USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume I > Part 34
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"To show the estimation in which the One Hundred and Fifth was held by the soldiers of other organizations, and the material compos- ing its rank and file, we quote a few tributes to their valor. Gen. Charles H. T. Collis, formerly colonel of the One Hundred and Fourteenth Pennsylvania. and who com- manded the brigade for some time after the battle of Gettysburg, says:
"'Since we parted on the field I have seen all the armies of European countries, but I have never seen a body of men out of whom more solid and effective work could be ob- tained, than those who fought under the heroic Craig, and the intrepid, genial Greenawalt.'
"General Walker, in his history of the Second Corps, says of the battle of Fair Oaks : " 'The last brigade to arrive was Jameson's, which had been far to the rear, near Bottom Bridge, at the opening of the action. Two of Jameson's regiments were sent to the right, and two to the left. All of Kearny's men. who became engaged, fought heroically.'
"Col. A. S. M. Morgan, of the Sixty-third Pennsylvania, later captain in the United States army, says :
"'Ihave one vivid recollection of the One Hundred and Fifth that can never be obliter- ated from my memory. At the battle of Fair Oaks the right of the Sixty-third did not reach the Williamsburg road, and a column of Rebel infantry came marching down the road, and had reached opposite our line, when the One Hundred and Fifth came up and extended the line across the road. At that moment I was badly wounded, but my last recollection, ere I lost consciousness, was of seeing that gallant regiment coming up at a full run on our right,
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in the face of the Rebel infantry and the battery that was playing on us both from across the road.'
"The following incident was related to the writer by Dr. Adam Wenger, surgeon of the regiment : 'There is one incident that is always pleasant for me to recall. It is of one of the men whose bravery and patriotism stand forth in bold relief. After being several times severely wounded, and rettirning each time promptly, to again share the dangers of battle, he was at last so disabled as to be totally un- fitted for duty, and was informed that his dis- charge from the service would be necessary. He begged to remain, and asked mne if he could not be permitted to ride in the ambulance on the marches, which request I granted ; but he never availed himself of this privilege when there was a prospect of a fight; and in case he was in the ambulance and firing was heard in the front, he at once left his comfortable berth and hurried to his place in the ranks --- musket in hand-with all the speed he was capable of. It must be borne in mind that a pass to ride in the ambulance excused the soldier from all duty. There were of course others just as brave and patriotic as this man, but for certain reasons his actions greatly impressed me, for he was reared in poverty, and withoutt an education.'
"Jefferson county lost among other brave soldiers the following officers of the One Htin- dred and Fifth :
"COL. AMOR ARCHER MCKNIGHT .- Amor Archer Mcknight had, from his youth, been an admirer of all things pertaining to the military, and we find him at an early age a member of the 'Brookville Guards' and 'Brookville Rifles,' which company he con- manded when the war broke out. When the summons came it found him ready to respond, and with his gallant command he was soon in the field. After the three months' term of service had expired, and he had received authority to recruit a regiment for three years, he went to work, and with an energy that never flagged soon had the regiment, whose deeds of glory and renown we have but feebly por- trayed, in the field.
"As soon as his regiment went into camp, Colonel McKnight began to rigidly drill and discipline it, and so severe and exacting was he in this work that, for a time, he was severe- ly censured and criticized by the officers and men under him ; but he had set himself to the task of making the One Hundred and Fifth a regiment that could not be excelled, and he let nothing deter him from the end in view; that
he accomplished his desire the history of his gallant regiment nobly proves, for by all who have any knowledge of its prowess and valor it has been pronounced without a peer; and to the stern and ofttimes merciless discipline enforced by Colonel McKnight was this state of perfection due.
