Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 27

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Indiana County > Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I > Part 27

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

At Fisher's Hill, September 22, 1864, the regiment pushed forward close under the enemy's works, sheltering as best it could until the flank charge was made by the 8th Corps, when it joined in the general advance in the storming of the Confederate position, Another company accredited to Pittsburg was largely made up of Indiana county men, the balance nearly all Jefferson county men, John G. Wilson, captain. Captain Wilson was discharged May 8th and Peter C. Spen- cer of Indiana county made pro-captain. Captain Spencer was formerly of the 105th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and P. E. Horn, second lieutenant, had served three years in the 61st Pennsylvania Volunteers. This com- joining in the pursuit of the scattered foe, striking the rear guard at Harrisburg, where the regiment was sent on the skirmish line in the evening; but by the morning the enemy had disappeared. Returning to Cedar Creek, it was in camp, some of the men sleep- ing, when the attack was made on our lines, October 19th. Yet the regiment formed, as indeed the entire 6th Corps, all of which formed as well as possible and kept up a run- pany was mustered out March 1 to 15, 1865.

At the close of the fall campaign the regi- ment returned to Petersburg. Major Young resigning, the command devolved upon Capt. . John C. Carpenter, of Indiana county. The regiment participated in the storming of the strongholds at Petersburg in the spring of 1865 and the subsequent movement against these armies; then moved towards Danville, N. C., where General Johnson still had a strong Rebel force; and with this its active work ended. The regiment returned to Wash- ington and was mustered out July 14, 1865.

In the months of March and April, 1865, one full company of one-year men was en- listed in Indiana county for the regiment, reaching it after its active service was over. The company was assigned as Company B, taking the place of old Company B, which had been consolidated with Company E. It was a fine body of men, many of whom had seen service before and all of whom enlisted during the days of the siege of Richmond and Petersburg and deserve mention in connec- tion with the regiment.

74th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. -This regiment for the three-year service was organized at Pittsburg and was composed entirely of Germans. In the fall of 1864, after the three-year men were discharged, the regiment, composed of veterans and re- cruits, was assigned to duty in West Virginia and seven new companies assigned to it who enlisted for one year. One of these, which in Bates' History of Pennsylvania Volun- teers is accredited to Indiana and Westmore- land counties, we find was recruited and or- ganized in Indiana county, Gawin A. McClain, captain, John Kinter and John McWilliams, lieutenants, and was mustered into service March 11, 1865. Captain McClain was dis- charged May 8th and Lieutenant Kinter being pro-captain, in the county it is best known as "Captain Kinter's company."

129

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

These companies served as guard on the erected homes and carved for themselves and Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, upon which their families an honorable destiny in the northwestern part of Indiana county. The great majority were unmarried young men and the average was not above twenty-one years.

raids had frequently been made by Confed- erate guerrillas, remaining on duty in this capacity or in guarding government supplies as long as their services were needed, and were discharged August 29, 1865. We cannot think that the Confederates would have done much injury to this road or its branches ex- cept so far as it would be an injury at the expense of the government, but the guard was more for the purpose of securing safety to Northern passengers and government stores being sent over the road.

78th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry .- This regiment was organized in response to the president's call for 300,000 men for three years. By an order of the secretary of war, Camp Orr, on the north- eastern bank of the Allegheny river, about two miles above Kittanning, was authorized as a rendezvous for the organization of The martial music, the streaming banners and

troops. There was at first a question as to whether the encampments of State troops should be under control of the United States government or under the control of the Commonwealth; but it was finally decided that they were to be under the con- trol of the Commonwealth. Wealthy citizens of Kittanning furnished the money to sustain the encampment. It was called Camp Orr in honor of Gen. Robert Orr and was located on the fair grounds and on a farm belonging to the Gilpin and Johnston heirs. William Sirwell was placed in command of the en- campment and afterwards became colonel of the 78th regiment. The first company came into camp on the 14th of August, 1861, and by the 17th of September all the companies were in camp and temporarily organized.

