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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:47:16 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/29313-8.txt b/29313-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e2c95d2 --- /dev/null +++ b/29313-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9973 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, War from the Inside, by Frederick L. +(Frederick Lyman) Hitchcock + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: War from the Inside + The Story of the 132nd Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in the War for the Suppression of the Rebellion, 1862-1863 + + +Author: Frederick L. (Frederick Lyman) Hitchcock + + + +Release Date: July 4, 2009 [eBook #29313] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR FROM THE INSIDE*** + + +E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Chuck Greif, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 29313-h.htm or 29313-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/29313/29313-h/29313-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/29313/29313-h.zip) + + + + + +WAR FROM THE INSIDE + +[Illustration: COLONEL FREDERICK L. HITCHCOCK] + +[Illustration: + +MONUMENT OF 132D REGIMENT, P. V. +ERECTED BY THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA ON BATTLE-FIELD OF ANTIETAM, MD. +DEDICATED SEPT. 17, 1904 + +It stands about two hundred yards directly in front of the battle line +upon which this regiment fought, on the side of the famous "Sunken Road" +occupied by the Confederates. + +This road has since been widened and macadamized as a government road +leading from "Bloody Lane" towards Sharpsburg.] + + + +WAR FROM THE INSIDE + +The Story of the 132nd Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry +in the War for the Suppression of the Rebellion +1862-1863 + +by + +FREDERICK L. HITCHCOCK + +Late Adjutant and Major +132nd Pennsylvania Volunteers. + + + + + + + +Published by authority of the 132nd Regiment Pennsylvania +Volunteer Infantry Association. + +Press of J. B. Lippincott Company +Philadelphia +1904 + +Copyright, 1903 +by F. L. Hitchcock + + + + +PREFACE + + +This narrative was originally written without the least idea of +publication, but to gratify the oft-repeated requests of my children. +During the work, the ubiquitous newspaper reporter learned of it, and +persuaded me to permit its publication in a local paper, where it +appeared in weekly instalments. Since then the demand that I should put +it in more permanent form has been so persistent and wide-spread, that I +have been constrained to comply, and have carefully revised and in part +rewritten it. I have endeavored to confine myself to my own +observations, experiences, and impressions, giving the inner life of the +soldier as we experienced it. It was my good fortune to be associated +with one of the best bodies of men who took part in the great Civil War; +to share in their hardships and their achievements. For this I am +profoundly grateful. Their story is my own. If these splendid +gray-headed "boys"--those who have not yet passed the mortal +firing-line--shall find some pleasure in again tramping over that +glorious route, and recalling the historic scenes, and if the younger +generation shall gather inspiration for a like patriotic dedication to +country and to liberty, I shall be more than paid for my imperfect +work. In conclusion, I desire to acknowledge my indebtedness to Major +James W. Oakford, son of our intrepid colonel, who was the first of the +regiment to fall, and to Mr. Lewis B. Stillwell, son of that brave and +splendid officer, Captain Richard Stillwell, Company K, who was wounded +and disabled at Fredericksburg, for constant encouragement in the +preparation of the work and for assistance in its publication. + +SCRANTON, PA., April 5, 1904. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER PAGE + +I.--FIRST LESSONS; OR, DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE 13 + +II.--THE ORGANIZATION AND MAKE-UP OF THE FIGHTING +MACHINE CALLED "THE ARMY" 22 + +III.--ON THE MARCH 35 + +IV.--DRAWING NEAR THE ENEMY--BATTLE OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN--PRELIMINARY +SKIRMISHES 46 + +V.--THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM 55 + +VI.--THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM--CONTINUED 68 + +VII.--HARPER'S FERRY AND THE LEESBURG AND HALLTOWN EXPEDITIONS 79 + +VIII.--FROM HARPER'S FERRY TO FREDERICKSBURG 94 + +IX.--THE FREDERICKSBURG CAMPAIGN 108 + +X.--THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG--CONTINUED 120 + +XI.--WHY FREDERICKSBURG WAS LOST 132 + +XII.--LOST COLORS RECOVERED 141 + +XIII.--THE WINTER AT FALMOUTH 158 + +XIV.--THE WINTER AT FALMOUTH--CONTINUED 179 + +XV.--THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE 200 + +XVI.--THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE--CONTINUED 220 + +XVII.--THE MUSTER OUT AND HOME AGAIN 239 + +APPENDIX 251 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +After the lapse of more than forty years, I hardly hoped to be able to +publish pictures of all our officers, and have been more than pleased to +secure so many. The others, I regret to say, could not be obtained. The +youthful appearance of these officers will be remarked. All, I believe, +with the exception of Colonel Oakford were below thirty years, and most +between twenty and twenty-five. + + PAGE + +Colonel Frederick L. Hitchcock _Frontispiece_ + +The Monument _Facing title-page_ + +Groups of Captains 16 + +Group, Chaplain and Surgeons 22 + +Colonel Charles Albright 44 + +Colonel Vincent M. Wilcox 50 + +Colonel Richard A. Oakford 59 + +The Silenced Confederate Battery 62 + +The Sunken Road 71 + +Field Hospital 76 + +Groups of Lieutenants 120 + +Major Frederick L. Hitchcock 167 + +Don and I, and glimpse of Camp of Hancock's Division, Falmouth, Va. 171 + +Reunion 132d Regiment, P. V., 1891, on Battle-field of Antietam. 200 + + + + +WAR FROM THE INSIDE + + + + +CHAPTER I + +FIRST LESSONS; OR, DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE + + +I was appointed adjutant of the One Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment, +Pennsylvania Volunteers, by our great war Governor, Andrew G. Curtin, at +the solicitation of Colonel Richard A. Oakford, commanding the regiment, +my commission dating the 22d day of August, 1862. I reported for duty to +Colonel Oakford at Camp Whipple, where the regiment was then encamped, +on the 3d day of September, 1862. This was immediately following the +disasters of "Chantilly" and "Second Bull Run," and as I passed through +Washington to Camp Whipple, I found the greatest excitement prevailing +because of these reverses, and a general apprehension for the safety of +the capital in consequence. The wildest rumors were abroad concerning +the approach of the victorious rebel troops, and an alarm amounting +almost to a panic existed. Being without a horse or other means of +transportation, I was obliged to make my way, valise in hand, on foot +from Washington over the "long bridge" across the Potomac, to Camp +Whipple, some two miles up the river nearly opposite Georgetown. From +the wild rumors floating about Washington, I did not know but I should +be captured bag and baggage before reaching camp. Undertaking this trip +under those circumstances, I think, required almost as much nerve as +"real work" did later on. + +Getting beyond the long bridge there were abundant evidences of the +reported disasters. Straggling troops, army wagons, etc., were pouring +in from the "front" in great disorder. I reached camp about three +o'clock P.M. and found Colonel Oakford out with the regiment on +battalion drill. An hour later I reported to his office (tent) as ready +for duty. The colonel had been a lifelong personal friend, and I was +received, as I expected, most cordially. I was assigned quarters, and a +copy of the daily routine orders of camp was placed in my hands, and my +attention specially called to the fact that the next "order of business" +was "dress parade" at six o'clock. I inquired the cause of this special +notice to me, and was informed that I was expected to officiate as +adjutant of the regiment at that ceremony. I pleaded with the colonel to +be allowed a day or so in camp to see how things were done before +undertaking such difficult and important duties; that I knew absolutely +nothing about any part of military service; had never served a day in +any kind of military work, except in a country fire company; had never +seen a dress parade of a full regiment in my life, and knew nothing +whatever about the duties of an adjutant. + +My pleadings were all in vain. The only reply I received was a copy of +the "Army Regulations," with the remark that I had two hours in which to +study up and master the details of dress parade, and that I could not +learn my duties any easier nor better than by actual practice; that my +condition was no different from that of my fellow officers; that we were +all there in a camp of instruction learning our duties, and there was +not a moment to lose. I then began to realize something of the magnitude +of the task which lay before me. To do difficult things, without knowing +how; that is, to learn how in the doing, was the universal task of the +Union volunteer officer. I took up my "Army Regulations" and attacked +the ceremony of dress parade as a life and death matter. Before my two +hours were ended, I could repeat every sentence of the ceremony +verbatim, and felt that I had mastered the thing, and was not going to +my execution in undertaking my duties as adjutant. Alas for the frailty +of memory; it failed me at the crucial moment, and I made a miserable +spectacle of myself before a thousand officers and men, many of them old +friends and acquaintances, all of whom, it seemed to me, were specially +assembled on that occasion to witness my début, and see me get "balled +up." They were not disappointed. Things tactically impossible were +freely done during that ceremony. Looking back now upon that scene, from +the long distance of forty years, I see a green country boy undertaking +to handle one thousand men in the always difficult ceremony of a dress +parade. (I once heard Governor Hartranft, who attained the rank of a +major-general during the war, remark, as he witnessed this ceremony, +that he had seen thousands of such parades, and among them all, only one +that he considered absolutely faultless.) I wonder now that we got +through it at all. Think of standing to give your first command at the +right of a line of men five hundred abreast, that is, nearly one +thousand feet in length, and trying to make the men farthest away hear +your small, unused, and untrained voice. I now can fully forgive my +failure. The officers and men were considerate of me, however, and, +knowing what was to be done, went through with it after a fashion in +spite of my blunders. + +The regiment was one of the "nine months'" quota; it had been in the +service barely two weeks at this time. It was made up of two companies, +I and K, from Scranton (Captains James Archbald, Company I, and Richard +Stillwell, Company K), Company A, Danville, Pa.; B, Factoryville; C, +Wellsboro and vicinity; E, Bloomsburg; F and G, Mauch Chunk, and H, +Catawissa. It numbered, officers and men, about one thousand. Its field +officers were Colonel Richard A. Oakford, Scranton; Lieutenant-Colonel +Vincent M. Wilcox, Scranton; Major Charles Albright, Mauch Chunk; staff, +Frederick L. Hitchcock, first lieutenant and adjutant, Scranton; Clinton +W. Neal, first lieutenant and quartermaster, Bloomsburg; Rev. +Schoonmaker, first lieutenant and chaplain, Scranton. + +The transition from home life to that of an army in the field can only +be appreciated from a stand-point of actual experience. From a +well-ordered, well-cooked meal, served at a comfortable table with the +accessories of home, howsoever humble, to a "catch as catch can" way of +getting "grub," eating what, and when and where, you are fortunate +enough to get to eat; and from a good, comfortable bed, comfortably +housed in a comfortable home, to a blanket "shake down" under the +beautiful sky, mark some of the features of this transition. + +[Illustration: CAPT. MARTIN M. BROBST CO. H] + +[Illustration: CAPT. WARNER H. CARNOCHAN CO. D] + +[Illustration: CAPT. GEO. W. WILHELM CO. F] + +[Illustration: CAPT. SMITH W. INGHAM CO. B] + +[Illustration: CAPT. CHAS. M'DOUGAL CO. C] + +[Illustration: CAPT. RICHARD STILLWELL CO. K] + +[Illustration: CAPT. JAMES ARCHBALD, JR. CO. I] + +[Illustration: CAPT. CHARLES C. NORRIS CO. A] + +[Illustration: CAPT. JACOB D. LACIAR CO. F] + +[Illustration: CAPT. JACOB B. FLOYD CO. K] + +[Illustration: CAPT. ROBERT A. ABBOTT CO. G] + +Another feature is the utter change in one's individual liberty. To be +no longer the arbiter of your own time and movements, but to have it +rubbed into you at every turn that you are a very small part of an +immense machine, whose business is to march and fight; that your every +movement is under the control of your superior officers; that, in fact, +you have no will of your own that can be exercised; that your +individuality is for the time sunk, is a trial to an American freeman +which patriotism alone can overcome. Not the least feature of this +transition is the practical obliteration of the Lord's day. This is a +great shock to a Christian who has learned to love the Lord's day and +its hallowed associations. Routine duty, the march, the fighting, all go +right on, nothing stops for Sunday. + +On the morning after reaching camp I had the pleasure of seeing +Major-General John Pope, who commanded the Union forces in the recent +battles of Chantilly and Second Bull Run, and his staff, riding past +camp into Washington. He hailed us with a cheery "Good-morning" in reply +to our salute. He did not look like a badly defeated general, though he +undoubtedly was--so badly, indeed, that he was never given any command +of importance afterwards. + +On Saturday, September 6, we received orders to join the Army of the +Potomac--again under the command of "Little Mac"--at Rockville, Md., +distant about eighteen miles. This was our first march. The day was +excessively hot, and Colonel Oakford received permission to march in the +evening. We broke camp about six o'clock P.M. It was a lovely moonlight +night, the road was excellent, and for the first six miles the march +was a delight. We marched quite leisurely, not making over two miles an +hour, including rests, nevertheless the last half of the distance was +very tiresome, owing to the raw and unseasoned condition of our men, and +the heavy load they were carrying. We reached the bivouac of the grand +Army of the Potomac, of which we were henceforth to be a part, at about +three o'clock the next morning. Three miles out from the main camp we +encountered the outpost of the picket line and were duly halted. The +picket officer had been informed of our coming, and so detained us only +long enough to satisfy himself that we were all right. + +Here we encountered actual conditions of war with all its paraphernalia +for the first time. Up to this time we had been playing at war, so to +speak, in a camp of instruction. Now we were entering upon the thing +itself, with all its gruesome accessories. Everything here was business, +and awful business, too. Here were parks of artillery quiet enough just +now, but their throats will speak soon enough, and when they do it will +not be the harmless booming of Fourth of July celebrations. Here we pass +a bivouac of cavalry, and yonder on either side the road, in long lines +of masses, spread out like wide swaths of grain, lie the infantry behind +long rows of stacked guns. Here were upward of seventy-five thousand +men, all, except the cordon of pickets, sound asleep. In the midst of +this mighty host the stillness was that of a graveyard; it seemed almost +oppressive. + +Halting the regiment, Colonel Oakford and I made our way to the +head-quarters of Major-General Sumner, commanding the Second Army Corps, +to whom the colonel was ordered to report. We finally found him asleep +in his head-quarters wagon. A tap on the canvas top of the wagon quickly +brought the response, "Hello! Who's there? What's wanted?" + +Colonel Oakford replied, giving his name and rank, and that his regiment +was here to report to him, according to orders. + +"Oh, yes, colonel, that is right," replied the general. "How many men +have you?" + +Receiving the colonel's answer, General Sumner said: + +"I wish you had ten times as many, for we need you badly. Glad you are +here, colonel. Make yourselves as comfortable as you can for the rest of +the night, and I will assign you to your brigade in the morning." + +Here was a cordial reception and hospitality galore. "Make yourselves +comfortable"--in Hotel "Dame Nature!" Well, we were all weary enough to +accept the hospitality. We turned into the adjacent field, "stacked +arms," and in a jiffy were rolled up in our blankets and sound asleep. +The mattresses supplied by Madame Nature were rather hard, but her rooms +were fresh and airy, and the ceilings studded with the stars of glory. +My last waking vision that night was a knowing wink from Jupiter and +Mars, as much as to say, "sleep sweetly, we are here." + +The morning sun was well up before we got ourselves together the next +morning. The "reveille" had no terrors for us greenhorns then. We found +ourselves in the midst of a division of the bronzed old Army of the +Potomac veterans. They were swarming all over us, and how unmercifully +they did guy us! A regiment of tenderfeet was just taffy for those +fellows. Did our "Ma's know we were out?" "Get off those purty duds." +"Oh, you blue cherub!" etc., etc., at the same time accepting (?) +without a murmur all the tobacco and other camp rarities they could +reach. + +We were soon visited by Brigadier-General Nathan Kimball, a swarthy, +grizzly-bearded old gentleman, with lots of fire and energy in his eyes. +He told the colonel our regiment had been assigned to his brigade. He +directed the colonel to get the regiment in line, as he had something to +say to the men, after which he would direct us where to join his troops. +General Kimball commanded a brigade which had achieved a great +reputation under McClellan in his West Virginia campaign, and it had +been named by him the "Gibraltar brigade." It had also been through the +Peninsular and Second Bull Run campaigns. It had comprised the Fourth +and Eighth Ohio, Fourteenth Indiana and Seventh West Virginia regiments, +all of which had been reduced by hard service to mere skeleton +regiments. The Fourth Ohio had become so small as to require its +withdrawal from the army for recuperation, and our regiment was to take +its place. + +To step into the shoes of one of these old regiments was business, +indeed, for us. Could we do it and keep up our end? It was certainly +asking a great deal of a two weeks' old regiment. But it was the making +of us. We were now a part of the old Gibraltar brigade. Our full address +now was "One Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, First +Brigade, Third Division, Second Army Corps, Army of the Potomac." Our +own reputation we were now to make. We were on probation in the +brigade, so to speak. These veterans were proud, and justly so, of +their reputation. What our relation to that reputation was to be, we +could see was a mooted question with them. They guyed us without measure +until the crucial test, the "baptism of fire," had been passed. This +occurred just ten days later, at the battle of Antietam, the greatest +battle of the war thus far, where for four bloody hours we held our +section of the brigade line as stanch as a rock. Here we earned our +footing. Henceforth we belonged to them. There was never another +syllable of guying, but in its place the fullest meed of such praise and +comradeship as is born only of brave and chivalrous men. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE ORGANIZATION AND MAKE-UP OF THE FIGHTING MACHINE CALLED "THE ARMY." + + +We remained a day in bivouac after joining the Gibraltar brigade at +Rockville, during which rations of fresh beef, salt pork, and "hardtack" +(the boys' nickname for hard bread) were issued to the army, also +ammunition. + +The method of issuing rations was as follows: Colonels of regiments were +directed to send in requisitions for so many days' rations, depending on +the movements on hand, of hard bread and pork, and usually one day's +rations of fresh beef. At brigade head-quarters these requisitions were +consolidated, making the brigade requisition, and forwarded to division +head-quarters. Here they were again consolidated into a division +requisition, and so on until the army head-quarters was reached. Then +the corps commissary received in bulk enough for his corps, and +distributed it to the divisions in bulk, thence to brigades in bulk, +thence to regiments, and finally from the regiment to the companies, and +to the men. A long string of red tape, surely; and it might have been +considerably shortened to the advantage of all, as it was later on. + +[Illustration: REV. A. H. SCHOONMAKER CHAPLAIN] + +[Illustration: J. W. ANAWALT MAJOR AND SURGEON] + +[Illustration: G. K. THOMPSON FIRST LIEUT. AND ASS'T SURGEON] + +An interesting feature of the issue of rations was the method of +supplying the fresh beef. Live cattle were driven to the army and issued +alive to the several corps, from which details were made of men who +had been butchers, who killed and dressed the beef. The animals were +driven into an enclosure and expert marksmen shot them down as wanted. +This seemed cruel work, but it was well done; the animal being hit +usually at the base of its horns, death was instantaneous. This fresh +meat, which we got but seldom after the march began, was cooked and +eaten the day it was issued. Enough for one day was all that was issued +at a time, and this, after the non-eatable portions had been eliminated, +did not overburden the men. + +The hard bread was a square cracker about the size of an ordinary soda +cracker, only thicker, and very hard and dry. It was supposed to be of +the same quality as sea biscuit or pilot bread, but I never saw any +equal to that article. The salt pork was usually good for pork, but it +was a great trial to us all to come down to camp fare, "hardtack and +pork." Sometimes the "hardtack" was very old and poor. I have seen many +a one placed in the palm of the hand, a smart blow, a puff of breath, +and mirabile! a handful of "squirmers"--the boys' illustration of a +"full hand." It came to be the rule to eat in daylight for protection +against the unknown quantity in the hardtack. If we had to eat in the +dark, after a prolonged march, our protection then lay in breaking our +cracker into a cup of boiling coffee, stir it well and then flow enough +of the coffee over to carry off most of the strangers and take the +balance on faith. + +On the march each man carried his own rations in haversacks. These were +made of canvas and contained pockets for salt, sugar and coffee, besides +room for about two days' rations of hard bread and pork. Sometimes +five, six, and seven days' rations were issued, then the balance had to +be stowed away in knapsacks and pockets of the clothing. When, as was +usual in the latter cases, there was also issued sixty to one hundred +rounds of ammunition, the man became a veritable pack-mule. + +For the first month many of our men went hungry. Having enormous +appetites consequent upon this new and most strenuous mode of life, they +would eat their five days' supply in two or three, and then have to +"skirmish" or go hungry until the next supply was issued. Most, however, +soon learned the necessity as well as the benefit of restricting their +appetites to the supply. But there were always some improvident ones, +who never had a supply ahead, but were always in straights for grub. +They were ready to black boots, clean guns, in fact, do any sort of +menial work for their comrades for a snack to eat. Their improvidence +made them the drudges of the company. + +Whatever may be said about other portions of the rations, the coffee was +always good. I never saw any poor coffee, and it was a blessing it was +so, for it became the soldiers' solace and stay, in camp, on picket and +on the march. Tired, footsore, and dusty from the march, or wet and cold +on picket, or homesick and shivering in camp, there were rest and +comfort and new life in a cup of hot coffee. We could not always have it +on picket nor on the march. To make a cup of coffee two things were +necessary besides the coffee, namely, water and fire, both frequently +very difficult to obtain. On picket water was generally plentiful, but +in the immediate presence of the enemy, fire was forbidden, for obvious +reasons. On the march both were usually scarce, as I shall show later +on. How was our coffee made? Each man was provided with a pint tin cup. +As much coffee as could comfortably be lifted from the haversack by the +thumb and two fingers--depending somewhat on the supply--was placed in +the cup, which was filled about three-fourths full of water, to leave +room for boiling. It was then placed upon some live coals and brought to +a boil, being well stirred in the meantime to get the strength of the +coffee. A little cold water was then added to settle it. Eggs, gelatin, +or other notions of civilization, for settling, were studiously (?) +omitted. Sometimes sugar was added, but most of the men, especially the +old vets, took it straight. It was astonishing how many of the "wrinkles +of grim visaged war" were temporarily smoothed out by a cup of coffee. +This was the mainstay of our meals on the march, a cup of coffee and a +thin slice of raw pork between two hardtacks frequently constituting a +meal. Extras fell in the way once in a while. Chickens have been known +to stray into camp, the result of a night's foraging. + +Among the early experiences of our boys was an incident related to me by +the "boy" who was "it." He said he had a mighty narrow escape last +night. + +I asked, "How was that?" + +"Out hunting for chickens, struck a farmhouse, got a nice string, and +was sneaking my way out. Dark as tar. Ran up against man, who grabbed me +by the collar, and demanded 'what are you doing here?' I was mum as an +owl. He marched me out where there was a flickering light, and sure as +blazes it was old General Kimball. I didn't know that house was brigade +head-quarters. + +"'What regiment do you belong to?' + +"'Dunno.' + +"'You've heard about the orders against marauding, eh?' + +"'Dunno.' + +"'Hand up those chickens, you rascal.' + +"I handed them out from behind my shaking legs. + +"'How many have you got?' + +"'Dunno'--I had two pair of nice ones. The old man took out his knife +and slowly cut out one pair, looking savagely at me all the time. + +"'There! You get back to camp as quick as your legs will carry you, and +if I ever get my hands on you again you'll remember it.'" He said he +thought he'd try and forage away from head-quarters next time. General +Kimball was a rigid disciplinarian, but withal a very kind-hearted man. +He no doubt paid for those chickens rather than have one of his boys +suffer for his foraging escapade. Perhaps I ought to say a word about +these foraging expeditions to eke out the boys' larder. These men were +not thieves in any sense and very few attempted this dubious method, but +the temptation was almost beyond the power of resistance. The best way +to test this temptation is to diet yourself on "hardtack" and pork for +just about one week. Then the devil's argument--always present--was +practically true there, "the chickens will be taken (not stolen) by some +of the army, and you might as well have one as anybody." + +The following story of a neighboring regiment will show that even +officers high in rank sometimes found that "circumstances alter cases." +The troops were nearing bivouac at the close of the day, and, as usual, +the colonel ordered the music to start up and the men to fall into step +and approach camp in order (the march is usually in route step,--_i.e._, +every man marches and carries his gun as he pleases). The fifes and the +snare-drums promptly obeyed, but the big bass drum was silent. The men +fell into cadence step in fine shape, including the bass drummer, but +his big shell gave forth no sound. The colonel called out, "What's the +matter with the bass drum?" Still no response. A second ejaculation from +head-quarters, a little more emphatic, fared no better. Patience now +exhausted, the colonel yelled, "What in h----l's the matter, I say, +with----" when a sotto voice reached his ear, with "Colonel, colonel, +he's got a pair of chickens in his drum, and one is for you." "Well, if +the poor fellow is sick, let him fall out." + +A little explanation now about how the army is organized will probably +make my story clearer. That an army is made of three principal arms, +viz., artillery, cavalry, and infantry, is familiar to all; that the +cavalry is mounted is also well known, but that in actual fighting they +were often dismounted and fought as infantry may not be familiar to all. +The cavalry and infantry--or foot troops--are organized practically +alike, viz., first into companies of 101 men and officers; second, into +regiments of ten companies, or less, of infantry and twelve companies, +more or less, of cavalry, two or more companies of cavalry constituting +a "squadron," and a like number of companies of infantry a "battalion;" +third, into brigades of two or more--usually four--regiments; fourth, +divisions of two or more--usually three--brigades; fifth, army corps, +any number of divisions--usually not more than three. Logically, the +rank of officers commanding these several subdivisions would be colonel, +commanding a regiment; brigadier-general, his rank being indicated by +one star, a brigade; a major-general, two stars, a division; a +lieutenant-general, three stars, an army corps; and the whole army a +general, his rank being indicated by four stars. This was carried out by +the Confederates in the organization of their armies. But not so with +ours. With few exceptions--ours being one--the brigades were commanded +by the senior colonels, and towards the end of the war this was +sometimes temporarily true of divisions; the divisions by brigadiers, +whilst we had no higher rank than that of major-general until General +Grant was made, first, lieutenant-general, and finally general. + +The artillery was organized into companies commonly called batteries. +There were two branches, heavy and light artillery. The former were +organized more like infantry, marched on foot and were armed with +muskets in addition to the heavy guns they were trained to use. The +latter were used against fortifications and were rarely brought into +field work. The light artillery were mounted either on the horses or on +the gun-carriages, and, though organized into a separate corps under the +direction of the chief of artillery, were usually distributed among the +divisions, one or two batteries accompanying each division. + +In addition to these chief branches of the service, there was the signal +corps, the "eyes" of the army, made up mostly of young lieutenants and +non-commissioned officers detailed from the several regiments. There +were two such officers from Scranton, namely, Lieutenant Fred. J. +Amsden, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and +Lieutenant Frederick Fuller, Fifty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, +besides a number of enlisted men. + +Another important branch of the service was the telegraph corps. It was +remarkable the celerity with which wires would be run along the ground +and on brush, day by day, keeping the several corps constantly in touch +with the commanding general. There were comparatively few telegraph +operators that could be detailed, and many had to be hired,--some boys +who were too young to enlist. Dr. J. Emmet O'Brien, of this city, was +one of the most efficient of the latter class. + +It was Dr. O'Brien, then operating below Petersburg, who caught the +telegraphic cipher of the rebels and by tapping their wires caught many +messages which were of material assistance to General Grant in the +closing movements of the war. It was he also who in like manner caught +the movements of Jeff Davis and his cabinet in their efforts to escape, +and put General Wilson on his track, resulting in his final capture. Mr. +Richard O'Brien, the doctor's older brother, for many years +superintendent of the Western Union Telegraph lines in this end of the +State, was at that time Government Superintendent of Telegraphs, in +charge of all its telegraphic operations in Virginia and North Carolina. +He could tell many a hair-raising experience. He related to me the +following incident, which occurred during Grant's operations around +Petersburg, to illustrate the enterprise of the enemy in trying to get +our telegrams, and the necessity of sending all messages in cipher. They +never succeeded in translating the Union cipher. But one day an operator +at Washington, either too lazy or too careless to put his message in +cipher, telegraphed to the chief commissary at a place below City Point +that fifteen hundred head of beef cattle would be landed at that point +on a certain day. The message was caught by the rebels. The beef cattle +were landed on time, but in the meantime Wade Hampton had swept in with +a division of rebel cavalry and was waiting to receive the cattle. With +them were captured a handsome lot of rations and a number of prisoners, +including all of Mr. O'Brien's telegraph operators at that post. Mr. +O'Brien said he cared a good deal more about the loss of his operators +than he did for the loss of the cattle and rations, for it was very hard +to get competent operators at that time. There was at least one vacancy +at Washington following this incident. + +Still another arm of the service was the pontoniers, whose duty it was +to bridge non-fordable rivers. They were armed and drilled as infantry, +but only for their own protection. Their specialty was laying and +removing pontoon bridges. A pontoon train consisted of forty to fifty +wagons, each carrying pontoon boats, with plank and stringers for +flooring and oars and anchors for placing. In laying a bridge these +boats were anchored side by side across the stream, stringers made fast +across them, and plank then placed on the stringers. Every piece was +securely keyed into place so that the bridge was wide enough and strong +enough for a battery of artillery and a column of infantry to go over at +the same time. The rapidity with which they would either lay or take up +a bridge was amazing. If undisturbed they would bridge a stream two +hundred yards wide in thirty minutes. They bridged the Rappahannock at +Fredericksburg under fire on the 12th of December, 1863, in a little +over an hour, losing heavily in the act. + +Having now given some account of the organization of this great +human fighting machine, it will be proper to show how it was +handled. For this purpose there were four staff departments, +namely, the adjutant-general's, the quartermaster-general's, the +commissary-general's, and the ordnance departments. The first named was +the mouth-piece of the army. All orders were issued by and through that +officer. It was the book-keeper of the army. Each subdivision of the +army had its adjutant-general down to the office of adjutant in the +regiment, who was charged with issuing all orders, and with attending to +their execution. He was secretary, so to speak, of the commanding +officer, and his chief executive officer as well. Extraordinary +executive talent and tireless energy were required in these positions. +The adjutant must be able at all times to inform his chief of the +condition of every detail of the command whether an army corps or +regiment, exactly how many men were fit for duty, how many sick or +disabled, and just where they all are. In fact, he must be a walking +encyclopćdia of the whole command; added to this he was usually chief of +staff, and must be in the saddle superintending every movement of the +troops. Always first on duty, his work was never finished. + +Two of the best adjutants-general the world has produced literally wore +themselves out in the service--Seth Williams and John B. Rawlins. The +first named was McClellan's adjutant-general, the latter was Grant's. +McClellan is credited with having organized the grand old Army of the +Potomac, the main fighting force by which the rebellion was finally +crushed. This was doubtless true, he being its first commanding officer. +But the executive ability by which that magnificent machine was +perfected was largely the work of Seth Williams, a very quiet, modest +man, but a master of the minutest details of every department and an +indefatigable worker. It was said his chief could wake him in the middle +of the night and get from his memory a correct answer as to the number +of men fit for duty in any one of the hundreds of regiments in the army, +and just where it was, and what duty it was doing. When one remembers +that this knowledge was acquired only by a daily perusal of the +consolidated reports of the various regiments, brigades, divisions, and +corps of the army, and that he could have found time for one reading +only, it will be seen how marvellous his memory was. + +Rawlins was said to possess much the same quality. It may truthfully be +said that the Army of the Potomac was organized and began its remarkable +career in the life blood of Seth Williams, and it completed its work in +a blaze of glory, in the life blood of John B. Rawlins. Seth Williams +died in the service. Rawlins came home with the victorious army only to +die. A beautiful bronze equestrian statue was erected at Washington +under the influence of his beloved chief, Grant, to commemorate the +services of Rawlins. So far as I know, Seth Williams shares the fate of +most of his humbler comrades,--an unmarked grave. + +I have said all orders were sent out through the adjutant-general's +office. This, of course, applies to all regular routine work only, for +during the movements of troops on campaigns and in battle orders had in +the nature of the case to be delivered verbally. For this purpose each +general had a number of aides-de-camp. In sending such orders, the +utmost courtesy was always observed. The formula was usually thus, +"General Kimball presents his compliments to Colonel Oakford and directs +that he move his regiment to such and such a point." To which Colonel +Oakford responds returning his compliments to General Kimball and says +"his order directing so and so has been received and shall be +immediately obeyed." + +The quartermaster's department was charged with all matters connected +with transportation; with the supplying of clothing, canvas, and +equipage of all sorts. Both the commissary and the ordnance departments +were dependent upon the quartermaster for the transportation of their +respective stores. The wagon trains required by the Army of the Potomac +for all this service were prodigious. They were made up of four and six +mule teams with heavy "prairie schooners" or canvas-covered wagons. I +have seen two thousand of them halted for the night in a single park, +and such trains on the march six to ten miles long were not unusual. It +will readily be seen that to have them within easy reach, and prevent +their falling into the hands of an alert enemy, was a tremendous problem +in all movements of the army. + +The army mule has been much caricatured, satirized, and abused, but the +soldier had no more faithful or indispensable servant than this same +patient, plodding, hard-pulling, long-eared fellow of the roomy voice +and nimble heels. The "boys" told a story which may illustrate the +mule's education. A "tenderfoot" driver had gotten his team stalled in a +mud hole, and by no amount of persuasion could he get them to budge an +inch. Helpers at the wheels and new hands on the lines were all to no +purpose. A typical army bummer had been eying the scene with +contemptuous silence. Finally he cut loose: + +"Say! You 'uns dunno the mule language. Ye dunno the dilec. Let a +perfesser in there." + +He was promptly given the job. He doffed cap and blouse, marched up to +those mules as if he weighed a ton and commanded the army. Clearing away +the crowd, he seized the leader's line, and distending his lungs, he +shot out in a voice that could have been heard a mile a series of +whoops, oaths, adjectives, and billingsgate that would have silenced the +proverbial London fish vender. The mules recognized the "dilec" at once, +pricked up their ears and took the load out in a jiffy. + +"Ye see, gents, them ar mules is used to workin' with a perfesser." + +The commissary department supplied the rations, and the ordnance +department the arms and ammunition, etc. Still another branch of the +service was the provost-marshal's department. This was the police force +of the army. It had the care and custody of all prisoners, whether those +arrested for crime, or prisoners of war--those captured from the enemy. +In the case of prisoners sentenced to death by court-martial, the +provost guard were their executioners. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +ON THE MARCH + + +We are bound northward through Maryland, the vets tell us, on a chase +after the rebs. The army marches in three and four parallel columns, +usually each corps in a column by itself, and distant from the other +columns equal to about its length in line of battle, say a half to +three-fourths of a mile. Roads were utilized as far as practicable, but +generally were left to the artillery and the wagon trains, whilst the +infantry made roads for themselves directly through the fields. + +The whole army marches surrounded by "advance and rear guards," and +"flankers," to prevent surprise. Each column is headed by a corps of +pioneers who, in addition to their arms, are provided with axes, picks +and shovels, with the latter stone walls and fences are levelled +sufficiently to permit the troops to pass, and ditches and other +obstructions covered and removed. It is interesting to see how quickly +this corps will dispose of an ordinary stone wall or rail fence. They go +down so quickly that they hardly seem to pause in their march. + +We learn that the Johnnies are only a couple of days ahead of us. That +they marched rapidly and were on their good behavior, all marauding +being forbidden, and they were singing a new song, entitled "My +Maryland," thus trying to woo this loyal border State over to the +Confederacy. We were told that Lee hung two soldiers for stealing +chickens and fruit just before they entered Frederick City. + +Much could be written about the discomforts of these marches, the chief +of which was the dust more than the heat and the fatigue. No rain had +fallen for some time, and the roads and the fields through which we +passed were powdered into fine dust, which arose in almost suffocating +clouds, so that mouth, lungs, eyes, and ears were filled with it. +Sometimes it became so dense that men could not be seen a dozen yards +away. The different regiments took turns in heading the columns. There +was comparative comfort at the head, but there were so many regiments +that during the whole campaign our regiment enjoyed this privilege but +once. + +Another feature of the march was inability to satisfy thirst. The dust +and heat no doubt produced an abnormal thirst which water did not seem +to satisfy. The water we could get was always warm, and generally muddy +and filthy. The latter was caused by the multitude of men using the +little streams, springs, or wells. Either of these, ordinarily abundant +for many more than ever used them, were hardly a cup full apiece for a +great army. Hence many a scrimmage took place for the first dash at a +cool well or spring. On our second or third day's march, such a scrap +took place between the advanced columns for a well, and in the męlée one +man was accidentally pushed down into it, head first, and killed. He +belonged to one of the Connecticut regiments, I was told. We passed by +the well, and were unable to get water, because a dead soldier lay at +the bottom of it. His regiment probably got his body out, but we had to +march on without stopping to learn whether they did or not. The problem +of water for our army we found to be a troublesome one. Immediately we +halted, much of our rest would be taken up in efforts to get water. We +lost no opportunity to fill our canteens. Arriving in bivouac for the +night, the first thing was a detail to fill canteens and camp kettles +for supper coffee. We always bivouacked near a stream, if possible. But, +then, so many men wanting it soon roiled it for miles, so that our +details often had to follow the stream up three and four miles before +they could get clean water. This may seem a strong statement, but if one +will stop a moment and think of the effect upon even a good-sized +stream, of a hundred thousand men, besides horses and mules, all wanting +it for drinking, cooking, washing, and bathing (both the latter as +peremptory needs as the former), he will see that the statement is no +exaggeration. + +An interesting feature of our first two days' march was the clearing out +of knapsacks to reduce the load. Naturally each man was loaded with +extras of various sorts, knicknacks of all varieties, but mostly +supposed necessaries of camp life, put in by loving hands at home, a +salve for this, a medicine for that, a keepsake from one and another, +some the dearest of earth's treasures, each insignificant in itself, yet +all taking room and adding weight to over-burdened shoulders. At the +mid-day halt, on the first day knapsacks being off for rest, they came +open and the sorting began. It was sad, yet comical withal, to notice +the things that went out. The most bulky and least treasured went first. +At the second halting, an hour later, still another sorting was made. +The sun was hot and the knapsack was heavy. After the second day's +march, those knapsacks contained little but what the soldier was +compelled to carry, his rations, extra ammunition, and clothing. Were +these home treasures lost? Oh, no! Not one. Our friends, the vets, +gathered them all in as a rich harvest. They had been there themselves, +and knowing what was coming, were on hand to gather the plums as they +fell. The only difference was, that another mother's or sweetheart's +"boy" got the treasures. + +On September 11 we were approaching Frederick City. Our cavalry had a +skirmish with the rebel cavalry, showing that we were nearing their +army. And right here I ought to say that what an individual officer or +soldier--unless perhaps a general officer--knows of events transpiring +around him in the army is very little. Even the movements he sees, he is +seldom able to understand, his vision is so limited. He knows what his +own regiment and possibly his own brigade does, but seldom more than +that. He is as often the victim of false rumor as to movements of other +portions of the army, as those who are outside of it. On this date we +encamped near Clarksville. It was rumored that the rebels were in force +at Frederick City. How far away that is we do not know. The only +certainty about army life and army movements to the soldier is a +constant condition of uncertainty. Uncertainty as to where or when he +will eat, sleep, or fight, where or when the end will come. One would +almost doubt the certainty of his own existence, except for the hard +knocks which make this impossible. + +The celebrated Irish brigade, commanded by Brigadier-General Thomas +Francis Meagher, was in Richardson's division. They were a "free and +easy" going crowd. General Richardson impressed me as a man of great +determination and courage. He was a large, heavy man, dressed roughly +and spoke and acted very brusquely. French (who commanded our division) +was also thick-set, probably upwards of sixty years old, quite gray and +with a very red face. He had an affection of the eyes which kept him +winking or blinking constantly, from which he earned the sobriquet, "Old +Blink Eye." I saw General Burnside about this time. He was dressed so as +to be almost unrecognizable as a general officer; wore a rough blouse, +on the collar of which a close look revealed two much-battered and faded +stars, indicating his rank of major-general. He wore a black "slouch" +hat, the brim well down over his face, and rode along with a single +orderly, without the least ostentation. The men of the other regiments +knew him and broke out into a cheer, at which he promptly doffed his hat +and swung it at the boys. His hat off, we recognized the handsome author +of the "Burnside" whiskers. He was not only very popular with his own +corps--the Ninth--but with the whole army, and chiefly, I think, because +of his modest, quiet way of going about. This was so different from +General McClellan. + +On our third day's march we were halted for rest, when an orderly rode +through the lines saying to the different colonels, "General McClellan +will pass this way in ten minutes." This meant that we were to be ready +to cheer "Little Mac" when he came along, which, of course, we all did. +He came, preceded by a squadron of cavalry and accompanied by a very +large and brilliantly caparisoned staff, followed by more cavalry. He +was dressed in the full uniform of a major-general and rode a superb +horse, upon which he sat faultlessly. He was certainly a fine-looking +officer and a very striking figure. But whether all this "fuss and +feathers" was designed to impress the men, or was a freak of personal +vanity, it did not favorably impress our men. Many of the old vets, who +had been with him on the Peninsula, and now greeted him again after his +reinstatement, were very enthusiastic. But notwithstanding their +demonstrations, they rather negatived their praises by the remark, "No +fight to-day; Little Mac has gone to the front." "Look out for a fight +when he goes to the rear." On the other hand, they said when "Old Man +Sumner"--our corps commander--"goes to the front, look out for a fight." + +General Sumner was an old man--must have been nearly seventy--gray, and +his color indicated advanced age, though he seemed quite vigorous. He +went about very quietly and without display. He had a singular habit of +dropping his under jaw, so that his mouth was partially open much of the +time. + +We bivouacked on the 12th of September in front of Frederick City, Md., +in a field occupied the night before by the rebels, so the people told +us, and there was abundant evidence of their presence in the filth they +left uncovered, for they had slaughtered beef for their troops and the +putrid offal therefrom was polluting the air. Still there we had to +sleep. We marched the latter part of the day in the rain, and were soon +well covered with mud. We managed to keep some of the water out with our +gum blankets, and when we came to fix for the night, the men going in +pairs made themselves fairly comfortable under their shelter tents. I +should have explained that the only "canvas" supplied to the men on the +march was shelter tents, which consisted of a square of stout muslin +with button-holes on one side and buttons on the other. Two of these +buttoned together and stretched taut over a ridge-pole and made fast on +the ground, would keep out the heaviest shower, provided the occupants +were careful not to touch the muslin. A hand or elbow accidentally +thrust against the tent brought the water through in streams. There is a +knack in doing this, which the experience of the vets with whom we were +brigaded soon taught us. Choosing ground a little slanting, so the water +would run away from them, they would sleep fairly dry and comfortable, +even in a hard storm. As for us officers who were without shelter tents, +we had to shift for ourselves as best we might. A favorite plan, when +fences were available, was to place three or four rails endwise against +the fence and make a shelter by fastening a gum blanket on top. + +This worked fairly well against a stone wall for a backing, but against +an ordinary fence one side was unprotected, yet with another gum +blanket, two of us could so roll ourselves up as to be comparatively +water-proof. My diary states that in a driving rainstorm here I never +slept better in my life. I remember awakening with my head thoroughly +drenched, but otherwise comparatively dry. + +This night I succeeded in getting a "bang up" supper--a cooked meal--at +a reb farm-house. It consisted of pork-steak, potatoes, and hot coffee +with bread and butter. It was a great treat. I had now been without a +square meal for nearly ten days. The old gentleman, a small farmer, +talked freely about the war, not concealing his rebel sympathies. He +extolled Stonewall Jackson and his men, who, he said, had passed through +there only a day ahead of us. He firmly believed we would be whipped. He +evidently had an eye for the "main chance," for he was quite willing to +cook for us at twenty-five cents a meal, as long as he had stuff to cook +and his good wife had strength to do the work. She seemed to be a nice +old lady, and, hungry as I was, I felt almost unwilling to eat her +supper, she looked so tired. I told her it was too bad. She smiled and +said she was tired, but she couldn't bear to turn away these hungry +boys. She said she had a son in the rebel army, and she knew we must be +hungry and wet, for it was still raining hard. + +The officers at this time experienced difficulty in getting food to eat. +The men were supplied with rations and forced to carry them, but rations +were not issued to officers--though they might purchase of the +commissary such as the men had, when there was a supply. The latter were +supposed to provide their own mess, for which purpose their mess-kits +were transported in a wagon supplied to each regiment. The field and +staff usually made one mess, and the line or company officers another. +Sometimes the latter messed with their own men, carrying their rations +along on the march the same as the men. This was discouraged by the +government, but it proved the only way to be sure of food when needed, +and was later on generally adopted. We had plenty of food with our +mess-kit and cook, but on the march, and especially in the presence of +the enemy, our wagons could never get within reach of us. Indeed, when +we bivouacked, they were generally from eight to ten miles away. The +result was we often went hungry, unless we were able to pick up a meal +at a farm-house--which seldom occurred, for the reason that most of +these farmers were rebel sympathizers and would not feed us "Yanks," or +they would be either sold out, or stolen out, of food. The tale +generally told was, "You 'uns has stolen all we 'uns had." This accounts +for the entry in my diary that the next morning I marched without +breakfast, but got a good bath in the Monocacy--near which we +encamped--in place of it. I got a "hardtack" and bit of raw pork about +10 A.M. + +On the 13th of September, we passed through the city of Frederick, Md. +It is a quaint old town, having then probably three thousand or more +inhabitants and a decided business air. The rebels, they claimed, had +cleaned them out of eatables and clothing, paying for them in +Confederate scrip, and one man told me they would not take the same +scrip in change, but required Union money; that this was demanded +everywhere. General McClellan passed through the streets while we were +halted, as did General Burnside shortly after. A funny incident occurred +with the latter. General Burnside, as usual, was accompanied by a single +orderly, and had stopped a moment to speak to some officers, when a +handsome, middle-aged lady stepped out of her house and approached. She +put out her hand and, as the general clasped it, she raised herself up +on her toes in an unmistakable motion to greet him with a kiss. + +The general so understood her, and, doffing his hat, bent down to meet +her pouting lips, but, alas, he was too high up; bend as low as he might +and stretch up as high as she could, their lips did not meet, and the +kiss hung in mid-air. The boys caught the situation in a moment, and +began to laugh and clap their hands, but the general solved the problem +by dismounting and taking his kiss in the most gallant fashion, on which +he was roundly cheered by the men. The lady was evidently of one of the +best families. She said she was a stanch Union woman, and was so glad to +see our troops that she felt she must greet our general. There was +"method in her madness," however, for she confined her favors to a +general, and picked out the handsomest one of the lot. It is worthy of +note, that during this incident, which excited uproarious laughter, not +a disrespectful remark was made by any of the hundreds of our "boys" who +witnessed it. General Burnside chatted with her for a few moments, then +remounted and rode away. + +Approaching Frederick City, the country is exceptionally beautiful and +the land seemed to be under a good state of cultivation. In front of us +loomed up almost against the sky the long ridge called the South +Mountain. It was evidently a spur of the Blue Ridge. Another incident +occurred soon after reaching bivouac, just beyond the city. We had +arranged for our night's "lodging" and were preparing supper, when one +of the native farmers came into camp and asked to see the colonel. +Colonel Oakford and Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox were temporarily absent, +and he was turned over to Major Albright, to whom he complained that +"you 'uns" had stolen his last pig and he wanted pay for it. The major, +who was a lawyer, began to cross-question him as to how he knew it was +our men who had stolen it; there were at least fifty other regiments +besides ours on the ground. But he would not be denied. + +[Illustration: COLONEL CHARLES ALBRIGHT] + +He said they told him they was "a hundred and thirty-two uns," and he +also saw those figures on their caps. The major asked how long ago they +took it. He replied that they got it only a little while ago, and +offered to go and find it if the major would allow him. But the latter +was confident he was mistaken in his men--that some of the old "vets" +had got his pig. His chief argument was that our men were greenhorns and +knew nothing about marauding; that some of the "vets" had doubtless made +away with his pig and had laid it on our men. So persuasive was the +major that the man finally went off satisfied that he had made a mistake +in his men. The man was only well out of camp when one of our men +appeared at the major's quarters with a piece of fresh pork for his +supper, with the compliments of Company----. Now, the orders against +marauding were very severe, and to have been caught would have involved +heavy punishment. But the chief point of the incident, and which made it +a huge joke on the major, lay in the fact that the latter who was a +thoroughly conscientious man, had successfully fought off a charge +against his men, whom he really believed to be innocent, only to find +that during the very time he was persuading his man of their innocence, +the scamps were almost within sound of his voice, actually butchering +and dressing the pig. How they managed to capture and kill that pig, +without a single squeal escaping, is one of the marvels of the service. +Certainly vets could have done no better. The man was gone, the mischief +was done, the meat was spoiling, and we were very hungry. With rather +cheerful sadness, it must be confessed, we became _particeps criminis_, +and made a supper on the pork. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +DRAWING NEAR THE ENEMY--BATTLE OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN--PRELIMINARY SKIRMISHES + + +Sunday, September 15, we broke camp at daylight and marched out on the +Hagerstown "pike." Our division had the field this day. We crossed the +ridge in rear of Frederick City and thence down into and up a most +beautiful valley. We made only about seven miles, though we actually +marched over twelve. We were in the presence of the enemy and were +manoeuvred so as to keep concealed. We heard heavy cannonading all +day, and part of the time could see our batteries, towards which we were +marching. + +Towards night we heard the first musketry firing. It proved to be the +closing of the short but sanguinary battle of South Mountain. General +Reno, commanding the Ninth Corps, whose glistening bayonets we had seen +across the valley ahead of us, had overtaken the rebel rear guard in +South Mountain pass and a severe action had ensued. General Reno himself +was killed. His body was brought back next morning in an ambulance on +its way to Washington. We reached the battle-ground about midnight, +whither we had been hurried as supports. The batteries on both sides +were still at work, but musketry firing had ceased. It had been a +beautiful though very warm day, and the night was brilliantly +moonlight, one of those exceptionally bright nights which almost +equalled daylight. And this had been Sunday--the Lord's day! How +dreadful the work for the Lord's day! + +Here I saw the first dead soldier. Two of our artillerymen had been +killed while serving their gun. Both were terribly mangled. They had +been laid aside, while others stepped into their places. There they +still lay, horrible evidence of the "hell of war." Subsequently I saw +thousands of the killed on both sides, which made scarcely more +impression on me than so many logs, but this first vision of the awful +work of war still remains. Even at this writing, forty years later, +memory reproduces that horrible scene as clearly as on that beautiful +Sabbath evening. + +It was past midnight when we bivouacked for the little rest we were to +have before resuming the "chase." Being now in the immediate "presence +of the enemy," we rested on "our arms," that is, every soldier lay down +with his gun at his side, and knapsack and accoutrements ready to be +"slung" immediately on the sounding of the "call." We officers did not +unsaddle our horses, but dismounted and snatched an hour's sleep just as +we were. Bright and early next morning we were on our way again. It was +a most beautiful morning. + +We soon passed the field where the musketry did its work the night +before, and there were more than a hundred dead rebels scattered over +the field, as the result of it. Two or three were sitting upright, or +nearly so, against stumps. They had evidently been mortally wounded, and +died while waiting for help. All were dressed in coarse +butternut-colored stuffs, very ugly in appearance, but admirably well +calculated to conceal them from our troops. + +We rapidly passed over the mountain (South Mountain) and down into the +village of Boonsborough. There was abundant evidence of the rebel +skedaddle down the mountain ahead of our troops in the way of blankets, +knapsacks, and other impedimenta, evidently dropped or thrown away in +the flight. We passed several squads of rebel prisoners who had been +captured by our cavalry and were being marched to the rear under guard. +They were good-looking boys, apparently scarcely more than boys, and +were poorly dressed and poorly supplied. + +Some freely expressed themselves as glad they had been captured, as they +were sick of the fighting. + +My own experiences this day were a taste of "the front," that is, the +excitement attending a momentarily expected "brush" with the enemy. Part +of the time my heart was in my mouth, and my hair seemed to stand +straight up. One can have little idea of this feeling until it has been +experienced. Any effort to describe it will be inadequate. Personal +fear? Yes, that unquestionably is at the bottom of it, and I take no +stock in the man who says he has no fear. We had been without food until +late in the afternoon for reasons heretofore explained. Towards night +one of my friends in Company K gave me a cup of coffee and a "hardtack." + +Just before reaching Boonsborough, a pretty village nestling at the foot +of the South Mountain, our cavalry had a sharp skirmish with the rebel +rear-guard, in which Captain Kelley, of the Illinois cavalry, was +killed, I was told. At Boonsborough we found the field hospitals with +the rebel wounded from the fight of the day previous. Their wounded men +said their loss was over four hundred killed, among them two +brigadiers-general, one colonel, and several officers of lesser rank. A +rebel flag of truce came into our lines here to get the bodies of these +dead officers and to arrange for burying their dead and caring for their +wounded. The houses of Boonsborough had been mostly vacated by the +people on the approach of the rebel army and the fighting, and the +latter had promptly occupied as many of them as they needed for their +wounded. Imagine these poor villagers returning from their flight to +find their homes literally packed with wounded rebel soldiers and their +attendants. Whatever humble food supplies they may have had, all had +been appropriated, for war spares nothing. Some of the frightened people +of the village were returning as we passed through, and were sadly +lamenting the destruction of almost everything that could be destroyed +on and about their homes by this besom of destruction,--war. Food, +stock, fences, bed and bedding, etc., all gone or destroyed. Some of the +houses had been perforated by the shells,--probably our own shells, +aimed at the enemy. One man told me a shell had entered his house and +landed on the bed in the front room, but had not exploded. Had it +exploded, he would have had a bigger story to tell. + +The rebels, we learned, had been gone but a few hours, and we were kept +in pursuit. We marched out the Shepherdstown road a few miles, reaching +and passing through another village--Keedysville. We were continuously +approaching heavy cannonading. Indeed, we had been marching for the +past three days within hearing of, and drawing closer to, the artillery +barking of the two armies. Old vets said this meant a big fight within +the next few hours. If so, I thought I shall better know how to diagnose +similar symptoms in the future. + +A mile beyond Keedysville we bivouacked for the night, after a hard, +hot, and exciting day's chase. Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox came into camp +with a great trophy, nothing less than a good old-fashioned fat loaf of +home-made bread. He was immediately voted a niche in the future hall of +fame, for two acts of extraordinary merit, namely, first, finding and +capturing the bread, and, second, bringing it into camp intact, the +latter act being considered supremely self-sacrificing. It was +magnanimously divided by him, and made a supper for three of us. Our +mid-day meal had been made up of dust and excitement. + +All sorts of rumors were afloat as to the movements of the enemy, as +well as of our own army. It was said Jackson was across the Potomac with +a large force; that Hooker was engaging him, and that we were likely to +bag the balance of Lee's army soon. One thing I learned, namely, that I +could be sure only of what I saw, and that was very little, indeed, of +the doings of either army. The soldier who professes to know all about +army movements because he "was there," may be set down either as a +bummer, who spent most of his time up trees, safely ensconced where he +could see, or as a fake. + +[Illustration: COLONEL VINCENT M. WILCOX] + +My diary records a night of good rest September 16, 1862, in this camp +on the Shepherdstown road. The morning was clear, beautiful, and cheery. +This entry will look somewhat remarkable in view of that which +follows, namely, "No breakfast in sight or in prospect." Later one of +our men gave me half his cup of coffee and a couple of small sweet +potatoes, which I roasted and ate without seasoning. + +The "ball" opened soon after daylight by a rebel battery, about +three-quarters of a mile away, attempting to shell our lines. Our +division was massed under the shelter of a hill. One of our batteries of +12-pounder brass guns promptly replied, and a beautiful artillery duel +ensued, the first I had ever witnessed at close quarters. Many of us +crept up to the brow of the hill to see the "fun," though we were warned +that we were courting trouble in so doing. We could see columns of rebel +infantry marching in ranks of four, just as we marched, en route, and as +shell after shell from our guns would explode among them and scatter and +kill we would cheer. We were enjoying ourselves hugely until presently +some additional puffs of smoke appeared from their side, followed +immediately by a series of very ugly hissing, whizzing sounds, and the +dropping of shells amongst our troops which changed the whole aspect of +things. Our merriment and cheering were replaced by a scurrying to +cover, with blanched faces on some and an ominous, thoughtful quiet over +all. + +This was really our first baptism of fire, for though at South Mountain +we had been in range and were credited with being in the fight as +supports, none of the shells had actually visited us. Several of these +came altogether too close for comfort. Colonel Oakford, +Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox, and I were sitting on our horses as close +together as horses ordinarily stand, when one of these ugly missiles +dropped down between us. It came with a shrieking, screeching sound, +like the pitch of an electric car with the added noise of a dozen +sky-rockets. It did not explode. It created considerable consternation +and no little stir with horses and men, but did no damage further than +the scare and a good showering of gravel and dust. Another struck +between the ranks of our brigade as they were resting under the hill +with guns stacked,--only a few feet away from us. It also, happily, +failed to explode, but we were sure some one must have been killed by +it. It did not seem possible that such a missile could drop down upon a +division of troops in mass without hitting somebody; but, strange as it +may seem, it did no damage beyond knocking down a row of gun-stacks and +tumbling topsy-turvy several men, who were badly bruised, but otherwise +uninjured. The way the concussion tossed the men about was terrific. Had +these shells exploded, some other body would probably have had to write +up this narrative. + +Another shell incident occurred during this artillery duel that looked +very funny, though it was anything but funny to the poor fellow who +suffered. He, with others, had been up near our battery, on the knoll +just above us, witnessing the firing, when one of these rebel shells +came ricochetting along the ground towards him as he evidently thought, +for he started to run down the hill thinking to get away from it, but in +fact running exactly in front of the shell, which carried away one heel. +He continued down the hill at greatly accelerated speed, but now hopping +on one foot. Had he remained where he was the missile would have passed +him harmlessly. Except when nearly spent, shells are not seen until they +have passed, but the screeching, whizzing, hissing noise is sufficient +to make one believe they are hunting him personally. Veteran troops get +to discount the terrors of these noises in a measure, and pay little +attention to them, on the theory that if one is going to be hit by them +he will be anyway, and no amount of dodging will save him, so they go +right on and "take their chances." But with new troops the effect of a +shell shrieking over or past them is often very ludicrous. An +involuntary salaam follows the first sound, with a wild craning of the +necks to see where it went. Upon marching troops, the effect is like +that of a puff of wind chasing a wave across a field of grain. + +Returning to our artillery duel, so far as we could judge, our battery +had the best of the practice, but not without paying the price, for the +second rebel shell killed the major (chief of artillery of our +division), who sat on his horse directing the fire, and besides there +were a number of casualties among the battery men. I had seen many a +battery practice on parade occasions with blank cartridges. How utterly +different was the thing in war. Infinitely more savage, the noise +deafeningly multiplied, each gun, regardless of the others, doing its +awful worst to spit out and hurl as from the mouth of a hell-born dragon +these missiles of death at the enemy. + +The duel continued for upwards of two hours, until the enemy's battery +hauled off, having apparently had enough. Evidences of the conflict were +sadly abundant. A number were killed, others wounded and several of the +battery horses were killed. The work of the men in this hell of fire +was magnificent. They never flagged for a moment, and at the conclusion +were not in the least disabled, notwithstanding their losses. I think it +was Nimm's battery from Pittsburg. This was the chief incident of the +day. It was said the two armies were manoeuvring for position, and +that a great battle was imminent. This from my diary. It proved to be +true, and that all the skirmishes and "affaires" for the preceding ten +days had been only preliminary to the great battle of Antietam, fought +on the next day, the 17th. + +We remained in bivouac here the remainder of the day and night. +Burnside's Ninth Corps passed to "the front" during the afternoon, a +splendid body of veteran troops, whose handsome and popular general was +heartily cheered. He was a large, heavily-built man, and sat his +handsome horse like a prince. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM + + +Never did day open more beautiful. We were astir at the first streak of +dawn. We had slept, and soundly too, just where nightfall found us under +the shelter of the hill near Keedysville. No reveille call this morning. +Too close to the enemy. Nor was this needed to arouse us. A simple call +of a sergeant or corporal and every man was instantly awake and alert. +All realized that there was ugly business and plenty of it just ahead. +This was plainly visible in the faces as well as in the nervous, subdued +demeanor of all. The absence of all joking and play and the almost +painful sobriety of action, where jollity had been the rule, was +particularly noticeable. + +Before proceeding with the events of the battle, I should speak of the +"night before the battle," of which so much has been said and written. +My diary says that Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox, Captain James Archbald, +Co. I, and I slept together, sharing our blankets; that it rained during +the night; this fact, with the other, that we were close friends at +home, accounts for our sharing blankets. Three of us with our gum +blankets could so arrange as to keep fairly dry, notwithstanding the +rain. + +The camp was ominously still this night. We were not allowed to sing or +make any noise, nor have any fires--except just enough to make +coffee--for fear of attracting the fire of the enemies' batteries. But +there was no need of such an inhibition as to singing or frolicking, for +there was no disposition to indulge in either. Unquestionably, the +problems of the morrow were occupying all breasts. Letters were written +home--many of them "last words"--and quiet talks were had, and promises +made between comrades. Promises providing against the dreaded +possibilities of the morrow. "If the worst happens, Jack." "Yes, Ned, +send word to mother and to----, and these; she will prize them," and so +directions were interchanged that meant so much. + +I can never forget the quiet words of Colonel Oakford, as he inquired +very particularly if my roster of the officers and men of the regiment +was complete, for, said he, with a smile, "We shall not all be here +to-morrow night." + +Now to resume the story of the battle. We were on the march about six +o'clock and moved, as I thought, rather leisurely for upwards of two +miles, crossing Antietam creek, which our men waded nearly waist deep, +emerging, of course, soaked through, our first experience of this kind. +It was a hot morning and, therefore, the only ill effects of this wading +was the discomfort to the men of marching with soaked feet. It was now +quite evident that a great battle was in progress. A deafening +pandemonium of cannonading, with shrieking and bursting shells, filled +the air beyond us, towards which we were marching. An occasional shell +whizzed by or over, reminding us that we were rapidly approaching the +"debatable ground." Soon we began to hear a most ominous sound which we +had never before heard, except in the far distance at South Mountain, +namely, the rattle of musketry. It had none of the deafening bluster of +the cannonading so terrifying to new troops, but to those who had once +experienced its effect, it was infinitely more to be dreaded. The +fatalities by musketry at close quarters, as the two armies fought at +Antietam and all through the Civil War, as compared with those by +artillery, are at least as 100 to 1, probably much more than that. + +These volleys of musketry we were approaching sounded in the distance +like the rapid pouring of shot upon a tinpan, or the tearing of heavy +canvas, with slight pauses interspersed with single shots, or desultory +shooting. All this presaged fearful work in store for us, with what +results to each personally the future, measured probably by moments, +would reveal. + +How does one feel under such conditions? To tell the truth, I realized +the situation most keenly and felt very uncomfortable. Lest there might +be some undue manifestation of this feeling in my conduct, I said to +myself, this is the duty I undertook to perform for my country, and now +I'll do it, and leave the results with God. My greater fear was not that +I might be killed, but that I might be grievously wounded and left a +victim of suffering on the field. + +The nervous strain was plainly visible upon all of us. All moved +doggedly forward in obedience to orders, in absolute silence so far as +talking was concerned. The compressed lip and set teeth showed that +nerve and resolution had been summoned to the discharge of duty. A few +temporarily fell out, unable to endure the nervous strain, which was +simply awful. There were a few others, it must be said, who skulked, +took counsel of their cowardly legs, and, despite all efforts of "file +closers" and officers, left the ranks. Of these two classes most of the +first rejoined us later on, and their dropping out was no reflection on +their bravery. The nervous strain produced by the excitement and danger +gave them the malady called by the vets, the "cannon quickstep." + +On our way into "position" we passed the "Meyer Spring,"--a magnificent +fountain of sweet spring water. It was walled in, and must have been ten +or twelve feet square and at least three feet deep, and a stream was +flowing from it large enough to make a respectable brook. Many of us +succeeded in filling our canteens from this glorious spring, now +surrounded by hundreds of wounded soldiers. What a Godsend it was to +those poor fellows. + +About eight o'clock we were formed into line of battle and moved forward +through a grove of trees,[A] but before actually coming under musketry +fire of the enemy we were moved back again, and swung around nearly a +mile to the left to the base of a circular knoll to the left of the +Roulette farm-house and the road which leads up to the Sharpsburg pike, +near the Dunkard church. The famous "sunken road"--a road which had been +cut through the other side of this knoll--extended from the Roulette +Lane directly in front of our line towards Sharpsburg. I had ridden by +the side of Colonel Oakford, except when on duty, up and down the +column, and as the line was formed by the colonel and ordered forward, +we dismounted and sent our horses to the rear by a servant. I was +immediately sent by the colonel to the left of the line to assist in +getting that into position. A rail fence separated us from the top of +the knoll. Bullets were whizzing and singing by our ears, but so far +hitting none where I was. Over the fence and up the knoll in an +excellent line we went. In the centre of the knoll, perhaps a third of +the way up, was a large tree, and under and around this tree lay a body +of troops doing nothing. They were in our way, but our orders were +forward, and through and over them we went. + +[Illustration: COLONEL RICHARD A. OAKFORD + +Killed at battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862] + +Reaching the top of the knoll we were met by a terrific volley from the +rebels in the sunken road down the other side, not more than one hundred +yards away, and also from another rebel line in a corn-field just +beyond. Some of our men were killed and wounded by this volley. We were +ordered to lie down just under the top of the hill and crawl forward and +fire over, each man crawling back, reloading his piece in this prone +position and again crawling forward and firing. These tactics +undoubtedly saved us many lives, for the fire of the two lines in front +of us was terrific. The air was full of whizzing, singing, buzzing +bullets. Once down on the ground under cover of the hill, it required +very strong resolution to get up where these missiles of death were +flying so thickly, yet that was the duty of us officers, especially us +of the field and staff. My duty kept me constantly moving up and down +that whole line. + +On my way back to the right of the line, where I had left Colonel +Oakford, I met Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox, who told me the terrible news +that Colonel Oakford was killed. Of the details of his death, I had no +time then to inquire. We were then in the very maelstrom of the battle. +Men were falling every moment. The horrible noise of the battle was +incessant and almost deafening. Except that my mind was so absorbed in +my duties, I do not know how I could have endured the strain. Yet out of +this pandemonium memory brings several remarkable incidents. They came +and went with the rapidity of a quickly revolving kaleidoscope. You +caught stupendous incidents on the instant, and in an instant they had +passed. One was the brave death of the major of this regiment that was +lying idle under the tree. The commanding officer evidently was not +doing his duty, and this major was endeavoring to rally his men and get +them at work. He was swinging his hat and cheering his men forward, when +a solid shot decapitated him. His poor body went down as though some +giant had picked it up and furiously slammed it on the ground, and I was +so near him that I could almost have touched him with my sword. + +The inaction of this regiment lying behind us under that tree was very +demoralizing to our men, setting them a bad example. General Kimball, +who commanded our brigade, was seated on his horse just under the knoll +in the rear of our regiment, evidently watching our work, and he +signalled me to come to him, and then gave me orders to present his +compliments to the commanding officer of that regiment and direct him to +get his men up and at work. I communicated this order as directed. The +colonel was hugging the ground, and merely turned his face towards me +without replying or attempting to obey the order. General Kimball saw +the whole thing, and again called me to him and, with an oath, commanded +me to repeat the order to him at the muzzle of my revolver, and shoot +him if he did not immediately obey. Said General Kimball: "Get those +cowards out of there or shoot them." My task was a most disagreeable +one, but I must deliver my orders, and did so, but was saved the duty of +shooting by the other officers of the regiment bravely rallying their +men and pushing them forward to the firing-line, where they did good +work. What became of that skulking colonel, I do not know. + +The air was now thick with smoke from the muskets, which not only +obscured our vision of the enemy, but made breathing difficult and most +uncomfortable. The day was excessively hot, and no air stirring, we were +forced to breathe this powder smoke, impregnated with saltpetre, which +burned the coating of nose, throat, and eyes almost like fire. + +Captain Abbott, commanding Company G, from Mauch Chunk, a brave and +splendid officer, was early carried to the rear, a ball having nearly +carried away his under jaw. He afterwards told me that his first +sensation of this awful wound was his mouth full of blood, teeth, and +splintered bones, which he spat out on the ground, and then found that +unless he got immediate help he would bleed to death in a few minutes. +Fortunately he found Assistant Surgeon Hoover, who had been assigned to +us just from his college graduation, who, under the shelter of a +hay-stack, with no anćsthetic, performed an operation which Dr. Gross, +of Philadelphia, afterwards said had been but once before successfully +performed in the history of surgery, and saved his life. Lieutenant +Anson C. Cranmer, Company C, was killed, and the ground was soon strewn +with the dead and wounded. Soon our men began to call for more +ammunition, and we officers were kept busy taking from the dead and +wounded and distributing to the living. Each man had eighty rounds when +we began the fight. One man near me rose a moment, when a missile struck +his gun about midway, and actually capsized him. He pulled himself +together, and, finding he was only a little bruised, picked up another +gun, with which the ground was now strewn, and went at it again. + +Directly, a lull in the enemy's firing occurred, and we had an +opportunity to look over the hill a little more carefully at their +lines. Their first line in the sunken road seemed to be all dead or +wounded, and several of our men ran down there, to find that literally +true. They brought back the lieutenant-colonel, a fine-looking man, who +was mortally wounded. I shook his hand, and he said, "God bless you, +boys, you are very kind." He asked to be laid down in some sheltered +place, for, said he, "I have but a few moments to live." I well remember +his refined, gentlemanly appearance, and how profoundly sorry I felt for +him. He was young, lithely built, of sandy complexion, and wore a +comparatively new uniform of Confederate gray, on which was embroidered +the insignia of the "5th Ga.,[B] C. S. A." He said, "You have killed all +my brave boys; they are there in the road." And they were, I saw them +next day lying four deep in places as they fell, a most awful picture of +battle carnage. This lull was of very short duration, and like the lull +of a storm presaged a renewal of the firing with greater fury, for a +fresh line of rebel troops had been brought up. This occurred three +times before we were relieved. + +[Illustration: SILENCED CONFEDERATE BATTERY IN FRONT OF DUNKER CHURCH +SHARPSBURG ROAD, ANTIETAM + +This little brick church lay between the opposing lines, and both Union +and Confederate wounded were gathered in it] + +During the fiercest of the firing, another remarkable incident occurred, +which well illustrated the fortunes of war. I heard a man shouting, +"Come over here men, you can see 'em better," and there, over the brow +of the knoll, absolutely exposed, was Private George Coursen, of Company +K, sitting on a boulder, loading and firing as calmly as though there +wasn't a rebel in the country. I yelled to him to come back under the +cover of the hill-top, but he said he could see the rebels better there, +and refused to leave his vantage-ground. I think he remained there until +we were ordered back and did not receive a scratch. His escape was +nothing less than a miracle. He seemed to have no idea of fear. + +A remarkable fact about our experience during this fight was that we +took no note of time. When we were out of ammunition and about to move +back I looked at my watch and found it was 12.30 P.M. We had been under +fire since eight o'clock. I couldn't believe my eyes; was sure my watch +had gone wrong. I would have sworn that we had not been there more than +twenty minutes, when we had actually been in that very hell of fire for +four and a half hours. + +Just as we were moving back, the Irish brigade came up, under command of +General Thomas Francis Meagher. They had been ordered to complete our +work by a charge, and right gallantly they did it. Many of our men, not +understanding the order, joined in that charge. General Meagher rode a +beautiful white horse, but made a show of himself by tumbling off just +as he reached our line. The boys said he was drunk, and he certainly +looked and acted like a drunken man. He regained his feet and floundered +about, swearing like a crazy man. The brigade, however, made a +magnificent charge and swept everything before it. + +Another incident occurred during the time we were under fire. My +attention was arrested by a heavily built general officer passing to the +rear on foot. He came close by me and as he passed he shouted: "You will +have to get back. Don't you see yonder line of rebels is flanking you?" +I looked in the direction he pointed, and, sure enough, on our right and +now well to our rear was an extended line of rebel infantry with their +colors flying, moving forward almost with the precision of a parade. +They had thrown forward a beautiful skirmish line and seemed to be +practically masters of the situation. My heart was in my mouth for a +couple of moments, until suddenly the picture changed, and their +beautiful line collapsed and went back as if the d----l was after them. +They had run up against an obstruction in a line of the "boys in blue," +and many of them never went back. This general officer who spoke to me, +I learned, was Major-General Richardson, commanding the First Division, +then badly wounded, and who died a few hours after. + +Our regiment now moved back and to the right some three-quarters of a +mile, where we were supplied with ammunition, and the men were allowed +to make themselves a cup of coffee and eat a "hardtack." I was faint for +want of food, for I had only a cup of coffee in the early morning, and +was favored with a hardtack by one of the men, who were always ready +and willing to share their rations with us. We now learned that our +brigade had borne the brunt of a long and persistent effort by Lee to +break our line at this point, and that we were actually the third line +which had been thrown into this breach, the other two having been wiped +out before we advanced; that as a matter of fact our brigade, being +composed so largely of raw troops--our regiment being really more than +half the brigade in actual number--was designed to be held in reserve. +But the onslaught of the enemy had been so terrific, that by eight +o'clock A.M. our reserve line was all there was left and we had to be +sent in. The other three regiments were veterans, old and tried. They +had an established reputation of having never once been forced back or +whipped, but the One Hundred and Thirty-second was new and, except as to +numbers, an unknown quantity. We had been unmercifully guyed during the +two preceding weeks, as I have said before, as a lot of "greenhorns," +"pretty boys" in "pretty new clothes," "mamma's darlings," etc., etc., +to the end of the vets' slang calendar. Now that we had proved our metal +under fire, the atmosphere was completely changed. Not the semblance of +another jibe against the One Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsylvania +Volunteers. + +We did not know how well we had done, only that we had tried to do our +duty under trying circumstances, until officers and men from other +regiments came flocking over to congratulate and praise us. I didn't +even know we had passed through the fire of a great battle until the +colonel of the Fourteenth Indiana came over to condole with us on the +loss of Colonel Oakford, and incidentally told us that this was +undoubtedly the greatest battle of the war thus far, and that we +probably would never have such another. + +After getting into our new position, I at once began to look up our +losses. I learned that Colonel Oakford was killed by one of the rebel +sharp-shooters just as the regiment scaled the fence in its advance up +the knoll, and before we had fired a shot. It must have occurred almost +instantly after I left him with orders for the left of the line. I was +probably the last to whom he spoke. He was hit by a minie-ball in the +left shoulder, just below the collar-bone. The doctor said the ball had +severed one of the large arteries, and he died in a very few minutes. He +had been in command of the regiment a little more than a month, but +during that brief time his work as a disciplinarian and drill-master had +made it possible for us to acquit ourselves as creditably as they all +said we had done. General Kimball was loud in our praise and greatly +lamented Colonel Oakford's death, whom he admired very much. He was a +brave, able, and accomplished officer and gentleman, and his loss to the +regiment was irreparable. + +Had Colonel Oakford lived his record must have been brilliant and his +promotion rapid, for very few volunteer officers had so quickly mastered +the details of military tactics and routine. He was a thorough +disciplinarian, an able tactician, and the interests and welfare of his +men were constantly upon his heart. + +My diary records the fact that I saw Captain Willard, of the Fourteenth +Connecticut, fall as we passed their line on our way to the rear; that +he appeared to have been hit by a grape-shot or piece of shell. I did +not know him, only heard that he was a brother of E. N. Willard, of +Scranton. The Fourteenth Connecticut men said he was a fine man and +splendid officer. + +Among the wounded--reported mortally--was Sergeant Martin Hower, of +Company K, one of our very best non-commissioned officers. I saw him at +the hospital, and it was very hard to be able to do nothing for him. It +seemed our loss must reach upward of two hundred killed, wounded and +missing. Out of seven hundred and ninety-eight who answered to roll-call +in the morning, we had with us less than three hundred at the close of +the fight. Our actual loss was: Killed--Officers, two (Colonel Oakford +and Lieutenant Cranmer); men, twenty-eight; total, thirty. +Wounded--Officers, four; men, one hundred and ten; total, one hundred +and forty-four. To this should be added at least thirty of the men who +died of their wounds within the next few days, which would make our +death loss in this battle upward of sixty. Of the missing, many of them +were of those who joined the Irish brigade in their charge, and who did +not find us again for a day or so. It may seem strange that a man should +not be able to find his regiment for so long a time, when really it is +so close at hand. But when one remembers that our army of about +seventy-five thousand men had upward of two hundred regiments massed +within say two square miles, and that they were constantly changing +position, it will be seen that looking for any one regiment is almost +like looking for a needle in a hay-mow. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM--CONTINUED + + +During the afternoon of this day we were again moved further to the +right and placed as supports of a battery. We were posted about two +hundred yards directly in front of the guns on low ground. The battery +was evidently engaged in another artillery duel. We were in a +comparatively safe position, so long as the rebel guns directed their +firing at our battery; but after a time they began "feeling for the +supports," first dropping their shells beyond our guns, then in front of +them, until they finally got a pretty good range on our line and filled +the air with bursting shells over our heads. One and another was carried +to the rear, wounded, and the line became very restive. We were required +to lie perfectly quiet. We found this very much more trying than being +at work, and the line began to show symptoms of wavering, when General +Kimball, who with his staff had dismounted and was resting near us, +immediately mounted his horse and, riding up and down the line, shouted: +"Stand firm, trust in God, and do your duty." + +It was an exceedingly brave act, and its effect was electric upon the +men. There was no more wavering, and the rebel battery, evidently +thinking they had not found the "supports," soon ceased firing upon us. +It was now near night and the firing very perceptibly slackened in our +vicinity, though a mile or more to the left it still continued very +heavy. This, we afterwards learned, was the work at what has passed into +history as "Burnside's" bridge--the effort of Burnside's corps to +capture the stone bridge over Antietam creek, near the village of +Sharpsburg, and the heights beyond. These were gallantly carried after a +terrific fight quite late in the afternoon. + +Our work, so far as this battle was concerned, was done. We rested "on +our arms" where we were for the next forty-eight hours, expecting all +the next day a renewal of the fighting; but nothing was done in our +neighborhood beyond a few shots from the battery we were supporting. On +the second day it became known that Lee had hauled off, and there was no +immediate prospect of further fighting. Our companies were permitted to +gather up their dead, and burying parties were organized. + +We were allowed to go over the field freely. It was a gruesome sight. +Our own dead had been cared for, but the rebel dead remained as they had +fallen. In the hot sun the bodies had swollen and turned black. Nearly +all lay with faces up and eyes wide open, presenting a spectacle to make +one shudder. The distended nostrils and thickened lips made them look +like negroes, except for their straight hair. Their limbs and bodies +were so enlarged that their clothing seemed ready to burst. Some ghouls +had been among them, whether from their own lines or from ours, could +not be known, but every man's pockets had been ripped out and the +contents taken. + +In company with Captain Archbald I went over the position occupied by +our regiment and brigade, the famous "sunken road,"--that is, the lane +or road extending from near the "Roulette house" towards Sharpsburg. For +some distance it had been cut through the opposite side of the knoll +upon which we fought, and had the appearance of a sunken road. It was +literally filled with rebel dead, which in some places lay three and +four bodies deep. We afterwards saw pictures of this road in the +illustrated papers, which partially portrayed the horrible scene. Those +poor fellows were the Fifth[C] Georgia regiment. This terrible work was +mostly that of our regiment, and bore testimony to the effectiveness of +the fire of our men. + +The position was an alluring one: the road was cut into the hill about +waist high, and seemed to offer secure protection to a line of infantry, +and so no doubt this line was posted there to hold the knoll and this +Sharpsburg road. It proved, however, nothing but a death-trap, for once +our line got into position on the top of this crescent-shaped ridge we +could reach them by a direct fire on the centre and a double flanking +fire at the right and left of the line, and only about one hundred yards +away. With nothing but an open field behind them there was absolutely no +escape, nothing but death or surrender, and they evidently chose the +former, for we saw no white flag displayed. We could now understand the +remark of their lieutenant-colonel, whom our boys brought in, as already +mentioned: "You have killed all my poor boys. They lie there in the +road." I learned later that the few survivors of this regiment were sent +South to guard rebel prisoners. + +[Illustration: SECTION OF FAMOUS SUNKEN ROAD IN FRONT OF LINE OF 132D P. +V., NEAR ROULETTE LANE + +The dead are probably from the Sixth Georgia Confederate troops] + +The lines of battle of both armies were not only marked by the presence +of the dead, but by a vast variety of army equipage, such as blankets, +canteens, haversacks, guns, gun-slings, bayonets, ramrods, some whole, +others broken,--verily, a besom of destruction had done its work +faithfully here. Dead horses were everywhere, and the stench from them +and the human dead was horrible. "Uncle" Billy Sherman has said, "War is +hell!" yet this definition, with all that imagination can picture, fails +to reveal all its bloody horrors. + +The positions of some of the dead were very striking. One poor fellow +lay face down on a partially fallen stone wall, with one arm and one +foot extended, as if in the act of crawling over. His position attracted +our attention, and we found his body literally riddled with +bullets--there must have been hundreds--and most of them shot into him +after he was dead, for they showed no marks of blood. Probably the poor +fellow had been wounded in trying to reach shelter behind that wall, was +spotted in the act by our men, and killed right there, and became +thereafter a target for every new man that saw him. Another man lay, +still clasping his musket, which he was evidently in the act of loading +when a bullet pierced his heart, literally flooding his gun with his +life's blood, a ghastly testimonial to his heroic sacrifice. + +We witnessed the burying details gathering up and burying the dead. The +work was rough and heartless, but only comporting with the character of +war. The natural reverence for the dead was wholly absent. The poor +bodies, all of them heroes in their death, even though in a mistaken +cause, were "planted" with as little feeling as though they had been so +many logs. A trench was dug, where the digging was easiest, about seven +feet wide and long enough to accommodate all the bodies gathered within +a certain radius; these were then placed side by side, cross-wise of the +trench, and buried without anything to keep the earth from them. In the +case of the Union dead the trenches were usually two or three feet deep, +and the bodies were wrapped in blankets before being covered, but with +the rebels no blankets were used, and the trenches were sometimes so +shallow as to leave the toes exposed after a shower. + +No ceremony whatever attended this gruesome service, but it was +generally accompanied by ribald jokes, at the expense of the poor +"Johnny" they were "planting." This was not the fruit of debased natures +or degenerate hearts on the part of the boys, who well knew it might be +their turn next, under the fortunes of war, to be buried in like manner, +but it was recklessness and thoughtlessness, born of the hardening +influences of war. + +Having now given some account of the scenes in which I participated +during the battle and the day after, let us look at another feature of +the battle, and probably the most heart-breaking of all, the field +hospital. There was one established for our division some three hundred +yards in our rear, under the shelter of a hill. Here were gathered as +rapidly as possible the wounded, and a corps of surgeons were busily +engaged in amputating limbs and dressing wounds. It should be understood +that the accommodations were of the rudest character. A hospital tent +had been hurriedly erected and an old house and barn utilized. Of +course, I saw nothing of it or its work until the evening after the +battle, when I went to see the body of our dead colonel and some of our +Scranton boys who were wounded. Outside the hospital were piles of +amputated arms, legs, and feet, thrown out with as little care as so +many pieces of wood. There were also many dead soldiers--those who had +died after reaching the hospital--lying outside, there being inside +scant room only for the living. Here, on bunches of hay and straw, the +poor fellows were lying so thickly that there was scarce room for the +surgeon and attendants to move about among them. Others were not allowed +inside, except officers and an occasional friend who might be helping. +Our chaplain spent his time here and did yeoman service helping the +wounded. Yet all that could be done with the limited means at hand +seemed only to accentuate the appalling need. The pallid, appealing +faces were patient with a heroism born only of the truest metal. I was +told by the surgeons that such expressions as this were not infrequent +as they approached a man in his "turn": "Please, doctor, attend to this +poor fellow next; he's worse than I," and this when his own life's blood +was fast oozing away. + +Most of the wounded had to wait hours before having their wounds +dressed, owing to insufficient force and inadequate facilities. I was +told that not a surgeon had his eyes closed for three days after this +battle. The doctors of neighboring towns within reach came and +voluntarily gave their services, yet it is doubtless true that hundreds +of the wounded perished for want of prompt and proper care. This is one +of the unavoidable incidents of a great battle--a part of the horrors of +war. The rebel wounded necessarily were second to our own in receiving +care from the surgeons, yet they, too, received all the attention that +was possible under the circumstances. Some of their surgeons remained +with their wounded, and I am told they and our own surgeons worked +together most energetically and heroically in their efforts to relieve +the sufferings of all, whether they wore the blue or the gray. +Suffering, it has been said, makes all the world akin. So here, in our +lines, the wounded rebel was lost sight of in the suffering brother. + +We remained on the battle-field until September 21, four days after the +fight. + +My notes of this day say that I was feeling so miserable as to be +scarcely able to crawl about, yet was obliged to remain on duty; that +Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox, now in command, and Major Shreve were in the +same condition. This was due to the nervous strain through which we had +passed, and to insufficient and unwholesome food. As stated before, we +had been obliged to eat whatever we could get, which for the past four +days had been mostly green field corn roasted as best we could. The +wonder is that we were not utterly prostrated. Nevertheless, I not only +performed all my duties, but went a mile down the Antietam creek, took a +bath, and washed my underclothing, my first experience in the laundry +business. + +We had been now for two weeks and more steadily on the march, our +baggage in wagons somewhere en route, without the possibility of a +change of clothing or of having any washing done. Most of this time +marching in a cloud of dust so thick that one could almost cut it, and +perspiring freely, one can imagine our condition. Bathing as frequently +as opportunity offered, yet our condition was almost unendurable. For +with the accumulation of dirt upon our body, there was added the +ever-present scourge of the army, body lice. These vermin, called by the +boys "graybacks," were nearly the size of a grain of wheat, and derived +their name from their bluish-gray color. They seemed to infest the +ground wherever there had been a bivouac of the rebels, and following +them as we had, during all of this campaign, sleeping frequently on the +ground just vacated by them, no one was exempt from this plague. They +secreted themselves in the seams of the clothing and in the armpits +chiefly. A good bath, with a change of underclothing, would usually rid +one of them, but only to acquire a new crop in the first camp. The +clothing could be freed of them by boiling in salt water or by going +carefully over the seams and picking them off. The latter operation was +a frequent occupation with the men on any day which was warm enough to +permit them to disrobe for the purpose. One of the most laughable sights +I ever beheld was the whole brigade, halted for a couple of hours' rest +one hot day, with clothing off, "skirmishing," as the boys called it, +for "graybacks." This was one of the many unpoetical features of army +life which accentuated the sacrifices one made to serve his country. + +How did we ordinarily get our laundrying done? The enlisted men as a +rule always did it themselves. Occasionally in camp a number of them +would club together and hire some "camp follower" or some other soldier +to do it. Officers of sufficient rank to have a servant, of course, +readily solved the question. Those of us of lesser rank could generally +hire it done, except on the march. Then we had to be our own laundrymen. +Having, as in the above instance, no change of clothing at hand, the +washing followed a bath, and consisted in standing in the running water +and rubbing as much of the dirt out of the underwear as could be done +without soap, for that could not be had for love or money; then hanging +them on the limb of a tree and sitting in the sun, as comfortable as +possible, whilst wind and sun did the drying. A "snap-shot" of such a +scene would no doubt be interesting. But "snap-shots" unfortunately were +not then in vogue, and so a picture of high art must perish. We could +not be over particular about having our clothes dry. The finishing +touches were added as we wore them back to camp. + +My diary notes that there were nine hundred and ninety-eight rebel dead +gathered and buried from in front of the lines of our division. This +line was about a quarter of a mile long, and this was mostly our work +(our division), although Richardson's division had occupied part of this +ground before us, but had been so quickly broken that they had not made +much impression upon the enemy. Our division had engaged them +continuously and under a terrific fire from eight o'clock A.M. until +12.30 P.M. It may be asked why during that length of time and under such +a fire all were not annihilated. The answer is, that inaccuracy and +unsteadiness in firing on both sides greatly reduce its effectiveness, +and taking all possible advantage of shelter by lying prone upon the +ground also prevents losses; but the above number of rebel dead, it +should be remembered, represents, probably, not more than twenty to +twenty-five per cent. of their casualties in that area of their lines; +the balance were wounded and were removed. So that with nine hundred and +ninety-eight dead it can be safely estimated that their losses exceeded +four thousand killed and wounded in that area. This would indicate what +was undoubtedly true, that we were in the very heart of that great +battle. + +[Illustration: FIELD HOSPITAL] + +Here I wish to say that some chroniclers of battles have undertaken to +measure the effectiveness and bravery of the different regiments, +batteries, etc., by the numbers they have lost in certain battles; for +example, one historian has made a book grading the regiments by the +number of men they lost in action, assuming that the more men killed and +wounded, the more brilliant and brave had been its work. This assumption +is absolutely fallacious. Heavy losses may be the result of great +bravery with splendid work. On the other hand, they may be the result of +cowardice or inefficiency. Suppose, under trying circumstances, officers +lose their heads and fail to properly handle their men, or if the latter +prove cowardly and incapable of being moved with promptness to meet the +exigency, great loss usually ensues, and this would be chargeable to +cowardice or inefficiency. According to the loss way of estimating +fighting regiments, the least deserving are liable to be credited with +the best work. The rule is, the better drilled, disciplined, and the +better officered, the less the losses in any position on the +firing-line. + +One regiment I have in mind, with which we were afterwards brigaded, +illustrates this principle. It was the First Delaware Volunteer +infantry. It was a three years' regiment and had been in the field more +than a year when we joined them. All things considered, it was the best +drilled and disciplined regiment I saw in the service. It was as steady +under fire as on parade. Every movement in the tactics it could execute +on the jump, and its fire was something to keep away from. The result +was that, pushed everywhere to the front because of its splendid work, +it lost comparatively few men. Every man was a marksman and understood +how to take all possible advantage of the situation to make his work +most effective and at the same time take care of himself. This regiment, +whose record was one unbroken succession of splendid achievements during +its whole period of service, might never have gotten on a roll of fame +founded on numbers of men lost. How much more glorious is a record +founded on effective work and men saved! + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +HARPER'S FERRY AND THE LEESBURG AND HALLTOWN EXPEDITIONS + + +Neither side seemed anxious to resume the fighting on the 18th, though +there was picket firing and some cannonading. We remained the next day +where the darkness found us after the battle, ready and momentarily +expecting to resume the work. All sorts of rumors were afloat as to the +results of the battle, also as to future movements. Whether we had won a +great victory and were to press immediately forward to reap the fullest +benefit of it, or whether it was practically a drawn battle, with the +possibilities of an early retreat, we did not then know. We had no idea +of what the name of the battle would be. My diary calls it the battle of +"Meyer's Spring," from that magnificent fountain, on our line of battle, +described in the last chapter. The Confederates named it the battle of +Sharpsburg, from the village of that name on the right of their line. +Two days later, after the rebels had hauled off--which they did very +leisurely the next day and night--we received "Little Mac's" +congratulatory order on the great victory achieved at "Antietam." + +So far as our part of the battle was concerned, we knew we had the best +of it. We had cleaned up everything in our front, and the "chip was +still serenely resting on our shoulder." But what had been the outcome +elsewhere on the line we did not know. That our army had been +terrifically battered was certain. Our own losses indicated this. We +were therefore both relieved and rejoiced on receiving the +congratulatory order. I confess to have had some doubts about the extent +of the victory, and whether, had Lee remained and shown fight, we would +not have repeated the old story and "retired in good order." As it was, +the tide had evidently turned, and the magnificent old Army of the +Potomac, after so many drubbings, had been able to score its first +decisive victory. + +On the twenty-second day of September we were again on the march, our +regiment reduced in numbers, from casualties in the battle and from +sickness, by nearly three hundred men. Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox was now +in command. The body of our late colonel had been shipped to Scranton +under guard of Privates S. P. Snyder and Charles A. Meylert, Company K, +the "exigencies of the service" permitting of no larger detail nor any +officer to accompany it. + +We were told the army was bound for Harper's Ferry, distant some eight +to ten miles. We passed through the village of Sharpsburg--what there +was left of it. It had been occupied by the rebels as the extreme right +of their line on the morning of the battle. It presented abundant +evidence of having been well in the zone of the fight. Its buildings +were riddled with shells, and confusion seemed to reign supreme. We +learned that Burnside, with the left wing of the army, had a very hot +argument with Lee's right during the afternoon for the possession of the +stone bridge over Antietam creek at the foot of the hill entering the +village; that after two repulses with heavy loss, Colonel Hartranft +(afterwards Governor of Pennsylvania) led his regiment, the Fifty-first +Pennsylvania Volunteers and the Fifty-first New York, in a magnificent +charge and carried the bridge and the heights above, and Sharpsburg was +ours. If any one would like to get an idea of what terrific work that +charge was they should examine that bridge and the heights on the +Sharpsburg side. The latter rise almost perpendicularly more than three +hundred feet. One of the "boys" who went over that bridge and up those +heights in that memorable charge was Private Edward L. Buck, Fifty-first +Pennsylvania Volunteers, formerly Assistant Postmaster of Scranton, and +ever since the war a prominent citizen of this city. That bridge is now +known as "Burnside's Bridge." Forty-one years afterwards, I passed over +it, and was shown a shell still sticking in the masonry of one of the +arches. It was a conical shell probably ten inches long, about half of +it left protruding. + +Little of special interest occurred on this march until we reached the +Potomac, a short distance above Harper's Ferry. Here we were shown the +little round house where John Brown concealed his guns and "pikes" prior +to his famous raid three years before. This was his rendezvous on the +night before his ill-starred expedition descended upon the State of +Virginia and the South, in an insane effort to free the slaves. Our +division was headed by the Fourteenth Connecticut, and as we approached +the river opposite Harper's Ferry its fine band struck up the then new +and popular air, "John Brown's Body," and the whole division took up the +song, and we forded the river singing it. Slavery had destroyed the +Kansas home of old John Brown, had murdered his sons, and undoubtedly +driven him insane, because of his anti-slavery zeal. The great State of +Virginia--the "Mother of Presidents"--had vindicated her loyalty to the +"peculiar institution," and, let it be added, her own spotless chivalry, +by hanging this poor, crazy fanatic for high treason! Was there poetic +justice in our marching into the territory where these events transpired +singing: + + "John Brown's body lies a mouldering in the grave, + His soul goes marching on?" + +This couplet, + + "We'll hang Jeff Davis to a sour apple-tree," + +was sung with peculiar zest, though I never quite understood what the +poet had against the sour apple-tree. + +We marched through the quaint old town of Harper's Ferry, whose +principal industry had been the government arsenal for the manufacture +of muskets and other army ordnance. These buildings were now a mass of +ruins, and the remainder of the town presented the appearance of a +plucked goose, as both armies had successively captured and occupied it. +We went into camp on a high plateau back of the village known as Bolivar +Heights. The scenic situation at Harper's Ferry is remarkably grand. The +town is situated on the tongue or fork of land at the junction of the +Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. From the point where the rivers join, the +land rises rapidly until the summit of Bolivar Heights is reached, +several hundred feet above the town, from which a view is had of one of +the most lovely valleys to be found anywhere in the world--the +Shenandoah Valley. Across the Potomac to the east and facing Harper's +Ferry rises Maryland Heights, a bluff probably a thousand feet high, +while across the Shenandoah to the right towers another precipitous +bluff of about equal height called Loudon Heights. Both of these bluffs +commanded Bolivar Heights and Harper's Ferry. + +It was the sudden and unexpected appearance of Stonewall Jackson's +batteries upon both of these supposed inaccessible bluffs that ten days +before had forced the surrender of the garrison of ten thousand Union +troops which had been posted here to hold Harper's Ferry. It was said +that the rain of shot and shell from those bluffs down upon our forces +was simply merciless, and Jackson had cut off all avenues of escape +before opening his batteries. The cavalry, I believe, cut their way out, +but the infantry, after twenty-four hours of that storm of shot and +shell, were forced to hoist the white flag. How they could have lived +half that time in such a hell of fire is a marvel. Everything above +ground bore evidence of this fire. There were unexploded shells lying +about in great numbers. + +An incident that might have been anything but funny occurred the day +after we encamped here. A new regiment joined the army and marched past +our division to a point farther up the heights and went into camp. They +were a fine-looking regiment, full in numbers, and with new, clean +uniforms. Their reception at the hands of the "vets" was very like our +own three weeks before. Our boys, however, were "vets" now, and joined +in the "reception" with a zest quite usual under such circumstances. +However, the "tenderfeet" incident had passed, and we were preparing our +evening meal, when bang! bang! bang! bang! rang out a half-dozen shots +in quick succession. Every man jumped as though the whole rebel army was +upon us. It was soon discovered that the explosions came from the camp +of the "tenderfeet." Some of those greenhorns had gathered a number of +those unexploded shells, set them up on end for a fireplace, and were +quietly boiling their coffee over them when they, of course, exploded. +Why none of them were seriously injured was a miracle. At the moment of +explosion no one happened to be very near the fire. A moment before a +dozen men had been standing over it. Does Providence graciously look out +for the tenderfoot? Some of them, I fear, were made to feel that they +would rather be dead than take the guying they got for this evidence of +their verdancy. + +Camp life at Bolivar Heights soon resolved itself into the usual routine +of drill and picket duty. How many corps of the army were encamped here +I did not know, but we were a vast city of soldiers, and there was no +end of matters to occupy attention when off duty. These included bathing +expeditions to the Shenandoah, a mile and a half away; the "doing" of +the quaint old town of Harper's Ferry, and rambles up Maryland and +Loudon Heights, both of which were now occupied by our troops. This was +our first experience in a large encampment in the field. One feature of +it was exceedingly beautiful, and that was its system of "calls." The +cavalry and artillery were encamped on one side of us. Each battery of +artillery and battalion of cavalry had its corps of "trumpeters" or +"buglers," while the infantry regiments had their drum corps, whose duty +it was to sound the various "camp calls." The principal calls were +"reveille," the getting up or morning roll-call, at sunrise usually; the +guard mount, the drill, the meal calls, the "retreat" (evening +roll-call), and the "taps," the "turning in" or "lights out" call. The +reveille, the retreat, and taps were required to be sounded by each +battery, troop, and regiment in consecutive order, commencing at the +extreme right. The firing of the morning gun was the signal for the +first corps of cavalry buglers to begin the reveille, then in succession +it was repeated first through the bugler corps and then by the drum +corps back and forth through the lines until it had gone through the +whole army. As a martial and musical feature it was exceedingly +beautiful and inspiring. But as its purpose was to hustle out sleepy men +to roll-call, it is doubtful if these features were fully appreciated; +that its advent was an occasion for imprecation rather than appreciation +the following story may illustrate. + +A group of "vets" were discussing what they would do when they got home +from the war. Several plans had been suggested--the taking into +permanent camp of the soldier's sweetheart being the chief goal, of +course. When Pat's turn came to tell what he was going to do, he said: + +"I'll be takin' me girl and settling down wid her housekeepin' and thin +i'll be hirin' of a dhrum corps to come an' play the ravalye iviry +mornin' under me chamber windi." + +"What will you do that for? Haven't you had enough of the reveille +here?" + +"I'll just h'ist me windi, an' I'll yell, 'To h----l wid yer ravalye; +I'll slape as long as I plase.'" + +Many of these "calls" were parodied by the men. Here is the reveille: + + I can't get 'em up, I can't get 'em up, + I can't get 'em up at all, sir; + I can't get 'em up, I can't get 'em up, + I can't get 'em up at all. + I'll go and tell the captain, + I'll go and tell the captain, + I'll go and tell the captain, + I can't get 'em up at all. + +This is the sick call: + + Get your quinine, get your quinine, + And a blue pill too, and a blue pill too. + Get your quinine. + +And so on down the list. The retreat call at sundown was really enjoyed +and was made more of. The day's work was then over, and each corps +elaborated its music, the bands frequently extending it into an evening +concert. + +The almost universal time-killer was cards. Of course various games were +played, but "poker" was king. A game of the latter could be found in +almost every company street, officers as well as men took a "twist at +the tiger." At the battle of Chancellorsville I saw a game in full blast +right under fire of the rebel shells. Every screeching shell was greeted +with an imprecation, while the game went on just the same. + +After our return home I was told of one man who made enough money at +cards to successfully start himself in business. It was said he +performed picket duty by hired proxies during the following winter in +camp at Falmouth, and gave his time wholly to the game. A New York City +regiment lay adjoining our camp that winter, and a truer lot of sports, +from colonel down, never entered the service. These men, officers and +all, were his patrons. They came to "do the Pennsylvania novice," but +were themselves done in the end. + +On the 3d of October our brigade made what was termed a reconnoissance +in force out through Loudon County, Virginia, to Leesburg. It was +reported that Jeb. Stuart was there with a force of cavalry and +infantry. General Kimball was sent with our brigade to capture him if +possible. Our orders on the evening of October 2 were to report at +brigade head-quarters at seven o'clock A.M., with three days' rations +and sixty rounds of ammunition. This meant "business," and was a welcome +change from the monotony of camp life. A regiment of cavalry and two +batteries of artillery had been added to our brigade for this +expedition. The morning dawned bright and beautiful, but the day proved +a very hot one, and the first three or four miles of our march was +around the base of Loudon Heights, close under the mountain over a very +rocky road, and where there was not a breath of air stirring. We were +delayed by the artillery in getting over this portion of the route, and +then we were marched almost on the run to make up for the lost time. +General Kimball had gone forward with the cavalry, leaving his +adjutant-general to bring up the balance of the column as rapidly as +possible. In his efforts to hurry the men forward the latter overdid +the matter. The result was the men dropped in scores utterly exhausted, +so that within three hours our number had been reduced more than half, +and at the end of the march in the evening there were just twenty-five +officers and men of our regiment present for duty, and of the whole +infantry force, three thousand strong at the start, there were less than +two hundred present at the finish. This was due to an utter lack of +judgment in marching. + +The distance covered had been twenty-three miles. The day had been hot, +the road rough, and the men, in heavy marching order with three days' +rations and sixty rounds of ammunition, had carried upwards of ninety +pounds each. With such a load and under such conditions, to expect men +to march any distance at the hurried pace required was criminal folly. +It bore its natural fruit. Our men were scattered on the route from +Harper's Ferry to Leesburg, a demoralized lot of stragglers. My diary +mentions this experience with much indignation and attributes the folly +to the effects of whiskey. Of course, this was only a surmise. + +General Kimball was not directly responsible for it. In his anxiety to +capture Jeb. Stuart he had pushed ahead with the cavalry, and knew +nothing of our condition until the forlorn party came straggling into +his bivouac in the evening. He was very indignant, and said some words +that cannot be recorded here. He was chagrined to find Stuart gone, but +now was greatly relieved that such was the fact. Otherwise, said he, we +would have stood an excellent chance for a journey south under rebel +escort. + +On our way out we passed through several small villages, in none of +which did we find evidence of decided Union sentiment, except in +Waterford. This was a prosperous-looking town, and the people seemed +hospitable, and manifested their Union sentiments by furnishing us fruit +and water freely. Our cavalry caught four of Stuart's men in a +picture-gallery and marched them to the rear. I had the good fortune to +secure a loaf of nice bread and a canteen of sweet milk. If any one +wishes to know how good bread and milk is, let him step into my shoes on +that weary night. + +Conditions compelled us to remain at Leesburg that night. We rested on +our arms, fearing Stuart might get an inkling of our plight and pounce +upon us. My diary says I was unable to sleep because of suffering from a +sprained knee and ankle, caused by my horse stumbling and falling on me +just at dusk. + +The next morning we were off bright and early on the back track for +camp, but by another route, so as to avoid being cut off by Stuart. We +had started out bravely to capture this wily rebel. Now we were in +mortal danger of being captured by him. A detail was made to go back +over the route we came and gather up the stragglers. On our way back I +was refused a canteen of water by the "Missus" of one of the plantation +dwellings; but on riding around to the rear, where the slaves lived, old +"Aunt Lucy" supplied us freely with both milk and water. This was a +sample of the difference between the aristocrat in the mansion and the +slave in the hovel. The latter were always very friendly and ready to +help us in every possible way, while as a rule we met with rebuff at the +hands of the former. + +Here we came in contact for the first time with plantation life under +the institution of slavery. The main or plantation house was usually +situated a quarter-mile or more back from the "pike." They were +generally low, flat, one-story mansions, built of stone, while further +to the rear, in the form of a square, were the wooden cabins of the +slaves, each plantation a village by itself. We marched only about eight +miles this day, and bivouacked near the village of Hillsboro. This +evening we officers of the field and staff caught on to a great treat in +the way of stewed chicken and corn cake for supper at a Union farmhouse, +and thought ourselves very fortunate to be able to engage a breakfast at +the same place for next morning. Alas for the uncertainties of war! We +had barely rolled ourselves in our blankets for the night when a staff +officer from General Kimball's head-quarters came and in a low tone of +voice ordered us to arouse our men without the least noise and be off as +quietly as possible; that scouts had reported that Stuart was after us +in hot haste. We were off almost in a jiffy. The night was cool and +foggy. The former favored our rapid march, and the latter hid us from +the enemy, who succeeded in capturing only a couple of men who fell out. + +We reached camp at Harper's Ferry shortly after sunrise, a thoroughly +tired and battered crowd. The expedition proved absolutely fruitless, +and had barely escaped being captured, owing to mismanagement. It was +the most trying bit of service of our whole experience. Some of our men +never recovered from the exhaustion of that first day's march, and had +to be discharged as permanently disabled. + +Shortly after this another expedition relieved the monotony of camp +life. General Hancock, commanding the Second Division of our corps, had +been sent to make a reconnoissance in force towards Halltown, six to +eight miles up the Shenandoah Valley. He had gone in the morning, and +shortly after noon we had heard cannonading in that direction, showing +that he had found "business." It was Hancock's reputation to make +"business," if the "Johnnies" could be induced to tarry long enough for +him to reach them. However, the firing shortly ceased, and the night set +in with a terrific rain-storm. I remember, as I rolled myself in my +blanket prepared for a good sleep in defiance of the rain, sympathizing +with those poor fellows out on that reconnoissance in all this storm. My +sympathy was premature. Just then I heard an ominous scratch on my tent, +and the hand of an orderly was thrust through the flaps with an order. +In much trepidation I struck a light. Sure I was of trouble, or an order +would not have been sent out at such a time. My fears were realized. It +directed our regiment to report at brigade head-quarters in heavy +marching order with all possible despatch. Here was a "state of things." +Was it ever so dark, and did it ever rain harder? Not in my +recollection. But that order left no time for cogitations. Into boots, +clothing, and gum blanket, out to the colonel's tent with the order, +then with his orders to all the companies, the sounding of the long +roll, the forming line, and away to brigade head-quarters in that inky +blackness and drenching rain was the work of less than fifteen minutes. +General Kimball complimented us as being the first regiment to report, +and we were honored with the head of the column which was to support +Hancock at Halltown. French's division had been ordered out as supports, +and Kimball's brigade had the advance. + +We marched rapidly up the valley of the Shenandoah, now as black as +Erebus. But soon the rain ceased, the clouds broke away, and the stars +appeared, completely transforming the scene, and except for the mud and +our wet and uncomfortable condition it would have been an enjoyable +march. After going about six miles we were directed into a woods to rest +until morning. Inside the woods it was inky dark again, and we made +headway with much difficulty. Men and horses stumbled and floundered +over fallen logs and through brush at imminent peril of limbs, until a +halt was made, and after details for picket had been sent out we were +allowed to rest until daylight. + +It was now about three o'clock. But to rest, soaking wet, almost covered +with mud, in a woods that had been so drenched with rain that everything +was like a soaked sponge, that was the problem. No fires were allowed, +for no one knew how near the enemy might be. However, the men were tired +enough to sleep, most of them, even under those conditions. I well +remember the weary walking and stamping to keep warm until the sunshine +came to our relief. But daylight revealed a condition of things relative +to our position that, had the enemy known, we might again have been made +an easy prey. Our details for water, after going out some distance, as +they supposed in our rear, suddenly found themselves uncomfortably near +the enemy's outposts, and hurried back to camp with the information. It +was found that in the darkness our picket line had actually gotten +turned around, so that our rear had been carefully guarded, whilst our +front was left wholly exposed. The denseness of the woods and the +darkness of the night had been our salvation. We shortly learned that +Hancock had accomplished his purpose and was moving back to Harper's +Ferry. We followed leisurely, reaching the camp about noon, thoroughly +tired and bedraggled from the rain and mud. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +FROM HARPER'S FERRY TO FREDERICKSBURG + + +We remained on Bolivar Heights, at Harper's Ferry, without further +special incident until the 31st of October, 1862. In the mean time +Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox had been promoted to colonel to fill the +vacancy caused by the death of Colonel Oakford at Antietam. Major +Albright had been promoted to lieutenant-colonel and the senior captain, +Shreve, Company A, had been made major. Colonel Wilcox was on his back +with a severe case of typhoid fever, and Lieutenant-Colonel Albright had +been some ten days absent on sick leave, during which time Major Shreve +had been in command. Lieutenant-Colonel Albright, hearing of the +probable movement of the army, rejoined us in time to take command as we +bade farewell to Harper's Ferry. To show how little a soldier can know +of what is before him, I note the fact that we had just completed fixing +up our quarters for cold weather at Camp Bolivar. This involved +considerable labor and some expense. My diary records the fact that I +had put up a "California stove" in my tent. This, if I remember rightly, +was a cone-shaped sheet-iron affair, which had a small sliding door and +sat on the ground, with a small pipe extending through the canvas roof +just under the ridge-pole to the rear. It cost, I think, about four +dollars, and required some skill in "setting up," chiefly in fixing the +pipe so that it would not tumble about one's ears with every blast of +wind that shook the tent, and in windy weather would at least carry some +of the smoke outside. A special course of engineering was almost needed +to be able to properly handle those stoves. A little too much fire, and +you had to adopt Pat's remedy when Biddy's temper got up--sit on the +outside until it cooled down. Too little was worse than none, for your +tent became a smoke-house. On the whole, they were much like the goose +the aforesaid Pat captured and brought into camp, "a mighty unconvanient +burr'd, a little too big for one and not big enough for two." + +This fixing up of quarters had been done in contemplation of remaining +here through the winter, and we had taken our cue from like actions of +our brigade officers, who were supposed to know something about the +movements of the army. When we got orders on the 29th of October to +prepare for the march, I was assured by the adjutant-general of our +brigade that it was nothing more than a day's reconnoissance, and that +we were certainly not going to move our quarters. He knew as much about +it as I did. Within an hour after this order another came directing us +to move in heavy marching order, with three days' rations and sixty +rounds of ammunition. And so we moved out of Harper's Ferry on the 31st +of October, leaving our fixed-up quarters, with my four-dollar stove, to +Geary's division, which succeeded to our camp. + +We crossed the Shenandoah on a pontoon bridge and skirted the mountain +under Loudon Heights over the same route south that we had taken on our +way in from the Leesburg raid. We marched very leisurely, making during +the first four days only about twenty-five miles, to a village bearing +the serious (?) name of Snickersville. Here we had the first evidence of +the presence of the enemy. We were hurried through this village and up +through the gap in the mountain called "Snicker's Gap" to head off the +rebels. We soon came on to their scouts and pickets, who fled +precipitately without firing a gun. Part of our division halted on the +top of the gap, while a couple of regiments skirmished through the woods +both sides of the road down to the foot of the mountain on the other +side. The enemy had taken "French leave," and so our men returned and +our division bivouacked here for the night. + +We now learned that these giant armies were moving south in parallel +columns, the mountain separating them. At every gap or pass in the +mountain a bristling head or a clinched fist, so to speak, of one would +be thrust through and the other would try to hit it. This was our +mission, as we double-quicked it through this gap. When we got there the +"fist" had been withdrawn, and our work for the time was over. But our +bivouac here--how beautiful it was! The fields were clean and green, +with plenty of shade, for right in the gap were some good farms. Then +the cavalry had not cleaned the country of everything eatable, as was +usual, they being always in the advance. There was milk and bread to be +had, and somehow--I never dared to inquire too closely about it--some +good mutton came into camp that night, so that we had a splendid +breakfast next morning. Some fine honey was added to the bill of fare. +The man who brought in the latter claimed that a rebel hive of bees +attacked him whilst on picket duty, and he confiscated the honey as a +measure of retaliation. + +But the special feature that makes that camp linger in my memory was the +extraordinary beauty of the scene in the valley below us when the +evening camp-fires were lighted. We were on a sort of table-land two or +three hundred feet above the broad valley, which widened out at this +point and made a most charming landscape. As the darkness drew on the +camp-fires were lighted, and the scene became one of weird, bewitching +beauty. Almost as far as the eye could reach, covering three and +possibly four square miles, were spread out the blazing camp-fires of +that mighty host of our "Boys in Blue." No drums were beaten and the +usual retreat call was not sounded, but the thousands of camp-fires told +of the presence of our men. A martial city was cooking its evening +coffee and resting its weary limbs in the genial camp-fire glow, whilst +weary hearts were refreshed with the accompanying chat about friends and +dearer ones at home. The scouting "Johnny Rebs" (and there were no doubt +plenty of them viewing the scene) could have gotten from it no +comforting information to impart as to our numbers. Most of the Army of +the Potomac, now largely augmented by new regiments, was there, probably +not less than one hundred thousand men. It was a picture not of a +lifetime, but of the centuries. It made my blood leap as I realized that +I was looking down upon the grandest army, all things considered, of any +age or time. Its mission was to save to liberty and freedom the life of +the best government the world ever saw. In its ranks was the best blood +of a free people. In intelligence it was far superior to any other army +that ever existed. Scholars of all professions, tradesmen and farmers, +were there, fighting side by side, animated by the same patriotic +impulse. I said to myself, it is impossible that that army should be +beaten. It is the strong right arm of the Union, and under God it shall +assuredly deal the death-blow to the rebellion. This it certainly did, +though at a fearful cost, for it was fighting the same blood. The +inspiration of that scene made me glad from the bottom of my heart that +I had the privilege of being just one in that glorious army. After forty +years, what would I take for that association with all its dangers and +hardships? What for these pictures and memories? They are simply +priceless. I only wish I could so paint the pictures and reproduce the +scenes that they might be an inspiration to the same patriotism that +moved this mighty host. + +One of our grizzly-headed "boys," after forty years, tells the following +story of his experiences on a foraging expedition from the camp. Three +of them started out after beef. Some young steers had been seen in the +distance. They reached the field, a mile or more from camp. They found +the game a mighty vigorous lot of young steers, and their troubles began +when they tried to corral any one of them. Both ends seemed to be in +business at the same time, whilst a tail-hold proved to have more +transportation possibilities than they had ever dreamed of. Coaxing and +persuasion proved utter failures, for the bovines seemed to have the +same prejudices against our blue uniforms their owners had, and it would +not do to fire a gun. However, after two hours of the hardest exercise +they ever had, they succeeded in "pinching" their steer with nose, horn, +and tail-holds. Neither of them had ever undertaken to butcher a beef +before, and a good-sized jackknife was all they had to work with. But +beef they came for and must have, and one was selected to do the trick. +Here again they counted without their quarry. The latter evidently +objected to being practised on by novices, for as the knife entered his +neck he gave a jump which somehow nearly severed the would-be butcher's +thumb. Nevertheless, he completed his work without a word, and the +animal was skinned and divided. Just as they had him down a field +officer rode almost on to them. They felt sure that their "fat was in +the fire," for the officer--probably the field officer of the +day--certainly saw them and saw what they were doing. But he turned and +rode away without saying a word. It was evidently one of those things he +did not want to see. Well, the fun was not yet over. They backed their +beef to camp, and this was about as uncomfortable a job as they ever +had. No more tired trio ever rolled themselves in blankets than they +were that night. But there was compensation. They had an abundant supply +of "fresh" on hand and their sleep was sweet. Alas for the uncertainties +of camp life. Notwithstanding they took the extra precaution to roll +their several portions in their coats and placed them under their heads +for pillows, some "sons of Belial" from an adjacent regiment who had +discovered them bringing their "game" into camp actually stole every +ounce of the beef out from under their too soundly sleeping heads during +the night and made off with it. After all their labor and trouble +neither of them had a taste of that beef. Their nostrils were regaled +with the savory fumes of the cooking meat. They had no difficulty in +discovering where it was. Indeed, the whelps who stole it rather paraded +their steal, knowing that the mouths of our men were sealed. They simply +could not say a word, for marauding was punishable with death. The worst +of the escapade was that the poor fellow whose thumb had been so nearly +severed was made a cripple for life. He was never able to do another +day's duty, and to shield him the other two--be it said to their +everlasting honor--performed his picket duty in addition to their own +until he was discharged. + +My diary notes the fact that Fitz-John Porter's corps passed us just +before night, and I saw its commander for the first time. He was a +small, slender, young-looking man, with full black whiskers and keen +black eyes. He was dressed very modestly and wore the usual high black +slouch hat, with a much battered gold-tassel band. A pair of silver +stars on his shoulder, much obscured by wear and dust, indicated his +rank of major-general. + +The next day, November 3, was cold and chilly and we were early on the +march, still southward. We had now exhausted our supply of rations, and +at a temporary halt wagon-loads of hardtack and pork were driven along +our company lines and boxes of the bread and barrels of pork dumped out, +and the men told to fill their haversacks. Barrel heads and boxes were +soon smashed with the butts of guns and contents appropriated, each man +taking all he would. Many a fine piece of the pork marched away on a +bayonet, ready for the noon-day meal. I filled my own saddle-bags, as +did the rest of us officers, preferring to take no further chances on +the grub question. + +We bivouacked about four o'clock, after a thirteen-mile march in a raw +and very chilly air. Just going into bivouac I saw Major-General John F. +Reynolds, who met such a tragic death at Gettysburg the next July. His +corps--the First--was in the advance of ours. Our regiment was marching +at the head of our brigade column. Lieutenant-Colonel Albright was +temporarily absent and I was directing the column. General Reynolds's +corps had passed into the field to the left and were already in bivouac; +the other troops of our division were not visible at this point, and I +was hesitating what direction to give the column. General Reynolds was +sitting on his horse looking at us, evidently with much interest, and +noticing my dilemma, rode up to my assistance at once. Addressing me as +adjutant, he said: "Part of your corps has moved in yonder," pointing +out the place. "If I were you I would go in here and occupy this field +to the right in column of divisions, and you may say General Reynolds +advised this, if you please." His manner and way of doing this little +service were so pleasant that he captured me at once. Had he chosen to +do so, he could have given me orders, as the senior officer present, but +with a gentle courtesy he accomplished his purpose without that, and to +reassure me gave his name and rank in this delicate way. I shall never +forget his pleasant smile as he returned my salute after thanking him +for his suggestion. He was a superb-looking man, dark complexioned, +wearing full black whiskers, and sat his fine horse like a Centaur, +tall, straight, and graceful, the ideal soldier. I do not remember to +have ever seen this remarkable officer again. He was one of the few +great commanders developed by the war. A quiet, modest man, he yet +possessed a very decisive element of character, as illustrated by the +following incident related to me by my friend Colonel W. L. Wilson, +assistant adjutant-general of one of the divisions of Reynolds's corps, +and shows his unwearied vigilance and his indefatigable capacity for +work. The corps was in the presence of the enemy, an attack was deemed +highly probable. Night had brought on a storm of rain and intense +darkness. General Reynolds had given the proper officers very explicit +instructions about locating his picket lines, and Colonel Wilson, +knowing the critical nature of the work and his division chief's anxiety +over it, about midnight went out over their part of the line to make +doubly sure that everything was right. Among the first persons he +encountered after reaching the outposts was General Reynolds, all alone, +making his way over the line in that drenching rain, to be assured that +the pickets were properly posted and doing their duty. Here is Colonel +Wilson's account of the colloquy that ensued: "Who are you, sir? Where +do you belong? What are you doing here?" he volleyed at me savagely. +Being apparently reassured by my reply, he continued in a less +peremptory tone, "Who ordered that line? How far out is it?" Receiving +my reply, he exclaimed, "Push it out, push it out farther!" "How far, +General?" I ventured to ask. "Push it out until you feel something!" +This was Reynolds. + +We continued our march down what I was told was the valley of the +Catochin. November 5 found us near Upperville, where we bivouacked +alongside an old graveyard, our head-quarters being established inside +the enclosure, to get the protection of its stone wall from the cold +wind that was blowing. The temperature had fallen during the past +twenty-four hours, so that it was now decidedly chilly--good for +marching, but cold in bivouac. My notes say that I was chilled through +until my teeth chattered; that I slept in the hollow made by a sunken +grave to get warm; that my dreams were not disturbed by any +unsubstantial hobgoblins of the defunct member of an F. F. V. whose +remains might have been resting below me. The letters F. F. V. meant +much in those war days. They stood for "First Family of Virginia," an +expression much in use by her slave-proud aristocracy, and, of course, +much satirized by us of the North. On this day we passed several very +handsome mansions with their slave contingents. One old "daddy" +volunteered the information that his "Mars was a pow'ful secesh;" that +he had three sons in the rebel army. My diary notes with indignation +that these rich plantations were carefully guarded by our cavalry to +prevent our soldiers entering to get water as they passed. They would +doubtless have helped themselves to other things as well, especially +things eatable, but the owners were rebels and deserved to have their +property taken, we all felt. + +The orders against marauding were punctuated by a striking example this +day. The cavalry orderly of the general commanding our division, riding +back to head-quarters after delivering a batch of orders, among them +another on this hated subject, carried a pair of handsome turkeys +strapped to his saddle. It is safe to say that entire flock came into +our camp that night, and turkey was served at breakfast to some of the +rank and file as well as to the general. Verily, "consistency thou art a +jewel." + +From Upperville we moved by easy marching down to Warrenton. The weather +had grown much colder. On the 8th of November there was a fall of rain, +succeeded by snow, and we marched in a very disagreeable slush. The +bivouac in this snow was most trying. The result for myself was a severe +attack of fever and ague. I had been much reduced in flesh from the +fatigue and nervous strain of the strenuous life of the past two months. +This attack prostrated me at once. I was placed in an ambulance, being +unable to ride my horse. The shaking and jolting of that ambulance ride +were something fearful. I can now sympathize with the wounded who were +compelled to ride in those horrible vehicles. They were covered wagons, +with seats on each side, and made with heavy, stiff springs, so as to +stand the rough roads, which were frequently cut through the fields. +This night General Kimball had me brought to his head-quarters, a brick +farm-house, for shelter. It was a kindness I greatly appreciated. The +next night our chaplain succeeded in getting me into a farm-house some +little distance from the regiment. He secured this accommodation on the +strength of Freemasonry. The owner's name I have preserved in my diary +as Mr. D. L. F. Lake. He was one of Mosby's "cavalry," as they called +themselves. We in our army called them "guerillas." They were the terror +of our army stragglers. They were "good Union men" when our army was +passing, but just as soon as the army had passed they were in their +saddles, picking up every straggler and any who may have had to fall +behind from sickness. In that way they got quite a few prisoners. This +man did not hesitate to tell us the mode of their operations. He said +his farm had been literally stripped of hay, grain, and cattle by our +cavalry under General Stoneman. All he had left was one chicken. This +his wife cooked for the chaplain and me. He brought out Richmond papers +during the evening and freely discussed the issues of the war with the +chaplain. I was too ill to pay much attention to what was said, only to +gather that his idea of us Northern people was that we were a miserable +horde of invading barbarians, destined to be very speedily beaten and +driven out. He admitted, however, that in financial transactions he +preferred "greenbacks" to the Confederate scrip, which I thought rather +negatived his boasted faith in the success of the Confederacy. His wife, +who had, not many years gone, been young and pretty, occasionally chimed +in with expressions of great hate and bitterness. Perhaps the latter was +not to be wondered at from their stand-point, and they had just now +ample grounds for their bitter feelings in the fact that they had just +been relieved of all their portable property by the Union forces. He had +receipts for what Stoneman had taken, which would be good for their +market value on his taking the oath of allegiance. But he said he would +die rather than take that oath, so he considered his property gone. He +no doubt thought better of this later on, and probably got pay for his +stuff. His kindness to me on the score of our fraternal relations was +generous to the full extent of his ability, and showed him to be a true +man, notwithstanding his "secesh" proclivities. It was a great favor, +for had I been compelled to remain out in that rough weather sick as I +was, the consequences must have been most serious. On leaving I tried to +pay him in gold coin for his hospitality, but he firmly declined my +money, saying: "You know you could not have gotten into my house for +money. Pay in like manner as you have received when opportunity +affords." For this fraternal hospitality I shall always remember my +"secesh" Masonic brother with gratitude, for I feel that it saved my +life. + +Another terrific day in that awful ambulance brought me to Warrenton, +where I got a room at a so-called hotel. Here, upon the advice of our +surgeon, I made application for leave of absence on account of sickness. +The red tape that had to be "unwound" in getting this approved and +returned almost proved my ruin. Captain Archbald was taken sick at this +time, and his application for a like leave accompanied mine. The corps +surgeon, Dr. Dougherty, called with our surgeon to examine us at the +hotel, and said he would approve both applications; that it would be but +a day or so before our leaves would be ready and returned to us. The +next day orders for the army to move were issued, and we saw our men +marching away. It made my heart ache not to be in my place with them. I +was, however, barely able to sit up, so that was out of the question. +Now another possibility confronted us, namely, being picked up and +carried off as prisoners by my late host's comrades, Mosby's guerillas. +The army was evidently evacuating Warrenton and vicinity, and unless our +leaves of absence reached us within a very few hours we would be +outside of the "Union lines" and transportation to Washington +unobtainable, for the railroad trains did not pretend to run beyond the +Union lines. The next day came, the last of our troops were moving out, +and our leaves had not come. Captain Archbald and I resolved that we +must cut that "red tape" rather than take the chances of going to +Richmond. This we did by securing suits of citizens' clothes and making +our way as citizens through the lines to Washington. From there we had +no difficulty in reaching home in uniform. At Washington I wrote Colonel +Albright of our dilemma and the way we had solved it, and asked that our +leaves of absence be forwarded to us at Scranton. They came some two +weeks later. Had we remained at Warrenton, they would never have reached +us, unless in a rebel prison. Yet I suppose we had committed an offence +for which we could have been court-martialled. + +I should have mentioned that just at the time I was taken sick, on the +9th of November, whilst the army was approaching Warrenton, the order +relieving General McClellan from the command of the Army of the Potomac +was issued. He was ordered to report to his home in Trenton, N. J., on +waiting orders. Great was the consternation among the veterans of that +army on his retirement, for they really had a strong attachment for +"Little Mac," as they fondly called him. He took his leave in an +affectionate order, recounting the heroic deeds of this noble army. This +was followed by a grand review, accompanied by battery salutes, and the +military career of General George B. McClellan passed into history. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE FREDERICKSBURG CAMPAIGN + + +I must pause long enough to speak of the days of that sick leave. Just +before reaching Scranton I met on the train my old friend and employer, +Joseph C. Platt, of the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company, who insisted on +taking me home with him. As I had no home of my own and no relations +here, I accepted his kind hospitality. Had I been their own son I could +not have been cared for more tenderly. Under the circumstances I am sure +I was not a very prepossessing object to entertain. I well remember the +warm bath and the glorious luxury of once more being actually clean, +dressed in a civilized night-robe, and in a comfortable bed. It must be +remembered that a soldier must habitually sleep in his clothes. I had +not had my clothes off, except for a wash, since I entered the army. I +had evidently been living beyond my strength, and now the latter gave +way and I found myself unable to leave my bed for the next two weeks. +Dr. William Frothingham gave me most excellent medical treatment, and +with the motherly nursing of Mrs. Platt I was soon on the mend. + +On the 8th of December I started back for my regiment. I was by no means +well, and the doctor was loath to let me go, as were all my kind +friends; but a grand forward movement of the army was reported as in +progress, and I felt that I must be at my post. I reached Washington on +the 9th, and it took the next two days to secure a pass and +transportation to the front. The latter was somewhat difficult to +obtain, owing to the fact that a movement of the army was in progress. +What the character of the movement was no one seemed to know, not even +the provost-marshal, who issued all passes. + +I took a boat leaving at six o'clock A.M. on the 12th for Aquia Creek +and thence went by rail in a cattle-car to its terminus in the open +field opposite Fredericksburg. (The rebels were mean enough to refuse us +depot privileges at the regular station in Fredericksburg.) I arrived +there about one o'clock P.M. A brisk cannonade was in progress between +the Union batteries posted on the heights back of Falmouth and the +Confederate guns on Marye's Heights, back of Fredericksburg. The problem +now was to find my regiment. A stranger standing near said, in answer to +my inquiry, that the Union army had been encamped about a mile and a +half back yonder, pointing to the hills in our rear, but that he was +quite sure they had all gone across the river last night; that a big +fight had taken place about laying the pontoon bridge over the river +(the Rappahannock), and the Union forces had beaten the rebels back, +laid the bridge and had crossed over and occupied the city. +Fredericksburg was a city of probably five or six thousand people, lying +on the west bank of the Rappahannock, which runs at this point nearly +southeast. The river is probably one hundred and fifty to two hundred +yards wide here, quite deep, with a rather swift current and high banks, +so that one does not see the water until quite close to it. The +railroad formerly ran from Aquia Creek to Richmond via Fredericksburg, +the connection to Washington being by boat from Aquia Creek. The war +stopped its operation, but so much of it as was in the Union lines had +been seized by the government, and was being operated by the +quartermaster's department for war purposes. The stations of the latter +were wherever the troops were, and these were now operating against +Fredericksburg, hence I was dumped down in an open field opposite that +city as stated above. I was fortunate enough to find a man who was going +to Hancock's old camp, and I concluded to go with him, believing that +once there I could find our division camp belonging to the same corps. + +I chartered a burly "contraban" to carry my luggage, and we started. The +ground was very soft from recent rains, and the mud was something +terrible. If one has never encountered Virginia mud, he can have no +adequate idea of the meaning of the word. It gets a grip on your feet +and just won't let go. Every rise of your pedal extremities requires a +mighty tug, as if you were lifting the earth, as indeed you are--a much +larger share of it than is comfortable. + +A tramp of a mile and a half brought us to Hancock's old camp. In my +weak condition I was thoroughly exhausted, and so my "contraban" claimed +to be, for he positively refused to go another step. I got my +quartermaster friend to take care of my baggage, whilst I continued my +search for our division camp. I was not successful in finding it that +night, and was obliged to accept the invitation of a sick officer of the +Eighty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers to share his quarters for the +night. I had eaten breakfast at five o'clock that morning in Washington +and had eaten nothing since, and it was now dusk. I was not only tired, +but faint for want of food. This officer, whose name I regret I have +forgotten, was a brother Mason, and kindly divided his meagre rations +with me, which consisted of boiled rice and hardtack. He had a little +molasses, with which the former was lubricated, and a good strong cup of +coffee was added. It was not Waldorf-Astoria fare, to be sure, and the +explanation was that the boys had taken almost everything eatable with +them. + +The next morning I picked up an old "crow-bait" of a horse, the only +four-footed transportation possibly obtainable, and started for +Fredericksburg to find my regiment. The only directions I had about +disposing of this frame of a horse was to "turn the bones loose when you +get through with him." He could go only at a snail's pace, and when I +reached Fredericksburg it must have been nine o'clock. I crossed the +pontoon bridge, which had been laid the morning before under +circumstances of the greatest gallantry by Howard's division of our +corps. + +The "ball" was now well opened. Marye's Heights (pronounced Marie, with +the accent on the last letter, as if spelled Maree), circling the city +from the river above to a point below the city, was literally crowded +with batteries of rebel artillery. These guns were firing at our +batteries on the heights on the other side of the river, and also upon +our troops occupying the city. The air was filled with screeching, +bursting shells, and a deafening pandemonium was in progress. It was +not a very inviting place to enter under these circumstances, but it was +as safe for me as for my regiment, and my duty was to be with them. The +trouble was to find it in that multitude of troops filling all the +streets of the city. Our corps alone numbered probably twelve thousand +men at that time, and the Ninth Corps was there besides. However, I soon +found Kimball's brigade to my great delight, supposing our regiment was +in it, as it was when I went away. General Kimball greeted me with great +cordiality; but when I asked where my regiment was, he said he was sorry +he could not inform me; that they had that morning been transferred, +much against his will, to General Max Weber's brigade, and where that +was he did not know. It was probably somewhere in the city. Said he: + +"You cannot possibly find it now, and it is a waste of time to try. I +can give you plenty of work to-day. Stay with me and serve as an aide on +my staff." + +The officers of his staff, all of whom were personal friends, urgently +joined in the general's invitation. But I felt that I must be with the +regiment if it were possible to find it, and so declined what would have +been a distinguishing service. Some distance down the main street I ran +on to the regiment just when I had abandoned all hope of finding it. My +reception was exceedingly cordial, accompanied with the remark: "Just in +time, adjutant, just in time." I found Lieutenant-Colonel Albright in +command and with no help from our field and staff. Colonel Wilcox was +still on sick leave. Major Shreve had returned to camp during the heavy +cannonading of the day before, and Colonel Albright had lost his voice +from a severe cold, so that I had to supply voice for him in the issuing +of orders, in addition to my other duties. + +The situation was most portentous. We lay in the main street under the +shelter of the houses, which were being bombarded by the rebel batteries +in their efforts to reach our troops. The houses were all vacant; the +people had fled on the approach of our army. Not a soul did we see of +the inhabitants of the city during the two days we occupied it. They had +evidently left in great haste, taking but few things with them. I was +told that in some houses the boys found and ate meals that had been +prepared and left in their flight, and in all there was more or less +food, which was appropriated. Flour was plentiful, and the night after +the battle there were army flapjacks galore. In some cases it might have +been said these were fearfully and wonderfully made, but they went just +the same. + +An incident connected with this occupation of Fredericksburg comes to +light after forty years. If General Howard should see it the mystery of +the sudden disappearance of his breakfast on that morning might be +cleared up. Our regiment happened to be quartered in the morning near +his head-quarters. Rations were scarce. General Howard's servant had +prepared him a most tempting breakfast from supplies found and +confiscated from one of the houses. The sight of this repast and its +savory fumes were too much for the empty stomachs of two of our men, who +shall be nameless here. The trick was a neat one. One of them got the +attention of the cook and held it until the other reached into the tent +and dumped the contents of the main dish, hot and steaming, into his +haversack and quietly sauntered away. When the cook discovered his loss +the other fellow was gone. These rascals said it was the best dish of +ham and eggs they ever ate. Many houses had fine pianos and other +musical instruments, and in some instances impromptu dances were on +whilst Confederate shells whanged through the house above their heads. +It is safe to say that there was little left of valuable bric-ŕ-brac to +greet the fugitive people on their return. And it is highly probable +that pianos and handsome furniture needed considerable repairing after +the exodus of the "Yank." This was not due to pure vandalism, although +war creates the latter, but to the feeling of hatred for the miserable +rebels who had brought on the war and were the cause of our being there. +And it must be admitted there were some who pocketed all they could for +the commercialism there might be in it, the argument again being, +"somebody will take it, and I might as well have it as the other +fellow." The first part of the argument was doubtless as true as the +latter part was false. Many trinkets were hawked about among the men +after the fight as souvenirs. Among them was a silver-plated communion +flagon. Some scamp had filched it from one of the churches and was +trying to sell it. Fortunately, he did not belong to our regiment. Our +chaplain took it from him and had it strapped to his saddle-bag. His +purpose was to preserve it for its owner if the time should come that it +could be returned. But in the meantime its presence attached to his +saddle made him the butt of any amount of raillery from both officers +and men. + +When I joined the regiment it was lying in front of the Court-House, +from the steeple of which some sixty or seventy feet high, the flags of +our signal-corps were most actively wagging. It occurred to me that +those signal-men were mighty nervy fellows. They were a beautiful mark +for the rebel batteries, which were evidently doing their best to knock +them out. The steeple was a plain, old-fashioned affair, having an open +belfry, which seemed to be supported by four upright posts or timbers. I +saw one of those uprights knocked out by a rebel shell. A couple more +equally good shots and our signal-fellows would come ignominiously--no, +gloriously--down, for there could be no ignominy with such pluck. But +the wig-wagging went on, I fancied, with a little more snap and audacity +than before, and they maintained their station there in the very teeth +of the rebel batteries until the army was withdrawn. So much for "Yankee +nerve." I afterwards learned that the signal-officer there was none +other than Lieutenant Frederick Fuller, of Scranton, one of my most +intimate personal friends. Lieutenant Fuller told me that he was on duty +at Burnside's head-quarters on that morning; that a station was ordered +opened in the belfry of that Court-House, and another officer was +despatched thither for that duty; that after waiting some time for the +flags to appear he was ordered over to see what the trouble was. He +found the other officer sitting under shelter, afraid to mount the +belfry, nor could any persuasion induce him to face that storm of shell. +Lieutenant Fuller thereupon climbed up into the belfry, opened the +station himself, and ran it during the whole battle. + +About ten o'clock the command "Forward" was sounded, and our brigade +moved out towards Marye's Heights. Some idea of the topography of +Fredericksburg and its rear I find is necessary to an understanding of +what follows. Marye's Heights, which encircle the city back some five +hundred yards, are the termination of a plateau which rises from one +hundred and fifty to two hundred feet in an abrupt terrace from the +plain upon which the city stands. These heights form a half-circle from +the river above to a point below the city some little distance from the +river, and are from a mile to a mile and a half long and are most +admirably adapted for defensive purposes. The rebel batteries, numbering +at least one hundred guns, were massed on these heights, and covered not +only every street leading out from the city, but every square foot of +ground of the plain below. A third of the way down the terrace was an +earthwork filled with infantry, whilst at its foot ran the famous stone +wall extending southward from the cemetery above the city, and was +continued by an earthwork around the whole circle. Behind this stone +wall was massed a double line of Confederate infantry. To enter either +street leading out to those heights was to face the concentrated fire of +that mass of artillery and the deadly work of those three lines of +infantry. Yet that was just what we had before us. + +Our division (French's) led the assault. Our regiment brought up the +rear of our brigade column. As each regiment turned into the street +leading out, it took up the run to cover this exposed ground as quickly +as possible. Lieutenant-Colonel Albright was leading our regiment and I +was by his side. We passed rapidly up the street, already covered with +the dead and wounded which had fallen from the regiments that had +preceded us, until we reached the embankment of a railroad, which was +nearly parallel with the enemy's works. A temporary halt was made here +preparatory to moving forward in line of battle. + +Turning to see that our men were in position, I was amazed to find that +we had but one company with us. It was my duty as adjutant to go back +and find and bring up the balance of the regiment. The distance was +about four hundred yards. I can truthfully say that in that moment I +gave my life up. I do not expect ever again to face death more certainly +than I thought I did then. It did not seem possible that I could go +through that fire again and return alive. The grass did not grow under +my feet going back. My sprinting record was probably made then. It may +be possible to see the humorous side at this distance, but it was verily +a life and death matter then. One may ask how such dangers can be faced. +The answer is, there are many things more to be feared than death. +Cowardice and failure of duty with me were some of them. I can fully +appreciate the story of the soldier's soliloquy as he saw a rabbit +sprinting back from the line of fire: + +"Go it, cotton tail; if I hadn't a reputation at stake, I'd go to." + +Reputation and duty were the holding forces. I said to myself, "This is +duty. I'll trust in God and do it. If I fall, I cannot die better." +Without the help and stimulus of that trust I could not have done it, +for I doubt if any man was ever more keenly susceptible to danger than +I, and the experience of Antietam had taught me the full force of this +danger. The nervous strain was simply awful. It can be appreciated only +by those who have experienced it. The atmosphere seemed surcharged with +the most startling and frightful things. Deaths, wounds, and appalling +destruction everywhere. As fast as I was running back over that street, +my eyes caught an incident that I can see now, which excited my pity, +though I had no time to offer help. A fine-looking fellow had been +struck by a shot, which had severed one leg and left it hanging by one +of the tendons, the bone protruding, and he was bleeding profusely. Some +men were apparently trying to get him off the street. They had hold of +his arms and the other leg, but were jumping and dodging at every shell +that exploded, jerking and twisting this dangling leg to his horrible +torture. I remember hearing him beseeching them to lay him down and let +him die. They were probably a trio of cowards trying to get back from +the front, and were using this wounded man to get away with, a not +infrequent occurrence with that class of bummers. + +I found the balance of the regiment had passed our street and were in +confusion further down the main street. As the second company was about +turning to follow the column a shell had exploded in their faces, +killing and wounding some ten men and throwing it into disorder. Before +it could be rallied the advancing column was out of sight. It was the +work of but a few moments to straighten out the tangle and head them +again for the front. No body of men could have more quickly and bravely +responded, though they told me afterwards that they read in my pallid +face the character of the work before them. Back we went up that street +on the run, having to pick our way to avoid stepping on the dead and +wounded, for the ground was now blue with our fallen heroes. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG--CONCLUDED + + +Reaching the place in the rear of that railroad embankment, where I had +left the brigade, I found it had just gone forward in line of battle, +and a staff officer directed me to bring the rest of the regiment +forward under fire, which I did, fortunately getting them into their +proper position. The line was lying prone upon the ground in that open +field and trying to maintain a fire against the rebel infantry not more +than one hundred and fifty yards in our front behind that stone wall. We +were now exposed to the fire of their three lines of infantry, having no +shelter whatever. It was like standing upon a raised platform to be shot +down by those sheltered behind it. Had we been ordered to fix bayonets +and charge those heights we could have understood the movement, though +that would have been an impossible undertaking, defended as they were. +But to be sent close up to those lines to maintain a firing-line without +any intrenchments or other shelter, if that was its purpose, was simply +to invite wholesale slaughter without the least compensation. It was to +attempt the impossible, and invite certain destruction in the effort. On +this interesting subject I have very decided convictions, which I will +give later on. + +[Illustration: FIRST LIEUT. JAMES A. ROGERS + +CO. C] + + +[Illustration: FIRST LIEUT. NOAH H. JAY + +CO. K] + + +[Illustration: FIRST LIEUT. A. C. MENSCH + +CO. E] + + +[Illustration: FIRST LIEUT. CHARLES E. GLADDING + +CO. D] + + +[Illustration: FIRST LIEUT. ISAIAH W. WILLITTS + +CO. H] + + +[Illustration: SECOND LIEUT. D. R. MELLICK + +CO. E] + +Proceeding now with my narrative, we were evidently in a fearful +slaughter-pen. Our men were being swept away as by a terrific whirlwind. +The ground was soft and spongy from recent rains, and our faces and +clothes were bespattered with mud from bullets and fragments of shells +striking the ground about us, whilst men were every moment being hit by +the storm of projectiles that filled the air. In the midst of that +frightful carnage a man rushing by grasped my hand and spoke. I turned +and looked into the face of a friend from a distant city. There was a +glance of recognition and he was swept away. What his fate was I do not +know. + +That same moment I received what was supposed to be my death wound. +Whilst the men were lying down, my duties kept me on my feet. Lieutenant +Charles McDougal,[D] commanding the color company, called to me that the +color-guard were all either killed or wounded. We had two stands of +colors, the national and State flags. These colors were carried by two +color-sergeants, protected by six color-corporals, which made up the +color-guard. If either sergeant became disabled the nearest corporal +took the colors, and so on until the color-guard were down. This was the +condition when this officer called to me to replace these disabled men, +so that the colors should be kept flying. He had one flag in his hand as +I approached him, and he was in the act of handing it to me when a +bullet crashed through his arm and wrist, spattering my face with his +warm blood. I seized the staff as it fell from his shattered arm. The +next instant a bullet cut the staff away just below my hand. An instant +later I was struck on the head by the fragment of a shell and fell +unconscious with the colors in my hand. How long I remained unconscious +I do not know, possibly twenty minutes or more. What were my sensations +when hit? I felt a terrific blow, but without pain, and the thought +flashed through my mind, "This is the end," and then everything was +black. I do not remember falling. It takes time to write this, but +events moved then with startling rapidity. From the time we went forward +from the embankment until the line was swept back could have been but a +few minutes, otherwise all must have been killed. + +When I revived I was alone with the dead and wounded. The line of battle +had been swept away. The field about me was literally covered with the +blue uniforms of our dead and wounded men. The firing had very +perceptibly decreased. I had worn into the battle my overcoat, with my +sword buckled on the outside. I had been hit on the left side of my +head, and that side of my body was covered with blood down to my feet, +which was still flowing. My first thought was as to my condition, +whether mortally wounded or not. I was perceptibly weakened from loss of +blood, but lying there I could not tell how much strength I had left. I +did not dare move, for that would make me a target for the guns that +covered that terrible wall, the muzzles of which I could plainly see. +Many of them were still spitting out their fire with a venom that made +my position exceedingly uncomfortable. What should I do? What could I +do? To remain there was either to bleed to death or be taken prisoner +and sent to Libby, which I felt would mean for me a sure lingering +death. To make a move to get off the field would draw the fire of those +guns, which would surely finish me. These were the alternatives. + +I carefully stretched my legs to test my strength, and I made up my mind +I had enough left to carry me off the field, and I resolved to take my +chances in the effort. I determined that I would zigzag my course to the +rear so as not to give them a line shot at me. So getting myself +together I made a supreme effort and sprang up and off in jumps, first +to the right, then to the left. As I expected, they opened on me, and +the bullets flew thick and fast about me. The first turn I got a bullet +through my right leg just above the ankle. It felt like the stinging cut +of a whip and rather accelerated my speed. About fifty yards back was an +old slab fence to my right, and I plunged headlong behind that, hoping +to find shelter from those bullets. I fell directly behind several other +wounded men, two of whom rolled over dead from bullets that came through +the slabs and which were probably aimed at me. This flushed me again, +and by the same zigzag tactics I succeeded in getting back to the +railroad embankment, where, to my great joy, I found Colonel Albright +with what remained of the regiment. Colonel Albright grasped me in his +arms as I came over, with the exclamation, "We thought you were killed." +Sergeant-Major Clapp told me that he had rolled me over and satisfied +himself that I was dead before they went back. + +As I reached cover under this embankment I remember noticing a +field-officer rallying his men very near us on our right, and that +instant his head was literally carried away by a shell. So intense was +the situation that even this tragic death received only a passing +thought. Then came the Irish brigade, charging over our line as they did +at Antietam. They came up and went forward in fine form, but they got +but a few yards beyond the embankment, when they broke and came back, +what was left of them, in great confusion. No troops could stand that +fire. Our division and the whole Second Corps, in fact, were now +completely disorganized, and the men were making their way back to the +city and the cover of the river-bank as best they could, whilst the +splendid old Ninth Corps was advancing to take its place. Profiting by +our experience, they did not advance by those streets through which we +came, but made their way through houses and yards and so escaped that +concentrated fire on the streets. Their advancing lines, covering the +whole city front, looked magnificent, and it was dreadful to think that +such a splendid body of men must march into such a slaughter-pen. Their +movement was a repetition of ours. With bayonets unfixed they moved +forward and attempted to maintain a firing-line under Marye's Heights on +the ground from which we had been driven, only to be hurled mercilessly +back as we had been. Our line had been the first to make this effort, +and for some reason we had approached to within about one hundred yards +of their main line of infantry, much closer than any of the troops that +followed. The others had barely got beyond the embankment, when they +were swept away. We, having approached nearer their line, were, of +course, longer exposed to their fire and lost more heavily. + +I was always curious to know why we of the first line of that fateful +movement succeeded in getting so much nearer their works than the +equally brave and determined men who followed us. Some years afterwards +on revisiting this location I met an ex-Confederate who commanded one of +the rebel batteries on those heights that day. In answer to my +questions, he said the first "Yankee" line was permitted to approach +much nearer than those that followed, for, said he, "we knew they were +our meat, and when we finally opened on them with our full force, the +slaughter was so awful it made me heart sick. But you kept coming with +such persistency that we did not dare repeat those tactics." This may +have been partially true so far as concerned their infantry fire, but a +more potent reason, in my judgment, was that we had developed the utter +hopelessness of the attempt, and men could not put heart into the +effort. + +Recurring to myself again, Colonel Albright stanched the flowing of +blood from my wound in the head by making a strong compress of my large +bandana handkerchief. The other wound in my leg did not give me much +trouble then. In that condition, accompanied by another wounded man, I +made my way back into the city. We found it one vast hospital. Every +house was literally crowded with wounded men. We were fortunate enough +to run against our brigade surgeon, who had taken possession of a brick +building on the main street for hospital purposes. The only thing he +could give me to lie down upon was a wooden bench. We had dismounted and +left our horses with a servant when we went forward, and our blankets, +etc., were with them, and where they were now there was no means of +knowing. I was therefore without those comforts. Everything of that +nature left by the rebels had long before been appropriated. The doctor +hastily examined my wounds, pronounced them not dangerous, ordered the +hospital steward to dress them, and was away. He, however, appropriated +my red handkerchief. I had been presented by a friend on leaving +Scranton with two large old-fashioned red silk bandana handkerchiefs, +and they were exceedingly useful. The doctor, seeing them, said, "I must +have these to nail up over the outside door to show that this is a +hospital," and, without so much as saying by your leave, carried them +off. The effort was to secure as much protection as possible from the +fire of the enemy, and to do this the red flag of the hospital must be +displayed. It is against the rules of civilized warfare to fire upon a +hospital. The doctor said my red silk handkerchiefs were the first red +stuff of any kind he had been able to get hold of. Of course I was glad +to part with them for that purpose, though they were worth at that time +$2 each in gold. The wound in my head was fortunately a glancing blow +from a fragment of a shell. It tore the scalp from the bone about three +inches in length in the form of a V. It has never given me serious +trouble, more than to be a barometer of changing weather. The wound in +my leg nearly severed the big tendon. They both quickly healed, and I +was off duty with them but the one day I took to get back to camp. + +After my wounds had been dressed I tried to sleep, being not only very +weak from loss of blood, but almost in a condition of nervous +exhaustion. I laid down on my bench, but shells were continually +crashing through the building, and sleep was impossible. I went out on +the street. It was crowded with wounded and straggling soldiers. The +stragglers were hunting for their regiments, the wounded for hospital +room. It seemed as if the army must have disintegrated. This was +practically true of the Second and Ninth Corps, which had made the +assault. Towards night General French rode down the street, accompanied +by his staff. Seeing me, he stopped his horse and exclaimed, "Adjutant, +where is my division? Tell me where my men are. My God, I am without a +command!" and the tears were flowing down his red, weather-beaten face. +He was beside himself over the awful losses of his division. Well he +might be, for a great number of them were lying on yonder field in front +of Marye's Heights, and the balance were scattered through the houses +and on the river-bank practically disorganized. + +I was greatly alarmed for our safety that night. It seemed to me highly +probable that General Lee would come down upon us and capture all that +were in the city, as he could easily have done. Possibly he was +satisfied with the damage already inflicted, and did not care to assume +the care of our wounded, which that would have involved. I remained on +my bench in that hospital through that long night without food or +covering. I had eaten nothing since early morning. With the constant +whanging of shells through ours and adjacent buildings and the moaning +of the wounded lying all about me, sleep or rest was impossible. It was +a night too dreadful to think of, and makes me shudder again as I write. +We remained in the city the next day, Sunday, and I rejoined our +regiment, which, with other troops, was lying under the shelter of the +river-bank. Officers were getting their men together as far as possible +and bringing order out of chaos. We had Sunday about two hundred for +duty out of three hundred and fifty taken into the battle. On Monday, +the 15th, we who were wounded were told to make our way across the river +back to our old camps as best we could. I was now very weak, and my head +and leg were very sore. The latter gave me much trouble in walking, +nevertheless there was a three-mile tramp before us. Lieutenant +Musselman, also wounded, went with me on this weary tramp. We did not +reach camp that night, and so had to find shelter at a farm-house, +already full of straggling and wounded soldiers. The owner was a widow, +living with a grown-up daughter, and was a bitter rebel, although +professing Union sentiments whilst our army was there. She was, of +course, greatly annoyed by the presence of these soldiers, most of whom +were eating up her provisions without paying for them. Some of them were +"bummers," who had run away from the battle and had persuaded her to +feed and shelter them for the protection they professed to afford her. +She was in great wrath when we reached there and peremptorily forbade us +entering. But I told her firmly that we were wounded men and must have +shelter; that I would willingly pay for accommodations, but, permission +or not, the latter we must have. This argument seemed to be convincing, +and the daughter led us up to the garret, which, she said, was the only +unoccupied room in the house. Here she spread a blanket on the floor for +us to sleep on. I suppose this was the best she could do. Then, at our +solicitation, she got us some supper, an exceedingly frugal meal, but we +were glad to get that. The daughter did not seem to share her mother's +bitterness, but as often as she could would interject a word in our +favor, and really did all she could for us. I sincerely hope she was +ultimately made a permanent prisoner by some good "boy in blue." Here +would have been an excellent opportunity to have woven into this +narrative the golden thread of romance. This pretty secesh girl, with +flashing blue eyes and golden hair, rebel to the core, yet befriending a +wounded Union soldier, etc. How readily it lends itself, but the truth +must be told. The little arrow god had already driven home his shaft, +and so the romance could not mature. + +During the evening General Franz Sigel and staff came to the house and +demanded supper. Our lady was very polite, assured him that it was +impossible. "Very well," said General Sigel, "I think I shall want this +place to-morrow for a hospital. Madam, your kindness will be +reciprocated." He spoke very emphatically, whereat the pretty daughter +began to cry, and the mother to stammer apologies, and said she would do +the best she could for them, but she really had nothing to cook. The +general retired very indignant. Whether or not his threat was carried +out I do not know, for the next morning we were off without trying to +get breakfast. On asking for her bill we were surprised to find her +charges were evidently based on the highest war-time hotel rates. We had +so poor a supper that we had no desire for breakfast there, and had +slept on the garret floor. For this she demanded one dollar. We paid her +fifty cents, which was more than double its worth, and left amidst a +great volley of her choicest anathemas. + +We reached camp towards noon, and found we had tramped about five miles +out of our way. The regiment was there ahead of us, the troops having +evacuated Fredericksburg on Monday, two days after the battle, without +opposition. We were actually under fire in this battle, that is, from +the time the assault began until we were swept back, probably not more +than thirty minutes as against four and one-half hours at Antietam. Yet +our losses were proportionately much heavier. During my absence on sick +leave, our regiment, after leaving Warrenton, had been detailed on heavy +"fatigue" duty, loading and unloading vessels and various kinds of +laborer's work at Belle-plain, and in consequence many were on the sick +list, others were on various details, so that when we went into this +battle we had only three hundred and fifty men for duty, against seven +hundred and fifty at Antietam. Of this number my diary, written the +15th, says we lost: Killed, 7; wounded, 80; missing, 20; total, 107. +Lieutenant Hoagland, Company H, was killed. Of the wounded, four were +officers,--Captain Richard Stillwell and First Lieutenant John B. Floyd, +Company K; First Lieutenant Musselman, Company E, and First Lieutenant +McDougal, commanding Company C. Lieutenant McDougal's arm was shattered +by a minie-ball whilst handing me the colors, detailed above. Captain +Stillwell received a very singular wound. A bullet struck the side of +his neck near the big artery and appeared to have gouged out a bit of +flesh and glanced off. It bled more than this circumstance would have +seemed to warrant, but the captain was sure he was not hurt and made +light of it. Swelling and pain speedily developed in his shoulder, and +it was found that the missile, instead of glancing off, had taken a +downward course and finally lodged near his shoulder-joint, a distance +of ten or twelve inches from where it entered. He was given leave of +absence on account of wounds, and the ball was cut out after his return +home, and ultimately the whole channel made by the ball had to be +opened, when it was found lined with whiskers which the ball had carried +in with it. + +Most of those computed above as missing were undoubtedly killed, but had +not been so reported at that time. Our loss in that half-hour was nearly +one-third. One stand of our colors, the one whose staff was shot away in +my hand, was missing, and the other was badly torn by shells and +bullets. