USA > Pennsylvania > History of the twenty third Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, Birney's zouaves 1861-1865; comp. by the secretary > Part 11
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William B. Chadwick, of G Company, Twenty-third Penn- sylvania, was badly wounded at Cold Harbor and lay until the night of the 3d, the fire being so incessant, as to make it a dan- gerous undertaking to attempt to bring him in. Finally, Gerald McHenry, of D Company, one of the pickets volun- teered, and crawling out placed him on his back, and carried him into the line, thus saving Chadwick's life. McHenry had won a medal of honor, but the poor fellow was shot the next day and died of his wounds July 5, 1864.
John Moore, Company E, Twenty-third Pennsylvania, had the crown of his cap shot away in the action at Fair Oaks, doing him no injury. While at Downsville, Maryland, he was detailed to the Eighth New York Battery, rejoining his com- pany and regiment in May, 1864, and was killed at Cold Harbor.
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In the Field Hospital at Cold Harbor, Dan Williams, one of the drummers of K Company, Twenty third Pennsylvania, who was assisting Doctor Roller in the care of the wounded, saved the leg of James Donnelly of his company. When he was brought in, after examina- tion by one of the surgeons, a green ribbon was tied to the buttonhole of his blouse ; this meant amputation of the leg. Watching his chance Dan took the ribbon off and Donnelly was passed by. Williams took special care of him to prevent blood poisoning. In a few days he was sent North, and recov- ering rejoined his regiment and was mustered out at the end of the war. As Dan says, Donnelly had been good FRANK MAGUIGAN, Sergeant-Major. and kind to him when he joined the company-he was one of the Twenty-third-and if he could save his leg he was going to take the chances.
Frank Worth, color sergeant of the Twenty-third, was wounded in the head and both legs in the charge at Cold Harbor. Notwithstanding his severe wounds he was solicitous for the safety of the colors, and finally they were taken by one of the boys. He lay between the lines close to the Confederate breastworks until night, when a squad of Johnnies came out and carried him into their line, going through him for every- thing he had. One of them tried to kill him with his bayonet, but a lieutenant interfered and saved his life. He was entirely helpless, or else the Johnnie who tried to kill him would have had quite a contract on his hands.
Aleck Powell, the First Sergeant of F Company, Twenty- third Pennsylvania, when the roll was called after the charge at Cold Harbor, was among the missing. During the truce to bury the dead, John Carrigan of the company, one of the detail, came in with a first sergeant's sash and pocket knife and it was supposed to be Powell's. He was marked killed, and his
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father and mother were notified at Philadelphia. They held a mock funeral at the little church in Germantown, his father afterwards collecting his pay accounts to date of death. The following July the Sixth Corps was ordered into the Shenan- doah Valley. Carrigan who supposed he had buried Powell was on wagon guard, which was corralled by Mosby and was held as a prisoner of war until all were released at Ander- sonville. Passing around among the prisoners, he came across Powell, to whom he explained how he had buried him and his people had mourned him for dead. Powell told how he had crossed the works and was shot, falling into the rebel trenches, where he was captured. On reaching home, his identity was established and he was discharged on April 27, 1865, to date from September 8, 1864, the expiration of his term of service.
When the army crossed the James, the regiment was put aboard the transport Cauliflower. On the upper deck was a skylight. Looking down through it, they found a contraband cooking some ham for the offi- cers' mess. Being short of rations they conceived a plan to get the ham ; they tried to get the cook to open the door but he was instructed to keep. it closed. They then unscrewed the skylight and had one of the drummer boys, with two caps, ready to be lowered down by the feet, to grab the ham. One of the boys began pounding on the door exciting the cook, who turned round with the words, "Go away, dah, stop you nosin." Quickly the sky- H. M. DAVENPORT, Co. A. light was opened, and the drummer lowered down by the heels grabbed the pan, and was soon up on deck. When the cook turned around he found the pan missing, and rushing out of the room, met one of the offi- cers who asked what was the matter. "'Fore God, boss, I was · frying dat ham, the boys was pesterin' me, and when I turned round to tend to de ham, the ham and pan clean done gone."