Company A was recruited in Indiana county under the direction of William Cum- mins and others. An old military organiza- tion had been in existence at Chambersville for a number of years and a majority of this organization responded to the president's call for troops, enlisting for three years or during the war. These, with other enlisted men, assembled at Chambersville, Indiana county, on the 27th day August, 1861. and were given a farewell banquet by the citizens of the com- mumity. It was a beautiful day and seemed much like an ordinary Fourth of July cele- bration. Uniform soldiers marching to mar- tial musie with their streaming banners were the center of attraction. The company was composed mostly of farmers and the sons of farmers, descendants of pioneers, who had 9

Living amid the quiet and peaceful sur- roundings of these better days, secure in onr comfortable homes, we can hardly realize what it meant for such a company of young men to leave home for the tented field. All sought to be cheerful, hopeful and happy, but there was a deep undertone of anxiety and sadness. Husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, parents and sons, felt that they might be bidding a final farewell to each other, for there was a possibility if not a prob- ability that they should never again meet each other on earth. The future was uncer- tain and seemed very ominous. The clouds of war portended a most terrific storm. the patriotic enthusiasm could hardly sup- press the sobs of grief or hide the dark fore- bodings.

The company marched or was transported to Indiana, and thence by way of Elderton to Camp Orr. An organization was effected at Camp Orr with William Cummins as cap- tain, John Marlin as first lieutenant, W. R. Maize as second lieutenant, James Miller, Evan Lewis, William Garrett, Daniel Both- ell and J. T. Gibson as sergeants, with Wil- liam W. Bell, David Blue, William Thomas, George Adams, David A. Rankin, James A. Carroll, William Fleming and John M. Brown as corporals.

Company D was recruited at Cherrytree, on the Susquehanna river in the northeastern part of Indiana county, by Michael Forbes and others. It was made up of lumbermen, farmers and mechanics, with an average age of about twenty-two years. The company entered Camp Orr September 6th, and was organized with Michael Forbes as captain ; Robert H. McCormick, first lieutenant; Wil- liam J. Nugent, second lieutenant ; Adam C. Braughler, Thomas M. Bell, Leonard D. Hol- lister, Joseph L. Buterbaugh and David Barkey, sergeants; and Isaac Kearn, Lewis D. Shaw, Samuel Irwin. Abraham C. Wike, George Langdon, Betherel Johnston and John Shetters, corporals.

Companies B, F, G, I and K were recruited in Armstrong county; Company C and Com- pany E were recruited in Clarion county ; Company II was recruited in Butler county.

When ordered to the front in October,

130

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

1861, it was attached to MeCook's division, tember 19th and 20th. At Chattanooga for Army of the Cumberland, and during its one month it was constantly annoyed by shot term of service was in the Western Army. and shell from the enemy's batteries, finally participating in the struggle which drove the enemy from Lookout Mountain, afterwards assisting in fortifying the heights on the mountain itself, provisions being carried to the men on pack mules.

In the several camps at Nolan Station, south of Nolan creek, Mansfordsville and Green river, its duties were drill and preparation for future service. When the campaign of the spring of 1862 was commenced, the 78th was ordered to Nashville, Tenn., and for a time guarded the railroad from Nashville to Columbia. On the 12th of May it joined an expedition against the Confederate cavalry which escaped across the Tennessee river, and the regiment returned to its old quarters. Its next duty was to guard on the Tennessee & Albermarle railroad, and next as rear guard to Buell's army in its northern movement to intercept the Confederate General Bragg, who was moving into Kentucky; and during Buell's movement into Kentucky the regiment remained at Nashville, Tenn., besieged by Confederate forces. On the 26th of October General Rosecrans' forces reached Nashville and the garrison could again hear from com- rades elsewhere. For a month more the reg- iment guarded Nashville, or did camp duty near, until the campaign against Bragg's Confederate forces was commenced.

At Stone River the regiment was hotly en- gaged, Negley's entire division fighting more than their number. Company A lost heavily, and the slight loss in Company D is accounted for by the position it occupied in the line. The regiment was engaged in the fight part of two days, and did credit to itself and its leaders, losing in killed and wounded 190 men. After the battle the regiment did pro- vost guard duty at Murfreesboro until the spring of 1863.

In June, 1863, the regiment participated in driving the Confederates from Tullahoma across the Cumberland mountains and across the Tennessee river, but without any serious engagement.