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +WHY FREDERICKSBURG WAS LOST + + +I promised to give my convictions relative to the responsibility for the +disaster of Fredericksburg, and I might as well do it here. + +Recalling the fact heretofore stated that we seemed to have been thrown +against Marye's Heights to be sacrificed; that we were not ordered to +charge their works, but to advance and maintain a line of battle-fire +where such a thing was absolutely impossible, I come to the inquiry, +what was the character and purpose of the movement and why did it fail? +So thoroughly impressed was I that there was something radically wrong +about it, that I determined to solve that question if possible, and so +made a study of the subject at that time and later after my return home. +I had personal friends in the First and Sixth Corps, which had operated +on the extreme left, and I discussed with them the movements that day. +Finally, after my return home, I got access to Covode's congressional +reports on the conduct of the war covering that campaign, and from all +these sources learned what I then and now believe to be substantially +the facts about that campaign. The army was divided into three grand +divisions, composed of two army corps each, namely, the Second and +Ninth, the right grand division, commanded by Sumner; the First and +Sixth, the left grand division, commanded by Franklin, and the Third +and Fifth, the centre, commanded by Hooker. The plan of battle was to +hold Lee's army at Fredericksburg by a "feint in force" (which means an +attack sufficiently strong to deceive the enemy into the belief that it +is the real or main attack) at that point, whilst the left grand +division was to throw a pontoon bridge across the river three miles +below and turn his flank (_i.e._, get behind them) in the rear of +Marye's Heights. For this purpose the left grand division was to advance +and attack vigorously. If successful, Lee would then have been between +Franklin's forces on the left and our own on the right, with every +possibility of being crushed. Hooker was to hold his division in +readiness to support either wing. Had this plan been carried out, our +work at the right would, at its conception, have been as it appeared to +be, a mad sacrifice of men, but with an opportunity later on of pushing +forward and reaping a victory. In that event, our position would have +made us a tremendous factor in the result. + +Now how was the plan carried out? The student will be puzzled on finding +such a paucity of records concerning this disastrous movement. The +official documents are remarkable for what they do not contain. A study +of Covode's reports on the conduct of the war will, I think, justify my +conclusions, viz., that the disaster of Fredericksburg was due not to +accident, nor to a faulty plan of battle, but to a failure of the left +grand division to perform the vital part assigned to it. My information +gained at the time was that Franklin was to remain concealed until the +signal for our attack came; then he was to cross over and attack +vigorously, a military expression, meaning to put all possible vigor +and power into the movement. The signal was given as our attack began. +Whatever force may have crossed the river at that time, my information +was that the division known as the Pennsylvania Reserve, now numbering +probably not more than six thousand men, under General Meade, was the +only body of troops which made a determined attack on Lee's right, in +support of our work in front of Marye's Heights. Realizing the +opportunity, General Meade pushed forward with his usual vigor and, +though meeting strenuous opposition, soon found himself well in Lee's +rear, but without support. He sent back aide after aide to hurry forward +the supporting lines, but without avail, finally galloping back himself. +He found General Birney resting near the bridge with his division. An +eye-witness[E] to Meade's interview with Birney says the language of +General Meade as he upbraided Birney for not coming to his support was +enough to "almost make the stones creep;" that Meade was almost wild +with rage as he saw the golden opportunity slipping away and the +slaughter of his men going for naught. He said Birney responded that he +agreed with General Meade fully, and was ready and most anxious to come +to his support, but that his orders were peremptory to await further +orders in his present position: that he had been for an hour trying to +find General Franklin to obtain permission to move forward. This loss of +time and want of support to Meade's charge changed a possible victory +into a fearful disaster. This was substantially the testimony of +Major-General Reynolds, commanding the First Corps, before the Committee +on the Conduct of the War. Burnside rode down to the left and vigorously +expostulated with Franklin for his failure to carry out his orders, and +peremptorily ordered him to make the attack as originally directed, +whilst he repeated the movement at the right. It was now considerably +after noon, and this order was undoubtedly a mistake. The plan of battle +had been revealed, and there was practically no hope of success. Had the +left grand division vigorously performed its part in the earlier +movement, can any one doubt the result? I cannot think so. Had Meade, +Reynolds, or Hancock been in command on the left that day, I feel +confident that Fredericksburg would have been recorded a glorious +victory instead of a horrible slaughter. + +Now, why did the left grand division fail to make the attack as ordered? +Halleck, in his report on the operations at Fredericksburg, says +"alleged misunderstanding of orders." Here is his language: + +"It was intended that Franklin's grand division, consisting of the corps +of Reynolds (First) and Smith (Sixth), should attack the enemy's right +and turn his position on the heights in the rear of Fredericksburg, +while Sumner and Hooker attacked him in front. But by some alleged +misunderstanding of orders Franklin's operations were limited to a mere +reconnoissance, and the direct attacks of Sumner and Hooker were +unsupported." "Rebellion Records," vol. xxi., page 47. + +Is the theory of a misunderstanding of orders tenable? The records show +that on the 11th of December, two days before the battle, Burnside +ordered his division commanders to so dispose their troops as to bring +them within easy reach of Fredericksburg, and that on that day at twelve +o'clock noon these officers were ordered to meet him personally at his +head-quarters for final instructions. There are no records of what those +instructions were, but is it credible that either general retired from +that conference with a misunderstanding as to the plan of battle or of +his own part in it? Certain it is that neither Sumner nor Hooker +misunderstood. + +And the excuse said to have been made by Franklin, that he did not deem +the attack on the left practicable, is not consistent with the idea of +misunderstanding. Otherwise, why did he attack at all? General Halleck's +guarded language clearly indicates where he placed the responsibility +for that disaster, and that he did not credit the "misunderstanding of +orders" theory. It is plainly evident Burnside did not accept that +excuse, as appears from his celebrated Order No. 8, issued a month +later, relieving Franklin, Smith, Newton, Cochran, and Ferrero, and +stating as his reason that "it being evident that these officers can be +of no further service to this army,"--the first named being the +commander of the left grand division, the second the commander of the +Sixth Corps, and the others subordinate commanders in that wing of the +army. General Burnside explained to the Committee on the Conduct of the +War[F] that in asking the President to approve this order, and making +that a condition upon which he would consent to remain at the head of +the army, he had explicitly stated, "that was the only condition on +which he could command the Army of the Potomac." In other words, he +could not command that army with those officers as his subordinates. The +inference that there had been insubordination is inevitable. It was the +current belief amongst us officers of the army that the battle of +Fredericksburg had been lost through a want of hearty co-operation, if +not direct disobedience of orders, on the part of the officer commanding +on the left that day, and some of his subordinates, and that this was +due to a spirit of jealousy. McClellan had but recently been removed +from the command of the army, and the officers relieved were strong +personal friends and partisans of the latter. Again, Burnside, his +successor, was alleged to be junior in actual rank to Franklin. Whether +either of these facts supplied the motives for the jealousy which lost +that battle, if such was true, the judgment day alone will reveal. It is +devoutly to be hoped that the light of that day will relieve the +terrible disaster of Fredericksburg of this awful shadow, and that +nothing worse than a "misunderstanding of orders" was responsible for +it. + +That Order No. 8 was disapproved at Washington, and General Burnside +promptly tendered his resignation of the command of the Army of the +Potomac. He felt that he had not received and was not likely to receive +the cordial and hearty support of all his subordinate officers, and +under those circumstances he did not want the responsibility of command. +He expressed himself as anxious to serve his country and willing to work +anywhere it might please the President to place him. He was not +relieved, however, until a month or so later. In writing the foregoing I +know that many brave men will take exception. I would say, however, that +I have made a somewhat careful study of the subject from an absolutely +unprejudiced stand-point, and such are the conclusions I reached, and +they were shared by many of my fellow-officers who were in that +campaign. The losses in this battle amount to nearly one-third the +troops actually engaged, a most remarkable fact, and which stamps this +engagement as one of the bloodiest in all history. Burnside reports his +loss as twelve hundred and eighty-four killed and nine thousand six +hundred wounded, making a total loss, including the missing, of twelve +thousand six hundred and fifty-three. Of this loss the right grand +division (the Second and Ninth Corps) lost five thousand three hundred +and eleven. The left grand division, Franklin's (First and Sixth Corps, +which numbered considerably more than the right grand division), lost +three thousand four hundred and sixty-two, and most of this was +sustained in the second attack in the afternoon. These facts sustain +the belief above referred to in the army, that the main attack in the +morning on the left was not what it should have been, and was the cause +of the disaster. + +A remarkable fact connected with this loss is the great number of +wounded as compared with the killed. Usually the former exceeds the +latter in the proportion of three and four to one, but at Fredericksburg +it was nearly nine to one. How this is to be explained I never +understood, unless it be that most of the casualties were from exploding +shells. The minute fragments of a shell scatter very widely and wound, +whilst there are fewer of the large pieces which kill. For example, the +shell that exploded in the front of our second company, as it was +turning to enter the street leading out towards Marye's Heights, +previously described, knocked out ten men, only one of whom was +instantly killed. It is safe to estimate that of the nine thousand six +hundred reported as wounded, one-third died or were permanently disabled +therefrom. + +To show how quickly troops can recover from such a shock as the disaster +of Fredericksburg, the Second Corps had a grand review back of Falmouth +the second week after the battle. Major-General Edwin V. Sumner, +commanding the right grand division, was the reviewing officer. I have +spoken before of this distinguished officer. This was his farewell to +the Second Corps, which he had long commanded and to which he was +greatly attached, a sentiment which was most cordially reciprocated by +the men. He was now probably the oldest in years of all the officers in +the army, yet still vigorous, intrepid, and efficient. He was relieved +from active command in the field and assigned to the command of the +Department of the Ohio, but a few months later died peacefully at his +home in New York. Is it not singular that this old hero should have +escaped the numberless missiles of death in all the battles through +which he had passed, so soon to succumb in the quietude of retirement? + +Our regiment had present at this review but few over two hundred men, +and the other regiments were proportionally small, so that the corps was +scarcely larger than a good-sized division, yet it appeared in splendid +condition. Its depleted numbers and battle-scarred flags alone told the +story of its recent experiences. The following week our regiment was +detailed for a ten-days' tour of picket duty, and was encamped some +distance above Falmouth in a pretty grove. This change of service was a +welcome one to the men in many respects, for there was better foraging +opportunities, and there was also considerable excitement attending this +service in the presence of the enemy. The Rappahannock River was the +dividing line of the two armies, and their respective pickets lined its +banks. At this time the two lines were kept as far as possible concealed +from each other, though there was practically no picket firing. Later on +the two lines were posted in full view of each other, and by agreement +under a "flag of truce" all picket firing was strictly forbidden. +Thereafter, although forbidden, there was more or less conversation +carried on between the two lines. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +LOST COLORS RECOVERED + + +In addition to our heavy loss of men at Fredericksburg was the loss of +our colors, the stand whose staff had been shot away in my hand as +described in a former chapter. + +It can be well understood that we felt very keenly the loss of our flag, +although we knew that it had been most honorably lost. It was known to +have been brought off the field in the night by Corporal William I. D. +Parks, Company H, one of the color-guard, who was mortally wounded, and +left by him in a church used as a temporary hospital. Corporal Parks was +removed to a hospital at Washington, where he died shortly afterwards, +and the colors mysteriously disappeared. The act of this color-bearer in +crawling off the field with his colors, wounded as he was to the death, +was a deed of heroism that has few parallels. We made every effort to +find the flag, but without success, and had concluded that it must have +been left in Fredericksburg, and so fallen into the hands of the enemy, +when a couple of weeks after the battle, on returning from a ride down +to Falmouth, I noticed a regiment of our troops having dress parade. I +rode near them, and my attention was at once attracted to the fact that +they paraded three stands of colors, a most unusual circumstance. My +suspicion was at once aroused that here were our lost colors. Riding +closer, my joy was great on recognizing our number and letters on their +bullet-and shell-tattered folds, "132 P. V." Anger immediately succeeded +my joy as I saw that our precious colors were being paraded as a sort of +trophy. This flag, under whose folds so many of our brave men had +fallen, and which had been so heroically rescued from the field, +exhibited to the army and the world as a trophy of the battle by another +regiment! It was, in effect, a public proclamation of our cowardice and +dishonor and of their prowess in possessing what we had failed to hold +and guard, our sacred colors. It stung me to the quick. I do not +remember ever to have been more beside myself with anger. It was with +difficulty that I contained myself until their ceremony was over, when I +rode up to the colonel, in the presence of all his officers, and in a +voice which must have betrayed my emotion, demanded to know why he was +parading our colors. His reply was, "Those are the colors of a d----d +runaway regiment which my men picked up on the battle-field of +Fredericksburg." My hair and whiskers were somewhat hot in color those +days, and I have not kept a record of my language to that colonel for +the next few minutes. I sincerely hope the recording angel has not. +Still, I am sure it was the explosion of a righteous indignation. + +Full of wrath I galloped at topmost speed to camp and made known my +discovery to Colonel Albright. If I was "hot," what shall be said of +him? Of a fiery, mercurial disposition, his temper flew in a moment. He +mounted his horse and bade me lead him to this regiment. The brave +heralds who carried "the good news from Ghent to Aix," did not gallop +faster than did we two, and the wicked fellow who was hired to say two +dollars' worth of "words" for the Quaker did not do his work a bit more +effectively than did my brave colonel in denouncing the man who had made +that charge of cowardice against our regiment. Well, he began to hedge +immediately. He evidently saw that there was trouble ahead, and offered +to give us the colors at once, but Colonel Albright peremptorily refused +to accept them that way, and said he would demand a court of inquiry and +would require full and complete vindication, cost what it might. A court +of inquiry was at once asked for and granted. It was made up of officers +outside of our division, and was directed to investigate the loss of our +flag, and how it came into the possession of this other regiment. +Colonel Albright was a good lawyer and conducted his own case before the +court. It came out in the investigation that in making his report of the +part his regiment took in the battle of Fredericksburg this colonel had +used substantially the same language he had to me concerning how he came +into possession of the flag. Here is the paragraph referring to our +colors, taken from his report printed in the "Rebellion Records," vol. +xxi., page 275: + +"I would also state that some cowardly members of a regiment unknown (?) +abandoned their colors, which were recovered by Captain Northrup, of my +regiment, and saved the disgrace of falling into the hands of the +enemy." My diary notes that I interviewed this Captain Northrup, and he +promptly stated that he took the colors from the hospital and brought +them with him when their regiment left Fredericksburg. He said he did +not know how they got into the hospital, but supposed a wounded +sergeant had left them there. He disclaimed any idea of their having +been abandoned in a cowardly manner, and could not understand why his +colonel had made such a declaration. The statement that his men rescued +them from an unknown regiment was false upon its face, for our name was +inscribed on its folds in plain letters, "132d P. V." Why he made such a +statement, and why he treated the colors as he did, I could never +understand, for had the statement been true it was outrageously +unmilitary to proclaim to the world the cowardice of one of our own +regiments. It was his duty to promptly send the colors to head-quarters, +with a statement of the facts, so that the alleged runaways could be +properly disciplined. As it was, it seemed a most contemptible effort to +secure a little cheap, unearned glory. It was heartlessly cruel and +unworthy of a brave soldier. + +The result of the court of inquiry was a full and complete vindication +of our regiment, as shown by the following paragraph from an order +issued by Major-General O. O. Howard, commanding the Second Corps: "The +last color-bearer, badly wounded, left his regiment after dark, and in +the town entered a church used as a hospital, taking his colors with +him. He was carried away from this place and the colors left behind. The +very fidelity of the color-bearer holding to his colors as long as he +was conscious was the occasion of their loss to the regiment. Not only +no fault should be found with this regiment, but it should receive +unqualified commendation." + +General French, commanding our division, published this order to the +division, adding the following: "As the commander of the division, and +knowing the character of the One Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsylvania +Volunteers, which has fought under my eye in two of the bloodiest +engagements of the war, and which has the highest encomiums from its +brigade commander, General Kimball, who knows what brave men are, I have +deemed it my duty to make this record to go with whatever may have +transpired in reference to this subject during my short absence." The +above paragraphs were taken from Bates's "History of Pennsylvania +Volunteers." The colors were ordered returned to us with proper military +honors. They were brought to General French's head-quarters by a +military escort from that regiment, and I had the satisfaction of +officially receiving them with a like escort from our regiment, +commanded by First Lieutenant J. D. Laciar, of Company G. The ceremony +was to us a joyous and impressive occasion. It took place in the +presence of General Alfred Sully, temporarily commanding the division, +and staff, and our brigade officers. The two escorts were drawn up, +facing each other. The order of Major-General Howard, above referred to, +was read. This was followed by a little speech from General Sully, in +which we came in for some more praise; then both escorts presented arms, +whilst their color-bearer transferred the colors to ours, and the +ceremony was over. A happier escort never marched than was ours bearing +home those restored colors. + +The weather was now getting very cold, and we set about making ourselves +as comfortable as possible in camp. The men were allowed to fix up their +tents as best they could without much regard for architectural beauty +or regularity. Some of them dug cellars four to five feet deep, made +puncheon floors,--that is, floors made of split logs smoothed off and +laid the flat side up,--whilst the sides were made of logs plastered up +with mud. Mud fireplaces were made with old barrels for chimneys. The +roofs were canvas, of course, but fairly waterproof. A favorite bit of +horse-play of the men at this time was to watch when the occupants of +some tent were having a good time, and smoke them out by throwing a wet +blanket over the top of their barrel chimney. In about a second the +smoke would be almost dense enough to suffocate, and every fellow would +pile out and hunt for the culprit. Woe be unto him if they found him. A +favorite ruse on the part of the culprit was to plunge into his tent and +be placidly snoring when the victims began their hunt. Sometimes the +simulation would be too sonorous, and give him away, and then he had +trouble on hand for the next hour. The ingenuity of these sons of Belial +in their pranks was beyond description. I have laughed until absolutely +exhausted many a time. How did I know so much about them? Well, I had +two of the liveliest of these boys in my office as clerks, and, as they +were generally in the fun, I was kept posted, and to tell the truth, as +long as it did not seriously transgress, and there was fun in it, I knew +nothing about it "officially." Often have I seen these boys put up a job +on some fellow quietly sleeping, by smoking out his next-door neighbors +and then directing their attention to him as the culprit. To see him +hauled out of a sound sleep and mauled for something he was entirely +innocent of, vehemently protesting his innocence, yet the more he +protested getting the more punishment, the rascals who put up the job +doing most of the punishing, I have nearly split my sides. Of course, no +one was seriously hurt. The victim knew enough to keep his temper, and +in the end enjoyed the lark as well as the rest. I speak of these +things, for they were the oases in army life and drudgery. Except for +them it would have been unendurable. Seldom were things so bad but that +some bit of raillery would relieve the strain and get up a laugh, and +everybody would feel better. + +We had a young fellow in one of the companies who was certainly the most +comical genius I ever saw. He was known by a nickname only. No length of +march and no severity of service could curb his spirits. When all were +down in the dumps this fellow would perform some monkey-shine that would +make even a horse laugh, and all would be in good spirits again. Colonel +Albright used to say he was worth his weight in gold. He was with us +until after Fredericksburg, where he was either killed or wounded, and I +do not remember to have seen him afterwards. + +I have spoken of the men's winter-quarters. We officers had our wall +tents, and had them fixed up with puncheon floors also, and sheet-iron +stoves, so that as long as we kept a fire burning all were fairly +comfortable. But wood fires would last but an hour or so without +replenishing, and so during the night we had great difficulty in keeping +warm. Some of the coldest nights my clerks and myself took turns in +keeping up our fire. I rather prided myself on the construction of my +bed. It was made of two springy poles held in place by crotched sticks +driven into the ground. On the poles nailed crosswise was a bottom made +of barrel-staves, the hollow side down, and on these was laid a bed of +hay, kept in place by some old canvas sacking. On cold nights the only +article of clothing we took off was our shoes or boots. Then rolling +ourselves in our blankets, with gum blanket outside tucked well around +our feet and the whole surmounted with our overcoats, we managed to +sleep pretty well. These puncheon floors were all the proceeds of +foraging. No lumber of any kind was furnished by the government. The men +cut the trees and split the logs wherever they could find them. Most of +them were "backed" into camp anywhere from one to four miles. + +After this little of note occurred in camp until Christmas. We had made +ourselves as comfortable as we could with the materials at hand, which +were not in super-abundance. The weather was what we were told was +characteristic of Virginia winters,--rather mild, slush and mud, with +its raw, disagreeable dampness, being the prevailing conditions. It was +exceedingly trying to our men, and many, in consequence, were on the +sick list. My diary notes that on Christmas day we actually had a little +sunshine, and that by way of adding good cheer to the occasion a ration +of whiskey was issued to the men. The ration consisted of a gill for +each man. Each company was marched to the commissary tent, and every man +received his gill in his cup or drank it from the measure, as he +preferred. Some of the men, who evidently were familiar with the +intricacies of repeating in ward elections, managed in various ways to +repeat their rations of this vile stuff until we had a good deal more +than a gill of whiskey's worth of hilarity in camp. However, the noise +was winked at, believing it would soon subside and pass off. All drills +were suspended and the men were allowed passes freely out of camp, being +required to be in quarters promptly at taps. The officers passed the day +visiting and exchanging the compliments of the season. The wish for a +"Merry Christmas" was about all there was to make it such. I remember +our bill of fare for Christmas dinner consisted of boiled rice and +molasses, "Lobskous" and stewed dried apples. The etymology of the +euphonious word "Lobskous" I am unable to give. The dish consisted of +hardtack broken up and thoroughly soaked in water, then fried in pork +fat. I trust my readers will preserve the recipe for a side dish next +Christmas. One of the boys, to show his appreciation of this extra fare +for Christmas dinner, improvised the following blessing: + + "Good Lord of love + Look down from above + And see how a soldier's grub has mended,-- + Slushed rice, Lobskous, and shoat, + Where only hardtack and hog were intended." + +The day was not without its fun, however. Among other things, an +impromptu foot-race was gotten up between the Fourth New York and our +regiment. The former regiment, with which we were now brigaded, was from +New York City, and in its general make-up was decidedly "sporty." They +had in their ranks specimens of almost all kinds of sports, such as +professional boxers, wrestlers, fencers, and runners. One of the latter +had been practising in the morning, and some of our boys had remarked +that "he wasn't much of a runner," whereupon they were promptly +challenged to produce a man who could beat him, for a cash prize of +twenty dollars in gold. Win or lose, our fellows were not to be bluffed, +and so promptly accepted the challenge. Back they came to camp with +their "bluff," to look up a man to meet this professional. So far as our +men were concerned, it was another case of the Philistine defying the +armies of Israel. Where was our David? All hands entered into the fun, +from the colonel down. The race was to be a one-hundred-yard dash from a +standing mark. We found our man in Corporal Riley Tanner, of Company I. +He was a lithe, wiry fellow, a great favorite in his company, and in +some trial sprints easily showed himself superior to all of the others. +He, however, had never run a race, except in boys' play, and was not up +on the professional tactics of such a contest. It was decided that the +affair should take place at five o'clock P.M., on our regimental front, +and should decide the championship of the two regiments in this +particular. The course was duly measured and staked off, and was lined +on both sides by a solid wall of the men, nearly our whole division +being present, including most of the officers. If the championship of +the world had been at stake, there could hardly have been more +excitement, so much zest did every one put into it. On the minute the +Goliath of the bloody Fourth appeared, clad in the most approved racing +garb. He was a stockily built young Irishman, and looked decidedly +formidable, especially when our poor little David appeared a moment +later, with no other preparation than his coat and cap off and pants +rolled up. Nevertheless, our boys thoroughly believed in him, and we all +gave him a rousing cheer. The signal was given and away leaped our +little champion like a frightened deer, literally running away from the +professional from the start and beating him leisurely in the end by more +than a dozen feet. Great was the furore which followed. The victor was +carried on the shoulders of his comrades of Company I triumphantly back +to his quarters, and afterwards through all the company streets, the +victim of an immense popularity. Corporal Tanner, scarcely beyond his +teens, was a good, brave, and true young man, popular with his comrades +and faithful in all his duties. Was this little race, so short and +gloriously won, prophetic of his life's brief course? He came home to +survive but a few years, and then die of injuries received in the +service. He was as much a sacrifice upon the altar of his country as if +he had been killed in battle. He was long ago laid to rest in a +soldier's grave. But he still lives in the hearts of his comrades. + +Here let me say a few words of our "friends, the enemy," we had just +beaten, the Fourth New York. Its colonel was a Scotchman named McGregor, +and he was a true McGregor, a splendid officer. He was in command of the +brigade after Colonel Andrews was wounded at Fredericksburg, until +himself disabled by a wound. His lieutenant-colonel was a captain in the +New York police force when he entered the service, and after the war as +Inspector Jameson he achieved a national reputation. He was a splendid +fellow personally, and physically a king among men. He stood six feet +two inches, beautifully proportioned, square, and straight as an Indian, +with heavy jet black hair and whiskers, and an eye that I imagine could +almost burn a hole in a culprit. He could be both majestic and +impressive when occasion required, and was more gifted in all these +things than any man I ever knew. The following incident will illustrate +his use of them. I met him in Washington whilst returning to my regiment +the day before the battle of Fredericksburg. I joined him just before +reaching the wharf where we were to take the boat. He had been up to +Washington on a day's pass, all any one could then get, and had for some +reason overstayed his leave. I think he had missed his boat the day +before. In consequence he could not get a pass through the lines to go +back. I asked how he expected to get through the provost guard. "Oh, +that's easy," he said. "Just watch me go through," and I did. There was +a double guard at the entrance to the boat and a sergeant and lieutenant +examining all passes. Jameson threw his cape over his shoulders to +conceal his shoulder-straps, put on one of his majestic airs, looked the +officer through, as much as to say, you do not presume to question my +rights here, and waved him and the guards aside, and deliberately +stalked aboard, as though he commanded the army. I came meekly along +behind, pass in hand. The officer had by that time recovered himself +sufficiently to ejaculate, "Who the h----l is that--general?" I repeated +the ejaculation to the colonel afterwards to his great amusement. He was +all right, and on his way to rejoin his regiment, where he was wounded +next day, splendidly doing his duty. Because he had overstayed his leave +twenty-four hours, red tape would have required him to remain in +Washington, submit to a court-martial or court of inquiry, and probably +after three or four weeks be sent back, duly excused, the country being +deprived of his services in the mean time. + +Well, to get back to Christmas. After the foot-race the men were given +free rein until ten o'clock P.M., and passes out of camp were not +required. As the evening wore on, it became evident that John Barleycorn +had been getting in some extra work, from the character of the noise +emanating from the company streets, and I became somewhat nervous about +it. Lieutenant-Colonel Albright's tent adjoined mine, and I could see +that he was becoming a little exercised over this extra noise. The fear +was that we might get a peremptory summons from division head-quarters +to "explain immediately the causes of the unusual noises emanating from +our regiment, and why it is not suppressed." Just about ten o'clock +there was an extra outburst, and I noticed Colonel Albright, with sword +dangling, pass rapidly out of his tent and down towards the company +streets from whence the noise came. I feared trouble, and slipped on my +boots and followed as quickly as possible. But before I reached the +scene, the colonel had drawn his sword and ordered all the men to their +quarters, at the same time striking right and left with the flat of his +sword, hitting two of the men. One proved to be a sergeant who was +trying to quell the noise and get his men into quarters. The latter +resented the blow and made a sharp retort to the colonel, who +immediately repeated it, whereupon the sergeant struck him a terrible +blow in the eye with his fist, knocking him down. I got there just in +time to see the colonel fall, and immediately seized the sergeant and +placed him in arrest. He was handed over to the division provost guard. +The colonel was found to be seriously hurt. His eye swelled up and +turned black and gave him great pain all night. And it was several days +before he recovered the use of it. + +The most serious thing about this unfortunate culmination of our +Christmas festivities was not only the breach of discipline, but the +present status of this sergeant. He was an exceptionally good +non-commissioned officer, with a splendid record in both battles and in +all service, yet he had now committed an offence the punishment for +which, in time of war, was death,--viz., striking his superior +commissioned officer. The next day Colonel Albright reported the affair +to General French, commanding the division, who promptly advised him to +prefer charges against the culprit and make an example of him. The +matter was generally discussed by both officers and men in camp, and +although it was felt that the sergeant had committed a grave offence, +yet that the colonel was in a measure responsible for it. The latter was +justly popular with all as a brave officer and good man, yet he had been +guilty himself of an offence which had brought upon him the blow he had +received. He had no right to strike a soldier as he did, even with the +flat of his sword. Nor was it the proper thing for him to take the place +of his "officer of the guard" or "officer of the day" in enforcing his +own orders regulating camp discipline. He should have sent for the +latter and required them to do their duty in the matter. As a matter of +fact, this was just what the officer of the day was doing when the +colonel appeared. The colonel sent for me next morning, on his return +from General French's head-quarters, and freely told me of the advice of +the latter, and indicated his purpose to proceed. + +This splendid man has long since entered into rest. No truer man or +braver officer entered the service than he, and it has been one of the +greatest satisfactions of my life that I was able to possess his +confidence to the fullest degree. He invited my views now and he +afterwards thanked me for the service I then rendered him by opposing +his contemplated action. He was still suffering very much from his +injury and was in a poor mood to brook opposition. Nevertheless I felt +that if he subjected this man to the possible results of a +court-martial, later on he would never forgive himself, and I so told +him. I reminded him of the mistake he had made in assuming the duties of +his "officer of the day," and of his graver error, if not offence, in +striking the men; that such action would be very likely to produce +similar results with almost any of the men upon whom it might be +committed; that he had failed to respect the rights of his men even in +matters of discipline, and that all this being true, it would be a +mistake he would always regret if he failed to treat this affair in as +manly and generous a way as discipline would permit. It was an occasion +of keen regret that I had to differ with Colonel Albright, for I really +loved the man. He dismissed me rather cavalierly with his thanks for my +drastic frankness. By his direction a meeting of all the officers of the +regiment was summoned to meet at his head-quarters in the afternoon to +give their views as to the course to be pursued. The question, as +submitted by the colonel being one purely of discipline, seemed to admit +of but one treatment,--viz., court-martial; and this was the unanimous +sentiment as expressed in this meeting, although outside, I well knew +nearly all had expressed themselves differently. Perhaps the way the +colonel took to get their views was partly responsible for his failure +to get their real feelings. He began with the youngest lieutenant and +asked each officer up to the senior captain, what he thought the offence +merited. The answer was, "I suppose court-martial." None seemed willing +to accuse the colonel of his own error, and to have answered otherwise +would have involved that, so they simply replied as above. + +The colonel said, after all had given their answers, that the adjutant +did not agree with him nor them, and called on me to state my position, +saying I was to be excused, as he supposed the sergeant was a personal +friend. Whilst it was true that I had known him at home, I disclaimed +being influenced by that fact in this matter. The colonel, to my relief, +adjourned the meeting without announcing his determination. I felt sure +that a little more time would bring him to my way of thinking, and so it +turned out. I saw the sergeant over at the provost-guard tent, and found +him very anxious about his situation and thoroughly sorry for his hasty +conduct towards the colonel, whom he sincerely respected. He said he +felt terribly hurt at being so roughly treated. He was not to blame for +the noise, but was actually doing his best to quiet the noisy ones and +get them into quarters when the first intimation he had of the colonel's +presence was the blow from his sword. He said this blow hurt him and +roused his anger and he replied sharply, and on getting the second blow +he struck without stopping to think of the consequences. I told the +colonel of this conversation, and said if he would permit this man to +express to him personally his sorrow for his conduct, and, under the +circumstances, restore him to duty with no greater punishment than a +loss of his rank as sergeant, I felt sure he would win the hearts of all +the men and do an act he would always be glad of. Two days later, to my +great joy, he ordered me to prepare an order practically embodying my +recommendations, the order to be read at dress parade that day, and the +prisoner to be publicly released at that time. I think I never performed +a more willing or difficult task than reading that order on parade that +afternoon. Just before the ceremony, the sergeant had been brought by +the provost guard to the colonel's tent and had, in a manly way, +expressed his sorrow for his act. The colonel had stated this fact to +the regiment, and then directed me to read the order releasing the +prisoner and restoring him to duty. The tears blinded my eyes and my +emotions almost choked my voice as I tried to read, and I doubt if there +was a dry eye in the ranks when I had finished. The outcome of the +unfortunate affair was exceedingly satisfactory. The colonel, always +popular, had now the hearts of all--officers and men. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE WINTER AT FALMOUTH + + +Our brigade was now commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Marshall, Tenth New +York Volunteers, who was the senior officer present for duty, Colonels +Kruger, First Delaware, and McGregor, Fourth New York, being absent on +account of wounds received at Fredericksburg, and Colonel Wilcox, of our +regiment, absent, sick. I mention this to show how the exigencies of the +service thrust upon junior officers the duties and responsibilities of +much higher grades. Here a lieutenant-colonel was discharging the duties +appertaining to a general; sergeants frequently commanded companies, +whilst a captain in command of a regiment was not an infrequent thing. +These junior officers performing the duties of higher grades got no more +compensation than the pay of their actual rank. On the 24th of January, +Colonel Wilcox sent in his resignation, and Lieutenant-Colonel Albright +was commissioned colonel. Major Shreve was promoted to be +lieutenant-colonel, and I had the honor to receive the rare and handsome +compliment of an election to the office of major, although, being a +staff-officer, I was not in the regular line of promotion. +Sergeant-Major Clapp succeeded to my position as adjutant, and Private +Frank J. Deemer, Company K, who had been a clerk in my office, was +appointed sergeant-major. Just at this time I had a somewhat singular +experience. I had received a three-days' leave of absence with +permission to visit Washington on business for the officers. This detail +I mention because no leaves of absence other than for sickness or +disability were obtainable at this time, except on urgent business for +the officers of a regiment, and for but one officer to a regiment, and +three days was the limit. To get to Washington--only about sixty miles +away--I had to start from camp before daylight in the morning, ride +three miles to the railroad in a heavy, springless army wagon, across +fields and over rutted roadways that were barely passable, the jolting +of which was almost enough to shake one's bones loose; then ride twenty +miles in a freight car, perched on whatever truck one could get a seat +on, thence by boat to Washington. The morning was exceptionally cold and +I had to leave without breakfast; the result was I caught a severe cold, +and when I reached my destination I was suffering terribly from an +attack of dysentery. I was barely able to get to the Ebbitt House, the +clerk of which seeing my plight summoned a physician, who had me sent to +the Seminary Hospital for Officers at Georgetown. Here I received most +excellent care. + +This institution was for officers only. There must have been upward of +two hundred sick and wounded officers there at that time. It was under +strict military rules. The surgeon in charge was its commanding officer, +as absolute as though a general commanding a division in the field. When +I reached the hospital I was registered, put to bed, and all clothing +and personal effects taken from me. A warm bath followed with the +assistance of a stalwart nurse and medicines were administered, and I +soon found relief in a refreshing sleep. A couple of days later I had a +remarkable visit. I was not allowed to sit up yet, but a fine-looking +old gentleman, wearing the insignia of a major-general, appeared at my +cot and extended his hand. His face was an exceedingly kind one and his +voice, if possible, more so. His hair was white and he had the +unmistakable appearance of advanced age, though he stood fully six feet +high and was still square and unbent in form. He proceeded to say he had +learned that a young officer bearing the name of Hitchcock had been +taken suddenly very ill and sent to this hospital, and inasmuch as his +name was Hitchcock, he was doubly interested to know, first how I was, +and second who I was. My visitor was none other than Major-General +Hitchcock, military attaché of President Lincoln's cabinet and the first +general commissioner for the exchange of prisoners of war. I think he +was a retired regular army officer called from his retirement to special +service as military adviser of the president and now in charge of the +bureau for the exchange of prisoners of war. His call was very pleasant, +and I learned from him that all of our name in this country were +distantly related. That two brothers came to this country with the +Regicides and settled, one in New Hampshire, the other at New Haven. He +was of the former stock, whilst I was from the latter. On retiring he +bade me call on him when well. I greatly regret I never had the +opportunity of returning his gracious visit. On the cot next mine lay an +officer convalescing from a wound received at Fredericksburg. I have +forgotten his name, but we soon became well acquainted, and he proved a +valuable and companionable acquaintance. He was the best posted man in +military tactics I ever met, and was thoroughly familiar with all its +branches from the school of the soldier to the grand tactics of a +division. It was very profitable pastime for me to go over the tactics +under his instruction, he illustrating each battalion movement by the +use of matches on the coverlets of our cots. In that way I learned the +various tactical movements as I had never been able to do before, and it +was of immense value to me, having now been promoted to the position of +a field-officer. This hospital was no better and in no wise different +from those for private soldiers, except that we were charged a per diem +for board, whereas there was no charge for the privates. I thought I +could return at the end of a week, and asked to be discharged, but was +rather curtly informed by the surgeon in charge that when the time came +for my discharge he would inform me. + +The papers now contained rumors of another movement on foot, and, of +course, I was very anxious to return. A few days later, after an +examination, the doctor gave me my discharge. It was now ten days since +I had left camp on a three-days' leave, but my discharge from the +hospital operated as an extension, and I had no difficulty in getting +transportation and passes through the lines to rejoin my regiment. I +performed my errands for the officers of the regiment, which consisted +in getting various articles for their comfort, and in several cases a +bottle of something to "keep the cold out." As I write, I have before +me, in perfect preservation, all the official papers covering that trip. +Here are copies of the papers required to get back to the regiment. They +will give an idea of the conditions, getting in and out of Washington +at that time, as well as of the load I had to carry back: + + +HEAD-QUARTERS MILITARY DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON, +WASHINGTON, D. C., January 22, 1863. + + Lieutenant F. L. Hitchcock, 132d P. V., with servant, has + permission to proceed to Falmouth, Va., for the purpose of + rejoining his regiment, and to take the following articles for + officers and men: (1) one drum, (3) three express packages, carpet + sack containing liquors, (1) one box of provisions, (1) one box of + clothing. Quartermaster please furnish transportation. + + By Command of Brigadier-General Martindale, Military Governor of + Washington. + +JOHN P. SHERBURNE, +_Assistant Adjutant-General_. + + + + No. 247. + +ASSISTANT-QUARTERMASTER'S OFFICE, SIXTH STREET WHARF, +WASHINGTON, D. C., January 23, 1863. + + Pass on government boat to Aquia Creek, three boxes and one drum, + liquors and sutlers' stores strictly excluded. + + For Adjutant F. L. Hitchcock, 132 Pa. Vols. + +J. M. ROBINSON, +_Captain and A. Q. M._ + + + +The word liquors above is erased with a pen. It is difficult at this day +to realize that Washington was surrounded with a cordon of sentries. All +places of entrance and exit were under the strictest military +surveillance. General Martindale, as its military governor, was supreme +in authority. No one could come or go, and nothing be taken in or out, +without his permission. + +The servant included in the above pass was a "contraband," picked up in +Washington for the trip. There were hundreds of them clamoring for an +opportunity to get down to the army. They were glad to do all one's +drudgery for the chance of going, for once there, plenty of jobs could +be found, besides the excitement and attractions of "Uncle Sam's" army +were to them irresistible. I reached camp early in the evening and +delivered my supplies, the officers being promptly on hand to receive +them. The return of an officer from "civilization" was an event of no +ordinary moment, and I had many calls that evening. The following +anecdote of Major-General Howard was told that evening, apropos of the +delivery of the "commissions" I had brought. The general was well known +to be uncompromising in his opposition to the presence of liquor of any +kind in camp, or elsewhere, and especially among the members of his +official family. Yet shortly after the battle of Fredericksburg, one of +his staff had a present of a bottle of "old Rye." He put it away until +some time during the general's absence he could safely bring it out and +treat his fellow-members of the staff. The opportunity came one day when +his chief announced his absence at army head-quarters for a couple of +hours, and mounted and rode away. The hidden treasure was brought out +and due preparation made for the delectation of all hands, and he was in +the act of pulling the cork in front of his tent, when, suddenly hearing +the clatter of horse's hoofs, he looked up just in time to see the +general returning for a forgotten paper. He had barely time to swing the +bottle behind his heels as he closed them in the position of a soldier, +and arose and respectfully saluted. The position and salute were +strictly according to army regulations, but with a general's own staff +such formality was not usual. The general evidently caught the +situation, for he was tantalizingly deliberate in acknowledging the +salute, and finally remarked, with a twinkle in his eye, looking him +full in the face: "Mr.----, your position is faultless and your +punctiliousness in saluting truly admirable. Were you getting it ready +to send to the hospital? Very commendable, indeed; it will do so much +good." And to the hospital, of course, it had to go, much to the chagrin +of all the staff. + +The event of special interest at this time was the movement later known +as the "mud march." Troops had for three days been moving up the river, +destination, of course, unknown to us, but now they were returning, a +most sorry, mud-bedraggled looking crowd. We were glad enough not to +have been with them. Our corps had been for a week under marching +orders, to move at a moment's notice, but the final order never came, +and we were spared this experience. Whatever the movement was designed +to be, it was defeated by plain, simple MUD. It should be spelled in the +largest capitals, for it was all-powerful at this time. Almost +immediately after the movement began, it commenced to rain heavily. The +ground was already soggy from previous rains, and it soon became a vast +sea of mud. I have already spoken of Virginia mud. It beggars +description. Your feet sink into it frequently ankle deep, and you lift +them out with a sough. In some places it seemed as bottomless as a pit +of quicksand. The old-established roads were measurably passable, but, +as I have heretofore explained, most of the troops had to march directly +across the fields, and here it proved absolutely impossible to move the +wagon-trains and artillery any distance. This was the main reason why +the movement had to be abandoned. I saw many wagons down over their +hubs, stalled in the mire. And the guns and caissons of a battery of +artillery were stalled near our camp, and had to be abandoned for the +time. The horses were saved from miring with great difficulty. A few +days later the guns and caissons were hauled out with ropes. + +There were dead mules and mired and broken wagons all along the route of +the marching troops. The number of animals that perished in this futile +march must have run up into thousands, killed by exposure over pulling +or miring. It should be understood that when the army moves, and the +mule trains of ammunition and rations are ordered to move, they must go +as long as it is physically possible, mule or no mule. The lives of a +thousand mules, more or less, is nothing compared with the necessity of +having ammunition and rations at the proper place at the required time. +I saw one mule team stalled in one of these sloughs. The heavy wagon was +down so that the box was in the mud and the four mules were wallowing in +a death struggle to get out. Harness was cut and they were freed, all to +no purpose. Their struggles had made the slough like a stiff pudding, +which was apparently bottomless; the more they struggled the deeper they +got. Finally a chain was hooked about the neck of one of the leaders and +fastened to another wagon and the mule hauled out, but with a broken +neck. The experiment was repeated in a modified way with the other +leader, now over back in the mire, but with no better results. The +others had ceased to struggle and were slowly sinking, and were +mercifully killed and allowed to bury themselves in the mire, which they +speedily did. It may be asked why more civilized methods were not +employed to extricate these valuable animals. Why fence rails or +timbers were not placed under them as is usual? The answer is, there was +not a fence rail nor anything of that nature probably within ten miles. +Everything of this kind had long ago been used for fire-wood for the +soldiers' cooking. And as for timbers there probably was not a stick +nearer than Aquia Creek, more than ten miles away. Again it may be +wondered why the chain was not passed around the mule's body rather than +his neck. Simply because the former was impossible without running the +risk of miring the driver in the slough, and he was not disposed to run +any risk of that kind. Had this been practicable, it is doubtful if the +result would have been any better, for without padding the chains would +have killed or mangled the mule, and there were no means at hand for +that purpose. The destruction of this class of property, always very +severe under favorable circumstances in the army, was during this mud +movement simply appalling. The loss of one or more mules meant an +abandonment of the wagon and its contents to the weather in many +instances, and the same was true where a team was mired. + +The rebels were evidently interested observers of this mud march, for +their pickets taunted ours with such questions as "How d'ye like +Virginia mud?" "Why don't you 'uns come over?" "How are you, mud?" etc., +and they put up rude sign-boards on which were scrawled in large +letters, "Burnside stuck in the mud!" "Burnside's name is Mud!" etc. + +[Illustration: MAJOR FREDERICK L. HITCHCOCK + +132D P. V. + +A year later Colonel 25th U. S. C. T.] + +The "mud march" had evidently settled it that there would be no further +attempt to move until better weather conditions prevailed, which could +not reasonably be looked for before April, and so we settled down for +a winter where we were, back of Falmouth. The several corps were spread +out, occupying an area extending from within three miles of +Fredericksburg, nearly down to the Potomac. Our corps, the Second, was +located nearest to the latter city, and our picket lines covered its +front to Falmouth and some miles up the river. Our division, the Third +(French's), had the line from the railroad bridge at Fredericksburg to +Falmouth, something over two miles. Being now a field-officer, my name +was placed on the roster of picket field-officers of the day. My first +detail on this duty came almost as soon as my commission. My duties had +hitherto been confined almost exclusively to the staff or executive +business of the regiment. Further than making the necessary details of +officers and men for picket duty, I had never had anything to do with +that branch of the service. I had, therefore, only a smattering +knowledge of the theory of this duty. It may well be judged, therefore, +that I felt very keenly this lack, when I received my order to report +for duty as division field-officer of the day, the following morning. +Here I was suddenly confronted with the responsibility of the command of +the picket forces covering the dividing line between the two hostile +armies. A demonstration of the enemy was to be looked for any moment, +and it was most likely to occur on our front. I had hoped to have a few +days to study up and by observing its practical work get some little +idea of my new duties. But here was the detail, and it must be obeyed. +It should be explained that the picket line consists of a cordon of +sentinels surrounding the army, usually from two to three miles from +its camp. Its purpose is to watch the enemy, and guard against being +surprised by an attack. Except for this picket line, the main body of +troops could never sleep with any degree of safety. To guard against +attacks of the enemy would require it to remain perpetually under arms. +Whereas with its picket lines properly posted it may with safety relax +its vigilance, this duty being transferred to its picket forces. This +picket service being a necessity of all armies is a recognized feature +of civilized warfare. Hence, hostile armies remaining any length of time +in position near each other usually make an agreement that pickets shall +not fire upon each other. Such agreement remains in force until a +movement of one or the other army commences. Notice of such a movement +is, of course, never given. The other party finds out the fact as best +it can. Frequently the withdrawal or concealment of the picket line will +be its first intimation. Ordinarily, picket duty is not only of the very +highest responsibility, but an exceedingly dangerous duty. Until +agreements to cease picket-firing are made, every sentinel is a +legitimate target for the sentinels or pickets of the enemy, hence +extreme vigilance, care, and nerve are required in the performance of +this duty. + +The picket line in the presence of the enemy is generally posted in +three lines,--viz., First, the line of sentries; second, the picket +supports, about thirty yards in rear of the sentries, and third, the +guard reserves, about three hundred yards farther in the rear, depending +upon the topography of the country. Each body constitutes one-third of +the entire force, _i.e._, one-third is constantly on duty as sentinels, +one-third as picket supports, and one-third as grand reserves. The +changes are made every two hours, usually, so that each sentry serves +two hours on "post" and four hours off. The latter four hours are spent +half on grand reserve and half as picket supports. The supports are +divided into companies, and posted in concealed positions, near enough +to the sentry line to be able to give immediate support in case of +attack, while the grand reserves, likewise concealed, are held in +readiness to come to the assistance of any part of the line. Ordinarily +this part of the picket force is able to sleep during its two hours of +reserve service. The supports, however, while resting, must remain alert +and vigilant. It being the duty of the picket-line to prevent a +surprise, it must repel any sort of attack with all its power. In the +first instance the sentinel must promptly challenge any party +approaching. The usual formula is: "Halt! Who comes there?" The +approaching party failing to obey the command to halt, it is his duty to +fire at once, even though he be outnumbered a hundred to one, and it +cost him his life. Many a faithful sentinel has lost his life in his +fidelity to duty under such circumstances. For although the picket is +there to prevent a surprise, the attacking party is equally bent on +getting the advantage of a surprise, if possible, and many are the ruses +adopted to capture sentinels before they can fire their guns. He must +fire his gun, even though he be captured or run through with a bayonet +the next instant. This gives the alarm, and the other sentries and +picket supports open fire at once, and the reserves immediately join +them, if necessary, to hold or impede the progress of the enemy. It is +thus seen that in case of an attack the picket force finds itself +maintaining a fight possibly against the whole opposing army, or +whatever the attacking force may be. Fight it must, cost whatever it +may, so that time may be gained to sound the "long roll" and assemble +the army. Many of our picket fights were so saucy and stubborn that the +attacks were nipped in the bud, the enemy believing the army was there +opposing them. In the mean time, mounted orderlies would be despatched +to army head-quarters with such information of the attack as the officer +of the day was able to give. + +Having now given some idea of picket service, I return to my own first +experiences as field-officer of the day. I was fated to have several +rather singular experiences on that first day. The first occurred in +connection with my horse. I mounted and started for division +head-quarters, about a half-mile away, in ample time to reach there a +little before the appointed time--eight o'clock, but reaching the outer +edge of our camp my horse balked, and in answer to my efforts to move +him began to kick, rear, and plunge. He tried to throw me, and did +nearly everything except roll over. Every time I headed him forward, he +would wheel around and start back for his stable. I coaxed him, then +tried the spur, all to no purpose. I was losing valuable time, besides +having a very uncomfortable kind of a fight on hand. I realized I must +make him obey me or I could never handle him again. An orderly from +General French came galloping over with the expected peremptory message. +One minute's delay with him was almost a capital offence. I could only +return word that I was doing my best to get there. The general and his +staff then rode over to see my performance. He reassured me with the +remark, "Stick to him and make him obey you, or kill him." Well, it took +just about one hour to conquer him, at the end of which time I had +ploughed up several acres of ground, my horse was in a white lather, and +I was in the same condition. When he quit, he did so at once, and went +on as cleverly as though nothing had happened. The cause of this freak I +never understood, he never having done so before, and never did again. + +[Illustration: DON AND I + +And a glimpse of the camp of Hancock's Division, Second Army Corps, back +of Falmouth, Va., winter of 1862-3. See page 171] + +May I digress long enough to speak a little more of this remarkable +horse. Dr. Holland says there is always hope for any man who has heart +enough to love a good horse. Army life was well calculated to develop +the sterling qualities of both man and beast. Hence, I suppose every man +who had a good horse could safely regard him as "most remarkable." How +many such have I heard cavalrymen talk about, descanting on the +"remarkable" qualities of their half-human favorites, whilst the tears +wet their cheeks. I had named this splendid animal "Don Fulano," after +that superb horse in Winthrop's "John Brent," not because he was a +magnificent black charger, etc.; on the contrary, in many respects he +was the opposite of the original Don Fulano. Raised upon an unromantic +farm near Scranton, an unattractive yellow bay, rather too heavy limbed +and too stockily built to be called handsome, yet powerful, courageous, +intelligent (he could almost talk), high spirited, with a heavy, shaggy +mane and forelock, through which gleamed a pair of keen, fierce eyes, he +had many of the qualities which distinguished his noble prototype. He +had not the high honor to die carrying a slave to liberty, but when the +final accounts come to be squared up in the horses' heaven, it is +possible that the credit of having passed unflinchingly through the +battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, and of having safely +carried a wounded soldier off each field may prove to be a little +something in favor of my splendid "Don." As a saddler, he came to me +practically unbroken. He was sold from the farm because he would jump +all fences, yet under the saddle, when I took him, he would not jump the +smallest obstacle. This is really as much of an art on the part of the +rider as with the horse. An unskilled rider is liable to seriously +injure both the horse and himself in jumping. If he is unsteady, the +motion of the horse as he rises to make his leap is liable to pitch him +over his head. On the other hand, if he clings back, a dead weight in +his saddle, he is liable to throw the horse backward. I have seen both +done. The secret of successful jumping is to give the horse his head as +he rises, feel your knees against his sides firmly, rising with him as +he rises and be again in your seat before his feet reach the ground. +This helps him and saves both a killing jounce. I finally trained him so +that as a jumper he was without a peer in our part of the army. I have +had the men hold a pole fully a foot higher than my head, as I stood on +the ground, and have jumped him back and forth over it as readily as +cats and dogs are taught to jump over one's arm. And the men insisted +that he cleared the pole at least a foot each jump. + +This jumping of horses was considered quite an accomplishment in the +army, it being often a necessity on the march in getting over obstacles. +One day I saw our general's son, a young West Pointer, attached to his +father's staff, trying to force his Kentucky thoroughbred to jump a +creek that ran past division head-quarters. The creek was probably ten +to twelve feet wide and, like all Virginia creeks, its banks seemed cut +vertically through the soil and the water at the edges was about a foot +deep. After repeated trials the best the young man's horse could do was +to get his forefeet on the opposite bank. His hindfeet always landed in +the water. Mr. West Pointer was way above noticing in any way a poor +volunteer plebeian like myself mounted on an old plug like Don. But Don +had taken in the situation as well as I, and when I said, "Come, Don, +let's us try it," he just gathered himself and sailed over that creek +like a bird, landing easily a couple of feet on the other side, and +swung around for another try. The young fellow gathered up his +thoroughbred and with an oath of disgust retired. Don and I became great +friends, and after our fight, above mentioned, in all our practice +jumping or on the march, or riding about, I never had occasion to use +the spur,--indeed, I seldom wore one. A simple "Come, Don," and he was +quick to obey my every wish. He was kind and tractable with others, but +it was a singular fact that, as for jumping or any other favors, he +would do nothing for anybody but me, not even for my man who took care +of him. Others, including horse-trainers, repeatedly asked to try him, +thinking they could improve his work, but he drew the line on all; not +even a little jump would he make for any of them. I had been jumping +him, one day, to the delight and admiration of the men. Among them was a +horse-trainer of the Fourth New York, who asked the privilege of trying +him. He mounted and brought him cantering up to the pole as though he +was going over all right, but instead of making the leap he suddenly +whirled, almost dumping the trainer, to the infinite amusement of the +men; nor could he induce him to make the leap. I mounted again and he +went over, back and forth, without the slightest hesitation. I brought +him home from the war, and it was a great grief to me that I was unable +to keep him as long as he lived. I secured him a good home, where he +lived to a dignified old age. One of my household gods is a photograph +of Don and myself, with a section of the camp of Hancock's division of +the Second Corps for a background, taken at this time, whilst we lay +back of Falmouth. + +My second adventure that first day on picket duty occurred shortly after +I reached the head-quarters of the picket at the Lacey House, directly +opposite the city of Fredericksburg. I had seen the new line posted and +the old line relieved, when a grizzly bearded old gentleman rode up and +inquired for the "Officer of the day." His dress was exceedingly plain. +He wore a much-battered slouch hat down over his eyes, and on the +shoulders of his blouse, scarcely discernible, was what had been the +silver stars of a brigadier-general. I answered his inquiry by saluting, +and then recognized General Alfred Sully, long famed as an Indian +fighter before the war. He introduced himself as "Corps officer of the +day" and my superior officer for this tour of picket duty. The peculiar +thing about his presence was his treatment of me. He evidently saw that +he had a greenhorn on hand, for the first question he fired at me was, +"How many times have you served as picket officer of the day?" I +candidly replied that this was my first experience. "Your knowledge of +the duties of officer of the day is somewhat limited?" I admitted the +fact. "That is all right," said he with a pleasant smile. "You are just +the man I want. You shall remain with me all day, and I will teach you +all there is about it." I shall never forget that day's experience with +this splendid old officer. I rode with him over the whole corps line in +the morning, and after that he made his head-quarters at the Lacey House +with me. Our division front, said he, is where an attack is most to be +looked for, and then he went over it carefully with me, pointing out the +most probable points of attack and how they should be met; what to do at +this point and that, and so on, in a most intelligent and entertaining +manner gave me the practical idea of a picket defence, out of his long +and ample experience as a regular army officer. It was just what I +needed and was of the greatest value to me. It was practical experience +under a superb instructor. If all the regular army officers I came in +contact with had been as kind and considerate as this superb Indian +fighter, I should have been equally grateful. Unfortunately, this was +not the case. My experience in this respect may have been exceptional, +but the instance above narrated is the one solitary case in which my +duties brought me in contact with regular army officers that I did not +receive a rebuff, frequently most brutal and insulting. Doubtless the +lack of knowledge of army customs and routine on the part of us +volunteer officers was calculated to try their patience, for they +occupied all the higher executive staff positions, and routine business +of all kinds had to pass their scrutiny. + +But what were they given West Point education and training at the public +expense for if not to impart it to those who should be called to fill +volunteer positions in times of the country's need? And how should a +volunteer, called into the service of his country without a particle of +military education, be expected to understand the interminable routine +of army red tape? I will dismiss this digression with a single instance +of my experience in seeking information from one of the younger West +Pointers. It occurred while I was still adjutant and shortly before my +promotion. Some special detailed report was called for. There were so +many of these wanted, with so many minute and intricate details, that I +cannot remember what this particular one was, but they were enough +almost to drive a man to drink. This one, I remember, utterly stumped +me, and I rode over to Captain Mason, assistant adjutant-general of our +brigade, a thoroughly competent officer, for information. He looked at +it a moment, then said: "It beats me; but go down to corps head-quarters +and you will find Lieutenant----, a regular army officer, whose business +it is to give just such information as you require." I rode there at +once and inquired for Lieutenant----, as directed. The reply was, "Here +he is. What in h----l do you want?" Not specially reassured by this +inquiry, I handed him the paper and made known my wishes for +information. He literally threw it back at me with the reply, "Go to +h----l and find out." I replied that from his manner of speech I appeared +to be pretty near there now. I went back to Captain Mason and recounted +my experience, to his intense disgust, but that was all that ever came +of it. We volunteers learned to avoid a regular officer, especially of +the young West Point type, as we would a pestilence. + +Returning now to my picket duties of that day, a third incident occurred +in the afternoon. The captain of the picket came into our office at the +Lacey House with the information that there was a hail from the opposite +bank of the river with a flag of truce--a small white flag. We all +rushed out, and General Sully directed the captain to take a corporal's +guard--a corporal and four men--from his reserve, and go down to the +water's edge under a like flag and inquire what was wanted. This +formality, he said, was necessary to properly recognize their flag of +truce, and to guard against a possible fake or bit of treachery. The +reply from the other side was that a young woman in Fredericksburg was +exceedingly desirous of reaching her home some distance within the Union +lines, and would the Union commander receive a communication upon the +subject. General Sully replied that he would receive their communication +and forward it to head-quarters, whereupon an orderly was sent over in a +boat with the communication. He was unarmed, as were those who rowed him +over. The letter was despatched to army head-quarters, whilst the +orderly and his boatmen were detained at the landing under guard of our +detail. They sat down and in an entirely easy and friendly way chatted +with our guard. One would not have believed that these men would shed +each other's blood instantly the little white flag was lowered. Yet such +was the fact. A half-hour brought a reply to the communication. We, of +course, saw neither their letter nor the reply, but my lady was +immediately brought over and escorted by a mounted guard to army +head-quarters, an ambulance being utilized for the purpose. She was +really a very pretty young woman, and evidently a thorough lady, though +a spirit of hauteur made it apparent she was a Southerner through and +through. She maintained a perfect composure during the formality of her +reception into our lines, for the officer from the rebel lines who +escorted her required a receipt from the officer who had been sent down +from head-quarters to receive her; and the appearance of a pretty woman +in our lines was so unusual an event that Uncle Sam's boys may have been +pardoned if they were all anxious to get a square view of the charming +vision. This receipt had to be made in duplicate, one for each army, +both officers, as well as the young woman, attesting it with their +signatures. General Sully more than half suspected she was a rebel spy. +If she was, they wisely chose a beauty for the work. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE WINTER AT FALMOUTH--CONTINUED + + +During the remainder of the winter at Falmouth, I was on as +field-officer of the day about every fifth day, so that I was much of +the time at the Lacey House, and on the picket-line described in the +foregoing chapter. The scenes here enacted constituted my chief +experience at this time. The Lacey House was famous during the war as +being the head-quarters of either the picket lines between the two +armies or of commanding officers of portions of both so frequently that +it deserves more than a passing notice. It was a large old-time brick +mansion, beautifully situated on the bank of the Rappahannock, just +opposite Fredericksburg, and was, at the outbreak of the war, the +private residence of Colonel Lacey, who was at the time I write a +colonel in the rebel army. The house was very large; its rooms almost +palatial in size, had been finished in richly carved hardwood panels and +wainscoting, mostly polished mahogany. They were now denuded of nearly +all such elegant wood-work. The latter, with much of the carved +furniture, had been appropriated for fire-wood. Pretty expensive fuel? +Yes, but not nearly so expensive as the discomfort of staying there +without a fire, with the temperature just above the freezing-point, and +your feet and body wet through from the rain and slush of the storm +outside, in which you were doing picket duty. The only other fuel +obtainable was a few soggy green logs; whether these had been cut from +the old shade trees surrounding its ample grounds or not I do not know. +I more than suspect they had, but the only way they could be made to +burn in the old-fashioned open fireplaces was to assist the flames with +an occasional piece of dry wood, the supply of which, as long as it +lasted, was from the panels, wainscoting, and furniture of the house. +Later on the interior doors, all of heavy, elegant hardwood and finished +in keeping with the other appointments of the place, had to go. This may +seem at this distance as vandalism pure and simple. But if the would-be +critic will place himself in the shoes of the soldier doing picket duty +that winter, with all its hardships, and then remember that Colonel +Lacey, the owner of the place, was not only in active rebellion against +the government we were fighting to maintain, but was a colonel +commanding a rebel regiment as a part of that great rebel army encamped +not a rifle-shot away, which made it necessary for us to do this picket +duty, he may reach the same conclusion as did our men, that it was not +worth while to freeze ourselves in order to preserve this rebel's +property. The large and ample grounds had been laid out with all the +artistic care a landscape gardener could bestow upon them. Rare plants, +shrubs, and trees from all over the world had been transplanted here in +great variety. They were now feeling the bitter blight of war. Army +wagons and artillery had made sad havoc of the beautiful grounds, and +such of the rare trees and shrubbery as interfered with a good vision of +the operations of the rebels in and around Fredericksburg had been +ruthlessly removed, and this included the larger part of them. + +The Christian Commission had its head-quarters in one wing of the house +during this winter. It was presided over by Mrs. John Harris, of +Philadelphia, a most benevolent and amiable elderly lady. She was +assisted by two or three young women, among whom was a daughter of +Justice Grier, of the United States Supreme Court. These ladies were +engaged in distributing supplies of various kinds, furnished by this +association, to the sick and wounded soldiers in the various hospitals. +They had an ambulance at their disposal, and one or two orderlies +detailed to assist them. Their work was most gracious and helpful, and +they were entitled to the greatest credit for their hard and +self-sacrificing labors. The red flag of the hospital floated over them, +and such protection as it afforded they had; but it may be well +understood that this location between two hostile armies, with active +hostilities likely to be resumed any moment, and in the midst of a +picket force keenly on the alert night and day, was not likely to be +selected as a sanitarium for cases of nervous prostration. The men on +picket had reason to remember Mrs. Harris, for those located at the +Lacey House daily partook of her bounty in the way of hot coffee, and +frequently a dish of good hot soup; and the officers stationed there, +usually three or four, were regularly invited to her table for all +meals. These invitations were sure to be accepted, for they afforded an +opportunity for a partially civilized meal. Her meals were always +preceded by a "grace" said by herself, while breakfast was followed by a +worship service, at which a chapter from the Bible was read and prayer +offered by her. These prayers I shall never forget--their sweet +fervency, in which the soldiers came in for a large share of her earnest +requests. This large-hearted, motherly little woman made a host of +friends among the boys in blue that winter. But her motherly kindness +was occasionally taken advantage of by some of those sons of Belial. One +of them told this story of his former tour of duty: The weather was +beastly uncomfortable, from rain and snow making a slush and mud, +through which they had tramped until thoroughly soaked. They concluded +they must have some hot whiskey punch. Mother Harris, they knew, had all +the necessary ingredients, but how to get them was the question. One of +them feigned a sudden attack of colic, and was all doubled up on the +floor, groaning piteously. Mother Harris was told of it. Of course, she +rushed in to render assistance. In reply to her inquiries, the rascal +could think of but one thing that would help him, and that was whiskey. +A bottle was instantly produced, and a dose administered which gave +partial relief; and now if he only had some hot water he was sure it +would relieve him. A pitcher of steaming hot water was immediately sent +in. Then it was found that the strong liquor nauseated him, and one of +the other scamps suggested that perhaps a lemon would relieve that, and +a nice lemon was instantly produced. They had plenty of sugar +themselves, and so from good Mother Harris's benevolent provision for +the colic these rascals deliberately brewed a pitcher full of excellent +hot whiskey punch. They had to invent a number of additional lies to +keep her out of the room, but they were equal to it. She sent her +orderlies in, one after the other, to inquire how the patient was +progressing, and the boys secured a proper message back by letting them +in for a swig. I hope the good old lady never discovered the fraud. I am +sure she would not have believed anybody who might have undertaken to +enlighten her, for her confidence in her "boys in blue" was so +unbounded. + +Almost every tour of picket duty revealed some new incident. Our pickets +were now posted in full view of those of the enemy, and the river was so +narrow that conversation between the pickets could be carried on without +difficulty. Peremptory orders were issued forbidding our pickets from +replying, or in any manner communicating with them, but it required the +greatest care and vigilance on the part of all the officers of the +picket to enforce this order. One of their sentries would hail one of +ours with some friendly remark, and it was difficult to suppress the +desire to reply. If a reply was not forthcoming, a nagging ejaculation, +calculated to provoke, would follow, such as, "What's the matter, Yank, +are ye deaf?" "Maybe ye are afeared o' those d----d officers." "We 'uns +don't give a d---- for our officers," and so volley after volley would +follow, whilst poor Yank had to continue silently walking his beat. +Sometimes the "Johnny" would wind up with a blast of oaths at his silent +auditor. Frequently our men would reply if they thought no officer was +near to hear; they seemed to feel that it was only decent to be +courteous to them. Strange as it may seem, there was a strong +disposition to fraternize whenever opportunity offered on the part of +the men of both sides. This was manifested daily on this picket-line, +not only in talk across the river, but in communication by means of +miniature boats. Our men were generally short of tobacco, and the +Johnnies had an abundance of this article of the very best quality; on +the other hand, our men were "long" on coffee, of which commodity they +were "short." So "Johnny" would fix up a trade. "Say, Yank, if I send +you over a boat-load of 'backy,' will ye send her back filled with +coffee?" If he got an affirmative reply, which he often did, he would +place his little boat in the stream with its rudder so fastened that the +current would shoot it across a hundred yards or so further down. Yank +would watch his opportunity, get the boat, take out its precious cargo +of tobacco, reload it with coffee, reverse the rudder, and send it back +to "Johnny," who was watching for it further down the stream. Newspapers +soon were called for by "Johnny," and became a regular part of the cargo +of these boats, for the rebels were wild to get our papers. The exchange +of coffee and tobacco was a comparatively harmless matter and would +probably have been winked at, but the sending of our Northern papers +into their line, containing news of every movement of our forces, was a +thing that must be prohibited. A large part of the special instructions +of all picket officers related to the suppression of this traffic. +Scarcely a day passed that we did not confiscate one or more of these +boats. The tobacco our men were allowed to take, but the boat and all +rebel newspapers had to be sent to army head-quarters. Some of these +miniature boats were marvels of beauty, and showed mechanical skill in +construction of the highest order. Others were rude "dugouts." They were +generally about thirty inches long, six to ten inches wide, and about +six inches deep. They were therefore capable of holding quite a +quantity. It was a traffic very difficult to suppress, for our men +wanted the tobacco and were unwilling to take that without sending back +the proper _quid pro quo_. I doubt if it was ever altogether stopped +that winter. The desire for tobacco on the part of our men was so great +that they would break over, and some of the subordinate officers +participated in it. These exchanges generally took place in the very +early dawn, when the officer of the day and the officers of the picket +were not supposed to be around. The officer of the day was required to +make the "rounds" of his picket-line once after midnight, and then if +everything was all right he could rest, his officers of the picket being +responsible to him for their respective sections of the line. What is +known in army regulations as the "grand rounds," a ceremonial visiting +of the line by the officer of the day, accompanied by a sergeant and +detail, was omitted on the picket-line as too noisy and ostentatious. In +its place the officer of the day went over his line as quietly as +possible, assuring himself that each man was in his proper place and was +alert and doing his duty. + +The sleepy time was from two o'clock A.M. until daylight, and this was +the time I found it necessary to be on the line. It took from two to +four hours to get over the entire line and visit every sentry. The line, +as I have stated heretofore, extended from the railroad bridge at +Fredericksburg to the village of Falmouth, a distance of two and a half +to three miles. In the daytime I could ride over it comfortably, but in +the night I had to take it on foot. When these were dark as ink, and +rainy, and the ground was slushy and muddy, as it usually was at that +time, it was not a very agreeable duty. However, my duty was so much +lighter than that of the men (who, though they were only two hours on +post at a time, were out in the storm all the while), that I could not +complain. The fidelity of our men to duty under these trying +circumstances was most remarkable. Twice only that winter did I find a +man sleeping on post. In both of these cases the delinquent was scarcely +more than a boy, who I really believed told the truth when they said +they sat down because unable to stand up any longer, and, of course, +instantly fell asleep. I had them relieved and sent back to camp, and +did not report their offence. + +A disagreeable duty I had to perform occurred one morning just at break +of day. I had just returned from my trip over the line and was about +entering the Lacey House, when I noticed a man running down towards the +water's edge on the other side of the river. On these night tours of +duty I wore a large cavalry overcoat with a long cape, which thoroughly +concealed my rank and sword. I stepped out to the top of the bank to see +what this man was doing, and he hailed me with: "Hello, Yank. I am going +to send ye over a nice boat, with tobacco and newspapers. Look out and +get her, and send her back with coffee and newspapers, and don't let any +of your d----d officers get hold of it. If they catch ye they'll raise +h----l with you, and swipe the whole business." I did not say a word, but +quietly walked down to where I saw the boat would touch the shore and +waited for it. In the mean time he kept up a running fire of admonitions +like the above, chiefly directed to the need of watching against the +vigilance of our d----d officers. I picked up the boat, took it up the +bank, and then threw my coat open, disclosing my sword and my sash as +officer of the day. Oh! the profanity and billingsgate that followed +beggars description. I thought I had heard swearing before, but never +anything to touch this fellow, and I really could not blame him very +much. He had simply hailed the wrong man. The man he thought he was +hailing, seeing my presence, kept out of the way. The boat was a little +beauty, one of the handsomest I ever saw. It contained five or six +pounds of the best Virginia plug tobacco and several newspapers from +Richmond. I would have been glad to have kept the boat as a souvenir, +but had to despatch it to head-quarters with all its contents at once. +Of course I never saw it again. + +The "Johnnies" were not without their fun, as well as our boys. Several +times I was saluted by their pickets as officer of the day. Army +regulations require the sentry nearest the picket reserve, on seeing the +officer of the day approach, to call out, "Turn out the guard, officer +of the day." Thereupon the officer of the picket parades his reserves, +which presents arms and is then inspected by the officer of the day. The +red sash worn crosswise over the shoulder is the insignia of the officer +of the day. Several times that winter, as I was riding along our line, a +rebel sentry yelled, "Turn out the guard, officer of the day," and a +sergeant paraded his guard, faced towards me across the river, and +presented arms. Of course, I lifted my cap in acknowledgment of the +compliment, even though it was a bit of deviltry on their part. This +indicated a grave want of discipline on the part of their troops. I am +sure such an act would not have been thought of by our men. + +General Burnside was relieved from command of the army on the 26th of +January, 1863, and was succeeded by Major-General Joseph Hooker. +"Fighting Joe," as he was familiarly called, was justly popular with the +army, nevertheless there was general regret at the retirement of +Burnside, notwithstanding his ill success. That there was more than the +"fates" against him was felt by many, and whether under existing +conditions "Fighting Joe" or any one else was likely to achieve any +better success was a serious question. However, all felt that the new +commander had lots of fight in him, and the old Army of the Potomac was +never known to "go back" on such a man. His advent as commander was +signalized by a modest order announcing the fact, and matters moved on +without a ripple upon the surface. Routine work, drills, and picket duty +occupied all our time. Some of our men were required to go on picket +duty every other day, so many were off duty from sickness and other +causes. Twenty-four hours on picket duty, with only twenty-four hours +off between, was certainly very severe duty, yet the men did it without +a murmur. When it is understood that this duty required being that whole +time out in the most trying weather, usually either rain, sleet, slush, +or mud, and constantly awake and alert against a possible attack, one +can form an idea of the strain upon physical endurance it involved. + +The chief event preceding the Chancellorsville movement was the grand +review of the army by President Lincoln and staff. The exact date of +this review I do not remember, but it occurred a short time before the +movement upon Chancellorsville. Owing to the absence of Colonel Albright +and the illness of Lieutenant-Colonel Shreve, the command of the +regiment devolved upon me, and I had a funny experience getting ready +for it. As a sort of preliminary drill, I concluded I would put the +regiment through a practice review on our drill grounds. To do this +properly, I had to imagine the presence of a reviewing officer standing +before our line at the proper distance of thirty to forty yards. The +ceremony involved opening the ranks, which brought the officers to the +front of the line, the presenting arms, and dipping the colors, which +the reviewing officer, usually a general, acknowledged by lifting his +hat and gracefully bowing. I had reached the point in my practice drill +where the "present arms" had been executed, and the colors lowered, and +had turned to the front myself to complete the ceremony by presenting +sword to my imaginary general, when lo! there rose up in front of me, in +the proper position, a real reviewing officer in the shape of one of the +worst looking army "bums" I ever saw. He assumed the position and +dignified carriage of a major-general, lifted his dirty old +"cabbage-leaf" cap, and bowed up and down the line with the grace and +air of a Wellington, and then he promptly skedaddled. The "boys" caught +the situation instantly and were bursting with laughter. Of course I +didn't notice the performance, but the effort not to notice it almost +used me up. This will illustrate how the army "bummer" never let an +opportunity slip for a practical joke, cost what it might. This fellow +was a specimen of this genus that was ubiquitous in the army. Every +regiment had one or more. They were always dirty and lousy, a sort of +tramp, but always on hand at the wrong time and in the wrong place. A +little indifferent sort of service could be occasionally worked out of +them, but they generally skulked whenever there was business on hand, +and then they were so fertile of excuses that somehow they escaped the +penalty and turned up again when the "business" was over. Their one +specialty was foraging. They were born foragers. What they could not +steal was not to be had, and this probably accounts in a measure for +their being endured. Their normal occupation was foraging and, +incidentally, Sancho Panza like, looking for adventure. They knew more +of our movements, and also of those of the enemy, than the commanding +general of either. One of the most typical of this class that I knew was +a young fellow I had known very well before the war. He was a shining +light in society, occupying a high and responsible business position. +His one fault was his good-fellowship and disposition to be convivial +when off duty. He enlisted among the first, when the war broke out in +1861, and I did not see him again until one day one of this genus +"bummer" strayed into our camp. He stuck his head into my tent and +wanted to know how "Fred Hitchcock was." I had to take a long second +look to dig out from this bunch of rags and filth my one-time Beau +Brummel acquaintance at home. His eyes were bleared, and told all too +surely the cause of the transformation. His brag was that he had skipped +every fight since he enlisted. "It's lots more fun," he said, "to climb +a tree well in the rear and see the show. It's perfectly safe, you know, +and then you don't get yourself killed and planted. What is the use," +he argued, "of getting killed and have a fine monument erected over you, +when you can't see it nor make any use of it after it is done? Let the +other fellows do that if they want to. I've no use for monuments." Poor +fellow, his cynical ideas were his ruin. Better a thousand times had he +been "planted" at the front, manfully doing his duty, than to save a +worthless life and return with the record of a poltroon, despised by +himself and everybody else. + +This review by President Lincoln and the new commander-in-chief, General +Hooker, was, from a military, spectacular point of view, the chief event +of our army experience. It included the whole of the great Army of the +Potomac, now numbering upward of one hundred and thirty thousand men, +probably its greatest numerical strength of the whole war. Deducting +picket details, there were present on this review, it is safe to say, +from ninety thousand to one hundred thousand men. It was a remarkable +event historically, because so far as I can learn it was the only time +this great army was ever paraded in line so that it could be seen all +together. In this respect it was the most magnificent military pageant +ever witnessed on this continent, far exceeding in its impressive +grandeur what has passed into history as the "great review," which +preceded the final "muster out" at the close of the war in the city of +Washington. At the latter not more than ten thousand men could have been +seen at one time, probably not nearly so many, for the eye could take in +only the column which filled Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the +Treasury Building. Whereas, upon our review the army was first drawn up +in what is known as three lines of "masses," and one glance of the eye +could take in the whole army. Think of it! One hundred thousand men in +one sweep of vision! If the word "Selah" in the Psalm means "stop! +think! consider!" it would be particularly appropriate here. + +A word now about the formation in "lines of masses." Each regiment was +formed in column of divisions. To those unfamiliar with military terms, +I must explain that this very common formation with large bodies of +troops consists in putting two companies together as a division under +the command of the senior officer, thus making of a regiment of ten +companies a column of five divisions, each two-company front. This was +known as "massing" the troops. When so placed in line they were called a +line of "masses;" when marching, a column of "masses." It will be seen +that the actual frontage of each regiment so formed was the width of two +companies only, the other eight companies being formed in like manner in +their rear. Now imagine four regiments so formed and placed side by +side, fronting on the same line and separated from each other by say +fifty feet, and you have a brigade line of masses. The actual frontage +of a brigade so formed would be considerably less than that of a single +regiment on dress parade. Now take three such brigades, separated from +each other by say fifty feet, and you have a division line of masses. +Three divisions made up an army corps. The army was formed in three +lines of masses, of two corps each, on the large open plain opposite +Fredericksburg, to the south and east of where the railroad crossed the +river. Each of these lines of masses contained from seventy to eighty +regiments of infantry, besides the artillery, which was paraded on the +several lines at different intervals. I do not remember seeing any +cavalry, and my impression is that this branch of the service was not +represented. Some idea may be formed of the magnificence of this +spectacle when I state that each of these lines of masses was more than +a mile in length, and the depth of the three lines from front to rear, +including the spaces between, was not less than four hundred yards, or +about one-fifth of a mile. Each of the regiments displayed its two +stands of silk colors, one the blue flag representing the State from +which it came, the other the national colors. There were here and there +a brace of these flags, very conspicuous in their brilliant newness, +indicating a fresh accession to the army, but most of them were tattered +and torn by shot and shell, whilst a closer look revealed the less +conspicuous but more deadly slits and punctures of the minie-balls. + +Now place yourself on the right of this army paraded for review and look +down the long lines. Try to count the standards as the favoring wind +lifts their sacred folds and caressingly shows you their battle scars. +You will need to look very closely, lest those miniature penants, far +away, whose staffs appear no larger than parlor matches protruding above +lines of men, whose forms in the distance have long since merged into a +mere bluish gray line, escape your eye. Your numbering will crowd the +five hundred mark ere you finish, and you should remember that each of +these units represented a thousand men when in the vigor and enthusiasm +of patriotic manhood they bravely marched to the front. Only a fifth of +them left? you say. And the others? Ah! the battle, the hospital, the +prison-pen, the h-ll of war, must be the answer. + +How can words describe the scene? This is that magnificent old battered +Army of the Potomac. Look upon it; you shall never behold its like +again. There have been and may yet be many armies greater in numbers, +and possibly, in all the paraphernalia of war, more showy. There can +never be another Army of the Potomac, with such a history. As I gazed up +and down those massive lines of living men, felt that I was one of them, +and saw those battle-scarred flags kissed by the loving breeze, my blood +tingled to my very finger-tips, my hair seemed almost to raise straight +up, and I said a thousand Confederacies can't whip us. And here I think +I grasped the main purpose of this review. It was not simply to give the +President a sight of his "strong right arm," as he fondly called the +Army of the Potomac, nor General Hooker, its new commander, an +opportunity to see his men and them a chance to see their new +chief,--though both of these were included,--but it was to give the army +a square look at its mighty self, see how large and how strong it really +was, that every man might thereby get the same enthusiasm and +inspiration that I did, and know that it simply could not be beaten. The +enemy, it is not strange to say, were intensely interested spectators of +this whole scene, for the review was held in full view of the whole of +their army. No place could have been chosen that would better have +accommodated their enjoyment of the picture, if such it was, than that +open plain, exactly in their front. And we could see them swarming over +Marye's Heights and the lines to the south of it, intently gazing upon +us. A scene more resplendent with military pageantry and the +soul-stirring accessories of war they will never see again. But did it +stir their blood? Yes; but with bitterness only, for they must have seen +that the task before them of successfully resisting the onslaughts of +this army was impossible. Here was disclosed, undoubtedly, another +purpose of this grand review, viz., to let the enemy see with their own +eyes how powerful the army was with which they had to contend. + +A remarkable feature of this review was the marvellous celerity of its +formation. The various corps and subdivisions of the army were started +on the march for the reviewing ground so as to reach it at about the +same time. It should be remembered that most of them were encamped from +four to eight miles away. Aides-de-camp with markers by the score were +already in position on the plain when the troops arrived, so that there +was almost no delay in getting into position. As our column debouched +upon the field, there seemed an inextricable mass of marching columns as +far as the eye could see. Could order ever be gotten out of it? Yet, +presto! the right of the line fell into position, a series of blue +blocks, and then on down to the far left, block after block, came upon +the line with unerring order and precision, as though it were a long +curling whiplash straightening itself out to the tension of a giant +hand. And so with each of the other two lines. All were formed +simultaneously. Here was not only perfection of military evolution, but +the poetry of rhythmic movement. The three lines were all formed within +twenty minutes, ready for the reviewing officers. + +Almost immediately the blare of the trumpets announced the approach of +the latter, and the tall form of the President was seen, accompanied by +a large retinue, galloping down the first line. Our division was formed, +as I recollect, in the first line, about three hundred yards from the +right. The President was mounted on a large, handsome horse, and as he +drew near I saw that immediately on his right rode his son, Robert +Lincoln, then a bright-looking lad of fourteen to fifteen years, and +little "Tad" Lincoln, the idol of his father, was on his left. The +latter could not have been more than seven or eight years old. He was +mounted on a large horse, and his little feet seemed to stick almost +straight out from the saddle. He was round and pudgy, and his jolly +little body bobbed up and down like a ball under the stiff canter of his +horse. I wondered how he maintained his seat, but he was really a better +horseman than his father, for just before reaching our regiment there +was a little summer stream ravine, probably a couple of yards wide, that +had to be jumped. The horses took it all right, but the President landed +on the other side with a terrific jounce, being almost unseated. The +boys went over flying, little "Tad" in high glee, like a monkey on a +mustang. + +Of course, a mighty cheer greeted the President as he galloped down the +long line. There was something indescribably weird about that huzzah +from the throats of these thousands of men, first full, sonorous, and +thrilling, and then as it rolled down that attenuated line gradually +fading into a minor strain until it was lost in the distance, only to +reappear as the cavalcade returned in front of the second line, first +the faintest note of a violin, then rapidly swelling into the full +volume, to again die away and for the third time reappear and die away +as the third line was reviewed. The President was followed by a large +staff dressed in full uniform, which contrasted strongly with his own +severely plain black. He wore a high silk hat and a plain frock coat. +His face wore that peculiar sombre expression we see in all his +photographs, but it lighted up into a half-smile as he occasionally +lifted his hat in acknowledgment of the cheering of the men. + +About one hundred yards in rear of the President's staff came the new +commanding general, "Fighting Joe." He was dressed in the full uniform +of a major-general, and was accompanied by his chief of staff, Seth +Williams--he who had held this position under every commander of the +Army of the Potomac thus far--and a large and brilliant staff. There +must have been fully twenty officers of various ranks, from his chief of +staff, a general, down through all grades to a lieutenant, in this corps +of staff officers. It was the first time I had seen General Hooker to +know him. His personal appearance did not belie his reputation. He had a +singularly strong, handsome face, sat his superb horse like a king, +broad-shouldered and elegantly proportioned in form, with a large, fine +head, well covered with rather long hair, now as white as the driven +snow and flowing in the wind as he galloped down the line, chapeau in +hand; he was a striking and picturesque figure. It was evident the head +of the army had lost nothing in personal appearance by its recent +change. The same cheering marked the appearance of "Fighting Joe" which +had greeted the President, as he and staff galloped down and up and +down through the three long lines. + +Both reviewing cavalcades moved at a brisk gallop, and occupied only +about twenty minutes covering the three miles of lines; and then the +President and staff took position, for the marching review, some +distance in front and about midway of the lines. Instantly the scene was +transformed. The first line wheeled into column by brigades successively +and, headed by General Hooker and staff, moved rapidly forward. There +were but few bands, and the drum corps had been consolidated into +division corps. On passing the President, General Hooker took position +by his side and remained throughout the remainder of the ceremony. The +troops marched in columns of masses, in the same formation they had +stood in line; that is, in column of two companies front and only six +yards between divisions. This made a very compact mass of troops, quite +unusual in reviews, but was necessary in order to avoid the great length +of time that in the usual formation would have been required for the +passing of this vast body of men. Yet in this close formation the +balance of the day was nearly consumed in marching past the President. + +It must have been a trying ordeal to him, as he had to lift his hat as +each stand of colors successively dipped in passing. Immediately on +passing the President, the several brigades were wheeled out of the +column and ordered to quarters. I remember that we returned to our camp, +over a mile distant, dismissed the men, and then several of us officers +rode back to see the continuation of the pageant. When we got back the +second line was only well on its way, which meant that only about half +the army had passed in review. We could see from fifteen to twenty +thousand men in column--that is to say, about one army corps--at a time. +The quick, vigorous step, in rhythmical cadence to the music, the fife +and drum, the massive swing, as though every man was actually a part of +every other man; the glistening of bayonets like a long ribbon of +polished steel, interspersed with the stirring effects of those historic +flags, in countless numbers, made a picture impressive beyond the power +of description. A picture of the ages. How glad I am to have looked upon +it. I could not remain to see the end. When finally I was compelled to +leave the third line was marching. I can still see that soul-thrilling +column, that massive swing, those flaunting colors, that sheen of +burnished steel! Majestic! Incomparable!! Glorious!!! + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE + + +An interesting item in the experience that winter at Falmouth was the +celebration of St. Patrick's day by the Irish brigade and their +multitude of friends. They were encamped about a mile to the south of +our brigade upon a beautiful, broad, open plain between the surrounding +hills, which gave them a superb parade and drill-ground. Upon this they +had laid out a mile race track in excellent shape, and they had provided +almost every conceivable sort of amusement that was possible to army +life--matches in running, jumping, boxing, climbing the greased pole, +sack races, etc. But the usual pig performance had to be omitted owing +to the enforced absence of the pig. The appearance of a live porker +would have stampeded the army in a wild chase for fresh meat. + +[Illustration: ON THE BATTLE-FIELD OF ANTIETAM + +Fourth Reunion of Survivors of 132d Regiment P. V., held Sept. 17, 1891, +on the ground occupied by the Regiment during the battle, in front of +Sunken Road, near Roulette House] + +The chief events were horse races. The army abounded in excellent +thoroughbreds, private property of officers, and all were anxious to +show the mettle of their steeds. Everybody was invited to be present and +take such part as he pleased in any of the events. It was a royal gala +day to the army; from morning until night there were excitement and +side-splitting amusement. Nor was there, throughout the whole day, a +thing, not even a small fight, that I heard of, to mar the wholesome +fun, until towards night our old enemy, John Barleycorn, managed to get +in some of his work. + +The chief event of the day and the wind-up was a hurdle and ditch race, +open to officers only. Hurdles and ditches alternated the course at a +distance of two hundred yards, except at the finish, where a hurdle and +ditch were together, the ditch behind the hurdle. Such a race was a +hare-brained performance in the highest degree; but so was army life at +its best, and this was not out of keeping with its surroundings. +Excitement was what was wanted, and this was well calculated to produce +it. + +The hurdles were four and five feet high and did not prove serious +obstacles to the jumpers, but the ditches, four and five feet wide and +filled with water, proved a _bęte noir_ to most of the racers. Some +twenty-five, all young staff-officers, started, but few got beyond the +first ditch. Many horses that took the hurdle all right positively +refused the ditch. Several officers were dumped at the first hurdle, and +two were thrown squarely over their horses' heads into the first ditch, +and were nice-looking specimens as they crawled out of that bath of +muddy water. They were unhurt, however, and remounted and tried it +again, with better success. + +The crowning incident of the day occurred at the finish of this race at +the combination hurdle and ditch. Out of the number who started, only +three had compassed safely all the hurdles and ditches and come to the +final leap. The horses were about a length apart each. The first took +the hurdle in good shape, but failed to reach the further bank of the +ditch and fell over sideways into it, carrying down his rider. Whilst +they were struggling to get out, the second man practically repeated the +performance and fell on the first pair, and the rear man, now unable to +check his horse, spurred him over, only to fall on the others. It was a +fearful sight for a moment, and it seemed certain that the officers were +killed or suffocated in that water, now thick with mud. But a hundred +hands were instantly to the rescue, and in less time than it takes to +tell it all were gotten out and, strange to say, the horses were unhurt +and only one officer seriously injured, a broken leg only to the bad for +the escapade. But neither officers nor horses were particularly handsome +as they emerged from that ditch. The incident can be set down as a +terrific finale to this first and last army celebration of St. Patrick's +day. + +The tedium of routine duty occupied our time without specially exciting +incident until pleasanter weather towards the middle of April brought +rumors of impending army movements again. About April 20 we heard the +cavalry under Stoneman were on the move, and this was confirmed the next +day, when I saw that general with quite a body of cavalry marching +leisurely north. The horses appeared in excellent condition after a +winter of partial rest. General Stoneman was a large man, with short +gray whiskers and gray hair and a strikingly bronzed red face. This +story was told of him anent this movement, that Hooker had told him to +do something with his horses; to cross the river at one of the fords +above and shake out his cavalry, that it was "about time the army saw a +dead cavalryman." Stoneman had replied, asking for materials to build +bridges with, and "Fighting Joe" had impatiently replied that he +wouldn't "give a d----n for a cavalryman who couldn't make a bridge +without materials," meaning who could not cross a river without a +bridge. + +Soon orders came to supply ourselves with extra ammunition, and be +prepared to move with six days' rations at a moment's notice. This +settled it that "business" was about to commence again in earnest. What +the contemplated movement was we had not the remotest idea, though we +knew, of course, it was to be another whack in some form at the Johnnies +on the other side of the river. We set about disposing of all surplus +baggage which had accumulated for winter quarters, and putting +everything in trim for field living once more. We could now see columns +of troops in the distance marching north. Was the new movement, then, to +be in that direction? This was the topic upon all lips. The desire to +know something of what was being done with us was naturally very strong. +Where were we going? What were we going to do? Yet a desire that in the +nature of things could not be satisfied. One can have no conception of +the feeling of going day after day blindly ahead, not knowing whither or +why; knowing only that sooner or later you are going to fetch up against +a fight, and calculating from your surroundings the probabilities of +when. + +We felt one satisfaction, however, that this was to be our last campaign +as a regiment. Most of our men had enlisted in the July previous for +nine months, and their time was now practically out; but, to their +credit be it said, they would not raise this question during an active +movement. There were troops who threw down their arms on the eve of +battle and refused to go into action because their time was out. Such +action has been severely criticised, and I think uncharitably. After a +man has honorably and patriotically served his full time and is entitled +to his discharge, it would seem pretty hard to force him to go into +battle and be killed or wounded. Nevertheless, as a matter of fact, +nearly this whole campaign was overtime for most of our regiment, yet +the question was not raised. + +On April 28 our corps broke camp and joined the column northward. The +winter's rest had brought some accessions to our ranks from the sick and +wounded, though the severe picket duty and the excessively damp weather +had given us a large sick list. We had, to start with, upward of three +hundred and seventy-five men, to which was added some twenty-five or +thirty from the sick list, who came up to us on the march. It is a +curious fact that many men left sick in camp, unable to march when the +regiment leaves, will get themselves together after the former has been +gone a few hours and pull out to overtake it. I saw men crying like +children because the surgeon had forbidden them going with the regiment. +The loneliness and homesickness, or whatever you please to call it, +after the regiment has gone are too much for them. They simply cannot +endure it, and so they strike out and follow. They will start by easy +marches, and they generally improve in health from the moment they +start. Courage and nerve are both summoned for the effort, and the +result is that at the end of the second or third day they rejoin the +regiment and report for duty. This does not mean that they were not +really sick, but that will power and exercise have beaten the disease. I +have heard many a sick man say he would rather die than be left behind. + +We marched about six miles the first day, much of our route being +through a wooded country, some of it so wet and spongy that corduroy +roads had to be built for the wagons and artillery. The army can, as a +rule, move as rapidly as it can move its artillery and supply trains, +and no faster. Of course, for short distances and special expeditions, +where circumstances require, both cavalry and infantry move very +rapidly, ignoring the wagon trains and artillery; but on a general +campaign this is impossible, and so where the ground is bad these must +be helped along. In a wooded country the usual method is by corduroy +road. Extra details are made to assist the pioneer corps, who cut down +young saplings three to six inches in diameter and about six feet in +length and lay them side by side on the ground, which is roughly +levelled to receive them. They do not make a handsome road to speed +over, but they bear up the artillery and army schooners, and that is all +that is wanted of them. + +The second day we crossed the Rappahannock at United States ford on a +pontoon bridge. There had been a sharp skirmish here when the first +troops crossed a couple of days before, and a battery of artillery was +still in position guarding the crossing. We now began to experience once +more the unmistakable symptoms of approaching battle,--sharp spurts of +cannonading at irregular intervals some distance to the south and west +of us, with the hurry of marching troops, ambulances and stretcher corps +towards the front; more or less of army débris scattered about, and the +nervous bustle everywhere apparent. We reached the famous +Chancellorsville House shortly after midnight. This was an old-time +hostelry, situated on what was called the Culpeper plank-road. It stood +with two or three smaller houses in a cleared square space containing +some twenty or thirty acres, in the midst of the densest forest of trees +and undergrowth I ever saw. We had marched all day on plank and corduroy +roads, through this wild tanglewood forest, most of the time in a +drizzling rain, and we had been much delayed by the artillery trains, +and it was after midnight when we reached our destination. The distance +marched must have been twelve or more miles, and our men became greatly +fatigued towards the last. + +It was my first experience with the regiment on the march in the field +in my new position as major. As adjutant my place had been with the +colonel at the head of the column. Now my duties required me to march in +the rear and keep up the stragglers. After nightfall it became intensely +dark, and at each rest the men would drop down just where they were and +would be instantly sound asleep. Whether they dropped down into mud or +not made little difference to many of them, for they were soaking wet +and were so exhausted that they did not care. My troubles began when the +"forward" was sounded, to arouse these seeming logs and get them on +their feet once more and started. All who were practically exhausted had +drifted to the rear and were on my hands. We had a provost guard in the +rear, whose duty it was to bring up every man and permit no straggling, +but they were in almost as bad a plight as the rest of the regiment. To +arouse these sleeping men I had occasionally to resort to a smart blow +with the flat of my sword and follow it up with the most energetic +orders and entreaties. An appeal to their pluck and nerve was generally +sufficient, and they would summon new courage and push manfully on. My +own condition was scarcely better than that of the men. I rode that +night considerable distances between our halts for rest, sitting bolt +upright in my saddle fast asleep. I had all day alternated with some of +the men in marching whilst they rode, and was not only thoroughly tired, +but wet through. The march was much more trying to us because of our +unseasoned condition owing to the long winter's exemption from this +exercise. Furthermore, we had been marching towards the firing, and were +under the nervous strain always incident to operations in the presence +of the enemy. Nothing will quicker exhaust men than the nervous tension +occasioned by the continued firing which indicates the imminence of a +battle. + +At daylight we were aroused and under arms again. We found we were at +the head-quarters of the army. The Chancellorsville House, which had +been vacated by its occupants, was used for office purposes, and much of +the open space around it was occupied by the tents of General Hooker and +staff and hospital tents. Of the latter there were three or four pitched +so as to connect with each other, and over them was flying the yellow +flag of the corps hospital. The First and Third Divisions of our Second +Corps were massed in this Chancellorsville square, beside Pettit's +battery. Our brigade now consisted of the Fourth New York, First +Delaware, and our regiment. The first named was sent off on some +guard duty, which left Colonel Albright, of our regiment, the senior +officer in command of the brigade. The ominous rattle of musketry +not far away became momentarily more pronounced, and ambulances and +stretcher-carriers were passing back and forth to the hospitals, +carrying wounded men. The dead body of a regular army captain was soon +brought back from the front, where Sykes's division of regulars was +sharply engaged. I do not know the name of this captain, but he was a +fine-looking young officer. He had been killed by a minie-ball squarely +through his forehead. + +We were marching out the plank-road as they brought this body in. +Passing out of the clearing, the woods and undergrowth each side the +road was so dense that we could not see into it a half-dozen steps. We +had gone possibly a quarter of a mile when we were overtaken by a +staff-officer, who in whispers ordered us to turn back, regardless of +orders from the front, and get back to the Chancellorsville House as +rapidly as possible, and to do so absolutely noiselessly; that a heavy +force of rebels were in the woods on both sides of us, and we were in +great danger of being cut to pieces and captured. We obeyed, and he +rapidly worked his way to the front of the brigade and succeeded very +quickly in getting us all safely out. We formed line near the +Chancellorsville House and were resting on our arms when I noticed +another brigade going down that same road from which we had just been so +hurriedly gotten out. The circumstance was so strange that I inquired +what brigade it was, and learned that it was Colonel (afterwards +Governor) James A. Beaver's brigade of Hancock's division of our corps. +They had been gone but a short time when the rebels opened upon them +from both sides of the road, and they were very roughly handled. Colonel +Beaver was soon brought back, supposed mortally wounded. I saw him as he +was brought to the rear. It was said he was shot through the body. +Afterwards, whilst he was governor, I mentioned the circumstance to him, +and asked how he succeeded in fighting off the last enemy at that time. +He said he then fully believed his wound was mortal. The bullet had +struck him nearly midway of his body and appeared to have passed through +and out of his back, and he was bleeding freely. He was brought to the +hospital, where the corps surgeon--his own family physician at +home--found him, and with an expression of countenance indicating the +gravest fear proceeded to examine his wound. Suddenly, with a sigh of +relief, he exclaimed: "Colonel, you are all right; the ball has struck a +rib and followed it around and out." It was one of the hundreds of +remarkable freaks performed by those ugly minie-balls during the war. +Why that brigade should have been allowed to march into that ambuscade, +from which we had so narrowly escaped, I could not understand. It was +one of the early _faux pas_ of that unfortunate comedy, rather tragedy +of errors,--battle. + +In view of the events of the next two days, it will be interesting to +recall the somewhat windy order published to the army by General Hooker +on the morning of the 1st of May, the date of the first day's battle, on +which the events narrated in the last chapter occurred. This is the +order: + + HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, VA., + April 30, 1863. + + It is with heartfelt satisfaction the commanding general announces + to the army that the operations of the last three days have + determined that our enemy must either ingloriously fly or come out + from behind his defences and give us battle on our own ground, when + certain destruction awaits him. + + * * * * * + + By command of Major-General Hooker. + + S. WILLIAMS, + _Asst. Adjt.-Gen'l._ + +My recollection recalls a phrase in this order reading something like +this: "We have got the enemy where God Almighty can't save him, and he +must either ingloriously," etc. I have been surprised not to find it in +the records, and my memory is not alone in this respect, for a +lieutenant-colonel of Portland, Me., in his account of this battle +alludes to Hooker's blasphemous order. + +The purpose of this order was to encourage the men and inspire them with +the enthusiasm of forthcoming victory. But when we consider that the +portion of the army operating around Chancellorsville was at that very +moment apparently as thoroughly caged up in a wilderness of almost +impenetrable undergrowth, which made it impossible to move troops, and +into which one could not see a dozen feet, as though they were actually +behind iron bars, it will be seen how little ground there was for +encouragement. I can think of no better comparison of the situation than +to liken it to a fleet of ships enveloped in a dense fog endeavoring to +operate against another having the advantage of the open. + +It will be remembered that when this movement commenced the Army of the +Potomac numbered from one hundred and twenty thousand to one hundred and +thirty thousand men, about double the opposing rebel force. Hooker +divided this army, taking with him four corps, numbering probably +seventy thousand men, to operate from Chancellorsville towards +Fredericksburg, and leaving three corps, about fifty thousand men, under +Sedgwick, to move upon the latter place from below. The purpose was to +get Lee's army between these two forces and crush him. All historians of +this battle agree that up to a certain point Hooker's strategy was most +admirable. General Pleasanton, who commanded our cavalry forces in that +action, says that up to a certain point the movement on Chancellorsville +was one of the most brilliant in the annals of war. He put that point at +the close of Thursday, April 30. He had made a full reconnoissance of +all that country and had informed General Hooker of the nature of the +ground, that for a depth of from four to five miles it was all unbroken +tanglewood of the densest undergrowth, in which it was impossible to +manoeuvre an army or to know anything of the movements of the enemy; +that beyond this wilderness the country was open and well adapted to +military movements, and he had taken occasion to urge upon him the +importance of moving forward at once, so as to meet the enemy in open +ground, but his information and advice, he tells us, fell upon leaden +ears. + +Lee had, up to this time, no information of the movement upon +Chancellorsville, having been wholly occupied with Sedgwick at +Fredericksburg. The former was therefore a complete surprise to him. +The "golden moment," according to Pleasanton, to move forward and carry +the battle out into the open, where the army could have been handled and +would have had a chance, was on that day, as instantly the movement was +disclosed, the enemy, being familiar with every foot of the country, +would detach a sufficient force to operate in the open, and along the +edge of the wilderness could keep us practically bottled up there and +beat us in detail; and that is precisely what seems to have been done. +The inexplicable question is, Why did fighting "Joe Hooker," with +seventy thousand as good troops as ever fired a gun, sit down in the +middle of that tanglewood forest and allow Lee to make a monkey of him +while Sedgwick was doing such magnificent work below? + +Two distinguished participants in all these events holding high +commands, namely, General Alfred Pleasanton, quoted above, and General +Doubleday, commanding First Division, First Army Corps, have written +articles upon this battle, agreeing on the feasibility and brilliancy of +the movement, but by inference and things unsaid have practically left +the same question suspended in the air. It is possible the correct +answer should not now be given. + +To return to our own doings, on that Friday, 1st of May, our division +was drawn up in line of battle in front of the Chancellorsville House, +and we were permitted to rest on our arms. This meant that any moment we +might be expected to move forward. The battle was now on in earnest. +Heavy firing was heard some miles below us, which was Sedgwick's work at +Fredericksburg. Nearer by there was cannonading and more or less severe +musketry firing. Ambulances and stretcher-carriers were constantly +coming back from the front with wounded soldiers, taking them to the +field hospital, which was just in our rear, and we could see the growing +piles of amputated legs and arms which were thrown outside with as +little care as if they were so many pieces of wood. We were evidently +waiting for something, nobody seemed to know what. Everything appeared +to be "at heads." Our corps and division commanders, Couch, Hancock, and +French, with their staffs, were in close proximity to the troops, and +all seemed to be in a condition of nervous uncertainty. What might be +progressing in those black woods in front, was the question. A nearer +volley of musketry would start everybody up, and we would stand arms in +hand, as if expecting the unseen enemy to burst through the woods upon +us. Then the firing would slacken and we would drop down again for a +time. + +In the mean time shells were screeching over us continually, and an +occasional bullet would whiz uncomfortably near. The nervous strain +under such conditions may be imagined. This state of affairs continued +all through Friday night and most of Saturday. Of course, sleep was out +of the question for any of our officers. On Thursday and Friday nights +the men got snatches of sleep, lying on their arms, between the times +all were aroused against some fresh alarm. + +On Saturday some beef cattle were driven up and slaughtered in the open +square in front of our lines, and the details were progressing with the +work of preparing the meat for issue when the storm of disaster of +Saturday afternoon burst upon us and their work was rudely interrupted. +We had anxious premonitions of this impending storm for some hours. +Captain Pettit, who commanded the famous battery of that name, which was +posted immediately in our rear, had spent much of his time in the +forenoon of Saturday high up in a tall tree which stood just in front of +the Chancellorsville House and close to our line, with his field glass +reconnoitring. Several times he had come down with information that +heavy bodies of the enemy were massing for a blow upon our front and +where he believed they would strike. This information, we were told, he +imparted to Hooker's chief of staff, and begged permission to open at +long range with his rifled guns, but no attention was paid to him. I saw +him up the tree and heard some of his ejaculating, which indicated that +he was almost wild with apprehension of what was coming. Once on coming +down he remarked to General Hancock that we would "catch h----l in less +than an hour." The latter seemed to be thoroughly alive to the situation +and exceedingly anxious, as were Couch and French, to do something to +prepare for what was coming, yet nothing more was done until suddenly +the firing, which had been growing in volume and intensity and gradually +drawing nearer, developed in a storm of musketry of terrific fury +immediately in our right front, apparently not more than three hundred +yards away. + +We could not see a thing. What there might be between us and it, or +whether it was the onslaught of the enemy or the firing of our troops, +we knew not. But we had not long to wait. Soon stragglers, few in +numbers, began to appear, emerging from the woods into our clearing, and +then more of them, these running, and then almost at once an avalanche +of panic-stricken, flying men without arms, without knapsacks, many +bareheaded, swearing, cursing, a wild, frenzied mob tearing to the rear. +Instantly they began to appear, General Couch, commanding our corps, +took in the situation and deployed two divisions to catch and hold the +fugitives. Part of the Third Corps was also deployed on our left. We +were ordered to charge bayonets and permit no man to pass through our +ranks. We soon had a seething, howling mob of Dutchmen twenty to thirty +feet in depth in front of our line, holding them back on the points of +our bayonets, and still they came. Every officer of our division, with +drawn sword and pistol, was required to use all possible endeavor to +hold them, and threatening to shoot the first man who refused to stand +as ordered. General French and staff were galloping up and down our +division line assisting in this work. + +In the mean time another line of battle was rapidly thrown in between +these fugitives and the woods to stay the expected advance of the enemy. +This was the famous break of the Eleventh Corps, starting with Blenker's +division and finally extending through the whole corps, some fifteen +thousand men. It seemed as though the whole army was being stampeded. We +soon had a vast throng of these fugitives dammed up in our front, a +terrible menace to the integrity of our own line as well as of all in +our rear. We were powerless to do anything should the enemy break +through, and were in great danger of being ourselves swept away and +disintegrated by this frantic mob. All this time the air was filled with +shrieking shells from our own batteries as well as those of the enemy, +doing, however, little damage beyond adding to the terror of the +situation. The noise was deafening. Pandemonium seemed to reign supreme +in our front. Our line, as well as that of the Third Corps on our left, +was holding firm as a rock. I noticed a general officer, I thought it +was General Sickles, was very conspicuous in the vigor of his efforts to +hold the line. A couple of fugitives had broken through his line and +were rapidly going to the rear. I heard him order them to halt and turn +back. One of them turned and cast a look at him, but paid no further +attention to his order. He repeated the order in stentorian tones, this +time with his pistol levelled, but it was not obeyed, and he fired, +dropping the first man dead in his tracks. He again ordered the other +man to halt, and it was sullenly obeyed. These men seemed to be almost +stupid, deaf to orders or entreaty in their frenzy. + +An incident in our own front will illustrate. I noticed some extra +commotion near our colors and rushed to see the cause. I found an +officer with drawn sword threatening to run the color-sergeant through +if he was not allowed to pass. He was a colonel and evidently a German. +My orders to him to desist were answered with a curse, and I had to +thrust my pistol into his face, with an energetic threat to blow his +head off if he made one more move, before he seemed to come to his +senses. I then appealed to him to see what an example he as an officer +was setting, and demanded that he should get to work and help to stem +the flight of his men rather than assist in their demoralization. To his +credit be it said, he at once regained his better self, and thenceforth +did splendid work up and down amongst these German fugitives, and later +on, when they were moved to the rear, he rendered very material +assistance. I did not learn who he was, but he was a splendid-looking +officer and spoke both English and German fluently. + +One may ask why those men should have lost their heads so completely. To +answer the question intelligently, one needs to put oneself into their +place. The facts as we were told at the time were: That the Eleventh +Corps, which contained two divisions of German troops, under Schurz and +Blenker (I think Steinwehr commanded the latter division in this +action), was posted on the right of Hooker's line in the woods, some +distance in front and to the right of the Chancellorsville House. That +at the time Stonewall Jackson made his famous attack, above referred to, +he caught one of those divisions "napping"--off their guard. They had +stacked their guns and knapsacks, and were back some twenty yards, +making their evening coffee, when suddenly the rebel skirmishers burst +through the brush upon them, followed immediately by the main line, and +before they realized it were between these troops and their guns. +Consternation reigned supreme in an instant and a helter-skelter flight +followed. Jackson followed up this advantage with his usual impetuosity, +and although the other divisions of the Eleventh made an effort to hold +their ground, this big hole in the line was fatal to them and all were +quickly swept away. Of course, the division and brigade commanders were +responsible for that unpardonable carelessness. No valid excuse can be +made for such criminal want of watchfulness, especially for troops +occupying a front line, and which had heard, or should have heard, as +we a half mile farther in the rear had, all the premonitions of the +coming storm. But it was an incident showing the utter folly of the +attempt to maintain a line of battle in the midst of a dense +undergrowth, through which nothing could be seen. It is exceedingly +doubtful whether they could have held their line against Jackson's onset +under those conditions had they been on the alert, for he would have +been on and over them almost before they could have seen him. To resist +such an onset needs time to deliver a steady volley and then be ready +with the bayonet. + +It was towards six o'clock in the evening when this flying mob struck +our lines, and darkness had fallen before we were rid of them and +something like order had been restored. In the mean time it certainly +seemed as if everything was going to pieces. I got a little idea of what +a panic-stricken army means. The fearful thing about it was, we knew it +was terribly contagious, and that with all the uncertainties in that +black wilderness from which this mob came and the pandemonium in +progress all about us, it might seize our own troops and we be swept +away to certain destruction in spite of all our efforts. It is said +death rides on horseback with a fleeing army. Nothing can be more +horrible. Hence a panic must be stopped, cost what it may. Night +undoubtedly came to our rescue with this one. + +One of the most heroic deeds I saw done to help stem the fleeing tide of +men and restore courage was not the work of a battery, nor a charge of +cavalry, but the charge of a band of music! The band of the Fourteenth +Connecticut went right out into that open space between our new line +and the rebels, with shot and shell crashing all about them, and played +"The Star-Spangled Banner," the "Red, White, and Blue," and "Yankee +Doodle," and repeated them for fully twenty minutes. They never played +better. Did that require nerve? It was undoubtedly the first and only +band concert ever given under such conditions. Never was American grit +more finely illustrated. Its effect upon the men was magical. Imagine +the strains of our grand national hymn, "The Star-Spangled Banner," +suddenly bursting upon your ears out of that horrible pandemonium of +panic-born yells, mingled with the roaring of musketry and the crashing +of artillery. To what may it be likened? The carol of birds in the midst +of the blackest thunder-storm? No simile can be adequate. Its strains +were clear and thrilling for a moment, then smothered by that fearful +din, an instant later sounding bold and clear again, as if it would +fearlessly emphasize the refrain, "Our flag is still there." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE--CONTINUED + + +Recurring again to the incident of the band playing out there between +the two hostile lines in the midst of that panic of the Eleventh Corps, +it was a remarkable circumstance that none of them were killed. I think +one or two were slightly wounded by pieces of exploding shells, and one +or two of their instruments carried away scars from that scene. The +rebels did not follow up their advantage, as we expected, probably owing +to the effective work of our batteries, otherwise they would all have +been either killed or captured. None of the enemy came into our clearing +that I saw. We must have corralled upward of eight thousand of our +demoralized men. Some had their arms, most of them had none, which +confirmed the story of their surprise narrated in the last chapter. They +were marched to the rear under guard, and thus the further spread of the +panic was avoided. + +It was now dark and the firing ceased, but only for a few moments, for +the two picket-lines were posted so close together, neither knowing +exactly where the other was, that both were exceedingly nervous; and the +slightest movement, the stepping of a picket, the scurry of a rabbit, +would set the firing going again. First it would be the firing of a +single musket, then the quick rattle of a half-dozen, then the whole +line with the reserves, for all were on the line together there; and +then the batteries, of which there were now at least a half-dozen massed +right around us, would open with terrific vigor, all firing into the +darkness, whence the enemy was supposed to be coming. This continued at +short intervals all night long. + +After the mob of fugitives had been disposed of, our division had formed +in line of battle directly in front of the Chancellorsville House, +supporting the provisional line which had been hurriedly thrown in to +cover the break of the Eleventh Corps, and we were "resting (?) on our +arms." At each of these alarms every man was instantly on his feet, with +guns at a "ready." General French and staff were close to us, and +General Couch and his staff only a few feet away. All were exceedingly +nervous and keenly on the alert. It was a night of terrific experience +long to be remembered. + +The nervous strain upon all was simply awful. We knew that the Eleventh +Corps had been stampeded by the impetuous charge of Stonewall Jackson, +and we felt sure he would seek to reap the fruits of the break he had +made by an effort to pierce our centre, and this we would have to meet +and repel when it came. We did not then know that in the general mix-up +of that fateful afternoon that able and intrepid leader had himself +fallen and was then dying. This fact, fortunate for us, undoubtedly +accounts for the failure of the expected onset to materialize. We could +probably have held him, for we had two divisions of the Second Corps and +part of the Third Corps in double lines, all comparatively fresh, and +before midnight the First Corps was in position on our right. But the +slaughter would have been horrible. + +After midnight these outbursts became less frequent, and we officers lay +down with the men and tried to sleep. I do not think any of our general +officers or their staffs even sat down that whole night, so apprehensive +were they of the descent of the rebels upon our position. I said in the +last chapter that on Saturday morning some beef cattle were slaughtered +near our line for issue to our division; that the work of distribution +had not been completed before the panic came, and then these carcasses +of beef were between ours and the rebel line on "debatable ground." This +was too much for some of our men, and two or three crawled out to them +during the night and helped themselves to such cuts as they could make +from our side. One party next day told of being surprised by hearing +cutting on the other side of the beef, and found, on investigating, that +a "Johnny" was there, when the following colloquy took place: + +"Hello, Johnny, are ye there?" + +"Yes, Yank; too bad to let this 'fresh' spoil. I say, Yank, lend me your +knife, mine's a poor one. We 'uns and you 'uns is all right here. Yank, +I'll help you if you'll help me, and we'll get all we want." + +The knife was passed over, and these two foes helped each other in that +friendly darkness. How much actual truth there was in this story I do +not know, but I do know that there was considerable fresh beef among the +men in the morning, and it was not at all unlikely that the Johnnies +also profited by the presence of that "fresh" between the lines. +Soldiers of either army would run almost any risk to get a bit of fresh +beef. + +The next morning we were ordered to pile up our knapsacks and make a +breastwork of them for such protection as they might afford, in +anticipation of the still expected attack. We managed to make a cup of +coffee and eat a hardtack without getting off our guard for an instant, +and about ten o'clock the First Brigade, now Carroll's, and ours, +consisting of two regiments only, the First Delaware and ours, under +command of our Colonel Albright, were ordered forward into the woods to +the right of the Chancellorsville House. This was the opening of the +third day's battle. We moved forward in excellent line until we struck +the edge of the woods. The moment the crackling of the brush under our +feet apprised the enemy of our advance we received a heavy volley, which +must have been very hurriedly delivered, for it passed over our heads, +not a man being hit, I think. The morning was lowering and misty and the +air very light, so that the smoke made by the rebel volley, not more +than fifty yards away, hung like a chalk line and indicated their exact +position. The sudden retirement of our lieutenant-colonel at this point +placed the command of the regiment on me, and I shouted to the men to +aim below that line of smoke and then gave the order, fire by battalion, +and we emptied our guns as one man, reloaded, and receiving no reply to +our volley, moved forward through the thick brush and undergrowth. We +soon came upon the rebel line, and a dreadful sight it was. The first +officer I saw was a rebel captain, an Irishman. He ejaculated, "We're +all killed! We're all killed!" and offered to surrender. The commanding +officer must have suffered the fate of his men. Most of them were either +killed or wounded. The hundred or so living promptly threw down their +arms, and Colonel Albright sent them to the rear under guard. This Irish +captain vouchsafed the remark sotto voce that he was glad to be +captured, that he'd been trying to get out of the d----n Confederacy for +a year. Our battalion volley had exactly reached its mark and had done +fearful execution. There must have been more than two hundred lying +there either dead or wounded, marking their line of battle. This was the +only instance in my war experience where we delivered a volley as a +battalion. The usual order of firing in line of battle is by "file," +each man firing as rapidly as he can effectively, without regard to any +other man. The volley they had delivered at us was a battalion volley, +and it would have effectively disposed of our advance had it been well +delivered. Fortunately for us, it was not, and their smoke-line gave us +the opportunity to deliver a very effective counter-stroke. It had to be +quickly done, we were so close together. There was no time to meditate. +It was us or them. Instantly I resolved to give them all we could, +aiming well under their line of smoke, and take our chances with the +bayonet if necessary. The order was calmly given and the volley was +coolly delivered. I have never heard a better one. The value of coolness +in delivering and the effectiveness of such a volley were clearly +demonstrated in this instance. + +We again moved forward, working our way through the tangled undergrowth, +and had gained probably five or six hundred yards when we encountered +another line, and sharp firing began on both sides. We could see the +enemy dodging behind trees and stumps not more than one hundred yards +away. We also utilized the same shelter, and therefore suffered +comparatively little. Suddenly I found bullets beginning to come from +our left and rear as well as from our front. Two of these bullets had +been aimed at me as I stood behind a small tree on our line. The first +knowledge I had of them was from the splinters of bark in my face from +the tree, first one and then the other in quick succession as the +bullets struck, not more than three inches from my head. They were +fairly good shots. I was thankful they were no better. But now I had to +move a couple of companies to the left to meet this flank attack. It did +not prove a serious matter, and the enemy was quickly driven back. The +same thing was tried shortly after on our right flank, and was again +disposed of the same way. They were probably groups of sharpshooters +hunting for our officers. One of them, I happened to know, never went +back, for I saw one of our sergeants kill him. I was at that moment +standing by him, when he clapped his hand to his ear and exclaimed, +"That was a 'hot one,'" as a bullet just ticked it. "There is the devil +who did it. See him behind that bush?" and with that he aimed and fired. +The fellow rolled over dead. + +We soon had the better of this fighting and our opponents withdrew. We +seemed now to be isolated. We must have been nearly a half mile from +where we entered the woods. We could not see nor hear of any troops on +our immediate right or left. Colonel Albright came back to consult as to +what was best to be done now. The brush and undergrowth were exceedingly +dense. What there might be on our right or left we could not know +without sending skirmishers out. The colonel said his orders were to +advance and engage the enemy. No orders had come to him since our +advance commenced, two hours and more before. We had met and beaten two +lines of the enemy. Should we continue the advance or retire and get +further orders? My advice was to retire; that with our small force, not +more than five hundred men, isolated in that dense wood, we were liable +to be gobbled up. The colonel agreed with this view and ordered the line +faced about and marched to the rear. I mention this consultation over +the situation because here we were, two young men, who knew almost +nothing about military matters beyond obeying orders, suddenly called +upon to exercise judgment in a critical situation. Bravery suggested +push ahead and fight. To retire savored of over-prudence. Nevertheless, +it seemed to us we had no business remaining out there without +connection with other troops on either right or left, and this decided +the colonel to order the retreat. + +We moved back in line of battle in excellent order and quite leisurely, +having no opposition and, so far as we knew, no troops following us. We +came out into the clearing just where we had entered the woods two hours +before. But here we met a scene that almost froze our blood. During our +absence some half-dozen batteries, forty or more guns, had been massed +here. Hurried earthworks had been thrown up, covering the knapsacks our +brigade had left there when we advanced. These guns were not forty yards +away and were just waiting the order to open on those woods right where +we were. As we emerged from the brush, our colors, fortunately, were a +little in advance, and showed through before the line appeared. Their +timely appearance, we were told, saved us from being literally blown to +pieces by those batteries. A second later the fatal order would have +been given and our brigade would have been wiped out of existence by our +own guns! + +As we came out of the woods an aide galloped down to us, his face +perfectly livid, and in a voice portraying the greatest excitement +shouted to Colonel Albright: "What in h----l and d-mnation are you doing +here? Get out of here! Those woods are full of rebel troops, and we are +just waiting to open on them." Albright replied very coolly, "Save your +ammunition. There is not a rebel within a half mile, for we have just +marched back that distance absolutely unmolested. Why haven't you sent +us orders? We went in here two hours ago, and not an order have we +received since." He replied, "We have sent a dozen officers in to you +with orders, and they all reported that you had been captured." Albright +answered, "They were a lot of cowards, for there hasn't been a minute +since we advanced that an officer could not have come directly to us. +There is something wrong about this. I will go and see General Hooker." +And directing me to move the troops away from the front of those guns, +he started for General Hooker's head-quarters, only a short distance +away. As I was passing the right of that line of batteries a voice +hailed me, and I turned, and there stood one of my old Scranton friends, +Captain Frank P. Amsden, in command of his battery. Said he, as he +gripped my hand, "Boy, you got out of those woods just in time. Our guns +are double-shotted with grape and canister; the word 'fire' was just on +my lips when your colors appeared." I saw his gunners standing with +their hands on the lanyards. After forty years my blood almost creeps as +I recall that narrow escape. + +We now moved to the rear across the plank-road from the Chancellorsville +House in the woods, where we supported Hancock's line. Colonel Albright +soon returned from his visit to Hooker's head-quarters. His account of +that visit was most remarkable, and was substantially as follows: "I +scratched on the flap of the Hooker head-quarters' tent and instantly an +officer appeared and asked what was wanted. I said I must see General +Hooker, that I had important information for him. He said, 'You cannot +see General Hooker; I am chief of staff; any information you have for +the commanding general should be given to me.' I said, 'I must see +General Hooker,' and with that pushed myself by him into the tent, and +there lay General Hooker, apparently dead drunk. His face and position +gave every indication of that condition, and I turned away sick and +disgusted." It was subsequently stated that General Hooker was +unconscious at that time from the concussion of a shell. That he was +standing on the porch of the Chancellorsville House, leaning against one +of its supports, when a shell struck it, rendering him unconscious. The +incident narrated above occurred about one P.M. on Sunday, May 3. The +army was practically without a commander from this time until after +sundown of that day, when General Hooker reappeared and in a most +conspicuous manner rode around between the lines of the two armies. If +he was physically disabled, why was not the fact made known at once to +the next officer in rank, whose duty it would have been to have assumed +command of the army, and if possible stem the tide of defeat now rapidly +overwhelming us? A half-day of most precious time would have been saved. +That this was not done I happen to know from the following +circumstances. + +In our new position we were only about fifty yards behind General +Hancock's line. The head-quarters at this time of General Couch, +commanding our corps; of General French, commanding our division, and of +General Hancock were all at the right of our regiment, behind our line. +These generals and their staffs were resting, as were our troops, and +they were sitting about, only a few feet away from us. We therefore +heard much of their conversation. Directly General Howard joined them. I +well remember his remarks concerning the behavior of his corps on the +previous afternoon. His chagrin was punctured with the advice of old +French to shoot a few dozen of them for example's sake. Naturally, the +chief subject of their conversation related to the present situation. It +was perfectly clear they regarded it as very critical. We could hear +heavy cannonading in the distance towards Fredericksburg. Several times +Hancock broke out with a savage oath as he impatiently paced up and +down, swinging his sword. "They are knocking Sedgwick to pieces. Why +don't we go forward?" or a similar ejaculation, and then, "General +Couch, why do you not assume command and order us forward? It is your +duty." (The latter was next in rank to Hooker.) + +To which General Couch replied, "I cannot assume command." French and +Howard agreed with Hancock, but Couch remained imperturbable, saying, +"When I am properly informed that General Hooker is disabled and not in +command, I shall assume the duty which will devolve upon me." And so +hour after hour passed of inactivity at this most critical juncture. +They said it was plain Lee was making simply a show of force in our +front whilst he had detached a large part of his army and was driving +Sedgwick before him down at Fredericksburg. Now, why this period of +inactivity whilst Sedgwick was being punished? Why this interregnum in +the command? When Colonel Albright returned from his call at Hooker's +tent, narrated above, he freely expressed his opinion that Hooker's +condition was as stated above. His views were then generally believed by +those about head-quarters, and this was understood as the reason why the +next officer in rank was not officially notified of his chief's +disability and the responsibility of the command placed upon him. +Nothing was then said about the concussion of a shell. It is profoundly +to be hoped that Colonel Albright's impression was wrong, and that the +disability was produced, as alleged, by concussion of a shell. If so, +there was a very grave dereliction of duty on the part of his chief of +staff in not imparting the fact immediately to General Couch, the +officer next in rank, and devolving the command upon him. + +In our new position on the afternoon of Sunday, the third day's battle, +we were subjected to a continuous fire of skirmishers and sharpshooters, +without the ability of replying. We laid up logs for a barricade and +protected ourselves as well as we could. Several were wounded during +the afternoon, among them Captain Hall, of Company I. His was a most +singular wound. We were all lying prone upon the ground, when suddenly +he spoke rather sharply and said he had got a clip on his knee. He said +it was an insignificant flesh wound, but his leg was benumbed. He tried +to step on it, but could not bear his weight on it, and very soon it +became exceedingly painful, and his ankle swelled to double its natural +size. He was taken back to one of the hospitals, where it was found a +minie-ball had entered his leg above the knee and passed down between +the bones to the ankle, where it was removed. This practically ended the +service of one of the youngest of our captains, a brave and brilliant +young officer. + +Towards night a cold, drizzling rain set in, which chilled us to our +bones. We could not have any fires, not even to make our coffee, for +fear of disclosing our position to the enemy. For four days now we had +been continuously under the terrible nervous strain incident to a battle +and practically without any rest or sleep. During this time we had no +cooked food, nothing but hardtack and raw pork and coffee but once. This +condition began to tell upon us all. I had been under the weather when +the movement began, and was ordered by our surgeon to remain behind, but +I said no, not as long as I could get around. Now I found my strength +had reached its limit, and I took that officer's advice, with the +colonel's orders, and went back to the division field hospital to get +under cover from the rain and get a night's sleep if possible. + +I found a half-dozen hospital tents standing together as one hospital, +and all full to overflowing with sick and wounded men. Our brigade +surgeon, a personal friend, was in charge. He finally found a place for +me just under the edge of one of the tents, where I could keep part of +the rain off. He brought me a stiff dose of whiskey and quinine, the +universal war remedy, and I drank it and lay down, and was asleep in +less time than it takes me to write it. + +About midnight the surgeon came and aroused me with the information that +the army was moving back across the river, and that all in the hospital +who could march were ordered to make their way back as best they could; +that of the others the ambulances would carry all they could and the +others would be left. This was astounding information. My first impulse +was, of course, to return to my regiment, but the doctor negatived that +emphatically by saying, "You are under my orders here, and my +instructions are to send you all directly back to the ford and across +the river; and then the army is already on the march, and you might as +well attempt to find a needle in a haystack as undertake to find your +regiment in these woods in this darkness." If his first reason had not +been sufficient, the latter one was quite convincing. I realized at once +the utter madness of any attempt to reach the regiment, at the same time +that in this night tramp back over the river, some eight miles, I had a +job that would tax my strength to the utmost. The doctor had found one +of the men of our regiment who was sick, and bidding us help each other +started us back over the old plank-road. + +How shall I describe the experiences of that night's tramp? The night +was intensely dark and it was raining hard. The plank-road was such +only in name. What few remnants remained of the old planks were rotten +and were a constant menace to our footing. I must have had more than a +dozen falls during that march from those broken planks, until face, +arms, and legs were a mass of bruises. We were told to push forward as +rapidly as we could to keep ahead of the great rabble of sick and +wounded which was to follow immediately. This we tried to do, though the +road was now crowded with the occupants of the other hospitals already +on their way. These men were all either sick or wounded, and were making +their way with the greatest difficulty, most of them in silence, but +there was an occasional one whose tongue gave expression to every +possible mishap in outbursts of the most shocking profanity. There were +enough of these to make the night hideous. + +Our road was a track just wide enough to admit a single wagon through +the densest jungle of timber and undergrowth I ever saw. I cannot +imagine the famed jungles of Africa more dense or impenetrable, and it +seemed to be without end as we wearily plodded on hour after hour, now +stepping into a hole and sprawling in the mud, again stumbling against a +stolid neighbor and being in turn jostled by him, with an oath for being +in his way. Many a poor fellow fell, too exhausted to rise, and we were +too nearly dead to do more than mechanically note the fact. + +Towards morning a quartette of men overtook us carrying a man on their +shoulders. As they drew near us one of the forward pair stumbled and +fell, and down came the body into the mud with a swash. If the body was +not dead, the fall killed it, for it neither moved nor uttered a sound. +With a fearful objurgation they went on and left it, and we did not have +life enough left in us to make any investigation. It was like the case +of a man on the verge of drowning seeing others perishing without the +ability to help. It was a serious question whether we could pull +ourselves through or should be obliged to drop in our tracks, to be run +over and crushed or trampled to death, as many a poor fellow was that +night. We had not an ounce of strength, nor had any of the hundreds of +others in our condition, to bestow on those who could not longer care +for themselves. Here it was every man for himself. This night's +experience was a horrible nightmare. + +It was long after daylight when we crawled out of those woods and +reached United States ford. Here a pontoon bridge had been thrown over, +and a double column of troops and a battery of artillery were crossing +at the same time. We pushed ourselves into the throng, as to which there +was no semblance of order, and were soon on the other side. On the top +of the bluff, some one hundred feet above the river, on our side, we +noticed a hospital tent, and we thought if we could reach that we might +find shelter and rest, for it was still raining and we were drenched to +the skin, and so cold that our faces were blue and our teeth chattered. +A last effort landed us at this hospital. Alas for our hopes! it was +crowded like sardines in a box with others who in like condition had +reached it before us. I stuck my head in the tent. One glance was +enough. The surgeon in charge, in answer to our mute appeal, said, "God +help you, boys; I cannot. But here is a bottle of whiskey, take a good +drink; it will do you good." We took a corking dose, nearly half the +bottle, and lay down, spoon fashion, my comrade and I, by the side of +that tent in the rain and slept for about an hour, until the stimulus of +the liquor passed off and the cold began again to assert itself, when we +had to start on again. I have never had any use for liquors in my life, +and the use of them in any form as a beverage I consider as nothing else +than harmful in the highest degree, yet I have always felt that this big +dose of whiskey saved my life. Could we have had a good cup of hot +coffee at that time it would possibly have been better, but we might as +well have looked for lodgings in the Waldorf-Astoria as for coffee at +that time and place. Imagine my feelings during all this night as I +reflected that I had a good horse, overcoat, and gum blanket +somewhere,--yes, somewhere, back, or wherever my regiment might be,--and +here I was soaking wet, chilled to the bones and almost dead from +tramping. + +We got word at the Ford that the troops were to go back to their old +camps, and there was nothing for us to do but to make our way back there +as best we might. Soon after we started Colonel (afterwards Judge Dana, +of Wilkes-Barre) Dana's regiment passed. The colonel hailed me and +kindly inquired why I happened to be there by myself on foot, said I +looked most wretched, and insisted on my taking another bracer from a +little emergency stock he had preserved. I had been but a few months out +of his law office, from which I had been admitted to the bar. His kindly +attentions under these limited circumstances were very cheering and +helpful. We were all day covering the eight or more miles back to camp. +But early in the day the rain ceased, the sun came out, we got warmed up +marching, and after some hours our clothes became sufficiently dry to be +more comfortable, so that when we reached camp in the evening our +condition was much improved. This was due in part probably as much to +the relief from the awful nervous strain of the battle and the +conditions through which we had passed in that wilderness as to rest and +the changed weather. When we reached this side of the river that nervous +strain ceased. We were sure that fighting was over, at least for the +present. We found the regiment had been in camp some hours ahead of us. +Our corps was probably on the march when we left the hospital, and had +preceded us all the way back. I found my horse had brought back one of +our wounded men, and this was some compensation for my own loss. + +We had been gone on this campaign from the 29th of April until the 5th +of May, and such a week! How much that was horrible had been crowded +into it. For variety of experiences of the many dreadful sides of war, +that week far exceeded any other like period of our service. The +fighting was boy's play compared with either Antietam or Fredericksburg, +yet for ninety-six hours continuously we were under the terrible nervous +strain of battle. Our losses in this action were comparatively light, 2 +men killed, 2 officers wounded (one of whom died a few days later), and +39 men wounded, and one man missing; total loss, 44, or about fifteen +per cent. of the number we took into action. This missing man I met at +the recent reunion of our regiment. He was picked up from our skirmish +line by that flanking party of rebels on the third day's fight described +in my last. The circumstance will show how close the rebels were upon us +before we discovered them. Our skirmishers could not have been more than +a dozen yards in advance of our main line, yet the thicket was so dense +that the enemy was on him before he fairly realized it. He said he was +placed with a lot of other prisoners and marched to the rear some +distance, under guard, when a fine-looking Confederate officer rode up +to them. He was told it was General Lee. He said he wore long, bushy +whiskers and addressed them with a cheery,-- + +"Good-morning, boys. What did you come down here for? a picnic? You +didn't think you could whip us men of the South, did you?" + +One of the prisoners spoke up in reply,-- + +"Yes, d----n you, we did, and we will. You haven't won this fight yet, +and Joe Hooker will lick h----l out of you and recapture us before you +get us out of these woods." + +The general laughed good-naturedly at the banter his questions had +elicited, and solemnly assured them that there were not men enough in +the whole North to take Richmond. Our man was probably misinformed as to +who their interlocutor was. General Lee did not wear long, bushy +whiskers, and was at that time probably down directing operations +against Fredericksburg. This was probably Jeb Stuart, who had succeeded +Jackson in command of that wing of the rebel army. + +Our prisoner fared much better than most prisoners, for it was his good +fortune to be exchanged after twenty-three days' durance, probably +owing to the expiration of his term of service. Although the actual +dates of enlistment of our men were all in July and their terms +therefore expired, the government insisted upon holding us for the full +period of nine months from the date of actual muster into the United +States service, which would not be completed until the 14th of May. We +had, therefore, eight days' service remaining after our return from the +battle of Chancellorsville, and we were continued in all duties just as +though we had months yet to serve. Our principal work was the old +routine of picket duty again. Our friends, the enemy, were now quick to +tantalize our pickets with the defeat at Chancellorsville. Such remarks +as these were volleyed at us: + +"We 'uns give you 'uns a right smart lickin' up in them woods." + +"How d'ye like Virginny woods, Yank?" + +And then they sang to us: + + "Ain't ye mighty glad to get out the wilderness?" + +A song just then much in vogue. Another volunteered the remark, as if to +equalize the honors in some measure, "If we did wallop you 'uns, you +'uns killed our best general." "We feel mighty bad about Stonewall's +death," and so their tongues would run on, whether our men replied or +not. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE MUSTER OUT AND HOME AGAIN + + +On the 14th of May we received orders to proceed to Harrisburg for +muster out. There was, of course, great rejoicing at the early prospect +of home scenes once more. We walked on air, and lived for the next few +days in fond anticipation. We were the recipients of any amount of +attention from our multitude of friends in the division. Many were the +forms of leave-taking that took place. It was a great satisfaction to +realize that in our comparatively brief period of service we had +succeeded in winning our way so thoroughly into the big hearts of those +veterans. The night before our departure was one of the gladdest and +saddest of all our experience. The Fourteenth Connecticut band, that +same band which had so heroically played out between the lines when the +Eleventh Corps broke on that fateful Saturday night at Chancellorsville, +came over and gave us a farewell serenade. They played most of the +patriotic airs, with "Home, Sweet Home," which I think never sounded +quite so sadly sweet, and suggestively wound up with "When Johnny Comes +Marching Home." Most of the officers and men of the brigade were there +to give us a soldier's good-by, and Major-General Couch, commanding our +corps (the Second), also paid us the compliment of a visit and made a +pleasant little speech to the men who were informally grouped around +head-quarters, commending our behavior in three of the greatest battles +of the war. + +It had been our high honor, he said, to have had a part in those great +battles, and though new and untried we had acquitted ourselves with +great credit and had held our ground like veterans. He expressed the +fervent hope that our patriotism would still further respond to the +country's needs, and that we would all soon again be in the field. Our +honors were not yet complete. General French, commanding our division, +issued a farewell order, a copy of which I would have been glad to +publish, but I have not been able to get it. It was, however, gratifying +in the extreme. He recounted our bravery under his eye in those battles +and our efficient service on all duty, and wound up by saying he felt +sure that men with such a record could not long remain at home, but +would soon again rally around their country's flag. Of General Couch, +our corps commander, we had seen but little, and were therefore very +pleasantly surprised at his visit. Of General French, bronzed and +grizzly bearded, we had seen much; all our work had been under his +immediate supervision. He was a typical old regular, and many were the +cuffs and knocks we received for our inexperience and shortcomings, all, +however, along the lines of discipline and for our good, and which had +really helped to make soldiers of us. These incidents showed that each +commanding general keeps a keen eye on all his regiments, and no one is +quicker to detect and appreciate good behavior than they. We felt +especially pleased with the praises of General French, because it +revealed the other side of this old hero's character. Rough in exterior +and manner of speech, he was a strong character and a true hero. + +His position at the breaking out of the war will illustrate this. He was +a Southerner of the type of Anderson and Farragut. When so many of his +fellows of the regular army, under pretext of following their States, +went over into rebellion and treason, he stood firm and under +circumstances which reflect great credit upon him. He had been in Mexico +and had spent a life on the frontier, and had grown old and gray in the +service, reaching only the rank of captain. When the war finally came he +was in command of a battery of artillery stationed some three hundred +and fifty miles up the Rio Grande, on the border of Mexico. He was cut +off from all communication with Washington, and the commander of his +department, the notorious General David E. Twiggs, had gone over to the +Confederacy. He was, therefore, thoroughly isolated. Twiggs sent him a +written order to surrender his battery to the rebel commander of that +district. His characteristic reply was, that he would "see him and the +Confederacy in hell first;" that he was going to march his battery into +God's country, and if anybody interfered with his progress they might +expect a dose of shot and shell they would long remember. None of them +felt disposed to test his threat, and so he marched his battery alone +down through that rebel country those three hundred and fifty miles and +more into our lines at the mouth of the Rio Grande, bringing off every +gun and every dollar's worth of government property that he could carry, +and what he could not carry he destroyed. He was immediately ordered +north with his battery and justly rewarded with a brigadier-general's +commission. + +Early on the morning of the 15th we broke camp and bade farewell to that +first of the world's great armies, the grand old Army of the Potomac. +Need I say that, joyous as was our home-going, there was more than a +pang at the bottom of our hearts as we severed those heroic +associations? A last look at the old familiar camp, a wave of the hand +to the friendly adieus of our comrades, whose good-by glances indicated +that they would gladly have exchanged places with us; that if our hearts +were wrung at going, theirs were, too, at remaining; a last march down +those Falmouth hills, another and last glance at those terrible works +behind Fredericksburg, and we passed out of the army and out of the +soldier into the citizen, for our work was now done and we were soldiers +only in name. + +As our train reached Belle-plain, where we were to take boat for +Washington, we noticed a long train of ambulances moving down towards +the landing, and were told they were filled with wounded men, just now +brought off the field at Chancellorsville. There were upward of a +thousand of them. It seems incredible that the wounded should have been +left in those woods during these ten to twelve days since the battle. +How many hundreds perished during that time for want of care nobody +knows, and, more horrible still, nobody knows how many poor fellows were +burned up in the portions of those woods that caught fire from the +artillery. But such is war. Dare any one doubt the correctness of Uncle +Billy Sherman's statement that "War is hell!" + +Reaching Washington, the regiment bivouacked a single night, awaiting +transportation to Harrisburg. During this time discipline was relaxed +and the men were permitted to see the capital city. The +lieutenant-colonel and I enjoyed the extraordinary luxury of a good +bath, a square meal, and a civilized bed at the Metropolitan Hotel, the +first in five long months. Singular as it may seem, I caught a terrific +cold as the price I paid for it. The next day we were again back in Camp +Curtin, at Harrisburg, with nothing to do but to make out the necessary +muster rolls, turn in our government property,--guns, accoutrements, +blankets, etc., and receive our discharges. This took over a week, so +that it was the 24th of May before we were finally discharged and paid +off. Then the several companies finally separated. + +If it had been hard to leave our comrades of the Army of the Potomac, it +was harder to sever the close comradeship of our own regiment, a +relationship formed and cemented amidst the scenes that try men's souls, +a comradeship born of fellowship in privation, danger, and suffering. I +could hardly restrain my tears as we finally parted with our torn and +tattered colors, the staff of one of which had been shot away in my +hands. We had fought under their silken folds on three battle-fields, +upon which we had left one-third of our number killed and wounded, +including a colonel and three line officers and upward of seventy-five +men killed and two hundred and fifteen wounded. Out of our regiment of +one thousand and twenty-four men mustered into the service August 14, +1862, we had present at our muster out six hundred and eighteen. We had +lost in battle two hundred and ninety-five in killed and wounded and +one hundred and eleven from physical disability, sickness, etc., and all +in the short space of nine months. Of the sixteen nine-months regiments +formed in August, 1862, the One Hundred and Thirtieth and ours were the +only regiments to actively participate in the three great battles of +Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, and we lost more men +than either of the others. + +I should mention a minor incident that occurred during our stay in +Harrisburg preparing for muster out. A large number of our men had asked +me to see if I could not get authority to re-enlist a battalion from the +regiment. I was assured that three-fourths of the men would go back with +me, provided they could have a two weeks' furlough. I laid the matter +before Governor Curtin. He said the government should take them by all +means; that here was a splendid body of seasoned men that would be worth +more than double their number of new recruits; but he was without +authority to take them, and suggested that I go over to Washington and +lay the matter before the Secretary of War. He gave me a letter to the +latter and I hurried off. I had no doubt of my ability to raise an +entire regiment from the great number of nine-months men now being +discharged. I repaired to the War Department, and here my troubles +began. Had the lines of sentries that guarded the approach to the armies +in the field been half as efficient as the cordon of flunkies that +barred the way to the War Office, the former would have been beyond the +reach of any enemy. At the entrance my pedigree was taken, with my +credentials and a statement of my business. I was finally permitted to +sit down in a waiting-room with a waiting crowd. Occasionally a senator +or a congressman would break the monotony by pushing himself in whilst +we cultivated our patience by waiting. Lunch time came and went. I +waited. Several times I ventured some remarks to the attendant as to +when I might expect my turn to come, but he looked at me with a sort of +far-off look, as though I could not have realized to whom I was +speaking. Finally, driven to desperation, after waiting more than four +hours, I tried a little bluster and insisted that I would go in and see +somebody. Then I was assured that the only official about the office was +a Colonel----, acting assistant adjutant-general. I might see him. + +"Yes," I said, "let me see him, anybody!" + +I was ushered into the great official's presence. He was a +lieutenant-colonel, just one step above my own rank. He was dressed in a +faultless new uniform. His hair was almost as red as a fresh red rose +and parted in the middle, and his pose and dignity were quite worthy of +the national snob hatchery at West Point, of which he was a recent +product. + +"Young man," said he, with a supercilious air, "what might your business +be?" + +I stated that I had brought a letter from His Excellency, Governor +Curtin, of Pennsylvania, to the Secretary of War, whom I desired to see +on important business. + +"Where is your letter, sir?" + +"I gave it up to the attendant four hours ago, who, I supposed, took it +to the Secretary." + +"There is no letter here, sir! What is your business? You cannot see the +Secretary of War." + +I then briefly stated my errand. His reply was,-- + +"Young man, if you really desire to serve your country, go home and +enlist." + +Thoroughly disgusted, I retired, and so ended what might have saved to +the service one of the best bodies of men that ever wore a government +uniform, and at a time when the country was sorely in need of them. + +A word now of the personnel of the One Hundred and Thirty-second +Regiment and I am done. Dr. Bates, in his history of the Pennsylvania +troops, remarks that this regiment was composed of a remarkable body of +men. This judgment must have been based upon his knowledge of their +work. Every known trade was represented in its ranks. Danville gave us a +company of iron workers and merchants, Catawissa and Bloomsburg, +mechanics, tradesmen, and farmers. From Mauch Chunk we had two +companies, which included many miners. From Wyoming and Bradford we had +three companies of sturdy, intelligent young farmers intermingled with +some mechanics and tradesmen. Scranton, small as she was then, gave us +two companies, which was scarcely a moiety of the number she sent into +the service. I well remember how our flourishing Young Men's Christian +Association was practically suspended because its members had gone to +the war, and old Nay Aug Hose Company, the pride of the town, in which +many of us had learned the little we knew of drill, was practically +defunct for want of a membership which had "gone to the war." Of these +two Scranton companies, Company K had as its basis the old Scranton City +Guard, a militia organization which, if not large, was thoroughly well +drilled and made up of most excellent material. Captain Richard +Stillwell, who commanded this company, had organized the City Guard and +been its captain from the beginning. The other Scranton company was +perhaps more distinctively peculiar in its personnel than either of the +other companies. It was composed almost exclusively of Delaware, +Lackawanna & Western Railroad shop and coal men, and was known as the +Railroad Guards. In its ranks were locomotive engineers, firemen, +brakemen, trainmen, machinists, telegraph operators, despatchers, +railroad-shop men, a few miners, foremen, coal-breaker men, etc. Their +captain, James Archbald, Jr., was assistant to his father as chief +engineer of the road, and he used to say that with his company he could +survey, lay out, build and operate a railroad. The first sergeant of +that company, George Conklin, brother of D. H. Conklin, chief despatcher +of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western, and his assistant, had been one +of the first to learn the art of reading telegraph messages by ear, an +accomplishment then quite uncommon. His memory had therefore been so +developed that after a few times calling his company roll he dispensed +with the book and called it alphabetically from memory. Keeping a +hundred names in his mind in proper order we thought quite a feat. Forty +years later, at one of our reunions, Mr. Conklin, now superintendent of +a railroad, was present. I asked him if he remembered calling his +company roll from memory. + +"Yes," said he, "and I can do it now, and recall every face and voice," +and he began and rattled off the names of his roll. He said sometimes in +the old days the boys would try to fool him by getting a comrade to +answer for them, but they could never do it, he would detect the +different voice instantly. + +Now, as I close this narrative, shall I speak of the gala day of our +home-coming? I can, of course, only speak of the one I participated in, +the coming home to Scranton of Companies I and K and the members of the +field and staff who lived here. This, however, will be a fair +description of the reception each of the other companies received at +their respective homes. Home-coming from the war! Can we who know of it +only as we read appreciate such a home-coming? That was forty-one years +ago the 25th of last May. Union Hall, on Lackawanna Avenue, midway +between Wyoming and Penn, had been festooned with flags, and in it a +sumptuous dinner awaited us. A committee of prominent citizens, our old +friends, not one of whom is now living, met us some distance down the +road. A large delegation of Scranton's ladies were at the hall to +welcome and serve us, and of these, the last one, one of the mothers and +matrons, has just passed into the great beyond. Many of those of our own +age, the special attraction of the returning "boys," have also gone, but +a goodly number still remain. They will recall this picture with not a +little interest, I am sure. If perchance cheeks should be wet and +spectacles moistened as they read, it will be but a reproduction of the +emotions of that beautiful day more than forty years ago. No soldier +boys ever received a more joyous or hearty welcome. The bountiful repast +was hurriedly eaten, for anxious mothers, wives, sisters, and +sweethearts were there, whose claim upon their returning "boy in blue" +for holier and tenderer relationship was paramount. + +Amidst all these joyous reunions, were there no shadows? Ah, yes. In the +brief period of nine months our regiment had lost forty per cent. of its +membership. Company I had gone to the front with one hundred and one +stalwart officers and men, and but sixty-eight came back with the +company. Of the missing names, Daniel S. Gardner, Moses H. Ames, George +H. Cator, Daniel Reed, Richard A. Smith, and John B. West were killed in +battle or died of wounds soon after; Orville Sharp had died in the +service. The others had succumbed to the hardships of the service and +been discharged. Of the same number Company K took into the service, +sixty-six came home with the company. Sergeant Martin L. Hower, Richard +Davis, Jacob Eschenbach, Jephtha Milligan, Allen Sparks, Obadiah +Sherwood, and David C. Young had been killed in battle or died of +wounds; Thomas D. Davis, Jesse P. Kortz, Samuel Snyder, James Scull, +Solon Searles, and John W. Wright had died in the service. The most +conspicuous figure in the regiment, our colonel, Richard A. Oakford, had +been the first to fall. So that amidst our rejoicings there were a +multitude of hearts unutterably sad. Will the time ever come when "the +bitter shall not be mingled with the sweet" and tears of sorrow shall +not drown the cup of gladness? Let us hope and pray that it may; and +now, as Father Time tenderly turns down the heroic leaf of the One +Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, let us find comfort +in the truth, + + "_Dulce et decorum est, pro patria mori._" + + + + +APPENDIX + + +The following are copies of the muster-out rolls of the Field and Staff +and the several companies of the One Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment, +Pennsylvania Volunteers, taken originally from Bates's History, and +compared and corrected from the original rolls in the Adjutant-General's +office, at Harrisburg, Pa. Several corrections have been made from the +personal recollections of officers and men whom I have been able to +consult. There are doubtless errors in the original rolls, owing to the +paucity of records in the hands of those whose duty it was to make them +at the time of muster-out, owing to resignations and other casualties. +Some of these officers were new in the command, and complete records +were not in their hands. It will be remembered that the whole period of +service of the One Hundred and Thirty-second was occupied in the three +strenuous campaigns of Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, +during which regimental and company baggage, which included official +records, were seldom seen, and in many cases were entirely lost. For +example, at the battle of Chancellorsville on the fateful 3d of May, we +had lain in line of battle behind our knapsacks piled up in twos, as a +little protection from bullets. When we were ordered forward, so quick +was the movement, that these knapsacks, and officers' luggage as well, +were ordered to be left. When, two hours later, on our return we reached +this ground, we found our knapsacks were at the bottom of an earth-work +which had been hurriedly thrown up during our absence, over which a line +of batteries thrust the frowning muzzles of their guns. With one or two +exceptions (where the officer commanding the company happened to have it +in his pocket), the company rolls were lost in the knapsacks of the +first sergeant, whose duty it was to carry it. Thereupon new rolls had +to be made up, and of course mostly from memory. Under all these +circumstances, the wonder is that there are not more errors in them. +Almost at the last moment did I learn that I could include these rolls +in my book, without exceeding its limits under the contract price. +During this time I have endeavored at considerable expense and labor to +get them correct, but even so, I cannot hope that they are more than +approximately complete. Nothing can be more sacred or valuable to the +veteran and his descendants than his war record. The difficulty with +these rolls will be found I fear not so much in what is so briefly +stated, but in what has been inadvertently omitted, and which was +necessary to a complete record. There are a number of desertions. I have +given them as they are on the rolls. It is possible that some of these +men may have dropped out of the column from exhaustion on the march, +fallen sick and had been taken to some hospital and died without +identification. Failing to report at roll-call and being unaccounted +for, they would be carried on the company rolls as "absent without +leave," until prolonged absence without information would compel the +adding of the fearful word "deserted." There were instances where men +taken sick made their way home without leave and were marked deserters. +After recovering from a severe case of "army fever" they returned again +to duty. This was in violation of discipline, and under the strict +letter of the law they were deserters, but they saved the government the +cost of their nursing, and, what is more, probably saved their lives and +subsequent service by their going. I mention these things so that where +the record appears harsh, the reader may know that possibly, if all the +facts had been known, it might have been far different. + + +FIELD AND STAFF. + +RICHARD A. OAKFORD, colonel, mustered in Aug. 22, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862. + +VINCENT M. WILCOX, colonel, mustered in Aug. 26, 1862; promoted from +lieutenant-colonel September, 1862; discharged on surgeon's certificate +Jan. 24, 1863. + +CHARLES ALBRIGHT, colonel, mustered in Aug. 22, 1862; promoted from +major to lieutenant-colonel September, 1862, to colonel Jan. 24, 1863; +mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH E. SHREVE, lieutenant-colonel, promoted from captain Co. A to +major September, 1862, to lieutenant-colonel Jan. 24, 1863; mustered out +with regiment May 24, 1863. + +FREDERICK L. HITCHCOCK, major, mustered in Aug. 22, 1862; promoted from +adjutant Jan. 24, 1863; twice wounded at Fredericksburg Dec. 13, 1862; +mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863. + +AUSTIN F. CLAPP, adjutant, promoted from corporal Co. K to +sergeant-major Nov. 1, 1862; to adjutant Jan. 24, 1863; mustered out +with regiment May 24, 1863. + +CLINTON W. NEAL, quartermaster, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted from +Co. E Aug. 22, 1862; mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863. + +JAMES W. ANAWALT, surgeon (major), mustered in Sept. 22, 1862; mustered +out with regiment May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE K. THOMPSON, assistant surgeon (first lieutenant), mustered in +Aug. 19, 1862; mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE W. HOOVER, assistant surgeon (first lieutenant), mustered in +Sept. 3, 1862; mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863. + +A. H. SCHOONMAKER, chaplain (first lieutenant), mustered in Sept. 20, +1862; mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS MAXWELL, sergeant-major, promoted to sergeant-major from Co. A +Aug. 22, 1862; promoted to first lieutenant Co. A Nov. 1, 1862. (See Co. +A.) + +FRANK J. DEEMER, sergeant-major, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from Co. K Jan. 24, 1863; mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863. + +ELMORE H. WELLS, quartermaster-sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +promoted from Co. B Aug. 26, 1862; owing to prolonged sickness in +hospital returned to Co. Jan. 1, 1863. (See Co. B.) + +BROOKS A. BASS, quartermaster-sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +promoted from Co. I Jan. 1, 1863; mustered out with regiment May 24, +1863. + +JOHN F. SALMON, commissary-sergeant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted +from Co. G Aug. 15, 1862; died at Harper's Ferry, Va., Oct. 16, 1862. + +WILLIAM W. COOLBAUGH, commissary-sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +promoted from Co. K Oct. 17, 1862; transferred to company Dec. 25, 1862. +(See Co. K.) + +ALONZO R. CASE, commissary-sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +from sergeant Co. C Dec. 25, 1862; mustered out with regiment May 24, +1863. + +HORACE A. DEANS, hospital steward, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from Co. I Oct. 1, 1862; transferred to ranks April 1, 1863. (See Co. +I.) + +MOSES G. CORWIN, hospital steward, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from Co. K April 6, 1863; mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863. + + +COMPANY A.[G] + +JOSEPH E. SHREVE, captain, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to major. +See Field and Staff. + +CHARLES C. NORRIS, captain, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from +second lieutenant Nov. 1, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE W. VANGILDER, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +discharged on surgeon's certificate Oct. 26, 1862. + +THOMAS MAXWELL, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from sergeant-major Nov. 1, 1862; mustered out with regiment. + +ED. W. RODERICK, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from private; mustered out with company. + +DAVID SHUTT, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +sergeant March 1, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +J. M. HASSENPLUG, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +JOHN S. WARE, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +corporal March 1, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ISAAC D. CREWITT, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +corporal March 1, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +MICHAEL KESSLER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +private March 6, 1863; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE LOVETT, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +private Feb. 1, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB H. MILLER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged, Jan. +30, 1863, at Washington, for wounds received at Antietam, Va., Sept. 17, +1862. + +JOSEPH H. NEVINS, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate March 6, 1863, at Baltimore, Md. + +DANIEL VANROUK, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +JACOB REDFIELD, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from +private Sept. 18, 1862; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES WILLIAMS, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +private Oct. 15, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +CONRAD S. ATEN, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +private Dec. 3, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE SNYDER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; absent, sick, at +muster-out. + +ALEX. HUNTINGTON, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +private Feb. 1, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL STALL, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from private +Feb. 1, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY VINCENT, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +private March 6, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN HARIG, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from private +March 6, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES FLICK, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged at +Baltimore, Md., Dec. 6, 1862, of wounds received at Antietam Sept. 17, +1862. + +NATHAN F. LIGHTNER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged at +Newark, N. J., on surgeon's certificate Dec. 8, 1862. + +WM. C. MCCORMICK, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged March +1, 1863; wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +HENRY L. SHICK, musician, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AMOS APPLEMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SYLVESTER W. ARNWINE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY ADAMS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Sept. 22 of wounds +received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +ARTHUR W. BEAVER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB J. BOOKMILLER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +FRANKLIN G. BLEE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JEREMIAH BLACK, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. CARROLL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +SAMUEL E. COOPER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; deserted Oct. 22, +1862; left at Bolivar Heights, Va.; sick, failed to return to company. + +FRANKLIN DEVINE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM DAVIS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL V. DYE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged at +Philadelphia on surgeon's certificate April 8, 1863. + +WILLIAM EARP, Jr., private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +JAMES S. EASTON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HIRAM EGGERT, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH FEIDEL, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL FLICKINGER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN B. A. FOIN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES FOSTER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +C. W. FITZSIMMONS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN L. FIELDS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE FRANCIS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged at +Harrisburg on surgeon's certificate Nov. 15, 1862. + +THOMAS GOODALL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL GULICKS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN GIBSON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +JOSEPH HALE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE E. HUNT, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ADAM HORNBERGER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +D. HENDRICKSON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL HILLNER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +HIRAM HUMMEL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +THOMAS JONES, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS JAMES, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +W. J. W. KLASE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL J. P. KLASE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +CONRAD LECHTHALER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; left sick at +Warrenton, Va., Nov. 14, 1862; reported discharged; no official notice +received. + +SAMUEL LANGER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN LEICHOW, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged Oct. 28, +1862, for wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +JACOB LONG, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at Antietam, Md., +Sept. 17, 1862. + +WATKIN MORGAN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LEVI M. MILLER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB W. MOYER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LEONARD MAYER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CORNELIUS C. MOYER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN MORRIS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN MCCOY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES MCKEE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Aug. 16, 1862, +from Harrisburg. + +WM. B. NEESE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES M. PHILLIPS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN P. REASER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SIMON REIDY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ISAAC RANTZ, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DAVID H. RANK, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 29, 1863. + +WM. A. RINGLER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged May 5, +1863, for wounds received at Antietam, Md., September 17, 1862. + +JONATHAN RICE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +WILLIAM STEWART, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +EDWARD D. SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM SUNDAY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AUGUST SCHRIEVER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN STINE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +EDWIN L. SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +OLIVER B. SWITZER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SHARP M. SNYDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AARON SECHLER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ARCHIBALD VANDLING, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged at +Harrisburg on surgeon's certificate Nov. 28, 1862. + +ANGUS WRIGHT, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ANDREW WAUGH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN WALLACE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; left sick in hospital +at Harper's Ferry, Va.; reported discharged; no official notice +received. + +SAMUEL WOTE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MATTHEW R. WRIGHT, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +JAMES D. WRAY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; deserted Sept. 19, +1862. + + +COMPANY B. + +SMITH W. INGHAM, captain, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; resigned on +surgeon's certificate at Georgetown, Sem. Hospital, Feb. 5, 1863. + +GEORGE H. EASTMAN, captain, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +first lieutenant Feb. 8, 1863; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, +1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ANSON G. CARPENTER, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; +promoted from second lieutenant Feb. 8, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863. + +DEWITT C. KITCHEN, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; +promoted to first sergeant Sept. 18, 1862; to second lieutenant Feb. 8, +1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN D. SMITH, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +sergeant Nov. 1, 1862; to first sergeant Feb. 8, 1863; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE D. WARNER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; buried in National Cemetery, Sec. 26, Lot +A, Grave 14. + +JONAS H. FARR, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted from +corporal Sept. 18, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +FREEMAN H. DIXON, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; captured at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; promoted from corporal Feb. 8, 1863; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JULIAN W. STELLWELL, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +corporal Sept. 12, 1862; to sergeant Feb. 8, 1863; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ABNER LEWIS, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted from private +Nov. 1, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN H. TENEYCK, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; buried in National Cemetery, Sec. 26, Lot +A, Grave 15. + +JOHN B. OVERFIELD, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +JOHN W. REYNOLDS, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +corporal Sept. 12, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +CALVIN L. BRIGGS, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +corporal Feb. 8, 1863; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +HANSOM H. CARRIER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +corporal Feb. 8, 1863; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ISAAC POLMATIEN, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +corporal Feb. 8, 1862; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL W. SMITH, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE N. COLVIN, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +corporal Feb. 8, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +PORTER CARPENTER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +corporal Feb. 8, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES N. GARDNER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Nov. 23, 1862. + +OTIS GILMORE, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; discharged at Ascension Hospital, Washington, D. +C., on surgeon's certificate December 23, 1862. + +DECATUR HEWETT, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; deserted April 11, +1863. + +ANDREW J. LEWIS, musician, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; prisoner of war +from May 3 to May 22, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ROBERT L. REYNOLDS, musician, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; prisoner of war +from May 3 to May 22, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ELIAS ATON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LOREN BALL, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; prisoner of war from May +3 to May 22, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN R. BRIGGS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLARD E. BULLOCK, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH BILLINGS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL BISHOP, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +THOMAS J. CHASE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; absent in hospital +since Sept. 6, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +LEVI CONKLIN, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS A. CASTLE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE A. CARNEY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +SETH A. COBB, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +OLIVER E. CLARK, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ADELBERT COLVIN, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged at +Harwood Hospital, Washington, on surgeon's certificate Sept. 25, 1862. + +BENJAMIN V. COLE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +JEROME E. DETRICK, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES C. DEGRAW, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +EZRA DEAN, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged at Harwood +Hospital, Washington, on surgeon's certificate Sept. 29, 1862. + +CHARLES EVANS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +JOHN F. EVANS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died at Acquia Creek, +Va., Dec. 13, 1862; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery, Washington, D. +C. + +SYLVESTER FARNHAM, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ELISHA FARNHAM, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded with loss of +arm at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; discharged on surgeon's +certificate Jan. 1, 1863. + +DENNIS D. GARDNER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ALONZO E. GREGORY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1863. + +PHILANDER GROW, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died near Falmouth, +Va., Dec. 17, 1862. + +LESLIE E. HAWLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; left sick at +Harper's Ferry Oct. 30, 1862, discharged but received no official +notice. + +SAMUEL HOOPER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS M. HINES, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HARVEY B. HOWE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged at Acquia +Creek Hospital on surgeon's certificate Feb. 1, 1863. + +PETER B. HANYON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged at +Convalescent Camp Hospital on surgeon's certificate Feb. 15, 1863. + +GEORGE M. HARDING, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; discharged at hospital, Washington, +on surgeon's certificate March 10, 1863. + +BENJAMIN H. HANYON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; deserted Sept. +17, 1862; left in Smoketown Hospital. + +STEPHEN T. INGHAM, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HORACE JACKSON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JUDSON A. JAYNE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MARTIN V. KENNEDY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SILAS G. LEWIS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +FRANCIS M. LEWIS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862, and at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, +1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +EZRA A. LAWBERT, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ALVAH LETTEEN, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged at Fort +Wood Hospital, N. Y. Harbor, on surgeon's certificate March 4, 1863. + +ALBANUS LITTLE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; absent at muster-out. + +URIAH MOTT, private, mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +EMMET J. MATHEWSON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES W. MARTIN, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged at +Hammond's Hospital, Point Pleasant, Md., on surgeon's certificate Jan. +6, 1863. + +WILSON D. MINOR, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; discharged on surgeon's certificate Nov. +1, 1862. + +THOMAS S. MOORE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died at Georgetown, +D. C., Oct. 14, 1862. + +OLIVER C. NEWBERG, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged at +Patent Office, 400 F, Washington, D. C., on surgeon's certificate Jan. +11, 1863. + +HORACE O'NEAL, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY ORNT, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at Antietam, Md., +Sept. 17, 1862. + +ELISHA PEDRICK, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +BYRON PREVOST, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES PLATTENBURG, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +RUFUS F. PARRISH, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; discharged on surgeon's certificate Feb. +25, 1863. + +REUBEN PLATTENBURG, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died at +Washington, D. C., March 12, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. REYNOLDS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; deserted Oct. 20, 1862; returned January +13, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ALBERT G. REYNOLDS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +OLIVER E. REYNOLDS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +PERRY T. ROUGHT, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WASHINGTON L. ROUGHT, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged at +Washington on surgeon's certificate Feb. 12, 1863. + +MILOT ROBERTS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died Sept. 20 of +wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +ESICK SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JEREMIAH STANTON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DAVIS C. SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; left in hospital +near Falmouth May 15, 1863; absent at muster-out. + +WILLIAM SHOEMAKER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ASA SMERD, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; left sick at Belle Plains +Landing Dec. 6, 1862; absent sick at muster-out. + +HARMAN STARK, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +WESLEY J. STARK, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; deserted Nov. 20, +1862; returned March 12, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +BURTON SHOEMAKER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged at New +York on surgeon's certificate Jan. 6, 1863. + +JOHN H. SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; buried in National Cemetery, Sec. 26, Lot A, Grave +16. + +JOSEPH W. STANTON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; left sick at +Harper's Ferry Oct. 30, 1862; deserted from hospital. + +JACOB A. THOMAS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +UTLEY TURNER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged at +Philadelphia on surgeon's certificate Jan. 6, 1863. + +HENRY B. TURNER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +W. B. VANARSDALE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ANDREW M. WANDLE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; captured at +Sniker's Gap, Va., Nov. 4, 1862, prisoner of war from Nov. 4 to Dec. 24, +1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN WALL, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863. + +ELMORE H. WELLS[H], private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +quartermaster-sergeant of regiment Aug. 26, 1862; returned to company +Jan. 1, 1863; mustered out with company. + +HIRAM E. WORDEN, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + + +COMPANY C. + +HERMAN TOWNSEND, captain, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 10, 1863. + +CHARLES M. MCDOUGAL, captain, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted from +first lieutenant Jan. 10, 1863; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, +1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES A. ROGERS, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +from sergeant to first sergeant Sept. 18, 1862; to first lieutenant Jan. +10, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ANSON C. CRANMER, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; killed +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +LEVI D. LANDON, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +from first sergeant Sept. 18, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +RUSSELL J. ROSS, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +from corporal Jan. 11, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +DEWITT TEAVER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AMOS W. VANFLEET, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted from +corporal Sept. 18, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ANDREW E. WATTS, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +corporal Sept. 18, 1862; to sergeant Jan. 11, 1863; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL W. WILCOX, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted from +corporal Oct. 1, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN C. CRAVEN, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 5, 1863. + +ALONZO R. CASE, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +commissary-sergeant Dec. 25, 1862. (See Field and Staff.) + +H. W. PARKHURST, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; absent, sick, at +muster-out. + +JOHN A. BLOOM, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN MCCLURE, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to corporal +Jan. 11, 1863; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863. + +LUCIEN BOTHWELL, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +corporal Jan. 11, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ELIJAH R. HICKOK, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +corporal March 1, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +WALLACE BIDDLE, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 15, 1863. + +SAMUEL E. BLANCHARD, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 16, 1863. + +MELVILLE F. EPHLINE, musician, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM SPENCER, musician, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ALLEN M. AYRES, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; absent sick at muster-out. + +HARRISON B. BENSON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE BENNETT, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MANNING BAILEY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AMOS S. BOOTHE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; absent sick at +muster-out. + +JAMES A. BARNES, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JEREMIAH BAILEY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Nov. 24, 1862. + +SAMUEL H. BARTLETT, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died at +Falmouth, Va., Feb. 4, 1863. + +OLIVER BLANCHARD, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died Sept. 24 of +wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; buried in National +Cemetery, Sec. 26, Lot A, Grave 181. + +LEROY J. CEASE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS D. CROSS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +NATHAN S. DENMARK, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LEWIS DARLING, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SIMEON ELLIOTT, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SYLVESTER M. GREEN, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN GRAUTEER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +OSCAR C. GRISWOLD, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AMBROSE S. GRAY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MARTIN W. GRAY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Dec. 22, 1862. + +HENRY H. HOAGLAND, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JASPER N. HOAGLAND, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +ISAAC N. HARVEY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE W. HARVEY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN J. HOWLAND, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +TRUMAN HARRIS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SOLON J. HICKOK, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +STEPHEN C. HICKOK, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES O. HAZLETON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate April 20, 1863. + +WILLIAM HAMILTON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 15, 1863. + +FRANCIS HARRIS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died at Le Roy, Pa., +Jan. 18, 1863. + +JOHN C. HURLBURT, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +SETH HOWLAND, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863. + +ANDREW E. HOAGLAND, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +WILLIAM W. HAXTON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; deserted Sept. +17, 1862. + +SILICK JUNE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +FREDERICK KERRICK, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 4, 1863. + +ROSCOE S. LOOMIS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DAVID P. LINDLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL LINDLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; prisoner of war; +date not given; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +IRA LINDLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged April 29, +1863; expiration of term. + +LEVI R. LESTER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died at Washington, +D. C., Feb. 9, 1863; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery. + +LEWIS M. LEONARD, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +GEORGE MALLORY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Nov. 28, 1862. + +CHARLES L. MILES, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died near +Falmouth, Va., May 12, 1863. + +LYMAN R. NEWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 15, 1863. + +STEPHEN A. RANDALL, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN H. NEWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged Oct. 29, +1862, on surgeon's certificate of disability. + +JOHN RANDALL, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES M. ROGERS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JUDSON A. ROYSE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DEWITT C. ROBINSON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JEREMIAH ROCKWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate March 23, 1863. + +LYNDS A. SPENCER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES SOPER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN B. STREETS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEO. C. SHOEMAKER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN SCHNADER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SOLOMON STONE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; prisoner of war; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +LEWIS SELLARD, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 9, 1863. + +DANIEL W. SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 26, 1863. + +NATHAN J. SPENCER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate April 2, 1863. + +JAMES M. SNADER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Nov. 28, 1862. + +LUKE P. STREETER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Oct. 12, 1862. + +JEREMIAH SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died near Falmouth, +Va., Jan. 8, 1863. + +CHARLES B. THOMAS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +GEORGE M. VAN DYKE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +E. G. VAN DYKE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; prisoner of war; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +LANING N. VARGASON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +SEVELLON A. WILCOX, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JEFFERSON A. WITHERALL, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company Aug. 24, 1863. + +CHARLES WALTER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHAUNCEY W. WHEELER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +MERTON C. WRIGHT, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged Sept. +11, 1862, on surgeon's certificate. + +JOSEPH N. WRIGHT, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged Sept. +11, 1862, on surgeon's certificate. + +ROSWELL A. WALKER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died at Belle +Plain, Va., Dec. 7, 1862. + + +COMPANY D. + +CHARLES H. CHASE, captain, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; resigned Dec. 6, +1862. + +W. H. CARNOCHAN, captain, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +second lieutenant Nov. 29, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES E. GLADDING, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; +mustered out with company Nov. 24, 1863. + +J. W. BROWN, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +Aug. 20, 1862, to date Aug. 14, 1862. + +F. MARION WELLS, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; promoted +from first sergeant Dec. 6, 1862; wounded with loss of leg at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; absent in hospital at muster-out; +died a few days later. + +WILLIAM C. COBB, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted to +first sergeant Feb. 6, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ALVAH L. COOPER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; promoted from +corporal Feb. 6, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +LERT BALLARD, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ALBERT LONG, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; promoted from corporal +Jan. 29, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ALBERT S. COBB, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; promoted from +corporal Feb. 6, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL GRACE, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; promoted to corporal +April 16, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ALONZO ROSS, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1863; promoted to corporal +April 16, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ALBERT PRESTON, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; promoted to corporal Feb. 4, 1863; +mustered out with company. + +JAMES F. CARMAN, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1863; promoted to +corporal Jan. 7, 1863; mustered out with company. + +ALBERT O. SCOTT, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; promoted to corporal Feb. 6, 1863; +mustered out with company. + +FURMAN BULLOCK, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; promoted to +corporal Feb. 6, 1863; mustered out with company. + +SAMUEL HARKNESS, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN C. MCMAHON, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Oct. 14, 1862. + +ELIHU B. CHASE, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Oct. 14, 1862. + +L. N. BURNHAM, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; died Nov. 14, 1862, +of wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; buried at Chester, +Pa. + +HUBBARD H. WILLIAMS, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; deserted at +Washington, D. C., Nov. 10, 1862; returned May 1, 1865; discharged by +General Order June 12, 1865. + +NATHANIEL MATTOCK, musician, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL H. MOORE, musician, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 6, 1863. + +STEPHEN T. HALL, wagoner, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to +corporal Aug. 15, 1862; reduced to ranks Feb. 6, 1863; mustered out with +company. + +JOHN B. ALEXANDER, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JULIAN L. ANDRUS, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +NATHAN E. BAILEY, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES BOYCE, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DARIUS BULLOCK, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH BOUGHTON, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company. + +WARREN S. BIXLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ELLIS H. BEST, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE BENNETT, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AARON W. BAILEY, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 20, 1863. + +OLIVER E. BLAKESLEE, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; died at +Washington, D. C., Jan. 23, 1863; pneumonia. + +ORRIN G. BLAKESLEE, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; died at Harper's +Ferry, Va., Nov. 19, 1862. + +WARREN S. BAILEY, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; deserted Oct. 3, +1862, at Harper's Ferry. + +RICHARD W. CANEDY, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM M. CLARK, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL CARMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES O. DARK, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHRISTOPHER DENMARK, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +REUBEN DUDLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate March 1, 1863. + +PETER FULLER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; in hospital at muster-out. + +GEORGE FIELDS, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +LEANDER L. GREGORY, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE C. GEROULD, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; died Oct. 14 of +wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +RICHARD M. HOWLAND, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE W. HOWLAND, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JEROME S. HILL, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE W. HARDY, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MARTIN HARKNESS, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Dec. 16, 1862. + +BENJAMIN F. JONES, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LEWIS W. JONES, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +RICHARD M. JOHNSON, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; deserted Sept. +14, 1862. + +ALVAH M. KENT, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS LEE, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LEWIS LAURENT, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +FESTUS LYON, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM A. MORES, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH F. MORLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GOPHAR MORGAN, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Nov. 20, 1862. + +ABNER MILLER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Dec. 31, 1862. + +JOHN MCGREGOR, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE W. MCALISTER, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES N. MCALISTER, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; deserted Sept. +14, 1862; returned March 31, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +MICHAEL E. MCINTOSH, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; prisoner of war +from Nov. 14 to Dec. 14, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ORRIN P. MCALLISTER, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Dec. 18, 1862. + +SAMUEL R. MCMAHON, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +ISAAC P. MCINTYRE, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; died near +Falmouth, Va., Dec. 22, of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. +13, 1862. + +WILLIAM F. NEWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY A. NEWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHESTER NORTHROP, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM PEET, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; absent in hospital at +muster-out. + +JAMES PATTERSON, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +RICHARD W. PHILLIPS, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +HOMER T. RHODES, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY J. RUSSELL, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +S. CHENEY ROBY, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +NEHEMIAH ROBINSON, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; deserted at +Frederick City, Md., Sept. 14, 1862. + +CHARLES N. SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +BYRON B. SLADE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +NORMAN C. SHEPHERD, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +EDWARD C. STRONG, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 7, 1863. + +BARLOW SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; died at Harper's +Ferry, Va., Nov. 12, 1862. + +CONRAD SCHANTZ, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; deserted at +Harrisburg Aug. 15, 1862. + +J. O. VAN BUSKERK, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 6, 1863. + +JOSEPH S. WILCOX, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +BARNUM WILCOX, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +NORMAN WILCOX, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +NATHAN WILCOX, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862, and at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, +1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +IRA V. WILLIAMS, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +CHARLES W. WHIPPLE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +CHARLES WILLIAMS, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Oct. 14, 1862. + +EZRA H. WELCH, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; died at Belle Plain, +Va., Dec. 4, 1862. + +W. H. WOODWORTH, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; died at Falmouth, +Va., Jan. 9, 1863. + +MARTIN WEST, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; deserted October, 1862. + + +COMPANY E. + +MICHAEL WHITMOYER, captain, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ANDREW C. MENSCH, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863. + +D. RAMSEY MELICK, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM A. BARTON, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. GILMORE, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM J. RENN, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES P. SLOAN, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted from +corporal Jan. 10, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ISAAC N. KLINE, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted from +corporal Jan. 10, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +BENJAMIN F. JOHNSTON, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +CLARK KRESSLER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY M. JOHNSTON, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +EPHRAIM N. KLINE, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +EDWARD C. GREEN, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +corporal Nov. 10, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN N. HUGHES, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted to +corporal Jan. 10, 1863.; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES B. FORTNER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted to +corporal Jan. 10, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL WOOD, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted to corporal +Feb. 25, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM C. ROBINSON, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged at +Harper's Ferry on surgeon's certificate Oct. 26, 1862. + +JAMES P. MELICK, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; died at +Washington, D. C., Dec. 28, of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., +Dec. 13, 1862. + +CLINTON W. NEAL, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted to +quartermaster Aug. 22, 1862. (See Field and Staff.) + +JOHN STALEY, musician, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AZIMA V. HOWER, musician, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 29, 1863. + +TILLMAN FAUX, wagoner, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 23, 1863. + +LAFAYE APPLEGATE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LEONARD BEAGLE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HIRAM H. BRODT, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB W. BOMBOY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES S. BOMBOY; private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +EDWARD W. COLEMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES W. COOK, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES CADMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +PETER O. CRIST, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY CROOP, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged on surgeon's +certificate Oct. 8, 1862. + +THOMAS CAROTHERS, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 15, 1863. + +ABEL DEILY, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN MOORE EVES, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN F. ECK, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MOSES J. FRENCH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CLOD'Y S. M. FISHER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES A. FOLK, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ROBERT GILLASPY, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN P. GUILDS, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CLINTON C. HUGHES, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY C. HARTMAN, Sr., private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +C. H. HENDERSHOT, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. HUNTER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY C. HARTMAN, JR., private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL HARDER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; prisoner from Dec. +13, 1862, to May 22, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ADAM HEIST, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE W. HOWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL HARP, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged on surgeon's +certificate Feb. 13, 1863. + +ISAIAH S. HARTMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; died Oct. 16 of +wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +JESSE M. HOWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died near Falmouth, +Va., Jan. 8, 1863. + +JOSEPH S. HAYMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; deserted Aug. 30, +1862. + +SAMUEL R. JOHNSON, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HIRAM F. KLINE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS O. KLINE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL C. KRICKBAUM, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +AMOS Y. KISNER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE M. KLINE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AUGUSTUS M. KURTZ, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +FRANCIS M. LUTZ, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ISAAC M. LYONS, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH W. LYONS, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; absent sick in +hospital since Oct. 30, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH LAWTON, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN LAWTON, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM LAZARUS, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +DANIEL MARKLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LEMUEL MOOD, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES MUFFLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CLARK PRICE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LEVI H. PRIEST, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +OLIVER PALMER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH PENROSE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; missed in action at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +DAVID RUCKLE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSIAH REEDY, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +JOHN ROADARMEL, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ISAAC ROADARMEL, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JEREMIAH REESE, private, mustered in Sept. 3, 1862; captured at +Chancellorsville, Va.; prisoner from May 3 to May 22, 1863; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JONATHAN W. SNYDER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES W. SNYDER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863.. + +JOSIAH STILES, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; absent, sick in +hospital since Sept. 16, 1862. + +FREDERICK M. STALEY, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE W. STERNER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY H. SANDS, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM C. SHAW, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; absent, sick, at +muster-out. + +JAMES F. TRUMP, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL M. VANHORNE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; died at +Washington, D. C., Feb. 16, 1863; buried in Harmony Burial Grounds, D. +C. + +PHILIP WATTS, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AMASA WHITENITE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +GOTTLIEB WAGONER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GAYLORD WHITMOYER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 17, 1863. + +SAMUEL YOUNG, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +FRANKLIN J. R. ZELLARS, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + + +COMPANY F. + +GEORGE W. WILHELM, captain, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged Dec. +5, 1862. + +JACOB D. LACIAR, captain, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; promoted from second lieutenant Jan. 5, +1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS MUSSELMAN, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +JOHN KERNS, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from +corporal to sergeant Sept. 22, 1862; to second lieutenant Jan. 5, 1863; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +OLIVER BRENEISER, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, and at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; +promoted to corporal Sept. 22, 1862, to first sergeant Jan. 5, 1863; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB MILLER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN HOFF, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from corporal +Nov. 22, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES MACK, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from +corporal March 1, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN SHERRY, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +OLIVER F. MUSSELMAN, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +F. C. WINTEMUTE, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to +corporal Aug. 18, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +DAVID M. JONES, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ALBERT E. SHEETS, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM MINER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM R. REX, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to +corporal Nov. 22, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +LEWIS TRAINER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to corporal +Nov. 22, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN SCHULTZ, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; promoted to corporal Jan. 2, 1863; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH SCHADEL, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died at Belle +Plain, Va., Nov. 28, 1862. + +GEORGE W. DURYEA, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Aug. 16, +1862, from Camp Curtin. + +EDWIN SEYFRIED, musician, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 25, 1863. + +BAR'T ARMBRUSTER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DAVID ARNER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM ALLEN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; captured at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +AUGUST BELSNER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +THOMAS BAKER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL BARTLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Sept. 12, +1862, near Rockville, Md. + +STEPHEN CUNFER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS CHRISTINE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH L. CLEWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died at Harper's +Ferry, Va., Oct. 1 of wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +CHAS. S. DREISBACH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH B. DREISBACH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH DRUMBORE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged Jan. 13, +1863, for wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +PETER EVERTS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM EVERTS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +JONATHAN ECK, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL EVERTS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 13, 1863. + +OWEN C. FULLWEILER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; absent, sick, at +muster-out. + +AMON FRITZ, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +LEWIS FREDERICK, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM FRANTZ, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; absent, sick, at muster-out. + +AARON H. GUMBARD, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY GROW, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE H. GEARHARD, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged March +10, 1863, for wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +SAMUEL GROW, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Dec. 21 of wounds +received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; buried at Alexandria; +Grave 630. + +JOSEPH HONTZ, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +OLIVER HOFF, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +FREDERICK HOSLER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN W. HOTTENSTEIN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE HOUSER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SEBASTIAN HON, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN HILLS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Aug. 16, 1862, +from Camp Curtin. + +ALEX. JOHNSON, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL KEENE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +EDWIN KEMMERER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN KISTLER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded, with loss of +arm, at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; discharged, date unknown. + +DANIEL KRESSLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 15, 1863. + +SAMUEL D. LYNN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +LEVI M. LEVY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 25, 1863. + +JOHN LENTS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Jan. 2, 1863, of +wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +FRANCIS H. MOSER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MONROE MARTIN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ALEXANDER MILLS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Sept. 29, 1862. + +CHARLES F. MOYER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Sept. 22 of +wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +SAMUEL MCCANCE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL MCGEE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB NOTESTEIN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +VALENTINE NEUMOYER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +MOSES NEYER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES E. NACE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Jan. 2, 1863, of +wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +ENOS OLWERSTEFLER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +CHAS. A. PATTERSON, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB RODFINK, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LEOPOLD RICE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB RIDLER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AARON REX, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at Antietam Sept. +17, 1862; died at Smoketown, Md., Nov. 11, 1862. + +CHAS. W. RAMALEY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died at Windmill +Point, Va., Jan. 27, 1863. + +PAUL SOLT, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM S. SIEGFRIED, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JOSIAH SANDEL, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL STEIGERWALT, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +LEWIS STEIGERWALT, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +CHARLES SINKER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB STROUSE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +OTTO STERNER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died March 25, 1863, +of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +FRANCIS SOLT, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Sept. 14, 1862, +at Frederick City, Md. + +HENRY WERNSTEIN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + + +COMPANY G. + +ROBERT A. ABBOTT, captain, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged Jan. +13, 1863, for wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +ISAAC HOWARD, captain, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from private +to first sergeant Jan. 1, 1863, to captain Jan. 14, 1863; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN C. DOLAN, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; discharged on surgeon's certificate Jan. +30, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. FULTON, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from sergeant March 17, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +EDMUND H. SALKELD, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +discharged March 17, 1863, for wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., +Dec. 13, 1862. + +JOHN WEISS, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from +sergeant March 17, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES SIMONS, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from +corporal Feb. 12, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +THEOP. WILLIAMS, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from private to sergeant, to first sergeant Nov. 13, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +JOHN I. C. WILLIAMS, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOSHUA BUTLER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from +corporal Jan. 14, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM RADCLIFF, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to +corporal Feb. 16, 1863; to sergeant March 17, 1863; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES WEISS, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to +corporal, to sergeant Feb. 15, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +JOHN GRAVER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Sept. 9, 1862. + +GEORGE RASE, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Sept. 5, +1862, at Camp Whipple. + +JOHN OSBORN, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded, with loss of +leg, at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; discharged, date not given. + +DAVID GABRET, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM J. SPRINGER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN LESLIE, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HUGH COLLAN, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted to corporal +Feb. 26, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +PETER LEASER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to corporal +Feb. 26, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. NOBLE, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 4, 1863. + +ELIJAH YOUTZ, musician, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Dec. 22, 1862. + +CHARLES ABNER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH BACKERT, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE BUCK, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted August 16, +1862, at Camp Curtin. + +JOSEPH CONLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +PETER CASSADY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM CALLAHAN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM DAVIS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +BERNARD DEMPSEY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES DERBYSHIRE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MICHAEL DOUGHERTY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +W. M. DARLINGTON, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died at +Washington, D. C., of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, +1862. + +PATRICK ELLIOTT, private, mustered in Aug 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN EARLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on surgeon's +certificate Jan. 31, 1863. + +JOHN EPHLIN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +PATRICK FLEMING, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CONRAD FRY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged Dec. 9 for +wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +ANDREW FLOYD, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died near Falmouth, +Va., March 2, 1863. + +CHARLES HOLMES, private; mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM HAY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MORGAN JENKINS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHRISTIAN KLINGLE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MATTHEW KELLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM F. KLOTZ, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN F. KLOTZ, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; captured Dec. 12, +1862; absent, at camp parole, Annapolis, Md., at muster-out. + +BERNARD KELLY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLOUGHBY KOONS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; absent at muster-out. + +JOHN KNAUSS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on surgeon's +certificate Feb. 16, 1863. + +WILLIAM F. KRUM, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died at Smoketown, +Md., of wounds received at Antietam Sept. 17, 1862; buried in National +Cemetery, Sec. 26, Lot B, Grave 180. + +HENRY LANGE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM LEED, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JONAS LOCKE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on surgeon's +certificate Dec. 24, 1862. + +HENRY MANSFIELD, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JONATHAN L. MILLER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +MANNES MAYER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died at Smoketown, +Md., of wounds received at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862. + +EDWARD P. MEELICK, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +LUKE MASTERSON, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Aug. 16, +1862, at Camp Curtin. + +JOHN MCGOVERN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged April 10, +1863, for wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +MICHAEL MCCULLOUGH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +JAMES PATTERSON, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ALFRED POH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MICHAEL REILY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HUGH REILY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HUGO RONEMUS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JONATHAN C. RUCH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died at Smoketown, +Md., of wounds received at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862. + +THOMAS RIGBY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Sept. 11, +1862, at Boonsborough, Md. + +PAUL SOWERWINE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DAVID SHAFFER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB SHINGLER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +BERNHARD SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS SMITHAM, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ROBERT SYNARD, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN STACY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM SCHOONOVER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +H. B. SCHOONOVER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN F. SALMON, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to +commissary-sergeant Aug. 15, 1862. + +THOMAS SPROLL, wagoner, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; absent at muster-out. + +JOHN TONER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Aug. 16, 1862, +Camp Curtin. + +JOHN WEISLY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WEAVER TILGHMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY WINTERSTEEN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged Feb. +28, 1863, for wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +MICHAEL WELSH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate March 20, 1863. + +RUFUS WALTERS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Aug. 16, +1862, Camp Curtin. + +EDWARD YEMMONS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + + +COMPANY H. + +GEORGE W. JOHN, captain, mustered in Aug. 16, 1862; resigned Dec. 9, +1862. + +MARTIN M. BROBST, captain, mustered in Aug. 16, 1862; promoted from +first lieutenant Dec. 9, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ISAIAH W. WILLITS, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from first sergeant Dec. 9, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +HENRY H. HOAGLAND, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 16, 1862; died +Dec. 14 of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +P. R. MARGERUM, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from corporal Dec. 16, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +A. H. SHARPLESS, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from corporal Dec. 16, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL F. SAVORY, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE REEDY, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to corporal +Jan. 22, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +HIRAM W. BROWN, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +corporal Jan. 22, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM MCNEAL, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THEODORE KREIGH, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ROLANDUS HERBINE, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL J. FREDERICK, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +FRANCIS M. THOMAS, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +JOHN P. HOAGLAND, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +corporal Nov. 21, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +EPHRAIM L. KRAMER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +corporal Jan. 20, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +D. HOLLINGSHEAD, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +corporal Jan. 20, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +THEOBALD FIELDS, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +corporal Jan. 20, 1863; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE HARBER, musician, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +BURTON W. FORTNER, musician, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +MORGAN G. DRUM, wagoner, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +H. H. BRUMBACH, PRIVATE, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN R. BROBST, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. BERGER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +WILLIAM BEAVER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH BRUMBACH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN BELL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863. + +JULIUS A. BARRETT, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 31, 1863. + +JOHN BATES, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on surgeon's +certificate February, 1863. + +WILLIAM J. BRUMBACH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged Feb. +2, 1863. + +CHRISTIAN CLEWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +PHINEAS COOL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate January, 1863. + +HIRAM COOL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged January, +1863, for wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +JOHN DILLON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. DYER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at Belle +Plain, Va., December, 1862. + +JOHN DERR, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at Fredericksburg, +Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +ALBERT ERWINE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at Belle Plain, +Va., Dec. 15, 1862; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C. + +WILLIAM FETTERMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL FETTERMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHRISTOPHER M. FEDDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY B. FORTNER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL A. FIELDS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LLOYD W. B. FISHER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB G. FISHER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN D. FINCHER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate, date unknown. + +SCOTT HITE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN HAMPTON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; absent, sick, at +muster-out. + +ARTHUR HARDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS E. HARDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ETHAN HAMPTON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +W. H. H. HARTMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate April 12, 1863. + +CLARK HARDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 21, 1863. + +GEORGE H. HANKINS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Oct. 4; bu. +rec., Oct. 10; of wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; +buried in National Cemetery, Sec. 26, Lot B, Grave 221. + +HENRY T. JOHN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM E. JOHN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JEREMIAH S. KREIGH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +EDWARD KRAMER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +RALPH M. LASHELL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +EMANUEL L. LEWIS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN LUDWIG, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES P. MARGERUM, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM MARKS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH MARTZ, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ADAM R. MENSCH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +COMODORE P. MEARS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES MALONEY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ISAIAH W. MASTELLAR, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +PATRICK MCGRAW, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at Warrenton, +Va., Nov. 6, 1862. + +JOHN F. OHL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +IRVIN C. PAYNE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM J. D. PARKS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Dec. 28 of +wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; buried in +Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C. + +DAVID PHILLIPS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +TOBIAS RINARD, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +FREDERICK REESE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LLOYD T. RIDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ELIAS C. RISHEL, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +HENRY J. ROBBINS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JEREMIAH RHODES, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; absent, sick, at +muster-out. + +WESLEY RIDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at Belle Plain, +Va., December, 1862. + +JAMES M. RICHARDS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +JOSIAH G. ROUP, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died of wounds +received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +BENJAMIN B. SCHMICK, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES S. SCHMICK, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JEREMIAH H. SNYDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; absent, sick, at +muster-out. + +CLARK B. STEWART, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN H. STOKES, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JESSE SHOEMAKER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN M. SANKS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged by special +order Oct. 14, 1862. + +GEORGE F. STERNE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +CHRISTIAN SMALL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863. + +LEWIS THIELE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL M. THOMAS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at Falmouth, +Va., Jan. 8, 1863. + +JOHN TROUP, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Oct. 4 of wounds +received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +DENNIS WATERS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ROBERT M. WATKINS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MONROE C. WARN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL L. YEAGER, private, mustered in Aug. 17, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + + +COMPANY I. + +JAMES ARCHBALD, captain, mustered in Aug. 18, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 7, 1863. + +PHILIP S. HALL, captain, mustered in Aug. 18, 1862; promoted from second +lieutenant Jan. 14, 1863; wounded at Chancellorsville May 4, 1863; +absent in hospital at muster-out. + +ROBERT R. MEILLER, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 18, 1862; +discharged Jan. 7, 1863, for disability. + +BENJAMIN GARDNER, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from sergeant Jan. 14, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +MICHAEL HOUSER, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from private Jan. 14, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE A. WOLCOTT, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from corporal Jan. 14, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE W. CONKLIN, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Jan. 18, 1863. + +JOHN M. MILLER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN JONES, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ISAAC CORNELL, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from +corporal Jan. 14, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ABRAM BITTENBENDER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from +corporal Jan. 14, 1863; prisoner from May 6 to May 22, 1863; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863. + +ORLANDO TAYLOR, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Dec. 4, 1862. + +ALFRED J. BARNES, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH SHARPE, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; taken prisoner at +Hillsboro, Va., Nov. 8, 1862, exchanged Jan. 1, 1863; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +OWEN J. BRADFORD, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. HAGAR, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to +corporal Jan. 4, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +REED G. LEWIS, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to corporal +April 15, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES A. SARGENT, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to +corporal Jan. 14, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ROBERT GRAY, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Oct. 6, 1862. + +DANIEL S. GARDNER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +ORRIN C. HUBBARD, musician, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THEODORE KEIFER, musician, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH S. QUINLAIN, wagoner, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS ALLEN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MOSES H. AMES, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +GEORGE L. BRADFORD, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM BRACY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN BURNISH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +NATHANIEL D. BARNES, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES BARROWMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +THOMAS BARROWMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +BROOKS A. BASS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to +quartermaster-sergeant Jan. 1, 1863. (See Field and Staff.) + +MILTON BROWN, private, mustered in Aug. 16, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LEWIS A. BINGHAM, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Jan. 1, +1863; returned March 27, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN BERRY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged at Fort Wood +Hospital, N. Y. Harbor, on surgeon's certificate March 13, 1863. + +ABIJAH BERSH, Jr., private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Sept. +19, 1862. + +BURTON J. CAPWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS CARHART, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate, date unknown. + +GEORGE H. CATOR, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Oct. 30 of +wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; buried in National +Cemetery, Sec. 26, Lot C, Grave 228. + +HORACE A. DEANS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to +hospital steward Oct. 1, 1862; returned to company April 6, 1863; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +FREDERICK M. ELLTING, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +H. L. ELMANDORF, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted at +Warrenton, Va., Nov. 15, 1862. + +EDWARD FERRIS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +JOHN FERN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE E. FULLER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY M. FULLER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +BENTON V. FINN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 19, 1863. + +JOHN FINCH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on surgeon's +certificate March 28, 1863. + +WILLIAM GUNSAULER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN GAHN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +ELISHA R. HARRIS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL HUBBARD, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +J. HIPPENHAMMER, private, mustered in Aug. 16, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES HAMM, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +RICHARD HALL, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. HARRISON, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY P. HALSTEAD, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 5, 1863. + +WILLIAM HAZLETT, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 2, 1863. + +JOHN L. HUNT, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted at Acquia +Creek, Va., Feb. 15, 1863. + +RODERICK JONES, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; absent, in hospital, at muster out. + +JOHN J. KILMER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +H. L. KRIGBAUM, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +MICHAEL KELLY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE C. LANNING, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS Z. LAKE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LYMAN MILROY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; prisoner from May 6 to +May 22, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE MEUCHLER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES J. MAYCOCK, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +STEPHEN MOOMEY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES H. MILLER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ROBERT O. MOSCRIP, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES S. MORSE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Oct. 29, 1862. + +JOSEPH NIVER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AARON ORREN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN OWEN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on surgeon's +certificate Feb. 11, 1863. + +JOHN E. POWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; captured at +Chancellorsville, Va.; prisoner from May 6 to May 22, 1863; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES PONTUS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES A. PARKER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted at +Harper's Ferry, Va., Oct. 29, 1862. + +FREEMAN J. ROPER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ELEZER RAYMOND, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +NELSON RAYMOND, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; absent, in hospital, at muster-out. + +JAMES S. RANDOLPH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 21, 1863. + +GEORGE W. RIDGEWAY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate, date unknown. + +DANIEL REED, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +WILLIAM H. SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. SEELEY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LATON SLOCUM, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MICHAEL SISK, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN SOMMERS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +RICHARD A. SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Oct. 15 of +wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +ORVICE SHARP, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Nov. 16, 1862. + +REILY S. TANNER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES L. TUTHILL, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; prisoner from May +6 to May 22, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY VUSLER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Sept. 18, +1862. + +DAVID J. WOODRUFF, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL WIGGINS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL WINNICH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +BURR C. WARNER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN B. WEST, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +HARRISON YOUNG, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + + +COMPANY K. + +RICHARD STILLWELL, captain, mustered in Aug. 18, 1862; discharged March +31, 1863, for wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +JACOB B. FLOYD, captain, mustered in Aug. 18, 1862; promoted from first +lieutenant March 31, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +NOAH H. JAY, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +second lieutenant March 31, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +SYLVESTER WARD, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from sergeant to first sergeant Dec. 25, 1862; to second lieutenant +March 31, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +FRANCIS ORCHARD, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from sergeant March 31, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE M. SNYDER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +corporal Sept. 24, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN BOTTSFORD, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +corporal Sept. 24, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM C. KEISER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +corporal March 31, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +MARTIN L. HOWER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Oct. 17 of +wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +PHILETUS P. COPELAND, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +GEORGE COURSEN, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE A. KENT, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE W. JOHNSON, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +corporal Sept. 24, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN S. SHORT, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to corporal +Sept. 24, 1862; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; absent in +hospital at muster-out. + +GEORGE H. TAYLOR, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +corporal Sept. 24, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +EMIL HAUGG, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to corporal +March 31, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +AUSTIN F. CLAPP, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +sergeant-major Nov. 1, 1862. (See Field and Staff.) + +LORENZO D. KEMMERER, musician, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM SILSBEE, musician, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN M. KAPP, wagoner, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AUGUSTUS ASHTON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; taken prisoner at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +DAVID BROOKS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES H. BOON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LEWIS H. BOLTON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ADOLF BENDON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Dec. 6, 1862. + +CHARLES A. BULMER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Oct. 14, 1862. + +WILLIAM H. CARLING, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +adjutant's clerk January 25, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +WILLIAM W. COOLBAUGH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +HARRISON COOK, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB M. CORWIN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN COOLBAUGH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. COON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Nov. 29, 1862. + +MOSES Y. CORWIN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +hospital steward April 6, 1863. (See Field and Staff.) + +BENJAMIN A. C. DAILY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +FRANCIS J. DEEMER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +sergeant-major Jan. 24, 1863. (See Field and Staff.) + +RICHARD DAVIS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Jan. 2, 1863, of +wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; buried in +Military Asylum Cemetery, Washington, D. C. + +THOMAS D. DAVIS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died near +Washington, D. C, Nov. 25, 1862; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery, +Washington, D. C. + +JACOB ESCHENBACH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +CHARLES FREDERICK, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE GABRIEL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +JOHN C. HIGGINS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +PETER HARRABAUM, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES H. HAVENSTRITE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE HINDLE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +EDWARD F. HENRY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged from +Emory Hospital, Washington, D. C, on surgeon's certificate Jan. 8, 1863. + +WILSON HESS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on surgeon's +certificate Feb. 21, 1863. + +JOHN P. HEATH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; deserted on march +from Antietam to Harper's Ferry, Sept. 21, 1862. + +MICHAEL KIVILIN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ROBERT KENNEDY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JESSE P. KORTZ, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died near Falmouth, +Va., Dec. 25, 1862. + +GEORGE W. LINN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ANDREW LANDSICKLE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN LINDSEY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE MATZENBACHER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL W. MEAD, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM L. MARCY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE B. MACK, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES A. MEYLERT, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +second lieutenant Co. A, Feb. 24, 1863. + +JEPTHA MILLIGAN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; buried in National Cemetery, Sec. 26, Lot A, Grave +13. + +RICHARD NAPE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL J. NEWMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN R. POWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH PELLMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DOWNING PARRY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN RYAN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL RUPLE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SIMON P. RINGSDORF, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 6, 1863. + +GEORGE SMITHING, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY M. SEAGER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +DANIEL W. SCULL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH SNYDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SIMON P. SNYDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM D. SNYDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES B. SCOTT, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +PETER SEIGLE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN SCOTT, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WALTER A. SIDNER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MARTIN L. SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES STEVENS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN STITCHER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged Nov. 28, +1862, on account of wounds received at Antietam Sept. 17, 1862. + +ALLEN SPARKS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Sept. 18 of +wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +OBADIAH SHERWOOD, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Nov. 20 at +Smoketown, Md., of wounds received at Antietam Sept. 17, 1862. + +SAMUEL S. SNYDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at +Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 9, 1863. + +JAMES SCULL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died near Falmouth, +Va., Feb. 11, 1863. + +SOLON SEARLE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at Acquia Creek, +Va., Jan. 26, 1863. + +ALONZO L. SLAWSON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged, date +unknown. + +LEANDER J. SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; deserted from Camp +Whipple Sept. 1, 1862. + +DAVID VIPON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE C. WILSON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +MARTIN WILMORE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ORESTES B. WRIGHT, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +JOHN WESTPHALL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY C. WHITING, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Nov. 27, 1862. + +JOHN W. WRIGHT, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at Harper's +Ferry, Va., Oct. 23, 1862. + +ALBERT WHEELER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; deserted from Walnut +Street Hospital, Harrisburg, Dec. 19, 1862. + +CONRAD YOUNG, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. YOUNG, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +W. L. YARRINGTON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL C. YOUNG, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Dec. 26 of +wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[A] Now known as East Woods. + +[B] This is from my diary, but investigations since the war make it +evident that it must be a mistake; that the 5th Ga. was not in that +road, but it was the 6th Ga., and this officer was probably +Lieutenant-Colonel J. M. Newton of that regiment. + +[C] Probably the 6th Ga. + +[D] Lieutenant, afterwards Captain, Charles McDougal was a Methodist +minister before he entered the army. If he could preach as well as he +could fight, he was worthy of a commission in the church militant. + +[E] This eye-witness was Captain Haviland, Company G, One Hundred and +Forty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, whose regiment was attached to the +Pennsylvania Reserves, and which lost in that charge two hundred and +forty-three men killed and wounded. Captain Haviland had been wounded, +and was making his way with Major John Bradley, also wounded, to the +hospital. They happened to be passing Birney's head-quarters when Meade +rode up, and heard the whole interview. + +[F] This order was dated January 23, 1863, and can be found in the +Annual American Cyclopćdia, 1863, page 79, with a copious extract from +the report of the Committee of Congress on the Conduct of the War. It is +there stated that this order was issued subject to the President's +approval, and was sent to Washington for that purpose, General Burnside +soon following and interviewing the President. It is also stated that it +was not approved and was not published. How, then, did I come in +possession of its main features, so as to note them in my diary at the +time? And how should my recollection of them be so clear, as they +certainly are, unless it had been made public. Possibly the press may +have published it. It was certainly published in some form. + +[G] Bates's History, Pennsylvania Volunteers, places here the name of +"Charles A. Meylert, second lieutenant, promoted from private, Co. K, +Feb. 23, 1863, missing since that date." Co. K's roll notes the transfer +of this man to Co. A. His name is not on the original roll of Co. A, and +is therefore omitted here. The following note received from Captain +Charles C. Norris, Co. A, explains: + + PHILADELPHIA, July 12, 1904. +Colonel F. L. HITCHCOCK, Scranton, Pa. + +MY DEAR COLONEL: ... I have a copy of the muster-out roll of Co. A, to +which I have referred.... I would also state that Charles A. Meylert +does not appear on the muster-out roll, nor was he at any time carried +on the roll of Co. A.... On the march from Harper's Ferry to Warrenton, +Va., about Nov. 1, 1862, Co. A held an election for officers to fill +vacancies caused by the promotion of Captain Shreve to be major of the +regiment. The following were elected: Chas. C. Norris, captain; Thomas +Maxwell, first lieutenant, and Edward W. Roderick, second lieutenant. +The result of this election was forwarded through head-quarters to +Governor Curtin. The commissions were not sent on until some time in +December, 1862. Colonel Albright, commanding the regiment, sent for me +one day and told me he had received a commission for Charles A. Meylert +as second lieutenant of Co. A; that it was an outrage upon Co. A, and +that he would send it back to Governor Curtin with a letter, which I +believe he did, the result of which was Roderick's commission was issued +in accordance with his election, and he was mustered in, and Meylert's +commission was revoked. As the commanding officer of Co. A, I never +received any official notice or record of Meylert's commission or muster +into service; hence his name was never entered upon my company roll. How +Bates came to place his name upon my roll, I do not know. + +I am yours truly, + CHAS. C. NORRIS. + + + +[H] Prolonged illness from typhoid fever. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR FROM THE INSIDE*** + + +******* This file should be named 29313-8.txt or 29313-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/9/3/1/29313 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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(Frederick Lyman) Hitchcock</title> + <style type="text/css"> + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + text-indent: 2%; + } + .c {text-align: center; + text-indent: 0%; + } + .cc {text-align: center; + text-indent: 0%;margin:-8% auto -8% auto; + } + .no {text-indent:0%; + } + .r {text-align: right; + margin-right:25%;text-indent:0%; + } + h1 {margin:10% auto 10% auto; + text-align: center;letter-spacing:3px; + clear: both; + } + h1.pg {margin:0% auto 2% auto; + text-align: center;letter-spacing:0px; + clear: both; + } + h3 {text-align: center; + clear: both; + } + .top5 {margin-top: 5%;} + .top15 {margin-top: 15%;} + hr.double { width: 100%; + margin-top: 15%; + margin-bottom: 0%; + border: double 3px black; + } + hr.single { width: 100%; + margin-top: 0%; + margin-bottom: 5%; + border: solid black 1px; + } + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 5%; + margin-bottom: 5%; + border: solid black; + height: 5px; } + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + background:#fdfdfd; + color:black; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + font-size: large; + } + ul {list-style-type: none;margin-left:15%;} + a:link {background-color: #ffffff; color: blue; text-decoration: none; } + link {background-color: #ffffff; color: blue; text-decoration: none; } + a:visited {background-color: #ffffff; color: blue; text-decoration: none; } + a:hover {background-color: #ffffff; color: red; text-decoration:underline; } + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + font-size: 75%; + } + + .smcap2 {font-variant: small-caps; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + font-size: 95%; + } + .sml {font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + font-size: 75%; + } + .sml1 {font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + font-size: 90%; + } + img {border: none;} + .box {border: double 15px black; + margin:15% auto 10% auto;max-width:600px;} + .caption {font-size:65%;font-weight:800;} + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px; margin-top:15%; clear:both;} + .footnotes ol { margin-left:0; margin-right:0; + padding:0; + width:100%; + list-style-type:none; } + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; width:80%; + margin-bottom:0.75em; + font-size: 0.9em; + position:relative;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; + left:-3em; top:0; + text-align: left; } + .fnanchor {vertical-align:baseline; + position:relative; bottom:0.6em; + font-size: .8em; } + .poem {margin-left:25%; + white-space:nowrap; + text-indent: 0%; + } + + pre {font-size: 85%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, War from the Inside, by Frederick L. +(Frederick Lyman) Hitchcock</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: War from the Inside</p> +<p> The Story of the 132nd Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in the War for the Suppression of the Rebellion, 1862-1863</p> +<p>Author: Frederick L. (Frederick Lyman) Hitchcock</p> +<p>Release Date: July 4, 2009 [eBook #29313]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR FROM THE INSIDE***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Chuck Greif,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> + +<h1>WAR FROM THE INSIDE</h1> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 359px;"><a name="HITCH" id="HITCH"></a> +<img src="images/gs01_th.png" width="359" height="550" alt="COLONEL FREDERICK L. HITCHCOCK" /> +<span class="caption">COLONEL FREDERICK L. HITCHCOCK<br /><a href="images/gs01.png">(see image enlarged)</a></span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 268px;margin-top:15%;"><a name="MONUMENT" id="MONUMENT"></a> +<img src="images/gs02_th.png" width="268" height="550" alt="MONUMENT OF 132D REGIMENT, P. V. +ERECTED BY THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA ON BATTLE-FIELD OF ANTIETAM, MD. +DEDICATED SEPT. 17, 1904" /> +<span class="caption">MONUMENT OF 132D REGIMENT, P. V.<br /> +ERECTED BY THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA ON BATTLE-FIELD OF ANTIETAM, MD.<br /> +DEDICATED SEPT. 17, 1904<br /><a href="images/gs02.png">(see image enlarged)</a></span> +</div> + + +<p class="sml1">It stands about two hundred yards directly in front of the battle line upon which +this regiment fought, on the side of the famous "Sunken Road" occupied by the +Confederates.</p> + +<p class="sml1">This road has since been widened and macadamized as a government road +leading from "Bloody Lane" towards Sharpsburg.</p> + + + +<div class="box"> +<h1>WAR<br /> +FROM THE INSIDE</h1> + +<p class="cc">——————</p> + +<h3 class="top15">THE STORY OF THE <span class="smcap">132nd</span> REGIMENT<br /> +PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY<br /> +IN THE WAR FOR THE SUPPRESSION<br /> +OF THE REBELLION</h3> + +<h3>1862-1863</h3> + +<p class="c smcap top15">BY</p> + +<h3 class="top5">FREDERICK L. HITCHCOCK</h3> + +<p class="c smcap"><b>Late Adjutant and Major<br /> +132ND Pennsylvania<br /> +Volunteers.</b></p> + +<p class="c">——————</p> + +<p class="c"><b>Published by authority of the 132nd Regiment Pennsylvania<br /> +Volunteer Infantry Association.</b></p> + +<p class="c">——————</p> + +<p class="c"><b>PRESS OF J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY<br /> +PHILADELPHIA<br /> +1904</b></p> +</div> + + + +<p class="c"> +Copyright, 1903<br /> +<span class="smcap">By F. L. Hitchcock</span></p> + + +<hr class="double" /> +<h3><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE</h3> +<hr class="single" /> + +<p>T<span class="smcap">his</span> narrative was originally written without the least +idea of publication, but to gratify the oft-repeated requests +of my children. During the work, the ubiquitous newspaper +reporter learned of it, and persuaded me to permit +its publication in a local paper, where it appeared +in weekly instalments. Since then the demand that I +should put it in more permanent form has been so persistent +and wide-spread, that I have been constrained to +comply, and have carefully revised and in part rewritten +it. I have endeavored to confine myself to my own observations, +experiences, and impressions, giving the inner life +of the soldier as we experienced it. It was my good fortune +to be associated with one of the best bodies of men +who took part in the great Civil War; to share in their +hardships and their achievements. For this I am profoundly +grateful. Their story is my own. If these splendid +gray-headed "boys"—those who have not yet passed +the mortal firing-line—shall find some pleasure in again +tramping over that glorious route, and recalling the historic +scenes, and if the younger generation shall gather +inspiration for a like patriotic dedication to country +and to liberty, I shall be more than paid for my imperfect +work. In conclusion, I desire to acknowledge +my indebtedness to Major James W. Oakford, son of +our intrepid colonel, who was the first of the regiment +to fall, and to Mr. Lewis B. Stillwell, son of that brave +and splendid officer, Captain Richard Stillwell, Company +K, who was wounded and disabled at Fredericksburg, +for constant encouragement in the preparation of the +work and for assistance in its publication.</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Scranton, Pa.</span>, <span class="sml">April 5, 1904.</span><br /> +</p> + + + + + +<hr class="double" /> +<h3><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS</h3> +<hr class="single" /> + + +<table summary="toc" +cellspacing="2" +cellpadding="0"> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">CHAPTER</span></td><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">I.</a></td><td>—<span class="smcap">First Lessons; or, Doing the Impossible</span></td></tr> + +<tr valign="top"><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">II.</a></td><td>—<span class="smcap">The Organization and Make-up of +the Fighting Machine called "The Army"</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">III.</a></td><td>—<span class="smcap">On the March—Preliminary Skirmishes</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">IV.</a></td><td>—<span class="smcap">Drawing near the Enemy—Battle of South Mountain—Preliminary Skirmishes</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">V.</a></td><td>—<span class="smcap">The Battle of Antietam</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">VI.</a></td><td>—<span class="smcap">The Battle of Antietam—Continued</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">VII.</a></td><td>—<span class="smcap">Harper's Ferry and the Leesburg and Halltown +Expeditions</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">VIII.</a></td><td>—<span class="smcap">From Harper's Ferry to Fredericksburg</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">IX.</a></td><td>—<span class="smcap">The Fredericksburg Campaign</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">X.</a></td><td>—<span class="smcap">The Battle of Fredericksburg—Continued</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">XI.</a></td><td>—<span class="smcap">Why Fredericksburg was Lost</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">XII.</a></td><td>—<span class="smcap">Lost Colors recovered</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">XIII.</a></td><td>—<span class="smcap">The Winter at Falmouth</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">XIV.</a></td><td>—<span class="smcap">The Winter at Falmouth—Continued</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">XV.</a></td><td>—<span class="smcap">The Battle of Chancellorsville</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">XVI.</a></td><td>—<span class="smcap">The Battle of Chancellorsville—Continued</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">XVII.</a></td><td>—<span class="smcap">The Muster Out and Home Again</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td> </td><td><a href="#APPENDIX"><span class="smcap"> Appendix</span></a></td></tr> +</table> + + + +<hr class="double" /> +<h3>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h3> +<hr class="single" /> + + +<p class="sml">After the lapse of more than forty years, I hardly hoped to be able to publish +pictures of all our officers, and have been more than pleased to secure so many. +The others, I regret to say, could not be obtained. The youthful appearance of these +officers will be remarked. All, I believe, with the exception of Colonel Oakford +were below thirty years, and most between twenty and twenty-five.</p> + + +<ul> +<li><a href="#HITCH">Colonel Frederick L. Hitchcock—<i>Frontispiece</i></a></li> + +<li><a href="#MONUMENT">The Monument—<i>Facing title-page</i></a></li> + +<li><a href="#GROUPS">Groups of Captains</a></li> + +<li><a href="#GROUP">Group, Chaplain and Surgeons</a></li> + +<li><a href="#ALBRIGHT">Colonel Charles Albright</a></li> + +<li><a href="#WILCOX">Colonel Vincent M. Wilcox</a></li> + +<li><a href="#OAK">Colonel Richard A. Oakford</a></li> + +<li><a href="#BATTERY">The Silenced Confederate Battery</a></li> + +<li><a href="#SUNKEN">The Sunken Road</a></li> + +<li><a href="#HOSPITAL">Field Hospital</a></li> + +<li><a href="#LIEUT">Groups of Lieutenants</a></li> + +<li><a href="#HITCHCOCK">Major Frederick L. Hitchcock</a></li> + +<li><a href="#DON">Don and I, and glimpse of Camp of Hancock's Division, Falmouth, Va.</a></li> + +<li><a href="#ANTIETAM">Reunion 132d Regiment, P. V., 1891, on Battle-field of Antietam.</a></li> +</ul> + +<hr class="double" /> +<h3>WAR FROM THE INSIDE</h3> +<hr class="single" /> + + + +<hr class="double" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h3> +<hr class="single" /> + +<p class="c smcap">FIRST LESSONS; OR, DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE</p> + + +<p>I <span class="smcap">was</span> appointed adjutant of the One Hundred and +Thirty-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, by our +great war Governor, Andrew G. Curtin, at the solicitation +of Colonel Richard A. Oakford, commanding the regiment, +my commission dating the 22d day of August, 1862. +I reported for duty to Colonel Oakford at Camp Whipple, +where the regiment was then encamped, on the 3d day of +September, 1862. This was immediately following the +disasters of "Chantilly" and "Second Bull Run," and as +I passed through Washington to Camp Whipple, I found +the greatest excitement prevailing because of these reverses, +and a general apprehension for the safety of the +capital in consequence. The wildest rumors were abroad +concerning the approach of the victorious rebel troops, and +an alarm amounting almost to a panic existed. Being +without a horse or other means of transportation, I was +obliged to make my way, valise in hand, on foot from +Washington over the "long bridge" across the Potomac, +to Camp Whipple, some two miles up the river nearly +opposite Georgetown. From the wild rumors floating +about Washington, I did not know but I should be captured +bag and baggage before reaching camp. Undertaking +this trip under those circumstances, I think, required +almost as much nerve as "real work" did later on.</p> + +<p>Getting beyond the long bridge there were abundant evidences +of the reported disasters. Straggling troops, army +wagons, etc., were pouring in from the "front" in great +disorder. I reached camp about three o'clock <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> and +found Colonel Oakford out with the regiment on battalion +drill. An hour later I reported to his office (tent) as +ready for duty. The colonel had been a lifelong personal +friend, and I was received, as I expected, most cordially. +I was assigned quarters, and a copy of the daily routine +orders of camp was placed in my hands, and my attention +specially called to the fact that the next "order of business" +was "dress parade" at six o'clock. I inquired the +cause of this special notice to me, and was informed that +I was expected to officiate as adjutant of the regiment +at that ceremony. I pleaded with the colonel to be +allowed a day or so in camp to see how things were +done before undertaking such difficult and important +duties; that I knew absolutely nothing about any part +of military service; had never served a day in any kind +of military work, except in a country fire company; had +never seen a dress parade of a full regiment in my life, +and knew nothing whatever about the duties of an +adjutant.</p> + +<p>My pleadings were all in vain. The only reply I received +was a copy of the "Army Regulations," with the +remark that I had two hours in which to study up and +master the details of dress parade, and that I could not +learn my duties any easier nor better than by actual practice; +that my condition was no different from that of my +fellow officers; that we were all there in a camp of instruction +learning our duties, and there was not a moment to +lose. I then began to realize something of the magnitude +of the task which lay before me. To do difficult things, +without knowing how; that is, to learn how in the doing, +was the universal task of the Union volunteer officer. I +took up my "Army Regulations" and attacked the ceremony +of dress parade as a life and death matter. Before +my two hours were ended, I could repeat every sentence of +the ceremony verbatim, and felt that I had mastered the +thing, and was not going to my execution in undertaking +my duties as adjutant. Alas for the frailty of memory; +it failed me at the crucial moment, and I made a miserable +spectacle of myself before a thousand officers and men, +many of them old friends and acquaintances, all of whom, +it seemed to me, were specially assembled on that occasion +to witness my début, and see me get "balled up." They +were not disappointed. Things tactically impossible were +freely done during that ceremony. Looking back now +upon that scene, from the long distance of forty years, I +see a green country boy undertaking to handle one thousand +men in the always difficult ceremony of a dress +parade. (I once heard Governor Hartranft, who attained +the rank of a major-general during the war, remark, as he +witnessed this ceremony, that he had seen thousands of +such parades, and among them all, only one that he considered +absolutely faultless.) I wonder now that we got +through it at all. Think of standing to give your first +command at the right of a line of men five hundred +abreast, that is, nearly one thousand feet in length, and +trying to make the men farthest away hear your small, +unused, and untrained voice. I now can fully forgive +my failure. The officers and men were considerate of +me, however, and, knowing what was to be done, went +through with it after a fashion in spite of my blunders.</p> + +<p>The regiment was one of the "nine months'" quota; +it had been in the service barely two weeks at this time. It +was made up of two companies, I and K, from Scranton +(Captains James Archbald, Company I, and Richard Stillwell, +Company K), Company A, Danville, Pa.; B, +Factoryville; C, Wellsboro and vicinity; E, Bloomsburg; +F and G, Mauch Chunk, and H, Catawissa. It numbered, +officers and men, about one thousand. Its field officers +were Colonel Richard A. Oakford, Scranton; Lieutenant-Colonel +Vincent M. Wilcox, Scranton; Major +Charles Albright, Mauch Chunk; staff, Frederick L. +Hitchcock, first lieutenant and adjutant, Scranton; Clinton +W. Neal, first lieutenant and quartermaster, Bloomsburg; +Rev. Schoonmaker, first lieutenant and chaplain, +Scranton.</p> + +<p>The transition from home life to that of an army in the +field can only be appreciated from a stand-point of actual +experience. From a well-ordered, well-cooked meal, +served at a comfortable table with the accessories of home, +howsoever humble, to a "catch as catch can" way of +getting "grub," eating what, and when and where, you +are fortunate enough to get to eat; and from a good, +comfortable bed, comfortably housed in a comfortable +home, to a blanket "shake down" under the beautiful +sky, mark some of the features of this transition.</p> + +<table summary="ills" +cellpadding="15" +cellspacing="15"> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="center"> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"><a name="GROUPS" id="GROUPS"></a> +<img src="images/gs03a.png" width="250" height="345" alt="CAPT. MARTIN M. BROBST +CO. H" /> +<span class="caption">CAPT. MARTIN M. BROBST<br /> +CO. H</span> +</div></td></tr> + +<tr><td><div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/gs03b.png" width="250" height="347" alt="CAPT. WARNER H. CARNOCHAN +CO. D" /> +<span class="caption">CAPT. WARNER H. CARNOCHAN<br /> +CO. D</span> +</div> +</td><td> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/gs03c.png" width="250" height="350" alt="CAPT. GEO. W. WILHELM +CO. F" /> +<span class="caption">CAPT. GEO. W. WILHELM<br /> +CO. F</span> +</div> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/gs03d.png" width="250" height="339" alt="CAPT. SMITH W. INGHAM +CO. B" /> +<span class="caption">CAPT. SMITH W. INGHAM<br /> +CO. B</span> +</div> +</td><td> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/gs03e.png" width="250" height="339" alt="CAPT. CHAS. M'DOUGAL +CO. C" /> +<span class="caption">CAPT. CHAS. M'DOUGAL<br /> +CO. C</span> +</div> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/gs04a.png" width="250" height="340" alt="CAPT. RICHARD STILLWELL +CO. K" /> +<span class="caption">CAPT. RICHARD STILLWELL<br /> +CO. K</span> +</div> +</td><td> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/gs04b.png" width="250" height="340" alt="CAPT. JAMES ARCHBALD, JR. +CO. I" /> +<span class="caption">CAPT. JAMES ARCHBALD, JR.<br /> +CO. I</span> +</div> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/gs04c.png" width="250" height="340" alt="CAPT. CHARLES C. NORRIS +CO. A" /> +<span class="caption">CAPT. CHARLES C. NORRIS<br /> +CO. A</span> +</div> +</td><td> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/gs04d.png" width="250" height="340" alt="CAPT. JACOB D. LACIAR +CO. F" /> +<span class="caption">CAPT. JACOB D. LACIAR<br /> +CO. F</span> +</div> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/gs04e.png" width="250" height="340" alt="CAPT. JACOB B. FLOYD +CO. K" /> +<span class="caption">CAPT. JACOB B. FLOYD<br /> +CO. K</span> +</div> +</td><td> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/gs04f.png" width="250" height="340" alt="CAPT. ROBERT A. ABBOTT +CO. G" /> +<span class="caption">CAPT. ROBERT A. ABBOTT<br /> +CO. G</span> +</div> +</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p>Another feature is the utter change in one's individual +liberty. To be no longer the arbiter of your own time and +movements, but to have it rubbed into you at every turn +that you are a very small part of an immense machine, +whose business is to march and fight; that your every +movement is under the control of your superior officers; +that, in fact, you have no will of your own that can be +exercised; that your individuality is for the time sunk, +is a trial to an American freeman which patriotism alone +can overcome. Not the least feature of this transition is +the practical obliteration of the Lord's day. This is a +great shock to a Christian who has learned to love the +Lord's day and its hallowed associations. Routine duty, +the march, the fighting, all go right on, nothing stops for +Sunday.</p> + +<p>On the morning after reaching camp I had the pleasure +of seeing Major-General John Pope, who commanded the +Union forces in the recent battles of Chantilly and Second +Bull Run, and his staff, riding past camp into Washington. +He hailed us with a cheery "Good-morning" in +reply to our salute. He did not look like a badly defeated +general, though he undoubtedly was—so badly, indeed, +that he was never given any command of importance +afterwards.</p> + +<p>On Saturday, September 6, we received orders to join +the Army of the Potomac—again under the command of +"Little Mac"—at Rockville, Md., distant about eighteen +miles. This was our first march. The day was excessively +hot, and Colonel Oakford received permission to +march in the evening. We broke camp about six o'clock +<span class="smcap">P.M.</span> It was a lovely moonlight night, the road was excellent, +and for the first six miles the march was a delight. +We marched quite leisurely, not making over two miles an +hour, including rests, nevertheless the last half of the distance +was very tiresome, owing to the raw and unseasoned +condition of our men, and the heavy load they were carrying. +We reached the bivouac of the grand Army of the +Potomac, of which we were henceforth to be a part, at +about three o'clock the next morning. Three miles out +from the main camp we encountered the outpost of the +picket line and were duly halted. The picket officer had +been informed of our coming, and so detained us only long +enough to satisfy himself that we were all right.</p> + +<p>Here we encountered actual conditions of war with all +its paraphernalia for the first time. Up to this time we +had been playing at war, so to speak, in a camp of instruction. +Now we were entering upon the thing itself, with +all its gruesome accessories. Everything here was business, +and awful business, too. Here were parks of artillery +quiet enough just now, but their throats will speak +soon enough, and when they do it will not be the harmless +booming of Fourth of July celebrations. Here we pass +a bivouac of cavalry, and yonder on either side the road, +in long lines of masses, spread out like wide swaths of +grain, lie the infantry behind long rows of stacked guns. +Here were upward of seventy-five thousand men, all, +except the cordon of pickets, sound asleep. In the midst +of this mighty host the stillness was that of a graveyard; +it seemed almost oppressive.</p> + +<p>Halting the regiment, Colonel Oakford and I made our +way to the head-quarters of Major-General Sumner, commanding +the Second Army Corps, to whom the colonel +was ordered to report. We finally found him asleep in his +head-quarters wagon. A tap on the canvas top of the +wagon quickly brought the response, "Hello! Who's +there? What's wanted?"</p> + +<p>Colonel Oakford replied, giving his name and rank, and +that his regiment was here to report to him, according to +orders.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, colonel, that is right," replied the general. +"How many men have you?"</p> + +<p>Receiving the colonel's answer, General Sumner said:</p> + +<p>"I wish you had ten times as many, for we need you +badly. Glad you are here, colonel. Make yourselves as +comfortable as you can for the rest of the night, and I will +assign you to your brigade in the morning."</p> + +<p>Here was a cordial reception and hospitality galore. +"Make yourselves comfortable"—in Hotel "Dame Nature!" +Well, we were all weary enough to accept the hospitality. +We turned into the adjacent field, "stacked +arms," and in a jiffy were rolled up in our blankets and +sound asleep. The mattresses supplied by Madame Nature +were rather hard, but her rooms were fresh and airy, and +the ceilings studded with the stars of glory. My last +waking vision that night was a knowing wink from +Jupiter and Mars, as much as to say, "sleep sweetly, we +are here."</p> + +<p>The morning sun was well up before we got ourselves +together the next morning. The "reveille" had no terrors +for us greenhorns then. We found ourselves in the midst +of a division of the bronzed old Army of the Potomac +veterans. They were swarming all over us, and how unmercifully +they did guy us! A regiment of tenderfeet was +just taffy for those fellows. Did our "Ma's know we +were out?" "Get off those purty duds." "Oh, you blue +cherub!" etc., etc., at the same time accepting (?) without +a murmur all the tobacco and other camp rarities they +could reach.</p> + +<p>We were soon visited by Brigadier-General Nathan +Kimball, a swarthy, grizzly-bearded old gentleman, with +lots of fire and energy in his eyes. He told the colonel our +regiment had been assigned to his brigade. He directed +the colonel to get the regiment in line, as he had something +to say to the men, after which he would direct us where to +join his troops. General Kimball commanded a brigade +which had achieved a great reputation under McClellan in +his West Virginia campaign, and it had been named by +him the "Gibraltar brigade." It had also been through +the Peninsular and Second Bull Run campaigns. It had +comprised the Fourth and Eighth Ohio, Fourteenth Indiana +and Seventh West Virginia regiments, all of which +had been reduced by hard service to mere skeleton regiments. +The Fourth Ohio had become so small as to require +its withdrawal from the army for recuperation, and +our regiment was to take its place.</p> + +<p>To step into the shoes of one of these old regiments was +business, indeed, for us. Could we do it and keep up our +end? It was certainly asking a great deal of a two weeks' +old regiment. But it was the making of us. We were +now a part of the old Gibraltar brigade. Our full address +now was "One Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsylvania +Volunteers, First Brigade, Third Division, Second Army +Corps, Army of the Potomac." Our own reputation we +were now to make. We were on probation in the brigade, +so to speak. These veterans were proud, and justly so, of +their reputation. What our relation to that reputation was +to be, we could see was a mooted question with them. +They guyed us without measure until the crucial test, the +"baptism of fire," had been passed. This occurred just +ten days later, at the battle of Antietam, the greatest battle +of the war thus far, where for four bloody hours we held +our section of the brigade line as stanch as a rock. Here +we earned our footing. Henceforth we belonged to them. +There was never another syllable of guying, but in its place +the fullest meed of such praise and comradeship as is born +only of brave and chivalrous men.</p> + + + +<hr class="double" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h3> +<hr class="single" /> + +<p class="c smcap">THE ORGANIZATION AND MAKE-UP OF THE FIGHTING +MACHINE CALLED "THE ARMY."</p> + + +<p>W<span class="smcap">e</span> remained a day in bivouac after joining the Gibraltar +brigade at Rockville, during which rations of fresh +beef, salt pork, and "hardtack" (the boys' nickname for +hard bread) were issued to the army, also ammunition.</p> + +<p>The method of issuing rations was as follows: Colonels +of regiments were directed to send in requisitions for so +many days' rations, depending on the movements on hand, +of hard bread and pork, and usually one day's rations of +fresh beef. At brigade head-quarters these requisitions +were consolidated, making the brigade requisition, and +forwarded to division head-quarters. Here they were +again consolidated into a division requisition, and so on +until the army head-quarters was reached. Then the corps +commissary received in bulk enough for his corps, and +distributed it to the divisions in bulk, thence to brigades in +bulk, thence to regiments, and finally from the regiment to +the companies, and to the men. A long string of red tape, +surely; and it might have been considerably shortened to +the advantage of all, as it was later on.</p> + +<table summary="ills" +cellspacing="2" +cellpadding="2"> +<tr><td> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"><a name="GROUP" id="GROUP"></a> +<img src="images/gs05a.png" width="250" height="327" alt="REV. A. H. SCHOONMAKER +CHAPLAIN" /> +<span class="caption">REV. A. H. SCHOONMAKER +CHAPLAIN<br /> </span> +</div> +</td><td> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/gs05b.png" width="250" height="327" alt="J. W. ANAWALT +MAJOR AND SURGEON" /> +<span class="caption">J. W. ANAWALT +MAJOR AND SURGEON<br /> </span> +</div> +</td><td> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/gs05c.png" width="250" height="327" alt="G. K. THOMPSON +FIRST LIEUT. AND ASS'T SURGEON" /> +<span class="caption">G. K. THOMPSON +FIRST LIEUT. AND ASS'T SURGEON</span> +</div> +</td></tr> +</table> +<p>An interesting feature of the issue of rations was the +method of supplying the fresh beef. Live cattle were +driven to the army and issued alive to the several corps, +from which details were made of men who had been butchers, +who killed and dressed the beef. The animals were +driven into an enclosure and expert marksmen shot them +down as wanted. This seemed cruel work, but it was well +done; the animal being hit usually at the base of its horns, +death was instantaneous. This fresh meat, which we got +but seldom after the march began, was cooked and eaten +the day it was issued. Enough for one day was all that +was issued at a time, and this, after the non-eatable portions +had been eliminated, did not overburden the men.</p> + +<p>The hard bread was a square cracker about the size of +an ordinary soda cracker, only thicker, and very hard and +dry. It was supposed to be of the same quality as sea biscuit +or pilot bread, but I never saw any equal to that +article. The salt pork was usually good for pork, but +it was a great trial to us all to come down to camp +fare, "hardtack and pork." Sometimes the "hardtack" +was very old and poor. I have seen many a one +placed in the palm of the hand, a smart blow, a puff of +breath, and mirabile! a handful of "squirmers"—the +boys' illustration of a "full hand." It came to be the rule +to eat in daylight for protection against the unknown +quantity in the hardtack. If we had to eat in the dark, +after a prolonged march, our protection then lay in breaking +our cracker into a cup of boiling coffee, stir it well and +then flow enough of the coffee over to carry off most of +the strangers and take the balance on faith.</p> + +<p>On the march each man carried his own rations in +haversacks. These were made of canvas and contained +pockets for salt, sugar and coffee, besides room for about +two days' rations of hard bread and pork. Sometimes five, +six, and seven days' rations were issued, then the balance +had to be stowed away in knapsacks and pockets of the +clothing. When, as was usual in the latter cases, there +was also issued sixty to one hundred rounds of ammunition, +the man became a veritable pack-mule.</p> + +<p>For the first month many of our men went hungry. +Having enormous appetites consequent upon this new and +most strenuous mode of life, they would eat their five days' +supply in two or three, and then have to "skirmish" or go +hungry until the next supply was issued. Most, however, +soon learned the necessity as well as the benefit of restricting +their appetites to the supply. But there were always +some improvident ones, who never had a supply ahead, but +were always in straights for grub. They were ready to +black boots, clean guns, in fact, do any sort of menial work +for their comrades for a snack to eat. Their improvidence +made them the drudges of the company.</p> + +<p>Whatever may be said about other portions of the rations, +the coffee was always good. I never saw any poor coffee, +and it was a blessing it was so, for it became the soldiers' +solace and stay, in camp, on picket and on the march. +Tired, footsore, and dusty from the march, or wet and cold +on picket, or homesick and shivering in camp, there were +rest and comfort and new life in a cup of hot coffee. We +could not always have it on picket nor on the march. To +make a cup of coffee two things were necessary besides the +coffee, namely, water and fire, both frequently very difficult +to obtain. On picket water was generally plentiful, +but in the immediate presence of the enemy, fire was forbidden, +for obvious reasons. On the march both were +usually scarce, as I shall show later on. How was our +coffee made? Each man was provided with a pint tin cup. +As much coffee as could comfortably be lifted from the +haversack by the thumb and two fingers—depending somewhat +on the supply—was placed in the cup, which was +filled about three-fourths full of water, to leave room for +boiling. It was then placed upon some live coals and +brought to a boil, being well stirred in the meantime to get +the strength of the coffee. A little cold water was then +added to settle it. Eggs, gelatin, or other notions of civilization, +for settling, were studiously (?) omitted. Sometimes +sugar was added, but most of the men, especially the +old vets, took it straight. It was astonishing how many of +the "wrinkles of grim visaged war" were temporarily +smoothed out by a cup of coffee. This was the mainstay +of our meals on the march, a cup of coffee and a thin slice +of raw pork between two hardtacks frequently constituting +a meal. Extras fell in the way once in a while. Chickens +have been known to stray into camp, the result of a night's +foraging.</p> + +<p>Among the early experiences of our boys was an incident +related to me by the "boy" who was "it." He said +he had a mighty narrow escape last night.</p> + +<p>I asked, "How was that?"</p> + +<p>"Out hunting for chickens, struck a farmhouse, got a +nice string, and was sneaking my way out. Dark as tar. +Ran up against man, who grabbed me by the collar, and +demanded 'what are you doing here?' I was mum as an +owl. He marched me out where there was a flickering +light, and sure as blazes it was old General Kimball. I +didn't know that house was brigade head-quarters.</p> + +<p>"'What regiment do you belong to?'</p> + +<p>"'Dunno.'</p> + +<p>"'You've heard about the orders against marauding, +eh?'</p> + +<p>"'Dunno.'</p> + +<p>"'Hand up those chickens, you rascal.'</p> + +<p>"I handed them out from behind my shaking legs.</p> + +<p>"'How many have you got?'</p> + +<p>"'Dunno'—I had two pair of nice ones. The old man +took out his knife and slowly cut out one pair, looking +savagely at me all the time.</p> + +<p>"'There! You get back to camp as quick as your legs +will carry you, and if I ever get my hands on you again +you'll remember it.'" He said he thought he'd try and +forage away from head-quarters next time. General Kimball +was a rigid disciplinarian, but withal a very kind-hearted +man. He no doubt paid for those chickens rather +than have one of his boys suffer for his foraging escapade. +Perhaps I ought to say a word about these foraging expeditions +to eke out the boys' larder. These men were not +thieves in any sense and very few attempted this dubious +method, but the temptation was almost beyond the power +of resistance. The best way to test this temptation is to +diet yourself on "hardtack" and pork for just about one +week. Then the devil's argument—always present—was +practically true there, "the chickens will be taken (not +stolen) by some of the army, and you might as well have +one as anybody."</p> + +<p>The following story of a neighboring regiment will +show that even officers high in rank sometimes found +that "circumstances alter cases." The troops were nearing +bivouac at the close of the day, and, as usual, the +colonel ordered the music to start up and the men to +fall into step and approach camp in order (the march is +usually in route step,—<i>i.e.</i>, every man marches and carries +his gun as he pleases). The fifes and the snare-drums +promptly obeyed, but the big bass drum was silent. The +men fell into cadence step in fine shape, including the +bass drummer, but his big shell gave forth no sound. +The colonel called out, "What's the matter with the bass +drum?" Still no response. A second ejaculation from +head-quarters, a little more emphatic, fared no better. +Patience now exhausted, the colonel yelled, "What in +h—l's the matter, I say, with——" when a sotto voice +reached his ear, with "Colonel, colonel, he's got a pair +of chickens in his drum, and one is for you." "Well, +if the poor fellow is sick, let him fall out."</p> + +<p>A little explanation now about how the army is organized +will probably make my story clearer. That an army +is made of three principal arms, viz., artillery, cavalry, and +infantry, is familiar to all; that the cavalry is mounted is +also well known, but that in actual fighting they were often +dismounted and fought as infantry may not be familiar to +all. The cavalry and infantry—or foot troops—are organized +practically alike, viz., first into companies of 101 +men and officers; second, into regiments of ten companies, +or less, of infantry and twelve companies, more +or less, of cavalry, two or more companies of cavalry +constituting a "squadron," and a like number of companies +of infantry a "battalion;" third, into brigades +of two or more—usually four—regiments; fourth, divisions +of two or more—usually three—brigades; fifth, +army corps, any number of divisions—usually not more +than three. Logically, the rank of officers commanding +these several subdivisions would be colonel, commanding +a regiment; brigadier-general, his rank being indicated +by one star, a brigade; a major-general, two stars, a division; +a lieutenant-general, three stars, an army corps; +and the whole army a general, his rank being indicated by +four stars. This was carried out by the Confederates in +the organization of their armies. But not so with ours. +With few exceptions—ours being one—the brigades were +commanded by the senior colonels, and towards the end of +the war this was sometimes temporarily true of divisions; +the divisions by brigadiers, whilst we had no higher rank +than that of major-general until General Grant was made, +first, lieutenant-general, and finally general.</p> + +<p>The artillery was organized into companies commonly +called batteries. There were two branches, heavy and +light artillery. The former were organized more like infantry, +marched on foot and were armed with muskets in +addition to the heavy guns they were trained to use. The +latter were used against fortifications and were rarely +brought into field work. The light artillery were mounted +either on the horses or on the gun-carriages, and, though +organized into a separate corps under the direction of the +chief of artillery, were usually distributed among the divisions, +one or two batteries accompanying each division.</p> + +<p>In addition to these chief branches of the service, there +was the signal corps, the "eyes" of the army, made up +mostly of young lieutenants and non-commissioned officers +detailed from the several regiments. There were two such +officers from Scranton, namely, Lieutenant Fred. J. Amsden, +One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, +and Lieutenant Frederick Fuller, Fifty-second +Pennsylvania Volunteers, besides a number of enlisted +men.</p> + +<p>Another important branch of the service was the telegraph +corps. It was remarkable the celerity with which +wires would be run along the ground and on brush, day +by day, keeping the several corps constantly in touch with +the commanding general. There were comparatively few +telegraph operators that could be detailed, and many had +to be hired,—some boys who were too young to enlist. +Dr. J. Emmet O'Brien, of this city, was one of the most +efficient of the latter class.</p> + +<p>It was Dr. O'Brien, then operating below Petersburg, +who caught the telegraphic cipher of the rebels and by +tapping their wires caught many messages which were of +material assistance to General Grant in the closing movements +of the war. It was he also who in like manner +caught the movements of Jeff Davis and his cabinet in +their efforts to escape, and put General Wilson on his +track, resulting in his final capture. Mr. Richard O'Brien, +the doctor's older brother, for many years superintendent +of the Western Union Telegraph lines in this end of the +State, was at that time Government Superintendent of +Telegraphs, in charge of all its telegraphic operations in +Virginia and North Carolina. He could tell many a hair-raising +experience. He related to me the following incident, +which occurred during Grant's operations around +Petersburg, to illustrate the enterprise of the enemy in +trying to get our telegrams, and the necessity of sending +all messages in cipher. They never succeeded in translating +the Union cipher. But one day an operator at +Washington, either too lazy or too careless to put his +message in cipher, telegraphed to the chief commissary at +a place below City Point that fifteen hundred head of beef +cattle would be landed at that point on a certain day. The +message was caught by the rebels. The beef cattle were +landed on time, but in the meantime Wade Hampton had +swept in with a division of rebel cavalry and was waiting +to receive the cattle. With them were captured a handsome +lot of rations and a number of prisoners, including +all of Mr. O'Brien's telegraph operators at that post. Mr. +O'Brien said he cared a good deal more about the loss of +his operators than he did for the loss of the cattle and +rations, for it was very hard to get competent operators at +that time. There was at least one vacancy at Washington +following this incident.</p> + +<p>Still another arm of the service was the pontoniers, +whose duty it was to bridge non-fordable rivers. They +were armed and drilled as infantry, but only for their own +protection. Their specialty was laying and removing pontoon +bridges. A pontoon train consisted of forty to fifty +wagons, each carrying pontoon boats, with plank and +stringers for flooring and oars and anchors for placing. +In laying a bridge these boats were anchored side by side +across the stream, stringers made fast across them, and +plank then placed on the stringers. Every piece was +securely keyed into place so that the bridge was wide +enough and strong enough for a battery of artillery and a +column of infantry to go over at the same time. The +rapidity with which they would either lay or take up a +bridge was amazing. If undisturbed they would bridge a +stream two hundred yards wide in thirty minutes. They +bridged the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg under fire +on the 12th of December, 1863, in a little over an hour, +losing heavily in the act.</p> + +<p>Having now given some account of the organization of +this great human fighting machine, it will be proper to +show how it was handled. For this purpose there were +four staff departments, namely, the adjutant-general's, the +quartermaster-general's, the commissary-general's, and the +ordnance departments. The first named was the mouth-piece +of the army. All orders were issued by and through +that officer. It was the book-keeper of the army. Each +subdivision of the army had its adjutant-general down to +the office of adjutant in the regiment, who was charged +with issuing all orders, and with attending to their execution. +He was secretary, so to speak, of the commanding +officer, and his chief executive officer as well. Extraordinary +executive talent and tireless energy were required +in these positions. The adjutant must be able at all times +to inform his chief of the condition of every detail of the +command whether an army corps or regiment, exactly how +many men were fit for duty, how many sick or disabled, +and just where they all are. In fact, he must be a walking +encyclopćdia of the whole command; added to this he was +usually chief of staff, and must be in the saddle superintending +every movement of the troops. Always first on +duty, his work was never finished.</p> + +<p>Two of the best adjutants-general the world has produced +literally wore themselves out in the service—Seth +Williams and John B. Rawlins. The first named was +McClellan's adjutant-general, the latter was Grant's. McClellan +is credited with having organized the grand old +Army of the Potomac, the main fighting force by which +the rebellion was finally crushed. This was doubtless true, +he being its first commanding officer. But the executive +ability by which that magnificent machine was perfected +was largely the work of Seth Williams, a very quiet, +modest man, but a master of the minutest details of every +department and an indefatigable worker. It was said his +chief could wake him in the middle of the night and get +from his memory a correct answer as to the number of men +fit for duty in any one of the hundreds of regiments in the +army, and just where it was, and what duty it was doing. +When one remembers that this knowledge was acquired +only by a daily perusal of the consolidated reports of the +various regiments, brigades, divisions, and corps of the +army, and that he could have found time for one reading +only, it will be seen how marvellous his memory was.</p> + +<p>Rawlins was said to possess much the same quality. It +may truthfully be said that the Army of the Potomac was +organized and began its remarkable career in the life blood +of Seth Williams, and it completed its work in a blaze of +glory, in the life blood of John B. Rawlins. Seth Williams +died in the service. Rawlins came home with the +victorious army only to die. A beautiful bronze equestrian +statue was erected at Washington under the influence of +his beloved chief, Grant, to commemorate the services of +Rawlins. So far as I know, Seth Williams shares the fate +of most of his humbler comrades,—an unmarked grave.</p> + +<p>I have said all orders were sent out through the adjutant-general's +office. This, of course, applies to all regular +routine work only, for during the movements of troops +on campaigns and in battle orders had in the nature of +the case to be delivered verbally. For this purpose each +general had a number of aides-de-camp. In sending such +orders, the utmost courtesy was always observed. The +formula was usually thus, "General Kimball presents his +compliments to Colonel Oakford and directs that he move +his regiment to such and such a point." To which Colonel +Oakford responds returning his compliments to General +Kimball and says "his order directing so and so has been +received and shall be immediately obeyed."</p> + +<p>The quartermaster's department was charged with all +matters connected with transportation; with the supplying +of clothing, canvas, and equipage of all sorts. Both +the commissary and the ordnance departments were dependent +upon the quartermaster for the transportation of +their respective stores. The wagon trains required by the +Army of the Potomac for all this service were prodigious. +They were made up of four and six mule teams with heavy +"prairie schooners" or canvas-covered wagons. I have +seen two thousand of them halted for the night in a single +park, and such trains on the march six to ten miles long +were not unusual. It will readily be seen that to have +them within easy reach, and prevent their falling into +the hands of an alert enemy, was a tremendous problem +in all movements of the army.</p> + +<p>The army mule has been much caricatured, satirized, +and abused, but the soldier had no more faithful or indispensable +servant than this same patient, plodding, hard-pulling, +long-eared fellow of the roomy voice and nimble +heels. The "boys" told a story which may illustrate the +mule's education. A "tenderfoot" driver had gotten his +team stalled in a mud hole, and by no amount of persuasion +could he get them to budge an inch. Helpers at +the wheels and new hands on the lines were all to no purpose. +A typical army bummer had been eying the scene +with contemptuous silence. Finally he cut loose:</p> + +<p>"Say! You 'uns dunno the mule language. Ye dunno +the dilec. Let a perfesser in there."</p> + +<p>He was promptly given the job. He doffed cap and +blouse, marched up to those mules as if he weighed a ton +and commanded the army. Clearing away the crowd, he +seized the leader's line, and distending his lungs, he shot +out in a voice that could have been heard a mile a series of +whoops, oaths, adjectives, and billingsgate that would +have silenced the proverbial London fish vender. The +mules recognized the "dilec" at once, pricked up their +ears and took the load out in a jiffy.</p> + +<p>"Ye see, gents, them ar mules is used to workin' with a +perfesser."</p> + +<p>The commissary department supplied the rations, and +the ordnance department the arms and ammunition, etc. +Still another branch of the service was the provost-marshal's +department. This was the police force of the army. +It had the care and custody of all prisoners, whether those +arrested for crime, or prisoners of war—those captured +from the enemy. In the case of prisoners sentenced to +death by court-martial, the provost guard were their +executioners.</p> + + + +<hr class="double" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h3> +<hr class="single" /> + +<p class="c smcap">ON THE MARCH</p> + + +<p>W<span class="smcap">e</span> are bound northward through Maryland, the vets +tell us, on a chase after the rebs. The army marches in +three and four parallel columns, usually each corps in a +column by itself, and distant from the other columns equal +to about its length in line of battle, say a half to three-fourths +of a mile. Roads were utilized as far as practicable, +but generally were left to the artillery and the +wagon trains, whilst the infantry made roads for themselves +directly through the fields.</p> + +<p>The whole army marches surrounded by "advance and +rear guards," and "flankers," to prevent surprise. Each +column is headed by a corps of pioneers who, in addition +to their arms, are provided with axes, picks and shovels, +with the latter stone walls and fences are levelled sufficiently +to permit the troops to pass, and ditches and other +obstructions covered and removed. It is interesting to see +how quickly this corps will dispose of an ordinary stone +wall or rail fence. They go down so quickly that they +hardly seem to pause in their march.</p> + +<p>We learn that the Johnnies are only a couple of days +ahead of us. That they marched rapidly and were on their +good behavior, all marauding being forbidden, and they +were singing a new song, entitled "My Maryland," thus +trying to woo this loyal border State over to the Confederacy. +We were told that Lee hung two soldiers for +stealing chickens and fruit just before they entered Frederick +City.</p> + +<p>Much could be written about the discomforts of these +marches, the chief of which was the dust more than the +heat and the fatigue. No rain had fallen for some time, +and the roads and the fields through which we passed were +powdered into fine dust, which arose in almost suffocating +clouds, so that mouth, lungs, eyes, and ears were filled with +it. Sometimes it became so dense that men could not be +seen a dozen yards away. The different regiments took +turns in heading the columns. There was comparative +comfort at the head, but there were so many regiments that +during the whole campaign our regiment enjoyed this +privilege but once.</p> + +<p>Another feature of the march was inability to satisfy +thirst. The dust and heat no doubt produced an abnormal +thirst which water did not seem to satisfy. The water we +could get was always warm, and generally muddy and +filthy. The latter was caused by the multitude of men +using the little streams, springs, or wells. Either of these, +ordinarily abundant for many more than ever used them, +were hardly a cup full apiece for a great army. Hence +many a scrimmage took place for the first dash at a cool +well or spring. On our second or third day's march, such +a scrap took place between the advanced columns for a +well, and in the męlée one man was accidentally pushed +down into it, head first, and killed. He belonged to one of +the Connecticut regiments, I was told. We passed by the +well, and were unable to get water, because a dead soldier +lay at the bottom of it. His regiment probably got his +body out, but we had to march on without stopping to +learn whether they did or not. The problem of water for +our army we found to be a troublesome one. Immediately +we halted, much of our rest would be taken up in efforts to +get water. We lost no opportunity to fill our canteens. +Arriving in bivouac for the night, the first thing was a +detail to fill canteens and camp kettles for supper coffee. +We always bivouacked near a stream, if possible. But, +then, so many men wanting it soon roiled it for miles, so +that our details often had to follow the stream up three +and four miles before they could get clean water. This +may seem a strong statement, but if one will stop a +moment and think of the effect upon even a good-sized +stream, of a hundred thousand men, besides horses and +mules, all wanting it for drinking, cooking, washing, and +bathing (both the latter as peremptory needs as the former), +he will see that the statement is no exaggeration.</p> + +<p>An interesting feature of our first two days' march was +the clearing out of knapsacks to reduce the load. Naturally +each man was loaded with extras of various sorts, +knicknacks of all varieties, but mostly supposed necessaries +of camp life, put in by loving hands at home, a salve for +this, a medicine for that, a keepsake from one and another, +some the dearest of earth's treasures, each insignificant +in itself, yet all taking room and adding weight to over-burdened +shoulders. At the mid-day halt, on the first day +knapsacks being off for rest, they came open and the +sorting began. It was sad, yet comical withal, to notice the +things that went out. The most bulky and least treasured +went first. At the second halting, an hour later, still another +sorting was made. The sun was hot and the knapsack +was heavy. After the second day's march, those +knapsacks contained little but what the soldier was compelled +to carry, his rations, extra ammunition, and clothing. +Were these home treasures lost? Oh, no! Not one. Our +friends, the vets, gathered them all in as a rich harvest. +They had been there themselves, and knowing what was +coming, were on hand to gather the plums as they fell. +The only difference was, that another mother's or sweetheart's +"boy" got the treasures.</p> + +<p>On September 11 we were approaching Frederick City. +Our cavalry had a skirmish with the rebel cavalry, showing +that we were nearing their army. And right here I +ought to say that what an individual officer or soldier—unless +perhaps a general officer—knows of events transpiring +around him in the army is very little. Even the +movements he sees, he is seldom able to understand, his +vision is so limited. He knows what his own regiment and +possibly his own brigade does, but seldom more than that. +He is as often the victim of false rumor as to movements +of other portions of the army, as those who are outside +of it. On this date we encamped near Clarksville. It was +rumored that the rebels were in force at Frederick City. +How far away that is we do not know. The only certainty +about army life and army movements to the soldier is a +constant condition of uncertainty. Uncertainty as to +where or when he will eat, sleep, or fight, where or when +the end will come. One would almost doubt the certainty +of his own existence, except for the hard knocks which +make this impossible.</p> + +<p>The celebrated Irish brigade, commanded by Brigadier-General +Thomas Francis Meagher, was in Richardson's +division. They were a "free and easy" going crowd. +General Richardson impressed me as a man of great determination +and courage. He was a large, heavy man, +dressed roughly and spoke and acted very brusquely. +French (who commanded our division) was also thick-set, +probably upwards of sixty years old, quite gray and with a +very red face. He had an affection of the eyes which kept +him winking or blinking constantly, from which he earned +the sobriquet, "Old Blink Eye." I saw General Burnside +about this time. He was dressed so as to be almost unrecognizable +as a general officer; wore a rough blouse, on +the collar of which a close look revealed two much-battered +and faded stars, indicating his rank of major-general. +He wore a black "slouch" hat, the brim well +down over his face, and rode along with a single orderly, +without the least ostentation. The men of the other regiments +knew him and broke out into a cheer, at which he +promptly doffed his hat and swung it at the boys. His +hat off, we recognized the handsome author of the "Burnside" +whiskers. He was not only very popular with his +own corps—the Ninth—but with the whole army, and +chiefly, I think, because of his modest, quiet way of going +about. This was so different from General McClellan.</p> + +<p>On our third day's march we were halted for rest, when +an orderly rode through the lines saying to the different +colonels, "General McClellan will pass this way in ten +minutes." This meant that we were to be ready to cheer +"Little Mac" when he came along, which, of course, we +all did. He came, preceded by a squadron of cavalry and +accompanied by a very large and brilliantly caparisoned +staff, followed by more cavalry. He was dressed in the +full uniform of a major-general and rode a superb horse, +upon which he sat faultlessly. He was certainly a fine-looking +officer and a very striking figure. But whether all +this "fuss and feathers" was designed to impress the men, +or was a freak of personal vanity, it did not favorably impress +our men. Many of the old vets, who had been with +him on the Peninsula, and now greeted him again after his +reinstatement, were very enthusiastic. But notwithstanding +their demonstrations, they rather negatived their +praises by the remark, "No fight to-day; Little Mac has +gone to the front." "Look out for a fight when he goes +to the rear." On the other hand, they said when "Old +Man Sumner"—our corps commander—"goes to the +front, look out for a fight."</p> + +<p>General Sumner was an old man—must have been +nearly seventy—gray, and his color indicated advanced +age, though he seemed quite vigorous. He went about +very quietly and without display. He had a singular +habit of dropping his under jaw, so that his mouth was +partially open much of the time.</p> + +<p>We bivouacked on the 12th of September in front of +Frederick City, Md., in a field occupied the night before +by the rebels, so the people told us, and there was abundant +evidence of their presence in the filth they left uncovered, +for they had slaughtered beef for their troops and the +putrid offal therefrom was polluting the air. Still there +we had to sleep. We marched the latter part of the day in +the rain, and were soon well covered with mud. We managed +to keep some of the water out with our gum blankets, +and when we came to fix for the night, the men going in +pairs made themselves fairly comfortable under their +shelter tents. I should have explained that the only "canvas" +supplied to the men on the march was shelter tents, +which consisted of a square of stout muslin with button-holes +on one side and buttons on the other. Two of these +buttoned together and stretched taut over a ridge-pole and +made fast on the ground, would keep out the heaviest +shower, provided the occupants were careful not to touch +the muslin. A hand or elbow accidentally thrust against +the tent brought the water through in streams. There is a +knack in doing this, which the experience of the vets with +whom we were brigaded soon taught us. Choosing +ground a little slanting, so the water would run away from +them, they would sleep fairly dry and comfortable, even in +a hard storm. As for us officers who were without shelter +tents, we had to shift for ourselves as best we might. A +favorite plan, when fences were available, was to place +three or four rails endwise against the fence and make +a shelter by fastening a gum blanket on top.</p> + +<p>This worked fairly well against a stone wall for a backing, +but against an ordinary fence one side was unprotected, +yet with another gum blanket, two of us could so +roll ourselves up as to be comparatively water-proof. My +diary states that in a driving rainstorm here I never slept +better in my life. I remember awakening with my head +thoroughly drenched, but otherwise comparatively dry.</p> + +<p>This night I succeeded in getting a "bang up" supper—a +cooked meal—at a reb farm-house. It consisted of pork-steak, +potatoes, and hot coffee with bread and butter. It +was a great treat. I had now been without a square meal +for nearly ten days. The old gentleman, a small farmer, +talked freely about the war, not concealing his rebel sympathies. +He extolled Stonewall Jackson and his men, +who, he said, had passed through there only a day ahead of +us. He firmly believed we would be whipped. He evidently +had an eye for the "main chance," for he was quite +willing to cook for us at twenty-five cents a meal, as long +as he had stuff to cook and his good wife had strength +to do the work. She seemed to be a nice old lady, and, +hungry as I was, I felt almost unwilling to eat her supper, +she looked so tired. I told her it was too bad. She smiled +and said she was tired, but she couldn't bear to turn away +these hungry boys. She said she had a son in the rebel +army, and she knew we must be hungry and wet, for it +was still raining hard.</p> + +<p>The officers at this time experienced difficulty in getting +food to eat. The men were supplied with rations and +forced to carry them, but rations were not issued to officers—though +they might purchase of the commissary such as +the men had, when there was a supply. The latter were +supposed to provide their own mess, for which purpose +their mess-kits were transported in a wagon supplied to +each regiment. The field and staff usually made one mess, +and the line or company officers another. Sometimes the +latter messed with their own men, carrying their rations +along on the march the same as the men. This was discouraged +by the government, but it proved the only way +to be sure of food when needed, and was later on generally +adopted. We had plenty of food with our mess-kit and +cook, but on the march, and especially in the presence of +the enemy, our wagons could never get within reach of +us. Indeed, when we bivouacked, they were generally +from eight to ten miles away. The result was we often +went hungry, unless we were able to pick up a meal at a +farm-house—which seldom occurred, for the reason that +most of these farmers were rebel sympathizers and would +not feed us "Yanks," or they would be either sold out, or +stolen out, of food. The tale generally told was, "You +'uns has stolen all we 'uns had." This accounts for the +entry in my diary that the next morning I marched without +breakfast, but got a good bath in the Monocacy—near +which we encamped—in place of it. I got a "hardtack" +and bit of raw pork about 10 <span class="smcap">A.M.</span></p> + +<p>On the 13th of September, we passed through the city of +Frederick, Md. It is a quaint old town, having then probably +three thousand or more inhabitants and a decided +business air. The rebels, they claimed, had cleaned them +out of eatables and clothing, paying for them in Confederate +scrip, and one man told me they would not +take the same scrip in change, but required Union money; +that this was demanded everywhere. General McClellan +passed through the streets while we were halted, as did +General Burnside shortly after. A funny incident occurred +with the latter. General Burnside, as usual, was +accompanied by a single orderly, and had stopped a moment +to speak to some officers, when a handsome, middle-aged +lady stepped out of her house and approached. She +put out her hand and, as the general clasped it, she raised +herself up on her toes in an unmistakable motion to +greet him with a kiss.</p> + +<p>The general so understood her, and, doffing his hat, bent +down to meet her pouting lips, but, alas, he was too high +up; bend as low as he might and stretch up as high as she +could, their lips did not meet, and the kiss hung in mid-air. +The boys caught the situation in a moment, and began to +laugh and clap their hands, but the general solved the +problem by dismounting and taking his kiss in the most +gallant fashion, on which he was roundly cheered by the +men. The lady was evidently of one of the best families. +She said she was a stanch Union woman, and was so glad +to see our troops that she felt she must greet our general. +There was "method in her madness," however, for she +confined her favors to a general, and picked out the handsomest +one of the lot. It is worthy of note, that during +this incident, which excited uproarious laughter, not a disrespectful +remark was made by any of the hundreds of our +"boys" who witnessed it. General Burnside chatted with +her for a few moments, then remounted and rode away.</p> + +<p>Approaching Frederick City, the country is exceptionally +beautiful and the land seemed to be under a good state +of cultivation. In front of us loomed up almost against +the sky the long ridge called the South Mountain. It was +evidently a spur of the Blue Ridge. Another incident occurred +soon after reaching bivouac, just beyond the city. +We had arranged for our night's "lodging" and were preparing +supper, when one of the native farmers came into +camp and asked to see the colonel. Colonel Oakford and +Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox were temporarily absent, and +he was turned over to Major Albright, to whom he complained +that "you 'uns" had stolen his last pig and he +wanted pay for it. The major, who was a lawyer, began +to cross-question him as to how he knew it was our men +who had stolen it; there were at least fifty other regiments +besides ours on the ground. But he would not be denied.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 358px;"><a name="ALBRIGHT" id="ALBRIGHT"></a> +<img src="images/gs06_th.png" width="358" height="550" alt="COLONEL CHARLES ALBRIGHT" /> +<span class="caption">COLONEL CHARLES ALBRIGHT<br /><a href="images/gs06.png">(see image enlarged)</a></span> +</div> + +<p>He said they told him they was "a hundred and thirty-two +uns," and he also saw those figures on their caps. The +major asked how long ago they took it. He replied that +they got it only a little while ago, and offered to go and +find it if the major would allow him. But the latter was +confident he was mistaken in his men—that some of the +old "vets" had got his pig. His chief argument was that +our men were greenhorns and knew nothing about marauding; +that some of the "vets" had doubtless made +away with his pig and had laid it on our men. So persuasive +was the major that the man finally went off satisfied +that he had made a mistake in his men. The man was +only well out of camp when one of our men appeared at +the major's quarters with a piece of fresh pork for his +supper, with the compliments of Company——. Now, +the orders against marauding were very severe, and to +have been caught would have involved heavy punishment. +But the chief point of the incident, and which made it a +huge joke on the major, lay in the fact that the latter who +was a thoroughly conscientious man, had successfully +fought off a charge against his men, whom he really believed +to be innocent, only to find that during the very +time he was persuading his man of their innocence, the +scamps were almost within sound of his voice, actually +butchering and dressing the pig. How they managed to +capture and kill that pig, without a single squeal escaping, +is one of the marvels of the service. Certainly vets could +have done no better. The man was gone, the mischief was +done, the meat was spoiling, and we were very hungry. +With rather cheerful sadness, it must be confessed, we became +<i>particeps criminis</i>, and made a supper on the pork.</p> + + + +<hr class="double" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h3> +<hr class="single" /> + +<p class="c smcap">DRAWING NEAR THE ENEMY—BATTLE OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN—PRELIMINARY +SKIRMISHES</p> + + +<p>S<span class="smcap">unday</span>, September 15, we broke camp at daylight and +marched out on the Hagerstown "pike." Our division had +the field this day. We crossed the ridge in rear of Frederick +City and thence down into and up a most beautiful +valley. We made only about seven miles, though we +actually marched over twelve. We were in the presence +of the enemy and were manœuvred so as to keep concealed. +We heard heavy cannonading all day, and part +of the time could see our batteries, towards which we +were marching.</p> + +<p>Towards night we heard the first musketry firing. It +proved to be the closing of the short but sanguinary battle +of South Mountain. General Reno, commanding the +Ninth Corps, whose glistening bayonets we had seen +across the valley ahead of us, had overtaken the rebel +rear guard in South Mountain pass and a severe action +had ensued. General Reno himself was killed. His body +was brought back next morning in an ambulance on its +way to Washington. We reached the battle-ground about +midnight, whither we had been hurried as supports. The +batteries on both sides were still at work, but musketry +firing had ceased. It had been a beautiful though very +warm day, and the night was brilliantly moonlight, one +of those exceptionally bright nights which almost equalled +daylight. And this had been Sunday—the Lord's day! +How dreadful the work for the Lord's day!</p> + +<p>Here I saw the first dead soldier. Two of our artillerymen +had been killed while serving their gun. Both were +terribly mangled. They had been laid aside, while others +stepped into their places. There they still lay, horrible +evidence of the "hell of war." Subsequently I saw thousands +of the killed on both sides, which made scarcely +more impression on me than so many logs, but this first +vision of the awful work of war still remains. Even at +this writing, forty years later, memory reproduces that +horrible scene as clearly as on that beautiful Sabbath +evening.</p> + +<p>It was past midnight when we bivouacked for the little +rest we were to have before resuming the "chase." Being +now in the immediate "presence of the enemy," we +rested on "our arms," that is, every soldier lay down +with his gun at his side, and knapsack and accoutrements +ready to be "slung" immediately on the sounding of the +"call." We officers did not unsaddle our horses, but dismounted +and snatched an hour's sleep just as we were. +Bright and early next morning we were on our way again. +It was a most beautiful morning.</p> + +<p>We soon passed the field where the musketry did its +work the night before, and there were more than a +hundred dead rebels scattered over the field, as the result of +it. Two or three were sitting upright, or nearly so, +against stumps. They had evidently been mortally +wounded, and died while waiting for help. All were +dressed in coarse butternut-colored stuffs, very ugly in +appearance, but admirably well calculated to conceal them +from our troops.</p> + +<p>We rapidly passed over the mountain (South Mountain) +and down into the village of Boonsborough. There +was abundant evidence of the rebel skedaddle down the +mountain ahead of our troops in the way of blankets, +knapsacks, and other impedimenta, evidently dropped or +thrown away in the flight. We passed several squads +of rebel prisoners who had been captured by our cavalry +and were being marched to the rear under guard. They +were good-looking boys, apparently scarcely more than +boys, and were poorly dressed and poorly supplied.</p> + +<p>Some freely expressed themselves as glad they had been +captured, as they were sick of the fighting.</p> + +<p>My own experiences this day were a taste of "the +front," that is, the excitement attending a momentarily +expected "brush" with the enemy. Part of the time my +heart was in my mouth, and my hair seemed to stand +straight up. One can have little idea of this feeling until +it has been experienced. Any effort to describe it will +be inadequate. Personal fear? Yes, that unquestionably +is at the bottom of it, and I take no stock in the man who +says he has no fear. We had been without food until +late in the afternoon for reasons heretofore explained. +Towards night one of my friends in Company K gave me +a cup of coffee and a "hardtack."</p> + +<p>Just before reaching Boonsborough, a pretty village +nestling at the foot of the South Mountain, our cavalry +had a sharp skirmish with the rebel rear-guard, in which +Captain Kelley, of the Illinois cavalry, was killed, I was +told. At Boonsborough we found the field hospitals with +the rebel wounded from the fight of the day previous. +Their wounded men said their loss was over four hundred +killed, among them two brigadiers-general, one colonel, +and several officers of lesser rank. A rebel flag of truce +came into our lines here to get the bodies of these dead +officers and to arrange for burying their dead and caring +for their wounded. The houses of Boonsborough had +been mostly vacated by the people on the approach of the +rebel army and the fighting, and the latter had promptly +occupied as many of them as they needed for their +wounded. Imagine these poor villagers returning from +their flight to find their homes literally packed with +wounded rebel soldiers and their attendants. Whatever +humble food supplies they may have had, all had been +appropriated, for war spares nothing. Some of the +frightened people of the village were returning as we +passed through, and were sadly lamenting the destruction +of almost everything that could be destroyed on and +about their homes by this besom of destruction,—war. +Food, stock, fences, bed and bedding, etc., all gone or +destroyed. Some of the houses had been perforated by +the shells,—probably our own shells, aimed at the enemy. +One man told me a shell had entered his house and landed +on the bed in the front room, but had not exploded. Had +it exploded, he would have had a bigger story to tell.