USA > Pennsylvania > Our Campaigns: or, The marches, bivouacs, battles, incidents of camp life and history of our regiment during its three years term of service > Part 12
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About seven o'clock, as fresh troops were being pushed in by the enemy, Meagher and Sickles were sent in with their brigades to relieve such regiments as had expended their ammunition, and batteries from the reserve were pushed forward to replace those whose boxes were empty. Until dark the enemy persisted in his efforts to take the positions so tenaciously defended; but despite his vastly superior numbers, his repeated and desperate attacks were repulsed with fearful loss. The sun went down, but the carnage did not cease, for though the musketry closed, the fiery messengers of death coursed their swift-winged path through the skies, dealing de- struction among the enemy, who but feebly replied. It was after nine o'clock before all firing ceased. Never was a repulse more signal, the confused masses of the enemy's infantry, artillery, and cavalry, all struggling together, choking the roads and crossing the fields in every direction. So complete was the confusion, that one or two days elapsed before the men of the different
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regiments and commands could be collected together and put in shape, and it has been ascertained upon competent authority, that with twenty thousand fresh troops McClel- lan could have marched into Richmond.
As the army in its movement from the Chickahominy to Harrison's Landing was continually occupied in marching by night and fighting by day, its commanders found no time or opportunity for collecting data, which could enable them to give exact returns of casualties in each engagement. The aggregate of our entire losses, from the 26th of June to the 1st of July, inclusive, was ascertained, after arrival at Harrison's Landing, to be as follows :
Return of the killed, wounded, and missing in the Army of the Potomac, from the 26th day of June to the 1st of July, 1862, inclusive.
Xilled.
Wounded.
Missing.
Aggregate.
First, McCall's division.
253
1240
1581
3,074*
Second, Sumner's.
187
1076
848
2,111
Third, Heintzelman's.
189
1051
833
2,073
Fourth, Keyes'
69
507
201
777
Fifth, Porter's.
620
2460
1198
4,278
Sixth, Franklin's. Engineers.
245
1313
1179
2,737
....
2
21
23
Cavalry
19
60
97
176
Total
1582
7709
5958
15,249
. General MeCall is his oficial report states the loss of the Reserves to be 3,130.
It will be observed that the division of Pennsylvania Reserves lost more than any corps, excepting the Fifth, and more than Sumner's and Keyes' or Heintzelman's and Keyes' combined.
Although the result of the battle of Malvern Hill was a complete victory, it was, nevertheless, necessary to fall back to a position below City Point, as the channel there was so near the southern shore that it would not be pos- sible to bring up the transports, should the enemy occupy
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HARRISON'S LANDING.
It. Besides, the line of defence was too extended to be maintained by our weakened forces, and the supplies of food, forage and ammunition, being exhausted it was imperatively necessary to reach the transports immedi- ately.
The greater portion of the transportation of the army having been started for Harrison's Landing during the night of the 30th of June and the 1st of July, the order for the movement of the troops was at once issued upon the final repulse of the enemy at Malvern Hill. About eleven o'clock that night the sleepy boys were woke up and put in motion, and passing by Haxall's house we slowly wound our way down the hill to the river road, along which we marched, passing over Turkey bridge. The night was extremely dark, but the road, which for a long distance was exceedingly bad, was lit up by thou- sands of candles placed in the trees, and bright fires burning upon the wayside which were continually re- plenished by the guard stationed at them. At daybreak we entered a fine field of standing wheat, where we laid down and rested for an hour and then moved on. It soon commenced raining, turning the deep dust into heavy mud, and in an incredible short time the artillery, wagons, cavalry and infantry rendered the road almost impassable. But onward the column pressed until it crossed Herring run and debouched into the open plain of Harrison Landing.
The Reserves were here put into a heavy pine woods to the right of the road, and by building bough arbours somewhat sheltered themselves. During the day and night, the rain descended in torrents, rendering the kindling of fires almost impossible, but, as the boys had but little to cook, it did not matter much. The with- drawal which was conducted by General Keyes was most skilfully effected, and with no other loss than the few wagons that broke down upon the road. The rear guard, consisting of the Third Pennsylvania cavalry, a brigade of infantry and one battery, under the command
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of Colonel Averill, did not leave the field until ten o'clock on the 2nd of July, and the last of the wagons reached Harrison's Landing on the 3rd.
