veteran Vols /ST Brig. 1st Div 3rd Corps. H0URS,««IEKrTAOVAHCCDI/o / Kr *»0 ENGAGED THE EKEKY Monument ol 57th Pa. Vet. Vols., at Sherfj 's house on the battlefield of Gettysburg. The monument was dedicated with impressive ceremonies on July 2, 1888. / HISTORY OF THE FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. First Brigade, First Division, Third Corps, and Second Brigade, Third Division, Second Corps, Army of the Potomac. COMPILED BY JAMES M. MARTIN, E. C. STROUSS, R. G. MADGE, R. I. CAMPBELL, M. C. ZAHNISER. McCoy & Calvin, Printers, Meadville, Pa. J /I TO THE MEMBERS OF THE FIFTY-SEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS, LIVING AND DEAD, AND TO THEIR CHILDREN, AND TO THEIR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN, FOREVER, IS THIS VOLUME DEDICATED. TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Organization of the Regiment — Camp Curtin — Departure for Washington — In Old Virginia — Colonel Maxwell Resigns — Colonel Campbell 9-17 CHAPTER II. We Embark for the Peninsula — Yorktown — Camping in the Mud — Peach Orchard — Artillery Practice — Battle of Wil- liamsburg . . 18-28 CHAPTER III. Battle of Fair Oaks — Death of Major Culp — Increasing Sick List — Advancing Our Lines — The Seven Days' Battles — Glendale or Charles City Cross Roads — The Fifty-Seventh Under Captain Maxwell as Rear Guard — Malvern Hill — Retreat to Harrison's Landing 29-42 CHAPTER IV. Camp Life at Harrison's Landing — Major Birney Assigned to the Command of the Regiment — Transferred to Gen- eral Birney's Brigade — Evacuation of Harrison's Land- ing and the Peninsula — The Army of the Potomac is Sent to Reenforce General Pope 43-52 CHAPTER V. Second Bull Run Campaign — Battle of Chantilly — Death of General Kearny — His Body Escorted to Washington by a Detachment of the Fifty-Seventh — Retreat to Alexan- dria — Conrad's Ferry — Colonel Campbell Rejoins the Regiment 53-60 CHAPTER VI. On to Richmond Once More — Foragers Captured — General McClellan Superseded by General Burnside — The March to the Rappahannock — Battle of Fredericksburg... 61-68 CONTENTS CHAPTER VII. Camp Pitcher — The "Mud March" — General Hooker in Com- mand of the Army — Resolutions Adopted by the Fifty- Seventh — Re-assignment to the First Brigade — Anecdote of Colonel Campbell — Drill and Inspection — Adoption of Corps Badges — The Chancellorsville Campaign — Jackson Routs the Eleventh Corps — A "Flying Dutchman" — In a Tight Place — General Hooker Disabled — General Sedg- wick's Movements — A New Line Established — Strength of the Fifty-Seventh and Its Losses 69-81 CHAPTER VIII. Back Again in Our Old Camp — Cavalry Battle at Brandy Station — The March to Gettysburg — Hooker's Request for Troops at Harper's Ferry — Asks to be Relieved from the Command of the Army — We Arrive at Gettysburg — Battle of July 2d— Strength of the Fifty-Seventh— Its Losses — General Graham Wounded and Captured — Wounding of General Sickles — Battle of July 3d — July 4th — The Confederates Retreat — General Sickles Asks for a Court of Inquiry — President Lincoln to Sickles — A Visit to the Battlefield Twenty-five Years Later 82-04 CHAPTER IX. We Leave Gettysburg — Rebel Spy Hung — French's Division Joins the 3d Corps — Enemy's Position at Falling Waters — He Escapes Across the Potomac — In Old Vir- ginia Again — Manassas Gap — Camp at Sulphur Springs — Movement to Culpepper — Eleventh and Twelfth Corps Sent West — Lee's Efforts to Gain Our Rear — Skirmish at Auburn Creek — Warren's Fight at Bristow Station — Deserter Shot — Retreat of the Enemy — Kelly's Ford — Mine Run Campaign — The Regiment Re-enlists — The "Veteran Furlough" — Recruiting — Presented with a New Flag by Governor Curtin — Back to the Front — General Grant Commands the Army — Reorganization — The Wil- derness Campaign — Three Days of Hard Fighting — Loss in Fifty-Seventh 95-110 CONTENTS. CHAPTER X. The Movement to Spottsylvania Court House — General Sedg- wick Killed — Hancock's Grand Charge of May 12th— Great Capture of Prisoners, Guns and Colors — The Fa- mous Oak Tree — Ewell's Effort to Capture Our Wagon Train— Losses in the Fifty-Seventh at Spottsylvania— Movement to North Anna River — Fight at Chesterfield Ford — We Cross the Pamunkey — Skirmish at Haw's Shop and Totopotomoy Creek — Battle cf Cold Harbor — Our Colors Struck and Badly Torn by a Piece of Shell — Flank Movement to the James River — March to Petersburg — Severe Fighting at Hare's Hill — Battle of June 22d— Losses in the Fifty-Seventh — Fort Alex. Hays — Peters- burg — We Move to the North Side of the James — Straw- berry Plains — Return to Petersburg — The "Burnside Mine'' — General Mott in Command of Our Division — Deep Bottom — Other Marching and Fighting Around Petersburg 111-125 CHAPTER XI. Recruits — Dangerous Picket Duty — Muster-out of Old Regi- ments — Composition of the Brigade — Expedition Against the South Side Railroad — Battle of Boydton Plank Road or Hatcher's Run — Disguised Rebels Capture Our Picket Line — Election Day — Thanksgiving Dinner of Roast Tur- key — Change of Camp — Raid on Weldon Railroad — A Hard March Returning — "Applejack'' — General Hum- phreys in Command of the Second Corps 126-137 CHAPTER XII. Disbanding of Companies A and' E — Regiment Organized Into a Battalion of Six Companies — Consolidation of the Eighty-Fourth with the Fifty-Seventh Pennsylvania — Necessity for Changing the Letter of Some of the Com- panies — Confusion in Company Rolls Growing Out of It — Officers of the Consolidated Regiment — Another Move Across Hatcher's Run — The Regiment Again Engaged with the Enemy — Great Length of the Line in Front of Petersburg — A Lively Picket Skirmish — Battle Near Watkin's House — Enemy's Picket Line and Many Pris- oners Captured 138-146 CONTENTS. CHAPTER. XIII. Beginning of Our Last Campaign — Battle of Five Forks — On Picket Duty on Old Hatcher's Run Battlefield — Jubi- lant Rebels — Enemy's Lines Broken — Petersburg and t Richmond Evacuated — In Pursuit of the Enemy — Battle of Sailor's Creek — High Bridge — General Mott Wounded — Lee's Army Breaking Up — Appomattox — Joy Over the Surrender — On the Backward March — Camp at Burkes- ville Junction 147-156 CHAPTER XIV. Departure from Burkesville — Marching Through Richmond — The March to Washington — Passing Over Old Battle- fields — Camp at Bailey's Cross Roads — Grand Review of the Army of the Potomac — The Order of March — The Fifty-Seventh Ordered Mustered Out — Names of En- gagements in which the Regiment Participated — Its Casualties — We Start for Harrisburg — Finally Paid and Discharged — Farewell Address of Our Field Officers 157-163 Appendix A. — Roster of Officers 164-169 Appendix B. — Medical Report of Surgeon Lyman for year 1862 ■ 170-175 Appendix C. — Address of Lieut.-Col. L. D. Bumpus at the Dedication of tihe Regimental Monument at Gettysburg, July 2d, 1888 176-1S9 Appendix D. — Reminiscences of the Fifty-Seventh Regiment by Gen. William Birney 190-196 PREFACE. When the idea of publishing the History of the Fifty- Seventh Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers was first con- ceived and a committee appointed to prepare the manu- script for the same, the chief difficulty to be met with was to confine the limits of the work to such a size that the price of the book would be such that it might be placed within the means of all the survivors of the regiment. The committee regrets that the muster-out rolls of the regiment were not accessible, nor could they be copied from the rolls at Washington, D. C. Even if the rolls could have been copied and published in the book, it would have greatly added to the price of the work and would have required a much greater fund than the committee had on hand for that purpose. A great deal of pains have been taken and the marches, campaigns and battles of the regiment have been carefully studied, and it is to be hoped that they will be found to be accurately described. If the labor of the committee will meet the approval of those who have marched and fought with the gallant old regiment, it will be duly appreciated by those compilirg the work. J. M. Martin, E. C. Stroiss, R. G. Madge, Robert I. Campbell, M. C. Zahnizer, B. F. Smith, Committee. Historical Committi e 57th Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers. 1. J. M. Martin. 3. R. G Mad 5. M. ( '. Zahnizer. 2. E. C. Strouss. 4. K. I. Campbell. 6 B P. Smith. HISTORY OF THE FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. CHAPTER I. BY J. M. MARTIN. Organization of the Regiment — Camp Curtin — Departure for Washington — In Old Virginia — Colonel Maxwell Resigns — Colonel Campbell. The sanguinary battle, and almost disgraceful rout of the Union army under General McDowell at the first Bull Run in July, 1861, convinced the authorities at Washington that the insurrection of the slave states was not a mere spasm of anger at their defeat in the preceding presidential election to be crushed out by the levy of 75,000 troops, undisciplined and indiffer- ently equipped, in a three months' service of holiday soldiering, and that Secretary Seward's prophecy that a sixty days' campaign would restore the Union and bring peace to the nation was a dream destined not to be realized. Acting on this conviction a call was made for 300,000 volunteers to serve for three years, or durinsr the war. IO HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT To meet the emergency, evident to many, who were not disposed to accept the prophecy of the Sec- retary of State, Andrew G. Curtin, whose name will go down in history as " Pennsylvania's War Gov- ernor," organized, equipped and had put in training that superb body of men, " The Pennsylvania Re- serves," who through all the four years of bloody conflict to follow, were to find the place their name indicated, on the skirmish and picket line, and in the front of the battle, were the first to respond, and none too quickly, for the safety of the Nation's Capital. In obedience to this call other regiments and battalions were promptly organized and forwarded so that by September I, 1861, Arlington Heights and the envi- ronments of Washington were thickly studded with the camps of these new levies, and out of the mass was being moulded, under the hand of that skillful drill master, General George B. McClellan, that mighty host known in history as the Armv of the Potomac, whose valiant deeds in the cause of Union and Lib- erty are co-eternal with that of the Nation. At the first, regiments were recruited and mus- tered from single cities, towns and counties, but as time passed and the first flood of recruits were mus- tered into service, companies and squads, to the num- ber of a corporal's guard, were gathered from dis- tantly separated districts, and rendezvousing at some common camp were consolidated into regiments and battalions. Such was the case in the organization of the 57th Pennsylvania Volunteers, the place of rendez- PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. II vous and final mustering being in Camp Curtin at the State Capital. The roster of the regiment, by company, shows the different sections of the state whence recruited, viz : Company A, Susquehanna and Wyoming counties. Company B, Mercer county. Company C, Mercer county. Company D, Tioga county. Company E, Allegheny, Mercer and Lawrence counties. Company F, Mercer county. Company G, Bradford county. Company H, Bradford county. Company I, Mercer and Venango counties. Company K, Crawford county. Thus it will be seen at a glance on the state map that there were representatives in the regiment from Wyoming county in the east; thence along the northern border of Crawford, Mercer, Venango and Lawrence counties in the extreme west. Before, how- ever, the final rendezvous of these several companies at Camp Curtin there were smaller camps established for recruiting in several localities, notably that at Mercer, Mercer county, where it may be said was established the original regimental headquarters. The Hon. William Maxwell, a graduate of West Point, but at that time pursuing the peaceful avoca- tion of the practice of law in that county, was, about September i, 1861, authorized by Governor Curtin to recruit a regiment for the service. With this in view he established a rendezvous camp outside of 12 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT the borough limits of the town of Mercer, on North Pittsburg street, in a field given for that purpose by the late Hon. Samuel B. Griffith, and which was named in honor of the donor, "Camp Griffith." Here temporary barracks were erected and a regular system of camp duties inaugurated, and the usually quiet hamlet of Mercer became the scene of quite active military enthusiasm; the still breezes of the Neshan- nock being stirred by the beat of drums and shrill notes of Fife. In two or three weeks after the estab- lishing of this camp a large number of volunteers were recruited who farmed the nucleus of what after- wards became Companies B, C, E, F and I, of the regiment. When the number of these recruits became sufficient for the formation of a battalion Colonel Maxwell transferred them to Camp Curtin. In making this transfer the men were taken in conveyances over- land to the "Big Bend" on the Shenango and there embarked on a canal boat for Rochester, Beaver county, and thence by the only line of railway, the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago, to Pittsburg and Harrisburg. Along the way from Camp Griffith to the Ohio these recruits enjoyed a continual ovation; the last, alas ! that many in that band ever received. At Pittsburg they were joined by others from Alle- gheny and a small contingent from the northeastern part of Lawrence county, who cast their fortunes with Company E. Arriving at Camp Curtin the regiment was rarid'y filled up to the required ten companies by the addition of Companies A, D, G, H and K. COL. WILLIAM MAXWELL PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 3 In the latter part of October the regiment was organized and mustered into the United States service. Immediately following the mustering, clothing was distributed, and stripped of every habiliment and insignia of the citizen and arrayed in forage caps, dark blue blouses, sky blue pants and army brogans the regiment marched to the armory in the city and received its equipment — Springfield muskets and car- tridge boxes. An impressive ceremony, one not to be forgotten by those present, was the committing by Governor Curtin with appropriate words to the care of the regiment the colors : The starry flag, With stripes of red and white, And field of azure blue. Sacred emblem of our Union, in defense of which many who that day stood as stalwarts in those ranks, gave health, and limb, and life in the three years to follow. Thus fully inducted into service the regiment set- tled down to the daily routine of camp duty, drill and guard mounting, waiting for the call to the more heroic service at the front beyond the Potomac. To those accustomed to the dainties of the home table and unstinted in their access to the larder, the black coffee and indigestible sea biscuits, with the suggestive initials "B. C." stamped upon them, soon mollified their love of camp life and cultivated a crav- ing desire to terminate the "cruel war" at the earliest 14 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT date possible, even at the risk of being hurt or hurt- ing somebody in the attempt. During the month of November that destructive pest of the camp, measles, broke out in the regiment, and proved to many a foe more to be dreaded than the bullets of the enemy; besides, to go a soldiering in defense of one's country and be ambushed by a dis- ease that at home was regarded as a trifling affliction of childhood, was a source of real humiliation. About December 14th orders were received to transfer the regiment to Washington. The transfer was anything but a pleasure jaunt. Instead of the commodious and comfortable passenger coaches, the ordinary box freight cars were used, and packed in there, that cold December night of transfer was truly one of misery. The cars were seatless, consequently the Turkish style of sitting had to be adopted by all who did not prefer to stand or were so fortunate as to obtain a seat in the side doors from which the feet could swing with freedom. The night was exceed- ingly chilly and with no facilities for warmth the dis- comfort was at the maximum. The day following, the regiment arrived at Washington, where it was lodged for the night in the "Soldiers' retreat," the hard floors of which were as downy pillows to our wearied and cold stiffened limbs. The next day we marched out of the city, passing the Capitol, and formed camp near the Bladensburg road. It was now the dead of winter, a Washington winter, with fre- quent storms of rain, sleet and snow. The camp was on the lowlands and the regiment experienced to the PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 5 full the disagreeableness of the mud and slush of "My Maryland." Here we had our first introduction to the Sibley tent, a species of canvas tepee of the western Indian pattern, each of which afforded shelter to a dozen men. A small sheet iron stove, with the pipe braced against the center pole, diffused warmth, while a hole in the canvas at the apex afforded an exit for the pungent smoke of the green pine used for fuel. It was while in camp at this place we first heard the booming of the enemy's guns away to the west- ward across the Potomac. These deep notes were of such frequent recurrence that all were fully convinced that a battle was in progress. Steed-like "we snuffed the battle from afar," and many were the expressed fears that victory would perch upon our banners, and the war be ended ere we should reach the Virginia shores. Alas ! poor, ignorant mortals that we were ! Little dreaming of what scenes of carnage and hot battle we should be called to witness before the last notes of the hostile guns should be heard. The next morning the papers brought us the news of the battle of Dranes- ville and the repulse of the enemy, and our sorrow was deep and loud spoken, that we were not forwarded and permitted, at once, to put an end to this southern fracas ! Such was our confidence of easy victory ! While in this camp the measles again broke out in the regiment. Many of the men had contracted severe colds during that night of dismal ride from Harris- burg, and cases of pneumonia were numerous, many proving fatal, while others lingered for months in 1 6 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT hospitals, either to be discharged on account of dis- ability or to again return to their companies mere wrecks of their former selves. In February, 1862, the regiment broke camp, and crossing the Potomac, took its place in the left wing of the army near Fort Lyon, below Alexandria. Here in the organization of the army it was assigned to Jameson's brigade of Heintzelman's division, which later, upon the organization of the army corps, con- stituted the first brigade, first division, third corps, commanded respectively by Generals Jameson, Hamil- ton and Heintzelman, General Hamilton later being superseded in division command by that intrepid and fearless fighter, General Philip Kearny, whom the enemy dubbed with the uneuphoneous soubriquet of the "One Armed Devil." The brigade as then organ- ized consisted of the 57th, 63d, 105th Pennsylvania regiments and the 87th New York, and from that date so long as the old Third corps existed these Pennsyl- vania regiments retained their place side by side. Our associations were most pleasant, many last friend- ships were formed, and the courage of each was ever held in highest esteem by the others. On March 1st, Colonel Maxwell resigned his com- mission as colonel of the regiment and was succeeded by Colonel Charles T. Campbell. Colonel Campbell was by education and choice an artillerist, and had seen service on that arm in the Mexican war. He had had command of a battery of Pennsylvania artilley in the three months' service, and had been commissioned by Governor Curtin colonel of artilley and had re- Military service of GEN. CHARLES T. CAMPBELL. Born it) Franklin County. Pa., in 1822. Succeeded Col. William Maxwell in command of the 57th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Col. Campbell was a veteran of two wars, the war with Mexico, under Taylor and Scott. He served in the civil war. as Colonel Of the 1st Pennsylvania Artillery, and was afterwards assigned to the 57th Pi nnsj Ivania Volunteers. I >ied at Scotland, South Dakota, April 15, 1895. PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 7 cruited and organized the first Pennsylvania regiment of light artillery as part of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. When, however, the regiment entered the United States' service, such an organization was deemed impracticable and the regiment as a compact body was disbanded and the batteries assigned to the several corps. Thus Colonel Campbell found himself a colonel in commission without a command. But he was enlisted for the war and with uncomplaining pa- triotism he willingly took his place where duty called. At the first the members of the regiment were im- pressed with the thought that they had "caught a Tartar." Tall and commanding in figure, gruff voiced and with sanguinary