USA > Pennsylvania > Martial deeds of Pennsylvania, Vol. 1 > Part 36
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When the enemy's plan of battle was developed he seemed intent on bringing his strength to bear on the Union left, where Colonel Baker's regiment stood. This was first discovered by two companies of skirmishers under Captain Markoe, who while ad- vancing into the wood, were unexpectedly confronted by the entire
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Eighth Virginia regiment, which suddenly rose up and charged with the bayonet. Heroically Markoe met it, and by a steady fire checked it, and not until two-thirds of these two companies and all their officers had fallen, did they give ground. Regiment after regiment came forward upon the left, but, being met by the steady aim and deadly volleys of Colonel Wistar's men, they were as often checked and driven back. In the midst of the fight a staff officer, Captain Stewart, came from General Stone with the glad tidings that General Gorman with 5000 men was advancing to their relief from Edward's Ferry; but they never came. At length, at about four o'clock, Baker having combatted with unex- ampled heroism greatly superior numbers, the enemy prepared to deliver a crushing charge with a force judged to be 2500 strong. It soon appeared on the top of the hill, its right wing closed in column, its left deployed in line. It had no sooner come in full view than the left delivered a volley, and the right charged with a yell down the hill. The two lines soon came to close quarters, and the Twentieth Massachusetts, in the midst of which Colonel Baker was, gave way, and that gallant officer, before whom listening senates had been held breathless and spell bound, and who in the face of danger knew no fear, fell pierced with many bullets and expired without a struggle. He had often enjoined upon his officers that, if he was slain they should not allow his body to fall into the enemy's hands. Captains Harvey of his staff, and Bierel of Company G, no sooner discovered that their idol- ized leader had fallen, than they headed a counter-charge, and with a yell rushed with the bayonet upon the advancing foe, with such terrible effect, as to stay the whole rebel line, and to thrust it back until the body of the fallen chief had been recovered and borne away in safety. The condition of the Union soldiers, which before had been hopeless, was now desperate. The leader fallen, and many of the bravest and the best gone down in the fight, the only alternative was for the survivors to cut their Įway out or surrender. Colonel Coggswell, who succeeded to the command, proposed to fight through to Edward's Ferry. But the way was completely cut off by strong bodies of the enemy, and the only escape was by the Bluff. Here, to the dismay of all, it was found that no means of recrossing the river were left, the
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only boat having been swamped. Few surrendered, and from the steep declivity down which they retired, a sharp fire was poured into the rebels as they showed themselves above, until late at night. Darkness favored the retreat, and each for himself chose his own way ; some up the river, some down, some stripping and plunging into the deep stream, where many perished.
The body of Colonel Baker was brought off, and transported to the Maryland side before the rout had begun. The manner of his death is quite circumstantially described by Lossing. " Eye-witnesses say that a tall, red-haired man appeared emerg- ing from the smoke, and approaching to within five feet of the commander, fired into his body the contents of a self-cocking revolver pistol. At the same moment a bullet entered his skull behind his car, and a slug from a Mississippi Yager wounded his arm and made a terrible opening in his side. Captain Bierel of the California regiment, who was close by Baker, caught the slayer of his friend by the throat, just as he was stooping to seize the Colonel's sword, and with his pistol blew out his brains."
Colonel Lee says : "Colonel Baker went to the left and passed into the woods. After a moment he came out of the woods on my front and left. The enemy were perhaps within fifty or seventy-five feet of the position in which he stood. There was a heavy firing there, and Colonel Baker was shot by a man with a revolver-shot in the temple-at least I supposed so, for as he was borne by me dead, I saw that his temple was bleeding. He passed to the rear a dead man."