On the morning of the 3rd a small force of the enemy having followed up the rear guard and taken an advan- tageous position, opened with shell, to which our guns responded. The Reserves were drawn up about nine o'clock in an open field where they stood in the mud up to their knees with shells bursting and round shot whist- ling over their heads until three in the afternoon, when they were marched to a neighboring field, and bivouacked on the banks of Herring creek.
While this change of base from the Pamunky to the James river was progressing, the White House was suc- cessfully evacuated with comparatively a trifling loss of stores, etc. No less than seven hundred vessels were in the river at the time, all of which were successfully re- moved. The last of our wagons left under guard of General Stoneman's cavalry, not a man or contraband being left behind, and the telegraphic communication with General McClellan was not severed till one o'clock, P. M., on the 28th, and at seven o'clock the enemy made their appear- ance in the neighborhood of the White House, where they were welcomed with shell and grape from three gunboats in the river.
Thus ended the "Seven Day's Battles," which will ever be viewed by military men, as one of the greatest feats of the war. Never did such a change of base, involving a retrograde movement, and under incessant attacks from a most determined and vastly more numerous foe, par- take so little of disorder. The immense artillery and wagon train, the latter if stretched out in one line, ex- tending nearly forty miles, the Commissary and Quarter- master's stores, the ammunition, a drove of twenty-five hundred cattle ; in fact, the army and its entire material, horse, foot and dragoon, bag and baggage, was trans- ferred successfully with an incredibly small loss of ma- terial. The movement was conducted with perfect order.
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HARRISON'S LANDING.
There was no trepidation or haste, no smashing up of wagons by careless or fast driving, yet there was no moment for repose, no opportunity scarcely to properly care for the wounded; and the dead, excepting at Me- chanicsville, were left unburied. The enemy closely watched every movement, and with an army more than double that of our own, had the ability to constantly launch fresh troops upon our rear, an advantage which they were quick to discover, and remorseless in improv- ing. Their perfect knowledge of the roads, paths and bridges, the topography of the country which took us time to learn, placed an immense advantage in their hands, yet they were, excepting in one instance, unable by their utmost efforts to drive us from any field.
Our army regarded the movement as the carrying out of a necessary plan, and the only dissatisfaction expressed being at the leaving behind of so many of the wounded. - We have no hesitation in asserting, and without the least fear of contradiction, that upon the arrival of the army at Harrison's Landing, the morale of it was almost as good as ever, and that the men had such unbounded confidence in McClellan that they would fearlessly have followed him at any time if he had assumed the aggres- sive.
While an advancing army loses nothing in men and material by capture, it is necessarily the reverse with a retreating one, besides, though it may be successful in every battle, it loses the advantages of following up its victories, which are transferred to the enemy. Though this naturally has the tendency of weakening the morale of an army, such did not appear to be the case with ours, for the men went into every one of the many and pro- tracted battles in most excellent spirits, and with full confidence of victory.
Throughout the whole struggle the Union and Con -. federate troops displayed upon every field the most desperate bravery and indomitable courage, and learned by the noble qualities they discovered, to respect each
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other. Never upon the field did we see an act of cruelty done, and the testimony of our wounded, and the surgeons who remained with them, was to the universally kind treatment they received from the privates of the enemy. It is to be regretted that the same cannot be said of their officers, and all unite in attesting to the bitter animosity and heartlessness shown by the non-combatants and civil. ians.
After the battle of Glendale, Doctor E. Donnelly, the surgeon of our regiment, among others, volunteered to remain behind and take charge of our wounded, and from him we subsequently learned many interesting facts in regard to their treatment and condition. He was placed in charge of a hospital improvised upon the battle-field near Nelson's house, where were collected our wounded in the outbuildings and on the surrounding lawn. The only assistance he had was from young Hartman, Company K, and some Confederate privates, who volunteered to help. These men carried in the wounded, or moved them into the shade, brought them water, and divided their scanty rations among them. They spoke and acted towards them with the greatest kindness, but the sufferings of the poor boys were great. With no medicine or stimulants, with a scanty supply of rags and water, and the help of Hartman and these men, the doctor amputated the limbs and dressed the wounds of hundreds, who were sinking from the loss of blood, and the want of food. But no medicine, liquor, food or assistance could be obtained from the officials, one of whom deliberately stole the doctor's case of instruments while he was performing an operation.
