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 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27
About the 1st of May, the commissions of the follow- ing named offices, promoted for gallant conduct were received :
Lieutenant-colonel William McCandless to be Colonel from November 1st, 1861, vice Wm. B. Mann, resigned. Major G. A. Woodward to be lieutenant-colonel from June 30th, 1862, vice William McCandless promoted. Sergeant-major E. M. Woodward to be adjutant, from September 18, 1862, vice Aug. T. Cross, killed. Quarter
.
-
257
PROMOTIONS.
master Charles F. Hoyt to be captain and commissary. sergeant from July 1st, 1862. Commissary-sergeant W. A. Hoyt to be quarter-master from January 6th, 1863, vice Charles F. Hoyt, promoted.
Company A .- First Lieutenant Daniel H. Connors to be captain from June 30th, 1862, vice Horace Neidé, pro- moted. Second Lieutenant John J. Ross to be first lieu- tenant from June 30th, 1862, vice Daniel H. Connors, promoted. First Sergeant Daniel Craig to be second lieu- tenant from June 30th, 1862, vice John J. Ross, promoted.
Company C .- First Sergeant Andrew Casey to be second lieutenant from June 30th, 1862, vice James R. Nightingale, killed.
Company D .- First Sergeant Thomas Canavan to be first Lieutenant from November 25th, 1362, vice John M. Curley, honorably discharged. Second Sergeant Robert R. Smith to be second lieutenant from December 3d, 1862, vice George H. Young, honorably discharged.
Company E .- First Sergeant John Taylor, to be first lieutenant from July 12, 1862, vice J. Baxter Fletcher, killed. Second Sergeant Andrew McLean, to be second lieutenant from October 25th, 1862, vice Alexander Black, honorably discharged.
Company F .- First Lieutenant John M. Clark to be captain from August 1st, 1862, vice John E. Barnacle, honorably discharged. Second Lieutenant Robert J. Clark to be first lieutenant from November 23d, 1862, vice John M. Clark, promoted.
Company G .- First Sergeant Elisha P. Woodward to be Second Lieutenant from September 17th, 1862, vice Max Wimpfheimer, killed.
Company H .- First Sergeant William McGlenn to be Second Lieutenant from December 25th, 1862, vice Richard Clendenning, honorably discharged.
At the same time Sergeant Joseph Benison, Company H, was appointed sergeant-major, from January 1st, 1863, and George W. Fernon, Company C, commissary-ser- geant, from January 6th, 1863.
17
:
258
OUR CAMPAIGNS.
The guerrillas about this time became exceedingly troublesome, frequently attacking the picket posts and railroad trains. In one of these attacks a private of the Seventh Michigan Cavalry named Andrew McClain, was wounded and brought to our hospital, where he lingerel for nine days. Upon a post-mortem examination being made it was found that a pistol ball had entered his back- bone and passed up through the spinal marrow eight inches which should have produced almost instant death. From his shoulders down he was completely paralyzed, and mortification had commenced in his nether limbs.
Towards the latter part of May, Colonel William Sin. clair commanding our brigade, resigned as colonel of the Sixth Reserves, to take command of a battery of horse artillery in the west, and Colonel McCandless suc. ceeded him in the command.
Lieutenant-colonel Woodward being relieved from duty at Washington, took command of our regiment, Captain McDonough was appointed Major, Sergeant- major Joseph Benison, second lieutenant of Company H, and Sergeant D. H. Pidgeon of Company K, sergeant- major.
On the 2d of June we were paid off by Major Gideon Ball, six months being due us.
About this time, Brigadier-general S. W. Crawford was appointed to the command of our division, and established his headquarters near our brigade. As the enemy were concentrating on Hooker's right flank, con- siderable skirmishing took place below in the neighbor- hood of the Rappahannock, and the trains were constantly conveying forage and provisions there, and bringing up wounded soldiers and prisoners.
259
MARCHING NORTH.
CHAPTER XXIII. -
OUR PETITION. MARCH TO PENNSYLVANIA. HAPPY DAY. BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. LOSSES OF THE ARMIES.
SHORTLY after the defeat of our army at Chancellor- ville, Governor Curtin became thoroughly convinced that the enemy contemplated an invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania, and although he made strenuous efforts to induce the General Government to adopt meas- ures for defence, he could not prevail upon them to act, until the enemy had crossed the Potomac. His repre- sentations and advice were unheeded and many of the newspapers treated with levity his "unnecessary alarm." But at last, after much valuable time had been lost, the authorities awakened to the realization of the fact, and commenced vigorous preparations to repel the invaders.
