^\ 
 
 ^^r^^^ A^^^ 
 
 
 A^ 
 
 •f)jj5^*-^^fc«Ja'A*-Sr - ■;j-« «- 
 
WARBERO.DEp 
 
 icken With Heart Disease' 
 Vlien He Apparently Had 
 Recovered From Illness, j 
 
 mtTHS^ 
 
 neral St. Clalr XMurEoITand, pension 
 it, ex-sol(Jler, autf>pr,"Teoturer, artist 
 traveler^; died "es^terday aftel-noon at 
 home, 4202 CSieatei" avenue, ot heart] 
 hie. He had n<|.fheen feeling well tor 
 eek. Last Friday,, 
 he Federal BuilA! 
 a severe attac" 
 w days later he] 
 erflajr yas UitvLgi 
 iilitff his wife Sn 
 S^'V«10ck, he W 
 g,',' and expireoT 
 dse at hiE.%M^(le 
 (KiUand, his wif*; I 
 StV.; Mr. Faher, his a 
 , J. Q. ComberjuBa 
 ) ,Miss Genevieve M 
 F Mulhollahd, his d 
 le Generi^l held>4g^ 
 time ot his death. 
 rnian of the Gett 
 ;mittee^.to whldh'fte 
 or Reybii'rn; Prls 
 rman of thej 
 mitte?. 
 
 STOB.' 
 
 5vet Major flfeltl 
 
 , who at -Ihe clb«(( 
 
 one of the youns 
 irals oreaied '^'"''"P .,.-,.i 
 
 had the unique record of nalarag^ 
 missions f rbm Presidents Cleveland, 
 
 iment. which was badly cut ijp In twjl 
 first day's fight. He then toaJt,£command,i 
 and led into action the U&XMeeirnentS 
 Pennsvlvania Volunteers. fflHwas eft- 1 
 gased"ln the fight at Jones'a|^Bss Hoads, I 
 Jiiry 10, "63, at Falling WsfflffB, July H,| 
 and in the battle of the Wlldei'ness, May 
 5 1864, where he was again woutid; 
 ~or his gallant conduct on this poCi 
 was made brevet brlgadiel- genSrS 
 was ih the fight at Tod's Tavern, 
 „y 10, 1864, and in the battle of Pol 
 ver, where he vnas a third time wounded, 
 ""aving been^s^ent to the hospital at 
 ..ashington, he remained only ten days., 
 and th«n resumed his command. He wap 
 eipgaged in the flg?ht at North Anna and 
 on the Pamunkey River, May 28, 30 ai)dl 
 31, 1SS4. At the battle of Tolpototnoy 
 CreeK he was dangerously wounded by a 
 musket ball through the groin. This 
 fourth wound being one of great severity 
 and danger, he wsts compelled to remain 
 
 ' 1 
 
 ,^M' 
 
 ff: 
 
 :ialey and floosevelt as pension agent 
 tils city, was a native of the County 
 ■im, Ireland, where he was born in 
 
 mine to this country while yet a 
 I his youthful tastes inclined him to- 
 J art and military life. He became 
 lectqd with the Pennsylvania miUtla 
 e a very young man, and when the 
 ; War broke out hia ardor for the 
 :ary U*e^n4uced him to join the U6th 
 iment, ^enpsylvania Volunteers, i^ 
 S he ' was commissioned lieutenant 
 nel. This was in Jijne, 1S62, when he 
 only 23 years of age. ' 
 bslajjIeJiW 6(6 *»s promoted to the 
 nelcy.- He tpok nart Jn the fights at 
 rtestDW» ,i*n<J MW'S G^P, V*.,, in 
 mere^m U^venjb^r.^W. Ha c|m- 
 iSk W reglBseiit In the first Freder^ 
 i« VstH^- Deefeber 13, 1*, and 
 ?&*Bi>ejy I wouJifte* ?n thfi gaUant at- 
 jftrltorm Jjarye's -Height^ 9P that 
 Mul day. In' the bwtle of Chanoel- 
 
 regiment, and fllstinguished himself 
 avlng , the guns of the Fifth Maine 
 ery whiph had hseij ahfindoiied to 
 enemy.' '~^'0t -this Ke WftS qompUmeht- 
 n gewaJ "irdei-p.^ I« this fa»ropalgi} 
 vas. is®leeted_ iy Geaieral Baftogclt to . 
 Mpi«tk J. •. jKj , :_-,;,«wr_i_„ t-uio' al1^S 'isanS su 
 
 " After" ^rs^lrir^Werif'tlfeiiJi the office^^ 
 Chief of police General M^JholIa^d >;* ■■ 
 tere^ l(usin«ss with his brotther. and- sie 
 more a1;teption tn the stu^j" of jirt. ' ' 
 1880 he jv^nt to Europe. wjiem,.he aL. 
 lor"T;*o years, traveling ana stuoyihg;. 
 He \^'as an agreeable water colorlst, and 
 many of his paintings are characterlaed 
 by their good color and nice appreciaition 
 of the ploturesqueness of some- of the old 
 cities and towns in Europe, particularly 
 of Venice, which he has painted a hun^ 
 drad times, always in the most sympa- 
 thetic manner. 
 
 He engaged in various enterprises and 
 gave a good deal of attention to ai^, and 
 When the cyclorama of the battle ' of., 
 Gettysburg was exhibited at Broad and^ 
 Clierry streets. In 1889, he was. made man-. 
 ager of the business, and also gave lec- 
 tures upon the high points of the battle, 
 in which he had engaged with signal 
 bravery. 
 
 After the election of President Cfleve- 
 laiid General Mulhoiland applied for Vke 
 office of pension agent at Philadelphia, 
 and his credentials were so good, hl8 war 
 record so magnificent and his introduc- 
 tion to the President by Senator Daniel, 
 of Virginia, so happy that President 
 Cleveland immedjateiy made the S9jp,6jn.t^ 
 ment. That was In 18M, and! eaMiVpuc- 
 
 ffiaWie retreat- of the Aymy ot the.iiEq ok» 'aaH HSKanx j-aaaoH aaoT| i1 
 pflSB'-tttoin Cteancellorisvllle across the ! * * *i. , „„ ..b. .^ 
 

 HOME USE RULES 
 
 All Books subject to Recall 
 
 All borrowers must regis- 
 ter in the library to borrow 
 books for home use. 
 
 All bodks must be re- 
 turned at end of college 
 year for inspection and 
 repairs. 
 
 Limited books must be re- 
 turned within the four weak 
 limit and not renewed. 
 
 Students must returaall 
 books befdre leaving town. 
 Officers should arrange for 
 the return of books wanted 
 during their absence from 
 town. 
 
 Volumes of periodicals 
 and of pamphlets are h^, 
 in the library as much ai 
 possible. For special pur- 
 poses they are given out for 
 
 _ a limited time. 
 
 thy of ita'pofiltiOP It» the brigade. ,„; Borrowers should not use 
 
 their library privileges, for 
 
 Col. Mulholland was badly wounded '^^ 
 
 at SpoteyiVf^nla. ,Th^ ireg>me^t be- , the benefit of other perspM. 
 
 longed to Barlow's Division. Second 
 Corps, and lost 145 killed and 80 J*^ 
 from diseosei. fete. Its total of killed '^i 
 and wounded waa B2S. and 2« of it3^ 
 tnomb^rs died in Confederate pnsons.--u 
 The regiment's commanders wero.o . 
 Cols. Dennis Heenan, St. Clair M'Ul-Lh| 
 I Holland nnd Pavid Mesraw. — Edttovia 
 
 J^atlonal Tribune. 
 
 VI - 
 Jii 
 
 Books of special valtw 
 and gift boolis, when the 
 giver wishes it;, are not 
 aHowed to circulate. 
 
 Readers are asked to re- 
 port all pases of bo(A3i 
 marked or mutilatad. 
 
 Do aot deface books by marks and writing. 
 
 
 
 
 Baia aTin. ■ 7 
 'Give you $50,000.' . 
 ' 'No,' said Jim. |. 
 
 'Give you $100,000,' his friend said., 
 ' 'Not mucli,' replied Jim. 'I justi 
 gave $120,000 to have him shod.' And 
 Jim took the horse home with him." — 
 '"Pathfinder." 
 I ^^,,=,^^- n =-.— 
 
 1 Jv-;'i0PMira(qte ■ pci 
 
 JamesburB,: % I Jv ;'jf)pMiM(«S ■ S*=3''M.W 
 ,iS^,'i'ii^ ,^S1I^^*^S .^stil^t^r :;^| 
 
 rhe Late St. Clair A, MulhoUand 
 
 Cornell University Library 
 E527.5 116th .M95 
 
 The story. .otJhe.llMh .regjmem^ ISoBfJi ^ 
 ■3"l'924 030 914 570 
 
\1 
 
 Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of this bool< is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030914570 
 
THE STORY 
 
 OF THE- 
 
 116th Regiment 
 
 Pennsylvania Volunteers 
 
 IN THE 
 
 War of the Rebellion 
 
 THE RECORD OF A GALLANT COMMAND 
 
 BY 
 
 St. Clair A. Mulholland 
 
 Colonel and Brevet Major-General 
 U. S. V. 
 
 903 
 
MDCCCCIII. 
 
 PKINTEKS : 
 
 P. MoManus, Je. & Co. 
 
 PHIL ABBLPHI A . 
 
BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL ST. CLATR?A. MULHOLLAND 
 Colonel ii6th Pennsylvania Infantry 
 
DEDICATION. 
 
 •"pO the members of my Regiment, living- and dead, 
 these pages are dedicated with very great affection. 
 To you, my beloved friends and comrades, who with 
 me shared the honors, glorious triumphs and vicissitudes 
 of the greatest war the world, has ever seen ; to you who 
 have stood with me on many battlefields, rejoicing in 
 the hour of victory, sorrowing in the hour of defeat, 
 whom the bond of fire has rendered nearer and dearer 
 than brothers, whose joys, tears and blood have been 
 mingled with my own, to you I offer and dedicate this 
 book, a story of brave deeds and brave men, a tribute 
 to your heroism and excellence, a chaplet of fadeless 
 laurel, well deserved and nobly won, which, with great 
 reverence, I lay on the graves of those of my comrades 
 who are gone, and gladly place on the brows of those 
 who are still with us, happy in the thought that I have 
 been permitted to record their splendid valor, in the hope 
 that they may live long to read in these pages their 
 own honored names, so that when they, too, shall be no 
 more, their children may look on it exultantly and make 
 it their proudest boast that " Father was a soldier of the 
 Union ". 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 ■f Y/-AR with its pomp and pageantry, glories, honors, 
 '" horrors and bloodshed has, from the beginning of 
 time, entered largely into the history of nations. In 
 every age, and in every clime, the story of the nation's 
 brave has been the principal topic of the historians, the 
 most sublime theme of the poet. 
 
 In every century, since the arts became a part of 
 civilization, the sculptor and painter have plied the chisel 
 and brush to perpetuate in marble and bronze, and depict 
 on the less enduring canvas, the deeds of the heroes who, 
 in the flame and tempest of battle, have stood, sword 
 in hand, to defend the national honor or contend for a 
 principle which they believed to be just. 
 
 The record of a warrior is too often but that of a 
 fearless man or unscrupulous conqueror, and often, whilst 
 we would fain admire the dauntless bravery that made 
 the soldier distinguished among his fellows, we are forced 
 to condemn the cause for which he fought. But in the 
 case of the men who, during the War of the Rebellion, 
 formed the grand army that fought for, and preserved us, 
 a nation, we can both applaud the hero and endorse the 
 motive. The soldiers who gathered around our flag in 
 this great war were not only heroes but patriots and 
 saints as well. Theirs was the holiest, noblest, purest 
 and best cause that ever summoned men to arms. Moses 
 and Joshua fought to destroy and annihilate, that they 
 
Preface. v. 
 
 might found a nation. Our army fought to preserve and 
 secure — even to those whom they strived to conquer — 
 the rights and liberties that they themselves hoped to 
 enjoy. Our soldiers fought to preserve that great legacy 
 — more dear and valuable than all else gained by the 
 sword on earth — the first real Republic that has ever 
 existed ; to demonstrate that human freedom was not a 
 myth and a dream, but a splendid reality ; to preserve 
 intact, for all men who love liberty, that vast territory 
 over which our flag floats, the glorious land that stretches 
 from the storm-swept coasts of the Atlantic to the golden 
 shores of the Pacific, that reaches from the frozen lands 
 of Alaska to the orange groves of sunny Florida — the 
 land that will, in the boundless future, shelter in its bosom 
 so many happy homes and countless millions of freemen. 
 
 The Army of the Union fought to keep alive that 
 sacred torch of human liberty which burns brighter and 
 more brilliantly as the years roll on, and which is indeed 
 destined to illumine the world and shine with so resplendent 
 a glory as to teach all, even the most benighted of nations, 
 that men can live in peace, purity and honor without 
 being subjects ; that the laws for the well-being and 
 happiness of society can be well and wisely administered 
 by the servants of a people who will not tolerate masters. 
 It is the history of a gallant regiment, composed of these 
 men, that I propose to record. 
 
 But how many volumes it would take to tell the history 
 of a regiment of more than a thousand noble men ! The 
 naming of the brave deeds of any one of them would, 
 
vi. Preface. 
 
 of itself, fill many glowing pages. Space, necessarily 
 limited, will not suffice to allow justice being done to the 
 individual — I can only write of the organization, of the 
 marches, trials, triumphs and sufferings of the members 
 as a body ; record the glories in which all were alike 
 participants ; live over again the days of victory, and 
 hear again the inspiring cheers of the victors, as they 
 rushed over the works of the foe or hurled them back in 
 defeat ; of other days, when disaster, rather than victory, 
 was our lot, and when, maybe, our lines were forced back, 
 leaving the ground strewn with dead and wounded — our 
 well-loved companions ; of the midnight march and 
 bivouac ; of marches in the deadly heat of summer, when 
 men fell by the wayside, killed by sunstroke ; of other 
 marches, during winter, when men died of the extreme 
 cold ; of the camp and picket line ; of happy days in old 
 Virginia, when sunshine and peace would prevail for a 
 time and cause the shadows of soldier life to pass away. 
 
 Then again, in writing this volume, I feel that I am 
 but fulfilling a duty to comrades whom I have reason to, 
 and do, sincerely love, so that the memory of their noble 
 deeds shall not be forgotten, but will live when they have 
 gone to join those whose brave souls went out in the 
 storm of battle. 
 
 And this is truly the history of a regiment on whose 
 record there is no stain or blemish, a command that never 
 turned its back upon the foe, or shrank from any duty, 
 no matter how dangerous ; that never failed to defend, in 
 the most heroic manner, the position it was placed to 
 
Preface. vii. 
 
 hold, or charge, with the highest courage and most 
 reckless daring, the line of works that it was commanded 
 to take — a command, the bones of whose members bleach 
 on thirty battlefields ; a regiment whose colors, shattered, 
 torn and bloodstained, were, after three years of arduous 
 service, returned to our State with honor. 
 
 I rejoice that I can testify to the excellence of that 
 Regiment and to the heroism, devotion and gallantry of 
 all its members ; and can here declare that all who touched 
 elbows and marched under the flag of the One Hundred 
 and Sixteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, are 
 worthy of having their names inscribed herein. 
 
 And this story of the organization is intended, not 
 only as a memorial to the original members, but to all 
 and everyone who, at any period of the three years, 
 fought with the command ; to those who, at a later date, 
 came from Allegheny, Fayette and Schuylkill Counties 
 to fill the depleted ranks, and who, by their magnificent 
 conduct in the Wilderness and Petersburg campaigns, 
 brought so much honor and glory to the command, as 
 well as to those who were with us from the first, or who 
 fell early in the great struggle. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 
 Dedication "i- 
 
 Preface iv. 
 
 Battles and Skirmishes xiii. 
 
 Roll of Honor xiv. 
 
 Chapter I i 
 
 Organization of the Regiment. Starts for the Seat of War. 
 In Washington. First Night in Camp. Assigned to the Irish 
 Brigade. Harper's Ferry. The First Fight. The March to 
 Fredericksburg. 
 
 Chapter II 24 
 
 General McClellan takes leave of the Army and is succeeded 
 by General Burnside. Arrival at Falmouth. The Battle of 
 Fredericksburg. Death of Lieutenants Montgomery and Foltz. 
 
 Chapter III 63 
 
 After Fredericksburg. Funeral of Lieutenant Montgomery. 
 Christmas Day in Camp. The Regiment is Consolidated into 
 a Battalion of Four Companies. General Hooker succeeds 
 General Burnside in Command of the Army. Corps Marks 
 are adopted. St. Patrick's Day in Camp. The President 
 visits and reviews the Army. " Home, Sweet Home". 
 
 Chapter IV 91 
 
 The Battle of Chancellorsville. The Regiment saves the 
 Guns pf the Fifth Maine Battery. 
 
 Chapter V 108 
 
 Chancellorsville to Gettysburg. General Couch leaves the 
 Second Corps, and is succeeded by General Hancock. 
 Company B is detailed to Division Headquarters as Provost 
 Guard. General Meagher resigns and takes leave of the 
 Brigade. Itinerary of the march to Gettysburg. 
 
Contents. ix. 
 
 Page 
 
 Chapter VI 119 
 
 Gettysburg — the Battle of the Century. Notes on the Battle. 
 Gettysburg to the Rapidan. Death of Lieutenant Bibighaus. 
 Orders received to organize six new Companies and raise the 
 Battalion to a Regiment. 
 
 Chapter VII 162 
 
 General G. K. Warren takes Command of the Second Corps. 
 Battle of Bristoe Station. Fight at Auburn, or Coffee Hill. 
 General Meagher, Colonel Peel and Marshal Prim visit the 
 Brigade. Reorganization of the Regiment. 
 
 Chapter VIII 182 
 
 The Wilderness Campaign. General Meade addresses the 
 Army. The Regiment Camps on the Battlefield of Chancellors- 
 ville. The Battle of May 5th and 5th. 
 
 Chapter IX 192 
 
 The Battle of Todd's Tavern or Corbin's Bridge. From 
 Prayer-meeting to Battle. A Religious Army. The Battle 
 of the Po. 
 
 Chapter X 205 
 
 Spottsylvania, May 12th. Lieutenant-Colonel Dale holds a 
 Prayer-meeting in the darkness of early morning. Glorious 
 Charge of the Regiment — among the very first to cross the 
 Enemy's Works. Capture of a Confederate Battery, several 
 Stands of Colors and many Prisoners. Colonel Dale falls 
 Dead in the Hour of Victory. Death of Lieutenant Keil. 
 Battle of Spottsylvania Court House, May i8th. Captain Lieb 
 greatly distinguishes himself. Battle of North Anna River, 
 May 24th. Fight at the Pamunkey River, May 28th. Battle 
 of Tolopotomy, May 30th and 31st. Lieutenant Yocum 
 distinguishes himself on the Picket Line. Colonel MulhoUand 
 wounded. 
 
X. Contents. 
 
 Page: 
 
 Chapter XI 234 
 
 The Bloodiest Spot on Earth -.—Fredericksburg, Chancel- 
 lorsville, Salem Church, The Wilderness, Spottsylvania, 
 Spottsylvania Court House, Todd's Tavern, Po River, 
 Bank's Ford. 
 
 Chapter XII ... 253: 
 
 Cold Harbor. Severe Losses in the Second Corps. Death 
 
 of Colonel Byrne, commanding Brigade. Losses in the 
 Regiment during the Month of May. 
 
 Chapter XIII 263, 
 
 The Command withdraws from the Works at Cold Harbor. 
 March over Historic Ground. Arrival before Petersburg. 
 Battle of June i6th. Splendid Charge of the Regiment. 
 Death of Colonel Kelly, commanding Brigade. Battle of 
 June i8th. General Birney takes Command of the Second 
 Corps. Battle of William's Farm, June 22d Severe Losses 
 in the Regiment. Captain Cosslett, Lieutenant Cope, Sergeant- 
 Major Burke and many of the Men captured by the Enemy. 
 General Mahone tells of the Fight. The Regiment leaves the 
 Irish Brigade. 
 
 Chapter XIV 283; 
 
 First Deep Bottom, or Strawberry Plains, July 27th and 28th. 
 Second Deep Bottom, August 14th and 15th. Terrible 
 Suffering from Excessive Heat. 
 
 Chapter XV 291 
 
 Battle of Reams Station. General Barlow leaves the Army 
 and is succeeded in Command of the Division by General 
 Nelson A. Miles. Heavy Fighting. Severe Loss in the 
 Regiment. Death of Captains Nowlen and Taggart. Captain 
 Crawford and Lieutenant Springer are captured by the Enemy. 
 Letter of the Confederate General Heth. 
 
Contents. xi_ 
 
 PaGB: 
 
 Chapter XVI 307 
 
 Siege of Petersburg. General Hancock's Letter. On the 
 Picket Reserve. Ghost Stories. Colonel MulhoUand returns 
 and assumes Command of the Brigade. "The Old Canteen." 
 
 Chapter XVII 321 
 
 Turning Movement against Lee's Right, October 27th. 
 Capture of a Confederate Fort. Death of Captain Henry D. 
 Price. Major Teed returns from Prison and resigns. A 
 Sunday Afternoon at Petersburg. Fight at Hatcher's Run, 
 December 9th. The last Christmas in the Army. Figl^t at 
 Hatcher's Run, February 5th. The Regiment is authorized 
 to place the Names of Nineteen Battles on the Colors. 
 
 Chapter XVIII 335. 
 
 Spring Time again. Battles of Gravelly Run and Five Forks. 
 Death of Lieutenant Brady. Fight at Sutherland Station. 
 Color Sergeant Kelly wounded. The Confederate Retreat. 
 Amelia Court House. Sailor's Creek. Farmville. Death of 
 General Smyth. Appomattox. Officers who were Prisoners 
 in the South return, and Major Cosslett tells of Prison Life. 
 Return March to Washington. Assassination of the President. 
 Lieutenant Tyrrell's Story of the Arrest of the Assassins. 
 The Regiment passes through Richmond. The last Review 
 in Washington. The last Muster on Gettysburg Field. 
 The Roster. 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Page 
 
 President Abraham Lincoln ... 84 
 
 Governor Andrew G. Curtin .... . . . . . 2 
 
 General U. S. Grant .... .... 192 
 
 Lieutenant-General Nelson A. Miles 292 
 
 Major-General Philip Sheridan ... . . 34? 
 
 Major-General George B. McClellan ... 24 
 
 Majok-General George G. Meade . 122 
 
 Major-General Ambrose Burnside 38. 
 
 Major-General Joseph Hooker 92 
 
 Major-General Edwin V. Sumner 72 
 
 Major-General Winfield S. Hancock 128 
 
 Major-General Darius N. Couch . . .... ... no 
 
 Major-General G. K. Warren 164 
 
 Major-General Andrew A. Humphreys ... ... . 332 
 
 Major-General David B. Birney ..... 272 
 
 Major-General Francis A. Barlow . i,. 284, 
 
 Major-General John R. Brooke 242 
 
 Brigadier-General Thomas Francis Meagher . . . . >I 12 
 
 Brigadier-General Thomas A. Smyth "f* 188 
 
 Brevet Brigadier-General James A. Beaver 168 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Richard C. Dale 216 
 
 Captain and Brevet Major Garrett Nowlen 300 
 
 Captain and Brevet Major Samuel Taggart -k 304 
 
 Captain and Brevet Major Henry D. Price .j 324 
 
 Captain George Halpin -V 312 
 
 Captain George F. Leppine 98 
 
 Lieutenant Robert B. Montgomery 56 
 
 Lieutenant .Eugene Brady 336 
 
 Lieutenant Christian Foltz . . . .48 
 
 Lieutenant Robert T. McGuire ... -K 54 
 
 Lieutenant William H. Bibighaus ... ... . . .-v. 160 
 
 Wilkes Booth, and Irons Intended for President Lincoln . 398 
 150th Pennsylvania Volunteers at McPherson's Barn . . 120 
 
 The Wilderness 182 
 
 Chancellorsville, after the Battle io6 
 
 Spottsylvania, One Year after the Battle 222 
 
 Bird's-Eve View of Battlefield of Gettysburg ' 118 
 
 The Regimental Monument at Gettysburg 402 
 
 Father Corby giving General Absolution on the Battle- 
 field at Gettysburg 408 
 
 Brevet Major-General St. Clair A. Mulholland . . Frontispiece 
 
BATTLES AND SKIRMISHES. 
 
 Charlestown, Va October i6, 
 
 Snicker's Gap, Va ■ . . November 12 
 
 Fredericksburg, Va December 12 and 13, 
 
 Chancellorsville, Va May i, 2, 3 and 4, 
 
 Gettysburg, Pa July 2 and 3, 
 
 Falling Waters, Md July 12 
 
 Auburn, Va . October 14, 
 
 Bristoe Station, Va October 14, 
 
 Mine Run, Va November 28 and 30, 
 
 Morton's Ford, Va Febmary 6. 
 
 Wilderness, Va May 5 and 6, 
 
 Todd's Tavern, Va May 8^ 
 
 Po River, Va. May 10, 
 
 Spottsylvania, Va May 12 
 
 Spottsylvania Court House, Va May 18 and 19 
 
 North Anna River, Va May 23, 
 
 Pamunkey River, Va May 28, 
 
 Tolopotomy, Va May 30 and 31 
 
 Cold Harbor, Va . June 3, 
 
 Assaults on Petersburg, Va. ... . . June 16, 17 and 18 
 
 William's Farm, Va. June 22 
 
 Siege of Petersburg, Va June 19, 1864, until March 28, 
 
 Deep Bottom, Va . . July 26 
 
 Strawberry Plains, Va August 14 to 18 
 
 Reams Station, Va August 25 
 
 Hatcher's Run, Va . December 9 
 
 Dabney's Mill, Va February 5 
 
 Gravelly Run and Five Forks, Va March 29 to April i 
 
 Sunderland Station, Va . . April 2 
 
 Amelia Court House, Va April 6, 
 
 Sailor's Creek, Va April 6, 
 
 Farmville, Va April 7 
 
 Appomattox, Va April 9, 
 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1863 
 1863 
 1863 
 1863 
 1863 
 1863 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1865 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1865 
 1865 
 1865 
 1865 
 1865 
 1865 
 1865 
 
ROLL OF HONOR. 
 
 ' Their bones are dust. 
 Their good swords rust. 
 Their souls are with the saints, we trust." 
 
 (The Dead of the 1 1 6th Pennsylvania Volunteers.) 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Richard C. Dale — killed at Spottsylvania, 
 May 12, 1864. 
 
 Captain and Brevet Major Garrett Nowlen— killed at Reams 
 Station, August 25, 1864. 
 
 Captain and Brevet Major Samuel Taggart— killed at Reams 
 Station, August 25, 1864. 
 
 Captain and Brevet Major Henry D. Price — killed at Petersburg, 
 October 27, 1864. 
 
 ■Captain George Halpin — died at close of war of disease contracted 
 in Confederate prison. 
 
 Lieutenant Robert MoNTGOMERY^killed at Fredericksburg, De- 
 cember 13, 1862. 
 
 Lieutenant Christian Foltz — killed at Fredericksburg, December 
 13, 1862. 
 
 Lieutenant Eugene Brady — killed at Five Forks, March 31, 1865. 
 
 Lieutenant Patrick Casey — died of gun-shot wound, September, 1862. 
 
 Lieutenant William H. Bibighaus — died in Washington, June, 1863. 
 
 Lieutenant Henry Keil — killed at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. 
 
 iiEUTENANT ROBERT T. McGuiRE — died at close of war of gun-shot 
 wound received at Fredericksburg. 
 
Roll of Honor. xv. 
 
 COMPANY "A" 
 
 Private John S. Altemus— died December, 1863, of wounds received 
 
 at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. 
 Private John Corloy — died in prison (Belle Island), date unknown ; 
 
 taken prisoner at Bristoe Station. 
 Sergeant Thomas Dougherty — drowned in Acquia Creek, Va., May 
 
 I, 1864. 
 Private Freeman Dyson — died at Petersburg, October, 1864. 
 Private John Goldey — killed at Petersburg, November 2, 1864 ; 
 
 wounded at Gettysburg. Grave 1295, Poplar Grove Cemetery, Va. 
 Paivate George Turner — killed at Gettysburg. 
 Private John Woodward — died in prison (Belle Island), date unknown ; 
 
 taken prisoner at Bristoe Station. 
 
 COMPANY "B" 
 
 Private Benjamin Cummings — died September 3, 1864. Buried at 
 
 Cyp Hill Cemetery, L. I. 
 Private James Carroll— killed at Petersburg, June 16, 1864. 
 
 Private Carter — buried at Winchester, Va. 
 
 Private Edward Fagan — killed at Spottsylvania Court House, May 18, 
 
 1864. 
 Private John S. Leguin — killed at South Side R. R., April 2, 1865. 
 Private James McHugh — died July, 1863. Buried in National 
 
 Cemetery, Philadelphia. 
 Private Manuel Martin — died July 19, 1863. Buried in National 
 
 Cemetery, Philadelphia. 
 Private John Rodgers— killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
 Private Charles Walting— died April 14, 1865. 
 Private William H. Brooks — died May 3, 1864. Buried in Cathedral 
 
 Cemetery, Philadelphia. 
 
 COMPANY "C" 
 
 Sergeant Francis Malin— killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. 
 
 Sergeant Franklin B. Missimer — killed at Fredericksburg, De- 
 cember 13, 1862. 
 
 Sergeant Elhanan W. Price — killed at Fredericksburg, December 
 13, 1862. 
 
xvi. The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Sergeant Thomas M. Rowland— killed at Fredericksburg, December 
 
 13, 1862. 
 Corporal William E. Martin — died December 13, 1862. 
 Corporal Samuel J. Willauer — killed at Fredericksburg, December 
 
 13, 1862. 
 Private George W. Biddle — killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 
 
 1862. 
 Private William Cawler — killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
 Private Robert A. Fulton — died December 25, 1864, at Annapolis, Md. 
 Private William Gallagher — died December 29, 1862, of wounds 
 
 received at Fredericksburg. 
 Private Anthony Heffner — killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. 
 Private A. S. Hendricks — died just after the battle of Fredericksburg. 
 Private Glenn Harrison — killed at Fredericksburg, December 13,1862. 
 Private John Hoop— killed at Deep Bottom, August 14, 1864. 
 Private Allen Landis — died October 2, 1864. 
 
 Private Aaron J. Landis — killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
 Private A. Landenberger — killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 
 
 1862. 
 Private David E. Major — died near Falmouth, November 17, 1862. 
 Private Michael Spencer — killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. 
 Private Daniel Ulrick— killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. 
 Private David Whitmeyer — died September 27, 1864, at City Point, Va. 
 
 COMPANY "D" 
 
 Sergeant Andrew E. Ker — killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
 Sergeant William L. Lott — killed at Reams Station, August 25, 1864. 
 Corporal John H. Curry (Color Guard)— killed at the Wilderness, 
 May 5, 1864. 
 
 Corporal John Hughes— died in prison, October 28, 1864 ; captured 
 at Reams Station. 
 
 Private John T. Benson— killed at battle of Wilderness, May 5, 1864, 
 Private Robert Conway— killed at battle of Wilderness, May 5, 1864. 
 Private Matthew Glasgow— died March 27, 1865. 
 Private Frederick Hilcar — died on the eve of the battle of the 
 Wilderness, May 4, 1864. 
 
Roll of Honor. xvii. 
 
 Private. James Hanna— died November 5, 1864; captured by the 
 enemy at Reams Station. 
 
 Private John Hughes— died October 9, 1864, of wounds received in 
 
 front of Petersburg. 
 Private John Huss— died November 11, 1864, in Salisbury Prison, 
 Private Jacob Mills— died on the way to Gettysburg. 
 Private John Morrissey— killed at Petersburg, June 29, 1864. 
 Private John Myers— died in Andersonville Prison, July 22, 1864. 
 Private Thomas O' Brian— died February 7, 1865. 
 Private John B. Quigley— died August 29, 1864, of wounds received 
 
 at Petersburg, June 16. 
 Private George Rushworth — killed at Chancellorsville. 
 Private Charles LeBos— died in Andersonville Prison, September 
 
 30, 1864, of wounds received at William's Farm, June 22, 1864. 
 Private Francis Sherin — killed at Gettysburg. 
 Private John A. Smith— died July 26, 1864. 
 Private Theodore A. Walker— killed at Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863. 
 
 COMPANY "E" 
 
 Sergeant Henry Kelly — died September, 1862. 
 
 Sergeant John Murrey — died in Andersonville Prison, date unknown. 
 Corporal Thomas Sharp — killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 
 Corporal Aaron Tomlinson — died at Alexandria, Va., June i8, 1864, 
 
 of wounds received at Cold Harbor, June 3. Grave 2181. 
 Corporal Lot Turney — killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 
 Corporal Henry Masters — died in Salisbury Prison, November 13, 
 
 1864 ; captured at Reams Station. 
 Private RichardjBarker — killed at Spottsylvania Court House, May 
 
 iS, 1864. 
 Private George A. Dodd— killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 
 Private Charles Elfert — killed at the Wilderness, May 6, 1864. 
 Private Jacob Yard — died November 25, 1864. 
 
 Private Frederick Lewders — killed at Deep Bottom, August 16, 1864 
 Private Hugh Laycock — died in Andersonville Prison, August 11, 1864. 
 Private John Logue — died December 25, 1864. 
 Private Thomas Murphy — died September 22, 1864. 
 Private Albert Nelson — died in Andersonville Prison, 1864. 
 
xviii. The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Private David Shannon— killed at Petersburg, June 16, 1864. 
 Private Silus Young — wounded and captured in Wilderness, died in 
 
 Salisbury Prison. 
 Private Wilson Turpin— killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 
 Private John M. Wiley — died in Andersonville Prison, October 10, 1864. 
 Private Malchoir Zang — killed at Po River, May 10, 1864. 
 Private George Adams— killed at Wilderness, May 5, 1864. 
 
 COMPANY "F" 
 Corporal Daniel B. Berkheiser — killed at Reams Station. 
 Corporal Chris Dieffenderfer — died in Salisbury (N. C. ) Prison. 
 Corporal William Moser— died June 14, 1864, of wounds received at 
 Cold Harbor. 
 
 Corporal Adam Wagner— killed at Petersburg, June 14, 1864. 
 
 Private Henry A. Berger— killed at Po River, May 10, j 864. 
 
 Private John A. Berger— killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 
 
 Private John Baxter — killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
 
 Private James Day— died in Salisbury Prison, December 20, 1864. 
 
 Private Joshua Evely— killed at Tolopotomy River, May 31, 1864. 
 
 Private John Freeze — died June 29, 1864. 
 
 Private Charles T. Houck— killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 
 
 Private John J. Hunker— died April 20, 1864. 
 
 Private Levi Herring — died September 13, 1864. 
 
 Private Louis Heinback— killed at Petersburg, June 16, 1864. 
 
 Private Peramus Hoffman — died October 14, 1864. 
 
 Private Joseph M. Johnston— killed at Po River, May lo, 1864. 
 
 Private Thomas Kramer— died March 13, 1S65. 
 
 Private Amos Reppert — died October 27, 1864. 
 
 Private Charles K. Reichert— died June 20, 1864, of wounds received 
 at Cold Harbor, June 3. 
 
 Private Joseph B. Reber— died in Salisbury Prison, January 26, 1865. 
 Private Nathan Raush— died July 22, 1864, of wounds received at 
 Petersburg, June 16, 1864. 
 
 Private Richard Shoener— killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 
 
 Private James White— killed in Wilderness, May 5, 1864. 
 
 Private John Wagner— died January 7, 1865. 
 
 Private John Webber— died in Andersonville Prison, September 7,1864. 
 
Roll of Honor. xix. 
 
 Private Joseph Wagner — died July 17, 1864, of wounds received at 
 
 Petersburg, June 22, 1864. 
 Private William Wanner — died January 5, 1865. 
 
 COMPANY "G" 
 
 Sergeant John C. Marley— killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 
 1862. 
 
 Corporal Abraham Foust — died at Richmond, Va., of wounds 
 
 received at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. 
 Private Adam Buchner— died in Andersonville Prison, July 27, 1864. 
 Private John Barr— died May 25, 1864. 
 Private John G. Cook — died November 7, 1862. 
 Private Thomas Cooper — killed at William's Farm, June 22, 1864. 
 Private Henry Deitzler — died March 28, 1865. 
 Private Edward L. Gebbert — died October 16, 1864. 
 Private Jacob Hummell — died in Andersonville Prison, date unknown. 
 Private John Heinback — died in Andersonville Prison, October 12, 
 
 1864. 
 Private William Heinback — died in Andersonville Prison, date 
 
 unknown. 
 Private S. Heinback — died in Andersonville Prison, August 14, 1864. 
 Private William Hare — killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
 Private George Kramer — killed at Fredericksburg, October 30, 1864. 
 Private James Kelly — killed at Frefdericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
 Private John C. Marberger— died September 8, 1864, of wounds 
 
 received at Reams Station. 
 Private Jonathan Mover— died August 12, 1864, of wounds received 
 
 at Cold Harbor. 
 Private Frank Puffenberger — killed at Spottsylvania Court House, 
 
 May 18, 1864. 
 Private Cyrus Ruck— died in prison August 17, 1864. Grave 4,952, 
 
 Poplar Grove Cemetery, Va. 
 Private Martin V. Ryan — ^died July 24, 1864. 
 Private Adam Sherman— killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 
 Private John Sherman — died June 30, 1864. 
 
 Private Henry H. Trumbo — killed at Spottsylvania May 12, 1864. 
 Private William Tucker — died August 5, 1864. 
 
XX. The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Private Squire H. Vannatta — died December 25, 1864. 
 
 Private Andrew Wilson — died in Salisbury Prison, February 10, 1865. 
 
 Private Franklin Wanner — died December 25, 1864. 
 
 Private John Walls— died of wounds received at Fredericksburg. 
 
 COIVIPANY "H" 
 
 Sergeant Henry W. Case — died August 13, 1864, of wounds received 
 
 at Spottsylvania, May 12. 
 Sergeant John Farley — killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
 First Sergeant John A. Graham — killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 
 Sergeant Frederick Shawn — died July 31, 1864, of wounds received 
 
 at Petersburg, June 24, 
 Corporal Horace Greenleaf — killed at Fredericksburg. 
 Corporal George Seip — died in prison at Salisbury, N. C. , November 
 
 8, 1864 ; captured at Reams Station. 
 Corporal James Slavin — killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
 Corporal William Wertz — killed at Spottsylvania Court House, May 
 
 18, 1864. 
 Private John Beilhartz — died in Andersonville Prison, October 14, 
 
 1864. 
 Private Rudolph Beiter — died June 23, 1864, of wounds received at 
 
 Cold Harbor. 
 Private John Door — died February 15, 1865. 
 
 Private John S. Freidle— died in Salisbury Prison, December 25, 1864. 
 Private Samuel S. Gillespie — killed at Five Forks, May 31, 1865. 
 Private John Haughy— died July 25, 1864, of wounds received at Cold 
 
 Harbor. 
 
 Private Calvin J. Lefever — died July 4, 1865. 
 
 - Private Frank Leonard — died in prison September lo, 1864. Grave 
 4958, Poplar Grove Cemetery, Va. 
 
 Private Charles McCarty— died in Salisbury Prison, January 10, 1865. 
 Private Daniel McCarty— killed at Fredericksburg. 
 Private C. Stetzler — died November 6, 1864. 
 Private Isaac Shultz — killed near Petersburg, October 8, 1864. 
 Private John Swisher— died July 31, 1864, of wounds received at Cold 
 Harbor. Buried in National Cemetery, Philadelphia. 
 
 Private Matthias Seifritz— died September 8, 1864, of wounds 
 received at Cold Harbor. 
 
Roll of Honor. xxi. 
 
 COMPANY "I" 
 Sergeant George Cole— killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
 Corporal Alexander Downey — died January 6, 1863, of wounds 
 
 received at Fredericksburg. 
 Private John Allen — died October 22, 1864, of wounds received at 
 
 Cold Harbor. 
 Private J. Carter— died March 15, 1864. 
 Private Patrick Fleming — killed at Wilderness, May 5, 1864. 
 Private William Gaw — killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
 Private Hannibal Hatch — killed at Wilderness, May 5, 1864. 
 Private William C. Harvey — died October 14, 1864. 
 Private Barthol W. Johnston — killed at Fredericksburg, December 
 
 13, 1862. 
 Private John Leech — killed at William's Farm, June 22, 1864. Grave 
 
 1 52 1, Poplar Grove Cemetery, Va. 
 Private Samuel McClune — killed at Fredericksburg. 
 Private Samuel Price — died July 11, 1864, of wounds received at Cold. 
 
 Harbor. 
 Private Edward Shea — died June 3, 1864, of wounds received at 
 
 Wilderness. 
 Private William A. Searight — died July 25, 1864, of wounds received 
 
 at Spottsylvania. 
 Private Albert J. Van Dien — killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. 
 Private Andrew Wallace — died in Andersonville Prison, July 10, 1864. 
 Private John Winchester — killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 
 
 1862. 
 
 COMPANY "K" 
 Sergeant Daniel Root— killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
 Sergeant Edward Spence — died June 24, 1864, of wounds received at 
 
 Petersburg, June i5. 
 Sergeant Warren S. Kilgore — killed at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. 
 Corporal Robert J. Brownfield — died June 12, 1864, of wounds 
 
 received at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. 
 Corporal Joseph Hudson — killed at Fredericksburg, December 13,1862 
 Private C. Burkholder— killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 
 Private John Burns — killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
 Private Henry J. Bell — killed at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. 
 
xxii. The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Private Parks A. Boyd — killed at Wilderness, May 5, 1864. 
 Private Daniel C. Crawford — killed at Spottsylvania Court House, 
 
 May 18, 1864. 
 Private Michael Clemmer — killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 
 Private William A. Conn — killed at Spottsylvania Court House, May 
 
 18, 1864. 
 Private Stephen H. Dean — died in Salisbury Prison, December 3, 1864. 
 Private Peter Finegan — killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 
 Private Levi Gilmore — died July r?, 1864, of wounds received at 
 
 Cold Harbor. 
 
 Private Robert Glendinning — died July 17, 1864, of wounds received 
 
 at Spottsylvania Court House. 
 Private Abraham Hull — died June 23, 1864. 
 Private George W. Hanan — killed in Wilderness, May 6, 1864. 
 Private John Haus — died in Andersonville Prison, August i, 1864. 
 Private John J. Hull — died, date unknown. 
 Private Thomas J. Hanan — died March 29, 1864. 
 Private Scott Hutchinson — died July, 1864. 
 Private William Hall — died, date unknown. 
 
 Private John H. Inks— died June 15, 1864, of wounds received at 
 Tolopotomy River. • 
 
 Private Joshua Luckey— died April 8, 1864. 
 
 Private Jacob Maust — died March 8, 1864. 
 
 Private David J. Rifle — killed at William's Farm, June 22, 1864. 
 
 Private Milton Rathburn— killed at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. 
 
 Private Danied Sickels— died in Andersonville Prison, July 9, 1864, 
 
 of wounds received at Spottsylvania. 
 Private James Smith— killed at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. 
 Private John W. Smith— died June 14, 1864, of wounds received at 
 
 Cold Harbor. 
 
 Private Joseph J. Smith— killed at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. 
 
 Private Benjamin Taylor — died May 5, 1864. 
 
 Private John Tiernan— killed in Battle of Wilderness, May 6, 1864. 
 
 Private Thomas Thorndell— killed at Five Forks, Va., March 31, 1865. 
 
 Private Newton Umble— died in Salisbury Prison, October 19, 1864. 
 
 Private John Williams— died February 9, 1863. 
 
 Private Thomas Wilson— killed at Fredericksburg. 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 JUNE, 1862. 
 
 "yHE War of the Rebellion had been in progress for over 
 a year. Great armies had been reorganized, and 
 great battles had been fought. The theatre of operations 
 had extended until it embraced a territory more vast than 
 ever occupied by any war in the world's history. Tens 
 of thousands of armed men were marching and fighting 
 on the long battle line that reached from Washington to 
 the Mississippi. McClellan, with the army of the Potomac, 
 had just fought and won the battle of Fair Oaks. Grant 
 had captured Forts Henry and Donaldson and, advancing 
 along the Tennessee, had fought and won at Pittsburg 
 Landing, and at Shiloh. 
 
 It seemed as though the Civil War between the 
 Northern and Southern States must soon end in triumph 
 and final victory for the former, but peace was still far 
 distant, and many thousands were yet to fall before the 
 end came, and as the days passed it became evident that 
 more stupendous efforts must be made by the general 
 government if the union of states was to be preserved, 
 so in the spring of this year (1862) a call was made for 
 more troops. Pennsylvania, the Keystone State, always 
 loyal and true, was prompt to respond, and the great 
 War Governor, Andrew G. Curtin, whose administration 
 extended over the six most eventful years of the Com- 
 monwealth's history, and whose memory will ever be 
 cherished in every home in all the State wherever the 
 name of a soldier is honored, quickly began the work of 
 organizing new regiments. 
 
2 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 The One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Infantry 
 was one of those then authorized. Dennis Heenan, a 
 well-known and much respected citizen of Philadelphia, 
 a soldier who had many years experience in the National 
 Guard of the State, who had risen from the ranks through 
 successive grades to that of Lieutenant-Colonel, and who 
 had served in that capacity for three months with the 
 Twenty-fourth Regiment during the Shenandoah Valley 
 Campaign, was chosen as Colonel. The writer of this 
 was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and George H. Bardwell, 
 Major. Major Bardwell had served in the beginning of 
 the war as Captain on the staff of General James S. 
 Negley. He came of a long line of soldiers, his fore- 
 fathers having been in every war in which the country 
 was ever engaged, even back to the earliest times in the 
 Indian wars, when the first of his name arrived in Boston 
 in 1660. 
 
 On the 11th of June, headquarters were opened on 
 Market Street above Seventh and recruiting actively 
 begun. A camp was established in a beautiful spot at 
 Jones's Woods, about three miles from the city, on the 
 Lancaster Pike. The first officer of the Regiment mustered 
 into the service of the United States was Edmund Randall, 
 First Lieutenant of Company G, the required number of 
 men being secured to entitle the company to an officer 
 of that grade, and on the 8th day of July Lieutenant 
 Randall was sworn in and took command of the new camp. 
 
 During the three summer months recruiting was slow, 
 as many other regiments were organizing at the same 
 time. In August the second battle of Bull Run, or 
 Manassas, was fought in Virginia and, being a defeat to 
 the Union troops and a disaster to the Union arms that 
 resulted in a menace and danger to the National Capitol, 
 
^^^^,^^-z^ 
 
 Omemor of Pennsylvania, 1861 to 1867 
 
Forming the Regiment. 3 
 
 more men became an urgent necessity, and, without 
 waiting for the completion of the organization, the 
 Regiment, on September 1st, was ordered to the front. 
 On that date only about seven hundred men had been 
 enrolled and the command started for Washington with 
 many of the companies incomplete. 
 
 Camp was broken on the afternoon of September 2d 
 and the Regiment, preceded by martial music, marched 
 into the city and through the principal streets to the 
 Cooper Shop Refreshment Saloon and, after enjoying an 
 excellent meal and spending the last hour in Philadelphia 
 in the most happy and agreeable manner, marched to 
 the depot of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore 
 Railroad and embarked" for Washington. 
 
 At the depot the crowd that accompanied the command 
 through the streets slowly dispersed. Mothers, wives and 
 sweethearts lingered on the platform until the very end, 
 with the last warm kisses — alas ! for many, the very last 
 on earth — still burning on their lips, and saw through 
 their fast-falling tears the train move sloarly away with 
 the loyed ones, many of whom would never return. 
 
 The train arrived in Baltimore early next morning 
 and, after being breakfasted by the citizens, proceeded 
 to Washington, arriving there September 3d. The roster 
 of the officers of the command was as follows : — 
 
 Colonel — Dennis Heenan. 
 Lieutenant-Colonel — St. Clair A. MulhoUand. 
 Major — George H. Bardwell. 
 Adjutant — J. Robinson Miles. 
 Quarter- Master — David S. Bunnell. 
 Surgeon — John P. Ashcom. 
 Assistant Surgeon — John W. Rawlins. 
 Assistant Surgeon — Philip A. Boyle. 
 
The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Chaplain— Rev. Edward McKee. 
 Sergeant-Major — George M. Book. 
 Quarter-Master Sergeant — George McMahon. 
 Commissary Sergeant — Daniel Reen. 
 Hospital Steward — Frederick Wagner. 
 
 COMPANY "a". 
 
 Captain — vacant. 
 
 First Lieutenant — William M. Hobart. 
 
 Second Lieutenant — Henry D. Price. 
 
 COMPANY "b". 
 
 Captain — Thomas Murray. 
 
 First Lieutenant — Timothy J. Hurley. 
 
 Second Lieutenant — 
 
 COMPANY "c". 
 
 Captain — John Teed. 
 
 First Lieutenant — Seneca G. Willauer. 
 
 Second Lieutenant — John B. Parker. 
 
 COMPANY "d". 
 
 Captain — William A. Peet. 
 
 First Lieutenant — Jacob Ridgway Moore. 
 
 Second Lieutenant — George L. Reilly. 
 
 COMPANY "e". 
 
 Captain — John McNamara. 
 
 First Lieutenant — Joseph H. G. Miles. 
 
 Second Lieutenant — Robert J. McGuire. 
 
 COMPANY "f". 
 
 Captain — vacant. 
 
 First Lieutenant — Joseph B. Kite. 
 
 Second Lieutenant — Louis J. Sacriste. 
 
ANDREW G. CURTIN 
 Died, 1894 
 
In Washington. 
 
 COMPANY " G". 
 
 Captain — Lawrence Kelly. 
 
 First Lieutenant— Edmund Randall. 
 
 Second Lieutenant — Garrett Nowlen. 
 
 COMPANY "h". 
 Captain — John Smith. 
 First Lieutenant — Francis T. Quinlan. 
 Second Lieutenant — vacant. 
 
 COMPANY "_i". 
 Captain — vacant. 
 First Lieutenant — John Stevens. 
 Second Lieutenant — Robert B. Montgomery. 
 
 COMPANY "k". 
 
 Captain— John O'Neill. 
 
 First Lieutenant — Patrick Casey. 
 
 Second Lieutenant — Bernard Loughery. 
 
 IN WASHINGTON. 
 
 SEPTEMBER 3d, 1862. 
 
 After a rest at the Baltimore and Ohio Depot, which 
 was then at the foot of Capitol Hill, the ranks were formed. 
 Officers put on their white gloves, tightened their belts, 
 stepped briskly to their posts and drew their bright and 
 untried swords. The men straightened up and tried to 
 look their best, touched elbows toward the guide, " col- 
 umn forward, guide right, march ! " and in column of 
 company front the Regiment swept up the broad avenue, 
 but, much to their astonishment, no one seemed to mind 
 the new soldiers a bit. The martial music and fine 
 marching were all wasted and thrown away. Ambulances 
 
6 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 dashed past, mounted orderlies rushed here and there, 
 officers galloped in all directions, but everyone seemed 
 too busy to pause and admire the new command. No 
 crowds of interested citizens were gathered to see it pass, 
 no bevies of pretty ladies waved " good-bye " — the good 
 people of Washington had become accustomed to the 
 music and marching. Five hundred regiments had passed 
 over the same pavement within a few months, and this 
 one furnished no new spectacle ; and so it moved along 
 and wheeled into Seventh Street, en roiite for Long 
 Bridge. 
 
 As the corner was turned, every man looked back at 
 the Capitol — that splendid mass of Virginian marble tow- 
 ering to the skies — the majestic home of the Republic. 
 The flag floated over the Senate and House where eight 
 of the States had then no representatives. The dome was 
 still in course of erection ; the colossal statue of Liberty 
 had not as yet been placed in position, and the men who 
 were filing across the Potomac were going there to deter- 
 mine, by force of arms, whether the nation, like the 
 Capitol, should still remain unfinished or Liberty find a 
 resting place in the calm heavens high above the halls of 
 Congress — whether we should remain one country, a 
 single people with but one destiny and one flag, or be 
 torn into fragments with one portion of the land dedicated 
 to human slavery ! 
 
 Over the Long Bridge into Virginia ! A hot, sultry 
 day it was, and the dust, settling on the new uniforms, 
 dimmed the bright blue, so that by the time a halt was 
 called a dull gray was the prevailing color. 
 
 And then the first taste of camp life, the excitement 
 of getting up the tents, lighting the first camp-fire, cook- 
 ing the first camp coffee, eating the first " hard tack ", 
 
The First Taste of Camp Life. 7 
 
 mounting the first camp guard, and the hundred interest- 
 ing incidents, so new, so fresh and so full of charm to the 
 young patriots. 
 
 Then the dress parade — " arms stacked on the color 
 line!" the sentries' monotonous tread; the "retreat" 
 and, from the neighboring fort, the evening gun ; the sad, 
 sweet notes of " tattoo " sounding from the many camps 
 and echoing from the woods and hills, all so charming to 
 the men who, until now, had only been playing soldiers, 
 and who, but so short a time before, had been playing the 
 more peaceful role of workmen, busy in the marts of trade, 
 wielding the implements of industry in the factory or 
 following the white wings of commerce over distant seas. 
 Then a comrade's welcome greeting, for in the evening 
 the men from many other regiments swarmed into camp 
 to meet the new comers. Ah ! now indeed, it was real 
 war. Now they were in the enemy's country, among real 
 veterans who had been in. real battles and showed real 
 scars and told wonderful tales of hair-breadth escapes and 
 fierce encounters. 
 
 One of the first visitors (Colonel McGrorty, Sixty-first 
 Ohio) had been shot clean through the lungs, and the 
 wound was still open, but he was on duty, and to-morrow 
 he was going with an escort of cavalry to visit the battle- 
 field of Bull Run to see about burying the dead. " Would 
 any one like to go along?" Yes, the Major could go. 
 He is the one officer of a regiment who seems to have no 
 particular duty to perform and can run around and enjoy 
 life — so he can go. 
 
 But just think ! here at last, right in front of the 
 enemy. Their pickets were just beyond the hill, and only 
 an hour or two of a gallop and one could look on a real 
 battlefield where the dead were still unburied. One of 
 
8 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 the men picked up a real minie^ball, and a real shell 
 that had been fired by a Confederate gun. Ah, what an 
 evening it was ! And how eagerly the embryo heroes 
 drank in the stories of camp and field with which the 
 veteran visitors regaled them. 
 
 Night came at last. The newly made friends departed, 
 the moon rose calm' and serene, and the ranks lay down 
 to sleep — to sleep and dream — to dream of home and 
 friends, of mother's last blessing, of sister's last farewell, 
 of wife and children who, in old Pennsylvania, were pray- 
 ing at that same hour for the loved ones absent, of the dear 
 girl that gave him the last embrace, and whom he hopes 
 some day, when this cruel war is over, to call his own. 
 
 Alas ! how many of those homes will only be seen in 
 dreams again. How many mothers, sisters and sweet- 
 hearts will pray always for their soldier, but will look in 
 vain for his return. 
 
 How many of the dreamers will never cross the 
 Potomac again ! 
 
 The first camp of the Regiment on the soil of Virginia 
 was established at Fort Craig, on Arlington Heights. 
 Here the command remained for two days, the men greatly 
 impressed with the new life and strange surroundings. 
 Everywhere the evidence of active service and real war 
 was visible. The earth was torn up in all directions, and 
 strong forts topped every hill, a part of the immense line 
 of earthworks raised to cover and protect the National 
 Capitol, that was in plain view four or five miles away on 
 the other side of the broad Potomac. September 6th, 
 returned to Washington and drew ammunition and camp 
 equipage. The arm furnished to the command was the 
 "old pattern musket", that was loaded with a ball 
 (calibre 69) and three buckshot. Sixty rounds were given 
 
The First Taste of Camp Life. 9 
 
 to each man. On Sunday morning, September 7th, the 
 Regiment was ordered to march to Rockville, Md., and 
 report to General D. N. Couch, commanding the Second 
 Army Corps. Marched all day and reported as ordered, 
 and immediately received orders to countermarch, return 
 towards the Capitol and report to Colonel Morris, com- 
 manding the defences north of Washington. September 
 ■8th was spent in marching for the new field of duty and 
 on the evening of that day the Regiment went into camp 
 near Tennallytown. Here it remained until the 18th, and 
 the time was well spent in drill and learning the many and 
 various duties incidental to active warfare. Many of the 
 men learned for the first time that the pick and spade were 
 as much implements of war as the musket and bayonet. 
 What astonishment was depicted in their faces, when a 
 large detail for fatigue duty faced a wagonload of intrench- 
 ing tools, and each one had to turn in for a long day's 
 work. An officer of engineers of the regular army was in 
 charge, and gave the men their first lesson in the very 
 important branch of duty, "field fortifications". The 
 work on which the Regiment worked for two weeks was 
 a, square redoubt, with abatis in front. The work, though 
 of a very simple character, was most valuable to the com- 
 mand in teaching the important matter of getting under 
 cover quickly, and of using the earth, rocks, trees, and 
 everything that nature places within reach, as a means of 
 gaining the end desired. The new soldiers were quick to 
 learn, and after ten days of the work, it seemed almost 
 wonderful to hear how each one could talk with facility on 
 the subject. Lunettes; redans and bastion forts, curtains, 
 palisades, chevaux-de-frise, gabions, fascines, and many 
 ■other military terms to which nearly all had been strangers 
 a week before, became as familiar words, and were rattled 
 
10 The Story of the iiSth Regiment. 
 
 off by glib tongues in the most astonishing manner. The 
 work with the pick and shovel soiled the new clothes 
 somewhat, and the line did not look quite so bright on 
 "dress parade'', but, after becoming thoroughly accH- 
 matized to Virginia dust and mud, a little dirt was not 
 regarded with horror. 
 
 September 18th, marched to a point between Hall's 
 Hill and Ariington Heights, near the Glebe House, and 
 went into camp about six miles from Washington. 
 Remained here until the 21st, when orders were received 
 assigning the command to the Eleventh Army Corps, and 
 to report to General Franz Seigel^ commanding, at Fairfax 
 Court House. September 23d, established camp within 
 half a mile of that ancient town, and spent a week in 
 vigorous work, the Regiment being drilled and instructed 
 by General Steinweir, a Prussian officer of distinction. 
 October 6th, the Regiment was ordered to proceed 
 to Harper's Ferry and become a part of the famous 
 Irish Brigade, commanded by General Thomas Francis 
 Meagher. On the afternoon of that day broke camp, 
 marched towards Washington, and formed camp near 
 Bailey's Cross Roads. Entered Washington, en route, 
 October 9th, and drew overcoats for the command. Left 
 via Baltimore and Ohio R. R. 
 
 ARRIVAL AT HARPER'S FERRY. 
 
 The train carrying the Regiment arrived at Sandy 
 Hook, near Harper's Ferry, at daybreak, October 10th. 
 The men woke up and tumbled out of the cars, sore, 
 sleepy and tired and formed line and, as the sun came 
 over the hills, slowly moved through Harper's Ferry and 
 climbed up the steep incline to Bolivar Heights. A halt 
 for breakfast on the crest, and the men lit their little fires 
 
Arrival at Harper' s Ferry. H 
 
 on ground that was literally covered with fragments of 
 Confederates' shells, rested on the spot where Colonel 
 Miles had made his stand and where he had surrendered 
 to the enemy but a week or two before. Judging by the 
 looks of the ground and evidence of the struggle one 
 would think that he had reason to give up the fight when 
 he did, the whole ground being strewn with pieces of 
 shells, round shot, and debris of the battle. 
 
 While the boys were eating and looking around at 
 the magnificent scenery, a very amusing though rather 
 serious incident occurred. A regiment from Maine, a new 
 regiment also, came up to join the Second Corps and 
 halted to prepare breakfast, and finding plenty of thirty- 
 pound parrot shells lying around used them to build 
 fire-places — forming four or five of the oblong bolts in a 
 ring with the points up, making an excellent resting place 
 for the coffee pot. But when the fire in the centre began 
 to roar and crackle and the coffee to boil, the shells began 
 to explode, much to the amazement of the boys from the 
 Pine Tree State. Half a dozen of the cooks were wounded, 
 the coffee spilled, the whole corps had a good laugh, and 
 the men of Maine had learned something. 
 
 Whilst eating breakfast, Colonel Moorehead, of the 
 One Hundred and Sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, rode up 
 to shake hands and bid the men welcome. At noon the 
 Regiment fell in, marched over to the headquarters of 
 the Irish Brigade and reported for duty. The Adjutant 
 General, Major Tom O'Neill, assigned the command a spot 
 on Bolivar Heights, on a bluff overlooking the Shenandoah 
 River, on which to pitch camp, and the streets were soon 
 measured off and tents erected. Towards evening, when 
 matters had gotten into something like order, the Brigade 
 Commander, General Thomas Francis Meagher, came to 
 
12 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 make a visit of courtesy to his new command. He came 
 in state, splendidly mounted, and surrounded by a 
 brilliant staff, the members of which seemed to wear a 
 deal more gold lace than the regulations called for. 
 Meagher was a handsome man, stately and courteous, with 
 a wonderful flow of language and poetic ideas. When the 
 canteen had been passed around the conversation became 
 animated, Meagher displaying a most gracious manner 
 that was captivating and charming to a remarkable degree, 
 forming a strange contrast to his mood at times when he 
 tried to be stern and when his manner was not so affable. 
 A pleasant evening it was and, when the General and his 
 gorgeous staff rode away in the darkness, he left a pleasing 
 impression behind him. Whilst at Harper's Ferry the 
 state and national colors were presented to the Regiment 
 with great ceremony, the presentation being made on 
 behalf of Pennsylvania, by Samuel P. Bates, deputy 
 secretary of the Commonwealth, Sergeant William H. 
 Tyrrell, of Company K, being selected to carry the flag. 
 The camp at Harper's Ferry will always be remembered 
 by the members of the Regiment with pleasure. The weeks 
 spent there were full of enjoyment. Plenty of drills and 
 work, to be sure, but still time enough for visiting through 
 the camps and rambles through the old, historic town. 
 The ruins of the Engine House where old John Brown 
 made his last stand was a point of great interest to all. 
 The magnificent scenery, the bright, sunshiny days, and 
 the visit to the army of many ladies all lent a charm to 
 the new life. That truly lovely woman, Mrs. General 
 Thomas Francis Meagher, spent a week or two in camp, 
 and many other wives of officers took advantage of the 
 peaceful days to visit the army. Then there was the 
 frequent target practice down by the river bank, where 
 
BRIGADIER-GENERAL THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHER 
 
Arrival at Harper' s Ferry. 13 
 
 the boys fired away at imaginary Confederates and filled 
 trees full of buck and ball, with an implied understanding- 
 that the trunks were Confederate Generals ; the quiet 
 picket line, three miles out towards Halltown ; the evening 
 camp fire, reviews, martial music, and all the pomp and 
 display of war, rendered the days pleasing indeed. 
 
 The brigade to which the Regiment had been assigned 
 was a celebrated one, renowned for hard fighting and 
 famous fun. 
 
 Instinctively one associates an Irishman with dash and 
 courage, whether viewed as the presiding genius at Donny- 
 brook Fair or as the leader of armies. The very name 
 of this brigade was redolent of dash and gallantry of 
 precision of evolution and promptness of action. It was 
 commanded successively by General Thomas Francis 
 Meagher (and was often referred to as Meagher's Brigade); 
 Colonel Patrick Kelly, who was afterwards killed at 
 Petersburg ; General Thomas A. Smyth, who lost his 
 life while in command of another brigade ; and Colonel 
 Richard Byrnes, who was killed in battle at Cold Harbor. 
 
 The First Division, Second Corps, of which the Regi- 
 ment had now become a part was known as Hancock's 
 Division, and is celebrated as having done the hardest 
 fighting and sustained the greatest loss of life. Within 
 its ranks were the Irish Brigade, the Fifth New Hampshire, 
 the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania, the 
 Sixty-fourth New York and other crack regiments. The 
 losses aggregated 2,287 killed, 11,724 wounded, and 4,833 
 missing, making the appalling total of 18,844 men killed 
 or wounded in this division during the war, yet it never 
 at any one time numbered over 8,000 muskets. After 
 the charge on Marye's Heights, which bloody assault it 
 made under Hancock, it numbered only 2,800. Richard- 
 
14 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 son, its first commander, fell at Antietam. The Irish 
 Brigade consisted of the Sixty-ninth, Eighty-eighth and 
 Sixty-third New York and Twenty-ninth Massachusetts 
 Regiments. The three former were Irish regiments, the 
 latter like the One Hundred and Sixteenth being com- 
 posed principally of Americans and placed in the brigade 
 temporarily. The men quickly fraternized with the old 
 regiments and were soon fast friends. There was very 
 little sickness in the command and not one death during 
 the time it was camped at Bolivar Heights, but in many 
 other Pennsylvania regiments camped nearby there was a 
 great deal of fever and many funerals. It seemed strange 
 that the men of the Regiment, chiefly from the city, from 
 the factory and workshop, should stand the exposure of 
 the camp better than the men who came from the country. 
 The farmer boys fell quickly under the new conditions of 
 life and the citizen proved to have more stamina and 
 better able to endure the vicissitudes of a campaign — and 
 this rule seemed to hold good during the entire war. 
 
 At Harper's Ferry the command improved rapidly in 
 every duty of the soldier. The picket line near Halltown 
 ran through a delightful country. Firewood and food 
 were plentiful, and picket duty was a pleasure rather than 
 a pain. At one point the line ran between two farm- 
 houses in which resided lovers — the boy within the 
 Union line and his lady-love over the border. Neither 
 were permitted to communicate, but they would come as 
 close to the picket as allowable and look sweet at each 
 other. Happy was the officer of the day who could eat 
 breakfast with the lover and then cross the line and dine 
 in the house of the beloved. He was sure to fare well in 
 return for any brief message that he might carry. 
 
 While in camp at Bolivar Heights, General Edwin V. 
 
Arrival at Harper' s Ferry. 15 
 
 Sumner was succeeded in command of the second corps 
 by General D. N. Couch, and here the Regiment first met 
 that prince of soldiers, General Winfield Scott Hancock, 
 then commanding the division and with whom the future 
 was to be so closely linked — whom the command was to 
 follow on so many bloody fields and whom all so soon 
 learned to love and honor as one of the greatest of soldiers. 
 On the evening of October 15th orders were received to 
 march at daybreak next morning on a reconnoissance down 
 the Shenandoah valley to Charlestown. What an evening 
 of pleasurable excitement with a dash of anxiety it was ! 
 Men sat around the camp fires later than usual and talked 
 of the morrow ; or rolled up in their blankets, dozed and 
 dreamed of the anticipated fight, for all knew that there 
 would be a meeting of some kind, as a Confederate force 
 was within a few miles. Candles flickered all over the 
 camp where others were writing letters home, thinking 
 maybe that that would be their last night on earth. Some 
 packed their knapsacks and were all ready to march hours 
 before the dawn. No doubt many never slept at all, but 
 sat by the smouldering embers of the camp fire in quiet 
 thought, gazing at the dark mountains or listening to the 
 wash of the Shenandoah's waters. One can hardly imagine 
 a moment so full of subdued excitement, anticipative hope, 
 fear, sadness, pleasure and all the emotions that human 
 nature is subject to as the eve of a young soldier's first 
 battle, and as the stars looked down on the calm, still 
 night at Harper's Ferry they shone on many a beating, 
 though brave, young heart ; and on the morning of that 
 eventful day when the new soldiers were to hear the whistle 
 of the first hostile bullet, no reveille was necessary to call 
 them to arms. Every man was ready long before the time 
 to move. 
 
16 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 The reconnoissance was made by the First Division, 
 Second Corps, reinforced by Campbell's company of Horse 
 Artillery and Tomkin's Rhode Island Battery and a 
 squadron of cavalry. The column soon struck the enemy's 
 picket which, after a few shots, retired towards the village 
 of Charlestown. 
 
 When within three miles or so of the town the advance 
 suddenly encountered the enemy. The two batteries 
 galloped to the front and the cavalry passed to the rear. 
 The infantry filed into the fields on each side of the road, 
 quickly formed line and advanced. (Meagher compli- 
 mented the Regiment by giving it the right of the 
 brigade). Summer lingered late that year. Stacks of 
 hay not yet gathered into the barns were still in the 
 fields. The meadows were yellow with goldenrod, and the 
 regimental line was formed in a field still green with rich 
 clover. Ah, how beautiful that bright October morning 
 when for the first time the command formed line to meet 
 the enemy, every face in the ranks beaming with 
 patriotism, courage, enthusiasm and hope in that long line 
 of young men, the best of the land, men who had risked 
 their precious lives in defence of their country. The calm 
 bravery with which they swept over the fiowered fields on 
 that Autumn morning was indicative of what was to be 
 expected on many other and bloodier fields that were to 
 be fought before the glorious morning of Appomattox 
 was to end the battles and the marches. 
 
 The batteries went into, position near some large trees. 
 Shells began to fiy and were seen bursting among the 
 guns. Then the order to advance ; and when volunteers 
 were called for, to go ahead and tear down the "fences, 
 every one was anxious to be first to rush into what would 
 seem to be a dangerous duty. How they made the fences 
 
Arrival at Harper' s Ferry. 17 
 
 fly and clear the way ! Then the advance in the clear, 
 bracing air. Oh, it was glorious war at last ! Shells 
 screaming and bursting and the guns roaring and echoing. 
 But while men were killed and wounded in the batteries, 
 so far as the command was concerned the fight amounted 
 to but sound and smoke, for not a man of the Regiment 
 was hit. The force of the enemy proved to be but one 
 battery of artillery supported by some cavalry which, after 
 a vigorous exchange of shots, retired before the advancing 
 infantry. Column was formed again and the march to 
 Charlestown resumed. When passing the spot where the 
 batteries stood the men had a chance to see a little of the 
 horrors, as well as the glories, of a fight. Men were 
 already digging shallow graves in which to bury bleeding 
 masses of human flesh and bones that a few moments 
 before had been men full of life and vigor, standing by 
 their guns and in turn hurling death and defiance — the 
 wounded were being carried to the rear on stretchers from 
 which warm blood was dripping. Mammoth trees had 
 been pierced through by the shells, and the earth was 
 rent and torn in all directions. The Confederates, consid- 
 ering their numbers, had made a most gallant defence and 
 only yielded ground when the long line of Union infantry 
 advanced. The battery that had fought the Union guns 
 so nobly proved to be the Richmond Howitzer Artillery, 
 commanded by Captain B. H. Smith, Jr. The brave fel- 
 low with his leg shot off was lying by the roadside, 
 rejoicing that his guns got away safely. The division 
 occupied Charlestown without further opposition and 
 about one hundred Confederate soldiers were found in a 
 church that had been turned into a hospital. They 
 became prisoners. Lieutenant Edmund Randall, of Com- 
 pany G, was detailed to take charge of and parole them. 
 
18 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 The Regiment bivouacked in the field where old John 
 Brown had been hanged, and great interest was manifested 
 when the men learned of the fact. After dark the rain 
 fell in torrents, soaking everyone. Lieutenant Frank T. 
 Quinlan was sent out in command of the picket and 
 reported next morning that his line had been charged in 
 the darkness by a flock of sheep with, it was thought, a 
 serious loss of life on behalf of the latter. Remaining in 
 the town until evening of the following day, the whole 
 command started on the return to Harper's Ferry and 
 camped in the fields near Halltown during the night. 
 Quite a jolly evening it was. Everyone was in overflowing 
 spirits. The camp fires crackled on all sides. Plenty of 
 fence rails, and even fresh bread, seemed to come from 
 somewhere, and fresh pork Was plentiful. The Regiment 
 had not lost a man, to be sure, but had seen a genuine 
 fight, heard the scream of the shells and seen a caisson 
 blown up and men knocked over. Surely it was a taste 
 of real war and now everyone could almost begin to feel 
 like veterans. 
 
 While stationed at Harper's Ferry a call was made for 
 volunteers to fill up the depleted ranks of some of the 
 field batteries of the regular army. Twelve men of the 
 Regiment volunteered and were transferred to Battery A, 
 Fourth Artillery, where they served until the close of the 
 war. Of the number, Michael Hickey, William Miller, 
 Joseph Meander and John McCormack were wounded at 
 Gettysburg, and Francis Tracey was wounded at Shiloh ; 
 and Patrick Mullin greatly distinguished himself at 
 Gettysburg, the gallant young Captain Gushing falling 
 in his arms when killed. 
 
 October 26th tents were struck, and in the evening 
 the army left Harper's Ferry, the Second Corps in the lead. 
 
Leaving Harper's Ferry. 19 
 
 The Regiment, crossing the Shenandoah River on a 
 pontoon bridge, passed around the base of Louden 
 Heights into the valley, after marching three miles, and 
 bivouacked — a cold uncomfortable night with a dash of 
 snow, enough to whiten the ground, and a heavy frost, 
 the first of the season and very early for that part of 
 Virginia. , Next day marched to Key's Pass where the 
 command rested for a day and was mustered for pay. The 
 pay-rolls sent off, moved on again, November 1st. 
 
 November 2d, reached Snicker's Gap. Some cavalry 
 were observed hovering on the left of the column, while 
 the mountains of the Blue Ridge and Gap were on the 
 right. It seemed improbable that the force could be a 
 Confederate one, yet impossible that it could be Union 
 troops, so Major Tom O'Neill, of the brigade staff, 
 borrowing a guidon from one of the batteries, dashed over 
 the fields to interview the strangers, Major George H. 
 Bardwell galloping after him. O'Neill got there first and 
 discovered, much to his annoyance, that he was a prisoner 
 in the hands of a squadron of Confederate cavalry. 
 Bardwell, discovering the mistake in time, wheeled around 
 and made for his own column again and got away safely, 
 although the boys in gray sent a shower of shots after 
 him. Skirmishers were quickly thrown out and line of 
 battle formed but after exchanging a few shots the 
 cavalry withdrew out of sight and got away, only to be 
 captured by one of the Union cavalry regiments the same 
 evening. Major Tom O'Neill being re-captured and 
 restored to the brigade. On the afternoon of Novefnber 
 4th the Second Corps reached Upperville, the cavalry in 
 front having an artillery duel with some of Stuart's 
 Confederate Cavalry who were trying to escape through 
 Ashby's Gap. 
 
20 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 November 6th, arrived at Rectortown, and on the 7th 
 went into camp at Warrenton. The march down the 
 Louden valley had been of the most delightful character. 
 The weather, after the first night out, was charming — the 
 air pure, clear and bracing^and as by slow marches the 
 column moved along each day through a beautiful country, 
 with the mountains of the Blue Ridge blazing with all the 
 brilliancy of " Indian Summer", the fields aglow with the 
 flowers of Autumn, the hearts of all were filled with joy. 
 The evening camp fires during this period were the most 
 enjoyable. The valley, as yet, had not been denuded of 
 provisions ; chickens, mutton and pork were plentiful, and 
 fence rails made bright fires. Game was often added to 
 the camp kettle, rabbits and partridges being in abund- 
 ance, and one of the oddest incidents of the march was 
 the swarms of rabbits that would go hopping over the 
 fields in front of the line of battle as it swept across the 
 country when the enemy would appear. At the same 
 time coveys of partridge would rise from the stubble and 
 in bewilderment and fright fly into the men's faces. The 
 negro servants caught quantities of the poor birds and 
 killed thousands of rabbits. The odorous woods that 
 skirted the base of the hills furnished lovely spots for the 
 bivouac. The Regiment enjoyed all the good things 
 perhaps with a zest greater than that of the others around 
 us, for it had not as yet lost a man, and the jest, story 
 and song that passed the evening hours away were not 
 yet saddened by the thought of the comrade who -^yas 
 missing and whose march was done. 
 
 At Warrenton, General McClellan left the army and 
 General Burnside assumed command. On the morning 
 of November 15th the march was resumed in the direction 
 of Fredericksburg. The march was steady but with all- 
 
The First Death in the Regiment. 21 
 
 night rests, and on the evening of the 17th the Regiment 
 camped in a field within three miles of Fredericksburg. 
 Shortly after dark on this evening, David E. Major, an 
 enlisted man of Company C, became violently ill and died 
 inside of an hour, the first death in the Regiment. His 
 comrades sat around him in silence, talked of his sudden 
 departure, of his boyhood, home and friends. Many of 
 his comrades had been his schoolmates and all felt his 
 death deeply. He was tenderly wrapped in his blanket 
 and prepared for burial next day, but at midnight orders 
 came to march at daybreak and so the boy had to be 
 buried at once. The men of Company C were awakened 
 and, forming in line, formed a silent and sorrowful little 
 procession. The body was carried back for a mile to a 
 little church-yard that had been passed on the road the 
 evening before. The body was laid on the ground while 
 his companions stood sorrowfully around. Pine torches 
 lit up the woods and gave light to the men who with pick 
 and shovel got ready the lonely grave. The chaplain 
 said a prayer, and so at midnight the first brave boy of 
 the Regiment was laid at rest, his blanket marked "U. S." 
 his only shroud. The tears of his comrades sanctified 
 the soil where they laid him, and though buried far from 
 his home in old Pennsylvania, hands as gentle and loving 
 as brothers' gave him the last sad rest. 
 
 " No useless coffin enclosed his breast, 
 Nor in sheet nor in shroud we wound him, 
 But he lay like a warrior taking his rest 
 With his martial cloak around him." 
 
 Early the next morning, November 18th, the corps 
 marched on and the Regiment went into camp in the woods 
 about a mile and a half from the old village of Falmouth. 
 A general feeling prevailed that the year's campaign was 
 
22 
 
 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 ended and winter quarters were next in order. The pine- 
 covered hills and undulating slopes of meadow land, 
 broken up by the/unning brooks and rippling streams, 
 furnished the most inviting sites for pleasant camps, and 
 soon the dark woods were lit up by camp fires. Camp 
 fires fifty feet long — whole trees cut down, piled up and 
 forever kept cheerfully crackling and burning — around 
 which the whole company would gather and, with their 
 faces ruddy with the pleasant glow, spend the long 
 evenings in uproarious fun, the day being filled up with 
 marching, drilling, inspection and reviews without limit. 
 Thus passed three of the most agreeable weeks ever 
 remembered in the Regiment. This camp, which the 
 command was destined to occupy for six months, was 
 arranged strictly in accordance with regulations. The 
 streets were laid out with a view of allowing the tall pine 
 trees to stand, and these were the source of greatest 
 pleasure, sheltering alike from sunshine and storm. The 
 ground was on the rise of a hill, and generally healthful. 
 A few, however, succumbed to the usual camp fever and 
 sickness due to exposure. Corporal William E. Martin, 
 of Company C, died a few days before the battle of 
 Fredericksburg. He was an excellent soldier and greatly 
 beloved by his comrades. Several changes took place 
 in the personnel of the officers : Lieutenant J. Ridgway 
 Moore, of Company D, was detailed as Aid-de-Camp on 
 the staff of General David B. Birney, serving in that 
 capacity until the end of the war and greatly distinguish- 
 ing himself ; Lieutenant William H. Hobart, of Company 
 A, was detailed to the staff of General Winfield S. Hancock 
 as Provost Marshal of the division, and he never re-joined 
 the Regiment, but remained until the end of the war at 
 Division Headquarters. The Twenty-ninth Regiment, 
 
Changes in the Regiment. 23 
 
 Massachusetts Infantry, Colonel Pierce, was detached from 
 the Irish Brigade and replaced by the Twenty-eighth 
 Regiment from the same State, commanded by Colonel 
 Richard Byrnes, an officer of the regular army, and who 
 was afterwards killed at Cold Harbor. 
 
24 The Story of the ii6ih Regiment. 
 
 CHAPTER 11. 
 
 FREDERICKSBURG. 
 
 T N the early days of November, 1862, the mountains of 
 the Blue Ridge looked down upon one of those scenes 
 of martial pageantry, a display of force and arms and 
 men in battle array, that happily our country but seldom 
 witnesses. 
 
 For hours and days the great Army of the Potomac, 
 masses of gallant men, infantry, cavalry and artillery, 
 more than one hundred thousand in number, veterans of 
 the Peninsula, victors of Antietam, swept by in serried 
 ranks, with faultless step and perfection of discipline. 
 Old hero Sumner was there, and Sedgwick, whom the 
 men called "Father", and Franklin, and the brilliant 
 Sickles, and Averill, Reynolds, Smith, Couch, and Bayard, 
 who was so soon to fall, Meade and the superb Hancock, 
 and French, and Meagher, the orator-soldier from the 
 Emerald Isle, and the impetuous Custer, whose golden 
 locks were to fall in the Black Hills, and so in review they 
 all passed by. Although the army had only a few short 
 weeks before gained a glorious victory, as yet the greatest 
 and most important of the war, a victory that had saved 
 the National Capitol and checked the march of the South- 
 ern army towards the North, yet the occasion was one of 
 the deepest sorrow, the saddest hour that the army of the 
 Potomac ever knew. Every heart beat with a subdued 
 throb, every eye was moist, and tears wet alike the cheek 
 of the white-haired Sumner and the youngest drummer 
 boy, for the great soldier who had organized and made 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE B. McCLELLAN 
 
Fredericksburg. 25 
 
 this an army, the General who possessed the absolute 
 confidence and love of every man there, was taking his 
 farewell of those corps which he had formed and taught 
 and led so well. It was the last review of the noble army 
 by the only General who had, as yet, shown the ability to 
 lead it, and who had just relinquished the command, and 
 who had been relieved at the moment when he had made 
 another victory almost a certainty and the destruction of 
 the army of Northern Virginia almost assured. 
 
 The order relieving General McClellan from command 
 was received on the evening of November 7th, and a most 
 ungracious moment was selected for his sudden removal, a 
 moment pregnant with hope for the army and the cause. 
 Never had his genius flashed forth with such lustre. By 
 the celerity of his movements and admirable handling of 
 the army he had accomplished a most important strategic 
 advantage. 
 
 Leaving Harper's Ferry on the 26th of the previous 
 month he had, by forced marching and a series of the most 
 brilliant cavalry battles and skirmishes, seized the passes 
 of the Blue Ridge, and masked so well the movements of 
 the main army as to completely deceive General Lee as to 
 his whereabouts and purposes ; and on the evening of 
 November 7th, when he had concentrated the army in the 
 vicinity of Warrenton, he had succeeded in practically 
 severing the two wings of the army of Northern Virginia 
 — Longstreet, with his corps, was at Culpepper, and 
 Jackson, with the remainder of the army, was at Millwood, 
 west of the mountains, and two days' march away. 
 
 It was General McClellan's intention to strike Long- 
 street, and the early dawn of the following day would have 
 found every corps in motion with that end in view, and, 
 with the forces of one hundred and twenty-seven thousand 
 
26 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 men, full of fight and hope and reliance on their leader, 
 who could doubt the result ? Longstreet would have been 
 crushed before help could have reached him, and then he 
 could have taken his own time to finish the work and 
 Jackson. 
 
 But, says some one, Longstreet would not have fought, 
 but would have retired and formed a junction with the 
 remainder of Lee's forces. Admit this, and still McClellan 
 had the advantage. In order to connect with Jackson's 
 corps, Longstreet would have to fall back upon Staunton, 
 uncovering Richmond and leaving the road to that city 
 open and clear. McClellan would then have moved 
 prompdy in, and the Union Flag would have floated over 
 the Confederate Capitol. 
 
 "But then", says the Comte de Paris, "Jackson and 
 Lee had certainly projected some bold movement upon 
 McClellan's rear". This is not at all probable. It is 
 known now, beyond a doubt, that General Lee had no 
 such intention, and was not even aware of the position 
 or whereabouts of the Union Army. Yet, admitting 
 the surmises of the Comte de Paris as correct, General 
 McClellan would have welcomed any such movement on 
 the part of the enemy with delight. It would have more 
 effectually separated their forces and rendered the final 
 triumph more certain. 
 
 General McClellan had certainly succeeded in placing 
 the Army of the Potomac between the two wings of the 
 army of General Lee, and he could have failed only by 
 the most lamentable blundering. He had placed the army 
 in a position similar to that which Napoleon occupied in 
 1796, when he broke through the centre of the Austrian 
 Army at Montenotte, and then defeated in succession the 
 two wings at Medesimmo Dego and Mondavi ; and again 
 
Fredericksburg. 27 
 
 in 1809, when opposed to the Archduke Charles, he 
 pierced the centre of his too-extended line, and defeated 
 successively the Austrian forces at Abensburg, Echmuhl 
 and Ratisbon. 
 
 But, by his removal from the command of the army 
 at this time the great advantages secured by General 
 McClellan to the army and the nation were forever lost. 
 
 At noon, on November 11th, with the torn battle-flags 
 drooping to do him honor, and the most enthusiastic 
 demonstration of affection by all the troops, General 
 George B. McClellan, bidding adieu to the army, and 
 saying "We shall ever be comrades in supporting the 
 Constitution of our country and the nationality of our 
 people", left, and the soul of the army seemed for a time 
 to go with him. 
 
 Not, indeed, that victories were not afterwards gained, 
 nor that the army ever failed to respond to every call. 
 Under Burnside, the men without a murmur marched to 
 death in a most hopeless contest. With Hooker they 
 fought in a way that would have earned success had the 
 head not failed. With Meade they hurled back the enemy 
 from Gettysburg and covered the battalions with new 
 glory, and under Grant they stood up day after day, in 
 battle after battle, with stubborn, unflinching courage, 
 while brigades, divisions and corps were literally wiped 
 from the face of the earth ; but never again from that day 
 until the end did the hearts of all the members of the army 
 beat in sympathetic unison with that of the commander. 
 
 Then General Burnside, the gallant soldier and honor- 
 able gentleman, protesting against the responsibility forced 
 upon him, with unsteady hand gathered up the reins and 
 inaugurated the campaign that was to terminate in the 
 impotent, useless and sanguinary disasters of Fredericks- 
 
28 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 burg. The six corps were organized in three grand divi- 
 sions, under Sumner, Franklin and Hooker; and with 
 Sumner and the Second Corps in the lead marched for 
 the Rappahannock. 
 
 On the evening of November 17th, the head of the 
 column struck the river near the old Virginia town of 
 Falmouth. On the opposite bank could be seen a battery 
 of four guns, which promptly opened. General Sumner 
 ordered Petti t's Battery to the front, and in just eight 
 minutes from the time that Pettit fired his first shot the 
 enemy had ceased firing and the four guns stood silenced 
 and abandoned. Sumner, whose seventy-two years had 
 not dampened the ardor of youth, carried away by the 
 enthusiasm of the moment, called for troops to ford the 
 river, seize the guns, and occupy the city. 
 
 The Irish Brigade had bivouacked in a field hard by 
 and were cooking coffee and resting after a hard day's 
 march, but in three minutes after receiving the order the 
 brigade was going to the river on a run. Then Sumner, 
 remembering that he had orders not to cross, and being too 
 old a soldier to disobey, stopped the movement and sent 
 back to General Burnside, asking permission to occupy 
 the city, and the answer came, a peremptory " No ! ". So 
 the army was compelled to look at the prize without 
 grasping it. 
 
 How very odd the official report of this affair by 
 General Lee when read along with the plain facts. He 
 says : " The advance of General Sumner reached Falmouth 
 on the afternoon of November 17th and attempted to cross 
 the Rappahannock, but was driven back by Colonel Ball, 
 with the Fifteenth Virginia Cavalry, four companies of 
 Mississippi Infantry, and Lewis's Light Battery". 
 
 Why the army did not cross the river and push on to 
 
Fredericksburg. 29 
 
 Richmond has often been told, blundering by somebody 
 and no pontoons ready. By and by, however, the pontoons 
 arrived, but too late. Lee and Jackson and Longstreet 
 had also put in an appearance, and from the bluffs one 
 could see them busy, very busy indeed. Every day gave 
 new evidence of their industry. Every hour saw new 
 earthworks rising in front — redoubts, lunettes and bas- 
 tioned forts, rifle-pits and epaulments for the protection 
 of artillery arose in rapid succession until the terraced 
 heights, which ran parallel to the city and two miles 
 below and nearly a mile to the rear of it, were crowned 
 with artillery, bristling with bayonets, and so formidable 
 as to make an attempt to carry the place an act of insanity. 
 The coming fight was to be an assault upon an intrenched 
 position rather than an open battle. 
 
 Sometime about the first week in December a council 
 of war was held at headquarters, at which General Burn- 
 side and the grand division and corps commanders were 
 present. It is difficult at this day to tell just what was. 
 determined at this council. As one of those present 
 afterwards remarked, they talked to General Burnside at 
 arm's length. There would seem to have been a total 
 absence of that harmony and unity of purpose so necessary 
 to success between the commanding general and his 
 lieutenants. A painful uncertainty, a vagueness of purpose, 
 hung over these meetings, but it was evident, however, 
 that a flank movement by way of Skenker's Neck, twelve 
 miles below the city, was discussed and determined upon, 
 and the council adjourned, believing this to be the program. 
 A few days after this. General Burnside sent for one of 
 the corps commanders. General W. F. Smith, and invited 
 him to ride with him along the high bluffs (SpofEord 
 Heights) that skirted the river in front of the city. He 
 
30 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 there told him that he (Burnside) had determined to 
 change the order of battle and to cross and fight at the 
 city, and gave as one of his reasons, that Colonel Hunt 
 had called his attention to the excellent opportunity that 
 Spofford Heights offered for the employment of all our 
 artillery. The general officer in question, after being 
 warned by General Burnside not to communicate the fact 
 of the change to anyone, left him with a sinking heart 
 and dark forebodings of the coming storm. 
 
 General Burnside, in a letter to General Halleck, dated 
 December 19, 1862, a few days after the battle, confirms 
 the idea that the original intention, known to not only the 
 grand division and corps commanders, but also to General 
 Halleck and the President, was that of turning Lee's 
 flank, and in this letter he magnanimously takes all the 
 responsibility for the change and failure upon himself. 
 He says : " I have the honor to offer the following reasons 
 for moving the Army of the Potomac across the Rappa- 
 .hannock sooner than was anticipated by the President, 
 the Secretary of War, or yourself, and for crossing at a 
 point different from the one indicated to you at our last 
 meeting at the President's." 
 
 " This contemplated flank movement was discovered 
 by the enemy, and General Lee, to be prepared for it, had 
 sent General Hill's division to the vicinity of Skenker's 
 Neck, and the balance of Jackson's corps was stationed 
 so as to support him". This fact of Lee's army having 
 been partially separated seems to have been the only 
 reason for General Burnside altering, unknown to any of 
 his subordinates, the plan of operations. He thought 
 that by rapidly throwing the whole army across at 
 Fredericksburg and striking a vigorous blow he could 
 pierce the extended and weakened line and divide the 
 
Fredericksburg. 31 
 
 forces of the enemy which were down the river from those 
 on the crest in the rear of the town. 
 
 The night of December 10th found the army in motion. 
 
 ' ' The midnight brought the signal sound of strife, 
 The morn, the marshalling in arms — the day, 
 Battle's magnificently stern array.'' 
 
 The roads leading to the front were filled with troops 
 marching in silence to the fray. Camps deserted, the 
 camp fires burning dim, the woods pouring out their 
 thousands, everyone, everything moving towards the 
 river; the infantry massing in rear of the bluffs by the 
 stream, and the chief of artillery, Colonel Hunt, covering 
 those heights with one hundred and forty-seven cannon. 
 The pontoniers were hurrying the boats, planks and 
 bridge material to the water's edge. Working rapidly, 
 swiftly, but so noiselessly that those within one hundred 
 yards of the enemy's pickets, who were lined on the 
 opposite shore, were not heard, the pontoons were brought 
 down and quietly let into the water. Great piles of 
 planking arose, a multitude of spectral men were hurrying 
 to and fro, cannon were gotten into position and more 
 than one hundred thousand cavalry and infantry massed 
 at hand. Yet there was no confusion, no clashing, so 
 perfect the discipline, and the silence was profound — no 
 audible sound save the lapping of the waves on the prow 
 of the pontoons, and the moaning of the wind in the 
 forest trees, and so the night wore on. 
 
 Two regiments of engineers, the Seventeenth and 
 Twentieth New York, stood prepared to build the bridges, 
 and two regiments of Hancock's division, the Fifty- 
 seventh New York, Colonel Chapman, and the Sixty-sixth 
 New York, Colonel Bull, were on hand to cover and 
 support them. 
 
32 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Towards dawn the work began. Swiftly fastening 
 the boats to the bank, getting others into position, lashing 
 them together, putting down the planking — so the work 
 for a few moments went on. Then the sharp crack of a 
 rifle broke the stillness of the night. A pontonier dropped 
 his burden, fell forward into the dark, cold water, and 
 went floating down with the tide, the first victim, the first 
 corpse of the, hght. More shots and balls went whistling 
 through the fog. Then two loud reports of heavy- 
 ordnance pealed from Marye's Heights, echoed along the 
 Valley of the Rappahannock and reverberated among 
 the hills, the signal for the concentration of the Army 
 of Northern Virginia, and the battle of Fredericksburg 
 began. The firing became heavier, volleys of musketry, 
 the rifle balls rattled on the planks and the boats were 
 riddled. Many, very many of the pontoniers fell and 
 went floating away. 
 
 It was so dark and the fog so dense that one could see 
 but a few yards from the edge of the shore. Men went out 
 on the bridge in the darkness and never returned. The 
 fire was hot and deadly, but the men stuck to their work 
 gallantly. Every moment the numbers of the artificers 
 became less. Bull and Chapman returned the fire, but 
 they were shooting at random and into the dark, while the 
 enemy knew by the sound of the bridge-building where to 
 throw their iron. Colonel Bull was killed ; Chapman fell 
 wounded, and the losses were so great that the engineers 
 fell back and for a time gave up the attempt. Again they 
 tried it and again they failed ; a third time they rushed at 
 the work, but found it impossible to continue, and the 
 brave little band fell back, leaving the bridge half finished, 
 slippery and saturated with blood. 
 
 Then daylight appeared. The work must be pushed. 
 
Fredericksburg. 33 
 
 The bridge must be finished. The riflemen that checked 
 the worlc must be driven out of their shelter, and for that 
 purpose General Burnside decided upon treating the army 
 to one of those rare and magnificently grand spectacles of 
 war — the bombardment of a city ; so the order went forth 
 to batter down the town, and about ten o'clock twenty-nine 
 batteries, one hundred and forty-seven guns, opened. 
 Then for an hour or two the firing was incessant, the 
 sharp crack of the rifled guns and the heavy boom of the 
 larger ordnance mingling with the echoes from the woods 
 and hills until separate sounds could no longer be distin- 
 guished and the roar became continuous. Clouds of 
 sulphurous smoke rolled back from the masked artillery ; 
 the air became loaded, suffocating, with the odor of gun- 
 powder. The fog still lay heavy in the river ; the water 
 margins and the lowlands and the city were almost hidden 
 from view. One of the church spires shot up through 
 the mist, glittering in the morning sun, and a few of the 
 tallest chimneys and buildings struggled into sight. Tons 
 of iron were hurled into the town. Shells, solid shot, 
 shrapnel and canister raked and swept the streets. One 
 could not see, but could hear, the walls crumbling and 
 timbers crashing ; then a pillar of smoke rose above the 
 fog; another and another, increasing in density and 
 volume, rose skyward and canopied the doomed city 
 like a pall. Flames leaped high out of the mist. The 
 city was on fire. Again the engineers made an attempt 
 to finish the bridge, but they found Barksdale with his 
 Mississippians still at their posts and their fire as accurate 
 as ever, and the effort was finally abandoned. Then 
 Colonel Hunt suggested an idea that a party be sent 
 over in pontoon boats to drive the sharpshooters from 
 the opposite shore. Strange that the simple device was 
 
34 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 not thought of before. Historic examples to suggest it 
 were plenty. So late as 1799, this was successfully 
 employed by Massena in the passage of the Limmat, 
 where the bridges and boats were started simultaneously, 
 and in three minutes from starting, six hundred French 
 troops were landed, had captured the enemy's pickets 
 and the bridge was then finished without further molesta- 
 tion. But better late than never. A dozen of the boats 
 were lying by the river bank and plenty of volunteers 
 were ready to man them. The Seventh Michigan and 
 Nineteenth Massachusetts rushed down the steep bank, 
 launched the boats and were off. The oarsmen pulled 
 lustily, the Southern marksmen redoubled their fire, many 
 in the boats were killed and wounded, but in a few 
 minutes the further shore was reached. The men, leaping 
 out, forming in line and dashing through the smoke and 
 fire, drove the sharpshooters from their shelter. Soon 
 more boat-loads of men crossed over, the river front was 
 soon in possession of the Union troops, and the work of 
 building the bridges progressed to completion. 
 
 But the city was not yet captured. The first troops 
 that crossed over the bridges thus constructed, had to 
 fight for every foot of ground, and it was not until after 
 dark, and after a sharp contest through streets, lanes and 
 alleys, met at every step by the fire of Barksdale's men, 
 from windows, roofs and every available point, that the 
 Union line finally halted for the night on Carolina Street. 
 
 The dead were everywhere, in the street, on the 
 cellar-doors, in yards of the houses, in the gardens by 
 the river. Some few of the citizens had remained during 
 the bombardment, taking refuge in the cellars, and two 
 of them were killed, a man named Jacob Grotz and a 
 negro woman. 
 
Fredericksburg. 35 
 
 On the left, half a mile below the city, where Franklin 
 was to cross, but little difficulty had been met, and he had 
 finished his bridges early in the morning. 
 
 It was then more than twelve hours since the signal- 
 gun of General Lee summoned his divided army to 
 concentrate and, as the sole hope of success on the part of 
 General Burnside rested on being able to cross the river in 
 force and take the enemy by surprise, it would look as 
 though the Union cause had already sustained a heavy 
 blow in this unfortunate delay. Moments were precious, 
 yet the whole pight of this day was suffered to pass with- 
 out a move, and the Union troops did not begin crossing 
 in force until the morning of the 12th, and by five o'clock 
 of that day the grand division of Sumner had crossed into 
 the city and that of Franklin had crossed on the lower 
 bridges. 
 
 It was a cold, clear day, and when the Regiment filed 
 over the bluffs and began descending the abrupt bank to 
 cross the pontoons into the town, the crash of two hundred 
 guns filled the valley of the Rappahannock with sound 
 and smoke. 
 
 The color-bearers of the Irish Brigade shook to the 
 breeze their torn and shattered standards : 
 
 "That old green flag, that Irish flag, 
 It is but now a tattered rag, 
 But India's store of precious ore, 
 Hath not a gem worth that old flag." 
 
 The Fourteenth Brooklyn (" Beecher's Pets ") gave the 
 brigade a cheer, and the band of Hawkin's Zouaves struck 
 up " Garry Owen " as it passed. Not so pleasant was the 
 reception of the professional embalmers who, alive to 
 business, thrust their cards into the hands of the men as 
 they went along, said cards being suggestive of an early 
 
36 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 trip home, nicely boxed up and delivered to loving friends 
 by express, sweet as a nut and in perfect preservation, etc., 
 etc. The boys did not seem to be altogether pleased with 
 the cold-blooded allusions to their latter end, and one of 
 them from the Emerald Isle called out to a particularly 
 zealous undertaker : " D'ye moind thim blankets. Well, 
 only that we are in a bit of a hurry, we'd be after giving yez 
 the natest koind av a jig in the air, and be damned to yez". 
 
 Then the Regiment passed over the river and was 
 massed on an old wharf by the bank of the stream and 
 rested during the afternoon and night of the 12th. 
 
 The streets were strewn with the dead. Some had been 
 killed with the fire of the artillery and their bodies were 
 shapeless masses of flesh, torn and mangled out of all 
 resemblance to human beings. Others killed by a rifle 
 ball appeared as natural as life. Numbers of Barksdale's 
 men lay where they had fallen whilst disputing the 
 passage of the river. One group had an almost fascinating 
 interest to the young men of the Regiment, because every 
 one of the party was boyish and handsome. They had 
 fought in a garden by the riverside, where they had been 
 somewhat sheltered from the fire, and had died just where 
 they had been placed. There was not a sign of a struggle 
 near the spot, and, singular to say, no indication of blood 
 or wounds. They all had been shot through the body, 
 and each had quietly dropped as he fired. The bodies 
 were frozen hard, and all retained the appearance of life — 
 eyes were open, faces placid and calm ; and one bright 
 looking youth seemed to smile in his sleep. Gazing upon 
 these brave Southern boys as they lay amid the frozen 
 leaves and decaying flowers of the garden one's mind was 
 apt to wander to the Southern homes where the sun was 
 still shining and the roses still blooming, and the mournful 
 
Fredericksburg. 37 
 
 Christmas there would be in many a far off Mississippi 
 home whose soldier lad would never return again. 
 
 In the river by the wharf where the Regiment 
 
 bivouacked some barges laden with tobacco had been 
 
 sunk. The boys succeeded in fishing up great quantities 
 
 of the weed and lined their blouses with it. After the 
 
 fight one heard of many of the men whose lives had been 
 
 saved by the solid plugs of tobacco stopping the ball 
 
 intended for their heart, still there was no tangible 
 
 evidence of the fact. The fellow whose Bible stopped a 
 
 deadly minie was around in every camp, and he had his 
 
 testament to show for it, but the plug of tobacco that stood 
 
 between the soldier and death was chewed in to nothing, 
 
 or the evidence went up in smoke. The night of the 12th 
 
 was exceedingly cold and dismal, and, when morning 
 
 came, the sun had a long struggle with the chilling fog 
 
 before full daylight filled the valley. The men chewed on 
 
 their hardtack and resumed their pastime of fishing up 
 
 tobacco, and listening to the shells that passed over their 
 
 heads in countless numbers. 
 
 The night of the 12th was to the men of the Regiment 
 one of the most dismal and miserable ever experienced. 
 The cold was bitter and penetrating. The troops massed 
 so close that there was not even room enough for the men 
 to lie down on the ground, and it was a fortunate man 
 who could secure a cracker box to sit upon during the 
 weary hours. Sleep was impossible, it was so cold and 
 chilly. Groups of officers occupied the parlors of the 
 fashionable residences, spending the night in song and 
 story; and Southern pianos played accompaniments to 
 "Hail Columbia" and the "Star Spangled Banner". 
 Fires still lit up portions of the town. The firmament was 
 aglow with a magnificent Aurora Borealis, and the artill- 
 
38 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 erists strove to rival the glories of nature and illumined 
 the sky with scores of shells whose trailing fuses filled the 
 air with streams of light. 
 
 When daylight came a few small fires were lit and some 
 of the -men enjoyed a cup of coffee, but many chewed 
 their hardtack without a warm drink to comfort them. 
 
 The long hours of the night had slipped away and the 
 morning of December 13th broke chill and cold. It was 
 now thirty-six hours since the movement against Freder- 
 icksburg began, giving General Lee ample time to get his 
 corps together, destroying any virtue that might have 
 existed in General Burnside's plan of attack and rendering 
 it absolutely abortive. Owing to the delay in forcing the 
 passage of the river the enterprise had been stripped of 
 its only hope and the failure was complete. The only 
 alternative was to withdraw the army or adopt an entirely 
 new plan of battle. To retire was not thought of ; the 
 fight must proceed. The evil genius of General Burnside 
 seemed to irresistibly beckon him on to destruction. The 
 silver lining of the cloud that was gathering was a sug- 
 gestion that originated with General Franklin : "That the 
 battle should be fought on the left : that a column of thirty 
 or forty thousand men should be formed and at daylight, 
 on the morning of the 13th, make the main assault on 
 the Confederate right with this body". 
 
 In preparation for this movement General Burnside 
 visited the left at 5 P. M. of the 12th and discussed with 
 Generals Franklin, Smith and Reynolds this order of 
 battle, and. at dark left them with the full understanding 
 that it was adopted by him, promising to send the orders 
 for carrying it into execution before midnight, thus giving 
 time enough to General Franklin to get the troops into 
 position during the night. 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE 
 
Fredericksburg. 39 
 
 Had this attack in Franklin's front been carried out it 
 would most likely have been successful and General 
 Burnside would have gone down to posterity as a great 
 General. But it was not to be, and instead of pushing 
 the preparation for the only movfement that contained a 
 ray of hope, General Burnside went back to his head- 
 quarters and went to bed, leaving Franklin, Smith and 
 Reynolds anxiously awaiting orders that were to insure 
 a victory. And how patiently they waited with their 
 respective staffs, sitting up all night, thinking, wondering, 
 trying to conceive what important event must have 
 happened to prevent the arrival of the expected orders. 
 At 7.30 o'clock, next morning, December 13th, General 
 Hardie handed to Franklin directions for a new plan of 
 battle, not that which was discussed the night before, but 
 the most remarkable, incongruous, disjointed plan of 
 action, with the least possible hope of success, that ever 
 emanated from the brain of a commander : "That Franklin 
 should keep his whole command in position for a rapid 
 movement down the old Richmond road. That he should 
 send out a division to seize the enemy's heights at Captain 
 Hamilton's, on the extreme right of the enemy's line". 
 He also ordered another column of a division or more 
 from the command of General Sumner to seize the heights 
 in the rear of the town. Two isolated attacks by hght 
 columns, on distant positions, rendered almost impregnable 
 and held by the flower of the Confederate Army ! 
 
 Franklin selected the Pennsylvania Reserves for the 
 almost superhuman task, for the reason that the division 
 at the moment lay nearest the point of attack. General 
 Meade, their commander, was one of the most discreet 
 and able officers in the service, and the division was one 
 of the most reliable. The selection was most admirable. 
 
40 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 The line of march to reach the heights to be carried 
 was across a level plain, over which hung a thick haze 
 The Reserves had been encamped here for some time the 
 year before when attached to McDowell's forces and knew 
 every inch of the ground to be marched over and fought 
 for. So, having gotten his instructions, Meade started the 
 division into the fog and into a fight that was to cover 
 with glory himself and his command, though with the. 
 cost of nearly half their number, the objective point, the 
 heights at Hamilton's, in a direct line two miles away. 
 
 The division was formed with the First Brigade on 
 the right, the Third on the left, and the Second in support. 
 Hardly had the march commenced when the enemy began 
 firing. Although they could not see the Union lines they 
 seemed to feel that something was going on, and solid 
 shot and shells went flying over the fog-shrouded plain. 
 Meade rode along the lines giving words of encourage- 
 ment to each regiment. As he passed Colonel McCandless 
 he said, alluding to a possibe promotion, " A star this 
 morning, William?" To which McCandless replied: 
 " More likely a wooden overcoat". Then a shell passed 
 through the horse ridden by McCandless, and he did the 
 rest of his fighting for that day on foot. And so for a 
 half hour the march went on. Then young Confederate 
 Major Pelham, of Stuart's Horse Artillery, from a point 
 on the Port Royal road, opened a telling fire on Meade's 
 left flank, enfilading his whole line, and became so annoy- 
 ing as to cause him to halt. The line paused, and the 
 four light batteries of the Reserves returned Pelham's 
 fire so vigorously as to cause him to withdraw suddenly. 
 
 Stuart, with his cavalry, made threatening demonstra- 
 tions, and General Doubleday deployed on Meade's left 
 to check him. Franklin instructed Gibbons to support 
 
Fredericksburg. 41 
 
 Meade's right, and again the column moved forward. 
 To meet the attack General Lee had arranged Jackson's 
 Corps in the woods at Hamilton's with A. P. Hill's 
 division in front, Early's and Taliaferro's divisions com- 
 posing his second line, and D. N. Hill's division in reserve. 
 The division of A. P. Hill, forming the advanced Hne, 
 was composed of the brigades of Archer, Lane and 
 Pender, with the brigades of Gregg and Thomas directly 
 in their rear. 
 
 As Meade neared the enemy's line the fog suddenly 
 lifted, giving the Confederate artillerists a clear view of 
 the advancing lines. Three batteries, those of Wooder, 
 Braxton and Carpenter, that had been pushed out on the 
 skirmish line in front of Lane's Brigade, and five batteries 
 of Lieutenant-Colonel Walker's command, opened, using 
 shell and canister, damaging the Union alignment con- 
 siderably. The four light batteries of the Reserves replied 
 energetically, and Meade pushed on. General Smith 
 (Baldy), seeing the trouble from afar, directed the fire of 
 his Sixth Corps guns upon the three batteries first named 
 and compelled their withdrawal. The crowd of skirmishers 
 that covered the advance struck and drove in those of 
 the Confederates. 
 
 The battle waxed hot, but Meade, oblivious to the roar, 
 impetuously rushed on. With a great crash his infantry 
 struck that of the enemy. The fighting, for a fevir 
 moments, was extremely earnest. The men vied with 
 each other in acts of noble daring. Many prisoners were 
 taken, and one regiment, the Nineteenth Georgia, was 
 captured entire, young Charles C. Upjohn, Company K, of 
 the Second Reserves, tearing from the hands of the color- 
 bearer the flag of that regiment. The Union men drove 
 Lane's Brigade back across the railroad into the woods. 
 
42 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 and crushing through the interval between the brigades of 
 Archer and Pender flanked both their lines and compelled 
 them to fall back. Then up the wooded crest with a rush 
 so sudden that General Maxey Gregg, the Confederate 
 commander of the second line, could not believe that the 
 advancing troops were the Union line and fell dead while 
 trying to prevent his South Carolinians from firing, but 
 his men, discovering the error, poured a withering fire into 
 Meade's line. At this moment the divisions of General 
 Early and Taliaferro swept forward at a double-quick, 
 striking Meade with irresistible force and overpowering 
 numbers, enveloping his flank and endangering his whole 
 command. 
 
 The situation became most critical, the surroundings 
 awfully grand. The woods echoed and re-echoed every 
 shot until the roar was appalling. Great shells went 
 screaming through the forest, cutting down giant trees, 
 and the crash of the falling timber added to the deafening 
 sound. In the midst of the tumult the Reserves fell back 
 and were soon out again on the open plain. In one short 
 hour they had known the thrilling ecstasies of victory and 
 disastrous defeat. 
 
 Meade halted after re-crossing the railroad, and 
 re-formed the division, but he was not allowed much time 
 to rest. Early pushed after him, and the brigade of 
 Atkinson and Hoke struck with vigor at the shattered 
 ranks, forcing him to fall back rapidly and with some 
 confusion. Franklin, foreseeing the difficulty, had ordered 
 Birney's division to the front, and he arrived just in time 
 to check the advancing enemy and save what was left of 
 the reserve. While Meade was moving on Hamilton's the 
 troops in the city were prepared to strike. 
 
 About nine o'clock, whilst listening to the roar of 
 
Fredericksburg. 43 
 
 battle on the left, the order to " Fall in " was given, and 
 then until noon the command stood in line on one of the 
 streets near the river and parallel with the stream. It was 
 a trying ordeal for all. Shells were screaming overhead 
 and frequently striking among the houses of the city, 
 scattering the bricks and stones and wounding many. 
 Although the noise of the artillery, flying shells and 
 crumbling buildings was appalling, the silence in the 
 ranks and the perfect order maintained was most 
 admirable. 
 
 The wounded went past in great numbers and the 
 appearance of the dripping blood was not calculated to 
 enthuse the men or cheer them for the first important 
 battle. A German soldier, sitting in a barrow with his 
 legs dangling over the side, was wheeled past. His foot 
 had been shot off and the blood was flowing from the 
 stump. The man was quietly smoking, and when the 
 barrow would tip to one side he would remove the pipe 
 from his lips and call out to the comrade who was pushing : 
 "Ach, make right"! It seemed ludicrous and some of 
 the men smiled, but the sight was too much for one boy in 
 the Regiment, William Dehaven, who sank in the street 
 in a dead faint. The incident occurred just as the Regi- 
 ment moved off to go into the fight and the poor boy was 
 left lying in the street. He recovered his senses to find 
 his Regiment gone, yet the brave fellow picked up his 
 musket and ran out alone onto the field and joined his 
 company. And so the Regiment stood — under arms, 
 listening to the sounds of the fight on the left and waiting 
 patiently for their turn to share in the strife, while General 
 Thomas Francis Meagher, mounted and surrounded by 
 his staff, addressed each regiment of his (the Irish) brigade 
 in burning, eloquent words, beseeching the men to uphold 
 
44 The Story of the 116th Regiment. 
 
 in the coming struggle the miUtary prestige and glory of 
 their native land. 
 
 Green box-wood was culled in a garden near-by and 
 Meagher placed a sprig in his Irish cap. Every officer and 
 man followed his example, and soon great bunches of the 
 fragrant shrub adorned the caps of everyone. Wreaths 
 were made and hung upon the tattered flags, and the 
 national color of the Emerald Isle blended in fair harmony 
 with the red, white and blue of the Republic. 
 
 At noon, Meade not having yet reached Hamilton's, 
 General Couch ordered French and Hancock to the assault. 
 French moved first, closely followed by " The Superb ". 
 As the troops wheeled into the streets leading towards the 
 enemy they were in full view of the frowning heights and 
 the march of death began. Nearly a mile away arose the 
 position that the troops were expected to carry, and though 
 not yet clear of the city they felt the pressure of the foe, 
 the fire of whose batteries concentrated to crush the heads 
 of the column as it debouched upon the plain. Solid shot, 
 fired with light charges, ricochetted on the frozen ground, 
 caromed on the pavement, and went tearing through the 
 ranks, traversing the entire length of the streets and 
 bounding over the river to be buried in the opposite bluff. 
 
 To charge an enemy or enter a battle when one knows 
 that there is no hope of success, requires courage of a 
 much higher order than when the soldier is sustained by 
 the enthusiasm born of hope. It is recorded that a 
 commander once gave to a subordinate the order to " Go 
 there and die"! The reply was: "Yes, my Generall". 
 When the Union troops, debouching from the town, 
 deployed upon the plain in front of Marye's Heights, 
 every man in the ranks knew that it was not to fight. It 
 was to dia 
 
Fredericksburg. 46 
 
 As they moved out Hanover Street, the city seeming 
 so deserted, and in a manner quiet, the men spoke in low 
 whispers and earnest tones. A lone, solitary pussy cat sat 
 on a gate-post mewing dolefully. Shells began dropping 
 with destructive effect. One striking in the Eighty- 
 eighth New York placed eighteen men hors du combat. 
 The men of the Regiment will ever remember the first one 
 that burst in the ranks, severely wounding the gallant 
 Colonel, and cutting ofi the head of Sergeant Marley and 
 killing three others. The men were struck by the instan- 
 taneousness of the deaths. 
 
 The column had halted for a moment. A sharp 
 report, a puff of smoke, and four men lay stark dead, 
 their faces calm, their eyes mild and life-like, lips un- 
 moved, no sign of suffering or indication of pain. 
 Sergeant Marley had not fallen, but dropped upon his 
 knees, his musket clasped in both hands and resting upon 
 the ground. 
 
 Out in the open fields in the rear of the town the 
 Regiment, still marching in column of fours, soon reached 
 the canal, to find that the bridge on which it was to cross 
 had been shot away, only the stringers remaining. Some 
 of the men plunged into the ice-cold water, others stepped 
 quickly over the few remaining planks of the broken 
 bridge. The shells still fell and now the whistie of the 
 minie was heard mingling with their scream. Lieutenant 
 Robert Montgomery, of Company I, as he stepped on the 
 broken timbers of the bridge, fell over into the stream, 
 mortally wounded. 
 
 After crossing the stream a sharp rise in the ground hid 
 the Regiment from the enemy and gave the men a chance 
 to take breath and to dress the ranks and prepare the 
 column of attack, which was led by brigade front. General 
 
46 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Kimball's brigade in the lead, followed by those of Colonel 
 J. W. Andrews and Colonel Palmer. Hancock's division 
 came next, with the brigades of Zook, Meagher and 
 Caldwell in the order named. Here the thought occurred 
 " How different is the real battle from that which one's 
 imagination had pictured". After the readings of boy- 
 hood, with heads filled with Napoleon and his marshals, 
 and harrowing tales of gory fields of yore, with what 
 realistic feeling one can see the wild confusion of the 
 storm-swept field, charging cavalry, hurrying artillery, the 
 riderless steeds madly rushing to and fro, their shrill 
 neighing mingling with the groans, shrieks and screams 
 of the wounded. Here there was no disorder. The men 
 were calm, silent, cheerful. The commands of the officers, 
 given in a quiet, subdued voice, were distinctly heard and 
 calmly obeyed, and the regiments manoeuvred without 
 a flaw. 
 
 In this trying moment the guides were ordered out and 
 the alignment made as perfect as on dress parade. The 
 destruction of human beings is done with order and system. 
 Yet it was terrible enough ; the very absence of confu- 
 sion and excitement but added to the dreadful intensity 
 of the horror. As for the screams and shrieks, no one 
 ever heard anything of that kind, either on the field or in 
 the hospitals. It may be that soldiers of other nations 
 indulge in cries and yells. The men of the War of 1861 
 took their punishment without a complaint or murmur. 
 
 Just before moving from this spot one of the young 
 officers of the Regiment, a brave boy from Chester County, 
 Pennsylvania, Lieutenant Seneca G. Willauer, was badly 
 torn by a shell which stripped the flesh from his thigh and 
 left the bone, for four or five inches, white and bare. He 
 approached the regimental commander and, holding the 
 
Fredericksburg. 47 
 
 bleeding limb for inspection, said, with the most gentle 
 manner and placid voice, " Colonel, do you think that I 
 should go on with my company or go to the hospital ? " 
 No doubt had he been told to go on with his company he 
 would have done so. 
 