It was next in the movement across the Tennessee river in August, and thence across the mountain range, encountering many dif- ficulties, especially in getting down to Look- out valley, when bridge building over gorges had to be done as it progressed.

In the campaign of 1864 it was engaged at Tunnel Hill, Buzzard's Roost Gap, Reseca, Dallas, New Hope Church, and Kenesaw Mountain ; thence moved to Chattanooga and guarded railroad supply trains for the army. It was then first ordered to Tullahoma, and next to Athens, Ala., but both orders being countermanded did again march to Nashville. Assisting in the affray of the 27th at Pulaski, it again returned to Nashville, thence to Franklin, and as mounted infantry served a short time under General Rousseau in south- ern Tennessee, returning to Nashville a few days after its term of service expired.

The opinion prevails in some places that the average soldier is reckless, profane and less careful of the rights of his fellow men than the average citizen at home. A member of the 78th regiment says that he has been intimately associated with soldiers and with men in all the various professions and avoca- tions of life, and wishes to bear this testi- mony : "The average soldier of the 78th regi- ment did not have as much culture as the average professional or business man with whom I have come in contact; he did not say as much about religion as the average man with whom I have been most intimately associated; he could not boast of his bank account, but he had as much real manhood as anyone whose friendship I have ever en- joyed. There is something about ordinary business-there is something about all the contentions of commercial, social and politi- cal life that has a great tendency to make a man selfish, not to say mean, and unmanly. One business man feels perfectly free to let another take the worst of the bargain and bear more than his share of the burden of any business enterprise, while he gets more than his own share of the benefit. One Christian is often found very willing that other Chris- tians should bear all the burdens, reproach and self-sacrifice of carrying on Christian work and contending against wrong-doing, while he is willing to take all the honors, whether deserved or undeserved. I have even found ministers of the gospel who didn't think it necessary to bear one another's burdens.

After foraging supplies for itself and others in the valley, it proceeded over Look- out Mountain and Missionary Ridge into the Chickamauga valley. Here a detachment of the regiment was attacked, and held a largely superior force in check until supports came up. In General Rosecrans' withdrawal towards Chattanooga it became engaged Sep- In contrast with this, it may be truthfully

131

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

said that the soldiers of the 78th regiment than regiments more used to hardships by generally moved on a higher plane and main- having wintered in camps at the front. It participated in the battle at Williamsburg, Va., during the retreat of the Confederates toward Richmond, and came out of the fight with credit; captured a Confederate flag dur- ing the engagement, changing position under fire without break, going on advance picket for the night after the close of the battle. tained a higher code of morals. No good soldier would ask or expect his comrades to face dangers or endure hardships or bear bur- dens that he was unwilling to accept for him- self. The officer or soldier who was unwilling to take his full share of the dangers and bur- dens soon came to be reckoned unmanly and cowardly. Soldiers had the highest regard for their enemies whom they met on the battlefield, but they had the greatest possible contempt for shirkers, and cowards and traitors, in their own rank. I have known men in social, business and even in church en- terprises to encourage their men to go for- ward in arduous and dangerous undertakings, and when their representatives were bearing the brunt of the battle they would begin to fire on them from the rear. I never saw anything of this kind on the part of a soldier in the 78th regiment. At the end of the three years' service we knew each other better, and we could depend on each other more .con- fidentially, than we could when we first en- tered the army. While we sincerely hope that the time may soon come when there will be no bloody battlefields and no need of sol- diers, it must be confessed that military life in active service has a good tendency to develop in most men a very type of real manhood."

