USA > Pennsylvania > History of the twenty third Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, Birney's zouaves 1861-1865; comp. by the secretary > Part 21
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بلاد العـ
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
ARTICLE VII.
Section 1. Upon the death of a member, it shall be the duty of the Corresponding Secretary to notify the members of the Association of the time and place of the funeral through the mails.
Sec. 2. It is expected of all comrades to attend the funeral of a deceased member, and that the badge of the Association be worn.
ARTICLE VIII.
Section 1. No alterations or amendments to these By-laws shall be considered without a notification to each member, of the proposed change, at least one month before being acted upon.
Sec. 2. No portion of these By-laws shall be stricken out unless by a two-thirds' vote of the members present.
The following are the officers for the year 1903-1904.
President, COLONEL JOHN F. GLENN.
Vice-Presidents, COLONEL WM. J. WALLACE, FRED P. SIMON.
Corresponding Secretary,
WILLIAM J. WRAY.
Recording Secretary,
THOMAS J. CHADWICK.
Financial Secretary,
JOHN HENDERSON.
Treasurer, WILLIAM H. BANTOM.
Chaplain, REV. JAMES G. SHINN.
Council of Administration,
JAMES MCGINNIS,
ROBERT NEWBERG,
DANIEL GRAEBER,
JOHN RUMNEY,
GOTLEIB STAIGER,
CHARLES F. HUBER,
WILLIAM F. FARRAN,
JOHN S. LINTON,
JOSEPH MCKINNEY, PHILIP STENGLE,
GEORGE F. PEIFER, RICHARD J. MILLER.
We insert a brief of several of the reunions that were held in celebration.
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COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION. 1903-1904.
WILLIAM J. FARRAN. PHILLIP STENGLE. JOSEPH MCKINNEY. JOHN S. LINTON.
GEORGE F. PEIFER. ROBERT C. NEWBERG. CHARLES F. HUBER. JOHN RUMNEY.
JAMES MCGINNIS. DANIEL GRAEBER. RICHARD J. MILLER. GOTLEIB STAIGER.
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
Reunion -- Fair Oaks
This reunion was held at Mannerchor Hall, Philadelphia, Pa., May 31, 1882. General Thos. H. Neill, then in command of the U. S. Army Post, at Jeffersonville, Missouri, came on to preside. His presence was one of unusual greetings, as it was the first time they had met since the close of the war.
The following toasts were read :
"THE DAY WE CELEBRATE."
The fields now waving with grain, twenty years ago to- day, were covered with the slain.
Responded to by General Thos. H. Neill.
"THE UNION VOLUNTEER."
A creation in time of war.
The bone and sinew of the country in time of peace.
Responded to by General Alex. Shaler, of New York.
"OUR FALLEN COMRADES."
May we so guide our remaining march through life as to join them at the final review.
" TO MAJOR GENERAL DAVID B. BIRNEY."
Once our beloved Colonel whose memory we shall always cherish.
During the reading of these two toasts the comrades remained standing.
" THE THIRD BATTALION."
Once the left wing of the Twenty-third. Sad was the part- ing. In the language of to-day, it was a cold day for us all when they left. How glad we are to have them with us. May we continue re-united.
Responded to by Brevet Major General George W. Mindil.
" THE SIXTY-FIRST PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS."
Half of whom were once part of us. We feel proud of the part they took in making the brilliant record of that gallant regiment.
Responded to by Lieutenant John W. Ryan.
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PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
"To Our NEW YORK COMRADES."
We send hearty greeting to the survivors of the First Long Island-the Chasseurs-and One Hundred and Twenty- second New York. May the bonds of fraternity, cemented while brigaded, never break asunder.
Responded to by cheers upon cheers.
" COMPANY Q."
Known in all commands, but not honored either by the paymaster or sutler.
Responded to by Johnnie Conigan, Company " F."
The oration was delivered by Rev. James G. Shinn, the chaplain of the regiment. The paper was a masterpiece, being a most exhaustive review of the battle.
"THE REUNION OF COLD HARBOR"
was celebrated by an excursion to Atlantic City by the sur- vivors and their families with a banquet at one of the hotels, at which impromptu speeches were made by Colonel Glenn, Chaplain Shinn, Dr. Roller, Colonel Wallace and others, with songs and music. This, with salt water bathing, and the many other pleasures to be had at this popular seaside resort, made the celebration a most enjoyable one.
