twelve pounders planted to sweep the bridge and by that JOB T. HICKMAN, Lieutenant Co. H. confounded order didn't get a chance to fire a shot. The impression of the old soldiers was then, and belief now is, that the bridge should not have been fired, but the commander thought differently and another one and a half millions of debt, was the
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result. The battalion was the guest of the town and the good people of Columbia made our forced visit a most pleasant one. The next morning it was discovered that the enemy was leaving. Twenty of the battalion' volunteered to cross the river, so securing a boat and rope, soon established a ferry. Find- ing Gordon's brigade had with- drawn, the battalion was ordered over, and by easy stages, marched back to York, picking up on the way many reb stragglers. The people of York were not of the Union loving kind before the rebs came, and the levies that were
made upon them by the Con- federates, was rather a severe
lesson to a sympathizer. If they did not relish the blue before, GEORGE W. PALMER, Corporal Co. H. they did now, and we were heartily welcomed. After sev- eral days of duty, scouring the country, bringing in reb strag- glers, we disbanded and took our station at our Ward Beds. We had a mother's and father's likeness, tied up in a silk pocket American flag, under the head of our bed, and when we looked for it, it wasn't there. If the ex-Confederate who may have it in his possession, will send his address to the Secretary of the Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers; he will be pleased to correspond. .
Our scouts did some valuable services during this cam- paign and related many an exciting incident of the times they had among the rebs to the boys around the hospital camp fire.
William Milford of Company H, Twenty-third Pennsyl- vania, while lying in the breastworks at Culp's Hill, on the morning of July 3d, picked up the head of a penny which some one had cut out, probably to make a stickpin. Some months afterwards while on reserve picket under Lieutenant Vodges of F Company, talking over campaigns, told of a relic he found at Gettysburg, and pulling it out showed it to the lieu- tenant.
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"Why, Milford, you are the man I have been looking for," and pulling out of his pocket a ring or rim of a penny, it was found the two pieces fitted together. The lieutenant stated that he had found the ring when the regiment went over from Culp's Hill to the left of Meade's headquarters, on the afternoon of July 3d. He gave the relic to Milford, and when the regiment erected its monu- ment at Culp's Hill, Gettys- burg, in 1886, Milford had the relic go in with others that are now in the box sunken in the lower base of the monument.
The Twenty-third Penn- sylvania was on its way over from Little Round Top in the early morning of July 3d, to the support of Geary's Division at HENRY CREASE, Ist Sergeant Co. B. Culp's Hill; as they crossed the Baltimore Pike at the Spangler House, a shell knocked some bricks out of the chimney of the farmhouse. Three country- men or citizens, perhaps belonging at the house, were com- menting on the destruction of the battle, and wanted to know why the troops could not keep on the roads to do their fight- ing and not come tramping down the crops. It was quite amusing to the boys from their point of view.
When they reached the position they were cheered by the troops, as re-enforcements were very much needed in that part of the field that had been so hotly contested.
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Rappahannock Station -- Mine Run -- Brandy Station -- Johnson's Island 1863 -- 1864
T `HE Twenty-third Pennsylvania in the mid-winter of 1864 on their way out to Johnson Island, in passing through one of the stations of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in West Virginia, saw several barrels of chickens and turkeys on the platform, ready for shipment. Soon the boys were lighting fires and having a good time roasting fowls, to the discomfiture of the station master. Quartermaster Chandler was hunted up and of course gave him full allowance in due bills to cover the losses.
Johnnie Kelly of the Twenty-third Pennsylvania says that while laying at Brandy Station, Harry Barnholt of Company F got a canteen of commissary and in order that the boys could not get away with it, sat upon it, while he was playing a game of poker. Every time he would raise up to take in the pot, he would pull up the canteen and take one for.luck. Finally the boys got a canteen full of water and when he rose up to take in the next pot, slipped his canteen out, replacing it with the one with water and feeling good over his win, Harry pulled the canteen up to take another smile, and when he found it was water, it broke him and the game up.
While at Johnson's Island, the boys of the Twenty-third Pennsylvania who did not re-enlist decided to give the veter- ans a reception upon their rejoining the regiment from fur- lough. As there were lots of wild geese on the lake, Sergeant Bill Green and Johnnie Kelly started out with a pocket full of slugs to the feeding grounds while Trotter Boyle and Davy Colville and others made preparations to have a good roast. When the hunters returned without the fowl, it was explained that when Green started up the birds, they came with such a sudden whirl directly over them that it kept Green busy to keep his feet on the slippery ice, while Kelly with the gun loaded, slipped and fell and lying on his back, blazed away. How he ever missed them was a puzzler. Some of the boys
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BATTLE OF MALVERN HILL, JULY IST, 1862.
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charged Green with loading the gun with beans in place of slugs; perhaps the geese flew too high before Kelly could get a shot at them; however there were other things to provide and one of the best evenings in, edibles and enjoyment was had at the reception of the boys who had re-enlisted for three more years.
George Blank, Company B and William Thomas, Com- pany C both drummer boys of the Twenty-third were captured near Stone House Mountain in September, 1863, by Mosby, while outside the lines foraging ; they were sent to various rebel prisons and finally reached Danville. At this place a hole was cut in the stockade and Thomas, with Har- lan S. Howard, Third Wisconsin Battery, and Samuel Street, Fifteenth U. S. Infantry, started for the North. They were about a month getting into our lines, coming in at Fayette- ville, West Virginia; they had changed clothes with the contrabands, so they looked like Johnnies. Our troops took good care of them. Thomas reached Philadelphia in time to go back with the veterans who had re-enlisted, joining his company at Johnson's Island.
Among the snaps while at Johnson's Island, were bunks to sleep in, Jimmy and Pete Henry slept in the upper berth and as was the custom, had built a shelf to hold a piece of candle, bottle of ink, paper, etc. One night after lights out, a scuffle was heard with screams of " murder ; get a light, he cut my throat." The boys scrambled out of their bunks to where the trouble was and when a light was struck, found Pete standing with hands around his neck saying that Jimmy had cut his throat, but upon close examination it was found he was covered with ink, the sequel being that Jimmy, who was given to walking in his sleep, had dreamed he was captured and in his struggle to get away, he had grabbed Pete and securing a bottle of ink began to cut his throat. Pete awaking and with the fluid splashing around his neck and face and the gurgling as it flowed out of the bottle, thought his time had come and in his struggle to save his life fell off the bunk, thinking his throat was cut.
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North Anna and Cold Harbor Campaign.
C APTAIN MARCHANT, Twenty-third Pennsylvania, in 1861, gave the men of his company special instructions as to the use of the turnaque in case of a wound to stop the flow of blood until given aid by the surgeon. He was killed at Cold Harbor, and when found, he had first been wounded in the thigh and had applied the turnaque with his twisted pocket handkerchief, but was afterwards riddled with balls. He was a most gallant soldier and a true gentleman, highly respected by all.
While lying in the trenches, at Cold Harbor, a shell ex- ploded and killed two men of the Twenty-third Pennsylvania. A piece of the same shell struck John Patton of Company A in the sole of his foot, stinging him severely, not even breaking the leather ; he limped around for a while and on a long march would go lame. After the war he complained of severe pain in the sole of the foot, and in 1898, to save his life, his leg was amputated.
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