Concerning the cause of the disaster in this affair much specu- lation has been indulged. A radical defect was in not having cavalry with which to scour all the approaches for a long distance around, and to ascertain what was in their front. The second was in not having thrown up some protection for men and guns, in a good position for defence, which should have been done by Colonel Lee at the outset, on first reaching the Mary- land shore, and have been continued by Colonel Devens. In a later day, men have rushed forward under the sheeted fire from musketry and artillery in well-manned breastworks, and with their tin cups and finger-ends have dug rifle-pits, sheltered themselves, and held their ground. The inadequacy in trans-
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portation, and the lack of an officer on the Maryland shore, to have had complete and entire control over such transpor- tation, and to have forwarded men and ammunition as they were wanted and were called for, -- the 'allowing a few isolated troops to be surrounded, and to fight for four hours without sup- porting them from right or left, when a sufficient force was within three miles,-and more than all, ordering such a demon- stration with the understanding that General McCall with a strong column was at Dranesville in short supporting distance, and then withdrawing the latter entirely, just as the demonstra- tion under Baker was opening, and without giving any notice of the withdrawal,-are all circumstances that would not have been allowed to occur in well-ordered military operations.
But the valor with which the troops fought, in an open, exposed position, against overwhelming odds, and even against hope, has never been questioned. Indeed, it is scarcely matched in the whole catalogue of heroic actions even in the most mar- tial ages. That a body of troops who had never before met a foe in mortal conflict should display such undaunted courage would seem incredible, did we not know the heroism of their leader, and the devotion which his fearless and lofty bearing upon the field had inspired.
The death of no officer during the whole war caused so pro- found a sensation, and such a feeling of real grief throughout the entire nation as that of Colonel Baker, and the sorrow was only exceeded by the tragic death of the good President himself. The words which he had uttered but a few short weeks before, "There will be some graves reeking with blood, watered by the tears of affection," when he was pleading with the fervor and devotion of his great heart for the integrity and well being of his country, seemed prophetic of his own sacrifice. His body was taken to Washington, and at the Capitol, amid places which had been familiar to him, solemn services were held, and the most gifted and eloquent of his associate Senators spoke in his eulogy. Mr. Sumner said : " He died with his face to the foe. . . . Such a death, sudden, but not unprepared for, is the crown of the patriot soldier's life." From Washington it was borne to New York, where, with flags at half-mast, and buildings mournfully
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draped, escorted by the military, and followed by many honored citizens, it moved to the sad strains of martial music to the pier of the steamer Northern Light, where it was embarked for Panama, and thence taken to its last resting-place on the far Pacific coast.
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OHN T. GREBLE, Lieutenant-Colonel in the regular army, and the first officer in that service who was killed in battle in the late war, was born at Philadelphia on the 19th of January, 1834. He was the eldest son of Edwin, and Susan Virginia (Major) Greble, both of whose ancestors carly settled in Pennsylvania, and were active for the patriot cause in the Revolutionary war. He was educated in the public schools of Philadelphia, graduating at the High School at the age of sixteen, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1850, and receiving the Master's degree in 1854. From his earliest years he had dis- played a strong predilection for the military profession, his favorite amusement in childhood being the movement of toy soldiers in imagined conflict. This taste becoming known to the representative in Congress from the district where he lived, his appointment as a cadet at West Point was solicited, and obtained from President Taylor. Ignatius L. Donnelly, who was a class- mate and intimate friend, in a quaint, but evidently heartfelt estimate of Greble's character, conveys some idea of the respect which he had thus early inspired. "He has," says Donnelly. "very strong good sense; sees very well into the actions of others, and will never do a disgraceful thing. . . . He is gene- rous to a fault. . . . He is energetic and an excellent confidant. His fault is not vanity. . . . He is brave, and dares do all that may become a man. He is inclined to religion. . . . In short, he is the embryo of a bold, honorable, true man; one that will be a glory to his name, and an honor to his country; and one that will always be my friend." Among his classmates were Ruger, Howard, Weed, and Abbot, on the Union side, and G. W. C. Lee, Deshler, Pegram, J. E. B. Stuart, Gracie, S. D. Lee, Pen- der, Villepique, Mercer, and Chapman on the rebel. The device for the class ring was a mailed hand holding a sword with the legend, " When our Country calls," leaving it in doubt whether the wearer would forsake, or defend it.
