USA > Pennsylvania > History of the twenty third Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, Birney's zouaves 1861-1865; comp. by the secretary > Part 8
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During the charge across the open field, under the terrific artillery and infantry fire of the enemy, and the close fighting before the enemy's works, without reenforcements, the regi- ment lost eight officers and one hundred and eighty-one enlisted men, killed and wounded, and five men captured. Captain Henry Marchant, Lieutenants James Johnson, John Boyd and James G. Williamson and seventy men were killed, and Captain James M. Craig, Lieutenants Richard A. Griffiths,
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Frank Taylor and Frank A. Lynch and one hundred and twenty men were wounded.
While the army lay here for twelve days in the entrenched lines, the men had to hug the works, as the fire was close and active. On the 3d, Lt -Col. Wallace and ten men were wounded, and three were killed. That evening one company was detailed to advance about ten yards and dig rifle pits ; this was done under a severe fire, the company successfully throwing up a safe cover where they remained until the morn- ing of the 5th, when relieved.
At three o'clock that morn- ing the regiment was recalled from the front line and ordered to a position on the second JOHN R. JOHNSTON, Lieutenant Co. C. line, being continually under a brisk fire until 8. P. M., when ordered back to the third line, where the men, for the first time in five days, had a chance to cook supper and get a good night's rest. On the 7th the Twenty-third was detailed to dig a covered way to the front, and on the 8th it again went into the trenches on the front line, where it remained under a heavy fire until the night of the 9th, when sent back to the second line. On the night of the 12th, the attempt to break through the enemy's line having been abandoned, the army withdrew. The loss in the trenches was 20 killed and wounded. Losses at Cold Harbor-Union, killed, wounded and missing, 10,088. Confederates' loss unknown, probably 5,000.
Marching and counter-marching, holding line of battle by day and entrenching by night, the regiment finally reached the James River. On the 16th, halting on the farm of ex-President Tyler, they embarked on the Transport "Cauliflower" for Ber- muda Hundred, and immediately proceeded to the right of Gen. Butler's Headquarters, and were immediately ordered to the battle line. Crossing the Appomattox on the 19th, the regiment was marched and formed in front of Petersburg under a heavy artillery fire.
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This old Virginia town was destined to remain under siege from then until its fall, on April 2, 1865. A line of old breast- works that the British had thrown up during the Revolutionary War was found; above the mouth of the Appomattox was once the home of Powhattan. This we did not get a chance to see, as "Johnny Reb " blocked the way. In the afternoon an attempt was made to advance the lines in the face of a severe fire ; loss, fifteen men wounded. The regiment next went on the skirmish line, right resting on the Appomattox, where it remained until the night of the 20th. Loss, one killed and seven wounded.
On the 21st the Sixth Corps was relieved by the Eigh- teenth Corps and moved to the extreme left of the line, about four miles southeast of Petersburg, where it formed on the left of the Second Corps, advancing about four hundred yards in the face of a hard skirmishing fire. They halted and threw up breastworks, and on the next day pushed through the woods and thick underbush, meeting with strong resistance. Again they threw up breastworks, front and rear, making the position secure.
On the 29th the regiment marched out the Jerusalem Plank Road and was placed on picket near Reams' Station, on the Weldon Railroad. The next day they drove in the enemy's skirmishers through the woods, returning to their place in the brigade, the Third Brigade, First Division, Col- onel Oliver Edwards, com- manding, and were employed on July Ist in destroying the railroad and throwing up breastworks. On the 2nd they left bivouac, on the Jerusalem Plank Road, and returned with the brigade to their old GEORGE P. MITCHELL, Sergt. Co. D. and Lieut. szd P. V. position on the left of the army, in front of Petersburg. Loss, thirteen men wounded. These advances by the left were giving Lee considerable trouble and anxiety, and to divert attention from that direction, and, if possible, compel Grant to relinquish his hold along the lines
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at Petersburg and Richmond and change the campaign nearer to the front at Washington, General Jubal Early's Corps was detached from Lee's Army, and, with additional troops and cavalry under Rosser, threatened, the Capitol at Washington. This had been the tactics of the commander of the Army of Northern Virginia in 1862, and again in 1863, having for its object the two-fold purpose of gathering the rich harvest in the Shenandoah Valley and the withdrawal of the Army of the Potomac from in front of Richmond to the vicinity of Washing- ton. This resulted in 1862 in the Battles of South Mountain and Antietam, and in 1863 in that of Gettysburg ; but General Grant was now in command of the army, and the authorities at Wash- ington would not allow him to be interfered with, so when he learned from his scouts that the movement down the valley which threatened Washington and the invasion of the North was by Early's Corps, he de- tached the Sixth Corps, now under General Horatio G.Wright -its old commander, General John Sedgwick, having been killed in the Wilderness-to meet the threatened attack. The regi- ment marched with the corps to City Point, taking the transport " Eastern States." After a pleas- LIEUT .- COL. CHARLES WILHELM. ant sail down the James, passing many of the old colonial estates, up the Chesapeake Bay, and thence along the Potomac to Washington, the troops disem- barked at the Arsenal wharf about noon of July 12th, and . marched immediately to Fort Stevens. The corps arrived just in the nick of time.
