USA > Pennsylvania > History of the twenty third Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, Birney's zouaves 1861-1865; comp. by the secretary > Part 4
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About this time a grand charge was made by the rebel
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
lines upon Morrell's and Couch's Divisions, which held the front. The volume of yells as they came on was soon drowned by cheers from the Union side, and the onslaught was repulsed. The first charge took place while the regiment was in support of the battery, whose position was in the bend of the line at its turn to the right. When the rebel battery was silenced the regiment was moved to the left, reporting to its brigade com- mander, General Abercrombie, and, swinging into line of
SHALER'S BRIGADE at Marye's Heights, May 3, 1863.
battle, relieved two of the regiments of the brigade in Couch's line. The left of the regiment was here in a most trying position, as the batteries immediately in the rear were firing over the heads of the men. Several were killed and wounded by the premature explosion of our own shells, but the position . was a vital one and necessary to maintain. Colonel Neill, riding up to the artillery, demanded that the guns be more ele-
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PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
vated so as to clear the line. Soon was discerned, a quarter of a mile across the clear fields, three lines of battle emerging from the woods in division front. They swept on-the batteries, meanwhile, making great gaps in their lines-until well within range, when our lines opened on them. The Twenty-third held its fire until the enemy were close up, when we poured in a point-blank volley, rapidly loading, and firing with fearful effect. The men did not take time enough to return the
MAJ .- GEN'L DARIU'S N. COUCH, Commanding 3rd Division, Sixth Corps.
rammers, but stuck them in the ground, continuing until the enemy was finally forced to retire. As the smoke lifted off the field, the Rebs were again observed to be advancing at a charge, and, when within one hundred yards of our line, with yells they came on at a double-quick. It was a most critical moment, but our men held firm, pouring into the enemy a constant fire, finally compelling them to again beat a retreat. It was
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now quite dark, and our ammunition was exhausted, sixty rounds having been used in the action. When the engage- ment closed the regiment stacked arms on the field, Colonel Neill informing the men that we must depend upon the bayonet until relieved or until he could get ammunition. It was our luck to bivouac in front of some wheat stacks, and soon we were sleeping as unconcerned as if ensconced in a feather bed.
It appears that at the opening of the fight General Lee, feeling unwell, called General Longstreet to temporary ser- vice near him, while he rode to the left with Jackson's column
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MALVERN HILL HOUSE. This stands on the apex of the hill overlooking the valley of the James River. During the battle it was used as a Signal Station.
to view the troops on that front. Longstreet was ordered to make a reconnoissance with the divisions of Huger and Magruder to the right, and to report the feasibility of an aggressive battle. An elevated plateau was found on their right front, as high as that on the Union side, from which a view was possible along the Union front and of the open ground as far as Jackson's field. From the crest of this ridge, the ground dropped off sharply some eighteen inches or two feet to a lower terrace, forming a natural parapet and terre-plein capable of accommodating sixty guns massed. Longstreet reported
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to Lee that Porter's batteries, under the cross-fire of the Con- federates thus posted on his left and front, could be thrown into disorder and in this manner make way for combined assaults of the infantry. Lee ordered, a disposition of his forces accordingly, sending the pioneer corps to cut a road for the batteries in this position on their right.
The most convenient point for observing the effect of the artillery fire was occupied by General Armistead's brigade, obliquely and in front of Mor- rell's division. Porter, whose batteries had been engaged with Jackson on the left of the Confederate position, as soon as he discovered their artillery going into position to his left and front, concentrated his fire in that direction, and as fast as they came into position, piled MAJ .- GEN'L JOHN NEWTON. Commanding 3rd Division, Sixth Corps. them into a mass, rendering them hors du combat. Lee about this time concluded to make an effort to turn the Union right, and, with Longstreet, rode in that direction in search of a route, at the same time ordering the reserves to make the move. As they started on the march the troops on their right advanced and were soon engaged. The march was arrested, and soon the assault along the line from left to right began. The Confederates attacked in splendid style, making repeated brave charges. Finally, however, they were repulsed along the entire line.