The regiment was among the first troops at Seven Pines, on the Richmond road, after crossing the Chickahominy river, and for a few days was engaged in constructing tem- porary breastworks. Part of the regiment was on picket in front of Seven Pines, on the Richmond road, after crossing the Chicka- hominy river, and for a few days was engaged in constructing temporary breastworks. Part was on picket in front of Seven Pines, May 31, 1862, when the enemy advanced in force on that point and Fair Oaks Station, and the regiment soon became engaged in support of the picket line, where it did creditable work, falling back slowly until, it is elaimed, the Union guns, in attempting to get range of the Confederate lines, fired into its ranks, when it scattered, falling back to earthworks, afterwards getting into the works in detach- ments, where it remained till night. This regiment, with others of Casey's division, fell into disrepute here, which in the cooler judg- ment of the survivors of the war, who have unjust. Much was expected of General Casey, well drilled (the enemy being in strong force, as was fully demonstrated by the bloody field of Fair Oaks) other regiments, not of Casey's division, failed later in the day, and we can- not help but believe that the plan all through the early part of the war, of fighting a brigade * * * The loss in disabled and killed in the 103d was heavy, and speaks in its defense at this place. The regiment participated in the battle at Malvern Hill, and served on rear guard in the further retreat to Harrison's Landing.

The regiment was mustered out of the had many years to reflect, may now be deemed United States service at Kittanning by Lieutenant Ward, of the United States army, and but little performed, but his men were not on the 4th day of November, and was paid on the 5th of November, 1864. The soldiers and officers of the regiment then returned to their respective homes and took up at once the active duties of home life. It is not necessary to say that they were still deeply

interested in everything that concerned the or a division at a time, was a fatal mistake.

progress of the army, in conquering the Re- bellion. Most of them expected to enter again into service for their country if they should be needed, and some of them did reenlist.

103d Pennsylvania Volunteers .- This un- fortunate regiment was recruited in the coun- ties of Clarion, Butler, Armstrong, Allegheny and Indiana. Company G was almost all from Indiana county. Enlisted in the fall of 1861, and winter of 1861-62, at a time when the Federal government was hard pressed to arm and uniform its troops, the regiment suffered for want of proper clothing. Being sent to the front in the spring of 1862, its first serv- ice was in the miasmatic swamps of the Pen- insula, and it experienced greater suffering ter; a little later the regiment, in the move-

Leaving the Peninsula at the same time with MeClellan's army, by special order Wes- sel's brigade was sent to Norfolk, thus sep- arating from the Army of the Potomac. It was next moved to Suffolk, and assisted in fortifying the place ; also, built winter quar- ters, which were left on December 5, 1862, when the brigade moved to Newbern, N. C., where it joined the forces under General Fos-

132

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ment towards the interior, had a slight ernment representing the widows and orphans skirmish at Southwest creek, and supported of the brave men whose lives were thus pit- a battery in the attack upon Kinston. ilessly ernshed by concerted plan. When

The 103d regiment was then ordered to a brother fell by the enemy's bullet, we ac- cross the swamp in front and charge the cepted it as a result of war, but when fiends like Wirtz were put in charge of our loved ones, with orders to starve them into a con- dition to unfit them for further service, be- regiment formed on the opposite side and gal- fore exchanging for well-fed Confederate lantly charged and captured the enemy's enemy's works. Getting through the swamp as best it could, in mnd and water, under a heavy fire from Confederate batteries, the

prisoners, and we see the evidence that he works in its front, capturing almost an en- did his work so well, it adds poison to the

tire regiment of infantry. Other regiments were hastily brought forward and the Con- federates driven from the entire field.

The regiment then returned to Newbern, and was stationed in barracks at the Neuse river. where it remained for the winter.

dart already so keenly felt by the bereaved ones.

In preparing a roster of Indiana county soldiers, we noticed the numbers of some of the graves are about 11,000, which indicates that just that many were starved to death be- fore their turn came.

In the spring of 1863 it was moved to Ply- mouth, N. C., on the Roanoke river, which On June 25, 1865, eighty-one men were mustered out of service, the remainder of that regiment once numbering over one thousand. A few had been mustered out by expiration of term, but nearly all had reenlisted for the war. place it assisted in fortifying, and afterwards occupied, the available force at that point be- ing only about 1,600 men in the spring of 1864. The Confederates in the meantime con- structed the ram "Albemarle," which was run past Plymouth in the night without dis- 105th Pennsylvania Volunteers .- This reg- covery. It immediately attacked and de- iment was recruited by Capt. Amor A. Me- stroyed the gunboats of the Union in the Knight, of Jefferson county, under permis- river, and then directed its fire on the little sion granted by the Secretary of War. Cap- garrison. At the same time a land force of tain MeKnight had served in the three months' 7,000 to 8,000 men moved upon the works. The garrison fought through the day against hope, and on the next day, April 20th, was compelled to surrender. Then ensued suffer- ing and starvation of which but few are now left to tell the tale.