hair and whiskers, the colonel did not give the impression of being a weak- ling, but it was not long until they began to realize that beneath the rough exterior there beat a consid- erate and tender heart and in the gruff voice there was a soft chord, and soon the name "Charley" was more frequently on the lips about the camp fires than the more stately title of "Colonel." These character- istics of the new commander were manifested in many acts that the men appreciated. He was always ready to take the rough side of soldier life and share priva- tions with the rank and file, and at the end of a hard day's march he would lie down with only the heavens for a covering with any of the boys rather than ask a detail to erect his headquarter tents. And many a comrade can remember when on camp guard and the weather was threatening, hearing that gruff voice calling from his tent door: "Officer of the day, re- lease the guards and send them into their quarters ! " 1 8 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT CHAPTER II. BY J. M. MARTIN. We Embark for the Peninsula — Yorktown — Camping in the Mud — Peach Orchard — Artillery Practice — Battle of Wil- liamsburg. On the 17th of March the regiment embarked and steamed down the Potomac, past Mount Vernon, of hallowed memories, on its way to Fortress Monroe, whither the army was being transferred to enter upon the historic and ill-fated Peninsular campaign. Upon arrival it went into camp near the ancient, but then recently burned town of Hampton, crumbling brick walls and charred chimneys being the only remaining monuments to mark the site of the once pleasant vil- lage, the beginning, to us, of the scenes of the war's "rude desolations," while protruding from the placid waters of the bay were to be seen the masts of the "Cumberland," that but a few days before had gone down with flag flying before the onset of the ram "Merrimac," while over by the Ripraps peacefully floated low on the waters the little "Monitor" that. David-like, had single-handed put to flight this Goliath of the rebellion, that had defied our navy; a veritable "tub on a plank." On the morning of April 4 the grand advance was begun. Across the narrow neck of land that divided the waters of the Chesapeake and James, the PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 9 magnificent hosts of the Army of the Potomac, stretching from shore to shore, moved forward to the fortified post of the enemy at Yorktown. Battlefields, like history, repeat themselves. It is said the plains of Esdraelon have been the theater of a greater number of conflicts at arms than any other known portion of the globe, so here at Yorktown, where the Sons of Virginia, Pennsylvania and others of the thirteen colonies humbled the British under Cornwallis in 1781, and whose lines of entrenchments were yet visible, were again to meet in 1862, the sons of these sires of revolutionary fame, in martial combat, not shoulder to shoulder, as then, but in opposing pha- lanx. The line of advance of the 57th was by the main road leading from Hampton to Yorktown by way of Little and Big Bethel, the latter place being the scene of General B. F. Butler's unfortunate night venture of 1861. The afternoon of the second day's march brought the advance of the army in front of the enemy's for- midable works around Yorktown and along the War- wick river. For the space of nearly a mile, immedi- ately in front of the town, the country was open, scarcely a tree or a shrub impeding the view of the fortifications, whose embrasures bristled with heavy ordnance. With drums beating and colors flying we marched boldly along the way and filing off into the open fields deliberately proceeded to pitch our tents and make our camp in the very jaws, as it were, of these frowning batteries. Whether it was a fear of bringing on a general engagement, or amazement at 20 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT our audacity that kept the Confederates quiet behind their earth-works we did not then know, but subse- quent events proved the former to be the cause. Not until the day following did they manifest a disposition to disturb our repose, and then only by. a solitary shot that plunged into one of our company's streets, bury- ing itself deep in the soft earth. This shot was suf- ficient, however, to admonish us of the fact that they had a perfect range of our camp, and could, of they chose, make it exceedingly uncomfortable for us. As a result we very deliberately withdrew, without the loss of a tent or knapsack, back to the main line in the woods, though not wholly beyond the range of their guns. Once in our established camp there began a month of as arduous duty as untried soldiers were ever called to perform. Digging trenches, constructing earth- works, and picket duty, kept us constantly engaged, and to add to our discomfort the weather was ex- tremely unpleasant; frequent rains wetting us to the skin and rendering the earth about the consistency of a mortar bed. Of this time Surgeon Lyman writes: "Here for three weeks the men walked in mud, slept in mud and drank water from holes scooped out of the mud. The combined remonstrances of the medical officers of the brigade, 'that a month's continuance in that place would deprive the government of the ser- vices of one-half of its members,' were met by the silencing reply, 'It is a military necessity.' The re- sult showed that our fears were well founded. The malaria of the marshes and swamps of Yorktown, PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 21 with the excessive labor performed in the trenches and on picket duty, debilitated our men for months, sending dozens of them to their graves, and rendering hundreds unfit for service, and many for life." Here we had our first experience with the wild garlic, which grew spontaneously in the uncultivated fields and after a day or two's pasturing rendered the flesh of the beeves unpalatable, the taste of the garlic remaining long in the mouth after the act of mastica- tion. Here, too, the regiment had its baptismal of blood, in the known to us, though never historically christened, "Battle of the Peach Orchard." On the afternoon of April 1 1 the 63d Pennsylva- nia Volunteers, while on picket duty in the woods to the left of the Yorktown road, was attacked by the enemy. The 57th was ordered to its assistance and advancing at double quick, formed in line of battle, moving over the open field in face of a hot fire and quickly putting to flight the qolumns of the enemy, driving them back to the protection of their heavy batteries. In this short but exciting engagement, the regiment lost by wounds two men, Samuel Merven, of Company E, and John Cochran, of Company F. Cochran subsequently died from the effects of his wound and Merven was discharged. In this engage- ment, insignificant as it was, compared with its after battles, the regiment exhibited great coolness and gave token of its ability and readiness for future duty and service. An incident occurred about this date, while the regiment was on picket duty, that is worthy of passing 22 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT notice. Lieutenant Wagner, of the topographic engi- neers, was engaged in making drawings of the Con- federate works. He had placed a camp table in an exposed position and spread his drafting material upon it. The white paper made an excellent target for the enemy's gunners. One of their shots struck the table and fatally wounded the lieutenant. A few moments after he rode along the rear of our lines, his shattered and bleeding arm dangling at his side. This shot is referred to, after these many years, by General Longstreet in his recent work, as one of two of the most remarkable shots, for accuracy of aim, of the war. He says : "An equally good one (shot) was made by a Con- federate at Yorktown. An officer of the topographi- cal engineers walked into the open in front of our lines, fixed his plane table and seated himself to make a map of the Confederate works. A non-commis- sioned officer, without orders, adjusted his gun, care- fully aimed it, and fired. At the report of the gun all eyes were turned to see the occasion of it, and then to observe the object, when the shell was seen to ex- plode as if in the hands of the officer. It had been dropped squarely upon the drawing table and Lieu- tenant Wagner was mortally wounded." — Gen. Long- street, in "From Manassas to Appomattox." This shot appears, by a note to the text written by Capt. A. B. Moore, of Richmond, Va., to have been fired by Corporal Holzbudon, of the 2d company, Richmond Howitzers, from a ten-pound parrott gun. Another incident more immediately connected PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 23 with the regiment, worthy of a place in its history as an exhibition of accurate firing, occurred here. On the left of our regimental picket line was stationed a section of a field battery whose duty was to shell the enemy's works and prevent their annoying our lines. For some time Colonel Campbell watched with mani- fest disgust the green cannoneers blazing away at random, and with evidently little effect. At length stepping to one of the guns the colonel said : "Boys, let me sight this gun for you." Running his eye along the sights and giving the elevating screw a turn, he said : "Now, let her go ! " In an instant the death-dealing missile was speed- ing on its way, entered the enclosure and exploded amid the startled gunners of the enemy. "There, boys, that's the way to shoot. Don't waste your powder!" said the colonel, as he turned and walked away, an expression of satisfaction wreathing his florid face. By the 3d of May all things were in readiness to open our batteries of big guns on the Confederate for- tifications and all were in excited expectation of the bombardment and possible storming of the enemy's works on the following day, but the morning light of the 4th revealed the enemy's strong works aban- doned and empty. In the night, Johnson, who had superseded Magruder in command, like the Arab had "folded his tent and silently stolen away." The 105th Pennsylvania were the first to enter the abandoned works. The news of the evacuation of the works and 24 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT retreat of the Confederates spread rapidly from regi- ment to regiment, and our bloodless victory, but not without the loss of many a brave boy, was celebrated with wild shouts and cheers. The cavalry followed closely on the heels of the retreating enemy, but the infantry did not take up the line of march until later in the day; Fighting Joe Hooker's division following first, with Kearny close in his rear. As we marched through the Confederate works, stakes planted up- right in the ground with red danger signals attached gave warning that near them were planted torpedoes, placed there for the injury of the unwary by the enemy. A story was told at the time that the planting of these torpedoes was revealed to Lieut. R. P. Craw- ford, of Company E, of the 57th, then serving as aid on General Jameson's staff, by a Confederate deserter. That the 105th Pennsylvania, being about to enter the abandoned works, this Confederate stepped out from the shelter of a building, and, throwing up his hands as an indication that he desired to surrender, came forward and revealed to Lieutenant Crawford, who chanced to be present, the secret danger that threat- ened them if they attempted to enter the works with- out caution. Thus forewarned of their danger, a squad of prisoners, under compulsion, were made to search out, and locate these concealed missiles, thereby preventing possible loss of life and woundings. During the afternoon of the 4th the regiment marched with the division about four miles on the main road to Williamsburg and bivouacked for the PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 25 night. By dark rain began to fall and continued throughout the night and the day following. The early morning of the 5th found us on the march again. The rain had thoroughly soaked the light clay soil and the preceding ammunition trains and batteries had worked the soft clay roads into deep ruts and numer- ous mud holes. To take to the fields and roadsides did not better much the marching, the unsodded fields being little better than quagmires, in which the men floundered to the knees. All the forenoon there was now and then cannon- ading to our front with occasional rattle of musketry, indicative of skirmishing, but by two or three o'clock there came the long swelling roar of infantry firing, giving evidence that our advance had overtaken the enemy and they were making a stubborn stand. The atmospheric conditions were such that from these sounds the battle appeared to be but a mile or two in our advance, and at every turn of the way we expected to see the blue line of smoke and snuff the odors of burning powder, while in fact the engagement was five or six miles distant. Reaching a point about two miles from the battlefield the regiment was ordered to unsling knapsacks, doff blankets and overcoats and march at quick step to the front. As we neared the field, panting from our exertion, we passed a brass band standing by the roadside. General Heintzelman, observing them as he passed, exclaimed in that nasal twang so familiar to all : "Play, boys, play! Play Hail Columbia! Play Yankee Doodle! Play anything! Play like h — 1!" 26 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT It is needless to add that the band promptly obeyed and the strains of the national quickstep put a new- spring in our weary limbs, revived our flagging spirits and with a rousing cheer we pressed forward. Arriv- ing on the field the regiment was deployed in line of battle in the woods to the right of the road, but dark- ness was settling over the field, the firing soon ceased and we were not engaged. The night following was extremely disagreeable. The rain continued to fall, and drenched to the skin we lay on our arms all night without fire, blankets or rations. By morning the low- ering clouds were gone, and so also were the Johnnies, leaving their dead unburied and their wounded to our tender care. Many private houses of the ancient town, all of the churches and that venerable seat of learn- ing, from whose halls came many of the nation's most eminent statesmen and patriots, William and Mary College, were turned into hospitals, where friend and foe were gathered from the field of conflict, housed. and cared for by our surgeons and nurses with undis- criminating attention. An incident that well illustrates the reckless dar- ing of General Kearny, and which ultimately lost him to our cause, as well as the influence of such acts upon others, occurred during this engagement. During the battle, General Kearny, accompanied by General Jame- son, rode out to the front, and on an open piece of ground, in full view of the contending forces, the two sat there observing the progress of the battle, appar- ently oblivious of the fact that they were exposing themselves as targets to the enemy's sharpshooters. PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 27 Past them the minie balls were zipping, while the air was redolent with the "ting" of musket balls and buck- shot. At length, satisfied with their observations, they coolly turned their horses about and rode to the rear. The day following, General Jameson was approached by one of his aides who had witnessed the act, who said to him : "General, don't you think the risk you and Gen- eral Kearny exposed yourselves to yesterday was un- justifiable?" "I certainly do," the general candidly replied. "Then why did you take the risk?" the aide queried. "Captain," said the general, gravely, "If I had been conscious that I would have been hit the next minute I would not have turned my horse's head. Why, what would Kearny have thought of me ! " After the battle the regiment camped immediately west of town. Of course the commands that had borne the brunt of the battle were lionized, as were also those officers who had acted a conspicuous part. On this field General Hancock received his chief sobri- quet, "The Superb," which clung to him throughout life. Regimental ranks, after a hard day's fighting, often were very much broken, the losses not always being catalogued as of the killed and wounded; roll calls exhibiting many names marked "missing," or "absent without leave." These absentees invariably reported fearful losses in their commands. While in camp at Williamsburg a strapping big fellow with turbaned head, blue jacket profusely decorated with - -« <;*** if ■■^p - ftB\ ■ ^ I WE* j L <-ft ■ 4'P ft* ".#•• • 4 , * -— » ™ W ■^ 4> nni} \^ PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 97 Brownsville and Rohrersville and encamped near Harper's Ferry. The next day about dark we crossed the Potomac at Harper's Ferry and were once more on the soil of Virginia. We resumed our march on the 18th and 19th, and on the 20th we reached Upperville. On the 23d we were near Manassas Gap, where it was expected we would strike the enemy's column, which was mov- ing up the Shenandoah valley. We moved to the top of a high hill, where we had a fine view of Front Royal and the surrounding country. We also wit- nessed a fight in a field in the valley to our right, of a force of the enemy and Sickles' old Excelsior brigade. This engagement, in which we were but slightly en- gaged, is known as the skirmish of " Wapping Heights." The enemy retreated during the night and next day we moved some miles beyond Piedmont on the Manassas Gap railroad. The greater part of our march was over the torn up railroad track, and as the day was excessively hot we were a tired lot of men when we encamped that night. On the 25th we marched to within six miles of Warrenton, in Fauquier county, Va. The next day we moved four miles beyond the town and encamped at Fauqueir Sulphur Springs. Here we remained for about six weeks, during which time Colonel Sides and some of the officers and men who had been wounded at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg returned for duty. Here we had a fine camp, with good facilities for bath- ing in Hedgeman's river, a branch of the Rappahan- nock. The large brick hotel at the springs had been 98 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT destroyed by fire the year before during Pope's cam- paign. Back of the hotel site was a fine park which was surrounded on three sides by cottages which had been used by summer sojourners at this place. Near the center of the park stood a pavilion, under which was the noted spring, the water of which was very cold and strongly impregnated with sulphur. We drank freely of this water and were advised to do so by the medical officers of the division. If we had been afflicted with the itch, the water would no doubt have been an effective remedy, but the only itch that troubled us was caused by a small insect known among scientists as the pediculus vcstimenti and the sulphur water was not effective in driving the pests away. Our camp at the spring was broken up on the afternoon of September 15th, when we moved south- ward to Freeman's ford, where we crossed the Rap- pahannock and took up a position between Culpep- per and Stone House mountain. The whole army was now in position between the rivers Rappahan- nock and the Rapidan. About the end of September the nth and 12th corps were detached from the Army of the Potomac and under General Hooker were sent to the west to reenforce our army operating around Chattanooga. Tenn. Longstreet's corps of the rebel army had pre- viously been sent to the same point to reenforce General Bragg. We remained in the vicinity of Culpepper until October 12th, when it was found that Lee's army had PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 99 crossed the Rapidan and was turning our right. This caused a retrograde movement of our whole army. Our division moved to the rear on October nth, the 57th acting as flankers on the left of the column. At one point, when on a high hill, we had a fine view of a cavalry battle which was going on in our rear near Brandy Station. In the evening we crossed the Rap- pahannock at Freeman's ford and halted for the night in a pine woods. On the morning of the 12th we learned that the enemy had driven back our cavalry, and was crossing the river at our old camp at Sulphur Springs, about three miles above us. Our march to the rear continued on a by-road which brought us to the Warrenton branch of the O. & A. R. R. about three miles east o ! f Warrenton. We rested here for a while and then after a march of about five miles further we halted for the night. About 4 p. m. on the 13th we encountered the enemy's cavalry at Auburn creek. Our brigade held the advance of the column on this day, and the 57th was the leading regiment. Companies A and K acted as advance guard. These companies deployed on both sides of the road and opened fire on the rebels, who were dismounted and advancing through the woods and fields. Our firing soon brought up the rest of the brigade and a battery, whereupon, the rebels see- ing we were well supported, mounted their horses and retreated at a lively gait. Several men of our regiment were slightly wounded in this affair. When the skirmish was over we resumed our march, and about dark we reached the English settlement