</p> + +<p>The rebels, we learned, had been gone but a few hours, +and we were kept in pursuit. We marched out the Shepherdstown +road a few miles, reaching and passing through +another village—Keedysville. We were continuously +approaching heavy cannonading. Indeed, we had been +marching for the past three days within hearing of, and +drawing closer to, the artillery barking of the two armies. +Old vets said this meant a big fight within the next few +hours. If so, I thought I shall better know how to diagnose +similar symptoms in the future.</p> + +<p>A mile beyond Keedysville we bivouacked for the +night, after a hard, hot, and exciting day's chase. Lieutenant-Colonel +Wilcox came into camp with a great +trophy, nothing less than a good old-fashioned fat loaf +of home-made bread. He was immediately voted a niche +in the future hall of fame, for two acts of extraordinary +merit, namely, first, finding and capturing the bread, and, +second, bringing it into camp intact, the latter act being +considered supremely self-sacrificing. It was magnanimously +divided by him, and made a supper for three of +us. Our mid-day meal had been made up of dust and +excitement.</p> + +<p>All sorts of rumors were afloat as to the movements +of the enemy, as well as of our own army. It was said +Jackson was across the Potomac with a large force; that +Hooker was engaging him, and that we were likely to +bag the balance of Lee's army soon. One thing I learned, +namely, that I could be sure only of what I saw, and that +was very little, indeed, of the doings of either army. The +soldier who professes to know all about army movements +because he "was there," may be set down either as a +bummer, who spent most of his time up trees, safely ensconced +where he could see, or as a fake.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 364px;"><a name="WILCOX" id="WILCOX"></a> +<img src="images/gs07_th.png" width="364" height="550" alt="COLONEL VINCENT M. WILCOX" /> +<span class="caption">COLONEL VINCENT M. WILCOX<br /><a href="images/gs07.png">(see image enlarged)</a></span> +</div> + +<p>My diary records a night of good rest September 16, +1862, in this camp on the Shepherdstown road. The morning +was clear, beautiful, and cheery. This entry will look +somewhat remarkable in view of that which follows, +namely, "No breakfast in sight or in prospect." Later +one of our men gave me half his cup of coffee and a +couple of small sweet potatoes, which I roasted and ate +without seasoning.</p> + +<p>The "ball" opened soon after daylight by a rebel battery, +about three-quarters of a mile away, attempting to +shell our lines. Our division was massed under the shelter +of a hill. One of our batteries of 12-pounder brass +guns promptly replied, and a beautiful artillery duel +ensued, the first I had ever witnessed at close quarters. +Many of us crept up to the brow of the hill to see the +"fun," though we were warned that we were courting +trouble in so doing. We could see columns of rebel infantry +marching in ranks of four, just as we marched, +en route, and as shell after shell from our guns would +explode among them and scatter and kill we would cheer. +We were enjoying ourselves hugely until presently some +additional puffs of smoke appeared from their side, followed +immediately by a series of very ugly hissing, whizzing +sounds, and the dropping of shells amongst our +troops which changed the whole aspect of things. Our +merriment and cheering were replaced by a scurrying to +cover, with blanched faces on some and an ominous, +thoughtful quiet over all.</p> + +<p>This was really our first baptism of fire, for though at +South Mountain we had been in range and were credited +with being in the fight as supports, none of the shells had +actually visited us. Several of these came altogether too +close for comfort. Colonel Oakford, Lieutenant-Colonel +Wilcox, and I were sitting on our horses as close together +as horses ordinarily stand, when one of these ugly missiles +dropped down between us. It came with a shrieking, +screeching sound, like the pitch of an electric car with +the added noise of a dozen sky-rockets. It did not explode. +It created considerable consternation and no little +stir with horses and men, but did no damage further than +the scare and a good showering of gravel and dust. Another +struck between the ranks of our brigade as they were +resting under the hill with guns stacked,—only a few feet +away from us. It also, happily, failed to explode, but +we were sure some one must have been killed by it. It +did not seem possible that such a missile could drop down +upon a division of troops in mass without hitting somebody; +but, strange as it may seem, it did no damage +beyond knocking down a row of gun-stacks and tumbling +topsy-turvy several men, who were badly bruised, but +otherwise uninjured. The way the concussion tossed the +men about was terrific. Had these shells exploded, some +other body would probably have had to write up this narrative.</p> + +<p>Another shell incident occurred during this artillery +duel that looked very funny, though it was anything but +funny to the poor fellow who suffered. He, with others, +had been up near our battery, on the knoll just above us, +witnessing the firing, when one of these rebel shells came +ricochetting along the ground towards him as he evidently +thought, for he started to run down the hill thinking to +get away from it, but in fact running exactly in front of +the shell, which carried away one heel. He continued +down the hill at greatly accelerated speed, but now hopping +on one foot. Had he remained where he was the missile +would have passed him harmlessly. Except when +nearly spent, shells are not seen until they have passed, +but the screeching, whizzing, hissing noise is sufficient to +make one believe they are hunting him personally. Veteran +troops get to discount the terrors of these noises in a +measure, and pay little attention to them, on the theory +that if one is going to be hit by them he will be anyway, +and no amount of dodging will save him, so they go right +on and "take their chances." But with new troops the +effect of a shell shrieking over or past them is often very +ludicrous. An involuntary salaam follows the first sound, +with a wild craning of the necks to see where it went. +Upon marching troops, the effect is like that of a puff of +wind chasing a wave across a field of grain.</p> + +<p>Returning to our artillery duel, so far as we could +judge, our battery had the best of the practice, but not +without paying the price, for the second rebel shell killed +the major (chief of artillery of our division), who sat on +his horse directing the fire, and besides there were a number +of casualties among the battery men. I had seen many +a battery practice on parade occasions with blank cartridges. +How utterly different was the thing in war. Infinitely +more savage, the noise deafeningly multiplied, each +gun, regardless of the others, doing its awful worst to spit +out and hurl as from the mouth of a hell-born dragon these +missiles of death at the enemy.</p> + +<p>The duel continued for upwards of two hours, until the +enemy's battery hauled off, having apparently had enough. +Evidences of the conflict were sadly abundant. A number +were killed, others wounded and several of the battery +horses were killed. The work of the men in this hell of +fire was magnificent. They never flagged for a moment, +and at the conclusion were not in the least disabled, notwithstanding +their losses. I think it was Nimm's battery +from Pittsburg. This was the chief incident of the day. +It was said the two armies were manœuvring for position, +and that a great battle was imminent. This from my +diary. It proved to be true, and that all the skirmishes +and "affaires" for the preceding ten days had been only +preliminary to the great battle of Antietam, fought on the +next day, the 17th.</p> + +<p>We remained in bivouac here the remainder of the day +and night. Burnside's Ninth Corps passed to "the front" +during the afternoon, a splendid body of veteran troops, +whose handsome and popular general was heartily +cheered. He was a large, heavily-built man, and sat his +handsome horse like a prince.</p> + + + +<hr class="double" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h3> +<hr class="single" /> + +<p class="c smcap">THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM</p> + + +<p>N<span class="smcap">ever</span> did day open more beautiful. We were astir at +the first streak of dawn. We had slept, and soundly too, +just where nightfall found us under the shelter of the hill +near Keedysville. No reveille call this morning. Too +close to the enemy. Nor was this needed to arouse us. A +simple call of a sergeant or corporal and every man was +instantly awake and alert. All realized that there was +ugly business and plenty of it just ahead. This was +plainly visible in the faces as well as in the nervous, subdued +demeanor of all. The absence of all joking and play +and the almost painful sobriety of action, where jollity had +been the rule, was particularly noticeable.</p> + +<p>Before proceeding with the events of the battle, I should +speak of the "night before the battle," of which so much +has been said and written. My diary says that Lieutenant-Colonel +Wilcox, Captain James Archbald, Co. I, and +I slept together, sharing our blankets; that it rained during +the night; this fact, with the other, that we were close +friends at home, accounts for our sharing blankets. Three +of us with our gum blankets could so arrange as to keep +fairly dry, notwithstanding the rain.</p> + +<p>The camp was ominously still this night. We were not +allowed to sing or make any noise, nor have any fires—except +just enough to make coffee—for fear of attracting +the fire of the enemies' batteries. But there was no need +of such an inhibition as to singing or frolicking, for there +was no disposition to indulge in either. Unquestionably, +the problems of the morrow were occupying all breasts. +Letters were written home—many of them "last words"—and +quiet talks were had, and promises made between +comrades. Promises providing against the dreaded +possibilities of the morrow. "If the worst happens, Jack." +"Yes, Ned, send word to mother and to——, and these; +she will prize them," and so directions were interchanged +that meant so much.</p> + +<p>I can never forget the quiet words of Colonel Oakford, +as he inquired very particularly if my roster of the officers +and men of the regiment was complete, for, said he, with a +smile, "We shall not all be here to-morrow night."</p> + +<p>Now to resume the story of the battle. We were on the +march about six o'clock and moved, as I thought, rather +leisurely for upwards of two miles, crossing Antietam +creek, which our men waded nearly waist deep, emerging, +of course, soaked through, our first experience of this kind. +It was a hot morning and, therefore, the only ill effects of +this wading was the discomfort to the men of marching +with soaked feet. It was now quite evident that a great +battle was in progress. A deafening pandemonium of +cannonading, with shrieking and bursting shells, filled the +air beyond us, towards which we were marching. An occasional +shell whizzed by or over, reminding us that we +were rapidly approaching the "debatable ground." Soon +we began to hear a most ominous sound which we had +never before heard, except in the far distance at South +Mountain, namely, the rattle of musketry. It had none +of the deafening bluster of the cannonading so terrifying +to new troops, but to those who had once experienced its +effect, it was infinitely more to be dreaded. The fatalities +by musketry at close quarters, as the two armies fought +at Antietam and all through the Civil War, as compared +with those by artillery, are at least as 100 to 1, probably +much more than that.</p> + +<p>These volleys of musketry we were approaching +sounded in the distance like the rapid pouring of shot upon +a tinpan, or the tearing of heavy canvas, with slight +pauses interspersed with single shots, or desultory shooting. +All this presaged fearful work in store for us, with +what results to each personally the future, measured probably +by moments, would reveal.</p> + +<p>How does one feel under such conditions? To tell the +truth, I realized the situation most keenly and felt very +uncomfortable. Lest there might be some undue manifestation +of this feeling in my conduct, I said to myself, +this is the duty I undertook to perform for my country, +and now I'll do it, and leave the results with God. My +greater fear was not that I might be killed, but that I +might be grievously wounded and left a victim of suffering +on the field.</p> + +<p>The nervous strain was plainly visible upon all of us. +All moved doggedly forward in obedience to orders, in absolute +silence so far as talking was concerned. The compressed +lip and set teeth showed that nerve and resolution +had been summoned to the discharge of duty. A few +temporarily fell out, unable to endure the nervous strain, +which was simply awful. There were a few others, it +must be said, who skulked, took counsel of their cowardly +legs, and, despite all efforts of "file closers" and officers, +left the ranks. Of these two classes most of the first rejoined +us later on, and their dropping out was no reflection +on their bravery. The nervous strain produced by the +excitement and danger gave them the malady called by +the vets, the "cannon quickstep."</p> + +<p>On our way into "position" we passed the "Meyer +Spring,"—a magnificent fountain of sweet spring water. +It was walled in, and must have been ten or twelve feet +square and at least three feet deep, and a stream was flowing +from it large enough to make a respectable brook. +Many of us succeeded in filling our canteens from this +glorious spring, now surrounded by hundreds of wounded +soldiers. What a Godsend it was to those poor fellows.</p> + +<p>About eight o'clock we were formed into line of battle +and moved forward through a grove of trees,<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote-A" class="fnanchor" title="Go to footnote A.">[A]</a> but before +actually coming under musketry fire of the enemy we were +moved back again, and swung around nearly a mile to the +left to the base of a circular knoll to the left of the Roulette +farm-house and the road which leads up to the +Sharpsburg pike, near the Dunkard church. The famous +"sunken road"—a road which had been cut through the +other side of this knoll—extended from the Roulette Lane +directly in front of our line towards Sharpsburg. I had +ridden by the side of Colonel Oakford, except when on +duty, up and down the column, and as the line was formed +by the colonel and ordered forward, we dismounted and +sent our horses to the rear by a servant. I was immediately +sent by the colonel to the left of the line to assist +in getting that into position. A rail fence separated us +from the top of the knoll. Bullets were whizzing and +singing by our ears, but so far hitting none where I was. +Over the fence and up the knoll in an excellent line we +went. In the centre of the knoll, perhaps a third of the +way up, was a large tree, and under and around this tree +lay a body of troops doing nothing. They were in our +way, but our orders were forward, and through and over +them we went.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 409px;"><a name="OAK" id="OAK"></a> +<img src="images/gs08_th.png" width="409" height="550" alt="COLONEL RICHARD A. OAKFORD" /> +<span class="caption">COLONEL RICHARD A. OAKFORD<br /> +Killed at battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862<br /><a href="images/gs08.png">(see image enlarged)</a></span> +</div> + +<p>Reaching the top of the knoll we were met by a terrific +volley from the rebels in the sunken road down the other +side, not more than one hundred yards away, and also +from another rebel line in a corn-field just beyond. Some +of our men were killed and wounded by this volley. We +were ordered to lie down just under the top of the hill and +crawl forward and fire over, each man crawling back, reloading +his piece in this prone position and again crawling +forward and firing. These tactics undoubtedly saved us +many lives, for the fire of the two lines in front of us was +terrific. The air was full of whizzing, singing, buzzing +bullets. Once down on the ground under cover of the +hill, it required very strong resolution to get up where +these missiles of death were flying so thickly, yet that was +the duty of us officers, especially us of the field and staff. +My duty kept me constantly moving up and down that +whole line.</p> + +<p>On my way back to the right of the line, where I had +left Colonel Oakford, I met Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox, +who told me the terrible news that Colonel Oakford was +killed. Of the details of his death, I had no time then to +inquire. We were then in the very maelstrom of the +battle. Men were falling every moment. The horrible +noise of the battle was incessant and almost deafening. +Except that my mind was so absorbed in my duties, I do +not know how I could have endured the strain. Yet out +of this pandemonium memory brings several remarkable +incidents. They came and went with the rapidity of a +quickly revolving kaleidoscope. You caught stupendous +incidents on the instant, and in an instant they had passed. +One was the brave death of the major of this regiment +that was lying idle under the tree. The commanding +officer evidently was not doing his duty, and this major +was endeavoring to rally his men and get them at work. +He was swinging his hat and cheering his men forward, +when a solid shot decapitated him. His poor body went +down as though some giant had picked it up and furiously +slammed it on the ground, and I was so near him that I +could almost have touched him with my sword.</p> + +<p>The inaction of this regiment lying behind us under that +tree was very demoralizing to our men, setting them a bad +example. General Kimball, who commanded our brigade, +was seated on his horse just under the knoll in the rear of +our regiment, evidently watching our work, and he signalled +me to come to him, and then gave me orders to +present his compliments to the commanding officer of that +regiment and direct him to get his men up and at work. +I communicated this order as directed. The colonel was +hugging the ground, and merely turned his face towards +me without replying or attempting to obey the order. +General Kimball saw the whole thing, and again called +me to him and, with an oath, commanded me to repeat +the order to him at the muzzle of my revolver, and shoot +him if he did not immediately obey. Said General Kimball: +"Get those cowards out of there or shoot them." +My task was a most disagreeable one, but I must deliver +my orders, and did so, but was saved the duty of shooting +by the other officers of the regiment bravely rallying their +men and pushing them forward to the firing-line, where +they did good work. What became of that skulking colonel, +I do not know.</p> + +<p>The air was now thick with smoke from the muskets, +which not only obscured our vision of the enemy, but made +breathing difficult and most uncomfortable. The day was +excessively hot, and no air stirring, we were forced to +breathe this powder smoke, impregnated with saltpetre, +which burned the coating of nose, throat, and eyes almost +like fire.</p> + +<p>Captain Abbott, commanding Company G, from Mauch +Chunk, a brave and splendid officer, was early carried to +the rear, a ball having nearly carried away his under jaw. +He afterwards told me that his first sensation of this awful +wound was his mouth full of blood, teeth, and splintered +bones, which he spat out on the ground, and then found +that unless he got immediate help he would bleed to death +in a few minutes. Fortunately he found Assistant Surgeon +Hoover, who had been assigned to us just from his +college graduation, who, under the shelter of a hay-stack, +with no anćsthetic, performed an operation which Dr. +Gross, of Philadelphia, afterwards said had been but once +before successfully performed in the history of surgery, +and saved his life. Lieutenant Anson C. Cranmer, Company +C, was killed, and the ground was soon strewn with +the dead and wounded. Soon our men began to call for +more ammunition, and we officers were kept busy taking +from the dead and wounded and distributing to the +living. Each man had eighty rounds when we began the +fight. One man near me rose a moment, when a missile +struck his gun about midway, and actually capsized him. +He pulled himself together, and, finding he was only a +little bruised, picked up another gun, with which the +ground was now strewn, and went at it again.</p> + +<p>Directly, a lull in the enemy's firing occurred, and we +had an opportunity to look over the hill a little more carefully +at their lines. Their first line in the sunken road +seemed to be all dead or wounded, and several of our men +ran down there, to find that literally true. They brought +back the lieutenant-colonel, a fine-looking man, who was +mortally wounded. I shook his hand, and he said, "God +bless you, boys, you are very kind." He asked to be laid +down in some sheltered place, for, said he, "I have but a +few moments to live." I well remember his refined, gentlemanly +appearance, and how profoundly sorry I felt for +him. He was young, lithely built, of sandy complexion, +and wore a comparatively new uniform of Confederate +gray, on which was embroidered the insignia of the "5th +Ga.,<a name="FNanchor_B_2" id="FNanchor_B_2"></a><a href="#Footnote-B" class="fnanchor" title="Go to footnote B.">[B]</a> C. S. A." He said, "You have killed all my brave +boys; they are there in the road." And they were, I saw +them next day lying four deep in places as they fell, a +most awful picture of battle carnage. This lull was of +very short duration, and like the lull of a storm presaged +a renewal of the firing with greater fury, for a fresh line +of rebel troops had been brought up. This occurred three +times before we were relieved.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 550px;"><a name="BATTERY" id="BATTERY"></a> +<img src="images/gs09_th.png" width="550" height="469" alt="SILENCED CONFEDERATE BATTERY IN FRONT OF DUNKER CHURCH +SHARPSBURG ROAD, ANTIETAM" /> +<span class="caption">SILENCED CONFEDERATE BATTERY IN FRONT OF DUNKER CHURCH +SHARPSBURG ROAD, ANTIETAM<br /> +This little brick church lay between the opposing lines, and both +Union and Confederate wounded were gathered in it<br /><a href="images/gs09.png">(see image enlarged)</a></span> +</div> + +<p>During the fiercest of the firing, another remarkable incident +occurred, which well illustrated the fortunes of war. +I heard a man shouting, "Come over here men, you can +see 'em better," and there, over the brow of the knoll, absolutely +exposed, was Private George Coursen, of Company +K, sitting on a boulder, loading and firing as calmly +as though there wasn't a rebel in the country. I yelled to +him to come back under the cover of the hill-top, but he +said he could see the rebels better there, and refused to +leave his vantage-ground. I think he remained there +until we were ordered back and did not receive a scratch. +His escape was nothing less than a miracle. He seemed +to have no idea of fear.</p> + +<p>A remarkable fact about our experience during this +fight was that we took no note of time. When we were +out of ammunition and about to move back I looked at my +watch and found it was 12.30 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> We had been under +fire since eight o'clock. I couldn't believe my eyes; was +sure my watch had gone wrong. I would have sworn +that we had not been there more than twenty minutes, +when we had actually been in that very hell of fire for four +and a half hours.</p> + +<p>Just as we were moving back, the Irish brigade came +up, under command of General Thomas Francis Meagher. +They had been ordered to complete our work by a charge, +and right gallantly they did it. Many of our men, not +understanding the order, joined in that charge. General +Meagher rode a beautiful white horse, but made a show of +himself by tumbling off just as he reached our line. The +boys said he was drunk, and he certainly looked and acted +like a drunken man. He regained his feet and floundered +about, swearing like a crazy man. The brigade, however, +made a magnificent charge and swept everything before it.</p> + +<p>Another incident occurred during the time we were +under fire. My attention was arrested by a heavily built +general officer passing to the rear on foot. He came close +by me and as he passed he shouted: "You will have to +get back. Don't you see yonder line of rebels is flanking +you?" I looked in the direction he pointed, and, sure +enough, on our right and now well to our rear was an +extended line of rebel infantry with their colors flying, +moving forward almost with the precision of a parade. +They had thrown forward a beautiful skirmish line and +seemed to be practically masters of the situation. My +heart was in my mouth for a couple of moments, until +suddenly the picture changed, and their beautiful line +collapsed and went back as if the d—l was after them. +They had run up against an obstruction in a line of the +"boys in blue," and many of them never went back. +This general officer who spoke to me, I learned, was +Major-General Richardson, commanding the First Division, +then badly wounded, and who died a few hours +after.</p> + +<p>Our regiment now moved back and to the right some +three-quarters of a mile, where we were supplied with +ammunition, and the men were allowed to make themselves +a cup of coffee and eat a "hardtack." I was faint +for want of food, for I had only a cup of coffee in the +early morning, and was favored with a hardtack by one +of the men, who were always ready and willing to share +their rations with us. We now learned that our brigade +had borne the brunt of a long and persistent effort by Lee +to break our line at this point, and that we were actually +the third line which had been thrown into this breach, +the other two having been wiped out before we advanced; +that as a matter of fact our brigade, being composed +so largely of raw troops—our regiment being really +more than half the brigade in actual number—was designed +to be held in reserve. But the onslaught of the +enemy had been so terrific, that by eight o'clock <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> +our reserve line was all there was left and we had to be +sent in. The other three regiments were veterans, old and +tried. They had an established reputation of having never +once been forced back or whipped, but the One Hundred +and Thirty-second was new and, except as to numbers, +an unknown quantity. We had been unmercifully guyed +during the two preceding weeks, as I have said before, as +a lot of "greenhorns," "pretty boys" in "pretty new +clothes," "mamma's darlings," etc., etc., to the end of +the vets' slang calendar. Now that we had proved our +metal under fire, the atmosphere was completely changed. +Not the semblance of another jibe against the One Hundred +and Thirty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers.</p> + +<p>We did not know how well we had done, only that we +had tried to do our duty under trying circumstances, until +officers and men from other regiments came flocking over +to congratulate and praise us. I didn't even know we +had passed through the fire of a great battle until the +colonel of the Fourteenth Indiana came over to condole +with us on the loss of Colonel Oakford, and incidentally +told us that this was undoubtedly the greatest battle of +the war thus far, and that we probably would never have +such another.</p> + +<p>After getting into our new position, I at once began +to look up our losses. I learned that Colonel Oakford +was killed by one of the rebel sharp-shooters just as the +regiment scaled the fence in its advance up the knoll, +and before we had fired a shot. It must have occurred +almost instantly after I left him with orders for the left +of the line. I was probably the last to whom he spoke. +He was hit by a minie-ball in the left shoulder, just +below the collar-bone. The doctor said the ball had +severed one of the large arteries, and he died in a very +few minutes. He had been in command of the regiment +a little more than a month, but during that brief time his +work as a disciplinarian and drill-master had made it +possible for us to acquit ourselves as creditably as they +all said we had done. General Kimball was loud in our +praise and greatly lamented Colonel Oakford's death, +whom he admired very much. He was a brave, able, +and accomplished officer and gentleman, and his loss to +the regiment was irreparable.</p> + +<p>Had Colonel Oakford lived his record must have been +brilliant and his promotion rapid, for very few volunteer +officers had so quickly mastered the details of military +tactics and routine. He was a thorough disciplinarian, +an able tactician, and the interests and welfare of his +men were constantly upon his heart.</p> + +<p>My diary records the fact that I saw Captain Willard, +of the Fourteenth Connecticut, fall as we passed their +line on our way to the rear; that he appeared to have +been hit by a grape-shot or piece of shell. I did not +know him, only heard that he was a brother of E. N. +Willard, of Scranton. The Fourteenth Connecticut men +said he was a fine man and splendid officer.</p> + +<p>Among the wounded—reported mortally—was Sergeant +Martin Hower, of Company K, one of our very +best non-commissioned officers. I saw him at the hospital, +and it was very hard to be able to do nothing for him. +It seemed our loss must reach upward of two hundred +killed, wounded and missing. Out of seven hundred +and ninety-eight who answered to roll-call in the morning, +we had with us less than three hundred at the close of the +fight. Our actual loss was: Killed—Officers, two (Colonel +Oakford and Lieutenant Cranmer); men, twenty-eight; +total, thirty. Wounded—Officers, four; men, one +hundred and ten; total, one hundred and forty-four. To +this should be added at least thirty of the men who died +of their wounds within the next few days, which would +make our death loss in this battle upward of sixty. Of +the missing, many of them were of those who joined the +Irish brigade in their charge, and who did not find us +again for a day or so. It may seem strange that a man +should not be able to find his regiment for so long a time, +when really it is so close at hand. But when one remembers +that our army of about seventy-five thousand men +had upward of two hundred regiments massed within say +two square miles, and that they were constantly changing +position, it will be seen that looking for any one regiment +is almost like looking for a needle in a hay-mow.</p> + + + +<hr class="double" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h3> +<hr class="single" /> + +<p class="c smcap">THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM—CONTINUED</p> + + +<p>D<span class="smcap">uring</span> the afternoon of this day we were again moved +further to the right and placed as supports of a battery. +We were posted about two hundred yards directly in +front of the guns on low ground. The battery was evidently +engaged in another artillery duel. We were in a +comparatively safe position, so long as the rebel guns +directed their firing at our battery; but after a time they +began "feeling for the supports," first dropping their +shells beyond our guns, then in front of them, until they +finally got a pretty good range on our line and filled the +air with bursting shells over our heads. One and another +was carried to the rear, wounded, and the line became very +restive. We were required to lie perfectly quiet. We +found this very much more trying than being at work, +and the line began to show symptoms of wavering, when +General Kimball, who with his staff had dismounted and +was resting near us, immediately mounted his horse and, +riding up and down the line, shouted: "Stand firm, trust +in God, and do your duty."</p> + +<p>It was an exceedingly brave act, and its effect was +electric upon the men. There was no more wavering, and +the rebel battery, evidently thinking they had not found +the "supports," soon ceased firing upon us. It was now +near night and the firing very perceptibly slackened in our +vicinity, though a mile or more to the left it still continued +very heavy. This, we afterwards learned, was the work +at what has passed into history as "Burnside's" bridge—the +effort of Burnside's corps to capture the stone bridge +over Antietam creek, near the village of Sharpsburg, and +the heights beyond. These were gallantly carried after a +terrific fight quite late in the afternoon.</p> + +<p>Our work, so far as this battle was concerned, was done. +We rested "on our arms" where we were for the next +forty-eight hours, expecting all the next day a renewal +of the fighting; but nothing was done in our neighborhood +beyond a few shots from the battery we were supporting. +On the second day it became known that Lee +had hauled off, and there was no immediate prospect of +further fighting. Our companies were permitted to gather +up their dead, and burying parties were organized.</p> + +<p>We were allowed to go over the field freely. It was +a gruesome sight. Our own dead had been cared for, but +the rebel dead remained as they had fallen. In the hot +sun the bodies had swollen and turned black. Nearly all +lay with faces up and eyes wide open, presenting a spectacle +to make one shudder. The distended nostrils and +thickened lips made them look like negroes, except for +their straight hair. Their limbs and bodies were so enlarged +that their clothing seemed ready to burst. Some +ghouls had been among them, whether from their own +lines or from ours, could not be known, but every man's +pockets had been ripped out and the contents taken.</p> + +<p>In company with Captain Archbald I went over the +position occupied by our regiment and brigade, the +famous "sunken road,"—that is, the lane or road extending +from near the "Roulette house" towards Sharpsburg. +For some distance it had been cut through the opposite +side of the knoll upon which we fought, and had the appearance +of a sunken road. It was literally filled with +rebel dead, which in some places lay three and four bodies +deep. We afterwards saw pictures of this road in the +illustrated papers, which partially portrayed the horrible +scene. Those poor fellows were the Fifth<a name="FNanchor_C_3" id="FNanchor_C_3"></a><a href="#Footnote-C" class="fnanchor" title="Go to footnote C.">[C]</a> Georgia +regiment. This terrible work was mostly that of our +regiment, and bore testimony to the effectiveness of the +fire of our men.</p> + +<p>The position was an alluring one: the road was cut +into the hill about waist high, and seemed to offer secure +protection to a line of infantry, and so no doubt this line +was posted there to hold the knoll and this Sharpsburg +road. It proved, however, nothing but a death-trap, for +once our line got into position on the top of this crescent-shaped +ridge we could reach them by a direct fire on the +centre and a double flanking fire at the right and left of +the line, and only about one hundred yards away. With +nothing but an open field behind them there was absolutely +no escape, nothing but death or surrender, and they +evidently chose the former, for we saw no white flag displayed. +We could now understand the remark of their +lieutenant-colonel, whom our boys brought in, as already +mentioned: "You have killed all my poor boys. They +lie there in the road." I learned later that the few survivors +of this regiment were sent South to guard rebel +prisoners.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 508px;"><a name="SUNKEN" id="SUNKEN"></a> +<img src="images/gs10_th.png" width="508" height="550" alt="SECTION OF FAMOUS SUNKEN ROAD IN FRONT OF LINE OF 132D P. V., NEAR ROULETTE LAN" /> +<span class="caption">SECTION OF FAMOUS SUNKEN ROAD IN FRONT OF LINE OF 132D P. V., NEAR ROULETTE LANE<br /> +The dead are probably from the Sixth Georgia Confederate troops<br /><a href="images/gs10.png">(see image enlarged)</a></span> +</div> + +<p>The lines of battle of both armies were not only marked +by the presence of the dead, but by a vast variety of army +equipage, such as blankets, canteens, haversacks, guns, +gun-slings, bayonets, ramrods, some whole, others broken,—verily, +a besom of destruction had done its work faithfully +here. Dead horses were everywhere, and the stench +from them and the human dead was horrible. "Uncle" +Billy Sherman has said, "War is hell!" yet this definition, +with all that imagination can picture, fails to reveal all its +bloody horrors.</p> + +<p>The positions of some of the dead were very striking. +One poor fellow lay face down on a partially fallen stone +wall, with one arm and one foot extended, as if in the act +of crawling over. His position attracted our attention, +and we found his body literally riddled with bullets—there +must have been hundreds—and most of them shot into +him after he was dead, for they showed no marks of +blood. Probably the poor fellow had been wounded in +trying to reach shelter behind that wall, was spotted +in the act by our men, and killed right there, and became +thereafter a target for every new man that saw him. +Another man lay, still clasping his musket, which he was +evidently in the act of loading when a bullet pierced his +heart, literally flooding his gun with his life's blood, a +ghastly testimonial to his heroic sacrifice.</p> + +<p>We witnessed the burying details gathering up and +burying the dead. The work was rough and heartless, +but only comporting with the character of war. The natural +reverence for the dead was wholly absent. The poor +bodies, all of them heroes in their death, even though in +a mistaken cause, were "planted" with as little feeling as +though they had been so many logs. A trench was dug, +where the digging was easiest, about seven feet wide and +long enough to accommodate all the bodies gathered +within a certain radius; these were then placed side by +side, cross-wise of the trench, and buried without anything +to keep the earth from them. In the case of the +Union dead the trenches were usually two or three feet +deep, and the bodies were wrapped in blankets before +being covered, but with the rebels no blankets were used, +and the trenches were sometimes so shallow as to leave +the toes exposed after a shower.</p> + +<p>No ceremony whatever attended this gruesome service, +but it was generally accompanied by ribald jokes, at the +expense of the poor "Johnny" they were "planting." +This was not the fruit of debased natures or degenerate +hearts on the part of the boys, who well knew it might be +their turn next, under the fortunes of war, to be buried +in like manner, but it was recklessness and thoughtlessness, +born of the hardening influences of war.</p> + +<p>Having now given some account of the scenes in which +I participated during the battle and the day after, let us +look at another feature of the battle, and probably the +most heart-breaking of all, the field hospital. There was +one established for our division some three hundred yards +in our rear, under the shelter of a hill. Here were gathered +as rapidly as possible the wounded, and a corps of +surgeons were busily engaged in amputating limbs and +dressing wounds. It should be understood that the accommodations +were of the rudest character. A hospital +tent had been hurriedly erected and an old house and barn +utilized. Of course, I saw nothing of it or its work until +the evening after the battle, when I went to see the body +of our dead colonel and some of our Scranton boys who +were wounded. Outside the hospital were piles of amputated +arms, legs, and feet, thrown out with as little care +as so many pieces of wood. There were also many dead +soldiers—those who had died after reaching the hospital—lying +outside, there being inside scant room only for the +living. Here, on bunches of hay and straw, the poor +fellows were lying so thickly that there was scarce room +for the surgeon and attendants to move about among +them. Others were not allowed inside, except officers and +an occasional friend who might be helping. Our chaplain +spent his time here and did yeoman service helping the +wounded. Yet all that could be done with the limited +means at hand seemed only to accentuate the appalling +need. The pallid, appealing faces were patient with a +heroism born only of the truest metal. I was told by +the surgeons that such expressions as this were not infrequent +as they approached a man in his "turn": "Please, +doctor, attend to this poor fellow next; he's worse than +I," and this when his own life's blood was fast oozing +away.</p> + +<p>Most of the wounded had to wait hours before having +their wounds dressed, owing to insufficient force and inadequate +facilities. I was told that not a surgeon had his +eyes closed for three days after this battle. The doctors +of neighboring towns within reach came and voluntarily +gave their services, yet it is doubtless true that hundreds +of the wounded perished for want of prompt and proper +care. This is one of the unavoidable incidents of a great +battle—a part of the horrors of war. The rebel wounded +necessarily were second to our own in receiving care from +the surgeons, yet they, too, received all the attention that +was possible under the circumstances. Some of their surgeons +remained with their wounded, and I am told they +and our own surgeons worked together most energetically +and heroically in their efforts to relieve the sufferings of +all, whether they wore the blue or the gray. Suffering, +it has been said, makes all the world akin. So here, in +our lines, the wounded rebel was lost sight of in the suffering +brother.</p> + +<p>We remained on the battle-field until September 21, +four days after the fight.</p> + +<p>My notes of this day say that I was feeling so miserable +as to be scarcely able to crawl about, yet was +obliged to remain on duty; that Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox, +now in command, and Major Shreve were in the +same condition. This was due to the nervous strain +through which we had passed, and to insufficient and unwholesome +food. As stated before, we had been obliged +to eat whatever we could get, which for the past four +days had been mostly green field corn roasted as best we +could. The wonder is that we were not utterly prostrated. +Nevertheless, I not only performed all my duties, +but went a mile down the Antietam creek, took a bath, +and washed my underclothing, my first experience in the +laundry business.</p> + +<p>We had been now for two weeks and more steadily on +the march, our baggage in wagons somewhere en route, +without the possibility of a change of clothing or of +having any washing done. Most of this time marching +in a cloud of dust so thick that one could almost cut it, +and perspiring freely, one can imagine our condition. +Bathing as frequently as opportunity offered, yet our +condition was almost unendurable. For with the accumulation +of dirt upon our body, there was added the ever-present +scourge of the army, body lice. These vermin, +called by the boys "graybacks," were nearly the size of a +grain of wheat, and derived their name from their bluish-gray +color. They seemed to infest the ground wherever +there had been a bivouac of the rebels, and following +them as we had, during all of this campaign, sleeping +frequently on the ground just vacated by them, no one +was exempt from this plague. They secreted themselves +in the seams of the clothing and in the armpits chiefly. A +good bath, with a change of underclothing, would usually +rid one of them, but only to acquire a new crop in the +first camp. The clothing could be freed of them by boiling +in salt water or by going carefully over the seams +and picking them off. The latter operation was a frequent +occupation with the men on any day which was +warm enough to permit them to disrobe for the purpose. +One of the most laughable sights I ever beheld was the +whole brigade, halted for a couple of hours' rest one hot +day, with clothing off, "skirmishing," as the boys called +it, for "graybacks." This was one of the many unpoetical +features of army life which accentuated the sacrifices +one made to serve his country.</p> + +<p>How did we ordinarily get our laundrying done? The +enlisted men as a rule always did it themselves. Occasionally +in camp a number of them would club together +and hire some "camp follower" or some other soldier to +do it. Officers of sufficient rank to have a servant, of +course, readily solved the question. Those of us of lesser +rank could generally hire it done, except on the march. +Then we had to be our own laundrymen. Having, as in +the above instance, no change of clothing at hand, the +washing followed a bath, and consisted in standing in the +running water and rubbing as much of the dirt out of +the underwear as could be done without soap, for that +could not be had for love or money; then hanging them +on the limb of a tree and sitting in the sun, as comfortable +as possible, whilst wind and sun did the drying. A +"snap-shot" of such a scene would no doubt be interesting. +But "snap-shots" unfortunately were not then in +vogue, and so a picture of high art must perish. We +could not be over particular about having our clothes dry. +The finishing touches were added as we wore them back +to camp.</p> + +<p>My diary notes that there were nine hundred and +ninety-eight rebel dead gathered and buried from in front +of the lines of our division. This line was about a quarter +of a mile long, and this was mostly our work (our division), +although Richardson's division had occupied part +of this ground before us, but had been so quickly broken +that they had not made much impression upon the enemy. +Our division had engaged them continuously and under +a terrific fire from eight o'clock <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> until 12.30 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> It +may be asked why during that length of time and under +such a fire all were not annihilated. The answer is, that +inaccuracy and unsteadiness in firing on both sides greatly +reduce its effectiveness, and taking all possible advantage +of shelter by lying prone upon the ground also prevents +losses; but the above number of rebel dead, it +should be remembered, represents, probably, not more +than twenty to twenty-five per cent. of their casualties in +that area of their lines; the balance were wounded and +were removed. So that with nine hundred and ninety-eight +dead it can be safely estimated that their losses exceeded +four thousand killed and wounded in that area. +This would indicate what was undoubtedly true, that we +were in the very heart of that great battle.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 550px;"><a name="HOSPITAL" id="HOSPITAL"></a> +<img src="images/gs11_th.png" width="550" height="547" alt="FIELD HOSPITAL" /> +<span class="caption">FIELD HOSPITAL<br /><a href="images/gs11.png">(see image enlarged)</a></span> +</div> + +<p>Here I wish to say that some chroniclers of battles have +undertaken to measure the effectiveness and bravery of the +different regiments, batteries, etc., by the numbers they +have lost in certain battles; for example, one historian +has made a book grading the regiments by the number of +men they lost in action, assuming that the more men killed +and wounded, the more brilliant and brave had been its +work. This assumption is absolutely fallacious. Heavy +losses may be the result of great bravery with splendid +work. On the other hand, they may be the result of cowardice +or inefficiency. Suppose, under trying circumstances, +officers lose their heads and fail to properly +handle their men, or if the latter prove cowardly and +incapable of being moved with promptness to meet the +exigency, great loss usually ensues, and this would be +chargeable to cowardice or inefficiency. According to the +loss way of estimating fighting regiments, the least deserving +are liable to be credited with the best work. The +rule is, the better drilled, disciplined, and the better officered, +the less the losses in any position on the firing-line.</p> + +<p>One regiment I have in mind, with which we were +afterwards brigaded, illustrates this principle. It was the +First Delaware Volunteer infantry. It was a three years' +regiment and had been in the field more than a year when +we joined them. All things considered, it was the best +drilled and disciplined regiment I saw in the service. It +was as steady under fire as on parade. Every movement +in the tactics it could execute on the jump, and its fire +was something to keep away from. The result was that, +pushed everywhere to the front because of its splendid +work, it lost comparatively few men. Every man was a +marksman and understood how to take all possible advantage +of the situation to make his work most effective and +at the same time take care of himself. This regiment, +whose record was one unbroken succession of splendid +achievements during its whole period of service, might +never have gotten on a roll of fame founded on numbers +of men lost. How much more glorious is a record +founded on effective work and men saved!</p> + + + +<hr class="double" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h3> +<hr class="single" /> + +<p class="c smcap">HARPER'S FERRY AND THE LEESBURG AND HALLTOWN +EXPEDITIONS</p> + + +<p>N<span class="smcap">either</span> side seemed anxious to resume the fighting on +the 18th, though there was picket firing and some cannonading. +We remained the next day where the darkness +found us after the battle, ready and momentarily expecting +to resume the work. All sorts of rumors were afloat +as to the results of the battle, also as to future movements. +Whether we had won a great victory and were to press +immediately forward to reap the fullest benefit of it, or +whether it was practically a drawn battle, with the possibilities +of an early retreat, we did not then know. We +had no idea of what the name of the battle would be. My +diary calls it the battle of "Meyer's Spring," from that +magnificent fountain, on our line of battle, described in +the last chapter. The Confederates named it the battle of +Sharpsburg, from the village of that name on the right +of their line. Two days later, after the rebels had hauled +off—which they did very leisurely the next day and night—we +received "Little Mac's" congratulatory order on the +great victory achieved at "Antietam."</p> + +<p>So far as our part of the battle was concerned, we knew +we had the best of it. We had cleaned up everything in +our front, and the "chip was still serenely resting on our +shoulder." But what had been the outcome elsewhere on +the line we did not know. That our army had been terrifically +battered was certain. Our own losses indicated this. +We were therefore both relieved and rejoiced on receiving +the congratulatory order. I confess to have had some +doubts about the extent of the victory, and whether, had +Lee remained and shown fight, we would not have repeated +the old story and "retired in good order." As it +was, the tide had evidently turned, and the magnificent old +Army of the Potomac, after so many drubbings, had been +able to score its first decisive victory.</p> + +<p>On the twenty-second day of September we were again +on the march, our regiment reduced in numbers, from +casualties in the battle and from sickness, by nearly three +hundred men. Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox was now in +command. The body of our late colonel had been shipped +to Scranton under guard of Privates S. P. Snyder and +Charles A. Meylert, Company K, the "exigencies of the +service" permitting of no larger detail nor any officer to +accompany it.</p> + +<p>We were told the army was bound for Harper's Ferry, +distant some eight to ten miles. We passed through the +village of Sharpsburg—what there was left of it. It had +been occupied by the rebels as the extreme right of their +line on the morning of the battle. It presented abundant +evidence of having been well in the zone of the fight. Its +buildings were riddled with shells, and confusion seemed +to reign supreme. We learned that Burnside, with the +left wing of the army, had a very hot argument with Lee's +right during the afternoon for the possession of the stone +bridge over Antietam creek at the foot of the hill entering +the village; that after two repulses with heavy loss, Colonel +Hartranft (afterwards Governor of Pennsylvania) led +his regiment, the Fifty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers and +the Fifty-first New York, in a magnificent charge and carried +the bridge and the heights above, and Sharpsburg was +ours. If any one would like to get an idea of what terrific +work that charge was they should examine that bridge and +the heights on the Sharpsburg side. The latter rise almost +perpendicularly more than three hundred feet. One of +the "boys" who went over that bridge and up those +heights in that memorable charge was Private Edward +L. Buck, Fifty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, formerly +Assistant Postmaster of Scranton, and ever since the war +a prominent citizen of this city. That bridge is now +known as "Burnside's Bridge." Forty-one years afterwards, +I passed over it, and was shown a shell still sticking +in the masonry of one of the arches. It was a conical +shell probably ten inches long, about half of it left protruding.</p> + +<p>Little of special interest occurred on this march until +we reached the Potomac, a short distance above Harper's +Ferry. Here we were shown the little round house where +John Brown concealed his guns and "pikes" prior to his +famous raid three years before. This was his rendezvous +on the night before his ill-starred expedition descended +upon the State of Virginia and the South, in an insane +effort to free the slaves. Our division was headed by +the Fourteenth Connecticut, and as we approached the +river opposite Harper's Ferry its fine band struck up the +then new and popular air, "John Brown's Body," and +the whole division took up the song, and we forded the +river singing it. Slavery had destroyed the Kansas home +of old John Brown, had murdered his sons, and undoubtedly +driven him insane, because of his anti-slavery +zeal. The great State of Virginia—the "Mother of +Presidents"—had vindicated her loyalty to the "peculiar +institution," and, let it be added, her own spotless +chivalry, by hanging this poor, crazy fanatic for high +treason! Was there poetic justice in our marching into +the territory where these events transpired singing:</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"John Brown's body lies a mouldering in the grave,<br /> +His soul goes marching on?"</p> + +<p>This couplet,</p> + +<p class="poem">"We'll hang Jeff Davis to a sour apple-tree,"</p> + +<p>was sung with peculiar zest, though I never quite understood +what the poet had against the sour apple-tree.</p> + +<p>We marched through the quaint old town of Harper's +Ferry, whose principal industry had been the government +arsenal for the manufacture of muskets and other army +ordnance. These buildings were now a mass of ruins, and +the remainder of the town presented the appearance of a +plucked goose, as both armies had successively captured +and occupied it. We went into camp on a high plateau +back of the village known as Bolivar Heights. The +scenic situation at Harper's Ferry is remarkably grand. +The town is situated on the tongue or fork of land at the +junction of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. From +the point where the rivers join, the land rises rapidly until +the summit of Bolivar Heights is reached, several hundred +feet above the town, from which a view is had of +one of the most lovely valleys to be found anywhere in +the world—the Shenandoah Valley. Across the Potomac +to the east and facing Harper's Ferry rises Maryland +Heights, a bluff probably a thousand feet high, while +across the Shenandoah to the right towers another precipitous +bluff of about equal height called Loudon Heights. +Both of these bluffs commanded Bolivar Heights and Harper's +Ferry.</p> + +<p>It was the sudden and unexpected appearance of Stonewall +Jackson's batteries upon both of these supposed inaccessible +bluffs that ten days before had forced the surrender +of the garrison of ten thousand Union troops which +had been posted here to hold Harper's Ferry. It was said +that the rain of shot and shell from those bluffs down +upon our forces was simply merciless, and Jackson had +cut off all avenues of escape before opening his batteries. +The cavalry, I believe, cut their way out, but the infantry, +after twenty-four hours of that storm of shot and shell, +were forced to hoist the white flag. How they could have +lived half that time in such a hell of fire is a marvel. +Everything above ground bore evidence of this fire. +There were unexploded shells lying about in great numbers.</p> + +<p>An incident that might have been anything but funny +occurred the day after we encamped here. A new regiment +joined the army and marched past our division to a +point farther up the heights and went into camp. They +were a fine-looking regiment, full in numbers, and with +new, clean uniforms. Their reception at the hands of the +"vets" was very like our own three weeks before. Our +boys, however, were "vets" now, and joined in the "reception" +with a zest quite usual under such circumstances. +However, the "tenderfeet" incident had passed, and we +were preparing our evening meal, when bang! bang! +bang! bang! rang out a half-dozen shots in quick succession. +Every man jumped as though the whole rebel +army was upon us. It was soon discovered that the explosions +came from the camp of the "tenderfeet." Some of +those greenhorns had gathered a number of those unexploded +shells, set them up on end for a fireplace, and were +quietly boiling their coffee over them when they, of +course, exploded. Why none of them were seriously +injured was a miracle. At the moment of explosion no +one happened to be very near the fire. A moment before +a dozen men had been standing over it. Does Providence +graciously look out for the tenderfoot? Some of them, +I fear, were made to feel that they would rather be dead +than take the guying they got for this evidence of their +verdancy.</p> + +<p>Camp life at Bolivar Heights soon resolved itself into +the usual routine of drill and picket duty. How many +corps of the army were encamped here I did not know, +but we were a vast city of soldiers, and there was no end +of matters to occupy attention when off duty. These included +bathing expeditions to the Shenandoah, a mile and +a half away; the "doing" of the quaint old town of +Harper's Ferry, and rambles up Maryland and Loudon +Heights, both of which were now occupied by our troops. +This was our first experience in a large encampment in +the field. One feature of it was exceedingly beautiful, +and that was its system of "calls." The cavalry and +artillery were encamped on one side of us. Each +battery of artillery and battalion of cavalry had its +corps of "trumpeters" or "buglers," while the infantry +regiments had their drum corps, whose duty it +was to sound the various "camp calls." The principal +calls were "reveille," the getting up or morning +roll-call, at sunrise usually; the guard mount, the +drill, the meal calls, the "retreat" (evening roll-call), +and the "taps," the "turning in" or "lights out" call. +The reveille, the retreat, and taps were required to be +sounded by each battery, troop, and regiment in consecutive +order, commencing at the extreme right. The firing +of the morning gun was the signal for the first corps of +cavalry buglers to begin the reveille, then in succession it +was repeated first through the bugler corps and then by +the drum corps back and forth through the lines until it +had gone through the whole army. As a martial and +musical feature it was exceedingly beautiful and inspiring. +But as its purpose was to hustle out sleepy men to roll-call, +it is doubtful if these features were fully appreciated; +that its advent was an occasion for imprecation rather +than appreciation the following story may illustrate.</p> + +<p>A group of "vets" were discussing what they would do +when they got home from the war. Several plans had +been suggested—the taking into permanent camp of the +soldier's sweetheart being the chief goal, of course. When +Pat's turn came to tell what he was going to do, he said:</p> + +<p>"I'll be takin' me girl and settling down wid her +housekeepin' and thin i'll be hirin' of a dhrum corps to +come an' play the ravalye iviry mornin' under me chamber +windi."</p> + +<p>"What will you do that for? Haven't you had enough +of the reveille here?"</p> + +<p>"I'll just h'ist me windi, an' I'll yell, 'To h—l wid yer +ravalye; I'll slape as long as I plase.'"</p> + +<p>Many of these "calls" were parodied by the men. Here +is the reveille:</p> + +<p class="poem">I can't get 'em up, I can't get 'em up,<br /> +I can't get 'em up at all, sir;<br /> +I can't get 'em up, I can't get 'em up,<br /> +I can't get 'em up at all.<br /> +I'll go and tell the captain,<br /> +I'll go and tell the captain,<br /> +I'll go and tell the captain,<br /> +I can't get 'em up at all.</p> + +<p>This is the sick call:</p> + +<p class="poem">Get your quinine, get your quinine,<br /> +And a blue pill too, and a blue pill too.<br /> +Get your quinine.</p> + +<p>And so on down the list. The retreat call at sundown +was really enjoyed and was made more of. The day's +work was then over, and each corps elaborated its music, +the bands frequently extending it into an evening concert.</p> + +<p>The almost universal time-killer was cards. Of course +various games were played, but "poker" was king. A +game of the latter could be found in almost every company +street, officers as well as men took a "twist at the +tiger." At the battle of Chancellorsville I saw a game in +full blast right under fire of the rebel shells. Every +screeching shell was greeted with an imprecation, while +the game went on just the same.</p> + +<p>After our return home I was told of one man who made +enough money at cards to successfully start himself in +business. It was said he performed picket duty by hired +proxies during the following winter in camp at Falmouth, +and gave his time wholly to the game. A New York City +regiment lay adjoining our camp that winter, and a truer +lot of sports, from colonel down, never entered the service. +These men, officers and all, were his patrons. They +came to "do the Pennsylvania novice," but were themselves +done in the end.</p> + +<p>On the 3d of October our brigade made what was +termed a reconnoissance in force out through Loudon +County, Virginia, to Leesburg. It was reported that +Jeb. Stuart was there with a force of cavalry and infantry. +General Kimball was sent with our brigade to capture +him if possible. Our orders on the evening of +October 2 were to report at brigade head-quarters at +seven o'clock <span class="smcap">A.M.</span>, with three days' rations and sixty +rounds of ammunition. This meant "business," and was +a welcome change from the monotony of camp life. A +regiment of cavalry and two batteries of artillery had +been added to our brigade for this expedition. The +morning dawned bright and beautiful, but the day proved +a very hot one, and the first three or four miles of our +march was around the base of Loudon Heights, close +under the mountain over a very rocky road, and where +there was not a breath of air stirring. We were delayed +by the artillery in getting over this portion of the route, +and then we were marched almost on the run to make up +for the lost time. General Kimball had gone forward with +the cavalry, leaving his adjutant-general to bring up the +balance of the column as rapidly as possible. In his +efforts to hurry the men forward the latter overdid the +matter. The result was the men dropped in scores utterly +exhausted, so that within three hours our number +had been reduced more than half, and at the end of the +march in the evening there were just twenty-five officers +and men of our regiment present for duty, and of the +whole infantry force, three thousand strong at the start, +there were less than two hundred present at the finish. +This was due to an utter lack of judgment in marching.</p> + +<p>The distance covered had been twenty-three miles. The +day had been hot, the road rough, and the men, in heavy +marching order with three days' rations and sixty rounds +of ammunition, had carried upwards of ninety pounds +each. With such a load and under such conditions, to +expect men to march any distance at the hurried pace +required was criminal folly. It bore its natural fruit. +Our men were scattered on the route from Harper's Ferry +to Leesburg, a demoralized lot of stragglers. My diary +mentions this experience with much indignation and attributes +the folly to the effects of whiskey. Of course, +this was only a surmise.</p> + +<p>General Kimball was not directly responsible for it. In +his anxiety to capture Jeb. Stuart he had pushed ahead +with the cavalry, and knew nothing of our condition until +the forlorn party came straggling into his bivouac in the +evening. He was very indignant, and said some words +that cannot be recorded here. He was chagrined to find +Stuart gone, but now was greatly relieved that such was +the fact. Otherwise, said he, we would have stood an +excellent chance for a journey south under rebel escort.</p> + +<p>On our way out we passed through several small villages, +in none of which did we find evidence of decided +Union sentiment, except in Waterford. This was a prosperous-looking +town, and the people seemed hospitable, +and manifested their Union sentiments by furnishing us +fruit and water freely. Our cavalry caught four of Stuart's +men in a picture-gallery and marched them to the rear. I +had the good fortune to secure a loaf of nice bread and +a canteen of sweet milk. If any one wishes to know how +good bread and milk is, let him step into my shoes on that +weary night.</p> + +<p>Conditions compelled us to remain at Leesburg that +night. We rested on our arms, fearing Stuart might get +an inkling of our plight and pounce upon us. My diary +says I was unable to sleep because of suffering from a +sprained knee and ankle, caused by my horse stumbling +and falling on me just at dusk.</p> + +<p>The next morning we were off bright and early on the +back track for camp, but by another route, so as to avoid +being cut off by Stuart. We had started out bravely to +capture this wily rebel. Now we were in mortal danger +of being captured by him. A detail was made to go back +over the route we came and gather up the stragglers. +On our way back I was refused a canteen of water by +the "Missus" of one of the plantation dwellings; but on +riding around to the rear, where the slaves lived, old +"Aunt Lucy" supplied us freely with both milk and +water. This was a sample of the difference between the +aristocrat in the mansion and the slave in the hovel. The +latter were always very friendly and ready to help us +in every possible way, while as a rule we met with rebuff +at the hands of the former.</p> + +<p>Here we came in contact for the first time with plantation +life under the institution of slavery. The main or +plantation house was usually situated a quarter-mile or +more back from the "pike." They were generally low, +flat, one-story mansions, built of stone, while further to +the rear, in the form of a square, were the wooden cabins +of the slaves, each plantation a village by itself. We +marched only about eight miles this day, and bivouacked +near the village of Hillsboro. This evening we officers +of the field and staff caught on to a great treat in the +way of stewed chicken and corn cake for supper at a +Union farmhouse, and thought ourselves very fortunate +to be able to engage a breakfast at the same place for next +morning. Alas for the uncertainties of war! We had +barely rolled ourselves in our blankets for the night when +a staff officer from General Kimball's head-quarters came +and in a low tone of voice ordered us to arouse our men +without the least noise and be off as quietly as possible; +that scouts had reported that Stuart was after us in hot +haste. We were off almost in a jiffy. The night was cool +and foggy. The former favored our rapid march, and +the latter hid us from the enemy, who succeeded in capturing +only a couple of men who fell out.</p> + +<p>We reached camp at Harper's Ferry shortly after sunrise, +a thoroughly tired and battered crowd. The expedition +proved absolutely fruitless, and had barely escaped +being captured, owing to mismanagement. It was the +most trying bit of service of our whole experience. Some +of our men never recovered from the exhaustion of that +first day's march, and had to be discharged as permanently +disabled.</p> + +<p>Shortly after this another expedition relieved the monotony +of camp life. General Hancock, commanding the +Second Division of our corps, had been sent to make a +reconnoissance in force towards Halltown, six to eight +miles up the Shenandoah Valley. He had gone in the +morning, and shortly after noon we had heard cannonading +in that direction, showing that he had found "business." +It was Hancock's reputation to make "business," +if the "Johnnies" could be induced to tarry long enough +for him to reach them. However, the firing shortly +ceased, and the night set in with a terrific rain-storm. +I remember, as I rolled myself in my blanket prepared +for a good sleep in defiance of the rain, sympathizing +with those poor fellows out on that reconnoissance +in all this storm. My sympathy was premature. +Just then I heard an ominous scratch on my tent, and +the hand of an orderly was thrust through the flaps +with an order. In much trepidation I struck a light. +Sure I was of trouble, or an order would not have been +sent out at such a time. My fears were realized. It +directed our regiment to report at brigade head-quarters +in heavy marching order with all possible despatch. Here +was a "state of things." Was it ever so dark, and did +it ever rain harder? Not in my recollection. But that +order left no time for cogitations. Into boots, clothing, +and gum blanket, out to the colonel's tent with the order, +then with his orders to all the companies, the sounding of +the long roll, the forming line, and away to brigade head-quarters +in that inky blackness and drenching rain was +the work of less than fifteen minutes. General Kimball +complimented us as being the first regiment to report, and +we were honored with the head of the column which was +to support Hancock at Halltown. French's division had +been ordered out as supports, and Kimball's brigade had +the advance.</p> + +<p>We marched rapidly up the valley of the Shenandoah, +now as black as Erebus. But soon the rain ceased, the +clouds broke away, and the stars appeared, completely +transforming the scene, and except for the mud and our +wet and uncomfortable condition it would have been an +enjoyable march. After going about six miles we were +directed into a woods to rest until morning. Inside the +woods it was inky dark again, and we made headway +with much difficulty. Men and horses stumbled and +floundered over fallen logs and through brush at imminent +peril of limbs, until a halt was made, and after details +for picket had been sent out we were allowed to rest until +daylight.</p> + +<p>It was now about three o'clock. But to rest, soaking +wet, almost covered with mud, in a woods that had been +so drenched with rain that everything was like a soaked +sponge, that was the problem. No fires were allowed, for +no one knew how near the enemy might be. However, +the men were tired enough to sleep, most of them, even +under those conditions. I well remember the weary walking +and stamping to keep warm until the sunshine came +to our relief. But daylight revealed a condition of things +relative to our position that, had the enemy known, we +might again have been made an easy prey. Our details +for water, after going out some distance, as they supposed +in our rear, suddenly found themselves uncomfortably +near the enemy's outposts, and hurried back to +camp with the information. It was found that in the +darkness our picket line had actually gotten turned +around, so that our rear had been carefully guarded, +whilst our front was left wholly exposed. The denseness +of the woods and the darkness of the night had been our +salvation. We shortly learned that Hancock had accomplished +his purpose and was moving back to Harper's +Ferry. We followed leisurely, reaching the camp about +noon, thoroughly tired and bedraggled from the rain and +mud.</p> + + + +<hr class="double" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h3> +<hr class="single" /> + +<p class="c smcap">FROM HARPER'S FERRY TO FREDERICKSBURG</p> + + +<p>W<span class="smcap">e</span> remained on Bolivar Heights, at Harper's Ferry, +without further special incident until the 31st of October, +1862. In the mean time Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox had +been promoted to colonel to fill the vacancy caused by the +death of Colonel Oakford at Antietam. Major Albright +had been promoted to lieutenant-colonel and the senior +captain, Shreve, Company A, had been made major. +Colonel Wilcox was on his back with a severe case of +typhoid fever, and Lieutenant-Colonel Albright had been +some ten days absent on sick leave, during which time +Major Shreve had been in command. Lieutenant-Colonel +Albright, hearing of the probable movement of the +army, rejoined us in time to take command as we bade +farewell to Harper's Ferry. To show how little a soldier +can know of what is before him, I note the fact that we +had just completed fixing up our quarters for cold weather +at Camp Bolivar. This involved considerable labor and +some expense. My diary records the fact that I had +put up a "California stove" in my tent. This, if I remember +rightly, was a cone-shaped sheet-iron affair, +which had a small sliding door and sat on the ground, +with a small pipe extending through the canvas roof +just under the ridge-pole to the rear. It cost, I think, +about four dollars, and required some skill in "setting +up," chiefly in fixing the pipe so that it would not tumble +about one's ears with every blast of wind that shook the +tent, and in windy weather would at least carry some of +the smoke outside. A special course of engineering was +almost needed to be able to properly handle those stoves. +A little too much fire, and you had to adopt Pat's remedy +when Biddy's temper got up—sit on the outside until it +cooled down. Too little was worse than none, for your +tent became a smoke-house. On the whole, they were +much like the goose the aforesaid Pat captured and +brought into camp, "a mighty unconvanient burr'd, a +little too big for one and not big enough for two."</p> + +<p>This fixing up of quarters had been done in contemplation +of remaining here through the winter, and we had +taken our cue from like actions of our brigade officers, +who were supposed to know something about the movements +of the army. When we got orders on the 29th of +October to prepare for the march, I was assured by the +adjutant-general of our brigade that it was nothing more +than a day's reconnoissance, and that we were certainly +not going to move our quarters. He knew as much about +it as I did. Within an hour after this order another came +directing us to move in heavy marching order, with three +days' rations and sixty rounds of ammunition. And so +we moved out of Harper's Ferry on the 31st of October, +leaving our fixed-up quarters, with my four-dollar stove, +to Geary's division, which succeeded to our camp.</p> + +<p>We crossed the Shenandoah on a pontoon bridge and +skirted the mountain under Loudon Heights over the same +route south that we had taken on our way in from the +Leesburg raid. We marched very leisurely, making during +the first four days only about twenty-five miles, to a +village bearing the serious (?) name of Snickersville. +Here we had the first evidence of the presence of the +enemy. We were hurried through this village and up +through the gap in the mountain called "Snicker's Gap" +to head off the rebels. We soon came on to their scouts +and pickets, who fled precipitately without firing a gun. +Part of our division halted on the top of the gap, while a +couple of regiments skirmished through the woods both +sides of the road down to the foot of the mountain on the +other side. The enemy had taken "French leave," and +so our men returned and our division bivouacked here for +the night.</p> + +<p>We now learned that these giant armies were moving +south in parallel columns, the mountain separating them. +At every gap or pass in the mountain a bristling head +or a clinched fist, so to speak, of one would be thrust +through and the other would try to hit it. This was +our mission, as we double-quicked it through this gap. +When we got there the "fist" had been withdrawn, +and our work for the time was over. But our bivouac +here—how beautiful it was! The fields were clean and +green, with plenty of shade, for right in the gap were +some good farms. Then the cavalry had not cleaned +the country of everything eatable, as was usual, they being +always in the advance. There was milk and bread to be +had, and somehow—I never dared to inquire too closely +about it—some good mutton came into camp that night, +so that we had a splendid breakfast next morning. Some +fine honey was added to the bill of fare. The man who +brought in the latter claimed that a rebel hive of bees +attacked him whilst on picket duty, and he confiscated +the honey as a measure of retaliation.</p> + +<p>But the special feature that makes that camp linger in +my memory was the extraordinary beauty of the scene +in the valley below us when the evening camp-fires were +lighted. We were on a sort of table-land two or three +hundred feet above the broad valley, which widened out +at this point and made a most charming landscape. As +the darkness drew on the camp-fires were lighted, and the +scene became one of weird, bewitching beauty. Almost +as far as the eye could reach, covering three and possibly +four square miles, were spread out the blazing camp-fires +of that mighty host of our "Boys in Blue." No drums +were beaten and the usual retreat call was not sounded, +but the thousands of camp-fires told of the presence of +our men. A martial city was cooking its evening coffee +and resting its weary limbs in the genial camp-fire glow, +whilst weary hearts were refreshed with the accompanying +chat about friends and dearer ones at home. The +scouting "Johnny Rebs" (and there were no doubt plenty +of them viewing the scene) could have gotten from it no +comforting information to impart as to our numbers. +Most of the Army of the Potomac, now largely augmented +by new regiments, was there, probably not less +than one hundred thousand men. It was a picture not of +a lifetime, but of the centuries. It made my blood leap +as I realized that I was looking down upon the grandest +army, all things considered, of any age or time. Its mission +was to save to liberty and freedom the life of the +best government the world ever saw. In its ranks was +the best blood of a free people. In intelligence it was far +superior to any other army that ever existed. Scholars +of all professions, tradesmen and farmers, were there, +fighting side by side, animated by the same patriotic impulse. +I said to myself, it is impossible that that army +should be beaten. It is the strong right arm of the Union, +and under God it shall assuredly deal the death-blow to +the rebellion. This it certainly did, though at a fearful +cost, for it was fighting the same blood. The inspiration +of that scene made me glad from the bottom of my heart +that I had the privilege of being just one in that glorious +army. After forty years, what would I take for that +association with all its dangers and hardships? What for +these pictures and memories? They are simply priceless. +I only wish I could so paint the pictures and reproduce +the scenes that they might be an inspiration to the same +patriotism that moved this mighty host.</p> + +<p>One of our grizzly-headed "boys," after forty years, +tells the following story of his experiences on a foraging +expedition from the camp. Three of them started out +after beef. Some young steers had been seen in the distance. +They reached the field, a mile or more from +camp. They found the game a mighty vigorous lot of +young steers, and their troubles began when they tried to +corral any one of them. Both ends seemed to be in business +at the same time, whilst a tail-hold proved to have +more transportation possibilities than they had ever +dreamed of. Coaxing and persuasion proved utter failures, +for the bovines seemed to have the same prejudices +against our blue uniforms their owners had, and it would +not do to fire a gun. However, after two hours of the +hardest exercise they ever had, they succeeded in "pinching" +their steer with nose, horn, and tail-holds. Neither +of them had ever undertaken to butcher a beef before, and +a good-sized jackknife was all they had to work with. +But beef they came for and must have, and one was +selected to do the trick. Here again they counted without +their quarry. The latter evidently objected to being practised +on by novices, for as the knife entered his neck he +gave a jump which somehow nearly severed the would-be +butcher's thumb. Nevertheless, he completed his work +without a word, and the animal was skinned and divided. +Just as they had him down a field officer rode almost on +to them. They felt sure that their "fat was in the fire," +for the officer—probably the field officer of the day—certainly +saw them and saw what they were doing. But +he turned and rode away without saying a word. It was +evidently one of those things he did not want to see. Well, +the fun was not yet over. They backed their beef to camp, +and this was about as uncomfortable a job as they ever +had. No more tired trio ever rolled themselves in +blankets than they were that night. But there was compensation. +They had an abundant supply of "fresh" on +hand and their sleep was sweet. Alas for the uncertainties +of camp life. Notwithstanding they took the +extra precaution to roll their several portions in their +coats and placed them under their heads for pillows, some +"sons of Belial" from an adjacent regiment who had discovered +them bringing their "game" into camp actually +stole every ounce of the beef out from under their too +soundly sleeping heads during the night and made off +with it. After all their labor and trouble neither of them +had a taste of that beef. Their nostrils were regaled +with the savory fumes of the cooking meat. They had +no difficulty in discovering where it was. Indeed, the +whelps who stole it rather paraded their steal, knowing +that the mouths of our men were sealed. They simply +could not say a word, for marauding was punishable with +death. The worst of the escapade was that the poor +fellow whose thumb had been so nearly severed was made +a cripple for life. He was never able to do another day's +duty, and to shield him the other two—be it said to their +everlasting honor—performed his picket duty in addition +to their own until he was discharged.</p> + +<p>My diary notes the fact that Fitz-John Porter's corps +passed us just before night, and I saw its commander for +the first time. He was a small, slender, young-looking +man, with full black whiskers and keen black eyes. He +was dressed very modestly and wore the usual high black +slouch hat, with a much battered gold-tassel band. A pair +of silver stars on his shoulder, much obscured by wear +and dust, indicated his rank of major-general.</p> + +<p>The next day, November 3, was cold and chilly and we +were early on the march, still southward. We had now +exhausted our supply of rations, and at a temporary halt +wagon-loads of hardtack and pork were driven along our +company lines and boxes of the bread and barrels of pork +dumped out, and the men told to fill their haversacks. +Barrel heads and boxes were soon smashed with the butts +of guns and contents appropriated, each man taking +all he would. Many a fine piece of the pork marched +away on a bayonet, ready for the noon-day meal. I +filled my own saddle-bags, as did the rest of us officers, +preferring to take no further chances on the grub +question.</p> + +<p>We bivouacked about four o'clock, after a thirteen-mile +march in a raw and very chilly air. Just going into bivouac +I saw Major-General John F. Reynolds, who met +such a tragic death at Gettysburg the next July. His +corps—the First—was in the advance of ours. Our regiment +was marching at the head of our brigade column. +Lieutenant-Colonel Albright was temporarily absent and +I was directing the column. General Reynolds's corps +had passed into the field to the left and were already in +bivouac; the other troops of our division were not +visible at this point, and I was hesitating what direction +to give the column. General Reynolds was sitting on his +horse looking at us, evidently with much interest, and +noticing my dilemma, rode up to my assistance at once. +Addressing me as adjutant, he said: "Part of your corps +has moved in yonder," pointing out the place. "If I +were you I would go in here and occupy this field to the +right in column of divisions, and you may say General +Reynolds advised this, if you please." His manner and +way of doing this little service were so pleasant that he +captured me at once. Had he chosen to do so, he could +have given me orders, as the senior officer present, but +with a gentle courtesy he accomplished his purpose without +that, and to reassure me gave his name and rank in +this delicate way. I shall never forget his pleasant smile +as he returned my salute after thanking him for his suggestion. +He was a superb-looking man, dark complexioned, +wearing full black whiskers, and sat his fine horse +like a Centaur, tall, straight, and graceful, the ideal soldier. +I do not remember to have ever seen this remarkable +officer again. He was one of the few great commanders +developed by the war. A quiet, modest man, +he yet possessed a very decisive element of character, as +illustrated by the following incident related to me by my +friend Colonel W. L. Wilson, assistant adjutant-general +of one of the divisions of Reynolds's corps, and shows his +unwearied vigilance and his indefatigable capacity for +work. The corps was in the presence of the enemy, an +attack was deemed highly probable. Night had brought +on a storm of rain and intense darkness. General Reynolds +had given the proper officers very explicit instructions +about locating his picket lines, and Colonel Wilson, +knowing the critical nature of the work and his division +chief's anxiety over it, about midnight went out over +their part of the line to make doubly sure that everything +was right. Among the first persons he encountered after +reaching the outposts was General Reynolds, all alone, +making his way over the line in that drenching rain, +to be assured that the pickets were properly posted and +doing their duty. Here is Colonel Wilson's account of +the colloquy that ensued: "Who are you, sir? Where +do you belong? What are you doing here?" he volleyed +at me savagely. Being apparently reassured by +my reply, he continued in a less peremptory tone, "Who +ordered that line? How far out is it?" Receiving +my reply, he exclaimed, "Push it out, push it out +farther!" "How far, General?" I ventured to ask. +"Push it out until you feel something!" This was +Reynolds.</p> + +<p>We continued our march down what I was told was +the valley of the Catochin. November 5 found us near +Upperville, where we bivouacked alongside an old graveyard, +our head-quarters being established inside the enclosure, +to get the protection of its stone wall from the +cold wind that was blowing. The temperature had fallen +during the past twenty-four hours, so that it was now +decidedly chilly—good for marching, but cold in bivouac. +My notes say that I was chilled through until my teeth +chattered; that I slept in the hollow made by a sunken +grave to get warm; that my dreams were not disturbed +by any unsubstantial hobgoblins of the defunct member +of an F. F. V. whose remains might have been resting +below me. The letters F. F. V. meant much in those war +days. They stood for "First Family of Virginia," an +expression much in use by her slave-proud aristocracy, +and, of course, much satirized by us of the North. On +this day we passed several very handsome mansions with +their slave contingents. One old "daddy" volunteered +the information that his "Mars was a pow'ful secesh;" +that he had three sons in the rebel army. My diary notes +with indignation that these rich plantations were carefully +guarded by our cavalry to prevent our soldiers entering +to get water as they passed. They would doubtless have +helped themselves to other things as well, especially things +eatable, but the owners were rebels and deserved to have +their property taken, we all felt.</p> + +<p>The orders against marauding were punctuated by a +striking example this day. The cavalry orderly of the +general commanding our division, riding back to head-quarters +after delivering a batch of orders, among them +another on this hated subject, carried a pair of handsome +turkeys strapped to his saddle. It is safe to say that entire +flock came into our camp that night, and turkey was +served at breakfast to some of the rank and file as well as +to the general. Verily, "consistency thou art a jewel."</p> + +<p>From Upperville we moved by easy marching down to +Warrenton. The weather had grown much colder. On +the 8th of November there was a fall of rain, succeeded +by snow, and we marched in a very disagreeable slush. +The bivouac in this snow was most trying. The result +for myself was a severe attack of fever and ague. I had +been much reduced in flesh from the fatigue and nervous +strain of the strenuous life of the past two months. This +attack prostrated me at once. I was placed in an ambulance, +being unable to ride my horse. The shaking and +jolting of that ambulance ride were something fearful. I +can now sympathize with the wounded who were compelled +to ride in those horrible vehicles. They were covered +wagons, with seats on each side, and made with +heavy, stiff springs, so as to stand the rough roads, which +were frequently cut through the fields. This night General +Kimball had me brought to his head-quarters, a brick +farm-house, for shelter. It was a kindness I greatly +appreciated. The next night our chaplain succeeded in +getting me into a farm-house some little distance from +the regiment. He secured this accommodation on the +strength of Freemasonry. The owner's name I have +preserved in my diary as Mr. D. L. F. Lake. He was one +of Mosby's "cavalry," as they called themselves. We in +our army called them "guerillas." They were the terror +of our army stragglers. They were "good Union men" +when our army was passing, but just as soon as the army +had passed they were in their saddles, picking up every +straggler and any who may have had to fall behind from +sickness. In that way they got quite a few prisoners. +This man did not hesitate to tell us the mode of their +operations. He said his farm had been literally stripped +of hay, grain, and cattle by our cavalry under General +Stoneman. All he had left was one chicken. This his +wife cooked for the chaplain and me. He brought out +Richmond papers during the evening and freely discussed +the issues of the war with the chaplain. I was too ill to +pay much attention to what was said, only to gather that +his idea of us Northern people was that we were a miserable +horde of invading barbarians, destined to be very +speedily beaten and driven out. He admitted, however, +that in financial transactions he preferred "greenbacks" +to the Confederate scrip, which I thought rather negatived +his boasted faith in the success of the Confederacy. His +wife, who had, not many years gone, been young and +pretty, occasionally chimed in with expressions of great +hate and bitterness. Perhaps the latter was not to be +wondered at from their stand-point, and they had just +now ample grounds for their bitter feelings in the fact +that they had just been relieved of all their portable property +by the Union forces. He had receipts for what +Stoneman had taken, which would be good for their market +value on his taking the oath of allegiance. But he +said he would die rather than take that oath, so he considered +his property gone. He no doubt thought better +of this later on, and probably got pay for his stuff. His +kindness to me on the score of our fraternal relations was +generous to the full extent of his ability, and showed him +to be a true man, notwithstanding his "secesh" proclivities. +It was a great favor, for had I been compelled to +remain out in that rough weather sick as I was, the consequences +must have been most serious. On leaving I tried +to pay him in gold coin for his hospitality, but he firmly +declined my money, saying: "You know you could not +have gotten into my house for money. Pay in like manner +as you have received when opportunity affords." For +this fraternal hospitality I shall always remember my +"secesh" Masonic brother with gratitude, for I feel that +it saved my life.</p> + +<p>Another terrific day in that awful ambulance brought +me to Warrenton, where I got a room at a so-called hotel. +Here, upon the advice of our surgeon, I made application +for leave of absence on account of sickness. The red tape +that had to be "unwound" in getting this approved and +returned almost proved my ruin. Captain Archbald was +taken sick at this time, and his application for a like leave +accompanied mine. The corps surgeon, Dr. Dougherty, +called with our surgeon to examine us at the hotel, and +said he would approve both applications; that it would +be but a day or so before our leaves would be ready and +returned to us. The next day orders for the army to +move were issued, and we saw our men marching away. +It made my heart ache not to be in my place with them. +I was, however, barely able to sit up, so that was out +of the question. Now another possibility confronted us, +namely, being picked up and carried off as prisoners by +my late host's comrades, Mosby's guerillas. The army +was evidently evacuating Warrenton and vicinity, and +unless our leaves of absence reached us within a very few +hours we would be outside of the "Union lines" and +transportation to Washington unobtainable, for the railroad +trains did not pretend to run beyond the Union lines. +The next day came, the last of our troops were moving +out, and our leaves had not come. Captain Archbald and +I resolved that we must cut that "red tape" rather than +take the chances of going to Richmond. This we did by +securing suits of citizens' clothes and making our way as +citizens through the lines to Washington. From there +we had no difficulty in reaching home in uniform. At +Washington I wrote Colonel Albright of our dilemma +and the way we had solved it, and asked that our leaves +of absence be forwarded to us at Scranton. They came +some two weeks later. Had we remained at Warrenton, +they would never have reached us, unless in a rebel prison. +Yet I suppose we had committed an offence for which we +could have been court-martialled.</p> + +<p>I should have mentioned that just at the time I was +taken sick, on the 9th of November, whilst the army was +approaching Warrenton, the order relieving General McClellan +from the command of the Army of the Potomac +was issued. He was ordered to report to his home in +Trenton, N. J., on waiting orders. Great was the consternation +among the veterans of that army on his retirement, +for they really had a strong attachment for "Little +Mac," as they fondly called him. He took his leave in +an affectionate order, recounting the heroic deeds of this +noble army. This was followed by a grand review, accompanied +by battery salutes, and the military career of +General George B. McClellan passed into history.</p> + + + +<hr class="double" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h3> +<hr class="single" /> + +<p class="c smcap">THE FREDERICKSBURG CAMPAIGN</p> + + +<p>I <span class="smcap">must</span> pause long enough to speak of the days of +that sick leave. Just before reaching Scranton I met +on the train my old friend and employer, Joseph C. Platt, +of the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company, who insisted +on taking me home with him. As I had no home of my +own and no relations here, I accepted his kind hospitality. +Had I been their own son I could not have been cared +for more tenderly. Under the circumstances I am sure +I was not a very prepossessing object to entertain. I well +remember the warm bath and the glorious luxury of once +more being actually clean, dressed in a civilized night-robe, +and in a comfortable bed. It must be remembered +that a soldier must habitually sleep in his clothes. I had +not had my clothes off, except for a wash, since I entered +the army. I had evidently been living beyond my +strength, and now the latter gave way and I found myself +unable to leave my bed for the next two weeks. Dr. +William Frothingham gave me most excellent medical +treatment, and with the motherly nursing of Mrs. Platt +I was soon on the mend.</p> + +<p>On the 8th of December I started back for my regiment. +I was by no means well, and the doctor was loath +to let me go, as were all my kind friends; but a grand +forward movement of the army was reported as in progress, +and I felt that I must be at my post. I reached +Washington on the 9th, and it took the next two days to +secure a pass and transportation to the front. The latter +was somewhat difficult to obtain, owing to the fact that +a movement of the army was in progress. What the character +of the movement was no one seemed to know, not +even the provost-marshal, who issued all passes.</p> + +<p>I took a boat leaving at six o'clock <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> on the 12th +for Aquia Creek and thence went by rail in a cattle-car +to its terminus in the open field opposite Fredericksburg. +(The rebels were mean enough to refuse us depot privileges +at the regular station in Fredericksburg.) I arrived +there about one o'clock <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> A brisk cannonade was in +progress between the Union batteries posted on the +heights back of Falmouth and the Confederate guns on +Marye's Heights, back of Fredericksburg. The problem +now was to find my regiment. A stranger standing near +said, in answer to my inquiry, that the Union army had +been encamped about a mile and a half back yonder, +pointing to the hills in our rear, but that he was quite +sure they had all gone across the river last night; that +a big fight had taken place about laying the pontoon +bridge over the river (the Rappahannock), and the +Union forces had beaten the rebels back, laid the bridge +and had crossed over and occupied the city. Fredericksburg +was a city of probably five or six thousand people, +lying on the west bank of the Rappahannock, which runs +at this point nearly southeast. The river is probably one +hundred and fifty to two hundred yards wide here, quite +deep, with a rather swift current and high banks, so that +one does not see the water until quite close to it. The +railroad formerly ran from Aquia Creek to Richmond +via Fredericksburg, the connection to Washington being +by boat from Aquia Creek. The war stopped its operation, +but so much of it as was in the Union lines had +been seized by the government, and was being operated +by the quartermaster's department for war purposes. +The stations of the latter were wherever the troops were, +and these were now operating against Fredericksburg, +hence I was dumped down in an open field opposite +that city as stated above. I was fortunate enough to +find a man who was going to Hancock's old camp, +and I concluded to go with him, believing that once +there I could find our division camp belonging to the +same corps.</p> + +<p>I chartered a burly "contraban" to carry my luggage, +and we started. The ground was very soft from recent +rains, and the mud was something terrible. If one has +never encountered Virginia mud, he can have no adequate +idea of the meaning of the word. It gets a grip on your +feet and just won't let go. Every rise of your pedal +extremities requires a mighty tug, as if you were lifting +the earth, as indeed you are—a much larger share of it +than is comfortable.</p> + +<p>A tramp of a mile and a half brought us to Hancock's +old camp. In my weak condition I was thoroughly exhausted, +and so my "contraban" claimed to be, for he +positively refused to go another step. I got my quartermaster +friend to take care of my baggage, whilst I continued +my search for our division camp. I was not successful +in finding it that night, and was obliged to accept +the invitation of a sick officer of the Eighty-first Pennsylvania +Volunteers to share his quarters for the night. +I had eaten breakfast at five o'clock that morning in +Washington and had eaten nothing since, and it was now +dusk. I was not only tired, but faint for want of food. +This officer, whose name I regret I have forgotten, was +a brother Mason, and kindly divided his meagre rations +with me, which consisted of boiled rice and hardtack. +He had a little molasses, with which the former was +lubricated, and a good strong cup of coffee was added. +It was not Waldorf-Astoria fare, to be sure, and the +explanation was that the boys had taken almost everything +eatable with them.</p> + +<p>The next morning I picked up an old "crow-bait" of +a horse, the only four-footed transportation possibly obtainable, +and started for Fredericksburg to find my regiment. +The only directions I had about disposing of this +frame of a horse was to "turn the bones loose when you +get through with him." He could go only at a snail's +pace, and when I reached Fredericksburg it must have +been nine o'clock. I crossed the pontoon bridge, which +had been laid the morning before under circumstances +of the greatest gallantry by Howard's division of our +corps.</p> + +<p>The "ball" was now well opened. Marye's Heights +(pronounced Marie, with the accent on the last letter, as +if spelled Maree), circling the city from the river above +to a point below the city, was literally crowded with batteries +of rebel artillery. These guns were firing at our +batteries on the heights on the other side of the river, +and also upon our troops occupying the city. The air +was filled with screeching, bursting shells, and a deafening +pandemonium was in progress. It was not a very inviting +place to enter under these circumstances, but it +was as safe for me as for my regiment, and my duty +was to be with them. The trouble was to find it in that +multitude of troops filling all the streets of the city. +Our corps alone numbered probably twelve thousand men +at that time, and the Ninth Corps was there besides. +However, I soon found Kimball's brigade to my great +delight, supposing our regiment was in it, as it was +when I went away. General Kimball greeted me with +great cordiality; but when I asked where my regiment +was, he said he was sorry he could not inform me; that +they had that morning been transferred, much against +his will, to General Max Weber's brigade, and where +that was he did not know. It was probably somewhere +in the city. Said he:</p> + +<p>"You cannot possibly find it now, and it is a waste +of time to try. I can give you plenty of work to-day. +Stay with me and serve as an aide on my staff."</p> + +<p>The officers of his staff, all of whom were personal +friends, urgently joined in the general's invitation. But +I felt that I must be with the regiment if it were possible +to find it, and so declined what would have been a distinguishing +service. Some distance down the main street +I ran on to the regiment just when I had abandoned all +hope of finding it. My reception was exceedingly cordial, +accompanied with the remark: "Just in time, adjutant, +just in time." I found Lieutenant-Colonel Albright +in command and with no help from our field and staff. +Colonel Wilcox was still on sick leave. Major Shreve +had returned to camp during the heavy cannonading of +the day before, and Colonel Albright had lost his voice +from a severe cold, so that I had to supply voice for +him in the issuing of orders, in addition to my other +duties.</p> + +<p>The situation was most portentous. We lay in the +main street under the shelter of the houses, which were +being bombarded by the rebel batteries in their efforts +to reach our troops. The houses were all vacant; the +people had fled on the approach of our army. Not a +soul did we see of the inhabitants of the city during the +two days we occupied it. They had evidently left in +great haste, taking but few things with them. I was told +that in some houses the boys found and ate meals that +had been prepared and left in their flight, and in all +there was more or less food, which was appropriated. +Flour was plentiful, and the night after the battle there +were army flapjacks galore. In some cases it might have +been said these were fearfully and wonderfully made, +but they went just the same.</p> + +<p>An incident connected with this occupation of Fredericksburg +comes to light after forty years. If General +Howard should see it the mystery of the sudden disappearance +of his breakfast on that morning might be +cleared up. Our regiment happened to be quartered +in the morning near his head-quarters. Rations were +scarce. General Howard's servant had prepared him a +most tempting breakfast from supplies found and confiscated +from one of the houses. The sight of this repast +and its savory fumes were too much for the empty +stomachs of two of our men, who shall be nameless +here. The trick was a neat one. One of them got the +attention of the cook and held it until the other reached +into the tent and dumped the contents of the main dish, +hot and steaming, into his haversack and quietly sauntered +away. When the cook discovered his loss the other +fellow was gone. These rascals said it was the best dish +of ham and eggs they ever ate. Many houses had fine +pianos and other musical instruments, and in some instances +impromptu dances were on whilst Confederate +shells whanged through the house above their heads. It +is safe to say that there was little left of valuable bric-ŕ-brac +to greet the fugitive people on their return. And +it is highly probable that pianos and handsome furniture +needed considerable repairing after the exodus of the +"Yank." This was not due to pure vandalism, although +war creates the latter, but to the feeling of hatred for +the miserable rebels who had brought on the war and +were the cause of our being there. And it must be admitted +there were some who pocketed all they could for +the commercialism there might be in it, the argument +again being, "somebody will take it, and I might as well +have it as the other fellow." The first part of the argument +was doubtless as true as the latter part was false. +Many trinkets were hawked about among the men after +the fight as souvenirs. Among them was a silver-plated +communion flagon. Some scamp had filched it from one +of the churches and was trying to sell it. Fortunately, he +did not belong to our regiment. Our chaplain took it +from him and had it strapped to his saddle-bag. His +purpose was to preserve it for its owner if the time +should come that it could be returned. But in the meantime +its presence attached to his saddle made him the +butt of any amount of raillery from both officers and +men.</p> + +<p>When I joined the regiment it was lying in front of the +Court-House, from the steeple of which some sixty or +seventy feet high, the flags of our signal-corps were most +actively wagging. It occurred to me that those signal-men +were mighty nervy fellows. They were a beautiful +mark for the rebel batteries, which were evidently doing +their best to knock them out. The steeple was a plain, +old-fashioned affair, having an open belfry, which seemed +to be supported by four upright posts or timbers. I saw +one of those uprights knocked out by a rebel shell. A +couple more equally good shots and our signal-fellows +would come ignominiously—no, gloriously—down, for +there could be no ignominy with such pluck. But the +wig-wagging went on, I fancied, with a little more snap +and audacity than before, and they maintained their station +there in the very teeth of the rebel batteries until the +army was withdrawn. So much for "Yankee nerve." +I afterwards learned that the signal-officer there was none +other than Lieutenant Frederick Fuller, of Scranton, one +of my most intimate personal friends. Lieutenant Fuller +told me that he was on duty at Burnside's head-quarters +on that morning; that a station was ordered opened in +the belfry of that Court-House, and another officer was +despatched thither for that duty; that after waiting some +time for the flags to appear he was ordered over to see +what the trouble was. He found the other officer sitting +under shelter, afraid to mount the belfry, nor could +any persuasion induce him to face that storm of shell. +Lieutenant Fuller thereupon climbed up into the belfry, +opened the station himself, and ran it during the whole +battle.</p> + +<p>About ten o'clock the command "Forward" was +sounded, and our brigade moved out towards Marye's +Heights. Some idea of the topography of Fredericksburg +and its rear I find is necessary to an understanding of +what follows. Marye's Heights, which encircle the city +back some five hundred yards, are the termination of a +plateau which rises from one hundred and fifty to two +hundred feet in an abrupt terrace from the plain upon +which the city stands. These heights form a half-circle +from the river above to a point below the city some little +distance from the river, and are from a mile to a mile +and a half long and are most admirably adapted for +defensive purposes. The rebel batteries, numbering at +least one hundred guns, were massed on these heights, +and covered not only every street leading out from the +city, but every square foot of ground of the plain below. +A third of the way down the terrace was an earthwork +filled with infantry, whilst at its foot ran the famous +stone wall extending southward from the cemetery above +the city, and was continued by an earthwork around the +whole circle. Behind this stone wall was massed a double +line of Confederate infantry. To enter either street leading +out to those heights was to face the concentrated fire +of that mass of artillery and the deadly work of those +three lines of infantry. Yet that was just what we had +before us.</p> + +<p>Our division (French's) led the assault. Our regiment +brought up the rear of our brigade column. As +each regiment turned into the street leading out, it took +up the run to cover this exposed ground as quickly as +possible. Lieutenant-Colonel Albright was leading our +regiment and I was by his side. We passed rapidly up +the street, already covered with the dead and wounded +which had fallen from the regiments that had preceded +us, until we reached the embankment of a railroad, which +was nearly parallel with the enemy's works. A temporary +halt was made here preparatory to moving forward +in line of battle.</p> + +<p>Turning to see that our men were in position, I was +amazed to find that we had but one company with us. It +was my duty as adjutant to go back and find and bring +up the balance of the regiment. The distance was about +four hundred yards. I can truthfully say that in that +moment I gave my life up. I do not expect ever again to +face death more certainly than I thought I did then. It did +not seem possible that I could go through that fire again +and return alive. The grass did not grow under my feet +going back. My sprinting record was probably made then. +It may be possible to see the humorous side at this distance, +but it was verily a life and death matter then. One may +ask how such dangers can be faced. The answer is, there +are many things more to be feared than death. Cowardice +and failure of duty with me were some of them. I can +fully appreciate the story of the soldier's soliloquy as he +saw a rabbit sprinting back from the line of fire:</p> + +<p>"Go it, cotton tail; if I hadn't a reputation at stake, I'd +go to."</p> + +<p>Reputation and duty were the holding forces. I said +to myself, "This is duty. I'll trust in God and do it. If +I fall, I cannot die better." Without the help and stimulus +of that trust I could not have done it, for I doubt if any +man was ever more keenly susceptible to danger than I, +and the experience of Antietam had taught me the full +force of this danger. The nervous strain was simply +awful. It can be appreciated only by those who have +experienced it. The atmosphere seemed surcharged with +the most startling and frightful things. Deaths, wounds, +and appalling destruction everywhere. As fast as I was +running back over that street, my eyes caught an incident +that I can see now, which excited my pity, though I had +no time to offer help. A fine-looking fellow had been +struck by a shot, which had severed one leg and left it +hanging by one of the tendons, the bone protruding, and +he was bleeding profusely. Some men were apparently +trying to get him off the street. They had hold of his +arms and the other leg, but were jumping and dodging +at every shell that exploded, jerking and twisting this +dangling leg to his horrible torture. I remember hearing +him beseeching them to lay him down and let him die. +They were probably a trio of cowards trying to get back +from the front, and were using this wounded man to get +away with, a not infrequent occurrence with that class of +bummers.</p> + +<p>I found the balance of the regiment had passed our +street and were in confusion further down the main street. +As the second company was about turning to follow the +column a shell had exploded in their faces, killing and +wounding some ten men and throwing it into disorder. +Before it could be rallied the advancing column was out +of sight. It was the work of but a few moments to +straighten out the tangle and head them again for the +front. No body of men could have more quickly and +bravely responded, though they told me afterwards that +they read in my pallid face the character of the work +before them. Back we went up that street on the run, +having to pick our way to avoid stepping on the dead and +wounded, for the ground was now blue with our fallen +heroes.</p> + + + +<hr class="double" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h3> +<hr class="single" /> + +<p class="c smcap">THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG—CONCLUDED</p> + + +<p>R<span class="smcap">eaching</span> the place in the rear of that railroad embankment, +where I had left the brigade, I found it had +just gone forward in line of battle, and a staff officer +directed me to bring the rest of the regiment forward +under fire, which I did, fortunately getting them into +their proper position. The line was lying prone upon +the ground in that open field and trying to maintain a +fire against the rebel infantry not more than one hundred +and fifty yards in our front behind that stone wall. We +were now exposed to the fire of their three lines of infantry, +having no shelter whatever. It was like standing +upon a raised platform to be shot down by those +sheltered behind it. Had we been ordered to fix bayonets +and charge those heights we could have understood the +movement, though that would have been an impossible +undertaking, defended as they were. But to be sent +close up to those lines to maintain a firing-line without +any intrenchments or other shelter, if that was its purpose, +was simply to invite wholesale slaughter without the +least compensation. It was to attempt the impossible, +and invite certain destruction in the effort. On this interesting +subject I have very decided convictions, which I +will give later on.</p> + +<table summary="ills" +cellpadding="15" +cellspacing="15"> +<tr><td> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"><a name="LIEUT" id="LIEUT"></a> +<img src="images/gs12a.png" width="250" height="339" alt="FIRST LIEUT. JAMES A. ROGERS +CO. C" /> +<span class="caption">FIRST LIEUT. JAMES A. ROGERS<br /> +CO. C</span> +</div> + +</td><td> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/gs12b.png" width="250" height="339" alt="FIRST LIEUT. NOAH H. JAY +CO. K" /> +<span class="caption">FIRST LIEUT. NOAH H. JAY<br /> +CO. K</span> +</div> +</td></tr> + +<tr><td> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/gs12c.png" width="250" height="339" alt="FIRST LIEUT. A. C. MENSCH +CO. E" /> +<span class="caption">FIRST LIEUT. A. C. MENSCH<br /> +CO. E</span> +</div> +</td><td> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/gs12d.png" width="250" height="339" alt="FIRST LIEUT. CHARLES E. GLADDING +CO. D" /> +<span class="caption">FIRST LIEUT. CHARLES E. GLADDING<br /> +CO. D</span> +</div> + +</td></tr> +<tr><td> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/gs12e.png" width="250" height="339" alt="FIRST LIEUT. ISAIAH W. WILLITTS +CO. H" /> +<span class="caption">FIRST LIEUT. ISAIAH W. WILLITTS<br /> +CO. H</span> +</div> + +</td><td> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/gs12f.png" width="250" height="339" alt="SECOND LIEUT. D. R. MELLICK +CO. E" /> +<span class="caption">SECOND LIEUT. D. R. MELLICK<br /> +CO. E</span> +</div> +</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>Proceeding now with my narrative, we were evidently +in a fearful slaughter-pen. Our men were being +swept away as by a terrific whirlwind. The ground was +soft and spongy from recent rains, and our faces and +clothes were bespattered with mud from bullets and fragments +of shells striking the ground about us, whilst men +were every moment being hit by the storm of projectiles +that filled the air. In the midst of that frightful carnage +a man rushing by grasped my hand and spoke. I turned +and looked into the face of a friend from a distant city. +There was a glance of recognition and he was swept away. +What his fate was I do not know.</p> + +<p>That same moment I received what was supposed to +be my death wound. Whilst the men were lying down, +my duties kept me on my feet. Lieutenant Charles McDougal,<a name="FNanchor_D_4" id="FNanchor_D_4"></a><a href="#Footnote-D" class="fnanchor" title="Go to footnote D.">[D]</a> +commanding the color company, called to me +that the color-guard were all either killed or wounded. +We had two stands of colors, the national and State flags. +These colors were carried by two color-sergeants, protected +by six color-corporals, which made up the color-guard. +If either sergeant became disabled the nearest corporal +took the colors, and so on until the color-guard were +down. This was the condition when this officer called to +me to replace these disabled men, so that the colors should +be kept flying. He had one flag in his hand as I approached +him, and he was in the act of handing it to me +when a bullet crashed through his arm and wrist, spattering +my face with his warm blood. I seized the staff as it +fell from his shattered arm. The next instant a bullet cut +the staff away just below my hand. An instant later I +was struck on the head by the fragment of a shell and fell +unconscious with the colors in my hand. How long I +remained unconscious I do not know, possibly twenty +minutes or more. What were my sensations when hit? +I felt a terrific blow, but without pain, and the thought +flashed through my mind, "This is the end," and then +everything was black. I do not remember falling. It +takes time to write this, but events moved then with +startling rapidity. From the time we went forward from +the embankment until the line was swept back could have +been but a few minutes, otherwise all must have been +killed.</p> + +<p>When I revived I was alone with the dead and +wounded. The line of battle had been swept away. The +field about me was literally covered with the blue uniforms +of our dead and wounded men. The firing had +very perceptibly decreased. I had worn into the battle +my overcoat, with my sword buckled on the outside. I +had been hit on the left side of my head, and that side +of my body was covered with blood down to my feet, +which was still flowing. My first thought was as to my +condition, whether mortally wounded or not. I was perceptibly +weakened from loss of blood, but lying there I +could not tell how much strength I had left. I did not +dare move, for that would make me a target for the guns +that covered that terrible wall, the muzzles of which I +could plainly see. Many of them were still spitting out +their fire with a venom that made my position exceedingly +uncomfortable. What should I do? What could I do? +To remain there was either to bleed to death or be taken +prisoner and sent to Libby, which I felt would mean for +me a sure lingering death. To make a move to get off +the field would draw the fire of those guns, which would +surely finish me. These were the alternatives.</p> + +<p>I carefully stretched my legs to test my strength, and +I made up my mind I had enough left to carry me off the +field, and I resolved to take my chances in the effort. I +determined that I would zigzag my course to the rear +so as not to give them a line shot at me. So getting +myself together I made a supreme effort and sprang up +and off in jumps, first to the right, then to the left. As +I expected, they opened on me, and the bullets flew thick +and fast about me. The first turn I got a bullet through +my right leg just above the ankle. It felt like the stinging +cut of a whip and rather accelerated my speed. About +fifty yards back was an old slab fence to my right, and I +plunged headlong behind that, hoping to find shelter from +those bullets. I fell directly behind several other wounded +men, two of whom rolled over dead from bullets that came +through the slabs and which were probably aimed at me. +This flushed me again, and by the same zigzag tactics +I succeeded in getting back to the railroad embankment, +where, to my great joy, I found Colonel Albright with +what remained of the regiment. Colonel Albright +grasped me in his arms as I came over, with the exclamation, +"We thought you were killed." Sergeant-Major +Clapp told me that he had rolled me over and satisfied +himself that I was dead before they went back.</p> + +<p>As I reached cover under this embankment I remember +noticing a field-officer rallying his men very near us on +our right, and that instant his head was literally carried +away by a shell. So intense was the situation that even +this tragic death received only a passing thought. Then +came the Irish brigade, charging over our line as they did +at Antietam. They came up and went forward in fine form, +but they got but a few yards beyond the embankment, +when they broke and came back, what was left of them, +in great confusion. No troops could stand that fire. +Our division and the whole Second Corps, in fact, were +now completely disorganized, and the men were making +their way back to the city and the cover of the river-bank +as best they could, whilst the splendid old Ninth Corps +was advancing to take its place. Profiting by our experience, +they did not advance by those streets through which +we came, but made their way through houses and yards +and so escaped that concentrated fire on the streets. Their +advancing lines, covering the whole city front, looked +magnificent, and it was dreadful to think that such a +splendid body of men must march into such a slaughter-pen. +Their movement was a repetition of ours. With +bayonets unfixed they moved forward and attempted to +maintain a firing-line under Marye's Heights on the +ground from which we had been driven, only to be hurled +mercilessly back as we had been. Our line had been the +first to make this effort, and for some reason we had +approached to within about one hundred yards of their +main line of infantry, much closer than any of the troops +that followed. The others had barely got beyond the embankment, +when they were swept away. We, having approached +nearer their line, were, of course, longer exposed +to their fire and lost more heavily.</p> + +<p>I was always curious to know why we of the first line +of that fateful movement succeeded in getting so much +nearer their works than the equally brave and determined +men who followed us. Some years afterwards on revisiting +this location I met an ex-Confederate who commanded +one of the rebel batteries on those heights that +day. In answer to my questions, he said the first +"Yankee" line was permitted to approach much nearer +than those that followed, for, said he, "we knew they +were our meat, and when we finally opened on them +with our full force, the slaughter was so awful it made +me heart sick. But you kept coming with such persistency +that we did not dare repeat those tactics." This +may have been partially true so far as concerned their +infantry fire, but a more potent reason, in my judgment, +was that we had developed the utter hopelessness of the +attempt, and men could not put heart into the effort.</p> + +<p>Recurring to myself again, Colonel Albright stanched +the flowing of blood from my wound in the head by +making a strong compress of my large bandana handkerchief. +The other wound in my leg did not give me +much trouble then. In that condition, accompanied by +another wounded man, I made my way back into the +city. We found it one vast hospital. Every house was +literally crowded with wounded men. We were fortunate +enough to run against our brigade surgeon, who +had taken possession of a brick building on the main +street for hospital purposes. The only thing he could +give me to lie down upon was a wooden bench. We +had dismounted and left our horses with a servant when +we went forward, and our blankets, etc., were with them, +and where they were now there was no means of knowing. +I was therefore without those comforts. Everything +of that nature left by the rebels had long before +been appropriated. The doctor hastily examined my +wounds, pronounced them not dangerous, ordered the hospital +steward to dress them, and was away. He, however, +appropriated my red handkerchief. I had been +presented by a friend on leaving Scranton with two large +old-fashioned red silk bandana handkerchiefs, and they +were exceedingly useful. The doctor, seeing them, said, +"I must have these to nail up over the outside door to +show that this is a hospital," and, without so much as saying +by your leave, carried them off. The effort was to +secure as much protection as possible from the fire of the +enemy, and to do this the red flag of the hospital must be +displayed. It is against the rules of civilized warfare to +fire upon a hospital. The doctor said my red silk handkerchiefs +were the first red stuff of any kind he had been +able to get hold of. Of course I was glad to part with +them for that purpose, though they were worth at that +time $2 each in gold. The wound in my head was fortunately +a glancing blow from a fragment of a shell. It +tore the scalp from the bone about three inches in length +in the form of a V. It has never given me serious trouble, +more than to be a barometer of changing weather. The +wound in my leg nearly severed the big tendon. They +both quickly healed, and I was off duty with them but the +one day I took to get back to camp.</p> + +<p>After my wounds had been dressed I tried to sleep, +being not only very weak from loss of blood, but almost +in a condition of nervous exhaustion. I laid down on my +bench, but shells were continually crashing through the +building, and sleep was impossible. I went out on the +street. It was crowded with wounded and straggling +soldiers. The stragglers were hunting for their regiments, +the wounded for hospital room. It seemed as if +the army must have disintegrated. This was practically +true of the Second and Ninth Corps, which had made the +assault. Towards night General French rode down the +street, accompanied by his staff. Seeing me, he stopped +his horse and exclaimed, "Adjutant, where is my division? +Tell me where my men are. My God, I am without +a command!" and the tears were flowing down his +red, weather-beaten face. He was beside himself over the +awful losses of his division. Well he might be, for a +great number of them were lying on yonder field in front +of Marye's Heights, and the balance were scattered +through the houses and on the river-bank practically +disorganized.</p> + +<p>I was greatly alarmed for our safety that night. It +seemed to me highly probable that General Lee would +come down upon us and capture all that were in the city, +as he could easily have done. Possibly he was satisfied +with the damage already inflicted, and did not care to +assume the care of our wounded, which that would have +involved. I remained on my bench in that hospital +through that long night without food or covering. I had +eaten nothing since early morning. With the constant +whanging of shells through ours and adjacent buildings +and the moaning of the wounded lying all about me, +sleep or rest was impossible. It was a night too dreadful +to think of, and makes me shudder again as I write. We +remained in the city the next day, Sunday, and I rejoined +our regiment, which, with other troops, was lying under +the shelter of the river-bank. Officers were getting their +men together as far as possible and bringing order out of +chaos. We had Sunday about two hundred for duty out +of three hundred and fifty taken into the battle. On Monday, +the 15th, we who were wounded were told to make +our way across the river back to our old camps as best we +could. I was now very weak, and my head and leg were +very sore. The latter gave me much trouble in walking, +nevertheless there was a three-mile tramp before us. +Lieutenant Musselman, also wounded, went with me on +this weary tramp. We did not reach camp that night, and +so had to find shelter at a farm-house, already full of +straggling and wounded soldiers. The owner was a +widow, living with a grown-up daughter, and was a bitter +rebel, although professing Union sentiments whilst our +army was there. She was, of course, greatly annoyed by +the presence of these soldiers, most of whom were eating +up her provisions without paying for them. Some of +them were "bummers," who had run away from the +battle and had persuaded her to feed and shelter them for +the protection they professed to afford her. She was in +great wrath when we reached there and peremptorily forbade +us entering. But I told her firmly that we were +wounded men and must have shelter; that I would willingly +pay for accommodations, but, permission or not, the +latter we must have. This argument seemed to be convincing, +and the daughter led us up to the garret, which, +she said, was the only unoccupied room in the house. +Here she spread a blanket on the floor for us to sleep on. +I suppose this was the best she could do. Then, at our +solicitation, she got us some supper, an exceedingly frugal +meal, but we were glad to get that. The daughter did not +seem to share her mother's bitterness, but as often as she +could would interject a word in our favor, and really did +all she could for us. I sincerely hope she was ultimately +made a permanent prisoner by some good "boy in blue." +Here would have been an excellent opportunity to have +woven into this narrative the golden thread of romance. +This pretty secesh girl, with flashing blue eyes and golden +hair, rebel to the core, yet befriending a wounded Union +soldier, etc. How readily it lends itself, but the truth +must be told. The little arrow god had already driven +home his shaft, and so the romance could not mature.</p> + +<p>During the evening General Franz Sigel and staff +came to the house and demanded supper. Our lady was +very polite, assured him that it was impossible. "Very +well," said General Sigel, "I think I shall want this place +to-morrow for a hospital. Madam, your kindness will be +reciprocated." He spoke very emphatically, whereat the +pretty daughter began to cry, and the mother to stammer +apologies, and said she would do the best she could for +them, but she really had nothing to cook. The general +retired very indignant. Whether or not his threat was +carried out I do not know, for the next morning we were +off without trying to get breakfast. On asking for her +bill we were surprised to find her charges were evidently +based on the highest war-time hotel rates. We had so +poor a supper that we had no desire for breakfast there, +and had slept on the garret floor. For this she demanded +one dollar. We paid her fifty cents, which was more than +double its worth, and left amidst a great volley of her +choicest anathemas.</p> + +<p>We reached camp towards noon, and found we had +tramped about five miles out of our way. The regiment +was there ahead of us, the troops having evacuated +Fredericksburg on Monday, two days after the battle, +without opposition. We were actually under fire in this +battle, that is, from the time the assault began until we +were swept back, probably not more than thirty minutes +as against four and one-half hours at Antietam. Yet our +losses were proportionately much heavier. During my +absence on sick leave, our regiment, after leaving Warrenton, +had been detailed on heavy "fatigue" duty, loading +and unloading vessels and various kinds of laborer's +work at Belle-plain, and in consequence many were on +the sick list, others were on various details, so that when +we went into this battle we had only three hundred and +fifty men for duty, against seven hundred and fifty at +Antietam. Of this number my diary, written the 15th, +says we lost: Killed, 7; wounded, 80; missing, 20; total, +107. Lieutenant Hoagland, Company H, was killed. Of +the wounded, four were officers,—Captain Richard Stillwell +and First Lieutenant John B. Floyd, Company K; +First Lieutenant Musselman, Company E, and First Lieutenant +McDougal, commanding Company C. Lieutenant +McDougal's arm was shattered by a minie-ball whilst +handing me the colors, detailed above. Captain Stillwell +received a very singular wound. A bullet struck +the side of his neck near the big artery and appeared to +have gouged out a bit of flesh and glanced off. It bled +more than this circumstance would have seemed to warrant, +but the captain was sure he was not hurt and made +light of it. Swelling and pain speedily developed in his +shoulder, and it was found that the missile, instead of +glancing off, had taken a downward course and finally +lodged near his shoulder-joint, a distance of ten or twelve +inches from where it entered. He was given leave of +absence on account of wounds, and the ball was cut out +after his return home, and ultimately the whole channel +made by the ball had to be opened, when it was found +lined with whiskers which the ball had carried in with it.</p> + +<p>Most of those computed above as missing were undoubtedly +killed, but had not been so reported at that time. +Our loss in that half-hour was nearly one-third. One +stand of our colors, the one whose staff was shot away in +my hand, was missing, and the other was badly torn by +shells and bullets.</p> + + + +<hr class="double" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h3> +<hr class="single" /> + +<p class="c smcap">WHY FREDERICKSBURG WAS LOST</p> + + +<p>I <span class="smcap">promised</span> to give my convictions relative to the +responsibility for the disaster of Fredericksburg, and I +might as well do it here.</p> + +<p>Recalling the fact heretofore stated that we seemed to +have been thrown against Marye's Heights to be sacrificed; +that we were not ordered to charge their works, +but to advance and maintain a line of battle-fire where +such a thing was absolutely impossible, I come to the inquiry, +what was the character and purpose of the movement +and why did it fail? So thoroughly impressed was +I that there was something radically wrong about it, that +I determined to solve that question if possible, and so +made a study of the subject at that time and later after +my return home. I had personal friends in the First and +Sixth Corps, which had operated on the extreme left, and +I discussed with them the movements that day. Finally, +after my return home, I got access to Covode's congressional +reports on the conduct of the war covering that +campaign, and from all these sources learned what I then +and now believe to be substantially the facts about that +campaign. The army was divided into three grand divisions, +composed of two army corps each, namely, the Second +and Ninth, the right grand division, commanded by +Sumner; the First and Sixth, the left grand division, +commanded by Franklin, and the Third and Fifth, the +centre, commanded by Hooker. The plan of battle was to +hold Lee's army at Fredericksburg by a "feint in force" +(which means an attack sufficiently strong to deceive the +enemy into the belief that it is the real or main attack) at +that point, whilst the left grand division was to throw a +pontoon bridge across the river three miles below and turn +his flank (<i>i.e.</i>, get behind them) in the rear of Marye's +Heights. For this purpose the left grand division was to +advance and attack vigorously. If successful, Lee would +then have been between Franklin's forces on the left and +our own on the right, with every possibility of being +crushed. Hooker was to hold his division in readiness to +support either wing. Had this plan been carried out, +our work at the right would, at its conception, have been +as it appeared to be, a mad sacrifice of men, but with an +opportunity later on of pushing forward and reaping a +victory. In that event, our position would have made +us a tremendous factor in the result.</p> + +<p>Now how was the plan carried out? The student will +be puzzled on finding such a paucity of records concerning +this disastrous movement. The official documents are +remarkable for what they do not contain. A study of +Covode's reports on the conduct of the war will, I think, +justify my conclusions, viz., that the disaster of Fredericksburg +was due not to accident, nor to a faulty plan +of battle, but to a failure of the left grand division to perform +the vital part assigned to it. My information gained +at the time was that Franklin was to remain concealed +until the signal for our attack came; then he was to cross +over and attack vigorously, a military expression, meaning +to put all possible vigor and power into the movement. +The signal was given as our attack began. Whatever +force may have crossed the river at that time, my information +was that the division known as the Pennsylvania +Reserve, now numbering probably not more than six +thousand men, under General Meade, was the only body +of troops which made a determined attack on Lee's right, +in support of our work in front of Marye's Heights. +Realizing the opportunity, General Meade pushed forward +with his usual vigor and, though meeting strenuous opposition, +soon found himself well in Lee's rear, but without +support. He sent back aide after aide to hurry forward +the supporting lines, but without avail, finally galloping +back himself. He found General Birney resting near the +bridge with his division. An eye-witness<a name="FNanchor_E_5" id="FNanchor_E_5"></a><a href="#Footnote-E" class="fnanchor" title="Go to footnote E.">[E]</a> to Meade's +interview with Birney says the language of General +Meade as he upbraided Birney for not coming to his +support was enough to "almost make the stones creep;" +that Meade was almost wild with rage as he saw the +golden opportunity slipping away and the slaughter of his +men going for naught. He said Birney responded that he +agreed with General Meade fully, and was ready and +most anxious to come to his support, but that his orders +were peremptory to await further orders in his present +position: that he had been for an hour trying to find +General Franklin to obtain permission to move forward. +This loss of time and want of support to Meade's charge +changed a possible victory into a fearful disaster. This +was substantially the testimony of Major-General Reynolds, +commanding the First Corps, before the Committee +on the Conduct of the War. Burnside rode down to the +left and vigorously expostulated with Franklin for his +failure to carry out his orders, and peremptorily ordered +him to make the attack as originally directed, whilst he +repeated the movement at the right. It was now considerably +after noon, and this order was undoubtedly a +mistake. The plan of battle had been revealed, and there +was practically no hope of success. Had the left grand +division vigorously performed its part in the earlier movement, +can any one doubt the result? I cannot think so. +Had Meade, Reynolds, or Hancock been in command on +the left that day, I feel confident that Fredericksburg +would have been recorded a glorious victory instead of +a horrible slaughter.</p> + +<p>Now, why did the left grand division fail to make the +attack as ordered? Halleck, in his report on the operations +at Fredericksburg, says "alleged misunderstanding +of orders." Here is his language:</p> + +<p>"It was intended that Franklin's grand division, consisting +of the corps of Reynolds (First) and Smith +(Sixth), should attack the enemy's right and turn his position +on the heights in the rear of Fredericksburg, while +Sumner and Hooker attacked him in front. But by some +alleged misunderstanding of orders Franklin's operations +were limited to a mere reconnoissance, and the direct +attacks of Sumner and Hooker were unsupported." +"Rebellion Records," vol. xxi., page 47.</p> + +<p>Is the theory of a misunderstanding of orders tenable? +The records show that on the 11th of December, two +days before the battle, Burnside ordered his division commanders +to so dispose their troops as to bring them within +easy reach of Fredericksburg, and that on that day at +twelve o'clock noon these officers were ordered to meet +him personally at his head-quarters for final instructions. +There are no records of what those instructions were, but +is it credible that either general retired from that conference +with a misunderstanding as to the plan of battle or +of his own part in it? Certain it is that neither Sumner +nor Hooker misunderstood.</p> + +<p>And the excuse said to have been made by Franklin, +that he did not deem the attack on the left practicable, is +not consistent with the idea of misunderstanding. Otherwise, +why did he attack at all? General Halleck's guarded +language clearly indicates where he placed the responsibility +for that disaster, and that he did not credit the +"misunderstanding of orders" theory. It is plainly evident +Burnside did not accept that excuse, as appears from +his celebrated Order No. 8, issued a month later, relieving +Franklin, Smith, Newton, Cochran, and Ferrero, and +stating as his reason that "it being evident that these +officers can be of no further service to this army,"—the +first named being the commander of the left grand division, +the second the commander of the Sixth Corps, and +the others subordinate commanders in that wing of the +army. General Burnside explained to the Committee +on the Conduct of the War<a name="FNanchor_F_6" id="FNanchor_F_6"></a><a href="#Footnote-F" class="fnanchor" title="Go to footnote F.">[F]</a> that in asking the President +to approve this order, and making that a condition +upon which he would consent to remain at the head +of the army, he had explicitly stated, "that was the +only condition on which he could command the Army of +the Potomac." In other words, he could not command +that army with those officers as his subordinates. The +inference that there had been insubordination is inevitable. +It was the current belief amongst us officers of the army +that the battle of Fredericksburg had been lost through a +want of hearty co-operation, if not direct disobedience of +orders, on the part of the officer commanding on the left +that day, and some of his subordinates, and that this was +due to a spirit of jealousy. McClellan had but recently +been removed from the command of the army, and the +officers relieved were strong personal friends and partisans +of the latter. Again, Burnside, his successor, was alleged +to be junior in actual rank to Franklin. Whether either +of these facts supplied the motives for the jealousy which +lost that battle, if such was true, the judgment day alone +will reveal. It is devoutly to be hoped that the light of +that day will relieve the terrible disaster of Fredericksburg +of this awful shadow, and that nothing worse than a +"misunderstanding of orders" was responsible for it.</p> + +<p>That Order No. 8 was disapproved at Washington, and +General Burnside promptly tendered his resignation of the +command of the Army of the Potomac. He felt that he +had not received and was not likely to receive the cordial +and hearty support of all his subordinate officers, and +under those circumstances he did not want the responsibility +of command. He expressed himself as anxious +to serve his country and willing to work anywhere it +might please the President to place him. He was not +relieved, however, until a month or so later. In writing +the foregoing I know that many brave men will take exception. +I would say, however, that I have made a somewhat +careful study of the subject from an absolutely unprejudiced +stand-point, and such are the conclusions I +reached, and they were shared by many of my fellow-officers +who were in that campaign. The losses in this battle +amount to nearly one-third the troops actually engaged, +a most remarkable fact, and which stamps this engagement +as one of the bloodiest in all history. Burnside reports +his loss as twelve hundred and eighty-four killed and nine +thousand six hundred wounded, making a total loss, including +the missing, of twelve thousand six hundred and +fifty-three. Of this loss the right grand division (the +Second and Ninth Corps) lost five thousand three hundred +and eleven. The left grand division, Franklin's (First +and Sixth Corps, which numbered considerably more than +the right grand division), lost three thousand four hundred +and sixty-two, and most of this was sustained in the +second attack in the afternoon. These facts sustain the +belief above referred to in the army, that the main attack +in the morning on the left was not what it should have +been, and was the cause of the disaster.</p> + +<p>A remarkable fact connected with this loss is the +great number of wounded as compared with the killed. +Usually the former exceeds the latter in the proportion +of three and four to one, but at Fredericksburg it was +nearly nine to one. How this is to be explained I never +understood, unless it be that most of the casualties were +from exploding shells. The minute fragments of a shell +scatter very widely and wound, whilst there are fewer of +the large pieces which kill. For example, the shell that +exploded in the front of our second company, as it was +turning to enter the street leading out towards Marye's +Heights, previously described, knocked out ten men, only +one of whom was instantly killed. It is safe to estimate +that of the nine thousand six hundred reported as +wounded, one-third died or were permanently disabled +therefrom.</p> + +<p>To show how quickly troops can recover from such a +shock as the disaster of Fredericksburg, the Second Corps +had a grand review back of Falmouth the second week +after the battle. Major-General Edwin V. Sumner, commanding +the right grand division, was the reviewing officer. +I have spoken before of this distinguished officer. +This was his farewell to the Second Corps, which he had +long commanded and to which he was greatly attached, a +sentiment which was most cordially reciprocated by the +men. He was now probably the oldest in years of all the +officers in the army, yet still vigorous, intrepid, and efficient. +He was relieved from active command in the field +and assigned to the command of the Department of the +Ohio, but a few months later died peacefully at his home +in New York. Is it not singular that this old hero should +have escaped the numberless missiles of death in all +the battles through which he had passed, so soon to succumb +in the quietude of retirement?</p> + +<p>Our regiment had present at this review but few over +two hundred men, and the other regiments were proportionally +small, so that the corps was scarcely larger than +a good-sized division, yet it appeared in splendid condition. +Its depleted numbers and battle-scarred flags alone +told the story of its recent experiences. The following +week our regiment was detailed for a ten-days' tour of +picket duty, and was encamped some distance above Falmouth +in a pretty grove. This change of service was a +welcome one to the men in many respects, for there was +better foraging opportunities, and there was also considerable +excitement attending this service in the presence of +the enemy. The Rappahannock River was the dividing +line of the two armies, and their respective pickets lined +its banks. At this time the two lines were kept as far as +possible concealed from each other, though there was +practically no picket firing. Later on the two lines were +posted in full view of each other, and by agreement under +a "flag of truce" all picket firing was strictly forbidden. +Thereafter, although forbidden, there was more or less +conversation carried on between the two lines.</p> + + + +<hr class="double" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h3> +<hr class="single" /> + +<p class="c smcap">LOST COLORS RECOVERED</p> + + +<p>I<span class="smcap">n</span> addition to our heavy loss of men at Fredericksburg +was the loss of our colors, the stand whose staff had +been shot away in my hand as described in a former +chapter.</p> + +<p>It can be well understood that we felt very keenly the +loss of our flag, although we knew that it had been most +honorably lost. It was known to have been brought off +the field in the night by Corporal William I. D. Parks, +Company H, one of the color-guard, who was mortally +wounded, and left by him in a church used as a temporary +hospital. Corporal Parks was removed to a hospital at +Washington, where he died shortly afterwards, and the +colors mysteriously disappeared. The act of this color-bearer +in crawling off the field with his colors, wounded as +he was to the death, was a deed of heroism that has few +parallels. We made every effort to find the flag, but without +success, and had concluded that it must have been left +in Fredericksburg, and so fallen into the hands of the +enemy, when a couple of weeks after the battle, on returning +from a ride down to Falmouth, I noticed a regiment +of our troops having dress parade. I rode near them, +and my attention was at once attracted to the fact that +they paraded three stands of colors, a most unusual circumstance. +My suspicion was at once aroused that here +were our lost colors. Riding closer, my joy was great +on recognizing our number and letters on their bullet-and +shell-tattered folds, "132 P. V." Anger immediately succeeded +my joy as I saw that our precious colors were +being paraded as a sort of trophy. This flag, under whose +folds so many of our brave men had fallen, and which +had been so heroically rescued from the field, exhibited +to the army and the world as a trophy of the battle by +another regiment! It was, in effect, a public proclamation +of our cowardice and dishonor and of their prowess in +possessing what we had failed to hold and guard, our +sacred colors. It stung me to the quick. I do not remember +ever to have been more beside myself with anger. +It was with difficulty that I contained myself until their +ceremony was over, when I rode up to the colonel, in the +presence of all his officers, and in a voice which must +have betrayed my emotion, demanded to know why he +was parading our colors. His reply was, "Those are +the colors of a d——d runaway regiment which my men +picked up on the battle-field of Fredericksburg." My +hair and whiskers were somewhat hot in color those days, +and I have not kept a record of my language to that +colonel for the next few minutes. I sincerely hope the +recording angel has not. Still, I am sure it was the explosion +of a righteous indignation.</p> + +<p>Full of wrath I galloped at topmost speed to camp and +made known my discovery to Colonel Albright. If I +was "hot," what shall be said of him? Of a fiery, mercurial +disposition, his temper flew in a moment. He +mounted his horse and bade me lead him to this regiment. +The brave heralds who carried "the good news +from Ghent to Aix," did not gallop faster than did we +two, and the wicked fellow who was hired to say two +dollars' worth of "words" for the Quaker did not do his +work a bit more effectively than did my brave colonel in +denouncing the man who had made that charge of cowardice +against our regiment. Well, he began to hedge immediately. +He evidently saw that there was trouble +ahead, and offered to give us the colors at once, but +Colonel Albright peremptorily refused to accept them that +way, and said he would demand a court of inquiry and +would require full and complete vindication, cost what it +might. A court of inquiry was at once asked for and +granted. It was made up of officers outside of our division, +and was directed to investigate the loss of our flag, +and how it came into the possession of this other regiment. +Colonel Albright was a good lawyer and conducted his +own case before the court. It came out in the investigation +that in making his report of the part his regiment +took in the battle of Fredericksburg this colonel had used +substantially the same language he had to me concerning +how he came into possession of the flag. Here is the +paragraph referring to our colors, taken from his report +printed in the "Rebellion Records," vol. xxi., page 275:</p> + +<p>"I would also state that some cowardly members of a +regiment unknown (?) abandoned their colors, which +were recovered by Captain Northrup, of my regiment, and +saved the disgrace of falling into the hands of the enemy." +My diary notes that I interviewed this Captain Northrup, +and he promptly stated that he took the colors from the +hospital and brought them with him when their regiment +left Fredericksburg. He said he did not know how they +got into the hospital, but supposed a wounded sergeant +had left them there. He disclaimed any idea of their having +been abandoned in a cowardly manner, and could not +understand why his colonel had made such a declaration. +The statement that his men rescued them from an unknown +regiment was false upon its face, for our name +was inscribed on its folds in plain letters, "132d P. V." +Why he made such a statement, and why he treated the +colors as he did, I could never understand, for had the +statement been true it was outrageously unmilitary to proclaim +to the world the cowardice of one of our own regiments. +It was his duty to promptly send the colors to +head-quarters, with a statement of the facts, so that the +alleged runaways could be properly disciplined. As it +was, it seemed a most contemptible effort to secure a +little cheap, unearned glory. It was heartlessly cruel and +unworthy of a brave soldier.</p> + +<p>The result of the court of inquiry was a full and complete +vindication of our regiment, as shown by the following +paragraph from an order issued by Major-General +O. O. Howard, commanding the Second Corps: "The +last color-bearer, badly wounded, left his regiment after +dark, and in the town entered a church used as a hospital, +taking his colors with him. He was carried away from +this place and the colors left behind. The very fidelity of +the color-bearer holding to his colors as long as he was +conscious was the occasion of their loss to the regiment. +Not only no fault should be found with this regiment, but +it should receive unqualified commendation."</p> + +<p>General French, commanding our division, published +this order to the division, adding the following: "As the +commander of the division, and knowing the character +of the One Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsylvania +Volunteers, which has fought under my eye in two of the +bloodiest engagements of the war, and which has the +highest encomiums from its brigade commander, General +Kimball, who knows what brave men are, I have deemed +it my duty to make this record to go with whatever may +have transpired in reference to this subject during my +short absence." The above paragraphs were taken from +Bates's "History of Pennsylvania Volunteers." The +colors were ordered returned to us with proper military +honors. They were brought to General French's head-quarters +by a military escort from that regiment, and I +had the satisfaction of officially receiving them with a like +escort from our regiment, commanded by First Lieutenant +J. D. Laciar, of Company G. The ceremony was to us a +joyous and impressive occasion. It took place in the +presence of General Alfred Sully, temporarily commanding +the division, and staff, and our brigade officers. The +two escorts were drawn up, facing each other. The order +of Major-General Howard, above referred to, was read. +This was followed by a little speech from General Sully, +in which we came in for some more praise; then both +escorts presented arms, whilst their color-bearer transferred +the colors to ours, and the ceremony was over. A +happier escort never marched than was ours bearing home +those restored colors.</p> + +<p>The weather was now getting very cold, and we set +about making ourselves as comfortable as possible in +camp. The men were allowed to fix up their tents as best +they could without much regard for architectural beauty +or regularity. Some of them dug cellars four to five feet +deep, made puncheon floors,—that is, floors made of split +logs smoothed off and laid the flat side up,—whilst the +sides were made of logs plastered up with mud. Mud +fireplaces were made with old barrels for chimneys. The +roofs were canvas, of course, but fairly waterproof. A +favorite bit of horse-play of the men at this time was to +watch when the occupants of some tent were having a +good time, and smoke them out by throwing a wet blanket +over the top of their barrel chimney. In about a second +the smoke would be almost dense enough to suffocate, and +every fellow would pile out and hunt for the culprit. Woe +be unto him if they found him. A favorite ruse on the +part of the culprit was to plunge into his tent and be +placidly snoring when the victims began their hunt. +Sometimes the simulation would be too sonorous, and +give him away, and then he had trouble on hand for the +next hour. The ingenuity of these sons of Belial in their +pranks was beyond description. I have laughed until +absolutely exhausted many a time. How did I know so +much about them? Well, I had two of the liveliest of +these boys in my office as clerks, and, as they were generally +in the fun, I was kept posted, and to tell the truth, +as long as it did not seriously transgress, and there was +fun in it, I knew nothing about it "officially." Often +have I seen these boys put up a job on some fellow quietly +sleeping, by smoking out his next-door neighbors and +then directing their attention to him as the culprit. To +see him hauled out of a sound sleep and mauled for something +he was entirely innocent of, vehemently protesting +his innocence, yet the more he protested getting the more +punishment, the rascals who put up the job doing most +of the punishing, I have nearly split my sides. Of course, +no one was seriously hurt. The victim knew enough to +keep his temper, and in the end enjoyed the lark as well +as the rest. I speak of these things, for they were the +oases in army life and drudgery. Except for them it +would have been unendurable. Seldom were things so +bad but that some bit of raillery would relieve the strain +and get up a laugh, and everybody would feel better.</p> + +<p>We had a young fellow in one of the companies who +was certainly the most comical genius I ever saw. He +was known by a nickname only. No length of march and +no severity of service could curb his spirits. When all +were down in the dumps this fellow would perform some +monkey-shine that would make even a horse laugh, and all +would be in good spirits again. Colonel Albright used to +say he was worth his weight in gold. He was with us +until after Fredericksburg, where he was either killed or +wounded, and I do not remember to have seen him afterwards.</p> + +<p>I have spoken of the men's winter-quarters. We officers +had our wall tents, and had them fixed up with +puncheon floors also, and sheet-iron stoves, so that as +long as we kept a fire burning all were fairly comfortable. +But wood fires would last but an hour or so without replenishing, +and so during the night we had great difficulty +in keeping warm. Some of the coldest nights my clerks +and myself took turns in keeping up our fire. I rather +prided myself on the construction of my bed. It was made +of two springy poles held in place by crotched sticks driven +into the ground. On the poles nailed crosswise was a +bottom made of barrel-staves, the hollow side down, and +on these was laid a bed of hay, kept in place by some +old canvas sacking. On cold nights the only article of +clothing we took off was our shoes or boots. Then rolling +ourselves in our blankets, with gum blanket outside tucked +well around our feet and the whole surmounted with our +overcoats, we managed to sleep pretty well. These +puncheon floors were all the proceeds of foraging. No +lumber of any kind was furnished by the government. +The men cut the trees and split the logs wherever they +could find them. Most of them were "backed" into camp +anywhere from one to four miles.</p> + +<p>After this little of note occurred in camp until Christmas. +We had made ourselves as comfortable as we could +with the materials at hand, which were not in super-abundance. +The weather was what we were told was +characteristic of Virginia winters,—rather mild, slush and +mud, with its raw, disagreeable dampness, being the prevailing +conditions. It was exceedingly trying to our men, +and many, in consequence, were on the sick list. My diary +notes that on Christmas day we actually had a little sunshine, +and that by way of adding good cheer to the occasion +a ration of whiskey was issued to the men. The +ration consisted of a gill for each man. Each company +was marched to the commissary tent, and every man received +his gill in his cup or drank it from the measure, +as he preferred. Some of the men, who evidently were +familiar with the intricacies of repeating in ward elections, +managed in various ways to repeat their rations of this +vile stuff until we had a good deal more than a gill of +whiskey's worth of hilarity in camp. However, the noise +was winked at, believing it would soon subside and pass +off. All drills were suspended and the men were allowed +passes freely out of camp, being required to be in quarters +promptly at taps. The officers passed the day visiting +and exchanging the compliments of the season. The wish +for a "Merry Christmas" was about all there was to +make it such. I remember our bill of fare for Christmas +dinner consisted of boiled rice and molasses, "Lobskous" +and stewed dried apples. The etymology of the euphonious +word "Lobskous" I am unable to give. The dish +consisted of hardtack broken up and thoroughly soaked +in water, then fried in pork fat. I trust my readers will +preserve the recipe for a side dish next Christmas. One +of the boys, to show his appreciation of this extra fare +for Christmas dinner, improvised the following blessing:</p> + +<p class="poem">"Good Lord of love<br /> +Look down from above<br /> +And see how a soldier's grub has mended,—<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Slushed rice, Lobskous, and shoat,</span><br /> +Where only hardtack and hog were intended."</p> + +<p>The day was not without its fun, however. Among +other things, an impromptu foot-race was gotten up between +the Fourth New York and our regiment. The former +regiment, with which we were now brigaded, was +from New York City, and in its general make-up was +decidedly "sporty." They had in their ranks specimens +of almost all kinds of sports, such as professional boxers, +wrestlers, fencers, and runners. One of the latter had +been practising in the morning, and some of our boys had +remarked that "he wasn't much of a runner," whereupon +they were promptly challenged to produce a man who +could beat him, for a cash prize of twenty dollars in gold. +Win or lose, our fellows were not to be bluffed, and so +promptly accepted the challenge. Back they came to camp +with their "bluff," to look up a man to meet this professional. +So far as our men were concerned, it was +another case of the Philistine defying the armies of Israel. +Where was our David? All hands entered into the fun, +from the colonel down. The race was to be a one-hundred-yard +dash from a standing mark. We found our +man in Corporal Riley Tanner, of Company I. He was +a lithe, wiry fellow, a great favorite in his company, and +in some trial sprints easily showed himself superior to all +of the others. He, however, had never run a race, except +in boys' play, and was not up on the professional tactics +of such a contest. It was decided that the affair should +take place at five o'clock <span class="smcap">P.M.</span>, on our regimental front, +and should decide the championship of the two regiments +in this particular. The course was duly measured and +staked off, and was lined on both sides by a solid wall of +the men, nearly our whole division being present, including +most of the officers. If the championship of the +world had been at stake, there could hardly have been +more excitement, so much zest did every one put into it. +On the minute the Goliath of the bloody Fourth appeared, +clad in the most approved racing garb. He was a stockily +built young Irishman, and looked decidedly formidable, +especially when our poor little David appeared a moment +later, with no other preparation than his coat and cap off +and pants rolled up. Nevertheless, our boys thoroughly +believed in him, and we all gave him a rousing cheer. +The signal was given and away leaped our little champion +like a frightened deer, literally running away from the +professional from the start and beating him leisurely in +the end by more than a dozen feet. Great was the furore +which followed. The victor was carried on the shoulders +of his comrades of Company I triumphantly back to his +quarters, and afterwards through all the company streets, +the victim of an immense popularity. Corporal Tanner, +scarcely beyond his teens, was a good, brave, and true +young man, popular with his comrades and faithful in +all his duties. Was this little race, so short and gloriously +won, prophetic of his life's brief course? He came home +to survive but a few years, and then die of injuries received +in the service. He was as much a sacrifice upon +the altar of his country as if he had been killed in battle. +He was long ago laid to rest in a soldier's grave. But +he still lives in the hearts of his comrades.</p> + +<p>Here let me say a few words of our "friends, the +enemy," we had just beaten, the Fourth New York. Its +colonel was a Scotchman named McGregor, and he was a +true McGregor, a splendid officer. He was in command +of the brigade after Colonel Andrews was wounded at +Fredericksburg, until himself disabled by a wound. His +lieutenant-colonel was a captain in the New York police +force when he entered the service, and after the war as +Inspector Jameson he achieved a national reputation. He +was a splendid fellow personally, and physically a king +among men. He stood six feet two inches, beautifully +proportioned, square, and straight as an Indian, with heavy +jet black hair and whiskers, and an eye that I imagine +could almost burn a hole in a culprit. He could be both +majestic and impressive when occasion required, and was +more gifted in all these things than any man I ever knew. +The following incident will illustrate his use of them. I +met him in Washington whilst returning to my regiment +the day before the battle of Fredericksburg. I joined him +just before reaching the wharf where we were to take the +boat. He had been up to Washington on a day's pass, all +any one could then get, and had for some reason overstayed +his leave. I think he had missed his boat the day +before. In consequence he could not get a pass through +the lines to go back. I asked how he expected to get +through the provost guard. "Oh, that's easy," he said. +"Just watch me go through," and I did. There was a +double guard at the entrance to the boat and a sergeant +and lieutenant examining all passes. Jameson threw his +cape over his shoulders to conceal his shoulder-straps, put +on one of his majestic airs, looked the officer through, as +much as to say, you do not presume to question my rights +here, and waved him and the guards aside, and deliberately +stalked aboard, as though he commanded the army. +I came meekly along behind, pass in hand. The officer +had by that time recovered himself sufficiently to ejaculate, +"Who the h—l is that—general?" I repeated the +ejaculation to the colonel afterwards to his great amusement. +He was all right, and on his way to rejoin his +regiment, where he was wounded next day, splendidly +doing his duty. Because he had overstayed his leave +twenty-four hours, red tape would have required him to +remain in Washington, submit to a court-martial or court +of inquiry, and probably after three or four weeks be sent +back, duly excused, the country being deprived of his services +in the mean time.</p> + +<p>Well, to get back to Christmas. After the foot-race the +men were given free rein until ten o'clock <span class="smcap">P.M.</span>, and passes +out of camp were not required. As the evening wore on, +it became evident that John Barleycorn had been getting +in some extra work, from the character of the noise emanating +from the company streets, and I became somewhat +nervous about it. Lieutenant-Colonel Albright's tent adjoined +mine, and I could see that he was becoming a little +exercised over this extra noise. The fear was that we +might get a peremptory summons from division head-quarters +to "explain immediately the causes of the unusual +noises emanating from our regiment, and why it is +not suppressed." Just about ten o'clock there was an +extra outburst, and I noticed Colonel Albright, with sword +dangling, pass rapidly out of his tent and down towards +the company streets from whence the noise came. I feared +trouble, and slipped on my boots and followed as quickly +as possible. But before I reached the scene, the colonel +had drawn his sword and ordered all the men to their +quarters, at the same time striking right and left with the +flat of his sword, hitting two of the men. One proved to +be a sergeant who was trying to quell the noise and get +his men into quarters. The latter resented the blow and +made a sharp retort to the colonel, who immediately repeated +it, whereupon the sergeant struck him a terrible +blow in the eye with his fist, knocking him down. I got +there just in time to see the colonel fall, and immediately +seized the sergeant and placed him in arrest. He was +handed over to the division provost guard. The colonel +was found to be seriously hurt. His eye swelled up and +turned black and gave him great pain all night. And it +was several days before he recovered the use of it.</p> + +<p>The most serious thing about this unfortunate culmination +of our Christmas festivities was not only the breach +of discipline, but the present status of this sergeant. He +was an exceptionally good non-commissioned officer, with +a splendid record in both battles and in all service, yet he +had now committed an offence the punishment for which, +in time of war, was death,—viz., striking his superior +commissioned officer. The next day Colonel Albright reported +the affair to General French, commanding the division, +who promptly advised him to prefer charges against +the culprit and make an example of him. The matter was +generally discussed by both officers and men in camp, and +although it was felt that the sergeant had committed a +grave offence, yet that the colonel was in a measure responsible +for it. The latter was justly popular with all as +a brave officer and good man, yet he had been guilty himself +of an offence which had brought upon him the blow +he had received. He had no right to strike a soldier as he +did, even with the flat of his sword. Nor was it the +proper thing for him to take the place of his "officer of +the guard" or "officer of the day" in enforcing his own +orders regulating camp discipline. He should have sent +for the latter and required them to do their duty in the +matter. As a matter of fact, this was just what the +officer of the day was doing when the colonel appeared. +The colonel sent for me next morning, on his return from +General French's head-quarters, and freely told me of the +advice of the latter, and indicated his purpose to proceed.</p> + +<p>This splendid man has long since entered into rest. No +truer man or braver officer entered the service than he, +and it has been one of the greatest satisfactions of my +life that I was able to possess his confidence to the fullest +degree. He invited my views now and he afterwards +thanked me for the service I then rendered him by opposing +his contemplated action. He was still suffering +very much from his injury and was in a poor mood to +brook opposition. Nevertheless I felt that if he subjected +this man to the possible results of a court-martial, later on +he would never forgive himself, and I so told him. I +reminded him of the mistake he had made in assuming +the duties of his "officer of the day," and of his graver +error, if not offence, in striking the men; that such action +would be very likely to produce similar results with almost +any of the men upon whom it might be committed; that +he had failed to respect the rights of his men even in +matters of discipline, and that all this being true, it would +be a mistake he would always regret if he failed to treat +this affair in as manly and generous a way as discipline +would permit. It was an occasion of keen regret that I +had to differ with Colonel Albright, for I really loved the +man. He dismissed me rather cavalierly with his thanks +for my drastic frankness. By his direction a meeting of +all the officers of the regiment was summoned to meet at +his head-quarters in the afternoon to give their views as +to the course to be pursued. The question, as submitted +by the colonel being one purely of discipline, seemed to +admit of but one treatment,—viz., court-martial; and this +was the unanimous sentiment as expressed in this meeting, +although outside, I well knew nearly all had expressed +themselves differently. Perhaps the way the colonel took +to get their views was partly responsible for his failure to +get their real feelings. He began with the youngest lieutenant +and asked each officer up to the senior captain, what +he thought the offence merited. The answer was, "I suppose +court-martial." None seemed willing to accuse the +colonel of his own error, and to have answered otherwise +would have involved that, so they simply replied as above.</p> + +<p>The colonel said, after all had given their answers, that +the adjutant did not agree with him nor them, and called +on me to state my position, saying I was to be excused, as +he supposed the sergeant was a personal friend. Whilst +it was true that I had known him at home, I disclaimed +being influenced by that fact in this matter. The colonel, +to my relief, adjourned the meeting without announcing +his determination. I felt sure that a little more time +would bring him to my way of thinking, and so it turned +out. I saw the sergeant over at the provost-guard tent, +and found him very anxious about his situation and thoroughly +sorry for his hasty conduct towards the colonel, +whom he sincerely respected. He said he felt terribly +hurt at being so roughly treated. He was not to blame +for the noise, but was actually doing his best to quiet the +noisy ones and get them into quarters when the first intimation +he had of the colonel's presence was the blow from +his sword. He said this blow hurt him and roused his +anger and he replied sharply, and on getting the second +blow he struck without stopping to think of the consequences. +I told the colonel of this conversation, and said +if he would permit this man to express to him personally +his sorrow for his conduct, and, under the circumstances, +restore him to duty with no greater punishment than a +loss of his rank as sergeant, I felt sure he would win the +hearts of all the men and do an act he would always be +glad of. Two days later, to my great joy, he ordered me +to prepare an order practically embodying my recommendations, +the order to be read at dress parade that day, +and the prisoner to be publicly released at that time. I +think I never performed a more willing or difficult task +than reading that order on parade that afternoon. Just +before the ceremony, the sergeant had been brought by +the provost guard to the colonel's tent and had, in a manly +way, expressed his sorrow for his act. The colonel had +stated this fact to the regiment, and then directed me to +read the order releasing the prisoner and restoring him to +duty. The tears blinded my eyes and my emotions almost +choked my voice as I tried to read, and I doubt if there +was a dry eye in the ranks when I had finished. The outcome +of the unfortunate affair was exceedingly satisfactory. +The colonel, always popular, had now the hearts of +all—officers and men.</p> + + + +<hr class="double" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h3> +<hr class="single" /> + +<p class="c smcap">THE WINTER AT FALMOUTH</p> + + +<p>O<span class="smcap">ur</span> brigade was now commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel +Marshall, Tenth New York Volunteers, who was the +senior officer present for duty, Colonels Kruger, First +Delaware, and McGregor, Fourth New York, being absent +on account of wounds received at Fredericksburg, and +Colonel Wilcox, of our regiment, absent, sick. I mention +this to show how the exigencies of the service thrust +upon junior officers the duties and responsibilities of much +higher grades. Here a lieutenant-colonel was discharging +the duties appertaining to a general; sergeants frequently +commanded companies, whilst a captain in command of a +regiment was not an infrequent thing. These junior officers +performing the duties of higher grades got no more +compensation than the pay of their actual rank. On the +24th of January, Colonel Wilcox sent in his resignation, +and Lieutenant-Colonel Albright was commissioned colonel. +Major Shreve was promoted to be lieutenant-colonel, +and I had the honor to receive the rare and handsome +compliment of an election to the office of major, although, +being a staff-officer, I was not in the regular line of promotion. +Sergeant-Major Clapp succeeded to my position +as adjutant, and Private Frank J. Deemer, Company K, +who had been a clerk in my office, was appointed sergeant-major. +Just at this time I had a somewhat singular experience. +I had received a three-days' leave of absence +with permission to visit Washington on business for the +officers. This detail I mention because no leaves of absence +other than for sickness or disability were obtainable +at this time, except on urgent business for the officers of +a regiment, and for but one officer to a regiment, and +three days was the limit. To get to Washington—only +about sixty miles away—I had to start from camp before +daylight in the morning, ride three miles to the railroad +in a heavy, springless army wagon, across fields +and over rutted roadways that were barely passable, +the jolting of which was almost enough to shake one's +bones loose; then ride twenty miles in a freight car, +perched on whatever truck one could get a seat on, thence +by boat to Washington. The morning was exceptionally +cold and I had to leave without breakfast; the result was +I caught a severe cold, and when I reached my destination +I was suffering terribly from an attack of dysentery. I +was barely able to get to the Ebbitt House, the clerk of +which seeing my plight summoned a physician, who had +me sent to the Seminary Hospital for Officers at Georgetown. +Here I received most excellent care.</p> + +<p>This institution was for officers only. There must have +been upward of two hundred sick and wounded officers +there at that time. It was under strict military rules. +The surgeon in charge was its commanding officer, as +absolute as though a general commanding a division in +the field. When I reached the hospital I was registered, +put to bed, and all clothing and personal effects taken +from me. A warm bath followed with the assistance of +a stalwart nurse and medicines were administered, and +I soon found relief in a refreshing sleep. A couple of +days later I had a remarkable visit. I was not allowed to +sit up yet, but a fine-looking old gentleman, wearing the +insignia of a major-general, appeared at my cot and extended +his hand. His face was an exceedingly kind one +and his voice, if possible, more so. His hair was white +and he had the unmistakable appearance of advanced age, +though he stood fully six feet high and was still square +and unbent in form. He proceeded to say he had learned +that a young officer bearing the name of Hitchcock had +been taken suddenly very ill and sent to this hospital, and +inasmuch as his name was Hitchcock, he was doubly interested +to know, first how I was, and second who I was. +My visitor was none other than Major-General Hitchcock, +military attaché of President Lincoln's cabinet and the +first general commissioner for the exchange of prisoners +of war. I think he was a retired regular army officer +called from his retirement to special service as military +adviser of the president and now in charge of the bureau +for the exchange of prisoners of war. His call was very +pleasant, and I learned from him that all of our name in +this country were distantly related. That two brothers +came to this country with the Regicides and settled, one +in New Hampshire, the other at New Haven. He was +of the former stock, whilst I was from the latter. On +retiring he bade me call on him when well. I greatly +regret I never had the opportunity of returning his +gracious visit. On the cot next mine lay an officer convalescing +from a wound received at Fredericksburg. I +have forgotten his name, but we soon became well acquainted, +and he proved a valuable and companionable +acquaintance. He was the best posted man in military +tactics I ever met, and was thoroughly familiar with all its +branches from the school of the soldier to the grand tactics +of a division. It was very profitable pastime for me +to go over the tactics under his instruction, he illustrating +each battalion movement by the use of matches on the +coverlets of our cots. In that way I learned the various +tactical movements as I had never been able to do before, +and it was of immense value to me, having now been +promoted to the position of a field-officer. This hospital +was no better and in no wise different from those for +private soldiers, except that we were charged a per diem +for board, whereas there was no charge for the privates. +I thought I could return at the end of a week, and asked +to be discharged, but was rather curtly informed by the +surgeon in charge that when the time came for my discharge +he would inform me.</p> + +<p>The papers now contained rumors of another movement +on foot, and, of course, I was very anxious to return. A +few days later, after an examination, the doctor gave me +my discharge. It was now ten days since I had left camp +on a three-days' leave, but my discharge from the hospital +operated as an extension, and I had no difficulty in +getting transportation and passes through the lines to +rejoin my regiment. I performed my errands for the +officers of the regiment, which consisted in getting various +articles for their comfort, and in several cases a bottle of +something to "keep the cold out." As I write, I have +before me, in perfect preservation, all the official papers +covering that trip. Here are copies of the papers required +to get back to the regiment. They will give an idea of the +conditions, getting in and out of Washington at that time, +as well as of the load I had to carry back:</p> + +<p class="c top5"><span class="smcap">Head-quarters Military District of Washington,<br /> +Washington, D. C.</span>, <span class="sml1">January 22, 1863.</span></p> + +<p class="sml1">Lieutenant F. L. Hitchcock, 132d P. V., with servant, has permission +to proceed to Falmouth, Va., for the purpose of rejoining +his regiment, and to take the following articles for officers and +men: (1) one drum, (3) three express packages, carpet sack containing +liquors, (1) one box of provisions, (1) one box of clothing. +Quartermaster please furnish transportation.</p> + +<p class="sml1">By Command of Brigadier-General Martindale, Military Governor +of Washington.</p> + +<p class="r"> +<span class="smcap">John P. Sherburne</span>,<br /> +<i>Assistant Adjutant-General</i>.<br /></p> + + +<p class="no sml1">No. 247.</p> +<p class="c"><span class="smcap">Assistant-Quartermaster's Office, Sixth Street Wharf,<br /> +Washington, D. C.</span>, <span class="sml1">January 23, 1863.</span></p> + +<p class="sml1">Pass on government boat to Aquia Creek, three boxes and one +drum, liquors and sutlers' stores strictly excluded.</p> + +<p class="sml1">For Adjutant F. L. Hitchcock, 132 Pa. Vols.</p> + +<p class="r"><span class="smcap">J. M. Robinson</span>,<br /> +<i>Captain and A. Q. M.</i></p> + +<p class="top5">The word liquors above is erased with a pen. It is +difficult at this day to realize that Washington was surrounded +with a cordon of sentries. All places of entrance +and exit were under the strictest military surveillance. +General Martindale, as its military governor, was supreme +in authority. No one could come or go, and nothing be +taken in or out, without his permission.</p> + +<p>The servant included in the above pass was a "contraband," +picked up in Washington for the trip. There +were hundreds of them clamoring for an opportunity +to get down to the army. They were glad to do all +one's drudgery for the chance of going, for once there, +plenty of jobs could be found, besides the excitement +and attractions of "Uncle Sam's" army were to them +irresistible. I reached camp early in the evening and +delivered my supplies, the officers being promptly on +hand to receive them. The return of an officer from +"civilization" was an event of no ordinary moment, and I +had many calls that evening. The following anecdote of +Major-General Howard was told that evening, apropos of +the delivery of the "commissions" I had brought. The +general was well known to be uncompromising in his +opposition to the presence of liquor of any kind in camp, or +elsewhere, and especially among the members of his +official family. Yet shortly after the battle of Fredericksburg, +one of his staff had a present of a bottle of "old +Rye." He put it away until some time during the general's +absence he could safely bring it out and treat his +fellow-members of the staff. The opportunity came one +day when his chief announced his absence at army head-quarters +for a couple of hours, and mounted and rode +away. The hidden treasure was brought out and due +preparation made for the delectation of all hands, and he +was in the act of pulling the cork in front of his tent, when, +suddenly hearing the clatter of horse's hoofs, he looked up +just in time to see the general returning for a forgotten +paper. He had barely time to swing the bottle behind his +heels as he closed them in the position of a soldier, and +arose and respectfully saluted. The position and salute +were strictly according to army regulations, but with a +general's own staff such formality was not usual. The +general evidently caught the situation, for he was tantalizingly +deliberate in acknowledging the salute, and finally +remarked, with a twinkle in his eye, looking him full in +the face: "Mr.