USA > Pennsylvania > Martial deeds of Pennsylvania, Vol. 2 > Part 25
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AVID B. McCREARY, Colonel of the One Hundred and Forty- fifth regiment and Brevet Brigadier-General, was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, on the 27th of February, 1826. Hc was of Scotch-Irish extraction, his ancestors having originally settled in Lancaster and Dauphin counties, whence his parents removed to the place of his birth early in the present century.
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DAVID B. McCREARY .- JAMES A. GALLIGHER.
He was educated at Washington College. Like many other soldiers who attained distinction in the late war, he passed his novitiate in the Wayne Guards, under command of John W. McLane, and when that sterling officer recruited the Erie regiment for three months McCreary served with him as a Lieutenant. In the raising of the One Hundred and Forty-fifth he labored assiduously, and was elected Captain of Company D, and afterwards Lieutenant-Colonel. He reached the front just as the two armies were joining battle on the field of Antietam, and was under fire. He participated in the battles of Fredericks- burg, Chancellorsville, Mine Run, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg. At Fredericksburg the slaughter was terrible. At Petersburg, on the 16th of June, 1864, his brigade made a daring charge over open ground upon an enemy well intrenched. The movement was heroically executed, but it proved vain, and while endeavor- ing to establish a line the force was flanked and the entire body, including Colonel McCreary, who was in command of the regi- ment, fell into the enemy's hands. For a period of ten months he had experience of Libby, Macon, Charleston, and Columbia. Upon his release the war was well nigh at an end, and he was mustered out with his regiment. He was commissioned Colonel, and was brevetted Colonel and Brigadier-General by the President. Upon his return to private life he resumed the practice of law, which he had abandoned on going to the field. General McCreary was a member of the Legislature of Pennsylvania at the sessions of 1866, 1867, and 1870, where he took high rank as a debater and working member, and was Adjutant-General of the State under Governor Geary in 1867-'68, and 1869.
AMES A. GALLIGHER, Colonel of the Thirteenth cavalry, was born in Philadelphia, on the 4th of April, 1814. His father, Philip Galligher, was a native of Belfast, Ireland. He was educated at Gettysburg, but in his youthful exuberance of spirits cared more for equestrian exercise than the abstruse prin- ciples of science. He finally became an instructor of horseman- ship and sword practice. He was active in recruiting at the opening of the war and became Colonel of the Thirteenth cavalry. He was ordered to duty at Point of Rocks, and while scouting in
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MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA.
that vicinity his troops brought in a Captain Jones, of the British army, who had upon his person photographs of all the fortifica- tions in and about Richmond, and of over a hundred rebel ladies and army officers. In the campaign in the Shenandoah Valley under General Milroy, Colonel Galligher was ceaselessly em- ployed against the irregular bands of Moseby and White, who, by their complete acquaintance with the country and having the population in their interest, were able to do great injury to the Union forces. In a charge upon the enemy at Fisher's Hill he was thrown from his horse and received internal injuries which eventually compelled him to withdraw from the service. He was subsequently appointed Assistant Assessor of Internal Reve- nue for the Fifth District of Pennsylvania. Colonel Galligher was by natural taste and inclination a soldier. His regiment was kept in excellent condition, for which he was especially com- plimented by his superior officers.
ENJAMIN FRANKLIN WINGER, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Second artillery, was born in Lancaster county, on the 27th of November, 1835. He was the son of Joseph and Esther (Buck- walter) Winger. He was ambitious for a military education, and, failing in an application to the member of Congress from his district, he sought the appointment at large to West Point from Jefferson Davis, then Secretary of War, but without success. HIe served as Captain in the militia and aid to the General of division. He was married on the 20th of May, 1857, to Miss Susan J. Duffield. In August, 1862, he was commissioned a First Lieutenant in the Second artillery, and in that capacity served in the defences of Washington until detailed on duty as Assistant Inspector-General in the defences north of the Potomac. In the summer of 1864, this regiment, which numbered over 4000 men, was organized as two infantry regiments and sent to the front. Lieutenant Winger was commissioned Captain of Company B, of the new regiment, but declined this honor, pre- ferring to remain with his old company. For fifty-five days his command was kept in the trenches. In one instance he was ordered by General Ames to advance between the hostile lines, where several officers while examining the picket posts had been
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BENJAMIN F. WINGER .- RICHARD B. ROBERTS.
