History of the Philadelphia Brigade. Sixty-ninth, Seventy-first, Seventy-second, and One hundred and sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers

HISTORY

OF THE

PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

SIXTY-NINTH, SEVENTY-FIRST, SEVENTY-SECOND,
AND ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH PENN-
SYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS.

BY

CHARLES H. BANES,

LATE BREVET LIEUTENANT-COLONEL AND ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL

VOLUNTEERS.

PHILADELPHIA:

J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.
1876.

r-

Entered j according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, by

CHARLES H. BANES,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at "Washington.

PREFACE.

In the preparation of this History, the author lias
had access to official documents, as well as journals and
reports in the possession of members of the Brigade.
In order to more fully illustrate the operations of the
command, brief accounts of army movements have been
introduced. For much of this general information, the
writer is indebted to "Swinton's Army of the Potomac,"
the "Report of the Committee on the Conduct of the
War," and unpublished reports on file in the War De-
partment, which he has been permitted to examine. He
has attempted to give a connected history of the com-
mand from its formation until its regiments were mus-
tered out, and in doing so he has endeavored to confine
his work to a simple narrative of its toils and conflicts,
without any flattery of regiments or officers, and without
any attempt at criticising the operations of the army.

With the exception of two or three companies formed
in the interior of Pennsylvania, the four regiments of the
Brigade were composed chiefly of volunteers from the
city of Philadelphia, and for that reason might properly

4 ' PREFACE.

be called the Philadelphia Brigade. It consisted of the
Sixty-Ninth, Seventy-First, Seventy-Second, and One
Hundred and Sixth Regiments of Pennsylvania Vol-
unteers, and was designated the Second Brigade of the
Second Division, Second Corps, Army of the Potomac.
The command had, from the first enrollment until the
muster out, three hundred and fifty field, staff, and line
officers, and over six thousand non-commissioned officers
and privates. The officers and men of the regiments
were equal in courage, endurance, and discipline to the
best commands of the army, and their soldierly bearing
on the march and in battle helped to make the history
of the Army of the Potomac.

To his surviving comrades this volume is respectfully
offered, in the belief that the old scenes revived in these
pages will cause increased respect for the memories of
those who have fallen, renewed sympathy and regard for
the true men who survive, and, above all, an abiding
appreciation of the birthright for which the battles were
fought.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

PAGE

I.

The Formation ....

7

II.

Chain Bridge . . .

17

III.

Ball's Bluff

. 24

IV.

Camp Observation ....

31

y.

Across the Potomac

. 37

VI.

Yorktown ......

45

VII.

Fair Oaks

. 58

VIII.

The Seven Days' Fight

73

IX.

Pope's Campaign ....

. 91

X.

Antietam . . .

103

XI.

Harper's Ferry ....

. 119

XII.

Fredericksburg

128

XIII.

Falmouth

. 147

XIV.

Chancellorsville ....

157

XV.

The March after Lee .

. 166

XVI.

Gettysburg

175

XVII.

The Rappahannock and Mine Run

. 198

XVIII.

The Wilderness

216

XIX.

Spottsylvania Court-House .

. 237

XX.

North Anna

254

XXI.

Cold Harbor

. 263

XXII.

Petersburg

276

XXIII.

Honorably Discharged .

. 287

Roll of

Dead

295

HISTORY

OF

THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

CHAPTER I.

THE FORMATION.

Edward D. Baker, a member of the United States
Senate, and a soldier of high spirit, full of patriotism
and military ardor, was the father of the Philadelphia
Brigade. He was born in England about the year 1800,
and came to this country when very young in life, find-
ing a home in Philadelphia. He had been in the city
but a few years when, by the death of his father, he was
thrown entirely upon his own resources to support him-
self and a younger brother. His force of character and
self-reliance enabled him to cheerfully undertake the
task, and he speedily found work for both in one of the
mills in the lower part of the city. At the age of
twenty-one, his restless spirit and his ambition for
greater success led him to start with his younger brother,
carrying their entire worldly possessions on their backs,

7

8 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

for the great West, the land of hope at that time, if not
now, for young men having as their only capital for
investment strong arms, stout hearts, and honest aspira-
tions.

They settled first in Springfield, Illinois, where Ed-
ward commenced the study, and afterwards the practice,
of law, and having fine natural gifts improved by close
attention to his profession and extensive reading, he
soon reached a high position at the bar. In the year
1846 he was elected from his district to Congress, where
he bid fair to become one of the leaders of the House.
When the Mexican War broke out he at once returned
to Illinois and raised a regiment of volunteers, with
which he joined General Scott's army on its march to
the city of Mexico. After the battle of Cerro Gordo
he was placed in command of a brigade, which he led
during; the rest of the war with distinguished credit.
When the Mexican War was ended he was again elected
to Congress, and served another term. In 1851 he
transferred his residence to San Francisco, where he
speedily became one of its most prominent lawyers.
Baker soon changed his residence again, locating this
time in Oregon, from which he was elected in 1860 to
the United States Senate.

The spirit that aroused the men of the North on the
taking of Fort Sumter, found an enthusiastic response
in the breast of Edward D. Baker; and in one of his
last public addresses delivered in New York just before
he commenced to raise the Philadelphia Brigade (then
called the California Regiments), he uttered these elo-
quent and prophetic words : " And if from the far
Pacific a voice feebler than the feeblest murmur upon

THE FORMATION. 9

its shore may be heard to give you courage and hope in
the contest, that voice is yours to-day ; and if a man
whose hair is gray, who is well-nigh worn out in the
battle and toil of life, may pledge himself on such an
occasion and in such an audience, let me say as my last
word, that when, amid sheeted fire and flame, I saw and
led the hosts of New York as they charged upon a for-
eign soil for the honor of your flag, so again, if Provi-
dence shall will it, this feeble hand shall draw a sword
never yet dishonored — not to fight for distant honor in
a foreign land, but to fight for country, for home, for
law, for government, for constitution, for right, for free-
dom, for humanity, and in the hope that the banner of
my country may advance,' and wheresoever that banner
waves there glory may follow and freedom be estab-
lished."

Colonel Baker was especially commissioned by Presi-
dent Lincoln to raise the Seventy-First Pennsylvania
Regiment, or, as it was called at the muster,1' the First
California Regiment, and recruiting was commenced in
the early part of April, 1861, at Philadelphia. It was
among the first of the three-year troops that were en-
listed, and the work of enrolling was under the imme-
diate charge of Colonel Isaac J. Wistar, of Philadelphia,
who had commanded Indian Rangers in California and
Oregon in 1850, and who had had considerable experi-
ence in the warfare incidental to the early settlements of
the Pacific coast.

In a few weeks over one thousand men were enlisted,
and were sent by detachments to report to the regimental
headquarters established in New York city, where they
were mustered into the service, and organized by the

2

10 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

choice of the following as field-officers: Edward D. Baker,
Colonel ; Isaac J. Wistar, Lieutenant-Colonel ; P. A.
Parrish, Major. The regiment had not been recognized
by either Pennsylvania or New York, and was treated
as belonging to the regular army, its returns being made
accordingly.

Until the last of June it was engaged in drilling and
completing its organization in the vicinity of New York,
— part of the time at Fort Schuyler. On the 1st of
July it was ordered to Fortress Monroe via Philadelphia ;
and as it passed in column through the streets of the
city, it reflected the greatest credit on its officers, and
elicited the heartiest applause from the citizens who
crowded the line of march, and who, in spite of the
rebel gray uniform and the regimental name of a far-off
.sister State, recognized in the regiment marching towards
the South — in every step giving evidence of its fine drill
and discipline — hundreds of the young men of the
Quaker City. Upon its arrival at Fortress Monroe it
was assigned to duty, picketing and scouting on the
Peninsula; its tour of duty extending to the vicinity
of Big Bethel.

The regiment remained at Fortress Monroe until after
the first battle of Bull Run, when it was transferred to
the south bank of the Potomac, opposite Washington,
and engaged, along with other commands, in building
Fort Ethan Allen, near Chain Bridge, and in strength-
ening the defenses of the capital.

The Seventy-Second Pennsylvania, known in its earlier
history as the Philadelphia Fire Zouaves, was the second
regiment of Baker's Brigade to have Philadelphia. IU-
cruiting was commenced on the 3d of August, L 861, and

THE FORMATION. 11

in one week its ranks were full. A regimental organi-
zation was effected by the choice of the following officers:
DeAVitt Clinton Baxter, of Philadelphia, ( Jolonel ; Theo-
dore Hesser, of Philadelphia, Lieutenant-Colonel; James
M. DeWitt, of the Chicago Zouaves, Major.

Colonel Baxter had served as lieutenant-colonel of the
Nineteenth Regiment of three-months' men, and was
noted for his knowledge of the drill and tactics of the
school of the soldier. The regiment had two flank or
skirmish companies, that had been thoroughly instructed
in the peculiar bayonet exercise and evolutions of the
Chicago Zouaves ; this drill proved subsequently of very
little value in the woods of Virginia, or under the fire of
the long-range rifles, and was speedily looked upon by
the men, in the rapid development of their military ex-
perience, as a pleasant sort of gymnastics. The " fancy
drill" — as it was termed by the soldiers — enjoyed for a
brief period considerable popularity ; so much so, that
the citizens of Philadelphia crowded the Academy of
Music to witness the manoeuvres of one of Baxter's
companies before its departure.

The Fire Zouaves contained representatives from
almost every fire company in the city of Philadelphia.
Rival organizations, that had fought for the " first
stream" or the "best plug" at the fire in the exciting days
of the volunteer department, buried their animosities,
and united against one common foe. The uniform of
the men was of a description calculated at first sight to
please the eye of one who looked more at the picturesque
than at the serviceable, although it was far from being
as showy and foreign as that of the Xew York Zouaves.
[It consisted of light-blue pants, cut wide, with red stripes

12 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

at the side ; a cut-away jacket, with rows of bright bell
buttons, only one of which was for use, — that next the
throat ; a shirt of some bright color, not unfrequently
having the letter of the company embroidered on the
bosom ; regulation cap ; and white leggings, confining
the bottom of the pants. The jacket was well adapted
to keep the throat warm in summer, and to expose the
vital parts of the body to the blasts of winter, and by
the utter absence of any convenient location for pockets
it deprived the men of a safe hiding-place for many a
little luxury, while it furnished nothing to carry extra
ammunition. The white leggings, when worn at night
or on the skirmish line, were dangerously conspicuous,
and gave poor compensation for their only advantage, —
the protection of the feet from the dust while on the
march. Early in the war, and before the men were
thoroughly disciplined, when the route lay through a
muddy country, the soldiers, in their endeavors to pro-
tect their handsome white leggings from being soiled,
would spread over a wide space to keep the solid ground.
On one such occasion, a general officer rode up to the
colonel commanding and suggested that he should "take
his armed mob out of the way, and let the troops pass
by." As uniforms wore out and were replaced, the old
portions were frequently given to the camp followers
and officers' servants, and, as they were to be found in all
parts of the column, it sometimes appeared as if Baxter's
men wore represented everywhere. It was no small sat-
isfaction to both officers and men that, after a few months'
experience, the zouave uniform was discarded for the
regulation dress.

The regiment was formed at Camp Lyon, in West

THE FORMATION. 13

Philadelphia, and spent the time until its departure in
equipping the companies and drilling the men. On the
afternoon of Sunday, September 15th, an order was re-
ceived from Colonel Baker to break camp and start at
once for Washington. The order was promptly obeyed,
and those men who were absent visiting their friends in
the city were notified through the ringing of fire-alarm
bells. At an early hour of the same evening the com-
mand left Camp Lyon, and marched through the city
to the Volunteer Refreshment Saloon at Prime Street
Wharf, and, after a collation, took passage on the Balti-
more cars. The demonstrations along the route of the
column, on the part of the fire department and citizens,
were of the most enthusiastic character. Bonfires were
lighted, fire-bells were rung, and as McGonigle and the
men of the " Weccacoe," . Peto and the " Hope Hose
Boys," Captain Cook with members of the " Hibernia,"
and many other officers and men were recognized from
the sidewalks, cheers and hearty good-byes from friends
and old comrades filled the air.

After reaching "Washington, the regiment was ordered
to the Virginia side of the Potomac near Chain Bridge,
where it was placed on fatigue duty with the California
Regiment, on the fortifications.

On the date of the mustering of Colonel Baxter's com-
mand, the Twenty-Fourth Regiment of three-months'
men, commanded by Colonel Joshua T. Owen, was
mustered out. The regiment had served under Gen-
eral Patterson on the Upper Potomac, in the Shenandoah
Valley.

Colonel Owen — subsequently made a brigadier-gen-
eral for distinguished service in the field — was well eal-

2*

14 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

dilated by his generous and genial spirit in camp and
his bearing in action to gather speedily about him a
regiment for the new call of the President for three
years, and many of his old command at once signified
their Avillingncss to re-enlist. A camp of rendezvous
was established at Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, and the
work of filling the companies commenced. With the
exception of a few recruits from the mining districts of
Pennsylvania, the men were residents of Philadelphia,
and mostly of Irish extraction, possessing the soldierly
qualities of their race, calculated to endure the hardships
and privations of the march by their robust habits, and
by their enthusiastic and courageous dispositions well
fitted for effective service in the charge. This last char-
acteristic was manifested in a number of actions, and the
sobriquet " Paddy Owen's Kaglars," at first applied by
their comrades in good-natured jests, was made honor-
able by more than one steady advance with bayonets fixed.

The companies were mustered into the service of the
United States on the 19th of August by Colonel E. D.
Baker, and the regiment was organized by the choice of
the following field-officers : Joshua T. Owen, of Phila-
delphia, Colonel ; Dennis O'Kane, of Philadelphia, Lieu-
tenant-Colonel ; John Devereux, of Philadelphia, Major.
The men were shortly after armed and equipped.

On the 17th of September the regiment was sum-
moned to Washington by a telegram from the Secretary
of War. It broke camp and moved at once. Upon its
arrival at Washington it was ordered to cross the Po-
tomac and join Colonel Baker's command at Fort Ethan
Allen. At this place it was reinforced by two skirmish
companies that had been acting as independent com-

THE FORMATION. 15

mauds under the name of the Baker Guards. These
two organizations wore a uniform somewhat similar to
that of the Fire Zouaves, except in the color of the
trimmings, green having been substituted for the scarlet
of Baxter's men. This force raised the regiment to
twelve companies. The Sixty-Ninth, in addition to
their State flags, carried, as emblematic of their nation-
ality, a handsome green flag with the arms of Ireland,
presented by the citizens of Philadelphia; and in many
an action these standards went in together and honor-
ably came out side by side.

Colonel Turner G. Morehead, a prominent and ex-
ceedingly capable officer of the Pennsylvania militia,
and the commander of the Twenty-Second Regiment of
three-months' men, was mustered out of service with his
regiment on the 7th of August, 1861. He at once com-
menced recruiting a regiment for Baker's Brigade. In
this work he was assisted by Lieutenant-Colonel Curry
and Captain J. J. Sperry, as well as by many of the offi-
cers and men of the Twenty-Second, who were anxious
again to risk their lives for the preservation of the
Union. The regiment was organized, with the ex-
ception of Company K, between the 14th of August
and the 31st of September, 1861, in the city of Phila-
delphia. Company K was formed from a number of
men enlisted as sappers and miners under the charge of
Lieutenants Pimple and W. L. Curry, and its organiza-
tion was completed by the transfer of Captain Martin
Frost and twenty men from the Sixty-Ninth. Its com-
pletion took place on the 28th of February, 1862, when
it was mustered into the One Hundred and Sixth Regi-
ment as an infantry company.

16 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

This organization, known at first as the Fifth Cali-
fornia Regiment, but subsequently as the One Hundred
and Sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, joined the Phila-
delphia Brigade at Camp Observation, near Poolesville,
Maryland. With the exception of one or two fine
companies from the interior of Pennsylvania, it was
composed mostly of Philadelphians, and although it did
not have the eclat in its formation belonging to either of
the other regiments of the brigade, it was their equal in
morale and discipline. Most of the regimental and
company officers were familiar with the duties of the
soldier, and seemed to take a proper interest in the
development of a high standard of excellence in their
commands.

CHAPTEE II.

CHAIN BRIDGE.

From the time of their arrival until the end of Sep-
tember, the regiments were kept actively at work on
picket and fatigue duty near Chain Bridge, and the men
began to realize some of the discomforts incidental to a
change from the pleasant homes of the city to tent-life
on the rough hill-sides of Virginia.

Employed as they were, but little attention could be
given to the instructions of officers, or to the drill and
discipline of the men. There were occasional company
drills, and in one instance Colonel Baker attempted to
manoeuvre the brigade, but the rough character of the
ground, from which in many places trees had just been
cut, hindered any profitable exercise. Picketing and
scouting were of daily occurrence, and to the California
Regiment particularly hazardous, their uniforms being
gray, like those of the Confederates. Among the killed
while in this service was Captain James W. Lingenfelter,
of Company B, Seventy-First Regiment, who was shot
September 21st. He was one of the officers who had
come from the Pacific coast to serve with Colonel
Baker.

The proximity of the rebel line to the camps of the
brigade caused the men to feel that they were in a hos-

17

18 niSTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

tile country, and assisted them materially in learning
the duties and habits of the picket. The last arrivals
looked upon the California men, with their soiled uni-
forms, as comparative veterans, and were willing listeners
to their relation of incidents in the campaign at Fortress
Monroe and in the vicinity of Big Bethel.

Until the troops learned to distinguish between the
false and the true reports, Madam Rumor played some
strange pranks in the camp, and it was amusing to see
with what singular rapidity false reports would spread,
and as quickly die away. At one time the enemy would
be moving on Fort Baker, and the next day report had
the brigade ordered to Missouri.

The life of a soldier is one calculated to sharpen the
perceptive faculties, and it was but a short time before
the men became very skeptical in their reception of
camp news, and even learned to make a fine distinction
as to the shades of difference between the reports.
Rumors that had no foundation except in the imagina-
tion, and which were often started while the company's
cooks were serving out the rations, were styled " cook-
house news/' whilst the flying camp reports that might
contain a few grains of truth were called " chin-chin ;"
and it was frequently asked, when a report had gained
extensive circulation, to which class it belonged: if it
was " chin" it was deemed more trustworthy than " cook-
house."

In the composition of the regiments all classes of
society, as well as trades and professions, were repre-
sented, and there were no duties that soldiers might be
called upon to perform that did not find men ready to
step forward fully prepared for the work, even though

CHAIN BRIDGE.

19

it should be the reading of a telegraphic " sounder/' or
the artistic handling of intrenching tools in the ditch.
The " eternal fitness of things" could not always be pre-
served, and occasionally a young man bred to the law
found himself in a detail at work in the trenches under
a non-commissioned officer who knew more about the
spade than the pen.

The majority of the men seemed to take to camp life
with good nature, and gradually learned to place the
proper estimate of value on their comrades, and the
officers began to realize that duty to themselves and to
those under their charge brought no inconsiderable re-
sponsibility.

With every day came some new developments of char-
acter ; men were learning to read those about them, and
officers were acquiring a better knowledge of the material
of their commands. On one occasion in a ludicrous
experience, an officer realized that there might be in the
rank and file of his company men who knew more
about the tactics of the soldier than he had yet learned
from "Gilmore" or "Hardee." A special detail had
been made for headquarters guard, and after the inspec-
tion and the men had been placed at their posts, the
sergeant of the guard visited post number one, in front
of the tent of the general commanding, to ascertain if
the sentinel fully understood his duties. The man at
once took the regulation position of "arms port," and
listened carefully to the instructions for the guard, only
replying in response to an inquiry " Whether he had
ever served in that position before ?" that he had, " But
it was some years since, in front of General Scott's
headquarters in the city of Mexico."

20 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

The same insurmountable difficulty — scarcity of sup-
plies— that compelled the Government to issue gray
uniforms, instead of blue, to the California Regiment
interfered with the proper equipment of the brigade in
arms and ammunition, and many of the guns dignified
by the name of rifles were only flint-lock muskets,
altered in such a careless manner that it was no unusual
occurrence for a nipple to blow out with the discharge
of the piece, to the great danger of the owner. Even
with these weapons there was not enough to fully arm
the entire brigade ; and on one reconnoissance Company
H, of Baxter's Regiment, was supplied with axes, and
was detailed as a pioneer corps.

While at work in the trenches, on September 24th,
the troops had an opportunity of witnessing one of the
uses of balloons in modern warfare. Four miles dis-
tant from Fort Ethan Allen, at a station called Falls
Church, the Confederates had a considerable body of
men. The United States forces at Arlington Heights
sent up a captive balloon, and by means of signals di-
rected the battery at Fort Allen how to range its rifled
cannon on the camp of the enemy. After a few trials
shells were thrown with precision, and the Confederates
were discomfited by an unexpected foe.

September 28th, at ten p.m., the brigade was ordered
to march on a night expedition to Munson's Hill. In
the columns were other commands that had been located
near us, the whole of the force being in charge of Gen-
eral Wm. F. Smith. The Seventy-First Regiment, with
two sections of artillery, had the right; then came the
Seventy-Second, followed by the Sixty-Ninth. The
night was dark, and the narrow road along which they

CHAIN BRIDGE. 21

marched led for the most part through a dense forest,
After advancing about three miles, carefully feeling the
way with skirmishers, a halt was made, and directions
were given to load, with strict orders to make no noise,
not even to speak aloud, and the march was resumed.
While all were wrought up to a pitch of excitement by
these preparatory orders, an alarm was raised in a por-
tion of the column, and the men supposing that the
enemy was about to attack, and unable to distinguish in
the darkness friend from foe, commenced an indiscrim-
inate firing. Many of the soldiers left the road and
took to the woods or fields, and acted as if their first
duty was to discharge their rifles at some imaginary
object. After a few moments, it occurred to most of the
officers that there might be no good cause for the alarm,
and the troops were ordered to cease firing and lie down.
Where captains of companies acted with promptness,
order was soon restored ; several minutes elapsed, how-
ever, before the irregular fire entirely ceased. The actual
cause of the false alarm, as it proved to be, was never
ascertained. It was one of those stampedes that took
place occasionally during the night-marches of the war,
and which were not confined to new recruits or to either
army. After the men were rallied, it was ascertained
that the section of artillery on the right had actually
been ordered at the first alarm to fire on the troops, but
was prevented by the doubts in the mind of its com-
mander.

A halt was now made, and skirmishers were thrown
out, who, carefully advancing through woods in the
front, halted when they saw what appeared to be a row
of camp fires belonging to the enemy. At daybreak

3

22 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

the lights were found to be those of the Ninth Massa-
chusetts, part of another column that had been moving
on a parallel road. Thus ended this eventful night, full
of errors and sorrows. The entire loss was seventeen
men killed and thirty wounded. As this was the first
time the brigade was under fire, it developed some new
phases of character in both officers and men; but alto-
gether the impression was not unfavorable for new
troops.

On Sunday, 29th of September, the command was
located in a field awaiting orders or the enemy, and at
four p.m. was marched back to the old camp. Some of
the columns engaged in this advance took Munson's
Hill ; but the Philadelphia Brigade felt that its share
of work had more of disaster than glory.

One of the first duties of a soldier is to subordinate
his will to that of his military superiors ; to obey
orders implicitly and ask no questions. Already this
discipline was beginning to produce its proper effect;
but there were some few who thought, aloud, that a
midnight advance over unfamiliar ground by troops
only a few days in the service, having line-officers with
little, if any, experience, was no evidence of wisdom
on the part of the general who gave the preliminary
order.

September 30th, the brigade recrossed the Potomac
and marched to Great Falls, in Maryland, a distance of
nine miles, where it halted. October 1st, started at noon
and readied Rockville by night. October 2d, marched
to Seneca Mills, — part of the time through a heavy
rain. The men by this time appeared to be well used
to campaigning. October 3d, reached a point four miles

CHAIN BRIDGE.

23

bevond Poolesville, Montgomery County, Maryland
where tents were pitched and Colonel Baker gave verbal
orders that each company might nse ten fence-rails for
fuel, and no more, as the command would soon move
forward.

CHAPTER III.

ball's bluff.

Day after day passed, and the first allowance of fence-
rails had been turned into ashes along with many others
that had not been so formally set aside ; still there was
no sign of a movement. Relieved from the fatigue and
picket duty that formed the routine at Chain Bridge,
there was abundant opportunity for drill and equipment.
Quartermasters of regiments were busied in procuring
the completion of outfits, and officers were occupied in
perfecting their companies. The regulation system of
guard duties was strictly followed, including the "grand
rounds" at night and the patrol outside the camp limits
by day.

Colonel Baker personally exercised the officers in the

manual of arms as well as in the school of the battalion, in

both of which he displayed considerable knowledge and

proficiency. A trifling incident occurred during one of

the drills which served to illustrate an important trait in

his military character, — promptness in obeying an order

without stopping to consider either its necessity or the

means for its accomplishment. At the time referred to,

the officers were formed in line, drilling in the manual,

and at the position of "arms at order"; when Colonel

Baker gave the command, "support arms," omitting the
24

BALL'S BLUFF. 25

intermediate position of arms at a shoulder. Some
obeyed the order by going regularly through the drill,
from one position to another ; others kept their pieces
resting on the ground, and looked at their commander,
with a smile at his error. Baker stood erect, looking
the picture of determination, and said, with an emphasis
not to be mistaken, "I want the officers to understand
that when an order is given it must be obeyed."

While at this camp the command was designated the
Third Brigade of the Corps of Observation, the divi-
sion being under the command of General Charles P.
Stone. A considerable number of recruits joined the
command, and one regiment (Colonel Baxter's) contained
fifteen companies, with an aggregate of fourteen hundred
and eighty-seven men. This regiment had passed through
the campaign thus far without any casualties. On the
17th of October the first death occurred in its ranks.
On a dismal, rainy day, one of those calculated to bring
into the minds of the soldiers thoughts of home, and
mental pictures of more cheerful scenes, one of the- en-
listed men, who had been sick with a fever, died in the
camp hospital. He had all the attention the surgeon
could give him, but in his case, as in that of many others
after him, "there was dearth of woman's care." This
event, being the first of the kind, created considerable
thoughtfulness, strangely at variance with the hardened
feelings produced by after-experience on the battle-field.

October 21st, at one o'clock a.m., Colonel Baker, in
command of the brigade, received an order from Gen-
eral Stone for the right battalion of the California Regi-
ment, consisting of eight companies, — A, C, D, G, H,
L, N, and F, — to march so as to reach Conrad's Ferry

3*

26 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

by daylight. This order was put into execution by
Lieutenant-Colonel Wistar, commanding the regiment.
On his arrival at the ferry, he reported to General Stone
and awaited instructions. While thus halting, he ascer-
tained that our forces with two guns occupied Harrison's
Island, and also that an expedition of about five hundred
men under Colonel Devens of the Fifteenth Massachu-
setts, accompanied by Colonel Lee and one hundred men
of the Twentieth Massachusetts, had crossed to the Vir-
ginia shore at an early hour, intending to advance
towards Leesburg. Thinking it probable that the
Seventy-First Battalion might be ordered to reinforce
Devens, Colonel Wistar moved them nearer the river
and began an inspection of the facilities for crossing.
From the Maryland side to the island were two large
scows, capable of holding about forty-five men each ;
from the island to the Virginia side there was a ferry-
boat, larger than the scows, that would hold about sixty
men ; and, along with this, a small metallic life-boat.
These means of transportation Wistar increased by the
addition of a boat lifted out of its place in the canal,
and run down the bank into the river, by the men of
his regiment. This made it possible to ferry over at
one time — all the boats being in use — about two hun-
dred men. At about nine o'clock orders were received
for the battalion to cross the river and join forces with
Colonel Devens.

At this moment Colonel Baker arrived, and, ascertain-
ing the orders received by Wistar, rode down to see Gen-
eral Stone. In a short time he returned, and, after dis-
patching an officer to order the remainder of the brigade
under Colonel Baxter to move at once, personally superin-

BALL'S BLUFF. 27

tended the crossing, which had already commenced. By
two p.m. six companies had been landed on the island,
and one company had crossed to the Virginia shore. In
the mean time, Colonel Baker had reached the island
and taken the chief command, with full discretionary
power to reinforce the party on the advance, or to with-
draw all the forces to the Maryland side. The following
order was found on the body of Colonel Baker after his
death :

"Headquarters, Corps of" [here the bullet struck, and a
word is missing] Edward's Ferry, October 21st, 1861.

" Colonel E. D. Baker, Commander of Brigade :

" Colonel, — In case of heavy firing in front of Har-
rison's Island, you will advance the California Regiment
of your brigade, or retire the regiments under Colonels
Lee and Devens, now on the" [almost illegible by blood]
"Virginia side of the river, at your discretion, assuming
command on arrival.

"Very respectfully, Colonel, your obedient servant,
" Chas. P. Stone,

" Brigadier-General Commanding."

Heavy firing was heard, and Colonel Baker decided
to reinforce Devens. Leaving instructions to forward
the artillery as quickly as possible, he hastened over to
the Virginia side, and, assuming command, began to
make the dispositions. Companies A and D, under Cap-
tain Markoe, were sent forward on the left as skirmish-
ers to ascertain the position of the enemy's right flank.
They had advanced but a short distance when they came
suddenly on the right of his line of battle concealed in
a dense wood, and were at once hotly engaged. The

28 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

action thus brought on soon became general. The ground
on which Baker's forces were compelled to give battle
was very unfavorable for them. It was an open field,
— a sort Of oblong square, the length running at right
angles with the river, — bordered on three sides by a
dense forest, and terminating on the fourth at the brow
of the high bluff on the shore.

For nearly two hours the action continued with vary-
ing results, the enemy being generally met with the most
determined spirit. But the odds were too great, and,
gradually losing ground, our forces retired slowly to the
edge of the bank. At five p.m. many of the men and
officers had fallen ; among the latter the brave Colonel
Wistar, shot in three places, was borne from the field.
At the same time fell Bramhall and French, of the
artillery, who were also carried away severely wounded.
Just then a still greater disaster occurred, the gallant
Baker, who had been seen first on the left and then on
the right, wherever the battle raged most severely, with
his sword unsheathed, — encouraging the men by his
example and words, — fell, covered with wounds. His
death must have been instantaneous, and no language
could more fitly describe it than his own prophetic
words uttered in his last address before he entered the
service. The body of the dead commander was safely
and tenderly carried to the river, and ferried over to the
spot which he had left but a short time before to "draw
a sword never yet dishonored." As the venerable form
was borne along the line of young men standing on the
river-bank, who for hours had been compelled to re-
main as silent witnesses of the terrible work in which
their comrades were engaged, hundreds with tears in

BALL'S BLUFF. 29

their eyes looked on his livid face and said, with sor-
rowful hearts, "Father Baker is dead; his brigade
loved him."

Immediately after the death of Colonel Baker the
enemy made a determined advance, and, our forces being
thrown into great confusion, the scene at once became
appalling. A portion of the force endeavored to cut
their way through to Edward's Ferry, but were met and
repulsed by a Mississippi regiment. It now became a
wild and disorderly retreat, men rushing down the steep
bank to reach the boat, closely pursued by the victors,
relentlessly firing into their masses. The only boat be-
tween the Virginia side and the island had been sunk
while returning with wounded, and most of those on
board were drowned. Communication being thus cut
off, one of the officers now in command gave orders for
such as wished to try to save themselves to throw away
their pieces and plunge into the river, while all others
should come and surrender with him.

The color-sergeant of the Seventy-First, seeing that
all was lost, stripped his colors from the staff, and, wind-
ing them around his person, plunged into the river. He
clung to them until nearly exhausted, and, to save his
life, he cast the flag away, never to be recovered.

Soon the poor fellows who escaped from this terrible
affair, naked and shivering with cold, began to join the
rest of the troops on the Maryland side, and the fight
at Ball's Bluff was over. At midnight the brigade,
with the survivors of the California Battalion, returned
to camp sad and depressed at the death of their brave
old leader, and the loss of many gallant comrades.

Of five hundred and twenty of the Seventy-First

30 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

who entered this engagement, three hundred and twelve
men were lost. Captain Harvey, A. A. G. of the bri-
gade, and Lieutenant Williams were killed ; Captain
Otter was either killed or drowned while crossing the
stream ; and Captains Markoe and Keffer were wounded
and taken prisoners.

CHAPTEE IV.

CAMP OBSEEVATTOX.

Beigadiee-Geneeal "W. "W. Btjexs, of the regular
army, was ordered to the command of the brigade after
the death of Colonel Baker. The same camping ground
was occupied as before the Ball's Bluff affair, and the
troops were employed in drilling and manoeuvres when-
ever the weather would permit. A detail of four com-
panies did picket duty on the Potomac from Conrad's
Ferry on the left to the Point of Rocks on the right,
connecting at the latter place with Colonel Geary's
Twenty-Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment. This work
was continued during the winter, and had so little
excitement about it, especially during the day, that it
became to those so engaged very monotonous.

It was made the duty of the senior officer of this
picket to send hourly reports by means of a cavalry-
man to the headquarters of General Stone at Pooles-
ville. There was no enemy to be seen on the other side,
unless a stray citizen, occasionally gratifying his curi-
osity, could be construed into a rebel. The river always
seemed to flow along at the same rate of speed, and sel-
dom at this time of the year changed its volume. Under
these conditions, it required some ingenuity on the part

of an officer with a limited vocabulary to prevent his

31

32 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

reports from exhibiting a dull uniformity. The excite-
ment about the picket-guard to the young soldier began,
however, at night, when all are on the alert, and every
little stir in the darkness is magnified out of all propor-
tion. An owl screaming in the distance, or a muskrat
plunging into the water, causes suspicion of the pres-
ence of an enemy ; and if joined to these noises there
is the sound of a rifle accidentally discharged, the fears
are almost confirmed ; but daylight comes, and all is
quiet on the Potomac.

Early one morning, after a night somewhat disturbed
by false alarms, the senior officer of one of the details
was informed by an old resident that, from appearances,
the river would certainly rise one foot by night-fall.
This hint was a good one, and would prove valuable to
General Stone and break the monotony. The officer
was a man of prudence, and resolved not to overwhelm
his commander at once. Eight or ten reports were pre-
pared and numbered consecutively, bringing the river
gradually to the proper height ; and with pleasing con-
fidence the day was devoted to a tour of hunting. Be-
fore the departure, the lieutenant in charge of the line
was directed to forward the papers through the day in
regular order. When evening brought the return to
duty, the captain was mortified to learn that, instead of
the anticipated rise, the river had fallen. It is not likely
that General Stone ever discovered the value of these
reports, or based any important movement on the in-
formation contained therein, and it is equally improbable
that the officer ever repeated a similar experiment.

General Burns, the new commander, made at first an
impression somewhat unfavorable, owing to his strict

CAMP OBSERVATION. 33

enforcement of discipline; but the men soon learned its
value in promoting efficiency, and as time wore away,
and they witnessed the impartiality of his decisions, he
became exceedingly popular, and was welcomed as the
successor of the lamented Baker.

Winter had now begun, and it became apparent that
the active campaign for 1861 was over, so far as the
Corps of Observation was concerned. By the power of
ready invention and the use of various camp devices,
the troops succeeded in making their tents tolerably
comfortable, and with the addition of blankets and
overcoats were well protected from the severity of the
season. The full ration of food was regularly issued,
supplemented occasionally with a box of "good things"
from home, and the daily mail brought letters and
papers. In spite of these comforts, however, there was
considerable restlessness and anxiety manifested by
some, arising from the fact that for months the regi-
ments had not received any payments, and men were
serving who knew that those at home, depending upon
them for support, were suffering for want of funds.
This delay in settlement arose from a misunderstanding
between the State authorities and the War Department
concerning the muster of the regiments, and was finally
settled by the issue of an order " that the muster of the
regiments of Baker's Brigade, although irregular, is
hereby authorized and approved."

During the uncertainty existing previous to this order,
there was an increasing desire on the part of large num-
bers to see their homes, if only for a brief period. Nos-
talgia threatened to become epidemic, and it affected all

classes. The only certain cure for this disease was a

4

34 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

furlough, and this was freely administered until, by the
failure of some of the convalescents to return promptly,
the patience of the general became exhausted, and he
indorsed on an application for leave of absence, " Re-
fused. On account of the frequent absence without
leave, no more furloughs will be granted until the troops
learn that duty is a sentiment of honor."

Believing that soldiers should be fertile in expedients
and audacious in action, applications were renewed, with
telegrams annexed from sick friends, or documents from
lawyers imploring the presence of clients ; but the gen-
eral stood firm, and only permitted absence in extreme
cases, and home-sickness soon disappeared.

The spirit infused by General Burns found a ready
response in the regimental officers, and they displayed
a worthy spirit of emulation in their endeavors to im-
prove the excellence of their commands.

The Seventy-First, under the command of Majors
Parrish and Smith, was reorganized. Lieutenant-Col-
onel Wistar, absent with wounds, was appointed to the
colonelcy, and vacancies among the company officers
were filled by promotions. Additional recruits arrived
from Philadelphia, and were placed under drill instruc-
tion with competent non-commissioned officers, of whom
this regiment had a full supply. Some of the depleted
companies were consolidated, and the organization speed-
ily recovered from its heavy losses at Munson's Hill and
Ball's Bluff, and attained great efficiency.

The Sixty-Xinth, under Colonel Joshua T. Owen,
became rivals of the others in acquiring a knowledge of
the duties of a soldier. This regiment became noted
for its faithfulness on guard and picket duty, and espec-

CAMP OBSERVATION. 35

ially for the tenacity of the men while serving on these
duties in literally construing an order.

Shortly after pitching tents at Camp Observation,
Colonel Owen passed the number one post of his camp
at night without giving the countersign, and the sentry,
for his neglect in failing to halt him, was punished by
confinement in the guard-house. A few nights after this
event, the colonel again attempted to enter, and on this
occasion did not have the mystic word. He was promptly
halted, and to the " Who comes here ?" of the sentinel,
replied, " Your colonel." " Advance, kernal, and give
the countersign." " I haven't it, but you know me."
" Faith, I know your horse, but I don't know you,"
was the reply, and calling the corporal of the guard, the
colonel was admitted.

The other regiments were each furnished with a band,
which added materially to the attractiveness of their
evening parades ; but the Sixty-Ninth derived its inspi-
ration from the martial music of the fife and drum
corps, led by a skillful musician named P. Moran. This
leader was full of Irish wit and humor, and was so well
known as master of his instrument that hundreds of
soldiers from other camps gathered in front of the
parade-ground when "the troop beat off" to hear
" Paddy Moran, the fifer of the Sixty-Ninth."

The One Hundred and Sixth, under Colonel More-
head, had joined the brigade just before Ball's Bluff
and was present at that affair. The organization of its
field and staff was completed in December by the ap-
pointment of Major John H. Stover, who was specially
commissioned by Governor Curtin. This officer joined
with Lieutenant-Colonel W. L. Curry in giving cordial

36 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

support to the measures of the commander. Copies of
" Hardee's Tactics" were issued to the line officers, and
the men were carefully drilled according to the regu-
lation.

The Fire Zouaves, now changed in name to the
Seventy-Second Pennsylvania, had their drill-ground
immediately in front of brigade headquarters, and as
they were manoeuvred as a regiment by Colonel Baxter,
or formed for dress-parade, they presented a very attrac-
tive sight. This was especially the case in brigade
drills, when the bright colors of their uniform pre-
sented a handsome contrast to the appearance of the
other troops. Colonel Baxter had many competent
officers who realized the character of the work before
them and endeavored to properly prepare their men.
In addition to the manual of arms and evolutions in
line, some of the companies were drilled as skirmishers
and made familiar with the call of the bugle.

The time occupied in this camp was the longest period
the brigade remained at any one place, but it passed
rapidly, and much of it was not wasted. It might have
been called Camp " Preparation," for such it really was.
The troops before coming here had seen enough of active
warfare to know its reality, and to teach them that the
life of a soldier is one of hardship and danger. Officers
began to know the character of their commands, while
comrades formed attachments for each other only to be
broken by death. The brigade was in splendid con-
dition, and when the order came to move it was ready
to bid farewell to Camp Observation.

CHAPTER V.

ACROSS THE POTOMAC.

Brigadier-General John Sedgwick, a graduate
of West Point and an officer of the regular army who
had served with distinction in the Mexican war, was
now appointed to command the division in place of
General Stone. Under the new organization of the
Army of the Potomac, the Second Corps was commanded
by Major-General Edwin V. Sumner, and contained the
three divisions of Richardson, Sedgwick, and Blenker.

On February 27th, 1861, the Second Division was
temporarily detached to assist in the movement of Gen-
eral Banks against Winchester. This day was cold and
wintry; the bleak winds appeared to penetrate every
place of shelter, and the ground was covered with snow
and ice to such an extent that the duty of pickets and
guards was rendered very arduous. It was one of the
last days on which an order to prepare for moving might
be anticipated, but such an order did come, and prepara-
tions were begun at once. Word was quickly passed
from one regiment to another that this was to be the last
night in Camp Observation, and that the brigade would
move at daylight.

Rations were issued to be prepared by the company
cooks for the haversacks, and each man received his

4* 37

38 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

allowance of ammunition. Soldiers were busy packing
their knapsacks so as to hold as much extra clothing as
possible, and at the same time some useful relics of the
old tent or "ranche." Officers spent the evening in
arranging their luggage so as to carry in addition to
their military wardrobe as many of the luxuries of
camp as trunks could be made to hold, and some, no
doubt influenced by the temperature of the night, deter-
mined to make room in the wagons for " Sibley" stoves
or " Morning-Stars." Others found places for mess-
chests with cooking utensils, Dutch ovens, and many
other cherished institutions that might help to make
" grim-visaged war smooth his wrinkled front." Each
company was allowed two wagons for transportation, but
these failed to supply the modest demands made upon
the quartermaster.

The Philadelphia Brigade possessed, as Colonel Baker
used to say, " the courage," and there was no question
about its soldierly bearing and discipline ; but it had
not yet acquired the first great lesson in active warfare
that so often brings success, — rapid movements in light
marching order. This ignorance among the regimental
officers and their men was not to be wondered at. Many
of the prominent officers of the army who could quote
from " Jomini on the Art of War," had failed to read
the saying of Marshal Saxe, " Success is in the legs of
the soldier." From necessity the enemy had imbibed
this maxim, and more than once proved its worth against
the Union armies. The experience of a short campaign
in the field wrought a wonderful change, and the troops
soon learned to distinguish between the wants of neces-
sity and those of imagination.

ACROSS THE POTOMAC. 39

A few months later the brigade passed over the same
camp, the men carrying no knapsacks, and only a woolen
blanket with one change of underclothing wrapped
within it, and the officers had thrown away their extra
luggage; the roads were no longer blocked with over-
loaded wagons, and the march, though more rapid, was
not near so fatiguing.

On the morning of the 28th, the column moved slowly
away, and as it passed over the hills surrounding the
camp many paused to look for the last time on the
familiar grounds, not without regret at the severance of
agreeable associations, and at recollections of pleasant
hours passed around the camp-fires ; nor without hope-
ful anticipations, mingled with serious thoughts, that
the struggle to come might bring success to the right.

Late in the day the troops reached Adamstown, a
small village on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and
bivouacked until the morning of March 2d, when they
were transported by cars to Sandy Hook, opposite Har-
per's Ferry. The advance of Banks's column had oc-
cupied this place without much opposition a short time
before our arrival, and already held possession of the
heights of Bolivar, with skirmishers advanced toward
Charlestown. The brigade crossed on a ponton bridge
that had been laid by the engineers under Captain
Duane, and for the first time in its history the entire
organization stood on the " sacred soil."

Harper's Ferry, at the junction of the Shenandoah
and Potomac, — a place of great natural beauty, — was the
scene of some of the gloomiest events of the rebellion.
In itself it was of no military importance, and was in
turn occupied for a brief time by either army. At this

40 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

early period of the war it gave evidence of desolation.
The armory in which ten thousand muskets had been
made annually, and the arsenal where thousands of
stands of arms had been stored, were a mass of ruins ;
not even the vestige of a window-sill or cornice of a
roof was left unburned. The old engine-house that
John Brown occupied during his raid was still standing,
and, with its great iron doors wide open toward the
South, — fixed in their immovable position with rusted
hinges, — seemed to say, " His soul goes marching on."

The majority of the citizens had left their homes to
the mercy of the armies shortly after the destruction of
the arsenal. In most cases they had fled without taking
their household goods, and as the soldiers were ordered
to be quartered in these deserted places, it is probable
that the value of their contents was not enhanced.

March 2d, Sedgwick moved to Bolivar Heights, where
a camp was formed, and the men again found shelter
under their old Sibley tents. As the transfer from the
three-days' residence under roofs was made in a drifting
snow-storm, there were some who failed to appreciate
the change.

The commissaries had not yet learned how to supply
the troops regularly, and while there wras an unneces-
sary profusion of some of the rations, there was a
scarcity of others. To remedy this evil a few of the
private soldiers made unauthorized drafts on the farm-
yards of the valley. Many of the residents of this sec-
tion of Virginia were the worst and meanest of guerrillas ;
men who had no love for honorable warfare, but who
would fire into an ambulance filled with the wounded,
or act as spies when there was no risk of danger ; and

ACROSS THE POTOMAC. 41

it is likely these facts prevented regimental commanders
from inquiring where the men found their extra rations.
On the 7th an advance was made to a position on the
Winchester Pike, beyond Charlestown. From this place
pickets were sent out to Shenandoah Springs, and a re-
connoissance was made on the left of the main column.
From indications it appeared probable that the enemy
under Stonewall Jackson would make a stand at Win-
chester, and Sedgwick's entire division, with the excep-
tion of a detail of the Second Brigade, was hurried for-
ward as reinforcements. This detail was left to hold
Charlestown and act as a provost guard.

Many of the inhabitants of the place were of the same
treacherous and insolent character as the farmers in the
country about, and it required the exercise of patience
and good humor to prevent frequent collisions. The
court-house and public buildings were occupied by the
men as barracks. In the jail, made memorable by its
associations with old John Brown, were a number of
prisoners, serving out various terms, and as the soldiers
had no rations to spare for civilians, these worthies were
allowed to go free. This jail delivery was not effected
until after a strong protest had been entered by a couple
of tenacious individuals, one of whom was the jailer,
who had carried the keys of "old Ossawattomie's" cell,
and the other a middle-aged prisoner; the former did not
want to lose his occupation, and the latter clung to his
home.

The duty assigned to the portion of the brigade occupy-
ing Charlestown, although not attended with any special
dangers, imposed continual watching day and night.
There were but few among the white population of the

42 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

place who did not hate the flag they saw, and longed to
take revenge the moment an opportunity offered. As
the sentries walked the pavement, ladies in passing would
gather their garments about them and step into the
street.

Occasionally one of the little band of Unionists living
in the town would stealthily slip into quarters and give
information of a spy or concealed Confederate soldier ;
and on one occasion they were sure the detail would be
attacked that night. This news seemed hardly probable,
but, to be prepared, extra dispositions were made, and all
were on the alert. This night seemed more quiet than
others until early morning, when the reserve were aroused
by pickets bringing in a train of wagons, composed of a
variety of vehicles, drawn by all sorts of animals, and
containing contrabands of both sexes and of all ages,
varying from the little "pickaninny" to the gray-haired
"boy." They were burdened with an endless variety of
household goods, belonging to the persons from whom
they had fled, and it was evident they had left their old
homes forever. These slaves were overjoyed at meeting
the guard, and some of them, with tears, cried out, " We
hab come to work for Massa Linkum."

Hundreds of these contrabands came into the town
while the brigade was there, and were lodged and fed
until an opportunity offered to send them to Washing-
ton. Their numbers soon filled every part of the jail,
and in the sound of their voices the cell of old John
Brown seemed responding to the language of the engine-
house at the ferry, by repeating the words of Milton, —

"This jail 1 count the house of libert}*, to thine."

ACROSS THE POTOMAC. 43

Stonewall Jackson having retired from Winchester,
the services of Sedgwick's Division were no longer re-
quired by General Banks, and it was ordered to join the
corps. Colonel Maulsby's Maryland regiment occupied
Charlestown, and relieved the detachment of Burns's
Brigade. Our troops had entered this place as victors,
and had remained as guards over an excited people, but
their conduct and discipline had so impressed the citi-
zens that an amplication was made for their continuance,
which, of course, was refused.

March 15th, the entire division again encamped on
Bolivar Heights, awaiting orders.

March 23d, after spending a tedious week in the same
camp, tents were struck, and the division recrossed to
Sandy Hook, where it took passage in freight cars for
Washington, and joined the other portion of the corps.

March 27th, moved to Alexandria, preparatory to
embarking for Fortress Monroe. At this place the
"Sibleys" were exchanged for small " shelter" tents, and
orders were also issued limiting the amount of baggage
to be carried, and reducing the allowance of wagons.
This began to look like work.

In front of Alexandria were lying scores of vessels,
prepared to transport the Army of the Potomac, about
to commence the first great movement of the war. Over
one hundred thousand men, fifteen thousand horses, fifty
batteries, with wagons and ambulances, ponton trains,
and all manner of stores necessary for an army of this
size were to be carried by water. It was one of the
greatest undertakings of the war, and no operation of
the Government more fully illustrated the power of its
resources or the executive ability of its leaders. In the

44 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

early history of the Republic our brigade with its six
thousand men would have formed an army of itself, but
in the mass of soldiers continually passing to the front
it seemed the merest fraction of the whole.

March 28th, the four regiments were embarked on
ocean steamers and started down the river. During the
three days required for the trip there was but little com-
fort for those on board, as the men were literally stowed
in every part of the vessels. All seemed to bear the in-
convenience with good nature, except on the first day at
meal-time, when there was a little grumbling at the lack
of facilities to cook their food. Large caldrons had been
provided to boil the coffee, and a novel invention soon
helped to overcome the other difficulties. The raw bacon
carried in the haversacks was cut into slices, bayonets
fixed on the guns were used as spits, and the immense
stacks of the steamer furnished the broiler. It was an
amusing sight to see the men stand in turns around this
greasy pipe and press their pork against its sides until it
was done to a crisp ; but the food was relished just as
well as if it had been prepared in the regular way, and
the operation, along with many other funny doings,
helped to while away the tedious hours spent on the
passage down the Potomac.

CHAPTER VI.

YORKTOWN.

The past winter had been a season of vast prepara-
tion by the United States Government. The illusions
existing in the minds of the Union leaders during the
early part of the rebellion as to the character and prob-
able duration of the war were fast being; dissolved. The
uprising of the South was no longer looked upon by
the thoughtful men of the North as a mere rebellion of
discontented citizens against their Government, to be
easily put down by a proper display of force, or as an
aifair that would end in ninety days ; but had assumed
proportions of far greater magnitude. The disaster at
Bull Run, with a number of minor affairs of the same
character, had drawn serious attention to the importance
•and extent of the measures necessary for its suppression.
The formation of armies and the collection of war ma-
terials were begun upon a scale commensurate with the
greatness of a conflict between two powerful rival na-
tions. Campaigns were planned for the spring of 1862
as against large armies led by skillful generals, familiar
with all the rules of strategy and operating near their
base of supplies ; and commanders had begun to realize
that the seat of war where battles were to be fought was
one familiar to the enemy, and to be reached by means

5 45

46 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

of roads and water-courses passing through a hostile
population.

The first great movement of the Army of the Po-
tomac gave evidence, in its planning and preparations,
of a careful determination to merit success. The base
of operations — Fortress Monroe — was well-nigh impreg-
nable, and easy of access to our fleet and supply-ves-
sels; and should our army meet with disaster, which no
one seemed to anticipate, it could, if necessary, take
shelter under the protection of the immense guns of the
fortress. The objective point was Richmond.

Early in February, an expedition of four brigades,
under General Burnside, had left Fortress Monroe and
attacked Roanoke Island, which it captured, with three
thousand prisoners, together with a large number of
guns and war material. In addition to this event, the
new Monitor, a few days before our arrival, had its
memorable fight with the Confederate ram Merrimac,
and so disabled her as to render it probable she would
not again annoy our vessels lying in that vicinity. These
successes, joined with news of others from the western
armies, had created enthusiasm among our troops, and
led them to hope for still greater victories.

Upon landing, March 31st, at Fortress Monroe, we
found that the first division of the grand army had ar-
rived at that place on the 17th of March, and had been
rapidly followed by others, until fifty thousand men and
one hundred guns had already arrived. To those who
had not yet seen so large an assemblage of troops, it
seemed as if this portion of the Peninsula was filled
with soldiers. On the 4th of April, the movement of
our division began by an advance toward Yorktown.

YORKTO WN. 47

The section of country known as the Peninsula is an
isthmus formed by the York and James Rivers, varying:
in width from seven to fifteen miles, and about fifty
miles in length. It is low and flat ; in most places
water can be obtained by digging three or four feet. It
has an abundance of marshes and streams, and is heavily
timbered with pines ; under the most favorable cir-
cumstances it would not appear in itself to be a land
worth fighting for, and this impression was made more
prominent as the column advanced.

Everywhere on the route were to be seen indications
of the waste of war. The little village of Hampton, a
short distance from the fort, which had the appearance
of having once been a place of delightful resort, and
around which clustered many historical reminiscences of
great interest, was a scene of ruin and desolation. Its
public buildings and hotel were destroyed, and in place
of its homes were blackened walls and heaps of cinders.
The venerable church, built in colonial times and stand-
ing out of danger from the conflagration of the village,
was not spared, and even the grave-yard, with its over-
turned monuments and broken tablets, gave evidence of
the marked determination of the enemy to make the
land a barren waste for the invaders. Similar sights
were presented along the entire march to Big Bethel.
Houses, barns, and bridges were all gone, and fences had
been torn away to be placed in piles and burned to
ashes. Passing scenes like these one could well inter-
pret the line of the poet, " Cry havoc ! and let slip the
dogs of war."

At the time of the advance on the Peninsula by the
van-guard of McClellan, the force of the enemy directly

48 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

opposed was estimated to number about eleven thousand
men, and was under the command of General J. B. Ma-
gruder, who had defeated a Union force ten months be-
fore this at Big Bethel, and who was the reputed author
of the desolation of Hampton and its vicinity. Against
this force General McClellan was advancing in two col-
umns,— one along the Yorktown road, and the other by
way of Warwick. These were commanded respectively
by Generals Heintzelman and Keyes. In the right
column were the divisions of Fitz John Porter and
Hamilton of the Third Corps, and of Sedgwick of the
Second Corps. The latter was the only division of its
corps that had yet landed. Richardson's Division joined
us shortly after; but the division of Blenker had been
permanently detached and ordered to General Fremont
by President Lincoln.

The Second, under Sedgwick, destined to earn during
its connection with the army an enviable reputation for
its gallantry in action, was composed of some of the
best of the three-years' regiments. The First Minne-
sota, Seventh Michigan, Forty-Second (Tammany) and
Ekditv-Second New York, Fifteenth, Nineteenth, and
Twentieth Massachusetts, and other regiments of like
character made for themselves and the command a na-
tional reputation. Between these regiments and the
Philadelphians there soon sprung up an intimacy and a
generous spirit of emulation. In all their struggles
with the foe they stood shoulder to shoulder. By the
necessities of war and the loss of officers, each of the
brigades were in turn commanded by regimental officers
from the others, — Colonels Baxter, Morehead, and Owen
frequently commanding the First and Third Brigades;

YORKTO WN. 49

while the Second, in the absence of senior officers of
regiments, was occasionally led by a colonel from Xew
York or Massachusetts.