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On graduating he was sent to Newport barracks, Kentucky, as brevet Second Lieutenant in the Second artillery. In a letter addressed to his parents in grateful remembrance of their in- fluence upon his life and character, is a tribute to them which it were well if all children could bear to their parents. "And now," he says, "my thoughts carry me to my happy home in Philadelphia ; to the kind influences which surrounded me there ; to the loving hearts which so dearly cherished me. How kind . both father and mother in fostering and providing for my am- bition; inciting me to study; and supplying every want. . . . For what is polite or refined in my composition, I am indebted to you and my much loved sisters; whatever is affectionate is but what has been taught me by the love of all at home."
He had not been long at Newport before he was ordered to rejoin his regiment, then in Florida. The war which had been waged against the Seminole Indians for seven years had ended in 1849 ; but it was deemed necessary to keep a force of observation upon the border, and in preparation for their ultimate removal. His letters from the scene of his duty show keen discernment of the country and its inhabitants. His description of one portion is amusing. " I have," he says, "noticed the topography of the country through which I have passed. Go a little way, and you see pines. Go a little farther, and you see pines; and a little farther, and you see pines. Look as far as you can, and you see pines. It is a glorious country !"
His duties were very severe, taking him through the Ever- glades, and subjecting him to much exposure. But however disagreeable the service, or arduous, it was always faithfully performed. He often came in company with Billy Bowlegs, the chief of the Seminoles, who entertained a high opinion of his valor. When Greble, on one occasion, was alone with the chief. conversing about Florida affairs, the latter said : " If war should come between your people and mine, I will tell all my young men not to kill you. I will kill you myself. You must be killed by a chief."
While in camp at Fort Myers, engaged in drilling recruits, one of the number died. There was no chaplain to solemnize the rites of burial. He could not bring himself to be content with
Sincerely your Friend John I Grette LIEUTENANT U.S.A.
WED MUSIKERE THERE SIEMIAN THE APPEL- BATTERY AT TIG BETHEL VA MANE 10 TH REA
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consigning the body to the grave without some service. After many misgivings, he finally decided himself to officiate, and read over the dead body of his comrade the impressive funeral service of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He sought the opinion of his mother respecting the propriety of his course, saying in his letter : " I thought it was better than to place the body in the ground without any religious exercises." The mother answered : "It was better, much better, my dear son, and far more im- pressive to his comrades than it would have been had they walked away from his grave without hearing those comfort- ing words. Besides, these men will regard you with far more respect for having done so, than if you had allowed them to deposit their lost comrade in the narrow tomb without one word." General Hartsuff, who was then a brother officer, in speaking of Greble's life in Florida said : "He was constantly and actively engaged in the sometimes exciting, but oftener tedious, hard, and laborious duty in pursuing and wearing out the crafty and almost ubiquitous Indians, until the autumn of 1856, when his company was ordered out of Florida. This kind of duty, which is the most difficult and aggravating, offers fewer points, and tries more true soldierly qualities than any other. Lieutenant Greble developed in it the truest and best qualities of the good soldier and officer, winning the esteem and admira- tion of his brother officers, and the perfect confidence of the soldiers. . . . He never shrank from any duty, but always met it more than half way."
In December, 1856, he was ordered by Jefferson Davis, then Sec- retary of War, to duty at the West Point Academy as assistant Professor of Ethics. This was distasteful to him, as he pre- ferred active duty with his command; but he soon became recon- ciled, and here not long after, was affianced to a beautiful young woman, the daughter of Professor French, whom he subse- quently married. In October, 1860, he was relieved from duty at the academy, and was ordered to join his company, then on duty at Fortress Monroe. With his wife and two children, he took up his abode in two of the casemates of the fortress, which he had fitted up so as to be comfortable, and even beautiful. In April following, war opened, and all the women and children were
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ordered away from the fortress. He sent a notice of the order to his father at Philadelphia, who replied : "Your letter of the 17th was received about ten minutes ago. I was in hourly expecta- tion of receiving one. from you, and anticipated its contents. Send your family on to me; they shall be most welcome, and I will take good care of them as long as the trouble shall last. It is needless to say to you, be true to the Stars and Stripes! The blood of Revolutionary patriots is in your veins, and it must all be drawn out before you cease to fight for your country and its laws." . ..
