-•*

7

//

II I S T O R Y

Htgtmrnt of II $. mti» H. H.
FROM
HARRISBURG,

ITS ORGANIZATION
AT CAMP CURTIN,
PA., IN 1861, TO ITS BEING MUSTERED
OUT

THE UNITED

STATES SERVICE AT ALEXANDRIA,
JULY 27th, 1865.

BY THOMAS

VA.,

H. PARKER,

Late Captain Co. I, 51st P. V. V.

PHILADELPHIA
KING

& BAIRD,

PRINTERS,
No.
1869.

607

:
SANSOM

STREET.

OF

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by
THOMAS

H. PARKER,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court, in and for the Eastern District
of Pennsylvania.

OFFICERS

AND
OF

MEN

THE

51sT REGIMENT, PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS,
AND

51sT REG., PA. VETERAN VOLUNTEERS,
WHOSE

DEEDS

OF

DARING

AND
WHO

TO

SEALED
BY

ARE

IS

AS

THE

MEMORY

OF

OUR

SACRED

DEVOTION

TO

OUR

F1AG

SACRIFICING
AN

BOOK

ENDURING

THEIR

ALTAR

THIS

AS

OFFERED

AS

BRAVERY

THEIR

PRECIOUS

OFFERING

ON

OF

THEIR

A

SINCERE
AND

THE

ROCK

OF

AGES.

DEAD,
AND

COUNTRY,

LIVES

THE
COUNTRY.

TRIBUTE

TO

ACKNOWLEDGED

GALLANTRY,

BY THE

M184013

AUTHOR.

PREFACE.

IN offering this book to the public, it is hoped
the patient reader will forbear severe critieism, and
deal with the author as gently as possible ; rather
looking to the merit of the subject than to the uncul
tivated brain that put the work together. The
merit of this work lies principally in the heroic
struggle of the regiment, in the forty-seven months
of service, in lending its aid to the suppression of
the late unholy rebellion. Its hard marches — its
untold sufferings from hunger, thirst and cold — its
desperate and stubbornly fought battles — its patient
endurance, fortitude and courage, have never yet
been fully told ; and although attempted by the
author in this work, he is candid enough to acknowl
edge that it is too feebly portrayed to give the
casual reader an idea of its full extent. Some may
say that a few of the officers are overrated in per
sonal bravery, and in their magnanimity towards
the rank and file under their command, but that
would dispel itself if the reader was personally
acquainted with those brave and generous hearts ;
for it is an undeniable fact, that a truly brave man

VI

PREFACE.

is a gentle, kind-hearted one, and through his
bravery he can afford to be sympathetic.
The incidents mentioned in this work are not from
hearsay, but are wholly from the personal 'obser
vation of the author, who was on the spot and saw
and heard for himself, and prides himself in saying
they are literally true to the letter. I have not un
dertaken to narrate a circumstance from the stand
point of view of others, and my descriptions are
wholly from my own optical view of the " Elephant"
as seen by myself. Others may differ in their views
and descriptions of battles, etc., yet my own will,
nevertheless, remain as correct as theirs. I was a
close observer, and not a night did I lay down,
either under the dark canopy of heaven, or under
my "little shelter," but I noted down rny jottings
of that day's work before I attempted sleep.
But one thing only in the compilation of this work
have I a sincere regret for, and that is the deficient
list of the wounded. It is a well known fact amonoall military men engaged in the late rebellion, that
only the severely wounded were accounted for on
the muster and pay rolls of the respective com
panies, for all the slightly wounded would answer
to their names on muster-day, and -by their pres
ence, their wounds would seldom, if ever, be an
event of record.
O

There will be found a few digressions from the
leading subject, but the attending circumstances

PREFACE.

Vli

called them forth, and they may not be quite as
palatable to certain persons as might be desirable,
yet I can conscientiously aver that to wound the
feelings of any one, be their political creeds what
they may, has been the most foreign to my wish,
and if any should take umbrage at what is there
said, I beg them to attribute it to " an error of the
head and not of the heart."
T. H. P.
CHESTER Co., March 1, 1869.

1*

CONTENTS.

PAET

I. -1801

CHAPTER

I.

Organization of the Fifty-first Regiment— Recruiting of
Companies— Roster of Field and Staff— Mustered In...

CHAPTER

9

II.

Arming the Fifty-first— Capt. Tarbutton— Amusements
in Camp— Band organized— Presentation of the State
Colors— Address by Governor Curtiii— Breaking Camp.
18

CHAPTER

III.

From Camp Curtin to Baltimore and Annapolis— Com
panies Lettered— Reviews— False Alarm— The "New
Overeoat "—Preparation to go on the Fleet— Serenade.. 21

CONTENTS.

II. -1862.

CHAPTEE

I.

The New Year of 1862— A rough night— Company drillsLiquor smuggling — Paid off— Going aboard the Fleet...

CHAPTER

II.

Leaving Camp Union — The Cossack and Scout — Burnside
Expedition leaves Annapolis — The reception at Fortress
Monroe — The Rip-raps — The first shot heard — Enthu
siasm of the troops — Again on the ocean — Storm at sea
— ITatteras Inlet — Narrow escape of the Scout — Wreck
of the "City of New York"

CHAPTEE

43

III.

Capt. Bennett — More storms and wrecks — The Cossack
in danger — Loss of the Louisiana — Veiling of lights —
Scarcity of water and rations — Using vinegar — Heroism
of the Sailors in procuring water — Gratitude of the
Soldiers to the Tars — Preparations for landing — Un
loading horses

CHAPTEE

41

54

IY.

Over the bar — Rumors of compromise — Rebel gunboats —
Advance of the Fleet to Roanoke Island — Demand for
Surrender — Its rejection— Preparations for the Attack... G5

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

XI

Y.

Bombardment by the Fleet — Landing of the Troops —
Battle of Roanoke Island— The Victory— Death of O.
Jennings Wise— Character of the Prisoners—" Going into
Business" — The Spy — Garbled newspaper reports —
Good news from all points — Speech by General Reno. ... 72

CHAPTER

VI.

All aboard— The new Enfields— Sailing of the FleetLanding at Slocum's creek — March to Newbern— Battle
ofNewbern — A patriot's death — Lieut. Morris — Charge
of the 51st — Capture of the rebel works — Poisoned food —
The 51st on a scout — Bridge-burning and foraging —
Return to Camp

CHAPTER

03

VII.

Arrival of convalescents and fresh troops — Camp Franklin
— Proficiency of Company B — Losses by sickness and
battle — Grumblings — Congratulatory orders — Gen. McClellan...
120

CHAPTER

VIII.

Drilling by the bugle— Maj. Schall in command — On board
the Admiral — Landing near Elizabeth City — Cnrrituck
Courthouse — March into the interior — Greetings to the
flag — Fight at Camden — Repulse of Hawkin's Zouaves —
Successful charge of the 51st — Retreat of the enemy —
Sudden return march to the ship— Liberation of convicts
— List of casualties
133

XIV

CONTENTS.

CHAPTEJR

XVII.

The rebels retreating — Opening of the battle of Antietam —
The struggle at the bridge — Brilliant charge of the two
olsts — Bravery of Capt. Allebaugh — The bridge stormed
and taken — Flight of the enemy — Heavy losses in the regi
ment—Death of Lieut, Col. Bell— The battle renewed—
Victory — Retreat of the rebels southward — Promotion —
Ferrero's promise to the " Boys"
229

CHAPTER

XVIII.

New stand of colors — Review" by President Lincoln —
Stringent orders— Pleasant Valley — Complimentary
orders — Shelter tents — On the move again — Lovettsville
— Lost in a snow-storm — Humanity of Dr. Cutter —
Amosville — " Buying mutton " — White Sulphur Springs
— On the Rappahannock — Artillery duel
244

CHAPTER

XIX.

Falmouth — Picketing the Rappahannock — "Rally on the
sutler" — Fredericksburg — Demand for surrender by Gen.
Burnside — Secret dealings with the enemy — Preparing
to cross the river — "Withdrawal of the pickets — Opening
of the Battle of Fredericksburg
250

CHAPTER

XX.

Awful cannonade — Crossing the pontoon — Forward move
ment to position — Destructive fire of the enemy — Heavy
losses — Death of Capt. Bell — Both armies closely engaged
Out of ammunition — Second day — Picket fighting —
Worthless shells — Retreat of the army across the river —
Burying the dead — The killed and wounded
267

CONTENTS.

PART

III. -1863.
CHAPTER

I.

The Emancipation proclamation — Winter — ' ' Guarding ' '
a sutler's wagons — An investigation — Another sutler
cleaned out — Good things from home — Suicide of Serg.
Jones — Burnside again on the move — The army stuck in
the mud — Return to quarters — End of the campaign —
.Burnside's corps ordered West — Columbus, Ohio — Con
flict with provost guards — Loss of life
282

CHAPTER

II.

Cincinnati — Generous reception — Paris, Ky.— Mt. Ster
ling — Winchester — Ilickman's Bridge — Lancaster —
Negro life and peculiarities — Crab Orchard — Stanford —
Correspondence
294

CHAPTER

III.

Off for Vick'sburg — The 8th Tennessee — Lexington — Covington — Cairo, Illinois — Big catfish — On the Missis
sippi — Correspondence from the regiment — Sherman's
Landing — Mortar tiring — Letters to the "National
Defender'1'1 — Description of the operations in the rear of
Vickslmrg
814

CHAPTER

IV.

Leaving Milldale — McCalPs— News of surrender of Vicksburg — Movement toward the Big Black — Sherman in
command — Destruction on the march — Tyranny of Col.
Le Gen dre — Crossing the Big Black — Bad water —
Awful storm — Correspondence — The march to Jackson
— Continuous fighting— Daring of Bob Roberts — Retreat
of the rebels— Race for the Capitol — Triumphant entry
of the 51st. ..
.. 338

XVI

CONTENT:?.

CHAPTEE

V.

Sacking of Jackson — Frolicsome march to the fort —
Grotesque costumes and rich scenes— Severe marching
— A land of plenty — Rest — Foraging in the cornfields —
Arrival at the Big Black — Heavy storm — Mud-marching
— Milldale again — Complimentary order from Gen.
Grant — Correspondence — Resignation of Chaplain Mailory
363

CHAPTEE

VI.

Haines1 BluiTs — On the Yazoo — Scenes on the Father of
Rivers — Heaving the lead — Wooding up — Island No.
Ten— Cairo, 111.— Off for Ohio— Railroad accident and
loss of life — Cincinnati — Speech from Gen. Burnside —
Covington, K}'. — Nicholasville — Camp Parke — Crab
Orchard — Garrison duty — Ordered to Knoxville, Tenn.
— The performing Zouave
378

CHAPTEE

VII.

Mt. Vernon — Starting for Knoxville, Tennessee — Corres
pondence — History of a Dog — Newspaper extracts —
London — Racing on the march — Its results — Post Pitman
— Laurel Bridge — Barboursville — Knobs of the Log
Mountains — Horace Maynard — Parson Brownlow —
Crossing the Cumberland Mountains — Cumberland Gap
— Descent into Tennessee — Tazewell
.. 394

CHAPTEE

VIII.

An infuriated she-rebel — Clinch river — Maynardsville —
A loyal farmer— Return of Major Bolton— Arrival at
Knoxville — Misfortunes of a Glee-club — Correspondence
— Loudon — Retreat across the river — Grand leap of a
locomotive— Taking up the pontoons— Flank movement
of Gen. Longstreet — March to Lenoir Station — Leiper's
Ferry — A brave corporal — Letters to the" Defender

415

CONTENTS.

CHAP

TEE

XVll

IX.

Foraging — Address from Ladies' Loyal League at Norristown, Pa. — Reply by Major Bolton — Building pontoons
— Laying the bridge — Re-enlistment proposed — News
paper extracts and correspondence — Description of the
Winter campaign — Character and efficiency of the Union
and Rebel armies contrasted — Material composing the
9th Army Corps and the 23d Army Corps — Return of
officers from home
438

CHAPTER

X.

Destruction of the pontoon bridge — Approach of the
enemy — A retreat ordered — General confusion — Burnside arrives on the field — Change of programme —
Advance to London — Fighting and falling back —
Skilful manoauvring — Severe marching and suffering —
Campbell's station — Magnificent battle scene — Repulse
of Longstreet — Night march to Knoxville — Losses in the
regiment
473

CHAPTER

XI.

The 51st entrenched — Building and breaking of the
dam — Skill and daring of Sergeants Parker and Fair —
Picket fighting and house burning — Grand and awful
scenes of fire and battle — Sufferings of the men — Rumors
of relief— An assault by the rebels — Retaking of the
picket pits by Schall's brigade — Constant fighting and
conflagration
,
486

CHAPTER

XII.

News from General Sherman — Night attack on the left —
Fort Sanders — The network of wires — Desperate charge
of the rebels — The struggle on the parapet — Repulse of
the enemy — Disparity of losses — Raising of the siege —
Retreat of Longstreet — Rutledge — Blain's Cross-roads —
Another battle^—Re-enlistinent commenced — Close of the
campaign of 1863
409

XV111

CONTENTS.

PART

I V.- 18 64

CHAPTER

I.

First muster of veterans-— The veteran roll of honor — A
thirty days1 furlough — Green-hide moccasins — Starting
for home— The march northward — Arrival at Camp
Nelson, Ky. — New clothing — Cincinnati — Preparations
at home for reception and welcome — Proclamation of
Gov. Curtin — Arrival at Harrisburg — The welcome
home — Affecting scenes
510

CHAPTER

II.

Reorganization of the 51st — Leaving home — Harrisburg
again — ''Taking a French" —Deaths on furlough —
Arrival at Baltimore — Annapolis— Camp Parole — Letter
from Lieut. -Col. Schall — Camp Bell — Correspondence
— Recruiting detail — Visit from Generals Burnside and
Grant — Preparing to go to the front
531

CHAPTER

III.

Across the Potomac— On the Rapidan — Battle of the
Wilderness — The woods on fire — Chancellorsville —
Battle of Spottsylvania — Charge and repulse of the 3d
Division — Terrible losses in the 51st — Bravery of Capt.
Bisbing — Capture of Capt. Allebaugh and the colors —
Promotion of Genl. Hartranft — Another day of carnage
—Truce of the pickets — Retreat of the enemy — Nearing
Richmond— Battle of Cold Harbor— Death of Col. Schall
and Lieut. Fizone
512

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

XIX

IV.

Progress of the advance — Crossing the James — Affair with
the Home Guards — A bloody charge — Severe losses in
the 51st — In the rifle pits — Another desperate rush —
The railroad eut — Daring and persistent courage of the
troops — Frequent repulses of the enemy — Close and
continuous fighting — Efforts to connect the lines —
Failures — The 51st detailed to do the work — A grand
success
.. 502

CHAPTER
A

V.

memorable shell — Diversion by Gen. Lee — Heavy
assault all along the lines — Repulse of the rebels —
Narrow escape of Gen. Hartranft — Preparations for a
grand assault — Burnside's mine — Firing of the train
— Awful explosion and loss of life — Charge of the
colored troops — Failure of the supports to come up —
Meade's jealousy of Burnside — An important statement
— The reserve sent to the rear by Mead, during the
charge — Repulse of our troops and heavy losses — Death
of Lieut. Fillman— Buttle of Yellow Tavern...

CHAPTER

VI.

Renewal of the battle — Splendid Union victory — Ream's
station — Return to Yellow Tavern — Fort building —
Rebel assault repulsed — Grant's railroad — Capture of
rebel pickets — Politics in camp — Fight among the officers
— "Smoked Yankees" — Election in the field — Dis
ciplining — Sheridan's victory — Thanksgiving turkeys —
Fort Morton — A hot place — A model fort-builder —
u Bob's" bogus dinner
581

XX

CONTENTS.

PART

V.-1SG5,

CHAPTER

I.

Shelling Fort Morton— Rebel flag of truce— The Peace
Commissioners — Conference on the picket line — Recep
tion of the rebel magnates by Genl. Grant — Complimen
tary enthusiasm on all sides — Failure of the mission—
Shelling renewed — Narrow escape of Capt. Parker —
Movement to the left — Capture and re-capture of Fort
Steadman — Tom Troy's visit to Petersburg — Capture of
the city — Last march southward — End of the war —
Resignation of Gen. Burnside — Last orJer of Col.
Bolton — Return home of the regiment — Final farewell. GOO

CHAPTER

II.

Roster of Field and Staff Officers— Roll of Co. A— Roll of
Co. B— Roll of Co. C— Roll of Co. D— Roll of Co. E—
Roll of Co. F— Roll of Co. G— Roll of Co. H— Roll of
Co. I— Roll of Co. K— Roll of names unassigned— State
ment — Casualties — List of battles engaged in — Distance
travelled. .
C22

CHAPTER

III.

Review of the services of the 51st— Defence of the regi
ment by Colonels Bolton and McClellan — Glorious his
tory of the Ninth Army Corps — Sketches of the field
and staff— Villains denounced — Stanzas in honor of the
dead heroes — Their widows and orphans — Thanks —
List of Cemeteries— U. S. price list
C92

PART

I.- 1861.

CHAPTEE

I.

Organization of the Fifty-first Regiment — Recruiting of Com
panies — Roster of Field and Staff— Mustered In.

IN writing the history of any organization — no
matter how important or insignificant it may be — it
is reasonable to suppose that it will be fraught with
some few incidents of sufficient interest to remuner
ate the reader, who follows the historic pen through
the revelations it makes of the narrative it has dis
closed. What can furnish a more interesting narra
tive than a military organization that has. nobly
battled with a traitor enemy for nearly four weary,
toilsome years ?
The subject of this history is one of peculiar in
terest, and calls for a more fertile brain than is pos
sessed by the author to do full justice to such an
illustrious subject as the 51st Kegiment Pennsyl
vania Volunteers and Pennsylvania Veteran Volun
teers furnishes, the career of which is one that may
justly be envied by regiments of a less brilliant
record, although they have all faithfully fulfilled
the mission assigned them, by standing up boldly,
aye, nobly, against the assaults of an unprincipled
enemy, whose every effort was to destroy the
greatest Republic entrusted to the care of him who
had so nobly and zealously guarded its future

10

HISTORY

OF THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

interest at the sacrifice of his own eventful life —
our martyred Lincoln !
The writer of this, though not gifted with the pen
eloquence of an Everett or a Bancroft, yet has been
a participant in all the scenes through which this
noble regiment has passed, from Roanoke Island to
the surrender of the rebel chieftains — Lee and John
ston, and " will a round unvarnished tale deliver of
its whole course" of trials and dangers. And
though it may have defects in its execution, it shall
be told in a fair and impartial manner, with a strict
regard for truth and simplicity, in the hope that all
defects, wherever they exist, will be gently passed
over by the forbearing reader, and fairly and
honestly attributed to "an error of the head and
not of the heart."
The many sufferings which this heroic band of
"companions in arms" endured have remained un
told from these simple facts : that its career was one
of continual privations from its origin up to its final
dissolution, and that its members naturally looked
upon all of their toils as a matter of necessity, and
therefore thought it needless to complain. Other
regiments have suffered terribly from famine, thirst,
long, wearisome marches, diseases, and the various
engines of death incident to the battle-field, but they
have experienced respites from such for weeks at a
time ; but very seldom so with the 51st — its fate was
to be " up and at them" all the time ; it was innocent
of " winter quarters," though it had partly prepared
them on two occasions, yet failed to remain long
enough to complete them.
I wish not to enter the arena to gain historical
notoriety, but simply to record the events of a gal-

OF

PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

11

lant body of men — bold, daring men — such as but
few armies in the ancient or modern wars possessed.
The call for troops to defend the nation's Capitol
is too fresh in the memory of all to need a repetition
here, as is the cause which gave necessity for the
President's proclamation to be issued, as also the
noble responses to it by thousands of heroic spirits
throughout the land ; so that the entire world looked
upon the rising army with awe and admiration, to
behold one of such immense magnitude raised as
if by a magician's wand !
The 51st Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer
Infantry was organized at Carnp Curtin, Harrisburg,
Pa., late in September, 1861, under the sole and
personal supervision of Col. John F. Hartranft, its
first commander.
The companies composing the
regiment began to report (unassigned) at Camp Curtin early in September, for equipment and drill, of
which Capt. Wm. J. Bolton's company was the
first in camp, having arrived on the 10th inst.,
and was equipped and mustered into the service
of the State on the llth, and mustered into the
United States army on the 12th. Five companies,
principally recruited in Montgomery county, com
posed the right wing of the regiment.
The other
five companies, composing the left wing, were re
cruited in the interior counties of the State — Centre,
Dauphin, Snyder, Clearfield, and Northumberland
being well represented.
The work of organization
was a task not without its perplexities.
A large
number of both officers and men had seen service
in the "three months" call, and naturally wished a
position commensurate with their experience in the
field ; but some were doomed to disappointment. In

12

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

order, however, that their claims should be fairly
dealt with, compromises were resorted to which gave
entire satisfaction to the interested ones, and accom
plished the desired organization. The " lettering "
of the companies was not attained until the organi
zation, and each therefore was only known as Capt.
's company till that lettering was completed.
As the various companies of recruits entered Camp
Curtin, they were immediately put under proper
drill-masters, to receive that training and discipline
that was so necessary to fit them for the ordeals to
which they were subjected on many a bloody field
through which they passed with so much credit to
themselves and the cause they defended. Some
companies entered camp with their full complement
of men, and others nearly so ; but after a few days'
wallowing in the mud, the men became dissatisfied
and commenced that unsoldierly act, deserting.
Capt. George K. Pechin took into camp from Mont
gomery county eighty-one men, on the 16th day of
September. The second night after their arrival the
rain poured down in torrents, and his men were
forced to leave their tents to avoid being submerged
by the " sea of rushing waters" that had found its way
into the tents. The storm subsiding early in the
forenoon of the next day, groups, each of a half
dozen of the unfortunate "drowned outs," were to
be seen standing in the company streets discussing
the necessity of "going a soldiering" in that kind
of a way. However, the matter was well talked
over and conclusions arrived at, which developed
themselves the next morning at roll-call, when fiftyfour names out of the eighty-one were all that were
answered. Other companies suffered by this first

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

13

storm in camp, but not so much as Capt. Pechin's,
which presented the appearance, at one time, of the
total extinction of a much longer existence of the
company from Upper Merion. Desertions were
alarmingly frequent, not caused by any inefficiency
of, or dislike to, the officers, for all had their choice
of officers when they enlisted, but wholly from the
nature of the ground on which they were encamped,
it being very low and much depressed below the
surrounding tract, so that during a storm, which
occurred almost daily the first three weeks, the
superfluous water would seek its level in and around
the tents, causing great dissatisfaction to the men
and making them execrate soldiering and every
thing belonging to it. Recruits were joining daily;
but if two were added in day time, two would desert
at night. Such, in fact, was the case with the
company from Upper Merion, until it became a
serious question whether the company could be or
ganized in time to take its departure with the regi
ment for Annapolis, Md.
Another company, under the command of Capt.
Finley, was very unsuccessful in retaining its in
dividuality, from the cause of recruits not coming in
as fast as the urgency of the case demanded. This
company complained of unfair treatment by the
" powers that be." Capt. Finley and Lieut. George
Schall made a proposition to the company that, as
they were unable to organize, if they wished to re
turn to their homes, they were free to do so. None,
however, went home. The men feeling great respect
and evincing much love for the two officers, wanted
to go to the "front" with them, should they decide
to go there, by endeavoring to recruit the company

14

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

for another regiment. Capt. Fin ley declined taking
his company into another regiment, and the day
of departure of the 51st coming too early to save
them from disbandment, Lieut. Schall entered Capt.
Pechin's company with about thirty-four of Finley's
men, the remainder being transferred by Capt.
Finley to a couple of other companies. The captain
went home to civil life, carrying the respect and love
of all who knew him. By this timely aid of the dis
banded company, Capt. Pechin was placed in a posi
tion to enable him to get mustered into the United
States service, on the 28th of November, 1861.
After the regiment was organized, the status of
the field and staff officers became as follows : Colonel,
John F. Hartranft; Lieut.-Colonel, Thomas S. Bell;
Major, Edwin Schall ; Quartermaster, John J. Freedley ; Surgeon, John P. Hosack ; Asst. Surgeon, James
D. Noble; Adjutant, Daniel P. Bible; Chaplain, D.
Gr. Mallory.
A few remarks here of the personal qualifications
of the field and staff officers, in a military point of
view, may not be amiss Col. John F. Hartranft is
by nature a military man. Quick of perception,
prompt to obey, and fearless to execute, his ability
is beyond cavil. This assertion he has proven on
numberless battle-fields — in places where slowness
to perceive his critical situation would havq.entailed
upon him and his command total defeat and eternal
disgrace, (vide his Fort Stead man affair.) With a
keen sense to unravel an apparently meaningless
manoeuvre of the enemy during an engagement, he
would be able to have his command posted where it
was bound to thwart the opposing chief of his cher
ished object. His promptness to obey has been

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

15

often discussed by those under bis command. Orders
from a superiorwere always obeyed with that prompt
itude and alacrity that distinguishes the true sol
dier from the parlor soldier. It mattered not how
exacting were those orders ; while others failed to
enforce them, "old Johnny," as his boys were wont
to call him, would successfully carry them out. His
fearlessness -to execute was the result of his indomnitable courage and his total disregard of any and
every danger. Who is there in or out of the army
that can say they ever saw Col. Hartranft dis
turbed in mind, or uncollected in ideas, when in the
heat of battle ? His coolness and bravery under the
most appalling circumstances have called forth en
comiums that the great chieftain, Gen. Grant, would
be* proud of.
Lieut-Col. Thomas S. Bell was all that his pre
decessor is ; but if any difference existed, it was only
in being a more strict disciplinarian.
Maj. Edwin Schall is deserving of a more elabor
ate biographical remark than can be here given, as
this is not intended for an analysis of a man's char
acter, but suffice it to say, that he was all that com
posed a true soldier and a gentleman ; kind, affable,
generous to a fault, but resolute and firm in all his
commands, rather inclined to control by suasive
means t^an by the iron hand, which military au
thority too often uses. His plan was not to punish
a man for an imaginary wrong, but to reason and
investigate, by which mode he not only saved him
self anxiety, but retained the love and respect of his
entire command. Who ever heard of him having
an enemy ?
Quartermaster John J. Freedley was well fitted

16

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIBST

REGIMENT

for his position, but was looked upon by the enlisted
men as careless of their interest, when in fact he
labored most assiduously for their comfort, both day
and night. But what Quartermaster ever received any
credit for the performance of his most arduous duties?
Surg. John P. Hosack was also one of those who
came in for a share of censure from the enlisted
men. He was undoubtedly a skilful surgeon, but
had very little commiseration for a wounded or sick
man, and went through the routine of surgery in too
much of a business way to please the fancy of the
invalid, who needed a little sympathy as well as a
good deal of quinine.
Asst.-Surgeon James D. Noble was the idol of the
invalids. He was well calculated to make a host of
friends in any hospital, kind in expression of fellowfeeling, gentle in his administerings, courteous and
affable to all who sought his aid.
Adjt. Daniel P. Bible was a " brick of the first
water," making an efficient officer in nearly all re
spects. The position of an adjutant is one not to be
envied. He was a severe disciplinarian, attentive
to business, and kept the record's of the regiment in
a creditable state during his stay with it, which was
of short duration.
Chaplain Daniel Gr. Mallory was a man of no
mean ability, but constitutionally unfit for the ex
posures of camp life. He wrought hard to gather
in the stray sheep to his fold ; but his efforts were
fruitless as he eventually lost the stock on hand
with which he began his labors.
The 16th day of September, 1861, may be set down
as the day of the regiment's arrival in Camp Curtin,
although a few companies came previous to, and

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after that date.

VOLUNTEERS.

17

Soon after its arrival, the men be

gan to experience the soldier's troubles — comfortless
clothing, and scanty rations. Most of the men had
come to camp in their shirt sleeves, being led to be
lieve that as soon as they should arrive in camp,
army clothing would be issued to them ; but nothing
of the kind came to hand till the 1st of October,
except a lot of old tattered blankets and bed quilts,
which were issued on the 17th of September, but
not used by the recruits, because after carrying
them to their quarters it was discovered that they
were alive with vermin, having been used in the
"three months' service."
The men in a spirit of in
dignation pitched the blankets into their company
streets, and piling them in heaps, set them on fire,
committing the " gray-back veterans " to the flames.
They remained without blankets or quilts until
October 2d, when the ladies — God bless them — of
Dauphin county heard of their destitution, and
loaned the regiment quilts sufficient for its comfort
until the government could supplv it, which it did
on the 9th of October.
The bed quilts were returned
to the kind hearted ladies. Up to the introduction
of the first issue of blankets, the boys had not ex
perienced any " itching " sensation ; but from the
blankets, a few of those "soldier's companions"
had unfortunately got on the men's clothing, and in
a few days they were all enjoying a good scratch.
The vermin increased with great rapidity, and each
soldier looked with strong suspicion on his neighbor
as being infested with the "nasty things," each arid
all having their full share, yet with much pertinacity
denying the existence of the insect on their persons;
still they were there, which many a sly twitch of
o*

18

HISTOKY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIKST

EEGIMENT

the arms or body silently indicated. It was some
times highly amusing to go outside the camp and
take a stroll through the fields arid among the bushes,
to find the boys hid away, as they supposed, where
no one could see them hunting their clothing over to
rid themselves of the " pesky" creatures.
On the 28th day of September, 1861, nearly all
the companies were marched into Harrisburg, and
mustered into the service of the United States by
Lieut. W. Piper, 5th U. S. Artillery.

CHAPTER

II.

Arming the Fifty-first — Capt. Tarbutton — Amusements in
Camp — Band organized — Presentation of the State Colors —
Address by Governor Curtin — Breaking Camp.

THE 51st was fully armed and equipped on the 2nd
day of October, with the Harper's Ferry muskets
from the arsenal at Harrisburg. As the men had
evinced a deep interest in becoming proficient in
the " facings," it can reasonably be supposed they
would feel a deeper interest in the " manual of
arms ; " and as they rapidly acquired the handling
of the musket, they were taken under the instruc
tions of Capt. Tarbutton, who was at that time
regimental drill-master of the camp. The captain
was the right man in the right place, and had a host
of friends among the boys who were fortunate
enough to be in bis school; for his gentlemanly,
urbane manners, with quaint sayings, kept them
always in a good humor, and they in turn did their
best to keep him in the same. He was a good dis-

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19

ciplinarian, kind to all, yet resolute and exacting in
all his commands. Every afternoon be would have
the regiment out for battalion drill, without arms,
and as the weather was somewhat cool, the boys,
when standing at a " front," would have their hands
in their pockets, art act which the captain deemed unmilitary, and he would administer a gentle reproof to
them. Then by walking from the left to the rightwing, he would find some one to confront who had his
hands snugly esconced in his pockets ; the old cap
tain, singling him out, would gaze on him in silence
long enough for the man to get his hands out ; but
if he failed to take the hint, the captain in his kind,
but gruff way, would ask him, u What are you nurs
ing ?" The flushed cheek indicated what effect his
words had. The men of the various regiments who
were under his tuition will remember him with
pleasure to their last moments. As a proof, for in
stance, while on a wearisome march in 1863, in Mis
sissippi, the 51st passed a few Pennsylvania regi
ments who were sitting down on the roadside for a
few minutes' rest, when it was hailed by the usual
question in passing, "What regiment, boys?"
Keceiving "51st Pennsylvania," in reply, the ques
tion was asked simultaneously by a dozen voices of
the other regiments, "Boys, don't you wish old
Tarbutton had you to-day drilling you?" Thus,
often in passing Pennsylvania regiments, when worn
out with hard marching or fighting, we would be
asked if we not didn't wish " old Tarbutton " had us ?
In the evenings after dress parade, a large number
of the boys would congregate on the drill-ground
for various amusements, such as "corner or base
ball," wrestling, running, jumping, and tossing up

20

HISTOEY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

each other in blankets. This latter amusement col
lected large crowds from the numerous other regi
ments in Camp Curtin, and at times was highly ex
citing as well as interesting. An explanation of
this species of amusement, perhaps, may not be un
interesting to the uninitiated. The first thing in
order was to obtain a woollen blanket of undoubted
strength, then as many of the boys as could secure
good holds at each of the four corners and sides would
do so, when some outsider would be kidnapped and
thrown per force into the blanket, and before the
involuntary aeronaut could regain his feet, the
blanket would be in motion. Raising it up a couple
of feet from the ground, each one pulling the blanket
towards himself would tighten it so as to throw the
man in it two or three feet up in the air, coming
down again on the blanket only to go up the same
height the second time, and in going through the
operation the third time, the boys would lend all
their efforts and strength to send him up as high as
they possibly could, to the height of fifteen or twenty
feet; catching him again in his descent only to send
him up still higher the next time, if possible, until
his piteous appeals would obtain his final release
from his persecutors, who then would secure another
victim for the blanket. Thus was many an hour
passed that might have been worse spent.
An amusing affair occurred just before the regi
ment left Camp Curtin. The rations were always
too much of a sameness ; the boys longed for a
change, and as their money was all " played out,"
in order to gratify their appetite they had to resort
to strategy, which in this case was one of consider
able risk, as well as of profit. A party agreed, as the

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21

weather was cool, and a cattle train with some fine
fat hogs on it was standing on the siding opposite the
camp, that a piece of fresh pork would eat tolerably
well, providing it could be got through the guards
into camp. Risky as it was, the attempt was decided
upon. That night the aforesaid party went out of
camp by breaking guard and proceeded to the cars,
where a fine hog weighing about two hundred and
fifty pounds was taken out.
The killing only occupied a few minutes, and its
squeals were soon hushed in death ; but the untried
task of getting it into camp without detection, had
yet to be tested, for the guards had their instructions
to arrest all soldiers who were even suspected of
having been out foraging; and should a guard,
under any circumstance whatever, pass a soldier,
or, in fact, any one, into camp, across their beats,
they would be punished for their indiscretion.
Pickets were also posted outside the camp with in
structions to overhaul all soldiers found outside
without passes. Thus a party of a dozen men to
gether had a small chance for being successful in
the pork trade. As they were Hearing the pickets,
they were halted, and ordered to come in and give
themselves up ; but the challenge only served to
set their fertile brains to invent some strategy to
get into carnp with their prize — to them it was a
cherished prize, however desperate the game had now
to be played. One was sent in to the picket, and
told a plausible tale that they were ''railroad
hands," (it being too dark for the picket to see to the
contrary,) and that in walking down the railroad
they had come across a sick soldier belonging to
Camp Curtin, and finding him unable to walk, they

22

HISTOKY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

had gone for a physician who resided close by, who
told them the man was dangerously ill, and they
must not carry him all the way round to the en
trance gate, as it would kill him, but they must
keep him well wrapped up, and carry him on a
litter the shortest possible way into camp. The
tender chord of sympathy being touched, the party
were permitted to pass inside the picket line with
their charge, for which they had made a litter, by
taking two rails out of a fence, and laying a blanket
over all. On reaching the line of camp -guards, an
other obstacle arose, and the hog came very near
being deserted. They had told the guard the same
tale of duplicity, and were about being permitted to
cross the beat just as the officer of the day was
making his " grand round." Seeing a group of men
near the line, he naturally inquired their business,
and actually insisted on investigating the matter be
fore him. but they had the doctor's injunctions to
not allow a particle of air to blow on the invalid,
and they would not be responsible for the man's life
if the officer would violate the trust imposed on
them by the son of Esculapius. However, with
plenty of " brass/' and endless perseverance, they
succeeded in getting their prize into camp at one
o'clock in the morning, after being six hours accom
plishing the feat.
Another incident worthy of note occurred the
evening before our departure for Annapolis. On
the afternoon before we left Camp Curtin, the boys
found out that the regiment was under marching
orders to leave the next day, consequently they
were intent on having a gay time before they should
leave. About one-half of the regiment broke guard,

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and went into Harrisburg to enjoy themselves.
Col. Hartranft, finding so many of the men absent,
and fearful of a disturbance taking place in town,
issued orders for a detail to be made to patrol the
town, to arrest and bring into camp all absentees.
When the details for each company were made,
many of the companies had not the required num
ber to send ; but all were sent that were in camp.
However, the tables were, confusedly turned, for
most of the patrolling party got somewhat inebriated,
and it fell to the lot of the absentees to bring to
camp their would be captors.
The organization of a brass band for the regiment
was conducted by its leader, George W. Arnold.
Quite a number of the performers were taken from
among the enlisted men, but under the skilful leader
ship of Lieut. Arnold, it soon compared favorably
with the oldest bands in camp. This band did good
service at the battle-fields on which the regiment was
engaged, in performing the ambulance duties of
-carrying off the wounded and burying the dead.
Benjamin Rowland, a member of the band, deserves
especial mention for the heroic manner in which he
did his duty at Roanoke, Newbern, and Camden.
Posting himself, on each occasion, where he could
render the most assistance, he would, on seeing a
comrade fall, run to his aid, while the balls of all
kinds flew thick, and either drag or carry him far
enough out of danger to enable those with stretchers
to get and take him to the hospital. Thus a large
number received the surgeon's skill soon after being
wounded, who might have lain on the field for hours,
or until the battle ceased. The entire band, as an
ambulance corps, deserve much praise, as hundreds

24

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

of wounded soldiers can testify. The following are
the names on the roll of the Band of the 51st Regi
ment, P. V. : George W. Arnold, Leader ; George
Y. Hansell, James S. Baird, Alexander Earle,
Drummer ; Jeremiah W. Buck, Bass Drum ; William
Workeiser, Benjamin Rowland, Charles Day, Wilson
Forster, John Earp, William Williams, James Haws,
Justus Bockius, John C. Millhouse, Simon Britton,
Samuel G. Arnold, William Earl, Benjamin Watkins, Charles Thompson, Phillip Jacobs.
The 51st struck tents several times while in Camp
Curtin, for sanitary reasons — policing the grounds
sometimes, and at others changing locality. The
health of the regiment was not good while at this
camp, the men being too "green and raw " to stand
the exposure at first; and the change from sleeping
in comfortable feather beds and dry rooms to lying
upon the damp' ground or hard boards, with but
scanty covering, was too sudden and severe for the
human constitution to bear/ The tents were of a
good quality but the inmates were much crowded — •
five or six in one common wedge or "A" tent —
were forced to lie "spoon-fashion," on their sides,
altogether. When one became tired of lying in
that situation, and wished to " turn over," he had to
waken up all of his tent-mates to " about face," which
would be done sometimes with a bad grace and con
siderable growling. The officers were not subjected
to this inconvenience. They were furnished with
large wall tents, and at no time would more than
three occupy one of them. Having " bunks " erected,
they were nearly as comfortable as they could have
been at home ; in consequence, their health was not
affected like that of the enlisted men, who suffered

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25

extremely with diarrhoea, dysentery, and rheuma
tism. The change of food, no doubt, tended in a great
measure to bring on the first two diseases, aided by
the exposed condition of the comfortless sleeping
quarters. Typhoid, camp, and other fevers began
to seize the men towards the latter part of their stay
in Camp Curtin.
On the 10th of October new army blankets were
drawn, and added considerably to the health and
comfort of the troops. But the seeds of the different
diseases had been sown, and began to take root be
fore this comfort arrived.
Besides the various amusements, other exercises
were added for the health of the men. On Sundays
the different companies marched to Harrisburg to
attend church. During the week-days they would
exercise one hour at ''squad drill," two hours at
"company drill" in the forenoon, and in the after
noon from two to three hours in " battalion drill/'
besides going out on '' dress parade." Thus the
exercise was sufficient in itself to keep the men from
sinking into ennui.
On the afternoon of the 5th of November, 1861,
Governor Curtin presented the 51st, 52d, and 53d
Eegiments, each with a stand of State colors. The
presentation was made by the Governor in person, in
the presence of a vast concourse of visitors from the
city, and Camps Cameron and Greble. The regi
ments were closed en masse respectively, and composed
three sides of a square. The ceremonies were very
imposing, and the address of the Governor was
listened to with marked attention. Many a brave
man gave vent to his feelings during the Governor's
speech. He told them : "I am looking hundreds in

26

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

the face, who are in perfect health, but who will
never return to their homes, families or friends again,
but their memories will be enshrined in the hearts
of the generations of future ages." Alas ! how pro
phetic were his words ! Hundreds ! aye, thousands !
whom he looked in the face that day, have passed to
" that bourne from whence no traveller returns" to
his home, family, or friends. After the colors were
presented, several bands present enlivened the scene
with stirring harmony, adding much to the already
impressive ceremony. After the 51st returned to
their quarters, the men appeared in better spirits,
believing in the adage that "Coming events cast
their shadows before," and now having received
their colors it augured that they were soon to be
sent to the front. Rumors of marching orders had
frequently been rife in camp before, but now specu
lations ran high that the 51st would soon meet the
enemy ; in fact, orders to be ready to march were
already in, but no definite time for going had been
set. Still, there loomed up in the distance a fair
prospect that the regiment should see one fight, at least,
before the war would be over. The fear of not see
ing one was, apparently, the greatest trouble the men
had. Col. Hartranft obtained the transportation for
the regiment on the evening of the 12th November,
but it was unknown to his men at the time. Early
on the morning of the 16th the regiment "struck
tents," and packed up preparatory to marching. The
great number of sick had been provided with quar
ters at the hospital, and were left behind. At noon
the drums beat the " assembly," and the regiment was
soon in " harness," eager to be off. It remained in
line until 4 p. M. The men, with their heavy knap-

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27

sacks on all the time, kept in that trying position for
four hours, at last were relieved by the word of com
mand to '' Eight face, file left, march," by their colo
nel. It marched out of Camp Curtin with hearts full
of spirit and joyous anticipations, for they now felt
for the first time that they were a pa#t of the great
army of the United States of America, and entitled
to rank as such.

CHAPTEE

III.

From Camp Curtin to Baltimore and Annapolis — Companies
Lettered — Reviews — False Alarm — The "New Overcoat "Preparation to go on the Fleet — Serenade.

THE regiment, on leaving Camp Curtin with flying
colors, marched to the "siding" on the Pennsylvania
Central road, between the camp and ITarrisburg, to
where a train of thirty-seven cattle cars were in wait
ing to transport them to Baltimore via Northern
Central Eailroad. The weather was very disagree
able — snowing, raining, and very cold. The cars
were filthy with manure, from being recently used
for cattle ; yet the men were crowded into them, and
forced to sit on each other's laps, or fix themselves
in the best way they could. Four of the cars being
used for the transportation of the horses belonging
to the regiment, and for the officers and their bag
gage, the remainder were for the men.
The train left at 5 P. M., and arrived next morn
ing (Sunday) in Baltimore, at 8 o'clock, having been
all night on the road. The men kept themselves
tolerably warm until the train reached Glen Eock,

28

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

about midnight, where it had to lie over about two
hours, to enable a passenger train to have the road,
and to pass the regiment. While remaining there
the boys disembarked, and finding they had halted
in front of a field of corn fodder, they immediately
appropriated it to their own use for bedding purposes.
The unfortunate owner, whoever he may have
been, must have rubbed his eyes in astonishment on
looking over his cornfield the next morning, and
finding his fodder all gone.
The regiment halted again when nearer Baltimore,
and this time the boys foraged in earnest. One man
(" scout ") went to a stately mansion a short distance
from the road to see what he could find lying around
"loose;" but on entering the front yard, he was con
fronted by an ugly-looking mastiff chained to the
gate-post. Here was a dilemma, three o'clock in the
morning, and very dark. Outside the gate was the
man, inside the dog, and a little further a bake-oven,
wherein were stored sundry sweetmeats. By the
oven's side stood an apple tree, on which a number
of fowls were roosting. The "scout" decided to
steal the dog first, which he did, and then appro
priated whatever else he could find that he wanted
and didn't want. He brought to the cars, and dis
tributed, one dog and chain, one wash-tub, four
bread-pans, two one-gallon jars of preserves, and a
few chickens. Other parties were out, and were
quite as successful as the former, when the whistle
blew, and they were soon again steaming to the
Monumental city.
On the arrival of the 51st in Baltimore, it disem
barked, and marched by "company front" through
the principal streets to the other side of the city, to

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the Washington depot, where the regiment was
treated to a cup of good coffee, bread and butter,
meats of various kinds, cheese, &c. After the colla
tion was over, the regiment again formed, marched
through the city by company front, and halted at
Pratt street wharf, where it stacked arms, and awaited
the loading of the baggage. While at "rest" in
Pratt street the regiment was visited by many Union
citizens, who brought fruits, cakes, and "other re
freshments," and distributed them with a lavish
hand At 6 o'clock P. M., they broke "stacks,"
and marched back to the Washington depot, and
there embarked for Annapolis, where they arrived
at 2 o'clock on the morning of the 18th of Novem
ber, 1861.
After its arrival, while groping around in the
Egyptian darkness to find out their locality, they
were marched to the Naval Academy buildings and
furnished with good quarters until late in the after
noon of the same day, when the regiment ''pitched
tents" on the lawn in the rear of the buildings, and
formed " Camp Burnside," which was the first en
campment of the regiment in " Secessia." Nothing
of especial interest took place here except the final
touch to the organization of the regiment, and some
hard drilling. The lettering of the companies was
here completed as follows : Capt. Wm. J. Bolton,
Co. "A," Capt. Fernando Bell, Co. "B," Capt. Wm.
Allebaugh, Co. " C," Capt. Edward Schall, Co. « D,"
Capt. G. H. Hassenplug, Co. " E," Capt. R. E. Tay
lor, Co. "F," Capt. A. Snyder, Co. <; G," Capt. J.
Merril Lynn, Co. " II," Capt. Geo. K. Pechin, Co.
" I," Capt. John Titus, Co. " K."
After the complete organization of the companies

30

HISTOKY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

and regiment, the "hard drilling" began in earnest.
The ground on which the regiment drilled was un
even and broken, situated on the banks of the Sev
ern river, which at this place flows through a tract
by nature washed into deep ravines and gorges,
covered partly with scrubby bushes and various
kinds of briars ; altogether an undesirable piece of
ground to drill on, in the views of the men, but just
the spot, in preference of all others, in the view of
Col. llartranft, to which the men will cheerfully
testify when they let their minds wander back to the
times they used to "double quick" it over one hill
after another, much to the gratification of their field
officers, who wanted to get the boys " inured " to
drilling on that kind of skirmish ground. While
here the "boys" enjoyed themselves "hugely" be
tween drill hours, by going boating, fishing and oystering.
On the 3d of December, the regiment "struck
tents" and marched out on the railroad towards An
napolis Junction, about two miles from the city, and
formed a new camp, called " Carnp Union." This was
the most beautiful one the regiment ever had,
forming a crescent, and situated on a slightly ele
vated piece of ground, at the top of which was regi
mental headquarters, the company streets radiating
thence like the spokes of half a wheel, the quarters
of the company, or "line" officers, being at the
" right " of each company.
Considerable labor had been expended by the men
in fitting up this camp with evergreens, pines, ce
dars, laurel, &c. At the main entrance was a most
magnificently wrought " arch " of a evergreens," in
the centre of which, as a '' keystone," were the fig-

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31

ures "51, "also made of evergreens. A splendid
border of young pines extended all round the front
of the camp, giving it an aristocratic appearance.
Pines were planted on either side of the streets,
nearly shutting the tents out from the eye, and at the
ends of the streets were arches similar to the one at
the main entrance, but not so elaborate, and instead
of the number of the regiment being on eacli arch,
the letter of the company hung as a pendant. Many
of the tents boasted of splendid arbors over them,
which proved as useful as they were ornamental,
protecting the quarters from the violence of storms.
Ditches were dug around the tents for the purpose
of carrying oft' the water during a heavy rain. The
tents were floored with "cord wood," on which
the men slept, serving to keep them off' the ground,
and also to save them from getting wet, which was
frequently the case when a ditch was not sufficient
to carry off' all the water, and would overflow. The
distance the water for the use of the camp had to be
carried made it very inconvenient, as no one could
go after it without a written pass, signed by the
company commander, and countersigned by the
colonel. A strong guard was posted all round the
camp, and they dared not let any one cross their
" beats." The men all too well remember that no very
large number of passes were signed at that time in
one day; and, like the "hog" business, they often
were compelled to resort to various methods of get
ting through the guard, one of which was by forging
passes or altering the dates on old ones.
On the 5th of December, Col. Hartranft raised a
flag-staff' of ninety feet in height, in front of his
quarters, and the next morning as the sun was rising

32

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

he flung to the breeze the starry flag which his regi
ment so nobly defended for nearly four years on
more than a score of bloody fields. The raising of
this flag-staff caused the men to conclude that they
were to stay in Camp Union until the close of the
war, which they supposed was very near at hand, and
the fear of being discharged from the service without
seeing a fight began to seize them again. It was
about this time that the regiment first received
the intimation of joining " Burnside's Coast Expedi
tion," which had considerable influence in allaying
the fear of not " getting into a fight."
While lying at this camp the regiment was sub
jected to hard and constant drilling, with frequent
'' reviews," the first of which took place on the 13th
day of December, 1861, of the entire " Coast Divi
sion," as far as then organized. This partial organ
ization at a future time formed the 2d brigade of the
Coast Division. This review was by Gen. Foster
and staff. On the next day (14th) another grand
review was to have taken place by Gen. Ambrose
Everett Burnside, but from some inexplicable cause
he did not attend the review, so Gen. Foster and
staff substituted themselves. On the 19th December
the Coast Division being fully organized, another
grand review took place by Gen. Foster, Gov. Hicks,
and the Legislature of the State of Maryland. On
the next day, the 20th. was still another review.
This one was for the special benefit of Gen. Burnside in f.ropria persona. On the 26th the 51st was
again inspected by Gen. G. B. McClellan's staff, and
received much credit from it for clean arms and
clothing, discipline and soldierly appearance. At the
beginning of December, 1861, the 51st had been as-

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signed to the 2d brigade, commanded by Col. Ed.
Harlan, of the 8th Connecticut Vols., in the 1st divi
sion, under command of Gen. Foster, and retained
that position for a long period of time.
The weather, toward the close of the year 18 61
began to give the soldiers a taste of winter. Snow
squalls were frequent, with a good deal of rain.
They had not yet learned how to make themselves
comfortable in their tents. But experience, and the
necessity of inventing, soon began to develop itself,
yet too late to do much towards building fire-places
in the tents. Even had they possessed the knowl
edge of keeping fires in tents, very little time was
afforded to do it, excepting after nightfall, when the
fatigue of constant drilling and other duties through
out the day prevented the men in a great measure
from laboring for their own good. The time of the
regiment was so " mapped out " for performing the
various duties that the men could scarcely get time
sufficient to keep their clothing and persons clean.
The result was, they began to be "thickly popu
lated," so constant were the men kept at drilling,
policing, on reviews, and dress parades. The latter,
in those days, were always a " bore," for they always
wound up with " passing in review," first in common
time, then quick time, then double quick. This last
movement was useless ; also a nuisance, for it only
tended to sweat the men.. It taking place in the
evenings, with no fires to dry their sweaty clothes,
the men were obliged to lie down in their tents on
the cold, damp earth, or next to it, and thereby sowed
the seeds of innumerable diseases that have laid many
a brave heart in the silent and distant grave.
About midnight of December 19th, 1861, quite an

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excitement was gotten up by the d'Epeneuil Zouaves,
who were encamped on the ground that at a later
day was occupied by the barracks of Camp Parole.
For some indefinite cause, they beat the " long roll "
and fired several shots, creating an alarm and belief
that a body of rebels had attacked them. The va
rious neighboring regiments took the alarm, and fell
in line of battle, some fully equipped, some partially
so. A great many men were full equipped, yet in
their shirts and drawers only, being hatless and with
out shoes on their feet. The 51st was not " sold " so
cheap, as it was the Zouaves' nearest neighbor.
Col. Hartranft sprang from his " couch," and, run
ning out doors en dishabille, soon learned that it
was a false alarm.
On Sundays those who could get off generally went
to church in the city of Annapolis, notwithstanding
Chaplain Mallory did all in his power to give them
spiritual instructions in camp, but with little or no
success. Lieut. George Arnold, the leader of the
band, was summoned to bring his band to Mr. Mailory's quarters and discourse some sacred music, in
lieu of the ringing of church bells, to assemble the
congregation. The band, after exhausting all their
wind in the attempt, returned to their quarters, evi
dently disgusted with such a decided failure. Mr.
Mallory shared their mortification, and felt consider
ably chagrined at his unsuccessful efforts to instil
morality into, as he must have thought, such a
" heathenish " regiment. On one occasion Col. Har
tranft came to his rescue, by having a general
inspection and a long regimental drill, which was
supposed to be as punishment for their non-attend
ance at church.

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The troops encamped at Annapolis and its vicinity
at this time got the impression that the rebellion was
virtually over, and they looked upon the arduous
duties of camp life, as imposed on them, as alto
gether unnecessary, and they all became very much
dissatisfied. - Alas ! little did they know of what
they all had to go through ere such a blessing should
become a fact. Notwithstanding their onerous du
ties, the 51st was highly gratified in being taken out
skirmishing on Sunday afternoon, December 8, 1861,
for the first time since the men had adopted arms as
a profession. The regiment deployed as skirmishers,
and marched about seven miles towards the " Junc
tion." Halting in a sandy desert for a rest, the
regiment stacked arms in a field, and " broke ranks,"
when the boys commenced their " first raid," but
only succeeded in finding an old dilapidated frame
building, full of leaf tobacco, of which they supplied
themselves to their fullest desires. They carried
large arm loads into camp, where they arrived after
nightfall, sore-footed and tired.
On the 12th of December, 1861, the 51st could
boast of being blessed, or cursed, for the first time
with having their own sutlers, Messrs. Kodermel
and Hartranft, the latter a relative of the esteemed
colonel of the 51st. Their prices were very exorbi
tant for the articles sold. Notwithstanding the high
prices, the men found the sutlers a great convenience,
as they kept such necessary articles as the soldier
most needed ; but, as the regiment had not been paid
since its enlistment, credit was given until pay day,
on orders signed by company commanders. The
high prices were occasioned through the difficulty of
obtaining the goods, as well as through the risk of

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HISTOKY

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THE

FIFTY -FIRST

REGIMENT

loss by capture, losses in credit, and the high rates
of freight that sutlers were forced to pay for trans
portation. During the encampment at Annapolis,
the mails arrived very regularly, twice a day from the
North. Wm. Percival Schall, of Co. D, was appointed
mail agent for the regiment, discharging the duties
with much ability and strict integrity. He held the
position until his discharge from the service in March,
1865, while lying at Fort Morton, in front of Peters
burg, Va. After Schall's discharge, Joseph Logan,
drummer, of Co. E, was appointed to fill the vacancy,
which he did with much credit to himself until the
final discharge of the regiment from the service of
the United States.
Previous to the regiment's embarking on board of
the fleet, ammunition for target practice was issued ;
but a large quantity of it proved of a very poor kind.
Many of the cartridges were filled with sand, instead
of powder, some with nothing but the ball, and
some contained no balls, but were filled entirely
with powder. This ammunition had been put up at
the Washington, D. C., Arsenal, by those who cer
tainly did sympathize with the South. While lying
at Camp Union, the regiment drew a requisition for
a large quantity of all kinds of army clothing, pre
paratory for the expedition. Every man was well
supplied with good and comfortable clothing, which
made them like this camp much better than that
charnel camp, Camp Curtin.
A detail from the 51st was sent into Annapolis,
about the 10th of December, to do provost and
patrol duty, and remained there until within a few days
of their departure on the fleet. Their duty was not
very onerous; it consisted in arresting disorderly and

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intoxicated soldiers, and those who ventured to town
with a pass not properly signed, or without passes.
The latter would generally be put under guard,
and escorted to their respective regimental camps,
and turned over to their commanders to receive
whatever punishment their cases called for. They
also had to arrest all citizens after 10 p. M., with or
without passes, unless they had the countersign.
One of the patrol, Levi Bolton, of Co. A, on one
occasion halted Gen. Burnside, and was about taking
him to the guard-house to lock him up, when the
general, after some studying, bethought him what
the countersign was, and was released. Bolton knew
him, but clung to him as if he was a stranger. After
the general was permitted to go, he gave the man
great credit for his vigilance and resolution.
The friends of the soldiers of the 51st made good
use of Adams' Express while the regiment lay at
Camp Union, by sending boxes of ''good things" to
the boys ; but, to the eternal disgrace of the very not
enterprising company, the boxes and various kinds
of parcels remained in their offices until the major
part of their contents would be spoiled, and have to
be thrown away when the package came to be
opened. The writer of this has received some boxes
five months after being shipped. Of course nothing
could be used, and this at a time when it would be
no difficulty for them to arrive in five days. Some
boxes were shipped to me that have not arrived yet.
The writer only mentions his case as a type of thou
sands of others like it.
On Monday, December 23, 1861, the paymaster of
the U. S. A. paid the regiment its first pay due, viz.,
two months and the fractional parts of months from

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HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

enlistment up to October 31st of that year; which
gladdened the hearts of all, for many of the men had
enlisted in August preceding, and had been four
months without money ; consequently many of their
families suffered for the necessaries of life, and this
pay was a God-send to them. For be it known that
men who- enlisted in those days did so from purely
patriotic motives. No big bounties were in anticipa
tion ; in fact, there were not even little bounties ex
pected, but all went forth to do battle for their
country from a sense of duty only.
On December 26th, 1861, Col. Hartranft inaugura
ted a novel mode of punishment for the unruly and
disobedient, and all others whose crimes were of the
higher order, such as getting drunk, breaking guard,
&c. It consisted of a barrel with one end knocked
out, and a hole in the other sufficiently large to
allow the head of the culprit to protrude above it.
The introduction of this novelty afforded considerable
amusement for the boys. As an illustration, on the
first day of its introduction the boys "dubbed" it
the " overcoat," and one man, (poor fellow ! he sealed
his devotion to his country with his life's blood at
the battle of the Wilderness, Va., May 6th, 1864,)
had asked the colonel for a pass to go into the city,
and was refused, for the colonel knew he wanted to
go only for a drunken frolic, and would be picked up
by the provost guard and severely punished. But
on being refused, he felt bound to " win the horse or
lose the saddle," and broke guard, went to town, got
" tight," and raised " old Harry." He was fortunate
enough to evade the patrol, but not so fortunate in
evading the colonel, whom he met as he was coming
into camp, and who arrested and made him wear the

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" new overcoat." Pretty soon after he got the barrel
put on him a comrade came into camp eating an
apple. The prisoner ask'ed him, as he was passing,
for one. His comrade offered it ; but a difficulty
here arose as to how he was to get hold of it, for the
sides of the barrel completely enveloped him, and
his arms hung uselessly at his side, for the lower end
of the barrel extended below the ends of his fingers.
However, it was decided that the apple should be
placed on the head of the barrel, and thereby he
might, by twisting and turning the barrel, be able to
eat it, if the apple would only roll to his mouth so
he could catch it with his teeth and get a "bite."
But on "diving" around to catch the fruit, the poor
fellow stubbed his toe, and, his hands being confined
by the barrel, down he went, rolling into a small
ditch close by, unable to help himself in the least.
His moans and grunts attracted the attention of the
guards aif well as his comrades, who went to his
rescue, and they soon set him on his "pins" again,
" a sadder if not a wiser man." He had bruised
himself a little, and his opinion of the new overcoat
ivas not very favorable.
On the 29th day of December, 1861, the regiment,
while out on drill, received marching orders, to
report at 12 o'clock, noon, of the next day, on board
of the fleet then assembled off the Naval School at
Annapolis, with three days' cooked rations and forty
rounds of ammunition to each man. Speculation
now ran high as to the expedition's destination.
Some suggested up the York river, Ya., some the
James river, and very few thought it possible that it
would go on the ocean. But all their conjectures
were doomed to be disappointed ! The next day

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HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

and several days thereafter found the Coast Division
still in camp, but for what cause none could explain.
The vessels had been arriving for several weeks
past, but all that were to go had not arrived up to
the above date. All the preparations were being
made by (ren. Burnside as expeditiously as possible.
Loading provisions, water, and ammunition, taking
in coal and wood, cattle, horses, artillery, &c.f all had
to be done by the soldiers, and only those who
assisted in the stupendous labor can have any idea
of the magnitude of the work done. The loading
was not completed till the 5th of January, 1862.
On the 31st of December, 1861, the 51st was mustered
for two months' pay, and also had a general inspection
by Gen. McClellan's staff. After muster and inspection
were over an accident occurred that deprived a man,
James Hamilton, of Co. I, of one of his hands. He, in
company with several comrades, was foolishly play
ing with a loaded pistol, when, either by accident or
design, the pistol was discharged, and the ball passed
through the palm of his hand, creating a frightful
wound, and disabling him from ever participating in
the various scenes of the regiment. In the evening
before New Year the band of the 51st honored Col.
Hartranft and staff with a fine serenade, after which
many good things were "said and done." Again,
following this, about midnight, Col. H. and staff were
flatteringly honored by a splendid serenade from the
magnificent band of the 51st regiment N. Y. S. Y.
The colonel reciprocated the honor handsomely by
extending an invitation to them to "come into" his
quarters and partake of some refreshments, to which
they did full justice.

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II, -186

CHAPTBE

I.

The New Year of 1862 — A rough night — Company drills —
Liquor smuggling — Paid off— Going aboard the Fleet.

THE next day, Wednesday, beginning the New
Year of 1862, speculations were rife as to where the
men and regiment would be that time next year.
Many of the stout hearts and buoyant spirits of the
51st enjoyed that day who did not see the ushering
in of another New Year. It was spent in hard
drilling. The weather was mild throughout the day,
but became cloudy towards night ; the wind rose
and blew a perfect hurricane, untenting many a poor
fellow, by raising his canvas house, poles and pins,
oft' the ground, exposing them very unceremoniously
to all the furies of the then prevailing storm. But,
luckily for a great many of them, orders to march
that night had been received, and the wise ones slept
with their shoes and as much of their clothing on
as they conveniently could ; thus when they became
" unhoused," they were prepared for the emergency
to some extent. The order to be ready to march at
an hour's notice was kept a standing one, and very
little was done except company drilling until Janu
ary the 6th, 1862 ; but there was enough of that kind

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HISTOKY

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THE

FIFTY-FIBST

KEGIMENT

of drilling to make the boys care very little whether
"school kept "or not; but it had to be done, for
after once on the vessel, no drilling could be done
whatever. While waiting two weeks to embark on
board the fleet, stringent orders had been issued by
the provost marshal of Annapolis against selling
liquor to soldiers ; but there were a number of citi
zens who would smuggle a few canteensful into
camp at a time, and find a ready market for it at
exorbitant prices, thereby furnishing the soldiers
with as much liquor as they desired, notwithstanding
the provost marshal's orders against it. The soldiers
all carefully concealed the sources from which they
obtained it. One man of Company D, Jacob Fizone,
supplied himself with a pair of lieutenant's shoulderstraps, and furnished himself and friends with all the
liquors they wanted, without detection.
On Sunday, January 5th, 1862, the Paymaster of the
U. S. A. again visited the 51st and began about noon
to pay off* the regiment, concluding about an hour
after midnight. This was the second payment to the
regiment, and was for the two months of November
and December, 1861 — being the only payment the
51st ever received wherein it was paid up so close
to time, leaving only five days unpaid.
The next day was a busy one, preparing to go on
the fleet. The sick that were thought to be con
valescent had all been sent on board several days
before ; those who were in a more critical condition
had been sent to the hospitals in and around
Annapolis, Md., and Washington, D. 0., to remain
until recovered sufficiently to be forwarded, at some
future time, to the regiment.

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II.

Leaving Camp Union — The Cossack and Scout — Burnsidc Ex
pedition leaves Annapolis — The reception at Fortress Mon
roe — The Rip-raps — The first shot heard — Enthusiasm of the
troops — Again on the ocean — Storm at sea — Hatteras Inlet
— Narrow escape of the Scout — Wreck of the " City of New
York."

JANUARY 6th, 1862, found the 51st entering on
its ever memorable and useful career. .
At 8 A. M. it "struck tents" and prepared to va
cate "Camp Union." Three day's cooked rations
were in the haversacks. Forty rounds to eacli man
of "buck and ball" were in the cartridge-boxes.
An explanation is somewhat necessary here in
reference to the " buck and ball." It will be re
membered that the arms issued at Harrisburg to
the 51st were of the " Harper's Ferry pattern."
The ammunition for those muskets was of a very
primitive character when compared with the cart
ridge in the more advanced state of the rebellion,
being a giobulous ball with three buck shot at the
top of the cartridge. Those of a later date were
conical or elongated balls, without the " buck."
At noon the regiment " slung knapsacks " and
left for the wharf at Annapolis to embark, which it
began to do at 3 P. M. Six companies went on
board the U. S. transport steamer " Cossack," Capt.
Bennett, Master, viz. : companies B, D, E, G, H, and
I ; companies A, C, F, and K embarked on board
of the schooner " Scout."
Iliorht glad were the boys to have a chance to get

44:

HISTOKY

OF

THE

FIFTY FIRST

KEGIMKNT

rid of their overloaded knapsacks?. The day was
very disagreeable for marching. A snow had fallen
of about two inches in depth ; and although the
march was less than three miles, yet being unin
viting under foot to men burdened with heavy
knapsacks and unused to such marching, they felt
as much fatigued as they were on longer and harder
marches at a later time.
After all had got on the fleet, the six companies
on the " Cossack" under Col. Hartranft, found them
selves very much crowded, and huddled together
more like a herd of cattle than of human beings.
Will the government ever learn how to transport
its defenders with some little regard to their com
fort? It is a burning shame that soldiers are
stowed away on vessels and in cars like so much
merchandise ! no, not like merchandise, for that is
generally put in clean conveyances, but the poor
soldiers are frequently put to ride hundreds of
miles in cars that have a depth of several inches of
manure on the floors from the last load of cattle
they contained. The four companies, under com
mand of Lieut. Col. Thos. S. Bell, that were put on
the "Scout" fared much better for room and venti
lation than the six did.
The steamer Cossack had three decks — a lower,
a middle or state-room deck and the hurricane
deck. Several companies were stowed away in the
hold, where the heated and fetid air was enough to
breed and spread a contagion throughout the whole
fleet. The saloon was occupied by the officers of
the field, staff) and line, in company with a few pri
vate passengers. Several of the state-rooms were
occupied by a number of newspaper reporters, a few

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U. S. government detectives, and the band of the
regiment.
The '' Cossack " carried two splendid steel threeinch Wiard rifled guns amidships. The cooking for
the six companies was done in the cook-room, which
was located on the lower deck, amidships, and had
to be performed by a detail of three or four soldiers
daily, from some one company ; no detail could stand
it for more than twenty-four hours at a time, as the
heat was so intense, and it required them to be very
industrious in order to get enough cooked to last for
one day, as the " coppers " were not large enough to
cook more than what would supply two companies
at a time.
After getting the 51st on board the " Cossack "
and the " Scout," the regiment rode at anchor off An
napolis until fifteen minutes before nine o'clock on
the morning of the 9th of January. At the same
time the entire fleet weighed anchor and steamed
down the Chesapeake, the " Cossack " having the
schooners "Scout" and "Kecruit" in tow.
The preparations for this grand expedition were
of the most elaborate character. For weeks before
starting on its destination every precaution had been
taken by its able commander to make success cer
tain, as it afterwards proved. Very little rest, by
day or night, was obtained by either Gen. Burnside
or Gen. Jesse L. Eeno. In their arduous duties they
were ably assisted by their brilliant staffs, (of one of
which was Lieut. Morris, of the 51st P. V.,) from the
original conception of the expedition till its final and
illustrious close. Somewhere near seventy or eighty
vessels of different kinds and classes made up the
fleet. It was a magnificent sight to see it under

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HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

way. All the vessels started in company, but when
the Cossack, with her two consorts, arrived off the
mouth of the Potomac river only nine vessels were
in sight, she having distanced the entire fleet.
While running down the Chesapeake the men en
joyed themselves very much, having cleared room
enough for a cotillion set, they enjoyed dancing to
their heart's content, the band -furnishing excellent
music for the occasion.
At one o'clock on the morning of the 10th the
" Cossack " dropped her anchor a little below the
mouth of the Kappahannock, on account of a dense
fog then prevailing, and lay by till three o'clock P. M.
of the same day. As the 51st passed the mouths
of the York and other rivers, between Annapolis
and Fortress Monroe, the rumors as to its destina
tion were more prevailing, if possible, than ever be
fore : some even pretended to know where they were
going, but they were disappointed in nearly, or quite,
all of their conjectures.
It must be here stated, that the crowded condition
of the steamer began to be a serious annoyance. Al
though the vessel was intended to afford a reason
able amount of comfort to the soldiers on board, yet
such was not the case. Many were obliged to re
main up all night, so as to furnish room enough in
the bunks for those who slept at night ; when these
in turn would sleep in daylight. This continued
from the 6th of January to the 7th of February,
1862, in order to get their needed sleep and rest.
The issues of rations were of an imperfect charac
ter, for all had to be cooked before issued to the men,
there being but the one small workroom, for which
each 'company was obliged to await its turn ; and to

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their credit be it said, they did wait with as good a
grace as possible. Still some dissatisfied spirits "had
to have their "growl," which appeared to benefit
some of them nearly as much as did their rations.
Both the regimental and line officers had been ap
pealed to for a remedy, but with no success, for they
were in but a very little better situation than the
men, and as they found it impossible to remedy their
own inconvenience, both officers and men were com
pelled to make the best of their unfortunate dilemma.
The companies that were quartered in the hold
suffered very much with the fetid air and heat inci
dent to an overcrowded vessel. Being below water
mark, there was no ventilation o,-ly by the very nar
row stairway leading to the deck, which was always
crowded bv those seeking egress to get a little fresh
air, both day and night. The gloom on the stairway
and in the hold rivalled the Egyptian darkness, and
a short piece of candle that would be lit momentarily
for some obvious reason, would only serve to show
"how thick the darkness" was.
Whenever the weather was pleasant the upper
decks were always crowded with the men. It af
forded a great relief to them from their imprisonment
below in stormy weather; but there being so much
tempestuous weather at that season of the year be
tween Annapolis and Hatteras Inlet, this pleasure
was frequently denied them.
• Late in the afternoon of the 10th of January the
regiment arrived at Fortress Monroe, and as the
"Cossack" passed the man-of-war " Minnesota," the
51st was greeted with loud cheers from the officers
and the gallant tars belonging to that noble vessel.
An extract from a private letter describes, in the fol
lowing words, the scene exactly :

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HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIKST

REGIMENT

"All along the beach for miles we could see the
people running, some on foot, some on horseback, as
if they (rebels) got alarmed at seeing so many thou
sand soldiers and so many vessels of war around the
fortress. It looks very warrish indeed. Everything
that comes to the Fortress has to hoist its colors be
fore it can pass. Hundreds of vessels are riding at
anchor here, and I should judge that not less than
seventy-five thousand officers, soldiers, and marines
cheered us as we passed in to our anchorage. The
cheering and welcoming by the regular men-of- warsmen was uniform and full of discipline. The men
got high up in the rigging, appearing more like
flies sticking fast to fly-paper than human beings.
They hung to the rigging until we got directly
' broadside ' with her, when they gave us three rousing
cheers, and as soon as these died away, they gave us
a single cheer more, and then came down from the
rigging. Their band played the 'Star Spangled
Banner.' We then passed on to the next man-of-war,
the ill-fated Cumberland, when the same formula was
gone through with, and so on until we dropped an
chor. Then, as if preconcerted, all the bands struck
up ' Home ! Sweet Home ! ' "
Thus is the reception of the 51st truthfully de
picted in the above extract, on the arrival of the
regiment at the Fortress. I say the 51st, for the
"Cossack" had lost sight of the entire fleet long
before she got near the fort, excepting the two
schooners, "Scout" and "Recruit," that were in the
" Cossack's " tow.
The Cossack on her arrival at the Fortress dropped
the line of the two vessels in tow, and anchored off
the Rip-Raps, directly in front of the rebel batteries,

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on " Sewall's Point '' Va., but not near enough for
the "F. F. Y.'s" to pay their compliments to her.
While lying at anchor off the Eip-Eaps, on Saturday,
January llth, 1862, a shot was fired from the Sawyer
gun mounted on the Eip-Eaps, at the " Chivalry " on
Sewall's Point, which, to many, aye, very many too,
was the first shot heard in the war by them. And
although a large number had begun to despond from
the privations already suffered, and others from
being so far from their homes for the first time in
their lives, leaving friends, kindred, homes, all, so
far behind, yet that one shot awakened the most
lively patriotism ever evinced on any occasion.
Their grievances were all forgotten in the twinkling
of a star, and all, aye, all ! were anxious, not only to
see a fight, but wild in their language and actions to
participate in one; for while remaining in Camps
Curtin at Harrisburg and Union at Annapolis, long
and loud were the complaints made, that the war
would be over before the regiment would get " a
show," as they called it. But, alas! how many
" shows " have they had ? Immediately on the dis
charge of the Sawyer gun, the rebels threw a shell at
the Eip-Eaps, but it exploded when about two-thirds
of the way, and the pieces fell harmlessly in the
water below. The balance of the day was occupied
by the contending forces with a brisk cannonading,
though much fiercer on the part of the rebels.
Both parties at noon met in Hampton Eoads with
a flag of truce, another interesting sight to the un
initiated.
When night began to spread her sable wings over
all nature, the events of the day were brought to a
close, and a highly animated discussion took place

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HISTORY

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THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

among men who were active participants in a far
more exciting scene in less than one month after.
At 9 o'clock at night of the llth of January, the
" Cossack " again weighed anchor and stood out to
sea, to buffet the waves on the broad bosom of the
Atlantic. The two schooners were again taken in
tow, but on reaching the ocean, about two o'clock
on Sunday morning, the 12th, the tow-line was
dropped and each vessel had to take care of itself.
At daylight the fleet was nowhere to be seen. The
North Carolina shore was in sight, but very distant.
About 7 o'clock A. M. the wind began to rise and
"blew a hurricane," at noon it had died away to
some extent ; but the sea was rolling mountains high,
and right nobly did the brave old steamer ride them,
more like a thing of life and reason, than a huge
mass of inanimation. The heavy seas would strike as
if determined to shiver her to atoms, but she battled
with the surges as if fighting for her very existence,
and as the mighty waves would strike the ponder
ous sides of the vessel as if to break her to pieces,
she would glide over them as it were, mocking their
efforts to crush her. She rolled and plunged through
it all, with safety to herself and her precious freight
of brave and daring hearts. But who can give a full
description of the " casting up of accounts " by that
freight? The rolling and plunging of the steamer
caused sea sickness to nearly every one on board.
There was no sympathetic heart to beat in unison with
the invalid, no fair and gentle hand to assist the head,
while the stomach was undergoing its rigorous com
motions. No kindly voice to echo "New York," as
the poor victims of Neptune's rule lay extended on
deck on their stomachs, like a spread eagle, caring

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very little whether " school kept or not." It was
somewhat amusing to witness the invalids while
undergoing their performance; there they lay, some
on the hurricane deck, with their heads projecting
over the ship's sides, "feeding the fishes;" some in
their bunks below, not able to help themselves in the
least, would cascade over everything about them ;
while those who were more fortunate, so far, stood
laughing at the sick comrades in their wretched
spasms; in a few moments longer the "Mockers"
themselves would be down on all fours echoing
"New York" to the originals. Sea sickness is a de
termined and relentless foe. At first only a few
were seized with it, but as the waves increased in
size, making the vessels at times nearly perpen
dicular in their plungings, the number of invalids
increased, until all or nearly all, were down on their
stomachs emptying their contents into old ocean and
other places. The pale face, the sunken eye, the
dishevelled hair, all bespoke the trying ordeal that
nearly all had had, or were passing through. The
motion of the vessels reminded a person of being
seated on a very high swing and moving to and fro
with great rapidity. Thus events passed on until
5 o'clock P. M., of the 12th, when the " Cossack "
reached ITatteras Inlet, North Carolina. But where
were the Scout and the Eecruit ? neither of them had
been seen since the night before, when the tow-line
had been " cast off'." Fears for the safety of those
on board, began to take possession of those on the
Cossack; but at this juncture the imminent peril
that she was in, made those on her begin to think of
their own safety, and as self-preservation seemed to

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HISTORY

OF

THK

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

be the first law of nature just at that time, the Scout
and the Recruit were left to look out for themselves.
On arriving at Hatteras Inlet, on account of the
heavy-running sea, very few vessels of the fleet
could run in. The Cossack cruised off the Inlet till
nearly sundown, but was unable to enter on account
of the imminent risk attached to such an undertaking,
especially when the waves were rolling frightfully
high. The entrance to Parnlico Sound being very
narrow and shallow, the bed of the channel con
tinually shifting, antl the quicksands constantly
changing their location under the heavy sea, the
steamer was forced to stand off the Inlet and run
run out to sea again — battling with the furies of the
ocean till sunrise next morning, when the Cossack
found herself over forty-five miles from the Inlet,
beating northwest. She then " about face " and ran
for the Inlet again, arriving there at 10 A. M. the
13th of January.
The Scout did not find the Inlet for several days.
Passing it on Sunday, the 12th, she beat down the
coast of the Carolinas, and was very near being cap
tured, having run within sight of land, and mistaking
it for Hatteras, she ran close into shore, almost under
the guns of a large rebel fort ; but luckily for her
and the four companies aboard, she made her es
cape and arrived at the Inlet on the 18th of the
month, after suffering terribly from thirst, not being
able to obtain fresh water. They were obliged to drink
vinegar to allay their thirst — drinking about two
barrels and a half in less than three days. The
rations also became short, but they managed to eke
them out by eating raw pork during four days,
until they could get a fresh supply.

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The Cossack, on arriving at the Inlet, found a por
tion of the fleet had already entered in safety. The
sea, still very high, rendered the passing in a haz
ardous undertaking for any vessel, with or without
a pilot. On nearing the Inlet, she signalled for a
pilot, and when within a mile of the entrance the
tug-boat " Pilot Boy " answered the signal and im
mediately came out. Being "hailed," the Cossack
answered, " we want a pilot to take us into the Inlet."
The reply was, " It is impossible to get in through
such a heavy sea ; the danger of going to pieces is
inevitable." J.ust then the splendid and commodious
steamer " City of New York " attempted to run in,
but the rough sea, handling her as if she was a mere
egg-shell, threw her upon the beach, and in less than
twenty minutes that mammoth steamer was lashed
to pieces by the angry breakers. The pilot referred
Capt. Bennett, of the Cossack, to the present fate
of the " City of New York," and advised him to
" stand out to sea again " until it became more calm.
But Capt. Bennett was not to be daunted by the
fate of the wrecked steamer ; immediately putting on
a full head of steam, determining to go in or perish in
the attempt, and the 51st's officers and men having
backed " him up " in his determination, he ordered
the " Pilot Boy" to run in ahead of the steamer. The
Cossack followed, and although her bottom dragged
on the shoal upwards of two hundred yards, with
every timber creaking and groaning under the im
mense pressure from the headway attained, she suc
ceeded in getting safely inside of the breakers with
out any damage incurred to her or the cargo. The
many palpitating hearts overflowed with joy on
arriving in a haven of safety, at least of apparent

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HISTOEY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIEST

EEGIMENT

safety. Now, that the companies B, D; E, G, H and
I were in a fair kind of harbor, great anxiety
sprang up as to the fate of the schooner Scout with
the remaining four companies, A C, F and K.
Their probable fate had been discussed for several
days after the Cossack entered the Sound, and it
was generally believed that they had found a liquid
grave in the waters of the Atlantic, but on the 18th
of January, about 9 A. M., the schooner hove in
sight and ran within the Inlet, anchoring near the
Cossack. With eagerness, Col. Hartranft and Lieut.
Col. Bell met and greeted each other by a cordial
shaking of hands, mingling their joys together at
the happy result of finding each other alive, as well
as their respective commands.

CHAPTEK

III.

Capt. Bennett — More storms and wrecks — The Cossack in
danger — Loss of the Louisiana — Veiling of lights— Scarcity
of water and rations — Using vinegar — Heroism of the Sailors
in procuring water — Gratitude of the Soldiers to the Tars —
Preparations for landing — Unloading horses.

CAPT. BENNETT saved a large portion of the
crew of the ill-fated steamer, City of New York,
at the imminent risk of losing his own valuable life.
He was a brave, daring man, never allowing any
thing earthly to thwart him when it was his duty to
perform a humane act. After rescuing many of the
wrecked crew, he placed them on board of his own
steamer, where they received every attention and
kindness from the officers and men of the 51st.
On the 14th another storm arose; the sea again

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running tremendously high, the rain corning down in
torrents, the gale causing the vessels of the fleet to
drag their anchors and colliding or driving them
ashore. The Cossack was driven aground; when
the keel struck, it was feared that she would cer
tainly go to pieces, for the timbers creaked and
cracked as if her whole bottom had been crushed in ;
but such was not the case, and when it became gen
erally known in the regiment that she was still safe,
unlimited confidence was reposed in her staunchness.
The next day the storm somewhat subsided ; but
the sea still running high, the colonel and surgeon
of the 39th New Jersey, with two privates of another
regiment, took a surf boat, intending to visit the
wreck of the City of New York, but a heavy sea
struck the boat and capsized it, and all four souls
were ushered into eternity by drowning. The
bodies of the colonel and surgeon were recovered
and sent home for burial.
At the same time, a gun-boat sunk off Fort Clark;
also a schooner laden with army stores was sunk.
And, to add still more to the destruction, the Cossack
lent a little to complete the chapter of accidents on
that day. A schooner laden with lumber ran into her,
carried away a number of state-rooms, and tore up
the upper-deck on the whole of one side of the
"ladies' saloon." The schooner's bowsprit had cut
into the timbers and rigging of the Cossack, like the
nose of a gigantic hog rooting heedless of the dam
age being done. Fears were entertained that the
schooner might saw the Cossack in two — to the
water's edge. Every man of the 51st on the Cossack
felt it his duty to assist to work the stubborn monster
away from the steamer; and right lustily did they

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HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

work, but for a long time in vain, for the rough
sea kept driving the two vessels together, baffling all
human efforts to part them. Axes were brought to
bear on the rigging of both vessels, and on the bow
sprit of the schooner, which was cut away close to
her bow and released the Cossack from the grasp of
her dangerous ally.
At 4.20 A. M., of this unlucky day, James Conway,
a member of Company D, died. He was buried in
the afternoon, on shore, near Fort Clark, at Hatteras.
On the next day several more vessels were wrecked
or damaged to a considerable extent. Among the
latter was a first-class steamboat, the " Louisiana."
She got aground, parted her keel and lay there
with her back broken, a useless mass of wood and
iron. The men began to despair of the success of
the expedition. Everything appeared to be going
the wrong way ; men losing their lives by drowning ;
the fleet getting reduced daily by disaster ; the regu
lar being " aground " of a half a dozen vessels at a
time ; water and rations scarce ; quarters uncomfort
able ; and last, though not least, very irregular
mails. The very acme at this time of the men's
existence was to hear the cry " Mail 1" " Mail !" An
extract from a private letter written at that time by
a private in the olst, gives a correct idea of the
above accounts, it says : " We have just been aground,
but are now afloat again. The Cossack is very much
strained all through. We are getting up steam to
run about a mile further up the sound hoping to
find deeper water. I can stand on our deck and
count nine wrecked vessels within sight. I think I
will quit giving you any more accounts of our end
less troubles ; for as soon as one vessel is relieved,

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another and sometimes two will need assistance,
and as it is nothing but a repetition of disasters,
there is no use of writing anything more about them.
I am sick of looking at those wrecked hulks. All
I wish is that I was at home, I would not go a sol
diering again in a fleet. I like it on land and would
willingly go again, but you could not coax me to get
into another scrape like this. And I don't believe
there is one in a thousand but that wishes the same
as I do. There is no hilarity on board, now, no
laughing and singing, ' I wish I was in Dixey ;' they
all appear to have enough of Dixey. Our officers
are all desponding, and the men watch every look and
movement they happen to give or make. I have no
chance of knowing to any extent the sufferings on
the other vessels, but I see our own, and God knows
they are enough. If any of them are undergoing
what might be compared to the interest on ours, I pity
them. There is no telling when we shall get away
from here, and if we knew, it wouldn't do us any
good, for we have no rations, water or coal on board,
and what little ' grub ' the garrison in Fort Clark
has, would not last us more than one day. The
captain of this ship intends going to-day to see what
is to be done for us. If anything can be done, he is
the one that will do it, for a more resolute, deter
mined officer could not be found in the navy."
Thus are the trials and disappointments of the
regiment fully related, in addition to the anxiety
about not getting "mails." It must be confessed
that the irregularity of the mail was to be deplored ;
but, under the circumstances, no better facilities
offered for conveying it than the casual stopping of
the Port Koyal mail steamers at the Inlet, when out

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HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

of coal or other necessaries. The Port Koyal, S.
C.; mail arrived and departed once in about two
weeks, so the regiment received a mail at least
that often.
During those exciting times, the health of the
regiment was extremely good. The weather in the
South, at this period of the year, (January,) is very
much like the warm, murky, rainy weather up
North in the spring. On shipboard the changes of
the atmosphere were more sensibly felt, for there the
high winds, storms, &c., had full play. It is to be
wondered how the men retained so good health on
such scanty rations, scarcity of water, under intense
excitement, continuing both day and night, with the
weather at one hour warm enough to remain on
deck in their shirt sleeves, and in the next to feel
comfortable with a blouse and two coats on.
As long as the vessel would float, things assumed
a cheerful aspect, but she was nearly as much of the
time aground as afloat ; a dozen times a day to be
aground was not uncommon.
On the 16th of January, the Cossack parted her
anchor-chain, and thereby lost her moorings ; conse
quently she could only be kept stationary after that
event by being aground, but that was a risky busi
ness, for then her huge 'timbers creaked and groaned
as if she could not hold together another moment.
The cause of the -Cossack being aground so often
can only be attributed to the parties from whom the
Government obtained her, as she drew thirty inches
more water than her owners had stated she did.
When evening came all the vessels had to ex
tinguish their lights, or mask their windows and
doors to prevent the rays being seen outside the

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vessels. The rebels were running down from Koanoke Island on small steamers, spying out for their
benefit whatever could be seen. The nights being
dark and the Sound very rough, with the vessels
darkened, another schooner broke loose from her
moorings, and ran into the Cossack, smashing things
in general ; but in the course of a couple of hours
she was released from her " friendly antagonist."
On the 16th of January, the 51st might reasonably
date the true commencement of its real troubles —
beginning with no water on the vessel, and ending
with no rations in the haversack, or in fact any
where about. The regiment began to experience
what soldiering is in reality. It had always been
accustomed to get its coffee between six and ten
o'clock A. M., but this time it was doomed to get
none at all, for there was no water, with which to
make it. All who have been in actual service will
say with the writer that a cup of coffee was, under
all circumstances, full one-half of their living;
whether on the march or in camp, on the battle-field
or picket line, coffee, like sleep, was the great re
storer of tired nature.
Noon came, still no water to be had for drinking
or coffee. Almost fabulous prices were given to the
ship's steward for a half gill, a gill or half pint of
coffee, such quantity as he thought he could spare
from the crew's mess. The writer of this was for
tunate enough to obtain a tin cup nearly half full,
and was instantly offered two dollars for only onehalf of that portion. Late in the afternoon the first
mate and several seamen took two water-casks and
went, heaven knows where, after water, and returned

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HISTOKY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

by nine o'clock at night with only sufficient to make
a little coffee, which was issued about midnight.
The 17th and 18th were two pleasant days, and
the boats, with crews, had to be employed in some
extra duty, preparatory to the sailing of the fleet up
the Sound ; consequently but a very limited amount
of water and provisions was got on board ; in fact,
no more than what was barely sufficient for the im
mediate wants of the regiment for the time being.
It was intended to begin in a day or two to stow
away a full supply for the remainder of the voyage,
but u man proposes, and God disposes." The next
day opened with a violent storm, driving nearly
every vessel of the fleet aground. The regiment
did not only suffer for water, but also for food;
there was none of either on board, and, being
aground, it was necessary to endeavor to get the
vessel afloat for the safety of her living cargo. The
rain which fell in torrents at one time furnished the
" boys " with a kind of water. They held their can
teens or cups under every available place to catch
the rain that ran off' the decks. It must be confessed
that it was not very pure, being composed of the
washings of the decks, tobacco quids, saliva, and
other uninviting ingredients not necessary to men
tion here, but all went towards making up a cup or
a canteenful of the aquatic fluid.
On the 20th, an attempt was made to cross the bar,
but with no success, having grounded again during
a heavy sea. The old saying that "it's an ill wind
that blows nobody good," was verified in this case,
for by our getting aground, and also many others of
the fleet, the tug-boats were kept busy in relieving
the distresses of vessels in a worse situation than

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the Scout and Cossack; consequently our Quarter
master took advantage of the situation and also of
the boats, and started off' to the store-ship and suc
ceeded in getting a small supply of rations.
The Cossack remaining aground began to settle on
the bottom, for the high wind had driven the tide
out to sea. So deeply had she become imbedded in
mud that she remained thus till late in the afternoon
of the next day, when the wind shifted and the tide
came in again and floated her clear of the bottom.
Another attempt was made next day to get her over
the bar, but running into another vessel, she
grounded again, and this time she went high and
dry.
Capt. Bennett and Col. Hartranft did all that lay
in their power to get her afloat once more, but with
out success, and in the evening the regiment was
transferred to the stern-wheel steamer " Union,"
(familiarly known throughout the fleet as the
" Wheelbarrow,") for the purpose of lightening the
Cossack, that she might be got over the bar. Some
time in the night, after the troops had all disem
barked from her, four tugs drew her over the bar
into Pamlico Sound.
Soon after getting over the bar, George Schaffer,
of Co. D, died. His body was put into a rude
coffin and awaited such times as it could be con
veyed to the shore for interment. On the 21st the
51st fasted the entire day — not an enlisted man had
had a mouthful of food or water since the day
before, and the sufferings from thirst becoming in
tense, a barrel of vinegar was tapped, the whole of
which was swallowed in less than two hours. The
second mate, at the risk of his life, with five seamen,
7

o

/

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HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIKST

KEGIMENT

took a boat at ten o'clock at night and went after
water. The sea, or rather the sound, was running
tremendously high ; every one on board gazed on the
adventurous party with feelings mingled with hope
and fear (hope, that water might be obtained, fear,
that the brave hearts going after it would not return
again) as the frail craft was shoved away from the
steamer's side, fully believing they would find a
watery grave in the "troubled waters." At times
the little party would disappear in the ''trough" of
the sea, behind a huge wave, and be lost to the
vision of the anxious gazers for some minutes. As
the night was dark, they could not be discerned at
any great distance, but the splashing of the oars
could be distinctly heard, and by that it was known
their frail craft still floated. With what breathless
anxiety did that thirst-suffering regiment listen and
wait for their return ! Many lives seemed to depend
on the success of that venturesome party — magnani
mous souls !— who were risking their lives to relieve
the sufferings of their fellow men. Capt. Bennett
gave his consent to their going, although he feared
no boat could live in such a sea five minutes, yet by
accident they might succeed in returning. And,
thanks to the Giver of all good, they did, with
enough water to give nearly a pint to each man on
board.
The gratitude of the soldiers developed itself by
presenting the second mate and each of the five sea
men with a splendid bowie knife, at that time the
only testimonials they had in their power to bestow.
Now that they had the water, where or how were
they to obtain food ? none, however, was got that
night. The next day (the 24th) another of those

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violent thunder storms came up, which prevented
any food from coming on board that day till late in
the afternoon, and the men having been already so
long without food, their sufferings were beyond de
scription.
The letters written at that time to the tl loved ones
at home" only conveyed a faint idea of their priva
tions. None could have exaggerated, had they tried,
for the dreadful picture needed no coloring to make
it more impressive.
But late in the afternoon both water and rations,
in a limited quantity, came on board ; but it was
obtained, like that of the day before, at the risk of
the lives of those noble sailors. This time the regi
ment presented the mate, Mr. Stroud, with the best
watch that was in the possession of the men of the
51st, as a token of their appreciation of the efforts
of the sailors to procure for them the necessaries of
life. Early in the morning of the 25th a plentiful
supply of both rations and water was sent on board,
and the spirits of the men were raised to the highest
degree. During those few days of being on short
rations of food and water, which were only a por
tion of their trials, the steamer got aground and
stuck extremely tight. The tugs made fast to the
Cossack to haul her off,, but it was all in vain, for
they could not move her an inch. She had to lie in
that situation all night, which strained her very
much, arid compelled the troops on board to remain
up nearly or quite all that night — the 18th. At
daybreak next morning two large tug boats, belong
ing- to Port Royal, hauled up alongside of the Cos
sack and took off all the men and arms, and then
made fast to the grounded steamer and hauled her

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HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

off at high tide, which was greatly in favor of the
undertaking, and the noble Cossack was once more
afloat. While all this was taking place, an accident
to the steamboat on which the 51st had embarked
came very near proving fatal to a large number of
the soldiers. As the boat on which the troops were
was about swinging off from the ship's side, it ran
into the hulk of the " Brant's Island Shoals light
boat," smashing the steamboat like dried leaves.
Several of the soldiers made narrow escapes from
being precipitated into the water. Several were
slightly wounded. Some lost their knapsacks and
muskets overboard. As the two vessels went crash
ing into each other a number of the men, in order
to save themselves, were obliged to jump on board
of the "light boat" and were unable to get back
again before the steamboat got clear of the wreck,
consequently they had to remain on it for some
time before their situation was made known and a
boat sent to their rescue.
During this time it must not be supposed that the
expedition was lying idle — far from it. Gen. Burnside was superintending the preparations for getting
his forces ready for the attack on Eoanoke Island,
and trying to get the large number of transports
over the bar, transferring troops from one vessel to
another, loading and unloading artillery and horses.
Unloading the horses was a novel sight and
afforded considerable amusement to the eye wit
nesses. The elegant, large steamer George Peabody
had between two and three hundred horses on board,
and they were all landed safely at Hatteras Inlet,
although the mode of landing them seemed a little
barbarous. It was done in this wise : The Peabody

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anchored in very deep water, within a quarter of a
mile of Fort Clark ; a very strong head halter,
with a good, strong, and very long rope, was put on
each horse. Eight men were in a row boat, six of
them rowed, one steered, and one stands to catch the
rope when thrown to him. The boat is rowed up to
within twenty-five feet of the ship's side, and the men
on the steamer throw the rope to the men in the boat.
The horse is then led to the gangway on deck, which is
very high from the water, and when almost to the
very edge of the plank, ten or twelve men give him
a sudden push into the sea, where he sinks fifteen
or twenty feet, and then he rises to the surface of
the water. The oarsmen in the little boat pull for
shore, the horse swimming after them; when once
on shore he is turned loose, until all are thus dis
posed of.
CHAPTER

IV.

Over the bar — Rumors of compromise — Rebel gunboats — Ad
vance of the Fleet to Roanoke Island — Demand for Surren
der — Its rejection— Preparations for the Attack.

ON the evening of the 21st of January, the 51st
was again compelled to " pack up " and go on board
of another vessel, taking every article with them
they possessed, as the Cossack was to be taken over
the Great Bar, and everything had to be taken off to
enable her to go over ; even the water in her tanks
and boilers was drawn off to lighten her as much as
possible. All the vessels of deep draught had to be
dealt with in the same way, in order to get them
over. After all had got over, and lay at anchor close
to each other, they looked very much dilapidated

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HISTORY

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THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

from the extremely rough usage received in the
numberless storms they had been subjected to, not
one but what sustained more or less damage; there
they lay, some with their upper decks carried away,
some, their wheel-houses staved in, others with their
deck cabins knocked off) bows stove, bowsprits gone,
and some total wrecks.
On the 22cl of January, the last vessel belonging
to the fleet entered the Inlet, but up to this time only
a few had been successful in getting on the desired
side of the bar. One hundred and fourteen vessels
floated, at this date, off Fort Clark, between the inlet
and the bar. The storms still prevailing to a greater
or less extent, continally retarded the progress of the
expedition very much, and gave the rebels, on
Roanoke Island, ample- time to strengthen their forti
fications and make the contest more desperate when
it should come on.
A rumor had gained considerable credence
throughout the entire fleet that the troops were to
be sent home in three days time, as the rebels wanted
^o compromise. Many were the curses against those
who were supposed would favor such a schemeBut the rumor was evidently started by some one
for the sole purpose of testing the patriotism of those
who only a few days before were clamorous for
food and water. Be that as it may, their patriotism
had not oozed out through such a causeless channel.
It was too deeply seated, had too firm a hold, and
sprang from motives too pure and honest to die out
for the want of a few mouth fuls of food and water.
The three days passed, aye ! three years passed ! and •
still found the noble Burnside corps contending with
the uncompromising rebels !

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67

The appearance of things by the 26th indicated
an early onward movement ; everything was bustle
and hurry; vessels with provisions and water were
unloading their enormous freights on the vessels
containing troops. Gunboats were practising target
firing, also the various regiments of infantry. The
gunboats were nearly all over the bar, but the trans
ports were making but poor headway.
On the 26th the steamers Admiral and George
Pe^abody succeeded, after many attempts, in crossing
the bar, and after their success in accomplishing the
feat, the transports all made efforts for the same ob
ject, and a large number of them succeeded, adding
greatly to the size of the fleet already over, and the
expectations of getting into a battle within a very
few days, ran high.
The weather now began to be exceedingly fine,
and everything progressed encouragingly. The
bosom of the Sound was calm and placid as a vast
sheet of ice. The prospect of an early departure from
the anchorage and rendezvous produced a flow of
spirits in the men not often to be met with on the eve
of an important battle.
On the 28th, the mammoth steamer u Eastern
Queen" got over the bar, making, in all that were then
over, thirty-three vessels directly belonging to the
fleet. Gen. Burnside, who had gone to Washington
the week previous, now arrived. His benevolent
face was seen by his command, as he passed from one
vessel to another, and the cheers that rent the air
must have been most gratifying to his brave, heroic
spirit. The concentration of so large a fleet within
the waters of the Carolinas began to alarm the rebels
considerably. During the night of the 27th, a rebel

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HISTORY

OF THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

gunboat bad successfully run tbrougb tbe wbole of
the fleet without detection. A rebel schooner used
to run down in the daytime within sight of the fleet,
to spy out whatsoever there was to be spied. Our
gunboats always gave chase to her, and a highly
animated race would be the result. On the 29th, the
total number of vessels over the bar was forty-one.
The four companies of the 51st that had been on
the Scout, were now transferred from that vessel to
the Cossack, to lighten her that she might get over.
The accession of those four companies did not add
any more comfort to the already over-crowded decks
and hold of the Cossack, which had just taken in
ninety tons of coal. They remained on the Cossack
until February 1st, when they again returned to
their own vessel. Sixty-two vessels were over the
bar by night of January 31st.
The steamer ''Union," alias '"'Wheelbarrow," ran
into the Cossack again, but did no serious damage.
After getting clear of the collision, the Cossack took
in four hundred barrels of manufactured water. This
was distilled from the sea water ; it did very well
in the absence of better ; being insipid to the taste,
it did not possess the virtue to allay thirst ; but
there was no other fresh water to be had, and the
fleet making hasty preparations for its departure,
the boys concluded that in a few days they would
get a drink of good water on the island after they
had taken it !
A mail arrived on the 31st of January, bringing
letters and papers up to the 15th of the same month.
It had been nearly or quite three weeks since a
regular mail had come in before.
Guard duty and policing was as regularly per-

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formed as if the regiment had been on shore in camp.
An attempt had been made to drill the companies
in the manual of arms daily, but to the gratification
of the boys, it was found impracticable. As they
had to drill on the hurricane deck, the "order arms "
made such a racket as to make Capt. Bennett order
Col. Hartranft to desist in carrying out that order,
which was as promptly and as cheerfully obeyed as
if it came from some military superior. The cause
of Capt. Bennett's objection to drilling on the steamer
was that the noise incident to " order arms," pre
vented the ship's crew from hearing his orders, and
therefore the "manual" had to be abolished, much
to the satisfaction of the men.
On board of the Cossack, the sutlers, Messrs. Hart
ranft and Rodermcl, supplied the wants of the men
occasionally, who were fortunate enough to have
money, at nearly fabulous prices. Cheese was sold
by the lump of two and a half to three pounds for
$3, while at home the best was selling for fifteen cents
per Ib ; raisins, 75 cents per Ib. ; cigars, (sixes,) 10
cents each ; peaches put up in bottles, in indifferently
bad whiskey, $8 per bottle. A little " spree" could
could not be indulged in without paying dear for it.
For instance, a party of three persons were bent on
a jollification, and spent §21 in trying to get up a
"good feeling," but had to give it up in disgust, for
want of funds, and were no nearer attaining their
cherished object than when they began.
February the 1st saw the larger portion of the
fleet over the bar, and extensive preparations were
being made to leave the Inlet, and proceed to the
attack on the island. In fact, the fleet had been
deemed ready to go for some time, if the weather had

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HISTOEY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

KEGIMENT

not interfered with getting the entire fleet over the
bar. Since the most needed vessels were over, it
was determined to sail as soon as the weather would
permit, but it was either very foggy or very stormy.
Sickness now began to lay large numbers of the
men up, incident to an overcrowded ship, and for
want of purer air and better prepared food. On the
4th, everything was ready in detail to start up the
Sound the next day, as all the vessels were over the
bar that could be got over. At 9 o'clock A. M., on
the 5th, the fleet left its anchorage, and had a pleas
ant run up the Sound to within ten or twelve miles
of Roanoke Island, where it arrived at dusk of the
evening, and dropped anchor for the night, during
which time Corp. George Bowman, of Co. D., died.
Next morning (the 6th) looked very dull, gloomy,
cloudy, with a heavy fog, and at 6 A. M. it set in to
rain. At 8 A. M., on the 6th, the fleet weighed anchor
again, and got under way, preceded by the gun
boats. The whole movement now was made with
slow running and with much caution. The gunboats
feeling every foot of their way with suspicion of
masked batteries on either shore, which was only a
short distance from the vessels, and in plain sight of
the more prominent forts on the island. It was also
necessary to use great caution in nearing the island,
as the Sound was filled with sunken obstacles, but all
were passed in safety, and after passing the "Croatan
Light-house," the fleet emerged into "Croatan
Sound."
At eleven o'clock A. M. the gunboats took up their
position, the transports in their rear, but near enough
to be useful in case of need. At this juncture a flag
of truce was despatched to the island by Gen. Burn-

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side with a formal demand for the surrender of the
island, which demand was as formally rejected bv
Col. Jordan, of the rebel army. The remainder of
the day was occupied in making the final prepara
tions for the attack on the coming morrow. Orders
were rapidly passed from one vessel to another. The
Signal Corps was employed continually throughout
the day. The decks of gunboats were cleared for
action ; the brave tars were eager for the work of
death to commence ; orders were also flying rapidly
among the transports, and every preparation to en
sure the safe landing of the troops was made. The ex
citement among the soldiers became intense from
their eagerness to get into action. At the approach
of night all the orders necessary for the success of
the enterprise were issued and promptly complied
with. Each officer and man resolved on doing his
part nobly, that the great chieftain, Burnside, whom
they all loved and, revered, should be successful in
this, his first blow with his expedition at the rebellion.
Orders were issued to all the troops, that on landing
they were to "fall in" with any company that was
the most convenient, (this order was highly neces
sary, inasmuch as there was no telling the precise
locality of the enemy on shore, and they might take
advantage of the bustle and excitement incident to
landing troops in a swampy country,) providing
anything unusual should occur, and they had not
the time to join their respective commands. Knap
sacks and all cumbersome luggage were to be left on
the vessels. At dark two gunboats were sent out
on picket, and to reconnoitre, but found everything
quiet.

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HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIKST

CHAPTER

REGIMENT

V.

Bombardment by the Fleet — Landing of the Troops — Battle of
Roanoke Island — The Victory — Death of O. Jennings Wise —
Character of the Prisoners— " Going into Business" — The
Spy— Garbled newspaper reports — Good news from all
points — Speech by General Reno.

ON Friday morning, (February 7th,) coffee was
served out at five o'clock throughout the whole fleet.
The weather was warm, but very foggy, with a light
sprinkling of rain. The little tug-boats were as busy
as bees, steaming around and through the fleet, de
livering the final orders on the programme of the
day, and imparted the information that the attack
on the island would soon begin. By ten A. M. the
fog had nearly disappeared, and the fleet of gunboats
had all taken up their positions, and were now only
awaiting the giving of the signal to open the "ball."
In their rear the transports, with their eager freight,
were ready with their launches, gigs, row and surf
boats, for the disembarking of the troops when the
signal would be given, that the time had come to do
so. While these proceedings were being accom
plished Gens. Burnside and Eeno passed up and
down the entire length of the expanded fleet in their
beautiful " gig," amid the most enthusiastic cheers.
Their kindly beaming countenances inspired the men
to resolve " to do or die." As they returned to the
decks of their respective vessels, the first gun was
fired at Fort Bartow on the island at twenty-three
minutes past eleven o'clock A. M., and almost before
the reverberation of the first gun had died away
the engagement became general. The infantry on

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the transports were in a position to have a grand
view of the bombardment, which will be remembered
by all who witnessed it as a display of unparallelled
magnificence. The shell flying in all directions,
the thunder of the enormous guns on either side, the
sharp crack of the exploding shells in the air, their
rapid transit, and the awful crash of the timbers of
some gunboat, as an unexploded shell would pass
through her staunch sides, or mayhap through her
smoke-stack or boiler. The engagement raged with
all fury till near night, when the firing began to
slacken until it nearly ceased. Occasional shots were
exchanged during the fore- part of the night, but
finally ceased entirely. At five P. M., of the 7th Feb
ruary, the 51st embarked on board the gunboat Dela
ware, and landed on the island a few minutes before
eight o'clock, in a most disagreeable swamp and a
heavy rain. The disembarking of the other troops
began about four P. M., and by nine o'clock the en
tire body of troops were all safely landed on the
island. The point of landing was about one and a
half miles below the enemy's lower fort, in a large
swampy cornfield, full of muskrat holes, and the
night being one of dense darkness, many a leg un
ceremoniously entered the apertures, pitching its
possessor headlong into the mire. The scene of land
ing the troops was most sublime, grand and impos
ing : everything moved with chronometer exactness
and quiet. The troops, fully equipped for the fight,
should there be one, entered the launches, which, in
two ranks or files deep, were made fast to a hawser
from the stern of the preceding launch, five feet
apart, to the bow of the next following after. Fif
teen or twenty ranks, or thirty to forty boats, would

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HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

be thus made fast to a single hawser, the whole taken
in tow of some light draught steamer, run up to the
shore and there landed.
The feeling of the men of the 51st at finding them
selves once more on land, after an imprisonment of
five weeks on board of an overcrowded vessel, can
never be fully appreciated only by those who have
been similarly situated.
As soon as the regiment landed it bivouacked in
the above-mentioned swampy cornfield, and posted
its pickets. The night was very rainy ; being all
unacquainted with the conformation of the ground,
and with Jthe intentions or positions of the rebel
troops, the pickets were posted but a short distance
from the main body, but in close proximity to the
rebel pickets ; in fact the two lines of pickets were so
close in many places that they could hear each other
breathe, but owing to the intense darkness, and the
thick undergrowth of the stunted pines and other
shrubbery, they could not distinguish each other.
Some pickets thought their neighbors were of their
own men, while others thought different, but to make
assurance doubly sure for their own safety, not a
word was uttered the whole night by either party,
but daylight of next morning revealed who was
friend and who foe.
The rebels, after capture, were asked why they
did not fire on the " Yanks " while on picket. They
replied, " We were afraid that you were too strong
for us to kick up a midnight fight, for we could
plainly see your main line by the numerous small
fires by which you were cooking your suppers, and
we saw there was enough of you to eat us up."
As soon as the 51st stacked arms and supper over,

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each man laid himself down on the wet ground
alongside of his stack, and notwithstanding the
heavy rain that continued to pour down all night,
they slept as sweetly and soundly as if resting on
beds of roses. Many of them on waking up next
morning found they had been lying in two or three
inches of water.
The next morning, the 8th, they were called to
arms at daylight, as the pickets began their work as
soon as it was light enough to distinguish an object,
consequently no breakfast could be got that morn
ing by the troops. By half-past six A. M. the battle
was fairly opened in a dense forest of pine trees, all
undergrown with stunted shrubbery, indigenous to
swamp land, but the contending forces had taken the
" measure " of each other. The enemy, seemingly
stubborn, began, retreating toward the centre of the
island, where they had a three-gun battery, masked,
and almost entirely surrounded by water from one
to four feet deep, being built in the centre of an ex
tensive swamp, with no dry ground about it save
the solitary public road that leads from the lower to
the upper end of the island, passing through the
fort. Access to this fort by any other than the pub
lic ri. ad could only be had through the deep swamp,
which was almost impenetrable on account of the
long, green chapparal briar. The 51st was kept in
line of battle from daylight as a reserved force until
about 8J o'clock A. M., when, as the enemy gave way
to our troops, the 51st would follow up within sup
porting
distance.
waiting
'the into
woods
for
orders the
wounded While
of those
who inwent
action
early in the morning began to pass on stretchers, or
leaning on the arms of sympathizing comrades, or

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HISTOEY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

crawling along as best they could, each directing his
course toward the hospital that had been established
where they bivouacked the night before. At 10 A.
M. the battle raged in all its fury. The enemy, under
cover of their fort, possessed decided advantage over
the Union forces, for their artillery was in a com
manding position and could sweep everything pass
ing in front of it, while the Unionists had only two
light marine howitzers which had been dragged into
" battery " by hand and were posted in a corner of
the woods where it was too swampy to render them
of much assistance to the infantry. Directly in front
of the rebel works the enemy had made (to use a
Southern phrase) a " slashing," which is the felling
of trees for two purposes, one is to give themselves
a clear and unobstructed view of the approach of
their enemy and a clear range for their guns ; the
other is, by felling trees in a confused mass, without
lopping off boughs, makes it difficult to pass over the
ground as well as dangerous.
This slashing was in length about half a mile,
and in breadth about four hundred yards, with the
above-mentioned road passing through the middle
lengthwise.
As the enemy fell back to the cover of their
battery the 51st was ordered up with the 4th Khode
Island volunteers, to endeavor to make a lodgement
on the right flank of the enemy's works. The 51st
made efforts to cut its way through the dense under
growth of briars and bushes. After penetrating the
swamp a couple of hundred yards it was found to be
impossible to get through, and the enemy already
discovering their whereabouts and designs, began
shelling and grapeing them with unrelenting fury.

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Col. Hartranft decided to move Ms regiment directly
in front of the enemy's guns and make an effort to
get in on their left flank. Could this latter move
ment have been executed with rapidity the comple
tion of it would have ended the battle. While the
51st P. V. and the 4th Rhode Island were passing in
front of the works and across the slashing they en
deavored to conceal themselves as much as possible,
but the enemy caught a glimpse of them as they
were plunging their way among the dead, dying and
wounded, through the deep and muddy swamp, and
poured into them volley after volley of grape and
canister shots, but with no other harm than carry
ing away half of the bayonet off the musket of Reese
Grey, of Co. D, 51st P. V. The 24th, 25th and 27th
Mass. Vols., and the 9th New York Vols. and 9th
New Jersey suffered the most at this point. The
swamp was strewn with their dead, dying and
wounded, indicative of the fierceness of the battle in
the early part of the day.
After passing over this place Col. Hartranft, aided
by Capt. Geo. R. Pechin, commenced to hack their
way through the briars with their swords to effect
the desired object of getting in on the enemy's left.
As every foot of passage-way was gained by them
the 51st followed up each step, and in turn was fol
lowed by the 4th R. I. While nearly on the flank
of the works and making efforts to get across to the
fort, a distance of about 150 yards, the 9th New
York (Hawkin's Zouaves) charged in solid column
up the road into the fort, capturing the three guns and
caissons, one of which was a Mexican 18-pounder,
another a Dahlgren 12-pounder, and the third one a

78

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

Napoleon 24-pounder, all of which had been spiked
with rat-tail files.
The nature of the ground around the fort made it
difficult to get into it, for in many places the swamp
was waist to arm-pit deep, no dry land in front or on
either flank, except the narrow road of twelve feet
wide, of corduroy. Tt had been raining all the
night before and that day; and no doubt the rain had
added considerably to the advantage of the enemy,
by increasing the depth of. the swamp ; but it availed
them nothing, for at 1.30 p. M. the fort was in Burnside's possession, and the rebels fleeing to the upper
end of the island in dire confusion, " worse con
founded" by being followed by our brave "boys in
blue," close on to their heels. So close was the race,
that the fleeing "Johnnies" had strewn the roadside
for miles with everything that was the least cumber
some to them in their precipitate flight. Haversacks,
canteens, knapsacks, blankets, clothing of all kinds,
swords, bowie-knives; pistols, cartridge-boxes, mus
kets, belts, and rations, literally covered the ground
for six miles. So anxious were they to escape the
invaders that they shot their mules and horses,
leaving them to die in the road, rather than to let them
fall alive into the hands of the " cussed Yankees."
The total of killed and wounded in this battle was
one hundred and seventy-eight Unionists and eightythree rebels, according to the records of the hospitals ;
only one of which was of the 51st P. V. The rebels
in their flight expected to have reached the upper
end of the island in time to get on their gun and other
boats, and make their escape across Koanoke Sound
to "Nagg's Head;" but their foe followed too close
for them, and arrived at the upper end of the island

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as soon as they. That prince of villains, Henry A.
Wise, cowardly deserted his dying son, O. Jennings
Wise, who had been wounded and left at a farm
house, to die in the hands of his enemy, about two
miles above the fort.
At 3.30 P. M. the enemy surrendered uncondition
ally to the Union forces about two thousand five
hundred men and the same number of small arms,
with about thirty large siege guns, some of very
heavy metal. Soon after the surrender of the island,
a rebel gunboat arrived with a large number of
troops to reinforce the enemy. They, not being
aware yet of the surrender, began disembarking. As
soon as they were all on shore, Gen. Eeno politely
informed them that they were prisoners. Their
consternation can be imagined, but not described,
when they were informed of the surrender of the
island and the flight of that archtraitor, Wise, and
the death of 0. Jennings Wise.
They evinced much mortification at being thus
easily captured. Their curses were loud and of the
most bitter character against the garrison, for cow
ardly permitting them to land in ignorance of the sur
render, as they allege they could have got off clear,
if they had only been given a signal to that effect.
Now that the island had succumbed to the com
bined land and naval forces, the 51st, as well as
others, had to turn their attention to hunting up
quarters. In the middle of the afternoon the Union
troops found that the rebels had two good sized vil
lages of barracks built on the island, nearly sufficient
in number to quarter all the Union troops and thoir
prisoners.
Now that quarters were obtained, the victorious

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HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

army turned its attention next to procure something
to eat. Although nearly night, many of the men of
the 51st had not tasted a morsel of food since the
night before. Large quantities of wheat flour, corn
meal, white and sweet potatoes, rice, beans, salt pork
and bacon, and sugar, with some little coffee, was
found in the commissary department of the C. S. A.,
and fires were soon kindled, " slap-jacks " were made,
pork fried, coffee boiled, and the wants of the inner
man well satisfied. After their palatable meal, the
next thing in order was drying their clothing, which
was well saturated from sleeping in the rain the
night before ; also being in the rain all that day, and
from wading through the deep swamp surrounding
the fort and battle-ground. It was midnight when
the most of them had laid themselves down to rest;
• being weary from the excitement of the day and the
rapid march after the retreating foe, and weak from
the want of food, they were soon locked up in the
arms of Morpheus, and enjoying tired nature's sweet
restorer, balmy sleep. About thirty of the regiment,
however, were detailed for camp guard; consequently
they had but little sleep that night.
Between one and two o'clock in the morning all
hands were aroused to receive a ration of whiskey,
the surgeons deeming it the best time for it to be
given, as a good number had lain down in their wet
clothing, and were also very much fatigued. It was
an acceptable draught, even at that late hour of the
night.
The prisoners were gathered up on Sunday morn
ing, as per order of Gen. Burnside, under the per
sonal attendance of Maj. Schall, who, with several
clerks detailed from the 51st, "took an account of

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stock," such as the number of prisoners, their names,
companies, battalions, or regiments, legion, or what
ever else they happened to belong to, their residence,
township, county, and State.
The names of many of the organizations were
ludicrous in the extreme ; but what seemed the most
strange was their total ignorance of the body to
which they belonged, such as what regiment, brigade,
division, or corps. Perhaps they had no particular
organization beyond the company to which they
were attached. About five per cent, of them only
were able to tell how their names were spelled.
The names of the different organizations, as a sample,
were: Co. A, 0. K. Boys; Co. B, Auburn Guards;
Co. C, Hatteras Avengers ! Co. D, Jeff Davis Boys ;
Co. E, Cape Fear Boys; Co. F, Kip Van Winkle
Guards ; Co. G, Wake Eastern Guards ; Go's. H and
I were part of Wise's Legion, of Albemarle county,
V"a. Although the above companies were lettered,
yet the members of them disclaimed belonging to
any regiment or other organization than those men
tioned. They numbered four hundred and ninety seven noncommissioned officers and privates. They
possibly did riot belong to anything else than indi
vidual companies, as they had no idea of it taking
them long to whip the " Yankees," and probably
thought it useless to further organize !
Some other organizations were pleased to style
themselves Mississippi Wild-cats, Louisiana Tigers,
Hardscrabble Kangers, &c., &c.
This duty of registering was completed on Thurs
day, February 13th. They were principally North
Carolinians and Virginians, and a few from Georgia,
Mississippi, and Louisiana. Take them all in all,
5

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HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY- FIRST

REGIMENT

they were a woful-looking set of ragamuffins. Dirty,
covered with vermin, and very illiterate, not more
than two per cent, of them being able to read and
write ! When one was found that could do both, he
was " reckoned " a " right smart " scholar. They
had been led to believe that the Yankees were a
barbarous race of people, and therefore the poor
devils were very much afraid that now, as they were
prisoners, their lives would be forfeited, and their
anxiety was most intense until they were assured by
Maj. Schall that their lives, were perfectly safe while
in the hands of the Union troops, and they would be
exchanged in a few days.
Very little is known, excepting by the participants,
of the difficulty experienced in following the retreat
ing rebels to the upper end of the island.
The 51st, in making its way out of the swamp by
the flank, with Capt. Wm. J. Bolton's Co. A on the
advance, had to pass through indefinite numbers of
dangerous holes. From the uneven nature of the
ground, one foot would not be in water perhaps over
five or six inches deep, the other in stepping would
plung into a hole of three feet deep, making the move
ment not only dangerous, but of excessive toil. The
day being one of that peculiar " murky " heat, natu
ral to the Carolinas in the winter season, the perspi
ration poured off the men from exertion in wading
through the swarnps and disentangling themselves
from the chapparal briars.
The retreat of the enemy from the fort was press,
ingly followed by their pursuers. The 51st followed
close upon their heels for upwards of five miles,
when, from the heated condition of the men, it was
obliged to halt for five minutes to rest, at an old

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blacksmith shop nearly two miles below the rebel
barracks. At the expiration of that time, it resumed
the march, capturing straggling rebels, dragging
them out of their hiding-places, and picking them
up wherever found.
After being assigned to quarters in the late rebel
barracks, the men made huge fires, and stripping
off their clothing, wrung out the water and dried
them by the fires ; then sank down on the floors of
their quarters, exhausted with fatigue and the ex
citement of their maiden fight ; all were soon asleep,
and many of them on being aroused to receive their
ration of whiskey, would drink it and be unconscious
of the circumstance, so completely were they over
come with fatigue ; but in the morning they awoke
considerably refreshed, and many of them took their
guns and went out on their uown hook" into the
dense swamps and pine forest, and returned in a short
time with one or more prisoners, of which, upwards of
150 were captured in this manner, who would, no
doubt, have made their escape from the island and
got clear, by way of Nagg's Head. A few hogs were
found running at large on the island, and the boys
appropriated them to their own use ; and many a
tit-bit was picked up in this way, that was lying
"around loose." Great quantities of sweet potatoes,
salt fish and molasses were found buried beneath the
sandy soil, to hide them from the invading Yankees,
but all to no purpose, for the latter would have dug
up every foot of the island, but what they would
have satisfied themselves that nothing was hid.
An amusing, yet not a very praiseworthy event
took place a few days after the capture 'of the island.
A " secesh " kept a small grocery store on the lower

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HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST REGIMENT

end of the island, about ten miles below the bar
racks. An enterprising " Yankee " of the 51st
thought that he would like to go into business " on
his own hook," to replenish his " sweanied pocketbook." He entered the store and passed the com
pliments of the day with the proprietor, and en
quired into the commercial status of the island, to
all of which the " Johnny " gave very satisfactory
replies. When about a dozen other Yankees, from as
many other regiments, entered to purchase whiskey,
the proprietor denied having any on hand just then.
The 51st Yankee jumped over the counter, and po
litely invited the proprietor to get in front of it, as
he intended to "run the machine" himself. His
rebel majesty obeyed, and the newly installed store
keeper informed his customers that all they had
to do was to ask him for what they wanted, and he
wouldn't deny them, at least not until he first satis
fied himself that he was "just out." Three hams
were first asked for, but the 51st storekeeper coming
so recently in possession of his stock, knew not just
the place to put his hands on it when wanted, and
the former owner pretending not to know, could, or
would not give the information. Nothing daunted,
however, the Fifty- firster ransacked the whole build
ing, and finally found a whole barrel of hams cov
ered over with trash. He soon supplied the appli
cants with three hams, at 10 cents per pound, and
asking his customers the usual question, " anything
else, gentlemen ?" they responded by handing a
few canteens to " please fill." In hunting the hams,
he had found whiskey, and filled the canteens at
two dollars each. That being all they wanted, they
were about leaving, when the 51st Yankee thought

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"he might do a brisker business by " advertising "
his new occupation, and therefore requested his new
customers to please inform the " boys of their re
spective regiments," that he had just opened a new
store on his own account, and would thank them for
their patronage. In about an hour his customers
began to flock in from all quarters, wanting generally
the one thing, i. e., whiskey ! which he continued to
supply until the stock became exhausted. He be
gan to think it near time for him to go to camp, and
therefore before he closed his store, he wrote the fol
lowing : " Notice. This store will be opened to
morrow morning, at 8 o'clock. T. Troy/' and pasted
it on the front door. He then told the former pro
prietor to " Come out and run home, as I want to
shut up ;" but the " original " refused, and boldly
remonstrated with the 51st Yankee, and tried by
persuasion to be restored in his right, but was re
fused any connection with the store, by any means.
At length, the " old Johnny " allowed his passion to
run riot with sound judgment, and began to threaten
what he would do ; such as appealing to ll Gen.
Burnside, &c.," but threats fared no better than
suasion. The " scout " getting impatient to " shut
up," he told the " Johnny " that time was money,
and he must not make him waste it. The old man
got stubborn and would not leave the store, and
consequently was locked in; but as the key was
turned, he relented, and begged hard to be set at
liberty again, which was readily granted. The door
was again locked, and the key brought into camp.
Next morning, as per announcement, the store was
duly opened, and the first customer was the original
storekeeper himself, and soon thereafter the store

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was thronged with patrons till near noon, when the
supply ran out, and our 51st Yankee retired from
business to the quiet of camp-life.
For some time after the capture of the island, the
conveniences for cooking were poor indeed, but the
boys rinding plenty of sugar hid away in different
places, managed to make their food palatable. Wheat
flour and corn meal was found in considerable quan
tities, and they baked their "slap-jacks" as fre
quently as their appetites craved them.
While having the captured prisoners under guard,
there were seyeral night alarms created, it being
ascertained that the prisoners intended to effect an
escape. Several had made the attempt, but the guards
fired their pieces, and hence the alarms. Nine suc
ceeded in escaping, but were retaken next day.
On the llth of February, all the baggage and
cooking utensils were brought off' the Cossack,
from where she had been lying since the 51st had
disembarked. The taking of Elizabeth on the 10th,
by the gunboats, was duly announced to the 51st
on the evening of the llth, causing much rejoicing
and wild speculation as to the early closing of the
rebellion. On the 12th, a large number of captured
officers and men were put on board of one of the
transports and sent to New York. While employed
as clerk in taking the names, &c., of the prisoners,
the writer recognized in one of the captives, a man
(an orderly-sergeant) belonging to Co. A, 31st Eegiment North Carolina Vols., who had visited the
51st when lying at Camp Union, Annapolis, Md.,
representing himself as a book canvasser and sell
ing treatises on military tactics, the writer purchas
ing one from him ; he said he was a sergeant in the

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51st New York. After obtaining his name, which
he gave as J. D. Gatling, of Anson county, North
Carolina, I brought the circumstance up in conver
sation with him, but he stoutly denied ever being
employed as a spy in any way and at any time.
His denial though, could not impress the writer with
its truthfulness, for he had still in bis possession a
book of the very style that was purchased, and I
never saw one like it before I purchased mine, or
afterwards until I saw the one he had after his cap
ture ; nor have I ever seen any since like it. He,
as a rarity among the rebel enlisted men, was shrewd
and cautious in his conversation, fully coming up to
the standard of what is necessary to make a suc
cessful spy. At the capture of Elizabeth City by
the gunboats belonging to the expedition, the steamer
" Fanny " that was captured by the rebels off Hatteras Inlet, was recaptured by Burnside's expedition
and restored to the service of the U. S. Government
in a good condition, the rebels not having time to
destroy her. The 51st were recipients in part of
8000 pounds of fresh beef presented to the Burnside
expedition by the citizens of the District of Columbia,
as a token of their appreciation of gallantry dis
played by the troops in taking the island. It was
received in a spirit of kindness, but very little of it
could be used, as it necessarily had to be kept too
long in bringing it so far. The warm, rainy weather
spoiled the greater portion of it.
The following extract is from a private letter
written at Fort Russell, on the 18th of February,
giving a very correct description of the island at
that date : " I must now give you a description of
this locality. Well, in the first place, it is all sur-

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rounded by tbe waters of Eoanoke, Croatan, Pamlico
and Albernarle sounds, and is situated about two
miles from the nearest point of the mainland. The
island is about ten or twelve miles long, and from
one to three miles wide, lying nearly level with the
water of the sounds. The soil is nothing much but
pure white sand. The lower part of the island, say
about four miles of it, is almost an impassable
swamp. In this swamp is where the battle was
fought, and where Fort Russell (the three-gun bat
tery) stands. The grass here (where it does grow)
is very green, and about three inches long, but noth
ing much grows here, except pine and cypress trees,
covered with a long, grayish moss, hanging in fes
toons of one to six feet in length. Wherever you
find any other kind of a tree, it is invariably covered
with the beautiful " mistletoe," which is now out in
full bloom. The prickly pear which people up
North propagate in flower pots, grows all over the
island in a wild state. The middle part of the island
is somewhat dryer than the lower end, having im
mense sand hills, some of which reach an altitude
of several hundred feet ; all drifted there like snow
drifts, by the strong winds blowing the sand from
the beach that skirts the Roanoke and Croatan
sounds. On the western shore of the island, are
the forts we bombarded. On the eastern shore is a
large fort, but only mounting two thirty- two pound
ers. On the upper end is an antiquated wind-mill,
where the islanders used to grind corn. The deni
zens of the island live here solely by fishing and
trading with the North, but since the war broke out
they dare not leave the island, consequently they
have suffered a great deal, having scarcely anything

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to eat, all their provisions having been stolen from
them. I wish you could see their horses, I know
they would make you laugh. They are very small,
and look more like bears than what they are. They
have no carts, wagons or carriages. They have two
Dearborn wheels on an axle-tree, and two poles for
shafts, with a board or two nailed to them, the whole
constituting their vehicles of pleasure and cartage.
The horses wear no collars whatever, the hames,
resting on the bare shoulder, and a rope bridle cornpose all the harness needed or used. The cows are
all very small, none of which will weigh, over 200 or
250 pounds, and are very poor. The farmers raise
Indian corn and sweet potatoes, but nothing else.
The land is worth from $2.50 to §3.00 per acre ;
choice tracts $5.00 per acre. The frogs are croak
ing arid the crickets chirping every night. Red
birds, robins, blue and cat birds, are in abundance
here."
On the 14th of February, Colonel Hartranft
formed the regiment and took it, much to the
delight of the men, on a tour of recreation over the
island, to visit the different spots of interest, one of
which was the above-mentioned sand hills, that are
truly a curious freak of nature and a great curiosity.
The next day, the 51st paid a regimental or official
visit to all the forts and works on the island. As
the regiment entered the works, cheer upon cheer
would rend the air for everything and everybody.
All returned to their barracks highly pleased with
their visit. About this time the men discovered
that the enemy, in attempting their escape from the
island at its capture, had in wading out to their gun
boats thrown away in deep water their huge bowie-

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knives, revolvers and muskets. Every conceivable
object that could be invented, was used «by the men
to fish up the articles from the bottom of the sound,
and many were very successful. A large number of
weapons were brought to the barracks and sold for
exorbitant prices, as relics. The knives were very
massive, and of a primitive style of make, and very
unwieldy, yet showing as they did, the will of their
former owners to "hew and hack" their Yankee
brethren without mercy, in which, thank the Al
mighty, they were disappointed.
On the 16th of February, Corporal Jas. Mauger,
of Co. I, died. His was the first death that occurred
in the regiment since the capture of the island. He
was buried the next day on the upper end of the
island, in the rear of the hospital.
During the stay of the regiment on the island
large details were made daily for camp and garrison
duty, such as policing, guarding, picketing, unload
ing vessels, and other fatigue duty, incident to such
occasions.
Co. I, under command of 2d Lieut. George Schall,
was detailed to garrison Fort Russell, on the battle
ground of the 8th of the month, where he and his
command remained until the ordnance officer of the
expedition, on the 23d of February, took possession
of the three guns and caissons that were in the fort
at its capture.
Capt. Geo. E. Pechin and 1st Lieut. Geo. W. Bisbing of Co. I, were not in command of the company
till after the taking of Newbern, on account of severe
indisposition brought on by over-exertion on the
day of battle and by taking cold from excessive wet
in wading through the deep swamps.

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On the 25th of February, a large mail from the
North arrived, bringing papers which gave an ac
count of the taking of the island, but the 51st had
been accounted for as only on " reserve." Much
indignation was evinced, and the one-sided penny-aliners came in for a large share of genuine anathe
mas from those of the 51st P. V. But after a close
inquiry, why the 51st received so little notice from
the press, it was made plain enough from the fact
that all the troops composing the great expedition
were Eastern, and that the 51st P. V. was the only
representation from the old Keystone State. Having
fallen into the hands of the " Philistines," conse
quently their dislike and avoidance to give it (the
51st) any credit, was only to add lustre to their
own laurels.
The indignation of both officers and men was at
the highest pitch, on their seeing an engraving in
" Frank Leslie's " paper, wherein it represented the
51st in a false light, giving it little or no credit for
its participation in the battle. The reason was
obvious, the 51st being the only Pennsylvania regi
ment with Burnside, and the reporters and artists
all in the employ of Eastern papers, consequently
they had eyes only for Eastern troops.
The fishing season was just opening for shad, &c.,
and in the time intervening between drill hours, the
boys would enjoy the piscatorial sport with some
remuneration for their labors by making good use of
the shad and herring nets abundant on the island.
On the 28th, the regiment was mustered for pay,
and immediately after muster the whole regiment
was detailed for general guard and picket duty.
On Saturday. March 1st, the 51st received the

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pleasing intelligence of the taking of Savannah,
Memphis, Nashville, Forts Donelson and Henry, the
evacuation of Manassas, and that the Mayor of Nor
folk had invited Gen. Wool to come there, also that
two rebel Tennessee regiments had expressed their
willingness to join the Union army, and a host of
other gratifying rumors, causing at night one grand
and general illumination of the island. Every band
belonging to the expedition was out playing and
marching through all the camps in honor of the
cheering news. The different regiments assembled
at the headquarters of Gen. Jesse L. Reno, who
came out and addressed the troops in a most elo
quent and patriotic strain for nearly half an hour,
proving himself an orator of the first standing as
well as a skilful general. At the conclusion of his
remarks, he paid a glowing tribute to the 51st P. Y.
and its daring leader, and that "there was bat one
blow more to be struck to end the rebellion, and in
that last blow the 51st should take a prominent part,
and have a chance to distinguish itself to its fullest
satisfaction." The last remark was cheered ^with
unbounded enthusiasm by the 51st P. Y., and was
joined in with by all the assembled regiments. Thus
passed one of the most gratifying evenings in the
career of the 51st. The troops then all retired
about midnight to their quarters, to dream of soon
being on their way to their "bright and happy
homes, so far away!" and the war at an end.

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VI.

All aboard— The new Enficlcls— Sailing of the Fleet— Landing
at Slocum's creek — March to Newbern— Battle of Newbern —
A patriot's death — Lieut. Morris — Charge of the 51st — Cap
ture of the rebel works — Poisoned food — The 51st on a scout —
Bridge-burning and foraging — Return to Camp.

ON Monday, March 3d; 1862, the 51st received
orders to draw three days' rations, and to pack up
ready to move at a " moment's notice." The order
was speedily complied with, and in a very few
moments the 51st was on the march towards the
shore' to again embark on board of " our clear old
Cossack." To go, where ? That last blow was to be
struck, but where ? That was the question. Ah ! to
take the Weldon Railroad, was the opinion of the
majority, but the minority said Newborn ; not from
any positive knowledge, but from reason or instinct.
Newbern, N. C., it was !
After going on board of the Cossack, the steamer
hauled off a short distance from the island and
anchored until the whole fleet should be ready.
The next day, (the 4th,) the regiment received new
arms of a vastly superior quality over the " old Har
per's Ferry muskets." They were the Enfield rifled
muskets, and were more effective at one thousand
yards than the Harper's Ferry were at four hun
dred yards. A fair trial was obtained the next day,
at a floating target of five hundred yards distant,
which was completely riddled by the Enfield, but
was not reached by the Harper's Ferry.
After the 51st were embarked, that very and
always welcome visitant to a soldier, the mail, was

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sent on board. On embarking, a few of the men
and several officers were left back on the island,
sick in hospitals. A most depressing rumor now
found its way on board the Cossack, to the effect
that Gen. Banks had lost 14,000 men on the
Potomac.
Great anxiety was now felt by the 51st for the
paymaster to make his appearance before starting on
another tour, but they were disappointed, as he did
not corne for some time thereafter. Money now
began to be at a premium, from the fact that the
sound fishermen were catching large quantities of
shad, and selling at extremely low prices to those,
on board of the transports, who were fortunate
to have any money left from their last pay received
at Annapolis, Md. The constant shortness of rations
in the expedition forced the men in order to sustain
life, to purchase from the regimental sutlers, who, to
their shame be it said, took mean advantage of the
men's necessities, and charged ten prices for every
article sold. Many ma}r ask " why did the men
pay it?" I would answer by saying that, when
starvation is staring you in the face, and hunger is
already gnawing your very vitals out, it does not
become a matter of paltry dollars and cents, but of
health and life, and further, at each purchase, the
buyer would feed on hope^ that " a good time " might
soon turn up in the Commissary Department at its
next issue ! Occasionally the soldiers would be
compelled by force of circumstances, to use an army
phrase, to " shut up the eyes " of the fisherman, for a
couple of shad. The soldiers being on the trans
ports and the fisherman in his batteau, they would,
tell him to " pass up " a couple of the fish for them

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to look at, but the over-confiding fisherman would
soon find " his eyes shut up " effectually, for the sol
dier had disappeared to clean his fish and pay his
ten cents to the cooks to fry them for him.
While lying off' the island and before the departure
of the fleet, the small-pox began to make its appear
ance in the 51st, consequently once or twice a day
the surgeons would come on board to make exami
nations of each individual, and if any possessed the
slightest symptoms of that much dreaded disease,
they were immediately sent ashore to remain in the
hospitals until the disease either developed itself or
it was found that there was no infection.
On the 6th of March, another of those terrible
storms swept over the sounds, which lasted till the
afternoon of the 8th. No particular damage was
sustained by the Cossack, but great fears were enter
tained on the 7th for her safety ; both of her heavy
bow anchors were out, and in the violence of the
storm, she dragged them over a mile in twelve
minutes.
This second time on the Cossack was equallv as
bad as the first, for want of food and water. Had it
not been for the few shad purchased or " confiscated,"
the suffering by hunger by the men would have been
without its parallel ; as it was, it was terrible beyond
the power of any pen to portray.
On Sunday, March 9th, 1862, orders were issued
for the fleet to prepare to leave their anchorage for
Newbern, N. C., but General Burnside had received,
what was supposed by him to be, reliable news, that
Norfolk, Va., had been taken, and the order to " take
up the line of movement " was countermanded, but
on the afternoon of the next day, the orders to

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start were re-issued, consequently the fleet took its
departure for its destination on Tuesday morning,
the llth, arriving at Hatteras Inlet early in the even
ing of the same day. The day was very rainy and the
men staid in their berths, enjoying themselves in
various amusements, and wondering if they would
ever again sit down to a table and '' get enough to
eat.^
On arriving at the Inlet, Maj. Schall gave notice
to the men that he would go ashore in one hour
with a mail and bring the return one. Nearly every
man sat down to write his version of his trials and
sufferings. At the expiration of the hour the Major
gathered up the letters, took them ashore and re
turned with a very large mail, much to the gratifica
tion of all. Half the night was spent in perusing
letters and papers.
The morning of the 12th of March was one of the
loveliest in nature —the broad bosom of the surround
ing waters lay as smooth as ice, and looked like one
vast sheet of polished silver. The whole fleet riding
at anchor, and everything wearing the appearance of
such calmness and quiet, that one would almost
persuade himself it was the holy Sabbath clay ; but
at 8 A. M., the signal corps began waving their
many flags, which, being interpreted, meant " to
weigh anchor and be off;'' in a few minutes all was
bustle and excitement, and the fleet was again under
way, arriving at the mouth of Neuse Eivei at halfpast two P. M. same day, and made a halt of threequarters of an hour, which became necessary on
account of numerous columns of smoke ascending
in the air, on either shore, looking very much as if
it might be numberless rebel camp-fires, but a couple

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of gunboats reconnoitered the shore and found that
the columns of smoke were no less than the mode
adopted by the rebels to signal the approach of the
expedition to their shores. The Cossack started
once more and made the run with much caution,
the gunboats on the advance, and the transports fol
lowing in proper order — obeying all signals as
promptly as if the orders were issued verbally.
Three days' rations and sixty rounds of ammunition
were issued, and every other preparation made in case
of a forced landing having to be made. At night the
fleet anchored a few miles below the mouth of Slocum's Creek, and about midnight a surgeon came
on board of the Cossack to deliver a lecture, in
secrecy, to the band of the 51st, which was consti
tuted an ambulance corps, in regard to its duties on
the battle-field. This lecture was intended only for
the ears of the ambulance corps, consequently all
others were ordered off to their quarters, but other
ears did hear the admonition. And of the vast im
portance to a wounded soldier that it might have
been, it is to be regretted that the lecture was not
delivered in the presence of the assembled regiment,
and as the very able lecturer defined the only cor
rect mode of saving life, it was necessary that all
should be instructed in it. For instance, if the wound
was of an artery, it was to be tightly bound on the
side next to the heart. If a flesh wound, where the
blood only oozed out, it was to be bound tightly on
the side of the wound furthest from the heart. . The
reason for this was, that the blood of an artery comes
direct from the heart to distribute itself throughout
the human system, and therefore it is important to
prevent it from reaching the wound, consequently to

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bandage between the heart and the wound, so as to
stop the flow of blood, will prevent bleeding to
death. The reason for bandaging below the flesh
wound was, the smaller blood vessels only served to
carry the blood back to the heart after being dis
tributed by the arteries, and tightly bandaging
the wound on the lower side also hinders the blood
from finding egress through the wound, and pre
vents fainting or death from loss of blood. If
wounded in any part of the body, where bandages
could not by unskilled hands be effectually applied,
the corps was instructed to fill the cavity well with
lint, rags, or pocket handkerchief, or whatever else
could be speedily brought into requisition on a bat
tle-field. The lecturer spoke upwards of half an
hour, and in that time imparted a vast deal of very
valuable information. Why it was delivered secretly
can only be conjectured, but the supposition was,
and is yet, that if delivered publicly it might affect
the nerves of those who would keep the thing in
their mind's eye continually, while going into battle,
and perhaps make them falter ! If that was the cor
rect theory, all that is necessary to say is, that the
surgeon did not know the material of which the 51st
was made. It cannot be denied but that cowards
are to be found in all large organizations, and the
name of a battle was, and is sufficient, to make
them, to use an army's vulgar phrase, " shyster out,"
but the 51st contained as few, if not fewer, shysters,
than any other regiment extant.
On Thursday, 13th, soon after daylight, the Cos
sack ran in as close to the mouth of Slocum's Creek,
eighteen miles below Newbern, N. C., as she could get,
and the 51st disembarked at 7 A. M. The gunboats

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shelled the shore for about five miles, during which
time the entire body of troops composing the expe
dition disembarked. Thousands of them were so
impatient to once more set their feet upon land, that
they would not wait to be taken off in small boats,
but voluntarily jumped from their vessels into the
water, which was to many of them up to their necks,
and waded to the shore, a distance of from three hun
dred to five hundred yards. This disembarkation
was so quietly conducted that one-half of the troops
were on terra firma before all the men knew what
was going on. The shelling of the woods by the
gunboats disturbed, and brought to light a rebel
cavalry encampment, about five miles above where
the troops landed. After the troops had landed,
General Burnside exhorted the men to throw nothing
away, as they were now where they could not replace
anything if lost.
By 8 A. M. the column was on the march, in a
drenching rain and through the muddiest mud ever
invented, being knee-deep and of a black, unctuous,
slippery character. After marching five miles towards
Newbern, and hugging the shore of the Neuse river,
the 51st came on the camp of the rebel cavalry
which the gunboats had routed precipitately. Every
thing lay around in magnificent disorder ; fires still
burning, breakfasts cooking, and some served up and
partly partaken of, showing the complete surprise
by the landing of several unannounced 61-pound
shells in the very heart of their barracks. Tired as
the " Yankees" were, they took their five minutes
rest to " go through " the baggage of the rebel offi
cers and the " knappies " of the men. After ran
sacking the camp, the 51st was about " falling in,"

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when, unfortunately for the 51st's boys, a marine
battery of six pieces, that had also landed at Slocum's Creek, halted in front of the regiment, for
the marines were worn out in pulling and tugging to
get their artillery and caissons along.
Lieut. Col. Thos. S. Bell was quietly sitting on his
horse when an orderly rode up to him and presented
him with an order, detailing the regiment nearest to the
battery to assist in bringing it along. Consequently
the 51st being unfortunately in that "fix" had to
" fall in " and man the rope. If marching with a
knapsack, sixty rounds of ammunition, a heavy riflemusket, three days' rations in haversacks, and other
paraphernalia of war, fatigued them ; what else, than
exhaust them, would carrying all that and dragging
a heavy gun and caisson fall of shot and shell thir
teen miles in the remainder of the day, do ? The
rnud was bad enough to march over, but when pul
ling on the rope it would cause the men to sink in
two or three inches deeper. The regiment was di
vided into three reliefs, each relief taking its turn
at the rope half an hour at a time. The march now
became not only painfully laborious but extremely
slow, the gun carriages sinking in the mud up to the
hubs. Rain pouring down, clothing dripping wet,
the air sultry and " rnurky," and every thing seeming
to conspire to dishearten that noble band of patriots'
who toiled and tugged to get the artillery along and
keep up with the advancing troops ; but its labors
were not confined alone to the pulling of the six
guns belonging to the marines, for on the landing
of the 51st, Capt. Bennett, of the Cossack, had two
splendid twelve pound Wiard rifled guns (steel) on
his ship, and was very anxious to participate with

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the 51st in an engagement, therefore he made ap
plication to Gen. Burnside to be permitted to take
one of his guns ashore and go along with the 51st;
in fact he asked permission to take both guns, but
only one was granted. Before the 51st disembarked,
Capt. Bennett had his gun ashore, accompanied by
eighteen of his best men well armed with their
boarding pikes, cutlasses, and heavy navy revolvers ;
but owing to the great depth of mud, his men were
overtaken by the 51st about six miles from the land
ing point, completely worn out and borne down to
the ground, or rather mire, from sheer exhaustion.
On the olst coming up with Capt. Bennett, it found
him scarcely able to utter a word, from cheering his
men on in their noble work and pulling at the rope
himself, he became so hoarse that articulation had
nearly ceased, but the sight of his regiment, as he
always called the 51st, added joy to his overloaded
heart, for he knew they would help him if he would
only say that he needed them ; but the first party of
the 51st that reached him was one of the three re
liefs, that had just been relieved, and being jaded
nearly to death, they did not feel like offering their
services to help to pull a much heavier gun than
that of which they had just dropped the rope. After
passing a few remarks with Bennett and his men,
they started to pass on, but Bennett, who from a
little rest could talk plain enough to be understood,
asked them to help him along with his gun. At
this juncture the remainder came up and Capt. Ben
nett begged them to help him along, but riot prop
erly understanding their answer he yelled out as
loud as he was able, " Men ! do you want me to com
mit suicide ? for I swear if I can't get help from you,

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boys, to get my gun up, I'll blow out my brains
here !'' That appeal to their love for him had its
effect, and for the balance of the march they had
seven guns to get through the mud. However, by
daylight next morning the 51st had got all the guns
and caissons up to within five hundred yards of the
enemy's works around Newbern. These seven
piece's of artillery were the only field pieces that
the expedition had on land, and for their great aid,
especially Capt. Bennett's gun, none ever regretted
the enormous amount of labor bestowed by them in
getting the guns up ; the men often remarked after
the capture of Newbern, that if they had thought
that Bennett and his gun would have rendered such
incalculable service they would have pulled with a
much better heart ; now that it was over they could
look the circumstance squarely in the face and ac
knowledge that only for the unceasing perseverance
of Bennett and his noble tars, the gun could never
have been brought up, and all became fully satisfied
in making "government mules" of themselves for
the time being.
At 9 o'clock, P. M., the army halted for the
night along the roadside within a mile or there
abouts of the enemy's pickets, where all laid down
in the mud and rain and enjoyed a few hours of the
sweetest sleep ever enjoyed by mortals.
At 2 A. M., of the 14th, the army was again
in motion, the rain coming down in torrents,
and all hands d
g all hands, rebels, every
thing and everybody, as well as the weather, cli
mate, and State. However, their ill humor only
served to put them in more determined fighting
trim. The 51st again seized hold of the long ropes

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of their old friends which stuck to them as close as
the mod of which they could not get rid. They
dragged the cannon up as close to the enemy's
works as it was prudent to go while it was yet so
dark. It was only a short time till daylight, and
some laid down in the mud and rain to enjoy another
short nap, while others, looking out for the inner
man, busied themselves in making a cup of coffee
or cooking something to eat for a breakfast ; very few
cared about their rations ; rest and sleep were much
more needed at that time.
At 6 A. M., Col. Hartranft gave the command to
" fall in," which was complied with as promptly as the
circumstances would permit. It took the men some
time to get themselves gathered up. From their
laborious toil of the day and night before, perspir
ing and drenched with rain to the skin, young and
old were as sore and stiff in their joints and muscles
as a foundered horse, and they moved into line as if
they were walking on eggs and afraid of their legs
breaking. By the time the regiment got into line
on the railroad the right of the column had engaged
the enemy, and the musketry was terrific. Col.
Hartranft brought his regiment to a "front " on the
railroad, and ordered his men to discharge their
guns and reload with fresh ammunition. Although
the guns had only been loaded the day before, yet
the charges had become so wet that not over five
per cent, of their pieces would go off on the first
trial ; this was occasioned by having to pull up the
guns the day before and no care could be taken to
keep their own guns in order. However, only a few
moments were lost in making things all right, and
as soon as that was done, Lieut. Morris, aid on Burn-

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side's staff, came up and delivered orders to Col.
Hartranft to take bis men in. In less time than it
takes to tell it, Col. Hartranft took his regiment into
battle on the " double quick." It proceeded up the
railroad to within plain view of the enemy's fortifi
cations, then filing left into a rough piece of woods
on the " double quick " over ditches, quagmires,
swamps, creeks, hill and dale, until it came within
seventy-five yards of a three-gun rebel battery,
where it halted and took up a gap on the left of
the 9th New Jersey and the right of the 51st New
York. After taking its position it was commanded
to "lie down!" It had scarcely done so when a
shower of grape, canister, shrapnel and " minies "
came over their heads in a perfect storm. The
enemy had seen the regiment coming in and they
did their utmost to drive it out of its position, but
Col. Hartranft "couldn't see it" and therefore was
determined to stay there, warmly seconded by his
men. While lying there they were resting, and the
galling fire did not disturb them a bit more than had
the balls been fired in the air, for after lying there
half an hour awaiting orders to either open fire or
charge bayonets one-half of the men had fallen into
a sound sleep. On the right of the brigade to which
the 51st was attached, Capt. Bennett was posted with
his steel Wiard gun, doing terrible execution at each
discharge. His gunners, Mr. Stroud and Mr. Wil
son, were such adepts in ranging their gun that they
dismounted three of the enemy's guns in succession
with their first three shots and rendered a fourth
gun useless with their fifth. This terrible execution
by these gunners exasperated the rebels to such an
extent as to cause them to concentrate all their

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available artillery fire on Capt. Bennett's gun, for
the purpose of driving it away from its position. The
solid shot and shell fairly rained into them, but
Bennett, Stroud, and Wilson said they would die
then and there before they would have it said they
were driven away. The battle now raged most
furiously, and for about one hour it was impossible
to tell which were to be the victors. During this
terrible suspense of the fate of the day, poor Wilson
fell at the side of his gun mortally wounded, a
twenty-four pound shell striking his thigh and sev
ering his leg from his body, fie was immediately
carried to the rear, and then on board of the Cos
sack, but died soon after. Thus was gone one noble,
self-sacrificing spirit, who should have lived to see his
patriotic endeavors brought to a peaceful and happy
termination. When asked, after being wounded,
" if he wasn't sorry that he had volunteered to
go ashore with his gun," he opened his eyes and re
plied, " I know I must die ! but should I recover
and the war not over, I will volunteer my other leg
as I did this if I can only sell it as dear, for I know I
knocked them ! ! " Peace to his ashes ! and may his
image never be driven from our sight!
About noon the battle began to oscillate, one
moment victory would hover over the Union army,
the next over the enemy, when Burnside ordered
the extreme right of his line to charge, aided by the
gunboats on the works nearest to the Neuse river.
It proved a success ; but with fearful slaughter to
the 24th and 27th Massachusetts. As soon as the as
sault was made, Burnside dispatched one of his aids,
Lieut. Morris, to Col. Hartranft, with orders to charge
on the enemy's works directly
in front of the 51st.
0

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Lieut. Morris on coming up to the regiment inquired
for Col. Hartranft, (who was on the extreme right of
the 51st, surveying with his eagle eye the nature of
the ground in case he should make a charge,) but
in reply was answered "he's somewheres about."
Lieut. Morris then stated that Burnside had sent
orders for the 51st P. V. to make a bayonet charge
on the works in their front, and if it would follow
him he would lead. The whole regiment instantly
sprang to their feet, and Morris giving the command
to '• charge " with a flourish of his sword, the regi
ment started on a " full run." Hartranft had evidently
been watching the movement with a jealous eye, and
ere the regiment had gone twenty-five yards, Col.
Hartranft's voice was heard commanding a "halt." As
quick as the flash of a gun the line halted, and Hart
ranft breaking through it, ran up to Morris and
passionately asked him, " what in the h-Il do you
mean? I command this regiment and if a charge is to
be made I'll make it." A hasty explanation ensued,
and the regiment fell back to its former position and
lay down, much to the gratification of the men, who
wanted to be led in a charge by one of their own
officers only. In a few moments Col. Hartranft saw
a slight advantage might be gained in an assault by
a few men on another part of the enemy's works,
and he ordered Lieut. Col. Bell to take the left wing
of the 51st P. Y. and make the charge. The enco
miums passed by the newspaper reporters on Col.
Hartranft and Lieut. Col. Bell for this brilliant
achievement, leave it needless for my pen to dot
their praise. Shortly after Col. Hartranft gave
orders to " rise up," "forward, double quick," when
in an instant seemingly Col. Hartranft and the color

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bearer, were planting the colors of the 51st P. V. in
the three gun battery, that had been carried at the
point of his bayonets, bat the 51st P. V. had only
fairly got into the fort, when the 51st New York
came rushing in over the ramparts, and planted their
colors also on the left wing of the works. From
some unaccountable reason the reporter for the New
York Herald gave Col. Hartranft the credit of
taking the fort, but made a blunder in giving the
51st New York credit for planting their colors first
on the captured works. The ground passed over by
the 51st P. V. was decidedly a rough piece, if that
will explain its ruggedness. The captured fort lay
about midway up a very steep hill, the 51st was
posted also on a corresponding hill, directly in front
of the fort. Between the fort and where the regi
ment lay, was a very deep swampy ravine, the
bottom of this ravine had the water dammed up to
the depth of thirty inches and was about thirty or
forty yards wide. Huge trees had been felled by
the rebels, and thrown lengthwise and crosswise of
the ravine, the branches were lopped off in such
a way as to form an almost impregnable abattis.
Over this place is where the charge was made, and
had it been made at the time that Lieut. Morris at
tempted to lead, not more than one soldier out of ten,
of the 51st could have survived to have told the
tale; but Col. Hartranft, with his keen foresight and
sound military judgment, knew just the precise time
to make the charge and how to make it a success.
The total loss of the 51st was as follows: killed,
none ; wounded, ten ; among whom were privates
Owen Kex and Wm. W. Wiedner, of Co. D; mis
sing, none. It is to be regretted that the names of

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the others have been mislaid. Four o'clock of the
afternoon of Friday, March 14th, found Burnside in
undisputed possession of the defiant city of ISTewberri and all its formidable fortifications. The
enemy fleeing in wild confusion towards Groldsboro'
and Kingston, having left everything behind them
in the way of private property, so as not to encum
ber themselves with baggage, so eager were the
chivalry to lose sight of the despicable Yankees.
However, in their retreat they had set fire to the
splendid railroad bridge which spanned the Trent
river opposite the city, cutting off the remnant of
their retreating army, as well as preventing any
further pursuit by the elated victors. The retreating
rebels who were cut off from their comrades by the
burning bridge, were compelled to follow the south
shore of the Trent river, in order to give as much
distance between them and their pursuers as possible,
and in doing so, they had to swim across Brice's
creek, about three miles above the city. Many of
the retreating foe found a watery grave, for the
stream was a deep, sluggish one, of about 125 or 150
feet wide, and full fifty feet in depth. From what
information could be obtained from the negroes, at
least one hundred rebels were drowned in attempt
ing to cross the creek, either from not knowing how
to swim, or from fright and the excitement of the
chase. Hundreds had been captured on the battle
field, the 51st capturing seventeen prisoners and
three heavy guns, when it made the charge on the
fort, besides large quantities of small arms and
private property. The ground in and around the
rebel works was literally covered with the dead, the
dying, and the wounded, proving the stubbornness of
the sanguinary conflict.