The advance pushed forward, hoping to strike Ma-
gruder before he was reinforced by Johnston from
Richmond, or had succeeded in perfecting a line of de-
fense. The first night of the movement (April 4th) a
halt was made by the right column at Big Bethel, where
General McClellan, who was accompanying it, made his
headquarters ; at the same time, the left was at the little
village of Warwick Court-House. On the 5th, the col-
umn again moved forward, meeting but little opposition,
except from an occasional cavalry-picket, until late in
the day, when each column found itself confronted by
Magruder's position before Yorktown.

This place previous to the war was a village of a few
hundred inhabitants, and w7as a port of entry, having a
respectable amount of shipping. It is situated about
seventy miles southeast of Richmond, upon rising
ground on the south bank of the York River, eleven
miles from its mouth.

From Yorktown, Magruder had extended a fortified
line reaching along the Warwick to the James River.
The former stream rises near Yorktown and, flowing
across the Peninsula, empties into the James. This line
had been selected with excellent judgment. The passage
of the York River on the enemy's left was obstructed
by the heavy guns at Yorktown and the water-bat-
teries at Gloucester Point directly opposite, while the
right was equally guarded by the works on James River.
The distance from the right to the left of Magruder's
position was eight miles. The approach to it was by

5*

50 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

single roads, heavily obstructed, leading through marshes
and dense tracts of pine. Through the marshes or
swamps were running streams of water that had been
turned in some places into artificial ponds, and at other
points preparations had been made to release suddenly
a large body of water and overwhelm an attacking
party. The entire space in front was exceedingly ad-
vantageous for defense and unfavorable for offensive
operations.

On the morning of the 6th, in order to ascertain the
precise position of the works in our front, General Burns
was ordered to make a reconnoissance, and the Seventy-
Second and One Hundred and Sixth Regiments were
selected for the purpose.

An operation of this character is one of the most
interesting connected with field-movements, and when
properly made under the direction of a competent and
careful officer the information obtained is often of great
value to the commanding officer. If the reverse is the
case, and reports of observations are made that cannot
be verified, as in one instance quite fresh in the memory
of some of the division at this time, when the light at
evening, striking through the foliage, was mistaken for
the white tents of the enemy, the consequences are some-
times as fearful as the errors of Ball's Bluff.

General Burns understood his duty thoroughly, and
the regiments detailed performed their work with satis-
faction. At early dawn the troops fell into line in heavy
marching order; that is, carrying their rations, knap-
sacks, and shelter-tents, and moved to the extreme right
of the advance. A strong line of skirmishers was now
thrown out, covering the front and both flanks, and a

YORKTO WN. 51

movement was made to discover the location of the force
in front of Heintzelman. Where the enemy's pickets
were encountered they were driven in, and our skir-
mishers pushed on until the supports or batteries were
found.

At different times through the day a few shots from
the field-works, partially concealed by slashings of tim-
ber, gave all the evidence required of their presence.
During these operations, the troops acting as supports
were generally concealed in the woods or ravines, and
were permitted to rest on their arms. When an occasional
shell, or the stray bullets from a volley, whizzed over
their heads or cut the trees about them, it required no
order to have the line of battle formed at once. In this
way the whole of Heintzelman's front was explored,
and about two o'clock his left flank was reached. At
this point our force entered a dense wood, and moving
through it slowly, depending on a pocket-compass in
the hands of General Burns for the point of direction,
suddenly encountered the enemy, and immediately after
received a fire of artillery. Preparations were made in
anticipation of an attack by infantry, but the fire soon
ceased, and the command slowly retraced its steps, and
at night-fall joined the rest of the brigade. This whole
affair was full of excitement, and would have proved
rather entertaining to the men had they been unincum-
bered with their heavy loads.

The information obtained was of value so far as it
located the positions of the enemy confronting our ad-
vance, and although Burns's Brigade had opportunities
subsequently to engage in more extensive affairs in force
than this, it is not probable that many of those living at

52 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

this date have forgotten their first reconnoissance made
in front of Yorktown on April 6th.

The three days following this movement were exceed-
ingly stormy and cold. From the nature of the soil,
mud was everywhere, and grew deeper as the storm con-
tinued, until there seemed no place to rest or sleep.
During this weather the enemy were completing their
defenses and strengthening their lines.

It now became apparent that General McClellan's
original plan for forcing the defenses of the enemy was
a failure, and unless Gloucester Point could be first
turned by the army the co-operation of the navy was
not to be expected. Preparations were therefore begun
for the operations of a siege.

When the advance first left Hampton it was ordered
that the troops should be furnished with ten days'
rations in their haversacks, and three days' on the
"hoof." Orders of this kind beeame very familiar
during subsequent campaigns, but when first heard by
the soldiers it afforded some very amusing explanations
as to what kind of " hoofs" were to carry the extra
rations. After the ten days' supplies were exhausted
the troops were entirely dependent on the wagons for
furnishing subsistence. In order to bring these to the
front it was necessary to construct roads and build
bridges. To perform these labors the men were often
compelled to march and work in water and mud knee-
deep. To make the roads trees were cut down from
twelve to eighteen or twenty inches in diameter, and
divided into sections of about eighteen feet each. These
were placed side by side in the mud, and in some places
held in position by stakes driven into the ground.

YORKTO \VN. 53

Soon after the commencement of regular siege opera-
tions, Burns's Brigade was moved from Shipping Point
to a place near Winn's Mills, where a camp was formed
and called " Winfield Scott." As this location was im-
mediately in the front, and was occupied by the com-
mand during the remainder of the siege, it was at times
a scene of excitement. All those fit for duty were kept
constantly on picket, or at work throwing up intrench-
ments. Heavy artillery was being continually brought
to the front, though with a great amount of difficulty.
To receive these guns the engineers were constructing
fourteen redoubts, or batteries, connected with each
other by means of rifle-pits or earth-works. The
position assigned for Sedgwick to complete was known
as Battery Number Eight.

AYhile at work on these forts, or on picket in front of
them, the men were exceedingly annoyed by the enemy's
sharp-shooters. This style of warfare had been reduced
to a system quite early in the campaign, and both sides
had acquired great skill therein. Men who were familiar
with the rifle, and who were assigned to this duty, quietly
selected their positions during the night, and by means
of a spade formed an excavation as a place of shelter,
throwing the dirt removed from the pit into an embank-
ment toward the enemy, and concealing the fresh ap-
pearance of the earth by means of bushes and branches
of trees. In these pits they would lie until early dawn,
when the firing began, and was carried on whenever
opportunity presented along the entire line. Some of
the men were splendid shots, and in many instances it
was certain death for the Confederates to attempt to load
their cannon after daylight. One of these men used to

54 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

say when he returned to camp at night that he had cap-
tured a gun but was unable to bring it in.

At evening the enemy made up for any time lost
through the day. When the fatigue detail were about
to come into camp from their work on the battery, they
were often saluted by a severe fire of artillery, with an
occasional discharge of sharp-shooters' rifles. These an-
noyances were not confined to the early evening, but
frequently the camp was aroused and kept under arms
for hours during the night by discharges of artillery, or
two or three startling volleys of musketry. Soldiers
are disposed to give a reason for everything, and in their
opinion these endless night-alarms were created by the
enemy to harass our men, and unfit them, by loss of rest,
for the duties of the day. During the remainder of
April these labors, and the alarms incidental to their
performance, were continued until they became burden-
some.

In the mean time large guns, one-hundred, and even
two-hundred pounders, and heavy mortars, were slowly
brought forward and put into place. A sharp watch
was kept on the enemy lest they might slip away before
these guns had been put to use. Captive balloons were
used in making observations, and on one occasion a
change was made in the character of the excitement by
a balloon containing Fitz John Porter becoming de-
tached from its fastenings. The wind at the moment
was blowing along the lines, and appeared to carry the
general alternately over each, and at one time it was
doubtful which of the armies would have the honor of
entertaining him, but to his great satisfaction he suc-
ceeded in landing in the cam]) of the Seventy-Second.

FORK TOWN. 55

Early in May it became apparent that McClellan had
completed every preparation necessary to insure the cap-
ture of Yorktown. On the 4th, just as we were expect-
ing the order for the final bombardment and the terrific
assault which was to follow, the picket brought word
that the enemy had fled ! Soon this news spread from
one camp to another, until from the James to the War-
wick there were loud cheers and rejoicing over the
bloodless victory of McClellan. [The bands throughout
the entire encampments had been restricted from playing
during the siege, but were now brought out, and added
music to the joyous excitement.

The moment skirmishers had occupied the forsaken
works, hundreds of men passed over the fields to view
them. The scenes behind the defenses that had con-
fronted our army so long gave indications that their
abandonment had been conducted in a deliberate and
orderly manner. Heavy guns and considerable sup-
plies of ammunition were left behind, and a large num-
ber of tents were still standing ; these, of course, could
not well be removed without revealing the operations ;
otherwise there was the same general appearance always
presented when a camp has been forsaken. The evacu-
ation had probably been quietly going on for several
days.

In front of Battery Number Eight some of the facetious
fellows among the enemy had left messages written with
charcoal upon the tents. One of these, dated at a very
suspicious hour, read : " One o'clock a.m., May 4th,
1862. Good-by, Yanks. You call us Rebels, we call
you Vandals." There were a few stragglers and de-
serters left behind, but this class of people are of no value

56 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

to either side, and deserve but little consideration from
friend or foe. On first entering the works they were
concealed in tents or behind logs, and in some instances
held above their place of shelter, to protect them from
being shot as enemies, a piece of white cloth or paper
fixed on a ramrod.

In the larger and more important works immediately
around York town the enemy had availed themselves of
some of the baser arts of war. Wherever it was prob-
able our men would enter, and near every object of in-
terest likely to attract a crowd, were planted concealed
torpedoes and percussion shells. The existence of these
mementos of the tactics of "chivalry" soon became
known, and precautions were taken to prevent damage.
This was not done, however, until several men were
killed or seriously injured, among the latter a member
of the Sixty-Ninth, who lost both legs.

As soon as it was known that the enemy had evacuated
Yorktown the cavalry and light batteries under Stone-
man, supported by the divisions of Hooker and Kearney,
were ordered in pursuit. At the same time Franklin's
Division was directed to embark on transports in wait-
ing for West Point, and Richardson's and Sedgwick's
commands were moved to the right ready to assist in the
advance or embark with Franklin.

At Williamsburg, a few miles north of Yorktown,
the enemy had a series of field works, one of them, Fort
Magruder, being of considerable strength. At this place
their rear-guard had made a stand to enable the rest of
the army with its trains to cross the Chickahominy. To
strengthen this defense, General Johnston — the Confed-
erate commander — had ordered the return of Longstreet's

YORKTOWN. 57

Division. As soon as our cavalry struck these lines
they were repulsed, and awaited the arrival of the in-
fantry under Hooker, who were struggling and wading
through the muddiest of roads. On their arrival the
attack was begun, and continued with varying success
and heavy losses until far into the night.

The sound of this battle was heard at Yorktown, and
word came back that it was more than an affair of a
rear-guard. Sumner was sent forward to take command
of our troops, while his corps was formed in column and
moved on the Williamsburg road ready to go forward.

There are some experiences in the life of a soldier
more unpleasant than being under fire from the enemy,
and this night brought one of them. It was cold, dark,
and rainy. The soil had been turned into slimy mod,
and the soldiers — tired and shivering — were massed
together with scarce room to move, and no place to lean
upon or recline. For hours they faced the storm in this
dreary road, until the order to move was countermanded.

On the morning of the 6th the fight at Williamsburg
was resumed. After some severe work, in which the
New Jersey regiments and the men of Hancock's Bri-
gade gained considerable honors, the battle ceased and
the enemy again retreated. Our loss was reported at
twenty-two hundred.

During: the time the brigade was in front of York-
town the killed and wounded by the siege operations
were light, but it suffered considerably by losses from
disease and death caused by the hardships the men were
compelled to undergo, and it is probable none of the
command left the place with the least regret.

CHAPTER VII.

FAIR OAKS.

The brigade was now ordered to join in the flank
movement already commenced, by way of the York
River, to West Point, a place about twenty-five miles
above Yorktown, and situated on a peninsula between
the Pamunkey and Mattapony Rivers.

At six A.M. on May 7th we marched to the wharf, and
after waiting several hours embarked on steam trans-
ports, landing in the evening at Brick House, opposite
West Point. Franklin's Division and Dana's Brigade
of Sedgwick's had already occupied this position, but
not without a spirited engagement with the Confederate
rear-guard, in which our forces lost about two hundred
men. This affair occurred the day of our arrival, and,
anticipating a renewal of the fight on the next morning,
our command was placed in position, but it was found
at daylight that the enemy had retired.

On the afternoon of the 9th the division moved to a
camping ground at Eltham, about two miles nearer Xew
Kent Court-House, where it remained for several days.

While in this camp the line officers of regiments had
their first acquaintance with the difficulty that attends
procuring subsistence, an experience which was frequently
repeated afterwards. Troops cannot light or march on

58

FAIR OAKS. 59

empty stomachs, and at all hazards the Government must
supply the enlisted men with rations. On the other
hand, a commissioned officer must look for his supplies

to his own enterprise. If the regimental commissary
has an abundance of stores, he can dispose of his extras
by sale to officers ; should this not occur, and sutlers fail
to reach the camp, it sometimes requires considerable
strategy to procure necessary food. During this cam-
paign frequently the men were well supplied, while those
who commanded them fared very badly, and occasion-
ally captains of companies who were unwilling to reduce
the allowance of the men by accepting their proffered
rations, were known to eke out their scanty supplies by
gathering on the march food that had been thrown away.
Upon the arrival of the sutler this difficulty was tem-
porarily overcome by the purchase of such articles of
food as he had brought to the camp. These consisted
at times of all sorts of provisions, wholesome or other-
wise. Fruit and vegetables in cans, cheese, gingerbread,
and some very questionable sausages, with a variety of
other things, were eagerly purchased without regard to
price, and the officer was ready for the next forward
movement. To transport these supplies and have a
stock ready for use during the day, they were intrusted
to the care of a colored servant, — frequently a contraband,
— with whom the officer shared his rations. Some of these
freedmen no doubt surprised their palates with novel
sensations. A man hired by Captain McBride, of the
Seventy-Second, used to strike his hand on his face when
he tasted a sutler's device for the first time, and ex-
claim, "I've lost a nerve!" and when another contra-
band treated him to a sardine, he asked, "AYhat de

60 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

Yanks call dem?" On being answered, "A lizard/'
nothing daunted, he replied, "Emerson, hab you anud-
der of dem lizards to spare ?"

These "contraband" servants, in spite of their ignor-
ance and mirth-provoking mistakes, were generally
faithful to their employers, and frequently, when the
haversacks were nearly empty, their knowledge of the
country, and especially of the colored people along the
route, enabled them to replenish their scanty stock.

Fresh supplies of food were guarded as new-found
treasures, yet sometimes they disappeared before night by
some adroit trick, and the thief was seldom discovered.
There were exceptions, however, and one of these was
very ludicrous. An officer's servant had captured a
chicken, and, suspending it to his haversack, joined the
column, where he was congratulated by his master for
his success. A few moments later, while passing the
drummers, the fowl disappeared. Fortunately for the
officer he was near at hand, and, seizing one of the stout-
est of the boys, demanded his property. The youngster
denied all knowledge, and when the chicken was found
under his buttoned coat, he immediately replied, "How
did I know it was there ?"

One of the most responsible and trying positions in a
regiment on active service is that of company com-
mander. He is really the father of a family, and to
discharge his duties properly he should always have a
clear head in danger, a cheerful countenance in the midst
of reverses, and that endurance which never complains.
lie is expected t<> keep accurate accounts and make out
regular returns of all the clothing and camp equipage
he has received, as well as to prepare the descriptive and

FAIR OAKS. 61

muster rolls for the pay of the men, and he is supposed
to be ready at any time to report the full strength —
present and absent — of his company. To carry the
papers and books necessary for his work, with his extra
clothino* and a full suit for reviews, lie is allowed trans-
portation for a satchel or small valise.

Most of the officers of Burns's Brigade, in spite of
these difficulties and others of a more trivial character,
discharged their duties well ; yet they would have been
materially assisted in their performance had the regu-
lation in time of war permitted an issue of rations in
kind to officers as well as to the rank and file ; and it
would have been still better if, instead of a small amount
of clothing carried in wagons, a pack-mule had been
allowed to carry, for a definite number of officers, a limited
amount of rations as well as baggage. By this change
the size of the trains would not have been increased, as
the pack animal could have been fed by foraging on the
march, and in winter quarters might have been used by
the quartermaster.

Convenient as these changes might be to an officer,
one still more useful could be made in his weapons and
uniform. The arms of an officer of infantry are sup-
posed to be a sword and revolver. The former is of no
more practical value in the field than a stout club, ex-
cept as a notice to an enemy's sharp-shooter that the
wearer has a rank. The scabbard interferes with quick
operations through brush and dense woods, and at night
on a picket line its rattling frequently indicates the
movements of its owner. Often while the pickets are
in close proximity to each other, they do not exchange
shots, but the moment an officer is seen on either side he

6*

G2 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

is sure to be made a target. This sometimes prevents a
safe opportunity for close observation of the enemy's
field works.

If the arms of line officers were breech-loading rifles
instead of swords, and if their uniform was of the same
color as that of their men, with no distinguishing mark
except such as their own troops could easily recognize,
the practical good of the service would be materially
increased.

On the 15th of May our division was moved a dis-
tance of eight miles, to a point near Xew Kent Court-
House, and camped there. The next day the advance
division of the army with headquarters took possession
of White House Landing, at the head of navigation on
the Pamunkey. From this point to Richmond is a dis-
tance of eighteen miles by the York River Railroad.
Depots were established here, and preparations were
made to bring supplies by water, and to repair the rail-
road as the army advanced toward Richmond. This
road, when restored, was used during the time McClel-
lan was before the Confederate capital, as a line of com-
munication from the front of the army to the base, at
White House.

May 21st. Weather hot and oppressive. Division
marched about thirteen miles to accomplish a distance
of eight or nine, and encamped at night near Bottom's
Bridge on the Chickahominy.

This stream, destined to bear such a prominent part
in the lii.-tory of the great conflict, and with whose name
so many sad memories are brought to thousands of
households in the land, is of no considerable size, but
very tickle in its character.

FAIR OAKS. (53

It is formed by the junction of a number of small
streams that unite in the rough and hilly country north-
west of Richmond, and flows an east-southeast course,
emptying into the James River many miles below the
city. The stream, in itself, does not oppose any con-
siderable obstacle to the advance of an army, but with
its intervals of marshy shores and heavily- timbered
swamps, whose tree-tops often rise to a level with the
table lands bordering these bottoms and concealing: them
from view, it is an obstacle of the most formidable char-
acter.

On the retreat of the enemy the different bridges
crossing the stream on McClellan's line of advance were
destroyed.

Directly north of Richmond, on the line of the Vir-
ginia Central Railroad, is Meadow Bridge, at a distance
of five miles from the city. Two miles below Meadow
Bridge there is another, on the Mechanics ville road.
Here the stream grows gradually wider by the addition
of creeks, but flows sluggishly through low, swampy
lands. Next to Mechanicsville, and four miles below
it, is New Bridge, at a distance of seven miles from
Richmond. Seven miles belowT this is Bottom's Bridge,
one mile below the point where the Richmond and York
River Railroad crosses the stream.

About the time of Sedgwick's arrival at the river,
the advance of the army began to cross at both Bottom's
Bridge and the railroad. After reconnoitering within a
short distance of Richmond and nearly to the James
River, the troops that had crossed fell back to points
nearer the Chickahominy, and commenced fortifying
their position. Casey's Division of Keyes's Corps was

64 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

placed on both sides of the Williamsburg road, six
miles from Richmond and half a mile beyond Seven
Pines. Couch's Division of the same corps extended
from Seven Pines to Fair Oaks Station, on the York
River Railroad. Kearney's Division of Heintzelman's
Corps was on the same road to the rear of Peach Orchard,
and the division of Hooker of the same corps was pro-
tecting the approaches from W nite Oak Swamp, that
lay to the left of these divisions.

Meantime the corps of Sumner, Porter, and Franklin
remained on the left bank of the river. In this divided
condition the army remained during its stay before Rich-
mond, although the relative positions of some of the
corps were changed occasionally.

By the 27th, Sumner's Corps had constructed two
bridges over the river for the passage of troops ; one
of them was called the Grapevine, and the other Sum-
ner's Lower Bridge. At this work and picketing our
time was fully occupied.

On the morning of the 28th the entire division was
ordered under arms, and in ten minutes' time from the
sounding of the assembly the brigade was hurried off,
without breakfast or coffee. The object apparently —
for no soldier appears to know anything, or should not,
except from personal experience — was to sustain General
Porter's Division in a heavy skirmish that was going on
not far from Hanover Court-House. After marching a
few miles the command was halted in a large field, where
it remained until the afternoon of the 20th, when it re-
turned to camp. As this sudden march was made in
light order it was not fatiguing, and was attended with
no inconvenience except the loss of the morning lunch.

FAIR OAKS. 65

May 31st, from about ten A.M. we heard heavy firing
on our left across the Chickahominy. "Old Sumner,"
who was the ideal of a soldier for dash and swiftness,
was very restless. He mounted his horse, and seemed
momentarily expecting an order, and fretting because it
did not come. The corps was under arms, and at noon
Sumner, impatient at the delay, would wait no longer,
and moved without orders to the Grapevine Bridge and
halted, with Sedgwick's Division in advance. When
Ave reached the bridge the rough logs forming the cord-
uroy road leading over the swamp to it were mostly
afloat, and were only kept in their places by the stumps
of the trees to which they were fastened. The bridge
itself was suspended from the trunks of trees by ropes,
and on their strength depended the safety of the struc-
ture.

When the order came to " move forward at once," and
the first part of our division marched on the bridge, it
seemed impossible that it could stand ; but the very
weight of the troops while crossing made it temporarily
secure by settling it against the solid stumps. With
our advance was Kirby's Battery, First United States
Artillery. To get the guns out of the swamp to solid
ground after crossing required extraordinary exertions.
The horses were unhitched, and the infantry vied with
the men of the battery in their endeavors to drag them
forward. By fairly lifting guns and limbers they were
carried out of the mire, and Sedgwick was soon on his
way with his favorite battery to the relief of our com-
rades of Keyes's and Heintzel man's Corps.

Realizing that every moment was precious, and guided
by the deafening roll of musketry and the booming of

QQ HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

can uon, the troops, filled with enthusiasm, pushed on,
passing Trent's large mansion, then across a wheat-field
to a swift-flowing stream, fording which they entered a
thin strip of woods. Here they met numbers of wounded
men coming from the fight, which was raging just in
front of this timber; stray balls were flying about us,
and before we realized it, — and while some were dis-
cussing whether the bullets that were whizzing past were
spent or not, — we were in our first battle as an entire
brigade.

General Sumner now assumed command of the whole
field, and the moment was a critical one. The enemy
had turned the left of our troops at Fair Oaks station,
cutting it off from the rest of the army, and it looked as
if the entire left wing that had crossed the Chickahominy
was doomed to destruction.

Sedgwick quickly formed the First Brigade, under
General Gorman, in line of battle on the edge of the
woods we had entered, and Kirby swung his brass guns
into position and loaded them with canister. At the
same time the Second Brigade was formed in mass near
the crest of a hill, alongside the battery and to the right
of the First Brigade.

The battle was raging as furiously as ever, wounded
men and stragglers were falling back for shelter, and on
the field in front our troops were fighting and gradually
retiring before overwhelming numbers. Gorman now
led his brigade over the crest and swept down in line of
battle towards Fair Oaks, where the Twenty-Third
Pennsylvania, under Colonel Niell, and Cochran's
United States Chasseurs were desperately fighting.

As the movement began, and the responsive volley of

FAIR OAKS. (37

the enemy readied the flank of the Seventy-Second,
Colonel Baxter sung out, "That's the music, boys; now
for three cheers!" At the same instant General Burns
turned towards the brigade, and, swinging Tiis hat in the
air, exclaimed, u Let them be hearty!" In a moment
a deafening shout arose from the entire command, and
joined to it were the cheers of the advancing First Bri-
gade and the roar of Kirby's guns ; and the earth fairly
trembled.

These cheers filled our struggling fellows with fresh
confidence ; they knew that help was at hand, while to
the enemy, as some of the prisoners told us afterward,
they came like a death-knell ; and as the presence of the
troops that gave them was so unexpected, it seemed as
though they arose from the ground.

The moment Gorman began to advance, heavy volleys
of musketry enfiladed our right ; to meet this Burns de-
ployed the Sixty-Ninth and Seventy-Second, while
Sedgwick led in person the Seventy-First and One
Hundred and Sixth to the support of Kirby and the
charge of the First Brigade.

The enemy were determined to capture Kirby's guns,
and the strife about them was intense; but in spite of
persistent efforts to take them they held their position
with great gallantry and steadiness. Just as night came
on the enemy made one more vigorous effort on the right
of the division, when Sumner ordered a bayonet charge
by two regiments of Dana's Brigade and three of Gor-
man's. This force performed their work bravely. They
leaped two fences between them and the enemy, and,
rushing forward, drove the Confederates in confusion. It
was now dark, and the battle ceased for the night.

68 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

The loss of the brigade in the action of this day was
five killed and thirty wounded. Among the former was
Lieutenant Frank A. Donaldson, Seventy-First; and
among the latter Captain Francis H. Acuff, One Hun-
dred and Sixth, and Captain John A. Markoe, Seventy-
First. As this was the first battle of the command as a
brigade, the troops were highly pleased with the compli-
ments of their general, who said in his official report,
" I am entirely satisfied with the conduct of my brigade.
It has been christened under fire, and will do what is
required of it."

Immediately after the last charge of Sumner's troops,
a portion of the brigade was deployed as skirmishers in
front of the woods into which the enemy had retreated.
On this advanced portion of the field over which the
two forces had been contending, were to be seen some of
the realities of war. The wounded and dead of both
armies were lying as they had fallen, and in large num-
bers. Strewn over the ground were rifles, haversacks,
canteens, and accoutrements; but instead of the roar of
the battle and the shouts of victory or of defiance, were
the groans and cries of suffering men.

About eleven o'clock p.m. the Seventy-First Regi-
ment was ordered by General Sumner to move into a
position between the battle-field and Grapevine Bridge
to cover the communications while the artillery was
being brought to the front. During the night Rich-
ardson's Division came up, while Kearney's Brigades,
win cli had separated from his corps, again formed con-
nection.

On the morning of June 1st tin1 conflict was renewed.
This time the brunt was borne by Richardson's, while

FAIR OAKS. £9

the Second Division was hurried about from one place
to another to act as support to the artillery wherever it
was thought to be most needed. Once bayonets were
fixed while advancing with orders to charge, but it was
countermanded. By twelve o'clock, with the exception of
an occasional volley, the battle of Fair Oaks had ended.

After remaining in position on the field for two days,
our brigade was ordered, on the evening of the 3d, to
double-quick to the extreme left of the line and re-
inforce Hooker's Division, which expected an attack.
During the night there was a heavy rain, and the men
were thoroughly drenched. On the following morning,
in this condition, the command was moved through the
marshy ground, where some of the hardest fighting had
taken place, and where the dead in large numbers were
lying terribly disfigured. In some cases bodies were
partly buried, as if some friend had commenced the last
rite and had been driven away. In other places, where
the swamps were deep,, dead Confederates were standing
erect, shot as they were retreating, and the mire had
prevented their fall. The whole atmosphere, heavy after
the rain, was filled with a horrible odor that penetrated
our wet clothing, and even tainted the food in the haver-
sacks. Strong men grew sick and turned aside with
horror.

All about this terrible battle-field there were most
mournful sights. With but few houses or jjlaces of
shelter to accommodate the wounded, many were com-
pelled to lie on the ground and to protect themselves as
best they could from the burning sun. It is worthy of
especial mention that the large majority of the wounded
endured their sufferings with scarce a murmur.

7

70 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

Until the 6th of June we were in this immediate vicin-
ity, and its unwholesome atmosphere, uniting with the
malaria of the Chickahominy swamps, began to affect the
men. A number from the brigade were stricken down
with fever, and these sufferers were even more unfortu-
nate than the wounded. There was some measure of
attention given to the latter ; but it was said in some
cases by actions, if not by words, that " a soldier has
no business to become .sick ;" and the surgeons had but
little time to bestow upon them.

For a week or two after the battle of Fair Oaks,
there was some difficulty in procuring sanitary supplies
for the sick. This was probably owing to the sudden
and unexpected demand, and to the limited means of
transportation, but, like many other difficulties in pro-
viding for a great army, it was soon overcome.

By moving to the right of the battle-field and facing
towards Richmond, its scenes were hid from sight, and
to that extent the morale of the men was increased ; but
no army from the North could ever entirely overcome
the feeling of lassitude incidental to a location on the
banks of this treacherous stream in the hot days of June.

Our new position joined Richardson on the left, and
on the right extended towards the Chickahominy. That
portion of the line occupied by Burns's Brigade was
parallel to the enemy's works on Garnett's farm, about
one mile distant. In front of us were thick woods of
irregular depth, — in some places only half a mile, in
others extending almost to the ( Jonfederate line; its nar-
rowest portion bordered on Garnett's large wheat-field.
Our pickets were placed about half a mile to the front
of the brigade; this brought some of them t<» the edge

FAIR OAKS. >ji

of the open field, while others, connecting on the same
line, were located entirely in the woods. As the enemy's
videttes were immediately in front of ours, it required
some care even by daylight on the part of those in the
woods to avoid a surprise ; but at night, when the pickets
on both sides were advanced stealthily as close as possi-
ble to each other, extraordinary caution was necessary.
Not unfrequently both men and officers, unfamiliar with
the ground, lost their way, and were wounded or cap-
tured. In this way the brigade met several losses, —
among these were Captain Martin Frost, One Hundred
and Sixth, killed June 9th ; Lieutenant Maurine C.
Moore, Seventy-First, killed June 8th ; and Lieutenant
Moran, Sixty-Ninth, wounded. At about the same time
Lieutenant-Colonel W. L. Curry was captured by the
enemy and sent to Richmond, and afterwards became a
fellow-prisoner with General Michael Corcoran at Salis-
bury, where he was severely treated. At the end of
three months the colonel was released, and rejoined his
regiment.

The tour of duty before Richmond was very similar
to that at Yorktown, with the exception that the troops
were not employed to any great extent on fatigue details.
The only earthworks of any consequence near us were
on Richardson's front, and occasionally a detachment
from the brigade assisted in their erection. Each of
Burns's regiments constructed on their lines rifle-pits
topped off with logs and dead trees, and to increase these
defenses, slashings were made in the woods immediately
in front.

Often at night the camps were under arms, in conse-
quence of picket-firing and expected attacks which

72 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

never took place. These alarms arose more frequently
with some of the picket details than others, and the men
became so well aware of this that the answer to the ques-
tion, " Who is on picket to-night ?' often indicated in
their opinion the character of the rest they were to enjoy.

While in this vicinity the experiment of issuing rations
of whisky to the troops was tried by the commissaries.
Regularly every day the men fell in line for their " com-
missary/' as it was called. Most of the soldiers at first
drew this ration and drank all or part of it. Young
men who never used it as a beverage at home stood be-
side those who were familiar with its taste and took their
allowance. In a short time the novelty wore off, and it
occurred to some of the officers to issue to the men, instead
of whisky, hot coffee, served just before going on picket
and at intervals while on that duty in stormy weather,
and their experience was decidedly against the whisky.

During daylight there wTas generally a sort of tacit
truce between the opposing pickets. Once this was
broken by us, and rather to our disadvantage. General
Burns ordered a few sharp-shooters to go to the front and
annoy the enemy. The day wTas Sunday, and the pickets
were anticipating a quiet tour. When the sharp-shooters
began their work, those on the posts were passing their
time watching the effects of the shots. In a few minutes
after the first discharge the enemy opened on our line
with shrapnel, and did not cease firing until a number
of our men were killed and wounded ; among them
Corporal Sellers and Emlen Hitter, of the Seventy-
Second, killed, and a number of others of the same regi-
ment badly wounded. This ended that sort of experi-
ment while on this line.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE SEVEN DAYS' FIGHT.

It became evident in the latter part of June that our
army could not remain in its present inactive position
much longer. Our troops must either make an attack
or receive one from the enemy. There were constant
rumors of movements and sounds of distant battle that
deepened this impression.

On the 27th of June, from early in the morning until
two o'clock, heavy cannonading was heard on the right.
Later in the day the roll of volleys of musketry, added
to the boom of the artillery, sounding like the coming of
a distant storm, gave evidence that .Fitz John Porter
was heavily engaged at Gainesville. Everything seemed
as quiet as usual on our own front, not even a picket
shot was fired, but all were on the alert, and more anx-
ious than usual to know the character of the movements
in the distance. During the afternoon General McClel-
lan with his staff rode along the line, and he was greeted
with loud cheers. This unusual excitement appeared to
the enemy as if a movement of some character was in-
tended by our division, and led to a severe artillery duel,
followed by a heavy attack of infantry upon our pickets.
The reserve force soon became engaged, and the enemy
was repulsed. A Georgia officer, who was captured by

7* 73

74 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

men of the brigade, stated that their loss was very severe.
Among the casualties on our side was Sergeant Harry
Donaldson, of the Seventy-Second, mortally wounded.
This young man was a soldier of fine promise, and be-
haved well in the action.

A rumor now reached us, and was rapidly circulated,
that Fitz John Porter had gained a victory. This in-
telligence the men seemed disposed to believe, notwith-
standing the unusual operations going on about the camp,
and they again broke out in cheers.

On the 28th, quartermasters began exerting their ut-
most to send all extra clothing and spare supplies to the
railroad, for White House, while the wagons belong-
ing to the trains were loaded with rations and ammuni-
tion. Hospitals were broken up, and the wounded and
sick were transferred to Savage Station. Surgeons and
their stewards busied themselves in preparing medical
stores for the ambulances, and in their department
as well as the others all seemed preparing for severe
work.

During these preparations, a battery of rifled guns,
commanded by Captain Franks, was ordered to report
to General Burns, who placed it in position to strengthen
our defenses. When the shotted salute of the enemy
began, it had an opportunity to reply, and it was so well
handled that it became quite a favorite subsequently with
the men. A shot made by Captain Franks with one of
these guns while stationed with the brigade was equal
to the best sharp-shooting practice. A scout of the
enemy, anxious to ascertain why our men were cheering
and what the Yankees were doing, ascended a tree about
one mile distant to take observations. A cannon was

THE SEVEN DAYS' FIGHT. 75

sighted at the lookout, and the third shot carried away
the poor fellow and his shelter.

The evening of June 28th brought true reports of
the fighting that had been going on at the right. Gen-
eral Lee had matured his plans for striking a blow at
McClellan, and had commenced their execution. His
preparations were completed on the 25th of June, and
on the next day A. P. Hill's Corps crossed the Chicka-
hominy at Mechanicsville and drove a small force sta-
tioned there back to the main line on Beaver Dam Creek,
near Ellison's Mills. At this place were posted General
McCalPs Pennsylvania Reserves, supported by Meade's
Brigade and the division of Morel 1. The bridges over
the creek had been destroyed, and a rifle-pit constructed
on the eminence, protected by an abattis of felled timber.
In this our men were concealed, and reserved their fire
until the enemy had nearly approached, when they
opened with a destructive volley, which quickly drove
them back. Then an attempt was made to turn the left
flank of our troops, which was equally unsuccessful.
After this the fight continued at various points until late
at night, when the battle of Mechanicsville was over.

The Reserves rested on their arms until early dawn,
when they retired to a strong position near Gaines's
Mill, between Cold Harbor and the Chickahominy. At
this point they joined the Fifth Corps, under Fitz John
Porter, and awaited the attack. This commenced by a
movement of the Confederates under A. P. Hill in the
afternoon, and raged with fury until night. At one
time late in the day it seemed as if Porter's forces would
be driven into the river, but relief came from the bri-
gades of French and Meagher from the Second Corps.

76 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

These brigades had been hurriedly pushed forward, and
upon their arrival at the field advanced with loud cheers,
and, with the assistance of Porter's decimated regiments,
retook the positions which the enemy had occupied, and
held them until night.

It was the sound of this conflict that was heard during
the 27th, and the result of which caused General Mc-
Clellan to resolve to fall back from Richmond. That
night Porter's exhausted troops were withdrawn to the
other side of the river, and before daybreak on the 28th
McClellan was on his way to Savage Station to superin-
tend the preparations for the change of base to the James
River.

The line of retreat adopted was by way of White Oak
Swamp, the passage of which by means of its single
road was an undertaking of great difficulty. By noon
of the 28th Keyes's Corps, which led the advance, oc-
cupied strong positions on the opposite side to cover the
crossing of troops and the immense trains of wagons
and ambulances, and thousands of beef cattle. During
the same night Porter's Corps crossed and advanced
towards the James, while the corps of Heintzelman and
Sumner, and Smith's Division of Franklin's Corps, re-
ceived orders to cover the roads leading from Richmond,
and also protect the depot at Savage Station.

On Sunday at four a.m., June 29th, Burns's Brigade
Mas ordered to retire from the breastworks in front of
Garnett's farm to join the division and march to Orchard
Station, a point on the railroad about three miles to the
rear. The pickets were instructed to remain on their
posts as usual, and to use every exertion to prevent the
enemy from ascertaining our movements. The officer

THE SEVEN DAYS' FIGHT. 77

in charge of this line was directed to withdraw his men
as soon as he received an order from the division com-
mander, which would probably not be given before early
dawn. This was an exceedingly delicate duty to per-
form, especially as daylight arrived before the pickets
could be safely retired. Captain Roussel, of the Seventy-
Second, in charge of the brigade detail, performed the
operation with great credit, and, favored by a fog, suc-
ceeded in joining the brigade with his men without loss.

During the withdrawal of these pickets, there occurred
a singular illustration of a fact that many soldiers have
observed, — the irregular courage displayed by some few
of their comrades. Just before dawn Captain Roussel
ordered one of his officers to go to the videttes and bring
them quietly back to the reserve. The man hesitated
for a moment, and then turning to the captain said, " I
am a coward and can't do this work." He was of course
placed under arrest, and subsequently dismissed from
the army. Until this period of his service this officer
had behaved well, and possibly would have done so
afterwards, but for the moment he became a coward
physically, although, strange to say, he had the moral
courage to acknowdedge it publicly. There were some
few in every command who occasionally acted like this
man, but without his candor; and when the soldiers
were taught by experience to know the amount of forti-
tude and courage required on so many occasions, they
were disposed to be merciful towards those unfortunates
who occasionally failed to manifest these virtues.

On reaching Orchard Station the brigade joined the
corps, which was formed in line of battle facing the
rear. Soon after our arrival, and at about daylight,

78 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

General Sumner ordered a regiment back to reoccupy
our former lines as an advanced picket. This duty was
intrusted to the Seventy-First, under Lieutenant-Colonel
W. G. Jones. When Colonel Jones's pickets reached
the woods where the battle ended on May 31st, he cap-
tured two prisoners, the advance of the Confederate
skirmishers, and soon discovered the enemy in force in
our deserted rifle-pits ; and they at the same moment
began to advance on him. In conjunction with these,
another body of Confederates came down the railroad
in front of the regiment, advanced on the left of the
Seventy-First, and forced this regiment back. Colonel
Jones then retired to a favorable position on the left of
the woods, behind Allen's house, where he re-formed
and received them in splendid order, and the fight was
continued for some time, when reinforcements for the
enemy arriving in large numbers compelled the Seventy-
First to fall back again ; this time fighting through the
woods Until they came to the edge of a field in front of
the line of battle formed by the corps.

The batteries of Pettit and Hazzard now went into
action, and as the Confederates advanced they were met
by a severe fire of artillery. This contest lasted for an
hour, and at times with a great amount of determination
on both sides, but our forces at length compelled the
enemy to retire. During the battle the other regiments
of the brigade acted as supports, and were exposed to a
heavy fire without being engaged.

Of this affair at Peach Orchard General Burns re-
ports: "The Seventy-First, under its gallant young
lieutenant-colonel, won high encomiums from the corps
commander, who knows what fighting means."

THE SEVEN DAYS' FIGHT. 79

The reported loss of the Seventy-First in this action
was ninety-six killed and wounded.

At noon the Second Corps was ordered to fall back
about two miles farther to Savage Station. Part of this
movement was made on a double-quick, and, as the
weather was very warm, some of the men were overcome
by the heat, and, dropping by the roadside, were taken
prisoners.

On arriving at the Station the Second Corps passed
through the lines of General Heintzelman, who was
lying there expecting an attack from the direction of
Bottom's Bridge. By some misunderstanding this gen-
eral moved his corps upon our arrival across the White
Oak Swamp, leaving a gap of three-fourths of a mile
between the Second Corps and Franklin. The enemy,
under General Magruder, who were following us, were
not slow to perceive this weakness in the line, and at
half-past four p.m. made their appearance in the corner
of the field to the left of the place where the corps was
massed.

General Sumner ordered the Seventy-Second and One
Hundred and Sixth Regiments to move back across the
field about half a mile, and hold the woods between
the Williamsburg road and the railroad. This move-
ment was under the personal direction of General Burns,
and, although executed with great promptness, was per-
formed as deliberately as if on parade. Two companies
from each regiment were deployed as skirmishers, and
moved forward to the woods, while the regiments were
forming in line under fire from the Confederate batteries.
As the skirmishers entered the timber they found it
filled with dense underbrush, and at the same time heard

80 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

the commands given by the officers of the opposing line
advancing to attack. Our men were halted, and directed
to open fire as soon as they caught a glimpse of the
enemy or saw a movement in the bushes. In a few
moments the firing began, and in order to uncover our
line of battle the skirmishers retired to the open field,
carrying with them a number of their dead and wounded
comrades.

Before the two regiments had reached the edge of the
woods, a scout informed General Burns that the enemy
was approaching with a large force on the Williamsburg
road. As both flanks were exposed, Burns applied to
General Sumner for another regiment. Fortunately, the
enemy did not attack until the First Minnesota had been
thrown across the Williamsburg road with the left re-
tired. The line was still not long enough to cover the
ground, and the Seventy-Second was moved to the right
and its right flank thrown back to cover the railroad,
leaving a gap between it and the One Hundred and
Sixth. Before these dispositions were completed, the
enemy attacked with great fury. In the meanwhile
their artillery fire had increased, and was answered by
the batteries of Pettit, Osborn, and Bramhall.

The battle now raged alono; the entire line from the
railroad to the Williamsburg road, but was gradually
concentrated toward the weak point between the Seventy-
Second and One Hundred and Sixth. Here the fire was
terrific, the enemy forcing their way through the woods,
flaunting their flags across the fence almost in the faces
of our men. For a moment the line broke, but the
gallant regiments re-formed and drove them back. A
charge was now made by the First Brigade, which had

THE SEVEN DAYS' EIGHT. gl

been sent to reinforce the line, and the enemy were
driven in confusion from the woods.

While the battle was at its height, the Confederates
made an attack, with a heavy ship gun mounted on a
railway truck, upon the cars loaded with stores and
ammunition. To prevent these falling into their hands
they were set on fire, and as the flames reached the car-
tridges and shells the whole mass exploded with a deafen-
ing sound, and the dense smoke rose in the air like a
huge column to an immense height.

The battle of Savage Station was over at seven o'clock,
and was fairly a victory for our troops. The enemy
had commenced the attack, and met with a bloody re-
pulse. This was not accomplished without severe losses
on our side. Owing to their position, Baxter's Regiment
and that of Colonel Morehead suffered more heavily
than the others. The Seventy-Second lost fifteen killed
and a considerable number wounded ; among the former,
Captain Charles McGonigle, Company B, and among
the latter, Lieutenant DeB. Shewell, who was mortally
wounded. General Burns, the gallant brigade com-
mander, received a bullet in his face while the contest
was at its height, but, staunching the blood with a hand-
kerchief, he continued on duty.

The Seventy-First was held in reserve along with the
Seventh Michigan, looking to the flanks during the fight,
while the Sixty-Ninth under Colonel Owen was similarly
employed with the First Minnesota.

In this engagement, as well as in a number of subse-
quent actions, it was impossible to procure an accurate list
of the casualties. Owing to the frequent change of regi-
mental and company commanders by losses in action, rolls

8

82 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

could not be regularly kept, and only at occasional periods
or at the end of a severe campaign, when the regimental
and brigade returns were made out and compared with
former reports, could the aggregate losses be ascertained.
In the list of casualties among officers this difficulty was
not so great, and when the losses are reported the names
are generally given. The difficulty of tracing the his-
tory of the men was by no means confined to our com-
mand, it occurred throughout the army ; whenever battles
were fought, thousands perished by the bullet or dropped
by the roadside, and in the report are described as "miss-
ing in action," or perhaps on some tablet in a cemetery
are marked " unknown."

At nine P.M. "Old Sumner," who had held Magruder
at bay like a mastiff defending his charge, again started
his corps on the retreat to White Oak Swamp, leaving
the hospital, with twenty-five hundred sick and wounded,
to the tender mercies of the enemy. This was done by
the order of General McClellan, and was one of the
saddest incidents of the retreat. When it became known
that the troops must leave these helpless fellows, some
of whom had fallen only a few hours before, there were
many hearts filled with sorrow, and as the brigade passed
the hospital tents comrades rushed in to take a farewell
leave of some familiar face, and to receive a message for
loved ones at home.

This night-march was a dreary one; the roads were
filled with infantry and artillery, and for the most part
led through dense forests of swamp timber. We had
gone but a short distance when the sky was overcast, and
a thunder-storm set in, compelling us to struggle along
in darkness only broken occasionally by a burning

THE SEVEN DAYS1 FIGHT. 33

wagon or caisson. At midnight the rain ceased, and
the clouds breaking away we bad the light of the stars
to guide our lagging and weary footsteps. With scarce
a halt the column pressed on toward the swamp, and save
the tramp, tramp of the men and the rumble of artillery-
wheels, there was an unusual absence of the noise inci-
dental to a march. Occasionally some one would mur-
mur, " My knapsack cuts my shoulder," and receive the
reply, " You will forget all about it when you have your
grandchildren on your knee;" but, with the exception of
some few exchanges like this, the men were quiet, and,
grasping their pieces, seemed to think of the work of
the coming day.

At daylight on June 30th we reached the military
bridge spanning the sluggish waters of White Oak
Swamp. General Richardson was standing by the road
with his coat unbuttoned and sleeves rolled up, super-
intending the crossing and urging the troops forward.
The moment our brigade had crossed, with the rear-
guard, the frail structure was cut away, but not a
minute too soon to gain time for defense, as the cavalry
of the enemy were on our heels.

Leaving Richardson's and Smith's Divisions with the
batteries of Ayres and Hazzard to dispute the passage
of the swamp, our corps moved on about two miles far-
ther, to Glendale, or Nelson's farm. There, at the junc-
tion of the Long Bridge and the Quaker City road, along
which our troops were retreating, were stationed the
Pennsylvania Reserves. Sedgwick's Division was massed
in an open field to the right of Hooker's Division, and
to the left and rear of the artillery. In this position
the soldiers stretched themselves on the ground to rest,

84 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

and, while listening to the heavy cannonading at White
Oak Swamp, began to speculate as to the next move in
the change of base.

They had not long to wait. Shortly after one o'clock
firing began on the picket-line in front of McCall's posi-
tion, and at half-past three he was furiously attacked by
the enemy in heavy force, and the battle of Glendale
opened.

The first charge of the Confederates was repulsed by
a counter-charge of the Reserves, and they in turn were
driven back by fresh troops of the enemy. Backward
and forward these lines were swaying for nearly two
hours. Guns were taken and retaken by both forces
amid terrible slaughter, till finally Randall's Battery
was captured by a charge of two Confederate regiments
advancing with trailed arms. They rushed up to the
muzzles of the guns, a hand-to-hand fight ensued, and
the regiment supporting it was driven back, when they
seized the battery.

Meanwhile a renewed attack on the left flank of
Seymour's Brigade Avas also successful, and the enemy,
pushing on, drove the retreating troops between Hooker
and Sedgwick. Here they were caught in turn by
Hooker's fire on the flank, and, driven across Sedg-
wick's front, they were struck by McCall's centre, which
with his right had held their position. The battle was
now fought desperately on both sides. While the enemy
was pushing on his masses, Hooker's Division had
joined in the fight with McCall and was becoming hotly
engaged.

At this point General Burns states in his report, "At
the request of General Hooker, General Sumner for-

-

u--

mef

:

m^ _i_

86 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

the right. While perfecting these dispositions an attack
was made on the left centre, and the New York regi-
ment holding that portion of the front line broke away,
allowing the enemy to advance through the gap. The
Seventy-First Pennsylvania and the Nineteenth Massa-
chusetts were thrown into the breach. Burns says,
" Nobly did they redeem the faults of their comrades.
These two noble regiments met the enemy face to face,
and for nearly an hour poured into them such tremen-
dous volleys that no further attack was had at that vital
point/'

It was now dark, and this desperately-fought battle
was over. During its continuance there were periods
when it seemed as if the result was very doubtful, but
our forces were generally enabled to hold their ground
or quickly recover any portion that had been lost. It
was the good fortune of the brigade to be placed in posts
of honor, and to merit from the brigade commander
the report, " Colonels Baxter, Owen, Morehead, and
Lieutenant-Colonel Jones fulfilled my utmost expecta-
tions. I repeat my assertion at Fair Oaks : I am satis-
fied with the conduct of my brigade, — none will gainsay
it."

During the battle General Burns won the highest
praise and the enthusiastic admiration of his men.
Wherever the fight seemed to be the hottest, there was
Burns with his face stained with blood, cheering and
rallying the men. At the time some of the Reserves
were temporarily repulsed, and were falling hack through
our lines, he rode into their midst, and by his appeals to
their pride succeeded in stopping their retreat and turn-
ing their faces again toward the enemy.

THE SEVEN DAYS1 FIGHT 37

The loss of the brigade in the action of Glendale is
unknown, but could not have been heavy. The Sixty-
Ninth, which was more exposed than the others, reported
seven killed, twenty-two wounded, and five taken pris-
oners.

From the succession of desperate charges made by the
enemy rushing on our batteries, which poured volleys of
case-shot and shrapnel into their ranks, they must have
lost very heavily. Long after dark their torches could
be seen in the woods before our line searching for the
wounded.

At midnight the rear-guard of the army again started
towards the James. As the enemy were directly in front,
the movement had to be executed with care. Each regi-
ment in turn, quietly leaving its position, moved into the
road over which the army had passed. The pickets
remained on their posts for an hour longer, and while
waiting for the order to join the column listened with
sad hearts to the groans of the wounded, mingled with
the soft hum of insects and the cries of the whippoor-
will.

The morning of July 1st found the Army of the Po-
tomac concentrated on Malvern Hill, a strong position
near the James Eiver. Here the whole of the trains,
ambulances, and siege-guns were sheltered. As the
worn-out troops reached this elevation and saw the river
with the Monitors ready for action, they threw their
knapsacks on the ground and laid down to rest, believ-
ing that this day would pass without a fight.

Each division upon its arrival was placed in line of
battle. Porter's Corps, with the artillery reserve, held
the left, with Couch's Division on his right. Next to

88 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

Couch were Kearney and Hooker ; next Sedgwick and
Richardson ; next Smith and Slocurn ; then the remain-
der of Keyes's Corps, forming a curved line extending to
the river. Most of the ground in front of our lines to
the right was wooded, and it was protected by slashings,
while the left flanks were protected by gunboats.

In this position at seven a.m. our troops were resting,
some having fallen asleep the moment arms were stacked,
when the enemy suddenly opened on us with an enfilading
fire of artillery, and the preliminary movements of the
battle of Malvern Hill began.

Until after two o'clock the fighting was principally
between the batteries of the two armies, enlivened occa-
sionally with a noisy affair on the skirmish line. During
this first conflict of artillery the brigade supported a
battery, and in doing so was subjected to a heavy cross-
fire, but, with the exception of two men killed, it sus-
tained no loss. When the Confederates commenced the
infantry attack at three o'clock against Porter on the
left, and made repeated charges on the three tiers of bat-
teries of the reserve artillery, we were ordered to protect
the right flank of the army. From our elevated position
we could overlook most of the operations going on at
the left, and as we heard the loud cheers of our troops
engaged, and saw each repulse of the enemy, the un-
pleasant remembrance of the struggles and marches of
the last few days was almost lost in the thoughts of
victory.

At nine p.m. our division fell into line and inarched
a short distance on the Malverton road towards Rich-
mond. The men were in the best of spirits, and as one
said to another " We've done retreating, — McClellan is

THE SEVEN DAYS1 FIGHT. go,

going to Richmond !" the desire to advance became con-
tagions. After halting a half-hour an officer rode up
to our general with an order, and we were moved again ;
this time with our backs to the enemy. The disappoint-
ment was a sad one, and some of the men could scarcely
restrain their tears. After the three-months' campaign
on the Peninsula, with all its privations, the perils of
battle, and the wearisome fatigue of the march, to make
a retreat when victory seemed within the grasp required
all the fortitude of men to exhibit the obedience of sol-
diers.

Dispositions had been made through the day for the
reception of the various corps at Harrison's Landing,
on the James River, seven miles from Malvern. There
was but one road leading to this place, and it was totally
unequal to the passage of a large army in one night,
and to facilitate the march every by-path and wood
track had been explored by cavalry during the day, and
was now made use of by the troops.

Soon after the movement began we had one of the
thunder-storms that appear to be coincident with a great
battle, and this added very seriously to the embarrass-
ments of the march. All the night the " grand army"
wa3 struggling along through the rain and mud; the
artillery and wagons occupying the roads, and the in-
fantry moving on either side in the fields or through the
woods. Occasionally squads of men, tired of stumbling
through the bushes, would try the road, only to be jostled
back again by passing teams or cavalry.

There were so many obstacles and delays on this night-
march that, although the distance was but short, it was
long after daylight when the last of the columns reached

90 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

the landing. Sedgwick's Division was located in a
large wheat-field, and the moment the regiments broke
ranks the men gathered the straw for resting-places, and,
with perfect indifference to the rain, or even to the sound
of the cannon firing on the rear-guard, laid down to
sleep, perhaps to dream of the future.

CHAPTER IX.

pope's campaign.

The 4th of July, 1862, found the different corps of
the Army of the Potomac established in camps within
the radius of five miles from Harrison's Landing, on the
James. So far as the result of the recent operations of
this campaign could be interpreted by the soldiers, the
advance on Richmond, for the present at least, had come
to an inglorious termination. In spite, however, of the
depression existing among the troops incidental to this
failure, there was a feeling of congratulation among
them upon the bearing of the -army during the move-
ments, which was well expressed in the address of Gen-
eral McClellan issued this day :

" 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 the hope of reinforce-
ments, you have succeeded in changing your base of
operations by a flank movement, always regarded as the
most hazardous of military expedients. You have saved
all your material, all your trains, and all your guns ex-
cept a few lost in battle ; and you have taken in return

guns and colors from the enemy. Upon your march

91

9^ HIS TOR Y OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

you have been assailed day after day with desperate
fury, by men of the same race and nation, skillfully
massed and led. Under every disadvantage of numbers,
and necessarily of position also, you have in every con-
flict beaten back your foes with enormous slaughter.
Your conduct ranks you among the celebrated armies of
history. Xo one will now question that each of you
may always with pride say, ' I belonged to the Army of
the Potomac !' 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
this so-called Confederacy ; that our national constitution
shall prevail ; and that the Union, which alone can in-
sure internal peace and external security to each State,
' must and shall be preserved/ cost what it may in time,
treasure, and blood."