On the 15th, long trains of ambulances, wagons and the reserve artillery from the army on the Rappahannock passed by our camp moving northward. The same day General Hooker and staff passed by, and towards night the Twelfth Army Corps arrived. All were in most excellent spirits and were confident of victory in the coming battle. On the 17th, the main body and the rear guard of the army arrived and resting a night and part of a day moved on.
To see the whole army moving to meet the enemy whom we knew were in Pennsylvania threatening our homes and loved ones, and for us to remain behind was rather mortifying, and although we had sent officers to Washington to intercede for marching orders for us, we met with no encouragement. On the 17th, we therefore, addressed the following communication to Colonel McCandless, who forwarded it through the proper channel to Washington, where it materially assisted in producing the desired effect :
0
260
OUR CAMPAIGNS.
HEADQUARTERS SECOND REGIMENT INFANTRY, P. R. V. C. FAIRFAX STATION, VA., June 17th, 1863.
To Colonel WILLIAM MCCANDLESS,
Commanding First Brigade, Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps.
COLONEL :- We, the undersigned, officers of the Second Regiment Infantry, Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps, having learned that our mother State has been invaded by a Confederate force, respectfully ask, that you will, if it be in your power, have us ordered within the borders of our State, for her defence.
Under McCall, Reynolds, Meade, Seymour, Sinclair and yourself, we have more than once met and fought the enemy, when he was at home. We now wish to meet him again where he threatens our homes, our families and our firesides.
Could our wish in this behalf be realized, we feel confident that we could do some service to the State that sent us to the field, and not diminish, if we could not increase, the lustre that already attaches to our name.
We are, Colonel,
Very respectfully, your obedient servants,
GEO. A WOODWARD, Lieutenant-colonel Second regi- ment P. R. V. C, commanding the regiment,
P. MCDONOUGH, Major Second regiment,
E. M. WOODWARD, Adjutant Second regiment,
JAMES C. JUSTUS, Acting Quartermaster Second regi- ment,
E. A. JACKSON, Assistant Surgeon Second regiment, DANIEL H. CONNORS, Captain Company A,
JAMES C. MANTON, Lieutenant-com'ng Company B, JAMES N. BYRNES, Captain Company C, THO'S CANAVAN, First Lieutenant Company D, JOHN TAYLOR, First Lieutenant Co. E,
ANDREW MCLEAN, Second Lieutenant Company E, JOHN M. CLARK, Captain Company F,
ROBERT J. CLARE, First Lieutenant Company F,
261
1
CROSSING THE POTOMAC.
W. D. REITZEL, Captain Company G,
J. L. RHOADS, First Lieutenant Company G, E. P. WOODWARD, Second Lieutenant Company G, WILLIAM McGLENN First Lietenant-com'g Company H, JOSEPH BENISON, Second Lieutenant Company H.
In the mean time Generals Reynolds and Meade had both applied to the War Department to have the Re- serves attached to their corps. General Reynolds was offered in lieu a full division, which he declined. Gene- ral Meade, however, succeeded in having us assigned to his corps, but the day we joined him, he left us to assume the important post of commander of the Army of the Potomac, the proudest position any general in America could aspire to.
At last, on the 25th, orders were received to move im- mediately, and at five that afternoon we left Fairfax Sta- tion, and marched in a northwesterly direction through Vienna, near which we bivouacked at eleven o'clock that night. Just as we started it commenced raining and continued so to do all night. The next morning at four o'clock we resumed our march, continuing in the same direction passing between Drainesville and Lees- burg and making Goose creek that night. Through the day the rain was most violent and constant, rendering the roads almost knee-deep in mud, and as we were making forced marches many of the wearied boys fell out, and did not get up with us until daylight the next morning. Rain, however, is preferable to dust.
The Third brigade, Colonel J. W. Fisher, joined us in the morning from Alexandria; the Second brigade, Colonel H. G. Sickel, being retained for the defence of Washington. The next morning, at daylight, we re- sumed our march, passing near a portion of the field of the " Ball's Bluff massacre," and crossing the Potomac at Edwards' Ferry on pontoons. That night we made the mouth of the Monocacy in spite of the heavy roads.
