USA > Pennsylvania > History of the twenty third Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, Birney's zouaves 1861-1865; comp. by the secretary > Part 6
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Upon the opening of the campaign, Hooker moved the army and, crossing the Rapi- dan, came upon the rear of Lee at Chancellorsville, compell- JACOB KEITH, Co. C. Killed at Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864. ing him to fall back from his strong position at Fredericksburg to meet the threatened at- tack. To circumvent this movement he moved the Second and Sixth Corps with a view to attacking his old line. After he had passed over the Rapidan and moved towards Lee's rear, he ordered the Sixth Corps to cross the Rappahannock and take the Heights. This was considered an impregnable posi- tion, as the previous year, in the battle of Fredericksburg, Marye's Heights, which was the key to the position, was charged by the Second Corps, one of the best in the army, in five distinctive assaults by divisions, but met with a reverse,
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losing 5000 killed and wounded. To retain this position Lee had left General Early's command to hold the works.
The pontoon boats were carried on the backs of the men of the brigade to the river in order to deceive the enemy. The crossing was made after considerable trouble with the Confederates, their skirm- ishers, however, being driven back from their rifle pits to the Bowling Green Road. After getting possession of this road, our brigade, taking the ad- vance, moved along that road to the right in the direction of Fredericksburg, meeting the enemy in a fortified position at Hazel Run, the Sixty-fifth New York (the Chasseurs) leading, charged and drove the enemy back, clearing the WILLIAM MAGUIRE, Co. C. Died of Wounds Received at Cold Harbor. way for entrance into the town. The Twenty-third then took the advance, and, with a heavy line of skirmishers, pro- ceeded in the early morning, under a heavy fog, to within thirty yards of the stone wall, at the foot of Marye's Heights. Here it laid until about 11 A. M., when a grand assault was made on the Heights by two storming columns and a battle line com- posed of the right column, commanded by Colonel George C. Spear, who fell while gallantry leading the attack, the Sixty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, Major Dawson, and Forty-third New York, Colonel Baker. This column was supported by the Sixty-seventh New York (First Long Island), Colonel Cross, and the Eighty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, Major Bassett, under command of Colonel Shaler.
The left column was composed of the Seventh Massachu- setts, Colonel Johns, who fell severely wounded in the assault, and the Thirty-sixth New York, Lieutenant-Colonel Walsh.
The line of battle, Colonel Burnham, the Fifth Wisconsin, Colonel Allen, as skirmishers; Sixth Maine, Lieutenant- Colonel Harris, Thirty-first New York, Colonel Jones.
The storming column moved on the plank road and to
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PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
the right of it, piercing the enemy's flank. The line of battle, under Colonel Burnham, advanced on the double quick from the town. When they reached the point at which the Twenty- third had been lying in the field all morning, the latter, with- out awaiting orders, joined with cheers the charging column, entered the sunken road, and, scaling the heights, were soon in possession of the fortification, capturing the entrenched position with the guns of Washington Artillery. After crossing the sunken road and scaling the heights the fire of their bat- teries was of no effect, as they could not deflect the guns. Some of the Confederates on the heights stood to their guns ; one in particular, when called to surrender, held the lanyard of his gun and was knocked over before he would let go. An onslaught was made on the redoubt on the apex of the hill, . while others rushed to the rear of the works and compelled the battery men to dismount as they were trying to get off their pieces. After clearing up everything on the front it was seen that the entire line had been swept by the Sixth Corps, the Twenty-third losing six killed and seventy-two wounded.
General Shaler, the brig- ade commander in charge of the line, supporting the right
charging column, distin- guished himself in this charge by rushing to the front with the colors, as the line was struggling to cross the cause- way or canal on the plank road. He was granted a Con- gressional Medal of Honor.
While Longstreet in his book speaks of five brigades holding this position, the forti- fication was well manned by infantry and artillery and the command that seemed to have JAMES M. LINNARD, Captain Co. C. been in the sunken road was a Mississippi brigade, which broke to their right around the rear of the hill, when the assaulting line swept into the road,
About 2.30 P. M. the brigade was advanced in the direc- tion of Chancellorsville, the Sixth Corps being then in the rear
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of Lee's army. At Salem Church and Heights the enemy was met. Here the regiment supported Haxhammer's Battery, and at daylight it was ordered on the front line, where it remained. Several of what the boys called rotten shells were fired from our battery in the rear, falling among the men of the regiment, but Lieut .- Col. Glenn had this fire discon- tinued. When the movement by the corps to the rear began, the regiment withdrew across the open field, the enemy ad- vancing ; the line would then be again advanced, pushing the enemy back. This was kept up until it was quite dark.