 Then the advance was sounded. The order of the 
 regimental commanders rang out clear on the cold 
 December air, " Right shoulder, shift arms, battalion 
 forward, guide centre, march ". 
 
 The long lines of bayonets glittered in the bright sun- 
 light. No friendly fog hid the Union Hne from the foe, 
 and as it advanced up the slope it came in full view of 
 the Army of Northern Virginia. 
 
 The noonday sun glittered and shone bright on the 
 frozen ground and all their batteries opened upon the 
 advancing lines. The line of the enemy could be traced 
 by the fringe of blue smoke that quickly appeared along 
 the base of the hills. The men marched into an arc of 
 fire. And what a reception awaited them ! Fire in front, 
 on the right and left. Shells came directly and obliquely, 
 and dropped down from above. Shells enfiladed the 
 lines, burst in front, in rear, above and behind ; shells 
 everywhere. A torrent of shells ; a blizzard of shot, shell 
 and fire. The lines passed on steadily. The gaps made 
 were quickly closed. The colors often kissed the ground, 
 but were quickly snatched from dead hands and held aloft 
 again by others, who soon in their turn bit the dust. The 
 regimental commanders marched out far in advance of 
 their commands and they too fell rapidly, but others ran 
 to take their places. 
 
 Officers and men fell in rapid succession. Lieutenant 
 Garrett Nowlen, who had just taken Willauer's place in 
 command of Company C, fell with a ball through the 
 
48 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 thigh. Major Bardwell fell badly wounded ; and a ball 
 whistled through Lieutenant Bob McGuire's lungs. Lieu- 
 tenant Christian Foltz fell dead, with a ball through his 
 brain. The orderly sergeant of Company H wheeled 
 around, gazed upon Lieutenant Quinlan, and a great 
 stream of blood poured from a hole in his forehead, 
 splashing over the young officer, and the sergeant fell 
 dead at his feet. Captain John O'Neill, Company K, was 
 shot in the lungs, the ball passing completely through his 
 body. 
 
 But on, still onward, the line pressed steadily. The 
 men dropping in twoes, in threes, in groups. No cheers 
 or wild hurrahs as they moved towards the foe. They 
 were not there to fight, only to die. 
 
 Onward, still forward, the line withering, diminishing, 
 melting away, every man knowing the desperation of the 
 undertaking, but no one faltering or turning back. Still 
 in good order the Regiment pushed forward until five 
 hundred yards of the long half-mile that lay between it 
 and Marye's Heights were passed with the sharp whiz of 
 the minie joining the loud scream of the oblong bolts. 
 Soon the men forgot the presence of the shells in the 
 shower of smaller missiles that assailed them. The 
 hills rained fire and the men advanced with heads bowed 
 as when walking against a hailstorm. Still through the 
 deadly shower the ever-thinning lines pressed on. The 
 plain over which they had passed was thickly spotted 
 with the men of the Second Corps, dead, in twoes and 
 threes and in groups. Regiments and companies had 
 their third or fourth commander, and the colors were 
 borne to the front by the third or fourth gallant soul who 
 had raised them. The gaps in the lines had become so 
 large and so numerous that continued efforts had to be 
 
LIEUTENANT CHRISTIAN FOLTZ 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, December 13th, 1862 
 
Fredericksburg. 49 
 
 made to close them, and the command " guide centre " 
 was frequently heard. French neared the entrenchments 
 of the Confederates' first line and, the enemy redoubling 
 their eflorts, the storm rose to greater fury. The struggle 
 was hopeless. The attacking line waved, recoiled, then 
 broke, and the shattered mass fell back amid the shouts 
 and cheers of Cobb's and Kershaw's Confederate Brigades 
 that lined the trenches in their front. Now Hancock, 
 with the division that never lost a gun or a color, swept 
 forward and, being joined by many of the gallant men 
 of French's command, made the most heroic effort of the 
 day. Passing the furthest point reached by the preceding 
 troops, he impetuously rushed on, past the brick house 
 so conspicuous on the field. On, on, until his flags waved 
 within twenty-five paces of the fatal stone wall. Then, 
 with a murderous fire everywhere around, he realized the 
 full absurdity of the attempt to accomplish an utter 
 impossibility. His men had not yet fired a shot, and had 
 only reached the spot where the work was to begin. 
 Forty per cent, of the force had already fallen. No 
 support within three-quarters of a mile. In front, line 
 after line of works followed each other up the terraced 
 heights to the very crest which was covered with artillery. 
 To carry the assault further would be extreme madness. 
 Even should the force take and occupy the first line it 
 would simply be to meet the fire of the second and third. 
 To fight the host in front was not possible. The men 
 were here only to be shot down without being able to 
 return the blow. The Irish Brigade had reached a point 
 within thirty yards of the stone wall and began firing 
 All the field and staff officers of the Regiment were 
 wounded. The color sergeant, William H. Tyrrell, was 
 down on one knee (his other leg being shattered), but 
 
50 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Still waving the flag on the crest. Five balls struck him 
 in succession ; a dozen pierced the colors ; another broke 
 the flag-stafi^, and the colors and the color sergeant fell 
 together. The orders to retire passed down the line and 
 the command began falling back. All the color guard 
 was down, and the flag in the grasp of young Tyrrell was 
 still on the fire-swept crest. It was soon missed, and that 
 fearless soldier, Lieutenant Francis T. Quinlan, ran back 
 to save it. A hundred fired at him, .but quickly seizing 
 the broken flag-staff he threw himself on the ground and, 
 with the flag tightly clasped to his breast, rolled back to 
 where the command had halted, a noble deed, well done. 
 But Hancock would not be driven from the field and, 
 halting where the formation of the ground afforded some 
 shelter to his hard-tried command, he remained until 
 relieved at nightfall and then withdrew to the town. It 
 was a long, dreadful afternoon that awaited the thousands 
 wounded, who lay scattered over the sad and ghastly plain. 
 The only place of cover was the brick house out near 
 the stone wall. To this, hundreds of the wounded 
 dragged themselves and a great mass of sufferers huddled 
 together and struggled to get nearer the house that they 
 might escape the fire. All around the great heaps of dead 
 bore testimony to the fierceness of the combat. Near by, 
 a color sergeant lay, stark and cold, with the flag of his 
 regiment covering him. Just in front of the stone wall 
 lay a line of men of the Irish Brigade, with the green 
 box-wood in their caps, and the two bodies nearest the 
 6nemy were those of Major William Horgan and Adjutant 
 John R. Young, both of the Eighty-eighth New York. 
 It was not yet one o'clock when the assaulting column 
 retired, and the wounded had nearly five hours to wait 
 for darkness. 
 
Fredencksburg . 51 
 
 The sharpshooters of the enemy soon got a position 
 from which they could enfilade the brick house, and when 
 anyone moved among the mass of bleeding men it was 
 the signal for the rifle balls to whistle around. Few 
 expected to live until night, and but few did. Keeping 
 very quiet, hugging the ground closely, the stricken men 
 talked together in low tones. The bullets kept whistling 
 and dropping, and every few moments some one would 
 cease talking never to speak again. Quietly they passed 
 away from the crimson field to eternity, their last gaze on 
 their waving flag, the last sound to reach their ears the 
 volleys of musketry and their comrades' cheers. 
 
 What a cosmopolitan crowd these dead and wounded 
 were — Americans from the Atlantic Coast and the Pacific 
 States, from the prairies, from the great valleys of the 
 Mississippi and the Ohio ; Irishmen from the banks of the 
 Shannon and Germans from the Rhine and the blue 
 Danube ; Frenchmen from the Seine and Italians from the 
 cla'ssic Tiber mingled their blood and went down in death 
 together that the cause and that the Union might live. 
 Every little while other columns emerged from the city, 
 deployed upon the plain, marched forward, but never got 
 so far as the brick house. The appearance of these troops 
 would draw the fire of the batteries on the hills and 
 hundreds of deadly projectiles would go screaming over, 
 and could be seen bursting in the midst of the advancing 
 lines. Evening came at last ; the sun went down behind 
 the terrible heights and the wounded anxiously watched 
 the shadows lengthen and steal across the field of blood, 
 creeping slowly over the plain, throwing the houses of the 
 city in the shade, then up the church tower until the only 
 object that reflected the rays was the cross of burnished 
 gold which sparkled a moment against the purple sky, 
 
52 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 and then the twilight deepened until it was difficult to 
 discern objects. It was thought that the battle was 
 ended when, through the gathering darkness, loomed up 
 the divisions of Hooker. Nobly they went to the work, 
 with empty muskets and orders to carry the position with 
 the bayonet. The dark mass passed the brick house and 
 almost to the point that Hancock had reached. They had 
 come in the gloaming unseen, and surged against the 
 base of Marye's Heights. 
 
 Again the hills flashed fire, shook, rocked, roared and 
 belched forth more tons of iron on the red plain — more 
 minutes of useless carnage. The sombre wave rolled 
 back, the last and most absurd attempt of the disastrous 
 day had come to naught and seventeen hundred more had 
 been added to the ponderous list of casualties. Clouds 
 overshadowed the skies, and, guided by the lurid fires 
 still smouldering through the ebony darkness, the immense 
 crowd of wounded began crawling, struggling, dragging 
 themselves towards the city, those who were slightly hurt 
 assisting the others who were more seriously injured ; 
 those with shattered limbs using muskets for crutches, 
 many fainting and falling by the way. And when in the 
 town, how hard to find a spot to rest, or a surgeon to bind 
 up the wounds. More wounded than the city had inhab- 
 itants, every public hall and house filled to overflow, the 
 porches of the residences covered with bleeding men, the 
 surgeons busy everywhere. In the lecture-room of the 
 Baptist church eight operating tables were in full blast, and 
 the floor was densely packed with men whose limbs were 
 crushed, fractured and torn. Lying there in deep pools 
 of blood they waited, very patiently, almost cheerfully, their 
 turn to be treated ; there was no grumbling, no screaming, 
 hardly a moan ; many of the badly hurt were smiling and 
 
Fredericksburg. 53 
 
 chatting, and one — who had both legs shot off — was 
 cracking jokes with an officer who could not laugh at the 
 humorous sallies, for his lower jaw was shot away. The 
 cases here were nearly all capital, and amputation was 
 almost always resorted to. Hands and feet, arms and legs 
 were thrown under each table, and the sickening piles 
 grew larger as the night progressed. The delicate limbs 
 of the drummer boy fell along with the rough hand of the 
 veteran in years, but all, every one, was brave and 
 cheerful. Towards morning the conversation fliagged, 
 many dropped off to sleep before they could be attended 
 to, and many of them never woke again. Finally the only 
 sound heard was the crunching of the surgeons' saws and 
 now and then the melancholy music of a random shell 
 dismally wailing overhead. Few the prayers that were 
 said, but the soft voice of a boyish soldier, as he was lifted 
 on the table, his limbs a mass of quivering, lacerated flesh, 
 was heard as he quietly said " O my God, I offer all my 
 sufferings in atonement for the sins by which I have 
 crucified Thee". 
 
 Outside, the members of the Christian Commission 
 were hard at work relieving all within reach, and the 
 stretcher carriers were hurrying the wounded from the 
 field. A few chaplains were quietly moving among the 
 suffering thousands, giving them comfort and soothing 
 their dying hour. Out on the railroad at Hamilton's 
 lay the body of the fearless commander of the Third 
 Brigade of the Pennsylvania Reserves, General C. Fager 
 Jackson, and at the Bernard House, where he had been 
 carried, died at midnight the youngest general officer, and 
 one of the most beloved of all that fell. General George 
 D. Bayard, of the cavalry. While conversing with some 
 other officers early in the day a shell struck the group, 
 
54 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 passing through the overcoat of Captain H. G. Gibson, 
 destroying his sabre. It crushed General Bayard's thighs 
 and carried away a portion of his abdomen. He lived 
 fourteen hours after being hit, and passed the time in 
 quietly giving directions and in dictating letters to his 
 friends. In one to Colonel Collum he said, " Give my 
 love to General McClellan and say my only regret is that 
 I did not die under his command". He was to have been 
 married on the following Wednesday, and the bride 
 awaited her cavalier who never came. Bayard, sans peur 
 et sans reproche ! The losses in some of the commands 
 were unusually severe. The Eleventh Pennsylvania 
 Reserves lost six color-bearers inside of a few moments, 
 and Company C, Twelfth Reserves, lost forty of the forty- 
 nine present. 
 
 But the most appalling loss was in the division of 
 General Hancock. Of the five officers composing his 
 personal staff three were wounded and four horses were 
 killed under them. The general himself was struck by a 
 rifle-ball, but not seriously hurt. Of the sixteen officers of 
 the Sixty-ninth New York, every one was killed or 
 wounded, and the regiment lost seventy-five per cent, of 
 the enlisted -men, and left the field with its fourth com- 
 mander, three having been disabled. The Fifth New 
 Hampshire lost seventeen out of twenty-three officers, and 
 had five commanding officers during the fight. The One 
 Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- 
 teers had all the field and staff and many of the line officers 
 killed or wounded, and was taken off the field by the 
 fourth of&cer in command during the fight. The Eighty- 
 first Pennsylvania lost twelve out of sixteen officers and 
 seventy-five per cent, of the enlisted men. The fourth 
 commanding officer brought the regiment off the field. 
 
LIEUTENANT ROBERT T. McGUIRE 
 Died at close of War, of wounds received at Battle of Fredericksburg 
 
Fredericksburg. 55 
 
 The Fifty-seventh New York lost nine out of the eleven 
 ofificers present. The Sixty-sixth New York had four 
 commanders during the battle, the three first having been 
 killed or wounded. Many other regiments of the division 
 suffered almost as severely, yet, on the morning of the 
 following day, notwithstanding great loss, when ordered 
 to support the Ninth Corps, the command fell in, ready 
 and willing, to join in the contemplated assault with the 
 Ninth Corps, led by General Burnside in person — from 
 which he was happily dissuaded by Generals Sumner and 
 Hooker at the moment that all was ready to make the 
 attack. During the fourteenth, the Regiment rested in 
 the streets of the city. Sergeant Abraham Detwiler, of 
 Company C, begged to be allowed to carry the colors and 
 he was accorded the honor. Well did he fiill his position, 
 and bore the flag during the Chancellorsville and Gettys- 
 burg campaigns until he was promoted Lieutenant of his 
 company. Lieutenant Edmund Randall was conspicuous 
 in his efforts to rescue the wounded and get them over 
 the river to a place of safety. He did noble work, and 
 bursting shell and falling walls had no terrors for him 
 where a man of the Regiment could be saved. During 
 the battle the Regiment held the left flank of the Irish 
 Brigade. The Regiment and the Irish Brigade reached 
 a point within thirty yards of the stone wall, and the 
 bodies that lay nearest the enemy's line were those of 
 the Regiment and Brigade and, by actual measurement, 
 within twenty-five paces of the Washington Artillery 
 (Confederate). Lieutenant William E. Owens, of that 
 famous corps, in his history of the Washington Artillery 
 tells us, "That a soldier of the Irish Brigade was the 
 nearest body to the stone wall, and by actual measure- 
 ment it lay within twenty-five feet of the wall ". A 
 
56 The Story of the Ji6th Regiment. 
 
 British line officer, writing on the campaign of Fredericks- 
 burg (published by Keegan & Co., London), writes in 
 laudation of the foreign-born soldier in America during 
 the great Civil War. We quote his account of the attack 
 of the Irish Brigade on December 13th, 1862: "Fifteen 
 minutes passed and another division, Hancock's, five 
 thousand strong, rushed forward from the town. Zook's 
 brigade led the way, but quickly recoiled, beaten back 
 by that terrible artillery. Not so its successor. Under 
 cover of the further bank of the ravine the Irish Brigade, 
 composed of the Twenty-eighth Massachusetts, the Sixty- 
 third, Sixty-ninth and Eighty-eighth New York, and the 
 One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania, under General 
 Meagher, threw off their haversacks and blankets and 
 deployed into line. Resolutely they breasted, the slope 
 and faced the death-dealing storm ; swiftly they passed 
 the limit marked by three solitary colors and, shoulder to 
 shoulder, their own green flag and the blue and scarlet 
 of the Union standard waving above them, swept forward 
 against the low wall which skirts the base of Marye's Hill. 
 So determined was their advance that Colonel Miller, 
 commanding the Confederate Brigade confronting them — 
 for General Cobb had already fallen — ordered his men to 
 hold their fire for a space. And now occurred a strange 
 and pathetic incident. Though high was the courage 
 of that thin line which charged so boldly across the 
 shot-swept plain, opposed to it were men as fearless and 
 staunch ; behind that rude stone breast- work were "bone 
 of their bone, and flesh of their flesh" — the soldiers of 
 Cobb's Brigade were Irish like themselves. On the 
 morning of the battle General Meagher had bade his men 
 to deck their caps with sprigs of evergreen, " to remind 
 them", he said, "of the land of their birth". The symbol 
 
Fredericksburg. 57 
 
 was recognized by their countrymen, and "Oh, God, what 
 
 a pity ! Here comes Meagher's fellows " ! was the cry in 
 
 the Confederate ranks. One hundred and fifty paces 
 
 from the hill the brigade halted and fired a volley, while 
 
 the round shot tore fiercely through the well ordered 
 
 line. Still no sign from the wall, looming grim and 
 
 silent through the battle smoke ; and again the battalions 
 
 moved swiftly forward. They were but a hundred yards 
 
 from their goal, unbroken and unfaltering still ; they had 
 
 reached a point where Walton's gunners, unable to depress 
 
 their pieces further, could no longer harass them. Victory 
 
 seemed within their grasp, and a shout went up from the 
 
 shattered ranks. Suddenly a sheet of flame leaped from 
 
 the parapet and twelve hundred rifles, plied by cool and 
 
 unshaken men, concentrated a murderous fire upon the 
 
 advancing line. To their glory, be it told, though scores 
 
 were swept away, falling in their tracks like corn before 
 
 the sickle, the ever-thinning ranks dashed on. 
 
 " The charging blood in their up-turned faces 
 And the living fill the dead men's places". 
 
 But before that threatening onset the Confederate 
 veterans never quailed ; volley on volley sped with deadly 
 precision, and at so short a range every bullet found its 
 mark. For a while the stormers struggled on, desperate 
 and defiant; but no mortal man could long face that 
 terrible fire, scathing and irresistible as the lightning, and 
 at length the broken files gave ground. Slowly and 
 sullenly they fell back ; fell back to fight no more that 
 day, for beneath the smoke-cloud that rolled about Marye's 
 Hill the Irish Brigade had ceased to exist. Forty yards 
 from the wall where the charge was stayed, the dead and 
 dying lay piled in heaps, and one body, supposed to be 
 that of an officer, was found within fifteen yards of the 
 
58 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 parapet. The Adjutant-General of Hancock's division, 
 who witnessed the attack from the town, said that at the 
 time he could not understand what had happened ; the 
 men fell in such regular lines that he thought they were 
 lying down to allow the storm of shot to pass over them. 
 General Ransom, commanding one of the divisions which 
 held Marye's Hill, reported that this assault was made 
 " with the utmost determination ", and the eloquent words 
 of the London Times special correspondent, who was 
 present with the Confederates, record the admiration of 
 those who beheld that splendid charge. "Never", wrote he, 
 " at Fontenoy, Albuera or Waterloo, was more undaunted 
 courage displayed by the sons of Erin ; the bodies which 
 lie in dense masses within fifty yards of the muzzles of 
 Colonel Walton's guns are the best evidence what manner 
 of men they were who pressed on to death with the daunt- 
 lessness of a race which has gained glory on a thousand 
 battle-fields, and never more richly deserved it than at the 
 foot of Marye's Hill, on December 13th, 1862 ". During 
 Sunday, the day after the battle, no assistance could be 
 given to the wounded who lay in great numbers out on 
 the plain, but after dark on Sunday evening, many of the 
 men made heroic efforts to bring them in, although the 
 enemy were vigilant and fired at every object seen moving 
 against the sky. Sergeant Sheridan, of Company G, 
 Eighty-eighth New York, lay far out on the field with a 
 fractured leg, and four of his comrades determined to go to 
 his relief. Working themselves out on their stomachs, 
 they succeeded in reaching him, but found him very low. 
 As he had a compound fracture of the leg, it seemed 
 impossible to move him, his agony was so great. The 
 men dared not stand up, and were at their wits' ends 
 to know what to do, when Sergeant Slattery came to the 
 
Fredericksburg. 59 
 
 rescue. Said he, " Begob, boys, did yez ever see rats 
 trying to get away with a goose ^^^ ? One rat lies down, 
 the others roll the ^g<g on top av him, he holds it in place 
 wid his four paws, and then they pull him off by the tail. 
 Now I will lie down on my back, you lift Sheridan on top 
 av me and I will do my best to kape his leg even". The 
 suggestion was adopted. The men would push themselves 
 on a couple of feet, then pull Slattery, with his precious 
 load, up to them, and so on until, before daylight, they all 
 reached the city and had Sheridan attended to, and his 
 leg amputated ; too late, however, to save the poor fellow's 
 life. He died from exhaustion. The clothes were literally 
 ground off Sergeant Slattery's back, and his cuticle so 
 sore that he was unable to do duty for a week afterwards. 
 
 A gallant soldier of Company B, John Dempsey, had 
 almost as rough an experience as Sheridan. His leg was 
 fearfully shattered and he fell far out on the field by the 
 stone wall. Feeling that he would die if he remained on 
 the field he threw the crushed leg over the good one and 
 then dragged himself on his stomach for nearly a mile 
 until he reached the town. Some stretcher bearers found 
 him in the evening and carried him over the river, but the 
 surgeons were busy and he did not have the limb ampu- 
 tated until after four days, but he lived and got well. 
 
 On every battlefield there are amusing incidents, and 
 Fredericksburg furnished its share. As the Regiment 
 was advancing on Marye's Heights under a heavy fire, 
 two Irishmen in Company H began to quarrel. One had 
 pushed the other a little and, whilst they still kept their 
 places in line, belabored each other with their tongues. 
 "Wait till Oi get up on top av the hill", said Dempsey, 
 "and Oi'll knock you down wid me potstick" ! (meaning 
 his musket). "Bad luck to ye, Oi'll poke me bayonet 
 
60 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 down yer troat " ! And so they kept on until they 
 reached the crest, where both were killed. Some one 
 asked Captain O'Neill where he was hit. " I'm wounded 
 all over", repHed the gallant Captain; and when one 
 thinks for a moment of a ball smashing a fellow's ribs, 
 passing through his lungs and whistling out somewhere 
 in the vicinity of his backbone, it seems but natural that 
 he should feel " wounded all over". 
 
 The day of the 14th passed without a renewal of the 
 contest, but was made remarkable by an episode very 
 unusual on such occasions. The flags of the regiments of 
 the Irish Brigade had been torn to ribbons during the 
 many contests in which it had participated, and the citizens 
 of New York had procured others to present in their place. 
 The standards arrived during the battle, and with them 
 came a committee, who brought a very generous supply 
 of the good things of earth wherewith to celebrate the 
 presentation, and a banquet was determined upon. A 
 concert hall in one of the upper streets was selected for 
 the feast. Here the tables were spread and decorations 
 improvised. Invitations were sent out, and at noon two 
 or three hundred officers assembled to do honor to the 
 event and toast the new banners. For two or three hours 
 the hall teemed with wine and rang with wit and eloquence, 
 and the flags were baptized amid speeches by Generals 
 Couch, Hancock, Sturgis, Meagher and many other 
 distinguished and gallant officers. The enjoyment and 
 festivities ran high, the enthusiasm was great, but the loud 
 cheers drew the fire of the Southern batteries, and the 
 enemy, envying perhaps the good time our friends were 
 having, sent their compliments in the shape of shells, one 
 of which, passing through the ceiHng of the room, knocked 
 the plaster down among the viands, and was suggestive 
 
Fredericksburg. 61 
 
 of an early adjournment ; so the company separated with 
 rather unceremonious leave-taking — not on account of 
 the shell, certainly not! but as some of the gentlemen 
 remarked : " it being Sunday, they thought it well to close 
 the feast a little early that they might attend divine 
 service ". During the night of this day and on Monday, 
 the 15th, the troops lay on their arms waiting the next 
 event. After dark a rumor spread that the army was to 
 move to the left and strike the enemy again the following 
 morning, but soon the columns began marching over the 
 river and through the storm and gloom back to their 
 camps. Shortly after daylight, on the 16th, the last 
 regiment, the Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, filed 
 across the pontoons. With sturdy blows the pontoniers 
 severed on the city side the lashings of the bridge which 
 swung around with the current of the stream, landing on 
 the other shore, leaving to the mercy of God and the 
 enemy, the killed and many of the wounded of the gallant 
 army. The battle was over ; the result, a graveyard. 
 
 Save one regimental flag, no trophies of the fight 
 remained. Yet the field was redolent with acts of noble 
 daring. The troops that marched on Marye's Heights 
 more than equalled, in the grandeur of their bravery, the 
 gallant six hundred immortalized by the poet laureate, 
 while by their sacrifice, though they did not gain a victory, 
 they raised a monument more enduring than marble or 
 brass to the valor and heroism of our times and our people; 
 and in other ages, when the memories of the contest will 
 have been mellowed by the lapse of centuries, in the blood- 
 shed will be seen a holocaust at the altar of freedom in 
 the smoke of the battle, sweet incense at the shrine of 
 human liberty. The Union troops failed — so did Leonidas 
 of Sparta, yet what son of Hellas but shares even to this 
 
62 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 day in the glory of old Thermopylae, and what American, 
 even to the most remote period of the future, but will share 
 in the glories that cluster around the plain of Fredericks- 
 burg? Those fields, resplendent with the great deeds of 
 our people, where the verdure and every blooming flower 
 is nurtured and enriched by martyr blood, will ever be 
 hallowed places in the land, around which will crystallize 
 the warm, full gratitude of a nation saved. 
 
After Fredericksburg. 63 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 AFTER FREDERICKSBURG. 
 
 \17HEN the battle was over and the troops once more 
 on the North side of the Rappahannock, each 
 command quietly marched back to the camp-ground that 
 had been vacated a few days before. Fortunately, nearly 
 all the wounded of the One Hundred and Sixteenth were 
 brought over the river before the evacuation of the town, 
 but their sufferings were intolerable. A cold dismal rain 
 fell on the men as they lay on the wet ground, but as 
 quickly as possible they were moved off to temporary 
 hospitals and cared for. Orders to build winter quarters 
 were issued, and soon the men were slashing trees and 
 erecting huts in which to pass the winter. Four or five 
 logs cut the proper length, were piled one on the other, 
 the intersections filled with mud, and over all a shelter 
 tent spread for a roof. A fire-place was made at one 
 end, and a chimney constructed of sticks and mud — a 
 chimney, by the way, which frequently caught fire and 
 threatened to burn up the household. In these dwellings, 
 arranged in streets and forming regimental camps, the 
 great army spent the winter. Immense camp-fires blazed. 
 Wood, for the time, was plenty, and when the building 
 of the huts was finished, many an evening was spent by 
 the men sitting in long Hnes, enjoying the heat and light, 
 and chatting of the fight, recalling scenes in the city of 
 Fredericksburg and the field beyond. There were plenty 
 of incidents to fill the long evenings with interesting 
 talk. Every comrade who had fallen was remembered, 
 and each one's lovable characteristics recalled, nor were 
 the wounded forgotten. 
 
64 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Not only were the dead and wounded comrades in 
 arms, but, in many instances, they were near relatives. 
 Allen Landis, of Company C, mourned for his brother, 
 Aaron J. Landis, of the same company, who fell by the 
 stone wall ; and Lieutenant Willauer, also of Company 
 C, was sent home terribly wounded to carry to his aged 
 parents the sad news of his younger brother's death, 
 Corporal Samuel Willauer. First Sergeant Richard Ker, 
 of Company D, left his brother. Sergeant Andrew E. Ker, 
 dead on the field, shot through the head before he was 
 seventeen years of age. And these were not the only 
 members of this family who served their country as 
 soldiers. Another brother, William W. Ker, was a gallant 
 Captain in the Seventy-third Pennsylvania Infantry ; and, 
 still another, George J. Ker, served until the end of the 
 war in the Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry, coming out as a 
 full Captain and Brevet-Major, only to die of his wounds. 
 Then there were Alexander and Daniel Chisholm, 
 brothers, in Company K, the only pair of brothers who 
 got through without a scratch ; and Colonel Mulholland 
 and his brother. Captain Charles Cosslett, of Company E. 
 Sergeants Jacob and Jefferson Carl, of Company C, were 
 brothers, and two other brothers of the Carl boys, Henry 
 and William, were enlisted in other regiments. Captain 
 Henry D. Price, Company C, who was killed in front 
 of Petersburg, had a brother, Abraham D. Price, a Major 
 in the Sixth Cavalry ; and another brother, Joseph D. 
 Price, was a Lieutenant in the same regiment, while 
 Sergeant Elhannan W. Price, who was killed at Freder- 
 icksburg, was a full cousin to Captain Henry D. Price. 
 James Collins, of Company K, had a brother an Adjutant 
 of the One Hundred and Forty-second Pennsylvania 
 Volunteers who was killed on the second day at the 
 
After Fredericksburg. 65 
 
 Wilderness. Jim learned of George's death next morning-, 
 but never asked an hour off duty in consequence. He 
 marched along in silence for some days, but fought nobly 
 to avenge his brother's fall. 
 
 The brother of Captain Lawrence Kelly, of Company 
 G, was killed by his side ; and Lieutenant Kite, of Com- 
 pany F, had his son a private in his company. Henry 
 and George Wilt, of Company C, were brothers ; and 
 also, Thomas and Robert Scarlett, of Company A. Also, 
 Daniel and William Price, of Company B. In Company 
 G, there was a young boy named H. M. Seitzinger who, 
 at Cold Harbor, when Color Sergeant T. A. Sloan was 
 shot, rushed forward, seized the flag, and waving it over 
 his head led the charge, calling to his father, James M. 
 Seitzinger: "Go in Pop, I'm coming". 
 
 There were numbers of others in the Regiment, but it 
 was not exceptional. Whole families went to the war ; 
 some returned and others fell, in many instances all were 
 killed. In a quiet spot in Massachusetts there are five 
 brothers sleeping side by side, the youngest seventeen, 
 the eldest twenty-eight, and all fell within a few months 
 of each other. When the President learned of the death 
 of these five brave boys, his great heart went out to the 
 mother and he sent her the following : 
 
 Executive Mansion, 
 
 Washington, November ii, 1864. 
 Mrs. Bixby, Boston, Massachusetts. 
 
 Dear Madam : I have been shown in the files of the War Department 
 a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the 
 mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel 
 how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt 
 to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot 
 refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the 
 thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our heavenly 
 
66 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only 
 the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that 
 must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom. 
 Yours very sincerely and respectfully, 
 
 Abraham Lincoln. 
 
 In Lycoming County, in our State, tliere are five noble 
 boys named Rankin, side by side, all killed in battle. 
 Lieutenant Willauer's brother died a very heroic death. 
 He was first shot through the hand, then through the 
 body, the ball passing near the heart, then both feet were 
 cut off by a shell ; he was still living, when, after dark, 
 the stretcher-carriers took him from the field to the 
 hospital where he died during the night. He was aged 
 just twenty years and one month. 
 
 Lieutenant Robert B. Montgomery, who was killed in 
 battle, was a very noble gentleman, of an amiable and 
 gentle disposition, a man whom every one loved, and who 
 was ever ready to sacrifice himself for the good of the 
 service. He lived for some days after being wounded, 
 the ball still lodged in his body, and died resigned, saintly 
 and heroic. His body was sent home to Philadelphia, 
 and buried in Machpelah Cemetery, corner Tenth and 
 Washington Avenue. The funeral was on Sunday after- 
 noon, December 28th and tens of thousands of citizens 
 lined the streets as the cortege passed. He was buried 
 with full military honors. 
 
 The following is from the Philadelphia Inquirer of 
 Monday, December 29th, 1862 : 
 
 THE FUNERAL OF LIEUTENANT ROBERT B. MONTGOMERY. 
 
 "The body of Lieutenant Robert B. Montgomery, formerly of 
 Colonel Heenan's One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania 
 Volunteers, was interred yesterday afternoon, about four o'clock, at 
 Machpelah Cemetery, Tenth Street and Washington Avenue. 
 
LIEUTENANT ROBERT B. MONTGOMERY 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, December 13th, 1862 
 
After Fredericksburg. 67 
 
 The Lieutenant died on the 14th inst, at the Patent Office Hospital, 
 Washington, D. C, of wounds received at the battle of Fredericliisburg. 
 He was in the thirty-fourth year of his age. His remains were brought 
 from Washington at the expense of his former fellow-workmen in the 
 Navy Yard. A large military escort was in attendance, including a 
 portion of the Thirtieth Massachusetts and Arsenal Guards and Captain 
 Rockafellow, together with the members of the Hope Hose and Steam 
 Fire Engine Company, a number of the workmen of the Navy Yard, and 
 a detachment of the police force of the Third Division. 
 
 The funeral took place from the residence of Mr. John Paul, No. 228 
 Saratoga Street. Dr. Brainerd, of whose church he was formerly a member, 
 officiated. His remarks over the grave of the deceased soldier were 
 very impressive. ' Of the evils of war in general,' the doctor said, 'they 
 are legion, and only to be tolerated now in order to avoid the worse evils 
 of universal anarchy and international strife and bloodshed likely to follow 
 the breaking up of a great nation. We suffer war as a choice of great 
 evils. War cannot last always. Over the graves of our country's martyrs 
 we can say that the cause ennobles the victim. A life sold, not lost.' Of 
 the battle of Fredericksburg, Doctor Brainerd said : ' It was a fearful time 
 and disastrous to thousands. Other generations will shudder at its 
 details. It unfolds to us the strength of that treason which we have to 
 combat. It develops a love of country seldom surpassed. It has disci- 
 plined a great army to appalling dangers and linked thousands of bleeding 
 hearts more closely to the cause of freedom. It has created in all Christian 
 lands, among true men, a deeper loathing of the treason which has 
 shed this blood, and a deeper abhorrence of the Northern semi-traitors 
 who aided the rebellion. It will tend to lift from the high places the 
 mean, the mercenary and the craven-hearted, and give prominence in the 
 cabinet and field to men willing to suffer and die for their country.' 
 
 Of Lieutenant Montgomery the doctor said : ' He was a young man 
 of excellent character and noble impulse. A native of Virginia, with his 
 property and all his relatives there, he was like Abdiah, ' faithful among 
 - the faithless found.' He preferred his whole country to the State of his 
 birth. On the battlefield he fought bravely, and fell. He was a true 
 man, a citizen and a patriot.' 
 
 After the closing of the remarks by the reverend doctor, the usual 
 honor was paid to his memory by the military, and the multitude in the 
 vicinity slowly and quietly dispersed." 
 
 Thirty-two years after a little group gathered once 
 more around the grave of the beloved Lieutenant and the 
 remains being raised and fully identified, were with 
 
68 The Story of the ii6fh Regiment. 
 
 tender care taken to the National Cemetery at German- 
 town. The same paper of February 3d, 1895, finishes 
 the story began more than a quarter of a century before. 
 
 VETERANS' TRIBUTE TO' A DEAD HERO. 
 
 THE REMAINS OF LIEUTENANT MONTGOMERY WILL BE TAKEN OUT TO 
 GERMANTOWN — A ROMANCE OF THE WAR— GENERAL MULHOLLAND, 
 DEPARTMENT COMMANDER EMSLEY AND COLONEL EDMUND RAN- 
 DALL SEE THAT A COMRADE WHO DIED IN BATTLE IS GIVEN 
 FITTING RESTING PLACE — FOUR HUNDRED MORE BODIES WILL 
 FOLLOW. 
 
 Three honored veterans stood around in the snow storm in Machpelah 
 Cemetery yesterday morning and watched while the remains of a one-time 
 comrade, who had died under their eyes in battle, were lifted up and 
 made ready for shipment to the Soldiers' Cemetery at Germantown. 
 
 Around the event is a most interesting story. The dead man was 
 Lieutenant Robert B. Montgomery, of Company I, One Hundred and 
 Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, of which General Mulholland, now 
 Pension Agent, was then Lieutenant-Colonel. In marching out-of the city 
 the Colonel was wounded and Mulholland took active command. When 
 the regiment went gallantly into the battle of Fredericksburg on December 
 13th, 1862, Lieutenant Montgomery received his death wound. 
 
 The ball, which entered his groin, and crushed his bones in a terrible 
 manner, struck him as he was leading a charge across a frail bridge over 
 the canal. As he was hit he toppled over into the water. His comrades 
 pulled him out and he was sent to a hospital, where he died a few days 
 later. 
 
 Buried with Honors. 
 
 General Mulholland was wounded soon after and was at his home in 
 this city when the body of Lieutenant Montgomery was sent on here for 
 burial. The funeral was held on Sunday, December 28th, 1862. On the 
 occasion the crowds on the streets were immense. The young Lieutenant 
 was interred with full military honors, Captain Rockafellow's command 
 firing the salute. 
 
 Lieutenant Montgomery had few friends here, as he was a Virginian 
 by birth, and at one time a slave-holder. On the outbreak of the war, 
 however, he had abandoned everything and joined the Union army. He 
 had several brothers in the Confederate army. 
 
 When the removal of the bodies from Machpelah Cemetery was 
 begun General Mulholland thought of these events of thirty years ago, and 
 
After Fredericksburg. 69 
 
 determined to see that the body of the brave soldier was fittingly cared 
 for. He hunted up the records of the cemetery, but in tliem he could not 
 find any trace of the Lieutenant's interment. But the General protested 
 that the body was there, and went on to point out the grave. The owner 
 of the lot was hunted up and the General's memory was found to be 
 correct. 
 
 The Remains Identified. 
 
 Yesterday, in company with Department Commander Emsley, who 
 was also in the One Hundred and Sixteenth, and Colonel Edmund Ran- 
 dall, General MulhoUand went down to see the coffiin opened, and the 
 remains made ready for shipment. The coffin was found in good condi- 
 tion, and the skull and clothing were well enough preserved to make 
 identification positive. The army buttons were taken from the coat and 
 preserved by Colonel Randall. The remains will be buried with honors 
 in the National Cemetery. 
 
 The bodies of four hundred other soldiers rest in Machpelah Ceme- 
 tery. Many of their graves are marked with government tombstones. 
 Through the agency of General MulhoUand these will all be taken to the 
 National Cemetery at Germantown for interment. 
 
 Lieutenant Christian Foltz was killed instantly, being 
 shot through the head ; his body was left on the field, and 
 buried, after the fight, in front of the stone wall. He 
 came from near Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, was of 
 German descent, a brave, unassuming. Christian soldier, 
 and though a man advanced in years, he was as full of 
 patriotic feeling and ever as ready to share in the hard- 
 ships and dangers as the youngest. 
 
 Many of the officers wounded in the battle never 
 returned, Colonel Dennis Heenan suffered severely for 
 months and finally lost the use of his right hand. Major 
 George H. Bardwell also lost the use of his right hand, the 
 ball having broken every bone. He was afterwards breveted 
 lieutenant-colonel for his gallantry on the occasion. 
 Captain O'Neill was shot through the right lung, the ball 
 making a terrible wound from which he never fully 
 recovered, and finally caused his death. He was a veteran. 
 
70 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 having served some eight years in the regular army before 
 joining the regiment ; the wound received at Fredericks- 
 burg was his third. Lieutenant Robert T. McGuire was 
 also shot through the lungs, and in the thigh, and died of 
 the wounds shortly after the close of the war. He was a 
 brave and most lovable officer. He was born in Philadel- 
 phia of Irish parents, and educated in the public schools 
 of that city. 
 
 A few days after the battle, the thanks of the President 
 was read to the regiments on " dress parade," and received 
 by all with evident pleasure : 
 
 Executive Mansion, 
 
 Washington, December 22d, 1862. 
 To the Army of the Potomac : 
 
 I have just read your Commanding General's report of the battle 
 of Fredericksburg. 
 
 Although you were not successful, the attempt was not an error, 
 nor the failure other than an accident. The courage with which you in 
 an open field maintained the contest against an entrenched foe, and the 
 consummate skill and success with which you crossed and re-crossed the 
 river in the face of the enemy, show that you possess all the qualities 
 of a great army, which will yet give victory to the cause of the country 
 and of the popular government. 
 
 Condoling with the mourners of the dead, and sympathizing with 
 the severely wounded, I congratulate you that the number of both is 
 comparatively so small. I tender you, officers and soldiers, the thanks 
 of the nation. Abraham Lincoln. 
 
 The winter of 1862 and 1863 seemed long to the men 
 in camp on the Rappahannock. The cold was not intense, 
 but the atmosphere damp and penetrating. The ground 
 became frozen and sodden by turns, and when a few warm 
 days would come and draw the frost out of the earth, the 
 mud would become so deep that moving around was 
 impossible. There was little chance for drill, and the 
 days and nights in camp seemed very long. Ofttimes 
 
After Fredericksburg. 71 
 
 the doctor's call in the morning would be the only sound 
 to disturb the camp. The guard would be changed with- 
 out music, and the picket detail formed and marched off 
 in the rain or snow in grim silence. During the winter the 
 picket duty was extremely severe and the detail large. 
 The men of the Regiment had to march three miles to the 
 picket line which ran along the north bank of the Rappa- 
 hannock, near the old town of Falmouth. Most of the 
 march was through slush and mud, and by the time the 
 detail reached the ground every one was wet and chilled, 
 and in that condition began the turn of duty. No fires 
 were allowed on the line and frequently none on the 
 reserve. After standing the two hours on the river 
 bank, shivering in the wintry blast, or with the back to a 
 blinding snow-storm, the men found scanty comfort when 
 on the reserve. How cheerful and cozy the little hut seemed 
 when, after the turn of duty on picket, they returned to 
 camp ! But the picket line, although so cold and trying, 
 was not without its attractions. The river was narrow 
 enough to permit the men of each army to see the other 
 and often converse. Little or no firing was indulged in, 
 and the men of both sides stood in full view of each other. 
 Of course, during the darkness of night every one was 
 vigilant and watchful, but during the day there was 
 nothing to do but stand and let the hours go by. 
 Contraband trading was carried on to a very great extent 
 after, dark, the men wading the river where fordable, and 
 the Confederates visiting in return. Union coffee for 
 Confederate tobacco constituted the principal commercial 
 transactions. No harm resulted from the trade, and the 
 officers, when patrolling the line, would manage to look 
 some other way, and fail to observe any visitors from the 
 other side of the river who might happen to be among the 
 
72 The Story of the ii6ih Regiment. 
 
 Union men. Had they recognized the Confederate they 
 would have been compelled to arrest him, but it was 
 difficult to distinguish colors after nightfall, it being so 
 very dark and the blue and the gray were so much alike. 
 It was just the same on the other side. The officers and 
 men acted honorably, and not one of the boys who 
 crossed the river with his little bag of coffee was ever 
 detained. 
 
 The regimental chaplain. Reverend Edward McKee, 
 resigned December 24th. He had proven himself a brave 
 and fearless officer, but his health gave way under the 
 hardships of campaigning and he was compelled to return 
 to private life. 
 
 Christmas Day, 1862, was celebrated in the camp, 
 many boxes of good things from home were received, 
 and shared by the recipients with comrades less fortunate. 
 Some of the boys were a little homesick, to be sure, but 
 enough were sufficiently light of heart to drive dull care 
 away. A large Christmas tree was erected in the centre 
 of the camp, and peals of laughter and much merriment 
 greeted the unique decorations, tin cups, hardtack, pieces 
 of pork and other odd articles being hung on the 
 branches. At night the camp fire roared and blazed, the 
 stars shone above the tail pines, the canteen was passed 
 around, and care banished for the hour. It must have 
 been a sad Christmas, however, to those at home whose 
 friends had fallen by Marye's Heights and Hamilton's 
 Woods. New Year's Day came and passed, and on 
 January 16th an order was received to prepare for another 
 march, the celebrated movement known in history as the 
 "Mud Campaign". It was the last effort of General 
 Burnside to justify himself and give battle to the enemy, 
 but nature and the elements protested. On the twentieth 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL EDWIN V. SUMNER 
 Commanded Second Corps, March 13th to October 9th, 1862 
 
After Fredericksburg. 73 
 
 the army broke camp and moved, or rather tried to move, 
 but the downpour of rain upon the soaked earth was so 
 copious and incessant, and the mud so deep that no 
 movement was possible. No sooner had they left their 
 different camps than men, trains and artillery became 
 stalled in the mire, and it became a question of getting 
 them extricated and back to their quarters, rather than 
 one of striking the enemy. The members of the One 
 Hundred and Sixteenth never left the camp ground 
 during this period, as it was intended that the Second 
 Corps should be the last to move. And the men found 
 great consolation in the fact, especially when they saw the 
 condition of the bedraggled infantry and mud-covered 
 artillery, that was sunk hub-deep in the sea of liquid 
 clay that was once a road. January 26th, that splendid 
 old soldier. General Edwin V. Sumner, retired from 
 command of the Right Grand Division, bade the army 
 farewell, and shortly afterwards died. It is told of 
 Sumner that, at Antietam, he was sending his son on an 
 errand of great danger, and after giving him the order, 
 the young man was about to gallop off when the general 
 called him back and kissed him ; then said, " Go on, 
 my boy". January 26th, 1863, the Regiment was con- 
 solidated with a battalion of four companies, and the 
 following officers retained in command : 
 
 Major commanding — St. Clair A. Mulholland. 
 Adjutant — Lieutenant Garrett Nowlen. 
 Quarter- Master — Lieutenant Richard Wade. 
 Surgeon — William B. Hartman. 
 Sergeant-Major — George Roeder. 
 Quarter-Master Sergeant — George McMahon. 
 
74 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 COMPANY "a". 
 
 Captain — Seneca G. Willauer. 
 
 First Lieutenant — William M. Hobart. 
 
 Second Lieutenant — George Halpin. 
 
 COMPANY "b". 
 
 Captain — Francis T. Quinlan. 
 
 First Lieutenant — Francis E. Crawford. 
 
 Second Lieutenant — Thomas A. Dorwart. 
 
 COMPANY "c". 
 Captain — John Teed. 
 First Lieutenant — Henry D. Price. 
 Second Lieutenant — William H. Tyrrell. 
 
 COMPANY "d". 
 
 Captain — William A. Peet. 
 
 First Lieutenant — Jacob R. Moore. 
 
 Second Lieutenant — Louis J. Sacriste. 
 
 The consolidation of the Regiment became necessary 
 because of the fact that the command had not been 
 recruited to the maximum strength at the beginning, and 
 had lost heavily by death, sickness and detail. It was 
 understood, however, that six new companies should be 
 added to the command as soon as practicable. This was 
 not effected until a year after the consolidation, and the 
 command fought as a " battalion " at Chancellorsville, 
 Gettysburg, Mine Run and Bristow Station. The super- 
 numerary officers were honorably discharged, some 
 entering the service again in other commands. Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Mulholland was compelled to lose the rank of 
 lieutenant-colonel and accept that of major, knowing 
 that it would be but for a short time, or until the new 
 companies were organized. Lieutenant Edmund Randall 
 
After Fredericksburg. 75 
 
 was one of the officers retained, but he tendered his 
 resignation, and in April, Captain Francis T. Quinlan did 
 likewise. These two young, brave and talented officers 
 left the Regiment, and their going was much regretted 
 by the commanding officer and all their comrades. They 
 were promising officers and had a brilliant future before 
 them. 
 
 Shortly after the failure of the ludicrous fiasco, the 
 "Mud Campaign", General Joseph Hooker succeeded 
 General Burnside in command of the army of the Potomac, 
 and the change for the time had a most happy effect. 
 New life seemed to be given to every organization, and 
 fresh vitality to every department. Many changes took 
 place in the organization and personnel of the army. 
 The grand division idea was definitely abandoned, and 
 the corps-mark, or badge, was adopted. This feature 
 consisted of a distinct emblem by which the division and 
 corps to which every man belonged could be recognized. 
 The emblem was worn on the cap, and the corps was 
 designated by the emblem itself, and the division by the 
 color. Red, white, and blue indicated the first, second 
 and third divisions. The badge of the Second corps was 
 the trefoil or clover-leaf, and as the One Hundred and 
 Sixteenth belonged to the First Division the badge of the 
 Regiment was red. The "corp badges", worn on the 
 cap, became very dear to the troops, a source of pride 
 and an incentive to emulation. They proved to be of 
 great convenience to all, enabling every one to identify 
 corps and divisions on the march or on line of battle 
 without inquiry. The men of the Irish Brigade added to 
 the red clover leaf an emblem of the same form, though of 
 a different color — a small, green shamrock, this denoting 
 the brigade organization as well as the division and corps. 
 
''^ The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 February 28th Captain Peet resigned and Lieutenant 
 Nowlen was soon after promoted to Captain of Company 
 D, and Lieutenant Sacriste became Adjutant. 
 
 During February, March and April of this year, 1863, 
 camp fever was prevalent, and many deaths occurred in 
 the army, but the Regiment was remarkably fortunate in 
 the small number of cases of sickness and the very few 
 fatalities. Every moment of fair weather was taken 
 advantage of to drill and discipline the command, and at 
 no time before or afterwards did the Regiment attain such 
 perfection in all that pertains to the movements as a body 
 under arms, or develop such a degree of excellent disci- 
 pline of the individual soldier. Not only did the battalion 
 gain unstinted praise on brigade, division and corps 
 drills and reviews, but every man seemed to vie with each 
 other in trying to outdo his comrade in personal appear- 
 ance and soldierly accomplishments. The " reviews ", 
 " dress parades " and " guard mounts ", and other 
 occasions of ceremony were all admirable, and the rigid 
 inspections told well for the personnel of every one. 
 Every man was clean and neat, beyond anything that 
 could be expected under the circumstances. Private 
 Jacob Lutz, Company B, was awarded the credit of having 
 the cleanest musket. Lutz, in fact, was a crank on the 
 subject of cleanliness. His musket, however, was his 
 especial pride and constant care. The boys used to say 
 that he would sleep without cover on a wet night in order 
 that he might wrap the piece in his blanket and thus 
 shelter it from the dampness. 
 
 On the morning after the battle. Sergeant Abraham L. 
 Detwiler, Company C, was promoted to be Color Sergeant, 
 vice Tyrrell, who had been severely wounded and who 
 was shortly afterward commissioned. Sergeant Detwiler 
 
After Fredericksburg. 77 
 
 had behaved with great bravery in the fight and was the 
 first to jump out of the ranks and volunteer to carry 
 the flag when a new color sergeant was called for. He 
 was not only a fearless man but intelligent, and filled the 
 position with ability. He carried the colors at Chancellors- 
 ville, Gettysburg, Auburn, Bristow Station and Mine Run 
 and was promoted to a lieutenancy in November, 1863. 
 
 ST. PATRICK'S DAY, 1863. 
 
 St. Patrick's Day in camp was celebrated with the 
 usual gayety and rejoicing by the men composing the 
 Irish Brigade. This time-honored national anniversary 
 was observed with all the exhaustless spirit and enthusiasm 
 of Irish nature. For days previous vast preparations 
 had been made, a race-course marked out, and on every 
 side, written in large, bold characters, was the following 
 announcement : 
 
 Grand Irish Steeple-Chase, 
 " To come off the 17th of March, rain or shine, by horses, 
 the property of, and to be ridden by, commissioned officers 
 of that brigade. The prizes are a purse of I500 ; second 
 horse to save his stakes ; two and a half mile heat, best two 
 in three, over four hurdles four and a half feet high, and 
 five ditch fences, including two artificial rivers fifteen feet 
 wide and six deep ; hurdles to be made of forest pine and 
 braced with hoops." 
 
 The quarter-master was sent to Washington for 
 liquors and meats, and brought for the banquet that was 
 to follow the race the following moderate supply, which 
 constituted the fare : Thirty-five hams, and a side of an ox 
 roasted ; an entire pig stuffed with boiled turkeys ; an 
 unlimited number of chickens, ducks and small game. The 
 drinking materials comprised eight baskets of champagne, 
 ten gallons of rum, and twenty-two of whiskey. A 
 
78 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 splendid bower was erected, capable of containing some 
 hundreds of persons, for a general invitation was issued 
 to all the officers of the Army of the Potomac. 
 
 The evening previous to the races a committee was 
 held on " punch ", as to who was the best qualified to mix 
 that important compound. It was unanimously agreed 
 that the General and staff were the best judges, and 
 therefore the most proper to undertake it. It was ruled 
 that the matter be left entirely in their hands. Captains 
 Gosson and Hogan were voted masters of ceremonies, in 
 which they labored so diligently that before the mixture 
 was complete both felt overpowered by their labors and 
 had to be relieved from duty. 
 
 The morning commenced with religious ceremonies, 
 after which the different riders proceeded to dress them- 
 selves. The dresses were showy, but some rather 
 incongruous. One officer appeared mounted in scarlet, 
 the top of his head crowned with a green velvet smoking 
 cap, the present of his lady-love. The reason he assigned 
 for his peculiar taste was, he was from Galway, and his 
 family had hunted with the Galway Blazers' Club, and 
 dressed similarly. 
 
 At eleven o'clock the grand stand was crowded with 
 distinguished generals, officers, and about a dozen ladies. 
 A large concourse of at least thirty-thousand officers and 
 soldiers had assembled to participate in the fun. Previous 
 to starting, the course was the object of attraction for 
 spectators. Large crowds of soldiers were congregated 
 in the vicinity of the interesting points, which seemed to 
 be, in their estimation, where the leaps were highest and 
 the ditches deepest. The nature of the ground was 
 favorable — a gently rolling stretch of land, over which the 
 course ran for a mile and three-quarters in length — and at 
 
After Fredericksburg. 79 
 
 points about equal distances from each other, eight leaps 
 had been erected or excavated. From the ground 
 whereon the stand was, and where the flags marking the 
 tracks waved, the hills, here and there crested with a 
 growth of oak or cedar, sloped away towards the Rappa- 
 hannock. The bluest of blue skies looked down on the 
 gayly-dressed and eager crowds, on the dashing horse- 
 men, whose steeds pranced by the side of others on which 
 were riding gay and brilliant women, on the quiet hills, 
 the peaceful river, the two hostile armies, and seemed to 
 shower its blessings and its beauties on the festive throng 
 assembled for enjoyment and sport commemorative of 
 the national holiday of old Ireland. 
 
 The start was named for eleven o'clock — ten minutes 
 before that hour the Commander-in-chief of the Army of 
 the Potomac, Major-General Hooker, attended by all the 
 members of his staff not detained at headquarters or else- 
 where on duty, and accompanied by Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Bentley, and Captain John C. Lynch, of the Sixty-third, 
 both of whom had waited on General Hooker earlier in 
 the day, arrived on the ground. On the appearance of 
 the Commander-in-chief he was greeted by warm cheers, 
 which he gracefully acknowledged as he took his place 
 on the grand stand. Before attempting to describe the 
 sports of the day, it may be as well to notice some of the 
 more prominent and distinguished of the invited guests. 
 And let us first speak of the ladies, who added much, by 
 their vivacity and their picturesque costume, by their 
 brilliancy and witchery, to the entertainments and amuse- 
 ments of the day. Fortunate citizens, dwelling in their 
 quiet homes, and having before their eyes, every hour of 
 the day, graceful and lovely women, can have no idea of 
 the chivalrous emotions which swell the hearts of even the 
 
80 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 roughest soldier, seeing on rude camp-covered hills the 
 figures, the fair faces, which it may be, have not been 
 looked on in these regions and by these men for many, 
 many months. If the reader has any conception of these 
 things, he can easily imagine with what deep, yet sub- 
 dued, gladness the ladies were greeted by all. 
 
 When a fitting opportunity offered, in recognition of 
 the hospitable greeting that was accorded him. General 
 Hooker proposed three cheers for " General Meagher and 
 his Irish Brigade, God bless them ". 
 
 The following horses only, out of a larger number 
 entered for the first race, open to the officers of the Irish 
 Brigade, started : 
 
 General Meagher's gray horse — "Jack Hinton " ; rider — • 
 Captain John Gosson ; dress — crimson jacket, sleeves, breeches 
 and white cap. 
 
 Captain Hogan's bay horse — ■" Napper Tandy" ; rider — 
 Lieutenant Ryder; dress — blue jacket, white breeches, green cap. 
 
 Captain Martin's bay mare — "Kathleen Mavourneen " ; 
 rider — Captain Martin ; Solferino jacket, white breeches, iilaroon 
 cap. 
 
 Captain Langdon's black horse — "Nigger Bill" ; rider — 
 Lieutenant Byron ; plaid jacket, white breeches, pink cap. 
 
 Quarter-Master McCormick's bay horse — "Sharpsburg" ; 
 rider — Lieutenant O'Connor; red jacket, white breeches, blue cap. 
 
 Colonel Mulholland's chestnut horse — "Major" ; rider — 
 Quarter- Master Wade ; blue jacket, white breeches, red cap. 
 
 Judges : Colonel Von Schaick, Seventh New York Volun- 
 teers ; Colonel Frank, Fifty-seventh New York Volunteers. 
 
 Umpire : Brigadier-General Caldwell. 
 
 Clerk of the Course : General Meagher. 
 
 A few minutes before eleven o'clock the bugle sounded 
 to the post, the horses were uncovered, and the eager riders 
 
After Fredericksburg. 81 
 
 mounted. Precisely as the hand denoted the hour, the 
 clerk of the course waved his whip, another sweet, inspiring 
 note from the bugler, and they were off. Six horses, 
 six gallant riders, the course, the leaps, innumerable 
 throngs of spectators, met the eyes of those standing on 
 the platform. The first leap was a hurdle almost five feet 
 high. They came to it ; and cleared it beautifully ; two 
 saddles were emptied ; the bay mare bolted, but was 
 spiritedly and scientifically brought to it, and flew over 
 magnificently. With varying fortune the other leaps and 
 spaces were taken and passed over, the rider of the gray 
 drawing towards him the attention of the throng by the 
 masterly manner in which he handled his horse. The 
 home-stretch was reached, the gray, hard pressed by the 
 bay, gained the winning post, and the umpire declared him 
 the winner of the first heat. A wild, enthusiastic cheer 
 went up from the jubilant throng. The start on the 
 second heat was according to the formula of the first. All 
 the horses cleared hurdle number one in fine style ; the run 
 home was headed by the gray again, this time the little 
 black closing tightly on him, and the gray was declared the 
 winner, amid thunders of applause for his dashing rider. 
 
 To this race succeeded a sweepstakes, open to all, and, 
 as usual, all the incidents of an old-fashioned course 
 happened. Eight horses contested for the prize, which 
 was won by a fine chestnut, ridden by, it is said, a 
 descendant of the Blucher of Waterloo fame. 
 
 It was one o'clock when General Meagher announced 
 that all further operations would be postponed for half an 
 hour, and invited the ladies, the generals present, and 
 staffs, to a collation, prepared and awaiting destruction at 
 his quarters, and thither the goodly company proceeded. 
 In front of the quarters two Sibley tents had been pitched. 
 
82 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 separated by a space of ten yards, which space was enclosed 
 by an awning. In and under these the guests thronged. 
 Mountains of sandwiches disappeared, no doubt filling up 
 those voids which nature is said to abhor. With the 
 precision and promptitude of file-faring, pop, pop, went 
 explosions that preceded copious draughts of rich wines. 
 In and out, in fact everywhere, went the attentive officers 
 of the brigade, attending to their visitors. What attracted 
 most attention, however, and gratified every appreciative 
 palate were potations of spiced whiskey-punch, ladled by 
 Captain Hogan, the Ganymede of the occasion, from an 
 enormous bowl, holding not much less than thirty gallons. 
 The following amusements followed : — 
 
 First. A foot-race, one-half mile distance, best of heats ; 
 open to all non-commissioned officers and privates, the winner to 
 receive $7, and the second $3. 
 
 Second. Casting weights, the weights to weigh from ten to 
 fourteen pounds ; the winner to receive $3. 
 
 Third. Running after the soaped pig — to be the prize of 
 the man who holds it. 
 
 Fourth. A hurdle-race, one-half mile distance, open to all 
 non-commissioned officers and privates ; the winner to receive 
 $7, the second, $3. 
 
 Fifth. The wheelbarrow race — the contestants to be blind- 
 folded, and limited to six soldiers of the Irish Brigade ; the 
 winner to receive $5 ; distance to be decided on the ground. 
 
 Sixth. Jumping in sacks to the distance of five hundred 
 yards ; the winner to receive $5. 
 
 Seventh. A contest on the light fantastic toe, consisting of 
 Irish reels, jigs, and hornpipes ; the best dancer to receive $5, 
 the second best $3, to be decided by a judge appointed by the 
 chairman. 
 
After Fredericksburg. 83 
 
 The amusements of the day were followed by a grand 
 entertainment at night, theatricals and recitations. Many 
 a health was drank, many a friend was toasted, flowing 
 bumpers, loving glances at the fair ones, songs and 
 toasts went freely round. Captain Hogan presided at the 
 nectarean mixture, which floated like a spiced island in a 
 huge barrel. Captain Jack Gosson, in his most recherche 
 uniform, bespangled with lace, aided and assisted. 
 Around them were a lot of drummer-boys and soldiers. 
 These Captain Jack dispersed in the most dignified manner, 
 while they looked most longingly at Captain Hogan, as 
 he ladled out the punch. 
 
 A poetical address was read by Dr. Lawrence Reynolds, 
 of his own composition, giving a history of the career of 
 the brigade. Dr. Lawrence, of the Sixty-third Regiment, 
 was the poet laureate of the brigade. 
 
 THE PRESIDENT VISITS THE ARMY. 
 
 In the latter part of April the President visited and 
 reviewed the army. The One Hundred and Sixteenth 
 Battalion never looked better than on this occasion. The 
 great review took place on the plains back of Spofford 
 Heights, and occupied two whole days. Corps after corps 
 filed past, one hundred and twenty thousand men ; 
 infantry, cavalry and artillery, composing as General 
 Hooker, in "grandiose" style, named it, '"the finest 
 army on the planet". Every organization and every 
 individual looked their best. But, although a joyous 
 occasion, Mr. Lincoln wore that air of thoughtful sadness 
 that every one recalls so well. While at Army Head- 
 quarters in the morning, surrounded by Generals and 
 brilliant company, he seemed cheerful and full of life and 
 gayety, but, as hour after hour he rode along the line of 
 
81 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 troops, he appeared like a man overshadowed by some 
 deep sorrow. No doubt he thought of the coming 
 campaign, of the great battle in the near future, and of the 
 many who would fall. On the second day of the review 
 he seemed more overcome than usual, and his strong, 
 rugged face bore visible traces of his inmost thoughts. 
 During the afternoon he became unusually silent, and 
 rode for an hour without exchanging a word with the 
 brilliant staff that galloped behind him. At one time his 
 gait became very slow, and finally he reigned up his 
 horse in front of a Pennsylvania regiment, and looking 
 into the faces of the young soldiers who stood silently in 
 line at a "present arm", he let fall the lines on the 
 horse's neck, and reaching out his arms towards the 
 ranks, exclaimed, " My God, men, if I could save this 
 country by giving up my own life and saving yours, 
 how gladly I would do it". As he spoke, the tears 
 stole down his furrowed cheeks, and his great heart 
 seemed bursting. Then he slowly passed on — but who 
 can forget the scene ? It was an episode called forth by 
 the circumstances, the occasion and the man. 
 
 Abraham Lincoln had a heart overflowing with kind- 
 ness and love for all mankind. No human being was too 
 lowly to be an object of his tender thought and solicitude. 
 On one occasion a sorrowful woman waited all day in 
 the ante-room at the White House, anxious to secure an 
 interview with him. The crowd of visitors was so great 
 that it was almost evening before her turn came, and 
 when she was finally admitted into the reception room it 
 was to find many still ahead of her. Shrinking and over- 
 come with grief, she sat alone in a corner quietly sobbing. 
 Mr. Lincoln, standing at his desk, received one after 
 another, attending to the business of each and dismissing 
 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
After Fredericksburg. 85 
 
 them in succession, but every once in a while he would 
 glance at the veiled figure sitting motionless in the corner. 
 When the last visitor had departed he walked over to the 
 poor soul and, holding out both his large hands, said : 
 " Now, my poor Httle woman, what can I do for you " ? 
 The " poor litde woman " had a son who was to be shot 
 in the morning, for desertion. He had not meant to 
 desert, but he was only a child and had gone home to see 
 his mother. Well — he was not shot, but lived to prove 
 himself a good soldier. The tears of the " poor little 
 woman ", friendless and alone, were as potent, and had as 
 much influence on the great heart of Lincoln as an appeal 
 from the grandest potentate on earth. One can scarcely 
 conceive how, after a long day full of business and 
 anxiety, interviewed by a host of eminent men on all sorts 
 of important and pressing business, the President could 
 have a moment left to give to a poor widow, yet, she 
 received as much, and even more, consideration, as the 
 greatest man in his audience, giving his hand and heart 
 to the sorrowing mother with all the gentle tenderness of 
 a great and noble nature. It was the crowning act of a 
 well spent day, and how few days of Lincoln's life were 
 not rendered sweet and sacred by such deeds. No doubt 
 these incidents softened the habitual sadness that seemed 
 to overshadow the life of the President. While ever full 
 of sympathy and kindness for every one else, he never 
 seemed to enjoy happiness himself except in the exercise 
 of some good action. 
 
 On one occasion a committee of ladies called to plead 
 with him to send the thousands of wounded from the 
 hospitals around Washington to their own States, so that 
 they might be near their homes. " Do this, Mr. Lincoln", 
 said one of the ladies, " and the good deed will make you 
 
86 The Story of the ii6th Regiment, 
 
 happy ". He issued the order, but said quietly to himself : 
 " I will never be happy again ". 
 
 The sadness that seemed to overshadow Mr. Lincoln 
 during the afternoon of the review continued to a great 
 extent during the evening, and the brilliant compan}'^ of 
 officers and ladies gathered at General Sickles's head- 
 quarters was influenced in a great measure by the 
 President's apparent sadness. A shadow seemed to rest 
 on everyone, and while Mr. Lincoln made an effort to 
 be cheerful his smile was full of pathos and his gayety 
 evidently forced. As the evening progressed the situation 
 became embarrassing. The gallant commander of the 
 Third Corps, seeing that something must be done to 
 relieve the situation and banish the gloom, thought of 
 a plan that had an immediate and happy effect but 
 threatened, for a time, most unpleasant consequences. 
 Among the ladies present was the Princess Salm Salm, 
 a dark-eyed, attractive little woman, the wife of the 
 commander of the Eighth New York, a soldier of many 
 wars, who was afterwards killed in the Franco-Prussian 
 War of 1870. 
 
 General Daniel E. Sickles, taking her aside, suggested 
 that in order to put life in the company and chase away 
 dull care she should get the ladies to form a surprise 
 party and each one kiss the President. There were ten 
 or twelve ladies present, wives of the corps and division 
 commanders, and visitors who had come to see the 
 review. The Princess at first shrank from the suggestion, 
 but finally, in a spirit of mischief and humor, consented. 
 After quietly persuading the others to enter into the 
 scheme, she approached Mr. Lincoln who was standing 
 by the fire, his tall form towering above everyone in the 
 room, but how to reach up and kiss the lips so far above 
 
After Fredericksburg. 87 
 
 her wEis a momentous question. Not for long, however ; 
 " Mr. Lincoln, let me whisper something," she said, and 
 the tall form leaned over unsuspectingly to hear the secret, 
 when a hearty kiss was delivered instead. The effect 
 was electrical. The clouds passed away, and while the 
 other ladies, amid much laughter and merriment, pushed 
 forward to follow the example of the Princess, the whole 
 company joined in the spirit of the thing. 
 
 A most enjoyable evening followed, but there was one 
 good lady who evidently did not appreciate the good- 
 natured joke of General Sickles and the Princess. Mrs. 
 Lincoln was extremely angry and made no effort to 
 conceal her feelings in the matter and, as far as General 
 Sickles was concerned, the situation became very strained 
 when, on the following day, he received orders to escort 
 President and Mrs. Lincoln back to Washington. Mrs. 
 Lincoln was fully aware that the author of the mischievous 
 proceedings of the preceding evening was the gallant 
 General, and she took pains to manifest her displeasure. 
 Mr. Lincoln tried by every means in his power to smooth 
 the thing over, but without success. 
 
 At dinner he was specially gracious and full of wit 
 and jest, but nothing could remove for an instant the 
 grim expression on Mrs. Lincoln's face. She never once 
 recognized or spoke to the brilliant commander of the 
 Third Corps. Finally the President turned to him and 
 exclaimed : " Sickles, they tell me that you have become 
 very religious of late". This statement took the General 
 by surprise who, not knowing whether the President was 
 serious or still joking, replied : " Well, I cannot say that 
 I am more so than usual. I am naturally of a religious 
 nature". "Why", retorted Mr. Lincoln, "I hear that you 
 not only have Psalms at your headquarters, but, also 
 
88 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Salm Salms !" This sally disarmed Mrs. Lincoln. She 
 burst out laughing, the kissing episode was forgiven, 
 and Mrs. Lincoln and General Sickles were friends until 
 she died. 
 
 As the spring approached, and the weather became 
 better, picket duty on the river bank was not so trying, 
 and in the balmy days of April and May became most 
 desirable. It was picturesque and beautiful along the 
 daisy and buttercup pied banks of the Rappahannock, 
 and the fishing after dark was excellent. Then it was 
 interesting to look over the river and speculate on what 
 the enemy was doing ; for the men were in full view and 
 their drills and reviews could be seen. 
 
 Fredericksburg was always a point of deep interest. 
 There was not a lady in our whole army, but many could 
 be seen promenading the city streets and groups of children 
 could be seen at play, recalling scenes at home. The 
 music of the Confederate camps came softly floating over 
 the still water, and crowds of citizens would gather on 
 the opposite bank and on the city wharves, listening to 
 the playing of the Union bands. On one sweet spring 
 evening a band on the Union side of the river played 
 "Hail Columbia", and was promptly answered from the 
 Confederates with "Bonnie Blue Flag". Then for an 
 hour the songs of the Union and the Confederacy followed 
 each other in answering harmony. Finally the Union 
 musicians began playing " Home, Sweet Home ". No 
 derisive answer came to that tender chord, but the camps 
 were quickly hushed, and on the calm of evening the air 
 that touched every heart, both North and South, came 
 echoing back from the Southern hills. It was a delightful 
 episode, calling forth prayers and tears, and thoughts of 
 dear and loved ones far away. One evening, during the 
 
After Fredericksburg. 
 
 89 
 
 siege of Sebastopol, the band of an English regiment 
 played the sad and tender air of "Annie Laurie". The 
 sound was taken up by others, the men of the whole army 
 joined, and the chorus rose and swelled as forty thousand 
 sons of the British Isles, in the trenches, united their 
 voices in the song, 
 
 "And for bonnie Annie Laurie, 
 I would lay me down and die." 
 
 The effect must have been touching indeed, but only 
 " Home, Sweet Home" could ever have joined the North 
 and the South together in heart, song and sentiment just 
 at this time. 
 
 The Rappahannock's stately tide, aglow with sunset light, 
 Came sweeping down between the hills that hemmed its 
 
 gathering might. 
 From one side rose the Spofford slopes, and on the other shore 
 The Spottsylvania meadows lay with oak groves scattered o'er. 
 Hushed were the sounds of busy day ; the brooding air was hushed, 
 Save for the rapid-flowing stream that chanted as it rushed. 
 O'er mead and gently sloping hills, on either side the stream, 
 The white tents of the soldiers caught the sun's departing beam — 
 On Spofford's Hills the Blue, on Spottsylvania' s slopes the Gray : 
 Between them, like a unsheathed sword, the glittering river lay. 
 Hark ! Suddenly a Union band far down the stream sends forth 
 The strains of " Hail Columbia ", the paean of the North. 
 The tents are parted ; silent throngs of soldiers worn and grim, 
 Stand forth upon the dusky slopes to hear the martial hymn. 
 
 So clear and quiet was the night that to the farthest bound 
 
 Of either camp was borne the swell of sweet, triumphant sound. 
 
 And when the last note died away, from distant post to post 
 
 A shout, like thunder of the tide, rolled through the Federal host. 
 
 Then straightway from the other shore there rose an answering 
 
 strain. 
 " Bonnie Blue Flag " came floating down the slope and o'er 
 
 the plain. 
 And then the Boys in Gray sent back our cheer across the tide — 
 A mighty shout that rent the air and echoed far and wide. 
 
90 The Story of the Ii6th Regiment. 
 
 "Star-spangled Banner ", we replied ; they answered, " Boys in 
 
 Gray". 
 While cheer on cheer rolled through the dusk, and faintly 
 
 died away. 
 
 Deeply the gloom had gathered round, and all the stars had come, 
 When the Union band began to play the notes of " Home, Sweet 
 
 Home" 
 Slowly and softly breathed the chords, and utter silence fell 
 Over the valley and the hills^on Blue and Gray as well. 
 Now swelling and now sinking low, now tremulous, now strong, 
 The leader's comet played the air of the beautiful old song ; 
 And, rich and mellow, horn and bass joined in the flowing chords. 
 So voice-like that they scarcely lacked the charm of spoken words. 
 Then what a cheer from both the hosts, with faces to the stars ! 
 And tears were shed and prayers were said upon the field of Mars. 
 The Southern band caught up the strain ; and we who could 
 
 sing, sang. 
 Oh, what a glorious hymn of home across the river rang ! 
 
 We thought of loved ones far away, of scenes we'd left behind — 
 The low-roofed farm-house 'neath the elm that murmured in 
 
 the wind ; 
 The children standing by the gate, the dear wife at the door. 
 The dusty sunlight all aslant upon the old barn floor. 
 Oh ! loud and long the cheer we raised, when silence fell again ; 
 And died away among the hills the dear familiar strain. 
 Then to our cots of straw we stole, and dreamed the livelong night 
 Of far-off hamlets in the hills, peace-walled, and still, and white. 
 
Chancellor sville. 91 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 CHANCELLORSVILLE. 
 
 'FHE movement that culminated in the battle of Chan- 
 cellorsville began on April 27th. 
 
 On that day the Fifth, Eleventh and Twelfth Corps 
 left the camps at Falmouth and began their march to 
 Kelly's Ford, twenty-seven miles above Fredericksburg. 
 The Irish Brigade broke camp also, on that same morning, 
 and led the advance of Second Corps. Colonel Kelly 
 with the Sixty-third and Eighty-eighth New York, halting 
 at Bank's Ford, General Meagher with the One Hundred 
 and Sixteenth Regiment, Sixty-ninth New York and 
 Twenty-eighth Massachusetts, pushing on to United 
 States Ford. 
 
 There is a charm and a dreamy balminess in the 
 spring atmosphere of Virginia, and on one of the sweetest 
 of mornings imaginable, the Regiment left the old camp 
 ground and moved for the ford, to cross the Rappahannock 
 and strike the enemy once again. 
 
 The path of the column lay through virgin forests, 
 blossoming and beautiful, and the perfumed air of the 
 woods seemed laden with hope and promise. Many of the 
 wounded of Fredericksburg had returned to the ranks. 
 The men had, in a measure, forgotten that mournful field.- 
 The change of commanders had a most salutary effect 
 upon all, and the morale of the army was excellent. A 
 new life had taken possession of that army which, 
 though often defeated, was never dismayed, destroyed nor 
 conquered. 
 
 The day was a beautiful one and the march, for some 
 
92 The Story of the iiSth Regiment. 
 
 reason, exceedingly slow, with many halts and frequent 
 rests. The road was lonely. Not a strange face was seen 
 during the day, but the men were glad to leave the camp 
 where they had spent the long dreary winter, and enjoyed 
 the sunshine and fresh sweet odor of the deep woods 
 through which they leisurely strolled. Towards evening 
 the Regiment arrived at United States Ford. Looking 
 over the river one could see the Confederate pickets on 
 the further side, and the usual compliments, " Hello, 
 Yank", "How are you, Reb?" were exchanged, but no 
 faring took place. The boys across the stream seemed 
 puzzled to know what the Union men were doing or why 
 they had come, and as the picket line was in full sight of 
 theirs, they talked together and wondered still more. 
 
 The woods along the river abounded in game. Rabbits 
 hopped around in hundreds. Coveys of partridge and quail 
 rose and with a loud whirr, flew further into the brush. 
 A deer or two crashed through the timber and went flying 
 past. The temptation to shoot was great, but the orders 
 "not to fire" were imperative and not a shot was fired. 
 Many of the men secured a good supper, however, by 
 knocking down a stray rabbit with a stick. 
 
 Darkness fell, leaving the men to wonder why they had 
 been sent to this lonely spot. Morning came and found 
 them no wiser, and the day of the twenty-eighth passed, 
 and another night and morning, and still the mystery 
 remained, but towards dusk, on the twenty-ninth, Hancock 
 and the balance of the division came up, and it was 
 learned that three of the corps had crossed the river 
 twenty miles above and that they were then coming down 
 the opposite bank of the stream. 
 
 On the morning of the thirtieth, the pontoons were 
 brought to the river's edge, the engineers began building 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER 
 
Chancellor sville. 93 
 
 the bridge, the enemy's pickets quickly withdrew without 
 offering any resistance, and at 3.30 p. m. two divisions of 
 the Second Corps began crossing. It was almost dark 
 when the turn of the Regiment came and it crossed the 
 river in the dusk. The enemy in retiring had left evidence 
 of their hasty flight, the road for some distance being 
 strewn with picks, spades and abandoned intrenching 
 tools. 
 
 After marching a short distance, the Irish Brigade 
 turned sharply to the left, and was put into position to 
 cover a road leading to Bank's Ford. The regimental line 
 ran through a swamp that skirted the edge of a dark wood. 
 The darkness became dense. The ankle-deep ooze made 
 lying down impossible and standing up most inconvenient, 
 so fallen trees as roosting places were in great demand, 
 some sitting and trying to balance themselves on a ragged 
 tree stump with feet drawn up to avoid the wet. Water- 
 snakes crawled around in great numbers, frogs croaked, 
 and hundreds of whip-poor-wills filled the trees and made 
 the long night more dismal by their melancholy caUing. 
 The long hours passed without alarm, and when daylight 
 came the snakes went back to their holes, the frogs ceased 
 croaking and' the whip-poor-wills became silent. Looking 
 around the men saw, not ten yards away, a beautiful dry 
 ridge where they could have spent the night in comfort, 
 had they but known it. . 
 
 During Friday, May 1st, the Regiment, together with 
 three others of the brigade, maintained the same position, 
 facing Bank's Ford, and iii line, with the right reaching 
 towards the plank road that runs from Fredericksburg 
 to Chancellorsville and the left reaching out towards 
 the river. It was a peaceful day for the Regiment. Not 
 an enemy was seen, but one could hear the crash of 
 
94 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 musketry from time to time on the right and front, as the 
 Union troops were pushing towards Fredericksburg. A 
 long day it seemed, with every ear listening anxiously for 
 news that was so difficult to obtain. 
 
 When evening came it was learned that the army was 
 falling back to take up a new line and fight a defensive 
 battle. Next morning, Saturday, May 2d, the brigade was 
 moved to the extreme right of that line, to a point called 
 Scott's Mills, and placed there to occupy, and try to 
 fill, the gap that reached from the right flank of the army 
 to the river. 
 
 The day was spent in listening to the roar of the 
 musketry, which echoed and re-echoed through the dense 
 woods, making sounds deafening and appalling, and in 
 slashing timber to form revetements and abatis. The 
 old buildings were loop-holed and turned into block- 
 houses, and towards the end of the day the line was well 
 prepared to give a cordial greeting to an enemy should 
 he appear. 
 
 From time to time, during the afternoon, rumors of a 
 column of the enemy moving across the front of the 
 Union line to strike the fight were heard and all felt 
 anxious and nervous. General Meagher came down to 
 the right of the brigade, where the Regiment was 
 stationed, addressed the men and begged them to make 
 a good fight. 
 
 The line of works had just been completed and, with 
 a strong abatis in front, all felt confident of being able to 
 hold it. But the flank of the One Hundred and Sixteenth 
 was in the air, nothing between it and the river, and the 
 situation was grave enough. A line of pickets was out 
 in front and extending well to the right, but not enough 
 men could be spared to carry it to the river. Just as 
 
Chancellorsville. 95 
 
 Meagher was speaking Sergeant Halpin ran in from the 
 picket to report that the enemy's skirmishers were 
 advancing. A deer came crashing through the abatis, 
 leaped the works and went bounding to the rear, but, 
 before the men had time to recover from their astonishment 
 at the unusual incident, a tremendous storm of musketry- 
 broke out on the left. Stonewall Jackson's twenty-six 
 thousand men had struck the right flank of the Union 
 Army. More minutes of suspense, terrific peals of 
 musketry, the roar rising, swelling, filling the woods with 
 sound and fury — every man in the ranks standing at 
 " ready". A soldier was halted as he tried to run to the 
 rear. Another soon arrived, then five, ten, fifty. Hundreds 
 of them came running back, frightened, demoralized. 
 They were stopped in crowds by the men of the Regiment 
 (a part of the Eleventh Corps had given away). They 
 got tangled up in the abatis, every one of them panic- 
 stricken, frantic, almost insane, their only desire to get to 
 the rear. 
 
 The Regiment, with the others of the brigade, stood 
 calm and firm, stopping the fugitives in crowds. Meagher 
 quickly changed direction of the left regiment of the 
 brigade, so as to cover the main road, the better to check 
 the disorderly flight. The darkness was gathering, the 
 volleys of musketry coming nearer. The scene was one 
 of awful confusion and dismay, and withal, no man in the 
 line of the Regiment or brigade seemed to be even 
 excited. As the sound of the firing came nearer, the 
 fugitives were quickly gathered into squads, forced to the 
 rear, and the front of the line was cleared for action. But 
 the hour was growing late — darkness filled the forest. 
 Another and final burst of musketry, a stream of whistling 
 balls passed over, a random shell burst in the tree tops, 
 
96 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 the leaves and branches came showering down, " silence ", 
 "and the day was done". The picket line was rectified. 
 Arms were stacked. The men lit little fires, cooked their 
 coffee, and settled down to sleep as quietly as though at 
 home in old Pennsylvania. Not a shot had been hred by 
 the Regiment, but a day full of anxiety had been passed. 
 
 At daybreak, on Sunday morning. May 3d, the battle 
 was on again, and by five o'clock the continuous roar of 
 artillery and volleys of musketry told that the fighting 
 was fierce and deadly. The men cooked coffee, fried 
 pork and enjoyed breakfast, calmly awaiting the next 
 event. The presence of the Irish Brigade at Scott's 
 Mills was no longer necessary, as the First Corps had 
 extended the line of battle to the right and covered, in a 
 manner, the vacant ground between the right flank of the 
 army and the river. 
 
 By ten o'clock it was learned that the Union Army was 
 falling back to a new line of battle which the engineers 
 had prepared during the night, and shortly afterwards an 
 order came for the Irish Brigade to move out to the 
 Chancellorsville House and join the balance of the division 
 which was at« that time beating back the Confederate 
 divisions of McLaws and Anderson (then under the 
 personal direction of General Lee). The brigade started 
 for the front, passing along the road that ran from the 
 United States Ford to the Chancellorsville House, with the 
 Regiment on the left. As it passed along the evidence of 
 the struggle soon became manifest. Streams of wounded 
 men flowed to the rear. Men with torn faces, split heads, 
 smashed arms, wounded men assisting their more badly 
 hurt comrades, stretchers bearing to the rear men whose 
 limbs were crushed and mangled, and others who had no 
 limbs at all. Four soldiers carried on two muskets, which 
 
Chancellor sville. 97 
 
 they held in form of a litter, the body of their Lieutenant- 
 Colonel who had just been killed. The body hung over 
 the muskets, the head and feet limp and dangling, the 
 blood dripping from a ghastly wound — a terrible sight 
 indeed. Wounded men lay all through the woods ; and 
 here and there a dead man rested against a tree, where, in 
 getting back, he had paused to rest and breathed his last. 
 Shells screamed through the trees and, as the Regiment 
 approached the front, the whir of the canister and 
 shrapnel was heard and musket balls whistled past, but 
 the men in the ranks passed on quietly and cheerfully, 
 many of them exchanging repartee. During a moment's 
 halt, with the shells falling and exploding around him, 
 Sergeant Bernard McCahey looking back, waved his hand 
 to the earth and air and in the most ludicrous manner 
 exclaimed, " Good boi wurreld ". Another son of Erin said 
 to his companion, "What are we going in here for, Jimmy?" 
 "To be after making history, Barney, to be sure". 
 
 The field officers were ordered to dismount and move 
 up the road on foot. As the writer walked at the head of 
 the -command, Major John C. Lynch, of the Sixty-third 
 New York, walked by his side, and he chatted cheerfully 
 and was full of gayety and life. Approaching the 
 Chancellorsville House the brigade went " on the right 
 by file, into line ", along the edge of the road with the 
 left (the One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania 
 Volunteers) resting on the plateau in the middle of which 
 the Chancellorsville House stands. As. the writer passed 
 to the left, he bade his friend. Major Lynch, " Good 
 morning". A moment afterwards Lynch fell dead, a 
 shell driving his sword through his body, killing him 
 instantly, and the handsome, noble fellow who had walked 
 up the road so full of life and happiness, lay by the 
 
98 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 wayside, an unrecognizable mass of quivering flesh and 
 bones. 
 
 By the time the brigade had formed on the road all 
 the army, except Hancock's division of the Second, and 
 Geary's division of the Twelfth Corps, had gone to the 
 rear to form on the new line. The men lay down along 
 the edge of the wood and hugged the ground closely to 
 avoid the shells. 
 
 In order to gain time and hold the enemy in check 
 until the new line was secure. General Couch sent the 
 Fifth Maine Battery to take position to the right of the 
 Chancellorsville House and to the left of the Regiment. 
 The brave young commander of that battery, Captain 
 Leppine, came dashing up the road, followed by his five 
 guns. Quickly placing them in line among the 
 blossoming apple trees of the orchard, he opened fire on 
 the masses of the Confederates, then plainly visible in the 
 woods on the other side of the plateau. To place a 
 battery in such a position was a desperate thing to do. 
 The plateau and orchard were racked by the fire of thirty 
 guns, and hardly had Leppine fired his first shot, when 
 they were all turned upon him. A scene of wild grandeur 
 followed. The shells from the Confederate batteries 
 seemed to fill the air, tearing up the ground, rending the 
 men and horses limb from limb, blowing up the caisson, 
 exploding and bursting everywhere. Young Leppine 
 was soon carried to the rear, dying, with his thigh crushed 
 and torn. Lieutenant Kirby was sent, by General Couch, 
 to take his place, and he fell mortally wounded, among 
 the guns, before he was with them a minute. Men were 
 blown up with the caissons, and their torn and bleeding 
 limbs fell with the apple blossoms. The orchard was a 
 very hell of fire. 
 
CAPTAIN GEORGE FREDERICK LEPPINE 
 Commanding Fifth Maine Battery Killed at Chancellorsville, May 3d, 1863 
 
Chancellor sville. 99 
 
 An orderly rode past and his head was taken off by a 
 shell, but the momentum carried the headless trunk fifty 
 feet before he fell and the riderless horse galloped into 
 the enemy's lines. 
 
 Another passing orderly fell from his horse with his 
 
 bowels protruding. Many of the Regiment were wounded. 
 
 Duffy, of Company A, was lying with a great piece of his 
 
 skull crushed in. Another man lay beside him with his 
 
 foot torn in a terrible manner. Dan Rodgers, a boy, 
 
 had his shoulder-blade smashed ; but still the men kept 
 
 wonderfully calm. Captain Nowlen sat in the road, 
 
 humming a tune, filled his pipe, lit it with the burning 
 
 fuse of a Confederate shell, and began smoking. Corporal 
 
 Emsley, of the color guard, was passing jokes with Abe 
 
 Detwiler, the color sergeant ; and one would suppose 
 
 that the boys were listening to the church bells, on that 
 
 sweet Sunday morning, instead of the rush and scream of 
 
 the shells. Twenty minutes had passed since the battery 
 
 went into action. Nearly all the guns had been silenced. 
 
 Five of the six caissons had been blown up. The men 
 
 who remained were lying among the pieces torn and 
 
 bleeding. Smoke was seen issuing from the Chancellors- 
 
 ville House and soon the building was in flames. It was 
 
 filled with wounded, and the family were still in the house. 
 
 Captain William P. Wilson, of Hancock's staff,, and a few 
 
 men of the Second Delaware rushed in and began 
 
 dragging the wounded out and laying them under the 
 
 trees, and succeeded in saving a large number. The 
 
 large mansion was wrapped in flames and the ladies of 
 
 the family rushed out onto the porch. Colonel James 
 
 Dickenson, of Sickles' s staff, gallantly ran forward and 
 
 offered to escort them into the lines. They all accepted 
 
 the proffered service, and, with a courteous bow, he gave 
 
 LofC. 
 
100 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 each an arm and brought them to a place of safety. One 
 old colored woman ran towards the Confederate position 
 and succeeded in reaching the line, but was wounded as 
 she ran. 
 
 The scene was one of terror, dismay and desolation. 
 
 Geary's division had gone and Hancock was with- 
 drawing. Soon nothing was left near the Chancellorsville 
 House except the Irish Brigade and the almost silenced 
 battery. * One gun was still firing, however, and a 
 gallant corporal and one man still clung to the piece and 
 fired it when all others had gone. It was time for the 
 last troops to fall back, and the order came to the 
 Regiment to save the abandoned guns. One hundred of 
 the men were quickly detailed to rush forward and surround 
 the pieces and drag them to the rear, which was done 
 in splendid style. When the guns were started down 
 the road a few men of the One Hundred and Fortieth 
 Pennsylvania Volunteers gallantly came forward to assist 
 and help to take one of the guns to a place of safety. 
 After seeing the wounded out of the burning house and 
 safe Captain Wilson gallantly rushed to the rescue of the 
 battery and never left until the last gun was saved. As a 
 squad was tugging away at one of the guns, trying to get 
 it started, a shell burst in their midst, killing Theodore 
 Walker and George Rushworth, of Company D, wounding 
 half a dozen others and knocking everyone over on their 
 backs. The men jumped to their feet and rushed at it 
 again, laughing at the mishap, and pulled it off. Then 
 the whole command started down the road. Young 
 Sergeant George Halpin, seeing one of the caissons still 
 
 * The writer had the pleasure of afterwards securing a Congress medal of honor 
 for Corporal Lebroke and the private of the battery who so nobly stood to their guns 
 on this morning. 
 
Chancellor sville. 101 
 
 Standing wished to take it off also, but the men were gone, 
 and, as he could not haul it off alotie, he concluded to 
 destroy it ; so striking a match he lit a newspaper, threw 
 it in, jumped back and the chest blew up. By some 
 miracle, the brave boy remained uninjured himself. As 
 the Regiment passed down the road with the guns, the 
 Confederates advanced and took possession of Chancel- 
 lorsville, the Regiment the last to leave that storm-swept 
 ground. Passing out of the woods and into the open 
 space near the Bullock House the Regiment was met by 
 General Sickles, who, rising in his stirrups, called for 
 three cheers " for the Regiment that saved the guns ", 
 and the boys felt proud and happy. The five guns were 
 turned over to the chief of artillery, and the command 
 rejoined the brigade and went into position on the new 
 line to the left of the road and facing Chancellorsville. 
 
 The line of works held by the Union army, during the 
 fourth and afternoon of the third, was remarkably strong 
 and solid — log revetements sufficiently strong to resist shell 
 with thick abatis in front.* When the Union army retired 
 to that line the battle of Chancellorsville was practically 
 ended. The only fighting for the next two days was a 
 severe skirmish in front of the Twelfth Corps, in which 
 Major-General Whipple was killed. 
 
 But while there was no general engagement, there was 
 
 * So well had the builders done their work that when, thirty years afterwards, 
 the writer passed over the ground, he found the work still standing and in good 
 enough condition to occupy and fight behind. Bits of knapsacks, leather straps, 
 broken shells and the usual debris of the battle were still visible along the line, but 
 the scene was changed, and profound peace reigned in the lonely woods. 
 
 Where the men stood to deliver their fire from behind the works, the grass was 
 growing fresh and green. Squirrels ran over the revetements and found quiet homes 
 in the holes made by the shells. Wild honeysuckle knit together the withered 
 branches of the abatis. Wild roses bloomed. The birds sang, and built their nests in 
 the trees where sharpshooters had sat in the foliage watching for a shot, and when 
 evening came, the whip-pooi^will uttered, as of old, his complaining cry. 
 
102 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 plenty of firing. Tlie Confederate sharpshooters occupied 
 every coigne of advantage and were extremely vigilant. 
 To show the head over the works was to court death and 
 there were many narrow escapes during the two days, as 
 well as numerous casualties. 
 
 The night of the third was one to be long remembered, 
 the enemy making continual demonstrations, the Union 
 soldiers vigilant, awake and watchful. A lovely, cloudless 
 night it was, with the planets quietly glittering in the 
 azure above. General Meagher, in full uniform, walked 
 up and down the brigade line. The men of the Regiment 
 lay, musket in hand ; Sergeant Detwiler dozing, now and 
 then, with the colors tightly grasped. The men were 
 tired, sleepy and dazed for want of rest, which they could 
 not get on account of the frequent alarms. 
 
 Every time they slumbered the sharp crack of a 
 parrot gun or a crash of musketry would awaken them 
 with a start, so the majority of them lay awake, quietly 
 chatting, some of the morrow, others of home. One 
 group, lying on their backs looking up to the heavens, 
 began talking about the stars. "Wonder if the people 
 up there (in the stars) go to war". "Wonder if they 
 have parrot guns". " Wonder if they allow foraging". 
 "Wonder if the commissary gets up in time when the 
 rations is out". " Wonder if they have sutlers and if their 
 government allows them to charge three dollars a bottle 
 for bad whiskey". And so the long night passed and 
 another day came. A long, beautiful, spring day, with the 
 sharpshooters vigilant. The afternoon brought with it a 
 breeze, and as the wind was blowing towards the Union 
 line, the enemy fired the woods with a view of annoying. 
 The flames drifting towards the Union line were unpleasant 
 enough, as they threatened the abatis. A flock of wild 
 
Chancellor sville. 103 
 
 pigeons circled around through the smoke. Towards 
 evening, the men on the picket line succeeded in 
 extinguishing the fire before it had done much injury to 
 the works. 
 
 The picket line in front ran through a lovely bit of 
 forest. The enemy's sharpshooters were exceedingly 
 active, but Berdan's sharpshooters held the Union line 
 and returned all compliments in the most vigorous 
 manner. Many of them fell during the day and the 
 ground at every post was stained with blood. Banks of 
 violets bloomed and dead men lay in pleasant places where 
 spring flowers perfumed the woodlands. Squirrels leaped 
 affrighted, from bough to bough, wondering at the strange 
 intrusion on their solitude, and birds flew screaming 
 through the timber or circled around their nests in wild 
 alarm. A shell would now and then go tearing through 
 the trees, burst in the tops and send the branches and 
 leaves showering down. Frequently a tree would be 
 cut down entirely, causing the sharpshooters who were 
 ensconced in the upper foliage to calculate the chances 
 of having their line of communication cut and getting 
 an abrupt fall as well. 
 
 Evening came again, the sun went down, and another 
 night was at hand. The rain began falling and by 
 midnight was coming down in torrents and, when 
 darkness gathered on the sad field, the noble army that 
 had been beaten by the incompetency of its commander, 
 commenced evacuating the works and falling back to 
 cross the river. All night long, as the men stole away 
 to the rear in the gloom, the wind tossed the tree-tops 
 and sobbed through the dripping pines. The silence and 
 darkness were intense. Ever and anon the stillness would 
 be broken by the sound of musketry coming from the 
 
104 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 picket line, as the men fired random volleys to deceive 
 the enemy and make them believe the Union troops were 
 still there. All night long the tramp of the infantry and 
 rumble of artillery sounded on the pontoons. 
 
 No time to carry away the wounded or bury the dead, 
 and they lay on the gory field with their white faces 
 turned to the weeping sky. By day-break nearly all were 
 gone, and the Regiment was among the very last to cross 
 the swollen river. The pickets hastily fell back and 
 double-quicked for the bridge. The enemy rushed to 
 intercept and cut them off, but they got there first and 
 crossed, and the pontoons were cut away. A Confederate 
 battery arrived on the bank and fired a few shots as the 
 last of the Union army disappeared over the bluff, and 
 the Chancellorsville campaign was ended. 
 
 {See page 32S, Vol. XXV., Official Records 0/ the War). 
 
 REPORT OF MAJOR ST. CLAIR A. MULHOLLAND, 
 
 ii6th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. 
 
 Chancellorsville, May 4th, 1863. 
 
 Sir : In accordance with orders just received, I have the honor to 
 submit the following report in regard to certain guns that were taken 
 oft the field of action by the men of my command, on the morning of 
 Sunday, May 3d, 1863. 
 
 The Irish Brigade was engaged in supporting the Fifth Maine 
 Battery, commanded by Captain Leppine, when the battery had been 
 engaged witli the enemy about one hour. All the officers and men 
 belonging to it had either been killed or wounded, or had abandoned 
 their pieces, with the exception of one man (Corporal James H. 
 Lebroke), and all the guns were silenced except one. About this time 
 Major Scott, of General Hancock's staff, rode up to me, and requested 
 me to take a sufficient number of men to haul the abandoned guns off 
 the field, as they were in great danger of being captured by the enemy. 
 My regiment being at the time on the left of the brigade, and nearest 
 
Chancellor sville. 105 
 
 the battery, I at once led my men towards the abandoned battery and 
 ordered them to haul the guns up the road. They obeyed with alacrity 
 and removed three of the guns off the field and to the rear. After 
 taking off the last piece I followed my men up the road and found 
 another gun in possession of one of my lieutenants (L. J. Sacriste). 
 This piece he had taken off without my knowledge, making in all, four 
 guns saved by my command. The fifth piece taken to the rear was 
 taken off the field by some men of the One Hundred and Fortieth 
 Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was by them taken up the road about one 
 hundred yards, where they were forced to halt, not having enough men 
 to move the piece further. I at once sent some of my men to assist 
 them and the guns were brought off successfully. I found it necessary, 
 in removing the guns, to order the men to leave their muskets, as they 
 could not work with them in their hands. Seventy-three of them did 
 so. When the last gun was brought off I went back to the left to 
 ascertain whether any more remained. I found eight or ten of my men 
 coming up the road and ordered them back to gather up as many 
 muskets as they could carry. I do not think that they succeeded in 
 saving any. I was greatly aided in bringing off the guns by Lieutenant 
 Wilson, of General Hancock's staff, who acted with great bravery and 
 personally assisted in bringing off the pieces. 
 
 St. Clair A. Mulholland, 
 Major, Commanding ii6th Penna. Volunteers. 
 To M. W. Wall, 
 
 A. A. A. General. 
 
 {See page S3 J, Vol. XXV., Official Records of the War). 
 
 REPORT OF LIEUTENANT EDWARD WHITEFORD, 
 Aide-de-Camp. 
 
 Chancellorsville, Va., May 3d, 1863. 
 
 Captain : In accordance with orders from General Meagher, I have 
 the honor to report as follows : 
 
 During the heat of the action, personal orders were received from 
 General Couch to advance the Brigade (then supporting the Fifth 
 Maine Battery) through the woods in their front, but were immediately 
 countermanded by him, and skirmishers ordered to be thrown out. 
 
 On returning, I found that the fire which the enemy had concentrated 
 on the above battery compelled the men to desert the guns, the horses at 
 the time being all killed or wounded. On reporting the fact to General 
 
106 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Meagher, I was ordered by him to tell Major Mulholland, of the One 
 Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, to save the 
 guns with his men at any risk, and too much praise cannot be bestowed 
 upon him for his cool bravery and that of the men under his command, 
 having to take them (the guns ) out of stiff yellow clay, where the guns 
 were stuck, and under a galling fire of the enemy, by which many of his 
 men were killed or wounded ; but he succeeded, most fortunately, in 
 obeying orders, and drawing the guns, five in number, to within one mile 
 of the pontoon bridge, where limbers were sent up, from the chief of 
 artillery, to draw them to the rear. 
 I have the honor to be, captain, 
 
 Most respectfully, 
 
 E. Whiteford, 
 To Captain M. W. Wall, Aide-de-Camp. 
 
 A. A. Adjutant General. 
 
 LETTER FROM CORPORAL J. H. LEBROKE, FIFTH MAINE 
 
 BATTERY. 
 
 Camp Near White Oak Church, Va., May 27th, 1863. 
 
 To the Editor of the Press : 
 
 Who brought off the guns of the Fifth Maine Battery ? 
 
 As this question has caused much discussion, I thought I would 
 let the friends of the battery know through the columns of your paper 
 to whom the honor is due. It has been stated that Lieutenant Whittier 
 deserves great credit for bringing off the guns after the horses were 
 killed. Lieutenant Whittier did not bring off the guns, neither was he 
 there at the time. After the battery had ceased firing, one of the 
 gunners went to General Hancock for a detail to haul off the guns. 
 He sent a detail from the Irish Brigade under the command of 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Mulholland and Lieutenant Wilson, of Hancock's 
 staff. The guns were hauled three miles by hand and the same brave 
 men who exposed themselves to a severe fire of shot and shell from the 
 rebel batteries, to save our guns, lost their own muskets, for the enemy 
 held the ground immediately after. 
 
 Truly yours, 
 
 J. H. Lebroke, 
 Corporal, Fifth Maine Battery. 
 
CHANCELLORSVILLE 
 'When the Battery was saved" 
 
Chancellor sville. 107 
 
 HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, SECOND CORPS. 
 
 Near Falmouth, Va., May loth, 1863. 
 Major : The Major-General commanding the division directs me 
 to express to you his gratification at the manner in which you performed 
 your duties as "Field Officer of the Day " for the division from May 3d 
 to 6th. 
 
 The General was especially pleased with your action in reference 
 to extinguishing the fire in front of the picket line. He had ordered 
 the fire to be put out several times, but the order was not carried into 
 eflect until you were placed in command of the pickets. I am, sir. 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 W. G. Mitchell, 
 
 A. D. C. and A. A. A. G. 
 To Major St. Clair A. Mulholland, 
 
 ii6th Regiment, Penna. Volunteers. 
 
 HEADQUARTERS IRISH BRIGADE. 
 
 Near Falmouth, Va., May loth, 1863. 
 Major ; The Brigadier-General (Meagher) commanding, directs me 
 to add his own expressions of gratification to that of General Hancock, 
 in his letter of commendation to you for your conduct at the Battle of 
 Chancellorsville. I have the honor to remain. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 M. W. Wall, 
 To Major St. Clair A. Mulholland, A. A. A. G. 
 
 ii6th Regiment, Penna. Volunteers. 
 
108 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 CHANCELLORSVILLE TO GETTYSBURG. 
 
 A TIRED, hungry, sleepy and altogether weary set of 
 men it was who, after passing over the pontoons, 
 climbed up the steep, wet and slippery clay bank of the 
 Rappahannock and took their way back to the old camp 
 near Falmouth. Thirty-one of those who had crossed 
 with the Regiment but a few days before had been left 
 on the other side, dead or wounded, but those who were 
 slowly dragging their aching limbs along were too much 
 depressed to talk of the missing ones. 
 
 Theo. Walker, of Company D, was among the dead. 
 He was a man of remarkable attainments, educated and 
 intelligent, with a wonderful flow of language. In any 
 other army he would have been (as a private soldier) a 
 phenomenon, but in any army that numbered thousands 
 of college graduates in the ranks, he was only one of the 
 many. He was a man who would be missed, however, 
 around the camp fires of the future. Half way back to 
 camp loads of hardtack were piled on the wayside to 
 supply the returning troops. It was a welcome sight, for 
 the boys were badly in need of rations, and the crackers, 
 though soaked with rain, were eaten with relish. Then 
 in the afternoon, in the old winter camp that the men 
 never expected to see again — too tired to put up the 
 tents — and it rained so hard ! Everything was damp and 
 wet. Nothing to do but cut logs and start the camp fires 
 and rest in the mud. To-morrow they would clean up 
 once more, get the shelter tents stretched over the log 
 huts and begin housekeeping all over. 
 
Chance llorsville to Gettysburg. 109 
 
 When falling back from the field the men were excited 
 to sympathy at the sight of a large and beautiful setter 
 dog crouching beside a dead officer. No inducement 
 they could offer would cause the noble brute to leave his 
 friend, and he was left to become a prisoner of war when 
 the enemy advanced. The dog was one of a number 
 that shared the fate of the troops. 
 
 Captain Byron, Eighty-eighth New York, had a little 
 slut, named Fan, who went into every battle with her 
 master. She realized the danger and would run behind 
 the works the moment the firing began, and when a lull 
 would follow she would run through the regiment as 
 though trying to find out whether any of her friends were 
 killed or wounded. She seemed to be endowed with an 
 unusual amount of reason and never failed to seek shelter 
 on the side of the log, tree, or field works furthest away 
 from the enemy, and she never made a mistake as to 
 which was the right side. During a breathing spell at 
 Chancellorsville she was outside of the line hunting for 
 rabbits among the abatis. At the whistle of the very 
 first rifle ball indicating an attack she leaped the breast- 
 high works and hugged close to the revetement. The 
 instant the fight was over, Fan was out again, running 
 among the men, seeming overjoyed to find some of them 
 alive and well, but when she found one man, to whom 
 she was much attached, mortally wounded, she threw 
 herself on him, whining and crying, while the dying man 
 feebly reached his hand and patted her head. 
 
 Shortly after the battle General D. N. Couch left the 
 Second Corps. He was an officer beloved by all. He 
 asked to be relieved and transferred to other scenes of 
 usefulness because he had lost all confidence in the com- 
 mander of the Army of the Potomac. He was a man of 
 
110 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 loyalty, courage and honor, and it was a pity that he did 
 not remain a few weeks longer, when a man after his own 
 heart would be in command. 
 
 On the retirement of General Couch, General Winfield 
 S. Hancock was assigned to the Second Corps as 
 permanent commander, and General John C. Caldwell 
 assumed command of the First Division. 
 
 Captain George Frederick Leppine, who was killed 
 while in command of the battery that was saved by the 
 Regiment, was a brilliant young artillery officer. He was 
 educated at a military school in Germany. He was born 
 in Philadelphia, his father being German Consul in that 
 city for some years. Captain Leppine, failing to get a 
 command from his native State, took the Fifth Maine 
 Battery to the front. 
 
 A very high compliment was paid to the Regiment by 
 General Caldwell, the Division Commander, by the detail 
 of Company B, entire, to division headquarters to act as 
 Provost Guard, with Lieutenant William M. Hobart as 
 Provost Marshal, and Lieutenants Henry D. Price and 
 William H. Tyrrell as officers of the guard. As it was 
 customary to select only the most reliable and choice 
 troops for this important service, nothing could so strongly 
 testify to the efficiency and splendid condition of the 
 Regiment at this time than this detail. 
 
 The weeks of May passed swiftly. Drills, reviews and 
 inspections without number. The battalion at this time 
 became disciplined and drilled to perfection. The bayonet 
 exercise and skirmishing were much indulged in, and 
 many of the men became wonderfully proficient in the 
 former. From reveille to taps there was not an idle 
 moment in camp, and the picket Hne along the quiet and 
 beautiful river was the place now most desired. Picket 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL D. N. COUCH 
 Commanded Second Corps from October 9th, 1862, to June loth, 181 
 
Chance llorsville to Gettysburg. HI 
 
 duty was very different during the sunny days of balmy 
 May from the bleak days of the winter when the men 
 were compelled to stand in the cold for hours and days at 
 a time without being allowed to build fires. How the 
 bleak winds whistled over the frozen stream those wintry 
 days ! How chilled, cold and famished the men on picket 
 then, and how comfortable the huts in camp. But in 
 May, by the flowing river whose banks were pied with 
 daisies and yellow buttercups, the picket line was the 
 place most desired. The two hours of calm watching by 
 the moving stream, and the alternate four hours of 
 absolute rest in the reserve was far more agreeable duty 
 than was to be found in the active camp, where drill, 
 guard mount, review and inspection followed each other 
 so incessantly. 
 
 May 19th, General Meagher having resigned from the 
 army, took leave of the brigade. The brigade being 
 formed, Meagher spoke for ten or fifteen minutes with 
 more than usual fervor and eloquence. Then, passing 
 down the whole line in dead silence, he shook the officers 
 and many of the men by the hand. The scene was most 
 affecting and many were weeping. The members of the 
 Regiment, not having known him so long as the others 
 were, of course, less moved than those of the other 
 regiments of his command, but nevertheless they had 
 learned to admire him, and they had followed him in two 
 hard battles. Standing there in the twilight with bared 
 head and the tears streaming down his handsome face he 
 said the last farewell : — 
 
 " Officers and soldiers," said he, 
 " My Countrymen and Comrades in Arms : 
 
 A positive conviction of what I owed to your reputation, 
 to the honor of our race, and to my own conscience. 
 
112 The Siory of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 compelled me a few days ago to tender to the President 
 of the United States my resignation of this command. I 
 shall not recapitulate the reasons which induced and 
 justified' me to do so. It would be superfluous. There is 
 not a man in this command who is not fully aware of the 
 reasons which compelled me to resign, and there is not a 
 man who does not thoroughly appreciate and approve it. 
 Suffice it to say that, the Irish Brigade no longer existing, 
 I felt that it would be perpetuating a great deception were 
 I to retain the authority and rank of a brigadier-general 
 nominally commanding the same, which was no more ; 
 I therefore conscientiously, though most reluctantly, 
 resigned my commission. That resignation has been 
 accepted, and as your late general I now bid you an 
 affectionate farewell. I cannot do so, however, without 
 leaving on record the assurance of the happiness, the 
 gratitude and pride with which I revert to the first days 
 of the Irish Brigade, when it struggled in its infancy and 
 wa:s sustained alone by its native strength and instincts ; 
 and retrace from the field, where it first displayed its 
 brilliant gallantry, all the efforts, all the hardships, all the 
 privations, all the sacrifices which have made its history — 
 brief though it be — sacred and inestimable. Sharing with 
 the humblest soldier freely and heartily all the hardships 
 and dangers of the battle-field — never having ordered an 
 advance that I did not take the lead myself — I thank God 
 that I have been spared to do justice to those whose heroism 
 deserves from me a grateful commemoration ; and that I 
 have been preserved to bring comfort to those who have 
 lost fathers, husbands and brothers in the soldiers who have 
 fallen for a noble government, under the green flag. My 
 hfe has been a varied one, and I have passed through many 
 distracting scenes. But never has the river that flowed 
 
Chancellorsville to Gettysburg. 113 
 
 beside my cradle, never have the mountains that over- 
 looked the paths of my childhood, never have the old 
 walls that claimed the curiosity and research of maturer 
 days, been effaced from my memory. As at first — as in 
 nature — the beautiful and glorious picture is indelible. 
 Not less vivid, not less uneffaceable, will be the recollection 
 of my companionship with the Irish Brigade in the service 
 of the United States. The graves of many hundreds of 
 brave and devoted soldiers, who went down to death with 
 all the radiance and enthusiasm of the noblest chivalry, 
 are so many guarantees and pledges that, as long as there 
 remains one officer or soldier of the Irish Brigade, so long 
 shall be found for him, for his family and little ones, if any 
 there be, a devoted friend in Thomas Francis Meagher." 
 
 The men felt sad enough and sat around the fires that 
 night quiet and subdued. The officers of the Regiment 
 assembled and all signed the following address which was 
 presented to General Meagher before he left next morning: 
 
 HEADQUARTERS 116th PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS, 
 Irish Brigade, Hancock's Division, 
 
 Second Army Corps, May i8th, 1863. 
 
 At a meeting of the commissioned officers of the One Hundred and 
 Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Major St. Clair A. Mulholland was 
 called to the chair, and First Lieutenant Louis J. Sacriste was appointed 
 secretary. The following preamble and resolutions were proposed and 
 unanimously adopted : 
 
 "Whereas, By the acceptance of the resignation of our beloved 
 General, Thomas Francis Meagher, we have been deprived of one who 
 was always solicitous for our comfort and welfare ; therefore, be it 
 
 Resolved, That by the resignation of Brigadier-General Meagher 
 this brigade, and especially this regiment, experiences an irreparable 
 loss — one which is felt alike by officers and men ; we have been deprived 
 of a leader whom we all would have followed to death, if necessary — 
 a leader whose name was sufficient to strike terror into the hearts of his 
 foes, and excite admiration in the hearts of his co-patriots in arms. 
 
 Resolved, That in the discharge of his official duties he exhibited 
 
114 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 alike those qualities which only a true soldier can possess — when on 
 duty a strict disciplinarian, and when off duty an affable, agreeable and 
 kind companion. 
 
 Resolved, That as a soldier he was .foremost in the battle, offering 
 his life as a sacrifice for the cause of liberty and the Constitution of his 
 adopted country — which country has lost by his resignation one of its 
 most patriotic generals, one of its most daring soldiers, and the army one 
 of its brightest ornaments. 
 
 Resolved, That in his retirement to civil life he carries with him 
 our most sincere wishes for his future welfare, and we earnestly hope 
 that his future life may be as successful as his past career has been 
 brilliant and honorable." 
 
 Henceforth, the Irish Brigade was to be led by a new 
 commander, the amiable, noble Patrick Kelly, Colonel of 
 the Eighty-eighth New York Volunteers, who was 
 destined, like Elias of old, to ascend to heaven in a 
 chariot of fire. The brilliant Meagher was gone but his 
 mantle had fallen on one who was most worthy to wear 
 it. June 10th General Couch left the corps and Hancock, 
 who had called the Irish Brigade his " right arm ", 
 assumed command, and on June 14th the second corps 
 moved back from the river and began the long march 
 that preceded the battle of Gettysburg. 
 
 ITINERARY OF THE MARCH TO GETTYSBURG. 
 
 The march of the first day was via Stafford Court 
 House, which was in flames as the column passed. On 
 to Acquia Creek where the halt for the night was made. 
 On the 16th marched through Dumfries to Wolf Run 
 Shoals on the Occoquan River — and camped. The 
 march, like that of the preceding day, was one of the 
 greatest fatigue, the heat most oppressive. The dust 
 rising in clouds stifled the men. Water was not to be 
 had. Hundreds of men fell by the way to be picked up 
 by the ambulances, which were soon filled with very sick, 
 
Itinerary of the March to Gettysburg. 115 
 
 and in many cases dying, men. The Regiment again 
 proved the superiority of the city men over those who 
 had come from the farm. Very few of the men of the 
 Regiment were missing at roll-call when the two dreadful 
 days were ended, and no sooner was coffee cooked than 
 almost every man in the command was swimming about 
 in the stream. The pleasure of the bath was much 
 lessened by the enormous quantities of water snakes that 
 infested the vicinity. After dark a group of officers were 
 enjoying the welcome swim, their clothes piled on the 
 shore, when some one cried out that he felt something 
 moving around his feet. A match was lit and a sight 
 met the bathers' eyes that horrified and amazed them. 
 The whole strand was a mass of writhing, squirming 
 serpents ! Snakes of all sizes, short and long, thick and 
 lean, in groups and tied in knots. Snakes single and by 
 the dozen. Snakes by the hundred, countless and innu- 
 merable. What a scramble for clothes before the match 
 went out ! What an embarrassing predicament when it 
 did ! Dark as pitch, and a fellow's garments all tangled 
 up with knots and rolls of serpents. How every one got 
 back to camp with enough clothes to cover their naked- 
 ness is a mystery. No doubt, some of the Regiment 
 literally shook snakes out of their boots, and by the light 
 of the fire-flies looked for others in their blankets. 
 
 On the 17th, went into camp near Fairfax Station, on 
 the Orange and Alexander R. R., and from here all 
 surplus baggage was sent to Alexander. Happy was the 
 man who after that day had a piece of soap and a fine- 
 tooth comb — especially the latter. 
 
 June 19th, marched to Centerville, and bivouacked 
 inside the fortifications of Washington. Rained heavily. 
 
 On June 20th left Centerville, marching through the 
 
116 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 village with flying colors. Moved via the Bull Run Pike, 
 crossing Broad Run by wading. Passed over the left 
 portion of Bull Run battlefield. Here the troops rested 
 an hour, with the rain falling steadily. The bodies, or 
 rather the skeletons, of the dead of the battle were exposed 
 and the men were evidently affected and depressed at the 
 sight. Then, on again to Gainsville. Next to Haymarket. 
 Still no halt or rest. Through slush, mud and rain, 
 pushing on in the dark to Thoroughfare Gap, reaching 
 the latter place at midnight, with the Regiment resting in 
 a swamp until daylight next morning. About six o'clock 
 of this day's march. Captain Teed thinking that he would 
 soon come to a halt, picked up a couple of nice sticks on 
 which he intended to erect his shelter tent. An hour 
 passed and no halt was called. Another hour and still 
 another, and the tramp, tramp, tramp continued. Mile 
 after mile was passed and still no camping for the night. 
 The sticks became heavy but Teed was not going to be 
 fooled by casting them away. He just knew that the 
 column would halt right over that hill or when we would 
 reach the valley then in view. But the hill was passed 
 and the valley left behind and still onward went the 
 column — the sticks were becoming so very, very heavy. 
 Ten o'clock, eleven o'clock, and no rest. Half past 
 eleven ! — "Well, no use talking, gentlemen, we are going 
 to march all night !" and away went the sticks after 
 being carried for some fifteen miles. Half an hour 
 afterwards the halt was called, but Teed's sticks were a 
 mile away and he slept like the others — in the mud and 
 without his shelter tent. 
 
