USA > Pennsylvania > Lives of the governors of Pennsylvania : with the incidental history of the state, from 1609 to 1873 > Part 41
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On the 16th of June the army crossed the James. In almost all the operations attending upon that advance, Gen. Hartranft's brigade was actively engaged. None of these were either trifling, unimportant, or free from peril. During the two days immediately succeeding the passage of the river, he was wounded in the breast by a bullet, and the losses of his brigade, by death and wounds, amounted to sixty-five officers in a corps of a hundred and five, and seven hundred and thirty privates in a force of eighteen hundred. While the mine - so much talked of at the time - was in course of preparation, Hartranft's brigade protected the engineers and workmen. In the six weeks he was thus occupied, his losses, in killed and wounded, were six per day. Several days be- fore the mine was completed, General Wilcox's division having been selected to make the attack, he notified General Hartranft of the fact, and informed him that his brigade would be detailed to lead the division. The night prior to the explosion the General was summoned to division head- quarters, where the plan of attack was submitted to his ex- amination. The failure that resulted has passed into history. Upon the explosion of the mine, the troops, both white and colored, moved to the assault with great gallantry; but their number being large and the crater narrow, they were pressed together in a solid mass, and presenting thus a conspicuous target, the enemy concentrated upon them their whole line of artillery and infantry fire. Under the circumstances the
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troops could neither advance with success, nor retire with safety. Differently planned, the attempt, which proved so sad a disaster, might have resulted in a glorious victory. General Hartranft's opinion was that the troops should have been advanced in three columns-one to pass directly through the crater, and the other two to the right and left of it. It is well known that the explosion produced general consterna- tion in the Rebel lines. The troops actually fled from the fort on the left of the crater, so that the column advancing against it might have entered without opposition. Besides, general attention was so fully concentrated upon the crater, that the fort on the right might certainly have been carried. These two forts secured, the central column could not have been driven out of the crater. In addition to these circumstances, the assaulting forces would have had room to form and advance in order. The plan adopted was sent down from headquarters; and as it was a matter that related directly to military science, a citizen-general could not feel himself at liberty to openly criticise its pretensions. General Hartranft had some narrow escapes amid the dangers of this day. One of his orderlies, while sitting between his knees, was mor- tally wounded, and another was instantly killed while stand- ing at his side.
On the 18th of August, General Warren's corps, after a sharp engagement, succeeded in capturing the Weldon Rail- road. The following day General Hartranft's brigade was placed in reserve, as support to Warren in case of an attempt to recapture the prize. About five P. M. an aid from division headquarters brought him an order to report to General Ayres. He had just left Ayres, and knew that no effort was being made to disturb the lines in his vicinity; but hearing discharges of musketry on the right and front of his own position, he replied, " I will move in the direction of the fire ;" and galloping back found his command under arms. The facts of the situation were soon disclosed. Mahone's troops had broken through the line of Crawford's division, and were rapidly advancing. Prompt dispositions were made to receive
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them, and after a spirited contest the enemy gave way and retired. The casualties, however, were unusual for so brief an action. General Hartranft's horse was killed under him. A staff officer at his side lost his horse, and was severely wounded. The Colonel of the 51st was shot through both legs, and permanently disqualified for duty. On some parts of the line the forces were engaged almost hand to hand. At five o'clock next morning, August 21st, Hartranft, in obe- dience to orders, posted his brigade directly across the rail- road, facing the enemy, and threw up breastworks. About nine A. M. the enemy advanced, driving in his pickets; but on attempting his main line were terribly repulsed by the artillery, which Warren had so posted as to command the approaches, and behind which he had concentrated his entire force of infantry. In the fighting of the previous two days, though the Federal commander had taken and held the rail- road, which was his objective point, he had received more damage than he had inflicted. In Hartranft's judgment the lesson was, never fight a battle in the woods. In the action at Reams' Station, a few days subsequent, his command was ordered to the support of Hancock, but arrived in time only to cover his retreat. The next engagement of any importance was that of Poplar Spring Church. In this battle General Hartranft volunteered to command the brigade of Colonel Humphreys - that officer's term of service having expired- and the offer being accepted, his own brigade was gallantly led by Colonel Harriman of the 37th Wisconsin. His com- mand held the left of the Federal line. On his right our troops attacked, and were seriously repulsed; but owing to an intervening woods and a field of sorghum, these move- ments could not be distinguished ; and the enemy, pursuing, occupied a part of the same crest on which he was posted, when an order was sent to him from General Meade's chief of staff to retire. But believing his position to be secure, he inquired whether the order was peremptory. The aid said it was not; but our troops having been repulsed, it was deemed prudent that he should fall back, so as to form a closer connection with the main line of the army.