"While thus strict with his officers and men, he was no less strict with himself. He studied and worked unceasingly to perfect himself in the art of warfare; for, like his men, he had come from the civil walks of life, and like them he had to learn. With all this sternness, for which so many have censured him, Colonel McKnight had the welfare and comfort of his men at heart, and we have known him to give up the last dainty his camp chest afforded, and share his last dollar with the sick soldier, and we never appealed to him in vain when he could add to the comfort of the men in the hospital, or enhance the efficiency of the hospital force.
"It was his unremitting labor to make his regiment excel that caused him at last, after fifteen months' hard service, to yield to the inroads of disease that obliged him to resign his command; but after two months he was again in the field, as the war department, knowing his worth in the service, had not filled the vacancy caused by his resignation."
At Headquarters, First Brigade, Kearny's Division, AIrmy af the Potomac, July 25, 1862. I hereby certify that I have carefully and thor- oughly examined Col. A. A. Mcknight, One Hun- dred and Fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and find him laboring under a diseased condition of the system, which requires him to abandon the service as a field-officer to secure permanent recovery.
ORPHEUS EVERTS, Surgeon Twentieth Ind. Vo .. Examining Surgeon First Brigade.
That Colonel McKnight ouly embraced this alternative as a last resort, knowing that he was not able to command his regiment in the then enfeebled condition of his health, the following letter from him at that time proves :
Camp near Harrison's Landing, Va., July 29, 1862.
You will no doubt be greatly surprised when I tell you that physical inability has compelled me to resign my position. Such is the case, and if ever a man suffered anguish of heart at parting with an object of pride and affection, I now feel it in leaving this regiment. How I have worked for and with it; and then to have to leave it in the midst of its triumphs. It seems there is no alterna- tive. For fifteen months I have worked assiduously and unremittingly in the army, and the consequence has been that the miasmas and fatigue of the Penin-
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sula have overcome a constitution previously weak- ened by disease, and i now suffer from debility to such an extent that the brigade and division sur- geons tell me t must leave the army to recover. Though going, it is only temporary, and my friends in Brookville, as well as my secesh friends south, will again hear of me in the field before this war closes.
Though weak in flesh, I have lost none of that spirit which first prompted me to enter the field, and only wait for physical ability to again become actively engaged.
Your friend. A. A. MCKNIGHT.
Colonel Mcknight returned home, and with care and good medical treatment was, at the expiration of two months, able to return to the front. He was impatient to be again with his regiment, whose every movement, during his enforced absence, he followed with a jealous eye. He said he was instrumental in taking them into the service, and he wished to share their toils and their danger. He ap- plied to the war department, and was recom- missioned colonel of the One Hundred and Fifth on September 20, 1862. Knowing his worth, and the reluctance with which he left his regiment, there had been no effort made to fill the vacancy caused by his resignation.
After rejoining his regiment, Colonel Mc- Knight shared all its fortunes, leading it into every engagement, with the exception of a ten days' furlough in March, 1863. when he made a visit to his home in Brookville, until the disastrous battle of Chancellorsville, May 3. 1863, when, at the head of his gallant regiment, he was killed while leading his men against the veterans of Stonewall Jackson.
While they lay at Camp Jameson Colonel MeKnight subjected the regiment to a' rigid course of discipline, and so ardent was he in this system of drill that, at the time, his course was severely criticized by the officers and men under him: but when they had gone through a few hard-fought battles they found that it was just this course of severe discipline that had made them the efficient regiment they were. and coused their fame to be known throughout the Army of the Potomac. The Colonel applied himself assiduously to the study of discipline and tactics, and the "wee sma' hours" would find him poring over his books. At dawn he would be up and ready for the duties of the day.
Soon after the battle of Fair Oaks Colonel MeKnight was stricken with fever, brought on by exposure and fatigue, and which left him so debilitated that his physician told him that he could not recover unless he left the service
and returned home. He applied for a fur- lough, but owing to the exigencies of the service at that time he could not obtain one. Ile then sent in his letter of resignation. accompanied by the certificate of the examin- ing surgeon :
Headquarters, 105th Regiment, P. V .. Camp near Harrison's Landing, Va.,
July 25. 1862.