The Third Division, under General Ricketts, which had preceded the other two divisions of the corps, arrived in Balti- more a few days before, and, embarking on cars, was run out to the Monocacy, where, with troops under General Lew Wal- lace, in all numbering 8000 men, they held General Jubal Early up for a day by a most determined resistance, thus giving an opportunity for the other divisions of the corps to reach
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Washington before Early arrived there. This determined action of General Wallace no doubt was the means of so crippling Early that he was unable to reach the vicinity of Washington before the arrival of . troops destined for its defence.
The Second Division, in command of General George W. Getty; the First Brigade, General Frank Wheaton, and the Third Brigade, Colonel Daniel D. Bidwell, disembarked at Washington at noon of the 11th, and was marching under instructions out Pennsylvania avenue in the direction of the Chain Bridge when they were met by Colonel Taylor, Chief of Staff, Department of Washington, with the information that the enemy was driving in our picket line and seriously threat- ening Fort Stevens, on the Seventh Street Road. The march was directed up Eleventh street to Fort Stev- ens, meeting en route General H. G. Wright, the corps com- mander, who gave verbal in- structions to mass the column near Crystal Springs, where they arrived at 4 P. M. One hour afterwards the forces out- side of Fort Stevens, con- sisting of the Veteran Reserve Corps, War Department Clerks and citizen volunteers were WM. R. LITTLE, Sergeant Co. C. driven in toward the fort by a portion of Early's forces. The Ninety-eighth, One Hundred and Second and One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Pennsylvania were deployed as skirmishers, and soon drove the enemy back to his main line. Skirmishing continued during the night and the following day. The next day, July 12th, the First and Second Divisions of the corps arrived on the field, and about 6 P. M. the lines were charged by the First and Third Brigades of the Second Division-under command of General Wheaton during the temporary absence of General Getty-composed of the Ninety-eighth, the One Hundred and Second, the Ninety- third, Sixty-first Pennsylvania ; the Seventh Maine ; the Forty-
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third, Forty-ninth, Sixty-second, Seventy-seventh, and One Hundred and Twenty-second New York, and some eighty of the Vermont Brigade on the skirmish line. Early was driven from his advanced position on two strong wooded hills, which our troops occupied during the night. The dawn of the next morning revealed the fact that he had fallen back. Thus ended the attempt to capture Wash- ington, and Early started on his way back home. Prior to this charge the Twenty-third, with the balance of the brigade, upon arriving at the front, was de- tailed, with the Thirty-seventh Massachusetts, to support the skirmish line engaging Early.
During this short campaign they were again following the JOHN BARCLAY FASSITT, Captain Co. F. roads they had tramped over in the beginning. of our service, in 1861, but were not afforded a chance to visit any of the old camps or the forts for the construction of which they were prom- ised twenty-five cents additional per day. This extra remune- ration, however, failed to materialize. On the march along Four and a Half and Seventh streets, the citizens heartily cheered the troops, feeling very much rejoiced that the Sixth Corps had arrived, and many expressed themselves as assured that Washington was safe. While the people were cheering on the troops, the flankers were kept busy taking in all kinds of forage. The corps followed Early without any decided results, our brigade being rear guard to the wagon trains. Our regiment camped at Offut's Cross Roads ; passing through Poolsville, they forded the Potomac at White's Ford, and, after a skirmish, were ordered on the picket line a few miles from Leesburg, where they remained until the 8th, rejoin- ing the division at Clark's Gap, from whence they crossed the mountains, via Snicker's Gap, taking position near the Shenan- doah River, where they found the enemy encamped on the op- posite banks. The Twenty-third was on picket with the brigade from the 18th to the 20th, when, with the corps, it
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forded the Shenandoah River, and pushed out to the Win- chester Pike, near Berryville. Loss was several men wounded.