The writer afterwards had a conversation about the battle with a Confederate sergeant who was wounded and captured in one of the later battles, and in speaking of this engagement he said that after the last charge he was unable to find any member of his company until 9 o'clock the next morning, that the roads and woods were filled with their demoralized troops en route to Richmond, and it was not until 11 A. M. the next day that as one of the skirmishers advanced to our position to agreeably find our army gone.
T
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The troops that fought this battle were Morrell's, Couch's, Sykes', Hooker's and Kearney's Divisions of the Union Army against Magruder's, Hugar's, D. H. Hill's, Whiting's, Ewell's and A. P. Hill's Divisions of the Confederate forces, the brunt of the attacks falling upon Morrell's Division of Porter's Corps and Couch's Division of Keyes' Corps. The Confederate loss was 5000; Union loss was 2000 killed and wounded.
REPORT OF BRIG. GEN. JOHN J. ABERCROMBIE, U. S., Commanding Second Brigade at the Battle of Malvern Hill.
Headquarters Abercrombie's Brigade.
Camp near Harrison's Landing, Va., July 12, 1862.
CAPTAIN :- I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by my brigade in the action of Ist July, 1862:
On the 30th of June, my brigade crossed Turkey Creek Bridge and proceeded on the road to Richmond about two miles, and deployed into line of battle to the right of the road in an elevated field, where it remained for a few hours; but finding my position much exposed to the enemy's shells at long range, another and a less exposed position was taken. No advances being made by the rebels, the brigade bivou- acked for the night.
Early on the morning of the Ist instant, orders from division headquarters were received to cross a ravine immediately in front of my line, to support a por- tion of Howe's brigade and sev- eral batteries previously advanced to Malvern Hill. It was soon discovered the enemy was pre- paring for an attack, both in front and on our left, as they were seen to emerge in great force in both directions. Two regiments, viz., JOHN CARROLL, Co. E. Killed at Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864. the First U. S. Chasseurs, and the Sixty-first Pennsylvania Vol- unteers, moved up to the support of Griffin's battery, and the Sixty-sec- ond New York. With the three other regiments of my brigade, viz., Thirty-first and Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers and First Long Island, I moved to the support of General Howe's brigade, and took
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PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
up a position on the crest of the hill on the right of the tongue of woods. Subsequently the First U. S. Chasseurs and Thirty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers were ordered to take up their position in line of battle across the extreme point of this tongue of woods in support of General Pal- mer's brigade. The Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers were sent to the support of General Howe's brigade, while the re- maining regiments, First Long Island Volunteers and Sixty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, formed line of battle on the edge of tim- ber, almost perpendicular to the batteries. The enemy appearing in large force on the left, with the obvious intention of charging the batteries, the Long Island and Sixty-first Pennsylvania Volun- teers, changed front by the left, and forming in front and under the fire of the batteries, they held this position under a heavy fire ALBERT G. RUSSELL, Co. C. Killed at Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864. of the enemy, until relieved (their ammunition being exhausted ) by the Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volun- teers, Colonel Neill, who continued a heavy fire upon the enemy until dark, when sixty rounds per man having been expended, they were relieved by a regiment of General Sickel's brigade.
The First Chasseurs and the Thirty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers meanwhile had been under a heavy fire from the enemy's artillery and infantry, and after expending all their ammunition, they were relieved by some regiments of General Hooker's division.
The brigade then returned to the position they had occupied in the morning, where they bivouacked until orders were received to take up the line of march.
From early in the morning until dark, the brigade was exposed to a storm of shot and shell from the enemy's batteries, and during the afternoon was hotly engaged with a much superior force of the enemy's infantry.
During the heat of the contest, and while the brigade was between the enemy and our own batteries (which were firing over their heads ), several unfortunate accidents occurred, which resulted in the loss of several men. In consequence, I was induced to ride up to them, with a view of increasing the elevation of some of the pieces, and again to communicate with the division commander, General Couch, whom I
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found nearby, in a much exposed position, calmly directing the opera- tions of his division, when I informed him of the fact that most of the regiments of my brigade had expended all of their ammunition (60 rounds), when a portion of General Hooker's division was ordered to relieve him.