On the day of the battle of Malvern Hill a large num- ber of citizens from Richmond visited the battle-field of New Market cross-roads, anticipating the pleasure of seeing our army surrender. None of them, however, showed the least disposition to assist our wounded, though to satisfy their curiosity they walked among them, and were very inquisitive and rude in their inqui-
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FIENDISH TREATMENT OF PRISONERS.
ries, and some of them were shameless enough even to steal their canteens and cups-articles that then were worth more than gold to the helpless fellows, who laid for days afterwards upon the field, burning with fever and without a mouthful of water to quench their thirst. One man, and we are sorry to say that he was a minister of the Gospel, so far forgot the precepts of his Master, the Prince of Mercy, and the better feelings of his heart-if he ever had any-in his bitter hatred of Union soldiers, as to commence upbraiding as "mercenaries" and " hire- lings," the poor wounded sufferers, some of whom had lost their limbs, and others, from whose wounds maggots were crawling. When suffering all the anguish that mortals are heir to, when faint with the loss of blood and nervous excitement, this paroled prisoner of h-1, clothed in the sacred garb of religion, taunted and de- nounced these poor creatures over whom the guardian angels of heaven were weeping. It is, though with unfeigned pleasure, that we contrast with this the con- duct of Doctor Hill Carter, a most worthy and estimable gentleman, whose house was also used as a hospital for our wounded. Doctor Carter, though a secessionist, not only put all he had at the disposal of our surgeons, but he and his family assisted, to the utmost of their ability, to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded, and their kindness will ever be remembered with gratitude by those whose sufferings they alleviated. All the wounded were subsequently removed to Richmond, though some of them not until a week afterwards, they lying upon the field during that time exposed to the burning rays of the sun of the day, and the cold dews of the night. Some of these, whose wounds were undressed, died on the road, and one relates the fiendish expression of an ambulance driver, "that corduroy roads were bully to haul wounded Yankees over."
Upon their arrival they were stowed away in Libby prison, a loathesome hole, foul with the stench of two water closets and the putrefaction of the bodies in the
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dead house underneath, which were exposed to their sight through a large open grating in the floor of their apartment. A little medicine, and that stolen from our surgeons, was doled out to them. A pittance of tainted beef and hard crackers was given each day, without a change of clothing, or blankets to cover themselves with at night, or water to wash with in the morning, they were huddled together by hundreds, and this was the treatment they received from the Government. But the treatment they received from the soldiers was universally kind. When we say soldiers, we do not mean the guards around the prison, who had never been upon the field, but the men who had fought them, and had learned to respect a brave foe. With these they were all right. On the field, when we drove them from positions formerly held by us, we found in many cases our wounded had been supplied with water and some- times placed behind logs or trees in sheltered positions, and at Glendale, when several of the enemy were taken prisoners and were being sent to the rear, although they were under a heavy fire, they picked up and carried off a wounded Union soldier. Many other acts of kindness were frequently displayed upon the field, that showed there was not felt the bitter animosity and vindictive- ness shown by civilians and politicians.
At Malvern Hill, the morning after the battle, both parties had pickets stationed upon the field, and the enemy were permitted to remove their wounded, but they fired upon our men when they approached for the same purpose. This may have seemed cruel, but it was a military precaution on their part, that doubtless was deemed justifiable, as it was of vital importance to them to conceal from us the extent of their disaster, the de- moralization and position of their troops.
The position now occupied by our army was a line of heights, some three miles long and about two miles from the James, and the plain extended from them to the river. As these heights commanded the whole position,
159
HARRISON'S LANDING.
it would have been necessary to have maintained them to the last. Both flanks were well supported by the gun boats. The position though remarkably strong, and one that could only be carried by overwhelming numbers, was by no means impregnable, especially as a morass extended between the heights and the river, from the centre to our right. In the broad area or plain of Har- rison's Landing, Evelington Heights, or West Over, were collected an immense amount of army stores and ammu- nition, and vast numbers of siege guns, mortars, etc .; removed from the former line occupied by the army Here also was encamped a considerable portion of the army, while the balance occupied the heights. The Landing presented a most interesting scene, the river bank, for a long distance, being lined with canal boats and barges from three to ten and twelve deep, most of which, having been emptied of their vast amount of stores, served as wharves for the large transports to unload at. Schooners, brigs, and ships innumerable, were here at anchor, through which steamers of all sizes and descriptions were continually winding their way, presenting a scene of animation and life seldom witnessed.