For a general description of the entire campaign,
we were dependent upon the accounts published by the
press of the country. As to that portion of the opera-
tions in which the Second Corps was directly engaged,
there was no need to supplement experience with con-
gratulatory orders or details from journals, however care-
fully Avritten.

It is to be hoped that the most ignorant among the
soldiers of that gallant corps did not possess the egotism
that would lead him to suppose that his corps was com-
posed of better material, or had exhibited more endur-
ance or heroism than the other commands of the army,
and in the announcement that the Second Corps was
always victorious in the Seven Days' Fight, we mean to
institute no envious comparison. Armies, as well as

POPE'S CAMPAIGN. 93

individuals, are subject to the Providence which watches
over and directs the movements of men, and it fell to
our lot to meet success.

At the close of the battle of Gaines's Mills, on the
27th, the brigades of Meagher and French, of the Second
Corps, arriving at the moment when all seemed lost,
drove the enemy and restored the lines. On the 29th,
when it came the turn of the corps to join in the flank
movement, the enemy were twice handsomely repulsed :
in the morning at Peach Orchard, by the Seventy-First
and Fifty-Third ; and in the afternoon at Savage Sta-
tion, by the Philadelphia Brigade, aided by the First.
In this fight the enemy had four brigades, Cobb and
Kershaw coming down the Nine-mile road, while Toombs
and another advanced by the Williamsburg road. One
of the Confederate commands — Cobb's Brigade — had
twenty-seven hundred men engaged, of whom only fif-
teen hundred were able to enter the fight at Malvern
Hill. At Glendale, the services of the corps, through
the charge of the Sixty-Ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers
and the firmness of the Seventy-First Pennsylvania and
Nineteenth Massachusetts, were of the highest import-
ance; while at the decided victory of Malvern Hill,
Meagher's Irish Brigade of the old Second Corps fought
most gallantly.

This historical monument upon which we are inscrib-
ing the achievements of the Second Corps would lack
completeness without the name of the grand old leader,
General Edwin V. Sumner, who, by his prompt decisions,
swift movements in action, and indomitable perseverance,
gave spirit and character to the corps, which it retained
with his name long after he had left the command. In

9

94 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

action lie always seemed to know the post of danger, and
when necessary to expose himself never faltered. Jeal-
ous of his own reputation, he was equally thoughtful in
awarding just credit to others; and while frank in ac-
knowledging merit, he was careful that praise should not
be wrongfully bestowed. At Glendale, when he turned
Owen's regiment over to General Hooker, he said,
"Hooker, this is your fight; place this regiment where
vou want it." And it is also stated, that after the arrival
at Harrison's Landing, and after written reports were
received at corps headquarters from subordinate com-
manders, there was one that finished the description of
the movements with a complimentary allusion to the
staff officers, adding the further remark that " Colonel

, who was absent on duty in New York, would no

doubt have distinguished himself had he been present."
General Sumner indorsed the report, " Respectfully re-
turned. Fulsome adulation of absent officers cannot be
permitted."

The journals that afforded us information about those
portions of the campaign that we had not witnessed,
were also filled with discussions about the ability, and
even the patriotism of the army commander, General
McClellan. A few of these papers went still further,
and expressed doubts of his physical courage, as well as
of his ability to command a large army. Upon the sub-
ject of General McClellan's strategic ability, critics will
always differ, and as to the wisdom manifested in the
Peninsular campaign, intelligent men can form a clearer
opinion when the future historian shall have the oppor-
tunity to compare evidence and documents not yet given
to the public with facts that are known, and submit the

POPE'S CAMPAIGN. 95

whole truth to the world. A soldier who has been
properly instructed and disciplined should shrink from
attempting to criticise the orders or movements of his
commanding officer ; at the same time it is his duty to
correct false reports regarding his personal bearing. The
statement that General McClellan visited the Galena
during portions of June 30th and July 1st is probably
correct ; but it is equally certain that he was seen with
the Philadelphia Brigade during the heavy cannonading
on the morning of July 1st at Malvern, and also in the
afternoon, during the severe infantry and artillery fight,
with Fitz John Porter.

The continuous strain and excitement of the last
few days were succeeded by a sense of fatigue and loss
of energy, and the state of the army was not improved
by the climate, or by the location in which it was placed.
Summer sickness was almost universal, though not of a
type likely to prove dangerous. By means of steamers,
supplies and medical stores were more easily obtained
than at the former base, and the surgeons were generally
faithful in their attention to both sick and wounded.
In this branch of the service our brigade was fortu-
nate. Surgeons Martin Rizer, of the Seventy-Second,
John Eakin, Bernard McNeill, Justin Dwindle, and
others were attentive to their duties and popular with
the men.

The Sanitary Commission, at this period of the war,
had become so well organized that it was a power for
accomplishing a great amount of good. The steamer
John Brooks was kept continually plying back and forth
to Washington, bringing stores and supplies that helped
in many cases to facilitate the recovery of the sick, by

96 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

furnishing articles of food and nourishment not readily
obtained from the medical stores of the army.

The attention of commanding officers was now given
to the work of reorganizing the regiments, and filling
positions made vacant by casualties. In onr brigade,
the Seventy-First, heretofore composed of fifteen com-
panies, was reduced to ten, and the supernumerary offi-
cers were mustered out. General Barns, who was absent
on leave, was temporarily succeeded by Colonel Baxter,
who was the senior officer present.

The actual casualties of the brigade during the cam-
paign on the Peninsula are not accurately reported, either
in detail or aggregate ; but while the loss in action was
considerable, it is probable the number placed on the
list of absent by reason of sickness was equally as large.

The loss reported by the army in killed, wounded, and
missing from June 26th to July 1st, inclusive, was fifteen
thousand two hundred and forty-nine ; of this list there
were tAvo thousand one hundred and eleven belonging to
the Second Corps.

While reorganization was in progress on the James,
changes of an important character were made among the
troops intrusted with the defense of Washington, both
in their line of operations and in their commanding offi-
cers. The corps of McDowell — which the men so fre-
quently expected to join them before Richmond — and
the commands of Banks and Fremont were formed into
one army, under Major-General John Pope. This Army
of Virginia, as it was called, numbered about fifty thou-
sand men, of whom about five thousand were cavalry.

General Pope assumed command of this force on the
28th of June, but did not take the field until near the

POPE'S CAMPAIGN.

97

close of July, issuing his orders from Washington City.
This delay was occasioned by the absence of Major-
General Halleck, the new commander-in-chief, who
arrived from the West on the 23d of July and assumed
the direction of both armies.

On taking command, Pope issued an order containing
some sentences that seemed at the time as if meant to
reflect upon the commander of the Army of the Potomac.
Speaking of his plans, he says, " I hear constantly of
taking strong positions and holding them, — of lines of
retreat and bases of supplies. Let us discard such ideas ;
success and glory are in the advance, — disaster and
shame lurk in the rear.'7 These and sentiments of a like
character were published to the troops in the form of an
address.

Without criticising the motive or the taste that
prompted the issue of this or similar documents during
the war to soldiers in the field, it is not presumptuous
to say that the effect produced by their publication was
of no practical value. If a general can inform his
men that the enemy have met with a disaster in some
of their fields of operation, or that reinforcements are
on their way for his own army, or if he can convey any
information of interest, it may inspirit his troops ; other-
wise .he had better omit his bulletins.

The main divisions of the Army of Virginia were
located at Culpeper Court-House and Fredericksburg
about the latter part of July. Immediately after Au-
gust 1st the Confederate army began to move towards
the Rapidan on its way to the North. Its advance,
driving back the cavalry picket at Raccoon Ford, crossed
on the 8th of August. Pushing on the next day to

9*

98 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

Cedar Mountain, the advance of Pope's army, under
General Banks, was met, and a battle ensued, with severe
losses on both sides. From this date commenced a
series of engagements, some of them of considerable
magnitude, which led to the gradual retreat of General
Pope before Lee's army.

In the mean time President Lincoln had issued a call
for three hundred thousand men for nine months' service,
and at the same time General Halleck had issued an order
for the withdrawal of the Army of the Potomac from
the Peninsula.

The entire month of July was one of inactivity at
Harrison's Landing. On August 4th a reconnoissance
in force was made to Malvern Hill, in which our brigade
participated and acted as rear-guard on the return to
camp.

Preliminary steps were now taken towards removal
from this locality. The sick, numbering twelve thou-
sand five hundred, were placed on transports and sent
away ; and the troops, with two days' rations in haver-
sacks and six in the wagons, commenced moving on
the retreat shortly after. Our corps left its old camp
and its unwholesome surroundings, with its innumerable
flies and worse insects, on August 16th. No matter
what uncertainty might hang over the future, there was
none among the command who looked upon the place
on leaving it with tearful eyes.

After passing through the venerable old village of
Charles City Court-House, and possibly carrying away
some of its musty records, the Chickahominy was reached
on the evening of the 18th. The river was crossed on
a ponton bridge, one of the longest yet constructed, and

POPE'S CAMPAIGN. 99

the march continued via Williamsburg to Yorktown,
which we reached on the 20th at noon.

The brigade encamped .at this familiar place, and, in
addition to the opportunity afforded of visiting the old
ground, the men had the luxury of a bath in the York
River. The line of march was taken up the next day
and continued via Big Bethel to a distance of five miles
from Hampton, making a march of twenty miles. On
the 22d we marched eight miles to Newport News, ar-
riving at noon ; the latter part of the journey was made
through the drenching of a Peninsular thunder and rain
storm.

The weather during the march from Harrison's Land-
ing to Big Bethel was exceedingly hot, and the roads
very dusty. During its continuance, the officers had a
renewed experience of the difficulty of providing rations
while on a march. Had it not been for the corn-fields,
with the sweet roasting-ears along portions of the route,
both men and officers would have suffered. All through
the cultivated sections of this country the citizens appeared
to have adopted the advice of Jefferson Davis, " to an-
ticipate a long Avar, and plant, instead of tobacco, corn
and wheat." For this unintentional hospitality they
had the thanks of the Philadelphia Brigade, and after
its visitation they no doubt realized the truth of the
saying, " One soweth and another reapeth."

At one halting-place there was an amusing illustra-
tion of tactics as applied to foraging. The division
halted for bivouac in front of an immense corn-field,
which was surrounded by a post-and-rider fence. The
men stacked arms, and the moment the order " Break
ranks" was given, the entire body rushed for the roasting-

100 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

corn. At the full run details were made of comrades
to secure rails for the fires, while others were selected to
seize the corn ; and it seemed but a few minutes before
there was not a stalk left standing, or a vestige of fence
to be seen.

After being " ready to move" all the preceding night,
the brigade was marched to the wharf on the 25th, and
the Seventy-First embarked on one steamer while the
other three regiments were placed on another, — both
bound up the Potomac. The steamship Baltic, con-
taining the three regiments, ran aground on the 27th,
and the troops, after some delay, were transferred to
another vessel, and arrived off Aquia Creek, where the
vessel lay until a.m. of the 28th. Without being
transhipped, the troops were ordered to Alexandria,
where they landed at nine a.m., and joined the division
in camp four miles outside of the town towards Fairfax
Oourt-House.

Whatever opinion may be held about the addresses
issued by General Pope to his troops, he expressed a
truthful experience when he wrote, " disaster and shame
lurk in the rear." If he had also said that the most
depressing rumors and false reports are frequently circu-
lated in the rear, — disheartening tales, which add to the
"shame and disaster," — he would have portrayed the
state of things which we met upon our arrival at Alex-
andria.

The town was filled with stories of Pope's defeat and
"terrible losses," and of the advance of an "immense
Rebel force" towards the Potomac, and with other rumors
of similar character. These reports are common, no
doubt, to all armies, and frequently have their origin

POPE'S CAMPAIGN. 101

with stragglers, who, scenting the danger from afar,
sneak into the woods to refresh themselves while their
fellows are fighting. The contempt in which these beings
are held by the true soldier was well illustrated by an
inscription placed upon a tree along the road over which
our brigade was marching, — " Coffee-boilers take notice:
the enemy have left the front." Every skulker we met
had the same story about his regiment being cut to pieces,
until we began to regret that the enemy had not com-
pleted the work and whittled the stragglers.

At six p.m. on the 29th we were ordered to march
towards Chain Bridge, a distance of twenty miles. At
midnight, after accomplishing two-thirds of the distance,
the brigade was halted, and slept by the roadside. The
next morning we arrived at Chain Bridge, where the
corps was massed with the promise of a day's rest.
Taking advantage of this, a number of the soldiers in-
dulged in the luxury of washing their shirts ; while thus
engaged heavy firing was heard towards Bull Run, and
the command was ordered to " fall in" for a march. At
noon the Second Corps started for Fairfax and Centre-
ville, with many of the men in a semi-nude condition,
and others almost barefooted, the ground cutting their
feet at every step.

At noon of August 31st, after a march of forty miles,
with only two hours' sleep and part of the distance
through a rain-storm, the corps reached Centreville.
During this severe march the men kept up wonderfully,
and most of those who did fall from exhaustion rejoined
their regiments before "Old Sumner" went into position.

The next day a reconnoissance was made by the divi-
sion, the brigade being temporarily under the command

102 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

of General O. O. Howard. After moving three miles
and encountering but little opposition, the expedition
returned, having accomplished its purpose.

This night the army of Pope commenced retreating to
the works about Washington, and the duty of rear-guard
was assigned to Sedgwick's Division* We took a posi-
tion on September 1st, near Chantilly, where the gallant
Kearney had lost his life, and awaited the passage of the
last of the column. At four o'clock our time came,
and, as the division moved back slowly so as to give
those ahead time to get out of the way, we had several
lively skirmishes with the enemy, who were following.
Towards dusk General Sully, commanding the First
Brigade, became tired of this, and made use of his ex-
perience among the Indians. Using the Philadelphia
Brigade as a decoy, he formed an ambush with the First
Minnesota. Upon the advance of the unsuspecting
enemy they met a severe volley, that stopped any further
annoyance.

At midnight the division arrived at Langley's, near
Chain Bridge, well-nigh exhausted; some of the men
were almost asleep while walking along the road, and
others were giddy from loss of rest and laok of food.

On the 2d of September our corps crossed the Poto-
mac to Tenallytown, and Pope's campaign ended.

CHAPTER X.

ANTIETAM.

The Nineteenth Massachusetts Regiment, of Sedsr-
wick's Division, was so well drilled by its officers, that
when in position of line of battle the color-sergeant and
right and left general guides were ordered to indicate a
new alignment some distance from the old one, facing
either flank or rear, and the command was given,
" Break ranks and form on the color," the men would
instantly rush in an apparently disordered mass and
assume their places in the new formation. This was
done so perfectly that on more than one occasion it was
necessary to give the order " By the right flank," after
the line was re-formed, to convince a general officer that
the men actually had their proper positions.

In spite of the disorganized appearance of the troops
and the disheartening circumstances attending their gath-
ering about the defenses at Washington, there existed
among them sentiments of duty and lofty patriotism,
joined to a firm determination to sustain the honor of the
flag Avherever it might lead, or in whatever position it
might call them to be placed. To move forward at the
call of duty, only the voice of a leader was needed.

President Lincoln, who had the wonderful gift of
doing what the present good of the service demanded,

103

104 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

regardless of the prejudices of those around him, and
sometimes without considering his own personal feelings,
directed the issuing of the following order :

" Washington, September 2d, 1862.
"General Order No. 122.

" Major-General McClellan will have command of the
fortifications of Washington, and of all the troops for
the defense of the Capital.

"By command of Major-General Halleck.

" E. D. Towxsexd, A. A. G."

No matter what may be the opinion of military critics
concerning General McClellan, no one can successfully
deny the fact that his name was a talisman at this time
with the soldiers, and that upon the issuing of this order
there was unusual satisfaction.

The work of reorganizing a compact force out of the
remnants of the two armies was begun at once, and con-
tinued while on the march. Burnside's Ninth Corps
was added, and placed under the command of General
Reno ; and the First Corps, McDowell's old command,
was placed under General Hooker. General Sumner,
while retaining the Second Corps, had control of the
Twelfth, Banks's old command, which was under the
veteran General Mansfield. General H. J. Hunt took
command of the reserve artillery, in which position he
was retained until the end of the war. The cavalry were
placed under General Pleasonton. This new arrangement
formed an effective force, ready to take the field in the
Maryland campaign, of eighty-seven thousand men of
all arms.

ANTIETAM. 1Q5

The Philadelphia Brigade remained under the com-
mand of General O. O. Howard during the continued
absence of General Burns. All of the regiments had
received additions to their effective strength by the return
of officers and men who were convalescent from wounds
or sickness. Among the former, Colonel Isaac J. Wistar,
now partially recovered from his wounds at Ball's Bluff,
resumed command of the Seventy-First, having for his
lieutenant-colonel John Markoe, who had been pro-
moted June 1st.

In the Seventy-Second, Captain Samuel Roberts, a
faithful and reliable officer, was promoted major, his
company (A) being under command of a young officer
of fine promise, Lieutenant Adolphus W. Peabody, who
had just returned for duty. There were also promotions
among some of the non-commissioned officers of compa-
nies, to fill vacancies in each regiment.

The brigade was in good condition, and, although nu-
merically weaker, compared with the roster at the time of
landing on the Peninsula, it had increased its effective-
ness by the rough experiences of war. " It would still
perform," as Burns used to say, " what was expected of it."

While cheerful anticipations of the future of the army
and increased enthusiasm were being manifested, the
troops could not refrain from contrasting their position
this day, September 2d, with that of the month preced-
ing. At that time the two great armies of the Union
were threatening Lee from different points, and he was
the defender of the Confederate capital. To-day the
same armies are crouching under the guns of the defenses
at Washington ; one of them foiled in its advance and
the other disastrously defeated.

10

106 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

Although this transformation had not taken place
without the infliction of great losses upon the enemy,
our armies had suffered in casualties to as great an ex-
tent, and in the material of war the destruction far ex-
ceeded theirs. Every regiment had been depleted by
sickness, wounds, and death, and in our brigade as in
others, hundreds of comrades, who started from Wash-
ington for the Peninsula with as bright hopes of success
as those who to-day survive, had left the armies of earth
forever. These blasted hopes, sundered ties, and homes
made desolate are only a portion of the desolation in-
flicted by the demon of disunion.

On the day that McClellan assumed command of the
army, General Lee was joined by a fresh division from
Richmond. This command, under D. H. Hill, was
pushed forward to Leesburg, and soon the whole Con-
federate army, after making a slight feint in the direc-
tion of Chain Bridge, moved towards the Upper Potomac,
where crossings were made by the fords between Xolen's
Ferry and Point of Rocks.

On September 8th, General Lee issued an appeal to
the citizens of Maryland to throw off the " foreign
yoke" and enjoy " the rights of freemen.'7 In this
paper, while invoking the people "to restore the inde-
pendence and sovereignty of the State," he gave every
assurance that he had the power to assist them " in re-
gaining their rights." This address was met with cold-
ness by the majority of the people of Western Maryland,
and in spite of Confederate entreaties, be it said to the
honor of the citizens of this section, they stood aloof
from the enemy.

The advance of General McClellan was made on five

ANTIETAM. 107

different roads, the columns being so disposed as to cover
at the same time the cities of Baltimore and Washington.
The left flank rested on the Potomac, and the right on
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The right wing, con-
sisting of the First and Ninth Corps, was under General
Burnside ; the centre, of the Second and Twelfth, under
General Sumner ; and the left wing under General
Franklin.

The Second Corps left Tenallytown at noon on the
4th, and marched ten miles, halting at night near Rock-
ville. The next day a position was assumed a short
distance beyond the town, where the command remained
for a few days. After resuming the forward movement
by way of Clarksburg, the corps was halted at noon of
the 11th, on an eminence overlooking Hyattstown. This
place was found in possession of a small force of the
enemy, and Sedgwick, who led the column, detailed the
Seventy-First Regiment to advance as skirmishers and
occupy the village. This was quickly done, the enemy
retiring to the hill beyond and taking another position,
from which they were also speedily driven. The regi-
ment was now reinforced by the First Minnesota, along
with a section of artillery, and directed to maintain itself,
which it did during the night with constant skirmishing.
At daylight the enemy retired, and the entire corps
came up and moved forward in pursuit.

On the 14th, Sumner's column passed through Fred-
erick, and was greeted by the loyal citizens of the place
with a reception as handsome as it was unexpected.
Flags that had been concealed while the enemy held
possession, now decorated the dwellings and were wav-
ing along with the emblem that made Barbara Freitchie

108 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

historical ; and on the streets by which the army entered
the people pressed forward to greet the soldiers with
expressions of warmest sympathy.

These patriotic manifestations were not confined to
the town of Frederick, but frequently along the line of
march through this portion of Maryland the inhabitants
gave the strongest evidence of attachment to the Union
cause. Ladies of all ages and stations in life stood by
the roadside, in front of their dwellings, with pails of
milk, or, if the supply had been exhausted, a cup of
cold water and a word of cheer ; while the men who had
been spared by the Confederate army that had preceded
as were always ready to give information of value.

After passing through Frederick and halting for a
short time, Sumner again pushed on towards South
Mountain. The sound of the battles in progress at
Turner's Gap and Crampton's Pass had the usual influ-
ence on the "old soldier" of increasing his speed towards
the front. Generals Sumner and Sedgwick were so noted
for rapid movements, when advancing towards a conflict,
that the men used to say that their commanders, who
were both cavalry officers, had forgotten their troops
were not mounted.

It was late in the evening when the column reached
Turner's Gap, and by that time the fight was over.
During the march through the day we could continually
see the smoke of the musketry and the exploding shells
of the forces emmtred in conflict on the side of the nioun-
tain.

At one A.M. on the 15th, we pushed forward to a
point near Boonsboro' Gap, and, although the distance
was but six miles, the march Mas exhausting on account

ANTIETAM. 109

of the roughness of the road and the fatigued condition
of the men from continuous marching and loss of sleep.
At noon our division was again sent forward, through
Boonsboro' and Keedysville, halting one mile beyond the
latter point, having reached the main force of the Con-
federate army at about dark.

At daylight of the 16th, a few shells whizzed over
our heads from the Confederate line of battle, on An-
tietam Creek. This stream, made famous by one of the
bloodiest battles of the war, is of no great size ; it flows
through a very beautiful valley, and empties into the
Potomac six miles above Harper's Ferry. It is spanned
by four turnpike or stone bridges, three of which the
enemy had strongly guarded, and it has but few fords
that can be crossed by artillery or wagons. In this well-
selected position General Lee had determined to collect
his scattered forces and give battle to the Union army.

At dawn of the 16th, the Confederate artillery opened
a very heavy fire upon our batteries and on some portions
of our line.

There was no infantry engagement except the usual
sharp-shooting practice, until the afternoon. At two
o'clock, McClellan seemed to be ready, after considerable
delay, and Hooker commenced the movement by crossing
the Antietam near the upper bridge. With the divisions
of Ricketts, Meade, and Doubleday, he attacked the Con-
federate left, evidently intending to turn their position.
General Sumner was directed to second this operation by
throwing over the stream during the night the Twelfth
Corps, under General Mansfield, and to hold the Second
Corps ready to move at daylight on the next morning.
In this operation Hooker was successful, having struck

10*

HO HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

the enemy, and after a severe fight, which was begun by
the Pennsylvania Reserves and lasted until night, he
drove them back. Hooker's advance rested on their
arms through the night, in the position they had taken.
During; the evening: General Mansfield executed his
order, and crossed the Antietam with his command,
bivouacking about one mile to the rear of Hooker.

Just before dark the men of Sedgwick's Division were
furnished with eighty rounds of ammunition, and or-
dered to be prepared to move early the next morning.
Both armies lay down to rest with the expectation of a
severe engagement on the coming day ; and no doubt to
many on both sides, pictures of homes at the North or in
the sunny South, and pleasant scenes, with the greeting
of familiar faces, were recalled by memory before sleep
closed the eyelids on the night before the battle.

The morning of September 17th dawned with a clear
sky upon the scene of conflict, and by the time the sun
had risen the Second Corps had made every preparation
to advance. The men had piled their knapsacks in heaps
on the ground which they had occupied, and, with every
thing likely to encumber them laid aside, and in light
marching order, they were ready for the fight.

The battle was opened at daylight by Hooker, who
made a vigorous attack on Stonewall Jackson, holding
the Confederate left. His first object was to push the
enemy back from his front and seize the Hagerstown
road and the woods about the Dunker church, in which
the Confederate line was placed. After an obstinate
fight, lasting an hour, and during which our batteries
assisted materially by an enfilading fire, the three bri-
gades of the enemy were driven out of the woo^s imme-

ANTIETAM. 1]1

d lately in front of Hooker, across a corn-field, towards
the Hagerstown road, losing half of their number. Gen-
eral Hooker then advanced his centre, to seize the road
and the woods beyond. In this movement our troops
were met by the reserve of Jackson's Division with a
murderous fire. This body of the enemy in large num-
bers issued from the woods and fell heavily on Meade's
Brigades in the corn-field, which brigades were much
broken. To support Meade, General Hartsuff's Brigade
was sent in by Hooker, and in passing over the field it
was met by a severe fire.

In the mean time the second line, under Mansfield,
was moved up from the position in which it had bivou-
acked to the support of Hooker's Brigade. "While it
was deploying, the veteran commander — General Mans-
field— was mortally wounded. The command of the
corps now devolved on General Williams, and the divi-
sion of the latter on General Crawford, who, with his
brigade and that of General Gordon, advanced across
this hotly-contested corn-field and seized part of the
coveted woods on the Hagerstown road. At the same
time the second division of Mansfield's Corps, under
General Greene, cleared its front, and advanced to the
left of the Dunker church.

All these movements of Hooker and his supports
were attended with heavy loss, and just as the troops
were beginning to falter, and General Hooker was being
carried severely wounded from the field, the Second
Corps, under General Sumner, arrived on the ground.

After being prepared for action since daylight, the
Second Corps at eight o'clock was ordered to move to
the front ; starting from Keedysville towards the right,

112 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

through some woods, then down a hill to the Antietam
Creek, which the men waded, taking care to keep their
ammunition above the rushing water. The point of
crossing was at the first ford above bridge number one.
On the other side of the stream we ascended a hill, then
through the open country to the right, until Miller's
house was reached, where line of battle was formed by
the left flank while marching.

The division of Sedgwick had the right of the corps ;
then came French, then Smith. The First Brigade had
the right of our division, and was supported by the
Second, under command of General O. O. Howard, in
the following order: One Hundred and Sixth on the
right, then the Sixty-Ninth and Seventy-Second, with
the Seventy-First on the left.

From the place the brigade had formed its line of
battle to the point of attack was nearly one mile. All
of this distance was moved over in battalion front, the
movement bringing us through pieces of woods, across
fences, through barn-yards and other obstacles, which
continually threw the line in confusion. In addition to
this we were subjected to a heavy artillery fire from the
enemy ; but, in spite of all opposition, the advance never
stopped until the fatal corn-field was reached. Advanc-
ing over this field, where the dead and dying of both
sides lay scattered, and passing in one place almost an
entire Confederate line of battle lying .still in death,
the Hagerstown road was finally reached. Here Gen-
eral Sedgwick gave the command, " Push into the
woods."

At this moment the left of the brigade was on the
road near the Dunker church. Our own troops, already

A N TIE T AM. U3

engaged and gallantly fighting, on this lino were the two
brigades of Crawford and Gordon. The men of the
Second Brigade sprang over the fence, and, crossing the
road, leaped over the fence on the other side and entered
the woods, at once coming under a terrific fire. The
place in which we had entered was filled with an out-
cropping of large boulders, and was heavily wooded,
but without undergrowth. On the side of the woods
toAvards the enemy the ground was depressed, and beyond
this was a ridge, from which batteries were directing a
severe fire upon our brigade over the heads of their
troops. The fight now raged with extreme violence, but
the men seemed in the best of spirits and were confident
of victory.

At the time our division was thus engaged, French,
on our left, had been ordered to attack, and the battle
was being desperately fought on the ground about the
Danker churcji.

The line on which the Second Brigade was fighting
was oblique to the Hagerstown road, and from its loca-
tion, and especially that of the regiments engaged in the
woods, nothing could be seen of the connections on either
flank. The men stood their ground well, and, feeling
sure of their duty, looked to the front, firing as rapidly
as they could load.

Shortly after French became heavily engaged, General
Sumner rode into the woods, where the contest was most
severe, and gave a command. The noise of the battle
was so deafening that only those about him could hear
his words ; but, presuming he meant to " charge," the
men began to fix their bayonets. The general now rode
among them and repeated, " Fall back ; you are in a bad

114 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

position." This order was obeyed, but with great reluc-
tance, some of the men, for fear they might receive a
wound in the back, retiring with their faces towards the
enemy. On emerging from the woods we found that
Sumner was right : there was a gap between our left and
the right of French's Division, through which the enemy
had pushed a body of fresh troops, and these were turn-
ing our flank. This accounted also for the number of
balls that were beginning to reach us from a new direc-
tion. For the first time in its history Sedgwick's Divi-
sion was compelled to retire before the enemy ; but, under
the circumstances, we felt it to be no disgrace to yield to
the judgment and obey the command of the brave old
Sumner.

The regiments of the brigade fell back at about ten
o'clock, and on different lines. Some of them took posi-
tions at a fence on the other side of the corn-field, where
they did effective service, along with a battery of Napo-
leon guns, in stopping the Confederate advance.

After the repulse of Sedgwick's Division, the heavy
fighting: on the right was virtually over ; but it was con-
tinued on the left with heavy losses and varying success
until night-fall. Darkness closed the struggle along the
entire line, and the murderous battle of Antietam was
over.

The engagement, although a victory in its results for
the Union army, was attended with such terrible losses
to both sides that it had the effect of a drawn battle. It
has truly been said, " it was fought by driblets." The
contest seldom involved the whole line at one time, but
was confined, at different periods of the day, to localities.
This sort of tactics enabled either party to concentrate

A N TIE T AM. 115

fresh forces against the exhausted troops of the other
and inflict heavy losses.

Of the troops engaged on the right, the Second Divi-
sion suffered probably the most. It had hardly come
under fire before General Sedgwick was carried from
the field severely wounded, and the command devolved
on General Howard. The losses in the brigade were
very heavy, but they are not officially given. The gen-
eral estimate of casualties made by the compiler of
" Bates's Military History" is one-third the number
engaged. From reports of company officers and other
testimony this is probably not far from correct.

Among the killed were Captain Francis V. Bierwith
and Lieutenants Joseph McHugh and James Dunn, of
the Sixty-Ninth ; Lieutenants John Convery and Wil-
liam Wilson, Seventy-First ; Captain Peter H. Willetts
and Lieutenants Adolphus W. Peabody and Robert I.
Parks, Seventy-Second ; Captain Timothy Clark and
Lieutenant William Bryan, One Hundred and Sixth.
Among the field-officers who were severely wounded
Avas the gallant Colonel Wistar, commanding Seventy-
First, who had only rejoined his regiment a few days
before; Major Devereaux, Sixty-Ninth, was also wounded
under similar circumstances, and a number of line offi-
cers were struck, and others made very narrow escapes.
Colonel Morehead, of the One Hundred and Sixth, had
his horse shot under him, and was severely injured by
his fall. Adjutant Pleis, of the same regiment, while
advancing in line had his horse killed by a round shot.
The few names that are given of the commissioned
officers who suffered, tell only a fragment of the story.
There were brave hearts in the ranks, as well as among

116 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

the officers, who went to their death fearlessly, and over
whose memories loving friends have not ceased to mourn.
Especially sorrowful was the death of Edmund Y. Col-
lier, a private in the Seventy-Second. Mr. Collier was
a young Englishman of very respectable connections;
who was visiting in this country when the Rebellion
broke out. With warm sympathy for the Union, he
enlisted as a private, and in this battle fell mortally
wounded ; so near the enemy that his body was not re-
covered for hours afterwards.

On the 18th, neither party seemed anxious to renew
the fight, and the day was spent by our army in collect-
ing the troops, attending to the wants of the wounded
within our lines, and preparing for the morrow. That
night Lee gathered his scattered forces, and in the dark-
ness crossed the Potomac, yielding all hope of further
aiding Maryland in " throwing off its foreign yoke."

It is difficult to ascertain the casualties of the forces
engaged in the battle of Antietam ; but from the appear-
ance of the field on the 19th of September, the losses of
the enemy were much heavier than ours. For three
days after the retreat of Lee, our corps remained in this
vicinity, and was engaged in burying the dead. Along
the line, where Meagher's Irish Brigade had charged,
there was a large number of dead, those of the enemy
preponderating. This was the case also where Richard-
son had been engaged. In the corn-field, the scene of
repeated encounters, dead of both armies were scattered
over the ground; the large majority being Confederates.
Intermingled with the slain were cattle that had been
killed while pasturing.

In the woods near the Hagerstown road, where the

ANTIETAM. U7

Philadelphia Brigade suffered so severely, our losses
exceeded those of the enemy. These poor fellows had
died in all sorts of positions ; some lying on their faces,
others leaning against the rocks, and one man, a Confed-
erate, was resting on his knees, with his eyes wide open
and his hands grasping his rifle. On the slope, where
the fire of our brigade had been directed, were one hun-
dred and twenty dead Confederates who had been pre-
pared for burial before their army had retreated.

Similar scenes were witnessed all over the field of
action on the right, and it seemed as though the firing
had been unusually effective. Where the artillery of our
wing had full sweep, the slaughter was very severe. On
one piece of ground near the Hagerstown road, almost
an entire regiment of the enemy, in line of battle, were
lying dead in two ranks, killed evidently while advanc-
ing to charge.

With the exception of that portion of the ground at
Malvern, in front of Porter's batteries, this battle-field '
presented more carnage than we had yet witnessed ; and
with hearts made heavy by these sights, we moved away
from the scene.

The only consolidated returns of the strength of the
brigade at this period, that are on file in the War De-
partment, give the following aggregate of men and offi-
cers ; and the difference between the numbers present at
the two periods includes the losses on the Peninsula and
in the battle of Antietam :

u

118 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

March, 1862.

September 30th, 1S62.

Present and
Absent.

Total Pres-
ent.

Present and
Absent.

Total Pres-
ent.

69th P. V.

71st P. V.

72d P. V.

106th P. V.

879
1002
1289

811

726

904

1215
779

737

820

1197

728

486
510
681
492

3981

3624

3482

2169

CHAPTER XL

harper's ferry.

With the exception of a questionable movement by a
detachment of Porter's Corps, which crossed the Poto-
mac and attacked the Confederate rear-guard only to be
repulsed and driven into the river, there was no imme-
diate pursuit of the enemy by our forces. For some
days after the battle, both armies acted as though they
had enough fighting for the present and wanted rest.
General Lee pursued his course leisurely down the Shen-
andoah Valley, while McClellan lingered about the
scenes of his recent exploits.

Lieutenant Shewall, of the Seventy-Second, who was
mortally wounded at Savage Station, and whose loss was
sincerely regretted by a host of friends in the brigade,
was an excellent actor and mimic. During the winter
in camp, he frequently amused the officers with his illus-
trations of prominent characters, and one of these was
particularly suggestive of some experiences of army
movements and grand tactics, as seen from our limited
sphere of observation.

As represented by Shewall, the chief of the army
stationed in Washington had in his office an immense
topographical map of the seat of war suspended against
the wall. Upon the surface of this chart the positions

119

120 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

of the different corps and detachments were indicated
by means of small wafers, fixed with pins easily inserted
and removed from one locality to another. On each of
these was inscribed the name of a command and the offi-
cer in charge. To accomplish movements in a campaign
while the chief remained in his chair, it was only neces-
sary to give directions to a page by means of an indicator,
and the transposition took place. For example : If
General McClellan's army was at Alexandria, it could
by this means be removed to Centreville at once, or even
carried farther down the map, without waiting for trans-
portation. This mythical plan worked as well as could
be expected, except that occasionally a corps would be
lost by the wafer becoming detached, or, what was worse,
by being stuck, through the carelessness of the medium,
into the wrong place.

Whether either of these misfortunes had occurred to
Sumner's Corps, it was not the province of subalterns
to inquire, but for some good reason no movement took
place until the 22d of September. At five a.m. on this
day we moved away from the battle-field of Antietam,
and, passing through Sharpsburg, reached the Potomac.
General Williams, on the advance, seized Maryland
Heights, and the Second Corps forded the river at Har-
per's Ferry, and, pushing out to Bolivar, re-occupied
the place.

Here we were destined to spend all the beautiful
month of October, the entire Army of the Potomac be-
ing located in this vicinity, and occupied in refitting and
preparing for an active campaign, until the chief was
ready to move on the enemy. Within five days after
the battle General McClellan began to call for reinforce-

HARPER'S FERRY. 121

ments and made extensive requisitions for clothing and
shoes for his men. In this latter demand he was met
with as prompt a response as the circumstances would
admit. As to the condition of the men, there is no
doubt that an active movement commenced at once
would have been attended with great privation, and
in some cases with actual suffering. There had been no
opportunity since leaving Harrison's Landing to obtain
any clothing or shoes, and most of the men, in these
respects, were in a deplorable condition.

Mr. Bartram Ashmead, a private soldier, who served
a full term of honorable service in the Seventy-Second
Pennsylvania, gives an amusing account in his journal
of the state of his clothing upon arrival at Harper's
Ferry :

" My wardrobe, averaging about the same as the rest
of the troops, consisted of the following articles :

" One pair of worn-out shoes.

" One cap ; faded from blue to dingy gray.

" One blouse ; color unknown.

" One pair of pantaloons ; ragged and soiled.

" One pair of suspenders ; black from wear.

" After waiting several days, we received a new outfit,
and again presented a soldierly appearance. My old
blouse being in material perfectly good, and wanting an
extra coat, I thought I would try an experiment and
give it the benefit of a good wash. Taking it down to
the Shenandoah, I tied it fast to a limb, flung it in the
roaring current between two rocks where it was entirely
covered with water, and left it to the mercy of the tide.
After being thus exposed for ten days I drew it out for
inspection ; but still presenting some signs of life I

11*

122 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

allowed it to remain in its old position, thinking 'time
was the best remedy for all evils/ Owing to other
duties, I neglected to visit the place until after the lapse
of two weeks, and I thought as I again drew it forth
that surely all was right now ; but, alas ! life had nour-
ished itself along the seams, and I despaired of ever
having it in use again. With disappointed hopes I gave
it to the waters, and as it sailed down the stream it
seemed for all the world like a steamboat crowded with
passengers."

The inconveniences, of which this sketch is a fair il-
lustration, were borne by the men with good humor, and
a disposition to draw some consolation from the fact that
the condition of the enemy, as shown by the prisoners
that were taken, was as bad and perhaps worse. Many
of the Confederates were not only poorly clad, but pre-
sented the appearance of having been in this situation
for a considerable period of time. In this connection it
is only fair to say that the people through the parts of
Maryland where the enemy had been gave them credit
for abstaining from the seizure of private property with-
out compensation. This self-denial might be accounted
for from the fact that after the address of General Lee
to the people, his army would, for the sake of consistency,
be on its good behavior.

General Sumner placed his corps in commanding po-
sitions on Bolivar Heights, and ordered Captain Pell
and his men of the First Brigade of Sedgwick's Di-
vision to occupy the Ferry, as a provost guard ; while a
large detail, under the command of a captain, was made
from the Philadelphia Brigade for the same duty on
Camp Hill and Bolivar.

HARPER'S FERRY

123

During the month the corps was lying here", the pro-
vost guard had some very amusing experiences, involving
a knowledge not only of military laws but of civil juris-
prudence.

The large mansion and surrounding buildings occupied
formerly by the superintendent of the Government works,
were used as headquarters and as a guard-house. It
was the labor of days to put these structures and the
grounds about them in a safe condition for occupancy.
After the surrender of our unfortunate men composing
this garrison at the time of Jackson's advance, there was
a vast amount of war material destroyed. This work
was purposely done in such a manner as to risk the
lives of our troops when they returned. All about the
grounds and in the buildings, shells and loose cartridges
were placed, and even the wells were not spared.

After the work of removing these destructive elements
was supposed to have been thoroughly performed, one
of the buildings that had been set aside for the purpose
was used as a place of confinement for the prisoners.
These were mostly stragglers from camp, or men who
had obtained a supply from some illicit trader in bad
whisky, and were suffering from its effects. The first
evening that the guard-house was made use of, an unfor-
tunate event occurred, that resulted in the serious injury
of a number of the guard as Avell as the prisoners. In
preparing the building the loose powder had been care-
fully swept out after the ammunition had been removed,
and the stone floor was thoroughly cleansed with water.
At about ten p.m., as Sergeant Mervine, Seventy-Second
Regiment, was putting a drunken soldier in the door, he
attempted to take a lighted cigar from the man ; in the

124 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

scuffle it fell on the ground, and immediately an explo-
sion took place, caused by the ignition of particles of
powder that had lodged in the crevices and cracks of the
building. By this accident about ten persons were in-
jured; the sergeant and others suffering very painful
wounds.

After this affair it was determined to strike at the root
of the evil, and, instead of being compelled to arrest
gallant comrades who had been led into temptation, to
secure the parties who were carrying on the unlawful
business of supplying liquor to the troops.

When our corps took possession of the town, all the
stores and business places were vacant; but soon after,
traders and sutlers applied for permission to enter the
lines and open their stores of articles for sale to the sol-
diers. Licenses were freely granted, subject to certain
rules ; one of these being a prohibition from selling in-
toxicating liquors. The stores were rented by the pro-
vost-marshal at such prices as he thought the occupants
could afford to pay, and the money received was turned
over to the surgeons for the benefit of the sick an'd
wounded.

After the failure of several efforts to find the illicit
traders, the men were set at work as detectives. The
result of two or three nights of experimenting in the
rdle of carousers divulged not only the names of the
dealers, but the place of concealment for the "contra-
band." The discovery exhibited many ingenious devices
to avoid capture and punishment. Some of the dealers
had barrels constructed to draw either cider or whisky;
others used, as disguises, boxes of tobacco and other sub-
stances not at all suggestive of their real contents. In

DO

HARPER'S FERRY. 125

some places the boards of the floor were removed, and
"the stuff" hidden between the joists; and in others,
concealed in parts of furniture. After reprisals and for-
feiture had taken place, the offenders were cautioned and
put under surveillance. In spite of all, however, some
persons persisted in the business and met the conse-
quences,— a seizure of all their wares, to be sold at auc-
tion, and the owners put to work at the fortifications on
Loudon Heights.

These sales were conducted by the soldiers, and, as
none of them were experienced in the business, the auc-
tions were very amusing to all except the hapless owners.
There were two or three old widow ladies living in the
place, who were really loyal to the Union, and favorites
with the men for various kind acts performed towards
the sick. When the sales took place, they were notified,
and the auctioneer took care to refuse no bid from them
for the purchase of articles to supply their little shop,
even though it might be a barrel of apples for fifty cents,
or a box of cigars for a quarter.

During the time the army was in this vicinity, Presi-
dent Lincoln visited the troops. As he rode through
Bolivar he looked careworn and anxious, and in his whole
manner seemed to say, Why does McClellan allow the
best month of the fall to pass, without availing himself
of the weather and the good roads to look after the
army of General Lee?

The order for a movement was finally received, and
its execution commenced on October 26th. The army had
been increased to one hundred thousand effectives, and
its advance began to cross the Potomac at Berlin, Mary-
land, and to move southward on the east side of the

126 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

Blue Ridge. As soon as this movement commenced, the
enemy in our front perceived it, and began to retire up
the Shenandoah Valley, pursued for a short distance by
Sedgwick's and Hancock's Divisions.

On October 29th, the Second Corps joined in the ad-
vance with the army, and, crossing the Shenandoah to
the Loudon Valley, started on the fall campaign.

As the brigade was moving from the Ferry, it was
joined by a civilian, who, from this period until the final
muster-out, became as fully identified with the command
as any of its members.

This gentleman, Mr. Joseph Warner Johnson, of
Philadelphia, was a member of the Society of Friends;
a man of light and weak frame but indomitable will.

Being consistent in all things, his principles would not
.allow him to become a combatant ; but seeing a wide
field open, his humanity and patriotism induced him to
seek for active service with the army as a humanitarian
in the widest sense. Abandoning all the comforts of a
luxurious and happy home, he joined the army, and "did
what he could" to cheer and relieve the wounded and
distressed, without thought of risk to himself or of com-
pensation, save the inward satisfaction of benefiting the
cause, and those who were imperiling, with himself, their
lives to sustain the right.

He was continually in correspondence, answering the
inquiries of relations or friends concerning the wounded
or dead soldiers, and would spare no trouble or inconve-
nience to give the information required. After pay-day
he was in the habit of sending home to his business part-
ners large sums, to be paid to the families of the men
of the Philadelphia troops, and especially of the brigade;

HARPER1 S FERRY. 127

and at one period, while the army was in a sorry and di-
lapidated condition, he procured from Philadelphia large
quantities of shirts, shoes, and stockings, which were dis-
tributed gratuitously among the troops. Among these
shoes were smaller sizes, that were best adapted to the
wants of the men, and which the Government had been
unable, for months, to furnish in quantities to meet the
demand. These supplies were so unostentatiously issued
that it is probable scarcely any of the recipients ever
knew that they were the free gift of patriotic and chari-
table Friends.

By a multitude of actions, of which these are indica-
tions, the memory of J. Warner Johnson is embalmed
in the hearts of the survivors of the Philadelphia Bri-
gade. Even those among the men who did not know his
name, so quietly was his work performed, will recognize
in this sketch the pleasant and genial man seen so often
on the march, riding with the brigade commander, or,
during the conflict, assisting in the hospitals near the
field of action.

CHAPTER XII.

FREDERICKSBURG.

On November 3d the brigade had reached a point
four miles below Snicker's Gap, and at this place Gen-
eral W. W. Burns formally relinquished the command
to General Joshua T. Owen, who had been promoted
from the colonelcy of the Sixty-Ninth. General Burns
left the brigade to assume command of a division in
Burnside's Corps, and the separation was one of mutual
regret. The commander understood the men, and they
appreciated his value as an officer.

On the afternoon of the 4th the division arrived in

the vicinity of Ashby's Gap, and a large detail of the

brigade was ordered to occupy the place as a flank and

picket -guard. The officer in charge was directed to

throw out skirmishers and advance with care, as the

enemy were in the vicinity. "While moving towards the

hills, a soldier was seen approaching from the direction

where the enemy were supposed to be located. This man

proved to belong to a Xew England regiment, and had

been " skirmishing" on his own account far outside our

lines, and was carrying on his shoulders a large turkey.

Our field officer questioned him as to where he had been,

and how he came in possession of the prize. Pointing

to a farm-house in the distance, he replied, " I bought
128

FREDERICKSBURG. 129

it of those people." After taking his name and the
number of his regiment, he was allowed to go on his
way to camp. When the picket-line was properly estab-
lished, the officer stopped at the house for something to
eat, and, while sitting on the porch, the owner produced
the note with which the enterprising Yankee purchased
the turkey. It was a new ten-dollar Confederate bill,
bearing, like the genuine article, the words, " Ten years
after a treaty of peace ;" but, unfortunately for the seller,
it had been printed and issued by a publisher in Phila-
delphia as an advertising dodge. The farmer in his
ignorance had parted with his fowl and given seven dol-
lars of real Confederate money in change for this piece
of paper. It is needless to say that Yankee soldiers
were unpopular in this vicinity ever after.

On the 6 th we march eel through Reetortown, and,
reaching Salem, encamped for the night. At this place
the first snow-storm of the season made its appearance.
The ground was covered to the depth of three inches,
but the sun of the following day soon carried it off,
leaving in its place slush and muddy fields.

On November 7th, while encamped near Warrenton,

General McCiellan was relieved of his command, and

General Burnside was appointed his successor. This

event took the Avhole army by surprise, and seemed for

the moment to cast a gloom over the troops. Officers

and men had a passionate affection for their leader, and

when the formal separation occurred the scene rivaled

some of those made historically famous in the time of

Napoleon. The commands were formed on either side

of the Warrenton road on November 10th, and when

" Little Mac," as the soldiers called him, rode in review,

12

130 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

some of the regiments broke ranks, and the men impul-
sively rushed forward and, seizing his horse, begged their
old commander to stay. He said in reply to these im-
passioned demonstrations, " I wish you to stand by
General Burnside as you have stood by me, and all will
be well. Good-by," and, as the favorite leader rode off,
the men gave him an enthusiastic farewell.

After the appointment of General Burnside the army
was consolidated into three grand divisions, under Gen-
erals Sumner, Franklin, and Hooker. The Second and
Ninth Corps formed the right grand division, and re-
mained in the vicinity of Warrenton until the 15th. At
this date the advance of the army was across the Rappa-
hannock, and about fifteen miles south of Warrenton.
The entire available force of General Burnside consisted
of one hundred and twenty thousand men ; and that of
General Lee of about sixty thousand, at Culpeper and
Gordonsville, and thirty thousand under Jackson, occu-
pying the roads north of Winchester, towards Hancock.
Jackson's position was probably intended as a feint
towards crossing the Potomac ; but if so, it failed to
effect its design.

On the 15th the Army of the Potomac began to move
towards Fredericksburg. The advance, led by General
Sumner's Corps, was in three columns : Howard's,
French's, and Hancock's Divisions. After marching a
distance of thirty-five miles, the Second Division, now
under General Howard, arrived near Falmouth on the
17th of November.

This village is on the north bank of the Rappahan-
nock, and opposite the city of Fredericksburg. The
distance from the latter place to Richmond is sixty-live

FREDERICKSB URQ. 131

miles, and the connection is by a double-track road
almost to Hanover Junction. The communication be-
tween Washington and this point is by the Potomac
River to Aquia Creek, then by a short line of railroad
to the Rappahannock. This river is admirably fitted
for a line of defense against a movement towards Rich-
mond. Above Falmouth it runs mostly between high
hills or table-lands, difficult of ascent ; while its fords
are few and narrow. Below the village the ground along
the river has more favorable crossing-places and positions
for the formation of troops. At Fredericksburg, the
north bank commands the town and the greater part of
the space between the river-banks, as well as a series of
heights that lie parallel with the stream from one to
two miles back.

Upon Sumner's arrival opposite Fredericksburg, he
was met with the fire of a field-battery located in the
rear of the town, giving evidence that General Lee
already anticipated the plan of Burnside's campaign.
The guns of the enemy were silenced in about fifteen
minutes by Pettit's Battery, located on one of the hills
near Falmouth. General Sumner was anxious to cross
at once and, after occupying the town, seize these for-
midable heights ; but General Burnside would not assent
to the proposal, preferring to wait until the railroad to
Aquia Creek was established, and communications were
perfected with Washington.

On the 21st, our grand division and portions of the
others having arrived at Falmouth, General Sumner
demanded of the Mayor and Common Council of Fred-
ericksburg the surrender of the place. They replied
that they had no control over the city, and that they

132 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BhI JADE.

were assured by the military authorities of the Confed-
erate army that they would not occupy the town them-
selves, or permit the National troops to do so. Evi-
dently anticipating an immediate attack in response to
tli is refusal, the town was filled with Mississippi sharp-
shooters.

The army of Burnside now began to concentrate
about Falmouth, while it was apparent that General
Lee at the same time was massing his forces on the
heights back of Fredericksburg. Preparations were
pushed by our troops to force the passage of the river,
and the crossing-place selected was at Falmouth. As
the hills of the north were favorable to the artillery
covering the landing, while on the south the ground
immediately about the place of debouching was screened
from the batteries of the enemy, there was no obstacle
anticipated to the building of bridges, except the sharp-
shooters already occupying the town.

On the 10th of December everything seemed prepared
for the movement. The long-delayed pontons had
arrived, and were ready to be run from their place of
concealment down to the river. There were to be three
bridges opposite the town, and two a short distance
below, where Franklin was to cross. Sumner's and
Hooker's grand divisions, composed of sixty thousand
men, were lying near Falmouth and about one mile
from the river, while Franklin's Division of forty thou-
sand was stationed two miles below.

At daylight of the 11th our division was moved
nearer to the river, and formed just back of the Stafford
Hills. At the same time the engineers were trying to
lay the bridges. The work had been prosecuted very

FREDERICKS!} UR Q. 133

quietly from an early hour in the morning, and after
daylight it had the advantage of concealment through a
heavy fog. The bridges had advanced far towards com-
pletion before they were discovered by the enemy, when
the sharp-shooters, from their places of shelter, opened
a severe fire. After several attempts to finish the work,
it was temporarily abandoned, the fire being too deadly.

Nothing could be done until the riflemen were driven
aAvay, and only artillery could effectually destroy their
covers and accomplish their expulsion. During the
night twenty field batteries had been placed in position
on the heights, and now, by command of General Burn-
side, these guns opened, concentrating their fire on the
houses occupied by the Confederate marksmen. This
terrific cannonade was continued for some hours, then
slackened, but the enemy were still in their hiding-
places ready to defeat all attempts to complete the
bridges.

During this bombardment the division was massed
immediately to the rear of the batteries, being entirely
hidden from view and protected from the fire of the
enemy. The morning had passed, and yet no orders had
been received for the infantry to move ; the whole opera-
tions, so far as we could see, being confined to the artil-
lery on the river-banks. Towards four o'clock, this state
of things still continuing, the men seemed disposed to
gratify their curiosity in spite of the strict order to re-
main perfectly concealed, and a few straggled towards
the front. Colonel Baxter of the Seventy-Second rode
up to the crest to send those belonging to his command
back to their regiment. While engaged on this duty he
met General Howard in conversation with a small group

12*

134 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

of officers. The general said, in effect, — " Baxter, the
bridge is finished with the exception of two boats, and
these it seems impossible to lay, operations being stopped
by the fire of the enemy's sharp-shooters/' He further
remarked, " There is a proposition to send a detachment
of troops across the river in boats and force a landing,
and I have no doubt the plan will succeed." Baxter
replied, "If you say so, I will furnish the men for the
work from my regiment ;" and after comparing his time
with General Howard's, added, " I will wait in this place
ten minutes for the order." General Howard started at
once to see Burnside. In the mean time Baxter rode
rapidly to the river and a short distance along its bank
to ascertain the best point for embarking, and returned
to the place of meeting to await the arrival of General
Howard. Here he remained for a considerable period
over the allotted time without receiving any message,
when the Seventh Michigan Regiment, under Colonel
Henry Baxter, made its appearance. The colonel rode
up to the regiment, and addressing its commander, a
gallant officer with whom he was well acquainted, said,
" Harry, where are you going with your command ?"
" Across the river in the boats," was the reply ; " I have
just received word through an aid for ' Colonel Baxter to
take his regiment over.'" "It is a mistake," said the
commander of the Seventy-Second ; " that was to have
been the work of my regiment." By this time the right
of the Seventh Michigan had neared the river, and as
Colonel Harry Baxter turned to lead the crossing, he
called out, " I can't help it, colonel ; I have the order/'
In the official report of General Couch, commanding
the Second Corps, as well as in the published records of

FREDERICKSBURG. 135

the operations of tin's clay, it is stated that the "Seventh
Michigan Regiment volunteered to effect a crossing/'
Far be it from the writer of this journal to pluck one
leaf from the laurel crown of their standard. During
a service with them of several campaigns, he had abun-
dant evidence of their extraordinary gallantry ; and he
will never forget that men of this command, after the
charge at Cold Harbor, under a heavy fire, risked their
lives to carry him to the rear of the line when severely
wounded. The authority for Colonel D. W. C. Bax-
ter's statement, however, is indisputable, and while the
Michiganders made the crossing, and did it bravely,
there is good reason to believe that they did not volun-
teer to cross the Rappahannock.