captured, and lay an abatis for their protection. This he promptly undertook and accomplished without loss, and without even drawing the fire of the foe. At another time he was ordered to occupy an old picket line on the Petersburg front, and was compelled to advance directly over the breastworks in the face of a storm of bullets. Calling for volunteers, he effected his purpose with small loss, the new line being permanently held and strengthened. In September, the remnants of the two regi- ments were reunited, and in January following Captain Winger was promoted to Major. In May, to Lieutenant-Colonel of the combined regiments. After the close of the war he resumed mercantile pursuits, for which he had early manifested aptitude. At the end of two years he was elected a member of the Penn- sylvania Legislature, for the counties of Franklin and Perry, and at the conclusion of his term commenced the study of law in the office of Judge Rowe, which he now practises at the courts of Franklin county.
ICHARD BIDDLE ROBERTS, Colonel of the First Reserve regi- ment, was born at Pittsburg, August 25th, 1825. He was the son of Edward J. and Eliza (Campbell) Roberts. He received a liberal education, and showed an aptness for the profession of law, upon the practice of which he early entered. When hos- tilities opened he lost no time in volunteering, and aided in raising the Twelfth regiment, in which he was commissioned Captain, but was soon after promoted to the rank of Lieutenant- Colonel on the staff of Governor Curtin.
Upon the formation of the celebrated Reserve corps, he was commissioned Colonel of its First regiment. In the opening engagement of the Seven Days' battle on the Peninsula, five companies of this regiment were the first to be attacked; but, from the sheltered position which they finally assumed behind Beaver Dam Creek and from which the united regiment fought, little loss was experienced, though the enemy was terribly scourged. At Gaines' Mill, on the following day, Colonel Roberts fought under the eye of General Porter, in chief command upon the field, and won his approval by the gallantry and steadiness with which every order was executed.
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MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA.
The army of the Potomac was never in more imminent danger of rout and destruction than at Charles City Cross Roads on the 30th of July, 1862. The Reserves, thirteen regiments of in- fantry, were drawn up in. two lines across the New Market road, covering the Charles City and Quaker roads. The flanks not connecting immediately with other troops were exposed, and when the attack was pressed suffered severely ; but the valor of the Reserves was successful in breaking the force in their front until nightfall, when the battle ceased and the foe retired from the contest, abandoning his cherished purpose of severing the Union army and beating it in detail. General McCall, who com- manded the Reserves, says in his official report : "Cooper's and Kern's batteries, in front of the centre, were boldly charged upon, each time a regiment dashing up to within forty or fifty yards. They were then hurled back by a storm of canister and the de- liberate fire of the First regiment, Colonel Roberts, whom I had placed immediately in the rear of Kern's, and the Ninth, Colonel Jackson, in the rear of Cooper's. The contest was severe and put the steadiness of these regiments to the test; both suffered heavy loss, but particularly the First regiment, whose gallant Lieutenant-Colonel (McIntire) was severely wounded."
Not less gallant was the conduct of Colonel Roberts at South Mountain. The Reserves were the first to come up to Turner's Gap, where the rebel troops were strongly posted in the fastnesses of this great natural barrier. Far down on the breast of the mountain was a stone wall behind which was the rebel skirmish line. Against this Colonel Roberts led his men with unflinching bravery. The fire was severe; but undaunted he pushed for- ward, and, scaling the rugged breastwork and following up the advantage, wavered not until rock and steep acclivity were passed and the enemy driven from his well-chosen position.
At the close of this campaign Governor Curtin called Colonel Roberts again to his assistance. His executive and legal ability, with his knowledge of the special duties of the position, fitted him to decide the delicate questions involved in granting promotions with rare tact. To this call he acceded, and, having been dis- charged at the Governor's request, at once resumed its duties. By the report of his department for the year 1864 it appears
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CHARLES H. BUEHLER.
that four thousand commissions were issued upon orders from his office. When it is remembered that for almost every one of these were several applicants, and that all the testimony in each case had to be considered, weighed and acted on, some idea can be formed of the amount of patient labor involved. Thirty thousand commissions had been issued previous to the year 1864. Before the opening of the Rebellion Colonel Roberts had held the office of Clerk to the United States District Court for Allegheny County from 1853 to 1856, and United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania from 1857 to 1861. He mar- ried in 1854 Miss Mary H. Anderson. In 1869 he removed from Pittsburg, where, after the close of the war, he had resumed the practice of his profession, to Chicago, where he now resides.
