Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 25

Author: Stewart, Joshua Thompson, 1862- comp
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 930

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

enemy. Here Company B heard for the first Hoffman's regiment (56th) got into position time the shriek of Confederate shell, and a moment sooner than the others, the enemy realized as never before the loss of individ- uality in war. Almost daily, artillery duels were fought with the enemy, as our forces stubbornly resisted his advance in order that time might be gained for the Army of the Potomac to free itself from the Peninsula and take position between the Confederates and Washington.

On August 28th, the 56th regiment had its maiden battle. As King's division was march- ing along at the close of the day toward Cen- treville, unconscious of danger, the first in- timation of the presence of the enemy was a shower of shells from a masked battery to the left of the road. At the command of the general, "bring the van forward at a double quick," the insolent battery was stormed, the fire of concealed Confederate infantry drawn and the almost hand to hand conflict opened. The strife was short but terrible, the loss heavy on both sides on account of the close- ness of the battle lines. Fortunately for ns, night threw her friendly mantle over the bloody scene and hid from view the weakness first. Cheer after cheer rose from our ranks, the "claim of victory," and the battle of Gainesville was ended.

now advancing within easy musket range. The atmosphere being a little thick, I took out my glass to examine the enemy. Being a few paces in the rear of Colonel Hoffman, he turned to me and enquired, 'Is that the enemy ?' My reply was, 'Yes.' Turning to his men he commanded, 'Ready, right oblique, aim, fire !' and the Battle of Gettysburg was opened. The fire was followed by other regi- ments instantly ; still that battle on the soil of Pennsylvania was opened by her own sons, and it is just that it should become a matter of history. I desire to say to your Excel- leney that the 56th is one of the very best regiments in the service, and I hope you will cause proper measures to be taken to give that regiment the credit which is its due, of having opened that memorable battle."

From the foregoing it will be seen that Indiana county's sons had part in the honor of opening the battle that hurled the proud Confederate army south, never to return. Company B went into this fight with two com- missioned officers and twenty-four men. Let

they were faithful to duty or not.

of our forces. The Rebel guns ceased firing the list of killed and wounded answer whether

The 56th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- teers participated in the following named The examination of prisoners showed that we had fallen in with Jackson's entire army, and the boldness with which we had accepted this challenge of battle led the enemy to think it was contending with Pope's main body. Our forces left the field during the night, and daylight next morning found them at Manassas Junction, the experience of the night lingering like a bloody dream. The second Bull Run battle opened on this day (29th of August), and the 56th regiment was called into action, as well as on the following day, to cover the retreat. From this until the end of the war its fortune was joined to that of the Army of the Potomac, taking part in most of its battles, rejoicing in its victories and sharing in its defeats, so that we will not at- tempt a recital of the many marches of the 56th, its cheerful evenings around the camp- fires or its awful visions of the dread battle- field strewn with the slain, but will close this battles of the Army of the Potomac. Organi- zation from year 1861; commencement 1862, up to 1865: Rappahannock Station, Va., August 23, 1862; General Pope. Sulphur Springs, Va., August 25, 1862; Pope. Gaines- ville, Va., August 28, 1862; Pope. Groveton, Va., August 29, 1862; Pope. Manassas, Va., August 30-31, 1862, Pope. South Moun- tain, Md., September 14, 1862; General Me- Clellan. Antietam, Md., September 17, 1862; McClellan. Union, Va., November 1, 2, 3, 4, 1862; MeClellan. Fredericksburg, Va., De- cember 12, 13, 14, 15; General Burnside. Chancellorsville, Va., April 27, 28, 29, 30, 1863; General Hooker. Beverly Ford, Va., June 9, 1863; Hooker. Gettysburg, Pa., July 1, 2, 3, 4, 1863; General Meade. Mine Run, Va., November 27, 28, 29, 30, 1863; Meade. Wilderness, Va., May 6, 7, 1864; Meade. Laurel Hill, Va., May 8, 9, 10, 1864; Meade. Spottsylvania, Va., May 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, sketch with an extract from a letter of Briga- 1864; Meade. North Anna, Va., May 23, 24, dier General Cutter. (commanding 1st Di- 25, 26, 27, 1864; Meade. York River, Va., May 28, 1864; Meade. Cold Harbor, Va., June 1, 2, 3. 4; Petersburg, Va., June 17 to June 25. 1864 ; Meade. Weldon Railroad, Va., August 18, 19, 20, 21, 1864; Meade. Dab-

