USA > Pennsylvania > History of the twenty third Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, Birney's zouaves 1861-1865; comp. by the secretary > Part 9
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In the action at Fair Oaks, when the men of the Twenty- third were ordered back from the first charge to reform line, on the wagon road that ran through the woods, one of the boys, seeing the colors lying GEORGE WOOD. Captain Co. E. on the ground brought them safely into the line, carrying his gun in one hand and the flag in the other. As he reached the line he turned the colors over to one of the sergeants. Lieutenant Marchant, who commanded his company, and who witnessed the delivery of the colors to the sergeant inquired why he had done so. "Well, you taught me to hold onto my gun under all circumstances, and as I could not carry both, I gave the colors to the ser- geant." The lieutenant replied, somewhat sternly, "Darn the gun ! why didn't you throw it away ? You saved the colors and should have had all the honors."
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One night while on picket in the woods at Warwick Creek, the grand rounds found one of the men, Johnnie Con- nelly of F Company, Twenty-third Pennsylvania, missing from his post. All during the night there could be heard a faint call, which appeared to come from the woods, but no one knew exactly where to locate it. At daylight search was made for the missing picket, when it was found that he had fallen into an abandoned well. Having no ropes at hand, it was found quite a job to get him out, but with the aid of a twisted blanket and a number of suspenders, be was finally reached and hoisted to terra firma. When Dr. Roller ex- amined him, he found Con- nelly to be uninjured except from shock, and he continued JOSEPH STOKLEY, Co. G. in the service until the mus- ter out.
The second night after the battle of Fair Oaks, Johnnie Kelly and Jake Lewis, of F Company, passed over our picket line and got into the camp outside of our line, reach- ing the line of tents of the field and staff. Kelly appropriated an officer's overcoat, blanket and haversack, and Lewis pos- sessed himself of a well-loaded haversack. Together they quietly crawled back through the line. When Kelly reached the company street he donned the officer's coat and then began strutting around, affecting all the airs possible. Suddenly, on making a search of the coat pockets, a sash and small red cap were discovered. Kelly then for the first time realized that he had possession of "Bucky " Neill's coat. How to restore it without being detected and punished for venturing outside the lines was a question. But, as he;desired the old man to get his coat, the night being somewhat chilly, Kelly determined to face the music. Accordingly he approached the colonel, saluted, and handed him the coat. The colonel asked Kelly how he got the coat, and when he told the circumstances he
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gave Kelly all that was coming to him for his dereliction in going beyond the picket line. The colonel then turned on his heel and walked away. Kelly, feeling keenly the call-down, was on his way back to where a squad of the boys were en- joying his discomforture, when "Bucky" called out "F come back!" Then, pulling out his manifold, he wrote something on a piece of paper, handed it to Kelly, and told him never to have occasion to be reprimanded again. Kelly, upon reading the missive by the light at the fire, found it was an order for a canteen of "commissary." This put the "judge" again in his element and the laugh was on the boys. Such was Bucky's way.
The first year of the war was very trying to the men of the Twenty-third regiment as it took more than the regular clothing allowance to pay for their uniforms. Within a year they were compelled to purchase three distinct suits. The first was a Zouave uniform, which wore out in six months ; next a dark blue uniform, with dress coat, dog collar and epau- lettes, and finally blouse and blue pants. So at the end of the year from $8 to $15 were deducted from the accounts of those who had overdrawn their clothing allowance. One of the company's books was lost in action, and, a few days after the fight, while Lieutenant Mar- chant was having the pay rolls made out, a "coffee-cooler" who could never be got under HENRY G FRITSCH, Captain Co. B. fire, appeared with the book under his arm. He claimed that while prowling over the battlefield he found it. The boys therefore had to go short on that month's pay, as it was the settlement for the year, and the "Coffee Cooler " in consequence did police duty for a long time.
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Twenty-third Pennsylvania at Fair Oaks
By Jimmy Smith, Co. H., 23d P. V.
You soldiers all, both great and small, you heroes and you braves, Artillerymen and cavalry, likewise all you Zouaves ;
I pray your attention, and hear what I do say,
And you'll hear how the Twenty-third behaved on the 31st of May. About noon on Saturday the rebels hove in sight,
Their courage raised by whiskey, they thought to show us fight,
They thought by superior numbers to make us run away,
But you'll hear how they were mistaken on the 31st of May.