HARLES HENRY BUEHLER, Colonel of the One Hundred and Sixty-fifth regiment, was born at Gettysburg, on the 9th of February, 1825. He was the son of Samuel HI. and Catharine (Doenner) Buehler. He was educated in the Pennsylvania Col- lege at Gettysburg, and afterwards learned the business of print- ing in the office of the Gettysburg Sentinel. He subsequently be- came one of the editors and proprietors of the Gettysburg Star. For a number of years he was Captain of the Independent Blues, a volunteer company, and at the breaking out of the war was a Brigadier-General of the State militia. He promptly tendered the services of his company and was ordered into camp at York. He served with Patterson during the three months' campaign in the Shenandoah Valley. At its conclusion he was chosen Major of the Eighty-seventh. He was at first posted on the Northern Central Railway, and subsequently was sent into West Virginia, where he acted in the columns of Kelly and Milroy. After a service of one year and three months he resigned to accept pro- motion to Colonel of the One Hundred and Sixty-fifth, to which he had been unanimously elected, and which was composed largely of men from his native town. With his command he participated actively under General Peck in the defence of Suffolk. He was selected by General Foster to head a force consisting of his own, the One Hundred and Sixty-sixth Pennsylvania, the Sixth Massachusetts, and a section of Neil's battery, ordered to
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MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA.
make a sortie on the Sommerton road on the 24th of April, 1863, while General Corcoran with a more powerful body should attack the enemy on the Edenton road. Colonel Buehler ad- vanced about two miles, and having made his dispositions opened fire, feeling the enemy's intrenched position and making a strong demonstration. During the entire afternoon, and until recalled in the evening, he held the enemy at bay, and when he retired brought in all his killed and wounded. The siege was pushed by Longstreet with great energy and persistence for nearly a month, but he was foiled in all his attempts to carry the place and was finally compelled to retire. At the end of nine months, for which his regiment was called, he was mustered out. He is six feet and two inches in height and well proportioned. He is eminently social and personally popular. He was married. in May, 1860, to Miss Annie Fœhnestock, of York. He has held the office of Chief Burgess of Gettysburg, and is much respected and esteemed as a citizen.
HARLES C. CRESSON, Colonel of the Seventy-third regiment, was born on the 24th of February, 1845, in Philadelphia. He was the son of John B. and Amanda (Webb) Cresson, natives of that city through a remote ancestry. He was barely sixteen when the war broke out, and though his collegiate education was but partially completed, volunteered as Second Lieutenant in the Sixty-sixth regiment. After an existence of eight months, during which it was in the army of General Banks, not having the minimum strength it was disbanded, and the company to which Lieutenant Cresson was attached was assigned to the Seventy-third.
In the battle of Bull Run he was wounded in the right arm. Colonel Koltes, who led the regiment, was in the act of com- plimenting the Lieutenant for gallant conduct in taking an intrenched battery, and was but a few feet off when he was struck by a shell and instantly killed. After the battle, Lieu- tenant Cresson was promoted to Captain of his company, being the youngest commissioned officer in the service. At Chancel- lorsville his regiment was in the Eleventh corps, Buschbeck's brigade, the only one which offered anything like a well-regulated
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CHARLES C. CRESSON.
defence. Captain Cresson was here severely wounded in the left side. He was sufficiently recovered to again lead at Gettys- burg, his regiment covering the First and Eleventh corps in their retreat through the town, on the evening of the first day, having been posted in the houses and behind stone walls near the junction of the Emmittsburg with the Baltimore pike, and holding the approaches to Steinwehr's guns. In the formation for the second day, the regiment was put into position on Ceme- tery Hill on that part of the field where the line crossed the Taneytown road.