At this juncture the corps was ordered back to the lines at Petersburg, under the supposition that Early was trying to rejoin Lee at Richmond. The return to Washington began on the 20th, and on the 21st they camped at Goose Creek, then proceeded through Peach Grove and Drainsville, recrossing the Potomac at Chain Bridge, bivouacking near Tennlytown, in the rear of Fort Gaines, and awaited transports to Petersburg. Notwithstanding the fact that the "Johnnies " failed to capture Washington, the Sixth Corps literally performed that service when the boys were paid off, causing the provost guard to work overtime that night. Next day, orders were issued to change headquarters to Rockville, so the Corps was marched away from the city.
General Early, who remained in the Valley, soon turned upon General Crook, who had been left in command of a small force, and drove him precipitately into Maryland, and the Sixth Corps was immediately ordered again to push forward and meet Early. On the 28th the regiment passing through Rockville, Hyattstown, and Jef- ferson, forded the Monocacy and arrived at Harper's Ferry on the 29th, the same day upon which the rebel cavalry under General McCausland destroyed Chambersburg. Here the forces under Crook and Hunter, who had been driven over the moun- tains by a long detour, were joined together. The regiment crossed the Potomac on the pon- toon bridge and marched to Halltown ; and on the following JOSEPH H. WHITE, Sergeant Co. C. day they recrossed the river and proceeded to Petersville, continuing the march to Frederick, memorable as the place where tradition and Boker's poem located " Barbara Fritchie," who, when Stonewall Jackson's troops marched through the town on the Antietam Campaign,
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is credited with waving the American flag from out her win- dow, and defying the rebels to shoot her.
During this July campaign the corps had marched 239 miles. While in the Shenandoah Valley several of the men volunteered and were detached and assigned to what was known as Blaser's Scouts, and were afterwards reported as proving very proficient in that line of work.
On August 7th the Twenty- third, with the division again crossed the Potomac, passing through Halltown, Berryville and Winchester. The posses- sion and control of this latter town alternated sixty-two times between the North and South during the progress of the war, WM. R. ROE, Corporal Co. G. several sharp engagements being fought within its streets and surroundings ; it was a colonial settlement on the National Pike-one of the stopping places in the early days of the country for travellers coming from the South ; being originally settled by the Scotch and Quakers from Pennsylvania.
General Sheridan was now in command of the troops in the Shenandoah Valley, and soon was to be fought the last contest at Winchester-otherwise known as the battle of Ope- quan. This engagement finally eliminated the Confederates from the quaint old town.
The Twenty-third took up the line of march through Kernstown, Middletown and Cedar Creek, at which latter place it remained until the 17th, in the meantime skirmishing with the enemy or throwing up breastworks. On that date another retrograde movement began, which continued until they reached Charlestown, memorable as the place in which John Brown was tried and executed for his attempt to liberate the slaves prior to the outbreak of the Civil war.
At this place the picket line was attacked and driven in with a loss of 5 men wounded, but finally the line was restored ' and the position maintained. While in line of battle, supporting
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the Eighth Corps, between Halltown and Harper's Ferry, the regiment was relieved from the front and marched to Bolivar, their term of service having expired. The men were drawn up in two columns, one composing those whose term of service had expired, and the other, the veterans and recruits who were to complete their enlistments. After a farewell speech by Colonel Glenn and good-byes from their comrades with whom they had tramped the roads for three years, and with an exchange of hear- ty cheers, they embarked on the cars for home. Subsequently the veterans and recruits were consolidated into three companies and attached to the One Hundred and Nineteenth Pennsyl- vania as a battalion, under the command of Major William Clark, with which command they remained until September 8, when consolidated with the Eighty-second Pennsylvania attach- ed to our old brigade, continuing in this capacity until Appo- mattox, previous to which they participated in the action at Opequan (or Winchester), September 19, 1864; Dabney's Mills, Fort Fisher, near Petersburg; the breaking of the lines at
Petersburg on April 2, 1865, Sailors' Creek and Appomattox Court House.