 Rested two happy, sunshiny days at Thoroughfare 
 Gap and enjoyed the pure air and magnificent scenery. 
 Withdrew from the position on the morning of June 23d 
 
Itinerary of the March to Gettysburg. 117 
 
 atid, leaving the mountains suffused with the golden light 
 of sunrise, moved to Haymarket, where Stuart's Con- 
 federate Cavalry were encountered. Stuart put a battery 
 in position and shelled the corps for a short time, killing 
 and wounding half a dozen, but quickly disappeared when 
 he saw the lines forming for a fight. Then on to Gum 
 Springs, where bivouac was formed in a drenching rain. 
 June 24th, marched at six a. m., and moved to Edward's 
 Ferry and crossed the Potomac, near the scene of the 
 Ball's Bluff disaster. Moved four miles into Maryland, 
 and bivouacked. June 25th, resumed the march, via 
 Poolsville to Barnesville. One mile beyond that town 
 halted for the night. June 26th marched at ten a. m. 
 Reached Sugar Loaf Mountain at noon. At Sugar Loaf 
 Mountain the three armies of the service met, cavalry, 
 artillery and infantry coming seemingly from three 
 different directions. The whole army began singing and 
 shouting the " Battle Cry of Freedom ", which resounded 
 and filled the valley with music and was echoed from 
 every mountain side — a grand tableau of war never to 
 be forgotten. Shortly after noon reached the village of 
 Urbana and found the people loyal and the Union flag 
 flying from the houses, a cordial welcome and cheers for 
 the Union Army. At night camped on the south bank 
 of the Monocacy, two miles from Frederick City. Two 
 days of delightful rest with fresh bread and many city 
 luxuries from the stores of Frederick. Candy was in 
 great demand, and a bronzed veteran with a stick of 
 candy in one hand and a doughnut in the other was not 
 an unusual sight. The farmers flocked into camp with 
 produce, and a grateful sense of gratified hunger prevailed 
 in the ranks. In the evening songs were heard from 
 all the camps, and fires blazed all over the country. 
 
118 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Everyone's spirits rose and one of the happiest nights of 
 the march passed away. While in camp here General 
 Hooker was relieved from command of the army and 
 General George G. Meade replaced him. The news came 
 on Sunday morning when listening to the very unusual 
 sound of the church bells coming over the fields from 
 Frederick town. 
 
 June 29th, left camp and crossed to the north bank of 
 the Monocacy. Marched around the south-east side of 
 Frederick City, by way of Mount Pleasant, passed through 
 Liberty, Johnstown, Union Bridge and several other little 
 villages. Forded innumerable streams during the day, and 
 at ten o'clock at night halted at Union town after making 
 the longest march that the Regiment was ever called upon 
 to perform. The road was thirty-three miles long, but 
 counting several halts for rest, when the troops filed into 
 the fields and were massed, etc., each man could not have 
 marched less than thirty-four miles. The roads were 
 better than lihose of Virginia, but the day was warm and, 
 of course, the fatigue extreme. The march was made in 
 exactly twelve hours, an average of nearly three miles an 
 hour. The fact of getting into Pennsylvania during the 
 day seemed to have a wonderful effect upon the spirits of 
 all the men of the Regiment, and frequent inquiries were 
 made during the day for the State line from the farmers 
 who lined the fences by the way and gazed in wonder at 
 the passing column. " Where does this road run to ?" asked 
 one of the men. " Oh", replied the intelligent citizen, 
 " it runs right straight on ! " 
 
 June 30th, Hancock thanked the troops of the corps for 
 the long march of the day before, and the Regiment was 
 mustered for pay. 
 
 July 1st, marched at eight a. m., via Taneytown, and 
 bivouacked within three miles of Gettysburg. 
 
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Gettysbicrg — The Battle of the Century. 119 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 GETTYSBURG— THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY. 
 
 TN a valley full of peace, calm, comfort and content, 
 overlooked by ranges of high hills — blue, purple and 
 exceedingly lovely — lies the old town of Gettysburg and 
 the twenty-five square miles of territory over which the 
 armies of the North and South struggled and fought during 
 those three terrible days of July, 1863. No more beautiful 
 country than this can be found in the State of Pennsylvania. 
 No matter what part of the field one visits, scenes of 
 loveliness open in vistas on every side. The tongue of 
 wood of McPherson's farm, where Reynolds fell, is a fine 
 bit of American forest ; and Willoughby Run, which 
 meanders close by, and whose placid waters were 
 crimsoned by the blood of brave men, is a sweet and 
 charming stream where the lilies grow in shady places, 
 and the birds come in spring time to build their nests 
 along its banks. Then from Cemetery Hill, where the 
 Union men made such a gallant stand against the 
 " Louisiana Tigers ", there is a splendid view as one looks 
 over the town and across the fields to the Lutheran 
 Seminary. Culp's Hill, too, is full of sweet spots ; and 
 through the dark forest, where the six hours' fighting took 
 place on the morning of the third day, one can find much 
 to admire, and many a grand old tree riddled by bullets 
 and torn with shot and shell — forcible reminders of the 
 awful morning of July 3d. 
 
 And what more picturesque than the wild and rugged 
 scenery of the " Devil's Den ? " Or where can one go to 
 
120 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 look for a grander or more sublime scene than that from 
 the summit of " Little Round Top " where Vincent's men 
 made their gallant fight. Gettysburg is certainly a 
 magnificent spot, full of natural beauties ; and of the many 
 battlefields of the war none more suitable could have been 
 selected upon which to erect the monuments that are 
 intended to commemorate the heroism and valor of our 
 troops. The field is fast becoming the National Mecca, 
 and year after year the number of visitors to the ground 
 increases, until tens of thousands of Americans annually 
 make a pilgrimage to the holy ground and worship at the 
 shrine where so many noble men laid down their lives in 
 defence of the State and cause. England has her 
 Westminster, France her St. Denis, Italy her Pantheon 
 and Germany her Walle-Halle. Every nation of the old 
 Continent has some place dedicated to their noble and 
 illustrious dead. This country has not, as yet, reached 
 that mature age when one can visit some hallowed spot 
 set apart for the last resting place for the good and 
 eminent men. In the State of Pennsylvania, the ground 
 of Gettysburg is, however, of much greater interest and 
 much dearer to the American people than any of the 
 celebrated sanctuaries of Europe. 
 
 Glorious Gettysburg ! where five thousand of the 
 bravest and best of the soldier-citizens sleep in honored 
 graves on the field their valor won, is the National 
 Sanctuary, the Pantheon, the Westminster of the Republic. 
 
 No kings, princes or potentates lie there, but five 
 thousand gallant men, greater than kings, more splendid 
 in their deeds and in their death than any of the princes 
 or great ones who slumber within the fretted walls of 
 Europe's grand old cathedrals — fathers, brothers and 
 kinsmen, men who came from eighteen states to shed 
 
Gettysburg— The Battle of the Century. 121 
 
 their blood on Pennsylvania's soil in defence of the Union 
 and human liberty. No wonder, then, that year by year 
 thousands of Americans visit the field, linger on the long 
 line of battle, dwell on the memories of the fight and 
 meditate upon the heroism displayed in the battle. 
 
 From McPherson's woods and Willoughby Run to 
 Cemetery Hill, Round Top, Gulp's Hill and Rummel's 
 farm, the immense caravan of pilgrims yearly wanders 
 over the bloody field, drawing inspirations from the green 
 graves of those true heroes whose great souls went out 
 in the flame of battle in the days when the national 
 existence was hanging in the balance. 
 
 Gettysburg ! What visions of those three summer 
 days of July, 1863, the magic word recalls. Although 
 nearly half a century has rolled away since the last shot 
 was fired on the field, yet to the veteran it seems but 
 yesterday. To him the smoke of the guns still lingers in 
 the valleys — the sound of the conflict, the roar of the 
 artillery still echoes and reverberates among the verdure- 
 clad hills. Gettysburg ! the national battlefield of the 
 war where gallant men from twenty-eight of the thirty- 
 two states that then composed the Federal Union met in 
 deadly conflict to decide by force of arms the future of the 
 Republic, the only great battle of the war fought on 
 the free soil of a Northern state. Fortunate indeed was the 
 son of Pennsylvania who was present in that stupendous 
 fight ; and by a special Providence it would seem as 
 though the battle fought on the soil should be, in a 
 very great measure, by sons of the Keystone State. The 
 eminent soldier who commanded the army. General 
 George Gordon Meade, was a son of the State ; General 
 John Fulton Reynolds, the first great soldier to crimson 
 the ground with his blood and give up his life in its 
 
122 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 defence, was a Pennsylvanian, and General Winfiield Scott 
 Hancock, "Hancock the Superb", he who galloped to 
 the front at the first sound of strife, and who, from that 
 hour until, in the moment of victory, he fell, crushed 
 and bleeding, on the line of the Second Corps, did so 
 much to win the fight, was a native of the grand old 
 Commonwealth. The first regiment to fire a shot was the 
 Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania Infantry. The first brigade to 
 especially distinguish itself was Roy Stone's, all Penn- 
 sylvanians. 
 
 When the second day's fight opened at the peach 
 orchard almost the first troops to meet the advancing 
 host of Longstreet were the men of Graham's Brigade, 
 nearly all Pennsylvanians. Later, on that same 
 afternoon, when Hood's Texans climbed the slopes of 
 Little Round Top, they were met by the Eighty-third 
 Pennsylvanians, and the splendid soldier who fell there. 
 General Strong Vincent, fell on his native heath. Still 
 later on that same day, when the terrific fighting was 
 waging over the wheat field and "Valley of Death", 
 McCandless, with the Pennsylvania Reserves, swept over 
 the bloody ground and made one of the most successful 
 charges of the afternoon. And when the day was far 
 spent and darkness settled over the field, one of the most 
 brilliant feats of the whole battle was the splendid fight of 
 the heroic Ricketts and his Pennsylvania Battery, when, 
 with iron hand, he held the crest of Cemetery Hill against 
 the rush of the " Louisiana Tigers". 
 
 The morning of the third day was ushered in by the 
 charge of the White Star Division, commanded by 
 another son of the State, General John W. Geary ; and in 
 the cavalry fight at Rummel's farm, the greatest cavalry 
 fight of the century, the Union forces were commanded 
 
if^ 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE 
 
Gettysburg — The Battle of the Century. 123 
 
 by another, General D. McM. Gregg. In the last scene 
 of all, when Pickett crashed on the left centre with his 
 eighteen thousand men, Pennsylvania was everywhere 
 on the line to meet him ; and the Philadelphia Brigade 
 stood at the most important point on the field and 
 gathered in the greenest laurels of the day. And the 
 men of the One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment have 
 good reason to rejoice that their regiment had the 
 happiness of participating in this, the most important 
 battle of the century, and performing an honorable and 
 distinguished part therein. The One Hundred and 
 Sixteenth Regiment arrived near the field late on the 
 evening of July 1st, and early on the morning of the 2d 
 moved on to the line of Cemetery Ridge, to the left of 
 the " Umbrella Trees". The division was massed in 
 brigade columns and the men enjoyed a grateful rest. 
 Arms were stacked and the colors lay folded on the 
 upturned bayonets. Every movement of the enemy was 
 watched with interest, and the hours seemed long on that 
 bright summer day. The pickets were more or less 
 engaged all the morning — sometimes stray shots, then 
 again volleys, now a rattling fire all along the front, and 
 smoke would be seen here and there in the distant 
 foliage. The men quietly looked on and when the Third 
 Corps advanced on the peach orchard and became 
 engaged, they were deeply interested and full of admira- 
 tion at the splendid spectacle, and when they saw, in the 
 distance, the Union troops recoil, and received the order 
 to go to their assistance, it was a pleasure to do so. 
 Quickly moving off, by the left flank, towards Little 
 Round Top, the division, commanded by General John 
 C. Caldwell, marched as it had stood, in brigade columns 
 of regiments, closed en masse; and as it marched the 
 
124 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 enemy's batteries, out by the peach orchard, opened fire 
 upon the column, but without doing much damage. The 
 soHd shot, falling on the soft soil of a newly ploughed 
 field, threw the earth in showers over the men. While 
 passing the Trossell House, a woman on horseback and 
 in uniform galloped back from the Hne of battle, asked 
 for some information, and quickly returned to the front 
 again. She was a nurse of the Third Corps, Anna 
 Etheridge, and was directing the removal of the wounded. 
 She was cool and self-possessed and did not seem to 
 mind the fire. 
 
 As the column moved towards the left, Zook's Brigade 
 was in the rear, and as that command was passing the Rose 
 farm. Colonel H. E. Tremaine, of General Sickles's staff, 
 rode up to the general and requested him to halt and 
 advance against the enemy who were breaking through 
 the Union lines at that point. Zook at first refused to do 
 so, as he had no authority from the division commander, 
 General Caldwell, who was then far in advance at the 
 head of the column, but Colonel Tremaine insisted and 
 gave Zook a peremptory order in the name of General 
 Sickles. The gallant Zook hesitated no longer but, leaving 
 the division column, quickly formed line, dashed into 
 the woods, met the enemy and began fighting, while the 
 other three brigades of the division continued marching 
 towards Little Round Top, unaware of the fact that Zook's 
 men had left the command and were fighting all alone. 
 When the three brigades arrived at the foot of the hill 
 (Little Round Top), there was a short delay ; then Cross 
 deployed and went forward. Brooke went in to his left, 
 and the Irish Brigade counter-marched to the right, passing 
 in rear of Cross and, after clearing his line, deployed and 
 formed on the right of the division. As that brigade 
 
Gettysburg — The Battle of the Century. 125 
 
 advanced it moved over exactly the same ground on which 
 Zook's men had fought, passed over the Hne that they had 
 reached, and struck the foe. Zook had been carried to the 
 rear dying, and all the regiments of his brigade, after 
 making a most gallant fight, had fallen back, and as the 
 brigades of Brooke, Cross and Kelly advanced and fought, 
 the One Hundred and Sixteenth held the extreme right 
 flank of the division line. 
 
 The men of the Regiment went in at a " right shoulder 
 shift" and, although the ground was covered with huge 
 boulders, interspersed with forest trees, hilly and rough, 
 the alignment was well preserved and, as it neared the 
 crest, met the enemy and received a volley. But the shots 
 were too high and did but little damage and the men 
 rushed on. Soon the lines were but a few feet apart, and 
 the men returned the fire with deadly effect. Captain 
 Nowlen drew his revolver and opened fire ; nearly all the 
 other officers followed his example. Little Jeff Carl killed 
 a man within six feet of his bayonet. That hero, Sergeant 
 Francis Malin, was conspicuous by his dash and bravery, 
 as his tall form towered above all around him — a noble 
 soul. He soon fell dead with a bullet through his brain. 
 For a few moments it was hand-to-hand, but the 
 Confederates seemed to have no stomach for the fight ; 
 they were tired, weary and glad to call " enough", 
 surrendered and were sent to the rear as prisoners of war. 
 The Regiment had met and fought the men of Kershaw's 
 Brigade, the same who, at Fredericksburg, had poured 
 their deadly fire into the Regiment from the stone wall at 
 the base of Marye's Heights. Then the brigade was 
 halted and aligned where the monuments now stand. 
 The meeting of the lines was unexpected to both the 
 Confederates and Union men. As the latter were moving 
 
126 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 up one side of the hill the Confederates were ascending 
 the other. They gained the crest first and seeing the 
 Union men so close, they became excited and fired too 
 quickly, resulting in the volley passing overhead, and but 
 few of the men of the Regiment were injured. On the 
 contrary, the fire of the Regiment was delivered with 
 precision and calmness, and every shot told. The 
 Confederates were on a crest while the regimental line 
 was below them, their feet about on a level with the heads 
 of the men. When the Regiment charged and gained the 
 ground on which the enemy stood, it was found covered 
 with their dead, nearly every one of them being hit in the 
 head or upper part of the body. Behind one large rock 
 five men lay dead in a heap. They had evidently fallen 
 at the first volley and all at the same time. One of them, 
 in his dying agony, had torn his blouse and shirt open, 
 exposing his breast and showing a great hole from which 
 his heart's blood was flowing. 
 
 The large ball (calibre 69) and three buck shot with 
 which the pieces were loaded, although a wretched 
 ammunition for distant firing, was just right for close 
 hand-to-hand work, and so, on this occasion the fire of 
 the Regiment was terrible in its effect, while the small 
 rifle balls of the South Carolina men went whistling over 
 the heads of the men of the One Hundred and Sixteenth. 
 In front, and a little to the right, stood the Rose farm 
 house and barn. Over the little valley in the immediate 
 front one could see the enemy massed and preparing for 
 another attack. The dead of the One Hundred and 
 Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers lay directly in front, on 
 the ground which that command had vacated but a half 
 hour before, and one young boy lay outstretched on a 
 large rock with his musket still grasped in his hand, his 
 
Gettysburg — The Battle of the Century. 127 
 
 pale, calm face upturned to the sunny sky, the warm blood 
 still flowing from a hole in his forehead and running in a 
 red stream over the gray stone. The young hero had 
 just given his life for his country. A sweet, childish face 
 it was, lips parted in a smile — those still lips on which 
 the mother's kisses had so lately fallen, warm and tender. 
 The writer never looked on a soldier slain without feeling 
 that he gazed upon the relics of a saint ; but the little boy 
 lying there with his blood coloring the soil of his own 
 State, and his young heart stilled forever, seemed more 
 like an angel form than any of the others. 
 
 " Somebody's watching and waiting for him, 
 Yearning to hold him again to her heart ; 
 And there he lies with his blue eyes dim, 
 And the smiling child-like lips apart.'' 
 
 As the Regiment stood in line waiting for the foe in 
 front to advance, a column of the enemy, supposed to be 
 Semm's and Wofiord's Brigades, passed through the 
 peach orchard, formed a line in .rear and began to 
 advance just as the line in front began moving forward. 
 Orders were given for the division to retire, and under 
 the circumstances it was done in fairly good order. 
 
 Passing to the left and going on a run towards Little 
 Round Top, through the wheat field and emerging in the 
 open ground, the command gained the Taneytown Road 
 and re-formed. Captain John Teed, of Company C, 
 Sergeant George Halpin and a few of the men were 
 captured by the enemy. Captain Teed missed the way and 
 walked into the enemy's lines. Halpin, being shot, was 
 unable to get away. The fire, as the men passed through 
 the wheat, was severe and destructive, and so close were 
 the lines of the enemy between which the men ran, that 
 they finally had to stop firing, as they were hitting each 
 
128 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Other. Seven or eight of the men who were missing after 
 
 the fight were probably killed in the wheat, only one of 
 
 them being ever heard of afterwards. Young Martin 
 
 Gallagher, whom the boys used to call " Jersey", fell at 
 
 this point with a broken leg. It was afterwards learned 
 
 that he was hit six or eight times after the first ball broke 
 
 his leg, but he managed to recover from all his wounds. 
 
 The Regiment re-formed on the Taneytown Road and 
 
 remained near the base of Little Round Top until the 
 
 fighting on the left was over for the day ; then, when the 
 
 sun went down, moved back with the division and formed 
 
 on the left of the Second Corps on Cemetery Ridge, on 
 
 the ground it had occupied in the forepart of the day. 
 
 The lines were dressed in the twilight, and darkness 
 
 settled down over the field ; 
 
 "The bugle sang truce 
 For the night cloud had lowered, 
 And the sentinel stars set their watch in the sky, 
 And thousands lay down on the ground overpowered, 
 The weary to sleep, 
 The wounded to die". 
 
 Daybreak, on the morning of July 3d, found Hancock 
 on the line getting ready for the day that had dawned 
 so brightly. He personally rectified the alignment of 
 the brigade and placed the One Hundred and Sixteenth 
 Regiment to support the guns of Sterling's Second 
 Connecticut Battery. 
 
 All morning the men sat around calmly chewing hard 
 tack and waiting for the result of the fight at Culp's 
 Hill, looking over towards that high land, seeing great 
 volumes of smoke arise from the timber, listening to the 
 crash of the musketry, watching the streams of wounded 
 that poured out of the dark woods, seeing the reinforce- 
 ments hurrying to the assaulted point, and joining in the 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK 
 Commander of Second Corps 
 
Gettysburg — The Battle of the Century. 129 
 
 glad cheer that at eleven o'clock announced the victory 
 of the Twelfth Corps and told the army that Gulp's Hill 
 was once more in possession of the Union troops and 
 the line was again intact. Then observing with deep 
 interest the enemy, as artillery and infantry were massed 
 in the Union front for the tremendous attack on the left 
 centre. During the two hours of the artillery duel that 
 preceded Pickett's charge, the men hugged the ground 
 closely and, as they lay in front of Sterling's guns, his 
 fire, as well as that of the enemy, passed over them. The 
 position, however, was most favorable. The Confederate 
 gunners evidently misunderstood the location of the 
 Union line and threw their shells into the edge of 
 the woods a hundred yards in rear, where they burst in 
 great numbers. The men of Company B, who formed 
 the Provost Guard of the division, were deployed in rear 
 of the battle line and, during the fire, they suffered more 
 than the men in front. When the fire of the two hundred 
 and twenty-seven guns ceased and the smoke cleared 
 away, one could see the long lines of Pickett's Division 
 and Hill's Corps advancing to the attack. All the Union 
 batteries opened and played upon them as they advanced 
 over the fields. They were seen to fall by hundreds and 
 thousands. Sterling's men made superb firing, their shells 
 bursting in the faces of the advancing hosts. One of the 
 lieutenants of the battery, a very tall, long-legged fellow, 
 could not restrain his delight at seeing the excellent work 
 that his battery was doing, and when he would see a good 
 shot and his shells bursting right in the ranks of the 
 Confederates, the arms and legs flying, he would leap up, 
 crack his heels together and give a great scream of joy. 
 Never was there such a moment of joy and happiness in 
 the ranks of the command. Thousands of Confederates 
 
130 The Siory of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 were seen advancing to sure destruction. It was Freder- 
 icksburg reversed. The right flank of the assaulting line 
 overlapped the division, and to the right their left extended 
 as far as the eye could reach. One could see the whole 
 grand sight, and when Pickett struck the Union line and 
 the hand-to-hand struggle commenced at the " Umbrella 
 Trees", the excitement became intense. The Confederate 
 brigades of Wilcox and Perry were directly in front of 
 the Irish Brigade and it seemed impossible to restrain the 
 men from firing. 
 
 Never were the men of the Regiment so eager to rush 
 into the fight. Finally as the enemy's line got within a 
 hundred and fifty yards the order " ready ! " was given. 
 The men grasped their muskets, prepared to fire. The foe 
 had disappeared for a moment in a sharp decline of the 
 ground. The men waited to see the Confederate flags 
 come over the hill, but instead of the red flag of the 
 Confederacy a man crawled over the crest waving a white 
 handkerchief, and ten minutes afterwards the larger part 
 of the men of Wilcox's Brigade quietly walked into the 
 Union line, as prisoners. Three men, braver than their 
 fellows, were seen running back over the fields with a 
 stand of colors, and the men, in admiration of their 
 heroism, refrained from molesting them. 
 
 The firing suddenly ceased and Gettysburg became 
 the victory that marked the beginning of the end of the 
 war, for at the moment when the Army of the Potomac 
 was hurling back, crushed and defeated from Cemetery 
 Ridge, the Army of Northern Virginia, the cannon of the 
 Army of the Tennessee was hammering down the defences 
 of Vicksburg, the roar of Rosecrans's Artillery was 
 reverberating among the Cumberland Mountains and the 
 Union lines were advancing along the Tennessee River. 
 
Gettysburg — The Battle of the Century. 131 
 
 Vicksburg fell before the dead of Gettysburg were 
 interred, and the cheers that announced the victory of the 
 Union left wing in Pennsylvania found a loud echo among 
 Grant's heroes of the right wing as they streamed into the 
 captured city. 
 
 During the night of this day General Lee sent his 
 wounded towards the south by the Fairfield Road and 
 during the night of the fourth retired by the same route 
 with his whole army. During the forenoon of the fourth 
 the Regiment remained in the same position. It was 
 rumored that the enemy was falling back, but the 
 Confederate sharpshooters were active enough in their 
 efforts to make one believe that all their army was still 
 present. The rain fell in torrents. Rain ! Rain ! Why 
 does it always rain after a battle ? Rain after Antietam, 
 after Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, as 
 though the compassionate skies would weep for the fallen 
 brave, send cooling showers to lave the angry wounds, or 
 in sweet mercy hasten to wash away from the soiled earth 
 the crimson stains. 
 
 In the evening it was known that the enemy had gone, 
 and the Regiment left the line of battle and marched to 
 Two Taverns, a most grateful change. To get away from 
 the tempest-torn ground, from the foul stench and noisome 
 air, from the fray and excitement and blood-red streams, 
 and once more enjoy the bright green of the meadows 
 freshened by the showers, to breathe pure air, and drink 
 clear sparkling water, was happiness indeed. How the 
 men's spirits rose ! And a delightful evening marked the 
 calm after the storm. The men circulated through the 
 massed regiments to learn the fate of friends ; shook hands 
 or wept with joy at meeting, or shed a silent tear at 
 hearing of the noble end of some beloved one dead. 
 
132 The Story of the Ii6th Regiment. 
 
 While the survivors had much to regret they had also 
 much to rejoice for. The Second Corps, whilst meeting 
 with an appalling loss had borne a most honorable part in 
 the battle. Laurels rested on every flag, and now, like a 
 winged eagle, the corps had paused to take note of its 
 wounds and to send forth a glad scream of victory. 
 Hancock was gone, to be sure, and Zook, Cross, Shirrell, 
 Kane, Tschudy, Willard, Rorty, and a host of the noblest 
 and best lay with up-turned faces along Cemetery Ridge 
 where their heroic souls had gone out in the hour of 
 triumph. But the men of the Second Corps rejoiced, 
 and who could object? Would not those of their 
 comrades who filled the shallow graves on the line they 
 had just left rejoice and be glad also if they were still 
 alive, and looked upon the trophies of the fight ? 
 
 Thirty-three battle flags, six thousand prisoners and 
 thirteen thousand stands of small arms were truly a 
 bountiful harvest to be gathered by the men who wore 
 the trefoil. 
 
 One dusk, long summers gone, the white-cheeked moon 
 
 Beheld this valley reel with war. But now, 
 Where yon still hamlet's window's redly glow, 
 
 At eve, the housewives gossip, or else croon 
 Soft lullabies. Through the long afternoon 
 
 The children gambol in the vale below. 
 
 The lustrous lilies at their moorings blow. 
 The mowers move with scythes in merry tune ; 
 
 Chime faintly far from out the white church spire, 
 Those evening bells ; slow moves the croaking wains, 
 
 Down purple glens ablaze with sunset fire. 
 And low-necked kine trudge home through thick-leaved lanes, 
 
 Sweet vale, the only sword now there that's seen 
 
 Is the moon's cimeter in skies serene. 
 
Gettysburg — The Battle of the Century. 133 
 
 REPORT OF MAJOR ST. CLAIR A. MULHOLLAND. 
 
 BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 
 
 In Camp at Sandy Hook, Md., July 17, 1863. 
 
 Sir : — I have the honor to submit the following report of the part 
 taken by my command in the action at Gettysburg, July 2d and 3d. 
 
 After a long and fatiguing march we arrived, on the evening of July 
 ist, within three miles of Gettysburg, and by order of General Caldwell, 
 camped in a neighboring field. Shortly after daylight on the morning of 
 the 2d, our brigade moved up upon the field in sight of the enemy's 
 pickets. Our division was placed en masse in columns of regiments, my 
 command being in the front line, stacked arms and ordered the men to 
 rest. We remained in this position during the forenoon. Heavy firing 
 was heard at intervals on our right but everything remained quiet in the 
 vicinity until about three o'clock. At that time musketry commenced on 
 our left, I think about three-fourths of a mile away. The firing had 
 continued an hour when orders came to "fall in". We took arms and 
 were marched, by the left flank, towards the scene of action. After 
 marching about a mile and deploying in line of battle, the division 
 advanced to support, I think, a portion of the Third Corps which was 
 then engaged. Our brigade advanced in line of battle, left in front 
 gallantly led by Colonel Patrick Kelly of the Eighty-eighth New York. 
 As we advanced a portion of the Third Corps retired, passing through 
 the intervals of our line. Having entered a wood be began ascending a 
 hill where large boulders and rocks impeded our progress. Notwith- 
 standing, we advanced in good order. We soon came within sight of the 
 enemy who occupied the crest of the hill, and who immediately opened 
 fire at our approach. Our men returned the fire with good effect. After 
 firing for about ten minutes the order was given to advance, which was 
 done in excellent style, driving the enemy from the position, which we at 
 once occupied. We took many prisoners at this point, hundreds of the 
 enemy laying down their arms and going to the rear. We found the 
 position that our foe had occupied a moment before thickly strewn with 
 their dead and wounded. Here we again opened fire, the enemy having 
 again rallied to oppose our further advance. After being engaged about 
 twenty minutes, the enemy having been reinforced, we began to retire in 
 good order. At this time the division had been completely outflanked 
 by the enemy, who had formed a line facing the right flank and rear of 
 our brigade. This line was formed along the edge of a wheat field about 
 a quarter of a mile in our rear. We had to cross the field in getting away 
 and in doing so we encountered the full sweep of the enemy's fire, which 
 at this point was most destructive and many of the division fell, 
 
134 The Story of the ii6ih Regiment. 
 
 After passing to the rear I found Colonel Brooke of the Fourth Brigade 
 forming the division in a field adjoining the Second Division Hospital. 
 He told me that he had orders from General Caldwell to do so. I then 
 halted my regiment and rendered all assistance possible in getting 
 together the members of the Second Brigade. Shortly after dark we were 
 again marched to the front and placed in the same position that we had 
 occupied in the morning. Here we lay on our arms during the night and 
 were awakened at daybreak by the sound of the enemy's cannon. 
 
 Major-General Hancock passed along early and moved the line a little 
 forward in order that we might have a better range and our fire be more 
 effective should the enemy attack us. We began intrenching, and by 
 eleven o'clock had quite a formidable breastwork thrown up. All the 
 forenoon we could see the enemy preparing to attack. Batteries were 
 placed in position in our front and everything indicated that an attack was 
 intended. About noon it commenced by a terrific shelling of our lines. 
 After shelling our position for two hours the artillery fire slackened and 
 a heavy force of infantry was seen advancing. At this moment our 
 artillery, which up to this time remained almost silent, opened with 
 terrible effect upon the advancing lines, tearing great gaps in the ranks 
 and strewing the ground with dead and wounded. Notwithstanding the 
 destructive fire the enemy continued to advance with a degree of coolness 
 and bravery worthy of a better cause, until reaching a ravine which ran 
 parallel with our line, about half way between us and their artillery, they 
 halted, being then under cover and no longer exposed to our fire. They 
 halted but to surrender. Finding, I presume, that their ranks were too 
 much thinned to think of charging our works, knowing the heavy loss they 
 would sustain in attempting to reach their own line again, and thinking 
 discretion the better part of valor, they laid down their arms and, almost 
 to a man, surrendered. 
 
 Perceiving the failure of their infantry to carry the position, the enemy 
 again opened their batteries, but after an hour's firing withdrew, leaving 
 us victors of the field. During the day's fighting the heat was very great 
 and the men, being exposed, having neither shelter tents nor water, 
 suffered intensely. The morning of the fourth found us victors of every 
 part of the field. The rain fell in torrents, wetting every one, filling the 
 rifle pits and making us most uncomfortable, but my command was very 
 hopeful and bore the fatigues and sufferings incidental to a great battle 
 with a cheerfulness that ever characterizes the true soldier. We remained 
 in the same position until the afternoon of the same day and then my 
 command, with the division, marched to the village of Two Taverns, 
 where we encamped for the night. 
 
 In closing my report I cannot refrain from mentioning the cool and 
 gallant bearing of my command. Of the officers it is almost useless for 
 
Gettysburg — The Battle of the Century. 135 
 
 me to speak. Every one of them did their duty in a manner that excited 
 my warmest admiration and gratitude. 
 
 Of the enlisted men I feel happy in mentioning the names of Color 
 Sergeant Abraham T. Detwiler, Sergeant Thos. Detwiler, Company A, 
 and private Jefferson Carl, Company C, as having specially distinguished 
 themselves in the action of the 2d instant. 
 
 Respectfully submitted, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 St. Clair A. Mulholland, 
 Major, Commanding ii6th Pennsylvania Vols. 
 
 To Captain Thomas W. Greig, 
 
 A. A. A. 
 
 NOTES ON GETTYSBURG. 
 
 The losses in the battle were, in proportion to the 
 number engaged, enormous, amounting on the Union 
 side to twenty-seven per cent. ; and on the side of the 
 Confederates to thirty-five per cent. The number of dead 
 on the official" reports represents but about half only of 
 those slain. On the Union side, for instance, there are 
 but 2834 reported killed, while in the National Cemetery 
 alone there are 3575 bodies interred. The names on the 
 official return only include those who were killed dead 
 in action, but takes no account of the vast number who 
 died of wounds within ten days after the battle. If one 
 wants to get at the whole number of men who lost their 
 lives in the Union Army there must be added to the 3575 
 interred in the National Cemetery at least 400 buried on 
 different parts of the field, and who were never found or 
 transferred to the cemetery. Four hundred more were 
 taken home by their friends immediately after the battle, 
 and several hundred died soon after of wounds, in the 
 hospital, at Carlisle', Harrisburg and other adjacent 
 points, making in all about 5000 Union men who lost 
 
136 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 their lives at Gettysburg, or as the results of that battle. 
 The bayonet, now a weapon almost obsolete in warfare, 
 was used quite freely, many men and ofificers being killed 
 and wounded in that way. Colonel Jeffers, of the Fourth 
 Michigan, was bayoneted to death in the wheat field, and 
 some fifty-four men fell at that point in the same manner. 
 But it would seem that the soldier of our day prefers to 
 kill his man in some other way. 
 
 When the gallant Confederate, General Armistead, 
 leaped over the little stone wall that served as a breast- 
 work for the Philadelphia Brigade he called to his men 
 to give the Union troops the " cold steel". All in vain, 
 however ; within the next five minutes that splendid 
 officer and forty-two of the hundred brave men who 
 followed him over the low wall were lying dead in their 
 tracks, and all the rest of the noble band were crushed 
 and wounded. The bayonet, in modern warfare, is almost 
 a thing of the past, and the soldier finds but little use for 
 it. Certainly there were numbers killed by it at 
 Gettysburg, but very few indeed in comparison to the 
 great number slain by the rifle and artillery. 
 
 The sword was also used *to a considerable extent. 
 When the lines crashed together in the great cavalry fight 
 on the third day many men were cut down with the 
 sabre ; and General Wade Hampton, now United States 
 Senator from South Carolina, had his face split open from 
 a sword cut. But when the infantry came hand-to-hand 
 they seemed to rather prefer to club their muskets and 
 dash each other's brains out, than to drive the cold steel 
 into the bodies of their opponents ; and many men were 
 killed in this manner. Lieutenant Charles Brockey 
 crushed in a Confederate's skull with a rock, and 
 Lieutenant Worcester, of the Seventh Louisiana "Tigers", 
 
Gettysburg — The Battle of the Century. 137 
 
 had his head smashed to a jelly by a hand-spike in the 
 hands of one of the gunners. 
 
 Several men of the Regiment who had been transferred 
 to Battery A, Fourth United States Artillery, distinguished 
 themselves in the battle, and several of them were badly 
 wounded, Michael Hickey, William Miller, Joseph 
 Meander and John McCormick being among the latter. 
 During the last moments of Pickett's charge, when 
 Lieutenant Gushing ordered his last serviceable gun (the 
 third piece) to be run down to the stone wall, Patrick 
 MuUin and Simon Mallinger of the One Hundred and 
 Sixteenth Regiment, together with a man of the battery, 
 named McConnell, were the three cannoneers who worked 
 the gun until Gushing was killed. He (Gushing) stood 
 with his field-glasses raised, in the act of giving a 
 command (he had been terribly wounded in the groin), 
 when a ball entered his mouth and, passing through, 
 broke his neck. The Gonfederates were then pouring 
 over the wall and placing their flags on the guns, and it 
 became a hand-to-hand fight. When the conflict was 
 over, Mullin, Mallinger and McGonnell picked up 
 Gushing's body and carried it to the rear. 
 
 The fighting of both armies at Gettysburg was severe, 
 and to understand truly and to estimate properly the 
 fighting qualities of the men and the organizations of 
 those armies, one must take the cold figures of the 
 percentage of losses in killed and wounded and compare 
 them with similar results in other wars and by troops of 
 other nations. When reading the following article, let us 
 not fail to remember the record of the bravest troops in 
 Europe. The Third Westphalian, at Mars La Tour, lost 
 49.4 per cent., killed and wounded ; the Garde-Schutzen, at 
 Metz, lost 46.1 per cent.; the Light Brigade, at Balaklava, 
 
138 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 lost 36.7 per cent. Reader, this is a story of brave men 
 and splendid organizations and, if I mistake not, tells of 
 the greatest loss on record in single engagements in 
 European wars. Not one of them lost 50 per cent, in 
 killed and wounded in single engagements. Without 
 fear of contradiction, I assert that in the Union army 
 alone at least sixty-three regiments lost more than 50 per 
 cent, killed and wounded in single engagements, and 
 more than one hundred and twenty regiments lost more 
 than 36 per cent, under like circumstances. I am asked 
 to write the particulars of these bloody encounters ; to do 
 so would be a greater task than I have time for, and the 
 glowing story would fill volumes. On the soil of our 
 own State, there were at least twenty-three regiments 
 that lost more than 50 per cent, in killed and wounded 
 during the three sanguinary days of the battle, and nine 
 of these were Pennsylvania organizations. Eight other 
 Northern States — -New Jersey, New Hampshire, New 
 York, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and 
 Massachusetts — were also included in this splendid roll 
 of honor. Truly, "there was glory enough to go all 
 around". Let us recall the story of these commands, the 
 organizations only that lost 50 per cent, or more at 
 Gettysburg, and we can speak of them without in any 
 way detracting from the honor of the other commands 
 that may not have met with such terrible losses, yet did 
 their whole duty and all that was demanded of them. 
 
 The battle on the first day was remarkable, not only 
 for the acts of great personal courage, but also for the 
 most heroic fighting on the part of organizations. The 
 One Hundred and Forty-seventh New York was the first 
 regiment to make the great record at Gettysburg. Going 
 into position at the right of Cutler's Brigade, and becoming 
 
Gettysburg — The Battle of the Century. 13& 
 
 hotly engaged in the very start of the fight, Lieutenant- 
 Colonel F. C. Miller, its commander, fell almost at the 
 first fire, shot in the head. Major George Harney then 
 commanded. The regiment fought the Forty-second 
 Mississippi, and when the position became untenable and 
 the brigade was ordered to the rear, the command to 
 retreat was not received by the One Hundred and Forty- 
 seventh until the other regiments of the brigade had 
 gone. The One Hundred and Forty-seventh then stood 
 alone, and not only fought the regiment in its front, but 
 was exposed to the fire of the Second Mississippi and 
 Fifty-fifth North Carolina on the right flank. The fight 
 was close and deadly, but Harney and his men stood up to 
 the work until the orders reached them to retreat, which 
 they did in good order, with colors flying. The loss of 
 officers and men was appalling, but hardly had the 
 splendid organization reached the new position than it 
 became engaged in resisting the attack of Ewell's Corps 
 and assisted in capturing a part of Iverson's Brigade. 
 But the One Hundred and Forty-seventh was not yet 
 ready to rest ; on the evening of the second day it was 
 rushed over to Culp's Hill to reinforce Green's Brigade, 
 and until long after dark fought in the dense woods 
 among rocks and fallen timber, locating the enemy by 
 the tongues of fire that leaped from their muskets. This 
 regiment was recruited in Oswego County, New York, 
 and it left the great record on Gettysburg's field of 60 per 
 cent, killed and wounded, more than 20 per cent, being 
 killed outright. 
 
 As the One Hundred and Forty-seventh was making 
 its glorious record, the Iron Brigade swept forward and 
 entered the woods just as Reynolds was being carried to 
 the rear, dead. The West had in that line its noblest 
 
140 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 sons, there to defend and to crimson the soil of our State 
 with their blood, and what a fight they made on that July 
 morning ! Of this brigade the Twenty-fourth Michigan 
 lost 60 per cent, killed and wounded and, in addition 
 83 missing ; the Nineteenth Indiana lost 56 per cent, and 
 50 missing ; the Second Wisconsin 59 per cent, and 51 
 missing ; the Sixth Wisconsin 43 per cent, and 20 missing; 
 the Seventh Wisconsin 41 per cent, and 43 missing. This 
 regiment had 10 officers and 271 men killed in battle 
 during its term of service. Taking the five regiments of 
 the Iron Brigade as a whole, we find the killed and 
 wounded to have been 49.5 per cent, with 249 missing, 
 many of whom were among the dead. 
 
 Reader, when you visit the field of the first day's 
 fight, and you walk past the spot where Reynolds fell, 
 and enter the woods where every gnarled tree is torn by 
 shot and shell, you will see a line of monuments crossing 
 your path. Pause when you reach them, stand for a time 
 by the stone that marks the center of the Twenty-fourth 
 Michigan Regiment and • recall the day of the battle. 
 You will then be standing near the centre of the Iron 
 Brigade. On the right of that organization was the 
 brigade of Roy Stone, and on the left that of Colonel 
 Chapman Biddle. Walk the line of these brigades from 
 right to left — ah, yes, you may walk the line of the whole 
 First Corps — and you cannot step without treading upon 
 ground every inch of which was saturated and made 
 sacred by the blood of heroes. 
 
 And how did the Twenty-fourth Michigan fight? 
 They charged into the woods without taking time to load 
 and, with bayonet, driving the enemy across Willoughby 
 Run, captured the Confederate General Archer and many 
 of his men. Private Patrick Maloney, seizing the General 
 
Gettysburg — The Battle of the Century. 141 
 
 by the throat, commanding "right about, Gineral, march !" 
 conducted him to the rear and handed him over to the 
 division commander, with a Celtic smile, and " Gineral 
 Wadsworth, sir, allow me to make ye acquainted wid 
 Gineral Archer". There the weU-dressed Hne waited in 
 the forest during the long afternoon, repulsing every 
 attack of the enemy. General Sol Mereditli, the brigade 
 commander ; Colonel Henry A. Morrow ; Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Flanagan, the adjutant, and almost every officer 
 who was not killed outright was severely wounded, 
 twenty-two being killed and wounded out of twenty- 
 eight. Captains Speed and O'Donnell and Lieutenants 
 Wallace, Safford, Grace, Humphrey ville, Dickey and 
 Shattuck were dead upon the field. Seven color bearers 
 were shot down under the flag, four of them, Abel Pack, 
 Charles Ballou, August Ernest and William Kelly, lying 
 dead almost side by side, while every one of the color 
 guard was dead or wounded. When Corporal Andrew 
 Wagner was severely wounded and the colors fell, 
 Colonel Morrow ran forward and raised them. Private 
 Kelly ran up and seized the staff, saying : " The Colonel 
 of the Twenty-fourth shall never carry the flag while I 
 am alive". He was killed instantly. Still another brave 
 soul raised the flag, only to fall. Again Colonel Morrow 
 grasped the " starry banner " and, while waving it aloft, 
 he, too, fell terribly wounded. No falling back was thought 
 of until ordered to retreat, and then the flag was dragged 
 by force from the hands of a mortally wounded soldier, 
 who with a last expiring effort, tried to raise it from the 
 ground, but fell back only to die. Splendid Michigan ; 
 your sons have done you great honor ! 
 
 The Nineteenth Indiana, Colonel S. J. Williams com- 
 manding, went into action in line with the Twenty-fourth 
 
142 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Michigan Regiment, crossing Willoughby Run in the 
 first rush and charge of the day, and flanking Archer's 
 Confederates, doing its full share in the capture of that 
 command. In the afternoon it held the left flank of the 
 Iron Brigade, meeting and repelling charge after charge 
 of the enemy. The fire of the regiment was so deadly 
 that for one Hour after the line of the enemy had advanced 
 to the attack not a live Confederate succeeded in crossing 
 the stream. When the command was finally withdrawn 
 with the remainder of the brigade, 56 per cent, of those 
 who had held the line were dead or wounded. 
 
 About eleven o'clock the head of Roy Stone's brigade 
 arrived on the field, and was placed by General Doubleday 
 on the left of the Chambersburg pike, the left of the line 
 resting near the right of the Iron Brigade. Shells were 
 flying as the Pennsylvanians moved into position, and it 
 was a hot place to form. Stripping for the fray and 
 unslinging knapsacks, the men called out, " We have 
 come to stay". When evening came fully 50 per cent, 
 of the gallant brigade remained on the fatal ridge. 
 Stone's brigade held the key to the first day's fight, and 
 every man seemed to realize the importance of holding 
 out to the last. Although some two hours elapsed from 
 the time the brigade arrived until the first serious attack 
 of the Confederate infantry, it was anything but an 
 interval of peace. Exposed and in full view of the 
 enemy, the line was pounded by batteries from the distant 
 hills, both north and west, and many were the casualties. 
 Then the whole valley of Willoughby Run and the 
 country beyond was in clear view, and every man saw 
 for himself what was coming — the Confederates, in a 
 continuous double line of deployed battalions, with other 
 battalions en masse in reserve. To meet this tremendous 
 
Gettysburg — The Battle of the Century. 143 
 
 onslaught stood one thin line, and not a man in reserve. 
 It required courage of a high order to quietly await the 
 attack, but Stone's men were equal to the occasion. 
 
 As Colonel Huidekoper and Major Chamberlain were 
 chatting, while awaiting the attack, a unique, antique and 
 most picturesque figure approached. It was citizen John 
 Burns, of Gettysburg. Tall and bony of frame, with 
 deliberate step, he came to the front, carrying in his right 
 hand a rifle at a " trail ". He wore a blue swallow-tail 
 coat, with brass buttons, dark trousers and a high hat, 
 from which the nap had long since disappeared. Although 
 three-score years and ten, and bent with age, he said : 
 " Can I fight with your Regiment ?" Just then Colonel 
 Wister came up and in his bluff manner asked : " Well, 
 old man, what do you want ?" " I want a chance to fight 
 with your Regiment". "You do? Well, where is 
 your ammunition?" "Right here", said the old hero, 
 slapping his trousers pocket, which was bulging out with 
 cartridges. " Good ", repHed Wister, " I wish there were 
 more like you ", advising the old man to go into the 
 woods and fight where he would be more sheltered. But 
 John Burns was not the kind that looked for shelter, and 
 he fought during the day not only in the open, but in the 
 very front. When evening fell he was still there, but 
 badly wounded. At half-past one o'clock the whole line 
 of the enemy was seen advancing, and for more than two 
 hours the devoted brigade of Roy Stone — One Hundred 
 and Forty-third, One Hundred and Forty-ninth and One 
 Hundred and Fiftieth Pennsylvania Regiments — met and 
 checked the exulting foe. 
 
 Never in the history of wars did men stand up under 
 like conditions and make such a defence. There they 
 were, one thin line, without a man in reserve, meeting 
 
144 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 charge after charge, and seeing beyond, as far as the eye 
 could reach, other Hnes of fresh troops, ready to take the 
 places of those repulsed. Every field officer in the 
 brigade, save one, was shot, and many of them several 
 times. In the One Hundred and Forty-third 36 per cent, 
 were killed and wounded, and 91 missing, many of these 
 being numbered among the dead ; the One Hundred and 
 Forty-ninth lost 50 per cent, killed and wounded and 111 
 missing ; the One Hundred and Fiftieth lost 50 per cent, 
 killed and wounded and 77 missing, 25 of whom were 
 afterward found to be dead or wounded. Glorious brigade 
 of the Keystone State ! When will your glory fade ? 
 Officers and men alike will live in story. Can we ever 
 forget Roy Stone falling away out in front of his line, or 
 Langhorne Wister clinging to his command with mouth 
 so full of blood that speech was an impossibility ; or 
 Huidekoper remaining in command of his regiment with 
 shattered arm and a ball through his leg ; or Color 
 Sergeant Benjamin H. Crippen, of the One Hundred and 
 Forty-second, lingering, as his regiment walked to the 
 rear, to shake his fist at the advancing foe, until he was 
 shot dead ; or Color Sergeant Samuel Phifer, of the One 
 Hundred and Fiftieth, advancing with the colors and 
 flaunting them in the face of the victorious foe until he 
 fell dead, with all the color guard dead or wounded 
 around him ? Surely it was a great brigade and a noble 
 fight, but more yet was demanded, for on the evening of 
 the second day the One Hundred and Forty-ninth and 
 the One Hundred and Fiftieth charged upon the Confed- 
 erate lines, and recaptured two guns that had been lost 
 that afternoon. Likewise, on the third day of the battle 
 the three regiments were again under fire, being in line 
 to meet the charge of Pickett's men, and to meet the 
 
Gettysburg — The Battle of the Century. 145 
 
 Storm of the artillery fire that for two long hours preceded 
 that attack. 
 
 To the left of the Iron Brigade, the brigade commanded 
 by Colonel Chapman Biddle held the line. The organi- 
 zation consisted of one New York and three Pennsylvania 
 regiments, and its record is very similar to that of the 
 two brigades on the right. The Eightieth New York 
 (Twentieth Militia), called the " Ulster Guard ", Colonel 
 Theodore B. Gates commanding, had 50 per cent, killed 
 and wounded, 24 missing. The One Hundred and 
 Twenty-first Pennsylvania, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander 
 Biddle, had 39 per cent, killed and wounded, and 61 
 missing. The One Hundred and Forty-second Pennsyl- 
 vania, Colonel Robert P. Cummings, had 39 per cent, 
 killed and wounded and 70 missing. The One Hundred 
 and Fifty-first Pennsylvania, Lieutenant Colonel George 
 F. McFarland, had 56 per cent, killed and wounded and 
 100 missing. Not only did the brigade make the 
 splendid fight on the first day's battle, but on the second 
 and third day all the regiments were engaged, and in the 
 last grand scene of the drama the Eightieth New York 
 and the One Hundred and Fifty-first Pennsylvania, led 
 by Colonel Gates, rushed in, side by side with Stannard's 
 Vermonters, to strike the flank of Pickett's line. The 
 One Hundred and Forty-second Pennsylvania lost some 
 of its best officers and men. Colonel Cummings, Captain 
 Flagg and Lieutenants Tucker and Hurst were killed 
 instantly, and Captains Grimm, Evans, Dushane and 
 Hasson, and Lieutenants Powell, Walter, Swank, Heffiey, 
 Huston, Hoffman and Wilson were wounded. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel George F. McFarland, who 
 commanded the One Hundred and Fifty-first Pennsyl- 
 vania on the first day's fight, was the Principal of the 
 
146 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 McAlister Academy, in Juniata county, of our State. 
 He was an exceedingly calm, brave man, and while 
 awaiting the infantry attack quietly sat on the ground 
 taking notes, while the shells were flying in all directions. 
 He was terribly wounded and lost a leg; The Regiment 
 was unique in many particulars : McFarland, a school 
 principal, in command, with one hundred school teachers 
 marching and fighting in the ranks. The whole of 
 Company D was composed of scholars and school boys 
 from McFarland's Academy. The Regiment fought the 
 Twenty-sixth North Carolina, which command lost, in the 
 morning's encounter with the One Hundred and Fifty-first, 
 588 men and officers out of 800, one company having 
 82 killed and wounded out of 83. The One Hundred 
 and Fifty-first had 14 officers killed and wounded, and 
 was the last regiment to leave the line when retreat was 
 ordered. The Confederate General, Heth, said that " the 
 dead of the One Hundred and Fifty-first marked the line 
 of battle with the accuracy of a ' dress parade.' " On that 
 day Pennsylvania's teachers and schoolboys left a rich 
 legacy to others who come after them. Much history has 
 been written, and any amount of criticism indulged in, in 
 relation to the fight of the First Corps on the first day of 
 the battle, but the more we learn of it the more we must 
 acknowledge that it was a great contest, a wonderful 
 defence against overwhelming odds. 
 
 All the severe fighting of the first day was not confined 
 to the fine of the First Corps. The Eleventh Corps, 
 coming upon the field later in the day, also fought 
 against great odds, and made a splendid fight. One 
 regiment, at least, kept up with the best record of any 
 one of the First Corps. The Seventy-fifth Pennsylvania 
 fought to the north of the town, near the Carlisle road, 
 
Gettysburg — The Battle of the Century. - 147 
 
 losing 56 per cent, killed and wounded. This regiment 
 was originally recruited by General Henry Bohlen, who 
 was killed at Freeman's Ford, August 22, 1862. It was 
 commanded at Gettysburg by Colonel Francis Mahler, 
 who was killed there. Colonel Mahler was badly 
 wounded early in action, but refused to leave, and 
 continued in command until he was killed. The regiment 
 was composed entirely of Germans, who here fought 
 better for the land of their adoption than any son of 
 Germany ever fought in defence of his native land. 
 
 July 2, 1863. — The second day at Gettysburg was 
 quite as prolific in the piling up of great losses as the first 
 day — noble deeds and splendid fighting on every part of 
 the field. No sooner had Longstreet swept down on the 
 Third Corps than regiment after regiment began rolling 
 up the wonderful record of more than 50 per cent, killed 
 and wounded. When the strong line of the Confederates 
 struck the Emmitsburg road and peach orchard, they 
 found the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania in line. This 
 regiment held the extreme right of the Third Corps, and 
 was commanded on that day by Captain George W. 
 Tomlinson. The command had been in every battle from 
 the beginning, and was reduced to the numbers of a 
 small battalion. Three hundred and eighty-two officers 
 and men stood in line when the fight began, and within 
 an hour 224 of them had been killed or wounded — 56 per 
 cent. Of 18 officers, 4 were killed and 7 wounded, 5 of 
 them being crippled for life. All the color guard were 
 down, and three color sergeants fell dead, one after the 
 other. The One Hundred and Forty-first Pennsylvania 
 Infantry was also in line there to meet the rush of the 
 Confederate attack, another very small command, and at 
 a most critical , moment was called upon to meet an 
 
148 The Story of the Ii6th Regiment. 
 
 overwhelming force. Bravely the men stood to the work, 
 pouring in a steady fire, and holding the enemy back 
 until the batteries of their division could be rescued and 
 the guns hauled off by hand, all the horses being killed. 
 The commander, Major Israel Spaulding, was killed. 
 The only Captain left at the close of the fight was Captain 
 Joseph H. Horton, a most gallant young officer, who 
 greatly distinguished himself and brought the remnant of 
 the regiment from the field. Their record — 63 per cent, 
 killed and wounded — placed another Pennsylvania regi- 
 ment on the roll of the brave. 
 
 The Eleventh New Jersey, Colonel Robert M. McAlister, 
 a truly grand old hero, commanding, fought along the 
 Emmitsburg road to the right of ' the peach orchard. 
 This regiment fought Wilcox on its right and Barksdale 
 on its left. Fifty-one per cent, killed and wounded is the 
 record of these Jerseymen. Colonel McAlister soon fell, 
 shot through the leg and with his foot smashed by a 
 shell. Major Philip J. Kearney then took command and 
 fell dead. Captain Luther Martin then took command 
 and fell dead. Captain Doramus B. Logan then took 
 command and fell dead. Captain Andrew H. Ackerman 
 took command, and was instantly killed. Captain Lloyd 
 took command and fell terribly wounded. Lieutenants 
 Provost, Fassett, Layton, Volk, Good and Axtell were 
 lying on the ground, wounded and bleeding, but still the 
 Eleventh New Jersey held on until the order to retreat 
 was received, when the Adjutant, John Schoonover, 
 suffering with two wounds, led it from the field. On the 
 same line with the Eleventh New Jersey the Twentieth 
 Indiana made a heroic fight. In the First Division of the 
 Third Corps — Birney's division — the Indiana boys were 
 commanded that day by Colonel J. K. Wheeler, who fell 
 
Gettysburg — The Battle of the Century. 149 
 
 dead at their head. The number of killed and wounded 
 — 54 per cent. — tells the story of their valor. 
 
 As the battle rolled back from the peach orchard the 
 fighting became terrific on the left, the wheat field having 
 been already covered with the dead and dying. At this 
 juncture the division of the regulars went in to emulate 
 the best fighting of the volunteers. While they could not 
 excel the latter, they could at least equal them, and they 
 did, the Seventeenth United States, commanded by 
 Colonel Durell Green, losing 65 per cent, in killed and 
 wounded. As yet no monuments mark the line of the 
 regular troops, but let us hope that Congress may see to 
 it, and that at an early day those splendid regiments may 
 not be forgotten or unhonored. And then that magnificent 
 regiment, the Fifth New Hampshire, was in the wheat 
 field, also. It had gone to the left that afternoon, with 
 Caldwell's division of the Second Corps. In the short, 
 sharp encounter, Colonel Cross was killed, and the 
 regiment lost, in killed and wounded, exactly 50 per cent. 
 This regiment, during the war, had 18 officers and 277 
 men killed in battle. Colonel Edward E. Cross was a 
 model officer, and was in command of the brigade when 
 killed. When passing, as his command formed for the 
 fight. General Hancock said to him, " Cross, this is the 
 last day that you will fight as a Colonel ; you will have 
 your commission as Brigadier-General in a few days". 
 Cross replied, as he rode away, " Too late, too late ; I will 
 die to-day". He lived for a few hours, after being shot 
 through the body, and although suffering great pain, 
 talked cheerfully to the end. Said he, " I did hope to live 
 to see peace restored to our distressed country. I think 
 the boys will miss me; say good-bye to them all", 
 "Peace to his ashes; heaven rest his soul", was the 
 
150 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 prayer that went up in every part of the Second Corps as, 
 in the calm stillness of the midnight hour, he slept to 
 wake no more. 
 
 The forcing back of Humphrey's division of the Third 
 Corps exposed to an overwhelming attack the Fifteenth 
 Massachusetts and the Eighty-second New York, which, 
 with a section of Brown's Rhode Island Battery, had been 
 thrown forward to the Codori House. The Eighty-second 
 New York was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Huston, and Colonel George H. Ward commanded the 
 detachment. The two little regiments made a most 
 gallant stand, and held on the advanced position until 
 Colonel Ward had been killed. His regiment, the 
 Fifteenth Massachusetts, left dead on the field Captains 
 Murkland and Jorgeson and Lieutenant Buss. Nearly 
 every officer was wounded, and the record of the afternoon 
 was 50 per cent, killed and wounded. The Eighty-second 
 New York suffered quite as seriously, losing exactly 50 
 per cent, killed and wounded, Lieutenant-Colonel James 
 Huston, Captain Jonah C. Hoyt and Lieutenants John 
 Cranston and John H. McDonald being killed and nine 
 officers wounded. The Eighty-second captured, during 
 the afternoon of the second, the colors of the Forty-eighth 
 Georgia, and on the third day captured the colors of the 
 First and the Seventh Virginia Regiments. During a 
 crisis that afternoon, Hancock led into action the brigade 
 consisting of the One Hundred and Eleventh New York, 
 Colonel Clinton McDougal ; the One Hundred and 
 Twenty-fifth New York, Colonel George L. Willard ; and 
 the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth New York, Colonel 
 Eliakim Shirrell. The force charged through the bushy 
 swale at Plum Run and struck the Thirteenth, Seven- 
 teenth and Eighteenth Mississippi Regiments. Willard, 
 
Gettysburg — The Battle of the Century. 151 
 
 commanding the brigade, was killed. Shirrell, of the One 
 Hundred and Twenty-sixth, was killed, and McDougal, 
 of the One Hundred and Eleventh, \vas wounded. The 
 latter regiment lost 71 per cent, in killed and wounded. 
 The One Hundred and Twenty-sixth lost not only their 
 Colonel, but also Captains Skinner, Herenden and 
 Wheeler and Lieutenants Hunton, Sherman and Holmes 
 and nine other officers were wounded. The record at 
 Gettysburg was 55 per cent, killed and wounded. This 
 regiment captured three stands of colors in the battle. 
 Including those killed in this fight, the regiment had 
 sixteen officers shot dead in action during the war. Glory 
 to the Empire State ! 
 
 And now let us recall the grandest of all. It was 
 getting towards evening, and the battle had raged along 
 the Emmitsburg road and out by the peach orchard. 
 In vain had our brave troops fought and died. The 
 Third Corps had been rolled back, crushed and almost 
 annihilated ; the wheat field had been swept by line after 
 line of battle ; Little Round Top had been saved, and 
 Hood's Texans were being gradually driven down the 
 crest ; the gallant Sickles had been carried to the rear 
 from where he had fallen, crushed and bleeding. Still the 
 battle raged along the whole line ; a crucial moment had 
 arrived. A great gap existed on the left of the Second 
 Corps, and the victorious and exulting foe was moving 
 forward to push through the threatened point, but were 
 still far off. Hancock, seeing a large force emerging from 
 the timber, and thinking it was some of our own forces, 
 galloped to meet them, only to discover a division of the 
 enemy. He was met by a volley in which was wounded 
 the only aide he had with him, Captain W. D. W. Miller, 
 a very noble young officer. 
 
152 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 The danger to the Union 'line was imminent ; but one 
 small regiment — the First Minnesota — was anywhere 
 near. Hancock quickly rode toward it, and called out, 
 "What regiment is this"? "The First Minnesota", 
 came the answer. Then pointing to the Confederate 
 columns about to seize the unoccupied heights of Cemetery 
 Ridge (and should they succeed disaster to the Union 
 Army would surely result, though reinforcements were 
 hurrying to advance), the General said : " Colonel Colville, 
 charge that line ". At this moment the scene was one of 
 appalling grandeur ; Little Round Top wreathed in 
 smoke, the crash of artillery was re-echoing from all the 
 woods, lines of battle were charging back and forth over 
 the valley of death, and the whole crest of Cemetery 
 Ridge was a blaze of fire. The men of the First 
 Minnesota instantly knew what Hancock's order meant — 
 death or wounds for every man in the ranks, sacrifice of 
 the entire command in order to gain a few minutes' time, 
 and thus save the position and probably the battlefield. 
 Every man saw and accepted the sacrifice. Responding 
 to Colville's rapid orders, the command, in perfect line, 
 with arms at a "right shoulder shift", went sweeping 
 down the slope directly upon the enemy's centre. No 
 hesitation, no stopping to fire, silently and at a " double 
 quick," then at a " run ", then at the utmost speed, they 
 went — for the only hope of being able to reach the enemy 
 through the storm of fire that met them was by speed — 
 " Charge ", screamed Colville, as the regiment neared the 
 advancing lines of the enemy. Then in a rush with 
 leveled bayonets, the First Minnesota, with momentum 
 and desperation, went crashing through the first line. 
 Then a volley and the centre of the enemy broke and was 
 for a few minutes thrown into confusion. The very 
 
Gettysburg — The Battle of the Century. 153 
 
 ierocity of the onset seemed for a time to paralyze them. 
 The object was accomplished ; time, short as it was, was 
 gained, and before the long lines of the Confederates 
 could be straightened out the reserve was on the ground 
 and the position was saved. 
 
 But what a sacrifice ! Colville and every other officer, 
 •except two, were weltering in their blood, killed or 
 wounded. Then the few survivors fell back, leaving dead 
 and wounded 82 per cent, of the gallant men that charged 
 ten minutes before. The annals of war contain no such 
 record of true heroism, valor and self-sacrifice. Neither 
 was it in vain, for the execution of the movement was 
 complete and successful and the object gained, and it was 
 necessary. " There is no more gallant deed in history," 
 said Hancock ; but he added : " I saw the necessity of 
 gaining five minutes, and I would have ordered them in 
 if I had been sure that every man would have been 
 killed". The second day, however, was not the last of 
 the battle for the First Minnesota. On the afternoon of 
 the third day the remnant of that noble command was 
 again in the very front, and when Pickett's men reached 
 Cemetery Ridge the First was there to receive them. 
 Corporal Dehn, the last of the color guard, was shot and 
 the flagstaff cut in two. Corporal O'Brien ran up and 
 raised the colors on the piece of staff that was left, 
 dashing forward toward the enemy. He fell, with two 
 wounds, and Corporal W. N. Irvin, of Company D, 
 grasped it. The whole command rushed in, following 
 the flag. It was hand-to-hand for a few minutes ; no 
 time to load and fire ; bayonets and clubbed muskets and 
 great stones snatched from the wall were used ; but the 
 struggle, close, desperate and deadly as it was, was 
 soon over, and the Confederates threw down their arms 
 
154 77?^ Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 and surrendered, Marshall Sherman, of Company C, 
 capturing the colors of the Twenty-eighth Virginia. Great 
 Minnesota — ''Etoile du Nord!" The sacrifice of your 
 sons was your glory. Never forget them. Keep their 
 memory green. Tell the children of the glorious deeds, 
 and teach them to rejoice in the heroism of their fathers. 
 
 But Gettysburg was not to end without one more 
 regiment making the great record of 50 per cent, killed 
 and wounded. The Sixty-ninth (Irish) Pennsylvania 
 stood, when the battle raged fiercest, out in advance of 
 the line where the great attack of Pickett's 18,000 
 concentrated in largest numbers, surrounded, overwhelmed 
 and literary swallowed up in the surging masses of the 
 Confederates. The Irishmen stood immovable, uncon- 
 querable, fearless and splendid in their valor, the green 
 flag waving side by side with the colors of their adopted 
 country, both held aloft by the stone wall until the victory 
 was assured and the hosts of the enemy crushed. But 
 Colonel Denis O'Kane and Lieutenant-Colonel Martin 
 Tschudy lay dead. Major James Duff and almost every 
 other officer was down wounded, while another regiment 
 had taken its place in the list of those that had, in single 
 engagements, lost 50 per cent, killed and wounded. 
 
 Truly, Gettysburg was a field resplendent with great 
 and heroic deeds. The "Congress Medal of Honor" 
 was originated for the purpose of rewarding brave actions 
 out of the ordinary line of duty. An average of less 
 than one to each Union regiment has been given by the 
 Government. I think the entire number granted for all 
 the war might have been distributed for this battle alone 
 and not one of them misplaced. And yet, how few of 
 our people know of the heroism of our army in the Civil 
 War. In justice to the men who composed those armies, 
 
Gettysburg to the Rapidan. 155 
 
 in justice to their children, should not more recognition 
 be given to the glowing history ? What a page of our 
 country's history it is, but how few have read it. Our 
 school books are silent on the subject, and our children 
 never hear it mentioned. What a story for the children 
 of Minnesota would be " The First at Gettysburg", or 
 for those of Michigan, the thrilling tale of the Twenty- 
 fourth. How the coming generations in our own State 
 would delight to read of Roy Stone's Brigade, or the 
 One Hundred and Fifty-first Pennsylvania, with its one 
 hundred school teachers and their young scholars, and 
 the fight they made. But they never hear of these 
 things. I question whether there are a dozen school 
 children in Minnesota who ever heard of their fathers at 
 Gettysburg. It is doubtful if there is a line in any text 
 book of the public schools of any State keeping alive 
 these memories. Our children come home and tell us 
 wonderful tales of heroism in the history of old Greece 
 and Rome, and of campaigns in Europe. They speak 
 of Thermopylae and Marathon, and they have "The 
 Charge of the Light Brigade " at Balaklava on the end of 
 their tongues,- but of their own fathers, who made a record 
 for heroism never equalled and one that will never be 
 excelled, they are strangely ignorant. Let us hope that 
 in the readers of the future our children may learn the 
 story of "American heroism" at least as well as that 
 of other ages and of other nations. 
 
 GETTYSBURG TO THE RAPIDAN. 
 
 Remained in camp at Two Taverns until July 7th, 
 then moved back again to Taneytown, marching the ten 
 miles on empty stomachs. The trains met the Regiment 
 there and rations were issued. July 8th, marched in 
 
156 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 a drenching rain to the vicinity of Frederick and 
 bivouacked within three miles of the town. Here the 
 mail was distributed, the first since leaving Falmouth — 
 nearly a month before. July 9th, resumed the march, 
 passing through the city with colors unfurled, music and 
 drums beating. The inhabitants crowded the streets and 
 cheered the victors of Gettysburg. After passing Frederick 
 struck the Harper's Ferry Road and continued along as 
 far as Jefferson, turned to the right and crossed South 
 Mountain and bivouacked on the heights. Resumed the 
 march July 10th, passing up Pleasant Valley and crossing 
 the Antietam battlefield. Towards evening arrived at 
 Jones's Cross Roads and caught up with the enemy. 
 The Union batteries shelled the woods and the Regiment 
 threw up breast-works. 11th and 12th strengthened the 
 works and rested, and on the 13th marched up the 
 Williamsport Road, sometimes in line of battle, sometimes 
 in column, until reaching the Potomac near Falling 
 Waters and again found the enemy. Passed over the 
 ground where the Fifth Michigan Cavalry had had a 
 fight but an hour before, and there were plenty of 
 indications that the brush was considerable of a row. The 
 enemies batteries shelled the Union troops vigorously, 
 many of the shells coming from a long distance making 
 a most melancholy, wailing sound, passing close to the 
 men's heads and causing a lot of dodging — fortunately 
 none of the men were hit. 
 
 The enemy were found strongly intrenched on the 
 Potomac, their line forming a semi-circle with the ends 
 resting on the river. Next morning, shortly after daybreak, 
 the whole army moved on their line of works, crossed 
 them and found them empty and the army of Northern 
 Virginia gone and all safely across on the other side of 
 
Gettysburg to the Rapidan. 157 
 
 the swollen stream. On the 15th, withdrew and moved 
 via Antietam and South Mountain to Harper's Ferry. 
 July 16th, went into camp at Sandy Hook, Md., under 
 the guns of Maryland Heights. Were mustered for pay ; 
 made out official reports. 18th, marched at four p. m., 
 crossing the Shenandoah River on a wire bridge and 
 encamped at Salem Church. Sunday, 19th, marched from 
 ten a. m. to three p. m. and bivouacked at Woodgrove. 
 20th, moved to Manassas Gap and found the enemy in 
 possession. After a short fight in which the Second 
 Corps took part, the Gap was captured and held. The 
 march was continued, and on the 25th reached Warrenton ; 
 and on the 26th, Warrenton Junction, where the Regiment 
 went into camp until the 30th, moving on the 31st to Elk 
 Run, and on the 31st to Morrisville, where a long halt was 
 destined to be made. The march from Gettysburg,, 
 especially after passing Harper's Ferry, will be long 
 remembered for happy days and evenings full of intense 
 enjoyment. Each day's march was rarely of more than 
 eight or ten miles, reaching the ground for bivouac early 
 in the afternoon, and every one fresh enough to enjoy 
 the delightful weather and magnificent scenery of Louden 
 Valley. 
 
 Never were the men in such health and spirits. Food 
 was plentiful and even luxuries abundant. The country 
 was overrun with blackberry bushes, and the fruit, juicy, 
 luscious and ripe, was perhaps the greatest blessing that 
 ever the men came across. The whole army literally 
 feasted on blackberries. The result, health. Every case 
 of diarrhoea disappeared and blackberries saved the lives 
 of hundreds. Blackberries were of more value to the 
 army of the Potomac than all the medical department. 
 If ever there is another war let blackberries be a part of 
 
158 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 the daily ration. Every man of the One Hundred and 
 Sixteenth will indorse that idea. 
 
 Next to the enormous quantities of blackberries in 
 Louden Valley were the numerous swarms of bees. Bees 
 of all sorts — honey bees, wasps and hornets in myriads. 
 On several occasions when marching in line of battle, the 
 command was attacked by the angry swarms. The assault 
 was more difficult to meet and endure than the charge of 
 the Confederates. A cloud of the little pests making a 
 vigorous attack on the men was really something serious. 
 Many a time the ranks were broken, and veterans who 
 would scorn to dodge a shell, quailed before a hornet's 
 sting and fled in dismay when they heard the buzz of a 
 wasp. 
 
 The camp at Morrisville was a most happy one, and 
 the evening camp fire recalled many an incident of the 
 great battle just fought. Men told how they had marched 
 through Pennsylvania and had been within ten miles of 
 home. One man had actually stolen out of camp one 
 evening, walked all night and saw his wife and children, 
 rode back in his farm wagon and was in camp before his 
 absence was noticed. One of the men who had been 
 captured and escaped, told of a brave deed of Sergeant 
 Halpin. The Sergeant had been shot through the leg and 
 captured. A day or two afterwards, while on the ma:rch 
 for the South, he saw a Confederate guard abusing one of 
 the men who was also a captive. Halpin quickly leaped 
 to his feet and knocked the Confederate down. The other 
 Confederate guards were so charmed with his pluck that 
 they protected Halpin from further insult. 
 
 During the cannonading that preceded Pickett's charge, 
 General Alexander Hays was about to visit the skirmish 
 line, a very hot place just at that time ; and a little Irishman 
 
Gettysburg to the Rapidan. 159 
 
 on a white horse was detailed to accompany him as 
 orderly. The General looked at the diminutive son of the 
 old sod and judged by his appearance that he might not 
 be very rehable. "Sir", said the General, "are you sure 
 you are brave enough to follow me on the skirmish line ? 
 we may be killed out there". " Gineral ", replied the 
 orderly, touching his cap, " go right on, sir ; go right on 
 to the line. If ye are killt out there, ye won't be in hell 
 five minutes until ye'll hear me tappin' on the window to 
 get in". With his headquarters flag in his hand, General 
 Hays rode up and down the line, leading it forward and 
 urging on a good fight, and the little man on the white 
 horse stuck to him like his shadow. 
 
 Then there was a good story told about an officer of the 
 Regiment. On the morning of July 4th the Captain had 
 walked out to a pool of water that was some distance in 
 front of the line (at Gettysburg) for a wash. No sooner 
 had he gotten to work than the Confederate sharpshooters 
 began firing at him. One bullet came very close and 
 caused him to unconsciously shy a little. Some of the 
 others, who were with him, smiled at the involuntary 
 movement. The captain very quietly remarked, " Ah, 
 well, if the Rebs send a ball through my shirt there will 
 be more lives than mine lost ! " Considering the three 
 long, warm, summer weeks since anyone had a change of 
 linen, how very true. 
 
 The picket line of the Second Corps at Morrisville 
 was remarkable in being very long, at one time running 
 something like ten miles across the country. Of course, 
 the posts were necessarily far apart, and in fact were placed 
 just close enough to allow of the men being seen from one 
 post to the next during the day. Communication was 
 kept up by having a non-commissioned officer and a man 
 
160 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 or two patrolling back and forth. The duty was pleasant 
 and agreeable, but extremely dangerous. At night the 
 bushwhackers would creep through the brush and get 
 close to the line, and when the officer of the day would be 
 passing in the dark, quietly cover him and demand his 
 surrender. Several officers and men disappeared in this 
 way. No matter how vigilant the men were the spies and 
 bushwhackers succeeded in getting to and fro on the line. 
 One night a rush was made by a party of horsemen who 
 boldly galloped past the picket line. The Union men fired 
 at the sound of horses. A scream was heard, and after 
 searching in the woods for some time, a young lady, 
 daughter of a farmer living near by, was found in the bush 
 where she had fallen from her horse. She was badly 
 wounded, being shot in the thigh and the bone broken. 
 She frankly confessed that she had been piloting a squad 
 of bushwhackers through the picket line. But while the 
 picket line had its drawbacks and hours of danger it also 
 had its times of merriment and laughter, and the camp at 
 Morrisville was a happy and agreeable one. 
 
 August 13th the long expected and much desired 
 order came that was to end the battalion and once more 
 raise the command to a regimental organization. Major 
 MulhoUand and a detail of officers were ordered to proceed 
 to Philadelphia and recruit six new companies and fill up 
 the four old ones. He started at once, but when they 
 arrived at Philadelphia circumstances prevented the 
 immediate carrying out of the plan, and not until the 
 Wilderness campaign was about to commence was the 
 organization complete. 
 
 Lieutenant William H. Bibighaus, Company C, died 
 in June, 1863. He was a brave and estimable young man 
 and an excellent officer, and had greatly distinguished 
 
LIEUTENANT WILLIAM H. EIBIGHAUS 
 Died August 6th, 1863 
 
Gettysburg to the Rapidan. 161 
 
 himself at Fredericksburg. He was orderly sergeant of 
 his company at that battle and remained alone, loading 
 and firing by the stone wall after the Regiment had fallen 
 back. He was taken sick a few days after the battle of 
 Chancellorsville and sent to the hospital at Washington, 
 where he died. His body was brought home and buried 
 in Laurel Hill Cemetery,- Philadelphia. 
 
162 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 BRISTOE STATION. 
 
 'T'HE Regiment remaitied in camp at Morrisville until 
 August 31st, and the long halt gave opportunity for 
 much needed rest. Brigadier-General William Hays, who 
 had commanded the corps during July and August, after 
 Hancock was wounded, was relieved on August 12th by 
 General G. K. Warren, who was assigned to the command 
 while General Hancock should remain absent. On 
 August 31st the corps broke camp and advanced to the 
 banks of the Rappahannock, but returned in three or 
 four days to the camp at Morrisville without having a 
 fight, remaining until September 12th, when, owing 
 to the Confederate Army being weakened by the sending 
 of nearly the whole of Longstreet's Corps to the West, 
 it was thought a good opportunity to strike a blow, 
 and the Union Army advanced for that purpose, the 
 Second Corps and the cavalry being in the advance. 
 Marched, September 12th, to Rappahannock Station, 
 crossed the river and marched to Culpepper ; September 
 14th, to Slaughter Mountain ; 15th, to Raccoon Ford 
 on the Rapidan, relieving the cavalry pickets just 
 before dusk. The enemy's pickets could be seen on 
 the other side of the stream, and firing began promptly. 
 The Confederates seemed mad and full of fight and 
 blazed away vigorously. The useless firing across a 
 river indulged in by most of the army was never relished 
 by the men of the Irish Brigade, who thought it sheer 
 nonsense to blaze away and keep everybody from enjoying 
 
Bristoe Station. 163 
 
 rest and comfort without accomplishing the slightest 
 result. An effort was made at once to have the firing 
 cease and cook supper. Captain Granger, of the Eighty- 
 eighth New York, jumped from cover, waved his sword 
 and stuck it in the ground. The Southern boys understood 
 the signal and, inquiring "what troops", found it was the 
 Irish Brigade. A picket truce followed immediately and 
 all hands settled down to boil their coffee in peace, while 
 for miles to the right and left the useless fusillade was 
 continued far into the night. During the 16th and 17th 
 not a man was hit in the battalion, and the picket truce 
 was honorably observed in front of the brigade, but along 
 the balance of the corps front the skirmishing was lively, 
 rendering the outposts most unhealthy. A number of 
 sheep were captured by the men of the brigade, and to 
 show their good feeling for the men on the other side of 
 the river, three or four were sent over — result, mutton 
 stew on both sides of the stream. Remained on the banks 
 . of the river until October 5th, moved to Culpepper and 
 remained until October 10th, when it became apparent 
 that the Confederates were moving around to the right of 
 the Union Army. Orders were received to move on what 
 turned out to be one of the most trying campaigns ever 
 experienced by the nien. The information obtained by 
 General Meade during the first days of the movement 
 was of so vague a nature that much unnecessary marching, 
 loss of rest and fatigue resulted. With eight days' cooked 
 rations in haversack the battalion marched at one a. m., 
 Sunday, October 11th, for Brandy Station, and then on 
 to Bealeton Station, on the Orange and Alexandria 
 Railroad, the rear of the corps being covered by the 
 cavalry, which had rather a severe fight at Brandy 
 Station. Erroneous information caused General Meade 
 
164 The Story of the Ii6ih Regiment. 
 
 to turn and move back to Culpepper, expecting to find 
 the enemy moving on that point, so, on Monday, 
 October 12th, at noon, marched back and re-crossed the 
 river on pontoons at Rappahannock Station, and moved 
 on Brandy Station. Shortly after crossing, the whole 
 Second Corps advanced in line of battie across the country, 
 making one of the most beautiful scenes incidental to war, 
 but no enemy was found. On reaching Brandy Station 
 the men were tired and worn, and halted, expecting to pass 
 the night there. Large fires soon blazed on every hill. The 
 coffee boiled and the weary troops sank to a rest that was 
 destined to be of short duration. Hardly had the foot-sore 
 men stacked arms than it was definitely learned that the 
 Confederate Army was passing the right of the Army 
 of the Potomac on a raid towards Washington, and at 
 eleven o'clock at night the worn-out troops were on the 
 road once more and had entered upon perhaps the most 
 arduous march ever experienced by the men. Back to 
 Bealeton, thence to Warrenton Junction, to Catlett's 
 Station, Auburn, Bristoe and Centerville. Bealeton 
 Station was reached and found in flames and some of the 
 Union troops busy destroying stores and ammunition. 
 Without a halt the column pushed on to Fayetteville, 
 arriving there at six o'clock on the morning of the 
 13th. A halt of an hour to cook coffee, and the order 
 "fall in" was heard again. The men had not closed 
 an eye for twenty-four hours and had not even time 
 to cook or eat, but the Confederates were nearing the 
 Capitol, and the army had to be pushed on to outmarch, 
 overtake and pass them. All day long the tired, sleepy, 
 hungry men pushed on, everyone intensely nervous and 
 anxious, for rumors and alarms of all sorts were flying 
 along the marching column and momentary attacks were 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL GOUVERNEUR K, WARREN 
 
 Commanded Second Corps from August 12th 1863, to March 24th, 1864 
 
Bristoe Station. 165 
 
 looked for on the left flank. The Second Corps had the 
 left of the army and brought up the rear, making the 
 march all the more fatiguing. At nine o'clock at night 
 the Second Corps bivouacked on Cedar Run hear the 
 village of Auburn. It was known that the Confederate 
 Army was marching on a parallel line in a race with the 
 Union Army for Washington. There was no time for rest 
 or delay, and at the earliest dawn on October 14th the 
 column was on the move again. Fording Auburn Creek, 
 or Cedar Run, the men found the water mighty cold and, 
 pushing on a short distance, halted on Auburn Hill. 
 Caldwell's Division stacked arms, gathered sticks and, 
 lighting fires, began cooking the morning coffee. The 
 culinary duties were never finished, however, for hardly 
 had the men set to work when they were astonished 
 by a Confederate battery, almost within a stone's throw, 
 opening with shell, which knocked the coffee pots flying 
 and scattered the fires. For a moment consternation and 
 confusion reigned, but the veteran troops that had often 
 been surprised before quickly ran to arms. Rickett's 
 Pennsylvania Battery quickly got to work, while General 
 Alexander Hays's division deployed and charged the 
 unknown and unexpected foes, who in a few minutes, 
 while the morning mists were still hanging over the 
 scene, limbered up and galloped from the grounds. The 
 sudden and unlooked for attack came from the force of 
 the famous Confederate General, J. E. B. Stuart, who 
 had been accidentally caught between two columns of 
 the Union Army the night before. Hiding his men in 
 the deep woods he remained quiet during the night of 
 the 13th, but when morning broke on the 14th, and 
 seeing Caldwell's men massed upon the exposed knoll, 
 he could not resist the temptation of dosing them with 
 
166 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 shell from seven guns of Beckham's Battery. His two 
 brigades of cavalry, under Generals Gordon and Funsten, 
 quickly went to the rear when General Alex. Hays 
 deployed the third division and moved upon the bold 
 cavalryman. The episode of Auburn Hill was a very 
 remarkable one and cost the lives of a dozen men, most 
 of whom were in the Fifty-second New York. They 
 were buried where they fell and within half an hour from 
 the time they were cooking their coffee. The division 
 quickly took up the line of march and entered upon 
 another day of extreme hard work. But no fatigue could 
 daunt the spirit of the men of the Irish Brigade and, as 
 they were filing on to the road, they saluted the Corps 
 Commander by going through the manual of arms as 
 they marched. Warren was delighted at the exhibition 
 of pluck and endurance. The day began in sunshine and 
 the morning lovely. Though tired, everyone was full of 
 confidence and hope. Before starting on the morning 
 march Lieutenant Sacriste and a large detail were made 
 from the One Hundred and Sixteenth for picket duty, 
 skirmishing and flankers, and as the Irish Brigade was 
 rear guard of the whole army, the duties of October 14th 
 became arduous indeed. Even as the men of Caldwell's 
 Division were lighting the fires on Auburn Hill, Ewell's 
 Confederate Corps was deploying in line of battle to 
 strike, and as the rear of the troops passed on towards 
 Catlett's Station, they moved on the Union picket line. 
 Colonel James A. Beaver, of the One Hundred and Forty- 
 eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, was division officer of 
 the day and, with the picket of Caldwell's division, 
 succeeded not only in beating off the attack, but 
 actually held Ewell in check until all the Union troops 
 and trains were passed in safety. Lieutenant Sacriste 
 
Bristoe Station. 167 
 
 covered himself and the men of the One Hundred and 
 Sixteenth, who were with him, with glory, and for the 
 brilliant fight that he made he was afterwards awarded 
 a Congressional medal of honor. 
 
 It is as well, however, to let Colonel Beaver and 
 General Warren tell the story in their own way : — 
 
 FROM COLONEL JAMES A. BEAVER. 
 
 " During the retrograde movement of the Army of the Potomac from 
 the neighborhood of Culpepper, Va., to Bull Run, in the autumn of 1863, 
 I was commanding the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Regiment, 
 Pennsylvania Volunteers, in the Third Brigade, First Division, Second 
 Corps. Our corps was in the rear during the movement and, on the 13th 
 of October, our division the rear of the corps. After going into camp on 
 the night of the 13th, a heavy detail was made from the division for picket 
 duty, and I was appointed officer of the day. On the morning of the 14th 
 of October, after the division had marched, the enemy unexpectedly 
 appeared in the front of our picket line, turning our flank, and attacked 
 the division, which had crossed Auburn Creek and was engaged in cooking 
 breakfast. The wagon train had not entirely passed, and General 
 Warren, then in command of the Second Corps, gave me verbal directions 
 to hold the crest of the hill above the road, at all hazards, until the 
 wagons had all passed. We succeeded in doing this but, by the time the 
 train had passed the ford by which the division and train had crossed, the 
 creek was in the possession of the enemy. When I made the discovery, 
 I had already commenced to withdraw the picket line — a detachment of 
 tlie One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, under an 
 officer who I have learned was Lieutenant Louis J. Sacriste had reported 
 to me — and in order to save them and the other detail from destruction 
 or capture, it became necessary to cross the creek south of the ford and 
 march diagonally across the country to rejoin the division. 
 
 In order to apprise the officers in command of the detail from other 
 regiments of their danger and of the route of our march, I requested 
 Lieutenant Sacriste to proceed to the line which was then engaged and 
 give direction to them. This service he performed very satisfactorily and, 
 as a consequence, we withdrew our line without loss and completely 
 circumvented the enemy in their evident design of capturing our pickets." 
 
 James A. Beaver, 
 Formerly Col. 148th Reg. P. V. Bvt. Brig. -Gen. U. S. V. 
 
168 
 
 The Story of the iiStk Regiment. 
 
 FROM MAJOR-GENERAL G. K. WARREN. 
 
 Newport, R. I., October 8th, 1881. 
 Colonel Beaver's statements of events are in accordance with my 
 recollections, which are very fresh. I witnessed the withdrawal of his 
 pickets, after covering the crossing of both trains, and the cavalry (which 
 had also defended the crossing with much gallantry), hard pressed by an 
 overwhelming force of the enemy, who had been held in check by the first 
 division pickets of the Second Army Corps until we had completed the 
 dispositions of a new line of battle, which the enemy dared not attack. 
 It was one of the finest instances of effective picket and skirmish work I 
 have ever witnessed, and I should accord you all the credit that General 
 (then Colonel) Beaver accords. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 G. K. Warren. 
 
 The fight of the rear guard did not end at Auburn, but 
 continued all day and far into the night. All day long the 
 Confederate and Union armies rushed on in parallel lines, 
 in the wild race for Washington, and all day long the 
 fight kept up between the flankers of the two columns on 
 the skirmish line, but in the rear, where the Irish Brigade 
 was covering the retreat, the firing was heavy and 
 continuous. The march of the main column was fully 
 protected by the flankers, and not a wagon, ambulance, 
 mule, or even a harness buckle, was left on the road. 
 Towards four o'clock in the afternoon ominous sounds 
 were heard from the front and the roar of battle came on 
 the cool autumn air. It was the Confederate corps of 
 A. P. Hill striking the head of the Second Corps column 
 at Bristoe Station in an effort to cut off the rear guard of 
 the army. The fight at Bristoe was short, but full of 
 stirring incidents. 
 
 The Second Corps of the Union army met and fought 
 and threw back the corps of A. P. Hill, while that of 
 Ewell was preparing to close on the rear and was held 
 back by the skirmish line alone. The One Hundred and 
 
M^.^'^.UM, 
 
Bristoe Station. 169 
 
 Sixteenth Regiment, being the extreme rear, reached the 
 field last and was, with the exception of a color guard, at 
 once sent to the skirmish line to join the men of the 
 regiment who had been acting as flankers during the day. ' 
 The men went out at dusk in a beautiful line and attacked 
 the sharpshooters who were hidden in the trees, and the 
 firing continued until dark. Captain Willauer, riding out to 
 visit the picket, managed to lose his way and found himself 
 among the Confederate cavalry in rear of their picket 
 line. He quietly rode among them until he got his 
 bearings, and then, making a break for his own line, 
 succeeded in getting away safely. In the darkness it was 
 impossible to tell friend from foe, and no one in the 
 Confederate ranks suspected for a moment that a Union 
 officer was riding among them. 
 
 At midnight, the corps having all been withdrawn, the 
 Irish Brigade that had been left alone to hold the picket 
 line for a long time after all had gone, with instructions to 
 bolt in a hurry when they did go, started to follow, falling 
 back from the picket hne with great caution and in silence, 
 taking up the double-quick after being clear of the field 
 and keeping it up for an hour. Then the rain began 
 falling and the darkness became intense. All night the 
 inarch continued and at daylight ended on the heights of 
 Centerville. The race was won and the Capitol saved. 
 The members of the Regiment never did harder service 
 than on this short campaign. The fatigue was something 
 extraordinary and the demand on the endurance of the 
 men out of all reason, yet was borne cheerfully. Many 
 fell out of the ranks from sheer exhaustion, were left in 
 the rear and never heard of again. Some were known 
 to have been picked up by the enemy, sent to the southern 
 prisons and died there. 
 
170 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Here is an old letter written by Captain O' Grady, of 
 the Eighty-eighth New York, that sums up in a few words 
 the Bristoe campaign : 
 
 CAMP EIGHTY-EIGHTH N. Y. S. V. (IRISH BRIGADE), 
 Near Centerville, Va., October i6th, 1863. 
 
 Dear Dick : Adventures again. On the gth we came back from 
 the Rapidan to Culpepper, on the nth marched back past Culpepper, 
 covered the retreat of the army across the Rappahannock, on the 12th 
 re-crossed the Rappahannock, driving the enemy six miles, at i o'clock 
 on the morning of the 13th retreated, still last of the army, to Bealeton 
 Station, continued marching to Sulphur Springs, found the enemy there, 
 back to Bealeton, thence to Warrenton, thence to Auburn — a very 
 roundabout course to cover the movements of the other four corps — 
 some thirty-three miles without a halt. On the 14th were shelled at 
 breakfast by the advance of the enemy, fought six hours in retreat, 
 capturing the first battery by a coup de main, encountered them ten 
 miles further on at Bristoe Station, fought, with two divisions, the whole 
 of A. P. Hill's corps, held our position till after midnight, Irish Brigade 
 last, alone and unsupported, till the others were at a safe distance, then 
 a double-quick for twelve miles, crossing Deep Run and Bull Run, where 
 we halted, a march of y6 miles in 56 hours, fighting two severe engage- 
 ments in one day, and having to guard the entire baggage and reserve 
 artillery of the army. This is unprecedented in the annals of war, 
 beating the famous march of the Fifty-second to Talavera. We captured 
 two colors, five guns and four hundred and fifty prisoners, and lost 
 nothing. Yesterday our pickets were engaged by the advance of the 
 enemy and simultaneously on their right flank, where were concentrated, 
 by easy marches from the Rappahannock, the First, Sixth, Third and 
 Fifth Corps, opened a terrific roar of artillery — we were merely a decoy 
 for them, and were temporarily sacrificed to Meade's plans — in two hours 
 this flank and (by this time) rear attack smashed the enemy and they 
 were off, routed ; 20,000 cavalry started in pursuit. A congratulatory 
 order was to-day read to the whole army, recounting the exploits of the 
 Second Corps, and thanking us for our endurance, gallantry, etc. 
 When I said we lost nothing, of course there were casualties on both 
 sides, rebels losing six to one, but no baggage, barring a few wagons, 
 that a few negro teamsters deserted, cutting the traces and escaping on 
 the mules ; the wagons and the rebels who took them were recaptured, 
 and the niggers will be shot. The season is getting late and we will, I 
 fancy, go into winter quarters ; the Second Corps after its terrible march 
 
Bristoe Station. 171 
 
 will not follow the retreat, besides, the others are much nearer the 
 enemy. This is the most decisive campaign of a few days that I believe 
 was ever fought, the rapidity of each blow at the enemy was only 
 equalled by its success. * * * It's pitch dark now and I have no 
 candle * * » 
 
 The writer was wrong in some of his conclusions. The 
 army did not go into winter quarters as early as expected, 
 and another short but severe campaign had to be passed 
 through before the long rest. 
 
 Before daylight on the morning of the 15th the men 
 sank on the wet ground at Bull Run and were asleep 
 almost before they touched the earth. They were quickly 
 awakened by the booming of cannon and at six o'clock 
 formed line of battle. Reports were rife about the 
 remarkable way that Meade had drawn Lee away from 
 his base, got in his rear and was pounding the remains of 
 the Army of Northern Virginia. The boys believed the 
 story for quite a while and thought Meade's strategy 
 immense, and the men of the One Hundred and Sixteenth 
 were greatly pleased at the following eulogistic order : — 
 
 Headquarters, Army of the Potomac. 
 
 October 15th, 1863. 
 (General Orders, No. 96.) 
 
 The Major-General commanding announces to the army that the rear 
 guard, consisting of the Second Corps, was attacked yesterday while 
 marching by the flank. 
 
 The enemy, after a spirited contest, was repulsed, losing a battery of 
 five guns, two colors, and four hundred and fifty prisoners. The skill and 
 promptitude of Major-General Warren and the gallantry and bearing 
 of the officers and soldiers of the Second Corps are entitled to high 
 Commendation. 
 
 By command of 
 
 Major-General Meade. 
 S. Williams, 
 
 Assistant Adjutant General. 
 
172 The Story of the Ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Having had such a tough time as rear guard, marching 
 and fighting, it was thought that the Second Corps would 
 now be on reserve, but all hands had great hopes that 
 they would be allowed to have a whack at the final 
 victory. These were fairy tales that a few short hours 
 dispelled, and the sad truth dawned that the army had 
 simply fallen back to checkmate a move of the enemy 
 that threatened the National Capital. October 15th, 16th 
 and 17th the army remained at Centerville, the men of 
 the Regiment resting, eating and sleeping. Sleeping ! 
 Would they ever get enough sleep to make up for the 
 week just passed ? One officer was missing from the roll 
 call when the short campaign was ended — Adjutant John 
 A. Dorwart had become panic-stricken at Auburn and 
 had fled to the rear when Stuart hurled his shells into the 
 early morning bivouac. He returned to the command 
 some days afterwards, was promptly placed under arrest, 
 court-martialed and dismissed in disgrace. October 19th, 
 marched to Bristoe Station. On 21st and 22d, camped 
 at Auburn, the scene of the early morning alarm. October 
 23d, moved to Turkey Run, and went into camp near 
 Warrenton, and remained, drilling and recuperating, 
 until November 7th. Broke camp and marched to 
 Kelly's Ford on the Rappahannock, passing en route 
 through Warrenton Junction, Bealeton and Morrisville. 
 Crossed the river next morning, the Second Corps in 
 support of the Third Corps, that had crossed the evening 
 before, securing several hundred prisoners. November 
 8th, established camp on the north side of Mountain Rub 
 on Shakelsforde Farm ; and here, on November 9th, 
 General Thomas Francis Meagher visited the camp of 
 the Irish Brigade. He was in citizen's dress. Everyone 
 was delighted to see and welcome their old commander 
 
Bristoe 'Station. 1'3 
 
 and for several days there was a first-class jollification. 
 November 10th, moved to south side of Mountain Run, 
 about four miles from the Rappahannock, where the 
 brigade was reviewed by Marshal Prim of the Spanish 
 army, who expressed his high appreciation of the brigade. 
 He was but repeating the compliments that he had given 
 to the commande'r a year previously on the Peninsula. 
 November 15th, orders to be ready to move at a moment's 
 notice. November 19th, orders to draw eight days' 
 rations, and continual rumors and frequent alarms, 
 notwithstanding which the pleasant Autumn days were 
 full of enjoyments, and the men of the Irish Brigade 
 indulged in camp sports and horse racing to an unlimited 
 extent. The roads were bad, but an excellent track was 
 found on the farm of John Minor Botts. November 25th, 
 broke camp and, leaving horse racing and sport behind, 
 started on the Mine Run campaign. Marched to the 
 Rapidan and crossed at Germania Ford, advanced to 
 Robertson's Tavern and threw up intrenchments on the 
 hills, slept on arms but were not attacked. Roll call at 
 daybreak, November 27th and, after coffee, moved up the 
 road and took up a position in a wood, the edge of which 
 rested on Mine Run. Colonel Peel of the British 
 Grenadiers, son of Sir Robert Peel, a guest of General 
 Meade, stood by the brigade for an hour or so, chatting 
 with the officers, some of whom had good whiskey in 
 their canteens while the Colonel had some excellent 
 cigars, and the interview was enjoyed by all. The 
 fragrance of the consoling weed and an uncorked canteen 
 are calculated to make friends even of hereditary enemies, 
 and the Peelers of the old country were forgotten on the 
 battiefield of the new. A day or two afterwards, on the 
 picket line, Colonel Peel had the visor of his forage cap 
 
174 The Story of the ^ ii6th Regiment. 
 
 knocked off by a sharpshooter. November 28th, moved 
 still nearer to the front and spent the day in a drenching 
 rain waiting for orders to attack. Heavy skirmishing all 
 day where the army was massed in front of the enemy's 
 position behind Mine Run. No general attack was deemed 
 advisable as the works of the Confederates seemed 
 impregnable, but General Meade concluded to turn the 
 right of the Confederate line, and after dark the turning 
 column started under command of General Warren. The 
 sixteen thousand men and three batteries moved during 
 the night of the 28th and during the 29th ; the roads 
 were heavy, in fact in a frightful condition, and the 
 progress slow, and it was not until sun-down that the 
 extreme right of the enemy was reached, three miles 
 beyond Hope Church. 
 
 The Second Corps found the enemy and at once 
 formed for the attack. Colonel Byrnes of the Twenty- 
 eighth Massachusetts, in command of the skirmishers of 
 Caldwell's division, pushed his men against a regiment 
 that was deployed to protect the Confederates who were 
 constructing the works and, with a rush, drove them into 
 their intrenchments, capturing some prisoners. For a 
 short time nearly all of the One Hundred and Sixteenth 
 Regiment and the balance of the brigade were hotly 
 engaged, and had an hour more of daylight been granted 
 to the Union forces a victory of no small magnitude would 
 have been within reach, but the daylight was almost gone, 
 and the darkness gathered over the field before anything 
 more could be done other than pushing close to the works 
 that the Confederates were busily strengthening. The 
 night settled down intensely cold and the men, wet to the 
 skin and their feet soaked, spent a few of the most miserable 
 hours of the whole three years. More deaths resulted 
 
Reorganization of the Regiment. 175 
 
 from that one night's exposure than were lost in many 
 a battle of magnitude. It was a night of anxiety as well 
 as great physical suffering. Everyone expected a bloody 
 sunrise on the morn, and the dawn was awaited in 
 expectation of the roar of battle beginning with daylight. 
 Daybreak came, and then full light, but no orders to rush 
 on the opposing line. The cold had steadily increased 
 during the riight and the air was biting and piercing. All 
 night long the enemy had labored with zeal to make their 
 works formidable, and the morning found them of such a 
 character that to move against them would be worse 
 than madness ; it would be slaughter of men without a 
 shadow of hope of success. With a courage greater than 
 required to attack. General Warren concluded to abandon 
 the attempt and the turning movement, in which so much 
 hope was centered, was at an end. It meant thejinale 
 of the effort of General Meade to surprise the enemy and 
 nothing was left but to withdraw from his front and go 
 into winter quarters. 
 
 REORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT. 
 
 On November 30th, by special request of General 
 Warren, the Irish Brigade was detailed as guard of the 
 ammunition train, and in the evening started on that 
 duty, marched all night, re-crossed the river at Ely's Ford, 
 and went into camp at Mountain Run. After resting here 
 for several days moved to the vicinity of Stevensburg, 
 three miles from Brandy Station, and began erecting huts 
 for winter quarters. The Bristoe Station and Mine Run 
 campaigns were movements full of great fatigue and 
 suffering that tested the endurance of the men to the 
 utmost. The loss in battle to the Battalion was small, 
 but many succumbed to the terrible strain of the long 
 
176 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 marches and exposure. Quite a number of the men were 
 missing in each campaign who have never turned up 
 again or who were only heard of afterwards as dying in 
 southern prisons. 
 
 At Mine Run, as at Bristoe, almost the entire One 
 Hundred and Sixteenth Battalion was detailed on the 
 skirmish line, and only a guard left with the colors. It 
 was noticed that the Confederate prisoners taken at Mine 
 Run were very young and poorly clad and equipped. 
 They were mostly from North Carolina and many of 
 them seemed almost glad to be captured. 
 
 The winter months of 1863 and 1864 passed away in 
 picket, drill, reviews and all the other incidents of camp 
 life, each day like the preceding one. Christmas and 
 New Year's came and passed with the usual cheer and 
 boxes of good things from home. February 6th, Captain 
 and Brevet-Major Seneca G. Willauer was transferred to 
 the Sixth Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps and Captain 
 Garret Nowlen succeeded him in command of the 
 Regiment. Major Mulholland was in command of Camp 
 Cadwallader at Philadelphia during the early winter 
 months, and soon after the New Year of 1864 received 
 permission to recruit six new companies and so raise the 
 battalion to a full regiment. Recruitifig was actively 
 commenced, not only in Philadelphia but in Pittsburg and 
 in Fayette and Schuylkill Counties. Richard C. Dale, of 
 Allegheny County, was appointed by Governor Curtin 
 Lieutenant-Colonel, and he took personal charge of the 
 organization of three of the new companies, H, I, and K. 
 The two first were raised in Pittsburg and vicinity, while 
 Company K was recruited in Uniontown, Fayette County ; 
 Company E was recruited in Philadelphia, and F and G 
 in Schuylkill County. The men enlisted in Philadelphia 
 
Reorganization of the Regiment. 177 
 
 over and above the number necessary for Company E, 
 were placed in four old companies, A, B, C and D, to 
 fall them up. 
 
 On February 26th, 1864, the first detachment of 
 recruits arrived at the regimental camp and were 
 assigned to Companies A, B, C and D, and frorfi that 
 date new men were received daily. Finally, on May 3d, 
 the regimental organization was completed and the One 
 Hundred and Sixteenth ceased to be a battalion. The 
 roster of the organization was as follows : 
 
 Colonel, St. Clair A. Mulholland Philadelphia. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel, Richard C. Dale Pittsburg. 
 
 Major, John Teed .... Berks County. 
 
 Adjutant, Louis ]. Sacriste Philadelphia. 
 
 Quarter-Master, Richard Wade Philadelphia. 
 
 Surgeon, William B. Hartman ... .... Elk County. 
 
 Sergeant, Major William J. Burke Philadelphia. 
 
 Quarter-Master Sergeant, George McMahon . . . Philadelphia. 
 
 Commissary Sergeant, Daniel Reen Philadelphia. 
 
 Hospital Steward, Frederick Wagner Philadelphia. 
 
 Principal Musician, T. W. Vanneman Chester County. 
 
 Company A. 
 
 Captain, William H. Hobart Montgomery County. 
 
 First Lieutenant, George Halpin Philadelphia. 
 
 Second Lieutenant. Vacant. 
 
 Company B. 
 
 Captain, Francis E. Crawford Philadelphia. 
 
 First Lieutenant, Thomas McKnight Philadelphia. 
 
 Second Lieutenant. Vacant. 
 
 Company C. 
 
 Captain, Henry D. Price . . Montgomery County. 
 
 First Lieutenant, Abraham L. Detwiler Montgomery County. 
 
 Second Lieutenant. Vacant. 
 
 Company D. 
 
 Captain, Garrett Nowlen Philadelphia. 
 
 First Lieutenant, Eugene Brady Philadelphia. 
 
 Second Lieutenant. Vacant. 
 
178 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Company E. 
 
 Captain, Michael Schoales Philadelphia. 
 
 First Lieutenant, Robert J. Grogan , Philadelphia. 
 
 Second Lieutenant, Charles Cosslett Philadelphia. 
 
 Company F. 
 
 Captain, Wellington Jones Schuylkill County. 
 
 First Lieutenant, Peter H. Frailey Schuylkill County. 
 
 Second Lieutenant, William A. Shoener Schuylkill County. 
 
 Company G. 
 
 Captain, Frank R. Lieb Schuylkill County. 
 
 First Lieutenant, Francis McGuigan -Philadelphia. 
 
 Second Lieutenant, Samuel G. Vanderheyden . . Schuylkill County. 
 
 Company H. 
 
 Captain, David W. Megraw Allegheny County. 
 
 First Lieutenant, Robert J. Alston Allegheny County. 
 
 Second Lieutenant, Thompson W. Smith . . . Allegheny County. 
 
 Company I. 
 
 Captain, Samuel Taggart .... Allegheny County. 
 
 First Lieutenant, William O'Callaghan Philadelphia County. 
 
 Second Lieutenant, Joseph W. Yocum Montgomery County. 
 
 Company K. 
 
 Captain, John R. Weltner Fayette County. 
 
 First Lieutenant, James D. Cope ... . Fayette County. 
 Second Lieutenant, Zadock B. Springer Fayette County. 
 
 The Regiment started on the campaign of 1864 with 
 but one surgeon, whereas the organization was entitled to 
 three, but doctors were getting scarce after the war had 
 been in progress for three years and the One Hundred 
 and Sixteenth was not the only regiment that had but 
 one. The medical staff were badly needed in the last 
 year of the war, more so than at any other period, but 
 the demand had exhausted the supply. 
 
 The departure of the new men and companies for the 
 front gave rise to many of those thrilling, heart-rending 
 scenes that were witnessed in every part of the country in 
 the early days of the war. The feeling was more intensified 
 
fieorganizafion of the Regiment. 179 
 
 than at first, because the participants had learned, 
 by sad experiences, that for many the parting meant 
 "forever", and those going to the front in 1864 were so 
 young. It was the men who went in '61. The school 
 boys filled the ranks in '64. The large majority of the 
 new soldiers who filled the ranks of the One Hundred 
 and Sixteenth were innocent of a beard, but they were the 
 bravest and best, and it was so very, very sad for the 
 mother to give them up. She was proud of her soldier 
 boy to be sure, but who can fathom the sorrow of a 
 mother's heart when, kissing her son for the last time, 
 she sends him away to face death in all its various forms. 
 Every one of the new members of the Regiment left 
 . mothers, sisters and friends behind to pray for them, to 
 weep for them, and cherish forever the memory of those 
 who, in many instances, never came back. It is not 
 possible to record in these pages all the sad partings 
 incidental to the re-formation of the Regiment, but we 
 will speak of one company, a fair sample of all the others : 
 Company K was recruited in Fayette County, and on a 
 beautiful spring evening the company marched to the 
 railroad depot in Uniontown to take the cars for the seat 
 of the war. The little city had sent hundreds of others 
 during the previous three years, and hardly a family but 
 had passed through seasons of sorrow, and the crape had 
 floated from many a door-bell for the soldiers who would 
 never return. Nearly every able-bodied man was at the 
 front already and now all the schools were being deserted 
 to swell the army. All the town turned out to see the 
 last company leave for the field. The train was waiting 
 and the local band that escorted the company ceased to 
 play when the depot was reached. The ranks were broken 
 to allow the leave-taking, every one of the boys had been 
 
180 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 loaded with all the tokens of affection and things of use- 
 fulness that love could suggest, and all that remained was 
 to exchange the last embrace, the last loving, heartfelt 
 kiss, and say farewell. Then the cars moved off amid 
 sobs and tears, the band played a farewell salute, cheers 
 mingled with the mother's subdued weeping, and the 
 train was soon out of sight. The crowd slowly dispersed, 
 each one going to the lonely home to think of the boy 
 who, living or dead, would be for all time to come the 
 idol and hero of the family. Company K left Uniontown 
 with eighty-one in the ranks. Within one short year 
 twenty were killed in battle or had died of wounds. Eight 
 had died of disease and four had died in southern prisons. 
 Thirty-two out of eighty-one were sleeping in soldiers' 
 graves. Of those alive at the end of the year twenty-two 
 had been very badly wounded and four had been 
 transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps on account of 
 disease. 
 
 One brave little woman stood among those who were 
 left behind and saw marching away with the Company 
 her husband, George W. Hanan, and her eldest boy, 
 Thomas Jefferson Hanan, not yet fifteen years of age, the 
 oldest and the youngest of Company K. In her arms 
 her baby and gathered around her were her five other 
 little ones. Within one short year seven of her family 
 were gone : the husband died a most heroic death in 
 the Wilderness, May 6 ; her soldier boy died of disease in 
 camp ; of the six children left at home five died during 
 the autumn and the widowed mother was left with one 
 little boy four years of age. Then with a heroism greater 
 than even a soldier knew she faced the world and her 
 duty, took up the burden, worked and prayed and raised 
 the last one left to her to be an honored citizen. 
 
Reorganization of the Regiment. 181 
 
 Some day the little group will gather around the good 
 mother again : the noble husband who died on glory's 
 field ; her soldier boy who died in camp ; the five little 
 ones who died because of the war and want of father's 
 care. Ah, yes, surely, surely, they will meet again and 
 there will be no more wars and no more partings. The 
 brave little wife and mother will receive a great reward, 
 her sorrow and sacrifice will become an eternal crown 
 and will rejoice forever with the thousands of other noble 
 and heroic women whose sorrows, tears and prayers 
 appealed to heaven and gave us the victory. 
 
 No wonder that those left behind waited in sorrow for 
 the end. Those who were actively engaged at the front 
 suffered but little compared with those left at home. 
 
 The maid who binds her warrior's sash 
 
 With smile that well her pain dissembles, 
 While beneath the drooping lash 
 
 One starry teardrop hangs and trembles, 
 Though heaven alone records the tear, 
 
 And fame shall never know her story — 
 Her heart has shed a drop as dear 
 
 As e'er bedewed the field of glory. 
 
 The wife who girds her husband's sword 
 
 'Mid little one who weep or wonder, 
 And bravely speaks the cheering word. 
 
 What though her heart be rent asunder, 
 Doomed nightly in her dreams to hear 
 
 The bolts of death around him rattle, 
 Hath shed as sacred blood as e'er 
 
 Was poured upon the field of battle. 
 
 The mother who conceals her grief 
 
 While to her breast her son she presses. 
 Then breathes a few brave words and brief, 
 
 Kissing the patriot brow she blesses. 
 With no one but her secret God 
 
 To know the pain that weighs upon her, 
 Sheds holy blood as e'er the sod 
 
 Received on freedom's field of honor. 
 
182 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE WILDERNESS. 
 
 /^N May 1st, a heavy storm of rain and wind swept 
 over the camp at Brandy Station, blowing down 
 the tents and wrecking the winter quarters. Everyone 
 set to work to repair the damage but before the tents 
 were well up again orders came to move. Then a day 
 of perfect quiet and rest. Never a day of more portentous 
 and absolute calm in the army than that of May 2d, 1864. 
 No drills, reviews or work of any kind. The lion was 
 about to emerge from his lair and leap upon his foe, and 
 paused to gather strength for the spring ; and when the 
 shadows fell on the evening of May 3d, the great army 
 silently withdrew from the old camps where it had spent 
 the winter, leaving the camp fires burning, and the long 
 lines moved towards the fords of the Rapidan. Quietly 
 stealing along in the night through the deep forest, the 
 Regiment crossed the stream at Ely's Ford, and at noon 
 on May 4th halted on the open ground around the ruins 
 of the Chancellorsville House where the Second Corps 
 was massed. Pickets were thrown out, a battery placed 
 in position covering the plank road that led to Fredericks- 
 burg, arms stacked, the roll called in each company (and 
 not one man was missing), and an order frohi General 
 Meade was read : — 
 
 ADDRESS OF GENERAL MEADE. 
 
 Headquarters Army of the Potomac, May 4th, 1864. 
 
 Soldiers : Again you are called upon to advance upon the enemies of 
 
 your country. The time and occasion are deemed opportune by your 
 
 commanding general to address you a few words of confidence and 
 
 caution. You have been reorganized, strengthened and fully equipped in 
 
IN THE WILDERNESS— Thirty years after 
 
The Wilderness. 183 
 
 every respect. You form a part of the several armies of your country — - 
 the whole under an able and distinguished general, who enjoys the 
 confidence of the government, the people and the army. Your movement 
 being in co-operation with others, it is of the utmost importance that no 
 effort should be spared to make it successful. 
 
 Soldiers, the eyes of the whole country are looking with anxious hope 
 to the blow you are about to strike in the most sacred cause that ever 
 called men to arms. Remember your homes, your wives- and children; 
 and bear in mind, the sooner your enemies are overcome the sooner you 
 will be returned to enjoy the benefits and blessings of peace. Bear with 
 patience the hardships and sacrifices you will be called upon to endure. 
 Have confidence in your officers and in each other. 
 
 Keep your ranks on the march and on the battlefield, and let each 
 man earnestly implore God's blessing and endeavor by his thoughts and 
 actions to render himself worthy of the favor he speaks. With clear 
 conscience and strong arms, actuated by a high sense of duty, fighting to 
 preserve the government and the institutions handed down to us by our 
 forefathers, if true to ourselves, victory under God's blessing must and 
 will attend our efforts. 
 
 George G. Meade, 
 
 Major-General Commanding. 
 S. Williams, 
 
 Assistant General. 
 
 And then another quiet evening of peace and rest. 
 Hancock, surrounded by his staff, lay under the apple 
 trees in the orchard, on the ground whefe Leppine's guns 
 stood firing just a year before that very day. The general, 
 tapping his boot with his whip, chatted of the year gone 
 by. Memories, reminiscences, jokes and merry laughter 
 passed the hours away. A gay and happy group it was, 
 full of life, hope and sans souci, as though it were an 
 excursion of pleasure, instead of the most awful and fierce 
 campaign of the war on which they were starting. The 
 Chancellorsville House still lay a mass of unsightly ruins. 
 The debris of the battery still remained scattered over the 
 ground. Broken wheels, shattered poles, pieces of ammu- 
 nition chests, bursted shells, bones of horses, remnants of 
 blankets, canteens, bits of leather, rotting harness, etc., 
 
184 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 mingled in dire confusion. In the evening, after resting, 
 when the rations had been distributed, officers and men 
 strolled around examining the ground on which they had 
 been lighting that day a year ago. The apple trees and 
 lilies bloomed again. Pink and white roses struggled to 
 life in the trampled garden of the old homestead and the 
 fragrance of May filled the air. The old members of the 
 Regiment took great pleasure in imparting to the new men 
 the particulars of the battle and showing them how the 
 battery was saved. The boys, fresh from home, who had 
 not yet heard the sound of a hostile gun, were full of 
 curiosity and took great interest in everything. The 
 evidence of the fight was so strongly visible that the scene 
 impressed them deeply. The burnt and crumbling 
 buildings, trees torn and rent, the ground strewn with 
 debris, told in mute, but terribly strong, language of the 
 carnage and storm. The shallow graves of the men of 
 the brigade were discovered and, much to the delight of 
 the men, found overgrown with wild flowers and forget- 
 me-nots. When Lieutenant-Colonel Dale noticed the 
 profusion of the little blue flower he was deeply affected. 
 He stood gazing upon the ground, wrapped in thought, 
 and spoke in a strangely poetic strain of the goodness of 
 the Creator in covering with beauty and perfume the 
 last resting places of those brave men. He lingered 
 there on that sweet spring evening and talked of the 
 matter for a long time, and finally began writing a letter 
 to a Pittsburg paper, describing the scene and telling of 
 the forget-me-nots. Gentle, noble soul! Within ten 
 days he also filled a soldier's grave, and if the God who 
 sends the flowers in spring casts them over the last resting 
 place of brave men in proportion to the soldier's merits, 
 then indeed the unknown grave of Colonel Dale must be 
 
The Wilderness. 185 
 
 covered with the choicest bloom that nature yields in 
 very great abundance. 
 