Sunday the 28th was a clear and pleasant day, and at
? :
262
OUR CAMPAIGNS.
daylight we moved off and soon crossed the aqueduct of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal over the Monocacy, and passing through Buckeystown we bivouacked about two miles from Frederick. Here we came up with the main army, and reported to General Sykes, commanding the Fifth Army Corps, to which we were assigned. This corps, until then, had been commanded by General Meade, who had made application to have us sent to him, but the day of our arrival General Hooker was re- lieved of the command of the army, and he assigned to it.
We started the next day at noon, and moving a fe v miles halted in a lane nearly all the afternoon, and at seven crossed the Monocacy bridge on the Baltimore pike, and turned up the banks of the stream heading " north. Soon after we waded the stream and struck across the fields, and about ten o'clock bivouacked in a wood, having made a tiresome day's march of but ten miles. This slow marching was occasioned by our being the rear guard of the Reserve artillery, which consisted of two hundred and forty-eight guns, supplied with two hundred and fifty rounds of ammunition each, making in all six-two thousand rounds. Before night that day the enemy's cavalry entered Frederick. That night heavy details were made from our regiment for a wagon guard.
The next morning we marched early, passing through Liberty, Union Bridge and Union Town, where a pon- toon train that accompanied us that day created much wonderment among the rustics, who did not believe we could do much with our "gun boats" up in the moun- tains. We marched twenty miles and bivouacked near dark two miles beyond Union Town and mustered for pay.
The next morning, July 1st, we moved at five o'clock, and ascertaining that the enemy's scouts had been in the neighborhood the day before, each regiment threw out flankers to the right and left, in which way we advanced for several miles, when the country became of such a nature that cavalry could not operate against us, and
i
-
263
CROSSING THE LINE.
they were called in. About two we halted within a few hundred yards of the Pennsylvania State line, and rested ourselves. That day was one of the happiest of our lives, and every heart beat warm with the thought, we would soon press the soil of our mother State, in whose defence we were marching. The brigade bands and regi- mental drum corps poured forth their soul-inspiring airs from morning till night, and light was the tread of our feet to their notes. About three o'clock we were drawn up to hear a patriotic address from General Crawford, after which we marched on, and as we crossed the line, cheer after cheer rang out from the regiments, which rolled over the hills and through the valleys until lost in the far distance. Soon we came to a fine open woods where we halted until night, rolling on the good old soil of Pennsylvania and listening to the sweet airs of the bands. Abundance of rations and sixty rounds of car- tridges per man were distributed, the former for our- - selves and the latter for our friends the "Graybacks."
While lying here, through the branches above, amidst the bright sunshine, a large star was discerned shining over us with all the brilliancy of a heavenly visitant, which was gazed upon by all with great interest, and received as an omen of victory, which, happily, it proved to be.
While here all our wagons were sent to Westminster, some twenty-five miles from the battle field, and the ammunition wagons and ambulances were pushed for- ward. At dark we again took up our march, and a long weary one it proved. We did not rest until two the next morning, when we laid down in an open woods having made twenty miles during the day and being awake twenty-two hours. But in one hour's time the drums beat the reveille, and soon after we were again in motion, moving slowly and cautiously along the roads and across the fields. and about noon we struck the pike and soon filed off' to the left into a field in the rear of the line of battle.
≥64
OUR CAMPAIGNS.
THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, JULY 1ST, 2D, AND 3D .- The enemy, who, as early as the 13th ult. gave battle to General Milroy, at Winchester, Virginia, and the next day precipitated him to a disastrous and disgraceful flight, with their advance guard, one thousand five hundred strong, under General Jenkins, entered Cham- bersburg, Pennsylvania, at eight and a half P. M., on the 15th, but being without infantry support, evacuated the same on the 17th and withdrew to Hagerstown, Maryland with the horses and cattle they had plundered the defenceless farmers of. The enemy continued to cross the Potomac in force, and on the night of the 30th had concentrated within a short distance of Gettysburg, seventy-six thousand infantry and a large number of cavalry. Confronting this was the First Corps, General Reynolds, eight thousand strong; the Eleventh Corps. General Howard, fifteen thousand; and six thousand cavalry under General Buford, making a total of twenty- nine thousand men.
For this little band of Union troops to give battle to such an overwhelming force of the enemy, seemed the extreme of rashness, but the eagle eye of Reynolds saw at a glance, that to secure and hold, until the main body of our army arrived, the ridges and positions upon which the great battle was subsequently fought was of vital importance to the success of our arms. He was too true a soldier to shrink from the responsibility of defeat, when the good of the cause demanded battle, and he hesitated not to engage the enemy.
