USA > Pennsylvania > History of the twenty third Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, Birney's zouaves 1861-1865; comp. by the secretary > Part 2
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Re-enlisted Co. A, P. V.
Re-enlisted Co. P, 23d P. V.
Joshua Harrison
Robert McMillan George Kernick . Samuel McClelland Alexander, James . Arbushunt, James Black, William D.
20
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
NAME.
RANK.
REMARKS.
Goodwin, Thomas J. Glenn, William
Private
Gordon, Robert .
Hance, George
Re-enlisted Co. E, 23d P. V.
Higgins, Charles
Harris, Thomas . Harrison, Stephen
Hazlett, John . 66
Hazlett, Matthew
60
Re-enlisted Co. E, 23d P. V.
Hayes, Robert
Johnson, Robert
66
Kearney, John
"Kain, Samuel
Leeby, William
Moore, John
Re-enlisted Co. E, 23d P. V.
Miller, John .
Re-enlisted Co. E, 23d P. V.
Morgan, John
Re-enlisted Co. E, 23d P. V.
Marshall, F.
66
McNally, Thomas
Re-enlisted Co. E, 23d P. V. Re-enlisted Co. E, 23d P. V.
McCongle, Robert
66
McClung, James .
Re-enlisted Co. E, 23d P. V.
McFall, William
Re-enlisted Co. E, 23d P. V.
McVey, Hugh
Re-enlisted Co. E, 23d P. V.
McClung, John
Re-enlisted Co. E, 23d P. V.
McCanneck, Neil
Mckinney, Hugh
Re-enlisted Co. E, 23d P. V.
McClelland, John
66
McConnell, Charles .
66
Mckeown, Thomas .
McMichael, Hugh .. Pruser, Spencer .
66
Re-enlisted Co. E, 23d P. V. Re-enlisted Co. E, 23d P. V.
Rankin, Alexander Ralston, Joseph
Rumford, Samuel .
Redmin, William
Scholes, John
Simpkins, Beeford
Re-enlisted Co. E, 23d P. V.
Simpkins, Edwin T. . Stuart, John
Sanderson, James
Taylor, James
Tate, Hugh
Tate, Henry
Waters, John
Wilson, Samuel
COMPANY F Recruited at Philadelphia. Mustered in April 21, IS61. Mustered out July 31, 186t.
J. Keenside White . . George P. Anderson. Edward N. McDonald John Hunterson
Captain
First Lieut.
Second Lieut. . First Sergt. . Henry Copestick
Re-enlisted Co. F. 23d P. V.
William Langdon John Parks Alexander Powell Morris Idell .
Second Sergt. . Third Sergt. Fourth Sergt. . First Corp. . Second Corp. . Third Corp. Fourth Corp. Musician
Re-enlisted Co. F, 23d P. V.
George Savius Charles Nunneville
James Smith Joseph Bradwix
Re-enlisted Co. H, 23d P. V.
Re-enlisted Co. E, 23d P. V. Re-enlisted Co. E, 23d P. V.
Quinn, John
Re-enlisted Co. E, 23d P. V. Re-enlisted Co. E, 23d P. V. Re-enlisted Co. E, 23d P. V.
McNeil, John
PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
NAME.
RANK.
REMARKS.
Aker, Charles .
Private
Bikings, John .
Border, Frederick W.
Bolton, David .
Brown, John .
Bishop, William
.6
Brisburn, James
Butcher, John .
Cooper, Joseph.
Cuthbert, William
Clark, William .
Collopy, Patrick .
Cortete, James . Campbell, James Charlton, Fred. K.
Devlin, Arthur . .
Danenhower, Geo. B.
Deal, Samuel
Endy, Frank
Edward, Joseph
Evans, Lewis
Fogle, Charles
Freas, George W
Fulton, William
..
Farley, Edward .
Gerhart, Charles
Re-enlisted Co. F, 23d P. V.
Garret, George
Grelsinger, Jacob
Gorman, Joseph
Gentle, Henry
Haslam, Charles .
Hotz, John .
Harp, Jacob
Hofnagle, Fred. K.