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The total number of effective Union men was
7,800, and that of the rebel force was computed by
a rebel officer at 19,300, showing tremendous odds
for the Union men to contend against. Independent
of their numerical strength, they possessed at least
fifteen field and siege guns to one of the Union army.
The Union gunboats were of immense service in de
ciding the conflict. After silencing all the water
batteries, they were enabled to pass the obstructions
in the river and lend an able hand to the land forces
in routing the enemy from their almost impregnable
strongholds.
After cessation of hostilities, the negroes began
to venture to visit the Union army, and many
laughable scenes occurred between them and the
" Boys in Blue." One old darkey being asked what
made the rebels run so, when the Yankees had come
to fight them, replied " that dey stuck it out, until
your folks began to frow (throw) dem mighty rotten
shot (shells) from de big gunboats. I tell ye's dey
made dem tote dernselves out de way, by golly dey
did !" Another one asked a negress what she
thought of the Yankees, "Why," said she, "I find
dey looks like our people, an I said so yesterday
when I seed you pass our house, for my massa had
always tole us dat de Yankees wa'r great big people,
tall as dat pine tree dar, wid one eye in de centre ob
der for'ed and one in de back of dar heds, and dat if
dey got a holt ob a "nigger, dey jist munched dem up
wid dar grate big teef, and dat would be de last of
de coon. Why, my massa said dat your teef (teeth)
was as long as der arms, and wid one crunch would
bite a boss in two, and a heap of ocler things, he
tole us 'bout you, but I guess he only tole us dat to

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try to fritin us so dat we wouldn't run away from
him and come to you folkses."
As soon after the battle as it could be done, the
51st marched up the railroad, near to the still burn
ing bridge, and bivouacked for the night on the
banks of the Neuse river, where the Trent river
empties its inky stream, and after hastily preparing
a sort of a supper, the men, spreading their blankets
for a night's repose on the wet ground, ]aid them
selves down to sleep, without any other covering thar.
the broad canopy of watery clouds and a drenching
rain, which continued to pour down with unrelenting
fury all night ; but wet and mud disturbed them
not in their sleep, for being worn down and their
strength exhausted by the fatigue of the day and
night previous, and by the intense excitement of that
day, they fell asleep as soon nearly as their heads
were on a level with their heels.
The next morning, Saturday, the 15th, the rain
continuing to fall and the men in their wet clothing,
things were about as uncomfortable as if gotten
up expressly to order, none of them having any
tents or rubber blankets. Wood and everything
else soaking wet, it was a long time before a fire
could be kindled to lend its genial warmth to dry
their clothing, to make a cup of coftee, to cook a
piece of salt junk, or to fry fat pork for their break
fasts. Had the little <( shelter " or D'Abri tents been
known of in those days, what' an addition they
would have been to the protection and comfort of
the marching soldier. Nothing of the kind was used
in the early days of the rebellion, and the tired and
wet soldier was contented to lay himself down to
sleep in the ditches on the roadsides, in rain and

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mud, without a thought of any other protection
against rheumatism and the inclemency of the
weather than his blanket, if he was fortunate enough
to have one with him. During the day quarters
had been assigned to the 51st, about one and a half
miles from Newborn, in a lot of the filthiest rebel
barracks ever met with, consequently by nightfall
it was moved to its new quarters, where out of the
rain they had fire-places, in which to make fires to
warm themselves and cook ; but very little cooking
could be done, for on landing at Sloe urn's creek, they
had only three days' rations in their haversacks, and
being three days and two nights exposed to a con
tinuous rain, their provisions became spoiled and
the most had to be thrown away. Many had to go to
bed supperless, but few to sleep, for the bunks were
literally alive with vermin, left behind bv the re
treating rebels. On Sunday, 16th, the regiment
were without a morsel of rations, excepting a little
raw pork, that had been discovered in a deserted
barrack in a rebel officer's mess chest, that had been
left behind. So eager were the men to eat it, that it
was devoured raw, for they could not wait to cook it.
Tired as the men were, they could not refrain from
foraging the country, and met with considerable
success. They brought in large quantities of various
kinds of food, also some of the finest horses of which
North Carolina could boast, with sulkies and car
riages, and costly harness. One splendid horse and
carriage were captured by Sergeant W. F. Campbell,
of Co. H.
Sunday, the 16th, was occupied in putting the
arms in order, and a general cleaning of all the ac
coutrements, which being done, the boys visited all

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the rebel fortifications on the shore of the Neuse,
and the battle-ground. Large numbers of the dead
of both armies still lay around unburied. Horses
laid very thick on the ground, and in piles ; one
pile contained seventy-three carcasses of rebel artil
lery horses, and close by it lay sixty- five dead rebs.
Some time in the afternoon of the day of battle,
D. P. Bible, 1st Lieut, and Adjutant of the olst P. V.,
had occasion to visit ISTewbern ; and while there, he,
in company with several officials, visited a number
of deserted houses, and found what purported to be
old wine in one of them. Although very chary
about tasting it, at last he did, and finding it very pal
atable, his suspicions of it containing poison were
soon dispelled. He only took a very small quantity,
when he was seized with strong symptoms of being
poisoned. Medical aid was called in, and by skilful
treatment his life was placed out of jeopardy, but he
lay in great agony for several weeks, as well as in
great danger of his life. This occurrence served as
a salutary lesson to all, and warned the soldiers from
placing too much confidence in any thing they should
find that had been left behind by the rebel citizens.
Pies, cakes, preserves, wines, and liquors, had been
poisoned to a great extent by the rabid secessionists
on learning the closeness of the Union forces to their
city ; and believing in the ultimate capture of their
town, they were in hopes of taking a few more
"Yankee lives," even should they not be present to
see their victims.
On Monday, 17th, Col. Hartranft issued orders
to the regiment, early in the morning, to get them
selves in readiness for a march into the country, and
to take nothing with them but their arms, ammuni-

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tion, accoutrements, and plenty of salt. The latter
was about all they could take in the way of rations.
The boys had not been informed why they were to
take salt with them, but they easily guessed, and
consequently took all they had, which was but very
little. At ten A. M., the regiment formed on the
color line, and soon thereafter was on the march;
Col. Hartranft and Lieut. Col. Bell leading the column
on horseback, Major Schall and the staff bringing
up the rear. The regiment marched out about ten
miles from Newbern to the large plantation of a
Peter G. Evans. The following extract from a pri
vate letter gives a pretty correct account: " We went
along a road that was new to all of us, about four
miles, where it ended very abruptly at a breastwork
thrown up across it by the rebels. (There were
none but our own regiment on this scout.) As soon
as Co. A, Capt. Wm. J. Bolton, arrived at the works,
a halt ensued, and the regiment took a survey in
front of the battery for half a mile. The enemy had
cut down a number of large trees, and felled them
across the road. A bridge, which spanned a small,
but deep creek, had been torn up, but our pioneers
very soon cleared off the fallen timber, and relaid
the bridge, which occupied a few minutes only, and
then the line moved off through mud and swamps,
and came out on the boundary of a four thousand
acre cotton plantation, belonging to Peter Gr. Evans.
We found on the place ninety slaves, large quanti
ties of cotton, some of which was in bales, some loose,
some in the press, and some in the gin ; also, a large
number of horses and cattle, 175 hogs, 50 goats, 25
mules, 75 ploughs, a great many carts, saw-mills,
flouring-mills, with a great quantity of flour and

6*

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corn meal in them, and about 4,000 bushels of corn,
all of which we took possession of.
u We arrived at this place just at sundown; and
when we halted for camping purposes, there was not
a dry thread on any of us, from perspiration, and
fording streams, and wading through swamps.
" We soon found out the sweet potatoes, which
were near a mile from where we bivouacked. Evans
had about 1,000 bushels of them buried in three dif
ferent holes.
" We stacked our arms, and made a large number
of fires, killed 20 hogs and 2 bullocks, and soon had
something to eat. I had a better supper than I have
had for a long time. I had a tin cup of coffee and a
large piece of fresh ham, which I cooked by running
a stick through it, and holding it over the fire until
done ; and having salt with me, I ate until I felt sick.
I then hunted up a bunch of cotton,' and lay down
in my wet clothing, and slept like a top. The next
morning, at ten o'clock, we loaded up the cotton and
other things, and left for our barracks, where we
arrived just before night; but I had a good breakfast
of roasted sweet potatoes and coffee, and I feel now,
after getting a couple of good meals, as if I was a
new man.
" This Evans is a rebel captain, and was in the
battle last Friday. He got wounded, was taken
prisoner, and died yesterday."
The next day, (19th,) after the regiment had re
turned to its quarters, was spent by the boys in rest
ing themselves, and talking over their trip of the
day before, and visiting the captured water batteries.
Thursday, the 20th, was another rainy day ; but
a large number of the boys obtained passes, and

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went over to Newbern. It is a very ancient looking
city, with considerable thrift and stately appearance.
Most of the private residences being abandoned by
their former owners or occupants, those of the most
imposing and aristocratic appearance were occupied
by our generals and their staffs. The city abounds
in plenty of shade trees, which were out in full bloom,
reminding one of the months of May and June in
Pennsylvania. At one end of the city is Cedar
Grove Cemetery, of which the most notable feature
is the stone wall inclosure ; the wall beino1^ built of
stone that is composed of millions of petrified sea
shells.
Friday, the 21st, Col. Hartranft received and issued
orders for the 51st to be ready to move at 7 o'clock,
that morning. The following extract from a private
letter gives an account of the march and its object:
" On Friday morning last, we took up our line of
March, at 7 o'clock, for Pollocksville, situated on the
Trent river, twenty-three miles from Newbern, where
we arrived at dusk of the same day. Our object was
to burn the three bridges that cross, each five or six
miles apart. We burnt the one at Pollocksville first :
and then about 11 o'clock that night our scouts came
in and told us that the third bridge, which is at Tren
ton, iiad been fired by Capt. Allabough and his com
pany, who were trying to find their way back through
the dark to the regiment, or what there was of it ; for,
in fact, there was less than four hundred of us.
Nearly or quite one-half of the regiment staid back
in quarters ; arid as the orders were for no one to go
who did not feel able or willing, a good number pre
ferred remaining in camp.
tl Well, we got back last night, and found the camp

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in a whirl of excitement about our safety. News bad
got in before us that our party had all been cut to
pieces ; that the rebel cavalry had surrounded us,
and we would not surrender; therefore, we were all
cut up. The 51st New York and the 9th New Jer
sey were just given orders to reinforce us, when they
saw our regimental colors crossing the railroad about
a mile off from our camp. We had an awful tramp
of it, I assure you. We had to ford eight streams of
water that were up to our waists, besides several
others that were knee deep ; and the roads Avere ex
ceedingly muddy. I saw some few very beautiful
houses, and the plantations all looked so sweet ; fruit
trees all out in full bloom, arid everything wearing
the garb of spring verdure; but every place was de
serted, except by slaves, who wanted us to take them
along with us. I wish we could, for I pity them."
When within about one mile of Pollocksville, the
regiment came to a halt. Co. C, Captain Allabough,
was detailed to march to the upper bridge at Trenton
to fire it ; but as it was dark when they started, it
grew still darker as it grew later, and their march was
necessarily very slow. However, about midnight he
succeeded in applying the torch, and it was soon
consumed ; after which he tl about face," and groping
his way back, rejoined his regiment.
Co. D, Capt. Ed. Schall, volunteered to go into
PollocksvilJe and burn the bridge at that place,
which they did in splendid style, although quite
early in the evening, and the inhabitants all walking
about the village and attending to their business. So
quietly and successfully did Co. D do their work, that
the bridge was all in flames from one end to the other,
and cut in two, so as it burned it would fall in the

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river and render it past repairing, that the citizens
wondered how the act could have been done so
quick ; but the pouring of turpentine and other in
gredients over the wood work was the labor of only
a minute ; and the application of the torch spread
the flames with the speed of lightning over its whole
surface, and the large columns of black smoke rap
idly ascending, notified the reserve that the work
was accomplished.
Co. D, Capt. Schall, was detailed to picket the
road on the flank of the reserves to protect it from
surprise, 'and also to picket the the rear of Co. C,
to prevent it from being cut off in that quarter
from the main body or reserves. The reserves con
sisted of Go's. A, I, F, E, G, K, and B, who moved
back to the cross or forks of the road about two
miles from Pollocks ville, where they bivouacked for
the night, and made themselves a cup of coffee,
leaving Co. D in the town to guard against any
armed force assembling in it for any treacherous
purposes, and leaving Co. C picketing the road lead
ing to Trenton.
Col. Hartranft and Lieut. Col. Bell evidently
evinced a great deal of uneasiness throughout the
whole night for the safety of Capt. Allabough and
his company, as it was fully expected they would
return at a specified time whether they accomplished
their task or not ; and as the full time had elapsed,
Col. Hartranft or Lieut. Col. Bell could be seen on
their horses at full gallop going up the road, unat
tended by an orderly, about every half hour through
out the night. Col. Bell, in one of his tours, captured
two citizens in a buggy, who were very anxious to be
allowed to proceed to their homes at Trenton ; but Col.

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Bell " could not see it," and consequently brought the
" highly indignant chivalry " into the reserves, and
put them under guard for the remainder of the night.
They were very profuse in offering promises and
bribes for their liberty, but it was all in vain; and
in their spleen they unintentionally gave Gol. Hartranit and Lieut. Col. Bell the highest credit that
words could convey for their devoted course as ex
ecutive officers and soldiers in fearlessly doing their
duty.
Early next morning Capt. Allabough and his com
pany found their way back to the reserves 'in safety,
which gratified Col. Hartranft and Lieut. Col. Bell
very much. Co. D and the pickets all being in, the
regiment, with its two prisoners, began the return
march at 7 o'clock. After going three or four rniles,
the men began to give out with fatigue, being on the
long march of the day before, and up all night in the
rain, without shelter or food, they had become too
much fagged out and weak to stand the march so
well on the return. About the middle of the after
noon the regiment arrived at Evans's plantation, or
at least the advance of it; for the men being wet
and hungry, footsore and tired, they had straggled
to the extent of three or four miles. Col. Hartranft
remained with the larger portion of the regiment for
the first ten miles ; but seeing his men were failing
from being overtasked, and very much crippled with
painfully sore feet, he dismounted and waited for the
rear of his regiment to catch up to where he was ;
then selecting the worst cases, he gave them his horse
to ride alternately, and assisting with his arms to
support others, he helped them along as best he could,
until he and his "cripples" caught up to the colors,

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which had halted at the above-mentioned plantation,
pursuant to his orders. Some few of the advance
kept on until they arrived in camp ; but the majority
rested at Evans's for a couple of hours, until all were
up, or close enough to exclude the possibility of cap
ture. The halt had greatly benefited the men ; for
they kept in close column, with little or no straggling,
for the remainder of the return march, and arrived
in camp early in the evening, to find their long ab
sence had given rise to a rumor that they were all
" cut up," and the 51st New York and 9th New
Jersey were about starting out to learn the fate of
the " bridgeburners," and to render them whatever
assistance lay in their power. On arriving in camp,
the "Kegulation's" formalities for "breaking ranks"
were omitted, and each man "struck" for his res
pective quarters, to seek that repose he stood so
much in need of after the excitement and perilous
tramp of forty -six miles. A few, and only a few,
could not reach camp that night; but, from their
crippled condition, were obliged to throw them
selves down in the muddy road and quarter there,
coming into camp early next morning. This march
is one that will never be forgotten by any that par
ticipated in it ; and well may it be remembered !
On Sunday, the 23d, the day after the return
march from Pollocksville, the vessels laden with
supplies were unloaded, and by the middle of the
afternoon, rations were issued in great abundance,
being the first issue of full rations since the regi
ment embarked on the Cossack at Koanoke on the
3d of the month, twenty days back, and in that
twenty days it is beyond the power of my pen to
tell in detail the trials arid sufferings of this noble
band of patriots !

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VII.

Arrival of convalescents and fresh troops — Camp Franklin —
Proficiency of Company B — Losses by sickness and battle —
Grumblings — Congratulatory orders — Gen. McClellan.

ON" Tuesday, the 25th, all the officers and men
who were left invalids at the island on the depart
ure of the Cossack now joined their commands,
having arrived fully restored in health, with the ex
ception of a few who had been attacked with the
small-pox, but they soon followed thereafter. On the
arrival of the convalescents a mail also came, being
the first one since the capture of Newbern, and
being a rainy day (confound it, it rained all the
time) nothing was done but reading and writing
letters.
On Saturday, the 29th of March, the regiment
packed up and moved camp from the barracks to a
place nearly opposite the city of Newbern, where it
received the large Sibley tents, and pitched them in
regulation form and gave it the name of "Camp
Hartranft." While lying at this camp it was ex
pected that the enemy would make an attack on our
forces to recapture the city, as they were assembling
in strong force at Goldsboro' and Kingston, and had
attacked the cavalry pickets and driven them in,
killing one and wounding several others; but the
anticipated attack was not made and things quieted
down to the regular monotony of camp life, during
which time the steamer Admiral arrived off the city
with reinforcements — the 17th Massachusetts. Re
inforcements began to arrive almost daily, for the

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next day after the Admiral arrived, the Cossack
came in with a new regiment from Baltimore, the
2d Maryland, and the next day the George Peabody
arrived with the 79th New York. On the 2d of
April our regiment went to escort the 2d" Maryland
to its quarters, but from some unexplained cause
the escort did not take place and t e 51st returned
to its camp.
About this time Col. Hartranft received a short
leave of absence to visit his home in Norristown,
Pa. The command of the regiment fell to the lot of
Lieut. Col. Thomas S. Bell, which at first caused
considerable grumbling, for the regiment had been
commanded by none other than Col. Hartranft, and
they knew the Lieut. Col. to be a much stricter
disciplinarian, who would not overlook their little
failings with the mercy they thought their old com
mander would. Visions of -guard-houses, carrying
logs, &c., loomed up in huge array before their
fertile minds, but it only lasted a few days, when, to
their agreeable surprise, they found that not only a
true soldier commanded them, but a thorough gentle
man, and from that time up to the death of Col.
Bell he was honored and truly loved by all his men.
On the 3d of April the regiment again "struck
tents" and changed locality, leaving Camp Hartranft
at half-past one in the afternoon, and crossed the
Trent river on a new bridge that was built in place
of the one burned down on the retreat of the rebels
after the battle of Newborn, and marched through
the city to the outskirts at the upper end of the
town, and there again pitched their tents on a small
open lot and named it '' Camp Franklin." Although
the march was but a short one, yet the excessive

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heat at that time kept them until 4J p. M. before
they arrived at their new camping ground, perspi
ration rolling off the men as if it had been the month
of August. The next morning, the 4th, a detail of
one commissioned officer and six enlisted men was
made to go down the river to unload commissary
stores. Capt. J. Merrill Lynn and the six men at
tended to their '-fatigue duty" with much energy,
and it was well named when it was called " fatigue
duty."
On the 5th a mail arrived, in which were some
papers that spoke very flatteringly of the services of
the 51st P. V., but as the reporters were all Eastern
men, they had as usual tacked the 4th Rhode Island
on to their skirts for a large slice of credit that the
51st did not consider them justly entitled to, and their
indignation at this was only equalled by the " reserve "
affair of the " Frank Leslie's " correspondent's ac
count of the battle of Roanoke. On Sunday, the
6th, the 51st P. V. marched into the city to church,
headed by its excellent band. On arriving at
church the regiment li stacked arms" in the street
and left them under the care of three guards until
the conclusion of the ceremonies. The Chaplain, Rev.
Dan'l. G. Mallory, officiated, and the choir, aided by
a magnificent organ, lent interest and solemnity to
the occasion. During the stay of the regiment at
Camp Franklin, it marched into the city nearly every
Sabbath to attend Divine services.
On Monday, the 7th, Lieut. Col. Bell had inaugu
rated a new feature in the discipline of the 51st
P. V., viz.: — "Regimental roll call" at daybreak,
compelling every officer and man who was not on
duty or sick to be present to answer to their names.

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This order compelled the men to get up a little
earlier than was their wont to do when answering to
their names at company roll-call. But the idea of
fetching out the lt shoulder-straps " so early and
giving them a taste of a morning's roll-call pleased
the men so well that I believe they would have risen
at midnight without one word of complaint, if it had
only been to see that " wooden man," as a certain
officer was termed, forced to march to the "front and
centre" and answer to his name. Col. Bell also
began his u hobby," viz., regimental drill, and with
that and company drill the men were kept with their
noses to the grindstone during the existence of
Camp Franklin; for the duties were continued with
out much intermission even after the return of Col.
Hartranft from his leave of absence.
Much and special attention was directed to the
skirmish drill and bayonet exercise by both regi
ment and company, and there did not exist a com
pany in the whole expedition that could vie with
Capt. Bell's Co. " B " in the bayonet exercise. Every
lunge, parry and carte were performed with so much
promptness and precision, that it looked more like
automatic machine work than that of men moving
by will. Other companies also did well, especially
Co. D ; but none had the training that Co. B had,
nor did another drill-master exist in the regi
ment as was Ferdinand S. Bell ; very explicit in his
instructions, firm in his commands, correct in his
orders and movements, and who could not be per
suaded to believe that a soldier had a right to make
a mistake, and so heartily did his ll boys " concur in
his opinions that they made no mis ake.-s.
In the beginning of April, 1862, quinine and

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whiskey had to be resorted to to prevent fever and
ague, and other diseases incident to a marshy coun
try. The original number of men engaged in the
expedition numbered about 15,000, but from vari
ous causes they were reduced to less than half that
number, say 7,000, consequently the quinine in
whiskey was ad ministered daily to the men as a preventative, but was not continued many days at a
time. The strength of the command was kept up by
constant arrivals of reinforcements. The losses of
the expedition, by death from disease and drown
ing, from the time that it took its departure from
Annapolis to its arrival at Hatteras, were 60, and
from that time up to the capture of Newbern the
total daily average of deaths from wounds and sick
ness was three and-a-half per cent, while the increase
of sickness became alarming to the commanding
officers. The 51st P. V. left Harrisburg in Novem
ber, 1861, with 981 officers and men, but now, say
1st of April, 1862, it was reduced to about 350
effective men, for when they formed into line to
escort the 2d Mary land into camp there were but 385
all told, and fully 35 of them were unfit for effective
service, leaving the above-mentioned balance of effec
tive men at 350. The excessive heat had began to
tell fearfully on the men ; diarrhoea, dysentery, ague,
rheumatism, camp fever and small-pox had seized
hold of the men and prostrated them on beds of
sickness that took months for their total recovery.
An extract from a private letter, seaking of this,
savs :— " We are all desponding, our situation is to
be pitied ; out in the hottest kind of a sun or in the
shade, it is all the same ; your temples throb with
the heat as if your very skull would split. Diseases

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of all kinds are seizing and reducing us so fast that
in three months more, at this rate, there will be noth
ing left of the old 51st."
Although the writer of the above had prophesied
that at the rate of the reduction, in three months,
there would be nothing left of the "old 51st," there
were a few, but only a few ! of the original organi
zation left to see the winding up of the greatest re
bellion that ever existed !
The men of the 51st began now to look for the
paymaster, and with great anxiety too, for it had
been several months since they bad been paid off,
and they felt the double necessity of getting some
money, as well for their own private wants as to send
home to their families, who were solely dependent
on the absent ones for their sustenance.
If there ever was a gross injustice done the sol
dier it was by the Government keeping its noble
defenders so many long, long months without their
hard-earned pay. The untold misery caused by such
wilful carelessness about the necessities of the sol
diers' families, can only be laid at the doors of the
officers, who were snugly ensconced on a cushioned
chair in some luxuriously-furnished parlor in the
city of Washington, mayhap with their feet resting
on an elevated object level or higher than their
brains, with a costly cigar in their mouths, and
'•'wondering why the army don't move.'' Little did
such wretches, officers, perhaps I should have said,
care about the misery they were entailing on the
families of the soldiers by withholding their pay, as
long as they could get men, good, true, loyal men,
to bare their breasts to the enemy's bullets, that their
own worthless carcasses might revel in debauchery

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and luxury, without jeopardizing their would be
valuable lives to save that country they had sworn
to support, yet cared not to do, but rather support
ing the enemy by disgusting the intelligent soldier
with the service in which he took such pride at his
debut. No such paltry, deceiving plea as " can't
get money to pay with," was ever received by the
army as a truth, nor ever will, for the loyal capital
ists of the North throw the base falsehood back into
their teeth with double force, for when did the Gov
ernment ever appeal to them, its supporters, for a
loan, but what it was instantly forthcoming ? I
don't wish to cast any reflections on that truly good
man, Mr. Lincoln, for the soldiers knew that he had
his hands full without acting paymaster of his im
mense army as well as being its commander-in-chief,
but the unpardonable blame must rest somewhere,
and no doubt the guilty party feels the reproach of
a perjured conscience, as some of the families who
suffered by their neglect felt the poignancy of want.
Volumes might be written on the many wrongs in
the pay department to which the soldier has been
subjected, and yet the half not be told. Could the
Government expect its citizens to rally to its sup
port, sacrificing everything, life, limbs, health and
the pleasures of a comfortable home, while it neg
lected to make some necessary equivalent at the
proper time, instead of binding both officers and men
by an oath to do their duty, at the same time it
grossly neglected its duty ? We think not ; and yet
it did. To keep men six, eight, ten and even twelve
months without one cent of pay, is a wrong that will
never be forgotten by the entire army, that toiled
four long wearisome years, and whose families were

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solely dependent on the paltry stipend allowed each
man per month. There may be some of the "stayat-homes" who think, that from the enormous taxa
tion produced by the war, the pay was large enough,
but it must be understood that it was not the sol
diers' pay alone that created such a debt ; there were
other leaks in the ship, for which this great nation
should hold its servants accountable. For instance
a soldier whose pay was only from thirteen dollars
per month, up to twenty-two dollars, would be de
tailed as clerk in the Quartermasters' Depart
ment, Commissary's, or at post or field headquarters,
with no other compensation than his pay as a sol
dier ; but a citizen would be employed by some, to
do the clerking at a salary of one hundred dollars
and more per month; for the same duty that the
soldier did. And it frequently happened the soldier
was far more competent than the citizen. Again, a
citizen would receive from twenty -five dollars per
month up to one hundred dollars, rations included;
to be wagon-masters and teamsters, while the soldier
would receive his little thirteen or sixteen dollars
per month for the same labor better performed. In
the name of common sense, is this justice?" For at
the time a battle was raging, the citizen, wagonmasters and teamsters would look out for themselves,
and keep their trains with the supplies of ammuni
tion and rations so far away frum danger that they
could not be found when urgently needed. Was it so
with the soldier wagoners ? Had they to be ridden
after for half a day before they could be found?
No! The ammunition trains would be sure to be
found closed en masse close to a battery or batteries,
ready to supply the " warriors " with all the shot and

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shell required, and yet the citizen employes could
get their pay nearly always at the expiration of two
months.
This great disparity between the soldier's and
citizen's pay is only the splashings of a drop from
the big leak that has caused the Great Ship of State
to groan and creak in every timber, from its heavily
laden cargo of taxation. " Bed tapeism " is to
blame for millions of dollars foolishly squandered,
and has helped to swell the enormous national war
debt. Ordnance and ordnance stores have been
thrown away and destroyed when they should have
been saved for the government, and why ? because
"red tape'' forbade it. We suppose contractors
might suffer had economy been looked at. Horses,
mules and cattle also, were in the category of losses.
If a horse or mule would "give out," unhook him
or it and turn it loose, perhaps in a wilderness or
some barren country, to which the great Sahara
might be an oasis in comparison, without ever being
hunted up for service again ; and how many such
poor faithful animals have lain along the roadside
dead, when a little judicious treatment would have
put them on their feet again and back in their
wagon trains! On the return of the 51st P. V. from
Knoxville, Tennessee, the writer, with Philip Wampole, of Co. D, after crossing the Cumberland Gap,
concluded to count the dead horses and rnules that
lay along the roadside. The regiment marched that
day seventeen miles, and at night we compared
notes, and reduced the miles to yards, and found that
it averaged a dead horse or mule for every forty-five
yards of the seventeen miles, and we only counted
those that laid close to the roadside and in plain view.

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Hundreds of others, no doubt, lay in the bushes and
off' from the road that we did not see. Reader, do
you say that death is a natural consequence under
such circumstances? Granted! Yet you cannot but
say that thousands of mules and horses might be
alive at this writing, that are dead, which by "red
tape" are added as unavoidable losses that help to
swell the war debt. " Red tape " says : If a wagon
breaks down on the march, abandon it. If a horse
or rnule gets sick or tired out, or starved out, aban
don it, and leave it to its fate ! Uncle Sam is rich.
Such is the extravagance of the nation's servants,
of whom the nation had a right to expect better
things; but as this is rather a chapter of grumblings
than of narrative, the reader will pardon the digres
sion and we will "about face" and go back to the
history of the 51st P. V.
On the 5th of April, 1862, congratulatory orders
were read to the regiment on dress parade, from
the States of Ohio and Pennsylvania. President Lin
coln ; Secretary of War, E. M. Stanton ; Quar. Mas.
Hale, and all the heads of Departments, tendering
their thanks to the 51st P. V. for the gallantry dis
played by it at the capture of Newbern. This was
the first acknowledgment of its services that the 51st
had received. Knowing it justly deserved, the men
received the flattering remarks with a spirit o!
enthusiasm.
On Sunday, April 6th, another steamer arrived at
Newbern from Roanoke Island, with convalescents
who had been left at the Island Hospital at the
time of the departure of those who arrived pre
viously. Nothing of particular interest took place
in the regiment from the 6th to the 9th of April, on
7

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which latter date the regiment was again paid off,
excepting a violent thunder storm, which immersed
the camp-ground several inches under water during
the night time, and making guard duty anything but
pleasant, yet it had the effect of a continuation of the
issue of whiskey and quinine, much to the benefit
and the desires of the "boys."
The regiment being
encamped on one of the open lots at the outskirts of
the city, it gave the boys frequent opportunities of
going through the city with considerable freedom ;
but the quinine and whiskey received in camp only
tended to provoke their appetites to crave whiskey
without the quinine, and so determined were certain
ones to have it, that they not unfrequently paid three
to five dollars, per bottle, holding about one pint.
Very stringent orders had been issued by Gen. Burnside and his Provost Marshal to the inhabitants and
citizens, forbidding them to sell spirituous or malt
liquors on the penalty of confiscation of their stock,
closing up of their places of business, fines and im
prisonment, but all to no purpose, for the whiskey
was in town and the boys did get it — much as they
wanted and more than they needed.
The query is,
how did they get it ? That is much easier asked
than answered ; but a remark made a long time after
by that gentlemanly and good soldier, Gen. Ed.
Fererro, in reference to the men of his brigade obtain
ing whiskey, will convey an idea of their persistent
efforts to procure it. He said, '' Were my men to
be cast on an island where whiskey was never
known to have been, and they allowed to run at
will, scarcely a man but what would come into
camp with his canteen full, even if they would have
to rend rojks asunder searching for it." But Lieut.

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Col. Bell being a strictly temperate man as well as
a devout Christian, was determined to stay the dis
order produced by excessive "bibing," and conse
quently in order to check it, was compelled to in
flict such punishment as in his sound judgment he
deemed best. The guard-house received a good share
of those whose offences were light, the log and the
ring were for others. Commissioned and non-com
missioned officers did not escape his impartial
decrees; while the latter were reduced to the ranks
again as privates, the former were under arrest in
their own quarters with charges preferred against
them, and some were requested to resign in order
to save exposure. So determined was the lieutenant
colonel to break up the vice that he turned a deaf
ear to all their entreaties, and made them all suffer
for indiscretion by whatever punishment their
offences merited. On the 10th of April, at dressparade, at least one dozen " non-com's" were reduced
to the ranks for improper conduct. A regimental
court-martial convened by order of Col. Bell settled
the cases of the commissioned officers, and discipline
once more reigned.
None of the crimes committed by either officers
or men were to be considered heinous, for had they
been committed in the streets of Norristown, Lewisburg, or Easton, they would have been unnoticed
by either the citizens or constabulary, but it was in
the army and considered a violation of army disci
pline, and a "mountain" as a necessity had to be
made out of less than "a rnole hill."
In looking over my notes and papers I find a
private letter from a member of the 51st, dated
Newbern, May 10th, 1862, of which I wish to insert

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here an extract for the purpose of showing that Gen.
Geo. B. McClollan had not been condemned by all
the soldiers on account of his politics, for be it
known that at that time not one soldier in ten thou
sand knew what his politics were. It says, "I do
not think any of us will be home before the 1st of
March, 1863. We may be home sooner, as all the
troops here think, but I do not, for we dare not move
from here until McGlellan makes a move. If he would
only do something towards the war it might be soon
ended Some give him credit for being so slow, but
they ain't soldiers that do, for a soldier knows bet
ter. They know too that it is more of sympathy
for the rebel cause than it is strategy in not moving
on and try and do some little towards ending this
war." As will be seen in the above extract, there
is not the slightest allusion made to his politics, and
I only give it a place in these pages for no other
purpose than to show that the many imprecations
heaped upon the heads of good loyal men for oppos
ing him on the grounds of his political faith, are un
mitigated slanders on the correct judgment of good
soldiers. Although the writer of the extract does
say that McClellan is in sympathy with the cause
of the South, yet he (the writer) seems to infer that
there iarsome other hidden reason for the General's
slowness to make a move, which is only judged to
be politics.
On Saturday, April 12th, a new feature in the 51st
had its birth, viz. : Saturday of each week was to be
devoted to the washing of clothes and a general
cleansing of the person, and policing of the camp.
Which order was faithfully kept as a standing order
until the disbandrnent of the regiment, whenever it
could possibly be enforced.

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VIII.

Drilling by the bugle— Maj. Schall in command— On board the
Admiral — Landing near Elizabeth City — Currituck Con ithouse — March into the interior— Greetings to the flag— Fight
at Camden — Repulse of Hawkin's Zouaves — Successful
charge of the 51st — Retreat of the enemy — Sudden return
march to the ship — Liberation of convicts — List of casualties.

ANOTHER rumor, about this time, got bruited about
through the various camps, that the troops were all to
be sent home by the 10th of June. It served to enliven
the soldiers to a great extent, for it held out a good
prospect of once more getting where they could sit
down to a table, and get something better to eat than
that stereotyped dish of fat oily pork and " hard
tack," which they had been getting daily for a length
of time. Coffee, " hard tack," and pork for break
fast, dinner, arid supper, day in and day out for
weeks at a time without any change, was nearly as
bad as getting nothing to eat ; but now that they
had been paid off they bought little varieties such
as their scanty means would allow at the exorbitant
prices they were compelled to pay.
On Monday, April 14th, an attempt was made to
drill the regiment by the sound of the bugle, but the
boys evinced so little interest in it that after a few
days' drilling it was abandoned. To those who had
no ear for music the notes of the bugle sounded all
alike and they could not tell what move to make by
its sound, but relied on the movements of those who
did understand for their guides; but with those who
did understand, its notes were anything but music
to them, for when on a march, they would be halted
for a rest, that accursed bugle would sound the

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"forward," and all its music (if it was music) lost
•its charms, as the men would rise up and move off
as if walking on eggs or stepping a la parrot-toed.
The regiment was now under the command of Maj.
Edwin Schall, as Lieut. Col. Bell was sitting on
court-martial in Newbern. The change of command
at this time came very acceptable to the men on
account of the intense heat of the daytime during
drill-hours, and their only trouble now while it was
so hot was the fear of " old Johnny " returning from
his leave of absence and putting them through the
"regimental " for three or four hours in the hot sun.
Maj. Schall did not fail to enforce discipline, nor did
he fail to drill the regiment ; but after keeping it
out as long as his humane heart felt was long enough
for his men in the rays of the scorching sun, he
would break ranks and let the men get a little of the
shade while it was going, lu must not be thought
as Maj. Schall was merciful to his men, that they re
paid his generosity with ingratitude by carelessness
in their drilling, for such was not the case. They
knew him too well and loved him too dearly for
that ; but on the contrary, there was not a man out
on drill but did his utmost to make prompt and
correct movements, so as to lighten the labors of
their mnjor, and I don't wish it to be thought here
that either Col. Hartranft or Lieut. Col. Bell were
such brutes as to be void of feeling for their men.
They both sympathized with their men in all their
trials and labors, but while sympathizing they ex
acted from the men all that they thought they
could bear, not, however, from a wish to gratify their
own desires, but for the purpose of making the
men efficient under all circumstances for the vicissi-

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tudes of war and the benefit of the country in its
hour of direst need.
On Wednesday, April 16th, 1862, began the de
monstration on Norfolk, Va., by receiving orders to
pack up and go on board of the transports. Pre
vious to the orders being issued a rumor had became
rife in camp that the 51st P. V. was to go to Balti
more to relieve certain troops there and to garrison
the city and guard the railroads diverging from that
place, and the issuing of the above orders filled
every one with delight in anticipation of being that
much nearer their homes and friends, for those
orders were the ones that were to do it, at least all
thought so.
By noon the regiment took up the line of march
for the wharf, each heart buoyant with hope of soon
being in the Monumental city, nor did their spirits
-droop until they arrived at the mouth of the Neuse
and were again traversing the placid waters of
Pamlico sound in the direction of Roanoke Island.
"What does this move mean?" was a question
asked on all sides, but none knew, even the " know
ing ones " shook their heads as it was beyond their
conjecture.
The regiment went on board of a steamboat which
took it about a mile down the stream, when the
troops embarked on the fine, commodious steamer
Admiral, which rode at anchor until the following
morning, the 17th, when at daylight the fleet re
ceived the signal for starting, and steam being kept
up all night the vessels immediately got under way.
Lieut. Col. Bell being at the start in command of the
regiment, and the expedition under the sole com
mand of Gen. Jesse L. Reno. Nothing occurred of

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REGIMENT

any interest until 1 o'clock in the afternoon, when
the Admiral grounded, and so effectually did the
steamer imbed itself in the mud that she stuck there
until the next morning, when three tugs came to
her assistance by taking off all the troops and haul
ing her out into deep water, after which the troops
re-embarked on her and she again started "like a
thing of life " and passed Roanoke Island with much
caution on account of the numerous shoals ; but as
she was passing from the waters of Croatan sound
into those of the Albemarle she unfortunately ran
aground again and stuck there until near two o'clock
next morning, the 19th, when by the aid of those
ant-like tugs, pulling far more than might be sup
posed, she got afloat again and proceeded on her
way to a point about three miles east of Eliza
beth city, N. C., and one mile east of the Dismal
Swamp canal where it empties into the sound, arriv
ing at daylight; but owing to the Admiral ground
ing so often and so effectually the other portion of
the fleet had arrived some time before her, and some
of the troops had already landed. The gunboats
were already at work shelling the woods along the
shore and on either side of the canal. The truth
now of the object of the move began to develop
itself and all knew that a battle was imminent.
Lieut. -Col. Bell gave orders to disembark, which
was considerable of a task, inasmuch as the Admiral
could not haul up close to shore on account of her
deep draught of water, but getting as close to shore
as she could, the men of the 51st had to wade in deep
water for about two hundred and fifty or three hun
dred yards. At the given signal the boys with their
guns on their shoulders and their cartridge boxes fast
ened on the end of their bayonets to secure them

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against coming in contact with the wet, leaped over
board in the water, which was up to the necks of
many of them. They all, however, landed in safety,
and after getting on shore stacked arms and awaited
orders ; about 6J A, M. they came, placing Lieut.
Col. Bell in command of the brigade and Maj. Schall
in command of the 51st P. V. At precisely 7 o'clock
the regiment, dripping with water," took arms," and
began one of the most extraordinary marches on
record. I will here be bold enough to say, without
fear of contradiction, that for a single day's inarch,
no part of the Union army ever performed a greater.
For this noble band of heroes marched forty-two
miles and fought a hard battle of one hour and twentyfive minutes' duration. The marching was one of the
most difficult kind, being previous to the fight over a
long, dry and dusty road without a drop of water save
what stood in stagnant pools, in ditches, &c., along
the roadside, while the rays of a burning sun fairly
tl wilted " the troops down like mown grass. Very
little rest was given when a halt was made, and the
halts were "like angel's visits," few and far between.
Frequently would the boys pass along the request
for a rest from the rear of the column to the right or
front, to Gen. Reno. It was no place for a Union
soldier to straggle in any way, for they were in the
enemy's country and surrounded by rebel citizens
and rebel cavalry pickets, and therefore the men
were forced by necessity to request a rest when
finding their strength failing them and their inability
to keep up with the more fortunate.
On leaving the landing place, the 51st P. V. was
assigned to take the advance of the whole column,
but it must be here mentioned that the 9th N. Y.

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HISTORY

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THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT.

(Hawkins' Zouaves), had landed about midnight, and
were assigned a guide to lead them on the most di
rect road to " South Mills," Camden County, N. C.,
which is located near the boundary betweeir^Torth
Carolina and Virginia. At 2 o'clock in the morning
the 9th N. Y. left, but from a blunder of the guide,
whether intentional or not on his part, they were
taken on a wrong road, making their march some
ten or twelve miles further than was necessary ; but
at about 10 A. M. they came out on the correct road
in the rear of the column. At the Currituck Court
house cross-roads, about twelve miles from the
landing, their colors could be seen in the distance
approaching, but not distinctly enough to define
their nationality, and Lieut. -Col. Bell not knowing
there were Union troops on that road, but led to be
lieved that the 9th N. Y. was far on his advance,
and no other Union troops in that part of the State,
he ordered a halt, and brought his command to a
" front " and formed a line of battle in the road, fully
believing, as all did, that the approaching troops
were none other than the enemy, and a battle was
imminent. But after resting on their arms some ten
or fifteen minutes they were discovered to be Union
troops of the expedition, supposed until then to have
been near their journey's end ! On the 9th " coming
up " to the column, all parties were full of congratu
lations that they were again united. The Zouaves
on seeing the line of battle formed in the road were
" turning over " in their minds whether they should
fire a volley into the column or not, but finally con
cluded to " inarch on " and see what it was in their
front, and to their gratification they found them to
be their old comrades. After a short rest, the whole

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column formed, with the 51st P. V. on the advance,
and the others in the following order : 21st Mass.,
6th N. EL, 89th N. Y., 9th N. Hv and the 9th N. Y.
Company A, under the command of Capt. Wm.
J. Bolton, was sent on the advance of the column as
advance guards, the pioneers marching along with
them carrying their guns as well as axes. The
column had passed through Currituck Court-house
without many of the citizens manifesting any very
large amount of affection for the old flag, but on
reaching a point a few miles north of Currituck, the
citizens were nearly wild with joy at the sight of the
starry ensign. Some went so far in evincing their
sincerity of loyalty, as to run into their houses and
bring out the United States flag, throwing it to the
breeze with long continuous cheers, accompanied
with joyful exclamations to the passing troops of
" God bless you !" "Oh, how my heart has ached and
yearned to see Union soldiers come !" " take anything
I have ! you are welcome to it, God knows you are !"
and many other such like expressions could be heard
reverberating on the air until lost in the distance t
but time was too precious to be lost in awaiting to
reply to the enthusiasm of the citizens, and the
column pushed on through the scorching sun, the
dense clouds of dust and the stifling atmosphere, un
til near 1 o'clock P. M., when for the lack of water
the troops begged of Gen. Keno to give them a rest^
and let them have a chance to hunt some water, and
get something to eat — for no one had had anything
to eat since leaving the vessels. But in reply to the
request of his men, Gen. Reno, who had spied a large
woods about half a mile ahead of him, behind a
dense column of smoke, pointed to the woods and

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REGIMENT

said, " when we get there I'll halt long enough to
get dinner ;" but the sound of his words had not died
on his lips, when to his and everybody else's sur
prise, a twelve-pounder cannon solid-shot struck in
the centre of road, close in among Co. A boys, and
ricochetting over the general's head landed in a
field on the left of the road ; but before it. was done
rolling, another ! and still another ! came, and then
shell began to screech through the air, and in less
time than it takes my pen to tell it, the air was filled
with shot, shell, grape and canister. Three or four
pieces of light artillery had been put in battery across
the road at the edge of the woods, but concealed by
the thick foliage of the forest, and it was some time
before their exact location could be discovered by
Gen. Eeno and staff.
The expedition had a marine battery of two 3-inch
guns, pulled along by the troops, which were quickly
placed in battery, with Cos. A and F as their sup
port. The remainder of the regiment "filed right"
into a cornfield, came to a u front," and formed line
of battle in plain view and easy range of the rebel
guns, but so thick and fast were solid shot and shell
poured into the regiment that it was found impos
sible to remain in that position any length of time;
consequently, the line began to waver under such
rapid firing, and at last was ordered to get under
cover of a thick woods on the far side of the corn
field. The 51st P. V. had been nearly a half a mile
in advance of the main column during the latter
part of the march, and therefore had to bear the en
tire brunt of the opening of the battle, for it was
fully half an hour after the first shot was fired be
fore any of the other troops came up.

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After the whole column had taken shelter in the
woods, the men sank down to the earth from sheer
exhaustion, and no threats, persuasion, or any other
means could induce the men to rise upon their
feet until they had a rest. Gen. Eeno and Lieut.
Col. Bell did all in their power to get the troops
up and in line, but all to no purpose; so completely
worn down from excessive heat and thirst, long and
rapid marching, and without food, the entire body
of troops was more dead than alive, and as they
could not see a rebel, they concluded that there
were but few of them, and they could afford to take
a rest, and soon settle it after being refreshed.
Up to this time the enemy had not fired a single
musket, but kept themselves closely concealed in a
very deep, wide ditch, which they were using as a
sort of breastwork. All the buildings between the
two lines had been fired by the rebels, for the ex
press purpose of aiding them to more perfectly ob
scure themselves from the vision of the approaching
forces, by raising many heavy columns of black
smoke. And no doubt it was intended by the enemy
for Burnside's forces to fall into an ambuscade and
" get gobbled up." After the men had rested a little,
the 51st P. V. again jumped to their feet, and were
soon moving toward the enemy's left flank, for the
purpose of capturing the rebel guns, but when,
within about thirty yards of the concealed foe in the
ditch, it received a terrific volley of musketry, that
brought them to a sudden halt. For the purpose of
reconnoitering the woods and finding out the enemy's
true position and strength, Cos. A and F, under
command of Captain Bolton, immediately deployed
us skirmishers, but had proceeded only a lew yards

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THE

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REGIMENT

when they found themselves at right angles with the
ditch, on the enemy's left. The enemy was now
discovered, and their strength pretty correctly esti
mated.
The regiment was now formed in line of battle
and marched up to a fence running at right angles
with the ditch, and on the outskirts of the woods,
followed by that noble regiment, the 21st Mass.,
which took up a position on the right of the 51st
P. Y. When Major Schall gave the command
"Boys, let 'em have it, and do it right for them,1
the woods echoed far and near with the reverbera
tions of volleys of musketry that were poured in
rapid succession into the enemy's columns, soon unditching and causing them to take shelter behind the
huge pine trees, but on making themselves visible,
and being uniformed in " blue " clothing, of which
they had lately captured large quantities, it gave rise
to the cry among the 21st Mass., " Cease firing, 51st ;
you are firing on our own men!" Major Schall or
dered the color bearers to hold up the colors, that
our friends might see who we were ! But no sooner
were the colors shown than the enemy poured volley
after volley into the 51st. Major Schall being now
fully satisfied that they were no friends of his, he
again ordered his command to " pour it into them,
again, and don't cease firing as long as you can see
a 'Johnny!'" which command was cheerfully and
scrupulously complied with. The battle now raged
violently, the 51st P. V. and the 21st Mass, doing
terrible execution. The 9th N. Y. (Zouaves) at this
juncture undertook to make a charge at a distance
of over half a mile, in a clear field, and in plain and
easy range of the enemy's guns, but did not succeed

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in reaching the enemy's position, being repulsed
with terrible slaughter and thrown into great confu
sion. A most murderous fire from the rebel battery
and musketry was concentrated on the charging
column.
The marine battery, which accompanied
the expedition, replied with telling effect, but not
sufficient to silence any of the enemy's guns; there
fore that brave and energetic band of heroes were
forced to submit to a repulse. Although their ranks
were terribly thinned, yet their bravery was worthy
of emulation and great praise. At this juncture
the 6th N. H., which had been posted on the left of
the road, and was on the enemy's right flank, made
a charge across a large field, firing one of the most
beautiful volleys, while they were double-quicking,
that was possible for a set of the best drilled and
disciplined troops to have fired. So precise wa^ the
discharge that it sounded as if one man had pulled
the triggers of all the guns at one pressure of the
finger. As soon as the 6th N. H. fired the volley
they halted, when the 51st P. V. jumped over the
worm fence which they had used as a sort of rude
breastworks, charged on the enemy in fine style,
carried the enemy's position, the battle ending by
the retreating of the enemy, who fled on the ap
proach of the 51st, leaving a few of their dead and
wounded on the field ; but they had succeeded in
bearing off a large number of their dead and
wounded
companions before the 51st made the
charge.
The rebel forces proved to be the 3d Geor
gia regiment, 1,800 strong, and different independ
ent battalions, all under the command of Brig.
Gen. Branch, of South Carolina.
After arriving
on the spot that had just been in possession of the

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

enemy, the 51st began the humane work of gath
ering up the wounded of both sides, caring for them
alike, and putting them under the charge of the va
rious surgeons, who had established a hospital in a
farm house which stood on the battle- field. As
soon as the wounded were cared for, the dead of
both armies were gathered together for burial. A
wagon loaded heavily with intrenching tools had
accompanied the expedition, but as it was found
necessary to return again that night in perfect quiet
ness, General Reno ordered the 51st P. V. to select
a suitable spot to conceal the tools, for two reasons,
viz.: One was, that the road was in too bad a condi
tion to haul them back to the transports, and they
would have to be abandoned on the way there. The
other reason was, that he had received information
from some citizens that the enemy was being largely
reinforced for the purpose of attacking him again
that night. Hence, for the purpose of getting away
quietly from the battle-ground, it was deemed best
to bury the tools to avoid the rattling noise incident
to the jolting of a wagon over a rough road.
About 4 P. M. the various regiments "stacked
arms" for the purpose of cooking whatever the men
might have along with them to eat, and as there
were no signs indicative of a move to the men, the
greater number of them began to hunt up places to
lie down to rest themselves and also to sleep, after
the great fatigue of the day/ Before the battle was
over it began to rain, and the battle-field being
located in a very low place caused the water to seek
its level in among the troops. By the time fires
were made the ground had become so saturated that
it was with difficulty that the men could find a place

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to lie down, for, be it known, in those days the
D'Abri tents were not introduced ; only a few of the
more fortunate ones possessed such an invaluable
thing as a gum or oil-cloth blanket, and therefore
they were unable to shelter themselves from the in
clemency of the weather. By night-fall, however,
the 51st had snugly ensconced itself in the woods
wherein it had fought its full share of the battle,
and was enjoying itself in "tired nature's sweet re
storer, balmy sleep," after sending out quite a strong
picket. But about 8 P. M., while all — no, not all,
for Maj. Schall did not indulge in the much-coveted
luxury — were asleep in fancied security, an order
was issued from headquarters to " fall in and return
to the transports, withdrawing, the pickets at the
same time." Consequently, Maj. Schall went along
the line and issued his orders to the officers and
men as possible, for the enemy were trying to surround
us, and it was necessary to not talk above a whisper
and to prevent tincups and canteens from clashing or
making the least noise." On the men being awakened
their ideas seemed to be in a tumult of confusion,
for being asleep when the orders were issued, they
could not understand the almost inaudib'e whisper,
the cat-like tread, and the entire stillness of those
already up putting on their accoutrements; but the
truth soon flashed across their minds that it was a
retreat, and also that the regiment was in a very
precarious situation. As each man hurriedly put
•on his equipments he cautiously stepped out of the
woods and took his position on the color line,
greatly lamenting that he had been disturbed before
he got his "sleep out." By 9 P. M. the 51st were

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FIFLAY-FIK3T

REGIMENT

all in line and ready for the return march back to
the transports, where they were "bound to sleep
until the old tub arrived at Newbern." The 51st
had not to wait long before the order to "move on"
was given, and off it started, across the battle-field
to the public road leading to Currituck Court-house.
A deep wide ditch ran diagonally across the field and
the darkness of the night comparing favorably with
the Egyptian darkness, which could be felt, the men
were unable to see the ditch, and scarcely twenty
men out of the whole regiment escaped plunging
headlong into its depths. On arriving at the road
another invisible ditch was there to receive them,
but the boys took their misfortunes all in good part,
without uttering a single murmur or allowing them
selves to crack a joke above a whisper ; but had
their troubles ended there at the ditches all would
soon have been forgotten, but such was not the case,
for the road, which had been so filled with dust in
the forenoon, had now, from the falling rain, become
a vast bed of mortar. Yes, worse than any bed of
mortar could be made! for the road was full of
chuck-holes ten to thirty inches deep, and certainly
not ten feet apart, and all filled with thin, watery
mud, and the mire itself of an unctuous nature,
caused men and horses to slip as if trying to walk
down a steep hill on very smooth ice. Considerable
delay was occasioned on the first mile of the road
from the inability of the officers to find their picket
posts. As everything had to be done by whispers
their whereabouts was difficult to ascertain. How
ever, all had been relieved before 11 P. M. and then
the line of march began in earnest. The 51st,
acting as rear-guard to the column, plunged its way

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through the mud without scarcely a whisper or a
rest until it arrived at Currituck Court-house, then
three miles from the landing. The pioneer corps of
the 51st cut away the wooden bridge which spanned
the Dismal Swamp Canal as soon as the regiment
passed over it, to prevent the enemy from pursuing
them should they feel inclined to do so.
On arriving at Currituck Court-house, the boys
visited the jail, and opened all thj cell doors, and let
the convicts escape. While a portion were attend
ing to the release of the prisoners, another party
had entered a well-stocked store, nearly opposite the
prison, that was kept by one of the most bitter seces
sionists extant, and in almost the same time as it
takes me to tell it here,^ the store was cleaned of
everything from a penny whistle to a hogshead of
molasses; store goods of all kinds, dry goods, hard
ware, groceries, trimmings, liquors, smoked and
dried meats, boots, shoes, hats, and furniture of all
kinds, were seized and borne away by the men who
were scarcely able to get along even without their
guns; in fact, some of the men became so jaded out,
that, in order to keep up with the regiment, they
threw away guns, cartridge-boxes, belts, haversacks,
canteens, &c., to prevent themselves from lagging
behind ! Currituck was reached by daybreak of the
20th of April, and the 51st arrived at the landing point
at or a few minutes before sunrise, thereby making
the hard march of forty-two miles inside of twentyfour hours, besides fighting a battle, gathering the
killed and wounded, burying the dead and a wagonload of tools, caring for the wounded, and taking at
least two hours and a half of sleep. I must here state
that the wounded had to be left at the hospital for

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REGIMENT

the want of conveyances, and consequently fell into
the hands of the enemy on the morning after the
battle.
They were left in charge of a couple of sur
geons, who were left behind either by casting lots or
volunteering, as it was well known
whoever
did
remain with the wounded would be taken prisoners
along with their patients.
Lieut. Lewis Hallman, of
Co. D, who received a severe and nearly fatal wound
in the thigh, by a grape-shot passing through it, was
the only wounded officer of the 51st P. V. that was
left behind.
Those who were slightly wounded and
were able to hobble along did not remain at the
hospital, preferring to risk going along with the
regiment, than to remain behind and fall into the
hands of the rebels as captives.
No tongue can.
express the pain and torture those poor sufferers
experienced in their midnight march over such an
abominable road, which taxed the energies of all who
were in health and sound in limbs.
Those who
were taken prisoners were most shamefully used by
their captors, whose surgeons insisted on amputating
-limbs where it was known to be unnecessary, and it
was only through the unconquerable spirit and em
phatic refusal by the wounded that they were al
lowed to retain their mangled limbs.
They suffered
enough, God knows ! from neglect and scanty allow
ances of food, without being inhumanly deprived of
their limbs.
The loss in killed and wounded was as follows :
Co. A. — Wounded — Privates Monroe Nice, slightly; John
Lure, slightly ; Harvey Pinch, slightly ; Joseph H. Zearioss, se
verely.
Co. B. — Lewis H. Young, wounded and taken prisoner.
Co. C. — Wounded — Privates Abraham Custer, severely ;
John Plunkett, \vounded and captured.

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Co. D. — 1st Lieut. Lewis Hallman, wounded in the thigh se
verely and taken prisoner.
Co. E. — Killed — Privates Benjamin II. Brouse and Wm. R.
Hoffman.
Co. F. — Wounded and taken prisoner — Private Nathaniel
Casselman.
Co. G. — Wounded — Privates Theophilus Baird and James
Powers.
Co. H. — 1st Lieut. George Shorkley, acting adjutant ; privates
H. Colej'' McCormick, Jacob Buskirk, Jacob Lennig.
Co. I. — Adam Robinson, killed by a minie ball ; Abraham
Wampole, wounded in the chin by a buckshot, slightly ; Corp.
Richard Martin, wounded in the back by a solid shot (12pounder, ) painful but not serious ; private Lewis Patterson,
slightly on the lips.
Co. K.— None.*

CHAPTEK

IX.

Skulkers on board the Admiral — Escape from a solid shot —
A beautiful country— The steamer aground — Col. Hartranft's
return — Col. Bolt on 's merits as an officer — Bets on soon
getting home — Skulkers wearing the barrel — Orders to
march — First issue of oil-cloth blankets — Extracting whiskey
from a cask.

AFTER arriving at the landing the 51st began to
embark again on board of the Admiral, which rode
at anchor between 200 and 300 yards from shore,
compelling the men to wade out to her in water of
4J feet depth, and on going on board, the greatest
indignation was evinced by those brave boys at
finding some of their " tuould-\>Q companions " who,
to their eternal disgrace be it said, had skulked back
to the vessel when the regiment had started on the
expedition the morning before. That they went
ashore when the regiment did cannot be denied, but
they were not ashore more than a few seconds when
the gunboats commenced shelling the woods that
* The total of killed and wounded at Camclen, by official re
port, is 30 officers and men; but the casualties are not en
tered on the rolls, and the names of all cannot be entered on
the rompanv lists of their respective losses.

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THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

skirted either side of the Dismal Swamp canal^and
those things, sometimes inappropriately termed men,
began to quake with fear and sought safety in the
staterooms of the steamer, while the true soldiers
were risking their lives and doing their share of the
work that all were paid alike for doing. During
the battle some ten or twelve of those cowardly
"shysters" had taken refuge in the rear of the
building which was afterwards used as a hospital,
until a couple of solid shot passed through the house,
admonishing them that danger lurked there also.
Had their unmanly conduct as cowards ended by
"shysting," to use an army phrase, it would not
have entailed such a stigma on their chicken hearted
characters ; but after the hospital was fairly estab
lished, those things, under the pretext of assisting to
dress the wounds of the sufferers, stole whatever
liquors and stimulants the surgeons had with them
to assist in the discharge of their field duties. Let
me in all candor ask what punishment would be suf
ficient for such scoundrels? "No milder name can
be given those men who not only kept out of harm's
way while their comrades did the fighting, but could
stoop so low as to steal the few drops of liquor that
were so highly necessary to stimulate the wounded
sufferers. May those base acts committed awaken such
a remorse of conscience that will never allow them
one moment's peace, either in this world or the next
to come. Some of those men belong to highly re
spectable families, and for their families' sake I shall
forbear making their names public, as I do not want
the innocent to have a share in the disgrace of such
unworthy wretches. But, thank heaven ! the worst
of the above party are, at this writing, (Jan. 17th,

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1866,) in prison, complying with the sentence of a
court martial held at Blain's Cross Roads, in East
Tennessee, (about the time the 51st re-enlisted in
1864,) which was convened by order of Col. Hartranft, who was then in command of the 2d Divi
sion, 9th Army Corps. While companies A and F
were supporting the marine battery, Charles Henniss, of Co. A, was sitting on the top of a pile of
fence-rails, within 300 or 400 yards of the enemy's
guns, while they were shelling the Union troops.
Capt. Bolton warned him of his dangerous position
and ordered him to get into a safer place. Henniss
rose up to comply with the order, and had just left
the rail-pile, when a twelve-pounder solid shot struck
the very spot he had been sitting on, hurling the
rails in all directions as if they were a pile of chaff'
in a hurricane. His timely compliance with Capt.
Bolton's order without a doubt saved his life.
The appearance of the country in that part of
North Carolina, at that season of the year, was most
enchanting, especially in the neighborhood of Currituck Court-house. The face of the country is level
as a floor; soil of a light sandy loam ; the principal
productions corn, tobacco and cotton. Turpentine
and rosin are articles of exportation, and nearly
every large plantation manufactured the latter arti
cles to a greater or less extent. Close to the landing
place was a field of red clover, that certainly exceeded
anything of the kind the writer ever saw in the most
fertile spots in Pennsylvania, New York, or any of
the Western or Southwestern States ; it was only a
type of the fertility of the soil in that whole section
of country. Yet with a rich soil arid handsome farms
in every way, the citizens all wore the appearance

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of a thriftless, careless, indolent set of people, who
only lived for a day at a time. Only here and there
could be seen a worm fence in passable condition.
The houses, being frame ones, were mostly in a very
dilapidated condition, for be it known that through
out the whole South, if one end of a weather-board
becomes loose, instead of using a little energy by
putting a nail in it, the board is allowed to swing
in the wind until its pendulosity breaks or knocks
off' two or three others, or breaks itself loose from the
other end and drops to the ground, where it is more
certain to remain until it rots than it is of ever being
used even for firewood, unless another rebellion
should break out and the " Yankees " get down there
again. Very few, comparatively speaking, of the
houses have cellars under them, being all built up
twelve to eighteen inches off' of the ground. The
denizens all say they have no need of under ground
rooms, for their winters are of too mild a character
to freeze anything, and for that reason they have no
need for cellars, and I suspect there is some truth in
it, or at least in a great many cases ; one thing pretty
certain is, they don't have much of anything by the
time winter sets in to freeze, unless it is a few sweet
potatoes. It must not be taken as granted that the
above was written in a spirit of disparagement of
that country, far from it, for the writer, during the
whole travels of the 51st, both South and West, did
not see a place that fascinated him as much as North
Carolina, and in all sincerity he believes that a little
Northern tact and enterprise could, aye and would
make it one of the most productive States in the
Union.
On Sunday morning, April 20, 1862, the 51st

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again embarked on board of the Admiral, for its re
turn to Newbern. After expressing very freely
their feelings to the skulkers for their cowardly con
duct, the worn-out heroes laid themselves down to
get a little sleep after such an exciting and laborious
march as that which they had just ended. The
Adjutant immediately visited the different com
panies to ascertain the casualties of each, and made
out his report of the result for headquarters. At 10
A. M., steam being up, the 51st left, and running
aground within sight of Roanoke Island, had to re
main so all that night. The next morning (the 21st)
three tugs were sent to haul the Admiral off, which
they succeeded in doing by 10 A. M., when the
Admiral again got under headway, and with cau
tious running reached Brant Island Shoals about 8
P. M., where, owing to the intense darkness and the
destruction of the light boat, which was used in
lieu of a light house, she dropped her bow anchors
and laid over for the night.
Next morning at daybreak the Admiral received
the signal from the signal corps to prepare to leave,
and in a few minutes thereafter she was again dash
ing aside the spray of Pamlico Sound, and entered
the mouth of the Neuse, heading for the city of
Newbern, where she arrived the same day at 4 p. M.
On nearing the wharf the boys caught a glimpse of
a tall, commanding form, surrounded by a vast con
course of soldiers and citizens who had assembled
to greet the returning braves once more among
them. An enthusiast proposed, "Three cheers and
a 'Tiger' for Old Johnny ! " For, sure enough, there
he stood, respected and beloved by his command.
What he thought or felt when he was assailed by
8

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such deafening shouts, none but himself can tell.
He had returned from his leave of absence but a
couple of days too late to please his boys. Often,
very often could they be heard to say, " I wish to
God, Old Johnny had been with us ! " Their con
fidence in him as a leader was unbounded, and they
felt and thought, had he been with them, greater re
sults would have attended the "demonstration on
Norfolk." There always appealed an undefinable
desire with the boys to have Col. Hartranft with
them when going into battle. The writer has often
heard the boys say that if they should be killed
with " Old Johnny ," leading them, they were satis
fied to die, for they believed in him, his courage and
cool judgment, to such an extent, that if they were
killed under him they could not have escaped death
under any other commander. Yet he was not so
idolized when in camp, for they all feared him. But
when it came to the time that "tried men's souls,''
then he was looked upon as something almost super
natural by them, for he could not ask them to do
any daring feat but what they were willing, aye,
eager to do his bidding, well knowing that he would
ask nothing of them to do that he had not the cour
age to do himself. It cannot be said that the writer
is influenced by partiality or prejudice in Col. Hartranft's favor, as I am not, and all who know me and
my relations with him will" bear me witness. But
I cannot help but admire the sublimity of the hero,
the bravery, the cool, calm, sound judgment of the
commander, the resolution and daring of the soldier,
and the high intelligence of the gentleman. These
traits of character stand out in such bold contrast
with those of so many other officers, that I would

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not be doing justice to an able officer and a brave
regiment were I to either say auglit contrary to what
I have said, or remain silent and pass lightly over his
many virtues. His successor, Col. William Jordan
Bolton, is a soldier well-fitted to fill Col. Hartranft's
place, and all that I have said in regard to Col. Hartranft I can say for -Col. Bolton, with the exception
that the warmest friendship exists between us, which
was not the case with Col. Hartranft and m yself. Col.
Bolton, like Lieut.-Col. Schall, could command a
regiment till doomsday without making one enemy.
Yet when the boys would see " Billy," as he was
called, give his head a shake, they loo well knew its
import. It was a sure sign of determination, a reso
lution formed that no earthly opposition could
break. If " Billy " would say that such a position
had to be obtained and would give his head a shake,
that was enough ; all understood that the work was
half done already, for that "shake" indicated that
cost what it would, it must be accomplished. I will
here cite an instance, although this is not its pro
per place. After the charge on the enemy's works
in front of Petersburg, Va., on the 18th of June,
1864, Col. Bolton had issued orders to Capt Bolton
to take up a space that was unoccupied on the left
of the 51st picket line; it had been tried for two or
three nights by several other regiments, but being so
hazardous it could not be accomplished. Col. Bolton
said it could be done, and gave his head that wellknown shake which the boj^s all understood, and
which signified that he intended it should be done,
even had he to go and take it himself; but Capt.
Bolton was the man to do it, if it was a human pos
sibility, and that same night it was done in a perfect

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tempest of shot, shell and musketry from the rebel
works, that were only 75 to 80 yards distant. To
wards the close of the month of April, 1862, mails
nivived from the North nearly every day, which
brought papers giving succinct accounts of the prog
ress of the rebellion, which were of a very cheering
character, and all began to think that a,i order to
send the troops home would certainly be issued in a
few days. So firmly seated was this belief in the
minds of all the officers and men that bets of $50 and
§100 were freely offered that the troops of the Burnside expedition would all be home by the 1st of
July of that year. We will here insert an extract
from a private letter dated " Camp Franklin, Newbern, N. Cv April 29th, 1862," to show how much
the soldiers' minds were centred on soon going home.
" We are all waiting for a mail to come, so we may
see how much nearer the time is for us to go home !
Home is now the conversation from morning till
night and from night till morning. On guard, on
drill, lounging in tents, pioneering, policing, march
ing, and at everything else, the whole talk is home !
home ! ! home ! ! ! We are anxious for the papers of
this mail to see if the taking of Yorktown is an
accomplished fact, as we are all ready now for the
rebels to retreat from there to us here, for we are
now good enough to oppose 250,000. Our great
fort (Totten) here is done, and I tell you it is one of
the forts ; with it and the aid of the gunboats we are
ready for the enemy to retreat to this place just as
soon as McClellan is ready to rout them out of
Virginia, for it is known that 'Little Mac ' has been
merely killing time in that State for the purpose of
keeping the rebels there until we were ready, and

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now everything is ready, I hope he will rout them
and drive them, as expected, right into our arms.
Let them come, and if they don't find themselves
in a hornet's nest then my judgment won't be worth
much, that's all. I hope they may come yet to-day,
for it will be the finish ing stroke to the rebellion,
and then pack up and go home ! to enjoy the com
forts of an honorable peace."
Although the enemy were not driven toNewbern
as an extremity, the thoughts of soon going home
still ran high in the brains of the boys, and it was
concurred in that they would be home by the 1st
of July, whether the rebs came or not.
A few days after the return of the 51st from the
South Mills or Camden affair Col. Hartranft assumed
command of the regiment, and on being made ac
quainted with the conduct of those men who skulked
back to the vessel, at the time the 51st was preparing
to leave the landing for Camden, he had them arrested
and put in the guard-house, and punished them by
putting on the ''overcoat" (barrel), which they wore
for several hours each day for two weeks; when, at
the expiration of that time, they were returned to
duty on the promise that they would go into the
next fight like true soldiers. But when the next
fight came they went off, forgetting, or rather not
caring about the promise they had made to escape
further punishment.
On the 23d of April the men of the 51st received
orders for a march several miles into the country,
causing the men to grumble a great deal, as they
were not in a condition to undergo any such fatigue.
They had not recovered from the fatigue of the 19th,
in fact, one-half of the regiment were sick from their

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exertions on that never-to-be-forgotten march. They
supposed that it was to be a tramp of no importance
whatever; but the fact of the case was, after their
return to camp from Camden, they became so sore
and stiff in their limbs that it was with many endea
vors that they could move about Sore feet, rheu
matism, &c., were the results of that painful march,
and Col. Hartranft wished to take the regiment out
on a few hours' march to give them a little exercise
to supple their limbs, which was needed. The skin
on the soles of their feet peeled off from the heels to
the toes; blisters covering spaces the size of a silver
dollar were worn on the heels and other parts of the
men's feet; toenails worn down to the flesh, causing
intense pain to the sufferers; stone bruises, &c., were
the fruits of the long march. It must be borne in
mind that these brave men had not become inured
to the fatigues of a long march, from the fact that
all their travelling had been done so far by steamers
and railroad; but after separating themselves from
the naval branch of the expedition, and becoming
land forces exclusively, they soon took up the hard
ships of the march, and proved themselves inferior
to none in that vast army.
Thursday, April 24th, general inspection; and,
notwithstanding the rough usage both men and
accoutrements had so lately passed through, they
made a splendid appearance, showing good discipline,
drill, and cleanliness. This same day an issue of
oilcloth blankets was made to the 51st, which was
the first issue of the kind ever made to it, arid the
teachings of several storms had not been forgotten
by the men, for all or nearly all received one, and
valued it as worth more than anything else they

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could possess, being of immense use for guard pur
poses in time of a storm.
On the 25th a new invoice of whiskey had been
received by Quartermaster Freedly, to be issued to
the regiment ; and, being stored away in the large
commissary tent, the guards that were posted at the
commissary after nightfall tapped a barrel and be
came greatly intoxicated, for which they were put
under guard, and wore the "o ercoat" for about ten
days. The mode adopted by the guard to extract
the whiskey was certainly an ingenious one. They
had taken the barrels of their guns off the stocks,
unscrewed the tubes, and inserted the breech of the
barrels in the bung-hole of the cask, and applied
their mouths to the muzzles, and sucked themselves
to intoxication ; but by some legerdemain they suc
ceeded in getting off with little or no punishment.
CHAPTER

X.

Expecting an attack — Raising of Flag-staff— Dirty men — Re
lease of cowards — Complimentary orders — Discharges —
Review — Weak bridge — Home — Full rations — Bathing and
fishing — Rain — Digging ditches — Death — Mocking birds —
A row — Changing tents — Company B's bayonet drill —
Fort Totten and gunboats— Orders to move countermanded.

ON the 26th of April the whole Coast Division
made preparations to receive the defeated and re
treating rebels, who were flying ingloriously from
Yorktown, Va., as it was expected that they would
make an attempt to retake Newbern. Had they come,
they would have been welcomed to hospitable graves.
Although expecting to be attacked by the enemy
every minute, Col. Harfcranft had a very tall flag-

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staff raised near his quarters, with the stars and
stripes floating in the air from its top, bidding defi
ance to the wind and storms of that day, as well as
to the "Southern chivalry." Five rebels carne in
and gave themselves up as prisoners to Col. H., who
disposed of them in his usual way, by putting them
under guard, and sending them to division head
quarters.
The 27th being Sunday, it brought its usual Sun
day inspection by companies, which began to be
very necessary from the fact that Assistant Surgeon
Noble ordered not a few to put themselves to soak,
and scrub a little of the dirt off; one man in particu
lar, who had not participated in any of the three
fights — and, what is more, never intended to — very
pleadingly appealed to the surgeon to grant him his
discharge, on the ground of delicate health. The
surgeon "couldn't see it," but he could see the dirty
condition of the " would-be " soldier, and prescribed
two ablutions per day of soap and water.
Monday, 28th, possessed nothing of interest, only
the disappointment by the non-arrival of the mails,
and the daily drills of companies and regiment. The
next day released the prisoners at the guard-house
from further punishment, where they had been in
carcerated for their cowardice at Carnden on the 19th.
Their release was only conditional, on their promise
of going into the next battle like true soldiers. Did
they keep sacred that promise? We shall see,
Another issue of clothing took place, and the regi
ment vied with the best of them in soldierly appear
ance, inasmuch as the ''dirty face "party had complied
with the colonel's and surgeon's advice and orders.
On the 30th was regular muster for pay and

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general inspection, with regimental drill and dress
parade. Before the dismissal of this dress parade
Adj. Shorkley read to the regiment a "specji.il order
from Gen. Burnside, complimenting the officers and
men of the 51st P. V. in the most flattering terms
for their bravery and endurance on the 19th, at
Camden. The order also decreed that the inscrip
tion, "Camden, K C., April 19th, 1862," should be
placed on the regimental battle-flag ; this was the
first order of that kind issued by Gen. Burnside to
any of his "Coast Division." That same day we
learned that the rebels' loss was forty killed and
seventy wounded at the battle of Carnden. It is
necessary here to state that the same complimentary
orders were issued to the 89th and 9th (Hawkins'
Zouaves) N. Y., 6th N. H., and 21st Mass.
May 1st brought with it some little excitement.
The roaring of cannon and the flight of rockets
through the night, caused Colonel Hartranft to be
up all night and to have his men ready to " fall in "
at a moment's notice, for it was predicted that the
retreating enemy from Yorktown was surely com
ing ; but at the close of the day the excitement had
lulled, and the officers and men went early to rest.
The weather was very warm and sultry, with a good
deal of rain, producing considerable sickness in
the 51st, which caused numerous applications for
discharges from the service on account of disability.
Some ten or a dozen were lucky enough to get
them, and went their way rejoicing at their good
fortune.
On the 2d, a grand review of the six regiments
that had participated in the affair at Camden, took
place on the parade grounds of the llth Connect-

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icut and 21st Massachusetts, by Generals Burnside
and Reno, with their respective staffs. The review
was held on the south bank of the Trent River, near
its junction with Brice's creek, and about three
miles from Camp Franklin, at Newbern. The 51st
P. Y. marched up the river road on the north side
of the Trent, and crossed the river on an old, dilap
idated drawbridge, that threatened very loudly by
its creaking and swaying to and fro, to precipitate
the entire regiment into the deep and sluggish
stream below. The danger of crossing a weak
bridge is greatly enhanced by a regiment marching
in cadence, but is lessened greatly by adopting the
rout step. This the 51st can vouch for, as it has
crossed fully as many, if not more bridges than any
other regiment in the United States service during
the rebellion — but I am digressing. The review
took place at one o'clock P. M., and the 51st never
made a finer display since its organization. The
arms were cleaned to perfection, the men were in
fine condition, nearly all uniformed in new clothing,
and under the very best of discipline, and so well
were the Generals pleased with the marching of the
six regiments that they only " passed in review," in
" quick time," " and common time," " double-quick "
being dispensed with, and the 51st returned at three
p. M. to its camp at Newbern. The day was very
clear, and the rays of the burning sun told sadly
on the appearance of the men on their return to
camp. While marching from the drawbridge to
wards carnp, Col. Hartranft espied Gen. Burnsido
riding in his rear at full gallop. The Col. commanded
''halt!" with the view of "coming to a front and
present arms," to the illustrious chieftain as he

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would pass, but before the manoeuvre could be exe
cuted Gen. Burnside had reached the colors of the
regiment, and easily divining what Col. Hartranft was
at, raised his hat and saluting the Col. thanked him
for the intended honor, and remarked that he " took
the will for the deed."
The next day after the review was Sunday, and
as usual there was regimental inspection ; but the
boys did not care for it as they were in good spirits
on account of the arrival of the mails, bringing
a rumor with it that New Orleans had fallen and
that all the North Carolina troops (rebels) had sur
rendered. Nothing troubled them now but how soon
they were to go home. Home was the absorbing
topic for several days, as it was confidently believed
that the rebellion was over, and some officers were
so sanguine of going home that bets of §10 to
§50 were freely offered, but no one was found
who had any distrust as to the early termination of
the war.
The regiment was now enjoying full rations arid
of the very best quality. Fresh beef every other
day and prime mess pork the intervening days,
with alternate clays of "hard tack" and baker's
bread, with beans, rice, coffee, sugar, tea, vinegar,
molasses, salt, pepper, &c.
The men had every opportunity to obtain any
little luxury that they needed, for the colored persons
inhabiting Newbern visited the camp every day
with well filled baskets of pies and cakes of endless
varieties, which they sold at reasonable prices and
found a very ready market. The men found the
colored women very ready and willing to do their
washing, at the extremely low price of only sixty

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cents per dozen. While the regiment was laying
at this camp the men had frequent opportunities for
recreation ; the river being only a few yards off
every evening large squads would go in to bathe,
while others enjoyed themselves in fishing or per
ambulating the streets of the city.
Leave of absence to a limited few were being
granted to the officers connected with the Coast Di
vision, and among the fortunate ones was 2d Lieut.
Geo. Schall of Co. I. The men who received their
discharges departed along with Lieut. Schall on the
6th of May for their Northern homes and with no
very good opinion of Uncle Sam. There was $26
due them on the 1st of May, and in getting their
pay the cost of their clothing, over and above the
monthly allowance, (they having overdrawn) was
deducted from their pay, which left some with but
a trifling amount to receive, for which the govern
ment was falsely berated. The discharged men
thinking that the government donated any amount
of clothing that they saw fit to draw, in which, to
their surprise, they were mistaken.
On the night of the 5th the rain poured down in
cessantly until daylight, completely flooding the
camp, filling tents from two to ten inches deep with
water, driving the inmates out of their bunks to
seek shelter wherever they could find it. The next
morning Col. Hartranft had about one hundred men
detailed for the purpose of digging channels the
entire length and breadth of the carnp, to drain it
in case of another flood ; the task lasted several
days, and no doubt would have proven a success
had the 51st lain long enough at Camp Franklin to
have seen it demonstrated. Death was at work

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that stormy night. William Rambo, Co. I, died at
1 A. M., 6th of May, 1862, from camp fever, brought
on by exposure and fatigue during the taking of
Newbern. His body was embalmed in a primitive
way, in a coffin sealed air-tight with rosin, and sent
by express to his relatives in Kadnor, Delaware
county, Penna. The art of embalming at that time
was not such as the latter part of the war witnessed.
At the beginning of the rebellion it was no easy
task to get a corpse sent home, «but at a later day an
order to Drs. Brown and Alexander, the embalmists,
was all that was necessary to insure the safe and
speedy transit of a corpse. On the 8th of May a
mail came in and brought the glad tidings of the
lownfall of Yorktown, and of the crippling of the
Merrimac by the Monitor, and of the great battle
fought at Corinth, filling the whole of the Coast Di
vision with such enthusiasm as only soldiers who
are anxious to get home could feel.
Mocking birds that hovered around the camp
seemed to be like affected, for they would perch
themselves among the branches of a fig tree that
stood in a private yard at one corner of the camp
arid warble their richest melodies until one would
think they would split their little throats, each one
seeming to try to outvie the other in making the most
music. I have no doubt the veterans of the 51st still
remember those precious songsters who afforded
i.hern such delicious music while patrolling their
guard-beats around the camp.
At 9 A. M., on the 10th of May, the 51st struck tents
for police purposes, the camp was thoroughly policed
and the tents were pitched again at 4. p. M. Dur
ing the policing a few of the men of Co. D had been

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into the city and got a few too many drinks of
whiskey, so that by the time they arrived in camp
they were ripe for a muss, but not finding any of
the sober ones inclined to quarrel they kicked up a
fight amongst themselves which threatened to be
come a free fight, but after a few heads were cut
some of the officers interfered and put a stop to the
riotous proceedings. After the camp was policed
the health of the regiment began to improve, and
every few days it was receiving fresh acquisitions
of convalescents from the various hospitals. Chap
lain Mallory having had a leave of absence for a
short time to visit his home in Norristown, returned
to his duties on the 8th, and on the llth the regi
ment was assembled on the color line and marched
into the city to church, where the chaplain preached
one of his best sermons as usual. Although the
camp had been thoroughly policed on the 10th, the
work as a military necessity had to be done over on
the 12th, for the purpose of pitching the Sibley
tents in place of the wedge or common tents. No
drills occurred on this day on account of exchanging
tents, also there was no drilling the next day, for
just as the companies got on the drill-ground the
3d New York (Morrison's) Battery came upon the
ground with their guns for target practice. The
next day the 51st P. V. and the 51st New York had
brigade drill, which the two regiments continued to
do for several days. The principal drilling of the
companies was the skirmish drill. Co. B, Capt.
Bell, was continually drilling the bayonet exercise,
and it cannot be gainsaid that no set of men ever
proved themselves more proficient in the manual
than Co. B did in the bayonet manual ; such pre-

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cision seemed incredible, for every movement was
as perfect as it was possible to be. The exercise is
one of the most graceful in the whole manual, if cor
rectly taught, and one of the most awkward drills
that can be undertaken if not correctly understood
by the drill- master. But in this Co. B had for its
instructor one who not only understood his business,
but had that priceless boon, patience, and right
heartily did Co. B appreciate their now lamented
captain's efforts by putting their whole souls into
the work, for which, as a company, they have every
reason to be proud of their drilling and of their
friend and commander, Capt. Ferd. Bell. One or
two other companies began the bayonet exercise,
but they soon got disgusted with it and themselves
together, for it required more patience than most
officers and men possessed, so they abandoned the
work that they had begun and left Capt. Bell and
his company to enjoy their well-earned laurels.
On Tuesday, May 13th, the new fort in the rear
of Newbern, built to co-operate \vith the infantry and
gunboats for the purpose of holding the city against
any combined movement of the enemy to retake it,
was finished and named " Fort Totten." The gun
boats on both rivers (Trent and Neuse) opened their
guns and fired towards the fort and its front to see
if the fort, with the aid of the gunboats, could cover
the three miles of land in front of the fort, which
was the only feasible way for the rebels to make an
attack on the ci'y. The experiment was eminently
successful. It may be said that the doings of the
fort and gunboats have nothing to do with this
history — granted, but as the fort was only a few
yards from Camp Franklin the artillerists and the

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5 1st were on very intimate terms, spending many
happy hours in each other's society.
On Thursday, May 15th, an order was received
by the colonel to have his regiment prepared to
move at a moment's notice, with sixty rounds of
cartridges and three days' cooked rations. Every
thing was ready to move by 2 P. M., but after being
under arms for two hours the order was counter
manded. A regiment of U. S. cavalry and a bat
tery of regulars that was in the Coast Division, had
been out on picket for several days before the 51st
P. V. received the orders, and they reported a large
body of the enemy in their vicinity; through that
report the 51st P. Y. was to reinforce them and to
make an attack on the enemy to capture or disperse
them ; but just as the 51st P. V. was ready to move
the cavalry and artillery came in, bringing quite a
large number of prisoners with them, after a severe
fight of four hours duration. They reported that if
they had had a regiment of infantry along with
them they could have captured the whole force. The
countermanding of the order was received with de
light by the men, as it had been raining pretty hard
all day, and after the regiment was ready to march
the rain came down in torrents and continued to do
so for several hours, hence the men's delight in not
having to march that day.

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XT.

Rumors — Prospect of garrisoning Baltimore — Changing stripes
— Carrying the log — Burnside hunting up the cooks — Off to
Brice's creek — Camp Reno — Col. Hartranf't's "staff" — The
"staff" salutes the Colonel— Review by Governor Stanley —
Amusements at Camp Reno— Green snakes — Fruits — First
Payment in Greenbacks— Pioneers burning bridges— General
Speight's tomb.

AFTER this event tLe regiment calmly settled down
once more to drills, guard, policing, and fatigue duties.
It was at this time that Col. [Jartranft commenced
to drill the regiment by the sound of the bugle,
which was not altogether successful, as the whole
regiment was opposed to it ; but very few men
would take interest enough in it to learn the different
notes of the bugle. Some wag started a rumor that
the 51st P. Y. and the 51st N. Y. were to go to
Baltimore to do garrison duty at Fort Federal Hill,
as the war was so near over that a portion of the
North Carolina forces could easily be spared, and
the rumor found very ready and willing believers.
Nothing was talked of through the day but Balti
more. Baltimore was the dream at night ; it was
the toast at all social gatherings of the two regiments ;
in fact, the two regiments breathed and lived Balti
more. But was it to be wondered at? — every cir
cumstance warranted it; for instance, a Convention
of North Carolinians was held on the 22d of May
to decide whether they were to remain in the Union
or not, and it was decided by a vote of 52 yeas to
82 nays ; but Grov. Clark, of that State, had not
recognized the Convention, and it was not known
what hi? views were. Then, again, Northern papers

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stated that seven North Carolina (rebel) regiments
had disbanded in Virginia, and returned home.
Three counties had actually thrown off their seces
sion allegiance, and acknowledged the authority of
the United States ; and, again, the men took it for
granted that all officers were posted up in the status
of affairs, but dare not reveal all they knew ; conse
quently, a member of Co. B, who had been a long
time sick, applied to Col. Hartranft for a furlough,
but was told by the colonel that he had better put it
off for a short time, as we would all have furloughs
before six weeks; signifying that the regiment
would be discharged by that time. That hint was
was sufficient; "Baltimore" got to a discount, and
Easton, Lewisburg, and Norristown rose above par!
Alas ! for human wishes !
Heretofore the non-commissioned officers wore
their insignia of office in green braid; but, on the
24th of May, an order was read on dress parade,
prohibiting " green," and ordering all non-coms, to
conform to the regulation stripes of blue. The
order caused considerable grumbling, but the blue
had to go on. At the latter end of this month,
Col. Hartranft changed his mode of punishment
from wearing the barrel to " carrying the log on the
ring," and it was no uncommon thing to see two or
three refractory soldiers daily on the ring, "doing
penance " for their sins.
On the 26th of May, Gen. Burnside rode into
camp, unattended even by an orderly, for the ex
press purpose of satisfying himself as to the quantity
and quality of the rations the men were getting.
He did not go to the officers first for his information,
but direct to the men, and rode among the cooks,
and viewed the camp- kettles, mess-pans, and the

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food, and listened attentively to all the men had to
say on the subject. He halted at Co. D's cook-tent,
where coffee was in the act of being taken off the
fire. The General, casting a roguish eye at the
cook, asked him, "What do you call that?" The
cook replied, " Coffee, General." " Let me taste it,"
said the old hero. A tin-cup half full was handed
to him, and he tasted it, with the remark, " And you
call that coffee, do you?" "Yes, sir," replied the
cook. "Now," says the General, "tell me whose
fault is it that that coffee is so weak ? Is it your
Quartermaster's ? or do the men prefer it that way ?"
li Oh, no, sir ; it's not the Quartermaster's fault ; he
issues all that we are entitled to ; but the men want
it three times a day, and they tell me to make it a
leetle weak so they can have it that often," replied
the cook. After visiting the men, he then went to
Col. Hartranft's quarters, to either praise or con
demn what he had discovered. On Wednesday, the
28th of May, the 51st P. Y. received orders to pre
pare to move camp the next day ; consequently the
following morning, (the 29tb,) the regiment struck
tents, and moved up to the confluence of Brice's
creek and the Trent river, about three miles from
Newbern. By night of the same day all were quietly
domiciled in their new quarters, although the day
had been one of excitement in Co. A and Co. D, for
a terrible fight took place in both companies, each
independent of the other. Although Co. A's was a
desperate one, it was not to be compared to Co. D's ;
for in it bayonets were used as clubs in knocking
men down, &c. There were no officers in camp at
the time, as they had all to go early in the morning
up to the new camp, to attend to laying out their
camp streets, &c. ; consequently the combatants had

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no one to interfere with them until the fighting was
nearly over, when one of Burnside's- staff officers,
accidentally riding by, came into camp, anxd quelled
the disturbance. This new camp was christened
"Camp Reno," in honor of Gen. Jesse L. Reno, who
was in command of a division of Burnside's expe
dition. His name was an honor to the camp, as few,
generals, if any, were his superiors in a military point
of view, and as a gentleman, none were. The camp that
bore that cherished name was little less than a fairy
scene. The ground surface was about ten feet above
the level of the two waters, Brice's creek and Trent
river. The creek courses within 150 yards of the
Trent river, where the entrance of the camp was,
and then turning abruptly off, it formed a horseshoe
bend to the fairy-like pine grove wherein the 51st P.
V. was encamped. Water for drinking purposes
had to be obtained by digging wells, of which Co. A
dug one and Co. K dug another. The duties at this
camp were very light, being more of a picketing
nature than otherwise. There was the usual daily
routine of drilling and camp guard, with one post of
pickets on the opposite side of the creek, about
three-fourths of a mile from camp.
The policing was not done by detail, it was per
formed by "Old Johnny's staff','1 as it was facetiously
styled. This "staff" of "Old Johnny's" was com
posed of privates who had transgressed good disci
pline as soldiers, and instead of giving them a log
to carry on the ring, or putting them in the guard
house, (where instead of a punishment it often was
a source of recreation, for with a "deck of cards"
they would while away their incarceration like
" lords" and laugh at the "poor devils" who, by

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being good soldiers, were forced to do the duty of
the prisoners, having to go out on guard in a heavy
rain.) they were formed into a fatigue party and
compelled to labor at something useful, such as cut
ting roads through the pine forests, preparing drillground, policing camp, or any thing else that "old
Johnny" thought should be done. The veterans
who were on i is " staff" at that time can inform any
of our farmers the quickest method of " grubbing "
up stumps, for they had ample experience in that
line. Sometimes this "staff" would number thirty
men, and at other times not more than a dozen, but
it was generally kept up to a goodly number, for
as soon as any of their time expired there were
other candidates ready to fill their places, and thus
that never-to-be-forgotten " staff)" was kept re
cruited. A little incident connected with it will
not be out of place to mention here. The regiment
when going out for regimental-drill had to march
nearly half a mile through a pine woods to a large
cotton field which was the drill-ground. As Col.
Hartranft and Lieut. Col. Bell were riding at the
right of the regiment the "staff)" who were cutting
a road through the woods, were brought to a '"front"
on the roadside under the command of Joseph Young,
and as the colonel and the regiment reached the left
of the "staff's" line the indomitable "Joe" ordered
a "present arms" to the passing officers and men
with such grace and precision, although their arms
were only axes, and without the least symptom of a
smile on the countenance of any of the " t-taff" that it
bothered the colonel and lieutenant colonel to tell
which was intended — an honor or an insult. How
ever, Col. 11. did not recognize it as an honor for he

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did not " shoulder arms" in passing the " staff," but
gave them one of his most piercing looks amounting
to as much as to say "I'll investigate this," but
nothing was ever done in the matter. The incident
caused many a hearty laugh at the colonel's expense,
while he has laughed as heartily as any.
On the last day of May a grand review of the en
tire Coast Division was had in honor of the provisional
governor of North Carolina, Gov. Stanly. The
weather was very hot, but the troops bore it well ; the
51st P. V. had the worst of it, as it had farther to march
than any other regiment, for the review was held in
the city of Newbern, and the regiment had to march
there in the morning and back again to camp, as
the review was postponed until afternoon. The
regiment looked well after its arrival at Newbern
in the morning, but after making the march the
second time it was only among the average in ap
pearance; the extreme heat causing the men to
perspire very freely, and the dust settling on their
damp clothing could not be brushed off, but the
marching and their bright arms and equipments
were equal to the best. The regiment got back to
its new camp at dusk, pretty well worn out with
heat and fatigue, being under arms from 6 o'clock
in the morning until dark. All such circumstances
as reviews and parades are ten -fold more irksome
than to be on the march for thrice the length of
t^rne.
The amusements of the men while in camp were
varied ; the camp being nearly surrounded by water,
swimming was the principal source, but fishing was
also indulged in with poor success. Poppy Widger
of Co. A, had a tent at the water's edge and had

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more success in fishing than all the regiment put
together. Corpl. Parker with two others obtained
a boat and went up the creek about half a mile from
camp to fish. Seeing what they supposed was the
trunk of a tree lying in the middle of the stream,
they concluded to row up to it and make the boat
secure to the log ; the corporal taking the small
chain in his hand and putting one foot on the log to
feel its security, when lo ! the log dive water, nearly precipitating the corporal headlong
into the stream ; the log proving to be an alligator
the party concluded to fish none that day, and tak
ing the oars they rowed back to camp at a " double
quick."
The first few days in the new camp the men
killed a very large number of green snakes which
they found suspended on the small trees that grew
along the water's edge, having the appearance of a
yard of green ribbon hanging there. Blackberrying
was another pleasure the men enjoyed; crossing the
creek to the opposite side it was only a few minutes
work to pick a mess-panful of the most luscious
berries that ever grew. Grapes, plums, mountain
cherries, mulberries, &c., were to be found in great
abundance and in full perfection. The men lived
at the "top of the pile" while in this camp; milk,
butter, eggs, and poultry had to suffer at their
hands. It must not be supposed that they stole them,
all was honestly paid for, as the paymaster was more,
prompt in visiting them at that time than he -was
six months after.
The regiment was again paid on the 2d day of
June, but this time not in gold. Greenbacks was
the currency. The men sent large sums of money

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to their homes via Adams Express. Quite a number
lost their pocketbooks; among the unfortunate ones
was Benj. Rowland, a member of the band, who lost
058.
On the 5th June, was held the first dress-parade
of Camp Reno, at which parade three sergeants
and four corporals were reduced to the ranks; the
reductions were in Cos. B and C.
On the 9th, a full brigade drill occupied nearly
the whole day, causing both officers and men to
grumble at the excess of the dose.
On the 9th of June, the pioneers belonging to the
51st P. Y. were detailed to proceed some fourteen
miles into the interior of the State for the purpose
of burning and destroying bridges, felling trees
across roads, and in other ways impeding the march
of the enemy, who were reported to be on their way
to retake Newbern. The pioneers accomplished
their duty and returned to Camp Reno, after an
absence of three days.
A hospital, which wns under the charge of Col.
Hartranfr, had been established close to Camp Reno,
in the mansion belonging to a family by the name
of Brount, descendants of Gen. Speight of Revolu
tionary fame. It required a corporal and six men
daily detailed to guard it, but with all the vigilance
of this special guard it was impossible to prevent
occasional depredations by visitors from other camps,
who were anxious to carry off some memento from
the premises of the deceased Revolutionary General.
The tomb in which Gen. Speight's remains were
reposing was ruthlessly destroyed by curiosity
seekers. The handsome marble slab that covered
the coffin, and contained the birth, death and mili-

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tary services of the deceased, was broken into frag
ments and carried offj leaving the coffin exposed to
full view. After the 51st took the property under
its charge such sacrilege was pretty well prevented,
but coming to the rescue at the eleventh hour there
was only a little left that needed protection.
All the large plantations throughout the South
have vaults or graveyards close to the mansion for
the interment of the deceased members of the resi
dent families. About two miles from camp, on the
opposite side of Bribe's creek, was a stately planta
tion of five thousand acres belonging to a " Col. Hill,"
who was at that time an officer in the rebel army.
A vault on this place, close to the dwelling-house,
and within fifty yards of the banks of the Trent
river, contained a large number of coffins with the
remains of members of the family for several gen
erations back, but a visit to the place by members
of a Connecticut and a New York regiment, soon
reduced the structure to a shapeless collection of
ruins, having 'bursted the cerements of the departed
and piled the bones in a confused mass. As the
writer of this* frequently visited the above-men
tioned place for the purpose of plucking the luscious
fruit that grew close to the house, he can honestly
say that not one act of lawless depredation was ever
committed by any of the men of the 51st P. V.
there, or at any of the many vaults and tombs in
that vicinity.
All the property in this region of country was
abandoned by the legitimate owners, and the places
left to the ruthless mercy of the Yankee arrny ; but
in all the destruction committed by men of the 51st
P. V., vaults, tombs, graves, sarcophagi, etc., were

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held with too much reverence by them to either
violate the sanctity of the spot or allow others to
do so.
On the 12th of June, Provisional Governor Stan
ley of North Carolina, paid Carnp Keno a visit.
The Governor was delighted with it, and was loud
in his praise of the beauty and cleanliness of the
camp, and the military discipline of the regiment.
About the 12th, Colonel Hartranft detailed his
" staff'" to construct a ferry across Brice's creek
and to cut a road through the forest on the opposite
side, to be used for various purposes, and on the 14th
it was finished. The ferry was put up by extending
a heavy cable across the creek, making the ends fast
on either shore, and completed with a large flatboat that had been captured, capable of carrying
from two hundred and fifty to three hundred men
across at one trip ; but in making preparations for
the first trip, a couple of " contrabands " in a canoe,
got capsized headlong into the sluggish stream, but
were soon rescued without any further damage than
a thorough ducking.
On Tuesday, June 17th, the regiment made its
first trip across ; after disembarking it marched
about two miles to a large cotton field for drill and
target firing, where some excellent shots were made.
After the exercises of the trip were over, the regi
ment returned to camp just in time to welcome Gen.
Burnside, who visited the regiment officially.

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XII.

Rhode Island presents Gen. Burnside with a sword — White
gloves — Prizes in Co. A — Resignation of Capt. Pechin —
Promotions in Co. I — Marching orders — A happy night —
" Pill business " — Off to reinforce McClellan — Return to camp
Reno — Off again to McClellan — On the Recruit — Arrival at
Newport News, Va. — Camp Lincoln — Base-ball — Quarter
rations — Post of Honor.

ON Wednesday, June 18th, preparations were
made to attend a grand review, including a sword
presentation to General Burnside, from the people
of Rhode Island, for his valuable services ; but as
the presentation committee was not quite ready, the
event was postponed until the next day. The next
day dawned scorching hot, and as the troops began
to assemble on the review ground, a black cloud
obscured the sun and began pouring down the
aquatic fluid in such torrents that the review was
necessarily postponed until the day after.
A request was issued by Col. H. for the men to
purchase white gloves for the occasion, but it was
met with a silent and flat refusal, silent only in the
presence of officers, but among themselves it was
decided to refuse compliance, and the next day the
review did come off, but white gloves were scarce
in the 51st P. V. This review and sword presenta
tion was one of the most magnificent affairs that was
ever witnessed, as everything passed off. with the
strictest discipline and formality.
On June 21st, Co. Gr, Captain Blair, was detailed
to go out a considerable distance on picket and did
not return until the 30th.

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On the 22d, the regular Sunday company inspec
tion took place. This inspection was attended with
manifest interest on account of Captain William J.
Bolton offering three prizes to Co. A, respectively
$5, $2.50 and $1, for the cleanest arms and
accoutrements and the most soldierly appearance of
their possessors ; but so well did the members of
Co. A contend for the first prize, that the three
company officers who acted as judges were puzzled
to award the prizes at first, but they decided that
private Theodore H. Gilbert was entitled to the third
prize of$l. The decision for the first and second
prizes was then referred to Col. Hartranft, who after
inspecting the men, guns, etc., decided private James
M. Bolton entitled to the first prize, and private
Daniel Stout to the second prize. So close in clean
liness and appearance were these two men that the
winner of the first prize only won it by a button
being sewed upside down on his opponent's blouse,
which had been overlooked by his competitor when
sewing it on. It was at best a difficult award to
make, for there were so many to decide upon and
all had done their best to win the first prize that it
must be said, without fear of contradiction, that no
company in the Union army ever contained cleaner
guns, accoutrements, clothing and men. To Capt.
William J. Bolton is due the credit of inaugurating
a new impulse in the regiment for possessing the
cleanest guns, accoutrements, etc., for from that day
the competition ran high in all the other companies
of the regiment among the men, and the rivalry
was kept up to the final discharge of the 51st P. V.
On the 23d, Capt. George E. Pechin, of Co. I,
resigned his commission on account of ill health,

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having nearly lost his speech from disease con
tracted in wading the swamp at the taking of Roanoke Island on the 7th and 8th of the previous Feb
ruary, and on the 25th of June he left Newbern for
his Northern home, where he arrived in safety.
After receiving proper treatment he recovered his
speech and health. He was a good officer, a strict
disciplinarian, in fact too much so, for which some
few of his company can vouch. But the true
soldier could not help admiring him for his bravery
and coolness under all circumstances. I may be
pardoned for saying so much about a single line
officer when so many are worthy, but justice to him
and to his regiment demands that all the slander and
abuse by which his fair name has been tarnished,
through the malignity of two or three spiteful indi
viduals, should be refuted and his record be estab
lished as his merits deserve it to be. The slander
came from those who could not resign and go home
just when they wanted to, and it provoked them to
think he could be discharged and they retained.
1st. Lieut. George W. Bisbing was promoted to a
Captaincy on the 26th of June, 1862. 2d. Lieut.
George Schall was made 1st. Lieut, the same day.
1st. or Orderly Sergeant Mark E. Supplee was pro
moted 2d. Lieut, also at the same time.
On the 26th was brigade drill, which was of
rather more interest than usual on account of all the
bands in the brigade being consolidated for the
occasion, and giving a concert on the parade ground
much to the gratification of the troops in the
vicinity, and to Col. Ferrero in particular, who
commanded the brigade.
On Sunday, the 29th of June, 1862, the regiment

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received orders to hold itself in readiness at eight
hours' notice, to march. Sixty rounds of ammuni
tion were issued to each man, and a general belief
arose that Burnside was going to reinforce McClellan, in front of Richmond. The Chaplain held wor
ship in the afternoon, but so anxious were the men
to get on a move that few found their way to church,
and employed the day in packing up and getting
ready for the march ; but the order did not corne
that day, nor the next; still the regiment held itself
in readiness to march at any moment the order
should come.
July 1st, 1862, orders were issued that all the
sick would have to march, that is, all those who
could be kept on their feet. In the evening the men
began striking tents and gathering all the wood used
in making their bunks, empty barrels, boards and fire
wood, which were thrown into three large piles, each
as high as a two-storied house, and then setting fire
to them : everything of that sort about the camp was
consumed. During the conflagration the officers
and men indulged in all kinds of sport to while away
the time, for the light of the bonfires made the camp
as light as day, and no one thought of lying down
that night to sleep. To add more to the pleasures
of the evening the band enlivened the scene with its
best pieces of music. Some employed themselves
in writing in large letters caricatures of the Rebellion
on pieces of boards, and nailing them to the trees for
the edification of the rebels if they should ever come
that way. One of them is given here as a sample.
'' The 51st P. V., having studied medicine, has
gone into the Pill business ; will open their stock

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about the 4th of July to the patronage of the South
ern chivalry, for the benefit of Uncle Samuel.
" N. B. — In case of the death of any of the firm,
the business will be conducted as usual by Uncle
Sam & Co. After the present stock is sold out, a
Grand Fancy Military and Citizens' Dress Ball will
be given in the city of Richmond, Ya.
" A. LINCOLN, Floor Manager.
"GEN. GEO. B. McCLELLAN, Ass't Floor Manager"
At 3 A. M. of July 2d the "assembly" beat, and
the regiment formed on the color line, and thence
started on the march to reinforce McClellan, in front
of Richmond. Arrived at Newbern at daylight and
immediately embarked on board of the schooner
Recruit, and in dropping down the river the Recruit
ran into the regiment's old favorite, the Cossack.
Capt. Bennett, of the Cossack, made his appearance
on deck. Notwithstanding the accident, and while
everything was confusion worse confounded, the
51st could not refrain from giving the heroic tar
three hearty cheers, that made the moss-covered
banks of the Neuse echo and re-echo. It took
pretty much all day for all the forces to embark and
get down to the mouth of Slocum's Creek, 18 miles
below Newbern, where the whole fleet anchored for
the night. The 51st experienced a dismal night on
board of the schooner, it raining hard and constant
all that time, and not having any bunks below, the
men were obliged to quarter on deck, most of them
sleeping in a sitting posture, having no room to lie
clown on account of the crowded state of the vessel.
Daylight came, the rain pouring down in torrents,
the air feeling very chilly, and the men dripping

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wet, caused them to shiver and shake as bad as if
they were exposed to the wintry blasts of the more
northern States. The Kecruit had bad luck in get
ting ready to start ; everything appeared to go
wrong, and as the vessel was inadequately manned
by sailors, a detail of six men from the regiment
made up the deficiency, the Recruit getting under
weigh again about 8 A. M. of the 3d of July. The
other portion of the fleet got under weigh at day
light, and was out of sight when the Recruit got off.
If ever troops had reason to find fault with the Gov
ernment of the United States, the 51st had ample
grounds for complaint at this time ; cold and wet
to the skin ; hard tack water-soaked and useless ;
nearly every round of ammunition damaged by
water, and putting 700 or 800 men on board of a
vessel capable of accommodating only about 300,
and even that number would be crowded — all these
combined tended greatly to vex the men. The Re
cruit had not proceeded far before she met the little
steamer Alice Price, General Burnside's dispatch
boat, having on board Col. Hawkins of the Zouaves,
(9th K Y.) who ordered the Recruit to "halt." The
schooner i( hove to," and received from Col. Haw
kins the pleasing information " to go back to New
born, for Richmond was taken." No sooner was the
information received than cheer after cheer, long
and load, rent the air, and the Recruit u about faced "
and arrived at Newbern at 6 P. M., where she
dropped anchor. The 51st remained on board all
night, with the same accommodations as the men
had the night before, excepting the rain. At 10J
A. M. the 51st disembarked, and companies A, B, C,
D, F, G and I arrived at Camp Reno at noon. Com-

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parries E, H and K did not get into camp until 4J
p. M. The camp was found in nearly the same
condition as when the regiment left. Some few
things that escaped burning had been carried off,
but a hog was found running about loose, and as
the men's rations were nearly exhausted, the hog
was shot to replenish the men's haversacks. Tents
were pitched ; everything soon settled down to the
old style of comfort, and the men enjoyed one night
more of good rest. But the next morning (Satur
day, the 5th) brought information that Eichmond
was not taken, and the 51st was again under march
ing orders, to be ready to move at a moment's
notice. This time the order was explicit, and Rich
mond was the objective point at which to bring up.
Consequently, at 2 A. M. on Sunday, the 6th, the
regiment was again found striking tents, and by
daybreak was on its way returning to Newbern, all
being on board of the Recruit at 7J A. M. Why
rations were not served to the men on this embarka
tion remained always a mystery, but such was the
case, and the men were complaining bitterly of the
gnawings of hunger. At noon the Recruit weighed
anchor and proceeded down the river with better
speed than on the previous trip. Reaching the
Swash, Hatteras Inlet, at dark, she lay at anchor
there for the night.
On Monday, the 7th, at daybreak, the Recruit left
her anchorage and started to pass out the Inlet, but
did not get far before she ran aground on the Swash
opposite Forts Clarke and Hatteras. The regiment
was taken off and landed on Hatteras Island, where
the men enjoyed a fine sea-bath, and collected a large
quantity of very beautiful sea-shells. In the mean

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time tugs were at work to get the Recruit off, in
which they were successful, and by noon the regi
ment was once more afloat ; the vessel, crowding on
all her sails, reached Fortress Monroe at noon on
the 8th of July, 1862, making just five months and
twenty-eight days since the 51st P. V. left the Fort
ress until its return. How many manly hearts beat
high in anticipation of the future when the regiment
left the Fortress on the llth of the previous Janu
ary, that now, at the regiment's return, are as silent
in their throbs as the rude graves that encompass
their remains ! Peace be to their ashes !
On arriving at the Fortress nearly all the fleet had
got in ahead of the Recruit. The 51st remained on
board of the schooner at the above place until the
next day, sleeping on deck as usual, but with far
more satisfaction, although the deck was densely
crowded and the night was stifling warm. If the
weather was hot in North Carolina, it was of a white
heat in Virginia. While the 51st P. Y. was lying
at the Fortress, President Lincoln, in company with
Gen. Burnside, passed the Recruit. His Excellency
was honored by a salute from a man-of-war at an
chor in Hampton Roads, and also from the Fortress.
At 6} P. M. of the 9th of July the Recruit left for
Newport News, arriving there at 8 P. M. The regi
ment remained on board all night, and disembark
ing the next morning at 8 A. M., it marched to a
camp ground about half a mile distant from the
point of landing. To say that the day was hot
would be conveying but a very faint idea of the in
tense heat ; red hot, hotter, hottest, comes nearer the
correct conception. At 10 A. M. the camp was laid
out and the tents pitched, everything being fixed up

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as comfortably, by evening, as circumstances would
permit. This camp was called " Camp Lincoln,"
in honor of the illustrious President of the United
States. The amusements at this camp were, fishing
for crabs, bathing, foraging and base-ball playing.
The latter was the leading enjoyment ; even the
officers indulged in this game with right good zest,
the best players being Col. Hartranft, Maj. Edwin
Schall, Capt. Edward Schall and Private Young, of
Co. B. The duties were of the usual kind — brigade
guard, picketing, policing, with brigade, regimental
and company drills. The brigade was now under
the permanent command of Col. Ferrero, Colonel of
the 51st New York State Volunteers.
The rations at this camp were of the most miser
able description. Although convenient to Fortress
Monroe, the base of supplies, the men could obtain
but about one-fourth rations, and that of an exceed
ingly inferior quality. Grumbling, and justly, too,
was to be heard from morning until night, " nothing
to eat !" was to be heard at every turn. Some
d
d McClellan for the deficiency, some Col. Fer
rero, some Col. Hartranft, and a very few did heap
their anathemas on Gen. Burnside. The scantiness
of the rations and the continuance of complaints
finally reached Capt. McKibbin's ears, Burnside's
Adjutant General, who reported to the old hero the
case, and a few days more of empty stomachs ended
all the trouble, for fresh bread, fresh beef, and a full
allowance of everything in the commissary depart
ment was issued without stint, so that the grumbling
ceased once more. The stay at Newport News was
of only twenty-two days duration, but in the mean
time the regiment experienced some hot days and

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empty stomachs. Brigade guard was established
the first day of the landing of the troops at Newport
News. The following order was issued by Col. Ferrero on the second day of being in Camp Lincoln:
" Coffee, at 5 A. M., streets and tents policed at 5J- A.
M., " peas on trencher" at 6 A. M., company drill at 7J
A. M., "roast beef" at 12 M., dress parade at 6} P.M.,
brigade drill every Monday and Thursday, regimen
tal drill every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at
4J p. M." It can be seen that from early morn to
close of day the brigade under Ferrero was to have
but few idle moments. Brigade guard-mounting
was not mentioned in the order, but still it came off
daily at 9 A. M.
On Sunday, 13th of July, Col. Ferrero issued an
order giving the post of honor to the 51st P. V. by
putting it on the right of the brigade. On the 14th
about a dozen men were detailed from the 51st P. V.
to guard the " Parrish farm." situated about three
miles from camp on the road leading to the town of
Hampton ; they continued living at the " top of the
pile " during their stay there. This same day fresh
bread was issued for the first time while we were
here.
The 16th brought a change in the hours for regi
mental drill from 4J to 5J P. M., on account of the
intense heat at the earlier hour.
The mails were very regular at Camp Lincoln,
coming in every afternoon at 2 o'clock and going
out at 9 A. M. daily.

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XIII.

Recruiting — Camp duty— Robbery — Preparing for the front —
Again on the Recruit — Arrival at Aquia creek and Fredericksburg — "Rat coffee" — Sun strokes — Camp Fererro —
Marching orders — More recruiting — Officers' baggage — First
march on the Pope campaign — A quarrel — An extract from
a letter — Throwing away clothing.

ON Sunday, July 20th, an order was read off on
dress parade detailing one commissioned officer, one
sergeant, and one corporal to go to Pennsylvania
to recruit. Capt. Lynn, of Co. H, Sergeant Martin
Schoch, of Co. E, and Corporal Lewis, of Co. D,
were detailed to proceed home for recruiting pur
poses.
On the 22d of July another order on camp duty
was read off on dress parade, as follows : Reveille at
5 A. M., streets and tents policed at 5.30 A. M., doctor's
call and breakfast at 6 A. M., company drill at 7.30
A. M., one hour, guard mounting at 8.30 A. M., dinner,
12, M., brigade and regimental drills at 4.30 P. M.,
dress parade at 7.15, p. M.; regiments to stack arms
on the color line at 9 A. M., tattoo at 8.30 p. M., taps
to put out lights at 9 P. M.
On the 23d of July a most disgraceful robbery
took place at the general hospital at Newport News.
Two kegs of butter, one box of gaiters, and four
hundred dollars in money were taken. The robbery
was traced to two men belonging to the 51st P. V.
The butter had been sold at twenty-five cents per
pound to any one willing to buy ; but the money
and gaiters were recovered, and the culprits courtmartialed and punished.

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First brigade and part of the third, with a battery
of six pieces, left Newport News on the 25th to go
to Yorktown, and speculation ran high as to the
early departure of the 51st P. Y. to go to the front.
On the 27th, three hundred wounded, sick, and well
prisoners arrived from before Richmond, and caused
much rejoicing in camp.
A novelty to the soldiers presented itself on the
29th of July, in the form of two white ladies, who
were on a visit to Newport News.
On the 30th of July the regiment was taken out
about three miles from camp for target firing, which
proved that the 51st P. V. possessed some excellent
marksmen.
The regiment received a complete set of new drums
on the 1st of August, in place of those originally
received at Camp Curtin, which had become unser
viceable" from long continuous use. In fact, this date
brought several incidents of interest in the history
of the 51st P. V. All the sick and convalescents
belonging to the regiment, who had been left at
Newbern, N. C., in the hospitals, arrived, with the
exception of a few, whose lives would have been
jeopardized by the removal. It is also the day that
the regiment might say its continuous marchings
began their birth. Marching orders were issued to
it that only ended in its re-enlistment in East Ten
nessee. The first order was to be ready to move at
a moment's notice, with three days' cooked rations
and one hundred rounds of ammunition. Conse
quently rations were immediately issued and fires
kindled, and soon the camp-kettles were seething and
steaming with salt beef and pork, and knapsacks
were packed and all ready to start in three hours

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after receiving orders ; but the final order to leave
Newport News did not come until 6 A. M. of the 2d.
Tents were struck at 8 A. M., and the regiment
marched down to the wharf, and again embarked on
board of the schooner Recruit, quartering on the deck
as before. The day was occupied in embarking the
remainder of the troops that was encamped at that
place. At 6 P. M. the Recruit swung out into the
stream, and left for Aquia Creek ; arriving at For
tress Monroe at 8 o'clock in the evening, dropped
anchor and remained there until 1 o'clock on the
morning of the 3d, when she again left, and entered
the mouth of the Potomac at 2 P. M. of the same day.
At 6 P. M. Gen. Burnside passed the regiment on his
little despatch boat, and as usual three cheers were
given for him with a hearty good-will. The Recruit
came to an anchor at 9 p. M., a little below Mount
Yernon, on the Potomac, and started again at 6 A. M.
on Monday, the 4th, and arrived at the mouth of
Aquia Creek at 9 A. M. But one incident worthy of
note occurred during the passage from Newport
News, and that was the drinking of rat coffee. A
large cauldron had been filled with ship's water the
night previous, for the purpose of making coffee
early in the morning, Some time during the night
a couple of rats got in the water, and being unable
to get out, drowned ; and, not being discovered until
the coffee had been made, issued, and drank, the
effect of the discovery can be better imagined than
described.
One hour after the arrival of the Recruit at Aquia
Greek the 51st disembarked, took the cars of the
"Aquia Creek and Frederic ksburg Railroad," and
arrived at the depot opposite to Fredericksburg at

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1 P. M. On taking the cars at the creek a large
number of officers and men met an old acquaintance
in the person of Thomas Bones, Esq., who had for
merly been a conductor for many years on the
Chester Valley Railroad, Pa. It was he who had
rebuilt the Aquia Creek & Fredericksburg Kailroad,
and was now its chief superintendent.
After arriving at the station the regiment stacked
arms in the rear of the depot, and the sun pouring
down its burning rays on the unsheltered heads of
the troops, produced a number of sunstrokes. The
51st P. Y. lay here only about an hour, during
which time Col. Hartranft was busy in selecting a
suitable place for camp purposes. When he suc
ceeded, he immediately took the regiment about one
mile further back, and encamped it in a splendid
wheat field belonging to the notorious " Phillips "
farm, nearly opposite Fredericksburg. Sergeant
David Long, of Co. D, received a sunstroke which
nearly deprived him of his life, while marching from
the depot up to the camp ground. In faot, nearly
every man was more or less affected by the intense
heat. Companies C and G, not accompanying the
regiment on this trip, did not arrive till the next day,
(the 5th.) This did not become a legitimate camp
until the afternoon of the 6th, when tents arrived,
were immediately pitched, and then it was named
" Camp Ferrero," in honor of Col. Ferrero, the bri
gade commander. The three days' rations that had
been cooked on the eve of departure from Newport
News were exhausted, and nothing more was issued
until the evening of the 6th ; consequently hunger
again stared the men in the face, and as the regiment
was paid off on the 5th, the scanty supply in the

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neighboring sutler's tents was soon bought up at
extravagant prices to satisfy the inner man.
One noticeable feature was observed in the appear
ance of the troops in Virginia and those of the
Burnside expedition. While the former were as
white in complexion as their Northern friends at
home were, the latter were as dark as the darkest
mulattoes, and had more the appearance of an army
of negroes than Caucasians.
On the 6th the entire brigade had dress parade,
and the most stringent orders were read to each reg
iment. Among the duties assigned to the troops
was the drilling of the commissioned officers daily
from 9 A. M. to 10 A. M., and non-commissioned
officers from 10.30 A. M. to 11.30 A. M.
The tents received here were the " Sibley," or
round tents, each to accommodate fourteen men,
which was about six too many, considering the
intense heat, but they were raised up from the
ground a few inches to allow the free circulation of
air, and bunks were put up of pine boughs a foot
from the earth, giving the air a chance to circulate
beneath them, adding much to the comfort of the
men. But it never failed that when a regiment
fixed up comfortably it soon received marching
orders ; and thus it was with the 51st P. Y., for on
the 9th orders were received to be ready to move
on three hours' notice, and to leave all surplus cloth
ing behind, packed up with owner's name sewed on
each bundle and stowed away in large boxes for
that purpose, to be sent to Aquia Creek and placed
under guard for safe keeping. The men of the 51st
P. Y. know how safe their clothing was kept. When
they received the lot again in Pleasant Valley, Md.,

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REGIMENT

only about one-fifth arrived and that in a worthless
condition, all the best having been stolen long before
it was shipped to the regiment.
Although the regiment received marching orders
on the 9th, it did not march until the evening of the
12th, at 6 o'clock.
On the 10th regimental inspection was held by
Lieut. Col. Bell, who was very severe on heavy
knapsacks, arid again warned the men of the conse
quence of carrying such heavy loads, but a great many
turned a deaf ear to the kindly advice, through igno
rance of all they had to go through before they
would need their surplus clothing ; could they have
foreseen but a fraction of their trials of the future I
doubt if there could have been found one who
would have carried even a single extra shirt.
On the llth the brigade had a drill under the
command of Col. Hartranft for the first time, and
although it was his maiden attempt, he acquitted
himself with the usual credit of all and everything
he did in a military line, viz., excelled ly none.
On the 7th another party was detailed to proceed
to Pennsylvania to recruit for the regiment. Lieut.
Jacob P. Brooks, of Co. F, Sergeant George W.
Patterson, of Co. I, and Sergeant John W. Fair, of
Co. C, were detailed, and left the same day for
Harrisburg, Pa.
The 51st was still in the 2d Brigade, Reno's Divi
sion, Burnside's Expedition, and carried its title
until merged into the 9th Army Corps.
On the llth, the officers who did not wish to be
encumbered with surplus baggage sent it home by
"express," as the marching orders were still held
good. The confusion and inconvenience incident to

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a regiment being under marching orders for several
days, can only be known by soldiers themselves ;
the suspense is only to be equalled by that of a
criminal under sentence of death, before the precise
fatal day is known.
At 6 P. M. on the 12th; the regiment formed on
the color line preparatory to starting on its long and
wearisome march. Just as the men had stacked
their arms a violent tornado swept over that section
of country, ripping and tearing the large Sibley
tents as though they were made of paper. The
tents occupied by the 51st P. Y. were, per orders,
left standing by the regiment when about leaving,
but the tornado had torn them from their positions
and whirled some of them a great distance, leaving
the camp ground nearly divested of everything like
a tent ; but the men, giving chase to the flying
tents, secured them, and they were soon put up;
although in a very dilapidated condition. The reg
iment then " fell in " line and took arms. At sun
down, as the regiment began to move, the rain
poured in torrents, filling all the creeks and ravines
to overflowing, and making the night's march one
never to be forgotten. The darkness equalled,
almost excelled the famous Egyptian darkness that
could be felt; the mud knee deep; progress very
slow ; halts frequent and the roads obstructed with
upset wagons and bemired artillery ; such were the
circumstances of the forepart of the night's march.
As the 51st passed the camp of the 9th New
York, (Zouaves,) a quarrel came near being created
which might have resulted in a serious fight had not
some of the officers of the Zouaves interfered and
put a stop to the inflammable language used by

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both parties. The foundation of the quarrel was
built on an article that appeared in a newspaper
published somewhere in the interior of Pennsyl
vania. The article purported to have been written
by an officer of the olst P. V., giving a description
of the battle of South Mills, Camden, 1ST. C., and
stating that while the 51st P. V. were hotly engaged
in the battle,. " Hawkins' Zouaves were in the rear
plundering the knapsacks of the 51st P. V." The
writer never saw the article in question, but if such
a one did exist, I care not if it was officer or enlisted
man that wrote it, I emphatically stamp it as a base
and villanous falsehood ; for there was not half a
dozen knapsacks carried by the regiment on that
occasion ; and again, what few had been brought
from Newbern were left on board of the Admiral
when the regiment disembarked. Hard words
passed between the two regiments, and they were
forever afterwards rank enemies. That the article
had been published in the paper could not be
denied, for some friend of the Zouave regiment had
put the paper in a wrapper and mailed it to the
Zouaves. The regiment halted for a couple of
hours rest and to get breakfast at 4 A. M., on the
13tb, near the Yellow House, about eight miles
from Fredericksburg. This Yellow House must not
be confounded with the Yellow Tavern on the Weidon Eailroad. At 6 A. M. the regiment again moved
off under a scorching hot sun and in plenty of rnud;
but by noon the marching began to improve as the
mud disappeared. The heat caused a great many
to lag behind, and stragglers lined the road all
day and night. At noon the regiment halted for
dinner at a secesh farm, which had a fine peach

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orchard on it, the trees loaded with the ripe and
luscious fruit. As soon as " halt " was commanded,
the boys made a charge at double-quick on the
peaches, and only a few minutes sufficed to clear
the orchard of all of its choice fruit.
The writer has just got possession of a letter that
was sent to a friend of one of the members of the
51st P. Vv dated Culpepper Court House, Va.
August 15, 1862, giving a detailed account of the
march from Camp Ferrero to Culpepper, in more
explicit language than the author of this history is
capable of commanding.
"#•»## Just a few minutes before we left Camp Ferrero, I
wrote to you to let you know that we were about marching.
Well, on Monday evening, at G o'clock, we left Camp Ferrero
in a tremendous storm, but by the time that we had crossed
the valley between Camp Ferrero and Falmouth, it had ceased
to rain. I will give you a succinct account of our march
as far as I have the time and abilities to make it worth reading
to you. Falmouth is but one and a-half miles in a straight line
from where Camp Ferrero lay ; but by the road we had to
march, on account of the mud and high hills, it was about four
miles. I will first give you the incidents from Camp Ferrero
to Falmouth. The 1st brigade composed of the Gth N. H. ,
89th K Y., 48th P. V., and the 3d Maryland under Gen. Par
ker, with DurreH's Reading Artillery, about forty baggagewagons, and two companies of U. S. Dragoons, started on the
advance. Then our 3d brigade, under Col. Hartranft, who is
acting brigadier-general of this brigade, consisting of the 51st
P. V., 51st N. Y., and the 21st Mass. ; all under command of
Gen. Burnside. Well, it rained while we were starting, and
we left all our tents standing ; for we were to have no more
living in tents. It was just dark by the time we got fairly on
our tedious march. Nothing of interest transpired until after
we crossed the valley, except the numerous halts we had to
make in consequence of the slow progress of the battery and
wagon trains in getting onward. After crossing the valley,
and ascending one of the first ranges of hills, we had to come to
a halt, by the upsetting of one of the six-horse teams into a

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REGIMENT

ditch, on the roadside, of about five feet deep. After halting
one hour for it to get out of the ditch, we started off and left it
in the ditch, bottom upwards. We got along very slow, for the
roads were very slippery. When within about one mile of Falrnouth, the battery stuck fast in the mire, causing a long deten
tion again ; but, however, it got out again, and we started once
more, expecting to keep on going ; but, not so ; for just as the
wagon train was crossing a bridge at Falmouth, a wagon con
taining nothing but ammunition, which is very heavy, broke
through the bridge. Two mules were killed, and there was a
long stoppage, making it 12 o'clock, midnight, when we reached
Falmouth. Four miles in six hours ! You can't imagine how
tedious it is to march five minutes, and stand thirty minutes,
with knapsacks and everything else buckled and strapped
up tight to your body. Well, the bridge once fixed up again,
we crossed over, but had not gone two hundred yards, when
going down a very steep hill, over goes another wagon loaded
with camp kettles, grub, and such baggage as the officers had
along. This wagon went over a high precipice, at the bottom
of which was a pool of water ; the wagon was broken to atoms,
the camp kettles and baggage all smashed up ; the mules were
all dragged over with it, but were very little hurt, I believe.
The column pushed on, and left the wagon in the hole ; but we
had not proceeded two hundred yards, when, bottom upwards,
goes another wagon ; and after that we did not bother with the
wagons, but pushed on until after daylight, Avhen we halted for
a couple of hours for the purpose of resting, eating a bite, and
getting a little sleep. How far we marched is more than I can
say, but I know we were tired. After our nap we started again,
and this time, our brigade being on the advance, we did not
stop much for the wagons ; Col. Hartranffc pushing on so as to
go past and let them get in the rear. Our march now became
very hard ; for, marching all the night before, and getting only
about an hour's sleep, we, as a matter of course, were jaded
out. Still we kept on till noon, when the 48th P. V. had a
brush with the guerrillas, which, caused a detention of an hour
or so. I did not see anything of the fight, and in fact very
few, except those engaged, saw anything of it ; for we hardly
came to a halt before we were down in the mud sound asleep.
I did not hear a gun fired. All I knew was that the 48th had
charged on guerrillas, and drove them. We started again, and
at 4 r. M. we halted to get water and eat a bite ; but I was so

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tired, and my feet so sore, that, instead of eating, I did as hun
dreds of others did — I laid down, and took my rations out in a
nap. AVe started again, but my feet, like others, were so sore
that I resolved, with seven others of the 51st N. Y., and one
other out of my company, to evade the rear guards, stop in the
woods all night, and run the risk of being "gobbled up" by
the guerrillas. We did so ; but only by the skin of our teeth ;
for we just got our blankets unfolded, when the rear guard
passed us. We even held our breaths for fear of discovery as
they passed within ten feet of our concealment ; but the dark
ness saved us. There were about one hundred men in the
guard. As soon as they passed us, we loaded our guns, de
termined to sell our lives as dear as possible should the guer
rillas find us. About 12 o'clock, midnight, horsemen passed
close to us — sometimes not more than six feet from us ; but I
can't say whether they were our pickets or guerrillas, for none
of us cared about making their acquaintance under the circum
stances ; but we judged them to be guerrillas lurking in the rear
of our column for the purpose of capturing stragglers as they
lag behind from fatigue ; but we did not lose a man. The rear
of the column was six or seven miles in advance of us ; for it
marched until midnight before it bivouacked. We got up
an hour before daylight, and marched on until a little after
daylight, when we heard the bugle sounding for the teamsters
to feed their mules. We knew then that we were not far off
from the column. So, feeling perfectly safe, we laid down and
took a couple hours of oh ! the sweetest sleep ! and then got
up, and feeling fresh, we started off and came up to the regi
ment just as it was getting ready to march; but this time we
only had about five miles to go before we got to Bealton Sta
tion, on the Orange and Alexander Railroad. As this road is
now under our control, and has been since last Saturday, we
took the cars for Culpepper Court-house, where we took up
our quarters in an open lot back of the town and pitched a few
tents that were got in the town ; but we had not been there
above an hour or so, before we were again ordered off."

After the regiment had dinner and cleaned out the
peach orchard, it started off towards Bealton. The
heat now became intense, and seemed to beat the
men down to, the ground despite their efforts to

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REGIMENT

keep up. Knapsacks, haversacks, blankets, shirts,
blouses, pants, shoes and stockings, were thrown
away without a regret ; the road was literally cov
ered with clothing, most of it newly drawn ; but
everything that could possibly be spared was thrown
away ; a large number even took off the shirts they
were wearing, and threw them along with the other
things. Nearly all of those things could have been
saved, or at least the labor of carrying them, had
the men listened to the advice of Lieut.-Col. Bell
previous to starting on this march.
CHAPTER

XIV.

Bealton Station — Culpepper — The Rapidan — Retreating — Fight
at Kelly's Ford — Formation of the Ninth Army Corps —
Rappahannock Station — More righting — Cowardice at Sul
phur Springs — Warrenton — Hard marching and hunger —
Stuart's "Black Horse" cavalry — Warrenton Junction —
Rest and food — Junction with Union Army at Gainesville —
Manassas Plains — Severe battles.

ON Thursday, the 14th, at 10 A. M., the regiment
arrived at Bealton Station, on the 0. and A. R. R.,
•tired and worn out. It filed into a field close to the
station, stacked arms, cooked dinner, and left on the
cars for Culpepper at 1.30 p. M., arriving at Tele
graph station at 3 P. M. and at Culpepper at 4 p. M.7
where it disembarked and marched to the back of the
town and bivouacked for an hour, when orders were
received to proceed about three miles further on, ar
riving a little before sundown and quartering in a
meadow. In marching from Culpepper to this place
the greatest surprise and enthusiasm was manifested
by the troops already there at the appearance of
Gen. Burnside's expeditionary force.

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The olst bivouacked in the lowest part of the
meadow, as there was no choice, and without tents
or shelter of any kind it was obliged to lie in the
heavy rain of its first night in this place ; but all
slept soundly and got up the next morning much
refreshed after their tedious march from Camp Ferrero. The regiment remained here until 3 p. M. of
the loth, when it again took up the line of march
and proceeded about four miles outside of the picket
lines to within a short distance of Eaccoon ford, on
the Rapidan river, where it arrived a little before
sundown. It had rained nearly all day and the
marching was most horrible. It seemed as if the
elements had combined to make the regiment suffer
all the inconvenience of being without shelter, for it
rained whenever the regiment had to march, and the
sun poured down its scotching rays upon it when
ever it made a halt or bivouacked.
On the 16th a detail of six men was made to ac
company Lieut. Hall, Assist. Quartermaster of the
Division, on a foraging expedition. They took three
wagons and went to James Somerville's mill, at Rac
coon ford, and loaded up the wagons with corn, much
against the proprietor's will, not, however, without
giving him proper vouchers to enable him to get his
pay. While Mr. Somerville was loading the corn
the men were foraging through the house, garden,
and aviary. They succeeded in getting a few
chickens, potatoes, onions, cabbage and a large
quantity of honey, both strained and in the comb.
After the corn was loaded it was taken to camp and
unloaded, and the wagons again proceeded to within
sight of the aforesaid corn-crib for another load, and
10
discovered the enemy loading
corn from the same

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crib. The teams " about faced " and went back to
camp on a double-quick, when it was discovered that
Stonewall Jackson was pitching his tents on an emi
nence not far off from us and close to Slaughter
Mountain. They were seen to signal with flags from
the top of Cedar Mountain in daytime and at night
with lights. On Monday, 18th of August, 1862, the
band belonging to the 51st P. V. were discharged
and left for their homes the same day.
The enemy was seen to be gathering a large force
on the top of a range of hills in the rear of Raccoon
ford, on the Rapidan. The discovery was made on
the 16th, and enough had been seen to know that it
was their intention to sweep down upon the "Yan
kees " in the night and "gobble them up at one fell
swoop;" but in this they met a disappointment, for
the hint was taken and a hurried retreat of the
Union forces commenced near midnight. The 51st
P. V. brought up the rear of the division in the re
treat, "Stonewall" pressing it hard succeeded in
capturing about a dozen of the slow-footed ones of
the 51st. So rapid was this retreat made that the
regiment passed through Stevensonburg at 7 A. M. of
the next day. Making the march of twenty-eight
miles in eight hours, without a single rest, the regi
ment forded several rivers and streams and finally
made a stand at Kelly's ford, on the Rappahannock.
Stonewall's forces kept close to the rear of the Union
troops. Shortly after arriving at Kelly's ford Maj.
Schall sent his brother, W. P. Schall, and James
Whitehead, of Co. D, to a house that was within
sight of the regiment to get him some butter and other
articles of food. They were in the house but a few
minutes when the rebels entered it and took them

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prisoners. Nothing further transpiring after the
regiment halted, it went into quarters for the bal
ance of the day and night ; rude sheltering was put
up and a good night's rest enjoyed by the overmarched men until towards daylight, when the regi
ment was aroused by the uneasiness of the enemy
and the firing of picket shots. Twenty rounds more
of cartridges were issued to the men, everything of
inferior value was ordered to be burnt, and letters
forbidden to be written, by order of Gen. John Pope.
Two shots were fired by Durrell's battery at a lot of
rebel cavalry who showed themselves at the edge of
the woods on the opposite side of the ford. Co. D,
Capt. Schall, was sent out on picket to prevent a sur
prise. An attack was momentarily expected, and at
11 A. M. of the 21st the ball opened that did not end
until the sound of the last gun had died away on the
17th of September, 1862, among the hills enclosing
Antietarn. The battle opened near the Rappahannock Station at 11 A. M., and at 12 noon it began in
front of the 51st by the Union cavalry crossing at
Kelly's ford and skirmishing the woods, in which
the rebel cavalry were as thick as hair on a horse.
The 1st Brigade had met Longstreet's skirmishers
and had driven them back several miles. The 51st
P. V. supported Durrell's battery through this long
series of hard fighting. The fighting ended at 6 P.
M. in our favor, Gen. Siegel capturing nineteen guns
and the 48th P. V. two guns ; the loss was two
killed and seven wounded. That night the 51st lay
on their arms in one of the usual rains, and was re
lieved at daylight by a portion of McClellan's forces.
The 51st then went to reinforce McDowell at Rappahannock Station, arriving there in time to get a cup

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of coftee made before the rebels opened their artil
lery, which they did soon after. The regiment
stacked arms in a stubble field north of the station.
The • expeditionary forces of Burnside were
merged into the 9th Army Corps about the 12th of
August, 1862, but the men knew nothing of the
c ange until about the 16th.
After the 51st arrived at Rappahannock station
it was put on temporary reserve and again marched
at 4 p. M., proceeding farther up the river, halting
in mud and rain about every half a mile during
the day and night, without any rations excepting an
ear of green corn that was occasionally found in
the devastated cornfields along the line of march.
At 6 A. M. on the 23d the battle opened in good
earnest on both sides; the 51st was again ordered
on the march at that time without obtaining one
mouthful of food until noon, when, through the
violence of the severe storm, the regiment was
forced to a halt in the vicinity of a cornfield. The
thunder vieing with the artillery's roar, .and the
lightning with the cannon's flash. This storm will
be remembered by the men of the 51st from the
fact of a negro being killed by the lightning while
sitting on his mule close to the regiment. While
at this halt several cows were seen running at large,
and Col. Hartranft gave his consent to his men to
shoot and dress them for the use of the regiment,
but they were no sooner shot down than each man
dressed his own piece. Fires were kindled, corn
was pulled and roasted, and the meat thrown into
the ashes to cook the best it might, and with every
prospect of having one hearty rneal at any rate the
men felt satisfied ; but in this the majority were

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disappointed, for orders came to march with all the
speed possible. Col. Hartranft who, along with the
other officers, were expecting a feast with their men
on roasted green corn and beef, secured a handful
of this savory meal, as the rest did, vaulted into
his saddle with promptness and started off again,
leaving the most of the food in the fires, not even
having time to secure it in its partially cooked
state. A large number of men snatched a piece of
meat from the hot coals and ate it as they marched
along, with the blood and ashes running down from
the corners of their mouths. Two crackers were
all the rations that each man had had in four days ;
what the officers got in that time is hard to say, but
it could not have been much more, as they were
obliged to buy their own food from the citizens,
who in this region had nothing scarcely to eat for
themselves.
That night the regiment was sent out on picket,
and at daylight it started for Warrenton Junction.
After going a few miles it halted to get something
to eat ; two crackers and a little tea was issued to
the men, and that was all they got for a breakfast,
which had to serve until the next day. After par
taking of their scanty meal the regiment again
started and reached Sulphur Springs at 9 p. M. on
the 24th. This day proved how trustworthy was
the word of those men who had been under arrest
at Newbern for cowardice. Before the column
halted at Sulphur Springs the rebel artillery fired
several rifle shells at the regiment, and one of them
exploding over the heads of the 51st pioneers, one
of whom had been of the party under arrest in
North Carolina, he no sooner heard the explosion

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KEGIMENT

than be threw away his axe and ran until he felt
himself safe, his company officers not hearing any
thing of him until after his arrival in the vicinity
of his home in Pennsylvania. The others of his
ilk did not run home, but kept out of harm's way
until the entire campaign was over, from Kelly's
Ford to Washington. Some rejoined the regiment
at the latte'r place, but no sooner did a shell ex
plode near them than these same men would leave
for safer places ; none of them can have the proud
satisfaction of ever saying, " I have participated in
one battle." Such characters as these are ever ready
to raise a quarrel in a bar-room or with a comrade,
where there is no particular danger, but put them
in the vicinity of a battle and their courage oozes
out : they then become very amiable and harmless.
For what could such men have enlisted ? was it to
make the courageous think that they too have
courage? I admit it requires a man "to screw his
courage up to the sticking point" when about
beginning a battle, but none is required to have
one's name on a muster roll.
On Monday, August 25th, the 51st P. V. again
took up the line of march at daybreak, on the
Warrenton turnpike for YVarrenton, where it arrived
at noon, worn out, sore of foot, and, worst of all,
completely famished for something to eat. Halting
on a small hill close to the road in an open space
between two woods it formed into a line of battle to
resist a charge from Stuart's black horse cavalry,
which was a short distance off' manoeuvring to
capture the 9th Corps wagon train, or whatever else
they could succeed in accomplishing in that line.
Notwithstanding the expectation of an attack from

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that celebrated cavalry every moment, Col. Ferrero
rode up to where Col. Hartranft had taken his
position. His appearance caused from his whole
brigade a general cry of "crackers! crackers ! hard
tack ! hard tack !" Ferrero, sitting on his horse,
turned and faced his men and exclaimed, in tones
partaking of anger and pity, "My God! men, I
have been trying to get you something to eat ever
since daylight. I have had every wagon in the train
searched to discover a single box of crackers, but
with no success ; but if there is a mouthful to be
had in the army you shall have it before you leave
here," and wheeling his horse he started off at full
gallop, amid deafening yells from the 51st P. Y. of
" crackers ! crackers ! " &c. The cavalry charge was
not made, but the 51st still kept its position, when,
after Ferrero's absence of an hour, he succeeded in
getting two boxes of hard tack for each regiment of his
brigade, which, when issued, gave to each man about
one and a half crackers, or near three ounces weight
of food. Hunger now began to tell on the men in
their marches ; their emaciated forms were getting
weaker and weaker at every mile marched. How
could it be expected that officers and men could
fight all day and march all night for upwards of
forty days and nights without more than two hours
rest in the twenty-four, and with less than half
rations on an average? but such was the experience
of the 51st P. V. from the 12th of August to the
24th day of September, 1862, the fatigues of which
time was increased by the continual whirl of excite
ment, constant heavy rains, and almost unfathomable
depths of mud and quicksand.