General :- Fifteen months' unremitting service in various positions, has so shattered what was previously a weak constitution, that I find myself at this time unable any longer to hold my present position, either with honor to myself or profit to my country.
I am, therefore, reluctantly obliged to respectfully tender my resignation. See surgeon's certificate at- tached.
A. A. MCKNIGHT, Colonel 105th P. V. To GEN. S. WILLIAMS, A. A. General, Army of Potomac.
"After rejoining the regiment Colonel Mc- Knight shared all its fortunes, leading it into all its hard-fought engagements, until the battle of Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863, when he was killed by a Rebel sharpshooter, while leading his men against the veterans of Stonewall Jackson. Colonel Craig, in a letter giving us the intelligence of . Colonel MeKnight's fall, written May 11, 1863, says :
"'Colonel McKnight was in the act of cheer- ing his men on when he was shot, and was swinging his sword. The ball passed through his right arm, almost tearing it off, and passed on, entering his head about the right temple. I saw him fall, and riding up to him, dis- mounted and kneeled beside him. He looked up once, so beseechingly, before he died, as if he wanted to say something, but could not speak. I ordered four of the men to carry him to the rear, and rode after the regiment ; but they were unable to get him back on account of the heavy fire, and had to leave him on the field. Everything of value was got off his person, except his pocketbook, which could not be found. AAfter the fight, I made applica- tion to General Hooker for permission to take ont a flag of truce for his remains, which he granted, but General Lee would not permit us to enter his lines, so we had to be content. No man ever acted braver than he did, and believe me, there are few such men, either in the army or at home.'
"The Rebel papers claimed that he was buried , with the honors due his rank, out of respect for the 'Kearny Cross,' which he wore, and it was asserted that 'whenever our men were found to have upon them the Kearny
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red patch, if wounded they were kindly cared for: and if dead were buried with the honors of war, and their graves so marked as to be readily recognized.'
"It was claimed that Colonel McKnight was so honored, that 'a band played a funeral dirge, while over his remains was fired the usual salute due to an officer of his rank.'
"This may have been the case, but when the One Hundred and Fifth, on the anniver- sary of his death, on the 3d of May, 1864, bivouacked on the field where he fell, no trace of his grave could be found, nor have his brothers, who wished his remains to lie with the dust of his kindred, ever been able to find the spot where he was buried.
"Had Colonel McKnight lived he would soon have been promoted to brigadier general, as steps to that effect had already been taken, and the late Hon. John Covode, in his letter of condolence to the Colonel's brother, Dr. W. J. McKnight, says :
"'Had your brother survived the last ter- rible struggle, he would have been promoted, as I had a conversation with the president in regard to him.'
"The field officers of the First Division. Third Army Corps, had sent in a petition to President Lincoln asking for his promotion, in which they say :
"'Colonel MeKnight is a brave, gallant, and efficient officer ; the regiment which he now commands, for drill and discipline, is second to none in the service. His experience as a field officer during the Peninsula campaign and in other places, also his ability as a thorough tactician, eminently fit him for such promotion.'
"At the meeting held by the field officers - of the First Brigade, First Division, Third Corps, to take action on the death of their fellow officers who fell at Chancellorsville, the following resolutions in regard to Colonel Mc- Knight were passed :
"'Resolved, That in the death of Col. A. A. McKnight, of the One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, the country has lost a brave, efficient, and patriotic officer, whose untiring energies were given to promoting the efficiency of his regiment, who sealed his devotion to the cause in which he was engaged with his lifeblood, at the head of his command, on the battlefield of Chancellorsville, Va., May 3. 1863. 1
"'Resolved, That we condole with the rela- tives and friends of the deceased in their loss of a companion, endeared to them by his many amiable virtues, and that we lament the loss the
country has sustained by his untimely death, in the hour of her greatest need.'"