Howard, John
Ilson. Richard
Re-enlisted 23d P. V.
Kipple, Jacob
Kelly, John . Lightcap, Charles
McCrully, Lawrence . Maguire, Joseph Malin, Wilson
Morly, Thomas
Moore, Charles D
Minnick, Henry
Montgomery, Hugh
McCloskey, Chas. G. McCool, John McDongal. Alex. Masland, Charles H. . . Masland, James W. Nunneville, George. . Oliver, William. O'Neil, James Purvis, Hugh Poulterer. Stephen . Rohrer, Joseph Seidt. Adolph .
Umstead, Thomas . Vogel, Lewis. . Wartman, Geo. W. Watson, John . 6.
Whiteman, William. Young, Charles W.
..
Re-enlisted Co. F, 23d P. V.
Re-enlisted Keystone Bat., Pa. L. Art.
-
Re-enlisted Co. F, 13d P. V. Re-enlisted Co. C, 23d P. V.
Re-enlisted Co. F, 23d P. V.
Re-enlisted Co. F, 23d P. V.
Re-enlisted Co. F, 23d P. V.
66
21
..
22
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
COMPANY G Recruited at Philadelphia. Mustered in April 21, 1861. Mustered out July 31, 1861.
NAME.
RANK.
REMARKS.
James Gwyn .
Captain
Re-enlisted Captain Co. F, 23d P. V.
Lewis D. Baugh
First Lieut. Second Lieut. .
Re enlisted Captain Co. D, 23d P V.
Charles W. Cares
George Howard
Edward H. McMillan.
Mark Anthony Richard A. McMillan.
First Sergt . Second Sergt. . Third Sergt. Fourth Sergt. First Corp.
Re-enlisted Co. D, 23d P. V.
Robert B. Beath . .
Second Corp. .
Promoted to Sergeant ; re-enlisted Co. D, 88th P.V. ; promoted 2d Lieut .; appoint'd Capt. Co. A, 6th U.S.C. Infantry ; com. Lt .- Col. : not mustered ; wounded (loss of foot) Chapins Farm, Sept. 21,'64; discharged Sept. 29, 1865.
Andrew C. White
John P. Anthony .
Third Corp. Fourth Corp. Musician
Re-enlisted Co. D, 23d P. V.
William H. Adams . . William Anderson . Atkinson, Benjamin . Anthony, William H. Alexander, Hugh . . Addey, Matthew . Boullen, Frederick S. Ball, Henry T ..
Private
Re-enlisted Co. F, 23d P. V. Re-enlisted Co. D, 23d P. V.
Barnes, George W. Barr, William Bodkin, Robert Butz, Jacob Campbell, John Cunningham, JamesT. Cridlend, John . Collins, William H. . Collins, Robert Coughlan, Michael J. Cline, John
66
Re-enlisted 23d P. V.
Campbell, William . . Dunnecliffe, Edward . Davin, Joseph Dougherty, Hugh Earl, James . Ellingsworth, Samuel Fisher, Joseph .
. .
Re-enlisted Co. F, 23d P. V.
Re-enlisted Co. O, 23d P. V.
Gowan, Edward
Galloway, Henry.
.€
Re-enlisted Co. E, 23d P. V.
Hoopes, Francis E. D. Henry, James . Harvey, Edward B. Hart, Samuel C. . Hollows, Hinson Helpin, James Harrigan, James Hecht, Gottleib Kenworthy, Thomas . Kilpatrick, John H. Mclaughlin, Michael. McCoy, Henry. Meighan, William
.€
.€
.€
Re-enlisted Co. D, 23d P. V.
· Matthews, James. . McKinsey, John .
..
Re-enlisted Co. D, 23d P. V.
..
Re-enlisted Co. D, 23d P. V. Re-enlisted Co. F, 23d P. V.
George Wood
23
PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
NAME.
RANK.
REMARKS.
McFadden, James
Private
Re-enlisted Co. F, 23d P. V.
O'Colligan, John
Pilkinton, George
..
Re-enlisted 2d Pa. Heavy Artillery. Re-enlisted Co. D, 23d P. V.