vision, 1st Corps, at the Battle of Gettysburg, Pa.), to Governor Curtin. He says: "It was my fortune to be in the advance on the morn- ing of July 1, 1863. When we came upon the ground in front of the enemy, Colonel nov's Mills, Va February 5, 1865; Boyd-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA

town Plank Road, February 6, 1865; Squir- us, and orders were issued to strip us of our uniforms, which had been furnished by the State, the post commander instructing the cept upon requisition in the name of the regi- ment to which we had been assigned. rel Level, Va., February 7, 1865; Hatcher's Run, Va., February 10, 11, 1865; Rowanty Creek. Va., March 31, 1865; Five Forks, Va., post quartermaster to give us no rations, ex- April 1, 1865; Sutherland's S. S. R. R., Va., April 2, 1865; Surrender of General Lee, April 9, 1865.

Anticipating trouble, we had sent our old Company A, 61st Pennsylvania Volun- clothing home, and of course retained the uni- teers .- This company was organized in July, form. Captain Creps furnished security for the government price of the rations until the matter could be settled, as it was in part by Colonel Rippey, upon his arrival, agree- ing that the State should have the credit of his regiment, and he, in consideration there- 1861, by the union of two companies re- cruited for three months' service. one by John Pollock, in East Mahoning, North Ma- honing. Montgomery and Canoe townships, the other by Jacob Creps, in Rayne, Green and East Mahoning; the two embracing the for, should have his regiment filled ; an agree- villages of Covode, Marchand, Georgeville, ment for some reason never fulfilled by the State on its part. In consequence of this little unpleasantness, the companies not so fortunate in the matter of uniforms, suffered for want of clothing, men going on picket duty at Camp Advance, Va., without shirts or pants, being wrapped in blankets secured around them with their gun straps, their own clothes worn out in building Fort Lyons, and the government not yet able to uniform and fully equip its army. Richmond. Decker's Point, Taylorsville, Dix- onville, Kellysburg, Kintersburg and Marion Center. The call for three years cansed many to withdraw, and a union of the remnant of two companies was effected at Decker's Point. Marion from thenceforth became the general headquarters for recruiting, where the com- pany was fully organized in July, 1861, by the election of Jacob Creps, captain; John Pollock, first lieutenant: G. W. Brady, sec- ond lieutenant; Frank M. Brown, first ser- geant, and a full complement of minor of- ficers.

The request of O. H. Rippey, of Pittsburg, to join his regiment was granted by a vote of the company. The citizens gathered at Marion Center in immense procession to ac -. Lyons, being moved February 19, 1862, to Queen's farm, north of Washington, D. C., and attached to Graham's brigade, Buell's di-

company the soldiers to Indiana; the citizens of Kintersburg gave a free dinner, and those of Indiana free lodging for the night. The vision, Key's (4th) army corps.

men went by rail in box cars to Pittsburg, and quartered in Camp Wilkins, and were mustered into the United States service Aug- ust 21, 1861.

By order of the Secretary of War, about September 1st the partly filled regiment was ordered to the front, only three companies. viz., Creps', Gerard's and Foulk's, being full.

The following history of this command is smooth at Harrisburg, he required the post from notes by J. M. Walker :

We were stopped at Harrisburg on the order for this fund being refused by Captain plea of "no transportation," and sent to Camp Curtin to await it. An effort was made to break up the regiment; Captain Foulk's the war, and he remained senior captain of

company was bought off, and Company A as- signed to another regiment. Captain Creps and Gerard objected to the assignment, as well as to all offers for purchase, Company promotion. A insisting that Captain Creps should sac- On March 10, 1862, we marched to Pros- redly keep its pledge to Colonel Rippey. pect Hill, Va., on the way to Manassas, but Then all cooking utensils were taken from learning that the Confederates had evacuated

After those rejected in examination were sent home, and two transferred to Company B, the company went to the front with 101 officers and men, going into camp south of Alexandria, Va., subject to orders of General Jamison, and spent the fall of 1861 alternat- ing between drill and detail work on Fort

Great anxiety prevailed on account of an order to disband all regiments not number- ing eight hundred men. Colonel Birney, in the interest of a brigadier general's con- mission, agreed to allow four companies of a regiment to be transferred to the 61st, and this transfer also included the commissions of both the lieutenant colonel and major for the regiment. Still further to make matters

savings fund of the 61st. The signing of the Creps, Acting Lieutenant Colonel, closed final- ly all chance for promotion for him during the regiment for three years, often command- ing the regiment, but the combined vote of the line officers was not sufficient to gain him

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

their works, leaving only wooden guns, we and fought until our ammunition was spent, turned our faces towards camp again, passing clubbing muskets and fighting. A skirmish two days and nights near Chain Bridge, on line was pushed forward on our right flank short rations, clothes wet through, no shelter, and rear. Notes taken on the field place fire would not burn, and we did not under- stand soldiering very well at that time, so that, to the company, it was one of the mem- orable events of the war. .