On the morning of the 1st of July, at half past nine o'clock, General Buford dismounted a portion of his cavalry and commenced skirmishing with the enemy, who had debouched his infantry through the mountains on Cashtown, and about ten o'clock several pieces of light artillery were brought into play. Soon after General Reynolds moved around the town of Gettysburg and advanced on the Cashtown road, and immediately deploy- ing his advance division, attacked the enemy, and at the
L
265 .
THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.
same time sent orders for the Eleventh Corps, General Howard, to advance as promptly as possible.
Soon after making his disposition for attack, Gene- ral Reynolds fell mortally wounded; the command of the First Corps devolving on Major-general Double- day, and of the field, on Major-general Howard, who arrived about half past eleven, A. M., with the Eleventh Corps, then commanded by Major-general Schurz. General Howard pushed forward two divisions of the Eleventh Corps to support the First Corps, now warmly engaged with the enemy on the north of the town, and posted his third division, with three batteries, on the Cemetery ridge, on the south side of the town. Prior to the arrival of the Eleventh Corps the First had fought with determined bravery, double their number, for two hours, and not only held their own, but drove the enemy back in their furious charges, and about one P. M. Wadsworth's division captured General Archer and his whole brigade, numbering about one thousand five hundred men, who had attempted to flank them.
Between one and two o'clock the enemy received reinforcements on the Cashtown road, and Ewell's Corps came in on the York and Harrisburg roads and formed a junction, which enabled them to bring vastly superior forces against both the First and the Eleventh Corps, outflanking our line of battle and pressing it so severely that, about four o'clock General Howard deemed it pru- dent to withdraw these two corps to the Cemetery ridge, on the south side of the town, which operation was suc- cessfully accomplished, but not, however, without the loss of about two thousand five hundred prisoners, who being much crowded in passing through the streets, and somewhat confused, were unable to repel the enemy who pressed hard upon them. At this time the combined forces of Heath, Pender, Rhoads, and Early, amounted to forty thousand men, while those opposed to them did not exceed twenty thousand. At one time, during the alternate advance and backward movements, we lost one
-
266
OUR CAMPAIGNS.
thousand nine hundred prisoners, all of whom were retaken, and a Mississippi regiment, numbering eight hundred men made prisoners.
About the time of the withdrawal, Major-general Hancock arrived upon the field and took command, and in conjunction with General Howard proceed to post the troops on Cemetery ridge, and to repel the attack that the enemy made on our right flank. This attack was not, however, very vigorous; the enemy, seeing the strength of the position occupied, seemed to be satisfied with the success he had accomplished, desisting from any further attack that day.
About seven o'clock, P. M., Major-generals Slocum and Sickles, with the Twelfth Corps and part of the Third, reached the ground, and took position on the right and left of the troops previously posted. At one o'clock the next morning, General Meade arrived and assumed command.
Early on the morning of the 2d, the Second and part of the Fifth Corps, with the rest of the Third arrived, - and were posted as follows: the Eleventh Corps retain- ing its position on Cemetery ridge, just opposite to the town; the First Corps was posted on the right, the Eleventh on an elevated knoll, connecting with the ridge and extending to the south and east, on which the Twelfth Corps was placed, the right of the Twelfth Corps resting on Rock creek, a small stream at a point where it crossed the Baltimore pike, and which formed on the right flank of the Twelfth something of an obstacle.
Cemetery ridge extended in a westerly and southerly direction, gradually diminishing in elevation, till it came to a very prominent ridge, called " Round Top," running east and west. The Second and Third Corps occupied the continuation of Cemetery ridge, on the left of the Eleventh Corps und Fifth Corps; and pending their arrival the Sixth Corps was held in reserve. While these dispositions were being made, the enemy was mass-
1
4
267
THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.
ing his troops on an extreme ridge, about one mile and a half distant from the line occupied by us.
At two o'clock, the Sixth Corps arrived, after a march of thirty-two miles, which was accomplished from nine P. M., of the day previous. The Fifth Corps was imme- diately moved to the extreme left, and the Sixth taking its place as a reserve for the right.