After a landing had been effected, the Seventh Michi-
gan rushed up the banks, drove the sharp-shooters from
their shelter, captured a number of them, and took pos-
session of that portion of the river front in the immediate
vicinity of the intended landing for the bridge. The
pontons were now speedily completed and the troops
ordered to cross.

The Philadelphia troops were among the first to pass
over, and General Owen, who was at the head of the
column, ordered a detachment from the Fire Zouaves to
deploy as skirmishers, and drive the Confederates from
that portion of the town which they still occupied.

It was now about dusk, and the enemy had the ad-
vantage of being familiar with the localities ; but nothing
daunted, the " Fire boys" went at it in earnest, rather
liking the change from fighting in the woods to an
encounter in the streets of a city. After considerable
skirmishing, in which some of our men were wounded

136 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

and the enemy had been driven two or three squares
from the wharf, his forces made a determined stand.
Seeing this, our skirmishers were increased by detach-
ments from other regiments of the brigade, and while a
portion of them were engaged in exchanging shots,
another body by passing through buildings and side
streets made a charge, capturing a number of prisoners
and driving the rest of the Confederates towards their
main force in the rear of the town. The skirmishers
were now rapidly advanced, and by ten o'clock they
held possession of the built-up portion of Fredericks-
burg. During all this time the corps of Sumner was
crossing the river and massing in the city.

The landing of our troops was effected so suddenly
after the charge of the Michigan men that the citizens
who remained in the town were not aware that we had
entered. The officer in charge of the skirmishers saw a
light in a dwelling after the firing had ceased, just beyond
his advance. After directing the picket to keep watch
on the house, he knocked at the door and was answered
by a middle-aged lady who, seeing that he was an officer,
invited him to walk in, saying, " I am glad to see you."
On entering a nicely-furnished sitting-room he found
another lady somewhat younger than the first, evidently
occupied in preparing supper, who said, " We are pleased
to see you, and we were afraid from the noise we heard
to-day, that you were going to let the Yankees come
over." The officer wore an overcoat that had been blue,
but from the smoke of camp-fires and the adhering soil
of Virginia, its present shade was so doubtful that these
ladies, totally unconscious of our advance, took their
visitor to be a Confederate. To the remark, " You

FREDERICKS!} URG. 137

needn't be afraid of the Yankees/' one of them replied,
" We thought it strange if yon all, with the eighty thou-
sand men you say you have, would let 'em over." The
conversation then turned to the people of the city and
other gossip, and it required some management to prevent
the suspicions of the hostess from being excited. In the
mean time the supper was fast being prepared. Just
before its completion the officer said, " Where have you
been during the day ?" " In the cellar of this house to
escape the shelling," was the reply. Pulling out his
pocket-book and unrolling some greenbacks, he said,
" Suppose I tell you I am a Yankee." The ladies looked
at the notes for a moment, then at the officer, when the
youngest exclaimed, " Law me! hit me again, Mr. Gor-
don;" adding, "We are glad to see you anyhow, and you
must take supper." The officer accepted the invitation
to the hurried repast, and requested that they might
express their great joy to the next Yankee, and not to
him.

There was quite a number of the inhabitants who re-
mained in the town, the greater part of whom sheltered
themselves in the cellars and vaults of buildings. Al-
though some few made narrow escapes, it is not probable
that there was any loss of life ; the fire of our batteries
being principally concentrated about the river front for
the purpose of dislodging the sharp-shooters.

At midnight, when our brigade was relieved from the
picket-line by another command, the town was filled
with troops and exhibited all the destruction to private
property customary to a place taken by storm. On some
streets, houses had been carelessly set on fire and the men
were trying to extinguish the flames. By the light of

138 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

the conflagration groups of soldiers were examining
hooks, pictures, wearing apparel and hundreds of other
things that had been taken from the deserted dwellings.
In some instances men would enter a building, pick up
an article that pleased their fancy, and after carrying it
a few squares make an exchange for another piece of
property.

One old lady, a resident of the place, seemed disposed
to profit by these transactions, and accordingly opened a
little store, offering "batter-cakes" and "slap-jacks" in
trade for any article of personal property. There was
at all times a lively throng of soldiers about her doors
waiting turns to make an exchange, and the assortment
of articles they carried comprised every variety of house-
hold goods. What the old woman did with her illicit
gains, or how the people of the city straightened their
accounts with her after we left, it would puzzle an in-
vestigating committee to ascertain.

These " irregularities" were confined almost exclu-
sively to houses that had been abandoned, but neverthe-
less they were a portion of the calamities usually classified
as " horrors of war," that we trust may never again be
experienced by any American city. So far as our observa-
tions went in this place, the citizens were not maltreated
or insulted ; and while the exigencies of the service do
not always permit the detailing of guards over property
abandoned by the enemy, the fact that private dwellings
may be despoiled under any circumstances without form
of law is demoralizing.

The next day was employed in crossing the remainder
of the army. One corps of Hooker's grand division
passed over with Sumner at the town, while the other

FREDERICKS VRG. 139

joined Franklin at his landing on the plain below Fred-
ericksburg.

The enemy made but little effort to interfere with the
advance, contenting themselves with dropping an occa-
sional shell in the ranks of the regiments descending to
the bridges. Sometimes these shots were very destruct-
ive. One battalion that appeared to be new in the ser-
vice, from its numbers and the condition of the uniforms,
Avas marching over the fatal spot, preceded by a band
playing " Bully for You/' when a shell burst in their
ranks. Looking back from the south side of the river,
we saw the men scatter, and when the smoke cleared
away, some of the poor fellows were lying in the agonies
of death.

During the night our troops rested on their arms un-
conscious of the orders for the future, but feeling certain
that the morrow would bring desperate work.

The battle of Fredericksburg was begun on Decem-
ber 13th, by General Franklin on the left, who, at ten
a.m., advanced Meade's Division, supported by Gibbon
on its right, with Doubleday in reserve. Meade pushed
forward with great vigor, capturing two hundred pris-
oners and several standards, and reached the new mili-
tary road that Lee had constructed to secure communi-
cation between the wings of his army. At this point
he was met by overwhelming numbers and forced back,
losing very heavily. Gibbon now rushed forward to
support the retreating regiments of Meade, and he too
was repulsed. General Franklin then ordered Birney's
Division to advance, and it arrived just at the time that
Gibbon's troops were in confusion, and, presenting a firm
line, checked the advance of the enemy. The opera-

140 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

tions described in these few words lasted about two hours,
and were attended with severe loss to our troops without
any beneficial result.

At noon, just two hours after the commencement of
Franklin's fight, General Sumner was ordered to assault
the heights back of Fredericksburg. The directions
were to make the attack with a single division supported
by another. French's command was selected for the
advance, supported by Hancock. The assault was to be
by brigade front, and the deployment was made after
moving out by the plank road and crossing the canal.
The point to be assailed was Marye's Heights. At its
base was a stone wall, and on the ridge or half-way up
the side were other defenses; all these were filled with
riflemen. The approach to this position lay over a broad
plain which was swept by the converging fire from the
numerous batteries of the enemy.

The moment French began to move forward he was
met with a furious fire of shot and shell, and as he
pushed on and neared the hill he encountered heavy
volleys of musketry at short range. For a moment the
men stood, then staggered back, losing nearly half their
number. Hancock, with the gallant Irish Brigade of
Meagher, was immediately back of French, and they
almost reached the stone wall, and after enduring this
murderous fire for ten minutes were forced back, losing
more than two thousand men out of five thousand en-
gaged. General Hancock says in his report, " These were
veteran regiments, led by able and tried commanders."

And now came the turn of our division to enter these
bloody scenes. As our brigade moved out on the tele-
graph road by the flank, left in front, the Seventy -Second,

FREDERICKSB URG. 141

commanded by Colonel Baxter, had the left and the One
Hundred and Sixth, under Colonel T. G. Morehead, the
right. The moment our command made its appearance,
and before reaching the canal, we were exposed to a cross-
fire of artillery ; men were struck down lacerated by the
bursting shells, while the posts and fences along the road
were torn to pieces and the fragments sent flying in the
air. Without hesitating the brigade followed its gallant
leader, General Owen, and, crossing the bridge, formed
front in line of battle on the open field. The advance
continued until the ground was reached where the dead
and wounded of French and Hancock were lying ; here
we were ordered to lie down and be prepared to hold
the place.

This position was on the field immediately in front
of Marye's house, and within one hundred and fifty
yards of the Confederate line. The brigade was in the
following order, beginning at the left : Seventy-Second,
One Hundred and Sixth, and Sixty-Ninth, — the right
of the last regiment resting on the turnpike road. The
Seventy-First at this time was holding an important
position on the right of the town.

On this open space, exposed to a continual fire, tar-
gets for riflemen or artillery, without any chance for
shelter or even permission to return the fire, the Phila-
delphia Brigade was posted the entire afternoon of the
battle. The large mansion on the hill in front was filled
with sharp-shooters, who rested their pieces on the win-
dow-sills, and, after taking deliberate aim, fired at our
line. In some instances officers of the brigade, who
were easily recognized as such by their uniform, had the

melancholy satisfaction of observing the effect of repeated

13

142 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

shots made at their persons. A captain of a company
on the left, while reclining on his side, noticed a sharp-
shooter taking more careful aim than usual, and the in-
stant the shot was fired threw up his arm to protect his
face, and received a wound on his hand.

During these hours, which seemed to be unusually
long, the excitement was increased by the charges of
troops made at different times in the afternoon. These
were supported by the artillery of the corps, which had
been sent forward by General Sumner, and located a
short distance to our rear, upon an elevation from which
it could fire over the brigade. Occasionally a shell would
burst short, or the fragments of a sabot would strike
among us, and for the moment recall our attention from
the front.

. The first two charges that were made after our arrival
reached a point within fifty yards of the stone wall,
where they halted for a moment, fired a few shots, and
with heavy loss rushed back through our line, carrying
a few of our men with them. Towards evening, Burn-
side seemed determined to try to do with inexperienced
troops what he had failed to accomplish with veterans;
and General Humphreys's Division of Hooker's Gorps
was sent forward with empty muskets and fixed bayonets.

The first intimation of their advance was conveyed by
loud shouts and cheers from the bank of the canal to
our rear. Looking back, we saw the mass of men with
flags unfurled rushing forward. They seemed full of
spirit, and as the general led them on we thought this
time the rifle-pits might be carried. General Hum-
phreys was a gallant officer, and evidently meant work.
When he reached our position and saw the line of men

FRED E RICKS B URG. 143

lviiiff along with their dead and wounded comrades, he
supposed we were skulkers, and in commanding tones
ordered our brigade to join his column. Being con-
vinced of his error, in a moment he moved on, and we
rose to our feet to see the result.

Humphreys's Division did well in this storm of death,
but no better than its predecessors. A few neared the
stone wall, then hesitated, loaded their rifles and dis-
charged a few wild shots, then started to run. As they
passed our line in their retreat, the soldiers, remember-
ing the unfounded charges of their commander, stopped
many of his men, compelling them to reinforce our
brigade.

In this charge General Humphreys lost seventeen
hundred men out of four thousand, and General Hooker
in referring to it in his testimony before the Committee
on the Conduct of the War, says, " Finding that I had
lost as many men as my orders required me to lose, I
suspended the attack/' He might have added, these men
were not substitutes nor men who had been drafted, but
the best blood of a patriotic volunteer army.

The sun refused to stand still on this worse than use-
less waste of human life, and night threw a friendly
mantle over the field of carnage. Then the ambulance
corps commenced quietly to grope in the darkness to find
those of the fallen who gave signs of life. Torches
were impossible, as the moment they appeared the enemy
fired at the bearer. The wounded lay everywhere about
us, and to assist the stretcher-bearers in finding them
quickly, these poor fellows were told by their comrades
to groan continually until they were found and carried
off the field.

144 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

At eleven o'clock that night the three regiments were
relieved by Sykes's regulars. These troops noiselessly
took our places. The commands were given in whispers,
and the canteens and cups of the men were arranged to
prevent their rattling. In this manner we quietly moved
away from the front of Marye's Heights, and found rest
for the night in the streets of the town.

The Seventy-First Regiment, under Colonel Markoe,
was relieved from its position and sent to the front at
the same time with the regulars. Markoe was ordered
to hold the ground used for tanning purposes on the
right of the road. This place afforded no shelter, and
was but a few yards from the enemy, rendering great
care necessary to avoid drawing fire from the Confeder-
ate line ensconced behind stone walls. During the night
Colonel Baxter, acting as field officer, narrowly escaped
capture while establishing his connections, and one of his
sergeants was killed while advancing to his relief.

On the morning of the 14th Colonel T. G. Morehead
was ordered to act as field officer of the Second Division,
and at daylight took his post in the front line, near the
Seventy-First. As soon as the fog rose the enemy con-
tinued the tactics of the preceding day, firing at every
man that gave the least chance for a shot. The Califor-
nia boys held their places, lying as quiet as their com-
rades who were still in death about them. During the
morning these dead bodies were repeatedly struck, the
enemy supposing them to be videttes. Towards noon
the Confederates opened with artillery, that made the
tannery no longer tenable, and the regiment fell back to
the shelter of the canal, losing several men in the effort.

During the morning General Burnside made prepara-

FREDERICKSB URG. 145

tion to renew the attack. For this purpose he had his
old corps — the Ninth — formed as a column of assault
by regiments, intending to lead the advance in person.
General Sumner, whose reputation as a soldier gave
value to his opinion, expostulated so strongly that the
troops were spared this additional slaughter.

The rest of this day and the whole of the following,
the army remained in the town, as if the leader was
undecided what plan to adopt for future operations.
Towards midnight of the 15th we commenced to recross
the Rappahannock, and by daylight the whole army was
over except a few stragglers, and the pontons were re-
moved from the river.

For the failure of this attempt General Burnside was
confessedly responsible ; the army fought well, and did
not return to their old camp with mortification over a
defeat, but rather with sorrow over the useless death of
comrades.

The Sixty-Ninth Regiment reported a loss of nineteen
men killed, five officers and twenty-seven men wounded,
and two taken prisoners. The officers wounded were
Lieutenants Hugh Flood, John Ryan, Edward Thomp-
son, W. F. McNamara, and W. M. Kelly. The casual-
ties in the other regiments are not officially reported, but
from the examination of records the average loss was
about the same as that of the Sixty-Ninth. Of the
officers of the Seventy-First, Lieutenant B. F. Hibbs
was killed, and Lieutenant B. J. McMahon wounded.
Among; the wounded in the other regiments were the
following : Captain A. C. Supplee and Lieutenant John
C. Dobleman, Seventy-Second ; and Captains Francis

H. Acuff, Wm. V. Farr, and Win. N. Jones, and Lieu-

13*

146 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

tenants John Steel, Sloanaker, Hassett, and May, One
Hundred and Sixth.

The total losses in the brigade, taking into considera-
tion the perilous duty it had to perform, were astonish-
ingly small, as will be seen from a comparison of the
annexed reports, taken from the brigade returns, now in
the War Department:

October 31st, 1862.

December 31st, 1862.

Total

Present.

Total

Present.

Present
and

Prrsent
and

Absent.

Officers.

Men. J

Absent.

Officers.

Men.

GOtli P

V.

700

18

419

594

18

390

71st P.

V.

737

15

388

649

21

367

72d P.

V.

1106

26

623

992

21

524

106th P

V.

.699

30

427

639

27

358

3242

89

1857

2874

87

1G39

CHAPTER XIII.

FALMOUTH.

The period immediately succeeding the battle of Fred-
ericksburg was one of gloom and discouragement to the
troops. The morale of the army seemed to be impaired
as much by the absence of any appearance of definite
plans for the future as by the failure just witnessed.
Men who have passed through the vicissitudes of a few
campaigns, and have experienced both success and defeat,
are not likely to become so thoroughly demoralized as to
prevent their speedy response to the call of duty ; but
at this time in the history of the Army of the Potomac
the reaction was more slow than usual.

If it is essential to the attainment of good discipline
that soldiers should be reduced to mere machines, that
cannot criticise and will not speak, the American volun-
teer will not attain that perfection. A march was never
commenced, or a campaign begun, that did not originate
at the same time theories among the troops as to the
object and probable success ; and the result of the opera-
tions was always criticised by the men, with the aid of
such intelligence as they possessed, or such information
as they could obtain.

This disposition did not interfere with the desire to
perform their duty under any circumstances, or restrain

147

148 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

that regard for fair play to their commanders so charac-
teristic of the true soldier. In spite of the distrust
attached to General Burnside as a leader, he won the
admiration of the men for his personal character, his
candid assumption of the entire responsibility for the
last failure, and his acknowledgment that the fighting of
the troops entitled them to better success. The rank
and file were not alone in this feeling of distrust, how-
ever, and it is a matter of history that a number of the
general officers who issued and obeyed the orders of the
general commanding did so only out of loyalty to the
cause, and for the same reason refrained from expressing
their disapproval of his plans.

This want of confidence and feeling of discontent
occasioned straggling and desertion to a ^greater extent
than usual. The number of men reported as "missing
in action," or "absent without leave," was continually
increasing ; while some of those wearing shoulder-straps
were trying to get " honorable" discharges by means of
surgeons' certificates for trifling wounds.

According to the testimony before the Committee on
the Conduct of the War, desertions were taking place at
the rate of two hundred per day. It is true these strag-
glers were not going over to the enemy, but the army
was nevertheless weakened in its effective force by eighty
thousand absentees, most of them from causes unknown.

On the 1st of January, 1863, the President issued the
Emancipation Proclamation, and there was a consider-
able number of the troops that expressed opposition to
it ; some of whom went so far as to say that they would
not have entered the service if this action of the Govern-
ment had been anticipated. This disaffection increased

FALMOUTH. 149

the demoralization, until its influenee began to be ex-
hibited to some extent in every corps.

In spite of this condition of affairs, the great mass of
the army seemed prepared to enter the field again, and
only awaited the order. It appeared to be the universal
demand of the country that a movement of some kind
should be made to overcome the influence of the Freder-
icksburg disaster; and success was as much needed to
inspire hope in the hearts of the people as to restore to
the army confidence in the ability of its chief. General
Bnrnside accordingly resolved to attempt once more the
passage of the Rappahannock.

At all the fords of the river in the vicinity of Fred-
ericksburg the Confederates had stationed considerable
bodies of troops as corps of observation, which rendered
a surprise impossible. The difficulty wTas still further
increased by the river being higher than usual, rendering
the building of bridges for crossing a matter of neces-
sity. Nothing daunted by these untoward circumstances,
General Burnside issued the orders for preparations, and
commenced a series of feints by the movements of trains
and the dispositions of troops.

On the 19th of January the movement began, and
was conducted with as much secrecy as possible. The
first demonstration was made below Fredericksburg, by
a portion of the Second Corps and the Reserve Corps,
under Sigel. This movement was followed on the 20th
by preparations for crossing at Banks's Ford by the
grand divisions of Hooker and Franklin, which had
been secretly moved to that vicinity the day before.
The artillery positions were selected, and the pontons
were placed within a short distance of the river-bank.

150 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

Daring the night of the 20th one of the wildest storms
of the season arose, and the roads were covered with
mud and water that seemed to have no bottom. In spite
of this, the men struggled on through the rain and sticky
soil to bring the boats to the river. Horses from the
batteries in triple teams, aided by hundreds of strong
arms tugging at the ropes, could scarce move the ponton
carriages through the mire. The entire day was spent
in trying to accomplish the preparation to build a single
bridge. The next day brought another of like experi-
ence in effort, with a still greater amount of rain and
mud, until it was evident to both sides that the Army of
the Potomac was stuck in the mud. The enemy, who
by this time became aware of the character of the efforts
to cross, shouted over, " Yanks, have you eaten all your
rations yet ? We wTill come over and help build your
bridges."

It was now evident that the " mud campaign" was
over, and the troops floundered back to camp, which
they found by no means an easy task. Guns were sunk
to their axles in the tenacious soil, requiring the united
efforts of a regiment to extricate one at a time from its
position. During this unfortunate movement our bri-
gade was compelled, from its prominent position, in plain
view of the Confederates, to remain in its camp, and we
could only aid our comrades, as they struggled back to
their old positions, by dividing our rations with them,
or furnishing detachments to assist the artillery in haul-
ing the guns.

After this last effort of General Burnside, he was at
his own request relieved from a position that had been
thrust upon him, and the chief qualification for which

FALMOUTH. \^\

consisted in his zeal and patriotism. On January 25th
General Joseph Hooker was assigned to the command
of the army. The same order relieved at his own request
the brave old Sumner, who, shortly after this, while on
his way to join the army on the frontier, was taken sick
and died at Syracuse, New York. His loss was as deeply
felt by the Philadelphia Brigade as though he had been
their only commander.

With the appointment of General Hooker, or " Fight-
ing Joe,'7 as he was called, came the usual "General
Orders No. 1," containing the assumption of command
with allusion to past records and future purposes. The
grand divisions were discontinued, and the army divided
into seven corps; the Second being under command of
General Couch. The artillery and the cavalry were also
reorganized and rendered more efficient. Absentees were
recalled to regiments, and measures were energetically
pushed to restore the morale of the troops, which were
largely successful. With one exception, all movements
were postponed during the remainder of the winter. The
exception was in the case of the Philadelphia Brigade.
Whether it was intended to add to our experience, or to
show the troops that we should not be favored- by our
non-participation in the mud march, the brigade was
ordered at nine p.m., February 25th, to march in the
direction of Hartwood Church to intercept a body of
Confederate cavalry, who were raiding on the right flank
of the army. A short time before this snow had fallen
to the depth of seven inches, but had gradually turned
to slush and water. The night we started was dismal
and foggy, and a little after midnight rain commenced
to fall, increasing in quantity until daylight, when it

152 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

came down in torrents. The roads were almost impass-
able, and the men literally waded during the march.
The expedition was one of the most severe the brigade
had experienced, and the twelve miles marched in dark-
ness through the pelting of this winter storm, although
it failed to accomplish any other purpose, certainly
demonstrated the good-natured endurance of the Phila-
delphia men. It is probable that the cavalry of the
enemy recrossed the Rappahannock long before the
brigade found the church, and a few hours after our
arrival we were ordered back to our quarters ; an order
which was more cheerfully obeyed than the one detailing
us on our mission.

During the period immediately succeeding the last
operation, the condition of the ground and the stormy
weather prevented all movements, or even the ordinary
drills and reviews. But storm or sunshine are equally
favorable to "chin" or " cook-house news," and the
questions passed from one to another, " What next ?"
"What will General Hooker attempt?" Even the
newspaper correspondents, whose productions were a
never-failing source of information, seemed at a loss for
a theory.

There was a number of these gentlemen who ac-
companied the army, and the enterprise they displayed
in the pursuit of knowledge was truly astonishing. As
our brigade was entering the fight at Fredericksburg,
one of Frank Leslie's men was met rushing to the rear
with his portfolio, no doubt containing hasty sketches of
Marye's Heights as seen at no great distance. Another
correspondent of an illustrated paper, who was determined
to get an item worth reporting, tried to move the army,

FALMOUTH. 153

and, to assist in his laudable purpose, issued a cartoon
entitled " Why don't the army move ?" It represented
a soldier stuck in the mud, with an organ strapped on
his back marked " The Washington Chronicle," and on
this instrument Secretary Stanton was standing on one
foot, supporting on his shoulders President Lincoln. This
correspondent did actually accomplish a movement, but
he was the sole participant ; being ordered by General
Hooker to transfer his labors to the rear of our lines.

There was with the brigade for a few months the cor-
respondent of a Philadelphia paper, whose enterprise
was fully equal to that of any of his brethren. This
gentleman was exceedingly affable in his manners and
careful in his examination of events, but by some mistake
he was made a party to a difficulty in another brigade.
Without any thorough inquiry into the merits of the
case, he was arrested and sent as a prisoner under the
charge of the provost guard to the prison-ship at Aquia
Creek. His confinement lasted, of course, only a few
days, but before he was exonerated and released he had
secured information enough for several letters. When
his paper arrived we found that it entirely ignored his
troubles, but contained a letter dated at our camp which
began with the incidental statement that the writer had
availed himself of this opportunity, having occasion to
visit the prison at Aquia, to lay before the public a
description of the place. The journal containing this
amusing letter probably had not so much confidence in
other sources of information as our brigade correspondent
supplied, as it kept over the column containing other
war news in large type the heading, "Important, if

true."

14

154 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

During this period of enforced quiet, the favorable
days were used for drills and inspections, and the army
fast regained its old discipline and energy. Hooker, in
his enthusiastic humor, styled it " the finest army that
ever trod this planet." At the time of the new organi-
zation under the last order, each corps was required to
assume a distinct badge or insignia : the First wore a
disk ; the Second, a trefoil ; the Third, a diamond ; the
Fifth, a Maltese cross; the Sixth, a plain cross; the
Eleventh, a crescent ; and the Twelfth, a star. The
First Division of each corps had its badge of a red color ;
the Second, white ; and the Third, blue. The flags of
the corps and divisions were square, while those of the
brigades were triangular in shape. By this arrangement
it could be known at once if a soldier was straggling
from his command by the mark on his cap, while it
added the high incentive of personal pride in the honor
of the corps wherever the decoration was worn.

These days in camp, waiting for the movement, were
passed when other duties did not interfere in some very
amusing ways. The men who had an enterprising spirit
practiced the laws of trade, and gained experience and a
little spending-money by barter. This was especially
the case with some of the Eastern regiments. With true
Yankee shrewdness they ascertained the little wants of
the men, and set about catering to them. At first they
commenced making candles, with wick obtained in Wash-
ington and tallow from the commissary. The limited
supply furnished by the Government did not last long
during the tedious winter nights, so that these camp-
made articles were in considerable demand. Shortly
alter this first venture, the baking of cakes and pies was

FALMOUTH. 155

successfully attempted, until the camps were well sup-
plied with these luxuries. Upon one occasion the trade
met a ludicrous set-back by the reply of one of Baxter's
men to the inquiry of a Maine soldier, " Will you buy a
pie?" "No, sir; I just bought one of your colonel."
This joke reached the ears of General Howard, who was
from the same State, and the business fell into disrepute.

The officers had their amusements as well as the men,
and General Meagher of the Irish Brigade arranged a
celebration of St. Patrick's day that was suited to all
tastes. The general, dressed as a master of hounds,
instituted hurdle-races, pole-climbing matches, and a
variety of field sports, closing the performances with a
complimentary dinner to the Second Corps officers.
Unfortunately for some of us who were present, the
general did not succeed in accommodating all his guests.
He extricated himself from the difficulty, however, as
gallantly as he went into the charge at Marye's Heights,
by saying, " Gentlemen, if you do not all succeed in
finding seats at the table, please remember that Thomas
Francis Meagher's hospitality is not as large as his
heart."

When the opportunity presented in camp, there was
a creditable effort to impart religious instruction on the
part of the chaplains. The Sixty-Ninth Regiment had
the services of Father Martin, a Catholic priest who was
respected by the men during his short term of service.
The Seventy-First was served by Rev. Robert Keller,
while the Seventy-Second had for its chaplain Rev.
Gamaliel Collins ; and whatever difference there might
be in the religious doctrines of these gentlemen, there
was no question about their ability to act as " fighting

156 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

parson?/' when the occasion demanded. Both Mr.
Keller and Mr. Collins acted as efficient aids on the
field whenever they had the opportunity. The One
Hundred and Sixth was well served by Chaplain Wil-
liam C. Harris, a most estimable gentleman, who re-
mained with the regiment over one year.

The reorganization of the cavalry gave evidence early
in the spring that it had promoted the efficiency of that
branch of the service, and already there was considerable
enterprise displayed in reconnoissances and passages at
arms across the Rappahannock and in the vicinity of the
fords. By the end of April the entire army seemed
tired of looking at the enemy across the river, and felt
Avilling to change the scene and prove once more its
devotion to the just cause for which it had been so long
struggling. When General Hooker gave the prelimin-
ary order for the movement, or the " slant at Lee," as
he called it, the troops were ready.

CHAPTER XIV.

CHANCELLORSVILLE.

There are positions in military as well as in civil
life where men have to " learn to labor and to wait," —
where there is an abundance of hard work and no ap-
parent reward. These experiences were realized by the
brigade on the field in front of Marye's Heights, in the
midnight march to Hartwood, and now again in the first
and only campaign, as army commander, of General
Hooker. Soldiers used to define glory to be, " getting
shot and having your name spelled wrong in the news-
papers/' In the battle of Chancellorsville the part,
-however important, that was assigned the Philadelphia
Brigade did not give an opportunity to gather glory of
any kind ; but instead it offered at one period of the
movement a full share of the risk and toil, with no pos-
sibility of gaining distinction by the service.

During the latter part of April every appearance
seemed to indicate an early movement of the entire army.
Already the cavalry, ten thousand strong, had started on
an expedition to cut off the communications of General
Lee with Richmond, and the infantry corps were pre-
pared to follow the movement. In fact, this state of
preparation had continued since the middle of April.

All surplus clothing had been packed and sent to the

14* 157

158 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

rear, except one shirt, one pair of drawers, and one pair
of socks for each soldier. In the knapsacks along with
these articles were stored five days' rations of coffee,
sugar, crackers, and salt, and three days' supply of the
same articles with salt pork were kept continually re-
placed in the haversacks ; with these supplies five days'
rations of beef on the hoof were kept in readiness.
The tents that had gradually accumulated during the
winter were turned over to the quartermaster, and the
whole army was ready for quick movements.

The plan of Hooker's campaign was a bold one and
worthy of a military genius. It consisted of a prin-
cipal movement in strong force against the left of Lee's
army, to be accomplished by a rapid march up the Rap-
pahannock to Kelly's Ford, twenty-seven miles above
Fredericksburg, thence moving down the south bank of
the river, uncovering United States Ford, and menacing
the rear of the Confederate line.

The crossing at Kelly's Ford was effected by the
Fifth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Corps, by means of a
ponton bridge, during the night of the 28th and morn-
ing of the 29th, and the line of march was taken up for
Chancellorsville. To reach it the Rapidan had to be
crossed. Hooker's right column struck the river at
Germania Ford, while his left moved to Ely's Crossing.
Both divisions forded it about the same time, encounter-
ing little opposition from the enemy, but compelled to
wade through water in some places four feet deep. The
men were in good spirits, an-! many of them plunged in
after removing their clothing, which they carried on
their bayonets along with their cartridge-boxes and
haversacks.

CHANCELLORSVILLE. 159

While this movement was going on, the Second Corps,
excepting Gibbon's Division, was ordered to United
States Ford. At the same time the First, Third, and
Sixth Corps, under General Sedgwick, were ordered to
cross the river in the vicinity of Fredericksburg, and
make a demonstration as if a real attack was intended.
As soon as it was known by Sedgwick that Hooker's
main force was near Chancel lorsville, he received orders
to detail Sickles's Third Corps and Reynolds's First
Corps to join the main body. This left Sedgwick
with his own corps, the Sixth, and our division of the
Second Corps, commanded by General Gibbon. As
soon as this movement began, one of the bridges was
removed from its position below Fredericksburg and
placed under the immediate charge of General Benham,
who was ordered to move it to Banks's Ford, which
was about half-way between Fredericksburg and United
States Ford.

Our brigade, under the command of General Joshua
T. Owen, was ordered to assist the movement and to
cover the work of laying the bridges. The command
was paraded at dark, and after stacking arms the men
were detailed to move with the train and help in passing
it over the hills and rough places until its destination
was reached. This duty was performed by daylight of
May 1st, when the men returned to the old camp for
their arms and accoutrements. At eleven p.m. the com-
mand again moved to the crossing, which was reached
about two a.m., Saturday, May 2d.

The Rappahannock, at Banks's Ford, makes a bend in
the shape of a horseshoe. The tongue or neck of land
thus formed is quite narrow, in some places being less

160 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

than a half-mile in width, rendering it easily enfiladed
from the south bank of the river.

The necessary pickets were at once thrown out and
the river front entirely covered. At daylight we found
a Confederate picket-line on the opposite bank prepared
to dispute our passage and to give serious trouble in
laying the bridges. During the entire second day of
May our force did nothing but exchange a few shots
across the narrow river and place in position some bat-
teries to cover the work when it should be commenced.
The artillery assigned to our movement consisted of sixty
guns belonging to the reserve, under the personal com-
mand of Brigadier-General Hunt. The presence of three
general officers, Hunt, Benham, and Owen, representing
three arms of the service, the brigade being the only in-
fantry present, there was no immediate danger from lack
of competent leaders if there was any opportunity for
glory.

Late in the evening of this day General Sedgwick
with his corps, the Sixth, and the remainder of our
division, under General Gibbon, received orders to
move through Fredericksburg and proceed to join the
main body of the army at Chancellorsville. The only
obstacle to the execution of this little order was the fact
that Lee had left the famous heights to the rear of the
town to be defended by five brigades of infantry and
three batteries of artillery. This force was nearly equal
to that encountered at this place by our columns on
December 13th.

Sedgwick occupied Fredericksburg by moving up the
river during the night, and before daylight on Sunday,
May od, he attempted to surprise Marye's Heights, but

CHANCELLORSVILLE. \Q\

the assaulting party was quickly repulsed. The morning
was now spent in preparations for a general attack, and
it was not until about noon that the columns were ready.
The moment the order was given to move forward, the
line advanced on the left of the road on the double-quick
without firing a shot. The resistance was very strong,
and Sedgwick lost one thousand men in the attack, but
his line never faltered until the stone walls were cap-
tured, and the storming parties rushed forward to the
crest of the hill. At this point and on the ground about
Marye's house there was a severe struggle, but victory
crowned the movement, and the whole ridge was soon in
possession of the Sixth Corps and our comrades of the
Second Division. In this operation the enemy lost, be-
sides their killed and wounded, several hundred prisoners
and five pieces of artillery. The Confederate retreat
was made towards the south by the telegraph road, while
our troops took the plank road in the direction of Chan-
cel lorsvi lie.

At an early hour on Sunday, while Sedgwick was
preparing his attack, our brigade had orders to com-
mence clearing the front preparatory to laying the
bridges. After some little skirmishing and sharp-shoot-
ing, a detachment under Lieutenant Seabury, a gallant
officer of the Seventy-First and an aid to General Owen,
plunged into the river, which wTas forded with some
difficulty, and, in spite of the enemy's pickets, landed,
capturing a number of prisoners.

The engineers now set to work energetically to finish
their task, and were covered by our skirmishers on the
south side, with the additional protection of the artillery
on the north bank. The bridge was not completed

lljv> HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

until about three o'clock in the afternoon. The greater
part of the time during this beautiful Sunday we dis-
tinctly heard the battle of Sedgwick with the troops
occupying the heights near Fredericksburg, and also at
intervals the dull sound of battle going on in the direc-
tion of Chaneeilorsville. In the excitement necessarily
present on the battle-field, courageous men forget danger,
the real taking the place of the imaginary; but there is
something in the sound of distant battle, in the booming
of cannon or in the roll of musketry, that sets the thoughts
vividly to work, espeeially when the listener knows that
he may soon have to bear his part in the struggle.

Immediately after the last plank was laid the bri-
gade commenced crossing, and Colonel R. Penn Smith's
Seventy-First Regiment was deployed as skirmishers,
occupying the ridge about three-fourths of a mile from
and parallel with the river. In the mean time a field
telegraph had been constructed from our position, by
way of the north bank, to United States Ford, and
thence to General Hooker's headquarters, near Chaneei-
lorsville. One of the first messages sent over the wire
avus, " General Hooker, the bridges are laid at Banks's
Ford." The reply to this information was of course
not imparted to the troops, and being utterly at a loss
to see how these bridges could help Sedgwick at Marye's
1 1 eights, or Hooker's force at Chaneeilorsville, with their
usual ingenuity they circulated the report that the reply
to Benham's dispatch was, " The general commanding
desires to know of what earthly use are the bridges you
have built."

General Benham, the chief of the pontoniers, was
too old to be moved by mere camp rumors, and mount-

CHANCELLORSVILLE. \Q^

ing his horse he crossed the river, and after making ob-
servations on the extreme front, he dispatched to General
Hooker the message, — "General Sedgwick is driving
the enemy due north at precisely six o'clock." At the
same time the adjutant of the brigade started in the
direction of Sedgwick's firing to find that officer and
personally notify him of the construction of the bridges
and their location. The old commander was found after
dark, three or four miles from the ford, bivouacking with
his troops, lying on the ground, looking anxious for the
morrow and the further result of his unequal struggle.

After advancing from Fredericksburg, the first serious
opposition encountered by Sedgwick was on the heights
near Salem Church ; here the enemy, reinforced by a
brigade, under Wilcox, that had been disputing our
landing, made a determined resistance, and the fight
continued, with varying success, until night; and it was
after this action that Sedgwick's forces were resting on
their arms and awaiting the events of the coming day.

During Monday, May 4th, there was considerable and
heavy skirmishing in the early part of the day. In
anticipation of an attempt to cut the column off from
Banks's Ford, General Sedgwick made arrangements
looking to his communications. The division of General
Howe was faced to the rear, the left resting on the river,
Avhile the remainder of the line of battle connecting with
it extended to the plank road, and from it turned to the
right, extending along the road for the distance of a
mile, where it again turned at right angles towards the
river. At six in the evening Howe was attacked by the
enemy, the charge being made by brigades in echelon.
This fight was very severe, but resulted in a victory for

1G4 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

Howe's troops after a very spirited counter-charge, in
which they captured three battle-flags and a number of
prisoners. This ended Sedgwick's fighting for the day.

Some of the prisoners captured by our brigade stated
that they had been marched to both fronts, Hooker's, at
Chancel lorsville, and Sedgwick's, near Salem Heights,
twice or three times within twenty-four hours. The
operations of our forces appeared to have been conducted
without any attempt at simultaneous effort, and in this
way gave the enemy the full use of his entire force,
while one of our columns was kept in idleness.

General Howe's Division was ordered to the river as
soon as darkness concealed the movement, while the
other portion of Sedgwick's command occupied the
heights near the ford. On Tuesday the 5th, at one a.m.,
General Sedgwick received orders from Hooker to
" withdraw from his position, cross the river, take up
the bridge, and cover the ford."

The entire picket-line was now formed by the Phila-
delphia Brigade, with orders to hold the heights until
the last of Sedgwick's command had crossed the river
then to withdraw as quietly as possible. A short time
before daylight the Sixth Corps had completed the
movement with their artillery and ammunition wagons,
and were out of their trouble.

Immediately in our front the Confederates were await-
ing dawn to renew the attack, and it required care in
relieving the line to conceal our movements and prevent
any loss of men. The task was successfully accom-
plished, and by daylight our brigade was on its way to
its old quarters near Falmouth, where it arrived at nine
a.m. The night of the 5th General Hooker recrossed at

CHA NCELL ORS VILLE. 1 6 5

United States Ford. Fighting Joe had his " slant" at
Lee, and the moment success seemed to dawn, failure of
result commenced.

After our return to camp the brigade was formed for
inspection. During our isolation from the rest of the
corps there had been an accumulation of orders, which
were now received and published for the information of
the troops. Among these papers was a manifesto from
Hooker, which, under the circumstances that surrounded
us at the time it was officially read, made it a little inap-
propriate :

" Soldiers, — The events of the last three days prove
that the enemy must either ingloriously flee, or come out
from behind his defenses and give us battle on his own
ground, where certain destruction awaits him."

15

CHAPTER XV.

THE MARCH AFTER LEE.

The period immediately succeeding the Chancellors-
ville campaign was one of temporary quiet. Both armies
appeared to be counting the losses and considering the
result of the conflicts. The army of Hooker lost seven-
teen thousand one hundred and ninety-seven killed,
wounded, and missing. In addition to this loss of men,
the waste of material of war was enormous. The army
of Lee suffered to the extent of ten thousand two hun-
dred and eighty-one in casualties, and among its losses
was one officer who could not be replaced : " Stonewall"
Jackson, who fell by the fire of his own men.

There was not the same demoralization in the army
after Chancellorsville as that which followed Burnside's
repulse. It is true, the rank and file felt they had failed ;
but were puzzled to know how they had been defeated
without fighting a decisive battle. It is safe to say that
the reputation of the general commanding was severely
affected by the result, and without the redeeming feature
of Burnside in assuming personal responsibility for his
failure.

The total strength of the brigade after Chancellors-
ville was two thousand and twenty-one; and of this
number there were present lor duly sixteen hundred and
166

THE MARCH AFTER LEE. ^67

ninety-six. There were no changes of importance in the
commanding officers of regiments, except in the Seventy-
First. Lieutenant-Colonel John Markoe having resigned
on account of his wounds, Major R. Penn Smith was
promoted to colonel, Captain C. Kochersperger to lieu-
tenant-colonel, and Captain Enoch E. Lewis to major.
To fill the vacancy made by the promotion of Adjutant
Charles S. Newlin to a captaincy, the Governor of Penn-
sylvania had commissioned Lieutenant S. P. Hutchinson.

In the Sixty-Ninth, under the command of Colonel
Dennis O'Kane since the promotion of General Owen,
Adjutant Martin Tschudy was made lieutenant-colonel,
and James Duffy was promoted from captain of Company
A to major. Quartermaster James Gleason, of this regi-
ment, a faithful and popular officer, was made captain
and assistant quartermaster, and assigned to the brigade.

In the regimental line officers there were a number of
changes, and among these the following persons were
honorably discharged upon surgeons* certificates of dis-
ability from disease, or wounds received in action :

Major John Devereux, Jr., 69th, March 26th, 1863.

Captain James O'Reilly, 69th, April 27th.

Captain Patrick Moran, 69th, February 21st.

Lieutenant Hugh Flood, 69th, March 27th.

Lieutenant Andrew Lovett, 69th, April 9th.

Lieutenant John King, 69th, March 14th.

Lieutenant Samuel McKeown, 69th, March 20th.

Lieutenant Joseph M. Kelly, 69th, March 4th.

Lieutenant John F. Smith, 71st, March 6th.

Captain Francis McBride, 72d, March 27th.

Lieutenant Benjamin F. Sloanaker, 106th, June 4th.

Captain Francis H. Acuff, 106th, April 16th.

168 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

The Seventy-First lost a valuable officer in Captain
E. Carlyle Xorris, who died May 1st, 1863, of wounds
received in action. In the Sixty-Ninth Regiment, Cap-
tain Andrew McManus, a brave and spirited man, came
to an untimely end on May 27th, in an altercation with
a comrade. In the One Hundred and Sixth, Captain
Ralph W. P. Allen was discharged to accept promo-
tion.

The vacancies produced by these and other changes
were filled by promotions, generally based upon merito-
rious service. The annexed list gives the grade on
entering the service, with the promotion about this date,
of non-commissioned officers and privates :

The Sixty-Xinth Regiment promoted —

Sergeant-Major Thomas P. Norman, first lieutenant,
July 1st.

Private Michael Pay, second lieutenant, May 1st.

Sergeant Charles McAnally, first lieutenant, May 1st.

Private John J. Taggart, second lieutenant, June 5th.

Sergeant-Major John Ryan, first lieutenant, May 1st.

Sergeant Michael Duffy, captain, May 1st.

Sergeant William Whildey, first lieutenant, May 1st.

Sergeant John H. Johnson, second lieutenant, May 1st.

The Seventy-First Regiment —

Sergeant Joseph S. Watt, second lieutenant, June 5th.

Sergeant J. T. Smallwood, second lieutenant, June 5th.

Sergeant-Major Jacob S. Devine, first lieutenant,
March 1st.

Sergeant Frederick Everts, second lieutenant, June
5th.

Sergeant John D. Rogers, first lieutenant, June 5th.

Sergeant James Clark, second lieutenant, June 5th.

THE MARCH AFTER LEE. Igo,

Sergeant Thomas J. Rush, captain, June 5th.

Sergeant R. W. Hemphill, second lieutenant, June 5th.

The Seventy-Second Regiment —

Sergeant James V. Schreiner, first lieutenant, Feb-
ruary 27th.

Quartermaster-Sergeant Henry Russell, second lieu-
tenant, January 25th.

Sergeant Robert Stewart, second lieutenant, May 1st.

Private Frederick Boland, second lieutenant, May 1st.

Sergeant Alexander McCuen, second lieutenant, Jan-
uary 1st.

Sergeant Thomas J. Rorer, first lieutenant, May 1st.

Sergeant Sutton Jones, second lieutenant, January 1st.

Sergeant Abram Heulings, first lieutenant, August
25th.

Sergeant E. B. Whittaker, second lieutenant, May 1st.

Sergeant John D. La vis, second lieutenant, January
1st.

Sergeant Jacob Glenn, second lieutenant, May 1st,

Sergeant-Major J. W. Sunderland, first lieutenant,
January 1st.

The One Hundred and Sixth Regiment —

Sergeant Harry Neville, second lieutenant, May 1st.

Sergeant Jacob M. Miller, first lieutenant, April 17th.

Sergeant-Major William A. Hagy, second lieutenant,
May 1st.

Sergeant John F. Hassett, first lieutenant, February
24th.

Sergeant William B. Rose, second lieutenant, May 1st.

Quartermaster-Sergeant Samuel L. Hibbs, first lieu-
tenant, March 1st.

Corporal H. B. Rutherford, second lieutenant, May 1st.

15*

17() HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

The month of May was passed in the vicinity of the
old camp, and the time was employed in drills and
reviews. The brigade at the same time received some
new recruits, who were placed under the instruction of
non-commissioned officers of the regiment.

Towards the latter part of the month it became evident
that the Confederate army was preparing for some im-
portant movement. Troops could be seen changing their
locations, and new camps appeared on the south side of
Fredericksburg. The pickets of the enemy became more
bold and insolent, evidently exhibiting the feeling of
confidence imparted to their entire army by the battles
of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.

General Hooker apparently understood that the enemy
were preparing to move, but in which direction or for
what purpose he failed to ascertain until Lee had his
corps well under way. On June 6th, Sedgwick was
ordered to recross the Rappahannock at Franklin's old
crossing and make a reconnoissance. The information
obtained by this movement was of no great value. The
Sixth Corps reported the enemy in force on the heights ;
bat brought back no information about Lee.

On June 9th, General Pleasonton was ordered to try
a movement towards Culpeper, with two divisions of
cavalry and two brigades of infantry. This force formed
in two columns, crossed the river at Kelly's and Beverley
Fords, and moved on converging roads towards Cul-
peper. The enemy were met near Brandy Station, and a
severe engagement occurred in which the entire cavalry
of both armies took part. Our troops finally drew off
and recrossed the Rappahannock, not without inflicting
as heavy blows as they had received j but what was of

THE MARCH AFTER LEE. \>J\

much more importance, bringing intelligence through
captured papers of the projected Confederate invasion of
the North. This information, with other news from
scouts, gave the startling intelligence that while the
Army of the Potomac was lying at Falmouth, General
Lee in an extended column was heading towards Win-
chester. These confirmations of suspicions already en-
tertained in Washington caused great excitement in that
city, and General Hooker no doubt received from it
more calls for information than he could answer, and
orders than could be readily obeyed. Some of these
directions from the President and General Halleck, when
read in the light of history, are very interesting. On
the 10th, Hooker telegraphed his theory of the Con-
federate movements, and received a dispatch containing
these expressions : " I think Lee's army, and not Rich-
mond, is your true objective point." " Fight him, too,
when opportunity offers. If he stays where he is, fret
him and fret him."

When on the 14th Hooker telegraphed the definite
information of Lee's movement, the President again
replied : " If the head of Lee's army is at Martinsburg
and the tail of it on the plank road between Fredericks-
burg and Chancellorsville, the animal must be very slim
somewhere ; could you not break him ?

"A. Lincoln."

The uncertainty dispelled, Hooker set about ener-
getically moving towards Washington, and at the same
time covering the line of the Orange and Alexandria
Railroad. A portion of the army whose position could
not be seen by Hill's Corps, which was still occupying

172 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

Fredericksburg, moved on the 13th to Bealton, and
from it to Warrenton.

On Sunday the 14th, our division was ordered to
move at very short notice. Tents were not struck till
after dark, although everything else to be carried in
wagons was ready and packed. At about midnight the
Second Division, the last of the army, moved from
Falmouth, obstructing the roads behind the column.
At noon, June 15th, the command reached Stafford
Court-House, where it halted two hours ; then resuming
the march, bivouacked at night five miles from Dum-
fries. The day was very hot, the roads were filled with
dust, and the march of twenty-eight miles was so op-
pressive that a number of the men fell from sunstroke
and exhaustion.

At two a.m. on the 16th, the brigade started from
Dumfries, where wTe halted a few hours. After taking
up the march through Wolf Run Shoals, Occoquan
Creek, we camped for the night on a fine farm belonging
to an old bachelor named Steele, who was very anxious
that wTe should raise money to pay for the damage to his
crops. He did not succeed, his uninvited guests being
ragged and penniless. On the 17th we reached Sangster's
Station, Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Here the
corps formed in line of battle, facing towards Bull Run.

After manoouvering and countermarching, the com-
mand started on the 20th through Bull Run and Gaines-
ville to Thoroughfare Gap, where we arrived at mid-
night. The last part of this march was very severe,
and in the darkness men frequently stumbled over rocks
and into ditches. One man marching near the writer,
who had no doubt heard the inquiry so frequently,

THE MARCH AFTER LEE. 173

"How far off is the Gap?" suddenly fell into a deep
hole ; on being asked by his comrade " what he was
doing/' he naively replied, "I am stopping that gap."

The Second Corps remained at this place guarding
the pass until the morning of June 25th. Two miles
below this point there was a less frequented road, but
one easy of access, which was effectually blocked up for
some time to come by a detachment from the brigade,
who were furnished with axes with which trees were
felled in large numbers and thrown across the road.

After leaving Thoroughfare Gap, the division was
assailed by a battery while marching through Hay
Market. Before this was silenced a few of the command
were killed and wounded. Passing through Cub Run,
the column crossed the Potomac at Edward's Ferry at
eleven o'clock on the night of June 26th.

The next day the march was continued beyond
Barnestown, Maryland ; and on the 28th, our corps
arrived two miles from Frederick, where the brigade
was ordered to establish a picket covering the right of
the corps near the Monocacy.

On the day of our arrival at this point General
Hooker, at his own request, was relieved from command,
and Major-General George G. Meade, commanding the
Fifth Corps, was designated as commander-in-chief in
his stead. There were other changes made of subordi-
nate commanders at the same time. Among these was
the assignment of Brigadier-General Alexander S. Webb
to command the Second Brigade as successor to Briga-
dier-General Owen.

General AVebb, although an officer of note in the
regular service, was unknown to the majority of the

174 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

command; but his force of character and personal
gallantry soon won the regard of the regiments to as
great an extent as that obtained by any of his prede-
cessors. At the time General Webb reported for duty,
the brigade was composed of —

1

Total Present ;
and Absent.

Present.

Officers.

Men.

General Staff.

60th P. V.

71st P. Y.

72d P. Y.
106th P. Y.
Brigade Band.

4

459
538
745

477
16

4
32

27
26
30

312

366

447

313

16

2239

119

1454

CHAPTER XVI.

GETTYSBURG.

The appointment of General Meade was so entirely
unexpected that it took the whole army by surprise ; it
was, nevertheless, received with universal satisfaction,
and all who knew him expressed their determination to
give him cordial co-operation. The following address,
issued on his taking command, is a truthful illustration
of the patriotic and modest character of a brave and
skillful officer, whose deeds are known throughout the
land, and whose memory will always be cherished in the
hearts of his countrymen :

" Headquarters, Army of the Potomac,

"June 28th, 1863.

" By direction of the President of the United States,
I hereby assume command of the Army of the Potomac.
As a soldier, in obeying this order, — an order totally un-
expected and unsolicited, — I have no promises or pledges
to make. The country looks to this army to relieve it
from the devastation and disgrace of a hostile invasion.
Whatever fatigues and sacrifices we may be called upon
to undergo, let us have in view constantly the magnitude
of the interests involved, and let each man determine to
do his duty, leaving to an all-controlling Providence

175

176 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

the decision of the contest. It is with just diffidence
that I relieve of the command of this army an eminent
and accomplished soldier, whose name must ever appear
conspicuous in the history of its achievements ; but I
rely upon the hearty support of my companions in arms
to assist me in the discharge of the duties of the im-
portant trust which has been confided to me.

"George G. Meade,
" Major-General Commanding."

At the time General Hooker was relieved of his com-
mand there had been no indication of his plan of the
campaign, and his successor was left entirely free to
shape his own course. Richmond was no longer thought
of, but, in the language of the President, " The army of
Lee was the objective point."

On June 28th, Longstreet's and Hill's Corps of the
Confederate army were at Chambersburg, and Ewell was
at York and Carlisle. General Lee was just ready to
advance on Harrisburg, when he ascertained the location
of the Union army, and at once changed his plan and
began concentrating on the east side of the mountains.
These movements were commenced on Monday, June
29th. On the same day General Meade put his columns
in motion towards Unionville, Taneytown, and Gettys-
burg. Thus, the hostile armies were approaching each
other, fully realizing that a great battle was imminent,
at the same time completely in the dark as to where the
conflict would occur.

In the operations of Meade the cavalry under Buford
were in the advance, and they were thrown out well to
the left flank. Moving in the same general direction

GETTYSBURG. 17 7

towards Emraettsburg were the First Corps, under Rey-
nolds, and the Eleventh, under Howard. At the same
time the Third and Twelfth were headed for Taneytown,
the Second and Fifth towards Frizzleburg, and the Sixth
to Westminster.

Gettysburg, the county town of Adams, towards which
the armies were moving, lies at the base of one of the
ranges of South Mountain ; its location is central, a num-
ber of converging roads making it easy of access from
every direction. The Emmettsburg road, by which
Reynolds was advancing, comes in on the southwest,
the Taneytown road enters on the south, while the road
from Westminster, by which the Sixth Corps was ad-
vancing, comes in on the southeast ; the roads by which
the Confederates were moving from Chambersburg enter
on the northwest, while E well's Corps, in its retreat from
York and the vicinity of Harrisburg, approached by the
York road on the northeast.

The advance of the Second Corps was begun early on
the morning of June 29th, and, with but few halts, it
was continued throughout the day. After tramping
through the stifling dust under a burning sun, in heavy
marching order, Uniontown was reached, a distance of
more than thirty-one miles, where the troops remained
during the 30th. On July 1st the advance was again
resumed until a point was reached four miles from Gettys-
burg, where a halt was made.

While on the march we heard the sounds of the battle
which took place between our advance under Major-
General John F. Reynolds and that of the Confederates,
and an aid arrived with the sad news of the death of
that gallant officer, after which General Hancock, the

16

178 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

corps commander, rode rapidly to the front to assume
command, by direction of General Meade. Upon his
arrival he found the First and Eleventh Corps consider-
ably shattered and in confusion, falling back through the
town towards Cemetery Hill.

On the south of Gettysburg and immediately adjoin-
ing the town there is a series of heights and hills, com-
mencing with the Cemetery and extending towards the
south, terminating in a knob of considerable elevation
called Hound Top. To the right of Cemetery Hill, as
the spectator faces the north, is Culp's Hill, and from
it, bending around Cemetery Hill and following the
ridge south to Round Top, is a distance of four miles,
the locality forming a natural position for a line of battle
in the shape of a fish-hook, the barb being Culp's Hill
and the shank ending in the rocky eminence of Hound
Top.