They first drove in our pickets and thought it a great feat, Saying now the day's our own, we've got the Yankees beat ; But they soon found out that fighting was a game that two could play And the rebels did the running on the 31st of May. They drove back Casey's division and thought the day their own, But the Twenty-third was ahead of them just like a wall of stone ;
They tried very hard to drive us, but had to let us stay,
For we would not yield, nor leave the field, on the Thirty-first of May. The Twenty-third was drawn up in line and ready for the strife, Each man for his country-would freely give his life ; The first volley that they gave us, our flag was shot away, Then fell the gallant Bolton on the Thirty-first of May.
We gave them plenty Union pills, when our gallant Colonel Neill, Said: "Forward now my hearts of oak, and give them the cold steel ; " The Twenty-third dashed boldly in-the rebels ran away, And in that charge brave Ely fell, on the Thirty-first of May. Volley after volley our brave boys did on them pour, 1
Then, Captains Wallace and Palmer fell bleeding in their gore ; The gallant young Lieutenant Wood, fell at his post that day, As many did in the Twenty-third on the 31st of May.
The rebels thought to draw us on, showing a flag of truce, But Colonel Wilhelm was to sharp, he soon found out the ruse ; We made another charge on them, they fled in wild dismay, Then gallant Boggs fell, cheering us, on the 31st of May. Many a good man in the ranks was made to bite the dust, But soon we filled their places, for we knew our cause was just ; When the rebels met the Twenty-third, their general he did say : " We have got too far from Richmond on the 31st of May." Here is long life and prosperity to our gallant Colonel Neill, Likewise to all our officers, their hearts are true as steel ; And health to every private, that stood by us that day, And nobly fought for his country's flag on the 31st of May.
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George Peiper of B Company, Twenty-third Pennsylvania, states that one day while on picket along Warwick Creek, "California Joe," of Berdan's sharpshooters came to the reserve picket and wanted to know if they needed his services. The lieutenant took him out to the line and located one of the "Johnnies " who had been very troublesome, he having wounded several of the men. In a few minutes Joe fired and brought down the Reb. On his way back, one of the members of Company C was induced to hang his cap three hundred yards away in a tree in order to test the accuracy of Joe's aim. When the cap was brought in, it was found that the bullet had struck the letter "C" squarely in the centre. Joe was a most
wonderful shot and whenever he was around the " Johnnies " kept well under cover.
When Colonel Birney was promoted to brigadier general -the War Department, having fixed the maximum at 1000 for infantry regiments-four companies of the Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, L, O, P, and R were transferred to the Sixty-first Pennsylvania In- fantry. Company M was dis- banded and the men transferred to various companies of the NEAL MCFADDEN, Co. C. Twenty-third. Not knowing that this was in compliance with orders from the War Depart- ment the men were very indignant, and the first time General Birney visited the camp to pay his respects to Colonel Neill- we were then bivouacked beyond the village of Hampton- instead of cheers he was jeered and accused of having sold the regiment. General Birney was about to leave the camp when Colonel Neill made his appearance, and the boys soon scattered. Shortly after this when the men learned of the action of the War Department, they were anxious to atone for their disrespect to General Birney, and in some measure also repay the debt of gratitude due him for his kindness when the regiment came out of the fight at Fair Oaks in
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giving the men rations from his commissary. The opportunity came on the third day after the action, while the regiment was moving up on the banks of the railroad. General Birney and his staff came riding down on the opposite side. As soon as the men saw him, they began cheering, and wheeling to the front, he stood with his hat off, and as each company passed they gave him rousing cheers. No doubt he was pleased to again enjoy the good will of his old command. Ever afterwards when he visited the camp Gen- eral Birney was given an ova- tion by the boys. He was a kind and considerate com- mander, a most distinguished and brave soldier, and one of the two civilian soldiers that JAMES COLWELL, Lieutenant Co. A. rose to the command of an army corps. He always main- tained his love and pride for his first command-the Twenty- third Pennsylvania Volunteers.