"THE REUNION OF MARYE'S HEIGHTS"
was held at Belmont Mansion, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pa., the survivors, with their ladies and friends, going to the celebration in omnibusses. A valuable paper was read upon the action by our beloved chaplain, with one of General Shaler's speeches which we insert in the history. Among the toasts was that to the
" LIGHT DIVISION,"
the Sixty-first Pennsylvania, Sixth Maine, Fifth Wisconsin, Forty-third New York, and Harns' Light Battery, the boys that wore the green cross of the Sixth Corps, and was responded to by Captain Chas. F. Kennedy, of the Sixty-first Penn- sylvania, as follows :
The history of the "Light Division", although brief, will occupy a page on the annals of the war brilliant with heroic · deeds performed during the short but memorable campaign of
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
April and May, '63. Its organization dates from February 3, of that year, and was originally intended to have been com- posed of two Pennsylvania regiments, the Twenty-third and Sixty-first, two New York regiments and one each from Maine and Wisconsin, but for some reasons the Twenty-third was assigned to other duty and the Light Division organized- Sixth Maine, Fifth Wisconsin, Thirty-first and Forty-third New York, Sixty-first Pennsyl- vania and Harns' Light Battery of New York, the whole com- manded by General Platt of New York. During the preparation for the spring campaign no un- usual event marked the history of the Division, snugly quar- tered near Belle Plains Land- ing, well fed and clothed (for JAMES BROWN, Corporal Co. E. Hooker was an excellent quar- termaster), no picket duty to perform and a well supplied sutler's tent. The boys led an easy life of it. On the 27th of April with the gen- eral orders to move, we broke camp and left with no little regret at the parting, marching to the banks of the Rappa- hannock near Franklin's Crossing. Our first light duty began with the carrying of pontoons, but inspired by the order of General Hooker "that we were now in a position to force Lee to fight on ground of our own selection or ingloriously flee to Richmond" we worked with a vim in the darkness of mid- night.
A successful landing having been made, the Light Divis- ion advanced on Saturday, May 2nd, and after considerable skirmishing captured the Bowling Green Road in rear and southeast of the city of Fredericksburg. During the night Sedgwick was busily engaged in disposing his Corps for an attack in the morning along the heights made red with the blood of many brave fellows who went down in the terrible assaults made under the gallant Burnside. Looking back to · the dreadful slaughter of December 13th, 1862, it was not sur-
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الإستلد الله
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PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
prising that the faces of our men blanched as they scanned the enemy's strengthened position frowning with guns and glistening with bayonets, grand to look upon but terrible to encounter. During the morning the Light Division was dis- persed over various portions of the line, preparatory to storm- ing the heights with the bayonet.
To Pennsylvania fell the lot of storming Marye's Heights. The Sixty-first and Eighty-second Pennsylvania were selected as the "Forlorn Hope." Have you in your army experience ever been placed in a position in the front, when you knew the danger you were about to encounter, not the rush at double quick into line, not the sudden charge with the yell and hurrah of the exciting moment, but to coolly stand by and know that you have been ordered to charge into the jaws of death, to know that you have been ordered to go with the almost certain knowledge that you are to be sacrificed for the victory. Then and there is the time to test the courage of men.
And there on that bright sunny Sabbath morning dawn, up in the streets of Fredericks- burg stood two regiments strip- ped for the battle-awaiting as a sense of relief the order to charge at precisely a quarter of eleven by the clock in the church spire.
The column moved out on the road and in column of fours, the Sixty-first in the ad- vance and left in front followed by the Eighty second, right in front, taking up the double quick, soon quickening to a run, and with a yell as if in defi- ance of the enemy's strength went down across the bridge JAMES GIBSON, JOHN MCCLUNG, Co. E. That suit of Blue and Zouave. and up the heights until close enough to hear their voices as they seemed to laugh in mockery of our danger. Suddenly as if the gates of hell had opened, belched forth the fire of the enemy, artillery and infantry pouring down the narrow road- way, canister and bullets rattling like hail, and dealing death and making ghastly wounds. Can we stand this rain of fire,
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الرجال
ملصـ
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
or shall we go back or upward as if hoping for safety under the frowning wall ? We continued until the line, stunned and bleeding, halted, but for an instant as if to catch renewed courage and avenge the death of those who fell ; up, up they go, and the ringing cheers signalled the victory of the capture of Marye's Heights. Our losses were heavy. Spear, the brave, the cool and the gallant soldier fell bullet pierced and died without a struggle. There were many incidents of manly courage and bravery. It must not be thought that this charge was all that was re- quired to carry the Heights of Fred- ericksburg. Simultaneously all along the line moved regiments and brig- ades in charging column and victory crowned Sedgwick's efforts. Onward JESSE R. B. ROE, Co. G. to the second range of hills the enemy were driven and on to Salem Church, where, on Monday, the enemy re-enforced, attempted to gobble the Sixth Corps. You well remember the close of Monday, May 5th, how, almost sur- rounded by the enemy, the Sixth Corps having performed its share of the fight, without blunder or defeat, re-crossed the Rap- pahannock at Bank's Ford, not crestfallen, its plume as white as the morning of the battle, but disheartened because that for all this sacrifice nothing had been gained.
