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 22
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We moved the next morning about five, skirting along the eastern base of South Mountains through Berketts- ville and Petersville, and halted about two miles from Berlin and encamped in a fine woods about eleven A. M. The next day our wagons came up and the officers got a change of clothing, the first they had since we left Fair- fax Station.
It rained heavily all night and through the day of the 17th, until four in the afternoon, when we moved off towards the Potomac, which we crossed on a pontoon bridge at Berlin and trod once more the soil of our adopted State. Moving on to Lovettsville, three miles beyond, we bivouacked in the rear of it, being the first infantry that had crossed. The inhabitants of this section are almost all loyal to the Union.
The next day our regiment was detailed as guard to the corps' wagon train, and starting at eleven, reached Wheatland at three P. M.
On the 19th, we marched at six o'clock in the morn- ing and passing through Purcellville, bivouacked in a woods at ten A. M. We passed on the route a number of prisoners belonging to White's cavalry, captured by Kilpatrick's. Our movements were now rather cautious, as we had a large train, and the enemy's cavalry were in the neighborhood.
The next morning we sounded reveille at two, and moved at four o'clock, almost over the same ground we did last year under McClellan, passing by Philomont and our old camps, near Uniontown, and encamped about noon on Goose· creek, in a woods on a hill side. Our route laid through a finely watered and picturesque country with fine farms and houses; one of the hand- somest of which was that of Mr. Delaney's, a wealthy Englishman, who owned two thousand acres of land in detached parcels, but so thoroughly had been the destruc- tion of the roads and landmarks, that he stated he could not trace the lines of any of his property, excepting the tract upon which his house is situated. Surveyors will reap a rich harvest in Virginia when the war is over.
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The next day was spent in camp, the boys occupying their time in writing home, bathing, and washing clothes. In a long stone wall in the meadow in front of us, some copperheads were discovered, and soon nearly half of the division was at work with sticks and clubs hunting them, and in an incredibly short time the wall was leveled with the ground.
At two o'clock on the afternoon of the 22d, we marched off over the fields and along by roads to Rectortown and encamped near the Manassas Gap Railroad in a heavy woods. The next morning we formed a field hospital in a fine woods, and left all our wounded and sick in charge of a suitable number of surgeons and a guard, with pro- visions, medicines, etc. Among those left was Acting Sergeant-major H. C. Hostetter, who died and was buried there. He was a good soldier, an exemplary young man, and his death was regretted by all.
The next day we marched early keeping along the general course of the railroad, passing through Markham, Petersville, and Linden. Last fall the enemy tore up the rails of this road and heating them on piles of burning ties, bent and destroyed them. About three o'clock we reached the eastern base of the Gap, and soon after skir- mishing commenced on Wapping Heights, which lasted until near dark, when the enemy were driven back with loss. Soon after we moved on past Wapping, which consisted of a defunct tavern, an empty store, and several shanties, and encamped about half a mile beyond. That day we marched twenty-five miles.
Being in the presence of the enemy, no "calls" were sounded. The next morning at seven o'clock we marched up the railroad, and moving to the right formed in columns of division and moved in by the right flank, and advanced up the sides of a steep mountain, covered with a heavy growth of timber and underbrush. So steep was it that the field officers found it impossible to descend the western slope on horseback. Having reached its base, the ascent of a still steeper and higher
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mountain was commenced, which required great exer- tion to accomplish, and by the time the command had crossed, the men were completely fagged out. The day was excessively hot, several men were sun struck, one broke his neck, and another was accidentally shot through the head by a comrade. A small force of the enemy could have held us at bay, and probably repulsed our brigade, as by the nature of the obstacle, the compa- nies and regiments became mixed up together. A line of skirmishers properly supported would have been more effective. Upon arriving at the western base, the men were collected and reformed in a little valley, and after a half hour's rest, we marched back to our old bivouac. Soon after we moved two miles back and encamped, where we had fresh beef served out to us.
The Third brigade, which moved on the left of the railroad, captured several prisoners.