called LOfC. IOO HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT Greenwich, where we encamped, and our regiment was posted as pickets. We started again next morning and moved to Centerville, via Bristow and Manassas Junction. Late in the afternoon, the 2d corps, under General Warren, acting as rear guard, had a severe battle with Hill's corps, in which Warren was victorious, capturing a battery, several battle flags, and about four hundred prisoners. On the 15th we moved to Fairfax Station and here on the following day, our regiment for the first time witnessed the solemn spectacle of a military exe- cution. A private of the 5th Michigan who had de- serted to the enemy and had been recaptured, was shot for desertion. In the late movements, General Lee's object was to gain our rear and cut us off from Washington, but when we reached the strong position on the heights of Centerville, he found he was foiled, and then it became his turn to retreat. He was followed by our cavalry and several brisk skirmishes took place be- tween our troopers and the enemy. On the 19th our division was again moving, this time with our faces toward the Rappahannock, and at night we encamped near Bristow station. On the 20th we marched through Greenwich and encamped two miles beyond the town. On the 21st we passed through Auburn, and over the ground where Gen. Alex. Hay's division of the 2d corps had engaged the enemy a few days before, and at night we en- camped near Catlett's station. From this date until PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. IOI November 7th we moved to various points along the railroad, which having been destroyed by the enemy, made it necessary for us to rebuild it, consequently our advance was slow. Near Warrenton Junction, at 5 a. m. on November 5th we broke camp and moved to Kelly's ford on the Rappahannock. Here our crossing was disputed by the enemy and a brisk skirmish ensued. They finally relinquished their attempts to hold the ford when we crossed over and encamped about dark. In this skir- mish, while Capt. T. L. Maynard, our brigade inspec- tor, was giving a drink of water to a wounded rebel, he was mortally wounded and died next morning. While we were fighting at Kelly's ford, the 5th and 6th corps had a fight with the enemy, whom they drove out of their works at Rappahannock station, about eight miles above Kelly's ford. On the 8th we reached Brandy Station and after a few days we moved into the woods near James Bar- bour's house, and occupied a lot of huts, which had lately been constructed by the rebels, to be used as winter quarters, but they had now fallen back beyond the Rapidan river. We remained in this camp for a few weeks and then were once more on the move to take part in what is known as the "Mine Run cam- paign." On the morning of November 26th we moved out of camp, and in the evening crossed the Rapidan at Jacobs' ford, without interruption from the enemy. The advance was resumed next morning and about 4 p. m. our division was hurried to the front to relieve 102 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT the 3d division, which had become engaged with John- son's division of Ewell's corps. We got into a brisk little fight in which the 57th had seven wounded. This action occurred near Locust Grove. It appears that our corps commander, General French, had been in- structed to move on a road which would have led him between the corps of Hill and Ewell, who were miles apart, but he got on the wrong road and ran against the corps of Ewell, which brought on the engagement. The enemy retreated during the night and the next morning their army was concentrated, which our movements the day before were intended to prevent. On the 28th we started again and after marching all day in the rain we came up with the enemy, who were occupying a strong position near the western bank of Mine run. This stream, flowing north, is deep and sluggish, with steep banks, and empties into the Rapidan at Mitchell's ford. On the 29th the regiment lay in rear of a battery as a support, and at night a part of the regiment was sent out to the run to support the picket line. It was bitter cold, and we were allowed no fires, so we had a very uncomfortable night of it. General Warren, with the 2d corps, held the ex- treme left of the line, and he thought that he could carry the enemy's position in his front, if strongly re- enforced. Early in the morning one division of the 6th corps, and the 2d and 3d divisions of the 3d corps were sent him. We of Birney's division were in the center, posted along the brow of a hill with the enemy PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. IO3 behind breastworks about three-fourths of a mile in our front. We were to hold ourselves in readiness, upon hearing the sound of Warren's guns, to charge the enemy's works. Warren, upon further examina- tion of the enemy's lines, informed General Meade that the enemy's lines were too strong to hazard an attack. We were not sorry when we heard this, for it would have been extremely perilous to have charged over the broad open field in our front up to the ene- my's works. On December ist a snow storm set in, and after dark we marched to the rear, and recrossed the Rapi- dan at Culpepper ford about daylight on the 2d. About 9 o'clock our march was resumed, the 57th and the 63d Pennsylvania acting as wagon guard to our long train. Having run out of rations we were very hungry, but we contrived to get something to eat be- fore night. On December 3d we reached our old camps, and finding our huts still standing, we soon had them roofed, and were again comfortably housed. A few days after we got settled down, the question of reenlistment was much discussed among the men. The War Department had issued General Order No. 191, which allowed every man who reenlisted a bounty of $400.00 (to be paid in installments) and a furlough for thirty days. Before leaving on furlough each man was to be paid $100.00, under the bounty act of July 22, 1 86 1, one month's pay in advance, $13.00, premium, $2.00, and first installment of bounty under General Order 191, $60.00, making a total of $175.00. Where three-fourths of the men present for duty in 104 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT a regiment reenlisted, the regiment was allowed to go in a body with their arms to place of organization, and from thence the men could go to their homes on furlough. They were also entitled to be designated as "veteran regiments," and each man was allowed to wear the veteran stripes on the sleeves of his coat. On the 24th of December the regiment was formed in a hollow square in front of headquarters, and was then briefly addressed by Chaplain McAdam on the propriety of reenlisting. At the conclusion of the chaplain's remarks, Colonel Sides requested those who were willing to reenlist, to step three paces to the front. Over three-fourths of the men stepped for- ward, and, after giving three hearty cheers for the Union, were dismissed. Then for several days the officers and first sergeants were busy making out muster rolls, furloughs, and reenlistment papers. Among the men the furlough was the all-absorbing theme. When were they to be granted ? It is safe to say that a bounty of $1,000.00, without the furlough, would have secured but a small number of the men. But the assurance of spending thirty days at home was the great inducement for reenlisting, as most of the men had been absent from home for two years or more. January 8th, 1864, was the time appointed for the regiment to depart for the north, and long before day- light the boys were up and getting ready for their departure. The men who load not reenlisted were temporarily assigned to the 141st Pennsylvania. At 7 o'clock a. m., in the midst of a snow storm, we PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 105 boarded a train at Brandy station and were soon on our way to Washington, where we remained for a day and a night, and then started for Harrisburg. Here we deposited our arms and accoutrements in the arse- nal, and then the men departed by different routes for their homes. Our stay at home was one continual round of pleasure. There were parties, festivals and sleigh- rides without number and the men will never forget those halcyon days of our "veteran furlough." After the men had been at home for some days, many of their friends were anxious to enlist and re- turn with them to the army. On account of our suc- cess in obtaining recruits our furlough was extended. When we left for home the regiment numbered barely two hundred men. After an absence of forty-five days we returned with nearly five hundred men in our ranks. Our old flag which had been torn by the bullets of many battles was left at Harrisburg while we were on furlough, and when we returned to the front we received a new one, with an appropriate speech, from the hands of Governor Curtin. On the 25th of February we rejoined our old bri- gade near Culpepper, Va., and on the 27th we went with the division on a reconnoissance to James City. We were gone two days, during which time nothing of importance occurred. General Grant, having been appointed lieutenant- general, and placed in command of all our armies, made his headquarters with the Army of the Potomac 106 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT some time in March, 1864. About the 16th of March the army was reorganized, the 1st and 3d corps were disbanded and the divisions assigned to other corps. The 1 st and 2d division of the 3d corps (the old divi- sions of Kearny and Hooker) were assigned to the 2d corps, commanded by General Hancock. The 3d division was assigned to the 6th corps. Our division, now designated as the 3d division, of the 2d corps, was commanded by General Birney. It consisted of two brigades commanded by Generals Ward and Hays. Our brigade (now designated as the 2d bri- gade, 3d division, 2d corps) was commanded by Gen. Alexander Hays and was comprised of the following named regiments: 4th and 17th Maine; 3d and 5th Michigan; 93d New York; 57th, 63d and 105th Penn- sylvania, and 1st United States Sharpshooters. The 68th and 114th Pennsylvania of our old brigade were detached, and acted as provost guard at army head- quarters. The 141st Pennsylvania was attached to Ward's brigade. The men were proud of the record of the army corps to which they had formerly belonged, and felt very glad to know that they would be allowed to wear the old badge of the corps in which they had pre- viously served. Under the reorganization the Army of the Potomac consisted of three corps, as follows: 2d corps, General Hancock; 5th corps, General War- ren; 6th corps, General Sedgewick. The 9th corps, under General Burnside, joined the Army of the Potomac about the 5th of May. The great campaign of 1864 began soon after mid- PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 107 night on May 3d. Our corps, preceded by Gregg's cavalry, moved out, and about daylight crossed the Rapidan on a pontoon bridge at Ely's ford, and on the night of the 4th we bivouacked on the old Chan- cellorsville battlefield, on the ground over which we had fought one year before. On the morning of the 5th we moved down the plank road to a point about two miles beyond the Chancellor house, when we turned to the right, which brought us to Todd's tavern about noon. Here we cooked our coffee and then resumed our march until we struck the Brock road, where we turned to the right and formed a line of battle facing west. Soon after we were ordered back into the road, and then at double quick we went up the road until we reached the Orange plank road. Here we saw General Han- cock, who ordered General Hays to throw in his first regiment on the right of the plank road. This hap- pened to be the 57th, and as soon as our left had cleared the road we were faced to the left and advanced in line of battle facing west, with the left of the regiment resting on the plank road. We were now in what is known as the Wilderness. This is a tract of land of about twenty thousand acres covered principally with small pines and scrub oaks. It formerly belonged to Governor Spottswood, and was once covered with heavy timber, which was cut down and made into charcoal, used for smelting iron in the old fashioned furnaces, of which there were many in this vicinity. We continued to grope our way through the thicket and swamps and finally met the enemy and 108 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT opened fire. The whole division was soon engaged and the roar of the musketry was terrific. In our front the enemy was less than two hundred feet from us, but so dense was the underbrush that it was almost impossible to see them. We had the advantage of the enemy, who were on higher ground, and many of their balls passed over us. The left of the regiment had the hottest part of the line, as it rested on the plank road and was subjected to the fire of the rebels who were on the other side of the road. The left began to break, when the 17th Maine coming up on the left of the road soon gave the enemy enough to do on that side. The battle lasted until nearly dark, when we were relieved, and moved a short distance to the rear, where we remained for the night. On the morning of May 6th our corps was ordered to begin the attack at 5 o'clock. We at once moved out the plank road and soon attacked the enemy, this time on the left of the road. The fighting for a while was all in our favor and we drove the enemy (Hill's corps) back for over a mile and were just about enter- ing the open fields around the Widow Tapp's house, when Longstreet's fresh corps arrived and reenforced Hill, whose corps was in great confusion. Owing to the density of the woods through which we had been chasing the enemy, our lines had become much dis- ordered, and before that could be rectified, Longstreet attacked with his usual vigor and we were in turn forced back. We retired fighting until we reached the Brock road, where we took a position on the left of the plank road in rear of the entrenchments that had PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 109 been thrown up along the Brock road. Here about 4:15 p. m. the enemy charged the works and drove back the first line, when we advanced and retook them, capturing a number of prisoners. On the morning of the 7th we made a reconnois- sance, crossing over to the right of the plank road and advancing over three-fourths of a mile, when we found the enemy entrenched behind strong works. We had a sharp fight, and were then withdrawn, and again took position on the Brock road. According to the monthly report of the regiment, dated April 30, 1864, we had present for duty 18 officers and 357 men. As this was but a few days before the battle, it will give a nearly correct estimate of the number of men the regiment took into the field on May 5th, on which day our greatest losses occurred. During the three days' fighting our losses were 22 enlisted men killed; 4 officers and 128 enlisted men wounded and 3 enlisted men missing. Of those killed none was more deeply mourned than First Sergeant Duke Miller, of Company E. He was one of the bravest and best men in the regiment, and his social and intellectual qualities were admired by all who knew him. Colonel Sides and Lieut. F. V. Shaw were among the wounded. Senior Captain A. H. Nelson had command of the regiment as Colonel Side's successor until the last week in June, when Major Neeper, who had been captured at Gettysburg, returned and took command. Gen. Alexander Hays, commander of our brigade, was killed in the battle fought on the afternoon of the IIO HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT 5th. He was one of the bravest men that ever lived, and an accomplished soldier. With the exception of a short time when he served in the 2d corps, in 1863, he had been identified with the old 1st division of the 3d corps since the Army of the Potomac was organ- ized. He was a native of Venango county, Pa., and was a graduate of West Point and had served with honor in the Mexican war. He entered the war for the Union as colonel of the 63d Pennsylvania Volun- teers. At Gettysburg he commanded a division in Hancock's corps. His reputation as a fighter was well known in both the Union and Confederate armies. The writer was wounded on the morning of May 6th, and went to the rear in company with the color sergeant, Cyrus P. Slaven, also wounded. On our way to the rear we turned into the woods along the plank road where we had fought the afternoon before. The wounded and killed had all been removed, but the trees were witnesses of the terrible musketry fire that had raged here. Not a tree or a bush but bore marks of being hit by a bullet. How any of us got out of there without being hit is a mystery. PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. I 1 1 CHAPTER X. BY R. G. MADGE AND M. C. ZAHNIZER. The Movement to Spottsylvania Court House — General Sedg- wick Killed — Hancock's Grand Charge of May 12th — Great Capture of Prisoners, Guns and Colors — The Fa- mous Oak Tree — Ewell's Effort to Capture Our Wagon Train — Losses in the Fifty-Seventh at Spottsylvania — Movement to North Anna River — Fight at Chesterfield Ford — We Cross the Pamunkey — Skirmish at Haw's Shop and Totopotomoy Creek — Battle cf Cold Harbor — Our Colors Struck and Badly Torn by a Piece of Shell — Flank Movement to the James River — March to Petersburg — Severe Fighting at Hare's Hill — Battle of June 22d — Losses in the Fifty-Seventh — Fort Alex. Hays — Peters- burg — We Move to the North Side of the James — Straw- berry Plains — Return to Petersburg — The "Bvrnside Mine" — General Mott in Command of Our Division — Deep Bottom — Other Marching and Fighting Around Petersburg. Many of the men in the Army of the Potomac, after the battle of the Wilderness had ended, were heard to say : "We have had the usual three days' righting on this side of the river, and by about to- morrow night we will be back in our old camps." That had too often been the case before, but there was one at the head of the army now whose motto was "for- ward," and "Grant is making another movement by the left flank," soon became a common saying. On the night of the 7th the movement to Spott- sylvania Court House began. We moved along the Brock road in the direction of Todd's tavern. On the morning of the 8th we had a severe engagement, 112 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT when we entrenched and had more fighting during the day. On the 9th we were not actively engaged, except in skirmishing. On this day Gen. John Sedg- wick, commanding the 6th corps, was killed while directing the fire of a battery. On the morning of the 10th, Hancock's corps crossed the Po river. The resistance to our (Bir- ney's) division was stubborn and we had some severe fighting, after which the 57th was detailed to go out the Anderson's tavern road, to reconnoiter. We were driven back across Glady run near Waite's shop, Capt. A. H. Nelson, commanding the regiment, losing his horse. The whole corps was then drawn back across the river. In the afternoon there was some hard fighting and very heavy artillery firing. On the nth we built a line of breastworks, and at night, in the rain, we took up our line of march for Spottsylvania Court House, moving all night. The 2d corps had been selected to charge the enemy's works on that part of the field held by General Johnson's division of Ewell's corps. Long before daylight our troops were being massed for the impor- tant work in hand. Major Mitchell, of General Han- cock's staff, says that the line was formed with Bir- ney's division on the right in two lines, Barlow's division on Birney's left in column of regiments, and Mott's and Gibbons' divisions in rear of Birney and Barlow as supports. This force formed a rectangu- lar mass of about twenty thousand men. The troops stood in the cold rain shivering, and anxiously waiting for the dawn and lifting of the PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 113 fog, that they might be ordered forward. At 4 130 a. m., the order to advance was given, when the huge mass moved forward, and soon after burst into cheers, and under a hot fire captured the enemy's works. This charge resulted in the capture of four thousand rebel prisoners, among them Maj. Gen. Edward Johnson, Brig. Gen. George H. Stuart, thirty battle flags, twenty pieces of artillery, with horses and cais- sons, and several thousand stand of small arms. Among the prisoners were nearly all that was left of Jackson's famous " Stonewall brigade." In the advance, the 57th was directly in front of a rebel battery, where in passing over the works, Color Cor- poral Spencer killed one of the batterymen by club- bing him with his musket. The advance was con- tinued until we reached the second line of the enemy's works, when they were reenforced by fresh troops, when we fell back to the first line we captured, and took position behind the works. Our position was just to the left of where the notable oak tree stood. The tree was eighteen inches in diameter and was actually cut down with musket balls fired from the opposing lines. A section of this tree, showing the work of the balls, has been on exhi- bition at the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, and at the World's Fair at Chicago, and is