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After this action, reports of the campaign were ordered to be sent in to headquarters. When the army crossed the Rapidan, on the 5th of May, Hartranft's command numbered five thousand on paper- about three thousand being fit for duty. During the spring and summer the 37th and 38th Wisconsin and the 13th Ohio Cavalry, dismounted, were added to the brigade; but so severe had been its losses, that less than a thousand could be reported for service in the field. With this veteran remnant, during the autumn, he partici- pated in the first battle of Hatcher's Run.
About December 1st, 1864, General Hartranft was assigned to the command of six new Pennsylvania regiments - the 200th, 205th, 207th, 208th, 209th, and 211th. On applying for permission to organize them into a division, his request was granted. The division was about five thousand strong, and was designated as the third of the Ninth Corps. The General's headquarters were at the " Avery House "- not a hotel, but a farmer's mansion, in the vicinity of Petersburg. Diligent attention was given to the discipline of his troops, and every possible means was employed to promote their efficiency.
Nothing of special interest occurred till March 25th - a day never to be forgotten in this country, as the date of the battle of Fort Steadman. Only the briefest possible allusion can here be indulged. At four o'clock A. M., General Hart- ranft was roused from sleep by an unusual movement of his signal corps on the roof of the house. Suspecting something of importance, he jumped out of bed, and before he could dress himself, report was made that the Rebels had broken through our lines at a point near the Appomattox. Captain Dallien, staff officer of the day, was dispatched in haste to General Mclaughlin's headquarters for information; and returning, reported the capture of Fort Steadman, and the rapid advance of the enemy towards the river. Hartranft at once began to make dispositions for checking this dangerous movement. The 208th was sent to Mclaughlin's support. Riding at full speed to Colonel Diven's headquarters, he
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ordered him to take charge of this regiment, and make the best stand he could against any further attempts upon the left of our line. Pushing on to the camp of the 209th, nearly opposite the fort, he learned that the regiment had been with- drawn by order of General Wilcox, and upon arriving at his headquarters found that General, mounted, with his staff, his tents struck, and everything in readiness for a rearward move. Owing to the capture of his Adjutant-General, he did not know what part of his line, nor, in fact, whether any part of it, had been broken. Wilcox's first information of the grave event of the morning was received from Hartranft, who requested him to send a staff officer to conduct the 209th to a position near the fort. Then riding back to the camp of the 200th, Hartranft immediately moved it forward in line of battle, and, without waiting to throw out skirmishers, passed it across a ravine, and up the slope of a hill in the direction of the fort, posting it on the crest recently occupied as a camp by the 57th Massachusetts. The fire of the enemy was promptly directed upon this regiment, and soon became so severe that it yielded and fell back - the standard-bearer being killed, and the Colonel bringing off the colors. But the point was too important to be lost. So, rallying the men, General Hartranft sent them back, supporting them by the 209th, that had just come up and got into line. The determined efforts of the 200th had the effect of checking the enemy till reinforcements and the reserve artillery of the Ninth Corps could be brought forward and placed in position. In the meantime, the General had remained, mounted, with these advanced troops, though the exposure was so great that only one officer in four, bringing or conveying orders, had escaped being wounded.
Satisfied now that the advance of the enemy toward the river had been arrested, he returned to his rear, and found that the 205th and 207th, which he had ordered to be for- warded when he left his headquarters in the morning, had passed down the ravine, and taken position directly opposite 33
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the fort. All the regiments of his division were now in line near the fort except the 211th, which soon after arrived.
At this juncture an order came to General Hartranft from General Parke, commanding the whole army that day, to retake Fort Steadman, and preparations were instantly begun for its execution. The signal was to be a certain movement of the 211th, which had replaced the 200th on the crest of the dangerous hill. But when all was ready, a second order was received, postponing the attack till the arrival of the Fifth Corps. But feeling certain of success, and fearful that he would not be able to communicate with all his regiments in time to countermand the attack, General Hartranft deter- mined to disregard the order, and advance immediately to the assault. The result more than justified his decision. Confident in themselves, their cause, and their commander, the troops moved grandly to the encounter, and had the obstacles been much more formidable than they were, the triumph could have been no less certain. The Federal loss was two hundred and fifty, killed and wounded. In killed, wounded, and prisoners, the enemy's loss was not less than three thousand; but, what was of still greater importance, the success re-established the Federal line of investment. This deserves to be regarded as the most brilliant service of General Hartranft's military career; and that it was so con- sidered by the Government, is evident from the following documents :
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"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, " March 27th, 1865.