Through the day we learned that General French had captured eleven hundred head of cattle, a number of wagons, and about three hundred and fifty prisoners. From a high mountain back of where we laid, we had a magnificent view of the valley of the Shenandoah, the scenery of which equalled any we have ever seen. A large column of the enemy's cavalry or wagons were seen in rapid motion up the valley, as the sudden appearance of our army at the Gap made them fearful lest a portion of their army should be cut off. They effected their withdrawal by way of Strasburg, and retired to the Rapidan.
On the 25th, we sounded reveille at three, and moved at six o'clock, retracing our steps for some miles and then turning to the right, followed along the foot hills of the Blue Mountains, and halting about three in the afternoon, on an open field, where we bivouacked. We had been short of provisions for several days, the men living mostly on blackberries, which grew in luxuriance in this section, care being taken to halt us wherever a large patch was found. On our route we passed the
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house of Mr. James Marshall, which had been ransacked by stragglers. Mr. Marshall was a violent secessionist, and upon the approach of our troops fled with his family to Richmond. Occupied houses are seldom if ever touched by the men, but when one is found deserted, they generally take what they want.
The next morning we marched at five o'clock, passing a large number of prisoners near Orleans, who appeared in an exceedingly good humor. At noon we halted in a clover field about two miles from Warrenton, having made thirteen miles with a halt of but fifteen minutes.
While we laid here General Crawford was saluted with the cry of " crackers" from his hungry boys, which annoyed him so much that he went to General Meade and demanded rations. "Why, my dear General," replied the commander, "you should not let that annoy you." "One night at White Plains where I marched the boys a couple of miles out of the road they actually called me a 'four-eyed son of a b-h,' and upon my soul I could not get mad at them."*
On the march, Dr. E. O. Jackson one of our Assistant Surgeons was taken sick and sent from Warrenton to Washington where he died. He was a young gentleman of high professional talents and fine social qualities, and his death caused much regret.
Here Captain John M. Clark, Lieutenant Andrew McLean, Sergeant John McDonough, Sergeant Dennis O'Brien, Corporal Jeremiah Dooling, Corporal Thomas M. Fisher, were detailed to go to Pennsylvania after drafted men to fill our regiment, none of which they got.
At four in the afternoon we got into motion and marched six miles, passing to the west of Warrenton, and encamping in a low open field, where we were annoyed for the first time during the war by mosquitoes.
The next morning we sounded no reveille, but woke
* The General wore spectacles.
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the men up early and marched at five o'clock towards Fayetteville, near which we halted at eight in the morn- ing, for the night and day.
On the 28th, on account of the scarcity of water, we moved about a mile to a new position, where we laid until the 1st of August, spending one day of our time on picket. While here Lieutenant John Taylor com- manding Company E, was appointed an aid on Colonel McCandless' staff.
On the 1st, we marched at five in the afternoon two miles towards Warrenton and bivouacked. There was through the afternoon, considerable cannonading heard towards the Warrenton Sulphur Springs, occasioned by our cavalry and light artillery skirmishing.
On the 3d, we moved at eight A. M., about three miles to our old bivouac of the 26th ult. The weather was so oppressively hot that in this short distance many men gave out and several were sunstruck. We remained there until dark, when we marched to our old bivouac of the 28th, where we laid two hours, when we again got under way and marched by a circuitous route eight miles and bivouacked at two the next morning within two miles of our last starting point, on our old camp ground of November last, under Burnside.
On the 4th, we moved camp about one mile. In the afternoon, during a heavy thunder storm, our own and the enemy's cavalry, supported with light artillery, met accidentally south of the Rappahannock, and had a heavy skirmish in which our men drove them and took a number of prisoners. The day before they had an encounter at Kelly's Ford with the same result.
On the 6th, General Gibbon took temporary command of our corps, Colonel McCandless of our division and Colonel William Cooper Talley of our brigade. Major Wiley paid the regiment off, and Lieutenant Craig, Com- pany A, rejoined us, having recovered from his wounds received at Fredericksburg.