now in the Army Museum at Washington, D. C. We remained in position during the day and did some fighting, in which Corporal Spencer was shot through the head and killed. On the 13th we helped to bury the dead, and in the evening we moved fur- 114 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT ther to the right. On the next morning the regi- ment made a reconnoissance, during which we had some skirmishing. On the 18th we attacked the enemy in their new works, but were repulsed, and in. the evening we moved to the vicinity of Anderson's Mills, on the west side of the Ny river. On the evening of the 19th we fought Ewell's corps, which had made its appearance on the Freder- icks pike and were trying to capture our wagon train. Tyler's division of new troops held them in check, until our division came up, when the enemy were repulsed, and our wagon train saved. About four hundred rebels were taken prisoners in this affair. About 9 o'clock in the evening the enemy retreated rapidly across the Ny. On the 20th we rejoined the corps at Anderson's Mill. In our fighting at Spottsylvania and vicinity our losses were 2 officers and 5 enlisted men killed, 2 officers and 19 enlisted men wounded, and 4 enlisted men missing. First Lieut. Jeremiah Green, of Com- pany A, and First Lieut. John Bowers, of Company I, were killed. Both were promising young officers and their death was much regretted. Lieutenant Bowers had command of Company K, when he received a mortal wound. Capt. Edgar Williams, of Company E, who had for a long time been our color bearer, was mortally wounded about this time and died on May 23d. He was a man of undaunted courage and a Christian soldier. On the night of the 20th we started south by way of Guinea Station and Bowling Green, through to PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 115 Milford Station, and took up a position on the right bank of the Mattapony river. This was twenty miles distant from our position of the morning. We had a fight at Guinea Station on the 21st, and on the 22d we had a skirmish with the enemy's cav- alry at Athens, still holding our position at Milford Station. At 5 o'clock on the morning of the 23d we moved to Chesterfield Ford on the North Anna river, and took position on the north bank. At 6 p. m. we advanced and took the enemy's works by a charge of Pierce's and Egan's brigades of Birney's position. On the morning of the 24th part of our corps crossed the river, but the 57th did not cross, it being on the skirmish line during the day at a point further down the river, but at night we crossed the river and joined the rest of the corps. During the 25th and 26th we lay in the entrenched line on the south side of the North Anna. On the night of the 26th we recrosseo! the river and marched to the Pamunkey river, crossing it at Huntleys, four miles above Hanovertown, about noon on the 28th. We then moved to the vicinity of Haw's shop, where we had a skirmish with the enemy's cavalry and some South Carolina infantry. On the morning of the 29th, we moved up the Haw's shop road, with considerable fighting at Toto- potomoy creek, keeping in close proximity to the ene- my's lines. On the 30th we had severe skirmishing in which artillery was brought into action, when at 7 140 p. m. General Meade ordered the attack to cease. Il6 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT On the 31st the infantry line was pressed up close to the enemy, and heavy skirmishing was kept up all day, but without bringing on a general engagement, the enemy being strongly entrenched. On the night of June 1st we left the Totopotomoy, and moved to Cold Harbor, arriving at 6 a. m. on the 2d, when Birney's division was detached and sent to support the 18th corps on our left. Our army was now on ground over which it had fought during the Seven Days' battles, two years previous. The order for a general attack was counter- manded for June 2d, but the next day at 4 130 a. m. we made an assault and drove the enemy back to their main line of entrenchments, but could proceed no further on account of the heavy cross fire we were subjected to. We were under a heavy fire until noon, when our division (Birney's) was ordered to the sup- port of the 5th corps. On coming into line for their support, the colors of the 57th were struck by a piece of the enemy's shell, cutting the flag staff in two, and tearing out one entire stripe right in the center of the flag. We were under a heavy fire until darkness set in, when the fighting ceased. We remained in this posi- tion until June 12th, being under heavy skirmish and picket firing during the daytime and under heavy artillery fire at night, allowing scarcely any sleep, and during the day it was extremely warm and sultry. On the evening of the 12th we were stationed in our entrenched line and remained there until the other troops had cleared the roads, when we moved by way PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 117 of Dispatch Station to Long Bridge, crossing the Chickahominy river, and then moved towards Charles City Court House, by way of St. Mary's church and Walkers. We arrived at the James river on the evening of the 14th, crossing at Wilcox's Landing on transports to Windmill Point, arriving on the south side of the river early on the morning of the 15th. On the afternoon of that day we started for Petersburg, arriving at that place on the evening of the same day after a march of sixteen miles. At Harrison's creek on the way we had a brisk skirmish, and then halted for the night near an old dirt fort. On the 1 6th General Hancock was placed in com- mand of all the troops on the south side of the river. During the day we made several reconnoissances, and in the evening at 6 o'clock we made a charge down the hill and through an old rebel camp, but were obliged to fall back to our first position. On the morning of the 17th Birney's division pushed forward across Harrison's creek, and at night we built a line of works on the west side of the creek. Early on the 18th, with General Birney in com- mand of the 2d corps, we moved up to, and in, the Prince George Court House road, in front of the Hare house, and from there we made a charge on the enemy's works, which ran across a field about two hundred yards in our front and almost parallel with the before mentioned road. Our line advanced about one hundred yards, when the enemy's fire became so severe that we were obliged to fall back to the road and seek cover. During the day we made three dif- Il8 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT ferent charges on the enemy's works, but they were so formidable and well manned that we failed to reach them. In the third attempt the 57th reached a ditch, where we lay down and let them fire over us from both sides until about 6 o'clock in the evening, when we were recalled, and then returned to the main line in the Prince George road. We were then relieved by the 1st Maine heavy artillery (acting as infantry), when we moved back to the rear of the road. The Maine regiment made a gallant charge, but were also repulsed with great loss. While they were making this charge, a minie ball from the enemy's lines pierced the flag staff of our regimental colors about eight inches above the color sergeant's head. During the night of the 18th we moved out in front of the Hare house, and built a line of breast- works, which position remained substantially the same during the entire siege. We remained in these works during the 19th and 20th. On the 21st we moved to the left of the Jerusalem plank road and took a position on the left of the 5th corps, and there built another line of works. It was during these first days of the fighting around Petersburg that our adjutant, Clark M. Lyons, was killed, as was also Henry M. Adams, second lieutenant of Company I. Captain J. R. Lyons was severely wounded, and about twenty-five enlisted men were killed or wounded. On the morning of the 22d we advanced about half a mile toward the rebel line, where we built a line PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 119 of works, with nothing to work with but our bayo- nets and tin plates. In the afternoon we had a hard fight with Mahone's division, which succeeded in making a flank movement, and getting on our left flank and rear, when we were compelled to fall back to our position of the 2 1 st. In this action our brigade lost heavily in prisoners, our regiment losing about twenty, among them Lieut. James F. Ruger, of Company F. A brave and gallant sergeant of Company K, Pat. Dempsey, was also captured here, and died in Ander- sonville prison. In the evening we again advanced and retook our former position. It was between these two lines that Fort Alex. Hays was built afterward, and named in honor of our old brigade commander. We remained here for some time, doing picket duty and building entrenchments, for it was now decided that Petersburg must be besieged. This old Virginia town had, in i860, a population of a little over eighteen thousand. It is situated on the south side of the Appomattox river about twenty-five miles from its mouth at City Point, and is twenty-three miles south of Richmond. When we first reached the front of Petersburg, Lee's army depended for its supplies on two rail- roads, running south, — the Weldon railroad, and the Lynchburg (South Side) railroad. To encircle Petersburg as completely as a siege demanded, it was essential that these two roads should be covered by our army. The first was controlled by us, in the 120 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT last week in August, but the South Side never, until the city fell. Before the fall of the city our lines of investment extended from Appomattox, below Petersburg to Hatcher's Run, on the southwest, a distance of about twenty-five miles. To supply our army a railroad was constructed in rear of our lines, which connected with the Petersburg & City Point railroad near Broadway Landing. City Point at the confluence of the Appo- mattox with the James, was our depot of supplies, and was also the headquarters of General Grant. It was a very busy place in 1864, but in ordinary times it is but an unimportant hamlet. Our front line of works consisted of huge earthen forts, and redoubts in which were mounted heavy siege guns and mor- tars. The forts were connected by well constructed breastworks, in front of which was slashed timber or abattis. So strong were these works that with the aid of the artillery, they could be held by a small force of infantry, which enabled General Grant to detach largely from his forces for operations against the enemy's flanks, and elsewhere. Our cavalry was also kept busy raiding the enemy's communications and doing him as much damage as possible. The enemy's workes were on the same plan as ours and gave them the same opportunities. On the afternoon of the 26th of July our corps made a forced march of thirty miles, and was sent to the north side of the James, crossing on a pon- toon bridge at Jones Neck, on the morning of the 27th, and soon came up to the enemy, who were PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 121 entrenched in strong force at Bailey's creek, from the mouth of the creek to Fussel's mill. Here we had some severe fighting on the 28th and 29th, in which the 57th lost quite a number of men. This fight is called in official records "Strawberry Plains." On the evening of the 29th we recrossed the James and Appomattox, and marched back to a point in rear of where the " Burnside mine " was to be exploded, and here we relieved a division of the 9th corps, in order that they might take part in the assault that was to follow the explosion. This mine had been carefully and skillfully constructed by Lieut. Col. Henry Pleasants and his men of the 48th Penn- sylvania. From a point on the 9th corps lines, where the Union and rebel lines were close together, a gal- lery was run five hundred and ten feet in length, termi- nating under a rebel fort garrisoned by Pegram's battery and the 18th and part of the 23d South Caro- lina infantry. The powder was put in the mine in eight magazines with one thousand pounds in each. The mine was to have been exploded at 4:30 a. m., but owing to the fuse going out, another half hour went by before it was considered safe to enter the shaft to mend and relight the fuse. Finally two brave men, Lieut. Jacob Douty and Sergt. Henry Rees, of the 48th Pennsylvania, entered the shaft, spliced the fuse, which was relit, and at a little past 5 o'clock the mighty explosion followed, sending into the air a great mass of earth, with which were mingled bodies of men and parts of muskets and artillery carriages. The explosion opened a crater one hundred and 122 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT twenty feet long, sixty wide, and twenty-five feet deep. The enemy in their surrounding forts were so bewildered that it was fully a half hour before they opened fire or attempted to reoccupy the ground at the crater. Thus far everything went well for our side, but that charge of the troops which was to have fol- lowed the explosion, was miserably conducted, and ended with disaster and the loss of many brave men. About the ist of August, Gen. D. B. Birney, who had for a long time been in command of our division, was assigned to the command of the ioth army corps. He was succeeded in the command of our division by Gen. Gershom Mott, who entered the service in 1861 as colonel of the 6th New Jersey volunteers. For the greater part of the time that we were in front of Petersburg, our brigade was commanded by Brig. Gen. Byron R. Pierce, formerly colonel of the 3d Michigan volunteers. After the Burnside mine explosion we moved back to our old camping ground at Fort Alex. Hays and remained there until the 13th of August, when another expedition to the north side of the James was put on foot. The 2d corps was marched to City Point and there got on board of transports, which, in order to deceive any scouts the enemy might have there- abouts, were at first started down the James, but after dark they were turned about and proceeded up the river until we reached Jones Neck, where we landed on the north side of the river. We moved out the Newmarket road and soon found the enemy in force on the west side of Bailey's creek. On the night of PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 23 the 14th the division was massed at Fussel's mill, and on the 15th we were maneuvering all day to get into position. On the 1 6th we engaged the enemy above Fus- sel's mill, where we lost quite a number of men, and took between two and three hundred prisoners. In this fight Col. Calvin A. Craig, of the 105th Penn- sylvania and temporarily in command of our brigade, was killed. He was an excellent officer and his loss was deeply felt by the whole brigade. We remained on the north side of the river during the 17th and 1 8th, keeping up a continual threatening attitude by changing position and skirmishing. On the after- noon of the 1 8th another fight was brought on by the enemy leaving their works and coining out to attack us. On the night of the 18th our (Mott's) division recrossed the James and marched to the extreme left of the line to reenforce the 5th corps under General Warren, who was about making an attempt to cap- ture the Weldon railroad at the Globe tavern or "Yellow House." On August 25th our division was ordered to Ream's station on the Weldon road, to reenforce the other two divisions of our corps who had a severe fight there. When we arrived we were under fire, but the other divisions were withdrawn, and we were ordered back to the vicinity of Fort Hays, where we went on picket and established a new picket line at night. From this date until September 30th we remained 124 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT in the front line of Vvorks between the Jerusalem plank road and the Yellow House doing picket and fatigue duty, and occasionally having a skirmish with the enemy on the picket line. On September 30th in compliance with orders we packed up, and were ready to move at a moment's notice, and remained so for the day, but did not move out of camp. About noon, October 1st, we were ordered to fall in, when we marched to Hancock Sta- tion on the United States Military railroad, where we boarded cars which ran us down to the Yellow House, or Warren's Station, where we got off and marched about two miles and then bivouacked in rear of the 9th corps. At 7 a. m., October 2d, we moved out to the left of the 9th corps, advanced through a thick woods and charged with the rest of the brigade, on a line of the enemy's works, through a thick slash- ing. This line appeared only to have been occupied by a few pickets, who fled on our approach, which gave us a bloodless victory. We remained for half an hour in these works and agian advanced, passed over a second line of works, and advanced about half a mile, where we found the enemy strongly entrenched, and obstinately resisting our further advance. About 3 p. m. we were deployed as flank- ers and were to act as provost. The rest of the bri- gade charged the enemy's works, but were repulsed and fell back to the line we occupied. We remained in this position until about 4 p. m., when we were relieved by the 9th corps, and then marched back about a mile and a half, to the 5th corps, where we PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 25 bivouacked for the night. October 3d we were under arms at 4 a.m., and furnished a detail to work on the fortifications, the rest of the regiment remaining in camp. On the 4th we were at work again on the fortifications. About 8 p. m. on the 8th we marched back to our old camp at Fort Alex. Hays, where we arrived at midnight. In this affair we had three men severely wounded. The engagement is known as "Peeble's Farm" or "Poplar Springs Church." 126 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT CHAPTER XI. BY E. C. STROUSS. Recruits — Dangerous Picket Duty — Muster-out of Old Regi- ments — Composition of the Brigade — Expedition Against the South Side Railroad — Battle of Boydton Plank Road or Hatcher's Run — Disguised Rebels Capture Our Picket Line — Election Day — Thanksgiving Dinner of Roast Tur- key — Change of Camp — Raid on Weldon Railroad — A Hard March Returning — "Applejack" — General Hum- phreys in Command of the Second Corps. During the month of September the regiment received about one hundred recruits, principally sub- stitutes and drafted men. Their term of service was one year. After they were fairly broken in, they made good and reliable soldiers. Picket duty during the month of October in front of Fort Alex. Hays was quite frequent for both officers and men. It was also dangerous at night, when picket firing was kept up all night by both sides. On our side the picket posts consisted of five or six men and a noncommissioned officer. These posts were protected by a small breastwork, in front of which was a pit in which was posted a vidette, who was relieved every hour or sometimes every half hour. These posts were about fifty yards apart and were not connected by any works, which made it dangerous for the officer in charge of the line, while making the rounds of the posts, which he was obliged to do twice every night. On the part of the line picketed by our PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 27 brigade, the line was in the woods, but on our right in the open ground the posts were connected by a deep trench. The woods in which we were posted ran to a point where it met the open field. When we quit doing picket duty on this part of the line, about No- vember 30th, the trees at this point of woods were so splintered with musket balls that they resembled a, lot of old fashioned splint brooms. Our lines were relieved at dark, and from that time firing was kept up until daylight, when it usually ceased until even- ing. During the latter part of summer and early part of autumn of 1864, the time of many of the old regi- ments (who had not reenlisted) expired, and they were mustered out. In this way we lost in our bri- gade the 3d Michigan and 63d Pennsylvania, both old and renowned regiments. The men of the 63d who had reenlisted, and the recruits, were transferred to the 105th Pennsylvania and were mustered out with it at the close of the war. Our brigade now consisted of the 1st Massachu- setts heavy artillery (acting as infantry), 5th Michi- gan, 93d New York, 57th, 84th, 105th and 141st Pennsylvania, and 17th Maine, and three companies of the 1st United States Sharpshooters. The bri- gade was commanded by Brig. Gen. Byron R. Pierce, who retained command of it until the war ended. About the 24th of October orders were issued and preparations made for another movement by the left flank, this time the object being the seizure of the South Side railroad. To assist this movement the 128 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT Army of the James was to make a demonstration against Richmond on the north bank of the James. The expedition on the left consisted of Hancock's 2d and Warren's 5th corps supported by the 9th corps under General Parke. On the afternoon of the 25th, at 10 o'clock, our division was withdrawn from the works at Fort Alex. Hays and vicinity and moved to the rear and bivouacked for the night near the South- all house. At 2 p. m. on the 