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The 51st P. V. left its position at 4 p. M. and
marched until 10 p. M., and took up a position in a
meadow within one mile of the Junction, where it
lay on its arms until daylight. The nights now
were becoming cold and chilly, heavy dews falling,
and the men very scantily clothed, some not the
owners of a shirt; all filthy, dirty, ragged and cov
ered with vermin. The soldiers could not help this
condition, for no time was given them to wash a
handkerchief, much less necessary clothing, for with
the perspiration, rain, mud and dust settling in and
upon it, without any change whatever, there was no
other alternative expected than to become dirty and
covered with foul vermin ; consequently, the night
was spent in misery. Gen. Reno, whenever he
made his appearance along the line of his division,
had been invariably greeted with hearty cheers, but
now the cheers were turned to "coffee!" "hard
tack!" "meat!" &c. ; and being a very humane
officer, it pained him exceedingly to hear the men
clamor for rations when he knew that he had ex
hausted every means to obtain them ; but still the
men would believe nothing else than that the officers
could get rations for them if they would only try.
But such was not the case. Col. Hartranft was
using every means that his fertile brain could in
vent to obtain a few mouthfuls for his men, but all
to no purpose. Had the officers had anything more
to eat than the men. then the appearance would
have been against them, but they were as a general
thing, on this march, much worse off than the men,
for while the latter got a cracker a day, some of the
officers did not get a mouthful for forty-eight hours.
Prices for a single cracker varied from ten cents to

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fifty cents, and even at these exorbitant prices
none, or very few, changed owners.
On Tuesday, the 26th, the 51st again started on
its march at 7 A. M., and marched to the east side of
Warrenton Junction about one mile, where it came
to a halt for the rest of the day. While at this halt
the filthy condition of the men appealed to the
"commanding powers" for the necessity of giving
the men time enough to wash their clothing and to
rid themselves of their superfluous companions, the
vermin ; for it had been nearly three weeks since
anything had been washed by either officers or men.
This day the men had a good feast, for three days'
full rations of coffee, sugar, hard-tack and pork
were issued and ordered to be cooked for the next
march, but so famished were the men that nearly
one-half of them consumed their three days' rations
in one. The day was spent in washing clothes,
bathing in Broad Run, and hunting the vermin that
claimed entire possession of their habitations. Tired
and worn out as the men were, they seemingly for
got all their troubles as soon as they got the inner
man satisfied. Jokes and slang phrases once more
ruled the day, and all seemed as happy and con
tented in their misfortunes and dangers as if they
were in camp for all time to come. The next morn
ing, early, the regiment left Warrenton Junction
again for Warrenton village, but after marching out
the railroad three miles it was found that the rebels
had slipped by on the flank, and were making for
Manassas Grand Junction. The regiment " about
faced" and struck out for the Junction, arriving at
Gainesville about 8 P. M., where McClellan's forces,
having had a fight in the afternoon and been victo10*

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rious, were encamped on the battle-field. The 51st
passed on over the battle-field and went into quarters
for the night.
On Thursday, the 28th, the 51st again started at
daylight for the Junction, arriving there at noon,
and found that the enemy had been there and ^de
stroyed a whole train of cars loaded with supplies
for the Union army. The cars were still burning
when the 51st arrived. At the end of a reconnoissance the regiment again started after the enemy
who was engaged with McDowell's forces on the
Plains of Manassas. The battle raged there until
night, and the 51st bivouacked among the fortifica
tions about three miles north of the Junction.

CHAPTER

XY.

Second buttle of Bull Run — Supporting DurrelPs battery —
Second day's fight — Longstreet's corps — Desperate struggle
— Retreat of the Union forces — Gallant stand of Reno's
Division — Rebel cunning — General retreat — Loss of knap
sacks, &c. — List of casualties — Arrival at Centreville.

AT daylight on Friday, the 29th, the regiment
prepared to march by calling in companies A, D, F
and I, which had been out all night on picket, and
before sunrise it was on its way to "Bull Run,"
where it soon arrived amidst a greeting of solid
shot, shell, and railroad iron cut into lengths of fif
teen or twenty inches, from the rebel batteries
masked in the woods along the Manassas Railroad.
The regiment was immediately formed in line of
battle, with bayonets fixed, and lay down on the
crest of a hill, in support of Durrell's famous bat-

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tery. The battle was now raging furiously. The
dying and wounded were being carried to the rear
by thousands ; the air was filled with the shrieking
and exploding shells, the ground being covered
with their fragments, and with the dead, dying
and wounded soldiers.
Durrell's battery labored incessantly in its duties,
and must have played sad havoc in the rebel ranks,
for it appeared to be a special target for about six
hours to all the rebel batteries within reaching dis
tance, during which time Col. Hartranft served in
person at one of the guns, rendering valuable ser
vices in keeping the gun at work. Although he
exposed his entire person for so long a time, yet he
would not let one of his men raise his head six
inches above the ground, as if he wanted the enemy
to think that the battery was not supported, thereby
inviting a charge from them. Attempts had been
made to flank the battery on the left, but the left
wing of McDowell's command checkmated those at
tempts, while Durrell kept dealing rapid doses of all
kinds of missiles of death into the multitudinous
ranks of the enemy, under the command of Gen.
James Longstreet, who seemed fated to contend with
the 9th Army Corps in all his future battles, for it
met him at Bull Run, at Chantilly, South Moun
tain, Antietam, atLoudon, Campbell's Station, Knoxville, Blame's Cross Roads, Spottsylvania, Cold
Harbor, Ream's Station, Yellow Tavern, and almost
anywhere along the line at Petersburg.
The battle raged all day and on to midnight.
Before the 51st went into battle the men divested
themselves of all incumbrances, such as knapsacks,
blankets, &c., and piled them up and left them under

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the guard of two men from each company. Pocketbooks with their contents, pistols, and all small
articles of value were given by the men to the
guards for safe keeping.
At night four companies, A, D, F and I, were
again sent out on picket under the command of Lieut.
Col. Bell. The remainder of the regiment, under
Col. Hartranft, remained in support of the battery
during the night. After the pickets were posted it
was found that the woods in which they were was
full of dead, dying and wounded rebels, lying side
by side with the same unfortunates of the Union
army. Their cries and groans in the still hours of
night were heartrending in the ears of the humane.
The numerous corpses that strewed the woods, both
of Federal and rebel soldiers, spoke too plainly of
the terrible conflict that had been going on all day
in that desolated place. Nothing had been gained
by either side during the whole day's fighting.
On Saturday morning, August 30, at daybreak,
Capt. Schall, with two or three of his men, had in
tended to penetrate the woods for the purpose of
discovering the position and closeness of the rebel
lines, but Lieut. Jos. K. Bolton, of Co. A, had al
ready taken such steps, and had proceeded about
fifty yards further into the woods when Capt. Schall
started ; the latter only got fairly into his search be^
lore a volley of musketry was fired at Lieut. Bolton,
who escaped unharmed, and the balls flying over
Capt. Schall, at first gave the impression that he had
the credit of opening the second day's fight; but Co.
A was on the extreme left of the line and Co. I on
the right, and Lieut. Bolton had attracted the atten
tion of the rebel pickets at the same time that Capt.

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Schall did. The shots that were fired, however,
brought on the day's work of slaughter, and from
that moment up to 9 o'clock of Saturday night, the
30th, the roar of artillery and the rattle of musketry
were beyond the power of description. It was
sublime to witness, but awful to participate in.
On the rebels beginning the attack, the four com
panies under Lieut.-Col. Bell rallied on the reserve,
which was only about fifteen yards in the rear of
their posts. Lieut.-Col. Bell immediately formed
the four companies in line of battle and held his po
sition for over an hour, when he fell back to the
main line and rejoined the remainder of the regi
ment that was still in support of Durrell's battery.
The men now began to suffer again for rations,
and what little there was among the men was en
tirely consumed for a breakfast, yet notwithstanding
losing so much sleep, they entered upon their duties
with true soldierly cheerfulness, and fought, aye
equalled only by those who fought best, but towards
noon it was becoming evident that the enemy was
in far superior numbers to the Union forces, as the
woods and plains were swarming with the rebel
soldiery, while our own forces were being greatly
reduced by " shirkers" and other causes. Towards
the middle of the afternoon the confusion became
almost as great as it did at the first Bull Eun battle,
colors of different regiments kept continually coming
out of battle, supported by some three or four men
only, who when questioned as to where was their
regiments, they invariably replied, " it's all cut up,
this is all that is left of us," but in a few days after
the battle was over it was found that those same
colors could boast of two or three hundred sup-

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porters, but such was the confusion that each man
seemed to " go it on his own hook " and relieved
himself when it was getting too hot.
About 4 P. M. the Union army began its retreat
to Washington. The roads had been lined all day
with skulkers and wounded. But of this retreat
Reno's division was in total ignorance. And at the
commencement Gen. McDowell ordered Gen. Reno to
take his division into battle at the left of the hospital,
and to occupy a position that would cover the re
treat, and adding at the same time, "you and your
command will be captured, but it can't be helped as
the army must be saved." Gen. Reno couldn't see
capture, and replied in true Yankee style, " I guess
not captured." Col. Hartranft took his regiment in
"left in front," at a double quick, and "by files on
your left into line," he had his regiment in line of
battle inside of two minutes from the time the order
was given to him to take his regiment in, and as
each file came into its place it fired by files until the
whole regiment had got " in line," when he gave
the command "let them have it now, boys,'' and
from 4 P. M. until 9 P. M. did the "boys let them
have it." The regiment kept up an incessant fire
during the whole five hours. The rebel army about
noon began to turn the left wing of Pope's army,
and had driven it back for more than a mile, nearly
doubling it up, and soon after it began its retreat,
leaving the left or rear entirely unprotected until
Reno's division filled up the void, which would have
proved fatal to a large portion of the army had
Reno been less prompt in getting his command into
position, but he saw the danger and strove to avert
it. Immediately in the rear of Cos. A, F, and D, was

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posted a battery of four heavy guns, distant from
the men about twenty-five feet. This battery was
unable to get away when the other troops left, but
now finding itself supported by a fresh regiment it
opened on the enemy all of its guns with the fury of
demons. The enemy were in the woods from where
the " Black Horse cavalry " made their ever to be
remembered charge on the Union troops at the first
battle of Bull Run, and were but a few yards off
from Reno's division, separated only by a ravine that
extended the length of the whole line of battle.
After the first shots were fired by the battery, Capt.
Win. J. Bolton saw that his company was in great
danger of being torn to pieces by the discharge of
grape and canister, which passed only a few inches
over his men's heads. Notice was given to Col.
Hartranft, who soon had the danger obviated by a
change in the battery's position.
After dark, a shell was thrown into the woods
that set it on fire — at least, it was supposed to be the
effect of the shell. The firing had ceased all along
the line except just in this one place; and as the
grape rattled against the trees in the woods, the
sounds were heard by all with perfect awe. Reader !
were you there that night ? If so, you do not for
get those awful thugs as each gun sent its contents
in the woods to search for the wily foe. And if you
were not, I am at a loss to make you comprehend
its awfulness.
A short time after, it began to get dark, and while
the battery was using grape, a voice was heard in
the woods, calling, " Pennsylvania boys ! for God's
sake cease firing and come and get me out of this !"
The exclamations continued for a long time, and

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THE

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REGIMENT

finally ceased. Col. Hartranft's attention was di
rected to the sound, and several of the men vol
unteered to go into the woods to bring the supposed
wounded Union soldier into our lines ; in fact, one
man, Hugh McGill, had started for the benevolent
object, and had reached the bottom of the ravine,
when he was discovered by Col. Hartranft and
ordered back to his company. The firing did not
entirely cease, but the voice still kept on calling, in
the most piteous tones, for aid and rescue. The
sympathy of nearly the whole regiment was enlisted
in the poor fellow's favor ; but Col. Hartranft was
not to be caught napping, and the only sympathy he
expressed was in his command " To pour it into
them !" which both artillery and infantry did to
their utmost capacity ; and the voice ceased to call
for any more aid. Shortly after the voice ceased,
Capt. Bolton discovered in the darkness a large body
of something moving up the ravine, at a very slow
and cautious pace. The firing ceased for a moment,
and he and his first lieutenant, Joseph K. Bolton,
went out a few paces in front, and soon returned
with the information that the rebels were sneaking
up to them. The regiment fired " right oblique,"
and the battery opened at the same time with grape,
canister, and shrapnel, the guns being double-shot
ted. The ravine was soon raked clean of everything
like an enemy, for they quickly scampered back to
their lines. This affair revealed the fact that the
voice for aid was only a stool-pigeon trick of the
enemy to get the firing to cease, that, while our men
would be going to render aid to the wounded man,
they could at the same time take advantage of the
calm and swing around, and perhaps capture the

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whole division ; but Col. Hartranft was a little too
sharp for any of their tricks.
At 9 o'clock at night, the entire Union army
had retreated from the battle-field with the excep
tion of Reno's division ; and as the enemy had not
fired a shot for a considerable time, it was thought
that they had either left or changed their position.
Consequently, Gen. Reno ordered his command to
leave theirs, and move off' the battle-ground as
quietly as possible.
Just as the 51st P. "V. was starting, the com
mander of the battery ran up to Col. Hartranft and
shook him cordiallv by the hand, exclaiming, at the
same time, " Colonel, you have saved my battery !"
This was the truth.
In leaving the field, it was not deemed prudent
to go after the knapsacks, as it was known that the
enemy obtained possession of that portion of the
field long before night. The rebel cavalry had
made a dash and captured the guards that had been
left in charge of them, and plundered the knapsacks
of all the contents that were of any value ; conse
quently the 51st P. Y. lost everything it possessed
excepting what the men had on their persons. The
loss of the regiment in killed, wounded, and miss
ing was small .* By official report, total loss, ten.
* Co. A. Corporal Jesse Johnson, privates Lewis F. Keyser, Harvey Pinch, and Franklin R. Lindley, taken prisoenrs.
Co. D. Corporal William W. Smith, and private Dennis
O'Neil, wounded.
Co. F. Private Thomas Deiner, wounded.
Co. G. Private John Miller, wounded.
Co. H. Privates Henry J. Warner and Jewett S. Harding,
wounded, Harding being taken prisoner.
Co. I. Privates Thomas Troy and Henry Derr taken
prisoners.
Co. K. Private James C. Gallagher, missing.

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The 51st reached Centreville on Sunday morn
ing, the 31st, a little before daylight, in a piercing
cold rain, which had been falling all night. The
men were shivering with cold, in their wet clothing,
from having to ford a stream neck-deep during the
retreat. Their situation was to be pitied, for their
sufferings were of coldness, wet, hunger, and fatigue,
from being on the march all the night before, and
having had no sleep for two nights previous to that.
Their sufferings could not be half told if it were at
tempted.
CHAPTBK

XVI.

"Drawing clothing" — On the march — A surprise — Battle of
Chantilly — Death of Gen'ls Kearney and Stevens — Fairfax —
Cloud's Mills — Washington — Burning of Middleton — Battle
of South Mountain — Terrible carnage — An ambuscade —
Death of Gen. Eeno— Sufferings of the wounded — Explosive
cartridges — Defeat of the enemy.

ON arriving at Centreville the men sought such
shelter from the cold rain as could best be found in
the fortifications at that place. A small lot of
clothing was found stored away in boxes belonging
to a German regiment, and it was eagerly seized by
the men and applied to their own immediate use.
Soon after the appropriation, the Germans came
for their clothes, and their woful looking coun
tenances bespoke the sad disappointment they felt
at their loss, and their " Cod fer tarns " were frequent
and loud. The Germans were not as bad off' for
comforts after their losses as the men of the 51st
were after their acquisitions, for while the former
had their tents to go to, with plenty to eat, the latter

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had to lie out in the cold rain with wet clothing,
without fire and without food.
While lying at Centreville, a rumor became rife
that our forces were being reinforced by 50,000
more fresh troops, and that an " about face " had
been ordered for the purpose of an advance " on to
Richmond." Although the rumor was believed by
many to be false, still a large portion of the army
believed it true, and expressed their willingness to
push the thing through, and end the war as soon as
possible.
On Monday, September 1st, 1862, the 51st P. V.
moved back of Centreville to go into camp, but as
the men began to prepare for that purpose, they
were ordered to make another move for a similar
design, and, when in the act of erecting rude shel
tering, it was for the third time ordered to another
place. Becoming disgusted at what the men con
ceived to be the whimsical caprices of the com
manding officers, they made no further attempts to
protect themselves from the weather.
At 3 P. M., the 51st was ordered to proceed to
Fairfax Court-house, and started in ten minutes
after receiving its orders. At 4 p. M., very unex
pectedly it met the enemy at Chantilly. The 21st
Massachusetts being on the advance it encountered
the enemy first, under very peculiar circumstances.
A brigade of rebel infantry was filing out of a
neighboring woods into the Fairfax road, just as
Col. Clark, with his 21st Massachusetts regiment,
was passing the point into which the enemy were
filing ; the two colonels saluted each other, as each
officer thought they both were of the one army, and
as the men of the 21st Massachusetts wore overcoats

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a good deal of the color of the rebels the delusion
was complete. The two colonels rode along together
for a few yards, when the rebel colonel asked Col.
Clark, "What's your regiment, colonel?" Col.
Clark replied, "Its the 21st Massachusetts." "My
regiment is the
Mississippi, and we are ene
mies," replied the rebel colonel, and with his men
made a fierce onslaught on the 21st Massachusetts,
capturing Col. Clark and a number of his men. The
51st P. Y. and the 51st New York, were about a half
a mile in the rear accompanied by Durrell's battery.
The battle opened as if by magic, the battery got a
position in a field close to the road, and the 51st was
ordered to its support. By this time the entire
armies of both sides that were in the vicinity of
Chantilly, were hotly engaged. Generals Kearney
and Stevens' commands had attacked the enemy on
the latter's own choice of ground, viz., a large corn
field begirted by a strip of woods, but so hotly was
the possession of the cornfield contested for, that
Durrell's battery durst not fire a gun for fear of
killing more of Stevens' and Kearney's men than it
would of the enemy, but just as Kearney had suc
ceeded in driving, the rebels from their position, an
ill-fated bullet pierced the hero, and he died without
a struggle — poor Stevens fell also, and his lifeless
body was carried through the 51st's line to the rear.
Night closed in. with a piercing cold and drenching
rain, but the battle raged violently until 9 o'clock at
night, when the almost Egpytian darkness put a stop
to any further slaughter. Pickets were put out, a
new style of posting them being used that was not
altogether military on account of its risk and unre
liability. The rebels had posted their pickets first

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and close up to the Dlst'smain line, but the darkness
prevented any one from being seen at a distance of
three feet. The 51st posted its pickets between the
rebels' pickets and their -main line, thus rendering
their position one of extreme danger. Shortly after
the pickets were posted a rebel adjutant visited a post
belonging to Co. B's, 51st P. V., but thinking they
were his own men had very little to say to them.
But not so with Co. B's men, they asked him what
regiment he belonged to, he told them, the 3d Louisi
ana, " then by * * * you're my prisoner, for mine is
the 51st Pennsylvania," replied Private John Seibert.
The adjutant wanted an explanation, but John bad
none for him, and brought his shoulder-strapship in
and turned him over to Lieut.-Col. Bell. The posi
tion of the pickets was now understood, and after
capturing a couple posts of rebels, ours were quietly
put in a safer place. The regiment laid on its
arms until 4 A. M. of the 2d, when it again started
for Fairfax. The regiment suffered this night from
cold more than any time since it had been in the
army. Cold chilling rain fell during the whole
night, the men being without a gum or even a painted
blanket, and many without any shirt at all, only
their blouse and pants on, and lying all night in wet
grass that was not less than two feet and a half high.
Their condition can safely be compared to that of a
man being compelled to stand in cold water up to his
chin for eight hours in succession.
Arriving at Fairfax at sunrise of the 2d, the regi
ment drew a day's rations and cooked its breakfast,
afterwards moving to a position on the top of a hill
close to 'the town. In the afternoon, it again was on
its way to Cloud's Mill, where it went into camp

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under the guns of Fort Ellsworth, near Alexan
dria, Va.
3d, the
men sutler
were of
enabled
to
getOna "Wednesday
little more the
to eat,
as the
the fort
had a large stock on hand, and the men spent their
money as freely as water.
On the 4th, the men drew clothing in lieu of what
they lost at Bull Bun, but no rations, and why it
was that a retreating and famished army so close to
Washington could not get any, is a question that
only the Commissary-General of the United States
Army at Washington, could answer. While the
regiment was lying here, it received quite an
acquisition to its ranks by the arrival of a large
squad of new recruits from Carnp Curtin.
At 9 P. M. the 51st again struck tents and started
for Washington, where it arrived at 4 o'clock in the
morning of the 5th, and halted in a woods a short
distance from the city, where it bivouacked until
10 A. M. of the 7th. While at Washington, Gen.
Burnside visited the regiment, and received the usual
cheers from the men. It was also visited by a large
number of its friends from home, among whom were
Dr. Holstein and Mrs. Cadwalader Evans, from
Bridgeport, Pa. They found a few of their inti
mate friends sick, and distributed their delicacies to
them with an unsparing hand. The writer of this,
although an entire stranger to them, can vouch with
gratitude for their kindness. Having been sick for
several days, although I did not lose a minute's
duty, yet I could not eat such food as was obtained.
I received from Dr. H. a bottle of tomatoes that put
new life in me, and strengthened me greatly for the
next march. I merely mention this circumstance to

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contradict the false impression that only a favored
few ever got anything from the philanthropic.
On the 7th, at 10 A. M., the regiment left Wash
ington, D. C., marched thirteen miles, and went into
quarters for the night at the cross-roads on the turn
pike ; left again the next morning at 6 o'clock,
marched a couple of miles, and then laid over until
next day, when, at 6 A. M. (the 9th), the regiment
left for Brookville, where it arrived at noon, making
thirteen miles in six hours. In passing through this
section of country the troops were received with
strong marks of kindness. Liquors, lemonade,
cakes, bread, pies and fruits were distributed freely
to the troops by the citizens of Maryland. While
in camp at Brookville the men had another chance
to wash their clothing and for a bath, a fine stream
of water passing through the camp. Rations were
also served, for once in thirty days, in abundance.
Fruit being in great plenty and fully ripe, the men
did ample justice to it. The regiment remained at
Brookville until 7 o'clock in the morning of Thurs
day, the llth, then passed through the town of Unity
and encamped for the night near Damascus, Md.
On the morning of the 12th a heavy rain began
to fall and continued until noon, making the march
ing painfully laborious. The roads became so slip
pery that it was with difficulty that the men could
keep on their feet.
On the 13th the regiment crossed the Monocacy
and laid over for the night in the vicinity of Fred
erick City. The army was now under the command
of Gen. McClellan, who had come up with Lee's
forces at Frederick City and given him battle, head
ing off' the rebels from going any further north.

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The battle was a pretty sharp contest, in which the
enemy appeared to get the worst of it, for he began
to fall back on Middleton, toward South Mountain,
where he made a stand on Sunday, September 14th,
1862. A sharp contest ensued at Middleton be
tween the two armies, in which the rebels set fire to
a mill and dwelling houses in the town, consuming
everything, after which they took up their position
on South Mountain. At 2 o'clock p. M. the 51st be
gan to ascend the mountain, and by 3 o'clock it had
taken its position directly in front of the guns of
Durrell's battery. The men were ordered to lie
down, which was highly necessary, for each gun
belched forth its contents over the prostrate men of
the 51st P. V., who were in support of that battery.
The cannonading was terrific, as Durrell and the
rebel batteries were having a regular artillery duel,
which lasted until nearly sundown, when it ceased
by Durrell silencing the enemy's guns, after which,
as the rebels, got the worst of it, they had to limber
up and leave their position. The 51st was then or
dered further up the road, toward the summit of the
mountain. As it was going along a by-road it
passed a heap of rebel dead, forty-seven bodies,
piled up in a space of thirty by ten feet. The won
der was, how the dead got there, but on going up to
the top of the mountain another pile of ninety-seven
lay piled up across each other, and the ground in
the vicinity was strewn with the dead of the 17th
Michigan, telling plainly how the two piles of rebel
dead came to be there. It was the Ivth's maiden
fight; they had only joined McClellan's command
two days previous, and it was less than two weeks

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since they were mustered into the United States ser
vice. They fought like tigers.
The 51st, along with the other part of the brigade,
was in a small field of about three acres, on the left
hand side of the road in going to the top of the
mountain, and as it was supposed that the enemy
had retreated, Gen. Reno rode up to Col. Hartranft
and told him to take his " regiment across the road
into that other field, stack arms, and let the men
make some coffee." Col. H. gave the command,
"right face; forward march," which they did until
they got to the corner of the field, where the bars
were down ; then going to the right of the regiment
he commanded, '''file right." Four companies, A,
F, D and I, and part of the color company, Co. C,
had passed into the field on the right of the road,
when a most murderous fire of musketry was poured
into them from the enemy, who was concealed in a
thicket that skirted the field, only about twenty or
thirty yards distant from the 51st. Notwithstanding
the suddenness of the attack, to their heroic credit
be it said, not a man quailed. It was now nearly or
quite dark, but the men came to a '' front" as if by
impulse, and although the enemy's position could
not exactly be seen, yet their whereabouts could be
near enough told by the blinding flashes of their
guns. The 51st poured a deadly volley into them
that soon cleared the skirt of woods of all rebels.
But the 51st P. V. did not suffer from the enemy
alone, for a new regiment, the 35th Mass., which had
only joined the brigade the day before, was in the
field on the other side of the road where the 51st
had just left, and as the enemy's balls passed the
51st they reached the 35th
11 Mass., when that regi-

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ment, believing they were the attacked party, opened
a deadly fire in the direction from which the balls
were coming. The result was that the 51st was in
between two lines of musketry, and getting shot
down like dogs. Had not the 51st N. Y. interfered
and threatened to fire on the 35th if they did not
cease firing, God only knows when the slaughter
would have ceased. After the 51st had driven the
enemy out of ambush, Col. Hartranft ordered the
regiment out into the road again, to take shelter be
hind a stone wall enclosing the field, for the purpose
of using it as a breastwork. After the regiment
had retired beyond the wall, Co. A, under Capt.
Bolton. was deployed as skirmishers, and skirmished
in the dark until they got to where the enemy had
lain in ambush. The ground was thickly strewn
with the dead, dying and wounded of the 51st P. V.;
but by midnight all had been collected, and the dead
were laid on the roadside for burial. The dying and
wounded were conveyed to the hospital to receive
immediate attention, but the poor sufferers did not
receive it, or at least not until it was too late to be of
any service; vide Lieut. Samuel Fair, of Co. D.;
also, Private E. Lewis Davis, of Co. I, who was at
the hospital four days before his wounds were at
tended to, and died on the fifth day. Several others
were neglected at the hospitals in the same way, and
when the relatives or friends of the wounded men
would remonstrate against such heartless delay, the
surgeons would throw themselves on their dignity,
and order the "busy bodies" to leave.
As Gen. Reno, who commanded the 9th Army
Corps, was going back to his quarters after telling
Col. Hartranft to take the 51st into the field to stack

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arms and make coffee, the first volley fired by the
ambuscade wounded him mortally in the groin and
thigh. His death soon followed ; but previous to
his death Gen. Samuel Sturgis, who was his bosom
friend, visited him while his wounds were being
dressed, and asked him, ':Is it anything serious,
Jesse?" Reno's reply was, "Sam, it's all up with
me;" and being conscious of his near dissolution,
he, like a pure, noble and true hero, reconciled him
self to his fate, and soon breathed his last. Thus
passed away one of the army's brightest stars, as a
gentleman, a friend and a soldier. His bravery had
never been doubted, for it was of that cool, delib
erate, but cautious character, that inspires an army
to follow into the very jaws of death. Gen. J. D.
Cox was put in command of Reno's corps, but was
with it such a short time that the men had little or
no opportunity to judge of his fighting qualities, as
that, and that only, was the standard by which they
valued an officer. He having been sent West in
October, 1862, Gen. 0. B. Wilcox succeeded him in
the command of the 9th Corps.
All that night, after falling back to the stone wall,
the regiment remained on their arms, the 51st 1ST. Y.
doing picketing on the left of the 51st P. V. The
enemy kept up an incessant fire all night, by which
not less than thirty men of the 51st P. V. were pain
fully wounded, though not seriously, by the explo
sions of copper metallic cartridges used by the
enemy. They exploded with a report about as loud
as a pocket pistol, and could inflict a number of ag
gravating wounds on a single soldier at each explo
sion. The copper being very thin, the pieces could
not penetrate deep into the flesh, bat merely buried

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HISTORY

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FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

themselves beneath the skin. One cartridge had
wounded Private Hugh Brown in no less than
twenty-four places, and a large number of others
with nearly as many ; but in a few weeks the poison
ous metal, through festering, would work its way
out of the skin and leave a bluish mark, as if punc
tured with Indian or indelible ink. Between the
extreme chilliness of the night and the constant ex
plosions of the copper cartridges of the enemy, the
men and officers spent a wretched', supperless night, for
no fires could be made either to warm or cook by ; but
morning dawned as a most welcome deliverer from
cold and the enemy's firing, for just at daybreak the
enemy ceased firing and " skedaddled.'' Skirmish
ers were sent out by orders, and a goodly number
went " on their own hook," and succeeded in cap
turing a large number of rebels, some of whom
stoutly refused to surrender until they heard the
sharp click of the cocking of the musket, which
plainly told them they must soon decide whether to
"give up'' or die. They chose the former as the
most agreeable to their feelings.*
Their haversacks proved how proficient the rebels
* OFFICIAL REPORT OF CASUALTIES. — Co. A. — Corporals
John H. Collision, Osmon Ortlip, Benjamin Goodwin, Daniel
Stout and Joseph White; Privates Isaac E. Fillman, Charles
Fix, John Shade and Benjamin D. Jones, wounded.
Co. C. — Corporal Simon P. Emery ; Privates John Hallowell, William H. Lath, George Mercer, William Munshower
and Charles Rodesbaugh, wounded.
Co. D. — Private Samuel Kay, killed. Lieut. Samuel Fair
and Privates Owen McConnell and John Richards, wounded.
Co. F. — Sergeant Jacob W. Reed, wounded.
Co. H. — Private Nathaniel Snyder, killed. Privates
John E. Leamon, Daniel S. Miller and Robert W. Passell,
wounded.
Co. I. — Sergeant Thomas T. Schoch and Privates William J.
Anderson and Zachariah Campbell, killed. Privates E. Lewis
Davis, R. Clarkson Davis and Hugh Brown, wounded.

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were in foraging while in Maryland, for they were
all well filled with fresh baked iDiscuits and rolls.
How it was that the Northern press kept continu
ally howling that the rebels were nearly starved
out, and that the Union soldiers always had plenty
to eat, is a mystery to all except themselves, for. the
contrary was at all times proven by the condition of
the haversacks, when compared, on every battle
field. The haversacks of the Union soldiers might
contain a meagre supply of coffee and sugar, but
seldom anything else eatable, while those of the dead
or captured rebels were full of bread, rolls, biscuits
and cakes. This will apply to all times, excepting
the last few weeks of the expiring confederacy, when
the Union troops had all they needed and the rebels
a scanty supply. Many famished Union soldiers
have regaled themselves on the contents of a dead
rebel's haversack — the writer of this for one.

CHAPTEE

XVII.

The rebels retreating — Opening of the battle of Antietam — The
struggle at the bridge — Brilliant charge of the two 51sts —
Bravery of Capt. Allebaugh— The bridge stormed and taken
— Flight of the enemy — Heavy losses in the regiment — Death
of Lieut. Col. Bell— The battle renewed— Victory— Retreat
of the rebels southward — Promotion — Ferrero's promise to
the "Boys."

THE retreat of the enemy was followed up with
considerable vigor until 10 A. M. of the 15th, when
the regiment halted to draw rations and make a cup
of coffee. It went into camp three times through
the remainder of the day, and moved as often before

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it went into quarters for the night, which was on the
ground where the enemy's battery had its position
during the battle, and if men ever slept soundly it
was on this night, as it was the first undisturbed rest
they had had for a number of days and nights.
T>he regiment remained at this place until 4 p. M.
of the 16th, as it was now on the reserve, but only
to get a little rest and to get rations cooked. The
rebels were retreating but very slowly ; consequently,
the progress of the Union army was also tardy; but
it was not idle, for it was dealing Lee some terrible
blows, as the dead carcasses of horses and mules of
the enemy, lying thickly strewn over the wide space
of country between South Mountain and Antietam,
witnessed. The regiment halted in a stubble field
for the night, one mile from Antietam bridge.
Daybreak of the 17th was ushered in by terrific
cannonading and hard musketry fighting on both
sides. The regiment '• 'slung knapsacks" and was
once more on its way to battle. When near Antie
tam bridge, in the edge of a cornfield, Col. Ferrero
rode up and ordered "the 51st to forward." Col.
Hartranft paid no attention to the order, for it did
not express itself, inasmuch as there were two 51sts
there, and the State was not designated. The com
mander of the 51st N. Y. was equally as particular
as Col. Hartranft was, for he smiled and turned
around to his regiment, and paid no attention to
"the 51st to forward." After a short time elapsed,
Ferrero came back in a towering passion, and ex
claimed, " Why in hell don't you ' forward?" Col.
Hartranft, who knew his duty quite as well as Col.
Ferrero did, perhaps considerably better, and by far
a braver oincer, replied, " Who do you want to for
ward? " Ferrero replied, " the 51st Pennsylvania."

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Col. Hartranft retorted by saying, " Why don't you
say what you mean when you want me to move ? '
The "51st Pennsylvania" did move, but only a
very short distance, when it halted in a flat, close to
a barn in the vicinity of Antietarn bridge. While
at this halt the remainder of the brigade came up
and halted in the same place.
Lieut. John J. Freedley, E. Q. M., ventured to the
top of a hill that overlooked the rebel batteriesrto
gratify his curiosity in knowing the rebels' position.
He, however, was satisfied, for he had only been
there a moment when a shell from a rebel gun ex
ploded a little above him, a piece of which struck
him on the shoulder, inflicting a painful wound. He
was taken to the rear and his wound attended to.
While the regiment was standing at this halt, the
1st brigade had made three ineffectual charges on
Antietam bridge, having been repulsed at each
charge with very heavy losses. The bridge is about
four miles from the mouth of Antietam Creek, and
spans the stream at the foot of very high hills on
either side. The one occupied by the rebels might
properly be called a bluff, which was full of quarry
holes and caverns wherein the enemy had erected
rude but strong breastworks that overlooked the
bridge, and only about ten yards distant from that
structure, making it a " forlorn hope " to any set of
men attempting to take the bridge by assault.
After the 1st brigade had made its third charge,
and was repulsed, Gen. Burnside, seeing the vast
importance of possessing the bridge, dispatched an
orderly to Col. Ferrero to u take the two ,51sts out
of the 2d brigade," and let them try it. As soon as
Ferrero received the orders he vaulted into his sad-

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die and commanded, " Attention, second brigade ! "
Quick as a flash the brigade was " in line." He
then rode up in front of the colors of the 51st P.
V., and spoke to the men as follows : "It is General
Burnside's special request that the two 51sts take
that bridge. Will you do it ? " The request was
unlocked for, and the men had not had time to
think of it, when Corporal Lewis Patterson, of Co. T,
although a temperate man, exclaimed, " Will you
give us our whiskey, Colonel, if we take it ? " Col.
Ferrero turned suddenly around to the corporal and
replied, " Yes, by G — , you shall all have as much
as you want, if you take the bridge. I don't mean
the whole brigade, but you two regiments shall have
just as much as you want, if it is in the commissary
or I have to send to New York to get it, and pay
for it out of my own private purse ; that is, if I live
to see you through it. Will you take it ? " A
unanimous " Yes," went up that told of the determi
nation of the men to take the bridge, not in antici
pation of the ivluskey, but to let Gen. Burnside
know that his confidence in the twin regiments was
not misplaced nor should be abused. After a few
words in private by the regimental and brigade
commanders, the 51st P. V. led the advance. March
ing " by the flank " out to the road that went across
the bridge, it turned its back to the bridge and pro
ceeded in the opposite direction from the objective
point up the road to the top of the hill. All this
time the regiment was receiving volley after volley
of musketry, grape and shell from the rebel forces,
on the opposite side of the creek. On reaching the
top of the hill the regiment received orders " As
each company clears the fence the command is ' by

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company into line,' " and as the companies " filed
left " through and over the fence, they complied
with the order as it had been given. After the
right of the regiment reached a clump of bushes on
the top of the hill, the command to " charge " was
given by Colonel Hartranft. In this field and a
short distance from the base of the hill whereon the
assaulting column was, a stone wall ran parallel
with the creek, and close to its edge, ending abruptly
at the abutment of the bridge. As the regiments
made the charge, the company commanders discov
ered that it would be an impossibility for the two
regiments to charge in a body across such an exceed
ingly narrow structure; they therefore changed
their course from the entrance of the bridge to the
stone wall along the creek. After reaching it they
laid under cover of the wall and opened a terrific
fire of musketry on the enemy, who were snugly
ensconced in their rude but substantial breastworks,
in quarry holes, behind high ranks of cord-wood,
logs, stone piles, &c., making it rather too hot a
place for the enemy to be in, and too close for
further resistance. They began to withdraw from
their position by twos and threes, singly, and in
whatever way they could with the most safety to
themselves. The distance now between the oppos
ing forces was only the width of the creek and a
narrow wagon road on the enemy's side, being not
over twenty-five yards. This was the nearest that
the enemy had had the Yankees to them during the
entire day of the Antietam battle, and they used
every exertion known in military parlance to rid
themselves of their now troublesome foe, but all in
vain. The 51st P. V. and the 51st New York with-

11*

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stood the incessant rain of solid shot, shell, grape
arid minies with heroic fortitude and a firmer reso
lution that the bridge must and should be theirs.
Captain Allebaugh, who commanded Co. C, (the
color company,) now resolved that the time had come
to take the bridge, and the regiment prepared for
the final struggle that was either to make them the
victors or the vanquished. Colonel Hartranft gave
the final orders for the successful accomplishment
of the desperate task which now lay before it. As
the regiment made the charge, Captain Allebaugh
led his company at double-quick towards a gateway
leading out of the field into the road that crossed
the bridge, but on nearing the gate his company
became the target of the concentrated fire of the
enemy on the opposite side of the stream. Here
his first lieutenant was struck down and his men
were falling at every step. He soon perceived his
perilous situation and flew off at a tangent by
" right oblique," and made a short detour from the
gate to the abutment of the bridge, and rushed
across the bridge, — only himself, the three colorbearers, one color-guard and his first sergeant, Wil
liam F. Thomas. These six men were the first to
cross the bridge, but the remainder of the regiment
followed close on their footsteps and so choked up
the entrance to it that a halt was necessarily made
on the stone structure. The enemy now deserted
their works and scattered and scampered over the
hills like a huge drove of scared sheep. The men
of the two 51sts were helping their fleeing enemy in
their flight by incessant volleys of musketry. Some
few who would not risk running out from be
hind their works in such a storm of leaden hail,

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surrendered by sticking pieces of newspaper on
the end of their rammers and holding them up above
(he works as a flag of truce. They were all taken
prisoners, while the grand achievement was now a
thing of the past, and the stubbornly contested
bridge was ours, with the aid of the sister regiment
the 51st New York. Colonel Hartranft cheered on
his men in the assault until he became so exhausted
that he could not make himself heard, and as he
reached the bridge he said, " Come on, boys, for I
can't halloo any more," but kept waving his hat in
the air as encouragement to keep on across. His
exhausted condition caused a great many to suppose
that he had been wounded, but after the work was
done he calmly sat down on the bridge, and on
inquiry it was found that he was all right. But not
so with a host of other heroes, for the ground from
the entrance on the road to the end of the bridge,
was strewn with the heroic dead and wounded, the
whole thing not occupying above twelve minutes
after leaving the wall ; yet in that time no less than
twenty -nine were killed outright, and ninety -six
wounded, as follows :
Lieut. Col. Bell, killed.
Co. A. — Killed — Corpl. James Coulston, private William
Somerlot. Wounded — Capt. Wm. J. Bolton, serious in cheek ;
Corpl. Levi Bolton ; privates — Jas. M. Bolton, Andrew Widger,
Clias. Keyser, Geo. S. Buzzard.
Co. B.— None.
Co. C. — Killed — Lieut. David Hunsicker, Corpl. David Kane.
Wounded — Sergt. Benjamin F. Miller, Corpl. James Sullivan,
Corpl. Samuel Egolf; privates— Lcvi Baum, Henry Davis,
Wm. Gunn, Marcus A. Gross, Henry Jago, Patrick Rogan,
Abraham Walt.
Co. D. — Killed — -private Michael Mooney. Wounded —
Sergt. John W. Gilligan, Sergt. Ed. Bennett, Corpl. William
Jenkins ; privates — Wm. Essick, John Earle, Win. Faulkner,
Heritor Gillin. Geo. Hayberry, Wm. Hamburger, Wm. Mogee,
Saml. McDade, Isaac Sloan, Wm. McManemee.

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Co. E. — Wounded — Private Jackson McFadden.
Co. F. — Killed — Privates, Wm. Conner, Henry Lent/, Henry
Shnlts.
Wounded— Capt. L. S. Hart, Sergt. Howard Bruce,
Sergt. Allen H. Fillman. Corpl. Wm. Montgomery ; privates4
— Jas. Dolan, D. Freas, R. Mogee.
Co. G. — Killed — Corpl. Jas. Dowling ; privates — Miles Dil
lon, Wm. Wenrick, Wallace Wiggins. Wounded — Corpl.
Geo. Armstrong, private Win. Young.
Co. H. — Killed — Lieut. Jacob G. Beaver, Sergts. Levi Marks,
Matthew Vandine ; privates — Isaac Witters, Isaac Beck, Ed.
Bear. Wounded — Lieut. Wm. F. Campbell, Sergt. Jacob H.
Santo ; privates — Anthony Weisbacli, Daniel M. Wetzell, H.
C. McCormick, Jas. N. Schooley, John W. Erdly.
Co. I.— Killed— Sergt. J. Clark Davis, Corpl. Thomas P.
Davis. Wounded — Sergt. Thos. H. Parker ; privates — John
Murphy, Geo. W. S. Pcnnell, Chas. Buley, Jacob Emrich,
Jacob H. Myers.
Co. K. — Wounded — Albert Snyder, Jacob Fortner, Paul
McBride, Erwin Richards, Wm. Yates.

But twenty- one names are on the above list of
killed, and fifty-eight names of the wounded. The
official returns make the casualties one hundred and
twenty-five, which is correct; and it is to be regret
ted that all the names were not obtained.
After getting over the bridge the enemy retreated
to a large cornfield about three-quarters of a mile
distant. A portion of them had taken shelter be
hind a stone wall on an elevated piece of ground
whereon their artillery were in battery, but there
being no other regiment over the bridge but the
two 51sts; it was not deemed prudent to follow up
the retreat inasmuch as the two regiments were
nearly out of ammunition, there being only an
average of about six cartridges to a man in the 51st
P. Y. A short time elapsed after the bridge was
taken before any other troops came forward to rein
force the two heroic regiments; during which time
the 51st P. V. stacked arms on a line parallel with
the creek, and about ten feet from it. A few fires
were then kindled by the men for the purpose of

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making a cup of coffee, but as the smoke towered
up to the tops of the trees and rising higher than
the hill, it gave unmistakable evidence that the
Union soldiers were still in the neighborhood of the
bridge ; the enemy taking the smoke as a point at
which to range their batteries, opened their guns
with case-shot, shell, and grape. Lieut. Col. Bell
had been up the creek about one hundred and fifty
yards, and as he was returning towards the bridge
and when within fifty yards of it he met private
Hugh Brown, and giving him a friendly slap on the
shoulder, remarked as he passed him. " We did it
for them this time, my boy ;" but he had not taken
more than two or three steps when a grape-shot
grazed his left temple. He made a whirl round as
if on a pivot, fell on his side and rolled down the
bank of the creek to where the guns of his regiment
were stacked. The men rushed to his aid, and taking
him up they found that he had received a frightful
and mortal wound ; he was carried to the other side
of the creek in an unconscious state ; he lived only
a few hours after being removed to the field hospital.
Few as good men as he and none better, fell during
the whole rebellion. He was an exemplary Chris
tian, a faithful friend, a strict disciplinarian, but not
harsh, a thorough gentleman, a ripe scholar, a truly
patriotic and brave soldier ; in short he was one of
God's noblest works. Col. Hartranft and Lieut.
Col. Bell were so attached to each other that their
unfortunate separation kept the colonel in a depressed
state of spirits for a long time after.
After Lieut. Col. Bell had been taken off the field
the regiment began to awaken to another loss from
their ranks in the person of that gallant and well-

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FIFTY- FIRST REGIMENT

tried soldier, Capt. Wm. Jordon Bolton; of Co. A.
He received a most distressing wound in the right
cheek from a minie ball, which passed down his
neck and lodged in his shoulder. Only a few wit
nessed his fall, but as the men became acquainted
with the fact, rumor increased until it was reported
that he too was dead. Could the rebels have heard
the anathemas that were being heaped upon their
heads they would have fought harder than ever to
keep from falling as prisoners into the hands of the
men of the 51st P. Y. Had any been unfortunate
enough just then to fall into their hands it would
have been far more than any officer could have done
to save the captives from being torn to pieces by
the now infuriated regiment. Every man constantly
inquired after Lieut. Col. Bell and Capt. Bolton un
til it became known that Col. Bell was dead, and
that Capt. Bolton still lived. The death of Lieut.
Col. Bell creating a vacancy, Maj. Edwin Schall was
promoted to fill it; and Capt. Wm. J. Bolton was
promoted to Major, vice Edwin Schall, promoted.
While the two regiments remained at the bridge
the enemy kept up a terrible cannonading ; solid shot,
shell, case-shot, grape, &c., rained down on the de
voted bridge like hail. Col. Ferrero was sitting on
the low wall of the bridge apparently waiting for
orders when a rifle shell struck the mason work
about fifteen inches below his honor, tearing away
nearly the whole end of the wall without doing him
a particle of harm, but a mule standing a little below
the bridge received the shell just as it exploded,
tearing the poor beast to atoms.
Eeinforcements began pouring over the bridge,
both artillery and infantry, but like the two regi-

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merits that first crossed they were all totally out of
ammunition ; but after a considerable lapse of time
a quantity of all kinds of cartridges, both heavy and
small, arrived and was issued. The artillery pro
ceeded up the road parallel with the creek to take up
a position, but being unable to obtain an eligible one
were forced to retreat, and the ground thus gained
had to be held by infantry alone, Avhich received no
aid in any way from the numerous batteries that had
crossed and were driven back.
About 1 P. M. the 51st P. V. advanced to the brow
of the hill that overlooked the large cornfield, where
the enemy were as thick as bees in a hive. As soon
as it arrived in sight of the rebel batteries, it was
greeted by one of the most violent discharges of
case-shot and shells from the enemy that it ever was
under up to that time, but nearly all exploded di
rectly over the regiment, and having their original
force the fragments did not strike among the men as
thick as they did fifteen or twenty yards in their
rear. The line of battle all across the brow of the
hill was lying down, for no man could stand up and
live one minute, as the rebel gunners had exact
range, and their shell passed only about three feet
above the surface of the ground. A number of the
regiment was killed and wounded while lying here.
One shell went through the blue field of the colors,
which were, also, terribly riddled by the rebel minie
balls. After the 51st P. V. had lain in line of bat
tle one hour, it was relieved by the 45th P. V., for the
51st had expended its last cartridge and was holding
its ground by the sole dependence of the bayonet; but
as the 45th had corne to take its place, the most try
ing ordeal was to happen, viz.; withdrawing from the

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REGIMENT

battle ground while the battle continued. Any
veteran prefers going into a battle instead of com
ing out of it while it rages. The line that is coming
in is bound to draw the concentrated fire of the
enemy to its full extent, so as to cut down all they
can before the relief has the opportunity of firing a
gun, but the relief had come and was lying down,
consequently the going out now of the regiment
would draw the same fire with the addition of the
flanks assisting the centre as well as the batteries in
front. But how the 51st P. V. withdrew in that fight
is only known to the men themselves, for after Col.
Hartranft had given the command, the only safety
they had was by each one withdrawing on his own
plans, and his own notions of extricating himself
from difficulties. The men began to leave separately
and in pairs, some sliding down the hill on their
backs, feet foremost, some on their stomachs, some
head foremost, some rolled down, some few jumped
to their feet and ran with their utmost speed, while
others lingered for a more favorable opportunity.
Col. Hartranft and the colors remained until the
very last, as he would not leave until he saw that his
men had all got off' safely. The regiment occupied
nearly twenty minutes in getting off" the field, and
after it did get oft' its ranks were found to be very
much thinned by the enemy's accurate gunnery.
The regiment stacked arms on the same ground that
it did prior to going into battle, the first stacks only
numbered seventeen muskets, and one broken sword
belonging to Capt. Geo. W. Bisbing of Co. I, which
was struck by a fragment of shell, as he was pre
paring to withdraw, and the blade severed about
six inches from the hilt, being a narrow escape for

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the captain. He carried and used the broken sword
on all occasions, drills, marches, dress parades, re
views, &c., much to the merriment of his comrade
officers, until his friends at home, hearing of the in
cident, presented him with a superb one of Damascus
steel.
After the regiment had stacked its seventeen mus
kets, the men began to assemble on the color line
slowly, one or two coming in at a time, and each one
wondering how it was that any one arrived ahead
of him. They remained at this place until dark,
when it was sent out on the hill again to picket
for the night. A detail had been made of about
fifteen men to bury the dead, it occupying them the
balance of that day and nearly all of the next, con
sequently this detail was not with the regiment on
picket that night, which had solely to be done with
the bayonets, as there was not a dozen rounds of
cartridges in the whole regiment. About 12 o'clock
that night the men received some cooked meat,
being the first and only food tasted by any of them
since the day before. The night was dark as Cer
berus and very chilly, and the position of the men
one of imminent peril. The regiment laid on the
hill all of that night, and the next day (18th) until
sundown, when it was relieved by an Ohio regiment,
and fell back across the bridge and went into quar
ters in an orchard about one mile from the bridge,
where it lay until the next day, (the 19th.) The
enemy was now in full retreat across the Potomac,
McClellan letting them slip quietly off' instead of
pushing on after them, capturing as many as possi
ble, and harrassing them in whatever way he could.
Late in the day of the 19th the regiment left

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HISTORY

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FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

the orchard and wended its way to the mouth of
Antietam creek, passing over the most prominent
parts of the field of carnage.
The ground was
strewn with carcasses of horses and mules, but
nowhere could be found any number of dead rebels,
as they had buried them through the night and
day after the battle. While the regiment was 'at a
halt, inspecting the ground whereon the rebels
fought, it was brought to u attention" for the pur
pose of hearing read off' the promotions, which un
doubtedly were the fruits of its trials and sufferings
during the few past days. First in order was the
promotion of Gen. Burnside to Major General, the
next was the promotion of Col. Ferrero to Brigadier
General.
At the conclusion of the reading of each
promotion three cheers were given for the advanced
heroes, and were gracefully acknowledged by each
recipient; but just as Gen. Ferrero was wheeling
his horse to leave, Corp. Patterson exclaimed in an
undertone, not intending for the general to hear him,
"How about that whiskey?" but the quick ears of
the general did hear him, and wheeling his horse
around he replied, with a smile, " That whiskey is
all right; you shall soon have it," and, true to his
word, it came the next day in no stinted quantities.
The regiment went into camp that night about a
mile from Antietam Iron Furnace.
Companies I
and H ^vere sent down to the Potomac on picket,
where they remained until Tuesday, the 23d, when
the balance of the regiment came down and did
picket
and guard
duty until the next day,
when it was relieved at 4 p. M. by the 6th New
Hampshire.
The regiment then marched back to
where the eight companies had been quartered at

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the time H and I went on picket, where it went
into camp.
The next day orders were issued for the regiment
to be ready to move at 5 P. M.? but from some un
known cause it did not move that night, but the
next (2tith) day it left for better quarters by crossing
Anlietam creek at the furnace and proceeding up a
public thoroughfare about three miles to where the
whole 9th Corps was encamped. At this place the
commanding officers of McClellan's army had a
friendly meeting, among the most conspicuous were
Gens. McClellan, Burnside, Wilcox, and Cox.
This camp was beautifully located, and the white
tents of McClellan's vast army dotted hills and plains
far as the naked eye could discern. It became a
wonder whence all the troops could possibly have
come, for not one-tenth of them had been seen at
either South Mountain or Antietam, and it was
always a source of wonder to the men while on a
march how it was that while moving there were
always apparently enough troops in the column to
swallow up the whole confederate force, but when
in a fight, two or three brigades would be about all
that ever could be seen, and after the battle would
be over it should be found that every command had
been engaged. The nights now became very frosty,
being sharply felt by the men, who were very
scantily clothed, although when the troops left
Washington they had a good supply, but owing to
the hard marching and fighting for so many days
and nights a large quantity of clotfhing was thrown
away by the men as being too cumbersome for a
forced march.
It must here be mentioned that the next day after

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HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY- FIRST

REGIMENT

the battle of Antietam Col. Hartranft issued orders
to each company commander in his regiment to
furnish him with a list of all the men's names
who lay on the hill the night after the taking of
the bridge, and had done picket duty with the
bayonet. What the object was no one could ever
imagine, but speculation ran on one theme and then
on another without coming to any definite conclu
sions. But the writer's inference is that it was
only for effect or a certain influence it would have
towards stimulating them to more daring deeds.

CHAPTER

XVIII.

New stand of colors — Review by President Lincoln — Stringent
orders — Pleasant Valley — Complimentary orders — Shelter
tents — On the move again — Lovettsville — Lost in a snow
storm — Humanity of Dr. Cutter — Amosville — "Buying mut
ton" — White Sulphur Springs — On the Rappahannock —
Artillery duel.

Ox Saturday, the 27th, Capt. E. Schall left camp
to visit his home on a short leave of absence. This
one incident had the effect of raising the spirits of
the men, for they well knew that nothing much was
to be done for a few days, and the}'- began to make
their tents and themselves as comfortable as circum
stances would admit, their only drawback was their
scanty supply of rations, which still continued for
several more days.
The old routine of duty once more took the place
of marching and fighting. Roll call, drills, dress
parades, guarding, &c.
On the 28th a beautiful stand of colors arrived

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from the friends of the regiment in Nornstown.
On the 29th they were presented to the regiment by
a Mr. Chain, one of a committee, on behalf of the
fair donors of that staid-like little town, accompanied
with a very neat and appropriate speech ; but the
ceremonies were very short, as orders to march had
come in and all began to prepare for a move.
.WJai^Hhe '"preparations for moving were taking
place, the order was countermanded, and it remained
in camp until the 7th of October, 1862.
On the 30th of September the presentation com
mittee took their departure for their homes, taking
with them the old stand of battle- worn colors.
There had also this day a large number of con
valescents arrived from the various hospitals in and
around Washington, that considerably augmented
the ranks.
October, 1862, was a month of peace and rest to
the Union forces comprising McClellan's army.
Citizens began now to flock on the battle-fields of
South Mountain and Antietam from the North,
hunting up the remains of their deceased relatives
and friends, with the object of taking them home
for Christian burial.
On Friday, October 3d, a grand review was got
up in honor of the illustrious President of the
United States, Abraham Lincoln, by the whole body
of troops there encamped. President Lincoln re
viewed the troops with evident satisfaction, passing
in front of each regiment and returning the salutation
with dignified grace, his appearance among them
causing much enthusiasm.
On Saturday, the 4th, the regiment was visited by
a number of benevolent ladies from Montgomery

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HISTORY

OF

THE

county, among whom

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

were Mrs. Wm.

Carver and

Miss Sally Roberts, daughter of that soldier's friend,
Wm. B. Roberts, Esq.
While at this camp, a portion of the clothing that
the men had left behind them at Fredericksburg
arrived, adding something more to their comforts.
Orders of the most stringent character against
straggling were issued by McClellan, and were read
off' to each company separately, causing a more mu
tinous feeling in the army than all the previous
orders combined could have done ; in fact, the troops
as a body had very little confidence in him as a
leader, but they had the utmost confidence in his
capacity as a promulgator of severe and useless or
ders; and whatever his prestige and glory might
have been, his tyranny to his army had turned all
kindly feelings into dislike ; for man, partaking of
the nature of a " hog," can be coaxed, but not driven,
if he once resolves to be stubborn, even in the army ;
and the warmest advocates for his military prowess
began to designate him as uonly a newspaper gen
eral," meaning thereby that he was only made a great
general through newspaper puff's.
On the 6th two days' full rations were issued, one
of which was ordered to be cooked, as the regiment
was under orders to march at four o'clock the next
morning, consequently the 51st struck tents at three
o'clock A. M., but did not leave till sunrise, when it'
started for Pleasant Valley, only three miles distant
in an air line, yet the regiment had to march at least
ten miles in order to accomplish the three, through
one of the most tortuous routes that could be found
on the mountains. It lay over a spur of South
Mountain, some places of which were nearly per-

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pendicular. The road, which was but a bridle path
running across a rocky and uneven surface, and the
day being scorching hot, the orders against strag
gling were of little or no account, for by the time
the regiment reached the summit of the mountain
about one-third of the men lay along the path
from base to summit, panting like so many hounds
just in from a chase. The descent into the valley
was equally laborious, for when once started there
was no holding back. They began with " common
time," and passing through " quick and doublequick time " reached the base on Pleasant Valley
side at their fullest speed, and had become so scat
tered that it was hard to tell where the regiment
was, but after the descent the men took a rest of
nearly an hour, with the view of giving the strag
glers an opportunity to catch up. Afterwards the
regiment re-formed, and marching a short distance
went into camp, where it remained until Monday,
the 27th of October, 1862. On the next day (the 8th )
after the regiment arrived in Pleasant Valley, it was
again visited by a number of its friends from home,
among whom were Messrs. John Pywell, Alexander
Supplee, David Adams, Daniel Fisher and others,
some of them staying all night and leaving the next
morning at nine o'clock for their homes.
On Sunday, the 12th, General Ferrero ordered a
brigade inspection at ten o'clock in the morning,
but as the appearance of his brigade did not come
up to his expectations, he ordered another for the
next day, but as that one was stormy and several
others in succession, the inspection did not take
place, much to the gratification of the men.
On the 15th another order from McClellan was

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FIFTY-FIEST

EEGIMENT

read against straggling, and was still more stringent
than any of his former ones, for one section ordered
the shooting down of the foot-sore, famishing, and
diarhoea-stricken soldiers. Straggling on a march,
us must be acknowledged, is one of the most perni•io'us vices-that ever existed in the army, but it could
have been greatly lessened by an ordinary amount
of prudence and a little humanity on the part of the
commanding officers. The causes for straggling are
to be confined principally to the following reasons.
First, men being poorly rationed will leave the
column and wander off to any house from
which they think they can buy, beg or steal food.
Secondly, being hurried on the march, their
strength fails from not having sufficient rest and
food. Thirdly, from being compelled to wear shoes
that have little or no shape to them, and (facetiously
termed u gun boats " by the men,) are either too large
or too small, consequently blistering the feet to such
an extent that makes it impossible to keep up with
the column when on a 'rapid march, for in drawing
shoes they must take whatever they can get, whether
they fit or not. Fourthly, the constant exposure
to all kinds of weather while on the march — heat in
the day and cold at night, rainy weather, perspiring
freely, then lying down to sleep in the open air and
becoming chilled, diarrhoea and dysentery, chills and
fever, and other ailments setting in — debilitates the
soldier so that his weakness causes him to lag behind
even when he is most anxious to keep up. Take the
cases of straggling produced by the above four
causes, aggregate them with all others, such as
shirking, &c., and it will show a decrease of at least
ninety per cent. This is no imaginary calculation,

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but it is from actual observation, and the officers who
would advocate the shooting down of all stragglers,
have none to censure for the cau.se but themselves
and their own inhumanity, for on all marches the
commanding officers have horses to carry, them, and
it is very easy for those on horseback to say to a
poor cripple who is staggering beneath a heavy
knapsack, sixty to one hundred rounds of cartridges,
a musket and his other accoutrements, " Get up
here," or "go to your regiment." Such remarks,
can be heard almost any minute after the passing of
a column by those who " bring up the rear."
On Thursday, 16th, heavy cannonading was heard
in the direction of Maryland Heights, which soon
brought orders "to be ready to move at a moment's
notice." Kations were distributed and cooked, and
everything was ready, but the order to go did not
come. Col. Hartranft at this time had temporary
command of the brigade, and Lieut.-Col. Schall of
the regiment.
While remaining in camp at Pleasant Valley the
regimental sutler arrived and opened his large stock
of goods to the soldiers, who, it must be said, patron
ized him liberally, notwithstanding his charges were
exorbitant; but as large as his prices were, his
profits were small in the end, for he did a credit
business and trusted to the honor and honesty of
the men to pay him on " next pay-day," but when
pay-day came it would be found that a large
number of those trusted would be absent from the
regiment by death, sick in hospitals, or on detached
service, &c., and his losses were at least fifty per cent
of his credit sales.
Congratulatory orders were received by the two
12

250

HISTOKY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

51sts from Gen. McClellan, complimenting the two
regiments in most flattering terms for taking Antietarn bridge, in which he said tl the whole day's fight
ing would have been lost if you had not succeeded
in taking that most important point, the bridge."
This order was accompanied by one of the same
character from Gen. A. E. Burnside. It was while
lying in Pleasant Valley that the 51st pitched its
first " shelter " or " D'Abri " tents. They were issued
and pitched on Sunday, October 5th, 1862- The
death of Gen. Reno put his corps under the command
of Gen. Cox, who held command of it only a few
days, and the 2d Division was put under Gen.
Samuel Sturgis, Gen. Reno's particular friend, and
the 51st P. V. was then in the 2d Brigade, 2d Divi
sion, 9th Corps.
On Sunday night, October 19th, the camp of the
olst P. V. was visited by a hurricane, accompanied
by a heavy rain; the wind picking up the little
shelters and carrying many of them to a great dis
tance, leaving the inmates to receive the drenching
rain that was pouring down. , Whether the storm
had carried away important bridges or not it is hard
to say ; but a detail was made of all the carpenters
in the regiment to go to put up bridges over the
Potomac, near Harper's Ferry, which was two and a
half miles distant.
The Secretary of War had issued orders to the
effect that all volunteers could enlist in the regular
army for three years, and if one felt inclined, he
could enlist for three years and have whatever time
he had served in the volunteer army deducted. The
result was that about forty left the 51st P. V., and
went into the regulars; some in batteries, some in

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cavalry, but none in the infantry, they having had
enough of that in the volunteers.
On Thursday, October 23d; Col. Hartranft went
home on a " leave of absence," and Lieut.-Col. Schall
continued in command of the regiment.
On Saturday, the 25th, the regiment received
orders to march the next morning. Two days'
rations were issued and cooked, but the next morn
ing the order was countermanded. At night another
storm of wind and rain visited the camp, tearing
tents from their fastenings, and ripping things in
general.
On Monday morning, October 27th, 1862, the 51st
P. V. struck tents and left Pleasant Valley, Washing
ton county, Md., on a march through Virginia,
bringing up at Fredericksburg. After leaving Plea
sant Valley, it passed through Knoxville, Md., and
under the Ohio and Chesapeake Canal, and crossed
the Potomac, at Berlin, on the pontoon bridge, into
Virginia, where it went into camp about two miles
from the river, on the Lovettsville road, (this section
of Virginia being considered the garden spot of the
State,) where it laid until Wednesday, the 29th, at
1 p. M., when it again struck tents and left at 3 p. M.,
made a march of six miles, and camped for the night.
The next morning at daylight it again struck tents,
marched on the Leesburg turnpike, and again went
into camp at 11 A. M., on a secesh farm, making only
three miles this day. Eebels were hovering around
in the vicinity of the camp ; one was captured by
the men of the 51st in the farm-house. At 5 P. M.
pickets were sent out, but at 9 P. M. it was found
necessary to reinforce them, and all of Co. I were
sent out to picket. The whole detail, which was from

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D and I, came in at 8 A. M. next day, having spent a
hard night of it on account of cold and hunger.
Orders had been issued against any further shooting
of hogs, sheep, and cattle, but still a few were shot
when it could be done on the sly.
After the regiment left this place, it proceeded
about five miles beyond Lovettsville, where it laid
in camp for several days, during which time the men
were receiving full rations. On the last day in this
camp the regimental sutlers arrived, and having
brought a large stock of tobacco, the boys enjoy ea
smoking and chewing as only soldiers know how
after being deprived of it for a long time ; but the
price was exorbitant, being $1.50 per plug for that
which was worth about forty cents. Great in
dignation was manifested by the boys towards the
sutlers for selling their tobacco to men of other regi
ments, as all sutlers were forbidden to sell to any
other but the regiment to which they were attached;
but in this case the 51st P. Y. had been without their
pay for over four months, and all that was sold by
the sutlers to it had to be credited until it got paid
oft', but what was purchased by outsiders was sold to
them for cash only ; hence the partiality.
A severe snow storm began on the 7th of Novem
ber, early in the day, and at 3 o'clock the regiment
left its camp at Wheatland, and marched for the
Kappahannock. It proceeded in the face of a driving
and pitiless storm of snow and hail until about ten
o'clock at night, when it became evident that the
division had lost its way in an ugly gorge or ravine,
amid a dense forest, that was only equalled by the
Wilderness itself. After penetrating this horrible
gorge to within four miles of the river, Dr. Cutter,

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brigade surgeon, rode to the front of the column, and
forbid Gen. Ferrero to proceed any farther. Gen.
Ferrero replied that he must cross the river that
night. Dr. Cutter replied that as he was responsible
for the health of the brigade, he protested against
making the men ford a river in the midst of such
a stormy night, when the stream was swelled to such
a volume as would nearly submerge the men, de
claring that such a step would endanger the lives and
health of every officer and man on foot who would
attempt to ford a deep river filled with floating ice ;
and then lying down on the snowy ground, without
any shelter, in their saturated clothing, would double
the risk. The humanity of Dr. Cutter, as well as his
determination to appeal to a court martial for vindi
cation of his authority, decided General Ferrero to
give the command to " about face " to his brigade,
and it marched back a mile or two ; then taking
a different road on the left, which led to another ford
higher up the river, but ten miles farther. After
proceeding up this road three miles, we bivouacked
for the night in a woods and on the roadside. It was
past midnight when the regiment arrived here, and,
from the good condition of the fences along the road,
the evidence was plain enough that that place had
not been visited by either army up to the present
stage of the rebellion. Bat in fifteen minutes there
after it was hard to find a panel of fence within any
reasonable distance. Huge fires were kindled, a cup
of coffee apiece was made, then rails were laid down
in the snow for beds, and the boys, placing their feet
towards the fires, soon fell into a sound sleep, not
withstanding their hard couch, without covering,
wet clothes, and shoes full of snow. Next day, at 8

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A. M. the regiment again was on the march, crossed
the river at noon, and camped near Amosville, (a
village that the rebels had placarded all the doors
with " small-pox,") exhausted and totally out of
rations ; but the latter soon came all right. Al
though the rebels had left only a few hours before,
the boys of the 51st P. V. found cattle, hogs, and
sheep in abundance, and the sharp crack of their
unerring muskets told too plainly of the slaughter
that was going on. The regiment had hardly got
their tents pitched when Col. Hartranft espied the
boys coming into camp with whole carcasses of ani
mals slaughtered and dressed ready for use. He
immediately issued the most stringent orders against
shooting anything belonging to the citizens, unless
it was first paid for ; but the only effect that the
order had was to make the boys go a greater
distance in quest of game, where their guns could
not be heard by " old Johnny." One of the boys shot
a splendid lamb, and not knowing anything about the
order issued, cut it up into quarters and brought
it into camp while Col. H. was standing in front of
his quarters. The man entertaining a feeling for the
empty haversack of Col. H., determined to make him.
a present of a hind-quarter of the lamb, and walked
up to him as innocent as an unconscious babe of the
existence of the order and tendered his offering of
meat with a graceful salute to the colonel, who gave
him one of those withering looks, which only the col
onel knows how to give a man that displeases him,
and inquired how he obtained it. The man knew by
" old Johnny's " look that something was wrong, and
being quick of perception he instantly guessed what
it was and replied in a firm tone, " I bought it."

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The cloud passed from the colonel's brow and he
took the gift with suitable acknowledgments. The
man returned to his tent rejoicing at his lucky
escape from arrest, for none of the boys had given
him any warning, and all were gazing on the scene
to see what would be the result, but no more meat
was given to the colonel that day.
The regiment arrived here on Saturday, at 4. p. M.,
along with the 35th Mass. The remainder of the
brigade, under Gen Ferrero, had marched to Jeffer
son ville, a small town only a few miles from Amosville.
On Sunday, the 9th, 1862, at 5 o'clock p. M., the
51st received orders to pack up and join the brigade
at Jefferson that night. At dark it was relieved
by the 48th P. V., who had a battle with the enemy
about an hour after the 51st had left. The attack
was intended for the 51st, but as it had gone the
48th enjoyed the benefits of the contest. Having
arrived at Jefferson the regiment went into camp
with the brigade just outside of the town.
On Wednesday, Nov. 12th, 1862, the regiment
again left for a march to the " White Sulphur
Springs," where it arrived in safety after passing over
the Kappahannock at the point the turnpike inter
sects the river, a short distance from the Springs.
The bridge at this place had been fired by the rebels
to prevent the Union troops from crossing, and it
now lay a smouldering mass of charred timbers, be
ing completely demolished. The regiment had
barely crossed the river on the charred logs which
lay floating on the water, before the enemy made
their appearance with a large force on the opposite
side. After crossing the river the regiment went

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into camp in a field nearly opposite to the '•' Springs
Mansion House," close to the turnpike. After
pitching tents the men began to clamor for rations,
having been on less thari half allowance from the
time they left Wheatland, Ya.; a week before, but
the first day at the Springs was spent without a
mouthful of food of any kind.
The next day the commissary sergeant, Samuel
P. Stephens, succeeded in obtaining a large lot of
mouldy hard tack which was totally unfit for use,
but "hunger being the best sauce," the men tried to
satisfy their appetite by washing off' the mould and
boiling them awhile, and then frying them with
whatever kind of grease they could get.
Two privates of Capt. Bell's, Co. B, were captured
on the 13th, while out on picket ; the rebel cavalry
made a dash on them and succeeded in taking the
two men with their camp kettle which was hanging
over the fire. The cavalry in making this dash
drove the pickets in, and the two captured men
who had been out hunting for something to eat, on
their return to the post were taken by the enemy.
Capt. Bell dismounted one of the rebel cavalry,
however, with a little rifle he carried with him out
on picket.
The lieutenant colonel and adjutant of the 35th
Mass, were captured at or near the same time ; they
had crossed the river in quest of food, and were
eating their dinners quietly in a large white house
close to the ruins of the bridge and within sight of
their camp, when to their surprise the rebels entered
the house and secured them before any alarm could
be given. The artillerists discovered the rebels and
sent a few shells in among them, which hurried the

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" butternuts " away from that neighborhood quicker
than they came into it.
On Friday, Nov. Mth, the 51st struck tents and
started for Fredericksburg ; but ere it had proceeded
one and a-half miles on its way it was furiously
assailed by the rebel artillery from the opposite side
of the Kappahannock, and only about six hundred
yards distant. Col. Hartranft ordered the regiment
to lie down, for the purpose of keeping it out of
range of the enemy's guns. He then proceeded to
the top of the hill that overlooked both the river
and the enemy's position, and assisted to get some
field-pieces into i{ battery " to return the rebel com
pliments. The wagon train which was in the rear
of the column now began to be the target for rebel
shells and solid shot ; one shell passed through a
wagon loaded with ammunition, tearing things irre
spectively. While this was taking place the men
of the 51st P. V., anxious to see what was going on,
crawled up to the top of the hill to get a view, but
had no sooner got there than the enemy directed
their fire on the regiment and the battery. Col.
Hartranft perceiving the men running around evi
dently exposing themselves needlessly to the
dangers, came running back to his regiment and
ordering them to "fall in," he formed a "line of
battle " arid marched them to a more secure position.
He evidently was angry at his men, for he, after
placing the line where he wanted it, gave the com
mand to " lie down, " and down they went ; as they
prostrated themselves he added with considerable
warmth, " and see that you stay there ! " He
then went back to the battery, when an artillery
duel began which lasted for a considerable time.

12*

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Several of the batterymen were severely wounded ;
one of whom lost a leg and died in the ambulance
the next morning.
The difference between a regiment of raw re
cruits and one of veterans was plainly demonstrated
during the vigorous shelling at this place; while
the men of the 51st P. Y. were anxious to be on the
top of the hill to see all that was going on, and dar
ingly exposing themselves to the enemy's fire, the men
of the new regiment were hugging to and burrowing
into the ground like so many rabbits, or else seeking
shelter behind the trees in a neighboring woods to
avoid as much of the danger as possible. Fre
quently they would ask the old soldiers " How do
you do when they shell you this way," the veterans'
reply invariably was " Stand and take it, you d
d
fool ! how else do you suppose ?"
The firing ceased on both sides at 2 P. M., the
enemy getting far the worst of the attack. The 51st
again left and marched about six miles towards
Falmouth, and then camped for the night in a large
field not far from the river.

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259

.

Falniouth — Picketing the Rappahannock — "Rally on the sut
ler" — Fredericksburg — Demand for surrender by Gen.
Burn side — Secret dealings "with the enemy — Preparing to
cross the river — Withdrawal of the pickets — Opening of the
Battle of Fredericksburg.

THE next day, the 15th, the regiment left at 8 A. M.,
making eighteen miles that day over one of the
most miserable roads in Virginia, and camped at
night in a torrent of rain, sixteen miles from Fred
ericksburg. The men now suffered with sore feet
and empty stomachs ; a meagre supply of rations,
however, was drawn about 10 o'clock at night, and
was all eaten at the one meal. Early the next
morning the regiment again left and before night
had reached the " Yellow house," situate on the road
leading to Falrnouth, six or eight miles distant.
At 9 A. M. on the 17th, the olst left the Yellow
house and reached Falmouth, opposite Fredericks
burg, at noon. In passing Fredericksburg on the
left bank of the Eappahannock, the rebel pickets
were very visible down at the large brick
mill near the city. At this time there were not
more than a dozen rebel soldiers in the vicinity of
the city and on the banks of the river ; they looked
with astonishment at the approach of the Union
troops, but evinced no fear, as the river was between
them. Could it have been possible for Burnside to
have crossed the river that day, or two or three days
thereafter, what an ocean of loyal blood would have
been spared at that terrible slaughter pen.

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REGIMENT

After arriving at Falmoutb the regiment went into
camp about a mile from its old camp ground of the
August before. Are its ranks as full at its return
to the old spot as when it left there? The blood
stained fields of Manassas, Chantilly, South Moun
tain, Antietam and Sulphur Springs, can answer,
with a certainty that cannot be denied, that only
about one-half returned of those who were there but
three months before ! What sufferings! what trials!
what anxiety had been experienced in that short
time ! but with it all they had just cause to offer thanks
to the Giver of all Good for the complete success
which had thus far crowned their efforts for the per
petuity of a government that must be admired in all
future ages ! After a few clays rest and a plentiful
supply of rations, the men began to regain their
wonted gayety. The regular routine of camp duty
was resumed again, but the principal part of it was
picketing the left bank of the Rappahannock, opposite
Fredericksburg. The line of picket posts which fell
to the lot of the 51st P. Y. extended from Falmouth
close to the water's edge, down nearly to the railroad
bridge of three-fourths of a mile in extent ; once in
a while it would have to picket a little below the
bridge. Lieut. Col. Schall was nearly always in
command of that part of the line, having his quar
ters and reserve post in a ravine only a few yards
in the rear of the picket line.
The picketing at this place was done similar to
camp guarding ; the detail was divided into three
reliefs, and as the weather was very stormy and
cold, it was found the safest and most satisfactory
mode. The headquarters of the picket commander
were close to the town of Falmouth, and the men

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having four hours off duty, on being relieved would
visit the shops and stores in the town to purchase
pies, baker's bread, &c. Several would enter stores
that were kept by a number of Israelitish gentlemen,
from Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York, who
came here to respond to the wants of the army by
selling very poor articles for the highest price ob
tainable ; but the only way the soldiers could keep
pace with these men, who in a business-like way
robbed the soldiers of their hard-earned money,
because they (the Jews) were the only ones that had
anything in that line to sell, was by what was face
tiously called, "rally on the sutler," and frequent
" rallies " were made on their stores, and only a few
moments sufficed to "clean out" the largest estab
lishment in the town.
On the 21st of November, 1862, Gen. Burnside
sent over a flag of truce to the civil authorities of
Fredericksburg, demanding the surrender of the
city ; stating his terms on which he would receive
the surrender, and giving them until eight o'clock of
the morning of the 24th to decide on the demand,
accompanying it with a threat that if his request
was not acceded to, he would immediately open
his guns on the town after the expiration of the
allotted time. The rebels taking advantage of the
days of grace granted them to surrender, began
to run up earthworks in the rear of the city with
all the alacrity imaginable, and by the expiration
of the truce they were nearly as much prepared
to shell the Army of the Potomac as it was to shell
the city. As is well known the city was not sur
rendered, and the Union forces began with renewed
vigor to consummate the threat of the commander-in-

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EEGIMENT

chief. Pontoons were arriving, siege and field pieces
were landing, fresh troops constantly pouring in,
and every thing bespoke the approaching gigantic
struggle that was soon to take place. During all
these preparations, the 51st was doing picket duty
on one side of the river, and the rebel pickets on
the other side ; distance apart about 40 to 60 yards,
excepting near the bridge where the river was
somewhat wider.
Frequently the orders of the Army of the Potomac
would be known by the rebels before it would be
made public to themselves. The rebel pickets would
halloo over to the u Yanks" and ask "how soon are
you going to draw and cook them three days' rations?"
" how soon is the balloon to be ready ?" and hosts of
other similar questions. Shortly after those questions
would be asked, the orders relating to them would
be read off to the different commands in the army,
showing conclusively that among the knowing ones
there were sneaking traitors who in some way tele
graphed to their friends in rebeldom all the most
important secret orders, and thus it was, while the
United States was doing its utmost to avoid expos
ure to the enemy of its plans of honorable warfare,
yet there were some who found a way to divulge
such orders and plans as were thought to be known
to only a certain few, and yet the traitors could
very seldom be detected. One circumstance, if true,
which the writer doubts very much, explains the
whole mystery: at Falrhouth is a flour and grist
mill, and on the opposite edge of the river, but lower
down, is another one of the same character, which
was used by the rebels as their picket head-quarters,
while at the rear of the Falmouth Mill is an open

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lot of ground interspersed with hills and gullies.
Once, about midnight, one of the citizens of Falmouth
happened to cross this lot in the rear of the mill, and
hearing a "clicking " in the upper part of the build
ing stopped and, placing his ear against the wall, he
found that the noise proceeded from the loft, and
sounded like the clicking of a telegraphic instrument;
he straightway made known his discoveries to the
pickets nearest to the mill, who immediately reported
the circumstances. The place was searched, and in
the loft a telegraphic operator with his instruments
was found ; a wire was discovered to extend from
the loft to the basement of the mill, and thence under
the water of the river to the mill on the opposite
shore ; thus the mystery of all the exposures of the
orders of the Army of the Potomac was explained.
How true is the above, the writer is unable to say>
but believes it to be wholly a fabrication, although at
the time of the reputed discovery immense excite
ment was produced by it, yet the writer was unable
to trace the affair to anyone who knew anything
about the facts.
On Sunday, November 23d, 1862, orders were
issued to be ready to move at a moment's notice, in
anticipation of the refusal of the surrender of the
city of Fredericksburg. On Monday morning,
the 24th, the 51st P. Y. struck tents at day
light and packed up everything in quite a
hurry, fully expecting the shelling of the city to
begin before the regiment could be ready to move,
but not a gun was fired, and after being in "line" for
a considerable time the whole division was moved
back about one mile further, and went into carnp.
Ferrero's brigade formed a splendid camp in the

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form of a hollow square, the 51st P. Y. and the
51st N. Y. forming the front, the 35th Mass, one
side, the llth N. H. the rear, and the 21st Mass.
the remaining side. The hollow was used as a
parade and drill ground, Gen. Ferrero's head quar
ters in the rear and to the left of the 21st Mass.
This new camp furnished much more comfortable
quarters for the men than the locality from which
they had just moved; the water had to be carried
for the use of the camps nearly a mile, but every
thing else was more convenient. The great want
of the army at this time was suitable clothing. Keviews were held every few days by the different
commanders, for the purpose of finding out the
wants of their men, and to see their condition. Not
withstanding the ragged and almost naked condition
of the men of the 51st P. V., their complaints ceased
after witnessing the deplorable condition of the men
of the 4th Maine regiment, who, while out on a
review, were marching and counter-marching over
the hard frozen ground in their bare feet, and with
only a part of a leg to their pantaloons, without
drawers or sufficient underclothing to keep them com
fortable in a room with a good fire. While the
whole army was suffering severely from the cold
blasts of winter, yet the poor men of the 4th Maine,
although in a far worse off state than any other regi
ment, bore their sufferings heroically, and did their
duty cheerfully and promptly.
Next to the want of clothing came the want of
tobacco, both for smoking and chewing ; but the
smokers rather had the advantage of the chewers,
for they smoked coffee, weeds, and dried leaves,
which served in a manner as a substitute for to-

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bacco, and a very poor one it was ; but the chewers
were nearly crazy for a "quid" of the weed, and as
nothing furnished a substitute for it, they had to
"grin and bear it," until the paymaster should come
along and extricate them from their troubles, which
he did about midnight of December 2d, 1862, much
to the joy of the men whose families had been four
months without receiving any money for their sup
port in that time, excepting the miserable pittance
that was allowed them so begrudgingly by the
county relief boards, and which had been reduced
to so small an amount that it was only a mockery
in the " stay at homes " to offer it.
Everything was quietly progressing along the
Eappahannock towards the completion of Gen.
Burnside's plan of attack. So quiet in fact was it
carried on, that up to within ten minutes of the at
tack on the city, the time seemed as far distant as it
did three weeks before. The 51st P. V. was sent
down on picket at 8 o'clock on Wednesday morn
ing, and was posted at the railroad bridge that
crossed the river opposite the city. The right posts
were stationed about one hundred and fifty yards
above the bridge, the centre posts at the entrance of
the bridge, and the left ones about forty yards below.
The reserves and head-quarters of the pickets were
in an old dilapidated mill only a few yards further
off to the left and rear.
Nothing transpired through the day to indicate
an early attack; but at 11 P. M., an officer of the
engineer corps, visited the post on which the writer
was stationed, on the extreme right, and walking out
to the edge of the water, he pushed a stick about a
foot long into the mud, leaving a few inches of it

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above ground. He then returned, and asked me :
"Who has charge of this post?" I answered: "I
have." He then inquired : "Are you a sergeant?"
"Yes, sir, I am," was the reply. "Then, sergeant,
I want you to watch that stick, and see if the water
recedes from it, or comes up to it," and adding, as he
turned to go away, I will be here again to-night for
your report."
At 2 A. M., of the llth, he returned, in company
with three other officers, and examined the river
bank for two hundred or three hundred yards above
the bridge, and then returning inquired "what report
had I to make on the state of the water at the stick ?"
I answered that " the water, or rather the tide, had
not varied one particle since he put the stick there."
" All right," said he, and he and his companions left
in a hurry; but in a few minutes Capt. McKibbin,
Ferrer o's chief of staff, visited the post, and asked
for the officer in command of the pickets, and being
answered that " his quarters were in the old mill
below the bridge," he said : " Pack up, boys, and
get out of here as soon as you can, for we are going
to open on the city as quick as you get away," and
added : " Sergeant, run tell your commanding officer
to draw in his pickets with all speed possible, and
get away without even the rattle of a tin cup."
" Yes, sir," was the reply.
The pickets were all withdrawn without the least
noise imaginable; for now the truth was breaking
upon thernthat the all-important moment had arrived.
They formed in line, and as the right of the column
filed into the road, to its surprise there it found the
pontoon boats all loaded, and the teams at a halt
within fifty yards of the river, only waiting for the

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pickets to get away. So quietly had all this been
done that even the pickets noticed no unusual noise
of preparations in their rear. The regiment returned
to its camp, and had "turned in" for a nap, when,
like a sharp peal of thunder, the belching forth of one
hundred and seventy-nine siege guns, as if fired by the
one single " lanyard," proclaimed in unmistakable
tones that there was no more sleep for that day.
The 51st P. V. was under Col. Hartranft, and in
Ferrero's brigade, of Sturgis's Division, of Wilcox's
9th Corps, of Sumner's command, the latter consist
ing of the 2d and 9th Corps.

CHAPTEE

XX.

Awful cannonade — Crossing the pontoon — Forward move
ment to position — Destructive tire of the enemy — Heavy
losses — Death of Capt. Bell— Both armies closely engaged —
Out of ammunition — Second day — Picket fighting — Worth
less shells — Retreat of the army across the river — Burying
the dead — The killed and wounded.

AT 4 A. M., of December 12, 1862, the cannonading
was terrific; the air was heavy, and the clouds of
smoke hung like a funeral pall over the doomed
city ; the rebels returned shot for shot, and the earth
quaked for miles around as if convulsed by some
hidden spasm of nature in the very centre of its
rotundity ; the crashing of shot and shells through
the houses could be heard two or three miles distant
from the scene of action.
In a private letter, giving a description of the can
nonading, the writer truthfully says: "I have been

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in eight battles, and hard ones at that, and if all the
cannonading of Eoanoke, Newbern, Bull Kun,
South Mountain and Antielam were put into one
fight, it would be nothing to compare to this ;" and
so it was considered at the time. By noon troops
bad crossed the river, some in boats and some by
swimming over ; the rebels contesting every inch of
the way. The engineer corps suffered terribly from
the guns of the sharp-shooters hid in the dwellinghouses in the city.
The 51st P. V., at 5 A. M., of the 12th of Decem
ber, 1862, left its camp to assist in the capture of the
city. At 8 A. M., it was halted at the " Phillips
House," and awaited further orders. The sight from
this elevated position was most sublime; the entire
lines of the contending forces could be viewed from
this point. Sumner's command was all massed here
and ready for the order to "forward," when finally
it came, and the 51st P. V. moved towards the pon
toon bridge. As it was descending the hill in front
of the "Lacy House" and close to the river, the
rebel batteries directed their shots at it, but did no
further harm than to hurry the regiment across the
river. After crossing it, the regiment filed to the
left, stacked arms, and awaited further orders. Dur
ing this time other troops were crossing and filing
up the streets that ran parallel with the river. The
cross streets were unsafe to bivouack in, for they
were parallel with the enemy's guns.
The 51st P. Y. remained at its bivouac until 10
A. M. of the next day, (Saturday, December 13,) when
it formed a line and broke its stacks and started for
that ever memorable battle-field. After proceeding
a few squares towards the lower end of the town, it

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was halted to allow the remainder of the brigade to
come up. By 12 o'clock, noon, everything was
ready to enter the field. Col. Hartranft had hard
work to keep his men in a sheltered place while
waiting for the other part of the brigade to corne
up, for as quick as he would get a couple of men
back to their places others would slip off to peep
around the corners of the houses to get a glimpse of
the enemy. Col. Hartranft made some very narrow
escapes himself while using his field glass to recon
noitre the rebel works. The enemy could see that
the city was full of Union troops, and they shelled
it without mercy. At last the command to " for
ward " was given, and right cheerfully did the men
step off to their work. After proceeding to the
lower end of the city the regiment filed right, up a
street that terminated abruptly by a large brick-kiln
that extended entirely across the street, but on filing
in it gave the rebels a full view of its column from
right to left, and they opened their batteries of heavy
guns on the advancing troops with all the fury of
the demons. But Col Hartranft was equal to the
emergency. He halted the regiment, ordering them
to "close up " and lie down. The brick-kiln flank
ing them saved them from any shells that might pass
over it, but as each shell would bury itself in the
immense pile, the brick dust would rise in a cloud
that completely obscured the regiment from their
view. While it was lying down Col. Hartranft was
reconnoitering to see and find out the best way to
get his men into the field with as little exposure as
possible. Five minutes' time sufficed him ; he
commanded " rise up ;" the men instantly sprang to
their feet, and taking their places he again com-

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THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

manded, " Forward, double-quick." The regiment
followed the colonel and succeeded in reaching the
railroad cut without any harm. Gen. Ferrero, who
was in the excavation, yelled out at the top of his
voice to "go in and give it to them." After reach
ing the railroad Col. Hartranft halted his men to
give them their wind, as they were breathless, but
the halt was only for a minute, as the men were un
der a severe fire of musketry that enfiladed that part
of the track, and they again started to their assigned
position. After leaving the cut the way was over a
large clear field for nearly a third of a mile, and al
though this was accomplished in an incredible short
time, yet so severe and terrific was the shelling and
musketry that the regiment lost more men in reach
ing their position than it did in all the other part of
the battle. The air seemed to be so full of balls that
one would suppose that a finger could not be pointed
towards the rebel batteries without being hit on the
end with a bullet, and it is a mystery to the writer
how under the sun even one man reached alive the
position assigned to the regiment, it being directly
in face of more than a mile of earthworks, behind
which lay thousands of rebels, who kept up inces
sant volley after volley of musketry, and their bat
teries volleys of grape and canister, to say nothing
of the rifle shells that passed through the ranks and
went screeching and whizzing through the air. It
was here where Capt. Ferdinand Bell, of Co. B, was
killed, whose loss was most seriously felt by all in
the regiment, and particularly in his company. He
was an accomplished and unassuming gentleman, a
good disciplinarian, a true patriot, and as fearless as
he was gentle. Before the regiment had reached its

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position its way was somewhat impeded by a series
of high board fences that inclosed some of the land,
and instead of the regiment being able to advance
in an unbroken line of battle, it had to divide into
several squads to pass through the apertures of the
fence. The boards being nailed on perpendicularly,
with stout nails and plenty of them, it was only here
and there that a board had been wrenched off, and
the passages through the fences were blocked up
with heaps of dead, dying and wounded, who had
to be trampled upon in order to get through. The
groans of the dying and wounded soldiers when
trodden on were heartrending in the extreme, but it
was no time or place to stop to evince sympathy for
the brave fellows who lay weltering in their gore.
All felt it, but as each one knew not how soon he
was to fall and share the same fate, he passed on
heedless of all cries for aid. The men of the 51st
were falling at every step, some killed outright,
some with a leg or an arm torn off, some with their
bowels or brains oozing out, and some falling as if
they had been hit, bat in fact had only fallen to im
press their officers that they had been wounded, and
thus escape proceeding any further. A few only
sought this subterfuge ; but it did not avail them in
the end, for their tricks were discovered. After the
battle was over and the regiment back in camp, Col.
Hartranft ordered all the names of the skulkers to
be handed to him for the investigation of their con
duct. Some had slipped out of the ranks of the
regiment while it was passing through the city and
sought shelter in the cellars of the houses, where
they remained until the battle ended. Others ac
companied the regiment half way across the field

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REGIMENT

and then returned ; others reached the board fence
and lay down behind it until they saw a favorable
opportunity to get back; others fell on the open
field as if wounded, and got off in whatever way
they deemed best; but several of them, as they were
getting their cowardly carcasses off) received severe
wounds — it was a pity they had not killed them.
One man had nearly reached his place when he was
seized with an unaccountable fear, and risked run
ning all the way back to the city in preference to
advancing ten or twelve yards further to where he
could lie down along with his regiment. This man
had proven himself a brave soldier on all other occa
sions, and gone into all the battles like a true sol
dier, and what could have turned him back at such
a time Col. Hartranft could not divine. When ques
tioned as to the cause he replied, " When I started
I fully intended to go through it all if I lived ; but
after I got to the board fence the balls so filled the
air that I was too much confused to know what I
was doing or what I was to do, and fear took com
plete possession of me, and I could not have ad
vanced another step if I had been shot for not doing
it." Thus it will be seen that a man who was known
to his whole company to have been at Eoanoke,
Newbern, Carnden, Bull Run, Chantilly, South
Mountain, Antietam and Sulphur Springs, was seized
with fear that took such complete possession of his
better judgment as to render him liable to a court
martial, but it is only another proof of how thick
the projectiles flew at that one point of the line.
After the regiment had got into position it cannot
be denied but what it severely punished the rebels
in their front, for, cold and chilly as the air was, the

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loading and firing of the muskets caused the men to
perspire as freely as if they were cradling in the
harvest field. Nearly all the rnen had one hundred
rounds of cartridges each, and, after expending them,
they turned over to the 9th New Hampshire who
were extended at their feet, and begged all the am
munition from them that they had to spare, and not
satisfied with that, they called on all the regiments
in the neighborhood to loan them a few rounds.
The olst New York responded handsomely, but
after begging and borrowing all that was available,
the men began to search the cartridge-boxes of their
dead comrades. The regiment had lain there in
action from 12 o'clock, noon, till 4 p. M., and had
expended all the ammunition it could obtain ; it
then gave way to allow another brigade that laid at
its feet en masse to relieve it, when the time to do so
arrived. But it was impossible for any regiment to
get off the field during daylight, consequently the
relieving brigade had to wedge itself in among the
2d brigade as best it could. At this time there were
no less than eight lines of battle occupying the one
line. But the breadth of this line was about thirty
feet, and as close and solid as it was possible to
pack human beings.
A large and beautiful black dog belonging to the
51st New York, that seemed to be aware of the
danger of the place, continued crouched to the
ground, as if to keep out of the way of the missiles,
but being tired of his one position he endeavored to
change it by getting up, when a ball pierced the
poor faithful animal, and he sank down to rise no
more. He lay there in great agony until near night,
when death put an end to 13his sufferings. At 8 p. M.,

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REGIMENT

under cover of the darkness, all the regiments which
had been in battle through the day were ordered
to withdraw from the field to get rations and ammu
nition. Col. Hartranft had the good fortune to get
his men off in tolerable safety, notwithstanding the
enemy kept up a constant fire of musketry and artil
lery.
After leaving the field, the regiment quartered for
the night in a dwelling house where Gren. Ferrero
had made his headquarters. The night was spent
by both officers and men in cooking and sleeping,
for it was now seven days and nights since the 51st
P. V. had had an hour of unbroken rest, and most of
the time without food, consequently all went to rest
as soon as possible. The next day, Sunday, Dec. 14th,
was spent in resting and the cleaning up of arms and
accoutrements. At night it lay down in the antici
pation of another good night's rest, but that was not
to be, for at 7 P. M. orders were received to go out
on picket, and as the men were all lying down and
most of them being sound asleep, they received the
orders with some grumbling, but got up, and put
ting the best phase on the matter went out on picket,
where they remained until 12 o'clock, midnight, of
the 15th, occupying precisely the same ground that
they did during the battle on the 13th. The picket
ing here was just about equal to the fighting on
Saturday, and no man, during the twenty-six hours
of picketing, dared to raise his head up three inches
from the ground, for as soon as he did it, one hun
dred balls would be discharged at him. On the first
going out of the pickets the regiment threw up a
shallow breastwork of about four or six inches high,
but could do no better for the want of tools. But,

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small as the affair was, it afforded a deal of protec
tion to the heads that lay behind it, but after awhile
the men got hold of tools and dug pits with eager
ness, and made themselves pretty secure.
The regiment was never in a tighter place than it
now experienced. For twenty-six hours had the
men to lie on their stomachs, and were deprived of
food, water or even the privilege of complying with
the demands of nature, which caused those who suf
fered from diarrhoea intense agony. On the second
night of being out the regiment contrived to get the
breastwork a little higher, but just as it was deemed
high enough for picket purposes, at midnight, Col.
Hartranft received orders to withdraw his men.
But no other troops coming to relieve him, he did
not deem it prudent to withdraw his regiment and
leave that part of the line without protection and ex
posed to the advance of the rebel videttes. He there
fore went into the city to find a regiment that was
willing to relieve his. But a large portion of the army
had already retreated, and had crossed the river and
returned to their old quarters, and all being anxious
to get over he had considerable difficulty in finding
any colonel to take his place. But when about giving
up the hunt in despair he fortunately met a German
colonel who readily assented to relieve him, and in
less than half an hour afterwards the German regiment
had quietly came out, and as quietly did the 51st
go in. The writer exceedingly regrets having for
gotten the name and title of the generous colonel
and his regiment of braves.
The incidents of the picketing are without any
particular interest. The shelling of the pickets by
the rebel batteries began to be pretty serious towards

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FIPTY-FIKST

REGIMENT

sundown of the 15th, for the enemy was receiving
little or no harm from Burnside's shells, as not more
than one out often exploded, while the enemy's nearly
all exploded, consequently they did not fear the Union
batteries, and therefore turned their guns on the
pickets. One very heavy shell from a rebel gun
exploded in among the pickets of the 21st Mass,
without doing any further harm than to cause them
as Col. Wolford said, "to huddle up closer;" not a
man of them raised himself up one inch, which, if
they had done so, it would have caused them to re
ceive a terrible shelling from the enemy, for they no
doubt were only shelling the' picket line to feel it
and find out what force, if any, was there; but after
half an hour's hard shelling the enemy ceased firing
their heavy guns, evidently satisfied that nothing
was to be found out by that kind of warfare. After
nightfall Col. H. ordered several videttes to go out,
and about 10 o'clock, from some unaccountable
cause the enemy's pickets thinking they were at
tacked poured a terrific volley into the 51st P. V.,
which was returned so quick that the poor videttes
being between the two fires knew not what to do ;
one of them, L. Patterson, in fact had slyly crept up
to the rebel works and was listening to their conver
sation, which was about building breastworks, when
the volley was fired. As soon as the firing slackened
a little the videttes came tumbling over the rifle pits
in double quick, and complained bitterly of their
comrades returning the fire without first showing
them a chance to corne in; said one of them, "as
soon as the Johnnies fired I laid down, and my hair
flew up so quick that I lost my cap, and to mend

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the matter, you cusses had to fire without letting
us know that you were going to."
The regiment took into this battle, not counting
the skulkers, 270 effective men, and came out with
180. Loss in killed and wounded, 90. This does
not include all the wounded, for a large number of
the slightly wounded refused to report themselves.*
The regiment after coming off picket proceeded to
its old camp, where it found the whole brigade had
been for some hours; all immediately began to fix
up their old quarters again for another night's rest.
After returning to camp and the last living man
* The following is the list of killed and wounded as far as
can be named individually.
Co. A. — Killed — Privates Win. Herd, Jas. Maguire, Wm.
Vanhorn, Washington McDade, David McMicken.
Wounded — Privates A. Custer, Albanus Lare, Chas. Toy, Ed
ward Kellichner, Jacob H. Moydr.
Co. B.— Killed— Capt. Ferdinand W. Bell, Private Wm. F.
Strafford.
Co. C. — Killed — Privates Michael McMullen, Geo. H. Swee
ney. Wounded — Privates Jos. W. Detwiler, Chas. R. Fox,
James Gunn, David R. Spare.
Co. Dt — Killed — Privates Benjamin Kemmerer, John Wes
ley Lonsdale, John Mogee.
Wounded — Lieut. Lewis Hallnian, 1st Sergt. Jonathan
Swallow, Sergt. Isaac Fizone, Sergt. Freeman S. Davis, Corp'l.
Win. Dignan, Privates Elwood Lukens, Henry C. Moore, John
McNulty, Owen Rex, Thomas D. Smith, Samuel Sharp, Henry
Sutch, Albert List, John Beal, Alfred R. Gray, John G. Guyer,
Thomas Vanfossen, George W. Yarnall.
Co, E.— Wounded— Sergt. Lewis G. Titus.
Co. F. — Killed — Manasses Reininger.
Wounded — Sergt. Wm. B. Hart, Privates Henry K. Adleman,
Nathan Kulp, Albert Teaney, Henry White, David Munsic,
Christian McCormick.
Co. G. — Wounded — Private Wni. Recides.
Co. H. — Wounded — Sergt. D. C. Brown, Sergt. Geo. Breon,
Sergt. Wm. Allison, John Dougherty. Missing — Levi Brensinger.
Co. I. — Killed — Private George Krieble.
Wounded — Lieut. Mark R. Supplce, Sergt. Andrew J. Leedom. Sergt. Geo. Carney, Corp'l. James Y. Shainline, Privates
George W. Fulton, John R. Herd, A. Me ister, and Thomas
McGolrich.

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of the Army of the Potomac that could get away
had crossed the river, the retreat being a complete
success, the pontoon boats were all taken up and
hauled away before daylight of the morning of the
16th. During the day a flag of truce was sent by
Burnside to Lee, and permission obtained to bury
our dead, the corpses of which lay unburied from
Saturday the 13th, to Wednesday the 17th.
Early on the morning of the 17th, a detail of about
thirty men was sent out of the 51st P. V. to cross the
river for the purpose of burying the Union dead — a
like number was detailed from most of the other
regiments. They labored hard to get the task accom
plished that day, but it was impossible to do so, and
several hours of the morning of the 18th were con
sumed before the sacred duty could be brought to a
close. On the return of the detail, they were per
mitted to bring off such of their dead comrades as
could be sent home for decent burial. They reported
that all of the Union dead had been entirely stripped
of their clothing, and were left by the heartless
wretches in a complete state of nudity. The body
of J. Wesley Lonsdale, of Co. D., was brought over on
a stretcher, and its nudity confirmed all that was re
ported by the detail. The dead were buried in the
trenches that the 51st and other regiments had
thrown up while out on picket the last two nights of
duty on the battle field.
While our men were employed in burying the
dead, the rebels made them large offers for blankets,
blouses, shirts and overcoats, which they had with
them at the time. As much as $25 in greenbacks
were offered for a blanket or an overcoat, but none
were treacherous enough to sell them any, for the

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very money offered by the rebels had just been
taken out of the pockets of the Union slain. The
enemy must have reaped a rich harvest in rifling
our dead, as it is well known nearly all of them had
their four months' pay in their pockets at the time
they were shot down, all of which had fallen into
rebel hands.
Now that the dead were buried, and things began
to assume their former aspect, the different regiments
returning to their regular camp duty, damages being
repaired, the wounded attended to, and all recover
ing from their fatigue, a few little incidents may not
be out of place here.
The day the 51st P. V. first crossed the bridge, a
regiment of cavalry came down the hill in front of
the " Lacy House," evidently intending to venture
across the river on the pontoons. It was headed by
a full mounted brass band. As it was descending
the hill, several rebel shells were fired at it, but did
not prevent their advance. On its arrival at the
foot of the hill, and directlyat the end of the bridge,
it halted, and struck up the popular air of " Bully for
You." After playing the variations they had just got
out the first note of " bully" when a shell exploded in
their midst, and in less time than it takes here to
tell it, not one of the band could be seen, some scam
pered off up the river full gallop, others down the
river and disappeared as suddenly as they stopped
their " bull," — amid the shouts and cheers of all the
infantry at rest in the vicinity.
After the 51st P. V. had got on the field of battle,
Col. Hartranft discovered oneof his drummers, James
Chase, out there. The colonel asked him what made
him come out, the drummer boy replied, " Oh ! I

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REGIMENT

thought I'd like to see the fun." He had the proud
satisfaction of knowing that his bravery met the
approval of Col. II., and also of saying what none of
his drummer companions could say, viz.: "that I
was in the whole of the Fredericksburg light of
my own free will," for drummers were supposed 'to
remain in the rear and guard whatever property was
left there by the men while in action.
Letters were received by different ones in the
regiment from home, inquiring how the army ap
peared to take the defeat. One answer to the in
quiries is at my disposal, which conveys the feelings
of a large number of the men who " were whipped."
The letter says: " You say, that I don't say how we
all take our defeat. We take that whipping like a
parcel of schoolboys would take a whipping, some
crying and whining while getting it, and then after
its over, one boy blames the other for getting them all
whipped, and finally come to the conclusion that if it
wasn't for the master none of them would have got
it. And so it is with us. we don't like the defeat.
Some blame Burnside, and perhaps justly, but I
don't think he is to blame. I am certain the heads
at Washington are the party that got us whipped so
' very goot,' as one of our Dutchmen says." The de
feat caused considerable discussion, some blame the
2d Corps, some the 9th, some one and others another,
and so on, but none knew exactly where to put the
blame, for all corps and all commanders came in for
a goodly share of censure. One thing certain is, that
our defeat was partly brought about by the worthless
large ammunition that had been shipped to Burnside for his artillery, for the writer can boldly say,
and without fear of contradiction, that he saw our

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shells by thousands strike in the right spot, and not
more than one, on cm average, out of ten would explode,
while nine out of ten of rebel shells exploded. Our
gunnery was far superior to the rebels, and no blame
can be attached to" our brave artillerists. The rebels
themselves told some of the " detail to bury the dead "
that they found a large number of our shells loaded
with sawdust, split peas, and beans and sand. Gen.
0. B. Wilcox commanded the 9th Corps at Fredericksburg.
Could any other than a defeat follow the use of
such ammunition ? It was evident to the whole
line of battle that our artillery was doing very little
to help the infantry, although the batteries were pour
ing in tons upon tons of iron into the rebel works,
but with little or no effect.

13*

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PART

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

I II, -18 6 3,

CHAPTER

I.

The Emancipation
proclamation — Winter— -" Guarding '' a
sutler's wagons — An investigation — Another sutler cleaned
out — Good things from home — Suicide of Serg. Jones — Burnside again on the move — The army stuck in the mud — Return
to quarters — End of the campaign — Burnside's corps ordered
West — Columbus, Ohio — Conflict with provost guards — Loss
of life.

ON the 1st of January 1863, President Lincoln
issued his famous emancipation proclamation, and
on the arrival of the next mail thereafter, it was
known throughout the whole Army of the Potomac,
and caused considerable angry discussions, the
soldiers believing that the object, for which they
came into the army, namely, to restore the Union,
was' to be ulaid on the table " and henceforth they
were to fight only to free the negro from slavery.
Officers and men swore that they would neither
draw a sword or fire a shot in support of such a pro
clamation, but time wore away the prejudice and a
better feeling took its place. The regiment continued
to go down on picket along the Eappahannock every
other day during the remainder of its stay at
Fredericksburg. %
The winter now had set in in good earnest; the
snow was nearly a foot deep, and the mud without
any bottom that could be found. One morning the

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5 1st P. V. was relieved rather earlier than usual, on
account of a violent snow storm that prevailed all
night before ; and Lieut.-Col. Schall, out of compas
sion for the men, allowed them to return to camp as
they got relieved, instead of keeping them all to
gether, and taking them into camp in regular order.
The first post relieved was one that private Roberts,
of Co. A, was on ; as soon as he was relieved he left
for camp. After wading through the snow and mud
until he passed the camp of the 114th P. Y. (Collis's
Zouaves), and within a couple of hundred yards of
his own, he espied several wagons stuck in the mud,
on the Falmouth and Belle Plains road. Something
induced him to take a peep into the wagons, which he
did, and found them heavily laden with sutler goods.The owner of them -and the mules had gone, and the
property was left in charge of a negro as guard.
Bob having his gun with bayonet fixed, and also his
blanket strung around his neck, went up to the negro
and asked him " If he was the one that was left to
guard the wagons ?" Receiving an affirmative reply,
Bob then told him, " Well, I've come to relieve you,
and your boss wants you to come and get your break
fast, right away." The colored man replied, " Golly,
I'se glad of dat, for I'se most d
cold," and left
Bob to guard the wagons. But no sooner had the
negro got out of sight than Bob began to unload the
wagons and carry the articles into camp, where and
when he explained everything to his comrades, and
in less than half an hour every dollar's worth was
carried off. About ten o'clock the proprietor re
turned with his mules to get his wagons out of the
mud, and his astonishment at seeing them all empty
can be better imagined than described ; but it was

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easy for him to tell where the goods had gone to, For
a hard beaten path in the snow, from the wagons to
the camp, was circumstantial evidence enough for
him to accuse the 51st P. V. of the robbery, which
he did, and called on Col. Hartranft to assist him in
his searches for his goods ; but the colonel became
highly indignant at the sutler for his audacity in
accusing his regiment of being guilty of such an act,
as he was at that time entirely ignorant of the rob
bery. The colonel referred him to Gen. Ferrero to
get permission to allow him to search the whole
brigade, as he, the colonel,, was not willing for him to
single out the 51st P. V. for search while other regi
ments were so near, and they to be exempted. So
the sutler went to Gen. Ferrero; but the general had
very little sympathy for sutlers, -and referred him to
the provost marshal to get a permit to search the
division. But the provost marshal deputized his
lieutenant (who was no other than a lieutenant of
Bob's company, 2d Lieut. Jno. Moore, of Co. A,
who was on the provost marshal's staff) to accom
pany the sutler to search the brigade for the goods,
holding a special order to that effect. The search
began at Co. A, and as soon as the sutler and Lieut.
Moore entered the first tent to examine knapsacks,
Cos. A, F, and D's boys began to remove their plun
der to the left of the regiment, and the search through
Co. A was unsuccessful ; the same with F and D.
But while the search was going on in Co. D, Co. I
boys carried their share of the goods up to A and F.
Being through with D, they next visited Co. I ; but
Co. I was just then without any commissioned
officers present, Capt. Bisbing having gone to Falmouth, 1st Lieut. Geo. Schall was acting adjutant,

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and the 2d Lieut. M. R. Supplee, having been
wounded in the late battle, was at home; conse
quently the company was left to the command of the
fifth sergeant. Considerable time was lost in getting
the sergeant to take the responsibility on himself to
permit the search ; but as the boys all had ample
time to get the things away safely, it was concluded
to begin. But while searching the tents of this
company, the Cos. C, E, II, G, K, and B re
moved whatever articles they had got to the right
companies, and the search was useless, for not a
solitary thing was found belonging to him, or, if he
saw anything which he thought was his in the pos
session of the men, they would lie him out of it, and
bring proof on all occasions that it was just. received
from home by mail. After the search was completed
and nothing recovered, the boys who were guilty
gathered around the sutler to sympathize with him
in his loss, which was, at his estimate, between six
and seven thousand dollars. Many of the boys,
while standing talking to him, and swearing that the
perpetrators of the theft " ought to be shot," " hung,"
" cart-whipped," &c., had on the sutler's shirts, socks,
drawers, boots, caps, vests, paper collars, neck- ties,
gloves, &c., and one man had the impudence to stand
in front of him eating pickles taken out of one of his
glass jars, and holding an orange that belonged to
the sutler in one of his hands. It must not be
thought that all the men in the regiment were guilty,
for such were not the case ; it was only a portion of
them that was implicated in such villanous acts, and
that portion was bound to "clean a sutler out" at
every opportunity.
About the same time a sutler pitched his tent in

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an open space some two hundred or three hundred
yards in the rear of Gen. Ferrero's quarters ; being
attached to no particular regiment he could not
claim the protection of any U. S. officers, and there
fore was an independent concern, and carried on his
business altogether on his own responsibility and
risk. The boys of the different regiments had
" spotted " the man, and were only waiting for him
" to get in a good supply " ere they would ll rally on
him." After waiting patiently for a long time the
" large supply " at last came. About 10 o'clock at
night the 21st Mass, ran along the color line of the
51st P. V. and 51st N. Y., yelling, like so many
demons, "Fall in 51st Penna. ! fall in! rally on the
sutler !" and in a few moments the evil disposed
ones of the three regiments were on their way at a
double quick to the tent of the unfortunate trader.
He had shut up for the night and retired to rest,
but not to sleep. Soon he found his tent coming
down all around him, for the boys had cut all the
ropes. By this time some eight hundred or nine
hundred men from the various regiments had assem
bled, and the plundering became, general. Only a
few minutes sufficed to "clean him out," and the
majority of them got little or nothing; being dis
appointed they set his tent on fire. He then ran
through the mob brandishing a couple of revolvers,
threatening to shoot them if they didn't disperse,
but as they would not, he fired several shots,
wounding one of the 21st Mass, in the leg; this so
exasperated the men that he had to flee for his life,
and sought shelter in Gen. Ferrero's tent. The
general took him under his protection and dispersed
the men to their quarters, but ere the men all got

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there Ferrero "had dispatched an orderly to all the
colonels of his brigade with orders to immediately
form their regiments on their respective color lines
and have the rolls called, arid all absentees to be
reported to him in the morning. It was now mid
night and the order was rigidly carried out, but the
culprits had all got to their quarters in time to
answer to their names, and the guilty ones were
never found out. The loss of this sutler was between
two thousand and three thousand dollars. He
gathered up the remnant of the ruins and left for
parts unknown.
On Friday, the 2d of January, 1863, Chaplain
Mallory received a large box from the " ladies of the
Lutheran Church of Norristown " filled with fine
cakes, bread, &c., also a barrel of splendid apples
and onions ; the articles were divided into five
equal parts and distributed to the five companies
from Montgomery county, Pa. An extract from a
private letter gives an idea hpw gladly the gift
was received, it says :
" The things were shared out to the five companies
from Norristown, each company's portion again
shared out to the men, and it gave them such a
feast as none, or at least very few of us, have seen
since the day that we left our own mlittle tables at
home, and you may be sure we enjoyed the eatables
with many a fervent 'God bless the ladies for their
kind consideration for us here.' "
At the same time a large number of boxes that
had been sent from home by ''Adams' Express"
during the summer and autumn of 1862 arrived,
but their contents were all spoiled, excepting such
things as tobacco, segars, and liquors, the remain-

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der were worthless ; but it was only in accordance
with all the other boxes expressed to the regiment
by that u reliable concern," as they would take all
the boxes offered, even when they knew the men
would never get them, or at least until their con
tents were damaged.
Nothing more of interest occurred since the late
battle than what has been already related, excepting
the death of Q. M. Serg. William Jones, who com
mitted suicide by shooting himself on the night
after the regiment had returned from Fredericksburg. He had been in a depressed state of feeling
for several days previous to his committing the act,
acting very strangely during the absence of the
regiment, but none that were left back in camp ever
suspected that he contemplated taking his own life.
He was buried in the rear of the hospital tent, and
a short time thereafter his remains were disinterred
and sent to Norristown. Corp. Christopher Wykoff,
of Co. F, was promoted to fill the vacancy created
by his death.
Gen. Burnside was now making preparations for
another attack on Lee at Fredericksburg, and the
51st P. Y. received orders to be ready to move at a
moment's notice, with three days' cooked rations and
one hundred rounds of ammunition. A few days
after the orders had been issued, it was found that
the entire army was on the move, but after pro
ceeding a short distance the great depth of the mud
proved the movement to be impracticable. Wagons,
artillery, caissons, and everything on wheels became
so imbedded in the mire that horse or mule power
was insufficient to move them, and everything
"stuck fast in the mud" for two weeks afterwards.

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The movement was finally abandoned, and the
troops returned to their old quarters completely
worn out with the fatigue of wading through the
earthy mixture that appeared to be without any
bottom, such was its great depth.
On the 26th day of January, 1863, Gen. Burnside,
on leaving the army of the Potomac, took leave also
of the 9th Corps at the same time ; when it came
under Gen. Sedgewick. After Gen. Burnside was
ordered west to the department of the Ohio, he re
quested that his old corps be transferred to his new
command ; and two divisions were ordered to re
port to him. but the 3d Division was left at Newport
News.
Reviews now began to be the order of the day,
and every few days the 51st P. V. was out for that
duty; but on the 7th day of February, 1863, orders
were issued to the 51st P. V. to cook three days'
rations and prepare to move on the following day.
On Tuesday morning, February 9th, the regiment
struck tents and marched to the depot and embarked
on the cars for Aquia creek, where it arrived in the
afternoon. It then embarked on board of a trans
port, and arrived at Newport News on February llth,
going into camp near its former camping ground,
where it lay until the 26th of March, 1863.
Nothing of especial interest occured at this camp ;
the regular routine of duty, such as drills, parades,
reviews, guarding, &c., was attended to as formerly.
Gen. Ferrero and a select company of officers had a
ball on one of the government boats, which was at
tended by a few of the officers of the 51st P. Y.
On the morning of the 25th March, Col. Hartranft
again left for his home on a leave of absence.

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While lying here the recruiting officers and men
who went home in August, 1862, from Fredericksburg to recruit, arrived about the 1st of March, after
being absent seven months.
The weather here was very fine, and the officers
and men enjoyed themselves much in the innocent
games of cricket and base-ball.
On the morning of Thursday, March 26th, 1863,
at sunrise, the 51st P. V. struck tents and embarked
on its tour to the far west, on board of the splendid
steamboat Louisiana for Baltimore, where it arrived
'on Friday evening, the 27th. After unloading the
baggage the regiment marched to the depot of the
Northern Central Eailroad, where it arrived at 11
o'clock at night ; but as it could not get away before
1 o'clock of the morning of the 28th, the men took
a stroll through the city. Everywhere they went
they were treated with the utmost hospitality ; owing
to the fact that the boys all knew the 2d Maryland
Eegiment, which appeared to be a kind of a pet
regiment of the Baltimoreans. Many of them got
drunk and became riotous, but the charm of know
ing the 2d Maryland, saved many of them from the
lock-up ; others not so fortunate brought up at Fort
McHenry, as deserters, &c., and did not get released
for a long time after the regiment arrived at its des
tination.
At 1 A. M., of the 28th, the cars were ready,
and what there was left of the regiment embarked
once more. About 10 A. M., it arrived at Little
York, Pa., where the citizens had coffee ready
made and gave them a good breakfast, but here, as
in Baltimore, a few more got left behind, but suc
ceeded in overtaking the regiment at Marysville,

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above Harrisburg, by jumping on the express train.
At sundown of the same clay it arrived at Bridge
port, opposite Harrisburg, but it only remained here
a few minutes ; but in those few minutes a large
number jumped off the train with the view of going
home, and did not return until arrested as deserters
or found that they would be if they did not rejoin
their regiment as soon as possible.
At midnight the train arrived at Altoona, on the
Pennsylvania Central road. Coffee and whiskey
was served up here in abundance. After stopping
there about an hour the train again started for Pittsburg, where it arrived after crossing the Alleghany
mountains, on Sunday morning, March the 29th, at
daylight. Here the regiment was treated to a hand
some collation in the City Hall, by the citizens.
The regiment was received in a spirited speech by
Maj. McCook, a brother of the heroic family of
McCooks. After the collation was over the citizens
separately took the soldiers under their charge, and
long before night a large number of them were
" laid up on the platform of the car depot," being
too feeble to support themselves on their legs.
Although whiskey flowed as freely as water, and a
large number became very drunk, yet all behaved
themselves with propriety and decorum. The offi
cers allowed the men free scope as long as they be
haved themselves properly, and very few of them
gave their officers any trouble.
It was 8 p. M , of Sunday, before the regiment
could get away from Pittsburg, but at that time cars
for Cincinnati arrived, and the regiment left for Co
lumbus, Ohio, where it arrived at 3 o'clock p. M., of
Monday, the 30th. The citizens of this beautiful

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city furnished the men with a sumptuous feast of
coffee, cakes, boiled eggs, ham, bread and butter,
and other things, to satisfy the inner man. Every
thing passed off very harmoniously until within a
few minutes of the time for starting, when a few of
the men of the 51st P. V., 21st Mass., and the 51st
N. Y. wished to take a stroll through the city, for
a few minutes, to see it, but they had only proceeded
a few yards when they were halted by the provostguards of that city, and were not allowed to proceed
any farther, as they had no pass; but the men seized
the guns of the guards and threw them over a brick
wall into a private yard, and as they were equal a
fight took place, and the guards were getting the
worst of it when another squad of guards came to
their assistance and fired on the visiting men, killing
one of Co. A's men and wounding three of the 21st
Mass. The men now rushed frantically to the cars
to get their muskets, with a full determination of
wreaking vengeance on their assailants, but the offi
cers' coolness in the matter prevented them from
getting their guns and also prevented what was in a
fair way of becoming a terrible riot. As it was, the
officers had considerable difficulty in getting the
men to leave the ground and get on the cars, not, how
ever, until several of the guards had been knocked
down by stones and bricks that were hurled at them
by the exasperated men. The lieutenant in charge of
the guards had formed his men in line of battle on the
sidewalk facing the railroad, and as the stones and
other missiles were hurled at them they would raise
up their guns to fire ; the lieutenant would run along
the line and knock up the muzzles and beg them for
" God:s sake, don't fire ; " though that was just what

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our boys wanted them to do, for then they would
have disregarded all their officers' commands and
entreaties, and seizing their guns would have anni
hilated the whole provost guards force. Col. Clark,
of the 21st Mass., now took the whole matter in
hand and promised the lieutenant of the guards that
he should hear from him again. Capt. Joseph K.
Bolton took an active part in trying to quell the dis
turbance, so that he could investigate the manner
and cause of the death of the member of bis com
pany, but the whistle of the train blew for " all
aboard " before the true state of the case could be
found out. and he was forced to forego his humane
intentions.
The men once more on the train it started while
angry words were passing between the two conflict
ing parties. Had not the citizens interfered on be
half of the stranger regime, ts the riot would not
have passed off as quickly as it did, but the citizens
unanimously decided the guards to be the aggres
sors, and the boys did not wish to harm or destroy
anything belonging to them, as they had been treated
kindly by all excepting the guards, who were de
ficient in their duties, being raw recruits and pre
suming to exercise more power than they possessed.

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II.

Cincinnati — Generous reception — Paris, Ky. — Mt. Sterling —
Winchester — Hickman's Bridge — Lancaster — Negro life and
peculiarities — Crab Orchard — Stanford — Correspondence.

THE regiment arrived in Cincinnati early on
Tuesday morning, the 31st of March. Almost as
soon as the regiment arrived at Cincinnati a com
mittee of the citizens waited on Lieut. Col. Schall,
tendering to him and his regiment a collation that
was prepared for them at the Fifth street market.
If the hospitalities of the citizens of Maryland and
Pennsylvania were generous, those of the Queen
city were trebly so, for, not satisfied with giving the
troops a splendid breakfast, the citizens took the
men into their private dwellings and emptied their
haversacks of the hard-tack and pork, and filled
them with roast turkeys, chickens, ducks, beef, cakes,
pies, bread and butter, oranges, lemons, apples, pre
serves, and in fact everything that they thought a
soldier could possibly wish for. The canteens were
filled with brandies, wines, milk, nectar, and all
other kind of drinks at hand. Money in no small
amounts was slipped into their hands, and after all
had been done to please the men they begged of the
soldiers only to mention something else that they
wanted ; but where so much was given it was hard
to think of anything else that was needed ; and the
regiment left the city never to forget its kindness,
nor should it ever be forgotten by any man of the
51st P. V.
After leaving the market the regiment marched
through the city and halted in front of the Burnet

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House, where Glen. Burnside bad bis headquarters ;
tbe hero came out on the balcony and made an ap
propriate speech to the men, after which the regi
ment marched to the ferr j and crossed the Ohio river
to Covington, Ky. Late in the evening they em
barked on tbe cars of the Kentucky Central Railroad
for Paris, Ky., where it arrived early in the morning
of the 1st of April, 1863.
The regiment encamped on the fair grounds about
half a mile from the town, and during that night was
done some sound sleeping, as neither officers nor men
had had one hour's sleep since the night of the 25th
of March, before they left Newport News, Va., and if
a regiment ever was grateful for an hour's rest from
the fatigues of so long a march, attended with so
much excitement, the 51st P. V. was for this, their
first sleep for a whole week. The next day was spent
in fixing up the camp, and resting from their longjourney. At night a large number of officers and
men visited the town of Paris as, also, did a number
of the 48th P. V. They were not long in the town
when Capt. Nicholas, of Co. B. was assailed by some
Kentucky secesh scoundrels, and somewhat of a
riot was about to break out, when the officers of the
48th P. V. not understanding the cause of the quarrel,
"pitched in" and Nicholas came off second best, with
a swelled eye or two, but the mistake was discovered
in time and order was soon restored; the spunky little
captain having been determined to allow none of the
chivalry to advocate secession within his hearing.
On Saturday, April 4th, at daylight, the 51st P. V.
struck tents and left Paris for Mount Sterling, Mont
gomery county, Ky., where it arrived late at night
and completely worn out with fatigue, having

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marched twenty- three miles in a blinding snow storm,
and over a hard turnpike road. Towards noon it
became evident to Col. Schall that if some way to
.get the men's knapsacks hauled was not adopted his
regiment could not reach its destination that night,
he therefore issued orders to the men to press into
service any teams that could be found on the line of
march. It was not long before the boys found teams
enough to haul everything that was cumbersome to
carry, and by that means the regiment reached Mt.
Sterling at 8 J P. M., and bivouacked close to the road
for the night. Soon after the men had lain down to
sleep an order came in for thirty of them to be de
tailed for picket. It was amusing to hear the orderly
sergeants calling off the names of those whose turn
came for duty, not more than one out of a dozen
would answer, and yet the sergeants knew the men
were there, but it was so dark that they could not
find them ; after calling the entire roll they began to
pull the blankets down from the men's heads, and
peep into their faces until they found the right ones,
then some swearing would be done, all kinds of ex
cuses framed, "sickness," " sore feet," " too tired," '' not
my turn," &c, but the sergeants were inexorable and
out they had to go cold and wet, tired and hungry.
Next morning the regiment passed through the
town and went into camp about one mile from it.
In passing through the town a few families who were
undoubtedly loyal, welcomed the 51st P. Y. with
tearful eyes, and expressing their gratitude in catch
ing the men by their hands and giving them a hearty
shake, adding at the same time, "We are so glad to
see you, my dear friends," and such like expressions.
Their tales of sorrow nnd of nil their sufferings at

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the hands of the rebel guerrillas were hurriedly told,
and they were too happy in seeing some sign of protec
tion afforded them, but alas! it was only of short du
ration, for in a few days all the Union troops were
withdrawn from that neighborhood, and the gue
rillas came pouncing on them the very first night
after our departure, and plundered them of every
thing movable, taking every horse belonging to
citizens who were in the least tainted with loyalty.
On Sunday morning, the 5th, the pickets came in
with five guerillas they had taken during the night ;
on the Tuesday following they captured seven more.
One feature in social life among the Kentuckians
was noticed by the Northern soldiers, viz., that the
women did all their journeying on horseback; if
they had only a fourth of a- mile to go it must be
done on a horse, even children would go on horse
back, and frequently as many as three little ones who
were scarcely able to walk, would be seen sitting
astride of a single horse going to school; after get
ting there the horse would be turned loose to graze
until school was dismissed, then the little fellows
would, by the help of the larger ones, remount and
ride home in perfect safety.
While lying at Mt. Sterling, Capt. J. Merrill Linn
was made Provost Marshal of the town, and com
pany H was detailed for provost guards.
On the 7th Col. Hartranft arrived from his home ;
also several other officers who had been absent
through wounds or sickness. At the same time was
brought a splendid sword for Capt. G. W. Bisbing
of Co. I, a present from his friends in Upper Merion
in consideration of his bravery, and to replace the
one broken at Antietarn by a fragment of an ex-

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ploded shell. While at this camp the paymaster
visited it and gave them, on the 14th, four months'
pay. The men now having plenty of money, and
luxuries very cheap, they lived like princes. Eggs
were 10 cents per dozen ; flour, $4.50 to $5 per
bbl; chickens, $1.50 per dozen ; largest size turkeys,
40 cents; maple sugar, 10 cents per cake of 1J Ibs.;
large pies, 10 cents apiece, and everything else in
proportion. But it was not long before the citizens
got Yankeeized and raised the prices to 50 cents per
dozen for eggs, and all other articles at the same rate,
they becoming Yankeeized in a very short time.
The regiment left Mt. Sterling on the 17th for
Winchester, Ky., at 1.30 A. M. At 8 A. M. it halted
for breakfast, and after partaking of a hearty meal
it proceeded on its march to Winchester, where it
arrived at sundown, making the march of thirty-two
miles in one day; but one-half of the men were left
along the road, unable to get on any farther, from
fatigue and being overloaded with heavy knapsacks.
After getting in camp about two miles from the
town, two companies, C and H, under Capt. Allebaugh, were detailed for Provost Guard duty at the
latter place. Co. I was detailed to take charge of
the ferry at Boonesboro on the Kentucky river, ten
miles from Winchester.
On the 14th of April Capt. E. Schall, of Co. D, re
signed his commission and left for home. His com
pany escorted him into town, and presented him at an
other time with a splendid gold medal, inscribed on it,
" Presented to Capt. Edward Schall by the members
of Co. D, 51st Begt. Pa. Vols., as a token of their
love and confidence. Stanford, Ky., May 28, 1863.
Roanoke, Newbern, Camden, Bull Run, Chantilly,

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South Mountain, Antietam, Sulphur Springs, Fredericksburg." He bade them all an affectionate fare
well, and parted from his men with a heart too full
for utterance. He was beloved by the whole regi
ment, and his departure drew tears from many a
stout heart in other companies besides his own.
On the 1st of May, 1863, the different companies
that were away on special duty returned to camp
near Winchester, and prepared to leave, which it did
on the 4th, for Lancaster, Ky.; where it arrived on
the 9th of May.
On the night of the first day's march it encamped
in one of the heaviest rains that ever fell in Ken
tucky. The ground was under water most of the
night to the depth of four or five inches ; but in fact
this march was altogether in a rain, for it was a con
tinuous one for eight days and nights. On the night
of the third day's march the regiment encamped on
a farm owned by a most violent "secesh." The boys
had found a case of guns buried on his place not far
from his house. He denied knowing anything about
them, but his colored men declared that he and his
sons buried the guns on the approach of the regi
ment. For this piece of loyalty the boys were not
in the least sparing of his fences. This place is near
Lexington.
The fourth day's march put the regiment across
Hickman's Bridge, over the Kentucky river. It
went into camp about one mile beyond, on a rocky
hill a short distance from the turnpike.
The rain and darkness of this night bafnes de
scription. Shelter tents were of very little use, if
any, as a protection, for the heavy drops beat through
the tent cloth as if it was a collander, and the men

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got up in the morning as wet as when they lay down.
The wagon train belonging to the brigade, which was
intended to accompany the regiment, did not get into
park until late at night. Next day the regiment did
not start until 8 A. M.; passing through Lancaster,
Ky , it halted for a long rest about one mile to the
left of the town, on the road to Lovetts, a small
town eight miles distant. This was to be the end
of the march, but Col. Schall received orders to pro
ceed to Lovetts at once, and the regiment pushed
on and reached the designated place at 5 P. M. of
Saturday, May 9th. While lying here a large batch
of furloughs came in, but were only signed for ten
days, though twenty days were asked for. The
twenty days had received Col. Schall's signature,
Col. Hartranft's and Gen. Sturgis's, but when they
reached Gen. O. B. Wilcox he cut them down to ten
days. The anger of the furloughed men knew no
bounds, and some refused to receive their furloughs
for so short a time, as it would take nearly the ten
days to get home and return. Those who did go
did not return until the 18th day.
On Sunday morning, the 10th, orders came in be
fore daylight for the regiment to return immediately
to Lancaster, and by sunrise the column was on its
way there, where it arrived at 11 A. M. and encamped.
On the 14th orders were issued to be ready to
move at a moment's notice, with three days' cooked
rations and sixty rounds of ammunition to each
man, to proceed to Somerset, Ky., to head off Mor
gan in his contemplated raid on either Louisville or
Lexington.
On Monday, the 18th, the regiment moved camp
to a more eligible location, but scarcely had the last

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tent been pinned down than the order to be ready
to move, &c., was renewed, but like the original one
it did not take the regiment off'. The men kept in
good spirits, and hoped that the order would be
countermanded, as both officers and men enjoyed
themselves hugely by playing at base ball in day
time between drill hours and at night by the per
formance of genuine negro minstrels, who were the
field hands belonging to the neighboring plantations.
Their mode of performing and style of dress was
certainly very interesting. Ten or twelve would
form a circle in one of the company streets and the
oldest negro of the party would seat himself on a
cracker box in the centre of the circle, armed with
a violin, banjo, guitar or tamborine, and direct
affairs to suit his own original notions, which would
generally be of a most ludicrous character. He
would compose the greater part of his melodies as
he sung them, and accompany himself on whatever
instrument he had with him. But his songs were
of a childish nonsense, meaningless, and his com
panions would set up a howl for a chorus that was
truly laughable. Sometimes they sang songs of
what might be properly called serio-comico-patriotic, of which a verse or two will give an idea :
" Ingin rubber overcoat,
Gum elastic shoes,
John Morgan on the telegraph,
Trying to read the news.
" Fare you well ! fare you well !
Hippa loo ! hippa loo di doodle doo.
" Jeff Davis built a breastwork,
And built it out of trash,
'Long come de Lincomnites
And knocked it all to smash.
CHOIIUS — "Hippa loo, &c."

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The above is a fair sample of their favorite songs.
How many verses it contains would be hard to say,
for they could sing it for an hour and not repeat
a verse ; nor would they be done the song then, but
would cease singing simply because they tired of it.
Their dancing was truly wonderful, surpassing any
thing ever exhibited by Carncross & Dixey or any
" pale-faced" Ethiopian band of minstrels. The men
of the 51st would erect a platform of boards for a
dancing stage, and after a long consultation among
the dancers two or four would be selected as the
champions. Divesting themselves of nearly all their
clothing they would " go down to it " with a hearty
will, and dance their "break-downs" for an hour,
and only quit because one of their number would
put in an " extra step " against which some one
would remonstrate. As for quitting through fa
tigue or heat it was absurd to think of it, for they
took so much pnde in dancing that they would
sooner drop or die than to give it up for so trifling
a cause as fatigue !
But the most amusing thing was to see them open
their eyes and mouths when one of the regiment
sang for their entertainment the "Lincum Gumboats," which, at its conclusion, they pronounced
" one ob de berry best songs that was eber sung in
old Kaintuck."
This amusement continued nightly while the regi
ment lay in camp near Lancaster. An extract from
a private letter gives an idea of how the boys appre
ciated it, viz.: "I wish you were here in our camp
at nights, for we have the true Simon-pure "Ken
tucky Minstrels" performing nightly. Generally,
eight or ten of the plantation darkeys in their gro-

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tesque dress, and with their violins, tambos, banjos
and guitars. They sing their melodies and dance
for us from sundown till midnight, and it is dancing
too, for what negro is down here that can't dance ? "
It was here at this camp that the regiment had a
correspondent who wrote regularly once a week to
a newspaper published in Norristown, Pa., " The
National Defender" of which Col. Edwin Schall was
the proprietor, giving the doings of the regiment
from the writing of one letter to that of another, up
to the time of Col. Schall's death, when the paper
fell into other hands, and the intercourse was trans
ferred to the ''Herald and Republican.'1'' Casual
letters from the regiment appeared in another paper,
the " Independent" but any and all of the correspon
dence was highly appreciated at home on account
of neglect in the men to write to their friends and
their homes.
One letter by a correspondent in the regiment to
a Lewisburg paper came very near creating a melee
between the 51st P. V. and the 9th New York, (Hawkin's Zouaves) this correspondent stating that the
9th New York was lying behind the hospital like
"shysters," while the 51st did the fighting for them.
How true the accusation was, it is impossible to
say, but it was reported that while the 51st was in
the said battle, one or two knapsacks belonging to
the men were robbed, but by whom it is hard to
say. It surely could not have been done by the
Zouaves, for they went into the fight shortly after
the 51st opened the battle. The robbery was more
likely to have been committed, if any were robbed,
by a few stragglers and shirkers who congregated

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around the hospital as soon as the enemy fired their
first solid shot.
On Saturday, the 25th, the orders previously
issued to be ready to move, were carried out ; the
regiment left the camp near Lancaster, Ky., ostensi
bly with the view to reinforce our troops at Cumber
land Gap; but, after marching nine miles, it was
halted by a courier, who brought in word that we
were not wanted out there, as our army had defeated
the enemy, and were in possession of the Gap. The
regiment went into camp within a short distance of
a small village called Crab Orchard. This short
march of nine miles was a most trying one ; the heat
was intense, the turnpike dry, the clouds of dust
were so dense that a man could not distinguish his
file-leader, and suffocation seemed inevitable ; no
water to be had ; springs and creeks were all dried
up along the whole route. The suffering for water
was beyond describing. So great was the thirst of
some of the men, that they left the ranks, and wan
dered four to six miles in search of water, but ob
tained none until noon.
On Sunday morning, the 26th, the regiment re
ceived orders again to push on to the Gap ; but just
as the regiment was moving in column, the order
was countermanded, and it moved across the turn
pike, and again pitched its tents, fully expecting to
stay there at least a week ; but no, for early on Mon
day morning, orders came again to push forward
with alacrity, which it did, but only for a few .miles,
when the regiment again halted, and again went
into camp about one mile beyond Crab Orchard, and
was informed that it would lie there for three or
four days; but, at 4 p. M., orders were issued to

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again be ready to leave at 7 o'clock in the evening
for a night's march to Stanford. Morgan was
threatening a raid on that town, and hence the move.
At 7 P. M. the regiment started. Lieut. M. R. Supplee and Lieut. Wm. F. Campbell had command of
the rear-guard, and arrived at Stanford a little be
fore daybreak. This march was accomplished with
very little fatigue. The night was clear and cool ;
the moon shed its bright, silver-like rays; water was
everywhere plenty, and of an excellent quality. The
rations while in this part of Kentucky were very
meagre, and of an inferior quality ; the meat was
smoked flitch, which would have been acceptable
had it been sweet; but it was unfit to eat, being so
very rancid that none of the men would keep it
either in their tents or haversacks. But better
rations were promised in the future, as Crab Orchard
was to be made the commissary post for the Ten
nessee army.
On the 27th of May, the officers and men who
had received a ten days' leave of absence and fur
loughs, returned to the regiment, being absent eigh
teen days instead of ten. As each one returned, his
arrival was hailed with interest and delight, for all
were bearers of some little nicety from home to the
absent ones. Even the few days that those soldiers
were home was sufficient to change their complexion
from a swarthy brown to nearly white, and the men
in the regiment, for the first time, began to find out
that they were nearly black from sunburn and ex
posure. But such was the fact, that the whitest of
them was darker than the darkest mulatto. One
thing at this camp made it very acceptable to all the
troops encamped at this post, and that was the op-

U*

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portunity of buying newspapers only one day old.
The line of communication from Covington, Ky., and
Cincinnati, O., was now uninterrupted to this place,
and the Cincinnati dailies found their way to the
51st's camp, and sold readily at ten cents per copy.
But the mails from the North and Bast were very
irregular and uncertain, and the facilities for convey
ing the mails from Nicholasville (the terminus of
the Kentucky Central Railroad) to this place, a
distance of only thirty-six miles, were not of the
first order. Stages ran from here to Nicholasville
twice a week, but were not trusted to carry the mail,
as that was only done by the military authorities ;
but it was a great convenience to the soldiers going
and returning on furloughs. The fare was highly
exorbitant, being $2.50 for the thirty-six miles.
The mails from the army were quite as irregular, if
judged by a paragraph copied from the "National
Defender," of June 23d, 1863, a paper published in
Norristown, Pa., in which it says :
"The latest intelligence we have from the 51st
regiment is that they are stationed at Memphis in
Tennessee. This place is said to be three hundred
and ninety miles from Vicksburg, where Grant is at
work. It was repor ed that the regiment had gone
there, but such were not the facts at the latest dates.
An engine boiler blew up as they were going down,
but none of the men of the 51st were injured, al
though three rnen of other regiments were reported
killed by the accident."
The mails must have been sadly out of order if the
above was the " latest intelligence." The regiment
never was stationed at Memphis. It lay over for a
few hours at that place while on its way to Vicks-

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burg, and no doubt the "latest" had its origin from
that fact. There were delays in the mails for the
"Defender's'11 correspondent. "T. H. P." dated his
communication from Cairo, 111., June 8th, and it did
not appear in the printed form till July 21st, 1863.
This letter gives a detailed account of the doings of
the regiment from June 1st, 1863, up to the writing
of it, as given below :
ON THE BANKS OF THE OHIO RIVER,
CAIRO, ILLINOIS, June 8th, 1868.
Having a few moments to spare, while we are waiting for
transportation from this, I will tell you what the 51st P. V. has
been doing since I last wrote you. On Monday afternoon, 1st
inst., while on dress parade, it was announced to the regiment
that Q. M. Serg't Samuel P. Stephens had received a first lieu
tenant's commission from Gov. Curtin, and was thereby pro
moted to regimental quarter-master of the 51st. In this pro
motion there was considerable sagacity displayed by our Union
loving governor, for no man knows the duties better of that
important and highly responsible post than the present incum
bent. He has proven himself a faithful officer in the nearly two
years of his connection with that Department. It was also
announced at the same time and place that all officers1 baggage
- enlisted men were to pack up all surplus clothing on the next
day in boxes to be sent to Hickman's Bridge, on the Ken
tucky river, they only to reserve a change of underclothing ;
and we were further ordered to carry three days' rations in our
haversacks and five in our knapsacks. On Tuesday, 2d inst.,
early in the forenoon, the camp was alive with "hurry and
bustle," being a busy day for both officers and men in packing
and sending off all surplus baggage, as per order, and also of
the sending to Lexington of forty-eight rebel prisoners who had
been captured by our forces near Cumberland Gap. While the
boys were busy boxing up their goods, a few that were idle for
the time being, started off on a raccoon hunt. They had been
gone but a few minutes, when we were surprised to see them,
coming into camp with a " coon " of the largest size, which they

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had succeeded in capturing by treeing it and then cutting down
the tree. The " coon " ran out of the hollow in which it had its
nest, and it and the boys had a severe but bloodless battle, in
which the "coon" came out second best, and unconditionally
surrendered to its overwhelming foe. It was borne into camp by
its captors, and afforded no little amusement to a large number
of the brigade.
While at Stanford, Kentucky, the boys employed their spare
time in an ingenious way, making finger rings, crosses, shields,
figures, etc., out of cannel coal, which is found in large quanti
ties in Kentucky. Some specimens of their art shown to me
were finished off in the finest style of the jeweller's art, and in
fact would reflect the highest credit on those skilled in the pro
fession.
Brig. -Gen. Ferrero returned to the 2d brigade after an absence
of six weeks. He was received by the brigade with loud cheers.
He relieves Col. Hartranft of the command of the division, and
the colonel thereby takes command of the brigade.
On the 3d inst., the llth N. H. and the 35th Mass, struck
tents and took up the line of march just at sundown for Lex
ington depot. A few minutes after they had left, the 51st re
ceived orders to be ready to leave Stanford next morning at
daylight for Nicholasville, Kentucky. On the 4th, as per order,
we were ready to leave, and at six o'clock A. M. we formed
line and left that beautiful camp for
; well, I will tell you
after we get to our destination. We reached u Camp Dick Rob
inson,11 distant from Stanford seventeen miles, about 4 o'clock,
p. M., considerably fatigued and a good many sore feet, where
we pitched our tents for the evening. Lieut. -Col. Schall re
ceived orders for him to report that night at Nicholasville, but
the orders could not be complied with, as we were too near
"played out.'1 We found the 8th East Tenn. encamped at
this old camping ground, and they witnessed our dress parade
of that evening with evident satisfaction. The country be
tween Stanford and Lancaster is not of as high a character as
between Lancaster and Covington, but in buildings of all
kinds it compares well with any part of Kentucky that we
have been in. There are some private residences through
that section that are truly magnificent, and had I time to make
special notice of any of them I would do so.
On Friday morning, the 5th inst., at two o'clock, reveille
was beat, and we left Camp Dick Robinson for Nicholasville,

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distant fifteen miles. We crossed Kentucky river at Hickman's
Bridge at sunrise, being half way of our journey on foot for that
day. At this point on the Kentucky river is some truly roman
tic scenery. On either side are rocks of limestone and bastard
marble of an altitude of two hundred to three hundred feet.
High peaks, bluffs, cliffs and yawning abysses abound in this
place. The Lexington pike winds round one of the lofty emi
nences, and at one point, about midway, the road runs close to
a precipice of at least three hun red feet in height, with little
or nothing to prevent a refractory horse from plunging headlong
down this dizzy height.
But I must return to our march. We reached Nicholasville
by 9£ o'clock A. M. No cars being in readiness for our trans
portation, we filed into a neighboring woods and took a sleep
of two or three hours that we had been robbed of the night
before. At 2 o'clock p. M. cars were in readiness for us, and
we left Nicholasville for Lexington. We reached that beauti
ful city at 3 o'clock p. M. and left it for Covington at 4 o'clock
p. M. the same day. When near Paris an accident occurred that
came very near being the death of one of Co. B's boys, named
Matthew Delaney. He, along with hundreds of others, who
had been on the top of the cars enjoying the beautiful scenery
of that most beautiful of all States, Kentucky, that so enchants
a person, was in the act of changing his position, and being
near the outer edge of the roof and the cars going at the
highest rate of speed, causing them to sway to and fro, he lost
his balance, and finding that he was likely to fall he attempted
to save himself as much as possible by an effort to leap to the
ground, and no doubt the forethought saved his life. He fell
heavily to the ground, and, as the cars passed on, we all
thought him dead ; but we have since learned by those who
arrived here to-day, who saw him yesterday, that he was very
little harmed by the fall, and that he would be all right again
in a day or two. We arrived at Covington about 2 o'clock
on the morning of the 6th. We slept in the cars until day
light and then disembarked and marched through that city to
the wharf on the Ohio, and then embarked on the steamboat
Queen City and crossed over to Cincinnati. We took the cars
of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad for Sandoval, 111., where
we arrived yesterday about 9^ o'clock A. M., changed cars for
those of the Illinois Central Railroad, and proceeded to Cairo.
We passed through the entire breadth of Indiana and arrived

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at the town of Vincennes, on the line between Indiana and
Illinois, about midnight, and there we were refreshed by a cup
of good coffee and some bread. On Sunday, at the town of
De Soto, Illinois, we were furnished with ample quantities of
good coifee and fried beefsteaks and mutton chops. We ar
rived at Cairo at 10 o'clock p. M., Sunday the 7th, disembarked
and slept on the platform of the depot. Early on Monday we
marched about a mile above the city awaiting for transporta
tion down the Mississippi river. More anon,
T. H. P.