W
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Petersburg -- Fort Stevens and Shenandoah Valley Campaign 1864
A FTER the affair at Fort Stevens the Sixth Corps followed Early up the Shenandoah Valley and as he was on his way back to Richmond, the corps came back to Washington. While awaiting transports to Petersburg the corps was paid off, everybody going into the city. One of the adventures of the visitation to Washington after being paid off, was that of a lieutenant and eight men of the Twenty-third Pennsylvania making up a pass for a sergeant and men. Buying a long nankeen duster, to cover up the officer's uniform, they struck for the town, being hailed several times by the provost guard, who examined the pass and found it correct. About 4 P. M. one of the officers of the provost advised them, that if they wanted to stay in the city after sun-down, they had better have the pass countersigned by the Provost Marshal. Selecting Joe Atkinson to face the music, they started for the Marshal's office, where they all sat down on the curb-stone opposite, while Atkinson got in line with the natty sergeants from the fortifications, who were having the passes countersigned for their commands. He soon came out shaking the pass stating that when it came his turn the Marshal questioned him very closely and suggested it was strange that he should be sent to have a pass countersigned. Joe, in his bland way, explained to the satisfaction of the Pro- vost, that the corps had orders to move at daylight the next day, and the seal was affixed. This made it good for all hours of the night, so the boys took in the Louisiana Varieties and other places of amusement. Time and time again, was the pass examined and found " O. K." About daylight they struck for camp, in time to go along with the corps.
Joe Smith, of Company A, Twenty-third Pennsylvania, was shaving Sergeant-Major Frank Maguigan, one day in the Shenandoah Valley, when the Rebs suddenly charged and drove the pickets in. The boys, in rallying, stole Smithey's razor and for ten days Maguigan had to go around with one side of his face shaved, as nobody could find a razor, and there wasn't a barber shop within 50 miles.
THEY DRANK FROM THE SAME CANTEEN.
VANES E. JAyiOR
. .....
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After the fight at Fort Stevens, Jubal Early retreated up the Shenandoah Valley, followed by the Sixth Corps until they were recalled to go back to Petersburg. Early finding the Sixth Corps was on its way to rejoin the Army of the Potomac, turned and drove Crook out of the valley. Gen- eral Grant then decided to clean the valley out, and pre- vent further attempts of in- vasion of the North, so he sent Sheridan with his cavalry to take charge of all the troops, consisting of the Cavalry Corps, Sixth Corps under General Wright; the Eight Corps, under General Crook, and the Nineteenth Corps under General Emroy, he con- centrating them at Charles- WM. GREEN, Sergeant Co. F. town, Va., General Jubal Early commanding the Confederate forces concentrating his troops at Winchester, Va.
Both armies were about evenly matched, each having about 36,000 infantry, cavalry and artillery. There was march- ing and countermarching, advance and counter advance, then a demonstration and fall back from Winchester to Harper's Ferry. These movements were received with great discontent at the North. The campaign for the Presidential election being near at hand, gold rising higher and higher, President Lincoln became uneasy and wrote Grant one of his wisest letters. These mutterings caused Grant to visit Sheridan at Charles- town, with the intention of giving him a plan of battle, but he found Sheridan so ready to move that he gave no plan or order whatever, except the authority to " Go in."
Sheridan, had been feeling the enemy to demonstrate what forces he was about to contend with, as conflicting reports were coming in from his scouts, such as divisions be- ing sent back to Lee ; that Longstreet's Corps was on its way to Early, asked General Crook, Commander of the Eighth Corps, who had campaigned in the Shenandoah Valley and knew most all its people, if there was not some one in
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Winchester from whom they could get reliable information. Crook suggested Miss Rebecca I. Wright a young Quaker lady residing in Winchester. She was a staunch Union woman and will ever be known as the 'Loyal Girl of Winches- ter. She was then teaching a very small school at their home, where she resided with her mother and sister, who was a most intense sympathizer of the Confederacy, her old father, having died while a prisoner of war in Confederate hands.
The chief of scouts who was sent by General Sheridan to find some one to deliver a let- ter to Becky Wright, brought a colored man to Sheridan's headquarters, who after ques- tioning him as to how he was to get into the town, gave him the following letter :
LOYAL GIRL OF WINCHESTER, Rebecca Wright, now Bonsall.
September 15, 1864.
I learn from Major-General Crook that you are a loyal lady and still love the flag.
Can you inform me of the position of Early's forces, the number of divisions in his army, and the strength of all or any of them, and his probable or reported intentions. Have any more troops arrived from Richmond or are any more coming, or reported to be coming ? I am very repectfully,
Your obedient servant,
P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General Commanding.
You can trust the bearer.