26th we continued our march across the open country in rear of the fortifi- cations to the Weldon railroad and halted for the night, at 5 p. m., near the Lewis house. At 3 130 a. m. we resumed our march, going down the Halifax road to the Church road, and on the latter past the Wyatt house to the Vaughn road, and down this road to the Cummings house, where we were massed, while the 2d division under General Egan drove the enemy from the ford on Hatcher's run, which was soon accomplished and the way opened for the crossing of the rest of the corps. Our division then crossed the run, moved up the Vaughn road a short distance to the Dabney's mill road, kept on this road until we reached the Boydton plank road, at a point about a mile and a half south of Burgess' tavern. This old tavern is located at the point where the plank road crosses Hatcher's run. A road known as the White Oak road, coming from the west, inter- sects the plank road at this point. We moved up the plank road to near the tavern, where we entered a large field surrounded on all sides by dense woods. Here our brigade formed a line of PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 29 battle facing north, and then stacked arms and rested. It appears that we were waiting for the 5th corps under General Warren to connect with our right before commencing our attack. A drizzling rain had set in. While we were waiting for Warren's approach, Generals Grant, Meade and Hancock were in consulta- tion in the field near the point where the left of our regiment rested. For some twenty minutes we had a good view of those famous men. General Grant, considering his high rank, was quite plainly dressed, and no one would have taken him for the commander of all the armies of the United States. General Meade, who wore glasses and also was plainly attired, looked more like an old college professor than like a soldier. General Hancock always looked the grand solider which he was, whether he appeared in dress or fatigue uniform. Owing to the wooded nature of the country and the bad roads, General Warren did not get up to join us on the right before we were attacked by the enemy under General Mahone. Picket firing had begun in the woods on our right and growing heavier, General Pierce ordered the 5th Michigan and the 105th Penn- sylvania into the woods to support the pickets. The two regiments had been in the woods but a short time when they were fiercely attacked by the enemy in overwhelming numbers in front and on both flanks. The men of Michigan and Pennsylvania were of the best there were in the army, but they could not with- stand the great odds against them. They were obliged 130 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT to fall back, leaving many of their dead and wounded, and both regiments lost their colors, although they were two of the best regiments in the division. When this attack began the rest of the brigade tried to change front, but the enemy were too close upon us and for a while considerable confusion existed. The greater part of our brigade fell back a short distance, to the woods on the west side of the plank road, where it reformed and drove the enemy back into the woods from which they had emerged. In this we were greatly assisted by our 2d division under General Egan. Egan had been engaged with the enemy near Burgess' tavern, and was about to storm the bridge which crosses Hatcher's run at that place when Mahone made his attack on our position. Egan promptly sent part of his command to our support and his men attacked Mahone's troops in the right flank and caused them to fall back into the woods with great loss, and also recapturing several of our guns which had fallen into the enemy's hands. General Mahone, who made this attack which frustrated our designs on the South Side railroad, was an old resident of Petersburg, and was thor- oughly acquainted with all the roads in that section, which enabled him to discover the gap in our lines between Hancock's and Warren's corps, so he "sailed in," with the result above stated. The rebel cavalry under Wade Hampton at the same time attacked our left and rear, but was kept in check by our cavalry under Gen. D. M. Gregg. We remained on the field until 1 1 p. m., when we PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 131 withdrew and marched back by the same road over which we had advanced in the morning. About day- light we halted for a while near the Wyatt house and later on resumed the march and occupied our old camp near Fort Alex. Hays. Our regimental loss in the action of October 27th was 5 men wounded and 5 men missing or captured. The fight is generally called the "Battle of Boydton Plank Road" or "Hatcher's Run." By the men of our division it was generally spoken of as the "Bull Pen" fight. About dark on the evening of October 30th a num- ber of rebels, disguised, wearing our uniform, began to relieve our pickets in front of our 1st division on that part of the line held by the 69th and inth New York volunteers. It was customary at the time to relieve our pickets at dark, and the enemy took ad- vantage of that circumstance by dressing themselves in our clothes, which they had taken from some or our deserters, and began to relieve our pickets. In this way they captured a good portion of the line assisted by other men from their works which were close by. But fortunately the regular relief from our side was approaching and after a little skirmishing succeeded in reestablishing the line, but not before great commotion was caused in our camps by the re- port that the picket line had been captured. All the regiments were ordered out under arms and manned the breastworks for an hour or so, when quiet reigned again and the men were sent back to their tents. The 57th, however, was ordered to the extreme 132 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT front to support the picket line. At this point in front of Fort Hays our picket line was about a mile in front, the intervening space being mostly covered by a broad slashing and a strip of woods. Through this we marched and stumbled until we reached the picket line, where we were posted in a deep trench or covered way. There was a parapet at the top of the trench, behind which our pickets were stationed, and these, and the enemy's pickets kept firing at each other all night, as was usual at that time, on that part of the line. The night was quite chilly, and as but small fires could be built in the trenches we passed a very disagreeable night. We were relieved next morning and went back to camp, where we spent most of the day in sleeping. Tuesday, November 8th, was election day. Presi- dent Lincoln was the Republican, and Gen. George B. McClellan the Democratic candidate for the office of President. Most of the Northern states had enacted laws that soldiers in the field should be entitled to vote if they were of lawful age, the same as if they were in their respective states. The different states had appointed commissioners whose duty it was to furnish the regiments with the necessary election papers and tickets. The vote of the 57th stood 95 votes for Lincoln and 33 for McClellan. The regiment was recruited in those parts of Pennsylvania which were strongly Republican and it was but natural that the regiment was the same. The vote, however, in the entire army was for Lincoln by a large majority. In the fore part of the war it was thought at head- PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 33 quarters of the army that political discussions among the soldiers should be discouraged, or prohibited. But what could keep an army of freeman from discussing political questions? Discussions of that kind were as frequent around our campfires in front of Petersburg in the fall of 1864, as they were in any ward meeting or country store in the North. Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1864, will long be remembered by the soldiers of the various Union armies, when instead of the usual dinner of pork and beans, hard tack, etc., they were, thanks to the loyal ladies of the North, treated to a genuine Thanks- giving dinner of roast turkey and other good things. Communication by steamer with the Army of the Potomac was handy to all the principal ports in the North, and for several days the wharves at City Point on the James river were piled with boxes and pack- ages containing good things for the "boys" at the front. There was more than enough and all was in good condition. Some of the boxes contained the names of the fair donors, with the request that the parties receiving the same should acknowledge the receipt thereof. This in many instances led to a cor- respondence between the parties which ended in mar- riage, and the unions thus formed proved to be happy ones as far as the 57th boys were concerned. During the month of November the terms of ser- vice of many of our officers expired, and they were accordingly mustered out of the service. Among these were Lieut. Col. W. B. Neeper, Capt. A. H. 134 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT Nelson, Capt. Sprague Hill, Capt. H. H. Nelson and First Lieut. A. B. McCartney.* Dr. John W. Lyman, a resident of Lock Haven, Pa., who was appointed surgeon of the 57th when the regiment was orgonized in 1861, and had been with it constantly, resigned September 16, 1864, in order to accept the lieutenant-colonelcy of the 203d Pennsylvania volunteers. While serving with that regiment he was killed in the attack on Fort Fisher, North Carolina, January 15, 1865. Dr. Lyman was an excellent surgeon, kind and genial, and had en- deared himself in the hearts of the men of the 57th, who were deeply grieved when they learned of his death. Col. John W. Moore, of the 203d, had long been connected with our division, having entered the ser- vice as captain in the 99th Pennsylvania. As captain and major he had served on the staffs of Generals Kearny and Birney, and was an accomplished soldier. He met his death in the same action, with Dr. Lyman. The 2d corps moved from its camp near Fort Hell and Fort Hays on November 30th, and took up a position farther to the left on the Peebles farm, between Forts Sybert and Emory. Our old camping grounds were now occupied by the 9th army corps. On the morning of the 7th of December the regi- ment again broke camp to 1 take part in the expedition to destroy the Weldon railroad. The road had been destroyed, during the summer and fall, as far south as *A complete roster of the officers of the resriment, with the manner in which they quit the service, etc., will be found in the Appendix, marked A. PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 35 Stony creek, some twenty miles south of Petersburg. As the enemy was still using the road and hauling provisions, etc., by wagon from Stony creek to Peters- burg, General Grant determined to have the road de- stroyed as far south as possible. For this purpose an expedition was sent out under General Warren, consisting of his own, the 5th corps, Mott's division of the 2d corps, and Gen. D. M. Gregg's cavalry, in all a force of about twenty thou- sand men. Our division (Mott's) broke camp at day- light on December 7th and marched via the Globe tavern and Gurly house to the Jerusalem plank, and following the 5th corps on this road, we arrived at the Nottoway river about dark, after a march of twenty miles. We crossed the river the same evening and bivouacked for the night. We resumed our march at daylight on the 8th, passing through Sussex Court House, and halted for the night about three miles from Jarrett's station on the Weldon railroad. Early on the morning of the 9th, the work of destroying the railroad commenced. A brigade would stack arms near the road, then each man taking hold of the end of a tie, the road would be turned over as a plow turns over a furrow. Then axes were used to loosen the rails from the ties; the latter were placed in piles and the rails put on top. Then dry wood, from the fences nearby, was added and the piles set on fire. The rails becoming red hot in the middle would bend in a semicircular form from their own weight, which rendered them useless for relaying. Oft times the men would take a rail from the fire and 136 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT twist it around a tree, which of course could not be removed without cutting down the tree. Travelers in that section often noticed these rails around the trees long after the close of the war. We worked at tearing up the road until 4 o'clock p. m., when we were ordered to encamp. Two hours later our brigade, in light marching order, was sent to within one mile of Belfield on the Meherrin river. Here we again began to destroy the railroad, back in the direction in which we came. Belfield is about ten miles from the North Carolina line, and is the further- most point south ever reached by the regiment. This march of about five miles was made in rain and sleet, with the weather rapidly growing colder. It began to snow during the night, and in the morning every tree, twig and shrub was covered with ice. On Saturday, December 10th, we started on our return march. The roads were in a terrible condi- tion, which made the march very fatiguing, especially to the new recruits, of which there were many in every regiment. Crawford's and Ayer's divisions had some skirmishing to do while we moved to the rear, but on our part we were not molested and reached the vicinity of our old camps about 2 o'clock p. m. on December 12th. We laid out a new camp in front of the rear line of entrenchments, west of the Halifax road, where we remained until the 5th of February. It was reported that many of our soldiers who had straggled from their regiments during our advance in the Weldon raid, were found during our retreat, lying in the woods, killed by rebel guerrilas, some PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 37 with their throats cut. Be this as it may, it is certain that many of these stragglers never returned to their regiments. Many of the houses that stood near the road were burned on our return march in retaliation for the murder of our men. On account of the abundance of the liquor called applejack the Weldon raid was generally spoken of by the men as the "applejack raid." As our division had the rear of the column in the advance we did not get hold of much of the liquor. There is no doubt that many of the men who straggled had tasted too much of the fiery stuff and became too tired to march, and lay down to rest. In the 57th we had some who had taken "as much as was good for them," and they became rather hilarious, but none of them straggled from the ranks. General Hancock bade farewell to the 2d corps on November 26th. He had been appointed to raise and organize a new corps, to consist of veterans, and of which he was to have command. He was succeeded in command of the 2d corps by Gen. A. A. Humph- reys, an able general, who for a long time had been chief of staff to General Meade. 10 138 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT CHAPTER XII. BY E. C. STROUSS. Disbanding of Companies A and E — Regiment Organized Into a Battalion of Six Companies — Consolidation of the Eighty-Fourth with the Fifty-Seventh Pennsylvania — Necessity for Changing the Letter of Some of the Com- panies — Confusion in Company Rolls Growing Out of It — Officers of the Consolidated Regiment — Another Move Across Hatcher's Run — The Regiment Again Engaged with the Enemy — 'Great Length of the Line in Front of Petersburg — A Lively Picket Skirmish — Battle Near Watkin's House — Enemy's Picket Line and Many Pris- oners Captured. The arduous campaign of 1864, with its numerous terrific battles, had greatly reduced the strength of all the old regiments that went out in 1861. These, together with the men who had not reenlisted — some seventy-five in number — had so thinned the ranks of the 57th that two of its companies were ordered to be disbanded and the men to be assigned to other com- panies. The following is a copy of the order which brought about this state of affairs : Headquarters 57th P. V. V. | January 11, 1865. j Special Orders No. 3. I. As directed by S. O. No. 8, War Dept. A. G. O., Jan. 6th, '65, this regiment will be consolidated into a battalion to consist of six companies of equal strength. II. Companies A and E will be broken up, and distributed with the six companies thus formed, so as to equalize them in strength. Supernumerary non-commissioned officers to be mustered out under the supervision of the division mustering officer. By command of Lieut. -Col. L. D. Bumpus. Attest: R. I. Campbell, Lieut, and Actg. Adjt. .Military services of LORENZO D. BUMPUS, of Pennsylvania, in U. S. Volunteers. Born at Titusville, Pa., .March 15, 1844; received a common school education; enlisted October 2, 1861, as a private in Company I, 57th Penn- sylvania Volunteers; appointed Second Sergeant Nov. 16, 1861; acted as First Sergeant during the IVninsula campaign; commissioned First Lieu- tenant August 10, 1862; Captain March 11'. 1863; Lieutenant-Colonel Novem- ber 5, 1864; mustered out as supernumerary January 19. 1865, upon the consolidation of the 84th Pennsylvania Volunteers with the 57th, He took part in all the battles of the 57th regiment until his muster out, and was never absent or off duty but for a short time in 1864, when in Second Corps Field Hospital at City Point, Va., with broken leg and dis- located hip. He is still here and is keeping step to the music of the Union, PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 39 Under the same order from the War Department the 84th Pennsylvania volunteers, which consisted of ten small companies, was consolidated into four, and these were then joined to our regiment, making a new organization to be designated the "57th Regi- ment, Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers." In order to avoid having two companies of the same letter, it became necessary to change the letter of three of the companies of the old 57th, viz : Company H was changed to Company A, I to D, and K to E. With but few exceptions, the companies whose letters were changed retained the same officers and noncommis- sioned officers, and their organizations remained the same. Companies B, C, and F retained their old letters. The four companies of the old 84th formed the left of the regiment and were lettered G, H, I and K. The order for consolidation was received with con- siderable dissatisfaction by both officers and men. The 84th, like the 57th, was an old regiment, and had served faithfully and gallantly since the spring of 1862, and each had an honorable record. The 84th had seen its first fighting at Winchester, Va., on March 23, 1862, and then in Bank's campaign in the Shenandoah valley, Pope's campaign, and had joined the 3d corps of the Army of the Potomac in Sep- tember, 1862. It was assigned to Birney's division of the 2d corps in May and remained in the division until the close of the war. It was a great injustice to break up a regiment with such an honorable record and deprive it of its number. 140 HISTOE.Y FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT In the fall of 1864 the State of Pennsylvania sent to the front a dozen or more new regiments to serve for one year. These men should have been sent to the old regiments already in the field, who had upheld their country's honor in many a bloody battle, and who were proud of their official distinction. One of the evil results of all this consolidation, changing of regimental numbers, and company letters, can be seen in a work published by the State of Penn- sylvania, after the war, entitled " Bates' History of Pennsylvania Volunteers." The names of many worthy soldiers, some of whom died for their country, are omitted on the rolls as published in the work above mentioned. It was not the fault, however, of Dr. S. P. Bates and his assistants, for the rolls at Harris- burg, from which they procured their information, were very incomplete. This is particularly so as re- gards the 57th Pennsylvania. When the muster-out rolls of the regiment were prepared in June, 1865, the company commanders were required to make out two rolls, each to contain the name of every man, living or dead, who had ever belonged to the company, and the manner in which he left the service to be stated. These rolls never reached Harrisburg, but remained at Washington, D. C. The writer is informed that Dr. Bates tried to have access to these rolls for pre- paring his history, but was refused the privilege of using them by the authorities at Washington. While fortune had thrown together the 57th and 84th Pennsylvania, they served side by side in per- PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 141 feet concord and amity, no quarrelling between them ever manifesting itself. At the time of the consolidation and for some months previous, Lieut. Col. L. D. Bumpus was in command of the regiment. He was then honorably discharged and mustered out. He entered the service, a mere boy of 17, as a private in Company I of the 57th, and for meritorious conduct was successively promoted to sergeant, first sergeant, first lieutenant, captain and lieutenant colonel. He was a brave soldier and was always with his men whether in the camp or in front of the enemy. The officers of the new organization were as follows : Colonel — George Zinn. Lieutenant-Colonel — George W. Perkins. Major — Samuel Bryan. Adjutant — Thomas E. Merchant. Quartermaster — John W. Parks. Surgeon — H. G. Chritzman. Assistant Surgeon — J. K. Cassell. Chaplain — William T. McAdam. Company A, Capt. D. W. Gore. Company B, First Lieut. Daniel Comstock. Company C, Capt. M. W. Houser. Company D, Capt. J. D. Moore. Company E, Capt. E. C. Strouss. Company F, Capt. E. C. Bierce. Company G, First Lieut. David Larrish. Company H, Second Lieut. William A. Wilson. Company I, Capt. John R. Ross. 142 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT Company K, Capt. R. C. Lamberton. The non-commissioned staff were : Sergeant Major — William McCaslin. Quartermaster Sergeant — John H. Rodgers. Commissary Sergeant — Charles Coburn. Hospital Steward — Cary A. Slayton. Principal Musician — Daniel Fisher. Drum Major — J. N. McDonald. Our new colonel, George Zinn, of Harrisburg, was a man of undoubted courage and a strict disciplin- arian. He was absent at the time of the consolidation on account of severe wounds received in action while in command of the 84th. He returned for duty and took command of the regiment on March 18. Lieut.