The Sixth Corps was here in position in a half circle. It appears that Lee sent back all JAMES MULLIN, Co. C. Killed at Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864. his army-excepting 13,000 left to confront- Hooker at Chancellorsville, under Gen- eral Jeb Stuart-and attacked the corps on its flanks and front. After desperate fighting, the enemy being repulsed in all his attacks, the lines were maintained until after dark, when, with the balance of the corps, it was ordered to recross the river at Banks' Ford. When the regiment reached the pontoon bridge the enemy seemed to have direct range of the crossing as the shells were dropping all around us. While we were awaiting our turn to cross the river, Major Wallace, with three companies, was sent back to cover the rear until relieved ; this meant they were to be abandoned and captured. Upon moving out through the woods, he found the front occupied by our troops. He · sent Sergeant Karney back to report, and orders came to rejoin the regiment at once. Crossing the pontoon the regi- ment proceeded to its old camp, near Falmouth, reaching . there about 2 A. M. the morning of the 5th. Loss, twenty wounded.
General Sedgwick, the corps commander, reported in this campaign, that the Sixth Corps lost in killed, wounded
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and missing, 4700 men, but no property, excepting a few wagons and a blacksmith's forge.
Lieutenant Johnson, of the Twenty-third, on General Shaler's staff, states that in the distribution of the regiments of the brigade prior to the charge at Marye's Heights, the Twenty-third was lying in front of the stone wall at the foot of the heights, the One Hundred and Twenty-second New York and the Chasseurs, Sixty-fifth New York, were sent in the direction of Taylor's Hill, to the right, as a feint, while Gen- eral Shaler, with the Eighty-second Pennsylvania, and " First Long Island, Sixty-seventh New York," were the support- ing column to the Sixty-first Pennsylvania and Forty-third New York, under command of Colonel Spear, who moved out from the town as the right charging column. When they got on the heights General Shaler, looking down to the field in front of the stone wall, found that the Twenty-third was not there. Seeing a line of blue over near the little bricked-walled cemetery on the apex of the heights, he dispatched Lieutenant Johnson to learn what troops they were. He returned and re- reported it was the 23d Penn- sylvania, which had joined Colonel Burnham's line as it swept over them on the charge. Nobody could find out who gave the order; it was spontaneous, and just at a most critical moment, when the regiment was badly needed to assist in capturing that strong position.
General Longstreet, in his " Memoirs-Manassas to Appomattox," says as to the assault in December, 1862 :
" A series of braver, more desperate charges than those DEWITT C. PALMER. Co. H, 23d P. V. and Co. E, S2d Pa. Vols. Killed at Winchester, September 19, 1864. hurled against the troops in the sunken road was never known, and piles and cross-piles of dead marked a field such as I never saw before or since." (Page 315.)
As to the assault of May 3, 1863, he says, on page 330,
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that it was probably a mistake to draw McLaws away from his position at Marye's Hill where he and Ransom had success- fully held against six or seven severe attacks of the Burnside battle, with three brigades, two of his own and one of Ransom's.
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A. Durin.
BATTERY GOING INTO ACTION.
General Early was assigned to that position with five brigades. He was attacked by about one-fourth the number . of McLaws' assailants, the position was carried and[Early driven off in confusion, losing, besides large number as
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PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
prisoners, many pieces of artillery. His special assignment was to defend the plank road against the enemy's march to attack General Lee's rear. Instead, he retreated by the Telegraph Road, leaving the plank road free for the enemy. After driving Early off, the enemy marched by the plank road and Early marched back to his late position at Marye's Hill. So General Lee was obliged to take McLaws and Anderson from his battle at Chancellorsville to drive back the force threatening his rear.