.. General Butler was soon after put in command at Fortress Monroe, and commenced preparations to defend strategic points upon the James, and to plan operations against the rebel capital. Greble was promoted to Lieutenant, made Master of Ordnance, and sent, with other troops, to Newport News, charged with the responsible duty of superintending the construction of mili- tary works there, and instructing three thousand volunteers in artillery practice. In a few days a battery was put in position which completely commanded the ship-channel of the James, and the mouth of the Nansemond. Magruder, who had deserted his flag, and was now in chief command of the enemy in the immediate front, was evidently intent on seizing the positions at Newport News and Hampton. To this end he had occupied Big and Little Bethel. General Butler determined to break up and drive away the hostile forces at these points, and General Peirce was ordered to proceed on Sunday, the 9th of June, with a strong column to effect this purpose. Lieutenant Greble was to accom- pany it in command of two light guns. When the latter was shown the general plan of operations, he was much troubled; for he saw at a glance its inherent defects. "This is," he said, "an ill-advised and badly-arranged movement. I am afraid no good will come out of it. As for myself, I do not think I shall come off the field alive."
The troops were to commence the movement at a little after midnight. Advancing in the darkness, and proceeding from different points, they unfortunately mistook each other for the foc, and one party not having been apprised of the watchword, they twice fired into each other. The enemy occupied a strong
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position on the bank of Back Creek, where formidable earth- works had been thrown up. Between nine and ten in the morn- ing, Peirce had arrived in front of this position, near Big Bethel, and determined to attack. The advance was boldly and resolutely made under the immediate direction of General G. K. Warren ; but the foe was well posted, and his fire soon began to tell upon the advancing column. Unable to stand the ordeal, it fell back ; and now was seen the skill and valor of Greble. Fearing the effect of a counter-dash by the foc, he stood by his guns, sighting them himself, and dealt double charges of canister with such rapidity and effect as to silence the rebel artillery, and to deter an advance for nearly two hours. In the meantime Peirce had prepared for a second assault. It was made, and for a time with the prospect of success; but again having fired into each other, and a portion of the attacking force having been thrown into confusion, it was finally withdrawn. The day was lost; but Greble still maintained his position. Only five of his men were left, and he could work but one gun. He was appealed to by an officer to withdraw, or to dodge, as others had done. His reply was, "I NEVER DODGE! When I hear the bugle sound a retreat I will leave, and not before." - That order soon came; but it had scarcely been received, when he was struck by a ball from the enemy's gun a glancing blow on the right side of the head. "Sergeant !" he exclaimed, "take command-go ahead !" and then fell dead by the side of his gun. His body was placed upon the piece and taken back to Fortress Monroe. In his pocket was found a note in pencil, evidently written on the field, addressed to his wife, in which he said, "God give me strength, wisdom, and courage. If I die, let me die a brave and honorable man; let no stain of dishonor hang over me or you. Devotedly, and with my whole heart's love." His re- mains were removed to Philadelphia, where, amid the tolling of bells and the booming of cannon, and profound demonstra- tions of approbation, all business in the city being suspended, he was laid to rest.
Tokens of esteem and appreciation were freely offered to his memory. Officers of the army at Fortress Monroe in their reso- lutions said, " The heroic death of this gallant officer fills us all
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with admiration and regret. Standing at his piece in the open road in front of the enemy's battery till shot down, he served it with the greatest coolness, and most undaunted courage." The Select and Common Councils of Philadelphia tendered the use of Independence Hall for his obsequies, and in most eloquent and impressive resolutions declared, "Our city is called to deplore the loss of a most worthy citizen, and our country, one of her noblest defenders." His companions in the artillery, in their homely, honest way, were unstinted in their praise of him. Lieutenant Lodor, in a note written just after the battle, said : "Just think of poor John Greble's death ! Was it not awful, Bill ? He was · a noble man ; one of the kind you don't often meet in this world ; modest -- particularly so-unassuming, retiring; a perfect dispo- sition, and, withal, as brave as a lion. Oh, I tell you it was grand the way he stood there and took the fire of the whole battery, and just as cool and quiet as at a drill. The volunteer officers cannot praise him enough. They think him a brave of the first order." In a conversation long afterwards with Robert Dale Owen, President Lincoln is reported to have said, "that of all those who had fallen, or who had distinguished themselves in the present contest, it was his deliberate judgment, that not one had acted so heroically nor deserved so well of his country as Lieutenant Greble."