Soon after this battle Captain Cresson went with his corps to reinforce the Western Army at Chattanooga, and on the 1st of January, 1864, was promoted to the rank of Major. In the remarkable campaign of Sherman in his advance upon Atlanta, and in the no less noted March to the Sea, Major Cresson com- manded his regiment, nearly all its field and line officers and many of its men having been captured in the assault upon Tunnel Hill on the extreme left of the line in the battle of Missionary Ridge. At Pine Knob he was wounded in the right shoulder, but kept the field. At Kenesaw Mountain he especially distinguished himself by the determined manner in which he held his position, when hard pressed by the foe. Resaca and Atlanta were no less disastrous to his command, and in each he rendered the most soldierly service. He was mentioned in general orders for perseverance and bravery in front of Savannah, while commanding a post of observation at Hutchinson's Island. Near the close of the year he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, and on the 1st of May, 1865, to Colonel, the lack of numbers in his regiment and the fact that the officers holding these positions were still in captivity preventing the promotions sooner, though he had long performed the duties. At the conclusion of the war he was appointed a Second Lieutenant, afterwards promoted to First Lieutenant and Brevet Major, in the regular service. Few officers in all the great army of the Union entered it so young, and won their way by steady promotion to the highest rank known to the regiment, as did Colonel Cresson. At sixteen he commenced his career a Sergeant. At twenty, a bronzed veteran, he left it a Colonel, having exercised its functions in three of the
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MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA.
most famous campaigns of the war. In the exciting operations against the Modocs among the lava beds of California in the spring of 1873, he participated with his company, coming often to close quarters with the treacherous savages, having several of his men killed and wounded, and finally sharing in the satis- faction of seeing Captain Jack and all his tribe, the murderers of Canby and Thomas, captives at his feet.
ENRY B. MCKEAN, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Sixth Reserve regiment, was born on the 13th of September, 1831, in Troy, Bradford county, Pennsylvania. At the outbreak of the Rebellion he enlisted with two companies recruited at Towanda for the three months' service ; but finding, on reaching Harrisburg, that more troops had been accepted than were needed, they were placed in camp and organized as a part of the Sixth Reserve, of which he was made Adjutant. At Dranesville this regiment had the centre of the line of battle, and here Adjutant McKean distinguished himself for his daring. Before its departure for the Peninsula he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, which position he held in the Seven Days' battle, and in Pope's and the Maryland campaigns. At South Mountain his regiment had the right of the line, and charged up the rugged declivity with complete success, flanking the enemy and putting him to rout. Not less determined was its conduct at Antietam, where, on the afternoon of the 16th of September, 1862, the Reserves opened the battle, and maintained their ground through the night, renew- ing the contest in the morning, and holding the foe at bay until ordered back. On account of severe and protracted illness he resigned on the 25th of November, 1862. Upon the invasion of the State in 1863, he raised a company for its defence, and was commissioned Colonel of the Thirty-fifth militia, which he com- manded during the period of its service. Since his return to private life he has practised the profession of law at Towanda.
AVID MCCONAUGHY ARMOR, Lieutenant-Colonel of the One Hundred and First regiment, was born at Gettysburg, on the 2d of March, 1832. He was the son of George and Sarah (Gillespie) Armor. He was educated at the Pennsylvania College
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H. B. McKEAN .- D. M. ARMOR .- J. G. FRICK.
at Gettysburg. In youth he was employed as a clerk in a store. In July, 1861, he was commissioned Captain of a company in the One Hundred and First regiment, which he led throughout the entire Peninsula campaign. He was in the midst of the hard fighting at Fair Oaks, and at its close was promoted, for " great gallantry and efficiency," to Major and three months later to Lieutenant-Colonel. After leaving the Peninsula his command was sent to North Carolina, where he participated in the battle of Kinston. His health from the outset had not been firm, and he was finally compelled to resign, which he did on the 2d of May, 1863. Colonel Armor had three brothers in the army : Thomas, who served in the Twenty-eighth, and upon the staff of General Geary; the other two in the One Hundred and First, James C. expiring of typhoid fever at Roanoke Island, North Carolina.
ACOB G. FRICK, Colonel of the One Hundred and Twenty- ninth regiment, was born on the 23d of January, 1825, at Northumberland. He was the son of John and Elizabeth (Got- shall) Frick. In the Mexican War he served as Second Lieu- tenant in the Third Ohio volunteers, and at its close was promoted by President Polk to Second Lieutenant in the Eleventh infantry. When the war of rebellion opened he was made Lieutenant- Colonel of the Ninety-sixth, and with that body participated in the battles of West Point, Gaines' Mill, Charles City Cross Roads, Malvern Hill, and Bull Run. Shortly afterwards he resigned to accept the position of Colonel of the One Hundred and Twenty- ninth regiment, one of the nine months' organizations. At the battle of Fredericksburg Colonel Frick led his command boldly forward, up to the very ramparts where the enemy, secure in his intrenchments, poured a merciless fire upon him. General Tyler, who commanded the brigade, says in his report : "These officers discharged their duties creditably and satisfactorily, their voices being frequently heard above the din of battle, urging on their men against the terrible shower of shot and shell, and the terrific musketry as we approached the stone wall. Of their conduct I cannot speak too highly."