Below we give a lettter from another correspon
dent, " E. S.," (Col. E. Sohall.)
NEAR VICKSBURG, Miss.,
)
June 18th, 1863. j
We purpose at this time to give you a brief history of our
44 excursion" from Stanford, Kentucky, to this place. When
in the early part of June orders were issued to the troops to
reduce their baggage, and directing each soldier to carry sixty
rounds of ammunition, and eight days' rations in haversack and
knapsack, we little thought in a few days thereafter we would
march to the rear. One and all looked for the order to " move
on," which was to terminate in the deliverance of East Ten
nessee. However, on the 3d much bustle was noticed among
the camps of the regiments near to us, and before dark all
struck tents. We were much surprised by this movement.
We did not know what to make of it, as the first and only in
timation we had of a movement was the striking of tents.
Then arose the question, " W.ill they go forward, and will we
remain behind to garrison the post?" But no one could tell.
However at dress parade the officers were instructed to be
ready to move at an early hour in the morning ; and soon
afterward large fires sprung up all around, over which the
soldiers cooked their three days' rations. Ere darkness had
settled over us it was evident to all that our destination was to
the rear, and not to the front as first supposed. Of course
there was much speculation as to our movement. Some pre
dicted we were going to Yicksburg, others that we were going
to the rescue of Hooker, while as many more thought we were
going to Western Virginia, and operate against Tennessee from
that point. Every one believed he was right, and thus there

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was a constant excitement on this subject. No doubt many as
they sat in front of their little tents on this beautiful evening
regretted the necessity which compelled them to forsake their
beautiful camping ground and excellent water. But regrets
were in vain, for necessity consults the comforts of no man.
Early on the morning of the 4th we bade good-by to Stanford,
and briskly moved toward Lexington. The day was quite
warm, making marching far from pleasant. It was quite evi
dent from the remarks of the citizens that they did not like
this retrograde movement. They expected the State would
certainly be again invaded by the rebels. Whether their fears
were well grounded we are not able to say, for it is very
seldom we receive a newspaper. As we passed through Lan
caster, where we were formerly encamped, we found the town
in possession of the young ladies, who were making prepara
tions to give a concert in the evening for the benefit of the sick
soldiers. We hope and believe they were properly encouraged
in their noble work. A few miles beyond the town the regiment
rested for several hours, after which it resumed the march,
reaching Camp Dick Robinson at 4 o'clock. Here it was most
of the Kentucky regiments were organized. An East Tennes
see regiment was encamped here. While there, they had a
dress parade, which was rather awkwardly conducted, for
which, however, due allowance was to be made, for it was the
first they had with arms. Our men being anxious to show
these noble patriots how well an old regiment could perform, a
dress parade was ordered ; on which they looked with much
surprise, thinking it almost impossible men could become so
proficient in the exercise of the manual. Many, too, for the
first time heard the strains of a brass band. It was to them,
indeed, a rich treat. During the evening our men freely
mingled among them, obtaining from them a history of their
trials in East Tennessee. They are true patriots, and deserve
the gratitude of every American for their devotion to the
Union. The sacrifices made by our people are as nothing com
pared to those made by these exiles. At 3 o'clock the next
morning wre again moved forward. We passed the Kentucky
river shortly after daybreak. A high bridge spans the river.
The bluffs on the northern banks of the river rise to a great
height. Around this bluff the road winds. At places it is
quite narrow, with no railing to guard against a fractious
horse from leaping over the dizzy height. At some points the

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height is so great that it is fearful to look over. We will not
stop to speak of the country — that has been done by other cor
respondents. We reached Nicholasville at about 10 o'clock,
and were at once ordered to go on the cars waiting for us.
However, at our arrival at the depot, we found they were not
prepared for us. So we marched to a neighboring grove, and
rested until 1 o'clock. We need not add the men were very
much tired by the day's marching. The pike was hard and
very dusty. At 1 o'clock the train was in readiness for us, and
we at once took possession of it. We arrived at Lexington at
2, and remained here for several hours. We took the oppor
tunity to visit the cemetery, which is near to the depot. We
were much pleased with the monument to Henry Clay. It is
built of native marble, which somewhat resembles granite.
The yard is the most beautiful we ever saw, and those who
have visited Laurel Hill say that it will not bear comparison
with this. We left Lexington at 5 o'clock, and reached Covington at midnight. Near Paris a private of Co. B — Mat.
Delany — fell off the cars, and was supposed to be killed. We
learned, however, a few days af er, that he was only slightly
injured. We remained in the cars until near 6 o'clock, when
we got off, formed regiment and moved to the Ohio river.
Here we crossed in a ferry boat, and at once proceeded to the
Ohio and Mississippi rcilroad depot, where we again got on
the cars. We staid here long enough to get refreshments — not
from the citizens — but such as our purses secured.
We moved off at ten o'clock. As we passed through the city
there was the usual cheering and waving of flags and handker
chiefs. It seemed to be, too, a festive day for the young, for as
we passed along the Ohio, we saw a large steamer crowded
with gayly dressed misses and gents, who evidently intended
to spend the day in one of the many beautiful groves along the
river. As we passed them there was quite a lively waving of
handkerchiefs. No doubt many of the soldiers wished, as they
gazed on the gay party, that this wicked rebellion was crushed,
so that they, too, could participate in these festive pleasures.
At four o'clock in the afternoon, we received coffee at Sey
mour, which proved quite refreshing. Again at midnight we
had bread and coffee at Vincennes, 111. It was very tiresome
this night travelling, as the cars was most too much crowded
for comfort.
At Sandoval, Illinois, where we arrived early on Sunday

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morning, we changed cars. We here saw the car which the com
pany had built for the use of the Prince of Wales while making
his tour through the West. It was finely arranged inside — and
must have been very gratifying to the Prince. After the change
was completed, we left for Cairo, where we arrived at midnight.
At Ccntralia the troops were supplied with refreshments, which
proved very acceptable to all.
The troops disembarked at three o'clock A. M. and slept the
remainder of the night on the platform of the depot. At eight
o'clock the regiment moved up the banks of the river a short
distance, and went into camp. Towards evening the Paymas
ter came round to pay us, but just as he was about to com
mence an order came for us to go immediately on board the
steamer Hope. The regiment was at once formed and com
menced to embark on the steamer. It proved to be a very fine
boat, there being ample room for all. The officers were very
polite and gentlemanly. We left at about six o'clock.
We will not stop to talk of the towns and plantations we
passed. This has already been done. We arrived at Memphis
on Wednesday morning. The day previous, we had been paid
by Maj. McCook, the lather of the many McCooks in the Army
and Navy, who have so much distinguished themselves.
We laid at Memphis all day of Wednesday and Thursday.
Many took the opportunity to visit it. It is really a very pretty
city, and we were much pleased with its appearance. We met
several former residents of Norristown. Among the number
were Squire Weaver, Al. Lindsey, and Leidy and son. The}'
are all doing business in this city.
We left early on Friday morning. Arrived at Helena at ten
o'clock. He-re quite a warm discussion arose between our
troops and those of the west. Gen. Prentiss finally interfered.
Instead, however, of ordering his own troops to be silent, he
called upon the officers of our troops to order them to be silent.
We expected all along to be fired upon by one of the many
bands of guerillas who prowl along the river, but we were
never molested, though one of the boats a short distance be
hind us, was fired into.
We arrived at Sherman's Landing, in sight of Vicksburg, on
Sunday morning at eight o'clock. We at once disembarked
and went into camp near the landing. Near to us was the
celebrated canal, of which so much has been written by news
paper correspondents.

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In the evening orders came to move early in the morning.
At four o'clock, we moved off. At an early hour we reached
Carthage. No boat being there to convey us across the river,
we stacked arms and were dismissed. This being the camping
ground for the numerous negroes who came into our lines,
there was sufficient to interest us while laying here.
A little before noon we crossed the Mississippi, landing at
Warrenton. We were ordered to go into camp, which we did.
But our stay was short, for scarcely had we erected our little
shelters, ere orders came to go back. The troops immediately
went on the transports, and in a short time we were once more
in Carthage. Proceeding along the banks of the river, a short
distance, we again went into camp ; but at dusk we again re
ceived marching orders. The regiment was promptly formed,
and we moved back to Sherman's Landing. Remained here
all night, and next day went on board of one of the transports,
and at night reached Haines Bluff on the Yazoo river. The
following morning we disembarked, and marched to our pres
ent location, which is some three miles from the landing. We
have thus hastily and very briefly alluded to our journey from
Kentucky to Vicksburg.
E. S..

CHAPTER

III.

Off for Vicksburg — The 8th Tennessee — Lexington — Covington
— Cairo, Illinois — Big catfish — On the Mississippi — Corres
pondence from the regiment — Sherman's Landing — Mortalfiring — Letters to the "National Defender," — Description
of the operations in the rear of Vicksburg.

ON the 4th June, 1863, the regiment left camp at
Stanford, Ky., at 6 A. M., for Vicksburg, Miss., to
reinforce Grant, and to assist in protecting his rear
from the rebel Gen. Johnston, who was hovering
around between the Big Black river and the lines of
Gen. Grant, who had Pemberton invested within the

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city limits of Vicksburg. The trip occupied ten
clays from Stanford to Sherman's Landing, La.,
where it arrived at 10 A. M., on Sunday, June 14th,
1863 ; but the actual time occupied in travel was
eight days. The first day's march from Stanford
was on a very hot day, and the regiment made about
eighteen miles by 4 p. M., reaching and camping at
Camp Dick Robinson, on the Lexington turnpike,
about fifteen or sixteen miles from Nicholasville.
The great heat of the day and long marching, with
bat little rest, and a good part of the day's work
over the hard turnpike, found the men completely
jaded out and footsore. While preparing to put up
a temporary camp for the night, the men of the 8th
Tennessee regiment, who were encamped on the op
posite side of the pike, waited on Lieut.-Col. Schall,
and requested him to have a dress parade for their
benefit, as they had never seen a regiment drill or
on "parade." Lieut.-Col. S. replied that he "would
willingly do so if his men were in a fit condition to
appear, but they are ' played out,' foot sore, and
their clothing, arms, and accoutrements are not in a
fit condition ; and, my friends, I can't find it in my
heart to order a dress parade, but I will see what
they say." He did see what they would say, for in
ten minutes after, the regiment was on the color line.
Tired out as every one was, it was not expected to
be in strict accordance with military discipline; but
the men actually reverenced their Lieut. -Colonel,
and their whole heart was in their drill to make as
creditable display as possible. After the parade
was over, the Lieut.-Colonel pronounced it equal, if
not superior, to any dress parade he ever held. One
thing sure, the splendid brass band accompanying

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the regiment never performed better than on this
occasion. The 8th Tennessee regiment witnessed
the dress parade with evident satisfaction as an ex
hibition, but as an example to them they became
discouraged, for, as they expressed themselves, it
was showing to them how to do what was an im
possibility to them, as they could never handle a
gun in that prompt way ; but Lieut.-Col. S. encour
aged them to " try, try again ! and in time they
would be as proficient in arms as was the olst P. V.,
as his men were as 'green as they' when first en
listed." The two regiments mingled very freely
together until time to "turn in." The next morning
the reveille was beat at 2 o'clock, and the regiment
took up the line of march at precisely 3 o'clock,
and reached Hickman's Bridge, on the Kentucky
river, between daylight and sunrise, being full onehalf of the day's march accomplished; by 9J- o'clock
it had reached the end of its " route step march."
The cars to convey the regiment were not in readi
ness to receive it, and the men, after stacking their
arms in an inviting grove, laid themselves down to
rest and sleep ; but by noon they began to stir, and
strolled into town to buy some knick-knacks for
their comfort on their journey : pies, soft bread,
cheese, and last, but not least, canteens full of " old
Bourbon," were the articles most sought, especially
the whiskey. At 1 p. M., the regiment embarked on
the cars, and left for Lexington, where it arrived at
2 p. M., but, from some inexplicable cause, it did not
get away from that beautiful city until 4 P. M.
While waiting at this place, the men scattered like
a flock of scared sheep, rambling throu. b the city and
its suburbs, to see the sights and to lay in a fresh sup-

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ply of " Bourbon." At 4 P. M. the whistle blew for
" all aboard," and in five minutes after, the train went
whizzing on its way, with every man on board, to
the city of Covington, Ky., on the Ohio river, op
posite Cincinnati, where it arrived at 2 A. M. of the
6th of June, 1863. After waiting for daylight, the
regiment crossed the river, and took the cars for
Cairo, 111., where it arrived on Sunday night, about
10 o'clock of the 7th of June. After sleeping on
the platform of the depot that night, the regiment
left early on Monday morning, to embark on a
steamer for Vicksburg ; but on arriving at the wharf,
there were no pilots to be obtained. The regiment
marched up the Ohio river about a mile from the
city, made fires and a cup of coffee. Here the men
saw, for the first time, the famous Mississippi catfish,
but their money being scarce, they could not pur
chase the coveted delicacies. Some of the officers
had compassion on their men, and purchased a few
for their own companies. Among the benevolent
was Capt. G. W . Bisbing, who supplied his company
with several fish, of which the least weighed not less
than twenty-five pounds, and all his company had a
large ration.
A little before dark, a pilot was impressed into
the service, and placed on the steamer Hope, and the
regiment embarked for Vicksburg. From some
cause, the steamer halted at Memphis, but the whole
trip is so graphically described by the correspondent
of the " National Defender,1'1 that it makes comment
unnecessary. We give it below :

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CAMP OF THE 51sT PENNA.,
NEAR SNYDEK'S BLUFF, Miss ,
June 18<7i, 1863.
Here we are, near the " juraping-off place," surrounded by
cane brakes and all other kind of "breaks." We left Cairo,
111., on the afternoon of the 8th instant, on board of the fine
steamer Hope, for Memphis, Tenn. We travelled all night,
and thereby missed a "peep" at Island No. Ten, which we
passed a little before daylight, much to the regret of all on
board. We stopped twice to take on wood, on the 9th, and
had to lay over for the night on account of the Egyptian dark
ness that environed us. Our boat was made fast to a tree on
the Arkansas shore, and then we put out a number of pickets
for the safety of the boat and all on board. It rained all that
night in torrents, and I must say that it rains the easiest of
anything you ever saw. We have seen it rain when it was
thougnt impossible to do so. WTe reached Memphis, Tenn.,
on the morning of the 10th.
Changing the subject, we were paid off on the day before and
I am sorry to say that the Mississippi river and also the City of
Memphis abounds with the "light-lingered gentry" technically
called pickpockets, which our boys have discovered to their
sorrow. Our regiment alone has been the loser of near a thou
sand dollars. Many of the boys had their pockets cut and
the contents abstracted while making purchases in the city and
would only find it out, when the villains had escaped with their
booty, as they would go to pay for their purchases. Many of
them lost their all. A large amount was put in the Adams
Express Office to be forwarded home, and those wTho have been
in the habit of receiving money from the regiment will know,
if they are slighted this time, that the former senders of money
are minus through the manly art of abstraction.
The City of Memphis is a splendid place, the streets are laid
out with nice precision and run at right angles. There is an
air of aristocracy in the appearance of many of the private
residences, but all the large buildings are in military hands and
are used mostly for hospital purposes. Provisions of all kinds
are at high prices, cheese, 25 cts. per lb., eggs, 40 cts. per doz.,
dried beef, 25 cts. per lb., oranges, (small) 10 cts. per piece,
and what is a five cent loaf of bread at home is 12£ cts. or two
loaves for a "quarter" as they sell here, cigars (sixes) 10 cts.
per piece, chewing tobacco such as sold at home wrhen we left
for 5 cts. *i plug is selling in that city at 25 to 30 cts. per plug,

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sweet cakes such as we can get at home ten for a " fip " we can
get here three for a quarter.
We left the City of Sharpers (Memphis) at daylight (on
the steamer Commercial, which appeared to have no pick
pockets on as no one lost any money while on that boat) of
the 12th. Durell's battery also was on the same boat. The
pilot houses on all the boats have to be protected in some Avay
from the guerillas who infest both shores of the river and fire
on all boats that go up or down the stream when they can
do so with safety to themselves. Most of the pilots are pro
tected by pieces of iron boilers £ of an inch thick and six or
seven feet in height, of which — one piece forms a semi-circle
and a piece is put on either side of the wheel, the pilot standing
in the concave of the half boiler, making him pretty safe against
bullets, but not from cannon shot. "We were not molested in
any way on our trip down, being escorted by several gunboats
past the most dangerous points. All the towns on both shores
from Memphis to Vicksburg have had to be burned or destroyed
in some way, for they afforded shelter to the guerillas and gave
them every opportunity to fire on the boats with impunity, the
pilots being their targets. The Mississippi boats bear the marks
of many well-directed cannon shot ; some of them I noticed had
as many as four shots through their pilot houses alone, and
some have their wheel-houses terribly shattered.
We arrived at Sherman's Landing on Sunday morning and
camped in the woods on the banks of the canal or famous " cut
off" in front of Vicksburg. The mortar boats laying under
cover of the high bank of the point in front of the beleaguered
city, keep up an incessant fire both day and night, dropping a
nine inch shell either in the city or the rebel entrenchments and
no doubt with considerable effect. Grant's army forms a semi
circle or crescent far below, to the rear and above the city, from
the shore at Warrenton to the Yazoo river. Gunboats lay be
low the city and fire a shot every few miimtes. The city is
plainly visible to the naked eye from Sherman's Landing, but
with the aid of glasses objects moving in the streets can be dis
covered quite plainly.
On the morning of the loth we marched to Carthage, Louisi
ana, and took the ferry-boat and crossed the river to Warrenton, on the Mississippi shore 8 miles below Vicksburg, but
before another boat load could get over the order was counter
manded and we had to re-cross and march back to Sherman's

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Landing, which we reached by 9 o'clock that night. Next
morning we went on board the steamer John H. Dickey and
steamed it up the Yazoo river to Raines Bluff. While on our
passage up the Yazoo we were visited with a most terrific hail
storm which lasted only a few minutes, however; some of the
hail stones were the size of a pigeon egg and pelted all who were
unfortunate enough to have to be on the hurricane deck, with
unrelenting pity. A few minutes after the storm had ceased
the boys descried a huge alligator laying like a log in the water,
but the noise of the boat disturbed him and he buried himself
in the " deep bosom" of the Yazoo river. I must not forget to
tell you a fish story, even at the risk "of it being condemned as
rather fishy. Lieut. Jacob P. Brooks of Co. F. took his line
and went down to the Mississippi river and got into a yawl and
dropped his line in the water and much to his gratification he
succeeded in hooking a catfish weighing 21 Ibs., he baited his
hook again and in less time than it takes me to tell it he got a
"cattie" weighing 35 Ibs., that being, as he thought, his share,
he quit fishing and went into camp with his fishy prize to enjoy
a fry. These fish were taken while at Sherman's Landing, and
numbers of other fishermen had equally as good luck in catch
ing fish but not such large ones.
We disembarked from the Dickey on the morning of the 17th
and after getting a little breakfast we took up the line of march
to these bluffs, and here we are now in camp enjoying a little
rest after fourteen days and nights constant travelling.
We are here, as I learn, for the purpose of checking Joe John
ston from getting in the rear of Grant, while the seige continues,
but from all that we can learn Peinberton cannot hold out much
longer, for both the citizens and the rebel troops have to depend
upon the Mississippi river for water, and when any one comes
down to the river for water our mortars drop a shell about the
size of a Y'ankee water bucket in their vicinity and they have
to leave. Their mules and horses must be out of forage, for
while we were down at Warrenton several mules floated past
us that had either died of starvation or from our shells, and the
rebs in the city have turned several hundreds of horses, mules
and cattle loose which the 88th Illinois captured and have them
in an enclosure. One of the 88th 111., told me that last week
he seen as many as a dozen dead mules floating down the river
at one time.
The boys here are enjoying themselves in picking that de-

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licious fruit, the blackberry. I gathered a fine lot in a few
minutes yesterday. Don't it make your mouth water? Just
think of eating blackberries on the 17th of June. I must close
my letter and begin to clean up my accoutrements, as there is
to be a general inspection to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock.
More anon.
Yours, &c.
T. H. P.
CAMP OF 51 ST PENNA.
SNYDER'S BLUFF, Miss., June 21st, 1863.
On last Friday night, 19th hist., at about 11 o'clock, heavy
cannonading commenced at Vicksburg between our forces and
the rebels, which equalled the bombardment of Fredericksburg,
Va., last December, in constant heavy thunder-like roar and
length of hours. It continued incessantly until 10 o'clock of
Saturday morning, the 20th. Our pickets plainly heard the
musketry and the sharp shrill crack of the rifle. I have not
been able to find out with certainty the cause, but have been
informed that the rebels massed their troops and made a des
perate effort to cut their way out through our lines and earth
works, in which they were unsuccessful, for they were driven
back with considerable slaughter on their part and very little on
ours.
It has been rumored through our camp that General Grant
has obtained information, on reliable authority, that Pembei ton
has at least three months' provisions within the besieged city,
and, therefore, the fall of that much-coveted city will be delayed
for a long time, as starving out will be the proper modus operandi of achieving that great object,
I have been taking a stroll out through the country, and can
say for this part of the State, that if a landed proprietor would
offer me a farm, of any size, gratis, with a proviso that I would
have to live on it (or rather starve on it) I should unhesitatingly
decline his kind, or cruel, offer. Corn is out in tassel, and some
is forward enough for boiling ears to be plucked; but how they
manage to farm this land would puzzle a Pennsylvania farmer
to tell, for a more rugged country cannot be found, — the face
of the country is broken, and possesses nothing but ravines,
gorges, hills, cliffs and bluffs of all altitudes — bluffs and cliffs
overhanging deep gorges that sends a thrill of timidity through
a person when standing on the verge looking down the dizzy

15

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height. Most of these bluffs are covered with dense canebrakes, blackberry briars, and underbrush that affords harbor
to the venemous reptiles, such as rattlesnakes, green and gray
lizards, stingarees, &c., which are to be found in great numbers
here, but are daily growing beautifully less, for the boys are
continually killing them wherever they find them.
Col. Hartranft is again back in command of our regiment.
On last Friday he had a general inspection of the regiment, in
which could be seen the wide difference between the condition
of arms, accoutrements, clothing and persons that had been
exposed to all kinds of weather and inconvenience of travelling
both day and night without shelter for two weeks, and the
general inspection of yesterday. The inspection of yesterday
was satisfactory, and proved that a few days in camp brings
everything up to its original pristine brilliancy again.
Sanitary orders were issued yesterday from headquarters to
all the regiments of the division for cautionary measures against
that scourge of all sickness, the yellow fever ; it warns us not
to expose ourselves unnecessarily to the scorching rays of the
sun in day time or to the damp and chilly night air ; also, to
use no water for drinking or culinaiy purposes other than that
obtained from wells and springs, in which barrels or boxes
must be sunk for the purpose of guarding them against any
uncleanly matter finding its way into the water, which undoubt
edly would be the case in the event of a rain, for the current of
water which necessarily must flow down the deep gullies and
ravines would wash or carry down in its "rushing career" the
carcasses of dead mules and other filth that accumulates from
one rain till another. We are recommended to bathe our per
sons at least twice a week.
A report is rife in camp to-day that the rebel Lee is in Penn
sylvania, and within 20 miles of Harrisburg, w7ith his horde of
"bearded and beardless warriors." It causes no little excite
ment among the few Pennsylvania regiments that are here ; but
don't let them stay there ; rout them out if there is any truth in
the report; the majority here believe it, some few don't, and I
am with that few. If he is there, I think he will be apt to find
that he is bearding the lion in his den.
The weather here at present is very dry, and extremely hot
in the daytime, but quite chilly at night. The health of our
regiment is good. AVe are encamped on the bluffs about nine
miles above Vicksburg. Although not in a desirable location,

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yet it is far more convenient than many other regiments have,
for we have water at the foot of the hills, while the other regi
ments have to haul their water from our camp spring, which is
certainly one of the finest flows of water in this part of this
district.
The boys continue to gather daily large quantities of black
berries, and also a fruit resembling very close what we call at
home mountain cherries, but in flavor they are vastly superior,
being just sweet enough when fully ripe to be pronounced ex
cellent.
Here are now nearly three weeks since a mail has blessed the
eyes of the regiment. What is the matter ? Lee has not cer
tainly torn up the Pennsylvania Central Railroad, has he ? We
are becoming very impatient for a mail ; and if none comes,
there will be no need for us to write home any more, for you
folks will have to share the misfortune with us. I have just
been told by a gentleman, who just came down the Mississippi
river, that it is almost impossible for a boat to get either up or
down the river on account of the numerous guerilla bands that
infest both shores. If that is the case, it may in some measure
be a cause of delay in the non-receipt of our mails.
This is the greatest country that we have been injyet for in
sects of all descriptions. Here is where you can find your fine,
plump mosquitoes, sand-flies, beetles, bugs, ants, worms of all
kinds, ticks, and in 1'act anything in the insect line that you
want for the formation of a cabinet of nature's tiniest works.
Nature has slighted this State in the more substantial and nec
essary means of subsistence, and seems to have been most
profuse in bestowing her gifts to that State of all States, Ken
tucky. Art, however, has done more for Indiana and Illinois,
as far as can be judged by a hasty ride through those States,
than any other State, apart from Pennsylvania, that I have
been in, in north, south, east or west. In Indiana the well
cultivated vineyards indicate the thrift of her population, and
the, I might say, heavenly appearance of- their beautiful but
small white cottages as they stand out in bold relief on either
side of the Ohio and Mississippi Central Railroad, indicate a
refinement of taste that poets or painters might puzzle their
fertile imaginations to equal, so dazzling and enchanting is the
picture to be seen along that route. Illinois is not behind her
sister State, Indiana, in her artificial beauty, for there too stands
those beautiful white cottages that so enchant a traveller

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and almost makes him think that he certainly is in dreamland,
and the scenes before him are the works of fairies, and not of
mortals like himself. There, too, stand beautiful towns scat
tered over the widespread prairies, looking at a distance like
towns built by the same fairy-like hand out of the pure and
unpolluted snow, so white and neat are they in their appearance,
and wearing an air of hospitality and welcome about them that
baffles description. More anon.
T. H. P.
CAMP OP THE 51st P. V., SNYDER'S BLUFFS,
MILLDALE, Miss., June 29£/i.
Just as I was about beginning this week's correspondence,
we got marching orders, and in consequence of the move I
am a little late in the transmission of my weekly epistle. Since
writing my last I've had a stroll of a few miles into the bowels
of Mississippi, and a more rugged and poverty stricken State, it
would be difficult to find.
On Monday, the 22d inst., the 9th Army Corps began, for the
first time in its history, to entrench itself against an attack from
the enemy, the 51st performing a goodly share of the work in
digging rifle pits and felling trees, so as to give our batteries a
clear scope of country for the use of their engines of death.
The breastworks extend for a number of miles protecting
Grant's rear from any attempt on Johnston's part to harass the
beseiging forces. Heavy cannonading began a little before
dark on the 23d, and continued all that night and throughout
the next day, notwithstanding a heavy rain was falling nearly
the whole time. On the 25th the cannonading was resumed
with still more vigor on the doomed city, but since then only
occasional shots from the mortars and heavy guns are heard.
Blackberries continue in great abundance and the troops
gather large quantities of them. "We are to enjoy the blessing
of fresh baked bread in a few days. Our regiment have al
ready begun the construction of an oven for that purpose, and
it will be eagerly sought after by the boys, for they are, beyond
a doubt, very tired of masticating those hard crackers, that have
been used by them for so long a time.
As I said above, that as we had inarching orders I am a little
late with this, and must necessarily be very brief, but will pro
mise to continue my weekly efforts as regularly as circumstances
will permit me to do so, for it is my wish to keep up a current

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of events linked together from my first letter, until our regiment
drops down in Main street, Norristown, after having either
faithfully served its three years out, or this unholy rebellion is
forever crushed, and the bonds of this most glorious Union
more firmly united and cemented together by the blood of those
who sacrificed luxury, ease and comfort, for the tented field,
and have met a soldier's grave. Many more of our comrades
will find a grave in this far distant land ere that peace and
prosperity, so much coveted, can be firmly established, but
what parent will refuse to shed his blood, and freely too, that
his offspring may inherit such a rich legacy as our forefathers
transmitted to us, but which some of their children have been
so recreant to the trust as to attempt its destruction.
The Rev. D. G. Mallory has had his Chapel Tent put up at
the Bluffs, and held service in it several times. It is not as well
attended as it should be, bnt I cannot think it is because immo
rality in the regiment is on the increase, but rather think it is
owing to the extreme heat on the one hand, and the fatigue of
the boys coming into camp at night after toiling all day in the
rifle pits, and cutting clown the dense forest which surround our
breastworks. The health of the regiment is still very good.
There were five more discharges from the regiment to-day,
cause, physical disabilities, two or three on account of wounds
received in action. The headquarter guards and teamsters of
this corps arrived to-day from Kentucky, on board of the stea
mer Prima Donna. They had 48 cannon shot and two vollies
of musketry fired into them while coming down the Mississippi
river, below Helena, Ark., by about 800 guerillas, who hold
that point for their murderous purposes. Five horses and 20
mules were killed, and one or two of the men slightly wounded.
Yours, &c.,
T. H. P.

We give below an extract from the columns of
the Defender, inviting attention to the correspond
ence from the 51st P. Y.:
"So many of our readers and the public generally are in
terested in the movements of the 51st that we continue the in
teresting letters from that source in this week's paper, to the
exclusion of other matters. We finish the communications
now on hand, and we hope hereafter to give more attention to
local matters."

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We give below a letter signed " D. G. M." pub
lished in the Defender, leaving no doubt on the mind
of the writer of this that the author is the worthy
Chaplain of the 51st, Rev. Gr. D. Mallory. He being
in feeble health while at Milldale, was left in the
old camp at that place, along wiih the sick and
convalescent of the regiment, while it was after
Johnston :
"MILLDALE, Vickuburg,
"It is the Fourth of July night. I had retired; for it is
said of Americans that they never 'go to bed,' but always
'retire.' I am sure the broad clean bed, waiting patiently for
me at home, would blush to hear me call the thing I sleep on
here a bed. I had retired ; that is to say. I had taken off my
boots, had carefulty removed a big black bug from the inside
of my trowsers, had tucked the trowsers legs into my stock
ings, as some slight protection against the prying officiousness
of bugs, fleas, gnats and mnsquitocs, not desiring to collect
there an entomological museum, had lain down on my camp
cot, and covered my face and hands with a musquito net, with
some faint hope of composing myself to sleep.
" I was listening to a concert sung in all the parts known to
music — and unknown — by those interesting creatures, who
sought admission to my castle with all the perseverance and
persuasiveness of him who won the ear and heart of Parley,
the Porter. The air was saturated with the sounds of myriads
of katydids and locusts, and the thousand tribes of insects
which in a southern forest make night noisy. A toad was hop
ping along under my bed. I knew that a few yards off were
ugly lizards, green and brown and gray. In the thickest of
the gully at my right were snakes, if not ' gorgons and chime
ras dire.' Along the road in the hollow two hundred yards to
my left, rattled the long train of pontoons pushing forward to
the front that the 9th Corps might cross the Big Black. I was
thinking of the fall of Vicksburg when the moon arose.
" The circumstances in which I saw the moon rise on this
night of the eventful Fourth of July, 1863, were very peculiar.
The quarters are on a hill top which, in every direction but the
east, terminates in very abrupt and steep hillsides, falling down

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into the little valley or hollow below. The front of the tent
and the foot of my bed are towards the east, looking out along
the top of this ridge or hill. Along the side of the hill runs a
line of rifle pits, and on the ridge to the east, in front of the
quarters, is a bastion where the guns of a battery have for a
week past been looking out patiently, but in vain, for the rebel
Johnston. All sides of the tent are raised as high up from the
ground as they can be, so that really the tent is all roof, and
lying on my cot I can look out in every direction over the hills.
I was lying here on my back looking out through the musquito
bar at my feet and thinking of Vicksburg, which had just sur
rendered to Grant. My feet showed distinctly against the dis
tant sky when the moon rose above the horizon, behind the
soles of my feet, and peered over my toes. The moon was
what the astronomers call 'gibbous,' that is, awfully swelled
on one side, so that the 'man in the moon,' as he peeped over
my toes and laughed at me — for I saw him laugh — looked like
a boy very, very bad with the mumps in one cheek.
"As I said, I was thinking of Vicksburg. Great prepara
tions had been made for a Fourth of July attack on the city,
and for its capture. There were 180 immense siege guns in
position ready to open fire on the doomed city. It was ex
pected that the capture would occasion great loss of life and
limb, and all the steamers were ready to receive the wounded
and carry them North at once, to spare them from this fatal
climate. The Imperial, being the fastest boat here, was ready
to take the news of the capture immediately to Cairo, where it
could be telegraphed all over the country. A week ago the
principal work of the rebels was blown up and Fort Hill was
taken ; yesterday (the 3d) another fort was taken by the same
process, three of the rebels being blown from their works into
the Federal camp. When all was ready for the final attack the
rebel works were ornamented along the line with flags of truce,
and instead of a bloody fight a bloodless victory crowned the
great national festival.
" Early in the morning I listened with all my ears for the
opening of the fight, but heard only the national salute to the
Day. I say 'all my ears,' not referring to the size, but the
number of them, and meaning, as the French say, 'all two'
(tout deux) of them.
"A happy day, and a happy, because bloodless, victory.
For four days the rebels in Vicksburg had lived on one scanty

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meal a day, looking in vain for help from Johnston. When
they surrendered they had only enough for one meal left, and I
doubt not they would have held out one day longer if it were not
for the great and useless loss of life which must result from the
attack which they knew Grant was about to make. We shall
need to make heavy drafts on our commissary stores to supply
these 23,000 starved prisoners.
"It is reported that Port Hudson has also fallen, and that
20,000 prisoners were taken there. But the news is so good
that we are afraid to believe it.
" Vicksburg having surrendered, twro divisions of Grant's
army were left in charge of the town and the prisoners, and
this very day the rest of his army immediately crossed the Big
Black river below, while our 9th Corps crossed above, and
have all started off in hot pursuit of Johnston. With Grant
below him and Parke above him, and an immense cavalry
force in his rear approaching from Corinth, Johnston may find
himself in a jug with the stopper in.
"Well, I was thinking of these things, and wishing we
might soon be ordered North, when the ' man in the moon,'
with his swelled cheek, peeped over my toes and laughed at
my misery as he saw my hands and face disfigured almost be
yond recognition by musquito bites.
" What with the horrible, sickening heat, and the painful
itching of hands and face, and the tormenting songs of the in
sects, who sang, 'Fee, fi, fo, fum, I smell the blood of a Yan
kee mun,' and the hideous noise that filled the air and filled
my ears, and the provoking sneer of the moon as it rose higher
and higher, I was driven out of bed at midnight, and so sat
down to write you this ; first throwing sticks into a neighbor
ing tree to drive off some frightful ill-omened bird of night,
which had kept up a distressing screech for an hour past, more
gloomy than 'The Raven's' dolorous 'Nevermore.'
"Goodnight.
D. G. M."

When the regiment arrived at Sherman's Land
ing, in Louisiana, it encamped directly at the fam
ous "cut off," or canal, where the Mississippi Fleet
was to traverse the river to pass the stronghold,
Yicksburg. On the south bank of the curved part
of the river, close in to the shore for shelter, lay

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several mortar boats, dropping their ponderous shells
of two hundred pounds each into the city.
This was an interesting sight to the majority of
the men of the 51st, for it was the first mortar firing
that they had ever seen. A great many of them
had purchased field glasses, and they were levelled
on the besieged city with much satisfaction. Ani
mate things were quite visible in it to the naked eye,
and to get a glimpse at the beleagured place caused
the troops to assemble en masse. The enemy opened
a few rifled guns to disperse the " Yankees' inquisi
tive gaze," and fired several rifle shells for that pur
pose, but without much effect, as the "Yankees"
were not to be driven away by such means. Each
one being enrapt with the panoramic view before
him, loitered there until the enemy, in order to force
them to go, sent in a perfect shower of heavy shells,
which partly had the desired effect.
After the men retired to their quarters the shelling
ceased, and they prepared themselves a cup of cof
fee, and indulged in a few moments of piscatorial
sport, Lieut. Jacob P. Brooke leading the van in
catching big " catties," he having caught two weigh
ing respectively twenty-one and thirty- five pounds.
Others fished, but had no luck like his.
The friends of the regiment had heard nothing
definite as to the whereabouts of the 51st, the mails
being so very irregular, respecting which notice was
given in the Defender of the arrival of a batch of
letters from its correspondent, wrhich appeared in the
columns of that paper Aug. 18, 1863, viz.:
"Our valued and prompt correspondent (PARKER) T. H. P.
has sent us several more of his letters, keeping us posted up in
the movements and doings of the 51 st regiment. Although

15*

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these letters date back several weeks, yet the last bring us up
to a late date, and they have all arrived within the past few
days. We shall endeavor to make room lor them all in next
week's Defender. The last letter was dated near Snyder's
Bluff, Mississippi, where they have plenty of good water. The
regiment expected to get back to their " Old Kentucky Home "
soon. So let our friends and the friends of the 51st look out
for an interesting correspondence in next week's paper."

In the next week's edition appeared letters dated
respectively July 13th, 17th and 27th, 1863; the
following notice heading them :
"We have other letters from the 51st regiment on hand for
next week's paper. We are thus enabled to let the many
friends of this regiment know what they have been doing.
We are under great obligations to the regular contributor,
' T. H. P.' The letters next week are an interesting continu
ance of the doings of the 51st."
CITY OP JACKSON, Miss.,
July nth, 18G3.
Here we are, pitching into his honor, Joe Johnston, with
both iron and lead, and Yankee like, I guess he is getting rather
the worst ot it, too. I wrote my last to you while lying in the
woods, one an.d a half miles on the west side of the Big Black.
We left there on Tuesday, the 7th ; our advance had been
skirmishing all night, and succeeded in driving the rebels from
that side of the river. Our loss was one killed and ten wounded.
We crossed the Big Black river about 3 P. M. of that same day.
Johnston kept falling back towards Jackson under the severe
pressure of our troops, and our forces succeeded in driving him
behind his fortifications at Jackson, and on the 8th inst. the
battle for the city was duly inaugurated and has been kept up
both day and night, without intermission, up to this writing.
Our battery, belonging to the 2d Brigade, met with an acci
dent while crossing the Big Black. The bridge was a frail,
temporary structure, and the immense weight of the six heavy
horses and the caisson full of ammunition caused it to give way,
precipitating the whole mass into the river, (fifteen feet deep.)
The caisson being filled with shot and shell it sank to the bot
tom of the river, and before the drivers could cut the two

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tongue horses loose they were drowned, but the four other
horses were cut loose and were got out in safety. The Big Black
river is a narrow sluggish stream, not being over thirty-five
or forty yards wide, but from fifteen to thirty feet in depth.
On the day that our regiment crossed the river, although our
progress was somewhat tardy, yet none of us experienced as
hard a march since we have been out, as on that day. The
rajrs of the sun actually bore us down to the ground. Two
men of the llth N. H. died on the march from sun stroke, and
there were a large number of coup de soliel cases in our brigade.
We marched until 10 o'clock of that night ; about sundown
a terrific thunder storm arose and continued nearly all night.
Most of us had no covering along with us and we spent an un
comfortable night I assure you, in our wet clothing and on the
wet ground, with a wet covering over us, of clouds ; but such
is a soldier's life, and we must take the bitter with the sweet,
only the sweet don't come quite as often as the bitter, nor does
it last so long, but we can stand it all should it be all bitter,
for we have become inured to both toil and danger, and sel
dom give either a casual thought.
On the 8th orders were issued for each company to capture
a mule, for the purpose of carrying water to the regiment dur
ing the pending battle. It was not long after the order was
issued before the boys had complied with it by leading into
our lines about a dozen mules, which have proven themselves
invaluable in keeping us supplied with water, which has to be
brought from great distances.
We took up the line of march again at 3 p. M., on the 8th
inst., and proceeded out on the Clinton road, where at night
we halted and bivouacked for that night. On the 9th, at day
light, we started off again and took another road that led us to
the left of Jackson, and at dark halted for the night four miles
north of Jackson. On the 10th we left our knapsacks in the
woods under a small guard, and then advanced on towards the
enemy. At 6 o'clock A. M., we crossed the railroad running
north from Jackson, at 10 o'clock that night we laid on our
arms near the plantation mansion of the rebel, Col. Oscar J.
Stuart. We put out our pickets about thirty yards in our ad
vance and went to sleep, being much fatigued and not a little
hungry. On the llth we pushed our way through all obstacles
until we arrived on the extreme front and within close range
of the rebel breastworks, and here we found the bullets and

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shells flying about in a careless manner, with their rip, buzz,
whirr and chuck, tor each missile has its own peculiar sound,
and if a head should get a little above the crest of the hill it
would very instinctively bow it to the ground, that would
somtimes endanger the nasal appendage from being brought
in too close a contact with mother earth. We supported the
skirmishers for several days and it is a very unenviable position
to be in so long, to lay day and night on one's stomach for
three or four days at a time, and the balls continually flying over
head, each one admonishing you to lay still closer and more
quiet. The 9th Corps had not a very high opinion of the
western mode of fighting, it is too tedious to us eastern troops.
Had this department been under a general of the Virginia
department, the taking of Jackson would not have occupied
more than two days. The rebel works would have been car
ried by assault on the second day, even if attended with great
slaughter. But the western plan saves far more lives by its
cautionary movements and I believe attended with far more
success, but we are impatient to see Jackson succumb to the
force that is in his front. Yesterday, the 12th, was by far the
hottest day of the fight so far. There have been no casualties
in our regiment save one up to the present time. Sergt. Ben
jamin White, of Co. F, was slightly wounded in the left temple ;
he was taken off the field and is now improving very fast, being
able to walk about. Your humble correspondent also made
a very lucky escape yesterday. While in the act of raising
my rifle to get aim on a "gray back" who was walking very
coolly on the parapet of the fort, a minie ball struck my gun
near the muzzle, tearing the top band off and cutting itself in
two pieces and running along the stock to near the middle
band, when it glanced off and struck me in the thigh, causing
a few hours' lameness. Last night picks and shovels were
brought out and we "went in" for digging rifle-pits, and now
to-day we find them a great advantage in saving of both life
and limbs. Our position being on the extreme left, the riflepits extend now from one extremity to the other. Our batteries
occupying a range of hills in our rear, and our shot and shells,
with those of the rebels, keep up a lively commotion in the air
directly over cur heads, as they pass and repass each other in
their lightning speed. I must close, and I hope in my next
to be able to say that Jackson, the proud capital of Mississippi,
is in undisputed possession of loyal troops. Yours, &c.,
T. II. P.

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JACKSON, Miss., July l!tli, 1863.
This has been another glorious day in the history of the 51st
P. V. This morning, at six o'clock and thirty-five minutes,
we stacked our guns in the main street of the stubbornly fought
for Capital of the State of Mississippi, in front of the Capitol
building. The beleaguered city of Vicksburg having surren
dered to Gen. Grant at 10 o'clock on the morning of the 4th
inst., we immediately packed up our "knapsacks" and started
off on a march that same afternoon towards the Big Black river
to pay our respects to his Excellency, (alias Gen.) Joe John
ston, who was loitering in that vicinity with his "cohort of
rebel warriors." After taking a circuitous route, our advance
came up with him at the Big Black on Sunday, the 5th, and
considerable skirmishing commenced, when he was driven
across the river with some small loss, and still smaller on our
side. On the evening of the 5th we halted in a woods within
two miles of the Big Black, awaiting the construction of a
bridge suitable for infantry and artillery to cross on. By three
o'clock, P. M., of the 7th it was sufficiently finished for infantry
to cross, and ice did cross. I gave you in my lust all of any in
terest up to the time of writing. I now begin where that one
ended.
About 3 o'clock, p. M., on the 13th, the rebels showed an
uneasy spirit, and displayed their lines by them all raising upon
their feet with bayonets fixed. We taking that for a cue to a
bayonet charge, the 51st, under command of Lieut. Col. Schall,
were instantly brought to their feet, and fixing their bayonets
were determined to stand and receive the charge. We had
been supporting another regiment in our front, who, unlike the
51st P. V., became highly excited, and becoming panic-stricken,
fled from their post, leaving their guns, haversacks and us to
our fate, let it be what it might. But it was not so with the
51st;andinstead
of fleeing
bayonets
formed
line
advanced
to thefrom"rebel
ci\ st of the
hill andwe laid
downa close
until
the rebels should get within twenty or thirty yards of us, and
then it would have been our turn to have jumped to our feet
and poured a volley into their grizzled ranks and made our
charge, but, from what cause I am unable to say, the rebs did
not make the attempted charge, but we laid awaiting their
coming until near sundown, and finding them non esl we went
back to our original position. It was nearly an hour after we

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fixed ba}'onets before the boys of the frightened regiment re
turned to their post, and as they did come back they came very
sneaking and looked self-condemned. On the morning of the
14th, at daylight, we were relieved by the 1st Division of the
9th Corps ; we then fell back near a mile to the rear ot the In
sane Asylum, and camped in the woods. We scarcely had
stacked arms before our boys were down and locked in the
arms of Morpheus, and enjoyed " tired nature's sweet restorer "
to their hearts' content. They needed all the rest that they
could get, for they had not had an hour's complacent rest for
ten days. Our commissary stores are getting very low. We
have now been several days on half rations of sugar and threequarters rations of crackers or hard bread, and the result is the
boys have to hunt a good bit of their own rations by making
raids into cornfields for boiling ears. On the morning of the
14th, Johnston sent in a flag of truce, asking to suspend hostili
ties until 4 o'clock, p. M. of that same day, to give him a chance
to bury his dead, and at the same time for us to come and bury
our dead, who laid inside of their lines, who had fallen there
during several charges made by our centre and right brigades.
The flag of truce was granted, the dead buried, as soon as 4
p. M. arrived, the cannons began belching forth their fire in
tones of thunder, and soon another "batch" of victims were
ready for the sacred rites of sepulture.
On the 15th we moved our camp to a more desirable location,
but water is our only trouble here, or we would be contented
to stay here a few days, but there is no water except what can
be got out of stagnant mud-puddles and horse-ponds, where
man and horse drink out of the erne puddle. A detail was
made of 400 men out of our brigade, on the loth, for a reconnoitering party ; their object was to force their way to the Pearl
river, in the rear of Jackson, to find a ford or suitable place to
construct a bridge to cross, for the purpose of investing the
city and laying siege to.it. The reconnoisance proved succesful, they finding a good place for a crossing ; they were seen
on the river banks by the rebel cavalry, and to that I attribute
the evacuation of Jackson on the morning of the 17th, at 2
o'clock, for a rebel prisoner told me that they had seen our
men, and it was reported to Johnston, and he previously had
heard that Banks was coming up in his rear with his Port
Hudson forces, and he believing that we were trying to get our
coils around him, a la Peml&rton, he found it more safe in get-

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>
ting his forces into Alabama, than to remain in such jeopardy,
and further, Benjamin's N. Y Battery was ordered to tire one
shot every rive minutes, both day and night, until the night of
the 16th, when it ceased. This, Johntson took to be done for
the purpose of engrossing his attention, while our forces were
operating in his rear. One hundred of the reconnoitering party
were out of our regiment, and on returning to camp they cap
tured twenty or thirty head of neat cattle, and brought them into
camp. At 2 o'clock on the morning of the 16th we again went
to the front to relieve the 1st division, which had been out fortyeight hours. We moved half a mile still further to the extreme
left, and supported the skirmishers for twenty-four hours, and
while lying here there was some very hard fighting on the riglt
and right of centre. I must here state, the boys, finding it
impossible to obtain tobacco, even at the liberal price of $2 for
a twenty-cent plug, they were induced to satisfy their cravings
by smoking dry weeds, but now, to-day, they are "flush" with
tobacco, which they found large quantities of in this city, and
appropriated it to their own use. I will here also mention how
the evacuation of this city was discovered by the left. At 2
o'clock this morning we were taken down a deep ravine, and
placed on picket within a fewT yards of the rebel rifle-pits. As
soon as the light began to make its appearance, Capt. Geo. W.
Bisbing, of Co. I, was disposed to feel the position of the enemy.
As we were ignorant of the ground, it being a new place to us,
he sallied forth outside of our rifle-pits to make an individual
reconnoisance ; when Corp. Win. Dignan, of Co. D, asked
permission of Capt. Bisbing to accompany him in his tour, it
was granted, and the two directed their steps to the nearest
rebel rifle-pit, and to their satisfaction found them empty.
They had evacuated them about one hour before the discovery.
Yours, &c.,
T. II. P.
MlLLDALE,

NEAR

SNTDEIl'S

BLUFF,

MlSS.,

July 27th, 1863.

Well, here we are, back at our old camp ground, where,
thank God ! there is no more suffering for plenty of good water.
We left camp, in rear of the Insane Asylum, near Jackson, on
Monday morning at 4 o'clock, and marched till noon of that
same day, when we came to a halt at 4 o'clock p. M., at or near
the town of Clinton. We had a good though much needed rest,
and at the appointed time took up the line of march again, and

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marched until 11 o'clock that night, making about twenty-two
miles under heavy knapsacks, a scorching sun through the day,
almost impenetrable clouds of dust, and a great scarcity of
water, and also a scarcity of rations. Many of us laid down
that night supperless, being too much fatigued to prepare what
little rations we had for eating. On the next morning at 4
o'clock we were again on the march ; the orders came so un
expectedly early that only a few, if any, were fortunate enough
to break their fast, which caused not a few complaints from
those who went to sleep without their suppers. We were some
what favored in our march to-day by its being a little cloudy,
and a great part of it was through deeply shaded woods, and,
still more, the 51st was the extreme right regiment ; conse
quently, being at the front or head of the column, we were
saved the necessity of snuffing up so much dust, for nothing
had travelled over the road since the heavy rain which fell
about ten days or so before. We marched until 10 o'clock A. M.,
and then halted. As soon as we came to a halt fires were
lighted, and each one busily engaged in cooking breakfast.
Cattle were killed and rations served out to us for the day, and
after each had regaled themselves with such food as they had,
the major part of the men laid themselves down for a sleep.
At 3 o'clock p. M. we again started off, and marched until
within two miles of the Big Black river, where we arrived about
9 o'clock at night, and bivouacked in a cornfield. On Wednes
day morning we were moved into a woods adjoining the corn
field, where there was plenty of water, both for drinking and
bathing purposes. In this woods we laid over until 4 o'clock
p. M., for the purpose, I was told, to give the stragglers a chance
of catching up to their regiments previous to crossing the Big
Black ; for, to tell you the truth, fully fifty per cent, of the
corps were stragglers, and often when the column came to a
halt, some companies could not stack more than five or six guns.
Quite a number fell dead while inarching, from excessive heat
and weariness. Sore feet was very prevalent ; diarrhoea also.
At 4 o'clock P. M. of Wednesday we were once more on our
road, feeling considerably refreshed from our shady rest and a
bath in a clear, limpid stream that coursed its way through our
resting place. We crossed the Big Black at 5 o'clock, amid a
suddenly sprung up thunder storm, which continued with
unabated fury for near an hour. Gum blankets were of great
value then, but there were very few of them. It was hard

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marching on account of the dust before the rain ; it was mor.e
"horrid nice " after it, for the great depth of the mud baffled
all attempts at its description. Suffice it to say that it was pre
ferable to have the dust twice as bad as it had been before the
rain. We marched till 11 o'clock that night, and then biv
ouacked along the road-side at "McCall's." At 5 o'clock on
Thursday morning we left "McCall's," and reached this place
(home to me) about 9 A. M., and went into camp, where we
are now awaiting for transportation to take us (we suppose) to
Kentucky. We have orders to go on board at a moment's
notice. When we left the place first, we left a few sick in the
hospital, but on our return we find the most of them enjoying
once more robust health. I am sorry to have to record the
deaths of a few of our comrades. Paul H. Custard, private, in
Co. C ; he went with us on our march to Jackson, was taken
sick while on the march, and died on the 18th inst., at Jackson.
Private James Milton, of Co. I, was accidentally killed on
Sunday, the 12th in^st., near Jackson ; he was detached from
his company, and was on headquarter duty with the wagontrain, going after cotton for building fortifications, and a com
rade of his carelessly threw his gun into the tail of the wagon,
the hammer striking the tail-board, causing the cap to explode
and the discharge of the gun. Milton was sitting on the seat
in the front of the wagon, the ball entering his back and came
out at his breast. He lived about three hours, and then breathed
his last, lamented by all who knew him. lie was worthy of all
the respect we held for him, for he was a noble, generoushearted soldier. Private Reuben Delia ven, also of Co. C, died
here in the hospital, while we were at Jackson. The health of
the regiment is not so good as it has been ; nearly every other
man complains of diarrhoea ; but now that we are getting a
little rest after our eight days' fight and our hard marching, the
health of our regiment will improve under the skill of our sur
geons — Rineholt and Duffell — for they fully understand their
onerous duties, and ply themselves so willingly, and with so
much kindness, that we emphatically pronounce them the right
men in the right place.
Gen. Grant sends a congratulatory address to the 9th Army
Corps, in which he compliments it for its endurance, bravery,
drill, and discipline. In fact, he says the 9th Army Corps is the
best disciplined body of troops that he has ever seen. That's
saying a good bit.
Yours, &c.,
T. II. P.

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At the same time appeared in the paper an ex
tract from a letter in reference to Lieut. -Col. E.
Schall's humane feelings towards his men.
Col. Hartranft having been frequently called to take charge
of other duties than the command of his regiment, and thus
leaving the 51st under the command of Lieut. -Col. Edwin
Schall, we have often heard complimentary things written
home by the soldiers to their friends, of his care over and in
terest in his men. We cannot refrain from publishing the fol
lowing extract, written by a soldier in the ranks in reference to
the attention the Lieut. -Col. bestowed upon his men. It proves
conclusively that there is a deep and abiding affection between
the men and this officer:
" I must not let our Lieut. -Col. E. Schall pass unnoticed
in this place for his untiring efforts to lighten the burden of our
late inarch as much as was in his power to do. I speak the
sentiments of his whole command when I say his generous
deeds will live while memory sits upon its throne. lie forgot
himself in the interest of his men, marching at the head of his
regiment on foot, while the leaser able to walk were put upon
his horse's back. Did any other regimental commander make
such a sacrifice in the whole corps ? I think not."

OH AFTER

IY.

Leaving Milldale— McCalPs— News of surrender of Vicksburg
— Movement toward the Big Black — Sherman in command —
Destruction on the march — Tyranny of Col. Le Gendre —
Crossing the Big Black— Bad water — Awful storm — Corres
pondence — The march to Jackson — Continuous fighting —
Daring of Bob Roberts— Retreat of the rebels— Race for the
Capitol — Triumphant entry of the 51st,

ON Monday, June 29th, the regiment struck tents
at Milldale, and moved out towards the Big Black
river about nine miles, and went into camp in a
woods at " McCall's." This move was in anticipation

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of the surrender of Gen. Pemberton with his rebel
army in Vicksburg, and to place the troops in closer
proximity to Johnston's army, to watch his move
ments and to prevent him from making any attempt
at rescuing the army then beseiged in Vicksburg.
Here the 51st fitted up a most comfortable camp,
but it was not to be of much use, for at 10 A. M.
on Saturday, July 4th, 1863, Gen. Grant received
the surrender of Vicksburg. The fall of that place
rendered necessary an immediate movement against
Gen. Joe Johnston, who was in strong force (28,000)
on the Big Black river. Immediately after the sur
render a courier made his appearance in the road in
front of the 51st P. V. and publicly proclaimed the
downfall of the southwestern key to the great re
bellion. Cheer upon cheer went up for the great
victory, and the good news filled the hearts of the
soldiers with sweet anticipations of a long and quiet
rest from exposure to the almost tropical sun. But
the work was not yet done, for while all hearts were
beating high at the bright prospect of a speedy ter
mination of the war, orders came in to be ready for
an advance at 12 A. M. of that day. Accordingly at
the hour appointed the army (-11,000) under Gen.
Sherman was in motion, " filing right" towards the
enemy. The army had divided into two columns
and marched against Johnston by two different roads.
Nearly all the western troops took the road to the
right, while the 9th Corps proceeded on the road to
the left. Col. Hartranft in command of the brigade,
and Lieut. -Col. Schall of the regiment. Nothing in
terfered with the progress of the 51st until about
9 P. M. when in the Cimmerian darkness, the artil
lery so blocked up the road that the regiment pitched

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headlong against horses, guns and caissons, produc
ing so much confusion that the men were unable to
either find the road or their places in the ranks.
Lieut. -Col. Schall at once determined to bivouack
then and there for the night, and await the approach
of daylight. When it dawned such a shapeless
mass of confusion revealed itself to the army, that
they ceased to wonder why they had all lost them
selves the night before. Here was a caisson locked
in with a wagon, there the artillery horses tangled
up with the mule teams, another place a capsized
gun, another or perhaps two or three wagons over
turned, and the road filled with debris of the wreck
of the several kinds of trains, all caused by the in
tense darkness of the night by which the whole
column lost its way and bivouacked in a cotton
field instead of the road. Heavy black clouds like
wise assisted in making the darkness more opaque,
and almost felt. On Sunday morning, July 5th, the
column again unwound its coils of confusion, and
like a huge anaconda at the start, slowly moving off'
until its whole length was like one perfect moving
panorama. The commanding officers of corps, divi
sions, brigades and regiments, displayed admirable
skill in the manner they so promptly brought out
order and discipline from chaos and dire confusion.
The day opened beautifully, clear, but hot. If there
is any other word to express intense heat besides
hot, it should be employed here, for the latter only
conveys but a faint meaning of that day's heat.
The sufferings of the men from sheer heat and
for the want of water while on this move, can only
be known by those who participated in it.
The regiment having corne up by noon of the oth

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to Johnston's forces near the Big Black, it halted,
and bivouacked in a woods at the roadside oppo
site to a number of large buildings belonging to an
extensive cotton plantation. Considerable skirmish
ing took place, and continued that afternoon until
long after dark. Soon after halting at this woods,
several batteries of western artillery came up and
halted on the open ground where stood the build
ings. After fixing up temporary quarters for them
selves, they mingled freely with the 51st P. V. and
51st N. Y. and asked, "why have you not fired those
buildings?" being answered, " we can't say." they re
marked " they've got to come down, that's so !" And
soon after, what had been costly structures, were
made heaps of smouldering ashes. So determined
were these western troops to lay waste southern
property, that the column in which the 9th Corps
marched, could distinguish the route that Sherman
was taking with the right wing, although many
miles apart. Dense columns of black smoke reached
to the clouds and pointed out his course by day,
and bright fires cast their rays high up in the sky at
night.
The regiment quartered in this woods until Tues
day the 7th at 3 p. M, (while the advance were
throwing a temporary bridge across the Big Black,
Johnston having previously destroyed it and in fact
all other bridges across that deep stream.) when it
began its march again for the river two miles dis
tant. But if the heat had been great previous to
this, the great heat of the infernal regions only could
compare with this Tuesday. Col. Le Gendre of the
51st N, Y. led the advance of the brigade, the 51st
P. V. following next, and when within a few yards

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of the river, whose banks were well shaded by a
thick growth of trees, came to a halt (as a couple of
hours' more work was necessary to complete the
bridge in order to cross) in a sort of a half basin,
each flank and rear being shut in by high hills and
lofty eminences, excluding from this hollow all
chances for a circulation of air. This tyrant refused
to move his regiment up to the inviting shade, but
took good caie to seek it for himself, leaving his
men to suffer in the broiling sun, and compelling
other more humane officers from bringing their regi
ments up for shelter, as it was too unmilitary to
march one regiment past another. Lieut. -Col. Schall
begged of him as a necessity and for the safety of the
men, to move nearer the shade, so his (Schall's) men
could be protected from the Lot sun. But this
pompous French gentleman turned deaf ears to all
of Lieut. Col. S.'s importunities. Other regimental
commanders appealed to him for "God's sake to go
on out of the scorching hot sun," but all to no pur
pose, (even the threats and curses of the enlisted men
fell on his ears as if he was dead to hearing, to hu
mane feelings or anything pertaining to a man who
held the lives of brave men as something that pos
sessed the sense of feeling.) Lieut.-Col. Schall find
ing that his pleadings could not find a tender chord
in the French colonel's heart, he turned to the men
and told them to shelter themselves in whatever way
they could find protection from the sun, besides
cautioning them in parental tones not to indulge too
freely in drinking water that flowed in the sluggish
river close by.
The men taking him at his word, sought such
shelter as they could find; every little ragweed only

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a foot high was sought out, and a head would be
thrust under its branches to get what little shade its
tiny leaves afforded, but it is impossible to describe
the agony of those suffering men, but hundreds, aye,
thousands! who were down there can bear me wit
ness when I say it was all that a hell is represented
to be.
The obstinacy of Col. Le Grendre made him very
unpopular in his own regiment, as well as with the
officers and men of the whole brigade. As everything
has an end, so it was with this torture. The bridge
being finished by 5 p. M., the troops began to cross,
but the exposure in this fiery furnace told severely
on the strength of the men, for in less than one mile
of inarching no less than thirty-five men belon-jing
to the 35th Mass, fell from sunstroke, seventeen of
which proved fatal. Fifteen men of the llth N. H.
received sunstroke, two of whom fell dead. Several
of the two 51sts also suffered from sunstroke, but
none fatal, and all this through a man, unfit to have
the care of anything with feeling, being clothed with
a little brief authority and a pair of plated eagles on
his shoulders; but I am digressing. If in the past it
was troublesome to find water, I do not know what
to call it after the regiment had left the river. From
that liver until the regiment arrived near Jackson,
the only water to be obtained was from stagnant
ponds in fields, where horses, mules and cattle all
rushed wildly in along with the men to slake their
almost unquenchable thirst. Many of those ponds
contained the carcasses of dead horses, mules and
dogs, and were covered with a nasty revolting green
scum full an inch thick, and as stringy as toasted
cheese; the rushing in of the animals for a drink

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would stir up the mud and filth, making it so thick
that it might only be correctly compared to the
slime or white of an egg. Other regiments suffered
terribly by sickness from the use of this water, and
although the 51st P. V. had to use it the same as the
rest, yet it was surprising what little sickness it had
in comparison to any and all other regiments.
About 9 o'clock at night of the 7th, while the
regiment was still on the march, a very terrific
thunder-storm burst in all its fury on the heads
of the marching troops; peal upon peal of the most
terrible and awful thunder that any one ever heard,
with not the slightest intermission, filled the angry
elements with a deafening roar. The vivid flashes
of lightning could only be compared to the ignition
of floating air, the rain poured down in fearful tor
rents ; yet on plodded the nearly drowned soldiers, but
so intensely bright was the flashes of lightning that
the whole column came to an involuntary halt, as if
in holy reverence to Him who rides and rules the
storms. It was certainly a most singular thing to
see the whole column halt as if the command had
been inven by one human voice. Not only the men,
but the horses that were ridden by the officers also
came to a halt as sudden as if shot dead at the
instant, nor with any amount of urging with swords,
whips or spurs could the animals be induced to
proceed a step further. Lieut. Col. Schall in his
correspondence to the "Defender" gives a beautiful
account of that night's storm, which we here give
below. Although some paragraphs are a repetition
of what is told above, yet it is full of interesting
matter.

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VICKSBURG, Miss., July 17th, 1863.

" Vicksburg has surrendered!'1'' — At 10 o'^clock McPherson's
corps will take formal possession of the City f" was the shout of
a mounted officer as he rode through our camp on that bright,
clear morning of Independence Day. Vicksburg, indeed, had
fallen, and at 10 o'clock our forces under McPberson marched
into the city and planted the glorious ensign over its once proud
and defiant, but now humble and subdued people. Memorable
as the day already is, it is doubly so, if possible, by the brilliant
and substantial achievement of this day. It is, indeed, as Jeff.
Davis has well said, the " vital point," and from this hour we
can see the end of this wicked rebellion.
Now, that the foe in our immediate front was conquered, and
his stronghold in our possession, it becomes necessary to pay
our respects to Johnston, who was threatening our rear and
promising deliverance to the beleaguered garrison of Vicksburg.
It was while all were quietly seated under the many shade
trees discussing the news of the day, that an orderly brought
in the following order :
HEAD-QUARTERS, OTH ARMY CORPS,
NEAR VICKSBURG, July kth, 1863.
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 7.
All commanders will see that their troops are well provided
with five days' rations in haversacks and regimental wagons,
cartridges at the rate of 150 per man — wagons not to exceed
three to a regiment, one for ammunition and two for cooking
utensils and provisions — and two ambulances for the sick and
wounded. Great attention should be paid to providing water,
for which purpose each company should have a pack mule,
with two small kegs on a saddle to which the canteens of the
men can be suspended.
By command of
(Signed)
Major-General J. G. PARKE.
NICHOLAS BOWEN,
Ass't Adj't Gen.
To get ready for the march was but the work of a moment.
The little shelter tents soon disappeared from sight, knapsacks
were packed, and at about 5 o'clock, the regiment was formed,
and stacking arms, waited by the
16 roadside for the order to move

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on. At six o'clock it came. Slowly the column moved over
the dusty road, the long wagon train preventing rapid progress.
Darkness settled over us, but still we moved on. It was prob
ably ten o'clock when the order was given to halt, and bivouac
for the night. The character of the ground was far from favor
able for troops to spend a night, on, but it was the best that
could be done, and so dispensing, in a great measure, with the
usual cup of coffee, most of us laid down to find rest in sleep.
The march was renewed the following morning at six o'clock.
The air at first was cool, but as time passed it grew warmer.
We did not, however, go far before a halt was ordered, and
drawing up in line of battle a little from the roadside, arms
were stacked, and the men permitted to enjoy a rest of several
hours. We did not learn why this long halt was ordered, but
suppose there was some confusion of orders, our division mov
ing at the hour fixed for the first division, and thus blocking up
our way.
It was past noon when the march was resumed. When we
say it was warm, we mean it, as the soldiers with their heavy
knapsacks upon their backs, can testify. We halted within
two miles of the Big Black river, and bivouacked in the
woods.
During the night we heard cannonading for some fifteen
mintites. As we had heard of no firing through the day,
many thought the rebels had surprised our forces, but it did
not prove to be so. The firing was one-sided — our men doing
all of it.
At mid-day we received orders to be ready to leave at four
o'clock ; but when the hour arrived, it was changed to an early
hour in the morning. Towards evening we were favored with
a refreshing shower, which cooled the atmosphere and laid the
dust that had constantly swept through our camp, filling our
nostrils with it. The change was a delightful one, and all felt,
extremely happy with the prospect of enjoying a pure and
refreshing sleep through the night.
At noon on the 7th inst., we filed out of the woods, and pro
ceeded towards the Big Black river. The heat was intense —
the bright rays of the sun telling fearfully upon the men. There
were no trees to interpose themselves between it and us to pro
tect us in a great measure from its effects. Heavy clouds of
dust rose and encircled us, as if our punishment was not already
enough. No pen can describe the reality. That hot sun

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shining down upon us with all the wrath of a large furnace,
its very brightness dazzling your eyes, the close, stifled air, the
dust, dust, dust, and the long open fields over which we moved,
are strongly impressed upon the mind. And we never can for
get the weary, exhausted soldiers who marched under this hot,
broiling sun. How they suffered! Many laid down by the
way, to be picked up by the surgeons in a wild and delirious
state — the inevitable result of sunstroke. Some there were
who fell down in the ranks, whom no earthly power could re
store to consciousness, death having done his work quickly.
Yes, it was an afternoon long to be remembered. The BigBlack is reached. We crossed this muddy, narrow, but deep
stream, on a rude, hastily constructed bridge, and pushed for
ward for the woods ahead. At last it is reached, but it was
about all that human strength could accomplish. We did not
have all with us when we halted, for one by one had sought
refuge under the shade trees by the way.
We had especial cause to be thankful, for while many in the
regiments of our brigade and division were laid low by sun
stroke, all of our men escaped it. And when we again moved
on, most of the men had joined the regiment, having recovered
from the exhaustion caused by the heat.
We leisurely pursued our way until near dusk, when an
hour's halt was ordered, to give the troops an opportunity to
prepare coffee. The time was well improved. Nothing, as our
readers must be aware, so refreshes soldiers on the march as a
warm cup of coffee.
As darkness settled over us we filed out into the narrow road,
with our minds made up for a whole night's march. True,
there was no hot sun to shine upon us, but still it was very
close, and made marching very hard for the men ; but they,
almost to a man, kept up with the regiment, though, in many
instances, doing injury to themselves by exerting themselves so
much, when they ought to have been in ambulances. Perhaps
this spirit among the men to avoid straggling behind is owing
to the reputation which the regiment enjoys among its sister
regiments for its general good health, power of endurance and
excellent marching.
As the night advanced, heavy clouds arose, little gales of wind
sprung up, the heavens grew darker and darker, the lightning's
flash became more vivid, the distant roll of thunder grew
louder, large drops of rain commenced falling, and soon the

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storm was upon us. It was a fearful night! The storm was
terrible! Never, never, did we witness such a night! The
lightning was incessant — there was no pause, no flash of light
now, then darkness; but there was a continuous light, and
such sharp flashes as to fairly blind your eyes, and cause them
to suffer with pain. And, oh! what terrific thunder! Here
peal after peal, sharp and quick, startled us as we stood in the
road. And the rain! how it drenched one and all. It seemed
to us as if by a common impulse the whole column halted
when the lightning was most vivid, the thunder most terrific,
and the rain most copious, as if in humble recognition of the
power of the Great above, and as an acknowledgment of the
weakness and utter helplessness of man.
After the storm had somewhat subsided, we moved forward
about an hundred yards and bivouacked in the fields on the
right and left of the road. The rain continued to fall through
the night, and the result was that many did not get much sleep,
as the water would accumulate on the ground, compelling them
to " evacuate their position."
The night was succeeded by a bright, clear morning, and,
fortunately for the troops, orders were issued to cook rations
for three days, which was equivalent to an order to remain for
the greater part of the day. This afforded the men an oppor
tunity to dry their clothes, which was, as may be readily sup
posed, well improved.
At 4 o'clock in the afternoon the column was again put in
motion. We will not stop to speak of passing incidents along
the road. It was 1 o'clock in the morning before we halted for
rest and sleep. The men were quite tired, and as soon as dis
missed, laid down to sleep.
Early in the morning the march was resumed. At noon we
halted for dinner, and laid in the woods until 5 o'clock. It was
late in the evening when we halted to bivouac for the night.
The heat exhausted the men very much, but more than all, the
scarcity of good water. Much of the time the men were com
pelled to drink out of ponds, the water of which our Pennsyl
vania farmers would deem unfit for their horses.
Friday morning more than usual stir was visible among the
troops, for this day they expected to engage the enemy, as he
was reported in our immediate front. The following order,
too, seemed to confirm the expectations of the troops :

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HEAD-QUARTERS, SD BRIGADE, 2o Div.,
July lOtft, 1863.
CIRCULAR :
Commandants of regiments will hold their commands in
readiness to move upon the enemy at a moment's notice.
Knapsacks and shelter tents will be piled on a heap, and left
in camp under guard of invalids.
By command of
J. F. HARTRANFT,
Col. Cornel' g 3d Brigade.
(Signed)
G. H. McKiBBiN, A. A. General.
The distance from here to the city of Jackson was about six
miles. It was not long after the above order was received, that
the command, " fall in, " rang along the road. After the forma
tion of the brigade, each regimental commander was required
to make out a report of the number of enlisted men and officers
present. The total of our regiment summed up as follows :
twenty officers and two hundred and seventy enlisted men.
The whole number of enlisted men in the brigade did not ex
ceed one thousand and twenty.
We moved very slowly over the road and fields, as our skir
mishers were pushing the enemy back. There were frequent
haltings, and it was not till near sundown that we drew in sight
of the Asylum, a short distance this side of Jackson. There
were all sorts of rumors during the day of the enemy evacuat
ing the city, and our forces being in it, but which proved, like
most camp stories, without truth.
While watching our skirmishers advancing over the fields
and through the woods, we received orders to bivouac for the
night ; but just as the men were building their fires to cook, we
were again ordered forward. We marched some two miles,
formed in line of battle, sent pickets out, and enjoyed a very
good night's sleep. During the night large fires were seen in
the direction of the city. It was supposed by many that the
rebels were destroying their commissary stores preparatory to
evacuating the city. Such, however, could not have been the
fact ; for the length of time they occupied the city thereafter
contradicted it, and renders it impossible.
Early on Saturday morning, the brigade advanced toward
the city. Our progress was necessarily slow. The Asylum was

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reached at about eight o'clock ; filing round it, we moved down
to the left. As we passed through the field several shells came
whizzing over us, but did no damage. The little minies, too,
came singing over us, but they too, did us no harm.
The skirmishers having just moved over the ground, and not
knowing the exact position of them, the column was halted, and
the desired information obtained ; after which our regiment ad
vanced to the support of the 2d Mich., which was then skir
mishing with the enemy. We formed in line of battle, our
right resting near the right of the skirmishers. As then the
whole line needed support, the regiment was so divided as to
be able to give proper support on the right, left, and centre.
We were visited during the day by quite a heavy shower of
rain. It had, at least, the good effect of cooling the atmos
phere, and rendering it more pleasant for those skirmishing.
Our skirmishers and those of the enemy kept up a very livel}
fire all day ; and even in the midst of the heavy rain, it did no;
cease.
On Sunday there was very heavy firing along the whole line.
It seemed as if a general engagement had taken place on oui
right. Such, however, was not the case. To-day we received
the cheering news of the defeat of Lee and the surrender oi
Port Hudson. How the gladsome news caused each counte
nance to lighten up with joy ! With Vicksburg in our pos
session, and now Port Hudson, too, and last, not least, the dis
astrous rout of Lee, there was everything to excite the liveliest
emotion of joy and gratitude, and to inspire each heart with
the double assurance that the end was near.
In the evening and all the night long, the regiment was em
ployed in digging rifle-pits. It was pretty hard work, the more
so as there was a scarcity of picks. They went, however, at it
with a will, and the opening of the following day disclosed to the
enemy a pretty strong line of pits.
On the afternoon of the 13th the enemy made a demonstra
tion against us, more, we suppose, for the purpose of feeling
our line to discover the weak points than to force on an en
gagement. However, whatever may have been their design,
they were driven back with less men than they appeared. They
did not repeat the demonstration.
On Tuesday we were relieved, and marched about a mile to
the rear. The men were very glad of the opportunity to enjoy
a respite from their severe duty of constant watchfulness, and

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the suspense in which they were constantly kept by the position
of the two armies. During the afternoon of this day, hostilities
were suspended for several hours in order to bury the dead.
On Wednesday morning one hundred men were detailed from
our regiment to go on a secret expedition. They were divided
into two companies, one being under the command of Capt. L.
S. Hart, and the other under Capt. Linn. There were, besides
these, one hundred men detailed from the remaining regiments
of our brigade, making a total force of two hundred men, un
der command of Maj. Wright of the 51st N. Y. Their mission
was fully and satisfactorily accomplished, and all returned in
safety to the camp. This expedition, we doubt not, hastened
the subsequent abandonment of Jackson by the enemy.
We changed our camp to-day, moving further to the left.
In the evening we received orders to be ready to move at an
early hour to the front.
It was half past 2 o'clock on Thursday morning when we
again moved to the front. As heretofore the skirmishers kept
up a continual fire through the day. In the afternoon our skir
mishers advanced to feel the rebel lines, but they found them in
force, and again fell back to the pits. It was in this demonstra
tion that Libol Breinholtz, of the 50th Penn., was very severely
wounded.
During the night the moving of wagons and artillery could
be very plainly heard, but being on the extreme left it was not
certain whether the enemy were evacuating the place, or mov
ing to our left with the intention of breaking it.
At 3 o'clock in the morning we relieved the skirmishers in
our front. About daylight the order came to advance skir
mishers. Soon the whole line of skirmishers advanced across
the country. The enemy's rifle-pits were soon reached, but
the bird had flown, and left behind him two large seige guns.
The Second Brigade was the first to enter the city and
plant the colors upon the dome of the Capitol. It was matter
for much congratulation that our corps was the first to enter
the city. The Western troops, on the other hand, felt much
mortified, and said that we were too fast, that we had advanced
without orders, and like pleas for their tardiness. Our corps,
at least the 2d Brigade, was an hour in the city before any of
the Western troops arrived. Some of the men took especial de
light in teasing them for what they did to us when WTC first
joined them. As they moved towards the State-house, regi-

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ment after regiment, some would sing out every once and
awhile, " Boys, you are too late, the whiskey is all gone, the
9th Army Corps got all of it over an hour ago." This grated
harshly on their ears, not the matter of whiskey, but the fact of
the 9th Army Corps getting first into Jackson. Some of them
could not, however, with these facts before them, resist the
temptation to tease our men with their want of success in the
East and their constant retreats, &c. Whenever they did, they
received the following sharp repartee — " Never mind, boys, we
walked into Jackson while you were lying asleep in the bushes
and firing at imaginary rebels."
The city of Jackson is the capital of Mississippi. Some parts
of it are quite attractive. There are a few very fine private
residences. It is, or rather was, a much prettier place than
Vicksburg. The rebels destroyed several blocks of buildings
the night they retreated. During the day the Western troops
fired quite a number of buildings, so that by night a goodly
portion of the city was in ashes.
In the evening we returned to our old camp. Thus ended
the eight days' seige of Jackson. We have special reason to be
thankful for our deliverance from death and serious injury.
Of the two hundred and seventy men who, with the exception
of two days, wrere constantly in the front, only one man, Sergt.
Benj. White, of Co. F, was seriously injured, though some ten
or fifteen more were grazed or struck by spent balls.
On Monday morning we commenced moving back to Vicks
burg. On Thursday we reached our old camp, after the most
severe marching our regiment ever performed. We have not
the time now— much as we would desire — to refer to the inci
dents of this march. We may take occasion to do so at an
other period. Begging pardon for the abrupt manner in which
we bring this letter to a close, we remain,
Yours, &c., E. S.

After the storm somewhat abated, the heaviest
peals of thunder over, and the lightning's flash be
gan to move off in the distance, the regiment with
the whole column moved off again, but the abund
ant supply of water had made further marching im
possible, for what had only a short time before been
stifling dust was now a bed of rnire, and the column

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hulled for the night after floundering through the
mud about an eighth of a mile. When the column
made its involuntary halt, the men, in conversation
among themselves, protested against proceeding any
further that night — they were dripping with water,
their boots and shoes were filled with the liquid
that had drenched them to the skin and ran down
their legs into their foot gear, and swearing that if
Gen. Parke wished to go on he could do so; but they
were going to leave the ranks and look out for them
selves. Consequently when the column started off
again three-fifths of the men made good their word
by filing to either side of the road to quarter for the
night, so as the column moved the men kept falling
out at every step and not unfrequently did the offi
cers follow. Had Gen. Parke persisted in continu
ing the march that night it might be safe to say he
could not have mustered one hundred men out of
his whole command at the end of a mile. When
daylight appeared next day the men found them
selves scattered at great distances from their colors,
but all immediately tore down their rudely construc
ted quarters and began to seek out their respective
regiments, which they found had marched the night
before only a couple of hundred yards after they had
fallen out. They needed not to hurry themselves,
for after reaching their colors they found orders had
been issued to cook three days' rations, which would
take several hours to accomplish.
At this place a well newly dug had been discov
ered. It had evidently been- dug by Johnston's
army, as the dirt around it indicated that it had re
cently been turned up. This well contained about
twelve feet of water. Its discovery was through the

16*

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agency of an old negro man residing in the vicinity.
When first found the well had been dug down at the
sides about four feet, rudely covered over with
slabs, boards and brush, this basin then filled up
with earth even to the surface of the ground, and
then vehicles drawn over it to hide every vestige of
such a prize, by making ruts, to give it the appear
ance of solid ground. After being opened, so great
was the rush for water that' the supply was exhausted
in a very short time. Strings were tied to tin cups,
canteens, buckets, mess-pans and camp kettles, and
lowered^to the water. A dozen would be descend
ing while another dozen were being hauled up, only
to be spilled by the men — eager to grasp it and run.
In the middle of the afternoon orders to resume
the march were issued, and the column began to
wind around a sharp curve to the left in the road at
4 P. M. After marching a few miles orders were is
sued to the men to capture all the mules or horses
they could find along the line of march, and men
were detailed to carry out the order. They were
also to fasten canteens on the animals, to be filled
with water for the use of the men, as water was only
to be obtained by going a great distance for it. The
mules were captured, but very little water was con
veyed to the troops by that means, as their riders
preferred using their speed for their own private
wants, foraging for watermelons, peaches, figs, and
other fruits of that region, while the troops were
suffering with thirst. Some few — yes, very few — did
their duty honorably. A member of Co. D, Wm.
Jenkins, deserves especial mention ; he had cap
tured a jackass and not only supplied his own com
pany with water when he could find it, but supplied

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a number of men of other companies. About 1.80
A. M. (the 9th) the regiment halted for the remainder
of the night. The men were too much fatigued to
make a cup of coffee, and threw themselves down on
the ground to get a little rest and sleep. At 6
o'clock A. M. of the 9th they fell in again and
marched until noon, with only three rests in the six
hours. The heat was excessive, and the men began
to lag behind from exhaustion, although striving to
their utmost to keep up with their colors. March
ing across a large field, a beautiful grove appeared
in view, and when reached, the brigade halted and
stayed there until 5 P. M. The change from tightly
buckled accoutrements and the rays of a dazzling,
scorching sun, to the reanimating shade, cool air and
loosened clothing, was too enchanting to be fully ap
preciated by any one who never experienced pre
cisely the same thing. Water, too, was here ! pure,
limpid water, that was so often sought for but so
seldom found. At 5 P. M., with many regrets for
the good water that had to be left behind, the col
umn started again. Being now close on Johnston's
heels, the march became more tedious, the skirmish
ing more frequent, and the firing more rapid — teams
and artillery blocking up the road. The regiment
came to a halt about 8 o'clock that night, in a woods
close to the roadside, only a short distance from
Jackson. Here the men quartered for the night,
tolerably comfortable, if we except the scarcity of
water. At daylight next morning (10th) heavy
firing began all along the front, and preparations
were made for leaving to meet the enemy at once
and attack him before he could get behind his en
trenchments. Orders were issued for everything

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burdensome to be left behind under guard of the
sick and worn-out.
Col. J. F. Hartranft made his headquarters in an
ambulance, he being unable, from sickness, to sit
up, but reclining on the cushions of the seats, he
dispatched orders and manoeuvred his command as
skilfully as if able to sit on his horse and attend to
the details in person. He possessed for an assis
tant adjutant general, Capt. G. H. McKibbin — a host
within himself — and who was without a doubt one of
the bravest among the brave, and a fit companion
in courage and skill for the intrepid Hartranft.
At 6.20 A. M. of the 10th the regiment formed on
the color line, and the true strength of the regiment
taken by the adjutant and sergeant major, who re
ported fit for field duty, 20 officers and 251 enlisted
men, besides 19 enlisted men unfit to participate in
a battle, summing up 20 officers and 270 enlisted
men as the total strength of the 51st present that
day.
After the report was made the column again ad
vanced to the support of the skirmishers, who now
were engaging the enemy near his earthworks in
front of Jackson. The marching was toilsome and
slow, for the enemy stubbornly contested every inch
of ground, and would only give way when no longer
able to hold his position. Fifty to one hundred
yards would be as far as the column could move at
a time, making it very painful to stand in the ranks
until ordered to proceed. Some halts would be for
only a few seconds, others for an hour, and when the
Asylum (the first building in view on the outskirts
of the city) was first seen, it was nearly sundown.
The regiment drew up in line of battle in a field

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about a mile west of the Asylum, stacked arms and
demolished the fencing preparatory to making a cup
of coffee, some few fires were started, when orders
were given to " fall in." It was now nearly dark.
The regiment moved by the road to the rear of the
Insane Asylum, into a field on the side of the road
opposite to the mansion of the rebel colonel, Oscar
J. Stuart, and there drew up in line of battle again,
and sent out a strong picket line about one hundred
yards in its front. The regiment then lay in line on
their arms all night.
On the morning of the llth orders were issued
for the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, to advance on the
city. Col. Hartranft not being able to get his ambu
lance on the field of battle, sent it to the rear out of
the way of the ponderous shells that now filled the
air. He mounted his horse, although scarcely able
to sit there, and led his brigade into action, making
his charger leap a frightful chasm that very few men
in sound health would dare attempt. After get
ting his men posted to suit him, he became so weak
and exhausted that he had to withdraw from the
field, but not from active command. The battle
field was his glory, and if he could not remain on it
he was determined not to be far from it.
It was about 9 A. M. of the llth when the regi
ment became engaged with the enemy. Skirmishers
were thrown out and the column followed to their
support, the 51st P. V. supporting the 2d Michigan,
who now were engaging the foe. The engagement
now became general, and wounded men were being
borne to the rear in large numbers.
One man of Co. A, Capt. Jos. K. Bolton, by name
of Robert Roberts, deserves special mention for his

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daring in this day's fight. While others were lying
as close to the ground on the brow of the hill as
they could get, "Bob" stood on his feet loading and
firing from the going in of the regiment until night,
exposing himself as a target the whole day to the
entire fire of the enemy's centre without receiving
a scratch. His mode to escape being hit was some
what original. As soon as he fired, he would drop
the butt of his gun on the ground, grasp it by the
muzzle, and dragging it after him, loading and cap
ping it while traversing a circle of about twenty-five
yards in diameter, continually keeping himself in
motion, standing in no place for a single instant only
while firing. His captain remonstrated with him
for foolishly exposing himself, when he could do his
share by lying down and firing with his regiment.
Capt. Bolton, though, was nearly as bad as "Bob,"
for every few minutes he exposed himself to the
same dangers, to satisfy his curiosity, by trying to
see what effect the firing of Sherman's men was
having on the enemy.
When darkness set in, entrenching tools were
issued to the troops, for the purpose of throwing up
breastworks for the protection of the pickets. The
51st worked all night at its line of pits, and ere
daylight came the line was complete from right to
left, and it must have somewhat surprised the enemy
to see such a formidable work thrown up in such
short time. Here the regiment lay four days and
nights in battle. On the third day of the attack,
the enemy arose to their feet and " fixed bayonets"
for a charge upon our works. Col. Schall immedi
ately warned his command that the charge must be
repelled, let the sacrifice cost -what it may. But the

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regiment needed no such warning, for at the instant
the enemy sprang to his feet, so did the 51st, with
their bayonets fixed as soon as the rebels' were. A
certain regiment that was supporting the 51st be
came so alarmed at the sudden appearance of the
enemy, and the formidable aspect of the 51st in reso
lutely determing to brave the coming storm, that it
ended in a panic, and they wildly rushed to the
rear, leaving the 51st to repel the threatened assault
as best it might. However, the charge was not made ;
and they came back to their old position in about
an hour. The 51st kept in line until dark, when
they again took their old posts as pickets. The
enemy did make a charge on the right of centre,
but were repulsed.
Next day, the 2d Division, 9th Army Corps, was
relieved by the 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, and
the 51st fell back to a dense pine woods near the
Insane Asylum, and went into camp, where all were
glad to get a little rest and sleep, after watching in
the pits four days and nights without one moment's
relief. Even the comfort of a good smoke, or a
chew of tobacco, was denied them, as neither
smoking nor chewing tobacco could be obtained
through friendship or money. Weeds, of nearly
all species, were obtained to smoke as a substitute
for tobacco — many smoking ground coffee, tea, pa
per, in fact anything that hands could procure that
would burn.
Soon after getting into camp, their dreams of rest
and sleep were dispelled by an order calling for a
detail of one hundred men, to start immediately for
the Pearl river, on a reconnoitering party that was
composed of the 2d brigade alone. As might have

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been expected, Gren. Parke received a genuine
"cursing" from all hands. Although unheard by
him, he certainly must have felt his ears burn, for he
was consigned to all kinds of torture by the already
wornout soldiers.
After the detail started on its secret expedition,
the regiment changed camp, and expected to remain
in it at least two days ; but, in the evening, the regi
ment was again ordered to the front ; at 2 o'clock
of the next morning the regiment was groping its
way, in silence and in darkness, through the woods,
ravines and gullies, to its place in front. Arriving
there, it relieved the 2d Michigan Sharpshooters.
In the afternoon, our troops advanced their skir
mishers to feel the enemy's line ; but they had no
need to go far, for the enemy showed too plainly,
that they were not only there, but in heavy force.
The battle lasted about an hour, and the line fell
back to its former position, keeping up a sharp
picket firing for the remainder of the day and night.
The batteries of both sides kept up a lively artillery
duel throughout the night, and a circumstance that
happened during the "duel," shows the correct
range that both sides had of each other in the
pitchy darkness. A little to the right of centre,
two shells met in their aerial flight. The explosion
of our shell took place on the instant of concussion,
directly over our picket line. It caused a very
peculiar sound, something like striking two ham
mers together. Then came the explosion. The
rebel shell must have been of by far the heavier
metal, as its force was only partially checked, for it
exploded only a little short of its intended object.
Next morning, the 51st was relieved of the pits,

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and moved about fifty yards to the rear to support
the pickets ; which position it occupied until mid
night of the 16th of July, when it was ordered to
take up a position on the extreme left of the whole
line, w.'ich was being extended at least one mile
further in that direction and towards Pearl river.
This movement will never be forgotten by any who
participated in it. The nature of the ground was
unknown to any one in the brigade — the darkness
of the night was beyond description, aided by the
dark foliage of the almost impenetrable forest, made
the progress very tedious, painful, and slow. Te
dious, on account of the unevenness of the ground,
which was full of deep, narrow ravines, whose sides
were as perpendicular as walls ; painful, from get
ting entangled and scratched in the green chapparal
briars — fallingoin holes, /
and scrambling;o to ascend
the high banks — running of eyes against branches
of dead underbrush, and striking our legs against
stumps and fallen tree-trunks ; slow, through disen
gaging clothing, haversacks, accoutrements and guns,
from the limbs of felled tree -tops, briars, the dense
growth of underbrush — and in losing their way
in the dark, and getting separated from each other —
this short move occupied until near daylight. Soon
after getting into position, Capt. Bisbing, of Co. I,
with Corp. William Dignan, of Co. D, determined
on finding the true position of the enemy; and these
two sallied forth and went on until they reached
the rebel pits, which were empty ! This piece of
good news was immediately communicated to Col.
Schall, who ordered the regiment to "fall in," as
also did the 2d brigade, and at once started towards
Jackson. The 51st being on the advance, it had

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proceeded about a mile and a half when the other
part of the line perceived the " stars and stripes"
moving towards the city ; but, as soon as perceived,
the Western troops directly started for the same
point, and a race ensued for the entry first into the
city. Although the 51st had considerably farther to
march than any other part of the line, yet it was the
first to attain the object, and planted its colors in
front of the Capitol at 6.28, A. M., of July 17th, 1863.
This feat was received by the Western troops with
a very bad grace. It silenced their abuse against
the 9th Army Corps, for the Western troops were con
tinually insulting the latter by asking them lt if they
came out there to teach them how to retreat, and
show them how that Yankee Army of the Potomac
could run ?" But, after the fall of Jackson, whenever
the Eastern troops were taunted, they retaliated by
asking " who had to come away out here to help you
take a one-horse town like Vicksburg? who took
Jackson for you ?" Such replies had the desired
effect, and towards the close of the association of
the two armies, quite a strong friendly feeling began
to manifest itself between them. The loss of the
51st P. V. during the attack on Johnston, was as
follows.*
A number of deaths occurred from sickness that
will hereafter be accounted for.
* Co. F. — Sergeant Benjamin F. White and Harry Jacobs,
wounded.
Co. I. — Capt. George W. Bisbing, Sergt. Thomas H. Par
ker, and Corp. William Pope, wounded. Several more were
wounded, the official report says 10.

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V.

Sacking of Jackson — Frolicsome march to the fort — Grotesque
costumes and rich scenes — Severe marching — A land of
plenty — Rest — Foraging in the cornfields — Arrival at the
Big Black — Heavy storm — Mud-marching— Milldale again —
Complimentary order from Gen. Grant — Correspondence —
Resignation of Chaplain Mallory.

AFTER the regiment planted its colors in the front
of the Capitol, it stacked arms in the street in front
of the Capitol grounds. A detail was made to guard
the stacks and another to secure the prisoners who
were unable to get far from the city. The 51st se
cured about fifty of the Southern chivalry, a number
of whom acknowledged that they had just been pa
roled at Vicksburg, and had been in Jackson with
Johnston's army several days.
The remainder of the regiment who were not on
special duty broke ranks and ransacked the town
for tobacco, whiskey, and such valuables as had
been left behind by the fleeing citizens on the re
treat of Johnston. Tobacco warehouses had been
broken open, and the invaders freely supplied them
selves with the weed of the very best brands ; none
other suited them now. Whiskey was the next thing
to be sought out, and a copious supply was found
and used, but not a drunken man was to be seen in
the whole 9th Corps. After supplying themselves
to repletion with tobacco and whiskey, then private
property had to suffer. Grocery, dry goods, hat,
shoe, millinery and drug stores were broken open
and " cleaned out " of every vestige of their con-

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tents ; private dwellings entered and plundered of
money, jewelry, and all else of any value was car
ried off; crockery, chinaware, pianos, furniture, &c.,
were smashed to atoms; hogsheads of sugar rolled
into the street and the heads knocked in and con
tents spilled.
Some rabid Secessionists on leaving the city had
set it on fire in several places, and the Union arrny
on entering had tried their utmost to stay the de
vouring element, bat with no success, as it had got
too far under way, and soon some very splendid
buildings were reduced to ashes.
About noon the regiment was ordered to take pos
session of a large fort that extended across the main
street at its entrance to the city. As the regiment
was marching out it made quite a ludicrous appear
ance, for the men were dressed in the most laugh
able and grotesque habiliments that could be found.
Some all clad in female attire, some with hats having
crowns a foot high and run up to a point, some with
sacques on, some with mantillas, shawls, sun-bon
nets, frock skirts, with crinoline over all instead of
underneath ; in fact everything was put on that a
head, hand, arm, body, a foot or feet could get into,
and while marching out to the fort dressed in this
fantastical style they carried bonnet and bandboxes
in their hands, as if they were about to travel to
Europe, or going into the country to spend a few
days or weeks. They were followed by the colored
females, yelling and screaming with delight, and
begging the "Yankees" to ugib us dat bonnit,"
and "Massa, do please gib me dat fruck;" still an
other, " Oh, de Lor bress you, dim (give) me dem
hoops," and so many such like expressions beset the

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men, that by the time they arrived at the fort the
colored ladies were in possession of nearly every
particle of clothing of female wear which the men
had.
Gen. Sherman, in company with several other
generals, passed the regiment when so bewitchingly
attired, and enjoyed the sight as much as any one
could, if the shaking of his sides by laughter was
any indication of his enjoyment. Gen. Ferrero also
met the regiment, and putting a severely stern look
of anger on his countenance, halted his horse as if
he intended to rebuke them for their unmilitary ap
pearance, when one of the men, who wore an oldfashioned, high-crowned Dunstable bonnet, saluted
him with so much sany froid as to make him burst
out in a peal of laughter that could not be controlled,
and he rode off amid the cheers of the regiment.
On arriving at the fort a detail of about thirty
men was made to guard the two heavy siege guns that
had been left behind by Johnston, and the almost
innumerable cotton bales that had been used in the
construction of the work ; also, to guard some of the
more costly edifices and private property in the vi
cinity of the fort.
Towards evening of Friday, July 17th, 1863, the
regiment was relieved at the fort by a regiment of
Sherman's men. We marched back to the vicinity
of the Insane Asylum, and went into camp in a
pleasant woods. The next day (18th) the men did
no other duty but clean up their arms, accoutre
ments, and wash their very scanty stock of clothing,
for while on the march from "McCall's" to Jackson
the men threw away nearly all their clothing. New
blankets, pants, blouses, shirts and tents had all been

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left on the roadside as being too cumbersome, and at
the time the regiment encamped at this place scarcely
any man was the owner of more than one shirt, and
without tent or blanket to protect them from the
rays of the sun or to cover them during the night.
On Sunday (19th) Col. Schall had regimental in
spection, and if it was witnessed by any person ig
norant of the part the 51st acted in the taking of
Jackson, they would certainly have doubted that
those men were so destitute of clothing, or so shortly
before had been wallowing in the mud of the riflepits ; for on this occasion their personal appearance
was characteristic of the highest discipline, and
received due credit from their beloved commander.
On Monday, July 20th, the regiment broke camp
and began to wend its way back towards Milldale,
distant by most direct route forty-four and one-half
miles, but by the circuitous route taken by the corps
it was full sixty-five miles. It left camp at 4 o'clock
in the morning and marched on till 11 o'clock that
night, when it bivouacked in a large field close to a
fine mansion that stood on a corner of a cross-roads,
about twenty -eight miles from Jackson. There was
scarcely thirty guns stacked with the colors, the day
had been very hot and sultry, water scarce and
filthy, and rations far too meagre for hard march
ing, (being only one and a half days rations issued
to take them back to Milldale.) The heat and ex
cessive marching forced the men to leave the ranks
and shelter themselves from the sun's rays among
the undergrowth of hedges and woods. The im
mense clouds of dust that arose through the march
ing column, filled the throats and nostrils almost to
suffocation; clothing, hair, faces, whiskers, arms and

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equipments were so begrimed with dust that every
thing and every one was of one color and one com
plexion ; the mouth so filled with dust that in clos
ing the teeth they grated as if grinding on sand.
After stacking arms for the night the men began
to wander through the darkness in search of water
to make their coffee; finally they found some less
than a half mile from their quarters, and as some
wag had started the cheering news that it was the
Big Black river, every one sought it, elated with
having clear running water to drink and for cook
ing ; they used it freely and all filled their canteens
in the dark to be ready to leave when ordered, but
great was their chagrin the next morning when it
became light enough to see what they had been
using so freely all through the night. When some
few ran to look at the river ! a glance at it told them
they had been awfully " sold," for instead of a river
it proved to be one of the most filthy and disgust
ing stagnant ponds that had been their lot to see
while in that State.
On Tuesday morning, the 21st, at 2J o'clock, the
51st had to prepare to leave, it being broad daylight
that soon. The men not knowing they were to leave
so early, and feeling much fatigued from the previous
day's march, they were naturally slow about falling
into line, each one supposing that he would have
ample time to make a cup of coffee before starting.
Some few fires were kindled when the hour (3
o'clock) for starting arrived, the drums beat the as
sembly, the men fell in unequipped and only partly
dressed, wondering what such a fuss was all for, but
the word "forward" was sounded and they were

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astonished at the idea of having to leave without
their breakfast, such as it was.
This early start was occasioned by the 51st being
posted on the extreme right of the corps which had
to take the advance of the column. To the 51st this
was a tl Godsend," for nothing had passed over the
road since the last rain had fallen, and it thereby
missed the stifling dust that could be seen rising like
heavy clouds in its rear after the whole column had
got into motion ; this one blessing compensated and
satisfied them for the loss of their breakfast. The
regiment marched until 8 o'clock, when it halted in
a woods for their morning meal, half an hour being
allowed for that purpose. After the expiration of
the time it again started and marched until 10 o'clock
A. M., when it halted in a woods for the middle of
the day. While here cattle were killed and issued
to the different regiments, but nothing else was is
sued, and the men being informed that they were
not to move until 3 p. M., struck out in small squads
to forage for something to eat besides fresh beef.
Peaches of the most luscious flavor were in abund
ance, apples not so plenty, but for watermelons, nut
megs and cantaloupes their equal was never seen in
the Philadelphia markets for either size or lusciousness ; consequently haversacks, blouse sleeves and
handkerchiefs were well filled for the resumption of
the night's march that was to follow. A good din
ner of boiled green-corn, fresh beef, stewed peaches
and apples, a little cabbage, &c., with a dessert of
melons, was highly appreciated by the officers and
men. Shortly after 3 P. M., the regiment again
started, but the heat was equal to any part of the
day and made it almost impossible for men to exist.

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After marching five or six miles they began to give
out. Lieut. Col. Schall saw that each man had tried
to outvie his companions by endurance, and as there
was no object to straggle for, the men sinking from
actual exhaustion, he dismounted from his "Bobby,"
and placed the most wearied ones on the horse, and
allowed them to ride until they became a little rested,
when a couple more " invalids" would take their
places in the saddle and on the horse's back behind
the saddle, and thus they were helped along on their
weary way until 10 o'clock at night, Col. S. lead
ing the horse most of the time for them, until the
regiment halted for the night in an almost limitless
cornfield within a few miles of the Big Black river.
Early the next morning the whole column was
moved into a large woods that stood like an island
in the cornfield, and waited there until 4 p. M., for the
purpose of giving all the stragglers an opportunity
of catching up to the corps before it crossed the Big
Black. Here the day was spent in pleasure, for a
magnificent spring gushed out of the rocks and
formed a fine stream for bathing, swimming, wash
ing of clothes, &c. ; several smaller springs added
their contributions to the stream, and to the delight
of the men these springs gushed out from be
tween the rocks near the surface of the ground and
had a perpendicular fall of about thirty feet, where
the water struck on a ledge of rocks and fell in a
mist-like shower to the bottom of the ravine twelve
or fifteen feet lower. Under this stream of mist
forty or fifty of the men would assemble for the pur
pose of taking a cool shower-bath.
Large fires were kindled
17 all through the woods,
and the men (officers also) indulged in boiled and

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roasted green corn to their entire satisfaction. The
damage done to this large field of corn cannot be
estimated by dollars and cents. The whole column
had marched through the heart of it— men, teams,
artillery, ambulances, horses, mules, and cattle, all,
all had traversed its length and breadth. When
they had passed through and halted, a well beaten
road, one hundred and "fifty to two hundred yards
wide, looked as if it might have been a public high
way for constant travel since the days of Noah — not
a vestige to be seen that indicated the least sign of
vegetation ever growing in that well-beaten path,
which had only a few short hours before presented
seemingly an almost impregnable barrier of grow
ing maize. Did the damage stop here it would not
appear much — but the ravages of the men for a
whole night and day w-as not inconsiderable ; be
sides, there were all the mules, horses, and bullocks
belonging to teams — guns, caissons, ambulances —
and the officers — all these were fed on the green
fodder until they could eat no more. The drove of
cattle alone destroyed acres of it, after they were
done feeding, by roaming and chasing each other
over and through it. If the field was worth one
million of dollars before the corps squatted thereon,
it was not worth one thousand dollars when that
body left it.
This long rest afforded the stragglers full oppor
tunity to reach the corps and get rested. Some of
their feet were frightful to look at — swollen to nearly
twice their natural size — the toe-nails squeezed into
the flesh, from which the blood oozed out — large
blisters on the soles, sides, arid heels of their feet ;
and to them alone were their sufferings actually

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known. By the time the column was ready to leave
they had their feet well protected with pieces of
blankets and tents, which were wrapped around
them.
At 4 p. M. of that day (22d), the command to
"Forward!" was given, and the column started oft'
in fine style. Dark, heavy clouds, began to gather
in the southwest. The distant thunder, and the
sharp flashes of lightning, indicated an approaching
storm. Two miles further was the bridge that
crossed the Big Black. Could it be reached before
the storm arrived, all would be well ; if not, another
night must be spent on that side of the stream. The
elements seemed to enter into the race as if con
scious of lile ; the column pushed on with vigorous
steps, each man determined to do his best to get over
the river before the storm could reach them. On,
on ! came the threatening clouds — louder and louder
roared the thunder — brighter and more vivid flashed
the lightning. Closer is the column to the bridge.
Only one mile, and then all will be well., Now, only
half a mile! Each one, with upturned face, is
watching the coming clouds, whose very edges
seemed fringed with liquid fire. A drop from the
clouds tells them the storm is here. Oh, what sus
pense ! only one fourth of a mile from the coveted
spot, and the awful storm breaks on their head with
all the fury of the demons !
What had been, only a few moments before, sti
fling dust, was now an almost impassable bed of
mortar, making the progress painfully slow, and
filling the shoes full of water, rnud, and gravel.
When the head of the column reached the bridge,
the surface of the stream was not within six feet of

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the bridge's bottom. When the left reached it; the
water ran over the floor at least three feet deep,
through which men and teams were obliged to wade.
The water kept on increasing in depth, so that
eleven teams did not succeed in getting over that
night.
As each rank crossed the bridge, the men broke
for shelter in a large log building that stood to the
left of the road on the west bank of the river.
Several smaller buildings in the vicinity were soon
filled to repletion. The men all remained under
shelter until the storm abated, which was near
night, when the column started again for " McCall's," where it arrived about 10 P. M., drenched to
the skin, and covered with mud from head to foot.
If the marching was hard, on account of heat and
dust, before the rain, it was horrid after the rain.
An attempt was made to march the column in the
road, but the men sticking fast in the mud and
losing their shoes, induced Col. Schall to leave the
road and take to the fields, as being better, but it
was found to be all alike ; and the men deployed on
their own account as skirmishers, so as to not step
in the footprints of any other man, as it was the
only manner in which they could get along ; but
even in this way they sank in over shoe-top.
On arriving at " McCall's," the regiment bivou
acked on either side of the road, close to a lot of
buildings, where there was a well of good water •
but the ground whereon the men had lain all night,
looked in the morning more like a mammoth hog
pen that had been overflowed. After the regiment
had partaken of its morning meal of green corn and
cup of coffee, it again started for Milldale, about

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ten miles distant, where it arrived about 8J A. M.
on the morning of the 23d, 1863.
An extract gives a very good account of the mud
and rain. The letter is dated Milldale, July 24th,
1863:
"We left Jackson last Monday morning at 4 o'clock, and
got here yesterday at 83- A. M., marching day and night. It
is set down as being the hardest march that the 9th Army
Corps has ever done
We only had a day and a half's
rations for the whole march of nearly four days, and no water
to be had, of much account, until Wednesday night, when an
other of these southern thunder-storms came up and deluged
everything, making marching very toilsome and killing. We,
as a matter of course, got very wet, for a rain seldom stops a
inarch, and about 11 o'clock that night we lay down and slept
in mud almost knee deep, just as sound as if we had been
in the best feather beds. It is strange what a man will get
used to."

And again, another extract :
" On our march from Jackson we stripped cornfields, water
melon patches, peach and apple trees, and all the ripe fruit
within our reach. I had a good mess of fresh ripe figs while
in Jackson. I ascended a tree and eat a few. They are de
licious When fully ripe."

Another extract, from a private letter dated
July 28th :
"We are enjoying a fine rest, which we all need, God
knows. The regiment is very sickly ; in fact, the whole corps
is. It has been produced by over-heat, over-marching, and the
use of stagnant pond water to drink while on the march, very
little to eat, and the want of rest."

After getting back to Milldale, one hundred men
were detailed from the regiment (and the same from
each in the brigade), daily, to dig rifle pits, and to
clear off the vast wilderness in front of the earth
works, so as to give the mounted guns full sweep

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of the surrounding country in case the enemy
should deem it prudent to make an attack on McPherson's army after the withdrawal of the Ninth
Corps.
An occasional dress-parade was had, for the pur
pose of reading off the various orders that accumu
lated in the adjutant's office. Among the orders
read, was one from General Grant, of a congratu
latory character, as follows :
HEAD-QUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE,
VICKSBURG, Miss., July 31sZ, 1803.
In returning the 9tli Corps to its former command, it is with
pleasure that the General commanding acknowledges its valu
able services in the campaign just closed. Aiming at Vicksburg opportunely, taking position to hold at bay Johnston's
army, then threatening the forces investing the city, it was
ready and eager to assume the aggressive at any moment.
After the fall of Vicksburg it formed part of the army which
drove Johnston from his position near the Big Black river into
his intrenchments at Jackson, and after a siege of eight days,
compelled him to fly in disorder from the Mississippi Valley.
The endurance, valor and general good conduct of the 9th
Corps are admired by all, and its valuable co-operation in
achieving the final triumph of the campaign, is gratefully ac
knowledged by the Army of the Tennessee.
Maj. Gen. Parke will cause the different regiments and bat
teries of his command to inscribe upon their banners and gui
dons, "Vicksburg and Jackson."
By order of
Maj. Gen. U. S. GRANT.
T. S. BOWERS, A. A. A. Gen.

Below will be found another letter from T. H. P.,
the "Defender's " correspondent :
SNYDER'S, NEAR VICKSBURG, August 3(Z, 18G3.
Another week has passed and still we are in this most mis
erable of all states, Mississippi. We were visited last week by
one of the most violent hurricanes that we have ever seen in

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these parts, attended with heavy thunder, lightning and rain,
filling the air with the little shelter tents, boughs of trees and
everything else that wind could Lear aloft. Thunder storms
are very frequent occurrences here ; we had one on the 26th,
one on the 27th, and a severe one on the 28th, and another on
the 1st inst. The thunder here is of nearly one continual peal
after another, reminding one very much of the terrific bombard
ment of Fredericksburg, Va., last December. The rain falls in
torrents, causing the gorges and ravines to fill and swell to the
magnitude of small rivers, carrying away all bridges and
crossings, and even carrying away mules and other live stock.
The principal damage that we sustained was the loss of one
day's bread in the hands of the bakers, and a few pieces of
tents.
Since we have been back from Jackson, the boys have been
supplying themselves with another outfit of clothing that will
all be hungup "on the ground," when another hard march
presents.
It is fearful to contemplate the sickness of this corps ; some
regiments arc burying two or three every day. The 20th
Michigan have a fatality among them that is diminishing their
ranks rapidly. I have not learned what the disease is, but
those who are the unfortunate victims do not suffer long, three
or four hours are sufficient to pass them to that "bourne from
whence no traveller returns." We suppose it to be yellow
fever. If it is, the surgeons are careful to keep it shady.
Our regiment still keeps its health the best of any in the
whole corps, although we have had as many as fifty on the
sick report daily, for several days. There are, however, very
few serious cases, diarrhoea being the prevalent disease.
We are enjoying fresh baked bread now daily, and we now
can set ourselves down to our table on the ground, and "let
our feet hang down," and enjoy our coffee and toast and fried
bread, for you must know that we are all good cooks. Individ
uals have ovens dug in the banks and rifle pits, and carry on
the pie and cake baking to such an extent that your Norris
City family bakers would blush to think that they were not in
the army where they might perfect themselves in the baking
business. Our peach and apple pics are some, I tell you, and
the boys bring in large quantities of fine peaches every day, but
they arc used principally for pies.
There is not much prospect before us of getting away from

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here for a week at least to come. Some few troops of the 1st
Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Corps, have left here on boats, and
they are sending off their sick and wounded to Keokuk, Iowa,
as fast as they can obtain transportation for them.
Our worthy chaplain, D. G. Mallory, has tendered his resig
nation as chaplain to our regiment. It has been accepted, and
he will leave in a day or two for home.
Whiskey has been ordered to be issued to every man in the
whole corps until we arrive at our destination. No doubt a ju
dicious use of that stimulant will serve to counteract the bad
effects of bad water, and prove highly beneficial to the men of
this corps. A rumor has been rife in camp for a couple of days
that Charleston, S. C., has fallen, but as we cannot get any
news here until it becomes stale and forgotten at home, all that
we can do is to hope that the said rumor may prove true.
I must tell you a little of the crops of the interior of the State
of Mississippi, as far as I have been. The cotton crop has been
literally ignored. I have seen but one place wherein cotton was
growing and that was but a small piece of not more than three
acres. There is but little tobacco planted, and what little there
is of it will make but a very small crop, because it has been
worked very little, and consequently is overrun with weeds. I
saw but one field in with sugar cane ; it contained fifty to seventyfive acres, and if its owner returns in due season to secure it, he
will no doubt reap a full crop. There arc immense fields of
beans planted, no doubt "to aid and comfort the enemy."
But for cornfields, Mississippi can beat all creation. A corn
field here is generally -computed not by acres but by miles.
Plenty of them contain ten to twelve square miles, in fact it is
impossible to find the limits of the cornfields, for almost every
square foot of arable land is in with corn, showing that the
planters invariably obeyed Jeff. Davis' edict to lessen the cot
ton crop and enlarge the corn crop. I have not seen one stalk
of wheat, rye or oats. Some few gardens have the Irish pota
toes in very limited quantities, but vegetables are a very scarce
article throughout'ttiis State, while fruits are vice versa, peaches,
apples, figs, watermelons, nutmegs and citrons, grapes and
Pawpaws. None of the above fruits, excepting the watermelons
and canteloupes, are cultivated. From every appearance they
grow wherever a seed accidentally falls on the ground and takes
root, as you will find no regularity in their position. Fresh figs
are delicious fruit, and are to be found in abundance through-

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out the State. The first crop being over, the second crop is
now in its height, and the few remaining citizens scattered
through the country bring them into camp, and sell them
readily at fifteen cents per dozen ; peaches sell for twenty-five
cents per dozen, watermelons we don't buy, we generally lay
siege to a patch and it soon surrenders unconditionally, to
our gratification, but to the mortification of Johnny Rebs.
Another order has been received from Gen. Grant, compli
mentary to the 9th Corps for their soldier-like bearing, bravery,
and endurance, and has ordered our corps commander, Gen.
Parke, to have "Vicksburg and Jackson" inscribed upon
the regimental flags of the corps. This may be chalked
down as one instance wherein a chieftain has seen something
in this corps worthy of appreciation, and proving himself
doubly a hero by boldly acknowledging its efficiency in face of
its malignant accusers. For I believe that there is not another
corps in the service of the United States that has seen more
than one-half the service that the 9th Corps has. It has done
more hard marching, hard fighting, and less grumbling than any
other corps out, and received less praise, if any, than any other
corps, and why is it ? Even the fate of the Antietam battle hung
upon the taking of the bridge by the 51st Pennsylvania and 51st
New York, who are a part of the 9th Corps, and I was told on
the best authority that McClellan said, after the bridge was
taken, that the fate of the battle was to be decided on charging
the rebels away from it. Well, we took the bridge ; but who
got the credit ? Did we ? From our own officers AVC did, and
had we black-mailed a batch of the penny-a-liners who give
honor to whom honor is due, our corps would have been
lauded to the very echo, but as it was the work of the 9th
corps, its paean must be sung by some future impartial historian.
Yours, &c.,
T. H. P.

While at Milldale, after coming from Jackson, the
surgeons of the regiment ordered a full ration of
whiskey (one gill) to be issued to each man early in
the morning, to assist in counteracting the bad
effects of the use of unwholesome water, and to give
a more healthy tone to the men's system — it had its
desired effect. Chaplain Mallory tendered his resig-

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nation on account of ill health, a notice of which
appeared in the columns of the Defender.
"Rev. D. G. Mallory, the Chaplain of the 51st, since his
resignation and return home, and a little rest, is recuperating,
and will soon be himself again. His general health has much
improved, although the severity of their marching in Missis
sippi came pretty near using him up, with the soldiers them
selves. We 'can't see the point' of marching men to death,
in such a sterile region as they were in down there."

OHAPTEE

VI.

Haines' Bluffs— On the Yazoo — Scenes on the Father of Rivers
— Heaving the lead — Wooding up — Island No. Ten — Cairo,
111. — Off for Ohio — Railroad accident and loss of life —
Cincinnati — Speech from Gen. Burnside — Covington, Ky. —
Nicholasville — Camp Parke — Crab Orchard — Garrison duty
— Ordered to Knoxville, T*enn.— The performing Zouave.

ON" the 6th of August orders were issued to the
regiment to be ready to go on board of the boats at
Haines's Bluffs, on the Yazoo river, to return to
Kentucky on the next day. Everything was
packed and sent down to the landing early on the
morning of the 7th, the regiment soon followed ; the
distance from Milldale to the boats was only three
miles, but it was one hundred miles through torture,
for the heat might only be equalled by the fiery
furnace, at least so intense was the heat that day
that it took the regiment two and a half hours to go
the three miles, no less than twenty -two men were
prostrated by the rays of the sun.
On arriving at the landing the steamboat that was
to take the regiment on board had also to take the

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famous Durrell battery of Beading, and the regi
ment was obliged to stand in the hot sun while the
guns, caissons, horses, and men were being put on
board, to accomplish which took about two hours.
There being no place under which the men could
shelter themselves from the sun, Col. Schall en
deavored to get permission from the captain of the
boat to allow him to put his regiment on the hurri
cane deck, which was covered with an awning, until
the artillery got on board, after which he would dis
tribute his men over the boat to whatever quarters
they should be assigned; but this proposition of the
humane colonel was refused, and the men were left
standing until it became necessary to carry several
on board who had sunk down from the effects of the
sun.
Col. Schall deserves the thanks of the whole
regiment for his kind attention to relieve the men
from their torture and to get them comfortable quar
ters on the boat.
His whole heart seemed to swell
with sympathy for them, while he needed as much for
himself.
He could have gone on the boat and re
mained there until it was ready to receive the regi
ment ; but no, his heart was with his men, and with
them he would share their trials. However, the
long-wished-for moment arrived, and at 12 M. the
men rushed pell-mell on the boat, regardless of the
commands of the captain and clerks of the steamer,
and with, the approbation of their commander, who
felt that the captain was too much of a brute to
have his wishes respected.
The men sought out such quarters as suited their
choice, subject only to Col. Schall's command. At
2 r. M. every tiling was ready for leaving the banks
of the sluggish Yazoo river, the hawser was

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loosened, and the steamer glided down the stream
amid the cheering of those on board and on land.
Several brass bands saluted our regiment as it
passed the boats that were loading on other regi
ments.
A little before sundown the steamer passed out
of the mouth of the Yazoo and entered the Father
of Rivers, when she swung around with her head up
stream and there "laid to'' for about an hour, when
she again started and ran all night, striking the bot
tom of the river every few miles. li Heaving of the
lead" was rather an amusing affair to the soldiers.
As the man that made the soundings would exclaim
"half twain," "twain," or "twain one," &c., the
soldiers would repeat it in a chorus, much to the
indignation of the man with the "lead." It was an
interesting study to the thoughtful ones to note the
unevenness of the bed of the Mississippi river ;
some places scarce water enough to float the boat,
and in less than half the boat's length ahead it
would be twenty feet more than was needed for the
floating palace, then in the next half length she
would stick fast on the bottom.
Several times the boat ran up to the shore, seem
ingly into the woods, to take in fuel, but only once
in the daytime during the whole trip up, all other
times were in the night. When up above the Arkansas
State line the steamer hauled in under a bluff to take
in wood. The rain poured down in torrents, the
night was of Egyptian darkness, but the deck hands
could not be prevailed on to go ashore until pickets
were sent out for their protection ; guerillas had
once been there and might be there again. The
pickets were sent ashore and posted themselves

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only a few yards off and got a complete drenching
while the hands were " wooding up." To those who
never saw " wooding up " at night on the Mississippi
it would be an interesting sight — the torches em
ployed on such occasions are of a gigantic size and
made of a coarsely woven wire basket, which is
set on the end of a staff about four feet in length,
pointed for the purpose of sticking in the ground ;
a large ball of tow, saturated with tar and turpen
tine, is laid in the wire basket, and when ignited,
burns for a long time and sheds a lurid glare on
surrounding objects, making one imagine that he is
in the place of one of the weird sisters in the witch
scene in Macbeth.
,
A little after daylight on the morning of the llth
of August the regiment passed the renowned Island
No. Ten, between it and the eastern bank of the
river. It was in possession principally of colored
persons who were refugees from Southern rule. The
channel here is narrow, and assisted greatly in help
ing the enemy in their stubborn resistance for the
Union possession of that long-fought-for place.
On the 14:th the regiment disembarked at Cairo,
111. After lying there all that night, it embarked
next day on the cars of the Illinois Central Eailroad
for Sandoval, 111., sixty miles east of St. Louis, Mo.,
where it changed cars for those of the broad-gauge
Ohio and Mississippi Eailroad, and proceeded on its
way to Cincinnati. All along the line of the railroad
the regiment was greeted with cheers, waving of
handkerchiefs in the hands of the fair sex, hot coffee,
pies, cakes, sandwiches, &c. In fact, it was a per
fect ovation, such as any regiment might be proud
to receive. Nothing transpired of any interest while

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moving by rail, until within a mile or two of a small
hamlet called Shoals, Indiana, about one hundred
and fifty miles from Cincinnati, when, about 7 o'clock
in the afternoon, the train of ten or twelve cars met
with a serious accident by the breaking off of a
flange, causing the cars to leave the track while pass
ing over a bridge that spanned a small, deep river.
The train was midway on the bridge when the first
car left the iron, and the three cars in the rear fol
lowed, cutting the ties and bridge timbers nearly off.
When about one hundred and fifty or two hundred
yards past the bridge, one car that had been running
on the edge of the bank, rolled down the embank
ment, stopping the whole train with a crash. Five
cars were frightfully piled upon each other, two of
which were reared like a combed roof. The corre
spondent of the Philadelphia " Press" writing from
Cincinnati, describes the accident in detail. Below
we give his own language, viz. :
"CINCINNATI, August 20th, 1863.
"Memphis looks very differently now from what it did when
we went along there two months ago. It was a desolate, for
lorn-looking place — dirty, no life, no business. It seemed the
change of a conjurer — bustle, stir, hotels, billiard-rooms, res
taurants, and drinking-houses (the peculiar life of many South
ern towns) in full course. But Memphis has other than this
peculiar life ; it has fine buildings, has a rich surrounding, and
the easiest modes of transit. It was said that the taking of
Vicksburg was not believed in Memphis until long after the
papers in the North contained the news. But Northern papers
of the 9th and 10th of July, received at Memphis on the 15th
and 16th, with their graphic accounts of it, dispelled the last
lingering doubt.
"Troops returning have been landed at Cairo, and passed
over the railroads from there to Sandoval, then on the Ohio
and Mississippi Road, of broad gauge, and very comfortable.

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Indeed, the officers of that road are to be commended for the
promptness with which they have furnished transportation
on all occasions required by the Government. There has
never been any delay longer than necessary to transfer the
baggage. Cars in abundance were always ready. Some acci
dents have occurred which have given rise to speculations
rather painful. A train, on Sunday night, having on board
the 51st Pennsylvania Regiment, and headquarters staff' and
horses, was thrown from the track a mile and a-half east of
Shoals. It was the third or fourth car from the engine that
seems to have been thrown off', and went crashing along over
a bridge spanning a deep stream, cutting the ends of the ties
and sleepers completely off; and, fifty yards from the catastro
phe, tearing up the track some distance. A car having the
officers' baggage rolled down the embankment, and another,
with horses, fell on the top of it, crushing it to pieces. Strange
to say, of four or five men in the car, wTho had to be cut out of
the wreck, but one was killed, and he was sitting on a chair at
the open door of the car, and was precipitated out by the first
shock. Over these two cars, two others were raised up, end
against end like the rafters of a house. One had horses and
the other a company of men, (H, 51st P. V.,) with some on
the top, but, except the jamming they got from all being slid
into the one end, were not at all hurt. One horse was smoth
ered. One man in the baggage car was saved from smothering
by happening to have his nose pushed through the opening in
the seat of an army saddle. On the left hand side of the track
was another car with horses. They are put within the side
opening of the car, and boards nailed across, leaving the centre
of the car open, in which were lying four or five negroes. The
accident threw horses and negroes pell-mell into one end, but
none were hurt, though they scratched their woolly heads with
astonishment at this unexpected deliverance.
"One man of the lltli New Hampshire had his head and
legs crushed, and he had jumped from the cars. The tops of
the cars were full of men who had made their beds there. Not
one was hurt ; though some were landed on the tops of the
trees, and went tumbling away down into the ravine. One on
his descent was caught by a limb under the chin and hung
there. It was about 8 o'clock in the evening, and most were
asleep. A telegraph operator brought from the neighboring

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town, immediately cut the wires and telegraphed both ways.
Dr. Martin and son and Dr. Peck came from Washington
about midnight, to find all very coolly sleeping, and all things
quiet, notwithstanding ten cars were put Iwrs de course,
freighted with living beings. Indeed, the most wonderful
thing was the coolness of these soldiers. There was no noise
or confusion. The colonel superintended, and as many men
as could conveniently work were busy ; the rest laid down and
slept. Many within a car or two of the accident hardly raised
themselves more than on their elbow, and at that distance you
would hardly believe there were such a fearful scene so little
in advance. Old railroaders, who had been in numberless
smashes, said they never saw such a wreck. The work of reliev
ing the horses was a difficult and dangerous task, and required
the coolest and steadiest of men. The horses were piled all to
gether. There was imminent danger of the cars falling, espe
cially the two ''rafters." Old wreckers would not have done
as these brave men did. One went bravely in among the
heels of the horses to rescue a man. Some were cooking coffee
while the others worked, and all laid down and slept when
they were assured that every life was reached. The surgeon
of the regiment, Dr. Duffield, was cool, calm, and prompt ;
naturally so — perhaps something of it acquired on the fields of
Antietam, Fredcricksburg, and such like. Col. Ilartranft and
Lieut. -Col. Schall were able and energetic in their management
of the fractures. I have heard these men speak with grateful
affection of these officers ; of their care in their long campaigns,
and of late, especially, in the campaign in Mississippi, Avhcn
Lieut. -Col. Schall was in command of the 2d Brigade, 2d
Division, as this regiment filed off at Jackson, to enter the
front, said, "Take good care of the men, colonel." He need
not say he would; he had, and did. It was what "Old
Johnny," as the men call Col. H., always did for them. I
would not wish for more honor than to have my name written
on the hearts of the men of a regiment as theirs arc."

A little allowance must be made for the mistake,
in the last paragraph by the u Press's" correspondent,
not intentional, wherein he says, "when Lieut. -Col.
Schall was in command of the 2d Brigade, 2d Divi
sion," &c., he certainly intended to say "Col. Hart

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rarift," as it was Col. II. who was in command of the
brigade and Lieut.-Col. Schall of the regiment at the
time the " regiment filed off."
After working at the wreck until late at night,
and all the maimed, car-imprisoned men and horses
had been got out and cared for, the men lay down
in and on the cars to rest for the night. As soon as
daylight came next morning, the wreckers and the
men of the 51st began to clear the track of the debris,
which was accomplished by noon, so the train could
proceed on its way. But before leaving, the men
belonging to Co. D applied to an undertaker in
Shoals to make a coffin for Thomas McQuerin, the
soldier who was killed ; but the generous undertaker
wanted to know where, when, and how he was to get
his pay ! The amount, §10, was raised, and the
coffin left in the hands of the undertaker, who
promised that he " would have him buried if he
could!" The regiment having to get aboard of the
train, could not remain behind to see if their com
rade did get buried. Some doubts to that effect
exist at this day. After placing the body of Mc
Querin in the hands of the undertaker, it was found
that a man (name unknown) belonging to the llth
N. II., lay dead on a stretcher near the track, an
other victim of the smash up ; but as he was there a
stranger, it is safe to say that the poor fellow had to
be buried by the railroad company, as no one ap
peared to take any notice of him only through curi
osity. Although it seems inhuman to neglect a fellow
comrade, yet when we consider all the ghastly sights
of a battle-field, on which a true soldier is compelled
to look, they cannot do otherwise than blunt the
finer feelings, and an expression of sympathy rarely

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gets utterance. When the train arrived at Seymour
an ale-wagon, that was delivering ale at the hotel,
was besieged by a number of the 51st, and a keg of
the extract of malt was removed unceremoniously
from the wagon to the top of one of the cars; the
driver begged for the men not to take the keg away
as he was not the owner, saying, at the same time,
that they were welcome to the ale, and requesting
them to leave the keg behind; but the boys "couldn't
see it," and so took the keg along.
It was originally intended that the regiment should
leave the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad at this
place, and take the cars on another road for the Ohio
river, and proceed to Louisville, Ky. ; but, for rea
sons never made known, the original order was
countermanded, and the regiment kept on to Cincin
nati, where it arrived on the night of the 17th.
Before leaving the Yazoo country a number of
furloughs had been granted in the different regi
ments, the 51st coming in for a goodly share.
Lieut.- Col. Schall having the dating of them, gave
every man an extra day, making it twenty-one
days in which to report back to the regiment.
After arriving at Cincinnati, the regiment pro
ceeded to the " Burnet house," the headquarters of
Gen. Burnside, who made a short speech to the men
from the balcony. He was loudly cheered by them,
and when silence reigned, one man, Thomas Cornog,
exclaimed in reply to the general's expression that
they were to go into Kentucky, " We want you along
with us, General." The General smiled and answered,
"I'll be with you in heart, if not in person." The
regiment then proceeded to the Ohio river, and
crossed over to Covington, Ky., where it went into

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carnp a short distance east of the city. While they
were pitching their tents, the paymaster arrived and
paid the regiment two months dues, which carne
very good to those who wanted to send their money
home. As the officers and men who had leave of
absence and furloughs were unable to get away be
fore the middle of that night, every officer and
man who then left for home had been entrusted
with large amounts to take with them, all of which
were promptly delivered.
Continuing in this camp several days afforded the
boys a fine chance of enjoying themselves in the
city of Cincinnati ; many of them took up their
quarters there and visited the camp a few minutes
every day.
Col. Hartranft, Capt. Jos. K. Bolton, and Capt.
Wm. Allebough, had left this place to enjoy their
" leave " at home. Capt. Bolton went home on sick
leave, having very sore eyes, caused by hard march
ing, hard fighting and exposure during the Missis
sippi campaign. A notice of Capt. Allebough's ar
rival appeared in a ISTorristown paper, viz. :
OUR REGIMENT. — Capt. Allebough is home looking- well
after the fatigue of the late marches — others from the regiment
are coming. AVe wish they were all home, and this wicked,
cruel war over.

In another issue of the same paper, appeared the
following :
" AT HOME.— Lieut. Geo. Schall, Win. P. Schall and Sergt.
Geo. Smith of the 51st Reg. P. V. arrived home on furloughs
on Saturday last. They look well."
"SERENADE. — Our band serenaded Capt. Joseph K. Bolton,
on last Tuesday evening. He has been home for sonic time

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past suffering with sore eyes. He is now, however, improving
and we hope ere long will be quite restored."

It will be seen that the liberal citizens of Norristown appreciated that true soldier, Capt. Jos. K.
Bolton, by tendering a worthy compliment to his
bravery and gentlemanly manners. The regiment
after lying in the vicinity of Covington for about a
week, took the cars, proceeded to Nicholasville Ky.,
encamped almost adjoining the great Kentucky ren
dezvous, " Camp Nelson," and there constituted
"Camp Parke," in honor of Maj. Gen. John G.
Parke, who was in command of a division in the
9th Army Corps. The regiment lay in that loca
tion near two weeks, when it received orders to re
port at Crab Orchard. While at Camp Parke the
health of the regiment was not good, owing no doubt
to the over-indulgence while at Covington. One
man by the name of Arthur McGill, of Co. I, died
here from carnp fever, with only a few hours' sick
ness.
On the 10th September, the regiment left Camp
Parke, reached Crab Orchard on the llth, and estab
lished quarters one mile north of the latter place,
and adjoining a large encampment of invalids.
While here a large number of officers and men
were transferred to the invalid corps, but did not
join their new organization until towards the close
of the month.
About the 14th of the month, an order was
issued for the regiment to report to Gen. Burnside
at Knoxville, East Tennessee. He had taken Cum
berland Gap a few days before by strategy.
Below is Burnside's report to Gen. Halleck, also

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Gen. Rosecrans', who was acting in conjunction with
Burn side, viz. :
Official Despatches from Gens. Burnside and Bosecrans.
"WASHINGTON, Sept. 11. — The following official report from
Gen. BUIINSTDE, concerning the capture of Cumberland Gap,
has been received at Headquarters :
" CUMBERLAND GAP, Sept. 9, 1863. — To Maj.-Gen. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief: I have telegraphed you of our movements
up to the occupation of Knoxville by our forces. Since then a
cavalry force has been sent up the railroad to within a few
miles of Bristol, capturing some three locomotives and twenty
odd cars.
" Another force, composed of two regiments of infantry and
two of cavalry I brought to this place in person, to reinforce Gen.
Shackleford, who was here with two regiments of cavalry,
Col. De Coursey being on the Kentucky side with a brigade,
which I started in that direction before leaving Kentucky.
The infantry brigade inarched from Knoxville to this place,
sixty miles, in fifty-two hours. The garrison here, consisting
of over two thousand men and fourteen pieces of artillery, made
an unconditional surrender at 8 o'clock P. M. to-day, with
out a fight.
"A. E. BTJRNSIDE, Maj.-Gen."
"The following despatch from Gen. ROSECRANS has been
received at Head-quarters : CAMP NEAR TRENTON, GEORGIA,
Sept, 9, 1863.— To Maj-Gen. HALLECK, General-in-Chief:—
Chattanooga is ours without a struggle, and East Tennessee
is free ! Our move on the enemy's flank progresses, while the
tail of his retreating column will not escape unmolested. Our
troops from this side entered Chattanooga about noon ; those
north of the river are now crossing.
"W. S. ROSECRANS, Maj.-Gen."

A great change seemed to force itself upon the
regiment just in the few days from the 12th to the
16th of September. At the last-mentioned date,
there were only three commissioned officers present
with the regiment. Col. Hartranft absent on leave,

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Lieut.-Col. Schall in command of the 2d brigade, 2d
division, Maj. Wm. J. Bolton on leave of absence,
surgeons all absent, and only three line officers pres
ent for duty. Capt. Bisbing was in comma :d of
the regiment. The companies were commanded by
sergeants.
Co. A, under command of 2d sergeant.
" B,
"
" 1st sergeant.
" C,
" 2d Lieut. Wm. F. Thomas.
" D,
"
" 5th sergeant.
" E,
"
" 1st
" F,
" 1st
"
" G-, "
" 3d
" H,
" Captain
" I,
"
(l 1st sergeant.
" K;
"
lt 1st sergeant.
At this date (16th), the order to reinforce Burnside in Tennessee was countermanded, and the
brigade was distributed for the several duties below
mentioned.
The 51st N. Y. was stationed at Hickrnan's Bridge
to guard it, as they reported only forty-one men fit
ior duty.
The 35th Mass, and the 51st P. Y. were posted at
Crab Orchard, for garrison duty.
The llth N. H. were sent out to London, forty-five
miles from Crab Orchard, to do duty at Post Pitman.
The 21st Mass, was transferred to 1st brigade.
This scattering of the brigade led the men of the 51st
to think they were fixed now, for once in their term
permanently, and were to do garrison duty for a
certainty. This supposition wrought considerable
discredit on the regiment, for feeling they were

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" lords and masters of the situation," they in
dulged too freely in Bourbon, and through its in
fluence, a sutler's establishment near the toll-gate
above Crab Orchard was " torn out," or more prop
erly speaking " cleaned out," of all canned fruits,
whiskey, tobacco, and everything else. The exact
participators in this outrage were never discovered,
or if they were, nothing was done and the affair was
hushed up.
The men now were having a "good time of it" — •
at least, so they supposed — but " the way of the
transgressor is hard," and it was verified in twentyone cases of breach of discipline in the regiment.
Whiskey was the whole cause. It was very plenty
in that section of country, easily obtained, and
obtained it was to excess ; and for days in suc
cession a large number of men, also non-com's,
were intoxicated, until the provost marshal at Crab
Orchard had to issue prohibitory orders to the citi
zens and sutlers against selling any liquor unless
on an order signed by a commissioned officer. The
continued drunkenness of some of the men in the
regiment brought them to disgrace ; for no less than
twenty-one non-commissioned officers were reduced
to the ranks by their company commanders, ap
proved by Lieut. Col. Schall.
Even this did not seem to check it at first, but
the provost marshal's order coming fast on its heels,
had in a great measure the desired effect, and dis
cipline once more reigned throughout the camp.
Lieut. Col. Schall was commander of the post at
this place, and having his quarters a considerable
distance from where the regiment reposed, he could
not be held accountable for their conduct ; yet he

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did all that lay in his power, by example, per
suasion, and light punishments, to stop the riotous
behavior.
Things now began to wear a gloomy aspect, as
Gen. Rosecrans, who was operating with Burnside
in Tennessee, met with a serious cheek at the hands
of Bragg, Longstreet, and Johnston. The garrison
ing duty of the 51st P. V. began to be a little agi
tated, and its days were numbered.
While at this post, an adventurous Illinois Zouave
visited the regiment, and gave an exhibition of his
superior skill in handling the rifled musket. He
drew a vast crowd around him, and his movements
were watched with evident delight and much interest.
He certainly handled the musket with extraordinary
skill, showing to what beauty and perfection the
manual of arms can be brought, through intelligence,
patience, and perseverance. His bayonet exercise
was a complete triumph, as in fact every movement
was, eliciting praises and applause. His performance
inspired the men to imitate him, and for months we
could see different ones attempting to reproduce his
various movements — such as throwing the gun,
with fixed bayonet, high up in the air — making it
revolve with great speed, now the point up, now the
butt of the gun up, and, as it descended, he would
catch the piece by the point of the bayonet and re
volve it around his head with great velocity, passing
it under his arm, over his shoulder, then round his
neck and under the other arm, etc., etc.
But none were ever able to perform any of these
i'eats with the same dexterity that the Zouave did.
Peter Undercover, of Co. C, certainly came the
nearest, and handled the gun with much credit.

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One thing — like all other exhibitions, the men
were called on to pay for the lesson, which they did
by taking up a collection for the Zouave which
amounted to several dollars. After pocketing the
money, he proceeded to another camp, where his
performances were likewise hailed with delight.
His account of himself stated that he was a member
of an Illinois regiment, had been wounded several
times, captured once, and was now on his parole,
visiting camps, to give exhibitions to replenish his
portmonnaie, and to show that any one can become
proficient in the use of the gun, the bayonet, swordbayonet, and the sabre ; and now he was awaiting
his discharge from the service.
We do not know what was thought of the truth
fulness of his story, but we, our individual self,
always considered him in no other light than a rebel
emissary, spying out ichat supplies were stored at Crab
Orchard — for at this time the stores at this post were
immense, consisting of ammunition, arms, rations,
harness, forage, medicines, etc., to the value of over
two millions of dollars, and were destined for the
use of the Army of the Ohio, in Tennessee.

18

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VII.

Mt. Vemon — Starting for Kuoxville, Tennessee — Correspond
ence — History of a Dog — Newspaper extracts — London —
Racing on the march — Its results — Post Pitman — Laurel
Bridge — Barboursville — Knobs of the Log Mountains —
Horace Mayuard — Parson Brownlow — Crossing the Cum
berland Mountains — Cumberland Gap — Descent into Ten
nessee — Tazewell.

WHILE at Crab Orchard, towards the close of
September, Capt. George W. Bisbing, in command
of the regiment, was ordered to take the 51st and
proceed along the Cumberland Gap road to a small
town called Mount Vernon, about fifteen miles from
Crab Orchard, to repair the road in that vicinity, as
it was becoming impassable for the teams. The
regiment was absent three days, when it returned to
camp after accomplishing its labors.
On the evening of September 29th, 1863, Lieut.
Col. Schall received orders to move his brigade to
Knoxville, East Tennessee, and to be ready to move
at daylight next morning, with eight days' rations
in haversacks and knapsacks, and with sixty rounds
of ammunition to each man. Lieut. Col. Schall was
under the impression that his brigade was to go to
Knoxville merely to relieve the garrison at that
post, to enable them to go to the front ; but a couple
of days after the regiment's arrival there, dispelled
all such fancies from his rnind.
Early on the morning of October 2d, 1863, the
51st P. V. struck tents and prepared for its march
into Tennessee ; Lieut. Col. Schall in command of
the 2d brigade, 2d division, 9th Corps ; Capt. Wm.

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Allebough, Co. C, Act. Assist. Adj. Gen. on Col.
Schall's staff'; Capt. Geo. W. Bisbing, Co. I, in com
mand of the regiment ; Capt. Gaulin, Co. G, Lieut.
Wm. F. Thomas, Co. C, Lieut. Wrn. W. Owens,
Co. F, were all the line officers present with their
companies, the other seven companies were under
the command of their sergeants.
Below we copy the Defender's correspondent's
(T. H. P ) letter, which gives the march in full.
BIG SPRINGS, (five miles S. E. of Mt. Vernon, Ky.,)
October 3d, 1863.
Since my last to yon, our garrisoning at Crab Orchard lias
been knocked flat on the head by some unaccountable " military
necessity," and we are on a pleasant little tour (for the benefit
of Uncle Sam's health) of 157 miles. We are on our way to
Knoxville, Tenn., and have some 16 or 17 miles of the "job"
done.
On Tuesday evening last Lieut. Col. Schall received a tele
graphic order from the front to move his brigade and to bring
all the convalescents, from the convalescent camps, along
with him, and to report at Knoxville ; we were to start at 6
o'clock A. M. on Thursday, October 1st, but as teams could not
be got ready by that time we did not take up the line of march
until yesterday morning, which was a lucky circumstance for
us poor devils, for it had rained the whole day and night before,
one of those light rains that saturates clothing and makes
marching very painful and laborious. After we left Crab
Orchard the column halted at the convalescent camp for the
convalescents to fall in. Capt. Allebaugh, Act. Asst. Adjt.
Gen. to Lieut. Col. Schall, had attended to that business, and
in about an hour's time they were assigned to a position in
the centre, the 35th Mass., being in the rear, and the provost
guard, acting as rear guard, followed in the rear of the column
to keep stragglers with their respective regiments. The march
now had actually began, and Capt. Geo. W. Bisbing, who is in
command of the regiment, " put us through " our day's march
by 3 o'clock p. M. ; we made about ten miles over one of the
roughest roads that I had ever seen up to our halt of yesterday.
It was part of the time up steep rocky hills of considerable

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length, then descending those hills would try the muscles in
the boys' bncks at every step, for as they would step from one
rock to another lower down, their "knappies" would come
against them with a surge nearly precipitating them, not to
bear comparison with our wagon train misfortune ; there are
eleven wagons with us, or rather started with us, six of the
teams are made up of " green " mules, and the consequence is,
they were not able to make more than five miles yesterday, one
wagon upsetting, another had to be held up with props until it
got unloaded, and the remainder stuck fast among the rocks
and mud. (How I would like to see some of our home
tc;»msters out here with a string of six "green" mules —
climbing these "knobs," as the natives call them.) So the
AV agon master, with Quartermaster Stephens' consent, laid over
until daylight this morning. As we cannot be too far ahead of
our wagon train, we waited until after 10 A. M. to-day for them
to catch up ; they doing so we again took up the line of march,
the 35th Mass, leading the column — being only them and the
51st P. V., having lost the convalescents yesterday, they not
being able to keep up with us. I thought, as well as others,
that I saw some rough roads yesterday, but the part traversed
to day by us is a " sweetener " for both troops and teams ; we
made about six or seven miles to-day, and we are now en
camped for the night at a place where there is plenty of good
water.
The teams have not all arrived yet, but as we looked up
the hill at whose base are our tents, we saw some coming
down. One would think they would roll over the mules
that are hitched to the wagons, for as the fore wheels roll from
one declivity to another the wagon appears to be about stand
ing on its front end, but yet they, so far, have got down safe.
The mules to those wagons are wrell broken, and, like their
drivers, understand their work and do it. We will not reach
Knoxville before the 16th or 17th of this month, we have to move
slow for we are to have two batteries with us, viz., Benjamin's
six-gun battery of twenty pound Parrotts, and Edwards's
six-gun battery of twelve pound Parrotts. Our march must
necessarily be slow and tedious, for as the road to the moun
tains is very hilly and rocky, the artillery and wagons will not
be able to make very rapid inarches on such highways. It is
seventy-eight miles from here to Cumberland Gap and it is
called sixty-two miles from the Gap to Knoxville ; the road

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over the mountains is very rugged — from the base to summit on
this side is seven miles, and the descent on the other side is
eight miles. Some interesting events, I think, will transpire
in crossing the mountains, of which I will try to keep the
numerous readers of the Defender apprised of at as early an
opportunity as I can get.
We expect to reach a post called London, distant about
twenty-three miles from here, by next Monday, the 5th, at
which place we will gather into our column another regiment,
the llth New Hampshire, which belongs to the 2d brigade.
By the addition of that regiment we will make quite a formid
able appearance.
A number of furloughs were granted the evening before
we left to the boys of the different companies of the 51st
Pennsylvania, and the recipients of them may consider them
selves born under a lucky star, in getting out of this march.
We are still short of commissioned officers for line duty,
Capt. Gaulin, Lieuts. Owens and Thomas are all we can find
on the march with the regiment. More anon,
T. H. P.
LONDON, LAUREL COUNTY, KY.,
October Wi, 1863.

