USA > Pennsylvania > Martial deeds of Pennsylvania, Vol. 2 > Part 23
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On returning home he was tendered a commission as Colonel of a regiment which he should raise ; but impatient of delay, he united with Colonel Joseph F. Knipe in recruiting, and was com- missioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the Forty-sixth regiment. It left for the field on the 17th of September, 1861, and was reported to General Banks at Darnestown, Maryland, participating under him in the action at Kernstown, in the two battles at Win- chester, and at Cedar Mountain. In the latter engagement the Forty-sixth was led over open and exposed ground in assaults upon the enemy's guns. The slaughter in its ranks was fear- ful, Colonel Selfridge having his horse shot under him and receiving a slight wound. He was also engaged with his regiment on the Rappahannock, and in the second battle of Bull Run under Pope ; at South Mountain and Antietam under Mcclellan; at Chancellorsville under Hooker; and at Gettysburg under Meade. During the progress of the battle of Antietam Selfridge took com- mand of the regiment, Colonel Knipe leading the brigade. When Hooker with the Eleventh and Twelfth corps went to the assist- ance of Rosecrans at Chattanooga, Selfridge was of the column, and in the campaign on Atlanta took a prominent part in the battles of Resaca, Dallas, Pine Knob, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, and Peach Tree Creek. In the latter action Hood attacked the Union right with terrific violence. Nothing like its impetuosity had been witnessed in the whole protracted and
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JAMES L. SELFRIDGE.
bloody campaign. On that part of the line where the weight of the blow fell stood Colonel Selfridge with his indomitable Forty- sixth. Its valor with that of the rest of the noble division was equal to the emergency, and in the bloody repulse which the enemy received none were more conspicuous than Selfridge. At Marietta, Cassville, and the descent upon Atlanta, he was likewise unremittingly engaged, and so marked had been his courage, and so constant and unwavering his gallantry throughout the entire campaign-covering a hundred days in which the noise of battle was scarcely hushed for a single hour-that at its conclusion General A. S. Williams, the veteran commander of the First · division, commended him to the attention of the Government in the following forcible language : "This officer has been in service since the beginning of the Rebellion. For over three years he has been constantly in the field, and ever at the post of duty. Few officers have been so steadily with their commands, so prompt, intelligent, and capable. The condition of his regiment bears testimony to the superiority of its commander."
On leaving Atlanta Colonel Selfridge took command of the brigade, and during the March to the Sea was chiefly occupied in destroying railroads, though having part in the engagement at Monteith Swamp, and the siege of Savannah, soon after which he was promoted to Brevet Brigadier-General. In the movement of the army northward through the Carolinas he continued to lead his brigade, and participated with it in the actions at Averysboro and Bentonville. At the conclusion of hostilities he was mustered out, having shared the fortunes of his command with constancy and fidelity from the first to the last day of the service. In tes- timony of this General Sherman said of him, "General Selfridge was one of my steady, hard-working and fighting brigade com- manders, and served all the time."
Since the war General Selfridge has taken an active part in public interests, and has been prominently named for the office of Governor. While yet at the front, on Sherman's famous march, he was nominated to represent the eleventh district in Congress, and though it was politically hopelessly against him, his oppo- . nent's majority was reduced nearly 2000 votes. In 1857 he was nominated for Senator, and made an equally strong canvass .. He
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had been appointed by President Lincoln Assessor of Internal Revenue for the eleventh district, but was removed by President Johnson. In 1868 he was elected Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania, a position to which he was an- nually reelected until 1873, when he was no longer a candidate. In 1872 he removed to Philadelphia, and became proprietor in the business of the Lehigh Hydraulic Cement Company. He was appointed by Governor Geary Major-General of the Seventh division of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, which commission he still holds.