 Another night of calm and rest, the men sleeping 
 soundly on the graves of their comrades who had been lying 
 there since the battle of a year ago. Reveille awoke the 
 troops for the opening day of the Wilderness campaign. 
 The orders were for the Second Corps to move to Shady 
 Grove Church, on Catharpin Road, but, after passing 
 Todd's Tavern, orders were received to move to the support 
 of the Sixth Corps. Then several hours of anxious waiting 
 and countermarching. The day became warm and water 
 could not be found. No time for coffee or a halt sufficiently 
 long to allow for cooking. Three o'clock in the afternoon 
 found the command moving on the Brock Road, down 
 which the enemy were reported to be marching. 
 
 The country where the Regiment was now to fight was 
 very appropriately called the Wilderness, a mineral region 
 where both gold and iron are found, abounding in game 
 and densely wooded. The roads simply consisted of 
 narrow lanes cut through the forests and, in some cases, 
 covered with planks or hewn logs. The Brock Road, 
 where the Second Corps formed line on the afternoon of 
 May 5th, was of this nature, the woods on each side being 
 dense and almost impenetrable. The preparations for the 
 fight were noiseless. The enemy were within sound 
 although could not be seen, and bullets whistled through 
 the trees telling of their presence. Quickly the advance 
 was ordered. Getty's division of the Sixth Corps was 
 already advancing on the right and Hancock was not slow 
 to support him. 
 
 The advance in line was more than difficult — almost 
 impossible. The undergrowth was so dense that regimental 
 commanding officers could not see half their own line. 
 
186 The Story of the lidth Hegiment. 
 
 One regiment pushed forward and struck the enemy 
 after advancing about three hundred yards. A clash of 
 musketry, and the campaign of 1864 began. The ground 
 on which the Regiment fought was just to the left of the 
 abandoned gold mines. The decaying timbers of the 
 miners' cabins were scattered through the dense woods, 
 and great cavities still existed, showing the position of the 
 ancient mining shafts. In the regimental line there were 
 six hundred new men, or rather should one say, boys, for 
 but few, but very few, bearded faces were seen in the ranks. 
 Fayette, Allegheny, Chester and Schuylkill Counties 
 of Pennsylvania State had emptied their school houses 
 to furnish recruits. Ah, what young, bright, childish 
 faces, full of sweetness, smiles, enthusiasm and hope. 
 Not a cheek blanched, not a coward in all the noble band. 
 Six hundred boys, with less than two months of drill or 
 discipline, in their first battle, yet as steady, confident and 
 reliable as the oldest veterans. The surrounding circum- 
 stances were of the most trying nature. The crash of 
 musketry filled the woods, the smoke lingered and clung 
 to the trees and underbrush and obscured everything. 
 Men fell on every side, but still the Regiment passed 
 steadily on. One by one the boys fell — some to rise no 
 more, others badly wounded — but not a groan or 
 complaint, and a broad smile passed along the line when 
 Sergeant John Cassidy, of Company E, finding fault 
 because when shot through the lungs, he had to walk off 
 without assistance, some one said to him : " Why, Cassidy, 
 there's a man with all of his head blown off and he is not 
 making half as much fuss as you are ! " 
 
 The Regiment was detached from the Irish Brigade in 
 the first day of the Wilderness and sent to the support of 
 General Miles's Brigade. Towards dusk, in returning to 
 
The Wilderness. 187 
 
 join its own brigade and when marching along in column 
 of fours in rear of the line, a gap was discovered in the 
 line of battle and without waiting for orders the One 
 Hundred and Sixteenth promptly moved in and filled it. 
 It was a most important service and recognized as such by 
 General Barlow. A Confederate force was at the moment 
 moving towards the opening but, seeing the well-dressed 
 ranks of the One Hundred and Sixteenth, halted and, after 
 the exchange of shots, fell back, just as the One Hundred 
 and Fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteers with loud cheers 
 came in to the relief. The fighting ceased with the daylight 
 and when the darkness filled the forest the men were tired, 
 weary and hungry and settled down to sleep, supperless. 
 All night long the stretcher-carriers bore the wounded to 
 the rear, and when morning came again the line fell back 
 to the Brock Road and threw up a line of works. When 
 axes and spades had done their work, and the revetement 
 had become breast-high, coffee and hard tack were in order, 
 the first in twenty-four hours. The first day of the battle 
 of the Wilderness had been an eventful one for the 
 Regiment. The command, though composed of more than 
 three-fourths new men who had never been in a fight, had 
 proved not only reliable under the most trying ordeal, but 
 full of dash, ardor and the most high courage. Hancock 
 says in his official report of this day's battle : " The Irish 
 Brigade, commanded by Colonel Thomas Smyth, and 
 Colonel Brooke's Fourth Brigade attacked the enemy 
 vigorously on his right and drove his line some distance. 
 The Irish Brigade was heavily engaged and although four- 
 fifths of its members were recruits it behaved with great 
 steadiness and gallantry, losing largely in killed and 
 wounded". 
 
 Many narrow escapes were made during the first day's 
 
188 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 fight. Lieutenant-Colonel Dale was hit in the side, the 
 ball cutting away his undershirt but not breaking the 
 skin. Lieutenant Cosslett was shot in the forehead, the 
 ball cutting through the cap and making a deep flesh 
 wound along the scalp. A young boy, Daniel Chisholm, 
 had the front of his cap shot away, but leaving him 
 unhurt ; and so many a close call was talked about 
 before, as one by one, the tired soldiers sank to rest in 
 the blood-drenched woods. Early on the morning of the 
 6th, Caldwell's division and that of General Gibbons fell 
 back to the Brock Road. These two divisions, together 
 with a large portion of the artillery of the Second Corps, 
 were placed on the left of the army to meet an expected 
 flank attack of Longstreet's Corps that was reported 
 moving to strike the Union left flank. The Regiment lay 
 along the Brock Road near the Trigg House, and, while 
 still occupied in building breast-works, the whole army, 
 with the exception of the two divisions herein spoken of, 
 moved forward into the deep woods, and the roar of the 
 second day's battle began. It was a morning of intense 
 anxiety to the men. For hours they listened to the 
 continuous roll and the musketry and cheers of the Union 
 Army and they knew that their people were driving 
 everything before them as the huzzas and roar of the 
 firing continued to recede and get further away. But 
 towards noon the Union cheers became less frequent and 
 the firing came nearer. Then the Confederate yell rose 
 loud and wild and the Union line began to come back. 
 The wounded poured out of the woods in streams and 
 everything told of disaster to the Union arms. The 
 victorious enemy halted before reaching the point where 
 the Regiment lay and, although ready and anxious and 
 more than willing, the men did not get an opportunity of 
 

 BRIGADIER-GENERAL THOMAS A. SMYTH 
 
The Wilderness. 1S9 
 
 firing a shot until towards evening. Towards five o'clock 
 Captain Megraw, who had been out visiting the picket 
 line, rushed in, tumbled over the breast-work and called 
 out : " They are coming — get ready " ! Instantly every- 
 one was in line and very wide awake, although many 
 were resting and dozing a moment before. 
 
 A few shots were heard on the picket line, which was 
 but a short distance in front, and almost without warning 
 a Confederate line of battle stood within fifty yards of the 
 slight works ; they covered the regimental front and 
 began firing. The fight was short and sharp. The men 
 replied vigorously for a few moments, then the breast- 
 work, which was built up with dry fence rails and logs, 
 caught fire. The wind fanned the flames, and soon the 
 whole line in front of the Regiment was in a blaze. The 
 smoke rolled back in clouds ; the flames leaped ten and 
 fifteen feet high, rolled back and scorched the men until 
 the heat became unbearable, the musket balls the while 
 whistling and screaming through the smoke and fire. A 
 scene of terror and wild dismay, but no man in the ranks 
 of the Regiment moved an inch. Right in the smoke 
 and fire they stood, and sent back the deadly volleys 
 until the enemy gave up the effort and fell back and 
 disappeared into the depths of that sad forest where 
 thousands lay dead and dying. Soon the fire com- 
 municated to the trees and bush and in less than an hour 
 acres of ground over which the armies had struggled and 
 fought during the two awful days was a mass of fire. 
 This was the saddest part of all the battle. How many 
 poor, wounded souls perished in the flames none but the 
 angels who were there to receive their brave spirits will 
 ever know ; but the very awfulness of the situation seemed 
 to call forth renewed evidence of courage and, when 
 
190 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 volunteers were demanded to rescue the wounded, 
 Lieutenant Cosslett and a score of noble men rushed into 
 the smoke and fire to save them. 
 
 The rush of the enemy upon the Union works on the 
 evening of the 6th practically ended the battle of the 
 Wilderness. During the night of the 6th and all the day 
 of the 7th of May the Regiment remained in position 
 along the road, only picket firing being indulged in with 
 an occasional crash from one Of the batteries. Owing to 
 the dense timber the sharpshooters had but little chance 
 to work and hence the men behind the breast-works could 
 move about freely and without danger, and the fact of 
 the sharpshooters being unable to ply their vocation made 
 a most remarkable difference in the losses of commissioned 
 officers between the Wilderness and other battles. At 
 Gettysburg, for instance, where the armies fought prin- 
 cipally in the open, the losses among the commissioned 
 officers were very great, eight and a half per cent, of all 
 the wounded being of that class, while in the Wilderness 
 but five per cent, of the killed and five per cent, of the 
 wounded were officers. But, if the officers were spared 
 in the first two days of the campaign, they received their 
 full share of punishment during the succeeding fights. 
 An old friend of the writer. Colonel Seymour Lansing, of 
 the Seventeenth New York Cavalry, gave a dinner, just 
 before the Peninsula campaign, to thirteen colonels and 
 their wives, who at the time happened to be visiting the 
 arrny. Within three months eleven of the ladies were 
 widows. Quite as severe on the officers was this campaign 
 of the Wilderness. The Irish Brigade went into action 
 May 5th with ten field officers. Within six weeks six 
 of them (Colonels Kelly, Byrnes and Dale and Majors 
 Rider, Thouy and Lawyer) were sleeping in soldiers' 
 
The Wilderness. 191 
 
 graves, and the other four were in hospitals, seriously 
 wounded. 
 
 Here, in the Wilderness, the men of the Regiment 
 learned the full value of field works as means of defence 
 and of saving life, and began to realize the fact that the 
 spade and pick were as much and quite as valuable 
 implements of warfare as the musket and bayonet. On 
 the 5th of May began the slashing of timber and digging 
 of earth that ended in leaving whole counties of Virginia 
 crossed and re-crossed in every direction with formidable 
 lines of works, enduring and quite capable of resisting 
 field artillery ; and the proficiency attained by the men 
 of the Regiment in that direction was indeed wonderful. 
 No sooner was line of battle formed and muskets stacked 
 than everyone was at work, quickly forming squads and. 
 moving swiftly, some felling trees and trimming the logs 
 to form the revetement, some driving stakes and others 
 carrying and laying the tree trunks in position. Others, 
 with spade and pick, threw up the earth and banked it 
 down, while more dragged the knarled branches and laid 
 them in order to make the abatis. In two hours a line 
 of works would be up and finished sufficiently powerful 
 to resist not only an onslaught of infantry but stop the 
 shells of the heaviest guns then in use. And how 
 cheerfully all hands worked to get under cover. No 
 matter how long the march of the day or how weary and 
 tired the boys might be, there would be no coffee until 
 .the works were up and finished, and long before the war 
 had closed every man had become a builder of field-works 
 and an engineer in embryo. 
 
192 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 TODD'S TAVERN OR CORBIN'S BRIDGE. 
 
 C ARLY on the morning of May 8th, the Regiment with- 
 drew from the line of the Brock Road and moved 
 towards Todd's Tavern. The day was warm and the clouds 
 of dust suffocating, rendering the march most oppressive. 
 Water could not be found and the men suffered greatly for 
 the want of it. During a halt in the road General Grant 
 rode past. It was the first time that the men of the 
 Regiment had seen the great commander and they had 
 not yet learned to know him. The general rode slowly 
 by, pausing a moment to look at the command while the 
 men gazed with curiosity but without the slightest show 
 of enthusiasm or feeling at the serious sphynx-like face. 
 He wore the slouch hat and unbuttoned coat and general 
 tout ensetnble with which the whole nation has since 
 become so familiar, but on this occasion the ever present 
 cigar was missing. Only one or two staff officers and an 
 orderly were with him and as he rode away in the dust and 
 heat he left an impression never to be forgotten — so calm, 
 quiet and unassuming, but the embodiment of stability 
 and firmness. 
 
 The Army of the Potomac had found at last a 
 commander worthy to lead it, and on that day he 
 announced to the nation that " to retreat is a memory of 
 the past ", and that " we will fight it out on this line if it 
 takes all summer". 
 
 The Regiment was formed in a pleasant wood (at 
 Todd's Tavern), looking out over some open fields, where 
 a few peaceful hours were passed in grateful rest. Miles's 
 
GENERAL U. S. GRANT 
 
Todd' s Tavern or Corbin's Bridge. 193 
 
 Brigade with a battery and some of Gregg's cavalry were 
 sent out the Catharpin Road towards Corbin's Bridge. 
 l,n the evening, while the force was returning, Miles 
 encountered Mahone's Confederate Division and a sharp 
 fight took place. The Irish Brigade was ordered out, 
 double quick, to help. At the moment the order came 
 Colonel Dale was holding a prayer meeting in which the 
 larger portion of the men were participating. The 
 " Amen " was quickly said and in five minutes or less the 
 brigade, with the Regiment on the left, was going on a 
 run towards the firing. By the time the command had 
 reached Miles the fight was almost over and he had 
 succeeded in beating off the attack and was falling back 
 in good order. The other four regiments of the brigade 
 fell back with Miles and got away without loss. 
 
 Not so with the One Hundred and Sixteenth. The 
 Regiment had been detached by General Smyth and sent 
 to the extreme right. By the blundering of a staff officer 
 the point of direction was misunderstood and after 
 marching through a dense wood for nearly a mile the 
 command drew up in front of a Confederate line of battle 
 with one of their batteries within a hundred feet. There 
 were no Confederate pickets in their front, but the men of 
 the battery soon discovered the presence of the Union 
 line, and opened a vigorous fire with shell. Fortunately 
 for the Regiment, they fired too high and the shells 
 passed over the line. Had the southern battery thrown 
 canister instead of shell it would have been a serious 
 matter for the command. While lying here trying to 
 find out the reason of being so placed, a force of infantry 
 was discovered moving through the woods on the right 
 evidently to get in rear and capture the Regiment. A 
 rambling fire of musketry was opened from that column 
 and a half a dozen of the men were hit. It was 
 
194 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 undoubtedly time to leave if the Regiment did not wish 
 to spend the summer in the South, so quietly withdrawing, 
 the command moved back into the woods, the battery 
 continuing to throw shells after the retreating line. After 
 an hour of wandering through the forest the way back to 
 the division at Todd's Tavern was found and just at 
 dark the Regiment passed through the picket line and 
 entered the camp, much to the surprise of everyone, and 
 was received with demonstrations of gladness and joy. 
 The command had been reported lost and not a soul in 
 the division but fully believed that the One Hundred and 
 Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers — colors and all — was 
 at that moment in the hands of the enemy, It was a 
 strange adventure, a most novel experience, and proved 
 more than one could imagine how perfectly reliable 
 under all circumstances the command was. The 
 Confederate troops who met and fought on the evening 
 were Mahone's Brigade of Hill's Corps and a battery. 
 These troops were en route to Spottsylvania C. H., and 
 the meeting \vas accidental. The fight at Todd's Tavern 
 took place on a Sunday evening, and the men were 
 summoned from prayer meeting to go to the front. At 
 the time it did not occur to one, but now, when years 
 have passed and we look back we must feel astonished at 
 the high moral standard of the army that fought the War 
 of the Rebellion, and the Regiment was second to none in 
 that respect. Seldom was an obscene word or an oath 
 heard in the camp. Meetings for prayer were of almost 
 daily occurrence, and the groups of men sitting on the 
 ground or gathered on the hill side listening to the Gospel 
 were strong reminders of the mounds of Galilee when the 
 people sat upon the ground to hear the Saviour teach. 
 Ofttimes in the Regiment the dawn witnessed the smoke 
 
Todd' s Tavern or Corbin' s Bridge. 195 
 
 of incense ascend to heaven amid the templed trees 
 where serious groups knelt on the green sod and listened 
 to the murmur of the Mass. In the evening Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Dale or Captain Samuel Taggart would hold a 
 meeting for prayer where the larger number of the men 
 would gather in reverence and devotion, while others 
 would kneel around the Chaplain's tent to count their 
 beads and repeat the rosary. Colonel Dale was a man 
 of deep religious thought and feeling, and Captain 
 Taggart was an ordained minister of the Gospel, both 
 men of great devotion and sincerity, and by their example 
 did much towards making others sincerely good. Both 
 fell early and went to receive their great reward. Saints 
 they were and each died with a prayer on his lips — true 
 to their country and their God. 
 
 Through the night of May 8th the picket firing was 
 continuous and indicated a battle next day, as the enemy 
 was thought to be concentrating in front, but the morning 
 of the 9th passed and no attack, although firing was heard 
 to the right and more to the left, and during the day the 
 death of General Sedgwick, commanding the Sixth Corps, 
 was announced. At noon the division was withdrawn 
 from the works that had been erected at Todd's Tavern, 
 and marched to the left about a mile along the Brock 
 Road, then, turning to the right, crossed the country by 
 a cow-path and drew up on the high and open ground 
 overlooking the valley of the Po River. Line of battle was 
 formed along the crest and dinner cooked. During the 
 afternoon a wagon train of the enemy could be seen moving 
 along a road on the other side of the stream and the Union 
 batteries opened upon it with effect. The men looked on 
 and enjoyed the scene greatly as they saw the shells 
 bursting among the mules. The frantic efforts of the 
 
196 The Story of the Ii6th Regiment. 
 
 drivers to get out of harm's way were most laughable. 
 Towards evening orders came to cross the river and 
 about five o'clock the division moved, Brooke's brigade 
 leading the movement, Birney's division crossing higher 
 up the stream and Gibbons's division below. Brooks 
 drove the enemy back, effected a crossing and was 
 quickly followed by the balance of the division. By the 
 time line was formed, however, the darkness fell, and after 
 advancing into the woods for some distance the division 
 halted for the night. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF THE PO. 
 
 There was perhaps no more interesting fight in which 
 the men of the Regiment were ever engaged or where they 
 played a more important part than that of May 10th, 
 called the Battle of the Po. It would be difficult to 
 understand the movement that led to and culminated in 
 this little battle without knowing the lay of the land. 
 The Po, a deep quiet stream, about forty feet wide, after 
 passing the point where the division crossed, makes a sharp 
 turn and, sweeping around towards the south almost 
 doubles upon its course, so that after crossing one could, 
 by marching straight forward about a mile, again strike 
 the stream at the Block House Bridge. The intention of 
 the commander-in-chief seems to have been, at first, to 
 send the division over to capture the wagon train that our 
 gunners had shelled with such ludicrous effect, but after 
 the first troops had, crossed successfully General Meade 
 seems to have thought it advisable to throw the whole 
 Second Corps ■ across. That having been partly accom- 
 plished, the movement quickly suggested the possibility 
 of a turning operation against the left of the Confederate 
 army by again crossing the stream by the Block House 
 
The Battle of the Po. 197 
 
 Bridge, but darkness checked the advance. No sooner 
 had the line halted for the night in the pitch dark forest, 
 than the Regiment was detailed for picket along with 
 several hundred members of a German regiment. The 
 picket force moved very cautiously and were as noiseless' 
 as could be until the head of the column reached the bank 
 of the stream at the Block House Bridge. The Regiment 
 in perfect silence filed to the right and was deployed along 
 the bank, the officers issuing their orders in whispers and 
 the men groping their way and finding their posts as best 
 they could in the intense darkness. All went well until 
 the picket (composed of the One Hundred and Sixteenth) 
 was in position to the right of the bridge. Every man 
 seemed to instinctively feel the necessity of getting into 
 position without the enemy, who was supposed to be on 
 the other side of the river, being aware of his presence, 
 and the success up to a certain point was remarkable. 
 
 But when the German detail filed to the left of the 
 bridge and began deploying in the darkness matters were 
 very different. Tin cups rattled now and then, and the 
 ofl&cers gave their orders in tones loud enough to be heard 
 on the further bank of the stream. Then a man fired his 
 musket. Some one else prompdy followed, and the whole 
 detail began blazing away in the darkness. The roar for a 
 few moments was deafening. It seemed impossible to 
 quiet the excited Teutons, and notwithstanding the 
 exertions of their officers, who ran from post to post 
 calling out to stop firing, the noise was continued for ten 
 or fifteen minutes. Not a shot was fired in return, and no 
 sound was heard to indicate that the Confederate pickets 
 were on the other side of the stream, and it is not at all 
 likely that any were there, but the man who fired the shot 
 on the Union side, and so brought on the trouble, was the 
 
198 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 direct cause of the failure of. all the plans for turning the 
 flank of the enemy's line, for the volleys of musketry 
 echoing through the still woods notified Hill of the 
 presence of the Union Army, and, when morning broke, 
 his men were discovered hard at work intrenching and 
 getting artillery in position to cover the passage of the* 
 bridge. Hancock and Barlow were on hand early, 
 examining the crossing, and at once saw how impracticable 
 ft would be to force a passage at that point. Brooke, 
 with his brigade, crossed the stream further down, 
 however and, pushing forward half a mile, discovered the 
 left of the enemy's line and found it strongly fortified, 
 and the movement against Lee's left flank wa.s abandoned. 
 Gibbons' s and Birney's divisions were, during the morning, 
 withdrawn and sent to the left to assist the Fifth Corps 
 in an assault on the Confederate line near the Alsop House, 
 and Barlow's division was left alone to hold the advance 
 line across the stream. The entire One Hundred and 
 Sixteenth Regiment was then deployed on the skirmish 
 line to cover the front of Brown's and Smyth's Brigades. 
 The colors were placed with the reserve and the line drawn 
 back somewhat from the stream. All the forenoon the 
 Confederates could be seen working on their fortifications, 
 and but very little firing took place. They seemed to wish 
 to work in peace, and the men were not at all anxious to 
 bring on a fight. A very amusing incident took place 
 during the morning : Lieutenant Springer, of Company 
 K, and another officer, started from the reserve to visit 
 the picket. Strolling along through the woods, their 
 swords over their arms and chatting pleasantly, in some 
 unaccountable manner they passed through the line and 
 were so engrossed with their talk that they were down on 
 the banks of the stream before they were conscious of their 
 
The Battle of the Po. 199 
 
 whereabouts. The river at this point was quite narrow, 
 and on the further bank stood a Confederate brigade in 
 line and at " parade rest ". Pioneers were hard at work 
 throwing a bridge across, that the force might get over on. 
 The two officers, to say the least, were astonished when 
 they saw the long line of gray within thirty feet. The 
 conversation suddenly ceased, and blank amazement 
 succeeded. Our southern friends were just a little more 
 astonished than the two One hundred and Sixteenth 
 officers. The pioneers dropped their axes and stared. 
 The officers seemed so taken aback by the unexpected 
 apparition of two Union officers in full uniform, quietly 
 standing there looking at them,that for two or three minutes 
 they were too much surprised to speak. Some of them 
 began to draw their swords. The men straightened up, 
 and without waiting for orders, came to " attention". All 
 their faces were full of wonderment. They were evidently 
 thinking of what was to follow the strange apparition. 
 Was there a line of battle coming in rear of these two 
 mild looking men in blue, or what on earth were they 
 doing there anyhow ? Soon some one on the other side 
 recovered his senses sufficiently to grasp the situation and 
 called out : " Come over here and give up your swords !" 
 No response from the One Hundred and Sixteenth men. 
 They still continued to gaze and wonder how they were 
 to get out of the embarrassing position. Another order 
 from the opposite side of the creek : " Some of you men, 
 there, go over and bring in those two officers ! " Still no 
 response. The party of the first and second part both too 
 much bewildered to act. Third order from the party in 
 gray : " Six of you men from the left of Company B. run 
 over there and catch those two fellows !" Just then a 
 movement was observed at the further end of the two 
 
200 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 large trees that had been felled across the stream as the six 
 men in question quickly ran to cross. Springer and his 
 friend concluded that it was high time for them to either 
 surrender gracefully or run, and they concluded to chance 
 the latter. Quickly turning, they bolted up the steep 
 bank. The Confederates seeing their prey about to 
 escape, called to the men to fire. The bullets whistled 
 after the fleeing officers, who fortunately got away all safe 
 to live and add, in later times, another tale to the camp 
 fire stories of hair-breadth escapes, and how they walked 
 into a Confederate line. Shortly after noon orders were 
 received to withdraw the division to the north bank of 
 the Po. The movement began about two o'clock, but at 
 the very moment that the Union troops began falling 
 back the enemy (Heath's division of Hill's Corps) 
 advanced with loud yells to attack. Miles' s and Smyth's 
 Brigades and the batteries, with the exception of Arnold's, 
 had already commenced retiring when Heath came 
 forward. The assault was of the most determined 
 character, the enemy pressing close up to the Union line. 
 Brooke's and Brown's men met them with a steady and 
 destructive fire, and the combat became fierce and bloody. 
 A furious artillery duel between the batteries on the north 
 bank and the Confederate batteries on the south bank 
 raging the while, the shells from both sides passing 
 completely over the fighting infantry. 
 
 The fight had opened on the right of the regimental 
 picket line, but after the skirmishers of Brown and Brooke 
 were driven in the enemy made their appearance in front 
 of the whole regimental line. Word was -passed along to 
 hold the ground even against a line of battle, if possible, 
 and the men of each post, sheltering themselves as best 
 they could behind the trees, did their whole duty nobly. 
 
The Battle of the Po. 201 
 
 A portion of Brown's Brigade, in falling back, passed 
 through the line of the Regiment, and the retreating 
 troops called to the men that the enemy were right behind 
 them. The woods were on fire and the flames were 
 crackling and roaring. The surroundings were appalling. 
 The men knew that everyone was getting to the rear, 
 that soon the bridges would be cut away and their only 
 chance of escape gone, but not a man moved from his 
 place. Examining their pieces and standing at a " ready " 
 they calmly waited for the approaching foe, when the 
 Confederates appeared, poured a steady fire into the 
 advancing line. At last, when all others were gone, the 
 welcome order came to fall back and try to save the 
 Regiment. It was almost too late. There was only one 
 avenue, one means of escape. The field officers galloping 
 to the extreme right called to the men on the skirmish 
 line to rally on the left at a run. The reserve with the 
 colors fell back to the road and awaited the assembly of 
 the men from the front. Soon nearly all were gathered 
 up and a hasty retreat made across the open ground to 
 the only bridge left. When safe on the other side, saved 
 almost by a miracle, to look back at the flaming forest 
 and think of the thirty members of the Regiment who 
 were still among the blazing trees dead or helplessly 
 wounded, a prey to the pitiless fire ! After recrossing the 
 river the line was dressed, and as the darkness was 
 gathering a burst of musketry told of more fighting. 
 Although tired, weary and hungry, the Regiment to a 
 man promptly responded to the call to go forward once 
 more and, with a cheer that echoed and rolled along the 
 valley, the command swept forward to meet the foe. But 
 the night was at hand, and the fight of the Po closed with 
 the day. 
 
202 The Story of the Ii6th Regiment. 
 
 The reason of the withdrawal from the south bank of 
 the Po was not understood by officers or men at the time, 
 but it was afterward learned that General Meade did not 
 wish to bring on a general engagement on that side of the 
 river, and had ordered the abandoning of the position 
 and directed General Hancock to personally direct the 
 retirement of the troops. It was at the moment that the 
 movement commenced that the Confederates advanced to 
 the attack, and the line was forced to pause and beat back 
 the assault before retiring. The combat, in the language 
 of General Hancock, "was close and bloody. The enemy, 
 in vastly superior numbers, flushed with the anticipation 
 of easy victory, appeared determined to crush the small 
 force opposed to them and, pressing forward with loud 
 yells, forced their way close up to the Union lines", 
 delivering a terrible musketry fire as they advanced. The 
 brave troops resisted their onset with undaunted 
 resolution ! Their fire along the whole line was so 
 continuous and deadly that the enemy found it impossible 
 to withstand, but broke and retreated in the wildest 
 disorder, leaving the ground in front strewn with dead 
 and wounded. 
 
 Arnold's Rhode Island Battery had been pushed far to 
 the front during the fight and, in the retreat, the horses of 
 one of the guns became terrified by the blazing forest and 
 dragged the piece between two trees, where it became so 
 firmly wedged that it could not be moved. Every exertion 
 was made by the artillerymen and some of the infantry to 
 get it away, but finally it had to be abandoned — the first 
 gun ever lost by the Second Corps. The Regiment 
 performed a brilliant part in this fight, on the south side of 
 the Po, and General Francis A. Barlow personally thanked 
 the officers and men for the great service rendered. 
 
The Battle of the Po. 
 
 203 
 
 Nothing of importance occurred during May 11th. 
 The men of the Regiment rested, and many of them wrote 
 letters home. Lieutenant-Colonel Dale finished and mailed 
 to the Pittsburg papers the letter that he had begun on 
 the morning of May 4th, on the battlefield of Chancellors- 
 ville. In the letter he speaks of the fight of the Po as a 
 more important batde than that of the Wilderness, so 
 little did the participants know at the time of what was 
 going on around them, each one seeing and knowing of 
 his own immediate front only. Here is his letter. He tells 
 of the dead and wounded, but of the missing — ah, the 
 missing who disappeared in the flaming woods of the 
 Wilderness and the Po! The missing who were never 
 seen or heard of again, what of them ? 
 
 Colonel Dale's letter : — 
 
 Headquarters IIGth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. 
 
 May II, 1864. 
 Dear Chronicle : 
 
 I suppose all who have friends in the army are now anxious to get 
 some tidings of them, knowing that active operations have commenced in 
 earnest. As there are three companies from western Pennsylvania in our 
 Regiment, I thought I might relieve the anxiety of some of your readers 
 by sending you for publication, a list of our killed and wounded up to this 
 time. Ijt is possible, however, the list may be lengthened jDefore you 
 receive this, as the fighting is apparently not yet over. I write this upon 
 my knee behind breastworks upon which our men are still at work, while 
 in plain view the "rebs" are also intrenching. We left camp at about 
 eleven o'clock on the night of Tuesday, May 3d, crossing the Rapidanthe 
 next morning about seven o'clock, and about noon reached the memorable 
 field of Chancellorsville, where we rested until the next morning. Some 
 of us who had been present at the battle there little thought at the time 
 that we would have returned to the field just one year to the day from our 
 retreat in 1863. You may be sure that we took great pleasure in visiting 
 the spots which were so indelibly impressed upon our memory. I 
 gathered a few flowers as mementoes. By the way, the battlefield is 
 covered with wild flowers, nearly all of a purple color, as though the blood 
 of our brave soldiers had so drenched the soil as to darken the very 
 
204 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 flowers that grew upon it. Perhaps some who have lost friends at 
 Chancellorsville may take pleasure in thinking that though their dead 
 heroes may sleep in unmarked graves, yet the flowers bloom over them 
 as profusely as if interred in any of our beautiful cemeteries at home. 
 
 About four o'clock on Thursday afternoon we became engaged with 
 the enemy about four miles from Chancellorsville, the battle continuing 
 until dark. It was during the engagement that General Alex. Hays was 
 killed. His command was to our right. We have had more or less 
 fighting daily, culminating yesterday in a great battle. Our Regiment has 
 lost up to yesterday, forty-two in killed and wounded. In addition to 
 these there are a number missing, but as some of these may turn up 
 again, it is unnecessary to create uneasiness among friends by giving 
 names. 
 
 The list is enclosed. I would be glad to have it published. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 KiCHARD C. Dale, 
 Lieutenant-Colonel, ii5th Penna. Volunteers. 
 
Spottsylvania. 205 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 SPOTTSYLVANIA. 
 
 MAY 12th. 
 
 "yHERE was a good deal of picket firing during May 
 llth; and towards evening a chilling rain set in. 
 Tired and hungry the men shivered around the green 
 wood fires, the fires that when wanted most would never, 
 never blaze or brighten. The wind, raw and sharp, whirled 
 the smoke to the side least expected and changed its 
 direction every time the audience shifted to avoid having 
 their eyes smoked out of their heads. The same old 
 familiar smoke that blackened the eyes and dirtied the 
 faces, whose pungent smell lingered so long in the clothes, 
 that in fair weather went straight up to the sky and made 
 the camp fire seem even more inviting and cozy, in the 
 wet and rain clung to the ground, spread itself all over 
 the men, seeking out their most vulnerable parts, bringing 
 tears to their eyes, inserting itself into the deepest and 
 most hidden parts of their lungs, choking and blinding, 
 and causing one to consider whether it would not be 
 better to abandon the effort to secure a little warmth and 
 heat at such a cost and fly to the cold and outer darkness. 
 The men succeeded in coaxing enough blaze to boil the 
 evening coffee, but no blowing or other inducement could 
 raise sufficient fire to fry the pork or stew the moistened 
 cracker ; so, cold, cheerless and disconsolate, they sank 
 to sleep in the falling rain, wet to the skin, with their 
 soaked feet to the smouldering embers. But the rest 
 was of short duration, for even as the weary souls were 
 
206 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 gathering their sodden blankets around them and trying 
 to find soft spots in the mud, Colonel Comstock, of the 
 Headquarter Staff, and several of the Corps Staff were 
 marking out the line of battle for the morrow; and at 
 nine p. m. the word came to pack up and march 
 immediately. It did not take long to obey the order; 
 each one had only to rise from the earth, shake himself in 
 a vain effort to get rid of the chills that were ever coursing 
 up and down the spine on nights like this, wring the 
 water out of his shoes, lift the cold, heavy musket from 
 the stack, and all was ready. 
 
 At ten p. m. the column was put in motion, Major 
 Mendall, of the engineers, leading the way to Spottsyl- 
 vania, with orders to attack at daylight. Of all the night 
 marches of the Regiment this one was the most trying. 
 Through dense woods, in black darkness, the rain falling 
 in torrents, dreary, weary, and in silence, the command 
 tramped through the deep mud, slipping and splashing 
 and falling over tree stumps, with once in a while a long 
 halt, while those in the lead made sure of the way. 
 Sometimes an alarm, sudden and unexpected, would wake 
 up the tired soldiers to wonder and to ask each other : 
 " Where are we going anyway ?" An army pack mule, 
 laden with rattling kettles and pans, carried consternation 
 through the ranks by dashing through the trees, aiid then 
 an accidental musket shot rang out and startled the 
 marching troops. Shortly after midnight the mystery 
 came to an end, and the head of the column arrived 
 opposite the point to be attacked at daylight. In utter 
 darkness and perfect silence the Regiment passed the 
 Brown House, moved out towards the enemy, and formed 
 ready for the assault. The regimental formation was 
 " double column on the centre", the division forming in 
 
Spotlsylvania. 207 
 
 the clearing to the right of the Landron House. The 
 orders were given in whispers and organizations seemed 
 to find their positions by instinct. It was still very dark 
 when the formation of the attacking columns was 
 completed, and an hour intervened before the time came 
 to rush upon the enemy's works, a heavy fog adding to 
 the density of the darkness. To those who stood there 
 in line, cold, sleepy, tired and weary, a long, long wait it 
 seemed to be. Hancock rode quietly to each command 
 and said a few encouraging words in a low tone, telling 
 the officers in turn to speak to the men and urge them to 
 a brilliant effort. Colonel Dale gathered around him the 
 officers of the Regiment and spoke to them of the 
 importance of the coming fight, calling upon them to do 
 their duty well. His last sentence, " Strike for your God 
 and country", were the last words that many ever heard 
 from his lips. He then moved around among the waiting 
 line, speaking words of hope and cheer, and just a few 
 moments before the final move, he stood among a group 
 of officers and spoke, not only of the coming day, but 
 the long eternity that might follow for some who then 
 were full of life. " Gentlemen ", said he, " to-day may be 
 for some of us the last on earth. Whilst we are waiting 
 here would it not be well to say a prayer?" Noble soldier 
 that he was, saintly and pure in camp and bivouac, gentle 
 as a lady, setting an example of perfect manhood that 
 influenced the command to the very end. In battle he 
 was a hero of the most exalted type, whose brilliant 
 leadership nerved his men to deeds of fearless daring. 
 
 The order to move on the salient point at SpottSyl- 
 vania named four o'clock, but it was dark at that hour 
 and a heavy fog hung over the fields. Hancock, therefore, 
 postponed the time of attack until 4.35, when, day 
 
208 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 breaking and the mist lifting a little, it became sufficiently 
 light to see dimly. The men were ordered to draw their 
 loads and to use the bayonet only. The division 
 (Barlow's) was formed into two lines. Brooke's and 
 Miles's Brigades in the first, and Smyth's and Brown's in 
 the second. The nature of the ground over which the 
 attacking column was to pass was altogether unknown to 
 everyone. General Mott with his division had made an 
 attack on the same spot two days before, but he could give 
 little information as to the twelve hundred yards to be 
 passed over before reaching the works of the enemy. 
 Amid whispered inquiries by the officers as to the work 
 before them and a nervous uncertainty as to what was 
 coming, the order to advance was quietly passed along the 
 line. Without a word louder than an audible whisper of 
 command, the two divisions of the Second Corps, Barlow's, 
 and Birney's, moved forward in dead silence. As it was. 
 not as yet light enough to see distinctly, the intervals 
 between regiments and brigades were soon lost. Barlow's 
 division, having the clear ground to the right of the 
 Landron House to march over, kept somewhat ahead 
 of Gibbons's, but that command, making superhuman 
 exertions, gained the enemy's works almost at the same 
 moment as the former. Not a sound disturbed the moving 
 line. Instinctively every man knew the importance of 
 covering as much ground as possible before being 
 discovered, and not until nearing the Landron House was- 
 the advancing force discovered. Then a volley from the 
 Confederate picket reserve was poured into the left of 
 Barlow's line, killing Lieutenant-Colonel David L. Striker, 
 of the Second Delaware, a brave, amiable and most 
 accomplished young officer. No return was made to 
 the fire, but silently pushing on in the gray hght of the 
 
Spottsylvania. 209 
 
 morning the men caught sight of the red earth of 
 the works and, with a wild cheer that broke the stillness, 
 they rushed up the sloping ground and in a moment were 
 tearing away at the abatis, tugging, pulling and dragging 
 the detached branches aside, crawling through and 
 tumbling over the mass of material that was piled in 
 front of the breast-works. The momentary work enabled 
 the brigades of the second line to come up and mingle 
 with those that were in front. All line and formation was 
 now lost, and the great mass of men, with a rush like a 
 cyclone, sprang upon the intrenchments and swarmed 
 over, beating down the defences and using the bayonet 
 very freely. The surprise was complete. While large 
 numbers of Confederates had already mounted the works 
 and made a brave defence, many of them were still sound 
 asleep, rolled in their blankets and dreaming. A few 
 erected tents were scattered here and there, and in the dim 
 light the inmates crawled out to discover the cause of the 
 noise, to find themselves prisoners. Amid the wild 
 confusion of the glorious success, it was difficult to preserve 
 order. Men became insane with the excitement of victory. 
 Thirty stands of colors, eighteen guns, two general' officers 
 and four thousand prisoners captured by two divisions of 
 the Second Corps, and not yet broad daylight. While 
 organizations were mixed, and for a short time order was 
 impossible, still the fight went on, the enemy making a 
 most gallant resistance. In squads and singly, every man 
 seemed acting on his own responsibility — the Confederates 
 making a brave effort to stem the tide of Union victory, 
 and the men making the most heroic exertions to make 
 their triumph complete. The men of the One Hundred 
 and Sixteenth were among the first over the works, and 
 the colors of the Regiment were in advance. Personal 
 
210 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 encounters between individuals took place on every part 
 of the disputed ground. Lieutenant Fraley, of Company 
 F, ran a Confederate color-bearer through with his sword ; 
 a Confederate shot one of the men when almost within* 
 touch of his musket, then threw down his piece and called 
 out, " I surrender ", but Dan Crawford, of Company K, 
 shot him dead ; Billy Hager, of the same company, ran 
 into a group of half a dozen and demanded their surrender, 
 saying " Throw down your arms, quick now, or I'll stick 
 my bayonet into you", and they obeyed. Henry J. Bell, 
 known as " Blinky Bell ", leaped over the works and yelled 
 " Look out, throw down your arms, we run this machine 
 now". A large number of the men of the Regiment ran 
 forward and took possession of a battery of brass 
 pieces and, turning them around, got ready to open 
 on any force that might appear. Alfred Bales, of 
 Company K, hitched a rope to one of the pieces, and 
 a dozen of the men ran it to the rear. Captain 
 Schoales, with a lot of Company E men, ran off with 
 another. The horses of the battery were not visible, but 
 the harness was hanging on the wheels, and everything 
 indicated that the gunners had but a moment before 
 abandoned the guns, or had not time to man them after the 
 first alarm. The prisoners were quickly formed into 
 squads and sent to the rear. Some of them took things 
 very coolly. One big Confederate crawled out from under 
 a tent fly and, when called upon to surrender, stretched 
 himself with great nonchalance and said : " Oh, well, that 
 is all right, boys ; don't get so excited. Just let us get 
 our coats on, and we will go to the rear". Many 
 trophies were gathered in. Dick McClean, of Company 
 K, relieved General Johnston of his sword, and Dan 
 Sickles, of the same company, captured a regimental flag. 
 
Spottsylvania. 211 
 
 Colonel Dale seemed omnipresent, and was everywhere at 
 once, bringing back order and preparing for a further 
 advance, calling the men from the captured batteries and 
 re-forming the broken line ; then, still crazed with 
 excitement, the line pressed forward through the woods 
 with such men as the division commanders could get 
 together, but still somewhat disorganized and in mass. 
 They were met in front of the McCool House by Johnston's 
 Brigade of Gordon's division, that had been placed there 
 the evening before. The men, disorganized as they were, 
 made such an impetuous attack on Johnston's men that 
 they broke and fell back through the forest, closely 
 pursued by the victorious troops. That splendid Southern 
 soldier, John B. Gordon, quickly formed the two brigades 
 of Evans and Pegram behind the second line of works, 
 which, in anticipation of, and to meet, just such an 
 emergency as the present, he had constructed across the 
 salient. The Union men reached this second line and 
 found the front covered by a heavy abatis. They were 
 met by a heavy fire from the two brigades already in line 
 and Johnston's men who had fallen back to this point. The 
 men rushed at the intrenchments with the intention of 
 crossing, the officers vying with each other in deeds of 
 great personal bravery, but the line of fresh troops, 
 pouring in an extremely heavy fire, threw them back. 
 Already in confusion, the mass of men, many organizations 
 mingled together, and all the commands more or less 
 separated, began to fall back, and then Gordon's line, 
 advancing, struck vigorously and charged with loud cries 
 and cheers. 
 
 The members of the One Hundred and Sixteenth made 
 a good fight, and were among the last to give ground. 
 Colonel Dale, sword in hand, was ever in the front ; and 
 
212 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 when the retreat began, he lingered behind with his face 
 to the foe, waving his sword and calling to the men to 
 stand firm. Those of the Regiment who saw his heroic 
 efforts, pressed forward to gather round him. Suddenly 
 his sword was seen to drop, his voice ceased and he sank 
 to the earth. At the moment of his falling, the confusion 
 was very great ; the Confederates were pressing forward, 
 and the men were giving way. Some men of Company 
 K, who saw him fall, tried to reach him, but were pushed 
 back by the surging mass of fighting, struggling men ; 
 the Confederate line swept over his body, and none of his 
 friends or comrades ever saw him again. As the men of 
 Barlow's Division, which had advanced into the angle 
 further than any other troops, began to give ground 
 before the onslaughts of Gordon's Division, the Confederate 
 Brigades of Daniel, Ramseur, Perrin and Harris moved 
 against the divisions of Birney and Mott, that were 
 advancing along the west side of the angle. The troops 
 fell back reluctantly. They did not like to give up 
 the important advantage that they had gained. The 
 Confederate Army was literally cut in two by the early 
 morning rush of the Second Corps, and now to be driven 
 from the position and surrender the ground so nobly won 
 was too serious to be thought of. Bravely the men fought, 
 but without avail. The momentum of the charge and 
 the very perfectness of the victory had destroyed all 
 organization, and Barlow's men were without order or 
 battle formation. It was just as important to the enemy 
 that the angle be re-taken and the victors driven 
 out, and the Confederate officers and men rose to the full 
 importance of the occasion. General Lee was in the very 
 front himself, and at one time became so carried away 
 with the intense excitement that he placed himself in 
 
Spottsylvania. 213 
 
 front of one of Gordon's Brigades, and, with hat in hand, 
 was leading the charging line as it swept forward through 
 the woods. The men, recognizing the commander of their 
 army, burst into prolonged cheers, but refused to allow 
 their leader to expose his life ; they calmly, but firmly, 
 requested him to stop, and taking hold of his horse's 
 bridle, forced him to turn back. The men fell back 
 before the vigorous blows of the enemy, leaving behind 
 many of their comrades who fell at every step ; finally 
 all were forced out, and took position on the outer face 
 of the angle. Just as the troops were forced out of the 
 salient, the Sixth Corps came to the front and took 
 position on the right of the Second Corps. The men of 
 Barlow's Division were still mixed up to a great extent 
 when they re-crossed the works that they had captured 
 but an hour before. The men of the One Hundred and 
 Sixteenth were scattered in groups along the works, and 
 when, at this point, the all-day fight began, they fought 
 assembled in squads, whenever an officer was found to 
 command them. No sooner were the men over the works 
 than the furious attacks of the Confederates commenced 
 — the assaults that were destined to continue all day 
 and late into the night, and make May 12th the bloodiest 
 day of all the war. Along a mile of the captured 
 intrenchments, the fight went on until midnight. No 
 language can describe this hand-to-hand fight. The 
 drenching, chilling rain that fell during the day had no 
 effect on the incessant fire. The lines were close, nothing 
 between them but the log revetement, to which the men 
 were trying to cling, and the enemy endeavoring to shake 
 them off. Men fired into each others' faces, were shot 
 through the crevices of the logs, bayoneted over the top 
 of the works. In their wild enthusiasm men would leap 
 
214 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 up on the works and fire down upon the enemy standing 
 there, while freshly loaded muskets were handed to them, 
 keeping up a continuous fire until they in turn were shot 
 down. The dead and the dying were in piles on both 
 sides of the works, and several times during the day the 
 dead had to be tossed out of the trenches that the living 
 might have a chance to stand. Hancock ran a battery 
 close to the works and, throwing shells and canister over 
 the heads of the Union troops, swept the ground. The 
 trees were torn in splinters, and one great tree, measuring 
 twenty-two inches in diameter, was cut down entire and 
 fell with a crash, injuring some of the men of McGowan's 
 Brigade. Owing to the all-day continuous battle, it was 
 impossible to re-form or get together the members of the 
 One Hundred and Sixteenth, scattered in the charge of 
 the early morning. They fought through the long day 
 with the troops with which they found themselves when 
 they were driven back over the works. Colonel 
 Mulholland was absent, wounded, Colonel Dale was 
 gone and. Major Teed being in a southern prison, the 
 command of the Regiment devolved upon Captain 
 Garret Nowlen ; and when midnight brought the fighting 
 to a close, and the Confederates finally gave up the 
 struggle and fell back, leaving the bloody ground in 
 possession of the Union troops, it became possible to get 
 the command assembled. 
 
 At daylight on May 13th Captain Nowlen succeeded 
 in getting the companies and men together and, calHng 
 the roll, learned the fate of many a brave and noble soul 
 who would never answer to his name again. The long, 
 bloody day of May 12th did not end until midnight, 
 when the exhausted troops of both armies sank on the 
 wet ground to sleep among the dead and dying, the 
 
Spottsylvania. 215 
 
 chilling rain falling on friend and foe alike. After 
 nightfall, heavy details were made for picket, and during 
 the next day the fighting on the skirmish line was quite 
 severe, during which Lieutenant Yocum greatly distin- 
 guished himself in leading a charge and forcing the 
 enemy to fall back. Yocum had gathered up half a dozen 
 Confederate officers' swords during the fight, and selecting 
 the most valuable, gave the others away. It was not 
 known for sometime afterward whether Colonel Dale had 
 been killed or only wounded and a prisoner. He had 
 been seen to fall, but beyond that nothing was certain. 
 Within a few days after the battle, the Government made 
 every effort to learn something of him, even sending a 
 company of cavalry to visit the field and farm houses in 
 the vicinity, thinking that he might be among the 
 wounded and somewhere near the field. Weeks passed 
 away, but nothing definite could be learned until the 
 autumn, when Lieutenant Zadock Springer, of Company 
 K, having been taken prisoner at the battle of Ream's 
 Station, August 25th, and going south on the cars, saw 
 the lieutenant of a Georgia regiment, who had charge 
 of the party, wearing Colonel Dale's cap and sword. 
 Springer recognized the articles, and was told by the 
 officer that he had taken them from the body of a Union 
 officer who had been killed at Spottsylvania. This 
 Confederate officer's account of Colonel Dale's death 
 coincided exactly with what was known of his fall ; he 
 said that he fell while waving his sword and rallying his 
 men, and that he fell by the second line of works. This 
 was the first positive information as to the fate of one of 
 the noblest of men, a man of splendid abilities, virtuous, 
 gentle, brave and accomplished, whose frank and 
 agreeable face and courteous bearing ever cheered his 
 
216 The Story of the Ii6th Regiment. 
 
 comrades in camp, march and bivouac, and whose bright 
 eye and clear, ringing voice nerved them in battle, a 
 Christian gentleman by instinct and a soldier without a 
 superior. The following biographical sketch is from 
 " Martial Deeds of Pennsylvania " : 
 
 Richard Colegate Dale, Lieutenant-Colonel of the One Hundred and 
 Sixteenth Regiment, was born on the 19th of December, 1838, in the city 
 of Allegheny. His father, Thomas F. Dale, M. D., and his mother, 
 Margaret Kennedy Stewart, were both natives of Delaware. He received 
 a thorough English and a partial classical education in his native city. 
 He was, from early youth, characterized by strong individuality. He was 
 engaged for a time as a clerk in commission and manufacturing houses, 
 but finally became an active partner in a mercantile firm. When the war 
 came, he frankly said to his father: "Mr. Lincoln has called for men. 
 Many, on account of family or other relations, cannot go as well as L Do 
 not think it is a fit of enthusiasm. I do not imagine it will be any pleasure 
 to be a soldier. His is a life of trial and peril, and I do not know whether 
 my constitution will be strong enough to bear those toils and exposures ; 
 but I think it my duty to go". An only son and carefully reared, it was 
 with great reluctance that the consent of his parents was given to his 
 resolution ; but he would listen to no temporizing, and he enlisted as a 
 private in Company A of the Ninth Reserves, in the spring of i85i. In 
 the following August he was detailed from his regiment to serve in the 
 United States Signal Corps. In a School of Instruction for that arm of 
 the service, at Tenalytown, and afterwards as clerk to Major Myers, the 
 commander of the corps in Washington, he was employed till the opening 
 of the spring campaign under McClellan, with whom he went to the 
 Peninsula, and served with fidelity and skill until the final battle at 
 Malvern Hill had been fought. He then received leave of absence for ten 
 days ; but in Washington, while on his way home, his furlough was 
 extended by the Adjutant-General, and he was authorized to raise a 
 company for signal duty. He opened a recruiting station at Pittsburg, on 
 his arrival, but having been elected First Lieutenant of Company D, of the 
 One Hundred and Twenty-third Regiment, he accepted the position, and 
 at once entered upon his duties. For four months he served as Adjutant 
 of the regiment, exerting himself to bring the organization up to an 
 efficient standard, when he returned to his place in his company. At the 
 battie of Fredericksburg, he acted with great gallantry, taking command 
 of his company when its leader, Captain Boisol, was wounded, and had 
 his haversack riddled with bullets, though he, himself, escaped without 
 injury. He was soon afterwards appointed Assistant Adjutant-General 
 
^•*fef. 
 
 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL RICHARD C. DALE 
 Killed at Spottsylvania, May 12th, 1864 
 
Spottsylvania. 217 
 
 of the brigade. A vacancy occurring in the office of Lieutenant-Colonel, 
 he was promptly elected to fill it by the line officers, though the junior 
 captain among them. So methodical and complete were all his acts, that 
 when notified of his promotion, he was in readiness to turn over his 
 business at the head of the brigade in a finished condition, and at once to 
 assume the responsible one in command of the regiment. He was 
 engaged at Chancellorsville, and when the term of the regiment had 
 expired, which occurred soon afterwards, he returned with it to Pittsburg, 
 where it was mustered out. 
 
 When he heard the intelligence of fighting at Gettysburg, he 
 hastened home, exclaiming, "Our boys are fighting and falling at 
 Gettysburg, and I am here doing nothing. I cannot stand this!" 
 Gathering up a few articles of clothing, he hurried away to the depot, and 
 reached Harrisburg that night. He immediately reported to the Governor, 
 and asked to be sent to the front, saying : " I must go. I can at least 
 volunteer as aid to some General, to carry dispatches over the field". 
 But the Governor could not provide transportation. Indeed, all the 
 avenues were closed — even a private carriage could not be secured, the 
 inhabitants fearing the action of the enemy's cavalry, and refusing every 
 oflfer, unless bonds were entered for the safe return of the conveyance. 
 Finding it impossible to reach the field, he was obliged, reluctantly, to 
 return home. 
 
 Soon afterwards. General Brooke, at the head of the Department of 
 the Monongahela, offered him the command of a battalion of six months' 
 cavalry. " I was Srilled in cavalry movements when in the signal service", 
 was his response, " and I shall be glad to serve in any capacity to which 
 you may assign me". The companies were already recruited and in 
 camp, and fears were entertained that officers who were expecting the 
 command, much older than himself, would object to having a boy set over 
 them. The very troubles arose which were anticipated ; but so firmly and 
 judiciously did he suppress the first rising of revolt, and so wisely and 
 well did he enforce his discipline and drill, and instruct his charge, that a 
 large part of the men were desirous of being led by him for a three 
 years' term. He was stationed in Fayette county, and was charged with 
 guarding the border, a duty which he performed to the satisfaction of 
 General Brooke, and, what was more difficult, to the entire approval of 
 the inhabitants among whom he was quartered. 
 
 In January, 1864, while General Hancock was engaged in reorganizing 
 the Second Corps, which became famous under his leadership. Dale was 
 offered the position of Lieutenant-Colonel in the One Hundred and 
 Sixteenth Regiment, which was accepted, and he was immediately 
 engaged in recruiting, it having been decimated in previous campaigns 
 while still a part of the celebrated Irish Brigade. In the battle of the 
 
218 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Wilderness, where his command was closely engaged, a bullet penetrated 
 his coat, but he escaped. On the gth of May, his Regiment was ordered 
 to the picket line to support General Miles's Brigade, and was under a hot 
 fire of rebel grape and canister. On the following day it was again 
 engaged in a long, hard fight, in which Colonel MulhoUand was severely 
 wounded in the head. The command then devolved on Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Dale, and in the assault upon the enemy's works, at the dawn of 
 the 1 2th, while gallantly leading his Regiment into the "imminent deadly 
 breach", he fell instantly killed or mortally wounded, as is supposed, no 
 tidings having ever been had of him, and no information pertaining to his 
 last resting-place having been discovered. When a sufficient time had 
 elapsed to preclude all hope of return, resolutions were passed by his 
 brother officers commemorative of his great ability as a soldier and his 
 many virtues as a man. The colonel of his Regiment said of him : " He 
 was a man of splendid abilities, virtuous, gentle, brave and accomplished. 
 He was remarkably calm in battle, and was very much beloved by his 
 comrades"- His two sisters, who survive him, say, in closing a 
 communication concerning him, "No sisters ever had a more devoted 
 brother". 
 
 Lieutenant Henry Keil, of Company E, was killed 
 during the fight. He was a brave young officer, not more 
 than eighteen years of age. He joined the Regiment as 
 first sergeant of his company only three months before 
 his death. He had not yet been mustered in as an officer, 
 and his commission remained in the adjutant's desk for 
 several months after Spottsylvania. It was not known at 
 the time that he was killed, and he was reported "missing", 
 but it was afterwards learned that he fell in the battle. 
 
 Lieutenants Samuel G. Vanderheyden, of Company G, 
 and Robert J. Alston, of Company H, were both severely 
 wounded. The wounds of many of the men were of a 
 very unusual character. Edward Savage, of Company K, 
 had both eyes destroyed by the windage of a passing 
 shell. He was led from the field, but died in a few hours 
 from the shock and concussion. A Union officer had both 
 eyes shot out, the ball passing just back of the eyeballs. 
 He stood, blind and helpless, never uttering a word of 
 
Spottsylvania. 219 
 
 complaint, but opening and closing the sightless sockets, 
 the blood leaping out in spurts. Numbers of men were 
 killed and wounded by the bayonet, more, perhaps, than 
 in any other fight of the war, and facilities for handling 
 the immense numbers of wounded seemed more inadequate 
 than usual. Thousands swarmed around the temporary 
 hospitals, and the woods and the roads in the rear of the 
 line were filled with stricken men, wandering around in 
 the drenching rain, seeking assistance. Some few members 
 of the Regiment were sent back to Army Headquarters 
 with the prisoners, and they reported that, during the 
 morning, the four thousand Confederates had arranged 
 to make a break for liberty, and to try a rush for their 
 lives. But General Patrick, Provost Marshal, had defeated 
 and checked the effort. General Johnston and General 
 Stuart were taken at once to the Army Headquarters, and 
 were received with every courtesy and consideration. 
 They were deeply interested, and Johnston eyed General 
 Grant with great curiosity. The meeting was cordial and, 
 on the part of the Union officers, very pleasant. 
 
 On the morning of the 13th it was found that the 
 enemy had abandoned the sahent and retired to 
 intrenchments, entirely cutting off that portion of their 
 line, leaving great piles of dead and many wounded on 
 the ground on which they had made such a ferocious fight 
 during the preceding day. The picket details from the 
 Regiment that had been on duty all the night of the 12th 
 and until four o'clock on the afternoon of the 13th were 
 relieved at that hour, and returned to the Regiment 
 exhausted and worn out. They had been under fire 
 continually for thirty-six hours, without food or rest. 
 Lieutenant Yocum received unbounded praise for his 
 action on the skirmish line. 
 
220 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 The losses in the Regiment during the battle of May 
 12th could never be actually ascertained. Numbers that 
 were reported missing were afterwards found to have been 
 killed. The total loss of the Union Army on May 12th 
 was : killed and wounded, 6,020 ; missing, 800 ; total, 
 6,820. The Confederate loss, including the 4,000 prisoners 
 captured by General Hancock and his Second Corps, was 
 between 9,000 and 10,000. The loss to the enemy in 
 general officers was extremely heavy — Brigadier-Generals 
 Daniel and Perrin being killed, and Brigadier-Generals 
 Walker, Ramseur, R. D. Johnston and McGowan severely 
 wounded ; and Major-General Edward Johnston and 
 Brigadier-General George H. Stuart captured. 
 
 May 14th, under arms at daybreak, but the command 
 was not called upon, and a most welcome rest until four 
 a. m., May 15th, when the Regiment moved two miles to 
 the left and bivouacked on the Fredericksburg Road, 
 resting as best they could, the rain still falling at intervals, 
 and the roads so heavy that it was impossible to move 
 trains or artillery. During the afternoon an order from 
 General Meade was read to the Regiment : — 
 
 Headquarters Army of the Potomac. 
 
 May 13th. 
 
 Soldiers : The moment has arrived when your commanding General 
 feels authorized to address you in terms of congratulation. 
 
 For eight days and nights, almost without intermission, in rain and 
 sunshine, you have been gallantly fighting a desperate foe, in positions 
 naturally strong and rendered doubly so by intrenchments. 
 
 You have compelled him to abandon his fortifications on the Rapidan, 
 to retire and attempt to stop your onward progress, and now he has 
 abandoned his last intrenched position, so tenaciously held, suffering a 
 loss in all of eighteen guns, twenty-two colors and 8,000 prisoners, 
 including two general officers. 
 
 Your heroic deeds and noble endurance and privations will ever be 
 memorable. Let us return thanks to God for the mercy thus shown us, 
 and ask earnestly for its continuation. 
 
The Battle of Spottsylvania Court- House. 221 
 
 Soldiers, your work is not yet over. The enemy must be pursued 
 and, if possible, overcome. The courage and fortitude you have 
 displayed renders your commanding General confident your future 
 efforts will result in success. 
 
 While we mourn the loss of many gallant comrades, let us remember 
 that the enemy must have suffered equal, if not greater, losses. 
 
 We shall soon receive reinforcement which he cannot expect. Let us 
 determine to continue vigorously the work so well begun, and under 
 God's blessing in short time the object of our labors will be accomplished. 
 
 George G. Meade, 
 Commanding-General. 
 Official— A. Williams, A. A. G. 
 (Approved.) U. S. Grant, 
 
 Lieutenant-General Commanding. 
 
 Remained on the reserve until the 17th. On the 
 evening of that day, General Thomas Smyth, commanding 
 the brigade, inspected the Regiment, and Captain Schoales 
 and Lieutenant Robert J. Grogan, both of Company E, 
 tendered their resignations, which were accepted. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT-HOUSE. 
 
 During the night the division was moved to the vicinity 
 of the Landron House, and formed for the attack in the 
 line of brigades. It was hoped that by an early attack the 
 enemy might be surprised and his left flank turned. At 
 dawn a general advance was made, but, early as it was, the 
 enemy were found to be wide awake and fully prepared. 
 They were strongly posted in the rifle pits. The ground 
 over which the Regiment charged was very rough and 
 broken, and it was with much difficulty that the regimental 
 line was preserved. The command moved forward, how- 
 ever, in excellent order, and held the right flank of the 
 Irish Brigade. No sooner had the charge begun than 
 the movement was discovered by the Confederates, who 
 
222 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 opened with a musketry fire, in which their batteries 
 quickly joined, throwing shell and canister. It was a hot 
 fire, but failed to break or retard the advancing Union 
 line. Pressing forward and reaching the works to be 
 assaulted, the men were confronted by a deep and heavy 
 abatis that completely covered the Confederate line, the 
 slashing being so dense that all efforts to penetrate were 
 impossible. The Irish Brigade undoubtedly came nearer 
 to getting through than any other, many of the men 
 throwing themselves forward into the tangled wood and 
 branches in their efforts to reach the works. One 
 sergeant of the Regiment penetrated the mass for eight 
 or ten feet beyond any of his comrades, and stood there, 
 waist-deep in the abatis, while he loaded and fired three 
 or four times. Many of the men of the Regiment were 
 shot after they became entangled in the brush. The 
 charge was a very noble effort, but absolutely hopeless. 
 The impracticability of reaching the enemy's line, or even 
 piercing the abatis, was soon apparent, and the order to 
 fall back was given, but not a moment too soon. To hold 
 the men in front of the abatis to be shot dowji would be 
 a useless waste of life. They fell back in excellent order, 
 and, under the circumstances, behaved with wonderful 
 steadiness. 
 
 Every battle furnishes incidents and strange sights to 
 be talked over by the survivors. Corporals Dick McClean 
 and Daniel J. Crawford, of Company K, were chatting 
 together just as the charge was ordered. " Do you see 
 the Reb works ? " said Crawford, " well, I will be killed 
 just as I reach there ". And he was. He fell shot through 
 the head as he came to the abatis. McClean lost his arm 
 a moment later at the same spot. As the Regiment was 
 falling back, a man of Company G, Franz Pofienberger, 
 
SPOTTSYLVANIA— Oae year after the Battle 
 {Frofft a photograph taken at that time.) 
 
The Battle of Spottsylvania Court- House. 223 
 
 received, perhaps, the most awful injury ever received by 
 any man in the command, and still breathed. A solid shot 
 or large piece of shell struck him in the body, literally 
 teaj-ing him to atoms, breaking the large bones and driving 
 them through the flesh. He fell near the colors, and, 
 notwithstanding the fearful injuries received, lived, 
 seemingly sensible, for half an hour. No matter how 
 terrible the surroundings in a fight, there seemed to be a 
 ludicrous incident sure to pop up and cause a smile. One 
 of these was when Robert Glendenning, of Company K, 
 had his wig carried away by a passing shell, and the boys 
 thought his head was gone, but he turned up all right, 
 though very bald. It was a beautiful spring morning when 
 the fight of May 18th took place. The rain had ceased and 
 all nature seemed refreshed ; but on the ground occupied 
 and fought over by the Regiment on this morning, 
 nothing of charm or beauty was visible. The dead of the 
 12th were there, unburied, and the scene was one of horror 
 beyond the power of language to describe. The sight 
 was hideous, the stench overpowering and sickening. No 
 sooner was the fight over than almost the entire Regiment 
 was ordered out on the picket line, remaining there during 
 all the day and night, and getting a fearful dose of the 
 offensive surroundings. The skirmish line ran over the 
 part of the battlefield where the decaying dead were most 
 numerous. During the day the pioneers did all in their 
 power to cover up the ghastly sight, by digging up the 
 earth and throwing it over the bodies — graves were a 
 luxury not to be thought of. Darkness settled over 
 the scene long before even a tithe of the dead could 
 be hidden from view, and the night was passed with 
 the living and the dead mingled together. The men of 
 both armies were so totally exhausted that many slept 
 
224 The Story of the Ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Standing at their posts, and the officers were forced to keep 
 moving along the line during the entire night to keep the 
 men awake. Lieutenant Cosslett and a sergeant, while 
 making the rounds, lost their way in the darkness, and 
 wandered among the pickets of the enemy, whom they 
 found all fast asleep, and hence got back to their own 
 line in safety. Captain Frank R. Lieb, of Company G, 
 was in command of the brigade picket, and received great 
 praise for the tour of duty. It was a night of horror and 
 hardship that will never be forgotten by the members of 
 the One Hundred and Sixteenth. 
 
 After daylight on the 19th, Captain Lieb was ordered 
 to withdraw the pickets, the corps having moved to the 
 left. He found great difficulty in getting them away, but 
 succeeded in forming and falling back to a wood, pressed 
 by a force of Confederate cavalry that had suddenly 
 appeared. When the Captain reached the shelter of the 
 timber, he fully expected to be captured with all his force, 
 but, fortunately, and much to his surprise he found, just 
 emerging from the forest, a force of Union cavalry who 
 charged forward and struck the Confederate force in 
 the open. Lieb and his men had the privilege and 
 pleasure of witnessing one of the prettiest and most 
 spirited hand-to-hand cavalry fights imaginable. It was 
 of short duration, however, the Union men forcing the 
 Confederates back and allowing the pickets to withdraw. 
 While falling back one of the men of Company G had 
 his leg cut off by a shell, and Lieb and the men put him 
 in a blanket and carried him for nearly two miles, but 
 were finally forced to leave the poor fellow to die on the 
 roadside. During the night of the 18th, the Second Corps 
 moved to the vicinity of Anderson's Mills, on the Nye 
 River. 
 
The Battle of Spottsylvania Court- House. 225 
 
 The glorious fight made by Captain Frank R. Lieb, 
 on May 18th, calls for more than a passing notice. The 
 brave fight that he made on the skirmish line was 
 witnessed by thousands, and General Hancock personally 
 thanked him, bringing blushes to his cheeks that were 
 almost as red as the blood that was streaming down his 
 face at the moment. No time was lost in acknowledging 
 the gallantry of the captain, and the following was issued 
 a few days after the event : — 
 
 Headquarters Second Brigade, First Division, Second Corps. 
 (Orders) June ist, 1864. 
 
 The following is an extract from a communication just received from 
 Headquarters First Division : 
 
 The Brigadier-General commanding division desires that Captain F. 
 R. Lieb, One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and 
 Lieutenant Lynch, Company A, Sixty-ninth New York Volunteers, be in 
 some way commended for their gallantry while on duty on the picket line 
 lately. 
 
 It is with great satisfaction that the Colonel commanding the brigade 
 communicates the above to the command, and he hopes that for the 
 creditable manner in which those officers have conducted themselves, they 
 may be duly rewarded whenever an occasion may present itself. 
 
 By order of Colonel R. Byrnes, 
 
 Commanding Brigade. 
 (Signed) P. N. Black, 
 
 Lieutenant and A. A. A. G. 
 
 The above bore the following indorsements : — 
 
 This is a case worthy of attention. Captain Lieb's recommendations 
 are such that I have no hesitation in endorsing them, and recommend a 
 favorable result to his application. Respectfully forwarded, 
 
 WiNFiELD S. Hancock, 
 
 Major-General, U. S. A. 
 
 The within order complimentary to Captain F. R. Lieb, late of the 
 One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, is heartily endorsed. 
 
 U. S. Grant. 
 
226 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 In addition to this the Captain was raised to the rank 
 of Major, by brevet, and all the honors were well deserved 
 by one of the most unassuming, gentlest and bravest of 
 men. Captain Lieb was not the only one distinguished 
 for bravery on the 18th. Sergeant Alex. Chisholm and 
 private Alfred Bails did a very noble act in rescuing a 
 wounded comrade, though of another regiment and corps. 
 After the fight, and when the command had fallen back 
 behind the breast- works, a wounded soldier was seen lying 
 out between the lines among the dead. He was fearfully 
 wounded, and his limbs were crushed. Lieutenant Cope 
 called for some one to volunteer and go out with him to 
 bring the poor fellow in. Chisholm and Bails grabbed 
 up a blanket, jumped over the revetement, ran out to 
 where the man was lying, rolled him over into the blanket 
 and succeeded in getting him in. Fortunately, neither of 
 them were hit, but it was a close call, as the balls whistled 
 wickedly around them ; most likely, however, the 
 Confederates fired a little wild, and were not over anxious 
 to kill — like our own men, they admired bravery, and 
 were more than willing to give a gallant soul a chance 
 for life. 
 
 The 19th was a quiet day of perfect stillness until about 
 four o'clock in the afternoon, when a burst of firing on the 
 right told of a Confederate attack. The assault proved to 
 be an attack by General Ewell, who had struck the right 
 of the Second Corps on the Fredericksburg Road, at that 
 time the Hne of supply. The Regiment was promptly 
 under arms, but the attack was beaten off without the One 
 Hundred and Sixteenth being called out of bivouac. This 
 attack of Ewell was the reason of the Regiment getting 
 a good night's rest, for had it not taken place, the 
 command would have marched at midnight, or shortly 
 
The Battle of Spoiisylvania Court-House. 227 
 
 after that hour, as the following order had already been 
 received at Corps Headquarters : — 
 
 Headquarters Army of the Potomac. 
 
 May 19th, 1864, 1.30 p. M. 
 Major-General Hancock, 
 
 Commanding Second Corps. 
 
 The Major-General commanding directs that you move with your 
 
 corps to-morrow, at two a. m., to Bowling Green and Milford Station, via 
 
 Guinea Station, and take position on the right bank of the Mattapony, if 
 
 practicable. Should you encounter the enemy, you will attack him 
 
 vigorously, and report immediately to these headquarters, which you will 
 
 keep advised of your progress from time to time. Brigadier-General 
 
 Torbert, with a cavalry force and a battery of horse artillery, is ordered to 
 
 report to you for duty. An engineer officer and guide will be sent to you. 
 
 Canvas pontoons will likewise be put at your disposal. 
 
 A. A. Humphreys, 
 
 Major-General, Chief of Staff. 
 
 On the 20th, General Thomas A. Smyth, who had 
 commanded the Irish Brigade during the spring campaign 
 up to this date, was assigned to a brigade in the Second 
 Division. He was succeeded by the senior officer of the 
 brigade, Colonel Richard Byrne, of the Twenty-eighth 
 Massachusetts. The departure of General Smyth was 
 deeply regretted by every one. He was a very handsome 
 man, of commanding appearance, winning and lovable, 
 a noble soldier of great talent. He had been a soldier 
 from early youth, having participated in an ill-fated 
 expedition to Central America in 1854, where he saw 
 some hard service. He had entered the field in the very 
 beginning of the war, and rose rapidly to command of the 
 First Regiment, Delaware Infantry. He was mortally 
 wounded at Farmville, Va., a day or two before the 
 surrender of the Confederate Army and lived until the 
 next morning. General Grant called at the farm house 
 where he was dying and told him of the triumph of the 
 
228 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Union cause. He breathed his last a few moments 
 afterwards, cheered by the knowledge that his life was 
 not given in vain. He was, perhaps, the last officer 
 killed in the war ; certainly the last general officer. He 
 is buried at Wilmington, Del., on the banks of the historic 
 Brandywine. 
 
 Instead of marching at two a. m., on the morning of 
 the 20th, the troops remained in bivouac until ten p. m. 
 of that day, and then marched all night, the men in 
 excellent spirits, having recovered from the fatigue of the 
 18th by the twenty-four hours' rest ; crossed the Freder- 
 icksburg and Richmond Railroad, and at daybreak on the 
 morning of the 21st, reached Guinea Station. Here the 
 Union cavalry met and drove in the videttes of the enemy 
 and, after a slight halt on the road, pushed on and reached 
 Bowling Green at ten o'clock, and Milford Station at 
 about noon. Colonel Mulholland, who was wounded on 
 May 10th, rejoined the Regiment on this day. 
 
 Here the cavalry under General Torbert had a lively 
 fight with the enemy's infantry that he found intrenched 
 on the north bank of the Mattapony, By a most brilliant 
 dash Torbert captured the rifle pits, taking sixty prisoners 
 of Kemper's Brigade, driving the balance across the river 
 and saving the bridge. Barlow's and Gibbons's divisions 
 crossed the stream promptly. The men of the Regiment, 
 wading through the water, pushed on for a mile and began 
 intrenching on the high lands on the south bank. The 
 firing sounded heavy as the enemy retired, but the 
 Regiment lost none. Worked on the intrenchments until 
 quite dark and resumed digging early on the morning of 
 the 22d. The day was warm and the work trying. 
 Captain Nowlen, overcome by the heat, fainted in the 
 trenches but refused to go to the rear even for an hour. 
 
The Battle of Spottsylvania Court-House. 229 
 
 The works were completed by noon and then a grateful 
 rest, but not without anxiety on the part of all. 
 
 The Second Corps occupied a position on the extreme 
 left flank of the whole army, far from supports, and no one 
 knew the moment that it might be called upon to meet 
 the attack of a much larger force. However, when the 
 intrenchments were finished, all rested easily, as the works 
 were of the strongest character and were viewed by the 
 officers of the other corps with astonishment and admira- 
 tion. One could hardly believe that men could construct 
 works of so powerful a nature in so short a time. 
 
 May 23d, roll call at daybreak and marched at nine a. m. 
 as rear guard of the Second Corps. Arrived at the North 
 Anna River near Chesterfield in the afternoon and found 
 the cavalry engaged in trying to drive the enemy across 
 and capture the bridge. The Union artillery formed on 
 the high lands of the north bank and opened fire on the 
 enemy's infantry that could be seen forming on the opposite 
 bank. In the evening the troops charged across the fields 
 and drove the enemy from a small redoubt that covered 
 the bridge, capturing the works, some few prisoners and 
 saving the bridge that the retiring troops endeavored to 
 burn. 
 
 The fighting had been severe and the cannonading 
 heavy, but with but slight loss in the Regiment during the 
 afternoon. Rested on arms all night and crossed the river 
 early on the 24th on a pontoon bridge that had been laid 
 by the engineers. The firing and fighting was severe 
 during the whole day and the position the Regiment had 
 was a very trying one, supposed to be on reserve, yet so 
 close to the line of battle that the men were exposed and 
 for a large part of the day were under fire. 
 
 The wounded were carried past in great numbers and 
 
230 The Story of the Ii6th Regiment. 
 
 many of the wounds were of the most ghastly description. 
 Everyone would rather have been in the front line where 
 they could have been firing and join in the excitement of 
 the fray rather than be waiting during the long day under 
 fire and witnessing the depressing scenes in the rear. 
 The Regiment was very fortunate, however, in losing 
 but few men in the fight of the North Anna. The fight 
 continued all day of the 24th and late into the night and 
 was renewed early on the morning of the 25th, lasting all 
 day. The artillery fire was incessant and heavy, but the 
 position occupied by the One Hundred and Sixteenth was 
 sheltered and the fire passed over, the shells exploding far 
 in the rear and hence the loss was light. 
 
 May 26th, roll call at four a. m. A morning of exciting 
 rumors, and at eight o'clock the Regiment was detailed to 
 destroy the tracks of the Fredericksburg and Richmond 
 Railroad near Milford Station. Crossed to the north bank 
 of the river and soon got to work ripping up the track 
 and destroying the rails. Immense fires were made with 
 the ties over which the iron rails were laid and, when red 
 hot, were bent out of shape. A good day's work was 
 done, everyone turning in with a will and enjoying the 
 novelty of the employment. During the afternoon some 
 of the enemy's cavalry succeeded in getting around in the 
 rear of the Union Army and amused themselves by firing 
 at a very long range at the members of the Regiment who 
 were at work. A squadron of cavalry went after them, 
 charged the distant wood that sheltered them and drove 
 them away. After night-fall returned to the brigade, drew 
 rations, returned to the north bank of the river and rested 
 until morning. 
 
 May 27th, marched at ten a. m. A long and trying day, 
 dusty roads, heat oppressive and water scarce, but men 
 
The Battle of Spoltsylvania Court-House. 231 
 
 cheerful and all filled with hope that soon a great victory 
 would reward the labor and suffering. Passed, en route. 
 Concord Church, and camped at ten p. m. within three 
 miles of the Pamunky River. 
 
 May 28th, roll call at daybreak, marched at six a. m. 
 and reached the banks of the river. Crossed at noon at 
 Huntley's, about four miles above Hanovertown, advanced 
 some distance and formed line of battle between the river 
 and Haw's Shop, stacked arms and started vigorously to 
 work, digging rifle pits and getting under cover. Heavy 
 and continuous firing heard in the front, where Sheridan 
 and his cavalry were having a severe fight with the 
 enemy's cavalry reinforced with some of their infantry. 
 Night came and we learned that Sheridan had driven the 
 enemy towards Richmond. 
 
 May 29th, completed the rifle pits and at eleven a. m, 
 resumed the march to the front and towards the 
 Tolopotomy. The enemy reported close at hand and 
 everyone expected a general engagement. The march 
 was slow,, the Irish Brigade and Barlow's Division in 
 the advance, and after reaching Haw's Shop, saw the 
 evidence of the cavalry fight of the day before. Dead men 
 and horses were lying in the roads and fields everywhere. 
 The trees were torn by the shells, fences leveled and farm 
 houses and barns filled with the wounded. Barlow's 
 Division met with no opposition until the column arrived 
 at the junction of the Cold Harbor and Hanover Court 
 House roads, when some cavalry disputed the way, but 
 were quickly driven back. On the Tolopotomy the enemy 
 were found in force, strongly intrenched, and line of battle 
 was formed, Birney's and Gibbons'.s Divisions of the 
 Second Corps coming up and forming on Barlow's right 
 and left. The corps' artillery went into position along the 
 
232 The Siory of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 ridge, and the prospects were that a great battle was close 
 at hand. Colonel Mulholland was detailed as corps officer 
 of the day and put in command of the picket line. 
 
 May 30th, heavy artillery duel nearly all day, but 
 towards evening the Union guns succeeded in silencing 
 those hi the enemy. A delightful summer day, with 
 charges on the enemy's works at intervals. General 
 Brooke with his brigade carried the Confederate rifle-pits 
 in a dashing fight. 
 
 May 31, the battle was continued. Early in the day 
 General Hancock, with the Second Corps, resumed his 
 efforts to force the crossing of the river. The whole corps' 
 line of battle was forced close up to that of the enemy at 
 all points, but the position was found too strong to carry. 
 The skirmishing and fighting on the picket line was 
 heavy and incessant, and amounted almost to a battle. 
 Colonel Mulholland, in command of the line, was shot 
 through the body, and many men of the Regiment, who 
 were on the line, were killed and wounded. .Lieutenant 
 Yocum, with a detail of the command, gained new laurels 
 by charging and capturing a part of the Confederate line, 
 but lost nearly all his men. Two balls passed through the 
 Lieutenant's blouse, but he was unhurt. The losses 
 in the Second Corps at the battles of North Anna, 
 Pamunky and Tolopotomy were 1,651 officers and men 
 killed, wounded and missing. The few reported missing 
 were, no doubt, nearly all killed, as but few prisoners were 
 taken by the enemy. 
 
 During the battle of Tolopotomy an amusing, but 
 rather tragic, incident occurred. While a limber chest of 
 one of the batteries was being refilled with ammunition 
 in the yard of a farm-house in the rear, a negro woman, 
 crazed with excitement and fright, came out of the kitchen 
 
The Battle of Spottsylvania Cotirt-House. 233 
 
 with a shovelful of hot coals, which she emptied into the 
 chest. In the explosion that followed two of the artillerists 
 were killed while the woman escaped uninjured. A most 
 ludicrous incident of the battle was a cool request, in 
 writing, in language more vigorous than polite, and 
 coming from some ladies living in a house that stood in 
 the line of battle. They desired that General Hancock 
 would change the line of battle so that they would not be 
 disturbed. The General was a very courteous man, 
 indeed, but could not comply with their wishes. He sent 
 an ambulance, however, to convey them to a place of 
 safety. They positively refused to leave the house and 
 remained in the cellar, while many shells struck the house. 
 They were Confederate missiles, and had the ladies been 
 injured it would have been at the hands of their friends. 
 Nevertheless, they notified the General that "if any of 
 them were killed their blood would rest on his soul 
 forever". Fortunately for all, the ladies lived through the 
 battle unharmed. 
 
 June 1st, remained in the rifle pits all day, the firing 
 being continuous, as the pickets were engaged incessantly. 
 A rigid inspection of the Regiment at five p. m., and 
 orders to march after nightfall. After dark, withdrew 
 from the line of the Tolopotomy and began marching for 
 Cold Harbor. Marched all night and arrived near the 
 coming battlefield on June 2d. 
 
234 The, Story of the 1 1 6th Regiment. 
 
 CHAPTER -XI. 
 
 THE BLOODIEST SPOT ON EARTH. 
 
 Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Salem Church, The 
 
 Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Spottsylvania Court-House, 
 
 Todd's Tavern, Po River, Bank's Ford. 
 
 piFTY miles south of the capital of our country there is 
 an old Virginia city, quiet, quaint and beautiful — 
 Fredericksburg on the Rappahannock. There is a peculiar 
 charm about the ancient town, and it is replete with 
 historic interest. Mary, the venerable mother of Wash- 
 ington, lived and died at Fredericksburg, and there the 
 Father of his Country would often come to visit her. It 
 was before the days of steam and train, and at least a day 
 and a half from Mt. Vernon by coach and four was 
 necessary when Washington made a call of affection on 
 the old lady. It is not at all likely that Mary Washington 
 ever saw her son after he became President, as she died 
 in October, 1789, Washington having been inaugurated 
 in New York on April 30 of the same year, the distance 
 separating son and mother being very great in those 
 days of stage coaches. She had, however, the satisfaction 
 of knowing of the final success of the Revolution and of 
 the great honors paid to her distinguished son. 
 
 The old homestead of Mary Washington is still 
 standing, and just in the rear, with only the garden 
 separating, is " Kinmore ", the house of her son-in-law, 
 Colonel Fielding Lewis, another old-time colonial mansion, 
 and very interesting it is. The Hessians, after the 
 surrender of Cornwallis, were camped for some time on 
 
The Bloodiest Spot on Earth. 235 
 
 the plantation, and there were artists among them who 
 decorated the interior of "Kinmore" with plastic 
 ornaments of much merit. Colonel Lewis was married 
 to Betty, the sister of Washington, and the mother loved 
 to stroll through the flowers of the back garden and over 
 to "Kinmore" to spend the evening and take tea with 
 Betty Lewis. 
 
 Mary Washington was buried in the field just outside 
 of the town. Her monument stood in full view of the 
 Union and Confederate lines during the battle, and was 
 smashed and shattered by the shells of both armies, the 
 fragments still lying scattered on the ground. After the 
 war the ladies of the South raised a more costly and 
 stately memorial by the grave, and because of their love 
 for the memory of the mother of Washington, we say : 
 " God bless the ladies of the South !" 
 
 About twelve miles south from Fredericksburg is 
 Spottsylvania Court-House, and about the same distance 
 west, perhaps a little more, is the Wilderness Tavern. 
 Draw a line from each of these points to the others — 
 from Fredericksburg to Spottsylvania, thence to the 
 Wilderness Tavern, and back to Fredericksburg — and 
 you have a triangle in which were fought several of the 
 greatest battles of the War of the Rebellion. Or, perhaps 
 better still, draw a circle — say, twelve miles, or a little 
 more, in diameter — with Fredericksburg, Spottsylvania 
 and the Wilderness Tavern on the outer edge, and inside 
 that circle were fought the battles of the first and second 
 Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Salem Heights, the 
 Wilderness, Po River, Todd's Tavern, Laurel Hill, 
 Spottsylvania, Spottsylvania Court-House, Mine Run, 
 and several minor fights and engagements. 
 
 Within the circle more men have, perhaps, been killed 
 
236 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 and wounded than on any ground of equal area on earth. 
 Forty years have made but Httle change in the appearance 
 of the country. Signs of war are still strongly in evidence, 
 the whole land torn, seamed and crossed in all directions 
 by earthworks and revetements. Here and there are a 
 few scattered farms, where the plowshare oftentimes turns 
 up human bones, and where little children run out to the 
 roadside to offer to the passing stranger relics of war, 
 rusted bayonets, bursted shells and mouldering rifles, on 
 which years of exposure have left their mark. 
 
 The Wilderness is as of yore, and but little changed. 
 Woods solemn and lonely ; primeval forests, where the 
 wild turkey finds a home, where the piping quail greets 
 the morning and the whooping owl and melancholy 
 whip-poor-will make evening sad; their song, harmonizing 
 with the wind sobbing through the templed trees, sounds 
 an eternal requiem over ground forever consecrated by 
 martyr blood. Intervals there are where the undergrowth 
 is rich and luxuriant, but dead trunks of massive trees, 
 charred and blackened by fire, mark spots where flames 
 swept over the fighting line, burning up alike the dead 
 and the wounded. 
 
 The same remarkable and appalling percentage of 
 killed and wounded in individual commands in single 
 engagements that has made the world's record for 
 heroism was repeated time and again on every battlefield 
 within the circle of fire and blood. Let us recall some of 
 the organizations that lost 50 per cent., or more, on this 
 ground, keeping in mind that there is no record of any 
 European regiment that ever lost so great a percentage 
 in battle. 
 
 The first Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, was 
 redolent with heroic deeds. The fact that the battle was 
 
The Bloodiest Spot on Earth. 2'67 
 
 a mistake and a blunder, and the sacrifice useless, 
 detracts not in the least from the honor that is rendered 
 to brave men ; but when we recognize the fact that the 
 troops marched to death, knowing how hopeless the 
 struggle, we must acknowledge that the fact but adds to 
 their glory. 
 
 The Twentieth Massachusetts was a great regiment, 
 and lost at Fredericksburg 68.4 per cent, killed and 
 wounded. It was in Norman Hall's Brigade of the 
 Second Corps. The fire of Barksdale's Brigade of 
 Mississippians was so deadly that it was found impossible 
 to construct the pontoon bridge opposite the city, and the 
 engineers were forced to give up the job. ThQ fire of one 
 hundred and fifty guns was concentrated on the river 
 front, but even that failed to drive back the Confederate 
 riflemen. Their fire was still sufficiently effective to 
 prevent the completion of the bridge. It was then that 
 the brigade of Norman Hall took up the work. The 
 Seventh Michigan and Nineteenth Maine, manning the 
 boats, rowed across under the terrific fire, and leaped 
 ashore to attack the enemy. The Twentieth Massachu- 
 setts was one of the first regiments to cross, and to it was 
 assigned the task of clearing the streets of the town. In 
 column of companies, led by Captain George N. Macy, 
 the command forced its way literally inch by inch, met by 
 a severe and deadly musketry fire from house tops and 
 windows, but finally succeeded in reaching the main street, 
 the Confederates giving up the struggle and retiring to the 
 heights beyond the city. It was a gallant fight and cost 
 the Twentieth just 68.4 per cent, in killed and wounded 
 and not one missing. The command had fought on the 
 Peninsula, at Antietam, and on every battlefield from 
 the very beginning, and after Fredericksburg there was 
 
238 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 but little left of it. Four months afterwards it fought at 
 Chancellorsville, and seven months afterwards went into 
 action at Gettysburg with 230 officers and men and lost 
 124 of them, killed and wounded. The Regiment had a 
 remarkable fatality in field and staff officers — the noble 
 Colonel Paul Revere killed at Gettysburg; Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Ferdinand Dreher killed at Fredericksburg ; 
 Major Henry L. Abbott killed at the Wilderness ; Major 
 Henry L. Patton killed at Deep Bottom ; Surgeon Edward 
 H. Revere killed at Antietam ; and Adjutant Henry M. 
 Bond killed in the Wilderness. This regiment had, all 
 told, eighteen commissioned officers killed in battle. 
 Captain George N. Macy was the senior captain — but a 
 very young man — and, as acting major, commanded the 
 regiment in the battle. When General Howard asked 
 Colonel Hall who was to command the leading regiment 
 and he pointed to Macy, Howard exclaimed, "What, 
 that boy !" Colonel Hall replied, "Yes, that boy is all 
 right and will lead it, and the regiment will follow any- 
 where you wish". The "boy" afterwards lost an arm at 
 Gettysburg, and at the close of the war was a Brigadier- 
 General and Brevet Major-General. 
 
 Meade's advance on the left, where, with the Pennsyl- 
 vania Reserves, he struck the right of the Confederate 
 line at Hamilton Heights, was a wonderful and brilliant 
 charge. Looking over the plain where the charge was 
 made, and remembering that it was swept by the enemy's 
 artillery, one is astonished to think that the Reserves ever 
 reached the Confederate line, but they did, and drove it in 
 and back through the timber, and, in a hand-to-hand 
 fight. Sergeant Charles C. Upjohn, of the Second 
 Reserves, tore from the hands of the color-bearer the 
 flag of the Nineteenth Georgia Regiment, the only flag 
 
The Bloodiest Spot on Earth. 239 
 
 captured in the battle. Had Meade been left to his fate 
 and not promptly supported, the Pennsylvania Reserve 
 division that he so nobly led would have been annihilated; 
 but General William B. Franklin, seeing the trouble, 
 promptly put in nearly the whole of the Left Grand 
 Division, and the Reserves were saved, but not until after 
 having met with an appalling loss. Gibbons's Division 
 of the First Corps went into action on the right of the 
 Reserves, and two regiments of that command were 
 distinguished, not only because of the great loss, but of 
 the splendid fight they made, the Sixteenth Maine losing 
 54 per cent, killed and wounded, and the Twenty-sixth 
 New York 56 per cent. 
 
 The Sixteenth Maine was not exactly a new regiment, 
 but had never been under fire until the morning of 
 Fredericksburg. On that day it proved itself one of the 
 finest regiments that ever left the Pine Tree State, and 
 Colonel Charles W. Tilden made a name for himself in 
 the half hour that the command was under fire. Seeing 
 that he was losing many of his men while holding a 
 position to which he had been assigned, he led a 
 remarkably successful charge on the works in his front, 
 capturing several hundred prisoners, and in the hand-to- 
 hand fight the bayonet was not only used freely, but relied 
 upon almost entirely. The regiment advanced unsupported 
 and alone, and, after taking the line of works, pushed into 
 the woods and struck an overwhelming force of the 
 enemy. Colonel Tilden was compelled to order a retreat, 
 but not until he had left just 54 per cent, of his command 
 dead and wounded on the ground. The first one struck 
 was the youngest soldier in the regiment. As the line 
 was moving forward, Benny Worth, a boy of 15, was 
 struck in the head by a piece of shell. For a moment he 
 
240 The Story of the zi6ih Regiment. 
 
 was stunned and dazed, but, quickly recovering himself 
 and pushing the blood back out of his eyes, he laughed 
 and said, " All right ; this is what I came for". He was 
 ordered to go to the rear ; but no — he quietly picked up 
 his musket and went on, never giving up until the last 
 shot was fired. Charley and Monroe Lyford were 
 marching side by side. They were brothers, and Charley 
 was one of the brightest and handsomest boys in the 
 regiment. He fell dead, and Monroe, as he saw him fall, 
 became frenzied with anger, and, leaping over the works 
 with the fury of a madman and with lightning speed, 
 began bayoneting right and left, screaming, " You have 
 killed my brother ; curse you ! " 
 
 The horrors of the battle are never so great as to 
 prevent a smile, and a veritable laugh passed through the 
 ranks when a piece of shell struck one of the boys' 
 knapsacks, tore it open and lifted a pack of cards high in 
 the air, intact, when they suddenly spread out and came 
 down like a shower of autGmn leaves. 
 
 The Twenty-sixth New York was in the brigade 
 commanded by Colonel Peter Lyle. The regiment went 
 into action commanded by Colonel Gilbert S. Jennings. 
 He fell wounded early in the day, and Major Ezra T. 
 Wetmore commanded. The regiment fought side by side 
 with the Ninetieth Pennsylvania Infantry, from this city, 
 and the two commands were placed in position by 
 Colonel Peter Lyle. I regret that I cannot give particu- 
 lars of the fight of the Twentj^-sixth. No history of the 
 regiment has been published and no data are obtainable, 
 but the fact of losing 56 per cent, killed and wounded in 
 one morning's fight is sufficient to embalm the organization 
 in glory. 
 
 The charge of Hancock's Division on Marye's Heights^ 
 
The Bloodiest Spot on Earth. 241 
 
 in the rear of the town, was truly a superb exhibition of 
 American heroism. Going into an utterly hopeless 
 struggle, simply to death and slaughter, in silence and 
 without enthusiasm, was a supreme act of self-sacrifice at 
 the call of duty and obedience. It was a tragic blunder, 
 but a splendid effort. " O est magnifique, mais ce ti est 
 pas la guerre" . Marching on the deserted streets that 
 were raked by fire, the only living thing in sight a solitary 
 pussy cat sitting on a gate post, mewing dolefully ; 
 passing out of the town, debouching into the fields and 
 forming a line as perfect as on dress parade ; then the 
 advance of 1700 yards under a blizzard of shell and 
 musketry, the men falling every step, singly and in 
 groups, without any chance to strike back or even return 
 the fire, only to march forward to be crushed and hurled 
 back in defeat. It took great courage to advance under 
 the circumstances, yet the division line did go forward 
 without a break, the colors flying, and the gaps knocked 
 in the ranks closing up as quickly as the rain of iron 
 made them. And then the few minutes' firing at the base 
 of Marye's Heights while the sheet of fire leaped from 
 the stone wall by the sunken road, the order to fall back, 
 and all was over. 
 
 Of the gallant division that Hancock led forward 
 exactly 40.2 per cent, were dead and wounded on the 
 frozen ground. The First Brigade, General Caldwell, 
 had lost 50 per cent, killed and wounded, and six 
 of the seventeen regiments that composed the division 
 had each lost 50 per cent, or over. None were missing, 
 and no prisoners were left in the hands of the enemy. 
 The heaviest loss in killed and wounded was in the Eighty- 
 first Pennsylvania Infantry, 67.4 per cent. The next was 
 in the Fifth New Hampshire, 60 per cent. Then came 
 
242 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 the Sixty-ninth New York, with 53 per cent. ; then the 
 Fifty-third Pennsylvania, Seventh New York and Eighty- 
 eighth New York, each with 60 per cent, killed and 
 wounded. The Fifty-third Pennsylvania Regiment was 
 commanded by Colonel John R. Brooke, now a Major- 
 General of the regular army. Hancock said of him : 
 " Being unhurt, he was enabled to perform the highest 
 service to his country, and added to the laurels he and 
 his gallant regiment had already won on many fields ". 
 
 The Eighty-first Pennsylvania was commanded in the 
 battle by Colonel H. Boyd McKeen, a noble young officer, 
 who was wounded at Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg and 
 Chancellorsville, and killed at Cold Harbor. 
 
 The Fifth New Hampshire was ■ led into the fight by 
 Colonel Edward E. Cross, who, six months afterward, was 
 killed at Gettysburg. He fell early in the action with five 
 wounds. Major Edward E. Sturtevant then took command, 
 and was almost instantly killed. Captains Perry, Murray 
 and Moore and Lieutenants Ballon, Nettleton and Little fell 
 dead in quick succession. The color sergeant and all the 
 color guards went down almost in a heap. Nineteen officers 
 went in with the regiment, and seventeen of them were 
 killed or wounded. 
 
 The Irish and the Germans fought nobly side by side 
 for the land of their adoption, and both nationalities were 
 distinguished. The Sixty-ninth New York (Irish) was 
 commanded by Colonel Robert Nugent, who fell badly 
 wounded. Nineteen commissioned officers went into 
 the fight with him, and sixteen of them were killed and 
 wounded. 
 
 The Seventh New York (German) was commanded 
 by Colonel George von Schack, and went in with twenty- 
 five officers, of whom eighteen were killed and wounded. 
 
JOHN R BROOKE, MAJOR-GF.NERAL, U S. A 
 
The Bloodiest Spot on Earth. 243 
 
 Colonel von Schack was a handsome and accomplished 
 officer. He was a captain of cavalry in the army of 
 Prussia. Securing three years' leave of absence, he came 
 out here and commanded the New York regiment. He 
 was as brave as he was handsome. After the close of the 
 war he resigned his commission in the service of the King 
 of Prussia, and settled in New York. Believing that to 
 be an American citizen was better than to be a German 
 officer, he took out his papers and became a full-fledged 
 American, showing that he was as sensible as he was 
 gallant and brave. 
 
 It is difficult to say just what regiment went furthest, 
 or what colors were carried nearest to the celebrated stone 
 wall, and it is of -little moment, as they all were close, and 
 it is a question of a few yards, but there seems to be but 
 little doubt of the fact that the bodies found nearest to the 
 mouth of the Confederate guns were those of Major 
 Horgan and Adjutant Young, of the Eighty-eighth New 
 York. 
 
 The casualties among the officers were unusually 
 great. The field officers were ordered to dismount and 
 go in on foot, and regimental commanders walked in 
 front of the colors. This would account in a manner for 
 the severe loss, as the colors were conspicuous marks for 
 the^ enemy. Many of the regiments had three or four 
 commanders during the day. The Fifth New Hampshire 
 had five commanders, the first four being killed or 
 wounded. The Sixty-ninth New York was brought off 
 the field by the fourth commander, the first three being 
 killed or wounded. Colonel Nelson A. Miles commanded 
 his own regiment, Sixty-first New York, and also the 
 Sixty-fourth of that State. The third commander brought 
 the two regiments from the field. Hancock says of 
 
244 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Miles : " He was severely wounded, and conducted himself 
 in the most admirable and chivalrous manner, and his 
 command behaved with a steadiness unsurpassed by any 
 other troops ". While Miles was badly wounded, he 
 recovered quickly enough to be present at Chancellors- 
 ville, less than five months afterwards, to be terribly 
 wounded once again, distinguish himself still more and 
 gain a Congress Medal of Honor. The Chancellorsville 
 wound was pronounced by the surgeons mortal, the ball 
 passing through the bowels and fracturing the pelvic 
 bone. The doctors said that he had no right to live, and 
 declared that he could not, and for the honor of the 
 faculty he should certainly have died, but he still lives. 
 Miles is a hard man to kill, anyhow. 
 
 The One Hundred and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania had 
 two commanding officers. Colonel H. L. Brown, of Erie, 
 being wounded. The One Hundred and Sixteenth 
 Pennsylvania was brought from the field by the fourth 
 commander, the three field officers being wounded. The 
 Second Delaware had three commanding officers, the first 
 two being wounded. The Eighty-first Pennsylvania had 
 four commanding officers, the first three being shot down. 
 The Fifty-seventh New York had three commanders. 
 The Sixty-third New York had three commanders. The 
 Sixty-sixth New York had four. During the battle 
 Colonel James J. Bull and Captain JuHus Wehle were 
 killed, and another officer wounded, while in command. 
 The color sergeants and color guards of the different 
 commands suffered equally with the officers, many being 
 killed under the flags, but never did the colors fall but 
 gallant souls rushed forward to raise them. Not a color 
 was lost. The color sergeant and all the color guard of 
 the Sixty-ninth New York were shot down close to the 
 
The Bloodiest Spot on Earth. 245 
 
 enemy's guns, and when the regiment fell back the colors 
 were missing. Two days after, when the detail went back 
 to bury the dead, the color staff was found ; near it lay 
 the color sergeant, cold in death. When they were about 
 to lay the body in the shallow grave the flag was found 
 tucked into his blouse. In his dying agony he had 
 stripped it from the staff and placed it near his heart. 
 
 While the fighting at Chancellorsville, May 2d and 3d, 
 was severe and the losses in both armies very great, yet 
 there was but one regiment on record that lost in that 
 battle 50 per cent, in killed and wounded. It was the 
 One Hundred and Forty-first Pennsylvania Infantry, 
 recruited in Bradford, Susquehanna and Wayne counties, 
 of this State, by Colonel Henry J. Madill. The regiment 
 was heavily engaged during the evening of the 2d, and 
 was on the picket line and under fire during the entire 
 night of that day. On the morning of the 3d it charged 
 the enemy's line and fought with the greatest persistence 
 and courage. Lieutenant-Colonel Guy H. Watkins was 
 twice wounded, but refused to leave the field, and was 
 finally shot through the breast and taken prisoner by the 
 enemy. He was shortly afterwards exchanged, and was 
 killed in front of Petersburg, June 18th, 1864. Captains 
 Abram J. Swart and James L. Mumford and Lieutenant 
 Logan O. Tyler were killed, and Captain Tyler and 
 Lieutenants Ball, Hurst and Atkinson were wounded. 
 The color sergeant fell, and Captain Swart seized the flag, 
 raised it and fell dead. Twelve of the officers of the 
 regiment were killed and wounded, and, notwithstanding 
 the fearful loss at Chancellorsville, this magnificent 
 regiment, just three months afterwards, lost at Gettysburg 
 63 per cent, of those present, killed and wounded. 
 
 At one time during the heaviest firing the men seemed 
 
246 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 for a moment to waver. Human nature was exhausted, 
 and could stand no more — incessant marching and 
 fighting and want of sleep ; the men were becoming 
 dazed, and when half the command was down, dead or 
 wounded, there came a time when it would seem that the 
 brave line would give way. Colonel Henry J. Madill 
 quietly took the flag from the hands of the color-bearer, 
 and, planting the staff in the ground, with his hand on the 
 bunting, he burst into song with : 
 
 " Rally round the flag, boys, 
 Rally round the flag, 
 Shouting the battle cry of freedom." 
 
 The men took up the refrain, new life animated the 
 tired souls. Without another word the line braced up, 
 and many a man fell with the song on his lips. 
 
 The fighting at the second battle of Fredericksburg 
 was severe, and heroic actions were numerous, but as no 
 regiment lost 50 per cent, killed and wounded, we shall 
 pass it over. However, a day or two afterwards, at Salem 
 Heights, there were several commands that met with the 
 losses mentioned. The Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania had 
 every second officer and man killed or wounded. This 
 splendid Philadelphia regiment held an advanced position, 
 where the fighting was desperate and severe. The losses 
 among the officers were extremely heavy. All the field 
 and staff were killed or wounded. Colonel Gustavus W. 
 Town, Lieutenant-Colonel Elisha Hall, Adjutant Eugene 
 D. Dunton, Captain D. G. Chapman and Lieutenant 
 David T. Hailer were killed, and Major Thomas J. Town, 
 Captains H. Oscar Roberts and George Weest, and 
 Lieutenants Samuel H. Town, Frank Stewart, Samuel 
 H. Jones, Samuel Topham and William J. Gelson were 
 
The Bloodiest Spot on Earth. 247 
 
 wounded. The Ninety-fifth ranks with the Twentieth 
 Massachusetts in having the largest number of field and 
 staff officers of any regiment killed in battle, each having 
 six. Of the Ninety-fifth, Colonel John M. Gosline and 
 Major William B. Hubbs were killed at Gaines's Mill, 
 Colonel Town, Lieutenant-Colonel Hall and Adjutant 
 Dunton at Salem Heights, and Lieutenant-Colonel Edward 
 Carroll fell in the Wilderness. 
 
 The three Town boys were brothers, and the fact of all 
 three falling in the same battle, the Colonel being killed 
 and the Major and Lieutenant badly wounded, was one 
 of those coincidences that go to show the severity of the 
 fighting. 
 
 In the battle of Salem Heights the One Hundred and 
 Twenty-first New York made a great record and a noble 
 fight. The regiment was recruited in Otsego and 
 Herkimer counties, in New York State. The original 
 Colonel was Richard Franchot. He resigned early in the 
 war to take his seat in Congress, and a young graduate 
 of West Point, Emory Upton, succeeded him. The 
 organization was afterwards called " Upton's Regulars". 
 The regiment made a sweeping charge in this battle, 
 and burst through the lines of Confederates. The loss 
 in killed and wounded was 62 per cent., and the fight did 
 not last more than twenty minutes. Captains Nelson O. 
 Wendell and Thomas S. Arnold and Lieutenants Ford, 
 Upton, Doubleday and Bates were killed, and almost 
 every other officer was wounded. Just one year afterwards 
 Upton led the regiment in a cyclonic charge at Spottsyl- 
 vania, in which the command again suffered a fearful 
 loss. Captains Butt and Fish and Lieutenants Pierce 
 and Pettengill were killed. The regiment captured four 
 Confederate flags at Rappahannock Station and two at 
 
248 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Sailor's Creek. During its term of service it had fifteen 
 officers killed in battle and four died of disease, and 
 twenty-seven officers were wounded, and only two 
 regiments from New York, the Fortieth and Sixty-ninth, 
 had more men killed in battle. 
 
 In the Wilderness campaign promotion was rapid. 
 An officer who remained with his command was sure to 
 be quickly advanced or surely killed. The brigade to 
 which the writer was attached began the Wilderness 
 campaign May 5th with ten field officers present for duty. 
 Within six weeks six of the ten were dead, killed in 
 battle, and the other four were in the hospital badly 
 wounded, and the brigade was commanded by a captain. 
 The nine brigades of the Second Corps had thirty-seven 
 commanders during the first six weeks of that campaign. 
 An average of three to each brigade had been killed or 
 wounded. 
 
 The Ninety-third New York Infantry was recruited in 
 Washington county of that State, and on the first day of 
 the Wilderness made the sanguinary record of 60 per 
 cent, killed and wounded. The regiment fought in the 
 forest, in front of the Brock Road, just to the right of 
 the Orange plank road. It was in Hays's brigade of the 
 Second Corps, and was placed in position by General 
 Hancock himself. It held the extreme right of the corps, 
 and as the head of the column arrived near the point of 
 attack Hancock ordered Colonel Crocker to form line 
 quickly and move into the woods. Unsupported and 
 alone, the brave regiment advanced through a dense 
 thicket of bushes, briars and brambles, and within five 
 minutes was hotly engaged. The command had met the 
 head of Heth's division of Hill's corps. The regiment 
 made a glorious fight, holding the line with unflinching 
 
The Bloodiest Spot on Earth. 249 
 
 courage, although outnumbered and outflanked. Half an. 
 hour passed, with no supports or assistance coming, and 
 the reason then became apparent. General Hays, the 
 brigade commander, had been killed, and hence confusion. 
 Colonel Crocker, finding himself in command of the 
 brigade, hastened to bring up the other regiments, and 
 not a moment too soon. The brave boys of the Ninety- 
 third were still on the line, but 60 per cent, of them were 
 dead and wounded. After the sun went down and 
 darkness fell, the survivors, after sending the wounded to 
 the rear, gathered picks and spades and reverently buried 
 the dead on the line they had held so nobly. "Ah", said 
 one of them, " tenderly and with sad hearts we buried our 
 dead comrades. Parting with them in the dark forest was 
 a sad thing to do. We had long been friends, tried and 
 true friends ; we had messed together ; shared with them 
 our store of rations ; drank from the same canteen ; slept 
 under the same blanket in all kinds of weather, whether 
 the stars were shining or the storms were beating upon 
 us. In danger, shoulder to shoulder ; in sickness, hands 
 rough but tender soothing the fevered brow ; and so at 
 midnight we had them buried ; then, exhausted, we sank 
 to sleep by their new made graves until the morning, 
 when the thunder of cannon and rattle of musketry awoke 
 us to another day of strife". Four officers were among 
 the dead and thirteen others were sent to the rear 
 wounded. 
 
 The State of New Jersey gave to the Union many 
 noble regiments, but none superior to the Fifteenth 
 Infantry. It fought at Fredericksburg, and at Salem 
 Heights lost heavily. When the Wilderness campaign 
 opened it had been reduced in numbers to fifteen officers 
 and four hundred and twenty-nine muskets, and it crossed 
 
250 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 the Rapidan with Grant with this number. Of the four 
 hundred and forty-four total, three hundred fell at 
 Spottsylvania, one hundred and sixteen of them beingf 
 killed. Within two weeks the command was reduced to 
 four officers and one hundred and thirty-six muskets, and 
 the color sergeant and all the color guard, save one, had 
 been killed and wounded. Corporal Joseph G. Runkle, 
 of the color guard, had seized the flag when the color 
 sergeant fell. A few minutes afterwards he, too, was 
 mortally wounded. He was first shot in the right arm, 
 and it fell paralyzed by his side. He then raised the 
 colors in his left hand, and insisted upon carrying them 
 until the end of the fight, and then he lay down and died. 
 The remnant of the regiment fought under Sheridan in 
 the Shenandoah Valley, and sustained another terrible 
 percentage of loss at Cedar Creek, where Major Lambert 
 Boeman was killed. 
 
 Among the regiments with records of having lost 50 
 per cent, killed and wounded in single engagements, 
 those from our own State hold a distinguished place. The 
 Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry was one of the 
 regiments of Hancock's original brigade, and with that 
 command won distinction at Williamsburg, where, by its 
 excellent work, it contributed greatly to the victory. The 
 command formed one of the twelve picked regiments that,, 
 led by Colonel Emory Upton, made a charge on the 
 enemy's works at Spottsylvania on the evening of May 
 9th, 1864. The regiment crossed the Rapidan with five 
 hundred and thirty officers and men, and within six days,, 
 at the Wilderness and Spottsylvania, three hundred and 
 seventeen of them were killed and wounded. In the 
 charge of May 9th the loss was 57 per cent. On 
 the evening of that day the regiment, enierging from the 
 
The Bloodiest Spot on Earth. 251 
 
 woods where it had formed, was met by a sheet of fire 
 from the enemy's rifle pits, but, never faltering for a 
 moment, it rushed on, capturing the works, guns and 
 many prisoners. The enemy rallying in great force, the 
 Forty-ninth was compelled to abandon its captures. The 
 return was more terrible than the advance, the enemy 
 swarming on the flanks, and the whole plain over which 
 the regiment crossed being swept by fire. Colonel 
 Thomas M. Hulings, Lieutenant-Colonel John B. Miles, 
 Captain Robert C. Barr and Lieutenant Decatur G. Lytel 
 fell dead, and Captain Stuart and Lieutenants Thompson, 
 Irvin, Russell, Downing and Hylands were wounded. 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Miles at the moment of starting, 
 feeling that he was going to be killed, made the Adjutant 
 promise to have his body sent home. The dead, however, 
 were left in the hands of the enemy, and the spot where 
 Colonel Hulings and Lieutenant-Colonel Miles are buried 
 is unknown. So they sleep where they fell — no better or 
 more honorable sepulchre for a soldier. 
 
 Within the circle we are writing about, more than half 
 a million of men fought in the different battles, and 
 nineteen general officers were killed — ten Union and nine 
 Confederate. The Union Major-Generals were John 
 Sedgwick, Hiram G. Berry and Amiel W. Whipple, 
 Brevet Major-Generals James S. Wadsworth and Alex- 
 ander Hays, Brigadier-Generals George D. Bayard, 
 Conrad F. Jackson, Edmund Kirby, James C. Rice and 
 Thomas G. Stevenson. The Confederates were Lieutenant- 
 General Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson, Brigadier- 
 Generals Thomas R. R. Cobb, Junius Daniel, Abner 
 Perrin, Maxey Gregg, E. F. Paxton, J. M. Jones, Leroy 
 A. Stafford and Micah Jenkins. 
 
 Sixteen thousand five hundred Union soldiers are 
 
252 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 buried in the National Cemetery, and many thousands in 
 that dedicated to the Confederates, but this is but a part 
 of the dead. The whole ground is a vast cemetery. 
 Chaplain Haines, of the Fifteenth New Jersey, notes in 
 his diary : " We halted in the evening for a short time. 
 Private Berry died, and we buried him at midnight in an 
 orchard, rolling him up in a shelter tent and covering him 
 with green boughs, and then hurried on". Again he 
 writes : " We tried to bury our dead comrades, and 
 succeeded in laying Captains Shimer and Walker, 
 Lieutenant Justice and eight others into shallow graves, 
 and then we were summoned to follow the regiment, and 
 we had to leave Lieutenant Vanvoy and some forty others 
 of the regiment unburied ". 
 
 Yes, in the gardens and orchards, in the deep woods 
 and by murmuring streams, everywhere throughout the 
 region, the men of both armies lie singly and in platoons, 
 and where the forest fires swept through the fighting 
 ranks their sacred dust rests among the fallen leaves. 
 Brave men from every state in the Union met and fought 
 here. 
 
 The splendid fighting and the supreme heroism 
 displayed by the citizen-soldiers of both North and South 
 on this ground, and on every battlefield of the Civil War, 
 have never been equaled by any army that ever marched 
 on earth, and will never be excelled while time endures. 
 
Cold Harbor. 253 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 COLD HARBOR. 
 
 T^HE night march to Cold Harbor was one of the most 
 trying experiences. It tvas very dark and very warm, 
 the dust stifling and no water to be had. The road was 
 unknown, and Captain Paine, of the engineers, who was 
 sent to lead the column and show the way, in his efforts to 
 find a short cut, got the troops entangled in by-paths 
 where artillery could not follow and much time was lost. 
 In consequence the head of the Second Corps did not 
 reach Cold Harbor until half-past six in the morning, too 
 late to move to the attack that had been ordered for the 
 morning of the 2d and which was changed to five o'clock 
 in the afternoon. The men were in an extremely exhausted 
 condition, and the day was spent in throwing up earth- 
 works and in resting. Some firing took place during the 
 day and several of the men of the Regiment were wounded. 
 Lieutenant Cosslett was sent with a detail for intrenching 
 tools and, on returning, the men were seen by the men 
 of a Confederate battery who opened fire and caused 
 the party to run for the shelter of the works. It was a 
 close call but no one was hit. 
 
 The regiment held the right of the brigade and rested 
 in an apple orchard, and when the men had an opportunity 
 they would pull the green apples and eat them, from the 
 effects of which it is feared that some of them suffered 
 more than from the bullets of the enemy. The 
 sharpshooters were vigilant during the day and 
 gave but little chance to climb trees in search of fruit. 
 
254 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Color Sergeant T. A. Sloan concluded to cook a cup of 
 coffee, and starting a small fire with pieces of cracker 
 boxes, held his tin-cup over the blaze. Just as it was 
 beginning to boil a rifle ball knocked the cup out of his 
 hand and spoiled the anticipated meal. During the 
 afternoon the order to attack was countermanded and the 
 assault was postponed until day-break next morning. At 
 five p. m. the rain began to fall, a great relief from the 
 oppressive dust and heat. 
 
 The men of the Regiment slept soundly during the 
 night of June 2d. Everyone was so exhausted that they 
 slept even when the artillery was roaring. Sergeant 
 William Chambers, of Company C, was fortunate enough 
 to possess a blanket, and at day-break the next morning 
 he awoke and remarked to his comrades with whom he had 
 shared the cover : " This is my birthday — I wonder what 
 kind of a present I will receive?" Five minutes afterwards 
 he received a ball in his arm — not exactly the kind of 
 present he desired. His birthday was spent in wandering 
 around the field hospitals, trying to get his wound dressed 
 and pouring water over the limb in a vain effort to keep 
 down the inflammation. At night, when he finally found 
 a heap of straw to lie down on, he was astonished to find 
 on each side his two companions of the night before, 
 both wounded, and the same blanket covered the three 
 again. 
 
 At half-past four in the morning the battle of Cold 
 Harbor began by the advance of the Second Corps, 
 Barlow's and Gibbons's Divisions in the front line, 
 supported by Birney's Division. The fight was short, 
 sharp and decisive. It was not the enemy that 
 was surprised this morning, as they were on May 
 12th, but it was the Union troops that were astonished. 
 