——, your position is faultless and your +punctiliousness in saluting truly admirable. Were you +getting it ready to send to the hospital? Very commendable, +indeed; it will do so much good." And to the +hospital, of course, it had to go, much to the chagrin of +all the staff.</p> + +<p>The event of special interest at this time was the movement +later known as the "mud march." Troops had for +three days been moving up the river, destination, of +course, unknown to us, but now they were returning, a +most sorry, mud-bedraggled looking crowd. We were +glad enough not to have been with them. Our corps had +been for a week under marching orders, to move at a +moment's notice, but the final order never came, and we +were spared this experience. Whatever the movement +was designed to be, it was defeated by plain, simple MUD. +It should be spelled in the largest capitals, for it was all-powerful +at this time. Almost immediately after the +movement began, it commenced to rain heavily. The +ground was already soggy from previous rains, and it +soon became a vast sea of mud. I have already spoken of +Virginia mud. It beggars description. Your feet sink +into it frequently ankle deep, and you lift them out with +a sough. In some places it seemed as bottomless as a pit +of quicksand. The old-established roads were measurably +passable, but, as I have heretofore explained, most of the +troops had to march directly across the fields, and here it +proved absolutely impossible to move the wagon-trains +and artillery any distance. This was the main reason why +the movement had to be abandoned. I saw many wagons +down over their hubs, stalled in the mire. And the guns +and caissons of a battery of artillery were stalled near our +camp, and had to be abandoned for the time. The horses +were saved from miring with great difficulty. A few days +later the guns and caissons were hauled out with ropes.</p> + +<p>There were dead mules and mired and broken wagons +all along the route of the marching troops. The number +of animals that perished in this futile march must have run +up into thousands, killed by exposure over pulling or +miring. It should be understood that when the army +moves, and the mule trains of ammunition and rations are +ordered to move, they must go as long as it is physically +possible, mule or no mule. The lives of a thousand mules, +more or less, is nothing compared with the necessity of +having ammunition and rations at the proper place at the +required time. I saw one mule team stalled in one of these +sloughs. The heavy wagon was down so that the box +was in the mud and the four mules were wallowing in a +death struggle to get out. Harness was cut and they were +freed, all to no purpose. Their struggles had made the +slough like a stiff pudding, which was apparently bottomless; +the more they struggled the deeper they got. Finally +a chain was hooked about the neck of one of the leaders +and fastened to another wagon and the mule hauled out, +but with a broken neck. The experiment was repeated +in a modified way with the other leader, now over back +in the mire, but with no better results. The others had +ceased to struggle and were slowly sinking, and were mercifully +killed and allowed to bury themselves in the mire, +which they speedily did. It may be asked why more civilized +methods were not employed to extricate these valuable +animals. Why fence rails or timbers were not placed +under them as is usual? The answer is, there was not a +fence rail nor anything of that nature probably within ten +miles. Everything of this kind had long ago been used +for fire-wood for the soldiers' cooking. And as for timbers +there probably was not a stick nearer than Aquia +Creek, more than ten miles away. Again it may be wondered +why the chain was not passed around the mule's +body rather than his neck. Simply because the former +was impossible without running the risk of miring the +driver in the slough, and he was not disposed to run any +risk of that kind. Had this been practicable, it is doubtful +if the result would have been any better, for without +padding the chains would have killed or mangled the mule, +and there were no means at hand for that purpose. The +destruction of this class of property, always very severe +under favorable circumstances in the army, was during +this mud movement simply appalling. The loss of one or +more mules meant an abandonment of the wagon and its +contents to the weather in many instances, and the same +was true where a team was mired.</p> + +<p>The rebels were evidently interested observers of this +mud march, for their pickets taunted ours with such questions +as "How d'ye like Virginia mud?" "Why don't +you 'uns come over?" "How are you, mud?" etc., and +they put up rude sign-boards on which were scrawled in +large letters, "Burnside stuck in the mud!" "Burnside's +name is Mud!" etc.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 366px;"><a name="HITCHCOCK" id="HITCHCOCK"></a> +<img src="images/gs13_th.png" width="366" height="550" alt="MAJOR FREDERICK L. HITCHCOCK +132D P. V." /> +<span class="caption">MAJOR FREDERICK L. HITCHCOCK<br /> +132D P. V.<br /> +A year later Colonel 25th U. S. C. T.<br /><a href="images/gs13.png">(see image enlarged)</a></span> +</div> + +<p>The "mud march" had evidently settled it that there +would be no further attempt to move until better weather +conditions prevailed, which could not reasonably be looked +for before April, and so we settled down for a winter +where we were, back of Falmouth. The several corps +were spread out, occupying an area extending from within +three miles of Fredericksburg, nearly down to the Potomac. +Our corps, the Second, was located nearest to +the latter city, and our picket lines covered its front to +Falmouth and some miles up the river. Our division, the +Third (French's), had the line from the railroad bridge +at Fredericksburg to Falmouth, something over two miles. +Being now a field-officer, my name was placed on the +roster of picket field-officers of the day. My first detail +on this duty came almost as soon as my commission. My +duties had hitherto been confined almost exclusively to +the staff or executive business of the regiment. Further +than making the necessary details of officers and men for +picket duty, I had never had anything to do with that +branch of the service. I had, therefore, only a smattering +knowledge of the theory of this duty. It may well be +judged, therefore, that I felt very keenly this lack, when +I received my order to report for duty as division field-officer +of the day, the following morning. Here I was +suddenly confronted with the responsibility of the command +of the picket forces covering the dividing line between +the two hostile armies. A demonstration of the +enemy was to be looked for any moment, and it was most +likely to occur on our front. I had hoped to have a few +days to study up and by observing its practical work get +some little idea of my new duties. But here was the +detail, and it must be obeyed. It should be explained that +the picket line consists of a cordon of sentinels surrounding +the army, usually from two to three miles from its +camp. Its purpose is to watch the enemy, and guard +against being surprised by an attack. Except for this +picket line, the main body of troops could never sleep with +any degree of safety. To guard against attacks of the +enemy would require it to remain perpetually under arms. +Whereas with its picket lines properly posted it may with +safety relax its vigilance, this duty being transferred to its +picket forces. This picket service being a necessity of +all armies is a recognized feature of civilized warfare. +Hence, hostile armies remaining any length of time in +position near each other usually make an agreement that +pickets shall not fire upon each other. Such agreement +remains in force until a movement of one or the other +army commences. Notice of such a movement is, of +course, never given. The other party finds out the fact +as best it can. Frequently the withdrawal or concealment +of the picket line will be its first intimation. Ordinarily, +picket duty is not only of the very highest responsibility, +but an exceedingly dangerous duty. Until agreements +to cease picket-firing are made, every sentinel is +a legitimate target for the sentinels or pickets of the +enemy, hence extreme vigilance, care, and nerve are +required in the performance of this duty.</p> + +<p>The picket line in the presence of the enemy is generally +posted in three lines,—viz., First, the line of sentries; +second, the picket supports, about thirty yards in rear of +the sentries, and third, the guard reserves, about three +hundred yards farther in the rear, depending upon the +topography of the country. Each body constitutes one-third +of the entire force, <i>i.e.</i>, one-third is constantly on +duty as sentinels, one-third as picket supports, and one-third +as grand reserves. The changes are made every +two hours, usually, so that each sentry serves two +hours on "post" and four hours off. The latter four +hours are spent half on grand reserve and half as picket +supports. The supports are divided into companies, and +posted in concealed positions, near enough to the sentry +line to be able to give immediate support in case of attack, +while the grand reserves, likewise concealed, are held in +readiness to come to the assistance of any part of the +line. Ordinarily this part of the picket force is able to +sleep during its two hours of reserve service. The supports, +however, while resting, must remain alert and vigilant. +It being the duty of the picket-line to prevent a surprise, +it must repel any sort of attack with all its power. +In the first instance the sentinel must promptly challenge +any party approaching. The usual formula is: "Halt! +Who comes there?" The approaching party failing to +obey the command to halt, it is his duty to fire at once, +even though he be outnumbered a hundred to one, and it +cost him his life. Many a faithful sentinel has lost his +life in his fidelity to duty under such circumstances. For +although the picket is there to prevent a surprise, the +attacking party is equally bent on getting the advantage +of a surprise, if possible, and many are the ruses adopted +to capture sentinels before they can fire their guns. He +must fire his gun, even though he be captured or run +through with a bayonet the next instant. This gives the +alarm, and the other sentries and picket supports open fire +at once, and the reserves immediately join them, if necessary, +to hold or impede the progress of the enemy. It is +thus seen that in case of an attack the picket force finds +itself maintaining a fight possibly against the whole opposing +army, or whatever the attacking force may be. +Fight it must, cost whatever it may, so that time may be +gained to sound the "long roll" and assemble the army. +Many of our picket fights were so saucy and stubborn that +the attacks were nipped in the bud, the enemy believing +the army was there opposing them. In the mean time, +mounted orderlies would be despatched to army head-quarters +with such information of the attack as the officer +of the day was able to give.</p> + +<p>Having now given some idea of picket service, I return +to my own first experiences as field-officer of the +day. I was fated to have several rather singular experiences +on that first day. The first occurred in connection +with my horse. I mounted and started for division head-quarters, +about a half-mile away, in ample time to reach +there a little before the appointed time—eight o'clock, +but reaching the outer edge of our camp my horse balked, +and in answer to my efforts to move him began to kick, +rear, and plunge. He tried to throw me, and did nearly +everything except roll over. Every time I headed him +forward, he would wheel around and start back for his +stable. I coaxed him, then tried the spur, all to no purpose. +I was losing valuable time, besides having a very +uncomfortable kind of a fight on hand. I realized I must +make him obey me or I could never handle him again. An +orderly from General French came galloping over with +the expected peremptory message. One minute's delay +with him was almost a capital offence. I could only return +word that I was doing my best to get there. The general +and his staff then rode over to see my performance. He +reassured me with the remark, "Stick to him and make +him obey you, or kill him." Well, it took just about one +hour to conquer him, at the end of which time I had +ploughed up several acres of ground, my horse was in a +white lather, and I was in the same condition. When he +quit, he did so at once, and went on as cleverly as though +nothing had happened. The cause of this freak I never +understood, he never having done so before, and never +did again.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 550px;"><a name="DON" id="DON"></a> +<img src="images/gs14_th.png" width="550" height="425" alt="DON AND I" /> +<span class="caption">DON AND I<br /> +And a glimpse of the camp of Hancock's Division, Second Army Corps, back of Falmouth, Va., +winter of 1862-3.<br /><a href="#Don">See page 171*</a><br /><a href="images/gs14.png">(see image enlarged)</a></span> +</div> + +<p><a name="Don">*May</a> I digress long enough to speak a little more of this +remarkable horse. Dr. Holland says there is always hope +for any man who has heart enough to love a good horse. +Army life was well calculated to develop the sterling qualities +of both man and beast. Hence, I suppose every man +who had a good horse could safely regard him as "most +remarkable." How many such have I heard cavalrymen +talk about, descanting on the "remarkable" qualities of +their half-human favorites, whilst the tears wet their +cheeks. I had named this splendid animal "Don Fulano," +after that superb horse in Winthrop's "John Brent," not +because he was a magnificent black charger, etc.; on the +contrary, in many respects he was the opposite of the original +Don Fulano. Raised upon an unromantic farm near +Scranton, an unattractive yellow bay, rather too heavy +limbed and too stockily built to be called handsome, yet +powerful, courageous, intelligent (he could almost talk), +high spirited, with a heavy, shaggy mane and forelock, +through which gleamed a pair of keen, fierce eyes, he had +many of the qualities which distinguished his noble prototype. +He had not the high honor to die carrying a slave to +liberty, but when the final accounts come to be squared up +in the horses' heaven, it is possible that the credit of +having passed unflinchingly through the battles of Fredericksburg +and Chancellorsville, and of having safely carried +a wounded soldier off each field may prove to be a +little something in favor of my splendid "Don." As a +saddler, he came to me practically unbroken. He was sold +from the farm because he would jump all fences, yet under +the saddle, when I took him, he would not jump the smallest +obstacle. This is really as much of an art on the part +of the rider as with the horse. An unskilled rider is liable +to seriously injure both the horse and himself in jumping. +If he is unsteady, the motion of the horse as he rises +to make his leap is liable to pitch him over his head. On +the other hand, if he clings back, a dead weight in his +saddle, he is liable to throw the horse backward. I have +seen both done. The secret of successful jumping is to +give the horse his head as he rises, feel your knees against +his sides firmly, rising with him as he rises and be again +in your seat before his feet reach the ground. This +helps him and saves both a killing jounce. I finally trained +him so that as a jumper he was without a peer in our +part of the army. I have had the men hold a pole fully +a foot higher than my head, as I stood on the ground, and +have jumped him back and forth over it as readily as cats +and dogs are taught to jump over one's arm. And the +men insisted that he cleared the pole at least a foot each +jump.</p> + +<p>This jumping of horses was considered quite an accomplishment +in the army, it being often a necessity on the +march in getting over obstacles. One day I saw our +general's son, a young West Pointer, attached to his +father's staff, trying to force his Kentucky thoroughbred +to jump a creek that ran past division head-quarters. The +creek was probably ten to twelve feet wide and, like all +Virginia creeks, its banks seemed cut vertically through +the soil and the water at the edges was about a foot deep. +After repeated trials the best the young man's horse could +do was to get his forefeet on the opposite bank. His +hindfeet always landed in the water. Mr. West Pointer +was way above noticing in any way a poor volunteer +plebeian like myself mounted on an old plug like Don. +But Don had taken in the situation as well as I, and when +I said, "Come, Don, let's us try it," he just gathered +himself and sailed over that creek like a bird, landing +easily a couple of feet on the other side, and swung around +for another try. The young fellow gathered up his thoroughbred +and with an oath of disgust retired. Don and +I became great friends, and after our fight, above mentioned, +in all our practice jumping or on the march, or +riding about, I never had occasion to use the spur,—indeed, +I seldom wore one. A simple "Come, Don," and +he was quick to obey my every wish. He was kind and +tractable with others, but it was a singular fact that, as for +jumping or any other favors, he would do nothing for +anybody but me, not even for my man who took care of +him. Others, including horse-trainers, repeatedly asked +to try him, thinking they could improve his work, but +he drew the line on all; not even a little jump would +he make for any of them. I had been jumping him, one +day, to the delight and admiration of the men. Among +them was a horse-trainer of the Fourth New York, who +asked the privilege of trying him. He mounted and +brought him cantering up to the pole as though he was +going over all right, but instead of making the leap he +suddenly whirled, almost dumping the trainer, to the infinite +amusement of the men; nor could he induce him +to make the leap. I mounted again and he went over, +back and forth, without the slightest hesitation. I brought +him home from the war, and it was a great grief to me +that I was unable to keep him as long as he lived. I +secured him a good home, where he lived to a dignified +old age. One of my household gods is a photograph of +Don and myself, with a section of the camp of Hancock's +division of the Second Corps for a background, taken at +this time, whilst we lay back of Falmouth.</p> + +<p>My second adventure that first day on picket duty +occurred shortly after I reached the head-quarters of the +picket at the Lacey House, directly opposite the city +of Fredericksburg. I had seen the new line posted and +the old line relieved, when a grizzly bearded old gentleman +rode up and inquired for the "Officer of the day." +His dress was exceedingly plain. He wore a much-battered +slouch hat down over his eyes, and on the shoulders +of his blouse, scarcely discernible, was what had been the +silver stars of a brigadier-general. I answered his inquiry +by saluting, and then recognized General Alfred Sully, +long famed as an Indian fighter before the war. He introduced +himself as "Corps officer of the day" and my +superior officer for this tour of picket duty. The peculiar +thing about his presence was his treatment of me. He +evidently saw that he had a greenhorn on hand, for the +first question he fired at me was, "How many times have +you served as picket officer of the day?" I candidly replied +that this was my first experience. "Your knowledge +of the duties of officer of the day is somewhat +limited?" I admitted the fact. "That is all right," said +he with a pleasant smile. "You are just the man I want. +You shall remain with me all day, and I will teach you +all there is about it." I shall never forget that day's +experience with this splendid old officer. I rode with +him over the whole corps line in the morning, and after +that he made his head-quarters at the Lacey House with +me. Our division front, said he, is where an attack is +most to be looked for, and then he went over it carefully +with me, pointing out the most probable points of attack +and how they should be met; what to do at this point +and that, and so on, in a most intelligent and entertaining +manner gave me the practical idea of a picket defence, +out of his long and ample experience as a regular army +officer. It was just what I needed and was of the greatest +value to me. It was practical experience under a superb +instructor. If all the regular army officers I came in +contact with had been as kind and considerate as this +superb Indian fighter, I should have been equally grateful. +Unfortunately, this was not the case. My experience in +this respect may have been exceptional, but the instance +above narrated is the one solitary case in which my duties +brought me in contact with regular army officers that I +did not receive a rebuff, frequently most brutal and insulting. +Doubtless the lack of knowledge of army customs +and routine on the part of us volunteer officers was +calculated to try their patience, for they occupied all the +higher executive staff positions, and routine business of +all kinds had to pass their scrutiny.</p> + +<p>But what were they given West Point education and +training at the public expense for if not to impart it to +those who should be called to fill volunteer positions in +times of the country's need? And how should a volunteer, +called into the service of his country without a particle +of military education, be expected to understand the +interminable routine of army red tape? I will dismiss +this digression with a single instance of my experience in +seeking information from one of the younger West Pointers. +It occurred while I was still adjutant and shortly +before my promotion. Some special detailed report was +called for. There were so many of these wanted, with +so many minute and intricate details, that I cannot remember +what this particular one was, but they were +enough almost to drive a man to drink. This one, I +remember, utterly stumped me, and I rode over to Captain +Mason, assistant adjutant-general of our brigade, a thoroughly +competent officer, for information. He looked at +it a moment, then said: "It beats me; but go down to +corps head-quarters and you will find Lieutenant——, +a regular army officer, whose business it is to give just +such information as you require." I rode there at once +and inquired for Lieutenant——, as directed. The +reply was, "Here he is. What in h—l do you want?" +Not specially reassured by this inquiry, I handed him +the paper and made known my wishes for information. +He literally threw it back at me with the reply, "Go to +h—l and find out." I replied that from his manner of +speech I appeared to be pretty near there now. I went +back to Captain Mason and recounted my experience, to +his intense disgust, but that was all that ever came of it. +We volunteers learned to avoid a regular officer, especially +of the young West Point type, as we would a +pestilence.</p> + +<p>Returning now to my picket duties of that day, a third +incident occurred in the afternoon. The captain of the +picket came into our office at the Lacey House with the +information that there was a hail from the opposite bank +of the river with a flag of truce—a small white flag. We +all rushed out, and General Sully directed the captain to +take a corporal's guard—a corporal and four men—from +his reserve, and go down to the water's edge under a like +flag and inquire what was wanted. This formality, he +said, was necessary to properly recognize their flag of +truce, and to guard against a possible fake or bit of +treachery. The reply from the other side was that a +young woman in Fredericksburg was exceedingly desirous +of reaching her home some distance within the +Union lines, and would the Union commander receive a +communication upon the subject. General Sully replied +that he would receive their communication and forward +it to head-quarters, whereupon an orderly was sent over +in a boat with the communication. He was unarmed, as +were those who rowed him over. The letter was despatched +to army head-quarters, whilst the orderly and his +boatmen were detained at the landing under guard of our +detail. They sat down and in an entirely easy and friendly +way chatted with our guard. One would not have +believed that these men would shed each other's blood +instantly the little white flag was lowered. Yet such was +the fact. A half-hour brought a reply to the communication. +We, of course, saw neither their letter nor the +reply, but my lady was immediately brought over and +escorted by a mounted guard to army head-quarters, an +ambulance being utilized for the purpose. She was really +a very pretty young woman, and evidently a thorough +lady, though a spirit of hauteur made it apparent she was +a Southerner through and through. She maintained a +perfect composure during the formality of her reception +into our lines, for the officer from the rebel lines who +escorted her required a receipt from the officer who had +been sent down from head-quarters to receive her; and +the appearance of a pretty woman in our lines was so +unusual an event that Uncle Sam's boys may have been +pardoned if they were all anxious to get a square view of +the charming vision. This receipt had to be made in +duplicate, one for each army, both officers, as well as the +young woman, attesting it with their signatures. General +Sully more than half suspected she was a rebel spy. If +she was, they wisely chose a beauty for the work.</p> + + + +<hr class="double" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h3> +<hr class="single" /> + +<p class="c smcap">THE WINTER AT FALMOUTH—CONTINUED</p> + + +<p>D<span class="smcap">uring</span> the remainder of the winter at Falmouth, I was +on as field-officer of the day about every fifth day, so that +I was much of the time at the Lacey House, and on +the picket-line described in the foregoing chapter. The +scenes here enacted constituted my chief experience at +this time. The Lacey House was famous during the war +as being the head-quarters of either the picket lines +between the two armies or of commanding officers of +portions of both so frequently that it deserves more than +a passing notice. It was a large old-time brick mansion, +beautifully situated on the bank of the Rappahannock, +just opposite Fredericksburg, and was, at the outbreak of +the war, the private residence of Colonel Lacey, who was +at the time I write a colonel in the rebel army. The house +was very large; its rooms almost palatial in size, had +been finished in richly carved hardwood panels and wainscoting, +mostly polished mahogany. They were now +denuded of nearly all such elegant wood-work. The +latter, with much of the carved furniture, had been appropriated +for fire-wood. Pretty expensive fuel? Yes, but +not nearly so expensive as the discomfort of staying there +without a fire, with the temperature just above the +freezing-point, and your feet and body wet through from +the rain and slush of the storm outside, in which you were +doing picket duty. The only other fuel obtainable was a +few soggy green logs; whether these had been cut from +the old shade trees surrounding its ample grounds or not +I do not know. I more than suspect they had, but the +only way they could be made to burn in the old-fashioned +open fireplaces was to assist the flames with an occasional +piece of dry wood, the supply of which, as long as it +lasted, was from the panels, wainscoting, and furniture +of the house. Later on the interior doors, all of heavy, +elegant hardwood and finished in keeping with the other +appointments of the place, had to go. This may seem at +this distance as vandalism pure and simple. But if the +would-be critic will place himself in the shoes of the +soldier doing picket duty that winter, with all its hardships, +and then remember that Colonel Lacey, the owner +of the place, was not only in active rebellion against the +government we were fighting to maintain, but was a +colonel commanding a rebel regiment as a part of that +great rebel army encamped not a rifle-shot away, which +made it necessary for us to do this picket duty, he may +reach the same conclusion as did our men, that it was not +worth while to freeze ourselves in order to preserve this +rebel's property. The large and ample grounds had been +laid out with all the artistic care a landscape gardener +could bestow upon them. Rare plants, shrubs, and trees +from all over the world had been transplanted here in +great variety. They were now feeling the bitter blight +of war. Army wagons and artillery had made sad havoc +of the beautiful grounds, and such of the rare trees and +shrubbery as interfered with a good vision of the operations +of the rebels in and around Fredericksburg had +been ruthlessly removed, and this included the larger part +of them.</p> + +<p>The Christian Commission had its head-quarters in one +wing of the house during this winter. It was presided +over by Mrs. John Harris, of Philadelphia, a most benevolent +and amiable elderly lady. She was assisted by two +or three young women, among whom was a daughter of +Justice Grier, of the United States Supreme Court. These +ladies were engaged in distributing supplies of various +kinds, furnished by this association, to the sick and +wounded soldiers in the various hospitals. They had an +ambulance at their disposal, and one or two orderlies +detailed to assist them. Their work was most gracious +and helpful, and they were entitled to the greatest credit +for their hard and self-sacrificing labors. The red flag of +the hospital floated over them, and such protection as it +afforded they had; but it may be well understood that this +location between two hostile armies, with active hostilities +likely to be resumed any moment, and in the midst of a +picket force keenly on the alert night and day, was not +likely to be selected as a sanitarium for cases of nervous +prostration. The men on picket had reason to remember +Mrs. Harris, for those located at the Lacey House daily +partook of her bounty in the way of hot coffee, and frequently +a dish of good hot soup; and the officers stationed +there, usually three or four, were regularly invited to her +table for all meals. These invitations were sure to be +accepted, for they afforded an opportunity for a partially +civilized meal. Her meals were always preceded by a +"grace" said by herself, while breakfast was followed by +a worship service, at which a chapter from the Bible was +read and prayer offered by her. These prayers I shall +never forget—their sweet fervency, in which the soldiers +came in for a large share of her earnest requests. This +large-hearted, motherly little woman made a host of +friends among the boys in blue that winter. But her +motherly kindness was occasionally taken advantage of +by some of those sons of Belial. One of them told this +story of his former tour of duty: The weather was beastly +uncomfortable, from rain and snow making a slush and +mud, through which they had tramped until thoroughly +soaked. They concluded they must have some hot whiskey +punch. Mother Harris, they knew, had all the necessary +ingredients, but how to get them was the question. +One of them feigned a sudden attack of colic, and was +all doubled up on the floor, groaning piteously. Mother +Harris was told of it. Of course, she rushed in to render +assistance. In reply to her inquiries, the rascal could +think of but one thing that would help him, and that was +whiskey. A bottle was instantly produced, and a dose +administered which gave partial relief; and now if he +only had some hot water he was sure it would relieve him. +A pitcher of steaming hot water was immediately sent in. +Then it was found that the strong liquor nauseated him, +and one of the other scamps suggested that perhaps a +lemon would relieve that, and a nice lemon was instantly +produced. They had plenty of sugar themselves, and so +from good Mother Harris's benevolent provision for the +colic these rascals deliberately brewed a pitcher full of +excellent hot whiskey punch. They had to invent a number +of additional lies to keep her out of the room, but +they were equal to it. She sent her orderlies in, one after +the other, to inquire how the patient was progressing, +and the boys secured a proper message back by letting +them in for a swig. I hope the good old lady never discovered +the fraud. I am sure she would not have believed +anybody who might have undertaken to enlighten her, +for her confidence in her "boys in blue" was so +unbounded.</p> + +<p>Almost every tour of picket duty revealed some new +incident. Our pickets were now posted in full view of +those of the enemy, and the river was so narrow that conversation +between the pickets could be carried on without +difficulty. Peremptory orders were issued forbidding our +pickets from replying, or in any manner communicating +with them, but it required the greatest care and vigilance +on the part of all the officers of the picket to enforce this +order. One of their sentries would hail one of ours with +some friendly remark, and it was difficult to suppress the +desire to reply. If a reply was not forthcoming, a nagging +ejaculation, calculated to provoke, would follow, such as, +"What's the matter, Yank, are ye deaf?" "Maybe ye +are afeared o' those d—d officers." "We 'uns don't give +a d—for our officers," and so volley after volley would +follow, whilst poor Yank had to continue silently walking +his beat. Sometimes the "Johnny" would wind up with +a blast of oaths at his silent auditor. Frequently our men +would reply if they thought no officer was near to hear; +they seemed to feel that it was only decent to be courteous +to them. Strange as it may seem, there was a strong +disposition to fraternize whenever opportunity offered on +the part of the men of both sides. This was manifested +daily on this picket-line, not only in talk across the river, +but in communication by means of miniature boats. Our +men were generally short of tobacco, and the Johnnies +had an abundance of this article of the very best quality; +on the other hand, our men were "long" on coffee, of +which commodity they were "short." So "Johnny" +would fix up a trade. "Say, Yank, if I send you over +a boat-load of 'backy,' will ye send her back filled with +coffee?" If he got an affirmative reply, which he often +did, he would place his little boat in the stream with its +rudder so fastened that the current would shoot it across +a hundred yards or so further down. Yank would watch +his opportunity, get the boat, take out its precious cargo +of tobacco, reload it with coffee, reverse the rudder, and +send it back to "Johnny," who was watching for it further +down the stream. Newspapers soon were called for by +"Johnny," and became a regular part of the cargo of +these boats, for the rebels were wild to get our papers. +The exchange of coffee and tobacco was a comparatively +harmless matter and would probably have been winked +at, but the sending of our Northern papers into their line, +containing news of every movement of our forces, was +a thing that must be prohibited. A large part of the +special instructions of all picket officers related to the +suppression of this traffic. Scarcely a day passed that we +did not confiscate one or more of these boats. The +tobacco our men were allowed to take, but the boat and +all rebel newspapers had to be sent to army head-quarters. +Some of these miniature boats were marvels of beauty, +and showed mechanical skill in construction of the highest +order. Others were rude "dugouts." They were generally +about thirty inches long, six to ten inches wide, +and about six inches deep. They were therefore capable +of holding quite a quantity. It was a traffic very difficult +to suppress, for our men wanted the tobacco and were +unwilling to take that without sending back the proper +<i>quid pro quo</i>. I doubt if it was ever altogether stopped +that winter. The desire for tobacco on the part of our +men was so great that they would break over, and some +of the subordinate officers participated in it. These exchanges +generally took place in the very early dawn, when +the officer of the day and the officers of the picket were +not supposed to be around. The officer of the day was +required to make the "rounds" of his picket-line once +after midnight, and then if everything was all right he +could rest, his officers of the picket being responsible to +him for their respective sections of the line. What is +known in army regulations as the "grand rounds," a +ceremonial visiting of the line by the officer of the day, +accompanied by a sergeant and detail, was omitted on +the picket-line as too noisy and ostentatious. In its place +the officer of the day went over his line as quietly as +possible, assuring himself that each man was in his proper +place and was alert and doing his duty.</p> + +<p>The sleepy time was from two o'clock <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> until daylight, +and this was the time I found it necessary to be on +the line. It took from two to four hours to get over the +entire line and visit every sentry. The line, as I have +stated heretofore, extended from the railroad bridge at +Fredericksburg to the village of Falmouth, a distance of +two and a half to three miles. In the daytime I could +ride over it comfortably, but in the night I had to take it +on foot. When these were dark as ink, and rainy, and +the ground was slushy and muddy, as it usually was at +that time, it was not a very agreeable duty. However, +my duty was so much lighter than that of the men (who, +though they were only two hours on post at a time, +were out in the storm all the while), that I could not +complain. The fidelity of our men to duty under these +trying circumstances was most remarkable. Twice only +that winter did I find a man sleeping on post. In both of +these cases the delinquent was scarcely more than a boy, +who I really believed told the truth when they said they +sat down because unable to stand up any longer, and, of +course, instantly fell asleep. I had them relieved and +sent back to camp, and did not report their offence.</p> + +<p>A disagreeable duty I had to perform occurred one +morning just at break of day. I had just returned from +my trip over the line and was about entering the Lacey +House, when I noticed a man running down towards the +water's edge on the other side of the river. On these +night tours of duty I wore a large cavalry overcoat with +a long cape, which thoroughly concealed my rank and +sword. I stepped out to the top of the bank to see what +this man was doing, and he hailed me with: "Hello, +Yank. I am going to send ye over a nice boat, with +tobacco and newspapers. Look out and get her, and +send her back with coffee and newspapers, and don't let +any of your d—d officers get hold of it. If they catch +ye they'll raise h—l with you, and swipe the whole business." +I did not say a word, but quietly walked down to +where I saw the boat would touch the shore and waited +for it. In the mean time he kept up a running fire of +admonitions like the above, chiefly directed to the need +of watching against the vigilance of our d—d officers. +I picked up the boat, took it up the bank, and then threw +my coat open, disclosing my sword and my sash as officer +of the day. Oh! the profanity and billingsgate that followed +beggars description. I thought I had heard swearing +before, but never anything to touch this fellow, and +I really could not blame him very much. He had simply +hailed the wrong man. The man he thought he was +hailing, seeing my presence, kept out of the way. The +boat was a little beauty, one of the handsomest I ever +saw. It contained five or six pounds of the best Virginia +plug tobacco and several newspapers from Richmond. I +would have been glad to have kept the boat as a souvenir, +but had to despatch it to head-quarters with all its contents +at once. Of course I never saw it again.</p> + +<p>The "Johnnies" were not without their fun, as well as +our boys. Several times I was saluted by their pickets +as officer of the day. Army regulations require the sentry +nearest the picket reserve, on seeing the officer of the day +approach, to call out, "Turn out the guard, officer of the +day." Thereupon the officer of the picket parades his +reserves, which presents arms and is then inspected by +the officer of the day. The red sash worn crosswise over +the shoulder is the insignia of the officer of the day. +Several times that winter, as I was riding along our line, +a rebel sentry yelled, "Turn out the guard, officer of the +day," and a sergeant paraded his guard, faced towards me +across the river, and presented arms. Of course, I lifted +my cap in acknowledgment of the compliment, even +though it was a bit of deviltry on their part. This indicated +a grave want of discipline on the part of their troops. +I am sure such an act would not have been thought of by +our men.</p> + +<p>General Burnside was relieved from command of the +army on the 26th of January, 1863, and was succeeded +by Major-General Joseph Hooker. "Fighting Joe," as +he was familiarly called, was justly popular with the army, +nevertheless there was general regret at the retirement +of Burnside, notwithstanding his ill success. That there +was more than the "fates" against him was felt by many, +and whether under existing conditions "Fighting Joe" +or any one else was likely to achieve any better success +was a serious question. However, all felt that the new +commander had lots of fight in him, and the old Army +of the Potomac was never known to "go back" on such +a man. His advent as commander was signalized by a +modest order announcing the fact, and matters moved +on without a ripple upon the surface. Routine work, +drills, and picket duty occupied all our time. Some of +our men were required to go on picket duty every other +day, so many were off duty from sickness and other +causes. Twenty-four hours on picket duty, with only +twenty-four hours off between, was certainly very severe +duty, yet the men did it without a murmur. When it is +understood that this duty required being that whole time +out in the most trying weather, usually either rain, sleet, +slush, or mud, and constantly awake and alert against +a possible attack, one can form an idea of the strain upon +physical endurance it involved.</p> + +<p>The chief event preceding the Chancellorsville movement +was the grand review of the army by President Lincoln +and staff. The exact date of this review I do not +remember, but it occurred a short time before the movement +upon Chancellorsville. Owing to the absence of +Colonel Albright and the illness of Lieutenant-Colonel +Shreve, the command of the regiment devolved upon me, +and I had a funny experience getting ready for it. As a +sort of preliminary drill, I concluded I would put the +regiment through a practice review on our drill grounds. +To do this properly, I had to imagine the presence of a +reviewing officer standing before our line at the proper +distance of thirty to forty yards. The ceremony involved +opening the ranks, which brought the officers to the front +of the line, the presenting arms, and dipping the colors, +which the reviewing officer, usually a general, acknowledged +by lifting his hat and gracefully bowing. I had +reached the point in my practice drill where the "present +arms" had been executed, and the colors lowered, and +had turned to the front myself to complete the ceremony +by presenting sword to my imaginary general, when lo! +there rose up in front of me, in the proper position, a real +reviewing officer in the shape of one of the worst looking +army "bums" I ever saw. He assumed the position and +dignified carriage of a major-general, lifted his dirty old +"cabbage-leaf" cap, and bowed up and down the line with +the grace and air of a Wellington, and then he promptly +skedaddled. The "boys" caught the situation instantly +and were bursting with laughter. Of course I didn't +notice the performance, but the effort not to notice it +almost used me up. This will illustrate how the army +"bummer" never let an opportunity slip for a practical +joke, cost what it might. This fellow was a specimen of +this genus that was ubiquitous in the army. Every regiment +had one or more. They were always dirty and +lousy, a sort of tramp, but always on hand at the wrong +time and in the wrong place. A little indifferent sort of +service could be occasionally worked out of them, but +they generally skulked whenever there was business on +hand, and then they were so fertile of excuses that somehow +they escaped the penalty and turned up again when +the "business" was over. Their one specialty was foraging. +They were born foragers. What they could not +steal was not to be had, and this probably accounts in a +measure for their being endured. Their normal occupation +was foraging and, incidentally, Sancho Panza like, +looking for adventure. They knew more of our movements, +and also of those of the enemy, than the commanding +general of either. One of the most typical of this +class that I knew was a young fellow I had known very +well before the war. He was a shining light in society, +occupying a high and responsible business position. His +one fault was his good-fellowship and disposition to be +convivial when off duty. He enlisted among the first, +when the war broke out in 1861, and I did not see him +again until one day one of this genus "bummer" strayed +into our camp. He stuck his head into my tent and +wanted to know how "Fred Hitchcock was." I had to +take a long second look to dig out from this bunch of +rags and filth my one-time Beau Brummel acquaintance +at home. His eyes were bleared, and told all too surely +the cause of the transformation. His brag was that he +had skipped every fight since he enlisted. "It's lots more +fun," he said, "to climb a tree well in the rear and see +the show. It's perfectly safe, you know, and then you +don't get yourself killed and planted. What is the use," +he argued, "of getting killed and have a fine monument +erected over you, when you can't see it nor make any use +of it after it is done? Let the other fellows do that if +they want to. I've no use for monuments." Poor fellow, +his cynical ideas were his ruin. Better a thousand times +had he been "planted" at the front, manfully doing his +duty, than to save a worthless life and return with the +record of a poltroon, despised by himself and everybody +else.</p> + +<p>This review by President Lincoln and the new commander-in-chief, +General Hooker, was, from a military, +spectacular point of view, the chief event of our army +experience. It included the whole of the great Army of +the Potomac, now numbering upward of one hundred +and thirty thousand men, probably its greatest numerical +strength of the whole war. Deducting picket details, +there were present on this review, it is safe to say, from +ninety thousand to one hundred thousand men. It was +a remarkable event historically, because so far as I can +learn it was the only time this great army was ever +paraded in line so that it could be seen all together. In +this respect it was the most magnificent military pageant +ever witnessed on this continent, far exceeding in its +impressive grandeur what has passed into history as the +"great review," which preceded the final "muster out" +at the close of the war in the city of Washington. At the +latter not more than ten thousand men could have been +seen at one time, probably not nearly so many, for the eye +could take in only the column which filled Pennsylvania +Avenue from the Capitol to the Treasury Building. +Whereas, upon our review the army was first drawn up +in what is known as three lines of "masses," and one +glance of the eye could take in the whole army. Think +of it! One hundred thousand men in one sweep of vision! +If the word "Selah" in the Psalm means "stop! think! +consider!" it would be particularly appropriate here.</p> + +<p>A word now about the formation in "lines of masses." +Each regiment was formed in column of divisions. To +those unfamiliar with military terms, I must explain that +this very common formation with large bodies of troops +consists in putting two companies together as a division +under the command of the senior officer, thus making +of a regiment of ten companies a column of five divisions, +each two-company front. This was known as "massing" +the troops. When so placed in line they were called a +line of "masses;" when marching, a column of "masses." +It will be seen that the actual frontage of each regiment +so formed was the width of two companies only, the other +eight companies being formed in like manner in their +rear. Now imagine four regiments so formed and placed +side by side, fronting on the same line and separated from +each other by say fifty feet, and you have a brigade line +of masses. The actual frontage of a brigade so formed +would be considerably less than that of a single regiment +on dress parade. Now take three such brigades, separated +from each other by say fifty feet, and you have a +division line of masses. Three divisions made up an +army corps. The army was formed in three lines of +masses, of two corps each, on the large open plain opposite +Fredericksburg, to the south and east of where the railroad +crossed the river. Each of these lines of masses +contained from seventy to eighty regiments of infantry, +besides the artillery, which was paraded on the several +lines at different intervals. I do not remember seeing +any cavalry, and my impression is that this branch of the +service was not represented. Some idea may be formed +of the magnificence of this spectacle when I state that +each of these lines of masses was more than a mile in +length, and the depth of the three lines from front to rear, +including the spaces between, was not less than four hundred +yards, or about one-fifth of a mile. Each of the +regiments displayed its two stands of silk colors, one the +blue flag representing the State from which it came, the +other the national colors. There were here and there a +brace of these flags, very conspicuous in their brilliant +newness, indicating a fresh accession to the army, but +most of them were tattered and torn by shot and shell, +whilst a closer look revealed the less conspicuous but +more deadly slits and punctures of the minie-balls.</p> + +<p>Now place yourself on the right of this army paraded +for review and look down the long lines. Try to count +the standards as the favoring wind lifts their sacred folds +and caressingly shows you their battle scars. You will +need to look very closely, lest those miniature penants, far +away, whose staffs appear no larger than parlor matches +protruding above lines of men, whose forms in the distance +have long since merged into a mere bluish gray line, +escape your eye. Your numbering will crowd the five +hundred mark ere you finish, and you should remember +that each of these units represented a thousand men when +in the vigor and enthusiasm of patriotic manhood they +bravely marched to the front. Only a fifth of them left? +you say. And the others? Ah! the battle, the hospital, +the prison-pen, the h-ll of war, must be the answer.</p> + +<p>How can words describe the scene? This is that magnificent +old battered Army of the Potomac. Look upon +it; you shall never behold its like again. There have +been and may yet be many armies greater in numbers, +and possibly, in all the paraphernalia of war, more showy. +There can never be another Army of the Potomac, with +such a history. As I gazed up and down those massive +lines of living men, felt that I was one of them, and saw +those battle-scarred flags kissed by the loving breeze, my +blood tingled to my very finger-tips, my hair seemed +almost to raise straight up, and I said a thousand Confederacies +can't whip us. And here I think I grasped the +main purpose of this review. It was not simply to give +the President a sight of his "strong right arm," as he +fondly called the Army of the Potomac, nor General +Hooker, its new commander, an opportunity to see his +men and them a chance to see their new chief,—though +both of these were included,—but it was to give the army +a square look at its mighty self, see how large and how +strong it really was, that every man might thereby get +the same enthusiasm and inspiration that I did, and know +that it simply could not be beaten. The enemy, it is not +strange to say, were intensely interested spectators of this +whole scene, for the review was held in full view of the +whole of their army. No place could have been chosen +that would better have accommodated their enjoyment of +the picture, if such it was, than that open plain, exactly in +their front. And we could see them swarming over +Marye's Heights and the lines to the south of it, intently +gazing upon us. A scene more resplendent with military +pageantry and the soul-stirring accessories of war they +will never see again. But did it stir their blood? Yes; +but with bitterness only, for they must have seen that the +task before them of successfully resisting the onslaughts +of this army was impossible. Here was disclosed, undoubtedly, +another purpose of this grand review, viz., to +let the enemy see with their own eyes how powerful the +army was with which they had to contend.</p> + +<p>A remarkable feature of this review was the marvellous +celerity of its formation. The various corps and subdivisions +of the army were started on the march for the +reviewing ground so as to reach it at about the same time. +It should be remembered that most of them were encamped +from four to eight miles away. Aides-de-camp +with markers by the score were already in position on the +plain when the troops arrived, so that there was almost +no delay in getting into position. As our column debouched +upon the field, there seemed an inextricable mass +of marching columns as far as the eye could see. Could +order ever be gotten out of it? Yet, presto! the right +of the line fell into position, a series of blue blocks, and +then on down to the far left, block after block, came upon +the line with unerring order and precision, as though it +were a long curling whiplash straightening itself out to +the tension of a giant hand. And so with each of the +other two lines. All were formed simultaneously. Here +was not only perfection of military evolution, but the +poetry of rhythmic movement. The three lines were all +formed within twenty minutes, ready for the reviewing +officers.</p> + +<p>Almost immediately the blare of the trumpets announced +the approach of the latter, and the tall form of +the President was seen, accompanied by a large retinue, +galloping down the first line. Our division was formed, +as I recollect, in the first line, about three hundred yards +from the right. The President was mounted on a large, +handsome horse, and as he drew near I saw that immediately +on his right rode his son, Robert Lincoln, then a +bright-looking lad of fourteen to fifteen years, and little +"Tad" Lincoln, the idol of his father, was on his left. +The latter could not have been more than seven or eight +years old. He was mounted on a large horse, and his little +feet seemed to stick almost straight out from the saddle. +He was round and pudgy, and his jolly little body bobbed +up and down like a ball under the stiff canter of his horse. +I wondered how he maintained his seat, but he was really +a better horseman than his father, for just before reaching +our regiment there was a little summer stream ravine, +probably a couple of yards wide, that had to be jumped. +The horses took it all right, but the President landed +on the other side with a terrific jounce, being almost unseated. +The boys went over flying, little "Tad" in high +glee, like a monkey on a mustang.</p> + +<p>Of course, a mighty cheer greeted the President as he +galloped down the long line. There was something indescribably +weird about that huzzah from the throats of +these thousands of men, first full, sonorous, and thrilling, +and then as it rolled down that attenuated line gradually +fading into a minor strain until it was lost in the distance, +only to reappear as the cavalcade returned in front +of the second line, first the faintest note of a violin, then +rapidly swelling into the full volume, to again die away +and for the third time reappear and die away as the third +line was reviewed. The President was followed by a +large staff dressed in full uniform, which contrasted +strongly with his own severely plain black. He wore a +high silk hat and a plain frock coat. His face wore that +peculiar sombre expression we see in all his photographs, +but it lighted up into a half-smile as he occasionally +lifted his hat in acknowledgment of the cheering of +the men.</p> + +<p>About one hundred yards in rear of the President's +staff came the new commanding general, "Fighting Joe." +He was dressed in the full uniform of a major-general, +and was accompanied by his chief of staff, Seth Williams—he +who had held this position under every commander +of the Army of the Potomac thus far—and a large and +brilliant staff. There must have been fully twenty officers +of various ranks, from his chief of staff, a general, down +through all grades to a lieutenant, in this corps of staff +officers. It was the first time I had seen General Hooker +to know him. His personal appearance did not belie his +reputation. He had a singularly strong, handsome face, +sat his superb horse like a king, broad-shouldered and +elegantly proportioned in form, with a large, fine head, +well covered with rather long hair, now as white as the +driven snow and flowing in the wind as he galloped down +the line, chapeau in hand; he was a striking and picturesque +figure. It was evident the head of the army had +lost nothing in personal appearance by its recent change. +The same cheering marked the appearance of "Fighting +Joe" which had greeted the President, as he and staff +galloped down and up and down through the three long +lines.</p> + +<p>Both reviewing cavalcades moved at a brisk gallop, and +occupied only about twenty minutes covering the three +miles of lines; and then the President and staff took +position, for the marching review, some distance in front +and about midway of the lines. Instantly the scene was +transformed. The first line wheeled into column by +brigades successively and, headed by General Hooker and +staff, moved rapidly forward. There were but few bands, +and the drum corps had been consolidated into division +corps. On passing the President, General Hooker took +position by his side and remained throughout the remainder +of the ceremony. The troops marched in columns +of masses, in the same formation they had stood in +line; that is, in column of two companies front and only +six yards between divisions. This made a very compact +mass of troops, quite unusual in reviews, but was necessary +in order to avoid the great length of time that in the +usual formation would have been required for the passing +of this vast body of men. Yet in this close formation the +balance of the day was nearly consumed in marching past +the President.</p> + +<p>It must have been a trying ordeal to him, as he had to +lift his hat as each stand of colors successively dipped in +passing. Immediately on passing the President, the several +brigades were wheeled out of the column and ordered +to quarters. I remember that we returned to our camp, +over a mile distant, dismissed the men, and then several +of us officers rode back to see the continuation of the +pageant. When we got back the second line was only +well on its way, which meant that only about half the +army had passed in review. We could see from fifteen to +twenty thousand men in column—that is to say, about +one army corps—at a time. The quick, vigorous step, +in rhythmical cadence to the music, the fife and drum, the +massive swing, as though every man was actually a part +of every other man; the glistening of bayonets like a +long ribbon of polished steel, interspersed with the stirring +effects of those historic flags, in countless numbers, +made a picture impressive beyond the power of description. +A picture of the ages. How glad I am to have +looked upon it. I could not remain to see the end. When +finally I was compelled to leave the third line was marching. +I can still see that soul-thrilling column, that massive +swing, those flaunting colors, that sheen of burnished +steel! Majestic! Incomparable!! Glorious!!!</p> + + + +<hr class="double" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h3> +<hr class="single" /> + +<p class="c smcap">THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE</p> + + +<p>A<span class="smcap">n</span> interesting item in the experience that winter at +Falmouth was the celebration of St. Patrick's day by the +Irish brigade and their multitude of friends. They were +encamped about a mile to the south of our brigade upon +a beautiful, broad, open plain between the surrounding +hills, which gave them a superb parade and drill-ground. +Upon this they had laid out a mile race track in excellent +shape, and they had provided almost every conceivable +sort of amusement that was possible to army life—matches +in running, jumping, boxing, climbing the +greased pole, sack races, etc. But the usual pig performance +had to be omitted owing to the enforced +absence of the pig. The appearance of a live porker +would have stampeded the army in a wild chase for +fresh meat.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 550px;"><a name="ANTIETAM" id="ANTIETAM"></a> +<img src="images/gs15_th.png" width="550" height="330" alt="ON THE BATTLE-FIELD OF ANTIETAM" /> +<span class="caption">ON THE BATTLE-FIELD OF ANTIETAM<br /> +Fourth Reunion of Survivors of 132d Regiment P. V., held Sept. 17, 1891, on the ground occupied by the Regiment during the battle, +in front of Sunken Road, near Roulette House<br /><a href="images/gs15.png">(see image enlarged)</a></span> +</div> + +<p>The chief events were horse races. The army abounded +in excellent thoroughbreds, private property of officers, +and all were anxious to show the mettle of their steeds. +Everybody was invited to be present and take such part +as he pleased in any of the events. It was a royal gala +day to the army; from morning until night there were +excitement and side-splitting amusement. Nor was there, +throughout the whole day, a thing, not even a small fight, +that I heard of, to mar the wholesome fun, until towards +night our old enemy, John Barleycorn, managed to get in +some of his work.</p> + +<p>The chief event of the day and the wind-up was a +hurdle and ditch race, open to officers only. Hurdles and +ditches alternated the course at a distance of two hundred +yards, except at the finish, where a hurdle and ditch were +together, the ditch behind the hurdle. Such a race was +a hare-brained performance in the highest degree; but +so was army life at its best, and this was not out of keeping +with its surroundings. Excitement was what was +wanted, and this was well calculated to produce it.</p> + +<p>The hurdles were four and five feet high and did not +prove serious obstacles to the jumpers, but the ditches, +four and five feet wide and filled with water, proved a +<i>bęte noir</i> to most of the racers. Some twenty-five, all +young staff-officers, started, but few got beyond the first +ditch. Many horses that took the hurdle all right positively +refused the ditch. Several officers were dumped +at the first hurdle, and two were thrown squarely over +their horses' heads into the first ditch, and were nice-looking +specimens as they crawled out of that bath of +muddy water. They were unhurt, however, and remounted +and tried it again, with better success.</p> + +<p>The crowning incident of the day occurred at the finish +of this race at the combination hurdle and ditch. Out of +the number who started, only three had compassed safely +all the hurdles and ditches and come to the final leap. +The horses were about a length apart each. The first +took the hurdle in good shape, but failed to reach the +further bank of the ditch and fell over sideways into it, +carrying down his rider. Whilst they were struggling to +get out, the second man practically repeated the performance +and fell on the first pair, and the rear man, now +unable to check his horse, spurred him over, only to fall +on the others. It was a fearful sight for a moment, and it +seemed certain that the officers were killed or suffocated +in that water, now thick with mud. But a hundred hands +were instantly to the rescue, and in less time than it takes +to tell it all were gotten out and, strange to say, the horses +were unhurt and only one officer seriously injured, a +broken leg only to the bad for the escapade. But neither +officers nor horses were particularly handsome as they +emerged from that ditch. The incident can be set down +as a terrific finale to this first and last army celebration +of St. Patrick's day.</p> + +<p>The tedium of routine duty occupied our time without +specially exciting incident until pleasanter weather +towards the middle of April brought rumors of impending +army movements again. About April 20 we heard +the cavalry under Stoneman were on the move, and this +was confirmed the next day, when I saw that general with +quite a body of cavalry marching leisurely north. The +horses appeared in excellent condition after a winter of +partial rest. General Stoneman was a large man, with +short gray whiskers and gray hair and a strikingly +bronzed red face. This story was told of him anent this +movement, that Hooker had told him to do something +with his horses; to cross the river at one of the fords +above and shake out his cavalry, that it was "about time +the army saw a dead cavalryman." Stoneman had replied, +asking for materials to build bridges with, and "Fighting +Joe" had impatiently replied that he wouldn't "give a +d—n for a cavalryman who couldn't make a bridge +without materials," meaning who could not cross a river +without a bridge.</p> + +<p>Soon orders came to supply ourselves with extra ammunition, +and be prepared to move with six days' rations +at a moment's notice. This settled it that "business" +was about to commence again in earnest. What the contemplated +movement was we had not the remotest idea, +though we knew, of course, it was to be another whack +in some form at the Johnnies on the other side of the +river. We set about disposing of all surplus baggage +which had accumulated for winter quarters, and putting +everything in trim for field living once more. We could +now see columns of troops in the distance marching north. +Was the new movement, then, to be in that direction? +This was the topic upon all lips. The desire to know +something of what was being done with us was naturally +very strong. Where were we going? What were we +going to do? Yet a desire that in the nature of things +could not be satisfied. One can have no conception of +the feeling of going day after day blindly ahead, not +knowing whither or why; knowing only that sooner or +later you are going to fetch up against a fight, and calculating +from your surroundings the probabilities of +when.</p> + +<p>We felt one satisfaction, however, that this was to be +our last campaign as a regiment. Most of our men had +enlisted in the July previous for nine months, and their +time was now practically out; but, to their credit be it +said, they would not raise this question during an active +movement. There were troops who threw down their +arms on the eve of battle and refused to go into action +because their time was out. Such action has been severely +criticised, and I think uncharitably. After a man has +honorably and patriotically served his full time and is +entitled to his discharge, it would seem pretty hard to +force him to go into battle and be killed or wounded. +Nevertheless, as a matter of fact, nearly this whole campaign +was overtime for most of our regiment, yet the +question was not raised.</p> + +<p>On April 28 our corps broke camp and joined the column +northward. The winter's rest had brought some +accessions to our ranks from the sick and wounded, +though the severe picket duty and the excessively damp +weather had given us a large sick list. We had, to start +with, upward of three hundred and seventy-five men, to +which was added some twenty-five or thirty from the +sick list, who came up to us on the march. It is a curious +fact that many men left sick in camp, unable to march +when the regiment leaves, will get themselves together +after the former has been gone a few hours and pull out +to overtake it. I saw men crying like children because +the surgeon had forbidden them going with the regiment. +The loneliness and homesickness, or whatever you +please to call it, after the regiment has gone are too much +for them. They simply cannot endure it, and so they +strike out and follow. They will start by easy marches, +and they generally improve in health from the moment +they start. Courage and nerve are both summoned for +the effort, and the result is that at the end of the second +or third day they rejoin the regiment and report for duty. +This does not mean that they were not really sick, but +that will power and exercise have beaten the disease. +I have heard many a sick man say he would rather die +than be left behind.</p> + +<p>We marched about six miles the first day, much of our +route being through a wooded country, some of it so wet +and spongy that corduroy roads had to be built for the +wagons and artillery. The army can, as a rule, move as +rapidly as it can move its artillery and supply trains, and +no faster. Of course, for short distances and special expeditions, +where circumstances require, both cavalry and +infantry move very rapidly, ignoring the wagon trains +and artillery; but on a general campaign this is impossible, +and so where the ground is bad these must be +helped along. In a wooded country the usual method is +by corduroy road. Extra details are made to assist the +pioneer corps, who cut down young saplings three to six +inches in diameter and about six feet in length and lay +them side by side on the ground, which is roughly levelled +to receive them. They do not make a handsome road to +speed over, but they bear up the artillery and army +schooners, and that is all that is wanted of them.</p> + +<p>The second day we crossed the Rappahannock at +United States ford on a pontoon bridge. There had +been a sharp skirmish here when the first troops crossed +a couple of days before, and a battery of artillery was still +in position guarding the crossing. We now began to +experience once more the unmistakable symptoms of approaching +battle,—sharp spurts of cannonading at irregular +intervals some distance to the south and west of us, +with the hurry of marching troops, ambulances and +stretcher corps towards the front; more or less of army +débris scattered about, and the nervous bustle everywhere +apparent. We reached the famous Chancellorsville House +shortly after midnight. This was an old-time hostelry, +situated on what was called the Culpeper plank-road. +It stood with two or three smaller houses in a cleared +square space containing some twenty or thirty acres, in +the midst of the densest forest of trees and undergrowth +I ever saw. We had marched all day on plank and corduroy +roads, through this wild tanglewood forest, most +of the time in a drizzling rain, and we had been much +delayed by the artillery trains, and it was after midnight +when we reached our destination. The distance marched +must have been twelve or more miles, and our men became +greatly fatigued towards the last.</p> + +<p>It was my first experience with the regiment on the +march in the field in my new position as major. As +adjutant my place had been with the colonel at the head +of the column. Now my duties required me to march +in the rear and keep up the stragglers. After nightfall it +became intensely dark, and at each rest the men would +drop down just where they were and would be instantly +sound asleep. Whether they dropped down into mud or +not made little difference to many of them, for they were +soaking wet and were so exhausted that they did not care. +My troubles began when the "forward" was sounded, to +arouse these seeming logs and get them on their feet once +more and started. All who were practically exhausted +had drifted to the rear and were on my hands. We had +a provost guard in the rear, whose duty it was to bring +up every man and permit no straggling, but they were +in almost as bad a plight as the rest of the regiment. To +arouse these sleeping men I had occasionally to resort +to a smart blow with the flat of my sword and follow it +up with the most energetic orders and entreaties. An +appeal to their pluck and nerve was generally sufficient, +and they would summon new courage and push manfully +on. My own condition was scarcely better than that of +the men. I rode that night considerable distances between +our halts for rest, sitting bolt upright in my saddle fast +asleep. I had all day alternated with some of the men in +marching whilst they rode, and was not only thoroughly +tired, but wet through. The march was much more trying +to us because of our unseasoned condition owing to +the long winter's exemption from this exercise. Furthermore, +we had been marching towards the firing, and +were under the nervous strain always incident to operations +in the presence of the enemy. Nothing will quicker +exhaust men than the nervous tension occasioned by the +continued firing which indicates the imminence of a battle.</p> + +<p>At daylight we were aroused and under arms again. +We found we were at the head-quarters of the army. The +Chancellorsville House, which had been vacated by its +occupants, was used for office purposes, and much of the +open space around it was occupied by the tents of General +Hooker and staff and hospital tents. Of the latter there +were three or four pitched so as to connect with each +other, and over them was flying the yellow flag of the +corps hospital. The First and Third Divisions of our +Second Corps were massed in this Chancellorsville square, +beside Pettit's battery. Our brigade now consisted of +the Fourth New York, First Delaware, and our regiment. +The first named was sent off on some guard duty, which +left Colonel Albright, of our regiment, the senior officer +in command of the brigade. The ominous rattle of musketry +not far away became momentarily more pronounced, +and ambulances and stretcher-carriers were passing +back and forth to the hospitals, carrying wounded +men. The dead body of a regular army captain was soon +brought back from the front, where Sykes's division of +regulars was sharply engaged. I do not know the name +of this captain, but he was a fine-looking young officer. +He had been killed by a minie-ball squarely through his +forehead.</p> + +<p>We were marching out the plank-road as they brought +this body in. Passing out of the clearing, the woods and +undergrowth each side the road was so dense that we +could not see into it a half-dozen steps. We had gone +possibly a quarter of a mile when we were overtaken by +a staff-officer, who in whispers ordered us to turn back, +regardless of orders from the front, and get back to the +Chancellorsville House as rapidly as possible, and to do +so absolutely noiselessly; that a heavy force of rebels +were in the woods on both sides of us, and we were in +great danger of being cut to pieces and captured. We +obeyed, and he rapidly worked his way to the front of +the brigade and succeeded very quickly in getting us all +safely out. We formed line near the Chancellorsville +House and were resting on our arms when I noticed +another brigade going down that same road from which +we had just been so hurriedly gotten out. The circumstance +was so strange that I inquired what brigade it was, +and learned that it was Colonel (afterwards Governor) +James A. Beaver's brigade of Hancock's division of our +corps. They had been gone but a short time when the +rebels opened upon them from both sides of the road, and +they were very roughly handled. Colonel Beaver was +soon brought back, supposed mortally wounded. I saw +him as he was brought to the rear. It was said he was +shot through the body. Afterwards, whilst he was governor, +I mentioned the circumstance to him, and asked +how he succeeded in fighting off the last enemy at that +time. He said he then fully believed his wound was mortal. +The bullet had struck him nearly midway of his body +and appeared to have passed through and out of his back, +and he was bleeding freely. He was brought to the hospital, +where the corps surgeon—his own family physician +at home—found him, and with an expression of countenance +indicating the gravest fear proceeded to examine his +wound. Suddenly, with a sigh of relief, he exclaimed: +"Colonel, you are all right; the ball has struck a rib and +followed it around and out." It was one of the hundreds +of remarkable freaks performed by those ugly minie-balls +during the war. Why that brigade should have been +allowed to march into that ambuscade, from which we +had so narrowly escaped, I could not understand. It was +one of the early <i>faux pas</i> of that unfortunate comedy, +rather tragedy of errors,—battle.</p> + +<p>In view of the events of the next two days, it will be +interesting to recall the somewhat windy order published +to the army by General Hooker on the morning of the +1st of May, the date of the first day's battle, on which the +events narrated in the last chapter occurred. This is the +order:</p> + +<p class="c top5"><span class="smcap">Head-quarters Army of the Potomac,<br /> +Camp near Falmouth, Va.</span>, April 30, 1863.</p> + +<p class="sml1" +style="border-bottom:dotted 5px gray;padding-bottom:2%;">It is with heartfelt satisfaction the commanding general announces +to the army that the operations of the last three days have determined +that our enemy must either ingloriously fly or come out from +behind his defences and give us battle on our own ground, when +certain destruction awaits him.</p> + +<p class="sml1">By command of Major-General Hooker.</p> + +<p class="r"><span class="smcap">S. Williams</span>,<br /> +<i>Asst. Adjt.-Gen'l.</i></p> + +<p class="top5">My recollection recalls a phrase in this order reading +something like this: "We have got the enemy where God +Almighty can't save him, and he must either ingloriously," +etc. I have been surprised not to find it in the records, +and my memory is not alone in this respect, for a lieutenant-colonel +of Portland, Me., in his account of this battle +alludes to Hooker's blasphemous order.</p> + +<p>The purpose of this order was to encourage the men +and inspire them with the enthusiasm of forthcoming victory. +But when we consider that the portion of the army +operating around Chancellorsville was at that very +moment apparently as thoroughly caged up in a wilderness +of almost impenetrable undergrowth, which made it impossible +to move troops, and into which one could not see +a dozen feet, as though they were actually behind iron +bars, it will be seen how little ground there was for +encouragement. I can think of no better comparison of +the situation than to liken it to a fleet of ships enveloped +in a dense fog endeavoring to operate against another +having the advantage of the open.</p> + +<p>It will be remembered that when this movement commenced +the Army of the Potomac numbered from one +hundred and twenty thousand to one hundred and thirty +thousand men, about double the opposing rebel force. +Hooker divided this army, taking with him four corps, +numbering probably seventy thousand men, to operate +from Chancellorsville towards Fredericksburg, and +leaving three corps, about fifty thousand men, under +Sedgwick, to move upon the latter place from below. The +purpose was to get Lee's army between these two forces +and crush him. All historians of this battle agree that +up to a certain point Hooker's strategy was most admirable. +General Pleasanton, who commanded our cavalry +forces in that action, says that up to a certain point +the movement on Chancellorsville was one of the most +brilliant in the annals of war. He put that point at the +close of Thursday, April 30. He had made a full reconnoissance +of all that country and had informed General +Hooker of the nature of the ground, that for a depth of +from four to five miles it was all unbroken tanglewood +of the densest undergrowth, in which it was impossible to +manœuvre an army or to know anything of the movements +of the enemy; that beyond this wilderness the +country was open and well adapted to military movements, +and he had taken occasion to urge upon him the importance +of moving forward at once, so as to meet the enemy +in open ground, but his information and advice, he tells +us, fell upon leaden ears.</p> + +<p>Lee had, up to this time, no information of the movement +upon Chancellorsville, having been wholly occupied +with Sedgwick at Fredericksburg. The former was +therefore a complete surprise to him. The "golden +moment," according to Pleasanton, to move forward and +carry the battle out into the open, where the army could +have been handled and would have had a chance, was on +that day, as instantly the movement was disclosed, the +enemy, being familiar with every foot of the country, +would detach a sufficient force to operate in the open, and +along the edge of the wilderness could keep us practically +bottled up there and beat us in detail; and that is precisely +what seems to have been done. The inexplicable question +is, Why did fighting "Joe Hooker," with seventy thousand +as good troops as ever fired a gun, sit down in the +middle of that tanglewood forest and allow Lee to make +a monkey of him while Sedgwick was doing such magnificent +work below?</p> + +<p>Two distinguished participants in all these events holding +high commands, namely, General Alfred Pleasanton, +quoted above, and General Doubleday, commanding First +Division, First Army Corps, have written articles upon +this battle, agreeing on the feasibility and brilliancy of the +movement, but by inference and things unsaid have practically +left the same question suspended in the air. It is +possible the correct answer should not now be given.</p> + +<p>To return to our own doings, on that Friday, 1st of +May, our division was drawn up in line of battle in front +of the Chancellorsville House, and we were permitted to +rest on our arms. This meant that any moment we might +be expected to move forward. The battle was now on in +earnest. Heavy firing was heard some miles below us, +which was Sedgwick's work at Fredericksburg. Nearer +by there was cannonading and more or less severe musketry +firing. Ambulances and stretcher-carriers were constantly +coming back from the front with wounded soldiers, +taking them to the field hospital, which was just in our +rear, and we could see the growing piles of amputated +legs and arms which were thrown outside with as little +care as if they were so many pieces of wood. We were +evidently waiting for something, nobody seemed to know +what. Everything appeared to be "at heads." Our corps +and division commanders, Couch, Hancock, and French, +with their staffs, were in close proximity to the troops, +and all seemed to be in a condition of nervous uncertainty. +What might be progressing in those black woods in front, +was the question. A nearer volley of musketry would +start everybody up, and we would stand arms in hand, as +if expecting the unseen enemy to burst through the woods +upon us. Then the firing would slacken and we would +drop down again for a time.</p> + +<p>In the mean time shells were screeching over us continually, +and an occasional bullet would whiz uncomfortably +near. The nervous strain under such conditions +may be imagined. This state of affairs continued all +through Friday night and most of Saturday. Of course, +sleep was out of the question for any of our officers. On +Thursday and Friday nights the men got snatches of +sleep, lying on their arms, between the times all were +aroused against some fresh alarm.</p> + +<p>On Saturday some beef cattle were driven up and +slaughtered in the open square in front of our lines, and +the details were progressing with the work of preparing +the meat for issue when the storm of disaster of Saturday +afternoon burst upon us and their work was rudely interrupted. +We had anxious premonitions of this impending +storm for some hours. Captain Pettit, who commanded +the famous battery of that name, which was posted immediately +in our rear, had spent much of his time in the forenoon +of Saturday high up in a tall tree which stood just +in front of the Chancellorsville House and close to our +line, with his field glass reconnoitring. Several times he +had come down with information that heavy bodies of the +enemy were massing for a blow upon our front and where +he believed they would strike. This information, we were +told, he imparted to Hooker's chief of staff, and begged +permission to open at long range with his rifled guns, but +no attention was paid to him. I saw him up the tree and +heard some of his ejaculating, which indicated that he +was almost wild with apprehension of what was coming. +Once on coming down he remarked to General Hancock +that we would "catch h—l in less than an hour." The +latter seemed to be thoroughly alive to the situation and +exceedingly anxious, as were Couch and French, to do +something to prepare for what was coming, yet nothing +more was done until suddenly the firing, which had been +growing in volume and intensity and gradually drawing +nearer, developed in a storm of musketry of terrific fury +immediately in our right front, apparently not more than +three hundred yards away.</p> + +<p>We could not see a thing. What there might be between +us and it, or whether it was the onslaught of the +enemy or the firing of our troops, we knew not. But we +had not long to wait. Soon stragglers, few in numbers, +began to appear, emerging from the woods into our clearing, +and then more of them, these running, and then +almost at once an avalanche of panic-stricken, flying men +without arms, without knapsacks, many bareheaded, +swearing, cursing, a wild, frenzied mob tearing to the +rear. Instantly they began to appear, General Couch, +commanding our corps, took in the situation and deployed +two divisions to catch and hold the fugitives. +Part of the Third Corps was also deployed on our left. +We were ordered to charge bayonets and permit no man +to pass through our ranks. We soon had a seething, +howling mob of Dutchmen twenty to thirty feet in depth +in front of our line, holding them back on the points of +our bayonets, and still they came. Every officer of our +division, with drawn sword and pistol, was required to +use all possible endeavor to hold them, and threatening to +shoot the first man who refused to stand as ordered. General +French and staff were galloping up and down our +division line assisting in this work.</p> + +<p>In the mean time another line of battle was rapidly +thrown in between these fugitives and the woods to stay +the expected advance of the enemy. This was the famous +break of the Eleventh Corps, starting with Blenker's +division and finally extending through the whole corps, +some fifteen thousand men. It seemed as though the +whole army was being stampeded. We soon had a vast +throng of these fugitives dammed up in our front, a terrible +menace to the integrity of our own line as well as +of all in our rear. We were powerless to do anything +should the enemy break through, and were in great danger +of being ourselves swept away and disintegrated by this +frantic mob. All this time the air was filled with shrieking +shells from our own batteries as well as those of the +enemy, doing, however, little damage beyond adding to +the terror of the situation. The noise was deafening. +Pandemonium seemed to reign supreme in our front. Our +line, as well as that of the Third Corps on our left, was +holding firm as a rock. I noticed a general officer, I +thought it was General Sickles, was very conspicuous in +the vigor of his efforts to hold the line. A couple of fugitives +had broken through his line and were rapidly going +to the rear. I heard him order them to halt and turn +back. One of them turned and cast a look at him, but +paid no further attention to his order. He repeated the +order in stentorian tones, this time with his pistol levelled, +but it was not obeyed, and he fired, dropping the first man +dead in his tracks. He again ordered the other man to +halt, and it was sullenly obeyed. These men seemed to +be almost stupid, deaf to orders or entreaty in their frenzy.</p> + +<p>An incident in our own front will illustrate. I noticed +some extra commotion near our colors and rushed to see +the cause. I found an officer with drawn sword threatening +to run the color-sergeant through if he was not +allowed to pass. He was a colonel and evidently a German. +My orders to him to desist were answered with a +curse, and I had to thrust my pistol into his face, with an +energetic threat to blow his head off if he made one more +move, before he seemed to come to his senses. I then +appealed to him to see what an example he as an officer +was setting, and demanded that he should get to work +and help to stem the flight of his men rather than assist +in their demoralization. To his credit be it said, he at +once regained his better self, and thenceforth did splendid +work up and down amongst these German fugitives, and +later on, when they were moved to the rear, he rendered +very material assistance. I did not learn who he was, +but he was a splendid-looking officer and spoke both English +and German fluently.</p> + +<p>One may ask why those men should have lost their +heads so completely. To answer the question intelligently, +one needs to put oneself into their place. The +facts as we were told at the time were: That the +Eleventh Corps, which contained two divisions of German +troops, under Schurz and Blenker (I think Steinwehr +commanded the latter division in this action), was +posted on the right of Hooker's line in the woods, some +distance in front and to the right of the Chancellorsville +House. That at the time Stonewall Jackson made his +famous attack, above referred to, he caught one of those +divisions "napping"—off their guard. They had stacked +their guns and knapsacks, and were back some twenty +yards, making their evening coffee, when suddenly the +rebel skirmishers burst through the brush upon them, +followed immediately by the main line, and before they +realized it were between these troops and their guns. +Consternation reigned supreme in an instant and a +helter-skelter flight followed. Jackson followed up this +advantage with his usual impetuosity, and although the +other divisions of the Eleventh made an effort to hold +their ground, this big hole in the line was fatal to +them and all were quickly swept away. Of course, +the division and brigade commanders were responsible +for that unpardonable carelessness. No valid excuse can +be made for such criminal want of watchfulness, especially +for troops occupying a front line, and which had +heard, or should have heard, as we a half mile farther in +the rear had, all the premonitions of the coming storm. +But it was an incident showing the utter folly of the +attempt to maintain a line of battle in the midst of a +dense undergrowth, through which nothing could be seen. +It is exceedingly doubtful whether they could have held +their line against Jackson's onset under those conditions +had they been on the alert, for he would have been on +and over them almost before they could have seen him. +To resist such an onset needs time to deliver a steady +volley and then be ready with the bayonet.</p> + +<p>It was towards six o'clock in the evening when this +flying mob struck our lines, and darkness had fallen +before we were rid of them and something like order had +been restored. In the mean time it certainly seemed as +if everything was going to pieces. I got a little idea of +what a panic-stricken army means. The fearful thing +about it was, we knew it was terribly contagious, and +that with all the uncertainties in that black wilderness +from which this mob came and the pandemonium in progress +all about us, it might seize our own troops and we be +swept away to certain destruction in spite of all our +efforts. It is said death rides on horseback with a fleeing +army. Nothing can be more horrible. Hence a panic +must be stopped, cost what it may. Night undoubtedly +came to our rescue with this one.</p> + +<p>One of the most heroic deeds I saw done to help stem +the fleeing tide of men and restore courage was not the +work of a battery, nor a charge of cavalry, but the charge +of a band of music! The band of the Fourteenth Connecticut +went right out into that open space between our +new line and the rebels, with shot and shell crashing all +about them, and played "The Star-Spangled Banner," +the "Red, White, and Blue," and "Yankee Doodle," and +repeated them for fully twenty minutes. They never +played better. Did that require nerve? It was undoubtedly +the first and only band concert ever given under +such conditions. Never was American grit more finely +illustrated. Its effect upon the men was magical. Imagine +the strains of our grand national hymn, "The Star-Spangled +Banner," suddenly bursting upon your ears out +of that horrible pandemonium of panic-born yells, mingled +with the roaring of musketry and the crashing of +artillery. To what may it be likened? The carol of birds +in the midst of the blackest thunder-storm? No simile +can be adequate. Its strains were clear and thrilling for +a moment, then smothered by that fearful din, an instant +later sounding bold and clear again, as if it would fearlessly +emphasize the refrain, "Our flag is still there."</p> + + + +<hr class="double" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h3> +<hr class="single" /> + +<p class="c smcap">THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE—CONTINUED</p> + + +<p>R<span class="smcap">ecurring</span> again to the incident of the band playing +out there between the two hostile lines in the midst of that +panic of the Eleventh Corps, it was a remarkable circumstance +that none of them were killed. I think one or +two were slightly wounded by pieces of exploding shells, +and one or two of their instruments carried away scars +from that scene. The rebels did not follow up their advantage, +as we expected, probably owing to the effective +work of our batteries, otherwise they would all have been +either killed or captured. None of the enemy came into +our clearing that I saw. We must have corralled upward +of eight thousand of our demoralized men. Some had +their arms, most of them had none, which confirmed the +story of their surprise narrated in the last chapter. They +were marched to the rear under guard, and thus the +further spread of the panic was avoided.</p> + +<p>It was now dark and the firing ceased, but only for a +few moments, for the two picket-lines were posted so +close together, neither knowing exactly where the other +was, that both were exceedingly nervous; and the slightest +movement, the stepping of a picket, the scurry of a +rabbit, would set the firing going again. First it would +be the firing of a single musket, then the quick rattle of +a half-dozen, then the whole line with the reserves, for all +were on the line together there; and then the batteries, +of which there were now at least a half-dozen massed +right around us, would open with terrific vigor, all firing +into the darkness, whence the enemy was supposed to be +coming. This continued at short intervals all night long.</p> + +<p>After the mob of fugitives had been disposed of, our +division had formed in line of battle directly in front of +the Chancellorsville House, supporting the provisional +line which had been hurriedly thrown in to cover the +break of the Eleventh Corps, and we were "resting (?) +on our arms." At each of these alarms every man was +instantly on his feet, with guns at a "ready." General +French and staff were close to us, and General Couch +and his staff only a few feet away. All were exceedingly +nervous and keenly on the alert. It was a night of terrific +experience long to be remembered.</p> + +<p>The nervous strain upon all was simply awful. We +knew that the Eleventh Corps had been stampeded by +the impetuous charge of Stonewall Jackson, and we felt +sure he would seek to reap the fruits of the break he had +made by an effort to pierce our centre, and this we would +have to meet and repel when it came. We did not then +know that in the general mix-up of that fateful afternoon +that able and intrepid leader had himself fallen and was +then dying. This fact, fortunate for us, undoubtedly +accounts for the failure of the expected onset to materialize. +We could probably have held him, for we had +two divisions of the Second Corps and part of the Third +Corps in double lines, all comparatively fresh, and before +midnight the First Corps was in position on our right. +But the slaughter would have been horrible.</p> + +<p>After midnight these outbursts became less frequent, +and we officers lay down with the men and tried to sleep. +I do not think any of our general officers or their staffs +even sat down that whole night, so apprehensive were +they of the descent of the rebels upon our position. I +said in the last chapter that on Saturday morning some +beef cattle were slaughtered near our line for issue to +our division; that the work of distribution had not been +completed before the panic came, and then these carcasses +of beef were between ours and the rebel line on "debatable +ground." This was too much for some of our men, and +two or three crawled out to them during the night and +helped themselves to such cuts as they could make from +our side. One party next day told of being surprised by +hearing cutting on the other side of the beef, and found, +on investigating, that a "Johnny" was there, when the +following colloquy took place:</p> + +<p>"Hello, Johnny, are ye there?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Yank; too bad to let this 'fresh' spoil. I say, +Yank, lend me your knife, mine's a poor one. We 'uns +and you 'uns is all right here. Yank, I'll help you if +you'll help me, and we'll get all we want."</p> + +<p>The knife was passed over, and these two foes helped +each other in that friendly darkness. How much actual +truth there was in this story I do not know, but I do +know that there was considerable fresh beef among the +men in the morning, and it was not at all unlikely that +the Johnnies also profited by the presence of that "fresh" +between the lines. Soldiers of either army would run +almost any risk to get a bit of fresh beef.</p> + +<p>The next morning we were ordered to pile up our +knapsacks and make a breastwork of them for such protection +as they might afford, in anticipation of the still +expected attack. We managed to make a cup of coffee +and eat a hardtack without getting off our guard for an +instant, and about ten o'clock the First Brigade, now +Carroll's, and ours, consisting of two regiments only, the +First Delaware and ours, under command of our Colonel +Albright, were ordered forward into the woods to the +right of the Chancellorsville House. This was the opening +of the third day's battle. We moved forward in +excellent line until we struck the edge of the woods. The +moment the crackling of the brush under our feet apprised +the enemy of our advance we received a heavy volley, +which must have been very hurriedly delivered, for it +passed over our heads, not a man being hit, I think. The +morning was lowering and misty and the air very light, +so that the smoke made by the rebel volley, not more +than fifty yards away, hung like a chalk line and indicated +their exact position. The sudden retirement of our lieutenant-colonel +at this point placed the command of the +regiment on me, and I shouted to the men to aim below +that line of smoke and then gave the order, fire by battalion, +and we emptied our guns as one man, reloaded, +and receiving no reply to our volley, moved forward +through the thick brush and undergrowth. We soon +came upon the rebel line, and a dreadful sight it was. +The first officer I saw was a rebel captain, an Irishman. +He ejaculated, "We're all killed! We're all killed!" and +offered to surrender. The commanding officer must have +suffered the fate of his men. Most of them were either +killed or wounded. The hundred or so living promptly +threw down their arms, and Colonel Albright sent them +to the rear under guard. This Irish captain vouchsafed +the remark sotto voce that he was glad to be captured, +that he'd been trying to get out of the d—n Confederacy +for a year. Our battalion volley had exactly reached its +mark and had done fearful execution. There must have +been more than two hundred lying there either dead or +wounded, marking their line of battle. This was the +only instance in my war experience where we delivered +a volley as a battalion. The usual order of firing in line +of battle is by "file," each man firing as rapidly as he +can effectively, without regard to any other man. The +volley they had delivered at us was a battalion volley, +and it would have effectively disposed of our advance had +it been well delivered. Fortunately for us, it was not, +and their smoke-line gave us the opportunity to deliver +a very effective counter-stroke. It had to be quickly done, +we were so close together. There was no time to meditate. +It was us or them. Instantly I resolved to give +them all we could, aiming well under their line of smoke, +and take our chances with the bayonet if necessary. The +order was calmly given and the volley was coolly delivered. +I have never heard a better one. The value of +coolness in delivering and the effectiveness of such a +volley were clearly demonstrated in this instance.</p> + +<p>We again moved forward, working our way through +the tangled undergrowth, and had gained probably five +or six hundred yards when we encountered another line, +and sharp firing began on both sides. We could see the +enemy dodging behind trees and stumps not more than +one hundred yards away. We also utilized the same +shelter, and therefore suffered comparatively little. Suddenly +I found bullets beginning to come from our left +and rear as well as from our front. Two of these bullets +had been aimed at me as I stood behind a small +tree on our line. The first knowledge I had of them was +from the splinters of bark in my face from the tree, first +one and then the other in quick succession as the bullets +struck, not more than three inches from my head. They +were fairly good shots. I was thankful they were no +better. But now I had to move a couple of companies to +the left to meet this flank attack. It did not prove a +serious matter, and the enemy was quickly driven back. +The same thing was tried shortly after on our right flank, +and was again disposed of the same way. They were +probably groups of sharpshooters hunting for our officers. +One of them, I happened to know, never went back, for I +saw one of our sergeants kill him. I was at that moment +standing by him, when he clapped his hand to his ear +and exclaimed, "That was a 'hot one,'" as a bullet just +ticked it. "There is the devil who did it. See him +behind that bush?" and with that he aimed and fired. +The fellow rolled over dead.</p> + +<p>We soon had the better of this fighting and our opponents +withdrew. We seemed now to be isolated. We +must have been nearly a half mile from where we entered +the woods. We could not see nor hear of any troops on +our immediate right or left. Colonel Albright came back +to consult as to what was best to be done now. The brush +and undergrowth were exceedingly dense. What there +might be on our right or left we could not know without +sending skirmishers out. The colonel said his orders +were to advance and engage the enemy. No orders had +come to him since our advance commenced, two hours +and more before. We had met and beaten two lines of +the enemy. Should we continue the advance or retire +and get further orders? My advice was to retire; that +with our small force, not more than five hundred men, +isolated in that dense wood, we were liable to be gobbled +up. The colonel agreed with this view and ordered the +line faced about and marched to the rear. I mention this +consultation over the situation because here we were, +two young men, who knew almost nothing about military +matters beyond obeying orders, suddenly called upon +to exercise judgment in a critical situation. Bravery suggested +push ahead and fight. To retire savored of over-prudence. +Nevertheless, it seemed to us we had no business +remaining out there without connection with other +troops on either right or left, and this decided the colonel +to order the retreat.</p> + +<p>We moved back in line of battle in excellent order and +quite leisurely, having no opposition and, so far as we +knew, no troops following us. We came out into the +clearing just where we had entered the woods two hours +before. But here we met a scene that almost froze our +blood. During our absence some half-dozen batteries, +forty or more guns, had been massed here. Hurried +earthworks had been thrown up, covering the knapsacks +our brigade had left there when we advanced. These +guns were not forty yards away and were just waiting +the order to open on those woods right where we were. +As we emerged from the brush, our colors, fortunately, +were a little in advance, and showed through before the +line appeared. Their timely appearance, we were told, +saved us from being literally blown to pieces by those +batteries. A second later the fatal order would have been +given and our brigade would have been wiped out of +existence by our own guns!</p> + +<p>As we came out of the woods an aide galloped down +to us, his face perfectly livid, and in a voice portraying +the greatest excitement shouted to Colonel Albright: +"What in h—l and d-mnation are you doing here? Get +out of here! Those woods are full of rebel troops, and +we are just waiting to open on them." Albright replied +very coolly, "Save your ammunition. There is not a +rebel within a half mile, for we have just marched back +that distance absolutely unmolested. Why haven't you +sent us orders? We went in here two hours ago, and +not an order have we received since." He replied, "We +have sent a dozen officers in to you with orders, and they +all reported that you had been captured." Albright answered, +"They were a lot of cowards, for there hasn't +been a minute since we advanced that an officer could not +have come directly to us. There is something wrong +about this. I will go and see General Hooker." And +directing me to move the troops away from the front of +those guns, he started for General Hooker's head-quarters, +only a short distance away. As I was passing the +right of that line of batteries a voice hailed me, and I +turned, and there stood one of my old Scranton friends, +Captain Frank P. Amsden, in command of his battery. +Said he, as he gripped my hand, "Boy, you got out of +those woods just in time. Our guns are double-shotted +with grape and canister; the word 'fire' was just on my +lips when your colors appeared." I saw his gunners +standing with their hands on the lanyards. After forty +years my blood almost creeps as I recall that narrow +escape.</p> + +<p>We now moved to the rear across the plank-road from +the Chancellorsville House in the woods, where we supported +Hancock's line. Colonel Albright soon returned +from his visit to Hooker's head-quarters. His account +of that visit was most remarkable, and was substantially +as follows: "I scratched on the flap of the Hooker head-quarters' +tent and instantly an officer appeared and asked +what was wanted. I said I must see General Hooker, +that I had important information for him. He said, +'You cannot see General Hooker; I am chief of staff; +any information you have for the commanding general +should be given to me.' I said, 'I must see General +Hooker,' and with that pushed myself by him into the +tent, and there lay General Hooker, apparently dead +drunk. His face and position gave every indication of +that condition, and I turned away sick and disgusted." +It was subsequently stated that General Hooker was unconscious +at that time from the concussion of a shell. +That he was standing on the porch of the Chancellorsville +House, leaning against one of its supports, when a +shell struck it, rendering him unconscious. The incident +narrated above occurred about one <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> on Sunday, +May 3. The army was practically without a commander +from this time until after sundown of that day, when +General Hooker reappeared and in a most conspicuous +manner rode around between the lines of the two armies. +If he was physically disabled, why was not the fact made +known at once to the next officer in rank, whose duty it +would have been to have assumed command of the army, +and if possible stem the tide of defeat now rapidly overwhelming +us? A half-day of most precious time would +have been saved. That this was not done I happen to +know from the following circumstances.</p> + +<p>In our new position we were only about fifty yards +behind General Hancock's line. The head-quarters at +this time of General Couch, commanding our corps; of +General French, commanding our division, and of General +Hancock were all at the right of our regiment, behind +our line. These generals and their staffs were resting, +as were our troops, and they were sitting about, only a +few feet away from us. We therefore heard much of +their conversation. Directly General Howard joined +them. I well remember his remarks concerning the behavior +of his corps on the previous afternoon. His chagrin +was punctured with the advice of old French to +shoot a few dozen of them for example's sake. Naturally, +the chief subject of their conversation related to the +present situation. It was perfectly clear they regarded +it as very critical. We could hear heavy cannonading in +the distance towards Fredericksburg. Several times +Hancock broke out with a savage oath as he impatiently +paced up and down, swinging his sword. "They are +knocking Sedgwick to pieces. Why don't we go forward?" +or a similar ejaculation, and then, "General +Couch, why do you not assume command and order us +forward? It is your duty." (The latter was next in +rank to Hooker.)</p> + +<p>To which General Couch replied, "I cannot assume +command." French and Howard agreed with Hancock, +but Couch remained imperturbable, saying, "When I am +properly informed that General Hooker is disabled and +not in command, I shall assume the duty which will devolve +upon me." And so hour after hour passed of +inactivity at this most critical juncture. They said it +was plain Lee was making simply a show of force in our +front whilst he had detached a large part of his army and +was driving Sedgwick before him down at Fredericksburg. +Now, why this period of inactivity whilst Sedgwick +was being punished? Why this interregnum in the +command? When Colonel Albright returned from his +call at Hooker's tent, narrated above, he freely expressed +his opinion that Hooker's condition was as stated above. +His views were then generally believed by those about +head-quarters, and this was understood as the reason why +the next officer in rank was not officially notified of his +chief's disability and the responsibility of the command +placed upon him. Nothing was then said about the concussion +of a shell. It is profoundly to be hoped that +Colonel Albright's impression was wrong, and that the +disability was produced, as alleged, by concussion of a +shell. If so, there was a very grave dereliction of duty +on the part of his chief of staff in not imparting the fact +immediately to General Couch, the officer next in rank, +and devolving the command upon him.</p> + +<p>In our new position on the afternoon of Sunday, the +third day's battle, we were subjected to a continuous fire +of skirmishers and sharpshooters, without the ability of +replying. We laid up logs for a barricade and protected +ourselves as well as we could. Several were wounded +during the afternoon, among them Captain Hall, of Company +I. His was a most singular wound. We were all +lying prone upon the ground, when suddenly he spoke +rather sharply and said he had got a clip on his knee. +He said it was an insignificant flesh wound, but his leg +was benumbed. He tried to step on it, but could not +bear his weight on it, and very soon it became exceedingly +painful, and his ankle swelled to double its natural size. +He was taken back to one of the hospitals, where it was +found a minie-ball had entered his leg above the knee and +passed down between the bones to the ankle, where it +was removed. This practically ended the service of one +of the youngest of our captains, a brave and brilliant +young officer.</p> + +<p>Towards night a cold, drizzling rain set in, which +chilled us to our bones. We could not have any fires, not +even to make our coffee, for fear of disclosing our position +to the enemy. For four days now we had been continuously +under the terrible nervous strain incident to a +battle and practically without any rest or sleep. During +this time we had no cooked food, nothing but hardtack +and raw pork and coffee but once. This condition began +to tell upon us all. I had been under the weather when +the movement began, and was ordered by our surgeon to +remain behind, but I said no, not as long as I could get +around. Now I found my strength had reached its limit, +and I took that officer's advice, with the colonel's orders, +and went back to the division field hospital to get under +cover from the rain and get a night's sleep if possible.</p> + +<p>I found a half-dozen hospital tents standing together +as one hospital, and all full to overflowing with sick and +wounded men. Our brigade surgeon, a personal friend, +was in charge. He finally found a place for me just +under the edge of one of the tents, where I could keep +part of the rain off. He brought me a stiff dose of +whiskey and quinine, the universal war remedy, and I +drank it and lay down, and was asleep in less time than it +takes me to write it.</p> + +<p>About midnight the surgeon came and aroused me with +the information that the army was moving back across +the river, and that all in the hospital who could march +were ordered to make their way back as best they could; +that of the others the ambulances would carry all they +could and the others would be left. This was astounding +information. My first impulse was, of course, to return +to my regiment, but the doctor negatived that emphatically +by saying, "You are under my orders here, and +my instructions are to send you all directly back to the +ford and across the river; and then the army is already +on the march, and you might as well attempt to find a +needle in a haystack as undertake to find your regiment +in these woods in this darkness." If his first reason had +not been sufficient, the latter one was quite convincing. +I realized at once the utter madness of any attempt to +reach the regiment, at the same time that in this night +tramp back over the river, some eight miles, I had a job +that would tax my strength to the utmost. The doctor +had found one of the men of our regiment who was sick, +and bidding us help each other started us back over the +old plank-road.</p> + +<p>How shall I describe the experiences of that night's +tramp? The night was intensely dark and it was raining +hard. The plank-road was such only in name. What +few remnants remained of the old planks were rotten and +were a constant menace to our footing. I must have +had more than a dozen falls during that march from +those broken planks, until face, arms, and legs were a +mass of bruises. We were told to push forward as rapidly +as we could to keep ahead of the great rabble of sick +and wounded which was to follow immediately. This +we tried to do, though the road was now crowded with +the occupants of the other hospitals already on their way. +These men were all either sick or wounded, and were +making their way with the greatest difficulty, most of +them in silence, but there was an occasional one whose +tongue gave expression to every possible mishap in outbursts +of the most shocking profanity. There were +enough of these to make the night hideous.</p> + +<p>Our road was a track just wide enough to admit a +single wagon through the densest jungle of timber and +undergrowth I ever saw. I cannot imagine the famed +jungles of Africa more dense or impenetrable, and it +seemed to be without end as we wearily plodded on hour +after hour, now stepping into a hole and sprawling in +the mud, again stumbling against a stolid neighbor and +being in turn jostled by him, with an oath for being in +his way. Many a poor fellow fell, too exhausted to rise, +and we were too nearly dead to do more than mechanically +note the fact.</p> + +<p>Towards morning a quartette of men overtook us +carrying a man on their shoulders. As they drew near us +one of the forward pair stumbled and fell, and down +came the body into the mud with a swash. If the body +was not dead, the fall killed it, for it neither moved nor +uttered a sound. With a fearful objurgation they went +on and left it, and we did not have life enough left in us +to make any investigation. It was like the case of a +man on the verge of drowning seeing others perishing +without the ability to help. It was a serious question +whether we could pull ourselves through or should be +obliged to drop in our tracks, to be run over and crushed +or trampled to death, as many a poor fellow was that +night. We had not an ounce of strength, nor had any of +the hundreds of others in our condition, to bestow on +those who could not longer care for themselves. Here it +was every man for himself. This night's experience was +a horrible nightmare.</p> + +<p>It was long after daylight when we crawled out of +those woods and reached United States ford. Here a +pontoon bridge had been thrown over, and a double column +of troops and a battery of artillery were crossing +at the same time. We pushed ourselves into the throng, +as to which there was no semblance of order, and were +soon on the other side. On the top of the bluff, some +one hundred feet above the river, on our side, we noticed +a hospital tent, and we thought if we could reach that we +might find shelter and rest, for it was still raining and +we were drenched to the skin, and so cold that our faces +were blue and our teeth chattered. A last effort landed +us at this hospital. Alas for our hopes! it was crowded +like sardines in a box with others who in like condition +had reached it before us. I stuck my head in the tent. +One glance was enough. The surgeon in charge, in answer +to our mute appeal, said, "God help you, boys; I +cannot. But here is a bottle of whiskey, take a good +drink; it will do you good." We took a corking dose, +nearly half the bottle, and lay down, spoon fashion, my +comrade and I, by the side of that tent in the rain and +slept for about an hour, until the stimulus of the liquor +passed off and the cold began again to assert itself, when +we had to start on again. I have never had any use for +liquors in my life, and the use of them in any form as a +beverage I consider as nothing else than harmful in the +highest degree, yet I have always felt that this big dose +of whiskey saved my life. Could we have had a good +cup of hot coffee at that time it would possibly have been +better, but we might as well have looked for lodgings in +the Waldorf-Astoria as for coffee at that time and place. +Imagine my feelings during all this night as I reflected +that I had a good horse, overcoat, and gum blanket somewhere,—yes, +somewhere, back, or wherever my regiment +might be,—and here I was soaking wet, chilled to the +bones and almost dead from tramping.</p> + +<p>We got word at the Ford that the troops were to go +back to their old camps, and there was nothing for us to +do but to make our way back there as best we might. +Soon after we started Colonel (afterwards Judge Dana, +of Wilkes-Barre) Dana's regiment passed. The colonel +hailed me and kindly inquired why I happened to be there +by myself on foot, said I looked most wretched, and insisted +on my taking another bracer from a little emergency +stock he had preserved. I had been but a few months +out of his law office, from which I had been admitted to +the bar. His kindly attentions under these limited circumstances +were very cheering and helpful. We were +all day covering the eight or more miles back to camp. +But early in the day the rain ceased, the sun came out, +we got warmed up marching, and after some hours our +clothes became sufficiently dry to be more comfortable, +so that when we reached camp in the evening our condition +was much improved. This was due in part probably +as much to the relief from the awful nervous strain of the +battle and the conditions through which we had passed +in that wilderness as to rest and the changed weather. +When we reached this side of the river that nervous strain +ceased. We were sure that fighting was over, at least for +the present. We found the regiment had been in camp +some hours ahead of us. Our corps was probably on the +march when we left the hospital, and had preceded us all +the way back. I found my horse had brought back one +of our wounded men, and this was some compensation +for my own loss.</p> + +<p>We had been gone on this campaign from the 29th of +April until the 5th of May, and such a week! How much +that was horrible had been crowded into it. For variety +of experiences of the many dreadful sides of war, that +week far exceeded any other like period of our service. +The fighting was boy's play compared with either Antietam +or Fredericksburg, yet for ninety-six hours continuously +we were under the terrible nervous strain of battle. +Our losses in this action were comparatively light, 2 men +killed, 2 officers wounded (one of whom died a few days +later), and 39 men wounded, and one man missing; total +loss, 44, or about fifteen per cent. of the number we took +into action. This missing man I met at the recent reunion +of our regiment. He was picked up from our skirmish +line by that flanking party of rebels on the third day's +fight described in my last. The circumstance will show +how close the rebels were upon us before we discovered +them. Our skirmishers could not have been more than +a dozen yards in advance of our main line, yet the thicket +was so dense that the enemy was on him before he fairly +realized it. He said he was placed with a lot of other +prisoners and marched to the rear some distance, under +guard, when a fine-looking Confederate officer rode up +to them. He was told it was General Lee. He said he +wore long, bushy whiskers and addressed them with a +cheery,—</p> + +<p>"Good-morning, boys. What did you come down +here for? a picnic? You didn't think you could whip us +men of the South, did you?"</p> + +<p>One of the prisoners spoke up in reply,—</p> + +<p>"Yes, d—n you, we did, and we will. You haven't +won this fight yet, and Joe Hooker will lick h—l out of +you and recapture us before you get us out of these +woods."</p> + +<p>The general laughed good-naturedly at the banter his +questions had elicited, and solemnly assured them that +there were not men enough in the whole North to take +Richmond. Our man was probably misinformed as to +who their interlocutor was. General Lee did not wear +long, bushy whiskers, and was at that time probably down +directing operations against Fredericksburg. This was +probably Jeb Stuart, who had succeeded Jackson in command +of that wing of the rebel army.</p> + +<p>Our prisoner fared much better than most prisoners, +for it was his good fortune to be exchanged after twenty-three +days' durance, probably owing to the expiration of +his term of service. Although the actual dates of enlistment +of our men were all in July and their terms therefore +expired, the government insisted upon holding us for +the full period of nine months from the date of actual +muster into the United States service, which would not +be completed until the 14th of May. We had, therefore, +eight days' service remaining after our return from the +battle of Chancellorsville, and we were continued in all +duties just as though we had months yet to serve. Our +principal work was the old routine of picket duty again. +Our friends, the enemy, were now quick to tantalize our +pickets with the defeat at Chancellorsville. Such remarks +as these were volleyed at us:</p> + +<p>"We 'uns give you 'uns a right smart lickin' up in +them woods."</p> + +<p>"How d'ye like Virginny woods, Yank?"</p> + +<p>And then they sang to us:</p> + +<p class="poem">"Ain't ye mighty glad to get out the wilderness?"</p> + +<p>A song just then much in vogue. Another volunteered +the remark, as if to equalize the honors in some measure, +"If we did wallop you 'uns, you 'uns killed our best +general." "We feel mighty bad about Stonewall's +death," and so their tongues would run on, whether our +men replied or not.</p> + + + +<hr class="double" /> +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h3> +<hr class="single" /> + +<p class="c smcap">THE MUSTER OUT AND HOME AGAIN</p> + + +<p>O<span class="smcap">n</span> the 14th of May we received orders to proceed to +Harrisburg for muster out. There was, of course, great +rejoicing at the early prospect of home scenes once more. +We walked on air, and lived for the next few days in +fond anticipation. We were the recipients of any amount +of attention from our multitude of friends in the division. +Many were the forms of leave-taking that took place. It +was a great satisfaction to realize that in our comparatively +brief period of service we had succeeded in winning +our way so thoroughly into the big hearts of those veterans. +The night before our departure was one of the +gladdest and saddest of all our experience. The Fourteenth +Connecticut band, that same band which had so +heroically played out between the lines when the Eleventh +Corps broke on that fateful Saturday night at Chancellorsville, +came over and gave us a farewell serenade. +They played most of the patriotic airs, with "Home, +Sweet Home," which I think never sounded quite so +sadly sweet, and suggestively wound up with "When +Johnny Comes Marching Home." Most of the officers +and men of the brigade were there to give us a soldier's +good-by, and Major-General Couch, commanding our +corps (the Second), also paid us the compliment of a +visit and made a pleasant little speech to the men who +were informally grouped around head-quarters, commending +our behavior in three of the greatest battles of +the war.</p> + +<p>It had been our high honor, he said, to have had a part +in those great battles, and though new and untried we +had acquitted ourselves with great credit and had held +our ground like veterans. He expressed the fervent hope +that our patriotism would still further respond to the +country's needs, and that we would all soon again be in +the field. Our honors were not yet complete. General +French, commanding our division, issued a farewell order, +a copy of which I would have been glad to publish, but +I have not been able to get it. It was, however, gratifying +in the extreme. He recounted our bravery under his +eye in those battles and our efficient service on all duty, +and wound up by saying he felt sure that men with such +a record could not long remain at home, but would soon +again rally around their country's flag. Of General +Couch, our corps commander, we had seen but little, and +were therefore very pleasantly surprised at his visit. Of +General French, bronzed and grizzly bearded, we had +seen much; all our work had been under his immediate +supervision. He was a typical old regular, and many +were the cuffs and knocks we received for our inexperience +and shortcomings, all, however, along the lines of +discipline and for our good, and which had really helped +to make soldiers of us. These incidents showed that +each commanding general keeps a keen eye on all his +regiments, and no one is quicker to detect and appreciate +good behavior than they. We felt especially pleased with +the praises of General French, because it revealed the +other side of this old hero's character. Rough in exterior +and manner of speech, he was a strong character and a +true hero.</p> + +<p>His position at the breaking out of the war will illustrate +this. He was a Southerner of the type of Anderson +and Farragut. When so many of his fellows of the +regular army, under pretext of following their States, +went over into rebellion and treason, he stood firm and +under circumstances which reflect great credit upon him. +He had been in Mexico and had spent a life on the +frontier, and had grown old and gray in the service, reaching +only the rank of captain. When the war finally came +he was in command of a battery of artillery stationed +some three hundred and fifty miles up the Rio Grande, +on the border of Mexico. He was cut off from all communication +with Washington, and the commander of his +department, the notorious General David E. Twiggs, had +gone over to the Confederacy. He was, therefore, thoroughly +isolated. Twiggs sent him a written order to +surrender his battery to the rebel commander of that +district. His characteristic reply was, that he would "see +him and the Confederacy in hell first;" that he was going +to march his battery into God's country, and if anybody +interfered with his progress they might expect a dose of +shot and shell they would long remember. None of them +felt disposed to test his threat, and so he marched his +battery alone down through that rebel country those three +hundred and fifty miles and more into our lines at the +mouth of the Rio Grande, bringing off every gun and +every dollar's worth of government property that he could +carry, and what he could not carry he destroyed. He was +immediately ordered north with his battery and justly +rewarded with a brigadier-general's commission.</p> + +<p>Early on the morning of the 15th we broke camp and +bade farewell to that first of the world's great armies, the +grand old Army of the Potomac. Need I say that, joyous +as was our home-going, there was more than a pang at +the bottom of our hearts as we severed those heroic associations? +A last look at the old familiar camp, a wave of +the hand to the friendly adieus of our comrades, whose +good-by glances indicated that they would gladly have +exchanged places with us; that if our hearts were wrung +at going, theirs were, too, at remaining; a last march +down those Falmouth hills, another and last glance at +those terrible works behind Fredericksburg, and we +passed out of the army and out of the soldier into the +citizen, for our work was now done and we were soldiers +only in name.</p> + +<p>As our train reached Belle-plain, where we were to +take boat for Washington, we noticed a long train of +ambulances moving down towards the landing, and were +told they were filled with wounded men, just now brought +off the field at Chancellorsville. There were upward of +a thousand of them. It seems incredible that the wounded +should have been left in those woods during these ten to +twelve days since the battle. How many hundreds perished +during that time for want of care nobody knows, +and, more horrible still, nobody knows how many poor +fellows were burned up in the portions of those woods +that caught fire from the artillery. But such is war. +Dare any one doubt the correctness of Uncle Billy Sherman's +statement that "War is hell!"</p> + +<p>Reaching Washington, the regiment bivouacked a single +night, awaiting transportation to Harrisburg. During +this time discipline was relaxed and the men were permitted +to see the capital city. The lieutenant-colonel and +I enjoyed the extraordinary luxury of a good bath, a +square meal, and a civilized bed at the Metropolitan +Hotel, the first in five long months. Singular as it may +seem, I caught a terrific cold as the price I paid for it. +The next day we were again back in Camp Curtin, at +Harrisburg, with nothing to do but to make out the necessary +muster rolls, turn in our government property,—guns, +accoutrements, blankets, etc., and receive our discharges. +This took over a week, so that it was the 24th +of May before we were finally discharged and paid off. +Then the several companies finally separated.</p> + +<p>If it had been hard to leave our comrades of the Army +of the Potomac, it was harder to sever the close comradeship +of our own regiment, a relationship formed and +cemented amidst the scenes that try men's souls, a comradeship +born of fellowship in privation, danger, and +suffering. I could hardly restrain my tears as we finally +parted with our torn and tattered colors, the staff of one +of which had been shot away in my hands. We had +fought under their silken folds on three battle-fields, upon +which we had left one-third of our number killed and +wounded, including a colonel and three line officers and +upward of seventy-five men killed and two hundred and +fifteen wounded. Out of our regiment of one thousand +and twenty-four men mustered into the service August +14, 1862, we had present at our muster out six hundred +and eighteen. We had lost in battle two hundred and +ninety-five in killed and wounded and one hundred and +eleven from physical disability, sickness, etc., and all in +the short space of nine months. Of the sixteen nine-months +regiments formed in August, 1862, the One Hundred +and Thirtieth and ours were the only regiments to +actively participate in the three great battles of Antietam, +Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, and we lost more +men than either of the others.</p> + +<p>I should mention a minor incident that occurred during +our stay in Harrisburg preparing for muster out. A +large number of our men had asked me to see if I could +not get authority to re-enlist a battalion from the regiment. +I was assured that three-fourths of the men would +go back with me, provided they could have a two weeks' +furlough. I laid the matter before Governor Curtin. He +said the government should take them by all means; that +here was a splendid body of seasoned men that would be +worth more than double their number of new recruits; +but he was without authority to take them, and suggested +that I go over to Washington and lay the matter before +the Secretary of War. He gave me a letter to the latter +and I hurried off. I had no doubt of my ability to raise +an entire regiment from the great number of nine-months +men now being discharged. I repaired to the War Department, +and here my troubles began. Had the lines of +sentries that guarded the approach to the armies in the +field been half as efficient as the cordon of flunkies that +barred the way to the War Office, the former would have +been beyond the reach of any enemy. At the entrance +my pedigree was taken, with my credentials and a statement +of my business. I was finally permitted to sit down +in a waiting-room with a waiting crowd. Occasionally +a senator or a congressman would break the monotony +by pushing himself in whilst we cultivated our patience +by waiting. Lunch time came and went. I waited. Several +times I ventured some remarks to the attendant as +to when I might expect my turn to come, but he looked +at me with a sort of far-off look, as though I could not +have realized to whom I was speaking. Finally, driven +to desperation, after waiting more than four hours, I +tried a little bluster and insisted that I would go in and +see somebody. Then I was assured that the only official +about the office was a Colonel——, acting assistant +adjutant-general. I might see him.</p> + +<p>"Yes," I said, "let me see him, anybody!"</p> + +<p>I was ushered into the great official's presence. He +was a lieutenant-colonel, just one step above my own +rank. He was dressed in a faultless new uniform. His +hair was almost as red as a fresh red rose and parted in +the middle, and his pose and dignity were quite worthy +of the national snob hatchery at West Point, of which he +was a recent product.</p> + +<p>"Young man," said he, with a supercilious air, "what +might your business be?"</p> + +<p>I stated that I had brought a letter from His Excellency, +Governor Curtin, of Pennsylvania, to the Secretary +of War, whom I desired to see on important business.</p> + +<p>"Where is your letter, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I gave it up to the attendant four hours ago, who, I +supposed, took it to the Secretary."</p> + +<p>"There is no letter here, sir! What is your business? +You cannot see the Secretary of War."</p> + +<p>I then briefly stated my errand. His reply was,—</p> + +<p>"Young man, if you really desire to serve your country, +go home and enlist."</p> + +<p>Thoroughly disgusted, I retired, and so ended what +might have saved to the service one of the best bodies of +men that ever wore a government uniform, and at a time +when the country was sorely in need of them.</p> + +<p>A word now of the personnel of the One Hundred and +Thirty-second Regiment and I am done. Dr. Bates, in +his history of the Pennsylvania troops, remarks that this +regiment was composed of a remarkable body of men. +This judgment must have been based upon his knowledge +of their work. Every known trade was represented in +its ranks. Danville gave us a company of iron workers +and merchants, Catawissa and Bloomsburg, mechanics, +tradesmen, and farmers. From Mauch Chunk we had +two companies, which included many miners. From +Wyoming and Bradford we had three companies of +sturdy, intelligent young farmers intermingled with some +mechanics and tradesmen. Scranton, small as she was +then, gave us two companies, which was scarcely a moiety +of the number she sent into the service. I well remember +how our flourishing Young Men's Christian Association +was practically suspended because its members had gone +to the war, and old Nay Aug Hose Company, the pride +of the town, in which many of us had learned the little +we knew of drill, was practically defunct for want of a +membership which had "gone to the war." Of these two +Scranton companies, Company K had as its basis the old +Scranton City Guard, a militia organization which, if not +large, was thoroughly well drilled and made up of most +excellent material. Captain Richard Stillwell, who commanded +this company, had organized the City Guard and +been its captain from the beginning. The other Scranton +company was perhaps more distinctively peculiar in its +personnel than either of the other companies. It was +composed almost exclusively of Delaware, Lackawanna +& Western Railroad shop and coal men, and was known +as the Railroad Guards. In its ranks were locomotive +engineers, firemen, brakemen, trainmen, machinists, telegraph +operators, despatchers, railroad-shop men, a few +miners, foremen, coal-breaker men, etc. Their captain, +James Archbald, Jr., was assistant to his father as chief +engineer of the road, and he used to say that with his +company he could survey, lay out, build and operate a +railroad. The first sergeant of that company, George +Conklin, brother of D. H. Conklin, chief despatcher of +the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western, and his assistant, +had been one of the first to learn the art of reading telegraph +messages by ear, an accomplishment then quite +uncommon. His memory had therefore been so developed +that after a few times calling his company roll he +dispensed with the book and called it alphabetically from +memory. Keeping a hundred names in his mind in proper +order we thought quite a feat. Forty years later, at one +of our reunions, Mr. Conklin, now superintendent of a +railroad, was present. I asked him if he remembered +calling his company roll from memory.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said he, "and I can do it now, and recall every +face and voice," and he began and rattled off the names +of his roll. He said sometimes in the old days the boys +would try to fool him by getting a comrade to answer +for them, but they could never do it, he would detect the +different voice instantly.</p> + +<p>Now, as I close this narrative, shall I speak of the gala +day of our home-coming? I can, of course, only speak +of the one I participated in, the coming home to Scranton +of Companies I and K and the members of the field and +staff who lived here. This, however, will be a fair description +of the reception each of the other companies +received at their respective homes. Home-coming from +the war! Can we who know of it only as we read appreciate +such a home-coming? That was forty-one years +ago the 25th of last May. Union Hall, on Lackawanna +Avenue, midway between Wyoming and Penn, had been +festooned with flags, and in it a sumptuous dinner awaited +us. A committee of prominent citizens, our old friends, +not one of whom is now living, met us some distance +down the road. A large delegation of Scranton's ladies +were at the hall to welcome and serve us, and of these, +the last one, one of the mothers and matrons, has just +passed into the great beyond. Many of those of our own +age, the special attraction of the returning "boys," have +also gone, but a goodly number still remain. They will +recall this picture with not a little interest, I am sure. +If perchance cheeks should be wet and spectacles moistened +as they read, it will be but a reproduction of the +emotions of that beautiful day more than forty years ago. +No soldier boys ever received a more joyous or hearty +welcome. The bountiful repast was hurriedly eaten, for +anxious mothers, wives, sisters, and sweethearts were +there, whose claim upon their returning "boy in blue" for +holier and tenderer relationship was paramount.</p> + +<p>Amidst all these joyous reunions, were there no +shadows? Ah, yes. In the brief period of nine months +our regiment had lost forty per cent. of its membership. +Company I had gone to the front with one hundred and +one stalwart officers and men, and but sixty-eight came +back with the company. Of the missing names, Daniel +S. Gardner, Moses H. Ames, George H. Cator, Daniel +Reed, Richard A. Smith, and John B. West were killed +in battle or died of wounds soon after; Orville Sharp had +died in the service. The others had succumbed to the +hardships of the service and been discharged. Of the +same number Company K took into the service, sixty-six +came home with the company. Sergeant Martin L. +Hower, Richard Davis, Jacob Eschenbach, Jephtha Milligan, +Allen Sparks, Obadiah Sherwood, and David C. +Young had been killed in battle or died of wounds; +Thomas D. Davis, Jesse P. Kortz, Samuel Snyder, James +Scull, Solon Searles, and John W. Wright had died in +the service. The most conspicuous figure in the regiment, +our colonel, Richard A. Oakford, had been the first to +fall. So that amidst our rejoicings there were a multitude +of hearts unutterably sad. Will the time ever come +when "the bitter shall not be mingled with the sweet" +and tears of sorrow shall not drown the cup of gladness? +Let us hope and pray that it may; and now, as Father +Time tenderly turns down the heroic leaf of the One +Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, let +us find comfort in the truth,</p> + +<p> +"<i>Dulce et decorum est, pro patria mori.</i>"<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr class="double" /> +<h3><a name="APPENDIX" id="APPENDIX"></a>APPENDIX</h3> +<hr class="single" /> + + +<p class="sml1">The following are copies of the muster-out rolls of the Field and +Staff and the several companies of the One Hundred and Thirty-second +Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, taken originally from +Bates's History, and compared and corrected from the original rolls +in the Adjutant-General's office, at Harrisburg, Pa. Several corrections +have been made from the personal recollections of officers and +men whom I have been able to consult. There are doubtless errors in +the original rolls, owing to the paucity of records in the hands of +those whose duty it was to make them at the time of muster-out, +owing to resignations and other casualties. Some of these officers +were new in the command, and complete records were not in their +hands. It will be remembered that the whole period of service of +the One Hundred and Thirty-second was occupied in the three +strenuous campaigns of Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, +during which regimental and company baggage, which included +official records, were seldom seen, and in many cases were +entirely lost. For example, at the battle of Chancellorsville on the +fateful 3d of May, we had lain in line of battle behind our knapsacks +piled up in twos, as a little protection from bullets. When we were +ordered forward, so quick was the movement, that these knapsacks, +and officers' luggage as well, were ordered to be left. When, two +hours later, on our return we reached this ground, we found our +knapsacks were at the bottom of an earth-work which had been +hurriedly thrown up during our absence, over which a line of +batteries thrust the frowning muzzles of their guns. With one or +two exceptions (where the officer commanding the company happened +to have it in his pocket), the company rolls were lost in +the knapsacks of the first sergeant, whose duty it was to carry it. +Thereupon new rolls had to be made up, and of course mostly from +memory. Under all these circumstances, the wonder is that there +are not more errors in them. Almost at the last moment did I +learn that I could include these rolls in my book, without exceeding +its limits under the contract price. During this time I have endeavored +at considerable expense and labor to get them correct, +but even so, I cannot hope that they are more than approximately +complete. Nothing can be more sacred or valuable to the veteran +and his descendants than his war record. The difficulty with these +rolls will be found I fear not so much in what is so briefly stated, +but in what has been inadvertently omitted, and which was necessary +to a complete record. There are a number of desertions. I +have given them as they are on the rolls. It is possible that some +of these men may have dropped out of the column from exhaustion +on the march, fallen sick and had been taken to some hospital +and died without identification. Failing to report at roll-call and +being unaccounted for, they would be carried on the company rolls +as "absent without leave," until prolonged absence without information +would compel the adding of the fearful word "deserted." +There were instances where men taken sick made their way home +without leave and were marked deserters. After recovering from +a severe case of "army fever" they returned again to duty. This +was in violation of discipline, and under the strict letter of the +law they were deserters, but they saved the government the cost +of their nursing, and, what is more, probably saved their lives and +subsequent service by their going. I mention these things so that +where the record appears harsh, the reader may know that possibly, +if all the facts had been known, it might have been far different.</p> + + +<p class="c top5">FIELD AND STAFF.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Richard A. Oakford</span>, colonel, mustered in Aug. 22, 1862; killed +at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Vincent M. Wilcox</span>, colonel, mustered in Aug. 26, 1862; promoted +from lieutenant-colonel September, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles Albright</span>, colonel, mustered in Aug. 22, 1862; promoted +from major to lieutenant-colonel September, 1862, to colonel +Jan. 24, 1863; mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph E. Shreve</span>, lieutenant-colonel, promoted from captain +Co. A to major September, 1862, to lieutenant-colonel Jan. 24, 1863; +mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Frederick L. Hitchcock</span>, major, mustered in Aug. 22, 1862; promoted +from adjutant Jan. 24, 1863; twice wounded at Fredericksburg +Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Austin F. Clapp</span>, adjutant, promoted from corporal Co. K to +sergeant-major Nov. 1, 1862; to adjutant Jan. 24, 1863; mustered +out with regiment May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Clinton W. Neal</span>, quartermaster, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; +promoted from Co. E Aug. 22, 1862; mustered out with regiment +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James W. Anawalt</span>, surgeon (major), mustered in Sept. 22, +1862; mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George K. Thompson</span>, assistant surgeon (first lieutenant), mustered +in Aug. 19, 1862; mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George W. Hoover</span>, assistant surgeon (first lieutenant), mustered +in Sept. 3, 1862; mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">A. H. Schoonmaker</span>, chaplain (first lieutenant), mustered in Sept. +20, 1862; mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas Maxwell</span>, sergeant-major, promoted to sergeant-major +from Co. A Aug. 22, 1862; promoted to first lieutenant Co. A Nov. +1, 1862. (See Co. A.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Frank J. Deemer</span>, sergeant-major, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; +promoted from Co. K Jan. 24, 1863; mustered out with regiment +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Elmore H. Wells</span>, quartermaster-sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, +1862; promoted from Co. B Aug. 26, 1862; owing to prolonged +sickness in hospital returned to Co. Jan. 1, 1863. (See Co. B.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Brooks A. Bass</span>, quartermaster-sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, +1862; promoted from Co. I Jan. 1, 1863; mustered out with +regiment May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John F. Salmon</span>, commissary-sergeant, mustered in Aug. 13, +1862; promoted from Co. G Aug. 15, 1862; died at Harper's +Ferry, Va., Oct. 16, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William W. Coolbaugh</span>, commissary-sergeant, mustered in Aug. +15, 1862; promoted from Co. K Oct. 17, 1862; transferred to company +Dec. 25, 1862. (See Co. K.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Alonzo R. Case</span>, commissary-sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; +promoted from sergeant Co. C Dec. 25, 1862; mustered out with +regiment May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Horace A. Deans</span>, hospital steward, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +promoted from Co. I Oct. 1, 1862; transferred to ranks April 1, +1863. (See Co. I.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Moses G. Corwin</span>, hospital steward, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; +promoted from Co. K April 6, 1863; mustered out with regiment +May 24, 1863.</p> + + +<p class="c top5">COMPANY A.<a name="FNanchor_G_7" id="FNanchor_G_7"></a><a href="#Footnote-G" class="fnanchor" title="Go to footnote G.">[G]</a></p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph E. Shreve</span>, captain, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +to major. See Field and Staff.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles C. Norris</span>, captain, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from second lieutenant Nov. 1, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George W. Vangilder</span>, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +discharged on surgeon's certificate Oct. 26, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas Maxwell</span>, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; +promoted from sergeant-major Nov. 1, 1862; mustered out with +regiment.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Ed. W. Roderick</span>, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; +promoted from private; mustered out with company.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">David Shutt</span>, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from sergeant March 1, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">J. M. Hassenplug</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John S. Ware</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from corporal March 1, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Isaac D. Crewitt</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from corporal March 1, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Michael Kessler</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from private March 6, 1863; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. +13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George Lovett</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from private Feb. 1, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jacob H. Miller</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged, +Jan. 30, 1863, at Washington, for wounds received at Antietam, Va., +Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph H. Nevins</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate March 6, 1863, at Baltimore, Md.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Daniel Vanrouk</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jacob Redfield</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from private Sept. 18, 1862; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May +3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James Williams</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from private Oct. 15, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Conrad S. Aten</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from private Dec. 3, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George Snyder</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; absent, sick, +at muster-out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Alex. Huntington</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from private Feb. 1, 1863; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel Stall</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from private Feb. 1, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry Vincent</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from private March 6, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Harig</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +private March 6, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles Flick</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +at Baltimore, Md., Dec. 6, 1862, of wounds received at Antietam +Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Nathan F. Lightner</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +at Newark, N. J., on surgeon's certificate Dec. 8, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Wm. C. McCormick</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +March 1, 1863; wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., +Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry L. Shick</span>, musician, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Amos Appleman</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Sylvester W. Arnwine</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; +wounded at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry Adams</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Sept. +22 of wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Arthur W. Beaver</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jacob J. Bookmiller</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded +at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Franklin G. Blee</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jeremiah Black</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William H. Carroll</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; +wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel E. Cooper</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; deserted +Oct. 22, 1862; left at Bolivar Heights, Va.; sick, failed to return +to company.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Franklin Devine</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Davis</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel V. Dye</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +at Philadelphia on surgeon's certificate April 8, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Earp</span>, Jr., private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James S. Easton</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Hiram Eggert</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph Feidel</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel Flickinger</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John B. A. Foin</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James Foster</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">C. W. Fitzsimmons</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John L. Fields</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George Francis</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +at Harrisburg on surgeon's certificate Nov. 15, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas Goodall</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel Gulicks</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Gibson</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph Hale</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George E. Hunt</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Adam Hornberger</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">D. Hendrickson</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel Hillner</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Hiram Hummel</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas Jones</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas James</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">W. J. W. Klase</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Daniel J. P. Klase</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Conrad Lechthaler</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; left +sick at Warrenton, Va., Nov. 14, 1862; reported discharged; no +official notice received.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel Langer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Leichow</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +Oct. 28, 1862, for wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jacob Long</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Watkin Morgan</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Levi M. Miller</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jacob W. Moyer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Leonard Mayer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Cornelius C. Moyer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Morris</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John McCoy</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James McKee</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted +Aug. 16, 1862, from Harrisburg.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Wm. B. Neese</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James M. Phillips</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John P. Reaser</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Simon Reidy</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Isaac Rantz</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">David H. Rank</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Jan. 29, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Wm. A. Ringler</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +May 5, 1863, for wounds received at Antietam, Md., September 17, +1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jonathan Rice</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Stewart</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Edward D. Smith</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Sunday</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">August Schriever</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Stine</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Edwin L. Smith</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Oliver B. Switzer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Sharp M. Snyder</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Aaron Sechler</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Archibald Vandling</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +at Harrisburg on surgeon's certificate Nov. 28, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Angus Wright</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Andrew Waugh</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Wallace</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; left sick in +hospital at Harper's Ferry, Va.; reported discharged; no official +notice received.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel Wote</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Matthew R. Wright</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James D. Wray</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; deserted +Sept. 19, 1862.</p> + + +<p class="c top5">COMPANY B.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Smith W. Ingham</span>, captain, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; resigned +on surgeon's certificate at Georgetown, Sem. Hospital, Feb. 5, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George H. Eastman</span>, captain, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from first lieutenant Feb. 8, 1863; wounded at Chancellorsville, +Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Anson G. Carpenter</span>, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; +promoted from second lieutenant Feb. 8, 1863; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">DeWitt C. Kitchen</span>, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 11, +1862; promoted to first sergeant Sept. 18, 1862; to second lieutenant +Feb. 8, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John D. Smith</span>, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +to sergeant Nov. 1, 1862; to first sergeant Feb. 8, 1863; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George D. Warner</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; buried in National Cemetery, +Sec. 26, Lot A, Grave 14.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jonas H. Farr</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +from corporal Sept. 18, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Freeman H. Dixon</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; captured +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; promoted from corporal +Feb. 8, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Julian W. Stellwell</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; +promoted to corporal Sept. 12, 1862; to sergeant Feb. 8, 1863; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Abner Lewis</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +from private Nov. 1, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John H. Teneyck</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; buried in National Cemetery, +Sec. 26, Lot A, Grave 15.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John B. Overfield</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John W. Reynolds</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +to corporal Sept. 12, 1862; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Calvin L. Briggs</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +to corporal Feb. 8, 1863; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., +May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Hansom H. Carrier</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +to corporal Feb. 8, 1863; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., +May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Isaac Polmatien</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +to corporal Feb. 8, 1862; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May +3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Daniel W. Smith</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George N. Colvin</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +to corporal Feb. 8, 1863; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Porter Carpenter</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +to corporal Feb. 8, 1863; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James N. Gardner</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Nov. 23, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Otis Gilmore</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; discharged at Ascension Hospital, +Washington, D. C., on surgeon's certificate December 23, +1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Decatur Hewett</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; deserted +April 11, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Andrew J. Lewis</span>, musician, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; prisoner +of war from May 3 to May 22, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Robert L. Reynolds</span>, musician, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; prisoner +of war from May 3 to May 22, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Elias Aton</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Loren Ball</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; prisoner of +war from May 3 to May 22, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John R. Briggs</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Willard E. Bullock</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; +wounded at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph Billings</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel Bishop</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas J. Chase</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; absent +in hospital since Sept. 6, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Levi Conklin</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas A. Castle</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George A. Carney</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Seth A. Cobb</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Oliver E. Clark</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Adelbert Colvin</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +at Harwood Hospital, Washington, on surgeon's certificate Sept. +25, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Benjamin V. Cole</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jerome E. Detrick</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James C. Degraw</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Ezra Dean</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged at +Harwood Hospital, Washington, on surgeon's certificate Sept. 29, +1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles Evans</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John F. Evans</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died at +Acquia Creek, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery, +Washington, D. C.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Sylvester Farnham</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Elisha Farnham</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded +with loss of arm at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 1, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Dennis D. Gardner</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Alonzo E. Gregory</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Philander Grow</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died near +Falmouth, Va., Dec. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Leslie E. Hawley</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; left sick +at Harper's Ferry Oct. 30, 1862, discharged but received no official +notice.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel Hooper</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas M. Hines</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Harvey B. Howe</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +at Acquia Creek Hospital on surgeon's certificate Feb. 1, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Peter B. Hanyon</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +at Convalescent Camp Hospital on surgeon's certificate Feb. 15, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George M. Harding</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; discharged at hospital, +Washington, on surgeon's certificate March 10, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Benjamin H. Hanyon</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; deserted +Sept. 17, 1862; left in Smoketown Hospital.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Stephen T. Ingham</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Horace Jackson</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Judson A. Jayne</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Martin V. Kennedy</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Silas G. Lewis</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Francis M. Lewis</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862, and at Chancellorsville, Va., +May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Ezra A. Lawbert</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Alvah Letteen</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +at Fort Wood Hospital, N. Y. Harbor, on surgeon's certificate +March 4, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Albanus Little</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; absent at muster-out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Uriah Mott</span>, private, mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Emmet J. Mathewson</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles W. Martin</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +at Hammond's Hospital, Point Pleasant, Md., on surgeon's +certificate Jan. 6, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Wilson D. Minor</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; discharged on surgeon's certificate +Nov. 1, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas S. Moore</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died at +Georgetown, D. C., Oct. 14, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Oliver C. Newberg</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +at Patent Office, 400 F, Washington, D. C., on surgeon's +certificate Jan. 11, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Horace O'Neal</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry Ornt</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Elisha Pedrick</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Byron Prevost</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles Plattenburg</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Rufus F. Parrish</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; discharged on surgeon's certificate +Feb. 25, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Reuben Plattenburg</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died +at Washington, D. C., March 12, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William H. Reynolds</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; +wounded at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; deserted Oct. 20, 1862; +returned January 13, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Albert G. Reynolds</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Oliver E. Reynolds</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Perry T. Rought</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Washington L. Rought</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; +discharged at Washington on surgeon's certificate Feb. 12, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Milot Roberts</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died Sept. +20 of wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Esick Smith</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jeremiah Stanton</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Davis C. Smith</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; left in +hospital near Falmouth May 15, 1863; absent at muster-out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Shoemaker</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Asa Smerd</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; left sick at Belle +Plains Landing Dec. 6, 1862; absent sick at muster-out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Harman Stark</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Wesley J. Stark</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; deserted +Nov. 20, 1862; returned March 12, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Burton Shoemaker</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +at New York on surgeon's certificate Jan. 6, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John H. Smith</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; buried in National Cemetery, Sec. +26, Lot A, Grave 16.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph W. Stanton</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; left +sick at Harper's Ferry Oct. 30, 1862; deserted from hospital.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jacob A. Thomas</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Utley Turner</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +at Philadelphia on surgeon's certificate Jan. 6, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry B. Turner</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">W. B. Vanarsdale</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Andrew M. Wandle</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; captured +at Sniker's Gap, Va., Nov. 4, 1862, prisoner of war from +Nov. 4 to Dec. 24, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Wall</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Elmore H. Wells</span><a name="FNanchor_H_8" id="FNanchor_H_8"></a><a href="#Footnote-H" class="fnanchor" title="Go to footnote H.">[H]</a>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +to quartermaster-sergeant of regiment Aug. 26, 1862; returned to +company Jan. 1, 1863; mustered out with company.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Hiram E. Worden</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + + +<p class="c top5">COMPANY C.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Herman Townsend</span>, captain, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Jan. 10, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles M. McDougal</span>, captain, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; +promoted from first lieutenant Jan. 10, 1863; wounded at Fredericksburg, +Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James A. Rogers</span>, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; +promoted from sergeant to first sergeant Sept. 18, 1862; to first +lieutenant Jan. 10, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Anson C. Cranmer</span>, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; +killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Levi D. Landon</span>, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; +promoted from first sergeant Sept. 18, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Russell J. Ross</span>, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +from corporal Jan. 11, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">DeWitt Teaver</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Amos W. Vanfleet</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +from corporal Sept. 18, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Andrew E. Watts</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +to corporal Sept. 18, 1862; to sergeant Jan. 11, 1863; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel W. Wilcox</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +from corporal Oct. 1, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John C. Craven</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Feb. 5, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Alonzo R. Case</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +to commissary-sergeant Dec. 25, 1862. (See Field and Staff.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">H. W. Parkhurst</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; absent, +sick, at muster-out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John A. Bloom</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John McClure</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +to corporal Jan. 11, 1863; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May +3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Lucien Bothwell</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +to corporal Jan. 11, 1863; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Elijah R. Hickok</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +to corporal March 1, 1863; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Wallace Biddle</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Feb. 15, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel E. Blanchard</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; +discharged on surgeon's certificate Feb. 16, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Melville F. Ephline</span>, musician, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Spencer</span>, musician, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Allen M. Ayres</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; absent sick at muster-out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Harrison B. Benson</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George Bennett</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Manning Bailey</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Amos S. Boothe</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; absent +sick at muster-out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James A. Barnes</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jeremiah Bailey</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Nov. 24, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel H. Bartlett</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died +at Falmouth, Va., Feb. 4, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Oliver Blanchard</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died +Sept. 24 of wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; +buried in National Cemetery, Sec. 26, Lot A, Grave 181.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Leroy J. Cease</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas D. Cross</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Nathan S. Denmark</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Lewis Darling</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Simeon Elliott</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Sylvester M. Green</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Grauteer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Oscar C. Griswold</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Ambrose S. Gray</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Martin W. Gray</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Dec. 22, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry H. Hoagland</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jasper N. Hoagland</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Isaac N. Harvey</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George W. Harvey</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John J. Howland</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Truman Harris</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><i>Solon J. Hickok</i>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Stephen C. Hickok</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles O. Hazleton</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate April 20, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Hamilton</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Feb. 15, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Francis Harris</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died at +Le Roy, Pa., Jan. 18, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John C. Hurlburt</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Seth Howland</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Andrew E. Hoagland</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William W. Haxton</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; deserted +Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Silick June</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Frederick Kerrick</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Feb. 4, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Roscoe S. Loomis</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">David P. Lindley</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel Lindley</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; prisoner +of war; date not given; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Ira Lindley</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +April 29, 1863; expiration of term.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Levi R. Lester</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died at +Washington, D. C., Feb. 9, 1863; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Lewis M. Leonard</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George Mallory</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Nov. 28, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles L. Miles</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died near +Falmouth, Va., May 12, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Lyman R. Newell</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Feb. 15, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Stephen A. Randall</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John H. Newell</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +Oct. 29, 1862, on surgeon's certificate of disability.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Randall</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles M. Rogers</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Judson A. Royse</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">DeWitt C. Robinson</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jeremiah Rockwell</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate March 23, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Lynds A. Spencer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James Soper</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John B. Streets</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Geo. C. Shoemaker</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Schnader</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Solomon Stone</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; prisoner +of war; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Lewis Sellard</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Smith</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Feb. 9, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Daniel W. Smith</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Feb. 26, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Nathan J. Spencer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate April 2, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James M. Snader</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Nov. 28, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Luke P. Streeter</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Oct. 12, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jeremiah Smith</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died near +Falmouth, Va., Jan. 8, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles B. Thomas</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George M. Van Dyke</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">E. G. Van Dyke</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; prisoner +of war; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Laning N. Vargason</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Sevellon A. Wilcox</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jefferson A. Witherall</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; +mustered out with company Aug. 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles Walter</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Chauncey W. Wheeler</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Merton C. Wright</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +Sept. 11, 1862, on surgeon's certificate.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph N. Wright</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged +Sept. 11, 1862, on surgeon's certificate.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Roswell A. Walker</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died +at Belle Plain, Va., Dec. 7, 1862.</p> + + +<p class="c top5">COMPANY D.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles H. Chase</span>, captain, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; resigned +Dec. 6, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">W. H. Carnochan</span>, captain, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from second lieutenant Nov. 29, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles E. Gladding</span>, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, +1862; mustered out with company Nov. 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">J. W. Brown</span>, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; +discharged Aug. 20, 1862, to date Aug. 14, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">F. Marion Wells</span>, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; +promoted from first sergeant Dec. 6, 1862; wounded with loss of +leg at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; absent in hospital at +muster-out; died a few days later.