On the 8th, we marched early, and at noon arrived at
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Rappahannock Station where we formed a regular en- campment.
During our late marching and countermarching a large portion of our troops were sent to the City of New York (the left wing of Lee's army), to enforce the draft, with which a powerful mob had been permitted by the City and State authorities to interfere, and we being in the presence of a superior and vigilant foe it was neces- sary to deceive him as to our numbers, for which purpose we moved continually in a circle of some fifteen miles diameter, and the tramp of troops and the moving of artillery and wagons was heard night and day. At every stopping place orders were issued to lay out our camp regularly, dig sinks, and erect bough arbors over our tents, but no sooner were they finished than orders to march were received. In this manner, the enemy's spies and the inhabitants were utterly deceived, and when our army was reduced to probably twenty-five thousand men, the Richmond papers reported us as receiving large reinforcements and numbering over eighty thou- sand. The men soon understood and appreciated the strategy of General Meade.
This depletion of our army to maintain the authority of the Government and to enforce the laws at home, paralyzed the movements of General Meade, and virtually brought to a close the campaign at a season most favor- able to its prosecution, and at a time auspicious of its success.
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"A BUSH OF RATS."
CHAPTER XXV.
RAPPAHANNOCK STATION. THE SWORD BANQUET. MILITARY EXECUTION. MARCH TO CULPEPPER COURT HOUSE.
IN our camp at the Station, wells and sinks were dug. bough arbors erected, clothing and an abundance of rations issued, our sutler's tent kept well supplied, mail facilities afforded, and the "Philadelphia Inquirer," the soldier's paper, received the day it was published. The usual routine of camp, guard mounting, drills and dress parades, were established, and the discipline which is so apt to become relaxed during an active campaign was re-established.
While here the boys who were always fond of bathing had ample opportunity of enjoying that luxury, but un- fortunately one day Samuel Black of Company F was drowned.
Nothing of moment occurred until the middle of the month, when late one afternoon, notice was received that the enemy was advancing upon us, and orders were issued to be in readiness to fall in prepared for action at a moment's notice. A signal gun was fired from corps' head-quarters, upon which a large number of troops crossed the Rappahannock, but the night passed over without any sound of battle. The next morning it was ascertained the alarm had been occasioned by an aid having "a rush of. rats to the head," which caused him to mistake our returning scouts for the enemy.
The officers of the Reserves having determined some time previous to present to General Meade a testimonial of their esteem and admiration for him, as an officer and leader, had procured through their chairman, Colonel McCandless, a costly sword of most exquisite workman- ship, a sash, belt and a pair of gold spurs to offer for his acceptance. On the 2Sth the presentation took place.
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Invitations were extended to Governor Curtin and a number of gentlemen prominent in civil and military life, who were present. The banquet was one of the most magnificent affairs of the kind ever gotten up in the Army of the Potomac. For ten days one hundred men had been engaged in decorating the grounds, building green arbors, arches and towers of the most exquisite taste and artistic style. The day was a most beautiful one, and about five in the evening, there gathered upon the ground a large assemblage of officers, of our division and the army, and among them some of the most dis- tinguished heroes of the war, all dressed in full uniform, with sash and belt, but without swords. General Meade, surrounded by a staff of distinguished personnel mounted the stand, and General Crawford, taking the sword from the case, in a neat and appropriate speech, handed it to the general, who stepped forward, amid the most vocife- rous cheering, and responded as follows:
"GENERAL CRAWFORD AND OFFICERS OF THE DIVI- SION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RESERVE CORPS :- I accept this sword with feelings of profound gratitude. I should be insensible to all the promptings of nature if I were not grateful and proud at receiving a testimonial of approba- tion from a band of officers and men so distinguished as has been the division of the Pennsyvania Reserve Corps, during the whole period of this war. I have a right, therefore, to be proud that they should think my conduct and my course have been of such a character as to justify them in collecting together here so many distinguished gentlemen, as I see around me, from different parts of the country, and our own State, to present to me this handsome testimonial. It in effect says to me, that in their judgment I have done my duty towards them and towards the country. I began my career in this army, by commanding the Second Brigade of your division. I faithfully endeavored, during all the time I held that command, and also the command of your division, to treat the officers and men in a manner that would ex-
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press to them my high appreciation of their conduct as soldiers and brave men.