She states that about noon of September 16th, as her four scholars were dismissed, her mother answering a knock at the door found a colored man, who asked for Miss Wright. As there were two Misses Wright, she wanted to know which one and he replied, "Miss Becky." As he passed into the front room, where she was and which was used as her schoolroom,
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he locked the door and holding up his hand, said "don't be alarmed Miss Becky, I have a dispatch from General Sheridan," and pulling it out of his mouth, wrapped in tin foil handed it to her with the remark that he knew she would answer it and he would call for the answer at 3 o'clock and be sure to wrap it in the tin foil again so he could carry it in his mouth. When he was gone, she was so surprised and alarmed, she did not know how to act, thinking perhaps it was some trick of the Con- federates to get her into trouble, as she had been held under a cloud for three years being in sympathy with the Union cause.
After reading the letter she went to consult her mother, what best to do, who wanting to know if she had the informa- tion, and being told yes, re- marked, " Well, no doubt, you can trust the colored man."
It so happened that there was a Confederate officer, wounded and convalescent, boarding with one of her neigh- bors, and two evenings before had made a call at the house. They, of course, entertained him, and . during the evening here the conversation turned upon the war, and more espec- GEORGE CRAWFORD, Co. D. ially the state of affairs directly around them. He described the situation from his standpoint, how many troops they had and what they most relied upon, she asking questions without any purpose except to keep up the conversation and he answer- ing freely, so that when the colored man returned, she gave him the information, number of troops, their situations and the fact that some had been called off for services elsewhere, in fact, just what Sheridan wanted to know and expressed regrets that she could not give more information, but would try to gather more for him, if he would send the messenger back in a day or two.
The colored man placed the note wrapped in tin foil in his mouth and left the house, all day Saturday and Sunday,
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she wondered what had become of the messenger and what would be the result of her note.
When on Monday, the 19th, she was awakened at day- light by the booming of cannon, her first thought was whether her note had anything to do with it. It was a terrible battle all day long, they taking refuge in the cellar. As the rumbling of the battle grew fainter and fainter, she went to the first floor, could see nothing but the wounded and stragglers pass- ing along the streets, nothing from the second floor, but from the garret window, she saw the old American Flag coming into the town. She dropped on her knees and offered a most fervent prayer, and running down stairs, calling out the Yankees are coming. Soon was heard clattering of sabres on the doorstep and as she opened the door in the twilight, she saw two officers, one of whom she recognized as General Crook, who intro- --- duced her to the other, Gen- eral Sheridan. He warmly shook her by the hand, ask- ing her if she was Becky Wright, telling her it was upon her information that he fought the battle, thanking her earnestly, saying he would never forget her cour- JOSEPH AND WM. MCKINNEY, Co. E. age and patriotism. She begged of him never to speak of it as her life would be in danger when the Union troops went away. Sheridan replied, that the Confederates would never come back, and passing into the school room, wrote on her desk the following despatch to Secretary Stanton :
"We have just sent the rebels whirling through Win- chester, and are after them to-morrow." The country was electrified, gold took a tumble. As Grant said: Sheridan was entitled to all the credit for his great victory. It es- tablished him in the confidence of the President and Secretary of War, as a commander to be trusted in the management of troops under him. Before that, while they highly appreciated
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him as a commander to execute, they felt a little nervous about giving him too much discretion. His army fought the battles of Opequan or Winchester, Fisher Hill and Cedar Creek, de- stroying Early's army, and ever after closing the Shenandoah Valley as a highway to the invasion of the North.
Miss Wright continued to live quietly in Winchester, until 1867. No one suspected her; they knew nothing of the matter, until she received the following letter from General Sheridan.
"Headquarters
Department of Gulf,
"New Orleans,
January 7, 1867. "My dear Miss Wright :
"You are probably not aware of the service you rendered the Union cause by the information you sent me by the colored man a WILLIAM L. UBER, Co. H. few days before the Opequan on September 19, 1864. It was on this information the battle was fought and probably won. The col- ored man gave the note rolled up in tin foil to the scout, who awaited him at Millwood.
"The colored man had carried it in his mouth to that point, and delivered it to the scout, who brought it to me. By this note I be- came aware of the true condition of affairs, inside of the enemy's lines, and gave directions for the attack.
.
"I will always remember this courageous and patriotic action of yours with gratitude, and beg you to accept the watch and chain which I send you by General J. Forsythe as a memento of September 19, 1864."
This letter getting into the Valley papers, most of the community were wild with indignation, but the war was over, and they could do her no injury, but they showed their dis- like in many ways. Finally in 1869 General Grant had her appointed to a position in the Treasury Department at Washington.