Colonel McKnight, at the time of his death, was thirty years, eleven months, fifteen days old. He was six feet in height, had gray eyes, black hair, and strongly marked and expressive features. He was of a very commanding presence, and in every respect a fine-looking inanl.
"MAJ. JOHN C. CONSER .- John C. Conser was born in Centre county, Pa., in the year 1826, and the same year his parents, who were respectable, worthy people, removed to Clarion county, settling near the present town of Clarion. Here the subject of this sketch spent his early days. He was a studious and con- scientious boy. At an early age he evinced a great admiration for military matters, and with his elder brothers would attend the reviews of the militia. In 1851 he removed to Jefferson county, and soon afterwards married and settled in Reynoldsville, where he was known and respected as one of the best citizens of that place, until the war called into action the patriotism that had been slumbering in his soul from childhood, and he was one of the first to enlist from his neighborhood. He was chosen first lieutenant of Company H. One Hundred and Fifth, and upon the resigna- tion of Captain Tracy was promoted to captain, April 20, 1863. He was commissioned major, May 6, 1864, but was never mustered as such.
"At the battle of Fair Oaks, Captain Conser received his first wound; while crawling on his hands and knees reconnoitering the enemy. a ball struck him on the head, inflicting a slight wound, and stunning him for a time. After- wards in the retreat through White Oak Swamp, he almost lost his life in those dismal recesses, and writing of it said, 'It was the most horrible night I ever experienced.' At Fredericksburg a minie ball struck his shoulder, and glancing off along the blade of his sword entered the fleshy part of his arm, inflicting a severe wound. At Bristoe Station lie, with his little command, was taken prisoner, and taken to Richmond, where he was consigned to the tender mercies of Libby prison. Here he was much annoyed by one of the Rebel guards, who delighted in telling the prisoners that the Union side was clean licked out,' and that when he got out of Libby he would find 'the North not worth shucks.' The brave officer replied that when he got out of Libby and came again to Richmond, it would be when it was taken by the Union troops, and the Confederacy smashed.' After this, his most ardent desire was to be with the
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army at the taking of Richmond; but when that day dawned upon the Union arms the brave officer had entered the eternal city, dying on the very threshold of victory.
"At Gettysburg he was again wounded, being shot in the head, just above the left temple, and carried off the field for dead. When, after a short stay at home, he had recovered from this wound, he rejoined his regiment in time to receive another wound at Auburn. At the battle of the Wilderness he was severely wounded in the thigh by a sabre cut, from the effects of which he was still lame at the time of his death. Again, he was severely wounded at Petersburg, June 18, 1864, and while on his way to rejoin his regiment, after recovering from this wound, he met at Fortress Monroe those having in charge the body of Colonel Craig, who had fallen at Deep Bottom. Stopping just long enough to assist in forwarding to his home the remains of his brave friend and gallant commander, he hurried on to his regiment, and was in all the subsequent skirmishes and marches up to the battle of Boydton Plank Road, where on the 27th of October, 1864, he fell, while battling against an overwhelm- ing force of the enemy. An eyewitness of this sanguinary struggle, says: 'We were surrounded when I heard Conser say, "Men, we are surrounded. Will you surrender ? Won't you fight it out?" Three Rebels at- tacked him, and, while fighting them with pistols and sword, another came up, and placing his gun almost against his body, blew the contents of the piece into his side and he fell dead.'
"The enemy being repulsed after this. Captain Redic and others of the regiment attempted to bring off Major Conser's body. but the enemy rallying in force, they were obliged to leave him on the field where he fell, and thus died one of the bravest soldiers the war produced-his last words being, 'Fight it out.'"