"To MAJOR-GENERAL J. G. PARKE,
" Commanding Ninth Army Corps.
" GENERAL: - The Commanding General directs me to acknow- ledge the receipt of your letter of this date, recommending Brigadier- General Hartranft, United States Volunteers, for the Brevet of Major- General of Volunteers, for his conspicuous gallantry in recapturing Fort Steadman during the action of the 25th inst., as well as for his industry and efficiency in organizing and disciplining his division, composed of new regiments.
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" In reply, I am directed to inform you that, before the receipt of your letter, a recommendation of this same effect had been made by the Commanding General to Lieutenant-General Grant, to which a response was received, that this nomination had been made to the Secretary of War, and a telegraphic answer returned, that the ap- pointment should be made. Since then the Commanding General is informed by telegraph that Brigadier-General Hartranft is brevetted Major-General, and the appointment has been forwarded by mail. Your recommendation is, however, forwarded to complete the record. "I am, General, very respectfully, " Your obedient servant, "GEORGE D. RUGGLES, " Assistant Adjutant-General."
" HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, " March 28th, 1865.
" BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN F. HARTRANFT,
"Commanding Third Division ..
"GENERAL: - The Commanding General instructs me to transmit herewith copy of communication from Commanding General Army of the Potomac of yesterday's date, which will explain itself.
" He bids me say, however, in connection therewith, that such prompt recognition of your services on 25th inst., by the President, the Lieutenant-General, and the Major-General commanding this Army, affords him the greatest pleasure, and he begs you will accept his hearty congratulations on your well-deserved promotion.
" I am, General, very respectfully, " Your obedient servant, "P. M. LYDIG, " Brevet Lieut .- Col. and A. A. General."
The final advance of the Federal army occurred April 2d, 1865. At daybreak General Hartranft's division attacked the Confederate lines immediately in front of Petersburg, and carried them, after a resistance which cost him in killed and wounded a thousand men. Many prisoners and guns were captured; and his skirmishers were the first Union
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troops that entered the city. In the pursuit of Lee, which followed the evacuation of Richmond, his columns advanced as far as Nottaway Court-House, but were not again engaged with the enemy.
The Ninth Army Corps was the first to return to Wash- ington. Upon its arrival, General Hartranft was detailed by Secretary Stanton as special Provost-Marshal, to take charge of the conspirators about to be tried for the assassination of President Lincoln. In the performance of this service and other duties arising therefrom, he was engaged till the middle of July, when he was ordered to the Department of Ken- tucky, and appointed by General Palmer on a military com- mission for the trial of guerillas and other outlaws. In January, 1866, he was honorably mustered out of service. The esteem in which the Government held him as a man and a soldier will be best understood from the following com- munication :
"WAR DEPARTMENT, "Washington, August 29th, 1866.
" SIR: - You are hereby informed that the President of the United States has appointed you 'Colonel of the Thirty-fourth Regiment of Infantry,' in the service of the United States, to rank as such from the twenty-eighth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six. Should the Senate at their next session advise and consent thereto, you will be commissioned accordingly.
" Immediately upon receipt hereof, please to communicate to this Department, through the Adjutant-General of the Army, your ac- ceptance or non-acceptance, and with your letter of acceptance return the oath hereinwith enclosed, properly filled up, subscribed and attested, and report your age, birthplace, and the State of which you were a permanent resident.
" EDWIN M. STANTON, "Secretary of War."
"COLONEL JOHN F. HARTRANFT, "34th Regiment U. S. Infantry."
This appointment was unsolicited and unexpected, and as
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he had decided to resume the pursuits of civil life, it was thankfully acknowledged, but respectfully declined.
In August, 1865, he was requested to permit the use of his name as a candidate for the office of Auditor-General, but did not consent till the morning of the day on which the convention assembled. He was nominated on the first ballot - the vote being made unanimous before it was declared - and elected by a majority of nearly twenty-three thousand. In 1868 he was renominated and re-elected by a handsome majority.
The manner in which he discharged the duties of this trust may be inferred from his nomination for the office of Gov- ernor, April 9th, 1872, and his election, on the 10th of October, by a majority exceeding thirty-five thousand. Three times submitted to the test of the popular vote, in the course of seven successive years, his signal success, in each instance, must be re- garded as a mark of extraordinary respect and confidence on the part of the people of his native State. He was inaugurated with the usual ceremonies, January 21st, 1873.