Following are a few ex- tracts from the report of Major General John Sedgwick, com- manding the Sixth Corps, as to Marye's and Salem Heights. * " Two storming columns were formed composed as follows : WILLIAM H. MYERS, Co. I, 23d P. V. and Lieutenant Co. K, 82d P. V. Killed at Sailors" Creek, April 6, 1865. Right column, commanded by Colonel George C. Spear, who fell while gallantly lead- ing it; the Sixty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, Major Daw- son, and Forty-third New York, Colonel Baker. This column was supported by the Sixty-seventh New York (First Long Island), Colonel Cross, and the Eighty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, Major Bassett, under command of Colonel Shaler. Left column-the Seventh Massachusetts, Colonel Johns, who fell severely wounded in the assault, and the Thirty-sixth New York, Lieutenant-Colonel Walsh.
"Line of battle, Colonel Burnham-the Fifth Wisconsin, Colonel Allen, as skirmishers ; Sixth Maine, Lieutenant-Col- onel Harris ; Thirty-first New York, Colonel Jones ; and the Twenty-third Pennsylvania, Colonel Ely, the latter regiment volunteering. .
"The columns moved on the plank road and to the right of it, directly up the heights. The line of battle advanced on the double quick to the left of the plank road, against the rifle- pits, neither halting nor firing a shot until they had driven the enemy from their lower line of works. In the meantime, the
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storming columns had pressed forward to the crest, and car- ried the works in the rear of the rifle-pits, capturing the guns and many prisoners. These movements were gallantly executed under a most destructive.fire.
The losses of the Sixth Corps in these opera- tions were 4700, killed, wounded and missing. We captured from the enemy, according to the best information we could obtain, five battle flags, fifteen pieces of artillery, nine of which were brought off, the others falling into the hands of the enemy upon the subsequent reoccupation of Fredericks- burg by his forces, and 1400 prisoners, including many officers of rank. No material of any kind belonging to the corps fell into the hands of the enemy, except several wagons and a forge that were passing through Fredericksburg at the time of its reoccupation by the Confederate forces.
The Twenty-third remained in camp near Falmouth, doing picket duty, until June 6th, when, with the Sixth Corps, it again crossed the Rappahannock at Deep Run. The regi- ment was placed on the skirmish line, close up to the enemy's works. Heavy skirmishing was kept up from breastworks and rifle-pits, . resulting in considerable loss, shot and shell being freely used. Sharpshooters on both sides were very active until the 13th. Loss, several men wounded.
Lee having started on his invasion of the North, the Army of the Potomac following. The Sixth Corps, which had been threatening the enemy's lines, recrossed the river and assumed the rear position in the Gettys- MATHEW HAZLETT, Co. G. Killed at Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862. burg campaign. The regi- ment was repeatedly en- gaged in picket duty while on the march. The weather was intensely hot, and the movements being at times forced, it told heavily upon the endurance of the men, quite a number of the corps being sunstruck. On the way up
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through Virginia the regiment went into bivouac on the farm of Colonel White, near White's Ford, where, in 1862, Company B was captured. On their return from the rebel prisons the members of the company spoke so highly of the treatment accorded them by White and his command that nothing was disturbed on his place. Here the regiment was given rations, and quite a supply was left at White's home for use of his family, he being then ab- sent with Lee's army. The regi- ment continued the march, via Poolsville, New Market and Man- - chester, to Westminister, a place noted for its Catholic College. WASH FROM THE SAME CANTEEN. While going into camp here at 8 P. M. of July Ist, news was received of the battle going on at Gettysburg, thirty-six miles away. The corps was at once put in motion, our brigade leading, but after marching two miles it was found that the guide had taken the wrong road. By countermarching, however, the command finally struck the Baltimore Pike. A rumor being circulated just at this time, that General Hooker had been relieved and that he was to be succeeded by General McClellan, the men exhibited their joy while on the march by singing' and in other ways manifesting pleasures, but we soon found the report was without foundation, and that the new commander of the Army of the Potomac was a Pennsylvanian -- General George G. Meade-who remained in that position until the close of the war. The march towards Gettysburg was a tiresome one, but the boys seemed unmindful of the fatigue. They knew that the Sixth Corps had been sent for to assist in driving Lee back and they were getting there as fast as possible. We arrived on the battle-field at + P. M., of the 2nd of July, and were immediately ordered to the sup- port of the Fifth Corps, then hotly engaged in checking the enemy, who was forcing the Third Corps back from their ad- vanced position at the Emmettsburg Road. Forming en masse, .with cheers the corps took up a position to the right of Little Round Top, only one Brigade (Wheaton's) becoming en -
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gaged, under command of Colonel Nevin, General Wheaton then being in command of the Division. General Newton, the Division Commander, upon reaching the field was placed in command of the First Army Corps, its commander, General Reynolds, having been killed in the first day's fight.