Reilly, Charles F.
Ryan, Robert .
..
Reem, John
Re-enlisted Co. G, 23d P. V.
Steele, William
Steen, Andrew
Speer, Morris
..
Re-enlisted Co. D, 23d P. V.
Spellman, James
..
Schoen, David
66
Stump, John
66
Simmons, Samuel .
..
Thorp, Frank
Taylor, John
Thompson, L. R.
Vonfleet, John
Wiley, Samuel
Re-enlisted Co. D, 23d P. V.
COMPANY H
Recruited at Philadelphia. Mustered in April 21, 1861. Mustered out July 31, 1861.
J. Joseph Vaughan
Captain
William Blanck
First Lieut.
Thomas K. Boggs George Reynold Thomas W. Griffin J. Dow Carlisle
Second Lieut. .
Re-enlisted Lieut., Co. C, 23d P. V.
James Nethery Samuel Humes Henry Maser John H. Chambers Edwin Garvin . George Blanck William J. Kern . Arrowson, Jacob Brown, Charles Beeler, Evan ..
Private
Re-enlisted Co. C, 23d P. V.
Bowers, Valentine.
Brown, Thomas B. Bayne, Edward B. Clark, Clement Campbell, James Cook, Joseph . Dace, Edward P Davis, Isaac
..
Re-enlisted Co. H, 23d P. V.
Ettenger, Martin H.
66
Farrell, Alexander Fisher, James Feeney, John Fredericks, Geo. B. . Forman, John W .. Field, W. H.
66
..
.
Re-enlisted Co. A, 23d P. V.
Gallen, James F.
..
..
. .
Re-enlisted Co. D, 23d P. V. Re-enlisted 23d P. V.
Snyder, Amos
Shaw, .William
Salmon, William
Wolf, Thomas M.
First Sergt. . Second Sergt. Third Sergt. Fourth Sergt. . First Corp. Second Corp. . Third Corp. Fourth Corp. Musician
Re-enlisted Co. B, 23d P. V.
66
Hunter, David Hess, William
Re-enlisted 23d P. V. Re-enlisted Co. F, 150th P. V.
Richardson, John
24
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
NAME.
RANK.
REMARKS.
Hill, John H.
Private
Howe, John
Re-enlisted 23d P. V.
Knox, Joseph Kole, James I. . Keene, Henry F.
Re-enlisted 23d P. V.
Matthews, James A. . Montgomery, William Musgrave, James
Moore, Thomas Morad, Peter
Re-enlisted Co. F, 3d Pa. Cav.
McGuire, James
McCarty, Patrick McCrossin, John McGraw, Michael
.
Re-enlisted Co. A, 23d P. V.
Naedgle, Morris T. Pedrick, Daniel H. Philbut, Alexander Renninger, Danl. A. Rea, Francis D. Rudolph, Samuel T. Richards, Andrew I. Stanly, E. B.
Stewart, Robert
Re-enlisted 23d P. V.
Stetson, Kennell
Storms, A. J. .
Shneck, Reuben
Savage, George W.
Sexton, John E.
Re-enlisted Co. A, 23d P. V.
Tompkins, I. T.
.6
Thompson, F. W.
Tacy, Jacob P. Thompson, John
Vickers, W. K.
Winters, James
Re-enlisted 23d. P. V.
Wittaker, James D. Wolfe, George
..
Williamson, Robert J. Woodruff, Edward S. Waterman, John W. . Young, William . .
COMPANY I Recruited at Philadelphia. Mustered in April 21, 1861. Mustered out July 31, 1861.
Thomas S. Martin .
Captain
Joseph K. Parker .
First Lieut. . . Jas. T. Kirkpatrick, Jr. Second Lieut. . Edward J. Maguigan. William I. Carey John P. Dougherty Benjamin F. Taylor John O'Connor Robert Brown
First Sergt. . . Second Sergt. . Third Sergt. Fourth Sergt. . First Corp. Second Corp. .
Re-enlisted Capt. C, gIst P. V.
Lewis Ludy
Third Corp. . .