In my last, I gave you a sketch of our march up to the close
of the 3d inst. I will now merely give the remainder of this
march in the form of a diary, with the incidents and scenery
that I think will interest the general reader of the Defender.
On Sunday the 4th inst., at 7^ A. M., we formed in line and were
again on the march, and in a few moments after we started
we crossed the Big Rockcastle river, a very diminutive stream
to boast of such a high-sounding title ; immediately after cross
ing the above rivulet, we ascended a hill far more worthy of
being called a mountain than the above creek a river. At
about one-fourth of a mile from the base of this hill we found
quite a number of sutlers1 wagons, as well as others, "stuck,"
for at this point of the road it was at an angle of at least fortyfive degrees perpendicular. We were nearly " stuck " as bad
as the teams, but by being blessed with good toe-nails we suc
ceeded in gaining the summit at the loss of considerable breath.
About 1 P. M. we had made eleven miles, and coming to the
above river again, Licut.-Col. Schall halted the brigade until
the next morning. We pitched our tents and made ourselves

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tolerably comfortable notwithstanding that night was very cold
and frosty.
At 7£ A. M. of Monday, the 5th, we again were on our march,
crossed the above river, and began the ascent of the famous
Wild Cat mountain, made famous,by the rebel chieftain Zollicoffer having his camp and fortifications on its summit. The
tent poles of his camp are still standing erect, but show little
vestige of busy camp life. While descending this mountain our
worthy friend George Bodey, who was driving an ambulance
and sitting in front, was precipitated headlong out of the wagon
on the ground, turning a somersault and alighting on his back;
it was gratifying to us all when we found that he sustained no
injury whatever. All along this road the rebellion has left its
desolating mark. The citizens having at the outset of the re
bellion deserted their once happy homes and either linked their
fates with Jeff. Davis, or gone off as refugees to some distant
places of safety, their houses are now occupied by loyal refu
gees from Eastern Tennessee, of whom the majority are pre
paring to return to their homes in Tennessee. It is an old
but true saying, that one half of the world don't know how
the other half lives. These refugees live in the most squalid
poverty, having had to leave all their property behind them and
seek an asylum in among these mountains where there is
little or no vegetation whatever, their sufferings are beyond
description.
WThen our forces drove Bragg out this road through the Gap,
the contending forces left their marks upon the trees and in the
roads, for some of the trees bear the unmistakable sign of the
determination of both forces ; some of the trees are perforated
witli as many as thirty balls, some having their tops cut off by
a shell or cannon shot, and at short distances apart. Bragg
felled large trees across the roads to impede the pursuing artil
lery of Buell, and to blockade the roads to prevent Buell from
pressing his rear too severely. I have digressed a little but I
will return to our march first and the incidents afterwards.
We made a rapid march this day of eight miles in three
hours, for by half-past 11 o'clock A. M. we had reached the en
campment of the llth N. H. of our brigade, which has been
out here nearly four weeks, this camp is in Laurel county, Ky.,
near London. Just before we reached this camp we passed a
party of rebel prisoners who were on their way back to Lex
ington, Ky., they were as rough a looking set of bipeds as I

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ever saw. We are now at this writing, encamped here await
ing the arrival of the batteries of which I made mention in my
last letter that is to accompany us to Knoxville.
On Tuesday the 6th in consequence of the inability of pro
curing supplies sufficient to feed us, our daily rations were to
be considerably reduced, but the reduction has proved to be of
little or no loss to us, although some saving to the Government
stores, for the surrounding mountains abound in a species of
game that our boys have contrived to capture and apply to
their own behoof and use only, the game (commonly called
hogs and sheep,) roams about here apparently without any
owners, until after shot, then an owner of mushroon order
springs up as the case may be, but generally with the success
of getting off himself without being harmed, for the boys hold
on to their property by that wholesome law, the right of dis
covery.
Wednesday 7th. This was a rainy day and had rained all
night, making everything disagreeable and uncomfortable in
camp. We are still using the little shelter tents, but they afford
but a very poor protection against a dashing rain.
Thursday 8th cleared off cold, a large train of wagons camped
here to-day, having just come in from Knoxville, they left on
the 1st inst., and report everything going on as well as could
be wished for in front, excepting the wrhole army out here are
upon less than half rations. They report plenty of hogs be
tween here and Knoxville, but unfit for use, unless we carry
corn along to feed them a little, and also carry a little fat to
fry them in.
Friday 9th. The wagon train that came in yesterday is load
ing up with bituminous coal to be delivered at Crab Orchard.
I understand that there are immense fields of bituminous
coal in this region. There ig ample mineral wealth in this part
of Kentucky to induce capitalists to invest largely in develop
ing the hidden treasures that are known to exist here, but the
want of railroad to some market has deterred the formation of a
company or corporation from being organized. It wants a few
enterprising Pennsylvanians out here to show them how for
tunes are made.
More anon,
T. P. H.

The next letter of T. H. P. is dated from Knox
ville, Oct. 21st, 1863, as follows :

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KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE,
Oct. 21st, 1863.

Since writing my last we have reached this city and I will
now endeavor to give a graphic account of onr very toilsome
march. Just as I closed my last letter on Friday, the 9th inst.,
the two batteries that we had been waiting several days for,
arrived and orders were issued to be ready to break camp and
leave at noon of the next day, Saturday, 10th. According to
orders we left at the designated time, and with the 85th INI ass.
and the two batteries (regulars) we made quite a column. We
had to leave the llth N. H. at London to await the return of a
supply train, which had to go back to Crab Orchard for an
additional supply of rations, for the purpose of acting as a guard
to it on its way hither. We made ten miles this day and
camped for the night near Laurel Bridge, in Laurel county.
Here we found a few hogs running in apparently a wild state
and we appropriated them to our use for the inner man.
On Sunday, llth, we again broke camp and left at 7
o'clock A. M. This day we made nineteen miles over a very
mountainous road, at noon we halted at a roadside inn for half
an hour, here we had a good rest. We passed through the
town of Barboursville and camped about 5 p. M., on the banks
of that beautiful stream, the Cumberland river. On Monday,
12th, we left camp at 7| A. M., and made fourteen miles, forded
a river and camped in among the mountains at 8 o'clock in the
afternoon. On Tuesday, 13th, left the ford at 8 o'clock fore
noon, crossed three very high and steep mountains, and arrived
at Cumberland Gap at 2 P. M., in a drenching rain ; we made
fourteen miles this day and then camped. On Wednesday, 14th,
we again started at 8 o'clock A. M., we crossed Cumberland
Mountains at the Gap, where Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennes
see joins. The point of State limits is marked by a large square
corner stone cut out and put up for that purpose. It stands at
the top of the mountain, on one side of the road crossing the
mountain. We made fifteen miles this day and camped at the
town of Tazewell, Tenn. Rained all day.
Thursday, 15th. This day we had to lay over for supplies
to arrive, our rations having run out, and also the teams being
entirely out of forage, and had to go out a foraging to enable
them to subsist on forage obtained along the line of march.
The train having our supplies arrived at 4 p. M. Friday, 16th,
left Tazewell at 9 A. M. This day we made thirteen miles and

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forded the Clinch river, which was a most unpleasant duty I
assure you, for the water was very deep and icy cold, and the
river very wide with a swift current. On Saturday, 17th, left
the ford this morning at 8 o'clock, passed through Maynardsville, County-town of Union county, made fourteen miles this
day, and camped twenty-one miles from Knoxville. The first
seven miles of this day's march was on a road that had a creek
of water running over the bed of the road for the whole seven
miles. Sunday, 18th, rained very hard all day, mud knee deep
and the marching of the most disagreeable character, however,
we made seventeen miles and camped about 5 p. M., within
four miles of Knoxville. Just as we were pitching our tents
for the night we were surprised to see our beloved major, Wm.
J. Bolton, Capt. L. S. Hart, and W. P. Schall come riding
into camp, having just returned from home. They were
greeted with many a hearty shake of the hands and welcomes,
a crowd soon gathered around them to hear the news of the
election which evidently was highly satisfactory to almost
every soldier. While here we received a mail, being the first
mail received since leaving Crab Orchard. It was a mam
moth one, reminding the boys of the large mails we used to
receive after we left Camp Curtin in 1801. On Monday, 19th,
we left camp at 9 A. M., and arrived here at Knoxville at halfpast 10 A. M., and went into camp where we now are.
Last night about 8 o'clock we received orders to march again
this morning at 6 o'clock, with three days' rations and forty
rounds of ammunition to each man. Per order, we were nearly
ready to start this morning, when the order was countermanded,
to the gratification of all the troops, and especially to us, as we
had just came off' a long, wearisome march, and man}*" of the
boys are entirely barefooted. One man in Co. I inarched from
eighty to ninety miles, over rocky roads, without anything on
his feet, and if we have to go on another march before the
clothing arrives, there will be quite a number who will have to
trudge it barefooted. There is no blame to be attached to any
one for the misfortune, as it is one of those unavoidable mis
haps. When we left Crab Orchard, every man was well shod,
many of them having two pairs of shoes when we started ; but
it rained nearly every day, and between the gravel in the mud
and the sharp pointed rocks in the roads, with upwards of thirty
mountains to climb, it cut out shoe leather nearly as fast as if
held on a grindstone. The injury done to shoes in climbing so

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many mountains is plainly visible in the toes of the shoes ; while
the heels and balls of the shoes are good and very little worn,
the toes are cut off almost square for an inch and a half back.
The cause is produced by the men carrying heavy knapsacks
and other articles, that in climbing a mountain causes them to
lean very much forward, thereby throwing all their weight on
the toe of the shoes. Our regiment is in first-rate health, owing
no doubt to having a plentiful supply of the best of water while
on the march. The country abounds in great quantities of apples,
and all along the line of march the trees were loaded down
with this delicious fruit in every variety. Yesterday I took a
stroll through the city of Knoxville ; it is and has been a most
enterprising city. In time of peace it boasted of a population of
7, 000 white inhabitants. There are twelve or fourteen churches,
several banks, schools, machine shops, and foundries, several
furnaces for smelting iron, and various other works that employ
a large number of hands. It is the most beautiful city that I
have seen in any of the Southern States. Parson Brownlow is
here, and about starting his paper again. He passed us while
crossing the Cumberland mountains at the Gap, having, he said,
a new font of type in his carriage at the time. He is now very
busy in pointing out the more rabid secessionists to Gen. Burnside, who is taking care of them.
More anon,
T. H. P.

While the regiment lay at Winchester, Ky., Capt.
E. Schall, of Co. D, resigned his commission and
went home. He took with him a small black dog,
named " General." This dog had been in the regi
ment before its organization at Camp Curtin. When
brought there, he was under four weeks of age ; as
he got older, he grew in size and in the affections
of the men. He followed the fortunes of the 51st
P. V. from that time up to the resignation of his
master, in May, 1863. "General" was with the
regiment at the taking of Roanoke Island, Newbern,
Camden, second Bull Run, Chantilly, South Moun
tain, Antietam, Sulphur Springs, Fredericksburg,

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and in all the marches from Camp Curtin to Win
chester, Ky. When he returned to Norristown, Pa.,
it was only to enjoy life a few short months. A
notice of his death, which appeared in one of the
papers of that town, of October 20th, 1863, says :
"DEAD. — The dog 'General' departed last night from this
world. Quite a history is connected with his life. He joined
the 51st regiment at Harrisburg, (or we might say was impressed
into the service by 'Buglum' Taylor,) he followed the for
tunes of the regiment through North Carolina, Virginia, Mary
land, and Kentucky ; he passed safely through all the battles
fought by that regiment ; he was the pet of the regiment as well
as of the 2d brigade. It is supposed that he was poisoned, inas
much as no mark could be found on his body. It was evidently
the spite work of some malicious person. His remains were
placed in a neat little box, and buried in the corner of a yard.
A small marble stone, with suitable inscriptions, marks his
resting place."
Another dog followed in the fortunes of the 51st P. V., and
made quite a record for himself. He outdid his regiment in the
number of his battles ; in his long career in the regiment and
the large number of his fights he was never known to have
been whipped, although attacked sometimes by four or five
dogs, none of them as small as himself. His owner took him
home, as he was being worn out with age, hard fighting, and
the loss of his teeth. All will remember "Tinker" and his
master, Sergt. John McNulty, of Co. D.

The 51st P. Y. left Crab Orchard to reinforce the
army already in East Tennessee, and right lustily did
the column push forward to its duty ; but its assist
ance was not needed on its arrival, as the following
report of Gen. Burnside to Gen. Halleck will ex
plain :
"KNOXVILLE, TENN., Oct. llth.
"Major General H. W. Halleck, General-in-Chief, Washington:
' ' On the 8th inst. the enemy held down as far as Blue Springs,
and a cavalry brigade of ours held Bull's Gap, supported by a
small body of infantry at Morristown.
14 1 accordingly despatched a brigade of cavalry around by
Rogersville to intercept the enemy's retreat, and with a con
siderable body of infantry and artillery moved to Bull's Gap.

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KEGIMENT

44 On Saturday, the lOtli instant, I advanced a cavalry bri
gade to Blue Springs, where they found the enemy strongly
posted and offering a stubborn resistance.
44 Skirmishing continued until about 5 o'clock in the afternoon,
when I sent in a division of infantry, who charged and cleared
the woods, gallantly driving the enemy in confusion until dark.
44 During the night the enemy retreated precipitately, leaving
their dead on the field, and most of their wounded in our hands.
"His advance is now ten miles beyond Bristol.
44 Our loss
Blue wounded.
Springs and in the pursuit was about one
hundred
killedat and
" The enemy's loss was considerably greater.
44 About one hundred and fifty prisoners were taken.
44 A. E. BURNSIDE, Major General."

About the middle of October, 1868, Gen. Kosecrans was relieved of the command of the " Army of
the Cumberland" by Gen. Grant; this did not mate
rially affect the several regiments in the command,
more than to move them with greater celerity and at
an earlier period. The 2d brigade, 2d division, 9th
Army Corps, after reaching Tazewell, Tcim., pushed
on with perseverance to the end of its march, not be
cause its services were any more urgently needed, but
the change in commanders in chief caused the army
to be more centralized than it had been previously.
A dispatch to the ft Associated Press," announcing
the event, we give below :
. "GEN. ROSECRANS SUPERSEDED. — A dispatch, received at
one o'clock this morning from Louisville, announces the super
sedence of Gen. Roseerans by Gen. Grant, who assumes the
command of the armies of the Cumberland, and Ohio, and
Kentucky, with ample powers. Gen. Grant left for Nashville,
which will probably be his headquarters, yesterday morning, to
assume the direction of affairs at Chattanooga. Maj. Gen.
Thomas, the 4t obstinate fighter" at Chickamauga, takes com
mand of the Army of the Cumberland, and Gen. Rosecrans is
ordered to report at Cincinnati, by letter to the Adjutant-Gen
eral at Washington. Gens. Garfield and Steadman, of Rose
crans' staff, arrived at Louisville last night."

By another dispatch from the same source, it shows

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that Gen. Grant kept moving himself, which meant
that he intended all others to do the same thing, the
dispatch bearing the same date as the last one, Octo
ber 15, 1863:
" VICKSBUHG AFFAIRS. — Gen. McPherson, since the depar
ture of Gen. Grant, remains in command of the Union forces
south of the Arkansas river down to Gen. Crocker's line at
Natchez. Gen. Logan is the military governor of Yicksburg.
Joe Johnston is in command of all the rebel troops in the
vicinity, and is using every effort to raise a large army by
conscripting every man who comes in his reach."

The dispatch not only speaks of Gen. Grant's early
departure from Yicksburg, but gave the men of the
51st P. Y. an idea how things were going on in the
department where they had fought and suffered so
much. But, as we are again digressing, we will re
turn to the inarch.
The march from Crab Orchard to London (Post
Pitman) was accomplished by the 6th; the last eight
or nine miles were done in a hurry, inasmuch as the
35th Mass, was secretly racing with the 51st P. Y.,
and thinking they i^being raw troops) could march
as fast and long as older disciplined ones. But, to
their discredit (they being in the advance), in turning
an angle in the road, or when hidden by a dense
woods at almost every bend, they would double quick
along the road, until the advance of the 51st P. Y.
would come in view of their rear, when they would
assume the route step, as if they had been going at
that ordinary speed all the time. The men of the
51st caught the idea of what the 35th Mass, were
doing, and they put on a little more steam, with the
approbation of the regimental commander, Capt.
Bisbing. In fact, he entered into the race as heartily
as the men, and up to within three miles of the last

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REGIMENT

of that day's marcb, the 51st P. V. merely held their
own, pretending to be ignorant of the object of the
35th Mass. ; but on the starting in on the last three
miles, the two regiments being nearly a mile apart,
the 51st resolved to soon close up that gap. By the
time another one and a half miles were done, the 51st
were at their heels, hallooing and yelping like so
many hounds after a fox, for them to " push on," ' get
out of the way," &c. ; but they were nearly jaded out
by their exertions, and d— d one another for making
fools of themselves and being overdone. Nearly
one-half of their regiment ufell out," while the other
part, more persevering, seemed determined to get
to their camp ground before the 51st could to
theirs; but the 51st P. V., followed by the 51st N.
Y., pushed on through and around the ranks of the
35th, and were on their camp ground with " guns
stacked," before the 35th " filed in " from the road.
This race satisfied the 35th that green troops could
neither march faster nor longer than veterans; and
they never attempted to race again, either secretly
or openly.
After the 51st P. V. got into camp each man began
to " take account of stock," in sore feet, blisters, sore
nails, rubbed heels, &c., and found that they were
rich, indeed, but not quite as flush as their oppon
ents, the 35th were, for every step they took through
camp was performed in the most delicate style, some
thing similar to a person walking on thorns.
This camp was in a woods about one hundred
yards to the left of the road, going towards the "Gap,"
and it was as merry a camp as the regiment was
ever in. A sutler, belonging to Post Pitman, had a
goodly supply of " Bourbon," and it wasn't long be-

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fore the men had a full sufficiency, by paying $2.50
per bottle of less than a pint. The scene in camp
that night was ridiculous. Lieut.-Col. Schall, the
brigade commander, had his quarters a short dis
tance off', but the noise and disorderly conduct of a
certain few was plainly heard by him, and he visited
the camp in person to quell the disturbance. Seven
of the companies being under the command of ser
geants, little heed was paid by the men to their
threats or orders, and what few line officers were
present, although they endeavored to restore order,
seemed to enjoy the sport as much as any of the
men. As soon as they restored quiet in one place,
and got to where another noisy party was, the tu
mult would break out where they had just left ; thus
it kept them on the go, until they found their efforts
were fruitless, and gave it up, as no man was to be
found, on their appearance, who could or would tell
who the boisterous ones were ; and another thing,
the men knew their officers liked fun, and they sup
plied them with it freely; but when Col. Schall
came and complained, and appealed to their better
judgment, they instantly ceased their sport, not
through fear, but knowing him to be a strictly pious
man, and that such conduct wounded his feelings,
they, out of respect and reverence for him, brought
their revelry to an end for the night.
Next morning, an order was issued by Col. Schall
against shooting cattle, hogs, or sheep while lying
there ; but, with all their respect and reverence for
him, they could not brook that order, for their rations
were short, and they would not starve to please the
natives of that region, and before night nearly every
man was frying a nice piece of fresh pork or mutton.

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REGIMENT

On the 9th the regiment received orders to be
ready to leave by noon, of the 10th. Their long
stay at this place was occasioned by having to take
two very heavy batteries along with them, which
could not be got ready for the march any sooner ;
one of which was Benjamin's celebrated New York
brass battery of six twenty-pounder Parrott guns;
the other, Edwards' (regulars) six gun battery, of
twelve-pounders, Parrotts.
At 10 A. M. of Saturday, October 10th, the regi
ment struck tents and packed knapsacks prepara
tory to leaving Post Pitman, and precisely at 12 M. it
started off towards Laurel Bridge, where it arrived a
little before dark, and bivouacked for the night.
Soon after getting into quarters, the men began
hunting up fresh meat by shooting a few pigs and
sheep, much to the indignation of the citizens of the
neighborhood. A whiskey distillery was found at
this place, but every thing had been removed out of
sight of the Yankees. The proprietor had sixty
barrels of liquor stored away in the cellar of his
large mansion, but it was unknown to the brigade,
with the exception of two or three men whom an old
colored man had informed that he had helped to put
it there only a few days before. The next was a
hard day's march, being over a rugged and moun
tainous road, making about twenty miles. At noon,
the regiment halted for an hour and a-half at a pub
lic house that stood on the right side of the road ;
the hotel was closed, but the officers of the different
commands entered the rear of the house, and ob
tained their dinner, while the men were contriving
every scheme imaginable to obtain a little whiskey,
but with poor success. There was plenty of it, but

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it could not be found, as the knowing ones kept out
of the way. After the officers had done their din
ners, and showed the men a chance of getting theirs,
also a good rest, the regiment again started off, and
passed, at 5 P. M., through Barboursville, situated
on the Cumberland river, and, after fording it, en
camped about one and a-half miles from the town,
on the bank of the river, in a narrow strip of woods
on the right of the road, and about three hundred
yards from it, the artillery parking between the
regiment's camp and the road. The men belonging
to the infantry viewed with envy the plentiful sup
ply of rations which the batterymen had, while the
former had only a cracker and a cup of coffee for
their supper. Several privates belonging to the
51st P. V. were detailed to serve in Benjamin's bat
tery, to fill vacancies occasioned by deaths and dis
charges. These men served with Benjamin all
through the Tennessee campaign, and with marked
distinction. One of whom, John Dunn, of Co. D,
deserves especial mention. One of his great feats
will be mentioned in the attack on Fort Sanders
during the siege of Knoxville, which we will men
tion hereafter.
The next morning the regiment broke camp, left
the Cumberland, made fourteen miles that day, and
reforded the same river higher up. The bed of this
stream was rocky;. the submerged stones were as
slippery as ice, and not a few who were trying to
keep themselves dry by stepping from one stone to
another would slip and get a ducking in the icy cold
water that made them feel disagreeable for some
time thereafter. After fording the river, the regi
ment filed to the left of the road, passed an old

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HISTORY

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FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

building, climbed a steep acclivity, and went into
camp on this high hill at about 3J- P. M., which was
another act of kindness of the brigade commander,
Lieut.-Col. Schall, and it was appreciated by the
whole brigade, for it gave all the men who were
dripping and soaked to the skin from fording, a
chance to dry their clothing and their persons, and
by the huge fires they kindled their chattering teeth
and shivering limbs soon resumed their natural feel
ings of warmth.
The regiment left this place next morning, at 8
o'clock, (Tuesday, 13th,) filed down the hill to the
road where the column was forming, and immediately
started for the "Gap," in a cold, drizzling rain,
which, by noon, came down in torrents, making the
marching most abominable, and what added to the
painful labor was the crossing of the three very high
and rocky "knobs" of the Log Mountains, which
appeared to worry the men far more than crossing
the Cumberland Mountains, at the Gap ; their shoes
were filled with mud and gravel ; their clothing
heavy, and draggling with rain ; their scanty rations
unfit to eat by being soaked in rain water, and all
mashed up in their haversacks, and themselves shiv
ering with the cold. By 2 P. M. they reached the
base of the Cumberland Mountains, filed to the right
of the road, and camped in a meadow about three
miles from where the road began its ascent to the
Gap. It did not appear to be four hundred yards off',
from the fact that the great height of this mountain
makes it seem to be close, when, in reality, it is at
a great distance. After getting into camp, another
difficulty arose in the shape of want of fuel, it being
very scarce owing to the long occupation of that

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vicinity by the rebel army previous to the surrender
of the Gap, and to the Union army after getting
possession of it. What little could be found was so
water-soaked as to make ignition nearly impossible,
but before dark, camp-fires were all ablaze. While
some were making the fires, others were obliged to
forage for their supper. Some few were a little suc
cessful, but only a little, while the majority had to
make their supper entirely of stewed apples and
coffee. The apples were scrubby things, and we had
to go back three miles to get them. This was a
cheerless day and night to nearly all the officers and
men, and its influence was keenly felt next morning
in preparing the morning meal. Although it was
intended to start early, yet the rations were so short
that Col. Schall deemed it more prudent to show the
men a chance of foraging an hour or two for their
breakfast, which they did with a hearty good will,
but with poor success. He being unable to delay
longer the starting, at 8 A. M. the column was under
way, with empty stomachs and empty haversacks, to
cross the Cumberland Mountains at the Gap.
While at a halt, about two miles from the summit,
the Hon. Horace Maynard, U. S. Representative
from Tennessee, and a champion of the Union, passed
through the regiment, and proceeded up the road to
the Gap. When about half-way up, (being on foot,)
he stopped and faced the halted troops, evidently
wondering if there was strength enough in that little
band of heroes, which lay at his feet, to insure a safe
entrance for him back to his own beloved State
which had so recently driven him away, because he
had dared to stand up so nobly, with his compeer,
Parson Brownlow, in defence of the Union, and

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HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

against secession. No doubt he felt willing to risk
it, for after viewing the troops for ten or fifteen
minutes, he resumed his way, and we lost sight of
him until he got to Knoxville.
Parson Wm. Gr. Brownlow next came along, in a
two-horse carriage, accompanied by that intrepid
daughter who had dared to shoot down a rebel ser
geant on her father's door-step, while attempting to
force his way into the house for the purpose of
arresting the Parson. He seemed dejected at his
prospects, for he, too, like his friend Maynard, was
venturing back to the city of Knoxville, where
the " secesh " citizens had twice put the rope around
his neck to force him to renounce his Union senti
ments, and to link his fortune with theirs ; but even
with death staring him in the face, the brave old
man still stood up for his cherished principles, and
defied them to do their worst. He had a couple of
U. S. army- wagons at his service, which contained
his baggage and a new font of type, which he was
going to use, as he said, when he got back to his
home. He was told, perhaps he couldn't stay there,
when he replied " As long as Gen. Burnside remains
in the State, I am bound to stay, and when he leaves
I can tell better what I will do." Soon afterwards
the Parson passed on over the mountain, and reached
Knoxville in safety, where the secessionists would
as lief have seen his Satanic Majesty appear among
them as the Parson, for they had had their day, and
they now trembled in their blockade-running shoes
at the prospect that the Parson was about to have
his. They well knew he would retaliate with equal
severity, and justly, too; for no punishment could
he inflict on them that would more than compensate

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for their atrociously barbarous crimes, committed
on him by them ; for were the whole class of
secessionists and their sympathizers exterminated
from the face of the earth, seas of blood and millions
of treasure would have been saved to this most pre
cious Government, and the nation now would not be
groaning under such onerous taxation.
The regiment, after a good rest, ascended the
mountain in a drenching rain, but not so cold as the
day before, and reached the Gap at 10J A. M., where
it halted and viewed the fortifications that were now
in possession of the 23d Army Corps.
How a place, so strongly fortified by nature as
the Gap, could be taken under any circumstances
whatever except by regular siege (and then only by
starvation), was a mystery to all thinking military
men. After a halt for half an hour's rest, the regi
ment began to descend on the Tennessee side, and
marched on towards Tazewell, thirteen miles south
of the Gap, where it went into camp at 3 p. M.,
within half a mile of the town, on the right of the
road, close on the margin of a large pond, the ar
tillery parking on the opposite side of the road.
While here, an angry feeling sprung up between
the men of the 51st P. V. and the officers of the
batteries, which would have led to serious conse
quences had it not have been for the timely inter
ference of Lieut. Col. Schall. The artillery officers
had issued orders to their batterymen prohibiting
them from shooting anything like cattle, hogs, sheep,
or poultry, or molesting the property of any of the
citizens. Gen. Burnside had issued such prohibi
tory orders when he first entered the State, and
they were still in force, and were posted up all along

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HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY FIRST

REGIMENT

the line of march in Tennessee. But, hunger defies
orders and officers, and the result was the shooting
of a shoat by one of the 51st P. V. in the field
wherein the artillery was parked. The man was
arrested by a guard belonging to the battery, at the
command of the artillery officer — which officer,
legally, had a right to order the arrest, but,
morally, he had not; and in tLe latter light the
men viewed it, and were plotting a rescue, when
Lieut. Col. Schall was informed of the state of
affairs, and, as brigade commander, had the man set
at liberty ; arid things resumed their wonted tran
quillity. Lieut. Col. Schall never acted the part of
a tyrant in the enforcement of an order. When a
rigid order was to be enforced, he generally had it
enforced as strictly as any other commander, and at
the same time retained the affection of his com
mand, whether of a regiment or a brigade. He would
allow the men to forage for food when rations could
not be furnished by the government, even in con
flict with standing orders against such actions. He
could not see his command suffer for food when
plenty surrounded them, but was always careful
that the Union-loving citizens should suffer the least
by depredations committed by his men. The wagon
train arrived about an hour after the regiment, with
a scanty issue of rations, but no forage, and the
regiment had to lay over until the morning of the
16th, to give the forage train an opportunity to
gather forage sufficient for the remainder of the
march.

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CHAPTER

VIII.

415

An infuriated she-rebel — Clinch river — Maynardsville — A loyal
farmer — Return of Major Bolton — Arrival at Knoxville —
Misfortunes of a Glee-club— Correspondence — Loudon —
Retreat across the river — Grand leap of a locomotive — •
Taking up the pontoons — Flank movement of Gen. Longstreet — March to Lenoir Station — Leiper's Ferry — A brave
corporal — Letters to the Defender.

AFTER leaving the Gap about five miles in the
rear, Capt. Bisbing halted the regiment near an
apple orchard, to enable the men to fill their can
teens and to rest. About one hundred yards off to
the right of the road stood a long one-storied house.
This house was visited by some of the boys for the
purpose of getting something to eat. They found
the door fastened on the inside, and they were
unable to gain admittance in that way ; and sup
posing the denizens had " skedaddled," attempted to
seek ingress by a side-window. But, on peering in
at the window, they discovered a female within, at
least what proved to be a female afterwards, for she
did not appear to be anything short of Barnum's
" What is it ?" Her hair stood out in a mop that
nothing less than a bushel basket would encompass,
and looked like a large bundle of tow in color. Her
head certainly had not been combed since the re
bellion broke out. As soon as she discovered the
men at her window, she unbarred the door, seized
an axe, and rushed on them with the impetuosity of
a tigress. The boys vacated their position, " rallied
on the regiment " as their reserve, and entered into
a war of words with the termagant, in which they

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THE

FIFTY- FIRST

REGIMENT

came off only second-best. Her language was both
blasphemous and obscene, her voice shrill as a fife,
and with the uplifted axe she charged and re-charged
to drive the regiment from their resting place in the
road. When she found that they were Pennsylvariians, her ra?e knew no bounds, and she exhausted
the vocabulary of epithets on the Yankee "s — of
b — !" After leaving her premises, she still followed
after the regiment a short distance ; and at this time
the cause of her antipathy to the Pennsylvanians
was made manifest. It appears that her husband
was killed in battle in the fore part of the rebellion
by a Pennsylvania regiment, and the loss of her
husband had partly or wholly deprived her of her
reason, and she now was a raving maniac while in
sight of those whom she supposed was the cause of
all her trouble. How she managed to live, none
could tell. The rebel army had fed her while it
held the Gap, but now she refused all assistance
from the Unionists, either civilian or military. Her
appearance will be remembered by all who were
with the regiment that day, as also by thousands
who marched along that road afterwards, for she
attacked all who passed her house.
At 9 A. M., the regiment left camp and passed
through Tazewell, and took the road to the right or
east of the town for Knoxville. While passing
through Tazewell, a small Union flag was seen
hanging from a window of a house that was pointed
out as the residence of three sisters of Maj. Gen.
Kobert Patterson, of Philadelphia. Two of the
sisters were violent Secessionists, and the third was
an extreme Unionist; and it was this latter one that
had hung out tho Union flag.

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After leaving Tazewell about twelve miles in the
rear, the regiment was again compelled to ford the
Clinch or Tennessee river. This was a most dis
agreeable duty, being very near half a mile wide,
and very deep, but with a good bed for fording,
consisting of gravel and small rock. After crossing
the river, (which took a long time to accomplish, on
account of such slow progress being made in ford
ing a deep stream with a swift current,) the regi
ment filed to the left of the road, and encamped
about 4 P. M. in a small field in the rear of an old
barn. Next morning (the 17th) the regiment left
the ford at 8 o'clock, and had an exceedingly difficult
road to march over, it being a succession of hills.
For about seven miles our route lay in the bed of
a swift-running stream of uncertain depth — now not
more than a couple of inches deep, then, the next
step, knee-deep. After crossing this elevation, the
regiment passed through a small village, of which a
large saw-mill was the principal feature, called Maynardsville, the county-seat of Union county, and
proceeded about six miles further and went into camp
on a staunch Union man's farm, to the right of the
road, on the banks of a large creek of splendid
water. This man's property was under a "safe
guard," issued by Gen. Burnside. Consequently his
cattle, hogs, sheep, &c.; with which he was amply
supplied, suffered from no act of the 51st P. V., if we
except the shooting of a fine goose by one of the men,
who was ignorant of the existence of the safe-guard.
This farmer, who was well blest with this world's
goods, showed that he possessed a heart susceptible
of kindness, for when he heard the men complain of
having so little to eat, he gave them permission to

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REGIMENT

kill some of his sheep, which were in splendid con
dition, with the injunction not to kill more than
they would be able to consume, as he did not ap
prove (and justly too) of wasting that which would
be needed another day. The regiment had a good
supper that night, and without violating discipline ;
but the after part of the night was most cheerlessly
spent, for it began to rain, and the water ran in
under the tents rousing the sleepers to a sense of
their condition. Towards daylight the rain slack
ened a little, and the boys prepared their morning
rneal while they had a chance. At 7 A. M. of Sunday
(18th) the regiment left for another day of hard
marching — raining copiously all day, the roads in a
most horrid condition, the men's clothing dripping
wet, and the mud of such a soft, greasy, unctuous
nature, and almost knee- deep, that entirely baffles
description. Seventeen miles to be done in that
kind of roads, as they were all alike; but the men
persevered, and, only a few straggling, reached a flat
or meadow on the left of the road, bounded on one
side by a large creek, and within four miles of Knoxville, at 5 P. M. While laying out the camp-ground,
preparatory to pitching tents, the regiment was sur
prised at the appearance of three horsemen, who
were dashing up the road at full gallop towards
the camp, but, on a closer view, it was ascertained to
be Maj. Wm. J. Bolton, Capt. Lane S. Hart, and
Private Wm. P. Schall, who had just returned from
their homes. This acquisition to the number of
commissioned officers was hailed with delight, and
the men evinced a deal of pleasure in having their
old major with them once more. On the next morn
ing, at 9 A. M. of the 19th, the regiment took up the

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line of march to complete the task of one hundred
arid fifty-seven miles, which they succeeded -in doing
at 10J A. M. of the same morning, making the one
hundred and fifty-seven miles in precisely eighty two hours as follows:
Oct. 3d, 10 miles, 4 hours ; 3d, 7£ miles, 7 hours ; 4th, 11
miles, 5£ hours ; 5th, 8^ miles, 3 hours ; Oth, lay over until the
10th; 10th, 10 miles, 5 hours; llth, 19 miles, 8^ hours; 12th,
14 miles, 7| hours; 13th, 14 miles, 6 hours; 14th, 15 miles, 7
hours ; 15th, lay over until the 16th ; 16th, 13 miles, 8 hours ;
17th, 14 miles, 9 hours ; 18th, 17 miles, 10 hours ; 19th, 4 miles,
1| hours. Total, 157 miles in 82 hours.

To the casual reader this may not seem to be
much of a march, but to march one hundred and
fifty-seven miles in eighty two hours, climbing in
numerable mountains, fording deep, wide, and swiftcurrent rivers, and in muddy or on rocky roads, with
heavy rains just half the time, but sufficient to keep
the men dripping wet all the time. We think it a
remarkable march, inasmuch as the men were so
scantily rationed, and carrying heavy knapsacks,
two to three pieces of D'Abri tents, a gum and a
woollen blanket, plates, frying-pans, tin-cups, their
guns and accoutrements, making, on an average,
about sixty-one pounds for each man to carry, and
as such things always seem to get heavier the fur
ther they are carried, the weight appeared to be not
less than ninety or one hundred pounds by the time
the regiment arrived at Knoxville; arriving there
completely jaded out and very hungry, with a poorer
prospect than before of getting a full half-ration of
coffee, or hard-tack and coffee. The regiment en
camped in a field in the suburbs of the city, about
half a mile northwest of the East Tennessee and
Virginia Railroad depot. Soon after the tents were
pitched, the boys took a stroll through the city, and

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those who were the fortunate possessors of a few
"stamps" invested them in such things to eat as
could be found. The principal things were molasses,
corn meal, and tobacco, which were held at untold
prices. The molasses was sold at one dollar per
canteenf'ul ; corn meal at fifteen cents per pound ; and
only a very limited quantity could be obtained even
at those prices.
A few of the men of the regiment who had formed
themselves into a glee-club, made the acquaintance
of some of the Knoxville ladies, and spent an hour
or two the first night after their arrival in serenading
their new-made acquaintances by singing " When
this cruel war is over/' " Who will care for mother
now ?" and a number of others, until 2 A. M. of the
22d ; and again went into the city in the evening of
the same date and serenaded the fair ones once more ;
in fact, they had spent the most of the day in town^
and while there the regiment received marching
orders, to be ready to move in an hour and a half;
but of this the singers were ignorant, and at the
designated time for the regiment to leave, everything
was in readiness excepting the serenaders, who were
still absent. Their tentmates had packed up their
knapsacks, strapped on their blankets and laid all their
arms, accoutrements, and other property in a heap,
in case they returned in time to leave with the regi
ment — but no; the regiment left them, and they lost
guns and all else, for when they returned to the old
camp-ground everything had been carried off; and
thinking that some of their comrades had their arti
cles with them for safety, returned to the city to do
more serenading; but on their return to the regi
ment, they found themselves poor indeed! which no

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doubt served to teach them that a soldier has no
business to serenade all day and night, to the neglect
of his military duties.
On the 22d, the regiment left camp at Knoxville
at 3J P. M., and marched to the depot of the East
Tennessee and Virginia Kailroad, preparatory to em
barking for Loudon, Tennessee. The correspondent
of the Defender, " T. H. P.," gives the move in detail
as follows :
CAMP OF THE 51sT REG'T P. V.
OPPOSITE LOUDON, TENNESSEE, Oct. 26th, 1863.
Yesterday we were blessed with another mail, it being
the second one since we left Crab Orchard, Kentucky ; the
boys were glad of it, I assure you, for it seems as if we are
shut out now entirely from the world, everything around
"these diggings" is literally deserted, and nothing but tents,
teams, soldiers, and fortifications of immense strength meet
the eye in all directions. On Thursday, 22d inst., at two
o'clock P. M., we received orders to be ready to march from
Knoxville in one and a-half hours. In a few minutes after re
ceiving the orders, tents were struck, rations issued for three
days, forty rounds of ammunition to each man, and then all
were ready to leave ; but at the expiration of the time we were
still in camp, in fact we did not leave until six o'clock in the
evening, when we marched to the depot of the East Tennessee
and Virginia Railroad, to take the cars for this place ; but as
there were only cars enough to take the first brigade, we were
marched to the rear of the depot, stacked arms and laid on the
platform of the depot all night. At daybreak on Friday 23d,
it set in a cold, heavy rain, which continued without one
minute's abatement in its fury until Saturday morning. At
about eight o'clock A. M., on Friday, the cars returned for us,
but through the inflexible power of " red tape," we did not get
embarked. As soon as tl red tape " said all was ready, it was
discovered that the telegraph wires were cut somewhere be
tween the two points. A guard was immediately detailed and
put upon the engine and tender, which was uncoupled from
the train, and went a whizzing over the road on a voyage of
discovery, when within fifteen miles of Loudon, they found the

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wires clown, the chmage was repaired, and a despatch sent to
Knoxville to that effect. Another engine was fired up, head
quarters' baggage and horses loaded, and at half-past one p. M.
we were loaded. Companies A and F were more fortunate
than the rest of us, they obtaining a close-covered car, the re
mainder of us were loaded on trucks, and being without either
sides or roof we were kept standing in the cold, driving rain
until three o'clock, being but thinly clad, very few having
overcoats, and wet to the skin, we suffered terribly with the
cold. At the time the rations were issued for three days, it
was intended to serve us until Sunday night, but as they were
considerably less than half rations, some of the boys were
already out of "grub." Six crackers were the allowance for
the three days, and any ordinary man would have consumed
them in one day. Hunger began to gnaw the vitals of some,
making their cold and wet situation far from being pleasant.
At last the whistle blew and off we went, but not with the
speed of your lightning express train on the Pennsylvania
Central Railroad, but at about seven miles an hour. I think I
hear you say, that is slow travelling ! Well, it was slow, but
from what followed, I think we did " bully." The men on half
rations, the road in not quite half repair, the locomotive only
in half running order, and I believe it was, like the men, on
half rations of wood and water also, for it almost " stuck fast "
on every slight grade, in fact it did make a " stick " once on a
grade, and General Burnside, who was on the train with us,
told Lieutenant-Colonel Schall, who was and is in command
of the brigade, to get a dozen men off of each car to push the
train up the grade ; the men jumped off and put their
shoulders to the wheel, having the example set by General
Burnside in person, who was " leaning into it " like a " Georgia
Major," thinking, no doubt, that if he got stuck in the mud last
winter at Fredericksburg, that it should not go before this un
charitable world that he got stuck on railroad iron in Tennes
see. After a long push, a strong push, and a push altogether,
we got over the grade, and arrived at the end of our journey at
nine o'clock that night. We disembarked, amid the rain and
dark, in mud almost knee-deep, as near dead as alive, every
one shivering and shaking as with a fit of ague. Teeth chat
tering, and knees knocking together, like castinets, each one
found that under the circumstances that surrounded us that we
would have to make the best of the most disagreeable situa-

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tion, and therefore each one struck out on his own hook, as it
was impossible to form the regiment within the narrow limits
of the deep cut where we disembarked. The boys of the whole
brigade scattered and sought such shelter as they could best
obtain for the night. Next morning at daylight, the regiment
began to collect together around the quarters of Major Bolton
and Captain Bisbing, and pitched their tents ; about three
o'clock in the afternoon the regiment was formed, and we
moved to the side of a hill and went into regular camp, where
we now are.
AVe are lying on the east side of the Tennessee river, the
town of Loudon laying on the west bank of the river, almost
entirely surrounded by lofty heights, which are strongly forti
fied and commanding the town and surrounding country for a
great distance. There is a pontoon bridge laid across the
river that the rebels left behind them in their hurry to get
away. The railroad bridge, which spanned the river at this
point, they destroyed by fire when on their retreat. It was, no
doubt, a fine structure, it contained ten well-constructed piers,
which are nil that remain standing to mark the work of
peaceful times.
On Saturday, the rebels sent in a flag of truce, demanding
the town by three o'clock of that afternoon. General Burnside "couldn't see the point" and retained the flag of truce,
and sent out two pieces of artillery to answer for him ; a brisk
engagement ensued, and the rebels fell back to a small town,
Philadelphia. Some of your readers may question the propri
ety of keeping the flag of truce, but it was only paying the
same party back in their own coin ; for only a few nights ago,
Wolford, with his command of cavalry, were in a tight place,
and sent in a flag of truce to the rebels for some special pur
pose, when the rebs retained the flag of truce, and immediately
deployed their columns, and had him entirely surrounded be
fore he was aware of the coils so adroitly placed around him.
He (Wolford) soon perceived his situation, and, as one of his
own men told me, he told his men of the predicament that they
were in and all that was left for them to do, was " to do or die."
Some succeeded in cutting their way out, but about three hun
dred were captured ; and General Burnside merely retained
their flag of truce as an equivalent.
More Anon. T. II. P.

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An extract from a private letter, of which we give
below, confirms all that 1 correspondence, and reads almost as if one person
had written them both, but »s they were written by
two distinct persons, it shows how near the two
persons felt under the same circumstances, which is
but a type of the condition and feelings of the whole
regiment. It says :
" Last Thursday we left camp, but not Knoxville ; we
struck tents at two o'clock in the afternoon, but did not leave
till six, when we went to the depot to take the cars for some
where, twenty-eight or thirty miles southwest of Knoxville.
On arriving at the depot, there were no cars to take us, for
what few there was had loaded with Colonel Siegfried's brigade,
and we had to lie there all night on the platform of the depot,
without any shelter excepting the broad canopy of Heaven,
which wasn't tucked down around the edges, like mother used
to tuck the quilts in our little trundle bed, and the biting,
frosty wind didn't help to keep us any warmer. Before day
break on Friday, a heavy, cold rain set in, and kept raining
until last night. We all got wet to the skin while at the depot,
and being nearly naked, no tongue can tell what we suffered.
At one o'clock on Friday afternoon, we were loaded on the cars,
or rather trucks, fo*r they were cars only used for dirt and hauling
wood, being without either sides or coverings, and there we
had to stand and take it, until three o'clock, in the rain ; then
we started off, the cold and driving rain chilling us all to the
heart. Shame's sake kept many a one of us from shedding tears
in his distress. We arrived here at nine o'clock that night,
more dead than alive, our teeth chattering, and our knees knock
ing together like castinets, we were unloaded in a ditch, along
side of the track, in mud to the knees, and in a cut so deep and
narrow that only one man could walk between it and the cars ;
so every fellow had to look out for himself, and the result was
we all got lost from each other. My tentmate and I walked
about a mile in the mud and dark, until we found an old log
hut nearly ready to fall down, and in we went, made a huge
fire and dried our clothes. By two o'clock in the morning, we
lay down on some rails and went to sleep ; no, not to sleep, to
try to sleep, I mean. When daylight came, we left the old
house and went over on a high hill, made a fire, had a cup of
hot coffee, but nothing to eat, for on Thursday we drew rations
to last us until Sunday night, but as we got less than half
rations for that time, nearly every man w7as out by Friday
night. You ask what were we to do until to-night ? I will tell
you how we two did. I borrowed twenty-five cents, and Bill
went over to the town and bought five pounds of rye middlings,

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and I made a few cakes, so ice were all right. I saw one man
pay one dollar for a five cent loaf of bread, which he ate at
once. Well, the regiment did not get altogether until after sun
down yesterday. Burnside and his staff came along with us,
but they had a good comfortable passenger car. Yesterday,
Burnside kicked up a muss with the rebs before he ate his
breakfast, and they fought all day, up till dark, all around us,
but we did not get into the fight. He drove them back seven
miles, to a small town called Philadelphia, on the other side
of the Tennessee river.

On the arrival of the regiment at London, it dis
embarked, as above stated, in a ditch, in a deep cut,
at the terminus of the railroad track, which was
about one mile east of the railroad bridge, that
spanned, or had before its destruction, the Tennes
see river at Loudon ; but owing to the stormy night
and the dense darkness, it was impossible for the
regiment to form in line. The whole brigade was
so mixed, that the men gave up in despair of get
ting in their proper places that night, and all sought
such shelter as they could find, caring very little
about what became of them. As soon as daylight
of the next morning appeared, the men began to
hunt for the colors of their respective regiments,
and it was not until well on towards the middle of
the afternoon thnt all were gathered around their
regimental headquarters. Major Bolton, who was
now in command of the regiment, with Capt. Bisbing on his staff] formed his regiment and en
camped it on a suitable site only a short distance
from where it had disembarked the night before.
While the men were preparing places to pitch their
tents, it was found that the field was swarming with
rabbits, and the whole regiment dropped their axes
and hatchets to secure some of the game. Some
men in Companies G, H, K, and B, captured from
six to ten each by knocking them over with clubs
19*

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and stones. Nearly every man had one or two,
which helped them greatly to eke out their rations.
Our forces occupied the town of Loudon, which
lay on the west bank of the Tennessee river, and
was accessible by only a pontoon-bridge across the
river above the town. This bridge was laid by the
rebels, who were driven away from their position
by Burnside's furious attack on them, in which they
did not get time to destroy it. The beautiful tenarch railroad-bridge had been thoroughly destroyed
by the enemy some time previously, but did not get
all their cars away when they left. Nothing trans
pired, while lying opposite Loudon, until the night
of the 27th October, when orders were issued to be
readv to move at daylight. On the 28th instant,
at 5 A. M., the regiment formed in line and marched
down to the river where the pontoon was stretched
across, and filing to the right, parallel with the river,
drew up in line of battle facing the town. Specu
lation ran high as to what it all meant ; but soon
the object was discovered, which was the evacuation
of Loudon, and the destruction of all kinds of prop
erty that would render " aid and comfort to the
enemy." The engineers took possession of the pon
toon bridge, and as soon as the last man and last
mule had crossed it, the engineers "fell in" and
took up the boats, under the protection of the in
fantry, who were in line of battle in supporting dis
tance. Previous to taking up the bridge, a locomo
tive that was coupled to a number of cars standing
on the track in Loudon, was " fired-up" by order of
General Burnside, and as soon as there was enough
steam generated to move the train, it was turned on,
and the detail having charge of the job jumped off;

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and the whole thing moved away slowly, as if con
scious of its final fate. Having about two hundred
yards to run, and getting a full head of steam on, it
was running at a good rate of speed on its approach
to the fatal brink. The track ran out to the first
archway over the water, and ended abruptly at the
precipice, which was about one hundred feet high.
As the locomotive neared the spot, it seemed as if
the whole army was spell- bound, each one holding
his breath in anxiety. At last, the huge iron horse
reaches the end of the track and shoots over the
precipice, dragging its companions in misfortune
into the awful abyss below. A loud crash, and a
cloud of steam, told that the last job of evacuation
was completed ; and the wreck, nearly all of which
was engulfed from view, lay at the bottom of the
river ! After the pontoon boats were taken up, they
were conveyed to the end of the railroad track
where the regiment had disembarked in the deep
cut. They were then hauled up to the top of the
embankment of the cut, and the 51st P. Y. was de
tailed to load them on the cars, which occupied the
remainder of that day and nearly all of the next.
There were fifty -two of the largest size pontoon
boats, weighing near a ton each, and being un
wieldy, it was a " fatigue duty" that will be long
remembered by the regiment. After getting the
last boat loaded, we took up the line of march for
Lenoir Station, six miles from Loudon, on the
railroad from the hitter place to Knoxville. Here
the regiment went into carnp, with a prospect of re
maining for the winter. The 30th and 31st of this
month was occupied in fitting up our abode in a

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comfortable manner. It. was situated on the Holston
river, twenty-two miles west of Knoxville.
On the 1st of November, 1863, a detail of about
fifty-five men were sent up the Holston river six
miles to do picketing at Leiper's Ferry. This de
tail was under the command of Gapt. Gaulin and
Sergt. G. W. Patterson, Co. I, and Corpl. Levi
Ammons, of Co. H. On the night of the 2d, the
rebel pickets on the opposite side of the river, only
a few yards wide, fired into Corpl. Ammon's relief;
but the corporal was of a courageous nature, and
stood his ground with his little band of heroes like
a true soldier, and fought the enemy for twenty
minutes, when the rebels retired to their original
position.
The correspondent of the Defender gives another
letter which treats of the operations of the 51st P. V.
in detail, which we here insert :
CAMP OF THE 51sT REGT. P. Y.,
LENOIR, TENN., Nov. 2d, 18G3.
You see we have again changed our location since I wrote
my last. We left Loudon on the 29th ult., and marched to
this place, distant six miles from London. On the 28th ult.,
we evacuated the town and withdrew all of our forces to this
side of the Tennessee river. The pontoon bridge was taken up,
and we were detailed to load the boats on the cars, which was
done, and they were sent to Knoxville A locomotive and two
cars that were on the Loudon side of the river had to be de
stroyed, and accordingly the engine was fired up, and as soon
as enough steam had generated to put the locomotive and cars
in motion, they were started off to make their last trip. They
ran about two hundred yards to where the track ends at the
bridge, and made a final leap into the depths below of the Ten
nessee river, with a tremendous crash and a cloud of steam,
and all was over. It was a grand sight to those who beheld
it, and was witnessed by thousands of troops and citizens. I
cannot pretend to give any reason why Gen. Burnside evacu-

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ated the town, but as he is competent to lead an army lie is
likewise competent to determine what is the most sagacious.
Part of the regiment is on picket about six miles from here, at
Leiper's Ferry, on the Tennessee river. There are numerous
foraging parties going out daily, scouring the country around for
miles, and always return with wagons well filled with corn,
&c. It is a risky business sometimes, as our parties enter a
large cornfield on one side, the rebels enter on the other side,
in considerable force, for the purpose of capturing our men,
but they very seldom ever succeed in a capture. The corn
crop in this region is a good one, and as for team supplies
our force might forage here for a long time. Should we stay
here, as some suppose, we will remain here all winter. The
First Division has already commenced building log huts for
winter-quarters, and a few of our (Second) Division are prepar
ing also winter-quarters, but as usual this corps will not be per
mitted to lay long enough in one place to enjoy more than a
couple of days in comfortable quarters ; the Ninth Corps must
be kept moving, if it is only for the sake of depriving the men
of a little comfort ; but we can live anywhere, anyhow, or in
an}7" place ; therefore they can't put us wrong, if they try. Col.
Hartranft has not arrived here yet, but is looked for daily.
Lieut.-Col. Schall is still in command of the brigade. Major
Bolton is commanding the regiment ; 1st Lieut. Gillilan is acting
Adjutant; Sergt. Isaac Fizone, acting Sergt. -Major ; and a
more gentlemanly set of officers no regiment can boast of.
The weather here is of a peculiar kind ; I thought it rained in
Mississippi, when we were there, the easiest of anything in this
world, but down in that State it only rained when there were
clouds flying, but here it rains just any time at all, whether
there are clouds or not ; one hour it is clear and pleasant, the
next one the rain comes pouring down, and if you look up you
wonder where all the rain comes from ; and if it clouds up in
the old-fashioned style for a rain, it does it up brown, I tell you.
It never gets tired of raining then ; it only stops because its
supply of the aquatic fluid is cut off. The roads are in bad con
dition, and it is difficult for artillery to move, the soil being of
a loose nature, and the almost never-ceasing rains cause the
mud to be very deep. The face of the country is very hilly,
but well watered and of a fertile quality, producing splendid
crops of cereals as well as of the Chinese sugar-cane. Grazing
is not as extensive a business here as in Kentucky, but no one

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can doubt but it can be carried on as profitably in this State as
in any of the Union. There is every facility here for it— val
leys, hills, mountains, with splendid table-land, and well
watered in all sections. All that is needed now is Peace, and a
few enterprising capitalists to invest in natural resources of this
State that which will pay them a larger dividend than any in
vestment that can be found up North.
Furloughs are still granted, but with restrictions, subjecting
the men to a division court-martial if they don't report in per
son to their regiment at the expiration of their furlough. Sergt.
John Fair, of Co. C, will leave here in a few days for home —
he receiving a furlough for twenty-five days — and, as there is
no other going, to my knowledge, very soon again from here,
I mention his departure in case any one at home wished to
send any light parcels, such as letters, &c., to their friends in
the regiment, that, on his return, he will carry them.
While on dress parade a few nights ago, an address was read
to the regiment by Adj. Gillilan from the Ladies' Union Asso
ciation of Norristown, signed by Miss Annie Yerkes, &c. It
was received in the same spirit as it was penned, and, let me
assure ihe ladies of Norristown and its vicinity, that while the
noble old Fifty-first is absent doing battle for our glorious coun
try, that we are ever mindful of the generous impulses that
prompts their gentle hearts to hold us in fond remembrance for
our efforts to sustain our Government, and to throw the strong
arm of " the Constitution as it is " around them for protection
for all time to come ! God bless the ladies of Norristown !
More anon,
T. H. P.

The Defender being in possession of a number of
T. H. P.'s letters, notices them thus :
" None of our readers wrill fail, of course, to read the interest
ing letters of our Fifty-first correspondent. See how cheer
fully the soldiers in that regiment sustain the trials and suffer
ings they are almost continually exposed to. These letters
from Mr. Parker, in our paper, form a continuous history of the
51st regiment since they have been in the field. They will be
important to preserve for future use.
LENOIR, EASTERN TENNESSEE,
Nov. \Wi, 1863.
Here I sit in camp nearly solitary and alone. There are, as
you will remember, about fifty-five men up the Tennessee

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river, at Leiper's Ferry, doing picket and guard duty. Well,
this morning the reveille was beat at four o'clock, which is two
hours before daylight, and soon the camp was in busy prepara
tions of getting breakfast. At six o'clock the assembly was
beaten and the boys were soon " in harness." The companies
formed and marched out to the color line and the regiment
formed there and stacked arms, and the boys were then dis
missed with the injunction to be ready to " fall in" at a mo
ment's notice. Now you ask what all this meant ? I will tell
you as far as I can, correctly- In a day or two after we came
here from London, a number of men were detailed out of the
corps to make pontoon boats. Yesterday the boats were fin
ished and most of them hauled to the ferry at this post, and it
is the intention to lay a pontoon bridge across the Tennessee
river at this place to-day. The 1st brigade crossed the river
this morning about half-past six o'clock on the ferry flat boats,
and I am told, but how true I cannot say, that they found
plenty of rebels on the other side and also were fired into by
the rebels. At noon orders were issued for about a hundred
men to be detailed out of our regiment to cross the river. Ac
cordingly the detail, under command of Capt. Geo. W. Bisbing,
left and nearly cleaned out our regiment, being but very few fit
for duty that escaped the detail. The bridge at this writing
(two o'clock P. M.) is a little more than half across the river,
and it is confident!}7 expected that it will be completed by this
evening. The engineer corps and the workmen have not been
interfered with by the rebels as it was first supposed they
would be. As soon as the bridge is finished wagons will cross
for the purpose of foraging. A large number of Union citizens
who live on the other side of the river from here, but who are
necessarily for their own personal safety on this side, say that
there is full and plenty of hay and corn over there, while others
say that the rebels have foraged up to within a mile or two of
the river and have taken everything — hay, corn, cattle, sheep,
hogs, horses and mules, completely stripping the country and
citizens of every vestige of movable property, and at the same
time they drive eveiything Union outside of their lines into
ours, and the consequences are these : the aged, the sick, and
infirm, the young and all, have to seek a sheltering place be
neath some bush or in the woods within our lines and depend
on the cold charities of this uncharitable world for their sub
sistence, for they lose everything they possess in the world

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REGIMENT

at the hands of the rebels. The Union families who have been
driven out of rebeldom are to be seen in clusters of five to ten
persons all huddled up together trying to make the best of
their unfortunate situation in the woods and in the most utter
destitution, for even their clothing has been taken from them.
It is enough to make a callous person open his heart to sym
pathy to hear some of the tales of sufferings of these poor Union
women, to hear a mother with her unconscious infant in her
arms tell how she has travelled all night in the woods through
the cold storms, with her little ones at her side, fleeing from her
persecutors to seek a place of safety ; and how day after day,
and night after night, her little ones would cry for food and to
be kept warm, of which the first she could not give and the
last she dare not do, for if she would have kindled up a fire
the rising column of smoke from it would have betrayed her
whereabouts. Some may doubt the plausibility of the above,
or may say there may be a few isolated cases, but let them ask
the very many of the 51st Pennsylvania, who have so fre
quently of late been out foraging for miles around the country,
and have never came back to camp without meeting a large
number of cases of the above persecutions.
We have had severe cold weather for -these three last days,
freezing at nights very hard. The boys feel the cold very sen
sibly this autumn, for they put in the two former winters with
scarcely knowing that it was winter at the time, but we are
sadly in want of overcoats and there is no telling when they
will arrive here, as we have been expecting clothing for some
time past ; it certainly will come soon.
We have been busy putting up winter quarters for these few
days back, as it is supposed that we are to winter somewhere
around here in this God-forsaken region. I think it is likely
that a good number will winter here, if we stay six weeks here,
for it will be enough to kill one-half of the regiment off.
M.y individual opinion is that we cannot stay here this win
ter, even if the rebels will let us, for the roads from Kentucky
over the mountains will be impassable, as they are nearly so
now, and so far all the supplies that we receive have to come
over that road. We are put on quarter rations of coffee and
sugar already, and the quartermasters have had to issue flour
to us instead of crackers or soft bread, and how JBurnside is to
keep his army here on the extreme short rations that we have
been on for these three last weeks all winter will puzzle not a

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few. He certainly will have to do one of two things, viz.,
either fall back to the Gap or beyond it, or push his way down
the railroad and form a junction with J?osecrans at Chattanooga
and get his supplies via Nashville. Perhaps we may make a
haul on the other side of the river of a month or two of the
rebs' supplies, and should that be the case we then can stand
the winter very well. Our mails are somewhat deranged as
we are in the receipt of very light ones. We get one of these
light mails twice a week. I suppose one cause attributable to
the mails being small is, that the mail has to be transported
from Crab Orchard, Ky., to Knoxville, Tenn., a distance of
one hundred and fifty-seven miles, on pack mules, and as the
mail carrier hurries up his mules it cannot be that he overloads
his packers.
More anon,
T. H. P.
KNOXVILLE, Dec. 1th, 1808.
Ere these lines can possibly reach the reader's eye the scenes
and incidents to which they refer will have become old ; but
taking it for granted that special interest is manifested in the
51st, we indulge the hope that they will at least receive a hasty
perusal.
When, on the morning of the 12th of November, we com
menced laying the pontoon bridges across the Holston river,
at Lenoir, we little thought that in a few days the work of so
much labor, time and patience would be destroyed. Yet such
was the case. Ere any of the contemplated benefits could be
acquired, it was sunk in the deep waters of the Holston.
Shortly after midnight on the 14th, orders came into camp
to be ready to move at a moment's notice. At five o'clock
orders came to strike tents and load the officers' baggage.
This was quickly done, and the wagons were at once sent to
Knoxville.
The morning was wet, cold and cheerless. The regiment
having stacked arms, the men were gathered around the numer
ous fires waiting further orders. All was bustle and excite
ment around us. Our pickets on the other side of the river
had been attacked, and fell back to this side. The pontoon
bridge was destroyed, and the troops from London came pour
ing into Lenoir. There was everything to indicate a retreat.
But at 10 o'clock, Gen. Burnside arrived in a special train
from Knoxville, and soon thereafter there was a change of

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THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

movement. The troops that had just fallen back came to an
"about face," and again moved to the front. The 1st Divis
ion of the 9th Corps, too,- was sent forward. Batteries dashed
wildly down the road, and we certainly expected a battle in the
afternoon.
Our division remained fast, although momentarily expecting
orders to move. The falling rain made our situation far from
pleasant. Slowly the day passed, and night still found us on
our old camp ground. Wrapping our blankets around us we
laid down to sleep. Hardly, however, had we done so, ere a
most violent rain storm arose. You can well judge our con
dition at this time. But the storm gradually abating, we were
enabled to obtain some sleep.
At 2 o'clock on Sunday morning we were all aroused and
ordered under arms. "Shortly afterwards we moved off in the
direction of Loudon. The road was very bad, and the morn
ing being quite dark, made it extremely hard for us to get
along.
We arrived at Loudon shortly before daybreak. We moved
at once to the front, but, before reaching it, the order was
countermanded, and we fell back to the heights on the banks
of the Tennessee. There we stacked arms, and awaited the
orders of our officers. It soon became apparent that it was the
purpose of Gen. Burnside to fall back. This was evidenced by
our movements, as well as those of other divisions, and the
putting in position of our artillery. We could distinctly hear,
if not see, the rebel troops crossing the pontoon bridge. Slowly
our forces fell back, while our skirmishers engaged those of the
enemy. The sharp rattle of musketry and the loud roar of
cannon told us the enemy were pressing closely upon the heels
of our retiring army. As the rebels emerged from the woods,
the scene was exciting in the highest.
The 1st brigade of our division was sent forward and de
ployed as skirmishers to cover the retreat of the army, while
our brigade (the 2d) was held in reserve to support the 1st
should occasion require it. For neariy the whole day, our
skirmishers held the rebel advance in check, when it no longer
being prudent to remain, the order came to fall back. Throw
ing skirmishers to our left, we slowly moved back to Lenoir.
Here the men were furnished with five days' rations. With
barely time to cook their coffee, the line of march was again
taken up. Our brigade followed immediately in the rear of

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Benjamin's battery of twenty pound gnus. Of course the
laborous duty of helping it along devolved on us. The duty
was very severe, for the horses were nearly worn clown, and
the roads were in an awful condition. The whole long night,
amid the rain and dark, the poor soldiers toiled and labored as
men never did before. The cannon were dragged over the
steep hills and deep gullies by ropes, piece by piece, and when
daylight appeared we discovered that we were only three
miles from Lenoir— having made only three miles in twelve
hours. But we had gone over the worst part of the road, and
with the assistance of some mules our progress was more rapid.
We succeeded in reaching the point aimed at in time — and just
in time. The battery was saved thanks to the gallant men
who so nobly clung to it. l^he excellent service it rendered
afterwards fully compensated for all we did.
Few will forget that memorable night. How earnestly all
toiled to save the battery, and how well we remember the deep
solicitude of the commanding officers for its safety. The men
were wet, tired and foot-sore if not heart-sore, but they never
faltered or yielded to the discouragements surrounding them.
They bravely struggled on, and had the gratifying consolation
of saving the battery. What added interest to the occasion,
was the constant crack of the rifle, with now and then rapid
volleys of musketry, intermingled with the hideous yells of the
toe.
Monday, the 10th of November, the anniversary of our de
parture from Harrisburg, was destined to be another important
era in our history. For on this day was fought the battle of
Campbell Station. To reach this point it was we worked so
hard with the battery, in order to obtain possession of the road
leading to Kingston, so that the enemy could not get on our
front and flank. And we did not reach it any too soon, for it
was not long afterwards the enemy's skirmishers came swarm
ing down the road. Our division, under command of Col.
Hartranft, was in position on this road, and its peculiar duty
was to hold the enemy in check until the entire army at Lenoir
was up. It is enough to say the order was obeyed.
In the meanwhile Burnside had taken up his line of defence,
and as the troops came up he placed them in position. Our
division was on the extreme left. The enemy pressed closely
on the heels of our forces, shouting fiercely as they advanced.
Their skirmishers approached to within a few hundred yards

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OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

of our line of battle. Soon in line of battle their infantry
advanced, and although our batteries opened with rapidity and
precision, yet they moved on until they reached a deep ravine
in our front. Our skirmishers along the whole line were en
gaging the enemy's skirmishers. Soon the rebels put in
position their "White Horse battery," which rained shell and
solid shot upon us. However our guns soon silenced it. But
other positions were taken up, and other batteries joined it, so
that the artillery jluel was quite lively. Their infantry was
eagerly seeking to turn our flanks, but our position was such
an admirable one, that it was no easy task for the enemy to
succeed. Toward evening the army fell back to another height.
This was done in excellent order —without haste or confusion.
Our regiment which covered the flank of our division, and was
deployed as skirmishers along the edge of a w^oods, fell slowly
back by the left flank. As they thus fell back the enemy com
menced a vigorous shelling upon them, many of the shells fall
ing and exploding in their very midst.
When the height was reached, we again were placed in
position, and awaited the further movements of the enemy.
We did not have to wait long, for on a high commanding hill
to our left, the enemy in strong force appeared. To plant
three twenty-pound guns, and shell the hill was the work of a
moment. That hill was soon cleared, and it relieved the
anxiety of all. However, as soon as the firing ceased the
rebels again appeared.
But it was getting dark, and we were glad of it, for it de
prived the enemy of the opportunity to outflank us, which so
many feared. The order to retire came as darkness was settling
over us. Stopping a short distance beyond the field of battle,
to obtain ammunition, we took up the line of march for Knoxville.
I have not here attempted to give a description of the battle
of Campbell Station. I have merely referred to the general
movements — without going into details. Time will not permit
an extended reference just now. It was, however, the most
beautiful battle — if the term beautiful is allowable — we ever
witnessed. Every movement of the enemy as well as of our own
was spread out boldly before the naked eye. The line of skir
mishers, the line of battle, advancing steadily and compactly,
the position of batteries, now limbering and rapidly dashing to
some other point, opened out before us like some grand panor-

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ama. The bursting shells, the loud roar of artillery and the
quick rushing clash of small arms only heightened the interest
of the occasion. It was, indeed, a grand spectacle, which is
not often witnessed, and once seen can never be forgotten.
I will not stop to speak of the long night's march; the
streams we crossed, waist deep ; the terrible roads and the
deep, deep mud. It was a hard and wearisome march. Some
of the men were barefooted, and all were tired and much ex
hausted. This was the third night we had no sleep, and the
want of it told fearfully upon us. Many would fall asleep the
moment the column halted ; and as for the officers mounted, it
was nowise strange to see their horses plodding along with
their riders fast asleep.
'We reached Knoxville early in the morning. After enjoying
a short rest, the division was assigned its position in the defence
of Knoxville. A skirmish line was immediately established in
our front, and the work of fortifying our position commenced.
There was much to do, but the men went at it with that spirit
and activity which has ever characterized them.
The enemy had been to severely punished at Campbell Sta
tion that they did not follow us with their usual vigor, and thus
time was afforded us to strengthen our position. Our skirmish
line, too, was so strengthened that they could only dislodge it
by an advance in force. In this way we were enabled to so
fortify ourselves that when they did drive in our skirmish line
on the left, we were in a condition to receive an assault when
ever the enemy should see fit to deliver it.
When first we fell back to Knoxville, I confess, the prospect
of holding out against Longstreet was far from favorable, but
as each day passed, and our position was strengthened and
supplies accumulated, so did our confidence increase in our
ability to maintain ourselves. True, the duty each soldier was
called upon to perform was of the severest character, yet it was
cheerfully performed ; u school kept all the time" — there were
no recesses, no hours for play. If the men were not on the
skirmish line, they were in the trenches, or working on the
fortifications.
But here I must stop. The letter is already too long, and
besides I am informed that your valuable correspondent, T. 11.
P., has written a very full history of the siege, which I am sure
will prove more interesting than anything I could possibly wrjte.
Yours, etc.

438

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

CHAPTER

REGIMENT

IX.

Foraging — Address from Ladies' Loyal League at Norristown,
Pa. — Reply by Major Bolton — Building pontoons — Laying
the bridge — Re-enlistment proposed — Newspaper extracts
and correspondence — Description of the Winter campaignCharacter and efficiency of the Union and Rebel armies con
trasted — Material composing the 9th Army Corps and the
23d Army Corps — Return of officers from home.

For the first few days of the 51st P. V.'s being at
Lenoir it was highly necessary to send out all the
teams into the surrounding country to forage for
supplies for the use of the team, artillery, and
officers' horses. A detail of five or six men to each
wagon was made to accompany them as guards,
and to assist in loading. They started early in the
mornings and returned at night; the wagons well
laden with corn, etc., and occasionally a hog or a
sheep was stowed away beneath the load to prevent
detection, as that kind of foraging was strictly for
bidden.
The greatest trouble that the regiment now expe
rienced was in the want of clothing, although on
scant half rations the men could, would, and DID steal
enough to keep them from starving; but clothing
could only be obtained through the regular channel,
namely, the quartermaster's department.
The nights were now becoming wintry cold ; and
so much rain falling, the men suffered terribly for
shoes, overcoats, and blankets. Major Wm. J. Bolton
received an address from the "Ladies' Loyal League,"
of Montgomery county, Pa., to the 51st P. V., and
was read on dress parade, two days before the regi-

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merit left Loudon. It was received by a hearty
amen ! by all the officers and men who were present.
The Major, who was as strong a Union man as he
was a brave and true soldier, replied in a spirited
style that mast have made a few of those hide their
heads in shame who had the audacity to rob the 51st
P. V. of their hard earned laurels, or at least endeav
ored to tarnish its bright escutcheon. Major Bolton
cared very little for himself, but when the regiment
was assailed he hissed in their ears: "Don't dare
tread on me !" and he possessed the right kind of
courage to carry that warning through. It must
not be considered that the major was fighting a po
litical battle, for he honored all men's political opin
ions that were of a loyal character ; for there were
Democrats that held high positions in the army that
were enthusiastic Union men, commonly called War
Democrats. Such persons, in civil or military life,
were both honored and appreciated by the Major;
but it was the Copperhead wing, or the peace-at anyprice party; the men who "threw up their sweaty
night-caps," and wore a smile of satisfaction every
time that victory perched on the banners of the rebel
confederacy and the starry flag of the Union was
trailed in the dust, or when a fresh batch of battlescarred veterans of the Union army were consigned
to those pens worse than the Black Hole of Calcutta
— I mean Anderson ville, Belle-Isle, and Libby Prison.
These, these were the men that Major Bolton was
fighting both at home and in the field.
The following is Major Bolton's reply to the
Women's Loyal League of Montgomery county :
" LADIES :— Your congratulatory address to the officers and
men of the 51st Regt. P. V. was received, and read before the

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REGIMENT

regiment on dress-parade, near London, Tenn., October 27th.
In behalf of the regiment, I would return to you their heartfelt
thanks for your kind and friendly consideration of them, who
have perilled their lives and health for their country's honor.
While you acknowledge our many deeds, the hardships and
toils incident to the soldier's life, there are others, as you have
truly said, in your community, who call themselves men, who
are base enough to rob the soldier of his well-earned fame, and
place him lower than the common slave. They don't stop at
that, they use every and any means to embarrass the Govern
ment that protects and feeds them ; anything, I say, except the
more manly part of taking arms to destroy our country, to de
base the broad Stripes and bright Stars in the glory of national
ensigns, and to render the proud title of American citizens, 'a
hissing and a scorn among the nations.' Do they stop there ?
No, they publicly proclaim in your streets, and in your public
places, and do it boastingly — men who are known, and of
whom better things should be expected, that the 51st Regt.
P. V. has never done anything — a regiment commanded and
led by one of your noblest and bravest citizens. Ladies, you
have addressed the wrong organization, you have given honor
when honor is not due, or those men are malicious liars, and
must account for their vile slander. Must twenty-rive longmonths, travelling thousands of miles by sea and laud, footsore
and wornout, and the participation in a dozen hard-fought
battles, be a blank in our history ? Must the rich blood, shed
by your own townsmen, be lost in vain ?
u Ah ! let the cripples who still survive — let the disfigured
forms and haggard faces speak. Oh more ! let the poor widows
and orphans ot your town and county answer that infamous
charge. Ah ! still more. Let those noble spirits, who sleep
in honored graves, beneath the pines of Roanoke. the seawashed shores of Carolina, the sacred soil of Virginia, the
mountain tops and valleys of Maryland, the beautiful blue grass
region of old Kentucky, and the far-distant magnolia of Missis
sippi, let their noble spirits rise from their green mounds and
answer that unkind charge.
"As soldiers, as lovers of our country, we claim, we ask for
no merit. It is our unflinching duly as fieemen and true lovers
of human rights, to defend our common country, right, or
icrong. He who would not fight for his country and stand by
it deserves none. We are fighting for one Union, and one
people to defend it, and as God is just, we will accomplish our
end, or die in the attempt.
1 ' Ladies of the Women's Loyal League ! Women of America !
you have done much, your devotion to your country and your
countrymen, has been unbounded. You could be found upon
the battle-field, bandaging the ghastly wounds and moisten
ing the parched lips of the fainting soldier. In the hospital
you could be found administering to your dying countrymen,
and speaking words of kindness to him in his last earthly
moments. Yet there is still more for you to do. A great re
sponsibility rests upon your shoulders, but you are able for the
task.

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" War is a necessary evil ! it may, and it, will come upon us
again. This generation is fast passing away. War, disease,
toils, and hardships have weakened the nation. We are but
passing shadows ; soon we will have fought our last battle ;
soon must the youth of our land take our places, than how
necessary it is for you to teach them in their early years to
love their country, to fight and defend her right or wrong,
never to fear death in a just cause, but rather fear dishonor.
Teach them what treason and treachery have brought upon
this country ; point them to the infamous deeds of Davis, Lee,
Cobb, Yancey, Mason, and a host of others ; warn them from
following such a course ; imbue in their youthful minds to be
true to their country in all cases ; to submit to the will of the
majority ; not to commit one act, by word or deed, against
their country or government, or otherwise they will he sure to
go down
dishonorable
graves.
For noble
'examples
them
to a toBanks,
a Burnside,
a Butler,
a Lyon,
and the point
gal
lant, the noble, the patriotic Gen. Jesse L. Reno, whose brave
heart dared to lead where brave men dared to follow.
" And when this cruel, this unjust, this unholy war, waged
against one of the best governments ever formed by man, or
the sun ever shone upon, by a portion of her unworthy people
in human shape, shall have been ended, the bells of the nation
shall chime forth their sweet peals of music from the Canadas
to the Gulf, from ocean to ocean, proclaiming to the whole
world that right has triumphed over treason, and that our land
has been blessed with peace. For the noble self-sacrificing
part you have taken must gladden the hearts of the philan
thropists, and in after times will challenge the admiration of the
historian, and the wonder of posterity.
"And when your countrymen shall have returned home to
the scenes of their childhood and youth, and to the fond affec
tions of their relatives and friends, know ye, then, that they
have returned with the full knowledge and bright consolation
that they have, with their blood, the lives of their companions,
and their strong arms, restored this government, and with the
regeneration she will stand forth purer, stronger, nobler than
ever ; and we will return with a flag pure and untarnished,
and indeed the flag of the free, or return not at all.
"Thanking you heartily for your kind remembrance and
notice of us in our feeble efforts to restore our country, we can
assure you that the reputation of the Old Keystone State has
not, and shall not suffer at our hands, and with a humble,
fervent prayer that the God of battles, the Supreme Ruler and
Director of all good, will achieve to our arms a speedy and a
lasting peace— one that will not degrade us before the world,
but make us one and all, happy with the thought— domestic
insurrections— bogus neutrality, ' Don't dare tread on me ! '
" 1 am, Ladies,
" Most truly and respectfully yours,
"W. JORDON BOLTON,
' ' M(tjnr Oommn
20

rt cling Rf-ff^ t. "

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HISTORY

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REGIMENT

On the 3d of November an order came into carnp
for a detail of all the carpenters in the regiment to
report at the saw-mill of Mr. Lenoir, proprietor of
"Lenoir station." This detail was immediately fur
nished, and the men set to work in getting out lum
ber to make pontoon boats to put a bridge across
the Holston river, about one hundred yards west of
where the 51st P. V. was encamped, for the purpose
of having more extensive foraging ground. That
side of the river was reported wealthy in forage of
all kinds, which was fully confirmed by the loyal
refugees who had resided there, but were forced to
be on the side of the river with the Union army for
protection, as the rebels were conscripting and im
pressing everything in pants that could handle a
gun, whether loyal or disloyal. Flat boats of small
capacity were at the Lenoir ferry, and a few men of
the 51st P. Y. had ventured over to the opposite
side, and seen enough to confirm the statement.
While the carpenters were building the boats a detail
of about thirty men were put to work under the
command of Capt. Bisbing, who was acting major
of the regiment at that time, to excavate and level
the ground, so wagons could approach and get on
and off the bridge, when laid. This fatigue duty
was continued day and night, and was not completed
till after the force had been increased to over one
hundred men, which was the day before the boats
were ready to be laid. Eight days were occupied in
digging away the bank of the river, which was about
fifteen feet above water level. This cut was about
fourteen feet deep, twenty wide at the top and fifteen
at the bottom, and about four hundred feet long from
the water to the entrance of the cut. This job was

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all done by the 51st P. V. alone, and non-commis
sioned officers as well as the privates took their
turn with the shovel and pick ; even the commis
sioned officers did not stand idle and look on, but
took the pick or shovel, and evinced their interest
in the work by doing a share of it. By 12 o'clock
at night of the llth, the work was completed and
the boats also, and hauled to the river. Everything
now being ready for putting down the bridge, the
men all returned to camp, excepting a few who were
left as pickets, to enjoy a few hours rest. About 4
o'clock in the morning of the 12th, the whole division
was aroused by the reveille, and the men being
ignorant of the cause of its being beaten, sprang to
their feet, and out of their tents to inquire " What's
up," but as nothing unusual appeared, most of them
laid down again, for they were tired out with hard
work of the last eight days and nights. At 5 A. M.
Sergt. Fizorie, who was acting sergeant-major of the
regiment, went around to all the companies and
notified them to get up and get their breakfast, as
they only had half an hour to get it in. At six
o'clock, which was scarce daylight, the "assembly"
was beaten, and the regiment formed on the color
line, stacked arms, and "broke ranks," with the
injunction to be ready to "fall in at a moment's no
tice." Soon an order came in for Maj. Bolton to
furnish a detail of one hundred men, fully armed and
equipped, to cross the river to protect the engineer
corps and workmen in laying the bridge. The detail
was put under the command of Capt. Bisbing, and
after leaving the camp there was not over ten men,
except non-commissioned officers, left in camp.
Nothing of special interest occurred while the bridge

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HISTORY

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FIFTY-FIKST

REGIMENT

was being laid, as the rebels did not show themselves
to interfere in the work, and by night the bridge
was completed, and Capt. Bisbing with his com
mand returned to carnp in safety. Eations now con
tinued scarce and the men complained bitterly of the
way they were treated — nearly naked, more than
half-starved, and worn out with fatigue, and " regular
duty." Below we give an extract of a private letter,
dated from Lenoir:
" * * * * * * Yesterday being the last of the month,
we were mustered again for two months' pay. *****
It is lair to presume that we will be paid off in a few days. I
hope so, for we are suffering very much for tobacco and some
thing to eat. * * * * Since I last wrote to you we have
been knocked about from post to pillar — one day we drive the
rebels, and the next they drive us — and they keep us on the
watch both day and night. Day before yesterday our cavalry
six miles
river,about
the Holston
ferry, onthem,
fight atTheLeiper's
had a here.
forty
and we sent
rebs whipped
from
or fifty men up there out of our regiment. They are still there,
I believe* holding their ground. In the middle of that night
(Friday) the long roll was beaten ; the rain pouied in torrents,
and the night was tremendous dark, yet we all fell in line of
battle, expecting a midnight attack; but after waiting an hour
or so, we found that we could go back to our tents, as nothing
serious was known to exist — but we had to hold ourselves in
readiness in case we were wanted. * * * * Bnrnside has
removed his headquarters back to Knoxville. I don't see how
he is to keep us here, for there is no way of getting supplies to
us only by wagons. Some of the regiments are on one-quarter
rations, and we are on less than half ratiors We drew half
rations of coffee, one-third rations of sugar, (i. e., one day's.)
to last three, half a spoonful of salt, a one pound loaf of heavy
bread for three days, with a little piece of fresh beef. I am
afraid we will have to fall back to Kentucky, or pitch into the
rebels in earnest, and try to get railroad communication opened
to Chattanooga, and then we may get a little more to eat. If
Bill Bolton had his way, he would either have something for
us to eat or get us a devil of a licking in trying for it."

While preparing to lay the pontoons an offer was
made to the Ninth Corps of $402 as a bounty to each
man that would re-enlist. This was not received at
first very favorably by the 51st P. V., for they were

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afraid that to re-enlist was only making it appear
that they were satisfied with their treatment in this
Department, in which they expected they would be re
tained if they re-enlisted. The order was thoroughly
discussed, but not a man had expressed a willingness
to put down his name. The first mention made of
re-enlistment was on the 30th of October, 1863, but
attracted very little attention and still less of credit,
for it had not been given officially to the 51st P. V.
The circumstances attending it began to die out for the
need of explanations ; there being nothing definite
known about it, it was looked upon as " camp talk."
The following letters to the Defender give a his
tory of the doings of the 51st, from the laying of the
bridge up to date :
CAMP OF THE 51 ST REGT. P. V.
December 22d, 1863.

" Corporal Longstreet," as our boys call him, lias been med
dling with our affairs here now for the last four or five weeks,
so that our mail operations have been somewhat interrupted,
and leaves me with several weeks' correspondence to forward
to your valuable sheet. I shall not attempt to apologize, for I
am satisfied that your many readers know, long ere this, that
a cog had broken out of the wheel of our marching machine,
and we were shut up in the city of Knoxville to make good the
damage done. Since I wrote my last to you, the 51st has
passed through an ordeal that far surpasses anything that took
place in the " iron days of '76," or, " the days that tried men's
souls." All that our forefathers suffered in those days the
51st have borne, and suffered with tenfold more severity.
Hunger, cold, fatigue, and mental anguish has far exceeded
anything in the annals of American Revolutionary history ;
but we are amply repaid for our sufferings by a most glorious
victory achieved over the legion of rebels who threatened at
one time to overwhelm us by largely superior numbers, who
had besieged us for eighteen days in the city of Knoxville.
Our work began at the completion of the pontoon bridge, laid
at Lenoir.

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HISTORY

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THE

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REGIMENT

On Thursday, 12th of November, we finished laying the
pontoon, and our regiment was engaged all day and night in
cutting down the river bank for a road, so that our wagon train
could cross the river for forage. The next day, Friday, was a
day of rest, but it was not to continue, for, as I told you in my
last letter, the Ninth Corps must be forever on the move, if it
is only for the sake of moving ; but this time it was an impor
tant movement.
On Saturday morning, the 14th ult., at half past three o'clock,
orders were issued to be ready to strike tents at a moment's
notice. Soon our camp was the scene of busy preparation —
breaking up camp and the putting in order all the paraphernalia
of war — knapsacks packed, breakfast over, and everything
accomplished in an incredibly short space of time. At 6 o'clock
A. M. tents were struck, and we immediately formed on the color
side and stacked arms, and were dismissed by Maj. Bolton,
with the injunction to be ready to fall in at a moment's notice.
A cold rain had set in about daybreak, and it continued
throughout that day and night. Our situation was of a char
acter not to be envied, but, on the contrary, to be pitied ; for
there we sat until dark, in the pitiless peltings of a cold north
east winter rain, saturated to the skin and hungry. At dark
we broke the line of stacks, and again pitched our tents for
the nonce, with the orders as usual to be ready to fall in at
a moment's notice, but we might have remained out in the rain
and cold for all the comfort we derived from our wet and
cheerless tents; for with wet clothing, (none of us had any
change,) our blankets dripping, streams of water running under
the tents, and a piercing cold wind driving the rain completely
through our little shelter tents, made it rather too uninviting
for the god of sleep, Morpheus, to dwell with us that night,
consequently very few, if any, got any sleep at all, although
we had none for the previous forty eight hours, on account
of working at the bridge. On Sunday morning, the 15th, at
2 o'clock, we struck tents again, amid a most drenching rain,
and started off on a march to London. The night being dark
and rainy, the roads rugged, and knee-deep with mud — the
mud being of an unctuous nature, it was not an uncommon
thing for a dozen at a time to slip down and find themselves
floundering in the mire like a fresh-caught fish on the rivulet's
bank. We reached our destination at dawn of day, and to our
surprise we found that Longstreet had laid a pontoon bridge

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across the Tennessee river, about seven miles below London,
and had crossed over in overwhelming force. Skirmishers
were immediately deployed, and the measures necessary been
taken for a battle. A few minutes after the deployment, the
enemy's skirmishers were met, and heavy skirmishing ensued,
but as they pressed on us in such heavy odds, we gradually
fell back in good order, and with very trifling loss. About
10 o'clock A. M. the 51st deployed as skirmishers, and skirm
ished over hill and dale to within a short distance of Lenoir,
where we arrived a little before dark. We then halted to draw
rations, many of us not having tasted a morsel of food since
the day before. At our camping-ground where we made the
halt, we found the wagon and ambulance trains were all stuck
fast in the mud in the rear, which was blocked up for a great
distance ahead, retarding our retreat very much, as the enemy
would take every advantage of our predicament. The rebels
were close on our heels, and were doing their utmost to flank
us, so as to cut off our retreat to Knoxville. They had got
near enough to fire on our old camp at the teams, that were
there waiting to move on. While at Lenoir, the spirits of the
men comprising the 2d Division were raised to the highest
pitch of enthusiasm by the appearance of Col. Hartranft. His
presence seemed to inspire every man with unlimited confi
dence, for let us get into any tight place, if "old Johnny,"
as the boys call him, is only with us, we all feel that we are
going to be " put through" at least honorably, if not as com
fortably as may be desired. To our gratification he assumed
command of the 2d Division, and then we feared no blunder ;
and we also knew we had a soldier that could and would do
his duty, and make every other man do the same.
As soon as we drew our rations we started for Knoxville, at
(5 P. M. Our progress was slow, for up to 0 o'clock A. M. of
Monday, we had only made three miles ; such was the bad
condition of the roads that wagons, ambulances, and the artil
lery had all to be extricated by the aid of the soldiers pulling
them through the mud. And thus we spent twelve hours in
going three miles. The rebs were all this time firing on our
left, and pressing us very hard. On Monday, the 16th, after
daybreak, we were able to pick our road. When within a
mile or two of Campbell's station, on the Knoxville and East
Tennessee railroad, the rebs fired on our rear guard. Near
this point the Kingston road joins the Loudon road, and both

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HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

the rebels and us were pushing hard to gain the forks of the
roads — the}* to get it to cut us off, and we to get it to keep
them from flanking us. Both parties were about at equal dis
tances, but we were the successful party. When the 51st
reached this point we formed line of battle and met them.
Here the battle raged fearfully for about an hour — we strug
gling to hold our position long enough to give our batteries a
chance to obtain positions suitable for their work, and the
rebels, determined to drive us from the roads, began to pour
their troops upon us in untold numbers. Here at this place
we had several wounded, but none seriously. After our bat
teries had secured good positions, we then fell back, under
cover of Benjamin's celebrated 20-p mnders, which opened
on the enemy in splendid style when we reached the hill
whereon the battery was placed.
The most magnificent sights now appeared to view that has
ever befallen men to witness. It was a most fitting place for
such a struggle. As we stood in line of battle on the brow of a
gently sloping hill, we had a view of the whole battle-field.
Here stood Gen. Burnside, whose countenance was as calm and
placid as any pleasant May-day morning, radiant with smiles
at times when he would discover a blunder the rcbs had made,
and his own troops taking advantage of the mistake. His keen,
practised eye would peer over his own -troops, who were all in
line of battle, and viewed with close scrutiny the immense
columns of the enemy, as they poured out of the surrounding
woods in line of battle. Not a move was made that day at
Campbell's station by our own troops or those of the rebels but
was plainly visible to the eyes of both armies ; all their en
gineering, all their advances or retreats, all the positions
assigned and taken by both armies were to be seen as if looking
over a chess-board, and reminded one of a desperate game of
chess. Although they outnumbered us two to one, yet we
fought them from 9 A. M. until 5 p. M., when we fell back in
good order at night to Knoxville, a distance of fourteen miles.
We had achieved a victory over them, for we gained our ends,
while the enemy was defeated in his Thus were three days
and four nights consumed in battling with the enemy, with
out rest, and on less rations than we ought to have received for
one day. We reached the outskirts of Knoxville just at day
break on Tuesday, the 17th ult. Here we halted for about an
hour, and had a cup of coffee. Nearly all of the boys had lain

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down to rest their wearied limbs, and were unconsciously falling
into the arms of Morpheus, to enjoy that delightful sensation,
"tired nature's sweet restorer," sleep, when the tocsin of war
again was sounded, and all were on their feet ready for any
emergency that might arise. Lieut. -Col. Schall, who had been
for a long time in command of the 2d Brigade, rode up to Maj.
Bolton, who was in command of the regiment, and ordered us
to march into the city of Knoxville, and occupy the centre of
the line of battle. We accordingly slung our knapsacks, and
by 9 A. M. we had reached the position assigned us. I need
scarcely add that all of our dead and wounded of the day be
fore fell into the hands of the enemy. We stacked arms on an
open lot of ground in the city, and immediately pitched our
tents. Col. Hartranft issued orders to impress all the idle ne
groes about the city, and put them at work on the fortifications,
as the boys of his division were too near "played out" for
fatigue duty. Consequently there were soon collected a motley
crowd of "contraband conscripts," some of whom were so
black that their darkness must have been beautiful to them,
while others were so light in color that I would have to take
the second look at them to convince me they were "contra
bands." They were all furnished with picks and shovels, and
by 2 o'clock p. M. they had a three-gun fort and a rifle-pit
sufficient for the protection of two regiments, of which the 51st
was one. As soon as the pit was done, Maj. Bolton put our
regiment into it, which was the first time in the history of our
regiment that we were put behind anything affording protection
to fight, and right well did we appreciate it, for we fully de
termined to make these pits our graves ere the haughty enemy
should possess themselves of them. When day dawned on
Wednesday, the 18th, we found, under the cover of darkness,
that the rebels had surrounded us, and that we were besieged.
This was a busy day for us, for we were more determined than
before to hold our position. We therefore took hold of the
picks and shovels and extended our rifle-pits at least two hun
dred yards longer and built a large dam that backed up the
water from four to twelve feet deep for several miles on our
front and right. This project was conceived by Col. Hartranft,
and to show how valuable it was in the protection of the city,
I need only say the rebels had found out its utility, so that dur
ing the- whole nineteen days' fighting here the enemy did not
attempt to make an assault or charge on our centre fortifica-

20*

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HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

lions, but many and desperate were their charges on our left,
as they considered that the weakest point of the whole line.
After this dam was finished, which was 3 o'clock next morn
ing, ten or fifteen men were selected out of the 51st P. V., to
occupy surrounding houses and mills, as sharpshooters.
On the morning of the 19th, the rebels having got a position
in our front for their battery, began shelling the three-gun fort
and the 51st regiment P. V. Their shots were rather close for
comfort ; but, uncomfortable as it was, not a solitary man left
the pits during the shelling. Capt. Voncleis, of the 15th In
diana battery, opened his three guns with such rapidity and
precision that the rebel battery-men could not live at their post,
and were forced to limber up and hunt a safer place. Aft?r
that demonstration on the part of the enemy, it was thought
advisable and highly necessary to burn all the houses in our
front. Consequently about forty men were detailed from the
51st P. V. to act as houseburners. This was the most danger
ous and daring work of the whole siege, for it was certain
death if the rebels should catch any of them either in the act
of firing the houses or after, as was proven in the case of Pat
terson, of Co. K, who had got outside the house after firing it,
and was shot down and then bayoneted until dead. Our sur
geons did not think the gun-shot wound sufficient to produce
death. His murderer had stripped him of his shoes, and had
the villain had a few moments longer time, he would have
stripped him of all his clothing, but our regiment making a
charge at about that time, drove them back into their own pits.
On the 20th, the rebels drove in the pickets of the 2d Maryland
just before daybreak, but the brigade to which the 2d Mary
land belongs made an attempt to regain their old picket lines,
in which they were successful. On the 21st, our dam having
filled to overflowing, in consequence of the hard rain of the
night before, broke, and what cost us so much labor was all
destroyed in less time than it takes me to tell it, and swept
away, in its mad, raging fury, all the material that was used.
Col. Hart ran ft was standing in close proximity to the scene,
and viewed it all with a calmness worthy of imitation. As
soon as the damage sustained was realized by him, he imme
diately had another detail made to repair it.
Yours, &c.,
T. II. P.

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The friends of the 51st P. V. relied a great deal
at home on the correspondence from the regiment
to hear the particulars of the doings and the where
abouts of that body, as private letters scarcely ever
gave any of the details, and the correspondence with
the paper was for the sole purpose of general in
formation. The editor of the paper took as much
interest in giving publicity to it, as his readers took
in perusing it. The constant moving about prevented
them from being mailed as regularly as they would
have been had facilities offered themselves, in con
sequence for several issues there would be no
correspondence published, and then when any would
appear there would be several letters in one paper.
The following paragraph copied from the Defender
confirms it :
ARMY LETTERS. — We give up a great deal of our space, on
the inside, to the letters of our correspondent from the 51st
regiment. These letters recount the doings of this band of
heroes for some time past. By giving attention to this corres
pondence, the reader will rind much real, valuable, and
interesting information that will amply repay perusal. Our
correspondent has given a pretty clear and full account of the
operations of this regiment since their enlistment, the only
connected historical record we probably can now secure.

And then follows as complete a history as could
be obtained at that time under the circumstances, viz.:
BLAIN'S CROSS ROADS, EAST TENNESSEE,
December 31s«, 18G3.
A substantial dam-breast has been built that holds all the
tremendous pressure, to this writing, the 22d. There was very
little firing during this day, but at dark the cannonading was
terrific. The boys began to think that our fate was to be
"gobbled up," not by getting whipped, but on account of
rations, for we were put on still less rations from this day, all
that was issued to us was a quarter of a loaf of bread, made
from the pure bran, not having an ounce of meal in forty

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HISTOKY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

barrels, and a small piece of fresh beef, our coffee and sugar
was near played out, and that little piece of bran bread and
the beef was our only rations, but I shall not attempt to give
the details of what we had to endure until I arrive at the siege.
The various incidents connected with the siege and the priva
tions that we endured during and since the siege is sufficient
to call forth a letter entirely devoted to that subject alone, and
no doubt will be read by the many readers of the Defender,
as well as the many sympathetic friends of the 51st, with more
than usual interest. I will also add the complete list of killed,
wounded and missing.
Monday, 23d, the seventh clay of siege brought us a clear day,
and also the cheering news that 11,000 men were at Loudon as
the advance of a large reinforcement to our relief. Those of
our regiment who were not out on the front picket line had to
live day and night in the ditches, if I except the time they were
working upon the various fortifications that surrounded the city.
The rebels did all in their power in the night to capture our
whole picket line, but were only partially successful. They
made a desperate sally, but our boys withstood the assault and
succeeded in bringing a few prisoners into our lines. Our
houseburners immediately applied the match to about twentyfive houses and succeeded in making their escape before the
enemy reached the burning buildings, with one exception, that
was a man by the name of Patterson, belonging to Co. K, and
also of the pioneer corps. He had fired his house but from some
inexplicable cause the combustion did not ignite as rapidly as
he desired and returning back to the house to make " assurance
doubly sure," he was shot down, no doubt seriously but not
mortally wounded. His murderer not contented with taking a
wounded man prisoner, repeatedly thrust his bayonet through
him, once entirely through his head, which thrust no doubt
ended the sufferer's life. He leaves a wife and seven small
children to mourn his loss. While the above houses were
burning, the air was continually filled with reports of a large
quantity of exploding rebel ammunition, that had been con
cealed in the houses, prior to the occupation of Knoxville by
our forces. On Tuesday 24th, the rebels charged on our
pickets and drove a portion of them in about three o'clock
A. M., but by daylight we had succeeded in driving the enemy
back and re-established our lines ; the losses on both sides were

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heavy, and considerable fighting was done all day up to 9
o'clock at night.
On Wednesday, 25th, it was found highly necessary to
strengthen our picket lines, therefore the 23d Corps furnished
300 men, and the 9th Corps 200 men, and as the 9th Corps had
held the front of centre and a portion of the right, by the 23d
Corps furnishing a few additional men we were relieved and
posted to the left of centre. After this change was made there
was very little firing by the pickets on the line, no doubt on ac
count of the extreme cold weather, the men were scarcely able
to handle their rifles they were so benumbed — six or eight more
houses were fired, but otherwise things had subsided. Thurs
day, 26th, brought us another quiet, but, if possible, a colder day
than the day before. The boys began thinking the continued
quiet omened no good, and things began to assume a mysterious
shape. Orders were issued to be ready to move at a moment's
notice.
Friday, 27th, only middling quiet. Last night, a good deal
of picket firing ; and several more houses were burned early this
morning. Shortly after daylight we were put in good heart by
the information that Sherman had arrived at London with 20000 more men. At such good news our hunger, raggedness and
nakedness, as well as our almost frozen limbs, were entirely
forgotten. Saturday 28th, opened with a cold rain which con
tinued throughout the day and night ; there was hard fighting all
day and night on our left, in which our pickets were driven in.
On Sunday, 29th, the fearful struggle took place. This was a
day of victory to our arms and of disaster to the enemy.
There had been hard fighting all night on the left, and about 2
o'clock this morning the enemy made several deadly and des
perate charges on "Fort Sanders," fully determining to carry
the work if it could be done. This fort mounted several twenty
pounder guns of the famous " Benjamin's U. S. regular bat
tery." It was under the immediate command of Gen. Ferrero
and Lieut. Benjamin, and conclusively showed the bravery
and desperate daring of those two heroic officers and the brave
men under them. The enemy had massed a large force and
rushed amid the darkness in a solid phalanx up and met their
deaths. This desperate charge had been expected by our forces,
and Gen. Ferrero had anticipated their total destruction. The
ground in front of the fort was filled with stumps of felled
trees, telegraph wires had been fastened from one stump to

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HISTORY

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FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

another about a foot up from the ground, forming a complete
network of wire for a large circumference around, and as the
rebels would reach the wires, they would become entangled
within the meshes and fall down one upon the other, until a
whole brigade would form one solid heap. While in this
situation Benjamin's battery would play upon the confused
heap of humanity with grape and canister from his twenty
pounders, hurling hundreds of the deluded victims into eternity
and wounding and maiming hundreds of others. Still on would
rush those who were fortunate enough to escape that death to
meet almost as fearful a death at the parapet of the fort. As
they arrived at the moat which surrounded the fort, bombs
were used as hand grenades, the fuses cut short and then
ignited, would be rolled down the parapet into the crowded
moat and exploded in their midst, horribly mutilating the now
enraged enemy. So determined were they in taking this fort,
that some had succeeded in gaining the summit of the parapet,
but only to be chopped down with axes or clubs, or whatever
the men in the fort could get in their hands the quickest. I
have been assured by an eye witness, that one of the gunners
of the battery took a worm screw, used for drawing charges
out of a cannon, and thrusted it over the parapets and giving
it a turn, he had fastened it into the uniform of a rebel officer,
and screwing it still further into his clothing succeeded in pull
ing him into the fort a prisoner. Wasn't that cool ? Thus con
tinued this desperate fighting until daylight, when the enemy
retired out of our reach, leaving several hundred dead (500)
and about 600 wounded and a large number of prisoners in
our hands.
Gen. Burnside sent Longstreet a flag of truce about noon,
to come and bury the rebel dead ; the flag of truce was good for
five hours. The 51st had to charge on the enemy a little before
daybreak and retake our picket line, in which we were more
than successful, for we could have taken their lines too
had it been any advantage. Our loss was trifling, but the rebel
loss was heavy, and we contented ourselves with staying at
our post and shooting down all the " Johnnies " that ventured
to show themselves from behind their ditches. There are
many laughable incidents connected with this siege that must
be told hereafter, as this is not the place for them.
Monday, 30th. The ''drubbing " that the enemy got yesterday
has kept them very quiet all night. We ascertained yesterday

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while the flag of truce was good, that the rehels had lost, since
we and they left Lenoir, o-ver 1,500 men, and our loss but 75 in
the two corps. On Tuesday, December 1st, we received a dis
patch stating that Hooker and Thomas had captured 52 guns
and 6,000 prisoners from Bragg. As the order was read to each
command nine cheers were given in honor of the victory.
Very little firing to-day on either side — we are thinking that
the rebels are withdrawing their forces to raise the siege. The
remainder of the 51st who did not go out on picket this morn
ing, are engaged in building a splendid cotton and sand-bag
fort.
On the 2d inst., Voncleis's battery was removed from the
fort in the rear of our rifle pits, to the new fort erected by our
boys yesterday. Last night, it was necessary to go there as
a support to Benjamin's battery, for they were nearly out of
ammunition, and the supply was only kept up by discovering a
large number of 32 pound shells and placing them on a turning
lathe and reducing them suitable for the 20 pounder guns ;
by this means Benjamin's battery was kept effective, for with
the loss of that battery the loss of Knoxville was certain, and
our infantry ammunition was also nearly exhausted, making us
feel certain that if the rebels did not raise the siege in a few
days surrender we must, for the horses of the different batteries
and wagon trains were suffering terribly for provender, in fact
one corral of battery horses had eaten up the straw that their
collars were stuffed with, as well as the ropes they were picketed
with. Our own rations were so small, that one man could
consume at one meal what was given to two men for two days'
rations.
Thursday, 3d inst., we discovered the rebels' wagon trains
were moving up to our right, our twelve gun fort shelled them
with great execution, hurrying them pell mell along the river
road. We feel fully convinced that Longstreet is about to
raise the siege, as their batteries do not reply to ours ; no firing
on their side only from their pickets. Friday, 4th, our forts are
keeping up a lively commotion to-day, the cannonading is
deafening, but the rebels are evidently moving off as they have
not fired but one shot from their u Gray Horse battery" all
day. Saturday, 5th, and 19th day of siege. This morning set
in rainy, but brought us the cheering news that the siege was
raised about 4 o'clock this morning, very much to the grati
fication of us poor pent-up mortals. No sooner was it ascer-

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HISTORY

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THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

tained that the enemy had vamosed, than the 51st was ordered
to fall in to follow up the retreat, and bring in whatever rebel
stragglers might be captured. We were glad of the chance of
getting the privilege of roaming the country once more,
and notwithstanding the miry condition of the roads and
the copious supply of the aquatic fluid falling in torrents, we
started off and scouted several miles around the country and on
the road to Cumberland Gap. We returned wet, famished and
fatigued at about 4 F. M.
More anon.
T. H. P.
HOME AGAIN. — Lieut. Col. E. Schall, Lieut. Ortlip and Sergt.
Fair are home on a furlough, with a chance to spend the holi
days with their friends at home, they are all well. They have
from twenty-five to thirty days leave of absence. Col. Hartran it has been commanding a division and Schall a brigade.
(When will the authorities at Washington show their gratitude
and justice by appointing Hariranft to the position he has so
long since earned, that of brigader-general ?) The Col. of the
fifty-first has been performing the duly of major-general, while
the Lieut. Col. has been filling the place of a brigader. This
regiment, the heroes of Roanoke, Chantilly and Antietam, the
51st, is reduced to about one hundred and seven muskets, but
they all are hard knots to get over, and when called into
service they are the boys to give hard knocks. Major Bolton
has had command of the regiment, and most of the officers are
doing duty higher than their ranks. Few regiments in the field
have won greater or more unfading honors ; and may the
brave band yet left, all be permitted to return home in health
and safety, very soon, with rebellion forever crushed in the
land.
BLAIN'S CROSS ROADS, EAST TENNESSEE,
January 1st, 1864.
In my last I closed with the raising of the siege of Knoxville.
I will now give you the details of what few incidents came
under my own notice, with a few that I have obtained from
reliable sources, for it is my wish to record nothing in the
annals of the 51st but what are undeniable facts. To begin
them ; on the day that the flag of truce was sent, and while it
(the flag of truce,) was good, Gen. Garcie of the rebel army,
Gen. Ferrero and Lieut. Benjamin, of Benjamin's battery, met,
after passing the compliments of the day, in rather a cool
manner. Lieut. Benjamin recognized in Gen. Garcie an old
West Point classmate ; they exchanged exclamations of aston
ishment at meeting each other as deadly enemies, who had in

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their earlier days been such tried and devoted friends, although
on the ground on which they stood both had given undoubted
proofs of their daring and courage only a few hours before ;
each stood with hands clasped in friendship, scarcely able to
give utterance to each other, of their feelings ; and while their
hearts were filled with emotion, tears were seen to trickle down
their cheeks, while they gazed on each other in silence. The
silence was broken by Lieut. Benjamin asking Gen. Garcie
what he thought of the wires? Gen. Garcie replied, with a
braggadocia air, and told Gen. Ferrero and Lieut. Benjamin
that he was bound to take his fort, (Benjamin's fort.) Gen.
Ferrero replied, "The fort is there, general, and whenever
you feel like trying it on again, do so ; you will find us there
to meet you ; but I must tell you, that before you can get that
fort you have got to whip the old 9th Corps." At the men
tion of the Oth Corps, Gen. Garcie looked with bewilderment,
and, somewhat confused, asked if it was possible that the 9th
Corps were actually there. Gen. Ferrero assured him of the
fact. I must here give an explanation why the presence of the
9th Corps so astonished the rebels.
A day or two before the rebels made their desperate charge,
Gen. Longstreet made a speech to his troops to stimulate them
to deeds of valor, and in his speech he assured his men that
they could take the fort, also the city, with very little opposi
tion, after making a charge ; telling that there was only the
23d Corps in the works, and that it was composed of green
troops who would not stand a charge, or more than one volley,
and therefore victory was certain, and the conquest was to be
cheap. But when they made that charge and fired that one
volley, nearly one-half of the storming party lay silent in death,
for instead of finding green troops, they had met their old vete
ran foe whom they had met at Camden, North Carolina, on
the 19th of April, 1862, at Antietam, at Fredericksburg, and at
Jackson, Mississippi, last July. Longstreet' s men told our
boys that they had been sold twice, once by the Yankee Gen.
Ferrero with the wires, and once by Longstreet, in sending
them against a veteran corps, under the impression of meeting
green troops. While the flag of truce was good, the rebel pickets
and our pickets mingled freely with each other, and many a
bargain was made between them. Trading watches, pocket
knives, tobacco, finger rings, buying and selling of clothing,
pocket-books, and such notions as each wish to possess them-

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selves of for mementos of the occasion. The best of feeling
was expressed by both parties, and if a stray hog should by
chance come within sight, both Reb and Yank would start off
in pursuit of the porker, and catch and slaughter it, and then
divide it equally between them with many jocular remarks
about the mode of living that each army was subject to. The
commencement of cessation of hostlities by both sets of pickets
began with hallooing to each other, then with the poking up
of heads above their rude breastworks, and then by exposing
themselves outside of the works, finally feeling some confidence
in each other, and no shots being fired along either line, they
began by advancing towards one another. Between the two
picket lines flowed a stream of water, this was the Rappahannock of the two parties, when both parties met near the
stream, the following introductory remarks took place, the
Rebs asking :
"Hallo, Yanks, what regiment?"
Yank— "The 51st Pennsylvania."
Rebs — "D — good boys, too."
Yank — "Say, Johnnies, what regiments ?"
Reb — "88th Tennessee, 2d Georgia, and 4th Mississippi."
Yank — "We've met you chaps before."
Rebs — " Yes, several times ; come across the creek."
Yank — " Can't see it ; will you reach your hand out ?"
Reb — "Yes; here, give us your hand; now jump!" and over
one went and in a few minutes the 51st boys were on the rebel
side, and in return the rebels came over to our side, and all the
civilities of an enlightened race were extended to one another.
The pickets of both lines made a treaty between themselves,
not to fire a gun at each other during that relief, which would
be until 4 o'clock the next morning, and with true faith was it
carried out, although the flag of truce expired at 5 p. M. There
was not a solitary shot fired until the next relief was put on
the next morning.
When the new relief was posted, the rebel
pickets hallooed over to our boys to know what regiment ; they
were answered, the 51st Pennsylvania, and our boys asking
them, they replied, the 3d Georgia.
Now we knew this to be
false, or partly so, for this 3d Georgia and the 51st are old
acquaintances, having either by accident or design met and
fought each other on every battle-field from the Camden, North
Carolina, affair, where we met them for the first time, at which
place they numbered about 1,400, according to their own figures,

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until we met at Knoxville ; and at that time that the charge
was made on Fort Sanders, the 3d Georgia was annihilated ;
what few there were who escaped death were taken prisoners,
and they acknowledged that that was the last of the 3d Georgia.
A day or two after we got our ditches dug in front of the loth
Indiana battery, Gen. Burnside visited us, and walked along
the works, which were very deep with mud from the heavy
rain of the night before. Those who had remained in the
ditches all night were terribly besmeared with mud from head
to foot. Gen. Burnside, with a smile beaming on his counte
nance, asked, in a cheering voice, "are you in comfortable
quarters, boys?11
Barney O'D
replied: "Yes, General;
oh ! we are getting used to this."
"No, you ain't! no, you ain't !" hastily replied the general,
"you were never in pits before in your life, and how can you
be used to it already, were you ? Where were the pits that you
were in that you have got used to them?" Poor Barney
looked abashed, but nothing daunted, replied, "General, I
meant that we were getting used to the mud." " Oh! ah! yes,"
says the general, "if you mean that I expect you are pretty
near used to it by this time," and tipping a wink to some
stranger colonel, he walked off, and went to the fort in our
rear. Some one said, " General, I think the rebels have a bat
tery planted directly in our front." The general asked for the
glasses, and peering through them all around the spot indi
cated by the speaker, took them from his eyes and remarked
" That there was a good position out there for the rebels to put
a battery, but they had none there yet.'1'1 The words had not died
on his lips when a shot from the battery spoken of struck close
to the fort, covering the general and all hands with the earth
it tore up ; it did no harm further than making an opening in
the roof of a house in which Col. Schall had his brigade head
quarters. During the siege, the 51st regiment had 102 men for
duty, that is field duty; the detail every day for the picket line
was 54 men. This detail was divided thus: 27 men would go
out on picket at 4 o'clock in the morning, would not be relieved
until the next morning at the same time; the remaining 21
would go on at 6 o'clock in the evening, to be relieved at the
same time the next evening. Now, this don't seem much, nor
is it, if that had been the only duty. Those men who were
relieved would come into the pits and get a cup of meal and
cook it up for their day's rations, and before they would have

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it cooked or baked, they would be detailed to work all day on
the fortifications, although they had been out on picket, with
out any sleep, for the previous 24 hours, and were now to work
all day without sleep, and not unfrequently work all night, and
then go out on picket again in the morning for 24 hours. I
have myself had to take men and put them on picket for 27
hours in succession, and they without sleep all that time, and
then detail them to dig pits for a clay or a night after coming
in. I ask, is it possible for men to keep themselves clean and
healthy on being kept occupied both clay and night, without
even time enough to wash their faces only once a day, to say
nothing of getting any clothing washed. I myself was forced
to wear shirts only seven weeks at a stretch, on account of not
getting time enough to wash one. I had attempted it several
times, and succeeded far enough once to get the water on the
fire to boil just as I was ordered to form the company immedi
ately to leave. It is needless to say that the "soldier bugs"
arid I had stubbornly contested for the shirt when I pulled it
off after a halt of an hour, but I came off in full possession,
and have not been molested since. Laying jokes on one side,
and looking facts in the face as they are, it is not to be supposed
that men who have been used as we have, since about the 14th
of November last, can do better than we have to keep clean.
More anon,
T. H. P.
CAMP OF THE 51sT REGT. P. V.,
BLAIN'S CROSS ROADS, EAST TENNESSEE, Jan. 2cZ, 1864.
I send a complete list of the killed, wounded and missing of
the 51st Pennsylvania from the skirmish at Loudon up to the
present time :
Co. _A.— Samuel H. and Abram Jones, and Corp. Charles M.
llennis were captured ; the latter escaped. Daniel Lare,
wounded in the foot at Knoxville.
Co. B. — Wm. Albert, captured at Leiper's Ferry; Benj. J.
Eiley, wounded in the leg at Knoxville, since died.
Co. C. — Michael Dillon, wounded in the fingers slightly.
Wm. Robinson, slightly in the ankle, at Campbell's station, by
a spent ball.
Cos. D and E. — None.
Co. F. — Wm. Mclntyre, taken prisoner.
Co. G. — Robert Hinton, in the hand slightly. Geo. Meiss, at
Blain's Cross Roads, w7as wounded in the shoulder by the pre
mature explosion of a shell from our own battery; not serious.
Co. H. — Wm. H. Dougherty, killed at Knoxville. Daniel
Clark, taken prisoner.

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Co. I. — Geo. E. Peters, missing; supposed to have been cap
tured at Campbell's station.
Co. K. — Edward R. Patterson, killed at Kuoxville. Sergt.
Franklin Sterner, in the ankle. Sergt. Wm. Mellick, in the
leg. Those two latter were wounded at Campbell's station.
Geo. Buss, wounded at Knoxville, and was taken prisoner.
Total killed, 2; wounded, 8; taken prisoners, 7; missing, 1.
I will now give a full account of the doings of the 51st
from the 6th of December to the 20th of December, 1863.
On Sunday, the 6th, we were pleased to hear that the pay
master would pay us off that day, for we thought if we had a
little money we could find something to buy a little of some
thing to eat, and help to eke out the less than quarter rations
which we were receiving from the commissary. In this we
were in a great measure disappointed, for the citizens were as
" hard up " for "grub " as we were. I succeeded in purchasing
one pound of cornmeal after walking two miles for it; some of
the boys were fortunate enough to get a few canteenfuls of
molasses at the round price of $1 per canteenful, or 67 cents
per quart. The prices in Knoxville are almost fabulous: 10
cents for a box of matches, 15 cents for a skein of thread, 10
cents for a six's cigar, 25 cents a glass for whiskey, 20 cents per
pound for fresh pork, $25 per barrel for flour, $8 to $20 for
boots, $10 to $22 for pants; eggs, 75 cents per dozen; poultry,
$1 to $1.7-3 per pair; coffee, $5 per pound; tea, $12 to $25 per
pound; sugar, from 50 cents to $1.25 per pound; and every
thing sells at the above exorbitant prices, that is when you can
come across them to buy.
Early on the next morning (the 7th) we received orders to
pack up and leave our tents stand, and our knapsacks in them,
and be ready to march at 7| A. M. We were ready at the ap
pointed time. We also were to have three days' rations in our
haversacks, but there was not rations enough to issue for that
one day, and no small number of us had to go on that march
without breaking our fast until evening; however, being in
light marching trim, we made twelve miles towards Rutledge.
We camped at 4 p. M., and waited for the wagons to come up,
which they did about 5 o'clock. We then got our "little
pint" of meal, and hastily baked it all, so as to be ready to
leave at a "moment's" notice. We, however did not leave
the next day until 11 A. M. ; we then made but 7 miles, and
quartered for the first time since we have been out in a large
house. Here we met a lad on horseback, coming from mill

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with a bag full of cornmeal, and not asking him whether he
would sell it or not, we measured it out so as to give every man
a quart, and paid the little chap ten cents per quart for it all.
It is needless to say that we had a supper that reminded us of
days long past, when full rations were in vogue. We spent a
comfortable night, and left next morning at 7^ A. M., and
marched to within 1£ miles of Rutledge, when we halted for
one and a-half hours lor dinner; but ere the dinner was over,
we were ordered to go into camp on that ground. Not having
our tents with us, we cut cedars and pines, and with the aid of
rails, WTC made a kind of a shelter against the worst of the
storm.
Here we remained from the 9th to the loth, in which there
was nothing of interest transpired, if I except the departure of
Lieut. Col. Schall, who left here on the 12th for his home,
taking a very large amount of money home for the boys in the
51st to their friends, and also the arrival of a large mail, being
the first one for five weeks. During the time that we laid here
we contrived a plan by which we got a little more to eat. We
found a small lot of damaged wheat in an old log building, and
it was brought into camp, and also whenever there was an ear
of corn to be found, it was shelled; it and the wheat went
through a grinding process in an old coffee-mill, and the pro
duct, which was neither flour or meal, wTas worked, kneaded
into a paste, and then baked. It greatly relieved the "inner
man" from that disagreeable sensation, hunger.
On the morning of the 15th, left camp in a hurry, and formed
line of battle, as the rebels were driving in our advance pickets.
After standing in line for a couple of hours, we were taken
through a gorge or pass in the Clinch Mountains, to oppose any
flank movement on our left that the rebels might attempt; no
attempt, however, was made until night. We had drawn two
days' rations of fresh beef and one of flour, and the boys had
their flour pretty much all wetted and their meat in the boiler
over the fire when orders were given for a retreat. We left in
quite a hurry; some threw away both meat and dough, and
some of the more thoughtful secured both as best they could,
and brought it aw^ay with them. We marched that night to
wards Blain's Cross Roads until 3 o'clock in the morning, when
we halted in a cornfield until 9 o'clock A. M. of the IGth; this
was an uncomfortable place, being mud almost knee-deep. We
then marched about three miles, and formed line of battle, and

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constructed a rude breastwork of the surrounding fences, then
laid on our arms all night, wnich was a very rainy one I assure
yon. The 17th found us early in line of battle; but about 10
o'clock A. M. the rebels had succeeded in driving in Wol ford's
cavalry skirmishers, and we then went to the front as skirmish
ers. Considerable skirmishing took place throughout the day.
We held our line with as much stubbornness as if we were a
large regiment; and night closing on us, found us still holding
our own. Next morning, the 18th, Lieut. Foster, who was in
command of the 51st skirmishers, advanced the line about 3
miles without any serious opposition. It was during the skir
mishing on the 17th that Geo. Meiss, of Co. K, was wounded;
a battery that was employed in shelling the rebel skirmishers
was posted in our rear, and had to throw its shot and shell
directly over our heads; several of the shells exploded prema
turely, wounding Meiss in the shoulder.
Lieut. Jacob P. Brooke arrived at his regiment while the
fight was going on, and immediately reported himself for duty.
He had been two months in trying to reach his regiment; he
was received by his host of friends with unrestrained enthusi
asm. On Saturday, 19th, five companies were sent over the
mountains toward Indian Ridge, to do outside picketing.
They stayed out two days, capturing a stray rebel occasion
ally. Co. I was sent out about two and a half miles to the left
to take charge of the cross-roads which diverge to Buffalo
creek, Indian Ridge road, and to Renfrau's bridge. A short
distance from this important post was two brigades of rebel
Alabama cavalry, under the command of Gen. Martin, in camp.
A colored man, by name John Reaves, was sent out late in the
afternoon after forage. His master employed him to cook for
him and another lieutenant of the name of Burnet, belonging
to the 7th Alabama cavalry. Before starting after forage, they
told Reaves that if he would return without any, that they
would whip him. This decided the contraband to get into
our lines if possible ; he therefore wandered about on his mule,
which was the finest one I ever saw, until dark, and then going
to a known Union man's house, he gave him a blanket to pilot
him into our lines. He came on to our vidette post, and was
taken and brought into picket quarters. I furnished him with
a cup of 'coffee that I chanced to have ; he said that it was the
first coffee that he had seen for two years. In answer to my
endless inquiries, he stated that there were two brigades en-

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camped there at the ridge, of Alabama cavalry ; that they were
entirely destitute of both rations and clothing, that many -vere
barefooted, and that no rations had been issued for four days,
and all that they could obtain was taken from the citizens, and
that they would soon be "played out,'1 as some of our forces
were in their rear, and in fact they were entirely surrounded,
and could not move either wa}r; they expected to be captured.
He also confirmed what other prisoners had stated, which was
that they had three batteries with them, of five guns each, but
entirely out of ammunition for both artillery and small arms.
I placed this Reaves in the hands of Gen. Ferrero's staff, and
he was taken to Gen. Parke's head-quarters.
More anon,
T. II. P.
BLAIN'S CROSS ROADS, EAST TENNESSEE,
January 7th, 1864.
Since writing my last, notwithstanding the rough usage
that the 51st have undergone since it came into this depart
ment, it has almost, or I might say entirely, gone into another
three years of re-enlistment. We have been mustered out
of our first scrape, and now we are mustered in again for
the second edition of a history of the old 51st. To many of
our dear ones at home this will be sad tidings. Many, very
many, of us struggled to decide what was our duty, we asked
ourselves, u Did the interest of our families or our country need
us the most ? to serve one at home or to serve the other in the
field ? At last the decision came, that while serving our country
in the field we could better attend to our families at home, and
therefore, ragged and barefooted as we are, we determined to
"rally once again" under that devoted old flag. (Ours is
more in the form of fancy fringe woik than a flag; but still
there is enough of it left to prove that it was a flag when Gov.
Curtin presented it to our care, more than two years ago.) We
hope in this new term to see this accursed rebellion brought
to a close. For the information of those at home of the friends
of the " veteran 51st,'1 I would say that we expect to leave here
in a very short time (two weeks), and go to Pennsylvania as a
regiment to reorganize, recruit, and for a thirty day's furlough.
We will try to camp, if possible, near Valley Forge, and ex
pect to stay long enough to recruit the regiment to its full quota.
In my last your readers accompanied me in the doings of the
51st up to December 20th. I will therefore ask them to <;fall

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in line," and march along up to the above date (January 7th).
On Monday, December 21st, Capt. Gaulin, who had command
of the whole picket line, brought the remainder of his pickets
out to the cross roads where Co. I had been posted the day
before. After selecting suitable sites to quarter in, and getting
the pickets posted, we were relieved by the 35th Mass., and we
then returned to our camp, where we arrived at dark, and
found that our knapsacks and tents, as well as cooking utensils,
had been brought to us from the city of Knoxville, much to
our gratification. Some few pitched their tents that night ; but
early next morning Major Bolton selected a more sheltered
camp ground, in a woods, where we soon pitched our tents,
and once more "set up housekeeping" in the usual way.
While busy in setting " things to right," we received quite an
accession to our ranks, by the arrival of a number of furloughed
men, who had been fifty-nine days on their way, from the time
that they left home until their arrival in camp. The party who
came that day and since were twelve in all, Capts. Jos. K.
Bolton and Lynn, Lieuts. Wm. F. Campbell and Schoch, pri
vates James W. Hibbert, Philip Hattel, and others were of the
party, and each and all were received with a cordial greeting.
They all look well, and much better than when they left for
their homes.
On Wednesday morning, 23d, early, we went out several
miles to reconnoitre, and returned about two o'clock p. M.
Nothing of interest transpired while out, and I might say since
then also. The last few days of the month were devoted by the
different companies in making out their muster and pay rolls,
ordnance, quarterly and monthly reports. We were mustered
for two months1 pay on the 31st December. After that recruit
ing for the veteran corps began in earnest, as all who wished to
secure the bounty and premium of $402 had to re-enlist before
the 5th hist. The modus operandi of paying the bounty is as
follows, viz. :
I. Upon being mustered into service, he shall be paid one
month's pay in advance, $13. First instalment of bounty, $00.
Premium, $2. Total payment on muster, $75. II. At first
regular pay day (1st of March) or two mouths after muster in,
an additional instalment of bounty will be paid, $50. III.
At the first regular pay clay (1st of July) after six months' ser
vice he shall be paid an additional instalment of bounty, $50.
IV. At the first regular pay day21 after the end of the first year's

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service (1st of Jan., 1865) an additional instalment of bounty
will be paid, $50. V. At the first regular pay day after eigh
teen months' service (July 1st, 1865) an additional instalment
of bounty will be paid, $50. VI. At the first regular pay (Jan.
1st, 1866) after two years' service, an additional instalment
of bounty will be paid, $50. VII. At the first regular pay day
after two and a half years' service, (July 1st, 1866,) an addi
tional instalment of bounty will be paid, $50. VIII. At the
expiration of the three years' (Jan. 1st, 1867) service, the re
mainder of the bounty will be paid, $40.
If the Government shall not require these troops for the full
period of three years, and they shall be mustered out, honor
ably, of service before the expiration of their term of enlist
ment, they shall receive upon being mustered out, the whole
amount of bounty remaining unpaid, the same as if the full
term had been served. The legal heirs of volunteers who die
in service shall be entitled to receive the whole bounty remain
ing unpaid ai the time of the soldier's death.
Paragraph fourth of general orders No. 376, says : In going
to and coming from the respective States and homes, the
veteran volunteers, furloughed as herein provided, will be
furnished with transportation by the Quartermaster's depart
ment.
The weather here, at present, is very cold, freezing as hard
in a night as it usually does in Pennsylvania at the same period
of winter. We have had several snow storms, the largest of
which we had yesterday, making it very bad for the shoeless
soldiers of whom their name is legion. If the United States
would do its duty to the soldier one-half as faithful as the sol
dier does his to his country, we need not now be literally naked
and barefooted as we are. Our neediness has only been brought
about by the culpable neglect of some of the whiskey-heads at
or around Washington, for we know that the government
allows ample for all departments.
More anon,
T. II. P.
BLAIN'S CEOSS ROADS, EAST TENN.
January 14th, 1864.
"'Tis always darkest, the hour before day," is an old adage,
and in our case a true one. While we have been groping
around in darkness since our advent in this department, in the
shape of rags and an empty stomach, a ray of sunshine peeped

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in upon us yesterday. We were the recipients of a few articles
in the way of clothing, viz. : one blanket to a company, two or
three pairs of pants, five or six shirts, one pair of drawers and
a few pairs of boots and shoes, also to each company. It was
a Godsend to those who were fortunate enough to get them ;
small as the issue was, many and large were the smiles it pro
duced. Now the "winter of our discontent is made glorious
summer" by that indefatigable soldier, Lieut. S. P. Stephens,
quartermaster of the regiment, who is away endeavoring to
hunt up a few more pairs of shoes for the boys. Some may think
that a quartermaster's post is to be envied, but I say to all who
think so, get a post of that kind in a department like the Cum
berland, and try it. It is one rather to be pitied, for no man
racks his brains more, whereby he may invent some means to
obtain supplies of clothing and rations, to appease the clamor
ous, half starved and naked soldiers who surround him on
every side, and watches with eagle eyes his every move, think
ing each turn or "about face " is to bring something to eat or
wear. Such has been our situation from morning until night,
that we followed with our eyes every move of that true, honest,
and faithful soldier, Quartermaster S. P. Stephens. He has well
earned the glowing title of a warm and noble-hearted man.
Last night about eight o'clock orders were received to leave
for home. The camp was very quiet previous to the arrival of
the order. We were considerably chagrined a few days ago in
seeing the 48th Regt. P. V., in passing our camp en route for
home, and at the same time, a rumor got underway that as the
48th got off before us, we would have to remain here for two
or three months, consequently last night, around the camp fires,
speculation ran high as to when we probably might get off.
As I said above, the camp was quiet when the order "on to
Norristowrn " arrived, but as soon as the order was published,
the hum of voices and the hearty laughs soon betokened that
"good news in camp" was well received, and met with a
hearty response. Every one was busy, the major, the adju
tant, quartermaster, orderly sergeants — all, all were busy in
folding and signing their re-enlistment papers, receiving and
despatching orders, reminding one of an editor's sanctum on
an election day — everybody elbowing their way into the ad
jutant's office. After the agreeable surprise was over, each
one sought quiet in his tent to dream of home, and by midnight
business was at an end, and we enjoyed an unusually good

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sound sleep. We fully expect to leave to-morrow, provided
that shoes and sufficient rations can be obtained to-day for the
march. We will march to Nicholasville, Ky., via Cumber
land Gap, Barboursville, London, and Camp Nelson, each man
to carry six days rations and forty rounds of ammunition. The
distance to march is 191 miles, and we expect to make it in
about sixteen days' from the time we start, so you may look for
the old 51st about the 7th of February to make "a brilliant
raid " into the very heart of your quiet borough of Norristown.
At the same time a number of raids may be made by that sly
little citizen soldier, Cupid, on the affections of the " dear ones "
at home. I hope the young ladies of your town will not turn
a cold shoulder to the young returned veterans, who have been
absent for two and a half years from them, undergoing almost
fabulous trials, privations, and sufferings as well for their sakes
as to sustain that "dear old flag."
I was considerably amused the other day, in looking over the
columns of the Norristown Republican, when my eyes rested on
a letter from the 138th Regt. P. V. The gifted correspondent,
signing himself "Frisket," says "we have had but one day's
soft bread since the 10th of October." Now, the date of his
letter is November 16th, being about Jive weeks that the poor
fellows had to eat "hard tack," or crackers. What would
" Frisket " say if he had been five months as we have, without
either soft bread or hard bread, (and I was going to say no
bread at all, but that would be "piling it on a little thick;")
only black musty flour, or coarsely ground corn meal, and
sometimes receives his corn on the cob of one and a half ears
for a day's rations, and that he would have to grind in an old
ricketty coffee mill. I forgot that while we were shut up in
Kuoxville, we did get a quarter of a one pound loaf of soft
doughy bread, made from bran, and as choky as any hedge
pear. "Frisket" is also tired of wormy crackers. If he had
them here to-day, I would guarantee him twenty-five cents
apiece for his haversack full, not of worms, but of crackers.
All I have to say is, if "Frisket" is tired of wormy crackers,
to send them to us, and we will promise to waste neither a
crumb nor a worm. But enough, for soldiering in all depart
ments has its joys and sorrows, and the 138th is not exempt.
Since writing my last the 51st has had it very easy, being
only twice to the front on picket, and with the exception of
a little fatigue duty nothing else has been asked of us. In

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fact, we have long been unfit for duty, being, as your readers
have previously been informed, entirely destitute of clothing,
and in no way able to resist the cold. Our rations, also, have
been too meagre to do duty on, and it takes all the time of those
whose shoes would admit of it, to go out in the country and
bring some little necessaries, such as chopped corn, meat, mo
lasses, &c. Many of them would be gone two days, and went
fifteen or twenty miles to obtain enough for two or three days,
and that by paying untold prices for.
A lot of green hides (fresh off of the beeves) were sent out
to us this week for the shoeless, to make themselves coverings
for their feet. A good many made a sort of moccasin out of
them, but their utility were destroyed by the immense weight
of them when marching, but as there have been shoes issued
and more expected to-day, there will be no further need of the
moccasins. When we get to Camp Nelson every man will re
ceive a complete outfit, and when we march into Norristown,
we will not look as if we had been nearly naked and starved as
I have above described.
P. S. — Since writing the above I have been positively assured
that we leave here on Sunday morning, the 17th inst.
T. H. P.

When the rebel General Longstreet crossed the
Tennessee river, his whole available force amounted
to about twenty-eight thousand men, who were equal
if not superior to Stonewall Jackson's corps of " the
flower of the Confederate army." Gen. Burnside's
total efficient force was a trifle over eight thousand
men. Long-street's men were in splendid condition,
healthy, comfortably clad, well fed ; had the sympa
thies of the citizens ; an immense amount of fixed
and unfixed ammunition; and were well posted up
in the geography of the country, which was of great
advantage to him. Besides, his whole command
was composed of acknowledged fighting veterans.
Burnside's force, on the contrary, was in an almost
famished condition. Sickly, nearly naked, and dirty
— betrayed by the citizens — with but a limited

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KEGIMENT

knowledge of the country — destitute of all kinds
of ammunition, forage, and rations — and only a
small part of his army (the 9th Corps) were fighting
men. The larger portion was composed of a new
corps (the 23d) of Western men, who were enlisted
for six months only, and had had no experience in
field service. Their principal duty was to garrison
such posts as the 9th Corps had taken. Thus was
Gen. Burnside forced into a terrible struggle against
an overwhelming force of highly-disciplined troops,
under the command of one of the South's very best
fighting generals. The contest, unequal as it was in
point of numbers and other advantages, was never
theless entered into by the two corps with a deter
mination to achieve a victory at all hazards or fill a
true soldier's grave. While the 9th and 23d Corps
were greatly inferior in numbers, they were largely
superior in intellect, and possessed in their officers
a far greater engineering talent, in which, beyond
cavil, Col. Hartranft was the fountain-head. It was
he who assisted Gen. Burnside, in his best works of
engineering, to a successful result. It was through
the true perfection, and the carrying out of all
plans, that the city of Knoxville, with its band of
heroes, did not fall into the hands of the Confed
erate army. No part of the entire Union army was
handled with more skill and bravery by its officers
than was that small besieged force in Knoxville.
All hail to Burnside ! All honor to Hartranft !
On November 3d, 1863, Lieuts. Jacob P. Brooke,
of Co. F, and John S. Moore, of Co. A, left their
homes, where they had been on a leave of absence,
to rejoin their regiment. But as the enemy occu
pied the country between Cumberland Gap and

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where the 51st was stationed, they did not succeed
in reaching their companies until the 18th Decem
ber, 1863, but just in time to take part in a heavy
skirmish which the 51st was engaged in at Blain's
Cross Eoads, East Tennessee. Their departure from
home was noticed in the paper published in their
town, viz. :
REJOINING THE ARMY. — Lieuts. John S. Moore and Brooke,
start this week to go to their regiment, the 51st, now stationed
near Knoxville, Tennessee ; and we have understood that they
will have to march between two and three hundred miles,
unless they should accidentally fall in with teams going on the
same route — as there is no public conveyance for that distance
to the present position of our regiment. Over this long road
our men had to travel, day after day, "foot-sore and weary.'*
At home, we often wonder how men are enabled to endure
such marching; for many of these men were not at all accus
tomed to hard toil before they enrolled themselves for the de
fence of our flag and the suppression of this fearfully wicked
rebellion. Yet, our brave heroes endure all these hardships
without murmuring — for it has to be done — and is a part of
that plan that must be gone through with to reach the end, the
supremacy of our laws\)ver the whole of the United States.

Through the disarrangements of the mails and tele
graph, the friends of the regiment were unable to
obtain any reliable information concerning the
whereabouts of the 5 1st, or of its doings during the
siege, and every little item that appeared in any of
the newspapers of the day was greedily snatched
up and republished in other papers, so as to let the
public form their own conclusions. The following
are clipped from one published November 24th, 1863,
during the siege, no doubt relieving the minds of
many :
ARMY OF THE OHIO. — We have further exciting news from
East Tennessee this morning. Parson Brownlow has found
it necessary to leave; Knoxville, and sends a despatch to Cin
cinnati stating that fighting was in progress " all about Knox
ville." A previous despatch, from General Burnside himself,
conveys the idea that everything was going well with us, and
that ultimate victory was certain. It is quite probable that a

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FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

heavy battle lias been fought at Knoxville, and the seige of
that city is now going on. As the place is fortified to some
extent, it is believed that the rebels will not be able to dislodge
our forces without great loss, and probably defeat. The latest
reports by mail say that Generals Burnside and Hartsuff were
concentrating their forces to resist the advance of Gen. Longstreet.
" FROM Knoxville we receive nothing definite. Gen. Longstreet does not appear yet to have raised the siege ; for, if he
had, we certainly should have intelligence of it from Gen.
Burnside. There is no communication between Cumberland
Gap and Knoxville yet. Gen. Foster is idle on the Clinch river,
twenty miles from the Gap, where he has but a handful of
cavalry. He makes no attempt to advance any farther. A
Federal force of three thousand is said to have left Chattanooga
to aid Burnside, though the route taken is not very evident.
The Confederates are represented to be in strong force at Loudon, twenty-three miles west of Knoxville, and at Kingston,
ten miles northwest of London. Cannonading has been heard
in that direction, so that it would seem the expedition had
marched over the Cumberland Mountains, and was in conflict
with the enemy."

And again, another item in the same paper of an
other date :
*' SIEGE OF KNOXVILLE. — At the late battle of Fort Sanders,
the Fifty-first regiment was engaged. We have made an ex
tract from a correspondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer of the
battle, which will be found in another column. It will be seen
that our regiment had three killed and one wounded. We
have understood that all these persons were in the companies
from Easton. How covered with honor are these brave and
faithful veterans of the glorious old Fifty-first !"

And of still another date :
"FIFTY-FIRST. — We have not heard anything from this
regiment for some time past. The report that portions of
it had been captured do not seem to have much truth in them.
The reason for not hearing from them is probably that their
position is so far removed from the conveniences of mail routes
that the receipt of letters is necessarily uncertain."

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X.

Destruction of the pontoon bridge — Approach of the enemy —
A retreat ordered — General confusion — Burn side arrives on
the field — Change of programme — Advance to Loudon —
Fighting and falling back— Skilful manoeuvring — Severe
marching and suffering — Campbell's station— Magnificent
battle scene — Repulse of Longstreet — Night march to Knoxville — Losses in the regiment.

THE 51st, on the 12th day of November, worked
faithfully to get the pontoons laid across the Holston
river at Lenoir station, in the sweet anticipation of
going over the river to have a new scope of country
through which to forage, in order to obtain a few
more mouthfuls of rations to add to their already
meagre supply ; but in this they were again doomed
to disappointment, for scarcely was the last boat laid
when orders were issued to cut the bridge loose,
scuttle the boats, and sink them in the deep waters
of the Holston. Astonishment was depicted on
their emaciated countenances as they silently obeyed
those severe but highly necessary orders. Their
cups, brimful of joy, were dashed to pieces in the
twinkling of an eye! Speculation ran high as to
the cause. Were the "Johnnies" coming ? some
thing of the kind must be up! The "Johnnies"
were there — but not in any great force, as only a party
of rebel cavalry were reconnoitering, but that was
enough to tell that their main body was not far off.
The laying of the bridge had been watched
closely by the citizens, and as soon as it was under
way, information had been given by some of them.
to the rebels, though the Union scouts discovered

21*

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them in time to prevent a surprise ; yet our pickets
on the other side were driven in, and the pontoon
bridge had to be destroyed.
On the next night, the 13th, orders came into
camp to be ready to move at a moment's notice.
Consequently, by 5 o'clock A. M. of the 14th, the
orders were given to strike tents and send all the
baggage to the rear, and the assembly was beaten
for the regiment to "fall in on the color line." The
troops that were stationed at Loudon began to pour
into Lenoir and form line of battle. It began to be
evident a battle was in embryo. Artillery teams
and ambulances were plunging through the rain
and rnud, with their heads turned towards Knoxville. A retreat was on the tapis.
Gen. Burnside had removed his headquarters to
Knoxville, and Col. Siegfried, of the 48th P. V.,
was in command of the division of which the 51st
P. Y. was in. Everything seemed to go wrong.
But, some time towards noon of the 14th, Gen. Burnside made his appearance, in a special car, on the
scene. As soon as the car stopped, and while on
the platform, he exclaimed, in no unmeaning tone,
"What does all this mean, General?" addressing
himself to a Gen. White, who was in command of
the movement. Gen. White's reply was, "We are
retreating, sir !" Gen. Burnside replied, " I'll soon
stop thiJt, sir; halt your command, and about-face
that artillery !" Gen. Burnside's face now flushed
with anger, and it became evident that he was going
to risk a battle at such an inauspicious moment.
The whole army was in great confusion, not through
any fear, but on account of the inefficiency of some
of the higher grade officers, who did not know the

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meaning of the commands they gave. Gen. Burnside took the whole cause of the commotion in at
one view, and assumed command of the field in
person. In fifteen minutes thereafter he had re
stored order, and turned the retreat into an advance
on the enemy opposite Loudon. He laid his plans,
and deployed his troops in such positions as to
check the enemy should he bi> coming. Excepting
the 2d Division of the 9th Corps, the whole force
moved up the railroad about half a mile and formed
line of battle, awaiting the approach of "the enemy.
Holding themselves in readiness all day in a drench
ing rain; they slept on their arms that night. But,
about 2 o'clock on Sunday morning, the 15th, the
troops were ordered to advance. The drum corps
beat the assembly, and the column, instead of
marching to Knoxville, were now on the road to
Loudon to meet the advancing enemy. The dis
tance was about six miles — the roads in a horrible
condition, the men hungry and wet, but in high
spirits, as also was their commander, Gen. Burnside. The enemy's skirmishers were met on a high
hill to the east of Loudon, just at daybreak.
Heavy skirmishing ensued, and their further ad
vance was checked. Benjamin's battery obtained a
good position, and held it until the enemy's full
strength was felt. About 10 A. M. Longstreet re
inforced his skirmishers by a full brigade, and
forced Burnside to fall back. To keep up the ap
pearance of a heavy force, Burnside deployed
nearly his whole command as skirmishers, which
gave him a chance of falling back in splendid order.
The 51st was deployed as skirmishers on the ex
treme' right of the line, with its right skirting the

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HISTORY

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THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

road from Loudon towards Lenoir, reaching Lenoir
about 5 P. M. During this retrograde movement
the troops on the left, and left of centre, were
pressed by the enemy most severely ; and as Burnside had made a halt at Lenoir, Longstreet endeav
ored to flank our left in order to cut us oft' from our
works in Knoxville. We were drawing rations
while at halt at Lenoir, preparatory to our night's
retreat. While doing so, the enemy poured volley
after volley of musketry into our lines from the
Kingston road, with an occasional shot thrown in
among the teams, producing considerable excite
ment. While this excitement was at its height, it
was discovered that our troops had, from some un
known cause, left the Kingston road open to the
advance of the enemy free of all opposition. The
discovery of this blunder was made by Gen. Ferrero, who commanded a brigade. He immediately
reported his discovery to Gen. Burnside, in the
presence of Gen. White, whose duty it was to have
kept that road well guarded by his command.
Burnside was astonished at such a proceeding, and
ordered White to send troops to the left and hold
the road. ButFerrero volunteered to take his brig
ade up the hill to regain possession of the road if
Burnside would consent. Gen. White scowled at
the idea ; yet Burnside knew Ferrero too well to
doubt his bravery and sagacity, and gave his con
sent. In less time than it takes to narrate it, Fer
rero had his brigade on the move toward the road,
and by his bull terrier propensities he succeeded in
regaining the possession of the Kingston road, and
thus saving us from being cut off from Knoxville.
It was now drawing close on to evening, and

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the 51st lay near by the railroad track at Lenoir,
awaiting orders, resting, drawing and cooking five
days rations — while passing events, on all sides,
began to fill them with gloom. When they per
ceived the tall form of their old colonel, Hartranft,
a murmur of satisfaction went through the whole
regiment, although the men knew that he would not
take command of the 51st; nor did they desire it,
for they reposed entire confidence in their present
commander, Major William J. Bolton ; but they
wanted him to take command of their division,
which he did, relieving Col. Siegfried. And now,
being officered as they wished, their gloomy feel
ings were dispelled — Burnside commanding the
whole movement in person, Hartranft our division,
Lieut. Col. Schall our brigade, and Maj. Bolton the
regiment, what more could we ask for while fight
ing ? Being thus officered fully implied victory.
At a little before dark, the cars at Lenoir station
were loaded with all cumbersome articles, and at
once dispatched back to Knoxville ; also the wagon
trains, etc. As soon as everything cumbersome was
out of the way, orders were given to march on to
Knoxville that night, a distance of twenty -two miles.
The enemy was kept in check, but the fighting for
the Kingston road was severe and constant. The
enemy, keeping on the range of hills on our left,
seemed determined to outflank us, while Ferrero
stubbornly contested every inch, and succeeded in
keeping back the rebel horde sufficiently to enable
us to trudge through the mud of that night. Our
progress was terribly slow. Leaving Lenoir at
6 P. M., we only reached the 19 mile post on the
railroad at 6 A. M. of the 16th, making but three

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REGIMENT

miles in twelve hours ! Who is there, living now,
that participated in that three mile night march,
that has forgotten, or ever will forget it? No pen,
however eloquent, can describe the toiling, the suf
ferings, of both body and mind during that terrible
dark night, with the fiends of rebellion firing and
yelling like so many devils close on our heels. Oh,
the suspense of those dark hours ! Gen. Hartranft,
can you forget it? Gen. William J. Bolton, can
you ? Men of the 51st P. V., you never will, while
memory holds its seat in the throbbing brain.
The 51st P. V. was detailed to assist Benjamin's
battery of 20-pounders through the mud. One
and a half inch ropes, of two hundred feet in length,
were attached to the guns; and with the whole regi
ment of men, and twelve to sixteen battery -horses
at a single gun, it required their uidted strength to
drag it through the mud for a few feet at a time.
After getting a gun dragged about one hundred and
fifty or two hundred yards, it would be left standing,
and all would return to work up another one -and
so on, until the last one would be brought up — then
begin again — and so on until the bottomless mire
was wrought through ; the enemy harassing us as
much as they could, fighting going on all around us
except directly in our front and on our right. To
leave the guns sticking in the mud, would have been
fatal to us, for our salvation laid in keeping posses
sion of that now more than priceless battery. The
men worked, pulled, and dragged as men never did
before. The poor jaded and hungry horses ap
peared to know the necessity of getting the guns
along, for, worn out as they were, the poor beasts
labored with a will that seemed akin to reason.