Early on the morning of the 3rd the brigade was ordered to the right, at Culp's Hill, to the support of Geary's Division of the Twelfth Corps, which was engaged in holding Ewells' Corps in check. The latter had taken possession of that part of the line late on the 2nd, while the Twelfth Corps were at Little Round Top, supporting Sickels' hard-pressed lines, the brigade taking up a position in a rocky ravine to the left of Spangler's Springs. Shortly afterwards an order came for the regiment to relieve the troops in the front line. Lieu- tenant Colonel John F. Glenn, in the absence of Colonel Ely, detailed the right wing for this duty, leaving the left wing under command of Major Wallace. The right wing moved into the slight breastworks. where they relieved a Maryland regiment of Lockwood's Brigade, a portion of the regiment crossing the works, taking a few prisoners-for awhile it was hotly engaged. . When the fire of the enemy having sub- sided somewhat, the com- manding officer desiring to ascertain the cause ordered a detail of two men from each company to advance beyond the works. They had not proceeded very far when the enemy opened a terrific fire, and were compelled to lie down for protection. They re- mained in this position until- it being demonstrated that the enemy was still in force- JOHN DOUGHERTY, Co. E. Killed at Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862. General Geary issued orders recalling them. The regiment was engaged with the enemy at short range, however, until the heavy cannonading just previous to Pickett's charge, when it retired about one hundred yards, having been re- lieved by an Ohio regiment.
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PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
" Afterwards, it moved with the brigade to the support of the threatened position at the Left Center. Crossing the fields under a heavy artillery fire, the regiment took a position to the left of Meade's Headquarters, beyond the Taneytown road, just as the charge was repulsed and the prisoners were coming over the slope ; here it remained in support of the Third Corps, until moved about half mile further to the right, being held in reserve. The Twenty-third was continued in this capacity until 6 A. M. of the 4th, when, by order of General Meade, it re-
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FIRE IN CAMP.
joined the division, where it remained until the morning of the 5th, when, with the Sixth Corps, the regiment joined in pursuit of Lee. The losses were two officers, Lieutenant Joshua S. Garsed, killed, and Lieutenant Edward B. Wilson, wounded, and twenty-nine enlisted men killed and wounded.
LOSSES AT GETTYSBURG.
Killed and Wounded.
Missing. Total.
Union,
17,556 5,434
22,900
Confederate,
15,298
4,150
20,448
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
REPORTS OF BRIG. GEN. ALEXANDER SHALER,
Commanding First Brigade, Third Division. Hdqrs. First Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Corps, July 27, 1863.
CAPTAIN :- I have the honor herewith to submit the following re- port of the movements and operations of this brigade during the battle of Gettysburg :
At 7 P. M. on the 2nd instant, by direction of Brigadier-General Wheaton, commanding the division, the brigade was formed in line of battle on the left of the position held by the army, in rear of the Second Brigade.
At 8 A. M. of the 3rd instant, under instructions from General Wheaton, I reported with my brigade to Brigadier-General Geary, commanding Second Division, Twelfth Corps, which held the right of the position the army occu- pied, and by his direction took a sheltered position in rear of a piece of woods, beyond which the action was then progressing. Accom- panying this you will find a copy of a report made to General Geary of the operations of the brigade while under his command.
At 3.30 o'clock, by direction of General Wheaton, the brigade was moved under a terrific fire of artillery, to report to General New- ton. A subsequent order, however, . CORPORAL JOHN E. LITTLE, Co. C. Killed at Cold Harbor, June 1, 1564. from General Meade, directed me to remain in rear of the position of the Third Corps, reporting to Major-General Newton for instructions.
At 7 A. M. the brigade was moved by direction of General New- ton about half a mile to the right, still in reserve, and remained in this position until 6 A. M. of the 4th instant, when the brigade rejoined the division, by an order received direct from General Meade.
The regiments composing the brigade, without exception, ac- quitted themselves in a highly commendable manner. I append a revised list of casualties.
I am, Captain, respectfully, your obedient servant, ALEXANDER SHALER, Brigadier-General, Commanding Brigade.
CAPT. A. J. SMITH.
Acting Asst. Adjt. Gen., Third Division, Sixth Corps.