March 26, 1862, we went on board the old rotten steamer "Wilson Small," arriving at Hampton, Va., on the evening of the next day. This was one of the perils of the serv- ice, and fair weather probably our only sal- vation. The steamer was so worthless and overloaded we had to so divide as to balance" the vessel; the captain of it finally prohibited our moving around any, and cursed us when we tried to stretch our cramped limbs, so we sat still, trusting the Lord for fair weather to reach Fortress Monroe. The crazy old boat sunk shortly after we landed, and we hoped it would never be resurrected from its watery grave.

The next stopping place for any length of time was at Warwick C. H., Va., April 6, where we were first fired on by Confederate artillery, April 15th, and the occasional sing of the sharpshooter's bullet introduced us to that so prominent feature of warfare on the Rebel side during the war; and they finally got so good range of our camp that we moved to a more sheltered place. Here we lived three days without rations, nine miles of corduroy road having to be built before we could be supplied. However, we could get fair drinking water by digging a hole eighteen inches deep, anywhere, but the offal of the June 28, 1862, we moved in a line of march in MeClellan's retreat toward the James camps was buried at about the same depth, and it required strong faith to accept the river, encountering some Confederate cavalry theory there advanced that a few inches of at Charles City Cross Roads, but soon routed earth as a filter purified the water. The them without any serious casualties in the company ; and reached the James river on the 30th, returning to Malvern Hill in the even- ing. We moved in support of the batteries early in the morning of July 1st, losing one slightly, in getting into position, where our protection was secured somewhat by lying in pickets of the 61st regiment were first into the Confederates' deserted works on our front May 4, 1862; our regiment taking its place in the line of march reached Williams- burg too late to be engaged there, but was in the company mortally wounded, another pushed forward on advance picket near New Kent Court House, March 14th. We reached the Chickahominy river at Bottom's Bridge, an old road worn in the sand a few inches May 21st, and Companies A and H crossed lower than the surface ground on the side -the first troops over-and picketed the next the enemy. Here for several hours an front while the pioneer corps bridged the almost continuous fire of shot and shell fell same. around us, shells bursting but a few feet from

Company A's loss in killed and wounded at thirty-four. In the wounded list were Cap- tain Creps and Lieutenants Pollock and Brady, Lieutenant Pollock fighting hand to hand after being wounded. He died a few days afterwards and Indiana county lost a brave soldier and useful citizen. Captain Creps, being but slightly wounded, took com- mand again next morning. General Key's re- port says of the regiment : "It fought with ex- traordinary bravery and the casualties in the 61st amount to 263 and are heavier than any other regiment in Conch's division. The 61st withdrew in detachments, some of which came again into action near my head- quarters." The real loss of the regiment was 280. .

June 27, 1862, Companies A and H were ordered to establish a picket line on the left of Seven Pines, where we were attacked by the full battle line of the enemy. Being de- ployed in open ranks, we retired with but one man wounded and a few bullet holes in our clothes. For the first and only time during the war, we were called cowards, and then by the colonel of the 55th New York regi- ment that ran away in a body at Fair Oaks a few days before, and now attempted to do what we failed to do but could not succeed, and a full brigade was ordered forward which with guns and shovels fought and fortified. alternately.

On the 29th and 30th of May, we occupied our heads and fragments falling beyond us. a position at Fair Oaks Station, the enemy Case shot were little used then and without them it was impossible to dislodge us. To- wards evening, with other troops, we made in front and an overflowing river with the bridges swept away in our rear. We were attacked May 31st, by a large force of Rebels, a flank movement down a muddy and woody

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ravine on the right, at right angle with the went by steamer to Kingstown, to George- batteries, creeping into position on our hands town, crossing the south side of the aqueduct bridge in the night; next morning, Septem- ber 4th, recrossing at Chain Bridge, we marched to a point above Great Falls, where we were posted as guards along the river and crossings. and knees, coming out on the flank of the Confederates as they charged on our batteries, doing a work of carnage to their "close col- umn" en masse troops that defies any de- scription. But few of them were left to tell the tale. We remained on the field meeting another weaker charge, and alternating with the batteries lying down while they fired close over us, and charging while they ceased, un- til the field seemed completely deserted by the foe at eight P. M. Our loss was compara- tively small, Company A's casualties not ex- ceeding eight, and the regiment's loss thirty- four. The bad aim of the enemy has credit for this, as nearly every volley fired was too low, raising a cloud of dust twenty feet in front of us.