Fred. Huber, First Sergeant Company F, was killed at Fair Oaks, and was buried where he fell. A few weeks after the fight his father, Dr. Huber, of Gettysburg, came down to take his remains home. Volunteers went out and disinterred the body, carrying it to Savage Station, where it was shipped North and buried in Evergreen Cemetery at Gettysburg where a tombstone was placed over his grave. During the battle of Gettysburg, General Hunt, in charge of the artillery, in stationing the batteries in the Cemetery ordered the tombstones to be laid down. As a young sapling grew in front of Huber's resting place, his tombstone was left standing and it was the only tombstone that was damaged during the artillery duel. The family, when they brought his body to Gettysburg, never thought a battle would wage all round that then quiet section, but such is War!
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During the Seven Days' Fight Sher Smith, of H Com- pany, was on picket at the Crossing of White Oak Swamp. While Porter's siege trains were passing to the rear, the head of the wagon train, loaded with quartermaster's supplies, had reached Smith's post and, being headed for Richmond, he halted it and reported the matter to Captain Craig, in charge of the picket The latter sent Smith to Colonel Neill, then in charge " of the brigade, for instructions. While standing at arms-a-port delivering his message, the quartermaster of the train came bustling up and wanted to know the name and regiment of the officer that halted his train, saying that he always took a memorandum of just such smart officers. The colonel ordered Smith to come to order arms and answer the quartermaster. He replied that the officer's name was Lieutenant James M. Craig, of H Company, Twenty-third Pennsylvania. When "Bucky " heard the Twenty-third mentioned, he thundered out, in his well-known manner: "That's my regiment, sir ! and these men were doing their duty. Go back to your train, pull it off the road, and park it, until I can ascertain from Gen- eral Couch, across the swamp, what he wants done." Smith returned to his picket post, and when the quartermaster passed him, on the way back to the wagon train, the latter wanted to know the name of the general, saying that he never before had found a man so full of bristles. When told that he was Colonel of the Twenty-third regiment, and acting brigadier general, the quartermaster volunteered the remark that " he certainly knew how to stand up for his own command."
JACOB H. EVER, Captain Co. A.
The Twenty-third Pennsylvania had a fire-dog called " Dash"; he seemed to know all the boys and was in his element when under fire. At Fair Oaks he and the chap- lain were captured, but during the night both got back to
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the lines. "Dash" becoming too fat to keep up on the march, the boys took turns at carrying him. He was wounded, honorably discharged, and shipped to the Delaware Engine House, where he belonged. He never reached there, however, as he was lost on the way up from the front.
The Twenty-third, after its night march to reach Malvern Hill, was bivouacked at the edge of the woods, awaiting the coming up of the division. Soon the men were down and asleep. The road was filled with debris from the battle of Charles City Cross-Roads, es- pecially broken down artillery and stragglers. The latter passed along the edge of WM. W. MILFORD, Co. H. the woods to keep out of the dust of the road, and a guard was stationed on each flank to drive them back to the road, so that they would not disturb the men who were asleep. This kept the guards busy ; a lieutenant colonel was among those halted and ordered out to the road. He at once asserted his authority of rank and tried to push forward. "Bucky," who had kept awake, witnessed the occurrence, and thundered out in a quick succession of sentences : " Who are you ? where is your regiment, sir? What are you doing here ? Sentry, put him out on the road !" And as the sentry jabbed at the lieutenant colonel's horse, the latter suddenly backed out into the road. Colonel Neill then ordered the sentry to call the corporal of the guard. The corporal reported to the colo- nel, but soon came back with orders to take off the guards and give the sentries a chance to sleep. Such was the consideration of dear old " Bucky" Neill for the welfare of his troops.
At Malvern Hill just before the last charge of the "John- nies," Charles W. Hess, drummer of H Company, Twenty-third . Pennsylvania, assisted one of the wounded of the regiment from the field to the hospital, and on the way back to the
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lines with a comrade from another regiment, it became so dark that they could not locate their respective regiments. Finally, they laid down among the dead and wounded, and at daylight were awakened by one of the cavalry going through the dead men. When he discovered they were alive, he informed them that the army had pulled out for Harrison's Landing, and that the Reb's skirmishers were even then coming out of the woods-a quarter of a mile away. Hess' companion was so completely played out and broken in spirit when he found the army had departed, that no amount of coaxing could in- duce him to follow, so at last Hess suggested that they play a game of "seven up " to de- cide what course they should ARCHIBALD SMITH, Co. E. take ; if he won, they were to push on and overtake the army ; if he lost, he could stay and be captured. Hess won, so they " hiked out " and caught the army that night at Harrison's Landing.