Thomas B. Neill
Samuel Barr
Fourth Corp. Musician
Henry Bartel
66
Re-enlisted Co. H, 23d P. V.
Lindsay, William H. Lundback, Silas P. Lippincott, George W. Lindsay, I. M.
PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
25
NAME.
RANK.
REMARKS.
Berniger, William
Private
Bond, Lewis
Boyd, John .
Branigan, Patrick
66
Brazier, William
Brown, James C.
Callan, Henry
Clayton, Franklin Courtney, John B.
Re-enlisted Co. F, 8th Pa. Cav.
Crippes, William I.
Donahey, John
Re-enlisted Co. K, 23d P. V.
Dick, John M.
Dougherty, William . Dull, Jacob S.
Emmons, Charles .
.
Ennis, Isaac H. .
Finney, John D. .
Fox, Thomas
66
Fredericks, Thomas . Gifford, Alfred H.
Gilbert, Albert
66
Gould, William
Greswold, Edwin
66
Gunn, William Hullam, Jesse . Hay, William I.
Hesson, Bernard
Holmes, Edwin .
Holmes, Rueben
66
Hough, Peter D.
Jobbins, Joseph
Johnson, John T.
Kaesch, Herman
66
Kennedy, John
66
Laux, Henry
Lukins, Cornelius
Re-enlisted Co. H, 23d P. V.
Levan, Eldridge.
66
Mckinley, Henry . McFarland, Andrew . Mclaughlin, James . McNeish, John
McSherry, James
Maginley, Joseph E. . Michael, Joseph . Michael, Thomas H. Miller, Wilson
66
Meyer, Christopher Parker, Joseph D. .
66
Peterman, Charles
66
Peirson, Joseph W. Pommer, Adolf
Reese, Henry
Rittenhouse, Thos. P. Roth, Lewis B.
Rotthaupt, Godfrey . Ryder, John
66
Sibee, Tobias Smith, George F.
Schmitt, Joseph
Thomas, John D.
Williams, John
Winters, Enos
66
Re-enlisted 23d P. V. Re-enlisted Co. A, 23d P. V.
.
Re-enlisted Co. K, 23d P. V.
Re-enlisted Co. K, 23d P. V.
Re-enlisted Co. A, 23d P. V. Re-enlisted Co. C, 58th P. V. Re-enlisted Co. K, 23d P. V.
Lafferty, James Laurer, William H.
Re-enlisted Co. H, 23d P. V.
Re-enlisted Co. H, 23d P. V. Re-enlisted Co. A, 23d P. V.
26
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
COMPANY K Recruited at Philadelphia. Mustered in; April 21, 1861. Mustered out July 31, 1861.
NAME.
RANK.
REMARKS.
Oscar F. Betson
Augustus H. Wilson .
Edmund Hopper
Theodore Black
First Sergt. . Second Sergt. .
Charles W. Norris
Michael Fulmer
Michael Maher
Charles W. Bewley
William McIlvain
Thomas Kelly
John H. Williams William Williams Antrim, John
Private
Brown, James .
66
Brelsford, George
Callahan, Albert
Chatam, George W.
Cline, Daniel .
Cook, William
6.
Carpenter, Charles F.
Cassidy, Nicholas
Donnelly, Jamies
Donnelly, Daniel
Felt, John
Fulton, Abraham
Gorman, Daniel
Re-enlisted 23d P. V.
Grahanı, Thomas
. Granlers, John H.
Grevis, Charles
ـة ،
Graham, Philip
Huber, Charles S.
Re-enlisted Co. A, 23d P. V.
Hedinger, John
Hendricks, William . Howard, John
66
Hearst, George
Haines, John
Highland, John
Jewell, James R.
Jordan, Francis M.
Kelly, William
Re-enlisted 23d P. V.
Kingsley, James
Krumshal, John
Lemmon, William Lybrund, Montraville
Lasky, John
Lewis, Leon
McClusky, David
McArthur, William Metz, John
McGirr, Peter
McConnell, John
..
Re-enlisted Co. B, 23d P. V.