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Had they proved baulky and refused us their enor
mous strength, our fate would certainly have been
Andersonville or Libby.
Daylight of the 16th found us but three miles
from where we started the night before, but it found
us through the worst part of the mud, with the ad
vantage of being able to pick our way.
At or near Campbell's station, the roads from
Loudon and Kingston made a junction, and then
formed the road leading into the city of Knoxville.
To get possession of the forks of this road, was the
main object of both chieftains, Burnside and Longstreet. Could Longstreet gain it first, Burnside
would riot have had a road by which to reach the
city, as there was but the one that ran in that di
rection, and escape would have been impossible, at
least with artillery and caissons. Longstreet, fully
alive to the importance of the possession of that
point, deployed his skirmishers more to our right,
with the view of forcing Burnside to strengthen that
part of his line in order to weaken his left, that the
enemy might throw a force on this road sufficient to
crush our resistance and gain possession. The
enemy's advance rushed on like an avalanche, pour
ing volley after volley into our rear, and the rear
returning volley for volley until the junction was
reached. Hartranft was entrusted with the extreme
left. Burnside remained in the centre, on foot, and
the race was drawing to a close which was for life
or death. We have reached the road. A halt is
made. Hartranft double-quicks his division, and
files left into a cornfield to the right of t.ie Kingston
thoroughfare, and is about flanking a division of
the enemy in our rear, when the whole column of

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REGIMENT

both armies came to a halt — and the battle raged
most furiously for about an hour.
While this preliminary fight was going on, our
artillery was taking the advantage of the contest,
which was wholly between the infantry, by se
curing a splendid position. It was near noon, and
thus far our troops had been successful in holding
their ground. After the 51st had double-quicked
into the cornfield, CoL Hartranft discovered the
enemy advancing on him with an overwhelming
force, for the purpose of flanking him, and cutting
him and his division off from the main body. But
in this they were foiled, for by this time the artil
lery had got into position, and he double-quicked
his command to the support of the two batteries,
Benjamin's and Voncleis' 15th Indiana, thereby
leading his pursuing enemy directly under the
range of the guns of the 15th Indiana. Finding
they were outgeneraled in that move, they quickly
fell back out of harm's way.
This was a most magnificent battle-field. It was
in the form of a huge basin. Burnside, Hartranft,
the two batteries, the 51st P. V., and the 51st N. Y.,
occupied that part of the rim of the basin nearest
to Knoxville. This was the objective point that
Longstreet directed his best energies against. The
enemy occupied that part of the rim of the basin
farthest from Knoxville, directly opposite to that
of Burnside. A house, barn, and other outbuild
ings occupied the centre of the hollow of the basin,
or rather the right of centre. Between those build
ings and the enemy stood an orchard of large apple
trees. The rim of the basin, to the right of the
buildings, was skirted with a heavy forest, that ran

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off to the right and lost itself to view. From the
rear of Longstreet all the way round to within a few
yards of our left, was also a dense forest, which
ended abruptly on a high bluff. The face of the
landscape was broken by a deep ravine between the
woods and the batteries.
As soon as the artillery had got into position,
Maj. Bolton detailed Capt. Bisbing and about twothirds of the regiment to skirmish in the woods to
wards the enemy on our left, because a whole brigade
of rebels moved off' in that direction and had become
lost to view. The 51st started directly in front of the
battery, and skirmished through the field down to
the very centre of the hollow, and then filed to the
left into a field of tall dead grass, full five to six feet
high, that adjoined the woods. This woods was
very dense with underbrush and briars. After
reaching the edge of the woods, Bisbing commanded
"Lie down." After remaining in that position,
completely out of sight, for about half an hour, the
snapping of brush as if trod upon was distinctly
heard on the right, in the woods. In a few minutes
Bisbing discovered two brigades of rebels quietly
sneaking through the woods, as if their object was
to flank our batteries. He watched them intently,
until they had disappeared on the other side of the
hill or rim, and thinking their object was to move
around to the rear of the battery, and, by the low
ground outside of the rim, get up within a few yards
of the guns before they could be seen, he com
manded "Rise up," and deployed as skirmishers
through the woods up to its abrupt termination ;
but what became of the enemy could not be deter
mined. After returning to their post at the battery,

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REGIMENT

the battle became highly interesting. Burnside and
Hartranft stood side and side by the guns, and gave
their orders with such coolness that a person unused
to such sights would think that they were alike dead
to all feelings of humanity.
Longstreet endeavored to get a " gray-horse bat
tery" into position on the right of his centre at the
edge of the woods. He first sent two brigades down
into the bottom of the hollow, where they formed
line of battle, ostensibly with the object of charging
on our artillery, and, in order to accomplish this,
his battery was to support them by shelling us away
from our guns, which then would fall an easy prey
into their hands; but as soon as their white horses
were seen to emerge from the woods, our guns were
turned on them with fury. They succeeded in unlimbering one gun but no more: they fired two or
three shots, when they limbered up again, and left at
full gallop, finding it impossible to live under such
firing as our gunners displayed. The two brigades
still held their position ; none of our officers ap
peared to pay any attention to them, but they were
watched close. The enemy endeavored to get an
other position in the orchard, and Burnside allowed
them to do so for a few minutes only. After getting
fixed, as they thought, to suit themselves, they be
gan shelling our batteries and the 51st with tremen
dous velocity ; they then sent a body of troops into
the woods on the left of the house, &c., to flank us
on our right and get possession of the Knoxville
road ; but as they emerged from the woods, their
cover, they were rather stunned in finding that their
progress was checked, for Burnside had already a
strong line lying on the ground as a precaution

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against any such a move on the part of the enemy.
A brilliant skirmish ensued between the two antag
onists, and although the enemy was far the stronger
force, yet our troops, with the aid of our batteries,
succeeded in making them beat a hasty retreat, and
abandon all further attempts by that flank.
Burnside's attention was now turned on the rebel
battery in the orchard that had been sending an
amazing quantity of rifled shells in and around the
two batteries and the 51st P. V. ; in fact, no atten
tion had been paid to the rebel artillery previous to
this; but it received the undivided attention of
Burnside and Hartranft now, for they were literally
covered from head to foot with dirt thrown over
them by the enemy's shot and shell, as they came
ploughing through the ground at their feet. The
two batteries (Benjamin's and the 15th Indiana)
opened in splendid style on their enemy, clearing
the orchard of all rebels in less than ten minutes.
They then made another effort to get their battery
into position in the corner of the woods where they
had made their first attempt ; as soon as they showed
their "gray horses" at the edge of the woods, our
batteries hurried them out of that by a few welldirected shots. The 51st P. V. was again sent for
ward to skirmish the woods to our left. The two
brigades of rebels still being in line of battle in the
hollow, attention now was turned to them, and they
received a number of shells right in the midst of
their ranks, thinning them somewhat, and scattering
them like a flock of sheep. They sought shelter in
the woods on their right. The 51st was in the same
woods skirmishing along the top of the rirn or hill
towards its abrupt termination. The regiment

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HISTORY

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THE

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REGIMENT

scarcely, however, reached the battery, when the hill
they had just left was swarming with the foe, who
seemed to defy the whole of Burnside's force. They
came out of the woods and stood in the clear field
only a few yards from our guns, and cast an impu
dent gaze along the whole of our rear. A few men
of the 51st could not resist the impulse to fire, and,
doing so without orders, they " knocked" a few of
them, when our artillery belched forth death by the
wholesale. They then escaped back to their cover
in the woods.
One little incident is worthy of notice here. Sergt.
David Long, of Co. D, being seized with the impulse
to fire when the enemy exposed themselves so near
us, dropped on one knee and fired. The ball must
have entered his foe's heart, for he sprang into the
air about two feet, and fell dead without moving a
limb. It is very uncertain for a soldier to say he
knows that he killed one in battle, yet it will not be
incorrect for Sergt. Long to say so.
Night was now closing our day's work. We had
kept the enemy at bay for two days and a night,
and another half hour of daylight would in all
probability have seen us a captured army. The
enemy was tightening his coils around us ; cowards
had began to sneak off undiscovered to Knoxville ;
our lines were becoming weaker; the enemy closing
gradually in on us; they, in number, three to our
one ; they, with full supply of ammunition ; we,
nearly out — for a great part of our artillery ammu
nition had been thrown out of the caissons to lighten
the weight. Here we were, sixteen miles from
Knoxville — a dark and muddy road before us —
worn out with fatigue and hunger; having had no

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sleep for forty-two hours, and no chance even to make
a cup of coffee since the Sunday evening previous,
and three hours sleep was all we had for four days
and nights ; but the boys were all in high spirits,
for they saw that by showing a bold front, they
could accomplish much. The number of wounded
on our side was large, but they were nearly all sent
into the city ; so was everything else that was likely
to cause a minute's loss of time on the retreat; and
when night began to spread her sable mantle over
the bloody field, our forces were ready to withdraw
at a moment's notice. At last the order came, and
posting a strong rear-guard, the line resolved itself
into a marching column, and quietly withdrew in
good order from the scenes of that day's toils and
dangers, leaving its killed, a few wounded, and a good
many prisoners in the enemy's hands.*
Burnside's command left Campbell's station at 8
P. Mv and marched to the outskirts of the city, where
it arrived at 4J A. M. of the 17th, foot-sore and
weary. Scarcely had the column came to a halt, when
the men sunk down to the ground from sheer ex
haustion, and fell asleep without hunting for any
kind of a comfortable place to lay. They had
forded several streams and were wet up to their arm
pits, still sleep stole over their benumbed senses and
they one and all slept the sweet sleep of the cradled
innocent. Nothing of interest occurred on that
night's march excepting the loss of a lew worn out
* The: following is a list of casualties, as far as could be ob
tained
Co. B. — Wounded — Private Beni. Reilly. Captured — Wm.
Albert.
Co. C. — Wounded — Corp. Wm. Robinson.
Co. I. — Captured — Private George E. Peters.
Co. K.— Wounded— Sergts. Wm. S. Melliok and Frank B.
Sterner. Captured— Henry C. Deutler.

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troops, who found it impossible to keep up with the
retreating column and fell prisoners into the enemy's
hands, and an occasional pressure of the enemy's ad
vance on our rear-guard. As day began to make its
appearance on Tuesday, the 17th of November, the
drums beat the reveille, but so sound did the men
sleep that only few, if any, heard it. Shortly after
the drums ceased, the stentorian voice of Maj. Bolton
was heard commanding "fall in;" as if by magic
every man sprang to his feet arid seized his gun.
It seemed as if each one had lain down with the in
tention that no other sound but "fall in" was to
awaken them.

CHAPTEE

XI.

The 51st entrenched — Building and breaking of the dam —
Skill and daring of Sergeants Parker and Fair — Picket fight
ing and house burning — Grand and awful scenes of fire and
battle — Sufferings of the men — Rumors of relief— An assault
by the rebels — Retaking of the picket pits by Schall's brigade
— Constant fighting and conflagration.

THE brigade under Lieut. Col. Schall formed in
line, and then marched by the flank into the city,
and through to the other side, where it took up a
position on the extreme right of the town, in front,
almost, of the railroad depot, on an elevation that
presented a fine view of the surrounding country.
Shortly after getting into our position, Col. Hartranft impressed all the contrabands found running in
the streets, and placing picks and shovels in their
hands, he bade them go to work in the" trenches,

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and by noon they had accomplished a part sufficient
to allow the 51st P. V. to take possession. Thus on
the 17th of November, 1863, was built the first
regular entrenchments in which they ever fought.
They had been in pits on the picket line in front of
Jackson, Miss., but not as regular breastworks on
the main line. This event filled them with pleasure,
for now they knew they need not be exposed need
lessly to the enemy's balls.
They began now to see the fruits of their hard toil
ing at the ropes of the artillery on the Sunday night
previous; they could perceive that by their exertions
that splendid battery of twenty pounder brass guns
had been saved to resist an incoming siege.
Longstreet now began to approach the city with
great caution, his long lines of infantry could be seen
slowly winding their way west of the outskirts of
the old works.
As soon as dark set in, a detail was made of fifty four men from the 51st, to go out on picket; it was
hard to send them, but the necessity of the case de
manded it. The detailed men obeyed promptly with
but one exceptional case of grumbling, and that was
by a man who could not exist without grumbling, for
it was his nature. Reader, if you have never been
on such duty, after losing as much sleep as those
poor men, you cannot form any idea of the agoniz
ing torture it is to be sent out on picket, just as you
had fully satisfied yourself that you were about
lying down to enjoy one night's quiet sleep ! Im
agine as you may, you cannot form a true picture.
They had been four days and three nights, and this
was to be their fourth night, with less than four
hours' sleep. Their brains in a whirl of excitement

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all the time ; their mi ads racked with suspense as to
the result of the battles; their physical natures com
pletely worn down with the laborious duty which
kept their sinewy frames on a constant strain both
day and night; their shoulders aching under their
canteen and haversack straps ; their waists and hips,
galled by their waist belts, borne down with their
well filled cartridge boxes ; their arms aching from
the constant carrying of their muskets ; their backs
and shoulders in agony from the tightly strapped
knapsacks ; their feet blistered from heel to toe ; and
in short, cold, tired, hungry and sick ! You have
now their true condition, but do not think the
officers fared any better, they did not — officers are
but men with the same feelings, and see the diffi
culties of a soldier's life with the same eyes that an
enlisted man does, though they are not compelled to
become pack mules as the private, but they are under
greater restraints, undergo heavier responsibilities,
and have duties to perform attended with far more
danger.
The morning of the 18th found Burnside pretty
thoroughly invested by his antagonist ; the siege had
been fully inaugurated. Our pickets had made
themselves a line of entrenchments, just outside of
the thickly settled part of the city, within three
hundred yards of their main line. A great many
houses stood between our pickets and the main line
of works, and the rebels made a number of sallies at
different periods during the siege to get possession
of our pits; sometimes they were successful, at
others they failed.
Every day, from the commencement of the siege
until it was raised, added strength to our fortifi-

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cations ; new pits were dug ; old ones enlarged ;
earthworks grew like magic ; beautifully constructed
forts dotted the entire line ; some built entirely
of the earth, others constructed of sand bags,
others of cotton bales, and the principal streets
were barricaded with old wagons, carts and other
lumber, such as could be found in the sheds
and stables in and around the city. Thus after
making the city pretty safe against assault, Col.
Hartranft decided to make his part of the line (the
extreme right) doubly safe, by damming up a creek
on the right of it. This creek was known by the
citizens as " First creek." It ran at right angles with
Hartranft's lines and emptied into the llolston river,
in the rear of the works. A street extended parallel
with the line of pits and crossed the creek over a
one arch* stone bridge. To dam up the water where
it entered the arch would be a task of vast im
portance; though laborious to perform, Col. Hart
ranft had not the material to build such a dam, as
might make it strong enough to resist the immense
pressure of water that would collect there, but such
as he had he used, and got a large detail of men
from his division and put them to work at it. As
the water rose in the dam, it became evident that
the material was not staunch enough to resist the
pressure ; but the work progressed towards com
pletion and the dam filled to overflowing, backed
up the water to the depot, to the depth of three to
six feet ; but it was no sooner completed and the
men still looking at their work, than the whole thing
gave way, and the water rushed like a torrent, sweep
ing everything in its current into the river below.
22

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Col. Hartranft looked at the frustration of his hopes
with a calmness that was truly heroic.
As soon as the water subsided into its natural
sized channels, he had another detail made and an
other dam in progress. This time he secured a
heavy girder, about twenty-four feet long and four
teen by fourteen inches square ; this was let down
into the water so that each end might rest against
the respective sides of the arch, and form a strong
foundation on which to build the new work ; but
after reaching the water, from some uncontrollable
cause the girder missed catching on one of the walls,
and swung around and was passing through the
arch, on its way towards the river. Xo one knew
the depth of the water in the creek, and none cared
to jump in to find out; but as the foremost end had
entered the archway, Sergt. Parker leaped into the
water with his clothing on, and reached the girder
in time to save it from floating off. The current was
deep and swift, and having a very uncertain footing,
he could do nothing but hold the timber from get
ting any further away. At least two hundred men
stood looking on, but none would venture in to as
sist him. Sergt. John W. Fair, of Co. C, happened
to catch a glimpse of the operation, and in an in
stant he was aiding Sergt. Parker. The two were
at times so deep in water that they found a difficulty
in towing the heavy stick against the strong current,
until they got it far enough away from the arch
for those on dry land to assist them, after which
the two sergeants floated the girder into its proper
place. The filling in with planking taken off of the
bridge floor now commenced. A strong breast was
thus built and filled in with about one thousand

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cart-loads of dirt. This time the work was a com
plete success. The water rose and backed up the
creek clear to the rebel lines. All the low ground
on the right of the city was flooded, varying from
four to six feet deep, making an insurmountable
barrier for a charging foe to face. This flood of
water made that part of the line secure, also the
strongest.
The next thing in order was to burn the splendid
mansions on the outskirts of the city, so as to pre
vent the enemy from placing sharpshooters in them
to pick off' our gunners in the fortifications.
A large number of men were detailed on the vol
unteer system to act as sharpshooters and houseburners. They were all taken out of the 51st P. Y.
A specified number was to come from each company.
Each man was fully instructed as to his duties, and
of his peril, if caught by the foe. They were to take
up their quarters in the houses — two or three to a
house — to remain there day and night, to have a pile
of combustible material in each room they occupied,
and on the first approach of the enemy towards the
houses, they were to apply the match, and escape, if
they possibly could, to the inner works ; but under
no circumstances were they to leave the house with
out firing it. To these instructions they readily
acceded, and volunteered to fill the detail. Nearly
all succeeded in firing their houses and escaping the
vengeance of their enemies. One man only, Patter
son, of Co. K, fell into their hands. He had fired
his house and left it; but thinking it was not burn
ing, he returned to apply the match the second time ;
but as he was leaving the house the rebels had got
too close on him and shot him down, but not killing

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THE

FIFTY-FIRST REGIMENT

him. They then thrust a bayonet through his head,
putting an end to his sufferings. His foe or foes
stripped him of his shoes, bjut our pickets charging
on them they escaped to their own lines. Patter
son's body was carried in to Dr. Reinhold's quarters,
and his wounds were examined by Dr. K., who pro
nounced him killed by the bayonet, as the gunshot
wound was not of itself sufficient to produce death.
Some nights as many as twenty-five houses would
be on fire at one time, presenting a sublime picture
to all who witnessed it. The city, the picket-pits,
and the whole surrounding country would be lighted
up us bright as midday. It was a sight but seldom
seen and never to be forgotten.
The duties of the 51st -P. Y. during the siege was
of an extraordinary character, having only about
one hundred and four men fit for efficient service.
One-fourth of that number would go on the picket
]ine at four o'clock in the morning, there to remain
twenty-four hours. At six o'clock of the evening
of the same day another fourth would go on for
twenty-four hours. Then at four A. M. of the next
day the first pickets would be relieved by the third
fourth, and that same night the second fourth would
be relieved by the last fourth, and so on during the
entire siege.
The pickets, as relieved, would retire to their
quarters to prepare whatever rations, if any, they
had to satisfy their hunger to but a limited extent,
and to enjoy, as they imagined, a few hours' sleep ;
but in this they were invariably disappointed, for a
detail from headquarters would be in for them to go
on " fatigue duty " as soon as they were relieved
from picket. The fatigue duty was to those- poor

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fellows of the most painful kind — to use the pick
and shovel, perhaps, for the next twenty-four hours,
and be relieved to go immediately out again on
picket, three times out of four without a morsel of
food to eat or to take with them. It may be doubted
by many that such usage of men could possibly be,
and the men live; but, dear reader, this is no over
drawn picture. If you still doubt it, ask any of the
participants of that siege, either officers or privates,
either of the 9th or 23d corps, and if you can find
one who will say the picture is untrue or in the least
overdrawn, then I stand convicted before the public
of a base, wilful lie, for falsehood is too genteel a
term to be tolerated.
And again, those same men were not only forced
to do duty in the above manner from the necessity
of the occasion incident to a siege, but they were
obliged to be out through the inclemency of the
wintry season in a mountainous section of the coun
try in an almost naked condition. Numbers of them
were without the comforts of a blanket, and still
larger numbers without shirts, drawers, or stock
ings; their blouses and pantaloons in tatters; the
frosty night air pinching their bare skin, without a
cup of warm coffee to cheer them in the long, dreary,
sleety night, or a spark of fire by which they might in
differently warm their benumbed limbs; their fin
gers so torpid with the constant handling of their
cold muskets, that it was painful to behold. Thus
were they, during the entire siege, worn out in mind
and body ; suffering from the chilling wintry blasts ;
nearly naked, heartsore, and weary, living on less
than one-fourth rations, and that of an inferior
quality. A large portion of their bread was made

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from musty black bran, and of a pasty, doughy na
ture. Those who were fortunate enough to possess
shirts were compelled to wear them until nearly
ready to fall from their backs with filth and vermin,
their time being so occupied with their onerous
duties, that leisure to wash them was denied the
men.
Lieutenant Samuel P. Stephens, quartermaster of
the regiment, was indefatigable in his exertions to
procure the men all and every necessary that he
could lay his hands on, but large as his noble heart
was, his means to furnish supplies were of too lim
ited a nature for him to do much to alleviate his
suffering men. Visiting the works several times a
day, he was besought by the men "for God's sake,
Stevie, get us something to eat." "Poor Stevie," as
the boys all called him, would leave and call around
among the headquarters of the different commands,
and if he could find a single cracker or " hard tack,"
he would appropriate it for whoever he thought had
the most need of it. Eeturning to his own regi
ment, with the hard tack buttoned up in the breast
of his coat, to prevent it from being seen, he would
listen to the tales of hunger, and bestow his scanty
morsel on him who was the greatest sufferer. He
would gaze on their shivering forms as they flitted
past him, and, singling out the most destitute, would
return to his own quarters and take a shirt, drawers,
or pants, and come back to make some one the re
cipient of his limited but generous bounty, until he
became as destitute of clothing as those for whom
his heart ached. Nothing was a trouble to him. He
was partial to none, but liberal to all, not from any

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selfish ambition, but from the purely generous im
pulses of his noble, noble heart.
Major Bolton, too, was another to whom too much
praise cannot be given for his kindness towards his
command. As detail upon detail would pour in for
his men, he would plead with the officers until the
number would be reduced to the smallest amount
possible. Thus some one would receive the benefit
of an hour or two of rest.
But of all the abused men in the whole army, the
adjutants of the different regiments generally fare the
worst, whose duties are similar to that of a first or or
derly sergeant of a company. In fact the adjutant is
the orderly sergeant of the regiment. It falls to his lot
to fill all details from headquarters, by detailing an
equal number of men pro rata from each company
under his command. On this occasion 1st Lieuten
ant John E. Gillilan of Co. G was acting adjutant
of the 51st P. V. Whenever the boys would see
him coming out of his tent with a piece of white
paper in his hand, they were fully convinced that
another detail was wanted. Perhaps the men had
just been relieved either from picket or fatigue duty.
They would gather, around their first sergeant (if it
was a detail asked for) to know if they would have
to go on it. By the time they would be answered
in the affirmative, the adjutant's voice would be
heard on the left of the line inquiring for Sergeants
Parker and Long, who appeared to be the only ser
geants that the lieutenant expected to find at their
posts. Then would commence a parley between the
sergeants and adjutant, the former asserting that
they had no men to detail, they were all either on
duty or just going. If the adjutant saw a few

4f6

HISTORY

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THE

FIFTY- FIRST

REGIMENT

around him, the sergeants would be silent, while
the men would all declare that they were on duty of
some kind. The adjutant would then ask them
what they were doing in at their quarters. Their
old stereotype answer, " We've just come in to see
if there was any rations to get," was of no use. The
adjutant would enforce his detail, and sergeants, as
well as privates, would have to go to make up the
quota.
The enemy was desperate in his efforts to break
through Burnside's line. Attempts were made,
nightly, with no other success than breaking
through the picket line and capturing a few
pickets.
On November 23d, a rumor became circulated
through our troops that at Loudon there were
eleven thousand men coming to reinforce us, which
had the effect to raise Burnside stock to par, and
send Libby and Andersonville far below it. The
good news was electrical. Each man forgot his
troubles, and cheerfulness pervaded both corps.
But, as the men listened, without success, to hear
distant cannonading in the rear of Longstreet, and
the day wore on, they began to tkink they had been
" sold." Nevertheless, many believed it, and thus
it served as an encouragement for several days.
On the next morning, about 2 o'clock, the enemy
made a desperate charge on that part of the picket
line held by the 51st P. V., and succeeded in
driving in our pickets to the main line in the city,
the enemy occupying the pits and a portion of the
ground between those two lines.
Orders were immediately despatched to Lieut.
Col. Schall to forward his brigade and take back

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the pits before day should break. This was no easy
task, as the night was dark as Erebus, not even a
house on fire to lend its light, and the enemy were
in possession in strong force. However, Col. Schall
advanced his brigade to the rear of the railroad
depot by the flank, then filing left among the
ruins of the late fires, he brought them quietly to
a front and formed line of battle. Bat, from the
nature of the ground, and the numberless piles of
debris of the fallen buildings, with the many halffilled cellars, holes, fallen trunks of trees, stumps,
etc., it was a very difficult task to make a charge in
the darkness of the night. Col. S. gave the orders
to advance ; but it was impossible to do so with an
unbroken line. Our men involuntarily came to a
halt. They began to be impatient and restive.
Daylight was near at hand, and soon the work must
either be done or the attempt abandoned. Col. S.,
in an undertone, again gave orders to forward —
the enemy being within fifty feet of his line, made
it necessary to be as quiet as possible in the move
ment ; but only a few in the vicinity of the lieut.
colonel could hear the order, and that part of the line
advanced a few paces, and came to a halt. Major
W. J. Bolton demanded of Col. Schall to know if
it was his object to take the pits. Col. S. replied it
was. Maj. Bolton asked him if he was ready, as it
was getting late. He was answered " Yes." Then,
in as loud a voice as he could command, which
reached to the right and left of the whole brigade,
Major Bolton said, " Then by G — d let us take
them ! Forward — double-quick — march !" and the
whole line charged on the enemy like a tornado,
yelling like so many devils, and pouring their
22*

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FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

volleys of musketry into the fleeing foe. The whole
thing, after the major gave the command, occupied
about thirty seconds and the work was completed.
The charge thus made afforded many a hearty
laugh at the expense of a great number of the men,
who were unfortunate enough to tumble into the
cellars and other places of like nature.
As the men rushed pellmell over the ruins, it
was no uncommon thing for a dozen of them to fall
together into a cellar, or some place of like charac
ter — some with their heads up and others with their
heels up.
The enemy were terribly frightened, for up to
the time that Maj. Bolton gave the command, they
were not aware of their close proximity to the
Yankees, and a whole brigade yelling as they did,
made the enemy think the entire corps was coming
at them.
The firing on both sides was pretty brisk until
daybreak, when the brigade withdrew, and left the
pickets once more in possession of their pits.
The next day. the 25th, the picket line was
strongly reinforced, as the event of the night pre
vious had proven how much too weak it was. Five
hundred more men were sent out, with those already
there, making a strong enough force to give an ob
stinate fight if attacked again.

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XII.

News from General Sherman — Night attack on the left — Fort
Sanders — The network of wires— Desperate charge of the
rebels — The struggle on the parapet — Repulse of the enemy
— Disparity of losses — Raising of the siege — Retreat of Longstreet — Rutledge — Blain's Cross-roads — Another battle — Reeulistrnent commenced — Close of the campaign of 18G3,

ON the 26th, things had quieted down all along
the lines. Very few shots were fired from either
side. Orders were issued in the afternoon to be
ready to move at a moment's notice. " What is up
now ?" was heard on all sides. Were we getting
reinforced ? and were we to attack the enemy and
compel him to raise the siege ? Some of the more
hopeful thought so ; others, more desponding,
thought Longstreet about to attack the whole line
by assault ; but nothing definite could be known.
Shortly after daylight of the 27th, an order was
read to the troops that Sherman, with twenty thou
sand men, was coming to our rescue. At the con
clusion of the reading, cheer upon cheer reverber
ated through the air and penetrated the enemy's
line. The good news made all forget their forlorn
and almost hopeless condition.
On the 28th the enemy attacked the extreme left
of our line, shortly after midnight, with desperation,
driving in our pickets and feeling the strength of
the main line. The enemy had received secret infor
mation that that part of the line was the weakest,
which it was, hence hard fighting occurred through
out the day and night. That night about 11 o'clock

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the enemy massed two full brigades under the com
mand of Gen. Garcie. As they now held that part
of our picket line, the two brigades were within
six hundred yards of our main line. After manoauvring around for a great length of time, the
enemy made a charge on Fort Sanders,* which oc
cupied a point a little to the right of centre. Gen.
Ed. L. Ferrero commanding that portion of the line
had taken the precaution to make such an attempt
on the part of the foe a failure. He had taken
down all the telegraph wires in and around the city,
and secured them to stationary objects for a num
ber of yards in his front, placing the wires about
a foot above the ground and far enough apart to
allow a person to walk between them, providing
they could see them. In the darkness the enemy
made his charge. They rushed like demons, yelling
defiance at the volleys of musketry that were poured
into them until they reached the wire abattis, when
they went to the ground in dire confusion by being
tripped. Lieut. Benjamin now handled his 20pounder pets with a will, pouring canister shot
into their confused masses while in their heaped up
condition. The struggle was fearful, the excitement
was great along the whole line. Would the enemy
be successful ! if so, Knoxville must fall and a sur
render would be inevitable.
The enemy in his desperation came on, his ranks
fearfully depleted ; he gains the parapet of the fort ;
a hand to hand fight ensues, some are in the fort
demanding the surrender of it with their hands on
* Named by Genl. Burnside in honor of Brig. Genl. Sanders,
who was mortally wounded near this point while gallantly
rallying his brigade, a few days prior to the final assault.

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the guns, with such exclamation as " Surrender,
you Yankee s — s of b — s;" but they had "reckoned
without their host." Many of them were laid low
by the blows from muskets, axe-handles, clubs,
stones, swabs and rammers, or anything else the
" Yanks" could seize most conveniently.
The enemy finally beat a retreat, or at least as
many of them as could get away. They had lost
heavily at the tripping up at the wires in killed and
wounded, and also heavily at the fort in killed,
wounded and prisoners. Ferrero's loss was com
paratively light, not amounting to more than 30
killed and wounded, while that of the enemy was
known to be over 500 killed, 600 wounded, and 315
prisoners, total 1,415.
The following account of the charge on Fort San
ders, is taken from the " Philadelphia Inquirer."
ARMY OF THE Oino. — A delayed despatch from Knoxville,
dated on Monday, tells of an abortive assault of the rebels
upon Gen. Burnside's picket line and first lines of defences.
The rebels were repulsed with great slaughter, leaving their
dead and wounded in our hands, with a number of prisoners.
This was a decided check to Gen. Lougstreet, and probably
had something to do with his retreat subsequently.
KNOXVILLE, TENN., Nov, 29 — j
The thirteenth day of the siege of Knoxville has been marked
by the most important engagement since the enemy first in
vested the city. The attack so long expected, a fight which,
in the comparison of loss on either side, finds a parallel only
in Gen. Jackson's battle of New Orleans.
The rebels charged across the open space which intervened
between the timber and fort, and which was crossed witli logs
and the stumps of felled trees, and came on at impetuous speed.
The first check was given when the foremost of the column
stumbled over a line of the telegraph wire, which had been
stretched through the low brush and coiled from stump to
stump out of ordinary view. As they halted here momentarily,
one falling over another, until the cause of the obstruction was
discovered, our batteries in the fort had full play.
The ambulances from both sides now met on the neutral
ground, and the dead were carried back to the rebel line, where

502

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY- FIRST

REGIMENT

they were buried by their late comrades. The officers com
mingled, from generals down to lieutenants, and so also did
the soldiers, until their officers ordered them back to their
places. Nearly a hundred of the rebel wounded had been
carried into the city and cared for at the hospital of the 9th
Corps.
The rebel wounded state that Gen. Longstreet issued an
address to the troops last night, boasting that they would all
take dinner in Knoxville to-day. Their repulse, when it was
so unlocked for, is therefore all the more disastrous and de
moralizing. The veteran 79th Highlanders held the post of
honor and danger here as they have on many another occasion,
and were supported by their not less valorous comrades of the
old 3d Mich., 29th Mass., and 100th Penn. "roundheads."
Our men, screened by the parapet of the fort and the edges
of the rifle-pits, lost less than twenty in killed and wounded.
I have not the exact list as yet, but it embraces about four
killed and fourteen wounded. This disparity finds a parallel,
as I have observed in the commencement of this letter, only in
the battle of New Orleans.
Among the individual acts of gallantry was that of Sergeant
Judge, of Company K, 79th Highlanders, who, when the bat
tle-flag of a Georgia regiment was raised upon the. parapet,
rushed out amid the bullets, and, tearing it down, carried it in
through the embrasures, a prize to his comrades.
While the main battle was in progress at Fort Sanders, our
line, further to the right, under Colonels Hartranft, Sieg
fried, and Schall, successfully charged and drove the rebels
from the position which they captured from us last night ; and
before the battle terminated our skirmishers at this point had
resumed their old places.
KILLED

AND

WOUNDED

PENNSYLVANIA]^.

100th Pennsylvania. — Killed, Aaron Templeton, Co. A, minie ball through head ; J. R. W. Garrittson, A, minie ball
through head. Wounded, Chas. McConnell, Co. E, minie
ball passing through right ilium ; First Sergeant Joe Kennedy,
minie ball, entering back of neck and passing out of mouth ;
Underwood, A, minie ball, slightly, in right side of neck.
50th Pennsylvania. — Wounded, Samuel Hese, Sergeant Co.
F, slightly, scalp.
51st Pennsylvania. — Killed, William Patterson, Co. K, Nov.
24 ; Wm. Doudy, H, Nov. 29. Wounded, 13. J. Reilly, Co. 13,
left thigh.
48th Pennsylvania. — Killed, Corp. John Spooner, Co. H.
Wounded, Second Lieut. Henry Jackson, Co. G, left thigh ;
James Heiser, Co. I, right ear.
The 51st, we learn, have inscribed upon their flags all the
battles in which they have participated. This has been done
in accordance with orders from Gen. Burnside, and we think
the order a very good one, as it distinguishes the veterans from
the newly enlisted troops. Look upon the list of battle names

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEEKS.

503

inscribed upon their flags, and then say whether or not they
are deserving of the praise which has been so freely lavished
upon them by our citizens. Read: — ROANOKE, NEWBERN,
CAMDEN, BULL RUN, CHANTILLY, SOUTH MOUNTAIN, ANTIETAM, SULPHUR SPRINGS, FREDERICKSBURG, VICKSBURG. JACK
SON,
STATION,
KNOXVILLE.
ThisLOUDON,
is a nobleCAMPBELL'S
record the 51st
have made
for themselves.

At noon of the same day Gen. Burnside sent Gen.
Longstreet a flag of truce to come and bury his
dead, which was gratefully accepted by that heroic
officer.
While the "truce" was good the boys of the 51st
P. V. met their enemies between the two lines on
the most friendly terms, and dealings sprung up of
an innocent nature between the two parties, trading
of knives, combs, buttons, tobacco, &c., was strongly
indulged in, to obtain mementoes of the occasion.
On the 30th, every man of the 51st P. V., whether
officer or private, who was not on other duty, was
engaged in building a fort, with sand-bags and cot
ton-bales, at the top of the hill, across the street lead
ing from the railroad depot, and in barricading the
same street from the depot up to the fort with wagons,
carriages and carts, for the attack on Fort Sanders
showed that the enemy was still anxious to capture
the town. It was completed on the 1st December.
On the 2d December, the 15th Indiana battery, that
was stationed in the fort, directly in the rear of that
part of the main line occupied by the 51st P. V., was
removed to the new fort just completed, leaving the
51st P. V. without the cover of a gun. The men
now saw, more than ever, the utility of the protec
tion afforded by the darn built by Col. liar tranft ;
their part of the main line was safe from a charge in
their front, at least.
Things now began to wear a more cheerful aspect

504

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY- FIRST

REGIMENT

along the whole line; the enemy was, no doubt,
making preparations to raise the siege by leaving ;
the firing was less frequent. On the 4th December,
but one shot was fired by their battery the whole
day ; and on Saturday, December 5th, (the nineteenth
and last day of the siege,) at 4 A. M., Longstreet left
the investment of the city to seek safety from the
vengeance of Gen. Sherman's army, who had come
to our rescue. Daylight convinced us that we were
once more free of the coils of the foe.*
As soon as it was known that Longstreet had left,
the 51st was ordered to follow him up, and secure
whatever prisoners might be found playing the lag-.
gard. A large number of his pickets had been left
on their posts, and were captured.
On Sunday, the 6th December, the paymaster, who
had been in Knoxville during the whole siege, and
unknown to any one except a few of the higher
grade of officers, gave notice to Maj. Bolton that he
would now proceed to pay his regiment, which was
accordingly done, filling the men with unbounded
joy. They were now free from the enemy, and with
their pockets full of money ; but the trouble was,
how were they to get it home, or what could they
buy with it ? Lieut. Col. Schall relieved them of the
former, by notifying them that he was going home
* Casualties at Knoxville :
Co. A. — Wounded, Corp. Daniel Lare ; Corp. Charles M.
Henniss, captured.
Co. C. — Wounded, Private Michael Dillon.
Co. G. — Wounded, Private Robert Hinton.
Co. II.— Killed, Private William Dougherty. Captured,
Private David Clarke.
Co. K. — Killed, Private Edward H, Patterson. Wounded,
Private George Bass.

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

505

in a few days, and any that wanted to send their
money home could do so by him — a risky, thankless
job. His kind offer was eagerly accepted.
On the 7th, before sunrise, orders were issued to
the 51st to pack up and to be ready to march at 7 J
o'clock, to leave tents stand, and with three days' ra
tions in their haversacks! Where were they to get
one day's, let alone three ? At the hour designated,
the regiment moved off towards Butledge, making
about twelve miles that day, many of them without
tasting a morsel of food until they halted for the
night, when Lieut. Stephens issued a pint of cornrneal to each man.
The regiment left again the next day a little before
noon, and made about seven miles more towards
Rutledge, where they halted near a creek for the
night. Next morning, at 7J o'clock of the 9th, it
left again and marched about seven and a-half or
eight miles, bringing them within a mile and a-half
of the town, then visible ; but there it had to corne
to a permanent halt, as Gen. Longstreet had his
head-quarters there, and did not care to be intruded
upon by the Yankees.
The weather being inclement, and they having no
thing with them to make shelter, they pulled down
the fences, and made temporary quarters with rails,
and cedar and pine boughs, which broke off the
severest of the storms. Here the 51st P. V. remained
for six days at perfect rest, except the foraging done
by individuals on their own private account, which
was pretty well followed up, especially by Companies
B, E, G, H and K, whose men seemed to be more
fortunate in hunting food than some of the others.
Lieut. Col. Schall left for home while the regiment

506

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

was here, having in his possession several thousand
dollars to pay to the families of the men of the 51st,
when he should arrive there.
As soon as the regiment came to a halt, on the
9th, a small detail of pickets was sent out, and the
line kept up during our stay there ; but on the morn
ing of the loth our quiet was disturbed by being
suddenly ordered to " fall in " and form a line of bat
tle, as the pickets were being driven in at a rapid
rate; but after standing in line for a long time, the
regiment was moved to a gorge in the Clinch Moun
tains, a short distance on our left. The enemy not
advancing any further at the time, two days' rations
of fresh beef and one of flour were issued to each
man ; but the men had scarcely got their flour wet,
and their meat on the fire, which some were frying
on the half of a canteen or a tin plate, or stewing it
in their tin cups, when it was found that the enemy
was close on to us, and we left in quite a hurry.
Some threw away their rations ; others left them on
the fire ; and others crammed theirs, stews and all,
into their haversacks, and fell in for a hasty retreat.
The regiment marched back towards Blain's Cross
roads that night until 3 o'clock A. M., (the 16th,) and
camped in a cornfield, that was more like a bed of
mortar than if composed of earth.
At 9 o'clock A. M. of the 16th, the regiment again
fell back about three miles, and made a stand against
the enemy. A rude breastwork was hastily con
structed on the left of the road by tearing down
fences, by order of Maj. Bolton, and we lay on our
arms that night in a drenching rain.
The next morning early the regiment was in line
of battle, Col. Hartranft commanding the division.

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

507

About 10 A. M., Wolford's celebrated Kentucky
cavalry was driven in, as also was Geri. Saml. Sturgis's cavalry. The 51st was then thrown forward as
skirmishers, and considerable skirmishing ensued
throughout the day. It held its ground with much
stubbornness; but night closing in, brought with it
quietness. One man of Co. K., Geo. Meis, was
wounded. Next morning, Lieut. Wm. E. Foster, Co.
E, who was in command of the skirmishers, advanced
his men about three miles further without much se
rious opposition. Longstreet having fallen back, as
the following despatch of December 19th asserts:
"LOKGSTK?:ET lias returned to Bull Gap, for the supposed
purpose of wintering in Watuga valley, or with the view of
moving into North Carolina. The railroad is in operation
south of Knoxville to London, and the river is open to naviga
tion from Louclon to Chattanooga. Gen. Foster has established
his headquarters at Knoxville."

While the skirmish was at its height, Lieut. J. P.
Brooke arrived from home, amid the congratulations
of his host of friends, and immediately buckled on
his sword-belt, and entered into the work with a
will.
The enemy had withdrawn out of harm's way, and
we again settled down to quietness. On Saturday,
the 19th, it was found necessary to post outside pick
ets,, or videttes, consequently five companies — D, E,
Gr, II and I — were sent over among the mountains
towards Indian Eidge, which was about two miles
and a-half to the right of the road leading to Eutledge. They staid two days, capturing a few rebels,
when Co. I, under Sergt. Parker, was sent out about
two and a-half miles further to the left to take up a
position at White's Cross-roads where they diverged,
one towards Buffalo Creek and one towards Chan-

508

HISTOKY

OF

THE

FIFTY- FIRST

REGIMENT

frau's Bridge; the other went over the Indian
Ridge, where a couple of brigades of Alabama cav
alry were known to be in camp, under the command
of a Gen. Martin.
On Monday, the 21st, Capt. Gaulin, of Co. G., who
was in command of the entire picket line, brought
his whole command out to where Co. I had been
posted the day previous ; but before night set in he
was relieved by the 35th Mass. On returning to
camp the pickets were made happy by Maj. Bolton
having all their tents, knapsacks, &c., brought out
from Knoxville. The regiment went regularly into
camp, where it remained to the close of its first en
listment, doing no duty but picketing, which many
of them had to do barefooted or nearly so. The
frosty ground would lacerate their feet ; yet there
was no alternative but to comply. The men while
here were receiving a small ear of corn per day for
a ration, which had to be shelled and ground, or
rather mashed up, in an old, rickety coffee mill ;
receiving the ear of corn generally about 9 o'clock
at 'night, when the mill for grinding it would be in
constant use till daylight, before the last man would
have his corn ground, as there was only one mill to
a company, and it worn out and useless to a great
extent.
It was now drawing on close to the last of the
month, as well as the last of the year. The Gov
ernment had made a liberal offer to all who would
re-enlist for another three years. The last of the
month was muster day, and up to that time very
little was said in favor of the new enlistment. At
last, the 81st of December, 1863, arrived ; the regi
ment was mustered for two months' pay ; still nothing

OF

PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

509

said about re-enlisting. Towards sundown a dress
parade was formed, and as it was about being dis
missed, Col. Hartranft appeared at the side of Maj.
Bolton, who was in front and centre of his regiment.
Col. II., through the courtesy of the Major, addressed
his old regiment in a short but patriotic speech,
urging it to re-enlist. The speech had the effect to
make the men think seriously about their own
selfish desires and of the more ennobling duty to
their country. The parade was dismissed at the
close of the speech, and the companies marched in
silence to their quarters, to ponder over what had
been said and promised by Col. Hartranft.
CASUALTIES
AT BLAIN'S
CROSS-ROADS. — Co.
tured — Privates Geo. Crawford, Court-land Dutt.
Co. F. — Captured— Private Wm. Mclutyre.
Co. G. — Wounded — Geo. Meiss.
Co. I. — Captured — Henry Derr.

B. — Cap

510

HISTORY

OF

THE

PAET

FJFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

IY.-18G4.

CHAPTER

I.

First muster of veterans — The veteran roll of honor — A thirty
days' furlough — Green-hide moccasins — Starting for home —
The march northward — Arrival at Camp Nelson, Ky. — New
clothing — Cincinnati — Preparations at home for reception
and welcome — Proclamation of Gov. Curtin — Arrival at
Harrislmrg — The welcome home — Affecting scenes.

JANUARY 1st, 1864; was a busy, exciting day
from the fact that a few had decided to re-enlist.
Lieut. Wm. K. Foster was detailed to recruit for
veterans. Private John Siebert, of Co. B, was the
first man to put his name down, and it remained on
the roll solitary and alone for several hours; finally
the veterans slowly began to enrol themselves. The
men were not satisfied to re-enlist under some of
their present officers. A visit to Col. Hartranft's
quarters was necessary to extort promises from him
that such a sergeant should be commissioned captain,
or 1st lieutenant, or 2d lieutenant, and that their old
officers should be discharged as soon as their term
expired. If all of this should be done then they
would re-enlist, but not without. Col. II. made some
very fair promises, and that alone was the induce
ment of many re-enlistments. Those promises he
intended to carry out in good faith, but Grov. Curtin
stood greatly in the way of the. fulfilling them; it
was he that did the commissioning and not Col II.

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

511

Although Col. H. tried his influence on the Governor,
to have his promises made good, the Governor was
inflexible, and the old officers still retained their
commissions, to be mustered out when the war
should be over.
On the 2d of January what few had re-enlisted
were marched down to the headquarters of Lieut.
Bartlett, an officer belonging to the U. S. regulars,
and acting as Commissary of Musters, who mustered
them in for three years longer.
Disputes now arose among the men as to who
should be captain or who should be a lieutenant,
and no more would re-enlist until that point was
settled, causing another visit to Col. Hartranft, who
again promised to accede to their wishes. Then a
few more enlistments would follow, and in this man
ner proceeded the whole work of re-enlisting, which
was not completed until the 5th of January, which
was the last day that re-enlistments would be
received. Up to the last hour there had been remustered in one hundred and eighty veterans, leav
ing about seventy-five men who were away on other
service, such as special or extra duty and a few who
could not be induced to a second enlistment. The
following is the muster-in rolls of the veteran organi
zation :
Co. A. — Capt. Jos. K. Bolton ; 1st Lieut. Abraham Ortlip;
2d Lieut. John S. Moore; 1st Sergt. John H. Collision; 2d
Sergt Benj. R. Thompson; 3d Sergt. Jacob H. Mover; 4th
Sergt. Osman Ortlip ; 5th Sergt, Ed. L. Evans ; 1st Corp. Frank
H. Mills ; 2d Corp. Geo. Ubele ; 3d Corp. Charles M. Henniss;
4th Corp. Levi Bolton ; 5th Corp. Jesse Herbster ; Musician,
John W. Shillich; Wagoner, Win. Hoffman ; Privates, George
Bodey, William Barr, George S. Buzzard, Henry Dickinson,
Isaac
E. Filmari,
Charles
Hansell, into
Jamesservice
O'Neil,
Jacob Oster,
Washington
Smith.
Remustercd
as Veteran
Vol
unteers, under General Orders No. 191, War Dept. series of
1-803,Army
by N.Corps.
C. Bartlett, Lieut, 3d U. S. Artillery, Com. Mus.
9th

512

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

Co. B.— Capt. Daniel L. Nicholas ; 1st Lieut. John H. Genther ; 2d Lieut. Robert M. Burrell ; Valentine Stocker, John
W. Meeker, Samuel A. Apple, John W. Beam, Alson Stocker,
Conrad Svvazer, Charles 8. Kuauss, John M. Wein, Philip A.
Barndt, George Johnson, Milton Ackerman, Enos Schoch,
Samuel F. Knapp, Henry Schooly, Matthew Delaney, Edward
Bullman, George W. Moser, Josiali Ackerman, Harrison Ack
erman, Adam Buzzard, John W. Brunner, William Colbrath,
Edward Hill, Thomas P. Miller, Christian B. Myers, John
Obeholzer, John Seibert, Charles Shark, Thomas Unangst,
Daniel W. Vannatta, Nicholas Wooring, Cyrus AVerkeiser,
Lewis H. Young.
Co. C.— -Capt. William Allebaugh ; 1st Lieut. Thomas J.
Lynch ; 3d Lieut. William F. Thomas ; 1st Sergt. George H.
Smith ; 2d Sergt. John W. Fair ; 3d Sergt. Nathan H. Ram
sey ; 4th Sergt. Benjamin F. Miller ; 5th Sergt. Montgomery
Smith ; 1st Corp. Peter Undercofler ; 3d Corp. William R.
Gilbert ; 3d Corp. Levi W. Shingle ; 4th Corp. Patrick Kevin ;
5th Corp. William Robinson ; 6th Corp. John C. Umstead ;
7th Corp. Henry H. Lightcap ; 8th Corp. A. J. Reed ; Hugh
Lynch, Benjamin R. Sill, Hugh McLain, William Bean, An
drew J. Grim, Wm. Kooker, .Joseph Cornog, Michael Dillon,
Samuel Dean, H. D. Espenship, James W. Elliott, David Espenship, Jacob Fizone, Charles R. Fox, George McGinley,
Andrew J. CTNeil, George Pickup, Jacob B. Rinker, James
Sullivan, George Stout, Henry Undercofler, A. Walt, H. P.
Wood, Mark L. Yerger, Willam H. R. Fox, William Gunn,
Frank Grubb, Ellwood Hamilton, Frank Hendrick, Henry
Jago, Benjamin Johnson, Jacob Keely, Benjamin Kooker,
George W. Lightcap
Co. D. — Capt. Lewis Hollman ; 1st Lieut.
(vacancy) ;
3d Lieut. Jonathan Swallow ; 1st Sergt. Isaac Fizone ; 2d
Sergt. David Long ; John Powell, Henry Foreman, William
Dignan, William D. Jenkins, John McNulty, John R. Gray,
John L. McCoy, Andrew Fnir, John Dunn, Albert List, Wm.
W. Smith, Isaac Tolan, Albert Wood, Joseph Anderson,
Noble Creighton, William Essick, John R. Fleck, Alfred R.
Gray, John Johnson, Elwood Lukens, Charles Lysinger, Sam
uel McDade, Dennis O'Neil, Barney O'Domiell, Thomas D.
Smith, W. P. Schall, Hiram Vanfossen.
Co. E. — Capt. George II. Hassenplug ; 1st Lieut. William R.
Foster ; 3d Lieut. Martin L. Schoch ; Francis R. Frey, Jas. L.
Seebold, Geo. C. Gutelius, Jno. M. Wierman, Thos/D. Reed,
E. G. Maize, Chas. Mills, C. Edelman, Geo. Diehl, Jno. H.
Sortman, Cyrus A. Eaton, Frank S. Sliaffle, Jno. W. Sheckler,
Peter Strubble, D. High, E. Sprowles, Levi H. Ammons, Thos.
S. Alauck, Geo. M. Aurand, Geo. H. Beers, Jas. P. Cornelius,
Thos. II. Claphan, Isaac Dolby, Jas. M. Dunkle, Jacob Miller,
S. M. Gregor, S. Searless.
Co. F.— Capt. Lane S. Hart ; 1st Lieut. Jacob P. Brooke;
3d Lieut. Wm. W. Owen ; 1st Serjjt. Howard Bruce ; 3d Sergt.
Henry
Jacobs;
A. Guder,
H. Fillman,
^B. Fie,
F. White,
B. Hurt,
J.
W. Reed,
J. Y.
Wm. H.
G. W. Wm.
Hiltner,
Silas

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEEKS.

513

Kelley, W. H. Yergcr, A. Casselberry, Jno. J. Sclioll, Jos.
Fizone, M. Hiltner, J. W. Truscott, Thomas B. Yergcr, R. B.
Lindsay, E. R. Worth, J. Wood, W. C. Hansell, W. Allen, H.
K. Adleman, M. Boyer, J. Callendcr, E. Charles, M. II. Dunn,
E. M. Johns, W. Kulp, R. McKevin. E. W. Reed, A. Wentzel, J. Wisler, G. D. Williams, S. D. Weidncr, J. C. Young.
Co. G. — Capt. Peter A. Gaulin ; 1st Lieut. John R. Gillilland ; 3d Lieut. George B. Campbell ; J. Gunsalles, C. B.
Stoncroacl, George Decker, W. Heichel, E. Shannon, G. Dumont, D. Youts, D. C. Ammerman, L. Cartuyval, J. J.
Peters, J. Ammerman, J. Casker, R. Hinton, J. E. Wilt, L.
Bowes, J. Heinel, S. Moore, T. McCafferty, B. McHarney, P.
Powers, N. Rolley, G. Wertz.
Co. H.— Capt. J, Merrill Linn ; 1st Lieut. William F. Camp
bell ; 3d Lieut, Jacob H. Santo ; II. McClure, D. G. Brown,
G. Breon, H. Hause, H. J. Lingennan, A. Durst, H. Fogleman, B. Dietrick, R. Baker, J. Moore. A. Bernade, G. W.
Carey, J. Pike, A. Henry, J. Hart/, T. P. Mars, J. Phliger,
P. Smith, J. II. Smith, F. Smith.
Co. I. — Capt. George W. Bisbing ; 1st Lieut George Schall ;
2d Lieut. Mark R. Supplee ; 1st Sergt. Tliomas H. Parker ;
3d Sergt. George W. Patterson ; 3d Sergt. John R. Davis ;
4th Sergt. George Carney ; 5th Sergt. Stephen S. Davis ;
1st Corp. James Cameron ; 3d Corp. William Pope; 3d Corp.
George W. S. Pennell ; 4th Corp. Lewis Patterson ; 5th Corp.
John M. Engle ; Cth Corp. James Tinncy ; Musicians, J. J.
Tomkins, James Chase ; Privates' — Albert H. Bisbing, Sam
uel E. Bradbury, Charles Baley, Thomas Cornog, Edward
Doyle, Henry Clay Davis, Charles V. Evans, George W.
Fulton, Philip Hattel, Michael Harrington, James H. Hibbert, Frederick Holbine, Francis R. Keating. John Murphy,
Thomas Rinehart, Thomas Troy, Abraham Wampole.
Co. K. — Capt. George P. Carman ; I st Lieut. - - (va
cancy) ; 3d Lieut. Franklin Beale ; J. Freyburger, J. Hawk,
F. B. Sterner, J. Vanlew, D. W. Eichman,
J. C. Diller,
Theo. Moses, Uriah Dean, F. S. Moyer, T. C. Pierce. J. Gib
son,P. T.
OdenJ.welder,
E. Cole,
F. Truxell,
J.
Huber,
Button, J.D. Barnhart,
Shingle, J.'C.Truxell,
T. Foster,
M. S.
Adams W. D. Ritter, J. Babcock, S. Cross'j;rove, A. Frey. II.
Gangwer, W. R. Logan, F. Schep, W. H. Vogel, J. Winegarden.
The above is the original re-enlistment muster-in rolls of the
51st Regiment Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers.

On the night of the 13th of January, at 11 o'clock,
orders were received by Maj. Bolton to prepare to
leave Blain's Cross-roads for home, to enjoy the
promised thirty days' furlough, and to recruit the
regiment. The satisfaction that only such an order
could give was instantly discernible, for when it
23

514

HISTOEY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIEST

KEGIMENT

came in the regiment was enjoying a quiet sleep ;
but all were roused up to hear " the sound of glad
tidings of exceeding great joy," and such whooping
and yelling as went through the woods that night,
was, as it were, enough to make the very mountains
tremble. It was far into the small hours of the
morning before perfect quiet was restored, and the
men sought their little shelter tents to dream of huge
pies, roast turkeys, beef, and the thousand other
delicacies that had been denied them for the past
two and a-half years, but which there were prospects
now of soon meeting on that board around which
loved ones would greet us as if arisen from the grave.
Who but the soldiers can picture to themselves the
joy and high anticipations that beat in every pulsa
tion of the soldier's heart at the prospect of a thirty
days' furlough, with a pocket full of money?
The only trouble now among the men was, how
are we to march through the snow and frost bare
footed? Clothing of all kinds was scarce — very
little to be had, but "Stevie" was doing his utmost
to relieve their necessities as far as lay in his power.
Col. Hartranft interested himself in obtaining a
lot of green hides for the men to make themselves
moccasins, that they might be able to march to
Nicholasville, Ky., where a complete outfit was ex
pected to be drawn. The hides were soon cut out
into coverings for the feet, and that much was a sat
isfaction and a hope. The men now set themselves
to work making them by sewing together with
thread and needle. Some few who understood the
shoemaker's delicate art of making a waxed-end had
rather the advantage. All were now busy as bees.
The major, in filling up and signing of orders, mus-

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ter rolls, inspection and requisition papers, ordnance
and quartermaster returns, and a hundred other
duties imposed on him as a result of re enlistment.
The adjutant, with settling up his books of the
regiment, posting and filing of orders and letters,
receiving and distributing orders. The quarter
master, with hunting up forage to issue to his teams
for the march, and of whatever rations he could find
for his men. The orderly-sergeants of the compapanies making out the discharge papers of each man,
who was now a veteran, filling up blank muster-out
and muster-in rolls for their respective companies,
answering the orderly's call every few minutes at
the adjutant's tent, filling up clothing, camp, and
garrison returns, making out duplicate copies of
ordnance returns, and seeing the orders as issued
were being carried out in their companies in correct
order, to expedite the many preparations made for
the " gay and happy " march that was soon to take
them away from so much suffering.
The men, too, were busy; those that possessed the
articles were washing their shirts, drawers, and stock
ings, sewing on buttons, patching, sewing up rips;
darning stockings, mending knapsacks and haver
sacks, cleaning guns and accoutrements, shaving,
washing, &c., all, all in the sweet anticipation of soon
being home.
At length the happy day arrived. Monday, the
18th of January, 1861, the veteran 5 1st bade farewell
to Blain's Cross roads and at seven o'clock in the
morning took up their line of march for home.
The evening before the snow fell to the depth of
three to four inches. The air ^was bitter cold, but
as the sun rose higher in the heavens the snow began

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to soften. The raw-hide moccasins retarded march
ing from their immense weight, being all made with
the hair on the outside, they held all the water, snow,
and mud like a sponge, each one weighing ten to
twelve pounds. The road in the rear of the regi
ment, after the first mile had been marched, looked
as if it had witnessed a hasty retreat. Moccasins,
camp-kettles, and everything that impeded marching
was left along the road. One man, Thomas Troy,
marched the whole distance from Blain's Cross
roads to Crab Orchard, Ky., without shoes or stock
ings, and was there ahead of Col. Hartranft, who was
on horseback, and rode far in advance of the regi
ment.
The regiment marched the route step. Every man
seemed to go on his own hook — all pushing ahead
as fast as they were able; but from the horrible
condition of the roads the men were scattered from
front to rear, at least five miles. Some were in good
condition and led the column, while others were not
sj fortunate, and would, from necessity, be left be
hind to struggle along the best they could. The
teams followed in the rear, and as Lieut. Stephens
came along at the head of his train, he could see
here and there lying on the roadside a poor, " played
out " soldier, and his generous heart would well up
with sympathy, and express it by taking the ex
hausted one's knapsack and gun and putting it in
the train, while his poor mules would be staggering
under the already overloaded wagons, then getting
off his horse he would put the weary man on in his
stead, a .d foot it ahead of his train in the miry road.
Invariably the man thus helped along on his painful
march, would be reasonable enough, after riding a

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couple of miles, to return the horse to " Stevie," with
many thanks, only for the horse to be turned over
to another unfortunate whom the quartermaster
might chance to meet.
W. Percy Schall, the mail carrier or messenger
of the 51st, who was in possession of a horse, did
the same thing, and never seemed so happy as when
he was walking alongside of his horse, with a poor
cripple riding. O, is it not beautiful to see such
sweet oases in such a vast desert !
The first day's march took the regiment about
seventeen miles nearer home, where it encamped in
a woods on the left hand side of the road going to
wards Tazewell, Tenn. Such shelters as could the
most readily be put up for the night were built.
The air now was piercing cold. Huge log fires
were built in front oT the respective quarters of the
men, and kept burning all night to keep the wet and
bemired soldiers from freezing.
Early on the morning of the 19th the regiment
again set forth on the road to Tazewell, arriving
within a short distance of it, making about twentytwo miles that day, and camping for the night in a
pine woods, surrounded by the Clinch mountains.
Pickets were here posted, as the rebel guerrillas
were scouting around and through the woods, making
it unsafe to camp without that precaution. It was
some time before sundown when the regiment reaphed
its camping-ground, and long after nightfall before
the teams got in, but later still when the last strag
gler arrived. The quartermaster here issued a little
corn meal to the men ; but their eagerness to get
home took away their appetite, and nothing but soft
bread, pies and puddings, sausage and scrapple,

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which stared them in the face, though a great ways
off, could induce them to care whether rations were
issued or not.
On Wednesday, the 20th, at 7 A. M., the column
was again in motion, and passed through Tazewell
and camped in a barren field on the estate of a
brother of Maj. Gen. Eobert Patterson, of first Bull
Eun notoriety.
On the 21st the regiment crossed the Cumberland
mountains, into Kentucky, at the Gap.
Nothing of particular interest occurred in crossing
the Log and Wild Cat mountains, or anywhere along
the line, except the passing of the different streams
of water, which were now worthy of the names of
rivers. The Clinch, the Cumberland, the Tennessee,
the Little Eockcastle, the Big Eockcastle, were
now swelled to the size of respectable rivers. These
rivers were all forded in October, on the advent of
the 51st into Tennessee; but the heavy rains and
deep snows melting on the mountains sent the cur
rents down the channels with an impetuosity that
was fearful to behold. Another event occurred ; the
regiment, after passing through Barboursville, went
into camp along the banks of a small creek, about
one and a half miles north of the town. The men
who were on the advance, after selecting their shelter
for the night, returned to the town, where a ball or
party was being held by the rebel citizens. Our
Yankees, wishing to trip it on the " light fantastic,"
concluded they would volunteer their presence; but
secesh not accepting the generous offer, claimed the
right to eject their would-be visitors. The women
(for none were ladies) screamed at the top of their
voices, and left the room ; a fight ensued, in which

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the Yankees were the victors, holding the saloon and
the music at all hazards, until they thought it near
time to get to their camp outside of the town. But
previous to " evacuating," each man armed himself
with a canteen full of pure old Bourbon, which
helped him along on his next day's march by
strengthening his spirit and weakening his muscles.
The regiment arrived at Crab Orchard on the
afternoon of the 28th, being ten days since it left
Blain's Cross Eoads. Marching through the town, it
went into camp in a field just outside, on the right
of the pike going towards Lancaster, Ky. Here was
met a large number of men belonging to the 51st,
also Lieut. Col. Schall, on his way back to rejoin his
regiment, after being home on a leave of absence.
On the 29th the regiment camped near Hickman's
Bridge, on the Kentucky river. Taking an early
start the next morning, it crossed the bridge at sun
rise, and arrived at Camp Nelson about 8 A. M., on
Saturday, the 30th, 1S64, making the whole distance,
one hundred and ninety-one miles, in eleven days
and one hour.
As soon as the regiment arrived at Camp Nelson
a full supply of all kinds of clothing was drawn and
issued from a large, newly-built frame storehouse.
The teams were turned in, if they could be termed
teams, for the poor mules were in a most pitiable
condition, worn out, galled, and in a starving condi
tion ; merely their skins stretched over a bony frame;
nothing more. They had seen terrible usage. So
poor and miserable were they that in the mornings
when they were fed for the day's march, some of them
had to be helped to get upon their feet so they could
eat their forage. Why such teams were issued to

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Lieut. Stephens for such a long and mountainous
march is more than can be divined. Some that left
Blain's Cross Beads never reached Camp Nelson ;
they gave out and were left along the road, either to
starve to death or to be' picked up by another pass
ing train, and to be again harnessed up in the place
of another mule which had given out; but one that
got clear of his wagon at the bridge just outside of
Crab Orchard made that his final resting-place.
The poor animal fell down from exhaustion, and the
gears were taken off of him so that he could get up ;
but in his struggles, being on the edge of the bank
generally found at either end of a stone bridge, he
began rolling down the embankment, and only
stopped when he rolled into the water. Not having
strength enough to help himself, he finally drowned.
After getting new and clean clothing, the men all
betook themselves to a stream of water, and gave
themselves such a cleaning as they had not had for
four months. The regiment then marched to Nicholasville, to take cars on the Kentucky Central Rail
road for Covington, where it arrived on the 31st, and
was taken to the outskirts of the city to await fur
ther orders.
On February 1st the 51st crossed the Ohio river at
Cincinnati, and was marched up to the Fifth street
market-house, where it quartered for further orders,
and to receive the whole pay and bounty due from
the original enlistment and the one month's advance
pay, the first instalment of the $402 bounty, includ
ing the $2 premium for the veteran enlistment; but
when the rolls were presented to the paymaster, he
refused to pay on them, and they were rejected.
This cog out of the marching machine took several

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claj^s to repair. A complete set of muster-out and
muster-in rolls had to be got out anew, which occu
pied nearly four days to accomplish. The most
rapid penmen were in great demand, and they
labored hard to get through as soon as possible.
While the new rolls were being made out, the
regiment occupied the market house on Fifth
street, for their quarters while in that city. The
officers, both field and staff', took up their quarters
in the various hotels of the city. While the regi
ment was lying here, awaiting the completion of the
rolls, its friends at home were making extensive
preparations to greet them with a hearty welcome,
as testified by the following, which appeared in the
"Defender? of January 26th, 1864, viz.:
"A joyful telegram announced to our citizens last week, from
Col. HARTRANFT, that the 51st regiment had generally re-en
listed, and would be home about the fifth of next month, or a
week from next Saturday. The probability is, that the time of
their return maybe extended beyond that point somewhat, but
at any rate in the course of a few days thereafter, they will be
amongst us. A meeting of our citizens was called last Friday
evening, to make suitable preparations for their reception.
We hope that on this occasion there may be such a hearty wel
come given them by the entire community as will make these
heroes' hearts glad. We all remember the spontaneous out
burst of honor that was awarded the 4th regiment as it left
our borough on that clear, spring morning, in April, 1861, and
the hearty God bless you that was given our 51st as they left
for the front of the battle, years since.
" These men have now won for themselves imperishable
honor, on almost a dozen fiercely contested battlefields, and no
regiment among the million men that have been battling for
the right, have accomplished or suffered more, and in every cir
cumstance and position they have been placed, have come forth
covered with more honors and a brighter glory. (Sometimes
such occasions as these returns are made use of by politicians
and demagogues to flatter men for their own selfish purposes,
an outburst of popular sentiment furnishes some men with an
opportunity to display themselves in a windy harangue — as a
pin lets out the contents of a gas bag.) Let the reception be a
grand ovation of the people to do respect to the men that have
fought and bled for us on many a battlefield. All hail ! all
honor! to the Fifty-first. WELCOME! WELCOME! THRICE
WELCOME HOME !"

23*

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"At the town meeting held last Friday evening — to make
arrangements for the reception of the 51st regiment, after ap
pointing a committee to make the necessary preparations — a
resolution was unanimously adopted, requesting the town
council of the borough of Norristown to appropriate a fund for
the purpose of paying a bounty of three hundred dollars to each
one of the 51st regiment that has or shall re-enlist, or to any
new recruit that should enlist in this regiment. This is a
move in the right direction, and if our loud professions of
respect and admiration for these war-worn heroes of a dozen
battle-fields mean anything, let us put our professions into
practice, by giving them this bounty. The resolution should
be made so as to authorize the payment of this bounty to every
veteran from our town, who shall re-enlist, no matter to what
regiment in active service they may be attached. We have
understood that a number of our citizens are in other parts of
the grand National Army, and if they are willing to again
enter the field, let the borough pay each man that counts in
our quota.
" This, gentlemen, must be done! We know that there has
been a good deal said in praise of the regiment commanded by
Col. HARTKANFT, but talk is cheap and quite unprofitable,
without corresponding deeds'. And whatever question there
be in the minds of any of our citizens, of the appropriation of
money out of the common treasury to new recruits, there can
be nothing in the way, in furnishing those who have borne
their part in the terrific contests of the last three years, in re
ceiving a bounty. While other places are giving three hundred
dollars, and more too, to raw recruits, we dare not hold back
from showing our appreciation of the valuable services our men
have rendered the nation in its trial, by withholding what is so
manifestly their due. Every veteran from our borough, or that
shall represent Norristown, in any regiment, in the active future
operations of our army, must receive three hundred dollars
bounty /
"We have not much doubt but that the men that are left,
and now constitute what remains of the 51st regiment,
although reduced to less than one-fourth the full complement,
are really worth more than a thousand newly-enlisted soldiers
would be. If we have paid bounty in other cas s, as a borough,
and last summer paid five dollars a week to the militia, surely
the men who have been three years fighting, without anything
from our borough, should come in for a share of our good will
practically carried out. An appropriation by the town council
is the fairest way to do the thing, because then the taxes are
apportioned equally among our citizens. While there are
many men who are always willing to contribute their share to
this war, there are others who do not do this thing in propor
tion to their income and means. We shall see who will hold
back in such a crisis.
"After considerable delay in coming to any conclusion, be
tween the citizens in favor of a bounty and the borough coun
ties, the following has been adopted : The borough agrees to

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pay two hundred and fifty dollars to each re-enlisted volunteer
from our borough, in the 51st regiment, and the same amount
to all new recruits in that regiment. It is proposed to raise the
necessary amount of money for this purpose, by issuing bonds
immediately, by the Councils, conditioned that they shall be
void unless the Legislature legalizes the borough loan. At
first, the members of the Town Council hesitated to assume the
responsibility of borrowing money and issuing bonds for which
there was no law. By the present agreement the citizens
generally assume a portion of the responsibility, because if the
loan is not legalized the man that loans the money runs the
risk of the loss. By this means the citizens generally are
deeply interested in securing an act to legalize the loan by the
borough.
u Some may think that it is running too great a risk in loan
ing money to the borough and taking a bond with the provision
that shall make it void in case it is not nifde legal by an
act of the Legislature. But there is scarcely a risk in this mat
ter, for the Legislature has legalized such acts with but little
hesitancy, and even in cases where there has been some op
position ; in regard to our borough there will be none to op
pose. A petition is in circulation, and very generally signed,
requesting the Legislature, at their earliest practicable moment,
to pass an act that shall make the bonds binding — and this will
be done ! It seems, therefore, that so far as Norristown is con
cerned we have the arrangements complete, and we can con
fidently hope that we shall be able to find volunteers sufficient
now to fill our entire quota under all the calls, without resort
ing to that severe measure — a draft. The plan seems to be upon
as fair a basis as could have been adopted, under the different
views entertained by our citizens.
44 To give a bounty to the men who are re-enlisting in the
regiments who have been in active service as long as the 51st
is an act of the simplest justice. Instead therefore of putting
it down to the lowest figure we should have made it as large
as we could possibly do it. What citizens for thirteen dollars,
or, with the bounty, about twenty dollars a month, would
agree to do the work, in marching and in camps that our heroic
men have done, without running the risk of life in a single
battle. The fact is Congress should at once make the pay of
a private a dollar a day, certainly as much as the commonest
laborer can earn at home. The admiration of the soldier's fel
low-citizen should not be entirely expended in that very cheap
article talk, but in deeds, both to the volunteer himself and to
his family at home. Acts, not words — deeds, not fuss — are the
claims of the hour."

And again of Feb. 2d, 1864, in the same paper :
" All the town is alive with notes of preparation in getting
ready for the reception of the 51st. We hope the arrangements
for that event will be on a scale that will eclipse anything that
has ever preceded it here in our borough. Let every house

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REGIMENT

display its welcome to our friends coming home from the wars,
and every citizen show their admiration of these men that have
helped to keep the invader from our own soil. For terrible as
this rebellion has been, and as much mourning and desolation
as it has brought, yet we here in the North can form no idea
of the barren desolation it has produced through the Southern
States. Towns and cities destroyed — all their railroads and
means of travel — churches, school-houses, and homesteads
around which gathered all the associations and endearments
of life swept away as with a tornado. They have indeed,
sowed the wind and reaped the whirlwind ; a century of unin
terrupted prosperity cannot replace many portions of the South
as it was before the insane hand of rebellion was raised to de
stroy our government.
"Yet had it not been for the self-denying volunteer rushing
to the contest, our State, and our fields and homes, would have
shared the late visited in the South. These men have stood as
a wall of fire and steel between us and our enemies ; let us, as
we look at Gettysburg, the decisive battle of the war, remember
what we have been saved from. In remembering this let us
not fail to do honor to the returning heroes — our sons and
brothers and dear friends. Fling out your banners and wel
come from every house."

It appears as if the friends of the regiment were
determined to furnish, enough to satisfy the ''inner
man," especially of drink, on its reception in Norristown, as the following from the Defender of Feb. 2,
'6-i, would indicate :
It is reported that the Committee of Arrangements, ap
pointed by the town meeting, for the reception of the 51 st regi
ment, decided to purchase from Reading six or eir/ht barrel? of
ale. That will be more than a gallon apiece to each returned
soldier belonging to our borough ; and further, that funds have
been appropriated and a sub-committee appointed to go to
Reading and get this drug. We shall watch events in this
line, and see who this ale is really intended for. This matter
may need some ventilation in future.

The following is the plan of reception adopted by
a meeting of the citizens of Norristown :
THE RETURNING SOLDIERS. — Preparations for their Recep
tion. — Town Meeting, &c. — The receipt of the despatch from
Col Hartranft, and announcement among our people that the
Fifty-firsjt had re-enlisted and were coining home to enjoy their
furlough, at an early day, set the public mind to work to devise
proper measures of welcome. A meeting was called and held
at Odd Fellows' Hall last Friday evening for this purpose, over
which Colonel James Boyd presided, assisted by William H.

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Yerkcs and Mark Thomson as Secretaries. A committee of
thirty-four persons was appointed to report a suitable plan of
reception. The following1 resolutions having been reported by
them, were unanimously adopted :
Resolved, That the day of the arrival of the 51st Regiment of
Pennsylvania Volunteers, in this place, be celebrated by a
general suspension of business, and that the regiment be wel
comed by a military and civic procession, and by a collation at
the public expense.
Resolved, That the burgess and town councils of the borough
of Norristowii and Bridgeport, in their official capacity, be a
special committee to receive and welcome the regiment, and
that all other citizens, without distinction, be invited to be
present, and participate upon the occasion.
Resolved, That a committee of arrangements, composed of
thirty-four members, be appointed by the Chairman, to make
all suitable arrangements for the purpose of effecting the object
of this meeting.
Resolved, That an address to the regiment, on the part of the
citizens of the borough of Norristown and vicinity, be prepared
and delivered upon the occasion, and the committee designated
B. E. Chain, Esq., to deliver the same.
The report of the committee being unanimously adopted, the
Chairman announced the following named gentlemen the Com
mittee of Arrangements: F. Sullivan, S. E. Hartranft, S. N.
Rich, Joseph Beerer, G. N. Corson, S. A. Kreible, James
Hooven, J. B. Dunlap, F. Derr, Joseph L. Allebough, Henry
C. Hill, R. E. Taylor, Lloyd Jones, Mark Thomson, E. A.
Banks, C. H. Stinson, Michael Mooney, Win. H. Yerkes, B.
M. Boyer, Charles Hunsicker, Walter H. Cooke, Win. Schall,
R. S. Newbold, Charles Earnest, Robert Iredell, A. B. Longaker, A. J. Anderson, L. E. Corson, J. Grier Ralston, B. B.
Hughes, Win. H. Holstein, Andrew Shainline, J. C. Snyder,.
William B. Rambo ; and, on motion, the Chairman of the
meeting was appointed Chairman of the Committee of Ar
rangements.
On motion the Committee of Arrangements were instructed
to extend invitations to Gens. Hancock, Burnside, and Slemmer to be present at the reception.
On motion of D. Krause, Esq., the following resolutions
were adopted :
Resolved, That Col. Hartranft's Fifty-first, the heroic regi
ment which went from our midst to do battle for the Union,
the Constitution, and the Flag, and amongst the foremost did
battle in the twelve engagements of Roanoke Island, Newbern, Camden, Manassas No. 2, Chantilly, South Mountain,
Antietam, Fredericksburg, Vicksburg, Jackson, Campbell's
Station, and Knoxville, deserve all a patriotic people can
award to merit.
Resolved, That we, their companions and friends, give all
hail to them in this meeting for their services as officers and
privates.
Resolved, That by enlisting again after being reduced to less

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than half their original number in fighting the rebel army,
they, as officers and men, show themselves as the true stuff
that makes an American army, whether the war be to repel in
vasion, or subdue causeless, lawless, and criminal insurrection.
Resolved, That this meeting will make every suitable arrange
ment to give to this hero regiment such reception on arriving
here, as will tell our love of brave soldiers and our determined
resistance of treason wherever or however that may be
enacted.
On motion, the following resolution was unanimously
adopted :
Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting, that the town
council of the borough of Norristown, should appropriate out
of the funds of the borough, at least three hundred dollars to all
of
51stthree
Regiment
V"., whothehave
said regiof
mentthe for
years orP. during
war,re-enlisted
and that ina bounty
three hundred dollars be paid to every new man who volun
teers in said regiment, and is credited to this borough, to the
extent of our quota.
ROUTE OF ESCORT. — The line will form on DeKalb street, in
Bridgeport, and upon the arrival of the 51st regiment, will
move across the upper bridge to Norristown ; thence along De
Kalb street to Egypt street ; down Egypt to Franklin ; coun
termarch up Egypt to Markley ; countermarch down Egypt to
Swede street ; up Swede to Oak ; down Oak to DeKalb ; down
DeKalb to ReifFs market house, where a collation will be
served up for the regiment.

At the same time Gov. Curtin issued his proclama
tion to fill up the regiments of Pennsylvania troops
in the 9th Army Corps, of which the 51st was one,
by recruiting. The following is the proclamation :
HEADQUARTERS P. M., ADJ'T GEN'S DEP'T,
)
HARRISBURG, Jan. 21st, 1864. j
The War Department having authorized Maj. Gen. Winfield
S. Hancock and Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, two of the
most distinguished commanders in our army, to recruit the
2d and 9th Army Corps, now under their respective commands,
to fifty thousand men each, for such duty as may be specially
assigned to said corps by the War Department, I address my
self to the patriotic and loyal citizens of Pennsylvania, ear
nestly invoking them to .end their active aid to Gens. Hancock
and Burnside in the prosecution of such measures as they may
adopt, under the regulations of the War Department governing
enlistments in this State, to fill up the Pennsylvania regiments
and batteries of these noble corps.
They comprise the following Pennsylvania regiments and
batteries, viz. :
In the 3d Army Corps, commanded by Maj. Gen. Hancock,

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are the 53d, 69th, 71st, 72d, 81st, 100th, 116th, 140th, 145th, and
148th regiments, and independent batteries C and F, and bat
teries F and G of the 1st Pennsylvania artillery.
In the 9th Army Corps, commanded by Maj. Gen. Burn side,
are the 45th 48th, 50th, 5lst, and 100th regiments, and Durell's
independent battery D.
The reinforcement of our victorious armies in the field is the
only means of bringing the rebellion to an early close, and of
forever sealing the fountain of civil war. Let us then maintain
the illustrious record which those gallant armies have already
won, and effectively aid the government in securing a glorious
future to our country, by filling up the ranks now greatly
reduced by disease and the casualties of the field.
Full information regarding bounties and enlistments in any
of the Pennsylvania organizations attached to the 2d and 9th
Army Corps, will be found in the published circulars of Maj.
Gens'. Hancock By
andorder
Burnside.
of
A. G. CURTIN, Gov., &c.
A. L. RUSSELL, Adjt. Gen. Penna.

On the 5th of February the complement of rolls
(nine to a company) were finished, and the 51st P.
V. V. received its full pay and allowances, and on the
6th marched to the railroad depot and took the mid
night train for the east, arriving in Harrisburg, Pa.,
on the 8th, quartering in the Soldiers' Kefreshrnent
Saloon, nearly opposite the lower depot. Here they
received a breakfast which was a disgrace to the
whole State. A tincup of what purported to be
coffee, but wasn't; only a strange, weak mixture,
sweetened with molasses, a slice of dry, stale bread,
and a chunk of strong, fat pork. Such a feast as that
would have been relished by the men five or six
weeks before, but not now, while the men were in a
civilized community and had plenty of money, with
a chance of spending it.
The saloon doors were kept closed until the long
table was prepared for the men to come in and eat.
The regiment used the adjoining rooms as quarters,
the officers boarding at their favorite hotels. When
breakfast was ready on the morning of the 9th, the

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saloon doors were thrown open for the soldiers to
enter, which they did in a respectful, orderly man
ner; but as the three or four on the right reached
the table they tasted their coffee and bread and pork,
but disliking all three they " about faced and marched
to the rear," soon followed by the whole regiment in
disgust, for they had not been offered such a repast
in States on which they had no claim. Baltimore —
yes, rebel Baltimore did far, far better than that !
The men were clamorous to get away from such un
precedented liberality, and wanted to get home.
Col. Hartranft, who preceded the regiment to liarrisburg, telegraphed on to Norristown the following
dispatch, as it appeared in the Norristown papers of
the 8th of February.
HARRISBURG, Feb. 7th, 1864.
To JAMES BOYD :— The regiment will reach Bridgeport at 1
o'clock P. M. (Tuesday the 9th). J. F. HARTRANFT.

The following order was published on receipt of
the despatch :
The marshals of the several bodies who propose to partici
pate in the reception of the above regiment will meet at Brower's Hotel, Monday evening, February 8th, at 6j o'clock.
R. E. TAYLOR, Chief Marshal.
The Committee of Thirty-four will meet in the Council
Chamber at 7 o'clock p. M. on Monday.
JAMES BOYD, Chairman, fyc.

Prior to the 51st leaving Harrisburg, an invita
tion was tendered the five companies of the left of
the regiment to participate in the hospitalites to be
offered it on its arrival in Norristown, but it was
repectfully declined as it only would make their
time a couple of days shorter to enjoy their fur
loughs at their respective homes, for it must be re
membered that those companies, B, B, G, II and K,

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were from a far extent of country being made up from
seven or eight different counties.
Early on the morning of the 9th the whole regi
ment was astir preparing to leave for home, com
panies A, C, D, F and I, for Norristown, Co. B, for
Easton, and the other companies to their individual
homes. At 8 A. M. the Norristown companies took
the cars and steamer for Bridgeport where it arrived
at twenty minutes past 1 P. M.
The cars containing the soldiers had been cut
loose from the train and halted near the turnpike
at the crossing.
The crowd that had assembled to greet the regi
ment beggars description ; look whatever way one
might, nothing but a surging, seething mass of hu
manity would greet the eye. The father looking
for his boy in blue, the mother frantic with joy, the
wife, how shall she be described, as she stood aloof
with her children clinging around her, all exerting
their eyes to catch a glimpse of the husband and
father. Sweethearts were there too, brothers and
sisters, friends and entire strangers were all there to
offer their congratulations to the returned veteran
volunteers. How many assembled in that throng
who came with their hearts beating high with the
joy of grasping that dear one's hand whom they fully
expected to meet at that happy moment ! but in
stead, received the stunning answer, " he is dead !"
How many cannot be told, but certain it is, there
were some amongst that class. An aged man whose
silvery hair betokened threescore years and ten,
had corne in his carriage with a daughter, and an
empty seat to take the loved one home where they
could have him all, all to themselves. The mother

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remained at home to have prepared something nice
to tempt a dainty appetite, but alas! seeing the 1st
sergeant of his dear " Dick's " company he elbows
Ijis way through ihe crowd and reaches the sergeant
with the inquiry, lt Has Dick got out of the cars
yet?" the sergeant used to seeing death around, answered in an indifferent tone, " Why Dick's dead and
buried long ago, didn't you know it?" The old
man's heart was crushed, his chin dropped on his
bosom, and he returned to his daughter who was
sitting in the carriage awaiting the father and
brother's appearance, but there came no brother — he
lay sleeping his last sleep afar off at Camp Nelson,
Ky. What must have been that aged mother's
grief when she discovered the cause of the returned
vacant seat in the carriage that was to have brought
so much joy to her (now broken) heart ! Yes, poor
Dick was dead, and had died two hundred miles
away from his regiment, or a friend who could have
informed his parents of his decease. It may seem
singular that none of his comrades in the regiment
had sent a line to his parents apprising them of his
death, but not a man that knew Dick expected any
thing else than to meet him at Camp Nelson and to
bring him home with them, but on inquiring for
him at that place, they were astounded to learn that
he died January 1st, 1864.
After the greetings were partly over at the cars,
several ineffectual attempts had to be made to form
the regiment before it was accomplished, and then
it was taken in hand by the committee and marched
over the route as published. The town wore the
appearance of a holiday, business was entirely sus
pended, and the streets were thronged with thou-

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sands from the distant country around. After the
route was traversed and the market house reached,
a neat speech was addressed to the veterans from
the steps of that- building by B. E. Chain, Esq., on
behalf of the committee of reception and the citi
zens. After which the regiment marched in to the
market house and enjoyed a feast worthy of the
name, and creditable to all who prepared it ; all the
delicacies of the season were there until the staunch
tables manifestly groaned beneath the weight. After
partaking of the splendid collation, the companies
were again formed, the men received their furloughs,
were dismissed for thirty days, and allowed to take
their guns and accoutrements home with them, under
the injunction to keep them clean, and to report to
their company commanders for duty at the expira
tion of thirty days. They were now to enjoy thirty
days of feasting and pleasure of which every minut j
was applied with assiduity to that purpose.

CHAPTEE

II.

Reorganization of the 51st — Leaving home — Harrisburg again
— " Taking a french " — Deaths on furlough — Arrival at Bal
timore — Annapolis — Camp Parole — Letter from Lieut.-Col.
Schall — Camp Bell — Correspondence — Recruiting detail —
Visit from Generals Burnside and Grant — Preparing to go
to the front.

ON the 9th of March the regiment, or the five
companies from Norristown, met in that borough to
take their departure for Camp Curtin at Harrisburg.
At an early hour they embarked on the cars of the

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Beading railroad. At the crossing of the pike where
they disembarked thirty days before, their friends
again assembled to see them depart, with different
feelings to those felt on the occasion of their late re
ception ; then they were all smiles and joy, bat now
their smiles were turned to tears, their joys to al
most inconsolable grief. At last the locomotive's
whistle was sounded, and as the wheels slowly be
gan to revolve, the crowd and the soldiers making
the welkin ring with lusty cheers, were separated
from each other, some never to meet again. The
soldiers were in fine spirits and had seen pleasure
enough, and were well satisfied as they sped on their
way to camp, while their friends with sad hearts
turned their steps to that now more than dreary
home.
Arriving in Harrisburg in the early part of the
afternoon, the five left companies were found to be
already there ; the regiment formed in line, marched
out to Camp Curtin where Wedge and Sibley tents
were issued, then pitched, and the men began again
their old routine of camp life.
The numbers of the regiment were largely in
creased while home on furlough by the acquisition
of recruits. Eecruiting in camp went on as it did
in other places.
The regiment left Bridgeport under the command
of Lieut. Col. Schall, Col. Hartranft remaining in
Norristown for several days after the departure. A
few men also remained behind with the consent of
Lieut.-Colonel Schall, as also did a few without the
consent of any officer. It was amusing to see this
latter class, as they promenaded the streets of Nor
ristown; Col. Hartranft was a great deal on the

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street, and as those " stay behinds " spied " Old
Johnny,'' they would slip like a flash into a store, no
matter whose or what kind, and there watch until
Col. Hartranft would be out of sight ; but sometimes
when they could not elude him quick enough, they
would ''face the music " with deliberate effrontery,
saluting him according to army regulations and in
the civilian style of " Good morning, Colonel," or,
" How are you, Colonel ?" The colonel rarely
deigned a reply to the compliment paid him, but
putting on a withering frown, would ask, " What are
you doing in Norristown ?" or "Don't you know
your regiment has left ?" to which the truant soldier
would reply, " Col. Schall said I might stay till to
morrow," when, perhaps, Col. Schall knew nothing
about it, and Col. Hartranft knew perfectly well
that the men were lying to him 1
A few deaths from sickness occurred in the regi
ment while home on furlough, among whom were
Barney
Co. I. O'Donnell of Co. D, and Dennis Buggy of
The regiment stayed in Harrisburg until eight
o'clock Sunday morning, the 20th of March, when it
marched across the Susquehanna river, on the old
covered bridge, to the opposite side, to Harrisburg,
where cars of the Northern Central Eailroad were in
waiting to take it on to Baltimore. There were no
less than nine wagon loads of officers', camp, and
garrison baggage to be transported, consequently a
large detail was made to load the wagons at Camp
Curtin, to unload them at the cars, and then again
to load it into the cars ; all had to be carried from
the wagons to the cars, as the teams could not get
near them.

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A few days before the regiment left Camp Curtin,
about twenty of the men took what they called a
" French furlough," and went home again to see their
families, without acknowledged authority. Among
them was a number of sergeants and corporals.
Lieut.-Col. Schall felt very much incensed at them
for doing so, and fully determined to punish them
on their return ; the non-commissioned officers were
to be reduced to the ranks, and the privates to be
court-martialed. What made matters worse, was a
bill presented to Col. Schall, by the Reading Rail
road Company for fifty-eight dollars, to indemnify
the company for the damage done to their splendid
passenger cars, by some of the drunken men of his
regiment, in their transit from Bridgeport to Harrisburg, on the 9th inst.; which bill Lieut.-Col. Schall
presented to the men for them to pay, but as no one
had had & hand in the injuring of the cars, it was
found impossible to collect it, Lieut.-Col. Schall paid
the bill himself, sooner than let it be apportioned to
each man of the regiment, whether guilty or not,
and have it deducted from the pay rolls on the next
pay day. When a part of the men, who had a hand
in the outrage, learned that Lieut.-Col. Schall had
settled the bill by his own private means, they were
willing to reimburse him, but he declined to accept
it. The other part of those men turned out to be a
portion of that number, who absented themselves
without leave. This determined the Lieut.-Col. to
make an example of them; but as the time wore on
the thing was finally dismissed from his mind, and
the men were let off with only a slight reprimand !
At half-past ten o'clock on Sunday morning, the
20th inst., the men and baggage being loaded, the

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cars started for Baltimore, where they arrived at
four o'clock P. M. On arriving at Baltimore, it was
found that no preparations had been made there for
the transportation to Annapolis, the place of general
rendezvous of the 9th Army Corps, in consequence
the 51st had to sleep in the cars which had brought
them to that city.
On Monday morning, the 21st, at seven o'clock,
wagons were obtained, and the baggage was un
loaded and taken to the Boston steamer's wharf,
where it was put on board of the steamer Georgiana;
the regiment had already embarked at eleven o'clock
A. M. for Annapolis, Md., where it arrived the same
day at two P. M. It disembarked, fell in line and
marched out to the barracks at Camp Parole, about
two and a half miles from the city, and close to the
railroad, on the identical spot where it had formed
Camp Union in 1861-62.
While lying here a few new recruits arrived for
the regiment.
The 51st occupied the barracks at Camp Parole
until Wednesday noon of the 23d inst., when it
moved a few yards nearer the city, and went into
quarters with tents on what used to be the old Camp
Union parade and drill-ground ; but how different
everything looked to what it did then. The old,
well-known faces of the Camp Union comrades were
missed, and their places filled by new ones; the
beautiful evergreens that hung in profuse festoons
around the old camp, where are they now ? Alas j
they, too, have passed away, along with those brave
hearts that made this familiar spot a scene of mirth
and happiness. Where was that Norristown Band
that used to assemble around the flag-staff of a Sab-

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REGIMENT

bath morn, and discourse its solemn and melancholy
music to invite the regiment up to the Chaplain's
tent, where they might be taught in earnest strains
how to prepare themselves to meet the change of
spheres which many so very soon made after leaving
that cherished spot in 1862 !
The following is an extract from a private letter
that appeared in one of the Norristown papers, and
is supposed to have been written by Lieut.-Col.
Edwin Schall:
"LETTER FROM ANNAPOLIS. — We make the following ex
tract from a private letter, lately received :
"Time worketh great changes. This is evidenced in our
everyday life, and most strikingly in our history as a regiment.
Two years and more we were encamped on the same identical
ground, with full ranks, and under the same chieftains. Little
then did we dream that once again we would camp upon these
plains, and prepare for another expedition of a like character.
How many of those who were then with us are here now.
When we look over our depleted ranks, sad, indeed, are the
thoughts that suggest themselves. Many, very many, who
then were the ga}rest among the ga}7", the healthiest among the
healthy, are now sleeping their last sleep. How painfully are
we reminded of the truth that we are all passing away, by the
absence of those familiar faces we were so wont to look upon.
Of the field and staff, there remains only with the regiment
Lieut.-Col. (then Major) Edwin Schall; Col. Hartranft being
in command of the depot of the corps. Of the original line
officers, there are only ten left out of thirty, viz. : Maj. Bolton,
Capt. Bisbing, Capt, Bolton, Capt. Allebough, Capt. Nicholas,
Capt. Hart, Capt. Shorkley, Lieut. Geo. Schall, Lieut. Lynch,
Lieut. Foster.
"Lieut. Col. Bell, Capt. Bell, Lieut. Hunsicker, Lieut. F;iir,
Lieut. Beaver, fell on the field of battle ; and Capt. Schall,
Capt. Pechin, Capt. Snyder, Capt. Blair, Capt. Titus, Capt.
Taylor, Capt. Linn, Capt. Gaulin, Capt. Ilasscnplug, Capt.
Hallman, Lieut. Burrell, Lieut. Swallow, Lieut. Morris, Lieut.
Reed, Lieut. Campbell, Lieut. Kelly, Lieut. Linn, Lieut. Beale,
have either resigned or been transferred into the Invalid Corps,
or promoted.
"Of the nine hundred men then here, there are about three
hundred and fifty left. Many have gone to their long homes,
others have been discharged on account of disability. It is a
sad thought, that the many who to-day are in the full bloom
of health, will in a short time be cut down, never to rise in
life again. The season for .an active campaign is here, and
very naturally the corps will have its portion to do, and, let me
add, it will be no mean portion."

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On Saturday, the 26th inst., the regiment again
struck tents, and moving to the other side of the
railroad, on a more elevated piece of ground, went
into quarters here. This was called Camp Bell, in
honor and memory of our lamented Lieut. -Col. Thos.
S. Bell, who was killed at Antietam, in 1862.
Col. Hartranft was in command of the depot of
the 9ih Army Corps, having his quarters in the
Naval School buildings near the wharf. Lieut.-Col.
Schall was now busily drilling his regiment, as his
ranks were getting well filled up by the almost
daily arrival of new recruits, and the arrival of the
non re-enlisting men, who had been transferred to
the llth New Hampshire, at Blain's Cross-roads,
East Tennessee, the day before the veteran organi
zation left to go home, and were now again trans
ferred back to their respective companies. The
whole of the time now, until the regiment left An
napolis, was occupied in drilling, both facings and
manual of arms. First, squad drill for an hour in
the morning, then company drill for two hours ;
company or regimental drill in the afternoon, and,
towards sundown, dress parade. On pleasant after
noons an hour or so would be devoted to a game of
base ball. The following is the correspondence of
the National Defender :
CAMP BELL, 51 ST P. V. V.
ANNAPOLIS, MD., April 14^, 1804.
Generals Grant and Burnside paid this Department a visit
yesterday, and reviewed all the regiments that are herein their
respective camps. They came upon us rather unexpectedly,
as their visit had not been heralded, like such events used to be
when we were here before ; but, notwithstanding their sudden
appearance among us, they found a highly respectable recep
tion, one worthy of the two greatest heroes of the day, and of the
24

538

HISTORY

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THE

FIFTY- FIRST

REGIMENT

veteran 9tli Army Corps. General Grant arrived evening be
fore last. Gen. Burnsicle arrived yesterday morning at 6
o'clock. He (Gen. B.) paid us a "flying" visit last Saturday,
and as he passed each camp, on either side of the road, the
vociferous cheering gave unmistakable evidence of his great
popularity.
The appearance of the camps is truly magnificent. The
camps are laid out with military precision, and each street, the
line officers' marquees, and the field and staff officers' quarters,
are gaily and gorgeously bedecked with various kinds of ever
greens, and the grounds laid out in ornamental gardening
style, such as rightangles, triangles, and in every conceivable
angle, each with very tasty centre pieces, making the camps
wear the appearance of being inhabited with "fairies." A
rumor is rife here just at present to the effect that the two regi
ments of the 2Gth and 29th United States (colored) troops
which left here last week for Hilton Head, S. C. , were both
lost last Saturday night off Cape Hatteras, during the terrible
storm then prevailing. It is hoped that the rumor may turn
out to be merely supposition, for, although their skin is black,
they no doubt would have carried a name worthy of the fame
of U. S. soldiers. The Rev. D. G. Mallery joined the regi
ment one day last week. He was received with much pleasure
by-those with whom he shared the toils and dangers in days
gone by. Divine worship was held in camp last Sabbath after
noon for the first time. We are happy to find that his voice is
improving, and hope soon to be able to inform you that he has
entirely recovered it. Lieut. S. P. Stephens, Q. M., having been
despatched on Monday last to Washington, D. C., per order of
Gen. Burnside, to draw ordnance and ordnance stores for the use
of the regiment, returned last evening, having accomplished his
mission. The arms will arrive to-day. They will be issued to
the recruits, and then will begin the drilling of the " manual,"
which they have been so anxiously waiting for. Your humble
servant thinks their anxiety will soon be set at rest. New re
cruits are daily arriving, and all the old members left in East
Tennessee, wTho did not re-enlist, have arrived here with the
llth New Hampshire, to which regiment they had been as
signed, while we were home enjoying our "good old thirty
days." They have not yet been transferred to this regiment,
but will be in a day or two and then our ranks will number at
least nine hundred men. Lieut. -Col. Schall is in attendance,

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personally, drilling the regiment and by his urbanity hns suc
ceeded in gaining the affections of the men, by which they pay
especial attention to their drilling and have thereby made
themselves proficient in the " lacings." The health of the
regiment is about the same as when I last wrote — chills and
fever predominant. The weather here is a little like a human
being's life, composed of smiles and tears, only we have the
tears two-thirds of the time. The roads, in consequence, are
hub-deep in mud.
Our destination is not publicly known, but it is generally
supposed to be North Carolina. The expedition will leave
some time early in May. The corps has not been mapped out
yet, but I am informed that the same regiments will be as
signed to the same brigades and divisions they were formerly in.
There are a great many regiments of other commands to be
added to the 9th Corps. We have the 1st Michigan regiment
with us. It is chiefly composed of Chippewa Indians, and they
make a fine military appearance.
41 Them one hundred and twenty-five dollars" of the local
bounty has been looked for by the borough accredited ones
with intense anxiet}-, but with no success. The question is,
Will it be forwarded to them here, or withheld until the return
home of the regiment ? Base ball is enjoyed by a large num
ber of officers and men every afternoon, when the weather per
mits, and, I assure you, some very creditable playing is done
— some that would do honor to any base ball club extant.
More anon,
T. H. P.

An order was read on dress parade detailing one
commissioned officer and four men from the 51st
P. V. V., to proceed North for recruiting purposes.
On the 12th of April, Gen. U. S. Grant visited the
9th Army Corps, and on the next day Gen. Burnside arrived. They reviewed the 9th Corps, and
then visited the various camps; afterwards both
returned to Washington, I). C. Below will be found
further correspondence of the National Defender:
CAMP BELL, ANNAPOLIS, MD.
April 2(M, 1864.
NOT So. — In yours of the 12th inst., the regiment was very
much surprised to read of the death of Judson Calleuder, who

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HISTORY

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THE

FIFTY FIRST

REGIMENT

is at present alive and well. How such a report reached your
borough, perhaps you c;m better tell than I, but as several
have intimated that it was your " humble correspondent,"
I will distinctly state, the first I knew or heard of the
event, was on the evening following the issue of our paper,
after the arrival of the evening mail, but as he is entirel}r re
covered from his late severe indisposition, he no doubt took
means to acquaint his friends that if he was ': dead," he couldn't
see it.
[We were glad to learn that such rumors never come from
our correspondent. ED. ]
Capt J. Merrill Linn, of Company H, tendered his resig
nation last week, which was accepted ; pressure of business of a
private character was the cause.
Sergt. John W. Fair, of Company C, returned to the regiment
on last evening a week ago, from home, whither he had been
to make application for admission to the Philadelphia Military
School. He will return on the 22d inst., for the purpose of
perfecting himself in the various "field movements" prepara
tory to applying for a commission in a colored regiment. As he
lias had considerable practical experience in such matters, there
can be but little doubt in the minds of his friends, but that he
will pass the ordeal of the "examining board " with eclat. He
h?is proven himself a good soldier on more than one occasion,
and takes with him on his departure the good wishes of his old
companions in arms. Shad and other fish have come down in
price sufficiently low that the boys can enjoy a " feed " of them
without producing "Sweeny" in their pocket wallets. The
quantity of expressage that arrives daily for the regiment is
truly a matter of surprise and is daily on the increase. Boxes
of every conceivable size arrive and are distributed to the
anxious expectants. An old mail composed of letters and
wrappers which had been forwarded to Knoxville, Tenn., in
January, arrived here last week, and as we perused them
they brought vividly to our minds our very "straightened cir
cumstances" at that time. The rumor of the loss of the 26th
and 29th IT. S. colored regiments, that I mentioned in my last
letter, is without any foundation whatever. Transportation for
the incidental uses of the regiment, which has been a source of
annoyance to obtain for some time past, is now liberally granted.
Teams and cars can be got now with very little difficulty, and
our daily rations of quartermaster and commissary stores are

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landed at our " doors " just when and as we want them. Several
colored regiments have arrived here within a few days, among
which was the 43d U. S. from Camp Wm. Penn, and as they
marched past our camp, a large number were recognized by
our boys as some of " Norristown's sable sons." New arms
and equipments were issued this week to the recruits of our
regiment. Our new comrades take to them " mightily." They
have had but three days' practice in the manual of arms and
have made rapid strides in the acquirements of that "pretty
part of soldiering. " Lieut. Col. Schall has been detached from
his command for a few days, being detailed on a court-martial
that is now in session at this place. Our sutlers, Messrs. Whitney
and Myers, arrived here last evening, and to-day their stock of
goods and tents arrived. They have already pitched their tents
and are making every preparation to open " shop" to-morrow
morning ; they have not come any too soon. As they are both
business men and undoubtedly accommodating, they will reap
a rich harvest from an appreciating soldiery ; they merit a liberal
patronage. The health of the regiment is about as usual, with
no abatement in the chills and fever cases. Orders have just
came in to be ready to move at an hour"1* notice, with five days'
cooked rations ; and all tents to be turned in, in exchange for
shelter tents.
More anon,
T. P. II.

The time for the regiment to strike tents and go
to the "front" was drawing nigh to hand, and as it
was understood that the men could draw pay for
rations during their thirty days at home on veteran
furlough, the application was made and the money
paid in full, on the 21st of April.
On the 21st orders were received to turn in all
tents and quartermaster's stores, and prepare to
leave Annapolis. Three days' rations were issued
and cooked that night.

542

HISTORY

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THE

FIFTY-FIRST

CHAPTER

REGIMENT

III.

Across the Potomac— On the Rapiclan — Battle of the Wilder
ness — The woods on fire — Chancellors ville — Battle of
Spottsylvania — Charge and repulse of the 3d Division —
Terrible losses in the 51st — Bravery of Capt. Bisbing —
Capture of Capt. Allebaugh and the colors — Promotion of
Genl. Hartranft — Another day of carnage — Truce of the
pickets — Retreat of the enemy — Nearing Richmond — Battle
of Cold Harbor— Death of Col. Schall and Lieut. Fizone.

ON Saturday, the 23d, the 51st P. Y. Y. left at 8
A. M.; and marched to Alexandria, Ya., passingthrough Washington, crossing the Potomac on the
Long Bridge, and arriving at the outskirts of Alex
andria on the 26th.
The baggage had been put on board of a steamer
at Annapolis, which sailed at noon of the 23d, and
arrived at Alexandria at 3 -p. M. on Sunday, the
24th, where it awaited the arrival of the regiment.
The corps was now fully organized, and the 51st
P. Y. Y. was identified with the First Brigade, Third
Division, Ninth Army Corps.
While the regiment was at Alexandria it learned
of the death of one of its most promising members.
Below will be found an editorial obituary, which is
correct in all it says, except in the date of the de
parture of the regiment from Norristown.
"Six WEEKS.— On the 10th of March the 51st regiment left
Norristown, in a scene of military glory, with thousands of our
citizens joining in the brilliant pageant. In one of the com
panies was a young lad of eighteen summers, who had been
out on two occasions for the defence of the State, and sustained
himself with approval to all his associates. By a course of
studies he had prepared himself as an engineer, and having
presented himself, was accepted so far as mental and practical
qualifications were concerned, for third assistant engineer in

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the naval service ; but the standard of age prevented his ap
pointment for at least another year ; to put in this year actively,
patriotically, he enlisted. Amid the good wishes that went
with the regiment, he left his home. All went well, hopefully
gaining in health and strength, until the fatal typhoid attacked
him, soon turning to congestion of the brain — he lingered for
four days, and on the 21st died! On Saturday last his cold
corpse was brought back to his home ! All the ambitious pro
ject of life extinguished in six weeks. Such was the career of
WASHINGTON IRVING GRIFFITH. O, what is life ! Alas ! alas,
there are hundreds of cases, similar in many respects to this,
occurring in such times. The dreams, prospects, and ambition,
of life all cut short — in a few days."

On Wednesday, April 27th, at sunrise, the regi
ment left camp, marched through Alexandria to
about one mile beyond Fairfax Court-house, and
encamped near midnight, having marched about
eighteen miles that day.
On the 28th the regiment again left and marched
to Bristow's Station, on the Orange and Alexandria
Railroad, and encamped at sundown, making eigh
teen miles that day.
The next day (29th) it left Bristow's and marched
to Warrenton Junction, and camped at 5 P. M., having
marched that day fifteen miles. Here the regiment
lay for a few days and went out on a "reconnoitre"
to Warrenton on the 2d of May, leaving camp very
early, and not finding any foe returned late the same
night to the Junction.
While here a sudden death occurred that surprised
all. George Bodey, of Co. A, was up early and at
tended to Lieut.-Col. Schall's horse " Bobby," clean
ing and feeding him previous to saddling him for
the reconnoissance. After the regiment started,
George prepared and ate a hearty breakfast about
seven o'clock, and was in the best of health and
spirits, more so than usual, when suddenly he was
taken sick in camp, and by noon was a corpse. He

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was well known throughout the whole corps for his
giant-like proportions.
On Wednesday, the 4th of May, the regiment
started again on the march, from which it had no
rest until the surrender of Lee and his followers. It
left for Rappahannock Station, where it arrived
before night and posted its pickets. On the 5th it
was aroused at 4 A. M., got a hasty breakfast, left the
station at 5 A. M., and arrived at Gerrnania ford, on
the Eapidan river, at 11 o'clock A. M. After cross
ing the river on pontoons it went immediately to
the front. Arriving in front of the enemy it was
sent off to the right of the line, and went on picket,
where it remained until 4 o'clock of the next morn
ing, when it came in and took up a position in the
front. At eight A. M. it was in battle with a desperate
foe, in a perfect wilderness, where daylight had to
struggle to penetrate the dense foliage. Towards
noon the enemy's fire slackened a trifle ; they were
evidently getting terribly punished. The 51st ad
vanced a short distance, but were driven back ; then
in turn the enemy was forced back, and thus it was
until 7 o'clock p. M. on Friday, the 6th of May, on
which was fought " the battle," as it is properly
called, "of the Wilderness." The loss in the 51st
of killed, wounded and missing was not definitely
known, but it was about ninety in all. Killed,
twenty-five; wounded, fifty ; and missing, fifteen.
* The following list is the best that could be obtained :
Co. A.— Killed— Lieut. John S. Moore. Wounded— Thos.
J. Bolfon, Clias. Fix, Daniel Hood, Osman Ortlip, John Bare,
Theodore H. Gilbert, Samuel Himes, Amandus Gargas.
Co. B.— Killed— Edward Bullman, Philip Bond. Wounded
— George Paul. Captured — Henry Mixell.
Co. C. — Killed — Color-sergeant Patrick Kevin. Wounded —
Abraham Techier.

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The regiment was relieved about 7 P. M., and went
to the rear a short distance, and had a good night's
rest.
On the next morning, the 7th, the regiment at 4
o'clock was again preparing a hasty cup of coffee,
when orders came to erect a kind of breastwork, or
rather barricades, which orders were promptly com
plied with. But they were scarcely erected, before
an order was given to change positions. The firing
from the enemy was now becoming more rapid and
annoying; a new position was now taken; another
line of defences thrown up, and the regiment awaited
on their arms for the coming storm of iron and
leaden hail to burst, in all its fury, on their devoted
heads. There they stood, a bulwark to their coun
try's cause ; but the storm was averted, and fell on
their sister corps of Gen. Sedgewick, who had a fear
ful struggle till late in the night. Soon after mid
night the 51st took up the line of march very slowly
towards Chancellorsville, and at 1 J A. M., of the 8th,
it was fairly underway, but had to leave all the
wounded behind. The woods had either been fired
by design on the part of the rebels, or by accident
from the paper that formed the cartridges ; but, be
that as it may, hundreds of Union soldiers, both
Co. D.— Killed— David H. Yerkes, William II. Showalter.
Wounded — Noble Creighton.
Co. E. — Killed — Levi Ammons.
Wounded — John Millhouse.
Co. F.— Wounded — Wm. W. Owens, Howard Bruce, Fran
cis Adleman, Thos. G. Aslitou, Elwoocl Charles, Henry White.
Q0- G — Killed — John Elliott, Aaron Thatcher.
Co. II.— Killed— Frederick Smith. Wounded— H. C. McCormick, Harrison Bower, John E. Leamon, George Vangeeser.
Co. I. — Killed — John Murphy.
Wounded — Edward Doyle.
Co. K. — Killed — Frederick Scliwep.
Wounded — Theodore
Odenwelder, John Fangford, Alfred Schilling.

24*

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killed and wounded, were con>umed in the fiery ele
ment, their whereabouts and their identity forever
sealed to the living. Did the fire get a start by
design, that one act of barbarism on the part of the
rebels should have been adequate to have kept An
drew Johnson so sufficiently loyal as to carry out
his policy, that " treason is a crime, and should be
made odious." The regiment reached Hooker's
battle-field at Chancellorsville about noon, and
rested there till about 4 p. M., when it slowly
wended its way about one mile to the left of the
ruins, where it went into camp for the night. The
day had been intensely hot, and the dust was stifling
to a painful degree; water was scarce and hard to
obtain.
At 4 o'clock on the morning of the 9th, the 51st
again fell in, and moved off towards the Fredericksburg plank road. The dust was even worse than it
was the day before, and the heat equally as great.
The enemy was here met, and heavy skirmishing
ensued between the 51st and the foe for several
hours, culminating in a severe battle, in which the
enemy left the field, and the 51st erected another
work of defence, expecting the battle would be re
newed ere the next morning.
On the morning of the 10th the 20th Michigan
was thrown out as skirmishers, and the 51st lay in
support of that regiment until 12 o'clock, noon, when
it moved off a mile to the right of the corps, with
orders to erect works of defence. Trees were felled,
and a strong line of rifle pits was erected, it having
been determined to hold every inch of ground
gained. It was a pleasant day, and the regiment in
fine spirits, although their ranks were being depleted

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rapidly. As the regiment finished the works, orders
were received for an advance. Lieut.-Col. Schall
immediately sent out a strong body of skirmishers,
and the line advanced a full half mile directly front ;
then making a full left wheel, advanced through the
woods and openings another full mile. The skir
mishing at times was severe, the regiment had lost
eleven in killed and wounded, having been sub
jected to an enfilading fire all night, besides a con
stant fire in front.
On the llth, which was rainy, at daylight, the
regiment commenced throwing up breastworks, but,
as it often happened before and afterwards, just as
they were completed, the regiment received orders
to change position, and fortify itself again immedi
ately, which works were completed by 3 P. M. At
4 P. M. orders were received to fall back to the other
side of a deep hollow or ravine, to go into camp and
cook rations; but before any fires were kindled,
orders were again received to advance, which was
done. We advanced about a mile, then " about
face," marched back and went into camp again about
10 o'clock p. M., in a drenching rain. It must be
remembered this going into camp was merely lying
down on the bare ground, for the tents were all on
the wagon train, which was in the rear.
On the next day, the 12th, in a considerable rain,
the ever memorable battle of Spottsylvania was
fought. The regiment was roused up from a sound
sleep at 2 A. M., and left at 3 A. M., and crossed the
river to the opposite side, where it encountered the
enemy and drove them before it like scared sheep ;
then went to the support of the 2d division, when it
was again ordered to take up a position to the left

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of the 27th Michigan.
In front of this situation was
a high crest or knoll of ground, whereon the enemy
had a battery and deep rifle pits. Orders were
given for the 51st to charge this crest, and capture
the guns. Six companies were sent out as skirmish
ers, and the regiment was advanced to make the
charge ; but before the charge occurred, the order
was countermanded, and four companies were sent
to the support of Hancock, who was being pressed
very closely by the enemy on their left. In a short
time the four companies returned, when a general
charge was made by the whole of the 3d Division,
9th Army Corps, but met with a repulse that sent
it back flying to its starting point. In this charge
the loss of the 5 1st was terrible in killed, wounded,
and prisoners, with two stand of colors. The loss
of the colors chagrined the men tenfold more than
the loss of their comrades, for by some it was looked
upon as a most damning disgrace, by others as a high
mark of credit, as showing that the regiment had
been in a tight place ; but be it considered a disgrace
by whom it may, that does not make it one. A regi
ment charging in such a place as that was, with
nearly one-half of its men shot down, and the ene
my at almost hand to hand encounter, with far
greater superiority of numbers, it seems almost a
miracle that any man escaped death or capture, and
those of the 51st P. V. V. should be proud of the
loss of their colors under the circumstances that
caused it. Had they been lost through treachery or
cowardice, then it would be just and proper to con
demn the deprivation.
Again, had the State con
sidered it a disgrace, another flag would never have
been given to it. And again, had there been any

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suspicion on the part of the higher rank of officers,
that the colors were disgracefully lost, a commission
would have been detailed to investigate it. No!
brave men of the 51st, you were not disgraced by
your loss.
In this charge, Capt. Geo. W. Bisbing received a
ball through his wrist, but nothing daunted he still
pushed on, with the blood streaming from his wound,
when another one struck him in the left side of his
loins, traversing his back, passed out the other side,
and he fell, mortally wounded. Among the captured
was Capt. Wm. Allebaugh, of Co. C, who, seeing his
colors in danger of capture, resolved to save them or
perish, but the enemy bearing down on his colorguards in such overwhelming numbers, he was forced
to a surrender of himself and colors. After being
repulsed, the regiment reformed and went to the
front again, where it remained all night under arms,
in the midst of a heavy rain.
The next morning (the 13th) was very quiet
along the whole line — the rain still coming down.
An attack from the rebels was momentarily ex
pected ; the utmost vigilance was exercised, but up
to 5 P. M. it was quiet, when at that time the enemy
made a demonstration in front of the 51st, which did
not amount to much. During this day an attempt
was made by the adjutant of the regiment to figure
up its losses. The sum total up to the night of the
8th was, in killed, wounded, and missing, eightyfour officers and men. Among the killed were Lieut.
John S. Moore, of Co. A; Color-Sergeant Patrick
McKeevin, of Co. C ; Private David Yerkes, of Co.
D ; and Private John Murphy, of Co. I. Among
the wounded was Lieut. Win. W. Owens, of Co. ¥ ;

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Sergt. Howard Bruce, of Co. F ; Sergt. John McGilligan, and Private Noble Creighton, of Co. D ;
and as far as the adjutant could learn correctly from
the night of the 8th up to the night of the 12th, the
51st had sustained a loss of about two hundred.
Among the wounded were Capt. Geo. W. Bisbing,
Co. I ; Sergt. John R. Davis, Co. I, captured ; John
George, Francis E. Keating, John Stiver, arid ten
more of Co. I. Among the prisoners were Capt.
Wm. Allebaugh, Co. C ; Lieut. Wm. F. Campbell,
Co. H. The enemy were heavily in force in the
front of the 51st, and their batteries threw shot and
shell amongst the regiment constantly. Our guns
returned a few shots during the day. In the after
noon our artillery massed themselves to resist any
attack the enemy should attempt, but none was
made.
The next day, the 14th, was another disagreeable
day, raining nearly all the time. Heavy and rapid
firing began on the left and continued for about an
hour, when orders were issued for a general advance
along the whole line, but from some prudent cause,
no doubt, it did not take place, but as night advanced
it was feared that the enemy intended an attack un
der cover of darkness, but the night passed oft* very
quietly.
The 15th found the regiment occupying rifle pits,
and as the enemy to the right commenced a vigor
ous shelling about noon, the regiment dug traverses
for a protection against the flying shells. It was
while the regiment was at this work that it learned
with much satisfaction of the promotion of Col.
Ilartranft to a Brigadier-General, a promotion he
should have received, if justice had been done him,

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at the close of the battle of Antietam. The enemy's
works were close to ours and in full view, with their
battle flags flying defiantly in our faces, their bands
playing, and the singing of good old Methodist
hymns were plainly heard. In the evening things
were quieted down, and the greatest annoyance now
was the stench arising from the dead bodies that lay
between the two lines unburied, for neither army
could bury many of their dead, and the almost con
stant rain, with a hot air, soon caused the bodies to
decompose and fill the atmosphere with a most
offensive odor.*
On the 16th the enemy still in front kept very
* The following is but a partial list of the casualties at Spotsylvauia :
Co. A. — Killed — none. Wounded — Jesse Freas, Jacob H.
Derr, Thos. F>4rrell, Saml. H. Freas, Charles S. Hansell, Jesse
Johnson, Ephraim Parvin, Henry Smith, John Baylor, Jere
miah Gray, Jonathan B. Ellis, Edward Hall man, Henry McLain, George Smith, Joseph Supplee, Chas. Yunker. Captured
— Chas. Yunker.
Co. B. — Killed — Harrison Ackerman. Wounded — George
W. Moser, Edward Hardy.
Co. C. — Killed — Lieut. Thos. J. Lynch. Wounded — Andrew
J. Grimm. Onptured— Capt. Win. Allebaugh, Hillary Sloop.
Philip Stoffet, Joshua Kevin. Missing — Michael Dillon, Ben
jamin Kooker.
Co. D. — Wounded — Harry Forman, Win. H. Body, Daniel
R. Yost. Captured — Jeremiah Cassiday. Missing — John John
son, Jefferson Clare.
Co. E. — Wounded — Jeremiah Aikey, Jacob Boop, Wm.
Schnure. Captured — Jeremiah Aikey.
Co. F.— Killed— Robert Lindsay. Wounded— Wm. Dreshcr.
Co. G.— Killed — Samuel Moore. Wounded — August Rolley.
Co. H. — Captured — Lieut. Wm. F. Campbell, HughMcClure.
D. C. Brown, George Breon, Harrison Hause, D. M. Wetzell,
Simon Goss, John Hartz, Wm. J. Lattimer, Win. A. Miller,
Jacob Smith, Isaiah Smith.
Co. I. — Wounded — Capt. George W. Bisbing, John R. Davis,
John J. Stiver. Captured — John R. Davis, Philip Hattel,
Abraham Wampole.
Co. K.— Killed —Lieut. Frank B. Sterner, Charles W.
Willett. Wounded— Franklin S. Moycr, Jno. Ranks. Cap
tured — Thos. Arbuckle, Absalom Baldwin, James Ludwig.

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quiet, and our artillery opened a vigorous cannon
ading on them, but as their reply was rather feeble,
it was supposed they were falling back from our
front. Skirmishers were sent out ; the right of the
line advanced over a mile ; the skirmishing was but
trifling. One man of Co. Gr was mortally wounded.
The regiment remained out all night in the picket
pits. Events were inactive. The bands of both
armies discoursed " most excellent music," and were
distinctly Leard by the contending foes while on the
line up to nine or ten o'clock at night.
On the 17th the entire supply trains were ordered
to Fredericksburg, where a great part had been for
more than a week. The wounded also had all been
sent there, nearly every house had been taken pos
session of by the surgeons and turned into hospitals
for the wounded and dying. Every house was
crowded to its fullest capacity. At one time there
were not less than 60,000 wounded men there, and
the Government was transporting them to Washing
ton as fast as its means afforded.
A kind of cemetery outside the city, was formed
and long pits similar to rifle pits were dug about
four feet deep, seven wide, and two to three hun
dred long. The dead were laid on the ground,
wrapped in a blanket close side by side until the
pit was filled with bodies, then covered over with
dirt, with a board at the head of each, having the
man's name, company and regiment on it as a finish
to the work.
Everything remained quiet at the front all day.
The bands of both lines seemed to be trying to out
vie each other in the strength and variety of their
playing. At night orders were received to prepare

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for a night's march at short notice, but the regiment
remained in its pits, as the command to "forward" was
not issued, but the next morning, the 18th, the plan
for the day's work was decided on and the order
was issued as follows : The 2d and 6th Corps,
with the 2d division of the 9th; were to assail the
enemy on our right, and, if the assault should prove
successful, the 1st brigade of 3d division was to ad
vance in front of and with the 51st. The day was
beautiful, excepting a little too warm. Early in the
morning the attack was made ; the cannonading on
both sides was terrific; the shells filled the air with
that awful shriek that was enough to make the
stoutest heart quake; the roar of artillery and the
continual explosions of the shells were truly deafen
ing ; the enemy's works appeared to be filled with
artillery, and all their batteries must have been
massed in anticipation of an attack from Grant.
Several men of the 51st were badly wounded by the
premature explosion of our own shells. After sev
eral hours of severe fighting, the attack being a
total failure, the line assumed its old position in the
pits, and our artillery all moved off in the night,
and at two o'clock of the morning of the 19th orders
were received by the 51st to be ready to move off
at a moment's notice. The order to move was given
at four o'clock. The regiment left and the entire
works were abandoned. The 51st moved to the
left about two miles, and took up a position in the
rear of the 6th Corps about noon. In the evening
the regiment again changed its position to the left
of the 1st brigade, and occupied the second line of
battle close to the 95th and 138th Penna. regiments.
Here the 51st met a great many old acquaintances

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in the two regiments. During the entire evening
the cannonading on the right was very heavy. In
the morning the regiment moved off to the left. It
will be observed that it was noon before it arrived
at its new position, only going two miles. The slow
ness of this progression was caused by having to cut
their way through a perfect wilderness ; trees had to
be felled, in fact a regular road had to be cut and
cleared, before it could reach its position. On the
20th of May the front line of battle had dug them
selves pits, and throwing up a substantial line of
breastworks the 51st lay in support of those in the
pits. In the afternoon the skirmishers advanced
about half a mile. One man of the 51st was fatally
wounded and borne to the rear, then sent to Fredericksburg.
The next day, the 21st, Lieut.-Col. Schall was de
tailed as field-officer of the day of the brigade. He
went on duty at midnight, and Maj. Wm. J. Bolton
took command of the regiment. At 3 A. M., Maj.
Bolton with the entire regiment went out on picket.
Shortly after being posted the men of the 51st and
the pickets of the enemy began a friendly conversa
tion which ended in trading tobacco, coffee, &c., but
unknown to any of the commanders until the fieldofficer of the day, Lieut.-Col. Schall, discovered and
put a stop to it, as it was a violation of the articles
of war. About 2 o'clock p. M., the enemy advanced
towards the left and drove in our skirmishers and
forced the 51st to fall back to the main line, but
Maj. Bolton rallied it again and advanced it to its
former position ; while the 6th Corps was engaging
the enemy in a severe struggle, in which the latter
fell back. After that it became quiet all along the

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front of the 9th Corps. Shortly after midnight and
early in the morning of the 22d, a rumbling noise
\vas heard within the enemy's li es indicating a re
moval of wagon trains and artillery, and at 4 o'clock
A. M., the regiment again started off) but the enemy
had fled. It made a march this time of eighteen
miles over a tract of country which appeared as if
that had been the first body of troops that passed
over it ; fences and buildings were in good repair
and the soil luxuriant in crops. At night the regi
ment camped on the side of a woods near a small
stream that emptied into the North Ann.
On the 23d, the regiment left its camp at 5 o'clock
A. M. and marched till noon, when it fell in with the
2d Corps, forming a junction a short distance from
the North Ann river, and marched till dark. The
advance had met the enemy and entered into a bat
tle. The scene of action was reached by the 2d and 9th
Corps at dark. The 51st immediately took up its
position and began to entrench itself. It was evident
that Grant was now nearing Richmond, for all through
the night the rebel locomotive whistles could be con
tinually heard, as if the enemy was receiving rein
forcements by railroad. The regiment labored
•until long after daylight to complete their works,
which were made very strong, i. e., strong enough
to resist any ordinary shell from a field-piece.
Considerable cannonading all day in front, which
began to be very heavy. Towards dark a heavy
rain having set in, continued the greater part of the
night, making it slippery in the works of newly dug
earth. The 1st Division, 9th Corps, assaulted the
rebel works, but were repulsed with heavy loss.
A few minutes after th« regiment had lain down,

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IITSTOKY

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fully expecting a good night's sleep in their new
works, orders came in for it to move oil to the left ;
it went about half a mile and sent four companies
out on picket. The next morning, the 25th, the
four companies were relieved and rejoined the regi
ment. The pickets while out had a lively time of
it, for they kept up a constant fire all night with the
enemy. Just before dark both armies became rest
ive, culminating in a genuine artillery duel, and
the capture of five rebels who were after a bullock
that had got between the two lines. Both armies
now occupied an almost limitless pine forest, which
furnished splendid material for breastworks, to
which a great deal was appropriated. A new line
of works was built up again and the regiment lay
in them until the afternoon of the next day, the
26th, when one hundred and fifty men of the regi
ment were detailed and went out on picket, where
they learned from the enemy that Lee was killed.
This put our men in good spirits and seemed to
compensate them for all their trials of the past
twenty-one days fighting, but like all camp stories
it proved to be untrue.
Heavy firing of musketry and artillery was heard
on the left. Orders were received to be ready to
move at 11 o'clock that night, but were counter
manded. Heavy musketry firing began at 9J o'clock,
and continued for about one hour, when all became
comparatively quiet. After that picket firing the
enemy's bands could be distinctly heard in front
of the regiment until late at night, when orders were
again issued to move at 4 o'clock the next morning,
27th. At the appointed hour the regiment formed
and moved to the left into the road, where it re

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mained until 11 o'clock A. M.. for further orders.
It afterwards started off in the direction of the North
Ann river, to which place the enemy had fallen back
and were crossing to the other side. Pickets were
sent out from the regiment and a position was taken
up, but it was again moved further to the left. The
pickets evidently had purposely been left on their
post with the view of keeping the enemy ignorant
of a flank movement that our troops were then
making on his extreme right. The affair succeeded
admirably, but the pickets suffered considerably, as
they had no support ; and not knowing that their
army had entirely left, they fought their adversaries
•with desperation, losing heavily. The regiment lost
twenty six in killed, wounded and missing, besides
twelve that were known to be captured. The enemy
had discovered by this piece of strategy on the part
of Gen. Grant, that he had given them the slip and
crossed his whole army over the Parnunky river,
not far from Hanover Junction. There they met
our troops and desperately fought to hold them in
check, but this was only a "dodge" of Gen. Grant
to give them another go-by, which he did during
the night and following day.* The next morning,
the 28th, at 7 o'clock, the 9th Army Corps was in
motion, with the 51st leading the advance. At 12,
noon, the column halted for dinner and rest, for it
* The following is a list of the casualties at North Ann
River:
Co. A. — Captured — Win. Barr, George W. Berks.
Co. C. — Captured — Andrew J. Bell.
Co. D. — Captured — Lemuel Moode, Andrew Wherle, Philip
Warn pole.
Co. E.— Captured— John W. Sheckler.
Co. H.— Killed— Jno. W. Erdley. Captured— David Yordcr.
Co. I. — Captured — George B. Slough.
Co. K. — Captured— Alexander Deibler, Jas. S. Garrett.

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had marched with great speed. At 1 p. M. it again
started on a forced march until 11 o'clock that night,
having made nearly thirty miles that day. The
troops were literally jaded out, and it was beyond
all cavil the severest march of the whole campaign.
The next morning, the 29th, the 51st got orders
to leave at 4 o'clock A. M. It only went about three
miles and was ordered to throw up breastworks. It
was supposed that here was to be taken a decided
stand; the works were first laid out with great care
and in regular order; they were to be sufficiently
strong to resist artillery. It was nearly completed
when orders were issued to stop. Eighty men
were then detailed from the 51st to go out with a
party to reconnoitre the enemy's works, which were
found to be of the most formidable character. About
1 P. M. the regiment fell back a little, and the whole
brigade was then massed in anticipation of an at
tack. Here we enjoyed a good night's rest.
The next morning, the 30th, the regiment, as per
orders, left at 6 o'clock, and moved a distance of
five miles — it arrived about 8 o'clock that night. Its
progress was very slow, as it had to fight for every
foot of ground over which it marched. It was now
at Cold Harbor, and only eight miles from the
objective point, Richmond. We immediately took
up a position in a dense pine forest, and erected
works which were not completed till after mid
night. Skirmishers now advanced and the enemy
gradually retired to the outer works and fortifi
cations surrounding Richmond, no doubt to draw
our army within the range of their heavy siege
guns.
About 10 A. M. of the 81st, the regiment was or-

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PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

559

dered to advance on the enemy's fortifications in
their front, distant about three-fourths of a mile.
The line was formed, and it advanced, driving the
enemy's skirmish line into and beyond a woods
directly in front of their works. Still following the
enemy up, they moved a good distance into the
woods and began to fortify. After laying out the
plans and commencing entrenchments, orders were
issued to stop. The regiment then formed line of
battle and awaited further mandates, which soon
came, to recommence fortifying; but scarcely was it
resumed before it was countermanded again, and we
were ordered to advance, which we did about four
hundred yards, and gained a good position on the
crest of a hill, where we laid on our arms all night.
Early on the next morning. June the 1st, orders
were received to move up a little to the right so as
to connect the lines with the 1st Division, 9th Army
Corps. New works were thrown up here, which
occupied most of the day. When completed, the
regiment sent out a skirmish line 'to the front —
when the enemy, in return, advanced their main
line and drove in our skirmishers. The troops on
our extreme left fell back without firing a single
shot, but the left of the 3d Division, 9th Army
Corps, swung around, and, pouring volley after
volley into the enemy, drove them back to their
own works. The firing from both lines continued
through the whole night.
The next day the regiment again advanced to the
outskirts of the woods on the edge of the crest where
they had erected their former works. Between this
edge and the enemy's entrenchments was an ugly
hollow, or ravine, about fifty yards wide. IJcre they

560

HISTORY

OF THE

FIFTY- FIRST

REGIMENT

had felled trees in all directions, and made further
advances an utter impossibility. Their works and
the last named (that is, those on the edge of the
ravine), of the 51st, were about one hundred and
fifty yards apart. Our communication with the
rear was now cut off, as the 51st had advanced too
close to the enemy to allow any egress but retreat.
So it remained all day on the far side of the crest,
and built a regular fort. After dark set in, the men
dug out traverses in order to open up communica
tions with those occupying the main line, which they
accjmplished before daylight, and the men proudly
boasted of having two homes now at one time, which
they seemed to enjoy by spending a few hours on
the main line, and then returning to their second
home outside of all the other works — some face
tiously terming it their "country seat" — where they
could look at the steeples of Richmond.
Early on the morning of the 3d of June, orders
were received by the 3d Division, 9th Corps, to ad
vance to the left of its front. Lieut. Col. Schall
formed his regiment and moved it to its pogition in the line. At 5 o'clock A. M. orders were
given to charge the enemy's works. It was imme
diately done by the whole charging party. The
olst, advancing with fixed bayonets at doublequick, was met by the enemy, who were well pre
pared to receive a charge, and poured volley after
volley into the regiment, which kept steadily ad
vancing until an unpropitious bullet entered the
neck of Col. Edwin Schall, killing him instantly;
and at the same time one struck Lieut. Isaac Fizone,
of Co. D, killing him instantly also. It is generally
believed ihit the one ball killed them both, by pass-

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PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

561

ing through Lieut. Fizone's head first, and then
through Col. Schall's neck afterwards; but as
Lieut. Fizone was a much taller man than Col.
Seball, it seems almost impossible, unless the former
was in a leaning forward position. Or again, it
may have, in passing through the lieutenant, struck
a bone that caused it to glance downward, and then
striking the colonel. The command of the regiment
now devolved on Major William J. Bolton. The
regiment received a check, and fell back with the
whole line to its works, the battle lasting the whole
day. The regiment suffered considerably in killed
and wounded.* The next day the enemy made an
attack on the whole line, but were handsomely re
pulsed, with a heavy loss.
* Below is a partial list of the casualties at Cold Harbor :
Field and staff.— Killed— Col. Edwin Schall.
Co. A.— Killed— Corp. Frank II. Mills. Wounded— Sergt.
Jacob II. Moyer, Sergt. John H. Coulston, Corp. George
Uebelle, Private Geo. B. Baker, Private Jacob Sterns.
Co. B.— Killed — Private Cyrus Werkeiser. Wounded —
Private Win. Draher.
Co. C. — Killed — Private John Upright. Wounded — Abra
ham Walt, Mark T. Yerker.
Co. D. — Killed — Lieut. Isaac Fizone.
Co. E. — Killed— Private James M. Dunkle. Wounded —
Private Robert Hickerne.l
Co. F. Killed — Henry K. Adleman. Wounded— Sylvanus
II. Daub.
Co. G.— Killed— Private Emil Held. Wounded— Private
Charles Prescott.
Co. H. — Killed — Private Levi Breniuger, Private Aaron
Will amson.
Co. I. — None.
Co. K. — Killed— Private David Shingle. Wounded — Private
Win. Buoy, Private Benjamin Hank, Private John Widdell.
At the Po river. Co. F. — Wounded — Wilson Allen, severely.
25

f>62

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY FIRST

CHAPTER

REOTMKNT

IV.

Progress of the advance — Crossing the James — Affair with the
Home Guards — A bloody charge — Severe loss s in the 51st —
In the rifle pits — Another desperate rush — The railroad cut —
Daring and persistent courage of the troops — Frequent re
pulses of the enemy — Close and continuous fighting— Efforts
to connect the lines — Failures — The 51st detailed to do the
work — A grand success.

THE regiment still retained its old position in the
" country seat " works until the 10th of June, when
it moved off towards the White House, on the York
river, but after going fifteen miles it halted for the
night. Early next morning it started off towards
the James river, making about twenty miles this
day, and camping for the night along the right of
the road, in a barren, sandy field. On the morning
of the 13th, the regiment again started on a march
of not less than ten miles, arrived within a league
or two of the James river, and again camped for
the night. On the 14th, the regiment moved off
slowly on the north side of the James river, and
within six miles of it. Pickets were posted for the
night. The regiment lay here till the next d'ay,
when it started for the landing a few miles below
Harrison's, on the James river, where it arrived on
the 16th of June, and crossed on pontoons. Early next
morning, the 17th, the column advanced from below
City Point to about five miles below Petersburg.
Here they were met by an army of what might be
properly styled "Home Guards." Lee was not or
had not the least idea that Grant would try the '•' On
to Richmond" movement by crossing the James river,

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VOLUNTEERS.

563

and in consequence had had no troops on that side
of the river — therefore the resistance came from the
rebel element in and around the city of Petersburg,
Virginia, The enemy had fortifications built, with
but small garrisons in them. These troops, with the
aid of the Petersburg Home Guards, made a desper
ate fight, but were gradually driven back to within
sight of the city. The 51st charged a line of rebels
on a crest near the Petersburg road, and within a
mile of the Weldon railroad, driving them back to
the deep cut of the railroad nearly opposite to the
cemetery. Getting possession of the crest, it began
to entrench itself, using their tin cups and plates
to dig the earth. Here the regiment remained all
night. Its loss through that day was small.
The next day, the 18th, the regiment formed line
of battle to make another charge, when it was found
that the forces in its front had been largely strength
ened, and that reinforcements were pouring in at a
rapid rate. Lee had crossed the river with his
forces, and was sending troops to the front as fast as
they arrived. The charge, however, was made, and
considerably more ground was gained, but at a
great cost of blood, the 51st losing on that day sixtyfour in killed and wounded, making upwards of
three hundred and seventy-five casualties since it
had crossed the Rapidan on the 5th of May. After
the charge the regiment moved to the right, into the
woods, and erected breastworks by felling the pine
trees and cutting them to suitable lengths. Here
the regiment lay for about a week, when it was re
lieved and moved to the rear to rest, but load scarcely
reached there when it was ordered a little to the left
of where it previously had been lying, and was again

564

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

behind the breastworks, where it lay for several
days. It was here that Capt. Jos. K. Bolton received
a slight wound on the side of the neck, from a minie ball; and also where private James McKenna, of
Co. D, was killed, while in the act of filling his can
teen with water from a spring in a ravine in front of
the works, about thirty yards from the right of the
regiment. His death occurred on the 21st of June.
While here the officers' baggage was kept on a
barge at the wharf at City Point. This baggage had
to be sent out to the front every Sunday, for the
officers to get a change of clean clothing. At night
it would be loaded on the wagon and sent back to
the boat for safety. It gave the officers less trouble
in moving about, as they had no valises to trouble
them.
The re iment lay in these pits for about two
weeks, eating, sleeping, and living entirely in them.
Its next move was about four hundred yards to the
left, in an orchard ; here it threw up rifle-pits and
held a very important part of the line, as well as
one of the most dangerous, from the fact that it was
on a hill directly in front of one of the largest forts
that the enemy had on his whole line, being the fort
that was blown up by Burnside on the 30th of July
following. The ground whereon the 51st rested
was that occupied by Fort Morton a short time
after. Between this line of pits and those of the
rebels the railroad ran through a deep cut, forty feet
deep, in the side of the hill, on which the regiment
lay. The rebel works were on rather a more ele
vated position, with a deep and ugly ravine between
the two lines. A creek ran through this ravine on
the side nearest to the enemy. Orders were received

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PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEEKS.

565

to charge on the enemy's works. The 51st formed
line of battle, and started down the hill at doable
quick towards this ravine. Major Bolton, who was
now colonel, led the charge. The regiment, not
knowing anything of this deep railroad cut, charged
down to the very brink of it before they saw it, but
having such headway on from running down the
hill, they could not stop in time, and went headlong
down the precipice before they came to a full stop,
the enemy pouring volleys of grape and canister
into their ranks, besides their whole line of musketry
had full play at the same time on them. After
reaching the bottom of the cut they could not get
out, on account of the high perpendicular walls of
earth on each side of the track. The enemy had an.
enfilading fire from a battery that could rake this
cut clear in a few minutes. Col. Bolton doublequicked his regiment down the railroad to the other
side of the Petersburg road to another ravine on the
left, then across the ravine to a knoll, where they
entrenched themselves for the time being That
night he took the regiment to the top of the hill,
and threw up rifle-pits on the side facing the enemy.
The next morning the enemy, whose works were
now very close, seeing ours in their front, began a
vigorous fire of artillery and musketry, to try to
drive us out of it, but to no purpose. The men re
turned the fire, and kept possession of the hill till
night, when Colonel Bolton put the regiment to
strengthening the works ; but as soon as daylight
appeared the enemy again brought to bear on our
front another battery that they had got into position
during the night before.
The regiment now had a good as well as a strong

566

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

EEGIMENT

position, but was subjected to an incessant fire from
the batteries in front and on its right, as well as from
the heavy line of infantry, which was kept up day
and night on them by the now desperate foe, who
had failed to make them fall back. Shells and case
shot or shrapnel were rained down on them, but the
regiment braved it all and still remained there, oc
cupying pits of their own construction far in advance
of any other part of the line ; but in a few days that
part on the extreme left and south of the 51st ad
vanced and took up a position connecting their line
with that of the 51st. The line now extended from
the Appomattox, on the right, to near the Yellow
Tavern on the Weldon railroad, on the left, a dis
tance of about eight miles south of the city.
The line on the right advanced across the Weldon
railroad to the last range of hills opposite to the
cemetery, of which the enemy's works were in front.
The whole force now was in between the railroad
and the city, excepting that part of the road which
curved short and led into the depot; but it was now
an unbroken line from the right to the left. The foe
was astounded at such audacity and daring, and at
once determined to force them back, if possible.
Assaults were made and met, but our ranks re
mained firm and resisted all attempts to be routed.
The enemy chagrined at his failure, then began
mounting heavy siege guns, columbiads and mor
tars, with one battery of cohorns to the right of the
Petersburg road, going towards the city. With these
he rained a continual shower of shot and shell both
day and night, with the view of expelling our troops
from their works, and to make them fall back. In

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

567

tliis lie was partly successful.
They found the pits
too hot to remain in them, but did not fall back.
Our troops bravely determined to keep all the
ground they had gained, and instead of falling back
they charged on the enemy's line, meeting with a
repulse, but not a defeat. As they had reached the
same hill which the enemy occupied, they laid down
on their stomachs and within one hundred and fifty
yards of the enemy's fortifications. The part of the
line that the 51st occupied was within one hundred
and eighty yards of the enemy's, and as it lay on the
ground it began entrenching itself, each man with
the aid of his tin-cup, plate or spoon, scratching a
little soil together and piling it up in front of his
head and forming a crescent shaped shelter, that was
a slight protection to the head only ; but even this
was a dangerous piece of work, for the enemy poured
volleys of musketry into them incessantly, and
although they hugged the ground close, the elevating
of the elbow at times while scraping the dirt together
placed them in great peril of getting hit by the fly
ing missiles that filled the air. There were a great
many wounded in the 51st but none killed. The
regiment continued there all day and kept up a
sharp fire at times, as a resting spell from their
novel mode of entrenching themselves. After night
set in tools were obtained, and the ground thus
gained in the daytime was made secure after dark
by rude breastworks. The line to the left of the road
did not connect with that of the 51st, and a junction
was highly necessary and all important, but from
the nature of the ground it was impossible for a man
to make the attempt and live, either daytime or
night. The ground was very even from the creek

568

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY- FIRST

REGIMENT

in the ravine clear up to the enemy's works, but rose
in a gradual ascent along the road from the left of
the rear of the 51st up to the top of the hill, and
across this gentle ascent was where the lines did not
connect. The enemy's artillery and infantry had
full sweep along its entire breadth, which was about
two hundred yards wide. On the first night after
the 51st had erected breastworks on their part of
the line, two regiments were detailed to attempt the
connection, and the enemy knowing that such a
thing would be tried by our troops, kept up a con
stant fire with musketry and grape, from the ap
proach of dark until long after daylight, to prevent
the connection being made. In daytime it was
certain death for a man to raise his head up for an
instant above his earthworks. The two regiments
made the attempt to connect the lines, but did
not succeed in putting a pick in the ground, as it
was utterly impossible for either officers or men to
stand and live outside the pits. Although the night
was very dark, yet the first attempt proved a failure.
The next night another detail of men, who knew
nothing of the danger or of the appearance of the
ground, made the attempt, but in less than fifteen
minutes they left the place in disgust, cursing Burnside, Meade, Wilcox, and all the officers in general,
for sending them to do what they considered an
impossibility. They were willing to charge on any
fort along the line, but they would i( be d — d if they
were going to stay out there all night as a target
for cannons and muskets, without having some show
for their lives."
Gen. Wilcox, who commanded the division to
which the 51st was attached, began to despair of

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VOLUNTEEES.

569

getting the connection made, and telling Gen. Hartranft of the ill success of the two former attempts,
General Hartranft replied, that he could get a regi
ment that would make the conjunction. Wilcox
requested him to do so. Gen. Hartranft at once de
tailed the 51st P. V. V. to do the work, and the 38th
Wisconsin to furnish the 51st with sand bags. Col.
Bolton received the order and at once determined
that the junction should be effected; and giving his
head that ominous shake, indicating " do it or die
trying," he detailed his brother Capt. J. K. Bolton
and Lieut. Gillilan to do the work.
Capt. Bolton took one-fourth of the detail and be
gan at one end ; Lieut. Gillilan took another fourth
and began at the other end ; The other half Capt.
Bolton placed in the centre to work each way. By
midnight enough was done to admit the colored
company to take possession ; and soon after the de
fence was completed. But the 38th Wisconsin left
them early in the evening and went back to their
camp.
Col. Bolton had to report to Gen. Wilcox every
hour, to apprise him how the work was progessing.
The report had to be made in writing, and that
being done in the dark, must have puzzled the gen
eral to have read it.
While Capt. Bolton and his detail were at the
work, the enemy kept up a severe fire from their
batteries, as well as from pickets and sharpshooters,
but the labor went on all the same, and just before
daybreak Capt. Bolton had the satisfaction to com
plete the connection of the two lines. He received
the congratulations of the officers of the stranger
regiments to whose line he had connected his own,

25*

570

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

as well as those of his fellow officers. During the
time that the detail was at work, the remainder of
the 51st was keeping up a severe fire on the enemy
to silence them as much as possible. Now that the
lines were unbroken and the pits afforded tolerably
fair protection, the regiment lived altogether in the
works both day and night.
Each company had one or two men detailed to do
the cooking for their respective companies, which
was done about five hundred yards in the rear.
When the rations were cooked the cooks would
have a dangerous duty to perform, in running the
gauntlet, in carrying the food in camp-kettles out to
the line to the men. While discharging this duty,
they at once became the targets for all the sharp
shooters within whose vision they were. It was no
uncommon thing for a cook to get hit while being
thus exposed.
CIIAPTEK

V.

A memorable shell — Diversion by Gen. Lee — Heavy assault
all along the lines — Repulse of the rebels — Narrow escape of
Gen. Hartranft — Preparations for a grand assault — Burnside's
mine — Firing of the train — Awful explosion and loss of life —
Charge of the colored troops — Failure of the supports to
come up — Meade's jealousy of Burnside — An important state
ment — The reserve sent to the rear by Mead, during the
charge — Repulse of our troops and heavy losses — Death of
Lieut. Fillman— Battle of Yellow Tavern.

COL. BOLTON now transferred his quarters to the
rear of the pits about five yards, where he fitted
them up quite comfortably. He h3ld his position
for several days, but as the enemy's shells were con
tinually dropping about that distance in the rear of

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

571

the line, and it being otherwise inconvenient, he
moved down to the foot of the hill and put up
his quarters within a couple of feet of the edge
of the deep creek which coursed along the west
side of the ravine. He had just fairly got estab
lished, when a good sized mortar shell fell with
out exploding into the water, only about a foot
from his feet, while he was standing at the front of
his quarters, making him think that he hadn't got
a much safer place than the one he left. The shell
falling in the water extinguished the fuse. The
colonel dug it out of the rnud and cleaned it, sent it
home, and has it now in his possession, handsomely
painted in black and gold, with the inscription
" Petersburg, July 13th, 1864," on it.
About the 5th of July, 1864, the enemy made an
attempt to draw Gen. Grant away from their front
by a foolish diversion on their part, pretending to
pay the North another visit in the shape of an in
vasion, but Gen. Grant " couldn't see it," and only
sent one division of the 6th Corps. Believing the
ruse had succeeded and that Grant's army was re
duced to a mere skeleton by it, they, on the 8th of
July, made a charge along the whole front. Our
troops kept quiet in their pits until the enemy got
midway of the two lines, when our army sprang to
their feet, and pouring volleys of musketry and ar
tillery into their ranks, sent them back reeling in
less time than it took them to get there, with a
tremendous heavy loss on their side. The loss on
our side was large, but not one-tenth of theirs. The
51st suffered none, although occupying the part of
the line nearest to them. Lieut. S. P. Stephens
made a narrow escape from the explosion of a shell.