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William C. Cobb</span>, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; +promoted to first sergeant Feb. 6, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Alvah L. Cooper</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; promoted +from corporal Feb. 6, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Lert Ballard</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Albert Long</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; promoted +from corporal Jan. 29, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Albert S. Cobb</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; promoted +from corporal Feb. 6, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Daniel Grace</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; promoted +to corporal April 16, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Alonzo Ross</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1863; promoted to +corporal April 16, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Albert Preston</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; promoted to corporal Feb. +4, 1863; mustered out with company.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James F. Carman</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1863; promoted +to corporal Jan. 7, 1863; mustered out with company.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Albert O. Scott</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; promoted to corporal Feb. +6, 1863; mustered out with company.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Furman Bullock</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; promoted +to corporal Feb. 6, 1863; mustered out with company.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel Harkness</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John C. McMahon</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Oct. 14, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Elihu B. Chase</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Oct. 14, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">L. N. Burnham</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; died +Nov. 14, 1862, of wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; +buried at Chester, Pa.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Hubbard H. Williams</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; +deserted at Washington, D. C., Nov. 10, 1862; returned May 1, +1865; discharged by General Order June 12, 1865.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Nathaniel Mattock</span>, musician, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Daniel H. Moore</span>, musician, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Jan. 6, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Stephen T. Hall</span>, wagoner, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +to corporal Aug. 15, 1862; reduced to ranks Feb. 6, 1863; +mustered out with company.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John B. Alexander</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Julian L. Andrus</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Nathan E. Bailey</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles Boyce</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Darius Bullock</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph Boughton</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Warren S. Bixley</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Ellis H. Best</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George Bennett</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Aaron W. Bailey</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Jan. 20, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Oliver E. Blakeslee</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; died +at Washington, D. C., Jan. 23, 1863; pneumonia.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Orrin G. Blakeslee</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; died +at Harper's Ferry, Va., Nov. 19, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Warren S. Bailey</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; deserted +Oct. 3, 1862, at Harper's Ferry.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Richard W. Canedy</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William M. Clark</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Daniel Carman</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles O. Dark</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Christopher Denmark</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; +wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Reuben Dudley</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate March 1, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Peter Fuller</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; in hospital at muster-out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George Fields</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Leander L. Gregory</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George C. Gerould</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; died +Oct. 14 of wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Richard M. Howland</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George W. Howland</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jerome S. Hill</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George W. Hardy</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Martin Harkness</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Dec. 16, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Benjamin F. Jones</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Lewis W. Jones</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Richard M. Johnson</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; deserted +Sept. 14, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Alvah M. Kent</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas Lee</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Lewis Laurent</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Festus Lyon</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William A. Mores</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph F. Morley</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Gophar Morgan</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Nov. 20, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Abner Miller</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Dec. 31, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John McGregor</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George W. McAlister</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James N. McAlister</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; deserted +Sept. 14, 1862; returned March 31, 1863; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Michael E. McIntosh</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; +prisoner of war from Nov. 14 to Dec. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Orrin P. McAllister</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Dec. 18, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel R. McMahon</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; +killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Isaac P. McIntyre</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; died +near Falmouth, Va., Dec. 22, of wounds received at Fredericksburg, +Va., Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William F. Newell</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry A. Newell</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Chester Northrop</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Peet</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; absent in +hospital at muster-out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James Patterson</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Richard W. Phillips</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Homer T. Rhodes</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry J. Russell</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">S. Cheney Roby</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Nehemiah Robinson</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; deserted +at Frederick City, Md., Sept. 14, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles N. Smith</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Byron B. Slade</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Norman C. Shepherd</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Edward C. Strong</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Feb. 7, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Barlow Smith</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; died at +Harper's Ferry, Va., Nov. 12, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Conrad Schantz</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; deserted at +Harrisburg Aug. 15, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">J. O. Van Buskerk</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Feb. 6, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph S. Wilcox</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Barnum Wilcox</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Norman Wilcox</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded +at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Nathan Wilcox</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862, and at Chancellorsville, Va., +May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Ira V. Williams</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded +at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles W. Whipple</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; +wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles Williams</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Oct. 14, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Ezra H. Welch</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; died at +Belle Plain, Va., Dec. 4, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">W. H. Woodworth</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; died at +Falmouth, Va., Jan. 9, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Martin West</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; deserted +October, 1862.</p> + + +<p class="c top5">COMPANY E.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Michael Whitmoyer</span>, captain, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Andrew C. Mensch</span>, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">D. Ramsey Melick</span>, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, +1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William A. Barton</span>, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William H. Gilmore</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William J. Renn</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles P. Sloan</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted +from corporal Jan. 10, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Isaac N. Kline</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted +from corporal Jan. 10, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Benjamin F. Johnston</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Clark Kressler</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry M. Johnston</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Ephraim N. Kline</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Edward C. Green</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +to corporal Nov. 10, 1862; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John N. Hughes</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted +to corporal Jan. 10, 1863.; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James B. Fortner</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted +to corporal Jan. 10, 1863; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel Wood</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted +to corporal Feb. 25, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William C. Robinson</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; +discharged at Harper's Ferry on surgeon's certificate Oct. 26, +1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James P. Melick</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; died at +Washington, D. C., Dec. 28, of wounds received at Fredericksburg, +Va., Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Clinton W. Neal</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted +to quartermaster Aug. 22, 1862. (See Field and Staff.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Staley</span>, musician, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Azima V. Hower</span>, musician, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Jan. 29, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Tillman Faux</span>, wagoner, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 23, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Lafaye Applegate</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Leonard Beagle</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Hiram H. Brodt</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jacob W. Bomboy</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James S. Bomboy</span>; private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Edward W. Coleman</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James W. Cook</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James Cadman</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Peter O. Crist</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry Croop</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Oct. 8, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas Carothers</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Feb. 15, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Abel Deily</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Moore Eves</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John F. Eck</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Moses J. French</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Clod'y S. M. Fisher</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; wounded +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles A. Folk</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Robert Gillaspy</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John P. Guilds</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Clinton C. Hughes</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry C. Hartman</span>, Sr., private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">C. H. Hendershot</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William H. Hunter</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry C. Hartman, Jr.</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel Harder</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; prisoner +from Dec. 13, 1862, to May 22, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Adam Heist</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George W. Howell</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel Harp</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Feb. 13, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Isaiah S. Hartman</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; died +Oct. 16 of wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jesse M. Howell</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died near +Falmouth, Va., Jan. 8, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph S. Hayman</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; deserted +Aug. 30, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel R. Johnson</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Hiram F. Kline</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas O. Kline</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel C. Krickbaum</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Amos Y. Kisner</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George M. Kline</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Augustus M. Kurtz</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Francis M. Lutz</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Isaac M. Lyons</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph W. Lyons</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; absent +sick in hospital since Oct. 30, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph Lawton</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Lawton</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Lazarus</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; killed +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Daniel Markley</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Lemuel Mood</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles Muffley</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Clark Price</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Levi H. Priest</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Oliver Palmer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph Penrose</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; missed in +action at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">David Ruckle</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Josiah Reedy</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Roadarmel</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Isaac Roadarmel</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jeremiah Reese</span>, private, mustered in Sept. 3, 1862; captured +at Chancellorsville, Va.; prisoner from May 3 to May 22, 1863; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jonathan W. Snyder</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles W. Snyder</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863..</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Josiah Stiles</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; absent, sick +in hospital since Sept. 16, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Frederick M. Staley</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George W. Sterner</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry H. Sands</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William C. Shaw</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; absent, +sick, at muster-out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James F. Trump</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel M. Vanhorne</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; died +at Washington, D. C., Feb. 16, 1863; buried in Harmony Burial +Grounds, D. C.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Philip Watts</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Amasa Whitenite</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; wounded +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Gottlieb Wagoner</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Gaylord Whitmoyer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Feb. 17, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel Young</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Franklin J. R. Zellars</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + + +<p class="c top5">COMPANY F.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George W. Wilhelm</span>, captain, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +Dec. 5, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jacob D. Laciar</span>, captain, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; promoted from second lieutenant +Jan. 5, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas Musselman</span>, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Kerns</span>, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from corporal to sergeant Sept. 22, 1862; to second lieutenant +Jan. 5, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Oliver Breneiser</span>, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +wounded at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, and at Fredericksburg, Va., +Dec. 13, 1862; promoted to corporal Sept. 22, 1862, to first sergeant +Jan. 5, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jacob Miller</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Hoff</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from +corporal Nov. 22, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles Mack</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from corporal March 1, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Sherry</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Oliver F. Musselman</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +killed at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">F. C. Wintemute</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +to corporal Aug. 18, 1862; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">David M. Jones</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Albert E. Sheets</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Miner</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William R. Rex</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +to corporal Nov. 22, 1862; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Lewis Trainer</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +to corporal Nov. 22, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Schultz</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; promoted to corporal Jan. 2, +1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph Schadel</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died at +Belle Plain, Va., Nov. 28, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George W. Duryea</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted +Aug. 16, 1862, from Camp Curtin.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Edwin Seyfried</span>, musician, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Feb. 25, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Bar't Armbruster</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">David Arner</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Allen</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; captured +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">August Belsner</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded +at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas Baker</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Daniel Bartley</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted +Sept. 12, 1862, near Rockville, Md.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Stephen Cunfer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas Christine</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph L. Clewell</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died at +Harper's Ferry, Va., Oct. 1 of wounds received at Antietam, Md., +Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Chas. S. Dreisbach</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph B. Dreisbach</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph Drumbore</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +Jan. 13, 1863, for wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. +17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Peter Everts</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Everts</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jonathan Eck</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel Everts</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Feb. 13, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Owen C. Fullweiler</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; absent, +sick, at muster-out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Amon Fritz</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Lewis Frederick</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Frantz</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; absent, sick, at muster-out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Aaron H. Gumbard</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry Grow</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George H. Gearhard</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +March 10, 1863, for wounds received at Fredericksburg, +Va., Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel Grow</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Dec. +21 of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; +buried at Alexandria; Grave 630.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph Hontz</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Oliver Hoff</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Frederick Hosler</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John W. Hottenstein</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George Houser</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Sebastian Hon</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Hills</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Aug. +16, 1862, from Camp Curtin.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Alex. Johnson</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel Keene</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Edwin Kemmerer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Kistler</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded, +with loss of arm, at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; discharged, +date unknown.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Daniel Kressley</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Jan. 15, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel D. Lynn</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Levi M. Levy</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Feb. 25, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Lents</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Jan. 2, +1863, of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Francis H. Moser</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Monroe Martin</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Alexander Mills</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Sept. 29, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles F. Moyer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died +Sept. 22 of wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel McCance</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Daniel McGee</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jacob Notestein</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Valentine Neumoyer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Moses Neyer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James E. Nace</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Jan. 2, +1863, of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Enos Olwerstefler</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Chas. A. Patterson</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jacob Rodfink</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Leopold Rice</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jacob Ridler</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Aaron Rex</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Antietam Sept. 17, 1862; died at Smoketown, Md., Nov. 11, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Chas. W. Ramaley</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died +at Windmill Point, Va., Jan. 27, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Paul Solt</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William S. Siegfried</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Josiah Sandel</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel Steigerwalt</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Lewis Steigerwalt</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles Sinker</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jacob Strouse</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Otto Sterner</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died March +25, 1863, of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Francis Solt</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Sept. 14, +1862, at Frederick City, Md.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry Wernstein</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + + +<p class="c top5">COMPANY G.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Robert A. Abbott</span>, captain, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +Jan. 13, 1863, for wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Isaac Howard</span>, captain, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from private to first sergeant Jan. 1, 1863, to captain Jan. 14, 1863; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John C. Dolan</span>, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +wounded at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; discharged on surgeon's +certificate Jan. 30, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William H. Fulton</span>, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +promoted from sergeant March 17, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Edmund H. Salkeld</span>, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, +1862; discharged March 17, 1863, for wounds received at Fredericksburg, +Va., Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Weiss</span>, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from sergeant March 17, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles Simons</span>, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from corporal Feb. 12, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Theop. Williams</span>, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from private to sergeant, to first sergeant Nov. 13, 1862; +killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John I. C. Williams</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +wounded at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joshua Butler</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from corporal Jan. 14, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Radcliff</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +to corporal Feb. 16, 1863; to sergeant March 17, 1863; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles Weiss</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +to corporal, to sergeant Feb. 15, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Graver</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Sept. 9, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George Rase</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted +Sept. 5, 1862, at Camp Whipple.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Osborn</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded, +with loss of leg, at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; discharged, +date not given.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">David Gabret</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William J. Springer</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Leslie</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Hugh Collan</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted +to corporal Feb. 26, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Peter Leaser</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to +corporal Feb. 26, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William H. Noble</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Feb. 4, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Elijah Youtz</span>, musician, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Dec. 22, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles Abner</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph Backert</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George Buck</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted +August 16, 1862, at Camp Curtin.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph Conley</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Peter Cassady</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Callahan</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Davis</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Bernard Dempsey</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James Derbyshire</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Michael Dougherty</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">W. M. Darlington</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died at +Washington, D. C., of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., +Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Patrick Elliott</span>, private, mustered in Aug 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Earley</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Jan. 31, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Ephlin</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed at Fredericksburg, +Va., Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Patrick Fleming</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Conrad Fry</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +Dec. 9 for wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Andrew Floyd</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died near +Falmouth, Va., March 2, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles Holmes</span>, private; mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Hay</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Morgan Jenkins</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Christian Klingle</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Matthew Kelley</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William F. Klotz</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John F. Klotz</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; captured +Dec. 12, 1862; absent, at camp parole, Annapolis, Md., at muster-out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Bernard Kelly</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Willoughby Koons</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; absent at muster-out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Knauss</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Feb. 16, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William F. Krum</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died at +Smoketown, Md., of wounds received at Antietam Sept. 17, 1862; +buried in National Cemetery, Sec. 26, Lot B, Grave 180.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry Lange</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Leed</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jonas Locke</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Dec. 24, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry Mansfield</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jonathan L. Miller</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Mannes Mayer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died at +Smoketown, Md., of wounds received at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Edward P. Meelick</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Luke Masterson</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted +Aug. 16, 1862, at Camp Curtin.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John McGovern</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +April 10, 1863, for wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Michael McCullough</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James Patterson</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Alfred Poh</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Michael Reily</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Hugh Reily</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Hugo Ronemus</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jonathan C. Ruch</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died at +Smoketown, Md., of wounds received at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas Rigby</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted +Sept. 11, 1862, at Boonsborough, Md.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Paul Sowerwine</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">David Shaffer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jacob Shingler</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Bernhard Smith</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas Smitham</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Robert Synard</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Stacy</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Schoonover</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">H. B. Schoonover</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John F. Salmon</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +to commissary-sergeant Aug. 15, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas Sproll</span>, wagoner, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; absent at muster-out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Toner</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Aug. +16, 1862, Camp Curtin.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Weisly</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Weaver Tilghman</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry Wintersteen</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +Feb. 28, 1863, for wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. +17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Michael Welsh</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate March 20, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Rufus Walters</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted +Aug. 16, 1862, Camp Curtin.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Edward Yemmons</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + + +<p class="c top5">COMPANY H.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George W. John</span>, captain, mustered in Aug. 16, 1862; resigned +Dec. 9, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Martin M. Brobst</span>, captain, mustered in Aug. 16, 1862; promoted +from first lieutenant Dec. 9, 1863; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Isaiah W. Willits</span>, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; +promoted from first sergeant Dec. 9, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry H. Hoagland</span>, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 16, +1862; died Dec. 14 of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., +Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">P. R. Margerum</span>, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; +promoted from corporal Dec. 16, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">A. H. Sharpless</span>, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from corporal Dec. 16, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel F. Savory</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George Reedy</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +corporal Jan. 22, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Hiram W. Brown</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +to corporal Jan. 22, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William McNeal</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Theodore Kreigh</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Rolandus Herbine</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel J. Frederick</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Francis M. Thomas</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; +wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John P. Hoagland</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +to corporal Nov. 21, 1862; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Ephraim L. Kramer</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +to corporal Jan. 20, 1863; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">D. Hollingshead</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +to corporal Jan. 20, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Theobald Fields</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +to corporal Jan. 20, 1863; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, +1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George Harber</span>, musician, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Burton W. Fortner</span>, musician, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Morgan G. Drum</span>, wagoner, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">H. H. Brumbach, private</span>, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John R. Brobst</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William H. Berger</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded +at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Beaver</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph Brumbach</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Bell</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Julius A. Barrett</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Jan. 31, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Bates</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate February, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William J. Brumbach</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +Feb. 2, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Christian Clewell</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Phineas Cool</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate January, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Hiram Cool</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +January, 1863, for wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Dillon</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William H. Dyer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at +Belle Plain, Va., December, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Derr</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at Fredericksburg, +Va., Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Albert Erwine</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at Belle +Plain, Va., Dec. 15, 1862; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Fetterman</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Daniel Fetterman</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Christopher M. Fedder</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry B. Fortner</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel A. Fields</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Lloyd W. B. Fisher</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jacob G. Fisher</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John D. Fincher</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate, date unknown.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Scott Hite</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Hampton</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; absent, +sick, at muster-out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Arthur Harder</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas E. Harder</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Ethan Hampton</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">W. H. H. Hartman</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate April 12, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Clark Harder</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 21, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George H. Hankins</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died +Oct. 4; bu. rec., Oct. 10; of wounds received at Antietam, Md., +Sept. 17, 1862; buried in National Cemetery, Sec. 26, Lot B, Grave +221.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry T. John</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William E. John</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jeremiah S. Kreigh</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Edward Kramer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Ralph M. Lashell</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Emanuel L. Lewis</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Ludwig</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James P. Margerum</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Marks</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph Martz</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Adam R. Mensch</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Comodore P. Mears</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles Maloney</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Isaiah W. Mastellar</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Patrick McGraw</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at +Warrenton, Va., Nov. 6, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John F. Ohl</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Irvin C. Payne</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William J. D. Parks</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died +Dec. 28 of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; +buried in Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">David Phillips</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Tobias Rinard</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Frederick Reese</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Lloyd T. Rider</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Elias C. Rishel</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded +at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry J. Robbins</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jeremiah Rhodes</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; absent, +sick, at muster-out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Wesley Rider</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at Belle +Plain, Va., December, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James M. Richards</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Josiah G. Roup</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died of +wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Benjamin B. Schmick</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles S. Schmick</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jeremiah H. Snyder</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; absent, +sick, at muster-out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Clark B. Stewart</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John H. Stokes</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jesse Shoemaker</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John M. Sanks</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +by special order Oct. 14, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George F. Sterne</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Christian Small</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Lewis Thiele</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel M. Thomas</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died +at Falmouth, Va., Jan. 8, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Troup</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Oct. 4 of +wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Dennis Waters</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Robert M. Watkins</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Monroe C. Warn</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Daniel L. Yeager</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 17, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + + +<p class="c top5">COMPANY I.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James Archbald</span>, captain, mustered in Aug. 18, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Jan. 7, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Philip S. Hall</span>, captain, mustered in Aug. 18, 1862; promoted +from second lieutenant Jan. 14, 1863; wounded at Chancellorsville +May 4, 1863; absent in hospital at muster-out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Robert R. Meiller</span>, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 18, 1862; +discharged Jan. 7, 1863, for disability.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Benjamin Gardner</span>, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +promoted from sergeant Jan. 14, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Michael Houser</span>, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +promoted from private Jan. 14, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George A. Wolcott</span>, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +promoted from corporal Jan. 14, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George W. Conklin</span>, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +discharged on surgeon's certificate Jan. 18, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John M. Miller</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Jones</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Isaac Cornell</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from corporal Jan. 14, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Abram Bittenbender</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from corporal Jan. 14, 1863; prisoner from May 6 to May +22, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Orlando Taylor</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Dec. 4, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Alfred J. Barnes</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph Sharpe</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; taken prisoner +at Hillsboro, Va., Nov. 8, 1862, exchanged Jan. 1, 1863; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Owen J. Bradford</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William H. Hagar</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +to corporal Jan. 4, 1863; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Reed G. Lewis</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to +corporal April 15, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James A. Sargent</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +to corporal Jan. 14, 1863; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Robert Gray</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Oct. 6, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Daniel S. Gardner</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Orrin C. Hubbard</span>, musician, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Theodore Keifer</span>, musician, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph S. Quinlain</span>, wagoner, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas Allen</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Moses H. Ames</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George L. Bradford</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Bracy</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Burnish</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Nathaniel D. Barnes</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James Barrowman</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded +at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas Barrowman</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Brooks A. Bass</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +to quartermaster-sergeant Jan. 1, 1863. (See Field and Staff.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Milton Brown</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 16, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Lewis A. Bingham</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted +Jan. 1, 1863; returned March 27, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Berry</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +at Fort Wood Hospital, N. Y. Harbor, on surgeon's certificate +March 13, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Abijah Bersh</span>, Jr., private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted +Sept. 19, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Burton J. Capwell</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas Carhart</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate, date unknown.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George H. Cator</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Oct. +30 of wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; buried +in National Cemetery, Sec. 26, Lot C, Grave 228.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Horace A. Deans</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +to hospital steward Oct. 1, 1862; returned to company April 6, +1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Frederick M. Ellting</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">H. L. Elmandorf</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted +at Warrenton, Va., Nov. 15, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Edward Ferris</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Fern</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George E. Fuller</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry M. Fuller</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Benton V. Finn</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Jan. 19, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Finch</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate March 28, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Gunsauler</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Gahn</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at Fredericksburg, +Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Elisha R. Harris</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel Hubbard</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">J. Hippenhammer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 16, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles Hamm</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Richard Hall</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William H. Harrison</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry P. Halstead</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Jan. 5, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Hazlett</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Jan. 2, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John L. Hunt</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted at +Acquia Creek, Va., Feb. 15, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Roderick Jones</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; absent, in hospital, at muster out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John J. Kilmer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">H. L. Krigbaum</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Michael Kelly</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George C. Lanning</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas Z. Lake</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Lyman Milroy</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; prisoner +from May 6 to May 22, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George Meuchler</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James J. Maycock</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Stephen Moomey</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James H. Miller</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Robert O. Moscrip</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James S. Morse</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Oct. 29, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph Niver</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Aaron Orren</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Owen</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 11, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John E. Powell</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; captured at +Chancellorsville, Va.; prisoner from May 6 to May 22, 1863; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles Pontus</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James A. Parker</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted at +Harper's Ferry, Va., Oct. 29, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Freeman J. Roper</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Elezer Raymond</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Nelson Raymond</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; absent, in hospital, at muster-out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James S. Randolph</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Jan. 21, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George W. Ridgeway</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate, date unknown.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Daniel Reed</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William H. Smith</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William H. Seeley</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Laton Slocum</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Michael Sisk</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Sommers</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Richard A. Smith</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Oct. +15 of wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Orvice Sharp</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Nov. +16, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Reily S. Tanner</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James L. Tuthill</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; prisoner +from May 6 to May 22, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry Vusler</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted +Sept. 18, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">David J. Woodruff</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel Wiggins</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Daniel Winnich</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Burr C. Warner</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John B. West</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Harrison Young</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + + +<p class="c top5">COMPANY K.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Richard Stillwell</span>, captain, mustered in Aug. 18, 1862; discharged +March 31, 1863, for wounds received at Fredericksburg, +Va., Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jacob B. Floyd</span>, captain, mustered in Aug. 18, 1862; promoted +from first lieutenant March 31, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Noah H. Jay</span>, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from second lieutenant March 31, 1863; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Sylvester Ward</span>, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; +promoted from sergeant to first sergeant Dec. 25, 1862; to second +lieutenant March 31, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Francis Orchard</span>, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; +promoted from sergeant March 31, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George M. Snyder</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from corporal Sept. 24, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Bottsford</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from corporal Sept. 24, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William C. Keiser</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from corporal March 31, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Martin L. Hower</span>, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died +Oct. 17 of wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Philetus P. Copeland</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; +wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George Coursen</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George A. Kent</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George W. Johnson</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +to corporal Sept. 24, 1862; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John S. Short</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +to corporal Sept. 24, 1862; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. +13, 1862; absent in hospital at muster-out.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George H. Taylor</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +to corporal Sept. 24, 1862; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Emil Haugg</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +corporal March 31, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Austin F. Clapp</span>, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +to sergeant-major Nov. 1, 1862. (See Field and Staff.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Lorenzo D. Kemmerer</span>, musician, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William Silsbee</span>, musician, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John M. Kapp</span>, wagoner, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Augustus Ashton</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; taken +prisoner at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">David Brooks</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles H. Boon</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Lewis H. Bolton</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Adolf Bendon</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Dec. 6, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles A. Bulmer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Oct. 14, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William H. Carling</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +to adjutant's clerk January 25, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William W. Coolbaugh</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; +wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Harrison Cook</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jacob M. Corwin</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Coolbaugh</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William H. Coon</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Nov. 29, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Moses Y. Corwin</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +to hospital steward April 6, 1863. (See Field and Staff.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Benjamin A. C. Daily</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Francis J. Deemer</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +to sergeant-major Jan. 24, 1863. (See Field and Staff.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Richard Davis</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Jan. +2, 1863, of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; +buried in Military Asylum Cemetery, Washington, D. C.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Thomas D. Davis</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died near +Washington, D. C, Nov. 25, 1862; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery, +Washington, D. C.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jacob Eschenbach</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles Frederick</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George Gabriel</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John C. Higgins</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Peter Harrabaum</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James H. Havenstrite</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George Hindle</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Edward F. Henry</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +from Emory Hospital, Washington, D. C, on surgeon's +certificate Jan. 8, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Wilson Hess</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Feb. 21, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John P. Heath</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; deserted on +march from Antietam to Harper's Ferry, Sept. 21, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Michael Kivilin</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Robert Kennedy</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jesse P. Kortz</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died near +Falmouth, Va., Dec. 25, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George W. Linn</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Andrew Landsickle</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Lindsey</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George Matzenbacher</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel W. Mead</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William L. Marcy</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George B. Mack</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles A. Meylert</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +to second lieutenant Co. A, Feb. 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Jeptha Milligan</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; buried in National Cemetery, Sec. +26, Lot A, Grave 13.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Richard Nape</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Daniel J. Newman</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John R. Powell</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph Pellman</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Downing Parry</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Ryan</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel Ruple</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Simon P. Ringsdorf</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Feb. 6, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George Smithing</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry M. Seager</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Daniel W. Scull</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Joseph Snyder</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Simon P. Snyder</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William D. Snyder</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Charles B. Scott</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Peter Seigle</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Scott</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Walter A. Sidner</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Martin L. Smith</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James Stevens</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Stitcher</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +Nov. 28, 1862, on account of wounds received at Antietam Sept. 17, +1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Allen Sparks</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Sept. +18 of wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Obadiah Sherwood</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died +Nov. 20 at Smoketown, Md., of wounds received at Antietam Sept. +17, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Samuel S. Snyder</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at +Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 9, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">James Scull</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died near +Falmouth, Va., Feb. 11, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Solon Searle</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at Acquia +Creek, Va., Jan. 26, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Alonzo L. Slawson</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged, +date unknown.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Leander J. Smith</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; deserted +from Camp Whipple Sept. 1, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">David Vipon</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">George C. Wilson</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May +24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Martin Wilmore</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Orestes B. Wright</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John Westphall</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Henry C. Whiting</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Nov. 27, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">John W. Wright</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at +Harper's Ferry, Va., Oct. 23, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Albert Wheeler</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; deserted +from Walnut Street Hospital, Harrisburg, Dec. 19, 1862.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Conrad Young</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">William H. Young</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">W. L. Yarrington</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2">Daniel C. Young</span>, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Dec. +26 of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.</p> + + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> +<ol> +<li class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote-A" id="Footnote-A"></a> Now known as East Woods.</p> +<span class="label">[<a title="Return to text." href="#FNanchor_A_1">A</a>]</span> </li> + +<li class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote-B" id="Footnote-B"></a> This is from my diary, but investigations since the war make it +evident that it must be a mistake; that the 5th Ga. was not in that +road, but it was the 6th Ga., and this officer was probably Lieutenant-Colonel +J. M. Newton of that regiment.</p> +<span class="label">[<a title="Return to text." href="#FNanchor_B_2">B</a>]</span> </li> + +<li class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote-C" id="Footnote-C"></a> Probably the 6th Ga.</p> +<span class="label">[<a title="Return to text." href="#FNanchor_C_3">C</a>]</span> </li> + +<li class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote-D" id="Footnote-D"></a> Lieutenant, afterwards Captain, Charles McDougal was a Methodist +minister before he entered the army. If he could preach as well +as he could fight, he was worthy of a commission in the church militant.</p> +<span class="label">[<a title="Return to text." href="#FNanchor_D_4">D</a>]</span> </li> + +<li class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote-E" id="Footnote-E"></a> This eye-witness was Captain Haviland, Company G, One Hundred +and Forty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, whose regiment +was attached to the Pennsylvania Reserves, and which lost in that +charge two hundred and forty-three men killed and wounded. Captain +Haviland had been wounded, and was making his way with +Major John Bradley, also wounded, to the hospital. They happened +to be passing Birney's head-quarters when Meade rode up, +and heard the whole interview.</p> +<span class="label">[<a title="Return to text." href="#FNanchor_E_5">E</a>]</span> </li> + +<li class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote-F" id="Footnote-F"></a> This order was dated January 23, 1863, and can be found +in the Annual American Cyclopćdia, 1863, page 79, with a copious +extract from the report of the Committee of Congress on the Conduct +of the War. It is there stated that this order was issued subject +to the President's approval, and was sent to Washington for +that purpose, General Burnside soon following and interviewing the +President. It is also stated that it was not approved and was not +published. How, then, did I come in possession of its main features, +so as to note them in my diary at the time? And how should my +recollection of them be so clear, as they certainly are, unless it had +been made public. Possibly the press may have published it. It +was certainly published in some form.</p> +<span class="label">[<a title="Return to text." href="#FNanchor_F_6">F</a>]</span> </li> + +<li class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote-G" id="Footnote-G"></a> Bates's History, Pennsylvania Volunteers, places here the name +of "Charles A. Meylert, second lieutenant, promoted from private, +Co. K, Feb. 23, 1863, missing since that date." Co. K's roll +notes the transfer of this man to Co. A. His name is not on the +original roll of Co. A, and is therefore omitted here. The following +note received from Captain Charles C. Norris, Co. A, explains: +</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 12em;"><span class="smcap2">Philadelphia</span>, July 12, 1904.</span><br /> +Colonel <span class="smcap2">F. L. Hitchcock</span>, Scranton, Pa.<br /> +</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap2">My Dear Colonel</span>: ... I have a copy of the muster-out roll of +Co. A, to which I have referred.... I would also state that Charles +A. Meylert does not appear on the muster-out roll, nor was he at +any time carried on the roll of Co. A.... On the march from +Harper's Ferry to Warrenton, Va., about Nov. 1, 1862, Co. A held +an election for officers to fill vacancies caused by the promotion of +Captain Shreve to be major of the regiment. The following were +elected: Chas. C. Norris, captain; Thomas Maxwell, first lieutenant, +and Edward W. Roderick, second lieutenant. The result of +this election was forwarded through head-quarters to Governor +Curtin. The commissions were not sent on until some time in +December, 1862. Colonel Albright, commanding the regiment, sent +for me one day and told me he had received a commission for +Charles A. Meylert as second lieutenant of Co. A; that it was an +outrage upon Co. A, and that he would send it back to Governor +Curtin with a letter, which I believe he did, the result of which was +Roderick's commission was issued in accordance with his election, +and he was mustered in, and Meylert's commission was revoked. +As the commanding officer of Co. A, I never received any official +notice or record of Meylert's commission or muster into service; +hence his name was never entered upon my company roll. How +Bates came to place his name upon my roll, I do not know. +</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 4.5em;">I am yours truly,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 12.5em;"><span class="smcap">Chas. C. Norris.</span></span></p> + +<span class="label">[<a title="Return to text." href="#FNanchor_G_7">G</a>]</span> </li> + +<li class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote-H" id="Footnote-H"></a> Prolonged illness from typhoid fever.</p> +<span class="label">[<a title="Return to text." href="#FNanchor_H_8">H</a>]</span> </li> +</ol> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR FROM THE INSIDE***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 29313-h.txt or 29313-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/9/3/1/29313">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/3/1/29313</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: War from the Inside + The Story of the 132nd Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in the War for the Suppression of the Rebellion, 1862-1863 + + +Author: Frederick L. (Frederick Lyman) Hitchcock + + + +Release Date: July 4, 2009 [eBook #29313] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR FROM THE INSIDE*** + + +E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Chuck Greif, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 29313-h.htm or 29313-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/29313/29313-h/29313-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/29313/29313-h.zip) + + + + + +WAR FROM THE INSIDE + +[Illustration: COLONEL FREDERICK L. HITCHCOCK] + +[Illustration: + +MONUMENT OF 132D REGIMENT, P. V. +ERECTED BY THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA ON BATTLE-FIELD OF ANTIETAM, MD. +DEDICATED SEPT. 17, 1904 + +It stands about two hundred yards directly in front of the battle line +upon which this regiment fought, on the side of the famous "Sunken Road" +occupied by the Confederates. + +This road has since been widened and macadamized as a government road +leading from "Bloody Lane" towards Sharpsburg.] + + + +WAR FROM THE INSIDE + +The Story of the 132nd Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry +in the War for the Suppression of the Rebellion +1862-1863 + +by + +FREDERICK L. HITCHCOCK + +Late Adjutant and Major +132nd Pennsylvania Volunteers. + + + + + + + +Published by authority of the 132nd Regiment Pennsylvania +Volunteer Infantry Association. + +Press of J. B. Lippincott Company +Philadelphia +1904 + +Copyright, 1903 +by F. L. Hitchcock + + + + +PREFACE + + +This narrative was originally written without the least idea of +publication, but to gratify the oft-repeated requests of my children. +During the work, the ubiquitous newspaper reporter learned of it, and +persuaded me to permit its publication in a local paper, where it +appeared in weekly instalments. Since then the demand that I should put +it in more permanent form has been so persistent and wide-spread, that I +have been constrained to comply, and have carefully revised and in part +rewritten it. I have endeavored to confine myself to my own +observations, experiences, and impressions, giving the inner life of the +soldier as we experienced it. It was my good fortune to be associated +with one of the best bodies of men who took part in the great Civil War; +to share in their hardships and their achievements. For this I am +profoundly grateful. Their story is my own. If these splendid +gray-headed "boys"--those who have not yet passed the mortal +firing-line--shall find some pleasure in again tramping over that +glorious route, and recalling the historic scenes, and if the younger +generation shall gather inspiration for a like patriotic dedication to +country and to liberty, I shall be more than paid for my imperfect +work. In conclusion, I desire to acknowledge my indebtedness to Major +James W. Oakford, son of our intrepid colonel, who was the first of the +regiment to fall, and to Mr. Lewis B. Stillwell, son of that brave and +splendid officer, Captain Richard Stillwell, Company K, who was wounded +and disabled at Fredericksburg, for constant encouragement in the +preparation of the work and for assistance in its publication. + +SCRANTON, PA., April 5, 1904. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER PAGE + +I.--FIRST LESSONS; OR, DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE 13 + +II.--THE ORGANIZATION AND MAKE-UP OF THE FIGHTING +MACHINE CALLED "THE ARMY" 22 + +III.--ON THE MARCH 35 + +IV.--DRAWING NEAR THE ENEMY--BATTLE OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN--PRELIMINARY +SKIRMISHES 46 + +V.--THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM 55 + +VI.--THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM--CONTINUED 68 + +VII.--HARPER'S FERRY AND THE LEESBURG AND HALLTOWN EXPEDITIONS 79 + +VIII.--FROM HARPER'S FERRY TO FREDERICKSBURG 94 + +IX.--THE FREDERICKSBURG CAMPAIGN 108 + +X.--THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG--CONTINUED 120 + +XI.--WHY FREDERICKSBURG WAS LOST 132 + +XII.--LOST COLORS RECOVERED 141 + +XIII.--THE WINTER AT FALMOUTH 158 + +XIV.--THE WINTER AT FALMOUTH--CONTINUED 179 + +XV.--THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE 200 + +XVI.--THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE--CONTINUED 220 + +XVII.--THE MUSTER OUT AND HOME AGAIN 239 + +APPENDIX 251 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +After the lapse of more than forty years, I hardly hoped to be able to +publish pictures of all our officers, and have been more than pleased to +secure so many. The others, I regret to say, could not be obtained. The +youthful appearance of these officers will be remarked. All, I believe, +with the exception of Colonel Oakford were below thirty years, and most +between twenty and twenty-five. + + PAGE + +Colonel Frederick L. Hitchcock _Frontispiece_ + +The Monument _Facing title-page_ + +Groups of Captains 16 + +Group, Chaplain and Surgeons 22 + +Colonel Charles Albright 44 + +Colonel Vincent M. Wilcox 50 + +Colonel Richard A. Oakford 59 + +The Silenced Confederate Battery 62 + +The Sunken Road 71 + +Field Hospital 76 + +Groups of Lieutenants 120 + +Major Frederick L. Hitchcock 167 + +Don and I, and glimpse of Camp of Hancock's Division, Falmouth, Va. 171 + +Reunion 132d Regiment, P. V., 1891, on Battle-field of Antietam. 200 + + + + +WAR FROM THE INSIDE + + + + +CHAPTER I + +FIRST LESSONS; OR, DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE + + +I was appointed adjutant of the One Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment, +Pennsylvania Volunteers, by our great war Governor, Andrew G. Curtin, at +the solicitation of Colonel Richard A. Oakford, commanding the regiment, +my commission dating the 22d day of August, 1862. I reported for duty to +Colonel Oakford at Camp Whipple, where the regiment was then encamped, +on the 3d day of September, 1862. This was immediately following the +disasters of "Chantilly" and "Second Bull Run," and as I passed through +Washington to Camp Whipple, I found the greatest excitement prevailing +because of these reverses, and a general apprehension for the safety of +the capital in consequence. The wildest rumors were abroad concerning +the approach of the victorious rebel troops, and an alarm amounting +almost to a panic existed. Being without a horse or other means of +transportation, I was obliged to make my way, valise in hand, on foot +from Washington over the "long bridge" across the Potomac, to Camp +Whipple, some two miles up the river nearly opposite Georgetown. From +the wild rumors floating about Washington, I did not know but I should +be captured bag and baggage before reaching camp. Undertaking this trip +under those circumstances, I think, required almost as much nerve as +"real work" did later on. + +Getting beyond the long bridge there were abundant evidences of the +reported disasters. Straggling troops, army wagons, etc., were pouring +in from the "front" in great disorder. I reached camp about three +o'clock P.M. and found Colonel Oakford out with the regiment on +battalion drill. An hour later I reported to his office (tent) as ready +for duty. The colonel had been a lifelong personal friend, and I was +received, as I expected, most cordially. I was assigned quarters, and a +copy of the daily routine orders of camp was placed in my hands, and my +attention specially called to the fact that the next "order of business" +was "dress parade" at six o'clock. I inquired the cause of this special +notice to me, and was informed that I was expected to officiate as +adjutant of the regiment at that ceremony. I pleaded with the colonel to +be allowed a day or so in camp to see how things were done before +undertaking such difficult and important duties; that I knew absolutely +nothing about any part of military service; had never served a day in +any kind of military work, except in a country fire company; had never +seen a dress parade of a full regiment in my life, and knew nothing +whatever about the duties of an adjutant. + +My pleadings were all in vain. The only reply I received was a copy of +the "Army Regulations," with the remark that I had two hours in which to +study up and master the details of dress parade, and that I could not +learn my duties any easier nor better than by actual practice; that my +condition was no different from that of my fellow officers; that we were +all there in a camp of instruction learning our duties, and there was +not a moment to lose. I then began to realize something of the magnitude +of the task which lay before me. To do difficult things, without knowing +how; that is, to learn how in the doing, was the universal task of the +Union volunteer officer. I took up my "Army Regulations" and attacked +the ceremony of dress parade as a life and death matter. Before my two +hours were ended, I could repeat every sentence of the ceremony +verbatim, and felt that I had mastered the thing, and was not going to +my execution in undertaking my duties as adjutant. Alas for the frailty +of memory; it failed me at the crucial moment, and I made a miserable +spectacle of myself before a thousand officers and men, many of them old +friends and acquaintances, all of whom, it seemed to me, were specially +assembled on that occasion to witness my debut, and see me get "balled +up." They were not disappointed. Things tactically impossible were +freely done during that ceremony. Looking back now upon that scene, from +the long distance of forty years, I see a green country boy undertaking +to handle one thousand men in the always difficult ceremony of a dress +parade. (I once heard Governor Hartranft, who attained the rank of a +major-general during the war, remark, as he witnessed this ceremony, +that he had seen thousands of such parades, and among them all, only one +that he considered absolutely faultless.) I wonder now that we got +through it at all. Think of standing to give your first command at the +right of a line of men five hundred abreast, that is, nearly one +thousand feet in length, and trying to make the men farthest away hear +your small, unused, and untrained voice. I now can fully forgive my +failure. The officers and men were considerate of me, however, and, +knowing what was to be done, went through with it after a fashion in +spite of my blunders. + +The regiment was one of the "nine months'" quota; it had been in the +service barely two weeks at this time. It was made up of two companies, +I and K, from Scranton (Captains James Archbald, Company I, and Richard +Stillwell, Company K), Company A, Danville, Pa.; B, Factoryville; C, +Wellsboro and vicinity; E, Bloomsburg; F and G, Mauch Chunk, and H, +Catawissa. It numbered, officers and men, about one thousand. Its field +officers were Colonel Richard A. Oakford, Scranton; Lieutenant-Colonel +Vincent M. Wilcox, Scranton; Major Charles Albright, Mauch Chunk; staff, +Frederick L. Hitchcock, first lieutenant and adjutant, Scranton; Clinton +W. Neal, first lieutenant and quartermaster, Bloomsburg; Rev. +Schoonmaker, first lieutenant and chaplain, Scranton. + +The transition from home life to that of an army in the field can only +be appreciated from a stand-point of actual experience. From a +well-ordered, well-cooked meal, served at a comfortable table with the +accessories of home, howsoever humble, to a "catch as catch can" way of +getting "grub," eating what, and when and where, you are fortunate +enough to get to eat; and from a good, comfortable bed, comfortably +housed in a comfortable home, to a blanket "shake down" under the +beautiful sky, mark some of the features of this transition. + +[Illustration: CAPT. MARTIN M. BROBST CO. H] + +[Illustration: CAPT. WARNER H. CARNOCHAN CO. D] + +[Illustration: CAPT. GEO. W. WILHELM CO. F] + +[Illustration: CAPT. SMITH W. INGHAM CO. B] + +[Illustration: CAPT. CHAS. M'DOUGAL CO. C] + +[Illustration: CAPT. RICHARD STILLWELL CO. K] + +[Illustration: CAPT. JAMES ARCHBALD, JR. CO. I] + +[Illustration: CAPT. CHARLES C. NORRIS CO. A] + +[Illustration: CAPT. JACOB D. LACIAR CO. F] + +[Illustration: CAPT. JACOB B. FLOYD CO. K] + +[Illustration: CAPT. ROBERT A. ABBOTT CO. G] + +Another feature is the utter change in one's individual liberty. To be +no longer the arbiter of your own time and movements, but to have it +rubbed into you at every turn that you are a very small part of an +immense machine, whose business is to march and fight; that your every +movement is under the control of your superior officers; that, in fact, +you have no will of your own that can be exercised; that your +individuality is for the time sunk, is a trial to an American freeman +which patriotism alone can overcome. Not the least feature of this +transition is the practical obliteration of the Lord's day. This is a +great shock to a Christian who has learned to love the Lord's day and +its hallowed associations. Routine duty, the march, the fighting, all go +right on, nothing stops for Sunday. + +On the morning after reaching camp I had the pleasure of seeing +Major-General John Pope, who commanded the Union forces in the recent +battles of Chantilly and Second Bull Run, and his staff, riding past +camp into Washington. He hailed us with a cheery "Good-morning" in reply +to our salute. He did not look like a badly defeated general, though he +undoubtedly was--so badly, indeed, that he was never given any command +of importance afterwards. + +On Saturday, September 6, we received orders to join the Army of the +Potomac--again under the command of "Little Mac"--at Rockville, Md., +distant about eighteen miles. This was our first march. The day was +excessively hot, and Colonel Oakford received permission to march in the +evening. We broke camp about six o'clock P.M. It was a lovely moonlight +night, the road was excellent, and for the first six miles the march +was a delight. We marched quite leisurely, not making over two miles an +hour, including rests, nevertheless the last half of the distance was +very tiresome, owing to the raw and unseasoned condition of our men, and +the heavy load they were carrying. We reached the bivouac of the grand +Army of the Potomac, of which we were henceforth to be a part, at about +three o'clock the next morning. Three miles out from the main camp we +encountered the outpost of the picket line and were duly halted. The +picket officer had been informed of our coming, and so detained us only +long enough to satisfy himself that we were all right. + +Here we encountered actual conditions of war with all its paraphernalia +for the first time. Up to this time we had been playing at war, so to +speak, in a camp of instruction. Now we were entering upon the thing +itself, with all its gruesome accessories. Everything here was business, +and awful business, too. Here were parks of artillery quiet enough just +now, but their throats will speak soon enough, and when they do it will +not be the harmless booming of Fourth of July celebrations. Here we pass +a bivouac of cavalry, and yonder on either side the road, in long lines +of masses, spread out like wide swaths of grain, lie the infantry behind +long rows of stacked guns. Here were upward of seventy-five thousand +men, all, except the cordon of pickets, sound asleep. In the midst of +this mighty host the stillness was that of a graveyard; it seemed almost +oppressive. + +Halting the regiment, Colonel Oakford and I made our way to the +head-quarters of Major-General Sumner, commanding the Second Army Corps, +to whom the colonel was ordered to report. We finally found him asleep +in his head-quarters wagon. A tap on the canvas top of the wagon quickly +brought the response, "Hello! Who's there? What's wanted?" + +Colonel Oakford replied, giving his name and rank, and that his regiment +was here to report to him, according to orders. + +"Oh, yes, colonel, that is right," replied the general. "How many men +have you?" + +Receiving the colonel's answer, General Sumner said: + +"I wish you had ten times as many, for we need you badly. Glad you are +here, colonel. Make yourselves as comfortable as you can for the rest of +the night, and I will assign you to your brigade in the morning." + +Here was a cordial reception and hospitality galore. "Make yourselves +comfortable"--in Hotel "Dame Nature!" Well, we were all weary enough to +accept the hospitality. We turned into the adjacent field, "stacked +arms," and in a jiffy were rolled up in our blankets and sound asleep. +The mattresses supplied by Madame Nature were rather hard, but her rooms +were fresh and airy, and the ceilings studded with the stars of glory. +My last waking vision that night was a knowing wink from Jupiter and +Mars, as much as to say, "sleep sweetly, we are here." + +The morning sun was well up before we got ourselves together the next +morning. The "reveille" had no terrors for us greenhorns then. We found +ourselves in the midst of a division of the bronzed old Army of the +Potomac veterans. They were swarming all over us, and how unmercifully +they did guy us! A regiment of tenderfeet was just taffy for those +fellows. Did our "Ma's know we were out?" "Get off those purty duds." +"Oh, you blue cherub!" etc., etc., at the same time accepting (?) +without a murmur all the tobacco and other camp rarities they could +reach. + +We were soon visited by Brigadier-General Nathan Kimball, a swarthy, +grizzly-bearded old gentleman, with lots of fire and energy in his eyes. +He told the colonel our regiment had been assigned to his brigade. He +directed the colonel to get the regiment in line, as he had something to +say to the men, after which he would direct us where to join his troops. +General Kimball commanded a brigade which had achieved a great +reputation under McClellan in his West Virginia campaign, and it had +been named by him the "Gibraltar brigade." It had also been through the +Peninsular and Second Bull Run campaigns. It had comprised the Fourth +and Eighth Ohio, Fourteenth Indiana and Seventh West Virginia regiments, +all of which had been reduced by hard service to mere skeleton +regiments. The Fourth Ohio had become so small as to require its +withdrawal from the army for recuperation, and our regiment was to take +its place. + +To step into the shoes of one of these old regiments was business, +indeed, for us. Could we do it and keep up our end? It was certainly +asking a great deal of a two weeks' old regiment. But it was the making +of us. We were now a part of the old Gibraltar brigade. Our full address +now was "One Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, First +Brigade, Third Division, Second Army Corps, Army of the Potomac." Our +own reputation we were now to make. We were on probation in the +brigade, so to speak. These veterans were proud, and justly so, of +their reputation. What our relation to that reputation was to be, we +could see was a mooted question with them. They guyed us without measure +until the crucial test, the "baptism of fire," had been passed. This +occurred just ten days later, at the battle of Antietam, the greatest +battle of the war thus far, where for four bloody hours we held our +section of the brigade line as stanch as a rock. Here we earned our +footing. Henceforth we belonged to them. There was never another +syllable of guying, but in its place the fullest meed of such praise and +comradeship as is born only of brave and chivalrous men. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE ORGANIZATION AND MAKE-UP OF THE FIGHTING MACHINE CALLED "THE ARMY." + + +We remained a day in bivouac after joining the Gibraltar brigade at +Rockville, during which rations of fresh beef, salt pork, and "hardtack" +(the boys' nickname for hard bread) were issued to the army, also +ammunition. + +The method of issuing rations was as follows: Colonels of regiments were +directed to send in requisitions for so many days' rations, depending on +the movements on hand, of hard bread and pork, and usually one day's +rations of fresh beef. At brigade head-quarters these requisitions were +consolidated, making the brigade requisition, and forwarded to division +head-quarters. Here they were again consolidated into a division +requisition, and so on until the army head-quarters was reached. Then +the corps commissary received in bulk enough for his corps, and +distributed it to the divisions in bulk, thence to brigades in bulk, +thence to regiments, and finally from the regiment to the companies, and +to the men. A long string of red tape, surely; and it might have been +considerably shortened to the advantage of all, as it was later on. + +[Illustration: REV. A. H. SCHOONMAKER CHAPLAIN] + +[Illustration: J. W. ANAWALT MAJOR AND SURGEON] + +[Illustration: G. K. THOMPSON FIRST LIEUT. AND ASS'T SURGEON] + +An interesting feature of the issue of rations was the method of +supplying the fresh beef. Live cattle were driven to the army and issued +alive to the several corps, from which details were made of men who +had been butchers, who killed and dressed the beef. The animals were +driven into an enclosure and expert marksmen shot them down as wanted. +This seemed cruel work, but it was well done; the animal being hit +usually at the base of its horns, death was instantaneous. This fresh +meat, which we got but seldom after the march began, was cooked and +eaten the day it was issued. Enough for one day was all that was issued +at a time, and this, after the non-eatable portions had been eliminated, +did not overburden the men. + +The hard bread was a square cracker about the size of an ordinary soda +cracker, only thicker, and very hard and dry. It was supposed to be of +the same quality as sea biscuit or pilot bread, but I never saw any +equal to that article. The salt pork was usually good for pork, but it +was a great trial to us all to come down to camp fare, "hardtack and +pork." Sometimes the "hardtack" was very old and poor. I have seen many +a one placed in the palm of the hand, a smart blow, a puff of breath, +and mirabile! a handful of "squirmers"--the boys' illustration of a +"full hand." It came to be the rule to eat in daylight for protection +against the unknown quantity in the hardtack. If we had to eat in the +dark, after a prolonged march, our protection then lay in breaking our +cracker into a cup of boiling coffee, stir it well and then flow enough +of the coffee over to carry off most of the strangers and take the +balance on faith. + +On the march each man carried his own rations in haversacks. These were +made of canvas and contained pockets for salt, sugar and coffee, besides +room for about two days' rations of hard bread and pork. Sometimes +five, six, and seven days' rations were issued, then the balance had to +be stowed away in knapsacks and pockets of the clothing. When, as was +usual in the latter cases, there was also issued sixty to one hundred +rounds of ammunition, the man became a veritable pack-mule. + +For the first month many of our men went hungry. Having enormous +appetites consequent upon this new and most strenuous mode of life, they +would eat their five days' supply in two or three, and then have to +"skirmish" or go hungry until the next supply was issued. Most, however, +soon learned the necessity as well as the benefit of restricting their +appetites to the supply. But there were always some improvident ones, +who never had a supply ahead, but were always in straights for grub. +They were ready to black boots, clean guns, in fact, do any sort of +menial work for their comrades for a snack to eat. Their improvidence +made them the drudges of the company. + +Whatever may be said about other portions of the rations, the coffee was +always good. I never saw any poor coffee, and it was a blessing it was +so, for it became the soldiers' solace and stay, in camp, on picket and +on the march. Tired, footsore, and dusty from the march, or wet and cold +on picket, or homesick and shivering in camp, there were rest and +comfort and new life in a cup of hot coffee. We could not always have it +on picket nor on the march. To make a cup of coffee two things were +necessary besides the coffee, namely, water and fire, both frequently +very difficult to obtain. On picket water was generally plentiful, but +in the immediate presence of the enemy, fire was forbidden, for obvious +reasons. On the march both were usually scarce, as I shall show later +on. How was our coffee made? Each man was provided with a pint tin cup. +As much coffee as could comfortably be lifted from the haversack by the +thumb and two fingers--depending somewhat on the supply--was placed in +the cup, which was filled about three-fourths full of water, to leave +room for boiling. It was then placed upon some live coals and brought to +a boil, being well stirred in the meantime to get the strength of the +coffee. A little cold water was then added to settle it. Eggs, gelatin, +or other notions of civilization, for settling, were studiously (?) +omitted. Sometimes sugar was added, but most of the men, especially the +old vets, took it straight. It was astonishing how many of the "wrinkles +of grim visaged war" were temporarily smoothed out by a cup of coffee. +This was the mainstay of our meals on the march, a cup of coffee and a +thin slice of raw pork between two hardtacks frequently constituting a +meal. Extras fell in the way once in a while. Chickens have been known +to stray into camp, the result of a night's foraging. + +Among the early experiences of our boys was an incident related to me by +the "boy" who was "it." He said he had a mighty narrow escape last +night. + +I asked, "How was that?" + +"Out hunting for chickens, struck a farmhouse, got a nice string, and +was sneaking my way out. Dark as tar. Ran up against man, who grabbed me +by the collar, and demanded 'what are you doing here?' I was mum as an +owl. He marched me out where there was a flickering light, and sure as +blazes it was old General Kimball. I didn't know that house was brigade +head-quarters. + +"'What regiment do you belong to?' + +"'Dunno.' + +"'You've heard about the orders against marauding, eh?' + +"'Dunno.' + +"'Hand up those chickens, you rascal.' + +"I handed them out from behind my shaking legs. + +"'How many have you got?' + +"'Dunno'--I had two pair of nice ones. The old man took out his knife +and slowly cut out one pair, looking savagely at me all the time. + +"'There! You get back to camp as quick as your legs will carry you, and +if I ever get my hands on you again you'll remember it.'" He said he +thought he'd try and forage away from head-quarters next time. General +Kimball was a rigid disciplinarian, but withal a very kind-hearted man. +He no doubt paid for those chickens rather than have one of his boys +suffer for his foraging escapade. Perhaps I ought to say a word about +these foraging expeditions to eke out the boys' larder. These men were +not thieves in any sense and very few attempted this dubious method, but +the temptation was almost beyond the power of resistance. The best way +to test this temptation is to diet yourself on "hardtack" and pork for +just about one week. Then the devil's argument--always present--was +practically true there, "the chickens will be taken (not stolen) by some +of the army, and you might as well have one as anybody." + +The following story of a neighboring regiment will show that even +officers high in rank sometimes found that "circumstances alter cases." +The troops were nearing bivouac at the close of the day, and, as usual, +the colonel ordered the music to start up and the men to fall into step +and approach camp in order (the march is usually in route step,--_i.e._, +every man marches and carries his gun as he pleases). The fifes and the +snare-drums promptly obeyed, but the big bass drum was silent. The men +fell into cadence step in fine shape, including the bass drummer, but +his big shell gave forth no sound. The colonel called out, "What's the +matter with the bass drum?" Still no response. A second ejaculation from +head-quarters, a little more emphatic, fared no better. Patience now +exhausted, the colonel yelled, "What in h----l's the matter, I say, +with----" when a sotto voice reached his ear, with "Colonel, colonel, +he's got a pair of chickens in his drum, and one is for you." "Well, if +the poor fellow is sick, let him fall out." + +A little explanation now about how the army is organized will probably +make my story clearer. That an army is made of three principal arms, +viz., artillery, cavalry, and infantry, is familiar to all; that the +cavalry is mounted is also well known, but that in actual fighting they +were often dismounted and fought as infantry may not be familiar to all. +The cavalry and infantry--or foot troops--are organized practically +alike, viz., first into companies of 101 men and officers; second, into +regiments of ten companies, or less, of infantry and twelve companies, +more or less, of cavalry, two or more companies of cavalry constituting +a "squadron," and a like number of companies of infantry a "battalion;" +third, into brigades of two or more--usually four--regiments; fourth, +divisions of two or more--usually three--brigades; fifth, army corps, +any number of divisions--usually not more than three. Logically, the +rank of officers commanding these several subdivisions would be colonel, +commanding a regiment; brigadier-general, his rank being indicated by +one star, a brigade; a major-general, two stars, a division; a +lieutenant-general, three stars, an army corps; and the whole army a +general, his rank being indicated by four stars. This was carried out by +the Confederates in the organization of their armies. But not so with +ours. With few exceptions--ours being one--the brigades were commanded +by the senior colonels, and towards the end of the war this was +sometimes temporarily true of divisions; the divisions by brigadiers, +whilst we had no higher rank than that of major-general until General +Grant was made, first, lieutenant-general, and finally general. + +The artillery was organized into companies commonly called batteries. +There were two branches, heavy and light artillery. The former were +organized more like infantry, marched on foot and were armed with +muskets in addition to the heavy guns they were trained to use. The +latter were used against fortifications and were rarely brought into +field work. The light artillery were mounted either on the horses or on +the gun-carriages, and, though organized into a separate corps under the +direction of the chief of artillery, were usually distributed among the +divisions, one or two batteries accompanying each division. + +In addition to these chief branches of the service, there was the signal +corps, the "eyes" of the army, made up mostly of young lieutenants and +non-commissioned officers detailed from the several regiments. There +were two such officers from Scranton, namely, Lieutenant Fred. J. +Amsden, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and +Lieutenant Frederick Fuller, Fifty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, +besides a number of enlisted men. + +Another important branch of the service was the telegraph corps. It was +remarkable the celerity with which wires would be run along the ground +and on brush, day by day, keeping the several corps constantly in touch +with the commanding general. There were comparatively few telegraph +operators that could be detailed, and many had to be hired,--some boys +who were too young to enlist. Dr. J. Emmet O'Brien, of this city, was +one of the most efficient of the latter class. + +It was Dr. O'Brien, then operating below Petersburg, who caught the +telegraphic cipher of the rebels and by tapping their wires caught many +messages which were of material assistance to General Grant in the +closing movements of the war. It was he also who in like manner caught +the movements of Jeff Davis and his cabinet in their efforts to escape, +and put General Wilson on his track, resulting in his final capture. Mr. +Richard O'Brien, the doctor's older brother, for many years +superintendent of the Western Union Telegraph lines in this end of the +State, was at that time Government Superintendent of Telegraphs, in +charge of all its telegraphic operations in Virginia and North Carolina. +He could tell many a hair-raising experience. He related to me the +following incident, which occurred during Grant's operations around +Petersburg, to illustrate the enterprise of the enemy in trying to get +our telegrams, and the necessity of sending all messages in cipher. They +never succeeded in translating the Union cipher. But one day an operator +at Washington, either too lazy or too careless to put his message in +cipher, telegraphed to the chief commissary at a place below City Point +that fifteen hundred head of beef cattle would be landed at that point +on a certain day. The message was caught by the rebels. The beef cattle +were landed on time, but in the meantime Wade Hampton had swept in with +a division of rebel cavalry and was waiting to receive the cattle. With +them were captured a handsome lot of rations and a number of prisoners, +including all of Mr. O'Brien's telegraph operators at that post. Mr. +O'Brien said he cared a good deal more about the loss of his operators +than he did for the loss of the cattle and rations, for it was very hard +to get competent operators at that time. There was at least one vacancy +at Washington following this incident. + +Still another arm of the service was the pontoniers, whose duty it was +to bridge non-fordable rivers. They were armed and drilled as infantry, +but only for their own protection. Their specialty was laying and +removing pontoon bridges. A pontoon train consisted of forty to fifty +wagons, each carrying pontoon boats, with plank and stringers for +flooring and oars and anchors for placing. In laying a bridge these +boats were anchored side by side across the stream, stringers made fast +across them, and plank then placed on the stringers. Every piece was +securely keyed into place so that the bridge was wide enough and strong +enough for a battery of artillery and a column of infantry to go over at +the same time. The rapidity with which they would either lay or take up +a bridge was amazing. If undisturbed they would bridge a stream two +hundred yards wide in thirty minutes. They bridged the Rappahannock at +Fredericksburg under fire on the 12th of December, 1863, in a little +over an hour, losing heavily in the act. + +Having now given some account of the organization of this great +human fighting machine, it will be proper to show how it was +handled. For this purpose there were four staff departments, +namely, the adjutant-general's, the quartermaster-general's, the +commissary-general's, and the ordnance departments. The first named was +the mouth-piece of the army. All orders were issued by and through that +officer. It was the book-keeper of the army. Each subdivision of the +army had its adjutant-general down to the office of adjutant in the +regiment, who was charged with issuing all orders, and with attending to +their execution. He was secretary, so to speak, of the commanding +officer, and his chief executive officer as well. Extraordinary +executive talent and tireless energy were required in these positions. +The adjutant must be able at all times to inform his chief of the +condition of every detail of the command whether an army corps or +regiment, exactly how many men were fit for duty, how many sick or +disabled, and just where they all are. In fact, he must be a walking +encyclopaedia of the whole command; added to this he was usually chief of +staff, and must be in the saddle superintending every movement of the +troops. Always first on duty, his work was never finished. + +Two of the best adjutants-general the world has produced literally wore +themselves out in the service--Seth Williams and John B. Rawlins. The +first named was McClellan's adjutant-general, the latter was Grant's. +McClellan is credited with having organized the grand old Army of the +Potomac, the main fighting force by which the rebellion was finally +crushed. This was doubtless true, he being its first commanding officer. +But the executive ability by which that magnificent machine was +perfected was largely the work of Seth Williams, a very quiet, modest +man, but a master of the minutest details of every department and an +indefatigable worker. It was said his chief could wake him in the middle +of the night and get from his memory a correct answer as to the number +of men fit for duty in any one of the hundreds of regiments in the army, +and just where it was, and what duty it was doing. When one remembers +that this knowledge was acquired only by a daily perusal of the +consolidated reports of the various regiments, brigades, divisions, and +corps of the army, and that he could have found time for one reading +only, it will be seen how marvellous his memory was. + +Rawlins was said to possess much the same quality. It may truthfully be +said that the Army of the Potomac was organized and began its remarkable +career in the life blood of Seth Williams, and it completed its work in +a blaze of glory, in the life blood of John B. Rawlins. Seth Williams +died in the service. Rawlins came home with the victorious army only to +die. A beautiful bronze equestrian statue was erected at Washington +under the influence of his beloved chief, Grant, to commemorate the +services of Rawlins. So far as I know, Seth Williams shares the fate of +most of his humbler comrades,--an unmarked grave. + +I have said all orders were sent out through the adjutant-general's +office. This, of course, applies to all regular routine work only, for +during the movements of troops on campaigns and in battle orders had in +the nature of the case to be delivered verbally. For this purpose each +general had a number of aides-de-camp. In sending such orders, the +utmost courtesy was always observed. The formula was usually thus, +"General Kimball presents his compliments to Colonel Oakford and directs +that he move his regiment to such and such a point." To which Colonel +Oakford responds returning his compliments to General Kimball and says +"his order directing so and so has been received and shall be +immediately obeyed." + +The quartermaster's department was charged with all matters connected +with transportation; with the supplying of clothing, canvas, and +equipage of all sorts. Both the commissary and the ordnance departments +were dependent upon the quartermaster for the transportation of their +respective stores. The wagon trains required by the Army of the Potomac +for all this service were prodigious. They were made up of four and six +mule teams with heavy "prairie schooners" or canvas-covered wagons. I +have seen two thousand of them halted for the night in a single park, +and such trains on the march six to ten miles long were not unusual. It +will readily be seen that to have them within easy reach, and prevent +their falling into the hands of an alert enemy, was a tremendous problem +in all movements of the army. + +The army mule has been much caricatured, satirized, and abused, but the +soldier had no more faithful or indispensable servant than this same +patient, plodding, hard-pulling, long-eared fellow of the roomy voice +and nimble heels. The "boys" told a story which may illustrate the +mule's education. A "tenderfoot" driver had gotten his team stalled in a +mud hole, and by no amount of persuasion could he get them to budge an +inch. Helpers at the wheels and new hands on the lines were all to no +purpose. A typical army bummer had been eying the scene with +contemptuous silence. Finally he cut loose: + +"Say! You 'uns dunno the mule language. Ye dunno the dilec. Let a +perfesser in there." + +He was promptly given the job. He doffed cap and blouse, marched up to +those mules as if he weighed a ton and commanded the army. Clearing away +the crowd, he seized the leader's line, and distending his lungs, he +shot out in a voice that could have been heard a mile a series of +whoops, oaths, adjectives, and billingsgate that would have silenced the +proverbial London fish vender. The mules recognized the "dilec" at once, +pricked up their ears and took the load out in a jiffy. + +"Ye see, gents, them ar mules is used to workin' with a perfesser." + +The commissary department supplied the rations, and the ordnance +department the arms and ammunition, etc. Still another branch of the +service was the provost-marshal's department. This was the police force +of the army. It had the care and custody of all prisoners, whether those +arrested for crime, or prisoners of war--those captured from the enemy. +In the case of prisoners sentenced to death by court-martial, the +provost guard were their executioners. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +ON THE MARCH + + +We are bound northward through Maryland, the vets tell us, on a chase +after the rebs. The army marches in three and four parallel columns, +usually each corps in a column by itself, and distant from the other +columns equal to about its length in line of battle, say a half to +three-fourths of a mile. Roads were utilized as far as practicable, but +generally were left to the artillery and the wagon trains, whilst the +infantry made roads for themselves directly through the fields. + +The whole army marches surrounded by "advance and rear guards," and +"flankers," to prevent surprise. Each column is headed by a corps of +pioneers who, in addition to their arms, are provided with axes, picks +and shovels, with the latter stone walls and fences are levelled +sufficiently to permit the troops to pass, and ditches and other +obstructions covered and removed. It is interesting to see how quickly +this corps will dispose of an ordinary stone wall or rail fence. They go +down so quickly that they hardly seem to pause in their march. + +We learn that the Johnnies are only a couple of days ahead of us. That +they marched rapidly and were on their good behavior, all marauding +being forbidden, and they were singing a new song, entitled "My +Maryland," thus trying to woo this loyal border State over to the +Confederacy. We were told that Lee hung two soldiers for stealing +chickens and fruit just before they entered Frederick City. + +Much could be written about the discomforts of these marches, the chief +of which was the dust more than the heat and the fatigue. No rain had +fallen for some time, and the roads and the fields through which we +passed were powdered into fine dust, which arose in almost suffocating +clouds, so that mouth, lungs, eyes, and ears were filled with it. +Sometimes it became so dense that men could not be seen a dozen yards +away. The different regiments took turns in heading the columns. There +was comparative comfort at the head, but there were so many regiments +that during the whole campaign our regiment enjoyed this privilege but +once. + +Another feature of the march was inability to satisfy thirst. The dust +and heat no doubt produced an abnormal thirst which water did not seem +to satisfy. The water we could get was always warm, and generally muddy +and filthy. The latter was caused by the multitude of men using the +little streams, springs, or wells. Either of these, ordinarily abundant +for many more than ever used them, were hardly a cup full apiece for a +great army. Hence many a scrimmage took place for the first dash at a +cool well or spring. On our second or third day's march, such a scrap +took place between the advanced columns for a well, and in the melee one +man was accidentally pushed down into it, head first, and killed. He +belonged to one of the Connecticut regiments, I was told. We passed by +the well, and were unable to get water, because a dead soldier lay at +the bottom of it. His regiment probably got his body out, but we had to +march on without stopping to learn whether they did or not. The problem +of water for our army we found to be a troublesome one. Immediately we +halted, much of our rest would be taken up in efforts to get water. We +lost no opportunity to fill our canteens. Arriving in bivouac for the +night, the first thing was a detail to fill canteens and camp kettles +for supper coffee. We always bivouacked near a stream, if possible. But, +then, so many men wanting it soon roiled it for miles, so that our +details often had to follow the stream up three and four miles before +they could get clean water. This may seem a strong statement, but if one +will stop a moment and think of the effect upon even a good-sized +stream, of a hundred thousand men, besides horses and mules, all wanting +it for drinking, cooking, washing, and bathing (both the latter as +peremptory needs as the former), he will see that the statement is no +exaggeration. + +An interesting feature of our first two days' march was the clearing out +of knapsacks to reduce the load. Naturally each man was loaded with +extras of various sorts, knicknacks of all varieties, but mostly +supposed necessaries of camp life, put in by loving hands at home, a +salve for this, a medicine for that, a keepsake from one and another, +some the dearest of earth's treasures, each insignificant in itself, yet +all taking room and adding weight to over-burdened shoulders. At the +mid-day halt, on the first day knapsacks being off for rest, they came +open and the sorting began. It was sad, yet comical withal, to notice +the things that went out. The most bulky and least treasured went first. +At the second halting, an hour later, still another sorting was made. +The sun was hot and the knapsack was heavy. After the second day's +march, those knapsacks contained little but what the soldier was +compelled to carry, his rations, extra ammunition, and clothing. Were +these home treasures lost? Oh, no! Not one. Our friends, the vets, +gathered them all in as a rich harvest. They had been there themselves, +and knowing what was coming, were on hand to gather the plums as they +fell. The only difference was, that another mother's or sweetheart's +"boy" got the treasures. + +On September 11 we were approaching Frederick City. Our cavalry had a +skirmish with the rebel cavalry, showing that we were nearing their +army. And right here I ought to say that what an individual officer or +soldier--unless perhaps a general officer--knows of events transpiring +around him in the army is very little. Even the movements he sees, he is +seldom able to understand, his vision is so limited. He knows what his +own regiment and possibly his own brigade does, but seldom more than +that. He is as often the victim of false rumor as to movements of other +portions of the army, as those who are outside of it. On this date we +encamped near Clarksville. It was rumored that the rebels were in force +at Frederick City. How far away that is we do not know. The only +certainty about army life and army movements to the soldier is a +constant condition of uncertainty. Uncertainty as to where or when he +will eat, sleep, or fight, where or when the end will come. One would +almost doubt the certainty of his own existence, except for the hard +knocks which make this impossible. + +The celebrated Irish brigade, commanded by Brigadier-General Thomas +Francis Meagher, was in Richardson's division. They were a "free and +easy" going crowd. General Richardson impressed me as a man of great +determination and courage. He was a large, heavy man, dressed roughly +and spoke and acted very brusquely. French (who commanded our division) +was also thick-set, probably upwards of sixty years old, quite gray and +with a very red face. He had an affection of the eyes which kept him +winking or blinking constantly, from which he earned the sobriquet, "Old +Blink Eye." I saw General Burnside about this time. He was dressed so as +to be almost unrecognizable as a general officer; wore a rough blouse, +on the collar of which a close look revealed two much-battered and faded +stars, indicating his rank of major-general. He wore a black "slouch" +hat, the brim well down over his face, and rode along with a single +orderly, without the least ostentation. The men of the other regiments +knew him and broke out into a cheer, at which he promptly doffed his hat +and swung it at the boys. His hat off, we recognized the handsome author +of the "Burnside" whiskers. He was not only very popular with his own +corps--the Ninth--but with the whole army, and chiefly, I think, because +of his modest, quiet way of going about. This was so different from +General McClellan. + +On our third day's march we were halted for rest, when an orderly rode +through the lines saying to the different colonels, "General McClellan +will pass this way in ten minutes." This meant that we were to be ready +to cheer "Little Mac" when he came along, which, of course, we all did. +He came, preceded by a squadron of cavalry and accompanied by a very +large and brilliantly caparisoned staff, followed by more cavalry. He +was dressed in the full uniform of a major-general and rode a superb +horse, upon which he sat faultlessly. He was certainly a fine-looking +officer and a very striking figure. But whether all this "fuss and +feathers" was designed to impress the men, or was a freak of personal +vanity, it did not favorably impress our men. Many of the old vets, who +had been with him on the Peninsula, and now greeted him again after his +reinstatement, were very enthusiastic. But notwithstanding their +demonstrations, they rather negatived their praises by the remark, "No +fight to-day; Little Mac has gone to the front." "Look out for a fight +when he goes to the rear." On the other hand, they said when "Old Man +Sumner"--our corps commander--"goes to the front, look out for a fight." + +General Sumner was an old man--must have been nearly seventy--gray, and +his color indicated advanced age, though he seemed quite vigorous. He +went about very quietly and without display. He had a singular habit of +dropping his under jaw, so that his mouth was partially open much of the +time. + +We bivouacked on the 12th of September in front of Frederick City, Md., +in a field occupied the night before by the rebels, so the people told +us, and there was abundant evidence of their presence in the filth they +left uncovered, for they had slaughtered beef for their troops and the +putrid offal therefrom was polluting the air. Still there we had to +sleep. We marched the latter part of the day in the rain, and were soon +well covered with mud. We managed to keep some of the water out with our +gum blankets, and when we came to fix for the night, the men going in +pairs made themselves fairly comfortable under their shelter tents. I +should have explained that the only "canvas" supplied to the men on the +march was shelter tents, which consisted of a square of stout muslin +with button-holes on one side and buttons on the other. Two of these +buttoned together and stretched taut over a ridge-pole and made fast on +the ground, would keep out the heaviest shower, provided the occupants +were careful not to touch the muslin. A hand or elbow accidentally +thrust against the tent brought the water through in streams. There is a +knack in doing this, which the experience of the vets with whom we were +brigaded soon taught us. Choosing ground a little slanting, so the water +would run away from them, they would sleep fairly dry and comfortable, +even in a hard storm. As for us officers who were without shelter tents, +we had to shift for ourselves as best we might. A favorite plan, when +fences were available, was to place three or four rails endwise against +the fence and make a shelter by fastening a gum blanket on top. + +This worked fairly well against a stone wall for a backing, but against +an ordinary fence one side was unprotected, yet with another gum +blanket, two of us could so roll ourselves up as to be comparatively +water-proof. My diary states that in a driving rainstorm here I never +slept better in my life. I remember awakening with my head thoroughly +drenched, but otherwise comparatively dry. + +This night I succeeded in getting a "bang up" supper--a cooked meal--at +a reb farm-house. It consisted of pork-steak, potatoes, and hot coffee +with bread and butter. It was a great treat. I had now been without a +square meal for nearly ten days. The old gentleman, a small farmer, +talked freely about the war, not concealing his rebel sympathies. He +extolled Stonewall Jackson and his men, who, he said, had passed through +there only a day ahead of us. He firmly believed we would be whipped. He +evidently had an eye for the "main chance," for he was quite willing to +cook for us at twenty-five cents a meal, as long as he had stuff to cook +and his good wife had strength to do the work. She seemed to be a nice +old lady, and, hungry as I was, I felt almost unwilling to eat her +supper, she looked so tired. I told her it was too bad. She smiled and +said she was tired, but she couldn't bear to turn away these hungry +boys. She said she had a son in the rebel army, and she knew we must be +hungry and wet, for it was still raining hard. + +The officers at this time experienced difficulty in getting food to eat. +The men were supplied with rations and forced to carry them, but rations +were not issued to officers--though they might purchase of the +commissary such as the men had, when there was a supply. The latter were +supposed to provide their own mess, for which purpose their mess-kits +were transported in a wagon supplied to each regiment. The field and +staff usually made one mess, and the line or company officers another. +Sometimes the latter messed with their own men, carrying their rations +along on the march the same as the men. This was discouraged by the +government, but it proved the only way to be sure of food when needed, +and was later on generally adopted. We had plenty of food with our +mess-kit and cook, but on the march, and especially in the presence of +the enemy, our wagons could never get within reach of us. Indeed, when +we bivouacked, they were generally from eight to ten miles away. The +result was we often went hungry, unless we were able to pick up a meal +at a farm-house--which seldom occurred, for the reason that most of +these farmers were rebel sympathizers and would not feed us "Yanks," or +they would be either sold out, or stolen out, of food. The tale +generally told was, "You 'uns has stolen all we 'uns had." This accounts +for the entry in my diary that the next morning I marched without +breakfast, but got a good bath in the Monocacy--near which we +encamped--in place of it. I got a "hardtack" and bit of raw pork about +10 A.M. + +On the 13th of September, we passed through the city of Frederick, Md. +It is a quaint old town, having then probably three thousand or more +inhabitants and a decided business air. The rebels, they claimed, had +cleaned them out of eatables and clothing, paying for them in +Confederate scrip, and one man told me they would not take the same +scrip in change, but required Union money; that this was demanded +everywhere. General McClellan passed through the streets while we were +halted, as did General Burnside shortly after. A funny incident occurred +with the latter. General Burnside, as usual, was accompanied by a single +orderly, and had stopped a moment to speak to some officers, when a +handsome, middle-aged lady stepped out of her house and approached. She +put out her hand and, as the general clasped it, she raised herself up +on her toes in an unmistakable motion to greet him with a kiss. + +The general so understood her, and, doffing his hat, bent down to meet +her pouting lips, but, alas, he was too high up; bend as low as he might +and stretch up as high as she could, their lips did not meet, and the +kiss hung in mid-air. The boys caught the situation in a moment, and +began to laugh and clap their hands, but the general solved the problem +by dismounting and taking his kiss in the most gallant fashion, on which +he was roundly cheered by the men. The lady was evidently of one of the +best families. She said she was a stanch Union woman, and was so glad to +see our troops that she felt she must greet our general. There was +"method in her madness," however, for she confined her favors to a +general, and picked out the handsomest one of the lot. It is worthy of +note, that during this incident, which excited uproarious laughter, not +a disrespectful remark was made by any of the hundreds of our "boys" who +witnessed it. General Burnside chatted with her for a few moments, then +remounted and rode away. + +Approaching Frederick City, the country is exceptionally beautiful and +the land seemed to be under a good state of cultivation. In front of us +loomed up almost against the sky the long ridge called the South +Mountain. It was evidently a spur of the Blue Ridge. Another incident +occurred soon after reaching bivouac, just beyond the city. We had +arranged for our night's "lodging" and were preparing supper, when one +of the native farmers came into camp and asked to see the colonel. +Colonel Oakford and Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox were temporarily absent, +and he was turned over to Major Albright, to whom he complained that +"you 'uns" had stolen his last pig and he wanted pay for it. The major, +who was a lawyer, began to cross-question him as to how he knew it was +our men who had stolen it; there were at least fifty other regiments +besides ours on the ground. But he would not be denied. + +[Illustration: COLONEL CHARLES ALBRIGHT] + +He said they told him they was "a hundred and thirty-two uns," and he +also saw those figures on their caps. The major asked how long ago they +took it. He replied that they got it only a little while ago, and +offered to go and find it if the major would allow him. But the latter +was confident he was mistaken in his men--that some of the old "vets" +had got his pig. His chief argument was that our men were greenhorns and +knew nothing about marauding; that some of the "vets" had doubtless made +away with his pig and had laid it on our men. So persuasive was the +major that the man finally went off satisfied that he had made a mistake +in his men. The man was only well out of camp when one of our men +appeared at the major's quarters with a piece of fresh pork for his +supper, with the compliments of Company----. Now, the orders against +marauding were very severe, and to have been caught would have involved +heavy punishment. But the chief point of the incident, and which made it +a huge joke on the major, lay in the fact that the latter who was a +thoroughly conscientious man, had successfully fought off a charge +against his men, whom he really believed to be innocent, only to find +that during the very time he was persuading his man of their innocence, +the scamps were almost within sound of his voice, actually butchering +and dressing the pig. How they managed to capture and kill that pig, +without a single squeal escaping, is one of the marvels of the service. +Certainly vets could have done no better. The man was gone, the mischief +was done, the meat was spoiling, and we were very hungry. With rather +cheerful sadness, it must be confessed, we became _particeps criminis_, +and made a supper on the pork. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +DRAWING NEAR THE ENEMY--BATTLE OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN--PRELIMINARY SKIRMISHES + + +Sunday, September 15, we broke camp at daylight and marched out on the +Hagerstown "pike." Our division had the field this day. We crossed the +ridge in rear of Frederick City and thence down into and up a most +beautiful valley. We made only about seven miles, though we actually +marched over twelve. We were in the presence of the enemy and were +manoeuvred so as to keep concealed. We heard heavy cannonading all +day, and part of the time could see our batteries, towards which we were +marching. + +Towards night we heard the first musketry firing. It proved to be the +closing of the short but sanguinary battle of South Mountain. General +Reno, commanding the Ninth Corps, whose glistening bayonets we had seen +across the valley ahead of us, had overtaken the rebel rear guard in +South Mountain pass and a severe action had ensued. General Reno himself +was killed. His body was brought back next morning in an ambulance on +its way to Washington. We reached the battle-ground about midnight, +whither we had been hurried as supports. The batteries on both sides +were still at work, but musketry firing had ceased. It had been a +beautiful though very warm day, and the night was brilliantly +moonlight, one of those exceptionally bright nights which almost +equalled daylight. And this had been Sunday--the Lord's day! How +dreadful the work for the Lord's day! + +Here I saw the first dead soldier. Two of our artillerymen had been +killed while serving their gun. Both were terribly mangled. They had +been laid aside, while others stepped into their places. There they +still lay, horrible evidence of the "hell of war." Subsequently I saw +thousands of the killed on both sides, which made scarcely more +impression on me than so many logs, but this first vision of the awful +work of war still remains. Even at this writing, forty years later, +memory reproduces that horrible scene as clearly as on that beautiful +Sabbath evening. + +It was past midnight when we bivouacked for the little rest we were to +have before resuming the "chase." Being now in the immediate "presence +of the enemy," we rested on "our arms," that is, every soldier lay down +with his gun at his side, and knapsack and accoutrements ready to be +"slung" immediately on the sounding of the "call." We officers did not +unsaddle our horses, but dismounted and snatched an hour's sleep just as +we were. Bright and early next morning we were on our way again. It was +a most beautiful morning. + +We soon passed the field where the musketry did its work the night +before, and there were more than a hundred dead rebels scattered over +the field, as the result of it. Two or three were sitting upright, or +nearly so, against stumps. They had evidently been mortally wounded, and +died while waiting for help. All were dressed in coarse +butternut-colored stuffs, very ugly in appearance, but admirably well +calculated to conceal them from our troops. + +We rapidly passed over the mountain (South Mountain) and down into the +village of Boonsborough. There was abundant evidence of the rebel +skedaddle down the mountain ahead of our troops in the way of blankets, +knapsacks, and other impedimenta, evidently dropped or thrown away in +the flight. We passed several squads of rebel prisoners who had been +captured by our cavalry and were being marched to the rear under guard. +They were good-looking boys, apparently scarcely more than boys, and +were poorly dressed and poorly supplied. + +Some freely expressed themselves as glad they had been captured, as they +were sick of the fighting. + +My own experiences this day were a taste of "the front," that is, the +excitement attending a momentarily expected "brush" with the enemy. Part +of the time my heart was in my mouth, and my hair seemed to stand +straight up. One can have little idea of this feeling until it has been +experienced. Any effort to describe it will be inadequate. Personal +fear? Yes, that unquestionably is at the bottom of it, and I take no +stock in the man who says he has no fear. We had been without food until +late in the afternoon for reasons heretofore explained. Towards night +one of my friends in Company K gave me a cup of coffee and a "hardtack." + +Just before reaching Boonsborough, a pretty village nestling at the foot +of the South Mountain, our cavalry had a sharp skirmish with the rebel +rear-guard, in which Captain Kelley, of the Illinois cavalry, was +killed, I was told. At Boonsborough we found the field hospitals with +the rebel wounded from the fight of the day previous. Their wounded men +said their loss was over four hundred killed, among them two +brigadiers-general, one colonel, and several officers of lesser rank. A +rebel flag of truce came into our lines here to get the bodies of these +dead officers and to arrange for burying their dead and caring for their +wounded. The houses of Boonsborough had been mostly vacated by the +people on the approach of the rebel army and the fighting, and the +latter had promptly occupied as many of them as they needed for their +wounded. Imagine these poor villagers returning from their flight to +find their homes literally packed with wounded rebel soldiers and their +attendants. Whatever humble food supplies they may have had, all had +been appropriated, for war spares nothing. Some of the frightened people +of the village were returning as we passed through, and were sadly +lamenting the destruction of almost everything that could be destroyed +on and about their homes by this besom of destruction,--war. Food, +stock, fences, bed and bedding, etc., all gone or destroyed. Some of the +houses had been perforated by the shells,--probably our own shells, +aimed at the enemy. One man told me a shell had entered his house and +landed on the bed in the front room, but had not exploded. Had it +exploded, he would have had a bigger story to tell. + +The rebels, we learned, had been gone but a few hours, and we were kept +in pursuit. We marched out the Shepherdstown road a few miles, reaching +and passing through another village--Keedysville. We were continuously +approaching heavy cannonading. Indeed, we had been marching for the +past three days within hearing of, and drawing closer to, the artillery +barking of the two armies. Old vets said this meant a big fight within +the next few hours. If so, I thought I shall better know how to diagnose +similar symptoms in the future. + +A mile beyond Keedysville we bivouacked for the night, after a hard, +hot, and exciting day's chase. Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox came into camp +with a great trophy, nothing less than a good old-fashioned fat loaf of +home-made bread. He was immediately voted a niche in the future hall of +fame, for two acts of extraordinary merit, namely, first, finding and +capturing the bread, and, second, bringing it into camp intact, the +latter act being considered supremely self-sacrificing. It was +magnanimously divided by him, and made a supper for three of us. Our +mid-day meal had been made up of dust and excitement. + +All sorts of rumors were afloat as to the movements of the enemy, as +well as of our own army. It was said Jackson was across the Potomac with +a large force; that Hooker was engaging him, and that we were likely to +bag the balance of Lee's army soon. One thing I learned, namely, that I +could be sure only of what I saw, and that was very little, indeed, of +the doings of either army. The soldier who professes to know all about +army movements because he "was there," may be set down either as a +bummer, who spent most of his time up trees, safely ensconced where he +could see, or as a fake. + +[Illustration: COLONEL VINCENT M. WILCOX] + +My diary records a night of good rest September 16, 1862, in this camp +on the Shepherdstown road. The morning was clear, beautiful, and cheery. +This entry will look somewhat remarkable in view of that which +follows, namely, "No breakfast in sight or in prospect." Later one of +our men gave me half his cup of coffee and a couple of small sweet +potatoes, which I roasted and ate without seasoning. + +The "ball" opened soon after daylight by a rebel battery, about +three-quarters of a mile away, attempting to shell our lines. Our +division was massed under the shelter of a hill. One of our batteries of +12-pounder brass guns promptly replied, and a beautiful artillery duel +ensued, the first I had ever witnessed at close quarters. Many of us +crept up to the brow of the hill to see the "fun," though we were warned +that we were courting trouble in so doing. We could see columns of rebel +infantry marching in ranks of four, just as we marched, en route, and as +shell after shell from our guns would explode among them and scatter and +kill we would cheer. We were enjoying ourselves hugely until presently +some additional puffs of smoke appeared from their side, followed +immediately by a series of very ugly hissing, whizzing sounds, and the +dropping of shells amongst our troops which changed the whole aspect of +things. Our merriment and cheering were replaced by a scurrying to +cover, with blanched faces on some and an ominous, thoughtful quiet over +all. + +This was really our first baptism of fire, for though at South Mountain +we had been in range and were credited with being in the fight as +supports, none of the shells had actually visited us. Several of these +came altogether too close for comfort. Colonel Oakford, +Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox, and I were sitting on our horses as close +together as horses ordinarily stand, when one of these ugly missiles +dropped down between us. It came with a shrieking, screeching sound, +like the pitch of an electric car with the added noise of a dozen +sky-rockets. It did not explode. It created considerable consternation +and no little stir with horses and men, but did no damage further than +the scare and a good showering of gravel and dust. Another struck +between the ranks of our brigade as they were resting under the hill +with guns stacked,--only a few feet away from us. It also, happily, +failed to explode, but we were sure some one must have been killed by +it. It did not seem possible that such a missile could drop down upon a +division of troops in mass without hitting somebody; but, strange as it +may seem, it did no damage beyond knocking down a row of gun-stacks and +tumbling topsy-turvy several men, who were badly bruised, but otherwise +uninjured. The way the concussion tossed the men about was terrific. Had +these shells exploded, some other body would probably have had to write +up this narrative. + +Another shell incident occurred during this artillery duel that looked +very funny, though it was anything but funny to the poor fellow who +suffered. He, with others, had been up near our battery, on the knoll +just above us, witnessing the firing, when one of these rebel shells +came ricochetting along the ground towards him as he evidently thought, +for he started to run down the hill thinking to get away from it, but in +fact running exactly in front of the shell, which carried away one heel. +He continued down the hill at greatly accelerated speed, but now hopping +on one foot. Had he remained where he was the missile would have passed +him harmlessly. Except when nearly spent, shells are not seen until they +have passed, but the screeching, whizzing, hissing noise is sufficient +to make one believe they are hunting him personally. Veteran troops get +to discount the terrors of these noises in a measure, and pay little +attention to them, on the theory that if one is going to be hit by them +he will be anyway, and no amount of dodging will save him, so they go +right on and "take their chances." But with new troops the effect of a +shell shrieking over or past them is often very ludicrous. An +involuntary salaam follows the first sound, with a wild craning of the +necks to see where it went. Upon marching troops, the effect is like +that of a puff of wind chasing a wave across a field of grain. + +Returning to our artillery duel, so far as we could judge, our battery +had the best of the practice, but not without paying the price, for the +second rebel shell killed the major (chief of artillery of our +division), who sat on his horse directing the fire, and besides there +were a number of casualties among the battery men. I had seen many a +battery practice on parade occasions with blank cartridges. How utterly +different was the thing in war. Infinitely more savage, the noise +deafeningly multiplied, each gun, regardless of the others, doing its +awful worst to spit out and hurl as from the mouth of a hell-born dragon +these missiles of death at the enemy. + +The duel continued for upwards of two hours, until the enemy's battery +hauled off, having apparently had enough. Evidences of the conflict were +sadly abundant. A number were killed, others wounded and several of the +battery horses were killed. The work of the men in this hell of fire +was magnificent. They never flagged for a moment, and at the conclusion +were not in the least disabled, notwithstanding their losses. I think it +was Nimm's battery from Pittsburg. This was the chief incident of the +day. It was said the two armies were manoeuvring for position, and +that a great battle was imminent. This from my diary. It proved to be +true, and that all the skirmishes and "affaires" for the preceding ten +days had been only preliminary to the great battle of Antietam, fought +on the next day, the 17th. + +We remained in bivouac here the remainder of the day and night. +Burnside's Ninth Corps passed to "the front" during the afternoon, a +splendid body of veteran troops, whose handsome and popular general was +heartily cheered. He was a large, heavily-built man, and sat his +handsome horse like a prince. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM + + +Never did day open more beautiful. We were astir at the first streak of +dawn. We had slept, and soundly too, just where nightfall found us under +the shelter of the hill near Keedysville. No reveille call this morning. +Too close to the enemy. Nor was this needed to arouse us. A simple call +of a sergeant or corporal and every man was instantly awake and alert. +All realized that there was ugly business and plenty of it just ahead. +This was plainly visible in the faces as well as in the nervous, subdued +demeanor of all. The absence of all joking and play and the almost +painful sobriety of action, where jollity had been the rule, was +particularly noticeable. + +Before proceeding with the events of the battle, I should speak of the +"night before the battle," of which so much has been said and written. +My diary says that Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox, Captain James Archbald, +Co. I, and I slept together, sharing our blankets; that it rained during +the night; this fact, with the other, that we were close friends at +home, accounts for our sharing blankets. Three of us with our gum +blankets could so arrange as to keep fairly dry, notwithstanding the +rain. + +The camp was ominously still this night. We were not allowed to sing or +make any noise, nor have any fires--except just enough to make +coffee--for fear of attracting the fire of the enemies' batteries. But +there was no need of such an inhibition as to singing or frolicking, for +there was no disposition to indulge in either. Unquestionably, the +problems of the morrow were occupying all breasts. Letters were written +home--many of them "last words"--and quiet talks were had, and promises +made between comrades. Promises providing against the dreaded +possibilities of the morrow. "If the worst happens, Jack." "Yes, Ned, +send word to mother and to----, and these; she will prize them," and so +directions were interchanged that meant so much. + +I can never forget the quiet words of Colonel Oakford, as he inquired +very particularly if my roster of the officers and men of the regiment +was complete, for, said he, with a smile, "We shall not all be here +to-morrow night." + +Now to resume the story of the battle. We were on the march about six +o'clock and moved, as I thought, rather leisurely for upwards of two +miles, crossing Antietam creek, which our men waded nearly waist deep, +emerging, of course, soaked through, our first experience of this kind. +It was a hot morning and, therefore, the only ill effects of this wading +was the discomfort to the men of marching with soaked feet. It was now +quite evident that a great battle was in progress. A deafening +pandemonium of cannonading, with shrieking and bursting shells, filled +the air beyond us, towards which we were marching. An occasional shell +whizzed by or over, reminding us that we were rapidly approaching the +"debatable ground." Soon we began to hear a most ominous sound which we +had never before heard, except in the far distance at South Mountain, +namely, the rattle of musketry. It had none of the deafening bluster of +the cannonading so terrifying to new troops, but to those who had once +experienced its effect, it was infinitely more to be dreaded. The +fatalities by musketry at close quarters, as the two armies fought at +Antietam and all through the Civil War, as compared with those by +artillery, are at least as 100 to 1, probably much more than that. + +These volleys of musketry we were approaching sounded in the distance +like the rapid pouring of shot upon a tinpan, or the tearing of heavy +canvas, with slight pauses interspersed with single shots, or desultory +shooting. All this presaged fearful work in store for us, with what +results to each personally the future, measured probably by moments, +would reveal. + +How does one feel under such conditions? To tell the truth, I realized +the situation most keenly and felt very uncomfortable. Lest there might +be some undue manifestation of this feeling in my conduct, I said to +myself, this is the duty I undertook to perform for my country, and now +I'll do it, and leave the results with God. My greater fear was not that +I might be killed, but that I might be grievously wounded and left a +victim of suffering on the field. + +The nervous strain was plainly visible upon all of us. All moved +doggedly forward in obedience to orders, in absolute silence so far as +talking was concerned. The compressed lip and set teeth showed that +nerve and resolution had been summoned to the discharge of duty. A few +temporarily fell out, unable to endure the nervous strain, which was +simply awful. There were a few others, it must be said, who skulked, +took counsel of their cowardly legs, and, despite all efforts of "file +closers" and officers, left the ranks. Of these two classes most of the +first rejoined us later on, and their dropping out was no reflection on +their bravery. The nervous strain produced by the excitement and danger +gave them the malady called by the vets, the "cannon quickstep." + +On our way into "position" we passed the "Meyer Spring,"--a magnificent +fountain of sweet spring water. It was walled in, and must have been ten +or twelve feet square and at least three feet deep, and a stream was +flowing from it large enough to make a respectable brook. Many of us +succeeded in filling our canteens from this glorious spring, now +surrounded by hundreds of wounded soldiers. What a Godsend it was to +those poor fellows. + +About eight o'clock we were formed into line of battle and moved forward +through a grove of trees,[A] but before actually coming under musketry +fire of the enemy we were moved back again, and swung around nearly a +mile to the left to the base of a circular knoll to the left of the +Roulette farm-house and the road which leads up to the Sharpsburg pike, +near the Dunkard church. The famous "sunken road"--a road which had been +cut through the other side of this knoll--extended from the Roulette +Lane directly in front of our line towards Sharpsburg. I had ridden by +the side of Colonel Oakford, except when on duty, up and down the +column, and as the line was formed by the colonel and ordered forward, +we dismounted and sent our horses to the rear by a servant. I was +immediately sent by the colonel to the left of the line to assist in +getting that into position. A rail fence separated us from the top of +the knoll. Bullets were whizzing and singing by our ears, but so far +hitting none where I was. Over the fence and up the knoll in an +excellent line we went. In the centre of the knoll, perhaps a third of +the way up, was a large tree, and under and around this tree lay a body +of troops doing nothing. They were in our way, but our orders were +forward, and through and over them we went. + +[Illustration: COLONEL RICHARD A. OAKFORD + +Killed at battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862] + +Reaching the top of the knoll we were met by a terrific volley from the +rebels in the sunken road down the other side, not more than one hundred +yards away, and also from another rebel line in a corn-field just +beyond. Some of our men were killed and wounded by this volley. We were +ordered to lie down just under the top of the hill and crawl forward and +fire over, each man crawling back, reloading his piece in this prone +position and again crawling forward and firing. These tactics +undoubtedly saved us many lives, for the fire of the two lines in front +of us was terrific. The air was full of whizzing, singing, buzzing +bullets. Once down on the ground under cover of the hill, it required +very strong resolution to get up where these missiles of death were +flying so thickly, yet that was the duty of us officers, especially us +of the field and staff. My duty kept me constantly moving up and down +that whole line. + +On my way back to the right of the line, where I had left Colonel +Oakford, I met Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox, who told me the terrible news +that Colonel Oakford was killed. Of the details of his death, I had no +time then to inquire. We were then in the very maelstrom of the battle. +Men were falling every moment. The horrible noise of the battle was +incessant and almost deafening. Except that my mind was so absorbed in +my duties, I do not know how I could have endured the strain. Yet out of +this pandemonium memory brings several remarkable incidents. They came +and went with the rapidity of a quickly revolving kaleidoscope. You +caught stupendous incidents on the instant, and in an instant they had +passed. One was the brave death of the major of this regiment that was +lying idle under the tree. The commanding officer evidently was not +doing his duty, and this major was endeavoring to rally his men and get +them at work. He was swinging his hat and cheering his men forward, when +a solid shot decapitated him. His poor body went down as though some +giant had picked it up and furiously slammed it on the ground, and I was +so near him that I could almost have touched him with my sword. + +The inaction of this regiment lying behind us under that tree was very +demoralizing to our men, setting them a bad example. General Kimball, +who commanded our brigade, was seated on his horse just under the knoll +in the rear of our regiment, evidently watching our work, and he +signalled me to come to him, and then gave me orders to present his +compliments to the commanding officer of that regiment and direct him to +get his men up and at work. I communicated this order as directed. The +colonel was hugging the ground, and merely turned his face towards me +without replying or attempting to obey the order. General Kimball saw +the whole thing, and again called me to him and, with an oath, commanded +me to repeat the order to him at the muzzle of my revolver, and shoot +him if he did not immediately obey. Said General Kimball: "Get those +cowards out of there or shoot them." My task was a most disagreeable +one, but I must deliver my orders, and did so, but was saved the duty of +shooting by the other officers of the regiment bravely rallying their +men and pushing them forward to the firing-line, where they did good +work. What became of that skulking colonel, I do not know. + +The air was now thick with smoke from the muskets, which not only +obscured our vision of the enemy, but made breathing difficult and most +uncomfortable. The day was excessively hot, and no air stirring, we were +forced to breathe this powder smoke, impregnated with saltpetre, which +burned the coating of nose, throat, and eyes almost like fire. + +Captain Abbott, commanding Company G, from Mauch Chunk, a brave and +splendid officer, was early carried to the rear, a ball having nearly +carried away his under jaw. He afterwards told me that his first +sensation of this awful wound was his mouth full of blood, teeth, and +splintered bones, which he spat out on the ground, and then found that +unless he got immediate help he would bleed to death in a few minutes. +Fortunately he found Assistant Surgeon Hoover, who had been assigned to +us just from his college graduation, who, under the shelter of a +hay-stack, with no anaesthetic, performed an operation which Dr. Gross, +of Philadelphia, afterwards said had been but once before successfully +performed in the history of surgery, and saved his life. Lieutenant +Anson C. Cranmer, Company C, was killed, and the ground was soon strewn +with the dead and wounded. Soon our men began to call for more +ammunition, and we officers were kept busy taking from the dead and +wounded and distributing to the living. Each man had eighty rounds when +we began the fight. One man near me rose a moment, when a missile struck +his gun about midway, and actually capsized him. He pulled himself +together, and, finding he was only a little bruised, picked up another +gun, with which the ground was now strewn, and went at it again. + +Directly, a lull in the enemy's firing occurred, and we had an +opportunity to look over the hill a little more carefully at their +lines. Their first line in the sunken road seemed to be all dead or +wounded, and several of our men ran down there, to find that literally +true. They brought back the lieutenant-colonel, a fine-looking man, who +was mortally wounded. I shook his hand, and he said, "God bless you, +boys, you are very kind." He asked to be laid down in some sheltered +place, for, said he, "I have but a few moments to live." I well remember +his refined, gentlemanly appearance, and how profoundly sorry I felt for +him. He was young, lithely built, of sandy complexion, and wore a +comparatively new uniform of Confederate gray, on which was embroidered +the insignia of the "5th Ga.,[B] C. S. A." He said, "You have killed all +my brave boys; they are there in the road." And they were, I saw them +next day lying four deep in places as they fell, a most awful picture of +battle carnage. This lull was of very short duration, and like the lull +of a storm presaged a renewal of the firing with greater fury, for a +fresh line of rebel troops had been brought up. This occurred three +times before we were relieved. + +[Illustration: SILENCED CONFEDERATE BATTERY IN FRONT OF DUNKER CHURCH +SHARPSBURG ROAD, ANTIETAM + +This little brick church lay between the opposing lines, and both Union +and Confederate wounded were gathered in it] + +During the fiercest of the firing, another remarkable incident occurred, +which well illustrated the fortunes of war. I heard a man shouting, +"Come over here men, you can see 'em better," and there, over the brow +of the knoll, absolutely exposed, was Private George Coursen, of Company +K, sitting on a boulder, loading and firing as calmly as though there +wasn't a rebel in the country. I yelled to him to come back under the +cover of the hill-top, but he said he could see the rebels better there, +and refused to leave his vantage-ground. I think he remained there until +we were ordered back and did not receive a scratch. His escape was +nothing less than a miracle. He seemed to have no idea of fear. + +A remarkable fact about our experience during this fight was that we +took no note of time. When we were out of ammunition and about to move +back I looked at my watch and found it was 12.30 P.M. We had been under +fire since eight o'clock. I couldn't believe my eyes; was sure my watch +had gone wrong. I would have sworn that we had not been there more than +twenty minutes, when we had actually been in that very hell of fire for +four and a half hours. + +Just as we were moving back, the Irish brigade came up, under command of +General Thomas Francis Meagher. They had been ordered to complete our +work by a charge, and right gallantly they did it. Many of our men, not +understanding the order, joined in that charge. General Meagher rode a +beautiful white horse, but made a show of himself by tumbling off just +as he reached our line. The boys said he was drunk, and he certainly +looked and acted like a drunken man. He regained his feet and floundered +about, swearing like a crazy man. The brigade, however, made a +magnificent charge and swept everything before it. + +Another incident occurred during the time we were under fire. My +attention was arrested by a heavily built general officer passing to the +rear on foot. He came close by me and as he passed he shouted: "You will +have to get back. Don't you see yonder line of rebels is flanking you?" +I looked in the direction he pointed, and, sure enough, on our right and +now well to our rear was an extended line of rebel infantry with their +colors flying, moving forward almost with the precision of a parade. +They had thrown forward a beautiful skirmish line and seemed to be +practically masters of the situation. My heart was in my mouth for a +couple of moments, until suddenly the picture changed, and their +beautiful line collapsed and went back as if the d----l was after them. +They had run up against an obstruction in a line of the "boys in blue," +and many of them never went back. This general officer who spoke to me, +I learned, was Major-General Richardson, commanding the First Division, +then badly wounded, and who died a few hours after. + +Our regiment now moved back and to the right some three-quarters of a +mile, where we were supplied with ammunition, and the men were allowed +to make themselves a cup of coffee and eat a "hardtack." I was faint for +want of food, for I had only a cup of coffee in the early morning, and +was favored with a hardtack by one of the men, who were always ready +and willing to share their rations with us. We now learned that our +brigade had borne the brunt of a long and persistent effort by Lee to +break our line at this point, and that we were actually the third line +which had been thrown into this breach, the other two having been wiped +out before we advanced; that as a matter of fact our brigade, being +composed so largely of raw troops--our regiment being really more than +half the brigade in actual number--was designed to be held in reserve. +But the onslaught of the enemy had been so terrific, that by eight +o'clock A.M. our reserve line was all there was left and we had to be +sent in. The other three regiments were veterans, old and tried. They +had an established reputation of having never once been forced back or +whipped, but the One Hundred and Thirty-second was new and, except as to +numbers, an unknown quantity. We had been unmercifully guyed during the +two preceding weeks, as I have said before, as a lot of "greenhorns," +"pretty boys" in "pretty new clothes," "mamma's darlings," etc., etc., +to the end of the vets' slang calendar. Now that we had proved our metal +under fire, the atmosphere was completely changed. Not the semblance of +another jibe against the One Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsylvania +Volunteers. + +We did not know how well we had done, only that we had tried to do our +duty under trying circumstances, until officers and men from other +regiments came flocking over to congratulate and praise us. I didn't +even know we had passed through the fire of a great battle until the +colonel of the Fourteenth Indiana came over to condole with us on the +loss of Colonel Oakford, and incidentally told us that this was +undoubtedly the greatest battle of the war thus far, and that we +probably would never have such another. + +After getting into our new position, I at once began to look up our +losses. I learned that Colonel Oakford was killed by one of the rebel +sharp-shooters just as the regiment scaled the fence in its advance up +the knoll, and before we had fired a shot. It must have occurred almost +instantly after I left him with orders for the left of the line. I was +probably the last to whom he spoke. He was hit by a minie-ball in the +left shoulder, just below the collar-bone. The doctor said the ball had +severed one of the large arteries, and he died in a very few minutes. He +had been in command of the regiment a little more than a month, but +during that brief time his work as a disciplinarian and drill-master had +made it possible for us to acquit ourselves as creditably as they all +said we had done. General Kimball was loud in our praise and greatly +lamented Colonel Oakford's death, whom he admired very much. He was a +brave, able, and accomplished officer and gentleman, and his loss to the +regiment was irreparable. + +Had Colonel Oakford lived his record must have been brilliant and his +promotion rapid, for very few volunteer officers had so quickly mastered +the details of military tactics and routine. He was a thorough +disciplinarian, an able tactician, and the interests and welfare of his +men were constantly upon his heart. + +My diary records the fact that I saw Captain Willard, of the Fourteenth +Connecticut, fall as we passed their line on our way to the rear; that +he appeared to have been hit by a grape-shot or piece of shell. I did +not know him, only heard that he was a brother of E. N. Willard, of +Scranton. The Fourteenth Connecticut men said he was a fine man and +splendid officer. + +Among the wounded--reported mortally--was Sergeant Martin Hower, of +Company K, one of our very best non-commissioned officers. I saw him at +the hospital, and it was very hard to be able to do nothing for him. It +seemed our loss must reach upward of two hundred killed, wounded and +missing. Out of seven hundred and ninety-eight who answered to roll-call +in the morning, we had with us less than three hundred at the close of +the fight. Our actual loss was: Killed--Officers, two (Colonel Oakford +and Lieutenant Cranmer); men, twenty-eight; total, thirty. +Wounded--Officers, four; men, one hundred and ten; total, one hundred +and forty-four. To this should be added at least thirty of the men who +died of their wounds within the next few days, which would make our +death loss in this battle upward of sixty. Of the missing, many of them +were of those who joined the Irish brigade in their charge, and who did +not find us again for a day or so. It may seem strange that a man should +not be able to find his regiment for so long a time, when really it is +so close at hand. But when one remembers that our army of about +seventy-five thousand men had upward of two hundred regiments massed +within say two square miles, and that they were constantly changing +position, it will be seen that looking for any one regiment is almost +like looking for a needle in a hay-mow. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM--CONTINUED + + +During the afternoon of this day we were again moved further to the +right and placed as supports of a battery. We were posted about two +hundred yards directly in front of the guns on low ground. The battery +was evidently engaged in another artillery duel. We were in a +comparatively safe position, so long as the rebel guns directed their +firing at our battery; but after a time they began "feeling for the +supports," first dropping their shells beyond our guns, then in front of +them, until they finally got a pretty good range on our line and filled +the air with bursting shells over our heads. One and another was carried +to the rear, wounded, and the line became very restive. We were required +to lie perfectly quiet. We found this very much more trying than being +at work, and the line began to show symptoms of wavering, when General +Kimball, who with his staff had dismounted and was resting near us, +immediately mounted his horse and, riding up and down the line, shouted: +"Stand firm, trust in God, and do your duty." + +It was an exceedingly brave act, and its effect was electric upon the +men. There was no more wavering, and the rebel battery, evidently +thinking they had not found the "supports," soon ceased firing upon us. +It was now near night and the firing very perceptibly slackened in our +vicinity, though a mile or more to the left it still continued very +heavy. This, we afterwards learned, was the work at what has passed into +history as "Burnside's" bridge--the effort of Burnside's corps to +capture the stone bridge over Antietam creek, near the village of +Sharpsburg, and the heights beyond. These were gallantly carried after a +terrific fight quite late in the afternoon. + +Our work, so far as this battle was concerned, was done. We rested "on +our arms" where we were for the next forty-eight hours, expecting all +the next day a renewal of the fighting; but nothing was done in our +neighborhood beyond a few shots from the battery we were supporting. On +the second day it became known that Lee had hauled off, and there was no +immediate prospect of further fighting. Our companies were permitted to +gather up their dead, and burying parties were organized. + +We were allowed to go over the field freely. It was a gruesome sight. +Our own dead had been cared for, but the rebel dead remained as they had +fallen. In the hot sun the bodies had swollen and turned black. Nearly +all lay with faces up and eyes wide open, presenting a spectacle to make +one shudder. The distended nostrils and thickened lips made them look +like negroes, except for their straight hair. Their limbs and bodies +were so enlarged that their clothing seemed ready to burst. Some ghouls +had been among them, whether from their own lines or from ours, could +not be known, but every man's pockets had been ripped out and the +contents taken. + +In company with Captain Archbald I went over the position occupied by +our regiment and brigade, the famous "sunken road,"--that is, the lane +or road extending from near the "Roulette house" towards Sharpsburg. For +some distance it had been cut through the opposite side of the knoll +upon which we fought, and had the appearance of a sunken road. It was +literally filled with rebel dead, which in some places lay three and +four bodies deep. We afterwards saw pictures of this road in the +illustrated papers, which partially portrayed the horrible scene. Those +poor fellows were the Fifth[C] Georgia regiment. This terrible work was +mostly that of our regiment, and bore testimony to the effectiveness of +the fire of our men. + +The position was an alluring one: the road was cut into the hill about +waist high, and seemed to offer secure protection to a line of infantry, +and so no doubt this line was posted there to hold the knoll and this +Sharpsburg road. It proved, however, nothing but a death-trap, for once +our line got into position on the top of this crescent-shaped ridge we +could reach them by a direct fire on the centre and a double flanking +fire at the right and left of the line, and only about one hundred yards +away. With nothing but an open field behind them there was absolutely no +escape, nothing but death or surrender, and they evidently chose the +former, for we saw no white flag displayed. We could now understand the +remark of their lieutenant-colonel, whom our boys brought in, as already +mentioned: "You have killed all my poor boys. They lie there in the +road." I learned later that the few survivors of this regiment were sent +South to guard rebel prisoners. + +[Illustration: SECTION OF FAMOUS SUNKEN ROAD IN FRONT OF LINE OF 132D P. +V., NEAR ROULETTE LANE + +The dead are probably from the Sixth Georgia Confederate troops] + +The lines of battle of both armies were not only marked by the presence +of the dead, but by a vast variety of army equipage, such as blankets, +canteens, haversacks, guns, gun-slings, bayonets, ramrods, some whole, +others broken,--verily, a besom of destruction had done its work +faithfully here. Dead horses were everywhere, and the stench from them +and the human dead was horrible. "Uncle" Billy Sherman has said, "War is +hell!" yet this definition, with all that imagination can picture, fails +to reveal all its bloody horrors. + +The positions of some of the dead were very striking. One poor fellow +lay face down on a partially fallen stone wall, with one arm and one +foot extended, as if in the act of crawling over. His position attracted +our attention, and we found his body literally riddled with +bullets--there must have been hundreds--and most of them shot into him +after he was dead, for they showed no marks of blood. Probably the poor +fellow had been wounded in trying to reach shelter behind that wall, was +spotted in the act by our men, and killed right there, and became +thereafter a target for every new man that saw him. Another man lay, +still clasping his musket, which he was evidently in the act of loading +when a bullet pierced his heart, literally flooding his gun with his +life's blood, a ghastly testimonial to his heroic sacrifice. + +We witnessed the burying details gathering up and burying the dead. The +work was rough and heartless, but only comporting with the character of +war. The natural reverence for the dead was wholly absent. The poor +bodies, all of them heroes in their death, even though in a mistaken +cause, were "planted" with as little feeling as though they had been so +many logs. A trench was dug, where the digging was easiest, about seven +feet wide and long enough to accommodate all the bodies gathered within +a certain radius; these were then placed side by side, cross-wise of the +trench, and buried without anything to keep the earth from them. In the +case of the Union dead the trenches were usually two or three feet deep, +and the bodies were wrapped in blankets before being covered, but with +the rebels no blankets were used, and the trenches were sometimes so +shallow as to leave the toes exposed after a shower. + +No ceremony whatever attended this gruesome service, but it was +generally accompanied by ribald jokes, at the expense of the poor +"Johnny" they were "planting." This was not the fruit of debased natures +or degenerate hearts on the part of the boys, who well knew it might be +their turn next, under the fortunes of war, to be buried in like manner, +but it was recklessness and thoughtlessness, born of the hardening +influences of war. + +Having now given some account of the scenes in which I participated +during the battle and the day after, let us look at another feature of +the battle, and probably the most heart-breaking of all, the field +hospital. There was one established for our division some three hundred +yards in our rear, under the shelter of a hill. Here were gathered as +rapidly as possible the wounded, and a corps of surgeons were busily +engaged in amputating limbs and dressing wounds. It should be understood +that the accommodations were of the rudest character. A hospital tent +had been hurriedly erected and an old house and barn utilized. Of +course, I saw nothing of it or its work until the evening after the +battle, when I went to see the body of our dead colonel and some of our +Scranton boys who were wounded. Outside the hospital were piles of +amputated arms, legs, and feet, thrown out with as little care as so +many pieces of wood. There were also many dead soldiers--those who had +died after reaching the hospital--lying outside, there being inside +scant room only for the living. Here, on bunches of hay and straw, the +poor fellows were lying so thickly that there was scarce room for the +surgeon and attendants to move about among them. Others were not allowed +inside, except officers and an occasional friend who might be helping. +Our chaplain spent his time here and did yeoman service helping the +wounded. Yet all that could be done with the limited means at hand +seemed only to accentuate the appalling need. The pallid, appealing +faces were patient with a heroism born only of the truest metal. I was +told by the surgeons that such expressions as this were not infrequent +as they approached a man in his "turn": "Please, doctor, attend to this +poor fellow next; he's worse than I," and this when his own life's blood +was fast oozing away. + +Most of the wounded had to wait hours before having their wounds +dressed, owing to insufficient force and inadequate facilities. I was +told that not a surgeon had his eyes closed for three days after this +battle. The doctors of neighboring towns within reach came and +voluntarily gave their services, yet it is doubtless true that hundreds +of the wounded perished for want of prompt and proper care. This is one +of the unavoidable incidents of a great battle--a part of the horrors of +war. The rebel wounded necessarily were second to our own in receiving +care from the surgeons, yet they, too, received all the attention that +was possible under the circumstances. Some of their surgeons remained +with their wounded, and I am told they and our own surgeons worked +together most energetically and heroically in their efforts to relieve +the sufferings of all, whether they wore the blue or the gray. +Suffering, it has been said, makes all the world akin. So here, in our +lines, the wounded rebel was lost sight of in the suffering brother. + +We remained on the battle-field until September 21, four days after the +fight. + +My notes of this day say that I was feeling so miserable as to be +scarcely able to crawl about, yet was obliged to remain on duty; that +Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox, now in command, and Major Shreve were in the +same condition. This was due to the nervous strain through which we had +passed, and to insufficient and unwholesome food. As stated before, we +had been obliged to eat whatever we could get, which for the past four +days had been mostly green field corn roasted as best we could. The +wonder is that we were not utterly prostrated. Nevertheless, I not only +performed all my duties, but went a mile down the Antietam creek, took a +bath, and washed my underclothing, my first experience in the laundry +business. + +We had been now for two weeks and more steadily on the march, our +baggage in wagons somewhere en route, without the possibility of a +change of clothing or of having any washing done. Most of this time +marching in a cloud of dust so thick that one could almost cut it, and +perspiring freely, one can imagine our condition. Bathing as frequently +as opportunity offered, yet our condition was almost unendurable. For +with the accumulation of dirt upon our body, there was added the +ever-present scourge of the army, body lice. These vermin, called by the +boys "graybacks," were nearly the size of a grain of wheat, and derived +their name from their bluish-gray color. They seemed to infest the +ground wherever there had been a bivouac of the rebels, and following +them as we had, during all of this campaign, sleeping frequently on the +ground just vacated by them, no one was exempt from this plague. They +secreted themselves in the seams of the clothing and in the armpits +chiefly. A good bath, with a change of underclothing, would usually rid +one of them, but only to acquire a new crop in the first camp. The +clothing could be freed of them by boiling in salt water or by going +carefully over the seams and picking them off. The latter operation was +a frequent occupation with the men on any day which was warm enough to +permit them to disrobe for the purpose. One of the most laughable sights +I ever beheld was the whole brigade, halted for a couple of hours' rest +one hot day, with clothing off, "skirmishing," as the boys called it, +for "graybacks." This was one of the many unpoetical features of army +life which accentuated the sacrifices one made to serve his country. + +How did we ordinarily get our laundrying done? The enlisted men as a +rule always did it themselves. Occasionally in camp a number of them +would club together and hire some "camp follower" or some other soldier +to do it. Officers of sufficient rank to have a servant, of course, +readily solved the question. Those of us of lesser rank could generally +hire it done, except on the march. Then we had to be our own laundrymen. +Having, as in the above instance, no change of clothing at hand, the +washing followed a bath, and consisted in standing in the running water +and rubbing as much of the dirt out of the underwear as could be done +without soap, for that could not be had for love or money; then hanging +them on the limb of a tree and sitting in the sun, as comfortable as +possible, whilst wind and sun did the drying. A "snap-shot" of such a +scene would no doubt be interesting. But "snap-shots" unfortunately were +not then in vogue, and so a picture of high art must perish. We could +not be over particular about having our clothes dry. The finishing +touches were added as we wore them back to camp. + +My diary notes that there were nine hundred and ninety-eight rebel dead +gathered and buried from in front of the lines of our division. This +line was about a quarter of a mile long, and this was mostly our work +(our division), although Richardson's division had occupied part of this +ground before us, but had been so quickly broken that they had not made +much impression upon the enemy. Our division had engaged them +continuously and under a terrific fire from eight o'clock A.M. until +12.30 P.M. It may be asked why during that length of time and under such +a fire all were not annihilated. The answer is, that inaccuracy and +unsteadiness in firing on both sides greatly reduce its effectiveness, +and taking all possible advantage of shelter by lying prone upon the +ground also prevents losses; but the above number of rebel dead, it +should be remembered, represents, probably, not more than twenty to +twenty-five per cent. of their casualties in that area of their lines; +the balance were wounded and were removed. So that with nine hundred and +ninety-eight dead it can be safely estimated that their losses exceeded +four thousand killed and wounded in that area. This would indicate what +was undoubtedly true, that we were in the very heart of that great +battle. + +[Illustration: FIELD HOSPITAL] + +Here I wish to say that some chroniclers of battles have undertaken to +measure the effectiveness and bravery of the different regiments, +batteries, etc., by the numbers they have lost in certain battles; for +example, one historian has made a book grading the regiments by the +number of men they lost in action, assuming that the more men killed and +wounded, the more brilliant and brave had been its work. This assumption +is absolutely fallacious. Heavy losses may be the result of great +bravery with splendid work. On the other hand, they may be the result of +cowardice or inefficiency. Suppose, under trying circumstances, officers +lose their heads and fail to properly handle their men, or if the latter +prove cowardly and incapable of being moved with promptness to meet the +exigency, great loss usually ensues, and this would be chargeable to +cowardice or inefficiency. According to the loss way of estimating +fighting regiments, the least deserving are liable to be credited with +the best work. The rule is, the better drilled, disciplined, and the +better officered, the less the losses in any position on the +firing-line. + +One regiment I have in mind, with which we were afterwards brigaded, +illustrates this principle. It was the First Delaware Volunteer +infantry. It was a three years' regiment and had been in the field more +than a year when we joined them. All things considered, it was the best +drilled and disciplined regiment I saw in the service. It was as steady +under fire as on parade. Every movement in the tactics it could execute +on the jump, and its fire was something to keep away from. The result +was that, pushed everywhere to the front because of its splendid work, +it lost comparatively few men. Every man was a marksman and understood +how to take all possible advantage of the situation to make his work +most effective and at the same time take care of himself. This regiment, +whose record was one unbroken succession of splendid achievements during +its whole period of service, might never have gotten on a roll of fame +founded on numbers of men lost. How much more glorious is a record +founded on effective work and men saved! + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +HARPER'S FERRY AND THE LEESBURG AND HALLTOWN EXPEDITIONS + + +Neither side seemed anxious to resume the fighting on the 18th, though +there was picket firing and some cannonading. We remained the next day +where the darkness found us after the battle, ready and momentarily +expecting to resume the work. All sorts of rumors were afloat as to the +results of the battle, also as to future movements. Whether we had won a +great victory and were to press immediately forward to reap the fullest +benefit of it, or whether it was practically a drawn battle, with the +possibilities of an early retreat, we did not then know. We had no idea +of what the name of the battle would be. My diary calls it the battle of +"Meyer's Spring," from that magnificent fountain, on our line of battle, +described in the last chapter. The Confederates named it the battle of +Sharpsburg, from the village of that name on the right of their line. +Two days later, after the rebels had hauled off--which they did very +leisurely the next day and night--we received "Little Mac's" +congratulatory order on the great victory achieved at "Antietam." + +So far as our part of the battle was concerned, we knew we had the best +of it. We had cleaned up everything in our front, and the "chip was +still serenely resting on our shoulder." But what had been the outcome +elsewhere on the line we did not know. That our army had been +terrifically battered was certain. Our own losses indicated this. We +were therefore both relieved and rejoiced on receiving the +congratulatory order. I confess to have had some doubts about the extent +of the victory, and whether, had Lee remained and shown fight, we would +not have repeated the old story and "retired in good order." As it was, +the tide had evidently turned, and the magnificent old Army of the +Potomac, after so many drubbings, had been able to score its first +decisive victory. + +On the twenty-second day of September we were again on the march, our +regiment reduced in numbers, from casualties in the battle and from +sickness, by nearly three hundred men. Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox was now +in command. The body of our late colonel had been shipped to Scranton +under guard of Privates S. P. Snyder and Charles A. Meylert, Company K, +the "exigencies of the service" permitting of no larger detail nor any +officer to accompany it. + +We were told the army was bound for Harper's Ferry, distant some eight +to ten miles. We passed through the village of Sharpsburg--what there +was left of it. It had been occupied by the rebels as the extreme right +of their line on the morning of the battle. It presented abundant +evidence of having been well in the zone of the fight. Its buildings +were riddled with shells, and confusion seemed to reign supreme. We +learned that Burnside, with the left wing of the army, had a very hot +argument with Lee's right during the afternoon for the possession of the +stone bridge over Antietam creek at the foot of the hill entering the +village; that after two repulses with heavy loss, Colonel Hartranft +(afterwards Governor of Pennsylvania) led his regiment, the Fifty-first +Pennsylvania Volunteers and the Fifty-first New York, in a magnificent +charge and carried the bridge and the heights above, and Sharpsburg was +ours. If any one would like to get an idea of what terrific work that +charge was they should examine that bridge and the heights on the +Sharpsburg side. The latter rise almost perpendicularly more than three +hundred feet. One of the "boys" who went over that bridge and up those +heights in that memorable charge was Private Edward L. Buck, Fifty-first +Pennsylvania Volunteers, formerly Assistant Postmaster of Scranton, and +ever since the war a prominent citizen of this city. That bridge is now +known as "Burnside's Bridge." Forty-one years afterwards, I passed over +it, and was shown a shell still sticking in the masonry of one of the +arches. It was a conical shell probably ten inches long, about half of +it left protruding. + +Little of special interest occurred on this march until we reached the +Potomac, a short distance above Harper's Ferry. Here we were shown the +little round house where John Brown concealed his guns and "pikes" prior +to his famous raid three years before. This was his rendezvous on the +night before his ill-starred expedition descended upon the State of +Virginia and the South, in an insane effort to free the slaves. Our +division was headed by the Fourteenth Connecticut, and as we approached +the river opposite Harper's Ferry its fine band struck up the then new +and popular air, "John Brown's Body," and the whole division took up the +song, and we forded the river singing it. Slavery had destroyed the +Kansas home of old John Brown, had murdered his sons, and undoubtedly +driven him insane, because of his anti-slavery zeal. The great State of +Virginia--the "Mother of Presidents"--had vindicated her loyalty to the +"peculiar institution," and, let it be added, her own spotless chivalry, +by hanging this poor, crazy fanatic for high treason! Was there poetic +justice in our marching into the territory where these events transpired +singing: + + "John Brown's body lies a mouldering in the grave, + His soul goes marching on?" + +This couplet, + + "We'll hang Jeff Davis to a sour apple-tree," + +was sung with peculiar zest, though I never quite understood what the +poet had against the sour apple-tree. + +We marched through the quaint old town of Harper's Ferry, whose +principal industry had been the government arsenal for the manufacture +of muskets and other army ordnance. These buildings were now a mass of +ruins, and the remainder of the town presented the appearance of a +plucked goose, as both armies had successively captured and occupied it. +We went into camp on a high plateau back of the village known as Bolivar +Heights. The scenic situation at Harper's Ferry is remarkably grand. The +town is situated on the tongue or fork of land at the junction of the +Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. From the point where the rivers join, the +land rises rapidly until the summit of Bolivar Heights is reached, +several hundred feet above the town, from which a view is had of one of +the most lovely valleys to be found anywhere in the world--the +Shenandoah Valley. Across the Potomac to the east and facing Harper's +Ferry rises Maryland Heights, a bluff probably a thousand feet high, +while across the Shenandoah to the right towers another precipitous +bluff of about equal height called Loudon Heights. Both of these bluffs +commanded Bolivar Heights and Harper's Ferry. + +It was the sudden and unexpected appearance of Stonewall Jackson's +batteries upon both of these supposed inaccessible bluffs that ten days +before had forced the surrender of the garrison of ten thousand Union +troops which had been posted here to hold Harper's Ferry. It was said +that the rain of shot and shell from those bluffs down upon our forces +was simply merciless, and Jackson had cut off all avenues of escape +before opening his batteries. The cavalry, I believe, cut their way out, +but the infantry, after twenty-four hours of that storm of shot and +shell, were forced to hoist the white flag. How they could have lived +half that time in such a hell of fire is a marvel. Everything above +ground bore evidence of this fire. There were unexploded shells lying +about in great numbers. + +An incident that might have been anything but funny occurred the day +after we encamped here. A new regiment joined the army and marched past +our division to a point farther up the heights and went into camp. They +were a fine-looking regiment, full in numbers, and with new, clean +uniforms. Their reception at the hands of the "vets" was very like our +own three weeks before. Our boys, however, were "vets" now, and joined +in the "reception" with a zest quite usual under such circumstances. +However, the "tenderfeet" incident had passed, and we were preparing our +evening meal, when bang! bang! bang! bang! rang out a half-dozen shots +in quick succession. Every man jumped as though the whole rebel army was +upon us. It was soon discovered that the explosions came from the camp +of the "tenderfeet." Some of those greenhorns had gathered a number of +those unexploded shells, set them up on end for a fireplace, and were +quietly boiling their coffee over them when they, of course, exploded. +Why none of them were seriously injured was a miracle. At the moment of +explosion no one happened to be very near the fire. A moment before a +dozen men had been standing over it. Does Providence graciously look out +for the tenderfoot? Some of them, I fear, were made to feel that they +would rather be dead than take the guying they got for this evidence of +their verdancy. + +Camp life at Bolivar Heights soon resolved itself into the usual routine +of drill and picket duty. How many corps of the army were encamped here +I did not know, but we were a vast city of soldiers, and there was no +end of matters to occupy attention when off duty. These included bathing +expeditions to the Shenandoah, a mile and a half away; the "doing" of +the quaint old town of Harper's Ferry, and rambles up Maryland and +Loudon Heights, both of which were now occupied by our troops. This was +our first experience in a large encampment in the field. One feature of +it was exceedingly beautiful, and that was its system of "calls." The +cavalry and artillery were encamped on one side of us. Each battery of +artillery and battalion of cavalry had its corps of "trumpeters" or +"buglers," while the infantry regiments had their drum corps, whose duty +it was to sound the various "camp calls." The principal calls were +"reveille," the getting up or morning roll-call, at sunrise usually; the +guard mount, the drill, the meal calls, the "retreat" (evening +roll-call), and the "taps," the "turning in" or "lights out" call. The +reveille, the retreat, and taps were required to be sounded by each +battery, troop, and regiment in consecutive order, commencing at the +extreme right. The firing of the morning gun was the signal for the +first corps of cavalry buglers to begin the reveille, then in succession +it was repeated first through the bugler corps and then by the drum +corps back and forth through the lines until it had gone through the +whole army. As a martial and musical feature it was exceedingly +beautiful and inspiring. But as its purpose was to hustle out sleepy men +to roll-call, it is doubtful if these features were fully appreciated; +that its advent was an occasion for imprecation rather than appreciation +the following story may illustrate. + +A group of "vets" were discussing what they would do when they got home +from the war. Several plans had been suggested--the taking into +permanent camp of the soldier's sweetheart being the chief goal, of +course. When Pat's turn came to tell what he was going to do, he said: + +"I'll be takin' me girl and settling down wid her housekeepin' and thin +i'll be hirin' of a dhrum corps to come an' play the ravalye iviry +mornin' under me chamber windi." + +"What will you do that for? Haven't you had enough of the reveille +here?" + +"I'll just h'ist me windi, an' I'll yell, 'To h----l wid yer ravalye; +I'll slape as long as I plase.'" + +Many of these "calls" were parodied by the men. Here is the reveille: + + I can't get 'em up, I can't get 'em up, + I can't get 'em up at all, sir; + I can't get 'em up, I can't get 'em up, + I can't get 'em up at all. + I'll go and tell the captain, + I'll go and tell the captain, + I'll go and tell the captain, + I can't get 'em up at all. + +This is the sick call: + + Get your quinine, get your quinine, + And a blue pill too, and a blue pill too. + Get your quinine. + +And so on down the list. The retreat call at sundown was really enjoyed +and was made more of. The day's work was then over, and each corps +elaborated its music, the bands frequently extending it into an evening +concert. + +The almost universal time-killer was cards. Of course various games were +played, but "poker" was king. A game of the latter could be found in +almost every company street, officers as well as men took a "twist at +the tiger." At the battle of Chancellorsville I saw a game in full blast +right under fire of the rebel shells. Every screeching shell was greeted +with an imprecation, while the game went on just the same. + +After our return home I was told of one man who made enough money at +cards to successfully start himself in business. It was said he +performed picket duty by hired proxies during the following winter in +camp at Falmouth, and gave his time wholly to the game. A New York City +regiment lay adjoining our camp that winter, and a truer lot of sports, +from colonel down, never entered the service. These men, officers and +all, were his patrons. They came to "do the Pennsylvania novice," but +were themselves done in the end. + +On the 3d of October our brigade made what was termed a reconnoissance +in force out through Loudon County, Virginia, to Leesburg. It was +reported that Jeb. Stuart was there with a force of cavalry and +infantry. General Kimball was sent with our brigade to capture him if +possible. Our orders on the evening of October 2 were to report at +brigade head-quarters at seven o'clock A.M., with three days' rations +and sixty rounds of ammunition. This meant "business," and was a welcome +change from the monotony of camp life. A regiment of cavalry and two +batteries of artillery had been added to our brigade for this +expedition. The morning dawned bright and beautiful, but the day proved +a very hot one, and the first three or four miles of our march was +around the base of Loudon Heights, close under the mountain over a very +rocky road, and where there was not a breath of air stirring. We were +delayed by the artillery in getting over this portion of the route, and +then we were marched almost on the run to make up for the lost time. +General Kimball had gone forward with the cavalry, leaving his +adjutant-general to bring up the balance of the column as rapidly as +possible. In his efforts to hurry the men forward the latter overdid +the matter. The result was the men dropped in scores utterly exhausted, +so that within three hours our number had been reduced more than half, +and at the end of the march in the evening there were just twenty-five +officers and men of our regiment present for duty, and of the whole +infantry force, three thousand strong at the start, there were less than +two hundred present at the finish. This was due to an utter lack of +judgment in marching. + +The distance covered had been twenty-three miles. The day had been hot, +the road rough, and the men, in heavy marching order with three days' +rations and sixty rounds of ammunition, had carried upwards of ninety +pounds each. With such a load and under such conditions, to expect men +to march any distance at the hurried pace required was criminal folly. +It bore its natural fruit. Our men were scattered on the route from +Harper's Ferry to Leesburg, a demoralized lot of stragglers. My diary +mentions this experience with much indignation and attributes the folly +to the effects of whiskey. Of course, this was only a surmise. + +General Kimball was not directly responsible for it. In his anxiety to +capture Jeb. Stuart he had pushed ahead with the cavalry, and knew +nothing of our condition until the forlorn party came straggling into +his bivouac in the evening. He was very indignant, and said some words +that cannot be recorded here. He was chagrined to find Stuart gone, but +now was greatly relieved that such was the fact. Otherwise, said he, we +would have stood an excellent chance for a journey south under rebel +escort. + +On our way out we passed through several small villages, in none of +which did we find evidence of decided Union sentiment, except in +Waterford. This was a prosperous-looking town, and the people seemed +hospitable, and manifested their Union sentiments by furnishing us fruit +and water freely. Our cavalry caught four of Stuart's men in a +picture-gallery and marched them to the rear. I had the good fortune to +secure a loaf of nice bread and a canteen of sweet milk. If any one +wishes to know how good bread and milk is, let him step into my shoes on +that weary night. + +Conditions compelled us to remain at Leesburg that night. We rested on +our arms, fearing Stuart might get an inkling of our plight and pounce +upon us. My diary says I was unable to sleep because of suffering from a +sprained knee and ankle, caused by my horse stumbling and falling on me +just at dusk. + +The next morning we were off bright and early on the back track for +camp, but by another route, so as to avoid being cut off by Stuart. We +had started out bravely to capture this wily rebel. Now we were in +mortal danger of being captured by him. A detail was made to go back +over the route we came and gather up the stragglers. On our way back I +was refused a canteen of water by the "Missus" of one of the plantation +dwellings; but on riding around to the rear, where the slaves lived, old +"Aunt Lucy" supplied us freely with both milk and water. This was a +sample of the difference between the aristocrat in the mansion and the +slave in the hovel. The latter were always very friendly and ready to +help us in every possible way, while as a rule we met with rebuff at the +hands of the former. + +Here we came in contact for the first time with plantation life under +the institution of slavery. The main or plantation house was usually +situated a quarter-mile or more back from the "pike." They were +generally low, flat, one-story mansions, built of stone, while further +to the rear, in the form of a square, were the wooden cabins of the +slaves, each plantation a village by itself. We marched only about eight +miles this day, and bivouacked near the village of Hillsboro. This +evening we officers of the field and staff caught on to a great treat in +the way of stewed chicken and corn cake for supper at a Union farmhouse, +and thought ourselves very fortunate to be able to engage a breakfast at +the same place for next morning. Alas for the uncertainties of war! We +had barely rolled ourselves in our blankets for the night when a staff +officer from General Kimball's head-quarters came and in a low tone of +voice ordered us to arouse our men without the least noise and be off as +quietly as possible; that scouts had reported that Stuart was after us +in hot haste. We were off almost in a jiffy. The night was cool and +foggy. The former favored our rapid march, and the latter hid us from +the enemy, who succeeded in capturing only a couple of men who fell out. + +We reached camp at Harper's Ferry shortly after sunrise, a thoroughly +tired and battered crowd. The expedition proved absolutely fruitless, +and had barely escaped being captured, owing to mismanagement. It was +the most trying bit of service of our whole experience. Some of our men +never recovered from the exhaustion of that first day's march, and had +to be discharged as permanently disabled. + +Shortly after this another expedition relieved the monotony of camp +life. General Hancock, commanding the Second Division of our corps, had +been sent to make a reconnoissance in force towards Halltown, six to +eight miles up the Shenandoah Valley. He had gone in the morning, and +shortly after noon we had heard cannonading in that direction, showing +that he had found "business." It was Hancock's reputation to make +"business," if the "Johnnies" could be induced to tarry long enough for +him to reach them. However, the firing shortly ceased, and the night set +in with a terrific rain-storm. I remember, as I rolled myself in my +blanket prepared for a good sleep in defiance of the rain, sympathizing +with those poor fellows out on that reconnoissance in all this storm. My +sympathy was premature. Just then I heard an ominous scratch on my tent, +and the hand of an orderly was thrust through the flaps with an order. +In much trepidation I struck a light. Sure I was of trouble, or an order +would not have been sent out at such a time. My fears were realized. It +directed our regiment to report at brigade head-quarters in heavy +marching order with all possible despatch. Here was a "state of things." +Was it ever so dark, and did it ever rain harder? Not in my +recollection. But that order left no time for cogitations. Into boots, +clothing, and gum blanket, out to the colonel's tent with the order, +then with his orders to all the companies, the sounding of the long +roll, the forming line, and away to brigade head-quarters in that inky +blackness and drenching rain was the work of less than fifteen minutes. +General Kimball complimented us as being the first regiment to report, +and we were honored with the head of the column which was to support +Hancock at Halltown. French's division had been ordered out as supports, +and Kimball's brigade had the advance. + +We marched rapidly up the valley of the Shenandoah, now as black as +Erebus. But soon the rain ceased, the clouds broke away, and the stars +appeared, completely transforming the scene, and except for the mud and +our wet and uncomfortable condition it would have been an enjoyable +march. After going about six miles we were directed into a woods to rest +until morning. Inside the woods it was inky dark again, and we made +headway with much difficulty. Men and horses stumbled and floundered +over fallen logs and through brush at imminent peril of limbs, until a +halt was made, and after details for picket had been sent out we were +allowed to rest until daylight. + +It was now about three o'clock. But to rest, soaking wet, almost covered +with mud, in a woods that had been so drenched with rain that everything +was like a soaked sponge, that was the problem. No fires were allowed, +for no one knew how near the enemy might be. However, the men were tired +enough to sleep, most of them, even under those conditions. I well +remember the weary walking and stamping to keep warm until the sunshine +came to our relief. But daylight revealed a condition of things relative +to our position that, had the enemy known, we might again have been made +an easy prey. Our details for water, after going out some distance, as +they supposed in our rear, suddenly found themselves uncomfortably near +the enemy's outposts, and hurried back to camp with the information. It +was found that in the darkness our picket line had actually gotten +turned around, so that our rear had been carefully guarded, whilst our +front was left wholly exposed. The denseness of the woods and the +darkness of the night had been our salvation. We shortly learned that +Hancock had accomplished his purpose and was moving back to Harper's +Ferry. We followed leisurely, reaching the camp about noon, thoroughly +tired and bedraggled from the rain and mud. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +FROM HARPER'S FERRY TO FREDERICKSBURG + + +We remained on Bolivar Heights, at Harper's Ferry, without further +special incident until the 31st of October, 1862. In the mean time +Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox had been promoted to colonel to fill the +vacancy caused by the death of Colonel Oakford at Antietam. Major +Albright had been promoted to lieutenant-colonel and the senior captain, +Shreve, Company A, had been made major. Colonel Wilcox was on his back +with a severe case of typhoid fever, and Lieutenant-Colonel Albright had +been some ten days absent on sick leave, during which time Major Shreve +had been in command. Lieutenant-Colonel Albright, hearing of the +probable movement of the army, rejoined us in time to take command as we +bade farewell to Harper's Ferry. To show how little a soldier can know +of what is before him, I note the fact that we had just completed fixing +up our quarters for cold weather at Camp Bolivar. This involved +considerable labor and some expense. My diary records the fact that I +had put up a "California stove" in my tent. This, if I remember rightly, +was a cone-shaped sheet-iron affair, which had a small sliding door and +sat on the ground, with a small pipe extending through the canvas roof +just under the ridge-pole to the rear. It cost, I think, about four +dollars, and required some skill in "setting up," chiefly in fixing the +pipe so that it would not tumble about one's ears with every blast of +wind that shook the tent, and in windy weather would at least carry some +of the smoke outside. A special course of engineering was almost needed +to be able to properly handle those stoves. A little too much fire, and +you had to adopt Pat's remedy when Biddy's temper got up--sit on the +outside until it cooled down. Too little was worse than none, for your +tent became a smoke-house. On the whole, they were much like the goose +the aforesaid Pat captured and brought into camp, "a mighty unconvanient +burr'd, a little too big for one and not big enough for two." + +This fixing up of quarters had been done in contemplation of remaining +here through the winter, and we had taken our cue from like actions of +our brigade officers, who were supposed to know something about the +movements of the army. When we got orders on the 29th of October to +prepare for the march, I was assured by the adjutant-general of our +brigade that it was nothing more than a day's reconnoissance, and that +we were certainly not going to move our quarters. He knew as much about +it as I did. Within an hour after this order another came directing us +to move in heavy marching order, with three days' rations and sixty +rounds of ammunition. And so we moved out of Harper's Ferry on the 31st +of October, leaving our fixed-up quarters, with my four-dollar stove, to +Geary's division, which succeeded to our camp. + +We crossed the Shenandoah on a pontoon bridge and skirted the mountain +under Loudon Heights over the same route south that we had taken on our +way in from the Leesburg raid. We marched very leisurely, making during +the first four days only about twenty-five miles, to a village bearing +the serious (?) name of Snickersville. Here we had the first evidence of +the presence of the enemy. We were hurried through this village and up +through the gap in the mountain called "Snicker's Gap" to head off the +rebels. We soon came on to their scouts and pickets, who fled +precipitately without firing a gun. Part of our division halted on the +top of the gap, while a couple of regiments skirmished through the woods +both sides of the road down to the foot of the mountain on the other +side. The enemy had taken "French leave," and so our men returned and +our division bivouacked here for the night. + +We now learned that these giant armies were moving south in parallel +columns, the mountain separating them. At every gap or pass in the +mountain a bristling head or a clinched fist, so to speak, of one would +be thrust through and the other would try to hit it. This was our +mission, as we double-quicked it through this gap. When we got there the +"fist" had been withdrawn, and our work for the time was over. But our +bivouac here--how beautiful it was! The fields were clean and green, +with plenty of shade, for right in the gap were some good farms. Then +the cavalry had not cleaned the country of everything eatable, as was +usual, they being always in the advance. There was milk and bread to be +had, and somehow--I never dared to inquire too closely about it--some +good mutton came into camp that night, so that we had a splendid +breakfast next morning. Some fine honey was added to the bill of fare. +The man who brought in the latter claimed that a rebel hive of bees +attacked him whilst on picket duty, and he confiscated the honey as a +measure of retaliation. + +But the special feature that makes that camp linger in my memory was the +extraordinary beauty of the scene in the valley below us when the +evening camp-fires were lighted. We were on a sort of table-land two or +three hundred feet above the broad valley, which widened out at this +point and made a most charming landscape. As the darkness drew on the +camp-fires were lighted, and the scene became one of weird, bewitching +beauty. Almost as far as the eye could reach, covering three and +possibly four square miles, were spread out the blazing camp-fires of +that mighty host of our "Boys in Blue." No drums were beaten and the +usual retreat call was not sounded, but the thousands of camp-fires told +of the presence of our men. A martial city was cooking its evening +coffee and resting its weary limbs in the genial camp-fire glow, whilst +weary hearts were refreshed with the accompanying chat about friends and +dearer ones at home. The scouting "Johnny Rebs" (and there were no doubt +plenty of them viewing the scene) could have gotten from it no +comforting information to impart as to our numbers. Most of the Army of +the Potomac, now largely augmented by new regiments, was there, probably +not less than one hundred thousand men. It was a picture not of a +lifetime, but of the centuries. It made my blood leap as I realized that +I was looking down upon the grandest army, all things considered, of any +age or time. Its mission was to save to liberty and freedom the life of +the best government the world ever saw. In its ranks was the best blood +of a free people. In intelligence it was far superior to any other army +that ever existed. Scholars of all professions, tradesmen and farmers, +were there, fighting side by side, animated by the same patriotic +impulse. I said to myself, it is impossible that that army should be +beaten. It is the strong right arm of the Union, and under God it shall +assuredly deal the death-blow to the rebellion. This it certainly did, +though at a fearful cost, for it was fighting the same blood. The +inspiration of that scene made me glad from the bottom of my heart that +I had the privilege of being just one in that glorious army. After forty +years, what would I take for that association with all its dangers and +hardships? What for these pictures and memories? They are simply +priceless. I only wish I could so paint the pictures and reproduce the +scenes that they might be an inspiration to the same patriotism that +moved this mighty host. + +One of our grizzly-headed "boys," after forty years, tells the following +story of his experiences on a foraging expedition from the camp. Three +of them started out after beef. Some young steers had been seen in the +distance. They reached the field, a mile or more from camp. They found +the game a mighty vigorous lot of young steers, and their troubles began +when they tried to corral any one of them. Both ends seemed to be in +business at the same time, whilst a tail-hold proved to have more +transportation possibilities than they had ever dreamed of. Coaxing and +persuasion proved utter failures, for the bovines seemed to have the +same prejudices against our blue uniforms their owners had, and it would +not do to fire a gun. However, after two hours of the hardest exercise +they ever had, they succeeded in "pinching" their steer with nose, horn, +and tail-holds. Neither of them had ever undertaken to butcher a beef +before, and a good-sized jackknife was all they had to work with. But +beef they came for and must have, and one was selected to do the trick. +Here again they counted without their quarry. The latter evidently +objected to being practised on by novices, for as the knife entered his +neck he gave a jump which somehow nearly severed the would-be butcher's +thumb. Nevertheless, he completed his work without a word, and the +animal was skinned and divided. Just as they had him down a field +officer rode almost on to them. They felt sure that their "fat was in +the fire," for the officer--probably the field officer of the +day--certainly saw them and saw what they were doing. But he turned and +rode away without saying a word. It was evidently one of those things he +did not want to see. Well, the fun was not yet over. They backed their +beef to camp, and this was about as uncomfortable a job as they ever +had. No more tired trio ever rolled themselves in blankets than they +were that night. But there was compensation. They had an abundant supply +of "fresh" on hand and their sleep was sweet. Alas for the uncertainties +of camp life. Notwithstanding they took the extra precaution to roll +their several portions in their coats and placed them under their heads +for pillows, some "sons of Belial" from an adjacent regiment who had +discovered them bringing their "game" into camp actually stole every +ounce of the beef out from under their too soundly sleeping heads during +the night and made off with it. After all their labor and trouble +neither of them had a taste of that beef. Their nostrils were regaled +with the savory fumes of the cooking meat. They had no difficulty in +discovering where it was. Indeed, the whelps who stole it rather paraded +their steal, knowing that the mouths of our men were sealed. They simply +could not say a word, for marauding was punishable with death. The worst +of the escapade was that the poor fellow whose thumb had been so nearly +severed was made a cripple for life. He was never able to do another +day's duty, and to shield him the other two--be it said to their +everlasting honor--performed his picket duty in addition to their own +until he was discharged. + +My diary notes the fact that Fitz-John Porter's corps passed us just +before night, and I saw its commander for the first time. He was a +small, slender, young-looking man, with full black whiskers and keen +black eyes. He was dressed very modestly and wore the usual high black +slouch hat, with a much battered gold-tassel band. A pair of silver +stars on his shoulder, much obscured by wear and dust, indicated his +rank of major-general. + +The next day, November 3, was cold and chilly and we were early on the +march, still southward. We had now exhausted our supply of rations, and +at a temporary halt wagon-loads of hardtack and pork were driven along +our company lines and boxes of the bread and barrels of pork dumped out, +and the men told to fill their haversacks. Barrel heads and boxes were +soon smashed with the butts of guns and contents appropriated, each man +taking all he would. Many a fine piece of the pork marched away on a +bayonet, ready for the noon-day meal. I filled my own saddle-bags, as +did the rest of us officers, preferring to take no further chances on +the grub question. + +We bivouacked about four o'clock, after a thirteen-mile march in a raw +and very chilly air. Just going into bivouac I saw Major-General John F. +Reynolds, who met such a tragic death at Gettysburg the next July. His +corps--the First--was in the advance of ours. Our regiment was marching +at the head of our brigade column. Lieutenant-Colonel Albright was +temporarily absent and I was directing the column. General Reynolds's +corps had passed into the field to the left and were already in bivouac; +the other troops of our division were not visible at this point, and I +was hesitating what direction to give the column. General Reynolds was +sitting on his horse looking at us, evidently with much interest, and +noticing my dilemma, rode up to my assistance at once. Addressing me as +adjutant, he said: "Part of your corps has moved in yonder," pointing +out the place. "If I were you I would go in here and occupy this field +to the right in column of divisions, and you may say General Reynolds +advised this, if you please." His manner and way of doing this little +service were so pleasant that he captured me at once. Had he chosen to +do so, he could have given me orders, as the senior officer present, but +with a gentle courtesy he accomplished his purpose without that, and to +reassure me gave his name and rank in this delicate way. I shall never +forget his pleasant smile as he returned my salute after thanking him +for his suggestion. He was a superb-looking man, dark complexioned, +wearing full black whiskers, and sat his fine horse like a Centaur, +tall, straight, and graceful, the ideal soldier. I do not remember to +have ever seen this remarkable officer again. He was one of the few +great commanders developed by the war. A quiet, modest man, he yet +possessed a very decisive element of character, as illustrated by the +following incident related to me by my friend Colonel W. L. Wilson, +assistant adjutant-general of one of the divisions of Reynolds's corps, +and shows his unwearied vigilance and his indefatigable capacity for +work. The corps was in the presence of the enemy, an attack was deemed +highly probable. Night had brought on a storm of rain and intense +darkness. General Reynolds had given the proper officers very explicit +instructions about locating his picket lines, and Colonel Wilson, +knowing the critical nature of the work and his division chief's anxiety +over it, about midnight went out over their part of the line to make +doubly sure that everything was right. Among the first persons he +encountered after reaching the outposts was General Reynolds, all alone, +making his way over the line in that drenching rain, to be assured that +the pickets were properly posted and doing their duty. Here is Colonel +Wilson's account of the colloquy that ensued: "Who are you, sir? Where +do you belong? What are you doing here?" he volleyed at me savagely. +Being apparently reassured by my reply, he continued in a less +peremptory tone, "Who ordered that line? How far out is it?" Receiving +my reply, he exclaimed, "Push it out, push it out farther!" "How far, +General?" I ventured to ask. "Push it out until you feel something!" +This was Reynolds. + +We continued our march down what I was told was the valley of the +Catochin. November 5 found us near Upperville, where we bivouacked +alongside an old graveyard, our head-quarters being established inside +the enclosure, to get the protection of its stone wall from the cold +wind that was blowing. The temperature had fallen during the past +twenty-four hours, so that it was now decidedly chilly--good for +marching, but cold in bivouac. My notes say that I was chilled through +until my teeth chattered; that I slept in the hollow made by a sunken +grave to get warm; that my dreams were not disturbed by any +unsubstantial hobgoblins of the defunct member of an F. F. V. whose +remains might have been resting below me. The letters F. F. V. meant +much in those war days. They stood for "First Family of Virginia," an +expression much in use by her slave-proud aristocracy, and, of course, +much satirized by us of the North. On this day we passed several very +handsome mansions with their slave contingents. One old "daddy" +volunteered the information that his "Mars was a pow'ful secesh;" that +he had three sons in the rebel army. My diary notes with indignation +that these rich plantations were carefully guarded by our cavalry to +prevent our soldiers entering to get water as they passed. They would +doubtless have helped themselves to other things as well, especially +things eatable, but the owners were rebels and deserved to have their +property taken, we all felt. + +The orders against marauding were punctuated by a striking example this +day. The cavalry orderly of the general commanding our division, riding +back to head-quarters after delivering a batch of orders, among them +another on this hated subject, carried a pair of handsome turkeys +strapped to his saddle. It is safe to say that entire flock came into +our camp that night, and turkey was served at breakfast to some of the +rank and file as well as to the general. Verily, "consistency thou art a +jewel." + +From Upperville we moved by easy marching down to Warrenton. The weather +had grown much colder. On the 8th of November there was a fall of rain, +succeeded by snow, and we marched in a very disagreeable slush. The +bivouac in this snow was most trying. The result for myself was a severe +attack of fever and ague. I had been much reduced in flesh from the +fatigue and nervous strain of the strenuous life of the past two months. +This attack prostrated me at once. I was placed in an ambulance, being +unable to ride my horse. The shaking and jolting of that ambulance ride +were something fearful. I can now sympathize with the wounded who were +compelled to ride in those horrible vehicles. They were covered wagons, +with seats on each side, and made with heavy, stiff springs, so as to +stand the rough roads, which were frequently cut through the fields. +This night General Kimball had me brought to his head-quarters, a brick +farm-house, for shelter. It was a kindness I greatly appreciated. The +next night our chaplain succeeded in getting me into a farm-house some +little distance from the regiment. He secured this accommodation on the +strength of Freemasonry. The owner's name I have preserved in my diary +as Mr. D. L. F. Lake. He was one of Mosby's "cavalry," as they called +themselves. We in our army called them "guerillas." They were the terror +of our army stragglers. They were "good Union men" when our army was +passing, but just as soon as the army had passed they were in their +saddles, picking up every straggler and any who may have had to fall +behind from sickness. In that way they got quite a few prisoners. This +man did not hesitate to tell us the mode of their operations. He said +his farm had been literally stripped of hay, grain, and cattle by our +cavalry under General Stoneman. All he had left was one chicken. This +his wife cooked for the chaplain and me. He brought out Richmond papers +during the evening and freely discussed the issues of the war with the +chaplain. I was too ill to pay much attention to what was said, only to +gather that his idea of us Northern people was that we were a miserable +horde of invading barbarians, destined to be very speedily beaten and +driven out. He admitted, however, that in financial transactions he +preferred "greenbacks" to the Confederate scrip, which I thought rather +negatived his boasted faith in the success of the Confederacy. His wife, +who had, not many years gone, been young and pretty, occasionally chimed +in with expressions of great hate and bitterness. Perhaps the latter was +not to be wondered at from their stand-point, and they had just now +ample grounds for their bitter feelings in the fact that they had just +been relieved of all their portable property by the Union forces. He had +receipts for what Stoneman had taken, which would be good for their +market value on his taking the oath of allegiance. But he said he would +die rather than take that oath, so he considered his property gone. He +no doubt thought better of this later on, and probably got pay for his +stuff. His kindness to me on the score of our fraternal relations was +generous to the full extent of his ability, and showed him to be a true +man, notwithstanding his "secesh" proclivities. It was a great favor, +for had I been compelled to remain out in that rough weather sick as I +was, the consequences must have been most serious. On leaving I tried to +pay him in gold coin for his hospitality, but he firmly declined my +money, saying: "You know you could not have gotten into my house for +money. Pay in like manner as you have received when opportunity +affords." For this fraternal hospitality I shall always remember my +"secesh" Masonic brother with gratitude, for I feel that it saved my +life. + +Another terrific day in that awful ambulance brought me to Warrenton, +where I got a room at a so-called hotel. Here, upon the advice of our +surgeon, I made application for leave of absence on account of sickness. +The red tape that had to be "unwound" in getting this approved and +returned almost proved my ruin. Captain Archbald was taken sick at this +time, and his application for a like leave accompanied mine. The corps +surgeon, Dr. Dougherty, called with our surgeon to examine us at the +hotel, and said he would approve both applications; that it would be but +a day or so before our leaves would be ready and returned to us. The +next day orders for the army to move were issued, and we saw our men +marching away. It made my heart ache not to be in my place with them. I +was, however, barely able to sit up, so that was out of the question. +Now another possibility confronted us, namely, being picked up and +carried off as prisoners by my late host's comrades, Mosby's guerillas. +The army was evidently evacuating Warrenton and vicinity, and unless our +leaves of absence reached us within a very few hours we would be +outside of the "Union lines" and transportation to Washington +unobtainable, for the railroad trains did not pretend to run beyond the +Union lines. The next day came, the last of our troops were moving out, +and our leaves had not come. Captain Archbald and I resolved that we +must cut that "red tape" rather than take the chances of going to +Richmond. This we did by securing suits of citizens' clothes and making +our way as citizens through the lines to Washington. From there we had +no difficulty in reaching home in uniform. At Washington I wrote Colonel +Albright of our dilemma and the way we had solved it, and asked that our +leaves of absence be forwarded to us at Scranton. They came some two +weeks later. Had we remained at Warrenton, they would never have reached +us, unless in a rebel prison. Yet I suppose we had committed an offence +for which we could have been court-martialled. + +I should have mentioned that just at the time I was taken sick, on the +9th of November, whilst the army was approaching Warrenton, the order +relieving General McClellan from the command of the Army of the Potomac +was issued. He was ordered to report to his home in Trenton, N. J., on +waiting orders. Great was the consternation among the veterans of that +army on his retirement, for they really had a strong attachment for +"Little Mac," as they fondly called him. He took his leave in an +affectionate order, recounting the heroic deeds of this noble army. This +was followed by a grand review, accompanied by battery salutes, and the +military career of General George B. McClellan passed into history. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE FREDERICKSBURG CAMPAIGN + + +I must pause long enough to speak of the days of that sick leave. Just +before reaching Scranton I met on the train my old friend and employer, +Joseph C. Platt, of the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company, who insisted on +taking me home with him. As I had no home of my own and no relations +here, I accepted his kind hospitality. Had I been their own son I could +not have been cared for more tenderly. Under the circumstances I am sure +I was not a very prepossessing object to entertain. I well remember the +warm bath and the glorious luxury of once more being actually clean, +dressed in a civilized night-robe, and in a comfortable bed. It must be +remembered that a soldier must habitually sleep in his clothes. I had +not had my clothes off, except for a wash, since I entered the army. I +had evidently been living beyond my strength, and now the latter gave +way and I found myself unable to leave my bed for the next two weeks. +Dr. William Frothingham gave me most excellent medical treatment, and +with the motherly nursing of Mrs. Platt I was soon on the mend. + +On the 8th of December I started back for my regiment. I was by no means +well, and the doctor was loath to let me go, as were all my kind +friends; but a grand forward movement of the army was reported as in +progress, and I felt that I must be at my post. I reached Washington on +the 9th, and it took the next two days to secure a pass and +transportation to the front. The latter was somewhat difficult to +obtain, owing to the fact that a movement of the army was in progress. +What the character of the movement was no one seemed to know, not even +the provost-marshal, who issued all passes. + +I took a boat leaving at six o'clock A.M. on the 12th for Aquia Creek +and thence went by rail in a cattle-car to its terminus in the open +field opposite Fredericksburg. (The rebels were mean enough to refuse us +depot privileges at the regular station in Fredericksburg.) I arrived +there about one o'clock P.M. A brisk cannonade was in progress between +the Union batteries posted on the heights back of Falmouth and the +Confederate guns on Marye's Heights, back of Fredericksburg. The problem +now was to find my regiment. A stranger standing near said, in answer to +my inquiry, that the Union army had been encamped about a mile and a +half back yonder, pointing to the hills in our rear, but that he was +quite sure they had all gone across the river last night; that a big +fight had taken place about laying the pontoon bridge over the river +(the Rappahannock), and the Union forces had beaten the rebels back, +laid the bridge and had crossed over and occupied the city. +Fredericksburg was a city of probably five or six thousand people, lying +on the west bank of the Rappahannock, which runs at this point nearly +southeast. The river is probably one hundred and fifty to two hundred +yards wide here, quite deep, with a rather swift current and high banks, +so that one does not see the water until quite close to it. The +railroad formerly ran from Aquia Creek to Richmond via Fredericksburg, +the connection to Washington being by boat from Aquia Creek. The war +stopped its operation, but so much of it as was in the Union lines had +been seized by the government, and was being operated by the +quartermaster's department for war purposes. The stations of the latter +were wherever the troops were, and these were now operating against +Fredericksburg, hence I was dumped down in an open field opposite that +city as stated above. I was fortunate enough to find a man who was going +to Hancock's old camp, and I concluded to go with him, believing that +once there I could find our division camp belonging to the same corps. + +I chartered a burly "contraban" to carry my luggage, and we started. The +ground was very soft from recent rains, and the mud was something +terrible. If one has never encountered Virginia mud, he can have no +adequate idea of the meaning of the word. It gets a grip on your feet +and just won't let go. Every rise of your pedal extremities requires a +mighty tug, as if you were lifting the earth, as indeed you are--a much +larger share of it than is comfortable. + +A tramp of a mile and a half brought us to Hancock's old camp. In my +weak condition I was thoroughly exhausted, and so my "contraban" claimed +to be, for he positively refused to go another step. I got my +quartermaster friend to take care of my baggage, whilst I continued my +search for our division camp. I was not successful in finding it that +night, and was obliged to accept the invitation of a sick officer of the +Eighty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers to share his quarters for the +night. I had eaten breakfast at five o'clock that morning in Washington +and had eaten nothing since, and it was now dusk. I was not only tired, +but faint for want of food. This officer, whose name I regret I have +forgotten, was a brother Mason, and kindly divided his meagre rations +with me, which consisted of boiled rice and hardtack. He had a little +molasses, with which the former was lubricated, and a good strong cup of +coffee was added. It was not Waldorf-Astoria fare, to be sure, and the +explanation was that the boys had taken almost everything eatable with +them. + +The next morning I picked up an old "crow-bait" of a horse, the only +four-footed transportation possibly obtainable, and started for +Fredericksburg to find my regiment. The only directions I had about +disposing of this frame of a horse was to "turn the bones loose when you +get through with him." He could go only at a snail's pace, and when I +reached Fredericksburg it must have been nine o'clock. I crossed the +pontoon bridge, which had been laid the morning before under +circumstances of the greatest gallantry by Howard's division of our +corps. + +The "ball" was now well opened. Marye's Heights (pronounced Marie, with +the accent on the last letter, as if spelled Maree), circling the city +from the river above to a point below the city, was literally crowded +with batteries of rebel artillery. These guns were firing at our +batteries on the heights on the other side of the river, and also upon +our troops occupying the city. The air was filled with screeching, +bursting shells, and a deafening pandemonium was in progress. It was +not a very inviting place to enter under these circumstances, but it was +as safe for me as for my regiment, and my duty was to be with them. The +trouble was to find it in that multitude of troops filling all the +streets of the city. Our corps alone numbered probably twelve thousand +men at that time, and the Ninth Corps was there besides. However, I soon +found Kimball's brigade to my great delight, supposing our regiment was +in it, as it was when I went away. General Kimball greeted me with great +cordiality; but when I asked where my regiment was, he said he was sorry +he could not inform me; that they had that morning been transferred, +much against his will, to General Max Weber's brigade, and where that +was he did not know. It was probably somewhere in the city. Said he: + +"You cannot possibly find it now, and it is a waste of time to try. I +can give you plenty of work to-day. Stay with me and serve as an aide on +my staff." + +The officers of his staff, all of whom were personal friends, urgently +joined in the general's invitation. But I felt that I must be with the +regiment if it were possible to find it, and so declined what would have +been a distinguishing service. Some distance down the main street I ran +on to the regiment just when I had abandoned all hope of finding it. My +reception was exceedingly cordial, accompanied with the remark: "Just in +time, adjutant, just in time." I found Lieutenant-Colonel Albright in +command and with no help from our field and staff. Colonel Wilcox was +still on sick leave. Major Shreve had returned to camp during the heavy +cannonading of the day before, and Colonel Albright had lost his voice +from a severe cold, so that I had to supply voice for him in the issuing +of orders, in addition to my other duties. + +The situation was most portentous. We lay in the main street under the +shelter of the houses, which were being bombarded by the rebel batteries +in their efforts to reach our troops. The houses were all vacant; the +people had fled on the approach of our army. Not a soul did we see of +the inhabitants of the city during the two days we occupied it. They had +evidently left in great haste, taking but few things with them. I was +told that in some houses the boys found and ate meals that had been +prepared and left in their flight, and in all there was more or less +food, which was appropriated. Flour was plentiful, and the night after +the battle there were army flapjacks galore. In some cases it might have +been said these were fearfully and wonderfully made, but they went just +the same. + +An incident connected with this occupation of Fredericksburg comes to +light after forty years. If General Howard should see it the mystery of +the sudden disappearance of his breakfast on that morning might be +cleared up. Our regiment happened to be quartered in the morning near +his head-quarters. Rations were scarce. General Howard's servant had +prepared him a most tempting breakfast from supplies found and +confiscated from one of the houses. The sight of this repast and its +savory fumes were too much for the empty stomachs of two of our men, who +shall be nameless here. The trick was a neat one. One of them got the +attention of the cook and held it until the other reached into the tent +and dumped the contents of the main dish, hot and steaming, into his +haversack and quietly sauntered away. When the cook discovered his loss +the other fellow was gone. These rascals said it was the best dish of +ham and eggs they ever ate. Many houses had fine pianos and other +musical instruments, and in some instances impromptu dances were on +whilst Confederate shells whanged through the house above their heads. +It is safe to say that there was little left of valuable bric-a-brac to +greet the fugitive people on their return. And it is highly probable +that pianos and handsome furniture needed considerable repairing after +the exodus of the "Yank." This was not due to pure vandalism, although +war creates the latter, but to the feeling of hatred for the miserable +rebels who had brought on the war and were the cause of our being there. +And it must be admitted there were some who pocketed all they could for +the commercialism there might be in it, the argument again being, +"somebody will take it, and I might as well have it as the other +fellow." The first part of the argument was doubtless as true as the +latter part was false. Many trinkets were hawked about among the men +after the fight as souvenirs. Among them was a silver-plated communion +flagon. Some scamp had filched it from one of the churches and was +trying to sell it. Fortunately, he did not belong to our regiment. Our +chaplain took it from him and had it strapped to his saddle-bag. His +purpose was to preserve it for its owner if the time should come that it +could be returned. But in the meantime its presence attached to his +saddle made him the butt of any amount of raillery from both officers +and men. + +When I joined the regiment it was lying in front of the Court-House, +from the steeple of which some sixty or seventy feet high, the flags of +our signal-corps were most actively wagging. It occurred to me that +those signal-men were mighty nervy fellows. They were a beautiful mark +for the rebel batteries, which were evidently doing their best to knock +them out. The steeple was a plain, old-fashioned affair, having an open +belfry, which seemed to be supported by four upright posts or timbers. I +saw one of those uprights knocked out by a rebel shell. A couple more +equally good shots and our signal-fellows would come ignominiously--no, +gloriously--down, for there could be no ignominy with such pluck. But +the wig-wagging went on, I fancied, with a little more snap and audacity +than before, and they maintained their station there in the very teeth +of the rebel batteries until the army was withdrawn. So much for "Yankee +nerve." I afterwards learned that the signal-officer there was none +other than Lieutenant Frederick Fuller, of Scranton, one of my most +intimate personal friends. Lieutenant Fuller told me that he was on duty +at Burnside's head-quarters on that morning; that a station was ordered +opened in the belfry of that Court-House, and another officer was +despatched thither for that duty; that after waiting some time for the +flags to appear he was ordered over to see what the trouble was. He +found the other officer sitting under shelter, afraid to mount the +belfry, nor could any persuasion induce him to face that storm of shell. +Lieutenant Fuller thereupon climbed up into the belfry, opened the +station himself, and ran it during the whole battle. + +About ten o'clock the command "Forward" was sounded, and our brigade +moved out towards Marye's Heights. Some idea of the topography of +Fredericksburg and its rear I find is necessary to an understanding of +what follows. Marye's Heights, which encircle the city back some five +hundred yards, are the termination of a plateau which rises from one +hundred and fifty to two hundred feet in an abrupt terrace from the +plain upon which the city stands. These heights form a half-circle from +the river above to a point below the city some little distance from the +river, and are from a mile to a mile and a half long and are most +admirably adapted for defensive purposes. The rebel batteries, numbering +at least one hundred guns, were massed on these heights, and covered not +only every street leading out from the city, but every square foot of +ground of the plain below. A third of the way down the terrace was an +earthwork filled with infantry, whilst at its foot ran the famous stone +wall extending southward from the cemetery above the city, and was +continued by an earthwork around the whole circle. Behind this stone +wall was massed a double line of Confederate infantry. To enter either +street leading out to those heights was to face the concentrated fire of +that mass of artillery and the deadly work of those three lines of +infantry. Yet that was just what we had before us. + +Our division (French's) led the assault. Our regiment brought up the +rear of our brigade column. As each regiment turned into the street +leading out, it took up the run to cover this exposed ground as quickly +as possible. Lieutenant-Colonel Albright was leading our regiment and I +was by his side. We passed rapidly up the street, already covered with +the dead and wounded which had fallen from the regiments that had +preceded us, until we reached the embankment of a railroad, which was +nearly parallel with the enemy's works. A temporary halt was made here +preparatory to moving forward in line of battle. + +Turning to see that our men were in position, I was amazed to find that +we had but one company with us. It was my duty as adjutant to go back +and find and bring up the balance of the regiment. The distance was +about four hundred yards. I can truthfully say that in that moment I +gave my life up. I do not expect ever again to face death more certainly +than I thought I did then. It did not seem possible that I could go +through that fire again and return alive. The grass did not grow under +my feet going back. My sprinting record was probably made then. It may +be possible to see the humorous side at this distance, but it was verily +a life and death matter then. One may ask how such dangers can be faced. +The answer is, there are many things more to be feared than death. +Cowardice and failure of duty with me were some of them. I can fully +appreciate the story of the soldier's soliloquy as he saw a rabbit +sprinting back from the line of fire: + +"Go it, cotton tail; if I hadn't a reputation at stake, I'd go to." + +Reputation and duty were the holding forces. I said to myself, "This is +duty. I'll trust in God and do it. If I fall, I cannot die better." +Without the help and stimulus of that trust I could not have done it, +for I doubt if any man was ever more keenly susceptible to danger than +I, and the experience of Antietam had taught me the full force of this +danger. The nervous strain was simply awful. It can be appreciated only +by those who have experienced it. The atmosphere seemed surcharged with +the most startling and frightful things. Deaths, wounds, and appalling +destruction everywhere. As fast as I was running back over that street, +my eyes caught an incident that I can see now, which excited my pity, +though I had no time to offer help. A fine-looking fellow had been +struck by a shot, which had severed one leg and left it hanging by one +of the tendons, the bone protruding, and he was bleeding profusely. Some +men were apparently trying to get him off the street. They had hold of +his arms and the other leg, but were jumping and dodging at every shell +that exploded, jerking and twisting this dangling leg to his horrible +torture. I remember hearing him beseeching them to lay him down and let +him die. They were probably a trio of cowards trying to get back from +the front, and were using this wounded man to get away with, a not +infrequent occurrence with that class of bummers. + +I found the balance of the regiment had passed our street and were in +confusion further down the main street. As the second company was about +turning to follow the column a shell had exploded in their faces, +killing and wounding some ten men and throwing it into disorder. Before +it could be rallied the advancing column was out of sight. It was the +work of but a few moments to straighten out the tangle and head them +again for the front. No body of men could have more quickly and bravely +responded, though they told me afterwards that they read in my pallid +face the character of the work before them. Back we went up that street +on the run, having to pick our way to avoid stepping on the dead and +wounded, for the ground was now blue with our fallen heroes. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG--CONCLUDED + + +Reaching the place in the rear of that railroad embankment, where I had +left the brigade, I found it had just gone forward in line of battle, +and a staff officer directed me to bring the rest of the regiment +forward under fire, which I did, fortunately getting them into their +proper position. The line was lying prone upon the ground in that open +field and trying to maintain a fire against the rebel infantry not more +than one hundred and fifty yards in our front behind that stone wall. We +were now exposed to the fire of their three lines of infantry, having no +shelter whatever. It was like standing upon a raised platform to be shot +down by those sheltered behind it. Had we been ordered to fix bayonets +and charge those heights we could have understood the movement, though +that would have been an impossible undertaking, defended as they were. +But to be sent close up to those lines to maintain a firing-line without +any intrenchments or other shelter, if that was its purpose, was simply +to invite wholesale slaughter without the least compensation. It was to +attempt the impossible, and invite certain destruction in the effort. On +this interesting subject I have very decided convictions, which I will +give later on. + +[Illustration: FIRST LIEUT. JAMES A. ROGERS + +CO. C] + + +[Illustration: FIRST LIEUT. NOAH H. JAY + +CO. K] + + +[Illustration: FIRST LIEUT. A. C. MENSCH + +CO. E] + + +[Illustration: FIRST LIEUT. CHARLES E. GLADDING + +CO. D] + + +[Illustration: FIRST LIEUT. ISAIAH W. WILLITTS + +CO. H] + + +[Illustration: SECOND LIEUT. D. R. MELLICK + +CO. E] + +Proceeding now with my narrative, we were evidently in a fearful +slaughter-pen. Our men were being swept away as by a terrific whirlwind. +The ground was soft and spongy from recent rains, and our faces and +clothes were bespattered with mud from bullets and fragments of shells +striking the ground about us, whilst men were every moment being hit by +the storm of projectiles that filled the air. In the midst of that +frightful carnage a man rushing by grasped my hand and spoke. I turned +and looked into the face of a friend from a distant city. There was a +glance of recognition and he was swept away. What his fate was I do not +know. + +That same moment I received what was supposed to be my death wound. +Whilst the men were lying down, my duties kept me on my feet. Lieutenant +Charles McDougal,[D] commanding the color company, called to me that the +color-guard were all either killed or wounded. We had two stands of +colors, the national and State flags. These colors were carried by two +color-sergeants, protected by six color-corporals, which made up the +color-guard. If either sergeant became disabled the nearest corporal +took the colors, and so on until the color-guard were down. This was the +condition when this officer called to me to replace these disabled men, +so that the colors should be kept flying. He had one flag in his hand as +I approached him, and he was in the act of handing it to me when a +bullet crashed through his arm and wrist, spattering my face with his +warm blood. I seized the staff as it fell from his shattered arm. The +next instant a bullet cut the staff away just below my hand. An instant +later I was struck on the head by the fragment of a shell and fell +unconscious with the colors in my hand. How long I remained unconscious +I do not know, possibly twenty minutes or more. What were my sensations +when hit? I felt a terrific blow, but without pain, and the thought +flashed through my mind, "This is the end," and then everything was +black. I do not remember falling. It takes time to write this, but +events moved then with startling rapidity. From the time we went forward +from the embankment until the line was swept back could have been but a +few minutes, otherwise all must have been killed. + +When I revived I was alone with the dead and wounded. The line of battle +had been swept away. The field about me was literally covered with the +blue uniforms of our dead and wounded men. The firing had very +perceptibly decreased. I had worn into the battle my overcoat, with my +sword buckled on the outside. I had been hit on the left side of my +head, and that side of my body was covered with blood down to my feet, +which was still flowing. My first thought was as to my condition, +whether mortally wounded or not. I was perceptibly weakened from loss of +blood, but lying there I could not tell how much strength I had left. I +did not dare move, for that would make me a target for the guns that +covered that terrible wall, the muzzles of which I could plainly see. +Many of them were still spitting out their fire with a venom that made +my position exceedingly uncomfortable. What should I do? What could I +do? To remain there was either to bleed to death or be taken prisoner +and sent to Libby, which I felt would mean for me a sure lingering +death. To make a move to get off the field would draw the fire of those +guns, which would surely finish me. These were the alternatives. + +I carefully stretched my legs to test my strength, and I made up my mind +I had enough left to carry me off the field, and I resolved to take my +chances in the effort. I determined that I would zigzag my course to the +rear so as not to give them a line shot at me. So getting myself +together I made a supreme effort and sprang up and off in jumps, first +to the right, then to the left. As I expected, they opened on me, and +the bullets flew thick and fast about me. The first turn I got a bullet +through my right leg just above the ankle. It felt like the stinging cut +of a whip and rather accelerated my speed. About fifty yards back was an +old slab fence to my right, and I plunged headlong behind that, hoping +to find shelter from those bullets. I fell directly behind several other +wounded men, two of whom rolled over dead from bullets that came through +the slabs and which were probably aimed at me. This flushed me again, +and by the same zigzag tactics I succeeded in getting back to the +railroad embankment, where, to my great joy, I found Colonel Albright +with what remained of the regiment. Colonel Albright grasped me in his +arms as I came over, with the exclamation, "We thought you were killed." +Sergeant-Major Clapp told me that he had rolled me over and satisfied +himself that I was dead before they went back. + +As I reached cover under this embankment I remember noticing a +field-officer rallying his men very near us on our right, and that +instant his head was literally carried away by a shell. So intense was +the situation that even this tragic death received only a passing +thought. Then came the Irish brigade, charging over our line as they did +at Antietam. They came up and went forward in fine form, but they got +but a few yards beyond the embankment, when they broke and came back, +what was left of them, in great confusion. No troops could stand that +fire. Our division and the whole Second Corps, in fact, were now +completely disorganized, and the men were making their way back to the +city and the cover of the river-bank as best they could, whilst the +splendid old Ninth Corps was advancing to take its place. Profiting by +our experience, they did not advance by those streets through which we +came, but made their way through houses and yards and so escaped that +concentrated fire on the streets. Their advancing lines, covering the +whole city front, looked magnificent, and it was dreadful to think that +such a splendid body of men must march into such a slaughter-pen. Their +movement was a repetition of ours. With bayonets unfixed they moved +forward and attempted to maintain a firing-line under Marye's Heights on +the ground from which we had been driven, only to be hurled mercilessly +back as we had been. Our line had been the first to make this effort, +and for some reason we had approached to within about one hundred yards +of their main line of infantry, much closer than any of the troops that +followed. The others had barely got beyond the embankment, when they +were swept away. We, having approached nearer their line, were, of +course, longer exposed to their fire and lost more heavily. + +I was always curious to know why we of the first line of that fateful +movement succeeded in getting so much nearer their works than the +equally brave and determined men who followed us. Some years afterwards +on revisiting this location I met an ex-Confederate who commanded one of +the rebel batteries on those heights that day. In answer to my +questions, he said the first "Yankee" line was permitted to approach +much nearer than those that followed, for, said he, "we knew they were +our meat, and when we finally opened on them with our full force, the +slaughter was so awful it made me heart sick. But you kept coming with +such persistency that we did not dare repeat those tactics." This may +have been partially true so far as concerned their infantry fire, but a +more potent reason, in my judgment, was that we had developed the utter +hopelessness of the attempt, and men could not put heart into the +effort. + +Recurring to myself again, Colonel Albright stanched the flowing of +blood from my wound in the head by making a strong compress of my large +bandana handkerchief. The other wound in my leg did not give me much +trouble then. In that condition, accompanied by another wounded man, I +made my way back into the city. We found it one vast hospital. Every +house was literally crowded with wounded men. We were fortunate enough +to run against our brigade surgeon, who had taken possession of a brick +building on the main street for hospital purposes. The only thing he +could give me to lie down upon was a wooden bench. We had dismounted and +left our horses with a servant when we went forward, and our blankets, +etc., were with them, and where they were now there was no means of +knowing. I was therefore without those comforts. Everything of that +nature left by the rebels had long before been appropriated. The doctor +hastily examined my wounds, pronounced them not dangerous, ordered the +hospital steward to dress them, and was away. He, however, appropriated +my red handkerchief. I had been presented by a friend on leaving +Scranton with two large old-fashioned red silk bandana handkerchiefs, +and they were exceedingly useful. The doctor, seeing them, said, "I must +have these to nail up over the outside door to show that this is a +hospital," and, without so much as saying by your leave, carried them +off. The effort was to secure as much protection as possible from the +fire of the enemy, and to do this the red flag of the hospital must be +displayed. It is against the rules of civilized warfare to fire upon a +hospital. The doctor said my red silk handkerchiefs were the first red +stuff of any kind he had been able to get hold of. Of course I was glad +to part with them for that purpose, though they were worth at that time +$2 each in gold. The wound in my head was fortunately a glancing blow +from a fragment of a shell. It tore the scalp from the bone about three +inches in length in the form of a V. It has never given me serious +trouble, more than to be a barometer of changing weather. The wound in +my leg nearly severed the big tendon. They both quickly healed, and I +was off duty with them but the one day I took to get back to camp. + +After my wounds had been dressed I tried to sleep, being not only very +weak from loss of blood, but almost in a condition of nervous +exhaustion. I laid down on my bench, but shells were continually +crashing through the building, and sleep was impossible. I went out on +the street. It was crowded with wounded and straggling soldiers. The +stragglers were hunting for their regiments, the wounded for hospital +room. It seemed as if the army must have disintegrated. This was +practically true of the Second and Ninth Corps, which had made the +assault. Towards night General French rode down the street, accompanied +by his staff. Seeing me, he stopped his horse and exclaimed, "Adjutant, +where is my division? Tell me where my men are. My God, I am without a +command!" and the tears were flowing down his red, weather-beaten face. +He was beside himself over the awful losses of his division. Well he +might be, for a great number of them were lying on yonder field in front +of Marye's Heights, and the balance were scattered through the houses +and on the river-bank practically disorganized. + +I was greatly alarmed for our safety that night. It seemed to me highly +probable that General Lee would come down upon us and capture all that +were in the city, as he could easily have done. Possibly he was +satisfied with the damage already inflicted, and did not care to assume +the care of our wounded, which that would have involved. I remained on +my bench in that hospital through that long night without food or +covering. I had eaten nothing since early morning. With the constant +whanging of shells through ours and adjacent buildings and the moaning +of the wounded lying all about me, sleep or rest was impossible. It was +a night too dreadful to think of, and makes me shudder again as I write. +We remained in the city the next day, Sunday, and I rejoined our +regiment, which, with other troops, was lying under the shelter of the +river-bank. Officers were getting their men together as far as possible +and bringing order out of chaos. We had Sunday about two hundred for +duty out of three hundred and fifty taken into the battle. On Monday, +the 15th, we who were wounded were told to make our way across the river +back to our old camps as best we could. I was now very weak, and my head +and leg were very sore. The latter gave me much trouble in walking, +nevertheless there was a three-mile tramp before us. Lieutenant +Musselman, also wounded, went with me on this weary tramp. We did not +reach camp that night, and so had to find shelter at a farm-house, +already full of straggling and wounded soldiers. The owner was a widow, +living with a grown-up daughter, and was a bitter rebel, although +professing Union sentiments whilst our army was there. She was, of +course, greatly annoyed by the presence of these soldiers, most of whom +were eating up her provisions without paying for them. Some of them were +"bummers," who had run away from the battle and had persuaded her to +feed and shelter them for the protection they professed to afford her. +She was in great wrath when we reached there and peremptorily forbade us +entering. But I told her firmly that we were wounded men and must have +shelter; that I would willingly pay for accommodations, but, permission +or not, the latter we must have. This argument seemed to be convincing, +and the daughter led us up to the garret, which, she said, was the only +unoccupied room in the house. Here she spread a blanket on the floor for +us to sleep on. I suppose this was the best she could do. Then, at our +solicitation, she got us some supper, an exceedingly frugal meal, but we +were glad to get that. The daughter did not seem to share her mother's +bitterness, but as often as she could would interject a word in our +favor, and really did all she could for us. I sincerely hope she was +ultimately made a permanent prisoner by some good "boy in blue." Here +would have been an excellent opportunity to have woven into this +narrative the golden thread of romance. This pretty secesh girl, with +flashing blue eyes and golden hair, rebel to the core, yet befriending a +wounded Union soldier, etc. How readily it lends itself, but the truth +must be told. The little arrow god had already driven home his shaft, +and so the romance could not mature. + +During the evening General Franz Sigel and staff came to the house and +demanded supper. Our lady was very polite, assured him that it was +impossible. "Very well," said General Sigel, "I think I shall want this +place to-morrow for a hospital. Madam, your kindness will be +reciprocated." He spoke very emphatically, whereat the pretty daughter +began to cry, and the mother to stammer apologies, and said she would do +the best she could for them, but she really had nothing to cook. The +general retired very indignant. Whether or not his threat was carried +out I do not know, for the next morning we were off without trying to +get breakfast. On asking for her bill we were surprised to find her +charges were evidently based on the highest war-time hotel rates. We had +so poor a supper that we had no desire for breakfast there, and had +slept on the garret floor. For this she demanded one dollar. We paid her +fifty cents, which was more than double its worth, and left amidst a +great volley of her choicest anathemas. + +We reached camp towards noon, and found we had tramped about five miles +out of our way. The regiment was there ahead of us, the troops having +evacuated Fredericksburg on Monday, two days after the battle, without +opposition. We were actually under fire in this battle, that is, from +the time the assault began until we were swept back, probably not more +than thirty minutes as against four and one-half hours at Antietam. Yet +our losses were proportionately much heavier. During my absence on sick +leave, our regiment, after leaving Warrenton, had been detailed on heavy +"fatigue" duty, loading and unloading vessels and various kinds of +laborer's work at Belle-plain, and in consequence many were on the sick +list, others were on various details, so that when we went into this +battle we had only three hundred and fifty men for duty, against seven +hundred and fifty at Antietam. Of this number my diary, written the +15th, says we lost: Killed, 7; wounded, 80; missing, 20; total, 107. +Lieutenant Hoagland, Company H, was killed. Of the wounded, four were +officers,--Captain Richard Stillwell and First Lieutenant John B. Floyd, +Company K; First Lieutenant Musselman, Company E, and First Lieutenant +McDougal, commanding Company C. Lieutenant McDougal's arm was shattered +by a minie-ball whilst handing me the colors, detailed above. Captain +Stillwell received a very singular wound. A bullet struck the side of +his neck near the big artery and appeared to have gouged out a bit of +flesh and glanced off. It bled more than this circumstance would have +seemed to warrant, but the captain was sure he was not hurt and made +light of it. Swelling and pain speedily developed in his shoulder, and +it was found that the missile, instead of glancing off, had taken a +downward course and finally lodged near his shoulder-joint, a distance +of ten or twelve inches from where it entered. He was given leave of +absence on account of wounds, and the ball was cut out after his return +home, and ultimately the whole channel made by the ball had to be +opened, when it was found lined with whiskers which the ball had carried +in with it. + +Most of those computed above as missing were undoubtedly killed, but had +not been so reported at that time. Our loss in that half-hour was nearly +one-third. One stand of our colors, the one whose staff was shot away in +my hand, was missing, and the other was badly torn by shells and +bullets. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +WHY FREDERICKSBURG WAS LOST + + +I promised to give my convictions relative to the responsibility for the +disaster of Fredericksburg, and I might as well do it here. + +Recalling the fact heretofore stated that we seemed to have been thrown +against Marye's Heights to be sacrificed; that we were not ordered to +charge their works, but to advance and maintain a line of battle-fire +where such a thing was absolutely impossible, I come to the inquiry, +what was the character and purpose of the movement and why did it fail? +So thoroughly impressed was I that there was something radically wrong +about it, that I determined to solve that question if possible, and so +made a study of the subject at that time and later after my return home. +I had personal friends in the First and Sixth Corps, which had operated +on the extreme left, and I discussed with them the movements that day. +Finally, after my return home, I got access to Covode's congressional +reports on the conduct of the war covering that campaign, and from all +these sources learned what I then and now believe to be substantially +the facts about that campaign. The army was divided into three grand +divisions, composed of two army corps each, namely, the Second and +Ninth, the right grand division, commanded by Sumner; the First and +Sixth, the left grand division, commanded by Franklin, and the Third +and Fifth, the centre, commanded by Hooker. The plan of battle was to +hold Lee's army at Fredericksburg by a "feint in force" (which means an +attack sufficiently strong to deceive the enemy into the belief that it +is the real or main attack) at that point, whilst the left grand +division was to throw a pontoon bridge across the river three miles +below and turn his flank (_i.e._, get behind them) in the rear of +Marye's Heights. For this purpose the left grand division was to advance +and attack vigorously. If successful, Lee would then have been between +Franklin's forces on the left and our own on the right, with every +possibility of being crushed. Hooker was to hold his division in +readiness to support either wing. Had this plan been carried out, our +work at the right would, at its conception, have been as it appeared to +be, a mad sacrifice of men, but with an opportunity later on of pushing +forward and reaping a victory. In that event, our position would have +made us a tremendous factor in the result. + +Now how was the plan carried out? The student will be puzzled on finding +such a paucity of records concerning this disastrous movement. The +official documents are remarkable for what they do not contain. A study +of Covode's reports on the conduct of the war will, I think, justify my +conclusions, viz., that the disaster of Fredericksburg was due not to +accident, nor to a faulty plan of battle, but to a failure of the left +grand division to perform the vital part assigned to it. My information +gained at the time was that Franklin was to remain concealed until the +signal for our attack came; then he was to cross over and attack +vigorously, a military expression, meaning to put all possible vigor +and power into the movement. The signal was given as our attack began. +Whatever force may have crossed the river at that time, my information +was that the division known as the Pennsylvania Reserve, now numbering +probably not more than six thousand men, under General Meade, was the +only body of troops which made a determined attack on Lee's right, in +support of our work in front of Marye's Heights. Realizing the +opportunity, General Meade pushed forward with his usual vigor and, +though meeting strenuous opposition, soon found himself well in Lee's +rear, but without support. He sent back aide after aide to hurry forward +the supporting lines, but without avail, finally galloping back himself. +He found General Birney resting near the bridge with his division. An +eye-witness[E] to Meade's interview with Birney says the language of +General Meade as he upbraided Birney for not coming to his support was +enough to "almost make the stones creep;" that Meade was almost wild +with rage as he saw the golden opportunity slipping away and the +slaughter of his men going for naught. He said Birney responded that he +agreed with General Meade fully, and was ready and most anxious to come +to his support, but that his orders were peremptory to await further +orders in his present position: that he had been for an hour trying to +find General Franklin to obtain permission to move forward. This loss of +time and want of support to Meade's charge changed a possible victory +into a fearful disaster. This was substantially the testimony of +Major-General Reynolds, commanding the First Corps, before the Committee +on the Conduct of the War. Burnside rode down to the left and vigorously +expostulated with Franklin for his failure to carry out his orders, and +peremptorily ordered him to make the attack as originally directed, +whilst he repeated the movement at the right. It was now considerably +after noon, and this order was undoubtedly a mistake. The plan of battle +had been revealed, and there was practically no hope of success. Had the +left grand division vigorously performed its part in the earlier +movement, can any one doubt the result? I cannot think so. Had Meade, +Reynolds, or Hancock been in command on the left that day, I feel +confident that Fredericksburg would have been recorded a glorious +victory instead of a horrible slaughter. + +Now, why did the left grand division fail to make the attack as ordered? +Halleck, in his report on the operations at Fredericksburg, says +"alleged misunderstanding of orders." Here is his language: + +"It was intended that Franklin's grand division, consisting of the corps +of Reynolds (First) and Smith (Sixth), should attack the enemy's right +and turn his position on the heights in the rear of Fredericksburg, +while Sumner and Hooker attacked him in front. But by some alleged +misunderstanding of orders Franklin's operations were limited to a mere +reconnoissance, and the direct attacks of Sumner and Hooker were +unsupported." "Rebellion Records," vol. xxi., page 47. + +Is the theory of a misunderstanding of orders tenable? The records show +that on the 11th of December, two days before the battle, Burnside +ordered his division commanders to so dispose their troops as to bring +them within easy reach of Fredericksburg, and that on that day at twelve +o'clock noon these officers were ordered to meet him personally at his +head-quarters for final instructions. There are no records of what those +instructions were, but is it credible that either general retired from +that conference with a misunderstanding as to the plan of battle or of +his own part in it? Certain it is that neither Sumner nor Hooker +misunderstood. + +And the excuse said to have been made by Franklin, that he did not deem +the attack on the left practicable, is not consistent with the idea of +misunderstanding. Otherwise, why did he attack at all? General Halleck's +guarded language clearly indicates where he placed the responsibility +for that disaster, and that he did not credit the "misunderstanding of +orders" theory. It is plainly evident Burnside did not accept that +excuse, as appears from his celebrated Order No. 8, issued a month +later, relieving Franklin, Smith, Newton, Cochran, and Ferrero, and +stating as his reason that "it being evident that these officers can be +of no further service to this army,"--the first named being the +commander of the left grand division, the second the commander of the +Sixth Corps, and the others subordinate commanders in that wing of the +army. General Burnside explained to the Committee on the Conduct of the +War[F] that in asking the President to approve this order, and making +that a condition upon which he would consent to remain at the head of +the army, he had explicitly stated, "that was the only condition on +which he could command the Army of the Potomac." In other words, he +could not command that army with those officers as his subordinates. The +inference that there had been insubordination is inevitable. It was the +current belief amongst us officers of the army that the battle of +Fredericksburg had been lost through a want of hearty co-operation, if +not direct disobedience of orders, on the part of the officer commanding +on the left that day, and some of his subordinates, and that this was +due to a spirit of jealousy. McClellan had but recently been removed +from the command of the army, and the officers relieved were strong +personal friends and partisans of the latter. Again, Burnside, his +successor, was alleged to be junior in actual rank to Franklin. Whether +either of these facts supplied the motives for the jealousy which lost +that battle, if such was true, the judgment day alone will reveal. It is +devoutly to be hoped that the light of that day will relieve the +terrible disaster of Fredericksburg of this awful shadow, and that +nothing worse than a "misunderstanding of orders" was responsible for +it. + +That Order No. 8 was disapproved at Washington, and General Burnside +promptly tendered his resignation of the command of the Army of the +Potomac. He felt that he had not received and was not likely to receive +the cordial and hearty support of all his subordinate officers, and +under those circumstances he did not want the responsibility of command. +He expressed himself as anxious to serve his country and willing to work +anywhere it might please the President to place him. He was not +relieved, however, until a month or so later. In writing the foregoing I +know that many brave men will take exception. I would say, however, that +I have made a somewhat careful study of the subject from an absolutely +unprejudiced stand-point, and such are the conclusions I reached, and +they were shared by many of my fellow-officers who were in that +campaign. The losses in this battle amount to nearly one-third the +troops actually engaged, a most remarkable fact, and which stamps this +engagement as one of the bloodiest in all history. Burnside reports his +loss as twelve hundred and eighty-four killed and nine thousand six +hundred wounded, making a total loss, including the missing, of twelve +thousand six hundred and fifty-three. Of this loss the right grand +division (the Second and Ninth Corps) lost five thousand three hundred +and eleven. The left grand division, Franklin's (First and Sixth Corps, +which numbered considerably more than the right grand division), lost +three thousand four hundred and sixty-two, and most of this was +sustained in the second attack in the afternoon. These facts sustain +the belief above referred to in the army, that the main attack in the +morning on the left was not what it should have been, and was the cause +of the disaster. + +A remarkable fact connected with this loss is the great number of +wounded as compared with the killed. Usually the former exceeds the +latter in the proportion of three and four to one, but at Fredericksburg +it was nearly nine to one. How this is to be explained I never +understood, unless it be that most of the casualties were from exploding +shells. The minute fragments of a shell scatter very widely and wound, +whilst there are fewer of the large pieces which kill. For example, the +shell that exploded in the front of our second company, as it was +turning to enter the street leading out towards Marye's Heights, +previously described, knocked out ten men, only one of whom was +instantly killed. It is safe to estimate that of the nine thousand six +hundred reported as wounded, one-third died or were permanently disabled +therefrom. + +To show how quickly troops can recover from such a shock as the disaster +of Fredericksburg, the Second Corps had a grand review back of Falmouth +the second week after the battle. Major-General Edwin V. Sumner, +commanding the right grand division, was the reviewing officer. I have +spoken before of this distinguished officer. This was his farewell to +the Second Corps, which he had long commanded and to which he was +greatly attached, a sentiment which was most cordially reciprocated by +the men. He was now probably the oldest in years of all the officers in +the army, yet still vigorous, intrepid, and efficient. He was relieved +from active command in the field and assigned to the command of the +Department of the Ohio, but a few months later died peacefully at his +home in New York. Is it not singular that this old hero should have +escaped the numberless missiles of death in all the battles through +which he had passed, so soon to succumb in the quietude of retirement? + +Our regiment had present at this review but few over two hundred men, +and the other regiments were proportionally small, so that the corps was +scarcely larger than a good-sized division, yet it appeared in splendid +condition. Its depleted numbers and battle-scarred flags alone told the +story of its recent experiences. The following week our regiment was +detailed for a ten-days' tour of picket duty, and was encamped some +distance above Falmouth in a pretty grove. This change of service was a +welcome one to the men in many respects, for there was better foraging +opportunities, and there was also considerable excitement attending this +service in the presence of the enemy. The Rappahannock River was the +dividing line of the two armies, and their respective pickets lined its +banks. At this time the two lines were kept as far as possible concealed +from each other, though there was practically no picket firing. Later on +the two lines were posted in full view of each other, and by agreement +under a "flag of truce" all picket firing was strictly forbidden. +Thereafter, although forbidden, there was more or less conversation +carried on between the two lines. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +LOST COLORS RECOVERED + + +In addition to our heavy loss of men at Fredericksburg was the loss of +our colors, the stand whose staff had been shot away in my hand as +described in a former chapter. + +It can be well understood that we felt very keenly the loss of our flag, +although we knew that it had been most honorably lost. It was known to +have been brought off the field in the night by Corporal William I. D. +Parks, Company H, one of the color-guard, who was mortally wounded, and +left by him in a church used as a temporary hospital. Corporal Parks was +removed to a hospital at Washington, where he died shortly afterwards, +and the colors mysteriously disappeared. The act of this color-bearer in +crawling off the field with his colors, wounded as he was to the death, +was a deed of heroism that has few parallels. We made every effort to +find the flag, but without success, and had concluded that it must have +been left in Fredericksburg, and so fallen into the hands of the enemy, +when a couple of weeks after the battle, on returning from a ride down +to Falmouth, I noticed a regiment of our troops having dress parade. I +rode near them, and my attention was at once attracted to the fact that +they paraded three stands of colors, a most unusual circumstance. My +suspicion was at once aroused that here were our lost colors. Riding +closer, my joy was great on recognizing our number and letters on their +bullet-and shell-tattered folds, "132 P. V." Anger immediately succeeded +my joy as I saw that our precious colors were being paraded as a sort of +trophy. This flag, under whose folds so many of our brave men had +fallen, and which had been so heroically rescued from the field, +exhibited to the army and the world as a trophy of the battle by another +regiment! It was, in effect, a public proclamation of our cowardice and +dishonor and of their prowess in possessing what we had failed to hold +and guard, our sacred colors. It stung me to the quick. I do not +remember ever to have been more beside myself with anger. It was with +difficulty that I contained myself until their ceremony was over, when I +rode up to the colonel, in the presence of all his officers, and in a +voice which must have betrayed my emotion, demanded to know why he was +parading our colors. His reply was, "Those are the colors of a d----d +runaway regiment which my men picked up on the battle-field of +Fredericksburg." My hair and whiskers were somewhat hot in color those +days, and I have not kept a record of my language to that colonel for +the next few minutes. I sincerely hope the recording angel has not. +Still, I am sure it was the explosion of a righteous indignation. + +Full of wrath I galloped at topmost speed to camp and made known my +discovery to Colonel Albright. If I was "hot," what shall be said of +him? Of a fiery, mercurial disposition, his temper flew in a moment. He +mounted his horse and bade me lead him to this regiment. The brave +heralds who carried "the good news from Ghent to Aix," did not gallop +faster than did we two, and the wicked fellow who was hired to say two +dollars' worth of "words" for the Quaker did not do his work a bit more +effectively than did my brave colonel in denouncing the man who had made +that charge of cowardice against our regiment. Well, he began to hedge +immediately. He evidently saw that there was trouble ahead, and offered +to give us the colors at once, but Colonel Albright peremptorily refused +to accept them that way, and said he would demand a court of inquiry and +would require full and complete vindication, cost what it might. A court +of inquiry was at once asked for and granted. It was made up of officers +outside of our division, and was directed to investigate the loss of our +flag, and how it came into the possession of this other regiment. +Colonel Albright was a good lawyer and conducted his own case before the +court. It came out in the investigation that in making his report of the +part his regiment took in the battle of Fredericksburg this colonel had +used substantially the same language he had to me concerning how he came +into possession of the flag. Here is the paragraph referring to our +colors, taken from his report printed in the "Rebellion Records," vol. +xxi., page 275: + +"I would also state that some cowardly members of a regiment unknown (?) +abandoned their colors, which were recovered by Captain Northrup, of my +regiment, and saved the disgrace of falling into the hands of the +enemy." My diary notes that I interviewed this Captain Northrup, and he +promptly stated that he took the colors from the hospital and brought +them with him when their regiment left Fredericksburg. He said he did +not know how they got into the hospital, but supposed a wounded +sergeant had left them there. He disclaimed any idea of their having +been abandoned in a cowardly manner, and could not understand why his +colonel had made such a declaration. The statement that his men rescued +them from an unknown regiment was false upon its face, for our name was +inscribed on its folds in plain letters, "132d P. V." Why he made such a +statement, and why he treated the colors as he did, I could never +understand, for had the statement been true it was outrageously +unmilitary to proclaim to the world the cowardice of one of our own +regiments. It was his duty to promptly send the colors to head-quarters, +with a statement of the facts, so that the alleged runaways could be +properly disciplined. As it was, it seemed a most contemptible effort to +secure a little cheap, unearned glory. It was heartlessly cruel and +unworthy of a brave soldier. + +The result of the court of inquiry was a full and complete vindication +of our regiment, as shown by the following paragraph from an order +issued by Major-General O. O. Howard, commanding the Second Corps: "The +last color-bearer, badly wounded, left his regiment after dark, and in +the town entered a church used as a hospital, taking his colors with +him. He was carried away from this place and the colors left behind. The +very fidelity of the color-bearer holding to his colors as long as he +was conscious was the occasion of their loss to the regiment. Not only +no fault should be found with this regiment, but it should receive +unqualified commendation." + +General French, commanding our division, published this order to the +division, adding the following: "As the commander of the division, and +knowing the character of the One Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsylvania +Volunteers, which has fought under my eye in two of the bloodiest +engagements of the war, and which has the highest encomiums from its +brigade commander, General Kimball, who knows what brave men are, I have +deemed it my duty to make this record to go with whatever may have +transpired in reference to this subject during my short absence." The +above paragraphs were taken from Bates's "History of Pennsylvania +Volunteers." The colors were ordered returned to us with proper military +honors. They were brought to General French's head-quarters by a +military escort from that regiment, and I had the satisfaction of +officially receiving them with a like escort from our regiment, +commanded by First Lieutenant J. D. Laciar, of Company G. The ceremony +was to us a joyous and impressive occasion. It took place in the +presence of General Alfred Sully, temporarily commanding the division, +and staff, and our brigade officers. The two escorts were drawn up, +facing each other. The order of Major-General Howard, above referred to, +was read. This was followed by a little speech from General Sully, in +which we came in for some more praise; then both escorts presented arms, +whilst their color-bearer transferred the colors to ours, and the +ceremony was over. A happier escort never marched than was ours bearing +home those restored colors. + +The weather was now getting very cold, and we set about making ourselves +as comfortable as possible in camp. The men were allowed to fix up their +tents as best they could without much regard for architectural beauty +or regularity. Some of them dug cellars four to five feet deep, made +puncheon floors,--that is, floors made of split logs smoothed off and +laid the flat side up,--whilst the sides were made of logs plastered up +with mud. Mud fireplaces were made with old barrels for chimneys. The +roofs were canvas, of course, but fairly waterproof. A favorite bit of +horse-play of the men at this time was to watch when the occupants of +some tent were having a good time, and smoke them out by throwing a wet +blanket over the top of their barrel chimney. In about a second the +smoke would be almost dense enough to suffocate, and every fellow would +pile out and hunt for the culprit. Woe be unto him if they found him. A +favorite ruse on the part of the culprit was to plunge into his tent and +be placidly snoring when the victims began their hunt. Sometimes the +simulation would be too sonorous, and give him away, and then he had +trouble on hand for the next hour. The ingenuity of these sons of Belial +in their pranks was beyond description. I have laughed until absolutely +exhausted many a time. How did I know so much about them? Well, I had +two of the liveliest of these boys in my office as clerks, and, as they +were generally in the fun, I was kept posted, and to tell the truth, as +long as it did not seriously transgress, and there was fun in it, I knew +nothing about it "officially." Often have I seen these boys put up a job +on some fellow quietly sleeping, by smoking out his next-door neighbors +and then directing their attention to him as the culprit. To see him +hauled out of a sound sleep and mauled for something he was entirely +innocent of, vehemently protesting his innocence, yet the more he +protested getting the more punishment, the rascals who put up the job +doing most of the punishing, I have nearly split my sides. Of course, no +one was seriously hurt. The victim knew enough to keep his temper, and +in the end enjoyed the lark as well as the rest. I speak of these +things, for they were the oases in army life and drudgery. Except for +them it would have been unendurable. Seldom were things so bad but that +some bit of raillery would relieve the strain and get up a laugh, and +everybody would feel better. + +We had a young fellow in one of the companies who was certainly the most +comical genius I ever saw. He was known by a nickname only. No length of +march and no severity of service could curb his spirits. When all were +down in the dumps this fellow would perform some monkey-shine that would +make even a horse laugh, and all would be in good spirits again. Colonel +Albright used to say he was worth his weight in gold. He was with us +until after Fredericksburg, where he was either killed or wounded, and I +do not remember to have seen him afterwards. + +I have spoken of the men's winter-quarters. We officers had our wall +tents, and had them fixed up with puncheon floors also, and sheet-iron +stoves, so that as long as we kept a fire burning all were fairly +comfortable. But wood fires would last but an hour or so without +replenishing, and so during the night we had great difficulty in keeping +warm. Some of the coldest nights my clerks and myself took turns in +keeping up our fire. I rather prided myself on the construction of my +bed. It was made of two springy poles held in place by crotched sticks +driven into the ground. On the poles nailed crosswise was a bottom made +of barrel-staves, the hollow side down, and on these was laid a bed of +hay, kept in place by some old canvas sacking. On cold nights the only +article of clothing we took off was our shoes or boots. Then rolling +ourselves in our blankets, with gum blanket outside tucked well around +our feet and the whole surmounted with our overcoats, we managed to +sleep pretty well. These puncheon floors were all the proceeds of +foraging. No lumber of any kind was furnished by the government. The men +cut the trees and split the logs wherever they could find them. Most of +them were "backed" into camp anywhere from one to four miles. + +After this little of note occurred in camp until Christmas. We had made +ourselves as comfortable as we could with the materials at hand, which +were not in super-abundance. The weather was what we were told was +characteristic of Virginia winters,--rather mild, slush and mud, with +its raw, disagreeable dampness, being the prevailing conditions. It was +exceedingly trying to our men, and many, in consequence, were on the +sick list. My diary notes that on Christmas day we actually had a little +sunshine, and that by way of adding good cheer to the occasion a ration +of whiskey was issued to the men. The ration consisted of a gill for +each man. Each company was marched to the commissary tent, and every man +received his gill in his cup or drank it from the measure, as he +preferred. Some of the men, who evidently were familiar with the +intricacies of repeating in ward elections, managed in various ways to +repeat their rations of this vile stuff until we had a good deal more +than a gill of whiskey's worth of hilarity in camp. However, the noise +was winked at, believing it would soon subside and pass off. All drills +were suspended and the men were allowed passes freely out of camp, being +required to be in quarters promptly at taps. The officers passed the day +visiting and exchanging the compliments of the season. The wish for a +"Merry Christmas" was about all there was to make it such. I remember +our bill of fare for Christmas dinner consisted of boiled rice and +molasses, "Lobskous" and stewed dried apples. The etymology of the +euphonious word "Lobskous" I am unable to give. The dish consisted of +hardtack broken up and thoroughly soaked in water, then fried in pork +fat. I trust my readers will preserve the recipe for a side dish next +Christmas. One of the boys, to show his appreciation of this extra fare +for Christmas dinner, improvised the following blessing: + + "Good Lord of love + Look down from above + And see how a soldier's grub has mended,-- + Slushed rice, Lobskous, and shoat, + Where only hardtack and hog were intended." + +The day was not without its fun, however. Among other things, an +impromptu foot-race was gotten up between the Fourth New York and our +regiment. The former regiment, with which we were now brigaded, was from +New York City, and in its general make-up was decidedly "sporty." They +had in their ranks specimens of almost all kinds of sports, such as +professional boxers, wrestlers, fencers, and runners. One of the latter +had been practising in the morning, and some of our boys had remarked +that "he wasn't much of a runner," whereupon they were promptly +challenged to produce a man who could beat him, for a cash prize of +twenty dollars in gold. Win or lose, our fellows were not to be bluffed, +and so promptly accepted the challenge. Back they came to camp with +their "bluff," to look up a man to meet this professional. So far as our +men were concerned, it was another case of the Philistine defying the +armies of Israel. Where was our David? All hands entered into the fun, +from the colonel down. The race was to be a one-hundred-yard dash from a +standing mark. We found our man in Corporal Riley Tanner, of Company I. +He was a lithe, wiry fellow, a great favorite in his company, and in +some trial sprints easily showed himself superior to all of the others. +He, however, had never run a race, except in boys' play, and was not up +on the professional tactics of such a contest. It was decided that the +affair should take place at five o'clock P.M., on our regimental front, +and should decide the championship of the two regiments in this +particular. The course was duly measured and staked off, and was lined +on both sides by a solid wall of the men, nearly our whole division +being present, including most of the officers. If the championship of +the world had been at stake, there could hardly have been more +excitement, so much zest did every one put into it. On the minute the +Goliath of the bloody Fourth appeared, clad in the most approved racing +garb. He was a stockily built young Irishman, and looked decidedly +formidable, especially when our poor little David appeared a moment +later, with no other preparation than his coat and cap off and pants +rolled up. Nevertheless, our boys thoroughly believed in him, and we all +gave him a rousing cheer. The signal was given and away leaped our +little champion like a frightened deer, literally running away from the +professional from the start and beating him leisurely in the end by more +than a dozen feet. Great was the furore which followed. The victor was +carried on the shoulders of his comrades of Company I triumphantly back +to his quarters, and afterwards through all the company streets, the +victim of an immense popularity. Corporal Tanner, scarcely beyond his +teens, was a good, brave, and true young man, popular with his comrades +and faithful in all his duties. Was this little race, so short and +gloriously won, prophetic of his life's brief course? He came home to +survive but a few years, and then die of injuries received in the +service. He was as much a sacrifice upon the altar of his country as if +he had been killed in battle. He was long ago laid to rest in a +soldier's grave. But he still lives in the hearts of his comrades. + +Here let me say a few words of our "friends, the enemy," we had just +beaten, the Fourth New York. Its colonel was a Scotchman named McGregor, +and he was a true McGregor, a splendid officer. He was in command of the +brigade after Colonel Andrews was wounded at Fredericksburg, until +himself disabled by a wound. His lieutenant-colonel was a captain in the +New York police force when he entered the service, and after the war as +Inspector Jameson he achieved a national reputation. He was a splendid +fellow personally, and physically a king among men. He stood six feet +two inches, beautifully proportioned, square, and straight as an Indian, +with heavy jet black hair and whiskers, and an eye that I imagine could +almost burn a hole in a culprit. He could be both majestic and +impressive when occasion required, and was more gifted in all these +things than any man I ever knew. The following incident will illustrate +his use of them. I met him in Washington whilst returning to my regiment +the day before the battle of Fredericksburg. I joined him just before +reaching the wharf where we were to take the boat. He had been up to +Washington on a day's pass, all any one could then get, and had for some +reason overstayed his leave. I think he had missed his boat the day +before. In consequence he could not get a pass through the lines to go +back. I asked how he expected to get through the provost guard. "Oh, +that's easy," he said. "Just watch me go through," and I did. There was +a double guard at the entrance to the boat and a sergeant and lieutenant +examining all passes. Jameson threw his cape over his shoulders to +conceal his shoulder-straps, put on one of his majestic airs, looked the +officer through, as much as to say, you do not presume to question my +rights here, and waved him and the guards aside, and deliberately +stalked aboard, as though he commanded the army. I came meekly along +behind, pass in hand. The officer had by that time recovered himself +sufficiently to ejaculate, "Who the h----l is that--general?" I repeated +the ejaculation to the colonel afterwards to his great amusement. He was +all right, and on his way to rejoin his regiment, where he was wounded +next day, splendidly doing his duty. Because he had overstayed his leave +twenty-four hours, red tape would have required him to remain in +Washington, submit to a court-martial or court of inquiry, and probably +after three or four weeks be sent back, duly excused, the country being +deprived of his services in the mean time. + +Well, to get back to Christmas. After the foot-race the men were given +free rein until ten o'clock P.M., and passes out of camp were not +required. As the evening wore on, it became evident that John Barleycorn +had been getting in some extra work, from the character of the noise +emanating from the company streets, and I became somewhat nervous about +it. Lieutenant-Colonel Albright's tent adjoined mine, and I could see +that he was becoming a little exercised over this extra noise. The fear +was that we might get a peremptory summons from division head-quarters +to "explain immediately the causes of the unusual noises emanating from +our regiment, and why it is not suppressed." Just about ten o'clock +there was an extra outburst, and I noticed Colonel Albright, with sword +dangling, pass rapidly out of his tent and down towards the company +streets from whence the noise came. I feared trouble, and slipped on my +boots and followed as quickly as possible. But before I reached the +scene, the colonel had drawn his sword and ordered all the men to their +quarters, at the same time striking right and left with the flat of his +sword, hitting two of the men. One proved to be a sergeant who was +trying to quell the noise and get his men into quarters. The latter +resented the blow and made a sharp retort to the colonel, who +immediately repeated it, whereupon the sergeant struck him a terrible +blow in the eye with his fist, knocking him down. I got there just in +time to see the colonel fall, and immediately seized the sergeant and +placed him in arrest. He was handed over to the division provost guard. +The colonel was found to be seriously hurt. His eye swelled up and +turned black and gave him great pain all night. And it was several days +before he recovered the use of it. + +The most serious thing about this unfortunate culmination of our +Christmas festivities was not only the breach of discipline, but the +present status of this sergeant. He was an exceptionally good +non-commissioned officer, with a splendid record in both battles and in +all service, yet he had now committed an offence the punishment for +which, in time of war, was death,--viz., striking his superior +commissioned officer. The next day Colonel Albright reported the affair +to General French, commanding the division, who promptly advised him to +prefer charges against the culprit and make an example of him. The +matter was generally discussed by both officers and men in camp, and +although it was felt that the sergeant had committed a grave offence, +yet that the colonel was in a measure responsible for it. The latter was +justly popular with all as a brave officer and good man, yet he had been +guilty himself of an offence which had brought upon him the blow he had +received. He had no right to strike a soldier as he did, even with the +flat of his sword. Nor was it the proper thing for him to take the place +of his "officer of the guard" or "officer of the day" in enforcing his +own orders regulating camp discipline. He should have sent for the +latter and required them to do their duty in the matter. As a matter of +fact, this was just what the officer of the day was doing when the +colonel appeared. The colonel sent for me next morning, on his return +from General French's head-quarters, and freely told me of the advice of +the latter, and indicated his purpose to proceed. + +This splendid man has long since entered into rest. No truer man or +braver officer entered the service than he, and it has been one of the +greatest satisfactions of my life that I was able to possess his +confidence to the fullest degree. He invited my views now and he +afterwards thanked me for the service I then rendered him by opposing +his contemplated action. He was still suffering very much from his +injury and was in a poor mood to brook opposition. Nevertheless I felt +that if he subjected this man to the possible results of a +court-martial, later on he would never forgive himself, and I so told +him. I reminded him of the mistake he had made in assuming the duties of +his "officer of the day," and of his graver error, if not offence, in +striking the men; that such action would be very likely to produce +similar results with almost any of the men upon whom it might be +committed; that he had failed to respect the rights of his men even in +matters of discipline, and that all this being true, it would be a +mistake he would always regret if he failed to treat this affair in as +manly and generous a way as discipline would permit. It was an occasion +of keen regret that I had to differ with Colonel Albright, for I really +loved the man. He dismissed me rather cavalierly with his thanks for my +drastic frankness. By his direction a meeting of all the officers of the +regiment was summoned to meet at his head-quarters in the afternoon to +give their views as to the course to be pursued. The question, as +submitted by the colonel being one purely of discipline, seemed to admit +of but one treatment,--viz., court-martial; and this was the unanimous +sentiment as expressed in this meeting, although outside, I well knew +nearly all had expressed themselves differently. Perhaps the way the +colonel took to get their views was partly responsible for his failure +to get their real feelings. He began with the youngest lieutenant and +asked each officer up to the senior captain, what he thought the offence +merited. The answer was, "I suppose court-martial." None seemed willing +to accuse the colonel of his own error, and to have answered otherwise +would have involved that, so they simply replied as above. + +The colonel said, after all had given their answers, that the adjutant +did not agree with him nor them, and called on me to state my position, +saying I was to be excused, as he supposed the sergeant was a personal +friend. Whilst it was true that I had known him at home, I disclaimed +being influenced by that fact in this matter. The colonel, to my relief, +adjourned the meeting without announcing his determination. I felt sure +that a little more time would bring him to my way of thinking, and so it +turned out. I saw the sergeant over at the provost-guard tent, and found +him very anxious about his situation and thoroughly sorry for his hasty +conduct towards the colonel, whom he sincerely respected. He said he +felt terribly hurt at being so roughly treated. He was not to blame for +the noise, but was actually doing his best to quiet the noisy ones and +get them into quarters when the first intimation he had of the colonel's +presence was the blow from his sword. He said this blow hurt him and +roused his anger and he replied sharply, and on getting the second blow +he struck without stopping to think of the consequences. I told the +colonel of this conversation, and said if he would permit this man to +express to him personally his sorrow for his conduct, and, under the +circumstances, restore him to duty with no greater punishment than a +loss of his rank as sergeant, I felt sure he would win the hearts of all +the men and do an act he would always be glad of. Two days later, to my +great joy, he ordered me to prepare an order practically embodying my +recommendations, the order to be read at dress parade that day, and the +prisoner to be publicly released at that time. I think I never performed +a more willing or difficult task than reading that order on parade that +afternoon. Just before the ceremony, the sergeant had been brought by +the provost guard to the colonel's tent and had, in a manly way, +expressed his sorrow for his act. The colonel had stated this fact to +the regiment, and then directed me to read the order releasing the +prisoner and restoring him to duty. The tears blinded my eyes and my +emotions almost choked my voice as I tried to read, and I doubt if there +was a dry eye in the ranks when I had finished. The outcome of the +unfortunate affair was exceedingly satisfactory. The colonel, always +popular, had now the hearts of all--officers and men. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE WINTER AT FALMOUTH + + +Our brigade was now commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Marshall, Tenth New +York Volunteers, who was the senior officer present for duty, Colonels +Kruger, First Delaware, and McGregor, Fourth New York, being absent on +account of wounds received at Fredericksburg, and Colonel Wilcox, of our +regiment, absent, sick. I mention this to show how the exigencies of the +service thrust upon junior officers the duties and responsibilities of +much higher grades. Here a lieutenant-colonel was discharging the duties +appertaining to a general; sergeants frequently commanded companies, +whilst a captain in command of a regiment was not an infrequent thing. +These junior officers performing the duties of higher grades got no more +compensation than the pay of their actual rank. On the 24th of January, +Colonel Wilcox sent in his resignation, and Lieutenant-Colonel Albright +was commissioned colonel. Major Shreve was promoted to be +lieutenant-colonel, and I had the honor to receive the rare and handsome +compliment of an election to the office of major, although, being a +staff-officer, I was not in the regular line of promotion. +Sergeant-Major Clapp succeeded to my position as adjutant, and Private +Frank J. Deemer, Company K, who had been a clerk in my office, was +appointed sergeant-major. Just at this time I had a somewhat singular +experience. I had received a three-days' leave of absence with +permission to visit Washington on business for the officers. This detail +I mention because no leaves of absence other than for sickness or +disability were obtainable at this time, except on urgent business for +the officers of a regiment, and for but one officer to a regiment, and +three days was the limit. To get to Washington--only about sixty miles +away--I had to start from camp before daylight in the morning, ride +three miles to the railroad in a heavy, springless army wagon, across +fields and over rutted roadways that were barely passable, the jolting +of which was almost enough to shake one's bones loose; then ride twenty +miles in a freight car, perched on whatever truck one could get a seat +on, thence by boat to Washington. The morning was exceptionally cold and +I had to leave without breakfast; the result was I caught a severe cold, +and when I reached my destination I was suffering terribly from an +attack of dysentery. I was barely able to get to the Ebbitt House, the +clerk of which seeing my plight summoned a physician, who had me sent to +the Seminary Hospital for Officers at Georgetown. Here I received most +excellent care. + +This institution was for officers only. There must have been upward of +two hundred sick and wounded officers there at that time. It was under +strict military rules. The surgeon in charge was its commanding officer, +as absolute as though a general commanding a division in the field. When +I reached the hospital I was registered, put to bed, and all clothing +and personal effects taken from me. A warm bath followed with the +assistance of a stalwart nurse and medicines were administered, and I +soon found relief in a refreshing sleep. A couple of days later I had a +remarkable visit. I was not allowed to sit up yet, but a fine-looking +old gentleman, wearing the insignia of a major-general, appeared at my +cot and extended his hand. His face was an exceedingly kind one and his +voice, if possible, more so. His hair was white and he had the +unmistakable appearance of advanced age, though he stood fully six feet +high and was still square and unbent in form. He proceeded to say he had +learned that a young officer bearing the name of Hitchcock had been +taken suddenly very ill and sent to this hospital, and inasmuch as his +name was Hitchcock, he was doubly interested to know, first how I was, +and second who I was. My visitor was none other than Major-General +Hitchcock, military attache of President Lincoln's cabinet and the first +general commissioner for the exchange of prisoners of war. I think he +was a retired regular army officer called from his retirement to special +service as military adviser of the president and now in charge of the +bureau for the exchange of prisoners of war. His call was very pleasant, +and I learned from him that all of our name in this country were +distantly related. That two brothers came to this country with the +Regicides and settled, one in New Hampshire, the other at New Haven. He +was of the former stock, whilst I was from the latter. On retiring he +bade me call on him when well. I greatly regret I never had the +opportunity of returning his gracious visit. On the cot next mine lay an +officer convalescing from a wound received at Fredericksburg. I have +forgotten his name, but we soon became well acquainted, and he proved a +valuable and companionable acquaintance. He was the best posted man in +military tactics I ever met, and was thoroughly familiar with all its +branches from the school of the soldier to the grand tactics of a +division. It was very profitable pastime for me to go over the tactics +under his instruction, he illustrating each battalion movement by the +use of matches on the coverlets of our cots. In that way I learned the +various tactical movements as I had never been able to do before, and it +was of immense value to me, having now been promoted to the position of +a field-officer. This hospital was no better and in no wise different +from those for private soldiers, except that we were charged a per diem +for board, whereas there was no charge for the privates. I thought I +could return at the end of a week, and asked to be discharged, but was +rather curtly informed by the surgeon in charge that when the time came +for my discharge he would inform me. + +The papers now contained rumors of another movement on foot, and, of +course, I was very anxious to return. A few days later, after an +examination, the doctor gave me my discharge. It was now ten days since +I had left camp on a three-days' leave, but my discharge from the +hospital operated as an extension, and I had no difficulty in getting +transportation and passes through the lines to rejoin my regiment. I +performed my errands for the officers of the regiment, which consisted +in getting various articles for their comfort, and in several cases a +bottle of something to "keep the cold out." As I write, I have before +me, in perfect preservation, all the official papers covering that trip. +Here are copies of the papers required to get back to the regiment. They +will give an idea of the conditions, getting in and out of Washington +at that time, as well as of the load I had to carry back: + + +HEAD-QUARTERS MILITARY DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON, +WASHINGTON, D. C., January 22, 1863. + + Lieutenant F. L. Hitchcock, 132d P. V., with servant, has + permission to proceed to Falmouth, Va., for the purpose of + rejoining his regiment, and to take the following articles for + officers and men: (1) one drum, (3) three express packages, carpet + sack containing liquors, (1) one box of provisions, (1) one box of + clothing. Quartermaster please furnish transportation. + + By Command of Brigadier-General Martindale, Military Governor of + Washington. + +JOHN P. SHERBURNE, +_Assistant Adjutant-General_. + + + + No. 247. + +ASSISTANT-QUARTERMASTER'S OFFICE, SIXTH STREET WHARF, +WASHINGTON, D. C., January 23, 1863. + + Pass on government boat to Aquia Creek, three boxes and one drum, + liquors and sutlers' stores strictly excluded. + + For Adjutant F. L. Hitchcock, 132 Pa. Vols. + +J. M. ROBINSON, +_Captain and A. Q. M._ + + + +The word liquors above is erased with a pen. It is difficult at this day +to realize that Washington was surrounded with a cordon of sentries. All +places of entrance and exit were under the strictest military +surveillance. General Martindale, as its military governor, was supreme +in authority. No one could come or go, and nothing be taken in or out, +without his permission. + +The servant included in the above pass was a "contraband," picked up in +Washington for the trip. There were hundreds of them clamoring for an +opportunity to get down to the army. They were glad to do all one's +drudgery for the chance of going, for once there, plenty of jobs could +be found, besides the excitement and attractions of "Uncle Sam's" army +were to them irresistible. I reached camp early in the evening and +delivered my supplies, the officers being promptly on hand to receive +them. The return of an officer from "civilization" was an event of no +ordinary moment, and I had many calls that evening. The following +anecdote of Major-General Howard was told that evening, apropos of the +delivery of the "commissions" I had brought. The general was well known +to be uncompromising in his opposition to the presence of liquor of any +kind in camp, or elsewhere, and especially among the members of his +official family. Yet shortly after the battle of Fredericksburg, one of +his staff had a present of a bottle of "old Rye." He put it away until +some time during the general's absence he could safely bring it out and +treat his fellow-members of the staff. The opportunity came one day when +his chief announced his absence at army head-quarters for a couple of +hours, and mounted and rode away. The hidden treasure was brought out +and due preparation made for the delectation of all hands, and he was in +the act of pulling the cork in front of his tent, when, suddenly hearing +the clatter of horse's hoofs, he looked up just in time to see the +general returning for a forgotten paper. He had barely time to swing the +bottle behind his heels as he closed them in the position of a soldier, +and arose and respectfully saluted. The position and salute were +strictly according to army regulations, but with a general's own staff +such formality was not usual. The general evidently caught the +situation, for he was tantalizingly deliberate in acknowledging the +salute, and finally remarked, with a twinkle in his eye, looking him +full in the face: "Mr.----, your position is faultless and your +punctiliousness in saluting truly admirable. Were you getting it ready +to send to the hospital? Very commendable, indeed; it will do so much +good." And to the hospital, of course, it had to go, much to the chagrin +of all the staff. + +The event of special interest at this time was the movement later known +as the "mud march." Troops had for three days been moving up the river, +destination, of course, unknown to us, but now they were returning, a +most sorry, mud-bedraggled looking crowd. We were glad enough not to +have been with them. Our corps had been for a week under marching +orders, to move at a moment's notice, but the final order never came, +and we were spared this experience. Whatever the movement was designed +to be, it was defeated by plain, simple MUD. It should be spelled in the +largest capitals, for it was all-powerful at this time. Almost +immediately after the movement began, it commenced to rain heavily. The +ground was already soggy from previous rains, and it soon became a vast +sea of mud. I have already spoken of Virginia mud. It beggars +description. Your feet sink into it frequently ankle deep, and you lift +them out with a sough. In some places it seemed as bottomless as a pit +of quicksand. The old-established roads were measurably passable, but, +as I have heretofore explained, most of the troops had to march directly +across the fields, and here it proved absolutely impossible to move the +wagon-trains and artillery any distance. This was the main reason why +the movement had to be abandoned. I saw many wagons down over their +hubs, stalled in the mire. And the guns and caissons of a battery of +artillery were stalled near our camp, and had to be abandoned for the +time. The horses were saved from miring with great difficulty. A few +days later the guns and caissons were hauled out with ropes. + +There were dead mules and mired and broken wagons all along the route of +the marching troops. The number of animals that perished in this futile +march must have run up into thousands, killed by exposure over pulling +or miring. It should be understood that when the army moves, and the +mule trains of ammunition and rations are ordered to move, they must go +as long as it is physically possible, mule or no mule. The lives of a +thousand mules, more or less, is nothing compared with the necessity of +having ammunition and rations at the proper place at the required time. +I saw one mule team stalled in one of these sloughs. The heavy wagon was +down so that the box was in the mud and the four mules were wallowing in +a death struggle to get out. Harness was cut and they were freed, all to +no purpose. Their struggles had made the slough like a stiff pudding, +which was apparently bottomless; the more they struggled the deeper they +got. Finally a chain was hooked about the neck of one of the leaders and +fastened to another wagon and the mule hauled out, but with a broken +neck. The experiment was repeated in a modified way with the other +leader, now over back in the mire, but with no better results. The +others had ceased to struggle and were slowly sinking, and were +mercifully killed and allowed to bury themselves in the mire, which they +speedily did. It may be asked why more civilized methods were not +employed to extricate these valuable animals. Why fence rails or +timbers were not placed under them as is usual? The answer is, there was +not a fence rail nor anything of that nature probably within ten miles. +Everything of this kind had long ago been used for fire-wood for the +soldiers' cooking. And as for timbers there probably was not a stick +nearer than Aquia Creek, more than ten miles away. Again it may be +wondered why the chain was not passed around the mule's body rather than +his neck. Simply because the former was impossible without running the +risk of miring the driver in the slough, and he was not disposed to run +any risk of that kind. Had this been practicable, it is doubtful if the +result would have been any better, for without padding the chains would +have killed or mangled the mule, and there were no means at hand for +that purpose. The destruction of this class of property, always very +severe under favorable circumstances in the army, was during this mud +movement simply appalling. The loss of one or more mules meant an +abandonment of the wagon and its contents to the weather in many +instances, and the same was true where a team was mired. + +The rebels were evidently interested observers of this mud march, for +their pickets taunted ours with such questions as "How d'ye like +Virginia mud?" "Why don't you 'uns come over?" "How are you, mud?" etc., +and they put up rude sign-boards on which were scrawled in large +letters, "Burnside stuck in the mud!" "Burnside's name is Mud!" etc. + +[Illustration: MAJOR FREDERICK L. HITCHCOCK + +132D P. V. + +A year later Colonel 25th U. S. C. T.] + +The "mud march" had evidently settled it that there would be no further +attempt to move until better weather conditions prevailed, which could +not reasonably be looked for before April, and so we settled down for +a winter where we were, back of Falmouth. The several corps were spread +out, occupying an area extending from within three miles of +Fredericksburg, nearly down to the Potomac. Our corps, the Second, was +located nearest to the latter city, and our picket lines covered its +front to Falmouth and some miles up the river. Our division, the Third +(French's), had the line from the railroad bridge at Fredericksburg to +Falmouth, something over two miles. Being now a field-officer, my name +was placed on the roster of picket field-officers of the day. My first +detail on this duty came almost as soon as my commission. My duties had +hitherto been confined almost exclusively to the staff or executive +business of the regiment. Further than making the necessary details of +officers and men for picket duty, I had never had anything to do with +that branch of the service. I had, therefore, only a smattering +knowledge of the theory of this duty. It may well be judged, therefore, +that I felt very keenly this lack, when I received my order to report +for duty as division field-officer of the day, the following morning. +Here I was suddenly confronted with the responsibility of the command of +the picket forces covering the dividing line between the two hostile +armies. A demonstration of the enemy was to be looked for any moment, +and it was most likely to occur on our front. I had hoped to have a few +days to study up and by observing its practical work get some little +idea of my new duties. But here was the detail, and it must be obeyed. +It should be explained that the picket line consists of a cordon of +sentinels surrounding the army, usually from two to three miles from +its camp. Its purpose is to watch the enemy, and guard against being +surprised by an attack. Except for this picket line, the main body of +troops could never sleep with any degree of safety. To guard against +attacks of the enemy would require it to remain perpetually under arms. +Whereas with its picket lines properly posted it may with safety relax +its vigilance, this duty being transferred to its picket forces. This +picket service being a necessity of all armies is a recognized feature +of civilized warfare. Hence, hostile armies remaining any length of time +in position near each other usually make an agreement that pickets shall +not fire upon each other. Such agreement remains in force until a +movement of one or the other army commences. Notice of such a movement +is, of course, never given. The other party finds out the fact as best +it can. Frequently the withdrawal or concealment of the picket line will +be its first intimation. Ordinarily, picket duty is not only of the very +highest responsibility, but an exceedingly dangerous duty. Until +agreements to cease picket-firing are made, every sentinel is a +legitimate target for the sentinels or pickets of the enemy, hence +extreme vigilance, care, and nerve are required in the performance of +this duty. + +The picket line in the presence of the enemy is generally posted in +three lines,--viz., First, the line of sentries; second, the picket +supports, about thirty yards in rear of the sentries, and third, the +guard reserves, about three hundred yards farther in the rear, depending +upon the topography of the country. Each body constitutes one-third of +the entire force, _i.e._, one-third is constantly on duty as sentinels, +one-third as picket supports, and one-third as grand reserves. The +changes are made every two hours, usually, so that each sentry serves +two hours on "post" and four hours off. The latter four hours are spent +half on grand reserve and half as picket supports. The supports are +divided into companies, and posted in concealed positions, near enough +to the sentry line to be able to give immediate support in case of +attack, while the grand reserves, likewise concealed, are held in +readiness to come to the assistance of any part of the line. Ordinarily +this part of the picket force is able to sleep during its two hours of +reserve service. The supports, however, while resting, must remain alert +and vigilant. It being the duty of the picket-line to prevent a +surprise, it must repel any sort of attack with all its power. In the +first instance the sentinel must promptly challenge any party +approaching. The usual formula is: "Halt! Who comes there?" The +approaching party failing to obey the command to halt, it is his duty to +fire at once, even though he be outnumbered a hundred to one, and it +cost him his life. Many a faithful sentinel has lost his life in his +fidelity to duty under such circumstances. For although the picket is +there to prevent a surprise, the attacking party is equally bent on +getting the advantage of a surprise, if possible, and many are the ruses +adopted to capture sentinels before they can fire their guns. He must +fire his gun, even though he be captured or run through with a bayonet +the next instant. This gives the alarm, and the other sentries and +picket supports open fire at once, and the reserves immediately join +them, if necessary, to hold or impede the progress of the enemy. It is +thus seen that in case of an attack the picket force finds itself +maintaining a fight possibly against the whole opposing army, or +whatever the attacking force may be. Fight it must, cost whatever it +may, so that time may be gained to sound the "long roll" and assemble +the army. Many of our picket fights were so saucy and stubborn that the +attacks were nipped in the bud, the enemy believing the army was there +opposing them. In the mean time, mounted orderlies would be despatched +to army head-quarters with such information of the attack as the officer +of the day was able to give. + +Having now given some idea of picket service, I return to my own first +experiences as field-officer of the day. I was fated to have several +rather singular experiences on that first day. The first occurred in +connection with my horse. I mounted and started for division +head-quarters, about a half-mile away, in ample time to reach there a +little before the appointed time--eight o'clock, but reaching the outer +edge of our camp my horse balked, and in answer to my efforts to move +him began to kick, rear, and plunge. He tried to throw me, and did +nearly everything except roll over. Every time I headed him forward, he +would wheel around and start back for his stable. I coaxed him, then +tried the spur, all to no purpose. I was losing valuable time, besides +having a very uncomfortable kind of a fight on hand. I realized I must +make him obey me or I could never handle him again. An orderly from +General French came galloping over with the expected peremptory message. +One minute's delay with him was almost a capital offence. I could only +return word that I was doing my best to get there. The general and his +staff then rode over to see my performance. He reassured me with the +remark, "Stick to him and make him obey you, or kill him." Well, it took +just about one hour to conquer him, at the end of which time I had +ploughed up several acres of ground, my horse was in a white lather, and +I was in the same condition. When he quit, he did so at once, and went +on as cleverly as though nothing had happened. The cause of this freak I +never understood, he never having done so before, and never did again. + +[Illustration: DON AND I + +And a glimpse of the camp of Hancock's Division, Second Army Corps, back +of Falmouth, Va., winter of 1862-3. See page 171] + +May I digress long enough to speak a little more of this remarkable +horse. Dr. Holland says there is always hope for any man who has heart +enough to love a good horse. Army life was well calculated to develop +the sterling qualities of both man and beast. Hence, I suppose every man +who had a good horse could safely regard him as "most remarkable." How +many such have I heard cavalrymen talk about, descanting on the +"remarkable" qualities of their half-human favorites, whilst the tears +wet their cheeks. I had named this splendid animal "Don Fulano," after +that superb horse in Winthrop's "John Brent," not because he was a +magnificent black charger, etc.; on the contrary, in many respects he +was the opposite of the original Don Fulano. Raised upon an unromantic +farm near Scranton, an unattractive yellow bay, rather too heavy limbed +and too stockily built to be called handsome, yet powerful, courageous, +intelligent (he could almost talk), high spirited, with a heavy, shaggy +mane and forelock, through which gleamed a pair of keen, fierce eyes, he +had many of the qualities which distinguished his noble prototype. He +had not the high honor to die carrying a slave to liberty, but when the +final accounts come to be squared up in the horses' heaven, it is +possible that the credit of having passed unflinchingly through the +battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, and of having safely +carried a wounded soldier off each field may prove to be a little +something in favor of my splendid "Don." As a saddler, he came to me +practically unbroken. He was sold from the farm because he would jump +all fences, yet under the saddle, when I took him, he would not jump the +smallest obstacle. This is really as much of an art on the part of the +rider as with the horse. An unskilled rider is liable to seriously +injure both the horse and himself in jumping. If he is unsteady, the +motion of the horse as he rises to make his leap is liable to pitch him +over his head. On the other hand, if he clings back, a dead weight in +his saddle, he is liable to throw the horse backward. I have seen both +done. The secret of successful jumping is to give the horse his head as +he rises, feel your knees against his sides firmly, rising with him as +he rises and be again in your seat before his feet reach the ground. +This helps him and saves both a killing jounce. I finally trained him so +that as a jumper he was without a peer in our part of the army. I have +had the men hold a pole fully a foot higher than my head, as I stood on +the ground, and have jumped him back and forth over it as readily as +cats and dogs are taught to jump over one's arm. And the men insisted +that he cleared the pole at least a foot each jump. + +This jumping of horses was considered quite an accomplishment in the +army, it being often a necessity on the march in getting over obstacles. +One day I saw our general's son, a young West Pointer, attached to his +father's staff, trying to force his Kentucky thoroughbred to jump a +creek that ran past division head-quarters. The creek was probably ten +to twelve feet wide and, like all Virginia creeks, its banks seemed cut +vertically through the soil and the water at the edges was about a foot +deep. After repeated trials the best the young man's horse could do was +to get his forefeet on the opposite bank. His hindfeet always landed in +the water. Mr. West Pointer was way above noticing in any way a poor +volunteer plebeian like myself mounted on an old plug like Don. But Don +had taken in the situation as well as I, and when I said, "Come, Don, +let's us try it," he just gathered himself and sailed over that creek +like a bird, landing easily a couple of feet on the other side, and +swung around for another try. The young fellow gathered up his +thoroughbred and with an oath of disgust retired. Don and I became great +friends, and after our fight, above mentioned, in all our practice +jumping or on the march, or riding about, I never had occasion to use +the spur,--indeed, I seldom wore one. A simple "Come, Don," and he was +quick to obey my every wish. He was kind and tractable with others, but +it was a singular fact that, as for jumping or any other favors, he +would do nothing for anybody but me, not even for my man who took care +of him. Others, including horse-trainers, repeatedly asked to try him, +thinking they could improve his work, but he drew the line on all; not +even a little jump would he make for any of them. I had been jumping +him, one day, to the delight and admiration of the men. Among them was a +horse-trainer of the Fourth New York, who asked the privilege of trying +him. He mounted and brought him cantering up to the pole as though he +was going over all right, but instead of making the leap he suddenly +whirled, almost dumping the trainer, to the infinite amusement of the +men; nor could he induce him to make the leap. I mounted again and he +went over, back and forth, without the slightest hesitation. I brought +him home from the war, and it was a great grief to me that I was unable +to keep him as long as he lived. I secured him a good home, where he +lived to a dignified old age. One of my household gods is a photograph +of Don and myself, with a section of the camp of Hancock's division of +the Second Corps for a background, taken at this time, whilst we lay +back of Falmouth. + +My second adventure that first day on picket duty occurred shortly after +I reached the head-quarters of the picket at the Lacey House, directly +opposite the city of Fredericksburg. I had seen the new line posted and +the old line relieved, when a grizzly bearded old gentleman rode up and +inquired for the "Officer of the day." His dress was exceedingly plain. +He wore a much-battered slouch hat down over his eyes, and on the +shoulders of his blouse, scarcely discernible, was what had been the +silver stars of a brigadier-general. I answered his inquiry by saluting, +and then recognized General Alfred Sully, long famed as an Indian +fighter before the war. He introduced himself as "Corps officer of the +day" and my superior officer for this tour of picket duty. The peculiar +thing about his presence was his treatment of me. He evidently saw that +he had a greenhorn on hand, for the first question he fired at me was, +"How many times have you served as picket officer of the day?" I +candidly replied that this was my first experience. "Your knowledge of +the duties of officer of the day is somewhat limited?" I admitted the +fact. "That is all right," said he with a pleasant smile. "You are just +the man I want. You shall remain with me all day, and I will teach you +all there is about it." I shall never forget that day's experience with +this splendid old officer. I rode with him over the whole corps line in +the morning, and after that he made his head-quarters at the Lacey House +with me. Our division front, said he, is where an attack is most to be +looked for, and then he went over it carefully with me, pointing out the +most probable points of attack and how they should be met; what to do at +this point and that, and so on, in a most intelligent and entertaining +manner gave me the practical idea of a picket defence, out of his long +and ample experience as a regular army officer. It was just what I +needed and was of the greatest value to me. It was practical experience +under a superb instructor. If all the regular army officers I came in +contact with had been as kind and considerate as this superb Indian +fighter, I should have been equally grateful. Unfortunately, this was +not the case. My experience in this respect may have been exceptional, +but the instance above narrated is the one solitary case in which my +duties brought me in contact with regular army officers that I did not +receive a rebuff, frequently most brutal and insulting. Doubtless the +lack of knowledge of army customs and routine on the part of us +volunteer officers was calculated to try their patience, for they +occupied all the higher executive staff positions, and routine business +of all kinds had to pass their scrutiny. + +But what were they given West Point education and training at the public +expense for if not to impart it to those who should be called to fill +volunteer positions in times of the country's need? And how should a +volunteer, called into the service of his country without a particle of +military education, be expected to understand the interminable routine +of army red tape? I will dismiss this digression with a single instance +of my experience in seeking information from one of the younger West +Pointers. It occurred while I was still adjutant and shortly before my +promotion. Some special detailed report was called for. There were so +many of these wanted, with so many minute and intricate details, that I +cannot remember what this particular one was, but they were enough +almost to drive a man to drink. This one, I remember, utterly stumped +me, and I rode over to Captain Mason, assistant adjutant-general of our +brigade, a thoroughly competent officer, for information. He looked at +it a moment, then said: "It beats me; but go down to corps head-quarters +and you will find Lieutenant----, a regular army officer, whose business +it is to give just such information as you require." I rode there at +once and inquired for Lieutenant----, as directed. The reply was, "Here +he is. What in h----l do you want?" Not specially reassured by this +inquiry, I handed him the paper and made known my wishes for +information. He literally threw it back at me with the reply, "Go to +h----l and find out." I replied that from his manner of speech I appeared +to be pretty near there now. I went back to Captain Mason and recounted +my experience, to his intense disgust, but that was all that ever came +of it. We volunteers learned to avoid a regular officer, especially of +the young West Point type, as we would a pestilence. + +Returning now to my picket duties of that day, a third incident occurred +in the afternoon. The captain of the picket came into our office at the +Lacey House with the information that there was a hail from the opposite +bank of the river with a flag of truce--a small white flag. We all +rushed out, and General Sully directed the captain to take a corporal's +guard--a corporal and four men--from his reserve, and go down to the +water's edge under a like flag and inquire what was wanted. This +formality, he said, was necessary to properly recognize their flag of +truce, and to guard against a possible fake or bit of treachery. The +reply from the other side was that a young woman in Fredericksburg was +exceedingly desirous of reaching her home some distance within the Union +lines, and would the Union commander receive a communication upon the +subject. General Sully replied that he would receive their communication +and forward it to head-quarters, whereupon an orderly was sent over in a +boat with the communication. He was unarmed, as were those who rowed him +over. The letter was despatched to army head-quarters, whilst the +orderly and his boatmen were detained at the landing under guard of our +detail. They sat down and in an entirely easy and friendly way chatted +with our guard. One would not have believed that these men would shed +each other's blood instantly the little white flag was lowered. Yet such +was the fact. A half-hour brought a reply to the communication. We, of +course, saw neither their letter nor the reply, but my lady was +immediately brought over and escorted by a mounted guard to army +head-quarters, an ambulance being utilized for the purpose. She was +really a very pretty young woman, and evidently a thorough lady, though +a spirit of hauteur made it apparent she was a Southerner through and +through. She maintained a perfect composure during the formality of her +reception into our lines, for the officer from the rebel lines who +escorted her required a receipt from the officer who had been sent down +from head-quarters to receive her; and the appearance of a pretty woman +in our lines was so unusual an event that Uncle Sam's boys may have been +pardoned if they were all anxious to get a square view of the charming +vision. This receipt had to be made in duplicate, one for each army, +both officers, as well as the young woman, attesting it with their +signatures. General Sully more than half suspected she was a rebel spy. +If she was, they wisely chose a beauty for the work. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE WINTER AT FALMOUTH--CONTINUED + + +During the remainder of the winter at Falmouth, I was on as +field-officer of the day about every fifth day, so that I was much of +the time at the Lacey House, and on the picket-line described in the +foregoing chapter. The scenes here enacted constituted my chief +experience at this time. The Lacey House was famous during the war as +being the head-quarters of either the picket lines between the two +armies or of commanding officers of portions of both so frequently that +it deserves more than a passing notice. It was a large old-time brick +mansion, beautifully situated on the bank of the Rappahannock, just +opposite Fredericksburg, and was, at the outbreak of the war, the +private residence of Colonel Lacey, who was at the time I write a +colonel in the rebel army. The house was very large; its rooms almost +palatial in size, had been finished in richly carved hardwood panels and +wainscoting, mostly polished mahogany. They were now denuded of nearly +all such elegant wood-work. The latter, with much of the carved +furniture, had been appropriated for fire-wood. Pretty expensive fuel? +Yes, but not nearly so expensive as the discomfort of staying there +without a fire, with the temperature just above the freezing-point, and +your feet and body wet through from the rain and slush of the storm +outside, in which you were doing picket duty. The only other fuel +obtainable was a few soggy green logs; whether these had been cut from +the old shade trees surrounding its ample grounds or not I do not know. +I more than suspect they had, but the only way they could be made to +burn in the old-fashioned open fireplaces was to assist the flames with +an occasional piece of dry wood, the supply of which, as long as it +lasted, was from the panels, wainscoting, and furniture of the house. +Later on the interior doors, all of heavy, elegant hardwood and finished +in keeping with the other appointments of the place, had to go. This may +seem at this distance as vandalism pure and simple. But if the would-be +critic will place himself in the shoes of the soldier doing picket duty +that winter, with all its hardships, and then remember that Colonel +Lacey, the owner of the place, was not only in active rebellion against +the government we were fighting to maintain, but was a colonel +commanding a rebel regiment as a part of that great rebel army encamped +not a rifle-shot away, which made it necessary for us to do this picket +duty, he may reach the same conclusion as did our men, that it was not +worth while to freeze ourselves in order to preserve this rebel's +property. The large and ample grounds had been laid out with all the +artistic care a landscape gardener could bestow upon them. Rare plants, +shrubs, and trees from all over the world had been transplanted here in +great variety. They were now feeling the bitter blight of war. Army +wagons and artillery had made sad havoc of the beautiful grounds, and +such of the rare trees and shrubbery as interfered with a good vision of +the operations of the rebels in and around Fredericksburg had been +ruthlessly removed, and this included the larger part of them. + +The Christian Commission had its head-quarters in one wing of the house +during this winter. It was presided over by Mrs. John Harris, of +Philadelphia, a most benevolent and amiable elderly lady. She was +assisted by two or three young women, among whom was a daughter of +Justice Grier, of the United States Supreme Court. These ladies were +engaged in distributing supplies of various kinds, furnished by this +association, to the sick and wounded soldiers in the various hospitals. +They had an ambulance at their disposal, and one or two orderlies +detailed to assist them. Their work was most gracious and helpful, and +they were entitled to the greatest credit for their hard and +self-sacrificing labors. The red flag of the hospital floated over them, +and such protection as it afforded they had; but it may be well +understood that this location between two hostile armies, with active +hostilities likely to be resumed any moment, and in the midst of a +picket force keenly on the alert night and day, was not likely to be +selected as a sanitarium for cases of nervous prostration. The men on +picket had reason to remember Mrs. Harris, for those located at the +Lacey House daily partook of her bounty in the way of hot coffee, and +frequently a dish of good hot soup; and the officers stationed there, +usually three or four, were regularly invited to her table for all +meals. These invitations were sure to be accepted, for they afforded an +opportunity for a partially civilized meal. Her meals were always +preceded by a "grace" said by herself, while breakfast was followed by a +worship service, at which a chapter from the Bible was read and prayer +offered by her. These prayers I shall never forget--their sweet +fervency, in which the soldiers came in for a large share of her earnest +requests. This large-hearted, motherly little woman made a host of +friends among the boys in blue that winter. But her motherly kindness +was occasionally taken advantage of by some of those sons of Belial. One +of them told this story of his former tour of duty: The weather was +beastly uncomfortable, from rain and snow making a slush and mud, +through which they had tramped until thoroughly soaked. They concluded +they must have some hot whiskey punch. Mother Harris, they knew, had all +the necessary ingredients, but how to get them was the question. One of +them feigned a sudden attack of colic, and was all doubled up on the +floor, groaning piteously. Mother Harris was told of it. Of course, she +rushed in to render assistance. In reply to her inquiries, the rascal +could think of but one thing that would help him, and that was whiskey. +A bottle was instantly produced, and a dose administered which gave +partial relief; and now if he only had some hot water he was sure it +would relieve him. A pitcher of steaming hot water was immediately sent +in. Then it was found that the strong liquor nauseated him, and one of +the other scamps suggested that perhaps a lemon would relieve that, and +a nice lemon was instantly produced. They had plenty of sugar +themselves, and so from good Mother Harris's benevolent provision for +the colic these rascals deliberately brewed a pitcher full of excellent +hot whiskey punch. They had to invent a number of additional lies to +keep her out of the room, but they were equal to it. She sent her +orderlies in, one after the other, to inquire how the patient was +progressing, and the boys secured a proper message back by letting them +in for a swig. I hope the good old lady never discovered the fraud. I am +sure she would not have believed anybody who might have undertaken to +enlighten her, for her confidence in her "boys in blue" was so +unbounded. + +Almost every tour of picket duty revealed some new incident. Our pickets +were now posted in full view of those of the enemy, and the river was so +narrow that conversation between the pickets could be carried on without +difficulty. Peremptory orders were issued forbidding our pickets from +replying, or in any manner communicating with them, but it required the +greatest care and vigilance on the part of all the officers of the +picket to enforce this order. One of their sentries would hail one of +ours with some friendly remark, and it was difficult to suppress the +desire to reply. If a reply was not forthcoming, a nagging ejaculation, +calculated to provoke, would follow, such as, "What's the matter, Yank, +are ye deaf?" "Maybe ye are afeared o' those d----d officers." "We 'uns +don't give a d---- for our officers," and so volley after volley would +follow, whilst poor Yank had to continue silently walking his beat. +Sometimes the "Johnny" would wind up with a blast of oaths at his silent +auditor. Frequently our men would reply if they thought no officer was +near to hear; they seemed to feel that it was only decent to be +courteous to them. Strange as it may seem, there was a strong +disposition to fraternize whenever opportunity offered on the part of +the men of both sides. This was manifested daily on this picket-line, +not only in talk across the river, but in communication by means of +miniature boats. Our men were generally short of tobacco, and the +Johnnies had an abundance of this article of the very best quality; on +the other hand, our men were "long" on coffee, of which commodity they +were "short." So "Johnny" would fix up a trade. "Say, Yank, if I send +you over a boat-load of 'backy,' will ye send her back filled with +coffee?" If he got an affirmative reply, which he often did, he would +place his little boat in the stream with its rudder so fastened that the +current would shoot it across a hundred yards or so further down. Yank +would watch his opportunity, get the boat, take out its precious cargo +of tobacco, reload it with coffee, reverse the rudder, and send it back +to "Johnny," who was watching for it further down the stream. Newspapers +soon were called for by "Johnny," and became a regular part of the cargo +of these boats, for the rebels were wild to get our papers. The exchange +of coffee and tobacco was a comparatively harmless matter and would +probably have been winked at, but the sending of our Northern papers +into their line, containing news of every movement of our forces, was a +thing that must be prohibited. A large part of the special instructions +of all picket officers related to the suppression of this traffic. +Scarcely a day passed that we did not confiscate one or more of these +boats. The tobacco our men were allowed to take, but the boat and all +rebel newspapers had to be sent to army head-quarters. Some of these +miniature boats were marvels of beauty, and showed mechanical skill in +construction of the highest order. Others were rude "dugouts." They were +generally about thirty inches long, six to ten inches wide, and about +six inches deep. They were therefore capable of holding quite a +quantity. It was a traffic very difficult to suppress, for our men +wanted the tobacco and were unwilling to take that without sending back +the proper _quid pro quo_. I doubt if it was ever altogether stopped +that winter. The desire for tobacco on the part of our men was so great +that they would break over, and some of the subordinate officers +participated in it. These exchanges generally took place in the very +early dawn, when the officer of the day and the officers of the picket +were not supposed to be around. The officer of the day was required to +make the "rounds" of his picket-line once after midnight, and then if +everything was all right he could rest, his officers of the picket being +responsible to him for their respective sections of the line. What is +known in army regulations as the "grand rounds," a ceremonial visiting +of the line by the officer of the day, accompanied by a sergeant and +detail, was omitted on the picket-line as too noisy and ostentatious. In +its place the officer of the day went over his line as quietly as +possible, assuring himself that each man was in his proper place and was +alert and doing his duty. + +The sleepy time was from two o'clock A.M. until daylight, and this was +the time I found it necessary to be on the line. It took from two to +four hours to get over the entire line and visit every sentry. The line, +as I have stated heretofore, extended from the railroad bridge at +Fredericksburg to the village of Falmouth, a distance of two and a half +to three miles. In the daytime I could ride over it comfortably, but in +the night I had to take it on foot. When these were dark as ink, and +rainy, and the ground was slushy and muddy, as it usually was at that +time, it was not a very agreeable duty. However, my duty was so much +lighter than that of the men (who, though they were only two hours on +post at a time, were out in the storm all the while), that I could not +complain. The fidelity of our men to duty under these trying +circumstances was most remarkable. Twice only that winter did I find a +man sleeping on post. In both of these cases the delinquent was scarcely +more than a boy, who I really believed told the truth when they said +they sat down because unable to stand up any longer, and, of course, +instantly fell asleep. I had them relieved and sent back to camp, and +did not report their offence. + +A disagreeable duty I had to perform occurred one morning just at break +of day. I had just returned from my trip over the line and was about +entering the Lacey House, when I noticed a man running down towards the +water's edge on the other side of the river. On these night tours of +duty I wore a large cavalry overcoat with a long cape, which thoroughly +concealed my rank and sword. I stepped out to the top of the bank to see +what this man was doing, and he hailed me with: "Hello, Yank. I am going +to send ye over a nice boat, with tobacco and newspapers. Look out and +get her, and send her back with coffee and newspapers, and don't let any +of your d----d officers get hold of it. If they catch ye they'll raise +h----l with you, and swipe the whole business." I did not say a word, but +quietly walked down to where I saw the boat would touch the shore and +waited for it. In the mean time he kept up a running fire of admonitions +like the above, chiefly directed to the need of watching against the +vigilance of our d----d officers. I picked up the boat, took it up the +bank, and then threw my coat open, disclosing my sword and my sash as +officer of the day. Oh! the profanity and billingsgate that followed +beggars description. I thought I had heard swearing before, but never +anything to touch this fellow, and I really could not blame him very +much. He had simply hailed the wrong man. The man he thought he was +hailing, seeing my presence, kept out of the way. The boat was a little +beauty, one of the handsomest I ever saw. It contained five or six +pounds of the best Virginia plug tobacco and several newspapers from +Richmond. I would have been glad to have kept the boat as a souvenir, +but had to despatch it to head-quarters with all its contents at once. +Of course I never saw it again. + +The "Johnnies" were not without their fun, as well as our boys. Several +times I was saluted by their pickets as officer of the day. Army +regulations require the sentry nearest the picket reserve, on seeing the +officer of the day approach, to call out, "Turn out the guard, officer +of the day." Thereupon the officer of the picket parades his reserves, +which presents arms and is then inspected by the officer of the day. The +red sash worn crosswise over the shoulder is the insignia of the officer +of the day. Several times that winter, as I was riding along our line, a +rebel sentry yelled, "Turn out the guard, officer of the day," and a +sergeant paraded his guard, faced towards me across the river, and +presented arms. Of course, I lifted my cap in acknowledgment of the +compliment, even though it was a bit of deviltry on their part. This +indicated a grave want of discipline on the part of their troops. I am +sure such an act would not have been thought of by our men. + +General Burnside was relieved from command of the army on the 26th of +January, 1863, and was succeeded by Major-General Joseph Hooker. +"Fighting Joe," as he was familiarly called, was justly popular with the +army, nevertheless there was general regret at the retirement of +Burnside, notwithstanding his ill success. That there was more than the +"fates" against him was felt by many, and whether under existing +conditions "Fighting Joe" or any one else was likely to achieve any +better success was a serious question. However, all felt that the new +commander had lots of fight in him, and the old Army of the Potomac was +never known to "go back" on such a man. His advent as commander was +signalized by a modest order announcing the fact, and matters moved on +without a ripple upon the surface. Routine work, drills, and picket duty +occupied all our time. Some of our men were required to go on picket +duty every other day, so many were off duty from sickness and other +causes. Twenty-four hours on picket duty, with only twenty-four hours +off between, was certainly very severe duty, yet the men did it without +a murmur. When it is understood that this duty required being that whole +time out in the most trying weather, usually either rain, sleet, slush, +or mud, and constantly awake and alert against a possible attack, one +can form an idea of the strain upon physical endurance it involved. + +The chief event preceding the Chancellorsville movement was the grand +review of the army by President Lincoln and staff. The exact date of +this review I do not remember, but it occurred a short time before the +movement upon Chancellorsville. Owing to the absence of Colonel Albright +and the illness of Lieutenant-Colonel Shreve, the command of the +regiment devolved upon me, and I had a funny experience getting ready +for it. As a sort of preliminary drill, I concluded I would put the +regiment through a practice review on our drill grounds. To do this +properly, I had to imagine the presence of a reviewing officer standing +before our line at the proper distance of thirty to forty yards. The +ceremony involved opening the ranks, which brought the officers to the +front of the line, the presenting arms, and dipping the colors, which +the reviewing officer, usually a general, acknowledged by lifting his +hat and gracefully bowing. I had reached the point in my practice drill +where the "present arms" had been executed, and the colors lowered, and +had turned to the front myself to complete the ceremony by presenting +sword to my imaginary general, when lo! there rose up in front of me, in +the proper position, a real reviewing officer in the shape of one of the +worst looking army "bums" I ever saw. He assumed the position and +dignified carriage of a major-general, lifted his dirty old +"cabbage-leaf" cap, and bowed up and down the line with the grace and +air of a Wellington, and then he promptly skedaddled. The "boys" caught +the situation instantly and were bursting with laughter. Of course I +didn't notice the performance, but the effort not to notice it almost +used me up. This will illustrate how the army "bummer" never let an +opportunity slip for a practical joke, cost what it might. This fellow +was a specimen of this genus that was ubiquitous in the army. Every +regiment had one or more. They were always dirty and lousy, a sort of +tramp, but always on hand at the wrong time and in the wrong place. A +little indifferent sort of service could be occasionally worked out of +them, but they generally skulked whenever there was business on hand, +and then they were so fertile of excuses that somehow they escaped the +penalty and turned up again when the "business" was over. Their one +specialty was foraging. They were born foragers. What they could not +steal was not to be had, and this probably accounts in a measure for +their being endured. Their normal occupation was foraging and, +incidentally, Sancho Panza like, looking for adventure. They knew more +of our movements, and also of those of the enemy, than the commanding +general of either. One of the most typical of this class that I knew was +a young fellow I had known very well before the war. He was a shining +light in society, occupying a high and responsible business position. +His one fault was his good-fellowship and disposition to be convivial +when off duty. He enlisted among the first, when the war broke out in +1861, and I did not see him again until one day one of this genus +"bummer" strayed into our camp. He stuck his head into my tent and +wanted to know how "Fred Hitchcock was." I had to take a long second +look to dig out from this bunch of rags and filth my one-time Beau +Brummel acquaintance at home. His eyes were bleared, and told all too +surely the cause of the transformation. His brag was that he had skipped +every fight since he enlisted. "It's lots more fun," he said, "to climb +a tree well in the rear and see the show. It's perfectly safe, you know, +and then you don't get yourself killed and planted. What is the use," +he argued, "of getting killed and have a fine monument erected over you, +when you can't see it nor make any use of it after it is done? Let the +other fellows do that if they want to. I've no use for monuments." Poor +fellow, his cynical ideas were his ruin. Better a thousand times had he +been "planted" at the front, manfully doing his duty, than to save a +worthless life and return with the record of a poltroon, despised by +himself and everybody else. + +This review by President Lincoln and the new commander-in-chief, General +Hooker, was, from a military, spectacular point of view, the chief event +of our army experience. It included the whole of the great Army of the +Potomac, now numbering upward of one hundred and thirty thousand men, +probably its greatest numerical strength of the whole war. Deducting +picket details, there were present on this review, it is safe to say, +from ninety thousand to one hundred thousand men. It was a remarkable +event historically, because so far as I can learn it was the only time +this great army was ever paraded in line so that it could be seen all +together. In this respect it was the most magnificent military pageant +ever witnessed on this continent, far exceeding in its impressive +grandeur what has passed into history as the "great review," which +preceded the final "muster out" at the close of the war in the city of +Washington. At the latter not more than ten thousand men could have been +seen at one time, probably not nearly so many, for the eye could take in +only the column which filled Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the +Treasury Building. Whereas, upon our review the army was first drawn up +in what is known as three lines of "masses," and one glance of the eye +could take in the whole army. Think of it! One hundred thousand men in +one sweep of vision! If the word "Selah" in the Psalm means "stop! +think! consider!" it would be particularly appropriate here. + +A word now about the formation in "lines of masses." Each regiment was +formed in column of divisions. To those unfamiliar with military terms, +I must explain that this very common formation with large bodies of +troops consists in putting two companies together as a division under +the command of the senior officer, thus making of a regiment of ten +companies a column of five divisions, each two-company front. This was +known as "massing" the troops. When so placed in line they were called a +line of "masses;" when marching, a column of "masses." It will be seen +that the actual frontage of each regiment so formed was the width of two +companies only, the other eight companies being formed in like manner in +their rear. Now imagine four regiments so formed and placed side by +side, fronting on the same line and separated from each other by say +fifty feet, and you have a brigade line of masses. The actual frontage +of a brigade so formed would be considerably less than that of a single +regiment on dress parade. Now take three such brigades, separated from +each other by say fifty feet, and you have a division line of masses. +Three divisions made up an army corps. The army was formed in three +lines of masses, of two corps each, on the large open plain opposite +Fredericksburg, to the south and east of where the railroad crossed the +river. Each of these lines of masses contained from seventy to eighty +regiments of infantry, besides the artillery, which was paraded on the +several lines at different intervals. I do not remember seeing any +cavalry, and my impression is that this branch of the service was not +represented. Some idea may be formed of the magnificence of this +spectacle when I state that each of these lines of masses was more than +a mile in length, and the depth of the three lines from front to rear, +including the spaces between, was not less than four hundred yards, or +about one-fifth of a mile. Each of the regiments displayed its two +stands of silk colors, one the blue flag representing the State from +which it came, the other the national colors. There were here and there +a brace of these flags, very conspicuous in their brilliant newness, +indicating a fresh accession to the army, but most of them were tattered +and torn by shot and shell, whilst a closer look revealed the less +conspicuous but more deadly slits and punctures of the minie-balls. + +Now place yourself on the right of this army paraded for review and look +down the long lines. Try to count the standards as the favoring wind +lifts their sacred folds and caressingly shows you their battle scars. +You will need to look very closely, lest those miniature penants, far +away, whose staffs appear no larger than parlor matches protruding above +lines of men, whose forms in the distance have long since merged into a +mere bluish gray line, escape your eye. Your numbering will crowd the +five hundred mark ere you finish, and you should remember that each of +these units represented a thousand men when in the vigor and enthusiasm +of patriotic manhood they bravely marched to the front. Only a fifth of +them left? you say. And the others? Ah! the battle, the hospital, the +prison-pen, the h-ll of war, must be the answer. + +How can words describe the scene? This is that magnificent old battered +Army of the Potomac. Look upon it; you shall never behold its like +again. There have been and may yet be many armies greater in numbers, +and possibly, in all the paraphernalia of war, more showy. There can +never be another Army of the Potomac, with such a history. As I gazed up +and down those massive lines of living men, felt that I was one of them, +and saw those battle-scarred flags kissed by the loving breeze, my blood +tingled to my very finger-tips, my hair seemed almost to raise straight +up, and I said a thousand Confederacies can't whip us. And here I think +I grasped the main purpose of this review. It was not simply to give the +President a sight of his "strong right arm," as he fondly called the +Army of the Potomac, nor General Hooker, its new commander, an +opportunity to see his men and them a chance to see their new +chief,--though both of these were included,--but it was to give the army +a square look at its mighty self, see how large and how strong it really +was, that every man might thereby get the same enthusiasm and +inspiration that I did, and know that it simply could not be beaten. The +enemy, it is not strange to say, were intensely interested spectators of +this whole scene, for the review was held in full view of the whole of +their army. No place could have been chosen that would better have +accommodated their enjoyment of the picture, if such it was, than that +open plain, exactly in their front. And we could see them swarming over +Marye's Heights and the lines to the south of it, intently gazing upon +us. A scene more resplendent with military pageantry and the +soul-stirring accessories of war they will never see again. But did it +stir their blood? Yes; but with bitterness only, for they must have seen +that the task before them of successfully resisting the onslaughts of +this army was impossible. Here was disclosed, undoubtedly, another +purpose of this grand review, viz., to let the enemy see with their own +eyes how powerful the army was with which they had to contend. + +A remarkable feature of this review was the marvellous celerity of its +formation. The various corps and subdivisions of the army were started +on the march for the reviewing ground so as to reach it at about the +same time. It should be remembered that most of them were encamped from +four to eight miles away. Aides-de-camp with markers by the score were +already in position on the plain when the troops arrived, so that there +was almost no delay in getting into position. As our column debouched +upon the field, there seemed an inextricable mass of marching columns as +far as the eye could see. Could order ever be gotten out of it? Yet, +presto! the right of the line fell into position, a series of blue +blocks, and then on down to the far left, block after block, came upon +the line with unerring order and precision, as though it were a long +curling whiplash straightening itself out to the tension of a giant +hand. And so with each of the other two lines. All were formed +simultaneously. Here was not only perfection of military evolution, but +the poetry of rhythmic movement. The three lines were all formed within +twenty minutes, ready for the reviewing officers. + +Almost immediately the blare of the trumpets announced the approach of +the latter, and the tall form of the President was seen, accompanied by +a large retinue, galloping down the first line. Our division was formed, +as I recollect, in the first line, about three hundred yards from the +right. The President was mounted on a large, handsome horse, and as he +drew near I saw that immediately on his right rode his son, Robert +Lincoln, then a bright-looking lad of fourteen to fifteen years, and +little "Tad" Lincoln, the idol of his father, was on his left. The +latter could not have been more than seven or eight years old. He was +mounted on a large horse, and his little feet seemed to stick almost +straight out from the saddle. He was round and pudgy, and his jolly +little body bobbed up and down like a ball under the stiff canter of his +horse. I wondered how he maintained his seat, but he was really a better +horseman than his father, for just before reaching our regiment there +was a little summer stream ravine, probably a couple of yards wide, that +had to be jumped. The horses took it all right, but the President landed +on the other side with a terrific jounce, being almost unseated. The +boys went over flying, little "Tad" in high glee, like a monkey on a +mustang. + +Of course, a mighty cheer greeted the President as he galloped down the +long line. There was something indescribably weird about that huzzah +from the throats of these thousands of men, first full, sonorous, and +thrilling, and then as it rolled down that attenuated line gradually +fading into a minor strain until it was lost in the distance, only to +reappear as the cavalcade returned in front of the second line, first +the faintest note of a violin, then rapidly swelling into the full +volume, to again die away and for the third time reappear and die away +as the third line was reviewed. The President was followed by a large +staff dressed in full uniform, which contrasted strongly with his own +severely plain black. He wore a high silk hat and a plain frock coat. +His face wore that peculiar sombre expression we see in all his +photographs, but it lighted up into a half-smile as he occasionally +lifted his hat in acknowledgment of the cheering of the men. + +About one hundred yards in rear of the President's staff came the new +commanding general, "Fighting Joe." He was dressed in the full uniform +of a major-general, and was accompanied by his chief of staff, Seth +Williams--he who had held this position under every commander of the +Army of the Potomac thus far--and a large and brilliant staff. There +must have been fully twenty officers of various ranks, from his chief of +staff, a general, down through all grades to a lieutenant, in this corps +of staff officers. It was the first time I had seen General Hooker to +know him. His personal appearance did not belie his reputation. He had a +singularly strong, handsome face, sat his superb horse like a king, +broad-shouldered and elegantly proportioned in form, with a large, fine +head, well covered with rather long hair, now as white as the driven +snow and flowing in the wind as he galloped down the line, chapeau in +hand; he was a striking and picturesque figure. It was evident the head +of the army had lost nothing in personal appearance by its recent +change. The same cheering marked the appearance of "Fighting Joe" which +had greeted the President, as he and staff galloped down and up and +down through the three long lines. + +Both reviewing cavalcades moved at a brisk gallop, and occupied only +about twenty minutes covering the three miles of lines; and then the +President and staff took position, for the marching review, some +distance in front and about midway of the lines. Instantly the scene was +transformed. The first line wheeled into column by brigades successively +and, headed by General Hooker and staff, moved rapidly forward. There +were but few bands, and the drum corps had been consolidated into +division corps. On passing the President, General Hooker took position +by his side and remained throughout the remainder of the ceremony. The +troops marched in columns of masses, in the same formation they had +stood in line; that is, in column of two companies front and only six +yards between divisions. This made a very compact mass of troops, quite +unusual in reviews, but was necessary in order to avoid the great length +of time that in the usual formation would have been required for the +passing of this vast body of men. Yet in this close formation the +balance of the day was nearly consumed in marching past the President. + +It must have been a trying ordeal to him, as he had to lift his hat as +each stand of colors successively dipped in passing. Immediately on +passing the President, the several brigades were wheeled out of the +column and ordered to quarters. I remember that we returned to our camp, +over a mile distant, dismissed the men, and then several of us officers +rode back to see the continuation of the pageant. When we got back the +second line was only well on its way, which meant that only about half +the army had passed in review. We could see from fifteen to twenty +thousand men in column--that is to say, about one army corps--at a time. +The quick, vigorous step, in rhythmical cadence to the music, the fife +and drum, the massive swing, as though every man was actually a part of +every other man; the glistening of bayonets like a long ribbon of +polished steel, interspersed with the stirring effects of those historic +flags, in countless numbers, made a picture impressive beyond the power +of description. A picture of the ages. How glad I am to have looked upon +it. I could not remain to see the end. When finally I was compelled to +leave the third line was marching. I can still see that soul-thrilling +column, that massive swing, those flaunting colors, that sheen of +burnished steel! Majestic! Incomparable!! Glorious!!! + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE + + +An interesting item in the experience that winter at Falmouth was the +celebration of St. Patrick's day by the Irish brigade and their +multitude of friends. They were encamped about a mile to the south of +our brigade upon a beautiful, broad, open plain between the surrounding +hills, which gave them a superb parade and drill-ground. Upon this they +had laid out a mile race track in excellent shape, and they had provided +almost every conceivable sort of amusement that was possible to army +life--matches in running, jumping, boxing, climbing the greased pole, +sack races, etc. But the usual pig performance had to be omitted owing +to the enforced absence of the pig. The appearance of a live porker +would have stampeded the army in a wild chase for fresh meat. + +[Illustration: ON THE BATTLE-FIELD OF ANTIETAM + +Fourth Reunion of Survivors of 132d Regiment P. V., held Sept. 17, 1891, +on the ground occupied by the Regiment during the battle, in front of +Sunken Road, near Roulette House] + +The chief events were horse races. The army abounded in excellent +thoroughbreds, private property of officers, and all were anxious to +show the mettle of their steeds. Everybody was invited to be present and +take such part as he pleased in any of the events. It was a royal gala +day to the army; from morning until night there were excitement and +side-splitting amusement. Nor was there, throughout the whole day, a +thing, not even a small fight, that I heard of, to mar the wholesome +fun, until towards night our old enemy, John Barleycorn, managed to get +in some of his work. + +The chief event of the day and the wind-up was a hurdle and ditch race, +open to officers only. Hurdles and ditches alternated the course at a +distance of two hundred yards, except at the finish, where a hurdle and +ditch were together, the ditch behind the hurdle. Such a race was a +hare-brained performance in the highest degree; but so was army life at +its best, and this was not out of keeping with its surroundings. +Excitement was what was wanted, and this was well calculated to produce +it. + +The hurdles were four and five feet high and did not prove serious +obstacles to the jumpers, but the ditches, four and five feet wide and +filled with water, proved a _bete noir_ to most of the racers. Some +twenty-five, all young staff-officers, started, but few got beyond the +first ditch. Many horses that took the hurdle all right positively +refused the ditch. Several officers were dumped at the first hurdle, and +two were thrown squarely over their horses' heads into the first ditch, +and were nice-looking specimens as they crawled out of that bath of +muddy water. They were unhurt, however, and remounted and tried it +again, with better success. + +The crowning incident of the day occurred at the finish of this race at +the combination hurdle and ditch. Out of the number who started, only +three had compassed safely all the hurdles and ditches and come to the +final leap. The horses were about a length apart each. The first took +the hurdle in good shape, but failed to reach the further bank of the +ditch and fell over sideways into it, carrying down his rider. Whilst +they were struggling to get out, the second man practically repeated the +performance and fell on the first pair, and the rear man, now unable to +check his horse, spurred him over, only to fall on the others. It was a +fearful sight for a moment, and it seemed certain that the officers were +killed or suffocated in that water, now thick with mud. But a hundred +hands were instantly to the rescue, and in less time than it takes to +tell it all were gotten out and, strange to say, the horses were unhurt +and only one officer seriously injured, a broken leg only to the bad for +the escapade. But neither officers nor horses were particularly handsome +as they emerged from that ditch. The incident can be set down as a +terrific finale to this first and last army celebration of St. Patrick's +day. + +The tedium of routine duty occupied our time without specially exciting +incident until pleasanter weather towards the middle of April brought +rumors of impending army movements again. About April 20 we heard the +cavalry under Stoneman were on the move, and this was confirmed the next +day, when I saw that general with quite a body of cavalry marching +leisurely north. The horses appeared in excellent condition after a +winter of partial rest. General Stoneman was a large man, with short +gray whiskers and gray hair and a strikingly bronzed red face. This +story was told of him anent this movement, that Hooker had told him to +do something with his horses; to cross the river at one of the fords +above and shake out his cavalry, that it was "about time the army saw a +dead cavalryman." Stoneman had replied, asking for materials to build +bridges with, and "Fighting Joe" had impatiently replied that he +wouldn't "give a d----n for a cavalryman who couldn't make a bridge +without materials," meaning who could not cross a river without a +bridge. + +Soon orders came to supply ourselves with extra ammunition, and be +prepared to move with six days' rations at a moment's notice. This +settled it that "business" was about to commence again in earnest. What +the contemplated movement was we had not the remotest idea, though we +knew, of course, it was to be another whack in some form at the Johnnies +on the other side of the river. We set about disposing of all surplus +baggage which had accumulated for winter quarters, and putting +everything in trim for field living once more. We could now see columns +of troops in the distance marching north. Was the new movement, then, to +be in that direction? This was the topic upon all lips. The desire to +know something of what was being done with us was naturally very strong. +Where were we going? What were we going to do? Yet a desire that in the +nature of things could not be satisfied. One can have no conception of +the feeling of going day after day blindly ahead, not knowing whither or +why; knowing only that sooner or later you are going to fetch up against +a fight, and calculating from your surroundings the probabilities of +when. + +We felt one satisfaction, however, that this was to be our last campaign +as a regiment. Most of our men had enlisted in the July previous for +nine months, and their time was now practically out; but, to their +credit be it said, they would not raise this question during an active +movement. There were troops who threw down their arms on the eve of +battle and refused to go into action because their time was out. Such +action has been severely criticised, and I think uncharitably. After a +man has honorably and patriotically served his full time and is entitled +to his discharge, it would seem pretty hard to force him to go into +battle and be killed or wounded. Nevertheless, as a matter of fact, +nearly this whole campaign was overtime for most of our regiment, yet +the question was not raised. + +On April 28 our corps broke camp and joined the column northward. The +winter's rest had brought some accessions to our ranks from the sick and +wounded, though the severe picket duty and the excessively damp weather +had given us a large sick list. We had, to start with, upward of three +hundred and seventy-five men, to which was added some twenty-five or +thirty from the sick list, who came up to us on the march. It is a +curious fact that many men left sick in camp, unable to march when the +regiment leaves, will get themselves together after the former has been +gone a few hours and pull out to overtake it. I saw men crying like +children because the surgeon had forbidden them going with the regiment. +The loneliness and homesickness, or whatever you please to call it, +after the regiment has gone are too much for them. They simply cannot +endure it, and so they strike out and follow. They will start by easy +marches, and they generally improve in health from the moment they +start. Courage and nerve are both summoned for the effort, and the +result is that at the end of the second or third day they rejoin the +regiment and report for duty. This does not mean that they were not +really sick, but that will power and exercise have beaten the disease. I +have heard many a sick man say he would rather die than be left behind. + +We marched about six miles the first day, much of our route being +through a wooded country, some of it so wet and spongy that corduroy +roads had to be built for the wagons and artillery. The army can, as a +rule, move as rapidly as it can move its artillery and supply trains, +and no faster. Of course, for short distances and special expeditions, +where circumstances require, both cavalry and infantry move very +rapidly, ignoring the wagon trains and artillery; but on a general +campaign this is impossible, and so where the ground is bad these must +be helped along. In a wooded country the usual method is by corduroy +road. Extra details are made to assist the pioneer corps, who cut down +young saplings three to six inches in diameter and about six feet in +length and lay them side by side on the ground, which is roughly +levelled to receive them. They do not make a handsome road to speed +over, but they bear up the artillery and army schooners, and that is all +that is wanted of them. + +The second day we crossed the Rappahannock at United States ford on a +pontoon bridge. There had been a sharp skirmish here when the first +troops crossed a couple of days before, and a battery of artillery was +still in position guarding the crossing. We now began to experience once +more the unmistakable symptoms of approaching battle,--sharp spurts of +cannonading at irregular intervals some distance to the south and west +of us, with the hurry of marching troops, ambulances and stretcher corps +towards the front; more or less of army debris scattered about, and the +nervous bustle everywhere apparent. We reached the famous +Chancellorsville House shortly after midnight. This was an old-time +hostelry, situated on what was called the Culpeper plank-road. It stood +with two or three smaller houses in a cleared square space containing +some twenty or thirty acres, in the midst of the densest forest of trees +and undergrowth I ever saw. We had marched all day on plank and corduroy +roads, through this wild tanglewood forest, most of the time in a +drizzling rain, and we had been much delayed by the artillery trains, +and it was after midnight when we reached our destination. The distance +marched must have been twelve or more miles, and our men became greatly +fatigued towards the last. + +It was my first experience with the regiment on the march in the field +in my new position as major. As adjutant my place had been with the +colonel at the head of the column. Now my duties required me to march in +the rear and keep up the stragglers. After nightfall it became intensely +dark, and at each rest the men would drop down just where they were and +would be instantly sound asleep. Whether they dropped down into mud or +not made little difference to many of them, for they were soaking wet +and were so exhausted that they did not care. My troubles began when the +"forward" was sounded, to arouse these seeming logs and get them on +their feet once more and started. All who were practically exhausted had +drifted to the rear and were on my hands. We had a provost guard in the +rear, whose duty it was to bring up every man and permit no straggling, +but they were in almost as bad a plight as the rest of the regiment. To +arouse these sleeping men I had occasionally to resort to a smart blow +with the flat of my sword and follow it up with the most energetic +orders and entreaties. An appeal to their pluck and nerve was generally +sufficient, and they would summon new courage and push manfully on. My +own condition was scarcely better than that of the men. I rode that +night considerable distances between our halts for rest, sitting bolt +upright in my saddle fast asleep. I had all day alternated with some of +the men in marching whilst they rode, and was not only thoroughly tired, +but wet through. The march was much more trying to us because of our +unseasoned condition owing to the long winter's exemption from this +exercise. Furthermore, we had been marching towards the firing, and were +under the nervous strain always incident to operations in the presence +of the enemy. Nothing will quicker exhaust men than the nervous tension +occasioned by the continued firing which indicates the imminence of a +battle. + +At daylight we were aroused and under arms again. We found we were at +the head-quarters of the army. The Chancellorsville House, which had +been vacated by its occupants, was used for office purposes, and much of +the open space around it was occupied by the tents of General Hooker and +staff and hospital tents. Of the latter there were three or four pitched +so as to connect with each other, and over them was flying the yellow +flag of the corps hospital. The First and Third Divisions of our Second +Corps were massed in this Chancellorsville square, beside Pettit's +battery. Our brigade now consisted of the Fourth New York, First +Delaware, and our regiment. The first named was sent off on some +guard duty, which left Colonel Albright, of our regiment, the senior +officer in command of the brigade. The ominous rattle of musketry +not far away became momentarily more pronounced, and ambulances and +stretcher-carriers were passing back and forth to the hospitals, +carrying wounded men. The dead body of a regular army captain was soon +brought back from the front, where Sykes's division of regulars was +sharply engaged. I do not know the name of this captain, but he was a +fine-looking young officer. He had been killed by a minie-ball squarely +through his forehead. + +We were marching out the plank-road as they brought this body in. +Passing out of the clearing, the woods and undergrowth each side the +road was so dense that we could not see into it a half-dozen steps. We +had gone possibly a quarter of a mile when we were overtaken by a +staff-officer, who in whispers ordered us to turn back, regardless of +orders from the front, and get back to the Chancellorsville House as +rapidly as possible, and to do so absolutely noiselessly; that a heavy +force of rebels were in the woods on both sides of us, and we were in +great danger of being cut to pieces and captured. We obeyed, and he +rapidly worked his way to the front of the brigade and succeeded very +quickly in getting us all safely out. We formed line near the +Chancellorsville House and were resting on our arms when I noticed +another brigade going down that same road from which we had just been so +hurriedly gotten out. The circumstance was so strange that I inquired +what brigade it was, and learned that it was Colonel (afterwards +Governor) James A. Beaver's brigade of Hancock's division of our corps. +They had been gone but a short time when the rebels opened upon them +from both sides of the road, and they were very roughly handled. Colonel +Beaver was soon brought back, supposed mortally wounded. I saw him as he +was brought to the rear. It was said he was shot through the body. +Afterwards, whilst he was governor, I mentioned the circumstance to him, +and asked how he succeeded in fighting off the last enemy at that time. +He said he then fully believed his wound was mortal. The bullet had +struck him nearly midway of his body and appeared to have passed through +and out of his back, and he was bleeding freely. He was brought to the +hospital, where the corps surgeon--his own family physician at +home--found him, and with an expression of countenance indicating the +gravest fear proceeded to examine his wound. Suddenly, with a sigh of +relief, he exclaimed: "Colonel, you are all right; the ball has struck a +rib and followed it around and out." It was one of the hundreds of +remarkable freaks performed by those ugly minie-balls during the war. +Why that brigade should have been allowed to march into that ambuscade, +from which we had so narrowly escaped, I could not understand. It was +one of the early _faux pas_ of that unfortunate comedy, rather tragedy +of errors,--battle. + +In view of the events of the next two days, it will be interesting to +recall the somewhat windy order published to the army by General Hooker +on the morning of the 1st of May, the date of the first day's battle, on +which the events narrated in the last chapter occurred. This is the +order: + + HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, VA., + April 30, 1863. + + It is with heartfelt satisfaction the commanding general announces + to the army that the operations of the last three days have + determined that our enemy must either ingloriously fly or come out + from behind his defences and give us battle on our own ground, when + certain destruction awaits him. + + * * * * * + + By command of Major-General Hooker. + + S. WILLIAMS, + _Asst. Adjt.