Thus ended one of the best planned campaigns of the war. Never was an army so well prepared for victory, never was an army so disappointed at defeat. Here it was illus- trated that man proposes but God disposes. With the return of the army came the disbandment of the Light Division and we that had the honor feel proud to have worn the Green Cross of the Light Division, Sixth Corps.
At the reunion in celebration of "Malvern Hill," among the many toasts were :
"COUCH'S DIVISION."
As part of that old command we congratulate its survivors who gallantly held the left centre at Malvern-repulsing Ma- gruder's desperate charging columns.
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PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
"ABERCROMBIE'S BRIGADE."
We touch elbows with the survivors of the Sixty-first and Eighty-second Pennsylvania, First Long Island and New York Chasseurs and recount with pride the gallant record they made while brigaded.
"MALVERN HILL."
The last of the Seven Days' fight, a crowning victory of the memorable change of base, was responded to by General George W. Mindil as follows :
"Mr. President and Comrades : What shall I say in reply to the sentiment of this toast? You have already listened to an accurate description of the battle and to a very interesting account of your regiment's participation therein-no words of mine can add to your Chaplain's picture of the action, nor could I as strikingly and eloquently give voice to the heroic deeds of your gallant regiment on that memorable day.
The seven days of hard and ceaseless fighting, each day ending in a night of continuous marching over rough, narrow and treacherous roads, through almost impassable swamps the roads encumbered with lug-
· gage and artillery, withdrawing silently, compactly, resolutely and defiantly from close prox- imity to an alert and enterpris- ing enemy, flushed with success and eager for your capture or destruction, furnishes the best evidence of the . indomitable spirit and soldierly worth of the grand old Army of the Poto- mac, the Potomac Army of 1862, with which we were proud to be enrolled.
That week of battles by day and marches by night was won G. A. POMMER, Ist Sergt. Co. H. by the matchless pluck and bravery, by the staying qualities of the rank and file of that brave army.
Malvern Hill, like Antietam and Gettysburg, like the Wilderness and the series of battles immediately preceding
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
the fall of Atlanta was won not by strategy or tactics ; not by general directions or officers' command, but by the fighting qualities of the private soldiers.
In spite of incompetent leadership in the face of dire dis- appointment, consequent upon a failure to capture that which was already within grasp-in spite of the efforts and the losses, at Mechanicsville, at Gaines' Mills, at Savages, at the Orchards, in the White Oak Swamp, at Glendale, and at Charles' City Cross Roads, this gallant army of veteran sol- diers, was in its might, on the first day of July, and on the slope of Malvern Hill, inflicted upon a victorious and exultant enemy, upon rebel forces who charged their position with the fury of demons-a defeat, so GEORGE E. WEBB, Sergeant Co. K. bloody and so complete that had the commanding general been imbued with but an iota of the pluck and spirit of his soldiery, the memorable but forced change of base would have carried you along with the army over all opposition into the possession of the rebel capital.
I was then serving upon the staff of the Marshal Ney of your army and I recall to-night most vividly a scene on Mal- vern's sanguinary field, just after the rebel legions had been hurled to destruction, when an aide from the commanding general delivered to my chief the order for retreat. Raising himself to his full height in the stirrups, his proud martial fig- ure revealing the beau ideal of a soldier, his courage on for- eign fields honored by the Cross of the Legion of Honor, upon his breast, and attested by the empty sleeve dangling by his side, his splendid soldiership, exalted bravery and unvaried success in the recent battles, the theme of every soldier in the army, his face crimson with anger as well as the excitement for battle, his eagle eye flashing contempt for the order, he . said slowly, but distinctly so that all within hearing might hear, 'I, Philip Kearny, an old soldier, enter my solemn pro-
الاتصور وا وعنا فى الصور
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PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
test against this order, which can only be prompted by cow- ardice or treason ; instead of retreating we should be advanc- ing for the rebel army and the rebel capital are at our feet.'