Colonel Hays, Eighth Reserves, being the senior officer of the brigade, assumed command of it, upon the death of Colonel Simmons, of the Fifth, but on account of indisposition he turned it over to Colonel McNeill, of the "Bucktails." On the 4th, the Eighth regiment was transferred to the Second Brigade, and the Sixth regi- ment transferred to ours, which placed Colonel Sinclair in command of it.
The anniversary of our national birthday was duly celebrated, by the firing of salutes and the display of flags, among the most conspicuous of which were those captured from the enemy by the different regiments. On dress-parade the following address was read at the head of each regiment, which was received with the most enthusiastic cheering from the men:
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"HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, CAMP NEAR HARRISON'S LANDING, July 4th, 1862.
"SOLDIERS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC :- Your achievements of the last ten days have illustrated the valor and endurance of the American soldier. Attacked by superior forces, and without hope of reinforcements, you have succeeded in changing your base of operations by a flank movement, always regarded as the most haz- ardous of military expedients. You have saved all your material, all your trains, and all your guns, except a few lost in battle, taking in return guns and colors from the enemy. Upon your march, you have been assailed day after day with desperate fury, by men of the same race and nation, skilfully massed and led. Under every dis- advantage of number, and necessarily of position also, you have in every conflict beaten back your foes with enormous slaughter. Your conduct ranks you among the celebrated armies of history. No one will now question that each of you may always with pride say : 'I belong to the Army of the Potomac.' You have reached the new base, complete in organization and un- impaired in spirit. The enemy may at any moment attack you. We are prepared to meet them. I have personally established your lines. Let them come, and we will convert their repulse into a final defeat. Your Government is strengthening you with the resources of a great people. On this our Nation's birthday, we de- clare to our foes, who are rebels against the best interests of mankind, that this army shall enter the capital of the so-called Confederacy; that our national Constitution shall prevail, and that the Union, which can alone insure internal peace and external security to each State, 'must and shall be preserved,' cost what it may in time, treasure, and blood.
"GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN."
As soon as circumstances permitted after our arrival, means were taken to reorganize, equip and put the army
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GREYBACK MOVEMENTS.
into fighting order again. The stragglers soon found their regiments. Upon inspecting the arms, it was found that in the various regiments were collected every cali- bre and pattern known in the service, the Harper's Ferry, Springfield, Sharpe's, Maynard's, Burnside, En- feld, Tower, Belgium, Richmond, Palmetto, etc .; all mixed promiscuously together among the men, who having lost their own, appropriated their neighbors'. These when not of the calibre of the regiment, were turned in, assorted and re-issued, so that each regiment, brigade and division, if possible, would. be armed alike. Accoutrements, ammunition and clothing were likewise distributed, as fast as received, and in an incredibly short time the whole army was in as good condition as ever it was to meet the foe, and their morale increased by the consciousness of what they had achieved. To General Seymour was accorded the honor of being the first to get his division into proper trim.
While these matters were occupying the serious atten- tion of the general officers of the army, the great ques- tion that agitated the public mind, was the getting rid of the "greybacks," whom, there was every reason to suppose, had domiciled themselves upon the persons of the patriots and held them in a ticklish position. As we had destroyed all our clothing except what we stood in, and as soap was an article that could neither be pro- cured "for love or money," and as clothing was issued by piece meal, it was a task easier undertaken than accomplished. But by dint of washing, scrubbing, scouring and constant vigilance, the feat was accom- plished, and the boys came out in their new uniforms as clean and bright as new dollars. It is a matter of impos- sibility for an army to pass through what we did in the summer without being overrun with vermin, and among soldiers one is not blamed for having them on, but for keeping them. So universal were they at that time, that no one thought of being ashamed of them, and we have even heard the boys declare that they knew all the bugle
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calls, and had become so expert in drill as to go through the battalion movements quite accurately, and to have their regular guard mountings and dress parades. If any of our delicate readers should feel shocked at this exposure of our private affairs, we must remind them that part of our task is to show up soldier life in its true light.