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PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Hdqrs. First Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Corps.
November 20, 1863.
SIR :- My attention has been called to the report of the major- general commanding the army at the battle of Gettysburg, as published in the Washington Chronicle of the 13th instant. in which it is stated in substance that Wheaton's Brigade, of the Third Division, was sent to the assist- ance of the Twelfth Corps.
In justice to the officers and men of . my command, whose good services were acknowledged on the ground by General Geary, and as appears by the accompany- ing report, I beg to ask the major-general commanding the army, through the inter- mediate commanders, for a correction of the report in this particular.
The First Brigade, and the First alone, was directed and did report to General Geary, commanding Second Division of the Twelfth Corps, on the morning of July 3, and went into action under my command by direction of General Geary.
WHO WANTS IT.
I enclose a copy of my report to the Assistant Adjutant-General of the Second Division, Twelfth Corps, and also a copy of the report to the Acting Assistant Adjutant-General of the Third Division, Sixth Corps, for the perusal of the major-general commanding.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully yours, ALEXANDER SHALER, Brig .- Gen., Comdg. First Brig., Third Div., Sixth Corps.
CAPT. A. E. KING,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Third Division.
(Endorsements. )
Headquarters Third Division, Sixth Corps.
November 2, 1863.
Respectfully forwarded. Approved.
H. D. TERRY, Brigadier-General, Commanding.
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
98
Headquarters Sixth Corps.
November 21, 1863.
Respectfully forwarded.
In my report of the operations at Gettysburg, it is stated that "Shaler's Brigade was also ordered first to the left and then to the right, and subsequently returned to the left center and held in re- serve; " and it appears also that Wheaton's Brigade remained in the position in which it was placed on the evening of July 2d, i. e., on the left center.
The mistake in regard to the position of the two brigades may
WOUNDED ON SKIRMISH LINE.
have originated in the report of the commanding officer of the Twelfth Corps.
JOHN SEDGWICK, Major-General, Commanding Sixth Corps.
Headquarters Army of the Potomac.
November 23, 1863.
Respectfully forwarded, with the recommendation that the neces- sary correction in my report of the battle of Gettysburg, which was based upon that of the corps commanders, be made.
GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General, Commanding.
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PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
(Inclosure. ) Hdqrs. Third Brig., Third Div., Sixth Corps.
July 21, 1863.
MAJOR :- I have the honor to hand you the following report of the movements and operations of the several regiments of this brigade while under command of Brigadier- General Geary, during the action of the morning of July 3:
At 9 A. M. the One Hundred and Twenty-second New York Volunteers, Col. Silas Titus commanding, was di- rected to relieve the One Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, then occupying a position in the front line.
Finding the breastworks had been hastily vacated by the regiment, they were immediately re-occupied by the One Hundred and Twenty-second, and held by them, under a severe fire of the enemy, until relieved by the Eighty- second Pennsylvania Volunteers at 11.30 A. M.
PETER BORN, Co. A. Killed at Cold Harbor June 1, 1864.
At 9.20 A. M. the Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, Lieut. Col. John F. Glenn commanding, was placed in position as support to, and 150 yards in rear of, the front line. After about three hours, five companies were, by direction of General Geary, reported to the lieu- tenant-colonel commanding a regiment of the Second Division, Twelfth Corps.
These companies, being deployed in rear of the works, were, under a galling fire of musketry, advanced into them. Owing to the heavy fire immediately opened by the enemy, the design of feeling them with skirmishers was found impracticable. Skirmishers were advanced, however, about fifteen paces, but were shortly afterward withdrawn.
At 11 A. M. the Sixty-seventh New York Volunteers, Col. Nelson Cross commanding, marched into the woods and forward to the breast- works, from which the enemy were then fleeing. They succeeded in capturing about 20 prisoners.
At 11. 15 . o'clock the Sixty-fifth New York Volunteers, Col. Joseph E. Hamblin commanding, occupied a position as support to the Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, of this brigade.
At 11. 30 A. M. the Eighty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, Col. E. C. Bassett commanding, advanced to the front line, relieving the One Hundred and Twenty-second New York, and occupying the
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position until relieved by a portion of General Geary's command, at about 3 P. M. At this hour the brigade was reformed under my command.
I annex a list of killed, wounded and missing during the engage- ments.
1111/1
A: Ilurin.
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