McFetridge, James
McNamara, James
Moan, John
Mills, John
Re-enlisted Co. G, 23d P. V.
McDavid, Thomas
· Moore, Robert McWilliams, James
Captain First Lieut. . Second Lieut. .
Benj. A. Coppuck
Third Sergt. Fourth Sergt. First Corp. Second Corp. Third Corp. Fourth Corp. Musician
Re-enlisted Co. G, 23d P. V. Re-enlisted Captain, SSth P. V.
Re-enlisted Co. P, 23d P. V.
Re-enlisted Co. A, 23d P. V.
Clark, John .
Re-enlisted Co. C, 23d P. V. Re-enlisted 23d P. V. Re-enlisted Co. F, 23d P. V.
-
PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
27
NAME.
RANK.
REMARKS.
Maun, Thomas
Private
Peters, John H. .
Philips, William
Robson, Claude H.
..
Riley, Henry
Remanter, John
Roberts, Henry
Rodgers, Samuel
Riley, Michael
Re-enlisted 23d P. V.
Swigley, William
Smith, Thomas Spencer, George W. Thomas, Thompson .
..
Thorpe, John .
Williams, John
Re-enlisted 23d P. V.
Walker, Nicholas
Weisner, Caleb
.
-
H
-
GEN. ULYSSES S. GRANT, Commanding U. S. Army from 1864 to Close of War.
28
e
29
PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.
THREE YEARS' SERVICE.
P RESIDENT Lincoln having called for 300,000 men while the regiment was in the three months' service, Lieu- tenant-Colonel David B. Birney, with the approval of Colonel Dare, then suffering from a disability, from which he soon afterwards died, received authority from the Secretary of War to organize the regiment for the first three years' service. With the co-operation of many of the officers and men who had served with him in the three months' service, began the recruiting of companies, and two days after the muster out of the three months' regiment, Captain Thomas H. Neill, United States Army, on August 2, 1861, mustered three companies, and by August 14th it was recruited to the maximum number and allowed to retain its old number, Twenty-third Pennsylvania, with the following officers : Colonel David B. Birney, who died in service October, 1864, while Major-General, Command- ing Tenth Army Corps ; Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Wilhelm, Major George C. Spear, who was killed while in command of the Sixty-first Pennsylvania at Marye's Heights, May 3, 1863 ; Major John Ely, afterwards promoted Brigadier-General; Adju- tant James E. Collins. The Twenty-third remained in camp near Falls of Schuylkill a few days when it was ordered to Washington. The regiment reported to General Burnside, who was in command of troops not brigaded in the vicinity of the Capitol. This camp was known as Camp Sprague. On September 8th, it moved to Queens Farm, on the Seventh Street Road, the camp being known as Camp Graham in honor of the brigade commander. During the winter they were given Sibley tents to accommodate sixteen men. With little instructions, they soon built palisades about four feet high upon which they raised the tents; a stove being placed in the centre (the men lying in a circle) made very comfort- able quarters.
While here, by authority of the War Department, it was recruited to fifteen companies, twelve of which were from
.
MAJ .- GEN'L GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, Commanding Army of the Potomac, IS61 to Nov. 1862.
30
31
PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Philadelphia, one from Pittsburg, one from Wilkesbarre and one from Columbia and assigned to the First Brigade, First Division, Fourth Corps, composed as follows : Sixty-fifth New York, the "Chasseurs," Colonel John Cochrane ; Sixty-seventh New York, First Long Island, Colonel Julius W. Adams ; Twenty-third Pennsylvania, Colonel David B. Birney ; Thirty- first, afterwards the Eighty-second Pennsylvania, Colonel David N. Williams. Brigade Commander, General L. Pike Graham ; Division Commander, General Don Carlos Buell ; Corps Commander, General Erasmus D. Keyes.