OHN DEVEREUX, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Sixty-ninth regi- ment, was born on the 26th of March, 1830, in the city of Philadelphia, of which place his parents were natives. He was educated at St. John's College, in the city of New York, where he graduated in 1849. He entered the military service as Adjutant of the Twenty-fourth regiment, which served with Stone and Pat- terson before Washington and in the Shenandoah Valley. At the end of its term of three months, he assisted Colonel Owen in recruiting the Sixty-ninth, a veteran regiment, of which he was commissioned Major, and had command of the camp of instruction at Chestnut Hill. He was at Ball's Bluff in the fall of 1861, and in 1862 made the campaign of the Peninsula, having an active part in all the operations from Yorktown to Malvern Hill. At the Second Fair Oaks, and at Charles City Cross Roads, his regiment received much credit for its gallant bearing from General Burns, and also from General Hooker, who could never brook mediocrity. He was also conspicuous under Pope at Bull Run, and under McClellan at South Mountain. At Antietam a great misfortune befell him. He was with his command in the hottest of the fight, leading on as became his heroic nature, when he was shot through the body, the missile passing close to the spine, inflicting a severe and well-nigh fatal injury. For seven months he was confined to his bed, and while in this situation was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel. Believing that he would never be able to render further active service, he resigned in March, 1863. But in November following, having partially recovered, he was appointed by the President Major in the Veteran Reserve corps, and served
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constantly on such duty as he was able to perform until the 1st of September, 1866, acting in the capacity of Inspector, member and president of general court-martial, examiner for entrance to the army, Assistant Provost-Marshal-General, commandant of rendezvous for the muster out of troops, and in charge of a dis- trict in South Carolina. He was tendered a commission as Major in the regular army, but was compelled to decline it for physical disability. "His' services," says General Burns, "should always entitle him to the commendation of a grateful country, and to any reward open to a brave, intelligent, and capable officer." By General Sedgwick he was characterized as "a gal- lant and excellent officer, who always performed his duty whilst under my command with zeal and fidelity."
OSHUA THOMAS OWEN, Colonel of the Sixty-ninth regiment, and Brigadier-General, was born on the 29th of March, 1825, in Wales. His father, David Owen, a native Welshman, was a woollen manufacturer of Caermarthenshire, whence with his family he emigrated to this country in 1830. His mother was Jane (Thomas) Owen. The boy was early put to learn the trade of a printer, but pursued a liberal course of study, and graduated at Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, in the class of 1845. He was fond of adventure, and by mental endowment and culture given to argumentation. Naturally, therefore, in choosing a profession, he adopted that of the law. During the period in which he was pursuing his legal studies, he was principal of a male academy at Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, which had become his residence. He knew nothing of military service previous to the Rebellion, but when its mutterings were heard he was quick in enlisting in the First City Troop. Upon the organization in May, 1861, of the Twenty-fourth regiment, for the three months' service, he was commissioned Colonel. At the expiration of its term Colonel Owen recruited one for three years. It was com- posed of good fighting material, and Colonel Owen took a soldier's pride in drilling and disciplining it to a high state of proficiency, and led it in the battles of Fair Oaks, Savage Station, Charles City. Cross Roads, and Malvern Hill. At Charles City Cross Roads, Colonel Owen particularly distinguished himself, his
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gallant conduct attracting the attention and complimentary notice of General Hooker. "About three o'clock," says Hooker, "the enemy commenced a vigorous attack on McCall, and in such force that General Sumner voluntarily tendered me the services of a regiment which was posted in the open field on my extreme This right, and under shelter from the enemy's artillery. was the Sixty-ninth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, under Colonel Owen." Hooker saw from the outset that the weight of the attack was likely to prove too powerful for McCall to with- stand, and in anticipation of his giving way he had said to Colonel Owen, when designating the ground he was to occupy, " Hold this position, and keep the enemy in check at all hazards." This he said with glowing check and a flash of the eye unusual to him, even in battle. As had been anticipated McCall's left did give way, and then the enemy came on in masses, flushed with victory. Owen ordered his men to kneel, and when the foe came rushing forward he gave the signal to fire. A sheet of flame blazed out which sent the line staggering back. But they were in heavy force, and soon recovering, again advanced, overlapping this single regiment on either flank. Seeing that he must be overwhelmed if he remained longer in his posi- tion, he boldly ordered his regiment to fix bayonets and charge. Springing to their feet, they dashed forward 'with a shout and quickly routed the foe. "The Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania," says Hooker, " heroically led by Owen, advanced in the open field on their flunk (First Massachusetts) with almost reckless daring."