After the surrender of Lee they were detailed with the Sixth Corps to Danville, to help do up Johnson. General Sherman had, meanwhile, performed this service, and by easy stages were marched to Washington, too late, however, to take part in the grand review. Nevertheless, the Sixth Corps had a review to themselves, and was finally mustered out July 13, 1865.
Being ordered home for muster out the regiment pro- JOHN BOYD, Co. D. ceeded to Philadelphia, and on its arrival was met at Broad and Prime streets (now Washing- ton avenue) by a committee and escorted to the Cooper Shop Refreshment Rooms, Prime street (now Washington avenue) and Otsego streets, an institution supported by voluntary contributions of the citizens of Philadelphia, who cared for all
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troops passing to and from the front through the city during the continuance of the war. On the arrival of the regiment at the Cooper Shop it was entertained by the good ladies in charge, and afforded a substantial meal. This institution and the Volunteer Refreshment Saloon, which adjoined the Cooper Shop, all Philadelphians should be proud of, as the hospitality here dispensed gave to the city a national reputation for patriotism and devotion to the cause.
As the boys were anxious to get to their homes they were dismissed until 2 P. M., with the injunction from Colonel Glenn that he desired every man to report promptly at that hour, as the volunteer firemen of the city (from whose ranks the Twenty- third was originally recruited), had arranged for a reception and street parade.
At that time the regiment assembled, and, escorted by the Henry Guards, composed of city policemen and fourteen of the volunteer fire com- panies (Delaware Engine, Good Will Hose, Western Hose, Perseverance Hose, As- sistance Engine, Washington Hose, Hope Engine, Moya- mensing Hose, Independence Engine and Shiffler Hose) and LIEUT. FRANK LYNCH, Co. C. CAPT. FRANK TAYLOR, Co. I. . three ambulances of the de- partment belonging respec- tively to the Good Will Engine, the Franklin Hose and the Assistance Engine, proceeded along the line of march, during which they received the plaudits of their fellow-citizens, who thus evinced their appreciation of the gallant and enviable record the Twenty-third had gained during its long term of service.
This ambulance system was another of the benefactions in the interests of the soldiers, as it was originally projected for the purpose of assisting in the relief of sick and wounded soldiers arriving in the city and removing them. This service . . was performed all through the war, voluntarily, and was greatly appreciated.
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The procession was marshaled by Chief Engineer David M. Lyle, and proceeded over the following route : Along Washington avenue to Third, to South, to Twentieth, to Callow- hill, to Sixteenth, to Chestnut, to Fifth, to Vine, to Ninth, to Race, to National Guard's Hall, below Sixth street. All along the route at the street corners connected with the various com- panies hose carriages were stationed, and as the Twenty-third passed they sprung their bells as the citizens applauded. . Afterwards the regiment was tendered a reception by City Councils.
The Twenty-third was then dismissed, under orders to report at the City Armory, Race street, below Broad, on Sep- tember 8, 1864, at which date it was finally mustered out of service.
" DASH." Fire Dog of 23d P. V.
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Reminiscences in the Life of the Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers
CAMPS GRAHAM and BIRNEY --- 1861-1862
W THILE in Camps Graham and Birney the Twenty-third Regiment had a band of thirty-six pieces and drum corps of forty five. The favorite air of the Regiment was " Rory O'Moore," and no matter how long the band played, the demand for their favorite air would continue until it was given. Both leader Herman and Drum Major Landenberg were favorites with the men. My, what a contract the drum major had in controlling his boys !
Nearly his entire time was occupied in looking after them. They were the most mischievous lot of youngsters possible to get together, and when the order for the reduction of the bands was issued in 1862, the band of the Twenty-third was mustered out. While connected with the regiment, the band was not only useful in parade and entertaining in camp, but was also of great service in caring for the wounded on the field.
William H. Albertson, Company A, had the honor of wearing the first Zouave uniform of the Twenty-third regi- ment. He was given an order to call at Second and Dock streets and was soon fitted, the tailor telling him it was the first (or sample) suit made. After donning it he, in company with one of the vivandieres of the regiment, full of pride, passed up Chestnut street on the way to the recruiting station at Ninth . and Arch streets.