Governor Hartranft is in person tall and prepossessing. A vigorous constitution, and an active life, regulated by strictly temperate habits, have endowed him with superior powers of endurance. The balance of his intellectual and moral powers is well sustained. A few words will paint a truthful portrait. In boyhood dutiful and exemplary. At school and college thoughtful, studious, and regardful of authority. Among his fellow-students chiefly distinguished for those qualities which ripen into the leadership of men. Reserved in demeanor. Patient in investigation. Sound in judgment. Reticent in speech. Prompt and swift in exe- cution. In the very prime of manhood, he has assumed the duties of the chief magistracy, supported by the best wishes of the people of a grand Commonwealth.
Governor Hartranft was married January 26th, 1854, to Sallie Douglas Sebring, daughter of William L. Sebring, of Easton. Of this marriage there were six children, of whom four are living - two sons and two daughters.
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INDEX.
Abercrombie, General, placed in chief command against the French, 162; leads forces against forts on the lakes ; detachment of army of, captures Fort Du Quesne, 163.
Aberdeen, Scotland, George Keith, na- tive of, 106.
Abraham, Plains of, battle on, 164.
Active, The British ship, taken as a prize by four seamen ; seized by Cap- tain Houston and taken to port; trou- ble concerning award of the prize, 311. Acrelius, quoted, 49.
Adams, John, seconds motion on Inde- pendence, 186, 246; assists Patrick Henry, 242; visits Dickinson, 249; de- scribes Dickinson, 250; letter of, quoted, 277; letter of Mckean to, 298 ; friendship for McKean ; letter to Mckean, 305 ; tribute to McKean, 306 ; inauguration of; succeeded by Jeffer- son, 325; allied with Federal party, 343. Adams, Samuel, opposes Washington, 282; John Quincy, elected President, 346.
Aix-la-Chapelle, treaty of, 147.
Albany, fort near, 17; defence of, 111; Indian conference at, 129, 147; Gen- eral Congress at, 154, 260.
Alexander, Major General, 373; Major J. B., 405.
Alleghanies, The, settlers push beyond and come in contact with the French,
149; Virginians occupy land west of, 180.
Allen, Nathaniel, commissioner, arrives, 67; William, Chief Justice of the Col- ony ; Anne, daughter of Chief Justice, marries John Penn, 189.
Allison, Rev. Francis, tutor of Mckean, 289.
Almanac, Poor Richard's, maxims in, 256, 257.
Almond, W. B., 470.
Alrichs, Jacob, appointed director of City Colony, 44; seeks advice of Stuy- vesant, 45; wife of, dies, 46 ; death of, 47.
Alrichs, Pater, farm of, seized by Ensign
Stock, 52 ; to be councillor, 53 ; sent to New York to have murderers detected ; testifies before council, 55; Deputy Governor on west side of the Dela- ware, 56; appointed commander and schout; to administer oath of alle- giance, 57 ; deprived of office of Judge, but reinstated, 58.
Alter, Susan, marries Joseph Ritner ; David, 361.
America, settlements in, 17; forms alli- ance with France, 207; German emi- grants to, 308.
Amherst, General, under Abercrombie, 162; captures Ticonderoga and Crown Point, 163, 164; commands British army; captures all strongholds in Canada, 166.
Amsterdam, merchants of, fit out vessels, 19; chamber of, 22; city of, loans money to West India Company, 44; land on south bank of the Delaware sold to; commissioners of colony on Delaware, to reside in, 44; affects a loan ; buys territory on east side of the Delaware, 48.
Amundson, John, commissioned captain in the navy; superintends construc- tion of vessels on the Delaware; ob- tains grant of land, 36; military and naval authority bestowed upon, 36, 37. Amyrault, Moses, professor of divinity ; instructs Penn, 70.
Andre, Major, 224.
Andrews, Robert, 350.
Andros, Sir Edmund, made Governor; issues proclamation ; visits the Dela- ware; holds a court at New Castle, 58 ; issues instructions to justices ; pream- ble of instructions, 59 ; official misman- agement of; departs for England, 65. Angell, Colonel, at Fort Mercer, 205.
Anne, Princess, succeeds King William ; favors Penn, 116.
Antes, Catharine, marries Simon Snyder, 321.
Anthony, Joseph B., first teacher of Governor Pollock, 426; law tutor of Governor Packer, 435.