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Up to the year 1891, the colored man that carried the despatch, had not been found, although every effort had been made to find him. That year the survivors of the Sixth Corps, dedicated a monumentat Winchester to General David A. Rus- sell, who was killed in that action and while there, started a search to find the missing colored man. He was found and proved to be Tom Laws of Berryville, who in 1864 belonged to a Mr. Clarke who resided in Winchester and who was privileged to go into the town twice a week with produce from his master's farm. He was brought on to Washington and was finally identified by Mrs. Bonsall (Miss Wright) who took him to the War Department and took affidavit of identity which is now on file. At this time the faithful messenger was 78 years of age, never had lived in a city, and while a position was offered him for the balance of his life, he refused, as he was then living with his grandchildren and doing well and contented.
When the Twenty-third was on its way home for muster- out, many of the boys were riding on top of the freight cars. As they neared Philadelphia below Gray's Ferry Bridge, James McGinnis of Company G was accidentally killed by being struck on the head as the train passed under a bridge. What a sad home-coming it was to his people who awaited him at the depot !
The citizens of Philadelphia who had been supplying the troops en route to Washington in order to provide for their better entertainment organized May 26, 1861. The Cooper Shop Volunteer Refreshment RICHARD A. GRIFFITH, Lieutenant Co. D. Committee, opened a saloon in the cooper shop of the Cooper Brothers, Prime street (now Washington Avenue) below Front street, and a similar organi- zation, the Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon, was opened on May 27, 1861 in a boat shop and riggers' office S. W. Cor.
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Prime (now Washington Avenue) and Swanson streets. These places of entertainment could provide 2,500 at one setting and had facilities to ration 30,000 daily. This generous hospitality was maintained during the four years of the war. At all hours of the day and night the fire bells of the neighborhood would bring the people to these saloons to care for the soldiers passing through the city. Formal expressions of thanks were extended by the President of the United States, Governors of the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Ver- mont, Connecticut, Massachus- etts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania for their liberal hospitality. This volunteer work, the free ANDREW J. ALBANY, JAMES KELLY, Corporals, Co. D. gift of its citizens, gave to Philadelphia a national reputation for patriotism and hospi- tality.
The following members of the Twenty-third Pennsylvania were honored by promotion in other commands: Colonel David B. Birney was promoted to Brigadier General and died October, 1864, while Major General commanding the Tenth Army Corps; Colonel Thomas H. Neill promoted to Brigadier General commanding a brigade in Sixth Army Corps; Colonel John Ely promoted to Brigadier General United States Vol- unteers, commanding brigade in Veteran Reserve Corps; Major George C. Spear was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel Sixty-first Pennsylvania and was killed while Colonel commanding same regiment at Marye's Heights, May 3, 1863; Lieutenant John W. Crosby Company A was promoted to Captain in Sixty-first Pennsylvania, wounded at Fort Stevens and killed while Lieu- tenant Colonel commanding the Sixty-first Pennsylvania at the assault of lines at Petersburg, April 2, 1865; Arthur F. Keene, Lieutenant Company B was promoted to First Lieutenant Company I Eighty-second Pennsylvania; Captain Geo. ' W. Mindil was promoted to Colonel of the Thirty third New
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Jersey and Brevet Major General United States Volunteers; Captain Wm. Clark Company E was promoted Major of the Eighty-second Pennsylvania; Sergeant Stephen Palmore Company H promoted to Captain Company I Eighty- second Pennsylvania; Sergeant Casper Miller, Company F promoted to First Lieutenant Company E Eighty-second Pennsylvania, Lieutenant Henry G. Fritsch was promoted to Captain Company F Eighty-second Pennsylvania; Captain James Gwyn Company F, commissioned Lieutenant Colo- nel One Hundred and Eighteenth Pennsylvania promoted to Colonel, wounded at Wilderness and discharged at close of war Brevet Brigadier General and Brevet Major General United States Volunteers; First Sergeant William R. Peddle Company B was commissioned Lieutenant One Hundred and Fifty- 'seventh Pennsylvania promoted to Captain, wounded at Peb- ble's Farm 1864; Sergeant Charles M. Young Company F com- missioned Second Lieutenant One Hundred and Eighteenth Pennsylvania, promoted to Captain, killed at Chapin Farm 1864; Private Albert Walters, Company B commissioned Second Lieutenant Company K One Hundred and Eigh- teenth Pennsylvania, discharged as Brevet Major; Sergeant John Reen Company G pro- moted Captain Company K Eighty-second Pennsylvania; Second Lieutenant Frank Taylor Company G promoted to Captain Company H Eighty-second Pennsylvania, wounded Sailor's Creek; Lieu- tenant James H. House, Com- pany G promoted to First Lieutenant Company H Eighty-second Pennsylvania; Sergeant George P. Mitchell, Company D promoted Sec- ond Lieutenant Company H DAVID COLVILLE, Sergeant Co. F. Eighty-second Pennsylvania; Sergeant Wm. H. Myers, Company I promoted First Lieu- tenant Company K Eighty-second Pennsylvania, killed at Sailor's Creek, April 6, 1865; First Sergeant Russell P. How- ard, Company I promoted Second Lieutenant Company K
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Eighty-second Pennsylvania ; Corporal John McKernon Com- pany A promoted Second Lieutenant Company F Eighty-sec- ond Pennsylvania, died April 18, 1865, of wounds received at Petersburg, April 2, 1865.