Cold Harbor. 255 
 
 No sooner had the attacking party begun moving than 
 the enemy opened fire, and a terrible and destructive fire 
 it was, sweeping the ground in all directions. The Irish 
 Brigade was in the second line, but soon caught up with 
 those in front and joined in the fray. The Confederates 
 were found strongly posted in a sunken road in front of 
 their works, from which they were driven after a severe fight 
 and followed into their works. Three hundred prisoners, 
 one color and three pieces of artillery were captured in 
 the first rush, but the victory was quickly turned into 
 a most disastrous defeat. Many of the troops succeeded 
 in gaining the main works of the enemy and the men of 
 Barlow's Division exhibited a wonderful persistency in 
 holding to the captured works, but they were soon forced 
 out by the heavily reinforced Confederates and fell back,- 
 exposed to a severe musketry and artillery fire. Falling 
 back a short distance the defeated troops halted about 
 seventy-five yards from the enemy's line and quickly 
 covered themselves with rifle pits or took advantage of 
 such shelter as the broken ground afforded. The One 
 Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment was halted and aligned 
 in a ravine, ordered to lie down and had to remain in that 
 position for an hour, exposed to not only a direct but an 
 enfilading fire of the batteries, which threw shell and 
 canister. So long as the men could hug the ground the 
 loss was not great, as the pieces could not be depressed 
 sufficiently to strike the line, but when the attempt was 
 made to withdraw from the position the men felt the full 
 force of the fire. The order was given to go back at a 
 run, but the command had to ascend a hill in the rear 
 and, as the men were absolutely without shelter, they fell 
 in great numbers. Reaching the crest of the hill the 
 Regiment was rallied and aligned, Captain Taggart, 
 
256 The Story of the Ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Lieutenant Yocum and others of the officers displaying- 
 great bravery in re-forming, still under a heavy fire. 
 
 The Battle of Cold Harbor was less than one hour in 
 duration, yet one of the most bloody battles of the war. 
 The Second Corps lost in a short half hour 3,000 men and 
 officers. Among the latter were many of the most trusted 
 and best brigade and regimental commanders. The 
 One Hundred and Sixteenth lost seventy men and officers, 
 killed and wounded, and among the latter were Captains 
 Lieb, Cosslett and Crawford and Lieutenants Sacriste and 
 Wright. The wound of Captain Frank R. Lieb was 
 of such a severe nature, his foot being destroyed, that he 
 never rejoined the Regiment, and the command lost a 
 most gallant and excellent officer. Colonel Richard Byrne 
 • (Twenty-eighth Massachusetts Infantry), commanding the 
 Irish Brigade, was mortally wounded and died in the field 
 hospital, where he had lingered for a few days. He was 
 captain of cavalry in the regular army and had been 
 detailed to command the Twenty-eighth Massachusetts 
 Regiment and, as senior colonel, was present in command 
 of the brigade. He was strict, reserved and reticent and 
 one who did not know him would think him severe, but 
 he was a man who did his full duty and expected every- 
 one else to come up to the full measure of all demands. 
 To those who knew him best he was kindly and lovable. 
 A few days before the battle he had some words with 
 Captain Lieb, then commanding the One Hundred and 
 Sixteenth, and may have been a little harsh in his 
 remarks, but, when borne to the field hospital and learning 
 that Lieb was there also, he had himself carried to where 
 the Captain was lying and the dying officer apologized 
 in the most courteous manner for anything rude that he 
 might have said. 
 
Cold Harbor. 257 
 
 After the repulse of our army (and that repulse had 
 been uniform along the whole six miles of the battle line) 
 the troops clung tenaciously to the ground. Spade, 
 bayonet, tin-plate and knife, anything that would throw 
 up a little dirt, was used to throw up the earth and assist 
 to get under cover. From time to time bursts of firing 
 occurred along the line and the sharpshooters were so 
 vigilant during the 3d and following days that it was 
 impossible to expose even a hand without being fired at. 
 And to show a head meant instant death. 
 
 The suffering from thirst was very great, and it was 
 impossible to get water without a serious risk. Corporal 
 Lot Turney, Company E, volunteered to fill some canteens 
 at a spring, but was instantly shot through the head. 
 Another corporal of this company, Aaron Tomlinson, was 
 not so anxious for water as he was for food ; his leg was 
 cut off by a shell, and he lay mortally wounded, but 
 positively refused to allow the stretcher carriers to take 
 him to the hospital, unless he was allowed to take his 
 haversack full of crackers along with him. Captain 
 William M. Hobart, Company A, who was serving on the 
 division staff, greatly distinguished himself during the 
 battle by carrying an order to Arnold's Battery that had 
 been accidentally left between the lines. He was so much 
 exposed that his escape from the fire of the enemy's 
 sharpshooters seemed miraculous, his horse being killed. 
 Color Sergeant T. A. Sloan was wounded by a shell 
 when advancing on the morning of the 3d. Then it was 
 that the young boy, Corporal James M. Seitzinger, of 
 Company G, rushed forward and raised the flag and, 
 waving it aloft, called to his father, " Go in, Pap, I'm 
 coming". He was promoted sergeant on the field and 
 complimented by the Colonel commanding : — 
 
258 The Story of the ii6tk Regiment. 
 
 Headquarters 116th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. 
 Sergeant James M. Seitzinger, Company G : 
 
 The Colonel commanding directs me to express to you his gratification 
 upon learning of your very gallant and meritorious conduct in bearing 
 the colors of the Regiment in the late engagement at Cold Harbor, 
 June 3d. By order of 
 
 Colonel St. Clair A. Mulholland. 
 Francis A. McGuigan, 
 
 First Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant. 
 
 But young Seitzinger was too small and slender to 
 carry the large flag, and he reluctantly surrendered the 
 dangerous honor to Sergeant Peter Kelly, of Company D, 
 who had volunteered. 
 
 Dr. Albert W. Hendricks, of Company F, was brigade 
 hospital steward during the Cold Harbor fight, and he 
 afterwards wrote of the day : " From the evening of May 
 27th, 1864, to the night of June 4th, our forces in the 
 hospital departments were busily engaged in performing 
 amputations and dressing the wounded brave men who 
 faced the various charges in the bloody battle of Cold 
 Harbor. As the wounded were brought in on stretchers, 
 or in the ambulance, those of them who could speak 
 were by the surgeons requested to give their names, and 
 the singularity with which the answer came, ' The One 
 Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment Pennsylvania Volun- 
 teers ', led us to beHeve a general and thorough 
 decimation of the Regiment had taken place. I 
 witnessed their bravery, their fortitude in suffering, and 
 the noble manner in which they sacrificed life and limb 
 in devotion to their country's cause. Oh, how grandly 
 they gave all — even life: Regiment after regiment has 
 its history, brave men their tales of glorious deeds, but 
 no regiment, nor no men, can tell with truth its history 
 of battle, its sacrifices or devotion in time of danger, 
 
Cold Harbor. 259 
 
 surpassing the One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment of 
 Pennsylvania Volunteers. On every field of battle in 
 which it was engaged there remains a monument to its 
 valor in comrades slain ". 
 
 The Regiment remained in the works at Cold Harbor 
 until the night of June 12th, and during that time there 
 was not a moment, night or day, that rest was known. 
 Roll-call was at three p. m., and from that hour until 
 darkness came again there was no moment of peace. 
 
 On the 5th, the position of the Regiment was changed 
 half a mile to the right, and on that evening- at eight 
 o'clock the enemy made a vigorous attack, which was 
 repulsed. The dead and 'wounded of the Union Army 
 remained on the field between the lines until a truce was 
 arranged on the 7th. For five days the thousands of 
 wounded men had been lying under the boiling sun 
 without even a mouthful of water. Many had been killed 
 by the cross-fire, and when the truce was declared there 
 were but few left to tell the awful tale of their intense 
 suffering. The details from the Regiment for picket were 
 frequent and large, and, once on the skirmish line, there 
 was no chance of being relieved until after dark the 
 following night. Every man had to get under cover, dig 
 a hole the best way he knew how and get into it. The 
 lines were very close, at some places only a few feet 
 separated the men, and while Lieutenant Frank McGuigan 
 was on the line a Confederate lieutenant walked into his 
 pit and became his prisoner, very much astonished, 
 indeed, that he had wandered from his own line. 
 
 On the evening of June 12th the army quietly 
 withdrew from the works at Cold Harbor and began 
 moving to the left, the Regiment marching all night. 
 
 When the battle of Cold Harbor closed, within an hour 
 
260 The Story of the ii6ih Regiment. 
 
 of the first shot being fired, the One Hundred and 
 Sixteenth Regiment had finished the first month of the 
 campaign of 1864. Two officers had been killed, 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Richard C. Dale and Lieutenant 
 Henry Kiel. Nine officers had been wounded, several 
 of them more than once : Colonel Mulholland, at the 
 Wilderness, May 5th ; Po River, May 10th ; Tolopotomy, 
 May 31st. Captains Lieb, Crawford and Cosslett, and 
 Lieutenants Sacriste, Alston, Vanderheyden, Wright, 
 Springer and Yocum. Fifty men had been killed, one 
 hundred and twenty wounded and thirty missing, the 
 larger number of the latter, no doubt, killed, making an 
 aggregate loss during the month of May of two hundred 
 and eleven men. 
 
 The Regiment had been under fire almost every day 
 of the time in the Wilderness : May 5th and 6th, at 
 Todd's Tavern ; May 8th, at Po River ; May 10th, at 
 Spottsylvania ; May 12th and 13th, at Spottsylvania 
 again; May 18th, 19th and 21st, on the south bank of 
 the Mattapony ; May 23d, 24th and 25th, at the North 
 Anna ; May 28th, on the south side of the Pamunkey ; 
 May 29th, 30th and 31st, on the Tolopotomy, and on 
 June 2d, 3d and 4th, at Cold Harbor, making nineteen 
 days out of thirty-one that the Regiment was actually in 
 battle and under fire. No wonder the loss was over two 
 hundred in killed and wounded. It is only remarkable 
 that it was not still greater. These, losses, however, do 
 not include Company B, which was at division head- 
 quarters as provost guard, nor those who were sent to 
 the rear sick, many of whom died of the diseases 
 contracted during this month of constant fighting, 
 hardship and exposure. The above figures tell only of 
 the killed and wounded. 
 
Cold Harbor. 261 
 
 Neither was the heavy loss of the One Hundred and 
 Sixteenth Regiment exceptional. All the army had 
 suffered quite as severely, and many regiments had lost 
 more, in proportion to numbers. The Second Corps had 
 been almost annihilated. The official returns of casualties 
 in the Army of the Potomac, from May 5th until May 
 21st, were 39,791, and these appalling figures do not 
 include the losses of the Ninth Corps, which the writer 
 has no means of ascertaining. 
 
 The continuous strain, constant marching, fighting, 
 want of sleep, absence of food and water, sleeping, when 
 a chance offered, on the ground without even the slight 
 protection of a shelter tent, sometimes in a drenching 
 rain, and most times catching an hour's sleep under the 
 broiling sun — all this was beginning to tell on the strongest 
 constitutions, and even affecting the minds. Lieutenant 
 Peter S. Frailey, Company E, had been one of the bravest 
 in the beginning, but at Cold Harbor his mind gave way, 
 and he was compelled to resign. Captain Michael 
 Schoales and Lieutenant Robert J. Grogan broke down 
 early in the month and resigned on the 17th. One 
 officer. Captain Wellington Jones, brought disgrace on 
 himself by resigning in front of the enemy for no other 
 reason than that he could not face the music. 
 
 Several other changes took place among the officers 
 during the month. Lieutenant Charles Cosslett was 
 promoted to Captain of Company E, and mustered in 
 June 13th ; First Sergeant Henry Kiel, of that company, 
 was commissioned First Lieutenant, but was killed before 
 being mustered in, and Color Sergeant T. A. Sloan was 
 promoted to Second Lieutenant of Company E. 
 
 "Blinkey" Bell, of Company K, who distinguished 
 himself on the morning of the battle of Spottsylvania was 
 
262 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 a queer character. He was a veteran when he joined the 
 Regiment, having enlisted as one of the Eighty-fifth 
 Pennsylvania in the early days of the war. " Blinkey " 
 at first failed to see the necessity of many things in 
 military life, to which, by force of circumstances, he 
 afterwards became reconciled. Guard and picket duty 
 he could not learn for a long time. One evening after 
 dark, while on his first tour of duty, "Blinkey" was 
 marching up and down on his post when the officer of 
 the day approached. Without a salute or challenge 
 " Blinkey " was allowing him to pass. The Lieutenant, 
 disgusted at the seeming ignorance of the sentinel, seized 
 his musket to show him how he should have acted. 
 " Now, Bell ", said he, " walk off a short distance and 
 then approach me, and when I challenge, you must say, 
 'Friend with the countersign'". "Blinkey" obeyed, 
 and when nearing the officer was confronted with a loud 
 " Halt ! who goes there " ? and a bayonet leveled at his 
 breast. " Blinkey ", to say the least, was astonished at 
 what seemed to him to be a very rude way of greeting an 
 acquaintance and, after catching his breath, exclaimed in 
 a startled voice full of sweet confidence : " Oh ! I say 
 now, look here. Lieutenant, don't you know ' Blinkey ' 
 Bell?" 
 
 " Blinkey " was certainly a little green in those days, 
 but no braver or better soldier died in the Bloody Angle 
 at Spottsylvania than Henry J. Bell. 
 
Petersburg. 263 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 PETERSBURG. 
 
 A FTER dark on June 12th the Second Corps withdrew 
 in silence from the line of Cold Harbor. Not a 
 sound broke the stillness of the summer night. The men 
 had learned very thoroughly when to make a noise and 
 when to keep still, and on this occasion no extra 
 cautioning of the troops was found necessary. Every 
 man had his tin cup tied fast and his tin plate, if he 
 was rich enough to have one, safely stowed in his 
 haversack, so when the movement was begun there was 
 not a rattle or a jingle to be heard. The picket was not 
 notified nor relieved until the army had been gone for 
 some hours, and it was thought by almost everyone that 
 the detail would be lost ; but a very judicious officer, 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Hammill, of the Sixty-sixth New York, 
 was in command, and he succeeded in quietly withdrawing, 
 with a few exceptions, all the men from the picket line. 
 Forming them in the dark, he moved in quick time after 
 the corps and succeeded in overtaking the main body 
 before noon of the 13th. Captain Charles Cosslett, of the 
 One Hundred and Sixteenth, was in charge of the detail 
 from the Regiment and succeeded in bringing all in safely. 
 It was a narrow escape and all were rejoiced to get away, 
 as they were told when going out on the line that it was 
 to be " killed or captured ". The Second Corps marched 
 all the night of the 12th and reached White Oak Bridge, 
 on the Chickahominy, at daylight on the 13th. Marched 
 all day on the 13th, through White Oak Swamp, and 
 reached Wilcox Landing, on the James River, before 
 
264 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 sundown. When, on the evening of the 12th, the column 
 of retiring troops had cleared the works and gotten well 
 under way, a thrill of pleasure passed through the ranks, 
 all were so rejoiced to leave the lines of Cold Harbor ; 
 and when the men knew that they were far enough away 
 from the enemy not to be heard they burst into song. 
 Many a long march was enlivened in this way. Some 
 musical member would start a patriotic song, and the 
 whole regiment, joining in the chorus, would go swinging 
 along hour after hour, forgetting the fatigue and 
 hardship. "The Sword of Bunker Hill" was a favorite 
 and hundreds of voices would make the Virginia night 
 resound and the dark woods re-echo to the music : — 
 
 " The old man died, but in his hand 
 His sword he retained still, 
 And thirty millions lived to bless 
 The sword of Bunker Hill". 
 
 It was thirty millions during the war. Now, forty 
 years after, it is seventy millions ; and how many hundreds 
 of millions will in the future bless " The Sword of Bunker 
 Hill " ? 
 
 The march from Cold Harbor to the James was over 
 historic ground. Two hundred and fifty years before. 
 Captain John Smith, "the father of Virginia", was taken 
 prisoner by the Indians here and surprised his captors by 
 showing his watch and compass, and, after being carried 
 from tribe to tribe as a curiosity, was finally doomed to 
 die. Then it was that the gentle Pocahontas encircled his 
 head with her arms, begging for his life, and induced her 
 father, the Chief Powhatan, to spare the brave 
 Englishman. And here in the forests of the 
 Chickahominy, John Rolfe wooed and won the sweet, 
 young Indian maiden and carried her off to England, 
 
Petersburg. 265 
 
 never to return to Virginia again, but in a foreign land to 
 droop and die so young. The blood of the heroine still 
 flows in the land of her childhood, for some of the best 
 known families in Virginia are descended from the one 
 son that was left by the Lady Rebecca, as Pocahontas was 
 called in England. 
 
 The peninsula of the Chickahominy had been the.scene 
 of fierce and bloody war two hundred years before the 
 Union Army appeared. During the life of Powhatan 
 peace reigned along the valley of the James, but after his 
 death and after the influence and memory of his gentle 
 daughter Pocahontas were forgotten, Opecancanough, 
 the brother of Powhatan, became chief. Observing with 
 sorrow the decline of his people and the encroachment of 
 the whites, he resolved to destroy them. A bundle of 
 arrows wrapped in the skin of a rattlesnake sent to the 
 English Governor was the declaration of war and 
 massacre that continued at intervals for twenty years and 
 ended in the extermination of the red men. 
 
 When the Second Corps massed on the banks of the 
 James River it bivouacked on the spot where the founda- 
 tion and prime reason of the War of the Rebellion was 
 laid in September, 1620. In that month a small Dutch 
 vessel landed here twenty negroes from Africa, who were 
 sold to the planters as slaves. Within ten days from the 
 landing of those slaves on the shores of the James River 
 the "Mayflower" landed on the shores of Massachusetts 
 a cargo of very different character — a set of men and 
 women who had fled from slavery and come to the new 
 land in search of freedom. The lowering storm that hung 
 over the bay as the Pilgrim fathers leaped on the Plymouth 
 Rock seemed to herald a life of strife for principle, and a 
 struggle that culminated at Appomattox. 
 
266 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 As the years rolled by, the people of the South, by 
 force of circumstances, naturally became more attached 
 to the institution of human slavery. It had been shorn of 
 its chief horrors, the slave ship was a thing of history, 
 and in many cases the slaves had come to be regarded as 
 members of the family in which they resided and were 
 often regarded with affection. But to the descendants of 
 the Pilgrim fathers the years failed to soften the hatred of 
 slavery in all its forms. It was so totally in opposition to 
 the Puritan's faith, in which all of his descendants and 
 nearly all the people of the North held almost as firmly 
 as the original passengers of the " Mayflower ". And so 
 the armies of the North and South were here on the very 
 spot where slavery was founded, and the descendants of 
 the Pilgrim fathers and those who believed with them 
 that human slavery was a crime were thei^e in force and 
 in earnest. Much has been said and harsh feelings 
 engendered in the two sections of our country endeavoring 
 to fix the blafne of originating the war on the North and 
 South, but happily these feelings are becoming less harsh 
 as time rolls on, and now the spirit of mutual love, 
 patriotism and friendship is possessing the whole country. 
 Had that little ship from the Netherlands never brought 
 that cargo of negroes from Africa to the South, we never 
 would have had the War of the Rebellion ; and would it 
 not be a good idea for the future to stop all recrimination 
 and further argument on a subject so harsh and so 
 fruitful_of bad humor by putting the blame where it 
 properly belongs — on the Dutch ! 
 
 When, on the evening of. the 13th, the Regiment 
 reached the north bank of the James, no time was lost in 
 intrenching. The men were tired, but were never too 
 weary to get under cover. When the line of works was 
 
Petersburg. 267 
 
 finished a grateful night's rest followed. June 14th, the 
 Second Corps began crossing the James River to the south 
 side, but the means of transportation were limited, and the 
 Regiment did not cross until the evening. During the 
 day the men rested, and some of them spent a pleasant 
 hour or two in fishing, and were quite successful. All 
 the hardships and fighting of the past two weeks were 
 forgotten in the hunt for fishing tackle and bait, and the 
 fish caught were a treat, for the commissary was very low. 
 At dusk the Regiment fell in, marched a short distance to 
 Wilcox Landing, crossed on a ferryboat, and landed on 
 the south side at Windmill Point. Rested until eleven 
 a. m. on the 15th and took up the line of march for 
 Petersburg, seventeen miles. It was understood that 
 three days' rations would be issued before starting, but 
 no commissary stores arrived, and the Second Corps 
 began the long march in a very hungry condition indeed. 
 The march was severe and trying, the day hot and the 
 water scarce. The route of Barlow's Division and, in 
 consequence, that of the Regiment, lengthened out to 
 twenty miles, and the column did not reach Petersburg 
 until nearly midnight, and were cheered upon their arrival 
 by seeing sixteen field pieces that the negro troops under 
 General Hincks, had captured during the afternoon. 
 
 BATTLE OF JUNE 16th. 
 
 Roll-call at daybreak, and in the morning moved a 
 short distance, passing the colored division of General 
 Hincks. The negroes had abundance of rations, and 
 liberally shared with the men of the Regiment. Never 
 did the army cracker and raw salt pork taste so sweet. 
 No meaJ prepared by the most accomplished cook could 
 have been relished better than that furnished by the 
 
268 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 colored troops. About noon, drew full supplies of 
 rations from General Butler's commissary. Built earth- 
 works, and towards evening prepared to advance and 
 assault the enemy's line of works. 
 
 Petersburg was defended by a line of intrenchments 
 surrounding the city at a distance of two miles from it. 
 The defences consisted of a series of well-constructed 
 redans connected by infantry parapets with ditches, and 
 nearly all covered by slight abatis. During the 
 afternoon of the 15th, five of the redans had been taken 
 by the colored troops, but during the night of the 15th 
 and morning of the 16th the Confederate troops had been 
 coming up, occupying and strengthening the works ; 
 and when, on the afternoon of the 16th, it was finally 
 determined to storm the enemy's line, their works had 
 become too strong to carry by direct assault. The 
 attempt, was made, however, and at six o'clock in the 
 evening, the Second Corps moved toward the attack. 
 Barlow's Division was on the extreme left of the army, 
 and the weight of the attack fell upon his division and 
 that of General Birney. The Regiment charged over 
 broken and open ground near the Hare House, where 
 Fort Steadman was afterwards built. No sooner had the 
 line started than the Confederate batteries opened. The 
 men moved forward steadily in quick time, keeping the 
 alignment beautifully, although exposed to a terrible fire 
 of shell and musketry, and when within a hundred yards 
 of the enemy, took the double-quick and went through 
 the slight abatis and over the works at a run. For a few 
 moments, a hand-to-hand fight took place, the bayonet 
 being used. It was soon over, and the Union forces 
 retained possession, capturing guns and prisoners. 
 General Barlow displayed great gallantry in leading the 
 
Petersburg. 269 
 
 division, cap in hand, and cheering the men on. It was 
 a most successful and glorious charge, and resulted in 
 the capture, by the two divisions engaged, of redans 3, 
 13 and 14, with their guns and connecting works. Among 
 the prisoners were some of the oldest and youngest men 
 as yet seen by the troops; "the robbing of the cradle 
 and the grave ", as General Grant afterwards expressed 
 it, had already begun. The Regiment lost quite severely 
 in this fight. Lieutenants Detwiler and McKnight being 
 severely wounded, the latter losing his hand. Forty-six 
 enlisted men were killed, wounded and missing. 
 Lieutenant Yocum was knocked senseless by the windage 
 of a passing shell, but recovered sufficiently to report 
 for duty in a couple of hours. The noble commander of 
 the Irish Brigade, Colonel Patrick Kelly, was killed, 
 being shot through the head. He will ever be remem- 
 bered, by all who knew him, as one of the bravest and 
 most lovable of men. Captain B. S. O'Neill, of the 
 Sixty-ninth New York, was also killed. He was a very 
 handsome man, and much thought of by the men of the 
 One Hundred and Sixteenth. He had left Ireland on the 
 breaking out of the war, and came to America for the 
 sole purpose of joining the Irish Brigade. Every fight 
 seemed to have a ludicrous feature, and the one connected 
 with the 16th of June was a dull-witted son of Ireland in 
 Company I. Daniel Dugan had mysteriously disap- 
 peared at the beginning of the charge, and next morning 
 when Captain Taggart charged him with straggling and 
 deserting in battle, Dan replied demurely : " Ah, then, 
 Captain dear, sure it's many a poor fellow that's after bein' 
 hit on the field lasht noight, an' here oi am shtill aloive !" 
 " Well ", replied the Captain, " if you had been killed 
 you would have lived in the hearts of your countrymen". 
 
270 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 "Oh, thin" said Dan, "bedad but its a moighty 
 hard place to Hve in. I'd sooner be Hvin' on Uncle Sam's 
 hard tack " ! 
 
 On June 17th, as on the day before, the Regiment was 
 engaged in an assault on the enemy's works. General 
 Barlow led the division in on the right of the Ninth 
 Corps, and lost heavily, the firing continuing until long 
 after dark. The Regiment never looked better than when 
 in moving forward in one of the assaults of this day. Not 
 until the men got entangled in the abatis, in front of the 
 enemy's earthworks, did the lines show any signs of 
 breaking an almost perfect alignment. Several of the men 
 penetrated the works, but were either captured or killed. 
 
 June 18th, roll call at daybreak. General Hancock, by 
 reason of his wound breaking out afresh, was forced to 
 relinquish command of the Second Corps, and was 
 succeeded by General David B. Birney. General Birney 
 was a Pennsylvanian, a most gallant soldier, and one of 
 the very best of the volunteer officers, who rose to 
 distinction and prominence during the war, and as such, 
 he was warmly welcomed by the Second Corps. Marched 
 as line was formed, to the right, to participate in a heavy 
 assault on the enemy's position to the right and left of the 
 Prince George Court-House Road. Formed behind a 
 hill in double column by division, closed en masse, and 
 moved forward in support of Mott's Division. The result 
 was a bloody repulse. General Gibbons's Division had 
 been repulsed earlier in the day on this same ground, 
 and this fight ended in the effort to carry the intrenched 
 line of Petersburg by direct assault. On the evening of 
 June 18th the struggle settled down to a siege operation.. 
 The loss of the Regiment on this afternoon was slight — 
 three men killed and about a dozen wounded. 
 
The Battle of William; s Farm. 271 
 
 June 19th, under arms at daybreak, but no movements 
 of importance during the day. At ten p. m. the enemy 
 attacked the advance line but were repulsed. 
 
 June 20th, roll call at half-past three in the morning. 
 Moved at eight a. m. to the rear and understood that the 
 Regiment, with the Second Corps, was on the reserve : 
 but, as a member of the Irish Brigade remarked at 
 Gettysburg, it was " Resarved fur hivy foighting " ! 
 Grateful rest during the day and night, although heavy 
 and continuous firing in front and to the right and left. 
 
 June 21st, reveille at daybreak. Rest was promised 
 to the troops, but ait tena. m. the division moved to the 
 left, crossed the Petersburg Plank Road and advanced 
 several miles in the direction of Reams Station, on the 
 Weldon Railroad, when the Regiment was thrown out 
 as skirmishers and had a severe skirmish fight, while the 
 division moved by the right flank and formed line of 
 battle on the left of the Ninth Corps. Threw up strong 
 intrenchments and settled down for a night's rest, but the 
 Sixth Corps that was to join on the left failed* to connect, 
 leaving a gap of nearly a mile, through which a 
 Confederate cavalry force raided during the night, 
 creating alarm and commotion amongst the teamsters, 
 commissaries and hospital attendants. 
 
 BATTLE OF WILLIAM'S FARM, 
 Or, as the Confederates Called It, "Johnston's Farm". 
 
 JUNE 22d, 1864. 
 
 When General Grant finally determined to suspend 
 the direct assaults upon the Confederate's positions and 
 begin siege operations, both armies began intrenching, 
 the right of the Union army resting on the Appomattox 
 
272 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 River below Petersburg, for the purpose of cutting the 
 Weldon and South Side Railroad, and extending the left 
 of the Union line, so as to accomplish that object and, 
 if practical, to envelop the whole region on the left of 
 the river. 
 
 The first extension of the line towards the south was 
 inaugurated during the night of the 21st. The Sixth 
 Corps came up and formed on the left of the Second and, 
 on the morning of the 22d, the Second Corps was ordered 
 to advance, keeping connection on the right with the 
 Fifth Corps, on which the Second pivoted, and on the left 
 with the Sixth Corps, that was • moving slowly through 
 the dense woods. Roll call at daybreak, and then rested 
 in the intrenchments until nearly noon, when the advance 
 began but, owing to the greater distance over which the 
 Sixth Corps had to march and the difficulty in penetrating 
 the tangled bush of the deep forest, the wheeling 
 movement- to the right was necessarily slow. Finally, 
 General Meade, becoming impatient at the progress 
 made, ordered the Second Corps to advance without 
 waiting for the Sixth. General Birney did as directed 
 and, as he swung forward, the left of the Second Corps 
 left the right of the Sixth Corps far in the rear. The 
 movement of the Second Corps took place in the woods 
 west of the Jerusalem Plank Road and a litde south of 
 Fort Sedgwick, afterwards known as " Fort Hell ". 
 
 The Confederate line of works running north and 
 south turned abruptly within half a mile of the fort, at 
 an angle of their line known as " Reeves's Salient", and 
 crossing the plank road ran directly west. On the 21st 
 of June General Lee, looking across the half-mile of open 
 country in front of that line and seeing the dense timber- 
 land beyond, anticipated the very movement that Grant 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL DAVID BELL BIRNEY 
 
The Battle of William! s Farm. 273 
 
 had ordered, and on that day he (General Lee) ordered 
 Wilcox to take his division, occupy the woods and feel 
 for the Union line. Wilcox remained in the forest all 
 day long of the 21st and returned to the camp in the 
 evening, rejaorting to General Lee that he had 
 accomplished nothing. On the morning of the 22d, 
 Wilcox was again ordered into the timber with the same 
 instructions. He formed his line' in the deep woods south 
 of the Johnston house and seems to have quietly rested 
 ■without making an effort to ascertain the whereabouts or 
 purpose of the Union troops. When the Second Corps 
 changed front and pivoted on its right, which rested near 
 the plank road, the left of the First Division must have 
 actually passed within a few hundred yards of Wilcox's 
 line — the latter evidently taking things easy and not 
 making a very vigorous search for the Union troops — 
 while the left of the Second Corps swung past oblivious 
 to the fact that a Confederate division was there with 
 orders to strike. When the Second Corps had made a 
 half-wheel and the line suddenly emerged from the woods 
 and stood at right angles with the plank road and was 
 then parallel with and half or three-quarters of a mile 
 distant from the Confederate line that also ran at right 
 angles west from the Jerusalem Plank Road, the men of 
 the Second Corps promptly stacked arms and began 
 intrenching. It so happened that General Lee was at 
 that moment in a little detached work that had been 
 erected in the field two or three hundred yards in front of 
 his main line. To his astonishment he saw in the distance 
 the troops of the Second Corps vigorously throwing up 
 the dirt at the edge of the wood and prolonging their 
 line in the direction of his right. The ever vigilant and 
 active General Mahone was chatting with General Lee at 
 
274 The Story of the Ii6th Regiment. 
 
 the time and, seeing a chance to hit the left of the 
 Second Corps, which was then in the air, suggested to 
 him the feasibility of striking with promising results. 
 In a letter from General Mahone he tells of June 22d, 
 1864, in his own way : — 
 
 Petersburg, May 7th, 1895. 
 
 Dear General Mulholland : I am just in receipt of your esteemed 
 letter of the 30th ult., and it -gives me pleasure to comply with your 
 request. 
 
 The "occasion " of the^22d of June, 1864, was fought on Johnston's 
 Farm. I enclose a pen diagram of the occasion that you may the better 
 understand this letter. On the morning of the 21st of June General 
 Wilcox was sent out with his division of four brigades, passing on the 
 west side of the Johnston House into the woodland beyond to feel for the 
 left flank of your line, which at that time had not been extended west of 
 the Jerusalem Plank Road, and I was directed to move out of the 
 trenches and co-operate with Wilcox in any attack he should make upon 
 your people, as he should in it uncover my front. General Wilcox went 
 out and returned that night failing to discover your line. On the morning 
 of the 22d of June General Wilcox was again sent out to find the left 
 flank of your army and to strike it a blow, and my instructions were for 
 that day as for the day before. My division occupied the intrenched line 
 from the Reeves Salient to the ravine of Lieutenant Run. I had gone 
 out to the detached fort in which no artillery had yet been placed as had 
 been previously ordered by General Lee. Then and there I saw the 
 Federal troops moving in orderly fashion across the Plank Road in the 
 direction of the Johnston House, the leading regiment halting, stacking 
 arms and the men going deliberately to intrenching ; and the next 
 regiment passing on and, after clearing the leading regiment, halting, 
 stacking arms and then proceeding to intrench. Thus the prolongation 
 of the Federal line west of the Plank Road was commenced and 
 proceeded. I did not see or know of the second line the Federals were 
 projecting until after the engagement which I followed was over. There 
 never was a time in all the siege of Petersburg when the detached fort 
 could have been of any service. Your projecting front line would have 
 been in easy reach of guns in that fort. It was not within practicable 
 range of the artillery in the intrenched line. That detached fort was a 
 blunder and I urged that it should be levelled, that at some time your 
 people. would take it and use it as a cover to annoy the intrenched line, 
 and so precisely it came to pass, but my division was not on that front at 
 that time. At this juncture, that is, while you were so deliberately 
 
The Battle of William's Farm. 275 
 
 projecting your line, General Lee came upon the ground and expressed a 
 desire that something should be done to arrest the progress of the Federal 
 prolongation. General Wilcox, who was now supposed to be in the very 
 place to deliver a telling blow, had not been heard from. In response to 
 General Lee's expressed desire, I caused the two right brigades of my 
 division to drop quietly to the rear so as to avoid discovery and then 
 moved them up the ravine of Lieutenant Run, all the way out of view 
 till reaching the open field in front of the Johnston House, and there they 
 were formed in line of battle, a skirmish line put out and the march 
 commenced, so as to strike the head of the Federal projecting column, 
 meanwhile sending an intelligent staff officer to find General Wilcox and 
 explain to him what I was about and to request that he bear down on my 
 firing ; that he was in the right position to take the Federals in the rear. 
 General Wilcox was found resting in the woods and that message 
 delivered, but he did not comply or, in my judgment, we should not only 
 have swept from the field all the Federal force west of the Plank Road, 
 but materially disorganized your intrenched line east of that road. 
 Meanwhile, my two brigades quickly struck the head of your front 
 projecting column and rolled it up like a scroll until we reached the brush 
 where you were planting four Napoleons. Here I found that my two 
 brigades had been severely depleted in carrying off prisoners, and, after 
 a hurried reconnoissance which disclosed that the Federals were in great 
 force on the Plank Road and that you had a rear projecting column now 
 rapidly falling back on the Plank Road, I determined not to press further. 
 
 At this juncture General Wilcox came up, having strangely marched 
 out of the timber and all around the fringe of the woodland to meet me. 
 I urged him to throw in his division and join me with the remnant of my 
 two attacking brigades in a vigorous assault on the Plank Road. He 
 wanted orders from the corps commander, two miles away — so then and 
 there the idea of any further advance on my part was abandoned. I held 
 the ground until daylight next morning when I withdrew my force, 
 meanwhile repulsing during the night several brisk attacks made by the 
 Federals. The right of my two attacking brigades luckily swept in front 
 of the second projecting column of Federals just far enough away not to 
 be seen, for in sending Major Mills in the midst of the fight with a 
 message to the right of the attacking force, I cautioned him to be careful 
 and not to go too far. I suspected that there might be another line of 
 Federals there. He rode right into the line of that second projecting 
 column. 
 
 In this little affair, which might have been turned into a serious 
 disaster to the Federals had General Wilcox borne down on my firing, 
 we captured 1,650 officers and men, a large number of muskets, any 
 quantity of tools and four splendid Napoleon guns. 
 
276 The Story of the ii6lh Regiment. 
 
 Here, my dear General, of the "occasion" of 22d of June, 1864, 
 which I hope may interest you. And with best wishes for your every 
 success, I am. 
 
 Yours truly, Mahone. 
 
 In this characteristic letter General Mahone tells the 
 story of William's Farm, or, as the Confederates knew it, 
 "Johnston's Farm". The attack was to the Union troops 
 more than a surprise. It was an astonishment. It so 
 happened that the One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment 
 held the extreme left of the Second Corps and, con- 
 sequently, was the first to receive the assault. Charley 
 Earth, of Company C, had wandered out to the left and 
 was kneeling by some water, filling the company canteens, 
 when, zip ! went a ball into the water. Looking up he 
 saw the Confederates not fifty yards away. As he 
 afterwards remarked, he made " a blue streak for the 
 Regiment !" 
 
 The startling intelligence he brought could hardly be 
 credited, and Lieutenant Cope and Sergeant-Major Burke 
 started on a reconnoissance to learn the truth. They, 
 too, came tumbling back and had hardly uttered a word 
 of warning when, suddenly, a heavy musketry fire was 
 opened, not only from the left flank but from the rear as 
 well. The surprise was complete, the attack sudden and 
 totally unexpected. Some regiments of the corps seemed 
 paralyzed, the men running in every direction, and many 
 of them going directly into the Confederate ranks. The 
 One Hundred and Sixteenth never faltered nor broke, 
 but after receiving the first fire quickly replied and made 
 a noble stand. It was useless, however, and after a ten 
 minutes' -fight the order came from the brigade com- 
 mander to fall back. The Regiment moved off by the 
 right flank, leaving behind the dead and wounded. 
 
The Batik of William's Farm. 277 
 
 Captains Nowlen, Megraw and Taggart were everywhere 
 on the line, keeping the men together and showing the 
 greatest valor. Lieutenant Henry D. Price, who was 
 then on the division staff, soon learned of the perilous 
 position of the Regiment and, galloping down the left 
 where he knew the command was surrounded, he threw 
 himself into the midst of the men, urging them to retire 
 fighting. He exhibited in the hour of trial the highest 
 qualities of the brave soldier that he was. Captain 
 Nowlen was in command of the Regiment during the 
 engagement, and he and every one of the officers and 
 men behaved in the coolest manner. The large majority 
 of the men had been in the field but a few weeks, yet 
 they behaved better and exhibited less confusion than 
 many of the regiments that had been two or three years 
 in the service. The excellent conduct of the officers and 
 men was the only thing that saved the organization. 
 
 Passing to the right and still firing, the command 
 succeeded in clearing the Confederate line in the rear and 
 moved to a position where the division was being rallied by 
 General Barlow. Lieutenant Yocum was severely wounded, 
 but with twenty of the wounded men got away with the 
 Regiment. Tom Scarlett and a dozen or so of the men 
 were for a time completely hemmed in by the enemy but, 
 hiding in the laurel bushes, they succeeded in evading 
 capture although not escaping the fire. While hiding in 
 the bush the party got foul of a lot of wild hogs, and the 
 grunting and squealing of the animals drew the attention 
 of the Confederate cavalrymen who were riding through 
 the woods in squads, picking up prisoners. The 
 cavalrymen fired at the sound and not only hit the hogs 
 but some of the men as well. 
 
 Captain Cosslett, Lieutenant Cope and Sergeant-Major 
 
278 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Burke were captured and spent many months in southern 
 prisons. The number of dead of the One Hundred and 
 Sixteenth of this fight was never ascertained, as the 
 enemy held the ground. Thirty-five were missing and a 
 few of them were afterwards heard of as dying in 
 southern prisons, but most likely the greater part of them 
 still hold the lines where they fell, in the forests of William's 
 Farm. A Confederate colonel was captured during the 
 fight. He was mounted on a superb gray horse which 
 General Barlow afterwards purchased and rode in battle. 
 The splendid animal became very fond of the General and 
 would follow him around the camp begging for the lumps 
 of sugar that the General would be pretty sure to have in 
 his pocket with which to treat his equine friend. 
 
 The 22"d of June was the saddest day ever experienced 
 by the Second Corps. Up to that day the corps had never 
 lost a color and but one gun, but on this occasion the 
 splendid record was lost and the day's disaster cost the 
 Second Corps four guns, one flag and seventeen hundred 
 prisoners that were left in the hands of the enemy. On 
 the morning of the 23d the Second and Sixth Corps moved 
 forward to attack on the same ground fought over the day 
 before, but the enemy had retired into their works and the 
 fighting on the left of the army was ended for a time. 
 
 After the fight at William's Farm, sometimes called the 
 " Petersburg Affair ", the Regiment enjoyed for a few days 
 a well-earned rest, if continual digging, intrenching and 
 picket duty could be called by that name ; but compared 
 with the long night marches and incessant assaults upon 
 the strong position of the enemy that occupied every 
 hour of May and June, it was repose and rest of the most 
 welcome character. Once more the mail was handed 
 around and "news from home " cheered the weary men. 
 
The Regiment Leaves the Irish Brigade. 279 
 
 But, in sorting the regimental mail that had accumulated 
 for weeks, almost half the letters were returned to the 
 writers with the endorsement : " Absent ", " Wounded ", 
 or, still worse, " Killed ". 
 
 A few days after the battle of William's Farm General 
 Hancock returned and resumed command of the corps, 
 and on July 11th the corps was withdrawn from the 
 intrenchments that they had erected arid went into camp 
 near the " deserted house'" on the Norfolk Road. 
 
 THE REGIMENT LEAVES THE IRISH BRIGADE. 
 
 The Regiment remained here for two weeks and during 
 this time was transferred from the Second (Irish) Brigade 
 to the Fourth Brigade. The transfer of regiments and 
 consolidation of brigades was rendered necessary at this 
 time by the heavy losses of men and officers. In some 
 brigades not a field officer remained to take command. 
 The Irish Brigade was commanded by a captain. Six of 
 the ten field officers who had started with the campaign on 
 May 5th had been killed and the other four severely 
 wounded. 
 
 The members of the Regiment left the Irish Brigade 
 with regret. The}'^ had participated in all the glories and 
 triumphs of that famous brigade for two years, and 
 although the One Hundred and Sixteenth was composed 
 almost entirely of American-born citizens, the men had 
 learned to love and esteem the men of the Emerald Isle. 
 The brigade to which the Regiment was assigned was in 
 no way less brave than the one from which it was parting. 
 It was the brigade of General John R. Brooke, one of the 
 bravest and best of officers, who had commanded the 
 brigade with great honor to it and to himself. When 
 the Civil War closed General Brooke remained in the 
 
280 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 regular army and retired on age in 1903 as full Major- 
 General. General James A. Beaver, who succeeded him 
 in command of the Fourth Brigade, had a like distin- 
 guished career. Wounded at Chancellorsville and Cold 
 Harbor, he returned to the front just in time to reach the 
 field at Reams Station as the fight opened. Within half 
 an hour he had been wounded for the third time, losing 
 a leg, the amputation being so close to the body as to 
 render him unfit for further service in the field. Retiring 
 to private life, he was elected Governor of Pennsylvania, 
 and then elevated to the position of Judge of the Superior 
 Court of the State, a position that he still occupies and 
 honors. He had been wounded on several occasions, 
 and when the Regiment joined the Fourth Brigade the 
 gallant soldier was absent, suffering from a wound 
 received at Cold Harbor. The members of the Regiment 
 soon felt at home, for the men form friendships quickly 
 when under fire and sharing each other's dangers. Every 
 regiment in the brigade with which the command was for 
 the future to be associated were veteran organizations 
 that had been tried on every field from the very beginning 
 of the war. The regiments composing the brigade were 
 the Fifty-third, One Hundred and Forty-fifth and Ofie 
 Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania, Second Dela- 
 ware, Sixty-fourth and Sixty-sixth New York, and Seventh 
 New York Heavy Artillery, acting as infantry. The arms 
 of the Regiment were changed at this time. The old 
 pattern smooth-bore musket, with ball and three buck shot, 
 calibre 69, was withdrawn, and the Springfield, calibre 58, 
 with a rifle barrel, substituted. It was a welcome change, 
 for, while the old weapon with the buck and ball was an 
 excellent one at close quarters, the men felt that the new 
 rifle piece was far superior, especially on the skirmish line. 
 
The Regiment Leaves the Irish Brigade. 281 
 
 Towards the end of June and during July the siege of 
 Petersburg was pressed along the whole line, from the 
 right on the Appomattox River to the left near the 
 Jerusalem Plank Road, and the spade and pick were in 
 active use by night and day. Redoubts and siege 
 batteries rose in rapid succession, and nearly all the men 
 became quite expert in forming fascines, gabions, sap- 
 fagots and all the paraphernalia incidental to siege works. 
 A siege train arrived on the ground, and thirty-pounder 
 Parrott guns soon added their thunder to the general 
 roar. Ten-inch mortars and several batteries of Coehorn 
 mortars were placed at intervals along the line and rained 
 vertical fire upon the enemy. To the Confederates this 
 sort of dropping fire from heaven, as it were, was a 
 surprise. It was so unexpected and astonishing. They 
 were not prepared for a fire of this nature, and for some 
 days suffered heavily without being able to give adequate 
 reply ; but they quickly built strong bomb-proofs and in 
 a short time had lots of mortars themselves sending 
 showers of iron down into the camps when the Union 
 people worried t-hem in like manner. To the men on the 
 main line of battle the mortar firing seemed to matter but 
 little, as they learned to scuttle into the bomb-proofs and 
 thus find security and shelter ; but to the men on the 
 picket and reserve the fire of the mortar batteries was a 
 serious matter. The mortars were not fired singly but in 
 volleys. Half a dozen mortars would be fired at once, 
 and six immense shells would fly skyward in a bunch, 
 and, slowly curving, high above the camps^ would begin 
 their downward course, gaining speed at every foot and, 
 finally, with a scream and a rush, drop among the men, 
 bursting and scattering death in all directions. As these 
 ponderous shells descended in groups, it was impossible 
 
282 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 to avoid them, although after dark one could see the 
 streaming fire from the burning fuse as the shells ascended 
 and fell ; but as running from one meant simply running 
 into another, it was felt that trying to avoid them was 
 useless. Just to stand and take the chances was all that 
 could be done. 
 
 The danger from the mortar shells was not confined 
 alone to the picket or main line of works, but sometimes 
 the shells would reach to the camp of the army reserve, 
 far away from the main line, and men were frequently 
 killed while sleeping in what they fancied was perfect 
 security. As a member of the Irish Brigade remarked, 
 that he " never knew when he went to sleep at night 
 whether he would not wake up dead in the morning ". 
 Eleven men were killed in a Michigan regiment at one 
 discharge of a Confederate mortar battery, and it was 
 said that thirty-one men were killed in a Confederate 
 regiment when a shower of mortar shells from one of the 
 Union batteries fell among them. This mortar business, 
 raining down shells from the clouds at all hours of night 
 and day, was, perhaps, the most annoyin-g feature of the 
 siege. As General Humphreys remarked : "It was 
 depressing"; and that was putting it very mildly. It 
 certainly was depressing. 
 
First Deep Bottom or Strawberry Plains. 283 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 FIRST DEEP BOTTOM OR STRAWBERRY PLAINS. 
 
 'XO WARDS the end of July, General Grant determined 
 to send a force of infantry and cavalry to the north 
 bank of the James River, to make a dash on Richmond 
 and destroy the railroads to the north of the city, and also 
 for the purpose of drawing away from the defences of 
 Petersburg, and to the north bank of the James a portion 
 of the Confederate Army. General Sheridan was placed 
 in command of the cavalry, and the whole expedition was 
 under General Hancock. At four o'clock in the afternoon 
 of July 26th the Second Corps left camp near the 
 " Deserted House ", marching for Point of Rocks. Just 
 after dark, the corps crossed the Appomattox River on 
 the pontoon bridge at Point of Rocks and continued the 
 march during the night by way of Jones's Neck. The 
 night was warm and very dark, but by order of General 
 Butler, small fires had been lit at intervals along the 
 route which aided much in getting along. The James 
 River was reached about two a. m. on the morning of the 
 27th, and, crossing on the pontoons, the corps was massed 
 in the woods to await daylight. As soon as it was 
 sufficiently light to see, the advance was ordered. Barlow's 
 Division leading. The Regiment was commanded by 
 Captain Garrett Nowlen, and he handled it beautifully. 
 No sooner had the line begun moving forward than the 
 skirmishers of the division became engaged and, with a 
 rush, they captured the works of the enemy, with four 
 twenty-pound Parrott guns and a lot of prisoners. 
 
284 The Story of the Ii6th Regiment. 
 
 The Twenty-eighth Massachusetts was one of the 
 regiments that fought on the skirmish line and, when the 
 four large guns with the caissons were hauled to the rear, 
 the men of the One Hundred and Sixteenth seemed 
 almost as glad to witness the glory of the regiment with 
 which they had been associated so long as though they 
 had made the capture themselves. The regiment met 
 with a heavy fire while passing over the plain, but finally 
 reached the Confederate works without serious loss. 
 The fire of the enemy was diverted and rendered less 
 destructive by the firing of the gun-boats, which threw 
 their immense shells over the heads of the men and into 
 the works of the enemy. These tremendous hundred- 
 pound shells made a sound that was awe-inspiring, and 
 when they burst in the timber they tore the giant trees 
 into ribbons. 
 
 During the 27th and 28th, Barlow's Division did heavy 
 marching and intrenching, moving far out to the right, 
 trying to find the enemy's flank, but without avail. The 
 whole movement, so far as making a dash on the Confed- 
 erates' Capital, failed, but the second object for which the 
 expedition had been organized — the drawing of a large 
 part of the Confederate Army to the north bank of the 
 James River in order to leave an opening for a successful 
 assault on Petersburg — had been successful. Five-eighths 
 of the whole of Lee's army had hastily concentrated in 
 front of Hancock. 
 
 As soon as it was dark, on the evening of the 29th, 
 the return march to Petersburg was commenced, and the 
 whole force got back in time to see the explosion of the 
 mine in front of the Ninth Corps, and witness the 
 miserable fiasco that cost the Union Army four thousand 
 men. The Second Corps returned to the camp near the 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL FRANCIS C. BARLOW 
 
Second Deep Bottom. 285 
 
 " Deserted House ", and the Regiment enjoyed another 
 rest of two weeks. Picket duty, however, was always 
 in order, and the loss of men on the outer line was 
 frequent. 
 
 SECOND DEEP BOTTOM. 
 
 Early in August, General Grant deemed it advisable 
 to again send a strong force to the north bank of the 
 James to threaten Richmond. General Hancock was 
 again selected to command the movement and, in order 
 to deceive the enemy, the troops were ordered to march 
 to City Point and embark on steamboats, to give the 
 Confederates the impression that the expedition was 
 destined for Washington ; then sail up the river by night 
 and land at Deep Bottom by daylight, ready for the attack. 
 
 At noon on the 12th of August, the corps marched to 
 City Point, and on the following day began embarking on 
 the fleet of steamers that had been gathered there. Not 
 only was the enemy deceived by the movement via the 
 boats and river, but also the men who composed the 
 force. No sooner had they begun marching on board the 
 steamers than their spirits rose, and " On to Washington !" 
 was the cry. As night settled down the surmise deepened 
 into a certainty, and laughter and happiness prevailed to 
 an extent altogether beyond reason. The men of the 
 One Hundred and Sixteenth shared in the good feeling, 
 and when, at ten o'clock at night, the steamboats pulled 
 out into the stream and the voyage began, general hilarity 
 and wild delight took possession of everyone. Songs 
 were started in which all joined, and "The Sword of 
 Bunker Hill " was sung with an enthusiasm that was 
 universal. It was a lovely night on the water. The stars 
 never looked so bright, nor the river so calm and beautiful. 
 
286 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 No one thought of sleep. There was no time to even 
 doze while the boys were having such a good time. 
 Were they not on their way to the North ! With the 
 tolUng of the midnight hour came a sad ending to the 
 Washington dream. The steamer, on which the Regiment 
 was rejoicing and having such a jolly time, slowed up 
 and a . tug came alongside with the orders. In five 
 minutes every man knew that it was Deep Bottom and a 
 fight in the morning, instead of Washington and a trip 
 to the north. The singing quickly died away. The river 
 did not seem half so beautiful nor the stars half so bright. 
 Quickly everyone lost interest in the passing shores. The 
 silence of disappointed hope settled over the men, who 
 at once felt tired and sleepy instead of wide-awake and 
 full of happy song. The steamer went ploughing through 
 the water and soon all hands were slumbering. It was a 
 cruel disappointment, to be sure. 
 
 The sleep of the men was ended in a couple of hours, 
 and before daylight the troops disembarked and massed 
 on the shore. At five o'clock the firing commenced, and 
 the sun had risen on the hottest day ever experienced by 
 the members of the Regiment. As Colonel Walker, 
 Adjutant-General of the Second Corps, remarked: "The 
 rays of the August sun smote the heads of the weary 
 soldiers with blows as palpable as if they had been given 
 with a club". Hundreds of men of the army fell during 
 the awful heat of this day. During this, the 14th of 
 August, the Regiment marched, intrenched and counter- 
 marched from sunrise until dark and participated in the 
 assault made by General Barlow at four o'clock in the 
 afternoon near Fussell's Mill, which was unsuccessful, 
 and at dark the division was massed at the junction of 
 the Darby and Long Bridge Roads. 
 
Second Deep Bottom. 287 
 
 The 14th of August will long be remembered by every 
 member of the Regiment as one of the most intense 
 suffering. Not one of them will ever experience a 
 warmer day in this world or, let us hope, in the next. 
 Certainly not if they have done their duty in the Union 
 Army and have an honorable discharge. . 
 
 The 15th of August passed with the picket fighting 
 and intrenching. General Birney with his Tenth Corps 
 was moving to find the enemy's left, and it was almost 
 night before he found a place to attack. A day had been 
 lost without anything gained. 
 
 During the 16th the Union cavalry, supported by 
 Miles's Brigade, advanced up the Charles City Road and 
 drove the Confederate cavalry as far as White's Tavern, 
 within seven miles of Richmond, but were compelled to 
 fall back again. General Chambliss, the Confederate 
 cavalry commander, was killed during the fight. His 
 body was lying on a stretcher on the roadside as the 
 Regiment passed. He was a handsome man, extremely 
 neat in dress, his mustaches nicely waxed and pointed. 
 He looked as trim and neat as though just fresh from 
 the barber shop. A small Testament found in his pocket 
 testified as to his identity. On the fly-leaf was his name 
 and the words: "A gift from his mother". Towards 
 evening the Fourth Brigade, to which the Regiment was 
 now attached, was ordered to reinforce General Birney at 
 Fussell's Mill. 
 
 During the 17th there was heavy skirmishing along 
 the whole line of the Second Corps and the men .of the 
 Regiment suffered severely. From four until six o'clock 
 on the afternoon of this day a truce was declared for the 
 purpose of removing the dead and wounded from 
 ^between the lines. The body of General Chambliss, that 
 
288 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 had been buried within the Union lines, was taken up 
 and delivered to his friends. 
 
 On the morning of the 18th General Barlow was 
 compelled to relinquish for a time the command of his 
 division by reason of his wounds and disease. He was a 
 man absolutely without fear, and was succeeded by 
 General Nelson A. Miles, a brilliant and fearless soldier. 
 
 With the exception of picket firing the day was 
 uneventful until half-past five in the afternoon, when the 
 enemy came out of their works near Fussell's Mill and 
 attacked the line of General Birney's Division. General 
 Miles moved forward with the First and Fourth Brigades 
 and struck the flank of the attacking column. For half 
 an hour the roar of musketry was tremendous, and at the 
 same hour a heavy attack was made oij. the Union cavalry. 
 Everything indicated a battle of some magnitude, but 
 while the Union cavalry were driven back, the attack on 
 the lines at Fussell's Mill failed and the Confederates were 
 driven back, leaving the field covered with dead and 
 wounded. The Regiment participated in the movement 
 on the enemy's flank and did noble service in pouring in 
 a most destructive fire. 
 
 During the 19th and 20th nothing but heavy picket 
 firing occurred, the regiment furnishing large details for 
 the skirmish line ; and on the night of the 20th the whole 
 force was withdrawn from Deep Bottom and began the 
 return to Petersburg. The march of the Regiment was 
 another of the many disagreeable incidents of the 
 campaign. It was a terrible night. The rain fell in sheets 
 and the roads were in a frightful condition in the ink-like 
 darkness. The thunder rolled and lightning flashed 
 incessantly. As the pickets were being withdrawn, the 
 storm's fury seemed to be concentrated on the picket line. 
 
Second Deep Bottom. 289 
 
 The thunder pealed through the woods and the Hghtning 
 flashed among the rain-soaked men. Several large trees 
 were struck and torn to ribbons, and while the storm was 
 at its height the army withdrew. 
 
 Returning by way of Point of Rocks, the Regiment 
 reached the old camping ground early on the morning of 
 the 21st. The casualties of the Regiment during the 
 Second Deep Bottom campaign are not known to the 
 writer and cannot now be ascertained. The men who 
 were missing were never heard of again and most likely 
 all were killed. 
 
 The casualties of the Second Corps were nine 
 hundred and fifteen, more than one-half of which were 
 in the First Division, to which the Regiment was 
 attached. When " arms were stacked " in camp once 
 more, it was thought by everyone that after the fearful 
 fatigues of the last week a rest of a few days would 
 be given to the exhausted troops who had participated in 
 the Deep Bottom campaign, but no such good luck was 
 in store for them. Despite the fearful condition of the 
 worn-out men they were allowed to remain just long 
 enough to cook their cofiee and then ordered to the 
 vicinity of the Strong house to slashing and work on 
 the intrenchments.. It was more than human nature 
 could endure and, although the distance was short, many 
 of the men fell on the way, utterly unable to move ; and, 
 worse still, as soon as the weary and foot-sore men arrived 
 at the first point of destination they were ordered to 
 continue the march to the Gurley House, on the Weldon 
 Railroad, several miles further. Slowly dragging their 
 weary limbs along, through a steady and pouring rain, 
 they finally reached their position late in the afternoon. 
 Too weary and tired and without life or spirit enough to 
 
290 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 even light a fire, the men of the Regiment sank on the 
 wet ground and slept in the softest of Virginia mud. 
 
 The morning of August 22d broke gray and wet. 
 The men made coffee with water thick with clay from the 
 muddy streams, and many of the stragglers who had 
 fallen by the way the day before came in and joined their 
 companies. At noon, the First Division was set to work 
 destroying the Weldon Railroad. All the afternoon of 
 that day and all day of the 23d the work went on. It 
 was not the first experience of the Regiment in this line 
 of business and, when the fatigue of Deep Bottom wore 
 off, the men rather enjoyed the work. It was certainly 
 better than building breast-works with the sharpshooters 
 cracking at the workers ; and the roaring fires of the 
 railroad ties at intervals along the line, on which the rails 
 were bent and roasted, looked cheerful and gave the boys 
 a chance to dry their clothes after the rain. During the 
 afternoon, several miles of the railroad were effectually 
 destroyed and on the 23d the work was continued. On 
 the evening of that day the First Division reached as 
 far as Reams Station and the Regiment was placed in 
 intrenchments there. 
 
Battle of Reams Station. 291 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 BATTLE OF REAMS STATION. 
 
 r\^ the morning of August 24th, the First Division was 
 reHeved by the Second, and proceeded in the work of 
 destroying the railroad beyond the station. The advance 
 of the working party was covered by Colonel Spear with 
 two regiments of cavalry, while General Gregg's Division 
 of cavalry held all the roads by which the enemy could 
 approach from Petersburg or Dinwiddie. During the day. 
 Spear had a brush with the enemy's cavalry, but, with the 
 assistance of some of the infantry of the First Division, 
 drove them off. General Barlow was again forced, by 
 reason of his wounds, to relinquish command of the First 
 Division on this day, never to return, and was succeeded 
 by General Nelson A. Miles. It was not without regret 
 that the men of the Regiment saw General Barlow take 
 final leave of the division. He was a fearless officer, 
 perfectly reckless as regarded his own person and, inspit,e 
 of wounds and disease, stuck to the work and remained 
 with the command long after a man with less force of 
 character would have given up the struggle. 
 
 During the day the working party succeeded in 
 destroying the railroad to a point three miles beyorid, and 
 to the south of, the station, to a place known as 
 Malone's Crossing. At dark the division returned to the 
 intrenchments at Reams Station. The members of the 
 regiment were in good spirits, and, after cooking coffee, 
 sat around the camp-fires for awhile, enjoying the usual 
 smoke and chat that almost invariably marked the close 
 
292 The Story of the 116th Regiment. 
 
 of a day like this. The night of the morrow and the 
 Regiment would be stealing away in the darkness from the 
 bloody field, leaving many members, the dead of August 
 25th, to hold the works forever. 
 
 Orders were issued for the Second Division of the corps 
 to move out and resume the destruction of the railroad on 
 the morning of the 25th, but at midnight a despatch from 
 the headquarters of the army notified General Hancock 
 that a force of the enemy, estimated at eight to ten 
 thousand, had been seen leaving their works at Petersburg, 
 moving south, and cautioning him to look out for them. 
 This Confederate force was afterwards learned to be a very 
 heavy column of infantry and cavalry (the numbers have 
 never been ascertained), under command of General A. P. 
 Hill, consisting of nearly all of his own corps, Anderson's 
 Brigade of Longstreet's Corps, and two cavalry divisions 
 under General Hampton. This force began to develop in 
 Hancock's front early in the forenoon of the 25th ; and, 
 in consequence, the Second Division, that had started to 
 destroy the track, was at once recalled and placed in the 
 intrenchments. The pickets of the Second Division, who 
 had been on duty during the night were relieved by those of 
 the First Division shortly after daylight, and a large detail 
 of the One Hundred and Sixteenth went out on that 
 duty. The line of works into which the two divisions of 
 the Second Corps had retired to await the assaults of the 
 Confederate column were slight and faulty in construction. 
 They had been constructed in June by some of the cavalry. 
 They ran along the railroad for some ten or twelve hundred 
 yards, having a return almost at right angles at each end, 
 of about the same length, and were thrown up in such a 
 way that the troops occupying them would be exposed to 
 an enfilading fire. The First Division, to which the One 
 
NELSON A. MILES, LIEUTENANT-GENERAL, U.S.A. 
 
Battle of Reams Station. 293 
 
 Hundred and Sixteenth was attached, commanded by- 
 General Nelson A. Miles, occupied the right half of these 
 intrenchments, and Gibbons's Second Division the left. 
 The pickets were thrown well out into the woods in front, 
 and towards noon they felt the approach of the enemy. 
 In front of that part of the line there was open ground 
 of about one hundred and fifty yards to the timber, and in 
 this wood the picket ran in a line parallel with the works. 
 At noon the Confederates advanced along the 
 Dinwiddle Road striking the picket of the First Division, 
 driving in the picket line and taking possession of these 
 woods, the sharpshooters occupying every tree and 
 available spot along the front of the Union line. At one 
 o'clock an attempt was made to drive the Confederates 
 back into these woods and re-form the picket line, and the 
 Regiment went out to support the movement, leaving the 
 colors with a guard in the works, but the effort was not 
 successful. In this fight, which was at very close 
 quarters, the Regiment lost some good men but did 
 effective work. Sergeant Edward S. Kline behaved nobly 
 and was severely wounded. Sergeant T. A. Sloan, while 
 in the act of loading his rifle, was ordered by a big fellow 
 to surrender. Sloan had just got his load down but the 
 ramrod stuck and he could not withdraw it, so he let him 
 have it, ramrod and all. (When it came to a question of 
 surrender Tim Sloan was ever ready to enter a very 
 earnest protest.) At about two o'clock the Confederate 
 General Wilcox made a very determined and spirited 
 attack on that part of the Union line held by the First 
 Division, but each time was driven back with great loss. 
 A second attack was made and was vigorous and close, 
 many of the men falling within musket reach of the 
 Union works. Captain Garrett Nowlen, then in command 
 
294 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 of the Regiment, stood up in front waving his sword and 
 cheering on the men. At that moment a ball pierced his 
 heart. For an instant he was motionless, then turning 
 quickly to where the men of his own company were in 
 line, he looked towards them and waved his hand : — 
 " Good-bye, boys, good-bye — good-bye ". He was falling 
 when he repeated the last words, and when he struck the 
 ground he was dead. Captain Samuel Taggart then 
 took command of the Regiment. A few minutes elapsed 
 and Taggart, passing down the line (it is thought for the 
 purpose of seeing Nowlen's body), crossed an opening in 
 the line. He walked slowly, knowing no fear. As he 
 approached the spot that was so exposed to the fire some 
 of the men called out : " Hurry, Captain ; they may kill 
 you, too". But the brave soul never hastened a step, 
 and as he reached the spot where Nowlen fell he was shot 
 through the body. The men ran forward and carried him 
 behind the works and laid him beside Nowlen. He was 
 perfectly sensible and tried to speak but could not. He 
 turned his head a little, and smiling on the men who had 
 gathered around him and who loved him tenderly, he 
 awaited death, calm, serene and fearless, as became the 
 gallant martyr that he was. He lived fifteen minutes 
 after he was struck, the smile never leaving his face for a 
 moment, and his pure spirit ascended to heaven, bright 
 with the light of battle and radiant with the light of a 
 stainless 'life. 
 
 As the hours passed in the afternoon the position of 
 Hancock's forces became extremely critical, the enemy 
 concentrating for a tremendous onslaught and no forces 
 to which Hancock could look for assistance within sup- 
 porting distance. At five o'clock the enemy inaugurated 
 the final attack by a very heavy artillery fire that 
 
Battle of Reams Station. 295 
 
 demoralized to a great extent many of the recruits and 
 substitutes who had recently joined the Second Corps. 
 The shelling continued for about fifteen minutes, and then 
 the whole Confederate force, led by Heth's Division, 
 assaulted the Union line. The principal attack was made 
 on Miles's First Division and on that part of the line held 
 by the Fourth Brigade. The men of the One Hundred 
 and Sixteenth stood shoulder to shoulder, pouring in their 
 fire on the advancing hosts, and had the other troops of 
 the corps made as noble a fight as the Fourth Brigade, 
 Reams Station would have been a great Union victory. 
 But it was not to be. 
 
 While the brigade was hurling death into those in the 
 front, two New York regiments on the right gave way 
 and went to the rear. The victorious enemy poured 
 through the opening, capturing flags, guns and prisoners. 
 Hancock and Miles were everywhere, cheering, rallying 
 and urging the men, but the break was too great to 
 repair and the line was forced back. Fighting on and 
 contesting the ground- inch by inch the Regiment fell 
 back, but not until the works on the right were in the 
 hands of the enemy and they were receiving on the left 
 an enfilading fire of the most destructive character. The 
 line gradually fell back across the space enclosed by our 
 works until the men of the Regiment found themselves 
 fighting among the troops of the Second Division, who, 
 in turn, were forced out of their works and were obliged 
 to occupy and fight from the reverse side of their own 
 intrenchments. 
 
 To go into further details of the Battle of Reams 
 Station is not necessary in a regimental history. Suffice 
 to say that the fight continued until dark and then both 
 sides in the struggle withdrew from the field. The loss 
 
296 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 of the Regimejit was never actually known. After the 
 command returned to Petersburg and the members 
 compared notes, the names of seventeen men killed and 
 ten wounded were all that could be accounted for, but 
 there were thirty-one missing. Only four or five were 
 ever heard of again and they were heard of as dying in 
 southern prisons. The others were undoubtedly killed. 
 Captain Francis E. Crawford and Lieutenant Zadock 
 Springer were taken prisoners. Notwithstanding the 
 crushing defeat sustained by the two divisions of the 
 Second Corps and the terrible loss in the ranks of the One 
 Hundred and Sixteenth, the Regiment never broke once 
 during the afternoon and the men never abandoned the 
 bodies of the two dead captains whom all had loved so 
 dearly ; and when darkness fell and the retreat began the 
 bodies were placed on stretchers and carried mile after 
 mile through the gloomy forest back to the camp at 
 Petersburg, then embalmed and sent home. 
 
 It is difficult to understand the reason for the battle 
 and disaster of Reams Station. It was known to the 
 commander of the army the night before that a large 
 force had left Petersburg for the purpose of attacking 
 either Hancock or Warren's Fifth Corps, which was five 
 miles on his right and between Reams Station and 
 Petersburg. At nine o'clock on the evening of the 24th 
 General Warren telegraphed to General Meade that he 
 felt certain that the force of Confederates had gone out to 
 interfere with General Hancock and added : " They can 
 not do anything with me here ". It would seem that it 
 should have been determined then to either reinforce 
 Hancock that he might fight to win a victory and beat 
 back the column sent against him and then continue the 
 destruction of the railroad, or, if that was not considered 
 
Battle of Reams Station. 297 
 
 of sufficient importance to make a fight for, then to have 
 called him back and abandon the work without risking a 
 battle. But no doubt General Meade thought that 
 General Hancock and the two divisions of the Second 
 Corps were fully able to hold the ground and render a 
 good account, and so they would had it been the same 
 Second Corps that charged Marye's Heights at Freder- 
 icksburg or held the Brock Road in the Wilderness. 
 Death had been busy in the ranks and but few men of 
 the early part of the year's campaign were left. All the 
 brigade and regimental commanders had fallen in the 
 first three months of the campaign. All had been replaced, 
 not once or twice, but several times. At least thirty 
 brigade commanders had fallen during the three and 
 one-half months ending at Reams Station, and at the 
 latter end of October thirty-seven brigade commanders 
 had been killed and wounded, an average of three to each 
 of the brigades in the Second Corps in this one summer 
 campaign of less than six months. The men, too, had 
 gone down in brigades and regiments, and the veterans 
 of the Peninsula and Antietam had been largely replaced 
 by recruits and substitutes who had but little heart in the 
 work. 
 
 The number of Confederates engaged in the battle 
 has never been ascertained. The force that Hancock 
 fought with consisted of 8,000 infantry and cavalry, of 
 which he lost 2,400 killed, wounded and prisoners. The 
 loss of officers in the Union ranks was out of all propor- 
 tion. The Confederate sharpshooters picked them off, as 
 in the case of Nowlen and Taggart. Captain E. P. 
 Brownson, of Hancock's staff, was among the killed. He 
 was a brave and handsome young officer, and fell while 
 leading forward some troopS to the attack. Colonel 
 
298 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Francis A. Walker, also of the staff, in his daring got 
 into the enemy's line and was captured. Just before the 
 fight commenced General Hancock placed Tom Scarlett, 
 of Company A, on the Spires House as a safeguard. 
 Tom climbed to the top of the carriage house to watch 
 the fight, but the bullets came so lively around the spot 
 that he thought it judicious to get down and forego 
 sightseeing. But he found it not less dangerous on the . 
 ground. A negro and dog were wounded in the garden. 
 The family retired to the cellar and left Scarlett in sole 
 possession. So well did he do his duty that Mrs. Spires 
 not only kept him safely concealed during the next day 
 when Hampton's Confederate cavalry surrounded the 
 house, but after dark crammed his haversack with all the 
 good things she could raise, and then personally 
 conducted him through the lines and put him on the road 
 back to his own camp. Sergeant James Cavanaugh, of 
 Company B, distinguished himself greatly by defending 
 one of the guns of Battery B, First Rhode Island Artillery. 
 When the enemy rushed over the works Cavanaugh lost 
 his musket in the struggle, but seizing a spade he fought 
 like a tiger until knocked down, overpowered and taken 
 prisoner. 
 
 A letter from General Heth, who corhmanded the last 
 charge on the Union works, is of interest : — 
 
 Washington, May 13th, 1895. 
 General St. Clair Mulholland, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 Dear General : Yours of May ist was duly received. I am afraid I ' 
 cannot give you the information you most desire in reference to the Reams 
 Station fight, August 25th, 1864. 
 
 I have, assisted by Mr. Kirkly, one of the board compiling the ofijcial 
 records of the Union and Confederate armies, examined the records, 
 hoping to find some data which would give us the information as to the 
 strength of the brigades that carried your works on August 25th, 1864. 
 
Battle of Reams Station. 
 
 299 
 
 I am sorry to say that there is absolutely nothing that throws any light 
 upon this subject. On the 25th of August, 1864, General A. P. Hill, with 
 Wilcox's Division, or a part of it, and two brigades of my division, took 
 up the march to Reams Station, where General Hancock with his corps, 
 or a part of it, was engaged in destroying the Weldon Railroad. 
 
 Wilcox's Division was in the advance and, on reaching Reams 
 Station, was ordered to attack the works held by Hancock's troops. He 
 attacked and was repulsed. My two brigades, commanded by Generals 
 Cooke and McRae — North Carolina troops^arrived, and I was ordered 
 by General Hill to carry the works. Lane's North Carolina Brigade, of 
 Wilcox's Division, was assigned to my command to assist in the attack. 
 The works I was to attack ran parallel with the railroad in front of quite 
 a deep cut. A heavy body of woods was in front of the works I was to 
 attack with an open field between the woods and the works. Probably 
 the distance across this open field was two hundred yards, more or less. 
 I formed my command for the attack in these woods, as near to the open 
 field as possible, without being exposed to view, and parallel to your 
 works — Cook or McRae on the. right and Lane on the extreme left. I 
 placed two or more batteries under Colonel Pegram, commanding, in a 
 good position still further to the right, having an oblique fire on your line 
 of works and your artillery in rear of the works. Adjusting our watches 
 so that they indicated the same time, Pegram was ordered to open all of 
 his guns and.fire as rapidly as possible at the works and at your artillery. 
 At the end of thirty minutes he was to cease firing, when the infantry 
 would charge the works. Pegram' s fire was wonderfully accurate and 
 effective. Some of your guns were dismounted, caissons blown up and 
 many horses killed. His fire had a demoralizing effect temporarily upon 
 the troops behind the works, and before they had time to recover their 
 normal status my infantry was in possession of the works. My loss in 
 crossing the field was very small. The left brigade met with abatis 'in 
 front of the works it vvas to carry and sustained greater loss. The 
 number of prisoners, guns, etc., captured by my command in this" fight 
 will be found in the Official Records, Vol. 42, Part i, page 851. 
 
 General Lee says in a despatch, dated August 26th, 1864, to Hon. 
 Jas. A. Seddon, Secretary of War : " Cooke's and McRae's North 
 Carolina Brigades, un^er General Heth, and Lane's Brigade, under 
 General Conner, with Pegram's artillery, composed the assaulting column. 
 Seven stands of colors, 2,000 prisoners and nine pieces of artillery are in 
 our possession. The loss of the enemy in killed and wounded is reported 
 to be heavy — ours relatively small" 
 
 Thirty years have elapsed since this fight. All my papers and retained 
 returns were destroyed at Appomattox, April 9th, 1865, so any estimate 
 of the attacking force under my command when your works were carried 
 
300 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 August 25th, 1864, would-be merely guesswork. I should say that the 
 attacking force was between 4,000 and 4,500 strong. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 H. Heth. 
 
 REAMS STATION. 
 
 Captain and Brevet-Major Garrett Nowlen, who 
 fell in the battle and died so heroically, was born in 
 Philadelphia, on March 6th, 1835. He entered the army 
 as second lieutenant of Company G, August 2d, 1862, and 
 was promoted to first lieutenant and adjutant, March 1st, 
 1863 ; to captain of Company D, November 21st, 1863 ; to 
 brevet-major, August 25th, 1864. He was severely 
 wounded at Fredericksburg, December 13th, 1862, the 
 ball shattering his hip bone. He was a man delicate by 
 nature, thoughtful and studious, of liberal education and 
 a graduate of the Philadelphia High School ; most 
 generous, unselfish and self-sacrificing ; simple and gentle 
 as a boy, with a high sense of honor and truth that 
 directed every action of his life. His body was embalmed 
 and brought to Philadelphia and buried at Laurel Hill, 
 on the banks of the beautiful Schuylkill where he had 
 often played in childhood's happy days. He is interred 
 among the friends of his youth who loved him in life, 
 and he sleeps in good and honorable company. By his 
 side lie General Meade, the Commander of the Army of 
 the Potomac ; General Mercer, who fell at Princetown ; 
 General Hector Tyndale, who died of wounds received 
 at Antietam ; Colonel Sargent, who feH at Petersburg, an'd 
 young Colonel Dalgren, who went down in front of 
 Richmond, and many another patriot and hero. Some 
 loving friend has marked on his tomb the words : O, 
 brave heart !" Truly a loyal and noble heart was stilled 
 when Garrett Nowlen fell. 
 
, 1 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 |i 
 
 
 ^^ 
 
 H|P^ -v 
 
 CAPTAIN AND BREVET MAJOR GARRETT NOWLEN 
 Killed at Reams Station, August 25th, 1864 
 
Reams Station. 301 
 
 A letter written by Lieutenant Frank McGuigan, a few 
 days after the battle, tells in graphic language how 
 Captain Nowlen fell : — 
 
 Headquarters n6TH Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. 
 
 In the field near Petersburg, Va., September gth, 1864. 
 
 Major Charles W. Matthews, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 Dear Sir : Yours of the 4th instant has been received. It was my 
 intention to write to the relatives of the late Captain Garrett Nowlen and 
 give them a history of the sad event, but owing to circumstances over 
 which I had no control I was unable to do so. 
 
 Captain Nowlen was killed at the battle of Reams Station, on the 
 afternoon of August 25th. Our Regiment had been on picket duty for 
 several days previous to the fight. On the evening of the 24th our brigade 
 was withdrawn from the left of the line and fell back about two miles to 
 the breastworks at Reams Station, on the Weldon Railroad. Nothing 
 unusual occurred during the n'ght. The next morning we received orders 
 to strengthen the works. The men had scarcely begun to work before 
 orders came to march the brigade to the left into a large cornfield. We 
 did not remain in the latter position long, but advanced into the main line 
 of works where we remained about half an hour and were again ordered 
 to move. This time only our Regiment was ordered to move. We then 
 deployed our line as skirmishers and at once advanced on the enemy. 
 
 The Regiment had gone but a short distance when the enemy opened 
 with a heavy fire of musketry which made our line give ground for a 
 moment, but they soon rallied and returned the compliment. At this 
 moment the support, composed mainly of dismounted cavalry, broke, 
 which compelled our line to fall back. At this time Captain Nowlen gave 
 us another proof of his bravery and coolness in time of danger. He 
 succeeded in bringing his Regiment out with comparatively small loss 
 and gained the shelter of the works without personal injury. But a few 
 moments only elapsed before the enemy advanced in great numbers and 
 charged our line. They were driven back with terrible loss of life during 
 this charge. Captain Nowlen was at his post cheering his command and 
 exposing himself to great danger. • After the latter charge an interval of 
 about half an hour occurred, nothing of any consequence going on except 
 now and then a shell from our batteries would fall among the " Rebs " 
 and make them stir. 
 
 About three p. m. the enemy began to, show signs of moving, and 
 not many minutes elapsed before they began to advance in our front from 
 
302 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 the woods in great numbers, with the evident intention of charging our 
 works again. We were not kept long in suspense as they at once 
 advanced " three lines of battle deep ". Our men ^but two small 
 divisions) remained firm and held their fire until the word was given, 
 when they opened on the enemy volley after volley of musketry. But still 
 the enemy advanced, the fire of our men staggering them somewhat, but 
 not breaking their lines. At this moment Captain Nowlen sprang up 
 from behind the works and, waving his sword, cheered the men. It 
 seemed but an instant he stood and the next he fell, shot through the 
 heart by a minie-ball, the brave soldier and courteous gentleman who had 
 won the confidence and esteem of every officer and man in his command. 
 His loss is deeply felt by every member of the Regiment, more especially 
 by the old officers of the Regiment who had been his companions in arms 
 for more than two years. 
 
 With the assistance of three of the men I had his body carried off the 
 field and conveyed to the rear. Next morning, with the help of the quarter- 
 master of our Regiment, I had the body removed to City Point, where 
 it was embalmed and from thence sent home to his relatives. All the 
 effects that were on his person at the time of his death will be sent to you 
 in his valise at the earliest opportunity. 
 
 Enclosed you will find the blank you sent to be filled as the questions 
 required. I did as you requested, but thinking a detailed account would 
 be more satisfactory, I have taken the liberty to write the above. 
 
 Yours respectfully, 
 
 Francis A. McGuigan. 
 
 Captain and Brevet-Major Samuel Taggart. 
 
 It is difficult to find words in which to describe the 
 high and lofty character of Samuel Taggart. It is rare, 
 indeed, that we meet in life with a human being so replete 
 in every good attribute that adorns a life or forms a perfect 
 man. As a soldier he was " sans peur et sans reproche ". 
 
 He was born in Pittsburg, Pa., on the 10th of May, .1841. 
 He received his early education in the Second and Sixth 
 Wards schools of his native city and was among the first 
 to enter the High School on the opening of that institution 
 in 1855. He graduated therefrom in Februa,ry, 1860, and 
 entered the Western University for the purpose of 
 
Reams Station. 303 
 
 preparing for college. After continuing at the University 
 for six months he taught a public school near Woodville, 
 Allegheny County, Pa., the term commencing in 
 September, 1860, and ending the following March. In 
 the fall of 1861 he entered Westminster College, New 
 Wilmington, Lawrence County, Pa., from which he was 
 graduated in June, 1862. He entered the United 
 Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Allegheny, Pa., in 
 the spring of 1863, and continued there for one year. 
 
 Under the first call of Abraham Lincoln ior troops he 
 felt a strong desire to enter the service, and joined a 
 company organized at that time, but there being no 
 scarcity of recruits, he yielded to the persuasion of friends 
 and applied himself to preparing for the ministry, having 
 early resolved to make that profession his calling in life. 
 
 After graduating at Westminster he enlisted in 
 Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-third Regiment, 
 Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was appointed first sergeant 
 of his company. He participated with the regiment 
 in the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg and 
 Chancellorsville, and was mustered out in May, 1863, the 
 regiment having been organized under the call for nine 
 months men. Shortly after this he entered the Theological 
 Seminary. While a student at the Seminary in the winter 
 of 1863 he laid aside his books and organized a company 
 of infantry, which was assigned as Company I, of the One 
 Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers. Of his 
 services in that regiment his surviving comrades need not 
 be reminded. He was a young man of spotless character, 
 brave heart, brilliant mind and genial temperament. 
 
 The following fitting tribute to his worth is from the 
 pen of an intimate friend and classmate at High School 
 and College : — 
 
304 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 "He ^as my intimate and beloved friend for years and his death has 
 been to me a life-long regret. I never can restrain my tears when I think 
 of it. "The pure-minded boy, the faithful friend, the gifted student, the 
 manly man, the devoted Christian, the patriotic soldier. No costlier 
 sacrifice was ever laid on the altar of the country than when that precious 
 life went out on the battlefield of Virginia. The church was looking forward 
 to his useful services as a minister. Teachers and classmates at the school 
 and college expected and predicted great things for him. His talents and 
 temperament would have given him an honorable place anywhere, but 
 he cheerfully gave all, youth, strength, education, prospects — he gave all 
 to the cause of his country. It is only when we think of him and 
 thousands who, like him, counted not their own lives dear to them, that 
 we can realize what the preservation of the Union cost. It would take 
 not a hasty sketch but a volume to do justice to his memory ". 
 
 The writer, who has seen Major Taggart on the 
 battlefield and in camp, and who loved him as a brother, 
 joins in every word of praise offered in his saintly- 
 memory. A soldier of the most exalted type, and a man 
 whose daily life was a sermon on Christianity, he met 
 death with the most serene composure, and a smile that 
 betokened the eternal bliss that awaited his pure and 
 noble soul. He is buried in Allegheny Cemetery, near 
 Pittsburg, and the ground where he rests is a sacred spot. 
 
 " How glorious fall the valiant, sword in hand, 
 In front of battle for their native land ' ' . 
 
 A- few days after the battle General Gibbons, 
 commanding the Second Division of the Second Corps, 
 issued an order depriving several regiments of their colors 
 on the ground that their conduct at Reams Station had 
 rendered them unworthy to carry them. The order was 
 approved by General Meade, but General Hancock felt 
 that the action taken was unjustly severe and entered 
 his protest against it in a strong letter to General Grant. 
 In this communication the commander of the Second 
 Corps tells in plain language the eloquent story of that 
 organization : — 
 
CAPTAIN AND BREVET MAJOR SAMUEL TAGGART 
 Killed at Reams Station, August 25th, 1864 
 
Reams Station. 305 
 
 Headquarters Second Corps, 
 
 September 28th, 1864. 
 Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant, 
 
 Commanding Armies of the United States. 
 
 General : I have the honor to sohcit your attention to the enclosed 
 copy of an order published by Major-General Gibbons, of the 30th ult., 
 with my endorsements thereon, and to the printed order of the Major- 
 General commanding the Army of the Potomac, confirming and approving 
 General Gibbons' s order. 
 
 It will be seen that General Gibbons deprived three (3) regiments of 
 his division of the privilege of bearing colors (they having lost their 
 colors at the battle of Reams Station, August 25th), that I approved of 
 the principle but requested that if it was adopted the rule might be made 
 general and affect other corps as well as my own, and, finally, that 
 General Meade overruled my suggestion and singled out these regiments, 
 the Eighth New York Heavy Artillery, One Hundred and Sixty-fourth 
 New York Volunteers and Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteers, to be 
 published to the army as having rendered themselves unworthy to carry 
 colors. This without regard to the fact that in the same action other 
 divisions of my command lost colors and that but a few days before 
 several regiments of another corps had met with the same misfortune. 
 Under the circumstances I respectfully submit that these regiments have 
 been proceeded against with unnecessary severity and a slur cast upon 
 the corps which I have the honor to command, which, in view of the past, 
 might well have been omitted. It is, perhaps, known to you that this 
 corps has never lost a color or a gun previous to this campaign, though 
 oftener and more desperately engaged than any other corps in the army 
 or, perhaps, in any other in the country. I have not the means of knowing 
 exactly the number of guns and colors captured, but I, myself, saw nine 
 in the hands of one division at Antietam and the official reports show 
 that thirty-four fell into the hands of the corps at Gettysburg. Before the 
 opening of this campaign it had icaptured at least over half a hundred 
 colors from the enemy and never yielded one, though at a cost of over 
 twenty-five thousand (25,000) casualties. During this campaign you can 
 judge how well the corps has performed its part. It has captured more 
 guns and colors than all the rest of the army combined. Its reverses have 
 not been many and they began only when the corps had dwindled to a 
 remnant of its former strength ; after it had lost twenty-five brigade com- 
 manders and over one hundred and twenty-five regimental commanders 
 and over twenty thousand men. 
 
 I submit that with the record of this corps it is in the highest degree 
 unjust, by a retrospective order, to publish a part of it as unworthy to 
 bear colors. It is not necessary, perhaps, to speak more particularly as 
 
•306 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 to the injustice done these regiments, the principle discussed covering 
 their case. I may say, however, that these regiments first appeared at 
 the battle of Spottsylvania. At Cold Harbor the colonel of the Thirty- 
 sixth Wisconsin — as gallant a soldier as ever lived— fell dead on the field, 
 as did the colonel of the Eighth New York Heavy Artillery. The colonel 
 of the One Hundred and Sixty-fourth fell mortally wounded beside his 
 flag on the breastwork of the enemy. These regiments have since that 
 action suffered severely, one of them, at least, having lost two com- 
 manding officers. 
 
 I respectfully request that these colors may be returned to them. 
 They are entitled to the same privileges as other regiments — that is, the 
 right to strive to avoid the penalties of General Order No. 37, current 
 series, headquarters Army of the Potomac. 
 
 I am. General, your most obedient servant, 
 
 W. S. Hancock, 
 Major-General, Commanding Second Corps. 
 
 In compliance with this request the colors of the 
 regiments named were afterwards restored to them : — 
 
 Headquarters of the Army of the Potomac. 
 
 November 7th. 
 The Eighth New York Heavy Artillery, One Hundred and Sixty- 
 fourth New York Volunteers and the Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteers, 
 having been reported to the major-general commanding as having behaved 
 with distinguished bravery during the engagement of October 27th, 1864, 
 on Hatcher's Run, he takes pleasure in restoring to these gallant regiments 
 the right to carry the colors of which they were deprived by his General 
 Order No. 37, of September 23d, 1864. 
 By command of Major-General Meade. 
 
 S. Williams, 
 
 A. A. General. 
 
Petersburg. 307 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 PETERSBURG. 
 
 A FTER the battle of Reams Station the Regiment 
 remained on the reserve for two or three weeks, 
 moving from one point to another in rear of the line, 
 but furnishing full details for picket and being constantly- 
 exposed to the fire of the enemy's batteries, if not under 
 that of the infantry. 
 
 In September the command moved into the front line 
 and then remained in the trenches for two months — a 
 continuous battle night and day. A letter of General 
 Hancock to the commander of the army tells in pathetic 
 words the story of this time : — 
 
 Headquarters Second Corps. 
 
 November loth, 1864. 
 Brigadier-General S. Williams. 
 
 Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac. 
 
 General : I have the honor to invite the attention of the major- 
 general commanding to the following remarks : — 
 
 General Mott's Division, of my corps, took up the intrenched line 
 near Petersburg from near the Norfolk Railroad to the left on the 20th of 
 August. On the 24th of September the other two divisions relieved the 
 Tenth Army Corps, holding the line from the Norfolk Railroad to the 
 river. My corps has held the centre line from Battery No. 24 to Redoubt 
 Converse since that time, Mott's Division having been withdrawn on one 
 occasion for a few days, Mott and Gibbons for a few days during the 
 operations of October 26th, 27th and 28th, and Miles's Division for two 
 days after the return of Mott's and Gibbons' s Divisions. With these 
 exceptions, when the troops were withdrawn to participate in movements 
 against the enemy, my command has been under fire in front of Petersburg 
 for two months and a half, holding the only part of the lines of the army 
 in close proximity to the enemy. They have been subjected night and 
 day to the fire of artillery and have frequently been engaged in considerable 
 
808 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 picket skirmishes. I have about two thousand men on picket daily and 
 sixteen hundred of these are in action, it may be said, day and night. 
 
 The troops in the enclosed works and rifle pits are subjected to a 
 constant fire from the enemy's mortars, and are obliged to live in under- 
 ground holes and bomb-proofs, and are called upon almost nightly to 
 get under arms and to be in readiness to resist an attack. They cannot 
 even walk about in safety in their own camp on account of the danger of 
 stray bullets, mortar shells or the fire of sharpshooters. They have no 
 opportunity for drill or instruction. 
 
 My command is composed largely of new men. 
 
 From the left of my corps to the left of the army, I believe there is 
 hardly a place where the enemy are in sight. The troops are not harassed 
 by being called up in the night, or by constant skirmishing during the 
 day, and their camps are not disturbed by the enemy's artillery. They 
 are comfortably camped by regiments and brigades, with abundant 
 opportunity for exercise, drill and instruction. 
 
 I submit that my command has been a long time without rest and in a 
 state of constant and wearying strain, and has been very disadvantageously 
 situated in every respect compared with the other corps. 
 
 I do not speak of it complainingly, and do not know that there-is any 
 remedy for it, but consider it a proper matter to lay before the major- 
 general commanding the army. I am. General, 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 WiNFiELD S. Hancock, 
 
 Major-General of Volunteers. 
 
 During the whole time of the siege there- occurred 
 continual fights between the pickets. Frequently whole 
 brigades and divisions would be drawn into these affairs, 
 which would result in serious loss. After dark the attacks 
 and counter-attacks were of nighdy occurrence, and 
 sometimes the firing of a single picket would quickly 
 develop into an engagement extending for a mile along 
 the line. The lines were very close at places, and the 
 intervening space between them would be frequently 
 swept by fire from dark to sunrise. Even when peace 
 would reign for a short time, and not a sound be heard 
 in front, half the picket would be standing at a " ready ", 
 and at the slightest sound would begin firing and then 
 
On the Picket Reserve. 309 
 
 blaze away for hours lest some force might be moving to 
 the attack. The more intense the darkness the heavier 
 the fire, and brigades would fire "twenty or thirty thousand 
 rounds of ammunition during a single night. Morning 
 and daylight would reveal the same open spot just as it 
 was the evening before, without a single indication that 
 anyone had been moving over it during the darkness. A 
 load of powder and ball had been expended and nobody 
 hurt; no, not even kept awake or disturbed in their 
 slumbers by the noise, for everyone became accustomed 
 to the row and would dream in perfect peace, if not in 
 security, even when siege guns, mortars, musketry and 
 all were blazing away for miles along the line. 
 
 But danger was ever present on the picket line at 
 Petersburg. Many a night, from sundown to sunup the 
 next morning, the dead were almost as numerous as on 
 some of the celebrated battlefields of the world's history, 
 as many as twenty bodies being carried in from the 
 front before daybreak in the Fourth Brigade alone. The 
 line of newly made graves would be extended and reach 
 a little further, that was all. Before dinner time the 
 incident would be forgotten and life go on as usual. 
 
 ON THE PICKET RESERVE. 
 
 The lines were so close at many points that the men 
 could have reached over and touched the muzzle of each 
 other's muskets, and the line of earthworks occupied by 
 each line was almost as heavy as the usual field works 
 that sheltered a line of battle. Thousands of ever wakeful 
 eyes were watching and thousands of ears were constantly 
 listening. Thousands of rifles were continually pointed 
 through chinks in the log revetement, and the vigilant 
 sharpshooter, finger on trigger, was ever ready to draw 
 
310 The Story of the iiSth Regiment. 
 
 a bead on any moving object, not only on the picket line, 
 but, by using the telescope affixed to the barrel, on 
 moving figures a mile in the rear. To expose a head on 
 the picket line meant instant death, and many points far 
 in rear of the main line of battle were so acutely covered 
 by the sharpshooters that it was almost impossible to pass 
 without being hit. These dangerous places soon became 
 known to everyone, and when it became necessary to 
 cross, one had to dash past on a run. But no matter how 
 great the speed, half a dozen bullets would sing around 
 and urge still more rapid flight. The relief went out in the 
 dark, as changing in the sunlight was out of the question. 
 The relief that went on before dawn in the morning had to 
 remain on the line until after dark in the evening, but the 
 firing was principally at night and was then continuous. 
 
 It is questionable if there was a single hour from the 
 first shot fired at the siege of Petersburg until the Con- 
 federates evacuated the works ten months afterwards, that 
 there was not firing on some part of the line. It might be 
 on the immediate front, or on the right or left, or maybe 
 miles distant, but night or day, listen when one would, 
 the firing could be heard. 
 
 The reserve of the picket was sometimes quite a 
 comfortable place and, although out in front, was less 
 exposed to danger than the main line of works. Generally 
 in a hollow of the ground or otherwise sheltered, the men 
 could be quiet, and pass the day well enough, but it was 
 necessary to keep very still, and in daylight all commu- 
 nication with the line in the rear and the picket in front 
 was impossible. The hours seemed long, but sometimes 
 the shelter afforded a chance to rise from a reclining 
 posture sufficiently to allow a game of cards. Where that 
 was not possible the men hugged the ground and chatted, 
 
On the Picket Reserve. 311 
 
 bantered jokes and took a whiff of the pipe, provided the 
 enemy would not see the smoke. Stories were told and 
 every incident was seized upon for pastime. While the 
 nervous tension of being constantly exposed to danger 
 was very great, yet as the months passed away everyone, 
 became in a measure reconciled to the situation and found 
 pleasure in the most trivial things of life. 
 
 A group of soldiers on the reserve lying on their 
 stomachs, chins resting on the hands, and elbows on the 
 ground, found entertainment in watching a |tumble-bug 
 rolling before him a ball of- earth three times as large as 
 himself, and admired the perseverance of the little insect 
 in doing his work all over again every time the men would 
 set the ball back a foot. A stunning hour's amusement 
 was furnished by a " battle royal " between two colonies 
 of ants, who advanced in line and fought just as the men 
 were fighting here, the only difference being in the size of 
 the combatants and the arms used. The ants tore each 
 other's limbs off and left lots of dead in the field, just as 
 men do, and as someone remarked : " No doubt they are 
 fighting for some principle just as we are". " With this 
 difference", said another, " that a storm may come up in 
 an hour and a flood will wash away the sand bank. The 
 ants, their principles and quarrels will all be swept away 
 together and that will be the end, while the principle for 
 which we are fighting will remain forever, even if we to a 
 man are swept away in the storm of battle". " Well, it 
 is only a question of time ", put in a third. " The day 
 will come when all men, their ideas and principles will 
 have passed away as completely as these ants". " That 
 all may be ", said another, "but men do not end with 
 this life arid maybe what we do here will have an influence 
 on the hereafter.. Who knows ?" 
 
312 The Story of the iiSth Regiment. 
 
 " Well ", said Lieutenant Halpin, " I will tell you what 
 I know. I know that there is a hereafter for I once saw 
 the ghost of a soldier." 
 
 " Oh, I say, that is something worth listening to ", 
 cried one of the men. " Tell us about the ghost." 
 
 " Be quiet, then, and I will relate an incident that 
 occurred to me in India." 
 
 Halpin Tells a Ghost Story. 
 
 " I had the military fever ever since I was able to stand, 
 and when I was a bit of a chap in Ireland I remember 
 sidling up to every red-coat I met in the street to look at 
 the little cap on the top of his head and make mental 
 calculations as to how long it would be until I was big 
 enough to enlist. Time passed, however, and one day I 
 found myself quite tall enough to don the red cap, so I 
 took Her Majesty's shilling and for a week stalked around 
 the country with a bunch of ribbons flying over my left 
 ear, mighty proud of all my new fixings, and, bidding 
 all my friends good-bye, I was soon off for the East Indies, 
 for the regiment in which I enlisted was under orders for 
 that sweet clime when I took the shilling. I need not tell 
 you of my two years' experience up to the time I saw the 
 ghost, but will come right to the point and place at once. 
 I just arrived in India as the murmuring of the great 
 mutiny of 1857 was being heard, and soon the storm broke 
 in all its fury. It offered a splendid opportunity for death 
 or promotion. The fighting, to be sure, was not so 
 vigorous as we have it here, but the men who were not 
 hit by the Sepoys were pretty sure to catch the cholera, 
 so chances were about even. Lots of fellows went down 
 in the regiment to which I was attached and half the 
 non-commissioned officers and men were laid away in the 
 
LIEUTENANT GEORGE HALPIN 
 Died at close of War of disease contracted in Prison 
 
On the Picket Reserve. 313 
 
 gullies and jungles as we marched from one place to 
 another under the hottest sun that a man ever endured. 
 Promotion was rapid in consequence, and I wore 
 sergeant's stripes before the mutiny was well under way. 
 Now, the ghost I am going to tell you about was not of 
 our people, but a native, and maybe one of the fellows 
 that we shot away from the cannon, only he was not in two 
 pieces as a ghost of that kind would naturally be. It 
 happened at the siege of the ancient city of Delhi. The 
 Sepoys got possession of that place early in the trouble, 
 and we had a mighty big time getting it back. The 
 whole country for miles around the city is covered with 
 palaces, mosques and splendid ruins of the tombs of 
 emperors and princes of the Mogul dynasty, and near the 
 Cashmere gate the bungalows of the English residents 
 cover the hills. I was sergeant of a picket reserve, and 
 instead of lying out on the ground as we do here, the 
 reserve occupied the second story of a large stone building 
 near the English settlement. It was a quiet moonlight 
 night and red hot. My relief had come in and, piling up 
 their arms in a corner, they dropped on the floor and in 
 half an hour every man was fast asleep. I did not feel 
 like sleeping and, lighting my pipe, I sat myself on a 
 large table in the centre of the floor in the immense room 
 to enjoy a smoke. While sitting there I heard a step 
 ringing on the stairway and it became more distinct 
 every moment as it neared the top. I naturally looked 
 toward the open door and was astonished to see a Hindoo 
 walking in. He was turbaned and draped in white, with 
 the saddest, queerest eyes I ever saw. As he entered the 
 room I jumped from the table and called to him, demanding 
 his business. He looked straight at me with those 
 infernal queer eyes and walked right into the room, 
 
314. The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 moving as though he would walk around the table and 
 avoid stepping on the sleeping men. When he had 
 almost completed the circuit of the room and was abreast 
 with me I yelled at him to halt, but he still kept staring 
 at me with those coal black eyes and moving right on. I 
 made up my mind that he would not leave the room until 
 I knew what his business was and, grasping my sword — 
 the sergeants at time carried a short, thick weapon, like 
 the old Romans used to do — I ran to the door and as he 
 approached I ordered him to halt or I would run him 
 through. The sinner never took his terrible eyes off 
 me nor stopped for a moment, and when he came close 
 I could stand it no longer but involuntarily stepped aside 
 to let him pass, and as he did so I once more screamed at 
 him to halt. He did not obey, so I ran my sword right 
 through him, but there seemed to be nothing there and 
 the phantom Hindoo was going down the steps with a 
 stately, even tread. I then called down to the sentinel at 
 the door to stop that man, but the seritinel saw no one 
 pass either going in or coming out. Gentlemen, that is 
 my ghost story. It ain't much to be sure, but it is true." 
 
 " Very good, Halpin, but what was in the canteen 
 that night before you saw the spectral form ?" 
 
 " Not a blessed thing but water, and the water from 
 the Jumna is not fit to drink, neither". 
 
 " Now ", put in Lieutenant Brady, " let me tell you a 
 story of a real Christian ghost, and a soldier at that. 
 You all remember that on Saturday evening, May 2d, at 
 Chancellorsville, the fight was pretty hot for a while, and 
 a good many of our people dropped in the woods on the 
 right of our line ? Well, it is of one of them that I will 
 tell you. There was an old lady living at that time in the 
 little village of Hockendaque, on the Lehigh River, who 
 
On the Picket Reserve. 315 
 
 had a son in the Eleventh Corps. On Sunday morning, 
 May 3d, the old lady crossed the river to Catasauqua, a 
 village just opposite to where she lived, and called upon 
 the pastor of a church, with whom she was acquainted. 
 She told him that her son was home and walking around 
 the streets, but he would not speak to her. ' Last evening 
 (Saturday) ', said she, ' I was washing out some things, 
 the door was open, and who should walk in but my son 
 John. I did not expect him, and I was so astonished for 
 a moment, I did not realize his presence, then quickly 
 drying my hands on my apron, I ran towards him. 
 Would you believe it, he never offered to come towards 
 me but, giving me such a sad, strange look, and without 
 uttering a word, he turned and walked up the stairs. As 
 soon as I could come to my senses I ran after him, but 
 he was gone. The window was open and he must have 
 climbed down the trellis-work that the grape-vine clings 
 to, and so left the house. I lay awake all night thinking, 
 and expecting him to come back, but daylight came and 
 no John. I got the breakfast and started out to hunt him 
 up, and as I was walking along the street I saw my son 
 just in front of me. I ran to catch up but he turned a 
 corner, and when I reached there he was gone. I dare 
 say he went into one of the neighbor's houses, but which 
 one I could not find out. Now, sir, you can see that my 
 son is evidently angry at something and will not speak 
 to me. Won't you come over to Hockendaque to see 
 him, and find out what is the matter ' ? The reverend 
 gentleman, pitying the poor woman, returned with her 
 to her home, hoping to find her boy and have mother and 
 son reconciled. He hunted everywhere through the 
 village, but could learn nothing of the soldier. No one 
 had seen him but his mother. On Tuesday morning, 
 
316 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 May 5th, a letter came saying that the boy had been 
 killed on Saturday evening, just at the time that he walked 
 in to see his mother. Gentlemen, that is a true story of 
 . a Christian soldier in full uniform and in broad daylight, 
 and no sad-eyed Hindoo prowling around at midnight, 
 dressed in white, like Halpin tells about". 
 
 "It's my turn now", said another officer, "and I 
 also will tell you of a Union ■ soldier who fell at Chancel- 
 
 lorsville. You all recollect Captain Harry G , of 
 
 the Seventy-third Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was a 
 frequent visitor in the camp of the One Hundred and 
 Sixteenth and we all loved him. He was one of the best 
 and most lovable men in the army. I remember that he 
 spent Sunday before the fight with us. Well, on that 
 same Saturday evening that the dead boy went home to 
 
 see his mother, Captain G was killed during the 
 
 charge of Stonewall Jackson on our right. Within a very 
 few minutes of the time he fell his family heard his 
 footsteps walking up the stairs and into his own room in 
 his home in Philadelphia. The foot-fall was a heavy one, 
 made by an army boot, and his sister remarked at the 
 time : ' That is Harry's wraith !' " 
 
 "Very good", chimed in Captain McGraw. " Now, I 
 will tell you of a ghost in Ireland, who galloped on 
 horseback on certain nights of the year ". 
 
 "Oh, no!" chorused everyone, "no Irish' ghosts 
 to-night, especially midnight shadows on horseback. That 
 fellow must have belonged to the cavalry. Give us plain 
 United States broad-daylight spectres. None of those 
 dressed-in-white midnight gentlemen who only appear in 
 India or Ireland ". 
 
 "But what puzzles me", said another, "is how 
 Captain G got his boots home. We can understand 
 
On the Picket Reserve. 317 
 
 how a man can get through space himself, when a piece 
 of shell or minie-ball releases him from his earthly- 
 tenement, but how he can take his army boots along ! 
 That is the mystery". No reply greets this psychological 
 query, however, for it is getting dark, and the firing is 
 getting brisk on the picket line. It is almost time for the 
 relief to go out, and who knows but that some of us will 
 be ghosts before morning. 
 
 It is dark enough now to creep out to the front without 
 being seen, and here is the detail with the canteens refilled ; 
 but, before we go, " maybe Halpin will give us a song ". 
 
 "Well, I don't mind", says Halpin, "but one has to 
 be careful to sing in a low tone, or our friends on the other 
 side of the works might hear. I will give you a new song, 
 just out, and by a namesake of mine. Colonel Charles G. 
 Halpin. It is a mighty fine thing, and is written_^by a 
 good soldier and an able all 'round man : — 
 
 THE OLD CANTEEN. 
 
 There are bonds of all sorts in this world of ours, 
 Letters of friendship and ties of flowers, 
 
 And true lovers' knots I ween ; 
 The girl and the boy are. bound by a kiss, 
 But there's never a bond, old friend, like this — 
 
 We have drank from the same canteen. 
 
 It was sometimes water and sometimes milk, 
 And sometimes applejack, fine as silk ; 
 
 But whatever the tipple has been. 
 We shared it together in bane or bliss, 
 And I warm to you, friend, when I think of this — 
 
 We have drank from the same canteen. 
 
 The rich and the great sit down to dine, 
 
 And they quaff to each other in sparkling wirie 
 
 From glasses of crystal and green ; 
 But I guess in the golden potations they miss 
 The warmth of regard to be found in this — 
 
 We have drank from the same canteen. 
 
318 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 We have shared our blankets and tents together, 
 And have marched and fought in all kinds of weather, 
 
 And hungry and full we have been ; 
 Had days of battle and days of rest, 
 But this memory I cling to and love the best — 
 
 We have drank from the same canteen. 
 
 For when wounded I lay on the outer slope. 
 With my blood flowing fast, and but little hope 
 
 Upon which my faint spirit could lean ; 
 Oh, then, I remember, you crawled to my side, 
 And bleeding so fast it seems both must have died — 
 
 We drank from the same canteen. 
 
 " Beautiful, beautiful. It is dark enough now and we 
 had better get the men out on the line before the moon 
 comes up ". 
 
 "Second relief, fall in !" 
 
 Many an amusing incident and many a narrow escape 
 occurred during the siege. One day while occupying the 
 Hne in front of Fort Steadman, Wm. J. Curley, drummer 
 boy of Company E, came from the fort across the field and 
 above the rifle pits, looking for his company. Lieutenant 
 Brady, of Company D, seeing his danger, called to him 
 to jump into one of the rifle pits. Before he had time to 
 do so, however, a Johnny let go and sent a ball through 
 the head of Curley's drum. Curley was almost a child ; 
 but the youngest member of the Regiment was a drummer 
 boy of Company H, Christopher H. Moore, who enhsted 
 when he was nine years and eight months old. Chris- 
 topher was much better at foraging on the enemy than 
 in getting music out of his drum. Because of his ability 
 in preying upon the country he was nick-named " Mosby", 
 after the celebrated cavalryman. If there were any 
 chickens left on the line after the musician of Company 
 H had passed along it was not his fault. " Mosby " 
 seemed to have but one tune on his drum, but the music 
 
On the Picket Reserve. 319 
 
 he gave the farmers when he was husthng for something 
 good to eat was of many kinds and full of melody and 
 sweetness. 
 
 About October 1st the Regiment moved from the left 
 to the right of Fort Steadman, a position which the 
 colored troops had occupied previously. The Regiment 
 got into position somewhat earlier than our colored 
 friends expected. Consequently they did not get all their 
 commissary stores packed up as quickly as they should 
 have done. The boys of the Regiment were out of 
 rations and very hungry. Private Caldwell, Company 
 E, known all over the Regiment as " Big Jim", was one 
 of the company cooks. He had a plan to get a supply 
 without waiting for the commissary. He asked two men 
 to go with him on a foraging expedition, and he did not 
 have to ask twice. Away they went and in less than an 
 hour they returned with sixty pounds of smoked bacon, 
 two bags of beans, three boxes of hard tack and one jug 
 of molasses. The colored boys had to suffer the loss, to 
 be sure, while the boys of the Regiment were swimming 
 in bean soup for a week. 
 
 In a letter written by Charley Barth we learn in his 
 own language of an incident in the trenches : " About 
 the first week in October we lay in front of Fort Steadman 
 in the extreme outer works (the same that the Regiment 
 leveled to the ground later on). There was nothing 
 between us and the enemy, two hundred yards away, 
 and we were in full view of each other. If you showed 
 your head you could hear the " zip " of the ball from the 
 sharpshooters' rifles. One day, about four p. m., the 
 Confederates began to cheer along their whole line, and 
 about five p. m. Sergeant McElroy said : " Barth, you will 
 report for special duty". In a short time I was called in 
 
320 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 line with about thirty or forty of our Regiment. An 
 
 officer called, " Attention !" we were counted off in fours 
 
 and a sergeant placed in command of each group of four. 
 
 (The sergeants were from the Sixty-fourth New York, I 
 
 think. They were not of our Regiment.) Then he gave 
 
 us our instructions that after dark the sergeants were to 
 
 take their men over the works and try to get close enough 
 
 to the Johnnies to find out what they had been cheering 
 
 about, but to be sure and come in before daylight, as it 
 
 would be sure death to remain out longer. Well, to say 
 
 that I was scared is putting it very mildly. I looked over 
 
 that corn-field that lay between us and the enemy, and 
 
 they had full command of the field. The sergeant was 
 
 to do the advancing and we were to support him. Well, 
 
 after dark we went over the works and on our hands and 
 
 knees crawled towards the enemy. Oh, how still we 
 
 were and how careful not to break a stalk of corn ! 
 
 Finally, we came to a small pit, dug, no doubt, by one of 
 
 our pickets before the lines were made. Here the sergeant 
 
 told us to remain until he came back as he was going on 
 
 further. Well, that was the last we saw of him. In a 
 
 short time the Johnnies opened on us, and how we four 
 
 did hug the sacred soil of Virginia ! What a rattling the 
 
 balls made among the cornstalks and what a long night 
 
 that was to us ! 
 
 During September and October the Regiment was 
 moved from one part of the line to another, but always in 
 the trenches — sometimes in Forts Morton and Rice, again 
 in Forts Haskell or Steadman, but always under fire. 
 
 Colonel Mulholland returned October 15th, having 
 been absent, suffering from wounds, from June 1st, and 
 assumed command of the brigade, relieving Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Glenny, Sixty-fourth New York. 
 
Petersburg. 321 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 PETERSBURG. 
 
 Turning Movement Against Lee's Right. 
 
 October 27th. 
 
 A S the end of October approached, General Grant, 
 wishing to make a vigorous effort to capture 
 Petersburg or, at least, to seize the Boydton Plank Road 
 and South Side Railroad before the bad weather set in 
 and compelled the suspension of active field operations, 
 sent the larger part of the Second, Fifth and Ninth Corps 
 to find and strike the right of the Confederate line. The 
 expeditionary party marched during the night of October 
 26th and fought the battle of Boydton Plank Road on the 
 27th. The withdrawal of so large a force from the works 
 in front of Petersburg necessarily left but a very thin line 
 in the intrenchments. The First Division, Second Corps, 
 commanded by General Nelson A. Miles, then numbering 
 about 6,000 men, was spread out so as to occupy the 
 whole line from the Appomattox River on the right to 
 Battery 24, half way between the Jerusalem Plank Road 
 and the Weldon Railroad. The Fourth Brigade of the 
 Division, then commanded by the writer, occupied the 
 line immediately opposite the Crater, where the mine 
 explosion of July 30th had taken place, the left of the 
 brigade occupying Fort Rice and the right extending 
 towards Fort Steadman. The One Hundred and Sixteenth 
 Regiment was stationed in the intrenchments near Fort 
 
322 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Haskell. The picket firing was brisk during the day and 
 rumors of the battle which was then in progress on the 
 left were flying, and an anxious spirit was manifest among 
 the men in the works. Towards evening General Miles, 
 wishing to deceive the enemy as to the force then holding 
 the Union line, ordered an attack on the works in front to 
 be made by a small party from each of the two brigades, 
 commanded by Colonel McDougal, and the writer, being 
 one of the principals in the affair, will tell the story of the 
 event as it occurred to him personally : — 
 
 "About half-past five in the evening, I received an order 
 from General Miles to take one hundred men and make a 
 demonstration on the enemy's works. Believing it quite 
 possible to capture one of the forts in my front, I selected 
 for the attempt one hundred men of the One Hundred and 
 Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Regiment. I took the men 
 from this organization because I could riot withdraw the 
 One Hundred and Sixteenth from the position occupied 
 without endangering that important point in the line, and 
 I knew the men of the One Hundred and Forty-eighth 
 Regiment to be excellent and reliable, and a big 
 consideration was that they were armed with the Spencer 
 magazine rifle, capable of firing seven shots without 
 reloading. 
 
 " The storming party was under command of Captain 
 J. Z. Brown, Lieutenant P. D. Sprankle and Lieutenants 
 Alexander Gibb and John F. Benner. 
 
 "Addressing the men, I told them of the desperate 
 nature of the duty required, and I said that no one need 
 go unless willingly. Every man was not only willing but 
 anxious to go. As it was impossible to reach the picket 
 line (from which the attack was to be made) in a body, 
 since the sharpshooters were vigilant and covered the 
 
Petersburg. 323 
 
 ground between our main line and the picket, I ordered 
 the party to break ranks and go out individually, take 
 different routes and, creeping through the low brush, be 
 able to assemble at a point indicated without being seen 
 by the enemy. In fifteen minutes every man of the party 
 met me as ordered. We were within fifty yards of the 
 object of attack, and, so far, all had gone well. Forming 
 the party into two sections, I ordered one under Captain 
 Brown, to run around the right of the fort and enter the 
 sally port, while the second section was to charge up the 
 face of the Banquet slope and, gaining the crest, pour their 
 fire down into the works. 
 
 " Ten of the men were given axes instead of rifles, and 
 were to run ahead, cut the wires that joined the 
 chevaux-de-frise together, and open a section for the 
 storming party to get through. The twilight was gathering 
 by the time all was ready, and the orders were to ' make 
 the demonstration at six o'clock'. As I was about to 
 give the order to charge, I looked back and saw a horseman 
 galloping rapidly towards me. He was coming from the 
 direction of Division Headquarters, and thinking that he 
 might be bringing some last order, I paused until he 
 came up. It was Captain Henry D. Price, my Adjutant- 
 General. He threw himself from his horse and said : 
 ' Colonel, what's up ? I have been at Division 
 Headquarters, and heard that you were going to make an 
 attack. I am going along'. 
 
 " I did not wish him to go, but he insisted upon it 
 and, knowing his value, I finally consented with much 
 reluctance. He drew his sword, unbuckled the belt and 
 handed it, together with the scabbard, to Lieutenant Tom 
 Lee, one of my aides, saying : ' Tom, if I am killed, send 
 these to my mother'. 
 
324 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 " I gave the order, and the gallant little band, leaping 
 over the slight earthworks of the picket line, ran direct 
 for the enemy's fort, not fifty yards distant. With a few 
 blows the axemen cut the fastenings that lashed the 
 chevaux-de-frise together, dragged out a section, and the 
 party ran through. 
 
 "The attack was a complete success. Brown entering the 
 fort from the rear and Price mounting the slope in front. 
 The defenders for a few moments made a gallant defence, 
 but in vain. In ten minutes from the starting on the 
 charge, the fort was carried, and all in it was in our 
 possession. It was getting quite dark when the rush was 
 made, and Captain Price disappeared from my view. I 
 could not see him after he reached the crest, but I heard 
 his voice as he called to the men to follow him, and then 
 I heard him directing their fire. Suddenly his voice 
 ceased, and I felt sure that he had fallen. As soon as the 
 fort was won, the prisoners were sent into our lines, and 
 an effort made to bring in or destroy the artillery, but 
 little could be accomplished with the latter, as the noble 
 band that had done so well were now few in number. 
 There was no possibility of getting reinforcements. None 
 could be spared from the thin line that held the Union 
 works and, after holding the Confederate fort for twent}'^ 
 minutes, I very reluctantly gave the order to abandon it 
 and return to our own line, and not a moment too soon, 
 for the enemy had been concentrating a force to recapture 
 the works and their forts', and from the right and the left 
 of the one captured there poured in a terrible fire on the 
 little band of Union men then in possession." 
 
 The following account of the action is from the 
 Philadelphia Press of November 1st, 1864 : — 
 
CAPTAIN AND BREVET MAJOR HENRY D PRICE 
 
 Killed at Petersburg, October 27th, 1864 
 
Petersburg. 325 
 
 [Special correspondence to the " Press ".] 
 
 From General Grant's Army— Brilliant Affair on the Centre— 
 
 • Capture of a Rebel Fort and Fifty Prisoners— The Garrison 
 
 WAS Completely Surprised— A Confederate Colonel in our 
 
 Hands— Important Information Gained— The Enemy's Line 
 
 Very Weak— Their Picket Line Cut into for Several Hours. 
 