July 2, 1862, we moved to Harrison's Landing in deep mud and stopped where we could neither sit nor lie down, but after sev- eral hours of suffering got to a better place in the woods and the sound of the pioneer's axe was heard. With the exception of one reconnoiter to Malvern Hill, and an occasional shell thrown from the south side of the James, we had quiet. At this point Captain Creps, to relieve himself of an unpleasant duty, asked the company to elect a second lieuten- ant, which resulted in the election of Isaac M. Price, a corporal, an action of which the company may well be proud, for none ever questioned his ability or bravery.

August 16, 1862, we left Harrison's Land- ing for Yorktown, which we reached on the 20th, our knapsacks, sent by steamer on the 11th, reaching us the 24th. We were detained at Yorktown ostensibly to level down forts, but "the boys" will remember the oyster, lobster and clam fishing.

August 28th, we went on board the bark "Metropolis," in tow of the "City of Richmond," and started up the bay that night in a driving storm. Our bark very nearly ran down the steamer, which was also loaded with troops. "The boys" had got almost proof against cholera morbus, but didn't know how to flank seasickness and were captured.

Off Occoquan creek we were ordered to proceed to Alexandria and from there we were ordered to the army near Fairfax Conrt House, arriving on the morning of September 2d, where we learned of the disaster to our troops at Bull Run.

September 14th, we moved by way of Rock- ville and South Mountain, reaching battle- field at Antietam on the evening of Septem- ber 17th, and next morning, the front towards Sharpsburg, we skirmished with the enemy, continuing all day, losing some wounded. We pushed forward and past Sharpsburg on the morning of the 19th, and finding the enemy across the river there, we retraced our steps and moved up the river to Williamsport, where in skirmish with the Rebel rear guard we lost John A. Work, killed. We then went into camp near Downsville, Md., and about this time were transferred to the 6th Army Corps.

On October 19th, we made a reconnoissance to Hancock, Md., marching in one day twen- ty-eight miles, returning to our old camp again. It was on this march we first met General Kilpatrick, then a colonel, whose boyish face we were loath to believe was that of the dashing cavalryman of such notoriety.

October 31st, we left Downsville and marched to Harper's Ferry, thence down the Louden valley and via Thoroughfare Gap to New Baltimore, Va., guarding trains No- vember 6th and 7th, in a disagreeable snow- storm. We remained at this point until we received the farewell visit of General Me- Clellan, when we moved forward again, reach- ing Belle Plains, Va., in the midst of a driv- ing snowstorm, December 5th. We suffered intensely on the night of the 6th, our blank- ets, not very dry, freezing stiff, where not in contact with our bodies.

On December 12, 1862, we crossed the Rap- pahannock below Fredericksburg, and that and the next day lay under the artillery fire till quite late on the second day, when we moved to the front on the left, our movement opposed by artillery and desultory infantry fire, neither inflicting much loss. The next two days were spent in maneuvering and there could not have been much ground be- tween the river and hills we were not marched over, the enemy sorely vexed trying to keep range of us in all our movements. This was our share of the first Fredericksburg, but thousands fell elsewhere on the field in a vain

We were then ordered on the rear guard, endeavor to storm the Confederate strong- retiring slowly to Alexandria; thence we hold.

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The next move was in the historical "mud got pushed off the bridge into the canal, wad- march," fair at the start, but rain came in ing out on the other side with his long boots dashes, filling the sand and overflowing the full of mud and water, and took command streams-wagons sunk in to the axles, and of the regiment when Commander Spear fell. mules buried in mud and water. Yet Com- pany A was never caught straggling any- where when moving towards the foe and re- ported in good shape, except muddy and wet, at the appointed camp near the United States ford, on the evening of the 20th of Decem- ber. Many regiments were discouraged by this nufortunate march so soon after the ter- rible repulse at Fredericksburg, and it is doubtful whether they could have fought if

This momentary delay righted, Company A crossed and was over the enemy's works al- most as soon as any of the troops, capturing most of the Confederates in the works it scaled. The loss was reported as ninety-nine men in the regiment, seventy probably having fallen in that charge, but the fight continuing, in the effort to reach Hooker's force at Chan- cellorsville, more men being wounded, the actual loss of the charge cannot be given. called into action. The entire object of this On the evening of the 4th, in the effort to march failing, the regiment returned to reach Bank's ford after a detour from the camp and was transferred to "Light Di- vision, '6th Corps."