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Anti-Masonic party supports Ritner,
362, 370 ; Burrowes Chairman of State Executive Committee of the, 370.
Archives, Pennsylvania, quoted, 231. Armstrong, Colonel, destroys Indian-
town of Kittanning; gallantry of; presented with medal and plate by city of Philadelphia, 161; collects force in Cumberland County ; ad- vances upon, and destroys Indian towns; General, sends Colonel Boquet to relieve Fort Pitt, 168.
Armstrong County, Governor Johnston removes to, 405.
Armitage, Sarah, marries Thomas Mc- Kean, 306.
Arnold, General Benedict, commands camp for recruits, 200; wounded at Saratoga; assigned to command of Philadelphia, 211; Council brings charges against; extravagance of; marries; is court-martialled; resigns commission ; corresponds with British officers, 224; ruin of, traced, 225; Reed prosecutes charges against, 225 ; treason of; goes to Virginia as British officer, 248; treachery in the Umstead case, 311.
Arran, Lord of, forces under, joined by Penn, 71.
Artillerists, Republican, of Chester County ; erect monument at Paoli, 203. Assembly, of Province, meets at Chester ;
passes "Great Law," 86; adjourns ; met by Penn ; members of Council, and adopt new charter; number of mem- bers reduced, 87; grants Penn impost upon imports, 88; attempts to check arbitrary rule of Blackwell ; Governor Blackwell forms party in, 105; sum- moned by Fletcher, 110; money de- manded of, for defence of Albany ; passes rate bill ; dissolved by Fletcher, 111 ; met by Markham ; disregards or- ganic law ; passes money bill and new constitution ; number of members, 114; long debate of, on new constitution ; adopts constitution, 115; dissolves the union between Province and territories; number of representatives to the, dou- bled, 117; efforts in, by Governor Evans, to restore union of the territories and Province; obstinacy of, in opposing re-union ; bill confirming provincial charter, not approved by the Governor, 118; draws up address to the Proprie- tor ; quarrels of; dismissed by the Governor; new members elected, and business transacted with dispatch, 119 ; clamorous to prosecute Evans; cites offences of Evans; solicited to appro- priate money, by Gookin; new mem- bers of, elected ; passes prohibitory
slave law ; act of, against slavery an- nulled by the Crown, 122 ; leaves salary of Governor in arrears; Gov. Gookin refuses to recognize; committee of, driven from the Governor's door; adjourns without attending to any business, 124; convened by Keith ; asks Governor to dissolve, 125; Gov- ernor Keith's skilful management of; passes acts forming court of equi- ty, and a militia organization, 128; meets Gordon and addresses ; Keith foments difficulties in ; meets and pre- sents address to George II., 132; draws distinction in reference to treaties with Indians, 133; Mr. Paris agent of; stays hurtful resolution of, 135; con- gratulatory addresses to Thomas and John Penn, 135 ; met by Gov. Thomas ; Hamilton, Speaker, takes leave of, 141; averse to voting money, 142; messages pass between Governor and; complaints of, concerning enlistment of servants ; provides for losses of mas- ters of servants ; contentions between Governor and, increase, 143; refuses to vote Governor Thomas his salary ; answer to Governor's complaint ; Qua- ker element strong in; not to be sub- dued to Governor's will; votes arrear- ages of Governor's salary, 144; Gov- ernor communicates death of John Penn to, 145; urged to provide means of defence, but refuses, 146; objects to defensive warfare; votes money for gifts to the Indians, 150 ; demands that the Proprietors should bear part of expense of Indians; has controversy with the Proprietors, 151, 152; urged by Hamilton to vote money for de- fence ; provides for issue of paper cur- rency, 153; borrows money for sup- port of troops, 155, 156 ; sends Frank- lin to confer with Braddock, 156 ; votes fifty thousand pounds to the king's use for protection of the frontier; remon- strates with Governor against veto, 157; votes money for northern opera- tions, 158; Franklin takes seat in ; meeting of, 159; act of, for organizing militia ; money bill of, vetoed by Gov- ernor Denny, 160; passes bill levying one hundred thousand pounds upon all estates ; bill of, vetoed, 161; exempts Proprietary estates from taxation ; sends Franklin to England to represent grievances to the Throne against the Proprietors, 162; sends remonstrance to the Proprietors, 164; bill of, taxing Proprietary estates, approved by the King, 165; convened by Hamilton, 166; votes money to prosecute war against Indians; modifies bill to suit
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