About three, General Sickles, not fully apprehending his instructions in regard to the position to be occupied, advanced his corps a half or three-quarters of a mile in the front of the line of the Second Corps on a prolonga- tion which it was designed his corps should rest. Gene- ral Meade, perceiving the movement, hastened to the spot, and was about arranging for the withdrawal of the corps, from its too far advanced position, when the enemy opened upon them with several batteries in front and flank, and immediately brought forward columns of infantry, and made a vigorous assault. The Third Corps sustained the shock most heroically, and troops from the Second Corps were immediately sent to cover their right flank, and soon after the assault commenced.
The Fifth Corps most fortunately arrived, and the First and Second divisions were immediately posted on the left of the Third by Major-general Sykes. Soon the cannonading became general along our left and centre, answered by the guns of the enemy, of which more than one hundred were placed in circuit on the Seminary Ridge and on the hill east of the town. Our troops went forward in gallant style and engaged the enemy in a most terrific struggle at Sherby's peach orchard and the adjoining grounds near the Emmetsburg road. Both parties fought with desperation, but at last our men over- powered began to give way. Rallied by their officers, they arrested and hurled back the advancing column for a short time; but finding themselves hard pressed by an overwhelming mass of the enemy, they gave way a second time. This was the most critical moment of the day. The point aimed at by the enemy was to break
268
OUR CAMPAIGNS.
our left and flank us, and this they would have accom- plished, if succor had not speedily arrived.
At this movement, about half-past five o'clock, the Pennsylvania Reserves, which until then had been held in reserve, were brought forward and formed by brigades in columns of regiments, on the brow of "Little Round Top," upon which was posted one of their batteries. Before them, from the base of the rugged height, stretched a broad meadow, skirted on its outer edge by heavy timber, from which emerged the victorious enemy, driving before them the scattered regiments of the First and Second divisions of the Fifth Corps and the Third. Most gallantly did the brave fellows dispute the ground, but the overpowering masses of the enemy swept victoriously on, and their wild shout of triumph rang through the valley. Our battery to the right belched forth its sheets of flame and smoke, hurling its missiles of death over the heads of the flying mass into the enemy. Immovable and firm stood the Reserves, rest- ing on their arms, silently gazing on the magnificent and grand sight, until our broken masses had passed to the right, and the enemy had advanced within fifty paces, when the gallant Crawford, seizing the standard of the First, whose bearer had been shot down, waved it aloft and cried out, "Forward, Reserves." With a simulta- neous shriek from every throat, that sounded as if coming from a thousand demons, who had burst their lungs in uttering it, on swept the Reserves, delivering, as they started, a solid volley, and careering victoriously over the field, halted not a moment until they reached the stone wall, bordering on the skirting of woods, where the surprised enemy made their last desperate rally to retrieve the day. Not a moment was lost. On went the glorious flags to the wall, standard bearer after bearer was shot down, but with empty muskets the column pressed on, and leaping over, bayonetted and scattered in flight the proud foe, from whose brows they wrenched the laurels of victory.
U
269
THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.
One loud shout of triumph rang through the valley and over the hills, and it was with the utmost difficulty the men could be restrained from following the enemy further. But prudence forbade it, and our regiment was ordered to halt and fall back to the wall by Captain Smith.
After the excitement and heat of battle is over, every one is suddenly taken with thirst, and to get water is the first care of the soldier. Down the centre of the meadow we crossed, run a small creek-Plum run-and to it the thirsty ones repaired, to fill their canteens. It was found almost choked with the dead and wounded, who had fallen in, while attempting to cross. It was the only place from which we could get water. After this we set to work gathering our wounded and those of other regiments who had been driven from the field, and who lay thick in every direction. This work occupied many of us the most of the night, but it was light labor to relieve the sufferings of our comrades. Nor were the enemy's wounded neglected, they being treated with the same kindness and care that our own received, as every old soldier holds that after the battle is over there are no enemies upon the field.
The Third brigade of the Reserves being posted to our left on "Round Top," and that position and flank being threatened by the enemy, they had not the oppor- tunity of participating in the charge, with the exception of the Eleventh regiment Colonel Jackson, who being next to us, could not resist the temptation and went in. We won the Eleventh fairly that day, and soon after at the solicitation of its officers it was wedded to our brigade.
That night a heavy line of pickets were thrown out in front, under Lieutenant McLean, ammunition was distri- buted, and the boys stretched their weary limbs to rest, and slept, regardless of the skirmishing of the pickets which was kept up off and on all night. But the balls whizzed harmlessly over head, and the noise disturbed not their slumbers.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.