 (Mr. C. Edmund's Despatches). 
 
 Before Petersburg, October 28th, 1864, 9 p. m. 
 The tremendous artillery firing which took place last evening, 
 commencing about nine o'clock and continuing until past midnight, turns 
 out not to have been altogether without cause. One of the most brilliant 
 affairs in which the Second Corps has participated has just been enacted 
 by a portion of the Fourth Brigade of the First Division. About one 
 hundred and fifty yards beyond our picket line, and scarcely a fourth of a 
 mile from the famous mine which was exploded by the Ninth Corps 
 under Burnside some months ago, stands one of the strongest and best 
 constructed fortifications in the enemy's outer line. It is an earthwork, 
 with bomb proofs, and is environed with abatis of novel construction. . 
 Between this fort and Fort Rice, held by one brigade, is a ravine which 
 the adjacent enemy's forts may sweep. The order for the assault was 
 issued by General Miles, who intended the affair mainly as a reconnoissance, 
 having no idea that the enemy could be so easily caught napping. To 
 Colonel Mulholland,One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, 
 the general management of the work was intrusted. Much against the 
 wishes of the Colonel, Captain Henry D. Price, of the same Regiment, 
 volunteered to lead the charge, and a detachment of one hundred men 
 from the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Regiment also 
 volunteered. Shortly before six p. m. the brave little band passed out 
 from the defences and silently formed inside our picket lines. Colonel 
 MulhoUand instructed Captain Price as to the method of removing the 
 abatis. and directed the men not to fire a shot but to use the bayonet. 
 They were likewise ordered not to cheer unless they should succeed in 
 entering the fort, when a single cheer would be a sufficient signal for 
 sending forward reinforcements. About six o'clock the men started 
 forward on double-quick. It was raining at the time. The evening was 
 dark and they had almost reached the fort before the enemy perceived 
 them. Still no shot was fired. They sprang over the earthworks and, 
 before the garrison could recover from its surprise, the victory was ours. 
 The Confederates made some little resistance but they had been taken 
 completely by surprise and, save a few who effected their escape, the 
 garrison, numbering about fifty men, were taken prisoners. We 
 
826 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 succeeded in taking the following officers : Colonel Harrison, Forty-sixth 
 Virginia Regiment, commanding the fort ; Lieutenant-Colonel Wise, 
 Forty-sixth Virginia Regiment ; Lieutenant Bylen, Thirty-fourth Virginia 
 Regiment ; Lieutenant Coxe, Forty-sixth Virginia Regiment, and about 
 forty private soldiers. Colonel Harrison could not at first be induced to 
 believe that he was a prisoner, so astonished was he at the audacity of 
 
 the enterprise, and pronounced the affair to be a "d d Yankee trick". 
 
 We learned from the prisoners that Wise's Brigade, Bushrod Johnson's 
 Division of General Anderson's Corps, together with Ransom's and 
 Finnegan's Brigades, held the line opposite us. In addition to the 
 prisoners taken, numbers of the enemy were killed or wounded in the 
 trenches, refusing to surrender. Colonel Harrison admits that if our 
 assailing party had been supported by two hundred men they could have 
 maintained their position in the fort. But this was not to be. As soon 
 as we took the fort our men gave a cheer as a signal and Colonel 
 Mulholland despatched his aides to the adjacent fortifications to obtain 
 the needed reinforcements. It was in the plan of arrangements that the 
 Twenty-sixth Michigan should be held in reserve. But this regiment did 
 not arrive upon the grounds in time and no available troops could be got 
 ready to send forward for half an hour. In the meantime the enemy 
 rallied, about seven hundred strong, and drove out our men. About 
 fifty men out of the hundred are missing, the majority being wounded. 
 Captain Price, the leader of the charge, was the only officer killed. His 
 body is still in the enemy's possession. A complete list of the casualties 
 is subjoined. During the fighting which this rencontre led to, neither 
 side used artillery, each fearing that it might inflict more damage upon 
 its own men than on the enemy. But immediately upon the return of our 
 assaulting party with their prisoners all our forts in this vicinity opened 
 upon the Confederate forts a terrific cannonade, to which they responded 
 with equal vigor. The firing commenced about nine o'clock, as I have 
 stated, and lasted until one o'clock this morning. During the whole time 
 the rain was falling. 
 
 From the Philadelphia Press of November 2d, 1864 : — 
 
 The body of Captain Price has been recovered. A flag of truce will, 
 be sent for it in a day or two. A couple of deserters who came in last 
 night state that they saw the body of a captain lying in a trench fronting 
 the fort, and from their description there can be no doubt that it was the 
 body of the lamented officer referred to. 
 
 The Colonel Wise captured turns out to be a nephew of ex-Governor 
 Wise. He was in Philadelphia at the breaking out of the war and was a 
 student in the office of one of our most eminent members of the bar. At 
 
Petersburg. 327 
 
 the time of his capture Governor Wise was in the fort but escaped by- 
 concealing himself in one of the bomb proofs. He had just despatched 
 a courier to one of the adjacent regiments with a circular. The courier 
 was taken but chewed up the missive in such a hurry that its contents are 
 unknown. All the prisoners admit that their line was weaker than it had 
 ever been before since the campaign commenced. They say that if we 
 had had one regiment in reserve to reinforce the storming party we could 
 have held the fort permanently, and with this fort we could have swept 
 the whole outer line of their works. No better evidence of the weakness 
 of Lee's army is needed than this fact. 
 
 As soon as the storming party returned to our own 
 line all the forts on both sides opened a terrific fire that 
 continued until midnight. The rain fell and the darkness 
 became intense. The Regiment stood in line during the 
 fight, ready to move forward if ordered to do so. When 
 the men learned of the death of Captain Price there was 
 many a tear shed for the gallant boy whom we all loved 
 so much. Lieutenant P. D. Sprankle, of the One Hundred 
 and Forty-eighth Regiment, was severely wounded and 
 left in the hands of the enemy, as were nearly all the 
 wounded of that regiment. In the darkness and confusion 
 it was impossible to remove them. 
 
 I have said that I selected the men of the One 
 Hundred and Forty-eighth Regiment for this affair 
 because I believed them to be reliable. I will add that I 
 now think that in point of discipline, material of which 
 it was composed, gallantry, and every quality necessary 
 to make a perfect organization, that regiment had no 
 superior and but few equals in the army. The article taken 
 from the Philadelphia "Press" and quoted here does an 
 injustice when it says that the storming party was led by 
 Captain Price. The attack was led by Captain J. Z. 
 Brown and Captain Price was with the party as a staff 
 officer but took a very active part until he fell. I had the 
 very great pleasure of recommending Captain Brown for 
 
328 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 the brevet rank of major and also a Congress medal of 
 honor for his distinguished bravery and excellent conduct 
 on this occasion, and I rejoice that the well-deserved 
 honors were accorded him. 
 
 A few days after the fight a flag of truce went out, and 
 the body of Captain Price recovered. We learned that 
 on the morning after the assault, an Irishman of a Georgia 
 regiment had seen the body and recognized it by the 
 number of the Regiment as a former member of the Irish 
 Brigade. He had tenderly wrapped him in a blanket and 
 carefully buried him. When the body was brought into 
 our lines, it was embalmed and sent home. The ball that 
 killed him had entered his forehead just above the eye. 
 When he was embalmed he looked smiling and natural, 
 his lips partly open, showing his beautiful teeth — and so 
 died one whom we all loved and knew as " Little Pricey ". 
 Only a boy, just from school, but a hero and a veteran, 
 gentle and unassuming, but brave as the bravest. How 
 his boyish laughter would ring through camp ! Even in 
 battle his face would wear a smile. He sleeps by the 
 Schuylkill, on whose banks Meade and Hancock and a 
 host of his comrades rest, and among the thousands who 
 fell in the great struggle, none is more worthy of honor 
 than the noble boy who died so bravely, and whose 
 memory will ever be cherished. 
 
 A few days before the death of Captain Price, as he 
 and I were passing along the works, we noticed a mass 
 of roses in an old garden. I accidentally expressed a 
 desire to have one. The autumn had lingered long that 
 year, and it was remarkable that the rose tree was in 
 bloom. The bush was growing on a rise of ground, 
 lately the garden of the Hare House, but where Fort 
 Steadman had been built. The spot where the roses were 
 
Petersburg. 329 
 
 blooming was exposed to the fire of the sharpshooters, 
 and to pull a rose would seem like courting instant death. 
 When, in passing, I had admired the flowers, Harry had 
 said nothing, but in half an hour afterwards he came 
 into my tent with an armful of roses. He had exposed 
 himself to the fire until he had pulled every one from the 
 bush. I could not help but admire his utter want of fear 
 and reckless daring, although condemning the useless 
 risk he had taken. As he was standing in the tent-door, 
 with his arms full of flowers, and laughing as if the whole 
 thing were a great joke, one of the boys of his company 
 came up to bid him good-bye, as he was just starting for 
 home on a twenty days' furlough. As I knew that the 
 young man lived quite near the Captain's home, I quickly 
 tied up a large bunch of the roses and told him to deliver 
 them to Captain Price's mother. 
 
 A few months after the close of the war, I visited the 
 family, and I found Mrs. Price to be a sweet old lady. 
 As she sat in the parlor, talking of her dead boy, I 
 noticed hanging on the wall above her head a garland of 
 roses under glass. When I inquired where they came 
 from, Harry's sister said that " he had sent them home to 
 mother a few days before being killed ". I then remem- 
 bered the circumstances, and tried to tell the family how 
 they came to be there, but found it impossible. Every 
 time I essayed to speak, my feelings overcame me. If 
 Mrs. Price is still living she may learn, for the first time, 
 from these pages, the story of her son's roses. 
 
 The captured work was known as Davidson's Salient, 
 and stood about fifty yards to the left (the Union left) of 
 the Crater. A dark, rainy night followed the fight, and 
 when morning broke, the men of the One Hundred and 
 Forty-eighth eagerly scanned the fort that they had so 
 
330 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 gallantly captured the evening before, and which was now 
 again in the hands of the enemy, and saw some bodies lying 
 around the work. One with upturned face to the falling 
 rain was recognized as that of Captain Price. The men 
 composing the storming party of the One Hundred and 
 Forty-eighth were heartily congratulated by their 
 comrades, and the following order was issued from Brigade 
 Headquarters : — 
 
 (General Orders No. 31.) 
 Headquarters Fourth Brigade, First Division, Second Corps. 
 
 October 28th, 1864. 
 
 The Colonel commanding the brigade takes pleasure in congratu- 
 lating the detail of the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania 
 Volunteers for the gallantry displayed in the assault and capture of the • 
 enemy's fort, on the evening of October 27th, 1864. Captain Jerry Brown, 
 Lieutenants Sprankle, Gibb and Benner deserve special mention for their 
 bravery and skill in leading the charge. 
 
 He deeply regrets the loss of Captain Henry D. Price, One Hundred 
 and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Acting Assistant Adjutant- 
 General, Fourth Brigade, who fell, nobly sustaining the proud name he 
 had won by his valor in the field, and sympathizes with the brave men 
 who were wounded. 
 
 By order of Colonel Mulholland, 
 
 J. Wendel Muffly, Lieutenant and A. A. A. G. 
 
 The Confederate account of the affair is given by- 
 General B. R. Johnson, and is most interesting. He states 
 that the Confederates took fifteen prisoners, including one 
 Lieutenant. He also accounts for Captain Price, whom he 
 mentions. As thirty-three of the One Hundred and Forty- 
 eighth were missing, it would seem that seventeen of them 
 must have been killed or left between the lines too severely 
 wounded to get away : — 
 
 Headquarters Johnson's Division. 
 
 Petersburg, Va., October 28th, 1864. 
 Lieutenant : — About ten o'clock on yesterday morning I moved 
 Wallace's Brigade to the right and relieved Saunder's and Harris's 
 
Petersburg. 331 
 
 Brigades in the trenches. Wise's Brigade was moved from reserve into 
 the position on the front line vacated by Wallace's Brigade. My right 
 now rests at Battery No. 30. 
 
 About dark last evening a force from the One Hundred and Forty- 
 eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, Fourth Brigade, First Division, Second 
 Corps, perhaps one hundred strong, advanced without support upon the 
 battery on our front line to the right of the Baxter Road, known as 
 Davidson's Battery. It was the usual hour for posting and relieving 
 pickets, and the division officer of the day, who happened to be passing 
 at that point, mistook the forces for pickets returning to the line, and gave 
 orders to sentinels not to fire. By others this force was regarded as 
 deserters coming to our lines. This impression was communicated by 
 the orders on the infantry line to the gun in rear of the Crater, which bore 
 on the ground over which the force advanced. A light fire was, however, 
 opened by our infantry to the right and left of Davidson's Battery. With 
 axes the little force opened a passage through our chevaux-de-frise and 
 entered Davidson's Battery and mingled with our men. Their hostile 
 character having been ascertained, troops of Wise's Brigade charged them 
 and drove them out, capturing one Lieutenant and fourteen men, who 
 report that a number of their men were wounded and killed in the 
 advance, among the latter a Captain of the One Hundred and Sixteenth 
 Pennsylvania Regiment. 
 
 About ten p. m. the enemy advanced upon and drove out the men 
 from a portion of the picket line on the right of Rive's house, occupied 
 by troops of Wallace's Brigade. General Wallace promptly threw out a 
 force and reoccupied the line. During these events the mortar and 
 cannon firing were heavy, especially from Colquitt's Salient to my right. 
 Later in the night there was considerable artillery firing on my right. 
 During the latter part of the night, Brigadier-General Ransom, whose 
 brigade is on my left and extends to the river, reported that the enemy's 
 troops were seen to be moving to our left. It was thought they might be 
 massing in his front. 
 
 Respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 B. R. Johnson, 
 
 Major-General. 
 
 Lieutenant McWillie, 
 
 A. A. A. G. 
 
 On the 26th of November, General Winfield S.. 
 Hancock left the Second Corps and proceeded northward 
 to organize a new corps, to be composed entirely of 
 veterans. To try to express in words the sorrow of 
 
333 The Siory of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 officers and men at parting with the great soldier with 
 whom they had been so long associated would be a useless 
 efEort. The new commander of the corps was General 
 Andrew A. Humphreys, like Hancock a Pennsylvanian 
 and a brilliant soldier. 
 
 During this month, Major John Teed was released from 
 prison. He had been captured at Gettysburg, nearly a 
 year and a half before. He returned broken in health and 
 unable to perform field duty, and resigned as soon as he 
 reached the Regiment. 
 
 Towards the latter part of November the Second Corps 
 was relieved from duty in the forts and works that were so 
 continually exposed to the fiire of the enemy, and was 
 moved to the left where the lines were further apart and, 
 owing to the woods, were often not even in sight of each 
 other. The relief to the men of the Regiment was very 
 great, and after the severe strain of being two months and 
 a half under fire, night and day, they enjoyed the 
 relaxation more than words can express. But even then 
 it was not all rest and peace. No hour was free from care, 
 and the sudden call to arms was frequent. The 
 Regiment occupied the works on the Peebles' Farm, and 
 from this point made several rapid marches to the different 
 parts of the line. 
 
 One Sunday afternoon, when the sun was shining, the 
 chaplain holding services, and the voice of prayer and 
 hymn of praise ascending among the autumn trees, 
 the long roll was heard and in ten minutes the 
 division was on the march. Arriving at a place on 
 the extreme left of the Union lines, the Confederates were 
 seen busily engaged throwing up and putting batteries 
 into position. The Union troops were not slow to follow 
 and picks and spades were handled deftly. Before the 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL ANDREW A. HUMPHREYS 
 Commanded Second Corps, November 2Sth, 1864 to June 28th, 1865 
 
Petersburg. 333 
 
 works were half completed, firing began, and a score of 
 men of the division who had been enjoying the sunshine, 
 and joining in the afternoon prayer, were buried as the 
 sun went down. 
 
 December 9th, the division, commanded by General 
 Miles, went on a reconnoissance to Hatcher's Run and 
 had a sharp fight, carrying some works and capturing some 
 prisoners. The Regiment in this affair did not lose a 
 man, being with the brigade held in reserve. They 
 bivouacked in the woods and returned to camp at the 
 Peebles' Farm next day. 
 
 Christmas, 1864, the third and last Christmas in the 
 army, was enjoyed by all in camp — the same games and 
 the same efforts to force amusement, boxes from home 
 with plenty of good things, enough and to spare for a 
 good dinner to everyone. Happiness and good cheer 
 reigned for the time, but while all was pleasant in the 
 camp in front of Petersburg, Christmas was an extremely 
 sad day for those of the Regiment who were captives in 
 southern prisons. It would seem as though the thoughts 
 of home and the dark surroundings of the day had a 
 fearfully depressing effect on the prisoners. Of forty-five 
 men of the Regiment who died in Andersonville and 
 other southern prisons, several died on this Christmas 
 day. No doubt but the surroundings hastened the end, 
 but we can fondly hope that, after all, it was a happy 
 Christmas for them. They were home indeed, and their 
 marches and battles ended. The Regiment was com- 
 manded during the winter by Major David W. Megraw, 
 who had been promoted from Captain of Company H, 
 Colonel Mulholland being in command of the brigade. 
 
 On the morning of February 5th, 1865, the Second 
 Corps started on a reconnoissance to Hatcher's Run, four 
 
334 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 or five miles to the left of the Union Army. At about 
 noon the enemy's skirmishers were discovered and driven 
 across the stream. Towards four o'clock, the Regiment 
 crossed the stream in line, the men wading through the 
 ice-cold water. Several were hit while in the act of 
 crossing and several men in the corps were drowned. 
 After reaching the further bank the firing became heavy 
 and the fighting close and severe. The Confederates 
 made a stubborn resistance, but were gradually forced 
 back into their intrenchments, leaving several hundred 
 prisoners, mostly North Carolinians, in the Union lines. 
 The Regiment remained in front of the Confederate 
 works until after dark, when the whole force was 
 withdrawn and returned to camp. During the fight, and 
 long into the night, a terrible storm of snow, sleet and 
 rain prevailed, and the men suffered greatly from the 
 wet and cold. 
 
 In the early spring, orders were issued authorizing the 
 names of battles to be inscribed on the colors of the 
 Regiment : — 
 
 (General Orders, No. lo.) 
 Headquarters, Army of the Potomac. 
 
 March 7th, 1865. 
 
 In accordance with the requirements of General Orders, No. 19, of 
 1862, from the War Department, and in conformity with the reports of 
 boards convened to e.^amine into the services rendered by the troops 
 concerned, and by the authority of the Lieutenant-General, commanding 
 armies of the United States, it is ordered that there shall be inscribed 
 upon the colors or guidons of the following regiments and batteries, 
 serving in this army, the names of the battles in which they have borne 
 a meritorious part and as hereinafter specified, viz. : — * * * 
 
 One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers— Fredericks- 
 burg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Bristoe Station, Mine Run, Wilderness, 
 Po River, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Tolopotomy, Cold Harbor, 
 Petersburg, Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, Reams Station, Todd's 
 Tavern, Auburn, Pamunky and William's Farm. 
 
 By command of Major-General Meade. 
 
 George D. Ruggles, Assistant Adjutant-General. 
 
Gravelly Run and Five Forks. 335 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 GRAVELLY RUN AND FIVE FORKS 
 
 MARCH, 1865. 
 
 LJ APPY spring time again ! The woods animated with 
 the renewed life of another year ; blossoms and 
 budding leaves ; the mating birds busy with household 
 cares ; the laughing streams, once more free from wintry 
 chains, rushing towards the sea. All nature gave charm 
 and health to the army, bidding renewed hope and the last 
 strong, earnest efforts to ultimate success and final victory. 
 
 Towards the latter end of March, all being ready, the 
 great struggle began. The thirteen days' campaign that 
 was to end the war was severe, and the marching and 
 fighting was without rest or interruption. During the 
 night of March 28th the Second Corps withdrew from the 
 intrenchments in front of Petersburg and on the 29th 
 moved to the left, crossing Hatcher's Run by the Vaughan 
 Road. Shortly after noon fighting commenced to the left 
 of Dabney's Mill, and was sharp and earnest. The rain 
 fell in torrents, flooding the low, swampy country into 
 which the troops of the Second Corps were advancing, but 
 the storm had but little eflect in delaying the end. 
 
 During the 30th the fighting and skirmishing in front 
 of the Regiment was continuous and the fire seemed to 
 come from all sides. There was no chance to cook, eat or 
 sleep.and even when darkness fell there was no opportunity 
 to prepare coffee. The rain extinguished most of the fires 
 and those that did burn were soon made targets for the 
 enemy's fire, which spilled the coffee and knocked over the 
 cooks. 
 
336 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 The Regiment lost some of the best men during the 
 evening of the 29th and on the 30th. Early on the 
 morning of that day the First Division, Second Corps, 
 had moved still further to the left and joined the force of 
 General Sheridan. 
 
 MAECH 31ST. 
 
 The battle of March 31st and April 1st was of the 
 most sanguinary nature and the One Hundred and 
 Sixteenth Regiment did noble work, but at a fearful cost. 
 Lieutenant Eugene Brady was killed, and Major David 
 W. Megraw and Adjutant Thos. Ewing wounded. The 
 losses among the enlisted men were heavy, and as the 
 dead were left where they fell the extent of the loss was 
 never known. 
 
 During the fight of March 31st General Lee commanded 
 the Confederates in person. The attack of the enemy on 
 Ayer's Division of the Fifth Corps was of so courageous 
 and impetuous a character that the line gave way. The 
 commander of the Second Corps (General Humphreys) 
 seeing Ayer's men going to the rear, quickly ordered in 
 the First Division. General Miles led it forward with a 
 wonderful dash and hurled back the Confederate brigades 
 of Wise and Hunton, capturing a flag and many prisoners 
 and restoring the Union lines. 
 
 Lieutenant Eugene Brady, who was killed on this day, 
 was a brave and most excellent officer and an esdmable 
 man. He seemed to have a premonition that he would be 
 killed, and on the expiration of a short furlough, some 
 months before his death, he bade his friends good-bye and 
 told them that he would not see them again. Captain 
 Nowlen, who was at home at the same time, remarked to 
 him : "Yes, Brady, we will say farewell to our friends, 
 for we will both be killed in the coming campaign". 
 
LIEUTENANT EUGENE BRADY 
 Killed at Five Forks, March 31st, 1865 
 
Gravelly Run and Five Forks. 337 
 
 Unhappily, his words came true. Sergeant Edward S. 
 Kline, in a letter to a friend, tells the story of Lieutenant 
 Brady's death. He says : " I remember distinctly, after 
 wading across a creek, that the enemy had some rifle pits 
 on a hill in a field and Lieutenant Brady said, ' Let us go 
 for that pit'. Together with four or five other men I 
 joined him and we succeeded in gaining possession of 
 the pit, but the enemy soon had a flank fire on us. 
 I think I was the only survivor. Lieutenant Brady 
 was killed first. He made some remark about a 
 Confederate color-bearer shaking his flag at us from 
 behind a tree some hundred yards distant when he was 
 hit right in the forehead. He fell against me and died 
 instantly. The rest of my comrades were all silent, and 
 I think all dead, so, after relieving Lieutenant- Brady of 
 his shoulder straps and memorandum book, thinking he 
 would be captured, I made a very narrow escape back to 
 the Regiment, which was under cover of the hill. The 
 enemy was afterward charged and driven back some 
 distance, after which I was sent back with a detail and put 
 Lieutenant Brady and his effects in charge of the 
 regimental surgeon. Dr. Wm. B. Hartman". The body 
 of Lieutenant Brady was taken home to Philadelphia and 
 buried in the Old Cathedral Cemetery in that city. 
 
 During -the entire day of April 1st the firing was 
 almost incessant. General Miles, ever vigilant, made 
 frequent dashes on the Confederate works and the 
 Regiment was always in the front. On the evening of 
 that day General Grant ordered the commander of the 
 Second Corps to throw forward his left and, by seizing 
 the White Oak Road, prevent the enemy from sending 
 troops against Sheridan at Five Forks. Miles's Division 
 was assigned to the work and it held the road until after 
 
338 The Story of the iiSth Regiment. 
 
 dark, when an order came to assault the enemy. A furious 
 artillery fire preceded a rush on the Confederate works. 
 Moving in the dense darkness over brush and tangle- 
 wood, the Regiment struck the enemy's skirmishers, drove 
 them back into their works and advanced into the 
 slashing. The position could not be carried and the 
 firing died away, but hardly had the fight been ended 
 when Miles, with the First Division, was ordered to push 
 the enemy wherever found. On the morning of April 
 2d, moving out the Claiborn Road, he came in contact 
 with four brigades, under General Cook. General Miles 
 promptly attacked and, after the most severe fighting, 
 carried the position at three o'clock, capturing guns, 
 colors and prisoners. During one of the charges of this 
 day Color-Sergeant Peter Kelly fell wounded. Sergeant 
 Edward S. Kline rushed forward and quickly raised the 
 flag and carried it to the end of the fight. Sergeant 
 Charles Maurer, of Company F, was then appointed 
 color-sergeant and carried the flag to the end. 
 
 One of the men killed in this fight was more than 
 usually beloved by his comrades — ^John S. Laguin, 
 Company B. He was the life of the company, full of 
 good humor and fun, and brave as he was good. His 
 comrades buried him tenderly fey the side of a little school- 
 house and thought so much of him that after the war 
 closed they sent a committee down to Virginia to bring 
 the body home. 
 
 Whilst Miles was fighting so fiercely at Sunderland 
 Station on this Sunday of April 2d the whole Union 
 line had advanced and captured all the works around 
 Petersburg and Richmond, with the exception of a few 
 detached forts, and those cities were at the mercy of 
 the Union Army. The end was near at hand, and as 
 
Gravelly Run and Five Forks. 339 
 
 Mr. Davis, the President of the Southern Confederacy, 
 knelt in prayer in St. Paul's Church, a messenger from 
 General Lee informed him that all was over and that the 
 Confederate Army would at once evacuate the works still 
 remaining in their possession and retreat towards the 
 south. 
 
 APRIL 3d. 
 
 There are hours in the life of all men that are filled 
 with a joy so great that nothing can add to or increase 
 it. The morning of April 3d, 1865, was an occasion of 
 this nature, giving to each and every tired and weary 
 soldier a meed of happiness and a thrill of joyful emotion 
 the like of which he might never experience again. 
 " Richmond and Petersburg taken and the Confederate 
 Army in full retreat" was the news that flashed through 
 the ranks. All fatigue, sufferings and trials were on the 
 instant forgotten, and exhausted men who were scarcely 
 able to drag their limbs along leapt with delight and felt 
 fresh and strong enough to start in immediate and rapid 
 pursuit of the flying foe. Without waiting for rations or 
 further rest the march began ; all day long, tramp, tramp, 
 tramp, in an effort to catch up to and capture or destroy 
 the still large and formidable army which, during the 
 night of April 2d, had abandoned the long line of works 
 that encircled the Confederate Capitol and Petersburg 
 and, passing around the left flank of the Union Army, 
 was escaping towards the south. 
 
 The men of the Regiment were hungry and tired, but 
 hunger and fatigue were alike forgotten as mile after 
 mile was passed. When evening fell, the Second Corps 
 bivouacked on Wintercome Creek. The sleep was short 
 but sound, and on the morning of the 4th the march was 
 resumed. Another day of hope and expectation, hard 
 
340 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. ^ 
 
 and rapid marching and extreme fatigue. The roads were 
 heavy with rain, but the men were buoyed up with 
 excitement of the chase. Evening again and a short 
 rest at Deep Creek, when the corps halted at seven p. m. 
 On the road again at one a. m. of the 5th, and another 
 day of marching with hardly any rest, reaching Jetters- 
 ville late in the afternoon. During the night it was 
 learned that the Confederate Army had concentrated 
 around Amelia Court-House, within three miles or less, 
 and at six a. m. the Second, Fifth and Sixth Corps moved 
 to the attack, but as the line approached the Confederates' 
 position their troops were seen in full retreat around the 
 left flank of the Union forces. The flight of the enemy 
 was first discovered . by the Second Corps, and the 
 artillery dashed into position and opened upon the moving 
 columns. After some sharp fighting the whole Union 
 force abandoned the movement on Amelia Court-House, 
 and took up the pursuit of the retreating foe. In the wild 
 race of this 6th of April all fatigue, hunger and hardship 
 were forgotten. It was anything but a demoralized army 
 that was making for the south. Although beaten and 
 driven from the works they had held so gallantly and 
 well, the Confederates were still as brave and defiant as 
 on the first battlefield of the war. But as the miles rolled 
 away under the swift feet of the men, evidences of the 
 final breakup became more apparent every hour. 
 Hundreds of totally exhausted Confederates were found 
 by the way and became prisoners. Ambulances, tents 
 and baggage of all descriptions littered the road. The 
 Union artillery marched in the van, and wherever it was 
 possible to strike the rear or flank of the enemy's columns 
 the batteries would rush for a position, line of battle 
 would be formed on a run, and a fight would be on. The 
 
Farmville. 341 
 
 Confederate General, John B. Gordon, commanded the 
 force immediately in front of the Second Corps, and on 
 this day he still further added to his reputation as a great 
 soldier, if that were possible. 
 
 The last stand of the day was made at Sailor's Creek, 
 where a severe and stubborn fight resulted in another 
 Union victory, and the trophies of the Second Corps were 
 four guns, thirteen flags, two thousand prisoners and an 
 immense supply train. The men of the One Hundred 
 and Sixteenth helped themselves liberally to the contents 
 of the wagons. New Confederate uniforms took the place 
 of worn out Union clothes. Never were the blue and 
 gray so mixed up as on this occasion. Tired and hungry, 
 but very happy, the men sank to sleep. The morrow 
 would see the last battle of the long and bloody war. 
 
 FARMVILLE. 
 
 APRIL 7th. 
 
 Marched at five a. m., and when High Bridge, on the 
 Appomattox, was reached, the enemy was discovered 
 making an attempt to destroy the bridges, all having 
 escaped to the other side of the river. By a vigorous 
 attack the enemy was compelled to retreat, and the 
 bridges were saved. The Second Corps crossed and 
 again took up the pursuit, and at one o'clock came up 
 with the enemy, who were strongly intrenched. General 
 Humphreys promptly attacked and kept up an almost 
 continual series of assaults until dark, the indomitable 
 Miles, with the First Division, making the last attack of 
 the day. Farmville was a bloody fight for the First 
 Division, 424 officers. and men falling on that day. In 
 the Second Division, General Thomas A. Smyth, the 
 noble officer who commanded the Irish Brigade in the 
 
342 The Story of the 116th Regiment. 
 
 first days of the Wilderness Campaign, was killed. He 
 was a typical soldier, handsome, fearless and beloved, 
 and was the last general officer to fall during the war. 
 
 APEIL 8th. 
 
 Daybreak revealed the Confederate works in front of 
 the Second Corps evacuated, and the enemy gone. At 
 half-past five in the morning the troops were again on the 
 road in hot pursuit. All day long a continuous rapid 
 march. Hundreds of the best men fell by the way 
 exhausted. Human nature had reached the extreme limit 
 of endurance. The Regiment suffered in this way as 
 well as other commands, but not to the same extent. 
 The men of the Regiment did nobly, and but few 
 were missing when, at midnight, the column halted, and 
 they were allowed to fall on the ground to instantly sink 
 to sleep. 
 
 Both Generals Grant and Meade accompanied the 
 column of the Second Corps during the day's march ; 
 while Sheridan, with the cavalry and the Fifth and 
 Twenty-fourth Corps, was pushing on to head off the 
 enemy at Appomattox. 
 
 APPOMATTOX. 
 
 APRIL 9th. 
 
 Rations were issued at daylight, and the troops of the 
 Second Corps did not get on the road until eight o'clock, 
 but when they did fall in and start after the enemy, it was 
 with as much vim and ardor as characterized the first day. 
 
 Towards noon the advance struck the skirmishers of 
 the Confederates, and General Humphreys promptly 
 formed line and moved forward to attack when the 
 welcome news arrived that negotiations looking to a 
 surrender of the enemy were in progress, and the firing 
 
Appomattox. 343 
 
 was stopped. Then came a few anxious hours of waiting, 
 gazing across at the narrow strip that divided the two lines 
 and wondering whether the move would be to attack and 
 slay, or cross and shake hands. At four o'clock in the 
 afternoon the glad news swept through the Hues : " Lee 
 and the Confederate Army have surrendered ", and 
 glorious and final victory, and a country saved, were the 
 great rewards of four years of the most awful and 
 sanguinary war that mankind had ever witnessed. 
 
 Of the scenes following the surrender, it is superfluous 
 to speak. All men have learned how nobly, and with what 
 tender regard the commander of the Union Army treated 
 the gallant foe. How the members of the two armies 
 mingled together, and how the Union soldier shared with 
 the man in gray his ration and his blanket. Foemen 
 yesterday, brothers to-day, with not a whit less of love for 
 the Union or a particle less determination to preserve it — 
 the soldiers who had fought so bravely and long for the 
 salvation of the Republic could not but admire the superb 
 heroism of the men who had just grounded their arms and 
 rolled up their flag, which was never to be unfurled again. 
 The men of the North can never admit the justice of the 
 Southern cause in the great war, but every man who 
 participated in the fight, or witnessed the Confederate 
 troops in battle, is willing to acknowledge their magnificent 
 bravery. They were Americans, and fought as only 
 Americans can, and none but Americans could have 
 conquered them. No wonder that Grant said to them : 
 " Keep your swords and your horses and return to your 
 homes, and you will not be disturbed by the United States 
 so long as you observe your parole and the laws ", and the 
 soldier, through his Minding tears of joy, saw now, in his 
 late enemy, only a brother, a friend and a countryman, and 
 
344 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 shook hands and parted, one towards his Southern home, 
 the other towards the North. Appomattox was a reunion — 
 peace after the war, calm after the storm. When each 
 combatant shall reach home once more and look across 
 the crimson fields of blood and carnage that lie between 
 the North and South, where hundreds of thousands of the 
 blue and gray sleep in death together, may each one ever 
 pray that God bless the Union ; and the blood of the North 
 and South that has been so freely shed will be only another 
 sacred tie to bind the nation in harmony, good will and 
 peace, with one destiny and one flag. 
 
 Between the lines the smoke hung low, 
 
 And shells flew screaming to and fro, 
 While blue or gray in sharp distress 
 Rode fast, their shattered lines to press 
 
 Again upon the lingering foe. 
 
 'Tis past — and now the roses blow 
 Where war was waging years ago, 
 And naught exists save friendliness 
 Between the lines. 
 
 It will ever be a proud thought to the men of the One 
 Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and 
 a proud boast of their descendants, that the Regiment 
 was present and in the very front when the surrender of 
 General -Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia took 
 place ; and it so happened that the news of the surrender 
 was first communicated to the command by General 
 Meade in person. 
 
 It is interesting to read the letters and memoranda 
 written by officers and men during the last campaign. In 
 the diary of Captain Yocum we read : " Received orders 
 to march 28th of March, 1865. Broke camp March 29th 
 and moved to the left. Five p. m. met the enemy; 
 
Appomattox. 345 
 
 stacked arms for the night. Situation, swamp ; weather, 
 rainy. March 30th, moved by the flank to the left and to 
 the front, as skirmishers met the enemy's skirmishers 
 and charged, driving them to their works. Five p. m. 
 supported a battery under a heavy artillery fire, threw up 
 works and remained in this position until March 31st, 
 when we moved to the left to support the Third Division, 
 Fifth Corps. The latter were repulsed when our brigade 
 forded Hatcher's Run and charged. The fighting was 
 very severe as the enemy was in good positions. In 
 consequence of brigade on our right not supporting in 
 time we were compelled to fall back. Re-formed and 
 advanced a second time, driving the enemy at all 
 points. Lieutenants Brady, of Company D, and Condy, 
 Company E, were killed. Major Megraw and Adjutant 
 Thomas Ewing were wounded, and the loss among the 
 enlisted men was severe. Threw up works and held the 
 position. April 1st, supported battery, after which 
 marched and countermarched in keeping up connections 
 with Fifth Corps. Cavalry on the left and corps to the 
 right. April 2d, severe fighting. Brigade charged, 
 capturing two pieces of artillery, five hundred prisoners 
 and the South Side Railroad. The color-bearer, Sergeant 
 Peter Kelly, was wounded and several others killed and 
 wounded. April 3d, supported battery and skirmished. 
 April 4th, advancing, supporting battery and skirmishing. 
 April 5th, skirmishing. April 6th, captured baggage 
 teams. April 7th, severe fighting ; brigade lost heavily ; 
 brigade bugler killed. April 8th, heavy skirmishing. 
 April 9th, halted, cooked coffee and received the glorious 
 news of the surrender ". 
 
 In a letter to a friend Sergeant-Major S. D. Hunter 
 gives a vivid description of the last day : — 
 
346 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 April gth, 1865, found us again on the go at early morn, our Regiment 
 supporting the skirmish line with balance of brigade closely in our rear. 
 It was about nine o'clock when we halted on an elevated position. I was 
 ordered to see that the men had their canteens filled with water. I made 
 a detail from each company. When I was asked by some what it meant 
 I told them it looked as if we would have a little " hell " soon and they 
 had better be prepared. Soon we heard the artillery coming up and 
 getting into position, with two pieces in the road and another to our left. 
 The firing had ceased on the skirmish line. We could see the Johnnies 
 in large numbers behind their breastworks. But what did all this mean ? 
 We remembered the heavy fighting of the night before in Lee's rear until 
 long after dark. What great anxiety spread through the ranks ! Was it 
 to be General Lee's one last great struggle ? We all felt tired and 
 hungry, so many lay down to sleep, some to crack jokes, others to read 
 their bibles, when by and by a flag of truce comes from the Johnnies' 
 lines and with all possible speed goes back to Meade's headquarters. 
 Soon this was followed by a four-mule stage coach in which, it was said, 
 was Commissioner Orr, of Lee's Army, going back to our rear. It was 
 impossible to imagine what was going on. Officers and men would ask 
 each other, but all were in total ignorance. Some seemed to think they 
 were trying to compromise without any more fighting, not thinking of an 
 absolute surrender on the part of Lee. It was the opinion of many that 
 before Lee would do so he would make one grand rally and die at the 
 head of his army which he had led forth in so many battles. In the midst 
 of all these conjectures we heard cheering coming towards us and soon 
 we saw that modest hero of Gettysburg, General George G. Meade, and 
 staff, coming up on a gallop, passing through our lines and over into the 
 enemy's stronghold. Now for surmising ! It has full sway. Surrender 
 or be annihilated, which will Lee do ? 
 
 We were now flushed with victory, having kept the Johnnies on the 
 run from early morning till late at night. We had had nothing to eat but a 
 little fresh meat, sassafras and sour grass, and what we lost in coffee, pork 
 and hard tack was more than made up by the continual excitement and 
 battles which had lasted for eleven days. We were unanimous in hoping 
 that Lee's star was on" the wane and that the war would soon be over. 
 What great suspense now hung over us ! We talked of nothing but the 
 return of our great leader, Meade. Soon an officer from Meade's staff 
 came into our lines and galloped back to headquarters. Soon after the 
 order was given to fall in. We marched to within one hundred yards of 
 the rebels' breastworks, our Regiment on the right. We halted when the 
 command "front" was given. "Two paces to the rear. March!" 
 When the Regiment was properly aligned another regiment was placed 
 on the opposite side of the road in like manner, and so it continued until 
 
Appomattox. 347 
 
 the entire corps or back to the rear had been reached. Standing at 
 "attention", we "order arms". Could it be that Lee was going to 
 surrender ? Were they going to march him at the head of our vanquished 
 foe through our lines that we might see the remnant of that once brave 
 and fearless army which we had fought on so many disputed battlefields ? 
 But, no, all this ceremony was for the purpose of announcing to that wing 
 of the army under General Meade the news of Lee's surrender. 
 
 It was about four o'clock in the afternoon when we heard the clatter 
 of horses coming from within the Johnnies' lines. The order " attention, 
 carry arms!" was given and we awaited their approach. As General 
 Meade, accompanied by his staff, stopped in front of our One Hundred 
 and Sixteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, no salute was given 
 except the dipping of the colors. Taking his cap in his hand he bowed 
 and announced to us : "General Lee has surrendered to General Grant !" 
 Turning to the regiment on the opposite side of the road, he repeated 
 the message, and so on. With his own lips he proclaimed to the army 
 which he had led forth to victory the news of Lee's surrender. It now 
 seemed as if, by the hand of God, life had been suspended for several 
 minutes. Not a Word was spoken, not a movement was made. Officers 
 and men stood like regiments of statue-soldiers in the perfect silence. 
 Then, like an electric shock, broke forth one grand shout, and cheer after 
 cheer rent the air. The Lynchburg Plank Road became one swaying 
 mass of joyful Yankees. The delirious shouts'were soon taken up by the 
 Johnnies, and never before did, and never again will, the hills and valleys 
 around Appomattox, in old Virginia, resound with such soul-inspiring 
 shouts as came from the conquerors and the conquered as they blended 
 their voices on that afternoon of the gth of April, 1865. 
 
 Thus ended the career of the glorious and heroic 
 One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania 
 Volunteers, which had marked the trail of the Army of 
 the Potomac with the blood of its hundreds of killed and 
 wounded, from Fredericksburg to Appomattox. With 
 depleted ranks it had now reached the pinnacle of its 
 glory. It was the first regiment to receive the official 
 announcement from General Meade of Lee's surrender. 
 
 Charley Barth, of Company C, writes about this 
 campaign : — 
 
 " Well do I remember the morning of the 28th of 
 
848 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 March, 1865, when we left our winter quarters for the final 
 campaign of the war. Although the campaign was not 
 so long as the one of the year before, yet what an amount 
 of hunger and fatigue we passed through in those thirteen 
 days. I shall never forget it. On the morning of the 
 29th our Regiment was sent on the skirmish line. What 
 a day this was, raining as we advanced through the woods, 
 sometimes in water up to our knees. Then over brush 
 and fallen trees, halting to re-form and then advancing 
 again, and so we went on until night came, when we 
 halted in a swamp with the water up over our shoe tops. 
 Here an amusing incident occurred which I think is worth 
 mentioning. The Fifty-second New York was right in 
 our rear with the rest of the line of battle and for some 
 cause they did not stop with them but came on and would 
 had" passed had they not been stopped, as it was then so 
 dark that one object could not be distinguished from the 
 other. This made considerable confusion. If you 
 remember, the Fifty-second New York were nearly all 
 Germans, and such a time as their officers had getting 
 them all together again, shouting : ' Dis way, fifty-two 
 mans !' And they would come up to some of us and say : 
 ' Be you a fifty-two mans ?' Finally they got back to 
 their line again. We remained on the skirmish line until 
 the next day, the 30th, when we were relieved and went 
 back to our brigade. The next day, the 31st, we fought 
 the battle of Gravelly Run ; and so we continued marching, 
 fighting and skirmishing every day and night until the 
 end came on the 9th. But what I started to write about 
 was an incident that happened on the 8th. This will 
 illustrate and confirm what I said in my letter to you that 
 my thoughts were on how I should get enough to eat and 
 enough sleep. We had been marching all day until about 
 
Appomattox. 349 
 
 two o'clock, when we stopped at a place called New 
 Store. I was tired and hungry, as I had nothing in my 
 haversack but a small piece of pork. At this place I was 
 fortunate enough to get a little flour. Soon the bugle 
 called forward, and then it was tramp, tramp, again. Oh, 
 how tired I was ! How I would look ahead to see if the 
 head of the column would file to the right or left, which I 
 knew would mean rest. Well, just as it was growing dark 
 I saw the head of the column file to the left into the woods. 
 Then came the vision of the nice cake I would make out 
 of the flour and piece of pork, and what a nice sleep I 
 would have. But how often our brightest hopes are 
 blasted. Scarcely had we halted when we were ordered 
 out as flankers with orders to make no fire. This meant 
 to me no cake, no sleep. Finally, after the line was 
 established, we concluded to make a fire and I began to 
 bake my cake, and as the under side became hard I turned 
 it over. A few minutes later we could hear firing in front 
 of us. It was Sheridan who had blocked the way in 
 front of the Johnnies. Just then the order came to fall 
 in. Now the question was, what shall I do with my half- 
 baked cake ? I dumped it into my haversack. Then we 
 went on to the road again for a four-mile tramp. Well, 
 as the cake cooled I ate it, although it was half dough. 
 As I pulled it from my haversack it would stretch from 
 there to my mouth, but it helped to fill me. That night 
 the supply train came up, and the next morning, that 
 ever welcome day of the 9th, I had a feast on coffee, hard 
 tack arid pork, and I was contented and happy because 
 my stomach was full. Could I have known then what 
 this day was to still bring forth my enjoyment would have 
 been much greater. It was then I felt proud that I had 
 done some litde towards the overthrow of the Rebellion." 
 
350 
 
 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 The surrender of the other armies of the Southern 
 Confederacy followed rapidly upon that of General Lee, 
 and it only remained for the Union troops in Virginia to 
 turn their faces toward the north and home arid await the 
 muster out and disbanding of the armies. So on April 
 13th the last march began. Leisurely, and without war's 
 rude alarms, it was a joyful march, indeed. Reaching 
 Farmville, the men were gladdened by the return of four 
 officers who had been captives in southern prisons for 
 months and who had just been released. All had much 
 to tell of the hardships endured. Captain Cosslett is still 
 on earth as this book is being written and his story of 
 prison life in the South is interesting. 
 
REMINISCENCE 
 
 OF- 
 
 Prison Life in the South 
 
 By 
 
 CHARLES COSSLETT 
 
 Brevet Major United States Volunteers. 
 
Reminiscence of Prison Life in the South. 353 
 
 pvURING the campaign of 1864, when the army reached 
 
 the fortifications before Petersburg, our regiment 
 
 had lost by death, wounds and sickness a great many men ; 
 
 there were no field, and but a few line, officers left for duty. 
 
 On the morning of June 22d, being still quite lame in 
 my right knee and thigh from rheumatism contracted in 
 the trenches at Cold Harbor and suffering from a long and 
 severe attack of diarrhea, Dr. Hartman gave me a pass to 
 go to the hospital. Whilst waiting for an ambulance 
 Captain Nowlen, who was in command of the regiment, 
 came to me and said we had orders to move and that we 
 were Hkely to have another dust with the Johnnies. There 
 was no officer in his company and as I was the only one in 
 mine, which was on his left, he told me to take the two 
 companies into the fight and when we came out I could go 
 to the hospital. I said to him : "I may not come out ; I 
 I may killed ". " Charlie ", replied he, in his off-hand 
 jocular way, " if you are killed you won't want to go to 
 the hospital ". Noble, generous, brave Nowlen ! That was 
 our parting joke ; shortly after you gave your life for your 
 God and country. 
 
 When I went back to the regiment one of my men, 
 Michael Cavanaugh, came to me with one hundred and 
 fifty dollars which he wished me to send to his people, he 
 having an idea he was going to be killed. I answered 
 that my risk was as great as his and advised him to give 
 the money to Father Ouellet, the Chaplain of the Sixty- 
 ninth New York Regiment, which he did. 
 
 Early in the morning of the 22d of June, Wilcox's 
 Division of Hill's Corps moved from their quarters on the 
 
354 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 lines of Petersburg and, crossing the works to the right of 
 the Tannahill House, followed the line of the Weldon 
 Railroad. Wilcox's instructions were to find the Union 
 column and drive it back to the Jerusalem Plank Road. 
 About nine a.m. his troops were beyond, and to the right of, 
 the Johnston House. The leading brigades were halted 
 and formed in line of battle, facing the plank road. 
 General Mahone, who, from a small and unoccupied fort 
 in advance of his line, had been watching the Federal 
 troops marching into position, stacking arms and throwing 
 up breastworks, quietly withdrew Wright's Virginia 
 Brigade and Saunder's Georgia Brigade of his division out 
 of the main works about two p. m. and, filing through a 
 deep ravine in the direction of the Johnston House, and 
 into a field near a skirt of woods where he formed a line of 
 battle, he at once advanced, struck the flank of the Union 
 line, rolled it up and captured four guns, eight stands of 
 colors and over seventeen hundred prisoners. Before 
 General Mahone commenced the movement he sent 
 Captain Girardey over to General Wilcox to say he would 
 attack the Union troops as soon as he could reach the head 
 and flank of their column and all that he, Wilcox, had to 
 do was to bear down toward Petersburg to effect a 
 co-operation with Wright's and Saunder's Brigades in the 
 proposed attack. Captain Girardey, on his way, met 
 General Hill at the Davis House, on the Weldon Railroad, 
 and to him communicated the message. General Hill 
 replied that Wilcox would be informed at once of General 
 Mahone's request. However, Captain Girardey, fearing a 
 delay, immediately galloped over to Wilcox and told him 
 that Mahone was ready to strike the Union line as soon as 
 he, Wileox, was prepared to co-operate with him. The 
 Confederate advance on the plank road was instantly 
 
Reminiscence of Prison Life in the South. 355 
 
 arrested and two brigades were ordered to move in tiie 
 direction of Petersburg. At this time Wilcox was to the 
 left and rear of the Union troops, but failed to join General 
 Mahone until the fight was over. 
 
 On that fatal day the Second Corps moved forward, 
 pivoting its right on the left of the Fifth. The Sixth Corps, 
 being on the left of the Second, was to move with it but, 
 having a greater distance to traverse in the wheeling 
 movement, it could not keep up with the Second Corps, 
 and therefore General Meade ordered General Birney, 
 who was that day in command of the Second Corps, to 
 advance without waiting for the Sixth. When the Con- 
 federates struck the Union line the Second, or Irish, 
 Brigade was on the left of the Second Corps and our 
 regiment was on the left of the brigade. After passing 
 through some woods we halted at the top of a ravine. 
 Four or five of the men took a number of canteens to fill 
 at the rivulet, but in a few minutes came running back 
 and said the Johnnies fired at them from the opposite 
 side. The men who had been quietly resting quickly 
 formed line. By this time the bullets were coming thick 
 and fast and killed and wounded quite a number, amongst 
 the latter Captain Yocum. Captain Nowlen sent 
 Lieutenant Cope and Sergeant-Major Burk to the left of 
 the line to see if the enemy were flanking us. In a very 
 short time they returned in hot haste and reported the 
 Confederates marching in column of fours past our left. 
 This was about three o'clock in the afternoon. Not long 
 after, by General Barlow's orders, a brigade covered our 
 flank, but it was soon on the run past the rear of our line. 
 When the enemy found our left uncovered and the Sixth 
 Corps far behind they struck our flank and pushed with 
 great vigor into our rear. The front line, finding itself 
 
356 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 exposed and likely to be captured, hastily fell back. Being 
 lame I could not get along very fast and when I got out 
 of the woods and walked over a field I came to a partly 
 constructed breastwork. I crossed over this into another 
 wood with dense brush so thick I could not see through 
 it. Here I met about thirty men from different regiments. 
 They were listening to the sound of voices which came 
 from our rear but could not see anyone. Some thought 
 they were our men who were talking, but others said they 
 were Johnnies. However, no one seemed inclined to find 
 out the real state of affairs. At last a young sergeant in 
 a New York regiment volunteered to accompany me for 
 the purpose of solving the problem. After pushing 
 through the brush we reached an open space where we 
 were surprised to see, not six paces from us, a line of 
 battle. When we found they were Confederates our first 
 thought was to run. About a dozen rifles were pointed 
 at us and the Johnnies told us to come in, saying : " It 
 is no use trying to get away ; we have been going behind 
 you fellows for two hours ". 
 
 We were sent under guard to the rear. On our way 
 we saw one of our guns which they had captured and 
 quite a number of our dead. In a narrow road at the 
 edge of the woods lay a Union officer who had been shot 
 in the thigh. We made a stretcher with a blanket and 
 some rails and carried him to the Johnston House where 
 the doctors were attending to a number of wounded men. 
 On the way I saw a general who, I was told, was Mahone 
 and that it was his command which captured us. 
 
 A regiment going to the front passed us. Their salute 
 was : " How are you, blue beUies ? How do you like 
 your new quarters?" etc. Just before dark we were 
 taken to a clearing in the woods. In it were assembled 
 
Reminiscence of Prison Life in the South. 357 
 
 sixteen hundred men and sixty-five officers. There I met 
 Lieutenant Cope, Sergeant-Major Burk and a number of 
 men of our regiment. Before we left this place a staff 
 officer rode in with some of our flags tied on his horse. 
 
 After dark we were removed and camped on the side 
 of a hill for the night. Lying on the cold ground, without 
 any covering, I suffered severely from diarrhea. In the 
 morning John M. Wiley, one of my men, gave me a table- 
 spoonful of black pepper mixed in water, after which 
 palatable dose I was greatly relieved. Another of my 
 men, Albert Nelson, handed over to me his gum blanket. 
 He said the Johnnies were going to take from them their 
 haversacks, canteens, etc., but he thought they would 
 leave me in possession of the blanket. 
 
 In the forenoon the enlisted men were separated from 
 the officers and we were then taken to the cars and sent 
 to Richmond. On our arrival, under a strong guard, we 
 were marched through the streets to Libby Prison. When 
 we passed into the commandant's office our names, rank, 
 regiment and address were entered in their books. We 
 were next thoroughly searched for money, and if any was 
 found, it was very kindly placed to our credit. The 
 officials promised to return it when we left the prison, but 
 when we did leave, by some oversight on their part we 
 were obliged to go without it. They took from us every 
 thing in our possession, haversacks, canteens and 
 blankets. One officer had a few hardtack in his haversack. 
 Its contents were dumped on the floor, then there was a 
 scramble for the pieces. I was fortunate enough to get 
 a handful of crumbs, the first thing I had had to eat for 
 two days. 
 
 After this incident we were taken upstairs to the second 
 floor and put in a large room in which were already about 
 
358 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 fifty officers. I took up my quarters under tfie window 
 on Twentietfi Street, nearest to Carey and directly over 
 the office. The enlisted men were confined in six rooms 
 in the centre and east of the building. At nine o'clock 
 every morning and at four in the afternoon we had roll- 
 call. Prison Clerk Erastus W. Ross, or "Little Ross", 
 as he was designated because of his small stature, accom- 
 panied by a guard under the command of Sergeant 
 George Stansil, of the Eighteenth Georgia Regiment, 
 would come up and count us off, fearing some would be 
 missing. 
 
 Every day at eleven a. m. rations were brought up. 
 Stalwart negroes carried in two tubs, made of a barrel 
 cut in two, with rope handles, full of what the Confed- 
 erates called pea soup. It was a composition of horse 
 beans with a piece of some kind of meat boiled in water. 
 No one knew whether the meat was cow, pig or horse 
 flesh. Every man received three-quarters of a pint of 
 soup, some beans, a piece of meat about the size of two 
 fingers and three-fourths of a pound loaf of coarse corn 
 bread without any salt in it, and these were all the rations 
 we were given in twenty-four hours. Some of the men 
 would eat their allowance all at once and then He on the 
 floor until eleven o'clock next day, not daring to walk 
 about, fearing it would increase their hunger. 
 
 r divided my portion and enjoyed three short meals 
 daily. We formed squads of twenty, and any man who 
 was fortunate enough to possess a tin cup would drink 
 his soup and then lend the cup to another. It was 
 amusing to hear some of the prisoners talking about what 
 good things they would like to eat, and if they were only 
 at Delmonico's or some first-class restaurant they would 
 order a dinner fit for a " city councilman ". 
 
Reminiscence of Prison Life in the South. 359 
 
 The third day we were at Libby Adjutant Latouche 
 sent up one old army blanket for each man, which 
 answered for both bed and bedding and was the only 
 donation we received during our long confinement. On 
 that day came an exchange for some doctors who lay in 
 the corner next to me. After they left prison early the 
 next morning I found an old tin cup which it seems they 
 had promised to a cavalry officer. About an hour 
 afterwards he came around hunting for the cup. Of 
 course, he could not find it, but he swore rather loudly 
 and said if he knew the man that took it he would wring 
 his neck. However, I was not foolish enough to tell him. 
 On the floor I found a piece of old canvas. I borrowed 
 a thread and needle from one of the prisoners and made 
 of it a very good haversack, and with that and the tin 
 cup I set up housekeeping. The same evening an officer 
 gave Lieutenant Cope some tea. The latter with his 
 knife cut a few chips from the rafters and built a fire on 
 the floor, and in my cup we made our first tea, which, 
 though having neither sugar nor milk, tasted so good 
 that we boiled the leaves three times over. The only 
 furniture in the room was a long, pine-board table. In 
 the southwest corner were two old bath tubs and a good 
 supply of water. The windows were without glass, but 
 instead had heavy iron bars. Shortly before I went to 
 Libby Captain Forsyth, of the One Hundredth Ohio 
 Volunteers, was shot dead by a sentinel while standing at 
 one of the windows, the guards having instructions to 
 shoot anyone putting his hands on sill or bar. 
 
 Libby Prison was a large, three-story brick building, 
 divided by heavy walls into three sections. It stood on a 
 hill which descended to a street by the side of the canal. 
 The building contained nine large rooms, each 105x45 
 
360 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 feet. The slant of the hill gave an additional story on the 
 south, or Dock Street, side. The prison fronted on Carey 
 Street and was bounded on the west by Twentieth and on 
 the east by a vacant lot. The west room on the first floor 
 was the commandant's ofi&ce and it was also used as 
 sleeping quarters for the prison officials. The centre 
 room was the kitchen and the east one served as a 
 hospital'. On the second floor the west room was called 
 " Milroy's Room " ; the middle one was named " Lower 
 Chickamauga Room ", for there were a large number of 
 Chickamauga prisoners in it ; the east room was known 
 as " Lower Gettysburg Room ". The west room on the 
 third floor was called "Streight's Room"; the centre 
 room, " Upper Chickamauga Room ", and the east room, 
 "Upper Gettysburg room". The basement on Dock 
 Street was divided into west cellar, middle cellar, or 
 carpenter's shop, and the east cellar, generally called 
 " Rat Hell ". 
 
 Libby Prison was built in 1852 by John Enders, a 
 Scotsman. He was a prominent tobacco manufacturer, 
 and Libby was one of the several large warehouses he had 
 constructed in Richmond. In 1854 he leased the building 
 to Luther Libby, who used it in the ship chandlery and 
 commission business. On the northwest corner hung a 
 sign which read : " Libby and Son, Ship Chandlers and 
 Grocers ". The son, George W. Libby, was admitted as a 
 partner in 1860 and served in the Confederate Army 
 during the war. 
 
 The first Union prisoners arrived in Richmond July 
 23d, 1861, followed in a few days by others captured at 
 Bull Run. The first building used as a military prison 
 was a tobacco factory on Main Street, between Twenty- 
 fifth and Twenty-sixth Streets. General John H. Winder, 
 
Reminiscence of Prison Life in the South. 361 
 
 who was in command at Richmond, finding it impossible 
 to accommodate all the prisoners in the Liggon Building, 
 took possession of Libby & Son's warehouse. The first 
 commandant of this prison was the notorious Henry Wirz, 
 who was not long in charge before being sent to 
 Andersonville, where his cruelty to the unfortunate captives 
 caused him to be hanged after the war. He was succeeded 
 by Major T. P. Turner, who, when the war was over, 
 practised dentistry in Memphis, Tenn. 
 
 In October, 1861, Lieutenant Thomas P. Turner, 
 generally called " Dick " Turner, was promoted to the 
 rank of captain and ordered to report for duty at Libby, 
 (He was no relative of Major Thomas P. Turner). After 
 the war he had a saw-mill in Isle of Wight County, Va. 
 Chief Clerk Ross was burned to death in the Spotswood 
 House, Richmond, Va., in 1873. Adjutant John Latouche 
 died in Richmond, October 4th, 1890, aged 70. 
 
 Nearly sixty thousand prisoners were confined in Libby 
 during the war. On the night of February 9th, 1864, 
 one hundred and nine officers, including eleven colonels, 
 seven majors, thirty-two captains and fifty-nine lieutenants, 
 made their escape through the tunnel. Forty-eight of 
 thern were recaptured. Colonel Streight and several 
 officers were concealed for a week by Miss Bettie Vanlew, 
 a Union sympathizer. She was afterwards appointed 
 postmistress of Richmond by President Grant. Captain 
 Gates, of the Thirty-third Ohio, was ~ the only one 
 recaptured inside the city limits. For several days after 
 the escape great numbers of citizens wandered around 
 Libby. One of them happened to remove a plank in the 
 yard back of the office of the James River Towing 
 Company and the secret was revealed. A dog was 
 dropped into the hole and he made his way to " Rat Hell". 
 
362 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 After the evacuation of Richmond the Union troops 
 were placed on guard through the city. Samuel E. James, 
 a private in Colonel Brady's Regiment, the Two Hundred 
 and Sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, claimed to have taken 
 the key of Libby Prison from a colored man who had 
 attempted to make off with it. James ran after the negro 
 and took it from him. It was an iron key about six inches 
 long with a flange about an inch wide. James lived for 
 a time in Kittanning, Armstrong County, Pa. 
 
 All the old prisoners were removed from Richmond 
 early in May, 1864, and those who were captured during 
 May and June were taken to Libby. About the first of 
 July orders came to send all officers to Macon and the 
 enlisted men to Andersonville. Early one morning we 
 were taken from Libby, marched over to Manchester, on 
 the south side of the river, put on board passenger cars 
 and began our journey. At some of the stations where 
 we stopped for wood and water several officers lost their 
 headgear by a little Southern strategy. After the train 
 started some Johnnies would create an excitement on the 
 platform. Our men would naturally look out to see what 
 was the matter, and if a good hat was seen on any of 
 them some enterprising Confederate would snatch it off 
 and very politely throw back his old one with many 
 compliments. 
 
 Our first landing place was Lynchburg, where we were 
 put in a field near the river. The Johnnies had captured 
 one of our supply trains and for rations gave us our own 
 genuine hardtack and good, fat Yankee pork, which was 
 a great treat. Our guard at this place was composed of 
 about seventy men who had belonged to an Irish regiment 
 in Stonewall Jackson's Brigade. They told us their 
 regiment had been so reduced in numbers that they were 
 
Reminiscence of Prison Life in the South. 363 
 
 taken from the front and put on guard duty. When we 
 left Lynchburg we were started on a four days' tramp to 
 Danville. General Averill with his cavalry had torn up 
 part of the railroad, so we had to foot it all the way. 
 We marched in column of fours, officers on the right, and 
 had two regiments of home guards to look after our 
 welfare. At some places along the road the women would 
 bring us out buckets of cool spring water and often a corn 
 cake, which was very acceptable. 
 
 On the second night of our journey we camped on the 
 border of a small stream. Having obtained permission 
 from the guards to take a bath, some of the men indulged 
 in the unusual luxury of a swim. Meanwhile, I found a one 
 dollar Federal note, which proved its great value early 
 next rtiorning when a young Johnny came into camp with 
 a basket of onions. In exchange for my one dollar he 
 offered me four dollars in Confederate money or three large 
 onions. I chose the latter, knowing that if I ate them 
 they would agree with me and not being quite sure that 
 I could digest the dirty, ragged Confederate scrip. 
 
 Sunday, July 3d, as we passed a church on the roadside 
 the congregation came out and some of the women wept 
 bitterly when they saw our miserable condition. A 
 woman's heart will always bleed for suffering humanity. 
 
 " Honored be woman ! She beams on the sight, 
 Graceful and fair, Hke a being of light ; 
 Scatters around her wherever she strays 
 Roses of bliss on our thorn-covered ways : 
 Roses of Paradise, sent from above, 
 To be gathered and twined in a garland of love ! ' ' 
 
 At Danville we were quartered in a large warehouse 
 at the east side of the town, with Major Moffart in charge. 
 We there drew a day's rations — half a loaf of corn bread. 
 
364 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 a quarter of a pound of bacon and a pint of soup. We 
 were told not to go near the windows, for the guards had 
 orders to shoot us if we did. Next morning we were 
 loaded into cattle cars. Four sentinels were placed at 
 the doors inside and six or eight on the top of each car 
 to guard the fifty men which it contained. We stopped 
 at Greensborough for a short time, then started for 
 Charlotte, where we arrived the subsequent evening. Our 
 next halt was at Columbia, where we got some corn bread 
 and bacon, and were then taken to Augusta. The home 
 guard under command of Provost-Marshal Bradford, a 
 son of Governor Bradford, of Maryland, had charge of 
 us at that place. Early next morning we were sent to 
 Macon, which city we reached the following afternoon. 
 
 We were received by Dick Turner, who had been sent 
 on from Libby, and a regiment of Georgia militia, and 
 marched into Camp Oglethorpe. (The camp was named 
 for the Governor of Georgia). It was about a quarter of 
 a mile east of the city. Some three acres were enclosed 
 by a stockade fence sixteen feet high. On the outside of 
 the fence, four feet from the top, was a platform on which 
 the guards were stationed and from which they had a 
 good view over the camp. Inside the stockade and about 
 twenty feet from it was a picket fence four feet high called 
 the "dead hne". No one was allowed to go over or 
 touch this line. 
 
 The morning we entered the camp our first salute 
 from the old prisoners was cries of " Fresh fish ", " Give 
 him air ", " Don't take his tooth-pick ", " Close up ", etc. 
 Near the gate stood Captain George Hatpin, who was 
 captured before me. He called out : " Is there anyone 
 from the One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania ?" 
 When I answered "Yes", he took my hand and put his 
 
Reminiscence of Prison Life in the South. 365 
 
 arms around me and said he was glad and yet sorry to 
 see anyone from the old Regiment. He led me to his 
 quarters and gave me a portion of his dinner, which 
 consisted of a piece of corn bread and a cup of coffee 
 made of burnt meal scalded with water, and he regretted 
 very much that he could not entertain me better, but I 
 was exceedingly thankful to have my hunger thus far 
 appeased. 
 
 A few days after I entered the prison pen I accidentally 
 put my hand on the dead line, when some officers called 
 out: "Take your hand away, take your hand away!" 
 which I quickly did, as the sentinel had his rifle already 
 aimed at me. On the evening of the 11th of June, 
 Lieutenant Otto Grierson, Forty-fifth New York Volun- 
 teers, while near the spring was shot and mortally 
 wounded by a guard, although at the time he was some 
 distance from the line. There were twelve hundred 
 prisoners in the pen when we went there. In the centre 
 of the camp was a large wooden warehouse which had 
 been used as a hospital for Confederate soldiers, but as 
 many of our officers as could get in made it their sleeping 
 quarters. Early one morning I went into the building, 
 and seated on the floor were a great number of them with 
 their shirts off, performing a very necessary act .before 
 making their morning toilet, as the building was swarming 
 with vermin. In those days there was an open market in 
 all southern prisons for the vender of insect powder. 
 
 To the prisoners who were in the stockade previous 
 to our arrival the authorities had given lumber with which 
 they built open sheds for themselves and fixed up bunks, 
 and it was in one of these that Captain Halpin and 
 Lieutenant John McGovern, of the Seventy-third Penn- 
 sylvania Volunteers, had their quarters. When our squad 
 
366 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 of one hundred and twenty arrived there was no room 
 in the sheds for us, so we had to bunk outside. I took 
 up my quarters near the spring, which was situated about 
 thirty feet from the dead Hne. Our contingent was divided 
 into squads of twenty, each squad being furnished with 
 a camp kettle and an iron skillet. We formed messes 
 of five and arranged to have the cooking utensils turn 
 about. Rations were drawn every five days, our daily 
 allowance being one pint of corn meal, one ounce of rice, 
 and a quarter of a pound of fat bacon. Sometimes in 
 place of rice we received beans. Every ten days they 
 gave us a tablespoonful of salt, every three weeks two 
 ounces of soft soap with which to wash our ragged 
 clothes, and each morning the authorities sent in a wagon 
 load of fire-wood for cooking purposes. The second 
 week I was there Captain Halpin fell insensible in the 
 yard and was carried to the hospital. I did not see him 
 again for two months. During the first six months of 
 prison life we were called " fresh fish " ; the next four 
 months " suckers " ; the next two months " dry cod " ; 
 after that " dried herring "; and after exchange, " pickled 
 sardines ". 
 
 When General Johnson was retreating towards Atlanta 
 before the victorious army of Sherman, Governor Brown, 
 of Georgia, ordered every man capable of bearing arms 
 to the front, and transferred the State militia, under the 
 command of Major-General G. W. Smith, to the Con- 
 federate service to defend the bridges across the 
 Chattahoochee River for the safety of the important city 
 of Atlanta. From an elevation in the prison yard we 
 could see regiments of boys, some of them not fifteen 
 years of age, marching past. They looked full of fight 
 and quite proud of being soldiers. 
 
Reminiscence of Prison Life in the South. 367 
 
 A great many of the prisoners were afflicted with 
 "chronic diarrhea" and about four hundred had "scurvy". 
 Those with the latter disease would put earth on their 
 sores to check its ravages. Another beneficial remedy 
 was to eat raw potatoes steeped in vinegar. These 
 luxuries the negroes would sometimes bring into the 
 prison. Growing inside the stockade were two old white 
 oak trees, the bark of which was stripped off and chewed 
 by some of the men, while others boiled it and drank the 
 water as a cure for diarrhea. One day the Confederate 
 sutler brought in provisions in a large box. When it was 
 emptied Lieutenant Wilson, Fifth United States Cavalry, 
 got into it. The negroes, wishing to aid his escape, 
 fastened the lid temporarily on the box which was placed 
 on the wagon and driven out of the prison pen. After 
 going some distance away the negroes removed the 
 precious load from the wagon, took off the lid and the 
 lieutenant made his way to a negro hut. While washing 
 and making his toilet the patrol came up and asked him 
 if he was a Union prisoner. Rather than tell a lie he 
 acknowledged that he was and, as a result, was brought 
 .back the same day to the pen. I thought that under the 
 circumstances, when he had a chance of making his 
 escape, he deserved great praise for telling the truth, 
 which proved that he did not forget the good advice of a 
 noble mother. 
 
 For amusement those who were strong enough would 
 play base ball ; others would spend their time with 
 checkers, chess and dominoes ; but a pack of cards, the 
 soldier's prayer book, was always in demand. Crib, faro 
 and poker were the favorite games. Very often. Captain 
 Irsch, a German, of the Forty-fifth New York Regiment, 
 and Captain Romp6, a Swiss, would entertain us with the 
 
308 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 sword exercise performed with wooden foils which they 
 made for the purpose. The Swiss officer, whose real 
 name was known to few, was generally called Romp^, a 
 French word which he frequently used while fencing. 
 
 July 27th Captain Gibbs, commandant of the prison, 
 
 received orders to count out six hundred prisoners to be 
 
 sent to Charleston, as the Confederates, knowing that 
 
 Sherman was on his way to Atlanta, feared a raid of 
 
 Union troops to release the prisoners. Some of our men 
 
 were in hopes of exchange, but they soon found they 
 
 were to be confined in Charleston to protect that city 
 
 from the fire of our guns on Morris Island. We were 
 
 told we would not be allowed to take the cooking utensils 
 
 with us. The guard at the dead line would not permit 
 
 Lieutenant McGovern to take even a skillet with him, so 
 
 he handed it over to me. Next evening the second six 
 
 hundred were called out to go to Savannah. I tied up 
 
 the skillet in my old blanket, put it under my arm and, 
 
 when my name was called, stepped over the line. We 
 
 were guarded by the Fifth Georgia Regiment, marched 
 
 to where the box cars were and remained there during 
 
 the night. We knew by the hurried movement of troops 
 
 and placing of artillery in position that there was some 
 
 trouble brewing for the Confederacy. 
 
 At break of day we left Macon and reached Savannah 
 about five p. m. The guards told us that General Stoneman 
 with his cavalry cut the road at one station half an hour 
 after we passed it. Stoneman attacked Macon, was 
 repulsed and taken prisoner with part of his command, 
 July 31st, at Chnton, about six miles north of the city. 
 At the time he was on a raid to release the Union prisoners 
 in Macon and Andersonville. 
 
 Our prison in Savannah was a lot adjoining the Marine 
 
Reminiscence of Prison Life in the South. 369 
 
 Hospital and surrounded by a stockade fence. It was 
 called " Camp Davidson ", for its first commandant. The 
 city authorities who had charge of us were very kind and 
 did all they could for our comfort. They gave us tents 
 and boards to make bunks, also cooking utensils and bricks 
 to build ovens in which to bake our corn bread. We built 
 the ovens oval on top and stuck the bricks together with 
 mortar made of' clay. The bread we made by stirring corn 
 meal in water and baking in the skillets. Colonel Miller, 
 One Hundred and Forty-seventh New York Volunteers, 
 acted in the prison as commandant. Through him all our 
 requests were made known to Captain Davidson. Our 
 guards, the First Georgia, a number of whom had been 
 prisoners of war, thought we deserved good treatment, as 
 they had received it at the North. Our tents were pitched 
 in regular military order and the streets were swept every 
 day. For our rations we were given each morning half 
 a pound of meat, a pint of rice, half a pint of meal, and 
 every four days a tablespoonful of salt. The water we used 
 came from a well near the hospital fence. It was clear 
 and cold but so offensive to both taste and smell that 
 some of the prisoners told the authorities they would like 
 to have it cleaned out, for they were sure there was a dead 
 dog or nigger in it. Next day a detail came in and gave 
 it a thorough cleaning, but only a few leaves and twigs 
 were found in it, and not till then did we know it was a 
 very strong sulphur spring. A few days after, a long 
 wooden trough was made and a supply of city water 
 turned on. Fires were kept burning all night inside the 
 pen, so that the sentinels could see all our movements. 
 
 In the tent in rear of mine a cavalry officer dug a well 
 about six feet deep, from the bottom of which he started 
 a tunnel about two feet, six inches in diameter. It was 
 
370 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 carried under the stockade with the intention of running 
 it beyond what was thought to be a second line of sentinels. 
 The work was completed on the morning of August 22d, 
 and on the afternoon of the same day a cow, walking over 
 the tunnel, broke through. The guards saw her floundering 
 in the hole and with great difficulty released her. A 
 detail was sent at once into the pen to locate the tent and 
 fill up the hole. The officer was taken to the Confederate 
 headquarters and sentenced to severe punishment, but 
 came back next day in good condition. 
 
 August 26th, the ladies of Savannah gave a picnic to 
 the Confederate soldiers stationed in the city and we could 
 hear their voices and the music distinctly. On the same 
 day, Captain W. McGinnis, Seventy-fourth Illinois 
 Volunteers, died. Our officers asked permission from the 
 new Confederate commandant of the camp. Colonel 
 Wayne, to give the Captain a decent burial, but he 
 positively refused. In the evening, we received a note 
 from the ladies in the city stating that, with profound 
 sorrow they had heard of Colonel Wayne's answer to our 
 request and that they would purchase a burial lot where, 
 under their care and direction, the Captain's remains would 
 be properly interred. 
 
 Early one morning a chicken flew into the pen and, 
 for a while, there was a lively time, as about fifty men 
 were after it. Finally, Lieutenant Allen caught it, and 
 with some rice we made our first and last pot of chicken 
 broth. 
 
 Being very weak from a long attack of diarrhea, I 
 went to the doctor for some medicine. He gave me three 
 pills and told me to keep quiet, adding that our people 
 had the coast blockaded, the physicians in the South could 
 obtain no drugs and that was all he could do for me. 
 
Reminiscence of Prison Life in the South. 371 
 
 With few exceptions.the Confederate doctors were humane 
 and kind and, with the means at their disposal, did all 
 they could for our comfort and relief. 
 
 August 30th, an exchange came for all chaplains and 
 doctors. They were sent in the evening to Charleston to 
 be taken north on the flag-of-truce boat. 
 
 On the afternoon of September 11th, the order came 
 for the rest of the prisoners to " pack up ". My outfit 
 consisted of a ragged coat and pants, a worn-out hat and 
 an old blanket. Having neither shoes nor shirt, but in 
 possession of my tin cup and skillet, it did not take long 
 to get ready to move. We sat up all night making snap- 
 jacks and corn bread to last us on our journey. At six 
 o'clock on the morning of September 12th, under guard 
 of the Second Georgia Regiment, we were marched out 
 of camp and turned over to a regiment of state militia. 
 We remained for several hours in the streets before we 
 took passage in the cattle cars. We knew then we were 
 to be taken to Charleston and placed under the fire of 
 our guns. When we stojiped at a station on our way for 
 wood and water, one of our men asked leave from a guard 
 to step out of the car for a few minutes ; another guard 
 saw him and, thinking he was trying to escape, shot at 
 him ; fortunately he got back without a Southern 
 keepsake. 
 
 We reached Charleston in about ten hours and the 
 citizens, white and black, turned out in force to look at 
 the " Northern Blue Bellies". Under a strong escort we 
 were marched through the streets to the jail, which was 
 situated in the southeastern part of the city — it could be 
 seen from Morris Island, where our batteries were. The 
 jail was a large octagonal building, four stories, with a 
 tower forty-five feet high. The yard was surrounded by 
 
372 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 a strong wall, and on the outside was the platform for the 
 sentinels to walk on. The water we had to use was 
 brackish and came from a covered well, in the centre of 
 the yard. Not far from it, on the south side, stood the 
 gallows, a pleasant reminder of what might be our last 
 hitching-post. Outside and near the prison wall were 
 two large buildings, the Roper Hospital and the Work- 
 house. Both being full of prisoners, we could not be 
 admitted and were put into the jail yard — the latter, having 
 been occupied by convicts and prisoners for some time, 
 was in a very filthy condition, — the ground having a 
 moving crop of vermin. Near the south wall stood a 
 few old tents which were of no use for shelter, the pris- 
 oners who had been there before us having cut out and 
 carried away large pieces of the canvas to make shirts 
 and other wearing apparel of which they were sadly in 
 need. 
 
 Lieutenant J. Ogden, First Wisconsin Cavalry, 
 composed the following verses while confined in the Roper 
 Hospital : — 
 
 Oh, thou doomed city of the evil seed, 
 Long nursed by baneful passion's heated breath ! 
 
 Now bursts the germ, and lo, the evil deed 
 Invites the sword of war, the stroke of death ! 
 
 Suns smile on thee, and yet thou smilest not 
 
 Thy fame, thy fashion, are alike forgot. 
 Consumption festers in thy inmost heart ; 
 The shirt of Nessus fouls thy secret part. 
 
 Lo, in thy streets — thy boast in other days — 
 Grim silence sits, and rancorous weeds arise ! 
 
 No joyous mirth, nor hymns of grateful praise, 
 Greet human ears nor court the upper skies ; 
 
 But deadly pallor, and a fearful looking for 
 
 The hand of vengeance and the sword of war. 
 Thy prayer is answered, and around, above, 
 The wrath of God and man doth hourly move. 
 
Reminiscence of Prison Life in the South. 373 
 
 Thy foes are in thy heart, and lie unseen ; 
 They drink thy Ufe-blood and thy substance up ; 
 
 And though in pride thou usest to sit a queen 
 Justice at last commands the bitter cup. 
 
 The blood of slaves upon thy skirts is found ; 
 
 Their tears have soaked this sacrilegious ground. 
 The chains that manacled their ebon arms 
 Now clank about thine own in dread alarms. 
 
 Thy sanctuaries are forsaken now ; 
 Dark mould and moss cling to thy fretted towers ; 
 
 Deep rents and seams, where straggling lichens grow 
 And no sweet voice of prayer at vestal hours ; 
 
 But voice of screaming shot and bursting shell, 
 
 Thy deep damnation and thy doom foretell. 
 The fire has left a swamp of broken walls, 
 Where night-hags revel in thy ruined halls. 
 
 Oh, vain thy boast, proud city desolate ! 
 Thy curses rest upon thy guilty head ! 
 
 In folly's madness, thou didst desecrate 
 ■Thy sacred vows to holy Union wed. 
 
 And now behold the fruit of this, thy sin : 
 
 Thy courts without o'errun, defiled within ; 
 Gross darkness broods upon thy holy place ; 
 Forsaken all, thy pride in deep disgrace. 
 
 Wail, city of the proud palmetto-tree ! 
 Thy figs and vines shall bloom for thee no more ! 
 
 Thou scorn'dst the hand of God, that made thee free. 
 In driving freemen from their native shore. 
 
 Thy rivers still seek peacefully the sea. 
 
 Yet bear no wealth on them, no joy for thee. 
 Thy isles look out and bask beneath the sun. 
 But silence reigns — their Sabbath is begun ! 
 
 Blood ! Blood is on thy skirts, oh, city doomed ! 
 The cry of vengeance hath begirt thee 'round ; 
 
 Here, where the citron and the orange bloomed, 
 God's curse rests on the half-forsaken ground ! 
 
 Thy treason, passion-nursed, is overgrown — 
 
 Thy cup of wrath is full, is overflown. 
 Repent, for God can yet a remnant save. 
 But traitors and their deeds shall find the grave ! 
 
 Charleston, S. C, September 25th, 1864. 
 
374 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 September 20th, about noon, a terrible thunder-storm 
 came on and it rained incessantly all day and night. 
 There were two inches of water over the yard and we 
 could not get the fires to burn. Wet, cold and without 
 shelter, we made application to get into the jail, but did 
 not succeed, as at that time it was full of prisoners of 
 various grades. On the first floor were the civil convicts ; 
 the second story was occupied by Confederate officers 
 and solders under punishment for military offenses ; the 
 third story, by negro prisoners ; and the fourth, by 
 deserters from both the Confederate and Union Armies. 
 In the yard were a number of negro prisoners who had 
 been captured at the assault on Fort Wagner. As they 
 received for rations nothing but corn meal, it was said 
 they suffered so much from hunger that they would catch 
 the rats, skin, roast and eat them. 
 
 September 22d was very warm and our boys on Mor'ris 
 Island made it hotter for the enemy, for during that day 
 and night, about one hundred shot and shells were thrown 
 into the city. We would watch " Foster's Messengers ", 
 as we called them, screeching over our heads and hear 
 them crash into the houses ; then followed the rumbling 
 of the engines and the shouts of the firemen on their way 
 to extinguish the flames. 
 
 About noon, on September 24, we were startled by the 
 sound of a musket, shot. On running to the jail door, we 
 found that a sentinel had killed a negro boy, a prisoner, 
 who had run into the main corridor. The guard ordered 
 him to return, but the boy, not retreating quickly enough, 
 was shot and died instantly. 
 
 In the evenings, the negro prisoners would entertain 
 us by singing songs. The one which they seemed to like 
 best was composed by Sergeant Johnson (colored) of 
 
Reminiscence of Prison Life in the South. 375 
 
 Company F, Fifty-fifth Massachusetts Infantry. The 
 song was as follows : — 
 
 When I enlisted in the army, 
 
 Then I thought 'twas grand, 
 Marching through the streets of Boston 
 
 Behind a regimental band. 
 When at Wagner I was captured, 
 
 Then my courage failed ; 
 Now I'm lousy, hungry, naked, 
 
 Here in Charleston jail. 
 
 Chorus. — Weeping, sad and lonely — 
 Oh! How bad I feel; 
 Down in Charleston, South Carolina, 
 Praying for a good "square meal ". 
 
 If Jeff. Davis will release me. 
 
 Oh, how glad I'll be ; 
 When I get on Morris Island 
 
 Then I shall be free ; 
 Then I'll tell those conscript soldiers 
 
 How they use us here ; 
 Giving us an old "corn-dodger " — 
 
 They call it prisoner's fare. 
 
 We are longing, watching, praying. 
 
 But will not repine 
 Till Jeff. Davis does release us_. 
 
 And sends us " in our lines ". 
 Then with words of kind affection. 
 
 How they'll greet us there ! 
 Wondering how we could live so long 
 
 Upon the " dodgers fare ". 
 
 Chorus. — Then we will laugh long and loudly — 
 Oh, how glad we'll feel. 
 When we arrive on Morris Island 
 And eat a good " square meal ". 
 
 September 30th a great many shells were thrown into 
 the city. A piece of one struck the west end of the Roper 
 Hospital, and another piece dropped into the jail yard 
 near where I was standing. I picked it up and brought 
 
376 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 it home with me when paroled, as a fond remembrance of 
 prison Hfe. The guards told us that a shell killed the 
 Provost-Marshal whilst standing at a table in his office 
 issuing orders to his Lieutenant, who was also killed. A 
 few nights after, an Irishman and his wife, whilst sleeping, 
 met their death in the same manner. 
 
 As the Union officers were taken to Charleston to save 
 the city from the fire of our guns on Morris Island. 
 General Foster, in retaliation, placed an equal number of 
 Confederate officers on transports in front of his works to 
 prevent the enemy from firing on him. Foster's gunners 
 knew our whereabouts and took good care not to plant a 
 shell amongst us. 
 
 On October 2d, the ConfedeAte Captain commanding 
 the prison, and his adjutant, died of yellow fever. Many 
 of the guards, some of our officers and a large number of 
 enlisted men, brought from Andersonville, also died of the 
 disease. The Sisters of Charity were allowed to enter the 
 jail yard and hospitals to visit our sick soldiers. I have 
 seen them bend over and speak words of hope and comfort 
 to our fever-stricken boys, and give with loving hearts and 
 kind hands grapes, wine or any little delicacy they could 
 obtain. All over the South they ministered to the wants 
 of both Confederate and Union soldiers and, without any 
 hope of reward, risked health and life in those loathsome, 
 fever-stricken hospitals. 
 
 Where the fateful war cry sounded, 
 
 Echoing through valleys fair, 
 From each verdured mount resounded, 
 
 Rousing hearts to do and dare ; 
 There her noble mission leads her 
 
 Where relentless Death is near, 
 But the wounded soldier needs her 
 
 And her brave heart knows no fear. 
 
Reminiscence of Prison Life in the South. 377 
 
 Like a radiant sunbeam straying 
 
 Through the ward where sufferers lie, 
 Her soft touch the pain allaying, 
 
 Her sweet smile forbids the sigh. 
 When the soldier feels death near him. 
 
 Naught of dread appalls his soul 
 With her gentle voice to cheer him 
 
 Onward to the Heavenly goal. 
 
 Then ! behold her, where privation 
 
 Frets the spirit of the brave. 
 Where the fever and starvation 
 
 Lead from prison bars to grave ; 
 Breathing words of pity tender. 
 
 Soothing oft the throbbing brow, 
 Still no selfish fears attend her 
 
 For the captive needs her now. 
 
 How she casts a glow about her, 
 
 Gladd'ning all o'er-freighted hearts ! 
 'Twould be wondrous dark without her. 
 
 While her spotless soul imparts 
 To her face such noble beauty. 
 
 That the soldier grows more brave. 
 Fearless treads the path of duty — 
 
 Seeking but the Flag to save ! 
 
 Truly, soldiers, may you love her 
 
 For the deeds performed so well ; 
 No one knows but Him above her 
 
 In her task what hardships dwell. 
 Weave your tenderest thanks around her 
 
 For her help in bitter need, 
 True and tried, you've ever found her. 
 
 Through the strife a friend indeed ! 
 
 — Georgina St. Clair Gartland. 
 
 October 3d and 4th, our batteries gave the city a good 
 shelling. Some of the missiles exploded very near the 
 jail, but without injury to us. On the evening of the 
 4th we heard from Charleston Race Course, where a 
 number of our enlisted men were confined, a great many 
 
378 . The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 of whom were dying from the ravages of scurvy and 
 yellow fever. 
 
 Early on the morning of the 5th the Confederate 
 authorities told us to pack up, saying we were to be 
 removed for fear the yellow fever would carry more of us 
 off. Captain Mobly, of the Thirty-second Georgia 
 Regiment, informed us that we were to go to Columbia. 
 At nine a. m. we were taken out of the yard, marched 
 through the streets, escorted by the Thirty-second Georgia 
 Regiment, packed into cattle cars and started on another 
 trip and, the rolling stock being nearly worn out, we only 
 made about fifteen miles an hour. Some of the prisoners 
 cut holes in the bottom of the cars and at night, when we 
 came to a stop, would drop out, crawl from under the cars 
 into the brush and make their escape. An officer, in going 
 through one of these holes, was shot in the leg, which had 
 to be amputated. Another plan to escape was to slip the 
 cap from the gun when the guard was not looking, put a 
 splint in the cone, jump out of the door and make for 
 the woods. During the trip about a dozen prisoners 
 made their escape in this way. 
 
 We arrived at Columbia in the midst of a rain storm 
 and camped all night in a field on the north side of Bridge 
 Street. We suffered greatly, the ground being flooded 
 with water, while our only covering was the old blankets 
 we had brought from Libby. We were closely guarded 
 by two regiments of infantry and had four pieces of 
 artillery trained on us. Next morning the Confederate 
 authorities offered us our parole, but not to go beyond a 
 specified range. Under these conditions, we would not 
 accept it, for it would release two regiments of guards 
 who would be sent to the front. That afternoon a German 
 baker brought a wagon-load of bread into the camp. 
 
Reminiscence of Prison Life in the South. 379 
 
 Men who had money bought a few loaves and thus 
 engaged the attention of the baker, while other less 
 fortunate prisoners took possession of the wagon, and 
 before the guards came up every loaf was gone. Later, 
 on the same day, Lieutenant H. L. Clark, Second Massa- 
 chusetts Artillery, approached the fence to receive some 
 bread from a citizen, when a sentinel stabbed him in the 
 back with a bayonet. Though seriously wounded, the 
 Lieutenant recovered. 
 
 On the opposite side of Bridge Street, near the railroad 
 station, was a large warehouse filled with hams and bacon. 
 Lieutenant Cooper and I tried to hook some through the 
 barred windows with a piece of fence-rail but without 
 success, as one of the guards caught us at our honest 
 employment and, at the point of his bayonet, drove us 
 back into camp. 
 
 In the evening, after receiving 'a ration of corn meal 
 and sorghum molasses, we were marched over the bridge 
 to the south side of the Congaree River. Our new camp 
 was in an open field two miles from the city. The water 
 supply was a small creek at the lower side of the field ; 
 our couch was the cold, damp • earth ; our covering, the 
 blue sky above. A dead line, made of stakes, was 
 established about thirty feet inside of where the sentinels 
 walked. We were guarded by two regiments of infantry 
 and a battery of artillery, and called our new quarters 
 " Camp Sorghum ". 
 
 October 8th we received from the sanitary commission 
 boxes of clothing and drew lots for the various articles. 
 Some of the prisoners got undershirts ; some, socks ; 
 others, drawers, etc. I was very lucky, for I drew a 
 woman's cotton morning gown, which, by wonderful tact 
 and mechanical ability, I made into a spring overcoat. 
 
380 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 A box of clothing was sent to me from home, but I never 
 got it. Both gold and notes were sent by mail, but not a 
 dollar did I receive. One day the Confederate adjutant 
 handed me a letter that had contained money and said it 
 was open when they received it from the flag-of-truce 
 boat. However, no money was in it when delivered to 
 me. 
 
 There were about fifteen hundred prisoners in camp at 
 this time, and, as the presidential election was soon to 
 take place, it was proposed to have one in the pen on 
 October 16th. The votes were taken by the senior officer 
 of each State and sent to a general officer. We wrote 
 our ballots and deposited them in a meal bag. We also 
 had a telegraph office and bulletin board and published 
 sham returns every hour. In the evening, when the 
 returns were all in and the count was finished, the result 
 was one hundred and forty-three votes for McClellan and 
 ten hundred and twenty-four for Lincoln. 
 
 Every five days we drew rations — half a pint of rice, 
 one pint of sorghum molasses and five pints of meal, 
 and every two weeks half a pint of vinegar and a table- 
 spoonful of salt. Some men would eat their share in 
 three days and go begging for the other two. We were 
 never given any vegetables and, for nearly five months, 
 not a particle of meat. 
 
 A sutler's shop was started by three or four of our 
 officers, between whom and the Confederates an arrange- 
 ment had been made by which bread, meat and vegetables 
 were brought into the pen. Some prisoners received 
 money from home, and others who had watches, rings, 
 knives or buttons would sell them to the Johnnies and, 
 with Confederate scrip, buy what they wanted at the 
 following prices : — 
 
Reminiscence of Prison Life in the South. 381 
 
 Potatoes, per bushel I40.00 
 
 Flour, per quart 4.00 
 
 Milk, per quart 3.00 
 
 Onions, three for i.oo 
 
 Wheat Bread, small loaf 2.00 
 
 Butter, per pound . 10.00 
 
 Lard, " 8.00 
 
 Coffee, " 10.00 
 
 Tea, " 12.00 
 
 Eggs, per dozen 6.00 
 
 These prices were in Southern money. At that time 
 one dollar, Federal money, was worth twenty-two dollars 
 of Confederate. 
 
 October 18th two Confederate officers came into camp 
 inquiring for Lieutenant-Colonel Dale, of the One Hundred 
 and Sixteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, as our 
 government made a request to find him if possible, not 
 knowing at the time that he was killed at Spottsylvania. 
 
 Every ten days we were mustered into squads of 
 twenty, given two axes and taken out to chop wood for 
 our fires. Before going each one was expected to take 
 the following parole (when the ceremony was being 
 performed I always managed to be absent and so was free 
 to escape whenever I got the chance) : — 
 
 CONFEDERATE STATES MILITARY PRISON.- 
 
 Columbia, S. C, October — , 1864. 
 
 I, , prisoner of war, confined near the city of Columbia, S. C, 
 
 Confederate States of America, do pledge my parole, as a military man 
 and a man of honor, that I will not attempt to escape from the prison 
 authorities nor pass beyond the prison limits more than three-quarters of 
 a mile, and that at the expiration of the time named in the parole I will 
 return promptly to the adjutant's office and have the same revoked. 
 
 It is understood by me that this parple is involuntary on my part 
 and that it is given with a view to securing privileges which cannot be 
 otherwise obtained. 
 
 (.Signed) . 
 
382 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 In the mess with me were Lieutenants Robert Allen 
 and Richard Cooper, Seventh New Jersey Volunteers ; 
 Charles Stallman, Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania, and 
 Henry F. Anshutz, Twelfth West Virginia Volunteers. 
 The first time our party went out we cut some poles, and, 
 with an old piece of canvas and a blanket, we fixed up a 
 tent in the camp. At night we spread one blanket on the 
 ground, lay down spoon fashion and pulled the other 
 three old ones over us. Sometimes it would be so cold 
 we would have to sit by the fire or walk about all night 
 to keep warm and then sleep in the sun during the day. 
 To shelter themselves from the cold winds hundreds of 
 the men dug graves to sleep in. Often heavy rains, which 
 lasted for two or three days, would come on and fill the 
 graves with water. When the rain was over the grave 
 diggers would recommence their dismal occupation and 
 make a new resting place. 
 
 October 18th, after nightfall, three officers made their 
 escape down by the creek. The guards fired a number 
 of shots at them, but, fortunately, none took effect. 
 
 On the 1 9th General Winder paid a visit to the prison 
 and promised to send us straw with which to make beds, 
 but we never got it. Shortly after we heard that he 
 dropped dead in Richmond. 
 
 About nine o'clock on the evening of the 20th 
 Lieutenant Young, of the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, 
 while seated at a little fire talking with some officers, was 
 shot through the body by a sentinel and only lived a few 
 moments. The guard said his gun went off by accident, 
 but the prisoners had their doubts about that. 
 
 October 23d our squad went out for firewood. 
 Lieutenant Allen hid behind a large tree and made his 
 escape. The guards, being careless or stupid, did not miss 
 
Reminiscence of Prison Life in the South. 383 
 
 him. Just before we were to return to camp I saw a good 
 chance, and, taking advantage of it, pushed through some 
 brush and got into the woods without being seen. Until 
 darlc I searched for Allen but could not find him, so I took 
 up my quarters under a large tree and fell fast asleep. 
 Next day I walked as well as I was able, but, having no 
 shoes and my feet being bruised, torn and very sore from 
 the underbrush and briars, I did not make much headway. 
 That night I slept the best I could beside a little stream. 
 Early next morning, being very hungry, I crossed a road 
 and went to what I thought was a negro cabin ; a big dog 
 came barking at me and in a few moments two men on 
 patrol duty came up. By noon they had me safely lodged 
 in my old quarters. Three days after, Allen was recaptured 
 and once more joined our mess. 
 
 Almost every night prisoners would escape, but nearly 
 all were recaptured. Captain Halpin was out for five 
 days at one time, and on the night of October 30th ran 
 over the line again. On this occasion he was out three 
 weeks, and when brought back had on a new suit of 
 Confederate clothes. He told me that when recaptured 
 he was taken to a farmhouse. The family said they would 
 like to let him go but were afraid the neighbors would 
 inform on them. He was kindly treated and at night 
 slept in the best bed in the house. In the evenings, when 
 the young people went to little parties given by their 
 friends, he was taken along and had a good time, which 
 only made the sufferings of prison life harder to endure 
 on his return to camp. November 1st a mail from the 
 NortK arrived and long-Iooked-for letters were distributed. 
 
 November 14th a large wild boar ran into camp. 
 Cooper, Allen and I were going to the brook for water 
 when he ran past us. Cooper dropped the kettle and 
 
384 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 grabbed the hog by the hind leg. By that time Allen had 
 his clasp-knife open and in a few seconds had cut the 
 whole ham off the hog. In five minutes not a trace of 
 that lively porker could be seen. When fifty hungry men 
 were fighting for a share — one having hold of his ear, 
 another his tail and another a leg — it did not take long 
 to get away with Mr. Hog. When our ham was boiled 
 it was so rank you could have smelt it a square away. 
 One of our mess had to stand guard over it night and 
 day till it was all eaten, fearing some of our friends would 
 be tempted, to dine on it. 
 
 On the 29th of November, Captain John Taylor, of 
 the Second Pennsylvania Reserves, made his escape by 
 running past the sentinels who fired several shots at him, 
 but before they could reload the Captain was in the 
 woods. The Confederates thought he looked so lonely 
 and forlorn traveling about in a strange country that they 
 very kindly gave him a military escort, and in three weeks 
 had him again amongst his friends in prison. This was 
 the third or fourth time he had made his escape and been 
 recaptured. 
 
 One morning two bloodhounds came into camp, and, 
 not being looked upon as friends of the prisoners, they 
 were taken to a gravel pit and an artillery officer killed 
 them with an axe and then buried them. Next day they 
 were dug up by the Johnnies, who, to be revenged on us 
 for slaying their dogs, said they would put the bodies in 
 the brook above where it entered the camp, but I do not 
 think the threat was carried out. It was reported that 
 Lieutenant Parker, who made his escape, was so Badly 
 bitten by bloodhounds that he died the day after his 
 recapture. 
 
 December 1st, 1864, about nine o'clock in the morning, 
 
Reminiscence of Prison Life in the South. 385 
 
 whilst walking near the dead Hne, I heard a shot, and, 
 looking around, saw Lieutenant Turbayne, of a New York 
 infantry regiment, just falling to the ground. The ball 
 entered his back, passing through his lungs, and he lived 
 but a few moments. He was walking on a path near the 
 line when a sentinel, by the name of Williams, of Newbury 
 Court-House, S. C, ordered him to go back. He turned 
 and had only taken a few steps when fired upon. After 
 the guard was relieved by -the officer of the day we made 
 a complaint to Major Griswold, the commandant of the 
 prison, but he would not give us any satisfaction. That 
 evening the murderer was back again on duty and next 
 morning was paraded through camp escorted by a strong 
 body guard, fearing if he came alone our officers would 
 take revenge and kill him, as they threatened to do if 
 they got an opportunity. Only a few nights after, 
 Lieutenant T. K. Eckings, Third New Jersey Volunteers, 
 was shot dead as he ran past the sentinels at the guard 
 line whilst trying to make his escape. 
 
 On the 9th of December an exchange came for about 
 fifty prisoners and one for an officer by the name of 
 Cooper, who was not in the pen, he having made his 
 escape. Lieutenant Richard Cooper, of our mess, said he 
 would personate the absent officer and get exchanged. 
 When the name was called and he had passed over the 
 line to the place where the other officers were assembled, 
 one of them told the Confederate officials he was not the 
 right man. Cooper was immediately sent back to camp, 
 and when he gave the name of the officer who informed 
 on him the prisoners swore if they ever got North they 
 would kill that " son of a gun ". 
 
 On December 12th we were removed to Camp Asylum. 
 The stockade enclosed part of the insane asylum grounds. 
 
386 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 and in it was a frame house which was used as a hospital 
 for our sick officers. We were given lumber to build 
 sheds and bunks, which, when finished, only held about 
 one-half the prisoners. Each of the ten sheds was to 
 accommodate fifty men, so we drew lots for a berth and I 
 was fortunate enough to secure a place in one of the sheds. 
 More lumber was to be sent but it did not come, so about 
 six hundred men had to fix up sleeping quarters the best 
 they could with their old blankets and some boards which 
 they found in the stockade. Between scanty clothing, 
 short rations and the intensely cold weather we had a hard 
 time trying to keep warm. 
 
 One day the Confederate sutler brought in a load of 
 meal for our rations. When the negroes dumped it in 
 the bin I watched my chance and stole an empty bag. 
 By cutting a hole in the bottom for my head and one on 
 each side for my arms, that evening on the promenade I 
 sported a very stylish new shirt. 
 
 Captain Fischer, an artist, obtained permission to go 
 outside and make a sketch of the camp for the Confederate 
 authorities. He also made a note of the formation of the 
 ground outside the fence for us that we might know 
 the best point for tunneling. Lieutenant McNiece, of the 
 Seventy-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, had one dug from 
 his shanty nearly to the fence when, one morning, the 
 Johnnies came in and filled it up. How they found it out 
 he never could tell, for no one in the camp knew -he was 
 making it. Tunnels were then the order of the day. We 
 commenced one in the shed I was in. Every man was 
 sworn to secrecy and at night a detail of five was made 
 to work in the tunnel. One man would dig, another pull 
 the earth out in an old box and the others would pack it 
 under the bunks and scatter it about the prison grounds 
 
Reminiscence of Prison Life in the South. 387 
 
 to conceal all traces of the work. Unfortunately, we were 
 moved from the camp a few nights before its completion. 
 
 Early in January a French captain was sent to 
 command the prison. He was a good-natured fellow and 
 promised to send in plenty of straw with which to make 
 beds. Captain Henry Ritter, Fifty-second New York 
 Volunteers, and some others were good at faro. The 
 Frenchman thought he would soon "break the bank", 
 but in two days our boys had him cleaned out of funds. 
 A few days after he went on a big spree and was dismissed, 
 so we had to do without the straw. 
 
 Most of the time a number of our officers were at 
 headquarters. It was said^ they were clerking for the 
 Confederate officials, and they allowed they were justified 
 in saving their lives by so doing, for they received more 
 and better food than was given them in the camp. I 
 thought they should have remained in the prison, taking 
 their chances with the rest of us, and not aided the 
 Confederates in any way. It was while we were at 
 Columbia that Adjutant S. H. M. Byres, Fifth Iowa 
 Volunteers, wrote "Sherman's March to the Sea", and 
 Lieutenant Rockwell composed the music. 
 
 For several days the negroes were telling us that 
 Sherman was on the march from Charleston. On the 
 afternoon of February 14th we were told to make ready 
 to move and that evening at five o'clock we were marched 
 out and put into box cars. We got under way and. in the 
 early part of the night it became very cold. A severe 
 storm of rain and sleet came on, and when about thirty 
 miles on the way the last car, in which I was, caught fire 
 from warm boxes. The hind truck and bottom were nearly 
 destroyed before the engineer stopped the train. Some of 
 the guards on the tops of the cars were frozen stiff and 
 
388 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 had to be lifted down. We built fires with fence rails to 
 keep ourselves warm whilst waiting for the Confederates 
 to prepare another car which, when ready, was placed next 
 the engine. We had not gone far on our journey when 
 this car began to stretch. The engine in front and the 
 weight of the train behind had nearly pulled the old box 
 car in two, when the guards on the top, seeing the danger 
 we were in, called to the engineer, who hastily brought the 
 train to a standstill. The old wrecked car was removed 
 from the track and, as there was no other to replace it, 
 they were obliged to crowd us in with the other prisoners. 
 
 In the evening of the 15th we reached Charlotte, 
 remained there over night, and next day were removed to 
 Raleigh, where we were placed in a field near the railroad. 
 Here we were given our parole and had hopes that we 
 would be allowed to enter the town and enjoy a little bit 
 of civilized life. But we were mistaken, for, in a few 
 hours, we were put on a train made up of flat and box 
 cars and started on our way to a new camp. When about 
 a mile from town, a broken switch threw the engine and 
 five or six cars off the track. They ran over the ties for 
 about a hundred yards when the engine plunged down a 
 high embankment. Fortunately, the coupling broke or 
 the cars would have gone over and the loss of life would 
 have been very great. Some of the prisoners said it was 
 done with the intention to kill us, but others thought that, 
 as the Confederate captain in command was on the 
 engine, he would not risk his own Hfe and the lives of 
 the engineer and fireman for the satisfaction of killing us. 
 
 The evening we left Columbia, there not being enough 
 room in the cars for all the prisoners, several hundred 
 were left in the camp and next day forwarded to Charlotte 
 on another made-up train of box cars. During the trip, 
 
Reminiscence of Prison Life in the South. 389 
 
 Captains Meany, Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry ; 
 Durborough of New York ; Evans of Ohio ; and Gilbert, 
 One Hundred and Thirty-second New York Volunteers, 
 cut a hole in the bottom of the car they were in with a 
 saw which, by the help of an old file, they had made out 
 of a table knife. After dark, the train ran into a herd of 
 cattle that was being driven out of the reach of Sherman's 
 Army. When the train came to a stop. Captain Evans 
 dropped out to reconnoitre. He returned and reported 
 to the boys that all was favorable for escape, but, as he 
 lowered himself through the hole the second time, the 
 guards saw him and several shots were fired, one ball 
 passing into his stomach. He also received a bayonet 
 wound. Captains Meany and Gilbert pulled him into the 
 car and did what they could for their wounded friend, but 
 he died in a few minutes. 
 
 From Raleigh, many prisoners made their escape, 
 amongst the number Captain Halpin, who safely reached 
 Sherman's lines. The guards at this place, knowing we 
 were on our way to be exchanged, seemed to have no wish 
 to prevent our escape. Quite a number of them being 
 Union sympathizers allowed us every chance to get away. 
 After being eight days at Raleigh we were removed to 
 Goldsborough. Here there were thousands of prisoners 
 encamped who had been brought from Andersonville to 
 be exchanged. I spent a day amongst them and will 
 never forget the awful scenes I witnessed ; men worn to 
 skeletons from disease and want of proper nourishment, 
 as black as negroes from sitting over the pine-wood fires 
 and not being washed for months. Some wandered about 
 as if demented ; a great many were in their last agony ; 
 and a number of the dead were lying on the roadside, 
 having been carried out of camp when their sufferings 
 
390 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 were over. Our officers gave their old blankets and what 
 clothing they could possibly spare for the comfort of their 
 wretched fellow-soldiers. 
 
 February 28th, we were paroled and had to give our 
 word of honor to the Confederates not to reveal in the 
 North what we saw on the way to Wilmington. They 
 took good care, however, that we should not see the 
 fortifications for, when it became quite dark, we were 
 crowded into, and on top of, cars and started on our last, 
 but most welcome, journey. 
 
 We stopped about eight miles from Wilmington, 
 where we met Major Mulford, the Northern, and Captain 
 Hatch, the Southern, Commissioner of Exchange. A 
 Union guard was stationed on one side of the line and a 
 Confederate one on the other. When we passed into our 
 lines the Federal guard presented arms. Then went up 
 a hearty cheer and old meal bags, tin cups and skillets 
 went flying in all directions. Some colored troops who 
 were quartered in the vicinity, gave us a rousing welcome. 
 We then partook of a " good, square meal " of coffee, 
 meat and bread, which sumptuous repast made some of 
 us exceedingly ill, not being used to such high living. 
 The very sick were taken on a steamboat to the city. As 
 there were no other means of conveyance, the rest had to 
 walk all the way along the railroad track. In the evening 
 we had supper, and for the night were quartered in a 
 Methodist Church. In the morning, I was physically 
 much refreshed after the good night's sleep I had had in 
 an uncushioned pew and, mentally and spiritually, I was 
 much revived from having spent so many hours in such a 
 sanctified place. That day we had a good breakfast and 
 dinner and, in the evening, were put on board a steamboat 
 and taken to Annapolis. When we arrived there we 
 
Reminiscence of Prison Life in the South. 391 
 
 went to some clothing stores and, by giving our name, 
 rank and regiment, got all the clothes we wanted on 
 credit. We were then taken to the bath house, discarded 
 our old rags with much pleasure, had a thorough wash, 
 donned our new suits and every man thought he was 
 himself again. We slept that night in a government 
 building and, next day, the doctor sent me to the Naval 
 Academy Hospital, where I remained for two months. 
 
 In the hospital we were given good, nourishing food, 
 so that gradually our systems were brought back to their 
 normal state. We were not allowed to take any kind of 
 spirituous liquors but at dinner, if we wished it, we were 
 permitted to have one glass of beer. 
 
 There was a captain of cavalry in the same ward with 
 me. Thirteen of his men who had been in Andersonville, 
 but were then in Camp Parole, got a thirty days' furlough 
 to go home and see their families ; they came to bid their 
 captain good-bye. All were cleaned up, had on new 
 clothes and looked very well. When their time was up 
 only two came back. Eleven had died from being overfed 
 and having too good a time with their friends. The 
 doctors at Annapolis said there were few, if any, who 
 spent six months in prison who were not afflicted with 
 some disease and the system could not stand the sudden 
 change of diet. Of the nine men in my company who 
 were captured, only three lived to return, the others having 
 died in less than three months after being taken. 
 
 When we were given notice of our exchange, I 
 requested and received my discharge from the hospital 
 and joined my regiment after an absence of nearly a year. 
 
 One of my men. Sergeant Thomas Lacompte, who 
 had been a prisoner in Andersonville, gave me a copy of 
 
392 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 the following verses composed by a Union captive after 
 he was paroled : — 
 
 UNION PRISONERS FROM DIXIE'S SUNNY LAND. 
 
 Dear friends and fellow-soldiers brave, come listen to our song, 
 About the Rebel prisons, and our sojourn there so long ; 
 Yet our wretched state and hardships great no one can understand. 
 But those who have endured this fate in Dixie's sunny land. 
 
 When captured by the chivalry, they strip't us to the skin, 
 But failed to give us back again the value of a pin— 
 Except some lousy rags of gray, discarded by their band — 
 And thus commenced our prison life in Dixie's sunny land. 
 
 With a host of guards surrounding us, each with a loaded gun, 
 We were stationed in an open plain, exposed to rain and sun ; 
 No tent or tree to shelter us, we lay upon the sand — 
 Thus, side by side, great numbers died in Dixie's sunny land. 
 
 This was the daily "bill of fare" in that Secesh saloon — 
 
 No sugar, tea or coffee there at morning, night or noon ; 
 
 But a pint of meal, ground cob and all, was served to every man. 
 
 And for want of fire we ate it raw in Dixie's sunny land. 
 
 We were by these poor rations soon reduced to skin and bone, 
 A lingering starvation — worse than death — you can but own, 
 There hundreds lay, both night and day, by far too weak to stand. 
 Till death relieved their sufferings in Dixie's sunny land. 
 
 We poor survivors oft were tried by many a threat and bribe. 
 To desert our glorious Union cause and join the Rebel tribe. 
 Though fain we were to leave the place, we let them understand. 
 We had rather die than thus disgrace our flag ! in Dixie's land. 
 
 Thus dreary days and nights roll'd by— yes, weeks and months untold. 
 Until that happy time arrived when we were all paroled. 
 We landed at Annapolis, a wretched looking band. 
 But glad to be alive and free from Dixie's sunny land. 
 
 How like a dream those days now seem in retrospective view. 
 As we regain our wasted strength all dressed in "Union Blue ". 
 The debt we owe our bitter foe shall not have long to stand ; 
 We shall pay it with a vengeance soon in Dixie's sunny land. 
 
Return March to Washington. 393 
 
 The dreadful monotony of prison life was hard to 
 endure ; day after day, week after week and month after 
 month, the same scenes over again. When a few men 
 would meet, the general conversation would be about 
 home and family. The prospects were that the war 
 would last so long they would not live to see the end, 
 and that they would never be exchanged, and what then 
 would, become of their wives and children. I have seen 
 some men so worried and despondent with these thoughts 
 they seemed to be demented and their hair, dark and 
 glossy when captured, would be in a few months turned 
 to gray or white. 
 
 It is impossible for anyone, who has not been a prisoner, 
 to realize the privation and suffering those unfortunate 
 men had to endure. With few exceptions, their clothing 
 was worn to rags ; a great number were without shoes or 
 shirt, and they had nothing but their old blankets to cover 
 them in the cold, frosty nights ; for months at a time lying 
 on the bare, damp ground with no shelter ; the rations, 
 scant and miserable ; and night and day constantly 
 tortured with vermin from which no one could keep free. 
 Is it any wonder that loathsome diseases should prevail, 
 or that welcome death should end the eafthly sufferings 
 of so many thousands who went to that blessed land 
 above that they might receive their Martyr's Crown ? 
 
 RETURN MARCH TO WASHINGTON. 
 
 As the army moved towards Appomattox through that 
 portion of Virginia where hitherto but few of the Union 
 troops had been seen, the slaves on the plantations 
 watched the passing columns with great interest, some 
 showing their white teeth in a broad smile, whilst others 
 looked grave. They all seemed to feel that their fate 
 
394 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 rested with the boys in blue, but the war was not yet 
 ended, and they knew not whether they were to remain 
 in bondage or breathe the air of freedom. 
 
 The majority of the men had already gone North or 
 had left for Alexandria, but the women and children all 
 remained and swarmed to the roadside to see the army 
 pass, all willing and anxious to give information of the 
 flying Confederates. But when, after the surrender, the 
 army passed over the same road, on the way back, the 
 situation was different. Every soul of them had become 
 aware of the Union triumph, and knew that, as a con- 
 sequence, the chains had fallen from their limbs. Old and 
 young wanted to abandon the homestead at once and 
 follow the victorious army. The roads were soon filled 
 with the poor things, each with a Httle bundle containing 
 their all hung on a stick (just as the woodcuts of runaway 
 slaves used to look in the newspapers in ante-bellum 
 times), each one laughing and happy, all trampling 
 towards the North, not having an idea where they were 
 going, but each thinking that Father Abraham would 
 -care for them somehow. For them the days of the lash 
 and task-master were over, but the future was a blank. 
 Now and then -one would be encountered who had some 
 definite object in leaving the plantation. 
 
 One old darkey who paused in front of some officers 
 began talking to them of the necessity of saving their 
 souls and preparing for the great hereafter. A strange 
 character he was, who could neither read nor write, but 
 knew almost every word of the Bible by heart. He had 
 been the local preacher of the plantation, and when one 
 of the officers asked him if he believed in " Virtue, 
 Liberty and Independence", he promptly replied: "I 
 don' know, massa, I don' know. I neber hear ob dat 
 
Return March to Washington. 395 
 
 'ligion, but I bleve dat a man got to be bawn again if he 
 specks to be saved ". Abraham, for that was the old 
 man's name (and as he said himself, " he neber had no 
 names 'ceptin jus Abraham") remained with the regiment 
 until it was mustered out. He was going to Alexandria 
 to find his wife and child, who had been sold to some one 
 near that city twenty-four years before. He had never 
 heard of them during all that time, but his heart was true 
 to the wife of his youth, and his newly found freedom 
 was made sweeter by the hopes of finding once more his 
 early partner and his child. Abraham held a prayer- 
 meeting and preached a sermon every evening before 
 " Taps ", and the negroes would gather around and enjoy 
 it. The soldiers were at first disposed to laugh at the 
 crude theology and uncouth oratory of the old slave, but 
 they soon ceased to ridicule, and then listened with 
 interest. 
 
 Poor old Abraham ! I wonder if he ever found his lost 
 bride and his little baby. He must be very old now, if 
 he is still alive, and no doubt he is still searching for his 
 lost love, if he has not already found her. If he has been 
 " bawn agin " he has certainly met her, for, as he said 
 (after learning the meaning of the words), " he bleved in 
 de vartue, but dint know so much about de Liberty an' 
 Independence". Let us hope that he enjoys all three in 
 the Land of the Blessed. 
 
 Perhaps one of the most interesting and remarkable 
 things witnessed in connection with the homeward march 
 was the late Confederate soldiers busily working on their 
 farms. The very hour after the surrender they hastened 
 to their former homes, and within twenty-four hours many 
 of them were eagerly at work getting the neglected farms 
 in order. As the Union Army had halted at Burkville for 
 
396 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 two weeks, the Virginian had time to reach his home and 
 get to work before the returning victors passed his way, 
 and in every case the ex-Confederate was found hard at 
 work fixing up his fences or laboring in the field with the 
 horse that General Grant had so wisely allowed him to 
 keep when surrendering. Sensible and practical as well 
 as brave, when they laid down the musket, they went 
 back without delay to the ploughshare, and all along the 
 road the ex-Confederate soldier was seen leaving his 
 plough or harrow for a time and standing by the roadside 
 to greet with a smile and pleasant word his foes of but a 
 few days before. 
 