At Harrison's Landing one afternoon, on dress parade, the officers were called to the front and, in a few endearing words, Colonel Neill presented to Second Lieutenant James M. Craig a beautiful sword, which the members of his company had procured for him at Philadelphia. This brave, modest and unassuming soldier was quite embarrassed, but he managed to return his thanks. It was, indeed, a pleasure to all the regiment to see this mark of esteem bestowed upon him, as he was well-liked by everybody.
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SEVEN DAYS' FIGHT.
By Jimmy Smith, Co. H, 23d P. V.
Away down in old Virginia not many months ago,
McClellan made a movement, and he made it very slow.
The rebels they soon found it out and pitched into our rear,
They got the very deuce, for they found old Kearney there.
CHORUS .- In the old Virginia lowlands, lowlands, lowlands, In the old Virginia lowlands, low. Again at Savage Station we met the rebel foe, That General Sumner whipped them, their list of killed will show.
Then fighting Josey Hooker, he came up with his train,
He met them on the third day, and walloped them again.
CHORUS.
The rebels they still followed us, their numbers two to one, But " Little Mac," he let them see that Yankees would not run; For every place they attacked us, we dearly made them pay, And when the shades of night fell 'round us, we coolly walked away.
CHORUS.
Again they tried to surround us and attack us in the rear, But every place they showed themselves they found the Yankees there. " Mac" thought that he would stop the fun and bring it to an end; The only way to do that was for Couch's men to send.
CHORUS.
When we heard that Mac had sent for us with joy our hearts did fill. And we were quickly ready on the top of Malvern Hill.
The rebels they advanced on us but we were not dismayed,
They might as well have met the devil as Abercrombie and his Brigade. CHORUS.
The rebels they commenced the fight by throwing shot and shell, That was a game they soon found out that Couch's men could them excel.
We fought them from morning dawn until the setting sun,
Among the killed and wounded, why, they had three to one.
CHORUS.
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The Twenty-third, the Eighty-second, were early on the ground, The Sixty-first and the New York Chasseurs, soon showed themselves around.
Then came the First Long Island, we all did our work quite well, As many a wounded rebel from experience can tell.
CHORUS.
When we came to James River the boys began to cheer,
- When they saw the little Monitor up the river she did steer. The rebel General got scared and unto his men did say,
" Here comes a Yankee earthquake, we had better get away." CHORUS.
Now all you politicians a word I have for you, Let our Little Mac alone for he is tried and true. And you have found out lately that he is our only hope, For he saved the Capitol, likewise McDowell and Pope. CHORUS.
Now I think I will finish and bring this to an end, With three cheers for Little Mac-he's every soldier's friend. I would like all agitators and politicians to understand, If one can save the Union, why Little Mac's the man.
CHORUS.
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Bull Run and Antietam Campaign 1862.
D URING the Bull Run campaign the Twenty-third Penn- sylvania came up from the peninsula and disembarked from the transports at Alexandria, and while waiting for the balance of the brigade, the regiment stacked arms in front of a grocery store, the men seating themselves on the curbstone. Around the awning of the store was hung brand new quart tin cups-the kind the soldiers did most of their cooking in. Soon the store was filled with the boys, who pre- tended to buy. Suddenly someone cut the string to which the cups were attached, and down they came. Such scrambling ! In the midst of all this excitement one man ran out of the store carrying a whole cheese. As he turned the corner of the house into. a vacant lot the cheese fell out of his arms and rolled down the hill to a fence with the crowd scrambling around it. One of the boys thinking to steal a march, climbed the fence and with his knife burrowed a hole under the fence and was soon cutting slices of the cheese and stuffing it into his buttoned blouse when all of a sudden the fence came down nearly squeezing the life out of him. When he was pulled out of the wreck he was smeared all over with cheese and as he came back to his chum, who inquired what he got, replied -- " Got nearly squashed to death, never mind old boy there goes inspection ; I have half of a ham hid under that door step." After inspection nothing being found, as the rain was pouring in torrents, the regiment was moved to some open govern- ment carpenter shops to await the arrival of the division and soon most everybody was engaged in cooking eggs, frying ham, etc. It is hoped that the quartermaster settled with the grocer.