Hancock quickly decided to keep possession of the
key of this line, and, aided by Generals Howard, War-
ren, and Buford, he made the preliminary dispositions.
Cemetery Hill was held by Howard's troops, and these
were joined on the right by Wadsworth's Division of
the First Corps, who occupied Culp's Hill. On the left
of Howard, along Cemetery Ridge, were placed the re-
maining two divisions of the First Corps, while the
Twelfth, under Sloeum, which arrived about evening,
assisted in prolonging the line. General Sloeum now
assumed command, and Hancock rejoined the Second
Corps, after reporting to Meade the strength of the
position for a defensive battle.

On July lid, at curly dawn, the corps was moved to
the front, and placed in position along Cemetery Ridge,

GETTYSBURG. 179

connecting on its right with the left of Howard's Corps ;
while the Third Corps, under Sickles, was ordered to
connect on the left and extend to Round Top..

The Philadelphia Brigade, before taking its place in
line, was massed on the edge of a wood, near the Taney-
town road, and a field return was made by the adjutant
of each regiment. Out of the entire number present
for duty when General Webb assumed command at
Frederick, there were but thirteen men absent without
leave; and some of these, who had given out on the
march, rejoined their comrades before the action. The
enthusiasm of the men was raised to t\\a highest pitch
by the address of Meade, containing the stirring senti-
ments, " The enemy is now on our soil. The whole
country looks anxiously to this army to deliver it from
the presence of the foe. Our failure to do so will leave
us no such welcome as the smiling of millions of hearts
with pride and joy at our success would give to every
soldier of the army."

The battle of Gettysburg has been more minutely and
accurately described than any other great struggle of the
war. Fought upon the soil of Pennsylvania, with re-
sults directly affecting the fate of its principal towns,
there are but few intelligent citizens who are not ac-
quainted with the movements of the contending armies;
while many are familiar with the topography of the
field from personal observation, or the excellent "isomet-
rical map" of Colonel Batcheldor.

The entire Army of the Potomac, with the exception
of one brigade of the Sixth Corps, was engaged in this
contest, and from its magnitude and its results that army
has secured imperishable glory for all its warriors.

ISO HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

Notwithstanding this, there have been accounts carelessly

published in some of the histories of the war, especially
by an unfcnown party in "Moore?s Rebellion Record,"
grossly misrepresenting the heroic efforts of the brigade.
The writer has omitted from his description of this
battle, as well as from his reports of many others in
which the command took an active part, any statement
of operations except such as were necessary to illustrate
more fully the brigade line and work. Accounts of the
battle of Gettysburg in quotation marks are from the
official report of the brigade commander, Brigadier-
General Alexander S. Webb, whose statements none
will gainsay, while many of the interesting incidents or
the operations given in detail are from personal observa-
tion.

." By order of Brigadier-General Gibbon, commanding
the division, this brigade was put in position at six and
a half o'clock a.m. on the 2d, on Granite Ridge, on the
right of the division ; its right resting on Cushing's
Battery, A, Fourth United States Artillery, and its left
on Battery B, First Rhode Island Artillery, Lieutenant
Brown commanding. The Sixty-Ninth Regiment was
placed behind a fence a little in advance of the ridge,
the remaining three regiments of the brigade under cover
of the hill in the rear. Brown's Battery was, in the
coarse of the day, removed to the front of the Sixty-
Ninth Regiment. It remained at this point until the
assault at six and a half p.m."

Immediately after assuming this position, a detail,
ordered from each regiment, was advanced as skirmishers
beyond the Emmettsburg road and parallel with the
Confederate line of battle on Seminary Ridge. This

GETTYSBURG. Igl

disposition was scarcely completed before the enemy
opened with sharp-shooters and artillery. "During the
day, both of the batteries on the flanks of the brigade
engaged those of the enemy, the shelling wounding
but few."

From the ridge occupied by Webb's Brigade a fine
view was obtained of the attack made by the Confeder-
ates on Sickles's Corps in the afternoon, and it soon
became apparent that the Third Corps must abandon its
faulty line and prolong that already occupied by the
Second Corps. General Hancock, quick to anticipate a
movement, had scarcely prepared to receive an assault
as the result of Sickles's discomfiture, before the enemy
were seen advancing.

A few hundred yards in front of our line of battle and
towards the left, a farm-house and buildings were located.
To prevent these affording cover to the enemy, they
were occupied by the brigade pioneers under Sergeant
Dietrieek, of the One Hundred and Sixth, with orders
to destroy them upon a signal from General Webb.
During the fight of Sickles, the brigade skirmishers
were engaged for an hour with those of the enemy, both
parties suffering losses but neither giving ground. This
contest was also in full view of the entire corps, and the
manly bearing of their comrades was a matter of pride to
the men of the Philadelphia Brigade. That portion of
the field lying between Granite and Seminary Ridge
being an open plain without trees or shelter, the contests
of our skirmishers were literally a series of duels fought
with rifles at an easy range.

"The enemy made the assault of the 2d at about six
and a half p.m. Their line of battle advanced beyond

16*

182 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

one gun of Brown's Battery, receiving at that point the
fire of the Sixty-Ninth, of the Seventy-First, advanced
to the support of the Sixty-Ninth, of the Seventy-Second,
and of the One Hundred and Sixth, which had pre-
viously been moved to the left by command of Major-
General Hancock. Colonel Baxter, Seventy- Second, at
this time was wounded. The enemy halted, manoeuvred
and fell back, pursued by the One Hundred and Sixth,
Seventy-Second, and part of the Seventy-First. The
Seventy-Second and One Hundred and Sixth followed
them to the Emmettsburg road, capturing and sending
to the rear about two hundred and fifty prisoners, among
whom were one colonel, five captains, and fifteen lieuten-
ants."

This assault, thus officially reported by Webb, was
executed with much celerity; and when the column of
the enemy burst forth from the woods on Seminary
Ridge, it seemed but a few moments before the Emmetts-
burg road was crossed, and our skirmishers driven like
leaves before the fierce wind. As the Confederates
advanced, Brown's Battery, with the exception of one
gun, was withdrawn to the rear of the Sixty-Ninth.
Over this piece there was a brief struggle, but the fire
of the brigade was terribly severe, causing the enemy to
hesitate and then fall back. Those of the Confederates
in the lead threw down their guns and cried out with
an oath, aGet us out of this ; it is too hot."

And now a counter-charge was handsomely made by
the regiments named in the report, along with those of
other brigades; the assaulting column was rolled back
almost as quickly as it had advanced. The skirmish
line was reformed on its old connection, and shortly

GETTYSBURG. ^33

after, night coming on, the fight on our portion of the
line was over for the 2d of July.

The pioneers in their exposed position were made
prisoners by the enemy, and the guard left by the cap-
tors remained at the farm-house with their charge,
intending to move to the rear as soon as the heavy firing
was over. This decision was fortunate for our detail,
but unfortunate for the enemy, as the advance of Webb's
regiments soon swept by the improvised guard-house
and changed the relations of its occupants.

The colonel who was captured was an officer of a
Georgia regiment, and as our men passed him in the
charge he was lying on the ground wounded, with a
captain bending over him trying to render assistance.
After the victory was complete and the line re-established,
the captain said, "This officer is the colonel of my
regiment, and from the same place in Georgia ; I was
afraid he would bleed to death from his wound, and I
have remained to see that he is cared for. Won't you
get him a surgeon? I love him dearly." This request
was complied with, and the same treatment promised as
that received by the rest of the wounded. As soon as
he was assured of the care of his friend, the captain
requested that he might be allowed to rejoin his com-
mand. On being told that this chivalrous request,
worthy of the time of Richard Cceur de Lion, could not
be granted, he was sadly disappointed, saying to one of
our officers, " You saw that I could have escaped. I
was not taken prisoner, but simply remained to save the
life of my friend." This Southern knight was turned
over to the provost guard, and no doubt spent a few
months of involuntary exile among the "barbarians."

184 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

The Sixty-Ninth Regiment lost, on this day, Captain
Michael Duffy, Company I, and Lieutenant Charles
Kelly, killed; and Lieutenants John J. Taggart, E.
O. Harmon, John H. Johnson, and Michael Mullen,
wounded.

In the Seventy-Second, Colonel D. W. C. Baxter,
while leading his men, was severely wounded, and at
the same time Captain Henry A. Cook was disabled by
a minie-ball.

The One Hundred and Sixth lost Lieutenant W. H.
Smith, killed, and the following officers wounded :
Captains John Breidenbach and John J. Sperry; Lien-
tenants diaries S. Schwartz, John Irwin, William May,
W. M. Casey, Joshua A. Gage, and Adjutant Ferd.
M. Pleiss, mortally. The last-named officer behaved
handsomely in this and other engagements, and his loss
was deplored by the men of his regiment, with whom he
was very popular.

The plan of battle that had been prepared by General
Lee included a demonstration in force by Ewell upon
Cemetery Hill and Gulp's Hill, while Longstreet was
fighting Sickles on our left. For some reason the attack
of Ewell on our extreme right did not commence until
after the counter-charge of Hancock's Corps. It was
sunset before the enemy opened with artillery on Ceme-
tery Hill, followed by a powerful attack by two of
EwelPs Divisions: one on Cemetery Hill and the other
on Gulp's Hill.

The attack on the former position was exceedingly
spirited. The troops moved out from the town, formed
into line, and charged directly in face of a heavy fire of
shrapnel and canister, but failed to reach our guns, being

GETTYSBURG. [#5

repulsed with heavy loss. The right wing of the column
of assault on the Cemetery was more successful ; stealing
up under cover of the houses and depressions of the
ground, they pushed into Rickett's Battery. The artil-
lerymen stood to their guns, using rammers and stones.
The firmness of these men, aided by Carroll's Brigade of
the Second Corps, repulsed the attack, and the position
was saved.

The division assigned by Ewell for the attack of
Culp's Hill was more successful. It struck that portion
of the extreme right occupied by the Twelfth Corps, and
from which heavy detachments had been drawn to re-
inforce other portions of the field, during the operations
of the afternoon. There remained at this point but a
single brigade of the Twelfth Corps under General
Greene, supported by the division of Wadsworth, con-
necting on the left. The heaviest attack fell upon
Greene, who, assisted by Wadsworth, maintained his
ground. The left of Ewell's Division, which overlapped
this little brigade, took possession of the vacated rifle-
pits on their right. It was long after dark when the
fighting ceased, and both parties lay on their arms within
a short distance of each other.

General Meade was not slow to perceive the advan-
tage this foothold had given the enemy, and promptly
made preparations to drive him out at early dawn. Bat-
teries were put in position and regiments detached from
other points to reinforce Howard's Corps on Cemetery
Hill and the position held by the brigade of General
Greene.

The One Hundred and Sixth Regiment was ordered
to report to General Howard, who placed it on the right

186 HIS TORY OF THE PHI LA DELPHI A BRIGADE.

of tire Baltimore pike, near Rickett's Battery, where it
remained until the close of the battle. This regiment
was highly complimented by Howard, who is reported
as commending it to his somewhat shattered corps, as
" one of the regiments of his old brigade."

The Seventy-First, under Colonel R. Penn Smith,
was ordered to move at the same time with the One
Hundred and Sixth and reinforce General Greene. Bv
some misunderstanding. Colonel Smith, in attempting to
go into position, found himself in the presence of a strong
force of the enemy, and owing to the darkness and want
of familiarity with the ground, Lieutenants Davis and
Boughton, with Adjutant Hutchinson and sixteen of the
men acting as skirmishers, were taken prisoners. After
this, Colonel Smith assumed the responsibility of re-
joining his brigade, which he did before daylight.

The division of E well's Corps that had gained a lodg-
ment near Culp's Hill was considerably strengthened
during the night, but before they were ready to advance,
at early dawn, Meade opened on them with a heavy fire
of artillery, followed by an attack with the troops of the
Twelfth Corps, which returned during the night, and by
Shaler's Brigade of the Sixth Corps.

A severe struggle now commenced, lasting for four
hours, and during a part of this time the roll of musketry,
the roar of artillery, and the bursting of shells were
deafening. The scene of conflict was for the most part
covered with woods, and the large number of trees cut to
pieces with minic-balls or twisted and torn by flying
missiles gave evidence of a terrific struggle. At about
nine a.m. there was a determined charge made by our
troops, resulting in victory. The line on Culp's Hill

GETTYSBURG. 137

was now re-established and the right flank of the army
secured.

On the morning of July 3d the Sixty-Ninth Regi-
ment occupied the same line at the fence in front of
the clump of trees on the ridge that it held the day
before, while the Seventy-First was deployed and con-
nected with its right. One wing of this last regiment
was stationed at the fence, while the other was behind a
stone wall one hundred paces to the right and rear.
These - echelon positions were connected by a stone wall
running at right angles with the rail fence, and joining
the wall occupied by the right battalion. The Seventy-
Second Regiment was held in reserve, forming a second
line to the left of Brown's Battery and in rear of Colonel
Hall's Third Brigade.

After the contest at Gulp's Hill there was a momentary
pause in the operations of both armies. This unusual
calm was only broken by an occasional gun or the dis-
charge of a sharp-shooter's rifle. About one o'clock,
while the men were wondering what the next movement
would be in this great battle, a single Whit worth gun
was fired from the extreme left of Seminary Ridge, a
distance of three miles. The bolt just reached the right
of our brigade. Then at intervals along the entire line
solitary shots were fired, as if intended for signal-guns
of preparation. These were quickly followed by others,
and in a few moments there burst forth from the whole
Confederate line a most terrific fire of artillery. One
hundred and twenty guns concentrated their fire on that
portion of Meade's position held by the Second Division,
Second Corps. Shell, round shot, Whitworth bolts, and
spherical case were flying over and exploding about us

188 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

at the same time. Almost every second, ten of these
missiles were in the air; each, as it went speeding on its
message of death, indicating its form by a peculiar sound.
The shrieking of shells or the heavy thud of round shot
were easily distinguished from the rotary whizzing of
the Whitworth bolt,

When these agents of destruction commenced their
horrid work, no portion of the line, from the front to a
point far in the rear of the Taneytown road, afforded
any protection against their fury. Men who had been
struck while serving the guns and were limping towards
the hospital, were frequently wounded again before they
had gone a hundred yards.

In spite of the ghastly forms of mangled men and
horses, and in spite of dismounted guns, exploding lim-
bers, and other scenes of terror, produced by Lee's attack,
the guns of Meade roared back their defiance ; while the
infantry, powerless for the moment, rested on their arms
awaiting the bayonet-charge which they knew was sure
to follow.

Webb reports, "By a quarter to three o'clock the
enemy had silenced the Rhode Island Battery, all the
guns but one of Cushing's Battery, and had plainly
shown, by his concentration of fire on this and the Third
Brigade, that an important assault was to be expected.
I had sent, at two P.M., the adjutant-general of the
brigade for two batteries to replace Cushing's and
Brown's. Just before the assault, Captain Wheeler's
First New York Artillery had got into position on the
left in the place occupied by the Rhode Island Battery,
which had retired with the loss of all its officers but
one."

GETTYSBURG.

189

By a singular coincidence, the battery of Wheeler,
now brought to the assistance of the brigade in its deadly
struggle, had formed a part of the command at Camp
Observation, and since it had been detached the two
organizations had not met.

Webb's officer had a blank order from General Hunt
for a battery to be taken from any point where it was
not actually engaged. Wheeler was with the reserve in
the rear of Howard, and the moment the order was
received, he started his battery on a trot down the
Taneytown road towards the field. His progress was
impeded every few yards by the missiles of the enemv ;
horses were struck down, but the traces were quickly
cut and the guns started again. Wheeler was perfectly
cool in this storm of iron, and simply said, " I hope no
one will get there before me."

When the New York Battery arrived and went into
action, Lieutenant Cushing had but one of his guns left,
and it was served by men of the Seventy-First Regi-
ment. The lieutenant had been struck by a fragment
of shell, but stood by his piece as calmly as if on parade,
and as the Confederate infantry commenced to emerge
from the woods opposite, Cushing quietly said, " Webb,
I will give them one shot more; good-by !" The gun
was loaded by the California men and run down to the
fence near the Sixty-Ninth, and at the moment of the
last discharge, just as the enemy reached the line, the
brave Cushing fell mortally wounded.

" At three o'clock the enemy's line of battle left the
woods in our front, moved in perfect order across the
Emmettsburg road, formed in the hollow in our imme-
diate front several lines of battle under a fire of spherical

17

190 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

case-shot from Wheeler's Battery and Cushing's gun,
and advanced for the assault."

The Union batteries increased their fire as rapidly as
possible, but this did not for a moment delay the deter-
mined advance. The rude gaps torn by the shells and
case-shot were closed as quickly as they were made. As
new batteries opened, the additional fire created no con-
fusion in the ranks of the enemy; its only apparent effect
was to mark the pathway over the mile of advance with
the dead and dying. None who saw this magnificent
charge of Pickett's column, composed of thousands of
brave men, could refrain from admiring its grandeur.
As they approached the rail fence their formation was
irregular, and near the front and centre were crowded
together the regimental colors of the entire division ; the
scene strangely illustrated the divine words, " Terrible
as an army with banners."

Now our men close up their ranks and await the
struggle. The Seventy-Second, by direction of A\ ebb,
is double-quicked from its position on the left and
fills the gap on the ridge where Cushing's Battery had
been in action. Just at this moment Pickett's men
reach the line occupied by the Sixty-Ninth and the left
companies of the Seventy-First. General Armistead,
commanding the leading brigade, composed principally
of Virginians, in advance of his men, swinging his hat
on his sword, cries out, "Boys, give them the cold steel!"
Just then the white trefoil on the caps of our men is
recognized, and Armistead's men exclaim, "The Army
of the Potomac! Do they call these militia?"

The final effort for success now commences. The
advance companies of the Seventy-First arc literally

GETTYSBURG. 191

crowded out of their places by the enemy, and, with one
company of the Sixty-Ninth, they form with the re-
mainder of Colonel Smith's command at the stone fence.
At the same instant, Colonel Hall's Third Brigade and
the regiments of the First under Devereux and other
officers, as if by instinct, rush to Webb's assistance, while
Colonel Stannard moves two regiments of the Vermont
Brigade to strike the attacking column in the flank.

And now is the moment when the battle rages most
furiously. Armistead, with a hundred and fifty of his
Virginians, is inside our lines ; only a few paces from
our brigade commander, they look each other in the
face. The artillery of the enemy ceases to fire, and
the gunners of their batteries are plainly seen standing
on their caissons to view the result, hoping for success ;
while Pettigrew's Division, following to support Pickett,
halts as if terrified at the scene. This is the soldier's
part of the fight ; tactics and alignments are thrown to
one side. No effort is made to preserve a formation.
Union men are intermingled with the enemy, and in
some cases surrounded by them, but refusing to surren-
der. Rifles, bayonets, and clubbed muskets are freely
used, and men on both sides rapidly fall.

This struggle lasts but a few moments, when the
enemy in the front throw down their arms, and, rushing
through the line of the Seventy-Second, hasten to the
rear as prisoners without a guard ; while others of the
column wTho might have escaped, unwilling to risk a re-
treat over the path by which they came, surrender. The
battle is over, the last attack of Lee at Gettysburg is
repulsed, and the highest wave of the Rebellion has
reached its farthest limit, ever after to recede.

192 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

General Armistead, who was in the Confederate front,
fell mortally wounded, close to the colors of the Seventy-
Second. One of the men of that regiment who was
near him, asked permission of the writer to carry him
out of the battle, saying, "He has called for help, as
the son of a ividow" An order was given to take him
to an ambulance, and when his revolver was removed
from his belt, it was seen that he had obeyed his own
command, " to give the cold steel," as no shot had been
fired from it.

Among the many curious episodes of this fight, there
was one which gives a novel view of the imposing claims
of a chivalrous Southerner. While the struggle was
going on, Corporal Esher, of the Seventy-Second, cap-
tured an officer, who was considerably his superior in
size as well as in rank ; and as die was trying to get him
to the rear of the line, they met one of Webb's officers,
to whom the Southerner said, "Are you an officer?"
"I am, sir; what is the trouble?" With fierce anger
on his countenance, he answered, "I came here to be
treated as a gentleman, and here is a private soldier who
has taken my sword." In answer to the inquiry, " Why
did you give it to him?" he sullenly muttered, "How
could I help it, when he had a loaded musket at my
breast?" This Virginian had evidently seen a picture
of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, at Yorktown.
With a little friendly advice, the gentleman was sent to
the rear to keep company with the Georgia knight of the
day before.

The moment the attack was repulsed and the excite-
ment of the battle was over, the mournful inquiry passed
from one to another, Who of our comrades have fallen?

GETTYSBURG. 193

During the fight, those of us who were with the rest of
the brigade knew nothing of the Sixty-Ninth, exeept
as we heard their cheers and the crack of their rifles.
Partly concealed from view by the clump of trees, and
for a brief time cut off by the enemy in their rear, we
only knew that they always stayed where they were
placed. They did not fail on this occasion to hold their
ground, though at a fearful sacrifice. The regiment
entered the battle of Gettysburg with two hundred and
fifty-eight officers and men. Of these, six officers and
thirty-six men were killed, seven officers and seventy-six
men were wounded, and two officers and sixteen men
taken prisoners ; an aggregate loss of one hundred and
forty-three. Colonel Dennis O'Kane and Lieutenant-
Colonel Martin Tschudy, two of as brave men as ever
drew a sword, who had served in every engagement with
the regiment, were among the slain. Captains Michael
Duffy and George C. Thompson, and Lieutenant Charles
F. Kelly, men of equal courage, were also killed. Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Tschudy, though suffering with a wound
received on the 2d of July, resolutely refused to leave
his regiment. Major Duffy, who succeeded to the com-
mand after the loss of the colonel and lieutenant-col-
onel, was severely wounded during the fight, but kept
his post until the battle was over. In addition to the
officers previously mentioned as wounded, are Lieuten-
ants John Mcllvane and Thomas Woods.

The casualties in the Seventy-First were also large.
There were two officers and nineteen men killed, and
three officers and fifty-five enlisted men wounded. Cap-
tains John M. Steffan and William H. Dull were killed,
and Lieutenants John D. Rogers and George C. Whitecar

17*

194 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

were wounded. From its position behind the stone wall
this regiment did good service, its fire being made unusu-
ally effective by a new precaution of Colonel R. Penn
Smith commanding. After the fight of the 2d, he caused
a large number of rifles that were left on the ground to
be gathered up by his men and carried to the regiment.
These pieces were loaded and distributed along the line,
rendering it possible, when the enemy came within range,
for the Seventy- First to fire a number of shots rapidly
without reloading.

The Seventy-Second having the largest number of
men, and a very dangerous position, suffered in these
actions an aggregate loss heavier than the others. This
was the case especially on the 3d of July. The moment
it moved by the flank on the ridge and faced to the
front, it met a deadly fire. Its severity may be judged
from the fact that two color-sergeants fell in quick suc-
cession, while the third had only grasped the standard
when the staff was struck and broken in the centre by a
minie-ball. The colors were quickly picked up, and, with
the shattered staff, held aloft until the victory was won.

The casualties of the Seventy- Second were, three offi-
cers and forty-three men killed, and seven officers and
one hundred and thirty-nine men wounded. In addi-
tion to the officers already mentioned, Captains Andrew
McBride and James J. Griffiths, and Lieutenant Sutton
Jones, were killed. Lieutenant Jones had been pro-
moted from a sergeant only a few weeks before, on ac-
count of his honorable record.

< laptain Griffiths was serving on the staff of General
Howard, and received his death-wound just as Lee
began t<> fall back from the town. Professor Stoever, of

GETTYSBURG. 195

Gettysburg College, gives the following as an illustration
of the religious character of General O. O. Howard.
When orders were issued for the army to pursue the
enemy, the general hastened to the bedside of his beloved
staff-officer, and, after a few remarks, read to him the
fourteenth chapter of John, and then, kneeling, com-
mitted to God his dying brother-in-arms. With a final
farewell, these friends parted, never to meet again on
earth.

Captain Andrew McBride was shot in the throat while
cheering his men. He fell at the first volley received by
the Seventy-Second as they formed on the colors. The
wounded officers of the Seventy-Second were Captains
R. L. R. Shreeve and John Lockhart, and Lieutenants
B. M. Heulings, Frederick Boland, and Robert Stewart.

The One Hundred and Sixth, having been retained
by General Howard, was not in the infantry engagement,
but did not escape the severe artillery fire. The mem-
bers of the regiment that formed part of the brigade
skirmishers, fought along with the Seventy-Second. The
regimental officers in charge, Captains John J. Sperry,
Robert H. Ford, and James C. Lynch, behaved very
handsomely both on the skirmish line and in the battle.
The two former officers were severely wounded.

General Webb won the esteem of his men for his
skillful management, and for the extraordinary coolness
displayed in the midst of danger. The distance between
the position occupied by our brigade commander and
the place where Armistead stood was thirty-three paces,
and at the time the Confederate leader fell, Webb re-
ceived a wound, but, concealing it from those about him,
continued on duty.

196 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

At the close of General Webb's official report, he
states, " The brigade captured nearly one thousand
prisoners and six battle-flags, and picked up fourteen
hundred stand of arms and nine hundred setts of accou-
trements. The loss Avas forty-three officers and four
hundred and fifty -two men, and only forty-seven were
missing. The conduct of this brigade was most satis-
factory."

Among the flags referred to, there was one captured
from the color-guard of a Virginia regiment, after a
severe struggle, by Captain Alexander McCuen. This
flag, along with the others, was sent to the AVar Depart-
ment, with the names of the captors affixed.

On the evening of July 3d, rations for three days
were issued, and about midnight a heavy storm occurred,
completely drenching the men and reducing the contents
of their haversacks to a mass of pulp. The next morn-
ing, July 4th, found many of the troops without food
and no immediate prospect of obtaining any. Matters
were rendered still worse from the fact that the condi-
tion of the dead about us required immediate attention.
Burial parties Avere organized by the brigade, and several
hundred bodies of the Confederate dead were placed in
trenches on our front. Many of those engaged on this
sad duty were well-nigh exhausted from hunger and
fatigue.

On the morning of July 5th, it was found that the
Confederate army had left our front and was retreating
towards the Potomac. The Sixth Corps, under Sedg-
wick, was at once started in pursuit towards South Moun-
tain, while the rest of Meade's forces were ordered to
move in the same general direction. The Second Corps

GETTYSBURG. I97

marched to Taney town and Frederick. On the 9th it
reached Crampton's Gap, South Mountain, and the next
day it moved to a point near Williamsburg, where the
enemy were at bay, protecting the passage of their trains
over the river.

July 14th, after the corps had spent two "days in this
vicinity, manoeuvring and digging rifle-pits, an order
was received from General Meade to charge the position
of the enemy at seven a.m. Our advance found the
Confederate intrenchments deserted, and, with the ex-
ception of a few stragglers picked up by our men and a
portion of the rear-guard captured by Kilpatrick, the
Army of Northern Virginia had crossed the Potomac,
and the invasion of the North had been providentially
brought to an end through the valor of the Army of the
Potomac.

General Lee, in his official report of Gettysburg, says,
"It is not- in my power to give a correct statement of
our casualties, which were severe." It has been estimated
that he lost nearly thirty thousand men ; of which thir-
teen thousand six hundred and twenty were prisoners.
According to the War Department, the Union loss was
two thousand eight hundred and thirty-four killed, thir-
teen thousand seven hundred and thirty-three wounded,
and six thousand six hundred and forty-three missing;
making a total of twenty- three thousand one hundred
and ninety.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE EAPPAHANNOCK AND MINE RUN.

The army crossed the Potomac at Harper's Ferry
July 18th, 1863, and moved in pursuit of Lee, following
closely the same route as that pursued after Antietam.
In this advance along the mountains the cavalry were
very active and had several encounters with the enemy,
some of these being of considerable magnitude.

After passing Bloomfield, Upperville, and the vicinity
of Ashby's Gap, our brigade reached Manassas Gap on
the 23d. Here we were put in position to support
Spinola's Brigade, of the Third Corps, which was
engaged with the enemy. From this point the column
was headed south, passing Rectortown, New Baltimore,
and Georgetown, to a point southeast of Warrenton.
The movement was continued by the Second Corps
inarching parallel to the others until July 31st, at which
date camp was formed near Morris ville Post-Office, in
the vicinity of our last winter-quarters. The total dis-
tance marched since leaving Falmouth, on the Gettys-
burg campaign, was four hundred and thirty-six miles.

The month of August was spent in comparative quiet
near Morrisvillc, the principal duty consisting of a large
picket detail, relieved every twenty-four hours.

The brigade was commanded in the latter part of the
198

THE RAPPAHANNOCK AND MINE RUN. 199

month by the senior officer present, Lieutenant-Colonel
W. L. Curry, One Hundred and Sixth Regiment. The
Sixty-Ninth Regiment was commanded by Captain
Thomas Kelly, the Seventy-First by Lieutenant-Col-
onel Kochersperger, the Seventy-Second by Major
Samuel Roberts, and the One Hundred and Sixth by
Captain John R. Breidenbach.

At this time there was an unusually large number of
officers absent from their commands on account of sick-
ness or wounds, and in some regiments there were com-
panies without any commissioned officer, which rendered
necessary the following order to commanders of regi-
ments :

"It is hereby directed that regimental commanders
assign a commissioned officer to take charge of their
companies where officers are absent. This will be done
even should it be necessary to give or assign an officer
to the charge of two or more companies."

The details for picket and brigade guards were ar-
ranged each day according to the number "present for
duty" reported by the regimental adjutants. Among
these officers there was a very commendable rivalry, not
only in the preparation of reports and in the promptness
with which their details were furnished, but especially in
the soldierly bearing of the men. Each guard, when
formed, was inspected before going on duty, and seldom
could troops in garrison excel the appearance and mili-
tary carriage of these veterans. On one occasion Gen-
eral Webb was so favorably impressed with an inspection
he witnessed that he directed the following note to be
sent to the commanding officer of the Seventy-First :

" Colonel, — The general commanding desires to say

200 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

that the military appearance of the guard that reports
from your regiment this morning deserves special men-
tion. Their soldierly bearing is worthy of the imitation
of the men of this command."

The adjutants of these regiments are entitled to hon-
orable mention for faithfulness in the discharge of duty.

The Sixty-Ninth was served by Adjutant William
Whildey ; the Seventy-First by S. P. Hutchinson ;
Seventy-Second by Adjutant Charles W. West, who was
never absent from his post during the entire active ser-
vice of the regiment. The adjutant of the One Hun-
dred and Sixth Regiment was Lieutenant John A. Steel,
who succeeded to the place made vacant by the death of
Lieutenant Pleis.

September 12th, the Second Corps moved to Rappa-
hannock Station, for the purpose of supporting a cavalry
movement. A crossing was effected at early dawn by
the divisions of Gregg, Buford, and Ivilpatrick, under
General Pleasonton. Soon after, the cavalry of the
enemy were met, and, after heavy skirmishing, were
driven back towards the Rapidan. The corps moved
forward in aid of Pleasonton, and at four p.m. the col-
umn reached a point near Culpeper and halted.

The brigade under General Webb was sent forward
to occupy the town, there being no infantry between this
place and the Rapidan. During the three days our com-
mand performed provost and guard duty at Culpeper,
we had some striking exhibitions of the bitter feeling of
the ladies of the South to Northern soldiers.

At one residence near headcpiarters the lady occupants,
whose male relations were no doubt in the Southern army,
notified an officer who volunteered a safeguard, " that they

THE RAPPAHANNOCK AND MINE RUN. 201
wanted no favors from Yankees." Another woman.

though equally severe in her hatred, was compelled in-
voluntarily to pay our troops a fine compliment. This
matron had the reputation of being a letter-carrier for
the Confederacy, and had failed to pass our lines, giving
up the effort in disgust, and at the same time confessing
that she had always succeeded before. Her plans were
simple and easily detected. Among other arrangements
for her purpose, she adopted the disguise of a farmer's
wife. Dressed in the plainest costume, without shawl or
bonnet, and driving before her a cow that had apparently
strayed from its pasture, she would carelessly saunter
past the Union pickets on her way to the lines of the
enemy.

September 17th we left Culpeper and marched to
Somerville Ford on the Kapidan, where the brigade
relieved Kilpatrick'* division of cavalry, which had
been guarding the river. A short time before our ar-
rival at the ford some of these cavalrymen had been fur-
nished with new carbines, and, anxious to try their range,
had used the enemy's pickets as targets, greatly irritating
their videttes. As our men went fonvard to relieve
posts near the river, the Confederates called out, " Lay
down, Yanks ; we are going to fire on the cavalry as they
are relieved." They kept their word, and as Kilpatrick's
men were withdrawn they had to run the gauntlet.

The brigade remained on this duty until the end of
September, and the work became quite monotonous, not
being relieved by excitement except in one instance, and
that of an unusual character.

The signal-officers of the Army of the Potomac had
possession of the code used by the Confederates, and by

18

202 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

this means often read the messages of the enemy when
their signal-flags conld be seen. One of these intercepted
dispatches, from General Lee to General Early, read,
"Send over two men" (naming them), "and see what
the Yankees are doing." With the announcement of the
premeditated visit of these spies, orders were given for
extra care on the part of those on post. In spite of all
precautions the visitors came, and, having successfully
accomplished their purpose, safely returned with their
information. To signalize this audacity, they captured
two teamsters, who were afterwards released at the ford
by which the scouts returned to the Confederate side of
the river.

Our troops could only account for this escape on the
same principle that so many errors and false movements
were made occasionally by detachments of the army:
want of accurate information of the by-roads and passes
of the country.

October 6th the command was relieved from picket
duty, and it returned to Culpeper, where it remained
until the 10th. While the army of Meade was oc-
cupying the line of the Iiapidan a considerable num-
ber of substitutes and drafted men were received, and
were distributed anions: the regiments. The arrivals did
not materially increase our strength, as large numbers of
them deserted at the first opportunity, while many who
were disposed to remain were physically unfit for service,
and should never have been passed by the surgeons.

On the date of our arrival at Culpeper the right of
the army was near James City, which was held by Kil-
patrick's cavalry supported by a part of the Third Corps.
These troops were unexpectedly attacked by Stuart's

THE RAPPAHANNOCK AXD MINE JULY. 203

cavalry on the 10th and driven into Culpeper. This
assault indicated the advance of Lee in another offensive
movement, and at once gave evidence to Meade that his
right was already turned. During the night our trains
were sent over the Rappahannock, and at midnight the
army began a retrograde movement. By daylight of
the 11th the whole force was north of the river, and the
bridge at the station was blown up. The same day the
Confederate army occupied Culpeper, while their advance
was pressing the rear of our column.

General Meade, still uncertain as to the plan of Lee,
but aware of his position at Culpeper, determined to re-
cross the Rappahannock with his entire army except the
Third Corps, and offer battle. Accordingly the move-
ment was executed on the 12th, and after passing to the
south of the river with the Second, Fifth, and Sixth
Corps, with Buford's cavalry, deployments were made
ready for action. In the mean time Lee had resumed
his northward march, and was again endeavoring to turn
the right flank of the Union army. During the transfer
of the main body the Third Corps had been left on the
north side to guard the fords, while the cavalry of Gregg
picketed the upper crossings. On the afternoon of the
12th Gregg was driven back on his supports by the van
of the Confederates, and the information thus received,
disclosing the advance, was transmitted at once to Gen-
eral Meade.

The relative manoeuvring of the two armies had
brought about an unusual situation. While Lee with
his force was north of the Rappahannock, heading
towards Washington, the main force of the Union army
was south of the river, facing in the direction of Rich-

204 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

mond. To extricate himself from this false position,
Meade acted promptly, and directed another retrograde
movement. This order found the corps near Brandy
Station, in bivouac, awaiting battle, as they supposed,
from the Confederates at daylight, At two a.m. on the
13th the movement began, and the two armies entered
on one of the usual races towards Bull Run and Centre-
ville. At daylight the Second Corps reached Fayette-
ville, and rested until two p.m., then marched to War-
renton Junction and halted for the night.

At this point a singular affair occurred, giving an
amusing illustration of the audacity of Stuart, the Con-
federate cavalryman. His division of cavalry, in pres-
sing one of our corps, had penetrated between it and
another column running parallel, and at night was fairly
encompassed with our infantry. Carefully concealing
his force within dense woods, he sent men dressed as
Union soldiers through our lines to notify Lee of his
position. At daylight, while an attack by way of di-
version was made on Caldwell's Division of the Second
Corps, Stuart opened with his artillery, and succeeded,
during the confusion, in cutting his way through the rear-
guard:

Early on the 14th the Philadelphia Brigade, under
Colonel D. W. C. Baxter, was detailed to convoy the
ammunition train of the corps, and started on this duty,
keeping on the right of the column. While on this
march the rest of the corps, under General AVarren, had
a spirited engagement at Bristoc Station, Orange and
Alexandria Railroad. This fight was with Hill's Corps,
which was pressing the rear of the Fifth, unconscious that
the Second Corps was on its flank. The brunt of the

THE RAP PA II AX NOCK AND MINE RUN. 205

battle was borne by the First and Third Brigades, Second
Division, under General Webb, and the Third Brigade,
Third Division, under General Owen. It resulted in a
victory for our corps, which captured four hundred and
fifty prisoners, five guns, and three battle-flags. Our
forces lost in this action about two hundred in killed
and wounded.

Among the casualties in the battle of Bristoe were
three officers of the brigade who were on detached ser-
vice. Lieutenant Michael Coste, Company C, Seventy-
Second, was killed ; he was a young officer of great
courage, and of such a frank and generous nature that he
won the attachment of his comrades. Coste was serving
with General Owen, when he was struck with a minie-
ball while receiving an order from his commander.
Captain Francis Wessels, One Hundred and Sixth, aid
to General Webb, and Captain James C. Lynch, of the
same regiment, aid on the Third Division staif, were
wounded.

The morning of the 15th found Meade in possession
of Bull Run and Centreville, and the winner of the last
race towards Washington. After a few movements by
way of feints, General Lee commenced slowly falling
back; taking time to destroy the railroad thoroughly as
he went.

On the 19th Meade leisurely started in pursuit. The
Second Corps reached a point within three miles of
Warrenton on the 22d, and halted there ; the command
remained until November 7th, awaiting repairs that were
being made to the Orange and Alexandria Railroad.
This work, so necessary in the forwarding of supplies
for a permanent advance, having been completed, the

18*

206 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

entire army continued its march towards the Rappahan-
nock in two columns : the left composed of the First,
Second, and Third Corps, and the right of the Fifth and
Sixth. The advance of the left column crossed at
Kelly's Ford by wading, and carried the enemy's rifle-
pits with but little loss, taking five hundred prisoners.
The right encountered considerable opposition at their
place of crossing, Rappahannock Station, but a storm-
ing party of Russell's and Upton's Brigades carried the
works by a handsome charge, capturing fifteen hundred
prisoners, four guns, and eight battle-flags.

Soon after these columns had crossed, General Lee
abandoned his line at Culpeper, and withdrew across
the Rapidan, leaving the Army of the Potomac to occupy
the same positions near Culpeper which it held before
the late movements began.

From the 8th of November until the 26th the Second
Corps was encamped near Brandy Station. Towards the
latter date orders were issued for ten days' rations to be
carried in haversacks, and every preparation seemed to
indicate another movement by General Meade.

The final order was received on the night of the 25th,
and at daylight of the 26th the different corps were in
motion towards the Rapidan. The Second Corps crossed
without opposition, at Germania Ford, and, advancing
four miles beyond the river, halted for the night.

On this expedition the senior colonels of the brigade,
as was frequently the case, were in command of other
brigades, and during the absence of General Webb,
commanding the Second Division, the Philadelphia
Brigade was placed under Colonel A. F. Devereux,
Nineteenth Massachusetts. The passages marked as

THE RAPPAHANNOCK AND MINE RUN. 207

quotations in the account of this movement are from
Colonel Devereux's official report.

" At eight a.m., 27th, the corps moved in the direc-
tion of Robertson's Tavern, encountering the enemy's
advanced posts just this side. This brigade, leading the
division, was ordered to occupy a ridge on the right of
the road, sending out a regiment as skirmishers to meet
the enemy beyond. The Seventy-Second Pennsylvania
Volunteers was deployed, and with Lieutenant-Colonel
Hesser at its head started gallantly over the crest, and
at once became engaged. The remainder of the brigade,
consisting of the Seventy-First, One Hundred and Sixth,
and Sixty-Ninth, advanced in line of battle to the crest,
and there lay down. The Seventy-Second were press-
ing the enemy warmly in front, and continued to press
them until the death of their leader, Lieutenant-Colonel
Hesser, when for an instant some confusion occurred and
they gave ground; but they were very soon re-formed,
and they regained their position and held it during the
day. Lieutenant-Colonel Hesser was shot urging his
men on to the charge, being himself in advance of his
line and displaying great gallantry. He was shot through
the head, and must have died instantly. Very nearly
at this time the general commanding the division sent
orders to move a regiment to the right of the picket-
line, to a cluster of houses that formed an important
position at that point. The One Hundred and Sixth
was dispatched under Lieutenant-Colonel Curry, and
gained the point immediately. Demand was then made
for another regiment to strengthen our advanced line on
the left. The Seventy-First was sent to this point under
Lieutenant-Colonel Kochersperger, Colonel Smith of this

208 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

regiment being in command of the entire picket-line of
the division."

At the same time with the movement of the Seventy-
First, the Sixty-Ninth, under Major Duffy, was ordered
as a support for our line on the right. This regiment
had scarcely taken position before it received a heavy
fire, and three regiments from the First Brigade were
sent to assist it in repulsing the enemy. After this affair
there was only desultory firing during the remainder of
the afternoon, and at night-fall the troops held their
position.

The official report of Colonel Devereux is so unusually
full of details that it will be read with great interest.
This well-known and respected officer of a New Eng-
land regiment, temporarily in command of our brigade, is
free from the charge of partiality to Pennsylvania troops.

"At daybreak on the 28th, the division was formed
in line of battle to sweep the woods in our front. The
line advanced for some two miles through dense woods
and over fences, gaining ground to the left as it pro-
ceeded, and under all the circumstances the line was
wonderfully kept. The enemy's skirmishers were en-
countered finally, covering a strong position on Mine
Run. The line was halted on the edge of the woods
towards the enemy at about three-quarters of a mile
from their works. The brigade was here taken out of
the division line and placed in reserve. Everything
remained quiet during that day and night. At day-
light on the 29th of November, the division marched,
forming the rear of the corps column, and alter a detour
reached the enemy's right flank about two hours before
dark, and was placed in reserve"

THE RAPPAHANNOCK AND MINE RUN 209

"At two o'clock the next morning the Second Division
was moved to the front, near the picket-lines, and formed
in two lines, prepared for an assault on the enemy's
works at that point. The first line consisted of the
Philadelphia Brigade and two regiments of the First
Brigade under my command."

" The morning was bitterly cold and most disagree-
able. No fires could be allowed, and patient endurance
had to supply all wants. Notwithstanding the known
fact that the column was there to lead an assault that
was in its nature a forlorn hope, where death was almost
certain, I never saw more resolution or good spirits man-
ifested. Officers and men were able to look with cheer-
fulness on the prospect and calmly await orders to move."

The scene presented by the men as they prepared to
assault was one of the most heroic of the war. Many
had written their names on pieces of paper and fastened
them to their garments ; others had torn strips of under-
clothing to be used for bandages, and some, with a semi-
ludicrous thoughtfulness, had filled their pockets with
" hard-tack," so that for a time at least they would not
surfer with hunger if wounded or captured. While the
dangerous character of the work was fully realized, yet
every one seemed ready to move forward at the word of
command.

" If men could have carried that position, I believe
this division would have clone it. They felt that they
had been assigned for desperate service, and would never
disgrace themselves or their commander."

"After daybreak the enemy's position disclosed six-
teen guns. Ten of these were in an embrasured work,
with ditch and abattis in front, and rifle-pits in front of

21() HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

all, with curtains for infantry on the right, giving a flank
fire on any attacking force."

The instructions to General Warren, commanding
Second Corps, from General Meade were to assault the
right of the enemy at an early hour in the morning, the
signal to be heavy cannonading by Sedgwick on our
right. As soon as an observation of the enemy's works
could be made, Warren determined to take the responsi-
bility of suspending the attack. Word was dispatched
to Meade, who rode rapidly over the four miles sepa-
rating him from our position, and, after surveying the
ground, he countermanded the assault.

"All that day the command remained in position, and
at night-fall it was withdrawn some three hundred yards
to the rear in line of battle. That night and the next
day remained undisturbed, not a shot breaking the com-
plete stillness on either side. At eight p.m., December
1st, orders ay ere received to move in retreat. The en-
tire corps fell back that night, recrossing the river at
Culpeper ford, — the Second Division bringing up the
rear."

The night of the 2d found the whole command in its
old camps near Stevensburg. Colonel Devereux says,
in concluding his report, —

" I desire to mention Lieutenant-Colonel Hesser for
distinguished personal bravery. Xo man could have
behaved better as he led his lines." This was the
universal testimony of the officers and men of the
brigade.

Devereux further adds, "On leaving the line in front
of the enemy, the necessity for secrecy required that two
men from each regiment should remain to keep up the

THE RA PPA HA NNO CK A ND MINE RUN. 211

camp-fires until three o'clock the next morning, — this
concealed the appearance of a retreat. I take pleasure
in mentioning the names of those who in each regiment
volunteered for this duty, most unpleasant to contemplate,
since it left them, as it were, deserted by their comrades,
with the prospect of a Richmond prison or starvation to
cheer them through a long night of lonely watching :

"Sergeant Edward Teague, Company F, Seventy-
First Pennsylvania Volunteers.

"Corporal Isaiah B. Tapp, Company F, Seventy-
First Pennsylvania Volunteers.

"Corporal Frederick Murphy, Company H, Sixty-
Ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers.

" Private Francis McKee, Company D, Sixty-Ninth
Pennsylvania Volunteers.

" Corporal William H. Hill, Company E, Seventy-
Second Pennsylvania Volunteers.

" Corporal Nathaniel Rhoads, Company I, Seventy-
Second Pennsylvania Volunteers.

" Corporal William H. Myers, Company A, One
Hundred and Sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers.

" Private Peter Scheik, Company D, One Hundred
and Sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers.
"Respectfully submitted,

"(Signed) A. F. Devereux,
"Colonel Commanding Second Brigade."

The "Richmond Despatch/' about this date, contained
a letter dated November 28th, from a correspondent in
Lee's army, which singularly corroborates the statement
of our brigade commander concerning the fight at Rob-
ertson's Tavern. The writer says, "The forces of Lee

212 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

lost fully five hundred in killed and wounded. Of the
loss of the enemy I am not advised ; but I am now
disposed to doubt if it was as heavy as ours. They
fought, I am told, quite well, and fired more accurately
than usual."

The loss of the brigade in this movement was remark-
ably small. There were ten killed or missing in action,
and twenty-five wounded.

Active operations of an extensive character were now
over for the season, and the two great armies, while
resting in winter-quarters on either side of the Rapidan,
were engaged in preparations for the deadly struggle
that was sure to come with the opening of spring.

This inactivity was broken once during the winter
by a small diversion in favor of one of Butler's opera-
tions on the Peninsula. On February 7th, the division
crossed the Rapidan at Morton's Ford, threatening an
advance. The brigade had the lead, and while the skir-
mishers were wading the river, Lieutenant Seabury,
Seventy-First, aid to General Owen, rode through it
and captured three of the enemy's pickets. The brigade
lost no men in this movement, not being engaged in
action.

The five months spent in winter-quarters near Ste-
vensburg were marked by more than usual social privi-
leges to officers and men. Profiting by field experience,
lar<i;e numbers of the men made the best use of the ma-
terials at their disposal, and rendered their quarters quite
comfortable, while many of the officers, having obtained
logs and boards from a saw- mi 11 near the camp, erected
cabins, not only convenient for use, but in some cases
quite ornamental in appearance. A large number of

THE RAPPAHANNOCK AND MINE PUN. 213

ladies who had relations in the service, or acquaint-
ances, availed themselves of permission to visit the
army.

After quarters for troops had been provided, the saw-
mill was kept in operation to furnish boards for a large
frame structure near Second Corps headquarters. This
building, when completed, was used for a ball, given by
the officers of the Second Corps to the ladies who were
in camp. The regimental and headquarter flags deco-
rated the interior of the building, while the "stage
scene" was ornamented with a battery of highly-polished
Napoleon guns, camp-scenes, shelter-tents, and stacked
arms. A large number of guests were present from
Washington, including cabinet officers and members of
foreign legations. The ball-room, when the festivities
were at their height, was certainly very brilliant. The
trials and sufferings of the past were temporarily for-
gotten, and it is not likely that any of those who were
present cared to anticipate the transformations of the
future.

During the remainder of the time in winter-quarters,
the ball-room was used by the private soldiers for min-
strel performances and concerts. Some of the amateurs
engaged in these amusements were very entertaining, and
thoroughly understood the business.

During this period, the men were furnished inadver-
tently with another intellectual amusement, by an order
received through General Hancock. This was to the
effect that the Government desired to secure the services
of soldiers who were experienced seamen, for the West-
ern gunboat flotilla. The desire for. change of scene,
and especially an inclination to get rid of long marches,

19

214 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

led many of the men to apply for examination prepara-
tory to transfer.

To properly test the qualifications of the candidates
as seamen, a board of officers was appointed, and fur-
nished with a model of a full-rigged man-of-war. The
aspirant for naval honors was expected to describe the
model, and also explain the points of the compass. In
a brief period there were large numbers who applied for
permission to be examined, and throughout the camp
men were using nautical terms and essaying to box the
compass.

This pastime was brought to an end by an explanatory
order from Hancock, setting forth the fact that " service
on canal-boats or Western propellers did not qualify
men for seamanship." Soon after this the board was
dissolved, and the few "old salts" discovered by its
inquiries were duly transferred to the naval service.

March, 1864, General Alexander S. Webb was trans-
ferred from the Philadelphia Brigade, and assigned to
the command of the First Brigade in the Second Division.
General Joshua T. Owen was at the same time trans-
ferred from the Third Brigade, Third Division, to this
brigade, and at once resumed his old command. The
One Hundred and Fifty-Second New York Volunteers
was added to the brigade on March 26th, and formed a
part of the command during the remainder of its service.
This regiment had an aggregate, present and absent, of
five hundred and eighteen men, and a total present for
duty of fifteen officers and three hundred and seventy
men.

The Sixty-Ninth Pennsylvania Regiment having
largely re-enlisted, a furlough for thirty days was

THE RAPPAHANNOCK AND MINE RUN.

215

granted the veterans on the 14th of March, and they
returned to Philadelphia. While in that city the green
Hag that had been carried with the national colors in all
the campaigns of the regiment was deposited in Inde-
pendence Hall, and a new one was presented by its
friends. Major Duffy having resigned on account of
wounds, Captain William Davis was promoted to the
vacant position and assumed command of the regiment.

On the 4th of April, Colonel T. J. Morehead, One
Hundred and Sixth, who had served faithfully in the
various positions assigned him, tendered his resignation,
and was honorably discharged. Major Stover, of the
same regiment, having been promoted colonel of the
One Hundred and Eighty-Fourth P. V., Captain John
J. Sperry, Company A, was commissioned major.

Each of the regiments had a small increase of num-
bers by the addition of substitutes and conscripts, and
every effort was made by General Owen to promote
efficiency, by constant drills and inspections. On April
30th, 1864, the brigade report was as follows:

Total Present
and Absent.

Present.

Officers.

Men.

I 69th P. V.
71st P. V.
: 72d P. V.

106th P. V.

152d N. Y.

342

589
631
429
518

20
13
12
9
15

304

303
284
229
370

2509

69

1490

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE WILDERNESS.

President Lincoln, on March 10th, 1864, assigned
Lieutenant-General Grant to the command of all the
armies of the United. States. The promulgation of this
order gave the assurance, for the first time in the his-
tory of the Rebellion, that unity of purpose and simulta-
neous movements on the part of all our forces might be
expected in the campaign shortly to open.

The theory of action to which General Grant was
committed by his recent campaign in the West was best
described in his own terms as a "continuous hammer-
ing." Having in view the destruction of Lee's army,
the lieutenant-general lost no time in preparing plans
for the operations about to be commenced.

Towards the end of March the headquarters of the
lieutenant-general were established with the Army of
the Potomac, " until further orders." Considerable re-
inforcements were brought forward and distributed
among the different corps, while the entire command of
Burnside was added to the Army of the Potomac, and
formed an independent corps, separate from the control
of General Meade.

The additions that were made to the effective strength
of the army consisted principally of entire organizations.
216

THE WILDERNESS. 217

New regiments that had been recently formed, and others
which had been guarding depots of supply, or perform-
ing garrison duty in the forts about Washington, were
ordered to the front, and distributed to the different
corps. Among the latter arrivals were the heavy artil-
lerists of General Tyler's command. These troops had
been drilled as infantry regiments, and they presented a
fine appearance, and proved of great service in the cam-
paign. When they joined the Army of the Potomac
their full ranks contained as many men as some of the
depleted brigades of the veterans.

The practice of increasing the force of the army by
adding entire organizations of new troops, frequently
led by officers who had seen but little if any active ser-
vice, was adopted as the policy of several of the States,
and notably by Pennsylvania. Massachusetts and a few
of the Western States pursued the wiser plan of strength-
ening regiments already in the field. The new organi-
zation system was probably adopted as the easier method
to raise men through the personal efforts of officers, that
commissions might be secured. Experience showed that
this practice was an unwise one, and that the object
aimed at might have been more effectually accomplished
by offering special bounties for recruits to old regiments.
The additional amount of money required by the adop-
tion of this plan would have been well expended, and
the benefit to the service far greater.

The beneficial effects of the plan adopted by the State
of Massachusetts were fully demonstrated in our divi-
sion. One of their regiments received two hundred
and fifty Germans who had been sent forward as a por-
tion of the State quota. These men were mercenaries,

19*

218 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

and lacked the incentives to figlit which are supposed
to animate the volunteer; but in spite of this disadvan-
tage and the inconvenience resulting from inability to
speak our language, they made rapid progress towards
efficiency. The credit of fitting these foreigners for their
duties belonged almost as much to the non-commis-
sioned officers and privates of the regiment as to the
company commanders. From the time they reported
for duty, the influence and example of their associates
gave them lessons of experience and supplemented the
instructions of officers. If these recruits had been Amer-
ican citizens, the task of instructing them would, of
course, have been far easier. The benefit attending this
experiment was more fully seen in other regiments, and
resulted in the mutual advantage of the recruits and
the organizations to which they were assigned.

The latter part of April found the army composed of
over one hundred and fifty thousand men, ready for an
immediate movement. The corps had beeu reorganized,
consolidated, and fully equipped.

The three corps into which the army had been con-
solidated were the Second, under Major-General W. S.
Hancock, the Fifth, under Major-General G. K. War-
ren, and the Sixth, under Major-General John Sedg-
wick. The command of the army remained under
Major-General George G. Meade, through whom the
lieutenant-general issued the orders for the principal
operations.

These generals were well known and respected by
their commands, and, although possessing qualifications
or characteristics differing widely from each other, they
were eminently fitted for their positions. The old

THE WILDERNESS. 219

Second Corps had been commanded in turn by all these
corps commanders, and had won distinction under each
of them. The youngest of these officers, General War-
ren, was of acknowledged ability as an engineer officer;
and his knowledge of the country obtained in this branch
of the service, as well as his skill and personal gallantry,
made him an efficient leader in the victory at Bristoe
Station.