Bates says: "The officers were immediately separated from the men, not again to be united, the latter being sent to Anderson- ville to starve and die by scores; the former to Macon, Ga., and subsequently those of the highest grade, including Colonel Lehman, to Charleston, S. C., where they were placed under the fire of the powerful Union bat- teries, then engaged in bombarding the city." The wounded were left in the hands of the enemy, and most of them died. Of about four hundred men and officers of the 103d taken prisoners, 132 died at Andersonville, seven more at Florence-some by the way in transfer to the coast, others on the way to

volunteers, as captain of Company I, 8th Reg- iment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. The regi- ment was organized at Pittsburg, Pa., Sep- tember 9, 1861, then nine companies, of which B, G, H and I were almost wholly from Jef- ferson county; C, Clarion county ; D, Clear- field county ; A, Jefferson and Indiana coun- ties; F, Indiana county; and K, Indiana county. The first organization being a mili- tia company, it was recruited to the required number from Westmoreland, Clearfield and Jefferson. Company E was obtained from Colonel Leasure's "Roundhead" regiment, after both regiments had gone to the front. This company was almost wholly from West- moreland county.

During the winter of 1861-62 the regiment encamped south of Alexandria, Va., and the time was spent in drill and detail work on forts with an occasional visit to the vicinity of Pohick Church on picket duty, or in ex- Camp Parole, while a very few reached home pectancy of meeting the foe, for frequent on furlough eventually to die of disease alarms were manifest on this portion of the caused by starvation. Indiana county mourned her loved brave who were thus in- humanly put to death.

line; a detachment of the 105th receiving and returning the fire of Rebel pickets here on one occasion.

In March, 1862, the regiment moved by

The proof is evident that we can be gen- erous as well as brave, in fact that the lives transport to the Peninsula, and suffered of these murderers were spared by a gov- all that those miasmatie swamps produced of

133

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

sickness. and many brave men fell vietims to White Oak Swamp, but was not in the imme- the climate.

During the siege at Yorktown, it was sub- jected frequently to fire from Rebel batteries, and after the evacuation by the Rebels the regiment reached the battle line at Williams- burg, in time to relieve other wornout and weary engaged forces, and was the first to occupy the city, and its flag was triumphantly flung to the breeze on the courthouse.

It crossed the Chickahominy river May 23d, and moved to the Richmond & York River railroad, remaining until the 29th, when it was moved to the railroad bridge, but on the 31st was pushed forward to the line of battle left of Fair Oaks Station, and front of Seven Pines. The seven companies first on the ground were ordered to charge upon the enemy, who now had possession of Casey's camp. Meeting the enemy at the edge of the camp, the 105th, on its portion of the line, drove the Confederates back through the camp and into the woods beyond, but the right of the line being forced back, the regi- ment experienced difficulty in withdrawing, and waded out through the swamp. Com- panies A and I, reaching the field a little later, were ordered into service on the left of the 57th Pennsylvania Volunteers, hold- ing their portion of the line until ordered to withdraw. Amongst others who fell was brave Lieutenant Cummiskey of Indiana. This battle, survivors tell us, was one of the most terrible of the war to this regiment. It was a day of losses to the Pennsylvania

regiments, and we refer to the 23d, 61st, 63d, one of the grand sights of the war.

and others. In some histories of the war, the 105th scarcely gets justice, but this may be accounted for by the manner in which they are written. In speaking of army corps. Keys' corps suffered two thirds of the loss. or 4,000 men out of a force of 12,000, while the general loss to Heintzelman's corps was not great; yet the 105th regiment sustained a loss as great as some regiments of Keys' corps. Headley makes the loss to the 105th over 250 officers and men, but by comparing the best reports obtainable we place the loss in killed, wounded and missing near 200. The regiment dearly earned its blood-bought laurels, but from this time to the end of the war it never once flinched when called upon to meet the foe.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 27

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