572

HISTOEY

OF

THE

FIFTY-F1KST

KEGIMENT

He had been out on a visit to the defences, and while
there a heavy mortar shell dropped close to his feet.
As it was entering the ground it exploded, covering
him with the dirt, as he threw himself down at the
instant the shell passed his head, thus, perhaps, sav
ing his life. While the fight was going on, Gen.
Hartranft, who had his stars put on only a day or
two before, was sitting in his quarters writing, when
a minie ball passed through, taking one of his
stars off his shoulder. The General thought that an
informal way of reducing his rank, and kept on
writing as if nothing had happened, or there was no
further danger. The undermining of the large fort
which was directly in front of the 51st, and was so
very annoying to the regiment, was in progress at
the time the enemy made their charge. Great care
had to be exercised to keep the assailants from
making the discovery of the work, but as they did
not get as far as expected, the secret was strictly
kept. The subterranean passage was through the
hill directly under the centre of the regiment.
Nothing of anything like interest among the sol
diers occurred until it became known among them
of the attempt of Burnside to blow up the rebel
fort. Only that party (the 48th P. V.Y., Col. Henry
Pleasants commanding) engaged in the mining and
the 51st were in the secret. Other regiments were
aware that something of the kind was going on, but
where, they could not tell, nor had they even sus
pected the place. As the time for applying the
match was drawing to a close, and fearing the rebels
had got the information, it was given out that the
thing was a failure; but, at the same time, the 48th
were working like beavers. A constant fire was

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

573

kept up along the entire front, and an occasional
charge made by a regiment or a brigade was the
daily and nightly duties of all the troops. The 51st
improved their pits by widening them and cutting
them straighter. At length the awful hour for the
explosion was named, which was at daybreak of the
next day, July 30th, 1864.
All night before, orderlies were to be seen riding
from one end of the line to the other, delivering
orders to the different commanders. The troops
began to move into positions ; regiments began
pouring into the ravine in the rear of the 51st's
pits, and closing en masse for the desperate on
slaught on their enemy — who was lying asleep,
unconscious that a mine thirty feet beneath them,
containing tons of powder, was about being fired.
The colored troops were to charge first, and to be
supported by the white troops. If the explosion was
successful they were to charge on into the city, sup
ported by an ample reserve of white soldiers. About
midnight the 51st vacated the pits in the front, and
took the position assigned it in the rear of the colored
troops, who now were becoming impatient from so
long waiting for the word " forward." This being
the first chance that this body of colored troops had
had of showing whether they would fight or not,
they were actually eager for it. Everything was now
ready and in waiting for the approach of day ; with
straining eyes it was watched until the tinging gray
of morning was seen, when instantly the match was
applied. Hearts now were beating high with the
hope for a successful result, but after waiting one, two,
three, four, and even five minutes! for the explosion,
it still did not take place. Col. Pleasarits now be-

574

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

came uneasy ; the fuse had surely gone out ; day was
fast approaching ; an investigation was made, and the
truth was evident — the train had refused to ignite.
Soon an excavation was made by the men of the 48th,
and a new train and fuse relaid ; the match applied,
the sun was nearly up, when a rumbling, trembling
sensation was felt under the feet of our troops in the
vicinity of the ill-fated fort. At the same time a
dark grayish mass was seen ascending in the air to
an altitude of about fifty feet, where, at its fullest
height, it seemed to remain stationary for an instant,
then came down in an awful crash, creating a cloud
of dust that was some moments in settling. As the
fort was viewed in its ascent and descent, it plainly
showed the terrible havoc that had befell it. Head
less trunks, arms, legs, and all parts of the human
frame were there mingled with the pieces of broken
gun-carriages, guns, blankets, etc. After the settling
of the upheaved earth, the command to "forward"
was given to the colored troops, and, leaping over
our breastworks, they made one of the most splendid
charges that had been witnessed along that whole
front; through the crater, and far beyond it they went
on the double-quick, until they were r early to the
suburbs of the city. The white troops failed to be
thrown forward in time to complete the victory, and
it was turned into an unsuccessful attempt. Meade
accused Burnside of incompetency, and had done all
he could to discourage the work while in progress,
and only through a selfishness that was unworthy
of an officer of rank. Gen. Burnside could not show
himself along the line but what he was saluted with
cheers by all the troops. Gen. Meade could ride the
whole day among his men, they scarcely deigning

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VOLUNTEERS.

575

to notice him. Hence the popularity of Burnsicle
was galling to Meade's jealous heart, and he desired
to see Burnside put down.
In the rear, about half a mile, was a Gen. (Smith or
White) with a large body of troops, closed en masse,
and on the reserve. There were several thousand
of them, and I, as Gen. Meade's accuser, and holding
myself responsible for the accusation, know of him
riding up to this Gen. White or Smith, and telling
him in an unofficial manner, " General, I guess
you might as well take your men back to camp,"
and then rode off toward Burnside's headquarters.
This was done while the colored troops were still on
the charge, and needed all their support and reserves
to come up, which, if it had have been done, Peters
burg must and would have fallen, in spite of every
resistance the rebels could offer, on that 30th of July.
After the colored troops had almost reached the
city, and the white troops failing to support them at
the proper time, the enemy, who had been thrown
into confusion by the suddenness of the explosion,
now gathered their scattered senses and forces, and
turned all their guns on them that they could bring
to bear. They were being repulsed by the terrible
discharges of grape and canister from the enemy,
when the white troops began to move forward to
their assistance, but their colored comrades were
retreating in full force. Gen. Hartranft's division
succeeded in gaining the inside of the enemy's
works, but the colored troops were too panic-stricken
to be rallied again, and the few white troops could
not hold the works alone, and were ordered by Gen.
Hartranft back to their own line. Gen. Hartranft
had taken up his position in the crater or mine, and

576

HISTOKY

OF

THE

FIFTY- FIRST

REGIMENT

was in a very tight place. He and his orderlies
could not get out to reach the rear. The enemy's
attention being now turned to him and his orderlies,
they began to pour their musketry into them. Two
of his orderlies were killed, and the third and last
one escaped with the general, who was more willing
to risk getting shot than to being captured.
An extract from a private letter gives a pretty
correct account of it. It was written at noon on or
near the scene, and runs thus :
IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG,
July 30 M, Noon.

As there was one of the most desperate battles fought here
this morning that has occurred during- this campaign, I must
write to let you know that I am safe
This morning as day was breaking we were aroused by the
heavy quaking of the earth and the terrible cannonading.
The former was produced by the blowing up of the rebel forti
fications in front of the 51st P. V. V., (Gen. HartranfVs old
regiment, I believe, and I think now commanded by Col. Win.
Bolton from the same place that Hartranft is,) and the latter
bjf our artillery taking the advantage of the panic caused
among the rebels by the awful explosion of our mines. We
have taken a great many prisoners, and our loss is very heavy,
but not near so heavy as the rebels, for they lost about 1,200
men, 300 of whom were buried alive in the debris of the large
fort. Some of the boys who were in the mine say that the
heads, legs and arms, are to be seen sticking up out of the
ground in all parts of it. There was one division of colored
troops in front of our division, who made the charge, driving
the rebels out of their works ; then the rebels rallied and charged
in return on the negroes, the darkies broke and ran like scared
sheep. The rebs reoccupied the works out of which the darkies
drove them. They also tried to drive the white soldiers from
ours ; but the rebs soon found the whites were made of sterner
stuff.
Col. Bolton got mortally wounded this morning. Just this
minute the whole of our line of artillery has opened on the
rebs. My head actually aches with the infernal constant
racket that the musketry and 850 cannon keep up. Just im
agine, when each gun can be fired five times a minute, making
about 1,750 shots a minute, add the report of l,7f 0 shells explod
ing in the air, some of them weighing 200 pounds — all this is
independent of the firing of the rebels' artillery — and then you
can judge why my head aches. Our regiment was not engaged.

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577

After the whole of our troops had retired to their
own lines, the killed and wounded were principally
left in the hands of the enemy. A great many fell be
tween the two lines — these were secured after night
by men crawling quietly out of the pits and sneaking
on their stomachs until they could find a body, when
it would be brought in.
About 11 A. M. of the 30th July the 51st had
taken its old position in the works. The enemy
still kept up a terrific fire and threw a great quan
tity of mortar shells, all of which were loaded to their
fullest capacity with iron balls of about the calibre
of the Harper's ferry muskets. One of these shells
exploded when about one hundred yards from the
earth ; the balls flew in all directions, one of which
struck Col. Bolton in the cheek, and passing down his
neck buried itself beneath the shoulder blade, where
it still remains at this day. The ball struck him pre
cisely in the same spot that he was wounded in by
a minie ball at Antietam. He was carried off the
field for dead, and was taken to the hospital to be
attended to, and the surgeons — Shurlock and Rineholdt — had no hope of him, still they would try their
best to save him, and did ; but for a long time his
life hung by a slender thread. The same explosion
caused the death of Lieut Allan H. Fillman of Co.
F, the ball penetrating his brain, killing him in
stantly. He was brought out of the pits and taken
to the rear, and his body sent home. His loss was
deeply felt by all who knew him.
He had only received his commission two days
before, which promoted him from commissary ser
geant of the regiment, and was mustered in only
the evening before his death. He immediately went

578

HISTOEY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

out to the front, it might be said to meet a sudden
death. Some of his friends advised him not to go
out to his company until the next day, but he paid
no attention to the advice and perished.
The command of the 51st devolved on Maj. Lane
S. Hart, late Captain of Co. F, on account of Col.
Bolton's absence, wounded. Maj. Hart, like Col.
Bolton, was a fighting man, and his vigilance on the
line showed him to be no coward. A few days after
assuming command, on the 5th of August, the enemy
in retaliation for the fort which Burnside destroyed
for them, fired a fuse and blew up an abandoned
fort on the extreme left of our line, on a Friday
afternoon, but doing no damage as the troops had
moved out of it the evening before. The enemy
had made great preparations for an assault along
the whole line, but as the fort went up they were
chagrined to find it empty. Their preparations for
a charge were well known to our lines, therefore
Maj. Hart remained in the pits until it was ascer
tained no charge on his part of the line was likely
to take place. The enemy kept up a constant shell
ing and a fire of musketry day and night ; the 51st
returned the musketry with equal vigor.
About the first of the month (August) Lieut.
Wm. W. Owens, of Co. F, returned to the regiment
from home, where he had been on account of the
wound received in May, at the battle of the Wilder
ness, and reported for duty, but he only remained
with the regiment two weeks; his wounds were unhealed, and the surgeons would not let him stay,
therefore they sent him back again on the 13th.
The day that Gen. J. G. Farke assumed command
of the 9th Corps, the regiment was relieved on the

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line and moved back to the rear near Burnside's
headquarters, where it went into camp to get a little
rest. The baggage was all brought up from City
Point and left in camp until the regiment should
go to the front again. The officers were disap
pointed when they received their baggage, as it was
in a most deplorable condition. The boat on which
it had been stored for safe keeping, sprung a leak
and sunk at the wharf in about ten feet of water.
The trunks and valises were got out as soon as pos
sible, but not until the books and papers were all
totally ruined, occasioning great inconvenience to
all. The regimental books, as well as the company
books, had all to be replaced, but some very valua
ble regimental papers were so totally defaced as to
be impossible to decipher them so as to be copied.
The regiment, after spending a week or so in
camp, went out again to their old works. The shell
ing and firing was as severe as before, and a man
had to move about very cautiously, for the enemy
had erected a new fort in a woods in front of the
right of the 1st brigade. This placed them under
a crossfire from the rebels. The regiment staid here
until the night of the 18th, when it departed and
marched to the left, halting about 7 A. M. on the
19th at the YelloW Tavern, or near it, on the Weidon railroad, where it drew three days' rations, part
of which were salt fish (mackerel). While in the
act of drawing the rations, the enemy attacked them
in heavy force, and a terrible battle ensued till
dark, when they fell back, with a tremendous loss
in killed, wounded, and prisoners. The entire 3d
Division of the 9th Army Corps, and a division of
the 2d Corps, bore the whole brunt of the battle.

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HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

The loss in the 51st was very heavy. In the "heat
of battle, Major Hart rode into it on his celebrated
horse " Gimlet," but finding him too troublesome to
manage he jumped off, turned his horse loose, and
commanded the regiment on foot. The enemy ad
vanced through a dense woods. The 51st occupied
a clear field to the right of the Yellow Tavern, and
after Maj. Hart took it afoot they charged on the
foe in fine style and drove them far into the woods.
Our artillery could get no position, and was conse
quently useless. The rebel's artillery commanded
the entire line. Their grape did serious execution.
One struck Maj. Hart just below the hip, and
passed through both thighs. He fell, and it was
thought he must die. But he received immediate
attention and got well, but will be a cripple the re
mainder of his life.
The major's horse was found two days afterwards,
and was returned to the groom by Gen. Peter Lyle,
who had captured him during the battle.
As soon as Major Hart fell, Capt. Joseph K. Bolton, of Co. A, immediately assumed command as
senior officer of the regiment. The wounded were
directly removed to the rear, and those who were
able to help themselves went without assistance,
among whom was Lieut. J. P. Brooke, Co. F, Sergt.
Jno. W. Fair, Co. C, Howard E. Gordon, Thos. Kinehart, Co. I, and a great many others.*
* The following are the casualties at the Yellow Tavern, as
correct as could be obtained at the time :
Field and Staff.— Wounded— Maj. L. S. Hart, severely.
Co. A. — Wounded — Corp. John S. Jones.
Co. B. — Captured — Private Lewis Group.
Co. C. — Wounded — Sergt. Jno. W. Fair.
Co. E. — Killed — Corp. George W. Arnaud, Alfred Meckley.
Co. F. — Wounded — Capt. Jacob P. Brooke.

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VOLUNTEERS.

581

VI.

Renewal of the battle — Splendid Union victory — Ream's station
— Return to Yellow Tavern— Fort building — Rebel assault re
pulsed — Grant's railroad — Capture of rebel pickets — Politics
in camp — Fight among the officers — "Smoked Yankees" —
Election in the field — Disciplining — Sheridan's victory —
Thanksgiving turkeys — Fort Morton — A hot place — A model
fort-builder — " Bob's " bogus dinner.

THE 51st sent out pickets, was attacked in the
night, then lay on their arms till morning, and then
was attacked again. Monday the 21st, at daybreak,
the enemy made the attack with a much heavier
force than of the day before. They made three
charges — the first and last was very desperate. The
combatants all got mixed up in the woods, and it
was no uncommon thing for a rebel to capture a
Yankee, and, as he was taking him to the rear, to
pass a Yankee with a captured rebel.
Bach charge was bravely repulsed, but in one the
2d Division of the 2d Corps was very near being
taken, as the enemy had got in their rear, and cut
them oft'; but the 3d Division, 9th Corps, attacked
the rebels, capturing a great many, and driving the
others back.
Among the rebel prisoners was Major-General
Fitzhugh Lee.
Their loss was, in killed, wounded, and prisoners,
from 8,000 to 10,000, all of which fell into our
Co. G. — Wounded — Lieut. C. B. Stoneroad. Captured—
Thos. Arbuckle.
Co. H. — Wounded — II. J. Lingcrman.
Co. I.— Wounded — Howard E. Gordon, Thos. Rinehart.
Co. K. — Killed — William Foster, Christian Sheeks. Wound
ed — Wm. Poust, Ed. Richards.

HISTORY

OF

TTTE

FIFTY-FTRST

REGIMENT

hancU.
Our loss altogether was about 500 in killed,
wounded, and missing.*
We lay here in line of battle all the next day
(22d) and that night. The next morning we moved
back about two hundred yards, built a fortification,
and at night sent out pickets. We remained at this
fort until 3 p. M. of the 25th, when orders were
issued to pack up and be ready to move in fifteen
minutes. At the time appointed the regiment
started to the relief of Hancock's corps at Ream's
station, on the Weldon railroad, about ten miles to
the left of the point from which it had started. We
arrived on the battle-field at dark, and found Han
cock's corps retreating, with the loss of their artil
lery. The 51st returned on the Jerusalem plank
road, until it got opposite to the Yellow Tavern, but
about two miles from it, and halted at 4 A. M. of the
26th, put out pickets, and, after taking a short sleep,
it again went back to its old quarters at the Yellow
Tavern, where it arrived at 8 A. M., and remained
there until the 31st at 4 A. M., when it proceeded
several miles further to the left into a perfect pine
wilderness, about three miles beyond Fort Hays.
* The list of casualties in the 51st P. V. V. is not full, but
such as it is we give it.
Co. A. — Wounded — Sergt. Washington Smith. Captured —
Sergt. Benjamin P. Thompson, Corp. John A. Jordan, Private
Henry Me Lain, Private Win. Harff.
Co. B.— Captured — Private Jonathan Brooke.
Co. C.— None.

Co. D. — Captured — Win. McManemee.

Co. E. — Captured — Isaac Dolby.
Co. F.— None.
Co. G. — Killed— Christian Sheets.
Co. H. — Captured — Peter Smith.
Co. I. — None.
Co. K. — Captured — Frank F. Duck, Alfred Kuntz, Solomon
Reish, Alfred Yohl.

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After putting out pickets, orders were received to
fell trees and use them for breastworks. Plere for
several days the regiment labored hard, and had
built a most substantial work about five feet high
and four hundred yards long, all out of the tall pine
trees that were felled ; but just as it was finished, an
order came in for us to move a short distance to the
right, and to occupy a line of unfinished works of
the colored troops. This was a most dismal place
to be in, the ground being very level and low ; it
partook somewhat of the nature of a huge swamp,
only the bottom was hard, the water several inches
deep in places, and the timber of gigantic size,
thickly undergrown with briars and bushes of all
kinds. Here the 51st re-commenced and finished
the works that had been left by the colored troops.
After getting it done, the complaints from the men
about the water caused a removal. Captain Bolton
advanced the regiment a short distance to the right
and front; here the ground wras something better,
and a new work, with a large fort, was erected, and
the men, although closer to the enemy, were much
better satisfied. They would sooner be exposed to
their foe's shot, than to stand in water, but it took a
strong picket line to keep the position.
The regiment lay here for several days, then was
moved further to the right, and about half a mile to
the left of Fort Hayes, and began erecting new
works on the 2d September. While at this place
Captain B. B. Moore, of the 138th P. V., was as
signed as quartermaster of the 1st Brigade, 3d Di
vision, 9th Corps. This was a beneficial change for
the brigade, and especially for the 51st P. V. "V., for
the butchers of the brigade had been allowed, by the

584

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMEXT

former quartermaster, to retain for their own profit
all the fat, hearts, and liver of the beeves killed Cor
the use of the brigade, for which they charged the
men from 50 cents to $1 for a heart, and from
$1.50 to $2.50 for a liver; but now it was different;
these butchers were enlisted privates, who sought to
be detailed on that duty, to keep from being sent
out to the pits. Captain Moore determined that they
should not charge true soldiers such high prices.
Twenty-five cents for a heart, and fifty cents for- a
liver, and nothing for the fat, was the scale of prices
issued under him ; and if any of the butchers were
not satisfied with such prices, they could return to
their respective regiments and carry their muskets.
But had he told them that they might kill cattle for
one-half the pay they were getting as privates, or
carry the gun, they would have taken the half pay
and staid in the rear. Fresh beef, potatoes, salt fish,
cod and mackerel, onions, cabbage, &c., with full
rations of whiskey, were issued at this place, and the
men lived in comfort, having clean quarters, plenty
of good water, in wells that were dug in each com
pany's street, very little fighting to do, only out on
the picket line, but plenty of policing and woodchopping duty.
About 3 o'clock in the morning of the 10th Sep
tember, the enemy attacked the right of our brigade,
and the fight lasted till 8 A. M., at which time the
aggressors
on and driven into their
oo were charged
o
own works and out of them, our men taking posses
sion of their skirmish line pits.
On the 9th September Grant's City Point railroad
was completed to the left, where the 51st lay. This
railroad was a novelty in itself; no grading of any

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585

account, the tics temporarily laid, the rails as tem
porarily put on them, and the track waving up and
down hill from the right to the left. Heavy trains
of ammunition and supplies would pass over the
track ; and when on the top of a grade or hill, a full
head of steam would be put on, giving the train suf
ficient speed and momentum to drive it up the next
hill opposite ; if it did not succeed, the train would
back down to the hollow and take a fresh start, and,
with the aid of the troops pushing, it would be got
over the ascent; but this didn't happen often, the
engineers knowing the draught of their train, and
what amount of steam was necessary, were pretty
successful. The engine and cars were Uncle Sam's,
and if they smashed up a few why he could afford
it. This railroad was a great benefit to the army.
If a small body of troops were wanted in a " hurry "
at any part of the line, they were put on the cars,
and in a few minutes could be at the point where
wanted; also saving the poor mules from dragging
heavy loads through mud from City Point to the left.
About 2 o'clock A. M. of the 10th September the
troops in Fort Hays, and on the right of the 51st,
captured a large number of rebel pickets, who were
trying to get in the rear of ours.
The time of a number of the men of the 51st who
did not re enlist expiring on the 12th September, they
were discharged and on the following day left for
home, among them were George Brash of Co. C.,
and Chas. Rodenbaugh.
On the 12th, orders were received changing the
troops in the 9th Corps, and transferring regiments
to other brigades and divisions.
The 1st brigade of
20

586

HISTORY OF THE FIFTY-FIRST REGIMENT

the 3d division, in which was the 51st, was trans
ferred as 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Corps.
An attack was expected from the enemy on the
left of the 51st, and they had been watched closely
for more than a week ; on the 17th they drove in
our pickets, bat in tarn were driven back, only one
man slightly wounded in the 51st.
On the night of the 21st, the pickets in front of
the 51st opened a constant and rapid fire on the
enemy. The regiment roused up, fell in line of
battle and awaited further orders until daylight,
when it stacked arms in the works and got breakfast.
Politics now began to attract the attention of the
51st more than did the enemy, as the presidential
election was drawing nigh. The " loyal " element
in the regiment was far in the majority, those ad
vocated the re-election of Abraham Lincoln, and
nearly all the veterans were his advocates, in fact there
were but five enlisted men, veterans, who were of
the u disloyal" or "peace at any price party" and
advocated McClellan's cause. Only one of the com
missioned officers who were present was a McClellan
man, and he intended to quit the service as soon as
his term expired, which would be in a few weeks.
Although he felt that his presence in the regiment
was disagreeable, yet such was not the case. He
was an estimable gentleman, a good soldier, brave
and generous, and as such commanded the respect
of his superior officers. But being very young, and
having too little prudence in the matter, he allowed
himself to be drawn into political arguments on
every occasion offered, always getting the worst of
it ; he felt that he was alone, not respected, and dis
liked, when in fact there was but one in the whole

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regiment that ever bore him any malice, and that
was a young lieutenant of the same rank, who only
disrelished his politics, which repugnance ended in a
few weeks after, on the day of the election, in a fight
which will be referred to in its proper place.
Several letters from the regiment written by dif
ferent correspondents appeared in different papers at
home about this time. One of them gave offence to
a few of the McClellan party in the town in which the
communications were published. They tried to find
out the author '' Cains Claudius," and sent a number
of letters to the 51st for that purpose, at the same
time endeavoring to fill their friends with enmity
against that writer, in which they succeeded. Sev
eral visited Lieut. Stephens's quarters, thinking that
he either wrote the obnoxious epistle or that he
knew who did. The lieutenant, although he knew
the author, who happened at that very time to be in
his tent, claimed to be the originator by saying to
them, " Why, if I did write it, ain't it true to the very
last letter?" They now were puzzled and replied,
'• d— d if we believe you wrote it, but we will find out
who did, and God help him if we do." The lieutenant
then asked them the objection to it; they stated that
their friends at home told them in a letter, that the
author had stated that " all the copperheads in the
regiment and the army were bummers, shysters,
stragglers and deserters. Lieut. Stephens replied,
" W hoever sent you any such word are infernal liars,
for I saw the letter myself before it was sent off, and
it did not contain any such a sentiment," and further
told them he would get a cop}'' of the paper and see
if such was the case. They then visited the com
missary sergeant (Parker) the next day, and asked

588

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

him if he was the author of the letter of a certain
date, over the signature of " Caius Claudius ;" they
were asked " Why?" they said he had written that
all the copperheads were bummers, &c , and they
were determined to find out who the author was
and make him retract the letter, or take a " licking,"
but while this was going on in the sergeant's tent,
W. P. Schall brought the mail in, and the subject
was dropped until the mail was distributed. A
paper containing the letter in dispute was sent to
the sergeant and the obnoxious part was read, but
with an entirely different meaning, for the sentence
read "that all the bummers, shysters and deserters
were copperheads," and not that " all the copperheads
were bummers, &c." The difference mollified them
to a great extent, but was not altogether satisfactory ;
but they never said any more about it, only in a
casual conversation among the men, for they began
to enumerate the different cases and they found that
nearly if not all the deserters were of their party.
But the letter had caused such an excitement among
the few "peace democrats," that it had an injurious
effect on those who were lukewarm by turning them
into McClellanites, and the half dozen or so demo
crats in the regiment found their ranks swelled to a
dozen or fifteen.
The regiment remained here until Sunday, the 25th
of September, 1864, when it moved about hall' a
mile to the right and garrisoned Fort Alexander
Hays; while here it was relieved from picket duty,
which was done in front of the fort by colored troops
only. The second day of the regiment's stay here
twenty -one deserters from the enemy came into our
lines. Shortly after the enemy charged on the

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colored pickets and drove them in, wounding a
great many ; when they rallied and in turn drove
the enemy back to their own line, and then took up
their old position.
The enemy now having fully discovered that the
" smoked Yankees " were on duty in their front, they
sought to annoy and harass them as much as possi
ble. Therefore every two or three hours they
would "kick up a muss" with their sable enemies
and compel the 51st P. V. V. and the 79th N. Y.
Highlanders to jump to their guns, which were all
the time kept " stacked " in line in the works of the
fort.
At night they were very troublesome, causing the
two regiments to jump up out of a sound sleep per
haps three to five times every night. Sometimes
the " smoked Yankees " and the " Johnnies" would
"kick up a muss" that would draw the whole line
into it for several miles in extent. The shelling
would be kept up by both sides. An extract from
a private letter gives a slight idea of the annoyance,
viz. :
"Our regiment and the 79th K Y. Highlanders are holding
and doing garrison duty at Fort Hays. The colored troops do
the picketing, and about every two or three hours the ' smoked
Yankees,' as the secesh call them, and the rebels get at it, and
start a fight along the line for seven or eight miles, and both
parties bring all their guns and mortars into action, and it
beats the devil to see the shells at night flying and singing
through the air. It is a magnificent sight to look at, but some
come too close — then they are not so magnificent ! My prin
cipal objection is that a fellow has to get up so often through
the night, out of a sound sleep, to run into the breastworks for
safety. We have sixty-five thousand rounds of ammunition
and six days' rations stored away in the magazine in case we
get besieged. There are no troops of any account near us that
could give us any support. They have all gone far off on the
left, towards the Southside railroad, where they have been
fighting for two days and nights, but with what success I can't
say. We heard last night that the 51st N. Y. and the 45th P.

590

HISTORY

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THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

V. V. were captured, but how true it is I can't tell. The rebs
have a very strong force now in our front here. They have a
very large fort directly opposite ours."

On the 1st October, 1864, Col. Wm. J. Bolton and
Lieuts. Owen and Coulston arrived here from their
homes, having recovered from their wounds to a
certain extent.
On the 4th, about 9 P. M., word went along the
whole line that Richmond had " gone up," and, as
the news spread, cheers resounded with a will, but
the 51st had been " sold" once before on it, as they
were coming down the Neuse river on the trans
ports, to join McClellan at the seven days' fight;
consequently not a man "could see it," and had no
cheer to give. It must be stated here that while the
51st was at Fort Hays, it was an "independent com
mand," being cut loose from the brigade when the
troops went off to the Southside railroad. On< Satur
day, Oct. 8th, the regiment moved to the left, and
rejoined the brigade of Gen. Hartranft, near the
l< Peeble's Farm," not far from Hatcher's run. The
Election Commissioner, Mr. Samuel Jamison, arrived
on the 9th at the regiment, and Gen. Hartranft ex
tended the hospitalities of his tent to him. On Oct.
llth, Lieut. S. P. Stephens was detailed from the
regiment as quartermaster of the Artillery Brigade
of the 9th Corps, and left the regiment for his new
position on the next day. Col. Bolton then ap
pointed Lieut. Wm. F. Thomas to fill the temporary
vacancy of regimental quartermaster. Lieut. Geo.
H. Smith, Co. C.; was detailed, while lying here, to
act as adjutant of the regiment, during the temporary
absence of Lieut. J. P. Brooks, who now was com
missioned captain Co. F, and had been home on a

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leave of absence, but returned to the regiment, Oct.
15th, fully recovered from his wound. On the 14th
of October a man belonging to the 8th Michigan,
and who cooked for Gen. Hartranft's orderlies, was
detected in abstracting letters containing money
from the brigade mail bag, and when closely ques
tioned he confessed to have been doing so every day
for two weeks before, and that he had sent home
$800, besides $200 found on him at the time. The
regiment had been paid off on the 8th, and no doubt
the villain had got a considerable sum from our boys.
On the 15th an order was received from army head
quarters granting furloughs from ten to fifteen days,
to two men at a time from each company. On the
llth October the election took place for State officers,
resulting in a Union majority of eighty-three in the
regiment. As it is generally believed that the elec
tion in the army was influenced by threats, &c.,
against those who wished to vote the Democratic
ticket, no one, no matter who, can say in truth that
the election in the 51st was influenced in any way
through the interference of Col. Bolton or his officers,
but on the contrary every man was persuaded by
Col. Bolton to go and vote just as he pleased. Lieut.
Geo. Schall, of Co. I, was appointed judge of the elec
tion, who, as all his acquaintances know, was a rank
Democrat. After the election was over, Lieut. Geo.
H. Smith, acting adjutant, accused Schall of being
partial towards certain voters. A quarrel ensued,
resulting in the "lie " being given by Lieut. Smith,
when Schall struck him in the face, and they grasped
and took it '' rough and tumble," in front of the ad
jutant's tent, and finally ended in the adjutant's
office, by the upsetting of Com.-Sergt. Parker, who

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HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY FIRST

REGIMENT

\vas sitting in there filling out a requisition for
rations; the desk, table, trunks, valises, &c., with
the "special orders" were scattered around quite
freely. As the combatants were not equal in size,
the smaller one made up in " spunk " and agility, and
it became a drawn battle, when they both retired to
the inside of their "ditches" to make up their list of
casualties in killed, wounded, and missing, which
was very light, considering that the two antagonists
had brought into action all their forces. The result
was, one man had received a slight wound from a
11 hand-grenade " on the side of his face, as if there
had been a nail in it. The loss on the other side
was an internal wound in the rear of the nasal organ,
producing hemorrhage from that appendage to the
extent of nearly a teaspoonful. Why it was that
Col. Bolton never recognized this battle and re
ported it to Gren. Park", that a "special order"
might have been issued, for the regiment to inscribe
it on its battle-flag, is for the colonel to answer.
An incident of another character occurred while
lying near the Feeble house. Some of the com
pany cooks made a fire in the woods for the purpose
of cooking rations. After it had been burning some
time, a rebel shell, that had buried itself two or
three inches in the ground before the fire was made,
exploded, while seven men were sitting around it,
cleaning everything out. Not a spark of fire was
left, and, strange to say, not a man was in the least
harmed.
On the 17th the regiment moved a little further
to the right, near "Davis's house," where was insti
tuted Col. Bolton's "special staff," which not a few
will remember, particularly those who dug out the

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most stumps and were the most frequent on his
"staff," besides the more conspicuous, who paraded
the parapets of the works with a small log on their
shoulder, for misconduct. Some for "shysting out
of a fight/' some for stealing, some for deserting, &c.
While at this camp a deserter was shot, who for
merly had belonged to the 2d Maryland, on Friday,
Oct. 21st. His crime was deserting and joining the
enemy's ranks. He was captured in a fight, with
his gun in his hands, fighting against the Union
army, tried by a court-martial and sentenced to be
shot. The place of execution was a few yards in
the rear of the 51st's camp.
On Oct. 22d, Saturday, these men were drummed
around the inside of a hollow square, formed by the
9th Corps, with large placards on their backs, spe
cifying their crimes. Two read, '* I deserted in front
of the enemy during a fight, and skulked to the
rear." The other was, " I arn a coward, and have
been absent without leave."
At 9 o'clock p. M., 22d October, a despatch was
received, informing the line of Sheridan's complete
victory over Early and Longstreet, in Shenandoah
Valley. The cheers began at City Point and went
along the whole line, a distance of sixteen miles, in
less than half an hour. Such cheering was never
heard. The rebels in our front began to cheer for
Me Clel .an, then our pickets took it up and cheered
for Lincoln, and all the bands played until midnight.
The enemy began shelling, to add interest to the
occasion, then our batteries, to increase the din and
noise, opened on the enemy, and a noisier night
was seldom heard on that line.
On October the 22d

ninety-two
20*

recruits arrived

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HISTORY 'OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

for the regiment. They were principally from Wayne
county, Pa. The most of them were drafted men.
Only a few were substitutes, whom the veterans
facetiously termed "subs;" and on the 24th about
two hundred and eight more arrived.
On the 27th the regiment (only the vets.) went out
to Hatcher's run on a ' reconnoissance in force," as
it was called, but it turned out to be a three days'
fight, in which the 51st suffered severely in wounded
among whom were George S. Casselberry and John
Camden, of Co. F., who each lost a leg.
While the veterans were doing up these three
days fighting, the quarters of the regiment, and also
the property of the same, were removed back to
their old camp in the woods at the Feeble house, for
the purpose of drilling the "green recruits," who
certainly were "green" enough.
On the 30th the veterans returned from "their rcconnoissance in force," and went into camp along
with the recruits, drilling now constantly and long
at a time.
On the 26th November, 1864, the regiment re
ceived quite a treat from the citizens of New York,
in the shape of what was to have been our Thanks
giving dinner, but though delayed two days, it was
none the less acceptable. It was a complete feast,
and more than could be eaten in two clays, consist
ing of roast turkeys, beef a la mode, apples, onions,
potatoes, smoking and chewing tobacco, mince pies,
full of brandy, and cakes. A nice little incident
occurred, and a very agreeable one to the lucky per
sons. One barrel of the turkeys was largely contrib
uted to by a Miss Louisa Dietz, of No. 132 William
street, New York, and five of the turkeys that she

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contributed were issued, one to Col. Bolton, one to
Capt. Bolton, one to Capt. J. P. Brooke, and the
other one to Lieut. George H. Smith. Lieut. Smith,
whose supper was soon ready, after carving his " ra
tion " of turkey off' the outside, attempted to force
his knife through the bones to get at the stuffing,
but it wouldn't go through on account of a hard
substance inside. Investigating the cause, he found
a bottle of the best pale brandy very ingeniously
stuffed into the turkey, and carefully moulded over
with splendid bread stuffing.
An extract from a private letter of an officer of
the regiment gives a better description than can the
writer of this work, viz. :
" * * * * Five very large turkeys, each with one bot
tle of the best pale brandy in them, which was very ingeniouly
put inside of the turkeys, and then all indications of a bottle
being in them were carefully concealed from view by filling
up the cavities with splendid bread stuffing, and tying the ends
of the legs on one side of the neck of the bottle, and the tail on
the other side, and carefully plastering all places up with
stuffing. This gave them the appearance of a very full stuffed
turkey. Now I must tell you who were the lucky ones that
got them, and it was all by chance, for when they were all
given out, no one dreamt of any such a thing as liquor being
in them. So last night Lieut. Smith, our adjutant, went to
cut up his turkey for supper, and had got the outside of it cut
off, when he tried to cut the turkey into halves, but his knife
would not go straight through, on accocnt of some hard
obstacle. He began then to investigate the cause by removing
the stuffing, when the first thing that greeted his eyes was a
bottle of brandy stuck in. So this morning I looked at mine,
and there was one sure enough. I called the colonel in and
treated him, and he said he must look after his, and sure
enough there was one in his, and one in Capt. Bolton' s, then
Capt. Brooke thought it time for him to look, and he also
found one. It afforded considerable amusement for a time at
Miss Dietz's expense."

On the 29th November the 51st struck tents and
moved to the right. It arrived at Fort Morton, op
posite the crater, on the morning of the 30th, where

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HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

it took up its quarters in bomb-proofs. A great
change had been made in the works while the regi
ment was on the left. Traverses had been dug from
the fort out to the ravine, near the picket line. At
night a detail of one hundred and eight men were
sent out to the front line on picket, in the pits that
were dug by the 51st several months before.
This was found to be a pretty hot place. The
heavy mortar shells were continually dropping all
day and night, and riot a day from that time until
Petersburg became evacuated was it any less ; but
every few days it would be worse. The routine oi
duty was a sameness, from ninety-eight to one hun
dred and ten men every day for picket, besides one
commissioned officer to go out with them ; twelve
to fifteen men daily for fatigue duty, such as cutting
and hauling wood, repairing works, etc. The re
mainder drilling, both fore and afternoon, in squad,
company, battalion, brigade and division drill ; regi
ment, brigade and division dress parades, with a
good deal of drilling, and winding up with passing
in review.
Col. Harriman, of the 37th Wisconsin, commanded
the brigade, although Colonel Bolton was his senior
officer, but from a mistake made at headquarters,
Col. Harriman was assigned to the command. As
soon as the mistake was discovered, the assignment
was offered to Col. Bolton. Col. Bolton thought as
Harriman was there he might stay, and he did. The
men of the 51st were dragged out on brigade drill,
simply because their brigade commander wanted to
gratify his vanity. It was not that he could teach
them anything, for there was scarcely a veteran but
could drill a brigade as well, if not better ; but he

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wanted to put in exercise all his military power, to
show what a " big man " he was. He even formed a
"school for officers," so they could learn how to drill
the ''facings;" all this to attract the attention of officers
of higher rank. But his last attempt to establish
his high military fame capped the climax. It was
long after Lee's surrender and the end of war ;
and, it is supposed, all the historians had gathered
all the material for their literary works, (which is to
be regretted, as it has fallen to my lot to record it,
which is the penalty for being so dilatory in getting
this work out,) as none of them have ever said a word
about it, though they should, however, write out new
editions. He conceived an idea to perpetuate his
non-engineering skill, by detailing nearly the whole
of his brigade, for several days, to build a large fort
in a hollow, with the embrasures in the rear, at Black's
and White's Station, on the Southside railroad.
If history fails to record it yet, as long as the last
man of this brigade lives, his fame will not have
died out.
On the night of the 5th of December, the regiment
had on picket one hundred and fourteen men and
two commissioned officers. They captured five
rebels; one was an orderly, one a commissary, one
a second sergeant, belonging to the 59th Virginia,
Bushrod Johnson's division of A. P. Hill's corps,
and two were privates belonging to the Louisiana
Tigers.
Heavy firing on both sides all that night On
the 8th of December, Col. Bolton went home on a
leave of absence, the command of the 51st devolving
on Major Bolton.
Gen. Hartrauft invited all the officers of the 5 1st

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HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

P. V. V. to dine with him on Christmas day ; some few
went, but most of them were debarred from accept
ing the invitation by field duties, etc.
The officers had another civility extended to them
a few days after, which was a " sell." A note had
been sent to the regiment, apparently from a clerk
in a division commissary named Eobert Young,
who had been formerly in the 51st New York, but
not re-enlisting. He had been discharged, went
home, and returned as a citizen to clerk for the di
vision commissary. This note stated that he had
been home and had had so many good things to eat,
that now being returned he felt a great sympathy for
the poor fellows in the pits, and therefore invited
them to meet at his tent on the next Saturday night,
and partake of some of the delicacies of the season.
A few of the officers had been let into the secret, and
they helped the " sell " on by expressing many re
grets that their duties prevented them from going.
As the time had arrived to take their departure
to " Bob's tent," they assembled at the Colonel's
quarters. The colonel being one "let into the
secret," had very little to say. One officer, little
afraid to go without permission to do so, asked the
colonel if he thought he could be spared, as so many
had collected to go. The colonel replied/' Yes, you
can go, bat don't stay too long, for there is no telling
how soon all hands may be wanted." Bob's tent was
about half a mile off) and eleven officers, the hospital
steward, and Martin Dunn, the one who had written
the invitation, started in company. When the party
had got a few yards from Fort Morton, one of them
began to suspect the trick, and asked for the note.
It was produced, some declaring that that was

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" Bob's " writing, others had their doubts. Finally,
it was submitted to " Dunnie " for his decision, who
of all others the most anxious to make a sure "sell,"
decided emphatically "it is Bob's writing." When
the party got near "Bob's" tent, "Dunnie" had to
leave, as the surgeons were waiting for medicine
that could only be got at the division doctor's.
"Dunnie" was coaxed to "come on," but he must
go for his medicine, and was let oft' on the promise
of coming back as soon as he got the medicine. The
party went on to the tent, and then halted to consult,
as the tent didn't have a very inviting look, and they
appointed a couple to go in, but not to " let on to
Bob," until they were satisfied that all was right ;
but those who went in returned in a few minutes
and explained all. Bob hadn't returned from New
York vet, and Dunnie had got up the affair for a
" sell." The party returned and took the affair in
good humor, all hands enjoying a good laugh.

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HISTORY

OF

THE

PART

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

V,-1865,

CHAPTEE

I.

Shelling Fort Morton — Rebel flag of truce — The Peace Com
missioners — Conference on the picket line — Reception of the
rebel magnates by Genl. Grant — Complimentary enthusiasm
on all sides — Failure of the mission Shelling renewed —
Narrow escape of Capt. Parker — Movement to the left —
Capture and re-capture of Fort Steadman — Tom Troy's
visit to Petersburg — Capture of the city — Last march south
ward — End of the war — Resignation of Gen. Burnside —
Last order of Col. Bolton — Return home of the regiment —
Final farewell.

ON January 3d, 1865, the rebels began early m
the day their shelling; their whole spite seemed to
be centred on Fort Morton, on the 51st P. V. V.,
which partly quartered in the fort, and on the whole
support. Fort Morton had a battery of a few brass
cohorns, which threw a 24: Ib. shell, situated about
fifty yards in its advance. This cohorn battery had
the exact range of two of the enemy's forts, and as
soon as the enemy began their shelling they opened
on them in reply with tremendous vigor, causing the
rebels to bring in play every gun that could get the
range. Towards noon, it getting most too hot, Fort
Morton blazed away with all of her guns and mor
tars, and an attack seemed to be imminent. The
shelling now on both sides became terrific and
sublime. One 200 Ib. rebel shell entered the bomb
proof of the magazine, but did no particular harm ;
one fell into a tent that had just been vacated, ex
ploded and tore the tent to atoms. Several men were

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wounded with pieces of shells. Towards Light the
shelling slacked up a little, and ceased altogether
after dark.
On the night of the 15th January a severe rain set
in, and flooded the tents and bomb-proofs with water
to the depth of from one to two feet deep. Those
who had no tents, and only bomb proofs, had rain
for three or four days after it cleared off; they being
covered with several feet of earth, the water soaked
through and made everything disagreeable by the
water dripping and draining through for several
days.
On Sunday, the 28th January, 1865, a white flag
was displayed in front of the enemy's works on the
Petersburg road, and all firing on both sides entirely
ceased. Capt. Parker, who was in command of the
brigade picket line at the time, was at the quarters
of the reserve pickets when a sergeant belonging to
the 8th Michigan reported to him that a flag of truce
was up, and he went out to answer it. After getting
on the parapet of the works, and satisfying himself
that it was a duly authorized flag, he reported the
circumstance to headquarters. Having received in
structions to go and meet it, to see what was the
desire, he divested himself of his arms, and met the
officer on the road midway of the two lines. After
passing the compliments of the day, Capt. Parker
inquired the cause of the " truce," and informed them
that he had met him for the purpose of receiving any
communication he had to offer. The rebel officer
replied that Lieut. Col. (rebel) Hatch, Assistant Com
missioner of Exchanges, desired an interview with
the chief of Gen. Grant's staff, on business of the
greatest importance, and wished to know how soon

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HISTOKY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

the captain would communicate with him. He
replied, " In half to three-quarters of an hour ;" they
then parted, each retiring within their respective
lines. The captain again made his report; but be
fore receiving any further instructions from his
superior officers, the flag advanced again, and he
met it again ; but this time two officers accompanied
the flag. One was an old rnan, scarcely able to walk,
and introduced as Alex. H. Stephens, the VicePresident of the rebel confederacy, and the other the
Hon. Mr. Hunter, formerly U. S. senator from Vir
ginia.
Mr. Stephens informed Capt. Parker that he and
Mr. Hunter were appointed commissioners of peace,
and to report such information to Gen. Grant ; they
also requested him to inform Gen. Grant that they
were appointed to confer with Mr. Lincoln, and, as
the James river was ice-bound, they could not get
down that way to Washington, but wanted to corne
through his lines, so as to lose no time.
The captain again made his report to headquar
ters, when Lieut. Col. Ely; of the 38th Wisconsin,
came out to the lines, and conferred in person with
the commissioners.
It will be remembered that Gen. Grant at this
time was down at Fort Fisher, Wilmington, N. C.;
consequently nothing could be done until he returned.
But in a day after Gen. Grant was on the spot, ar
rangements were entered into whereby the commis
sioners were admitted into our lines.
From the moment the flag of truce was displayed
the works of both lines were crowded with troops,
and the enemy and our men watched the whole pro
ceeding in silence until its import was made manifest,

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when, as if with one accord, the two lines of troops
yelled with delight at the prospects of coming peace.
From the right to the left of the lines, cheer upon
cheer was given with a hearty will, each party trying
to cheer the loudest. " Peace on the brain " seemed
now to have spread like a contagion.
Lieutenants, captains, majors, lieutenant-colonels,
colonels, brigadier-generals and major-generals were
to be seen flying on horseback in all directions, to
catch a glimpse of the gentlemen who were appa
rently to bring so unexpected a peace.
At 4 p. M. of the ever memorable Sunday, Capt.
Parker of the 51st P. V. V. was relieved from picket
by Capt. Win. W. Owens, of Co. D, who also had
the charge of the brigade picket line. Shortly after
Capt. Owens took command, the flag was again dis
played by an officer on the rebel pits ; Capt. Owens
immediately answered it by taking his white hand
kerchief which had the " starry banner " in bold re
lief on each of the four corners, placing his " truce "
with the four beautiful, miniature flags on an iron
ramrod, sallied forth to meet his " quondam friend."
After passing the compliments of the day, they en
tered into the " peace " business, which had been so
long getting arranged.
It was seitled that the commissioners were to be
admitted into our lines at between 7 and 10 A. M. of
Jan. 30th, but as it took so much "red tape" they
did not get through. Troops had assembled in a
surging mass to witness the entrance to our lines ;
they had corne from great distances and from all
quarters, from City Point to Ream's station, but only
to meet with a disappointment.
Then Capt. Owens again me.t the truce, when it

604

HISTOKY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

EEGIMENT

was settled that they should be admitted at 5 P. M.
of the same day. The eager troops got the infor
mation and they lingered around until that time only
to be disappointed again. But at 5 P. M., of the
31st, Messrs. Stephens, Lieut. -Col. Hatch, and the
Hon. Mr. Hunter, accompanied by another gentle
man, servants, trunks, &c., were admitted to the pro
posed conference. Another vast assembly thronged
the road and the adjoining fields, and the scene
became very exciting. The rebel breastworks were
crowded with ladies and soldiers; our works with
soldiers only. About 4 p. M., a large, close carriage
was seen wending its way from the *' Cockade City "
towards the rear of the enemy's works on the Peters
burg road ; it was watched with interest by all eyes
along both lines. The carriage halted at the works
and its inmates descended the steps, but as the last
one reached the ground the rebel soldiery burst out
with one accord and cheered the distinguished party,
while the thousands of ladies waved their snowy
handkerchiefs in honor of the occasion. Slowly the
commissioners crossed their line. On our side, in
the road at the point occupied by the 51st P. V. V.,
Gen. Grant had several beautiful ambulances in
waiting to receive and convey the distinguished
gentlemen to City Point, where also was in waiting
a steamer to take them to Fortress Monroe.
As the commissioners entered our picket-pits those
on picket welcomed them with long and loud cheer
ing, and was taken up by the thousands assembled
in the rear.
As our pickets cheered, the enemy with the ladies
on their works, proposed and gave "three cheers
and a tiger for the whole Yankee army." Our

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pickets acknowledged the compliment and gave the
same for "the whole of the Confederate army."
After silence was restored and while all were on
their works watching with interest the movements
of the commissioners, our boys proposed ''three
cheers for the ladies of Petersburg," which was
given with a deafening yell and was taken up by the
rebel troops with equal enthusiasm. The ladies ac
knowledged the compliment by the waving of their
white pocket-handkerchiefs. By the time these
compliments were passed, the commissioners had
reached our main line, and as they began to cross
over it, cheers upon cheers rent the air, by our own
troops and the enemy, until the rolling vehicles
were out of sight. The works of the main line where
it crossed the road had been slightly levelled down
to pass the gentlemen through. Mr. Stephens seemed
to be very feeble and very much excited, and walked
very slowly to the ambulance, where he had to be
assisted to get in.
The result of this conference with Mr. Lincoln
was a total failure to negotiate for peace, the com
missioners asking for a recognition of their Con
federacy and its independence. President Lincoln
demanded the disbandment of the whole rebel army
and the acknowledgment of the supremacy of the
Constitution and Jaws of the United States, and for
the return of the Southern people to their former al
legiance; on no other tenns would he treat for
peace. This they emphatically refused to accede
to, and the negotiations were at an end and the com
missioners returned home, and President Lincoln to
Washington.
On Feb. 1st, 1865, orders were issued to be ready
o

606

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OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

to move at a moment's notice. The order to march
did not come, but was kept a standing one.
On the 3d, the enemy opened all along their lines
with artillery and musketry, and the firing continued
throughout the entire day and night, when at day
light it ceased entirely and the boys of the 51st P.
V. V. and those of the 56th (rebel) Virginia mingled
together throughout the entire day, between the two
lines, exchanging tobacco, coffee, playing cards, &c.
On the 5th and 6th. a battle was in progress on
the left and caused quite a commotion along the
whole line. The 51st fell in under arms, where it
remained until the morning of the 7th, then it broke
ranks and went to its quarters with injunctions to
be ready to "fall in" at any ir.oment. The roar of
artillery was incessant, but an attack was not ex
pected, as there was a heavy fall of rain, hail, and
sleet which froze as fast as it fell, making the ground
too slippery to stand upon.
Officers and men were now receiving leaves of ab
sence and furloughs whenever occasion offered, as
there was no prospect of an advanoe being made
any time soon.
The enemy indulged in another treat of shelling
on the 14th Feb., doing a considerable deal of dam
age to the quarters of the officers and men. One
shell dropped into a tent of Co. C, exploding, tear
ing it to atoms, and blowing the " kitchen utensils"
high in the air. Another dropped on the chimney
of Dr. Kineholdt's bomb-proof, knocking the whole
thing down ; another dropped on Col. Bolton's
quarters, tearing nearly the whole roof off; another
dropped on Lieut. Smith's adjutant's office, smashingthings in general ; another dropped on the rear-end

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of Capt. Parker's quarters, and after reaching the
logs it exploded, displacing the logs blowing off all
the plastering, and filling the place with smoke and
earth. Capt. Parker was lying on his bunk at the
time ; a private, Job Milne, sitting on the edge of it,
was blown to the front of the quarters, a distance of
not less than twelve feet, and strange to say neither of
them were harmed in the least, excepting a peculiar
sensation felt in the head, caused by the violent con
cussion. Another dropped on the quarters of Co. E
and G, knocking off about two cart-loads of dirt, dis
placing the logs and filling the place with it.
Dangerous as this constant shelling was, it was
impossible to keep the men in their bombproofs,
and it is a miracle how so many escaped death or
wounds.
In the front of Col. Bolton's quarter?, but in its
rear from the enemy, was a high pile of earth which
had been thrown up from a traverse that overlooked
the colonel's quarters and the fort. On this mound
would congregate a large crowd of the 51st, among
whom was Lieut. Valentine Stoeker, Co. B, more
familiarly known in the regiment as '' Daddy"
Stoeker. As soon as the shelling 'would begin
" Daddy " would mount the '' pile " and watch the
shells in their descent; and in a strain of laughter to
see the scampering of the men, " Daddy " would yell
out, " here comes another one from the woods on
the right, look out !" thus keeping the boys constantly
running from one place to another half the time when
no shells were in the air, but as they were falling gen
erally pretty fast they always obeyed the cry of the
boy that the "wolf "was coming, not daring like
those in the fable to doubt the warning. The scene

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would cause a big crowd to gather on the " pile "
with " Daddy," when the enemy would begin to shell
them offthe place, but never successfully, for the boys
would watch the shells in their flight and could tell,
when they were half a mile high, near the spot they
would fall. About the only thing the men were
afraid of would be the shell exploding before it
reached the ground.
It was generally believed that the rebels were
evacuating Petersburg on the 22d of February, as
our batteries were shelling them all day at a fearful
rate, and receiving very feeble replies from them.
Our batteries all fired shotted salutes at noon, in
honor of the day, being Washington's birth anni
versary.
Nothing of any particular interest occurred during
the remainder of the month of February, but the
incessant shelling day and night.
March brought the "beginning of the end."
Orders were issued to the different regiments to send
all their unnecessary baggage to City Point to be
shipped to Alexandria for storage.
The 2d, 5th and 6th Corps had vacated the works
on the left of the 9th, and started off still further to
the left. The 2d, 5th and part of the 6th Corps made
a foray on the enemy's right, while the remainder, the
greater part of the 6th and the whole of the 9th
Corps, held the entire line from Petersburg to near
Hancock's station, this occurring on the 18th of
March.
On the 19th, the enemy in our front suspecting a
move, arid in order^to feel the strength of our lines,
opened on Fort Morton a terrible fire, which con
tinued till midnight. One man, John Ornlor, Co. J,

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was severely wounded and sent to the hospital. The
51st was in line of battle all day.
The 22d of March was very quiet in our front.
The enemy and our men met between the two lines,
having quite a sociable time and a hunt. The two
parties "scared up" three rabbits, and a chase en
sued, the "Yanks" and "Johnnies" hallooing to
each other "there he goes, Johnny;" "there he
goes, Billy Yanks;" " hit him, Johnny;" "hit him,
Yanks," &c. A Yank would run against a Johnny
and knock him over; the Johnnies would upset a
Yank, and all hands laugh and take it all in good
feeling. The Johnnies caught one, and the Yanks
killed two and made the Eebs a present of them.
The 25th of March inaugurated the downfall of
the confederacy. The rebels about 3 A. M. stealthily
crept upon our works, and sent a couple of their
men into our picket line in front of Fort Steadman,
apparently to give themselves up as deserters. They
told the pickets that a whole brigade, officers and
men, were ready to come into our lines to give them
selves up, and if they would promise not to fire on
them they would come. The pickets consented, and
at a certain signal that had previously been agreed
upon being given, the whole brigade came in. As
soon as in, the enemy captured the pickets, then
proceeding very quietly to Fort Steadman, where
the troops were in their quarters asleep, they began
an indiscriminate massacre of the entire garrison,
shooting those that tried to escape, and bayoneting
those who were asleep in their bunks, capturing
none.
Soon after they secured our picket and main
line, they occupied two large forts nearly in front

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EEGIMENT

of Gen. 0. B. Wilcox's headquarters, which was to
the right of Fort Morton, and turned the guns of
Fort Steadrnan on to the main line and against Fort
Morton. The battle was now assuming a formida
ble shape, troops were all needed where they were,
and the prospect was that the rebels were to have
it their own way. Gen. Grant had sent cars up to
the far left for one division of the 6th Corps to re
inforce this part of the line.
Gen. Ilartranft, vdio now commanded a division
of all new recruits, was encamped about one mile to
the left of Fort Steadman, and getting information of
what was going on formed his division and double
quicked it down to the battle ground, where he ar
rived just in time to prevent the enemy from cap
turing Meade's station with its valuable stores of
supplies. Daylight was not very distant and Gen.
II. was about to attempt the recapture of the lost
lines with his division of recruits when he received
orders not to try it, but to wait for the arrival of re
inforcements from the 6th Corp?. The general
waited but not long, daylight was near, but it was
very dark still, and he determined to make the
attempt by himself, if the reinforcements did not
soon come. After waiting a few minutes longer,
and making himself acquainted with the position of
the enemy, he quietly got his division in line of
battle and commanded a charge, he leading it in
person, that astonished the enemy and they fled in
a panic, but their loss was heavy, while Gen. Il's
was not over 130 in all. He had captured upwards
of 3,000 rebels, among which was Maj-Gen. Kansom
of Beauregard's command.

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The enemy bad captured Gen. McLaughlin, com
manding the 1st Division, 9th Corps.
The loss of the 51st was five killed — three of
which was of Co. F, and two of Co. B.
After daylight, troops began to visit the bloody
field. The rebel dead laid thick all over the ground,
with here and there one of ours. It was truly a sick
ening sight; but it only went to show how fiercely
the raw recruits had made their charge. This one
act should have secured ITartranft a full major-gen
eral's commission had justice been done him.
On the 27th, Gen. Sheridan's command arrived,
and proceeded on to the extreme left, which indi
cated that the spring campaign had fairly opened.
On the 28th, Col. Bolton gave orders to "fall in"
in the works supporting Fort Morton. The 51st
did so, and remained in line all day and night under
a hot fire from the rebel batteries. In the night
the rebels made a simultaneous attack along the
whole front, driving in our pickets in face of Fort
Morton. This picket line was under the command
of Lieut. Lewis Patterson, who struggled hard with
his men (114) to keep them at their posts, but, being
principally drafted men and substitutes who never
had been in an engagement before that night, it was
impossible for one man to control their panicstricken movements. He did his duty nobly, but
all in vain. The line under his command was about
four hundred yards long, and while he would be at
one end of it, cheering up his men and begging
them for God's sake not to desert him, they were
doing that very thing at the other end. By the
time he had gone along the line two or three times
he found the pits empty, excepting one post of four
O

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HISTOKY

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men, who told him that they would stay at their
post as long as he would, and that he might depend
on it that they would Lot leave the pits until he left
or was captured.
It is to be regretted that their names were not all
retained. Only one, that of John M. Engle, is pre
served ; but they were all veterans.
Col. Bolton was not long in making the discovery
that the men had left the picket line, and every man
that had came in was hunted up, and the veterans
that could be spared from the support of the fort
were sent out along with them, with the injunction to
shoot the first man that attempted to leave again.
It was now about midnight, and the fighting was
severe. The bullets and the shells filled the air
above, below, and all around. The detail was put
under the charge of Sergt. George W. Patterson, a
"vet.," who was to take them out to Lieut. Patter
son. The sergeant, to punish the recruits for their
cowardice, instead of taking them out through the
traverses, took them out over the surface of the
ground, where they were exposed to the flying mis
siles until they reached their posts. Sergt. Patterson
turned them over to the lieutenant, who posted them
with a veteran on each post — and they kept there too !
On the 29th the fighting on the left was terrific, but
at evening had quieted down somewhat ; and after
dark the olst's pickets were again assaulted, but
held their part of the line. Nearly half of the 8th
Michigan, which joined the right of the 51st, and
all the 109th New York, the left, cleared out and
went into their carnp; but ere long they were sent
A heavy rain set in at 2 A. M. of the 30th and

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dampened the "heated ardor of the enemy. He
ceased his assaults through the remainder of the
night, but kept up a destructive fire with all kinds
of arms.
On the 31st, the enemy began again to show some
uneasiness, and in the afternoon commenced shell
ing us and Fort Morton in splendid style. Finally,
Morton opened, with her cohorns, rifled guns and
heavy mortars, causing the rebels to concentrate
their fire from a half dozen forts on her, making it
hot, hotter, hottest ! The last battle preceding the
downfall of Richmond and Petersburg was now
inaugurated. It continued in fury and increased in
vigor until April 2d, at midnight, when the enemy
ceased firing altogether.
The 51st, for the last three days and nights, was
in support of Fort Morton, and the shower of shells
from the enemy's works served to keep them fully
awake. Soon after midnight huge fires were seen
springing up in all directions through the doomed
city. About 2 A.M. of the 3d of April, Fort Dar
ling, at Drury's Bluffs, blew up with a heavy re
port. Everything indicated the evacuation, and
Col. Bolton selected a daring man, Thomas Troy,
but better known in the regiment as " Scout," at
1 o'clock on the morning of the 3d, and asked him
if he was willing to make an attempt to go into
Petersburg and see if it was evacuated. The man
replied "He would go." The colonel told him to
take off' his equipments, and leave them and his gun
in his quarters. Tom said "No ; while he had his
gun he was sure of pinning one man before they
could take him !"
Col. B. consented for Tom to take his gun along,

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and he started. In less than an hour he returned,
with the pleasing intelligence that the enemy hadn't
all left yet, but they were. getting out of it as fast
as they could. Tom had certainly been in the city,
and long enough to get a ketle tight.
Col. Bolton now ordered the skirmishers to ad
vance into the rebel works. They sent into camp
for the colonel to send them the colors. He re
fused, but they proceeded on and were the first to
enter the city. They were in there half an hour
before any other troops, but lost the credit because
they did not have their regimental colors to erect
there. They remained until daylight, and while in
town they secured some mementoes of the event —
among which was a bell they took off of a hosecarriage, and which is now in the possession of
Gen. William J. Bolton.
Soon after daylight, Col. Bolton gave orders to
pack up. The regiment struck tents, formed on the
color line, and came to a " rest," at which it lay
until 12, noon. The corps then formed in column
and marched into the city.* The 1st Brigade
* The list below embraces the casualties from the 17th June
to August, 18th, 1864, and then from November 29th, 1864, up
to the fall of Petersburg, April 3d, 1865. It is far from
complete, but the best that could be reached.
Co. A. — Killed — Private Levi Mattis, Private Adam W.
Yeager. Wounded — Capt. Jos. K. Bolton, Privates Simon
Dobson, Lewis Myers, Lucius Lake, Jonathan Weeber. Cap
tured — Nelson Y. Mattis.
Co. B. — Killed — Private John F. Ackerman. Wounded —
Privates Henry Smith, Gabriel Fay.
Co. C. — Killed — Corp. Wm. Kooker, Corp. Joseph Cornog,
Privates Henry Fry, John McFaul, Frank Hendricks, Henry
Gunter. Wounded — Sergt. Jno. W. Fair, Privates Wm. Hotchkiss, Henry Erhard, J. M. Favinger, Joseph Green.
Co. D. — Killed — Sergt. Wm. Dignan, Corp. James McKenna.
Wounded
Staunton. — Corp. Jno. B. Godley, John Roshon, Everett H.
Co. E. — Killed — David Lenhard. Wounded — Sergt. George

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marched through to the upper end at Halifax, where
it remained until the 5th, when the regiment left at
1 p. M. for Sutherland's Station on the Southside
railroad, where Gen. Grant had his headquarters.
We reached here at 10 p. M. of the same day. After
marching into the woods, halting in column, and
coming to a front, Col. Bolton gave the command,
" By the right of companies, to the rear into col
umn. Battalion, right face — file right — march ! '
And away they went, through the dark, over
stumps, logs, brush, briars, holes, cord- wood and
rail piles, into a peach orchard, when he commanded
halt! and said, "Now boys, make yourselves com
fortable for the night." Fires were first made, and
the little light they afforded assisted in putting
up such places as each one wished to erect for the
night. By li o'clock every man was down and
asleep. When orders came to "fall in" for a night's
inarch, that "fall in" grated harshly on the ear, for
what necessity was there now for a night's march ?
The rebellion was over — Lee couldn't get away —
Sherman would head him off; and those were the
thoughts and expressions of many.
At fifteen minutes past 11 the 51st was groping
Dichl, Corp. Thos. S. Mauck, Privates Reuben Kline, John
Rahback.
Co. F. — Killed— Lieut. Allen H. Filhnan, Corp. Ed.
R. Worth, Corp. Josiah Wood, Privates Chas. Wagoner,
Samuel Gillespie.
Co. G. — Killed — John Blyler, Bartly McIIarney. Wounded
— Daniel Sheets, Jeremiah Troy.
Co. H. — Killed — Wni. Shriner, Joseph Pareby. Wounded —
Capt. George Shorkley, Jno. A. Nieman.
Co. I. — Killed — Sergt. Stephen S. Davis, Private Robt. K.
Felton.
Wounded — Sergt. Geo. Carney, Corp. John George,
Thos. Herdenstine.
Co. K.— Killed— Thos. C. Pierce, James Gibson. Wounded
— Lieut. Jacob Fryburger, John Harris, Daniel Hoover, Win.
M. Stuttsman, Daniel Sleeks, N. Vancurm.

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REGIMENT

its way for near a mile through the dark woods, as
black as midnight, on its way to Wilson's station, on
the Southside railroad, where it arrived on the
evening of the 6th, and went into camp on the rebel
Col. Hobbs' plantation, along the road and within
fifty yards of the mansion. Next morning, the 7th,
Col. Bolton, with his field and staff, put up their
quarters on the lawn, within a few feet of the high
steps of the mansion, much to the dissatisfaction of
the Hobbs family ; but the place just suited Col. Bol
ton, and that had to be the spot.
A " starry banner " of the right kind floated from
the roof of the verandah of the mansion. Upon in
quiry how it came to be put up, Mrs. Hobbs replied
" that a Yankee General by the name of Hartranft had
given it to them yesterday, as he went by with his
army, and waited until he saw that we put it up,
and told us not to take it down."
Col. Bolton put up his regimental colors in front
of his quarters, much to the dislike and disgust of
of the dear old " Secesh " soul. At 11 p. M. of the 9th
we packed up and moved further up the Southside
railroad to Black's and White's station, to picket the
railroad. The regiment arrived there the next day,
but did not go into camp. All the companies were
sent out separately to guard the railroad, occupying
a line of near two miles, where they remained until
the 20th. General Burnside resigned his command
15th April, 1865, while the 51st lay at this place.
On the 21st the companies all again assembled at
the station to rejoin their colors, and went into camp.
While lying here the officers of the 51st P. V. pre
sented Gen. Hartranft with a splendid gold watch.
The General received it with a short but appropriate

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patriotic speech, at the conclusion of which he
thanked them kindly for the testimonial. The reg
iment formed three sides of a square previous to
the presentation. After the ceremony was over,
"three cheers for Gen. Hartranft" was given with a
will. It was here that the assassination of President
Lincoln was officially announced to the regiment,
and the indignation knew no bounds. Men of all
parties united in calling it one of the most dastardly
acts ever perpetrated in any country.
The 1st brigade (in which was the 51st), while
lying at this station, was detailed to build a large
fort to commemorate the name of Samuel Harriman,
the colonel commanding the 1st brigade, but the
poor fellow didn't gel; his fort done, as the Secretary
of War ordered the 9th Corps to the vicinity of
"Washington, D. C. What he will do now to per
petuate his memory is hard to say, but his heroism
on the night of April 2d will never be forgotten by
Lieut. Patterson, who commanded at Fort Morton,
and the 51st P. V. V., who supported the lieutenant
when he (the colonel) could not induce the lieutenant
to spike his mortars, and get his horses to haul the
guns out of the fort, while the rebels were still three
hundred yards distant and trying to get still further
off. He certainly can't say the whole of the Latin
phrase to his friends, without blushing, " Veni, vidi,
vici."
On the 20th the 51st P. Y. V. left Black's and
White's station, on the South Side railroad, and
marched for City Point, where it embarked on a
steamer for Washington, D. C., arriving there on
the 24th. After the steamer arrived, it lay in the
stream awaiting orders, which soon came for it to
27*

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HISTORY

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THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

land ns at Alexandria, Ya. After landing, the regi
ment marched to the outskirts of the city, and en
camped, about a mile from it, in a woods, where it
lay until next day, the 25th, when it moved and
located near Fort Lyons, remaining there until the
next clay, when it again moved off' to Tenallytown,
arriving a little before dark, and went into camp for
the night, along the roadside. Next day, the 27th,
it proceeded into the woods to the right of where
the regiment had lain the night before, and after
cutting out the brush and clearing up the trash, it
" quartered," and sat down to work on the musterrolls. It remained here until the 1st of May, when
it again marched back to Alexandria and encamped
near Gen. Curtin's headquarters, where it rested for
a couple of days; then it marched out about three
miles on the Mt. Vernon road, and went into camp
•under the appellation of being in the "Provisional
Brigade," and 3d Division, 9th Corps. This site
was called "Camp Andrew Johnson," in honor of
the President of the United States.
On the 25th of May, 1865, while lying at this
place, the 51st P. V. V. was highly honored by a
visit from that estimable lady, Mrs. Harry Hill, of
Norristown. She spent the afternoon and evening
with the regiment. Our men complimented her by
an illumination of the whole camp in the evening,
and the drum corps of the regiment gave a serenade.
After which she received another serenade from the
brass band belonging to the 1st brigade. She then
took her departure for the night, bidding them all a
heartfelt farewell.
On the 27th May the regiment moved into Alex
andria, at the upper end of King street, and went
into camp. It was detailed to do the patrolling of

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the city. Col. Wm. J. Bolton was appointed Military
Governor of Alexandria ; and Lieut.-Col. Wm. Allebaugh, exchanged as a prisoner, (having been cap
tured at Spottsylvania C. H. on the 12th of May,
1864,) now commanded the regiment.
Nearly all the drafted recruits of the 51st P. V. V.
were mustered out June 1st, 1865, and sent, under
the command of Capt. J. P. Brooke, to llarrisburg,
to receive their pay and final discharge. They left
camp at 2 o'clock of the morning of Jane 2d, and
marched to Washington, where they took cars for
llarrisburg.
While here, Captains Wm. E. Foster, Jacob PBrooke, Wm. S. Mellick, and Thos. II. Parker, and
Lieutenants David Long, George C. Gutelius, and
Hugh McClure, were detailed to sit on court-martial
for the District of Alexandria. Their duties con
tinued for about four weeks. When finishing up all
the business pertaining to their term, they were re
lieved by a detail from the 2d District of Columbia
regiment.
Towards the middle of July the order to muster
out the 9th Army Corps was issued and sent to
corps headquarters in the city, where it lay for
several days before it was promulgated. The mus
ter-out rolls came into camp on the 16th of July,
and the company commanders went to work at them
immediately, to get them filled up ; all the men, too,
who were anxious to get home, volunteered to assist
in the stupendous task ; for, be it known, it was an
immense job — every name that ever appeared on any
of the former rolls, from the original rnuster-in, had
to be accounted for on nine separate rolls. The
task was completed on the 27th July, 1865.
On the night of the 21st July the order to muster

620

HISTORY

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THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

out the regiment arrived in carnp ; the news was
received with lively satisfaction. It also contained
a paragraph stating that all the men could retain
their guns and equipments at a cost of six dollars
per set to each man. There were only a few who
declined to retain those articles that had become
associated with them so long, in all their trials, pri
vations, dangers, troubles, and pleasures, and those
few were principally the " raw recruits."
Col. Bolton made a farewell address to his com
mand in the following order, as published to the
regiment :
HEAD-QUARTERS 51 ST REGT. P. V. V.
|
ALEXANDRIA, VA., July 20^, 18G5. )
Officers and men of the 51st Regt. Penn. Vet. Vols. :

In a very few days this organization will cease to exist. Our
mission has been fulfilled, the armed hosts of the enemy no
longer defy us, our long, fatiguing marches and hard fighting
and weary watching for the enemy, day and night, are things
of the past. You have, by your patriotic devotion, assisted in
establishing a country, one, grand, glorious, and indeed free.
For nearly four years I have been associated with you, and for
over one year of that time I have had the honor to be your
commander. I would not be doing myself or you justice with
out giving expression to my feelings. A thousand thanks are
due to both officers and men for your prompt obedience to all
my orders, and my love is increased by the remembrance of
your bravery and gallantry, as you have so often displayed on
many a bloody field. But alas ! many of our organization now
sleep in the valley of the dead ; they sleep in honored graves.
And it is with pleasure that we can think of their many virtues,
their valor in the field, and their cheerful voice in camp, and hope
that they have received their golden reward in heaven. When
all looked gloomy, you wore cheerful faces ; and when orders
were exacting, you always cheerfully obeyed. When fighting
against overwhelming odds, and by superior numbers compelled
to retreat, you have ever evinced that noble, praiseworthy char
acteristic of a good soldier, "repulsed, but not whipped,"
"defeated, but not conquered." I feel sad to part with you ;
we may never meet again. You are about to return to your
homes, and assume the garb and customs of private citizens.
I am a young man ; there are amongst you many who are old
enough perhaps to be my father ; time has whitened your hoary
locks. I cannot part with you without urging that if you have
acquired bad habits, incidental to camp life, to make a firm
resolve to break off at once, and show to your friends at home

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that you can be as good and law-abiding citizens as you have
been good, brave, and exemplary soldiers.
I need not particularize separately your many deeds ; they
all have been fairly won. The record you bear on your silken
colors have been honestly won by the blood of your companions,
and the deep scars many of you bear upon your persons. You
need no marble shaft to commemorate your many valorous
deeds ; your scars, your sacrifices, and the noble acts of gal
lantry you have displayed, will be your monument. Posterity
will applaud you as the redeemers of our country, the wrorld
will admire your self-sacrificing devotion to your country.
I now bid you farewell, and when the war of this life is over
with us, when we shall have performed our last earthly mission,
may we all meet in heaven is the earnest prayer of the colonel
commanding.
With my kindest wishes for your future prosperity, I bid you
farewell. WM. J. BOLTON, Colonel 51s* P. V. V.

The day of muster-out arrived, the 27th of July,
1865, and the regiment was mustered out of the United
States service by Capt. Edwin Earp, of the 1st Mas
sachusetts Heavy Artillery, Assistant Commissary
of Musters for the District of Alexandria.
On the morning of July 28th, the regiment broke
camp and marched to the foot of King street, amid
the congratulations of its friends who thronged the
street on both sides, where it embarked on board of
a steamboat for Washington ; there disembarking
marched to the Baltimore depot, where it had to lie
till near dark, when it took the cars for Baltimore.
On arriving there it marched to the depot of the
Northern Central railroad, and steamed it on to
Harrisburg, arriving on the 30th. It turned in its
books and regimental papers, unserviceable arms,
and those not retained by the men, and received its
pay and discharge papers. The five companies re
mained in Harrisburg until the next day, when they
departed for Norristown, to receive the congratula
tions of the " loved ones " and friends, and partake
of a collation served up at the Odd-Fellows' Hall,
after which a final separation took place, and each

622

HISTORY

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REGIMENT

sought the comforts and quiet of a home in civil life.
The next day the officers had to return to Harrisburg, to settle up their accounts and indebtedness
with the Government and get their pay, which kept
them two or three days. After adjusting their ac
counts, a final "farewell" took place, and the last
obligatory vestige of the noble old 51st P. V. and
51st P. V. Y. was lost to the nation's view; and
now, since we have obtained our pay and are mus
tered out, free of military restraint and discipline,
we bid farewell to the cannon's roar, hoping it shall
never again be heard in battle with our own people.

CHAPTEK

II.

Roster of Field and Staff Officers— Roll of Co. A— Roll of Co.
13— Roll of Co. C— Roll of Co. D— Roll of Co. E— Roll of
Co. F— Roll of Co. G— Roll of Co. H— Roll of Co. I— Roll of
Co. K — Roll of names unassigned — Statement — Causalties —
List of battles engaged in — Distance travelled.
Col. Jno. F. Hartranft. Promoted brigadier-general, June 8,
1804, and to brevet major-general, March 25, 1805.
Col. Win. J. Bolton. Promoted from captain of Co. A. to
major, September 17, 1802 ; then to colonel, June 20, 1804 ; then
to brevet brigadier-general, March 13, 1865.
Lieut-Col. Thos. S. Bell. Killed at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1802.
Lieut.-Col. Edwin Schall. Promoted from major to lieu
tenant-colonel, September 17, 1802. Killed at Cold Harbor,
June 3, 1804.
Lieut.-Col. Win. Allebaugh. Promoted from captain of Co.
C. to lieutenant-colonel, April 23, 1805 ; to brevet colonel, March
13, 1805. Was captured along with his colors at Spottsylvania
Court-house, Va., May 12, 1804; rejoined his regiment, May 1,
18(n.
M.-ij. Lane S. Hart. Promoted from captain of Co. F., July
12, 1804. Severely wounded, August 19, 1804, in battle at the
Yellow Tavern, on ti^e Weldon railroad, Virginia. Discharged
on account of wounds, December 17, 1804.
Maj. Joseph K. Bolton. Promoted from captain of Co. A.,
January 15, 1805.
Adj. Daniel P. Bible. Resigned, June 5, 1802.

OF

PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

623

Adj. George Shorkley. Promoted from 1st lieut. Co. H. to
adjutant, June 6, 1862. Wounded at Camden, N. C., April 19,
1802, and again severely wounded in front of Petersburg in
1804. Was promoted to captain of Co. H., April 22, 1864, and
to brevet major, July 30, 1864 ; then to brevet lieutenant-colonel,
March 25, 1865, and again to brevet colonel, April 9, 1865.
Adj. Martin L. Schock. Promoted from 1st sergeant to 2d
lieutenant, January 12, 1864; to 1st lieutenant and adjutant,
May 2, 1864. Discharged on account of wounds received in
action, November 2, 1864.
Adj. Jacob H. Santo. Wounded at Antietam, September 17,
1852. Promoted from 1st sergeant to 2d lieutenant, April 15,
1864 ; to 1st lieutenant and adjutant, January 15, 1865. Veteran.
Quar.-Mas. Jno. J. Freedley. Promoted from 1st lieutenant
of Co. C., October 17, 1861. Resigned, and went home, May 11,
1868.
Quar.-Mas. Samuel P. Stephens. Promoted from sergeant,
November 16, 1861, to commissary-sergeant; then to 1st lieu
tenant and regimental quartermaster, May 13, 1863.
Surg. J. A. Livergood. Transferred to 101st regiment, P. V.,
Nov. 20, 1861.
Suro;. Jno. A. Hosack. Transferred from 101st regiment, P.
V., November 20, 1861. Resigned, July 30, 1863.
Suro-. Win. C. Shurlock. Transferred from 100th regiment,
P. V., March 9, 1864. Mustered out June, 1865.
Surg. Manning F. Bowes. Mustered out with regiment, July
27, 1865.
Asst.-Surg. Jas. D. Noble. Resigned, July 21, 1862.
Asst.-Surg. Jno. B. Rineholdt.
Mustered out, June 5, 1865.
Asst.-Surg. Chas. S. Duffell. Mustered out, November 16,
1864. Expiration of time.
Asst.-Surg. Jas. Cress. Mustered out with regiment, July
27, 1865.
Chaplain Danl. G. Mallory, Resigned, July 27, 1863. Recommissioned, April 8, 1864. Discharged by special order, Sept.
2, 1864.
Sergt.-Maj. Curtin B.Stoneroad. Promoted to 2d lieutenant
in Co. G., June 25, 1864.
Serg.-Maj. C. Jones Iredell. Killed by accident, August 13,
1862, at Aquia creek.
Serg.-Maj. Gco. C. Gutelius. Promoted to 2d lieutenant in
Co. E, January 14, 1865. Veteran.
Sergt.-Maj. Levi Shingle. Promoted from sergeant in Co. C. ,
Jan.'i4,
1865. Sergt.
Veteran.
Quar.-Mas.
Louis Cartuyval.
Mustered out, July 27,
1865. Vole ran.
Quar.-Mas. Sergt. Christopher Wyckoff. Promoted from
corporal in Co. F. to quarter-master sergeant, December 13,
1862. Discharged bv special order, March 8, 1865. Veteran.
Quar.-Mas. Sergt. Wm. L. Jones.
Died, December 12, 1862.
Com. Sergt. Levi Bolt on. Promoted from corporal in Co.
A., December 3, 1861. Mustered out with regiment. Veteran.

624

HISTOEY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

Com. Sergt. Thos. II. Parker. Promoted to captain in Co. I.,
December 2, 1864. Veteran.
Com. Sergt. Allen H. Filman. Promoted to 2d lieutenant in
Co. F., July 22, 1864. Veteran.
Hosp. Steward Martin H. Dunn. Mustered out with regiment.
Veteran.
Drum-Maj. Ed. D. Johnson.
Mustered out with regiment.
ROLL

OF CO. A.

From its organization in 1861, to its final muster out in 1865.
Alphabetically arranged and not according to rank. Recruited
at Norristown.
Wm. J. Bolton, captain. Promoted major, Sept. 17, 1862 ;
colonel, June 26, 1864 ; to brevet brigadier-general, March 13,
1865 ; was severely wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at the taking of
Antietam bridge ; was again wounded in the same spot, July
30, 1864, at the blowing up of the rebel fort by Gen. Burnside.
Mustered out with regiment July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Jos. K. Bolton, 1st lieut. Promoted captain Sept. 17, 1862;
then major, Jan. 15, 1865. Wounded in June, 1864, in front of
Petersburg, Va. Mus. out with reg. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Abraham L. Ortlip, 2d lieut. Promoted to 1st lieutenant
Sept. 17, 1862 ; resigned April 20, 1864.
John S. Moore, 1st sergt. Promoted to 2d lieutenant Sept.
17, 1862 ; to 1st lieutenant, May 3, 1864. Killed at Wilderness,
May 6, 1864. Buried at Wilderness cemetery. Veteran.
Jonathan B. Ellis, sergt. Discharged March 4, 1864, for
disability. Re-enlisted as a veteran private and was promoted
corporal Oct. 31, 1864. Mus. out with company. Wounded
May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania.
Adams, John. Promoted corporal, Jan. 15, 1865. Deserted
June 22, 1865, while on furlough.
Abbott, Henry.
Drafted.
Dis. by G. O., June 3, 1865.
Altar, Henry, priv. Drafted.
Dis. by G. O., June 3, 1865.
Bolton, Levi, corpl. Reduced to ranks July 4, 1862.
WTounded
at Antietam,
March
29, 1863.
WoundedSept.
May 17,12,1862.
1864. Promoted
Promoted corporal,
commis
sary sergeant, Dec. 3, 1864. Mustered out with regiment, July
27, 1865. Veteran.
Butz, Abraham, corpl. Discharged April 21, 1863.
Brannon, Jno. C., corpl. Reduced to ranks, Nov. 26, 1861.
Died at Newbern, N. C., May 21, 1862.
Barndt, Irwin, priv. Trans, to Vet. Res. Cps, Nov. 8, 1863.
Barr, Wm.,priv. Deserted and arrested, Oct. 1, 1862; sen
tenced to forfeit one month's pay. Captured at North Ann,
May 27, 1864. Dis. by G. O., May 12, 1865. Veteran.
Bellman, Gotlieb, prir. Died of disease, Nov. 19, 1862.
Bennett, Jacob, priv. Discharged Dec. 2, 1862.
Bodey, George, priv. Died May 2, 1864, at Warrenton
Junction, Va. Veteran.

1

OF

PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

625

Bolton, Benj. F., priv. Discharged, Sept. 11, 1864, at expira
tion of term.
Bolton, Thos. J., priv. Wounded May 6, 1864. at the Wil
derness, Va. Dis. on account of wounds, Feb. 25, 1865. Vet.
Bolton, James M., priv. Wounded, Sept. 17, 1862. Dis
charged on account of wounds, June 25, 1863.
Bond, George, priv. Died Oct. 20, 1861, at Camp Curtin, Pa.
Buzzard, George S., corpl. Wounded, Sept. 17, 1862. Prom,
corporal, 1864. Mus. out with com., July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Baker, James M., priv. Discharged by G O., July 11, 1865.
Bergest, Samuel, priv. Discharged by G. O., June 3, 1865.
Block, Elijah, priv. Discharged by G. O., June 3, 1865.
• Block, James, priv. Discharged by G. O., June 3, 1865.
Beam, Jonas, priv. Discharged by G. O., June 3, 1865.
Burkhart, Joseph, priv. Discharged by G. 0., June 3, 1865.
Brown, Win., priv. Discharged by G. O., June 3, 1865.
Bockus, Win., priv. Discharged by G. O., June 3, 1865.
Barringer, Wm.
Mastered out with company, July 27, 1865.
Baker, Geo. B., priv. Wounded at Cold Harbor, June 3,
1864. Mustered out with company, July 27, 1865.
Baten, Jas. W., priv. Mus. out with com., July 27, 1865.
Bockus, Henry, priv. Mus. out Avith com., July 27, 1865.
Barndt, Albert, priv. Mus. out with com., July 27, 1865.
Buzzard, Saml. S., priv. Mus. out with com., July 27, 1865.
Brooks, Jonathan, priv. Trans, to Co. G., Sept. 18, 1864.
Boyer, Henry, priv. Died May 4, 1864, at Alexandria, Va.
Backen, Win., priv. Died July 1, 1865, of tonsillitis.
Bare, John, priv. Wounded May 6, 1864, at the Wilderness.
Died from wounds, May 30, 1864.
Berks, Geo. W., priv. Captured at North Ann, May 27,
1864. Died, Oct. 24, 1864, while a prisoner at Andersonville.
Grave, 11,434.
Berks, Archibald, priv. Deserted from Filbert street hospi
tal, Feb. 27, 1865.
Buzzard, Adam S., private.
Broomall, Benj., priv. Deserted at Alexandria, Va., June
22, 1865.
Coulston, John H., corporal. Promoted corporal, Jan. 21,
1862. Wounded, Sept. 14, 1862, at South Mountain. Pro
moted 5th sergeant, Sept. 17, 1862 ; to 4th sergeant, Sept. 28,
1862 ; to 1st sergeant, Oct. 1, 1863. Promoted 2d lieutenant,
May 3, 1864. Wounded at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. Pro
moted to 1st lieutenant, Oct. 1, 1864; to captain, Jan. 15, 1865.
Mustered out with company, July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Clare, John, priv. Trans, to 1st U. S. Art., Oct. 27, 1862.
Caster, Abraham, priv. Deserted Oct. 1, 1862 ; sentenced
to forfeit one month's pay. Wounded, Dec. 13, 1862 ; died,
Dec. 14, 1862, from wounds received at Fredericksburg.
Campbell, Davis, priv. Deserted, April 30, and again Aug.
30, 1862. Discharged, June 28, 1863, at Milldale, Miss.
Carrier, Wm. A., priv. Mus. out with com., July 27, 1865.
Claycout, John, priv.

Dischar'd, Dec. 23, 1864.

'Substitute.

626

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY- FIRST

REGIMENT

Cornog, Wm., priv. Died of disease, Aug. 18, 1801, at Fort
Schuyler, N. Y.
Capwell, Richard N., priv. Dis. by G. 0., June 2, 1865.
Drafted.
Constable, Henry, priv. Dis. by G. O., June 2, 1865. Drafted.
Collcgo, Henry, priv. Dis. by G. 0., June 2, 1865. Drafted.
Case. Enos, priv. Mus. out with company, July 27, 1865.
Carney, Win., priv. Died, Aug. 19, 1864. Buried in Gyp.
H. cemetery.
Coulston, Jas., priv. Killed, Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Doud, Benj. F., priv. Mus. out with com., July 27, 1865.
Doud, Saml. G., drum. Trans, to Invalid Corps, Camp
Kelson, Ky., Nov. 8, 1863; re-enlisted, Jan. 24, 1865. Mus
tered out with company, July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Doud, James M., corpl. Reduced to ranks, Oct. 30, 1863.
Promoted corpl., June 23, 1865. Mustered out with company,
July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Doud, Thos., priv. Mustered out, Sept. 11, 1864. Expira
tion of term.
DeHaven, Isaac, priv. Transferred to battery K 1st IT S.
Artillery, Oct. 27, 1862.
Dickinson, Henry, corpl. Promoted corpl., June 3, 1865.
Mustered out with company, July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Divers, Jos., priv. Mus. out Sept. 11, 1864. Expir. of term.
Druckenmiller, Aaron, priv. Dis. by G. O , June 2, 1865.
Dobson, Simon, priv. Wounded, April 1, 1865, in front of
Petersburg, Va. Died, April 3, 1865, from wounds.
Derr, Jacob H., priv. Wounded at Spottsylvania CourtLouse, May 12, 1864. Died of wounds, May 28, 1864. Buried
in Nat. Cein. at Arlington, Va.
Detinger, Saml., priv. Discharged by G. O., June 2, 1865.
Dried, Daniel, priv. Drafted.
Dis. by G. O., June 2. 1865.
Delingcr, Franklin, priv. Mus. out with com., July 27, 1865.
Evans, Edward L., lieut. Promoted from priv. to corpl,,
Jan. 21, 1862 ; tosergt., Jan. 5, 1864 ; to 2d lieut., Dec. 18, 1864.
Mustered out with company, July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Ellis, Jonathan B., 1st sergt. Promoted to 1st sergt, Sept.
17, 1862, from 2d sergt. Promoted 2d sergt., Jan. 21, 1862;
discharged for disability, Mar. 4, 1863 ; re-enlisted as veteran
private, March, 1864. Prom, corpl., Oct. 31, 1864; wounded,
May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania. Mus. out with com. July 27,
1865. Veteran.
Ecker, Danl., priv. Mus. out with com. July 27, 1865.
Evans, Chas. B., priv. Mus. out with com., July 27, 1865.
Eckhart, Geo., priv. Mus. out with com. July 27, 1865.
English, Harrison, priv. Dis. by G. O., June 20, 1865.
Fillman, Isaac E., sergt. Wounded at South Mountain,
Sept. 14, 1862. Promoted, Jan. 1, 1864 ; to sergt., Dec. 3, 186 i.
Mustered out with company, July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Fix, Chas., priv. Wounded at South Mountain, Sept, 14,
1862. Wounded, May 6, 1864 at Wilderness. Died of wounds,
June 18, 1864. Veteran.

OF

PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

627

Foreman, Nathan, priv. Discharged, Feb. 18, 1803, at Long
Bridge, Virginia.
Foreman, Saml., priv. Dis., Jan. 25, 1863, at Philadelphia.
Franklin, Linclley R., prir. Discharged, March 4, 1803.
Captured, Aug. 30, 1802, at Bull Run battle.
Farrel, Thos., priv. Wounded at Spottsylvania Court house,
May 12, 1804. Discharged by G. O., July 24, 1805.
Florey, John, priv. Discharged by G. O., June 20, 1805.
Foos, Israel, priv. Dis. by G. O., June 2, 1805. Drafted.
Findley, Archibald, priv. Dis. by G. 0., June 2, 1805.
Drafted.
Foucht, Henry, priv. Dis. by G. 0., June 2, 1805. Sub.
Fischer, Lewis C., priv. Dis. by G. O., June 2, 1805.
Freas, Jesse, priv. Killed, May 12, 1804 at Spottsylvania.
Freas, Saml. II., priv. Wounded, May 12, 1864, at Spott
sylvania ; absent at muster out of company, July 27, 1805.
Fried, Jno. G., priv. Mus. out with com., July 27, 1865.
Gilbert, Theo. H., priv. Reduced from sergt to the ranks,
Jan. 21, 1802. Wounded, May 6, 1804, at the Wilderness.
Mustered out, Dec. 23, 1804; expiration of term.
Gray, Jeremiah, corpl. Wounded, May 14, 1804, at Spotsylvania. Prom, corpl., Mar. 10, 1804. Died, May, 10, 1804,
from wounds ; buried in Wilderness burial ground.
Goodwin, Benj., priv. Wounded, Sept. 14, 1862, at South
Mountain. Deserted, Aug. 30, 1803.
Goodwin, Jonathan, priv. Discharged, Dec. 12, 1832.
Gargas, Amandus, corpl. Promoted corpl., Dec. 3, 1804.
Wounded,
May 27,
0, 1864,
company, July
1805. at the Wilderness. Mustered out w*ith
Getman, Jno., corpl. Promoted corporal, April 11, 1865.
Mustered out with company, July 27, 1865.
Geisinger, Fredk., priv. DCS. while on guard, May 30, 1865.
Gauker, Israel, priv. Discharged by G. O., June 2, 1865.
Gerhart, Jos., priv. Mus. out with com., July 27, 1805.
Gross, Jno. F., priv. Mus. out with com., July 27, 1805.
Hammel, Pat., priv. Mus. out, Sept. 11, 1804. Expir. of term.
Hansell, Chas. S., priv. Wounded, May 12, 1864, at Spott
sylvania. Mus. out with com. July 27, 1805. Veteran.
Hoffman, Wm., team. Mus. out with com. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Hay berry, Chas., priv. Trans, to 1st U. S. bat., Oct. 25, 1802.
Hennis, Jno., priv. Tran. to 1st U. S. bat'y, Oct. 25, 1802.
Heard, Wm., priv. Killed, Dec. 13,1802, at Frederick sburg,
Hennis, Chas. M., sergt. Captured, Dec. 15, 1803, at Clinch
Mts. Escaped. Promoted from corpl. to sergt., Dec. 3, 1864.
Mustered out with company, July 27, 1805. Veteran.
Herbster, Jesse, corpl. Prom, corpl., May 14, 1803. Mus
tered out with company, July 27, 1864. Veteran.
Harff, Wm., priv. Captured, Aug. 21, 1804, at Yellow Tav
ern. Died at Salisbury, N. C., Nov. 3, 1804, while a prisoner.
Ilallman, Eclw., priv. Wounded, May 14, 1804, at Spottsyl
vania. Transf. to Vet. Res. Corps, March 4, 1865.

628

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY- FIRST

EEGIMENT

Hood, Danl., priv. Wounded at the Wilderness, May G,
18G4. Deserted, Dec. 27, 18G4, from hospital.
Herbster, Win., priv. Mus. out with com. July 27, 18G5.
Himes, Saml., priv. Wounded, May 6, 18G4, at the Wilder
ness. Transf. to vet. res. corps, March 4, 1865.
Hueguenin, Geo. A. priv. Mus. out with com., July 27, 1865.
Horner, Win. A., priv. Mus. out by G. O., June 2, 1865.
Drafted.
Hildredth, Allen, priv. Mus. out with com., July 27, 1865.
Hunsinger, Clias. G., priv. Mus. out with com. July 27, 1865.
Invin, Isaac, M. D., priv. Mus. out with com., July 27, 1865.
Jordan, John A., corpl. Reduced to ranks, July 4, 1862.
Deserted, Oct. 31, 1862, and again, Mar. 10, 1864; but returned
to duty, April 12, 1864 ; taken prisoner at the Yellow Tavern,
Va., Aug. 21, 1864. Mus. out with com., July 27, 1865.
Jones, Saml. H., corpl. Prom, corpl., Nov. 1, 1862; taken
prisoner, Dec. 15, 1863, at Clinch Mountains, Term. Mustered
out with company, July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Jones, Abraham, priv. Taken prisoner at Clinch Mountains,
Tenn., Dec. 15, 1863. Mus. out with company July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Jones, Benj. D., priv. Wounded Sep. 14, 1862, at South
Mountain. Dis. Jan. 4, 1863, for disability.
Jones, John S., corp. Wounded Aug. 19, 1864, at Weldon
R. R. Dis. June 3, 1865, on account of wounds. Veteran.
Johnson, Ashberry M., priv. Dis. Sep. 8, 1862, at Beaufort,
North Carolina.
Johnson, Jesse, corp. Captured Aug. 30, 1862, at Bull Run.
Mustered out Sep. 11, 1864, expiration of term. Wounded
May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania C. H., Va.
Johnson, Isaiah T., priv. Transf. to Vet. Res. Corps, March
4, 1865.
Johnson, Edward, music'n.
Trans, to Co. C., Sep. 18, 1864.
Jones, Ralph, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
James Wilson, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Kelichner, Edward, priv. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg. Mus. out Sep. 11, 1864, expiration of term.
Keyser, Chas., priv. Wounded Sep. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Died Sep. 30, 1864, of wounds received in action.
Keyser, Lewis T., priv. Capt, Aug. 30. 1862, at Bull Run.
Deserted Nov. 1, 1862.
Kilpatrick, Win., priv. Died of disease, Dec. 1, 1861.
Keller, Jacob, priv. Drafted.
Dis. by G. O., June 2, 1865.
Kulp, Jacob W., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Kelly, Barney, priv. Deserted and returned. Mustered out
with co. July 27, 1865.
Lare, Daniel, corp. Wounded, Dec. 2, 1863, at siege of
Knoxville, Tenn. Mus. out Sep. 11, 1864, expiration of term.
Lare, Albanus, priv. Wounded, Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg, Va. Dis. March 24, 1863.
Lewis, Jos. N. Mus. out Sep. 11, 1864, expiration of term.
Linck, Christian, priv. Deserted July 4, 1863, arrested and
sent to Fort McHenry.

OF

PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

629

Lysinger, Hiram, corp. Promoted to corp. Oct. 31, 1804.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Lake, Lucius, priv. Wounded April 2, 1865, at Petersburg,
Va, Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Moyer, Jacob H., sergt. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksbure, Va. Pro. to 3d sergt. Sept. 17, 1862. Wounded
June 3, 1864, at Cold Harbor, Va. Died July 11, 1864, from
wounds.
Mills, Frank H , corp. Prom, corporal July 4, 1862. Killed
at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864.
McDade, Washington, priv. Killed Dec. 13, 1862, at Fred
erick sburg, Va.
Maguire, James, priv. Killed Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg, Va.
Markley, Jacob W., corp. Dis. Feb. 21, 1863, for disability.
McGusfan, Daniel, priv. Trans, to Inv. Corps, Nov. 8, 1863.
McMicken, David, priv. Killed Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg, Va.
McKane, Andrew, corp. Pro. to corporal July 4, 1862.
Deserted Feb. 23, 1863.
McKane, Wm., priv. Trans, to 1st U. S. Artillery, Oct. — ;
re-enlisted Oct. 17, 1864. Mus. out with co., July 27, 1865.
Morton, Thos., priv. Mus. out Sept. 11, 1864, expr. of term.
McCoombs, Samuel, priv. Mus. out with co., July 27, 1865.
McLain, Henry, priv. Wounded May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania C. H. Captured Aug. 21, 1864, at the Yellow Tavern,
Va. Died while a prisoner at Salisbury, N. C.
Murray, Chas. A., priv. Absent, undergoing sentence of
general court-martial at Auburn jail, N. Y., for 9 years.
Mattis, Nelson Y., priv. Captured July 30, 1864, at the ex
plosion of the Burnside mine. Died at Danville, Va., Jan. 10,
1865.
Mattis, Levi, priv. Killed July 8, 1864, at Petersburg, Va.
Myers, Lewis, priv. Wounded June 17, 1864, at Petersburg,
Va. Died July 12, 1864, from wounds received in battle.
Mack, Alexander, priv. Deserter.
McMullen, James E., priv. Dis. by G. 0., June 2, 1865.
Moyer, Joseph, priv. Mus. out with co., July 27, 1835.
Miller, Samuel J., priv. Dis. by G. O., June 2, 1865.
McGrail, Thos, priv. Mus. out with co., July 27, 1865.
McGlinchy, James, priv. Deserted to the enemy, Jan. 25,
1865, with gun and equipments.
Mason, Wm., priv. Absent sick at mus. out of co.
Nyce, Monroe, priv. Wounded April 19, 1862, at Camden,
North Carolina. Deserted March 29, 1863.
Nunheimer, Wm., priv. Mus. out with co., July 27, 1865.
Noll, Rudolph, priv. Dis. by G. O., June 2, 1865. Drafted.
Nathans, Lewis, priv. Dis. by G. 0., June 2, 1865. Drafted.
Ortlip, Osman, sergt, Pro. to corp., Jan. 21, 1862, to sergt.
1863,Wilderness,
to 1st sergt.Va.,
Apriland13,at1861
1864,"at
the
South Wounded
Mountain, May
Sep.6,14,
1862.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.

630

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY FIRST

REGIMENT

O'Neil,
James,27, corp.
corp., April 11, 1865. Mus. out
with
co., July
1805. Prom,
Veteran.
Oster, Jacob, priv. Mustered out with co., July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Pinch, Harvey, priv. Captured Aug. 80, 1862, at Bull Run.
Wounded April 10, 1862, at Camden, N. Carolina, and cap
tured at the same time. Died at Annapolis, March 31, 1804.
Veteran.
Pinch, Winfield 8., priv. Trans, to battery K, 1st U S.
Artillery, Oct. 27, 1862.
Parvin, Ephraim, priv. Wounded May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania. Mus. out with co., July 27, 1865.
Parker, Saml. G., priv. Mus. out with co., July 27, 1865.
Quinlan, Edward, priv. Wounded Mar. 30, 1863, at Colum
bus, Ohio. Died April 1, 1863, from wounds.
Rittenhouse, Jacob, priv. Mus. out September 11, 1864,
expiration of term.
Roberts, Robert, priv. Mus. out Sep. 11, 1864, expiration of
term.
Rodenbaugh, Lemuel, priv. Discharged Dec. 27, 1861.
Richards, John, priv. Mus. out with co., July 27, 1865.
Richards, David, priv. Mus. out with co., July 27, 1865.
Reed, Wm., priv. Mus. out with co., July 27, 1865.
Raunzahn, David, priv. Draft. Dis. by G. O., June 2, 1865.
Richards, James, priv. Mus. out with co., July 27, 1865.
Substitute.
Reed, Daniel, priv. Drafted.
Dis. by G. O., June 2, 1865.
Roily, James, priv. Substitute. Mus. out with co., July
27, 1865.
Rogers, Albert, priv. Discharged by G. O., May 25, 1865.
Snpplee, Robert, sergt. Pro. 4th sergt., Sept. 17,1862. Died
Sept. 27, 1862.
Shillich, Jno. W., musician. Mus. out with co., July 27,
1865. Veteran.
Sanders, Adolph, priv. Died Nov. 10, 1861.
Schrack, David, priv. Died July 12, 1862, of disease.
Schock, Theodore, priv. Discharged Nov. 22, 1862.
Selah, Tlios., priv. Deserted Dec. 13, 1862.
Slingluff, Samuel, priv. Deserted and arrested ; sentenced
by general court-martial to be shot ; escaped Oct. 15, 1862.
Sensenderfer, Sol., priv. Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, Nov.
8, 1868.
•Shade, Israel, priv. Deserted Dec. 11, 1862.
Shade, John, priv. Discharged Oct. 21, 1862. Wounded '
Sept. 14, 1862, at South Mountain.
Sickle, Edwin R. W., priv. Discharged Dec. 22, 1862.
Smith, John D., priv. Mus. out with co., July 27, 1865. Vet.
Smith, Washington, sergt. Pro. corporal July 30, 1864 ; to
sergeant Jan. 15,1865. Wounded Aug. 21, 1864, at Yellow Tav
ern. Mus. out with co., July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Somerlot, Wm., priv. Killed at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862.
Stout, Daniel, priv. Wounded Sept, 14, 1862, at South
Mountain. Discharged Dec. 29, 1862.

OF

PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

631

Smith, George, priv. Wounded May 12, 1804, at Spottsylvania. Died May 30, 1864, from his wounds.
Smith, Henry, priv. Wounded May 12, 18G4, at Spottsylvania. Died May 14, 1804, from his wounds.
Supplee, Joseph, priv. Wounded May 9, 1864, at Spottsylvania. Mas. out with co., July 27, 1805.
Saylor, John, priv. AVounded May 12, 1804, at near Spottsylvania. Absent at mus. out of co.
Sterns, Jacob, priv. Wounded June 3, 1804, at Cold Harbor.
Trans, to Vet. Ees. Corps, Mar. 4, 1805.
Scheets, Chas., priv. Trans, to Co. G, Sept, 1804.
Strayer, Samuel, priv. Drafted. Dis. by G. O., June 2, 1865.
Settler, FrecTk, priv. Drafted. Dis. by G. O., May 26, 1865.
Schafer, John, priv. Mus. out with co., July 27, 1805.
Stover, Abraham D., priv. Mus. out with co., July 27, 1805.
Shelley, Austin, priv. Mus. out with co., -Inly 27, 1865.
Shelley, Enos, priv. Mus. out with co., July 27, 1865.
Shimer, John W., priv. DCS. Absent in arrest at Mus. out.
Sweeny, Jacob H., priv. Trans, to co. G, Sep. 18, 1864.
Spease, Jesse, priv. No remarks on roll.
Thompson, Benj. P., 1st lieut. Pro. corp. 1802 ; to 3 1 sergt.
Jan. 21, 1802 ; to 2d sergt. Sep. 17, 1862 ; to 1st sergt. Oct..l,
1864 ; to 2d lieut. Oct. 1, 1864 ; to 1st lieut. Dec. 18, 1864. Taken
pris. Aug. 21, 1864, at Yellow Tavern. Mus. out with co.,
July 27, 1805. Veteran.
Toy, Charles, priv. AVounded Dec. 13, 1802, at Fredericksburg, Ara. Discharged Nov. 22, 1804. Veteran.
Thompson.
Benj.^F.,
Roanoke
Island,
N. C. priv. Died of disease, April 20, 1802, at
Turner, John, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1805.
Tillson, Sinclair, priv. Substitute. Mus. out with co., July
27, 1805.
Uebele, George, corp. Pro. corp. Sep. 17, 1802. Wounded
June 3, 1804, at Cold Harbor. Died June 18, 1804, from
wounds received at Cold Harbor.
Vauhorn, AVm. M., priv. Killed Dec. 13, 1864, at Fredksbg.
White, Joseph, corp. AVounded Sep. 14, 1862, at South
Mountain. Died Sep. 15, 1802, from wounds.
AVidger, Geo. AV., priv. Dis. Nov. 14, 1862.
Widirer, Andrew, priv. AVounded Sep. 17,1862, at Antietam.
. Wood, Harry C. priv. Dis. April 28, 1863.
AVeeber, Jonathan, priv. AVounded June 17, 1864, in front
of Petersburg. Dis. March 27, 1805, on account of wounds.
Williams,
B., priv.
priv. Draf.
Drat'. Dis.
Dis. by
by G.
G. O.,
O., June
AVadworth, Adam
Michl.,
June 2,
2, 1865.
1865.
Winters, Enos, priv. Mus. out with co., July 27, 1865.
Welsh, John, priv. Mus. out with co., July 27, 1865.
Yunker, Charles, priv. Des. Oct. 31, 1862. AVounded and
taken prisoner May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania. Veteran.
Y eager, Adam W. priv. Killed July 15, 1864, at Petersburg.
Zearfoss, Joseph II., priv. AVounded and captured April 19,
1862, at Camden N. C. Deserted and dis. by order of the AVar
Department Jan. 27. 1865. Veteran.

632

HISTOKY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

Ziegrist, Jno., priv. Dis Mar. 6, 1863.
Total names on roll 227.*
ROLL OF CO. B.
Recruited in Northampton County.
Ferdinand
Dec.
13, 1862. "VV. Bell, capt. Killed at Freclericksburg, Va.,
Daniel L. Nicholas, capt. Pro. from 2d lieut. to cap. Dec. 14,
1862, to brevet maj., March 13, 1865. Mus. out with co., July
27, 18(55. Veteran.
John H. Genther, 1st lieut. Pro. to 1st lieut. Dec. 14, 1862,
from 2d lieut., appointed Brigade A. A. Q. M. in 1863. Mus.
out at expiration of term, Oct. 9, 1864.
Valentine Stocker, 1st lieut. Pro. from 1st sergt. to 1st
lieut. Oct. 30, 1864. Mus. out with co., July 27, 1865. Vet.
Robert M. Burrell, 2d lieut. Dis. for disability May 2, 1864.
John W. Meeker, 2d lieut. Pro. from sergt. to 2d lieut. Oct.
30,Samuel
1864. A.
Mus.
out with
co., July
1865."corp.
Veteran.
Apple,
1st sergt.
Pro.27, from
to 1st sergt.
Oct 30, 1864. Mus. out with co., July 27, 1865. Veteran.
* Summary of Casualties. — Killed in battle — Commissioned officers,
1 ; nun-commissioned officers, 1 ; privates, 10 ; by accident, 1.
Died of wounds — Non-commissioned officers, 5 ; privates, 12. Died
from disease — non-commissioned officers, 1 ; privates, 11. Died in
rebel
'prisons — non-commissioned
officers,!; privates, officers,
4. Wound
ed — Commissioned
officers, 5; non-commissioned
18;
privates, 44. Captured - Commissioned officers, 1 ; non-commis
sioned officers, 3 ; privates, 13. Transferred — Privates, 18. Dis
charged — Non-commissioned officers, 3; privates, 77. Deserted —
Non-commissioLed officers, 3 ; privates, 22. Resigned, 1. Absent,
sick, at muster out — Privates, 3. Absent, in arrest, at muster out —
Total, 3.
Recapitulation.— Killed, 12 ; Died of wounds, 17 ; Died of disease,
12 ; Killed by accident, 1 ; Died in rebel prisons, 5— Total deaths, 47.
Woun 'ed, 67; Captured, 17; Transferred, 18; Deserted, 25; Re
signed 1 ; Absent, sick, at muster out, 3 ; Absent, in arrest, 3 ; Dis
charged, 80, Total, 214. Total casualties, 261.
The above account of the depletions of the ranks of Co. A
is reliable ; although but 227 names appear on the rolls, yet its list of
casualties would far exceed 261, for there is not one case in the pre
ceding list of wounded but what were severe ones ; none are given
under that head •' with but one exception," but those cases that had
to be sent to the hospitals. The slightly wounded, numbering about
80, if added with the severely wounded would make a grand total of
147 wounded, swelling the total casualties in the company to 341.
The officers and men of Co. A can compare records with any
other individual company that was in the entire service, whether
"regulars" or volunteers, without suffering a leaf to be plucked
from their crown of living laurels, as I have looked over some pretty
bright records in the Adjutant-General's office that have received
high encomiums from those who know where honor is due.

OF

PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

633

John W. Beam, sergt. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Alson Stocker, sergt. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Conrad Swazer, sergt. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Chas. S. Knauss, sergt. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
AVm. J. Osterstock, sergt. Mus. out Oct. 9, 1864, expira
tion of term.
Geo. W. Arndt, sergt. Trans, to Vet. Res. Cor. Sep. 27, 1863,
John M. Wein, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Philip A. Barnet, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Geo. Johnson, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Milton Ackerman, corp. Mua. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Enos Schock, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Saml. F. Knapp, c< rp. Mus. out with co. July, 27, 1865.
Veteran. Prom. corp. May 1, 1865.
Henry Schooley, corp. Prom, to corp. July 7, 1865. Mus.
out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Benj. F. Ackerman, corp. Prom, to corp. July 3, 1865. Mus.
out with co. July 27, 1865.
Matthew Delaney, corp. Captured May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania C. H., exchanged and rejoined his co. April 21,
1865. Dis. by G. O. May 29, 1865. Veteran.
Thompson Ackerman, corp. Dis., date unknown.
Saml. Moore, corp. Trans, to llth N. H. Jan. 16, 1864. Vet.
Edward Bullman, corp. Killed May 6, 1864, at Wilderness,
Va. Veteran.
George W. Moser, corp. Died from wounds received in
action, June 13, 1864, at Washington D. C. Veteran.
Jno. D. Knass, musician.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Aimer Neigh, musician.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Ackerman, Josiah, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Apple, Edward, priv. Absent sick at mus. out of co.
Arnold, Joseph, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Albert, William, priv. Captured at Leiper's Ferry, E. Tenn.
Died at Danville, Va., Jan. 12, 1864.
Ackerman, John F., priv. Killed July 31, 1864, at Peters
burg, Va., buried in 9th A. C. cemetery, at Meade's Station.
Ackerman, Harrison, priv. Killed at Spottsylvania C. H.,
May 13, 1864. Veteran.
Andrews, Wm., priv. Deserted May 27, 1864.
Buzzard, Adam, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Brunner, John W., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Bachman. Wm. H., priv. Mus. out withco. July 27, 1865.
Bowman, Wm. L., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Burns, John, piiv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
28

634:

HISTORY

OF

THE

Boswcll, George, priv.
Bring, Sebastian, priv.

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.

Bisbing,
priv.priv. Mus.
withwithco. co.
July'27,
1865.
Brittain, James,
Wm. H.,
Mus.out out
July 27,
1865.
Buck, John H., priv. Mus. out April 11, 1865, expiration
of term.
Bowes, John, priv. Mus. out Oct. 9. 1864, expir. of term.
Butz, Wm. H., priv. Dis. June 2, 1865, by G. O.
Bullman, Jack'n, priv. Mus. out Oct. 9, 1864, expir. of term.
Bond, Philip, priv. Killed May 6, 1864, at the Wilderness.
Brook, Jonathan, priv. Cap. Aug. 21, 1864, at Yellow Tav.
Brown, Chas., priv. Not on rnus. out roll.
Bridges, James, priv. Not on mus. out roll.
Colbrath, Wm., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Cheney, Jeremiah, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Curtz, Philip, priv. Mus. out with co., July 27, 1865.
Crocket, Israel, priv. Mus. out Oct. 9, 1864, expir. of term.
Clifton, Allen J., priv
Mus out Oct. 9, 1864, expir. of term.
Coif, John, priv. Drafted.
Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865.
Crawford, Gco., priv. Cap. Dec. 14, 1«63, in East Tenn.,
exchanged Mar. 1, 1805. Mus. out Mar. 6, 1865, expir. of term.
Chambers, Chas. H., priv. Not on mus. out roll.
Putter, Keuben, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Doihl, Wm. H., priv. Mus. out Oct. 9, 1864, expir. of term.
Diehl, John H , priv. Mus. out Oct. 9, 1864, expir. of term.
Dulot, George, priv. Mus. out Oct. 9, 1864, expir. of term.
Dutt, Courtland, priv. Cap. Dec. 14, 1863, exchanged Feb.
26, 1865. Mus. out Mar. 3, 1865, expir. of term.
Dole, Uriah, priv. Drafted.
Dis. June 2, 1865, by G. O.
Dean, George, priv. Dis. June 2, 1865, by G. O.
Draher, Wm., priv. Wounded June 3, 1864, at Cold Harbor.
Died June 21, 1864, from wounds received in action.
Delly, Laurence II., priv. Deserted, date unknown.
Everett, Wm. D., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Everett, Joel L., priv. Deserted Oct. 17, 1864.
Furich, Henry, priv. Wounded at Petersburg, June 20, 1864.
Absent in hospital at mus. out.
Frautz, Peter, priv. t^ub. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Fny, Gabriel, priv. Absent wounded at mus. out of co.
Gregory, Henry, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Gosner, Jacob W., priv. Mus. out Oct. 9, 1864, expiration
of term.
Gerhart. Danl. II., priv. Dis. on surgeon's certificate Dec.
25, 1864.
Gumbcr, Jacob, priv. Drafted. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865.
Gosner, Chas. N., priv. . Trans, to Signal Corps Aug 1, 1863.
Godley, John B., priv. Trans, to co. D, April 30, 1864.
Group, Lewis, priv. Cap. Aug. 20, 1864. Died at Rich
mond, Va., Sep. 27, 1864.
Haas, Jacob, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Haas, Wm., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Hill, Edward, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1805. Yet.

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

635

Hardy, Edward, priv. Wounded May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania C. H., Va. Absent in hospital at mus. out.
Hufsuiith, Wm., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1805.
Hixon, Theo. F, priv, Mus. out Oct. 9, 1864, expir. of term.
Henning, Miclil., priv. Mus. out Oct. 9, 1864. expir. of term.
Hiney, Chas , priv. Drafted.
Dis. June 2, 1865, by G. O.
Raines, Jeremiah, priv. Draf.
Dis. June 2, 1865, by G. O.
Halsted, John A., priv. Trans. Jan. 16, 1864, to llth N. II.
Heiming, Win., priv. Mus. out Oct. 9, 1864, expir. of term.
Judge, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Krcsge, Reuben, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 3, 1865. Draf.
Kustetor, John, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 3, 1865. Draf.
Knauss, Chris., priv. Dis. by G. 0. June 3, 1865. Draf.
Kresge, Emanuel, priv. Died at Phila., Pa., Nov., 7, 1864.
Kross, Lewis, priv. Not on mus out roll.
Lee. John A., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Lee, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Leary, Thos., priv. Mus out with co. July 27, 1865.
Lottig, Aaron, priv. Mus. out Oct. 9, 1864, expir. of term.
Miller, Thos. P., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Myers, Chris. B.,priv.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Myers, Peter, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Mettler, Philip M., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Mixcll, Henry, priv. Captured at Wilderness May 6, 1864.
Absent at mus. out of co. July 27, 1865.
Moore, Wm., priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Moser, Thos., priv. Mus. out Oct. 9, 1864, expir. of term.
Miller, Thos., priv. Dis. on surgeon's certificate May 15,
Miller, John. priv. Deserted.
McDonald, Ptk., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
McFall, Titus, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
McKeighan, Wilson, priv. Mus. out withco. July 27, 1865.
Nicholas, T. J., priv. Draf. Dis. by G. O., date unknown.
Newsbaum, Chas., priv. Sub. Des. Dec. 14, 1864.
Nugent, John, priv. Sub.
Des. July 2, 1865.
Obenholzer, John, priv. Mus. out with co, July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Paul, Geo., priv. Wounded May 6, 1864, at Wilderness, Va.
Absent at mus. out of co. July 27, 1865.
Poff, Henry, priv. Mus. out Oct. 9, 1864, expir. of term.
Ranch, Win. O., priv. Mus. out withco. July 27, 1805.
Reigle, John B., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Rickets, Thos., P., priv. Mus. out Oct. 9, 1864, expir. of term.
Ricker, Chas., priv. Mus. out Oct. 9, 1864, expir. of term.
Reily, Benj. J., priv. Wounded at Campbell's Station. Died
Nov. 28, 1863, at Knoxville.
Raub, Joshua, priv. Wounded at Campbell's Station. Died
Nov. 28, 1863, at Knoxville.
Ruff. Adam. priv. Des. July 28, 1864.
Reed, Chas., priv. Des. Nov. 25, 1804.
Seibcrt, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.

636

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

Sharp, Chas., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 18f>5. Vet,
Scott, Peter, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Scott, Henry, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Samuels, Henry, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Snyder, Andrew, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Snyder, Edwin P., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Stocker, Win., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Smith, Stephen, priv. Mus. out withco. July 27, 1865.
Shook, Abraham, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Samsell, John S. priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Seartbss, Simon, priv. Dis. July 18, 1865, by G. O.
Searfoss,
Steinhoff, Win.,
Henry,priv.
priv. Mus.
Mus.outoutwithco.
with co.July
July27,27,186").
1865.
Schooly, John H., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Snedeker, James, priv. Absent sick at mus. out of co.
Sweeney, Jacob H., priv. Mus. out Oct. 9, 1864, expiration
of term.
Sheets, Charles, priv. Mus. out Oct.. 9, 1864, expir. of term.
Slator, Thos., priv. Mus. out Mar. 27, 1805, expir. of term.
Smith, Wm. A., priv. Mus. out Mar. 27, 1865, expir. of term.
Shick, Win., priv. Dis. by G. O., date unknown.
Seiple, John H., priv. Dis. by G. O. May 15, 1865.
Steiuer, Rudolph, priv. Trans. Jan. 9, 1865, to Vet. Res.
Corps.
Strattford, Win. F., priv. Killed Dec. 13, 1862, at Freds'bg.
Stone, John, priv. Des. Nov. 26, 1864.
Stewart, Win., priv. Not on mus. out rolls.
Snyder, Win. L., priv. Not on mus. out rolls.
Titus, Joseph, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Tomer, William, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Thompson, Henry, priv. Mils, out Oct. 9, 1864, expiration
of term.
Thatcher, Aaron, priv. Trans. Jan. 16, 1864, to llth N.
Hampshire.
Unangst, Thos., priv. Died Feb. 20, 1864, at Easton, Pa.
Veteran.
Vannatta, Danl. W. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Woodring, Nicholas, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Williamson, Thos., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Wacht, Gabriel Z., priv. Mus out with co. July 27, 1865.
Weidnecht, John, priv. Mus. out Oct. 9, 1864, expr. of term.
Wcidnecht, S. C., priv. Mus. out Oct. 9, 1864, expr. of term.
Woodring, Hiram, priv. Mus. out Oct. 9. 1864, expr. of term.
Warner, Henry, priv. Dis. March 16, 1865, on surg. cer.
Walters, Geo., priv. Dis. March 31, 1865, by special order.
Warner, Samuel, priv. Dis. June 2, 1865, by general order.
Drafted.
Werkcisor, Cyrus, priv. Killed June 3, at Cold Harbor. Vet.
Wilson, John, priv. Deserted July 2, 1865.
Wilson, Isaac, priv. Not on mus. -out rolls.
Young, Lewis II., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 186~.
Veteran.

OF

PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEEKS.

637

Zamaria, Stelio, priv.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Total names oil the rolls 174.*

ROLL

OF

CO.

C.

Recruited in Montgomery county, Pa.
William Allebaugh, captain. Captured at Spottsylvania
C. H., Va., May 12, 1864, with two of his regimental colors.
Rejoined his regiment May 1, 1865. Promoted lieut. -colonel
April 23, 1865.
William F. Thomas, captain. Pro. from 1st sergt. to 2d lieut.
Sept. 19, 1862 ; to 1st lieut. May 13, 1864 ; to captain April 24,
1865. Mus. out with co. Veteran.
John J. Freedley, 1st lieut. Pro. to II. Q. M. Oct. 17, 1861..
Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam. Resigned 1863.
Davis Hunsicker, 1st lieut. Pro. from 2d lieut. to 1st lieut.
Oct. 17, 1861. Killed at Antietam Sept. 17, 1862.
Thomas J. Lynch, 1st lieut. Pro. from 2d lieut. to 1st lieut.
Sept.
19, 1862.
" Killed
12, Pro.
1864,from
at Spottsylvania.
George
II. Smith,
1st May
lieut.
1st sergt. to 2d lieut.
Aug. 8, 1864, to 1st lieut. April 25, 1865. Mus-. out with co.
July 27, 1865. Veteran.
John W. Fair, 2d lieut. Pro. from sergt. to 1st sergt. Oct.
8, 1864, to 2d lieut. May 17, 1865. Wounded Aug. 19, 1864, at
Weldon Railroad, and at Petersburg, July 3, 1864. Mus. out
with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Nathan II. Ramsey, 1st sergt. Pro. from sergt. to 1st sergt.
May 17, 1865. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
* Summary. — Killed — Com. officers, 1 ; non-com, officers, 1 ; pri
vates, 5. Died of wounds — Von-com. officers, 1 ; privates, 2. Died
of disease — Privates, 2. Died in rebel prisons — Privates, 2.
Wounded — Non-com, officers, 1 ; privates, 5. Captured — Non-com,
officers, 1; privates, 6. Transferred — Non-com, officers, 2; pri
vates, 5. Discharged — Com. officers, 2 ; non-com, officers, 3 ; pri
vates, 64. Deserted — Privates, 12. Absent sick, at muster out of
co., 4.
Recapitulation. — Killed, 7 ; died of wounds, 3 ; died of disease, 2 ;
died in captivity, 2 ; wounded, 6 ; captured, 7 ; transferred, 7 ; dis
charged, 51; deserted, 12; absent sick and wounded, at muster
out, 4. Total casualties, 101.
The casualties and other causes of the depletion of the ranks of
Co. B, are far more numerous than the above table radicates. It
is to be seriously regretted that a more full and explicit list could
not be obtained. Not even a single muster-out roll of Co. B, or any
papers whatever are to be found in the adjutant-general's office that
would indicate that such a company was ever in existence, or that
would i^ive the least clue to the correct number of wounded, or who
were killed, captured, or died from disease. One thing certain, the
company's record is equal to any of its sisters, and its record will be
dug out from the archives of State by some future legalized historian,
and its pecans will echo throughout the country.

638

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY FIRST

REGIMENT

Benjamin F. Miller, sergt. Wounded at Antietam Sept. 17,
1802. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Montgomery Smith, sergt. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Peter Undercofler, sergt. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
William R. Gilbert, sergt. Pro. from corp. to sergt. May
17, 1865. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran/
Levi W. Shingle, sergt. Pro. to sergt. -major Jan. 14, 1865.
Veteran.
Patrick Kevin, sergt. Killed May 6, 1864, at the Wilderness.
Was color sergeant of the 51st P. V. V. Veteran.
William Eastwood, sergt. Discharged Jan. 10, 1863.
Samuel Fair, sergt. Pro. 2d lieut. in Co. D, Oct., 1861. Killed
at South Mountain Sept. 14, 1862.
William Robinson, corp. Wounded Nov. 16, 1863, at Camp
bell's Station, Tenn. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
John C. Umstead, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Henry H. Lightcap, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Andrew J. Reed, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Hugh Lynch, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Benjamin R. Sill, corp. Pro. corp. May 1, 1865. Mus. out
with co. Veteran.
Hugh McClain, corp. Pro. corp. May 17, 1865. Mus. out
with co. Veteran.
William Bean, corp. Pro. corp. May 25, 1865. Mus. out
with co. Veteran.
Andrew J. Grim, corp. Died June 6, 1864, from wounds re
ceived in action. Buried in National Cem'y, Arlington. Vet.
William Kooker, corp. Killed June 17, 1864, at Petersburg,
Va. Veteran.
Jos. Cornog, corp. Killed June 17, 1864, at Petersburg,
Va. Veteran.
David Kane, corp. Killed Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Samuel Hart, corp. Sentenced by G. C't martial to Rip Raps,
Aug., 1862. Discharged as being too worthless for the service.
Simon P. Emery, corp. Died of wounds at Mill Spring,
Sept. 29, 1862.
James Sullivan, corp. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at Antie
tam. Discharged Feb. 23, 1863, on account of wounds.
Samuel Egolf, corp. Shot through the kings at Antietam,
Sept. 17, 1862. Discharged Jan. 29, 1863, at Milldale, Miss.
Re-enlisted as veteran private Jan. 31, 1864.
Edward D. Johnson, muse. Pro. drum major March 1, 1865.
Allen, Thomas, priv. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Mus. out Sept. 13, 1864, expir. of term.
Baum, Levi, priv. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862. Trans, to Vet.
Res. Corps Sept., 1863.
Bell, Andrew J., priv. Capt'd at North Ann, May 27, 1864.
Briggs, Christopher, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Black, Wui. F., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Bryn, Wm. M., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

639

Barclay, Robt., priv. Mus. out willi co. July 27, 18G5. Sub.
Bryant, Chas., priv. Mus out with co. July 27, 1805.
Brauntlinger, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Barry, Win., priv. Mus. out Sept. 13, 1864, expir. of term.
Breish, George W., priv. Mus. out Sept. 13, 1864, expir. of
term.
Bruner, Jacob, priv. Died at Alexandria, Va., May 20, 1865.
Brown, Richard, priv. Deserter.
Custer, Abraham, priv. Severely wounded April 19, 1862,
at Camden, N. C. Discharged 21, 1863, on account of wounds.
Custer, Paul H., priv. Died of disease July 17, 1863, at
Jackson, Miss.
Creamer, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Cook, John J., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Cook, Thos. R., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Condon, James, priv. Dis. June 2, 1865, by G. O.
Carson, Michael, priv. Deserted April 4, 1865. Sub.
Deeds, Albert, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Dillon, Patrick, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Darling, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Davis, Henry, priv. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Dis. on account of wounds.
Detwiler, Joseph W., priv. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at
Fredericksburg. Dis. on account of wounds April 18, 1863.
Dillon, Michael, priv. Wounded Nov. 19, 1863, at Knoxville, E. Tenn. Missing at Spottsylvania C. II., May 12, 1864.
Veteran.
Delia ven, Reuben, priv. Died July 18, 1863, at Jackson, Miss.
Davis, Thos., priv. Dis. May 17, 1862. Disability.
Davis, John T., priv. Absent sick, at inus. out of co.
Dean, Samuel, priv. Died at Charleston, S. C., Sept. 20,
1864. Veteran.
Dougherty, Michael, priv. Died at Alexandria, Va., Sept.
20, 1864.
Duffy, John, priv. Deserted Oct. 26, 186 i. Substitute.
Espenship, H. D., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Espenship, W. I., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Espenship, Enos D., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Elliott, Jas. W., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1805. Vet.
Emery, John E., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Espenship, David, priv. Dis. on surg. cert.* Sept. 20, 1864.
Veteran.
Erhard, Henry, priv. Died at Alexandria, Va., July 9, 1864,
from wounds.
Fizone, Jacob, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1835. Vet.
Fox, Charles R., priv. Wounded at Fredericksburg Dec.
13, 1862. Absent on furlough at mus. out of co. Veteran.
Fry, Henry, priv. Died of disease Oct. 10, 1802, at Wash
ington, D. C.
Fillman, Oliver A. Dis. May 29, 1863, at Rhode Island, for
wounds received in action.
Fox, William H. R., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.

640

HISTOKY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

Fox, Franklin
co. atJuly
1865.
Force,
Emanuel,"R.,priv.
priv. Mus.
Absentout inwith
arrest
mus.27,out
of co.Vd.
Fitzpatrick, Patrick, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 18(5.
Veteran.
Farrel, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Fry, Samuel J., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Favinger, Josiah M., priv. Dis. July 6, 1865, for wounds re
ceived in action.
Ferrington, Matthew, priv. Dis. Dec. 31, 1862, at Wash.
Fry, Henry H., priv. Killed in front of Petersburg June 17,
1864.
Gunn, William, priv. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Gunn, James, priv. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at Frederickslurg, Va. Mus. out Sept. 13, 1864, expir. of term.
Gross, Marcus A., priv. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at Antictarn. Absent in arrest at mus. out of co.
Garner, Eli, priv. Died Nov. 23, 1861, at Harrisburg, Pa.
of disease.
Grubb, Franklin, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Green, Jos., priv. Absent wounded, at mus. out of co. Sub.
Gilland, Wm., priv. Drafted.
Dis. on surg. cert. Dec. 21,
1864.
Gunter, Henry, priv. Drafted.
Killed at Petersburg, Feb.
18, 1865.
Gibbs, Wm., priv. Sub. Des. April 4, 1865.
Hallowell, John, priv. Died of wounds Nov. 14, 1862, at
Mill Springs, Md., received Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Hughes, Henry C., priv. Trans, to Co. F, Oct. 16, 1861, at
Harrisburg.
Hartenstine, Valentine, priv. Des. Feb. 1, 1862. Taken
prisoner and died in rebel prison.
Hallman, Jesse, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Hauff, Fred., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Hotchkiss, Win., priv. Absent wounded, at mus. out of co.
Holden, Geo., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Hamilton, "Elwood, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Hoover, Jacob, priv. Draf. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865.
Hunt. Jas., priv. Draf.
Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865.
Hendricks,
Franklin,
priv.
Killed June 17,*1864, at Petersbu g. Veteran.
Inglis, Robt. A., priv. Dis. by S. 0. Nov. 25, 1864.
Jago, Henry, priv. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Absent wounded, at mus. out of co. Veteran.
Johnson, Bcnj., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Johnson, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Jones, Ed. C., priv. MUF. out Sept. 13,1864, expr. of term.
Johns, Fred. W., priv. Mus. out. Sept. 13, 1864, expr. of
term.
Kile, Abraham, priv. Trans, to Inv. Corps Nov. 16, 1863,
at Camp Nelson, Ky.
Kevin, Gto., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

641

Keely, Jacob, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Keeler, Wm., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Kooker, Benj., priv. Miss, at Spotlsylvauia C. H. May 12,
1804. Veteran.
Kelly, Peter, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Kevin, Joshua A., priv. Captured. Died at Andersonville,
Ga., Sept, 25, 1864. Veteran.
Lath, Wm. H., priv. Died from wounds Oct. 3, 1862. Buried
in Military Asylum Cemetery.
Lightcap, Geo. W., priv. Mus. out with co. Ju1}' 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Leach, Jos., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Latham, Jas. N., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Lape, Abr., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Lynch, Thos. J., priv. Killed at Spottsylvania May 12, 1864.
Buried in Wilderness burial grounds.
Morgan, Griffith E., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Miller, Geo., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Miller, Andrew, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Myers, Peter, priv. DCS. May 12, 1864.
Murphy, James, priv. Died Aug. 1, 1862, at Beaufort, N C.,
of disease.
Murphy, James, priv. Died Oct. 20, 1862. Buried in Mount
Olivet Cemetery, Frederick, Md.
Mercer, Geo., priv. Died of wounds Oct. 3, 1862.
Munshower, Wm., priv. Died of wounds Oct 3, 1832.
McDade, Patrick, priv. Trans, to Invalid Corps Nov. 16,
1863. Re-enlisted Jan. 14, 18P>5. Mus. out with co.
McDevitt, James, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
McManamy,Nathaniel,
Chas., priv.
McVeigh,
priv. Mus.
Mus. outoutwith
with co.co.j'uly
July 27,
27, 1865.
1865.
McGill, John H., priv. Sub. Trans, to 201st P. V. Feb. 3,
1865.
McGinly, Geo., priv. Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, date un
known.
Veteran.
McFaul, John, priv. Sub. Killed at Petersburg Feb. 13. 1865.
McBride, Owen, priv. Deserted.
Veteran.
McMullen, Michl., priv. Killed Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg.
McMenamee, Jeremiah, priv. DCS. May 7, 1863, at Lancas
ter, Kv.
McMullen, John, priv. Des. May 7, 1863, at Lancaster, Ky.
Newman, Geo., priv. Draf. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865.
Ostrander, Eli H., priv. Dis. by G. O. July 13, 1865.
O'Neal, Andrew J. Prisoner from May 7, 1864, to April 25,
1865. Dis. by G. O. May 24, 1865. Veteran.
Paul, Sylvester, priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Peters, John II., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 186 ).
Pickup, Geo., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1861. Vet.
Pfifer, Chas., priv. Dis. on surg. cert. June 9, 1865.
Parson, John C., priv. Dis. on surg. cert. June 9, 1865.
Plunket, John, priv. Taken prisoner April 19, 1862, at Camden, N. C.

23*

642

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

Peters, Michael, priv. Dis. for disability Jan. 29, 18G3, at
Washington.
Rogan, Patrick, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam. Dis. on account of
wounds Mar. 4, 1868. Re-enlisted March, 1864.
Rinker, Jacob B., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Roeder, Lewis, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Read, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Radebaugh, Charles, priv. Wounded Sept. 14, 1862, at S.
Mountain, Md. Des. Dec. 8, 1862, at Baltimore. Mus. out
Sept. 13, 1864, expr. of term.
Rogers, Allen, priv. Mus. out Sept. 13, 1864, expr. of term.
Robinson, Morris, priv. Died June 15, 1862, at Newport
News, of disease.
Springer, John M., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Smith, Chas., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Shaner, Wash. M., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Schmearer,
C. B.,priv.
priv. Mus.
Mus,outoutwith
withco.co.July
July"27,
1865.
Sullivan, Thos.,
27, 1865.
Sullivan, Jas., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Spare, David R., priv. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg, Va. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Sherman, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Shearer, Samuel J., priv. Absent in arrest at mus. out.
Sortman, Henry, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Stout, Geo., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Smith, Benj. F., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 23, 1865.
Shaffer, Jacob W., priv. Dis. by G. O. July 5, 1865.
Steltz, Wm. C., priv. Mus. out Sept. 13, 1864, expr. of term.
Sloop, Hilary, priv. Captured. Died June 10, 1864, at
Andersonville.
Stoffet, Philip, priv. Captured. Died March 29, 1865, at
Wilmington, N. C.
Sullivan, Patk., priv. Dis. May 24, 1862, at Newborn, N. C.
Snyder, John, priv. Dis. Dec. 23, 1862, at Washington.
Sweeney, George, priv. Killed Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg, Va.
Tommy, Stephen, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Tochler, Abraham, priv. Dis. April 15, 1865, for wounds
received in action.
Tinney, Michael, priv. Dis. by gen. order June 9, 1865.
Trumbull,
Geo. B.,priv.
priv. Trans,
Sub. to ^Deserted
Oct. Sept.
26, 1864.
Temperly, Thos.,
Invalid Corps
1, 1863.
Umstead, Jacob H., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Underkofler, H., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Upright, John, priv. Killed June 3, 1864, at Cold Harbor.
Walt, Abraham, priv. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Discharged on account of wounds April 18, 1863. Re-enlisted
again as a veteran. Wounded at Bethesda Church June 1 , 1864.
Absent wounded at mus. out of co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
White, Charles, priv. Dis. onsurgeon'scertif., date unknown.
Walters, Jacob, priv, Mus. out with co.
Wood, Henry P., priv. Mus. out with co. Veteran.

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

643

Waters, James, priv. Mus. out with co.
Yerger, Mark L., priv. Absent wounded at mus. out of co.
Veteran.
Young, Henry K., priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27,
1865.
Young, Joseph C., priv. Trans, to Co. F Oct. 16, 1861, at
Harrisburg.
Total, 195 names.*
ROLL

OF CO. D.

Recruited at Norristown, Montgomery County, Pa.
Edward Schall. captain.
Resigned April 14, 1863.
Lewis Hallrnan, captain. Pro. from 1st lieut. to capt. April
14, 1863. Trans, to Invalid Corps Aug. 6, 1864, on account of
wound received at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862.
Win. W. Owen, capt. Pro from 1st lieut. of Co. F to capt.
of Co. D, Sept. 1, 1864. Wounded seriously May 6, 1864, at the
Wilderness. Mus. out with co. Veteran.
John Gilligan, 1st lieut. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at An tietarn. Pro. from sergt. to 1st lieut. Aug. 12, 1864. Mus. out
with co. Veteran.
* A complete list of the wounded cannot be given, as the material
for such a purpose is not to be found in the adjutant-general's office ;
but the list of deceased, captured, transferred, and discharged soldiers,
will be found reliable and complete.
Recapitulation. — Killed — Commissioned officers, 2; non.-com.
officers, 4; privates, 8. Died from wounds — Non.-com. officers, 2.
privates, 7. Died from disease — Privates, 10. Died in rebel prisons —
Privates, 4. Wounded two or more times — Com. officers, 1 ; privates,
2. Wounded once — Com. officers, 1 ; non.-com. officers, 5 ; privates,
27. Captured — Com. officers, 1 ; privates, 8. Transferred — Privates,
8. Discharged on account of wounds and disability — Privates, 35;
non.-com. officers, 4. Resigned — Com -officers, 1. Deserted — Pri
vates, 11.
Summary. — Total killed in action, 14 ; died of wounds, 9 ; died of
disease, 19 ; died in rebel prisons, 4 ; wounded, 30 ; captured, 9 ; trans
ferred, 8; discharged, 39; resigned, 1; deserted, 11. Grand total
loss, 141.
This list is correct and i-eliable from the original enlistment up to
January 1, ltG4 ; but it can readily be perceived that from that date
up to the final discharge of the company that only a very few cases
of wounded appear on the list. The company was hotly engaged at
the battle of the Wilderness ; still hotter at Spottsylvania C. II. ;
equally so at Cold Harbor ; was the target in the charge, June 17, 1804,
on Petersburg, as also at the Yellow Tavern and Hatcher's Run ; and
its loss in those battles of wounded must have been immense, and it is
a source of regret that it cannot be obtained. The writer saw seven
teen wounded of Co. C at the battle at the Yellow Tavern while the
battle was raging, all of which has escaped his memory, with one
exception ; that one is Sergt. Jno. W. Fair, who was severely wounded
in the foot.

HISTOKY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

Saml., Fair, 2d lieut. Pro. from sergt. of Co. C., to 2d lieut.
Oct. 1, 3801. Wounded at South Mountain Sept. 14, 1862.
Died Sept. 21, 1862, from wounds.
Jonathan Swallow, 2d lieut. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at
Fredericksburg, severely. Resigned Mar. 15, 1864, on account
of wounds.
Isaac Fizone, 2d lieut. Pro. from sergt. to 2d lieut. May
3, 1864, Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg. Killed
June 3, 1864, at Cold Harbor, Va. Veteran.
David Long, 2d lieut. Pro. from sergt. to 2d lieut., June
25, 1864. Mustered out with company July 27, 1865. Veteran.
John Powell, 1st sergt. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Henry Foreman, sergt. Discharged Mar. 24, 1865, on ac
count of wounds received in action. Veteran.
Wm. Dignan, sergt. Wounded at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13,
1862. Killed June 18, 1864, at Petersburg Va. Veteran.
Wm. D. Jenkins, sergt. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at Antictarn. Mustered out with company, July 27, 1865. Veteran.
John McNulty, sergt. Wounded Dec. 13, 186?, at Fred
ericksburg. Mustered out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
John R. Grey, sergt. Must, out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Freeman S. Davis, sergt. Wounded Dec . 13, 1862, at
Fredericksburg. Mus. out Sept., 19, 1864. Expiration of term.
Walter M. Thompson, sergt, Mustered out Oct. 15, 1864.
Expiration of term.
Penrose W. Glair, sergt. Discharged by G. O. June 2, 1865.
Edwin Bennett, sergt. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam. Discharged on surgeon's certificate, Nov. 14, 1862.
John L. McCoy, corpl. Mustered out with company, July
27, 1865. Veteran.
Andrew Fair, corpl. Mustered out with company, July 27,
1865. Veteran.
John Dunn, corpl. Served in Benjamin's battery, from
Oct. 1, 1863, to Jan. 1, 1864, was in the night attack on Fort
Sanders, Knoxville, and succeeded in capturing a rebel officer
by twisting a battery screw into an officer's clothing and pulling
him into the fort over the parapet. Mustered out with com
pany. Veteran.
Jas. Powers, corpl. Mustered out with company.
Veteran.
Nicholas Murphy, corp. Mustered out with co. Veteran.
Albert List, corpl. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericks
burg. Mustered out with company Ju'y 27, 1865. Veteran.
John Sutch, corpl. Mus. out Sept. 19, 1864. Expiration of
term.
John Beal, corpl. Mustered out Sept. 19, 1864. Expiration
of term. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg.
Isaac N. Yocum, corpl. Discharged by G. O. June 2, 1865.
Wm. W. Smith, corpl. Wounded Aug. 30, 1862, at Bull
Run. Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps. March 23, 1865. Veteran.
Isaac Tolan, corpl. Discharged Aug. 2, 1863, at Hampton,
Va. Re- enlisted as a veteran. Deserted Sept. 3, 1864.

OF

PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

645

Geo. W. Bowman, covpl. Died Feb. 4, 18G2, on board of the
steamer Cossack, on Pamlico sound, N. Carolina.
Richard Lewis, corpl. Pied August 11, 1803, on hoard U. S.
Steamer Lycoming, Mississippi river.
Albert Wood, muse.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Wm. S. Lauback, muse.
Died at Newport, R. Island, July
27, 1864.
Jos. Moyer, muse.
Dis. June 23, 1862, at Newbern, N. C.
Anderson, Joseph, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Aronimer, Albert, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Substitute.
Ackers, Wm., priv. Discharged by G. O. June 2, 1865.
Andrews, Thos., priv. Discharged by G. O. June 2, 1865.
Boyd, Thos., priv. Mustered out with co. July 27, 1865.
Beswick, Chas., priv. Mustered out with co. July 27, 1865.
Bumgardner, Lewis, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Browning, Thos., priv. Absent sick at muster out.
Buehler, George, priv. Sub. Mustered out with company.
Bancurt,
Jonathan,
priv. Died
Drat'.MayDis.16,by1864,
G. O.ofJune
2, 1865.
Bodey, Win.
H., priv.
wounds
re
ceived at Spottsylvania.
Blakeney, Chas., priv. Died at York, Pa., April 8, 1865.
Barrett, George, priv. Sub.
Deserted June 17, 1865.
Boyle, John W., priv. Trail, to Vet. Res. Corps, Sept 3, 1863.
Bacon, Augustus, priv. Deserted December 11, 1861.
Clark, Saml. L.,priv.
Mustered out with co., July 27, 1865.
Cramer, James, priv. Mus. out with co., July 27, 1865.
Clare, Jefferson C., priv. Missing at Spottsylvania, May 12,
1864. Supposed to have been killed.
Creighlon, Noble, priv. Wounded May 6, 1804, at the
Wilderness.
Absent at mus. out of co. Veteran.
Cornog, Addison, priv. Mus. out with co.
Clark, Wm. H., priv. Mus. out with co. Sub.
Colpetzer, John, priv. Mus. out with co. Sub.
Cook, Wm. B., priv.
Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865. Drafted.
Cassedy, Jeremiah, priv. Captured.
Died at Salisbury, N.
C., Dec. 4, 1864.
Creighton, Erwin, priv. Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, Nov.
6, 1863.
Conway, James, priv. Died Jan. 16, 1862, off Hatteras Inlet.
Crouthamel, Adam, priv. Deserted July 5, 1862, at New
port Ne\vs, Va.
Dunbar, Thos., priv. Mus. o t with co. July 27, 1865.
Delhi, Wm. F.- priv. Mtis. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Doan, Wm. F., priv. Drafted.
Discharged for disability
Sept, 29, 1864.
Diamond, Patk., priv. Dis. for disability May 9, 1862.
Dellaven, John, priv. Dis. for disability Feb. 21, 1863.
Davis, Chas., priv. Dis. for disability June F, 1862.
Dewees, Wm.,
Eilenburg,
Wm.,priv.
priv. Deserted
Mus. outDec.'ll,
with co.1861.Sub.

646

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

Essick, Wm., priv. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Dis. on surgn's certificate Jan. 12, 1864. Veteran.
Evans, John, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865. Drafted.
Easton, Walter, priv. Killed April 8, 1864, accidentally. Draf.
Earls, John, priv. Wounded September 17, 1864, at Antie
tam, with loss of arm. Dis. March 27, 1863.
Furlong, Henry, priv. Mus. out with co.
Fisher, James, priv. Mus. out with co. Sub.
Fleming, Hugh, priv. Mus. out with co. Sub.
Forbes, Michael, priv. Dis. Dec. 21, 1864, for disability.
Drafted.
Fisher, Hiram C., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865.
Fisher, Harman G., priv. Mus. out Sept. 19, 1864. Expi
ration of term.
Frank, Barnard, priv. Drafted.
Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865.
Fizone, Mordecai, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 27, 1865.
Ferguson, Wm., priv. Deserted April 3, 1865. Sub.
Fleck, John R, priv. Deserted April 3, 1865. Dis. by S.
O. July 21, 1865. Veteran.
Faulkner, W., priv. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Dis.
on Chas.,
accountpriv.
of wounds
27, 1862.
'
Fair,
Dis. onNov.
account
of disability
Oct. 31, 1862.
Gartner, John, priv. Mus. out with co. Sub.
Grey, Alfred K, priv. Must, out with co. Wounded Dec.
13, 1862, at Fredericksburg. Veteran.
Godley, John B., priv. Killed at Petersburg, July 6, 1864.
Geanger, Frank, priv. Deserted April 3, 1865. Sub.
Guyer, John, priv. Dis. for disability Feb. 21, 1863.
Guyer, John G., priv. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at Fred
ericksburg. Dis. April 4, 1863, at Washington.
Guyder, John, priv. Dis. May 31, 1862, at Newborn, N. C.
Guyer, Geo. W., priv. Dis. Oct. 31, 1862, at Harrisburg.
Gillan, Hector, priv. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Trans, to Invalid Corps Nov. 15, 1863.
Hudson, Wm., priv. Absent sick at mus. out of co. Sub.
Hammond, Jno., priv. Mus out with co. July 27, 1865.
Hagan, Patk., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
. Hummel, Calvin, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Hunt, Danl., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Hager, Wm. H., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865. Draft.
Ilixon, Theodore, priv. Trans, to Co. B, Oct. 9, 1864.
Houser, Joseph, priv. Deserted July 12, 1865. Sub.
Hayberry, George, priv. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at An
tietam. Died of wounds Oct. 18, 1862.
Haiues, Henry, priv. Deserted Dec. 11, 1861, from Harrisbg.
Horan, Michael, priv. Dis. Dec. 31, 1861, for disability.
Ilenshall, Jno. priv. Dis. Dec. 31, 1861, for disability.
Hamburger, Wm. priv., Wounded at Antietam Sept. 17,
1862. Trans, to Invalid Corps Nov. 6, 1863.
Johnson, John, priv. Missing at Spottsylvania C. H. May
12, 1864. Supposed killed. Was wounded at Newbern N. C.
March 14, 1862. Veteran.
Jones, Warren, Priv. Dis. by G. O. July 6, 1865.