As we were pushing for the front in the direction of Bull Run, we found stragglers and coffee coolers from McDowell's and Pope's commands, on both sides of the road. A regular army officer, who knew Colonel Neill, commenting upon the . straggling, wagered a bottle of wine, that several men in the field were members of his old regiment. The bet was accepted
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and away they went to determine it. Upon reaching the men, sure enough the figures on the caps, were 23d. The colonel in his peremptory way, wanted to know what regiment they belonged to, one of them replying, Twenty-third New Jersey. After reprimanding them for being away from their com- mand, ordered them back to the road and as they pulled out, "Bucky," with his bland smile, claimed to have won the bet. That night, as the men were in bivouac, cooking their supper, the colonel came among them and tapping one of the boys, Johnnie Carri- gan, on the shoulder, ex- claimed, "That's right, my man, whenever you straggle don't belong to the Twenty- third Pennsylvania."
JACOB FOW, Co. G.
After the Antietam campaign, a detail of the Twenty- third was placed on headquarters' guard. On the march down into Virginia, rations were short, the country having been gone over by both armies, but little was left when the com- . mand reached Little Baltimore. The headquarters' wagon com- ing up, the general's tent was put up. One of the detail found in the general's wagon about one-half bushel of potatoes 'and soon the guard was frying and stewing the " Murphies," when who should turn up but "Bucky" Neill's cook. It was then learned that " Bucky" was in command of the brigade and that the guard had cleaned him out of rations. What was left was hastily gathered up and quietly slipped back into the wagon. Soon the guard was drawn up in front of his quarters, repri- manded upon foraging, especially upon the commissary of the general, and was relieved by a squad of the Sixty-fifth New York (Chasseurs) and sent to the regiment. This was one of the times they made a mistake, as nothing was too good for " Bucky." Had they known he was at headquarters, they would have gone to sleep hungry.
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
Fredericksburg -- Marye's Heights and Salem Church Campaigns. · 1862 -- 1863.
A T Marye's Heights, when the skirmishers of the Twenty- third Pennsylvania advanced through the fog, to feel the enemy, the orders were upon receiving fire, to fall back a short distance to a slight depression in the ground, lay down and await the orders to charge. The Rebs opened a se- vere fire as they neared the stone wall and one of the men wounded was Charley Smallwood, of Company G. To get out of range of the fire, he crawled over to a house that stood on the edge of the road, it being occu- pied by Confederate sharpshooters, he was taken prisoner and · turned over to the trenches in the sunken road, the Mississip- pians telling him how they would annihilate the Yanks when they came on the charge. Here he was left until the assault, and as our line swept into the sunken road, the Johnnies broke and he found he was among his own people. Com- pany G was rejoiced to know that Charley was recap- tured. After recovering from his wound he came back and remained until the end of the war.
The men of the Twenty-third Pennsylvania had been lying in support of a battery at Fredericksburg, until they be- came somewhat cramped and finally one and then the other got up to stretch his legs, until there was too many of them standing up, which drew the fire of the enemy's guns, as well as his sharpshooters. Of course we were under orders, close under fire, could not fire a shot, as our battery in front was doing the work. On the call of one of the officers to lie down, all went down close to the ground, except Dan Donnelly, or old man Donnelly as we called him. At last the captain peremptorily ordered him down not wanting to have him exposed need- lessly. "Well, captain, I must obey your orders, but do you call this fighting ? Give me 50 men and I will take the battery on yon hill, so with such kids as wait until it cools off, we will buy a little battery for you." Dan laid down. But all the same we knew that Donnelly meant just what he said, as he · had been well tested before.
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His son was wounded in the charge at Fair Oaks by being struck on the belt plate and doubled up-he could scarcely walk. The old man, after examining him, finding no blood, pushed him forward until he was again hit, this time in the ankle. Old Dan, think- ing to save his life, cut the ball out with his razor. Dan was sent to the hospital and wrote the boys he was going in the Navy, as the old man was too much for him.
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