 The Regiment encamped at Burkville Junction during 
 the remainder of the month of April, and on the evening 
 of the 15th the sad news of the assassination of President 
 Abraham Lincoln was received. When the despatch was 
 read the Regiment' was just forming for dress-parade. 
 The adjutant quietly removed his coat, and, ripping out 
 the black lining, used it to drape the colors. The dress- 
 parade that followed was silent and sad, the men looking 
 towards the heavily draped flag and wondering what it 
 meant. When the adjutant read the orders, and then, 
 with tears streaming down his cheeks, and choking voice, 
 read the announcement of the murder, the effect was 
 indescribable. When arms were stacked the men 
 gathered in little groups in the company streets and spoke 
 in low tones of the martyred President, whom they loved 
 so tenderly. 
 
 It happened that Lieutenant William H. Tyrrell, of 
 Company C, was on duty in Washington, and was 
 " officer of the day " in the city when the assassination 
 of the President took place. The lieutenant's account of 
 the eventful evening is interesting. In his diary we read : — 
 
Return March to Washington. 397 
 
 " Friday, April 14th, 1865. Was detailed as " officer of 
 the day " at Washington. A gentleman came very 
 hurriedly to headquarters, between ten and eleven p. m., 
 with the intelligence that the President had just been 
 assassinated at Ford's Theatre, and informed General 
 Augur in an excited manner, as nearly as he could, of the 
 occurrence. The play was " The American Cousin ", 
 and was going along smoothly when the whole audience 
 was startled by a pistol shot in the President's box. A 
 man sprang from it onto the stage, brandishing a large 
 knife, and, shouting " Sic semper tyrannis ", rushed 
 across the stage and disappeared. The audience was 
 terror-stricken. Some shouted that it was Booth. Others 
 said no ; that it was only a subterfuge to shield the real 
 assassin. General Augur ordered me to take a guard, 
 go to the National Hotel and arrest Booth, anyhow. 
 Went there, and was told he was not in. Went up to his 
 room ; found everything there as though he expected to 
 return soon. I returned to headquarters and reported. 
 By this time it developed that an attempt had been made 
 on Vice-President Johnson, and that Secretary Seward 
 was also almost killed. I was ordered to return to the 
 hotel and bring any papers or anything else which I 
 thought likely to throw any Hght on the case. Brought 
 some papers which led to the arrest of Atzerof and 
 Herold ; also, two pairs of handcuffs which I found in his 
 trunk. Reported at headquarters. Found great excite- 
 ment there; Secretary of War Stanton, Adjutant-General 
 Townsend and others were there. They did not then 
 know the extent of the plot, and seemed to think that 
 the provost-marshal's headquarters was a place of refuge. 
 It then developed that the original plot was to capture 
 Lincoln and Seward, get them across the line, hold them 
 
398 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 as hostages, and then make their own terms. The hand- 
 cuffs were intended to be used on the occasion. There 
 was an old mansion on Seventeenth street, about two 
 squares below the White House, where the conspirators 
 had a secret room fitted up for the reception of their 
 distinguished captives. They could thus have been 
 concealed a few minutes after their abduction, and no one 
 would have thought of looking for them so near at hand. 
 After the excitement was over they were to be taken over 
 to Moseby's lines, and then to Richmond, but as that plan 
 was evidently abandoned, the assassination followed. 
 
 " The excitement in Washington was intense. The 
 people were ready for any extreme. On the Sunday 
 afternoon following, April 16th, a Confederate colonel was 
 brought to the provost-marshal's office. An immense 
 crowd of people gathered and wanted to hang him. 
 While Colonel Ingraham, the provost-marshal, was 
 talking and trying to quiet them, the prisoner colonel was 
 hurried out the back way and driven in an ambulance to 
 the old Capitol Prison. Monday morning, April 17th, at 
 three o'clock, an orderly came to my house with orders to 
 report at headquarters. On my arrival found that they 
 had Payne, the man who had cut Secretary of State 
 Seward's throat. He was a large, muscular man, and 
 had his hands handcuffed behind him. He was captured 
 by the detectives who were in Mrs. Surratt's house, on H 
 street, near Sixth. He came to the door, and, as he had 
 lost his hat, had taken the lower part of his trousers and 
 made a cap of it. He had a spade in his hand and 
 claimed to be a workman. Lieutenant Sharp and myself 
 took him in an ambulance, with two guards walking 
 outside to keep off intruders. Orders were to let no one 
 know who it was. If it were known, a regiment of soldiers 
 
STO 
 
 
 CARD PHOTOGRAPH OF WILKES BOOTH, LEG IRONS AK13 H \ND-CUFFS INTENDED FOR PRESIDENT LINCOLN. THESE 
 ARTICLES WERE TAKEN OUT OF THE TRI'NK OF THE ASSASSIN BY LIEUTENANT TYRRELL 
 
Return March to Washington. 399 
 
 could not have taken him down to the Navy Yard. When 
 we arrived there the gates were closed, and the major in 
 command turned out the whole guard, about twenty-five 
 men, and put him in the centre until we arrived out on 
 one of the ironclad monitors, where he was securely 
 confined. It was thought necessary to do so, as no 
 ordinary prison would have been safe from the populace, 
 so intense was the public feeling. 
 
 "The following Wednesday, April 19th, Colonel 
 Ingraham ordered me to take a guard and proceed to the 
 Baltimore and Ohio Depot. He met us there, and as 
 soon as the train arrived put a guard on each door, and 
 would allow no one out until the general who commanded 
 the Department of Maryland came out with three 
 prisoners, who were escorted to the large 'bus of Willard's 
 Hotel. We all got in, and drove rapidly to the Navy 
 Yard. No one on the train had suspected who the 
 prisoners were, or they never would have reached 
 Washington alive. They were Atzerof, Herold and Arnold. 
 The former was the one who was to have assassinated 
 Vice-President Johnson at the Kirkwood House, but he 
 weakened at the last moment. Booth, after entering the 
 passage leading to the President's box, secured the door 
 on the inside, and, advancing, shot the President from 
 behind. The pistol was a small Derringer, single barrel, 
 about 42 calibre. Mr. Rathbone, the President's private 
 secretary, tried to detain Booth but, brandishing a large 
 knife, he leaped from the box. In doing so, one of the 
 spurs which he had on caught in the flag in front of the 
 box and threw him on the stage. In the fall he broke 
 his ankle, but got up and drove the terror-stricken actors 
 before him. He rushed out the back way into an alley, 
 where he had a horse saddled, mounted it and escaped. 
 
400 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 "Thursday, April 20th, Dr. Mudd was brought to 
 headquarters. It was at his place, down in Maryland, that 
 Booth in his terrific ride stopped and had his broken 
 ankle dressed, and received the carbine which had been 
 previously left there by Mrs. Surratt. He then continued 
 his journey until surrounded in a barn and shot by Boston 
 Corbett while the barn was all ablaze. 
 
 " Mudd was also put aboard the ironclad." 
 
 During the homeward march a halt of a couple of days 
 was made at Manchester, within a few miles of Richmond, 
 and while there a platform was pointed out upon which it 
 was said the slaves were stood to be auctioned. The men 
 of the Regiment took it down and cut it into small pieces, 
 and fired the pile with a show of ceremony. It seemed 
 like a burnt offering on the altar of Liberty. The platform 
 was of no further use. No man, no matter what his 
 color, would ever again be bought or sold in all the land. 
 
 While encamped at Manchester orders came to prepare 
 for review in Richmond, and a busy day was spent 
 cleaning up. Guns and equipments were made to shine, 
 and when the troops passed through the late Capital of 
 the Southern Confederacy they never looked so well. 
 The white citizens were not backward in giving to the 
 victorious army a welcome and a cheer, whilst the colored 
 people seemed fairly crazed with joy. To them it was 
 "Kingdom come", the day of jubilee longed for and 
 prayed for. The column passed in review by the 
 equestrian statue of Washington, in the Public Square, 
 and the Father of his country seemed to smile in gladness 
 on this happy day. The march continued through 
 Hanover Court-House and then to Fredericksburg, and 
 
Return March to Washington. 401 
 
 on to Alexandria, where a halt was made long enough to 
 make out the muster-out rolls. 
 
 In the last grand review, in Washington, May 23d, 
 1865, the Regiment marched on the right of the Fourth 
 Brigade, First Division, Second Corps. The Regiment 
 on that occasion was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel 
 David W. Megraw, Colonel and Brevet Major-General 
 St. Clair A. Mulholland being in command of the brigade, 
 A few days afterwards the Philadelphia companies of the 
 Regiment started for that city, and were finally mustered 
 out on June 3d. The remaining companies were mustered 
 out at Pittsburg, July 14, 1865, and the Regiment passed 
 out of existence. The members returned to their homes 
 to be welcomed by their friends and fellow-citizens, to lay 
 aside forever the uniform that they had honored, and to 
 become once again a part of the people — a good citizen 
 because a good soldier. 
 
 The Regimental flags, four in number, shattered, 
 bullet-torn and blood-stained, were deposited in the State 
 Capitol at Harrisburg, where for generations to come the 
 descendants of the members of the Regiment can" with 
 reverence look upon the sacred standards, the only 
 remaining emblems of a gallant command that upheld 
 them in storm of battle, carried them to victory, and 
 returned them to the State with honor. 
 
 Of the officers of the Regiment eight were killed in 
 battle, two died of gunshot wounds, one died of disease, 
 and one of disease contracted in southern prisons. 
 Thirty-one were wounded, and seven were for months 
 prisoners in the south. Of the original officers who left 
 Philadelphia with the Regiment, September 2, 1862, only 
 one. Colonel Mulholland, returned with the command at 
 the close of the war. 
 
402 The Story of the iz6th Regiment. 
 
 THE LAST MUSTER. 
 
 On the 11th day of September, 1889, the last reunion 
 of the Regiment took place when the survivors met at 
 Gettysburg to dedicate a monument to the command. 
 Post 51, Grand Army of the Republic, paraded as an 
 escort, the battery of the post firing the salute, the first 
 gun being fired by John W. Emsley, the son of an officer 
 who never missed a fight or a battle, and, with sounding 
 artillery, and speeches by Major Chill Hazard, General 
 Thomas J. Stewart, Lieutenant Edmund Randall, General 
 Mulholland and others, the splendid memorial was 
 fittingly dedicated. 
 
 General Mulholland, on the occasion delivered the 
 following address : — 
 
 In all the four years of its existence the men of the Army of the 
 Potomac never hailed an order with more delight than that one which 
 withdrew us from before Fredericksburg and sent us north. When on 
 that lovely summer evening in June, 1863, we looked for the last time on 
 Marye's Heights and the monument of Washington's mother, which had 
 been shattered and broken by the shells of both armies and stood out 
 there on the plain back of the city as though protesting against this fratri- 
 cidal strife, a mute and sorrowful Niobe weeping for the misfortunes of 
 her children, every heart beat with a quickening throb, and all the men 
 rejoiced to leave the scenes of the last six months. We withdrew from 
 the line of the river after the shades of night had fallen over the 
 landscape, and it seemed to be an appropriate hour, for had not the great 
 army while here been in shadow, without a ray of sunshine to gladden 
 our souls, and we had been here so long that we were beginning to be 
 forgotten as the Army of the Potomac, and letters came to us marked 
 " Army of the Rappahannock ". 
 
 As we marched away in the darkness our joy was not unmingled with 
 sorrow, for was there a veteran in the ranks who did not leave behind 
 the graves of noble and well-beloved comrades who had fought beside 
 him from the beginning of the great struggle ? We did not march away 
 with all the army, for when our camp-fires — which on this night burned 
 with unusual brightness — went out and left the valley of the Rappahan- 
 nock in darkness, the living army was gone to be sure, but twenty 
 
MONUMENT OF THE REGIMENT AT GETTYSBURG 
 
The Last Muster. 403 
 
 thousand of our members lay over on the other side of the river— the 
 heroes of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. An army of occupation 
 indeed, the corps of honor, forming a great and permanent camp— the 
 bivouac of the dead. , 
 
 Thoughts of sadness soon gave way to those of a more buoyant 
 nature ; we felt, when the head of the column turned toward the Capital, 
 that the road we trod would lead to victory. The march to Gettysburg 
 was one of the longest and most severe we had yet experienced. In 
 thinking of war we are apt to look only at the battles ; to hear the dread 
 sound of strife ; see the deadly, gaping wounds, and are ready to crown 
 the survivors or give honor to those who fell ; but the hardships of the 
 march, the heats of summer, the colds of winter, the entire absence of 
 every comfort and luxury in active service is overlooked or forgotten by 
 those who do not participate. Napoleon, when retreating from Moscow, 
 lost many of his men by the excessive cold ; directly opposite was our 
 experience on the way to Gettysburg. On one day, I think the second 
 out from Falmouth, our corps lost more than a dozen men from sunstroke. 
 They fell dead by the wayside. On another day we crossed the battle- 
 field of Bull Run, where the year before Pope had met with 
 disastrous defeat. No effort had been made to bury the dead properly ; 
 a little earth, which the rain had long ago washed away, had been thrown 
 over them where they fell, and their bodies, or rather their skeletons, 
 now lay exposed to view. In some parts of the field they were in 
 groups ; in other places singly and in all possible positions. One cavalry- 
 man lay outstretched with skeleton hand still grasping his rusted sword ; 
 another, half covered with earth, the flesh still clinging to his lifeless 
 bones, with hand extended as if to greet us. We rested for a short time 
 on the field, and one of the regiments of our brigade (the Twenty-eighth 
 Massachusetts), halted on the very spot on which they had fought the 
 year previously, and recognized the various articles lying around as 
 belonging to their own dead. 
 
 The route of the Second Corps to Gettysburg was over two hundred 
 miles in length. Some days we marched fifteen, on others eighteen, 
 miles, and one day (June 29) this corps completed the longest march 
 made by infantry during the war, leaving Frederick City, Maryland, in 
 the morning, and halting at eleven o'clock p. m., two miles beyond 
 Uniontown, a distance of thirty-four miles. When I look back over the 
 more than score of years to this march of the Second Corps, and think of 
 the perfect discipline in the ranks, the cheerfulness with which the enlisted 
 men, with their heavy load, musket and ammunition, knapsack and 
 cartridge box, shelter tent and blanket, canteen and rations— trudged 
 along under the broiling sun of the hottest month of the year ; how 
 bravely they struggled to keep up with their regiments lest they should 
 
404 The Story of the ii6th Regime^it. 
 
 miss the fight, and how, while on the march no act was committed which 
 could bring dishonor upon them as men, as citizens or as soldiers, my 
 heart fills with admiration, and I offer a flowing measure of praise to my 
 comrades who are yet alive and to those who are no more. There is not 
 an inhabitant on all that line of march who can tell of a single act of van- 
 dalism by any of the men, such as we are wont to hear of other armies. 
 In the rich and cultivated country through which we passed life and 
 property were respected as much as though we were in the halcyon days 
 of peace. Old and young came to the roadside to see the army pass, 
 and knew they were safe from insult or molestation. The fields of 
 ripening grain waved untrampled when the corps had gone by, the men 
 even going out of their way to avoid the gardens, lest they should step 
 upon the flowers. The perfection of discipline in the army at this time 
 was extraordinary. The armies that fought the war of i85i differed very 
 widely from the armies of other nations. We had no hordes of Cossacks, 
 no regiments of Bashi-Bazouks, to burn and destroy, to insult the aged 
 or crush the defenceless. 
 
 When Hancock, at Williamsburg, said to his brigade, " Gentlemen, 
 charge ", he did not call his troops out of their name. Our army was 
 literally an army of gentlemen. 
 
 And so we passed on to Thoroughfare Gap, to Edwards' Ferry, to 
 Frederick, Maryland, to Uniontown and Taneytown, where, on the 
 morning of July i, the Second Corps was massed and where General 
 Meade's headquarters had been established. While the corps were filing 
 into the fields to the right and left of the road and settling down for a 
 rest and to wait for orders, General Hancock rode over to General Meade 
 and entered into conversation with him. As they were talking a 
 mounted officer dashed up bringing the intelligence that fighting had 
 begun at Gettysburg — thirteen miles distant. The news was meagre — • 
 only that there was fighting, that was all ; yet it caused a general 
 surprise, unaware as we were of the near proximity of the enemy, and 
 was enough to send a thrill throughout the veteran ranks. The road that 
 leads to Gettysburg is scanned with anxious eyes and soon, away in the 
 distance, rises a cloud of dust, which comes nearer and nearer, and 
 another messenger from the front is with us. He tells us that Reynolds 
 is killed and that the First and Eleventh Corps are fighting and the battle 
 is against us. It is now one o'clock, too late for the Second Corps to 
 reach the field that day to take part in stemming the tide ; but not so with 
 its commander. Meade orders Hancock to proceed to the front and take 
 command of all the troops there assembled. This was ten miiiutes past 
 one o'clock, and within twenty minutes Hancock, with his staff, was on 
 the road to Gettysburg. He goes like Dessaix at Marengo, to snatch 
 victory from the jaws of defeat. (A strange coincidence related to me by 
 
The Last Muster. 405 
 
 General Hancock himself : nearly a century before, the grandfather of 
 General Hancock, then a soldier of Washington's army, started from this 
 same little village of Taneytown to escort some of the prisoners of 
 Burgoyne to Valley Forge.) The Second Corps promptly followed 
 General Hancock, and it required no urging to keep the men up. The 
 regiments moved solidly and rapidly and not a straggler was to be seen. 
 Men never covered thirteen miles so quickly, but as they hurried along 
 a halt was ordered, the ranks opened, and an ambulance passed contain- 
 ing the dead body of the heroic General John F. Reynolds. Then the 
 corps pushed on to within a short distance of the battle ground, where it 
 camped that night and arrived on the field early the next morning. 
 
 As General Hancock proceeded to the front, he rode part of the way 
 in an ambulance so that he might examine the maps of the country, his 
 aide. Major Mitchell, galloping ahead to announce his coming to General 
 Howard, whom he found on Cemetery Hill, and to whom he told his 
 errand. At half-past three o'clock. General Hancock rode up to General 
 Howard, informing him that he had come to take command. Howard 
 answered, "Hancock, go ahead". At this moment our defeat seemed 
 to be complete. Our troops were flowing through the streets of the town 
 in great disorder, closely pursued by the Confederates, the retreat fast 
 becoming a rout, and in a very few minutes the enemy would have been 
 in possession of Cemetery Hill, the key to the position, and the battle of 
 Gettysburg would have gone into history as a Confederate victory. But 
 what a change came over the scene in the next half hour. The presence 
 of Hancock, like that of Sheridan, was magnetic. Order came out of 
 chaos. The flying troops halt and again face the enemy. The battalions 
 that Were retreating down the Baltimore pike are called back, and with a 
 cheer go into position on the crest of Cemetery Hill, where General 
 Howard, with excellent judgment, had placed Steinwehr's Division in 
 anticipation of just such an emergency. 
 
 When order had taken the place of confusion, and our lines once 
 more intact, he sent his senior aide. Major Mitchell, back to tell General 
 Meade, that in his judgment, Gettysburg was the place to fight our battle. 
 Major Mitchell found General Meade in the evening, near Taneytown, 
 and communicated these views. General Meade listened attentively, and 
 on these representations he fortunately concluded to deliver the battle at 
 Gettysburg, and turning to General Seth Williams, his adjutant-general, 
 he said : " Order up all the troops, we will fight there !" 
 
 The morning of July 2, and the second day of the battle, dawned 
 clear and bright, and found Hancock posting the Second Corps on 
 Cemetery Ridge. As yet, no one in that corps, with the exception of the 
 general and his staff, had heard a shot fired. As we approached 
 Gettysburg the day before, the sounds of the fight, owing to the direction 
 
406 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 of the wind or the formation of the country, were wholly inaudible. 
 Those who came upon the field after nightfall had no idea of the 
 whereabouts of the enemy, but as the daylight increased and objects 
 became visible, we saw their lines nearly a mile distant on Seminary 
 Ridge, and away to our left rose Little Round Top, and still farther on, 
 Round Top. As the day wore on and not a shot or a hostile sound 
 broke the stillness of the morning, it became evident that the enemy were 
 not yet ready to renew the fight. Our corps had got into position (not 
 on the eastern slope of Cemetery Ridge as now marked, but directly 
 on the crest some fifty yards forward), and in the woods just back of our 
 line the birds caroled and sang. Our horses quietly browsed in the rich 
 grass, and the men lay in groups, peacefully enjoying a rest after the 
 rapid march of the day before. The troops that arrived on the field or 
 changed their position did so leisurely and unmolested. Sickles came 
 up and went into position on our left, and Geary took his division over 
 to Gulp's Hil). About ten o'clock a. m., picked firing was heard out 
 towards the left beyond the Emmitsburg pike, continuing at intervals until 
 long after noon, at times becoming quite sharp. But three o'clock came 
 and still no signs of the general engagement. The boys had partly 
 recovered from their fatigue and were actually beginning to enjoy life ; 
 some of them indulged in a quiet game of euchre, while others toasted 
 their hardtack or fried a little bacon at the small fires in the rear of the 
 lines. Shortly after three o'clock, a movement was apparent on our left. 
 From where we (Galdwell's Division) lay, the whole country in our front 
 and far to our left, away to the peach orchard and to Little Round Top, 
 was plainly visible, the view then not being so obstructed by trees and 
 shrubbery as at this day. Our division stood in brigade columns, and 
 when it became evident that something was going to take place the boys 
 dropped their cards, regardless of what was trump, and all gathered on 
 the most favorable position to witness the opening of the ball. Soon the 
 long lines of the Third Gorps are seen advancing, and how splendidly 
 they march. It looks like dress parade, a review. On, on they go, out 
 toward the peach orchard, but not a shot fired. A little while longer and 
 some one calls out "there ", and points to where a puff of smoke is seen 
 arising against the dark green of the woods beyond the Emmitsburg pike. 
 Another and another until the whole face of the forest is enveloped, 
 and the dread sound of artillery comes loud and quick ; shells are seen 
 bursting in all directions along the lines. The bright colors of the 
 regiments are conspicuous marks, and the shells burst around them in 
 great numbers. The musketry begins, the infantry becomes engaged and 
 the battle extends along the whole front of Sickles's Corps. (The writer, 
 in company with General Hancock, who, a few minutes before, had 
 ridden up to the right of the Second Brigade and dismounted. General 
 
The Last Muster. 407 
 
 Caldwell, Colonel Kelly, of the Eighty-eighth New York, Colonel Burns 
 of the Twenty-eighth Massachusetts, and several other field officers, who 
 had sought that eligible locality to view the contest, were grouped 
 together. Hancock was resting on one knee, leaning upon his sword ; 
 he smiled and remarked: "Wait a moment, you will soon see them 
 tumbling back".) Now the sounds come from Little Round Top, and 
 the smoke rises among the trees, and all the high and wooded ground to 
 the left of the peach orchard seems to be the scene of strife. An hour 
 passed and our troops give way and are falling back ; the odds are against 
 them and they are forced to retire. 
 
 A staff officer rides up with an order to the commander of the Second 
 Corps to send a division to report to General Sykes on the left. Hancock 
 quietly remarks : " Caldwell, get your division ready". "Fall in", and 
 the men run to their places ; "take arms ", and the four brigades of Zook, 
 Cross, Brooke and Kelly— ^although small in numbers — are ready for the 
 fray. There is yet a few minutes to spare before starting and the time is 
 occupied in one of the most impressive religious ceremonies I have ever 
 witnessed. The Irish Brigade, which has been commanded formerly by 
 General Thomas Francis Meagher, and whose green flag has been unfurled 
 on every battle in which the Army of the Potomac was engaged, from 
 the first Bull Run to Appomattox, and now commanded by Colonel 
 Patrick Kelly, and to which our regiment was attached, formed a part of 
 this division. The brigade stood in column of regiments closed en masse. 
 As a large majority of its members were Catholics, the chaplain of the 
 brigade. Rev. William Corby, proposed to give a general absolution to 
 all the men before going into the fight. While this is customary in the 
 armies of the Catholic countries of Europe, it was, perhaps, the first time 
 it was ever witnessed on this continent, unless, indeed, the grim old 
 warrior, Ponce de Leon, as he tramped through the everglades of Florida 
 in search of the Fountain of Youth, or De Soto, on his march to the 
 Mississippi, indulged in this act of devotion. Father Corby stood upon 
 a large rock in front of the brigade. Addressing the men, he explained 
 what he was about to do, saying that each one could receive the benefit 
 of the absolution by making a-'sincere act of contrition and firmly 
 resolving to embrace the first opportunity of confessing their sins, urging 
 them to do their duty well, and reminding them of the high and sacred 
 nature of their trust as soldiers and the noble object for which they fought, 
 ending by saying that the Catholic church refuses Christian burial to the 
 soldier who turns his back upon the foe or deserts his flag. The brigade 
 was standing at " order arms ", and as he closed his address, every man 
 fell on his knees with head bowed down. Then, stretching his right hand 
 toward the brigade. Father Corby pronounced the words of the general 
 absolution, " Dominus noster Jesus Christus vos absolvat, et ego. 
 
408 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 auctoritate ipsius, vos absolve ab vinculo excommunicationis et inlerdicti 
 in quantum possum et vos indigeiis ; deinde, ego vos absolvo a peccatis 
 vestris in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen !" The 
 scene was more than impressive, it was awe-inspiring. Nearby stood 
 Hancock, surrounded by a brilliant array of officers, who had gathered 
 to witness this very unusual occurrence, and while there was profound 
 silence in the ranks of the Second Corps, yet over to the left, out by the. 
 peach orchard and Little Round Top, where Weed, Vincent and Hazlett 
 were dying, the roar of the battle rose and swelled and re-echoed through 
 the woods, making music more sublime than ever sounded through 
 cathedral aisles. The act seemed to be in harmony with all the 
 surroundings. I do not think there was a man in the brigade who did 
 not offer up a heartfelt prayer. For some it was their last ; they knelt 
 there in their grave clothes— in less than half an hour many of them were 
 numbered with the dead of July 2d. Who can doubt that their prayers 
 were good ? What was wanting in the eloquence of the good priest to 
 move them to repentance was supplied in the incidents of the fight. 
 That heart would be incorrigible, indeed, that the scream of a Whitworth 
 bolt, added to Father Corby's touching appeal, would not move to 
 contrition. 
 
 The maps published by the Government made the time of Caldwell's 
 Division moving to the left at four o'clock. I think this was a mistake. 
 I believe it was nearly five o'clock before we started. The division 
 moved off by the left fiank and marched rapidly. We had hardly got 
 under way when the enemy's batteries opened and shell began falling all 
 around us. The ground on which this division faced the enemy on the 
 afternoon of the 2d had already been fought over, and the fields and 
 woods were strewn with killed and wounded. 
 
 Our division moved from its position on Cemetery Ridge without 
 change of formation, each brigade being in column of regiments, the 
 One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania being the rear or left of the 
 column forming the Second, or Irish, Brigade, each regiment, of course, 
 moving by the left flank. We soon descended to the low ground, skirted 
 a small run and, on reaching the plowed land near Trostle's House, 
 received a fire of solid shot from the enemy's guns then in position near 
 the peach orchard, for by this time all that ground had been cleared of 
 our troops and guns ; still moving to the left the division reached the spot 
 now known as "The Valley of Death" in front of Little Round Top. 
 As we passed the road to the north of the wheat-field. General Hancock 
 sat upon his horse, looking at the troops. As Colonel Cross, of the 
 Fifth New Hampshire Regiment, passed by, he said to him: "Cross, 
 this is the last fight you'll fight without a star". Without stopping. 
 Cross replied : "Too late, too late, general, this is my last battle ". Ten. 
 
The Last Muster. 409 
 
 minutes afterwards the fcountry lost one of the best soldiers in, the army. 
 Cross was dead, shot at the head of his brigade leading them to the 
 charge. 
 
 When we reached Little Round Top the division was deployed 
 double-quick. Cross's Brigade deployed to the left of the wheat-field 
 and moved forward, as did each brigade, without waiting for the other 
 brigades. Up to this moment, strange to say, not a shot was fired at our 
 regiment (or more properly battalion, for we had been consolidated into 
 four companies). Suddenly someone in the ranks cried out "there they 
 are !" Sure enough, not forty feet from us up towards the crest, behind 
 the trees and big rocks covering that ground, was the enemy ; no orders 
 were given, but in an instant every musket on the line was at its deadly 
 work. The enemy having to rise to fire over the rocks, their shots for 
 the most part passed over our heads, but as they exposed themselves to 
 our men at such close quarters, armed with smooth-bore musket firing 
 " buck and ball " (one large ball and three buck shot), the effect of our 
 fire was deadly in the extreme, for, under such circumstances, a blind man 
 could not have missed his mark. The officers, too, joined in the fray, 
 each one emptying his revolver with effect. For ten minutes this work 
 went on, our men seeming to load and fire twice as fast as the enemy. 
 Now the voice of Kelly is heard ordering the charge ; with a cheer, a few 
 quick strides, and we are on the crest among the enemy. 
 
 Here took place a rather extraordinary scene. Our men and their 
 <:^ponents were mingled together. In charging we had literally run 
 right in among them. Firing instantly ceased, and we found there were 
 as many of the enemy as there were of ourselves. Officers and men of 
 both sides looked for a time at each other utterly bewildered ; the fighting 
 had stopped, yet the Confederate soldiers stood there facing us, still 
 retaining their arms and showing no disposition to surrender. At this 
 moment I called out, "Confederate troops, lay down your arms and go 
 to the rear !" This ended a scene that was becoming embarrassing. The 
 order was promptly obeyed and a large number of what I think were men 
 of Kershaw's Brigade became our prisoners ; they held the left flank of 
 their line. In front of our brigade we found that the enemy had suffered 
 much more than we had. When engaged, our line was below theirs, as 
 they stood on the crest of the hill. They fired down while our men fired 
 upward and our fire was more effective. On their line we found many 
 dead, but few wounded— they were nearly all hit in the head or upper 
 part of the body. Behind one rock we counted five dead bodies. This 
 ■was some of the most severe fighting our division had ever done. During 
 the fight our regiment held the extreme right of the division, and from 
 where we stood we could see the peach orchard, and none of our troops 
 were between that point and us — a distance of an eighth of a mile. 
 
410 The Story of tJie ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Some fifteen minutes after the fighting had ceased we dressed line 
 and our men awaited the next event. About the same time I noticed 
 what I believed to be a column of the enemy passing through the peach 
 orchard and to the rear of our division. I reported the matter to the 
 brigade commander (Colonel Kelly), but I could not convince him that 
 the column was a Confederate force, the smoke and distance preventing 
 our seeing accurately. We were soon convinced, however, that the 
 column in question was of the enemy (Semm's and Wofford's Brigades); 
 we were surrounded and in danger of capture. 
 
 I quickly told the men of my own command the danger and for each 
 one to look to his own safety, pointing out the direction they were to 
 take towards Little Round Top. I rolled up the colors and with some 
 thirty men ran down through the woods and into the wheat-field ; 
 here we were in a trap, a line of the enemy was advancing on the wheat- 
 field from the south and Wofiford's Brigade, the column I had seen 
 marching around the peach orchard and into our rear, was closing in from 
 the north. We caught it from both sides, the slaughter here being 
 appalling, but we kept ort, the men loading and firing as they ran, and by 
 the time we had reached the middle of the field the two lines of the enemy 
 vvere so close that for a few moments they ceased firing on us, as they 
 fired into each other. Then I heard voices calling out, ' ' come here, run 
 this way"; a few seconds more and I was over a low stone wall and 
 among Sweitzer's Brigade. About ten of my command were with me, 
 others were saved, many by running into Ayres's Division as it advanced. 
 I went back to the Taneytown road. I there found Colonel Brooke, 
 Fifty-third Pennsylvania, commanding brigade, re-forming the division. 
 He directed me to plant my colors nearby and assist him, which I did. 
 
 Passing through this alley of death in the wheat-field, where the 
 bullets came in showers, we got away with a large part of the division, 
 but the loss was terrible. In the half hour we were under fire fourteen 
 hundred men were lost. Of the four brigade commanders, two were 
 killed — General S. K. Zook and Colonel E. E. Cross. Zook fell almost 
 at the first fire and Cross a few minutes afterwards. 
 
 Some of the men who fell in the wheat-field during the retreat of this 
 division and were forced to lie there between the two fires, fared badly. 
 One man of our regiment fell, shot through the leg, and while he lay 
 there was hit five or six times. When it became evident that we had to 
 fall back, our wounded, with visions of Belle Isle and Libby before them, 
 begged piteously to be taken along — many of them keeping with us 
 wholly unaided. 
 
 At Waterloo, Wellington petitioned God for "Night or Blucher". 
 At Gettysburg, on this evening, we had no Blucher to pray for. Our 
 whole force was up ; but, while omitting the last part of the great 
 
The Last Muster. 411 
 
 Englisliman's prayer, we had every reason to adopt the first portion. As 
 the fight was closing upon the left of our army Ewell was striking a 
 terrific blow on the right. As we re-formed our division on the Taney- 
 town road, and we had some difficulty in getting things in shape after 
 the rough handling we had received, we heard, away to the right and 
 rear, the yells of Ewell's men as they rushed over our works at Gulp's 
 Hill. This was the most anxious hour of all. We had been driven on 
 the left, and on the right the enemy had effected a lodgment in our 
 works, in one of our strongest positions, and were, in fact, in our rear, 
 without any adequate force to oppose them. Another hour of daylight 
 and, unless some miracle had intervened, we would most likely have left 
 Gettysburg without waiting to bid the inhabitants good-evening. But, 
 fortunately for us, there was no Joshua around Lee's headquarters, so the 
 sun went down on almanac time, utterly regardless of the little troubles 
 we were trying to settle. Darkness fell upon the scene and prevented the 
 Confederates from taking further advantage of their success, giving us 
 chance to repair our disasters. 
 
 Few slept during that night. Our division went back and was put in 
 position on Cemetery Ridge by General Hancock, who, all the night long, 
 labored to strengthen this line. The men gathered rocks and fence-rails 
 and used them to erect a light breastwork. Had the necessary tools 
 been dfstrituted to the troops, we could have intrenched this line and 
 made it formidable, but we could not find a pick or a shovel, and the 
 works that- we did attempt were very light, scarcely sufficient to stop a 
 musket ball. During the whole night mounted officers galloped to and 
 fro and troops were hurried to important points. At the first faint gray 
 of the morning of July 3d the fight was resumed on Gulp's Hill, where 
 darkness had interrupted it the night before, and from then until about 
 eleven o'clock the fire was heavy and incessant. We knew that Slocum 
 was trying to drive the enemy out of our works, which they had slept in 
 and occupied without invitation the night before. Gulp's Hill was about 
 a mile from where we lay and we could hear the cheers of Geary's men, 
 which came to us on the morning air, mingled with bullets which had 
 missed the mark for which they were intended, and, almost spent, went 
 singing over our heads. As the day advanced sounds of the artillery 
 mingled with the musketry, and we knew that a hard fight was in progress. 
 The men of our line almost held their breath with anxiety. About eleven 
 o'clock the firing suddenly ceased. A tremendous cheer went up and, 
 a minute later, every man in the army knew we were again in possession 
 of Gulp's Hill. Then came two hours of peace— a perfect calm. 
 
 It was a warm summer day and from Round Top to Gulp's Hill 
 hardly a sound was heard, not a shot fired. The men rested after the 
 fighting of the previous evening, no troops were moving to or fro. The 
 
412 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 only activity seen was the stretcher-bearers taking the wounded to the 
 field hospitals, but during those two hours we could see considerable 
 .activity along Seminary Ridge. Battery after battery appeared along the 
 edge of the woods. Guns were unlimbered, placed in position, and the 
 horses taken to the rear. Our men sat around in groups and anxiously 
 watched these movements in our front and wondered what it all meant. 
 Shortly after one o'clock, however, we knew all about it. The head- 
 quarters' wagons had just come up and General Gibbon had invited 
 Hancock and staff to partake of some lunch. The bread that was handed 
 around, if it was eaten, was consumed without butter, for as the orderly 
 was passing the latter article to the gentlemen a shell from Seminary 
 Ridge cut him in two. Instantly the air was filled with bursting shells ; 
 the batteries that we had been watching for the last two hours going into 
 position in our front did not open singly or spasmodically. The whole 
 one hundred and forty-seven guns, which now began to play upon us, 
 seemed to be discharged simultaneously, as though by electricity. And 
 then for nearly two hours the storm of death went on. I have read many 
 accounts of this artillery duel, but the most graphic description by the 
 most able writers falls far short of the reality. No tongue or pen can find 
 language strong enough to convey any idea of its awfulness. Streams of 
 screaming projectiles poured through the hot air, falling and bursting 
 everywhere. Men and horses were torn limb from limb ; caissons 
 exploded one after another in rapid succession, blowing the gunners to 
 pieces. No spot within our lines was free from this frightful iron rain. 
 The infantry hugged close the earth and sought every shelter that our 
 light earthworks afforded. It was literally a storm of shot and shell that 
 the oldest soldiers there— those who had taken part in almost every battle 
 of the war — had not yet witnessed ; that awful rushing sound of the flying 
 missiles, which causes the firmest hearts to quail, was everywhere. 
 
 At this tumultuous moment we witnessed a deed of heroism such as 
 we are apt to attribute only to knights of the olden time. Hancock, 
 mounted and accompanied by his staff — Major Mitchell, Captain Harry 
 Bingham, Captain Isaac Parker and Captain E. P. Brownson — with the 
 corps' flag flying in the hands of a brave Irishman, Private James Wells, 
 of the Sixth New York Cavalry, started at the right of his line, where it 
 joined the Taneytown road, and slowly rode along the terrible crest to 
 the extreme left of his position, while shot and shell roared and crashed 
 around him, and every moment tore great gaps in the ranks at his side. 
 It was a gallant deed, and withal not a reckless exposure of life, for the 
 presence and calm demeanor of the commander, as he passed through 
 the lines of his men, set them an example which, an hour later, bore 
 good fruit and nerved their stout hearts to win the greatest and most 
 decisive battle ever fought on this continent. For two hours our batteries 
 
The Last Muster. 413 
 
 replied vigorously and then ceased altogether ; but the Confederate shells 
 came as numerously as ever ; then, for ten minutes, not a soul was seen 
 stirring on our line — we might have been an army of dead men for all the 
 evidence of life visible. Suddenly the enemy stopped their fire, which 
 had been going on for two hours without intermission, and then the long 
 lines of their infantry— eighteen thousand strong — emerged from the 
 woods and began their advance. 
 
 At this moment silence reigned along our whole line. With arms at 
 a "right shoulder shift" the division of Longstreet's Corps moved 
 forward with a precision that was wonderfully beautiful. It is now our 
 turn and the lines that a few moments before seemed so still nqw teemed 
 with animation. Eighty of our guns open their brazen mouths, solid shot 
 and shell are sent on their errand of destruction in quick succession. We 
 see them fall in countless numbers among the advancing troops. The 
 accuracy of our fire could not be excelled, the missiles strike right in 
 the ranks, tearing and rending them in every direction. The One 
 Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment was supporting Sterling's Second 
 Connecticut Battery, the men lying in front of and between the pieces ; 
 it was marvelous, the rapidity and accuracy with which these guns were 
 served. The ground over which the enemy have passed is strewn with 
 dead and wounded. But on they come. The gaps in the ranks are closed 
 as soon as made. They have three-quarters of a mile to pass, exposed to 
 our fire, and half the distance is nearly passed. Our gunners now load 
 with canister and the effect is appalling, but still they march on. Their 
 gallantry is past all praise — it is sublime. Now they are within a hundred 
 yards. Our infantry rise and pour round after round into these heroic 
 troops. 
 
 At Waterloo the Old Guard recoiled before a less severe fight. But 
 there was no recoil in these men of the South— they marched right on as 
 though they courted death. They concentrate in great numbers and 
 strike on the most advanced part of our line. Here the crash of the 
 musketry and the cheers of the men blend. The Philadelphia Brigade 
 occupy this point. They are fighting on their own ground and for their 
 own State, and in the bloody hand-to-hand engagement which ensues the 
 Confederates, though fighting with desperate valor, find it impossible to 
 dislodge them— they are rooted to the ground. Seeing how utterly 
 hopeless further effort would be, and knowing the impossibility of 
 reaching their lines, they attempt to retreat, and the battle is won. To 
 the left of the Philadelphia Brigade we did not get to such close quarters. 
 Our eager gaze was upon Pickett and his murderous reception by the 
 Philadelphia Brigade, but now right in our own front Wilcox's and 
 Perry's Brigades are seen coming straight for our line, every musket is 
 tightly grasped and our men become impatient to begin their work, but 
 
414 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 the orders are to hold the fire, and it took all the officers could do to 
 keep the men from firing. But the enemy are coming nearer, and as the 
 welcome order is sounded down the line, "ready", the air becomes 
 filled as though by a great flock of white pigeons — it was the fluttering of 
 hundreds and hundreds of white rags, the tokens of surrender — and 
 Wilcox's and Perry's men throw down their arms and surrender. As the 
 mass of the enemy come into our lines, some few spirits, bolder than the 
 rest, run back to their own lines, our men being prevented from firing on 
 them for fear of killing the prisoners. 
 
 Five thousand prisoners were sent to the rear, and we gathered up 
 thirty-three regimental standards in front of the Second Corps. The 
 remaining hours of daylight during this day were occupied in caring for 
 the wounded, looking over the field and talking over the incidents of the 
 fight. Many noble officers and men were lost on both sides, and in the 
 camp hospital they died in hundreds during the afternoon and night. The 
 Confederate General Armistead died in this way. As he was being 
 carried to the rear he was met by Captain Harry Bingham, of Hancock's 
 staff, who, getting off his horse, asked him if he could do anything for 
 him. Armistead replied to take his watch and spurs to General Hancock 
 that they might be sent to his relatives. His wishes were complied with, 
 General Hancock sending them to his friends at the first opportunity. 
 Armistead was a brave soldier with a chivalric presence, and came 
 forward in front of his brigade waving his sword. He was shot through 
 the body and fell inside of our lines. Some of the wounded Confederates 
 showed considerable animosity toward our men. One of them, who lay 
 mortally wounded in front of the Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania, sullenly 
 refused to be taken to the hospital, saying that he wanted to die right 
 there on the field where he fell. The scene after Longstreet's charge was 
 indescribable. In front of the Second Corps the dead lay in great heaps. 
 Dismounted guns, ruins of exploded caissons, dead and mutilated men 
 and horses were piled up together in every direction. 
 
 Out on the field, where Longstreet's Corps had passed, thousands of 
 wounded were lying. We had no means of reaching these poor fellows, 
 and many of them lay there between lines until the morning of the 5th. 
 The Confederates could be seen moving around on Seminary Ridge. 
 Welcome supplies came up and were issued. All hands felt cheerful, but 
 a degree of uncertainty as to whether the battle was over or whether the 
 enemy were getting. ready for some new movement, prevented us from 
 celebrating the national anniversary in a proper manner. Once in a 
 while the sharpshooters would try their skill on some of our people to 
 let us know they were still there. The stench from the dead became 
 intolerable, and we tried to escape it by digging up the ground and 
 burying our faces in the fresh earth. 
 
The Last Muster. 415 
 
 On the morning of the 5th we found the enemy had gone, and then 
 what a scene. I think the fact was first discovered by the troops on 
 Gulp's Hill, and what a cheer went up ; a cheer that swelled into a roar 
 and was taken up by the boys on Cemetery Hill rolled along the crest to 
 Round Top. and then back again. Cheers for the Philadelphia Brigade 
 that stood a living wall against which the hosts beat in vain. Cheers for 
 Meade, the soldier "without fear or reproach", who here began with a 
 great victory his illustrious career as commander of the Army of the 
 Potomac. Cheers for Hancock, for Howard, for Slocum, for Sedgwick 
 and for Sykes ; for Gregg, of the Cavalry, and Hunt, of the Artillery, 
 and for all the great army. 
 
 On the morning of the 5th of July I went out in front of our line to 
 wash at a small run when I came across our picket line ; they were New 
 York troops, I think the One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment ; about 
 forty of them lay dead in a regular line, just as they had been posted ; 
 caught between the two fires, not a man seems to have escaped. 
 
 In the battle of Gettysburg we were but a small battalion of one 
 hundred and sixty-five officers and men, and lost thirty-seven killed and 
 wounded ; most of these were lost on falling back through the wheat- 
 field on the evening of the second day's fight, but in that fight the dead 
 and wounded Confederate troops found lying behind the rocks when we 
 charged and captured the wooded crest, proved to us that we inflicted a 
 much greater loss upon them than they upon us. 
 
 ADDRESS OF LIEUTENANT EDMUND RANDALL. 
 
 Comrades : Twenty-seven years ago this month we "broke camp" 
 for the first time. As we filed out of those beautiful woods to the Lan- 
 caster Pike, just beyond Hestonville on the outskirts of Philadelphia, 
 with light hearts and elastic steps, we started on that eventful three 
 years' march, our destiny and destination then unknown. Kind Provi- 
 dence hid from our sight the bloody tracks we were to make over many 
 fields in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Our death roll was 
 started ere we left the precincts of our deserted camp, and, oh, how 
 quickly it was filled ; that holocaust at Fredericksburg on December 13, 
 1862, added to it the names of forty-four gallant comrades, the first to 
 receive their furloughs on the battle-field, which truly took them home. 
 
 Some of us fell out of the ranks early on this march. Some, driven by 
 distress, sought the shelter of the hospital, from which they emerged 
 broken down, a few of them still stalking among us like living wrecks ; 
 some weak and exhausted returned to their homes, others among you 
 with stout hearts tramped the unmeasured miles of that great march 
 which led you through Charlestown, through the dismal and bloody fields 
 
416 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, where your hearts sickened by 
 defeat and misfortune almost to despair, to the glorious field on which 
 we now stand. Oh, what memories cluster around this hallowed spot ! 
 Here in July, 1863, you planted your standard, and, like MacGregor of 
 old, your "foot was on your native heath", and you could not be con- 
 quered ; from here still onward you marched ; never again defeated, 
 though sometimes repulsed, receiving heavy blows and many bloody 
 wounds, until April, 1865, brought you out of the dismal woods, and you 
 at length beheld the glorious sunrise at Appomattox shed her golden 
 rays upon your tattered standard crowned with victory. Oh, what a 
 victory, the like of which the world had never witnessed, a victory shared 
 even by our enemies, for with them have you shared its fruits, a country 
 saved and united. How different would it have been had we failed at 
 Gettysburg. Georgia, New York, South Carolina, Virginia and Penn- 
 sylvania, would have been, if not hostile, at least foreign. States and 
 strangers to each other. This would have been a continent of inharmo- 
 nious States, and not an American citizen upon it. We took no prisoners, 
 inflicted no punishments, but, having triumphed, invited our foes to sit 
 with us and enjoy the banquet our valor had prepared. Where in history 
 can such magnanimity be paralleled ? 
 
 Comrades, we would not now change this condition of affairs if it 
 were possible, yet, standing here upon this historic spot, to dedicate this 
 monument to the memory of our comrades who paid the forfeit of their 
 lives that our country might not perish, let us not forget that there is 
 unhappily in some parts of this land a feeling ripe that would belittle 
 your victory here by undue praise of your foes, whom, in the charity of 
 our hearts, we have forgiven. Yet look you around here at these stones 
 and tree stumps, behind which, on July 2, 1863, lurked armed enemies 
 who shot the life of many of our comrades away, comrades to whom this 
 day we dedicate this granite monument. Forgive them we do, and 
 time's merciful hand may even blot their crime from memory. Yet praise 
 them never, while this monument tells of martyred men and the glorious 
 cause for which they died. 
 
 Comrades, there were many others who started with us on that 
 march from Jones's woods who neither left the ranks nor yet returned 
 with you to Philadelphia in June, 1865, when you furled your colors 
 and returned them, unsullied, to the State which gave them in your 
 keeping three years before. Where are these comrades ? The good, 
 the brave, the best of all ; they fought the good fight through, stripped 
 off their armor and stepped behind the veil that hides us from our God. 
 Yea, on every field, from Fredericksburg to Appomattox, our comrades 
 of the One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment can be found sleeping 
 beneath the sod. 
 
The Last Muster. 417 
 
 Here we are to-day, comrades, twenty-seven years older than when 
 we started on our three years' march, the designs of Providence now 
 unfolded, and we alone of that strong column are left surviving — it may 
 be questioned whether our lot has been the happiest. Our comrades went 
 down in honor. How grand was the fate of those who gave up their lives 
 for their country. Generations yet unborn shall sing their praises. So 
 long as this country shall exist, so long shall the memory of our dead 
 comrades be honored and glorified. Without the blood of our fore- 
 fathers in 1775 this free country would never have sprung from the 
 womb of time. Without the blood of our comrades its life would have 
 been trampled out by the Rebellion of 1861. How happy should we feel 
 that we have been spared to assemble here to-day to dedicate this 
 monument to the memory of the fallen brave ; it is the last and only act 
 we can do for them. 
 
 Comrades our work is done ; yet a little while longer we must linger 
 here in camp, watching and waiting day by day, as one or the other of 
 us wearies of this life's long march, unslings his knapsack and falls out to 
 rest with our comrades sleeping here. It will be but for a day in time's 
 calendar when the adjutant of the Lord shall sound the last call which 
 will assemble us all again to hear the Lord of Hosts call the roll of the 
 just. Oh, comrades, may we be all upon the right hand and hear the 
 voice of our great Captain, Christ, proclaim " all present and accounted 
 for". 
 
 And now the writer brings the record of the One 
 Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers to a 
 close. His heart goes out to every member of the 
 Regiment living, and the dead who sleep on thirty battle- 
 fields ; to every lonely grave on the Blue Ridge and on 
 the Rappahannock's banks where angels guard the 
 mouldering form of the hero who still remains at his 
 post and whose sacred ashes mark the line of the picket 
 where he stood on guard, and fell, the true and faithful 
 sentinel of forty years ago. 
 
 His heart is filled with sweet recollections of all the 
 dear comrades, memories sad and tender of those who 
 are no more, and happy in the warm aflfection of those 
 who are still enjoying the blessings of the land they 
 helped to save. 
 
418 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 In the fond hope of meeting one and all again, 
 "farewell", or rather "good night", for, believing that 
 He who even " marks the fall of a sparrow " will grant 
 great reward to everyone who did well in helping to 
 preserve the Union of States, thus saving the American 
 continent to freedom and liberty, the writer lives, ex- 
 pecting to meet again with all the noble souls who 
 marched and fought in defence of the flag of the One 
 Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment ; and so, as the evening 
 of life draws near, the shadows fall, and the hour 
 approaches for the final " taps ". In the hope of the 
 glory of that last "reveille" which shall find us united in an 
 eternal bivouac, my comrades, one and all, " good night ". 
 
ROSTER 
 One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment 
 
 Pennsylvania Volunteers 
 
420 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 TT is to be greatly regretted that this roster of the 
 Regiment is very incomplete ; more than four hundred 
 names will be found unaccounted for. Many of these 
 were killed, others died of disease or wounds or in 
 southern prisons. Every effort has been made by the 
 writer to complete the record of each man, but the only 
 source from which the information could be obtained is 
 closed, as the following letter will show, and there is no 
 other means available. The roster, as it appears here, 
 was made principally from memory of those present at 
 the muster-out of the command and was hurriedly made, 
 more for the purpose of mustering those present at that 
 time than accounting for those absent : — 
 
 Washington City, June 19th, 1893. 
 To THE Adjutant-General 
 
 OF the State of Pennsylvania, 
 Harrisburg, Pa. 
 
 Sir : Referring to your letter of the 14th inst., received to-day, in 
 which you enclose rolls of the One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania 
 Volunteers, and request that such information relative to the final record 
 of the members of said Regiment as is lacking from those (some three 
 hundred in number) whose names appear on said rolls, be supplied from 
 the ofificial records on file in this Department, for use in publishing a 
 history of that command, I am directed by the Secretary of War to invite 
 your attention to the enclosed copy of orders dated February 17th, 1892, ■ 
 which sets forth the rule of the Department relative to requests of this 
 nature. Under this rule it becomes necessary to deny all requests for 
 information for personal or historical purposes, and it is regretted that 
 the information you desire cannot, therefore, be furnished. 
 
 The rolls submitted by you are herewith returned. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 F. C. AiNSWORTH, 
 
 Colonel United States Army, ' 
 Chief Record and Pension Office. 
 
Three Years' Service. 
 
 421 
 
 Field and Staff Officers. 
 
 Dennis Heenan.. 
 
 St. Clair A. Mulholland. 
 
 Richard C. Dale , 
 
 David W. Megraw... 
 
 George H. Bardwell... 
 
 John R. Miles Adjutant 
 
 Garrett Nowlen do 
 
 Louis J. Sacriste.. 
 
 Thomas S. Ewing.. 
 
 David S. Bunnell 
 
 Richard H. Wade. . 
 
 John P. Ashcom 
 
 William B. Hartman.. 
 
 John W, Rawlings 
 
 Colonel 
 
 ..do.., 
 
 Lieut. Col, 
 ,.do 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 SERVICE, 
 
 Sept. X, 1862 
 Sept. i., 1862 
 
 April 14, 1864 
 April 14, 1864 
 
 ...Major... Sept. x, 18 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 . do.. 
 
 .Q. M.. 
 ....do.... 
 
 Surgeon 
 do 
 
 Asst Surg. 
 
 July 3, 1862 
 Aug. i, 1862 
 
 March i, 1863 
 
 Oct. IS, 1864 
 
 June 20, 1862 
 Aug. 8, 1862 
 
 Sept. T, 1862 
 March 9, i86a 
 
 July IS, 1862 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 
 —honorably discharged by reason of con- 
 solidation of regiment to a battalion of four 
 companies, Jan. 27, 1863. 
 
 Lieut.-Col., Sept., 1862 — Major of battalion, 
 Feb. 27, 1863— Col. of reorganized regiment' 
 May 3, 1864— Brevet Brig -Gen., for services 
 in Wilderness campaiRn— Brevet Maj. Gen. 
 for capturing Confederate fort in front of 
 Petersburg, Oct. 27, 1864— Congress medal 
 of honor for distinguished services on the 
 picket line at Chancellorsville, May 4, 1863 
 —wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
 i86z; at Wilderness, May 5, 1864; at Po 
 River, Va., May 10, 1864, and at Tolopoto- 
 my, Va.,May3i, 1864-honorably disch. by 
 reason of termination of war, June 3, 1865. 
 
 From Lieut.-Col. 123d Regiment, Pa., Vols. 
 — killed at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. 
 
 From Capt. Co. H, to Major, Jan. 28, 1865, 
 to Lieut. Col., June 6, 1865— wounded at 
 Five Forks, Va., March 31, 1865— honorably 
 discharged by reason of termination of war, 
 July 14, i86s. 
 
 Brevet Lieut. Col. and Brevet Col. for services 
 at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec 13, 1862 — 
 wounded at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862 — 
 honorably discharged by reason of consolida- 
 tion of regiment into battalion, Jan. 27, 1863. 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Dec, 13, 1862 — 
 
 resigned Feb. 16, 1863, 
 
 Promoted from 2d Lieut., Co. G, Feb. 27,1863, 
 to Capt., Co. D, Nov. 21, 1863, Brevet Maj. 
 
 — wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec 13, 
 
 1862— killed at Reams Sta.,Va., Aug 25, '64. 
 Promoted from ist Lieut., Co. D, Nov. 21, 
 
 1863, to Capt., Co. D, Sept. 22, 1864 — 
 
 wounded at Cold Harbor, Va , June 3, 1864, 
 
 Brev Maj. forgallantservice during the war. 
 
 — Congress medal of honor for distinguished 
 
 service on the picket line at Bristoe Station, 
 
 Va., Nov. 14, 1863 — transferred to Regular 
 
 Army at close of the war. 
 Wounded at Five Forks, Va., May 31, 1865 — 
 
 mustered out with regiment at close of war. 
 Resigned January 26, 1863. 
 Promoted from Quartermaster Sgt , Jan. 27, 
 
 1863 — mustered out with the regiment at 
 
 close of war 
 Honorably discharged March ig, 1863. 
 Promoted from Asst. Surgeon, July 4, 1863 — 
 
 honorably discharged at close of war. 
 Promoted to Surg., of 88th Penna. Infantry, 
 
 Feb, 3, 1863. 
 
422 
 
 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 NAME. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 to 
 
 » 
 
 \ 
 
 > 
 
 I/) 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Philip A. Boyle 
 
 Asst.Surg. 
 
 do 
 
 Chaplain 
 
 do 
 
 Sgt. Maj. 
 do. 
 
 Sept. I, 1862 
 Oct. I, 1864 
 Sept. 24,1862 
 Nov. 18, 1864 
 Aug. 14,1862 
 Sept. 5, 1862 
 Aug. 30, 1862 
 Aug. 5, 1862 
 Aug. 14,1862 
 
 July 19, 1862 
 Feb. 13, 1864 
 July 16, 1862 
 June 22, 1862 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 June 16, 1862 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 
 D. S. Cunningham «,. 
 
 Rev. Edward McKee 
 
 Rev. Bernard McColium 
 William J. Burk 
 
 Resigned October 18, 1864. 
 Resigned December 24, 1862. 
 Honorably discharged at close of war. 
 Promoted to ist Lieut., Company C. 
 
 
 Promoted to ist Lieut., Company B. 
 Promoted to 2d Lieut., Company A. 
 Promoted to 2d Lieut., Company F. 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 George McMahon 
 
 Francis E. Crawford 
 
 Q.M.Sgt. 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Promoted to 2d Lieut , Co. B., April 8, 1864 — 
 prisoner ofwar from May 10, 1864, until Feb., 
 1865 — honofably discharged at close of war. 
 
 Promoted to ist Lieut., Co. B, March 7, 1863. 
 
 
 Com. Sgt. 
 do. 
 
 
 Patrick Cosiello,. . . 
 
 
 Charles Shelly 
 
 do 
 
 [■ Honorably discharged at close ofwar. 
 
 
 Hos. Std. 
 Prin. Mu 
 
 
 T. W. Vanneman 
 
 
 
 
 Company A. 
 
 Patrick Carrigan 
 
 Seneca G, Willauer.. 
 
 Winiam M. Hobart... 
 George Halpin 
 
 Christian Foltz 
 
 George Roeder 
 
 Thomas Detwiler.., 
 
 William Emsley 
 
 Ambrose O. Wilson.. 
 Josiah C. Randolph.. 
 Samuel Llewellyn 
 
 Charles Gallagher ., 
 Matthew Murray... 
 
 James McCready..., 
 
 Thomas Dougherty 
 
 William Nichols 
 
 Nathan Adams 
 
 Mathias Landrican. 
 
 Daniel Price ' do 
 
 I 
 
 Captain 
 do 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.., 
 
 2d Lieut. 
 
 , do 
 
 do 
 
 ,.do.. 
 
 Sergeant 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 ..do.. 
 . do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 do 
 
 Corporal 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Oct. 25, 1862 
 Aug. 26, 1862 
 
 June II, 1862 
 Aug. 30, 1862 
 
 Sept. 5, 1862 
 Aug. 30, 1862 
 Aug. 4, 1862 
 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 
 June 24, 1862 
 July 16, 1862 
 Aug, 14, 1862 
 
 July 29, 1862 
 July 26, 1862 
 
 Aug. 11, 1862 
 
 Aug. 28, 1862 
 June 30, 1862 
 July 29, 1862 
 July 25, 1862 
 Aug. 2, 1862 
 
 Discharged by special order, Jan. 27, 1863. 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va,, Dec. 13, '62 
 
 — promoted from ist Lt. Co. C, March i, '63 
 
 —transferred as 1st Lieut, to 24th rag. Vet. 
 
 Res. Corps, Feb. 5, '64 — to 6th reg., April 
 
 25, '64— promoted to Capt, nth reg., Dec. 3, 
 
 '64 — Brev. Maj., March 13, '65 — discharged 
 
 October 30, 1867. 
 Promoted from 1st Lieut., March i, 1864 — 
 
 discharged Jan. 2, 1865. 
 Wounded at Gettysburg. Pa , July 2, 1863— 
 
 prisoner from July 2, '63, to April 11, '65— 
 
 promoted from 1st Sgt. to ist Lieut., April 
 
 14, '65 — to Capt. May 15, '65 — mustered out 
 
 with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Promoted from Sergeant, Oct. 25, '62 — killed 
 
 at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 
 Promoted from Sgt. Major, March i, 1863— 
 
 Oct. 28, 1863, dismissed. 
 Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 16, 1864 — 
 
 prom, from Sgt —com. ist Lieut, Jan. 23, 
 
 65 — mus. out with company, June 3, '65. 
 
 Promoted from ist Sgt.,Junei, '65 — mustered 
 
 out with company. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865 
 Mustered out with company. June 3, 1865. 
 Promoted from Corp., May i, '65 — mustered 
 
 out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863— 
 
 discharged October 13, 1863. 
 Detailed on staflf of Gen. Meagher— mustered 
 
 out with company. 
 Drowned in Acquia Creek, Va., May i, '64. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
Three Years' Service. 
 
 423 
 
 NAME. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 H 
 n 
 » 
 
 3 
 
 > 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Thomas Scarlett 
 
 Corporal 
 do 
 
 June 18, 1862 
 
 Sept. s, 1862 
 July 31, 1862 
 
 July 31, 1862 
 
 July 7, 1862 
 June 28, 1862 
 Aug. 11,1862 
 June 28, 1862 
 
 Aug. 4, 1862 
 Aug. 14,1862 
 
 Aug. 8, 1862 
 Sept. s, 1862 
 Aug. 12,1862 
 feb. 29, 1864 
 
 July 8, 1862 
 
 Aug. 28, i86z 
 July 14, 1862 
 Aug. 18, i86z 
 Aug. 19, 1862 
 Aug. 16, 1862 
 
 May 12, 1864 
 Aug. 21,1862 
 Aug. 28, 1862 
 
 Aug. 4, i86a 
 
 Aug. 28, 1862 
 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 Aug. 6, 1862 
 Aug. 15, 1862 
 Feb. 20, 1864 
 July 31, 1862 
 Sept. 5, 1862 
 Aug. 1, 1862 
 July 21, 1862 
 June 13, 1862 
 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 June 15, 1862 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 
 Aug. 8, 1862 
 Feb. 28, 1864 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 
 Aug. 23 1862 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 ■3 
 
 3 
 
 \ 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 PromotedtoCorp.,May I, '65— mustered out 
 with company, June 3, 1GJ5. 
 
 
 William C. And, ess 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Wounded at Kredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 
 
 — not on muster-out roll. 
 Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, '63— not 
 
 on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 Musician 
 .. . do .. 
 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Deserted July ^ '63— returned May r, *65— 
 transferred to Co. K, June 2, '65. 
 
 
 Private 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 AUingham, Robert 
 
 
 do . 
 
 Died December, 1863, of wounds received at 
 Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Promoted to Sergeant Maj. — date unknown. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Transferred to V. K. C. — disch. by G. 0.— 
 date unknown. 
 
 Discharged for wounds received at Gettys- 
 burg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 ,. .do .. 
 
 Book, George M 
 
 do 
 
 Bidding, Augustine 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Brocklehurst, Robert 
 
 Conway, John 
 
 do 
 
 do. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Carroll, Alexander 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Corloy, John 
 
 do 
 
 Captured at Bristoe Station, Va., Oct. 13, '63 
 —died in prison, Belle Island. 
 
 Clark, Hugh 
 
 do 
 
 Delhi, Jacob H 
 
 ... .do. ... 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 — 
 mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863— 
 transf. to 51st Co., 2d batt.V. R. C, Nov. 15, 
 '63 — disch. Aug. 5, '65 — exp. of term. 
 
 Woundedat ChancellorsviIle,Va., May 3, and 
 
 Devonshire, Jeremiah 
 
 Douglass, Robert 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Dobbins, John W 
 
 do 
 
 at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, '63— disch. by 
 General Order, June 26, 1865. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Dyson, Freeman 
 
 Engle, Peter 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Died at Petersburg, Va., Oct., 1864. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Edwards, Thomas 
 
 do 
 
 Transferred to Co. K, June 2, 1865. 
 Mustered out for disability, Dec, 1863. 
 
 Foltz, Samuel 
 
 .. . do 
 
 
 
 do 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Giltman, John 
 
 do 
 
 Discharged by General Order, Nov. 14, 1865. 
 
 Goldy, John 
 
 Geiger, John 
 
 Harman, Wm. H . 
 
 .. ..do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863— 
 died Nov. 2, 1864 — buried in Poplar Grove, 
 National Cemetery, Petersburg, Va., div. D, 
 sec. C, grave, 80. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Transferred to 53d company, 2 batt. V. R. C. 
 — disch. .by General Order, Nov. 22, 1865. 
 
 Executed — date unknown. 
 
 Handline, Gieorge 
 
 Hibbs, Joseph H 
 
 Howe, Wm. H 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Hart, John 
 
 do 
 
 Transferred to Co. K, June 2, 1865. 
 
 Hendricks, Jonas M 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863— 
 not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 
 
424 
 
 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 Hutchinson, Wm.. 
 
 Hartnett, James... 
 
 Jones, Charles 
 
 Johnson, Charles.. 
 Kite, Wm. S 
 
 Keim, Ephraim.., 
 
 Kearns, John 
 
 iawson, Jacob... 
 
 Lick, Jacob 
 
 Lynch, Joseph ... 
 Moser, William.. 
 Mosley, John 
 
 Mills, Charles 
 
 Murray, James 
 
 Michael, Charles 
 
 Mickle, JohnB 
 
 Marshall, Samuel 
 
 Moxley, Wm 
 
 McNamara, Matthew 
 
 McDonald, John 
 
 McCarter, Wm 
 
 McNulty, Bernard . 
 McSorley, Patrick.. 
 Oxenford, Henry.... 
 
 O'Hara, Henry..., 
 Pennypacker, S... 
 Porter, Charles.... 
 Rodormell, Chas.. 
 
 Ryan, Isaac L 
 
 iiyan, John 
 
 Sacriste, Sebastian 
 
 Sickles, Charles , 
 Smith, James 
 
 Smith, Benjamin.. 
 
 Strechaboc, Jacob , 
 
 Smith, Josiah , 
 
 Stephenson, Robert J,. 
 
 Twelves, Stephen... 
 
 Toner, John 
 
 Taylor, Francis 
 
 Turner, George 
 
 Verill, John 
 
 Wadsworth, Job 
 
 Whitaker. Warren ., 
 
 Webb, Wm. H 
 
 Wade, Richard H.. 
 Woodward, John.... 
 
 Private 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do . 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 
 . do.. 
 ..do.. 
 . do., 
 
 ..do... 
 ..do.., 
 ..do... 
 ..do.. 
 
 ....do.. 
 ....do.. 
 ....do . 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 ,.do.. 
 ..do . 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do... 
 ..do.. 
 ..do . 
 ..do... 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 June 24, 1862 
 
 Mar. 25; 
 Aug. 14, 
 April 
 Aug. 19, 
 
 Feb. 24, 
 Feb. 24, 
 Aug. 20 
 Aug. s 
 Aug. 21 
 Aug. 22 
 June 13, 
 
 Aug. 22 
 Mar. I 
 Aug. 30, 
 July 30, 
 Aug. 19, 
 July 31 
 July 29 
 Mar, 
 Aug. 23, 
 
 Aug. 30, 
 July 9, 
 Aug. 8, 
 
 July 7, 
 Aug. 23. 
 Aug. 29, 
 
 Aug. I2j 
 
 Feb. 12 
 Mar. 8, 
 Ju'y 30. 
 
 Aug. 18 
 Aug. 4; 
 
 Aug. I2j 
 
 Aug. 30, 
 Jane 16, 
 Aug. 9 
 
 Aug. 16, 
 Feb. 17, 
 June 13, 
 Aug. 22, 
 Aug. 20, 
 July 26 
 Feb. 8 
 Aug. 22 
 Aug. '\ 
 Aug. 16, 
 
 1864 
 1862 
 1864 
 1864 
 
 1864 
 1864 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1864 
 1862 
 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 
 1864 
 1862 
 
 1862 
 1862 
 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 
 1862 
 1864 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1864 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 — ■ 
 transferred to Co. D, nth reg. V. R. C. — 
 discharged by General Order, June 28, 1865. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Transferred to V. R. C. — discharged by Gen- 
 eral Order, June 27, 1865. 
 
 Transferred to Co. K, June 2, 1865. 
 
 Transferred to Co. K, June 2, 1865. 
 
 Discharged by General Order, June g, 1865. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Absent, sick, at muster out. 
 
 Wounded at Gettysburg, Fa., July 2, 1863 — 
 absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
 
 Discharged by General Order, June 26, 1865. 
 
 Transferred to Co. K, June 2, 1865. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Discharged by General Order, June 26, 1865. 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 3, '62 
 — mustered out with company. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va.. Dec. 13, 
 1862 — not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 — 
 mustered out with companj', July 3, 1865. 
 
 Transferred to Co. K, June 2, 1865. 
 
 Transferred to Co. K, June 2, 1865. 
 
 Wounded and captured at Gettysburg, Pa., 
 July 2, 1863— ab. at Camp Parole, Anna- 
 polis, Md., at muster out. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
 1862, and at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863 — 
 mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
 1862, and at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1S63 — 
 not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863— 
 not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Discharged by General Order, May 27, 1865. 
 
 TransJerred to Co. K, June 2, 1865. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Killed at Gettysburg. Pa., July 2, 1863. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Transferred 10 Co. K, June 2, 1865. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Promoted to Q. M. Sergt.— date unknown. 
 
 Missing in action, Oct. 12, '63— died in prison 
 at Belle Island. 
 
Three Years' Service. 
 
 425 
 
 Company B. 
 
 Thomas A. Murray.... 
 Francis T. Quinlan.... 
 
 Francis E. Crawford.. 
 
 John McNamara 
 
 Timothy J. Hurley .. 
 
 George M. Book 
 
 Robert T. Maguire.. 
 
 Thomas McKnight.. 
 
 Henry D. Price.. 
 
 Thomas A. Dorwart.. 
 Wm, O'Callagan., 
 
 Thomas J. Murtha.... 
 Benjamin F. Groves . 
 
 Captain 
 do .... 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 do 
 
 I St Lieut. 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 .tdo.. 
 
 2d Lieut. 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 I St Sgt. 
 Sergeant 
 
 John H. McCuIlough do . 
 
 James E. Craig I do.. 
 
 Daniel Connelly , do.. 
 
 Daniel Reen ' do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do- 
 
 Augustus Lindsay ., 
 Charles Bishop.. 
 
 James Davies 
 
 Lawrence J. Coates.. 
 Jacob W. Adams 
 
 James A. Carlin do. 
 
 Corporal 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 John H. Rowen ' do . 
 
 James M. Moore do . 
 
 John Farley do.. 
 
 Henry Adams 
 
 Charles Porter 
 
 Anderson, S. P 
 
 Austin, Charles 
 
 Anderson, William.. 
 
 Musician 
 
 do 
 
 Private 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 Sept. I, 1862 
 Sept. I, 1862 
 
 July ig, 1862 
 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 Aug. 5, 1862 
 
 Sept, 5, 1862 
 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 
 July 12, 1862 
 
 July s, 1862 
 
 Aug. 21, 1862 
 Aug. 15, 1862 
 
 July 24, 1862 
 Aug 4, 1862 
 
 Aug. 15, 1862 
 July 22, 1862 
 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 July 16, 1862 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 
 July 21, 1862 
 Aug. ig, 1862 
 Aug. lU, 1862 
 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 
 Aug. 6, 1862 
 Aug 16, 1862 
 
 Aug. 14, 1862 
 
 June 26, t86z 
 Aug. 29, 1862 
 July 5, 1862 
 July 7, 1862 
 July 10, 1862 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Discharged by General Order, Jan. 27, 1863. 
 
 Promoted from ist Lieutenant, Co. H, Mar. 
 7, 1863 — discharged April 15, 1863. 
 
 Promoted from Q M. Sergeant to ist Lieu- 
 tenant, Mar. 7, 1863— Captain, Nov. 25, 1863 
 — wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864 
 — captured at Reams Station, Aug. 25, 1864 
 — mustered out with company, June 3, 1865, 
 
 Resigned March 7, 1863. 
 
 Discharged Oct. 6, 1862. 
 
 Promoted from Sergeant Major, Nov. t, i8$2 
 — discharged Jan. 26, 1864. 
 
 Promoted from 2d Lieutenant, Mar. 7, 1863 — 
 discharged Mar. 10, 1863 — died of wound re- 
 ceived at Fredericksburg — date unknown. 
 
 Promoted from Sergeant, February 3, 1B64 — 
 discharged July 30, for wounds with loss 
 of hand, received at Petersburg, Va., June 
 16, 1864 — re-commissioned Dec. 1, 1864 — 
 mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Promoted from ist Sergeant to 2d Lieutenant, 
 Sept. 2, 1862 — to ist Lieutenant, Co. C, Mar, 
 
 1, 1863. 
 
 Promoted to 2d Lieutenant, Mar. 19, 1863 — 
 
 cashiered Jan. 7, 1864. 
 Promoted from Sergeant to 2d Lieutenant, 
 
 Mar. I, 1864 — to ist Lieutenant, Co. I, May 
 
 2, 1864. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Commissioned 2d Lieutenant, Co. E, June i, 
 1865 — not mus, — mustered out with com- 
 pany, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Commissioned 2d Lieutenant, Company G, 
 June I, 1865 — mustered out with company, 
 June 3, i86<;. 
 
 Discharged by General Order, May 18. 1865. 
 
 Promoted to Com. Sergeant, Jan. 29, 1863 
 
 Transferred to U. S. Navy, March, 1864 
 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864— mus- 
 tered out with company, June 3, 1865- 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, 1864 — 
 mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Wounded at Reams Station, Va., Aug 25, 
 1864 — mus. out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Promoted to Corporal, Jan, i, 1865— mustered 
 out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Promoted to Corporal, Jan. i, 1865— mustered 
 out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Disch'd on Surgeon's certificate. May, 1864. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Transferred to Co. C, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
426 
 
 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 YihyLE.. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 H 
 
 to 
 S 
 
 > 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Bishop, Charles 
 
 Brown, William H 
 
 Bentley, George W 
 
 Bennett, James 
 
 „ Private .. 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 June 30, 1862 
 
 Aug. 7, 1862 
 
 June 27, i86z 
 Aug. 2, 1864 
 Aug. 28, 1862 
 Aug. iS, i86z 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 
 Aug. 22, 1862 
 Aug. 23, t86z 
 
 Aug. 28, i86z 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 
 Aug. 4, 1B62 
 Aug. 24, 1862 
 Aug. 7, 1862 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec, 13,. 
 
 1862, and at Five Forks, Mar. 31, 1865 — ab. 
 
 in hospital at muster out. 
 Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H,, Va., May 
 
 12, 1864 — discharged on Surgeon's certificate 
 
 — date unknown 
 
 Transferred toVet. Res. Corps — date unknown 
 Transferred to Co. H, June 2, 1865 
 Disch'd on Surgeon's certificate, Dec, 1863. 
 Disch'd on Surgeon's certificate Feb. 7, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co. C Jan. 26, 1863, 
 Died May 3, 1864 — buried in Cathedral 
 
 Cemetery, Phila. 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Blackburn, John 
 
 do 
 
 Brooks, William H 
 
 Black, Theodore 
 
 do 
 
 do. 
 
 Bowlin, Michael 
 
 do 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
 1862 — transferred to Co. C, Jan. 26, 1863 
 
 Prom, to ist Lieut. 6gth Pa. Vols , June, '63. 
 
 Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 3, 1864— 
 mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865, 
 
 Absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
 
 
 do . 
 
 Chambers, William 
 
 do 
 
 .... do... 
 
 Cummings, James 
 
 do 
 
 Clark, William 
 
 do 
 
 Carter 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Aug. 18, i86z 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 Feb. 23, 1864 
 Aug. 23, i86z 
 Feb. i8, 1864 
 July 7, 1862 
 July 22, iti62 
 Aug. 9, X862 
 Aug. 7, 1862 
 Aug. 9, 1862 
 Aug. 25, i86z 
 Aug. 29, 1862 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Transferred to Co. H, June 2. 1865. 
 Disch'g on Surgeon's certificate. May, 1863, 
 Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 16, 1864. 
 Transferred to Co. C, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co. C, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Collins, Henry M 
 
 do 
 
 Clifford, Charles 
 
 .. do... 
 
 Clements, William 
 
 Carroll, James 
 
 ... .do 
 
 do 
 
 
 . . .do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Cockhn, William 
 
 Casey, Patrick 
 
 .... do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 Coggins. Bartholomew... 
 Clark, John 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
 1862— discharged— date unknown. 
 
 Died Sept. 3, 1864— buried at Cy. Hill Ceme- 
 tery, L. I. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Cummings, Benjamin 
 
 do 
 
 Chambers, William 
 
 Chambers, James 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 July 9, 1862 
 Feb. 9, 1864 
 July 9j 1862 
 July i4> 1862 
 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 June 28, 1862 
 July 5,1862 
 July 14, 1862 
 July 29, 1862 
 Aug. 2r, 1862 
 Aug. 21, i86z 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 
 Aug. 30, 1862 
 Aug. z, i86z 
 Aug. II. 1862 
 Aug. TO, 1863 
 Aug. 22, 1862 
 June 14, 1862 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 Davison, George 
 
 do 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, 1864 — 
 
 discharged by General Order, June 29, i8u5. 
 Disch'd on Surgeon's certificate. Mar., 1863 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to Co. C, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co. C, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 27, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll.' 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va , Dec. 13, 
 
 1862 — discharged April 19, 1864. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 186^. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
 Killed at Spottsylvania C,H-,Va., May j8 '64 
 
 —wounded at Fredericksburg, Dec 13, 62. 
 
 
 .. do. 
 
 
 do... 
 
 Dennison, Edmund 
 
 Deener, Henry 
 
 do 
 
 do. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Daley, James 
 
 Doublebower, F. T 
 
 Delaney, Fenton 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 .do .. 
 
 Deveney, Michael 
 
 do 
 
 do... . 
 
 Decamp, William 
 
 do 
 
 Elliott, George 
 
 do. . 
 
 Elleman. Philip H 
 
 Erwin, Edward 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Emrich, Harry 
 
 do. 
 
 Fisher, Andrew 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 
Three Years' Service. 
 
 427 
 
 Frise, John.. 
 
 Gasper, Hfinry 
 
 Gibbons, Richard 
 
 Gilbert, Stephen 
 
 Gibson, William 
 
 Gray, James 
 
 George, John 
 
 Gray, Thomas 
 
 Ganney, Francis 
 
 Hughes, Lewis W 
 
 Hill, John 
 
 Hunt, David M 
 
 Hamsbury, Joseph S 
 
 Henderson, Joseph 
 
 Hevener, Jonas D. 
 
 Haley, James 
 
 Haas, Henry 
 
 Higgins, James B..,, 
 
 Haley, William 
 
 Hurley, Dennis 
 
 Isaacs, George 
 
 Jones, William S .... 
 
 Joyce, Patrick 
 
 Jordan, James 
 
 Jones Francis 
 
 Keenan, Francis £.. 
 
 Kelly. John 
 
 Klyse, Henry 
 
 Keyser, Charles 
 
 Lincke Henry 
 
 Lenci, Augustus 
 
 Laudenschleeger, G.. 
 
 Leguin, John 5 
 
 Landrican, Matth's.. 
 
 Lehman, John 
 
 Mooney, IJwen J. ... 
 
 Murray, John 
 
 Monahan, James.... 
 Manneeley, Wm 
 
 Mabuerry, Isaac M. 
 
 Mink, Andrew J 
 
 Mallon, Daniel 
 
 Morrow, Robert 
 
 Melville, Wm. B 
 
 Marks, James 
 
 Mooney, Wm. W 
 
 Martin, Manuel 
 
 M'Mullin, John R... 
 
 M'Mahon, George... 
 
 Private 
 
 Lutz, Jacob do.. 
 
 Little, William H do.. 
 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 ..do ., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.. 
 . do... 
 ..do. 
 . do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 ,.do.. 
 . do.. 
 ..do,. 
 ..do. 
 ..do,. 
 . do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do,, 
 .do.. 
 ..do., 
 .do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 July 29, 1862 
 
 Aug. 14, 
 Feb. 4, 
 Jan. 28, 
 
 July 7. 
 July 14, 
 July 17, 
 Aug. 2, 
 Aug. 18, 
 June 14, 
 Aug. 13, 
 Sept. 3, 
 Feb. 5, 
 Feb. 21, 
 
 1862 
 1854 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1864 
 1864 
 
 July 
 
 July 
 June 
 July 
 Sept. 
 May 
 July 
 Aug. 
 Aug, 
 Aug. 
 Aug. 
 Aug. 
 Aug. 
 Aug 
 July 
 
 Aug. 15, 1862 
 July 7, 1862 
 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 Mar. 22, 1864 
 
 11, 1862 
 23, 1862 
 
 25, 1862 
 
 26, 1862 
 28, 1862 
 
 9, 1864 
 
 22, 1862 
 25, 1862 
 25, 1862 
 30, 1862 
 19, 1862 
 12, 1862 
 13, 1862 
 
 23, 1862 
 
 ..do Aug. 19, 1862 
 
 . do July 25, 1862 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do 
 
 ..do 
 
 ..do 
 
 ..do 
 
 ..do 
 
 ..do 
 
 ..do 
 
 ..do 
 
 . do.. .. 
 
 ..do;., 
 
 July 22, 
 Aug. 20, 1862 
 Aug. 14, 1862 
 Aug. 20, 1862 
 Aug. 9, 1862 
 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 Jan. 13, 1864 
 July II, 1862 
 July 21, 1862 
 Aug. II, 1862 
 Aug. II, 1862 
 Aug. 14, 1862 
 
 Aug. 29, 1862 
 Aug. 14, 1862 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg,Va., Dec. 13, '62 
 
 — not on muster-out roll. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Transferred to Co. H, June 2, 1865. 
 Not on muster-nut roll. 
 Transferred to Co. C, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll 
 Transferred to Co. C, Jan. 26, 1863, 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Transferred to Co. H, June 2, 1865. 
 Disch'd on Surgeon's certificate, Feb. i, 1865. 
 Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 
 
 18,1864 — discharged on burgeon's certificate. 
 
 Feb. 10, 1865. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to Co. C, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to Co. C, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to Co. C, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Discharged by Special Order, June 17, 1864. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to company C, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863— 
 
 mustered cut with company, June 3, 1865 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Captured at Spottsylvania, C. H,, Va., May 
 
 12, 1864— absent, at Camp Parole, Annapolis. 
 
 Md., at muster out. 
 Transferred to U. S Navy, April 12, 1864. 
 Transferred to Vet. Reserve Corps, Apr i5j'65 
 
 —discharged by General Order, July 22, 65. 
 Killed at South Side R. R , Va , April 2, '65. 
 Transferred to company A- date unknown. 
 Transferred to company C, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Mustered cut with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, and 
 
 at Reams Station, Aug. 25, '64— mustered 
 
 out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Discharged on Surgeon'scertificate, Mar., '63, 
 Transferred to company H, June 2, '65. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Transferred to company C, Jan. 26, 63. 
 Died at Philadelphia, Pa., July 19, '63. 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 64— 
 
 absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
 Promoted to Q. M. Sgt,, Jan. 27, '63. 
 
428 
 
 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 M'Hugh, James.. 
 
 JVrCuen, John 
 
 M'Grath, John 
 
 M'Coy, James 
 
 M'Cann, Bernard 
 
 M'Gurk, William 
 
 M'Guigan, Francis 
 
 M'LaughUn, Pat 
 
 M'Nulty, Michael 
 
 M'Millin, John 
 
 ■Oliver, Abraham 
 
 Porter, William 
 
 Parker, John 
 
 Pilkington John 
 
 -Porter, Aubrey, Sr .... 
 
 Polly, John 
 
 Pilgen, Adam 
 
 Pryor, Michael 
 
 Price, Daniel 
 
 Price, William 
 
 Parker, William 
 
 Ryan, John 
 
 Rutherford, Thos 
 
 Richmond, Samuel G. 
 
 Russell, John... 
 Rogers, John.., 
 Ryan, James... 
 Sally, Patrick,. 
 
 Search, Francis 
 
 Sperling, Frederick.., 
 
 Shields, James 
 
 Stokes, Charles 
 
 Scott. Patrick 
 
 Shields, John , 
 
 Steenbury, Charles.., 
 
 -Smith, Dixon 
 
 Stewart, Robert 
 
 Sharpe, Morris.. 
 
 Standring, John 
 
 Stein, Louis 
 
 Stein, John 
 
 Smith, Wm. S '. 
 
 Smith, Thomas 
 
 Spain, Patrick 
 
 Scott, James 
 
 Sanderlon, Benj 
 
 Spence, Michael 
 
 Thomas, Alonzo C.... 
 
 Tracy, Francis 
 
 Vaughan, Joseph 
 
 Vanderslice, And 
 
 Yanloan, George W.. 
 
 Private 
 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.., 
 . do.., 
 ..do.., 
 
 ..do. 
 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 ..do.. 
 . do.. 
 ..do... 
 . do... 
 ..do... 
 ..do .. 
 ..do... 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 ..do .. 
 ..do .. 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 ..do .. 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 July 2, 1862 
 
 June 21, 1862 
 July 5, 1862 
 July 5, 1862 
 July 28, 1862 
 Aug. 6, 1862 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 Aug. 23 1862 
 
 Aug. 14, 1862 
 Aug. 20, 1862 
 
 July 19, 1862 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 Sept, 15, 1862 
 
 Apr. 14, 1864 
 
 ..do July 23, 1862 
 
 ..do ' July 29, 1862 
 
 ..do ( Aug. 2, 1862 
 
 ..do I Aug. 
 
 ..do I Aug. 
 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 Aug. 14, 1862 
 Aug 18, 1862 
 
 June 24, 1862 
 June 14, 1862 
 May 9, 1864 
 July 7, 1862 
 
 July 24, 1862 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 Aug. 15, 1862 
 July 14, 1862 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 Mar. 26, 1864 
 Keb. I, 1865 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 Apr. 15, 1864 
 
 July 18, 1862 
 
 July 
 July 
 July 
 July 
 July 
 July 
 Aug. 
 Aug. 
 Aug. 
 Apr. 
 Aug. 
 Aug. 
 Aug. 
 Feb. 
 
 21, 1862 
 
 1, 1862 
 12, 1862 
 28, 1862 
 
 21, 1862 
 31, 1862 
 
 2, 1862 
 14, 1862 
 30, 1862 
 14, 1864 
 19, 1862 
 
 6, 1862 
 18, 1862 
 4, 1864 
 
 Died at Frederick, Md., July, 1863— burial 
 
 record. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to company C, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Promoted to ist Lt. company G, April 4, '64. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to company C, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Wounded at Wilderness, May 5, '64. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa.. July 2. 1863 — 
 
 mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 Absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
 Absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
 Wounded at Five Forks, Va., March 31, 65 — 
 
 discharged by General Order, May 3, '65. 
 Wounded at Wilderness. Va., May 5, 1864-;^ 
 
 transferred to company H, June 2, '65. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 Transferred to company C> Jan. 26, '63. 
 Not on muster-out roll 
 Absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
 Discharged on Surgeon's certificate,Mar. ,'63. 
 Missing in action at Spottsylvania Court 
 
 House, Va., May 12, '64. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec 13, '62. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64 — 
 
 mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65, 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65, 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 
 Tr. to 115th reg. Ohio Vols., Feb. 13, '63. 
 
 Transferred to company H, June 2, '65. 
 
 Transferred to company H, June 2, '65. 
 
 Discharged by General Order, June 7, '65. 
 
 Wounded at Tolopotomy, Va., May 31, '64 — 
 transferred to company H, June 2, '65. 
 
 Transferred to company B, 22d reg. Vet. 
 Reserve Corps — wounded at Fredericksburg 
 — discharged by General Order, July 3, '65. 
 
 Not on muster out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Transferred to company C, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Transferred to company C, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Transferred to company C, Jan. 26, '63, 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Transferred to company C, Jan 26, '63. 
 
 Transferred to company H, June 2, '65, 
 
 Transferred to Battery A, 4th U. S. Artillery. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 
 Wounded in action, Sept. 25, '64 — discharged 
 by General Order, May 15, '65. 
 
Three Years' Service. 
 
 429 
 
 NAME. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTEK INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 H 
 
 1 
 
 W 
 > 
 
 in 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Watling. Charles 
 
 Private 
 do 
 
 Aug. 6, 1862 
 Aug. 7, 1862 
 Aug. 9, 1862 
 Aug. 22, 1862 
 Aug. 30, 1862 
 Aug. ig, 1862 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 Died at Beverly, N. J., April 14, '65. 
 Transferred to Co. C. Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Whfldin, Matthew 
 
 do 
 
 
 Wells, Kdward 
 
 "Wilbur, Oscar 
 
 do.... 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to Co. C, Jan.. 26, '63. 
 
 
 
 
 Company C. 
 
 John Teed 
 
 Henry D. Price.. 
 
 William J. Burk . 
 
 Seneca G. Willauer.. 
 Thomas Gray 
 
 John B. Parker... 
 Wm. H. Tyrrell . 
 
 Abraham L. Detwiler... 
 
 Wm. Chambers,. 
 
 Wm. H. Bibighaus ., 
 
 Francis Malin 
 
 Jacob Carl , 
 
 Jefferson Carl 
 
 Henry McElroy.. 
 
 Anthony Matter .. 
 
 Thos. M. Rowland 
 
 Wm. H.Stewart 
 
 Elhannan W. Price 
 
 Franklin B. Missimer... 
 
 George K. Bryan 
 
 Wm, Anderson 
 
 Andrew McLaughlin..., 
 
 William Price 
 
 Willoughby F. Bickle,,, 
 
 John Eckart 
 
 John Blackburn . 
 
 Captain 
 
 do 
 
 do.... 
 
 1st Lieut 
 do 
 
 2d Lieut. 
 do 
 
 do.... 
 
 ist Sgt. 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 do 
 
 bergeant 
 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 do 
 
 .... do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Corporal 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 ,.do.. 
 
 Aug. 26, 18C2 
 July 5, 1862 
 Aug. 14, 1862 
 
 Aug. 26, 1862 
 Aug. -^i 1862 
 
 Aug. 26, 1862 
 Aug, 12, 1862 
 
 Aug. IT, 1862 
 
 July 9, 1862 
 
 Aug. 15, 1862 
 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 Aug II, 1862 
 
 Aug. 14, 1862 
 
 July 31, 1862 
 
 Aug II, 1862 
 
 July 12, 1862 
 July 12, 1862 
 Aug. I, 1862 
 Aug. I, 1862 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 July 10, 1862 
 Aug. ig, 1862 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 
 Aug. 22, 1862 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 
 Captured at Gettysburg, Pa.. July 2, 1863—' 
 com. Major, April 8, 1864, — not mustered — 
 hon. disch. on acct. of disability, Nov. 28,'64. 
 Pr. from 2d Lieut Co. B.to ist Lieut. Co. C, 
 March i, '63 — to Capt., Co. C, April 8, '64— 
 Brev. Maj. — kill'd at Petersburg, Oct 27, '64 
 Captured at William's Farm.Va,, June 22, '64 
 — promoted from Sgt Maj. to ist Lt , Jan. 
 28, '65 — to Capt., Feb. 13, '65 — mustered out 
 with company, June 3, '65. 
 Wounded at I'redericksburg, Va.,Dec. 13/62 
 — promoted to Capt. Co, A, March i, '63. 
 Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa , July 2, 1863 — 
 promoted from Sgt., Feb. 13, 1865 — mustered 
 out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Resigned March 21, 1863. 
 Promoted from Sgt., Co. K, May i, 1863— 
 transferred to Vet. Res. Corps, Aug. 12, '6s 
 — wounded at Fredericksburg. 
 Pr. to Cor.,— to Sgt.— to 2d. Lt., Nov. 9, '63— 
 com. ist Lt , April 8, '64— wd. near Peters- 
 burg, Va., June 16 '64— disch. Dec. 23, 64. 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64 — 
 com. 2d Lt., June i, '65— not mustered — 
 absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
 Promoted to 2d Lt. Co. D, March i, '63— died 
 Aug. 6, 1863. 
 
 Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 
 Wd. ^t Spottsylvania C. H.,Va , May 12, '64 
 —disch. by General Order, June 15, '65. 
 Promoted from Corporal, Dec. 1, 1863— mus- 
 tered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Wounded at Reams Station, Va., Aug 25, 
 ,864— promoted from Cor., Feb. 13, 1865— 
 mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 
 mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec 13, 1862. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 
 Discharged by General Order, June 3, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Prisoner from Aug. 25, '64, to May »7, '65— 
 mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3. 1865. 
 
430 
 
 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 NAME. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 B 
 % 
 % 
 1 
 
 n 
 
 > 
 
 REMARKS, 
 
 
 Corporal 
 
 do 
 
 do.... 
 
 Feb. 12, 1864 
 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 July 29, 1862 
 
 July 29, 1862 
 Aug. 5, 1862 
 Aug. 1 1, 1862 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 July 23, 1862 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 July 22, 1863 
 July 7, 1862 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 
 Aug. 8, 1862 
 Aug 25, 1862 
 Aun. 22, 1862 
 Feb. II, 1864 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 Mar 17, 1864 
 Aug. 5, 1862 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 Aug. 15, 1862 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 Feb. 16, 1864 
 
 Sept. 25, 1863 
 
 July 25, 1B62 
 Aug. 4, 1862 
 Aug 12, 1862 
 July 15, 1862 
 Apr. 5, 1864 
 July 14, 1862 
 Aug. 28, 1862 
 July 25, 1862 
 Feb. 9, 1864 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864 
 — transferred to Co. E, June 2, 1865. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va , Dec. 13, 
 1862, and at Gettysburg, Pa , July 2, 1863 — 
 missing at Gettysburg. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Died Dec, 1862, at Falmouth, Va. 
 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 William H. Brooks 
 
 James E. Stout 
 
 William Reynolds 
 
 William E. Martin 
 
 Samuel J. Willauer 
 
 Henry C. Roberts 
 
 Michael B. Schaffer 
 
 .. .. do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 Musician 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Mustered out with company, J.une 3, 1865. 
 Transferred to Co. A — date unknown. 
 Promoted to Principal Mus. — date unknown. 
 Wounded in action, Oct. i, 1862 — discharged 
 — date unknown. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Philip Clause 
 
 T. W. Vannaman 
 
 Lewis Ritch 
 
 . .. do 
 
 Albright, Charles 
 
 Private 
 .... do 
 
 
 Branson, Samuel 
 
 do 
 
 Barth, Charles G 
 
 do... 
 
 Transferred to Co. E, June 2, 1865. ^ 
 Transferred to Co. E, June"2, 1865. 
 Transferred to Co. E, J une 2, 1865. 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Byarly, James 
 
 do 
 
 Biddle, George W 
 
 ....do 
 
 do 
 
 Blankanbiler, George 
 
 Collins, Charles 
 
 do 
 
 do.. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Wounded at Five Forks, Va., March 31, '65 
 
 — transferred to Co. E, June 2, 1865. 
 Drafted— wd. at Five Forks, Va., March 31, 
 
 1865— transferred to Co. E, June 2, 1865. 
 Not on muster-out roll 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. 
 Discharged by General Order, June 9, 1865. 
 
 
 ....do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 . do 
 
 Cosgrove, Edward P 
 
 Curry, Richard 
 
 Cauler, William 
 
 Deener, Henry 
 
 do 
 
 Donald, George 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Transferred to Co. E, June 2, 1865 
 Missed m action at Fredericksburg. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Davisson. Theo. H 
 
 Davis, Richard W 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Discharged by General Order, July 24, 1865. 
 
 Died Dec. 25, '64— buried in U. S. Hospital 
 Cemetery, Annapolis, Md., grave 139. 
 
 Wounded at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863— trans- 
 ferred to Co. B, i8th Reg., V. R. C.-dis- 
 charged by General Order, June 17, 1865. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Died Dec. 29, of wounds received at Fred- 
 ericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862— buried in 
 Military Asylum Cem., D. C. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out loH. 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va„ Dec. 13, '62 
 — absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Not on master-outroll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862, 
 
 Killed at Gettysburg. 
 
 Died in camp after battle of Fredericksburg, 
 Dec. 13, '62. 
 
 Promoted to Sergeant-Major, Jan. 28, '65. 
 
 Killed near Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 14, '64. 
 
 Fulton, Robert A 
 
 . do .. . 
 
 
 do 
 
 Aug. 14, 1862 
 
 July 7, 1862 
 Aug. 6, 1862 
 
 Aug. 2, 1862 
 Jan. 20, 1865 
 June 25, 1862 
 
 Aug. 25, 1862 
 Aug. 28, 1862 
 July 30, 1862 
 July 30, 1862 
 Aug. 2, 1862 
 Aug. 5, 1862 
 
 Aug. 5, 1862 
 Aug. 27, 1862 
 
 Gibson, William 
 
 Gallagher, William 
 
 Gliden, John 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 .. do .. 
 
 Higgins, James B 
 
 do 
 
 Heinman, William 
 
 . do 
 
 Hurley, Dennis 
 
 do 
 
 
 do... . 
 
 Harrison, Glenn 
 
 do. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Hendricks, A. S 
 
 . do 
 
 
 do .. 
 
 Houp, John 
 
 do 
 
 
 
Three Years' Service. 
 
 431 
 
 Joyce, Patrick 
 
 Jones, James L. . 
 Jefferson, F. A... 
 
 Kollar, John , 
 
 Klyse, Henry 
 
 Kramer, Charles.. 
 
 Kelly, Joseph 
 
 Kane, Thomas J 
 
 Kelly, William 
 
 Lubeck, Henry 
 
 Litch, Benjamin 
 
 Landenberger, A 
 
 Landis, Allen 
 
 Landis, Aaron J 
 
 Mooney, William W.. 
 Marquett, Mahlon 
 
 Major, David E 
 
 McNulty, Michael.. 
 McCann, Bernard .. 
 McCall, Andrew 
 
 McGranahan, James.. 
 
 McBride, James , 
 
 McGinn, John H , 
 
 McLamara, Patrick , 
 
 Neander, Joseph , 
 
 O'Rourke, Francis 
 
 Patrick, John M 
 
 Parker, John B., zd . 
 Palmer, Wm R 
 
 Phillips, Frederick.... 
 
 Ramick, Jacob.... 
 Reinhart, David.. 
 Rhoads, John C 
 
 Roxburgh, T. W.. 
 
 Rodgers, John 
 
 Rhoback, David.. 
 
 Rimby, John 
 
 Rowland, Peter H.. 
 
 Reilly, Michael.., 
 Robinson, John.. 
 Smith, John G.... 
 Smith, Thomas... 
 
 Smith, William S. 
 Spain, Patrick 
 
 Private 
 
 do 
 
 ..do 
 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 
 ..do... 
 
 ..do., 
 ..do... 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do... 
 
 ..do.., 
 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ,.do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 .do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 . do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 Aug. 25, 1862 
 Mar. 18, 1864 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 
 Aug^ 28, 1862 
 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 
 Mar, 16, 1864 
 
 Apr. 17, 1864 
 
 Aug. 5, 1862 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 Aug, 27, 1862 
 July 29, 1862 
 Aug. 2, 1862 
 Aug, 4, 1862 
 Aug II, 1862 
 Aug, 14, 1862 
 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 July 28, 1862 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 
 Feb. 14, 1864 
 
 Feb. 12, 1864 
 July 29, 1862 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 Feb. 25, 1864 
 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 July 12, i86z 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 Apr. 12, 1864 
 
 Aug. 8, 1862 
 Aug. 8, 1862 
 Aug. II, 1862 
 
 Aug. 16, 1862 
 
 June 14, 1862 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 
 Feb. 22, 1864 
 July 22, 1862 
 
 Aug. 15, 1862 
 Aug. 19, 1862 
 Aug i5» i86z 
 July 21, 1862 
 
 July 28, 1862 
 July 31, 1862 
 
 Mustered out with company, June % '6? 
 Tr. to V. R. C-disch.byG. O., June 7,*'65. 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
 
 '62— not on muster-out roll. 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec, 13, 
 
 '62 — absent, in hospital, at muster-out. ' 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
 
 '62 — absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
 Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 
 
 12, '64— transferred to Co. E, June 2, '65. 
 Wounded and missing in action at Spott- 
 sylvania C. H., Va , May 12, '64. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 Not on muster out roll. 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va. 
 Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 2, '64. 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dtc, 13, 
 
 '62 — not on musier-out roll. 
 Diedsud'ly near Falmouth, Va., Nov. 17, '62. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65, 
 Discharged by General Order, June 17, '65. 
 Transferred to Co. B, 12th Reg., V. R. C.— 
 
 wounded at Fredericksburg — discharged by 
 
 General Order, June 28, '65. 
 Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64-— 
 
 transferred to Co. E, June 2, 65, 
 Mustered out with company. 
 Transferred to Co. E, June 2, '65. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Trans, to Battery A, U. S. Art'y — wounded. 
 Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 
 
 12, '64 — transferred to Co. E, June 2, '65. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to Co. K, nth Reg Vet. Reserve 
 
 Corps — disch'd by Gen'l Order, Aug. i8,'65. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65 — 
 
 captured at Gettysburg. 
 Wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 
 
 and at Gettysburg, Pa., July2, '63 — absent, 
 
 in hospital, at muster out. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
 
 '62 — absent at muster out. 
 Discharged bj' General Order, June 5, '65. 
 Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, '63 — 
 
 not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 Prisoner from Oct. 14, '63, to Oct. 17, '64 — 
 
 discharged by General Order, June 9, '65. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 Absent, sick, at muster out. 
 
432 
 
 The Story of the iz6th Regiment. 
 
 NAME. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 » 
 
 s 
 
 1 
 
 << 
 P) 
 > 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 
 Private 
 do ... 
 
 Aug. i8, 1862 
 
 Aug. 30, 1862 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 Jan 29, 1864 
 
 Apr. 7, 1864 
 Aug. 16, 1862 
 Aug. II, 1862 
 
 July 23, 1862 
 Aug. 4, 1862 
 
 Aug. 7, 1B62 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 Feb. 4, 1864 
 Mar. 28, 1864 
 
 Aug. 5, 1862 
 Aug. 6, 1862 
 Aug. 8, 1862 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 Aug. 19, 1862 
 
 Mar 17, 1864 
 Aug. 25, 1862 
 Aug. 8, 1862 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13/62 
 — absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
 
 Killed at Gettysburg. 
 
 N ot on muster-out roll. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 
 Missing in action at Spottsylvania C. H.,Va., 
 May 12, '64 — disch. by G. 0., June 17, '65. 
 
 Tr. to V.R.C.— disch. by G. O., Aug. 26, "65. 
 
 
 Sutherland, Henry 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Tullv Henrv T 
 
 do .. 
 
 Trealfall, George D 
 
 do 
 
 do ... 
 
 
 . do 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 
 
 — not on muster-out roll. 
 Killed at Gettysburg, 
 Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 
 
 12, '64— absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
 Discharged by General Order, May 15, '65. 
 Tr. to V. R. C.— disch. by G. O., June 28, '65. 
 Transferred to Co. E, June 2, '65. 
 Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 
 
 12, '64 — transferred to Co. E, June z, '65. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Transferred to.Battery A, 4th U. S. Artillery.. 
 Missing in action at Fredericksburg. 
 Died at City Point, Va., Sept. 27, '64. 
 Prisoner from May 5, '64, to April 21, '65 — 
 
 wounded at Gettysburg — discharged by 
 
 General Order, Aug. 11, '65. 
 Transferred to Co. E, June 2. 65. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Wilt Henry 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 . . do 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do .... 
 
 Wilson, Samuel 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Whiting, Stephen D 
 
 Whitmeyer, David 
 
 Young, William A 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Zellers, George 
 
 .... do 
 
 Transferred to Battery A, 4th U. S. Artillery. 
 
 Company D. 
 
 William A, Peet ., 
 Garrett Nowlen.., 
 
 Louis J. Sacriste.. 
 
 Jacob R. Moore... 
 Eugene Brady 
 
 John C. Wright . 
 
 George L. Reilly 
 
 William H. Bibighaus.. 
 
 Captain 
 do 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 ist Lieut, 
 do 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 2d Lieut. 
 do 
 
 Aug. 25, 1862 
 Aug. 2, 1862 
 
 Sept. I, 1862 
 
 Aug. 5, i86z 
 Aug. 15, 1862 
 
 July 26, 1862 
 
 Aug. 25, 1862 
 Aug. 15, 1862 
 
 Resigned Feb. 28, '63. 
 
 Promoted from Adj., Nov. 21, '63— to Bt. 
 Maj., Aug. 25, '64— wd. at Fredericksburg 
 — killed at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 
 — bu. in Laurel Hill Cem., Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 Promoted from 2d Lieut., Co. F.to ist Lieut., 
 Mar. 1/63 — to Adjt., Nov. 21, 63— toCapt., 
 Sept. 22, '64 — to Bv. Maj. March 13, '65 — 
 wd. at Cold Harbor, Va., tune 3, '64 — mus- 
 tered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 
 Detailed on staflf of Gen. Birney — wounded 
 at Gettysburg. 
 
 Wd. at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, '63— pr. fr. 
 Sgt., Nov. 21, '63 — killed at Five Forks, Va., 
 Mar. 31, '65 — bur. in Cathedral Cemetery, 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2. '64 — 
 promoted from ist Sgt., May 17. '65 — mus- 
 tered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 
 \younded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13,' 
 '62— discharged Feb. 27, '63 
 
 Promoted from ist Sgt., Co. C, March i, '63 
 
 —died at Washington, D. C, Aug. 6, '63 — 
 
 bu. in Laurel Hill Cem., Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
Three Years' Service. 
 
 433 
 
 Bernard McCahey . 
 
 Richard E, Ker 
 
 Daniel Rogers 
 
 Joseph Slinker., 
 Peter Kelly 
 
 William L, Lott 
 
 Robert J. Fitzgerald,. 
 
 Josiah C. Ra,ndolph .. 
 
 Thomas Connard 
 
 Morris Stowe 
 
 Andrew E. Ker 
 
 Alexander Edg^ir 
 
 Joseph Murphy 
 
 George Allen ., 
 
 Thomas P. Crown , 
 
 Michael J. McKenna.. 
 
 David Steen 
 
 Brian McLaughlin 
 
 John Adams 
 
 John H, Curry- 
 John Hughes 
 
 John Martin 
 
 Thomas Scarlett 
 
 Thomas A. Dorwart . 
 R. J. Stephenson 
 
 Joseph Surrick , 
 ohn McKinney 
 saac Landis , 
 
 Henry Miller 
 
 Andrew Hart , 
 
 Nicholas Martin 
 
 Hugh McVey 
 
 Alonzo Mahan 
 
 Robert Henry 
 
 Charles Gysei 
 
 Alexander, Chas. B.. 
 Alexander, Albert... 
 
 Ahem, Daniel..... 
 
 Adams, Nathan 
 
 Allingham, Robert... 
 Anderson, Thomas.. 
 Altimus, JohnS 
 
 ist Sgt. 
 
 , do 
 
 Sergeant 
 
 James Duffy... do.. 
 
 James Cavfinaugh do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 . do.. 
 
 ,...do.. 
 ,...do.., 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Corporal 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 . do.., 
 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 
 do.. 
 
 do.., 
 
 do.., 
 
 do... 
 
 do.., 
 
 do.., 
 
 .... do.., 
 
 do.., 
 
 do.., 
 
 do.., 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 Musician 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Private 
 do 
 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 . do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do... 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 July lo, 1862 
 
 June 24, 1862 
 Aug. 16, 1862 
 
 Aug, 20, 1862 
 
 Aug. I, 1862 
 
 Feb. 25, 1864 
 
 Aug. 2, 1862 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 
 July 16, 1862 
 Aug. 2, 1862 
 July 7, 1862 
 June 25, 1862 
 July 8, 1862 
 July 30, 1862 
 Aug. 22, 1862 
 
 Aug. 4. 1862 
 Aug. II, 1862 
 Mar. 18, 1864 
 Apr. 4, 1864 
 
 Mar. 8, 1864 
 July 15, 1862 
 Apr. 27, 1864 
 
 July 28, 1862 
 June 18, 1862 
 Aug. 21, 1862 
 Aug. 9, 1862 
 
 July 12, 1862 
 July 7, 1862 
 Aug. 6, 1862 
 Aug. 5, 1862 
 Aug. 22, 1862 
 July 24, 1862 
 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 
 July 17, 1862 
 June 28, 1862 
 July 10, 1862 
 Feb. 26, 1864 
 Feb. II, 1864 
 
 Aug. II, 1862 
 July 29, 1862 
 June 28, 1862 
 July 8, 1862 
 Aug. 14, 1862 
 
 Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 
 i8, '64 — promoted from Sgt., May 17, '65— 
 mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 
 Transferred to 3d Reg., U. S. Cav., June, '63. 
 
 Wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, '63 
 — com. 2d Lieut., June i, '65 — not mus. — 
 mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 
 Wounded at Chancellorsvilte and discharged 
 in consequence — date unknown. 
 
 Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 
 — promoted from private. Mar. i, 1865 — 
 mustered out with company. 
 
 Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, '63— 
 trans, to Vet. Reserve Corps, Jan. 7, '64. 
 
 Wounded at Petersburg Va., June 22, 64, 
 and April 2, '65 — trans, to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
 
 Killed at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64. 
 
 Missing in action at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 
 1863. 
 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. , 
 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 'b^. 
 
 Captured at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, '63 — 
 promoted to Corporal, Mar. i, '65 — mus- 
 tered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 
 Disch. on Surgeon's certificate, March 17, '63. 
 
 Transferred to Vet. Res. Corps, Dec. 14, '64. 
 
 Transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65 — Vet. 
 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64 — 
 transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
 
 Transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
 
 Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64. 
 
 Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 
 — died October 28, '64, in prison. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Transferred to Co. A— date unknown. 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
 '62 — transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63, 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Deserted at Harper's Ferry, Oct. 29, '62. 
 
 Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, '63— not 
 on muster-out roll. 
 
 Wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, '63— not 
 on muster-out roll. 
 
 Disch. on Surgeon's certificate, Mar. 17, '63. 
 
 Transferred to Co. A, January 26, 1863. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Discharged by General Order, May t6, '65. 
 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va,, June 2, '64— 
 transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Transferred to Co. A. Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
434 
 
 The Story of ike Ii6th Regiment. 
 
 NAME. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 B 
 
 s 
 
 > 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Adema, William „ . 
 
 Private 
 
 ......do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 July 28, 1862 
 
 Apr. 12, 1864 
 July 9, 1B62 
 Feb. 26, 1864 
 April 8, 1864 
 
 June 18, 1862 
 June 30, 1862 
 July 29, 1862 
 Aug 21, 1862 
 Aug. 22, 1862 
 Aug. 28, 1862 
 Apr. 24, 1864 
 Apr. 13, 1864 
 
 Mar. 21, 1864 
 Apr. 23, 1864 
 
 Mar. 12, 1864 
 
 July 14, 1862 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 June 24, 1862 
 July 30, 1862 
 
 Aug. 20, 1862 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 Transferred to 4th Artillery, Oct. b6, '62, by 
 
 BuIHnger, Christian 
 
 Brown, Isaac 
 
 Order 154, U. S. A. 
 Transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
 Absent, sick, at muster out. 
 Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64. 
 
 Browan, Benjamin 
 
 Bradley, Wm. T 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Wounded at Po River, Va., May 10, '64 — not 
 on muster-out roll. 
 
 Binder, John E 
 
 Not on muster-out roll- 
 
 Bakeoven, George 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 do .... 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Boylan, John C 
 
 Caffrcy, Stephen 
 
 Carr, John H 
 
 .... do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Discharged on Surgeon's certificate, Jan., '65. 
 
 Wd. at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — tr. to 
 
 
 do 
 
 V. R. C, Mar. 11, '65— disch. Sept. s, '66. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Wounded at Petersburg. Va., June 16, '64 — 
 
 Condon, William 
 
 
 transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
 
 
 do.... 
 
 transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Killed in Wilderness, May, 5, '64. 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13 ,'62 
 
 — not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Promoted to Hos.Stew.U.S. Army, Aug.2,'64. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 Disch.on Surgeon's certificate,date unknown. 
 Discharged July 7, for wounds received at 
 
 Gettysburg, Pa , July 2, '63. 
 Transferred to U. S. Navy, March i, '64. 
 Transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
 Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — 
 
 transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Campbell, William 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Connelly, John , 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do .. 
 
 Aug. 19, 1862 
 July 30, 1862 
 Aug. 29, 1862 
 
 Feb. 12, 1864 
 Apr. 8, 1864 
 Apr. 22, 1864 
 
 Aug. II, 1862 
 Aug. 21, 1862 
 Aug. 4, 1862 
 June 28, 1862 
 Aug. 29, 1862 
 Aug. 4, 1862 
 Aug. 15, 1S62 
 Aug. 29, 1862 
 Apr. 4, 1864 
 
 June 17, 1862 
 
 June 17, 1862 
 Aug. 4, 1862 
 
 July 9, 1862 
 Aug. 14, 1S62 
 
 July 30, 1862 
 
 June 13, 1862 
 June 23, 1862 
 Aug. II, 1862 
 
 Aug. 19, 1862 
 
 
 .. do .. 
 
 Dunning, Hugh , 
 
 De Luar, Albert 
 
 do 
 
 . .do 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Detwiler, Thomas 
 
 Deihl, Jacob H 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Devonshire, Jere'h , 
 
 Dampman, Wm. H 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Ellinger, Emanuel 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Disch. on Surgeon's certificate. Mar. 3, '63. 
 Transferred to Co, A, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '6^. 
 Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 16,'' 64— 
 
 transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
 Transferred to Battery A, 4th U. S. Artillery, 
 
 Oct. 26, '64, Order 154, 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 22, '64 — 
 
 discharged by General Order, June 20, '65. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 Discharged for wounds rec. at Gettysburg, 
 
 Pa., July 2, '63. 
 Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 
 
 died at Philadelphia, Pa., Mar. 27, '65. 
 Transferred to Co. A. Jan. 26, '63. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Discharged for disability, Oct. ,29, '62, at 
 
 Harper's Ferry. 
 Wounded at Five Forks, Va., Mar. 31, '65— 
 
 absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
 
 
 do... . 
 
 Farrell, John A 
 
 ... do 
 
 Foster, Samuel 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do .. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Gallagher, Martin 
 
 Glasgow, Matthew 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Green, William R 
 
 do .. 
 
 Gray, William 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 
Three Years' Service. 
 
 435 
 
 NAME. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OP 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SKRVICE. 
 
 H 
 
 n 
 I 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Hayden, Patrick,.... 
 
 Private 
 
 do 
 
 do .. 
 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 Aug. 15, 1862 
 Mar. 25, 1864 
 
 Apr. 4, 1864 
 
 Mar. 6, 1865 
 Apr. 24, 1864 
 Apr, 13, 1864 
 Mar. 23, 1864 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 I 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 Discharged by General Order, May 26, '65. 
 Wounded at Tolopotomy, Va., May 31, '64 — 
 
 transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
 Wounded at Five Forks, Va., Mar. 31, '65 — 
 
 transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
 Transferred to Co. 1, June 3, '65. 
 
 Harris, Francis M 
 
 Holt George C 
 
 Hansell, John R 
 
 do .. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Harker, Edward 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Transferred to Co. I. June 3, '65. 
 Died at Wilderness, Va., May 4, '64. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Huss, John 
 
 do 
 
 received in action at Petersburg — buried in 
 U. S. General Hospital Cemetery, No. 2. 
 
 do 
 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 
 Apr. 12, 1864 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 July II, 1862 
 
 July 22, 1862 
 Aug. 4, 1862 
 
 July 25, 1862 
 Mar. 6, 1865 
 July 29, 1862 
 July 7, 1862 
 Aug. 22, 1862 
 July 21, 1862 
 July 19, 1862 
 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 Mar. 12, 1864 
 Sept. 1, 1862 
 Apr. 18, 1864 
 
 Apr. II, 1864 
 
 Aug. zo, 1862 
 Aug. 14, 1862 
 July I, 1862 
 Aug. II, 1862 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 Aug. 9, 1862 ■ 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 Mar. 9, 1864 
 
 Aug. 22, 1862 
 Aug. 28, 1862 
 
 Aug. 15, 1862 
 Aug. 7, 1862 
 July 9, 1862 
 
 Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 
 
 
 do 
 
 — died Nov. 5, '64. 
 
 Handline, George 
 
 Harlem, William 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan! 26, '63. 
 
 Hite, George 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Hathaway, Wm. E 
 
 do 
 
 do .. 
 
 Trans, to V. R. C— wounded at Gettysburg— 
 disch. on Surgeon's certificate, Mar. 14, *6s. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Kunkle, George 
 
 do 
 
 Wounded and captured at Gettysburg, Pa., 
 
 
 do 
 
 July 2, '63 — absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 
 Kilpatrick, James 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
 Transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out rol . 
 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 
 — absent at muster out. 
 Disch. on Surgeon's certificate, Feb. 16, '63. 
 