-Gen'l._ + +My recollection recalls a phrase in this order reading something like +this: "We have got the enemy where God Almighty can't save him, and he +must either ingloriously," etc. I have been surprised not to find it in +the records, and my memory is not alone in this respect, for a +lieutenant-colonel of Portland, Me., in his account of this battle +alludes to Hooker's blasphemous order. + +The purpose of this order was to encourage the men and inspire them with +the enthusiasm of forthcoming victory. But when we consider that the +portion of the army operating around Chancellorsville was at that very +moment apparently as thoroughly caged up in a wilderness of almost +impenetrable undergrowth, which made it impossible to move troops, and +into which one could not see a dozen feet, as though they were actually +behind iron bars, it will be seen how little ground there was for +encouragement. I can think of no better comparison of the situation than +to liken it to a fleet of ships enveloped in a dense fog endeavoring to +operate against another having the advantage of the open. + +It will be remembered that when this movement commenced the Army of the +Potomac numbered from one hundred and twenty thousand to one hundred and +thirty thousand men, about double the opposing rebel force. Hooker +divided this army, taking with him four corps, numbering probably +seventy thousand men, to operate from Chancellorsville towards +Fredericksburg, and leaving three corps, about fifty thousand men, under +Sedgwick, to move upon the latter place from below. The purpose was to +get Lee's army between these two forces and crush him. All historians of +this battle agree that up to a certain point Hooker's strategy was most +admirable. General Pleasanton, who commanded our cavalry forces in that +action, says that up to a certain point the movement on Chancellorsville +was one of the most brilliant in the annals of war. He put that point at +the close of Thursday, April 30. He had made a full reconnoissance of +all that country and had informed General Hooker of the nature of the +ground, that for a depth of from four to five miles it was all unbroken +tanglewood of the densest undergrowth, in which it was impossible to +manoeuvre an army or to know anything of the movements of the enemy; +that beyond this wilderness the country was open and well adapted to +military movements, and he had taken occasion to urge upon him the +importance of moving forward at once, so as to meet the enemy in open +ground, but his information and advice, he tells us, fell upon leaden +ears. + +Lee had, up to this time, no information of the movement upon +Chancellorsville, having been wholly occupied with Sedgwick at +Fredericksburg. The former was therefore a complete surprise to him. +The "golden moment," according to Pleasanton, to move forward and carry +the battle out into the open, where the army could have been handled and +would have had a chance, was on that day, as instantly the movement was +disclosed, the enemy, being familiar with every foot of the country, +would detach a sufficient force to operate in the open, and along the +edge of the wilderness could keep us practically bottled up there and +beat us in detail; and that is precisely what seems to have been done. +The inexplicable question is, Why did fighting "Joe Hooker," with +seventy thousand as good troops as ever fired a gun, sit down in the +middle of that tanglewood forest and allow Lee to make a monkey of him +while Sedgwick was doing such magnificent work below? + +Two distinguished participants in all these events holding high +commands, namely, General Alfred Pleasanton, quoted above, and General +Doubleday, commanding First Division, First Army Corps, have written +articles upon this battle, agreeing on the feasibility and brilliancy of +the movement, but by inference and things unsaid have practically left +the same question suspended in the air. It is possible the correct +answer should not now be given. + +To return to our own doings, on that Friday, 1st of May, our division +was drawn up in line of battle in front of the Chancellorsville House, +and we were permitted to rest on our arms. This meant that any moment we +might be expected to move forward. The battle was now on in earnest. +Heavy firing was heard some miles below us, which was Sedgwick's work at +Fredericksburg. Nearer by there was cannonading and more or less severe +musketry firing. Ambulances and stretcher-carriers were constantly +coming back from the front with wounded soldiers, taking them to the +field hospital, which was just in our rear, and we could see the growing +piles of amputated legs and arms which were thrown outside with as +little care as if they were so many pieces of wood. We were evidently +waiting for something, nobody seemed to know what. Everything appeared +to be "at heads." Our corps and division commanders, Couch, Hancock, and +French, with their staffs, were in close proximity to the troops, and +all seemed to be in a condition of nervous uncertainty. What might be +progressing in those black woods in front, was the question. A nearer +volley of musketry would start everybody up, and we would stand arms in +hand, as if expecting the unseen enemy to burst through the woods upon +us. Then the firing would slacken and we would drop down again for a +time. + +In the mean time shells were screeching over us continually, and an +occasional bullet would whiz uncomfortably near. The nervous strain +under such conditions may be imagined. This state of affairs continued +all through Friday night and most of Saturday. Of course, sleep was out +of the question for any of our officers. On Thursday and Friday nights +the men got snatches of sleep, lying on their arms, between the times +all were aroused against some fresh alarm. + +On Saturday some beef cattle were driven up and slaughtered in the open +square in front of our lines, and the details were progressing with the +work of preparing the meat for issue when the storm of disaster of +Saturday afternoon burst upon us and their work was rudely interrupted. +We had anxious premonitions of this impending storm for some hours. +Captain Pettit, who commanded the famous battery of that name, which was +posted immediately in our rear, had spent much of his time in the +forenoon of Saturday high up in a tall tree which stood just in front of +the Chancellorsville House and close to our line, with his field glass +reconnoitring. Several times he had come down with information that +heavy bodies of the enemy were massing for a blow upon our front and +where he believed they would strike. This information, we were told, he +imparted to Hooker's chief of staff, and begged permission to open at +long range with his rifled guns, but no attention was paid to him. I saw +him up the tree and heard some of his ejaculating, which indicated that +he was almost wild with apprehension of what was coming. Once on coming +down he remarked to General Hancock that we would "catch h----l in less +than an hour." The latter seemed to be thoroughly alive to the situation +and exceedingly anxious, as were Couch and French, to do something to +prepare for what was coming, yet nothing more was done until suddenly +the firing, which had been growing in volume and intensity and gradually +drawing nearer, developed in a storm of musketry of terrific fury +immediately in our right front, apparently not more than three hundred +yards away. + +We could not see a thing. What there might be between us and it, or +whether it was the onslaught of the enemy or the firing of our troops, +we knew not. But we had not long to wait. Soon stragglers, few in +numbers, began to appear, emerging from the woods into our clearing, and +then more of them, these running, and then almost at once an avalanche +of panic-stricken, flying men without arms, without knapsacks, many +bareheaded, swearing, cursing, a wild, frenzied mob tearing to the rear. +Instantly they began to appear, General Couch, commanding our corps, +took in the situation and deployed two divisions to catch and hold the +fugitives. Part of the Third Corps was also deployed on our left. We +were ordered to charge bayonets and permit no man to pass through our +ranks. We soon had a seething, howling mob of Dutchmen twenty to thirty +feet in depth in front of our line, holding them back on the points of +our bayonets, and still they came. Every officer of our division, with +drawn sword and pistol, was required to use all possible endeavor to +hold them, and threatening to shoot the first man who refused to stand +as ordered. General French and staff were galloping up and down our +division line assisting in this work. + +In the mean time another line of battle was rapidly thrown in between +these fugitives and the woods to stay the expected advance of the enemy. +This was the famous break of the Eleventh Corps, starting with Blenker's +division and finally extending through the whole corps, some fifteen +thousand men. It seemed as though the whole army was being stampeded. We +soon had a vast throng of these fugitives dammed up in our front, a +terrible menace to the integrity of our own line as well as of all in +our rear. We were powerless to do anything should the enemy break +through, and were in great danger of being ourselves swept away and +disintegrated by this frantic mob. All this time the air was filled with +shrieking shells from our own batteries as well as those of the enemy, +doing, however, little damage beyond adding to the terror of the +situation. The noise was deafening. Pandemonium seemed to reign supreme +in our front. Our line, as well as that of the Third Corps on our left, +was holding firm as a rock. I noticed a general officer, I thought it +was General Sickles, was very conspicuous in the vigor of his efforts to +hold the line. A couple of fugitives had broken through his line and +were rapidly going to the rear. I heard him order them to halt and turn +back. One of them turned and cast a look at him, but paid no further +attention to his order. He repeated the order in stentorian tones, this +time with his pistol levelled, but it was not obeyed, and he fired, +dropping the first man dead in his tracks. He again ordered the other +man to halt, and it was sullenly obeyed. These men seemed to be almost +stupid, deaf to orders or entreaty in their frenzy. + +An incident in our own front will illustrate. I noticed some extra +commotion near our colors and rushed to see the cause. I found an +officer with drawn sword threatening to run the color-sergeant through +if he was not allowed to pass. He was a colonel and evidently a German. +My orders to him to desist were answered with a curse, and I had to +thrust my pistol into his face, with an energetic threat to blow his +head off if he made one more move, before he seemed to come to his +senses. I then appealed to him to see what an example he as an officer +was setting, and demanded that he should get to work and help to stem +the flight of his men rather than assist in their demoralization. To his +credit be it said, he at once regained his better self, and thenceforth +did splendid work up and down amongst these German fugitives, and later +on, when they were moved to the rear, he rendered very material +assistance. I did not learn who he was, but he was a splendid-looking +officer and spoke both English and German fluently. + +One may ask why those men should have lost their heads so completely. To +answer the question intelligently, one needs to put oneself into their +place. The facts as we were told at the time were: That the Eleventh +Corps, which contained two divisions of German troops, under Schurz and +Blenker (I think Steinwehr commanded the latter division in this +action), was posted on the right of Hooker's line in the woods, some +distance in front and to the right of the Chancellorsville House. That +at the time Stonewall Jackson made his famous attack, above referred to, +he caught one of those divisions "napping"--off their guard. They had +stacked their guns and knapsacks, and were back some twenty yards, +making their evening coffee, when suddenly the rebel skirmishers burst +through the brush upon them, followed immediately by the main line, and +before they realized it were between these troops and their guns. +Consternation reigned supreme in an instant and a helter-skelter flight +followed. Jackson followed up this advantage with his usual impetuosity, +and although the other divisions of the Eleventh made an effort to hold +their ground, this big hole in the line was fatal to them and all were +quickly swept away. Of course, the division and brigade commanders were +responsible for that unpardonable carelessness. No valid excuse can be +made for such criminal want of watchfulness, especially for troops +occupying a front line, and which had heard, or should have heard, as +we a half mile farther in the rear had, all the premonitions of the +coming storm. But it was an incident showing the utter folly of the +attempt to maintain a line of battle in the midst of a dense +undergrowth, through which nothing could be seen. It is exceedingly +doubtful whether they could have held their line against Jackson's onset +under those conditions had they been on the alert, for he would have +been on and over them almost before they could have seen him. To resist +such an onset needs time to deliver a steady volley and then be ready +with the bayonet. + +It was towards six o'clock in the evening when this flying mob struck +our lines, and darkness had fallen before we were rid of them and +something like order had been restored. In the mean time it certainly +seemed as if everything was going to pieces. I got a little idea of what +a panic-stricken army means. The fearful thing about it was, we knew it +was terribly contagious, and that with all the uncertainties in that +black wilderness from which this mob came and the pandemonium in +progress all about us, it might seize our own troops and we be swept +away to certain destruction in spite of all our efforts. It is said +death rides on horseback with a fleeing army. Nothing can be more +horrible. Hence a panic must be stopped, cost what it may. Night +undoubtedly came to our rescue with this one. + +One of the most heroic deeds I saw done to help stem the fleeing tide of +men and restore courage was not the work of a battery, nor a charge of +cavalry, but the charge of a band of music! The band of the Fourteenth +Connecticut went right out into that open space between our new line +and the rebels, with shot and shell crashing all about them, and played +"The Star-Spangled Banner," the "Red, White, and Blue," and "Yankee +Doodle," and repeated them for fully twenty minutes. They never played +better. Did that require nerve? It was undoubtedly the first and only +band concert ever given under such conditions. Never was American grit +more finely illustrated. Its effect upon the men was magical. Imagine +the strains of our grand national hymn, "The Star-Spangled Banner," +suddenly bursting upon your ears out of that horrible pandemonium of +panic-born yells, mingled with the roaring of musketry and the crashing +of artillery. To what may it be likened? The carol of birds in the midst +of the blackest thunder-storm? No simile can be adequate. Its strains +were clear and thrilling for a moment, then smothered by that fearful +din, an instant later sounding bold and clear again, as if it would +fearlessly emphasize the refrain, "Our flag is still there." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE--CONTINUED + + +Recurring again to the incident of the band playing out there between +the two hostile lines in the midst of that panic of the Eleventh Corps, +it was a remarkable circumstance that none of them were killed. I think +one or two were slightly wounded by pieces of exploding shells, and one +or two of their instruments carried away scars from that scene. The +rebels did not follow up their advantage, as we expected, probably owing +to the effective work of our batteries, otherwise they would all have +been either killed or captured. None of the enemy came into our clearing +that I saw. We must have corralled upward of eight thousand of our +demoralized men. Some had their arms, most of them had none, which +confirmed the story of their surprise narrated in the last chapter. They +were marched to the rear under guard, and thus the further spread of the +panic was avoided. + +It was now dark and the firing ceased, but only for a few moments, for +the two picket-lines were posted so close together, neither knowing +exactly where the other was, that both were exceedingly nervous; and the +slightest movement, the stepping of a picket, the scurry of a rabbit, +would set the firing going again. First it would be the firing of a +single musket, then the quick rattle of a half-dozen, then the whole +line with the reserves, for all were on the line together there; and +then the batteries, of which there were now at least a half-dozen massed +right around us, would open with terrific vigor, all firing into the +darkness, whence the enemy was supposed to be coming. This continued at +short intervals all night long. + +After the mob of fugitives had been disposed of, our division had formed +in line of battle directly in front of the Chancellorsville House, +supporting the provisional line which had been hurriedly thrown in to +cover the break of the Eleventh Corps, and we were "resting (?) on our +arms." At each of these alarms every man was instantly on his feet, with +guns at a "ready." General French and staff were close to us, and +General Couch and his staff only a few feet away. All were exceedingly +nervous and keenly on the alert. It was a night of terrific experience +long to be remembered. + +The nervous strain upon all was simply awful. We knew that the Eleventh +Corps had been stampeded by the impetuous charge of Stonewall Jackson, +and we felt sure he would seek to reap the fruits of the break he had +made by an effort to pierce our centre, and this we would have to meet +and repel when it came. We did not then know that in the general mix-up +of that fateful afternoon that able and intrepid leader had himself +fallen and was then dying. This fact, fortunate for us, undoubtedly +accounts for the failure of the expected onset to materialize. We could +probably have held him, for we had two divisions of the Second Corps and +part of the Third Corps in double lines, all comparatively fresh, and +before midnight the First Corps was in position on our right. But the +slaughter would have been horrible. + +After midnight these outbursts became less frequent, and we officers lay +down with the men and tried to sleep. I do not think any of our general +officers or their staffs even sat down that whole night, so apprehensive +were they of the descent of the rebels upon our position. I said in the +last chapter that on Saturday morning some beef cattle were slaughtered +near our line for issue to our division; that the work of distribution +had not been completed before the panic came, and then these carcasses +of beef were between ours and the rebel line on "debatable ground." This +was too much for some of our men, and two or three crawled out to them +during the night and helped themselves to such cuts as they could make +from our side. One party next day told of being surprised by hearing +cutting on the other side of the beef, and found, on investigating, that +a "Johnny" was there, when the following colloquy took place: + +"Hello, Johnny, are ye there?" + +"Yes, Yank; too bad to let this 'fresh' spoil. I say, Yank, lend me your +knife, mine's a poor one. We 'uns and you 'uns is all right here. Yank, +I'll help you if you'll help me, and we'll get all we want." + +The knife was passed over, and these two foes helped each other in that +friendly darkness. How much actual truth there was in this story I do +not know, but I do know that there was considerable fresh beef among the +men in the morning, and it was not at all unlikely that the Johnnies +also profited by the presence of that "fresh" between the lines. +Soldiers of either army would run almost any risk to get a bit of fresh +beef. + +The next morning we were ordered to pile up our knapsacks and make a +breastwork of them for such protection as they might afford, in +anticipation of the still expected attack. We managed to make a cup of +coffee and eat a hardtack without getting off our guard for an instant, +and about ten o'clock the First Brigade, now Carroll's, and ours, +consisting of two regiments only, the First Delaware and ours, under +command of our Colonel Albright, were ordered forward into the woods to +the right of the Chancellorsville House. This was the opening of the +third day's battle. We moved forward in excellent line until we struck +the edge of the woods. The moment the crackling of the brush under our +feet apprised the enemy of our advance we received a heavy volley, which +must have been very hurriedly delivered, for it passed over our heads, +not a man being hit, I think. The morning was lowering and misty and the +air very light, so that the smoke made by the rebel volley, not more +than fifty yards away, hung like a chalk line and indicated their exact +position. The sudden retirement of our lieutenant-colonel at this point +placed the command of the regiment on me, and I shouted to the men to +aim below that line of smoke and then gave the order, fire by battalion, +and we emptied our guns as one man, reloaded, and receiving no reply to +our volley, moved forward through the thick brush and undergrowth. We +soon came upon the rebel line, and a dreadful sight it was. The first +officer I saw was a rebel captain, an Irishman. He ejaculated, "We're +all killed! We're all killed!" and offered to surrender. The commanding +officer must have suffered the fate of his men. Most of them were either +killed or wounded. The hundred or so living promptly threw down their +arms, and Colonel Albright sent them to the rear under guard. This Irish +captain vouchsafed the remark sotto voce that he was glad to be +captured, that he'd been trying to get out of the d----n Confederacy for +a year. Our battalion volley had exactly reached its mark and had done +fearful execution. There must have been more than two hundred lying +there either dead or wounded, marking their line of battle. This was the +only instance in my war experience where we delivered a volley as a +battalion. The usual order of firing in line of battle is by "file," +each man firing as rapidly as he can effectively, without regard to any +other man. The volley they had delivered at us was a battalion volley, +and it would have effectively disposed of our advance had it been well +delivered. Fortunately for us, it was not, and their smoke-line gave us +the opportunity to deliver a very effective counter-stroke. It had to be +quickly done, we were so close together. There was no time to meditate. +It was us or them. Instantly I resolved to give them all we could, +aiming well under their line of smoke, and take our chances with the +bayonet if necessary. The order was calmly given and the volley was +coolly delivered. I have never heard a better one. The value of coolness +in delivering and the effectiveness of such a volley were clearly +demonstrated in this instance. + +We again moved forward, working our way through the tangled undergrowth, +and had gained probably five or six hundred yards when we encountered +another line, and sharp firing began on both sides. We could see the +enemy dodging behind trees and stumps not more than one hundred yards +away. We also utilized the same shelter, and therefore suffered +comparatively little. Suddenly I found bullets beginning to come from +our left and rear as well as from our front. Two of these bullets had +been aimed at me as I stood behind a small tree on our line. The first +knowledge I had of them was from the splinters of bark in my face from +the tree, first one and then the other in quick succession as the +bullets struck, not more than three inches from my head. They were +fairly good shots. I was thankful they were no better. But now I had to +move a couple of companies to the left to meet this flank attack. It did +not prove a serious matter, and the enemy was quickly driven back. The +same thing was tried shortly after on our right flank, and was again +disposed of the same way. They were probably groups of sharpshooters +hunting for our officers. One of them, I happened to know, never went +back, for I saw one of our sergeants kill him. I was at that moment +standing by him, when he clapped his hand to his ear and exclaimed, +"That was a 'hot one,'" as a bullet just ticked it. "There is the devil +who did it. See him behind that bush?" and with that he aimed and fired. +The fellow rolled over dead. + +We soon had the better of this fighting and our opponents withdrew. We +seemed now to be isolated. We must have been nearly a half mile from +where we entered the woods. We could not see nor hear of any troops on +our immediate right or left. Colonel Albright came back to consult as to +what was best to be done now. The brush and undergrowth were exceedingly +dense. What there might be on our right or left we could not know +without sending skirmishers out. The colonel said his orders were to +advance and engage the enemy. No orders had come to him since our +advance commenced, two hours and more before. We had met and beaten two +lines of the enemy. Should we continue the advance or retire and get +further orders? My advice was to retire; that with our small force, not +more than five hundred men, isolated in that dense wood, we were liable +to be gobbled up. The colonel agreed with this view and ordered the line +faced about and marched to the rear. I mention this consultation over +the situation because here we were, two young men, who knew almost +nothing about military matters beyond obeying orders, suddenly called +upon to exercise judgment in a critical situation. Bravery suggested +push ahead and fight. To retire savored of over-prudence. Nevertheless, +it seemed to us we had no business remaining out there without +connection with other troops on either right or left, and this decided +the colonel to order the retreat. + +We moved back in line of battle in excellent order and quite leisurely, +having no opposition and, so far as we knew, no troops following us. We +came out into the clearing just where we had entered the woods two hours +before. But here we met a scene that almost froze our blood. During our +absence some half-dozen batteries, forty or more guns, had been massed +here. Hurried earthworks had been thrown up, covering the knapsacks our +brigade had left there when we advanced. These guns were not forty yards +away and were just waiting the order to open on those woods right where +we were. As we emerged from the brush, our colors, fortunately, were a +little in advance, and showed through before the line appeared. Their +timely appearance, we were told, saved us from being literally blown to +pieces by those batteries. A second later the fatal order would have +been given and our brigade would have been wiped out of existence by our +own guns! + +As we came out of the woods an aide galloped down to us, his face +perfectly livid, and in a voice portraying the greatest excitement +shouted to Colonel Albright: "What in h----l and d-mnation are you doing +here? Get out of here! Those woods are full of rebel troops, and we are +just waiting to open on them." Albright replied very coolly, "Save your +ammunition. There is not a rebel within a half mile, for we have just +marched back that distance absolutely unmolested. Why haven't you sent +us orders? We went in here two hours ago, and not an order have we +received since." He replied, "We have sent a dozen officers in to you +with orders, and they all reported that you had been captured." Albright +answered, "They were a lot of cowards, for there hasn't been a minute +since we advanced that an officer could not have come directly to us. +There is something wrong about this. I will go and see General Hooker." +And directing me to move the troops away from the front of those guns, +he started for General Hooker's head-quarters, only a short distance +away. As I was passing the right of that line of batteries a voice +hailed me, and I turned, and there stood one of my old Scranton friends, +Captain Frank P. Amsden, in command of his battery. Said he, as he +gripped my hand, "Boy, you got out of those woods just in time. Our guns +are double-shotted with grape and canister; the word 'fire' was just on +my lips when your colors appeared." I saw his gunners standing with +their hands on the lanyards. After forty years my blood almost creeps as +I recall that narrow escape. + +We now moved to the rear across the plank-road from the Chancellorsville +House in the woods, where we supported Hancock's line. Colonel Albright +soon returned from his visit to Hooker's head-quarters. His account of +that visit was most remarkable, and was substantially as follows: "I +scratched on the flap of the Hooker head-quarters' tent and instantly an +officer appeared and asked what was wanted. I said I must see General +Hooker, that I had important information for him. He said, 'You cannot +see General Hooker; I am chief of staff; any information you have for +the commanding general should be given to me.' I said, 'I must see +General Hooker,' and with that pushed myself by him into the tent, and +there lay General Hooker, apparently dead drunk. His face and position +gave every indication of that condition, and I turned away sick and +disgusted." It was subsequently stated that General Hooker was +unconscious at that time from the concussion of a shell. That he was +standing on the porch of the Chancellorsville House, leaning against one +of its supports, when a shell struck it, rendering him unconscious. The +incident narrated above occurred about one P.M. on Sunday, May 3. The +army was practically without a commander from this time until after +sundown of that day, when General Hooker reappeared and in a most +conspicuous manner rode around between the lines of the two armies. If +he was physically disabled, why was not the fact made known at once to +the next officer in rank, whose duty it would have been to have assumed +command of the army, and if possible stem the tide of defeat now rapidly +overwhelming us? A half-day of most precious time would have been saved. +That this was not done I happen to know from the following +circumstances. + +In our new position we were only about fifty yards behind General +Hancock's line. The head-quarters at this time of General Couch, +commanding our corps; of General French, commanding our division, and of +General Hancock were all at the right of our regiment, behind our line. +These generals and their staffs were resting, as were our troops, and +they were sitting about, only a few feet away from us. We therefore +heard much of their conversation. Directly General Howard joined them. I +well remember his remarks concerning the behavior of his corps on the +previous afternoon. His chagrin was punctured with the advice of old +French to shoot a few dozen of them for example's sake. Naturally, the +chief subject of their conversation related to the present situation. It +was perfectly clear they regarded it as very critical. We could hear +heavy cannonading in the distance towards Fredericksburg. Several times +Hancock broke out with a savage oath as he impatiently paced up and +down, swinging his sword. "They are knocking Sedgwick to pieces. Why +don't we go forward?" or a similar ejaculation, and then, "General +Couch, why do you not assume command and order us forward? It is your +duty." (The latter was next in rank to Hooker.) + +To which General Couch replied, "I cannot assume command." French and +Howard agreed with Hancock, but Couch remained imperturbable, saying, +"When I am properly informed that General Hooker is disabled and not in +command, I shall assume the duty which will devolve upon me." And so +hour after hour passed of inactivity at this most critical juncture. +They said it was plain Lee was making simply a show of force in our +front whilst he had detached a large part of his army and was driving +Sedgwick before him down at Fredericksburg. Now, why this period of +inactivity whilst Sedgwick was being punished? Why this interregnum in +the command? When Colonel Albright returned from his call at Hooker's +tent, narrated above, he freely expressed his opinion that Hooker's +condition was as stated above. His views were then generally believed by +those about head-quarters, and this was understood as the reason why the +next officer in rank was not officially notified of his chief's +disability and the responsibility of the command placed upon him. +Nothing was then said about the concussion of a shell. It is profoundly +to be hoped that Colonel Albright's impression was wrong, and that the +disability was produced, as alleged, by concussion of a shell. If so, +there was a very grave dereliction of duty on the part of his chief of +staff in not imparting the fact immediately to General Couch, the +officer next in rank, and devolving the command upon him. + +In our new position on the afternoon of Sunday, the third day's battle, +we were subjected to a continuous fire of skirmishers and sharpshooters, +without the ability of replying. We laid up logs for a barricade and +protected ourselves as well as we could. Several were wounded during +the afternoon, among them Captain Hall, of Company I. His was a most +singular wound. We were all lying prone upon the ground, when suddenly +he spoke rather sharply and said he had got a clip on his knee. He said +it was an insignificant flesh wound, but his leg was benumbed. He tried +to step on it, but could not bear his weight on it, and very soon it +became exceedingly painful, and his ankle swelled to double its natural +size. He was taken back to one of the hospitals, where it was found a +minie-ball had entered his leg above the knee and passed down between +the bones to the ankle, where it was removed. This practically ended the +service of one of the youngest of our captains, a brave and brilliant +young officer. + +Towards night a cold, drizzling rain set in, which chilled us to our +bones. We could not have any fires, not even to make our coffee, for +fear of disclosing our position to the enemy. For four days now we had +been continuously under the terrible nervous strain incident to a battle +and practically without any rest or sleep. During this time we had no +cooked food, nothing but hardtack and raw pork and coffee but once. This +condition began to tell upon us all. I had been under the weather when +the movement began, and was ordered by our surgeon to remain behind, but +I said no, not as long as I could get around. Now I found my strength +had reached its limit, and I took that officer's advice, with the +colonel's orders, and went back to the division field hospital to get +under cover from the rain and get a night's sleep if possible. + +I found a half-dozen hospital tents standing together as one hospital, +and all full to overflowing with sick and wounded men. Our brigade +surgeon, a personal friend, was in charge. He finally found a place for +me just under the edge of one of the tents, where I could keep part of +the rain off. He brought me a stiff dose of whiskey and quinine, the +universal war remedy, and I drank it and lay down, and was asleep in +less time than it takes me to write it. + +About midnight the surgeon came and aroused me with the information that +the army was moving back across the river, and that all in the hospital +who could march were ordered to make their way back as best they could; +that of the others the ambulances would carry all they could and the +others would be left. This was astounding information. My first impulse +was, of course, to return to my regiment, but the doctor negatived that +emphatically by saying, "You are under my orders here, and my +instructions are to send you all directly back to the ford and across +the river; and then the army is already on the march, and you might as +well attempt to find a needle in a haystack as undertake to find your +regiment in these woods in this darkness." If his first reason had not +been sufficient, the latter one was quite convincing. I realized at once +the utter madness of any attempt to reach the regiment, at the same time +that in this night tramp back over the river, some eight miles, I had a +job that would tax my strength to the utmost. The doctor had found one +of the men of our regiment who was sick, and bidding us help each other +started us back over the old plank-road. + +How shall I describe the experiences of that night's tramp? The night +was intensely dark and it was raining hard. The plank-road was such +only in name. What few remnants remained of the old planks were rotten +and were a constant menace to our footing. I must have had more than a +dozen falls during that march from those broken planks, until face, +arms, and legs were a mass of bruises. We were told to push forward as +rapidly as we could to keep ahead of the great rabble of sick and +wounded which was to follow immediately. This we tried to do, though the +road was now crowded with the occupants of the other hospitals already +on their way. These men were all either sick or wounded, and were making +their way with the greatest difficulty, most of them in silence, but +there was an occasional one whose tongue gave expression to every +possible mishap in outbursts of the most shocking profanity. There were +enough of these to make the night hideous. + +Our road was a track just wide enough to admit a single wagon through +the densest jungle of timber and undergrowth I ever saw. I cannot +imagine the famed jungles of Africa more dense or impenetrable, and it +seemed to be without end as we wearily plodded on hour after hour, now +stepping into a hole and sprawling in the mud, again stumbling against a +stolid neighbor and being in turn jostled by him, with an oath for being +in his way. Many a poor fellow fell, too exhausted to rise, and we were +too nearly dead to do more than mechanically note the fact. + +Towards morning a quartette of men overtook us carrying a man on their +shoulders. As they drew near us one of the forward pair stumbled and +fell, and down came the body into the mud with a swash. If the body was +not dead, the fall killed it, for it neither moved nor uttered a sound. +With a fearful objurgation they went on and left it, and we did not have +life enough left in us to make any investigation. It was like the case +of a man on the verge of drowning seeing others perishing without the +ability to help. It was a serious question whether we could pull +ourselves through or should be obliged to drop in our tracks, to be run +over and crushed or trampled to death, as many a poor fellow was that +night. We had not an ounce of strength, nor had any of the hundreds of +others in our condition, to bestow on those who could not longer care +for themselves. Here it was every man for himself. This night's +experience was a horrible nightmare. + +It was long after daylight when we crawled out of those woods and +reached United States ford. Here a pontoon bridge had been thrown over, +and a double column of troops and a battery of artillery were crossing +at the same time. We pushed ourselves into the throng, as to which there +was no semblance of order, and were soon on the other side. On the top +of the bluff, some one hundred feet above the river, on our side, we +noticed a hospital tent, and we thought if we could reach that we might +find shelter and rest, for it was still raining and we were drenched to +the skin, and so cold that our faces were blue and our teeth chattered. +A last effort landed us at this hospital. Alas for our hopes! it was +crowded like sardines in a box with others who in like condition had +reached it before us. I stuck my head in the tent. One glance was +enough. The surgeon in charge, in answer to our mute appeal, said, "God +help you, boys; I cannot. But here is a bottle of whiskey, take a good +drink; it will do you good." We took a corking dose, nearly half the +bottle, and lay down, spoon fashion, my comrade and I, by the side of +that tent in the rain and slept for about an hour, until the stimulus of +the liquor passed off and the cold began again to assert itself, when we +had to start on again. I have never had any use for liquors in my life, +and the use of them in any form as a beverage I consider as nothing else +than harmful in the highest degree, yet I have always felt that this big +dose of whiskey saved my life. Could we have had a good cup of hot +coffee at that time it would possibly have been better, but we might as +well have looked for lodgings in the Waldorf-Astoria as for coffee at +that time and place. Imagine my feelings during all this night as I +reflected that I had a good horse, overcoat, and gum blanket +somewhere,--yes, somewhere, back, or wherever my regiment might be,--and +here I was soaking wet, chilled to the bones and almost dead from +tramping. + +We got word at the Ford that the troops were to go back to their old +camps, and there was nothing for us to do but to make our way back there +as best we might. Soon after we started Colonel (afterwards Judge Dana, +of Wilkes-Barre) Dana's regiment passed. The colonel hailed me and +kindly inquired why I happened to be there by myself on foot, said I +looked most wretched, and insisted on my taking another bracer from a +little emergency stock he had preserved. I had been but a few months out +of his law office, from which I had been admitted to the bar. His kindly +attentions under these limited circumstances were very cheering and +helpful. We were all day covering the eight or more miles back to camp. +But early in the day the rain ceased, the sun came out, we got warmed up +marching, and after some hours our clothes became sufficiently dry to be +more comfortable, so that when we reached camp in the evening our +condition was much improved. This was due in part probably as much to +the relief from the awful nervous strain of the battle and the +conditions through which we had passed in that wilderness as to rest and +the changed weather. When we reached this side of the river that nervous +strain ceased. We were sure that fighting was over, at least for the +present. We found the regiment had been in camp some hours ahead of us. +Our corps was probably on the march when we left the hospital, and had +preceded us all the way back. I found my horse had brought back one of +our wounded men, and this was some compensation for my own loss. + +We had been gone on this campaign from the 29th of April until the 5th +of May, and such a week! How much that was horrible had been crowded +into it. For variety of experiences of the many dreadful sides of war, +that week far exceeded any other like period of our service. The +fighting was boy's play compared with either Antietam or Fredericksburg, +yet for ninety-six hours continuously we were under the terrible nervous +strain of battle. Our losses in this action were comparatively light, 2 +men killed, 2 officers wounded (one of whom died a few days later), and +39 men wounded, and one man missing; total loss, 44, or about fifteen +per cent. of the number we took into action. This missing man I met at +the recent reunion of our regiment. He was picked up from our skirmish +line by that flanking party of rebels on the third day's fight described +in my last. The circumstance will show how close the rebels were upon us +before we discovered them. Our skirmishers could not have been more than +a dozen yards in advance of our main line, yet the thicket was so dense +that the enemy was on him before he fairly realized it. He said he was +placed with a lot of other prisoners and marched to the rear some +distance, under guard, when a fine-looking Confederate officer rode up +to them. He was told it was General Lee. He said he wore long, bushy +whiskers and addressed them with a cheery,-- + +"Good-morning, boys. What did you come down here for? a picnic? You +didn't think you could whip us men of the South, did you?" + +One of the prisoners spoke up in reply,-- + +"Yes, d----n you, we did, and we will. You haven't won this fight yet, +and Joe Hooker will lick h----l out of you and recapture us before you +get us out of these woods." + +The general laughed good-naturedly at the banter his questions had +elicited, and solemnly assured them that there were not men enough in +the whole North to take Richmond. Our man was probably misinformed as to +who their interlocutor was. General Lee did not wear long, bushy +whiskers, and was at that time probably down directing operations +against Fredericksburg. This was probably Jeb Stuart, who had succeeded +Jackson in command of that wing of the rebel army. + +Our prisoner fared much better than most prisoners, for it was his good +fortune to be exchanged after twenty-three days' durance, probably +owing to the expiration of his term of service. Although the actual +dates of enlistment of our men were all in July and their terms +therefore expired, the government insisted upon holding us for the full +period of nine months from the date of actual muster into the United +States service, which would not be completed until the 14th of May. We +had, therefore, eight days' service remaining after our return from the +battle of Chancellorsville, and we were continued in all duties just as +though we had months yet to serve. Our principal work was the old +routine of picket duty again. Our friends, the enemy, were now quick to +tantalize our pickets with the defeat at Chancellorsville. Such remarks +as these were volleyed at us: + +"We 'uns give you 'uns a right smart lickin' up in them woods." + +"How d'ye like Virginny woods, Yank?" + +And then they sang to us: + + "Ain't ye mighty glad to get out the wilderness?" + +A song just then much in vogue. Another volunteered the remark, as if to +equalize the honors in some measure, "If we did wallop you 'uns, you +'uns killed our best general." "We feel mighty bad about Stonewall's +death," and so their tongues would run on, whether our men replied or +not. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE MUSTER OUT AND HOME AGAIN + + +On the 14th of May we received orders to proceed to Harrisburg for +muster out. There was, of course, great rejoicing at the early prospect +of home scenes once more. We walked on air, and lived for the next few +days in fond anticipation. We were the recipients of any amount of +attention from our multitude of friends in the division. Many were the +forms of leave-taking that took place. It was a great satisfaction to +realize that in our comparatively brief period of service we had +succeeded in winning our way so thoroughly into the big hearts of those +veterans. The night before our departure was one of the gladdest and +saddest of all our experience. The Fourteenth Connecticut band, that +same band which had so heroically played out between the lines when the +Eleventh Corps broke on that fateful Saturday night at Chancellorsville, +came over and gave us a farewell serenade. They played most of the +patriotic airs, with "Home, Sweet Home," which I think never sounded +quite so sadly sweet, and suggestively wound up with "When Johnny Comes +Marching Home." Most of the officers and men of the brigade were there +to give us a soldier's good-by, and Major-General Couch, commanding our +corps (the Second), also paid us the compliment of a visit and made a +pleasant little speech to the men who were informally grouped around +head-quarters, commending our behavior in three of the greatest battles +of the war. + +It had been our high honor, he said, to have had a part in those great +battles, and though new and untried we had acquitted ourselves with +great credit and had held our ground like veterans. He expressed the +fervent hope that our patriotism would still further respond to the +country's needs, and that we would all soon again be in the field. Our +honors were not yet complete. General French, commanding our division, +issued a farewell order, a copy of which I would have been glad to +publish, but I have not been able to get it. It was, however, gratifying +in the extreme. He recounted our bravery under his eye in those battles +and our efficient service on all duty, and wound up by saying he felt +sure that men with such a record could not long remain at home, but +would soon again rally around their country's flag. Of General Couch, +our corps commander, we had seen but little, and were therefore very +pleasantly surprised at his visit. Of General French, bronzed and +grizzly bearded, we had seen much; all our work had been under his +immediate supervision. He was a typical old regular, and many were the +cuffs and knocks we received for our inexperience and shortcomings, all, +however, along the lines of discipline and for our good, and which had +really helped to make soldiers of us. These incidents showed that each +commanding general keeps a keen eye on all his regiments, and no one is +quicker to detect and appreciate good behavior than they. We felt +especially pleased with the praises of General French, because it +revealed the other side of this old hero's character. Rough in exterior +and manner of speech, he was a strong character and a true hero. + +His position at the breaking out of the war will illustrate this. He was +a Southerner of the type of Anderson and Farragut. When so many of his +fellows of the regular army, under pretext of following their States, +went over into rebellion and treason, he stood firm and under +circumstances which reflect great credit upon him. He had been in Mexico +and had spent a life on the frontier, and had grown old and gray in the +service, reaching only the rank of captain. When the war finally came he +was in command of a battery of artillery stationed some three hundred +and fifty miles up the Rio Grande, on the border of Mexico. He was cut +off from all communication with Washington, and the commander of his +department, the notorious General David E. Twiggs, had gone over to the +Confederacy. He was, therefore, thoroughly isolated. Twiggs sent him a +written order to surrender his battery to the rebel commander of that +district. His characteristic reply was, that he would "see him and the +Confederacy in hell first;" that he was going to march his battery into +God's country, and if anybody interfered with his progress they might +expect a dose of shot and shell they would long remember. None of them +felt disposed to test his threat, and so he marched his battery alone +down through that rebel country those three hundred and fifty miles and +more into our lines at the mouth of the Rio Grande, bringing off every +gun and every dollar's worth of government property that he could carry, +and what he could not carry he destroyed. He was immediately ordered +north with his battery and justly rewarded with a brigadier-general's +commission. + +Early on the morning of the 15th we broke camp and bade farewell to that +first of the world's great armies, the grand old Army of the Potomac. +Need I say that, joyous as was our home-going, there was more than a +pang at the bottom of our hearts as we severed those heroic +associations? A last look at the old familiar camp, a wave of the hand +to the friendly adieus of our comrades, whose good-by glances indicated +that they would gladly have exchanged places with us; that if our hearts +were wrung at going, theirs were, too, at remaining; a last march down +those Falmouth hills, another and last glance at those terrible works +behind Fredericksburg, and we passed out of the army and out of the +soldier into the citizen, for our work was now done and we were soldiers +only in name. + +As our train reached Belle-plain, where we were to take boat for +Washington, we noticed a long train of ambulances moving down towards +the landing, and were told they were filled with wounded men, just now +brought off the field at Chancellorsville. There were upward of a +thousand of them. It seems incredible that the wounded should have been +left in those woods during these ten to twelve days since the battle. +How many hundreds perished during that time for want of care nobody +knows, and, more horrible still, nobody knows how many poor fellows were +burned up in the portions of those woods that caught fire from the +artillery. But such is war. Dare any one doubt the correctness of Uncle +Billy Sherman's statement that "War is hell!" + +Reaching Washington, the regiment bivouacked a single night, awaiting +transportation to Harrisburg. During this time discipline was relaxed +and the men were permitted to see the capital city. The +lieutenant-colonel and I enjoyed the extraordinary luxury of a good +bath, a square meal, and a civilized bed at the Metropolitan Hotel, the +first in five long months. Singular as it may seem, I caught a terrific +cold as the price I paid for it. The next day we were again back in Camp +Curtin, at Harrisburg, with nothing to do but to make out the necessary +muster rolls, turn in our government property,--guns, accoutrements, +blankets, etc., and receive our discharges. This took over a week, so +that it was the 24th of May before we were finally discharged and paid +off. Then the several companies finally separated. + +If it had been hard to leave our comrades of the Army of the Potomac, it +was harder to sever the close comradeship of our own regiment, a +relationship formed and cemented amidst the scenes that try men's souls, +a comradeship born of fellowship in privation, danger, and suffering. I +could hardly restrain my tears as we finally parted with our torn and +tattered colors, the staff of one of which had been shot away in my +hands. We had fought under their silken folds on three battle-fields, +upon which we had left one-third of our number killed and wounded, +including a colonel and three line officers and upward of seventy-five +men killed and two hundred and fifteen wounded. Out of our regiment of +one thousand and twenty-four men mustered into the service August 14, +1862, we had present at our muster out six hundred and eighteen. We had +lost in battle two hundred and ninety-five in killed and wounded and +one hundred and eleven from physical disability, sickness, etc., and all +in the short space of nine months. Of the sixteen nine-months regiments +formed in August, 1862, the One Hundred and Thirtieth and ours were the +only regiments to actively participate in the three great battles of +Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, and we lost more men +than either of the others. + +I should mention a minor incident that occurred during our stay in +Harrisburg preparing for muster out. A large number of our men had asked +me to see if I could not get authority to re-enlist a battalion from the +regiment. I was assured that three-fourths of the men would go back with +me, provided they could have a two weeks' furlough. I laid the matter +before Governor Curtin. He said the government should take them by all +means; that here was a splendid body of seasoned men that would be worth +more than double their number of new recruits; but he was without +authority to take them, and suggested that I go over to Washington and +lay the matter before the Secretary of War. He gave me a letter to the +latter and I hurried off. I had no doubt of my ability to raise an +entire regiment from the great number of nine-months men now being +discharged. I repaired to the War Department, and here my troubles +began. Had the lines of sentries that guarded the approach to the armies +in the field been half as efficient as the cordon of flunkies that +barred the way to the War Office, the former would have been beyond the +reach of any enemy. At the entrance my pedigree was taken, with my +credentials and a statement of my business. I was finally permitted to +sit down in a waiting-room with a waiting crowd. Occasionally a senator +or a congressman would break the monotony by pushing himself in whilst +we cultivated our patience by waiting. Lunch time came and went. I +waited. Several times I ventured some remarks to the attendant as to +when I might expect my turn to come, but he looked at me with a sort of +far-off look, as though I could not have realized to whom I was +speaking. Finally, driven to desperation, after waiting more than four +hours, I tried a little bluster and insisted that I would go in and see +somebody. Then I was assured that the only official about the office was +a Colonel----, acting assistant adjutant-general. I might see him. + +"Yes," I said, "let me see him, anybody!" + +I was ushered into the great official's presence. He was a +lieutenant-colonel, just one step above my own rank. He was dressed in a +faultless new uniform. His hair was almost as red as a fresh red rose +and parted in the middle, and his pose and dignity were quite worthy of +the national snob hatchery at West Point, of which he was a recent +product. + +"Young man," said he, with a supercilious air, "what might your business +be?" + +I stated that I had brought a letter from His Excellency, Governor +Curtin, of Pennsylvania, to the Secretary of War, whom I desired to see +on important business. + +"Where is your letter, sir?" + +"I gave it up to the attendant four hours ago, who, I supposed, took it +to the Secretary." + +"There is no letter here, sir! What is your business? You cannot see the +Secretary of War." + +I then briefly stated my errand. His reply was,-- + +"Young man, if you really desire to serve your country, go home and +enlist." + +Thoroughly disgusted, I retired, and so ended what might have saved to +the service one of the best bodies of men that ever wore a government +uniform, and at a time when the country was sorely in need of them. + +A word now of the personnel of the One Hundred and Thirty-second +Regiment and I am done. Dr. Bates, in his history of the Pennsylvania +troops, remarks that this regiment was composed of a remarkable body of +men. This judgment must have been based upon his knowledge of their +work. Every known trade was represented in its ranks. Danville gave us a +company of iron workers and merchants, Catawissa and Bloomsburg, +mechanics, tradesmen, and farmers. From Mauch Chunk we had two +companies, which included many miners. From Wyoming and Bradford we had +three companies of sturdy, intelligent young farmers intermingled with +some mechanics and tradesmen. Scranton, small as she was then, gave us +two companies, which was scarcely a moiety of the number she sent into +the service. I well remember how our flourishing Young Men's Christian +Association was practically suspended because its members had gone to +the war, and old Nay Aug Hose Company, the pride of the town, in which +many of us had learned the little we knew of drill, was practically +defunct for want of a membership which had "gone to the war." Of these +two Scranton companies, Company K had as its basis the old Scranton City +Guard, a militia organization which, if not large, was thoroughly well +drilled and made up of most excellent material. Captain Richard +Stillwell, who commanded this company, had organized the City Guard and +been its captain from the beginning. The other Scranton company was +perhaps more distinctively peculiar in its personnel than either of the +other companies. It was composed almost exclusively of Delaware, +Lackawanna & Western Railroad shop and coal men, and was known as the +Railroad Guards. In its ranks were locomotive engineers, firemen, +brakemen, trainmen, machinists, telegraph operators, despatchers, +railroad-shop men, a few miners, foremen, coal-breaker men, etc. Their +captain, James Archbald, Jr., was assistant to his father as chief +engineer of the road, and he used to say that with his company he could +survey, lay out, build and operate a railroad. The first sergeant of +that company, George Conklin, brother of D. H. Conklin, chief despatcher +of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western, and his assistant, had been one +of the first to learn the art of reading telegraph messages by ear, an +accomplishment then quite uncommon. His memory had therefore been so +developed that after a few times calling his company roll he dispensed +with the book and called it alphabetically from memory. Keeping a +hundred names in his mind in proper order we thought quite a feat. Forty +years later, at one of our reunions, Mr. Conklin, now superintendent of +a railroad, was present. I asked him if he remembered calling his +company roll from memory. + +"Yes," said he, "and I can do it now, and recall every face and voice," +and he began and rattled off the names of his roll. He said sometimes in +the old days the boys would try to fool him by getting a comrade to +answer for them, but they could never do it, he would detect the +different voice instantly. + +Now, as I close this narrative, shall I speak of the gala day of our +home-coming? I can, of course, only speak of the one I participated in, +the coming home to Scranton of Companies I and K and the members of the +field and staff who lived here. This, however, will be a fair +description of the reception each of the other companies received at +their respective homes. Home-coming from the war! Can we who know of it +only as we read appreciate such a home-coming? That was forty-one years +ago the 25th of last May. Union Hall, on Lackawanna Avenue, midway +between Wyoming and Penn, had been festooned with flags, and in it a +sumptuous dinner awaited us. A committee of prominent citizens, our old +friends, not one of whom is now living, met us some distance down the +road. A large delegation of Scranton's ladies were at the hall to +welcome and serve us, and of these, the last one, one of the mothers and +matrons, has just passed into the great beyond. Many of those of our own +age, the special attraction of the returning "boys," have also gone, but +a goodly number still remain. They will recall this picture with not a +little interest, I am sure. If perchance cheeks should be wet and +spectacles moistened as they read, it will be but a reproduction of the +emotions of that beautiful day more than forty years ago. No soldier +boys ever received a more joyous or hearty welcome. The bountiful repast +was hurriedly eaten, for anxious mothers, wives, sisters, and +sweethearts were there, whose claim upon their returning "boy in blue" +for holier and tenderer relationship was paramount. + +Amidst all these joyous reunions, were there no shadows? Ah, yes. In the +brief period of nine months our regiment had lost forty per cent. of its +membership. Company I had gone to the front with one hundred and one +stalwart officers and men, and but sixty-eight came back with the +company. Of the missing names, Daniel S. Gardner, Moses H. Ames, George +H. Cator, Daniel Reed, Richard A. Smith, and John B. West were killed in +battle or died of wounds soon after; Orville Sharp had died in the +service. The others had succumbed to the hardships of the service and +been discharged. Of the same number Company K took into the service, +sixty-six came home with the company. Sergeant Martin L. Hower, Richard +Davis, Jacob Eschenbach, Jephtha Milligan, Allen Sparks, Obadiah +Sherwood, and David C. Young had been killed in battle or died of +wounds; Thomas D. Davis, Jesse P. Kortz, Samuel Snyder, James Scull, +Solon Searles, and John W. Wright had died in the service. The most +conspicuous figure in the regiment, our colonel, Richard A. Oakford, had +been the first to fall. So that amidst our rejoicings there were a +multitude of hearts unutterably sad. Will the time ever come when "the +bitter shall not be mingled with the sweet" and tears of sorrow shall +not drown the cup of gladness? Let us hope and pray that it may; and +now, as Father Time tenderly turns down the heroic leaf of the One +Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, let us find comfort +in the truth, + + "_Dulce et decorum est, pro patria mori._" + + + + +APPENDIX + + +The following are copies of the muster-out rolls of the Field and Staff +and the several companies of the One Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment, +Pennsylvania Volunteers, taken originally from Bates's History, and +compared and corrected from the original rolls in the Adjutant-General's +office, at Harrisburg, Pa. Several corrections have been made from the +personal recollections of officers and men whom I have been able to +consult. There are doubtless errors in the original rolls, owing to the +paucity of records in the hands of those whose duty it was to make them +at the time of muster-out, owing to resignations and other casualties. +Some of these officers were new in the command, and complete records +were not in their hands. It will be remembered that the whole period of +service of the One Hundred and Thirty-second was occupied in the three +strenuous campaigns of Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, +during which regimental and company baggage, which included official +records, were seldom seen, and in many cases were entirely lost. For +example, at the battle of Chancellorsville on the fateful 3d of May, we +had lain in line of battle behind our knapsacks piled up in twos, as a +little protection from bullets. When we were ordered forward, so quick +was the movement, that these knapsacks, and officers' luggage as well, +were ordered to be left. When, two hours later, on our return we reached +this ground, we found our knapsacks were at the bottom of an earth-work +which had been hurriedly thrown up during our absence, over which a line +of batteries thrust the frowning muzzles of their guns. With one or two +exceptions (where the officer commanding the company happened to have it +in his pocket), the company rolls were lost in the knapsacks of the +first sergeant, whose duty it was to carry it. Thereupon new rolls had +to be made up, and of course mostly from memory. Under all these +circumstances, the wonder is that there are not more errors in them. +Almost at the last moment did I learn that I could include these rolls +in my book, without exceeding its limits under the contract price. +During this time I have endeavored at considerable expense and labor to +get them correct, but even so, I cannot hope that they are more than +approximately complete. Nothing can be more sacred or valuable to the +veteran and his descendants than his war record. The difficulty with +these rolls will be found I fear not so much in what is so briefly +stated, but in what has been inadvertently omitted, and which was +necessary to a complete record. There are a number of desertions. I have +given them as they are on the rolls. It is possible that some of these +men may have dropped out of the column from exhaustion on the march, +fallen sick and had been taken to some hospital and died without +identification. Failing to report at roll-call and being unaccounted +for, they would be carried on the company rolls as "absent without +leave," until prolonged absence without information would compel the +adding of the fearful word "deserted." There were instances where men +taken sick made their way home without leave and were marked deserters. +After recovering from a severe case of "army fever" they returned again +to duty. This was in violation of discipline, and under the strict +letter of the law they were deserters, but they saved the government the +cost of their nursing, and, what is more, probably saved their lives and +subsequent service by their going. I mention these things so that where +the record appears harsh, the reader may know that possibly, if all the +facts had been known, it might have been far different. + + +FIELD AND STAFF. + +RICHARD A. OAKFORD, colonel, mustered in Aug. 22, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862. + +VINCENT M. WILCOX, colonel, mustered in Aug. 26, 1862; promoted from +lieutenant-colonel September, 1862; discharged on surgeon's certificate +Jan. 24, 1863. + +CHARLES ALBRIGHT, colonel, mustered in Aug. 22, 1862; promoted from +major to lieutenant-colonel September, 1862, to colonel Jan. 24, 1863; +mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH E. SHREVE, lieutenant-colonel, promoted from captain Co. A to +major September, 1862, to lieutenant-colonel Jan. 24, 1863; mustered out +with regiment May 24, 1863. + +FREDERICK L. HITCHCOCK, major, mustered in Aug. 22, 1862; promoted from +adjutant Jan. 24, 1863; twice wounded at Fredericksburg Dec. 13, 1862; +mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863. + +AUSTIN F. CLAPP, adjutant, promoted from corporal Co. K to +sergeant-major Nov. 1, 1862; to adjutant Jan. 24, 1863; mustered out +with regiment May 24, 1863. + +CLINTON W. NEAL, quartermaster, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted from +Co. E Aug. 22, 1862; mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863. + +JAMES W. ANAWALT, surgeon (major), mustered in Sept. 22, 1862; mustered +out with regiment May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE K. THOMPSON, assistant surgeon (first lieutenant), mustered in +Aug. 19, 1862; mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE W. HOOVER, assistant surgeon (first lieutenant), mustered in +Sept. 3, 1862; mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863. + +A. H. SCHOONMAKER, chaplain (first lieutenant), mustered in Sept. 20, +1862; mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS MAXWELL, sergeant-major, promoted to sergeant-major from Co. A +Aug. 22, 1862; promoted to first lieutenant Co. A Nov. 1, 1862. (See Co. +A.) + +FRANK J. DEEMER, sergeant-major, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from Co. K Jan. 24, 1863; mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863. + +ELMORE H. WELLS, quartermaster-sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +promoted from Co. B Aug. 26, 1862; owing to prolonged sickness in +hospital returned to Co. Jan. 1, 1863. (See Co. B.) + +BROOKS A. BASS, quartermaster-sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +promoted from Co. I Jan. 1, 1863; mustered out with regiment May 24, +1863. + +JOHN F. SALMON, commissary-sergeant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted +from Co. G Aug. 15, 1862; died at Harper's Ferry, Va., Oct. 16, 1862. + +WILLIAM W. COOLBAUGH, commissary-sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +promoted from Co. K Oct. 17, 1862; transferred to company Dec. 25, 1862. +(See Co. K.) + +ALONZO R. CASE, commissary-sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +from sergeant Co. C Dec. 25, 1862; mustered out with regiment May 24, +1863. + +HORACE A. DEANS, hospital steward, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from Co. I Oct. 1, 1862; transferred to ranks April 1, 1863. (See Co. +I.) + +MOSES G. CORWIN, hospital steward, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from Co. K April 6, 1863; mustered out with regiment May 24, 1863. + + +COMPANY A.[G] + +JOSEPH E. SHREVE, captain, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to major. +See Field and Staff. + +CHARLES C. NORRIS, captain, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from +second lieutenant Nov. 1, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE W. VANGILDER, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +discharged on surgeon's certificate Oct. 26, 1862. + +THOMAS MAXWELL, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from sergeant-major Nov. 1, 1862; mustered out with regiment. + +ED. W. RODERICK, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from private; mustered out with company. + +DAVID SHUTT, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +sergeant March 1, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +J. M. HASSENPLUG, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +JOHN S. WARE, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +corporal March 1, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ISAAC D. CREWITT, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +corporal March 1, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +MICHAEL KESSLER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +private March 6, 1863; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE LOVETT, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +private Feb. 1, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB H. MILLER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged, Jan. +30, 1863, at Washington, for wounds received at Antietam, Va., Sept. 17, +1862. + +JOSEPH H. NEVINS, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate March 6, 1863, at Baltimore, Md. + +DANIEL VANROUK, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +JACOB REDFIELD, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from +private Sept. 18, 1862; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES WILLIAMS, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +private Oct. 15, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +CONRAD S. ATEN, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +private Dec. 3, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE SNYDER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; absent, sick, at +muster-out. + +ALEX. HUNTINGTON, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +private Feb. 1, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL STALL, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from private +Feb. 1, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY VINCENT, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +private March 6, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN HARIG, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from private +March 6, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES FLICK, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged at +Baltimore, Md., Dec. 6, 1862, of wounds received at Antietam Sept. 17, +1862. + +NATHAN F. LIGHTNER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged at +Newark, N. J., on surgeon's certificate Dec. 8, 1862. + +WM. C. MCCORMICK, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged March +1, 1863; wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +HENRY L. SHICK, musician, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AMOS APPLEMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SYLVESTER W. ARNWINE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY ADAMS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Sept. 22 of wounds +received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +ARTHUR W. BEAVER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB J. BOOKMILLER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +FRANKLIN G. BLEE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JEREMIAH BLACK, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. CARROLL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +SAMUEL E. COOPER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; deserted Oct. 22, +1862; left at Bolivar Heights, Va.; sick, failed to return to company. + +FRANKLIN DEVINE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM DAVIS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL V. DYE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged at +Philadelphia on surgeon's certificate April 8, 1863. + +WILLIAM EARP, Jr., private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +JAMES S. EASTON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HIRAM EGGERT, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH FEIDEL, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL FLICKINGER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN B. A. FOIN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES FOSTER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +C. W. FITZSIMMONS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN L. FIELDS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE FRANCIS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged at +Harrisburg on surgeon's certificate Nov. 15, 1862. + +THOMAS GOODALL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL GULICKS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN GIBSON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +JOSEPH HALE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE E. HUNT, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ADAM HORNBERGER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +D. HENDRICKSON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL HILLNER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +HIRAM HUMMEL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +THOMAS JONES, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS JAMES, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +W. J. W. KLASE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL J. P. KLASE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +CONRAD LECHTHALER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; left sick at +Warrenton, Va., Nov. 14, 1862; reported discharged; no official notice +received. + +SAMUEL LANGER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN LEICHOW, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged Oct. 28, +1862, for wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +JACOB LONG, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at Antietam, Md., +Sept. 17, 1862. + +WATKIN MORGAN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LEVI M. MILLER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB W. MOYER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LEONARD MAYER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CORNELIUS C. MOYER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN MORRIS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN MCCOY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES MCKEE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Aug. 16, 1862, +from Harrisburg. + +WM. B. NEESE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES M. PHILLIPS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN P. REASER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SIMON REIDY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ISAAC RANTZ, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DAVID H. RANK, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 29, 1863. + +WM. A. RINGLER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged May 5, +1863, for wounds received at Antietam, Md., September 17, 1862. + +JONATHAN RICE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +WILLIAM STEWART, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +EDWARD D. SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM SUNDAY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AUGUST SCHRIEVER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN STINE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +EDWIN L. SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +OLIVER B. SWITZER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SHARP M. SNYDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AARON SECHLER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ARCHIBALD VANDLING, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged at +Harrisburg on surgeon's certificate Nov. 28, 1862. + +ANGUS WRIGHT, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ANDREW WAUGH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN WALLACE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; left sick in hospital +at Harper's Ferry, Va.; reported discharged; no official notice +received. + +SAMUEL WOTE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MATTHEW R. WRIGHT, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +JAMES D. WRAY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; deserted Sept. 19, +1862. + + +COMPANY B. + +SMITH W. INGHAM, captain, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; resigned on +surgeon's certificate at Georgetown, Sem. Hospital, Feb. 5, 1863. + +GEORGE H. EASTMAN, captain, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +first lieutenant Feb. 8, 1863; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, +1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ANSON G. CARPENTER, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; +promoted from second lieutenant Feb. 8, 1863; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863. + +DEWITT C. KITCHEN, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; +promoted to first sergeant Sept. 18, 1862; to second lieutenant Feb. 8, +1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN D. SMITH, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +sergeant Nov. 1, 1862; to first sergeant Feb. 8, 1863; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE D. WARNER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; buried in National Cemetery, Sec. 26, Lot +A, Grave 14. + +JONAS H. FARR, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted from +corporal Sept. 18, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +FREEMAN H. DIXON, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; captured at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; promoted from corporal Feb. 8, 1863; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JULIAN W. STELLWELL, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +corporal Sept. 12, 1862; to sergeant Feb. 8, 1863; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ABNER LEWIS, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted from private +Nov. 1, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN H. TENEYCK, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; buried in National Cemetery, Sec. 26, Lot +A, Grave 15. + +JOHN B. OVERFIELD, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +JOHN W. REYNOLDS, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +corporal Sept. 12, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +CALVIN L. BRIGGS, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +corporal Feb. 8, 1863; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +HANSOM H. CARRIER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +corporal Feb. 8, 1863; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ISAAC POLMATIEN, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +corporal Feb. 8, 1862; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL W. SMITH, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE N. COLVIN, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +corporal Feb. 8, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +PORTER CARPENTER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +corporal Feb. 8, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES N. GARDNER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Nov. 23, 1862. + +OTIS GILMORE, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; discharged at Ascension Hospital, Washington, D. +C., on surgeon's certificate December 23, 1862. + +DECATUR HEWETT, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; deserted April 11, +1863. + +ANDREW J. LEWIS, musician, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; prisoner of war +from May 3 to May 22, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ROBERT L. REYNOLDS, musician, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; prisoner of war +from May 3 to May 22, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ELIAS ATON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LOREN BALL, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; prisoner of war from May +3 to May 22, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN R. BRIGGS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLARD E. BULLOCK, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH BILLINGS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL BISHOP, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +THOMAS J. CHASE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; absent in hospital +since Sept. 6, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +LEVI CONKLIN, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS A. CASTLE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE A. CARNEY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +SETH A. COBB, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +OLIVER E. CLARK, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ADELBERT COLVIN, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged at +Harwood Hospital, Washington, on surgeon's certificate Sept. 25, 1862. + +BENJAMIN V. COLE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +JEROME E. DETRICK, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES C. DEGRAW, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +EZRA DEAN, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged at Harwood +Hospital, Washington, on surgeon's certificate Sept. 29, 1862. + +CHARLES EVANS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +JOHN F. EVANS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died at Acquia Creek, +Va., Dec. 13, 1862; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery, Washington, D. +C. + +SYLVESTER FARNHAM, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ELISHA FARNHAM, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded with loss of +arm at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; discharged on surgeon's +certificate Jan. 1, 1863. + +DENNIS D. GARDNER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ALONZO E. GREGORY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1863. + +PHILANDER GROW, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died near Falmouth, +Va., Dec. 17, 1862. + +LESLIE E. HAWLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; left sick at +Harper's Ferry Oct. 30, 1862, discharged but received no official +notice. + +SAMUEL HOOPER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS M. HINES, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HARVEY B. HOWE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged at Acquia +Creek Hospital on surgeon's certificate Feb. 1, 1863. + +PETER B. HANYON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged at +Convalescent Camp Hospital on surgeon's certificate Feb. 15, 1863. + +GEORGE M. HARDING, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; discharged at hospital, Washington, +on surgeon's certificate March 10, 1863. + +BENJAMIN H. HANYON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; deserted Sept. +17, 1862; left in Smoketown Hospital. + +STEPHEN T. INGHAM, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HORACE JACKSON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JUDSON A. JAYNE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MARTIN V. KENNEDY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SILAS G. LEWIS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +FRANCIS M. LEWIS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862, and at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, +1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +EZRA A. LAWBERT, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ALVAH LETTEEN, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged at Fort +Wood Hospital, N. Y. Harbor, on surgeon's certificate March 4, 1863. + +ALBANUS LITTLE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; absent at muster-out. + +URIAH MOTT, private, mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +EMMET J. MATHEWSON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES W. MARTIN, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged at +Hammond's Hospital, Point Pleasant, Md., on surgeon's certificate Jan. +6, 1863. + +WILSON D. MINOR, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; discharged on surgeon's certificate Nov. +1, 1862. + +THOMAS S. MOORE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died at Georgetown, +D. C., Oct. 14, 1862. + +OLIVER C. NEWBERG, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged at +Patent Office, 400 F, Washington, D. C., on surgeon's certificate Jan. +11, 1863. + +HORACE O'NEAL, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY ORNT, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at Antietam, Md., +Sept. 17, 1862. + +ELISHA PEDRICK, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +BYRON PREVOST, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES PLATTENBURG, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +RUFUS F. PARRISH, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; discharged on surgeon's certificate Feb. +25, 1863. + +REUBEN PLATTENBURG, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died at +Washington, D. C., March 12, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. REYNOLDS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; deserted Oct. 20, 1862; returned January +13, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ALBERT G. REYNOLDS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +OLIVER E. REYNOLDS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +PERRY T. ROUGHT, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WASHINGTON L. ROUGHT, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged at +Washington on surgeon's certificate Feb. 12, 1863. + +MILOT ROBERTS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died Sept. 20 of +wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +ESICK SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JEREMIAH STANTON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DAVIS C. SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; left in hospital +near Falmouth May 15, 1863; absent at muster-out. + +WILLIAM SHOEMAKER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ASA SMERD, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; left sick at Belle Plains +Landing Dec. 6, 1862; absent sick at muster-out. + +HARMAN STARK, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +WESLEY J. STARK, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; deserted Nov. 20, +1862; returned March 12, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +BURTON SHOEMAKER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged at New +York on surgeon's certificate Jan. 6, 1863. + +JOHN H. SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; buried in National Cemetery, Sec. 26, Lot A, Grave +16. + +JOSEPH W. STANTON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; left sick at +Harper's Ferry Oct. 30, 1862; deserted from hospital. + +JACOB A. THOMAS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +UTLEY TURNER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged at +Philadelphia on surgeon's certificate Jan. 6, 1863. + +HENRY B. TURNER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +W. B. VANARSDALE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ANDREW M. WANDLE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; captured at +Sniker's Gap, Va., Nov. 4, 1862, prisoner of war from Nov. 4 to Dec. 24, +1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN WALL, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863. + +ELMORE H. WELLS[H], private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +quartermaster-sergeant of regiment Aug. 26, 1862; returned to company +Jan. 1, 1863; mustered out with company. + +HIRAM E. WORDEN, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + + +COMPANY C. + +HERMAN TOWNSEND, captain, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 10, 1863. + +CHARLES M. MCDOUGAL, captain, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted from +first lieutenant Jan. 10, 1863; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, +1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES A. ROGERS, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +from sergeant to first sergeant Sept. 18, 1862; to first lieutenant Jan. +10, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ANSON C. CRANMER, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; killed +at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +LEVI D. LANDON, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +from first sergeant Sept. 18, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +RUSSELL J. ROSS, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted +from corporal Jan. 11, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +DEWITT TEAVER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AMOS W. VANFLEET, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted from +corporal Sept. 18, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ANDREW E. WATTS, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +corporal Sept. 18, 1862; to sergeant Jan. 11, 1863; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL W. WILCOX, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted from +corporal Oct. 1, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN C. CRAVEN, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 5, 1863. + +ALONZO R. CASE, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +commissary-sergeant Dec. 25, 1862. (See Field and Staff.) + +H. W. PARKHURST, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; absent, sick, at +muster-out. + +JOHN A. BLOOM, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN MCCLURE, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to corporal +Jan. 11, 1863; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863. + +LUCIEN BOTHWELL, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +corporal Jan. 11, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ELIJAH R. HICKOK, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; promoted to +corporal March 1, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +WALLACE BIDDLE, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 15, 1863. + +SAMUEL E. BLANCHARD, corporal, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 16, 1863. + +MELVILLE F. EPHLINE, musician, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM SPENCER, musician, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ALLEN M. AYRES, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; absent sick at muster-out. + +HARRISON B. BENSON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE BENNETT, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MANNING BAILEY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AMOS S. BOOTHE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; absent sick at +muster-out. + +JAMES A. BARNES, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JEREMIAH BAILEY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Nov. 24, 1862. + +SAMUEL H. BARTLETT, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died at +Falmouth, Va., Feb. 4, 1863. + +OLIVER BLANCHARD, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died Sept. 24 of +wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; buried in National +Cemetery, Sec. 26, Lot A, Grave 181. + +LEROY J. CEASE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS D. CROSS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +NATHAN S. DENMARK, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LEWIS DARLING, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SIMEON ELLIOTT, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SYLVESTER M. GREEN, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN GRAUTEER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +OSCAR C. GRISWOLD, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AMBROSE S. GRAY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MARTIN W. GRAY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Dec. 22, 1862. + +HENRY H. HOAGLAND, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JASPER N. HOAGLAND, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +ISAAC N. HARVEY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE W. HARVEY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN J. HOWLAND, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +TRUMAN HARRIS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SOLON J. HICKOK, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +STEPHEN C. HICKOK, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES O. HAZLETON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate April 20, 1863. + +WILLIAM HAMILTON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 15, 1863. + +FRANCIS HARRIS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died at Le Roy, Pa., +Jan. 18, 1863. + +JOHN C. HURLBURT, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +SETH HOWLAND, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863. + +ANDREW E. HOAGLAND, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +WILLIAM W. HAXTON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; deserted Sept. +17, 1862. + +SILICK JUNE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +FREDERICK KERRICK, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 4, 1863. + +ROSCOE S. LOOMIS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DAVID P. LINDLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL LINDLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; prisoner of war; +date not given; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +IRA LINDLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged April 29, +1863; expiration of term. + +LEVI R. LESTER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died at Washington, +D. C., Feb. 9, 1863; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery. + +LEWIS M. LEONARD, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +GEORGE MALLORY, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Nov. 28, 1862. + +CHARLES L. MILES, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died near +Falmouth, Va., May 12, 1863. + +LYMAN R. NEWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 15, 1863. + +STEPHEN A. RANDALL, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN H. NEWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged Oct. 29, +1862, on surgeon's certificate of disability. + +JOHN RANDALL, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES M. ROGERS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JUDSON A. ROYSE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DEWITT C. ROBINSON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JEREMIAH ROCKWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate March 23, 1863. + +LYNDS A. SPENCER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES SOPER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN B. STREETS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEO. C. SHOEMAKER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN SCHNADER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SOLOMON STONE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; prisoner of war; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +LEWIS SELLARD, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 9, 1863. + +DANIEL W. SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 26, 1863. + +NATHAN J. SPENCER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate April 2, 1863. + +JAMES M. SNADER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Nov. 28, 1862. + +LUKE P. STREETER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Oct. 12, 1862. + +JEREMIAH SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died near Falmouth, +Va., Jan. 8, 1863. + +CHARLES B. THOMAS, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +GEORGE M. VAN DYKE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +E. G. VAN DYKE, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; prisoner of war; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +LANING N. VARGASON, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +SEVELLON A. WILCOX, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JEFFERSON A. WITHERALL, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company Aug. 24, 1863. + +CHARLES WALTER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHAUNCEY W. WHEELER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +MERTON C. WRIGHT, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged Sept. +11, 1862, on surgeon's certificate. + +JOSEPH N. WRIGHT, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; discharged Sept. +11, 1862, on surgeon's certificate. + +ROSWELL A. WALKER, private, mustered in Aug. 11, 1862; died at Belle +Plain, Va., Dec. 7, 1862. + + +COMPANY D. + +CHARLES H. CHASE, captain, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; resigned Dec. 6, +1862. + +W. H. CARNOCHAN, captain, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +second lieutenant Nov. 29, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES E. GLADDING, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; +mustered out with company Nov. 24, 1863. + +J. W. BROWN, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged +Aug. 20, 1862, to date Aug. 14, 1862. + +F. MARION WELLS, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; promoted +from first sergeant Dec. 6, 1862; wounded with loss of leg at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; absent in hospital at muster-out; +died a few days later. + +WILLIAM C. COBB, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted to +first sergeant Feb. 6, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ALVAH L. COOPER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; promoted from +corporal Feb. 6, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +LERT BALLARD, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ALBERT LONG, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; promoted from corporal +Jan. 29, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ALBERT S. COBB, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; promoted from +corporal Feb. 6, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL GRACE, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; promoted to corporal +April 16, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ALONZO ROSS, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1863; promoted to corporal +April 16, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ALBERT PRESTON, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; promoted to corporal Feb. 4, 1863; +mustered out with company. + +JAMES F. CARMAN, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1863; promoted to +corporal Jan. 7, 1863; mustered out with company. + +ALBERT O. SCOTT, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; promoted to corporal Feb. 6, 1863; +mustered out with company. + +FURMAN BULLOCK, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; promoted to +corporal Feb. 6, 1863; mustered out with company. + +SAMUEL HARKNESS, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN C. MCMAHON, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Oct. 14, 1862. + +ELIHU B. CHASE, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Oct. 14, 1862. + +L. N. BURNHAM, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; died Nov. 14, 1862, +of wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; buried at Chester, +Pa. + +HUBBARD H. WILLIAMS, corporal, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; deserted at +Washington, D. C., Nov. 10, 1862; returned May 1, 1865; discharged by +General Order June 12, 1865. + +NATHANIEL MATTOCK, musician, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL H. MOORE, musician, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 6, 1863. + +STEPHEN T. HALL, wagoner, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to +corporal Aug. 15, 1862; reduced to ranks Feb. 6, 1863; mustered out with +company. + +JOHN B. ALEXANDER, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JULIAN L. ANDRUS, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +NATHAN E. BAILEY, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES BOYCE, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DARIUS BULLOCK, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH BOUGHTON, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company. + +WARREN S. BIXLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ELLIS H. BEST, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE BENNETT, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AARON W. BAILEY, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 20, 1863. + +OLIVER E. BLAKESLEE, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; died at +Washington, D. C., Jan. 23, 1863; pneumonia. + +ORRIN G. BLAKESLEE, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; died at Harper's +Ferry, Va., Nov. 19, 1862. + +WARREN S. BAILEY, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; deserted Oct. 3, +1862, at Harper's Ferry. + +RICHARD W. CANEDY, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM M. CLARK, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL CARMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES O. DARK, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHRISTOPHER DENMARK, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +REUBEN DUDLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate March 1, 1863. + +PETER FULLER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; in hospital at muster-out. + +GEORGE FIELDS, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +LEANDER L. GREGORY, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE C. GEROULD, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; died Oct. 14 of +wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +RICHARD M. HOWLAND, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE W. HOWLAND, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JEROME S. HILL, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE W. HARDY, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MARTIN HARKNESS, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Dec. 16, 1862. + +BENJAMIN F. JONES, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LEWIS W. JONES, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +RICHARD M. JOHNSON, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; deserted Sept. +14, 1862. + +ALVAH M. KENT, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS LEE, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LEWIS LAURENT, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +FESTUS LYON, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM A. MORES, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH F. MORLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GOPHAR MORGAN, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Nov. 20, 1862. + +ABNER MILLER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Dec. 31, 1862. + +JOHN MCGREGOR, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE W. MCALISTER, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES N. MCALISTER, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; deserted Sept. +14, 1862; returned March 31, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +MICHAEL E. MCINTOSH, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; prisoner of war +from Nov. 14 to Dec. 14, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ORRIN P. MCALLISTER, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Dec. 18, 1862. + +SAMUEL R. MCMAHON, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +ISAAC P. MCINTYRE, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; died near +Falmouth, Va., Dec. 22, of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. +13, 1862. + +WILLIAM F. NEWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY A. NEWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHESTER NORTHROP, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM PEET, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; absent in hospital at +muster-out. + +JAMES PATTERSON, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +RICHARD W. PHILLIPS, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +HOMER T. RHODES, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY J. RUSSELL, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +S. CHENEY ROBY, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +NEHEMIAH ROBINSON, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; deserted at +Frederick City, Md., Sept. 14, 1862. + +CHARLES N. SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +BYRON B. SLADE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +NORMAN C. SHEPHERD, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +EDWARD C. STRONG, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 7, 1863. + +BARLOW SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; died at Harper's +Ferry, Va., Nov. 12, 1862. + +CONRAD SCHANTZ, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; deserted at +Harrisburg Aug. 15, 1862. + +J. O. VAN BUSKERK, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 6, 1863. + +JOSEPH S. WILCOX, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +BARNUM WILCOX, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +NORMAN WILCOX, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +NATHAN WILCOX, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862, and at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, +1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +IRA V. WILLIAMS, private, mustered in Aug. 12, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +CHARLES W. WHIPPLE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +CHARLES WILLIAMS, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Oct. 14, 1862. + +EZRA H. WELCH, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; died at Belle Plain, +Va., Dec. 4, 1862. + +W. H. WOODWORTH, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; died at Falmouth, +Va., Jan. 9, 1863. + +MARTIN WEST, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; deserted October, 1862. + + +COMPANY E. + +MICHAEL WHITMOYER, captain, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ANDREW C. MENSCH, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863. + +D. RAMSEY MELICK, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM A. BARTON, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. GILMORE, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM J. RENN, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES P. SLOAN, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted from +corporal Jan. 10, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ISAAC N. KLINE, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted from +corporal Jan. 10, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +BENJAMIN F. JOHNSTON, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +CLARK KRESSLER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY M. JOHNSTON, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +EPHRAIM N. KLINE, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +EDWARD C. GREEN, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +corporal Nov. 10, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN N. HUGHES, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted to +corporal Jan. 10, 1863.; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES B. FORTNER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted to +corporal Jan. 10, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL WOOD, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted to corporal +Feb. 25, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM C. ROBINSON, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged at +Harper's Ferry on surgeon's certificate Oct. 26, 1862. + +JAMES P. MELICK, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; died at +Washington, D. C., Dec. 28, of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., +Dec. 13, 1862. + +CLINTON W. NEAL, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted to +quartermaster Aug. 22, 1862. (See Field and Staff.) + +JOHN STALEY, musician, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AZIMA V. HOWER, musician, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 29, 1863. + +TILLMAN FAUX, wagoner, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 23, 1863. + +LAFAYE APPLEGATE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LEONARD BEAGLE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HIRAM H. BRODT, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB W. BOMBOY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES S. BOMBOY; private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +EDWARD W. COLEMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES W. COOK, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES CADMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +PETER O. CRIST, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY CROOP, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged on surgeon's +certificate Oct. 8, 1862. + +THOMAS CAROTHERS, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 15, 1863. + +ABEL DEILY, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN MOORE EVES, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN F. ECK, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MOSES J. FRENCH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CLOD'Y S. M. FISHER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES A. FOLK, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ROBERT GILLASPY, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN P. GUILDS, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CLINTON C. HUGHES, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY C. HARTMAN, Sr., private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +C. H. HENDERSHOT, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. HUNTER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY C. HARTMAN, JR., private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL HARDER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; prisoner from Dec. +13, 1862, to May 22, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ADAM HEIST, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE W. HOWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL HARP, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged on surgeon's +certificate Feb. 13, 1863. + +ISAIAH S. HARTMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; died Oct. 16 of +wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +JESSE M. HOWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died near Falmouth, +Va., Jan. 8, 1863. + +JOSEPH S. HAYMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; deserted Aug. 30, +1862. + +SAMUEL R. JOHNSON, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HIRAM F. KLINE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS O. KLINE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL C. KRICKBAUM, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +AMOS Y. KISNER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE M. KLINE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AUGUSTUS M. KURTZ, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +FRANCIS M. LUTZ, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ISAAC M. LYONS, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH W. LYONS, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; absent sick in +hospital since Oct. 30, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH LAWTON, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN LAWTON, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM LAZARUS, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +DANIEL MARKLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LEMUEL MOOD, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES MUFFLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CLARK PRICE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LEVI H. PRIEST, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +OLIVER PALMER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH PENROSE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; missed in action at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +DAVID RUCKLE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSIAH REEDY, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +JOHN ROADARMEL, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ISAAC ROADARMEL, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JEREMIAH REESE, private, mustered in Sept. 3, 1862; captured at +Chancellorsville, Va.; prisoner from May 3 to May 22, 1863; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JONATHAN W. SNYDER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES W. SNYDER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863.. + +JOSIAH STILES, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; absent, sick in +hospital since Sept. 16, 1862. + +FREDERICK M. STALEY, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE W. STERNER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY H. SANDS, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM C. SHAW, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; absent, sick, at +muster-out. + +JAMES F. TRUMP, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL M. VANHORNE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; died at +Washington, D. C., Feb. 16, 1863; buried in Harmony Burial Grounds, D. +C. + +PHILIP WATTS, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AMASA WHITENITE, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +GOTTLIEB WAGONER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GAYLORD WHITMOYER, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 17, 1863. + +SAMUEL YOUNG, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +FRANKLIN J. R. ZELLARS, private, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + + +COMPANY F. + +GEORGE W. WILHELM, captain, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged Dec. +5, 1862. + +JACOB D. LACIAR, captain, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; promoted from second lieutenant Jan. 5, +1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS MUSSELMAN, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded +at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +JOHN KERNS, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from +corporal to sergeant Sept. 22, 1862; to second lieutenant Jan. 5, 1863; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +OLIVER BRENEISER, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, and at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; +promoted to corporal Sept. 22, 1862, to first sergeant Jan. 5, 1863; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB MILLER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN HOFF, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from corporal +Nov. 22, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES MACK, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from +corporal March 1, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN SHERRY, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +OLIVER F. MUSSELMAN, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +F. C. WINTEMUTE, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to +corporal Aug. 18, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +DAVID M. JONES, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ALBERT E. SHEETS, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM MINER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM R. REX, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to +corporal Nov. 22, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +LEWIS TRAINER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to corporal +Nov. 22, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN SCHULTZ, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; promoted to corporal Jan. 2, 1863; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH SCHADEL, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died at Belle +Plain, Va., Nov. 28, 1862. + +GEORGE W. DURYEA, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Aug. 16, +1862, from Camp Curtin. + +EDWIN SEYFRIED, musician, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 25, 1863. + +BAR'T ARMBRUSTER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DAVID ARNER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM ALLEN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; captured at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +AUGUST BELSNER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +THOMAS BAKER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL BARTLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Sept. 12, +1862, near Rockville, Md. + +STEPHEN CUNFER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS CHRISTINE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH L. CLEWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died at Harper's +Ferry, Va., Oct. 1 of wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +CHAS. S. DREISBACH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH B. DREISBACH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH DRUMBORE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged Jan. 13, +1863, for wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +PETER EVERTS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM EVERTS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +JONATHAN ECK, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL EVERTS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 13, 1863. + +OWEN C. FULLWEILER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; absent, sick, at +muster-out. + +AMON FRITZ, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +LEWIS FREDERICK, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM FRANTZ, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; absent, sick, at muster-out. + +AARON H. GUMBARD, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY GROW, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE H. GEARHARD, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged March +10, 1863, for wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +SAMUEL GROW, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Dec. 21 of wounds +received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; buried at Alexandria; +Grave 630. + +JOSEPH HONTZ, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +OLIVER HOFF, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +FREDERICK HOSLER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN W. HOTTENSTEIN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE HOUSER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SEBASTIAN HON, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN HILLS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Aug. 16, 1862, +from Camp Curtin. + +ALEX. JOHNSON, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL KEENE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +EDWIN KEMMERER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN KISTLER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded, with loss of +arm, at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; discharged, date unknown. + +DANIEL KRESSLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 15, 1863. + +SAMUEL D. LYNN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +LEVI M. LEVY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 25, 1863. + +JOHN LENTS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Jan. 2, 1863, of +wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +FRANCIS H. MOSER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MONROE MARTIN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ALEXANDER MILLS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Sept. 29, 1862. + +CHARLES F. MOYER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Sept. 22 of +wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +SAMUEL MCCANCE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL MCGEE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB NOTESTEIN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +VALENTINE NEUMOYER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +MOSES NEYER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES E. NACE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Jan. 2, 1863, of +wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +ENOS OLWERSTEFLER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +CHAS. A. PATTERSON, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB RODFINK, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LEOPOLD RICE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB RIDLER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AARON REX, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at Antietam Sept. +17, 1862; died at Smoketown, Md., Nov. 11, 1862. + +CHAS. W. RAMALEY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died at Windmill +Point, Va., Jan. 27, 1863. + +PAUL SOLT, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM S. SIEGFRIED, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JOSIAH SANDEL, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL STEIGERWALT, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +LEWIS STEIGERWALT, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +CHARLES SINKER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB STROUSE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +OTTO STERNER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died March 25, 1863, +of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +FRANCIS SOLT, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Sept. 14, 1862, +at Frederick City, Md. + +HENRY WERNSTEIN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + + +COMPANY G. + +ROBERT A. ABBOTT, captain, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged Jan. +13, 1863, for wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +ISAAC HOWARD, captain, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from private +to first sergeant Jan. 1, 1863, to captain Jan. 14, 1863; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN C. DOLAN, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; discharged on surgeon's certificate Jan. +30, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. FULTON, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from sergeant March 17, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +EDMUND H. SALKELD, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; +discharged March 17, 1863, for wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., +Dec. 13, 1862. + +JOHN WEISS, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from +sergeant March 17, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES SIMONS, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from +corporal Feb. 12, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +THEOP. WILLIAMS, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from private to sergeant, to first sergeant Nov. 13, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +JOHN I. C. WILLIAMS, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOSHUA BUTLER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from +corporal Jan. 14, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM RADCLIFF, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to +corporal Feb. 16, 1863; to sergeant March 17, 1863; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES WEISS, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to +corporal, to sergeant Feb. 15, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +JOHN GRAVER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Sept. 9, 1862. + +GEORGE RASE, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Sept. 5, +1862, at Camp Whipple. + +JOHN OSBORN, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded, with loss of +leg, at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; discharged, date not given. + +DAVID GABRET, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM J. SPRINGER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN LESLIE, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HUGH COLLAN, corporal, mustered in Aug. 13, 1862; promoted to corporal +Feb. 26, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +PETER LEASER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to corporal +Feb. 26, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. NOBLE, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 4, 1863. + +ELIJAH YOUTZ, musician, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Dec. 22, 1862. + +CHARLES ABNER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH BACKERT, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE BUCK, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted August 16, +1862, at Camp Curtin. + +JOSEPH CONLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +PETER CASSADY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM CALLAHAN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM DAVIS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +BERNARD DEMPSEY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES DERBYSHIRE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MICHAEL DOUGHERTY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +W. M. DARLINGTON, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died at +Washington, D. C., of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, +1862. + +PATRICK ELLIOTT, private, mustered in Aug 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN EARLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on surgeon's +certificate Jan. 31, 1863. + +JOHN EPHLIN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +PATRICK FLEMING, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CONRAD FRY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged Dec. 9 for +wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +ANDREW FLOYD, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died near Falmouth, +Va., March 2, 1863. + +CHARLES HOLMES, private; mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM HAY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MORGAN JENKINS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHRISTIAN KLINGLE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MATTHEW KELLEY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM F. KLOTZ, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN F. KLOTZ, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; captured Dec. 12, +1862; absent, at camp parole, Annapolis, Md., at muster-out. + +BERNARD KELLY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLOUGHBY KOONS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; absent at muster-out. + +JOHN KNAUSS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on surgeon's +certificate Feb. 16, 1863. + +WILLIAM F. KRUM, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died at Smoketown, +Md., of wounds received at Antietam Sept. 17, 1862; buried in National +Cemetery, Sec. 26, Lot B, Grave 180. + +HENRY LANGE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM LEED, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JONAS LOCKE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on surgeon's +certificate Dec. 24, 1862. + +HENRY MANSFIELD, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JONATHAN L. MILLER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +MANNES MAYER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died at Smoketown, +Md., of wounds received at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862. + +EDWARD P. MEELICK, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +LUKE MASTERSON, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Aug. 16, +1862, at Camp Curtin. + +JOHN MCGOVERN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged April 10, +1863, for wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +MICHAEL MCCULLOUGH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +JAMES PATTERSON, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ALFRED POH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MICHAEL REILY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HUGH REILY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HUGO RONEMUS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JONATHAN C. RUCH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died at Smoketown, +Md., of wounds received at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862. + +THOMAS RIGBY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Sept. 11, +1862, at Boonsborough, Md. + +PAUL SOWERWINE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DAVID SHAFFER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB SHINGLER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +BERNHARD SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS SMITHAM, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ROBERT SYNARD, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN STACY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM SCHOONOVER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +H. B. SCHOONOVER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN F. SALMON, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to +commissary-sergeant Aug. 15, 1862. + +THOMAS SPROLL, wagoner, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; absent at muster-out. + +JOHN TONER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Aug. 16, 1862, +Camp Curtin. + +JOHN WEISLY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WEAVER TILGHMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY WINTERSTEEN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged Feb. +28, 1863, for wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +MICHAEL WELSH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate March 20, 1863. + +RUFUS WALTERS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Aug. 16, +1862, Camp Curtin. + +EDWARD YEMMONS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + + +COMPANY H. + +GEORGE W. JOHN, captain, mustered in Aug. 16, 1862; resigned Dec. 9, +1862. + +MARTIN M. BROBST, captain, mustered in Aug. 16, 1862; promoted from +first lieutenant Dec. 9, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ISAIAH W. WILLITS, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from first sergeant Dec. 9, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +HENRY H. HOAGLAND, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 16, 1862; died +Dec. 14 of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +P. R. MARGERUM, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from corporal Dec. 16, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +A. H. SHARPLESS, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from corporal Dec. 16, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL F. SAVORY, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE REEDY, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to corporal +Jan. 22, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +HIRAM W. BROWN, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +corporal Jan. 22, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM MCNEAL, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THEODORE KREIGH, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ROLANDUS HERBINE, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL J. FREDERICK, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +FRANCIS M. THOMAS, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +JOHN P. HOAGLAND, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +corporal Nov. 21, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +EPHRAIM L. KRAMER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +corporal Jan. 20, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +D. HOLLINGSHEAD, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +corporal Jan. 20, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +THEOBALD FIELDS, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +corporal Jan. 20, 1863; wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE HARBER, musician, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +BURTON W. FORTNER, musician, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +MORGAN G. DRUM, wagoner, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +H. H. BRUMBACH, PRIVATE, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN R. BROBST, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. BERGER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +WILLIAM BEAVER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH BRUMBACH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN BELL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863. + +JULIUS A. BARRETT, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 31, 1863. + +JOHN BATES, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on surgeon's +certificate February, 1863. + +WILLIAM J. BRUMBACH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged Feb. +2, 1863. + +CHRISTIAN CLEWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +PHINEAS COOL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate January, 1863. + +HIRAM COOL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged January, +1863, for wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +JOHN DILLON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. DYER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at Belle +Plain, Va., December, 1862. + +JOHN DERR, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at Fredericksburg, +Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +ALBERT ERWINE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at Belle Plain, +Va., Dec. 15, 1862; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C. + +WILLIAM FETTERMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL FETTERMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHRISTOPHER M. FEDDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY B. FORTNER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL A. FIELDS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LLOYD W. B. FISHER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB G. FISHER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN D. FINCHER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate, date unknown. + +SCOTT HITE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN HAMPTON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; absent, sick, at +muster-out. + +ARTHUR HARDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS E. HARDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ETHAN HAMPTON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +W. H. H. HARTMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate April 12, 1863. + +CLARK HARDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 21, 1863. + +GEORGE H. HANKINS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Oct. 4; bu. +rec., Oct. 10; of wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; +buried in National Cemetery, Sec. 26, Lot B, Grave 221. + +HENRY T. JOHN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM E. JOHN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JEREMIAH S. KREIGH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +EDWARD KRAMER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +RALPH M. LASHELL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +EMANUEL L. LEWIS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN LUDWIG, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES P. MARGERUM, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM MARKS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH MARTZ, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ADAM R. MENSCH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +COMODORE P. MEARS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES MALONEY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ISAIAH W. MASTELLAR, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +PATRICK MCGRAW, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at Warrenton, +Va., Nov. 6, 1862. + +JOHN F. OHL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +IRVIN C. PAYNE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM J. D. PARKS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Dec. 28 of +wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; buried in +Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C. + +DAVID PHILLIPS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +TOBIAS RINARD, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +FREDERICK REESE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LLOYD T. RIDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ELIAS C. RISHEL, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +HENRY J. ROBBINS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JEREMIAH RHODES, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; absent, sick, at +muster-out. + +WESLEY RIDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at Belle Plain, +Va., December, 1862. + +JAMES M. RICHARDS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +JOSIAH G. ROUP, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died of wounds +received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +BENJAMIN B. SCHMICK, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES S. SCHMICK, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JEREMIAH H. SNYDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; absent, sick, at +muster-out. + +CLARK B. STEWART, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN H. STOKES, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JESSE SHOEMAKER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN M. SANKS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged by special +order Oct. 14, 1862. + +GEORGE F. STERNE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +CHRISTIAN SMALL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863. + +LEWIS THIELE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL M. THOMAS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at Falmouth, +Va., Jan. 8, 1863. + +JOHN TROUP, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Oct. 4 of wounds +received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +DENNIS WATERS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ROBERT M. WATKINS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MONROE C. WARN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL L. YEAGER, private, mustered in Aug. 17, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + + +COMPANY I. + +JAMES ARCHBALD, captain, mustered in Aug. 18, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 7, 1863. + +PHILIP S. HALL, captain, mustered in Aug. 18, 1862; promoted from second +lieutenant Jan. 14, 1863; wounded at Chancellorsville May 4, 1863; +absent in hospital at muster-out. + +ROBERT R. MEILLER, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 18, 1862; +discharged Jan. 7, 1863, for disability. + +BENJAMIN GARDNER, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from sergeant Jan. 14, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +MICHAEL HOUSER, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from private Jan. 14, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE A. WOLCOTT, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted +from corporal Jan. 14, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE W. CONKLIN, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged +on surgeon's certificate Jan. 18, 1863. + +JOHN M. MILLER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN JONES, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ISAAC CORNELL, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from +corporal Jan. 14, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ABRAM BITTENBENDER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted from +corporal Jan. 14, 1863; prisoner from May 6 to May 22, 1863; mustered +out with company May 24, 1863. + +ORLANDO TAYLOR, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Dec. 4, 1862. + +ALFRED J. BARNES, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH SHARPE, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; taken prisoner at +Hillsboro, Va., Nov. 8, 1862, exchanged Jan. 1, 1863; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +OWEN J. BRADFORD, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. HAGAR, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to +corporal Jan. 4, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +REED G. LEWIS, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to corporal +April 15, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES A. SARGENT, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to +corporal Jan. 14, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +ROBERT GRAY, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Oct. 6, 1862. + +DANIEL S. GARDNER, corporal, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +ORRIN C. HUBBARD, musician, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THEODORE KEIFER, musician, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH S. QUINLAIN, wagoner, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS ALLEN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MOSES H. AMES, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +GEORGE L. BRADFORD, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM BRACY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN BURNISH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +NATHANIEL D. BARNES, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES BARROWMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +THOMAS BARROWMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +BROOKS A. BASS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to +quartermaster-sergeant Jan. 1, 1863. (See Field and Staff.) + +MILTON BROWN, private, mustered in Aug. 16, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LEWIS A. BINGHAM, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Jan. 1, +1863; returned March 27, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN BERRY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged at Fort Wood +Hospital, N. Y. Harbor, on surgeon's certificate March 13, 1863. + +ABIJAH BERSH, Jr., private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Sept. +19, 1862. + +BURTON J. CAPWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS CARHART, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate, date unknown. + +GEORGE H. CATOR, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Oct. 30 of +wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; buried in National +Cemetery, Sec. 26, Lot C, Grave 228. + +HORACE A. DEANS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; promoted to +hospital steward Oct. 1, 1862; returned to company April 6, 1863; +mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +FREDERICK M. ELLTING, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +H. L. ELMANDORF, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted at +Warrenton, Va., Nov. 15, 1862. + +EDWARD FERRIS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +JOHN FERN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE E. FULLER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY M. FULLER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +BENTON V. FINN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 19, 1863. + +JOHN FINCH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on surgeon's +certificate March 28, 1863. + +WILLIAM GUNSAULER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN GAHN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +ELISHA R. HARRIS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL HUBBARD, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +J. HIPPENHAMMER, private, mustered in Aug. 16, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES HAMM, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +RICHARD HALL, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. HARRISON, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY P. HALSTEAD, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 5, 1863. + +WILLIAM HAZLETT, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 2, 1863. + +JOHN L. HUNT, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted at Acquia +Creek, Va., Feb. 15, 1863. + +RODERICK JONES, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; absent, in hospital, at muster out. + +JOHN J. KILMER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +H. L. KRIGBAUM, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +MICHAEL KELLY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE C. LANNING, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +THOMAS Z. LAKE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LYMAN MILROY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; prisoner from May 6 to +May 22, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE MEUCHLER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES J. MAYCOCK, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +STEPHEN MOOMEY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES H. MILLER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ROBERT O. MOSCRIP, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES S. MORSE, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Oct. 29, 1862. + +JOSEPH NIVER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AARON ORREN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN OWEN, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on surgeon's +certificate Feb. 11, 1863. + +JOHN E. POWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; captured at +Chancellorsville, Va.; prisoner from May 6 to May 22, 1863; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES PONTUS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES A. PARKER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted at +Harper's Ferry, Va., Oct. 29, 1862. + +FREEMAN J. ROPER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ELEZER RAYMOND, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +NELSON RAYMOND, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; absent, in hospital, at muster-out. + +JAMES S. RANDOLPH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Jan. 21, 1863. + +GEORGE W. RIDGEWAY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate, date unknown. + +DANIEL REED, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +WILLIAM H. SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. SEELEY, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LATON SLOCUM, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MICHAEL SISK, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN SOMMERS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +RICHARD A. SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Oct. 15 of +wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +ORVICE SHARP, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; died Nov. 16, 1862. + +REILY S. TANNER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES L. TUTHILL, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; prisoner from May +6 to May 22, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY VUSLER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; deserted Sept. 18, +1862. + +DAVID J. WOODRUFF, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL WIGGINS, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL WINNICH, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +BURR C. WARNER, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN B. WEST, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +HARRISON YOUNG, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + + +COMPANY K. + +RICHARD STILLWELL, captain, mustered in Aug. 18, 1862; discharged March +31, 1863, for wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + +JACOB B. FLOYD, captain, mustered in Aug. 18, 1862; promoted from first +lieutenant March 31, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +NOAH H. JAY, first lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +second lieutenant March 31, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +SYLVESTER WARD, second lieutenant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from sergeant to first sergeant Dec. 25, 1862; to second lieutenant +March 31, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +FRANCIS ORCHARD, first sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted +from sergeant March 31, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE M. SNYDER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +corporal Sept. 24, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN BOTTSFORD, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +corporal Sept. 24, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM C. KEISER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted from +corporal March 31, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +MARTIN L. HOWER, sergeant, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Oct. 17 of +wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +PHILETUS P. COPELAND, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +GEORGE COURSEN, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE A. KENT, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE W. JOHNSON, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +corporal Sept. 24, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN S. SHORT, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to corporal +Sept. 24, 1862; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; absent in +hospital at muster-out. + +GEORGE H. TAYLOR, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +corporal Sept. 24, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +EMIL HAUGG, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to corporal +March 31, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +AUSTIN F. CLAPP, corporal, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +sergeant-major Nov. 1, 1862. (See Field and Staff.) + +LORENZO D. KEMMERER, musician, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM SILSBEE, musician, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN M. KAPP, wagoner, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +AUGUSTUS ASHTON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; taken prisoner at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +DAVID BROOKS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES H. BOON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +LEWIS H. BOLTON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ADOLF BENDON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Dec. 6, 1862. + +CHARLES A. BULMER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Oct. 14, 1862. + +WILLIAM H. CARLING, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +adjutant's clerk January 25, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +WILLIAM W. COOLBAUGH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +HARRISON COOK, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JACOB M. CORWIN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN COOLBAUGH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. COON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Nov. 29, 1862. + +MOSES Y. CORWIN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +hospital steward April 6, 1863. (See Field and Staff.) + +BENJAMIN A. C. DAILY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +FRANCIS J. DEEMER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +sergeant-major Jan. 24, 1863. (See Field and Staff.) + +RICHARD DAVIS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Jan. 2, 1863, of +wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; buried in +Military Asylum Cemetery, Washington, D. C. + +THOMAS D. DAVIS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died near +Washington, D. C, Nov. 25, 1862; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery, +Washington, D. C. + +JACOB ESCHENBACH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +CHARLES FREDERICK, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE GABRIEL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +JOHN C. HIGGINS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +PETER HARRABAUM, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES H. HAVENSTRITE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE HINDLE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +EDWARD F. HENRY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged from +Emory Hospital, Washington, D. C, on surgeon's certificate Jan. 8, 1863. + +WILSON HESS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on surgeon's +certificate Feb. 21, 1863. + +JOHN P. HEATH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; deserted on march +from Antietam to Harper's Ferry, Sept. 21, 1862. + +MICHAEL KIVILIN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ROBERT KENNEDY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JESSE P. KORTZ, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died near Falmouth, +Va., Dec. 25, 1862. + +GEORGE W. LINN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ANDREW LANDSICKLE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN LINDSEY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE MATZENBACHER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out +with company May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL W. MEAD, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM L. MARCY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE B. MACK, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES A. MEYLERT, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; promoted to +second lieutenant Co. A, Feb. 24, 1863. + +JEPTHA MILLIGAN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; killed at Antietam, +Md., Sept. 17, 1862; buried in National Cemetery, Sec. 26, Lot A, Grave +13. + +RICHARD NAPE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL J. NEWMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN R. POWELL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH PELLMAN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DOWNING PARRY, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN RYAN, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with company +May 24, 1863. + +SAMUEL RUPLE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SIMON P. RINGSDORF, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Feb. 6, 1863. + +GEORGE SMITHING, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY M. SEAGER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +DANIEL W. SCULL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOSEPH SNYDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +SIMON P. SNYDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM D. SNYDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +CHARLES B. SCOTT, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +PETER SEIGLE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN SCOTT, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WALTER A. SIDNER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +MARTIN L. SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JAMES STEVENS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +JOHN STITCHER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged Nov. 28, +1862, on account of wounds received at Antietam Sept. 17, 1862. + +ALLEN SPARKS, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Sept. 18 of +wounds received at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862. + +OBADIAH SHERWOOD, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Nov. 20 at +Smoketown, Md., of wounds received at Antietam Sept. 17, 1862. + +SAMUEL S. SNYDER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at +Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 9, 1863. + +JAMES SCULL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died near Falmouth, +Va., Feb. 11, 1863. + +SOLON SEARLE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at Acquia Creek, +Va., Jan. 26, 1863. + +ALONZO L. SLAWSON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged, date +unknown. + +LEANDER J. SMITH, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; deserted from Camp +Whipple Sept. 1, 1862. + +DAVID VIPON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +GEORGE C. WILSON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; wounded at +Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, 1863. + +MARTIN WILMORE, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +ORESTES B. WRIGHT, private, mustered in Aug. 15, 1862; wounded at +Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; mustered out with company May 24, +1863. + +JOHN WESTPHALL, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +HENRY C. WHITING, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; discharged on +surgeon's certificate Nov. 27, 1862. + +JOHN W. WRIGHT, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died at Harper's +Ferry, Va., Oct. 23, 1862. + +ALBERT WHEELER, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; deserted from Walnut +Street Hospital, Harrisburg, Dec. 19, 1862. + +CONRAD YOUNG, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +WILLIAM H. YOUNG, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +W. L. YARRINGTON, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; mustered out with +company May 24, 1863. + +DANIEL C. YOUNG, private, mustered in Aug. 14, 1862; died Dec. 26 of +wounds received at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[A] Now known as East Woods. + +[B] This is from my diary, but investigations since the war make it +evident that it must be a mistake; that the 5th Ga. was not in that +road, but it was the 6th Ga., and this officer was probably +Lieutenant-Colonel J. M. Newton of that regiment. + +[C] Probably the 6th Ga. + +[D] Lieutenant, afterwards Captain, Charles McDougal was a Methodist +minister before he entered the army. If he could preach as well as he +could fight, he was worthy of a commission in the church militant. + +[E] This eye-witness was Captain Haviland, Company G, One Hundred and +Forty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, whose regiment was attached to the +Pennsylvania Reserves, and which lost in that charge two hundred and +forty-three men killed and wounded. Captain Haviland had been wounded, +and was making his way with Major John Bradley, also wounded, to the +hospital. They happened to be passing Birney's head-quarters when Meade +rode up, and heard the whole interview. + +[F] This order was dated January 23, 1863, and can be found in the +Annual American Cyclopaedia, 1863, page 79, with a copious extract from +the report of the Committee of Congress on the Conduct of the War. It is +there stated that this order was issued subject to the President's +approval, and was sent to Washington for that purpose, General Burnside +soon following and interviewing the President. It is also stated that it +was not approved and was not published. How, then, did I come in +possession of its main features, so as to note them in my diary at the +time? And how should my recollection of them be so clear, as they +certainly are, unless it had been made public. Possibly the press may +have published it. It was certainly published in some form. + +[G] Bates's History, Pennsylvania Volunteers, places here the name of +"Charles A. Meylert, second lieutenant, promoted from private, Co. K, +Feb. 23, 1863, missing since that date." Co. K's roll notes the transfer +of this man to Co. A. His name is not on the original roll of Co. A, and +is therefore omitted here. The following note received from Captain +Charles C. Norris, Co. A, explains: + + PHILADELPHIA, July 12, 1904. +Colonel F. L. HITCHCOCK, Scranton, Pa. + +MY DEAR COLONEL: ... I have a copy of the muster-out roll of Co. A, to +which I have referred.... I would also state that Charles A. Meylert +does not appear on the muster-out roll, nor was he at any time carried +on the roll of Co. A.... On the march from Harper's Ferry to Warrenton, +Va., about Nov. 1, 1862, Co. A held an election for officers to fill +vacancies caused by the promotion of Captain Shreve to be major of the +regiment. The following were elected: Chas. C. Norris, captain; Thomas +Maxwell, first lieutenant, and Edward W. Roderick, second lieutenant. +The result of this election was forwarded through head-quarters to +Governor Curtin. The commissions were not sent on until some time in +December, 1862. Colonel Albright, commanding the regiment, sent for me +one day and told me he had received a commission for Charles A. Meylert +as second lieutenant of Co. A; that it was an outrage upon Co. A, and +that he would send it back to Governor Curtin with a letter, which I +believe he did, the result of which was Roderick's commission was issued +in accordance with his election, and he was mustered in, and Meylert's +commission was revoked. As the commanding officer of Co. A, I never +received any official notice or record of Meylert's commission or muster +into service; hence his name was never entered upon my company roll. How +Bates came to place his name upon my roll, I do not know. + +I am yours truly, + CHAS. C. NORRIS. + + + +[H] Prolonged illness from typhoid fever. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WAR FROM THE INSIDE*** + + +******* This file should be named 29313.txt or 29313.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/9/3/1/29313 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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