The rank of Brigadier-General, on the recommendation of Generals Hooker, Howard, and Hancock, was bestowed upon him, and he was assigned to the command of the brigade to which his old regiment belonged. In the advance upon Fred- · ericksburg, in December, 1862, Owen's brigade was the first to cross the pontoons and march upon the city. It was on the 11th that he crossed, and all that night he was engaged in street fighting, and in clearing the town of sharpshooters, who had taken refuge in the buildings, and who from their sheltered posi- tion were maintaining a destructive, desultory fire. It was dan- gerous and harassing labor; but it was thoroughly accomplished. and on the 12th he was sent to take a position on the outskirts
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of the town, from which a whole division had been previously driven, which he gained and manfully held during the entire day. For his services here he was especially commended by Generals Howard and Couch. In the battle of the Wilderness he led his brigade in a seemingly hopeless charge from the right of the Second corps, which was successfully pushed, checking the enemy, and protecting that wing from being turned. The gallantry of this act won the hearty commendation of General Birney. At Cold Harbor General Owen received warm encomiums for the heroic manner in which he led his brigade and gained a position far in advance of the main line. In all the battles of the Army . of the Potomac he participated, never from any cause being absent when important movements were about to be undertaken. For one so much exposed in the fearless discharge of his duty, few escaped with so little of bodily harm. He had two horses shot under him, and the one which he rode in most of the active campaigns was several times wounded. Previous to the war General Owen represented Philadelphia in the Legislature, and was Recorder of Deeds for the city. He was married, in 1852, to Miss Annie J. Sheridan, daughter of Owen Sheridan, of Chestnut Hill. In person he is above the medium height, and inclined in later years to corpulency.
ILLIAM H. LESSIG entered the service of the United States as Captain in the Ninety-sixth regiment in September,
1861. While upon the Peninsula he was prevented by sickness from taking part in more than the opening operations. In Sep- tember, 1862, he was promoted to Major, and participated in the actions of South Mountain and Antietam, soon after which he was advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel, and commanded his regi- ment in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. He was commissioned Colonel in March, 1863, and led at Rappahannock Station, through the campaign of 1864. from the Rapidan to the James, and Sheridan's brilliant career in the Shenandoah Valley. At the conclusion of his term, in October, 1864, he was mustered out of service, having won an enviable reputation for gallantry and valor.
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E DMUND LOVELL DANA, Colonel of the One Hundred and Forty-third regiment, and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born on the 29th of January, 1817, at Wilkesbarre, Pennsyl- vania. He was the son of Asa S. and Nancy (Pruner) Dana. Ile was educated at Yale College, graduating with honor in the class of 1838. For a year after completing his academic studies he was employed as a civil engineer ; but applied himself to the law and was admitted to practice in 1841. Having attached himself to the Wyoming Artillerists, he held the rank of Lieu- tenant and Captain in that company in the years 1844-'45. Two years later, at the breaking out of the Mexican War, he volun- teered and served as Captain of Company I, First Pennsylvania infantry, throughout the entire period of that contest. At the landing of the troops under General Scott at Anton . Lizards, on the 9th of March, 1847, he was in Patterson's division, and par- ticipated in the siege, bombardment, and capture of Vera Cruz, and the Castle of San Juan D'Ulloa. He bore a part also in the battle of Cerro Gordo, and led a storming party composed of his own and Company A of the First Pennsylvania, at Black Pass. For his conduct in the siege of Puebla in September and October he was complimented in general orders. With his company he marched to the city of Mexico, and when the war was ended returned with it to Pennsylvania. During the summer and fall of 1862 he was active in recruiting the One Hundred and Forty- third regiment, of which he was commissioned Colonel. He par- ticipated in the movement to Pollock's mills, and in the battle of Chancellorsville.