 Logue, James 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 .do 
 
 Disch. by General Order, May 25, '65. 
 Disch. on Surgeon's certificate, Feb. 4, '63. 
 Wd. at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, '64 
 —transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64— 
 
 Logue, Daniel 
 
 Lawrence^ Henry D 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 transferred to Co. I, June 3, 65. 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Llewellyn, Samuel 
 
 Lawson, William S 
 
 Lemark, Woodman 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 . . ..do 
 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 LeBos, Charles 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Wounded and captured at Petersburg, Va , 
 Tune 22, '64 — died at AndersonviUe, Ga., 
 Sept 30, '64— grave, 10,091. 
 
 Disch. on Surgeon's cert. — date unknown. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Wd. at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25^ 64— 
 
 
 do 
 
 mustered out with company, June 3, 65. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Disch. ou Surgeon's certificate, Apr. 4, 63- 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 
 do 
 
 General Order, June i, '65. 
 Died July 22, '64, at AndersonviUe, Ga. — 
 
 Merritt Murtha 
 
 do 
 
 Apr. 9, 1864 
 Apr. 25, 1864 
 
 Apr. 2, 1864 
 
 Transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
 
 MulhoUand, John 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Captured at Reams Station, Aug. 25, 64— 
 transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65. 
 Killed at Petersburg, Va , June 29, 64. 
 
 
 
 
436 
 
 The Story of the ii6th Regiment, 
 
 Moser, William..., 
 Malinger^ Simon.., 
 
 Mallon, Edward 
 
 Murphy, John 
 
 Mills, Jacob 
 
 McFadden, Thos 
 
 McGonigle, Henry..,. 
 McQuaid, Thomas .., 
 McCuUough^ David... 
 McLaughlin, Chas ... 
 McGovern, Edward. 
 
 McDowell, Andrew.. 
 
 McMenamin, Mat'w.. 
 
 McUlhenny, John 
 
 McLaughlin. Mich'l . 
 McMahon, Thos. J.., 
 
 McGiviney, Wm 
 
 Nichols, William 
 
 Norcross, Eugene ,... 
 
 O'Brian, Thomas -. 
 
 U'Brian, James 
 
 Powers, John 
 
 Perry, John 
 
 Pinton, Alfred 
 
 Pounds, Wm 
 
 Parker, Franklin B, 
 Quigley, Joseph B.,.. 
 
 Quicksall, Wm 
 
 Kushworth, George.. 
 
 Rodormell, Chas 
 
 Robson, William 
 
 Sweeney, John , 
 
 Sweeney, Michael..,, 
 
 Snyder, George P.. 
 
 Stone. Robert J 
 
 Smith, William 
 
 Smith, John A 
 
 Sickles, Charles 
 
 Shultz, William .... 
 Smith, William A... 
 
 Sherin, Francis 
 
 Smedley, William.. 
 
 Tuily, Patrick * do. 
 
 Private 
 .....do 
 
 do.. 
 
 ,„ -do,. 
 ....do,. 
 ....do.. 
 ..,.do,. 
 ....do.., 
 ....do.., 
 ....do.. 
 .. do... 
 
 DATB OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 -do... 
 ..do... 
 ..do.,. 
 . do... 
 . do... 
 . do., 
 do... 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 
 ..do... 
 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.., 
 . do.., 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 . do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 Twelves, Stephen.. 
 
 Thompkins, John 
 
 Wallace, William A.. 
 Whelan, James 
 
 Wilson, John 
 
 Wallace, Thomas.,, 
 
 Wilson, David 
 
 Wolf, August 
 
 .do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 ....do.. 
 ....do.. 
 ...,do.., 
 ....do,,. 
 
 Aug, 22, 1862 
 
 July I, 1862 
 
 July 5, 1862 
 July 23, 1862 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 July 15, 1862 
 Ang. 29, 1862 
 Sept. I, 1862 
 July 29, 1862 
 Apr, t, 1864 
 
 Aug. 6, 1862 
 
 Feb. 3, 1864 
 
 1862 
 
 Aug. 12, 
 Aug. 9, 
 
 July 3, 
 Aug. 23, 
 June 30, 
 June 1, 
 Aug. 29, 
 June 22, 
 Aug. 29, 
 May II, 
 
 1862 
 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 
 June ig, 1862 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 Aug, 21, 1862 
 May 4, 1864 
 
 do July 28, 1862 
 
 July 15, 1862 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 July 2, 1862 
 Aug. 19, 1862 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 
 Aug. 
 Apr. 
 Mar. 
 Apr. 12, 1864' 
 
 6, 1862 
 4, 1864 
 
 Aug. 18, 
 Aug. 9, 
 Aug. 21, 
 Aug. 23, 
 June 16, 
 Aug. 4, 
 Aug. 16, 
 June i6, 
 Aug. 5, 
 Aug. 29, 
 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1S62 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 
 Sept. I, 1864 
 
 Aug. 7, 1862 
 
 Aug, 7, 1862 
 
 Apr. 9^ 1864 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Wounded at Chancellorsville,, May 3, '63 — tr. 
 
 to Battery A, 4th U. S. Artillery, Oct. 26, '62. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 Died on way to Gettysburg: 
 Absent, sick, at muster out. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65, 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65, 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 Wd. at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — disch, 
 
 on Surgeon's certificate, Apr, 4, '65. 
 Wd, at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — disch. 
 
 on Surgeon's certificate — date unknown. 
 Wounded at Tolopotomy, Va.. May 31, '64 — 
 
 transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65, 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Disch. on Surgeon's certificate of disability. 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 7, '65, 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 22, '64 — 
 
 transferred to Co. I, June 3, '65, 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out rolj. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 29, of wounds 
 
 rec at Petersburg, Va. , June 1 6,'64 — bu. rec , 
 
 died at Portsmouth Grove, R. I , July 2, '64. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Killed at Chancellorsville, Va , May 3, '63. 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, '65. 
 Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64. 
 
 absent, sick, at muster-out. 
 Disch. on Surgeon's certificate. Mar. 3, '63. 
 Absent, sick, at muster out. 
 Transferred to Co, I, June 3, '65. 
 Died at Philadelphia, Pa., July 26,'64— burial 
 
 record, Sept. 4, '64. 
 Transferred to Co, A, Jan. z6, 1863. 
 Missing in action at Gettysburg. 
 Not on muster-out roll 
 Killed at Gettysburg. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Disch. on burgeon's certificate, March 17/63. 
 Transferred lo Co, A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Mustered out with company, June 3, 1865. 
 Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H. Va., May 
 
 10, '64 — transferred to Vet, Res. Corps — dis- 
 charged by General Order, July 26, '65, 
 Disch, on Surgeon's certificate, Feb i6, '63^ 
 Disch, Nov, 25, '63, for wds. rec. in action. 
 Disch. on writ q{ habeas corpus^ May 25/63, 
 Absent, sick, at muster out. 
 
Three Years' Service. 
 
 437 
 
 NAME. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 a 
 
 3 
 
 > 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Walker, Theodore A 
 
 Woodard, John 
 
 Whitus, Charles 
 
 Walton, F. C.V 
 
 White, John 
 
 Private 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 July 20, 1862 
 Aug. 16, 1862 
 Aug. 22^ 1862 
 Aug. 14, 1862 
 
 Aug. 15, 1862 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 Killed at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, '63. 
 
 Transferred to Co, A, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, '62 — 
 
 not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to Battery A, 4th U. S. Artillery, 
 
 Oct. 26, '62 — Order 154. 
 
 
 
 Company E. 
 
 John McNamara.. 
 Michael Schoales.. 
 Charles CossletC ... 
 
 Joseph H. G. Miles., 
 Robert J. Grogan..., 
 Timothy A. Sloan... 
 
 Robert T. Maguire ., 
 
 Henry Keil , 
 
 Silas Younkin 
 
 Thomas Bowers , 
 Patrick Welsh...., 
 
 John Reed,..., 
 
 Edward W. Desher... 
 
 Michael Cavanaugh.. 
 
 John Cassidy 
 
 John Murray 
 
 Henry Marshall 
 
 Thomas Lacompte.. 
 
 Henry-Kelly 
 
 HughCroU 
 
 James J. Byrne.. 
 Martin Weiss 
 
 Captain 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 ist Lieut. 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 2d Lieut. 
 do 
 
 1st Sgt. 
 
 do 
 
 Sergeant 
 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do... 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do... 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 .,do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 Mar. 3, 1864 
 Mar. 3, 1864 
 
 Sept. 5, 1862 
 Mar. 3, 1864 
 Feb. 16, 1864 
 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 
 Feb. 25, 1864 
 
 Aug. 15, 1862 
 Feb. 12, 1864 
 
 Feb. 12, 1864 
 Feb. 13, 1864 
 
 Feb. 18, 1864 
 Feb. 15, 1864 
 Feb. 20, 1864 
 
 Feb. 12, 1864 
 Feb. 12, 1864 
 
 Aug. 5, i86z 
 Feb. 15, 1864 
 
 Feb. IS, 1864 
 
 Feb. 12, 1864 
 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Resigned, May 17, '64. 
 
 Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, at Cold 
 Harbor, June 3, and wounded and captured 
 at William's Farm, June 22, '64 — promoted 
 from 2d. Lt., June 13, '64 — to Brevet-Major, 
 March 13, '65— discharged on Surgeon's 
 certificate, June 22, '65 
 
 Discharged by Special Order, Jan. 27, '63. 
 
 Resigned May 17, '64. 
 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64 — 
 promoted from Sgt. to 2d Lt., June 13, '64 — 
 to 1st Lt., June 9, '65 — com. Capt , June 32, 
 '65 — notmus. — mustered out with company, 
 July 14, '65. 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. i3,'62 
 — transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Promoted from 1st Sgt. — killed at Spott- 
 sylvania. May 12^ '64. 
 
 Promoted to Cor., Nov. 1, '64— to Sgt., May 
 I, '65 — to ist Sgt., June 9, '65 — com. 2d Lt , 
 July I, '65 — not mustered — mustered out 
 with company, July 14, '65. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — 
 promoted from private. May i, '65 — mus- 
 tered out with company, July 14, '65. 
 
 Promoted from private. May i, '65— mustered 
 out with company, July 14, '65. 
 
 Wounded at Wilderness, Va , May 5, '64 — 
 promoted from private, July i, '65 — mus- 
 tered out with company, July 14, '65. 
 
 Promoted to Cor., May i, '65— to Sgt., July i, 
 '65— mus. out with company, July 14, '65. 
 
 Wounded at Wilderness, Va,, May 5/64 — 
 absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
 
 Captured at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 
 12, '64 — died at Andersonville, Ga. — date 
 unknown. 
 
 Absent, wounded, at muster out. 
 
 Captured at Petersburg, Va., June 29, '64 — 
 discharged by General Order, June 12, '65 
 
 Died Sept., '62. 
 
 Promoted to Sgt , May i, '64— discharged by 
 General Order, May 31, '65. 
 
 Promoted to Sgt., May i, '64— not on muster- 
 out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
4B8 
 
 The Story- of the ii6ih Regiment. 
 
 NAME. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 n 
 
 \ 
 
 to 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 
 Sergeant 
 ".'.'.'...&o~.".'.. 
 
 Feb. 17, 1864 
 June 27, 1862 
 June 14, 1862 
 June 24, 1862 
 Aug. 16, 1862 
 Feb. 10, 1864 
 
 Mar. 28, 1864 
 
 Feb. ip, 1864 
 
 Feb. 8, 1864 
 
 Feb. 24, 1864 
 
 Feb. 10, 1864 
 Feb. 10, 1864 
 
 Feb. 13, 1864 
 
 Feb. 18, 1864 
 Feb. 13, 1864 
 Feb. 15, 1864 
 July 7, 1862 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 Aug. 7, 1862 
 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 July 19, 1862 
 July 19, 1862 
 July 22, 1862 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 Feb. 20, 1864 
 Feb. 12, 1864 
 Aug. 20, 1864 
 July 7, 1862 
 Feb. 10, 1864 
 Feb. 15, 1864 
 freb. 22, 1864 
 July 21, 1862 
 July 29, 1862 
 Aug. 20, 1862 
 Sept. 21, 1864 
 Feb. 11, 1864 
 Feb. 13, 1864 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 Feb. 16, 1864 
 Feb. 24, 1864 
 Feb. 15, 1864 
 Feb. 17, 1864 
 Aug. 18, i86j 
 June 30, 1862 
 July 28, 1862 
 Aug. 1, 1862 
 Aug. II, 1862 
 Aug. 18, 1861 
 June 14, 1862 
 Feb. 18, 1864 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 , 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 Not on muster-out roll 
 
 George W. Bentley 
 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan g6, '6-\ 
 
 
 do 
 
 Promoted to Com. Sergeant, Jan, 26, '63. ■ 
 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 Corporal 
 do 
 
 Promoted to Corporal, May i, '65 — mustered 
 
 
 out with company, July 14, 't^. 
 Promoted to Corporal, May i, '05 — mustered 
 
 
 do 
 
 out with company, July 14, '65. 
 Promoted to Corporal, July i, '65 — mustered 
 
 John Ellis 
 
 do 
 
 out with company, July 14, '65. 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64, 
 
 Lot Turney 
 
 Thomas Sharp 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 and in action, Oct. 16, '64 — discharged by 
 
 General Order, June 2, '65. 
 Promoted to Corporal, May 15, '64 — killed at 
 
 Cold Harbor, Va , June 3,- '64. 
 Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64. 
 Died at Alexandria, Va., June 18, of wounds 
 
 
 do 
 
 received at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64— 
 grave 2,181. 
 Promoted to Corporal, May 15, '64— captured 
 
 
 do 
 
 at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 — died at 
 
 Salisbury, N. C , Nov. 13, '64. 
 Pr. to Cor., June i, '64^dis. March i, '65. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 William H. Little 
 
 CO 
 
 do 
 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 ' Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 William Clark 
 
 do 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg,Va., Dec. 13,^*62 
 — transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Promoted to Q. M. Sgt., Jan. 26, '63. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Augustus Lindsay 
 
 John Parker 
 
 Francis K. Crawford 
 
 Thos. H. F. Brady 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 Musician 
 do 
 
 
 Wm J Curley 
 
 
 
 do 
 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Missingin action, Wilderness, Va., May 5,'64. 
 
 Elberson E. Little 
 
 do 
 
 Private 
 do 
 
 Allen, Thomas W 
 
 Anderson, Nicholas 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 Armstrong, Wm 
 
 do 
 
 .. do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Drafted — mus. out with company, July 14/65. 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
 
 Mustered oat with company, July 14, '65. 
 
 Absent, sick, at muster out. 
 
 Disch. by General Order, May 15, '65, 
 
 Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., May 18, '64. 
 
 Barth,' Charles' G 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Braddish, Stephen 
 
 Bartlett, Thomas A 
 
 Barker, Richard 
 
 .... do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 Bagshaw Walter i.. 
 
 do 
 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan, 26, '63. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, 63. 
 
 
 do.... 
 
 
 do 
 
 Bowser, Levi 
 
 Barlow, William 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do....'.. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Transferred to Battery A, 4th U..S..Artille,ry. 
 
 Brown, Joseph E 
 
 Caldwell, James W 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Mustei'ed out with company, July 14, '65. 
 
Three Years' Service. 
 
 439 
 
 Cosgrove, Edw. P 
 
 Curran, Patrick 
 
 Connelly, Austin 
 
 Cannon, Bernard 
 
 Carlin, James A 
 
 Coates, Lawrence J 
 
 Cummings, James 
 
 Chambers, William 
 
 Curry, Patrick 
 
 Collins, Thomas 
 
 Cloud, Alfred J 
 
 Daily, Tcrrence 
 
 Donald, George 
 
 Dodd, George A 
 
 Davis, Joseph 
 
 Dixon, John 
 
 Dougherty, Samuel 
 
 Davidson, George 
 
 Daisley, Thomas 
 
 Dailey, John M 
 
 Ellis, Samuel 
 
 Elfert, Charles 
 
 Elliott, George 
 
 Elleman, Philip H., 
 
 Essert, Charles 
 
 Flynn, James 
 
 Glotfelty, James 
 
 Goggius, Peter 
 
 Gasper, Henry 
 
 Graven, William 
 
 Geddis, Alexander,. 
 
 Hall, Joseph 
 
 Holler, Michael 
 
 Hughes, Lewis W 
 
 Holden, Thomas N.... 
 Howell, Edward 
 
 Hendricks, Abraham.. 
 
 Johnston, Joseph W.. 
 
 Tames, Charles 
 
 Jard, Jacob 
 
 Kramer, Charles 
 
 Kelly, John 
 
 Kennedy, Moses. 
 
 Lamer, Thomas 
 
 Luder, Charles 
 
 Lachman, Tobias 
 
 Lewders, Frederick.. 
 
 Laycock, Hugh 
 
 Logue, John 
 
 Law, Samuel ..., 
 Lincke, Henry.. 
 
 Private 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 . do.., 
 .do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do... 
 
 , do.. 
 
 do.. 
 
 do.. 
 
 do.. 
 
 do.. 
 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.., 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do:., 
 ..do.. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 Sept. 25, 1863 
 Feb. 16, 1864 
 Feb. IS, 1864 
 Aug. 4, 1862 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 Aug. 19, 1862 
 Aug. 24, 1862 
 Aug. 13, 1863 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 Aug. 5, 1862 
 Aug. 19, 1862 
 Feb 15, 1864 
 Apr. 5, 1864 
 Feb. 20, 1864 
 Feb. 8, 1864 
 Feb. 17,1864 
 Feb. II, 1864 
 July 9, 1862 
 July 14, 1862 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 Feb. 23, 1864 
 Feb. 24, 1864 
 
 Aug. 2, 1862 
 Aug II, 1862 
 
 Feb. 16, 1864 
 Feb. 24, 1864 
 Feb. 20, 1864 
 
 Aug. 14, 1862 
 July 14, 1862 
 Aug. 5, 1862 
 Feb. 13, 1864 
 Feb. 8, 1864 
 
 June 14, 1862 
 July 17, 1862 
 Aug. 14, 1862 
 
 June 14, 
 
 July 14, 
 
 1862 
 1862 
 
 Mar. 16, 
 Feb. 20, 
 Aug. s. 
 Mar. 21, 
 Feb. 13, 
 
 Feb. if, 
 
 Feb. 13, 
 
 Feb. 18, 
 
 Feb. 15, 
 
 Feb. 8, 
 July 22, 
 
 1864 
 1862 
 1865 
 1864 
 
 1864 
 
 1864 
 
 1864 
 
 1864 
 
 1864 
 1862 
 
 Drafted— mus. out with company Julyi4,'6s. 
 
 Absent, wounded, at muster out. 
 
 Discharged by General Order, June 9, '65. 
 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan, 26, '63. 
 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Transferred to Co. B Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Transferred to Co, B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Honorably discharged, disability, Dec. '62. 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
 
 Absent, sick, at muster out. 
 
 Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan, 26, '63. 
 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63, 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Discharged by General Order, June 10, '65. 
 
 Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, '64— buried 
 
 in Wilderness burial grounds — grave 536, 
 
 Sec. C, Div. B 
 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Died May 6, '64, at Fredericksburg. 
 Absent, sick, at muster out. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
 Wd. at Wilderness, Va. , May 5, '64— missing 
 
 in action at Deep Bottom, Aug. 14, '64. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, 63. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Transferred to Vet. Res, Corps, Nov. 20, '64. 
 Tr. to Co. H, i6th reg., V. R. C, Jan. 25, '65 
 
 — disch, by General Order, July 15, '65. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Died Jan. 15, '63, at Fredericksburg — grave, 
 
 16, Sec. A, Div. D. 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 
 
 — transferred to i6th reg., V. R. Corps. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Died Nov. 25, '64. 
 Absent, wounded, at muster out. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Substitute — mustered out with Co., Julyi4,'65. 
 Wd. at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May iz and 
 
 18, '64 — absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
 Wd. at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May iz, '64 
 
 — disch, by General Order, May 26, '65. 
 Killed at Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 16, '64— bu. 
 
 in Nat. Cem., Ft. Harrison, Sec. A, grave 83, 
 Cap. at Petersburg, Va., June 22, '64 — died at 
 
 Andersonville.Ga., Aug. 11/64— grave 5.3i4' 
 Died at Washington, D. C, Dec. 25, '64 — 
 
 buried in National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
440 
 
 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 NAME. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 w 
 
 1 
 
 n 
 > 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Link, Frederick 
 
 Private 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do... 
 
 July 28, 1862 
 Feb. 22, 1864 
 
 Feb. 22, 1864 
 
 Feb. 24, 1B64 
 Feb. i3, 1864 
 Feb. 23, 1864 
 heb 16, 1864 
 Aug. 20, 1862 
 Aug 14, 1862 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 June 26. 1862 
 Aug. II, 1862 
 Aug. 14, 1862 
 
 Aug. 16, 1862 
 Feb. 14, 1864 
 Feb. 14, 1864 
 Feb. 5, 1864 
 June 21, 1862 
 Aug. 2, 1862 
 Aug. 14, 1862 
 Aug. 15, 1862 
 Feb. 8, 1864 
 
 Feb. IS, 1864 
 Feb. es, 1864 
 Aug. 6, 1862 
 Aug. 15, 1862 
 
 June 16, 1864 
 Feb. 23, 1864 
 Aug. iz, 1862 
 Aug. 15, 1862 
 July 5, 1862 
 Aug. 14, 1862 
 Aug. 5, 1862 
 June I. 1864 
 
 Feb. IS. 1864 
 Feb. 10, 1864 
 Keb. 10. 1864 
 June 24, 1862 
 Aug. 18, 1B62 
 June 27, 1862 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 Feb. 25, 1864 
 
 Feb. 10, 1864 
 
 Feb. 24, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 feb. 24, 1864 
 Feb. 24, 1864 
 Feb. 13, 1864 
 Feb. 22, 1864 
 Aug, 13, 1862 
 July 7, 1862 
 July 14, 1862 
 Aug IS, 1862 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 \ 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 
 Murphy, Thos., ist 
 
 Murphy, Thos., 2d 
 
 Megary, Peter 
 
 Wd. at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64— tr. to 
 v. R. C— disch. on Surg, cert., May 6, '6;;. 
 
 Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 
 — died at Annapolis, Md., Sept. 22, '64. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Manning, James 
 
 Miller, James 
 
 do...... 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roil. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 
 do. 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 
 
 MuUin, Patrick . .. 
 
 do. 
 
 Transferred to Battery A, 4th U. S. Artillery. 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. i3,'62 
 —not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Absent, wounded, at muster out. 
 
 Middleton, Robert 
 
 Maloney, William 
 
 McGranahan, James 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 McGonegal, Cornelius.... 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Uisch on Surgeon's certificate, Oct. 4, '64. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 
 — died at Andersonville, Ga. — date unknown 
 Discharged by General Order, July 14, '65. 
 
 
 do 
 
 McMahon, George 
 
 McCuUough, Jno. H 
 
 Nelson, Albert 
 
 ... . do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 O'Connor, Joseph D 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 O'Callaghan, Wm 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va , Dec. 13, '62 
 
 —transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Absent, sick, at muster out. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, 63. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64 — 
 
 absent, in hospital, at muster-out. 
 Absent, sick, at muster out. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63, 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Prisoner from Aug. 25 to Sept . 27,'64 — absent, 
 
 sick, at muster out 
 Wounded at William's Farm,Va., June 22,'64 
 
 — absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
 Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64— 
 
 absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
 Discharged by General Order, May 26, '65. 
 Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Transferred-to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 
 do.. .. 
 
 Pilkington, John 
 
 do . 
 
 Porter, Aubrey 
 
 Parmer, Watson G 
 
 Patton, Neal 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do. 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Richard. David 
 
 do 
 
 do. ... 
 
 Roberts, William 
 
 .. do . 
 
 Russell, John 
 
 do 
 
 
 do.... 
 
 Robson, John P 
 
 Richmond, Samuel G 
 
 Sherlin, Patrick 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do... 
 
 Shadle, William 
 
 do 
 
 Stuck, Peter 
 
 . do 
 
 Sharpe, Charles W 
 
 Shannon, David 
 
 .. .. do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Storm, Jacob 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Sperling, Fred'k 
 
 Sally, Patrick 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Stokes, Charles 
 
 Shields, James 
 
 do 
 
 .. ..do 
 
 
 
Three Years' Service. 
 
 441 
 
 NAME. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SBRVICE. 
 
 H 
 w 
 
 f 
 
 > 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 
 Private 
 do 
 
 July 
 Aug 
 July 
 Aug. 
 
 18, 1862 
 13, 1862 
 17, 1862 
 16, 1862 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 Smith. Thomas H 
 
 Shields, James W 
 
 Tharp, Charles V 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Tomlin, George ,.... 
 
 do. 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Jan. 29, 1864 
 Feb. 23, 1864 
 July ig, 1862 
 Feb. 23, 1864 
 
 Feb. 4, 1864 
 Feb. 15, 1864 
 Feb. 24, 1864 
 Feb. 16, 1864 
 
 Feb. 24, r864 
 
 Feb. 13, 1864 
 Feb. 17, 1864 
 Aug. 6, 1862 
 June 26, 1862 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 Feb. 13, 1864 
 
 Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June i6, '64— 
 absent, in hospital, at muster out 
 
 Discharged by General Order, June 17, '65. 
 
 Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2,'6^~ 
 mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
 
 ^ully, Henry J 
 
 do 
 
 Turpin, Wilson 
 
 Turner, William 
 
 do 
 
 , do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Wilt, Georee 
 
 do 
 
 Williams, William 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Discharged by General Order, May 26, '65. 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64 — 
 
 discharged by General Order, June 2, '65. 
 Capt'datWilUam'sFarm, Va., June22,'64 — 
 
 died at Andersonville, Ga., Oct. 10, '64 — 
 
 grave, 10,632. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Wright, Joseph 
 
 do .... 
 
 Wiley, John M 
 
 do 
 
 Wardlow, Richard 
 
 Wallace, George W 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Warner, Henry 
 
 .... do 
 
 do 
 
 Yard, Jacob 
 
 ......do 
 
 do 
 
 Died at Washington, D. C, Nov. 25, '64. 
 Wounded at Wilderness, May 5, '64— capt'd 
 and died in prison at Salisbury, N. C. 
 Killed at Po River, Va., May 10, '64. 
 
 Zang, Malchior 
 
 do 
 
 Feb. 
 
 II, 1864 
 
 
 
 Company F. 
 
 Wellington, Jones.. 
 Wm. A. Shoener.... 
 
 Joseph B. Kite.... 
 Peter H. Frailey.. 
 George Reber 
 
 Louis J. Sacriste... 
 Edward S Kline.. 
 
 Robert Scarlett 
 
 Wm. M. Wagner.. 
 
 Horace B. Klock... 
 Charles Maurer .... 
 
 Daniel Moyer .... 
 James Dempsey.. 
 Levi P. Miller 
 
 Captain. 
 do 
 
 ist Lieut, 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 2d Lieut, 
 ist Sgt. 
 
 . ...do 
 
 Sergeant 
 
 ....do. 
 ....do.. 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Corporal 
 
 Feb. 23, 1864 
 Feb. 23, 1864 
 
 July 17, 1862 
 Feb. 23, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Sept, I, 1862 
 Feb. ig, 1864 
 
 Aug. 7, 1862 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. ig, 1864 
 
 Disch. on Surgeon's certificate, June 27, '64. 
 Promoted from 2d Lieut , Jan. 17, '65 — disch. 
 
 by Special Order, June 14, '65. 
 Resigned Dec. 4, 62. 
 
 Disch. on Surgeon's certificate, June 2 '64. 
 Wd atWilderness,Va.,May8,'64 — pr.fr.Sgt., 
 
 Feb. 14, '65 — com. Capt., June 15. '65 — not 
 
 mus. — mus. out with company, July 14, '65. 
 Promoted to ist Lieut. Co. D, Mar. i, '63. 
 Wd. at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 — 
 
 mus. out with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 
 Discharged for disability, Feb. 11, '63. 
 Wd. at Cold Harbor, Va„ June 2, '64— com. 
 
 2d Lieut., July 1, '65 — not mustered — mus. 
 
 out with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 
 Mus out with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 
 Pr. to Sergeant, Feb. i, "65 — mustered out 
 
 with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 
 Missing in action, at Spottsylvania C. H., 
 
 Va., May 12, '64. 
 Died, 1863, at Fredericksburg, Va,— grave 37. 
 
 Sec. A, Div. D, Nat. Cem., Fredericksburg. 
 Promoted to Corp., July 1/64 — mustered out 
 
 with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 
 
442 
 
 The Story of the 116th Regiment. 
 
 William L. Hutton.., 
 
 Solomon Kamp 
 
 Wm. H. Webber 
 
 Franklin Wagner 
 
 Solomon Everly 
 
 Chris. DiefFenderfer.. 
 
 Adam Wagner.... 
 William Moser.,, 
 
 William Emrich 
 
 Dan B. Berkheiser.. 
 Jacob Shrader 
 
 Daniel Kramer,., 
 
 Aikman, William.. 
 Adams, David M... 
 
 Berger, John A. ... 
 Berkheiser, Benj..., 
 
 Berger, Henry A... 
 Brigel, Franklin.... 
 
 Brummer, D. H 
 
 Baxter, John... 
 
 Bright, Philip F 
 
 Corloy, John 
 
 Cummings, John..., 
 
 Collins, William 
 
 Charters, Thomas . 
 
 Camden, John 
 
 Ditzler, I'homas .... 
 
 Dry, William 
 
 Ditzler, Elias 
 
 Day, James 
 
 Derulf, Elam 
 
 Dohrman. John F 
 
 Dolan, Michael 
 
 Dyson, Freeman 
 
 Duffy, James F 
 
 Dougherty, Thomas... 
 
 Dougherty Patrick 
 
 Dempsey, James B 
 
 Everly, Moses 
 
 Corporal 
 
 do.... 
 
 do.... 
 
 do.... 
 
 do.... 
 
 do.... 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 do 
 
 Musician 
 
 Private 
 . ...do 
 
 ..do.. 
 .,do.. 
 
 ..do. 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do . 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 . do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 . do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do... 
 ..do.., 
 ..do... 
 
 ..do... 
 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 do... 
 ..do... 
 
 Feb 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 teb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. ig, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 Apr. 12, 1864 ' 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 Feb. ig, 1B64 
 
 Feb. ig, 1864 
 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 July 30, 1862 
 Aug. 16, 1862 
 Aug. 19, 1862 
 July 12, 1862 
 July 12, 1862 
 Apr. 18, 1864 
 Feb. 19. 1864 
 Mar, 13, 1865 
 Feb 19. 1864 
 Feb. ig, 1864 
 
 Feb. ig, 1864 
 
 1864 
 1864 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1854 
 
 Feb. 19, 
 Aug. 5, 
 Aug. 6, 
 Aug. 16, 
 Aug. 28, 
 Aug. 30, 
 Sept. 2, 
 Feb. ig. 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, '62, 
 
 while member of Co. K, 127th Pa. Vols. — 
 
 wd. at Deep Bottom, Aug 18, '64 — wd. at 
 
 Five Forks, March 31, '65 — mustered out 
 
 with company. 
 Promoted to Corp., Feb. i, '65 — mustered out 
 
 with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 
 Promoted to Corp.", May i, '65 — mustered 
 
 out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Promoted to Corp., June i, 1B65 — mustered 
 
 out with company, July 24, 1865. 
 Wounded at Tolopotomy River, Va., May 
 
 31, '64 — absent, sick, at muster out — Vet. 
 Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25^ 
 
 '64 — died at Salisbury, N. C.Nov. 4, '64. 
 Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 14, '64 — Vet. 
 Died at Alexandria, Va., June 14, of wounds 
 
 received at Cold Harbor, June 3 1864 — 
 
 buried in National Cemetery, Arlington. 
 Missing in action at Spottsylvania C. H., 
 
 Va., May 12, 1864 — Vet. 
 Killed at Reams Sta., Va., Aug. 26,'64 — Vet. 
 Prisoner from Aug. 25, '64, to March, '65 — 
 
 mus. out with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 
 Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64 — 
 
 mustered out with company, July 14, 1B65. 
 Discharged by General Order, June 16, '65. 
 Missing in action at Spottsylvania C. H., 
 
 Va., May 12, 1864. 
 Killed at Cold Harbor, Va , June 3, 1864. 
 Mi<ising in action at Spottsylvania C. H., 
 
 Va , May 12, 1864. 
 
 Killed at Po River, Va., May 10, 1864. 
 Missing in action at Reams Station, Va., 
 
 Aug. 25, 1864— Vet. 
 Missing in action at Po River, Va., May 10, 
 
 1864. 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va , Dec. 13, '62. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865, 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Absent, sick, at muster out. 
 Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, 
 
 1864— died at Salisbury, N. C., Nov. 4, '64 
 
 — burial record, Dec. 20, 1864. 
 Missing in action at Reams Station, Va , 
 
 Aug. 25, 1864. 
 
 Mis. in action at Petersburg, Va., June 22, '64. 
 Absent, in arrest, at muster out. 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64— 
 
 mustered out with company, July 14, 1865.. 
 
Three Years' Service. 
 
 443 
 
 NAMB. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 >1 
 I 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 
 Private 
 do. 
 
 Apr. 12, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 July 30, 1862 
 Aug. 9. 1862 
 Sept. I, 1862 
 Mar. 24, 1864 
 
 Feb. 28, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1B64 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 
 12, '64 — tr. to Vet. Res. Corps, Jan. 27, '65. 
 
 Killed at Tolopotomy River, Va., May 31, 
 1864— Vet. 
 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 
 Emsley, William 
 
 Ellis, Samuel 
 
 do 
 
 .. do.. 
 
 Faust, Semaria 
 
 do 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Died at City Point, Va., June 27, 1864. 
 Missing in action at Petersburg, Va., June 
 16, 1864. 
 
 
 do. 
 
 Freeze, John 
 
 do 
 
 Fahl, Daniel 
 
 .... do. 
 
 Garth, Johns 
 
 do 
 
 Green, John 
 
 do 
 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 Hahn, John G 
 
 do.. 
 
 Wounded at Five Forks, Va., March 31, '65 — 
 
 wounded at Reams Station, Aug. 25, '64— 
 
 disch. Aug. 7, to date July 14, 1865 — Vet. 
 Brigade Hospital Steward — mustered out 
 
 with regiment. 
 Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64, 
 
 wounded at Wilderness — discharged by 
 
 General Order, June 22, 1865. 
 Died at Brandy Station, Va., April 20, '64 — 
 
 buried in Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C. 
 Died at Annapolis, Md., Oct. 14. 1864. 
 Died at Washington, D. C, Sept. 13, '64— bu. 
 
 rec, buried in Cypress Hill Cem.. L. I. 
 Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 16, 1864. 
 Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864. 
 Killed at Po River, Va., May 10, 1864. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Hendricks, A. W 
 
 do 
 
 Henny, Daniel 
 
 Hunker, John J 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Hoffman, Peramus 
 
 Herring, Levi 
 
 Heinback, Lewis 
 
 Houck, Charles T 
 
 Johnson, Joseph M 
 
 Kramer, Francis S 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 .:.... do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 . do 
 
 Kramer, Samuel 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Absent, sick, at muster out. 
 
 Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64— 
 
 Kramer, Thomas S 
 
 Koch, Isaiah 
 
 Kramer, Francis 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 ....do 
 
 discharged by General Order, June 27, '65. 
 Died at Annapolis, Md., March i3,'65— Vet. 
 Missing in action at Reams Station, Va., 
 
 Aug. 25, 1864. 
 
 Mustered out with company. 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Wounded at Wilderness— mustered out with 
 
 
 . ...do 
 
 Aug. 6, 18S2 
 Aug. 14, 1862 
 Aug. 19, 1862 
 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 Apr. 18, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Apr. 12, 1S64 
 
 Aug. 6, 1862 
 Aug. 23. 1862 
 Apr. 18, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 company. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Kelley Henry C 
 
 do. . . 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Kite, William S 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
 '62— transferred to Oo. A, Jan. 26, 1S63. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Kalaher, Charles 
 
 do..... 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Lawrence, Jeremiah 
 
 Labone, Jonathan 
 
 do 
 
 .... do 
 
 do 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 65— 
 Vet. 
 
 Wounded at Po River, Va.,May 10, '64— mus- 
 tered out with company, July 14, '65— Vet. 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, '65 — 
 
 Lister, Thomas J 
 
 do 
 
 wounded June 16, 1864. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Lister, William 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll, 
 
 Mus. out with company, July 14, '65— Vet. 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 ...do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Morgan, Joseph P 
 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, 64— 
 
 mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Mus. out with company, July 14, 1865— Vet. 
 
 
 
 
444 
 
 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 NAME. 
 
 BANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 B 
 
 3 
 
 i 
 
 w 
 > 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Miller, Tobias W 
 
 Private 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. ig, 1864 
 Feb. ig, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 Feb. ig, 1864 
 
 Feb. ig, 1864 
 July 26, 1862 
 Aug. 22, 1S62 
 
 July 12, 1862 
 
 Aug. 30. 1862 
 July 29, 1862 
 Aug. n, 1862 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 Aug. 23. 1862 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 July J2, 1862 
 Feb. ig, 1864 
 Feb. ig, 1864 
 
 Feb. ig, 1864 
 
 Feb. ig, 1864 
 
 Feb. ig, 1S64 
 
 Feb. ig, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. ig, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Mar. 24, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Apr. 12, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 July 30, 1862 
 July 26, 1862 
 Aug. 8, 1862 
 Aug. 14, 1862 
 Aug. 22, 1B62 
 
 Aug. 30, 1862 
 Mar. 24, 1864 
 July 12, 1862 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 Discharged Jan. ig, '65, for wounds received 
 
 Miller, Lewis M 
 
 Moyer, Albert L 
 
 at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, 1864. 
 Discharged by General Order, May 31, 1865. 
 Discharged by General Urder, May 15, 1865. 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 Moyer, Charles H 
 
 do 
 
 Missing in action at Spottsylvania C. H., 
 
 Moyer, Charles 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Va., May 12. 1864. 
 
 Missing in action, Po River, Va., May 10, '64. 
 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. I3,'62 
 — transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Wounded at Gettysburg— transferred to Bat- 
 tery A, 4th U. S. Artillery. 
 
 Mills, Charles.:: 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 McNamara, Matthew.... 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 I'ransferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 McGleDsey, Charles 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 
 do 
 
 Discharged by General Order, June 6, '65. 
 
 
 do. ... 
 
 
 do 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 
 18, '64 — mus. out with company, July 14/65. 
 
 Prisoner from May 14. '64, to Apr. 12, '65 — 
 discharged by General Order, June 22, '65. 
 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64— 
 transferred to Vet. Res. Corps, April 28,'6s, 
 discharged by General Order, July 24, 1865. 
 
 Captured at Reams Station, Va„Aug.25,'64 — 
 died at Salisbury, N. C, Jan. 26, '65— Vet. 
 
 Died at New York, Oct. 27, 1864. 
 
 Died July 22, of wounds received at Peters- 
 burg, Va., June 16, '64 — buried in Cyp. Hill 
 Cemetery, L. I. 
 
 Died June 20, of wounds received at Cold 
 Harbor, Va., Junes, 1864. 
 
 Missing in action at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 
 25, 1864. 
 
 Reppert, Henry 
 
 Reber, Franklin 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Reichert, Charles K 
 
 Reichert, Christian 
 
 Robinson, Joseph H 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Prisoner from May 5 to Dec, '64 — mustered 
 out with company, July 14, 1865. — Vet. 
 Transferred to Vet. Kes. Corps — discharged 
 on Surgeon's certificate, June 7, 1865. 
 Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3,'64— Vet. 
 Transfen-ed to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Smith, Clayton 
 
 .do... 
 
 Shoener, Richard 
 
 ... do 
 
 Sacriste, Sebastian 
 
 do. 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Stevens, Charles 
 
 do. 
 
 
 do, 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 
 — not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Titlow, Abr'mS 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 do 
 
 XJbele, Joshua 
 
 do 
 
 Killed May 3o,'64, at Tolopotomy Creek,Va. 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 
 Wounded at Spottsylvania C.H.,Va.,May 12, 
 
 1864 — mustered out with Co., July 14, 1864. 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64 — 
 
 tr. to Vet. Res. Corps, June 6, 1865. 
 
 Ubele, Moses 
 
 do 
 
 
 Wooliis, Willoug'y 
 
 Webber, Franklin 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 F?b. 19, 1864 
 Feb. 19. 1864 
 
Three Years' Service. 
 
 445 
 
 NAME. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 I 
 
 PI 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Wanner, William 
 
 Private 
 do .. 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 July 26, 1862 
 July 26, 1862 
 Mar. 28, 1864 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 Died at Washington, D. C., Jan. 5, '65 — bu. 
 
 record, Feb. 6, '65 — buried in ^at. Cem., 
 
 Arlington, Va. — Vet. 
 Captured at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 
 
 12, '64 — died at Andersonville, Ga., Sept. 7, 
 
 1864— grave, 8,081. 
 
 Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 5, .1864. 
 Died July 17, of wounds received at Peters- 
 burg, Va,, June 22, '64 — bur. in Nat. Cem., 
 
 Arlington — Vet. 
 Died Jan. 7, 1865. 
 Missing in action at Po River, Va., May 10, 
 
 1864— Vet. 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co. D — date unknown. 
 
 Webber, John 
 
 
 do 
 
 Wagner, Joseph 
 
 .do.. .. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Wagner, Martin M 
 
 Wadsworth. Job 
 
 Wright, John C 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Williams, James 
 
 Webber. Wm. H 
 
 do 
 
 do.... 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Mustered out with company. 
 
 
 1 
 
 Company G. 
 
 Lawrence Kelley.., 
 Frank R. Leib 
 
 Captain 
 ..do 
 
 Francis McGuigan 
 
 S. G. Vanderheyden.. 
 
 Edmund Randall.. 
 Garrett Nowlen... 
 
 William A. Klock.. 
 
 Edward J. Rogers.. 
 
 Israel Seitzinger.. 
 George. A. Cook ,. 
 
 James F. Kressley.. 
 Charles M. Garber.. 
 Jas. M. Seitzinger .. 
 
 Charles Shelley 
 
 Wm. H. Harman.... 
 George H. Bunting..., 
 Thomas McKelvey.. 
 
 John C. Marley 
 
 Amos F. Butler 
 
 H. M. Seitzinger . 
 
 ..do., 
 ..do 
 
 1st Lieut. 
 do. 
 
 ist Sgt. 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 Sergeant 
 do. 
 
 .,do.., 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 , do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Corporal 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 Aug. 2, 
 Mar. 9, 
 
 1862 
 1864 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 Aug. 12, 
 
 1862 
 
 3 
 
 Mar. 9, 
 
 1864 
 
 3 
 
 July B, 
 Aug. 2, 
 
 1862 
 1862 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 Feb. 29, 
 
 1864 
 
 3 
 
 June 17, 
 
 1864 
 
 3 
 
 Apr. s, 
 Feb. 10, 
 
 1864 
 1864 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 Mar. 3, 
 
 1864 
 
 3 
 
 Mar. 9, 
 
 1864 
 
 3 
 
 Apr. s. 
 
 1864 
 
 3 
 
 Feb. 29 
 June IS 
 June 20 
 June 24 
 July 8. 
 Mar. 3 
 
 1864 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1864 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 Mar. 10 
 
 1864 
 
 3 
 
 Discharged by special order, Jan. 27, 1863. 
 Wd. at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864— Bv. 
 
 Major^ Mar. 13, 1865 — discharged by G. O., 
 
 Oct. 3, 1864. 
 Pr. fr. priv. Co. B to ist Lt., Apr. 4, '64—10 
 
 Capt. Jan. g. '65— dis. by G. O., June 3, '65. 
 Wd. at Spottsylvania C. H.,Va., May 18/64. 
 
 — pr. fr. 2d to ist Lt. Jan. g, '65 — to Capt., 
 
 June 12, '65 — mus. out with Co., July 14/65 
 Discharged by special order, Jan. 27, 1863. 
 Wd. at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13. '62 — 
 
 disc, as 2d Lt., Jan. 27, '63 — com. ist Lt., 
 
 Feb. 27, '63 — promoted to Adj. Mar. i, '63. 
 Wd. at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — pr. to 
 
 ist Sgt., Jan. r, '65 — com. ist Lt., June 6, '65 — 
 
 not mus. — mu. out with Co., July i4,'65 — Vet 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
 '62 — not on muster-out roll. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Wounded at Petersburg, June 16, 1864— 
 mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Promoted to Sgt., June ist, '65— mustered 
 
 out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Promoted to Sgt., June i, 1865— mustered 
 
 out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Promoted to Sgt., June 3, '64— wounded at 
 
 1864 — disch. 
 
 Reams Station. Va., Aug. 25, 
 by General Order, May 31, 1865. 
 
 Promoted to Com. Sgt. June 11, '65— Vet. 
 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 
 
 Promoted to Corporal, July 26, '64— mustered, 
 out with company, July 14. 1865— Vet. 
 
 Promoted to Corporal, July 26, 1864— mus- 
 tered out with company July 14, 1865. 
 
446 
 
 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 NAME. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 > 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 
 Corporal 
 
 do...... 
 
 . .. do 
 
 Mar. 7, 1864 
 Mar. 24, 1864 
 Mar. 10, 864 
 Mar. 12, 1864 
 
 Mar. 31, 1864 
 
 Mar. 10, 1864 
 
 Mar. 5, 1864 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 July 29, 1862 
 June 16, 1862 
 June 16, 1862 
 
 June 24, 1862 
 June 24, 1862 
 July 29, 1862 
 
 Aug. I, 1862 
 July 8, 1862 
 Mar. 15, 1864 
 June 26, 1862 
 June 26, 1862 
 Mar. ig, 1864 
 
 July 25, 1862 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Feb. 20, 1864 
 Mar. 24, 1864 
 
 Mar. 10, 1864 
 March, 1864 
 . uly 8, 1862 
 June 28, 1862 
 June 30, 1862 
 June 27, 1862 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Mar. 10, 1864 
 Mar. 5, 1864 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 July 12, 1862 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Aug, I, 1862 
 July 10, 1862 
 July 23, 1862 
 July II, 1862 
 June 16, 1862 
 Aug. 28, 1862 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 -3. 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 Promoted to Corporal, Oct. 25, '64 — mus- 
 tered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Promoted to Corporal, Apr. 15, 1865 — mus- 
 tered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Promoted to Corporal, June i, 1865 — mus- 
 tered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Wounded at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, 
 '64 — promoted to Corporal, June i, 1865 — 
 mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Promoted to Corporal, June j, 1865 — mus- 
 tered out with company, July 14, '65 — Vet. 
 
 Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June, 22, '64 — 
 disc, by General Order — date unknown. 
 
 Wd, and cap. at Spottsylvania C.H.,Va.,May 
 12, '64 — died at Kichmond — date unknown. 
 
 Missing at Petersburg, Va., June 22,'64 — Vt. 
 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Pr. to Hospital Steward — date unknown. 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
 1862 — not on muster-out roll. 
 
 N. M. Bretzieus 
 
 Halley Barr 
 
 Benjamin Dewalt 
 
 Ephraim W. Ney 
 
 Henry R. Quintfer 
 
 ......do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 .... do 
 
 Samuel S. Kramer 
 
 Charles Gallagher 
 
 Frederick Wagner ; 
 
 William H. Milner 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do. 
 
 Samuel White 
 
 do.. 
 
 
 
 do 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
 1862— not on muster-out roll- 
 
 
 do... 
 
 
 do 
 
 Tr. to Battery A. 4th U. S. Artillery— killed. 
 
 Edward Harris 
 
 Musician 
 do.. . 
 
 
 
 
 
 Transferred to Co. B — date unknown. 
 Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 22, '64 — 
 
 discharged by General Order, June 15^ '65. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Absent, sick, at muster out. 
 Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64— 
 
 tr. to Vet. Reserve Corps — date unknown. 
 Died May 25, 1864. 
 Captured at Po River, May 10, '64— died at 
 
 Andersonville, Ga., July 27, '64 — gr. 4,084. 
 Missing in action, July 26, 1864. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Wounded in action, Sept. 25, 1864— absent, 
 
 in hospital, at muster out. 
 Disch. by General Order, date unknown. 
 Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864. 
 Died Nov. 7,'62— bu. in Mil. Asy.Cem.,D.C. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Captured at Reams Station, Aug. 25, 1864. — 
 
 died Mar. 28, 1865 — buried in Nat. Cem., 
 
 Loudon Park, Baltimore, Md. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Discharged by special order. Mar. 18, 1864. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Dis. on surgeon's certificate, Dec. 18, 1864. 
 
 
 Private 
 . do... 
 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Becker, William H 
 
 Bretzius, Nathan 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Brocklehurst. Robert 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Chambers, Morgan 
 
 Christ, Charles 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 .... do.... 
 
 Cook, JohnG 
 
 Cole, Neil 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Deitzler, Henry 
 
 De Bowman, Chas 
 
 Dennis, John 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do... 
 
 Doyle, William 
 
 . . do. 
 
 
 do... 
 
 Dunn, John, 2d 
 
 Edmonston, Robert 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Fennel, William 
 
 do. 
 
 Mar. 10, 1864 
 Mar. 10, 1864 
 
 Freeby, George 
 
 do 
 
Three Years' Service. 
 
 447 
 
 NAME 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 > 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 
 Private 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Tune 13, 1862 
 June 30, 1862 
 Mar. 24, 1864 
 Apr. 18, 1864 
 Apr. 5, 1864 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 July 12, 1862 
 July 8, 1862 
 July 21, 1862 
 July 25, 1862 
 July 29, 1862 
 Aug. I, 1862 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 Aug. 14. 1862 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 Mar. 3, 1864 
 
 Mar. 5, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 
 Mar. 25, 1864 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Mar. 5, 1864 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Mar. 10, 1864 
 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14', 1865. 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865 
 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2. '64 
 
 —discharged by General Order, July 7, '65. 
 Died at Washington, D. C, Oct. 16, '64— 
 
 bur. in Nat. Cemetery, Arlington, Va. 
 Transferred to Company A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Franks. Frank B 
 
 Gearing, John 
 
 Goodman, George 
 
 Green, Jesse 
 
 Gebbert, Edm'd L 
 
 Green, Wm 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Gorman, Bernard 
 
 do 
 
 
 Gibbs, James 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Gravel], George 
 
 do 
 
 do. 
 
 Transferred to Company A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Transferred to Company A, Jan. z6, 1863. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Wd. at Reams Station, Va , Aug. 25, '64 — 
 mus. out with company, July 14, 1865— Vet. 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Wd. at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May iz, 
 '64 — absent in hospital, at muster out, 
 
 Wd. at Cold Harbor, Va , June 2, 1864— ab- 
 sent, in hospital, at muster out. 
 
 Wd. at Spottsylvania C H., Va., May i8,'64 
 —discharged by Gen. Order, July 6, 1865. 
 
 Pris. from Aug. 25, 1864, to Keb. 28, 1865 — 
 disch. by General Order, June zi, 1865. 
 
 Wd. at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, 1864— tr. 
 
 Gedds, Alexander 
 
 Heater, Kranklin. 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Heinback, Wm. B 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Harker, Jolin W 
 
 do 
 
 Heinback, Wm 
 
 do 
 
 to Vet. Res. Corps— date unknown. 
 Capt'd at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 
 
 '64 — died at Andersonville, Ga. — date unk. 
 Capt'd at Petersburg, Va., June 22, '64— died 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 at Andersonville, Ga., Oct. 12, '64— grave 
 10,814. 
 Capt'd at Reams Station, Va , Aug 25, "64 — 
 
 Herring, Paul 
 
 do 
 
 died at Andersonville, Ga —date unknown 
 —Vet. 
 Mis. in action at Reams Station. 
 
 Hummel, Jonathan 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Pris. from July 27, '64, to Mar. i, '65 — disch. 
 by General Order, June 29, 1865. 
 Missing in action, at Reams Station, Va., 
 
 Hibbs, Joseph H 
 
 Heinback S 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Aug. 25, 1864. 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Died Aug. 14, 1864, at Andersonville, Ga. — 
 
 
 do 
 
 June 24, 1862 
 June 24, 1862 
 March, 1864 
 June 24, 1862 
 March. 1864 
 June 24, 1862 
 July IS, 1862 
 Mar. 10, 1864 
 Mar. 31, 1864 
 Jan. 3, i86s 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Mar. 31, 1864 
 June 13, 1862 
 July 29, 1862 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 grave 5,688. 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Hare, William 
 
 do 
 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. 
 
 Hendricks, Albert W 
 
 . ohnston, Wm. H 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Mustered out with company. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 'ones, William 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Kissmer, Wm. H 
 
 do 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Absent, sick, at muster out. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Capt'd at Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864 — 
 
 
 do 
 
 died at Andersonville, Ga., Oct. 30, 1864 — 
 grave xi,645. 
 Mis. in act'n at Petersburg, Va., June z2,'64. 
 
 Krewson, Alban's L 
 
 Kavanaugh, Peter 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
448 
 
 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 NAME. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 w 
 
 I 
 
 > 
 
 REMAKKS. 
 
 
 Private 
 do... . 
 
 Aug. 20, 1862 
 Mar. 12, 1864 
 
 Mar. 10, 1864 
 
 July 30, 1862 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Mar. 12, 1864 
 Apr. 3, 1865 
 Mar. 3, 1864 
 
 Apr. 5, 1864 
 
 Feb. 20, 1864 
 
 Mar. s, 1864 
 
 Mar. 5, 1864 
 June 13, 1862 
 June 13, 1862 
 June 30, 1862 
 July 12, 1862 
 July 31, 1862 
 Aug. I, 1862 
 Feb. 25, 1864 
 
 Sept. 28, 1864 
 
 July 9, 1862 
 July 28, 1862 
 July 29, 1862 
 June 13, 18G2 
 July 14, 1862 
 July 19, 1862 
 July 7, 1862 
 July 22, 1862 
 June 30, 1862 
 March, 1864 
 Mar. 3T, 1864 
 July 7, 1862 
 
 July 7, 1862 
 Aug. 1, 1862 
 Mar. 5, 1864 
 July 29, 1862 
 July 5, 1862 
 July 22, 1862 
 Aug. 28, 1862 
 Mar. lo, 1864 
 
 Mar. 25, 1864 
 
 March, 1864 
 Mar. 3, 1864 
 Mar. 25, 1864 
 
 July 12, 1862 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862, 
 
 
 Wd. at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 
 1864— discli. by Gen. Order, Aug. 7, 1865. 
 
 Wd. at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64— tr. 
 to Vet. Res. Corps — date unlcnown. 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Matz, Leon D 
 
 Moyer, William 
 
 Miller Tohn 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Wd. at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — must. 
 
 out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Wd. at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64— absent 
 
 in hospital, at muster out. 
 Tr. to Vet. Res. Corps — date unknown — 
 
 disch. by General Order, Aug. 23, 1S65. 
 Died at White House, Va., Aug. 12, of 
 
 wounds received at Cold Harbor, June 3, 
 
 '64 — buried in Nat'l Cemetery, Arlington. 
 Died at Washington, D. C, Seyt. 8, ofwds. 
 
 rec. at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, 3864 — 
 
 buried in National Cemetery, Arlington. 
 Died at Washington, D. C, June 26, 1864. 
 
 Miller Thomas 
 
 do 
 
 Moyer, Michael 
 
 Moyer, Jonathan Y 
 
 Marberger, John C 
 
 Moyer, James F 
 
 do. .. 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 
 .. do 
 
 
 Martin, Hugh 
 
 do 
 
 do.. . 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 
 
 
 do 
 
 Wd. at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2., '64 — mus, 
 out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Trans, to Vet. Res Corps— date unknown- 
 discharged by General Order, June 28, '65. 
 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 McVey William 
 
 .. do. 
 
 McSorley, Patrick 
 
 do 
 
 do,.. . 
 
 
 
 
 McGrickin, Michael 
 
 do 
 
 do. .. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 McGinley, Charles 
 
 McLaughlin, Daniel 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 .. . do.. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 McGuire, Thomas 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Wd. at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62— 
 transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Kiird at Spottsylvania C.H.,Va.,May i8,'64. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Transferred to Co. B— date unknown. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Wd. at Wilderness, Va.. May 5, '64- dis- 
 charged by General Order, May 3, 1865. 
 
 Prisoner from June 23, '64, to April 29, '65 — 
 discharged by General Order, June 27, '65. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Trans, to Vet Res. Corps — date unknown. 
 
 Capt'd at Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864— 
 died at Lynchburg, Aug. 17, '64 — buried in 
 Poplar Grove National Cem , division E, 
 section E, grave 331. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 
 
 do 
 
 O'Conner, John 
 
 O'Reeson, William 
 
 Poffenberger, Fran 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 .. .do 
 
 do 
 
 
 .. ..do... 
 
 Porter, Michael 
 
 do 
 
 Quinn, Terrence 
 
 Reber, Franklin 
 
 do 
 
 do . 
 
 
 do.... 
 
 Robinson, Joseph A 
 
 Roth, Jacob 
 
 Ruck, Cyrus 
 
 Ross, John 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
Three Years' Service. 
 
 449 
 
 NAME. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 •< 
 n 
 
 > 
 
 71 
 
 REMARKS 
 
 Ryan, Martin V 
 
 Private 
 do. 
 
 
 
 Died July 21, '64, at Loiusville, Ky.. grave 
 63, sec. B, div. 4. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
 
 Mustered out with company. July 14 '65 
 
 Wd. at Spottsylvania, C. H., Va.. May 12 
 '64, and at Five Forks, March 31, '65— 
 mus. out with company, July 14, 1865.1 ■ U 
 
 Mus. out with company, July 14, '65— Vet. 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14. i86q I " 
 
 Wd. at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, '64-dis- 
 charged by General Order, June 26, 1865. .; 
 
 Prisoner from Aug. 25, '64, to Mar. 12, '65— 
 discharged by General Order, June 22, '63. 
 
 Disch. on Surgeon's certificate. July 28, 1864. 
 
 Killed at Cold Harbor, Va .June 3, '64-- 
 burial record, June 12, '64— buried in Nat- 
 ional Cemetery, Arlington. ' * 
 
 Died at Washington, D. C, June 30, '64— 
 buried in National Cem., Arlington, Va. 
 
 Missing in action, July 26, 1864. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 July 31, 1862 
 Mar. 10, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 Apr. s, 1864 
 Mar. 10, 1864 
 
 Feb. 24, 1864 
 
 Mar. s. 1864 
 Feb. 20, 1864 
 
 Mar. 10, 1864 
 
 Mar. 10, 1864 
 July 31, 1862 
 July 23, 1862 
 June 16, 1862 
 July 5, 1862 
 July 22, 1862 
 Mar. 3, 1864 
 Feb, 20, 1864 
 Mar. 3, 1864 
 
 June 13, 1863 
 Aug. 22, 1862 
 Aug. I, 1862 
 June 25, 1862 
 June 30, 1862 
 March, 1864 
 June 28, 1862 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 Siegfried, John ... 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Sclielthorn, Jacob 
 
 Smith, Adam S 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Sellers, Jacob 
 
 do.. 
 
 Stout, Daniel.. 
 
 do 
 
 Smith, George S 
 
 do 
 
 Snyder, Peter 
 
 do.. 
 
 Sherman, Adam 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Schor, Paul 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Scott, Joseph B.. . . 
 
 do 
 
 
 :::::;do.::::. 
 
 
 Steigwalt, Lewis 
 
 do 
 
 
 Trumbo, Henry H 
 
 Tucker, William 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Kill'd at Spottsylvania C.H.,Va.,May i2,'64 
 Died at Washington, D. C, Aug. 5, 1864 — 
 buried in National Cem., Arlington, Va. 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Taylor, Francis 
 
 do 
 
 Turner, George 
 
 Tonner, William 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Torrins, Wm. ist 
 
 do 
 
 
 Torrins, Wm. 2d 
 
 ... .do... . 
 
 
 Thompson, John 
 
 Thornton, William 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Died Dec. 25, 1864— buried at U- S. General 
 
 Hosp. Cemetery, Annapolis, Md. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Died at Annapolis, Md., Dec. 25, '64— grave 
 
 756- 
 Captu'd at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64. 
 
 — died at Salisbury, N. C, Feb. 10, 1865. 
 Missing in action at Spottsylvania C. H., 
 
 Va., May 12, 1864. 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Killed at Wilderness, May 5, 1864. 
 Died of wounds at Fredericksburg, Va., 
 
 Dec. 13, 1862. 
 Wounded at Five Forks, Va., March 31, '65 
 
 mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Wolf.Wm 
 
 do 
 
 Mar. 3, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Mar. xo, X864 
 
 June 24, 1862 
 July 10, 1862 
 July 14, 1862 
 July I, 1862 
 
 Mar. 7, 1864 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 Wanner, Franklin 
 
 Wilson, Andrew 
 
 Wintermouth, George.... 
 
 Wilson, Ambrose 
 
 Williams, John 
 
 White, Thomas J 
 
 Walls, John 
 
 Zanes, William 
 
 ....do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 .... do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
450 
 
 The Story of the iiSth Regiment. 
 
 Company H. 
 
 John Smith 
 
 David W. Megraw.. 
 Robert J. Alston 
 
 George A. Henry,... 
 Francis T. Quinlan... 
 
 Jacob Foerst 
 
 Richard H. Wade.. 
 
 Thompson W. Smith.. 
 Robert P. Brown 
 
 John A. Graham.. 
 
 John Farley... 
 Henry Mertz.. 
 
 David C. Jackson , 
 
 David Powell 
 
 John A. Gray.. 
 
 Frederick Shawn.., 
 
 Henry W. Case., 
 
 Bernard McCahey,. 
 
 William Keiper 
 
 John Welsh 
 
 William Kelly 
 
 William Springer... 
 
 John Ward 
 
 Frederick D. Rasp.... 
 
 Joseph Gaber 
 
 John Robbins 
 
 James T. Tompkins.. 
 William H. Barker... 
 
 Captain 
 
 ..do. 
 ..do.. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 Sept. ±, 1862 
 
 Mar. 2, 1864 
 Feb. 23, 1864 
 
 ist Lieut. June 11, 1862 
 ....do Sept. 1, 1862 
 
 ....do..., 
 ist Sgt. 
 
 ....do 
 
 do 
 
 Sergeant 
 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 
 . do... 
 
 . do.. 
 
 Sergeant 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Corporal 
 
 -do,. 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do... 
 ..do... 
 
 Feb. : 
 
 1864 
 
 Aug. 8, iB6z 
 
 Mar. 2, 1864 
 Feb. II, 1864 
 
 Feb. 15, 1864 
 
 July 15, 1862 
 Feb. 25, 1864 
 
 Feb. 6, 1864 
 Feb. 25, 1864 
 
 Feb. 8, 1864 
 
 Feb. 8, 1864 
 
 Feb. 27, 1864 
 
 July 10, i86z 
 July 7, 1862 
 Aug, ig, 1862 
 Aug, 19, i86a 
 Feb. 8, 1864 
 
 Oct. 14, 1864 
 
 Feb. 6,11864 
 
 Feb. 16, 1864 
 
 Feb. 22, 1864 
 
 Feb. 23, 1864 
 
 Feb. 8, 1864 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
 '62 — disch. by special order, Jan, 27, 1863. 
 Promoted to Major, Jan. 28, '65. 
 Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 
 12, '64— -pr. from ist Lt., Feb. 13, '65 — com. 
 Major, jTune 3. and Lt. Col., June 4, '65 — 
 not mustered — mustered out with company, 
 July 14, 1865. 
 
 Pr. from 2d Lt., Sept 2,'62— dis. Nov. 22, '62. 
 
 Pr. from ist Sergeant, Sept. 16, '62 — to Cap- 
 tain Co. B, March 7, 1863. 
 
 WoundedatCoId Harbor, Va., Junes, '64— 
 pr. from Sergt. to ist. Sergt., July i, '64 — to 
 ist Lt., Feb. 14, '65 — mustered out with 
 company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Promoted from Q. M. Sergeant, Nov. i, '62 
 —to Q. M., Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Disch'd on Surgeon's certificate, Oct. 8, '64. 
 
 Pr. from Sergeant, Feb. 14, 1865— mustered 
 out with company, July 14, 1865— Vet. 
 
 Died in Alexandria, June 18, of wounds re- 
 ceived at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864— 
 grave 2,135. 
 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec 13, '62. 
 
 Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., May 18 
 '64 — pr. from Corporal, July i, '64 — mus- 
 tered out with company, July 14, '65 — Vet, 
 
 Promoted from Corporal, Dec. i, '64 — mus- 
 tered out with company, July 14, '65. 
 
 Promoted to Corporal, Sept, i, 1864— to Ser- 
 geant, Dec. I, 1864 — mustered out with 
 company, July 14, 1865 — Vet. 
 
 Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H.,May 12, 
 '64— promoted from Corporal, Aug, 1, '64— 
 mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Died July 31, of wounds received at Peters- 
 burg, Va., June 24, '64— buried in National 
 Cemetery, Arlington. 
 
 Died Aug. 13, of wounds received at Spott- 
 sylvania C. H., Va., May 12, '64— bur. in 
 National Cemetery, Arlington. 
 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan 26, 1863 
 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863, 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Promoted to Corporal, Oct. i, 1864— mustered 
 out with company, July 14, 1865 
 
 Promoted to Corporal, Dec. 1, 1864 — mus- 
 tered out with company, July 14, 1865 
 
 Promoted to Corporal, Jan. 1, 1865 — mus- 
 tered out with company, July 14. 1865. 
 
 Promoted to Corporal, May 1, 1865— mus- 
 tered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Promoted to Corporal, June 6, 1865— mus- 
 tered out with company, July 14, 1865 
 
 Wounded at Petersburg, Va , June 16, '64— 
 absent, in hospital, at muster out — Vet 
 
 Mustered out with copipany,July i4,'6s — Vt. 
 
Three Years' Service. 
 
 451 
 
 NAMB, 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATB Of 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 n 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 William Wallace 
 
 Corporal 
 do... 
 
 Feb. 26. 1864 
 
 Feb. 13, 1S64 
 beb. 13, 1864 
 
 Feb. 24, 1864 
 
 July 30, 1862 
 July 8,1862 
 July 13, 1862 
 July 9, 1862 
 July 8, 186s 
 July 24, 1862 
 July 2S, 1862 
 Aug. 21, 1862 
 Aug. 29, 1862 
 July 17, 1862 
 Feb. 4, 1864 
 
 July II, 1862 
 July 26, 1862 
 Aug 19, 1862 
 teb. 18, 1864 
 Feb. 26, 1864 
 Keb. II, 1864 
 Feb, 23, 1864 
 Aug. 2, 1864 
 Mar. 31, 1864 
 
 Feb, II, 1864 
 Feb. 27, 1864 
 
 Feb. 15, 1864 
 
 Feb. 25, 1864 
 July 9, 1862 
 July II, 1862 
 July 22, 1862 
 Mar. 7, 1864 
 Feb, 9, 1864 
 
 Feb. 22, 1864 
 Heb. 18, 1864 
 July 15, 1862 
 Aug. 19, 1862 
 Feb. IS, 1864 
 July 16, 1862 
 Feb. 20, 1B64 
 Feb. 24, 1864 
 Feb. II, 1864 
 Feb. 4, 1864 
 Feb. 15, 1864 
 July 9, 1862 
 July 12, 1862 
 July 8, 1862 
 July 21, 1862 
 July 25, 1862 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 Feb. 23, 1864 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3' 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 Promoted to Corporal, Dec. i, 1864— disch. 
 
 by General Order, June 3, 1865. 
 Promoted to Sergeant Major, June 6, 1865. 
 Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 
 
 18, 1864. 
 Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, 
 
 '64— died at Salisbury, N. C, Nov. 8, '64, 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan, 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 William Wertz 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do.. . 
 
 Alexander Edgar 
 
 ... do 
 
 Robert J. Fitigerald 
 
 John D, Myers 
 
 do 
 
 do. 
 
 do 
 
 Nicholas Martin 
 
 Chas. J. Dougherty 
 
 Thomas McNeice 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 James Slavin 
 
 do 
 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Prisoner from Aug. 25. '64, to Mar. 4, 1865— 
 discharged by General Order, Aug. 7, '65. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out loll. 
 Not on tnuster-out roll. 
 
 
 Musician 
 Private 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 Anderson, Joseph 
 
 Anderson, George P 
 
 Atkinson, Franc. C 
 
 Berwick, Alex 
 
 do... 
 
 Mustered out with company,July i4,*65 — Vt. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
 Wounded ac Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64— 
 
 died of wounds, June 23, 1864. 
 Died June 23. of wounds received at Cold 
 
 Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864 — buried in Nat. 
 
 Cemetery, Arlington, 
 Captured at William's Farm, Va., June 22, 
 
 1864— died at Andersonville, Oct. 14, 1864 — 
 
 grave 10,943. 
 Missing in action at Spottsylvania C, H., 
 
 Va., May 12, 1864. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 
 do. 
 
 Black, Josiah B 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Beaty, Samtiel 
 
 do. 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Bowser, James W 
 
 Buckley, Michael J 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do. 
 
 
 Barris, William 
 
 Boyle, Michael 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 do. . 
 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64 — 
 absent, in hospital, at muster-out. 
 Promoted to Sergeant Major, June 4, 1865. 
 Miss, in action at Petersbg, Va., June 16, '64. 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Curry, John H 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Casey, John M 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 Cook, LewisC 
 
 . ..do 
 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 
 do 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Died at City Point, Va., Feb. 15, 1865. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Delaney, Patrick 
 
 do 
 
 
 
 do . ... 
 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 Develin, Michael 
 
 .... do 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 
 
 
452 
 
 The Story of the ii6lh Regiment. 
 
 NAME. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTEK INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 f 
 
 n 
 > 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Diebold, Peter 
 
 Private 
 ... do... 
 
 Feb. 3, 1864 
 Feb. 3,1864 
 
 Feb. 22, 1864 
 Feb. 23, 1864 
 Feb. 22, 1864 
 Feb. 27, 1864 
 
 Aug. 29, 1862 
 July 10, 1862 
 Aug. 5, 1862 
 Feb. 22, 1864 
 Feb. 15, 1864 
 Feb. 4, 1864 
 Sept. 21, 1864 
 July 9, 1862 
 
 July 30, 1862 
 Aug. 4, 1862 
 July 21, 1862 
 July 21, 1862 
 Aug 19, 1862 
 i-eb. 15, 1864 
 Feb. 10, 1864 
 
 Feb. 5, 1864 
 Feb. 6, 1864 
 Feb. II, 1864 
 
 July II, 1862 
 Aug. 16, 1862 
 July 21, 1862 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 Feb. 20, 1864 
 Feb. 17, 1864 
 
 Feb. 18, 1864 
 Feb. II, 1864 
 
 July 29, 1862 
 Aug. ig, 1862 
 Feb, 24, 1864 
 Feb. 10, 1864 
 
 Feb. 16, 1864 
 
 July 21, 1862 
 Aug. 2, 1862 
 July 14, 1862 
 Aug, 14, 1862 
 Jan. 13, 1864 
 Feb. 6, 1864 
 
 Feb. 15, 1864 
 
 Feb. 15, 1864 
 
 Feb. 29, 1B64 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 16, 1864. 
 Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — 
 discharged by General Order, June 16, '65. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 
 do 
 
 Fence, William 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, '65 
 Discharged on Surgeon s certific'e,Jan.7,'65. 
 Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, 
 '64 — died at Salisbury, N. C., Dec. 25, '64. 
 Transferred to company D, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Freidle. John S 
 
 do 
 
 Fletcher James., 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Fisher, Joseph , 
 
 Frazier, George F 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Gibbons, Richard 
 
 Gillespie, Samuel S 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, '65 
 Killed at Five Forks, Va., March 31, 1865. 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., iJec 13 '62 
 — transferred to company D, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Transferred to company D, Jan. 26, '63, 
 Transferred to company D, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 .Glasgow, Matthew 
 
 Gorman, William 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Gates, John 
 
 do 
 
 
 
 do .. 
 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 Hamilton, Thomas A .... 
 Hausburg, Joseph S 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va . June 2, '64 — 
 mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
 
 Discharged by General Order, May 15, 1865. 
 
 Died July 25, of wounds received at Cold 
 Harbor, June 3, 1864. 
 
 Transferred to company D, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Haughy, John 
 
 Hathaway, Wm. E 
 
 Himes, James 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 .... do 
 
 Hewitt, Charles 
 
 .... do 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 . do 
 
 Transferred to company D, Jan 26, '63. 
 
 Holmes, James 
 
 do . 
 
 Johnston, Alex, 
 
 do 
 
 Wounded at Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865— 
 
 discharged by General Order, June 3, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
 Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va,. May 
 
 12, '64— discharged by G. 0., June 7, 1865. 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., May 12, 
 
 '64 — transferred to Co. C, 14th reg. V. R.C. 
 
 —died at Washington, D, C, July 4, 1865. 
 Captured at Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864— 
 
 died at Lynchburg, Sept. 10, 1864. 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Transferred to company D, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Absent, sick, at muster-out. 
 Absent, sick, at muster-out — wounded at 2d 
 
 battle of Spottsylvania. 
 Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va. May 
 
 18, '64— absent, in hospital, at muster-out. 
 Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 
 
 18, '64 — adsent, in hospital, at muster-out. 
 Prisoner from June 22, '64, to March 30, '65 
 
 —discharged by G. 0., July 24, 1865. 
 
 Keeney, Patrick 
 
 do. 
 
 Kelley, Michael 
 
 do 
 
 Kinchner, John 
 
 .. do... 
 
 Kendel, Jacob 
 
 . do 
 
 Kelley, Charles 
 
 do 
 
 Lefevre, Calvin J 
 
 do 
 
 do... 
 
 Logue, Frank 
 
 do 
 
 Lott, William L 
 
 .. . do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Liver, John P 
 
 do 
 
 
 do. 
 
 Mercer, William 
 
 do 
 
 Miller, Winfield S 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Medsker, George 
 
 do 
 
 
 
Three Years' Service, 
 
 45» 
 
 NAME. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SBRVICE. 
 
 3 
 
 i 
 
 n 
 > 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Marshall, Alex 
 
 Private 
 do 
 
 Feb. 9, 1864 
 
 Aug. 15, 1862 
 
 July 30, 1862 
 July 2g 1862 
 Aug. 22, 1862 
 Feb. 18, 1864 
 
 Feb. 17, 1864 
 
 Feb. 8, 1864 
 
 Sept i, 1862 
 
 Aug. 29, 1862 
 July 15, 1862 
 Aug. i6, 1862 
 Aug. ig, 1862 
 Aug. 22, 1862 
 Aug. 30, 1862 
 Aug. 29, 1862 
 Feb. 5, 1864 
 Feb. 6, 1864 
 Aug. 19, X862 
 Feb. 14, 1864 
 Feb. 8, 1864 
 
 Feb. 25, 1864 
 
 Feb. 12, 1864 
 Aug. 9, 1862 
 Aug. 10, 1862 
 Feb. 25, 1864 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Mar. 7, 1864 
 Sept. 2r, 1864 
 Feb. 16, 1864 
 
 July 15, 1862 
 Aug. 19, 1862 
 Aug. 5, 1862 
 Feb. 16, 1864 
 Mar 26, 1864 
 Feb. I, i86s 
 Apr. IS, 1864 
 Feb. 10, 1864 
 
 Mar. I, 1864 
 
 Feb. II, 1864 
 
 July 15, 1862 
 July 10, 1862 
 July 10, 1862 
 July 15, 1862 
 July 31, 1862 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 July 14, 1862 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 Missing in action at Spottsylvaaia C. H. 
 
 May 12, 1864 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va.. Dec. 13, 
 
 '62 — transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26. 1863. 
 Transferred to company D, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 
 MurpKy, Joseph 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Mills, Charles 
 
 .. .do... 
 
 
 MclDtyre, Stephen 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Wounded at Tolopotomy, Va., May 31, '64, 
 
 and at Five Forks, March 31, 1865— absent, 
 
 in hospital, at muster out. 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64 
 
 —discharged by G. 0., May 26, 1865. 
 Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, 
 
 '64— died at Salisbury, N.C., Jan, lo, i86s. 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg.Va., Dec. i3,'62 
 
 —transferred to Co D. Jan. 26, 1863, 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 McCarty, Charles 
 
 . .. do. 
 
 
 do 
 
 McQuaid, Thomas 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 McNight, Henry 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do .. 
 
 
 McCarty Daniel . 
 
 do 
 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862, 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 McGurick, Laurence... . 
 McFarland Peter 
 
 do 
 
 do . 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 
 do ... 
 
 
 
 do 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Wounded at Five Forks, Va., March 31, '65 
 
 — discharged by General Order. June 5,'65. 
 Prisoner from Aug. 18, 1864, to Feb. 28, '65. 
 
 — discharged by G. 0., June 16, 1865. 
 Miss, in action at Petersburg, Va., June 15, '64 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Puhl, jfohn 
 
 do 
 
 Puhl, Nicholas 
 
 do 
 
 Pack Jacob 
 
 do 
 
 Parker, Robert 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Eilley, Philip 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64 — 
 mustered out with company, Juty 14, '65. 
 
 Rosier, Edward H 
 
 do 
 
 ..do,.. . 
 
 Absent, sick, at muster-out. 
 
 Discharged by General Order, June 3, 1865. 
 
 Transferred to Vet. Re. Corps, Sept. 3, 1864 
 
 Euss, William A 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 — discharged by Gen. Order. July 31, 1865. 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. z6, '63. 
 
 Rodgers, Willets 
 
 do 
 
 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Stark Robert C 
 
 do 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
 
 Shields, John;. 
 
 do 
 
 
 Steenburg, Charles 
 
 Stewart Robert 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Discharged by General Order, Aug, 9, 1865. 
 Absent, wounded, at muster-t ut 
 
 Shultz, Isaac 
 
 Swisher, John 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Killed near Darbytown Road, Va., Oct. 8, 
 '64 — bur. record, Oct. 18, '64— bu. In Nat. 
 Cem., City Point, sec. E, div. 2, grave 151. 
 
 Died at Philadelphia, Pa , July 31, of wds. 
 received at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64 
 
 
 do 
 
 received at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 
 do .' 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Simpson, Stephen E 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 
 
 
464 
 
 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 NAME. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 SERVICE. 
 
 H 
 n 
 
 g 
 1 
 
 < 
 
 > 
 to 
 
 REI^ARKS. 
 
 Stephenson, Wm 
 
 Private 
 do 
 
 Feb. 13, 1864 
 Feb. 25, 1864 
 Feb. 9, 1864 
 Feb. 9, 1864 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 
 do 
 
 Died Nov. 6, 1864, at Beverly, N. J. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Apr, 14, 1864 
 Feb. 27, 1864 
 Feb. 6,1864 
 
 Feb. 6, 1864 
 July 20, 1862 
 Aug. 29, 1862 
 July 3, 1862 
 July 21, 1862 
 Aug. 7, 1862 
 Aug. 19, 1862 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 Aug. 29, 1862 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 
 do 
 
 Discharged by General Order, May 24, 1865. 
 Missing in action at Cold Harbor, Va., June 
 3, 1864. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Transferred to Co, D, Jan, 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co, D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 
 .... do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Walker, Theodore A 
 
 .... do 
 
 do 
 
 Willoughby, E. B 
 
 do 
 
 Wood George H 
 
 do 
 
 
 Wilson, David 
 
 Wood, Charles 
 
 do 
 
 . do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Wall, Tames 
 
 do .. 
 
 
 Webb, William H 
 
 do 
 
 
 
 
 
 Company I. 
 
 Samuel Taggart 
 
 Wm. O'Callaghan.. 
 
 Joseph W. Yocum.. 
 
 Robert J. Taggart.. 
 
 John Stephens 
 
 R. B. Montgomery .. 
 John A. Dickson 
 
 Thomas J Murtha 
 
 Peter Kelly 
 
 George L. Northrop.. 
 
 Henry Mullen 
 
 Joseph Guiller 
 
 Thomas Mcl^night.. 
 
 James E. Craig 
 
 Daniel Reen 
 
 George Cole , 
 
 David Steen 
 
 John Adams 
 
 Brian McLaughlin.... 
 William Devereau... 
 
 Captain 
 do 
 
 ist Lieut. 
 2d Lieut, 
 I St Sgt, 
 
 do.... 
 
 Sergeant. 
 do 
 
 . ..do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 .... do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Corporal 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Apr. 14, 1864 
 Aug. 15, 1862 
 
 Aug. 25, 1862 
 
 May 25, 1864 
 
 Sept. 18, 1862 
 Sept. 19, 1862 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 July 24, 1862 
 Feb, 25, 1864 
 Jan. 9, 1865 
 
 Mar. 
 Mar. 
 July 
 July 
 
 It 
 
 Mar. 
 Mar. 
 Apr. 
 Feb. 
 
 23, 1864 
 
 3 
 
 9, 186., 
 
 3 
 
 12, 1862 
 
 3 
 
 22, 1862 
 
 3 
 
 16, i86^ 
 
 3 
 
 19, 1862 
 
 3 
 
 18, 1864 
 
 3 
 
 8, 1864 
 
 3 
 
 4, 1864 
 
 3 
 
 7, 186s 
 
 3 
 
 Killed at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 — 
 buried in Allegheny Cem., Pittsburg, Pa. 
 
 Piomoted from 2d Lt.C o. B to ist Lt., May 
 2, '64— to Capt., Sept. 22, '64 — discharged 
 by special order, Feb. 16, 1865. 
 
 Promoted to 2d Lt., May 3, '64 — to ist Lt., 
 Oct. i4,'64— to Capt. March 4, 1865— to Bv. 
 Maj., Mar. 13, '65 — wd. at Petersburg, Va., 
 June 16 and at William's Farm, June 22,'64 
 — disch. by special order. May ig, 1865. 
 
 Promoted to Sgt., April 25, '64 — to ist Sgt., 
 Sept. I, '64 — to 1st Lt., March 4, '65 — to 
 Capt., June g, '65 — com. Major, June 4, '65 
 — not mustered — mustered out with com- 
 pany, July 14, 1865, 
 
 Discharged May 12, to date Jan 27, 1863. 
 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62. 
 
 Promoted to Sgt., April 25, '64— to ist Sgt , 
 Mar. 4, '65— wd. at Five Forks, Va., Mar. 
 31* '65 — absent, in hospital, at muster out^ — 
 Vet. 
 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Pr. to Corp., Mar. 1 '65 — to Sgt., July i,'65 
 — mustered out with company, July 14, '65, 
 
 Absent, sick at muster out — Vet. 
 
 Discharged by General Order, June 17, '65. 
 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, 1863, 
 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan, 26, 1863. 
 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va,, Dec. ^3, '62. 
 
 Mus. out with company, July 14, 'iSs— ^ef. 
 
 Mustered out with company, Jijly 14, 186^. 
 
 Mustered out with company, July r4, 181^5. 
 
 Promoted to Corp., July i,'657-mu5t$(red'tfut 
 with company, July 14, 1865.' 
 
Three Years' Se? vice. 
 
 NAME, 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OP 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 H 
 
 n 
 
 w 
 S 
 1 
 < 
 
 > 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 William R. Cowl 
 
 Corporal 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Apr. 13, 1864 
 
 Mar, 26, 1864 
 
 Mar. 23, 1864 
 
 Feb. 24, 1864 
 
 Aug. 8, 1864 
 
 Aug. 4, 1862 
 Aug. 6, 1862 
 Aug. 7, 1862 
 July 12, 1862 
 
 July 14, 1862 
 Mar. 1, 1863 
 Feb. 11, 1864 
 
 Apr. 9, 1864 
 
 Feb. 25, 1864 
 
 Aug. i;8, 1862 
 July 23, 1862 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 Jan. 25, 1865 
 
 Feb. 24, 1864 
 Apr. 12, 1864 
 Aug. 28, 1862 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 Promoted to Corp., April 25, '64 — wounded 
 
 at Spottsylvania C. H., May 12, '64 — trans- 
 
 to Co. B, i8th Reg. Vet. Res. Corps— dis. 
 
 charged by General Order, July ig, 1865. 
 Promoted to Corp., April 25, '65— prisoner 
 
 from June 22, '64, to April, '65 — discharged 
 
 by General Order, June 3, 1865. 
 Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864, 
 
 and at William's Farm, June 22, '64— disch. 
 
 on Surgeon's certificate, Jan. 24, 1865. 
 Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64 — 
 
 disch. on Surgeon's certificate. May 18, '65. 
 Promoted to Corp., March i,'65 — discharged 
 
 by General Order, , June 3, 1865. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va.,Dec. i3,'62 
 
 — burial record, Albert Djwney,died Jan.6, 
 
 1863— buried in Mil, Asy. Cem., D. C. 
 Discharged, 1S64, 
 
 Patrick J. Carrigan 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Benjamin F. Groves 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 William H. Brown 
 
 Alexander Downey 
 
 Thomas Disney 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Musician 
 Private 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Christopher H. Moore..., 
 
 Discharged at close of war. 
 
 Allen, Andrew J 
 
 wounded at Cold Harbor. 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va , June 3, '64— 
 
 disch. on Surgeon's certificate, Dec. 26, '64. 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64 — 
 
 Adams, Jacob W.. 
 
 Ash, William J 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 died at City Point, Va., Oct. 22, 1864. 
 Transferred to Co. B. Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Broadwater, Henry 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Deserted June2o, returned July 5, '65 — mus- 
 tered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Absent, sick, at muster out. — Vet. 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 Birely, Isaac 
 
 Career J 
 
 do 
 
 ....do 
 
 Discharged June i, 1863. 
 Died March 16, 1864. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Mar. 21. 1864 
 Mar. 12, 1864 
 Mar. 10, 1864 
 
 Apr. 23, 1864 
 Jan. 25, 1865 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 Aug. 4, 1862 
 Feb. 26, 1864 
 Jan. zo, 1865 
 Apr. 22, 1864 
 Feb. 4, 1864 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 
 Apr. 8, 1864 
 
 May 2, 1864 
 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 July 29, 1862 
 July 16, i86a 
 Apr. 4, 1864 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64 — 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 : do 
 
 Cassady, George 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Discharged by General Order, Aug. 4, 1865. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Coflins, Henry M 
 
 Collar, Jacob 
 
 Clements, Wm. K 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Discharged Jan., 1863. 
 
 Cojinelly, William 
 
 Dwier, Daniel 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll 
 
 Discharged by General Order, June 2, 1865. 
 
 Donavan, John 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Absent, sick, at muster out. 
 
 Discharged by General Order, June 14, '65. 
 
 Wounded at Spottsylvania C.H..May, 18/64 
 
 Dee William... 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 — trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, Dec. 14, 1864. 
 Wounded at Reams Station, Aug. 25, 1864 — • 
 
 
 do 
 
 mustered out May 24, 1865. 
 Wounded at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 2s,'64 
 
 Pel^ey, Matthew..'. 
 
 Dubree, Lewis 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 dq 
 
 — tr. to 39th Co , 2d Bat.V. R. C, April 11, 
 *6s — dis. on Surgeon's certific, July 27, '65. 
 
 Transferred to Co. B., Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Not on muster-ojit roll. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 
 
456 
 
 The Story of the ii6th Regiment, 
 
 Devlin, Patrick 
 
 Engles^ George H.. 
 Flanigan, William., 
 
 Farrell, John A 
 
 Fleming, Patrick... 
 
 Farley, John 
 
 Fagan, Edward 
 
 Forsythe, George.., 
 Gallagher, Owen..., 
 
 Grant, Thomas.. 
 
 Gaw, William 
 
 Holt, George C...; , 
 
 Hughes, James 
 
 Harker, Edward 
 
 Hansell, John R 
 
 Heebner, Lawrence 
 
 Hatch, Hannibal 
 
 Harvey, Wm. C 
 
 Hoofnagle, Meich'r 
 
 Hodder, John 
 
 Hayden. Patrick , 
 
 Haley, James , 
 
 Haas, Henry 
 
 Hill, John , 
 
 Hamilton, Frank'n 
 
 Hutchinson, John , 
 
 Jones, Charles 
 
 Johnson , Bartholomew. 
 
 James, Enoch G 
 
 Kohlenberg, Joseph 
 
 Kilpatrick, James 
 
 Kinchner, John 
 
 Lawson, Andrew 
 
 Lawrence, Henry D 
 
 Lyons, James 
 
 Leech, Frank 
 
 Leech, John 
 
 Lutz, Jacob 
 
 Lequen, John 
 
 Lynch, John 
 
 Moore, Christ'r H.. 
 
 Moore, George 
 
 Merritt, Murtha 
 
 Mulholland, John..., 
 Minnich, Joseph 
 
 Martin, Joseph 
 
 Mannesley, Wm 
 
 Moore, James M 
 
 Mabuerry, Isaac M.... 
 Manderfield, Geo C. 
 
 Moore, John 
 
 McManamin, Mat..... 
 McManus, John , 
 
 McMullin, John R.. 
 McCIune, Samuel... 
 
 Private 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 . do.., 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 . do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 . do.., 
 
 ..do... 
 . do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do . 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 . do.. 
 . do ., 
 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.. 
 ..do ., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.. 
 ..do . 
 ..do;.. 
 
 ....do.., 
 ....do.., 
 ....do.., 
 ....do.. 
 ....do.. 
 ....do.. 
 ... do.. 
 ...do.. 
 
 . do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 Mar. I 
 Aug. 7 
 Dec. 15 
 
 Apr. 4 
 Mar. 25 
 Aug 14, 
 Aug. 23. 
 Keb. 24, 
 Feb. 29, 
 
 Feb. 19, 
 
 Aug. 6, 
 Mar. 25, 
 Mar. 6 
 Apl 24, 
 Apl. 4^ 
 Apl. 18, 
 Mar. 2 
 Mar. 28, 
 July 10, 
 
 July 22, 
 
 July 30, 
 July II 
 
 July 23, 
 
 Aug. 13, 
 Keb. 17, 
 Feb. 17, 
 Jan, 26 
 
 July 23, 
 Feb 26, 
 June 20, 
 Mar. 6, 
 July 29, 
 Mar. 6, 
 Apr. 18, 
 Apr. 
 Mar. 7, 
 
 Mar. 7, 
 Aug. IS, 
 Aug, 19, 
 Apr. 4, 
 Mar. 31 
 Jan. 18, 
 Apr. 9, 
 Apr. 25, 
 Mar. 31 
 
 Feb. 21 
 Aug. 9: 
 Aug. 16 
 Aug. 18 
 
 July 7, 
 Aug. 7 
 Feb. 3 
 Feb. 19 
 
 Aug 29, 1862 
 July 25, 1862 
 
 1864 
 1862 
 1864 
 
 1864 
 1864 
 1862 
 1862 
 1864 
 1864 
 
 1864 
 
 1862 
 1864 
 1865 
 1864 
 1864 
 
 1864 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1864 
 1864 
 
 1862 
 1864 
 1864 
 1865 
 1862 
 J865 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 
 1864 
 1862 
 1862 
 1864 
 1864 
 1865 
 1864 
 1864 
 
 1865 
 1862 
 
 l8')2 
 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1864 
 IB64 
 
 Not on muster-out roll 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Prisoner from March 2, to April 6, '65 — disch. 
 
 by General Order, June 29, 1865. 
 Absent, sick, at muster out. 
 Killed at Wilderness,Va., May 5, 1864. 
 Transferred to company B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Transferred to company B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Wd. at Spottsylvania C. H.,Va , May 18, '64 
 
 — mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
 Wounded at Five Forks, Va., March 31, '65 
 
 — discharged by General Order, June 3, '65. 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec 13,1862. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Absent, wounded, at muster-out. 
 Discharged by General Order, May 27, '65. 
 Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864. 
 Died near Washington, D. C, Oct. 14, '64. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to Co. D. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Wounded at Five Forks, Va., March 31, '65 
 
 — discharged by Gen. Order, July 15, 1865. 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 
 Not on muster- out roll. 
 Absent, sick, at muster-out. 
 Absent, on furlough, at muster-out. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Absent, sick, at muster-out. 
 Wounded at Reams Station, Va., Aug 25, 
 
 '64 — dis. on Surgeon's certificate, Feb.6,'65. 
 Killed at William's Farm, Va., June 22, '64. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Mustered out wiih company, July 14, '65. 
 Missing in action at Spottsylvania C. H., 
 
 Va , May 12, '64— Vet. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transfeired to Co. B, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan, 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Wounded at Wilderness, va.. May 5, '64— 
 
 absent, sick, at muster out. 
 Transferred to company B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va;, Dec. 13, 1862. 
 
Three Years' Service. 
 
 457 
 
 NAMfe 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 SERVICE. 
 
 3 
 J, 
 
 REMAKKS. 
 
 
 Private 
 do 
 
 Aug. 7, 1862 
 Jan. 20, 1865 
 Aug IT, 1862 
 May II, 1864 
 Feb. 22, 1864 
 
 Mar. 25, 1864 
 
 Mar. 27, 1865 
 Jan, 20, 1865 
 Aug. 14, 1862 
 Mar. 18, 1864 
 Apr. II, 1864 
 Feb. 17, 1864 
 
 Apr. 6, 1864 
 
 Jan. 26, 1865 
 July 24, 1862 
 July 29, 1862 
 Aug. 29, 1862 
 Feb. 19, 1864 
 Apr. 28, 1864 
 Mar. II, 1864 
 
 July 21, 1862 
 July 29, 1862- 
 Aug. 6, 1862 
 Aug. 18, 1862 
 Apr. 6, 1864 
 
 Aug. 28, 1862 
 Apl. 4, 1864 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64— 
 
 absent, sick, at muster out. 
 Died at Alexandria, Va., July ii.ofwds. re. 
 
 at Cold Harbor, June 3, '64 — grave 2,384. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Missing in action, June 13, '64. 
 Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va , May 
 
 12, '64 — died at Wash'tn, D. C, July2o,'64. 
 Wd. at Wilderness Va., May s, '64— died at 
 
 Washington, D. C, June 3, '64 — buried in 
 
 National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Neveling, John ' 
 
 
 do. 
 
 Perry, John 
 
 Potts, David 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Price, Samuel ' 
 
 do 
 
 RaSferty, Charles 
 
 .. ..do 
 
 Richardson, Isaac ;, 
 
 Rutherford, Thos 
 
 Smith, William 
 
 ......do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Smith, George S 
 
 Searight, William A 
 
 Shea, Edward 
 
 do..;... 
 
 do 
 
 do... 
 
 Steel, Robert 
 
 do 
 
 Search, Francis 
 
 do 
 
 Smith, George ; 
 
 do 
 
 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Short, Alfred 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Discharged by General Order, May 10, '65. 
 
 Transferred to 105th Co., 2d Batt. V. R. C, 
 Jan. 22, 'd^ — discharged on Surgeon's cer- 
 tificate, Aug. 29, '65. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 
 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Transferred to Co. B, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Captured June 11, '64 — died at Anderson- 
 ville Ga., July 10, '64 — grave 3,135. 
 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62, 
 
 Tully, Thomas 
 
 .. do .. 
 
 Van Valtenberg, C 
 
 VanDien, Albert J 
 
 Vaughan, Joseph 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do .... 
 
 Vanderslice, And 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Yauger, Uriah 
 
 do. . 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 Company K. 
 
 JohnO. O'Neill.. 
 
 JohnR. Weltner.. 
 Patrick Casey 
 
 James D. Cope.. 
 
 Bernard Loughery..., 
 Zadock B. Springer.. 
 
 James E. Joliflf.... 
 E. K. Crathamel.., 
 Samuel A. Clear.., 
 
 Captajn 
 
 do 
 
 ist Lieut 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 2d Lieut, 
 do 
 
 ist Sgt. 
 do 
 
 Sergeapt 
 
 Sept. f, 1862 
 
 Apr. 7, 1864 
 Sept. I, 1862 
 
 Mar. 17, 1864 
 
 Sept. 3, 1862 
 Apr. 7, 1864 
 
 Mar. 31, 1864 
 July 31, 1862 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 
 — transferred to 22d reg. Vet. R. C April 4, 
 1863. 
 
 Discharged by special order, June 22, '65. 
 
 Died at Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 9, of wds. 
 received October 7, 1862. 
 
 Captured at William's Farm, Va., June 22, 
 '64 — com. Capt., June 22, '65 — not mus. 
 — mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
 
 Discharged May 12, to date Jan, 27, '63. 
 
 Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 
 — com. Q. M.. June 3, -'65 — not mus. — mus- 
 tered out with company, July 14. 1865. 
 
 Wounded at Five Forks, Va., March 31, '65 
 — absent in hospital, at muster out. 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec.^3, '62 
 — mustered out with company. 
 
 Promoted from Corporal, May 29, '64 — mus- 
 tered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
45§ 
 
 The Stctr^ of the ii6th. Regiment 
 
 Wm. H. Sembower... 
 
 James Cpllins 
 
 Alex. Chisholm 
 
 Edward SpeacQ 
 
 Thomas P. Crown... 
 
 JosepkSUnker 
 
 Daniel Root 
 
 Wm. H. Tyrrell 
 
 Lloyd Patterson 
 
 AndrewJ. Seese 
 
 George W. Ganoe.... 
 William H. Nycum.. 
 
 Ephraim Keim.... 
 George J. Cruse.. 
 
 Timothy Mclnerney.. 
 Rob'tJ Brownfield... 
 
 Thomas Wallace 
 
 Eugene Brady 
 
 Michael J. McKenna.. 
 
 George P. Snyder 
 
 Charles McLaughlin... 
 
 George Mahaffey 
 
 John Remanter 
 
 Joseph Hudsou 
 
 -Richard A. McLean.,. 
 
 Daniel Crawiprd , 
 
 Daniel Ro^gers 
 
 George Allen 
 
 Allaman, Jacob 
 
 Allingham, Robert.. 
 Boleu, Albert W 
 
 Sergeant 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 .. .do 
 
 Hezekiah Dean 
 
 Warren S, Kilgore , 
 
 Stephens. Beckett , 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 SERVICE. 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Corporal 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do. 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do ., 
 ..do.., 
 
 do. 
 
 do.., 
 
 do.. 
 
 do.. 
 
 do.. 
 
 do.. 
 
 do.. 
 
 do.., 
 
 do.., 
 
 Musician 
 
 do 
 
 Private 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 Feb, 29, 1864 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Feb. 29j. 1864 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Aug. 4, 1S62 
 Aug. 1, 1862. 
 Aug. 1, 1862 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 
 Feb. ^, 1864 
 
 Mar. I, 1864 
 
 Mar. 7, 1S64 
 
 Mar. 30, 1864 
 Mar. 3, 1864 
 Ap^. a, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Feb. 24, 1864 
 Mar. 3pj 1864 
 
 Mar. 13, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Aug. 7, 1862 
 Aug. 15, Z862 
 Aug. II, 1862 
 Aug. 6, 1862 
 July 29, 1862 
 Aug. 5, 1862 
 Aug. 6, 1862 
 Aug. 8, iS6a 
 
 Aug. 22, 1862 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 June 28, 1862 
 Mar. 23, i§64 
 
 Aug. 16, 1862 3 
 
 Promoted to Sergeant, April 16, '64:— mus- 
 tered out with company, July 14, '&5. 
 
 Promoted form Corporal, Dec. 26, '64 — ni;U5- 
 tered out with company July 14, '65. 
 
 Promoted from Corporalj June i, '647— mus- 
 tered out with company, July 14, '65. 
 
 Died at Annapolis, Md., June 24, of wounds 
 received at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64. 
 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Transferred to Co. A, Jan. 26,, 1863. 
 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62. 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
 '62 — prom, to 2d Lt. Co C, May i, '65. 
 
 Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — 
 mustered out with company. 
 
 Vet, —served in 8sth Pa. V.— Killed at Spott- 
 sylvania, Va., May 12, 1864. 
 
 Promoted to Corp., Apr. 16, '64 — wounded 
 at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — mustered 
 out with company, July 14, 18.65. 
 
 Promoted to Corporal, June 4,'64 — rauster&d- 
 out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Promoted to Corporal, March 16,' 65 — nj,us- 
 tered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Promoted to Corporal, June 2,'6s — mustered 
 out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Captured — promoted to Corporal, June 2,'65 
 — wounded at Wilderness — mustered out 
 with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Promoted to Corpora], June 2, '65 — mustered 
 out with company, July 14, 3;865. 
 
 Wounded at Tolopotomy, Va^, May 31, '64, 
 and at Five Forks, March 31, '65 — trans- 
 ferred to Co, G, i8th Regiment Vet. Res. 
 Corps — disch.by General Order.Aug. i4,'65. 
 
 Wounded at Five Forks, Va., M^arch 31, 65 — 
 absent, in hospital, at muster out. 
 
 Died June 12, of wounds received at Spott- 
 sylvania C. H., Va., May 12, '64 — buried in 
 National Cemetery, Arlington. 
 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, T863. 
 
 Transferred to Co* D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Disch. on Surgeon's certificate— date unk'n. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862. 
 
 Wounded, May i8,'64, at Spottsylvania, Va. 
 — mustered out with company. 
 
 Killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May 18, 1864. 
 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Wounded at Wilderness, Va., Mays, 1864^— 
 mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., Mrayi 
 12, 1864 — mustered out with company, Jfuly 
 14, 1865— Vet, in 16th Pa. Cav. 
 
Three Years' Service. 
 
 459 
 
 NAME. 
 
 BANK. 
 
 DATE OP 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 SERVICE. 
 
 1 
 
 < 
 n 
 > 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 
 Private 
 do 
 
 Feb. 15, 1864 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Mar. 31, 1864 
 
 Mar. 31, 1864 
 Mar. 31, 1864 
 
 Mar. 23, 1864 
 
 Aug. 28, 1862 
 Aug. 28, 1862 
 Aug. 19, 1862 
 Aug, 13, 1862 
 Aug. 11,1862 
 Mar. 7, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Mar. 31, 1864 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Mar. 22, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1863 
 
 Mar. 31. 1864 
 
 Mar. 31, 1864 
 Aug. 20, 1863 
 Aug, 2, 1862 
 Mar. 3, 1864 
 Mar. 30, 1864 
 
 Aug. 19, 1862 
 Aug. 29, 1862 
 
 Aug. 29, 1862 
 Feb. 20, 1864 
 Aug. 4, 1862 
 Mar. 30, 1864 
 
 Mar. 23, 1864 
 Aug. 29, 1862 
 Sept. 2, 1862 
 Mar. 30, 1864 
 
 Mar. 31, 1864 
 
 Aug. 14, 1862 
 Aug. 16, 1862 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Feb. 28, 1864 
 Mar, 23, 1864 
 Mar. 30, 1864 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 S 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, at 
 Reams Station, Va , August 25, 1864, and at 
 Five t orks, March 31, 1865 — absent, in hos- 
 pital, at muster out. 
 
 A^unded at Petersburg, Va., June 16, '64 — 
 tr, to Veteran Reserve Corps, June 7, 1865. 
 
 Wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864— 
 tr. to Veteran Reserve Corps, 1864. 
 
 Killed at Wilderness, Va., May s, 1864. 
 
 
 Bricker, William P 
 
 Boyd, Parks A 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 B^^kholder, C 
 
 do 
 
 Beal Henry J„ 
 
 do 
 
 June 3, 1864. 
 Killed at Spottsylvania C. H.. Va., May 12, 
 
 1864— Vet. 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Bishop, Albert S 
 
 Bums, John 
 
 Berrell, Charles 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62. 
 
 Bibbs, Morris 
 
 do 
 
 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Blair, Alfted, Jr 
 
 do 
 
 
 Campbell, John 
 
 do 
 
 dp 
 
 Wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3/64— 
 mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Chalfsnt, John W 
 
 Crawford, Daniel C 
 
 Conn, William A 
 
 do .. .. 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 pro. to Corporal, March 16, '64 — disch. by 
 
 General Order, June 9, 1865. 
 Discharged by General Order, June 5, 1865. 
 Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 18, 
 
 1864. 
 Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 18, 
 
 Clemmer, Michael 
 
 Cavanaugh, James 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 1864. 
 Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864. 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Discharged by General Order, June 28, 1865. 
 
 Dean, Stephen H 
 
 do 
 
 Wounded and captured at Reams Station, 
 
 Dougherty. Edward 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Va., Aug. 25, '64 — died at Salisbury, N. C, 
 Dec. 3, '64— burial record, Dec. 13, 1864. 
 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 
 
 
 do 
 
 —transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Translerred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Edwards, Thomas 
 
 Ellinger, Emanuel 
 
 Fisher, Michael 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Discharged by General Order, June ig, 1865. 
 
 Transferred to Co. V, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Wd. at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3/64— dis- 
 
 Frazier, Albert . 
 
 do 
 
 charged on Surgeon's cert., May 18, 1865. 
 Discharged by General Order, June 10, 1865. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 62, 
 
 Farrell, John 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Gilmore, Levi 
 
 Glendenning, Robert 
 
 Gallagher, Martin 
 
 Garoh, Thomas 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Died at Alexandria. Va., July 17. of wds. 
 received at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864— 
 Grave 2,413 — Vet. 
 
 Wounded and captured at William's Farm, 
 Va., June 22, '64— died July. '64, at Salis- 
 bury, N. C. Prison. 
 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Green, Charles 
 
 Hart, John 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Hall Henry 
 
 do 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, i8(-5. 
 
 H;«j.r, William 
 
 do 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, ^865. 
 
460 
 
 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 H 
 3 
 
 
 NAME. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 SERVICE. 
 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Hayden, John R 
 
 Private 
 
 Mar. 23 1864 
 
 3 
 
 Wd. at Po River, Va., May 10, 1864 — mus- 
 tered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 Hanan, George W 
 
 do 
 
 Feb. 29, r864 
 
 ? 
 
 Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864. 
 
 Hall, William 
 
 do 
 
 Mar. 23, 1864 
 
 3 
 
 Died at Field Hospital, near Brandy Sta., 
 
 
 
 Va. — date unknown. 
 
 Hanan, Thomas J 
 
 do 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 3 
 
 Died March 27, 1864— burial record, Thos. 
 Hanan, died at Alexandria, Va., March 
 29, 1864, grave 1,692. 
 
 Haus, John 
 
 do 
 
 Mar. 30, 1864 
 
 3 
 
 Captured at William's Farm, June 22, 1864 — 
 
 
 
 
 
 died at Andersonville, Ga., Aug. i, 1864, 
 
 
 
 
 
 grave 4,474. 
 
 Hutchinson, Scott 
 
 .do 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 3 
 
 Died July, 1864, at U. S. General Hospital, 
 Alexandria, Va. 
 
 Hull, Abraham 
 
 do 
 
 Mar 23, 1864 
 
 3 
 
 Died June 23, 1864, at Second Corps Field 
 Hospital. 
 
 
 
 Hull, John J 
 
 do 
 
 
 
 Died 1865, at U. S. General Hospital, Alex- 
 
 
 
 
 
 andria, Va. 
 
 Hanlon, William, 
 
 do 
 
 Aug. ig, 1862 
 
 3 
 
 Wd. at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862— 
 transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 Hudson, Joseph 
 
 do 
 
 Aug. 19, 1862 
 Aug. 2, 1862 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 Killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. 
 Transferred to U- S. Artillery, Sept., 1B62. 
 
 Hickey, Michael 
 
 do 
 
 
 do 
 
 Aug. II, 1862 
 Aug. 29, 1862 
 Sept. I, 1862 
 Feb. 24, 1864 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 
 Harr, James 
 
 do 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 
 Inks, John H 
 
 do 
 
 Died June i^ofwds.rec. at Tolopotomy.Va., 
 May 31, 1864— bur. in Nat. Cem., Arlington. 
 
 
 
 Jordon, Joseph A 
 
 do 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 3 
 
 Trans, to Co. A, loth reg. Vet. Res. Corps- 
 discharged by General Order, July 29, '65. 
 
 
 do. . 
 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 Keb. 24, 1864 
 
 3 
 
 
 Kearns, John 
 
 do 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 
 
 do.. . 
 
 Aug. 4, 1862 
 
 3 
 
 Transferred to company D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 
 KiDg, James L 
 
 do 
 
 King, Daniel 
 
 do 
 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 Mar. 31, 1864 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 
 
 
 
 do 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 
 Lackey, John W 
 
 do 
 
 Prisoner from Aug. i, 1864, to Mar. 13, '65 — 
 disch. by General Order, June 20. '65. 
 
 
 
 Luckey, Joshua 
 
 do 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 ^^ 
 
 Died April 8, 1864, at Alexandria, Va. 
 
 
 
 Aug. 22, 1862 
 Aug. 23, 1862 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 Iransferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Long, James 
 
 do 
 
 Logue, James 
 
 .... do 
 
 Aug. 19, 1862 
 
 3 
 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va.,Dec. 13/62 
 —transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Logue, Daniel 
 
 . do 
 
 Sept. I, 1862 
 Aug. 28, 1862 
 Mar. I, 1864 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Leister, William 
 
 .. do.. .. 
 
 Murray, James 
 
 do 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
 
 Mallory, John D ■„. 
 
 do 
 
 Mar. 31, 1864 
 
 3 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. — 
 —captured while on picket, Oct. i, '64. 
 
 
 
 Moore, John 
 
 do 
 
 Mar. 29, 1864 
 
 3 
 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, '65. 
 Wounded at Po River, Va., May 10, '64— 
 discharged by Gen. Order, June?, '65. 
 
 Morrison, Ross 
 
 . do 
 
 Mar. 30, 1864 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 Maust, Jacob 
 
 do 
 
 Mar. 3, 1864 
 
 3 
 
 Died at Alexandria, Va , Mar. 8, '64— bur. 
 
 
 
 
 
 rec. Mar. 29, '64 — grave 1,689. 
 
 Martin, John 
 
 .... do 
 
 Aug. 28, 1862 
 
 3 
 
 Transfeired to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
 
 Merrick, Joseph 
 
 ... do 
 
 Aug. 7, 1862 
 July s8, 1862 
 
 3 
 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Munson, John H 
 
 do 
 
 Mahaffey, Henry 
 
 do 
 
 Aug. 8, 1862 
 
 3 
 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 
 Miles, George H... . 
 
 .. do 
 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 
 "Mar. I, 1864 
 
 ^eb. 29, 1864 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 
 McDonald, John ;.... 
 
 do 
 
 Discharged by Gen. Order, June 26/65. 
 Discharged by Gen. Order, May z, 1865. 
 
 McCuen, John 
 
 do 
 
 McClean, Richard S 
 
 do 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 3 
 
 Wounded at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 
 18, '64— dis; by Gen. Order, June 13, '65. 
 
 McDowell, Andrew 
 
 do 
 
 Aug. 6, 1862 
 
 3 
 
 Wd. at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 — 
 transferred to Co D, Jan, 26, '63. 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Years' Service. 
 
 46r 
 
 Mcllhenney, John 
 
 McFadden, Thomas . 
 
 McGiveney, Wm 
 
 McVey, Hugh 
 
 McGinty, Hugh.. 
 Neal, Henry U... 
 
 O'Brian, Thomas... 
 O'Brian, William.... 
 
 O'Brian, John 
 
 O'Hara, JohnT 
 
 Oliver, James 
 
 Pretiyman, Jacob.. 
 
 Powers, John 
 
 Price, Edward 
 
 Quinn, James 
 
 Ryan, Isaac L 
 
 Ryan, John 
 
 Rifle, David J 
 
 Rathburn, Milton 
 
 Roe, Robert 
 
 Sampsell, Simeon , 
 
 Savage, Edmund, , 
 
 Shipley, Wm. D.. 
 Smith, James 
 
 Smith, Joseph J.. 
 Smith, John W.... 
 
 Sickels, Daniel.. 
 
 Sweeney, John 
 
 Sweeney, Michael.... 
 
 Sheean, John , 
 
 Sheets, Jonathan 
 
 Toner, John , 
 
 Taylor, Benjamin..., 
 Tiernan, John, Jr..,., 
 Thorndell, Thos. T.., 
 
 Tully, Patrick 
 
 Townsend, Egbert.. 
 
 Tracy, Edward , 
 
 Torbert, Ed. W 
 
 Umble, Newton 
 
 Whitaker, Warren 
 
 Whoolery, Wm 
 
 Williams, Thomas B.. 
 
 Watson, Aaron S.. 
 
 Wilson, John 
 
 Wallace, Wm. A... 
 
 Wilson, Thomas.. 
 
 Private 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.., 
 
 ..do.., 
 ..do... 
 
 ..do... 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.., 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do... 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do,. 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 ..do,. 
 ..do.. 
 
 ..do.. 
 
 DATE OF 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SKkVICE. 
 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 ■A-ug 23, 1862 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 
 Aug. 19, 1862 
 Mar. 31, 1864 
 
 Aug, 29, 1862 
 Sept. 2, 1862 
 Aug. 13, 1862 
 Aug. 28, 1862 
 Mar. g, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Aug. 29, 1862 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Aug. 12, 1862 
 Feb. 12, 1864 
 Mar. 8, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Sept. 2, 1862 
 Mar. 28, 1864 
 Mar. 23, 1864 
 
 Mar. 31, 1864 
 Mar. 31, 1864 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Aug. 19, 
 Aug. 23, 
 Aug. 15, 
 Feb. ag, 
 Feb. 17, 
 Mar, 23, 
 Feb. 29, 
 Mar. 7, 
 
 1862 
 1862 
 1862 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 1864 
 
 Aug. 14, 1862 
 Aug. 16,1862 
 Sept. I, 1862 
 Sept. 2, 1862 
 Apr. I, 1864 
 
 Feb. 8, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Sept. I, 1862 
 Aug. 5, 1862 
 
 Sept. 1, 1862 
 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Transferred to Co, D, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 2*6, '63." 
 Wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 
 
 '62— transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Wd. at Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12, 
 
 64 — Mus. out with companyjuly i4,'65— Vt 
 Transferred to Company D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Wounded at Wilderness— absent, sick at 
 
 muster out — Vet. 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Absent, sick, at musierout. 
 Absent, sick, at muster-out. 
 Killed at William's Farm, Va., June 22, '64. 
 Killed at Spottsylvania C.H., Va.,May i2,*64. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Absent, sick, at muster out. 
 Killed at Spottsylvania C. H., Va , May 18, 
 
 1864, 
 Disch. by General Order, June 2, '65. 
 Died of wounds received at Wilderness — bu. 
 
 rec, died at Annapolis. Md., Aug. 24, '64, 
 Kill'd at Spottsylvania C. H.,Va.,May i2,'64 
 Died June 14, of wounds received at Cold 
 
 Harbor, Va , June 3, 1864— buried in Nat. 
 
 Cemetery, Arlington. 
 Wounded and captured at Spottsylvania C, 
 
 H., Va., May 12, 1864 — died at Anderson- 
 
 ville, Ga., July 9, 1864 — burial record, July 
 
 19, 1864 — grave, 3,586. 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Trans, to Vet Res. Corps. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Died May 5/64 — bu. in Mil. As. Cem., D.C. 
 Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864. 
 Killed in action at Five Forks, Va., Mar. 31, 
 
 1865. 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Not on muster-out roll. 
 Captured at Reams Station, Va., Aug. 25, '64 
 
 — died at Salisbury, N. C, Oct. 19. 1864. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865. 
 Mustered out with company, July 14, 1865 
 Wounded at Po River, Va., May 10, '64 — 
 
 disch by Gen. Order, June 13, 1865. 
 Trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, Jan. 24, 1865. 
 Transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, '63. 
 Wd. at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, '62 — 
 
 transferred to Co. D, Jan. 26, 1863. 
 Killed at Fredericksburg. 
 
4S2 
 
 The Story of the ii6th Regiment. 
 
 NAME. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 MUSTER INTO 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 g 
 
 1 
 
 t 
 
 RBMARKS. 
 
 Williams, John 
 
 do 
 
 July 25, 1862 
 Sept. 2, 1862 
 Feb. 29, 1864 
 Mar. 23, 1864 
 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 3 
 
 Died February 9, 1863. 
 
 
 do 
 
 Wood, John W 
 
 do 
 
 Honorably discharged — date unknown. 
 Wd. at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, '64— mas. 
 out with company, July 14, 1865 — Vet. 
 
 
 do 
 
 
 
 Unassigned Men. 
 
 Agan, Thomas 
 
 Ankins, John W 
 
 Bronson, John 
 
 Brown, John , 
 
 Dugman, Michael., 
 
 Geggus, Lewis 
 
 Gallagher, Simon... 
 Hammer, Henry,,.. 
 McCormick, Zach.,. 
 Wandel, Benjamin., 
 
 Private 
 
 do,... 
 
 do 
 
 do,.... 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 do 
 
 Mar, 30, 
 Mar. 10, 
 Mar. 30, 
 Feb. 29, 
 Jan. 19, 
 Mar. 21, 
 Feb. 8, 
 Mar. II, 
 Feb. 24, 
 Feb, 10, 
 
 1864 
 
 S 
 
 1864 
 
 3 
 
 1864 
 
 3 
 
 1864 
 
 3 
 
 i8(.^ 
 
 3 
 
 1864 
 
 3 
 
 1864 
 
 3 
 
 1864 
 
 3 
 
 1864 
 
 3 
 
 1S64 
 
 3 
 
 Not accounted for. 
 
 Not accounted for. 
 
 Not accounted for. 
 
 Not accounted for. 
 
 Substitute — not accounted for. 
 
 Not accounted for. 
 
 Not accounted for. 
 
 Discharged by General Order, June 5, '63. 
 
 Not accounted for. 
 
 Not accounted for, 
 
h itN^ '11 ■ •■ t - -"^^ ^ 
 
 DHH" ;;i! " i )n . "iy"j w •« ^^ 
 
 \ Ni^