Malvern Hill was won, the victory was ours but as at An- tietam and at Gettysburg the fruits of the success were not gathered.
An unmolested retreat was assured, a new and impregnable base of supplies was secured and then after the army had united and had been reinforced and strengthened and was about to begin its new advance upon the rebel capital with every prospect of speedy success, an unaccountable order changing the direction of its march back- 4 wards, the Peninsula was aban- doned and all the heroism, all WM. THOMAS, Drummer, Co. C. the losses, all the sufferings of that Grand Army of the Potomac was brought to naught by its transfer back to the river of its name there to begin anew within sight of the nation's capital, a campaign or series of campaigns which after two years of most terrific fighting brought it back again very near to the spot where it won the crowning victory of the Seven Days' fight."
السعر
MONUMENT-TWENTY-THIRD PA. VOLS., GETTYSBURG.
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PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Dedication of Monument at Gettysburg
The survivors with their friends took a special train at Broad Street Station, August, 1886, to attend the dedication of the Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers' tablet at Gettys- burg.
Headquarters was at the Mcclellan House. The party, numbering 350, held a camp-fire at the Court House, pre- sided over by Colonel Glenn and the next morning marched to Culp's Hill, where the monument was dedicated.
The following was the address of the President, Colonel John F. Glenn :
" Survivors of the Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers and friends :
We have met to-day to dedicate a monument to the Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers. While we have the right to place a tablet at the right and rear of Little Round Top and to the left of Meade's Headquarters in the rear of left centre, it was here at Culp's Hill where we were engaged and it is fitting that we should place our tablet on this spot where our casualties were the greatest in this battle.
Our friends have been legion not only in contributions but by their presence on this occasion and we most sincerely thank them.
Gettysburg is destined to be the Mecca for all Americans and you have in this day's work contributed to the preservation of this field as well as by inscription on this monument, in a concise way, proclaimed the record of the Twenty-third. Gen- eral Shaler has expressed the wish that the old brigade be organized so that their monuments may be placed on Culp's Hill and our organization will assure him that we shall render all assistance to bring the matter to a successful conclusion.
As President of your organization I greet and con- gratulate you one and all, and will now introduce the sec- retary, who will present the tablet to the Battlefield Asso- ciation."
After music by the band the tablet was unveiled. The sec- retary was then introduced who delivered the dedication address in turning the monument over to the Battlefield · Association.
melany ΑΛΑΤΙ
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
Secretary William J. Wray then delivered the following address :
Friends and Survivors of the Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers:
We have assembled here upon this historic field, to dedicate this massive granite work of art, as a tablet, marking the position held by the Twenty-third Pennsylvania dur- ing part of the third day of the battle. Proudly we find you have wisely inscribed upon its sides not only the legend of its part borne in the action, but a concise history of the old command.
As we read of its muster-in and muster-out, how our memories go back to the good-byes and God- speed greetings from our relatives and friends who came to see us off to the war and as we returned, to be welcomed by the Henry Guards and the fourteen companies of the old Volunteer Fire Department, of Phil- adelphia, with its thousands of citi- EDWARD A. CULBERTSON, Co. G. zens to greet you as you passed through its streets; by the kind women of Philadelphia in a collation at the Cooper's shop, and reception and parade. Looking down the long list of battles you have passed through, we recall the marches and horrors of war, which reminds us that all did not return, and as we read the review of the action on the third base and front of the tablet, we recall one of the grandest marches · in history, either ancient or modern ; that of the old Sixth Corps, from Manchester thirty-seven miles to Gettysburg. You, that were in that march, will never forget it, and on its arrival on the field, how the Corps pushed to the front just as the attack of Longstreet at the Round Top had been repulsed, only one brigade of the Corps becoming en- gaged. The Corps was honored by being held as the reserve of the army during the action, consequently only a few regiments and batteries became engaged, but never had the reserve troops of the army been so close to the front and continuously under fire than the Sixth Corps during the second and third of July, '63.