Colonel Dana's most sustained and signal action was at Gettys- burg. Reynolds had fallen, Stone and Wister been wounded, when Colonel Dana succeeded to the command of the brigade. It stood in the centre of the line on open ground. Round shots and shells ploughed the field. From the rebel infantry were poured showers of deadly missiles, as in repeated assaults and with ever fresh troops they charged forth; but though outnum- bered three to one, and outflanked, that devoted corps stood firm, dealing death in return upon the daring foc, and when finally it was forced to retire went defiantly with flaunting colors, often halting to deliver its fire. The rebel General Hill reported at
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evening to Lee that the Yankees had fought with a determina- tion unusual to them. Changes of front were repeatedly, and with the utmost precision, made under Colonel Dana's orders, and new lines of defence formed as the exigencies demanded, and after the close of this severe and prolonged struggle the remains of the brigade were withdrawn in good order through the town and formed on Cemetery Hill. Few commands lost more heavily or did more gallant service. During the succeeding days of the battle, he acted in support upon the left centre of the Union line.
In the battle of the Wilderness, on the first day of the fight, Colonel Dana was wounded, his horse having been shot under him, and he was taken captive. For three months he languished in rebel prisons, and a part of the time was held under the fire of the Union guns at Charleston. After regaining his freedom he rejoined his command, then before Petersburg, and in the battles at Poplar Grove Church, Hatcher's Run, Weldon Rail- road, Petersburg, and a Second Hatcher's Run, he bore an im- portant part, commanding for a portion of the time his old brigade, though having been transferred, in the.consolidation of organizations, to the Fifth corps. In the siege of Petersburg Colonel Dana was especially commended by General Warren in command of the Fifth corps, for his energy and courage displayed in advancing, against strong opposition, the corps skirmish line. The line in front of the corps was irregular, a covert of wood sheltering the enemy, who had established several advanced posts. To straighten it and drive the enemy out was strongly desired by the Union commander, and this Colonel Dana was set to do. Making his dispositions he ordered a bold movement, and after a severe struggle routed the foe and gained the ground. This gave the Union line the advantage of the wood where the enemy had lurked. He was subsequently brevetted a Brigadier-General.
At the close of the war General Dana resumed the practice of his profession, and in 1867 was elected an additional law judge for the eleventh judicial district, in which capacity he is now acting. In person he is of medium height, and of fair com- plexion. He was married on the 28th of March, 1842, to Miss Sarah H. Peters.
CHAPTER XII.
AMUEL WYLIE CRAWFORD, Colonel of the Second infantry, Brigadier-General of volunteers, and Brevet Major-General, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, of Scotch descent. He was educated at the University in Philadelphia, where he graduated in the Collegiate department in 1846, and in the Medical in 1850. He was appointed Assistant Surgeon on the 10th of March, 1851, and till 1856 served in Texas and New Mexico, in the practice of his profession and in scientific research. During this time he made extensive collections in natural history, in a region hitherto little known-El Paso del Norte ; and wrote a treatise on the fauna and flora of the country upon the head-waters of the Rio San Saba, which was published by
Congress. Receiving orders to return, he passed through Mexico, and upon his arrival at the city of Mexico, the United States Minister, by consent of the War Department, retained him at the legation to assist in the negotiation of a treaty then pending. In 1857 he bore a barometer to the summit of the volcano Popocatepetl, reaching the crater in company of a single guide. The measurement which he made of its altitude was reported to the Prussian Government by a party of scientists sent out to verify Humboldt's discoveries, but who failed to make the ascent. Not content with his first experience he again wended his way to its dizzy heights, remained all night in the crater, was let down by cords into its depths, and brought out valuable mineralogical specimens, which were deposited in the cabinet at West Point. He also ascended Istuchihuatle (the White Woman), verifying the fact that no traces could be dis- covered of volcanic activity. For his explorations here he was
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made a member of the Geographical Society of Mexico. At the conclusion of leave of absence he was the bearer of despatches to Washington, and after his arrival was ordered to duty as Assistant Surgeon with the troops in Kansas. In 1860 he was assigned as Surgeon with the forces at Fort Moultrie, in Charles- ton harbor, reporting to Lieutenant-Colonel John Gardner of the First artillery.