A rather amusing incident occurred about this time, that was in strange contrast with the foregoing. Some months previous white gloves had been ordered for the men, out of the regimental fund, and when the boys were in the greatest need of underclothing, and even shoes and blouses, they arrived, and just in time to be distributed prior to the regiment going out on a general review of the division. The remarks of our friends of the other regiments in regard to the strange contrast in our clothing was quite amusing.
On the 8th, His Excellency Abraham Lincoln, arrived from Washington on a visit to the army, and in the after- noon he rode along the lines of the different divisions who were drawn up to receive him. He was most enthu- siastically received by the troops, who honored and respected the chief who had sworn to preserve and per- petuate the nation, at any cost or sacrifice.
On the 10th, Captain William D. Reitzel's new com- pany, raised in Lancaster county and Philadelphia, arrived in camp and was assigned letter "G." They were a fine set of young men and numbered sixty-eight rank and file. The Lieutenants were, First John L. Rhoads, and Second, Max Wimpfheimer. This made our ninth company, though one was detached from us. On the same day the promotion of Lieutenant-colonel William McCandless to a full colonelcy, to date from November 1st, 1861, was received. This was in acknowl- edgment of his gallantry during the late battles, more particularly at Mechanicsville, where he was honorably mentioned in the official report of General McCall.
On the morning of the 14th, we moved our camp
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PAROLED PRISONERS.
about two miles down the creek to Evlington Heights on the right of our line. Here we occupied a broad open plain near the creek where the men could enjoy most excellent bathing. As good water was scarce, every regiment dug a fne deep well, from which they obtained a bountiful supply of good water. Sibley tents were , issued, and our rations brought up to the full standard, with cabbage, beets, onions and other vegetables in addition. Division guard mountings, company and bat- talion drills, and dress parades were ordered. Several reviews by Generals Mcclellan and Seymour took place. The sutlers also arrived, and letters and newspapers were received daily.
While here the United States truce steamer Louisiana came down the river with a load of paroled Union pris- oners from Richmond, among whom were Major Wood- ward, Captains J. Orr Finnie, P. I. Smith, and Horace Neide, and Lieutenant Hugh P. Kennedy, of our regi- ment, all wounded. Also a large number of our boys, most of whom were sent north to the hospitals. Doctor Donnelly, our efficient surgeon, who had remained with the wounded, also came and was welcomed. All bore testimony to the kindness of the privates and cruelty of the officials of the Confederate Government. Towards the latter part of the month orders were issued to hold ourselves in readiness to march at a moment's notice, with arms, accoutrements and blankets only. The balloons made daily reconnoissances. This was proba- bly occasioned by Generals Hill and Longstreet crossing the Chickahominy at Long Bridge on a reconnoissance in force.
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CHAPTER XVI.
MIDNIGHT SKELLING. A SPY. PROMOTIONS. RETURN OF GEN. ERALS MCCALL AND REYNOLDS. WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PENINSULA. VOYAGE ON THE JAMES AND POTOMAC. GENERAL POPE'S MOVEMENTS. HUNTING OUR DIVISION. RUNNING THE GAUNTLET.
A LITTLE after midnight, on the 1st of August, the enemy brought some light batteries to Coggin's Point and the Coles House, on the right bank of the James river, directly opposite Harrison's Landing, and opened a heavy fire upon our shipping and encampments. The shot and shell flew around our camp in the most lively manner, which occasioned a grand stampede among the " darks," who took to the swamps and hid themselves. - The majority of the boys taking a philosophical view of the matter considered themselves about as safe in one place as another, and did not disturb themselves from their blankets, while others of a more excitable nature, after admiring the pyrotechnical display for a time, lit their candles and went to playing cards. In about thirty minutes our guns silenced their fire, and the next morn- ing, three of their dead, a disabled caisson and flag were found. Our loss was ten killed and fifteen wounded. No harm of the slightest consequence was done to the shipping, although several of the vessels were struck. One of the dead had no wound or mark upon him what- ever, which was probably occasioned by a ball rolling over his chest and pressing the breath out of him. The popular opinion that a cannon ball passing near one's mouth may take away the breath and produce death is erroneous.
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