The regiments comprising my brigade all acquitted themselves throughout the battle in a highly commendable manner, and acted, with a very few exceptions, like veterans. If the Sixty-first Pennsyl- vania Volunteers ever lost anything previously, they more than regained it this time. The commanders of regiments-Colonel Shaler, of the First Chasseurs; Colonel Cross, of the First Long Island; Colonel Neill, of the Twenty-third Pennsylvania, and Lieutenant-Colonel Vallee, commanding temporarily the Sixty-first Pennsylvania-exhib- ited a great degree of coolness, and managed their regiments in a most satisfactory manner. Col- onel Williams' regiment having been engaged for the greater part of the time farther to the right with General Howe's brigade, I am unable to say more than this. From their uniform good conduct in other battles, I have no doubt that it and its commander con- ducted themselves most gallantly.
In alluding to the line offi- cers, I should be doing a great injustice to my personal staff, HENRY TATE, Co. E. Killed at Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862. Lieutenants Appleton and Slip- per, were I to omit alluding to their soldierly bearing and promptness in communicating my orders during the hottest of the fight, and, of some seven or eight it has been my lot to be engaged in during a long period of military life, the hottest of them all. These gentlemen-Lieutenant Appleton particularly-conducted regiments to their respective positions in the coolest and most gallant manner, for which they deserve especial at- tention.
A tabular account, together with a nominal list of killed, wounded and missing, has already been forwarded.
I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. J. ABERCROMBIE, Brigadier-General, Commanding Brigade.
CAPTAIN FRANCIS A. WALKER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
A
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PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
REPORT OF BRIG. GEN. ALBION P. HOWE, Commanding First Brigade, at the Battle of Malvern Hill. Headquarters Howe's Brigade, Couch's Division.
Harrison's Landing, Va., July 5, 1862.
CAPTAIN :- In obedience to the instructions from the headquarters of the First Division, Fourth Army Corps, I have the honor to submit a report of the operations of the brigade under my command at the battle of Malvern Hill, on the Ist instant.
BVT. MAJ .- GEN'L. DAVID A. RUSSELL, Division Commander Killed at Winchester, Sept. 19, 1864.
The brigade on that day was composed of the following regiments, viz: The One Hundred and Second Pennsylvania, commanded by Col- onel Rowley ; the Ninety-eighth Pennsylvania, commanded by Colonel Ballier ; the Ninety-third Pennsylvania, commanded by Captain Long; the Sixty-second New York, commanded by Colonel Nevin, and the Fifty-fifth New York, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Thourot.
The position of the brigade was on the right of the division line of
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battle, the right of the brigade resting on a deep ravine running obliquely to the front, and impassable for artillery and cavalry, but prac- ticable for infantry, the edge of the ravine on the right being covered by a thin belt of woods. From the right the brigade line extended to the left in an open field, except at a small space of woods which covered the left centre. The ground in our rear was uncov- ered for three-fourths of a mile.
In front of our line of battle the ground was open and admitted the easy passage of any troops ex- cept in front of our left centre, which was wooded, the cover ex- tending to within some 500 yards of our front. The brigade line was formed a little before 8 A. M., and immediately after Captain Moser's (?) New York battery re- ported to me and was posted in our line so as to sweep the open ground in our front, and if neces- sary to shell the woods. Before WILLIAM JOHNSON, Co. E. Killed at Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864. the enemy had completed his dis- position for attack, having already got some of his artillery into position in our front, an order was re- ceived withdrawing Captain Moser's (?) battery, and although the ground was admirably adapted for the play of artillery, I was left for a time without any with which I could reply to that of the enemy. A little before 9 A. M. the enemy succeeded in placing a field battery about 1200 yards in advance of our front, and a second battery at a more distant point to our right and front.
When the enemy, without any annoyance from us, had quite completed his artillery, preparations, he opened fire upon our lines with his two batteries. Their artillerymen were without the range of our rifles, and I ordered the brigade to lie down and await the advance of their infantry.
The rebel battery nearest us was worked with much speed and some skill, occasionally doing some little injury within our lines ; but the battery more distant was not worthy of any notice, doing us no manner of injury or even approaching it.