Its first colors were presented by friends in Philadelphia before proceeding to the field in the three months' service. While at this camp the regiment was carefully instructed in drills and discipline by Colonel Bir- ney, parading to receive the State Flag, presented by Hon- Galusha A. Grow, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, on behalf of the Governor of Pennsylvania, the Honorable Andrew G. Curtin, and was responded to by the Honorable William D. Kelly, of Philadelphia, and by Colonel Birney. The occasion was made one of festivity and ceremony, camp being elabor- ately decorated with ever- ZACHARIAH SHAW. Co. F. Killed at Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864, green ; each company having an elegant dinner provided. During the day prizes were contend- ed for in pole climbing, sackracing, pig chasing, boxing and other games of amusement, the entire day being given up to pleasure and entertainment, the camp being crowded with visitors from Washington and members of the brigade, the Twenty-third entertaining all who called. There being present Honorable Simon Cameron, Secretary of War; members of Congress from Pennsylvania and many distinguished and influential citizens, friends of the regiment from Philadelphia. The division was drilled in evolutions of the line weekly by General Buell, while he remained in command. In these
T
32
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
exercises the regiment always paraded as two battalions, each battalion numbering as many men as any other single regiment in the brigade. The division drills were on the field at Meridian Hill; this is now one of the finest residential sections of Washington; it was then away out in the country. On our march over to the drill grounds we passed the U. S. Soldiers' Home; the old boys were always out in force to greet the youngsters.
The regiment was dressed in a dark blue Zouave uniform and was known as the Birney Zouaves, with 15 companies, band of 36 pieces and two vivandieres, who remained with the regi- ment until the later part of the year, when they left for home. In addition to the regular drills the men were constantly em- ployed in build- ing fortifications cutting timber, and assisting in building Forts Lincoln, Stevens Slemmer and Cedar Hill. While in camp, WINTER QUARTERS. typhoid fever broke out, resulting in the death of one officer and fifty-two men. The camp was subsequently removed to high and airy ground in the vicinity of Bladensburg, the disease disappearing.
This old town was noted for its duelling grounds, several noted duels having been fought there. During the winter of 1861 the boys built a theatre and every night a vaudeville show was given, two companies being admitted at a time. The talent was furnished by the men of the regiment and the performers, tragedians, comedians, song and dance, as well as players on various instruments and singers were first-class and very much enjoyed.
33
PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Company B, which had been organized from the students of Captain Hildebrand's Gymnasium, Ninth and Arch streets, brought with them a complete school outfit and kept the exercises going while in Camp Graham and Birney.
While at this camp, the regiment, by request of Hon. Simon Cameron, then Secretary of War, marched to Wash-
-
MAJ .- GEN'L AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE, Commanding Army of the Potomac, Nov. 1862 to Jan. 1863.
ington and paraded in review down Pennsylvania Avenue, 15 companies, 1427 strong, with band of 36 pieces and drum corps of 30 pieces, with Drum Major Landenburg and the two vivandiers, making quite a display, being heartily applauded along the route, the average age of the men of the regiment being at that time nineteen years. For their splendid appear- ance, good behavior and discipline every one was given a
34
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
pass the next day ; so the camp was deserted with the excep- tion of the guard. This camp was named Camp Birney in honor of its colonel. .
The Zouave uniform that the regiment went away in, after six months, began to wear out and, as no more suits could be procured of this kind it was finally decided to get any uniform that was on hand in the Quarter-master General's department. So, when distributed, it consisted of what was called dark blue dress coat and pants, but were of different 'shades of color, with brass epaulettes and dog collar, or a leather stock. My, what a contrast from the natty Zouave suit to this one of misfits ! After the first dress parade the regiment was dismissed with orders to have the clothes tailored. This operation was nearly as bad, as the peaks of the caps were almost cut away, while, in many cases the dog collars were cut down to a shoestring. No wonder the Colonel was dis- gusted, and after a few weeks we drew another uniform- this time the regulation dark blue blouse and light blue SOL. FOREBAUGH, Co. A. Killed at Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862. pants, ever afterwards worn by the army. The following is a version of one of Jimmy Smith's songs :
"THAT SUIT OF BLUE."
"They gave us a coat that looked like a sack, It would go twice around you, and button on the back ; Also a blouse you could nearly see through,
And a cap that nearly covered the whole suit of blue."