-Col. George W. Perkins, of Bradford county, Pa., entered the service as a sergeant of Com- pany H, 57th, in 186 1. He was for a time adjutant of the regiment, and was then promoted as captain of Company B. For some time previous to his pro- motion to lieutenant-colonel he had served on the staff of General Mott, our division commander. Maj. Samuel Bryan, of Lycoming county, Pa., entered the service as first lieutenant of Company B, 84th Pennsylvania, in 1861. He was not much of a tactician, but as brave as a lion, and if there was a chance to get up a row with the enemy's pickets, while he had charge of a detail, he was sure to do it. His "staying qualities" in a fight endeared him to all the men, to whom he was always kind and fatherly. On February 5th another move was made for the purpose of extending our lines to the left. At 7 a. m., PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 143 with the division, we broke camp and marched to the Vaughn road crossing of Hatcher's run. Skirmishers from our ist brigade and the cavalry having effected the crossing, our brigade — temporarily commanded by Colonel West, of the 17th Maine — crossed over and began to throw up a slight breastwork, forming the arc of a circle, the right of the ist, and the left of the 2d brigade resting on the run. Our brigade (the 2d) remained in this position till about 5 p. m., when it was hurriedly moved to the right to support McAllis- ter (3d brigade), who was being fiercely attacked by the enemy on the north side of the run. We started off on the double quick for a mile or more — the 57th leading — and reaching McAllister's position the 57th Pennsylvania and the 5th Michigan formed line on his left and charged the enemy, who would have driven back McAllister without our assistance. Com- pany E, of the 57th, was not with the regiment in this fight, having been sent on picket duty before the brigade was ordered to the right. The regiment had two men wounded in this affair. The rest of the fighting during this expedition was confined to the 5th corps and the cavalry, who were on our left. The 7th was a very disagreeable day, as it began to snow and continued to do so all day. On the 9th we were supplied with axes and began to slash the timber in front of our new line of works. Our army now held a line extending from Arm- strong's mill on Hatcher's run on the left to the Appo- mattox river below Petersburg on the right, a dis- tance of about sixteen miles. This line with the 144 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT natural and artificial obstructions in its front, was almost impregnable, and could be held by a small por- tion of our troops, leaving the main body of our army free for operations elsewhere. On March ioth the regiment proceeded to lay out a new camp, which proved to be the last one among the many we occupied along the Petersburg lines. jFrom this time until March 25th we lay quiet in our camp with the exceptions of drill, camp and picket duty. A heavy detail for picket duty in our front was sent out on the morning of March 24th. It was a beautiful spring day and everything remained quiet along our part of the line, until an hour or so before daylight on the 25th, when a prolonged and heavy artillery fire was heard far away on our right. About 7 a. m. a staff officer of our division rode out to our picket line, with orders to advance our line and feel of the enemy. After crossing a narrow swamp in our front we advanced through the woods and were soon exchanging shots with the enemy's pickets. We were ordered to cease advancing, so we remained quiet until the relief came out and took our places at 9 o'clock. During our advance Lieut. R. I. Campbell, of Com- pany C, and several of our men, were slightly wounded. On our arrival in camp we learned that the heavy artillery fire on our right which we heard in the morning, was caused by an attack on our lines by the enemy, under Gen. J. B. Gordon, at Fort Steadman. The enemy was temporarily successful, but were PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. I45 finally driven back with heavy loss by the 9th corps under General Parke. Many of the enemy were killed and wounded in trying to get back to their own lines ; 1,949 prisoners, including 71 officers and nine stands of colors, fell into General Parke's hands. About 3 p. m. of the same day our whole division was sent to the front for the purpose of driving back the enemy's picket line near the Watkins house. Arriving near the ground to be contested, General Pierce placed Colonel Pulford, of the 5th Michigan, in charge of the right wing near the Watkins house, and Colonel Zinn of the left wing, consisting of the 57th, 105th and 141st Pennsylvania. As soon as Colonel Zinn's line was formed, he sent out details from each regiment to connect the enemy's rifle-pits which had been captured in the morning. While these details were at work, a brigade of rebels charged them and drove them back to the main line. Colonel Zinn at once ordered a countercharge of the regiments under his command, when they went forward with a cheer, and retook the pits and captured six commis- sioned officers and 167 enlisted men. In this charge Corporal Wolford Case, of Company E, 57th, ordered a rebel lieutenant to give up his sword. The rebel refused to do so at first, but, on seeing the state of affairs, yielded without further comment. Our regiment lost in this engagement 1 officer and 5 men wounded. The brigade loss was 4 enlisted men killed and 1 officer and 29 men wounded. Gen. A. A. Humphreys, in his book entitled "The Virginia Campaign of 1864-5," sa y s °f tms en g" a g e - 146 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT ment : "It was this capture of the entrenched picket line of the enemy that made it practicable for General Wright to carry the enemy's main line of entrench- ments by assault on the morning of the 2d of April." We remained on the ground wrested from the enemy until after dark, when other troops relieved us and we returned to our camps. On the morning of the 27th the whole regiment was ordered once more to the front to support the picket line, some distance to the left of the point where we were engaged on the 25th. We threw up a strong breastwork of logs and earth, which we held until dark, when without difficulty we advanced our line to within one hundred yards of the enemy's pickets. On our return to camp next day we found that the whole division was under orders to move at 6 o'clock the next morning. PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. I47 CHAPTER XIII. BY E. C. STROUSS. Beginning of Our Last Campaign — Battle of Five Forks — On Picket Duty on Old Hatcher's Run Battlefield — Jubi- lant Rebels — Enemy's Lines Broken — Petersburg and Richmond Evacuated — In Pursuit of the Enemy — Battle of Sailor's Creek — High Bridge — -General Mott Wounded — Lee's Army Breaking Up — Appomattox — Joy Over the Surrender — On the Backward March — Camp at Burkes- ville Junction. Before daylight on the morning of March 29th our men were astir geting their breakfasts, packing up, and preparing for the march, which was to ter- minate in the surrender of our old antagonists, the Army of Northern Virginia, ten days later. We moved out by the Vaughn road, across Hatcher's run, our corps resting its right on the run, and its left in communication with the 5th corps. General Ord's troops of the Army of the James occu- pied the entrenchments vacated by our corps. We moved out toward the enemy; but in that country of woods and swamps it took nearly the whole day to rectify the line and get into position. It rained heavily all night of the 29th and all the next day, rendering the roads impassable for artillery and wagons until corduroyed. On the 30th our corps con- tinued its advance, driving the enemy inside his entrenchments along Hatcher's run from the Crow- house to the Boydton road, pressing close up against them, but not assaulting. I48 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT On the 31st the 5th corps under General Warren on our left was more or less engaged with the enemy with varying success. Our first division under Gen- eral Miles, which joined Warren's right, engaged the enemy in a brisk fight, drove them back and re- lieved the pressure on Warren. Our division made an attempt to attack the enemy's entrenchments at the Boydton road crossing of Hatcher's run, but the works were found to be too strong, so the attack was countermanded. Late in the afternoon of April 1st General War- ren, assisted by Sheridan's cavalry, succeeded in car- rying the enemy's strong position at Five Forks, about five miles to our left. The enemy under Gen- eral Pickett had 4,500 prisoners, 13 colors and 6 guns captured. During the afternoon of this day the regiment with the brigade was posted in the same field in which we had fought the enemy on the 27th of October previous. Just before dark a heavy detail of the 57th in charge of Captains Strouss and Moore and First Lieut. R. I. Campbell was sent to the front instructed to guard carefully against a night attack from the enemy. Only a short distance in our front were the rebel pickets. They yelled at us : "Yanks, do you know that General Sheridan is killed?" They were answered : "You lie, you greybacks, you haven't lead enough to kill him." They had no doubt been told that we had lost the battle at Five Forks, and that Sheridan had been killed. At least they were very PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 149 hilarious during the fore part of the night. They also yelled to us asking : "Yanks, have you got any whiskey over thar?" Being answered in the nega- tive, they yelled : "We have lots of it over har ; come over and get some." They evidently had plenty of whiskey or applejack, as some of those we "gobbled" next morning were very weak in the legs. On our side we were busy strengthening our picket pits, hurrying to get the work finished before the rise of the moon. During the latter part of the night there was more or less picket-firing along the lines, which we kept up until daylight, when they also opened on us with several pieces of artillery in a redoubt close by. One of their shells struck a large pine tree near which Captain Moore was standing, and exploding, threw a large piece of wood against him, injuring him painfully. Long before daylight on the 2d began the terrible cannonade which preceded the attack of the 6th and 9th corps on the rebel works near Petersburg. This was miles away on our right, but the sound of the cannon and the reverberation through the woods, to- gether with our anxiety as to how the battle would end, put us on an awful strain. Tn a few hours, how- ever, we learned that our troops had been victorious and had broken and held the rebel lines in several places, and also that Gen. A. P. Hill, one of Lee's corps commanders, had been killed. On our part of the line we captured about one hundred of the enemy, also the cannon in the redoubt in our front. About 8 o'clock our corps took up the line of 150 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT march via the Boydton plank road, to near Peters- burg. Here we formed line, about noon, parallel with the Appomattox river, the right of our line joining the left of the 6th corps. Here we were considerably annoyed by a battery of the enemy on the opposite side of the river, until some of our sharpshooters drove the cannoneers away from their guns. Later in the day we took up a new line near a large brick house which the day before had been the rebel General Mahone's headquarters. A little before dark the enemy from one of their forts opened on us with artillery, but did little dam- age, as we were sheltered by the brow of a hill and most of their shots passed over us. An officer of our division, while standing by a pump near the brick house mentioned above, was killed by a cannon ball which passed through the pump. Several men of the 57th who had gone to a spring in rear of our line for water were also injured by fragments of shell. The enemy evacuated Petersburg and Richmond during the night of the 2d and morning of the 3d. Lee's army moved westward with the expectation of reaching Lynchburg or Danville, Va. Our corps took up the line of march in pursuit of the enemy about 8 o'clock a. m. on the 3d. We marched about twenty miles this day without any fighting, although some of our infantry and cavalry had some brisk skirmishes with the enemy's rear guard. On the 4th we only marched about eight miles, but spent most of the day in repairing bridges the PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 151 enemy had destroyed and mending the roads, which recent rains had put in very bad order. Our corps and the 6th were on what was known as the River road; the 5th corps and the main body of the cavalry were on a road further south, and Ord's army and the 9th corps were following the line of the South Side railroad. By the evening of the 5th nearly all of Lee's army was at Amelia Court House. Lee had expected to find rations here for his army, which were ordered to be left there on the 2d. But the authorities at Rich- mond, anxious to get away, ordered the trains to go through to that place, where the rations were dumped out, the cars loaded with the heads of the various departments and their archives, and started south again, the occupants being in great dread of capture by the Yankees. The consequence was that Lee's army had to go hungry, as but little to eat was to be found in the country through which they were marching. The 5th corps had reached Jetersville — a station on the South Side railroad — late in the afternoon of the 5th and began to entrench as they were in front and across the path of the rebel army, only five miles distant. Our corps joined the 5th corps about dark and the 6th corps a few hours later. On the morning of the 6th the three corps ad- vanced toward Amelia Court House, but it was soon found that Lee had during the night slipped around our left flank, or, in other words, passed to the north of us and continued his retreat. He was closely fol- 152 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT lowed and there was some hot fighting during the day. Our brigade's first encounter was on the after- noon of the 6th at a place called Amelia Springs, about four miles from Jetersville. We drove the enemy and captured some prisoners. The road we followed on this day was strewn for miles with tents, camp equipage, baggage, documents, etc., which the enemy threw from their wagons to 1 enable the half- starved mules to pull them through. Our brigade had frequent skirmishes with the enemy's rear guard until near dark, when we struck them at Sailor creek at Perkinson's mill, a few miles from where the creek empties into the Appomattox. Here, assisted by a portion of Miles' division, we succeeded in capturing several hundred prisoners, thirteen flags, and three guns, and a large part of the main trains of Lee's army, which were huddled together in a confused mass at the bridge crossing the creek. Our regiment and the 17th Maine dashed through the train and pursued the enemy across the creek, but both regi- ments were recalled after dark. In this engage- ment the regiment had none killed, and but seven men wounded. Among the wounded was Lieutenant- Colonel Perkins. Our division commander, General Mott, was wounded during the day's fighting. On the same day, further to our left, or up the creek, the 6th corps and Sheridan's cavalry had a battle with the enemy in which the latter met with severe losses. General Humphreys, in his book before quoted, says: "The total loss to Lee's army today (the 6th) PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 53 in its actions with the 6th corps and the cavalry, and with the 2d corps, was not less than eight thousand men." Among the prisoners were Generals Ewell, Ker- shaw, Custis Lee, and Dubose of Ewell's command, and Generals Hunton and Corse, of Pickett's division. The 2d corps resumed the pursuit at half past five o'clock in the morning of the 7th, keeping near to the river and taking the routes which appeared to have been marched on by the largest bodies of infantry, and came upon High Bridge just as the enemy had blown up the redoubt that formed the bridge-head and had set fire to the railroad bridge, and were trying to burn the wagon road bridge. The railroad bridge was called High Bridge because built on piers about sixty feet high, across the narrow river and the wide marshy low ground on the north bank. This bridge was saved with the loss of four spans at the north end, chiefly by the exertions of Colonel Livermore, of General Humphreys' staff, whose party put out the fire, while the enemy's skirmsihers were fighting under their feet. It was a wooden, open deck bridge. The wagon road bridge which the emeny tried to burn but failed, was still smoking as we crossed it. Sixteen pieces of artillery which were in the redoubts at either end of the railroad bridge fell into our hands. The divisions of Miles and De Trobriand (the latter now commanding Mott's division) arrived at the Lynchburg stage road about 1 p. m., when we suddenly came in contact with the enemy, who opened on us with a heavy fire of artillery. Dispositions were 154 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT at once made for an attack, and a heavy skirmish line was pressed close up against the enemv to develop their strength. From prisoners taken it was found that Lee's whole army was present in strong position covering the stage and plank roads to Lynchburg, which was entrenched sufficiently for cover, and had artillery in place. General Humphreys pressed against the rebel positions with his two divisions, but found the enemy too strong to be dislodged with the forces then under him. General Meade was notified of the state of affairs, when it was found that no pontoon bridge was available at Farmville, that the river was too deep for fording, and that it would be night before a bridge could be built to enable the force on our left to come to our assistance. So all we could do was to lie still and watch the enemy. By detention until night at this place, General Lee lost invaluable time, which he could not regain by night marching, lost the supplies awaiting him at Appomattox station, and gave time to Sheridan and his cavalry, and General Ord with the 5th and 24th corps to post themselves across his path at Appo- mattox Court House. Lee continued his retreat some time during the night, and the 2d corps started after him at 5 130 on the morning of the 8th. There was some skirmish- ing during the day, but no hard fighting. The enemy was anxious to get away, and thousands of their stragglers and deserters lined the roads. Our regi- ment acted as flankers to the main column on the 8th, PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 55 moving on the left of it, about a quarter of a mile distant. Correspondence pertaining to the surrender of the rebel army was already passing between Grant and Lee; but of this we knew nothing at the time. On the morning of the 9th we moved a few miles and then halted for several hours and then moved on a short distance and halted within a few rods of where General Meade had his headquarters, about noon. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon an ambu- lance bearing a flag of truce and in which were seated some rebel officers, coming from the front, drove up to General Meade's headquarters. The ambulance soon returned accompanied by General Meade and his chief of staff, General Webb. They had been at the front but a short time when we heard great cheering in that direction, and also heard the music of the bands playing patriotic airs. The cheering came nearer and nearer, and our men began to line both sides of the road, when soon we saw the forms of Generals Meade and Webb approaching, their horses at an easy gal- lop. General Webb was riding ahead and shouting to the men: "Boys, your fighting is over; General Lee has surrendered." General Meade, who had been sick for several days, was waving his cap, but was so exhausted that he was scarcely able to dismount. Then for a while it seemed as if our army had suddenly become insane with joy. Men pushed each other over, mounted a stump or fence and crowed like roosters, laughed or wept for joy. It was hard to realize that the men whom we had been fighting for I56 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT nearly four years were no longer our foes, and that the weary nights on picket duty in storm and rain were ended. According to the records of the War Department the number of officers and enlisted men of Lee's army paroled on the 9th of April, 1865, was: Officers, 2,862; enlisted men, 25,494; total, 28,356. Of the troops surrendered only 8,000 were armed. When the surrender took place our corps was near Clover Hill, about three miles from Appomattox Court House. It remained there on the 10th and on the nth we moved to the rear and bivouacked for the night at a place called New Store. Moving on the next day over very muddy roads and in the rain, we halted for the night at Farmville. On the 13th, after a hard march, we arrived at Burkesville Junc- tion, where we went into camp and remained there until May 2d. While at this place we heard the sad news that President Lincoln had been assassinated at Ford's Theater in Washington on the night of April 14th. On the 28th we had the joyful news that the rebel army under General Johnson had surrendered to Gen. W. T. Sherman. The most doubtful now knew that the war was over. PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 57 CHAPTER XIV. BY E. C. STROUSS. Departure from Burkesville — Marching Through Richmond — The March to Washington — Passing Over Old Battle- fields — Camp at Bailey's Cross Roads — Grand Review of 'he Army of the Potomac — The Order of March — The Fifty-Seventh Ordered Mustered Out — 'Names of En- gagements in which the Regiment Participated — Its Casualties — We Start for Harrisburg — Finally Paid and Discharged — Farewell Address of Our Field Officers. The regiment with the corps received orders on May 2d to go to Richmond. It left its camp at Burkesville accordingly and marching via Amelia Court House, it reached Manchester on the James river, opposite Richmond, about 1 1 a. m. on May 5th. On the 6th it marched through Richmond with bands playing and colors flying, passing the famous — or infamous — Libby prison on the way. But few of the men who then marched with the regiment had ever been prisoners within its walls. Crossing the Chick- ahominy river the regiment bivouacked four and a half miles north of Richmond on the Fredericksburg pike. On the 7th it marched through Hanover Court House, and across the Pamunkey river, halting for the night after a march of sixteen miles. On the 8th it marched sixteen miles and on the 9th, seventeen miles, and halted for the night on the Po river, near the old battlefield of Spottsylvania. On the 10th it passed through Fredericksburg and crossing the Rap- 158 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT pahannock, camped for the night on familiar ground near Stoneman's Switch on the Aquia Creek railroad. By the 15th the corps had reached the vicinity of Washington and went into camp near Bailey's Cross Roads. This proved to be the last camping ground of the regiment, it remaining here until the last of June. The only things of importance that occurred while in this camp were the Grand Review of the Army of the Potomac, on May 23d, and the muster- out of the regiment at the end of June. On the morning of May 23d we were up early, getting ready to march to Washington, distant seven miles, to take part in the Grand Review. We moved by way of Arlington Mills and Hunter's Chapel to Long Bridge, crossing which our corps (the 2d) was massed on the streets east and south of the Capitol. The Army of the Potomac (with the exception of the 6th corps, which was on duty at Danville, Va. ), was to pass in review before the President of the United States in the following order, with the officers named commanding : Cavalry Corps, Major General Merritt. Ninth Corps, Maj. Gen. John G. Parke. Fifth Corps, Maj. Gen. Charles Griffin. Second Corps, Maj. Gen. A. A. Humphreys. This force comprised 151 regiments of infantry, 36 regiments of cavalry and 22 batteries of artillery, which, with the staff department of the general officers, made about 80,000 men. Precisely at 9 o'clock a. m. the signal gun boomed PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 59 out the start. The cheery bugles of the cavalry and artillery were instantly going, the drums of the infan- try rolled, the bands pealed forth inspiring music, and the Grand Army of the Potomac was on the march. The infantry marched without knapsacks, by com- pany front, closed en masse. As the cavalry passed up Pennsylvania avenue, cheers rent the air, and horses and riders were pelted with flowers. Similar demonstrations awaited the other parts of the column. In front of the White House a large stand had been erected, on which stood the President, members of his cabinet, heads of the military and civil depart- ments, and foreign ambassadors. Thousands of people from the Northern states had visited Washington to see this the greatest military pageant of the nineteenth century, and which this country may never see surpassed. The streets were crowded to their utmost, and windows and roofs of houses and every available spot where the parade could be viewed was filled with spectators. It was late in the afternoon when the last regi- ment passed the reviewing stand. Our brigade was the next to the last in the column. It was commanded by Brig. Gen. Byron R. Pierce and marched in the following order: 17th Maine, Col. C. P. Mattox. 105th Pennsylvania, Maj. James Miller. 5th Michigan, Lieut. Col. D. S. Root. 93d New York, Lieut. Col. H. Gifford. 141st Pennsylvania, Lieut. Col. J. H. Horton. 1 st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, Maj. Shatwell. 57th Pennsylvania, Maj. Samuel Bryan. l6o HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT The weather throughout the day was delightful, and the men being in light marching order, were but little fatigued, although we had marched altogether about sixteen miles. The next day General Sherman's army was reviewed under like circumstances, the crowd being swelled by the presence of many officers and men of the Army of the Potomac, who were anxious to see the review of their gallant comrades of the western armies. The 6th corps of the Army of the Potomac, and all the artillery that had not previously been re- viewed, passed in review on the 8th of June. After the reviews were over the government began mustering out troops as fast as the necessary rolls could be made out, and transportation be secured to send the men home. On June 23d orders were received that the 57th was on the list of regiments to be mustered out. Then for a week there were busy times at the head- quarters of the various companies. Five large mus- ter-out rolls of each company had to be made out, a discharge paper for each man to be filled out, com- pany books balanced, and descriptive books verified up to date. At last, all the necessary requirements having been fulfilled, the regiment was mustered out of the United States service on the evening of June 29, 1865. According to the records of the War Department the regiment is credited with having participated in PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. l6l the following battles, viz : Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Oak Grove, Glendale, Malvern Hill, Bris- tow Station, Groveton, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Auburn, Kelly's Ford, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Totopotomoy, Cool Harbor, Petersburg, Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, Poplar Grove Church, Boydton Road, Hatcher's Run, Petersburg (Watkins' House), Amelia Springs, Appomattox. The casualties of the regiment were: Killed, 161 ; wounded, 432; died of disease or wounds, 217; total, 810. This total is almost as great as the original strength of the regiment, which was about 850 officers and men. The above does not include those who died in prison, as correct lists of these were never obtained. The total enlistment in the regiment was 1,711, but this includes the men who reenlisted, and over 100 who enlisted for the regiment, but never reported for duty. The regiment also received 150 recruits after Lee had surrendered and the fighting was over. At the date of muster-out there were but 97 men of the original regiment left in the ranks. Chaplain W. T. McAdam was the only one of the original officers remaining. On the morning of June 30th we struck tents for the last time, and then marched to Washington, where we took cars for Harrisburg. We arrived at the latter place on Sunday morning, July 2d, and marched out to what was called "Camp Return." adjoining "Old Camp Curtin." Here the 1 62 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT regiment received its final pay and discharges from Maj. W. T. Asson, Paymaster U. S. A., on July 6th, 1865. On the same day the men departed by various routes for their homes. Before disbanding each member of the regiment received a copy of the following farewell address, which was prepared by Adjutant Thomas E. Mer- chant, of the 57th: Harrisburg, Pa., July 6, 1865. To the Officers and Soldiers of the old 57th Pennsylvania: Four years ago our thoughts were turned on war to come. To-day our thoughts are on war past and peace to come. The bloody strife is over, and you with many of your fellow soldiers are now to return to your homes. We part joyfully, for the life we have led as soldiers has been a severe one, and we are glad the task is over, and that henceforth we may enjoy the comforts of peaceful life. Yet the associations we have formed are very hard to sever, and during our whole course of life in the future we will revert with pleasure and pride to the associations and companionships formed during those three or four years in which the regiment fought twenty-seven engage- ments and marched hundreds of miles. Let us not forget each other. Parting as a band of brothers, let us cling to the memory of those tattered banners, under which we fought together, and which without dishonor we just now re- stored to the authorities who placed them in our hands. Till we grow grey-headed and pass away let us sustain the reputation of the noble old regiment, — for none can point to one more glorious! Fortune threw together two organizations — the 84th P. V. and the 57th P. V. — to make up the present command. Both regi- ments have been in service since the beginning of the strife, and the records of both will demand respect through all coming time. Very many of those who have been enrolled with us have fallen, and their graves are scattered here and there throughout the south. PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 63 We will not forget these; and the people of this nation will and must honor their memory— for how can they avoid it when they see little children pointing their fingers at the portrait on the wall and hear them saying: "He died for our country!" Comrades, God bless you all! Farewell! George Zinn, George W. Perkins, Samuel Bryan, Field officers of the late 57th P. V. V. 164 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT APPENDIX A. Roster of the Field, Staff and Line Officers of the Fifty-Seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Veteran Vol- unteer Infantry, from date of organization, Decem- ber 14, 1861, to date of muster out, June 29, 1865. This roster is copied from the report of Gen. A. L. Russell, Adjutant General of the State of Penn- sylvania for the year 1866. RANK AND NAME. Col. William Maxwell •• " Chas. T. Campbell. " Peter Sides " Geo. Zinn Lt. Col. E.W.Woods- • •• " Peter Sides T. S. Stroecker • " Wm. B. Neeper " L. D. Bumpus •• Geo. W. Perkins Major Jeremiah Culp S. C. Simonton — Wm. B. Neeper.. ■ " Samuel Bryan Adjt. Wm. B. Neeper. — " Geo. W. Perkins — Clark M. Lyons..-.. Jas. D. Moore. " R. J. McQuillen COUNTY OR RESIDENCE. Mercer Franklin.. ••■ Philadelphia. Dauphin. Mercer Philadelphia.- Venango Allegheny- •• Venango Bradford Bradford Mercer Allegheny Lycoming Allegheny. .. Bradford Susquehanna. Mercer Mercer RANK FROM Aug. 24, Mar. 4, Mar. 12. Feb. 1, Aug. 24. Sept. 15. Mar. 12. Sept. 11. Nov. 5, Dec. 15. Aug. 24, June 1, Dec. 31, Jan. 6, Aug. 24, Sept. 27, Feb. 16, June 21. Nov. 5, REMARKS. Resigned March 10, 1862. Promoted to Brig. Gen. Nov. 9, 1862. ( Hon.dis.Nov.28, '64. ■J Ap't'd Brevet Brig. ( Gen. April 6, 1865. Mustered out withReg. June 29, 1865. Resigned September 14, 1862. To Colonel. Hon. dis. March 12, 1863, as Lt. Colonel. Hon. dis. November 4, 1864. Mustered out Jan. 13, 1865. Mustered out June 29. 1865. Killed at Fair Oaks. Va., May 31,1862. Hon. dis. January 17. 1863. To Lieut. Colonel. Mustered out June 29, 1865. To Captain Company C. To Captain Company B. Died June 20, 1864, of w'nds rec' in notion. To Captain Company I. Commission withheld. PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 65 Roster of Fifty-Seventh Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers.— Continued, RANK AND NAME. COUNTY OR RESIDENCE. RANK FROM REMARKS. Adjt. Thos. E. Merchant... Qr. Mast. Horace Williston Israel Garretson. John H. Rodgcrs John W. Parke... Surgeon John W. Lyman. • . H. G. Chritzman... Asst. Surg. A. W. Fisher. . . . D. D. Kennedy J. Elliott Miller.... FredR. H. Leet... T. A. Downs J. K. Cassell Wm. Jack. Chaplain Wm. T. McAdam Company A. Capt. Peter Sides J. R. Lyons " H.H.Hinds 1st Lieut. J. R. Lyons Edson J. Rice. H. H. Hinds 2d Lieut. Edson J. Rice H. H. Hinds Jere. C. Green.. Geo. L. Amey Company B. Capt. S. C. Simonton J. W. Gillespie Geo. \V. Perkins Philadelphia.. Mercer Mercer Mercer Clinton Franklin Northumber- land Chester. Franklin Mercer Philadelphia ■ • Bucks Indiana Mercer Philadelphia. ■• Susquehanna. Susquehanna. Susquehanna. Wyoming: Susquehanna.. Wyoming Susquehanna.. Wyoming • • . Susquehanna.- Mercer Mercer Bradford April 5, Aug. 24, Aug. 15, Dec. 12, Nov. 1, Oct. 14, Oct. 24, Oct. 15, Aug. 1, Aug. 19, Jan. 13, Mar. 21, Sept. 17, Jan. 6, Aug. 24, Sept. 4, Sept. 15, Oct. 5. Sept. 4, Sept. 15, Jan. 7, Sept. 4. Sept. 15, Jan. 7, Mar. 1, Sept. 16, Oct. 1, Feb. 15, '65 Mustered out June 29, 1865. '61 Resigned Aug. 7, 1862. Mustered out at ex. of term, Dec. 12,1864. Not mustered as Quar- ter Master. Must, out with reg. June 29, 1865. Must, out Sept. 14, '64, to be Lt. Col. 203d P. V. Must, out June 29, 1865. Resigned Aug. 9, 1862. To Surgeon 133d Pa. Volunteers. Resigned December 20, 1862. Resigned 1863. Dis. for disability, Mar. 21, '64, to date. 64 Mustered out June 29, 1865. 65 Must, out June 29, '65. I Tr. from 84th Pa. V. 61 Mustered out June 29, 1865. •61 To Lieut. Colonel. '62 Hon. discharged Oct. I 4, 1864. '64 Hon. dis. as 1st Lieut. I May 15, 1865. '64 To Captain. '62 To Captain Co. E. '63,To Captain. '6LT0 1st Lieutenant. 62 To 1st Lieutenant. '63 Killed in action May I 12, 1864. 65 Mustered out June 29, 1865. To Major. '62 Hon. discharged Oct. I 23, 1863. '64, To Lieut. Colonel. 166 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT Roster of Fifty-Seventh Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers.— Continued. RANK AND NAME. 1st Lieut. Israel Garretson- • " T. O. Collamore..- " D. C. Comstock-.- 2d Lieut. J. W. Gillespie " James Burns Wm. H.Bell. Company C. Capt. Jere B. Hoagland Wm. B. Neeper. " Sprague S. Hill " M. W. Houser 1st Lieut. Enoch C. Cloud. ■ ■ Sprague S. Hill " A. B. McCartney •• Robt. I. Campbell. 2d Lieut. Spragrue S. Hill . . . M.W. Houser. ••■ Geo. W. Miller Company D. Capt. H. W. Caulking. 1st Lieut. Charles O. Etz--- Cyrus P. Slaven-- 2d Lieut. W. O. Mattison... Joseph S. Sharp-. Company E. Capt. Jas. E. Moore " W. S. Eberman. " Edson J. Rice. Edgar Williams " John W.Parke. COUNTY OR RESIDENCE. Mercer- Allegheny • Mercer — Franklin. •• Mercer •••- Franklin.- Bradford- Tioga Tioga Crawford. Tioga Venango ■ RANK FROM REMARKS. Sept. 16, '61 Oct. 1, '62 Nov. 4, '64 Sept. 16, '61 Jan. 6, '63 April 1, '65 Oct. 1, June 1, Jan. 17, Nov. 14, Oct. 1, June 25, Jan. 17, Nov. 23, April 16, Jan. 6, Marchl, Allegheny Mercer Wyoming Susquehanna. Mercer May 13, '65 Sept. 4, '6: Sept. 4, '61 May 19, '65 Sept. 4, '61 May 19. '65 Sept. 1, '61 Oct. 16, '62 Feb. 28, '63 Nov. 1, '63 To Quartermaster. Resigned May 31, 1863. Mustered out June 29, 1865. To Captain. Hon. discharged Mar. 17, 1865. Mustered out June 29, 1865. Resigned June 5, 1862. To Major. Mustered out at ex. of term, Nov. 11,1864. Mustered out June 29, 1865. Discharged June 25, 1862. To Captain. Mustered out at ex. of term, Nov. 16, 1864. Mustered out June 29, 1865. To 1st Lieutenant. To Captain. Mustered out June 29, 1865. Resigned Aug. 2, 1862. Killed at Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, 1862. Mustered out June 29, 1865. Resigned June 25, 1862. Must, out as 1st Serg. June 29, 1865. Resigned October 16, 1865. Resigned January 17, 1863. Killed at Chancellorsv Va., May 3, 1863. Died May 23, 1864, of wounds. Mustered out as Quar- termaster. PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 67 Rosier of Fifty-Seventh Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers.— Continued. RANK AND NAME. 1st Lieut. Henry Mitchell. • • " Edgar Williams..- ■ John W. Parke. John A. Sillaman- • 2d Lieut. W. S. Eberman- • • Henry Mitchell — " Edgar Williams..- • John A. Sillaman- • Joseph Freeman.- • Company F. Captain Ralph Maxwell " George Clark H. H. Nelson-. .. E. C. Bierce 1st Lieut. Isaac Cummings. Wm. B. Neeper " George Clark H.H.Nelson James F. Ruger..-- 2d Lieut. George Clark H.H.Nelson Lafayette Cameron Wm. H. H. Hurry. E. C. Bierce Company G. Captain Geo. S. Peck " Chas. W. Forrester 1st Lieut. Daniel Mehan . . . James M. Darling. Joseph H. Moore- • COUNTY OR RESIDENCE. Allegheny... . ■ Susquehanna. Mercer Crawford.. — Mercer Allegheny Susquehanna. Crawford Mercer . Mercer Allegheny. Mercer — Bradford- Mercer • • • Bradford- Columbia. Bradford- Blair RANK FROM Jan. 24, Sept. 1. Nov. 1, April 18, Sept. 1, Oct. 16, Jan. 24, Mar. 1, April 18, Sept 16, Feb. 8, Dec. 18, Dec. 2, Sept. 16, Aug. 24, April 22, Feb. 8, Dec. 21, Sept. 16, April 22, Feb. 8, Dec. 21, Nov. 7, Sept. 4, April 5, Sept. 4, May 20, June 9, REMARKS. Killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. To Captain. To Captain. Mustered out June 29, 1865. To Captain. To 1st Lieutenant. To 1st Lieutenant. To 1st Lieutenant. Mustered out June 29, 1865. Resigned Feb. 3, 1863. Resigned Dec. 17, 1863. Dis. at ex. of term of service, Nov. 1864. Mustered out June 29, 1865. Resigned March 14, 1862. To Adjutant. To Captain. To Captain. Mustered out June 29, 1865. To 1st Lieutenant. To 1st Lieutenant. Discharged December 20, 1863. .Mustered out June 29, 1865. To Captain. Hon. dis. Sept. 23, '62. I Tr. Co. D, 84th P.V., I to Capt. & A.A.G. 3d 1 Div. 2d Corps. I Must, out June 29, '65. To Captain Co. H. To Captain Co. H. Tr. from 84th Pa. V. Must, out June 29, '65. 1 68 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT Roster of Fifty-Seventh Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers.— Continued. RANK AND NAME. COUNTY OR RESIDENCE. RANK FROM REMARKS. 2d Lieut. M ort. B . Owen ... " Pierce Russell.. — Company H. Capt. John Griffin. " Daniel Mehan James M. Darling: Daniel W. Gore. David Larish 1st Lieut. Daniel Minier — Joseph Brady. Frank V. Shaw.... Wm. A. Wilson W. H. H. Hurst.... 2d Lieut. Rich. Sinsabaugh. Geo. W. Perkins • R. S. Edmiston-. Daniel W. Gore... Jacob Weidensall. Company I. Capt. T. S. Strohecker " Lorenzo D. Bumpus. James D. Moore John R. Ross* 1st Lieut. George Suplee. ■ " L. D. Bumpus " John Bowers James M. Lewis- • 2d Lieut. J. R. Williams . • . E.S.Benedict.. John F. Cox.. Northampton. Bradford Sullivan .. Bradford. Mifflin Cumberland. Bradford — Blair Venango • Mercer • Wayne. Venango — Mercer Philadelphia. Mercer Mercer ■ Sept. 4, '61 June 9, '65 Sept. 17, '61 Resigned October 16, 1862. Tr. from 84th Pa. V. Must, out June 29, '65. Resigned May 7, 1862. May 20, Jan. 24, Nov. 8, June 9, Sept. 17, Sept. 27, Sept. 1. April 7, •G2 '(53 •64 '65 '61 •62 '63 '65 June 9, '65 Sept. 17, '61 Aug. 13, '62 Sept. 27, '62 Sept. 7, '63 April 7, '65 Resigned December 31, 1862. Dis. as of Company A, June 16, 1864. Must out with Co. A, June 29, 1865. Tr. to and must, out Co. G, June 29, 1865. Dis. May 9, '62. Dis. removed Apr. 18, '63. Killed at Chancellors- ville. May 3, 1863. Must, out with Co. A. June 29, 1865. Hon. dis. June 1, 1865. Must, out Co. K, June 29, '65, as 2d Lieut. Resigned Aug. 8, 1862. To Adjutant. Honorably discharged June 23, 1863. To Captain. Mustered out June 29, 1865. Sept. 3, Mar. 12, Nov. 5, Sept. 3, Aug. 10, April 7, April 5, Mar, 10, May 3. Aug. 11, To Lieut. Colonel. To Lieut. Colonel. Must, out with Co. D, June 29, 1865. Resigned Aug. 8, 1862. To Captain. I Died May 22, '64, of a wounds received at ( Spottsylvania, Va. Must, out as 2d Lieut. June 29, 1865. Resigned Aug. 4, 1862. Resigned Aug. 23, 1862. '62 Killed at Gettysburg. July 2, 1863. * Formerly of 84th Pa. Vols. Mustered out as Captain Company I, con- solidated regiment, June 29, L865. PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 169 Rosier of Fifty-Seventh Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers.— Continued. RANK AND NAME. COUNTY OR RESIDENCE. RANK FROM REMARKS. 2d Lieut. Henry M. Adams Cyrus P. Slaven.