"CAPT. JOHN CALVIN DOWLING .- When the Civil war broke out Captain Dowling at once enlisted in the three months' campaign, and served as first lieutenant of Company K. Eighth Regiment, taking command of that company on Captain Wise's promotion. At the expiration of this term of service he returned home and recruited Company B, of the One Hundred and Fifth, which he labored unceasingly to make one of the best companies in the service. He remained constantly with his men, with the exception of a ten days' leave of absence in February, 1862. until he
fell at Fair Oaks, May 31st, while gallantly leading his men in the charge where the regiment won its first laurels, and he with many others of Jefferson county's bravest and best soldiers won victors' crowns. He was shot through the neck, killing him instantly. Rev. D. S. Steadman, chaplain, in a letter written just after the battle says: 'We buried our dear Captain Dowling last evening, June Ist, at sunset, in a beautiful grove. Bowdish, one of his men, had made a good coffin. There was no lack of mourners; we were all mourners.' His remains were subsequently re- interred in the soldiers' cemetery at Seven l'ines. Captain Dowling was of a genial dis- position, and possessing an excellent education, his social qualities and gentlemanly bearing had endeared him to a large circle of acquaint- ances and friends, and the news of his death carried gloom to the hearts of all who knew him. When the sad news of the death of this gallant young officer, and of those who fell with him on that fatal field, Jefferson county's first offerings for the cause of freedom, was received in Brookville, the flags were draped in mourning, and suspended at half mast, and sorrow pervaded the entire community.'
"CAPT. WILLIAM J. CLYDE .- William John- ston Clyde, son of William and Janet Clyde. néc Mabon, was born in Perry (now Oliver ) township in the year 1838. Ilis father dying. he was at an early age thrown upon his own resources, and when about thirteen years old he went to Brookville, and commenced to learn the carpenter and joiner's trade, with Messrs. William Reed and David S. Johnston, both of whom are now dead. After finishing his ap- prenticeship, he remained in Brookville work- ing at his trade until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in Company I, Eighth Regiment, of three months' men, and served as first sergeant of his company. On returning home after the expiration of this term of service, he threw himself heartily into the work of recruiting for Colonel McKnight's three year regiment, and on the organization of that regiment he was appointed first sergeant of Company A. and November 8, 1861, was pro- moted to second lieutenant ; to first lieutenant. September 27, 1862, and to captain, February 9, 1863. He was wounded in the battles of Second Bull Run, Fredericksburg and Gettys- burg, in all of which he was conspicuous for his daring and courage. He fought with the most desperate bravery at the battle of the Wilderness, until near the close of the fighting on the 6th of May, 1864, when the One Hun- dred and Fifth was occupying the second line
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of breastworks, and charged forward, carrying a part of the front line, when Captain Clyde with several others of the regiment mounted the Rebel redoubts on the front line, and while gallantly urging his men on he was shot by one of the enemy's sharpshooters, and fell mortally wounded, only living long enough to ask his men to bury him decently, and write to his mother. When he fell, he was so close to the enemy that he could almost touch them. His body was afterwards recovered and re- moved to the soldiers' cemetery at Fredericks- burg."
"Field and Staff Officers of the One Hun- dred and Fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, from Jefferson county : Colonels, Amor A. McKnight, James Miller ; lieutenant colonel, W. W. Corbet; adjutant, Orlando Gray ; quartermasters, Robert Nicholson, Har- rison Coon; surgeon, A. P. Heichhold; chap- lains, Darius S. Steadman, John C. Truesdale ; sergeants major, W. H. Mclaughlin, George Vanvliet, Robert J. Boyington ; quartermaster sergeants, Fleming Y. Caldwell, Benjamin F. Stauffer; commissary sergeant, John Coon; hospital stewards, D. Ramsey Crawford, Charles D. Shrieves ; musicians, Andrew J. McKown, Eli B. Clemson.
"Members of the brass band of the One Hundred and Fifth Regiment from Jefferson county : Calvin B. Clark, John S. Gallagher, John A. Guffey, James A. McClelland, T. C. Spottswood, Charles Sitz, Alexander Ross Taylor, James A. Thompson.