General" Sedgwick, the former commander of the di-
vision, familiarly spoken of by the soldiers as "Uncle
John," was always a favorite Avith his command. He
was affable and pleasant in manner, yet strict in obedi-
ence to his orders and exacting in his demands for similar
compliance by those under him. The Second Corps, in
remaining under the command of General Hancock, had
their confidence strengthened by the experience of more
than a year that they would be ably led and have every
opportunity to maintain their high renown as one of the
fighting corps of the Army of the Potomac. There
are some officers whose appearance on the battle-field, or
at the head of a column, imparts hope and secures the
admiration of those serving under them. Hancock not
only possessed this influence, but had the prestige that
came from past success and that inspired anticipations of
brilliant achievements in the future. During the period
the corps had been under his immediate command, it
had never met a surprise from the enemy or lost a gun
in action. For a considerable share of his success Gen-
eral Hancock was indebted to careful attention to de-
tails and his habit of demanding prompt obedience to
minor orders, as well as those of a more important char-
acter. Until these traits were understood and known

220 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

to be the principles of his military action, the general
bore the character among volunteer officers of a mar-
tinet.

Many of the officers of the Second Corps had the
opportunity to profit by the example of their leader,
and no doubt can furnish illustrations of his influence in
moulding their habits. On the evening of the second
day at Gettysburg, after the fight in front of the brigade
was over and the enemy were repulsed, a brigade officer
re-established the picket-line in its old position near the
Emmettsburg road. The duty was completed at dark,
and as soon as he had assured himself of the. proper
connections on each flank of the line he rode back to
the brigade. Here he was met by Hancock, who asked
him to indicate the line, adding the question, " What
troops did you connect with ?" On receiving the reply,
" I am sure the connection is perfect, but did not ascer-
tain to what regiments they belong," the officer was di-
rected to personally make this inquiry. While on the
march towards the Rapidan, the Second Brigade com-
mander was ordered to place guards well out on the
flank of the column, at the roads leading from the main
route. While an officer was giving instructions to a
sergeant in charge of one of these details, General Han-
cock happened to be passing; reining in his horse, he
said, " What orders are you giving your guard ?" " I
am instructing the sergeant to direct General Birney,
who commands the corps that is following ours, to re-
lieve this guard with one from his command." " What
do you say, sir?" was the reply; "a sergeant direct a
major-general ?"

This strict attention to the spirit and the letter of

THE WILDERNESS. 221

duties and Instructions, had it obtained more extensive
practice among those in command, would have frequently
brought success and prevented disaster.

The Second Division remained under Brigadier-Gen-
eral John Gibbon, and the brigades were commanded as
follows : First Brigade, Brigadier-General A. S. Webb ;
Second Brigade, Brigadier-General Joshua T. Owen ;
Third Brigade, Colonel S. S. Carroll.

The plans of Generals Grant and Meade were formed,
and the force awaited the command to move forward on
its campaign of " continuous hammering." This was not
long delayed, and on the 3d of May an order was issued
that the army would move that night toward its objective,
the Confederate army under Lee.

The order for the Second Division was received in
the evening, and is inserted as a reminiscence of the
initiative in the most terrific and bloody campaign of
the war :

"Headquarters, Second Division.
"May 3d, 1864.
" Circular.

" The division will be ready to march to-night at eleven
and a half o'clock, in the following order : First, Second,
and Third Brigades right in front, Right of column
next to corps headquarters. Spring wagons belonging
to headquarters in the order of commanders, to be fol-
lowed by ambulances, ammunition, and baggage wagons.
The Stony Mountain detachments to break up camp after
dark and join the column, getting to the east of the
Stevensburg road as soon as possible, the train in front.
At every halt troops will be massed.

222 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

" Brigade commanders will report at these headquarters
at ten o'clock.

" The division pioneers in front of division.

" By command of Brigadier-General Gibbox.
" John M. Norvell, A. A. G."

The " spring wagons" referred to in this order were
ambulances with dark covers, prepared for the use of
division and brigade headquarters in transporting official
papers, and also the mess supplies. After the opening of
the campaign the number of wounded was so large that
it became necessary to use these wagons for the ambu-
lance corps, and pack animals were substituted in their
stead.

At midnight, May 3d, the army moved in two columns
towards the Rapidan. The right column, composed of
the corps of Warren and Sedgwick, reached Germania
Ford at daylight on the 4th. After a bridge was laid,
Warren commenced crossing, and was followed by Sedg-
wick's Corps in the afternoon. The operation was com-
pleted by evening, both corps resting at night on the
south of the Rapidan.

The Second Corps, under Hancock, moved towards
Ely's Ford, preceded by a division of cavalry under
General Gregg. Upon our arrival at the river we found
that the cavalry had already crossed, and that a ponton
bridge was nearly laid. Soon after the bridge was com-
pleted, Hancock advanced and continued the march to a
point beyond the plank road, near the Chancellorsville
House. This place was reached at three o'clock on the
afternoon of May 4th, where a halt was made to await
the advance of the column on the right. This night we

THE WILDERNESS. 223

bivouacked on the old battle-ground of Hooker, but
drew no special inspiration from its historical associa-
tions.

The gloomy region of country called the Wilderness,
into which over one hundred thousand Union soldiers
had entered, is a labyrinth of forests, in many places
filled with tangled underbrush, penetrated by few roads,
and these for the most part narrow and easily obstructed.
The advantage possessed by an advancing force of con-
cealing its movements was more than neutralized by the
ease with which the enemy, familiar with the ground,
could form ambuscades or direct sudden attacks on col-
umns while marching.

It was evident that General Grant did not desire nor
anticipate a battle in this wilderness region, and ordered
the movements for Thursday, May 5th, which, if unin-
terrupted in their execution, would have brought the
army quite beyond its bounds by night-fall.

At five a.m., May 5th, the Second Corps continued its
march towards Shady Grove church, taking the road by
the Furnaces and Todd's Tavern. At nine o'clock the
advance of our corps was two miles beyond Todd's Tav-
ern, when a dispatch was received from General Meade
directing Hancock "to halt the column, as the enemy
had been discovered in some force on the "Wilderness
pike."

When the Second Corps moved forward, the right
column, which had bivouacked near the Wilderness
Tavern, also resumed its march. The Fifth Corps, under
Warren, had the advance, and its point of direction was
Parker's Store, on the Orange and Fredericksburg plank
road. As Warren passed the turnpike on his way to-

9 9 4 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

wards the plank road, he threw out the division of Griffin
as a protection to the flank of Sedgwick's Corps, which
was following the Fifth.

While the Union forces were thus pushing towards the
south of the Wilderness, the army of General Lee was
marched by its commander towards our column, with the
determination of compelling a fight in this, to ns, un-
known country.

Griffin had hardly gone into position when his skir-
mishers met those of the enemy belonging to Ewell's
Corps, who were approaching by the turnpike. At the
same time, Crawford's Division of the Fifth Corps mov-
ing towards Parker's Store on the plank road encountered
Hill's Corps moving to the attack. These developments
unmasked the plans of Lee, and at once indicated to
Generals Meade and Grant that the Confederates, instead
of deciding to act on the defensive, as had been expected,
had really adopted the offensive, and were boldly putting
their plans into execution.

The two roads by which the enemy was approaching
the positions of the Fifth and Sixth Corps were nearly
parallel to each other, and extended in a general east and
west direction. The turnpike crosses the road to Ger-
mania Ford, near the old Wilderness Tavern, and the
plank road crosses the Brock road, which is a connection
of the Germania road two miles south of the tavern.

The heaviest opposition having been encountered by
the division of Griffin on the upper or turnpike road,
an attack was ordered at that point by General Grant,
who had arrived in the vicinity. Wads worth's Division
was joined with Griffin, and also a brigade from Craw-
ford, that had been recalled from its movement on the

THE WILDERNESS. 995

plank road. The operations on this road were suspended
shortly after these dispositions, and the remainder of
Crawford's command was withdrawn, sharply followed
by the enemy, who fired on the rear-guard.

At noon the division of Griffin moved out on the
turnpike to attack the enemy. The brigade of Ayres
advanced on the right and Bartlett's on the left of the
Orange turnpike, and pressed forward with great spirit,
driving the enemy for a considerable distance in confu-
sion. The Confederates soon recovered from their panic,
and having been strongly reinforced were quickly in
position, not only to withstand the attack of this small
portion of Warren's Corps, but to take the offensive.
The fighting now became desperate and bloody, and for
a time the advantages appeared to be on the side of the
Confederates; the Fifth Corps, having lost three thou-
sand men, was forced back to a new line in the rear of
the position first held, but somewhat in front of the
Germania Ford road.

Before the repulse of the Fifth Corps, General Meade,
perceiving the disadvantage of a withdrawal from the
lower or plank road by which Hill's Corps was ad-
vancing and from which Crawford had been recalled,
speedily re-occupied the position with Getty's Division
of the Sixth Corps. This general had orders to hold at
all hazards the ground covering the junction of the
Brock and plank roads until the arrival of Hancock.

At the time the Second Corps had received orders to
halt, the leading division, as already stated, was beyond
Todd's Tavern, a distance of ten miles from the position
held by General Getty. At eleven o'clock Hancock was
ordered to countermarch at once, and move rapidly up

20

22G HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

the Brock road to its intersection with the Orange plank
road. Our corps had scarcely started on its return before
the enemy began to bear heavily on the skirmishers of
Getty, and every moment the pressure increased, render-
ing it more difficult to hold the ground. In the mean
time Hancock, aware of the importance of securing the
position defended by Getty's Division, was urging his
troops forward as rapidly as possible. This spirit of
the leader amis infused into the men, and the latter part
of the distance was made by the Second Division on the
double-quick. At three o'clock Getty still held his
position, when the cheers of the Second Corps announced
their arrival. Hancock formed two lines of battle, one
on the Brock road and the other a short distance in
front. The troops on the road commenced strengthening
their position with logs, dead trees, and other debris of
that character, of which there was an endless supply. In
this forsaken place nature did her own pruning, and the
trees felled by old time, or branches struck down by the
rude tempest, were scattered through the forest in every
direction.

At this period of the day the relative positions of the
opposing forces presented an anomaly in the experience
of the war. Before Hancock, drawn up in line across
the Orange plank road, was Hill's Corps, prepared to
dispute any advance towards Parker's Store. Confront-
ing the Fifth and Sixth Corps on the turnpike was the
opposing force of Ewell. Between the flanks of the
contending troops there; was no connection, the inter-
vening -pace of dense forest preventing any attempt at
manoeuvring or movements in line. The operations of
the afternoon were, for this reason, of the character of

THE WILDERNESS. 227

separate actions without any Important bearing on each
other.

Our division formed on the Brock road, its right flank
resting near the plank road. The men had scarcely
arranged a line of temporary breastworks, when the
order to push the attack on Hill's Corps was given to
General Getty. At a quarter-past four this division
moved forward on the right and left of the Orange
plank road, having received orders direct from General
Meade Finding that General Getty had met with a
heavy opposing force, Hancock ordered the divisions of
Birney and Mott of the Second Corps to reinforce the
attack. This at once led to desperate fighting at close
range, the volleys of musketry being continuous and
deadly. At a little after half-past four the Philadelphia
Brigade, along with the command of Carroll and the
Irish Brigade, was sent forward to support the line, and
soon became hotly engaged.

In a short time the larger part of the Second Corps
was involved in this furious struggle. Repeated and
desperate assaults were made by our forces, which were
met by the sharp firing of the enemy from his concealed
positions in the forest. At one time Mott's Division
became disordered, and Brigadier-General Alexander
Hays, while restoring the line with his command, fell
mortally wounded in the thickest of the fight.

The Second Corps continued its fruitless attempts to
dislodge the enemy until darkness closed upon the scene.
The troops lay on their arms upon the battle-ground,
both sides exhausted by the severity of the struggle.
That night in the Wilderness will never fade from the
memory of the survivors. When the noise of battle had

228 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

entirely ceased, the contending forces, only separated by
a few paces, were awaiting, like tigers in their lairs, the
coming of day to spring upon each other ; while all
about the line were the dead and dying of both armies.
This region of the shadow of death had been literally
"drenched with fraternal blood."

At daylight General Hancock opened the battle by an
advance of the divisions under Birney and Mott with
the command of Getty, supported by the brigades of
Owen and Carroll of Gibbon's Division. The remain-
ing brigade of the Second Division, under Webb, was at
this time placed in position, looking to the protection of
the left flank from an expected attack by Longstreet's
Corps, known to be on its way to reinforce Lee.

The advance of Hancock's men was so impetuous that
the enemy soon began to give ground. This movement
of the Second Corps was aided by an attack upon the
Confederate left, made by Wadsworth's Division of the
Fifth Corps. This division, by command of General
Warren, had taken up a position the evening before near
the battle-ground on the turnpike that threatened the
flank of Hill's Corps. When the attack was begun by
Hancock a similar movement was made by Wadsworth,
and, although separated by a considerable piece of woods
from the operations of the Second Corps at this hour,
the diversion no doubt prevented the enemy from con-
centrating his forces on either flank of his position.

In one hour after the attack by our forces had com-
menced the enemy were driven, in much confusion and
with heavy loss, from the immediate front of the Second
Corps. The brigade in this advance emerged from the
woods at a small clearing, through which was flowing a

THE WILDERNESS. 229

little stream of water, and just beyond tin's was an ele-
vation covered with trees. On reaching this creek a halt
was made by the line of battle for the purpose of re-
forming and closing up the disordered ranks. Up to
this hour the loss, especially among the officers, had been
very severe; and partially on that account, but more
especially from the nature of the ground and the ob-
struction of the forest, the line was without formation.

This cessation in our advance was unfortunate in its
results, as it gave time to the enemy to receive reinforce-
ments and to strengthen his lines. When the advance
was again ordered, a severe fire was encountered from
the Confederates, who had occupied with a heavy force
the elevation in our front. For a moment our men were
confused by this sudden resistance from fresh troops, and
showed signs of giving ground, but they were soon
rallied.

In the effort to re-unite the brigade with the rest of
the line, General Owen acted with great vigor. In this
emergency the brigade commander received important
assistance from regimental, field, and staff officers, and
especially from his adjutant-general, Captain Robert
S. Seabury. This young officer, who was a soldier of
extraordinary gallantry, fell mortally wounded while
engaged on this duty. At the same moment, and while
similarly occupied, fell two of the regimental com-
manders, Lieutenant-Colonel Kochersperger, Seventy-
First Regiment, severely wounded, and Colonel Baxter,
shot through the lungs.

Dispositions were now made to meet the severe attack
of the Confederates, and General Hancock's forces were
strengthened by Stevenson's Division, of the Sixth Corps,

20*

230 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

while Webb's First Brigade, of the Second Division, was
moved from its position on the Brock road, and quickly
advanced on either side of the plank road. By eight
o'clock the fighting had become continuous along the
entire front of the Second Corps, and was raging at
some points with great fury. Although both armies
were suffering heavy losses, neither was able to gain any
decided advantage. Towards nine o'clock there was an
almost entire cessation, followed soon after by furious
assaults that expended their force before anything defi-
nite was accomplished, and these were followed in turn
by desultory firing.

This character of the contest lasted until near the hour
of noon, and was certainly the most unsatisfactory and
objectless fighting of any campaign through which we
had passed. At no one time during the morning, after
the first charge, could there be seen a body of the enemy
numbering fifty men, and yet heavy volleys of musketry
sent the balls flying into and about our ranks. The line
of fire in response to these attacks was indicated only by
the direction from which the shots were received. Some-
times but a few balls would reach us from the front, then
a sudden discharge would be poured into the flank, and
a change of front had to be made, only to be repeated in
some other direction.

A few moments before twelve o'clock, General Wads-
worth, ayIiosc division had pushed its way during the
morning until it connected with the First Brigade, which
formed the right of the Second Corps, rode through the
woods to the plank road, and began to ascertain the lo-
cation of the corps with a view to concerted action.

While General Wadsworth was on the edge of the

THE WILDERNESS. 231

road, near the line of battle, and engaged in making
these observations, and before his command was really
assured of its position, there occurred one of the strangest
scenes of army experience. Without any apparent cause
that could be seen from the position of the brigade, the
troops on our left began to give way, and commenced
falling back towards the Brock road. Those pressing
past the left flank of the Second Division did not seem
to be demoralized in manner, nor did they present the
appearance of soldiers moving under orders, but rather
of a throng of armed men who were returning dissatis-
fied from a muster. Occasionally some fellow, terror-
stricken, would rush past as if his life depended on speed,
but by far the larger number acted with the utmost de-
liberation in their movements.

In vain were efforts put forth to stop this retrograde
movement ; the men were alike indifferent to commands
or entreaties. One of the most frightened of the few
who were really demoralized was seized by an officer,
but begged that he might not be stopped, saying, " I am
surely wounded." Hoping to recall his pride, the officer
struck the man across the back with the flat of his sword.
The frightened fellow, thinking the shock was caused by
one of the bullets that were flying about, sprang forward
with terror, crying out, " Now I know I am wounded !"
The effect was so ludicrous that he was permitted to con-
tinue his retreat.

A portion of the Second Division now changed front,
with its line parallel to the plank road, to meet this
new attack; but the men soon caught the infection
and joined in the retreat, and they were compelled by
their temporary delay to move a little faster in order

232 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

to overtake the rest of the corps and make up for lost
time.

The division of Wadsworth, being on the right of the
plank road, was the last to feel this influence ; but, in
spite of the most gallant efforts of its commander, it soon
joined with the other troops in moving to the rear,
leaving the brave Wadsworth mortally wounded. This
officer, who died in the hands of the enemy, was a
gentleman of large means and enthusiastic patriotism,
and, although somewhat advanced in years, he left his
luxurious home for the battle-field. His appearance
and characteristics strongly suggested the memory of
Colonel E. D. Baker.

The pressure that had started this withdrawal of Han-
cock's Corps was soon ascertained to be due to the arrival
of Lono;street's men, who had commenced to turn our
left flank. The brigade of Colonel Frank, occupying
this position, had been overrun by the heavy force of the
enemy, and the rest of the corps, before they had been
assaulted, under the influence of the movement, com-
menced to retire without waiting to ascertain its necessity.
General Hancock, with his division and brigade com-
manders, used their utmost to stem the current, but
without success. No explanation can be given of this
extraordinary affair, unless it might be that the rank
and file were desirous of trying to take a new position
on the Brock road on their own responsibility, instead
of "hammering continually" in the dense woods.

The line of battle was now formed along the breast-
works from which our advance had been made the even-
ing before. The color-sergeants, as they arrived, placed
their flags on the defenses, while the men, with faces

THE WILDERNESS. 233

begrimed with powder, but showing no anxiety for the
result of the coming attack, calmly fell into their places
and awaited the enemy.

Soon after, the Confederate line of battle made its
appearance, and firing commenced ; but the attack was
without any spirit, and, after a few volleys, the enemy
drew back a short distance into the woods and halted.
This sudden suspension of attack, as we afterwards ascer-
tained, was caused by the severe wounding of the leader,
General Longstreet.

After this there was a cessation of fighting on Han-
cock's front for several hours, during which regiments
were re-formed and the log defenses were increased in
strength. The lull wras broken at four o'clock by a de-
termined advance of the enemy. A large force pushed
forward to assault the Second Corps line, but halted
when within a hundred yards of the defenses, and began
a continuous fire of musketry. Our men were but little
exposed, and their position gave them an opportunity to
repay the severe handling they had received in the early
morning. Just as the Confederates were beginning to
fall back from the effect of the volleys they wrere re-
ceiving, a circumstance occurred that for the moment
threw a portion of the Second Corps into confusion.
The woods on the left of our front caught fire, and the
flames spread so rapidly that the breastworks were soon
enveloped, the heat becoming go intense that the men
were driven from the line. The enemy took advantage
of this and pressed forward to the defenses, a few of
the leaders advancing beyond them, firing on the troops
that had fled. This success wras of short duration, and
was soon overcome by a charge of the Second Division,

234 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

in which the Confederates were rapidly sent back into
the forest.

This closed the fighting for the day upon the front of
the Second Corps, and, with the exception of an attack
a little later on the right flank of the Sixth Corps, near
the turnpike, ended the battle of the Wilderness.

Daring these terrible battles, fought in the midst of
dense woods, there was but little opportunity for any
manoeuvres, except the one indicated by the order, " For-
ward; attack in line!" The batteries were generally
parked in the rear of the corps to which they belonged,
only an occasional section of artillery having an oppor-
tunity of engaging to advantage in the contest. The
Confederates made use of one or two guns on the plank
road, and dropped a few shells among the mass of troops
during the retreat, but the line of fire was easily avoided,
and did no great damage. Cavalry were of course en-
tirely out of the question, and were stationed on the
flank and rear of the army.

The Union loss in these actions was estimated to ex-
ceed fifteen thousand men, while the Confederate casual-
ties were as heavy in proportion to the number of troops
engaged.

The Philadelphia Brigade suffered severely, but the
actual loss in this, as in other battles of Grant's cam-
paign, can never be ascertained. Among the officers
the following casualties were reported, in addition to
those already mentioned : Captains R. L. R. Shreeve,
Seventy-Second, and W. W. Hulser, One Hundred and
Fifty-Second New York, killed. The following officers
were wounded: Captains Thomas J. Rorer, John Lock-
hart, and Robert Stewart, Seventy-Second, and William

THE WILDERNESS. 235

M. Smith, Seventy-First; and Lieutenants Frederick
Coppes, Philip Grey, T. J. Longacre, Seventy-Second ;
John C. Freeman and Stephen Holdcn, One Hundred
and Fifty-Second New York, and William McDaid,
Seventy-First.

Saturday, May 7th, was passed by both armies in
their intrenched or partly fortified positions, neither of
them willing to advance, and both anxious to be attacked.
Early in the day strong skirmish lines were moved for-
ward for the purpose of discovering the Confederate
position, but there was no attempt on the part of Grant
to resume the contest". On the left flank, near Todd's
Tavern, there was a severe cavalry fight, but without any
decided success for either force.

It soon became apparent to the most ordinary observer
that the position occupied by the Union army must be
speedily abandoned, but much uncertainty existed among
the troops as to whether the next move would be for-
ward or in retreat. While the great mass of veterans
were lying along their breastworks awaiting orders,
many of them were occupied in discussing amusing
theories of action. Some of these men, probably influ-
enced by memories of the past, suggested that " after the
results of the past three days," some of the previous
commanders of the Army of the Potomac would have
decided to recross the Rapidan to their old position,
grant furloughs to a large number of the men, and, after
forwarding to Washington extensive requisitions for
clothing and supplies, await reinforcements before the
next move. A few of these unauthorized critics also
thought it equally probable that some of the old com-
manders would have tried to manoeuvre to avoid a fight

236 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

under circumstances so unfavorable. The present com-
mander, although disappointed in his first effort, adhered
to his original plan of campaign and resolved to continue
on the same line. During the day the army was ordered
to be ready at dark to continue the advance and move
towards Spottsylvania Court-House.

CHAPTER XIX.

SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE.

While the army remained in position on the battle-
field of the Wilderness, the dead lying within the lines
were buried as well as the nature of the ground and the
circumstances would permit. At the best, the work was
very imperfectly done, and hundreds of comrades with
blankets or shelter-tents for winding-sheets were placed
in shallow trenches scarcely deep enough to cover their
remains. There was a large number of bodies lying on
our front, or between the skirmish lines, that could not
be reached, and some of these, it is more than probable,
were thus exposed long after the army had moved away.

The multitudes of wounded required the utmost ex-
ertions of the surgeons and the ambulance corps to
properly care for them, and to furnish necessary trans-
portation to the rear. In this work they were materially
assisted by the Sanitary Commission, under the direction
of J. Warner Johnson. The first train of ambulances
was started to the rear, with orders to recross the Rapi-
dan and move towards the railroad station, near the old
camping-ground. The recrossing had scarcely commenced
when the ambulances were fired into by the partisan
rangers belonging to White's cavalry, and compelled to
return to the field hospitals near the Wilderness Tavern.

21 237

238 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

By this time there was a train of wounded awaiting
transportation miles in length. After much delay a
cavalry scout ascertained that the road to Fredericksburg
was clear, when the wagons again started with their
freight of human suffering. On approaching the city
it was found that the armed citizens, under direction of
the mayor, were disposed to offer resistance. This was
soon overcome, and after a short delay a portion of the
wounded of the Second Division were sent forward to
Aquia Creek, but without an escort. This risk proved
unfortunate in its results. The ambulances were again
attacked, and Lieutenant Bond, adjutant of the Twentieth
Massachusetts, was killed, and Captain Cooper, of Gen-
eral Webb's staff, received an additional wound.

Soldiers act intuitively, and the fate of the wounded,
and especially the dead, of this campaign, created appre-
hensions in the minds of many that were not without
their influence. The ideal soldier of the age of chivalry
has no successor in the American volunteer. The former
might have been indifferent to suffering, or might have
failed to anticipate Christian burial, but the latter is
strengthened for the conflict by the knowledge that
sympathizing friends will care for him if wounded, or
bestow the last rites if he falls in the conflict.

On the afternoon of May 7th the corps commanders
received orders preliminary to a movement on Spottsyl-
vania Court-House. The direct route was by the Brock
road, passing Todd's Tavern. Warren was ordered to
take the advance at half-past eight P.M., and the Second
Corps to follow closely. The Sixth Corps, under Sedg-
wick, was to proceed to Chancellorsville at the same
time as Warren, and there it was to be joined by the

SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 239

trains of the two corps, and to move by way of Pincy
Branch church to Spottsylvania. The trains of the
Second Corps were ordered to Chancellorsville to be
held ready to move at the same hour with other trains,
by way of the Furnaces, to Todd's Tavern, keeping clear
of the Brock road, which was to be used by the troops.

The Fifth Corps began its movement at nine o'clock,
and, after some delay at Todd's Tavern, it reached a point
two miles beyond, at three A.M. on the 8th. At this
point it was again detained, this time by the enemy, who
had placed numerous obstructions on the road. It was
not until daylight that the opposing force was driven
away, and the march resumed and continued until the
corps reached a clearing two miles from Spottsylvania
Court-House, where a halt was made.

This place was reached at about eight p.m., and with-
out encountering any opposition except from dismounted
cavalry. After forming in line, the leading division of
Robinson was ordered to advance towards the woods
intervening between this cleared place and the court-
house. When half-way across the field, a heavy fire was
unexpectedly met, and the line was momentarily thrown
into confusion, and fell back to the position from which
the advance had been made. Another division of War-
ren's Corps that moved forward on the right of Robin-
son, simultaneously with him, encountered a similar
obstacle, and was also compelled to retire. Immediately
after these movements, attacks were made on both flanks
of the enemy by Wads worth's Division, under General
Cutler, and the Pennsylvania Reserves, which were more
successful. The positions gained by these flank opera-
tions were held, and the remainder of the corps formed

240 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

in line connecting with them. These positions were
rapidly strengthened by intrenching.

The force that Warren had encountered proved to be
Longstreet's Corps, which had left its position in the
Wilderness simultaneously with the Fifth Corps, and,
having no obstructions to delay its movements, had
arrived at the point before our troops. This advance
movement of the Confederates was speedily followed by
the rest of their army.

It was near daylight on the 8th when the rear of the
Fifth Corps had passed our line on the Brock road, and
the way was clear for a movement. After the arrival of
the Second Corps at Todd's Tavern it was halted by
command of General Meade, and a force advanced as a
defense on the Catharpen road connecting the routes on
which the two armies were moving. In the afternoon
the Second Division was detached from the corps and
sent forward towards Spottsylvania, where it joined the
Fifth Corps, already reinforced by the arrival of the
Sixth. On the next day, May 9th, the rest of the corps
moved forward to this point, thus bringing the entire
army once more in line of battle confronting the enemy.

The left of this new line was held by Burnside, con-
necting on the right with Sedgwick ; then came Warren,
the extreme right being held by Hancock. In front of
the Second Corps was the river Po, a small stream flow-
ing through a deep valley running nearly eastward from
our position.

The morning was taken up in making dispositions,
and, with the exception of the frequent discharge of
sharp-shooters7 rifles, it was comparatively quiet. This
practice was made use of very extensively in this and

S POTTS FLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 241

subsequent campaigns by both armies, often inflicting
severe losses. Among those who fell this day was
Major-General Sedgwick, whose death was universally
lamented. This experienced officer, known to the men
of our division as their first commander in active service,
and respected for his brave conduct on the battle-field,
was instantly killed while standing near the breastworks
of the Sixth Corps.

Daring the afternoon of Monday, May 9th, Confed-
erate wagons could be seen from our position moving
along the road to Spottsylvania, and the Second Corps
was directed to cross and endeavor to intercept the train.
At four o'clock the small picket force of the enemy was
driven away, and the command commenced crossing the
river. Before this was completed, night came on and
the troops bivouacked on its banks. Next morning, the
10th, a force pushed out towards the point where the
wagons had been seen, only to find that the train had
safely passed to the Confederate rear.

At ten a.m., May 10th, the divisions of Gibbon and
Birney recrossed the Po and took up a position on a
wooded ridge joining the line of the Fifth Corps. The
last division of the Second Corps, under Barlow, re-
mained over the Po until two o'clock, when it was also
ordered to withdraw. Just as the movement began it
was heavily attacked by the enemy, but met the charge
with so much spirit that the Confederates were kept at
bay. While this severe contest was at its height, the
woods in the rear of Barlow's men, between them and
the river, caught fire ; and in the midst of the burning
timbers, and under the volleys of the enemy, who were
repeatedly driven back, the division recrossed the Po.

242 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

In this affair the loss was severe, and some of the
wounded who fell in the burning woods perished in the
flames. In retiring the artillery, one of the guns met
with an accident while being run down the difficult
approach to the river, and had to be abandoned. This
was the first gun ever lost by the Second Corps.

The position of the enemy confronting our corps, after
we had recrossed the Po and joined Warren, was the
strongest point of the Confederate lines. Upon the crest
of the thickly-wooded elevation of Laurel Hill they had
formed earthworks, rendered almost inaccessible by an
abattis of timber and sharpened branches, while the
approaches were covered with artillery.

This place had been attacked by portions of the Fifth
and Sixth Corps about noon, but with no success. At
three o'clock a movement was ordered for the purpose
of advancing the line preparatory to a general assault ;
this also failed. And now at four p.m. a staff-officer
rode out to our position to say that the whole line would
charge at five p.m., the signal to be " cheering on the
left,"

At the appointed hour the men moved forward from
their partially-concealed places in the woods, and the
moment the line entered the cleared space in front of the
enemy's position, it met a fierce fire. Some portions of
the corps advanced to the abattis, others halted part way
and discharged a few volleys, but speedily the whole line
fell back with terrible loss.

About the time of this assault, an attack was made by
the Sixth Corps on the left, which was more successful,
Upton's Brigade having carried the first line of the Con-
federate works and captured nine hundred prisoners and

SPOTTSVLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 243

several guns. This portion of the line was held until
dark, when the troops, for want of support, abandoned
the guns and retired to their original line.

The failure of the Second and Fifth Corps did not
deter the general commanding from a renewed attempt
on the same position. Accordingly, regiments had
scarcely re-formed before an officer made his appear-
ance with directions to " repeat the assault at precisely
six o'clock." In spite of the horrible losses required by
obedience to this command, there was an approach to
the ridiculous in the manner of its communication. No
officer of higher rank than a brigade commander had
examined the approaches to the enemy's works on our
front, and the whole expression of the person who
brought the message seemed to say, " The general com-
manding is doubtful of your success." The moment
the order was given, the messenger put spurs to his
horse and rode off, lest by some misunderstanding the
assault should begin before he was safe out of the range
of the enemy's responsive fire.

Promptly at the appointed hour the division moved
out of the woods towards the coveted works. The men
had weighed the probabilities of success and decided
that the attempt was hopeless. The advance along the
line was made without enthusiasm, and it continued only
a short distance, when a halt was made and firing com-
menced and continued for a brief period, when the whole
force fell back as suddenly as before.

The result of this second attempt, although not at-
tended with as heavy loss as the first, was more demor-
alizing. Some of the best troops of the Second Corps,
the equals of any soldiers that ever carried arms, not

244 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

only retired without any real attempt to carry the enemy's
works, but actually retreated in confusion to a point far
to the rear of the original line, and remained there until
nearly night. Brigade staff-officers who were sent to
recall the scattered troops, found them gathered about
their regimental flags, quietly preparing coifee and com-
paring experiences about the movement on Laurel Hill.
In the two attacks of this day the Second and Fifth
Corps lost over five thousand men, while it is probable
that the enemy did not lose one thousand.

Wednesday, May 11th, the army remained in posi-
tion without any fighting, except a few small affairs of
the picket and the usual fusillade of the sharp-shooters.

At dark, the Second Corps was ordered to prepare for
moving at a moment's notice. The men were directed
to arrange their canteens and accoutrements to prevent
any noise or rattling from indicating to the enemy that
a movement was in progress.

At midnight the column started towards the left of the
army, and at dawn of day reached a position in the rear
of that occupied by the Sixth Corps, and near the Brown
House. The distance marched was not over five miles,
but the progress of the column was rendered difficult and
slow by the darkness of the night and by obstructions
in the road.

A little before five o'clock on Thursday morning, May
12th, a line of battle was formed by the entire Second
Corps : Barlow's Division in two lines, each regiment
doubled on the centre; Birney's Division deployed in
front of Barlow; and the divisions of Mott and Gib-
bon on the right. The distance from the point of for-
mation to the Confederate works was supposed to be

SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 245

three-fourths of a mile, although but little was known
of the exact location. In front of Barlow the ground
was cleared up to the works, while that to be traversed
by the Second Division was wooded, with the exception
of about one hundred yards.

Immediately after the order to advance was given, the
troops started at a quick pace and moved forward with-
out cheering or firing a shot. The point of direction at
the start could only be known by the compass. An ad-
vance of half a mile brought Barlow's Division within
view of the earthworks at a point where they formed
a salient angle. The line, as deployed, proved to be
oblique to that of the enemy, bringing Barlow first to
strike, then Birney, then Mott and Gibbon.

When Barlow's men came within sight of the Confed-
erates, they took up the double-quick, and with their
flags unfurled rushed up to the works, tore away the
obstructions in front, and, quickly clambering over the
defenses, sprang among the guns. Birney's Division
and that of Mott on the right entered the works almost
at the same time with Barlow.

The men of Gibbon's Division pressed forward with
their comrades, and as they emerged from the woods and
saw in the gray light of the morning what appeared to
be a line of intrenchments, they raised a loud cheer.
This unfortunately gave the enemy warning of our ad-
vance. When the division pushed forward past the
mistaken line and came in front of the real point of
attack, it received a severe fire of musketry and artillery.
Although losing heavily while crossing the space imme-
diately adjacent to the works, the command never faltered,
but with renewed cheering carried the intrenchments on

246 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

the right of Birney, and met the enemy almost simul-
taneously with the rest of the corps.

There was now a hand-to-hand struggle, in which the
brigade bore its full part, many of its members acting
with great gallantry. One of the regimental officers,
Lieutenant Charles MeXally, Sixty-Xinth, after a per-
sonal encounter, in which he was injured, captured a
battle-flag. This conflict at close quarters was of short
duration ; most of the enemy surrendered, while those
who could escape fled through the woods to the next line
of defense.

The result of the Second Corps' charge was the cap-
ture of nearly four thousand prisoners, composing almost
an entire division of Ewell's Corps, with their com-
mander, General Johnson. Among the trophies were
eighteen guns and thirty standards.

The assault was made so quickly after the preliminary
dispositions that many on both sides were unaware of its
real character until it was nearly completed. Imme-
diately in the rear of the division, and following its
movements, no doubt supposing its advance was only a
change of position, were some of the officers' servants.
One of these men was leading an animal laden with pan-
niers containing the mess supplies for brigade head-
quarters. When the artillery opened after the first
cheering, a shell entered the breast of the pack animal,
and, passing through, lodged in one of the baskets. The
servant unfastened the halter, and, without stopping to
grieve over his loss, joined the brigade and entered the
works. In a short time the enterprising fellow had
seized a horse belonging to the Con federate batteries, and
was on his way back to transfer his load.

SPO TTSYL VAN I A CO UR T-IIO USE. 247

Some of the Confederates near the brigade at the time
the works were entered, cried out, "Yanks, yon have
got ns this time." One man who was rushing towards
us fell wounded within a few feet of an officer, saying,
" I am sorry you shot me ; I was coming to take the
oath of allegiance." Upon being told that we had no
copy of that document, but could accommodate him with
a little whisky instead, he replied, " That will do as
well."

An attempt was made by some of the men to bring
the captured guns to bear on the retreating enemy, but
without much success. One patriotic Irishman, who
was endeavoring to discharge a cannon with its muzzle
at an elevation of forty-five degrees, was advised to
depress the gun, but confidently replied, "Niver fare:
it's bound to come down on somebody's head."

These episodes, with many others, occurred while the
prisoners were being sent to the rear. In a brief time
the mass of the corps, elated by their success, began a
pursuit of the retreating Confederates towards Spottsyl-
vania. This movement was without order or forma-
tion, and, after advancing half a mile through the woods,
the second line of defense was approached, where a heavy
force was encountered that speedily drove our men back
towards the works they had captured.

It now became evident that the point Hancock had
seized was of the greatest importance to the Confed-
erates, as its occupation threatened to divide their army,
and preparations were made to resist an attempt at re-
capture. Arnold's Rhode Island Battery was brought
to the front and placed on the right of the line, and at
the same time other batteries of the corps were put in

248 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

position near the Landrum House at our rear. At six
a.m. the Sixth Corps began to arrive, and advanced to
the earthworks, forming line with the Second Corps.

These movements were in progress when the enemy-
approached and opened the contest. The men of the
Second Corps were in considerable disorder, — officers
were seeking for their commands, and many of the men
were gathering about color-sergeants carrying the flags
of other regiments. In a moment the men rushed up
to the nearest defense, closed up their ranks, and began
to return the fire.

The most sanguinary and deadly fight of this cam-
paign began at this moment. During the entire day
and far into the night there was one continuous roll of
musketry. Repeated charges were made by the enemy,
only to be as frequently repulsed. Occasionally both
Union and Confederate flags were on the breastworks at
the same moment, and for the time the concentration of
fire told with fearful effect. The most desperate con-
test was about the salient, and in front of it the sight
was one of horror. Those killed in the charge at day-
light lay before the works, while every repulse of the
Confederates left an increased number, until bodies
were lying across each other in heaps. The fire was
so incessant that the dead were repeatedly struck with
balls from both sides, and the wounded in many cases
perished before the sun went down on the scene of
blood.

At dark the assaults of Lee were over, but the firing
continued from his skirmishers until near midnight.
The actual loss of the brigade in this fight is unknown.
In the list of casualties reported were the following

SPOTTSVLVANIA COURT-HOI SE. 249

officers: Sixty-Ninth Regiment, Captain Thomas Kelly
and Lieutenant Josiali Jack, killed ; Captain John
McHugh, Lieutenants Charles McNally and Frederick
Campbell, wounded. Seventy-First, Captain Mitchell
Smith, killed. One Hundred and Sixth, Lieuten-
ant-Colonel William L. Curry, in command, mortally
wounded, and Lieutenants Charles S. Schwartz and
Joshua A. Gage, killed. One Hundred and Fifty-
Second New York, Lieutenant G. W. Thompson,
wounded.

Colonel Curry died at Washington July 7th. He
had won a good reputation as a faithful and intelligent
officer, and at different periods of the service had been
intrusted with the command of a brigade.

At the time the Second Division encountered the
enemy's fire, the loss among officers was very heavy.
Brevet Major-General Alexander S. Webb, who had
been transferred from the command of the Second Bri-
gade to the First, fell in front of the Confederate works
with a severe wound in the head just before the division
had gained its success. Besides the One Hundred and
Sixth there were several regiments of the corps that lost
their commanding officers, and these casualties for a
brief time impaired their efficiency. The effect of the
victory, however, more than compensated for the losses
sustained, and the entire army received a new impulse
from the success of the Second Corps.

Immediately after this affair the following circular

was ordered to be read to the troops, and, emanating

from an officer who had won their respect for his soldierly

qualifications, it had great influence as an incentive for

future achievements :

22

250 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

11 Headquarters, Army of the Potomac,

" May 13th, 1864.

"Soldiers, — The moment has arrived when your
commanding general feels authorized to address you in
terms of congratulation.

"For eight days and nights, almost without intermis-
sion, in rain and sunshine, you have been gallantly fight-
ing a desperate foe in positions naturally strong, and
rendered doubly so by intrenchments. You have com-
pelled him to abandon his fortifications on the Rapidan,
to retire, and attempt to stop your onward progress, and
now he has abandoned the last intrenched position so
tenaciously held, suffering in all a loss of eighteen
guns, twenty-two colors, and eight thousand prisoners,
including two general officers.

" Your heroic deeds and the noble endurance of fa-
tigue and privation will ever be memorable.

" Let us return thanks to God for the mercy thus
shown us, and ask earnestly for its continuance.

" Soldiers, your work is not over ; the enemy must be
pursued, and, if possible, overcome.

" The courage and fortitude which you have displayed
render your commanding general confident that your
future efforts will result in success. While we mourn
the loss of many gallant comrades, let us remember that
the enemy must have suffered equal, if not greater,
losses. We shall soon receive reinforcements which he
cannot expect. Let us determine, then, to continue
vigorously the work so well begun, and, under God's
blessing, in a short time the object of our labors will
be accomplished. "Geo. G. Meade,

" Major-General Commanding."

SPOTTSFLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 251

The remainder of the month of May was occupied in
frequent movements, attacks, and skirmishes, involving
fatigue and suffering that severely tried the endurance
and fortitude of the soldiers.

The following extracts from a field diary, written
up each day with a lead-pencil, and carried during the
campaign, will recall an outline of the Second Brigade's
operations immediately after the battle of Spottsylvania
Court-House :

"May 13th, 14th, and 15th. The brigade changed
position frequently, without any apparent object except
to obey orders. There was little fighting, but con-
tinued picketing or marching from one point of the
line to another. At nights we bivouacked on the field
surrounded by the dead, and often drenched with
rain.

"Monday, 16th. At four p.m. our division moved
out to the position abandoned by the Fifth Corps, to
bring in six hundred wounded men who were left in
hospital. The empty wagon-train accompanying us
was filled, and the expedition returned unmolested at
nine P.M.

"May 17th. The corps lay back of the Landrum
House all day. The men were tired and weary. At
night we were ordered to prepare to retake the works
captured on the 12th, which had been abandoned to the
enemy. The night was spent in moving and changing
positions preparatory to the assault.

""May 18th. At a quarter of five A.M. the division
advanced on the Confederates, who held a line in front
of the old defenses. This assault was unsuccessful ; the
works were too strong, and the corps, after getting

252 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

within a few paces of the enemy, fell back, losing con-
siderably in killed and wounded. Left this front at
nine p.m. for the Ny River.

" May 19th. At two o'clock a.m., arrived at the Ny.
Halted during the day near Anderson's Mills. Part of
the brigade on picket duty. Ordered to march at
eleven p.m. After falling into line the order was coun-
termanded."

This movement was delayed in consequence of an
attack by the enemy during the day on the right of our
army. Ewell's Corps crossed the Ny above the right
flank, and, pushing forward to the Fredericksburg road,
seized an ammunition-train; but was handsomely re-
pulsed, losing a number killed and wounded, besides
several hundred prisoners.

" May 20th. At half-past eleven, started on the road
to Massaponox church.

" May 21st. After marching all the preceding night,
crossed the Mattapony, near Milford, at eleven a.m.,
and formed line of battle.

"May 23d. After remaining in position near the
river until seven a.m. to-day, started via Chesterfield
to the North Anna River. Arrived at three p.m.,
and met the skirmishers of the enemy on its north
side."

At the time General Grant commenced the flank
movement to the east and south of Spottsylvania, Gen-
eral Lee anticipated his course, and at once put his
forces on the march, by parallel roads, to intercept the
Union advance. Having the best and most direct route
from his position at Spottsylvania to the next line of
defense, the Confederate general was able to anticipate

SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 253

Grant's movements, and again intervene between his
columns and Richmond. Upon our arrival near the
point at which the telegraph-road from Fredericksburg
to Richmond crosses the stream, we found the enemv,
in large force, prepared to resist the passage.

22*

CHAPTER XX.

NORTH ANNA.

After leaving Spottsylvania the route of the Second
Corps lay, for the most part, through a fertile country
that had not been disturbed by the tread of hostile
armies. The farm-buildings were generally well con-
structed, and the mansions, in many instances, were
supplied with the luxuries as well as the comforts of
life. One of these homesteads, near a position occupied
by the brigade, gave evidence in its collection of articles
of vertu, and in its well-supplied wine-cellar, that there
were in this part of Virginia citizens whose means per-
mitted the gratification of a cultivated and luxurious
taste.

The change of scene from the wilds of Chancellors-
ville and Spottsylvania to the green fields, and farms
stocked with sheep and fine cattle, that gave beauty to
this locality, was gratifying to the soldiers, who, it is
probable, to as great a degree were distasteful to the
inhabitants. Although the latter were not disturbed in
their persons, they nevertheless suffered great inconven-
ience and loss of property from the military operations
of the Union advance. One of the chief annoyances
was the destruction caused by the preparation of tempo-
rary defenses.
254

NORTH ANNA. 255

Experience had impressed on the veterans of both
armies the great importance of adding to the strength
of positions by constructing rifle-pits, earthworks, and
other defenses. The men had so frequently found the
advantage of these constructions that their erection sel-
dom needed the order of the commanding general. AYhen
the enemy were in front and an attack was probable,
rifle-pits were dug as soon as a halt was made, often-
times before the soldiers had partaken of their hard-
tack and coffee. To assist in this work the ammunition-
wagons of each division carried intrenching tools and
axes ; but in an emergency the men did not await the
arrival of these implements, using instead their bayonets
or tools carried by the pioneers, and in advanced posi-
tions, in the absence of these, even pieces of wood and
tin-cups were employed to scoop out covers for the
skirmishers.

There are numerous monuments of military enter-
prise still existing in the theatre of army operations,
and their erection entailed considerable loss, especially
near the North Anna, where the cultivated land was of
more value than the Wilderness forests or the Chicka-
hominy swamps. On one occasion the division formed
in line of battle on a farm that was under high cultiva-
tion, and the men worked industriously for hours, until
a continuous ditch of several feet in depth extended
through the centre, dividing it into equal sections. To
strengthen this rifle-pit the log slave-huts and outbuild-
ings were torn down and laid along the top of the em-
bankment. The wrork was scarcely completed when it
was ascertained that the enemy had changed his front,
rendering it necessary to form a line of defense crossing

256 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

the first at right angles. As soon as the brigades took
new positions, work was begun on another rifle-pit of the
same character. After working for several hours, the
scouts reported that the enemy had left, and the division
marched off, leaving the astonished planter in possession
of a farm literally crossed with ditches. Operations
of tli is character were frequently repeated, and these
field-works, aside from the destruction of buildings and
valuable fruit-trees cut down for obstructions, often cost
heavy expense and labor to repair their damages.

Notwithstanding the peculiar hardships of this cam-
paign, its continuous fighting, marching, and intrenching,
the morale of the men was so far wonderfully preserved.
There was some straggling and skulking, but it was
principally among the substitutes and drafted men. To
remedy these evils severe orders were issued, and in
several cases those found guilty, after trial by drumhead
courts-martial, were punished with death. As will be
seen by the following circular, the proceedings in the
trials by courts-martial were exceedingly brief, and the
sentences were quickly executed :

"Headquarters, Second Division,
" May 19th, 1864.
11 Circular to Courts-Martial.

"In the trial of stragglers as directed by circular
orders from headquarters, Second Corps, May 17th,
1864, the proceedings will be of the most summary
character, the main point being to establish the guilt of
the accused. Testimony will be taken as usual, but no
record need be kept of it. The charge, pleas, finding,
and sentence, will be duly recorded and signed.

" The fact that a man is sent back under guard to

NORTH ANNA. 257

his regiment after a battle, and is unable to show any
authority for his absence, ought to be sufficient for his
conviction ; and it is recommended to courts-martial to
inflict in every clear case the penalty of death, in order
to save life and maintain the efficiency of the army.

"John Gibbon,
" Brigadier-General Volunteers,

" Commanding Division."

One of the cases tried under the instructions of Gen-
eral Gibbon was that of a young man belonging to the
First Brigade. He had been convicted and sentenced
for an infraction of military law previously, but upon
the ursent solicitation of his mother he had received a
pardon from President Lincoln.

The court-martial met on the edge of the woods near
the headquarters of the division, at three o'clock in the
afternoon of May 19th. After a brief session, the
prisoner was found guilty, and the report of the trial
was forwarded through the usual channels to the head-
quarters of the army.

The following abstract of these proceedings will show
the prompt action taken by the military authorities in
this and in a number of similar cases :

"Headquarters, Army of the Potomac,

"May 19th, 1864.

"General Court-Martial Order No.

" Before a general court-martial, convened in Second
Division, Second Corps, in pursuance of special orders
from these headquarters of May 19th, 1864, was ar-
raigned and tried private , on the following charge

and specifications :

258 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

"Charge. Deserting the colors of the regiment in the
face of the enemy.

" Specification 1st. In this, that private did desert

his post and the colors of his regiment while engaged
with the enemy in the Wilderness, at or near Chancel-
lorsville, Virginia, on or about May 7th, 18G4.

"Specification 2d. In this, that the said private

did desert his colors while the regiment was going into
action at or near Spottsylvania Court-House, on or
about the 10th day of May, 1864. To which charge
and specifications the accused pleaded not guilty.

" Finding. 1st Specification : not guilty. 2d Specifica-
tion : guilty. Charge: guilty. Sentence: to be shot to
death with musketry at such time and place as the com-
manding general may direct, two-thirds of the members
concurring therein.

" The proceedings of the general court-martial in the
foregoing case having been approved by the proper
authorities and transmitted to the general commanding,
the following are the orders thereon. The proceedings

in the case of private are approved ; the sentence

will be carried into effect in presenceof so much of the
division to which the prisoner belongs as can be properly
assembled at seven a.m., May 20th, 1864, or as soon
after as practicable.

"The major-general commanding is determined to
exercise the utmost rigor of the law in punishing those
cowards who disgrace their colors by basely deserting
them in the presence of the enemy.

" By command of Major-General Meade.

"S. "Williams, A. A. G."

NORTH ANNA. 259

The behavior of this prisoner at his death-scene seemed
to give a denial to the specifications against him. Jle
walked unsupported in front of the firing party to the
plaee appointed for the execution, and stood with his
back to the grave and his face to the provost guard.
When the order to fire was given, he exclaimed, — " Oh,
my poor mother !" and fell, an example of military
severity.

Whether the effect of an execution for an alleged
physical or moral weakness of this character is beneficial
to the service, or at least is necessary to the preservation
of discipline, is a disputed point. As in one instance
already alluded to in these pages, a soldier may act with
questionable courage on one occasion and redeem himself
on another. While there are crimes in the army that
appear to merit death, the failure to perform duties from
want of courage, however detestable the offense, is one
that could be held up to scorn very effectually by the
continued existence of the culprit in some position of
disgrace, which would at the same time give the offender
an opportunity to recover his reputation on some future
occasion.

' At the time the left column under Hancock reached
the North Anna, the right under Warren struck the
river about four miles higher up, at a point called
Jericho Ford. This place was found unoccupied by the
enemy, and Bartlett's Brigade was ordered to cross at
once and form a line of battle to cover the building of a
ponton bridge. The men of this advance plunged into
the water, and although the ford was waist deep and the
banks quite precipitous, a landing was speedily effected.
In a short time after this the bridge was completed, and

260 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

the entire corps crossed at about three p.m., and began
to intrench a short distance from the river-bank. Late
in the afternoon and before the defenses were completed,
a heavy force of the enemy made an attack on the corps.
This assault was so spirited on the part of the Confed-
erates that one of Warren's divisions was for a few
moments thrown into confusion, but the ground lost
was recovered and the line restored by the gallantry of
Bartlett's Brigade, and especially by the conduct of the
Eighty-Third Pennsylvania. Immediately after this
action, which lasted for an hour, the enemy were repulsed
at all points and retired into the woods in front, leaving
one thousand prisoners in the hands of the Fifth Corps.

The state of affairs at the location the Second Corps
had selected, as already stated, was of a different char-
acter from that at AVarren?s. In our front we met the
Confederate skirmishers on the north bank, and found
that the river could only be reached by driving them
away, and also by obtaining possession of the earthworks
that had been erected to defend the bridge. Skirmishers
were deployed, and after a sharp contest the enemy were
forced into their works. Artillery was now placed in
position to cover the movement of Birney's Division,
which had been selected to make an assault. Just
before dark- the order was given, and the troops rushed
forward under a heavy fire, captured the works after a
brief struggle, and the approach to the river was cleared.
During the night strong picket details were made, and
all attempts of the enemy to burn the bridge were
defeated.

The corps batteries rendered material assistance in
this affair by engaging those <>f the enemy, and suffered

NORTH ANNA. 261

some loss in the action. This branch of the service was
sometimes exposed to unusual annoyances in this cam-
paign from the Indian practice, adopted by the enemy's
sharp-shooters, of crawling as near as possible to the
guns and picking off the men and horses. At one point
near the brigade a section of artillery was going into
position, when it was found that it could only be of
service after our skirmishers had advanced the line.
Some of the wounded artillerymen wrere struck with
barbarous missiles, called explosive bullets. These mes-
sengers of death were of a conical shape, and contained a
small copper shell arranged on the principle of a fuse,
and calculated to explode a short time after it had left
the rifle. One of these entered the breast of an artillery-
man belonging to a battery which the brigade was sup-
porting, and the man had scarcely cried out to a comrade,
" I am shot," before the murderous ball exploded in his
body, producing terrible laceration.

On the morning after the assault, May 24th, the Con-
federates retired from the defenses that confronted the
bridge on the south bank, to a line resting on the river,
and extending in an oblique direction towards Hanover
Junction. The skirmishers of the Second Corps crossed
early in the day, followed by the entire corps. The
Philadelphia Brigade passed over at eleven a.m., along
with the Second Division. After severe skirmishing,
the corps confronted the new position of the enemy and
began as usual to intrench.

At the time Hancock advanced, the Sixth Corps also
crossed and joined Warren. The Confederate position
in front of the right column of the Fifth and Sixth
Corps was also formed in a line; running oblique from

23

262 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

the river it extended to the Little River, and rested on
its bank. The position of Lee was formed into a wedge,
the broad part at the Virginia Central road, which
tapered towards the North Anna, where it firmly rested,
effectually separating the two wings of Grant's forces.

Burnside's Corps, which had remained on the north
side of the river, attempted to cross at a point between
Warren and Hancock, and was repulsed with consider-
able loss ; at the same time a division of Warren, that
attempted to move down the river-bank towards Han-
cock, met a similar fate.

During the 24th, 25th, and 26th of May, the two
armies occupied this anomalous position ; General Lee
being able to speedily concentrate his force wherever the
line was threatened, while neither wing of Grant's army
could reinforce the other without making a double pass-
age of the river. After considerable skirmishing, but
without any attempt at carrying the Confederate works,
General Grant resolved to withdraw on the night of the
26th to the north bank of the river.