When the rebel batteries had continued their fire to their satisfac- tion the enemy then formed, under cover of the woods in our front, a large body of infantry, and attacked our centre. When the attacking force came within the range of our arms our whole line sprung to their
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PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
feet and poured into the enemy a withering fire. The rebels stood up well to their work and largely outnumbered us, but our men had the vantage ground and were determined not to yield it. The firing con- tinued with much violence on both sides, but the fire of the enemy, being generally too high, did us comparatively little injury. Soon, however, the advantage of our grounds and the superiority of our arms became evident in the effect of our fire upon the enemy. The enemy began to waiver. I then ordered the One Hundred and Second Penn- sylvania, Colonel Rowley, which was held in reserve, to advance with our line upon the enemy. Nobly and gallantly did every man of the regiment respond to the order and the impetuous dash of our men the enemy could not stand, but gave way, and were sent back, much cut up and in disorder, over the ground on which they advanced. This success gave us much advantage of position, by allowing the left centre of the brigade line to rest upon the woods, some 800 yards in advance of our first position, and at the same time affording us a cross-fire upon any second attempt of the enemy upon our position.
At this time I was reinforced by detachments from the Maine regiments, which, being posted on my right in support of the Ninety- third Pennsylvania, gave me much additional strength. I was soon again reinforced by Captain (Snow's) battery and the Twenty- third Pennsylvania regiment, Col- onel Neill.
The enemy's batteries, after the repulse they met with, dis- continued their fire, but kept their position.
On being reinforced by Cap- tain (Snow's) battery, I immed- iately placed it in a favorable posi- tion to bear upon the rebel battery that had annoyed us with its fire in the beginning of the action. The battery at once opened fire upon them with fine effect, the BRIG .- GEN'L J. J. ABERCROMBIE, Brigade Commander. spherical case-shot doing good ex- ecution on their teams and among their artillerymen. The rebel bat- tery replied spiritedly for a time, and after a sharp cannonading from our battery it drew off the field. During this cannonading the enemy kept up a sharp fire of musketry at long range but with little or no effect.
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In the meantime I was again reinforced by two other Pennsyl- vania regiments, under the command of Colonel Barlow, from General Caldwell's brigade. The firing now became very heavy on the part of the division on my left and by the aid of a glass I could discover the rapid movement of bodies of the enemy to my left. At this time a division staff officer came to me for any assistance I could send to our left. I immediately advanced the battery and the three last regiments that had come to my support to the left. The enemy again came down upon the left and centre of our division in strong force and was again repulsed, Colonel Nevin's regiment, the Sixty-second New York, on the left of my brigade, gallantly joining with the left of the division in the repulse. The enemy again rallied and the firing continued sharp along the whole line of the division.
GEORGE CLARK, Co. E. Killed at Fair Oaks, May 31. 1862.
About this time, between 6 and 7 P. M., my brigade was reinforced by Captain De Russy's regular battery of the Fourth Artillery, which was at this time of great assistance, as night was coming on and the enemy seemed determined to make one more last effort before abandoning the field. The battery took a fine position, and delivered its fire, with that of the whole brigade and division line, with marked effect, until after 9 P. M., when the enemy gave up the field.
I inclose herewith a list of the casualties in the brigade during the day, and when it is considered that the brigade was under fire over twelve hours, and a portion of the time hotly engaged, I think the whole loss sustained, being in the aggregate 208, will be considered small.
More than thanks are justly due to Captain J. Heron Foster, of the One Hundred and Second Pennsylvania Regiment, a member of my staff, for the gallantry and untiring energy with which he performed far more that his duties from early morning until late at night. He was the only staff officer I had during most of the day, the other members of the staff being disabled carly in the action.
I am, Captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. P. HOWE, Brigadier-General.
CAPTAIN FRANCIS A. WALKER,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Couch's Division, Fourth Corps.
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PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Headquarters Couch's Division.
Camp Near Harrison's Landing, Va., July 5, 1862.