In recognition of his services and his valor the ranks of Brevet Captain, Major, and Lieutenant-Colonel were conferred by the unanimous consent of the Senate of the United States; and Sec- retary Stanton, in forwarding the commissions to the father of the deceased, wrote: "I have the pleasure of inclosing to you the commissions conferred in honor of the memory of your son John T. Greble, the first officer of the regular army who perished in the war for the suppression of the Rebellion. His distinguished character, his gallant conduct on the field where he fell, and his devoted sacrifice to the cause of his country, will make his name and memory illustrious."
4.
ENECA GALUSHA SIMMONS, Colonel of the Fifth Reserve regi- ment and Major of the Fourth United States Infantry, was born on the 27th of December, 1808, in Windsor county,
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Vermont. He was the son of Alfred, and Deborah (Perkins) Simmons. His boyhood was passed for the most part upon a farm, he receiving only such advantages of education as could be obtained from a country school. At the age of fourteen he left his native state, and entered the military school of Captain Partridge, then located at Middletown, Connecticut, in which he remained several years, accompanying that school on its removal to Georgetown, District of Columbia. While there, he received from President Jackson, the appointment of cadet at West Point. He graduated with distinction in 1834, and was assigned to the Seventh Infantry. In the following August he married Miss Elmira Adelaide Simmons of Harrisburg.
Previous to joining his regiment, in the autumn of that year. he was assigned to topographical duty, under Major McNiell, and assisted in the survey of the harbor of Apalachicola, Florida. During the summers of 1835-36, he was engaged under Colonel Long upon surveys in the State of Maine; first on the coast, and then on a contemplated line of railway between Belfast and Que- bec, Canada. In the winter of 1837, he joined his regiment, and shortly after received the appointment of Aid to General Ar- buckle, then in command of the Department of the South- west. He was also made Assistant Adjutant-General, which position he held for several years, retaining it after General Taylor assumed command, and until relieved by Colonel Bliss, the General's son-in-law. His regiment was then, the spring of 1842, serving in Florida, and thither he immediately repaired. At the conclusion of the Florida war, his regiment was detailed for duty in garrisoning Gulf posts, and he was stationed at Fort Pike, Louisiana, where he remained during the years 1842-13, transacting in addition to the duties of his position in his com- pany, those of Commissary and Quartermaster to the Post. When his turn came for being detailed on recruiting service he was ordered to Syracuse, New York, and was engaged in that duty until the opening of the Mexican war. On his arrival in the enemy's country, he was immediately assigned as Assistant Commissary and Quartermaster at Matamoras. During the year 1847, he remained at his post ; but on being promoted to Captain he rejoined his regiment then en route for the city of Mexico.
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At the close of the war, and the return of the troops, his regiment was stationed at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. A por- tion of the command, including his own company, was ordered for special duty to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. While here he received a severe injury, which seemed for a time likely to prove fatal, and from which he never entirely recovered. One knee was frightfully crushed, and the wound, after some years of intense suffering, resulted in permanent lameness ; but not to such an extent as to unfit him entirely for duty. While yet upon crutches, he was, in 1857, sent upon recruit- ing service to Pottsville. While here he so far recovered as to attend to active duty, and was sent to take command of Fort Arbuckle, upon the frontier. His regiment was soon after- wards sent to Utah. As the labor was likely to prove too ardu- ous for him in his crippled state, he sought and obtained a furlough, and joined his family in Harrisburg, where he was living at the outbreak of the Rebellion. When troops were called, Captain Simmons was made mustering officer for Penn- sylvania volunteers.
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