On the ever memorable evening of December 26th, 1860, the faithful and chivalrous Major Anderson determined to abandon Moultrie and remove all to Sumter, an act to which he was incited by the highest considerations of patriotic duty. In an enterprise of hazard like this Surgeon Crawford could not be con- tent to confine himself to the simple duties of his post, and upon the seizure of Sumter applied to be assigned as an officer of the line, illustrating the sentiment of the hero in Ivanhoe : "Thou knowest not how impossible it is to one trained to actions of chivalry to remain passive as a priest or a woman when they are acting deeds of honor around him. The love of battle is the food upon which we live-the dust of the melee is the breath of our nostrils. We wish to live no longer than while we are victorious and renowned." He was assigned as desired, and throughout the bombardment commanded a battery of two thirty-two and one forty-two pounders. He assisted Captain Foster in spiking the guns at Moultrie, on the 26th, and on the following day returned to that fort and aided in destroying the gun carriages, and in the removal of the ammunition and stores. His nerve in the fight was the subject of commendation by Major Anderson in his communications to the War Department and he was recom- mended for the rank of Brevet Major.
With honor unsullied, having defended the fort until their supplies were exhausted and their quarters burned, the troops under Major Anderson retired and proceeded to New York, where Crawford was assigned to duty at Governor's Island. While here he was appointed Major of the Thirteenth infantry, and ordered to duty with General Rosecrans, then operating in West Virginia against the rebel General Floyd. Upon his arrival he was appointed Assistant Inspector-General of the department and was employed in this capacity, and as special
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Aide-de-camp to the General in that short but brilliant campaign which routed the enemy. On his return with General Rosecrans to Wheeling, he was recommended for appointment to Brigadier- General, in response to a request from General McClellan to name two officers from that department for that rank. He was appointed accordingly, and ordered to report for duty to General Banks in the Shenandoah Valley. He was with that General, acting upon his staff, at the battle of Winchester, and in the retire- · ment to the Potomac was assigned to the command of a brigade, which he continued to lead in the movement up the valley. On the 3d of August he made a reconnoissance to Orange Court House, and in a brisk action discovered that Jackson and Ewell were concentrating at Gordonsville and Louisa Court House. On the 8th of August he was sent to the support of Bayard who was falling back with his cavalry, and established himself at Cedar Run, checking the enemy's advance. In the battle of Cedar Mountain, on the following day, Crawford had the extreme right . of the line. At a critical juncture he moved under a severe fire, flanking the enemy upon the left and turning him out of his posi- tion, but was in turn driven, Jackson having been heavily reinforced. For three days skirmishing was kept up upon the Rappahannock, and during the Second Bull Run battle he com- manded a division. At Turner's Gap and at Antietam he led a brigade of seven regiments, and, after the fall of General Mans- field, a division. At daylight on the 17th of September, on the Antietam field, he advanced to battle and drove the enemy across the Hagerstown road. In an attempt to clear the wood around the Dunkard Church he was severely wounded, but refused to leave the field, and when General Franklin subsequently came to his relief, accompanied him in his advance, pointing out the posi- tions held by the foe. His wound becoming painful, he retired to a hospital. Before recovering completely he applied for light duty and was appointed a member of a military commission sitting in Washington.
On the 19th of May, 1863, General Crawford was assigned to the command of the Pennsylvania Reserves, and, on the 23d of June, was ordered to join the Army of the Potomac, marching with the Fifth corps to Gettysburg. On the afternoon of the 2d
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of July he was sent to the left, and took position on the slopes of Little Round Top. Four of his regiments under Colonel Fisher he ordered to the support of Vincent's brigade, then engaged in a mortal struggle with Hood. The balance of his command he formed for a charge to meet the oncoming enemy, who had broken and driven every Union force hitherto sent against them. Know- ing that the moment was a critical one he rode down the line, calling upon his troops to move forward, and seizing the flag of the first, advanced to the charge. An act like this has never failed to inspire men. A similar instance is recorded of Reynolds at Bull Run; and at Charles City Cross Roads the dauntless Kearny, seeing the right of his brigade giving way, with his reins in his teeth, his only arm wielding his sword, dashed down between the hostile lines where the missiles of death were merci- lessly raining. Awed by the majesty of the act, both sides ceased firing. Crawford's men were not less susceptible, and when the word was given to advance they moved with unfalter- ing step, breasted the storm that was beating full in their faces, reached the stone wall behind which the enemy had been shelter- ing themselves, and drove them in confusion. On the following day, under the immediate supervision of General Meade, Craw- ford's command moved upon the forces of Hood, made some captures, and held the ground which had been lost on the pre- vious evening.
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