OF

PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

647

Kane, John, priv. Mas. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Kobba, Fredk, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865. Drafted.
Keppler, Wm., priv. Deserted June 14, 1865. Sub.
Kelley, James, priv. Deserted June 13, 1865. Sub.
Kay, Samuel, priv. Killed Sept. 14, 1862, at South Mountain.
Kemmerer, Benj., priv.
Killed Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredksbg.
Lancaster, John, priv. Mus. out with co. Sub.
Lukens, Elwood, priv. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg. Mus. out with co. Veteran.
Ly singer. Chas., priv. Mus. out with co. Veteran.
Lybig, Jonathan, priv. Mus. out with co. Sub.
Lindner, Samuel, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865. Draft.
Lonsdale, J. Wesley, priv. Killed Dec. 13, 1862, at Fred
ericksburg.
Mogee, Wm., priv. Mus. out with co. Dis. for disability
March, 5, 1863. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862. Re-enlisted.
Montgomery, T. J., priv. Mus. out with co.
Moocle, Lemuel, priv. Captured at North Ann, May 27,
1864. Absent at mus. out of co.
Mauchey, Joseph, priv. Mus. out with co. Sub.
Myers, Joseph, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865. Drafted.
Moore, Henry C., priv. Dis. by G. O. May 11, 1865. Wounded
at Fredericksburg Dec. 13. 1862.
Messersmith, J. II., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865. Draft.
Michaels, John A., priv. Deserted June 3, 1865. Sub.
Mogee, John. priv. Killed Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg.
McNamara, Patk., priv. Mus. out with co.
McDade, Saml., priv. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
McDade, Wm., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
McDade, Danl., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
McKenna, Peter, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
McLoughlin, James, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Substitute.
McCluskey, Barnard., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865.
Mc.Curry, James,
by at
G. Petersburg
O. July 11,June
1^6"). 21, Sub.
McKenna,
James, priv.
priv. Dis.
Killed
1864.
Veteran.
McConnell, Owen, priv. Wounded Sept. 14, 1862, at South
Mountain. Discharged 1863.
McQuarness, Jas., priv. Accidentally killed August 16,
1863, on Ohio and Mississippi Railroad, by the smashing of the
train of cars in which the 51st P. V. was on transit from Vieksburg to Cincinnati. Buried at a small town called u Shoals,"
in the vicinitv of the " smash up."
Mooney, Michael, priv. Killed Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
McMcekcn, Thos., priv. Dis, June 11, 1863, for disability.
McManamy, Wm., priv. Wounded Sep. 17, 1862, at Antie
tam. Captured at Snicker's Gap March 4, 1863. Dis. March
4, 1863, for disability.
McCoy, Uriah, priv. Dis. Dec. 31, 1862, for disability.
McKessick, Hugh, priv. Deserted Feb. 10, 1863, again July
4, 1863.
Miller, John R., priv. Dis. Feb. 2, 1863, for disability.

648

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

Norris, Robert, priv. Deserted Dec. 11, 1861.
O'Neil, Dennis, priv. Wounded Aug. 30, 1862, at Bull Run.
Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps Nov. 6, 1863. Re-enlisted Feb. 28,
1865. Mus. out with co. Veteran.
O'Donnell, Barney, priv. Died while home on veteran fur
lough
March George,
10, 1864.'priv.
Veteran.
Olenwine,
Died May 1864.
Peasley, David, priv. Mus. out with co.
Peterson, Wm., priv. Mus. out with co. Sub.
Price, Amos M., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865. Draft.
Porter, Alfred, priv. Deserted April 3, 1865. Sub.
Pollock, Wm., priv. Dis. May 29, 1862, for disability.
Rafferty, Wm. , priv. Mus. out with co. Sub.
Robinson, Robt., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865. Draft.
Rhode, Henry, priv. Dis. Sept, 27, 1864, for disability.
Raifsuyder, Wm., priv. Trans, to co. K. Nov. 11, 1864.
Roshon, John, priv. Died at Petersburg from wounds Aug.
22, 1864.
Rex, Owen, priv. Wounded Mar. 14, 1862, at the taking of
Newbern, N. C. Wounded again April 19, 1862, at Camden,
N. C. and again Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg. Dis. on
account of wounds June 23, 1863.
Richards, John, priv. Died of wounds Sept. 26, 1862.
Buried in Military Cemetery D. C
Reider, Jacob, priv. Dis. May 1, 1862, at Newbern, N. C.
Rhoads, Thos., priv. Deserted July 11, 1865. Sub.
Smith, Nathan, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Smith, Thos. D., priv. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at Fred
ericksburg. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Sloan, Isaac, priv. Wounded Sept. 17, 1802, at Antietam.
Dis. Aug. 2, 1863.
Sharp, Saml., priv. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg. Trans, to Invalid Corps Nov. 6, 1863.
Sutch, Henry, priv. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg. Trans, to Invalid Corps Nov. 15, 1863.
Shaffer, Geo., priv. Died of disease Jan. 2, 1862, on the
Cossack.
Sutch, Thos. B., priv. Dis. May 21, 1862, for disability.
Smith, John, priv. Dis. Nov. 27, 1862, for disability.
Smedley, Benj., priv. Dis June 23, 1862, for .disability.
Sutch, Benj., priv. Dis. Feb. 13, 1863, for disability,
Schall, W. Percy, priv. Captured Aug. 20, 1862, at Kelly 'a
Ford, Va. Dis. by S. O. Jan. 31, 1864. Veteran.
Stadenmayer, Jacob, priv. Mus. out with Co. July 27, 1865.
Spotts, Joseph, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Schlunkofer, Geo., priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Staunton,
H. priv.
1864.
AbsentEver't
at muster
out. Wounded at Petersburg Dec. 8,
Sands, Jacob, priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Schnier, Conrad, priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Smedley, Isaiah F., priv. Mus. out Sept. 19, 1864. Ex
piration of term.

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

649

Smedley, Hunter, priv. Mus. out Sept. 19, 1864. Expiration
of term.
Smedley, Mifflin, priv. Mus. out Sept. 19, 1864. Expiration
of term.
Smith, Alfred, priv. Mus. out Sept 19, 1864. Expiration
of term.
Sarba, John, priv. Sub. Dis. by G. O. Hay, 27, 1865.
Smith, Winfield S., priv. Dis. by G. O. May 16, 1865.
Sarba, Joseph, priv. Trans, to Co. K Nov. 11, 1864.
Saurwine, Paul L., priv. Died May 6, 1864, at Wilderness.
Showalter, Wm. H., priv. Killed May 22, 1864.
Smith, Wm., priv. Sub. Deserted June 13, 1865.
Smith, Albert, priv. Mus. out on expiration of term.
Tyge, Anthony, priv. Drafted. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865.
Thomas, Geo. W.,priv. Draft. Dis. by G. O. June 13, 1865.
Thorp, Stephen, priv. Dis. by G. O. May 24, 1865.
Vanfossen, Hiram, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865,
Veteran.
Valentine, Aaron, priv. Draft. Dis. by G. O. July 25, 1865.
Vanfossen, Thos , priv. Dis. Feb. 26, 1863, on account of
wounds received Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg.
Weidner, Josiah, priv. Died Dec. 2, 1861, of disease at
Norristown.
Weidner, Wm. W., priv. Died April 16, 1862, of wounds
received at Newbern.
Whitehead, Jas., priv. Captured Aug. 20, 1862, at Kelly's
Ford, Va. Discharged for disability Jan. 4, 1863.
Werkeiser, Geo., priv. Dis. Dec. 2, 1863, for disability.
Warst, John H., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Wampold, Philip, priv. Captured at North Ann May 27,
1864. Absent at mus. out.
Wherle, Andrew, priv. Captured at North Ann May 27,
1864. Absent at mus. out.
Ward, John, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865.
Walter, Jackson H., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 29, 1865.
Widger, Chas., priv. Mus. out Sept. 19, 1864. Expiration
of term.
Wanamaker, Tar. Sub. Dis. by G. O. July 14, 1865.
Weidnecht, John, priv. Trans, to Co B. Oct. 9, 1864.
Weidnecht, Saml., priv. Trans, to Co. B. Oct. 9, 1864.
West, Joseph, priv. Sub. Deserted June 3, 1865.
Ward, Hugh, priv. Deserted June 21, 1865.
? Yost, Danl. R., priv. Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H. May
12, 1864. Absent at mus. out of co.
Yerkes, David H., priv. Killed May 6, 1864, at Wilderness.
Yeager, Francis, priv. Deserted June 17, 1864.
Yarnall, Geo. W., priv. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at Fred
ericksburg.
Dis. Mar. 7, 1863, on account of wounds.
Zerner, Franz E., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Total names on the rolls, 219.*
* Summary of Casualties. — Killed — Commissioned officers, 1 ; noncom, officers, 1 ; privates 10. Died from wounds — Com. officers, 1 ;

650

HISTOKY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

ROLL

OF

CO.

REGIMENT

E.

Recruited at Mifflinburg.

G. H. Haasenplug, captain.
Dis. by S. O. June 11, 1864.
Win. R. Foster, ctfpt. Pro. from 2d to 1st Rent. Sept. 10,
1863. to capt. July 13, 1864, to brevet-major March 13, 1865.
Mus.
co. "July
27, 1865.
Jno.outA. with
Morris,
1st lieut.
Pro. to assistant quarter-master,
and transferred to Gen. Burnside's staff March 16, 1863.
Francis R. Frey, 1st lieut. Pro. from 1st sergt. to 1st lieut.
Jan 13, 1865. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Martin L. Schock, 1st lieut. Pro. from 1st sergt. to 2d lieut.
Jan. 12, 1864, to 1st lieut. and adjutant May 2, 1864.
James L. Seebold, 2d lieut. Pro. from 1st sergt. to 2d lieut.
May 2, 1864, com. 1st lieut. June 12, 1864, not mustered. Dis
charged by special order, Dec. 10, 1864.
Geo. C. Gutelius, 2d lieut. Pro. from sergt. -major Jan. 14,
1865, to 2d lieut. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
John M. Wierman, 1st sergt. Mus. out with co. July 27,
1865. Veteran.
Thomas D. Reed, 1st sergt. Pro. to 1st lieut. Co. G, Nov. 23,
1864. Veteran.
Ellriclge G. Maize, sergt. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Charles Mills, sergt. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet,
Cornelius Edelman, sergt. Pro. from corp. to sergt. Jan. 15,
1865. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
George Diehl, sergt. Dis. July 11, 1865, for wounds re
ceived in action. Veteran.
Lewis G. Titus, sergt. Died Jan. 17, 1863, from wounds re
ceived Dec. 18, 1862, ^at Fredericksburg, Va.
John H. Sortman, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
privates, 7. Killed by accident— Privates, 2. Died from disease —
Non-com, officers, 5 ; privates, 6. Died in rebel captivity, 2.
Wounded — Com. officers, 5 ; non-com, officers, 10 ; privates., 27.
Captured — Privates, 7. Transferred — Com. officers, 1; non-com,
officers, I ; privates, 12. Resignations — Com. officers, 2. Dis
charged for disability, on account of wounds, and expiration of term,
71; deserted, 21; missing, 2.— Total, 114. Add deaths, 34;
wounded 42. — Grand total of casualties, 190.
The above list, roll, and table can be relied on as being correct as
far as it goes. It reaches but a very few cases of casualties, such
as the wounded during the veteran organization, as those cases are
not to be found on the papers in the adjutant-general's office. Still
the studious reader can judge from what Co. D has suffered in
its original enlistment— that it did not stand at "ground arms"
while its sister companies were begrimed with powder and the
smoke of battle during their veteran organization. The men have a
right to be proud of their officers, and the officers an equal right to be
proud of their men.

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

651

Cyrus A. Eaton, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Peter Strublc, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Isaac Treat, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1805.
Daniel High, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1805. Vet.
Ebert Sprowles, corp. Pro. corp. June 2, 1805. Mus. out
with co. July 27, 1805. Veteran.
William Kelclmer, corp. Pro. corp. June 2, 1865. Mus.
out with co. July 27, 1805.
Isaac G. Magee, corp. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1805.
Adam Gluse, corp. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1805.
Thomas F. Search, corp. Trans, to Co. H April 11, 1804.
Jno. C. Youngman, corp. Trans, to Co. H April 11, 1804.
Geo. W. Foote, corp. Trans, to Co. II April 11, 1804.
Levi H. Amnion, corp. Killed May 6, 1804, at the Wilder
ness. Buried at 9th A. C. cem., Meacfe station. Veteran.
Thos. S. Mauck, corp. Died June 20, 1864, of wounds re
ceived at Petersburg. Buried in Nat. Cem., Arlington. Vet.
Geo. M. Aurand, corp. Killed at Yellow Tavern on Weidon railroad, Aug. 19, 1864. Vet.
James Luker, corp. Dis. Feb. 21, 1863, for disability.
Chas. D. Kline, Jr., corp. Dis. Jan. 1804, by special order.
Joseph A. Logan, muse.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Aikey, Jeremiah, priv. Captured. Died at Andersonville.
Date unknown.
Barnes, Albert, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 180<5.
Black, James, priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Burkhart, Adolph, priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27,
1865.
Benner, Asher, priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Baker, Ralston, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1805.
Boop, Jacob, priv. Dis. Dec. 8, 1864, for wounds received
in action.
Blair, Simon S., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1805. Draft.
Bowers, George, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865.
Bomgardner, Jno., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 5, 1865. Draft.
Benner, Lewis J., priv. Trans, to Co. H, April 11, 1804.
Beers, David II., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Barklow, Geo. E., priv. Died July 21, 1863, at Brownsville,
Mississippi.
Benfer, Abraham, priv. Trans, to U. S. A. Date unknown.
Burk, Geo. P., priv. Dis. May 21, 1862, for disability.
Brouse, Benj. H., priv. Killed April 19, 1802, at Camden,
Bell, Wm. H., priv. Trans, to U. S. A. Date unknown.
Burris, Samuel, priv. Dis. Dec. 2, 1801, for disability.
Cornelius, James P., priv. Mus, out with co. July 27, 1805.
Veteran.
Cornelius, Geo. W., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1805.
Chambers, Jas. M., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1805.
Curtis, Jeremiah F., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27. 1805.
Curfman, Daniel, priv. Dis. by G. O. May 15, 1865. Draft.

652

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FiRST

REGIMENT

Cole, Luther G., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865. Draft.
Chambers, Morriu B., priv. Mus. out Sep. 22, 18G4. Ex
piration of term.
Chappel, Ezra, priv. Mus. or.t Sept. 22, 1864. Expirat on
of term.
Claphan, Thomas H., priv. Died March 13, 1864. Vet.
Dolby, Isaac, priv. Captured.
Absent in hospital at mus.
out. Veteran.
Dolby, Abraham, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Dersham, Henry, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Dielil, Henry C., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Dewire, Alexander, priv. Absent in prison since Feb. 25,
1865, by sentence of general court-martial.
Dingman, Abraham, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865.
Drafted.
Donnison, Aaron, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865. Draft.
Dunkle, James M., priv. Killed June 3, 1864, at Cold Har
bor. Veteran.
Donachy, Thos., priv. D!s. Dec. 1, 1862, for disability.
Derks, John D., priv. Trans, to Reg. Army, Oct. 27, 1862.
Engle, Solomon, priv. Dis. Dec. 12, 1862, for disability.
Eidem, Henry, priv. Trans, to Reg. Army, Oct. 25, 1862.
Fletcher, Justice J., priv. Dis. by G. O, June 1, 1865. Draft.
Frederick, Jacob, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865.
Fox, Henry D., priv. Trans, to V. R. C. Date unknown.
. Fetter, John, priv. Trans, to V. R. C. Date unknown.
Geninger, Wm., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865. Draft.
Galloway, Geo. W., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865. Sub.
Gordon, Jacob, priv. Trans, to V R. C. Oct., 1863.
Heitsman, Jacob, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Heitsman, Henry, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Heimback, Elias, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Hackman, Wm. R. priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Hummell, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Hilbish, Ammon, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Hanselman, David, priv. Absent in arrest at mus. out of co.
Hassenplug, John T., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Henderson, Wm., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Substitute.
Hendricks, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Substitute.
Hendershot, Christ., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Heiteman, Isaiah, priv. Trans, to Co. H, Nov. 16, 1864.
Hickernell, Robt., priv. Dred of wounds received at Cold
Harbor, June 3, 1864.
Hauley, Timothy, priv. Deserted April 5, 1865. Substitute.
Hansell, David, priv. Trans, to U. S. A. October 25, 1862.
Hanselman, Adam, priv. Trans, to U. S. A. Oct. 25, 1862.
Hoffman, Wm. R., priv. Killed, April 19, 1862, at Camden, N. C.
Hoffman, Ed. J., priv. Trans, to U. S. Artillery October
27, 1862.

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

653

Hutchinson, Henry, priv. Dis. June 17, 1862. Disability.
Harris Berryhill B., priv. Dis. June 17, 1862. Disability.
Irwin, Robert H., priv. Mus. out Sept. 22, 1864. Expr.
of term.
Kline, Reuben, priv. Absent wounded at mus. out.
Kline, Joel, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Kline, Daniel, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Kline, Charles, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Kline, Andrew T., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Kunkle, Samuel, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Kunkle, Jonathan, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Kidson, Fran., priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Klinger, John, priv. Discharged Aug. 10, 1864. Disability.
Kennedy, Barton, priv. Discharged by G. O. June 7, 1865.
Kelly, James T., priv. Trans, to Co. H. Nov., 1864.
Kline, Jacob L., priv. Died May 6, 1864; buried in U. S.
General Hospital Cemeteiy, Annapolis, Md.
Lloyd, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Lottx, Galen, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Long, Jacob, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Laudenslager, Win., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Lenhart, John, priv. Dis. by G. 0. June 1, 1865.
Lloyd, John, priv. Mus. out Sept. 22, 1864. Expr. of term.
Lydle, Chas., priv. Mus. out Sept. 22, 1864. Expr. of term.
Leinbach, Win. F. N., priv. Dis. by G. O June 1, 1865.
Laird, Saml. H., priv. Discharged by G. O. June 5, 1865.
Lenhard, David, priv. Killed June 17, 1864, at Peters
burg, Va.
Miller, Jacob, priv. Mus out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Miller, Henry., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Miller, James, priv. Absent in hospital at mus. out of co.
Myers, Daniel, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Masterson, Ed. J., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Substitute.
Mertz, Jacoo K., priv. Mus. out with co. July, 27, 1865.
Middaugh, John T., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Millhouse, John, priv. Wounded May 6, 1864, at Wilder
ness. Discharged May, 16, 1865, on account of wounds.
Moll, Joseph H., priv. Trans, to Co. H, April 18, 1864.
Meckley, Alfred, priv. Killed in battle at Yellow Tavern,
Aug. 19, 1864.
Mullin, Arthur, priv. Deserted June 18, 1865. Substitute.
Marsh, Charles H., priv. Deserted April 10, 1864.
McGregor, Samuel, priv. Deserted April 26, 1865. Vet.
McFadden, Jackson, priv. Discharged for wounds received
Sept. 17, 1862, at Autietam.
Norton, Henry M. Sub. Mus out with co. July 27, 1865.
Or wig, Wm. P., priv. Trans, to U. S. Army Oct. 25, 1862.
Orwig, John W., priv. Trans, to U. S. Army Oct. 25, 1862.
Paul, Peter G., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Post, Victor E., priv. Drafted. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865.
Rule, John V., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.

654

IIISTOKY

OF

THE

FIFTY- FIKST

REGIMENT

Rnhback, John, priv. Absent, wounded, at mus. out.
Rote, Joel, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Rote, Saml., priv. Discharged by G. 0. May 23, 1865.
Reed, Martin G., priv. Discharged by G. O. June 1, 1865.
Reese, Jonathan, priv.' Mus. out Sept. 22, 1864. Expr. of
term.
Raden, Jeremiah, priv. Trans, to U. S. A. Oct. 27, 1862.
Renner, Levi, priv. Dis. Jan. 10, 1862, for disability.
Searless, Sebastian, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Schnure, George, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Schnure, Win., priv. Wounded in action. Dis. July 17, 1865.
Shriner, Josiah, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Schaffle, Frank S., priv. Dis, by G. O. May 31, 1865. Vet.
Smith, Albert E., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865. Draf.
Sheckler, John W., priv. Dis. by G. O. May 29, 1865. Vet.
Seebold, Geo. A., priv. Mus. out Sept. 22, 1864. Expr. of
term.
Sholley, Wm. S., priv. Trans, to Co. H, April 18, 1864.
Seebold, Castor, priv. Died May 11, 1864, at Philadelphia.
Simmons, Thos., priv. Sub. Deserted May 17, 1864.
Shaffer, Anthony, priv. Deserted March 7, 1864.
ShrefHer, Joseph, priv. Trans, to U. S. Army Oct. 27, 1862.
Sassman, Emanuel, priv. Trans, to U. S. A. Oct. 27, 1862.
Sassman, Noah W., priv. Trans, to U. S. A. Oct. 27, 1863.
Speese, Daniel, priv. Trans, to U. S. Army Oct. 27, 1862.
Sheary, Saml. F., priv. Dis. for disability, date unknown.
Sheckler. John W., priv. Captured.
Dis., date unknown.
Snyder, Henry, priv. Trans, to U. S. Army Oct. 25, 1862.
Snyder, Jonathan, priv. Trans, to U. S. Army Oct. 25, 1862.
Stizer, John T., priv. Trans, to U. S. Army Oct. 25, 1862.
Toland, Robt., priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Tucker, Samuel, priv. Deserted March 10, 1864.
Trainer, Chas. H., priv. Dis. Dec. 21, 1861, for disability.
Wilson, Chas., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
W caver, John D., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Watson, Win. S., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Wolfiuger, Joseph, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865.
Wirt, Andrew G., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865.
Webb, Wm., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865. Drafted.
Wirt, Geo. W., priv. Died Sept. 15, 1863, at Lexington, Ky.
Woodward, C. W.. priv. Dis., date unknown, for disability.
Zechman, Melancthon, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Zimmerman, Wm., priv. Trans, to Reg. Army Oct. 25, 1862.
Total names on the rolls, 182.*
• =* It will be impossible to give the faintest idea of the casualties in
Co. E, as it, in company with the five which constituted the
" left wing," appear to have ignored the propriety of entering them
as they happened on their regular muster and pay rolls. Those in
the regiment know full well that Co. E, under such a cool,
brave, and noted officer as Captain Win. K. Foster, must have expe-

OF

PENNSYLVANIA

ROLL

OF

VOLUNTEERS.

CO.

655

F.

Recruited at Norristown.
Robert E. Taylor, captain,
Resigned July 27, 1863.
Lane 8. Hart. capt. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at Antictam,
again Aug. 19, 1864, at the Yellow Tavern, Va. Pro. from 1st
lieut. to captain July 28, 1862; to major July 21, 1864.
Jacob P. Brooke, capt. Wounded Aug. 19, 1864, at the
Yellow Tavern, Va. Pro. from 1st sergt. to 1st lieut. July 29,
1862; to capt. July 22, 1864. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Wm. W. Owen, 1st lieut, Pro. from sergt, to 2d lieut. July
23, 1862; to 1st lieut. July 22, 1864; to capt. Co. D, Sept. 1, 1864.
Seriously wounded May 6, 186 1, at the Wilderness.
Howard Bruce. 1st lieut. Pro. from 1st sergt. to 2d lieut.
Sept. 2, 1864; to 1st lieut, Oct. 81, 1864. WTounded Sept. 17,
1862, again May 6, 1864, at the Wilderness. Mus. out with co.
July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Joseph C. Reed, 2d lieut. Pro. capt, and com. sub. July 22,
1862.
Henry Jacobs, 2d lieut. Wounded July 16, 1863, at Jackson,
rienced considerable loss, for he always led them into the thickest of
the fight, where the heaviest blows were most needed, and certain it
is, that his men did not escape the dangers incident to the conilict,
but shed their brave blood equally as free as those of other com
panies. The writer can give a voucher for this from his own obser
vations. At the time Colonel Hartranft double-quicked the division
into the cornfield at the junction of the Kingston and Knoxville
roads at Campbell's Station, East Tennessee, on Nov. 16, 1803,
seven men of Co. E were wounded, and not one of the cases ap
pears on the c >mpany rolls, therefore it is to be inferred that they
cared very little about noting down such glory, it being sufficient to
know that they had got a " smack."
The following tabular statement will have to suffice :
Killed in battle — Non-commissioned officers, 3 ; privates, 5. Died
of wounds — Nou-com. officers, 2 ; privates, 2. Died of disease —
Privates, 4. Died in rebel prisons — Privates, 1. Wounded — Coin,
officers, 1; non-com, officers, 3; privates, 7. Captured — Privates,
3. Transferred — Com. officers, 2; non-com, officers, 3; privates,
26. Discharged — Com. officers, 2 ; non-com, officers, 5; privates,
50. Deserted— Privates, 7.
Recapitulation. — Total killed and died, 14 ; wounded, 11 ; trans
ferred, 31 ; discharged, 57 ; deserted, 7. Grand total loss, 1£3.
This table shows one thing that is plain to every soldier and those
conversant with military matters, and that is the great disparity be
tween the killed and the wounded, being but eleven wounded to
seven killed. Even allowing but seven killed, and taking the lowest
percentage for wounded, it would put the wounded at thirty-five, and
at the highest percentage at forty-nine ; but as Co. E has done
some pretty hard fighting, it would be but fair to strike the medium,
find to put down forty-two for its wounded. Its killed and wounded
would no doubt equal any other company, if it could be ascertained.

656

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

Miss. Pro. from sergt. to 3d lieut. Nov. 1. 1864. Mus. out
with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Allen H. Fillman, 2d lieut. Pro. from corn, sergt. to 2d
lieut. July 22, 1864. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Killed July 30, 1864, at the explosion of the Burnside mine, in
front of Petersburg, Va. Veteran.
Benjamin White, 1st sergt. Wounded July 16, 1863, at
Jackson, Miss. Pro. from sergt. to 1st sergt. April 1, 1865.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865, Veteran.
AVilliam B. Hart, 1st sergt. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at
Fredericksburg, Va. Prom, to captain and A. A. Gen., U. S.
Volunteers, April 1, 1865. Veteran.
Jacob W. Reed, sergt. Wounded Sept. 14, 1862, at South
Mountain. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Jas. Y. Guyder, sergt. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Win. H. Fie, sergt. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Geo. W. Hiltner, sergt. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Vet.
Thos. B. Garner, sergt. Dis. Oct. 29, 1862, for disability.
Saml. P. Stephens, sergt. Promoted to com. sergt. Nov. 16,
1861. Veteran.
Silas Kulp, corp. Mustered out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Geo. S. Casselberry, corp. Discharged Feb. 26th, 1862 ; reenlisted as a veteran, Mar. 8, 1864. Severely wounded, with
loss of leg, Oct. 28th, 1864. Discharged Feb. 26, 1865, on ac
count of wounds.
Wm. H. Yerger, corp. Mus. out with co July 57, 1865. Vet.
William H. Yerkcs, corp. Dis. Dec. 16, 1862, to receive
promotion to major 179th Penn. Volunteers.
Arnold Casselberry, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 186?.
Veteran.
John
J. Scholl,
corp. Mus.
Mus.outoutwithwithco. co.
186">. Vet.
Vet.
Jos. Fizone,
corp.
JulyJuly27,27,
1865.
Martin Hiltner, corp. Mustered out with co. July 27, .1865.
Veteran. Promoted corp. April 2, 1865.
John W. Truscott, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Thos. B. Yerger, corp. Discharged Feb. 28, 1865, for disa
bility. Veteran.
Robt. B. Lindsey, corp. Killed May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania C. H., Va. Veteran.
Ed. R. Worth, corp. Killed June 18, 1864, at Petersburg,
Va. Veteran.
Josiah Wood, corp. Killed July 30, 1864, at Petersburg, Va.
Veteran.
Win. Montgomery, corp. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at An
tietam ; discharged Dec. 11, 1862, on account of wounds.
Chris. Wyckoff, corp. Prom, to Q. M. sergt. Dec. 12, 1862.
Henry C. Hughes, corp. Discharged May 21, 1862, at Newbern, N. C.
Wm. L. Jones, corp. Died Dec. 12, 1°62, at Falmouth, Va,
Wm. C. Ilansell, musician. Mus. out with co. July 27,
1865. Veteran.

OF

PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEEKS.

657

Lyle, Franklin, music. Absent in arrest at muster -out of co.
Adams, Daniel, private.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Akleman, Francis, priv. Discharged June 13, 1865, on ac
count of wounds received in action.
Allen, Wilson, priv. Died June 9, 1864, from wounds re
ceived in action at Po river, Virginia.
Veteran.
Adleman, Henry K., priv. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredcricksburg ; killed June 3, 1864, at Cold Harbor.
Veteran.
Ashton, Thos. G., priv. Wounded May 6, 1864, at the Wil
derness ; died June 9, 1864, from wounds.
Addy, George W., priv. Discharged for disability, May 21,
1862, at Newbern.
Arnold, Samuel G., priv. Trans, to rcg. band, Nov. 16, 1861.
Batman, John, priv. Absent sick at muster-out of co.
Batman, Jos., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Bidlack, James, priv. Drafted. Dis. by G. O. July 18, 1835.
Biddler, Amile, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Buyer, Manassa J., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Bowman, George, priv. Absent in hospital at muster-out.
Blackmore, Darran, priv. Drafted.
Dis. Dec. 22, 1864, for
disability.
Bousman, Henry, priv. Drafted.
Dis. April 13, 1865, for
disability.
Burrows. Edwin A., priv. Drafted. Transferred to 201st regt.
P. V., Nov. 1864.
Bowie, Frank.
Substitute.
Dis. by G. O., May 27, 1865.
Baker, James F., priv. Deserted, May 6, 1864, at Wilderness.
Buck, Jeremiah W., priv. Trans, to reg. band, Nov. 16, 1861.
Buckies, Jessie M., priv. Trans to reg. band, Nov. 16, 1861.
Baird, James S., priv. Transf. to reg. band, Nov. 16, 1861.
Burgert, Adam, priv. Dis. (date unknown) for disability.
Boadwell, John, priv. Dis. May 21, 1862, for disability.
Callender, Judson, priv. Absent in hospital at muster out.
Veteran.
Case, John P., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Cox, Richard A., priv. Mus. out with cu. July 27, 1865.
Coyle, Thos., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Charles, Elwood, priv. Wounded May 6, 1864, at Wilder
ness ; died May 24, 1864, from wounds, at Washington.
Vet.
Camden, John, priv. Wounded, with loss of leg, Oct. 27,
1864, at Hatcher's Run, Va. Died Nov. 23, 1864, from wounds,
at Washington.
Cremmer, James, priv. Deserted, 1865.
Casselman, Nathaniel, priv. Captured April 19, 1862, at
Camden, N. C. Supposed to be dead.
Cox, John, priv. Dis. May 21, 1862, at Newborn, N. C.
Comer, Wm., priv. Killed Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Derrickson, Wm., priv. Deserted — returned. Mustered out
with company.
Dexter, Harvey H., priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27,
1865.
29

658

HISTOKY

OF

THE

FIFTY- FIRST

REGIMENT

Daub, Geo. W., priv. Absent in Albany prison, N. Y., by
sentence of general court martial.
Dunlap, Jeremiah, priv. Died June 11, 1865 ; buried at Alex
andria Cemetery, Va., grave 3,218.
Dreslier, Samuel, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Detwiler, Isaac, priv. Mus. out Oct. 15, 1864, expir. of term.
^Dolan, James, priv. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam ;
discharged April 1, 1863, on account of wounds.
Derough, Jesse, priv. Dis. Jan. 1, 1862, for disability.
Deincr, Thos., priv. Dis. Nov. 19, 1862, on acc't of wounds
received July 30, 1862, at Bull Run, Va.
Daub, Sam. G., priv. Transf. to Vet. Res. Corps, Nov. 6.
1863.
Dumming, John II., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865. Draft.
Daub, Sylvanus H., priv. Wounded June 3, 1864, at Cold
Harbor; died June 27, 1864, from wounds.
Dresher, Wm., priv. Wounded May 12. 1864, at Spottsylvania C. H., Va. ; died July 8, 1864, from wounds.
Doyle, William, priv. Deserted.
Day, Charles, priv. Transf. to reg. band, Nov. 16, 1861.
Dunn, Martin II., priv. Promoted to hospital steward, No
vember 16, 1861. Veteran.
Evans, Robt., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Earls, Alexander, priv. Transf. to reg. band, Nov. 16, 1861.
Earp, John W., priv. Transf. to reg. band, Nov. 16, 1861.
Evans, Ferd., priv. Transf. to Invalid Corps, Nov. 6, 1863.
Franklin, Win., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Freas, Daniel, priv. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam ;
discharged June 28, 1863, at Milldale, Mississippi.
Faulkner. Win. J., priv. Drafted. Discharged by G. O.
June 2, 1865.
Fisher, Jacob, priv. Dis. Oct. 1, 1862.
Griffith, William II., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Gerhart, Henry L., priv. Transf. to Invalid Corps, Nov. 16,
1863. Mus. out Oct. 15, 1864, expiration of term.
Groff, Henry M., priv. Dis. Mar. 8, 1862, at Newport News.
Gerhart, Wm., priv. Mus. out Nov. 27, 1864, ex. of term.
Gillespie, Sam., priv. Killed at Petersburg, June 29, 1864.
Buried in 9th A. C. cemetery, at Meade Station.
Griffith, Wash. I priv. Died April 1, 1864, at Annapolis.
Gibbons, Jas., priv. Deserted June 23, 1865.
llendricks, Sam., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Heller, Milton, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Heissy, David, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Heddifin, Robt., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Home, James, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Home, Ephraim, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Holler, John B., priv. Sub. Mus out with co. July 27, 1865.
Haas, Dav., priv. Dis. by G. O. July 12, 1865.
Hay den, Geo. M., priv. Discharged by G. O. June 2, 1865.
Drafted.
Holmes, Geo. M., priv. Discharged, date unknown.
Higgens, Pat., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865.

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

659

Hoclson, Ed. M., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865. Drafted.
Hilton, Geo., priv. Deserted.
Holmes, Jno. M., priv. Died June 21, 1862, one report says,
another, Nov. 21, 1801 — at Norristown.
Hansell, Geo. Y., priv. Transf. to reg. band, Nov. 16, 1861.
Johns, Edwin M. , priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Jaggers, Jas., priv. Dis. May 28, 1862, at Newbern.
Jackson, Wm., priv. Deserted, Dec. 27, 1862.
Jacobs, Philip, priv. Transf. to reg. band Nov. 16, 1861.
Keins, And. J., priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Koser, Aaron, priv. Absent, in arrest, at muster out of co.
Kremer, Button P., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Kurtz, Wm. M., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Kulp, Willoughby priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Kremer, Frederick, priv. Mus. out Oct. 15, 1864, ex*, of term.
Krepner, Amos, priv. Prom, to 2d lieut. U. S. colored
troops, Nov. 2, 1864.
Kartsher, Richard S., priv. Dis. by G. O. July 5, 1865.
Kulp, Benneville, priv. Transf. to Vet. Res. Corps, Oct. 6,
1864.
Kulp, Nathan, priv. Transf. to Vet, Res. Corps, Nov'r 6,
1864. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg.
Kreamer, Geo., priv. Deserted Oct. 21, 1861.
Lentz, Henry D., priv. Killed Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Law, Chas., priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Lewis, Geo. W., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Lewis, Oliver, piiv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Lewis, Hiram, priv. Mus. out withco. July 27, 1865.
Lewis, Wm. II., priv. Trans. Feb. 2, 1865, to Vet Res. Corps.
Lemkuhl, Frcdk., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Lemkuhl, Jer., priv. Mus. out. with co. July 27, 1865.
Leister, Benj., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Loch, Christian, priv. Dis. by G. O. May 15, 1865.
Maudley, Bruno, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Munsick, David, priv. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at Fred
ericksburg ; dis. Feb. 4, 1863, on account of wounds.
Mogee, Robt, priv. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam ;
transf. to Invalid Corps Nov. 6, 1863.
McCormick, Ch'n, priv. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at Fred
ericksburg. Mus. out Nov. 27, 1864, expiration of term.
Markley, Sam., priv. Dis. Mar. 6, 1863, for disability.
McSparren, Wm., priv. Dis. Mar. 14, 1863. for disability.
McFadden, Francis, priv. Trans. Nov. 6, 1863, tolnv. Corps.
McGuncken, Hugh, priv. Deserted Nov. 9, 1861.
Mclntyre, Wm., priv. Captured Dec. 15, 1863, at Clinch Mtn.
Gap, E. Tenn. ; died at Anderson ville, Ga., Apr. 16, 1864 —
grave 461.
Miller, Peter I., priv. Mns. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Minard, Enos G., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Menell, Dwight W., priv. Dis. Dec, 22, 1864, for disability.
Millhouse, Jos. C., priv. Transf. to reg. band Nov. 16, 1861.

660

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

EEGIMENT

McClennan, Sam., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
McOarter, Sam., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
McMiller, Geo. K., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
McKevin, Reuben, priv. Died Mar. 17, 1864, at Norristown.
Veteran.
McGlinchy, Jas., priv. Deserted.
Neece, Geo. W., priv. Absent in arrest at muster-out.
Pilkington, Abr., priv. Absent in arrest at muster-out.
Pyle, Win., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Quin, Patrick, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Heed, Ed. AY., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Heed, Geo. M., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Rider, Win. O., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Rdgle, Fred., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Rambo, Jos. C., priv. Absent in arrest for desertion at mus
ter out.
Reininger, Manassas, priv. Killed Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg.
Robb, Erastus, priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Ramsey, Win. II. B., priv. Mus. out Oct. 15, 1864, expira
tion of term.
Reinhart, Henry, priv. Deserted May 5, 1865.
Rowland, Beuj., priv. Transf. to reg- band Nov. 16, 1861.

Sayres, Jno. F., priv. Drafted. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865.
Schreck, Franklin, priv. Drafted. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865.
Seylor, Jos., priv. Sub. Dis. by G. O. June 5, 1865.
Shiitler,
Jacob priv.
K., priv.
Drafted'.
O. June
2, 1865.
Shuler, Geo.,
Drafted.
Dis. Dis.
by G.by O.G. June
2, 1865.
Syock, Henry, V., priv. Drafted. Dis. by G. 0. June 2, 1865.
Shadier, Henry, priv. Died May 4, 1865. Buried in Nat. Cem
etery, Arlington.
Shultz, Henry, priv. Killed Sept. 17, 1862, at Antielam.
Sassaman, Jacob, priv. Transf. to 2d U. S. Cav., Oct. 27
1862.
Teany, Albert, priv. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg. Discharged by G. O., June 3, 1865.
Taylor, Saml., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Tarrance, Samuel D., priv. Mus. out Oct. 15, 1864. Expr.
of term.
Time, John, priv. Sub. Dis. by G. O., June 5, 1865.
Thompsons, Chas., priv. Trans, to reg. band, Nov. 16, 1861.
Urbiue, Peter, priv. Died Sept, 9, 1863, at Coving-ton, Ky.
White, Henry, priv. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg. Died July 5, 1864, at Washington, D. C., of wounds
received at the Wilderness, May 6, 1864.
Wise, Wm., priv. Died Nov. 9, 1862, at Weaverton, Md.
Widger, Mark, priv. Dis. September 28, 1862, for distibilitv.
White, Wm., priv. Dis. Feb. 28. 1862, at Newport News.
Waddle, Jas., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

661

Wheatley, Jacob, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1805.
Wetnzel, Adam, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Wilson, Howard, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1805.
Weeks, Wm. S., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1805.
Wisler, Jonathan, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1805.
Veteran.
Williams, Geo. D., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1805.
Veteran.
Wyatt, James, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1805.
Weidner, Sainl. D., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 25. 1805. Vet.
Woodward, Alex., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1805. Sub.
Wagoner, Chas., priv. Killed March 25, 1804, at Fort Mor
ton, in front of Petersburg, at the attack on Fort Steadman ;
buried at Meade Station.
Workizer, Win., priv. Trans, to reg. band, Nov. 10, 1801.
Young, Jos. 0.. priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1805. Vet.
Young, John M., priv. Drowned by the sinking of the
transport "West Point," Oct. 20, 1802, at Aquia Creek.
Total names on the rolls, 210.*
* Summary of Casualties:. — Killed — Com. officers, 1; non-com,
officers, 3 ; privates, 7. Died from wounds — Privates, 8. Died in
rebel prison — Privates, 1. Died by drowning — Privates,!. Died by
accident — Non. -com. officers, 1. Wounded— Ctra. officers,?; non.com. officers, 5 ; privates, 17. Captured — privates, 2. Transferred
— Com. officers, 2 ; non.-com. officers, 2 ; privates, 25. Discharged
— Com. officers, none ; non.-com. officers, 6 ; privates, 46. Deserted
— Privates, 11. Resigned — Com. officers, 1. In arrest at muster-out,
— Enlisted men, 0. Died from disease — Privates, 6.
Recapitulation. — Killed, 11; died from wounds, 8; died from
disease, G; died from various causes, 3 ; wounded, 29; captured,
2; transferred, 39. Total discharges, 53; total deserted, 11 ; total
resigned, 1 : total in arrest, 6. Grand total of casualties, 158.
Co. F.'s list of casualties are nearer correct than some of the other
companies, still, in wounded it is far short of the actual number ; for
there was the same apathy evinced in entering the casualties on the
rolls as in other companies, and none ever find their names on the
rolls unless they are absent as wounded in the hospitals on the reg
ular muster day. Hundreds of wounded would sooner lie in camp
and suffer than to enter a field hospital, while a few would "jump"
at the chance of gointr to one with what has been properly termed
a "furlough wound." Yet, as long as a man ean crawl off the bat
tle field, he thinks there is no use going to the hospital ; or, if he
goes, as soon as the wound is dressed he is apt to be found back in
camp, and his case is not entered on the company's muster and pay
rolls.
Co. F can feel a soldierly pride when it scans over its military
horizon and bring to mind its first individual skirmish at Camden —
when it and Co. A received the first shock of battle while on the ad
vance of the column, with the solid shot of the 3d Georgia ricochiting along the road, then either through its ranks or over their
heads. Again, at Bull Run, etc., when its ranks were kept well
closed up through the various ordeals, and trying ones too, while
the enemy endeavored to flank the battery in the rear of Co. A.

662

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

ROLL

OF

CO.

REGIMENT

G.

Recruited in Centre County, Pennsylvania.
Austin B. Snyder, capt.
Resigned Feb. 12, 1862.
Wm. H. Blair, capt.
Prom, from 1st Kent, to capt. Feb. 12,
1862 ; to col. 179th P. Y. Dec. 19, 1862.
Peter A. Gaulin, capt.
Prom, from 2cl lieut. to 1st, Feb. 12,
1862 ; to capt. Jan. 11, 1863.
Resigned Mar. 16, 1864.
John R. Gillilland, capt.
Prom, from sergt. to 2d lieut.
Mar. 1, 1862 ; to 1st lieut. Jan. 11, 1863 ; to capt. June 5, 1864.
Mus. out Oct. 16, 1864, expiration of term.
Thos. D. Reed, capt. Prom, from 1st sergt. Co. E to 1st
lieut.
Nov.27, 23,
1864;Veteran.
to capt. Feb. 11, 1865." Mus. out with
co. July
1865.
Geo. B. Campbell, 1st lieut. Prom, to 2d lieut. Jan. 11,
1863 ; to 1st lieut. June 5, 1864.
Mus. out Oct. 16, 1864, expi
ration of term.
John Gunsalles, 1st lieut. Prom, from 1st serg. to 2cl lieut.
Jan. 14, 1865 ; to 1st lieut. Feb. 13, 1865. Mus. out with co.
July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Curtin B. Stoneroad, 2d lieut. Prom, from sergt. -major to
3d lieut. June 25, 1864 ; to captain, Oct. 20, 1864. Not mus
tered. Dis. Dec. 31, 1864, for wounds received in action Au
gust 19, 1864.
George Decker, 2d lieut. Prom, to 2d lieut. Feb. 13, 1865.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Wm. Hichel, 1st sergt. Prom, from sergt. to 1st sergt. Feb.
13, 1865. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Edward Shannon, sergt.
Mus. out with co. Veteran.
Geo. Dumont. sergt. Prom, from corp. to sergt. Feb. 13,
1865.
out sergt.
with co.
July from
27, 1865.
DavidMus.
Youts,
Prom,
corp. toVeteran."
sergt. Apr. 6, 1865.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
D. C. Ammerman, sergt. Pro. from corp. to sergt., March
9, 1865. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Jos. A. Clark, sergt. Mus. out Oct. 16, 1864. Expr. of term.
Louis Cartuyvel, sergt. Pro. to q. m. sergt. Mar. 9, 1865.
Veteran.
Jos. J. Peters, sergt. Died at Bellefonte, Pa., April 5, 1865.
Veteran.
Adam Grassmire, sergt.
Discharged for disability.
Jos. Ammerman, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
John F. Bowes, corp.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Serdon Rolley, corp.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Richard Lewis, corp.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Martin Falstic, corp.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Jacob Casher, corp.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Chas. Heitchel, corp.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Robt. Hinton, corp.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Wm. Maurer, corp. Mus. out Oct. 16, 1864. Expr. of term.

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

663

John E. Wilt, corp. Killed May 6. 1804, at Wilderness. Vet.
James Dowling, corp. Killed Sept. 17, 18-32, at Antietam.
Geo. Armstrong, corp. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Discharged on account of wounds.
Hezekiah Dixon, corp. Discharged for disability.
James Holmes, corp. Discharged for disability.
Scth Brewer, musician.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Jas. Elder, musician. Mus. out Oct. 16, 1804: Expr. of term.
Ammermau, Thos., priv. Mus. out Oct. 16, 1864. Expr.
of term.
Arbuckle, Thos., priv. Captured.
Died Jan. 1, 1865, at
Salisbury, N. C.
Allen, Wm., priv. Deserted Sept. 17, 1802, at Antietam.
Ammerinan, J. E., priv. Died at Covington, Ky.} date un
known.
Allard, John, priv. Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, date unknown.
Bowes, Levi, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Berall, Lewis, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Drftd.
Brady, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Bruxton, Jarvis, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Beighton, Jacob S., priv. Mus. out Oct. 16, 1864. Expr. of
term.
Belcher, Henry, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865. Drftd.
Bruce, James, priv. Discharged Nov. 28, 1864, for disability.
Brown,
priv. Trans.
Dis. by
June to1, Co.
1865.B. Drftd."
Bowles, Fred'k,
John, priv.
Oct.G.16,O. 1864,
Buoy, Wm., priv. Died July 20, 1864; bur. in Nat. Gem.,
Arlington.
Bratton, Philip PI., priv. Trans. Oct. 16, 1864, to Co. K.
Blyler, John, priv. Killed Feb. 24, 1864, at Petersburg.
Bcightol, James, priv. Died June, 1863, at Beaufort, S. C.
Baird, Theophilus, priv. Wounded April 19, 1862, at Camden, N. C. Discharged on account of wounds.
Bowers, Rollanel, priv. Discharged Sept., 1862, for disability.
Cayot, Lewis P., priv. Absent sick at mus.-out.
Veteran.
Crossly, Wm. M., priv. Absent sick at mus.-out.
Cox, George, priv. Mus. out Oct. 16, 1864. Expr. of term.
Commer, Israel H., priv. Drafted. Discharged Feb. 3, 1865.
Carson, Fred'k, priv. Drafted.
Discharged by G. O. June
1, 1865.
Confer, John, priv. Drafted.
Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865.
Clifton, Allen J., priv. Trans. Nov. 16, 1864, to Co. B.
Cramer, H., priv. Died March 16, 1864, in Centre co., Pa.
Carey, John, priv. Sub. Deserted April 5, 1865.
Capwell, John, priv. Deserted June 25, 1865.
Callahan, Chas., priv. Trans. Oct. 27, 1862, to 2d U. S.
Cavalry.
Conway, Cornels, priv. Discharged for disability.
Deny, Wm., priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Dixon, John, priv. Drafted. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Davis, Wm., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Derstine, John F., priv. Mus. out Oct. 16, 1864. Expr. of
term.

664

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

Diehl, John H., priv. Trans. Nov. 1C, 1864, to Co. B.
Dtitott,
George, priv. Trans, to 45th Regt. P. V., date un
known.
Duncan, Enos, priv.
Trans. Oct. 16, 1864, to Co. B.
Darrun, Thos., priv. Sub. Deserted June 28, 1865.
Dore, Lewis, priv. Sub. Deserted July 10, 1865.
Dillon, Miles, priv. Killed Sept. 17, 1802, at Antietam.
Deckman, Daniel, priv. Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps.
Downing Ed., priv. Discharged for disability.
Dolan, James, priv. Wounded Feb. 8, 18(52, at Roanoke
Island, N. C. Discharged on account of his wounds.
Ells, Edw., priv. Drafted.
Dis. by G. O., June 1, 1865.
Eckley, Nicholas, priv. Drafted. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865.
Emel, Henry, priv. Died April 24, 1864, at Annapolis.
Etters, Benj., priv. Died May 24, 1864, at Alexandria, Va.
Fie, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Frieze, Daniel, priv. Mus. out Oct. 16, 1864. Expr. of term.
Fetzer, Andrew, priv. Drftd. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865.
Fair, Edward, priv. Drafted.
Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865.
Force, David, priv. Discharged for disability, 1862.
Frazier, Archy, priv. Died, 1862, at Beaufort, S. C.
Fisher, John J., priv. Trans, to 2d U. S. Cav. Oct. 25, 1862.
Garis, Leonard, priv. Drafted.
Discharged July 20, 1865.
Glosner, Henry, priv. Drftd.
Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865.
Gossner, J. W., priv. Trans. 45th Regt. P. V.
Giles, Larry, priv. Trans, to Co. B, Oct. 16, 1864.
Gummo, James, priv. Drowned at the sinking of the " West
Point," 1862.
Ilollaback, Mordecai, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Hess, Andrew, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Hohn, Ferdinand, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Henderson, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Heagey, Charles, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Trans. June 2, 1865, from 200th P. V.
Hess, Wm. priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Hall, James, priv. Discharged June 1, 1865, by G. O.
Iloumell, Henry, priv. Discharged Nov. 2, 1864, for dis
ability. Drafted.
Hollabaugh, R. C., priv. Discharged June 1, 1865, by G. O.
Huey, Jas., priv. Discharged June 1, 1865, by G. O. Drftd.
Harrison, Samuel, priv. Dis. June 1, 1865, by G. O. Drttd.
Heine], John, priv. Discharged Junel, 1865, by G. O. Vet.
Hollabaugh, Jno., priv. Discharged Nov. 28, .1864, for dis
ability. Drafted.
Halsted, J. A., priv. Drafted. Deserted. Returned. Pris
oner from May 21, 1864, to April 21, 1865. Mus. out April 11,
1865. Expr. of term.
Hiiiton, Robt., priv. Wounded at Knoxville, Nov. 27, 1863.
Henning, Michael, priv. Trans, to 45th P. V., date unknown.
Harrington, Win., priv. Trans, to Co. B, Oct. 16, 1864.
Held, Emil, priv. Killed June 3, 1864, at Cold Harbor, Va.
Hall, Wm. P., priv. Died at Annapolis, 1862.

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

665

Hall, Andrew, priv. Trans, from Vet. Res. Corps.
Mus.
out expr. of term.
Heichel, Houston, priv. Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, date
unknown.
Hoovan, Jo! n II., priv. Deserted, 1863.
Irwin, Thos., priv. Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, date unknown.
Jauss, Conrad, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Jossett, Germain H. priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Johnson, Geo., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Jones, II. D., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Johnson, Barn hart, priv. Discharged, date unknown.
King, Abraham B., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
King, Charles K., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Kengle, Wm., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Kersimer, Wm. B., priv. Mus. out with cb. July 27, 1865.
Substitute.
Kase, Caleb, priv. Absent sick at mus. out.
Kepler, Wm., priv. Absent sick at mus. out. Drafted.
Katon, James F., priv. Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, date un
known.
Kuton, Wesley, priv. Died Sept. 22, 1862.
Kearnes, John, priv. Dis. for disability, date unknown.
Kearnes, Martin, priv. Dis. for disability, date unknown.
Killinger, Samuel, priv. Trans, to 2d U. S. Cavalry. Oct.
27, 1862.
Lar^h, George, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27. 1865.
Leiby, Jacob, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Leferer, Sanders, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Lucas, Geo. B., priv. Dis. by S. O. Jan. 16, 1865. Drftd.
Lucas, James G., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865. Drftd.
Lottig, Aaron, priv. Trans, to Co. B, Oct. 16, 1864.
Lucas, Jesse, priv. Trai s. to Vet. Res. Corps, date unknown.
Locb, Marx A., priv. IV! us. out at expr. of term.
Wounded
Blain's
Dec.
17,Me'sse,
1863. George,
Mus. outpriv.
at expr.
of term,at Oct.
16, Cross-roads,
1864.
Moser, Thos., priv. Trans, to Co. K, Nov. 16, 1864.
Mills, David, priv. Trans, to 45th P. V., date unknown.
Montgomery, Robt., priv. Trans, to Co. B, Oct. 16, 1864.
Moore, Samuel, priv. Killed May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania
C. II. Veteran.
Murphy, Daniel, priv. Deserted April 5, 1865. Sub.
Moore, Wm., priv. Discharged for disability, date unknown.
Miller, John, priv. Wounded Aug. 30, 1862, at Bull Run.
Discharged for wounds.
Morrison, Calvin L., priv. Died at Covington, Ky., date
unknown.
Mackey, Wm., priv. Died, date unknown.
McCafferty, Thos., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
McMahon, Michael, priv. Discharged July 11, 1865. Drftd.
McGonnigal, John, priv. Dis. June 1, 1865, by G. O. Drftd.
Mcllarney, Barrty, priv. Killed June 17, 1804, st Peters
burg, Va. Veteran.

29*

666

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

O'Neil, Henry, priv. Deserted April 5, 1865. Sub.
Parson, George, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, ISO"!. Sub.
Pierce, Henry G., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1805.
Powers, Patrick, priv. Discharged April 24, 1864, for dis
ability. Veteran.
Price, Phineas, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865. Drafted.
Fletcher, Henry, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865. Drftd.
Fennel, George, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865. Drftd.
Parson, Simon, priv. Dis. by G. 0. June 1, 1865. Drftd.
Poortnan, Wilson, priv. Dis. by G. 0. June 1, 1865. Drftd.
Poorman, James, priv. Dis. by G. 0. June 1, 1865. Drftd.
Peters, Samuel, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865. Drftd.
Poff, Henry, priv. Trans, to Co. B, Oct. 16, 1864.
Prescott, Charles, priv. Wounded June 1, 1864, at Cold
Harbor, Va. Died June 4. 1864, from wounds.
Powers, James, priv. Wounded April 19, 1862, at Camden,
N. C. Discharged on account of wounds.
Rolley, August, priv. Captured. Died at Andersonville,
Ga., May 29, 1864; grave, 1,454.
Rodgers, Geo., priv. Mus. out Oct. 16, 1864. Expr. of term.
Reese, Levi, priv. Drafted.
Dis. June 1, 1865, by G. O.
Rolley, Nichols, priv. Drftd. Dis. June 6, 1865, by G. O.
Veteran.
Ricker, Chas., priv. Trans, to Co. B, Nov. 16, 1864.
Richards, Philip, priv. Trans, to Co. K, March 24, 1864.
Rodgers, Henry, priv. Deserted July 6, 1865. Sub.
Rapp, Jacob, priv. Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, date unknown.
Recides, Win., priv. Wounded Dec. 18, 1862, at Fredericksburg, Va. Discharged on account of wounds.
Roan, Henry A., priv. Died, 1863, at Covingtou,
Showers, H. D., priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Smith, Amos, priv. Sub.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Smith, George, priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Slattery, Jas",
27, 1865.
Shoppell,
Edw.,priv.
priv. Sub.
Sub. Mus.
Mus. out
out with
with co.
co. July
July 27,
1865.
Savage, Frank, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Slack, Henry M., priv. Absent sick at muster out.
Shannon, Julius O., priv. Drftd. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865.
Shrezer, Emanuel, priv. Drftd. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865.
Sprole, Hezekiah, priv. Drftd. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865.
Smith, Wm. A., priv. Trans, to Co. B, March 24, 1864.
Slater, Thos., priv. Trans, to Co. B, Nov. 26, 1864.
Stidinger, Samuel G., priv. Trans, to Co. K, Nov. 26, 1864.
Shires, Michael, priv. Trans, to 45th P. V., date unknown.
Shay, John, priv. Trans, to Co. B, Oct. 16, 1864.
Showers, Daniel, priv. Trans, to 2d U. S. Cav. Oct. 27, 1862.
Search, W^m., priv. Trans, to 2d U. S. Cavalry, Oct. 27, 1862.
Scott, Jas. A., priv. Trans, to 2d U. S. Cavalry, Oct. 27, 1862.
Sheets, Daniel, priv. Wounded July 30, 1864, at Peters
burg, Va. Died Aug. 1, 1864.
Sheets, Christian, priv. Killed Aug. 19, 1864, at Weldon
Railroad, near Yellow Tavern, Va.

OF

PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

667

Simon, Christian, priv.
Uis. on surgeon's certificate, date
unknown.
Tyson, James, priv.
Drftd.
Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865.
Thomas, George, priv.
Dis. by S. O. Jan. 27, 18G5.
Thompson, Henry, priv.
Trans, to Co. B, Oct. 16, 1864.
Troy, Jeremiah, priv. Wounded at Petersburg. Died Aug.
1, 1864; buried in 9th A. C. Com., Meade Station.
Thatcher, Aaron, priv. Killed May 6, 1864, at Wilderness,
Virginia.
Taylor, Jos. B., priv. Drafted. Died Dec. 10, 1864; buried
in National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.
Wellar, Daniel, priv.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Wertz, George, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Williams, James, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Waters, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Wolf, John, priv.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Sub.
Wertz, John, priv.
Drafted.
Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865.
Womer, Daniel, priv. Drafted.
Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865.
Watson, David, priv. Drafted.
Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865.
Wilson, Wm., priv. Mus. out Oct. 16, 1804. Expr. of term.
Watson, Win., priv. Dis. by S. O., date unknown.
Woodriiig, Hiram, priv.
Trans, to Co. B, date unknown.
Walker, John, priv. Drafted. Drowned April 25, 1865, in
Chesapeake bay.
Watts, Joseph, priv.
Deserted June 13, 1865.
Whipple, Newton, priv.
Dis. on surgeon's certificate.
Wcnrick, Wm., priv.
Killed Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Wylands, Lewis A., priv.
Died, date unknown.
Wiggins, Wallace, priv.
Killed Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Watson, Jackson, priv. Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, date
unknown.
Yeager, Peter S., priv.
Drftd. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865.
Young, Wm., priv. Wounded Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Dis. for wounds, date unknown. Re-enlisted Nov. 16, 1863.
Killed June 18, 1864, at Petersburg, Va.
Total names on rolls, 230.*
* The rolls of Co. G are very imperfect as to the casualties. Noth
ing of the kind was ever entered on them except such cases as were
compelled to be by army regulations. It is to be deeply regretted that
there is no way for its noble braves to have their battle scars individu
ally mentioned ; in fact, so little has been recorded of the wounded
that a person would naturally suppose the company was always out of
harm's way ; but such was not the case. Co. G was always up to the
work, shoulder to shoulder, with her sister companies. She has the
undisputed honor of losing the first blood of the regiment shed in
battle— that pf James Dolan, private, Feb. 8, 1862, at the taking of
Roanoke Island, N. C. That the company has suffered in wounded
to a terrible extent cannot be doubted ; yet they cannot be accounted
for ; but that does not make it any the less true, as it merely proves
the negligence of its officers to insert their casualties — showing that
they fought for the good of the flag, and not for their own fame and
glory, completely discarding all personal honors and caring not to
have their achievements heralded to the world — but below we will

668

HISTORY OF THE FIFTY-FIRST REGIMENT
ROLL

OF CO. II.

Recruited in Union, Lycoming, and Snyder Counties.
J. Merrill Linn, captain.
Resigned April 4, 1864.
Geo. Shorkley, captain. Pro. from adjt. to capt. April 22,
18G4 ; to bvt. maj. July 30, 18G4 ; to bvt. lieut. col. March 25,
1865; to bvt. col. April 9, 1865. Wounded April 19, 1862, at
Camden, K. C., and severely wounded at the explosion of the
Burnside mine, July 30, 1864. Mus. out with co. July 27, '65.
Jacob G. Beaver, 1st lieut. Pro. from 2d to 1st lieut. June
6, 1862. Killed at Antietam, September 17, 1862.
Wm. F. Campbell, 1st lieut. Pro. from sergt. to 2d liout.
June 6, 1862 ; to 1st lieut. September 18, 1862. Wounded Sep
tember 17, 1862, at Antietam. Prisoner from May 12, 1864,
to March 9, 1865. Mus. out April 28, 1865.
Hugh McClure, 1st lieut. Pro. from 1st sergt. to 1st lieut.
May io, 1865. Captured May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania Court
house, Va. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Aaron Smith, 2d lieut. Pro. from 1st sergt. to 2d lieut. Oc
tober 23, 1862. Discharged November 7, 1863.
Jacob H. Santo, 2d lieut. Wounded September 17, 1862, at
Antietam. Pro. from 1st sergt. to 2d lieut. April 15, 1864 ; to
1st lieut. and adjt. January 15, 1865. Veteran.
David C. Brown, 3d lieut. Wounded December 13, 1862, at
Fredericksburg, Va. ; captured May 12, 1864. Pro. to 2d
lieut, March 16, 1865. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
George Breon, 1st sergt. Wounded at Fredericksburg De
cember 13, 1862 ; captured May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania Court
house. Pro. to 1st sergt. May 15, 1865. Mus. out with co. Vet.
give a summary of what casualties there can be gleaned from the rolls
to show that they cannot hide all their glory, if they want to.
Summary of Casiialties.— Killed in battle, non-commissioned offi
cers, 2 ; privates, 10. Died of wounds, privates, 8. Died of disease,
non-com, officers, 1 ; privates, 11. Died in rebel prisons, privates, 2.
Died by accident, 2. Wounded, commissioned officers, 1 ; non-com,
officers, 1 ; privates, 11. Captured, privates, 3. Transferred, com.
officers, 1; non-com, officers, 1; privates, 38. Discharged, com.
officers, 3 ; non-com, officers, 5 ; privates, 66. Deserted, privates, 11.
Resigned, com. officers, 2. Absent at muster-out; privates, 5.
Recapitulation. — Killed, 12; died from wounds, 8; died from dis
ease, 12 ; died from accident, 2 ; died in rebel prisons, 2. Total, 36.
Total wounded, 13; captured, 3; transferred, 40 ; discharged, 74 ;
deserted, 11 ; resigned, 2 ; absent sick at muster-out, 5. Total, 148.
Grand total of casualties, 184.
It will be observed that there is but 13 wounded to 12 killed out
right in battle, showing conclusively that Co. G's wounded were not
accounted for. Nothing in the annals o.t modern warfare ever showed
such a disparity of casualties, and its wounded can safely be given
at the lowest average percentage, which is 60 ; assuming it as con
ceded that it suffered more than the full or medium percentage, then
the medium would give 72 wounded, and the highest, 84.

OF

PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

669

Jacob Nyhart, 1st sergt. Dis. September 22, 1862, on sur
geon's certificate.
Matthew Vandine, 1st sergt. Pro. to 1st sergt. June 6, 1862.
Killed September 17, 1862, at Antietam bridge.
Harrison Hause, sergt. Pro. to sergt. August 3, 1863. Cap
tured May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania C. H. Mus. out with co.
Veteran.
outGeo.
withW.co. Brown* sergt. Pro. to sergt. May 21, 1865. Mus.
John Alclendarfer, sergt. Pro. to sergt. May 21, 1865. Mus.
out with co.
James Kincaid, sergt. Pro. to sergt. June 26, 1865. Mus.
out with co.
Daniel M. Wetzell, sergt. Wounded at Antietam September
17, 1862 ; captured at Spottsylvania C. H. May 12, 1864. Dis.
by G. O. June 26, 1865.
Seth J. Housel, sergt. Dis. to enlist in 8th Regulars, U. S.
infantry, October 24, 1862.
Wm. Allison, sergt. Killed December 13, 1862, at Freder
ick sburg, Va.
II. J. Lingerman, corp. Wounded August 19, 1864, at
battle of Yellow Tavern, Va. Pro. to corp. April 14, 1865.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
John Grambling, corp. Pro. to corp. January 1, 1865. Mus.
out with co.
Geo. H. Knauf, corp. Pro. to corp. January 15, 1865. Mus.
out with co.
Alfred Durst, corp. Pro. to corp. January 1, 1865. Mus. out
with co. Veteran.
Henry Fogleman, corp. Pro. to corp. June 1, 1865. Mus.
out with co. Veteran.
Michael Lepley, corp. Pro. to corp. June 16, 1865. Mus.
out with co.
Andrew Knepp, corp. Pro. to corp. June 16, 1865. Mus.
out with co.
Dietrick Beckman, corp. Pro. to corp. June 26, 1865. Mus.
out with co. Veteran.
R. A. M. Harner, corp. Mus. out November 15, 1864. Ex
piration of term.
II. C. McCormiek, corp. Wounded at Antietam September
17, 1862, and again at the Wilderness May 6, 1864. Dis. by G.
O. June 15, 1865.
J. Backenhamer, corp. Mus. out November 15, 1864. Ex
piration of term.
Henry B.Baker,
Wetzell,
1,~, 1865,
by G. O. Vet.
Reuben
corp. corp.Dis. Dis.
Dec. May
30, 1864,
for disability.
Peter Koser, corp. Dis. October 24, 1862, to enlist in 8th
Regulars, U. S. infantry.
Nicholas Nicholas, corp. Dis. Dec. 27, 1861, for disability.
Robert Henry, corp. Dis. October 24, 1862, to enlist in 8th
U. S. infantry.
Henry J. Warner, corp. Captured at Bull Run August 30,
1862. Dis. on surgeon's certificate December 5, 1862.

670

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY- FIRST

REGIMENT

H. Coley MeCormick, corp. Wounded at Camden, N. C.,
April 19, 1862, at Antietam September 17, 1802. Dis. by S. O.
February 12, 1864.
John Quincy Adams, corp. Trans, to Vet. Reserve Corps
November 6, 1803.
Charles Merrill, corp. Pro. to corp. April 1, 1802 ; trans, to
Vet. Reserve Corps November 6, 1802. Died at Nashville —
date unknown.
James M. Schooley, corp. Dis. December 24, 1802, for
wounds received at Antietam September 17, 1802.
Jacob Moore, muse.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1805. Vet.
Andrew Bernade, mus. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1805. Vet.
Charles P. McFadden, muse. Mus. out November 15, 1864.
Expiration of term.
All house, Peter, priv. Absent at mus. out by sen. of gen.
court martial.
Armpriester, Win., priv. Drafted. Mus. out with co. July
27, 1805.
Angstadt, Jonas, priv. Drft. Mus. out with co. July 27, '65.
Angstadt, Mabury, priv. Drft. Dis. June 28, 1805, by G. O.
Auchenbaugh, Win., priv. Dis. June 15. 1865, by G. O.
Baldwin, Eleazer, priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27, '65.
Blunt, James, priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Beehn, Henry, priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Brownfield, John, priv. Draft. Absent at mus. out by sen.
of G. C. M.
Bomgardner, Danl., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Boyer, Win., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Draft.
Boyer, Jno., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Draft.
Bordwell, Danl. C., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Bobst, David, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Benner, Lewis J., priv. Mus. out November 15, 1864. Ex
piration of term.
Bovver, Harrison, priv. Wounded at Wilderness May 6, 1804.
Dis. February 1, 1805, on account of wounds.
Boone, Daniel, priv. Dis. by G. O. June, 15, 1865.
Berkeylile. David, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 15, 1865. Draf.
Bennett, Miles, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 15, 1805. Draf.
Brensinger, Levi, priv. Cap. Dec. 13, 1802, at Fredericksburg. Killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864.
Beaver, Henry, priv. Dis. on surg. certif. March 18, 1803.
Beck, Isaac, priv. Killed at Antietam Sept. 17, 1802.
Bear, Edward, priv. Killed at Antietam Sept. 17, 1802.
Boightol, Thos., priv. Trans, to Co. G Nov. 28, 1801.
Britton, Simon, priv. Trans, to reo;. band Nov. 10, 1801.
Brown, Asa, priv. Died Oct. 28, 1802, at Frederick City, Md.
Buskirk, Jacob, priv. Wounded at Camden April 10, 1802.
Dis. on account of wounds Jan. 8, 1803.
Bastian, Peter, priv. Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps Nov. 6, 1803.
Bastian, Abraham, priv. Dis. Feb. 11, 1803, for disability.
Carey, Geo. W., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.

OF

PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

671

Cusseck, Northiel, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Substitute.
Clouser, Chas., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, ISoo. Draf.
Clark, David, priv. Trans, from 2cl Mel. Vols. June 30, 1862.
Cap. Nov. 23, 1863, at Knoxville, Teun. Mus. out Nov. 15,
1864, expiration of term.
Corl, John, priv. Dis. June 15, 1865, by G. O.
Win. F., priv. Mus. out Nov' 15, 1864, expiration
of Chrisher,
term.
Christie, James, priv. Dis. Oct. 24, 1862, to enlist in the 8th
regiment U. S. infantry.
Cox, George, priv. Trans, to Co. G Nov. 28, 1861.
Calhoun, Wm. F., priv. Trans, to Co. G Nov. 28, 1861.
Crossmire, John J., priv
Trans, to Co. G Nov. 28, 1861.
Clark, Joseph A., priv. Trans, to Co. G Nov. 28, 1861.
Doyle, Matthew, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Doyle, Jas., priv. Draf. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Dysher, Matthias, priv. Drafted.
Mus. out with co. Juty
27, 1865.
Dumheller, Abner, priv. Drafted.
Mus. out with co. July
27, 1865.
Dilloplains, Mahlon, priv. Drafted. Mus. out with co. July
27, 1865.
Dawson, John L., priv. Mus. out Nov. 15, 1864, ex. of term.
Dye, Richard, priv. Dis, on surg. certif. Feb. 8, 1863.
Dopp, John P.. priv. Dis. on surg. certif., Feb. 8, 1863.
Detlaven, Reuben, priv. Trans, to Co. C, Nov. 28, 1861.
Diblegorn, John J., priv. Dis. Oct. 24, 1862, to enlist in 4th
regiment U. S. cavalry.
Dougherty, W. II., priv. Killed at Knoxville Nov. 20, 1863.
Dougherty, John, priv. Wounded at Fredericksburg, Dec.
13, 1862. Trans. Nov. 6, 1863, to Vet. Res. Corps.
Dougherty, James, priv. Dis. Oct. 24, 1862, to enlist in 4th
regiment U. S. cavalry.
Doughty, Calvin, priv. Deserted Sept. 17, 1862.
Eberly, And. F., priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27,1 865.
Erwin, Frederick, priv. Mus. out Nov. 15, 1864, ex. of term.
Erdley, Jno. W., priv. Wounded at Antietam Sept. 17, 1862.
Killed at North Anna, May 27, 1864.
Everett, Wm., priv. Dis. Dec. 3, 1862, for disability.
Egolf, Samuel, priv. Trans, to Co. C, Nov. 28, 1861.
Espenship, David, priv. Trans, to Co. C, Nov. 28, 1861.
Fies, Henry, priv. Mus. out with Co. July 27, 1865. Draf.
Fike, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Forte, Geo. W., priv. Mus. out Nov. 15, 1864, ex. of term.
Feuring, Geo., priv. Drafted. Dis. by G. O. June 25, 1865.
Frederick, Ebenezer, priv. Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps Nov.
19, 1864.
Farley, Samuel, priv. Died at Knoxville, Dec. 19, 1863.
• Fox, Wm. II. R, priv. Trans, to co. C Nov. 28, 1861.
Frynte, Geo. II., priv. Dis. Oct. 24, 1862, to enlist in 8th
regiment, U. S. infantry.
Grambling, Jacob, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.

672

HISTORY OF THE FIFTY-FIRST REGIMENT

Getty, David H., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Gardner, Wm., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1805.
Gallagher, Wm., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Grier, Thos. G., priv. Mus. out Sept. 23, 1864. Died at
Morehead City, N. C., Oct. 6, 1864.
Goss, Simon, priv. Cap. May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania C. H.
Died at Florence, S. C.
Henry, Adam.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Ilefmer, Jonathan, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Hoffman, Thos., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Heffilfmger, George, priv. Absent at mus. out by sentence
of general court martial. Drafted.
Hertzog, Emanuel, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Hartline, Daniel, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Hartline, David, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Haas, Wm., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Drafted.
Harris, Joseph, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Hulslander, Geo. F., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Humphrey, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Substitute.
Holland, Thos., priv. Mus. out Nov. 15, 1864, ex. of term.
Ilartz, John, priv. Cap. May 12, 1864. Died June 19, 1864,
at Andersonville, Ga., grave 2,185). Veteran.
Harding, JewettS., priv. Wounded and pris. Aug. CO, 1862,
at Bull Run. Dis. Nov. 13, 1862.
Hitesman, Isaiah, priv. Mus. out Nov. 15, 1864, ex. of term.
Ilain, Henry, priv. Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps Nov. 6, 1863.
Hain, John, priv. Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps Nov. 6, 1863.
Ingerson, Ilillman, priv. Draf. Dis. by G. O. July 6, 1865.
Isidel, August, priv. Sub.
Deserted June, 1865.
Jones, Thos., priv. Trans, to Co. G, Nov. 28, 1861.
Kritz, Daniel, priv. Draf. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Kelly, James T., priv. Mus. out Nov. 15, 1864, ex. of term.
Knepp, Simon, priv. Draf. Dis. by G. 0. June 15, 1865.
Krepp, Simon, priv. Draf. Dis. by G. O. June 15, 1865.
Kyszeroski, Joseph, priv. Sub. Died at Alexandria, June
7, 1865.
Kelly, Jas. A., priv. Died Mar. 27, 1862, at Roanoke Island.
Keiticr, Henry J., priv. Dis. Feb. 16, 1863, for disability.
Knode, Albion G., priv. Dis. Sept. 27, 1862, for disability.
Loimbacb, J. Calvin, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Lott, John W., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Leamon, John E., priv. AVounded at South Mountain, Sept.
14,1862; again at Wilderness, May 6, 1861. Dis. Dec. 24, 1864.
Lyon, Conrad, priv. Dis. June 15, 1865, by G. O. Drafted.
Lattimer, Wm. J., priv. Cap. Died at Florence, S. C., Oct.
14, 1864.
Lennig, Jacob, priv. Wounded April 19, 1862, at Camdcn,
N. C. Died May 3, 1862, from wounds.

OF

PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

673

Lynch, Thos. J., priv. Promoted to 2d lieut. in Co. C, date
unknown.
Murphy, Joseph, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Moyer, Daniel, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Draf.
Mocherman, Jno. H., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Moll, Joseph A., priv. Mus. out Nov. 15, 1864, ex. of term.
Man-, Thos. P., priv. Dis. Mar. 4, 1865, for disability. Vet.
Miller, Wm. A., priv. Cap. May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania.
Discharged June 15, 1865, by G. O.
Moore, John, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 15, 1865.
Miller, Henry, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 15, 1865. Drafted.
Myers, Wm. H., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 15, 1865. Draf.
Moyer, Daniel 13., priv. Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, date
unknown.
Miller, John, priv. Dis. Oct. 24, 1862, to enlist in 4th U. S.
cavalry.
Miller, Daniel S., priv. Wounded at South Mountain, Sept.
14, 1862. Mus. out Nov. 15, 1864, expiration of term.
Murphy, John, priv. Dis. Sept. 22, 1862, for disability.
Miller, Jeremiah, priv. Died Dec. 2, 1861, at Annapolis, Md.
Murphy, James, priv. Trans, to Co. C Nov. 28, 1861.
Meisse, George, priv. Trans, to Co. G Nov. 28, 1861.
Miller, Samuel S., priv. Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps Nov. 6,
1863.
Marks, Levi, priv. Killed at Antietam Sept. 17, 1862.
McMurtrie, Isaac, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
McEwen, Samuel S., priv. Dis. April 18, 1864, by S. O.
Nicman, John A. Wounded June 17, 1864, at Petersburg.
Died August 5, 1864, from wounds.
Oakes, AVm. L., priv. Dis. June 12, 1863, for disability.
Purcell, Geo., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Phillips, A. F. C., priv. Mus. out Nov. 15, 1864, ex. of term.
Passell, Robert W., priv. Wounded at South Mountain,
Sept. 14, 1862. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865.
Pareby, Joseph, priv. Killed at Petersburg, April 2, 1865.
Drafted.
Pearson, Jas. C. Sub. Deserted June, 1865.
Phliger, Jacob, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Rhoades, Jacob, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Rexford, Henry E., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Ream, Jacob, priv. Drafted.
Dis. June 1, 1865, by G. O.
Ritter, John F,, priv. Dis. Oct. 24, 1862, to enlist in 4th U. S.
Cavalry.
Snyder, Nathaniel, priv. Killed at S. Mount, Sept. 14, 1862.
Smith, Peter, priv. Cap., Aug. 21, 1864, at Yellow Tavern.
Absent at mus. out of co. Veteran.
Smith, David, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Slottman, Danl., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Swab, Wm., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Snyder, Saml., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Shreck, Jno. V., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.

674

HISTORY

OF THE

FIFTY- FIRST

REGIMENT

Swarerly, Adam, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Serwatyness, Jos., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Substitute.
Shappee, Devier, priv. Mus. out with Co. July 27, 1865.
ShatFer, Levi J., priv. Mus. out with Co. July 27, 1865.
Search, Thos. F., priv. Mus. out Nov. 15, 1864. Expira
tion of term.
Sholley, Win., priv. Mus. out Nov. 15, 1864. Expiration
of term.
Smith, John D., priv. Drafted. Dis. byG. O. June 1, 1865.
Smith, John H., priv. Dis. June 14, 1865, for disability. Vet.
Scales, Edwin K. B., priv. Mus. out Nov. 25, 1864. Ex
piration of term.
Souders, Ephraim, priv. Trans, to Co. K. Nov. 10, 1864.
Shriner, Win. H., priv. Killed at Petersburg July 1, 1864.
Smith, Jacob, priv. Cap. May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania C.
H. Died at Andersonville, Ga., July 5, 1864; grave, 2,941.
priv. Cap. Ga.,
May 1864.
12, 1864, at Spottsylvania C.'
H. Smith,
Died Isaiah,
at Andersonville,
Smith, Frederick, priv. Killed at Wilderness May 6, 1864.
Veteran.
Slmler, Harrison, priv. Deserted Feb., 1864.
Stewart, Chas. R., priv. Dis. Get 27, 1863, for disability.
Sullivan, Patrick, priv. Trans to Co. C Nov. 28, 1861.
Steltz, Win., priv. Trans, to Co. C, Nov. 28, 1861.
Smith, John F., priv. Dis. Nov. 28, 1862, for disability.
Turner, James, priv. Drafted.
Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865.
Taylor, Samuel, priv. Died June 15, 1864, at White House
Landing, Va.
Titus, Lewis G., priv. Trans, to Co E, Nov. 28, 1861.
Temple, Chas. W. A., priv. Deserted June 17, 1863.
Umstead, John C., priv. Trans, to Co. C, Nov. 28, 1861.
,Uhl, Christian, priv. Dis. Jan. 15, 1865; disability. Drafted.
' Vi\Updegraph, Lewis, priv. Absent sick at mas. out.
""Wounded May 6, 1864, at Wilderness.
Dis.Vangeeser,
by G. O. Geo.,
June priv.
29, 1865.
Williamson, James, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Wellings, Win. J., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Wcntzell, Jacob, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Weaver, Thos., priv. Mus. out Nov. 16, 1864. Expiration
of term.
Wiery, Win., priv. Dis. by sentence of G. C. martial.
Wagore, Geo., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865. Drafted.
Wood, Aaron, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865. Drafted.
Williamson, Aaron, priv. Killed June 3, 1864, at C. Harbor.
Wittcs, Isaac, priv. Killed Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Watkins, Benj., priv. Trans, to reg'l band Nov. 16, 1861.
Williams, Win., priv. Trans, to reg'l band Nov. 16, 1861.
Wiesenbach, Ant'y, priv. Wounded at Antietam, Sept. 17,
1803. Dis. April 7, 1863, on account of wounds.

OF

PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

675

Wiesenbach, Leo, priv. Dis. Oct. 21, 1862, to enlist in 8th
U. S. Infantry.
Youngman, John C., priv, Dis. by S. 0., date unknown.
Yoder, David, priv. Cap. at North Anna May 27, 1804. Dis.
by G. O. June 2, 1863.
Young, David J., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Zechraan, Chas., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Total on the rolls, 236.*
ROLL

OF CO. I.

Recruited in Montgomery County.
George R. Pechin, captain.
Resigned June 21, 1862.
George W. Bisbina:, captain. Pro. from 1st lieut. to capt.,
June 23, 1862. Wounded at Jackson, Miss., July 16, 1863.
Wounded twice at Spottsylvania C. H., May 12, 1864. Died
June 7, 1804, from wounds.
Thomas II. Parker, captain. Wounded at Antietam and at
Jackson, Miss. Pro. from com.-sergt. to capt., Dec. 2, 1864.
Mus. out with com. Veteran.
* Summary of Casualties in Co. H. — Killed — Commissioned officers,
1 ; non.-coui. officers, 2; privates, 13. Died of wounds — Privates, 2.
Died in rebel prisons — Privates, 5. Died of disease — Non.-com. offi
cers — 1 ; privates, 7. Captured — Com. officers, 2 ; uon. com. officers,
4 ; privates, 11. Wounded — Com. officers, 3 ; non.-com. officers, 8 ;
privates, 14. Discharged— Com. officers, 1 ; non.-com. officers, 15 ;
privates, 70. Transferred — Com. officers, 1 ; non.-com. officers, 2 ;
privates, 28. Resigned— Com. officers, 1. Deserted— privates, 5 ;
Absent, in arrest — Privates, 2. Absent at mustering out — Privates, 3.
Recapitulation. — Total killed, 16 ; died of wounds, 2 ; died in rebel
prisons, 5 ; died of disease, 8 ; captured, 17 ; wounded, 25 ; discharged,
86 ; transferred, 31 ; resigned, 1 ; deserted, 5 ; absent in arrest, 2 ;
absent sick at mustering out, 3. Grand total casualties, 201.
Co. H has apparently a heavy list of casualties ; 201 out of a roll
of 236, leaving but 35 that were not accounted for, providing the con
tingencies are distributed, one to a man. But the observant reader
can easily detect the cause by looking over the roll and noticing that
some of the men furnish two or three cases ; for instance, private
Jewett S. Harding was wounded, captured, and discharged ; he alone
furnishes three cases.
Co. H.'s rolls are more complete, with the exception of Co. A, than
any of the other companies ; still it shows for itself the deficiency in
its^wounded,
one- thirdwould
more put
wounded
than killed.
average, at thehaving
lowestonly
percentage,
its wounded
at 80 menIts;
it is certain that that is too low.
Co. H needs no further remarks on her record. It has made it
as bright and as enviable as the best of them, and is fully satisiied
that it has honestly complied with its contract with the United States,
and not one dollar received without rendering its equivalent in putting
down the rebellion.

676

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

George Schall, 1st lieut. Pro. from 2d to 1st lieut., June 23,
1862. Mus. out Oct. 24, 1864. Expr. of term.
Lewis Patterson, 1st lieut. Pro. from 1st sergt. to 1st lieut.,
May 21, 1865. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Mark R. Supplee, 2d lieut. Pro. 2cl lieut. from 1st sergt.,
June 23, 1862. Severely wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg. Mus. out Nov. 15, 1864. Expr. of term.
Geo. W. Patterson, 2d lieut. Pro. from sergt. to 2d lieut.,
May 21, 1865. Mus. cut with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
John R. Davis, 1st sergt. Pro. to 1st ser^t. May 21, 1865.
Mus.
out withC. co.
27, 1865.
12, 1864, at
Spottsylvania
H.July
Wounded
MayCaptured^May
12, 1864. Veteran.
Enoch B. Kirby, 1st sergt. Died Feb. 22, 1863, of diarrhoea.
George Carney, sergt. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862— again
June 28, 1864. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Win. Pope, sergt. Wounded July 15, 1863, at Jackson,
Miss. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Geo. W. S. Pennell, sergt. Wounded at Antietam, Sept.
17, 1862, and Aug. 19, 1864, at Yellow Tavern, Va. Mus. out
with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
James Cameion, sergt. Captured May 12, 1864, at Spottsyl
vania C. H. Mus. out with co. Veteran.
Richard Martin, sergt. Died at Camp Nelson, Ky., Jan. 2,
1863. Wounded April 19, 1862, at Camden, N. C., by a solid
shot.
Stephen S. Davis, sergt. Killed June 17, 1864, at Peters
burg, Va. Veteran.
Andrew S. Leedom, sergt. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at
Fredericksburg. Discharged April 9, 1863, on account of
wounds.
Thos. T. Sohoch, sergt. Killed Sept. 14, 1862, at South
Mountain.
J. Clark Davis, sergt. Killed Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Geo. B. Slough, corp. Captured May 27, 1864, at North
Anna river. Died at Andersonville, Ga., March 28, 1865.
Jno. M. Engle, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Jas. Tinney, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Henry C. Davis, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Saml. E. Bradbury, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Henry B. Pope, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Frederick Ilolbine, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Francis R. Keating, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Jas. Y. Shainline, corp. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at Fred
ericksburg. Mus. out Sept. 27, 1864. Expr. of term.
John George, corp. Wounded July 30, 1864, at Petersburg.
Died from wounds Aug. 8, 1864. Veteran.
Jas. Manger, corp. Died Feb. 12, 1862, at Roanoke Island.
Thos. P. Davis, corp. Killed Sept. 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Hugh McGill, corp. Trans, to Inv., Corps, Sept. 27, 1863.

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

677

John Cox, corp. Discharged for disabilitj7, Nov. IB, 1862.
Jacob J. Tompkins, muse.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1805.
Veteran .
Jas. Chase, muse.
Absent in arrest at mus. out. Veteran.
Anderson, Levi, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Anderson, John H., priv. Dis. by G. O., June 1, 1865.
Armstrong, Ed., priv. Discharged by S. O., Oct 18, 1862.
Anderson, Win. J., priv. Killed at South Mountain, Sept.
14, 1862.
Buley, Chas., priv. Wounded at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Bisbing, A. H., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Barry, Jno., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Bassert, Adam, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Bayley, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Bloom, David, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Brower, John H., priv. Drafted. Discharged by G. O.,
June 2, 1865.
Bottorf, Martin, priv. Drftd. Dis. by G. O., June 2, 1865.
Brown, Wm., priv. Drftd.
Dis. by G. O., June 2, 1865.
Brower, Jacob, priv. Drftd.
Dis. by G. O., June 2, 1865.
Barrett, And. C., priv. Drftd. Dis. by G. O., June 2, 1865.
Brady, Isaac, priv. Drftd.
Dis. by G. O., June 2, 1865.
Barrell, Jacob, priv. Drftd.
Dis. by G. O., June 2, 1865.
Buggy, Dennis, priv. Died of disease Oct. 14, 1864. Vet.
Bangs, James, priv. Deserted May 12, 1864.
Baker, Thos. L., priv. Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, Nov. 8,
1863.
Brady, James, priv. Killed by lightning while on picket at
Milldale, Miss.
Buggy, Robert, priv. Deserted.
Brown, Hugh, C., priv. Wounded at South Mountain,
Sept. 14, 1862. Trans, to 1st U. S. Cavalry, Sept. 22, 1862.
Burns, Henry, priv. Dis. on writ of habeas corpus, 1861.
Bankuss, Henry, priv. Dis. May 1, 1862, at Newbern, N. C.
Broom, Thos. priv. Dis. Feb. 2, 1863, for disability.
Coatner, James, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Cornog, Thos., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Carey, John, priv. Drftd.
Dis. by G. O., June 13, 1865.
Coleman, John N., priv. Drftd. Dis. by G. O., June 13,
1865.
Campbell, Zach. , priv. Killed at South Mtn., Sept. 14, 1862.
Carr, Morton C., priv. Deserted Aug. 24, 1863, at Sulphur
Springs.
Detterline, Joseph, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Doyle, Edward, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Digt maker, Max., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Substitute.
Dyslier, Reuben, priv. Dis. by G. O. of May 17-18, 1865.
Drafted.
Dorr, Henry, priv. Captured at Bull Run, Aug. 20, 1862,
and again Dec. 15, 1863, at Cumberland Gap., East Term.
Died at Belh- Isle, Mar. 25, 1864.

678

HISTOKY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

Davis, R Clarkson, priv. Wounded Sept. 14, 1862, at South
Mountain.
Trans, to
1st U".
S. Artillery,
Sept.Mountain,
22, 18G2. Sept.
Davis, E. Lewis,
priv.
Wounded
at South
14, 1862. Died September 24, 1862, from wounds.
Dougherty, Matthew, priv. Trans, to 1st U. S. Artillery,
Sept. 22, 1862.
Deeds, Jehu, priv. Dis. Oct. 18, 1862, at Pleasant Valley.
Edwards, Saml., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Evans, Chas. V., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Eck, Chas. E., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Drftcl.
Edsell, Noble, priv. Sub. Dis. by G. O., May 17, 1865.
Elliott, John, priv. Discharged by G. O., May 18, 1865.
Emrich, Jacob, priv. Wounded at Antietam Sept. 17, 1862.
Trans. September 28, 1863, to Invalid Corps at Camp Dick
Robinson, Kentucky.
Fulton, Geo. AV., priv. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862. Mus. out
with co. Vet.
Fox, Geo. F., priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865,
Fryer, Amos, priv. Mus. out witli co. July 27, 1865. Drftd.
Fry, Dominick, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Frieze, Samuel, priv. Dis. by G. O., June 12, 1865. Drftd.
Fetzer, Miclil. W., priv. Dis. by G. 0., June 12, 1865.
Drafted.
Fox, Geo. H., priv. Dis. by G. 0., June 12, 1865. Sub.
Felton, Robert K., priv. Killed at Fort Morton, Va., Feb.
24, 1865. Drafted.
Farley, James, priv. Deserted while on duty at Boousboro'
Ferry, Kentucky river, Ky., May 1, 1863.
Gordon, Howard E., priv. Wounded Aug. 19, 1864, at the
Yellow Tavern, Va. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Gehman, Ambrose, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Gehman, Henry II., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Gimmell, Saml., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Gallagher, James, priv. Dis. by G. O., June 12, 1865.
Drafted.
Glisson, Geo. W., priv. Trans, to U. S. Art. Oct. 25, 1862.
Harrington, M., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Hibbert, James II.. priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Herdenstine, Thosi, priv. Wounded June 20, 1864. Died
Dec. 1, 1864.
Herman, John, priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Hunsberger, Henry, priv. Discharged by G. O., June 10,
1865. Drafted.
Hummel, Jacob, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Ilarbst, Jacob, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Drftd.
Harlin, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1805.
llessly, Wm., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

679

Hedgelen, Enoch H., priv. Dis. by G. O., June 10, 1865.
Drafted.
Hall, Wm., priv. Dis. by G. O., June 10, 18(5,5. Drftcl.
Hiney, John, priv. Dis. by S. O., Oct. 26, 1864. Drftcl.
Hattle, Philip, priv. Cap. May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania C.
H. Died June 36, 1865, at Camp Parole, Mil. Veteran.
Heard, John, priv. Died at City Point, Va., June 25, 1864.
Heard, Thos., priv. Died at Frederick City, Md., Sep. 20,
1862.
Herd,Va.JohnDis.R.,onpriv.
"Wounded
Dec. 1863.
13, 1862, at Fredericksburg,
account
of wounds
Hamilton, James, priv. Des. Aug. 18, 1862, at Kelly's
Ford, Va.
Holigon, Peter, priv. Des. Jan. 6, 1862.
Iredell, Jas. W., priv. Dis. by S. 0. April 28, 1863.
Jenkins, John W., priv. Des. Aug. 28, 1862.
Kelley, Danl. , priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Krieble, Geo.,priv.
Killed Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredkbg.. Va.
Long, George, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Draf.
Ly singer, Danl., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Lyons, Saml., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Lyons, Shuman, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 10, 1865. Sub.
Morgan, Joseph, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Mulner, Ludwig, priv. Mus. [out with co. July 27, 1865.
Substitute.
Miese, Peter, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Marbaker, Ed., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Magee, Daniel, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Milne, Job, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Martin, Robt., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Draf.
Moyer, Ulrich, priv. Dis. In* G. O. June 10, 1865. Draf.
Meister, Antrim, priv. Wounded Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg, Va. Dis. Oct. 24, 1864, at cxpr. of term.
Moweiy, Reuben, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 10, 1865. Draf.
Miller, Mark, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 10, 1865. Draf.
Murphy, John, priv. Wounded Sep. 17, 1862, at Antietam,
Md. Killed May 6, 1864, at Wilderness. Veteran.
Jacob^IL,
priv.
Wounded
1862, inslightly
andMyers,
deserted
same day,
retaken
Oct. 5, Sep.
1863.17,Absent
arrest
by sen. of G. C. M. at mus. out of co.
Michener, Phineas, priv. Dis. by S. O. May 1, 1862, at
Newbern.
^ Myers, Saml., II., priv. Dis. by S. O. July 14, 1862, at
Newbern.
Myers, Geo. W., priv. Drowned at the sinking of the
steamer West Point in the Potomac Oct. 26, 1862.
Moore, Fredk. K, priv. Dis. Dec. 9, 1862, on surg. cer.
Milton, James, priv. Killed by the accidental discharge of a
comrade's gun while guard of a forage train at Jackson, Miss.,
July 9, 1863.
McKuen, Edward, priv. Deserted June 14, 1865.
McGolrich, Thos. , priv. Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va.
Died from wounds Jan. 1, 1863.

680

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

McGill, Arthur, priv. Died of disease at Camp Parke, Ky.,
Aug. 28, 1863.
Oinlor, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
O'Hara, Ptk., priv. Deserted. Dis. by an informal order,
Oct. 14, 1862, at Washington, D. C.
Pierce, George W.,priv.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Powers, Chas., priv. Mus. out Nov. 28, 1864, expr. of term.
Peters, Geo. E., priv. Cap. Nov. 16, 1863, at Campbell's
Station. E. Term., was held by the enemy till Feb. 27,1865.
Mus. out May 8, 1865, to date March 4, 1865.
Potter, Thos., priv. Dis. by G. O. July 12, 1865. Sub.
Pluck, Jacob, priv. Trans, to 1st U. S. Cav. Sep. 22, 1862.
Pugh, Levi, priv. Dis. for disability Feb. 2, 1863.
Quick, John, priv. Dis. by G. O. July 7, 1865. Draf.
Kousb, Wm. A., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Rinehart, Thos., priv. Wounded severely Aug. 19, 1864, at
Yellow Tavern, Va. Dis. for wounds June 2, 1865. Vet.
Rively, John, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865. Recruit.
Reese, Chas., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865. Draf.
Robinson, Adam, priv. Killed at Camden N. C. April 19,
1862.
Rambo, Wm., priv. Died of disease at Newborn, N. C., May
6, 1862.
Stiver, Francis, priv. Wounded at Gen. Pope's H. Q., at
Sulphur Springs, Va., Aug. 28, 1862. Dis. Nov. 28, 1864.
Stiver, John J., priv. Wounded at Spottsylvania May 12,
1864. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Recruit.
Schlichter, Milton, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Recruit.
Smith, Chas. A., priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27,
1865.
Snyder, Chas. H., priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 2 T,
1865.
Slmey, Franklin, priv. Dis. by G. O. July 22, 1865.
Springer, Jno. F., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Substitute.
Seiberet, Geo. W., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Shelley, Wm. A., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Shales, Miles D., priv. Dis. by G. O. July 22, 1865. Draf.
Straw, John, priv. Dis. by G. O. July 22, 1865. Draf.
Sunckinan, Wm., priv. Dis. by G. O. July 8, 1865. Sub.
Siedtz, Andrew, priv. Died Sep. 18, 1864, at City Point, Va.
Smiley, Geo. W., priv. Dis. for disability May 1, 1862, at
Newbern.
Troy, Thos., priv. Cap. at Bull Run Aug. 29, 1862, escaped
Nov. 1, 1862, frequently visited the enemy afterwards to gratify
his curiosity, was always successful in getting back to his own
lines. Mus. out with costly 27, 1865. Veteran.
Treevitts, Saml., priv. "= Mus. out with co. July 27,
1865.
Vaughn, Henry, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 10, 1865. Draf.
Verguson, James, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 10,1865. Draf.
Wampole, Abraham, priv. Wounded April 19-, 1865, at
Camden, N. C. Cap. or killed May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania
C. II., never been heard of. Veteran.

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

681

Wharram, Jno. R., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Substitute.
Warner, Loman D., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Substitute.
Walker, Gotlieb, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Wails, James J., priv. Mus. out with co. Juljr 27, 1805.
Wliarton, Joshua, priv. Mus. out Nov. 28, 186-1. Expr. of
term.
Wilfong, Ed. K, priv. Mus. out Nov. 28, 1864, expr. of
term.
Wheeler, James, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865. Draf.
Wheeler, Win., priv. Dis by G. O. June 2, 1865. Draf.
Wasson, John, priv. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865. Draf.
Woodruff, Geo. W., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865. Draf.
Watson, Andrew, priv. Deserted. Sep. 12, 1862.
Young, Win., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Sub.
Total names on the rolls, 189.*
* Summary of casualties. — Killed — Non-commissioned officers, 4 ;
privates, 7. Killed by accident — Privates 3. Died of wounds — Com
missioned officers, 1 ; non-commissioned officers, 1 ; privates, 3.
Died in rebel prisons — Non-commissioned officers, 1 ; privates, 2.
Died of disease — Non-commissioned officers, 3 ; privates, 6. Re
signed — Commissioned officers, 1. Wounded — Commissioned offi
cers, 5 ; non-commissioned officers, 10 ; privates, 17. Captured —
Non-commissioned officers, 3 ; privates, 5. Discharged — Commis
sioned officers, 2 ; non-commissioned officers, 2; privates, 53.
Transferred — Non-commissioned officers, 1 ; privates, 7. Absent in
arrest at muster-out, 2. Deserters — Privates, 1.1.
Recapitulation. — Total killed, 11 ; killed by accident, 3; died of
wounds, 5; died in rebel prisons, 3; died of disease, 9; resigned,
1; wounded, 32; captured, 5; discharged, 57; transferred, 8;
absent at muster-out, 2 ; deserters, 11. — Grand total casualties,
147.
Co. I, like all the companies in the 51st, is deficient in having its
wounded entered on ils rolls, but it speaks as a voucher that tbe
other companies' casualties are put at much too low a figure, for
while tbe hardest fighting was going on from the 10th of May, 1864,
till within a few days of the last of November of that year, more
than one half of Co. I's enlisted men fit for duty were on special or
detached service away from the 51st, while the men of the other com
panies were nearly all with their regiment. As a proof of the truth
of this assertion Captain Bisbing had only 18 enlisted men with him
to take into battle at Spottsylvania C. H., May 12, 1864, while the
other companies had from 30 to 35 men to take in, and at Cold
Harbor Co. I had 17 men only, and that was about the highest till
after the first detachment of drafted recruits were sent to the regi
ment in October, 1864. Its list of casualties is very nearly correct, all
that it is deficient in is the wounded. None who remained on duty
after being wounded are counted in the list. The one case of Abra
ham Wampole is included in tbe killed, as those who were captured at
the time say they never saw or heard of him during their captivity.
He was known to have been wounded, but that is all up to this time
(1869) that has developed concerning him.
30

682

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

ROLL OF CO. K.
Recruited in Union and Northampton Counties.
JolmE. Titus, captain.
Resigned Sep. 10, 1862.
Geo. P. Carman, cap. Pro. from 1st sergt. to 2d lieut. Dec.
28, 18G1 ; to 1st lieut. July 26, 1862 ;to capt. Sep. 10, 1862. Mus.
out Nov. 12, 1864, expr. of term.
Win. S. Mellick, capt. Wounded Nov. 16, 1863, at Campbell's
Station, E. Tcnn. Pro. from sergt. to 1st sergt. Dec. 28, 1861 ;
to 1st lieut. Dec. 19, 1864 ; to capt. April 18, 1865. Mus. out
•with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Josiah Kelley, 1st lieutenant.
Resigned July 25, 1862.
John B. Linn, 1st lieut. Resigned March 9, 1863.
Jacob Fryburger, 1st lieut. Pro. from 1st sergt. to 1st lieut.
March 11, 1864. Wounded at Petersburg June 18, 1864. Dis.
for wounds Oct 3, 1864. Veteran.
Jacob Hawk, 1st lieut. Pro. from 1st sergt. to 1st lieut.
April 18, 1865. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
J. Franklin Beale, 2d lieut. Res. Dec. 28, 1861, re-comniissioned Sep. 29, 1862. Res. April 7, 1864.
Frank B. Sterner, 2d lieut. Wounded at Campbell's Station,
E. Tenn., Nov. 16, 1863. Killed at Spottsylvania May 12, 1864.
John Vanlew, 2d lieut. Pro. from sergt. to 2d lieut. April 18,
1865. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Danl. W. Eichman, 1st sergeant. Pro. from sergt. to 1st
sergt. April 18, 1865. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
John C. Dittler, sergeant.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Geo. II. Sherry, sergt. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Theo. Mosor, sergt. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Uriah F. Dean, sergt. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Franklin S. Mover, sergt. Died June 16, 1864, of wounds
received at Spottsylvania C. H., May 12, 1864, buried at
Arlington. Veteran.
Thos. C. Pierce, sergt. Killed at Petersburg June 17, 1864.
Veteran.
Jas. Gibson, sergt. Killed at Petersburg July 30, 1864. Vet.
Albert Snyder, sergt. Died from wounds received at Antietara, Sep. 17, 1862.
Thco. Oden welder, corporal. Wounded at Wilderness May
6, 1864. Absent at mus. out of co. July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Francis Ludwig, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Jas. Barnhart, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Chris. E. Cole, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Francis Truxell, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Rich'd Berryman, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Nicholas Reinhart, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Jacob F. Colo, corp. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
John P. Huber, corp. Dis. March 18, 1865, for disability.
Veteran.
John Sutton, corp. Dis. by G. O. May 11, 1865. Veteran.

OF

PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

683

David Shingle, corp. Killed at Cold Harbor June 3, 1864.
Veteran.
Jacob Truxell, corp. Killed at Petersburg July 7, 1864. Vet.
Thos. Foster, corp. Killed at Yellow Tavern., Aug. 19,
1864. Veteran.
Henry G. Dentler, corp. Cap. Died at Andersonville, Ga.,
May 17, 1864. Grave 1,161.
Danl. Troxell, corp. Trans, to U. 8. Reg. Oct. 27, 1862.
Win. Buoy, corp. Died of wounds reed, at Cold Harbor.
Philip Richards, corp. Mus. out Nov. 12, 1864, expr. of term.
Montgomery S. Adams, muse. Mus. out with co. July 27,
186o. Veteran.
Win. D. Hitter, muse. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1863. Vet.
Philip Bratton, muse. Mus. out Nov. 16, 1864, expr. of term.
Aikey, Lewis, private.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Aikey, Zachariah, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Anderson, Sol. K., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Augenstein, Jacob, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Substitute.
Allen, Benj. P., priv. Dis. by G. O. May 15. 1865.
Atlce, Amandus, priv. Dis. by G. 0. June 1, 1865.
Arbuckle, Thos. J., priv. Cap. Died, date unknown.
Bower, Wm. D., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Betzer, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Babcock, Jos., priv. Absent sick at mus. out. Veteran.
Bentley, Frank. , priv. Dis. Feb. 25, 1865, by sen. of G. C. M.
Benfer, Danl., priv. Dis. Jan. 12, for disability.
Buss, George, priv. Wounded at Kuoxville and then cap.
Mus. out Nov. 12, 1864, expr. of term.
Baldwin, Absalom, priv. Cap. Died Sep. 24, 1864, at
Andersonville.
Bonnell, Wayne, priv. Des. June 16, 1865.
Bower, Jacob, priv. Des. July 11, 1865. Sub.
Burns, Abraham, priv. Trans, to U. S. A. Oct. 27, 1862.
Bostain, Geo. W., priv. Dis. on surg. cer.
Bower, Martin, priv. Trans, to U. S. A. Oct. 27, 1862.
Crossgrove, Sainl., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Veteran.
Cox, John T., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Covey, Matthew, B., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Crossgrove, Lemuel J., priv. Mus. out Nov. 12, 1864, expr.
of term.
Cliner, Jacob, priv. Trans, to V. R. C. date unknown.
Duck, Franklin F., priv. Cap. Aug. 21, 1864, at Weldon R.
R. Absent at mus. out of co.
Deibler, Alex., priv. Cap. at North Anna May 27, 1864.
Absent at mus. out of co.
Dull, Geo. N., priv. Died Sep. 19, 1864, at Alexandria,
grave 2,688.
Depo, Thos. T., priv. Trans, to V. R. C. 1863.
Daly, Henry A., priv. Trans, to U. S. A. Oct. 27, 1862.
Eickner, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Draf.

684

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIKST

EEGIMENT

Ecklcy, John., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 11, 1865. Draf.
Edwards, Henry, priv. Des. June 1, 1805. Draf.
Fangford, John, priv. Wounded May 6, 1864, at Wilder
ness, Va. Absent at muster-out of co.
Fritz, Daniel, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Frutchey, Fred., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Fritz, John, priv. Dis. by G. O. July 11, 1865.
Frey, Alpheus, priv. Deserted May 5, 1864. Veteran.
Foley, John F., priv. Deserted May 23, 1865. Sub.
Fisher, George, priv. Not on master-out roll.
Fisher, Thos. T., priv. Died January 12, 1862, at Annapo
lis, Md.
Fortner, Jacob, priv. Wounded September 17, 1862, at Antietam.
Dis. on account of wounds 1862.
Gangeer, Henry, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, '65. Vet.
Grube, Frank T. Dis. by G. O. May 12, 1865.
Garrett, James S., priv. Captured.
Died at Andersoiiville,
Ga., August 18, 1864; grave, 6,140.
Geddes, John, priv. Deserted August, 1862.
Gallagher, James C., priv. Miss, in action at 2d Bull Run.
Gnner, Win., priv. Dis. for disability 1862.
Herzog, Daniel, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Henry, Isaiah, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
lloutz, Henry, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Ilouselmaii, Peter, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Ilemperly, Jno. F., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
HoU'mau, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Huntzberger, Jesse, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Dratted.
Ilahn, Nathan M., priv. Dis. by G. O. May 11, 1865.
Harris, John, priv. Wounded June 17, 1864, at Petersburg,
Va. ; died of wound .Tune 30, 1864.
Hoover, Daniel, priv. Wounded June 17, 1864, at Peters
burg, Va. ; died of wounds
27, 1864.
Hoover, Chas., priv. Died at New York city Nov. 12, 1864.
Holden, Geo. V., priv. Dis. August, 1863.
Hold, Edward, priv. Trans, to Vet. Reserve Corps; date
unknown.
Hickcrnal, John, priv. Trans, to U. S. army Oct. 27, 1862.
Hummel, Christian, priv. Died June, 1862, atNewbern, N.C.
Krites, Win. K., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Kautfman, Xavier, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Kramer, Jacob, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Kinney, Chas., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 13, 1865.
Kinney, Win. M., priv.
Died October 27, 1864, at City
Point, Va.
Kuntz, Alfred, priv. Captured.
Died November 5, 1864,
at Salisbury.
Kemmel, John, priv. Trans, to Vet. Reserve Corps, date
unknown.
Kaiser, Chas., priv. Dis. for disability, date unknown.
Ludwig, James, priv. Captured May 12, 1864, at Spottsylvania.
Absent at muster-out of co.

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEEES.

685

Logan, Wm. R., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, '65. Yet.
Lorah, Henry, priv. Dis. by G. O. July 10, 1865. Draft.
Marr, James, priv. Absent sick at mus. out of co.
Matley, Howard, priv. Absent sick at muster out of co. Dft.
Morgan, James E., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Meylert, Win. S., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 23, 1865.
Mann, Philip J., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 2, 1865.
Mills, David, priv. Mus. out November 12, 1864. Expira
tion of term.
Miller, Nicholas, priv. Deserted April 5, 1865. Sub.
Morse, Chas., priv. Deserted April 5, 1865. Sub.
Moore, Joseph G., priv. Trans, to Vet. Reserve Corps June
10, 1865.
McMullin, H. L., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865. Draft.
McBride, Anthony, priv. Deserted April 5, 1865. Sub.
McBride, Paul, priv. Wounded September 17, 1862, at Antietam. Dis. December, 1862, on account of wounds.
Neifert, Jacob, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Drft.
Ocker, David G., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
O'Neil, Joseph, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, '65. Sub.
Proof, Alonzo, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Paege, Raleigh, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Poeth, Joseph M., priv. Dis. by G. O. July 11, 1865.
Poust, William, priv. Wounded August 19, 1864, at Yellow
Tavern; died September 10, 1864, from wounds.
Patterson, Ed. II., priv. Killed December 1, 1863, at the
siege of Knoxville, while doing duty as a houseburner.
Rossman, David, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Reese, John Lee, priv. Mus. out with co. Juty 27, 1865.
Rank, Benj., priv. Wounded June 3, 1864, at Cold Harbor.
Rider, Benj., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Reish, Solomon, priv. Captured Aug. 21, 1864, at Weldon
Railroad. Absent at muster-out.
Robb, Henry, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Rosenberger, Ed., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Riter, Geo. S., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Draft.
Reifsnyder, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Ritter, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Drafted.
Robinson, And., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Sub.
Royer, Saml., priv. Mus. out Nov. 12, 1864, expr. of term.
Richards, Philip, priv. Mus. out Nov. 12, 1864, expr. of term.
Reifsnyder, Wm., priv. Mus. out Nov. 12, 1864, expr. of
term.
Rank, Saml., priv. Dis. by G. O. May 3, 1865.
Reichley, David, priv. Dis. by G. O. May 17, 1865.
Roush, Benj. F., priv. Dis. for disability Feb. 10, 1865.
Rank, John, priv. Died May 14, 1864, of wounds received
at Spottsylvania C. H. May 12, 1864.
Richards, Ed. H., priv. Wounded Aug. 19, 1864, at Yellow
Tavern. Died of wounds Sept. 10, 1864.
Ryan, Jas., priv. Deserted April 5, 1865.

686

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

Rundio, Wm. T., priv. Dis. for disability Sept., 18G2.
Kichards, Erwin, priv. Wounded Sept. 17, 18G2, at Antietam. Dis. on account of wounds Jan., 1803.
Reedy, Francis, priv. Des. Feb., 1864.
Schilling, Alfred, priv. Wounded at Wilderness May G, 18G4.
Absent at mus. out.
Stees, David C., priv, Mus. out with co. July 27, 18G5.
Stutzman, Wm. M., priv. Wounded in action July 1C, 18G4.
Mus. out with co. July 27, 18G5.
Schlegel, Peter, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 18G5. Draf.
Shaw, Robt. B., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 18G5. Sub.
Snyder, John, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Draft.
Steinberger, Edmund, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Springer, Jacob P., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Scheuck, Paul F., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Drafted.
Souder, Eph., priv. Mus. out Nov. 12, 1864, expr. of term.
Shires, Mich., priv. Mus. out Nov. 12, 1864, expr. of term.
Stidiuger, Saml. G., priv. Mus. out Nov. 12, 1864, expr. of
term.
Sarba, Jos., priv. Mus. out Nov. 12, 1864, expr. of term.
Search, Wm., priv. Dis. by sen. of G-. C. M. Feb. 15, 1865.
Summers, Cline, priv. Dis. by sen. of G. C. M. Feb. 15, 1865.
Swagers, Thos., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865. Drafted.
Shafer, Thos. C., priv. Dis. by G. O. July 15, 1865.
Southard, Abram C., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 26, 1865.
Drafted.
Showers, Henry C., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 27, 1865.
Shafer, Geo. S., priv. Died March 18, 1864, at Harrisburg, Pa.
Schwep, Fred., priv. Killed at Wilderness, May 6, 18G4. Vet.
Scheeks, Danl., priv. Died July, 1864, of wounds received
at Petersburg, Va.
Scheeks, Christian, priv. Killed at Yellow Tavern, Aug.
19, 1864.
Singer, Lewis, priv. Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, date unknown.
Trutt, Wm. M., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Taylor, Jos. C., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Draft.
Twigg, John T., priv. Dis. by G. O. June 1, 1865. Drafted.
Turner, Lyman B., priv. Not on mus. -out roll.
Vogel, Wm. H., priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Vet.
Vancuran, Nathaniel, priv. Wounded June 16, 1864. Absent
at muster-out.
Winegarden, John, priv. Vet, Wounded at June 6, 1864.
Absent at muster-out.
Wilson, Wm., priv. Sub. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Walker, Chas., priv. Draft. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
Wagner, Aug., priv. Draft. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865.
"W'rtz,
Robt., W.,
priv.priv.Dis.Killed
by G. atO.Spottsylvania
May 22, 1865.May 12, 1864.
Willet, Chas.
Widdell, John, priv. Wounded June 3, 18(54, at Cold Harbor.
Watts, John, priv. Not on mus. -out roll.

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Yates, Win., priv. Wounded at Antietam Sept. 17, 1862.
Absent at muster-out.
Yoder, Seneca, priv. Mus. out with co. July 27, 1865. Draft.
Yohl, Alfred, priv. Captured. Died at Salisbury, N. C., Oct.
26, 1864.
Yearick, Tobias, priv. Dis. for disability Oct., 1863.
Total names on the rolls, 197.*
A ROLL

OF NAMES

THAT

ARE

UNASSIGNED.

Agen, John, priv. Enlisted March 24, 1865. 1 year. Not
on muster-out rolls.
Balliet, John W., priv. Enlisted Feb. 11, 1864. 3 years.
Not on muster-out rolls.
Bate, Joel, priv. Enlisted Feb. 22, 1864. 3 years. Not on
muster-out rolls.
Barthell, Lewis, priv. Enlisted March 2, 1865. 1 year. Not
on muster-out roll.
Coughan, Patrick, priv. Enlisted Sept. 19, 1864. 1 year.
Not on muster-out roll.
Clevenstine, John, priv. Enlisted Aug. 26, 1864. 1 year.
Not on muster-out roll.
Corey, Matthew B., priv. Enlisted Feb. 25, 1864. 3 years.
Not on muster-out roll.
Cole, Christopher C., priv. Enlisted July 29, 1864. 3 years.
Not on muster-out roll.
Collins, John C., priv. Enlisted Jan. 23, 1864. 1 year. Not
on muster-out roll.
Fisher, Samuel, priv. Enlisted June 4, 1864. 3 years. Not
on muster-out roll.
Fleishhaner, Isaac, priv. Enlisted Jan. 27, 1865. 1 year.
Not on muster-out roll.
Garrett, James, priv. Enlisted Feb. 26, 1864. 3 years. Not
on muster-out roll.
* Summary of casualties.— Killed— Com. officers, 1 ; non-com, offi
cers, 5; privates, 5. Died of wounds — Non-com, officers, 3; privates, 6.
Died of disease — Privates, 6. Died in rebel prisons — Non-com, officers,
1; privates, 7. Wounded — Com. officers, 3; non-com, officers, 4;
privates, 18. Captured — Non-com, officers, 1 ; privates, 10. Trans
ferred—Non-com, officers, 1 ; privates, 10. Discharged— Com. of
ficers, 2 ; non-com, officers, 3 ; privates, 44. Resigned — Com. of
ficers, 5. Deserted — Privates, 11. Absent at muster-out — Enlisted
men, 9.
Recapitulation. — Killed, 11 ; died of wounds, 9 ; died of disease, 6 ;
died in rebel prisons, 8 ; wounded, 25 ; captured, 11 ; transferred, 11 ;
discharged, 49 ; resigned, 5 ; deserted, 11 ; absent at muster-out, 9.
Grand total casualties, 155.
With the exception of the wounded, this list is reliable, as the
rolls indicate a desire to record everything (wounded excepted) per
taining to a casualty incident to a military organization.
Oompany K has done a full share in the battles in which the 51st
participated, as its list indicates.

088

HISTOEY

OF

THE

FIFTY- FIEST

REGIMENT

Hunt, Daniel, priv. Enlisted Feb. 19, 1864. 3 years. De
serted, date unknown.
Hercher, Charles F., priv. Enlisted Feb. 22, 1804. 3 years.
Not on muster- out roll.
Hummel, James, priv. Enlisted Feb. 22, 1864. 3 years. Not
on muster-out roll.
Kime, George, priy. Enlisted Feb. 22, 1864. 3 years. Not
on muster-out roll.
Keens, Alfred, priv. Enlisted Feb. 2, 1864. 2 years. Not
on muster-out roll.
Learcli, Wm., priv. Enlisted Jan. 29, 1864. 3 years. Not
on muster-out roll.
Lubold, Castor, priv. Enlisted Feb. 19, 18C4. 3 years. Not
on muster-out roll.
Ludwick, Jared R, priv. Enlisted Jan. 30, 1865. 3 years.
Not on muster-out roll.
Labor, Alonzo, priv. Enlisted Jan. 25, 1865. 1 year. Not
on muster-out roll.
Nixon, John T., priv. Enlisted Jan. 25, 1865. 1 year. Not
on muster-out roll.
Nolan, James, priv. Enlisted Mar. 24, 1865. 1 year. Not
on muster-out roll.
Perry, Geo. W., priv. Enlisted Feb. 25, 1864. 3 years. Not
on muster-out roll.
Simmons, William, priv. Enlisted April 1, 1865. 1 year.
Not on muster-out roll.
Troy, John, priv. Enlisted Feb. 25, 1864. 3 years. Not
on muster-out roll.
Thompson, John, priv. Enlisted April 4, 1865. 1 year. Not
on muster-out roll.
Valquette, Leon, priv. Enlisted July 16, 1864. 1 year. Not
on muster-out roll.
VanGeezer, Geo. RM priv. Enlisted Feb. 16, 1864. 3 years.
Not on muster-out roll.
Statement of 51st Regiment P. V. V.
Field and staff, com. and non-com., 33; Co. A, 227; B, 174; C,
195 ; D, 219 ; E, 182 ; F, 210 ; G, 230 ; H, 236 ; I, 189 ; K, 197. To
tal names on the roll of the 51st, 2,092.
Casualties in the field and staff. Killed, 2 ; killed by accident, 2 ;
wounded, 5 ; captured, 1 ; transferred, 6 ; discharged, 7 ; resigned, 5.
Total, 28.
Recapitulation (final). Killed, field and staff, 2; ro. A, 13; B,
7 ; C, 14 ; D, 12 ; E, 7 ; F, 11 ; G, 12 ; H, 1 6 ; I, 11 ; K, 11. Total, 116.
Died of wounds. Field and staff, none. Co. A, 17; B, 3 ; C, 9 ;
D, S ; E, 4 ; F, 8 ; G, 8 ; H, 2 ; I, 5 ; K, 9. Total, 73.
Died of disease. Field and staff, none. Co. A, 12 ; B, 2 ; C, 10 ;
D, 11 ; E, 4 , F, 6 ; G, 12 ; II, 8 ; I, 9 ; K, 6. Tota', 80.
Died in captivity. Field and staff, none. Co. A, 5 ; B, 2 ; C, 4 ;
D, 2 ; E, 1 ; F, 1 ; G, 2 , H, 5 ; I, 3 ; K, 8. Total, 33.
Wounded. Field and staff, 5. Co. A, 67 ; B, 6; C, 36 ; D, 42 ; E,
11 ; F, 29 ; G, 13 ; H, 25 ; I, 32 ; K, 25. Total, 291.

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Captured. Field and staff, 1. Co. A, 11 ; B, 7 ; C, 9 ; D, 7 ; E, 3 .
F, 2 ; G, 3 ; H, 17 ; I, 5 ; K, 11. Total, 70.
Discharged. Field and staff, 7. Co. A, 80 ; B, 51 ; C, 39 ; D, 71 :
E, 57 ; F, 53 ; G, 74 ; II, 86 ; I, 57 ; K, 49. Total, 633.
Transferred. Field and staff, 6. Co. A, 18 ; B, 7 ; C, 8 ; D, 1 4 ;
E, 31 ; F, 39 ; G, 40 ; H, 31 ; I, 8 ; K, 11. Total, 303.
Resigned. Field and staff, 5. Co. A, 1 ; C, 1 ; D, 3 ; F, 1 ; G, 2 ;
H, 1 ; I, 1 ; K, 5. Total, 19.
Killed by accident. Field and staff, 3. Co. A, 1 ; D, 3 ; F, 2 ; G,
2 ; I, 3. total, 12.
Deserted. Co. A, 25 ; B, 13 ; C, 11 ; D, 19 ; E, 7 ; F, 11 ; G, 11 ;
II, 5; I, 11; K, 11. Total, 123.
Missing.
Co. C, 2 ; D, 2. Total, 4.
Absent at muster-out. In arrest. — Co. A, 3 ; C, 4 ; F, 1 ; IT, 2 ; I,
2.— 13. Sick.— Co. A, 3 ; B, 4 ; C, 7 ; D, 6 ; E, 5 ; G, 5 ; H, 3 ; I, 1 ;
K, 9.— 43. Total, 55.
Summary. Killed, 116 ; died of wounds, 73; died of disease, 80 ;
died in captivity, 33; died by accident, 13. Total deceased, 314.
Wounded, 391 ; captured, 76; discharged, 633 ; transfers, 203 ; resig
nations, 19 ; desertions, 133 ; missing, 4 ; absent, sick and in arrest,
55. Casualties total, 1,394.

This list of casualties in recapitulation of the 51st
Regiment P. Y. V., when sifted, will be found pretty
nearly correct as to the total deaths by killing and
other causes. In the transfers, one-third was made
within the regiment, the remainder outside. The
wounded are reported as often as injured, those who
were struck three times are registered as often ; this
is to be borne in mind, or else an incorrect impres
sion may be made that the idea is to swell the casu
alties to outdo other organizations, which has not
been the case. Jealousy was a stranger amongst the
officers and men of the 51st, and if any other regi
ment has a brighter escutcheon than the former, it
or they have the best wishes of every officer and
man of the 51st, to enjoy it, and none will uphold
them in it more than their comrades of the olst
P. V. Y., as they all know that it took a deal of
patient endurance to gain what little glory it pos
sesses, and also that if other regiments do outstrip
it, their hard knocks, like our own, were seldom re
ceived in. a spirit of envy.

30*

690

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

Below are the battles in which the 51st P. V. Y.
participated, from its first entrance on the field to
its retirement from camp-life :
Roanoke Island, Feb. 7 and 8, 1862.
Newborn, N. C., March 13 and 14, 1862.
Camden, N. C., April 19, 1862.
Bull Run, Va., August 29 and 30, 1862.
Chantilly, Va., September 1, 1862.
South Mountain, September 14, 1862.
Antietam, September 17 and 18, 1862.
Fredericksburg, December 12, 13, and 14, 1862.
Vicksburg, Miss., June 16 to July 4, 1863.
Jackson/Miss., July 8 to July 18, 1863.
Campbell's Station, Tenn., November 16, 1863.
Knoxville, Tenn., November 17 to Dec. 5, 1863.
Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864.
Spottsylvania, Va., May 12 to 14, 1864.
Cold Harbor, Va., May 31 to June 8, 1864.
Petersburg, Va., June 16 to August 18, 1864.
Yellow Tavern, Va., August 19, 1864.
Weldon Railroad, Va., August 21, 1864.
Hatcher's Run, Va., October 27, 28, and 29, 1864.
Petersburg, November 29, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
Skirmishes.— Kelly's Ford, 1862; Rappahannock, 1862;
Warrenton, 1862; Sulphur Springs, Va., Nov. 16, 1862; Sul
phur Springs, Aug. 24, 1862; Upperville, Va., 1862; Fairfax
C. II., 1862; Big Black, Miss., July 6, 1863 ; Jackson, Miss.,
July 7, 1863; London, Tenn., Nov. 15, 1863; Lenoir, Tenn.,
Nov. 15, 1863 ; Rutledge, Tenn., Dec. 16, 1863 ; Blain's Cross
roads, Dec. 18, 1863 ; Poplar Grove Church, 1864 ; Bethesda
Church, 1864; Peeble's Farm, 1864; Ream's Station, 1864;
Weldon Railroad, 1864 ; besides a large number of minor im
portance, of which there are memoranda.

Below is a perfectly reliable statement of the dis
tances traversed by the 51st P. V. Y., by marches,
transports, and railway, as taken from a Diary.
From Bridgeport to Harrisburg, 95 miles ; From Harrisburg
to Annapolis, Md., 123 miles ; from Aquia Creek to Fred
ericksburg, 15 miles; from Bealton to Culpepper C. II., Va.,
15 miles ; from Fredericksburg to Aquia Creek, 15 miles ;
from Baltimore, Md., to Paris, Ky., 778 miles ; from Nicholasville, Ky., to Cairo, 111., 508 miles; from Cairo, 111., to Nicholasville, Ky., 508 miles; from Knoxville to Loudon, Tenn., 28
miles; from Nicholasville, Ky., to Bridgeport, Pa., 789 miles;
from Bridgeport, Pa., to Ilarrisburg, Pa., 95 miles; from

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Harrisburg to Annapolis, Md., 123 miles; from Washington,
D. C., to Harrisburg, 124 miles; from Harrisburg to Bridge
port, 95 miles— Total by rail, 3,311 miles.
By transports from Annapolis to Fortress Monroe, thence to
Iloanoke Island, to Newbern, to landing at Albemarle Sound,
back to Newbern, to Hatteras Inlet, back to Newbern, to
Newport News, to Aqnia Creek, to Baltimore ; from Cairo to
Vicksburg and back to Cairo ; from City Point to Washington,
from Washington to Alexandria. — Total 5,390 miles.
By marches, total 1,738 miles; by water, total 5,390 miles;
by railway, total 3,311 miles. — Aggregate, 10,439 miles.

The above statement is within the actual distance
the regiment travelled. The railroad distance has
been taken from the railroad surveys. The water
distance was obtained from the pilots, captains, and
officers in command of the respective vessels of
transportation. The marching was taken from a
diary that had been kept by the owner very accur
ately in reference to marches, and can be relied on.
The whole table is not ten miles either above or be
low the true distance ; if either one, it is below.
A few words to the disappointed. You should
not take it unkind in not finding your name among
the wounded on the rolls of your company. Every
thing has been done to obtain your name, when,
how, and where you shed your blood, everything
that time, expense, trouble, and vexations, with a
dogged perseverance, could possibly accomplish,
and the result is very imperfect. The aggregate of
the wounded of the 51st would not be one less than
650 cases, of which only 291 of your names stand
out in bold relief, while the deep scars of your
jagged wounds are the silent evidence that you too
" was there." It is to be regretted that 3rour wounds
were not recorded on your company's rolls instead
of the names of those disgraces to their country's
flag — the deserters.

602

ITISTOEY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

CHAPTER

KEGIMENT

III.

Review of the services of the 51st— Defence of the regiment
by Colonels Bolton and McClellan — Glorious history of the
Ninth Army Corps — Sketches of the field and staff' — Villains
denounced — Stanzas in honor of the dead heroes — Their
widows and orphans — Thanks — List of Cemeteries— U. S.
price list.

IN ending it must be said that the 51st Regiment
of Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers has no cause
to point to the record of any other military organi
zation and say their escutcheon is brighter than ours,
but it can, with justice and infallible truth, point
heavenward and say that in the performance of duty
during its whole military career it stands second to
none in the vast armies of which it was destined to
be a part and parcel. Its long confinement in Camp
Curtin in 1861, its hundreds of privations and dan
gers in the " Burnside Coast Expedition," both on
the broad bosom of the Atlantic Ocean, or on the
marshy soil of Roanoke Island, or the swampy mud
of the Neuse river, all these induced a fitness for the
subsequent hardships it passed through in the fortyseven months of service it rendered the Union, the
'Constitution and the laws of this unprecedented
Republic. It can boast with pride of its aid in de
stroying that ''last relic of barbarism, the accursed of
all nations, the institution of slavery." It has helped
to remove the libel on the country of being a Re
public, when it was only a Republic in name but not
in fact. It has battled long and hard to verify that
portion of the Declaration of Independence; "That
all men were created equal." It proved by its deeds

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that its members were Union men of tbe right stamp,
no matter what were their politics or religion. It can
glory in being the only regiment that was from be
ginning to end with the noble Burnside.
The aspersions of its enemies have been met and
silenced by its brave and noble commander Col.
Bolton, strengthened by the conscientiousness that
it did its whole duty, and by receiving the full and
entire approbation of its influential class of friends.
The spleen and venom of some who belonged to
the "bar-room" oratory, as well as that of another
class of persecutors, turned back on to the venters
of the insidious poison, forcing them to blush and
hide their faces when in the presence of their braver
superiors.
To those it was a disgrace to wear the "livery of
the Lincoln minions," and thanks to those two
champions of a "soldier's dignity,1' Cols. Wm. J.
Bolton of the 5 1st, and M. Kobert McClellan of the
noble 188th P. Yv who fought those calumniators
with similar weapons and drove them "into the last
ditch." Why the brave soldiers of the two regi
ments were so assailed and villified by those who
had not the courage to join their friends and with a
musket fight the battles of the South, can be an
swered by asking, why was our Saviour persecuted
unto death? But the time may come when they
will see the error of their ways, and yet turn to be
good, loyal citizens.
To the thousands of friends of the 51st, both in
Pennsylvania and New York, the thanks of the
entire regiment are due for their frequent and many
favors received and enjoyed. And now at the end,
the disbandrnent of the 9th corps, it is to be regretted

694

HISTORY. OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

that the oldest one in the army should receive only
a small share of commendation due to its whole
meritorious course. It was slighted from its con
ception until its disbandment by the entire edi
torial staff, not because it had done nothing, but
each reporter having a peculiar interest in other
commands, could seldom find out, or see, or hear
anything the 9th Corps had done, and soon verified
the adage that " none are so blind as those who do
not want to see."
A spirit of jealousy, occasioned by the great
popularity of our commander with his own men and
those of other corps, by the commanders of which
the 9th Corps was " peddled " out, caused them, with
one exception, to remain silent on the merits or de
merits of the nobly brave 9th. That one exception
was an acknowledgment from the greatest of them
all, Gen. Grant. He rose above the petty jealousy
that infected even officers of far higher rank but of
far less honor, and dared to acknowledge in an order
after the siege of Yicksburg and the capture of
Jackson, that the 9th corps was composed of soldiers.
No corps in the whole army was used like the 9th.
It has been in nearly every command of the entire
army ; hawked about like a peddler's pack, wher
ever a command was in a tight place the 9th corps
was sure to be sent to its aid. It was under Burnside, Foster, Parke, Hooker, Sumner, Meade, Grant
at Vicksburg, Sherman at Jackson, McClellan and
Pope, and a number of others, hence the propriety
of its name for travelling all over rebeldom; but its
greatest reproach was the degradation of having the
colored troops attached to it. In this lies the secret
of the non -recognition of its services, for merit could

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not be awarded to the white troops without the col
ored troops being sharers of the praise. The poor
colored soldier should not have had the chance of
manifesting his love for his country to the disgust
and horror of those who " could prove the war a
failure." The country was nothing to him, he was
only a " chattel," and what right had he to shoulder
a musket and spill his black blood to give freedom to
millions of his kindred who were living in painful
"luxury" in the cotton, rice and sugar fields of the
South, and in helping the further perpetuation of this
republic and in bursting the cordon of the" White
Man's Government?" His sphere was the cottonfield with a hoe, not the battle-field with a musket ;
and by his not being in his proper compass the poor
do-nothing 9th Corps must not expect to be admitted
among high circles who are akin to the F. F. Vs.
Ye black-skinned warriors, see the damage you have
done through your fighting shoulder to shoulder with
the " small-fisted farmers, the greasy mechanics and
the mudsills of the North." But let the 9th Corps get
any praise or not, it has the satisfaction of knowing
that it conscientiously performed its duty and aided
as much as the best in putting down the rebellion
of '61-'65.
The respect due to the officers of the regiment
will always be evinced whenever occasion requires
and calls for it from the men lately under their com
mand. The esteem in which its first commander,
Col. John Frederick Hartranft who is now a Maj.
Gen. by brevet, has been shown by the suffrage of
his fellow-citizens in electing him for a second term
to the high and responsible post of Auditor-General
of Pennsylvania.

696

IIISTOKY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

Col. W. J. Bolton, who is now a Brigadier-General
"by brevet,
the citizens
respect and
confidence
of his
old
commandenjoys
and the
of the
town in which
he resides, and he too, like his predecessor, has en
joyed the perplexities of a public office by filling
the unpleasant one of high sheriff of his county,
(Montgomery.)
Lieut. -Col. Wm. Allebaugh has accomplished a vic
tory which proves that he, like his superior officers, is
held in high esteem in the town where he resides, by
his second elevation to a public office, the position
of burgess of the borough.
Major Jos. K. Bolton, an interested friend to every
man in the old 51st, and of all who know him, for
his urbanity of disposition, holds not only the
esteem of In's old command, but the actual love of
them all.
Lieut. S. P. Stephens, quartermaster, is in feel
ings and respect the counterpart of his superior
officer, the major, and enjoys the confidence of the
authorities at Harrisburg, and a good berth as clerk,
for which he is well fitted, in the Auditor-General's
office.
Surgeon Win. C. Shurlock was a man of no ordi
nary ability, and is deserving of a « light biography.
He was a graduate of the class of the 9th of March,
1858, of the Jefferson Medical College, Philada. He
then returned to Darlington, Beaver co., Pa., and en
tered upon the practice of his profession, enjoying the
confidence of a large list of patients, until the echo of
the first gun that was fired upon Fort Sumter re
verberated among the hills of Beaver county. lie
then thought it was his duty to offer his services to
his country, He raised a company of one hundred

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and ten men for the "three months' service," but
they were not accepted, as the State's quota was
filled. He kept his company together, and when the
time arrived he entered the service as captain of
Co. D, of the ."Roundheads, or 100th P. V. He was
in the taking of Port Royal and Beaufort, S. C.
After which he was stricken down with disease, with
no prospect of ever recovering his health in that
climate. On the recommendation of the surgeons of
his regiment, he was induced to resign on the 16th
of December, 1861.
He went home and the change restored him to
health, when he again entered the service as assist
ant surgeon in the 100th P. V., his commission dated
July 15th, 1862. He served with this regiment
until December 28th, 1863, when he was promoted
to surgeon, and ordered to report for duty to the
51st P. V. Y.
He was mustered as surgeon of the 51st P. Y. Y.
on the 9th of March, 1864, and remained on duty as
surgeon till May 6th, 1864, when he was detailed as
operating surgeon at the division hospital in the
field, where he remained on duty till April 24th,
1865, when he returned to his regiment, and re
mained with it till June 6th, 1865, when he was
mustered out of the service, under orders of the War
Department for the reduction of the army, dated May
17, 1865.
Assistant-Surgeon J. B. Rineholt, whose close at
tention to his patients caused them to hold him in
high esteem, was kind and sympathetic to those who
were sick, but a terror to those who tried to " play
sick" in order to shirk any duty for which they
were detailed. He is living and doing a fine busi
ness in Muscatine, Iowa.

698

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

The adjutant, Jacob H. Santo, was held in high
estimation by his officers and the men. Being of
a quiet, unobtrusive disposition, he made friends
wherever he went. His only fault was — '' You are
detailed," &c., which he would tell you at midnight
as quick as midday. He is doing a good business
in Harrisburg, Pa.
And now, in conclusion, one circumstance that
occurred while at Alexandria tarnishes the fair fame
and the bright bearing of the 51st P. Y. Y. Its
atrociousness deserves that it be mentioned, although
it only can be wished that it could be blotted out
of the history of the regiment. The heinous crime
called for the shooting of the villains who committed
the deed, but through the instrumentality of the
friends of the accused, and the war being over, only
one received a slight punishment. It was the crime
of murder. A man belonging to the 36th New Jer
sey regiment had been paid off, and went to the
city. After taking a few drinks too many, and
while on his way to his camp, he stopped at the suttler's tent of the 51st P. Y. Y., and treated a few who
were standing around. Some seeing that he had a
large sum of money about him, decided to rob him.
They followed him up, until from over-intoxication
the man lay down under a tree in the shade to sleep
off his potations, when the desperadoes with a stone
mashed in his head, and robbed him of his money,
leaving him dead on the roadside. The circum
stances call for a larger paragraph than what is given
here, but enough has been told to remind the 51st
that a spot of deep rooted rust rests on its bright
armor. Burnish it as you may, it will stand there
as a damning disgrace on the hard-earned laurels of
the soldier and of the regiment.

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We must not forget our "heroic dead ; they sleep
their last sleep, unmindful of the negligence of their
comrade survivors. They have received their re
ward from God, and rest in peaceful tranquillity on
the bloody fields of Boanoke, Newbern, Camden,
etc. ; and while they lie awaiting the day when the
angel Gabriel shall blow his trumpet to marshal the
hosts of the earth to render an account to the great
est Chieftain of all, let us bring to mind their many
virtues, and indelibly impress them upon our hearts
that we, too, may receive the promotion promised us
by the Dying Soldier on Calvary. But while living,
it is our duty to remember the great cause for which
they died ; for it might have been your death as well
as theirs ; but God had a motive for sparing your
lives that will be manifested in some epoch of future
time.
Gather bright laurels to spread on their graves,
While wrapped in their blankets they wait for the morn,
They've
campeddeeds
for on
the the
night
in the ofcamp
the braves,
While their
records
Stateofmust
be borne.
Breathe not a whisper, but what's uttered with love,
For their marches are over, their battles are won,
But keep their graves green, while they picket above,
And rear monuments high for the work they have done.
The cannon's deep roar cannot call them to battle,
Nor the tap of the drum command them to march,
Nor the clashing of arms or the musketry's rattle,
Nor arid Mississippi their silent lips parch.
They've enlisted above in Jehovah's vast camp,
Not armed or equipped, but their names on his roll,
Without any enem}'' to flee from their tramp,
But merely on guard there, at the gate of the goal.
They're silently waiting the relief to come round,
That you may relieve them from guarding their post,
The countersign's given, but not in secresy bound,
For all can recruit for Jehovah's great host.
Then breathe not a whisper that's not uttered with love,
For their marches are over, their battles are won,
But keep their graves green, while they picket above,
And rear monuments high, for the work they have done.

700

HISTORY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

As it is not in the power of any mortal to change
the condition of the dead, yet we can hope that they
are happier far than we are here, and believing that
he who gives his life in honorable warfare for the
salvation of his country finds a sure passport to his
Saviour's breast, we will drop a tear in memory of
our departed heroes, and leave them "at rest" in the
great camp above while we "do duty" on God's foot
stool here below.
But what of the widows and orphans of our noble
departed ? If we cannot change the condition of the
dead, we can of the living. 'Tis said that republics
are ungrateful. Time will tell how true that "saying "
is. but while we are waiting for that to happen, can
we see our legless, armless and otherwise crippled
heroes at the street corners grinding out music from
an organ by the meagre cent's-worth to the passersby, when situations could be offered them whereby
they could earn a comfortable living and at the same
time give a fair day's work for a fair day's wages ?
Some say, "they can't be trusted in responsible
situations." Out with the idea ! Can't be trusted ?
No man living can offer a situation half as respon
sible as the one in which the soldier lost his limb.
The nation's life was reposed in his hands, did he be
tray the trust? look at his armless sleeve, his legless
pants, and see how too faithful he cherished his trust,
and yet he is not to be trusted ! Why, forsooth ?
Because some displayed their vicious traits ? But
do not such things happen every day in civil life?
Let him be cared for, let his half-starved family re
ceive something to show that his efforts to serve and
save his country are appreciated ; talk is cheap, but
a man's arm or leg is not so lightly bought ; who of
you would sell a leg or an arm for the paltry sum

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

701

of eight dollars a month during the remainder of
your days ? No, not one ; it is not republics that are
ungrateful, but it is those who are counted in the
census of that republic that are. Are not thousands
crying out against the enormous taxation which
partly go to give the poor cripple his scanty eight
dollars a month ? even that is begrudged him, and
you would stop it if you could. Eepublics ungrate
ful? No! it is you who are ungrateful, not the re
public !
Let us smooth their path with gentle hands,
As down life's current they'll be toss'd,
Remove the pebbles in the sands,
And warm the heart that's chilled by frost.

Let the helpless widow of our brave soldiers re
ceive substantial sympathy to make the dreary home
one of comfort for her fatherless babes, and keep her
from working half the night and all the day for a
pittance of twenty or twenty-five cents from some
tyrant task-master who is not willing to see her live.
While everything ranges high in price it is not
much that some can offer who are dependent on their
daily labor, but there are others that can; and to
those we commit the widows, the orphans, and the
maimed and crippled soldiers, for care.
In closing allow me to return my sincere thanks
to those brave soldier citizens, Major D. R. Larned,
General Burnside's private Secretary ; General Wm.
J. and Major Joseph K. Bolton, Lieut. Samuel P.
Stephens, Hon. Samuel P. Bates, State Historian ;
Mr. Kelly, Chief Clerk in the Adjutant General's
Office, and a host of others, for their especial acts of
kindness in furnishing, important information and
aid to the author of this work, and to all let me
say, "may your prosperity and shadows never be
less."

702

HISTOKY

OF

THE

FIFTY-FIRST

REGIMENT

List of the National Cemeteries and the most important Soldiers1
burial places in the United States, as furnished by the Quarter
master-General U. S. A.
1. Alexandria, Virginia.
2. Alexandria, Louisiana.
3. Andersonville, Georgia.
4. Annapolis, Maryland.
5. Antietam, Maryland.
C. Arlington, Virginia.
7. Barrancas, Florida.
8. Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
9. Beverly, New Jersey.
10. Beaufort, South Carolina.
11. Bristol, Pennsylvania.
12. Brownsville, Texas.
13. Camp Butler, Illinois.
14. Camp Dennison, Ohio.
15. Camp Nelson, Kentucky.
16. Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
17. Chattanooga, Tennessee.
18. Chester, Pennsylvania.
19. Chicago, Illinois.
20. City Point, Virginia.
21. Cincinnati, Ohio.
22. Cold Harbor, Virginia.
23. C ul pepper C.H., do
24. Columbus, Ohio.
25. Corinth, Mississippi.
26. Cypress Hills, New York.
27. Danville, Kentucky. \
28. Danville, Virginia.
29. Davenport, 7o?0a.
30. Easton, Pennsylvania.
31. Evansville, Indiana.
32. Fayetteville, Arkansas.
33. Florence, Sot^A Carolina.
34. Fort Don nelson, Tennessee.
35. Fort Harrison, Virginia.
36. Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
37. Fort St. Philip, Louisiana.
38. Fort Scott, Kansas.
39. Fort Smith, Arkansas.
40. Fredericksburg, Virginia.
41. Gallipolis, OM?.
42. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
43. Glendale, Virginia.
44. Galveston, Texas.

45. Graf ton, TF 46. Hampton, Virginia.
47. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
48. Indianapolis, Indiana.
49. Jefferson City, Missouri.
50. Jefferson Barracks, JLfo.
51. Keokuk, Iowa.
52. Knoxville, Tennessee.
53. Lebanon, Kentucky.
54. Lexington, Kentucky.
55. Little Rock, Arkansas.
56. Logan's Cross-roads, -STy.
57. London Park, Maryland.
58. Louisville, Kentucky.
59. Marietta, Georgia.
00. Memphis, Tennessee.
61. Mound City, Illinois.
62. Mobile, Alabama.
63. Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
64. Nashville, Tennessee.
65. Natchez, Mississippi.
66. New Albany, Indiana.
67. Newbern, jVor^/i Carolina.
68. New Orleans, Louisiana.
69.. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
70. Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
71. Pittsburg Landing, I^m.
72. Poplar Grove, Virginia.
73. Port Hudson, Louisiana.
74. Quincy, Illinois.
75. Raleigh, North Carolina.
76. Richmond, Virginia.
77. Salisbury, North Carolina.
78. San Antonia, Tfcaas.
79. Seven Pines, Virginia.
80. Springfield, Missouri.
81. Staunton, Virginia.
82. Vicksburg, Mississippi.
83. Wilmington, ^V. Carolina.
84. Wilmington, Delaware.
85. Winchester, Virginia.
86. Washington, Z). Columbia.
87. York, Pennsylvania.
88. Yorktown, Virginia.

OF PENNSYLVANIA

VOLUNTEERS.

703

Recapitulation. — Alabama, 1 ; Arkansas, 3 ; Florida, 1 ;
Georgia, 2 ; Indiana, 3 ; Iowa, 2 ; Illinois, 4 ; District of Col
umbia, 1 ; Kansas, 2 ; Delaware, 1 ; Louisiana, 5 ; Mississippi,
3, Missouri, 3 : Maryland, 3 ; New York, 1 ; New Jersey, 1 ;
North Carolina, 4 ; Ohio, 4 ; Pennsylvania, 9 ; Kentucky, 6 :
South Carolina, 2 ; Tennessee, 7 ; Texas, 3 ; Virginia, 16 ;
West Virginia, 1.— Total 88.

The following is the price list of United States clothing, camp and
garrison equipage as charged the 51st Regt. P. V. V. for the
year 1865.
Axes
Axe Helves
Blouses
lined
do
unlinod
Bootees sewed
do
DGftred

..

Cap cover
Canteens
C'inip kettles
Coats, privates uniform
Coats over
Coat,
do straps
Hats uniform
.
...
Haversacks, unpainted
do
enamelled
and painted
Hatchets...,

20
$1480
65
400
270
225
1 00
25
65
1 00
12 50
12
12 00
225
65
95
81

Hatchet helves
Pants
Shirts flannel
do
knit
.. ..
Drawers, flannel
do
knit
Socks
Blankets, woollen
do
painted
do
rubber

$ 4 757
2 32
2 25
160
48
1 75
700
2 65
440
3 10

Knapsack and straps..
Tents,
D'Abri
com
plete
1069 80
28
Tents, wall
do
Sibley
107 31
do
hospital
239 95
do
A or wedge
39 95
45
Mess pans. ..

FINIS.

RETURN

14 DAY

USE

TO DESK FROM

WHICH

LOAN

DEPT.

BORROWED

RENEWALS ONLY— TEL. NO. 642-3405
This book is due on the last date stamped below, or
on the date to which renewed.
Renewed books are subject to immediate recall.

/U?i > a Jo &. Shctf-AA

f.

AUG 14 1970

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University
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Berkeley

YC 51219

M184013

THE UNIVERSITY

OF CALIFORNIA

pf

LIBRARY