"I am very glad, sir, that you have mentioned your distinguished guest, the Governor of Pennsylvania. I have a personal knowledge of his patriotic efforts in behalf of the soldiers. To him the country is indebted for putting into the field in its hour of sorest need this splendid corps, and I have watched with pleasure and satisfaction the solicitude he has always shown, to see that all its interests and wants are attended to. I have been with him on the occasions when he has visited the officers and men from our State, and I know that they are indebted to him for many comforts, and that the country is indebted to him for words of eloquence which he addressed to them to inspire them with increased patriotism and courage. I am gratified that he is here to witness this presentation, and I heartily join you, sir, in the hope that his fellow-citizens will remember, on election day, his services in promoting the interests of the country and the suppression of the rebellion.
"In speaking of the pride which I experience in re- ceiving this sword, I feel myself justified, even at the risk of being charged with egotism, in saying a few words about the services rendered by this division. I say unhesitatingly here before this assembly, and I am quite sure that when the history of the war is written, that the facts will vindicate me, that no division in this glorious army of the Potomac-glorious as I conceive it to be-is entitled to claim more credit for its uniform gallant conduct, and for the amount of hard fighting it has gone through, than the division of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. I do not wish to take any credit to my- self in this. It is not of my own personal service that I would speak, but of the services of the soldiers-of the privates of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, and I have only to appeal to Drainesville, where the first success that crowned the arms of the Army of the Potomac was gained, unaided and alone, by a single brigade of the Penn.
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sylvania Reserves. I have only to refer to Mechanics- ville, where the whole of Longstreet's Corps was held in check for hours, and victory really won, by only two brigades of the Reserves. I refer you to New Market Cross roads, sometimes called Glendale, and refer em- phatically to that battle, because certain officers of the army, not knowing the true facts of the case, and misled at the time by the statement of others equally ignorant with themselves, and whose statements have since been proved incorrect, brought charges against this division on that occasion. I was with the division during the whole fight, and until dark, when it pleased God that I should be shot down and carried off the field.
" I have been told that the division ran off, but I know that I stayed with it until it was dark, and my men were engaged in a hand-to-hand contest over the batteries with the enemy. I do not say that there were not some who ran away, but that is nothing singular. There are cow- ards in every division; there are bad men in every corps. I do say, however, that the large body of the gallant men of the Pennsylvania Reserves remained on the field until dark, and did not leave it until the enemy had retired. Those guns were never captured from them. They remained on the field, and were not taken until ten o'clock the next day. I refer to South Moun- tain, and it is not necessary for me to say much of their conduct there, for their gallant ascent of the height in the face of the enemy, and turning their left flank, was wit- nessed by the commanding general, and they received full credit forit. I speak of Antietam, where, on the 16th of September, the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, always in the advance, boldly attacked that portion of the Confede. rate army in its front, without knowing its strength, and continued to drive it until dark, and then held the ·position it had gained until morning, when the battle was renewed. I speak again of Fredericksburg, where the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps crossed the railroad, and ied the advance, unaided and alone, up the heights, and
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held their position for half an hour. Had they been fol- lowed and supported by other troops, their courage that day would have won a victory. I repeat, therefore, that I have a right to be proud and grateful when the officers and men of such a command, who can with truth point to a hard-earned and dearly-bought record of bright deeds, present me, who have had the honor of command- ing them, with such a testimonial.