GENERAL :- I have the honor to state that at 2 o'clock, A. M., July 1, current, General Sumner, to whose support I had marched with two brigades the night previous, gave me orders to return to the posi- tion occupied the evening be- fore on Malvern Hill. These brigades were posted on the right of the James River road, looking westward. The other brigade of the division-Aber- crombie's-lay a few hundred yards to the rear. The Seventh Massachusetts and Second Rhode Island, being on detached service, much weakened the command. Part of Porter's corps was to my left across the road, including two batteries. Kingsbury's splendid battery (formerly Griffin's) was on my left front. Palmer's brigade in a strong wooded ravine a little to the right of the battery, and run- ning to the front 200 yards. One of Howe's regiments, Sixty-second New York, was BRIG .- GEN'L ALEXANDER SHALER, Brigade Commander. strongly posted in a peach orchard to the rear and between the battery and Palmer. To the right of Palmer was an oat field, sloping to the front and skirted on the right by a tangled marsh and wooded bank.
This was my right and held by General Howe. In the course of the morning he was re-enforced by part of Abercrombie's command, and the balance occupied the ground with Palmer. My own artillery being several miles to the rear, General Heintzelman sent me a battery for my right, but afterwards withdrew it, to place it, probably, on his own front. To my right lay Kearney, who, during the day, advanced two regiments of Robinson's brigade to sustain Howe in case of need. The ground in front of me was open to within 100 to 150 yards from right to left. Across the road in front of Griffin the country was open for three-fourths of a mile, making it very favorable for our artillery.
General McClellan rode over the ground in the morning with the engineer officers, and designated the ground different corps were to
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
occupy. General Porter also rode up about the same time. By 8 o'clock A. M., there were signs of the rebels in front, and at nine o'olock, Berdans' sharpshooters were driven in. The rebels were driven off by artillery alone. From this time until I P. M., the contest was on, both sides in the hands of the artillerists; then they pushed forward a column to carry the left of the line held by Griffin. They were driven back disorganized and cut up by our artillery alone. Their batteries played upon us without intermission, but owing to the care used in masking the men our loss from it was not serious, with the exception of a battery to the right, that enfiladed my position.
About 3 P. M., a brigade broke through the opening of the woods in front of Palmer and Abercrombie, but Kingsbury's battery, together with the steady fire of the Tenth Massachusetts and a charge of the Thirty-sixth New York, drove them back in confusion, the latter regiment capturing the colors of the Fourteenth North Carolina in hand conflicts. This movement of the rebels was a rash one or a ruse to draw our troops on to disadvantageous ground-undoubtedly the lat- ter-and it did not succeed. The enemy was now massing large columns on our front.
At about 4.30 P. M., after an incessant cannonade, they boldly pushed forward a large column from their right in the open field to carry Griffin's position. The fire of the three batteries was concen- trated upon them. Kingsbury's battery having been withdrawn for ammunition, was relieved by three guns of Battery C, Rhode Island Artillery, and two guns (Allen's Fifth Massachusetts) under Captain Weeden. The at- tacking column kept on, continu- ally re-enforced, until within range of Griffin's rifles, when it was stopped and formed line.
From this time until 8 P. M., there was enacted one of the sub- limest sights ever presented in war, resulting in a glorious vic- tory to our arıns.
The action now being gen- JOHN SHELLADY, Co. E. Killed at Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864. eral, I assumed command of the whole line for the time, ordered up the reserves on the left; placed in position regiments falling back, and halted those bravely moving forward, many of the regiments having already masked the fire of our artillery. Upon seeing the advance on the left, Abercrombie and Palmer pushed forward
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PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
their brigades in front of the artillery, in order to drive back the foe. The enemy continually re-enforced their column of attack, besides advancing heavy reserves in support. Abercrombie and Palmer became engaged to their left and right. General Caldwell, of Richardson's division, having been sent to my support by General "Sumner, now went into action joining my brave division, fiercely engaged. The enemy were making desperate efforts to drive in my right. Gen- eral Heintzelman sent me Seeley's battery, which, under DeRussy, chief of the artillery, and with the advice of General Howe, was es- tablished on the ground held by this latter officer. It did its duty well.
General Porter came upon the ground about 6 P. M. Later General Sickles, of Hooker's divi- sion, reported to me with three JOHN MCKERNON, Co. A, and Lieutenant Co. F, 82d P. V. Killed at Petersburg,April 2, 1865. regiments, leading his men directly into action, relieving some of my division, whose ammunition was expended. At about 7 P. M., General Meagher, with his brigade, reported to me from General Sumner, and was posted on the left of Griffin's batteries.
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