On February 17, 1862, Colonel Birney was promoted to Brigadier General and assigned to duty with the Third Corps, and Captain Thomas H. Neill, of the Fifth United States Infantry, who had mustered the regiment into the service, was made its Colonel. He assumed command on the 20th and, as per orders of the War Department, the maximum of infantry
35
PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
regiments being 1000 men, five companies of the regiment were detached. Four of these, Company L, Captain Butler Dilley ; Company O, Captain Robert L. Orr; Company P, Captain John W. Crosby, and Company R, Captain George W. Mindil, with Major Spear as Lieutenant-Colonel, were trans- ferred to the Sixty-first Pennsylvania. Company M being disbanded, its officers and men were distrib- uted among the remain- ing ten companies. This order, not then under- stood by the men, was obeyed with much re luctance, and under pro- test. The men of these companies were for quite awhile hard to reconcile, but, after becoming ac- quainted, were united with the other six com- panies of the Sixty-first in making the brilliant rec- ord of this fighting regi- ment of the Sixth Corps.
While at these camps MAJ .- GEN'L JOSEPH HOOKER, Commanding Army of the Potomac From Jan. to June, 1864. it was engaged in picket duty, and on the day of the battle of Ball's Bluff was under arms preparatory to sup- porting the attacking column, but were not called upon, the movement having been abandoned. 1758015
When the Army of the Potomac, on March Ioth, moved to attack the enemy at Manassas, the regiment moved with the column intending to strike the enemy's flank. The route of march, after crossing Chain Bridge, was along the river road. As this was our first march of any considerable distance we began to find that our knapsacks were heavy. The first signs of unloading were the black overcoats of the Sixty-first scattered over the road. Soon everybody was throwing away all the extras and by the time we reached Prospect Hill we were in light marching order, and kept in that condition until the end of the service. After a skirmish near Lewinsville the enemy retreated and the regiment returned to its old camp.
36
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
While on this expedition we visited the camp of the Pennsylvania Reserve Division at Langley. It was a model one, built of comfortable log houses in backwoods style; the boys being away in the direction of Manassas.
On March 26th we marched to Alexandria, where we em- barked on the steamer "Vanderbilt" for Fortress Monroe. Disembarking here, we found one of the largest permanent forts of the Government, protecting the approaches by water to Washington. Since the war there has been established in the vicinity a Soldiers' Home and Schools for Indians and Freed- men, both under the auspices of the United States Govern- ment. The regiment moved with the advance on the Peninsula, passing through the village of Hampton, which the rebels had burned, skirting the old colonial settlement of Jamestown, where the first settlers of Virginia established a colony. It was here that by tradition Pocahontas saved the life of Captain John Smith. All through this section,'leading up to Richmond, the once powerful tribe of Chickahominy Indians, under chief Powhatan, held posses- sion. Skirmishing with the rebels at Young's Mills and Warwick Court House, los- ing several wounded, the enemy falling back to their entrenchments.
Having possession of the enemy's camp at this place, the boys regaled themselves with making slap-jacks on the iron pans they left behind. Here the regiment JAMES G. WILLIAMSON, Lieut. Co. K. Killed at Cold Harbor, June 1, 1961. was engaged in picket and fatigue duty ; the picket line along the Warwick Creek being constantly engaged. Loss, nine men wounded.
While here, several of the men were wounded by a rebel sharpshooter ; he was eventually shot by the Chaplain of the Eighty-second Pennsylvania, who came out to the lines. For this breach of discipline he was reprimanded by General McClellan and sent home to report to Bishop Stevens, at
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PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Philadelphia. This was virtually a leave of absence, as Presi dent Lincoln detailed him to Lawrence, Kansas, where he arrived in time to officiate at the burial ceremonies of the
MAJ .- GEN'L GEORGE G. MEADE, Commanding Army of the Potomac, 1863 to 1865.
victims of that massacre. On entering Williamsburg, we found the sharpshooter in the insane asylum, having been shot in the head. The poor fellow was now insane.
Orders were strict as to firing on picket, as McClellan did
BURYING A COMRADE.
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