One of the most patriotic bodies who rallied to the sup- port of the government during the Civil War was the Philadel- phia Fire Department, nearly all its members, or adherents of its companies enlisted in the army or navy, they being repre- sented in every regiment that was recruited in the city, as well as by marines and sailors on board vessels that were fitted out at the old navy yard, at the foot of Federal street.
The Hibernia Engine Company that stood on Evelina street, (now Locust street) below Third, seeing the neces-, sity for service at the Capitol, in the protection of the arch- ives of the government, vol- untarily extended their ser- vice, which was accepted and with men and apparatus, was stationed in Washington dur- ing the entire war ; those who remained at home, inaugu- rated a volunteer ambulance service and were very active in conveying the sick and wounded soldiers from the JAMES MCGINNIS, Co. E. Regimental Marker. depots to the hospitals. These ambulances were large and comfortable, being works of art as to construction and finish. Each fire company, with that proverbial pride, vied with each other to have the finest. They were built, manned, equipped and operated without charge, being backed up by the volunteer contributions of the friends and ladies in their respective neigh- borhoods. The following companies housed these ambu- lances :
ENGINE COMPANIES.
Delaware, Southwark, Washington, Weccacoe, Diligent, Philadelphia (2), Assistance, America, Fairmount, Northern 'Liberty, United States, Vigilant, Good Intent, Globe, Mechanic,
£
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PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Decatur, Fellowship (2), Monroe, Good Will (2), West Phila- delphia.
HOSE COMPANIES.
Franklin, Hope, Southwark, Western, Philadelphia, Good Will, Neptune, Cohocksink, Kensington, Independence, North- ern Liberty, West Philadelphia.
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In 1864, during the great Sanitary Fair, held at Logan Square, 18th and Race streets, for the benefit of the Sanitary Commission, a patriotic body, that looked after the welfare of the sick and wounded soldiers, in which over a million of dol- lars was realized, the firemen took quite an interest. Among the many ventures was a contest for a fire horn, many of the
AMBULANCE. Good Will Engine Co.
boys in the service sending home their mite, for votes of their favorite company, the winner being the Good Will Engine Company, Race street, below Broad street.
Upon the return of the regiments at the close of the war, nearly all were received and welcomed home by a parade of the fire companies and it was generally quite a long route, as they wanted to take their guests through each neighborhood, so they could spring their bells and have their ladies-God
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bless them-who worked so hard while the boys were away, join in the welcome as " Johnnie Came Marching Home." We are pleased to note that nearly all the ninety-seven volunteer fire companies of Philadelphia had representatives in the field and staff and rank and file of the Twenty-third Pennsylvania.
The Twenty-third Pennsyl- vania had the honor to serve in the following commands dur- ing its three months' service : General George H. Thomas' Brigade, General George Cadwallader's Divi- sion, General Robert Patter- son's Army, General Winfield Scott, Commander-in-Chief. It was present at Falling Waters, participating in the campaigns ROBERT BOYD, Co. I. of that army, and during its three years' service in the Army of the Potomac was in General L. Pike Graham's Brigade, Gen- eral Don Carlos Buell's Division and upon the formation of the Army Corps, it was assigned to General Abercrombie's Brig- ade, General Darius N. Couch Division, General Erastmus D. Keyes, Fourth Corps, Army of the Potomac, General George B. McClellan, commanding. When this Corps was divided, its division, Couch's, continued with the Army of the Potomac. When the Sixth Corps was organized it became part of the First Brigade, General John Cochrane, Third Div- ision, General John Newton, Sixth Corps, General Wm. F. Smith, thence First Brigade, General Alexander Shaler, Third Division, General Henry D. Terry, Sixth Corps, General John Sedgwick, thence Fourth Brigade, Colonel Nelson Cross, First Division, General David A. Russell, Sixth Corps, General Horatio G. Wright.
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