At Chancellorsville, on the morning of the 3d of May, Colonel
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MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Frick was brought into action on the ground where the heaviest fighting occurred. After holding his position against superior numbers until many of his men had fallen, he fell back, in obe- dience to orders, behind the artillery which had been brought up and was ready to open. Colonel Frick was of the rear guard in this retrograde movement, and so close did the enemy press upon him that there was hand-to-hand fighting in the wood through which they retired, some of his men falling into the enemy's hands. "No man," says Tyler, "ever saw cooler work on field drill than was done by this regiment. Their firing was grand, by rank, by company and by wing, in perfect order." The term of the regiment expired soon after this battle, and with it Colonel Frick was mustered out of service. He has since been exten- sively engaged in the manufacture of wire coal screens, at Potts- ville. He was twice married; in 1850 to Miss Catharine Schuyler, and in 1865 to Miss Priscilla H. McGinness. In person he is of Saul-like stature, being six feet two inches in height and well proportioned.
AVID MILES, Colonel of the Seventy-ninth regiment, was born on the 26th of November, 1831, at Chambersburg. He was the son of William and Mary E. (Doessher) Miles. At the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to a tinsmith, and at seventeen joined a militia company, in which he served until the opening of the Rebellion. He was married in 1851 to Miss Mary E. Huffnagle. He served as Orderly Sergeant of Company F, First regiment, for the short term, and upon the organization of the Seventy-ninth for three years was commissioned Captain of Company B. In the battle of Perryville, Starkweather's brigade is credited with having saved the day in a most critical part of the battle. The loss in the Seventy-ninth was thirty-seven killed and one hundred and forty-nine wounded. After this battle, Captain Miles was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. At Chickamauga, near the close of the first day, after having led his regiment with dauntless bravery, he was taken prisoner, and for eleven months was confined in loathsome rebel dens, first at Libby, and afterwards at Charleston under the fire of the Union guns. After his release he rejoined his regiment, at that time
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DAVID MILES .- HENRY G. ELDER .- EDWARD R. BOWEN.
advancing with Sherman through Georgia. At the battle of Bentonville, one of the last of the war, Colonel Miles led a brigade which sustained great loss, and himself was severely wounded. He was especially commended for his gallantry by General Carlin, leader of the division. He was mustered out of service with his regiment on the 12th of July, 1865.
ENRY GORE ELDER, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel of the One Hundred and Forty-second regiment, was born on the 13th of June, 1842, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Clifford and Rosanna (Benford) Elder. He was educated in the Philadelphia Central High School, and at the Polytechnic College. On the 27th of August, 1862, he was commissioned First Lieutenant of Company C, One Hundred and Forty-second regiment. In the battles of Fredericksburg, Salem Heights, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, and Hatcher's Run he bore an honorable part. In the stirring battle of Five Forks he received a painful wound but kept the field. He had two horses shot under him during the final campaign, and was promoted to Major and Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel for gallantry.
DWARD ROSCOE BOWEN, Colonel of the One Hundred and Four- teenth regiment, was born on the 16th of October, 1839, in Philadelphia. He was the son of William E. and Elizabeth (Kirtley) Bowen. At the age of seventeen he entered upon mer- cantile employment.
In April, 1861, he volunteered as a private in the Common- wealth Artillery, and served in the three months' campaign at Fort Delaware: At the expiration of his term he was appointed Second Lieutenant in the Seventy-fifth regiment, Colonel Bohlen, where he served for one year, and was then transferred and received the appointment of Captain of. Company B in the One Hundred and Fourteenth. He was wounded at Chancellorsville in the shoulder. Shortly after the opening of the fight on Sickles' front on the second day in the battle of Gettysburg, Major Bowen, who had received promotion, succeeded to the command of the regiment, and when the corps, after contending
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