" While, however, I give expression to these feelings, they are not unmingled with others of a sad and mourn- ful nature, as I look around you and reflect that so many of the brave officers and soldiers who originally composed this division sleep their last sleep, and that others have been obliged to return home crippled and maimed for life. It is terrible to think that there should be any necessity for so much misfortune and misery! Sad, that in this country, a land flowing with milk and honey, and in which we are all brothers, we should raise our arms against each other, and such scenes should be enacted as I have been a participant in. It is sad that there should be an occasion like the present, for the presentation of a testimonial such as this. These are sad, sad thoughts to me, but at the same time I am sus- tained in my present position by a consciousness that I am acting from a high and proper sense of my duty to my country. It is impossible that this great country should be divided; that there should be two govern- ments or two flags on this continent. Such a thing is entirely out of the question. I trust that every loyal man would be willing to sacrifice his life before he would consent to have more than one government and one flag wave over the whole territory of the United States. This re-union, gentlemen, awakens in my heart new sorrow for an officer which it vividly recalls to my mind, for he commanded the division when I commanded one of the brigades. He was the noblest as well as the bravest gentleman in the army. I refer to John F. Rey- nolds. I cannot receive this sword without thinking of
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that officer. When he fell at Gettysburg, leading the advance, I lost not only a lieutenant of the utmost im- portance to me, but I may say that I lost a friend, aye, even a brother. I miss other faces which were familiar to me in your midst-Bayard, of the cavalry; Jackson, of the Third brigade; Simmons, of the Fifth; McNeil and Taylor, of the Rifles; young Kuhn, who came from Philadelphia to assist me in the field; Dehone, and a host of others whose memories you all cherish.
" It is oppressive, gentlemen, to me to go over the list of these officers who have been sacrificed ; but if I could remember and name every soldier of your division that has fallen, what a long list, and what a trying recital it would be to us all ! How many men who once belonged to the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps now sleep in the grave, or are lingering on earth, joyfully expecting death to end their sufferings.
" I thank you, General Crawford, for the kind manner in which you have conveyed to me this elegant testimo- nial, and I also thank these gentlemen who have come so far to be present. I trust, sir, this sword will be re- quired but a short time longer. Affairs and events now look as if this unhappy war might be brought to a happy termination. I have to request of you, gentlemen, who are in civil life, that, when you return home, you will spare no efforts to make the people understand that all we want are men to fill up our ranks. Send these to us. Give us the numbers, and the war will soon be concluded. I think the Confederates are now satisfied that their struggle is only a matter of time, as we have the force on our side, and that as soon as they see that we are bringing out that force in earnest they will yield. Permit me, before I close, to mention what I intended to refer to before this, but it escaped my memory. I intended to express my delight, sir, on hearing that at Gettysburg, under your command, the Reserve Corps enacted deeds worthy of their former reputation, show- ing that they had lost none of their daring, and could
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always be relied on in the hour and post of danger. I expected that this would be the case, it was particularly gratifying to me to hear it from your immediate com- mander on that occasion. Thanking you for your gal- lantry there, and again thanking you for your kindness, I will conclude."
The general was followed by Governor Andrew G. Curtin, in a patriotic and soul-stirring speech, in which he paid a touching tribute to our dead, and spoke with the highest admiration and deepest regret of the lamented Reynolds. After his Excellency followed Colonel R. Biddle Roberts, late of the First Reserves, the Honora- ble Morton McMichael and Colonel John W. Forney after which all retired to the banquet hall, where was spread all the delicacies that a refined taste and epicurian palate could suggest. After passing a most happy evening, about ten o'clock the mirthful party broke up, the civilians taking the cars at Bealton Station, and the officers dispersing to their various camps.
The day following the banquet, the execution of five substitute deserters took place in the presence of the Fifth Corps, to which they belonged. The spot chosen was well fitted for the occasion, the troops being drawn up on the slope of a hill from which all could witness it. A death procession, composed of the culprits, a priest, a rabbi, the guard, the firing party, and the band, to the most beautiful and solemn dirges, passed down the line and halted in front of the graves. The prisoners seated themselves upon their coffins, were blindfolded, a short prayer was said, the orders, "ready "-"aim"-" fire"- given, and the culprits fell back dead. Their graves were filled up, and the troops marched back to their camps with their bands playing merry tunes. Men who sell their blood for money and then desert, deserve no sympathy.
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