We then proceeded to make dugouts in the hillside near Belle Plains, although under marching orders all the time, and fixed up the best we could for the winter. The sur- vivors of the regiment yet wear the green cross of the Light Division over the white one when wearing the corps badge. During the winter a bakery was built, and we ate "soft bread" the first time in eleven months. Company A had received to this time twenty pairs of brothers; we name a few and refer you to the company roll: J. A. and H. V. Stewart; L. and I. V. Brady ; E. W. and R. W. Fairbank ; I. N. and David Price; and of which but one remained to tell the tale at the close of the war, and he almost helpless.

On the night of April 20, 1863, Company A, with others, carried the shallops or pon- toon boats from the heights to Franklin's crossing, one mile, and were to man the boats, row across, and drive the enemy's pickets from their pits. The order was counter- manded on account of fatigue of the men. After many moves we found ourselves at day- light, Sunday morning, May 3d, in the city of Fredericksburg, preparing to charge the heights above it, the 61st to go out double quick, left in front, and form line by file left on the charge after getting across the canal on the street bridge. Conflicting orders were given by the lieutenant in command of left company, doubling his men at the end of the bridge. In this double quick movement, the moving column ran into them, and for a few fatal seconds, under a terrible fire of grape and canister, there was confusion. Captain Creps and Lieutenant Price, of Company A, both ran forward to assist in getting all right again, for all were anxious to get forward out of range of the artillery. The Captain

main force to hold Stonewall Jackson's force at bay at a certain point, the 61st was fired into by our own batteries, the first shell kill- ing five men. Captain Creps ordered the regiment to seek cover in a stream bed in the mud and water, and ran forward in the face of the battery, three charges being fired be- fore he reached it and stopped its dreadful work. The remnant of the regiment crossed at Bank's ford. The light division was so cut up in the two days' fight that it was dis- banded and the 61st assigned to the second division.

June 7, 1863, we once more crossed to the south side of the river and reconnoitered about the enemy's works, but no engagement ensued and we withdrew, Lee by this time moving northward, west of our entire force. This was our third and last crossing of the Rappahannock near Fredericksburg.

June 14th, marched northward, going thir- ty-two hours without sleep, only reaching Dumfries in that time, being so often de- layed; thence to Fairfax C. H., forming line of battle near Centreville; the enemy with- drawing, we marched by Manassas to Bristoe Station, where, for five days, the small force there seemed to be entirely separated from all the army, and in suspense we awaited the sound of gun or arrival of mail. Leav- ing on the 26th, we made a forced march via Drainsville, Va., Edwards Ferry, Poolesville, Md., Newmarket and Mount Airy Station, to a point near Manchester, Md., one day making thirty-six miles. We were ordered forward to join the forces at Gettysburg on the evening of July 1st, but passed a sleep- less night in getting fairly under way and marched thirty-six miles July 2d, reaching the field before night, and were immediately pushed forward in line of battle; after which, in dividing the 2d Division, 6th Corps, into

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details for weak points, our brigade was as- emy, but returned and recrossed the river signed to duty as flank guard to the right of in support of cavalry which drove the enemy Brook river, and while skirmishing was kept back beyond Brandy Station. At midnight up all day along our line, our loss was slight. R. W. Dilts of Company A was taken prisoner on skirmish line. We occupied a post of honor and usually a very dangerous one, but not so at Gettysburg, as there was no attempt made to turn either flank. The enemy falling back we followed closely in an almost con- tinuous skirmish with them on the road we went until we reached Waynesboro. After crossing Antietam creek, they made a decided stand, attempting several times to destroy the bridge in their rear. The good people of Waynesboro handed us food as we marched through their streets and encouraged us by their many deeds of kindness in the twenty- four hours we remained near their town.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 25

Author: Stewart, Joshua Thompson, 1862- comp Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 930

Author: Stewart, Joshua Thompson, 1862- comp
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 930