This movement was executed by the Second Division
at half-past ten p.m., without disturbance. On the morn-
ing of Friday, May 27th, at ten o'clock, the corps started
from the North Anna on another flank movement
towards the left. After marching until nearly mid-
night, we arrived within three miles of the Pamunkey
River and halted.

CHAPTER XXI.

COLD HARBOR.

On May 28th, at seven a.m., the Second Corps
crossed the Pamunkey at Holmes's Ferry, four miles
above Hanovertown. In this movement from the
North Anna to the eastward and south our corps had
covered the rear, and upon crossing the river it joined
the rest of the army, thus bringing the entire force over
the Pamunkey and in connection with a new line of
supplies at White House.

With the exception of changing positions, there was
no movement made by the Second Corps on the 29th.
It was known that Lee had left the south bank of the
North Anna at the time of Grant's movement, but the
new line he had adopted was only surmised.

To ascertain the position of his army, a concerted
movement was ordered by each corps. At four a.m. on
the 30th the Second Corps started on this errand towards
the Tolopotomoy. The Fifth Corps at the same time
advanced towards Shady Grove church, and the Ninth
Corps, under Burnside, was placed in a position to sup-
port either the Second or Fifth. The Sixth Corps,
under General Wright, the successor of the lamented
Sedgwick, moved around the left flank of Lee's army,
and succeeded in reaching Hanover Court-House.

263

264 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

Hancock and Warren did not meet with the success
in their movements that attended Wright's Corps. The
enemy were encountered in heavy force by the Second
Corps on the south bank of the Tolopotomoy, and Ewell's
Corps confronted General Warren at Shady Grove.

The afternoon of onr arrival was occupied in driving
the advanced skirmishers into and over the Tolopoto-
moy. At eight a.m., May 31st, the brigade crossed it,
and acted with the division in skirmishing throughout
the entire day. The south bank of the river arose
gradually for half a mile, and was covered with trees
and underbrush. This ascent led up to a piece of table-
land, under cultivation, and was bordered on the south
with a forest, on the edge of which the enemy had
erected strong works, cutting down the trees imme-
diately in front to form an abattis.

The place we occupied was almost impracticable for
the use of artillery, and it was only by bush-fighting
and an occasional volley that the line was advanced to
the open field late in the day and the enemy pushed
into their works. During the following morning, June
1st, the firing was confined entirely to sharp-shooters, but
it was very destructive to our pickets, and to the officers
whose duties compelled them to be exposed.

Jn front of the brigade and just beyond the skirmish
line there stood an old building, apparently a school-
house, that afforded an excellent cover to the Confed-
erate marksmen, whose shots from its windows and
crevices interfered materially with the comfort of the
command. General Owen determined to protect his
men from this annoyance, and called for volunteers
from the brigade to destroy the building. A number

COLD HARBOR. 265

promptly responded, and with Lieutenant McNally,
Sixty-Ninth, as a leader, these brave fellows rushed for-
ward in the face of the enemy, quickly gained posses-
sion, and applied the torch. This work was thoroughly
performed, but not without loss. Among those who
were wounded was Denton Lindley, a private soldier of
Company I, One Hundred and Sixth, who had been
intrusted with the duty of carrying the burning fagots
and of kindling the flames, while his comrades kept the
sharp-shooters at bay with their rifles.

On the afternoon of June 1st the advanced brigade
of Warren's Corps on the left near Shady Grove church
was driven back by the enemy. The pursuit, however,
was effectually checked and the Confederates repulsed
by General Crawford's division of Pennsylvania Re-
serves and the brigade of Kitching. While this fight
was in progress, and the artillery was booming in the
distance, Gibbon's Division was ordered to make a
diversion, and prevent the enemy from sending re-
inforcements against Warren, by attacking the force in
our front.

The works to be assaulted were of considerable
strength, and showed eighteen guns in position, cover-
ing the open space in front. At four p.m. the First and
Second Brigades moved forward ; the former deployed
in line of battle on the right, the latter on the left, with
a heavy line of skirmishers. As the line advanced it
proved to be at an angle with the Confederate works,
and in consequence of this the Thirty-Sixth Wisconsin,
on the right of the First Brigade, struck the enemy
before the rest of the troops were fairly under fire.

This was the first assault in which the Wisconsin

23*

266 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

regiment took part. The command was led by Colonel
Haskill, a fine officer, formerly an aid on the staff of
General Gibbon. The regiment had but recently en-
tered the service, and had joined Grant's army only a
few days before arriving at the Tolopotomoy. In this
charge they confirmed a conviction received from our
own experience, that new troops frequently assault with
more vigor than those that have been longer in the
service. The latter are always more self-possessed under
fire, far easier manoeuvred in battle, and quickly recover
from defeat ; but the former are frequently filled with
such enthusiasm as gives a powerful impetus to an as-
sault. The moment Gibbon's line, led by his brigade
commanders, emerged from the woods, the veterans
began to calculate, as they moved forward, the possibili-
ties of success, while the Wisconsin men only consid-
ered how they could get into the works. In either case
there was no prospect of success, it being apparent as
soon as we approached the works that the enemy far
outnumbered the assaulting column. Those of our men
who succeeded in clambering over the embankments
found themselves prisoners. The rest of the command,
deciding the task to be hopeless, halted within a few
yards of the enemy, and, taking advantage of a slight
rise in the ground, lay quiet until it was dark, when
they retired to their original line. As none of our bat-
teries had crossed the Tolopotomoy at this place, the
guns of the enemy had undisturbed range, and no doubt
their gunners enjoyed this "diversion" more than the
men of Gibbon's Division. The casualties in this as-
sault were not very large, and were principally among
the regiments of the First Brigade.

COLD HARBOR. 267

A few hours before this attack we had another ex-
ample of the enterprise and sagacity of some of the
newspaper correspondents who were with the army.
One of these gentlemen crossed the river in search of
information, and walked out to a point near the skir-
mish lines, where the brigade officer was stationed.
After looking at the works in front and giving us a few
items of news, he was asked if he knew where this cam-
paign would lead Grant's army. " Certainly," was the
reply ; " no officer has told me, but I know from orders
I have overheard at army headquarters and from pre-
paratory movements, especially in the Quartermaster's
and Subsistence departments, that the army will con-
tinue swinging around the left until it crosses the James
River." His surmise proved to be correct, although it
seemed highly improbable at the time of its announce-
ment.

At nine p.m. the division recrossed the Tolopotomoy,
and, after marching all night, reached Cold Harbor at
eight a.m., June 2d. This was an exceedingly tiresome
march, and when the halt was made the men threw
themselves on the ground, many of them well-nigh ex-
hausted with fatigue and loss of rest.

The field at Cold Harbor reminded us of McClellan's
battles. On the ground occupied by the brigade were
strewn sabots and fragments of shells, with an occasional
haversack and canteen, that told the story of one of the
deadly conflicts of the Peninsular campaign.

At the time the Army of the Potomac crossed the
Rapidan, a considerable force, under General Butler,
left its position at Yorktown, and, by means of trans-
ports, ascended the James River, under convoy of gun-

268 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

boats, and effected a landing at City Point and Bermuda
Hundred. After an attempt to destroy the Petersburg
and Richmond Railroad, followed by a series of en-
counters with the Confederates under Beauregard, Gen-
eral Butler was forced to take up a defensive position
near his point of debarkation. Intrenchments were
constructed, and all attempts at offensive operations were
abandoned.

By order of General Grant, a column of sixteen thou-
sand men was detached from Butler's force, and placed
under command of General W. F. Smith, with orders
to join the Army of the Potomac. This was effected by
descending the James on transports to the York River,
and thence to White House Landing on the Pamunkey.
From the latter place it marched to Cold Harbor, where
it met, on June 1st, the Sixth Corps, already detached
from the right of the army and moved to this point.

This movement of the Sixth Corps was anticipated
by Lee, who withdrew Longstreet from his left, and
rapidly pushed that corps towards Cold Harbor to pre-
vent the crossing of the Chickahominy. At four o'clock
P.M. the combined corps of Smith and Wright assaulted
the position held by Longstreet, in the rear of Cold
Harbor, and, after a severe fight, carried the first line,
capturing several hundred prisoners. An attempt to
seize the second line of defense failed, and, at night, the
troops of both forces lay on their arms. The two corps
lost in this action over two thousand men in killed and
wounded.

Upon the arrival of the Second Corps, on the morn-
ing of June 2d, it was massed in the rear of this posi-
tion, still firmly held by the Sixth and General Smith's

COLD HARBOR. 269

Corps. After a short rest, the brigade relieved a portion
of the line held by General Niel's Division of the Sixth
Corps. Throughout the day there was heavy skirmish-
ing, and both armies were actively engaged in prep-
arations for the battle to control the crossings of the
Chickahominy, in the vicinity of Cold Harbor.

The Army of the Potomac was formed in line with
the Second Corps on the left, the Sixth Corps next, the
command of General Smith next, with Warren and
Bnrnside forming the right. The latter flank rested on
the Tolopotomoy, while the left extended across the Dis-
patch Station road. The position of the enemy confront-
ing this array wTas admirably chosen. The front of the
earthworks was generally protected by swamps or felled
timbers, and to defend these fortifications, by the proper
disposition of troops and batteries, the Confederates had
taken every advantage of the lessons of war as taught
by experience.

Early in the evening a disagreeable drizzling rain set
in, and the men who were not on picket duty at the front
lay on the wet ground, with knapsacks or cartridge-boxes
for pillows, and with their faces covered with blankets,
or, in the absence of these, with their caps or with por-
tions of garments, to prevent the pattering rain from de-
stroying their rest. In this situation they fell asleep, in
blissful ignorance of the storm of death to be encountered
on the morrow.

At nine p.m. the order reached General Owen that the
entire army Avould assault the enemy at half-past four
the next morning. Regimental commanders were quietly
notified to have their troops ready to move at the ap-
pointed time, the signal to be the firing of one gun from

270 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

the left. This order was communicated, and all was
again as still as death, except the sleepless pickets, who
were in the very front, vigilantly trying to peer through
the dark shadows of the woods, or listening to catch a
sound of the least movement from the enemy.

On Friday, June 3d, at about quarter to five a.m., the
whole line was in motion and advancing towards the
formidable positions in front. The Second Corps held
the left of this line, and of its three divisions Barlow was
the left, with Gibbon's Division joining on the right,
while the command of Birney was held as a reserve.

The four brigades of Gibbon's Division were formed
in double lines of battle, Tyler's Brigade of heavy artil-
lery acting as infantry, on the right ; the Philadelphia
Brigade, under Brigadier-General J. T. Owen, on the
left ; the Third Brigade holding the centre, and the First
Brigade, under command of Colonel H. Boyd McKeen,
Eighty-First Pennsylvania, acting as reserve.

The formations just described were adhered to for the
few minutes that passed while the divisions were moving
to the front from their places of bivouac in the woods.
The moment the troops began to pass our advanced rifle-
pits, and encounter the severe fire of the enemy, the
order, " Forward, to the works !" took the place of all
attempts at preserving relative formation in the two
lines of battle.

With this command there was a sudden rush along the
whole line. Barlow's Division on the left met the Con-
federates in a sunken road in front of the defenses.
From this they were dislodged after a severe struggle,
and followed into their first line, which was captured.
This success lasted but a few minutes, when the rein-

COLD HARBOR. 271

forcements of the enemy arrived in large numbers, and
drove the unsupported division of Barlow out of the
works.

The Second Division advanced simultaneously with
Barlow, and, after passing through some woods, came
to a swamp that grew wider as we approached the
intrenchments. This separated the commands, and at
some points interposed an impassable obstacle. The
brigades of Owen and Tyler advanced close to the
enemy, and a few of the men entered their works.
The First Brigade divided at the head of the swamp :
one portion joined Owen and Tyler ; the other, led by
the gallant McKeen, passed to the right and reached a
point within fifty feet of the enemy. Here they lost
heavily, and, being unable to advance, sheltered them-
selves in a hollow, where they remained during the en-
tire day, resisting all attempts of the enemy to dislodge
them.

The Philadelphia Brigade, after enduring for a short
time a heavy fire from the enemy, were ordered to hold
a position within seventy-five yards of the Confederate
works. Taking advantage of the ground, with surpris-
ing rapidity they protected themselves with a shallow
rifle-pit, using for the purpose bayonets, knives, and
tin-cups. At night intrenching tools were received, and
the line was properly strengthened.

The actual time that elapsed from the commencement
of this assault until its failure was not over twenty min-
utes. In that brief period thousands of the best troops
of the Army of the Potomac lav dead or dying:, while
a large number more were suffering with painful wounds.

This charge along the line, everywhere unsuccessful,

272 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

inflicted a loss of only a few hundreds on the Con-
federates.

The casualties in the Second Division numbered over
sixteen hundred, and the proportion of officers was un-
precedentedly large. General Tyler, commanding the
Fourth Brigade, was wounded, and Colonel McKeen,
leading the First Brigade, was killed. At the close of
the day the last-named command had neither field or
staff-officers for duty. All who had filled these positions
at the time of crossing the Rapidan, or who had suc-
ceeded those who fell at the Wilderness, were either
killed, wounded, or missing in action.

General Owen, who led the Philadelphia Brigade,
was left with only one or two staff-officers, and with
junior officers in command of his regiments. Among
the regimental officers killed were Adjutant William
Whildey, Sixty-Ninth, and Captain S. R. Townsend,
One Hundred and Sixth. Both of these were valuable
and efficient officers. Captain Frederick Boland, Sev-
enty-Second, who was among the severely wounded, had
received a previous wound at Gettysburg.

After this charge there was a brief period of compar-
ative quiet, then the sharp-shooters on both sides took
up the work of destruction. Later in the day it is re-
ported that the assault was ordered to be renewed, and,
although the command came through the usual channels,
the men refused to stir. An order of this character
never reached the front of the Second Division, a por-
tion of which was still holding a position so near the
enemy that communication with General Gibbon's head-
quarters could be made only with risk of death. This
advanced line, within twenty paces of the Confederate

COLD HARBOR. 273

works, was held by the men of the First Brigade. Their
leader, Colonel McKeen, lay dead beside them, and with-
out any offieer of rank other than line-officers these brave
fellows maintained the honor of the Second Corps, and
refused to yield. Several times during the day attempts
were made by the enemy to dislodge them, and their
officers could be heard urging their men to "advance
and capture the few hundred Yankees ;" but each assault
met a deadly repulse. At dark this little band withdrew
to a point on a line with the Second Brigade, and a few
yards to the rear of the place they so bravely defended.

A little before dark it was evident, from the commo-
tion among the Confederates in front of the Philadelphia
Brigade, and of the brigades on the right and left, that
an assault was in preparation. Soon the commands of
their officers were heard, then the well-known yell, and
a rush for oar line. Now came our turn, but we had
not the advantage of strong earthworks. The men rose
in their places and poured in heavy volleys of musketry,
and for a few moments there was a struggle as severe
as in the morning, extending along the entire front of
Hancock and Wright. It was soon over ; some of the
Confederates were captured, many lay killed or wounded,
and the rest of the advance quickly retired to their de-
fenses. During the night the advanced line held by the
Union army was strengthened, with a determination of
maintaining the position already acquired.

On June 4th, and the days immediately succeeding,
there was a constant fire along the lines. The least ex-
posure of the body was attended with wounding or death
from the fire of sharp-shooters, and almost every day
closed with an attack or a heavy fusillade, continuing far

24

274 If IS TORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

into the night. A short distance in the rear of the bri-
gade line there was a spring of cold water, the approach
to which was so exposed to the fire of the enemy that it
could only be reached after dark. During the entire
night squads of men procured supplies of water for the
ensuing day. On one occasion a man of the Seventy-
Second, who had become reckless of danger, gathered a
dozen canteens, and at mid-day started to the fatal spring
to fill them. He had scarcely completed his self-imposed
task when a bullet struck him, and he fell with his head
in the water, where his body lay until night, when it was
removed by his comrades.

The following extracts from the diary of Mr. Joseph
R. C. Ward, a member of the One Hundred and Sixth,
will give a good idea of the scenes at Cold Harbor during
the remainder of the period the brigade occupied this
line :

aJune 4th. Engaged all the previous night in the
erection of breastworks. Ten a.m., a heavy artillery
fight. At dark the enemy charged our works, but were
repulsed.

"June 5th. Very heavy firing all day. Any exposure
of the person drew shots from a dozen rifles. Works so
close to the enemy we could distinctly hear them talking
and giving commands. Sharp-shooters continually pick-
ing off men. Shortly after dark another attempt to cap-
ture our works. This time the enemy tried to creep up
in the darkness and use the bayonet. They were allowed
to get very near, when a few volleys hastened their re-
treat.

"June 7th. An armistice granted for two hours to bury
the dead and carry in the wounded of both sides that lay

COLD HARBOR. 275

between the works. A number of the men took advan-
tage of the opportunity to get a bath, and some of both
armies used the same spring at one time.

"June 8th. Surprised to see the armistice extend over
this morning. It is a beautiful sight to see the flags of
both armies planted on their intrenchments and the men
in crowds on the works and in front of them conversing
together. At eleven a.m. men running for their lines,
and firing commenced. At twilight another artillery
fight,

"June 10th. The Confederates using mortars to-day.
Several of the brigade wounded, two of them mortally.

"June 11th. The First and Third Brigades relieved
from the front this a.m. ; the Second still kept there.

"June 12th. After dark we took up the line of march
to the left. The enemy using mortars all the evening,
to which we replied with brass howitzers. Marching all
night towards the Chickahominy."

Before the brigade left Cold Harbor the term of ser-
vice of the Seventy-First Regiment expired, and the
command was ordered to Philadelphia to be honorably
mustered out. Those among the number who had re-
enlisted were assigned to duty with the Sixty-Ninth.
The transfer brought the effective force of this regiment
to over three hundred.

In parting with the men of the Seventy-First, their
comrades of the other three regiments expressed their
deep regret, and gave the cordial farewell that springs
from hearts knit together by common suffering and
endurance.

CHAPTER XXII.

PETERSBURG.

The preliminary movements looking to the change
of base to the James River were commenced soon after
the battle of Cold Harbor. The right flank of the
army was contracted, while the left was extended towards
the lower crossings of the Chickahominy. The advance,
begun on the night of the 12th, was led by Warren's
Corps and a division of cavalry. This force seized
Long Bridge and effected a crossing, when it was fol-
lowed by the Second Corps.

At sunrise of the 13th the Second Division arrived
at Radcliff's Tavern, and, after a short halt, the march
was continued until the Chickahominy was reached at
eleven a.m. A position was secured to cover the rear,
and, after the last of the column had passed over, the
division crossed and took up the bridge. After march-
ing until six p.m., the brigade reached Charles City
Court-House. At this place a temporary halt was
made, when the column again pushed on, reaching the
James River, below Harrison's Landing, at night.

This flank movement across the Peninsula was ac-
complished in two days by a march of over fifty miles,
and was perfectly successful. It was one of the finest
manoeuvres, both in its conception and execution, that
276

PETERSBURG. . 277

General Grant had adopted, and the details are exceed-
ingly interesting. For successful execution it depended
not only upon the skill employed in planning, but very
materially upon quick movements performed without
being observed by the enemy. The duty of masking
the operations was intrusted to the advance force, under
General Warren. This officer, after crossing the Chicka-
hominy, made a feint of advancing on Richmond by
pushing a division out on the New Market road; at the
same time he had another column driving a force of the
enemy across White Oak swamp. While the Second
Corps was moving towards Charles City and the James
River, all the routes of approach to the line of march
were carefully guarded. At daylight of the 13th it was
known by General Lee that Grant had left his front,
but it is more than probable that he was ignorant where
the next blow would fall.

June 14th, at early dawn, the Second Corps com-
menced to cross the James, on steamers, from Wilcox
Landing to Windmill Point. The entire day was spent
in the effort. During this movement the engineers,
under General Ben ham, were engaged in building a
ponton bridge just below the point of crossing. This
structure was completed at midnight, and was over two
thousand feet in length. During the 15th and part of
the 16th, the remainder of the army passed over to the
south side of the river.

The scene on the arrival at the river, and especially
during the crossing, was very picturesque. The long
line of troops, with batteries of artillery followed by
ammunition-trains and ambulances, with supply-wagons
and sanitary stores, recalled similar scenes in this vicin-

24*

278 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

ity two years before. The similarity did not extend,
however, to the morale or physical appearance of the
men. At the former period they were discouraged and
depressed after a campaign without apparent result, and
prostrated in body from the effects of the Chickahominy
swamps. Now the troops appeared cheerful and full of
hope for the future, giving evidence, in their bronzed
faces flushed with health and in their firm step, of ability
to make still greater sacrifices.

While looking on this bright picture, many in the
brigade could not refrain from calling to mind com-
rades who were present then and absent now. Sumner
and Sedgwick had passed away ; Burns was trans-
ferred to the Western army; every officer that had led
the regiments in the Peninsular campaign was dead or
disabled ; and there was scarcely a company in charge
of its original officer. Soldiers who had entered the
brigade as privates or non-commissioned officers had
been promoted until they filled the vacant places of
company officers, and in one instance that of regimental
commander.

The sad thoughts brought to mind by the comparison
of the brigade to-day with its condition two years ago
were overshadowed by more recent events. Over one-
half the command had fallen in battle since the Eapidan
was crossed on May 4th, and the same proportion of
losses extended to the entire army. In spite of these
losses there was the feeling that the time could not be
long deferred when the good cause would triumph, and
the "government of the people" extend throughout the
land.

With these sentiments of patriotism, the fighting

PETERSBURG. 279

corps of Hancock took up the march, on June 15th,
towards Petersburg.

While the array was making its flank movement to
the river, the corps of General W. F. Smith was re-
turned to General Butler at Bermuda Hundred. The
route was similar to the one adopted on reaching Cold
Harbor : to White House, and from thence by transports.
Upon its arrival on the 14th, General Butler ordered an
assault on Petersburg, the seizure of which was of the
greatest importance to the future operations of the army.
The column of attack was formed by a division of cav-
alry and by General Hink's command of colored troops,
co-operating with Smith's Corps. The Appomattox was
crossed on the night of the 14th, and on the morning of
the 15th the force pushed on towards the city. After
arriving in front of the works defending the place, con-
siderable time was spent in reconnoitering, and no assault
was made until seven p.m. At this hour strong lines of
skirmishers advanced from each of the three divisions
and carried the outer works, capturing a few hundred
prisoners and several guns. Night now set in, and the
troops held these captured works preparatory to further
successes on the morrow.

The last of the Second Corps had crossed the James
on June 15th, the day of Smith's assault. At ten a.m.
the column started from Windmill Point ; Birney's and
Gibbon's Divisions moving on the Prince George road,
and Barlow's on the old Court-House road. While on
the march, at half-past five p.m. an order was received
from General Grant to join Smith in front of Peters-
burg. The place was reached after the attack was over,
and operations were suspended for the night. Gibbon's

280 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

Division was moved to the front, and it relieved Hink's
colored troops, then in possession of the redoubt, which
they had handsomely carried a few hours before.

After Grant had left the Chickahominy the Confed-
erates retired on Richmond, doubtful where the next
attack would be made. This uncertainty did not con-
tinue long, and as soon as General Lee ascertained the
character of the movement on Petersburg he lost no
time, but commenced at once to urge his troops forward
to defend the threatened point. During the night the
Confederate advance began to arrive in front of the
works, that had been assaulted by the corps of General
W. F. Smith, and a part of which was now held by the
Second Division of Hancock's Corps. As fast as the
troops of the enemy arrived they began to intrench, and
at daylight a new line of works, connecting with those
portions of the original line held at dark, confronted the
Union advance.

After a brief interval the two armies were brought
face to face in an entirely new locality, to grapple once
more in a death-struggle. As if preparatory to the end,
there was on the part of the Second Corps a series of
assaults at intervals of a few hours. The renewal of
the old tactics of " hammering continuously" lasted over
one week, when circumstances changed this mode of
warfare and inflicted a great disaster on the Second Di-
vision of Hancock's Corps, and especially on the Phila-
delphia Brigade. The annexed entries from a journal
will show the character of these operations, although
they will give but a faint conception of the severity of
the work and the conditions under which it was per-
formed.

PETERSBURG. 281

Few of the soldiers who were present at the affair
near Munson's Hill, or who witnessed the first battle in
which the brigade was engaged, will fail to remember
the impression produced by the sight, for the first time,
of comrades dead on the field. Frequent repetitions of
similar scenes wrought great changes in the tender sym-
pathies of the men. AVhile they still felt true sorrow
at the death of comrades, they became indifferent to the
terrible scenes of a battle-field. Early in the war every
little skirmish or minor action was made the subject of
special report or record ; now, only a few lines seemed
necessary to recite actions of far greater magnitude, and
the brief entry, "the corps lost heavily," is made to
cover the loss of hundreds of brave men. Truly an
active warfare of three years had caused the veterans to

realize

" That war or peace may be
As things acquainted and familiar to us."

In the absence of Generals Grant and Meade, the
forces in front of Petersburg were under the command
of General Hancock. This officer, realizing the impor-
tance of prompt movements, gave orders, during the
night of the 15th, to Birney and Gibbon to carry the
works in their front " at or before daylight" the follow-
ing morning.

"June 16th. The day was ushered in by heavy skir-
mishing. At an early hour the skirmishers of the di-
vision advanced on those of the enemy and drove them
into their works. At six a.m. an assault was attempted
by the entire command. This advance was made with
considerable spirit, but, except the capture of a small
redoubt by Egan's Brigade of Birney's Corps, and a

282 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

trifling extension of the line, it produced no valuable
result. The line as advanced was immediately strength-
ened by intrenchments, although the work was much
impeded by a severe fire of musketry during the re-
mainder of the day. At four p.m. another assault was
ordered to be made by the Second Corps, supported by
Burnside's troops, which had arrived at noon. This
attack was made with great vigor, and resulted in a fur-
ther and general advancement of the whole line.

"On the 17th there was a renewed assault by the two
corps, in which Hancock gained an important elevation
known as Hare's Hill, on which Fort Steadman was
afterwards erected. Later in the day there was an-
other attack by Burnside, in which Barlow's Division
of the Second Corps participated and lost heavily.

"June 18th. The whole force was ordered under
arms at two A.M. An attack was to be made at day-
light along the entire front. After a severe cannonade,
lasting half an hour, the advance was made at six a.m.,
when it was found that the enemy had abandoned his
temporary line and taken up another near Petersburg.
Xew dispositions were now made, and at noon Gibbon's
Division again assaulted, but was unsuccessful. After
resting a few hours the whole of the Second Corps
charged at six p.m., and were again unsuccessful in gain-
ing ground. This made the third charge for this event-
ful day, and it was attended with severe casualties.

"June 20th. The Second Division was relieved by a
division of the Sixth Corps under General Xeill.

"June 21st. The Second and Sixth Corps wrere
marched to the left to effect a closer envelopment of Pe-
tersburg on that flank. After moving about three miles

PE TERSE URG. 283

the Second Corps formed line with the right resting on
the Jerusalem plank road, which runs southward from
Petersburg. At this point breastworks were thrown up
in the midst of a heavy skirmish fire, which continued
the entire day. On the east side of the plank road a
connection was made with Griffin's Division of the Fifth
Corps. During the night the Sixth Corps arrived and
formed line to the left and rear of the Second.

"June 22d. Continued skirmishing all the morning,
which became very heavy at three o'clock p.m. on the
left."

At the point of time referred to in this diary, the Sec-
ond Corps was under the command of General Birney,
in the absence of General Hancock, who was in the field-
hospital suffering from the effects of a wound received
at Gettysburg. The remaining regiments of the Phila-
delphia Brigade had been assigned to the command of
Colonel John Frazer, of the One Hundred and Fortieth
Pennsylvania Volunteers.

At the time the heavy firing was heard on the left of
the division, General Birney, in obedience to instruc-
tions, was advancing the left of his line, so as to inclose
the right flank of the Confederates. This movement of
the corps was intended to be a right half-wheel, the pivot
of which was the Second Division. The latter command
was immediately in front of the enemy, whose intrench-
ments were on an elevation, only separated by a thin
strip of woods from Gibbon's line. •

In executing this order the divisions of Barlow and
Mott on the left moved forward, without reference to the
Sixth Corps, and made, as they advanced, an increasing
gap between that corps and the Second. The movement

284 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

was closely observed by the enemy, and they were quick
to take advantage of this false position.

The division of Mott, which joined the Second Divi-
sion on the left, wheeled into its place on the new align-
ment, and began to strengthen its position. Barlow's
Division, at the same time, was executing its part of the
manoeuvre, when Hill's Corps, in column of brigades,
pushed through the interval between the Sixth and
Second Corps, and commenced a fierce attack, especially
upon the latter. Barlow's Division was the first to feel
the shock, and fell back in disorder, losing many pris-
oners. The division of Mott, on the left of Gibbon,
retired almost as rapidly as Birney, leaving the left of
the Second Division entirely exposed.

While this flanking operation was in progress on the
left, the Confederates made several direct attacks on Gib-
bon's front. The last of these had just been repulsed,
with considerable loss to the enemy, when the brigade
received a volley from the left and rear. The surprise
was perfect, and the Confederates, pushing forward, cut
off the retreat of a large number of the division, and
captured several regiments, almost entire, along with
McKnight's battery of four guns.

The relative positions of the regiments in line, in this
inglorious affair, were, beginning at the left, the One
Hundred and Sixth, Sixty-Ninth, Seventy-Second. The
One Hundred and Sixth was struck first, and was almost
entirely captured, only one officer and twenty-eight men
escaping. John Houghton, the color-sergeant, had
scarcely time, after the enemy were seen, to tear the flag
from the staff and conceal it in his bosom, before he was
seized by a Confederate officer. Adjutant West, of the

PETERSBURG. 285

Seventy-Second, with the color-sergeant of that regiment,
brought away its colors ; and the Sixty-Ninth was equally
fortunate in retaining its flag. The officers and men who
escaped capture did so at the risk of their lives, by re-
treating along the front of the enemy, which they had
faced during the entire day. The division lost in this
affair seventeen hundred men, mostly prisoners.

This action on the Jerusalem plank road was the last
in which the Philadelphia Brigade took part. In the
beginning of the fight the position of affairs was very
similar to that which threatened serious consequences,
for a few moments, at the battle of Antietam. Between
the two actions, however, there was this great difference :
the apparent absence of skillful and efficient officers in
the former, and the presence of " Old Sumner" and his
subordinates at the latter.

The responsibility for this disaster ought not to be
laid entirely upon the officers, as the condition of the
men, for reasons already referred to, temporarily unfitted
them, not only for making successful assaults, but also
for presenting a vigorous defense when suddenly assailed.
This want of esprit de co?ys was well described in an
article published in the " Army and Navy Journal/'
about this period. As corroborative evidence in a matter
liable to be misunderstood, the following extensive ex-
tracts will be read with interest :

" The medical and commissary department had been
well conducted, but it is not too much to say that the
troops were thoroughly worn out. While their spirit
and enthusiasm were, and always have been, beyond all
praise, the fatigue of so extraordinary a campaign had
been overpowering. Officers experienced its effects as

25

286 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

well as men. Their conspicuous bravery had stretched
out, dead or wounded, commissioned officers of all grades,
not by hundreds, but by thousands, before the James
River was crossed. The effect was apparent in some want
of skill and experience in succeeding battles. Captains
were sometimes commanding regiments, and majors bri-
gades. The men, missing the familiar forms and voices
that had led them to the charge, would complain that
they had not their old officers to follow. On the other
hand, more than one leader of a storming party was
forced to say, as he came back from an unsuccessful at-
tempt upon the works at Petersburg, ' My men do not
charge as they did thirty days ago/ A few commanders,
too, showed the fatiguing effects of the campaign by lack
of health, by a lack of unity and harmony, or of alertness
and skill. The last attacks on Petersburg showed clearly
how the campaign was telling on men and officers, and
the two achievements on the Jerusalem plank road of the
22d and 23d of June put the matter beyond all doubt.
On the former occasion the gallant Second Corps, whose
reputation is unexcelled, fell back, division after division,
from the enemy's onset, and one of the very finest bri-
gades in the whole army was captured, with hardly a
shot fired. In our account at that time, the probable
cause of the disaster was intimated. But when, in addi-
tion to this, the Vermont Brigade of the Sixth Corps
was badly cut up the following day, it became clear that
the rapidity of the fighting must be checked awhile.
The pace was now too great. These affairs of the 22d
and 23d of June were, for a considerable period, the last
offensive movements of infantry in force."

CHAPTER XXIII.

HONORABLY DISCHARGED.

After the battle on the Jerusalem plank road, June
22d, the remnant of the Philadelphia Brigade was
relieved from duty at the front and marched some dis-
tance on the road towards Prince George Court-House,
where a picket line was established to protect the trains
from incursions by the Confederate cavalry. The short
time remaining before the expiration of the term of
service of the men who had not re-enlisted was spent in
this and other similar duties.

On the 20th of July, 1864, the brigade was disbanded,
and the recruits who had arrived since its date of muster,
together with the re-enlisted veterans, were transferred
to the Sixty-Ninth and the One Hundred and Eighty-
Third Pennsylvania Volunteers. The last regiment was
under the command of Colonel James C. Lynch, who
had served three years as an officer of the One Hundred
and Sixth, and for gallantry had been promoted to his
present position. His command was in a good state of
discipline, and acquitted itself creditably during the
remainder of the war. The majority of transfers from
the Seventy-Second were made to Colonel Lynches regi-
ment, while those from the One Hundred and Sixth
and Seventy-First were assigned to the Sixty-Ninth.

287

288 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

These recent transfers, together with those convales-
cent from wounds who had returned for duty, made the
Sixty-Ninth re-enlisted regiment number about three
hundred men. Colonel William Davis was placed in
command, and continued with the regiment until he
received a wound in action, when he was succeeded by
Major Tinen. The Sixty-Ninth remained with the Army
of the Potomac until the surrender of Lee at Appo-
mattox. It was present in the assaults made upon the
enemy during the summer and fall of 1864, and partici-
pated in all the movements of the final campaign of the
following spring. At the close of the rebellion the regi-
ment was in the column reviewed by General Halleck
at Richmond, and a few weeks later took part in the
grand review of the entire army at Washington. Upon
its final muster out at Philadelphia on July 1st, 1865,
it returned to the authorities the State flag, along with
the Irish colors, that had been carried upon many a
battle-field and never disgraced. From the fact that
the Sixty-Ninth was the only regiment of the brigade
that re-enlisted as an entire organization, the old com-
rades of the other regiments took a special interest in its
subsequent campaign and gave it a hearty welcome upon
its return home.

The men of the Seventy-First Regiment, having com-
pleted their term of service at Cold Harbor, were returned
to Philadelphia. The command was welcomed by the
officers of the city government, and was tendered the
honor of a public reception. It was mustered out of the
service on the 2d of July, 1864. The Seventy-First
had experienced what military critics would consider
a great disadvantage, a frequent change of regimental

HONORABLY DISCHARGED. 289

officers. Colonels Baker, Wistar, Parrish, Markoe, and
others, had in turn commanded the regiment; and during
the last campaign and at the final muster out it was
under command of Colonel R. Penn Smith, who had
been promoted from adjutant. Notwithstanding these
changes the organization continued throughout its service
well disciplined, and on several occasions its bearing in
action won special mention from brigade commanders.

It is more difficult to ascertain the number of casual-
ties in the Seventy-First and Seventy-Second Regiments
than in either of the others, from the fact that each of
these commands was originally composed of fifteen com-
panies. When they were consolidated to the regulation
number of ten companies, the old records were not pre-
served, and the names of many who were killed or
wounded have been omitted from subsequent reports.
The Seventy-First contained within its organization over
twenty-two hundred men, and at its final muster out
there were but one hundred and fifty-three present.
The number reported as killed in battle or as having
died in the service amounts to nearly three hundred.
To them must be added the still larger list of those
missing in action, and of those who were captured by
the enemy and subsequently died of wounds and are not
reported.

The Seventy-Second Regiment was relieved from duty
near Petersburg on July 20th, 1864, and it proceeded by
transports to Alexandria. For a short period it was
encamped at the scene of its first exploits, Fort Ethan
Allen, near Chain Bridge. On August 11th it was
received in Philadelphia by the entire Fire Department

and escorted through the city to Independence Hall,

25* *

290 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

where the men were tendered the hospitalities of the
city by the mayor and other officials.

The handsome flag, " Presented to the Fire Zouaves
by the Fire Department of Philadelphia/' had long since
been torn to fragments by hostile bullets and the rough
service it had encountered. The silken remnants of this
standard, with the staff shattered by a ball at Gettysburg,
were returned with honor to the place from which they
had been proudly borne. The stand of colors presented
by the State of Pennsylvania before the Wilderness
campaign was carried until the term of service expired,
and after the muster out on August 24th, 1864, it was
sent to the capitol at Harrisburg.

This regiment lost but one field-officer, the lamented
Lieutenant-Colonel Theodore Hesser, an impulsive and
brave leader. Colonel Baxter participated in every
action in which the regiment was engaged until he was
severely wounded at the Wilderness.

The One Hundred and Sixth suffered by far the
heaviest proportionate casualties in the final affair on the
Jerusalem road. In the loss of its flag, there was a
coincidence between the first action in which the brigade
was represented and the last. At Ball's Bluff it will be
remembered that the California Regiment lost its flag,
while the rest of the brigade was not under fire and
suffered no loss. At Petersburg the California Battalion
was absent, and the remaining regiments suffered heavily
besides losing a standard. The men of the One Hun-
dred and Sixth, whose term of service expired at the end
of three years, were mustered out at Philadelphia on the
10th of September, 1864.

With the discharge of these men the services of the

HONORABLY DISCHARGED. 291

Philadelphia Brigade as an organization ended, and
nothing remained but the remembrance of its deeds and
the sad memories of the comrades who had fallen. The
names of the brave men who met their death in battle,
or who were stricken with disease in the swamps of the
Chickahominy or in the dreary marches and camps of
Virginia, or who died of starvation in rebel prisons,
number one-fourth of the entire command.

The record of those who died on the field of honor,
or of wounds or disease while in the service, reminds us
of the fearful mistake at Munson's Hill, the slaughter
at Ball's Bluff, the dead at Battery Number Eight, York-
town, those who fell at Fair Oaks and on the picket line
at Garnett's Farm, Peach Orchard, Savage Station, Glen-
dale, and Malvern Hill ; of those who died of wounds
or fever and were buried at Harrison's Landing, or Avere
struck down at Second Bull Run or Antietam ; it re-
minds us of the skirmish in Fredericksburg, and the
charge on Marye's Heights, and of the roll of dead still
further increased by the battles of Chancellorsville,
Gettysburg, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania,
Cold Harbor, and Petersburg.

The scenes thus revived, although associated with sad-
ness at the loss of comrades, cannot be reviewed without
the proud consciousness that the command, upon every
occasion, did its whole duty, and, as an organization, re-
flected honor upon the city whose name it bore and the
cause for which it fought.

The brigade was fortunate during most of its service
in being commanded by able general officers. In the
occasional absence of the commander, a field-officer
would assume his position, laboring under the disadvan-

292 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

tage frequently which want of acquaintance with those
under him inflicted ; but the majority of these temporary
commanders had no cause to complain of want of sup-
port, or promptness in obeying orders. The effective-
ness of a brigade, however, is not derived entirely from
the character of its commander or of its regimental field-
officers, important as those positions may be considered.
A thoroughly competent brigadier may be disgraced in
action through ill-disciplined troops or incompetent
line-officers. After the chief of an army has brought
his forces in close proximity to the enemy, questions of
logistics and strategy give place ten^orarily to those of
discipline and endurance. The utmost skill may have
been displayed in moving the columns to a favorable
point for attack, and yet failure may occur when success
was possible, because the troops were led by incompetent
line-officers.

Soldiers about their camp-fires frequently canvassed
the relative merits of the officers who were educated at
West Point and of those who entered the service from
civil life. Without entering into a discussion of this
subject, which has been considered from a variety of
stand-points, it is safe to make the assertion that large
numbers of civilians who accepted commissions proved
themselves, after a few months' experience and study,
fully equal to the duties they assumed. It is also proper
to say that to the system of military instruction pursued at
West Point the volunteer officers were largely indebted.
The graduates of the military school were the competent
instructors of those who were inexperienced in the duties
of a soldier, whether that instruction was imparted by
personal example or came through military text-books.

HO NORA BL Y DISCHA R GED.

293

In some of the brigades there were examining boards
regularly convened, for the purpose of determining the
fitness of such officers as were ordered to report before
them. Where this system was properly enforced, it
worked advantageously in two ways. First, it gave an
opportunity to get rid of incompetents legally ; and
secondly, it indirectly promoted the efficiency of many
of the officers by a sort of compulsory study and applica-
tion. Unfortunately, the action of these boards was im-
paired occasionally by bringing political influence to bear
on them to make them reverse their decisions. There
were several officers of the Second Corps, who, after be-
ing discharged upon the recommendation of these boards,
were speedily recommissioned by the Governor of the
State from which their regiment had enlisted. One col-
onel of a New York regiment, who was twice dismissed
the service, returned each time with a new commission.

Next in importance to the preparation of commis-
sioned officers, is the proper instruction of the sergeants
and corporals, or, as they are called by the regulations,
non-commissioned officers. In the brigade there were,
at times, systems of drill and instruction, especially in-
tended for the improvement of these soldiers, and many
of them became very efficient in drill and in the per-
formance of their duties.

The majority of the enlisted men of the Second Bri-
gade were citizens of Philadelphia, either by birth or
residence, and, as such, it was interesting to compare their
ability to endure the fatigues of campaigning with their
comrades from country districts. The Second Division
contained regiments representing the lumber region of
Maine and the farming districts of the Middle and

294 HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA BRIGADE.

Western States. Observation, based on an experience of
over three years of active service, favors the opinion that,
circumstances being equal, the men of light physique,
used to the habits of city life, can endure more continu-
ous hardships and fatigue than men from rural districts.
On the other hand, it must be said in favor of the latter
that they are more quickly susceptible to the influence
of proper discipline, and that they more readily obey
orders.

The victories of the Army of the Potomac, however,
were not won by soldiers chiefly from either town or
country, nor by citizens of the East or of the West, but by
men from all classes in each loyal State ; and its battle-
fields were stained with the blood of patriots from all
sections of the North. Its legions sprung into existence
at the first call of duty, and their battle-flags were held
aloft until the final triumph. The glory of this army
was in the fact that it successfully met and overcame the
most powerful army of the rebellion.

The deeds of this magnificent force have passed into
history, and the men of its brigades no longer contend
against brothers in a fratricidal strife, but are peaceful
citizens of a united country. To have formed part of
this history, and borne a full proportion of the suffering
and privation through which the victories were won, was
the honor of the Philadelphia Brigade.

BOLL OF DEAD.

SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT.

Name.

Anion, James
Allen, Nathan
Attmore, Isaac
Allen, John
Asher, Asher
Bushill, Edw.
Bevonstead, Fred'k

Berry, John
Bradley, Hugh
Bierwirth, B. F.
Brannon, John
Bell, Joseph R.
Brush, Richard
Burke, John

Boyle, Jerem'h W.
Burns, Wm. G.

Boyle, John F.
Branigan, Jas.

Blake, Emanuel
Crowley, Daniel

Coyne, Michael

Compton, Franklin
Cassiday. Patrick
Coogan, Wm.

Costello, James, 2d
Conner, Bernard
Campbell, John, 2d
Caffery, John
Causey, John
Cummings, Henry

Private

Serg't
Private

Remarks.

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B

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C

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Died at Point Lookout, Md., Aug. 20, 1862.

Died at Beverly, N. J., Oct. 14, 1S64.

Died at Florence, S. C, Sept. G, 1864.

Kill, d at Wilderness, Ya , May 6, 1864.

Killed near Richmond, Ya., June 19, 1862.

Died at Alexandria, Ya., Nov. 7, lvt',4.

Died Aug. 6, of wounds received at Gettysburg,
Pa., July 3. 1863.

Killed near Petersburg, Ya., June 16, 1864.

Killed at Gettysburg, Fa., July 3, 1863.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va , Dec. 13, 1S62.

Killed at Fredericksburg, Ya., Dec. 13, 1862.

Died at Annapolis, Md., Sept. 15, 1864.

Died Sept. 14, of wounds received at Peters-
burg. Ya., June 22, 1864.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1S63.

Died Dec. 23, of wounds received at Fredericks-
burg, Ya., Dec. 13, 1862.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Died June 14, 1864, of wounds received at Cold
Harbor. Ya., June 3, 1864.

Died at Andersonville, Ga., Aug. 30, 1864.

Accidentally killed near Germauto\vn,Pa.,Dec.
1,1863.

Died at Frederick, Md., Sept. 30, 1SG2, of wounds
received in action.

Died at Andersonville, Ga., Dec. 10, 1864.

Died at Washington, D. C, Jan. 4, 1863.

Died of wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa.,
July 3. 1S63.

Died at Bolivar Heights, Ya.,Oct. 17, 1862.

Killed at Fredericksburg, Ya., Dec. 12, 1862.

Killed at Petersburg, Ya., June 22, 1864.

Killed at Fredericksburg, Ya., Dec. 13, 1S62.

Killed at Cold Harbor, Ya., June 3, 1864.

Died at Philadelphia. Date unknown.

295

296 ROLL OF DEAD.

Roll of Dead, Sixty-Ninth Regiment. — Continued.

Name.

Bane.

Co.

Carr, Thomas

Private

F

Condon, Patrick

Serg't

F

Clark, Edw.

Private

F

Campbell, Wm.

cc

F

Collins, James

CC

G

Carr, Bernard

"

G

Clay, James

cc

G

Coyle, James

(C

G

Can-oil, Thomas

2d Lt.

H

Cassiday, John

Private

H

Colebaugh, Wm.

(<

K

Cotter, Thomas

it

K

Dunn, Jas.

2d Lt.

A

Donavan, Wm.

Corp'l

A

Doyle, Patrick J.

Private

A

Dougherty, Chas.

Serg't

C

Drain, James

Private

c

Dimond, Peter

"

D

Donahue, James

CC

D

Driscoe, Patrick

"

E

Deveruey, Christian

CC

E

Dunn, John

"

F

Devemey, Patrick

"

F

Devine, Thomas

Serg't

H

Devin, James

Private

11

Dugan, Wm.

CC

H

Duffy, Michael

Capt.

I

Dupell, Wm.

Private

I

Dever, Thomas C.

"

I

Divmey, John

Serg't

K

Dougherty, Cone's

Private

K

Eckart, John

cc

A

Elliott, James

"

1)

Edwards, James

"

F

Flanigan, James

cc

A

Fitzpatrick, Mark

cc

B

Fa nelly, Hugh

"

C

Fabry, Michael

cc

c

Finnigas, Francis

cc

D

Fullerton, John

F

Fikc, Samuel

«

G

Ki iel, James

"

G

Fritzimmons, John

CC

I

Klynii, John C.

"

K

Granlees, Mi

"

A

Gorman, Milton

CC

A

Gillen, 1 leorge

Serg'1

B

Remarks.

Died at Philadelphia, Jan. G, 18G5.

Died at Washington, D. C, Sept. 8, of wounds

received at Reams Station, Ya., Aug. 25,

1864.
Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 5, 1864.
Died at Fredericksburg, Va., May 12, of wounds

received at Spottsylvania C. H., May 11,

1864.
Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862.
Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Died at Philadelphia, June 25, 1862.
Died of wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa.,

July 3, 1863.
Died at Andersonville, Ga., Nov. 5, 1864.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Killed at Gettysburg, Fa., July 3, 1863.
Died at Camp Observation, Md., lMi^.
Killed accidentally near Philadelphia, Pa., Apr.

18,1864.
Killed at Antietam. Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Killed at Mine Run, Va., Nov. 27, 1863.
Died at Andersonville, Ga., Dec. 21, 1864.
Died at Camp Observation, Md., Dec. 13, 1861.
Died at Harrison's Landing, Va., Aug. 7, 1862.
Died at Andersonville, Ga., Aug. 25, 1864.
Died at Bolivar Heights, Ya., Oct. 30, 186 1.
Killed at Spottsylvania C. IF, Va.. May 12,1864.
Killed at Charles City Cross-Roads, Va., June

30, 1862.
Died at City Point, Va., June 27, of wounds re-
ceived at Petersburg, Va.. June 2"), 1864.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.
Died at Yorktown, Va., May 20, 1862.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Killed at Fair Oaks Va.. May 31. 1862.
I Med at Philadelphia, July 1,1864.
Died at Salisbury, N. 0., Oct. 28, isc,4.
Died at Andersonville, Ga., July 2, 1864.
Died Sept. 24, id" wounds received at Antietam,

Md., Sept. IT. 1862.
Died* at Alexandria, Va., Apr. 26, 1862.
Killed at Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 24, 1864.
Died at Savage Station, Va., June 2'.>. 1862.
Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864.
Died at Camp Observation. Date unknown.
Accidentally killed at Washington, D. C, .March,

1864.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa.. July 3, 1863.
Died Apr. 1, of wounds received at Hatcher's

Bun, Va., March 25, 1865.
Died at Newark. N. J., Oct. 21, 1862.
Killed at Antietam. Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Killed at Hatcher's Pun. Va.. Feb. 5, ls«'..~>.
Killed at Cold Harbor. Va., Jim.- 12, 1864.
Killed at Bailey's Cr — Roads, Va., Sept. 29, 1861.

SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT.

297

Roll of Bead, Sixty-Ninth Regiment. — Continued.

Name.

Gallagher, John

Gallagher, Timothy
Gall en, Patrick
Gallagher, Jerem'h
Greene, John
Glackin, John
Gallagher, Chas.

Gallagher, Andrew
Gordon, Robert
Gertof, Fred'k
Garvin, Patrick
Gillen, Cornelius
Gartmann, Wm.

Gleeson, Frank P.

Heally, Patrick
Harvey, John, Sr.
Harvey, John, Jr.
Higgins, Patrick
Hand, James
Hayes, William
Haughty, John
Hamilton, John
Hurley, John
Hiskey, John
Head, Edward
Hart, Patrick
Haseler, James
Hand, John
Harrington, John
Jenkins, Chas.
Judge, Thomas
Jack, Josiah
Kennedy, Cornelius

Kahili, John

Kearney, Patrick
Kelly, Richard
Koch, Joseph R.

Kearney, William
Kelly, Hugh
Kelly, Thomas

Kelly, Chas. F.
Kelly, Francis

Kerns, John
Lawler, James
Larkins, Owen

Rank.

Private

B

(C

B

u

C

Serg't

D

Private

D

a

D

Serg't

F

Corp'l

G

Private

G

u

G

ti

G

Serg't

I

Private

1

Serg't
Private

Serg't
Private

Co.

K

Remarks.

«

i

Serg't

K

Corp'l

K

Private

K

"

K

(t

D

ct

H

1st Lt.

K

Private

B

Serg't

C

Corp'l

D

Private

1>

Serg't

F

Private

F

Serg't

G

Capt.

H

2d Lt.

H

Private

I

it

K

u

A

u

B

Killed at Charles City Cross-Roads, Ya., June
30, 1862.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.

Died at Falmouth, Va., March 9, 1863.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Killed at Yorktown, Va., May 5, 18G2.

Killed at Chantilly, Va., Sept. 1, 1862.

Died — date unknown — of wounds received at
Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864.

Died at Richmond, Va. Date unknown.

Died at Andersonville, Ga.. Nov. 4, 1S64.

Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864.

Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Died S-pt. 9, 1862, of wounds received at New
Market Cross-Roads, Va., June 30, 1862.

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 2, 1863, of
wounds received at Gettysburg Pa., July
3, 1863.

Died at Falmouth, Va., Apr. 24, 1863.

Died at Alexandria, Va., Oct. 15, 1863.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1S63.

Died at Camp Observation, Md., Oct. 14, 1861.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Died Sept, 5, 1864.

Died at Fortress Monroe, Va., July 15, 1862.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.

Killed at Gettvsburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Killed at Antietam, Bid., Sept. 17, 1862.

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.

Killed at Antietam, Md.", Sept. 17, 1862.

Killed at Gettvsburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1S63.

Killed at Ream's Station, Va., Aug. 25, 1864.

Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 1S64.

Died at Washington, D. C, Jan. 4, 1865, of
wounds received in action.

Died Dec. 29, 1862, of wounds received at Fred-
ericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Died at Fortress Monroe, Va., July, 1862.

Died of wounds received at Petersburg, Va.,
June 16, 1864.

Died at Camp Observation, Md., Feb. 19, 1862.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Died May 18, 1861, of wounds received at Spott-
sylvania C. H., Va,, May 12, 1864.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., — date unknown, — of
wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa., Julv
3, 1S63.

Killed at Petersburg, Va,, June 22, 1864.

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.

Died June 27, 1862, of wounds received in ac-
tion.

26

298

ROLL OF DEAD.

Roll of Dead, Sixty-Ninth Regiment. — Continued.

Name.

Ledger, Chas.

Lightsinger, David
Lynch, Timothy
Liudell, John
Logue, Edward
Lanaghan, Jere'h
Lafferty, Edward
Louden, John F.
Logan, Michael
Little, George
M'Govern,Farrell J.
Morrison, Robert
M'Geehan, Wm.
M'Shea, James F.
M'Cutcheon, David
M'Fadden, Arthur

Mullins, James
Moyer, Andrew
M'Namara, John
M'Sorley, Matthew

M'Gucken, And'w
M'Call, Hugh
Monagle, Peer
Moss, Jas.
M'Devitt, Hugh

M'Nulty, James

M'Ginley, James
M'Hugh, Joseph
.M'i labe, Jas.
M'< 'aim, James
M' Williams, John
M'Vay, James
M'Claine, William

M'Nasby, Dennis
M'Leamau, Hugh

M'Manus, Thomas
M'Manus, Andrew
M'Elroy, John
Moonev, Thomas
M'Elrain, John
M'Caraon, Edward

Mulholland, George
Mulholland, Arthur
M'Cafferty, Neal
M'Cormick, Stewart
M'K< nnv, John
Mullen, Michael
M'Cann, Edw.
M' Laughlin, James

Rank.

Co.

Private

B

<(

C

"

C

el

F

n

F

tt

G

II

I

"

I

((

I

"

K

Corp'l

A

Private

A

u

A

Serg't

B

U

B

Corp'l

B

Private

B

"

B

"

B

it

B

tt

B

n

B

Corp'l

C

Private

c

a

c

tt

c

2dLt.

D

1st Lt.

D

Serg't

D

Corp'l

D

Private

D

(t

D

tt

D

it

D

II

D

«

D

('apt.

E

Oorp'l

E

Private

E

tt

E

ii

E

Serg'i

F

Private

F

L

F

tc

F

II

F

I s

G

Private

G

II

G

Remarks.

Died at Glendale, Va., July 5, 1862, of wounds
received in action.

Died at Camp Curtin, Pa., March 14, 18G5.

Died at Salisbury, N. ft, Nov. 29, 1864.

Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864.

Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864.

Died. Date unknown.

Died at Philadelphia. Date unknown.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17. 1862.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.

Died at Andersonville, Ga., Oct. 15, 1864.

Killed at Gettysburg, Fa., July 3, 1863.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Died at Philadelphia, Pa.. March 25, 1862.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Died May 22, 1865.

Died July 27, < f wounds received at Charles
City Cross-Roads, Va., June 30, 1862.

Died at Camp Observation, Md., Jan. 9, 1862.

Died at Andersonville, Ga., July, 1864.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Died Dec. 14, of wounds received at Fredericks-
burg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.

Died at Brandy Station, Va., Apr. 28, 1864.