The first arms issued to the regiment was the Harper's Ferry muskets, which had been altered into a rifle. They were most miserable weapons, were in bad condition, and proved to be the hardest kind of kickers. It was the best the govern- ment could do ; all the best guns were in the hands of the rebels, because before the war broke out all munitions of war had been shipped to Southern arsenals, so that " Uncle Sam" had to take what was left. However, by purchasing arms abroad and inducing factories to work night and day, the army
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was soon equipped with the most improved arms. The Twenty- third exchanged the Harper's Ferry implements for the Aus- trian rifles, which were issued to us in the rough. With a little filing, however, they were .put in good condition. Like all pieces at that time, they were muzzle loaders, but were most efficient firearms. The writer fired out of his piece at Malvern Hill over sixty rounds without the least trouble.
The pay of the private soldier in 1861 was eleven dol- lars per month. This was paid in specie, but as the war pro gressed and the premium on gold rose higher, the pay was raised to thirteen dollars, and later to sixteen dollars per JAMES MASLAND, Sergeant Co. F. month, in greenbacks. The writer remembers that his first pay was nineteen dollars and some cents. When he had counted his money he found that he was two dollars and forty-nine cents short, and it was some time before he could account for the deficiency. Finally he found the paymaster had given him one of the new issue of pennies instead of a two-and-a-half dollar gold piece. The paymaster's attention was called to the error ; but, of course, as he never made mistakes, it had to go at that.
Joseph Mckinney, who had two brothers in the service consented to stay home and help the old folks. A few days after the Twenty-third went to Washington, he took a run down to see the boys. One of the members of Company E being home-sick, the boys got at Joe to take his place. This, he thought. was an opportunity to get into the service, as he felt that his father, when he learned the circumstances, would commend him for it. So Wilson, the invalid, was discharged, Joe was mustered in, and then given two weeks' leave. On arriving home and explaining how he came to enlist, he received his father's blessings for doing such an honorable act.
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PENINSULA CAMPAIGN
Warwick Court House -- Yorktown -- Williams- burg -- Fair Oaks -- Seven Days' Fight -- 1862
William H. Albertson, Company A, 23d Pennsylvania, and Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant, mentions that one of the bravest acts he witnessed during the service, was that of Albert B. Barry, Company A. When the lines were entering the fortifications at Yorktown, Sergeant Caldwell, who was marching ahead of Barry, stepped ona buried shell, and imme- diately the fuse began to emit smoke. Barry, as cool as if in no danger, grabbed his canteen, which was full of water, and emptied it over the shell, putting it out, at the same time call- ing to his comrades, "Men, look out ; it's a torpedo!" Albertson also recalls that on the day in June, 1862, when the Twenty-third Pennsylvania was supporting a brigade of the Second Corps on the picket line in front of Richmond, during the skirmish a lieutenant of one of the regi- ments came tottering in with his hand on his chest and fell ex- hausted at his feet. Upon passing his hand under him, Albertson found the lieutenant's hand full of silver, and em- bedded in the silver was a flattened rifle ball. The only injury done him was a torn vest pocket and a large red spot caused by the force of the blow. When the lieutenant recovered from the shock he explained that a few days before he had gone to a nearby farmhouse for a square meal and tendered a ten-dollar greenback in payment, receiving his change in silver. He placed the latter in his vest pocket, which lucky circumstance was probably the means of saving his life. Another incident re- lated by the Quartermaster Sergeant is as follows : One night while on picket at Warwick, a Confederate officer came down near the creek swinging a lantern right and left, thus affording a good target. One of the men, John McGraw, was about to shoot, when Albertson grasped his rifle barrel, and at the same time whispered : "Don't fire, Jack ; it looks like murder to shoot him." No doubt the "Johnnie " owes his life to this act.
When the Twenty-third Pennsylvania was on duty at ' Warwick Court House, Bill Hemphill, Mike Kennedy and
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Johnnie Kelly were on safety guard at a little farmhouse in the vicinity. After assuring the people at the house that their pos- sessions were perfectly safe-rations being very scarce at this time-they began figuring how to have a chicken stew with- out being guilty of taking the chicken. While they were de- liberating, Andy White, one of the fifers of Company F, came out to the post, so they took Andy around the place and showed him the fowls, meanwhile instructing him how to run the guards. While trying to explain these details they were surprised by the old lady of the place putting in an appearance and accusing Andy of having been there the day before, and declared that he then cut off the head of her favorite rooster. Of course, that settled the little ruse. The guards drove » "Whitey " off the place, and no chicken tickled the palates of the squad that day-all on account of the "stuffy little drummer," as the old lady called Andy.
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