"Company A was recruited in the southern part of Jefferson county, principally from Punxsutawney, and Perry and Oliver town- ships. The company was raised in three days, chiefly through the exertion of Capt. John Ilastings, assisted by Lieutenants Neel and Morris. Captain Hastings, while gallantly leading his company in the desperate charge at Second Bull Run, was severely wounded in the leg. and after months of suffering was disabled for life by the wound and obliged to resign, when the command devolved upon Capt. W. J. Clyde, who fell while charging at the head of the company in the battle of the Wilder- ness. Lieut. A. H. Mitchell was then pro- moted to captain, but before he received his commission was discharged on account of wounds received in front of Petersburg. and then Lieut. John H. McKee was promoted captain.
"Captains, John Hastings, W. J. Clyde, John II. McKee; first lieutenants, William Neel. Alexander II. Mitchell, James W. Wachob;
second lieutenants, Moses A. Morris, Daniel Brewer, William M. Blose; first sergeants, Albert C. Little, Samuel T. Hadden, Joseph Cummisky, John Blair, Joseph Wickline, Wesley P. Hoover, A. D. McPherson, John G. Myers, Allen H. Naylor, Arthur H. Murray, Samuel Hibler ; corporals, Samuel Kesslar, John McHendry, Henry Weaver, James M. Keck, Smith M. McHendry, James B. Jordan, Benjamin F. Rolls, Joseph F .. Bell, Isaac M. Depp, David W. Logan, William J. Mogle, David Y. Salsgiver, John E. Sadler, William C. McKee, Levi P. Frampton, James L. Clyde ; privates, Henry All, Thomas T. Adams, Hard- ing Allabrand, John I. Barr, Samuel Brillhart, 1 .. H. Bolinger, Samuel W. Brewer, John Blose, Boaz D. Blose, Adolphus Bhoy, Charles S. Bender, Isaac Bowersock, James W. Brooks, John Beck, William F. Campbell, W. W. Crissman, David Cochran, John Chambers, Byron Cowan, John Campbell, Oliver Croas- man, H. C. Campbell, Flem. Y. Caldwell, Michael L. Coon, Hugh Crawford, Jonathan Chambers, William P. Christ, John W. Corey, George W. Davis, John O. Dean, George W. Davis, John G. Depp, John A. De Havens, Robert Fleming, David W. Goheen, David G. Gray, James A. Grove, Thomas M. Gibson, Thomas Glass, Benjamin Gaskill, George W. Ginter, George Goheen, Francis W. Grove, Henry Grant, Charles H. Haskins, John Hen- nigh, J. Henry, Joseph W. Hickox, William llutchinson, John P. Imler, John M. Irwin, Robert A. Jordan, George M. Johnston, Robert Jordan, John Jordan, Benjamin F. Johnston, H. Kirkpatrick, Christopher Kesslar, John C. Kelly, Jonathan R. Leitzall, David W. Leech, Jolin II. London, William Leech, James G. Mitchell, Jermiah C. Miles, William F. Means, Joseph Means, John Means, Jr., John L. Mabon, John Mcans, Sr., James Mogle, Wil- liam Meitz, Robert S. Michaels, Thomas Means, Robert Marsh, John Marsh, James Mack, J. L. McHendry, John B. McGinnis, Cas- sitis E. McCrea, James C. McQuown, Samuel McHendry, John McGraw, Charles McConkey, Edwin McCafferty, R. McAdams, William McHendry, Scott Neel, Augustus C. Nolf, William Painter, William S. Perry, James D. Prosser, P. S. Rudolph, John K. Rupert, George W. Rhodes, Nicholas Robbins, Fred Rhinehart, Benjamin C. Smith, Joseph M. Swisher, Dan. J. Smyers, George Smith, James Smith, Washington Sunderland, Joseph B. Sowers, Christopher Sutter, William H. Swisher, Henry Sutter, John R. Stewart, Elias S. Simpson, Jacob Sutter, George W. Shawl, James .C. Trimble, Thomas L. Templeton,
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