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1S62.

Died Dec. 10, 1862, of wounds received at An
tietam, Sept. 17, 1862.

Died July 6, of wounds received at Gettysburg,
Pa., July 2, 1863.

Killed at Hatcher's Run, Va., Feb. 5, 1865.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Killed at Wilderness, Va., Mayo, 1864.

Died May 26, of wounds received at Spottsylva-
nia C. 11., Va.. May 12, 1864.

Killed at Yorktown, Va., Apr. 17, 1862.

Died June 15, of wounds received at Fair Oaks,
May 31, 1862.

Died at Camp Observation. Date unknown.

Killed near Falmouth, Va., May 27, 1S63.

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1S62.

Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 10, 1864.

Died Aug. 15, 1864.

Accidentally killed on railroad near Philadel-
phia, Pa., Oct. 12, 1863.

Died at Annapolis, Md., Nov. 19, 1863.

Died at Richmond, Va. Date unknown.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July :;. 1st;:;.

hied at Camp Observation, Md., Feb. 15, 1S62.

Died at Richmond, Va., Nov. 20, L863.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., Jul) 3, L863.

Died at Washington, D. C Sept. 27, 1863.

l>ied at Windmill Point, Va.. Feb. 1, 1863.

SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT.

299

Roll of Dead, Sixty-Ninth Regiment. — Continued.

Name.

M'Intyre, James
M'Erlane, Richard
M'Donough, Daniel
M'Cusker, Bernard
Murphy, Fred'k
Miles, Daniel

Murphy, Edward
Moran, Daniel
M'Donald, Patrick

M'Namara, Timothy

M'Cormick, Wm.

Moran, Geo. M.
M'Dowell, Joseph

O'Brien, Patrick
O'Brien, Wm.

O'Neill, James
O'Neil, John
O'Brien, Andrew
O'Connor, John
Ormsby, Edward
O'Conner, Patrick
Parkinson, James
Pine, Benjamin
Porter, Robert
Quigley, Philip
Rittamair, Wm.
Reilly, Terrence

Reedy, Michael
Rodman, John
Rafferty, Patrick
Robbins, Robert
Ryan, Thomas

Rice, James
Rohlfing, Christian
Rapp, Henry

Sanders, Geo. C.
Simpson, Hugh
Shand, Cyrus
Sharp, Wm.
Sullivan, Wm.
Sauber, John D.

Stokes, Alex.
Smith, Peter
Springfield, Morris
Snyder, Monroe

Private

Serg't
Private

Mus'n

A

Private

A

cc

A

cc

B

CC

B

(C

c

cc

D

cc

F

cc

F

it

G

Remarks.

ft

A

1

A

cc

B

Serg't

F

Private

F

Serg't

G

Private

1

"

K

cc

G

cc

I

cc

I

cc

B

cc

A

cc

B

Corp'l

C

Private

C

cc

F

cc

F

cc

G

cc
cc

G

T

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862.

Died at Bolivar Ib-iuhts, Va., Oct. 27, 1862.

Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 10, 1 8<; 1 .

Died Nov. 9, 1864, of wounds received at Get-
tysburg, Pa.. July 3, 1863.

Died near Bristol, Va., Sept. 6, 1864.

Killed at Petersburg, Va., Nov. 6, 1864.

Died Jan. 7, 1863, of wounds received at Fred-
ericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.

Killed at Charles City Cross-Roads, Va, June
30, 1862.

Died at Washington, D.C., — date unknown, — of
wounds received at Spottsylvania C. H.,Va.,
May 18, 1864.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Died at Harrison's Landing, Va., July or Aug.,
1862.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Died July 19, of wounds received at Gettys-
burg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.

Died at Andersonville, Ga., June 13, 1864.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Killed near Richmond, Va., June IS, 1862.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 18G3.

Burial record, Jan. 17, 1863.

Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 16, 1864.

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va.. Dec. 13, 1862.

Died at Camp Parole, Md., Dec. 5, 1864.

Died at Point Lookout, Md., Nov. 4, 1862.

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 9, 1862, of wounds
received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Killed at Po River, Va., May 9, 1864.

Died at Richmond, Va., Oct. 15, 1863.

Died at Alexandria, Ga., July 13, 1864.

Killed on picket at Fair Oaks, Va., June 19,
1862.

Killed at Gettvsburg, Pa., July 3, 1S63.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Died — date unknown — of wounds received at
Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.

Died at Camp Observation, Md., Jan. 22, 1862.

Died at Point Lookout, Md., Aug. 9, 1862.

Died at Washington, D. C, June 3, 1864.

Died at Washington, D. C, Dec. 15, 1862.

Died near Petersburg, Va., Aug. 29, 1864.

Died Sept. 19, of wounds received at Antietam,
Sept. 17, 1862.

Died at Poolesville, Md., Apr. 3, 1862.

Died at Richmond, Va., Feb. 7, 1864.

Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 6, 1864.

Died November 5, 1864, of wounds received in
action Oct. 27, 1864.

300

ROLL OF DEAD.

Roll of Dead, Sixty-Ninth Regiment. — Continued.

Name.

Sunders, Henry
Shields, Francis
Sailor, S. II.
Titus, Win.
Thackary, Sam'l
Toner, Wm.

Toy, Bernard
Thompson, George

Taggart, Hugh
Thompson, George C.
Taylor, C. Howard
Thomas, Henry

Todd, William
Thompson, F. A. B.
Todd, Jas. H.
Udell, George
Yaughan, Bev'y K.
Vondersmith, Jos. L.
Welsh, John W.
Waters, Bernard

Wilson, Hector

Welsh, Michael
Waters, Michael
Williams, Chas.
White, Michael
Williams, Jas.
Williams, Wm. I.
Wollen, Joseph
Waters, John
Wallace, Wm. M.

Webh, Joseph S.

Bank.

Co.
I

Private

<c

K

"

K

it

A

CC

B

Corp'l

C

Private

c

CC

c

«

E

Capt.

F

'id Lt.

F

Corp'l

F

Private

H

"

I

CC

K

"

A

"

E

Serg't

K

Private

B

1st Sgt.

C

Private

c

ct

c

"

rr

Serg't

h

Private

H

"

H

"

I

CC

I

"

K

"

K

cc

K

Bemarks.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Died at Portsmouth Grove, K. I., July 26, 1862.

Died at Andersonville, Ga., July 14, 1864.

Died at Kiclimond, Ya., Feb. 13,1865.

Killed at Charles City Cross-Koads, Ya., June
30, 1S62.

Killed at Fredericksburg, Ya., Dec. 13, 1S62.

Died Aug. 27, of wounds received at Wilder-
ness. Ya., May 6, 1864.

Died at Harrison's Landing, ATa., Aug. 16, 1862.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Died Nov. 7, 1862.

Died at Annapolis, Md., July 11, of wounds re-
ceived at Gettysburg, Pa., Jnlv 3, 1863.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17. 1862.

Died at Andersonville, Ga., Aug. 19, 1864.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.

Killed at Hatcher's Bun, Ya., March 25,1865.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Killed at Petersburg, Ya., June 18, 1864.

Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 8, 1864.

Killed at Charles City Cross-Boads, Ya., June
30, 1862.

Diid Sept. 19, of wounds received at Antietam,
Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 1, 1863.

Killed at Fredericksburg, Ya., Dec. 13, 1S62.

Killed at Petersburg, Ya., June 17, 1864.

Killed at Petersburg, Ya., June 17, 1864.

Died at Baltimore, Md., March 18,1865.

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., July 20, 1862.

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.

Killed at Antietam, Md.^ Sept. 17, 1862.

Died March 27, of wounds received at Hatcher's
Bun, Va., March 25, 1865.

Died at Andersonville, Ga., Aug. 30, 1864.

KOLL OF DEAD.

SEVENTY-FIRST REGIMENT.

Name.

Booth, Harry
Bunn, Albert G.
Breen, Peter
Barns, Johu
Brown, Girard A.
Brown, David Paul
Beidleman, Geo. W.
Batt, Joseph
Batt, William
Brown, William
Booth, Wm. S.
Bushner, Chas. L.
Black, William
Beam, Merritt
Bixler, Isaac
Biles, Adin W.
Bazor, Seymour
Batzel, Daniel
Chorlton, John
Coggsville, James
Connelly, Albert
Clift, Samuel G.

Chipman, David
Castor, John
Castor, Henry
Conner, Patrick
Clark, James
Carroll, John
Convoy, John
Cosgrove, Thomas
Coleman, Timothy
Duval, Hamilton
Daniels, Samuel B.
Dawson, Robert
Davis, Geo. W.
Davis, Henry R.

Rank.

Co.
A

Private

Serg't

B

Mus.

B

Private

B

"

C

CC

c

cc

c

"

D

cc

D

cc

D |

Serg't

E |

Private

F

Corp'l

G

"

G

Private

G

C<

G

cc

I

cc

K

<(

A

Corp'l

C

Private

c

u

c

«

D 1

cc

D

"

D

"

F

1st Lt.

G

Private

G 1

2dLt.

K

Serg't

K

Private

K

Serg't

A

Private

A

cc

A

"

C

cc

C

Remarks.

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1S62.

Killed at White Oak Swamp, Va., June 30, 1862.

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Died March 14, 1864.

Died at Harper's Ferry, Va., Nov., 1862.

Died at Richmond, Va., 1861.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Died at Richmond, Va., May 15, 1864.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Died at Baltimore, Md., March, 1862.

Killed at Cold Harbor. Va., June 5, 1864.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Died at Washington, D. C, Dec. 30, 1863.

Killed in action, June 3, 1862.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861.

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861.

Died of wounds received at Fair Oaks, Va.,

June 1, 1862.
Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861.
Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861.
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Nov., 1862.
Died at Richmond, Va., Jan. 23, 1864.
Killed in action, May 23, 1861.
Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 11, 1864.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1S63.
Killed accidentally, Feb., 1862.
Died at Washington, D. C, Dec. 9, 1862.
Killed at Peach Orchard, Va., June 29, 1862
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861.
Died Nov. 2, 1S62.

26*

301

302

ROLL OF DEAD.

Roll of Dead, Seventy-First Regiment. — Continued.

Name.

Dare, Sylvester 0.

DeYoung, Benj.
Drake, Joseph
Davidson, Wm. H.
Devlin, Michael
Duross, John
Dugan, John
Denner, Richard
Dellinger, Thomas
Dellinger, John
Davy, ( lhas.
Dull, Win. H.
Ernest, Geo. W.
Evans, Lewis
Edwards, Evan
Evans, Win.
Epich, Jacob
Frinkle, Jacob
Fulton, John
Farrady, Win.
Fa Hows. Win.
Force, Thomas J.
Galbraith, Jas.
Garritty, Jas.

Gravenstein, Jas. L.
Gibson, John
Gallagher, Andrew
Groom, George
Gallagher, Jas.
Holmes, Win.
Hooper. Andrew J.
Hand, Thomas

Harris, Wni.
Handy, David
Hihbs, Benj. F.

Hunt, Elijah R.

Hafer, Adam
Hartley, Richard
lluling, Jas.
Hafer, Samuel
Harwood, Wm.
Hanlon, Thomas
Haw vy, John R.
Happerly, Stephen
Hope, .John
Hi i prick, George
Hervington, A. J.
Haggerty, James
Hoover, George
Hill, Jesse
Irvin, Casper
Ingraham, Theo. R.

Rank.

Co.

Private

F

«

F

"

I

cc

I

"

I

Corp'l

K

"

K

Private

K

"

K

cc

K

"

K

Capt.

B

Private

A

Corp'l

D

Private

I

'•

I

"

K

u

B

u

D

((

F

u

H

it

H

"

A

cc

A

CC

C

U

D

Corp'l

G

Private

G

cc

H

Serg't

A

Private

A

(C

A

CC

A

cc

C

2d Lt.

D

Corp'l

D

Private

D

cc

D

"

D

cc

E

"

F

cc

G

cc

H

cc

H

cc

H

ti

II

"

H

Corp'l

K

Private

K

Corp'l

C

Private

B

Corp'l

F

Remarks.

Died of wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa.,

July 3, 1863.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 18G2.
Died Julv 14, 1862, ol wounds received in action.
Died at Newark, N. J., Sept. 12, 1S62.
Died at Harrison's Landing, Ya., Aug. 23. 18G2.
Killed at Fredericksburg, Ya., Dec. 13, 18G2.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1SC3.
Died January, 1S02.

Died at Point Lookout, Md., July 29. 1SG2.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 18G3.
Died April 20, 1864.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1SG3.
Died at York, Pa., Oct., 1862.
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 27, 1862.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa , July 3, 1863.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., Julv 3, 1863.
Killed at Spottsylvauia C. H., Ya., May 11, 18G4.
Died Oct. 1, 18G2.
Died Oct. 29, 1802.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Killed at Spottsylvauia C. H.,Va., May 12, 1864.
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Nov., 1802.
Died July 18, of wounds received at Gettysburg,

Pa., July 3, 1863.
Killed at Ball's Bluff, Ya., Oct. 21, 1861.
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., July 4, 1861.
Died at Richmond, Ya., April 3, 1S64.
Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.
Killed at Gettysburg. Pa., July 3, 1863.
Died at Washington, D. C, Jan. 3, 1863.

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Ya., Oct. 21, 1861.

Died Dec. 27, of wounds received at Fredericks-
burg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.

Killed at Cold Harbor, Ya., June 9, 18G4.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1S62.

Died of wounds received at Fredericksburg,
Ya., Dec. 13, 1862.

Died Feb. 26, 1863, of wounds received at An-
tietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., July 27, 1S63.

Killed at Fair Oaks, Ya., May 31, 1862.

Died near Brandy Station, Ya., March 4, 1864.

Died at Harrison's Landing, Ya., July 7, 1862.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1S62.

Killed on picket, June 8, 1862.

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861.

Died at Richmond, Va., Dec. 7, 1863.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Died at Harrison's Landing, Ya., Aug., 1S62.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Died Dec, 1861.

Died at Richmond, Ya., Sept., 1863.

Killed at White Oak Swamp, Ya., June 30, 1862.

Died at Poolesville, Bid., Dec. 1, 1861.

SEVENTY-FIRST REGIMENT.

303

Roll of Dead, Seventy-First Regiment. — Continued.

Name.

Rank.

Co.
H

Remarks.

Johnson, John

Private

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861.

Jaggard, Charles

"

H

Killed at Balls Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861.

Kiles, Chas.

u

B

Died at Frederick City, Mil., Dec. 1, 1862.

Keller, Chas. A.

«

B

Died Dec. 23, 1861.

Knight, Harry W.

"

C

Killed at Antietam. Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Kennedy, Robert

u

E

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 18'J:'>.

Kyle, Robert J.

«

E

Died at Newport News, Va., Sept. 16, 1862.

Kelly, Chas. H.

"

II

Died at Andersonville, Ga., March 1, 1864.

Kelly, Francis

(C

K

Died Aug., 1862.

Kevane, Daniel

"

K

Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 4, 1864.

Lane, Win. H.

Serg't

C

Killed at Balls Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861.

Lingerlelter, J. W.

Capt.

B

Killed on picket near Chain Bridge, Va., Sept.
21, 1861.

LeBold, Jacob

Serg't

B

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Lloyd, Andrew J.

Corp'l

C

Killed at Peach Orchard, Va., June 29, 1862.

Lever, George

Private

D

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 8, 1862.

Lay ton, Chas.

"

D

Died at New York, Oct. 18, 1862.

Lesher, Peter

u

D

Died July 8, of wounds received at Gettysburg,
Pa., July 3, 1863.

Logan, Charles

((

E

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Lawman, Gnstavus

((

F

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 9, 1862.

Lutsey, Harrison

(C

G

Died April 1, 1864.

Laeille, Lucien

1st Sgt.

H

Died June 7, 1864, of wounds received at Cold
Harbor, Va.

Lowrie, Geo.

Serg't

H

Died June 5, 1864, of wounds received at Spott-
sylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 1864.

Livingstone, Robert

Private

II

Died at Richmond, Va. Date unknown.

Loveland, Albert E.

"

H

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Lnsk, William

ci

I

Died at Fort Hamilton, N. Y., Nov. 28, 1862.

Lawrence, Wm, H.

"

I

Died at Harrison's Landing, Va., July 21, 1862.

Lynch, Thomas

Serg't

K

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Livzey, Edwin B.

"

I

Killed at Spottsylvania C.H., Va,, May 12, 1864.

M'Kimm, Win. R.

Corp'l

A

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861.

M'Geague, Thomas

Private

A

Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864.

Migent, John

cc

B

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Miller, Chas.

«

B

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

M'Cuen, William

it

B

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 19, 1862.

Matlack, Henry R.

a

C

Died Aug., 1862, of wounds received at Fair
Oaks, Va.

Mullineaux, Sam'l

"

c

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861.

Maxwell, Jas.

CC

c

Killed on picket, June 8, 1862.

M'Erlane, Anthony

cc

D

Died at Newport News, Va., Sept. 3, 1862.

M'Langhlin, C. S.

Corp'l

E

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 14, 1862.

M'Keever, Edw'd L.

Serg't

F

Died at Andersonville, Ga., April 25, 1864.

Mills, James

Private

F

Died Dec. 14, 1861.

Murphy, Samuel

"

G

Died Sept. 8, 1862.

M'Carol, James

"

G

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Moore, Maurine C.

1st Lt.

H

Killed on picket, June 8, 1862.

M'Menamin, R.

Private

H

Died at Richmond, Va., Feb., 1862.

Murray, Alex.

Serg't

I

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Moore, Mansfield I.

Private

I

Died at Andersonville, Ga., Aug. 3, 1864.

M'Closky, Edw.

Serg't.

K

Killed at Fredeiicksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.

Miller, Reuben

Private

K

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Mullen, Joseph

CC

K

! Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

M'Caffery, James

((

K

Died Aug., 1862.

M'Dermott, Andrew

"

K

Died Aug., 1862.

Nichuals, Joshua L.

ti

1

C

Died at Richmond, Va., Dec, 1861.

304

ROLL OF DEAD.

Roll of Dead, Seventy-First Regiment. — Continued.

Name.

Norris, E. Carlyle
Nelson, James

Noble, Samuel F.

Otter, Wm. E.
O'Donnell, Michael
Oswald, Jacob
Peterson, Thos. J.
Pillings, Thomas
Painter, Lemuel
Paist, Alban T.
Pratt, John M.
Potter, Robert II.
Perkins, John J.
Price, Rudolph
Parker, Thomas
Peoples, John
Phelps, Isaac
Pascoe, Joseph
Pay ran, Joseph G.
Peirce, George

Peters, Geo. W.
Quinn, Thomas

Randell. Sewell
Reardon, Wm. H.
Ryan, Cornelius
Reynolds, John
Reilly, James
Ryan, Thomas
Robertson, William
Rudolph, Joseph R.
Rice, Henry A.
Rave, Michael
Radford, Valentine

Steffan, John M.
Steinmetz, Wm. H.
Smith, William
Suydam, Henry
Slater, Samuel
Scott, John
Smith, Robert
Standing, Richard
Seabury, Robert S.
Schaeffer, Christ's A.
Smuch, Jacob
Smith, Philip
Smith, Matthew
Shubb, Godfrey
Smith, Mitchell

Sargster, Joseph
Stradling, M. L.
Sargster, Wm.

Survey, John 1!.

Raxk.

Co.

Capt.

G

Private

G

"

I

Capt.

c

Private

c

"

G

(C

A

"

A

cc

B

Serg't

C

u

C

Private

c

tt

c

u

D

u

D

(I

P

cc

G

k

H

«

H

cc

H

cc

I

cc

H

Corp'l

D

Private

E

Serg't

G

Private

G

cc

G

"

H

cc

H

Serg't

I

Private

I

"

I

tt

K

Capt.

A

Private

A

cc

B

cc

B

cc

C

cc

D

CC

D

"

D

Capt.

F

2d Lt.

F

Private

F

"

G

EC

G

CC

G

Capt.

H

Corp'l

H

Private

II

"

H

«

H

Remarks.

Died Mav 1, 18C3, of wounds received in action.

Died at Richmond, Va., Nov. 16, 1803.

Died Oct. 8, 186*2, of wounds received at Autie-
tam, Md.. Sept. 17, 1862.

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861.

Died Oct., 1862.

Killed at Antietam, Md.. Sept. 17, 1S62.

Died at York, Pa., Oct. 1, 1862.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Died at Newport News, Va., Aug. 16, 1862.

Killed at Antiejam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1861.

Died Nov. 19, 1863.

Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864.

Died at Brandy Station, Va., Feb. 25. 1S64.

Died of wounds received in action, June 15, 1864.

Died Oct. 27, 1862.

Killed at Falls Church, Va,, Sept. 20, 1861.

Killed at Falls Church, Va., Sept. 29, 1861.

Died June 11, 1864, of wounds received at Cold
Harbor, Va.

Killed at Spottsylvania C. H, Va., May 18, 1864.

Died at Harrison's Landing, Va. Date un-
known.

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1801.

Died at Newport News, Va., Aug. 21, 1862.

Died at Trenton, N. J.. Sept , 1803.

Killed at Balls Bluff, Va., Oct 21, 1861.

Killed in action, June 9, 1862.

Killed at White Oak Swamp, Va., June 30, 1862.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1802.

Died at Point Lookout, Md., Oct. 10, 1862.

Died at Falmouth, Va., Jan. 17, 1803.

Died at Harrison's Landing, Va., Aug., 1862.

Died May 17, 1864, of wounds received at Sp >tt-
sylvania C. II., Va., Mav 12, 1864.

Killed at Gettvsburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Died An-. 3,1863.

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.

Died at Washington, D. C, Oct. 19, 1862.

Killed at Antietam. Md., Sept. 17, 1S02.

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1801.

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1801.

Died at Newport News, Va., Sept. 7. 1862.

Killed Mav 7. 1864.

Died at Poolesville, Md.. March 3, 1862.

Killed at Peach Orchard, Va., June 28. 1S62.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3. L863.

Killed at White Oak Swamp, Va., June 30, 1862.

Killed at Spottsylvania C. II., Va., May 12,
1804.

Balled accidentally, July J, 1S61.

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1801.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, lsou.

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21, 1801.

SEVENTY-FIRST REGIMENT.

305

Roll of Dead, Seventy-First Regiment. — Continued.

Name.

Shultz, Win.

Stockton, John
Stanton, Merritt
Stephens, Alex.

Stephens, Kichard
Tack, Oliver P.
Thompson, Robert
Taney, Washington

Teese, John
Taylor, James
Yance, John
Vonderpehr, Frank
Whitehead, Robert
Wilson, William
Watrous, Wilbar F.
Wallin, Rohert F.
Williams, Joseph D.
Williams, William
Williams, Barney
Weaver, Geo.
Walker, Robert

White, Joseph
Williamson, John
Williams, Robert
Wilson, George

Young, Wm. T.
Ziegler, John C.

Rank.

Co.

Corp'l

I

Private

I

tc

K

"

K

EC

K

C(

C

cc

C

((

c

Serg't

D

Corp'l

G

Private

G

Serg't

H

Private

A

2d Lt.

B

Serg't

B

Private

C

2d Lt.

D

Private

D

D

F

F

H

H

I

K

c

c

Remarks.

Died Sept. 29, 1863, of wounds received at Get-
tysburg. Pa., July 2, 1863.

Died. Date unknown.

Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864.

Died of wounds received at Antietam, Md.,
Sept. 17, 1862.

Died Aug.. 1862.

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Ya., Oct. 21, 1861.

Died Aug. 8, 1862.

Died Oct. 31, of wounds received at Antietam,
Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Killed at Wilderness, Ya., May 9, 1864.

Killed in action, Dec. 14, 1863.

Died Jan. 19, 1863.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Died at Washington, D. C, Dec, 1862.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Killed at White Oak Swamp, Ya., June 30, 1862.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Killed at Ball's Bluff, Ya., Oct. 21, 1861.

Killed at Fair Oaks, Ya., May 31, 1862.

Died at Richmond, Ya., March 4, 1864.

Killed at Poolesville, Md., Dec. 6, 1861.

Died Aug. 10, 1862, of wounds received in ac-
tion, June 29, 1S62.

Killed at Falls Church, Ya., Sept. 29, 1861.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Died at Washington, D. C, Oct. 13, 1862.

Died of wounds received at Spottsylvania C. H.,
Ya., May 12, 1864.

Died April 10,1863.

Died Oct. 5, 1862.

EOLL OF DEAD.

SEVENTY-SECOND REGIMENT.

Name.

Auner, Joseph G.
Allen, Wm. H.
Anderson, Geo. L.

Ash, Edwin 11.
Appel, John
Aitkens, Joseph
Abrams, Geo. W.
Brady, John
Brown, Robert
Borland, Joseph
Ball, Samuel L.

Bartman, Wm, H.
Bauder, John F.
Berg, Wm. H.
Briggs, Geo.

Baker, Harry

Beale, Wm. A.
Buddy, Jacob John
Brown, Wm. II.

Barger, Wm.
Curnan, John
Clark, Wm. W.
Cresse, Wm. II.
Coste, Michael
Chambers, Geo.
Class, Geo. W.
Conner, Edmund

Caldwell, Alfred

Collier, Edmund Y.

Bank.

1
Co.

A

Pri vate

Corp'l

C

Private

1)

si

F

cc

G

Serg't

I

Private

C

"

D

"

D

"

D

Serg't

E

cc

F

Private

F

cc

F

Corp'l

G

Private

H

u

H

"

H

Corp'l

I

Private

I

cc

A

cc

A

Corp'l

B

1st Lt.

C

Serg't

C

Private

c

"

1)

cc

]■:

"

E

Remarks.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa.. July 3, 1863.

Killed at Fair Oaks, Va., June 8, 1862.

Died, Oct. 10, of wounds received at Antietam,
Md.. Sept. 17. 1862.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., June 25, 1864.

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.

Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864.

Killed at Cold Harbor. Va., June 1, 1864.

Died at Bolivar Heigbts, Va., March 21, 1862.

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., July 24, 1S61.

Died Sept. 25, 1862, of wounds received at An-
tietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Died of wounds received at Gettvsbnrg, Pa.,
July 3, 1863.

Died — date unknown — of wounds received at
Gettysburg, Pa., July, 1863.

Killed at Falmouth. Va., Dec. 8, 1862.

Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12,1864.

Died Dec. 26, of wounds received at Fredericks-
burg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Killed at Antietam. Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Died at Sharpsburg, Md.. July 22, 1863.

Killed at Briscoe Station, Va., Oct. 14, 1S63.

Killed at Petersburg, June 17, 1864.

Killed at Wilderness Va., May 6, 1864.

Died Oct. 10, of wounds received at Antietam,
Did., Sept. 17,1862.

Died Aug. 7, 1S62, of wounds received at Savage
Station, Va., June 29, 1862.

Died Sept. 21, of wounds received at Antietam.
Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

30G

SE VENTY-SECOND REGIMENT.

307

Roll of Dead, Seventy- Second Regiment. — Continued.

Name.

Cranston, Albert L.

Campbell, Harry B.

Clew, Samuel
Clark, James E.

Campbell, Daniel
Cottrell, Edwin
Cavanaugh, John L.

Cook, Wm. II.
Dumont, Augustus
Bailey, Edw.
Dungan, Albert
Devlin, Joseph

Dorff, Richard
Devlin, Harry
Dunlap, Chas.
Dawson, Wm.
Dunkinfield, Geo.
Davison, Cbas.
Dotter, Albert H.
Debman, Albanus
Donaldson, Harry

Edwards, William
Esler, Joseph
Evans, Tyson
Edgar, Gustavus
Farren, Jobn

Fetters, Samuel H.
Fox, Albert B.
Finecy, Wm.
Gartland, John
Green, Morgan II.
Gilmour, Alfred
Gallaglier, Michael
Gossman, Wm.
Granger, Cbas. P.
Garvin, Samuel It.
Groves, Joseph

Grimm, Jobn L.
Gibson, Jesse A.
Gallagher, Daniel E.

Guinand, Virgil
Girard, Henry
Griffith, James J.
Glenn, Jacob
Gray, Thomas
Hoffman, Geo.
Harris, Joseph K.

Kank.

Co.
E

Private

it

E

C(

G

"

G

u

I

u

I

u

K

(C

K

it

B

«

D

"

D

EC

G

«

G

(<

H

Corp'I

I

Private

1

"

I

ec

I

"

I

<(

K

Serg't

N

Private

A

"

A

c<

A

"

I

u

C

«

F

Serg't

G

H

cc

A

Private

B

"

B

"

C

tc

E

"

E

"

E

cc

E

«

E

u

E

c

F

u

G

u

G

1st Lt.

I

2d Lt.

I

Private

K

Serg't

A

Private

B

Remarks.

Died July G, of wounds received at Gettysburg,

Pa., July, 1863.
Died Aug. 8, of wounds received at Gettysburg,

Pa., July, 1863.
Died at Falmouth, Va., Dec. 31, 1862.
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., April 21, 1863, of

wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept.

17, 1862.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Died July 1, of wounds received at Savage Sta-
tion, Va., June 29, 18G2.
Died Aug. 11, 1862.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 18G3.
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., March 8, 1863.
Died at Poolesville, Md., Oct. 18, 1861.
Died Nov. 17, of wounds received at Gettysburg,

Pa., July 3, 1863.
Died at Andersonville, Ga., Sept. 21, 1864.
Died at Bolivar, Va., Nov. 18, 1862.
Died at Camp Observation, Md., June 10, 18C2.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.
Died at Morrisville, Va., Nov. 7, 1863.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Died of wounds received at Fair Oaks, Va.,

June 27, 1862.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Died at Camp Observation, Md., Feb. 9, 1862.
Died of wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa.,

July 3, 1863.
Killed at Mine Run, Va., Nov. 27, 1863.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Died at Harper's Ferry, Va., Oct. 31, 1862.
Died Mav 27, 1864.

Killed at Gettysburg. Pa., July 3, 1863.
Died at New York City, July 16, 1862.
Died at Fortress Monroe, Va.. Nov. 7, 1862.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1SG3.
Died of wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa.,

July 4, 1863.
Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 5, 1864.
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., March 10, 1864.
Died of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va.,

Dec. 13, 1862.
Died Oct. 7, 1862.

Died at Fortress Monroe, Va., Sept. 27, 1862.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864.
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 26, 1862.
Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864.
Died May 27, 1864.

308

ROLL OF DEAD.

Roll of Dead, Seventy- Second Regiment. — Continued.

Name.

Hawkins, Henry
Hess, Geo. L.
Hutterlock, John
Harrison. Wm.
Houshallj Wm. W.
Harrigan, James
Hesson, Bernard
Honts, Leander
Houts, Chas.
Huntley, Louis D.
Hemphill, David

Hazzard, Wm. S.
Heimer, John

Holden, Geo. W.
Huber, Edw.
Hollingsworth, J.

Hubell, Edw.

Jones, Evan
Johnson, John J.

Jones, Sutton
Jordan, Hiram
Jacobs, Wm.
Johnson, David
Keen, Moses H.

Kelter, Chas.
Kennedy, Jas.
Krider, Edw.
Keelig, Fred'k
Kiker, Wm.
Krein, Henry
Loudenstein, Wm.
Leeson, John G.
Liggetts, Chas. G.
Lodge, Chas. G.
Lambert, Thomas

Longyear, Ernest

Logan, Andrew
Laird, Howard
Lesher, Lewis
Lawton, Stephen
Mintzer, Abraham
M'Gonigle, Chas.
M'Dowell, Alex.
Massey, Augustus
Murphy, Chas.
Morrison, Sam'l A.
Murrow, Win.
BTBride, John F.
M'Farland, Jolin P.

Rank.

Private

1st Sgt.

Corp'l

Private

Serg't

Private

Serg't
Corp'l

Private

Corp'l

Private

2d Lt.

Corp'l

Private
u

Serg't

Private

Corp'l

Private

Corp'l
Private

Co.

u

D

"

G

u

I

(«

I

"

K

<(

A

Capt.

B

Corp'l

B

Private

B

(t

B

<(

B

cc

B

"

B

t(

B

Remarks.

Died at Convent Hospital, Md., July 20, 1863.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1*863.

Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862.

Died Oct. 29, 1862.

Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Died at Milton, Pa., Dec. 28, 1861.

Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Died Aug. 20, of wounds received at Gettysburg,

Pa., July 3, 1863.
Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 7, 1S6L
Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12,

1864.
Killed at Savage Station, June 29, 1S62.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Died Oct. 22, of wounds received at Antietam,

Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Died Jan. 4, 1863, of wounds received at Fred-
ericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.
Killed at Poolesville, Md., Sept. 8, 1861.
Died of wounds received at Savage Station, Va.,

June 29, 1862.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Died at Falmouth, Va., Dec. 7, 1862.
Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Died at Harrison's Landing, Va., June 20,

1S62.
Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., April 22, 1862.
Died at Falmouth, Va., Feb. 5, 1863.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa,, July 3, 1863.
Died at Fair Oaks, Va., Julv 15, 1862.
Killed at Poolesville, Md., Feb. 7, 1862.
Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864.
Died of wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa.,

July 3. 1863.
Died Oct. 3, of wounds received at Antietam,

Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862.
Died at Camp Observation, Md., Feb. 6, 1862.
Killed at Wilderness, May 6, 1864.
Died at Camp Observation, Md., Dec. 14, 1861.
Died a prisoner. Date unknown.
Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 27. 1863.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa.. July 3, 1863.
Killed :>t Antietam, Md., Sept 17. 1862.
Died at Frederick, Md., Dec 31, 1862.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1S63.

SEVENTY-SECOND REGIMENT.

309

Roll of Dead, Seventy- Second Regiment. — Continued.

Name.

Mellor, Fred'k
Mickle, Geo.
M'Aleer, Philip

M'Callister, John S.

M'Bride, Andrew
Martin, Francis

Miller, Henry
Marsh, Edw.
M'Cullough, Peter
M'Lauglilin, James

M'Causland, John

M'Dermott, Dennis
Manly, Wm. H.

Mills, Alex.

M'Donald, Wm.

M'Intosh, Alex.

Martin, Wm. R.
Mitcheson, Thomas
Mackin, Peter
M'Afce, Wm.

Myers, Frederick

Moore, Chas.
M'Cullough, Hugh
Mealey, Edw.
Miller, Jacob
Matz, James
M'Carty, Chas.
M'Hugh, John
Nicholson, Thomas

Nock, Wm. H. H.
Neal, Joseph

Noble, Walter
Neill, Albert B.
O'Neill, Michael

Peabody, A. W.
Pritchett, Joseph
Peacock, Benj. E.
Place, Wm.
Parker, Geo. F.
Painter, Jacob M.

Peifer, Geo. W.
Pollock, Joseph

Rank.

Private

Capt.
Private

Serg't

Corp'l

Private

Corp'l

Private

Corp'l

Co.

2d Lt.

Corp'l

Private

Serg't

Private

Private D
D

K
K

D

Remarks.

Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862.

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Died of wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept.

17, 1862.
Died of wounds received at Wilderness, Va.,

May 6, 1864.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Died Sept. 27, of wounds received at Antietam,

Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 30, 1863.
Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864.
Died June 30, 1862.
Died July 12, of wounds received at Gett sburg,

Pa., July 3, 1863.
Died July 27, of wounds received at Gettys-
burg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864.
Died of wounds received at Fair Oaks Va.,

June 27, 1862.
Died July 9, of wounds received at Gettysburg,

Pa., July 3, 1863.
Died Aug. 4, 1863, of wounds received at Gettvs-

burg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Killed on Mechanicsville Road, Va., May 31.

1864. ' * '

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Died at Harrison's Landing, Va., July 8, 1862.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Died of wounds received at Savage Station, Va.,

June 29, 1862.
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 19, 1861.
Killed at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862.
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Aug., 1S64.
Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Died July 20, of wounds received at Gettvs-

burg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Died Sept. 27, of wounds received at Antietam,

Md., Sept. 17, 1S62.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Died at Harrisburg, Pa., Sept. 5, of wounds re-
ceived at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Died at Andersonville, Ga., Jan. 3, 1865.
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 24, 1864.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, 1864.
Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 18,

1864.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Died June 28, 1862, of wounds received at Fair

Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862.

27

310

ROLL OF DEAD.

Roll of Dead, Seventy- Second Regiment. — Continued.

Name.

Rank.

Co.
D

Quirk, Edw. M.

Private

Korer, Ehvood

u

A

Roberts, Joseph S.

"

B

Riddell, Joseph T.

EC

C

Riche, John

CC

C

Robb, John A.

"

c

Rein", Jacob B.

1st Sgt.

E

Ritter, Emeliu

Private

E

Roach, Thomas

«

E

Rialle, Josiah

"

F

Roussel, Edw. G.

Capt.

G

Rangle, Joseph

Private

G

Reid, John

u

I

Rever, Jacob

"

I

Rainier, Samuel

"

K

Ritchie, Frank M.

CC

K

Supplee, Andrew C.

Capt.

A

Summers, Aaron

Private

A

Shaw, Albert J.

"

A

Skelton, James R.

u

A

Shaw, Augustus

u

A 1

Shreve, Rich'd L. R.

Capt.

B

Saylor, Theodore

Corp'l

C

Strayiine, Theodore

"

c

Smith, Peter

Private

c

Smith, Thomas

ct

c

Senneff, Isaac

(c

c

Stroch, Andrew F.

Serg't

D

Smith, Thomas

Private

D

Sellers, Gilbert L.

Corp'l

E

Steptoe, John

CC

E

Stainrook, David

Private

E

Shoner, Fred'k

"

E

Slaven, Thomas

Corp'l

F

Sheridan, Albert S.

Serg't

G

Stuart, Geo.

Corp'l

G

Shutler, Bernard

Private

I

Shrack, Wm. K.

u

I

Seipher, Lewis

"

I

Sparks, Richard

Serg't

C

Spoerhase, Henry

Private

G

Taylor, Ayres

"

B

Travers, James

cc

B

Taylor, Chas. A.

Corp'l

C

Tees, Peter

Private

C

Teamer, James

a

D

Weiser, Reuben

"

A

Wills, Adon G.

Corp'l

B

Wi<o, John W.

Private

B

Walto, Geo. M.

CI

B

Remarks.

Died at Camp Observation, Md., Jan. 9, 1S62.
Killed at Fredericksburg, Ya., Dec. 13, 18C2.
Killed at Savage Station, Ya., June 29, 1S62.
Killed at Fair Oaks, Ya., June 8, 1862.
Died at New York, June 17, 1862.
Killed at Savage Station, Ya., June 29, 1SG2.
Died at Andersonville, Ga., Oct. 17, 1864.
Killed on picket at Fair Oaks, Ya., June 8,

18G2.
Killed at Fredericksburg, Ya., Dec. 13, 18G2.
Killed at Fair Oaks, Ya., May 31, 18G2.
Died Oct. 11, of wounds received at Antietam,

Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Died at Newport News, Ya., Sept. 20, 18G2.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 18G2.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1SG3.
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., July 27, 1864.
Killed at Fredericksburg, Ya., Dec. 13, 18G2.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Killed at Savage Station, Ya., June 29, 1862.
Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.
Killed at Wilderness, Ya., May G, 1864.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3. 1863.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 18G3.
Died at Andersonville, Ga.. July 31, 1864.
Killed at Fair Oaks, Ya., June 8, 1862.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Accidentally killed at Camden, N. J., Dec. 12,

1862.
Died of wounds received on picket at Fair Oaks,

Va., June 25, 1862.
Died July 16, 1S63, of wounds received at Get-
tvsburg, Pa., July :'., 1863.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3. 1863.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1S63.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Died July 5, of wounds received at Gettysburg,

Pa., July 2, 1863.
Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Ya., May

1864.
Kill,,! at Gettysburg. Pa., July 3, 1863.
Killed at Savage Station, Ya., June 29, 1862.
Killed at Savage Station, Ya., June 29, 1862.
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 8, 1862.
Killed at Petersburg, Ya., June 22, 1864.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Died June 11, 1>62.

Killed at Savage Station, Ya., June 29. 1862.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 3, 1862.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 18G2.

12,

SEVENTY-SECOND REGIMENT.

311

Roll of Dead, Seventy- Second Regiment. — Continued.

Name.

Willetts, Peter H.

Woods, John
Wright, John P.
Wray, Thomas C.
Wood, James
Wolf, Frederick

Walbert, Frank
Wirth, Fred'k
Wells, Chas. B.

Rank.

Co.
C

Capt.

Private

c

"

D

Corp'l

E

Private

E

"

E

«

F

((

G

H

Remarks.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17. 1862.
Died at Harrison's Landing, Va., July, 18G2.
Died June 30, 1SG2.

Died at Lynchburg, Va., July 26, 1P64.
Died at Philadelphia, Pa., March 27, 1863.
Died July 22, 1862, of wounds received at Fair

Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.
Died at Philadelphia. Pa., Aug. 3, 1862.
Killed at Autietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

27^

EOLL OF DEAD.

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT.

Name.

Rank.

Co.

Remarks.

Allen, Richard S.

Private

B

Died Dec. 26, 1861.

Armstrong, S. K.

"

D

Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864.

Allen. Win

"

G

Died at Washington, D. C, Oct. 25, 1862.

Anderson, John

"

II

Died at Camp Observation, Md., Feb. 12, 1862.

Anderson, A.

"

II

Died at Milieu, Ga.

Anderson, Robert

"

H

Died.

Anderson, John R.

n

II

Killed at Petersburg, Ya., June 22, 1864.

Bowman, Isaac

a

A

Died at Yorktown, Va., May 25. 1862.

Beckley, Joseph

"

A

Killed at Antietara. Md., Sept. IT. 1862.

Binker, James

u

B

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., Julv 2, 186:}.

Bothwell, Alex.

"

C

Died at Yorktown, Va., Apr. 17, 1862.

Bnrness, James

"

E

Died at Wilmington, N. C, date unknown.

Bryan, Wm,

2d Lt.

F

Killed at Antietam, Md.. Sept. 17, 1862.

Bryan, Dawson

Private

F

Died at Andersonville, Ga., Aug. 26. 186-1.

Bob l>, John

"

G

Killed at Fair Oaks, Va.. June 28. 1862.

Bitler, Thomas

u

G

Died of wounds received at Wilderness, Va.,
May 6. 1864.

Bl mo, John

cc

II

Died at Andersonville, Ga., Oct. 28, 1864.

Blackburn, Wm.

(C

I

Killed at Savage Station, Ya., June 29, 1862.

Blair, Henry P.

Serg'1

C

Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 1864.

Boustead. Thos. D.

"

II

Died at Andersonv lie, Ga., Sept. 11, 186-1.

Barber, Geo.

Private

I

Died at Andersonville, Ga.

Chambers, Jos. A.

(C

B

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17. 1862.

Caulfield, John

It

B

Killed at Wilderness, Va., Mav 6, IsCl.

Canning, Janus

"

B

Killed at Spottsylvania C. II., Ya.,May 12,186-'.

Carr, Levi

Ci

C

Died at Newport News, Ya.. Aug. 17. 1862.

Comfort, Wm. H.

(I

C

Killed at Savage Station, Ya., June 29. 1862.

Campbell, Michael

"

E

Killed at Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, 1862.

Clark, Timothy

Capt.

F

Pied Sept. Hi, of wounds received at Antietam,
Md., Sept. 17. 1862.

( 'arlcy, John

Private

F

Died at Annapolis, Md , March 23. 1865.

Carnthers, Wm.

G

Died at Harper's Ferry. Va.. Nov. 18. 1^63.

Chacon, Alfred W.

B

Died at Andersonville. Ga., Sept. 4. 1864.

Carpenter, Josiah

II

Died at Newport News, Va., Sept. 0, 1862.

Dibble, Wm. A.

C

Killed at Antietam, Md.. Sept 17, 1862.

Davis. Henry

I)

Died at Point Lookont, Md., July 26, 1862.

Dawd, Thomas

D

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

312

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT. 313

Roll of Dead, One Hundred and Sixth Regiment. — Continued.

Name.

Dann, Javier N.
Dudley, Matthias

Dransfield, Reuben
Darragh, Henry

Dimmer, Henry
Fesmire, John

Fitzinsrer, Samuel
Faiichild, Wallace
Foster, Daniel L.
Fuller, Andrew J.

Fagan, Thomas

Frick, John
Foliet, Eugene F.
Fn.st, Martin 0.
Finfrock, Alfred
Flaimery, .John
Faircliild, W. W.
Griffith, Jesse L.
Grover, Geo.
Gage, Joshua A.
Gerrity, Thos.
Gamble, Wm.
Gee, Richard
Green, John
Hickman, Chns. E.
II irtinan, Wensil
Hodson, James C.

Havburn, Samuel
Hickok, Chas.H.
Haws, Wm. II.
Hall, James H.
Holcomb, Ellery J.
Harding, Wick man
Herrington, Henry
Hider, Joshua M.
Ilarr s, John
Humble, Jacob
James, Samuel T.
Kelly, Win.
King, Robert M.
King. A brun
Kilmer, Wm. E.
Kelly, Michael
Krupp, Geo.
Kearney. Geo. 0.
Keiner, David
Lnkens, Clias.
Landen, Levi S.
Levy, David
Landrus, Geo. W.
Little, Myron T.

Rank.

Co.

Private

D

(C

D

Corp'l

I

cc

K

Private

II

(i ■

A

Corp'l

B

Private

B

Corp'l

D

Private

D

(<

G

cc

G

1st Lt.

I

Capt.

K

Private

K

"

K

u

K

CI

C

cc

C

2d Lt,

D

Private

C

cc

I

cc

K

cc

K

Serg't

A

Private

A

"

A

Corp'l

B

Serg't

C

Private

C

Serg't

D

Corp'l

D

Private

D

"

D

cc

I

cc

K

cc

G

Serg't

B

Private

C

"

D

cc

D

cc

D

cc

E

cc

G

cc

G

"

I

cc

A

cc

C

1C

c

"

E

cc

F

Remarks.

ed at Newport News, Va., Sept. 22, 1862.

ed at Fredericksburg, Va., May 19, ol wounds

received at Wilderness, Ya., May 6, 1864.

ed Aug. 10, 1862.

ed at Washington, D. G, July 14, 18G4, of
wounds received in action.

lied at Antietam, Md , Sept. 17, 18G2.

ed at Annapolis, Md., June 22, of wounds
received at Petersburg, Ya., June 18, 1864.

lied at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.

ed Dec. 31, 18«2, at Washington, D. C.

lied at Cold Harbor, Ya., June 4. 1864.

ed at Falmouth, Ya., Dec. 20, of wounds re-
ceived at Fredericksburg, Ya., Dec. 11, 1862.

lied accidentally at Camp Observation, Md.,
Feb. 26, 1862.

ed at Washington, D. G, Jan. 5, 1863.

ed at York town, Ya., April 19, 1862.

lied at Fair Oaks, Ya., June 8, 1862.

ed at Washington, D. C, April 20, 1865.

ed at Audersonville, Ga., Oct. IS. 1864.

lied June 8, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Va.

lied at Wilderness, Ya., Max 6, 1864

ed nt Newport News, Ya., Aug., IS1]:'..

lied at Spottsylvania 0. II., Va.,May 12, 18f4.

ed at Audersonville. Ga., Jan. 2, 1865.

ed Jan. 12, 186:5, at Falmouth, Ya.

ed at Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 8, 1862.

lied at Fredericksburg, Ya., Dec. 13, 18G2.

lied at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

lied at Fredericksburg, Ya., Dec. 13, 1862.

ed May 20, 1864, of wounds received at Wil-
derness, Va., May 6, 1864.

lied at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2. 1863.

lied at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864.

ed at White House, Ya., May 20, 1862.

lied at Spottsylvania 0. H.,Va.,May 12. 1864.

lied at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 1804.

lied at Savage Station. Ya.. June 29, 1862.

lied at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 1SG4.

lied at Gettvsbnrg, Pa., July 3, 186 i.

ed at Andersonville, Ga., Oct. 10, I8G4.

ed at Salisbury, N. C, Jan. 15, I860.

lied at Gettysburg. Pa., July 2, 1863.

ed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 4, 1863.

lied at Savage Station, Va., June 29, 1862.

lied at Wilderness. Ya.. May 6, 1864.

ed at Milford Station, Ya., May 28, 1864.

ed. Date unknown.

ed at Norristown, Pa., April 13, 1862.

lied at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.

ed May 10,1862.

lied at Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864.

ed. Date unknown.

lied at Fredeiicksbnrg, Va., Dec. 13, 1SG2.

ed at Y'orktown. Ya.. May 7. 1862.

ed at Andersonville, Ga., June 3, 1SG4.

314

ROLL OF DEAD.

Roll of Dead, One Hundred and Sixth Regiment. — Continued.

Name.

Leggett, Walter
Letts, James W.
Lavaber, Martin H.
Morris, Geo. W.
M'Neal, Wm.
Mason, Geo. G.
Manley, Wm. H.

Mann, Wm.
Morrell, David
M'Coombs, John
M' Laughlin, .Tolm
M'Coy, Henry
Ma gargle, Samuel
Mnir, Win. H.
Martin, Wm.
M'Mnller, Wm.
Morse, Andrew
Mount, James
Mountenay, John

Matthews, Robert
M'Clay, John
Nathans, Simon
Osier, Hugh M.
Polen, Win. ]>.
Parker, John It.
Price, Gideon
Paddock, Lewis
Page, Win.
Painter, John II.
Pierce, John W.
Quirk, Thomas
B leder, Ambrose
Itundall, Arthur L.
Rice, Jacob

Eitter, Wilson
Bobbins, Geo. W.
Richards, John
Roe, Thomas
Reeber, James B.
Robbins, J.
Uodeliaugh, Kllwood
Rich, !-.i nc II.
Swaitz, Chas. 8.
Smith, J.hn W. I).
Scullen, Patrick
Sheak, Frederick
Steiner, Edw.

Smith, Wm. II.
Schambacher, <;. W.
Scott, Geo. l>.
Schambacher, C. F.

Mia ye, Patrick
Smith, Henry

Rank.

Co.

Private

G

cc

K

M

K

CC

A

CorpT

C

Private

D

cc

D

cc

E

"

E

cc

E

cc

E

Corp'l

F

Serg't

G

CC

G

Private

I

cc

I

cc

K

cc

K

c:

E

Corp'l

D

Private

K

"

B

"

A

cc

I)

"

P

cc

H

cc

K

cc

K

"

C

cc

K

cc

K

"

D

cc

D

"

E

cc

G

cc

G

(C

11

"

I

cc

F

cc

G

cc

D

cc

H

1st Lt.

A

Serg't

A

Private

A

"

A

"

A

2d Lt.

B

Private

D

"

I)

"

D

cc

E

"

G

Remarks.

Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Died at Alexandria. Ya., Oct. 10, 18G2.
Died at Washington, D. C, Nov. 30, 1862.
Killed at Wilderness, Ya.. May 9, 18«4.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. IT, 18G2.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Died at Washington, D. C, June 18, of wounds

received at Cold Harbor, Va., June 8, 1864.
Died at Harrison's Landing, Ya., July C, 1S62.
Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1804.
Died on board U. S. transports. Aug. 9, 18G2.
Killed at Antietam. Md., Sept. 17, 1862.
Drowned in James River, Jul v 2. 18'U.
Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864.
Killed at Spottsylvania C. II., Va., Mav 13,1864.
Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12,1864.
Died at Baltimore, Md., Oct , 1862.
Died at Harper's Ferrv, Va., March 6, 1862. .
Died at Baltimore, Md., July 23, 1862.
Died of wounds received at Antietam, Md.,

Sept. 17, 1862.
Died at Andersonville, Ga.
Hied at Baltimore, Md., Jan. 5, 1863.
Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 1864.
Died near Falmouth, Ya., March 14, 1862.
Killed at Fair Oaks, Ya., Mav 31, 1862.
Died at Salisbury, N. C, Jan. 27, 1865.
Died at Andersonville, Ga., Sept. 30, 1S64.
Killed at Ream's Station. Ya., Aug. 25, 1861.
Died at Fortress Monroe, Va., Aug. 16, 1862.
Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13,
Died at Harrison's Landing, Aug. 13, 1862.
Died at Newport News. Va., Aug. 19, 1S62.
Died nt Turner House, Ya., June 1">, 1862.
Died at New York,Oct.l, 1862.
Died at Smoketown, Md., Oct. 10, of wounds

received at Antietam. Sept. 17, 1862.
Killed at Spottsylvania < .11., Ya.. May 12,1864.
Died at Andersonville, < fa., Aug. 21, 1864.
Died at Andersonville, Ga.. Sept. 12, 1864.
Died Sent. 16, 1862.

Died at Salisbury, N. ('..Jan. 27. 1865.
Died at Florence. S.C., Nov. 19, 1864.
Killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17. L862.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.
Killed at Spottsylvania (ML. Ya.. Mm 12, 1864.
Killed at Spottyslvania C. H.,Va.,May 11, 1864.
Killed at Antietam, Ml.. Sept. 17. 1862.
Killed at Savage Station, Ya.. June 29, L862
Killed accidentally at Stevensburg, Va., Jan.

15, 1864.
Killed at Gettvsburg, Pa., July 2, 1S63.
Died at New fork, July 10, 1862.
Died at Poinl Lookout, Md., Aug. 10, 1862.
Died ,-,t Washington, D. C, June 24, 1863.
Killed at Malvern Bill, Va.,Julv I. L862.
Died ai New fork, Dec. 1. I

ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH REGIMENT. 31 5

Roll of Dead, One Hundred and Sixth Regiment. — Continued.

Name.

Rank.

Co.

Remarks.

Schwenk, Josiah

Private

G

Pied at Yorktown, Ya., May, 1802.

Starr, Anthony

tc

G

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.

Stolz, Abraham

(t

G

Died at Washington, D. C, Jan. 26, L863.

Stevenson, John

"

I

Killed at Savage Station, Ya., June '_:<», 1862.

Strohm, Joseph J. B.

Serg't

K

Killed at Hatcher's Run, Ya., March 25, 1868.

Spanlding, Jas. W.

Private

K

Killed at Fredericksburg, Ya., Dec. 13, 1862.

Scudder, Wilson J.

Corp'l

D

Died at Annapolis, Mrt., Sept. 24, 1864, of wounds
received at Wilderness, Ya., May 6, 1864.

Smith, Wm. H.

Private

H

Killed at Petersburg, Ya., June 22, 1864.

Smith, Gilbert R.

cc

K

Died at Yorktown, Ya., May 29, 18(32.

Townsend, S. R.

Oapt.

E

Killed at Cold Harbor, Ya., June 5, 1864.

Townsend, Win. S.

Private

G

Died at Philadelphia, Pa., May 30, of wounds
received at Wilderness, Ya., May, 1864.

Tobin, Terrence

u

G

Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Ya., Mav 11,1861.

Tebo, Lewis W.

"

K

Died at Washington, D. C, Jan. 2, 1863.

Uhjohn, Geo.

cc

H

Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.

Veil, Henry C.

Serg't

D

Died at Harrison's Landing, Va., Ausr. 11, 1862.

Walton, David G.

Corp'l

A

Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.

Warnock, Win.

Private

B

Died Sept. 22, 1862, at Washington, D. C.

Webster, Geo.

si

B

Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 22. 1864.

Waugh, Fred'k L.

Mns.

C

Killed at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862.

White, Roswell

Private

D

Died at Harrison's Landing, Va., June 19, 1863.

Wesely, John

"

F

Died at Annapolis, Md., Nov., 1S64.

Warrington, J. H.

cc

H

Died at Andersonville, Ga., Oct. 26, 1S64.

THE END.

708

ud

/05

wi? If ?f If s$IylfWtf I?

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

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III