Some writers of history inform us, that had Pickett's charge been well supported and had he succeeded in breaking our line at the left centre, the tide of the battle would have been in favor of Lee. Not so, .for the Sixth Corps was well in hand, ready and anxious to take part in the repulse, but they didn't get a chance, as the troops on that line
السرعة
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PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
" weren't breaking that day" and then the same historians state that during Pickett's charge, had Jeb Stuart succeeded in his dash around our right, the army would have become panic stricken, but the fact re- mains that away off on the right was one of the brigades of the Sixth Corps under General Thomas H. Neill, our old colonel, to watch and intercept just such ventures, but the Corps didn't get the chance to stop Jeb, for our cavalry, under one of Pennsylvania's proud sons, General D. McM. Gregg, took good care of them and sent them back to their lines. While the Corps was here during the two days of the action, it was only by chance that any part of them became engaged. Our bri- gade, "Shaler's," composed of the Sixty-fifth New York, the " Chass- eurs," Sixty-seventh New York, First Long Island, Eighty-second Pennsylvania Infantry, One hundred and twenty-second New York and Twenty-third Pennsylvania, on arriving on the field moved into support- ing position near Little Round Top. In the early morning of the third, it was, by order of General Sedgwick, reported to General Geary, commanding the Second Division of the Twelfth Corps, as a support to his division, who were then engaged in driving out the enemy, who occupied the breastworks on this hill, "Culp's," that had been tempo- rarily abandoned, the evening before, while Geary had gone over to Round Top. The brigade marched out the Taneytown Road and crossed the field coming into posi- tion in a rocky ravine. The brig- ade massed behind a clump of woods. It was while here, that a staff officer of Geary's Division, took a detail of five companies under Lt .- Col. Glenn and placed them in the breastworks, the men being deployed and advanced into them under severe fire, it being the intention to cross the works at the call of the bugle, to feel the enemy, there having been a lull in the firing, but as the enemy's position having been un- covered, these companies became engaged. This was during the heavy shelling, prior to Pickett's ALEXANDER JOHNSON, Corporal Co. F. charge. During the charge, the regiment, with the brigade, moved off to support the Second Corps at the left centre, passing through a most terrible storm of shot and shell. equivalent to charging a battery. This being the position that the regi- ment was engaged while occupying the breastworks, they have selected
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
. this site where the tablet is now placed, to mark their position, showing it to have been one of the relieving regiments, and in doing so we claim no honors that belong to the gallant Second Division of the Twelfth Corps, who so bravely and gallantly held the works they had built.
During some of the most desperate charges of the action, one of the incidents that occurred, was that when the regiment moved off to the support of the Second Corps during the heavy shelling, that "H" Company was left behind and it was not discovered until the regiment stacked arms that night. Captain Craig, one of the bravest and best line officers in the regiment, who commanded the company, did not receive the order to retire, and remained until he did.
As we read the names of our Corps, Division, Brigade and Regi- ment Commanders, we find that many of them have been called to the encampment above. Among those who were killed, was that gallant soldier Sedgwick, in the Wilderness ; the hard fighter, Russell, at Winchester, while General Birney, our beloved Colonel, who rose to command an Army Corps, was called home to die from disease con- tracted in the field, while those who lived to see the nation restored and have since died, are Patterson, Cadwalader, Wheaton, Thomas, Abercrombie, Ely and our own Thomas H. Neill. Among the living are General Keyes, who resides at San Francisco, Franklin and Couch, at Hartford, Conn., Buell, at Louisville, Ky., Newton, Shaler and Cochran, New York City ; Edwards in Iowa and Glenn at Philadel- phia. May they have prosperity and plenty, and live to a good old age. As to the boys, the death roll is a long one, both during the ser- vice and since. May the survivors march along the road of life, cheered with plenty of good store, until we all are mustered out.
To our friends who have been so kind in assisting us to erect this tablet to the memory of the old Command, they have our most grateful thanks. In their names and that of the survivors of the Twenty- third Pennsylvania Volunteers, I now deliver this tablet. May the country never again be called to arms, but peace and prosperity exist for all time to come.
General Alexander Shaler, who commanded the brigade of which the Twenty-third was a part, who had been selected as the orator, then delivered a most able oration, giving a concise history of the regi- ment's services, and while he had learned that it was at first in dispute that the regiment's monument should be placed at Culp's Hill, he had brought with him the report of its colonel, written on July 4, 1863, containing the names of two officers and twenty-nine enlisted men who had been killed and wounded while in the action, and he was glad to note the matter had been adjusted and that the Twenty-third's monu- ment was now in position where it was engaged.
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