- " Geo. W. Lower... Company K. Capt. Cornelius S. Chase- • Alanson H. Nelson. • " Ellis C. Strouss 1st Lieut. A. H. Nelson — Thos. J. Crossley. 2d Lieut. Chester F. Morse John M. Robinson Ellis C. Strouss... Isaac Manes Bradford. Crawford. Blair Crawford. Blair July 5, June 18, April 5, Sept. 4, June 17, Nov. IS, Sept. 4, Dec. 1, Sept. 4, Dec. 1, June 28. June 9, Killed in front Peters- burg, Va., June 15, '64. To 1st Lieutenant Co. D. Must, out 1st Sergeant June 29, 1865. Died June 17,'62,wds. rec'd Fair Oaks, Va. May 31, 1862. Must, out ex. of term, Nov. 4, 1864. Must, out with Co. E, June 29, 1865. To Captain. Hon. dis. December 30, 1864. Resigned Dec. 10, 1862. Hon. dis. June 27, 1864. To Captain. Must, out 1st Sergeant June 29, 1865. 12 170 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT APPENDIX B. REPORT OF DR. JOHN W. LYMAN, Surgeon of the Fifty- Seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. Camp near Poolesville, Md., Headquarters 57th Regiment, Pa. Volunteers. October 23, 1862. The 57th Regiment* P. V.„ was organized at Harrisburg, Pa., and was mustered into the United States service in the latter part of October, 1861. While in Camp Curttn the men suffered, like most other newly organized regiments, from rubeola, in common with the whole camp. Variola was also present, but by thorough and careful vaccination of the men as fast as recruited its spread was prevented, only two cases of varioloid occurring in the regiment. Typhoid fever, incident to the season in that region, diarrhoea and dysentery, the result of sudden change of diet, and other habits of life, as well as the crowded state of the camp, involving imperfect police arrangements, bad sinks, etc., together with the usual excesses of raw recruits, contributed to keep the sick list of the regiment, at that time numbering about 800 men, up to the average of fifty cases in hospital and quarters, or a little over 6 per cent. During the prevalence of rubeola the regiment was ordered to Washington, D. C, about the middle of December, and though the intention of the medical officer was to have left all cases of measles behind, what with the anxiety of the convalescents to go along, and new cases occurring on the way, it was found when reaching Washington, that we had no less than fifteen (cases of rubeola *in various stages of pro- gress,, and in three days nearly double that number. PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. IJl The men were very much exposed to the effects of cold diuring the trip, being two dayis and nights in open cars. The site selected for a camp — near Bladensburg toll-gate — was a tad one, low and wet. The result was many cases- of pneumonia as a complication or sequella of rubeola, with innumerable catarrhs of all degrees of severity. Pour cases of pneumonia resulted fatally the second week. Many more were sent to the general hospital as soon as admittance could be obtained for them. At first admittance was refused! for fear of infecting the hospitals. Stimulants were freely used with benefit in simple rubeola as well as that complicated with pneumonia. A change of camp to better gr'ound about the 1st of Jan- uary, 1862, together with a full supply of medical and hospi- tal stores, effected a gradual improvement, but the appear- ance of mumps 1 among the men before the measles had en- tirely disappeared kept the sick list large all winter, some- times as great a proportion as 10 per cent, of the whole command. The men were quartered in Sibley tents, not more than 10 or 12 in a tent, inspected daily, and by great care in cleanliness and ventilation, typhus fever was avoided, and but few cases of typhoid' appeared. In February we were moved to near Fort Lyon, below Alexandria, and placed in General Jameson's brigade, from which time until nearly the last of August, the military his- tory lis nearly identical with that of the other regiments of the same brigade and its medical history similar. They were the 63d and 105th Pennsylvania and the 87th New York Volunteers. On the 17th of March we were shipped 1 on board trans- ports at Alexandria for Fortress Monroe, where we were landed at dark during a cold rain storm, to which the men were exposed during the night, in and by the roadside, with- out any protection whatever. The next day and night they were quartered in open horse sheds. Then for two weeks they were camped in open fields near Hampton, in shelter- tents, in the use of which the men were entirely unskilled, a matter of more moment than would at first appear. The result of the unusual exposure was the appearance of dysen- tery to considerable extent among' the men, even at that early season. 172 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT On the 4th and 5th o)f April we were marched from Hamp- ton to within three miles of Yorktown and confined for one week within short range of the rebel guns. A heavy rain flooded the tents for four days, during two of which neither officers nor men had anything to eat. The brigade was then moved back half a mile into the woods, to a spot in the immedliate vicinity of several large marshes; 'in fact, the ciamp itself was little better than a swamp. For three weeks the men walked in mud, slept in mud, and drank water from holes scooped out in the mud. The combined remon- strance of the medical officers of the brigade, that a "month's continuance an that place would deprive the Government of the services of one-half the men and) officers," was met by the sileniciing reply: "It is a military necessity." The subsequent amount of sickness shows that our fears were well founded. The malaria imbibed in the marshes and swamps at Yorktown, together with the excessive amount of labor performed there, on picket and 'in the trenches, debilitated our men for months, putting dozens of them in their graves and rendered hundreds of them unfit for service for months, many of them for life. We had one man killed by a shell and five wounded while before Yorktown, in the skirmish of the "peach orchard," and two by accident, one shot through the penis and scrotum, above the testicle, and behind! the cord and thigh, by a small sized rifle bullet, recovered! rapidly by simple dress- ing. One shot through the leg died afterwards in general hospital. Remainder slight wounds. On the 4th of May we again marched! in pursuit of the enemy, leaving forty-three sick in hospital and sending four back next day, mostly cases of remittent fever, some diarrhoea and dysentery. The 5th we marched nine miles through deep mud and rain to the battlefield ini front of Williamsburg, the last four and a half on the double quick and a run. The men, ex- hausted, in profuse perspiration, and 1 wet to the skin, were obliged to lie on their arms during the night without either blankets or fires. From that hour the sickness of the regi- ment increased frightfully, six or eight new cases occurring daily. We left twenty-seven men in hospital at Williams- PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 73 burg, sent six to transports at West Point when opposite that plane, sent sixty away at Cumberland Landing, left forty^eight at Baltimore Store, and had sixty-four on the sick list at Bottom's Bridge on the 31st of May. At the battle of Fair Oaks, onj the last day of May, we lost of men andl officers eleven killed and forty-nine wounded. Of the last, twenty-three were' wounds of the upper extrem- ities, two requiring amputation of the arm, and one exsection of the elbow joints; twelve of the lower extremities, four of thigh, seven of leig, and one of knee joint, eight of trunk (three serious); six of head (one serious), and two of both upper and lower extremities. While at Fair Oaks from the 1st to the 29th of June, the regiment suffered greatly from ifever and dysentery, the first of miastamic ort'gin, which, together with the effect of con- stant apprehension, rendered the nervous system highly im- pressible. Hence the marked effect of the malaria upon the nervous centers, especially the spine, as evidenced by the almost iconstantly present — to a greater or less degree — numbing of the extremities with partial paralysis of the lower, usually severe pafn in the hips and lumbar region, with great depression of spirits, etc. The diarrhoea, as well as all diseases resulting from bad digestion or affections of the digestive organs, were caused mainly, if not entirely, toy improper habits of cooking and eating. Each soldier cooked for himself, having no other implements than a small tin pail made from fruit can, a tin cup and a borrowed frying pan. Every leisure moment was devoted to cooking and eating; meat of every descrip- tion was fried instead of being boiled. All regularity in eating was lost, except that uncertain kind, produced by relief from the routine of dtoty. (Nor can any remedy be sug- gested short of the entire removal of the cooking business from the hands of the soldier, and placing it in charge of a competent corps organized for that special purpose. Soldiers cannot march and fight each with a complete stock of cook- ing furniture on his back. In an active campaign like that on the Peninsula, officers suffer from bad cooking equally with the men. Servants are an uncertain kind 1 of dependencies and often oibf.'ged to cook 174 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT for himself, the officer is of course as unskilled as the sol- dier. A regimental mess for the officers of this regiment under charge of a competent cook, established a few weeks ago, has already proved decidedly advantageous. A similar arrangement for the men, for instance by companies, would be found to be as great an (improvement. For five days before icommencing the retreat from before Richmond to Harrison's Landing our men were almost con- stantly on dlutyi On the 29th of June they skirmished all day, then marched half of the night. The next day (30th) they fought at Charles City Cross Roads, losing seven killed) and fifty-six wounded, most of whom fell into the hands of the enemy. They watched until two o'clock a. m., July 1st, then marched to Malvern Hill, fought there, losing two killed and eight wounded; remained on picket until 9 a. m. next morning, then marched twelve miles through deep mud and hard rain to Harrison's Landing, camped at night in the mud, then moved three miles and! camped permanently for out- post duty. All were exhausted and disheartened, scarcely a well man* in the regiment, two hundred and thirty on the sick list for the first few days: Scurvy made its appearance to a small extent, yet sufficient to complicate and multiply other ail- ments. However, a few weeks' rest, abundance of fresh vegetables, lemons and ice, and we were ready to commence the retreat from the Peninsula with two hundred and fifty men for duty, having lost ifour by death at Harrison's Land- ing — two by typhoid fever, one from entraperitonitis and one from phthisis pulmonalis. On reaching Alexandria we (immediately moved to the Rappahannock, had no sickness of moment except two cases of sunstroke, being actively engaged, yet not overworked. We had three wounded at Bull Run, one in the hand, one in the hip, and one in the breast and face. These last two have since died. The present health of the regiment is good and its moral condition excellent. The general conclusions we arrive at are: First. — That constant seasonable activity is necessary to promote the health of the regiment. PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 75 Second. — Men accustomed to exposure in the open air when attacked by fever of any kind, recover with much more certainty and much siooner in tents than in general hospitals in houses, probably because less crowded and admitting more perfect ventilation and free access to light. J. W. LYMAN, Surgeon 57th Reg't., Pa. Vols. 176 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT APPENDIX C. THE 57th PA. VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. THEIR SERVICES TO THE STATE AND TO THE NATION. Address of Col. L. D. Bumpus to His Comrades at Gettysburg, July 2, 1888, on the Occasion of the Dedication of the Battlefield Monument of the 57th Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers. The 57th Regt., Pa. Vet. Vols., which was made up largely of Mercer county men, dedicated, on Monday, July 2d, one of the finest monuments on the Gettysburg field. The exercises were opened with prayer by Rev. Dr. Sayres, Department Chaplain of the G. A. R., after which Col. L. D. Bumpus, President of the Monument Committee, introduced Capt. H. H. Hinds, who made a few remarks on the move- ments of the 3d corps and the work done by the 57th regi- ment. When Captain Hinds had concluded, the audience sang the hymn "America," after which Capt. D. W. Gore, Secretary of the Monument Association, introduced Col. L. D. Bumpus in the following speech: It would not be necessary to introduce the orator for this occasion to an audience composed of the members of the old 57th regiment, tut as there are many strangers present it would perhaps be proper for me to say that he is a man who was identified, with the 57th regiment during the entire his- PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 77 tory of its eventful existence. He wag with us in our various marches, in our numerous encampments, and in our many hard-fought battles. He entered the army as a mere boy and rose from the ranks to the command of the regiment before reaching his majority. He was known throughout the army as the boy captain. It is largely due to his tireless efforts that we are enabled to dedicate this beautiful monument to- day. He was true to his country, true to himself,, and true to the men of his command. No braver officer ever drew a sword in defence of the old flag and no man enjoyed to a greater degree the respect and regard of his old comrades in arms than does Col. L. D. Bumpus, whom I now introduce to you as the orator for this occasion. COLONEL, BUMPUS' ADDRESS. Comrades >of the 57th Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers: In obedience to your command, I have appeared' before you in many different characters. I have, with you, trudged along on the weary march and carried my gun, knapsack and forty rounds. And in obedience to your call, I rose rank by rank, until I had tJhe honor to command the grand old: regi- ment. Today, in obedience to your call, I standi before you in a new role; that of orator for this occasion. However well I may have been able to fill the positions to which you have called me heretofore, I do not hope to meet your expec- tations today. I am what President Lincoln was pleased to call one of the plain people; and' you wiM not be treated today to any flights of oratory or grand play of words. But I shall try to speak words of truth with soberness; and whatever else of merit my remarks may lack, I trust you will do me the justice to believe that they emanate from an honest heart. Our g*cod historian, Captain Strouss, has relieved me of the necessity of going into history, and I shall confine my remarks to the trials and triumphs of the grand regiment to which we had the honor to belong. I need not speak of the causes that led to the war, for they were so well understood by every man who marched in the ranks that they are as familiar as household words. We are met here today as Pennsylvanians on Pennsylvania soil, on one of the greatest battlefields of the war; and I propose to speak of the part 178 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT Pennsylvania, and more particularly the part the 57th regi- ment, took in suppressing the rebellion. When war came, it found us ill prepared. We had a little army scattered throughout the territories; a weak navy, lying at anchor in distant waters; a bankrupt treasury, and a government without credit. What added to the uncer- tainty of the result, the people of the North were divided on party issues, and many honest inen believed that there was no power in the Constitution to coerce a State. All these difficulties confronted President Lincoln, and he was appalled at their magnitude. He called upon the Governors of several of the loyal States to counsel with him in his dread emer- gency. They met at the White House. The President in- formed them of the terrible cloud that hung like a pall over our fair land, and asked their advice about issuing a proclamation, calling upon the people for troops to put down the retellion, and w^ith his hands folded behind him awaited their answer. The six or seven Governors who formed his auditors had leach expressed his opinion, but they were punctuated by too many "ifs" or "ands>." While this was going on, Governor Andrew G. 'Curtin, fresh from his moun- tain home, stood looking through the window. He had not yet been approached by the President, personally. There was profound! but awful silence in that small but thoughtful party of distinguished men. President Lincoln finally broke the silent spell, and, turn- ing to Governor Curtin, said: "Governor, what will Penn- sylvania do, if I issue my proclamation?" Silence more pro- found prevailed. It was a momentous question. It seemed as if the fate of a nation depended 1 upon the reply about to be made. Manifest destiny seemed trembling in the bal- ance. Governor Curtin faced the President and said: "What will Pennsylvania do? Why, sir, if you issue your procla- mation, Pennsylvania will give you a hundred thousand men in one week." Thank God for that noble answer! Truly Andrew G. Curtin was the right man in the right place. He was the Richelieu who thwarted the conspirators of the American rebellion. But how did the boys of 1861 fulfill the promises of Gov- ernor Curtin? The call to arms came, and before that tor- PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 79 nado of patriotism which followed, "men came as the winds oome when forests' are rended; came as the wares come when navies are stranded." You all know the story: how the flag went down amidist the smoke of battle; how the fight was long and bloody; how, finally, the great waves of Secession, Slavery and Rebellion rolled aioross our bordering line and rebapt ; sed the soil of Pennsylvania with the blood of patriots. And then, " Through every vale and glen, Beating like resolute pulses, She feels the tread of men; But she stands like an ocean break-water In fierce rebellion's path, To shiver its angry surges And baffle its frantic wrath. And the tide of Slavery's treason Dashed on her in vain, Rolling back from the ramparts of freedom. In the land: of 'Mad Anthony Wayne.' " I will not attempt to recount the deeds of the soldiers of Pennsylvania; to do so would be to repeat the history of the war. For with but few exceptions there it not a battlefield ifrom Gettysburg to Mobile where the ground has not been stained with the blood of the soldiers of Pennsylvania. There is not a State, loyal or insurrectionary, which was the seat of war, that does not hold! within it the honored and sacred remains of the slain heroes of Pennsylvania. When Beaure- gard first trained his murderous guns upon Port Sumter, Pennsylvania was there, Pennsylvania volunteers were the first to reach the National Capitol. We were at Appomat- tox when traitors fired their last volley; and in all those terrible intermediate struggles 'in every rebellious State, in every important battle on land or water, where treason was to be confronted or rebellion subdued, the soldiers and sailors of Pennsylvania were ever found, confronting the one and conquering the other. Therefore, it was in true historic order that the wicked, struggle to terminate the Union should culminate upon our soil, that its topmost wave should be dashed against our Capital; that its decisive defeat should be secured here where literal bulwarks of upheaved slain preserved the North from the despooling foot of a traitor, I So HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT and, accordingly, the rebellion staggered back from Gettys- burg to its grave. Remember that at Gettysburg the blood of the people of eighteen loyal States, rich, precious blood, mingling together, sank into the soil of Pennsylvania, and by that red covenant she is pledged for all time to Union, to Patroitism and to Nationality. Comrade, with a record like this have we not much to be proud of? iSuch heroism as I have recounted is too sub- lime ifor the common language of humanity; a heroism which is patriotic, and a heroism which is heroic; a heroism which blends in beautiful symmetry the moral and the physical; a heroism which will shine with increasing luster as generations pass away. No longer need we look back through the centuries for deeds of noble daring. We can point with pride to our own record in the great War of the Retiellion for achievements that will rival Spartan valor or Roman fortitude. The 57th regiment was organized early in the fall of 1861, at Camp Curtin, Pennsylvania, and in December of that year was ordered to Washington and went into camp on the Rladensburg pike, near the old toll gate, and subse- quently became a part of the Army of the Potomac. From that time until you were mustered out, the history of the Army of the Potomac was your history. You received your first baptism of fire at Yorktown on April 11, 1862, and from that time until the close of the war you participated in every important engagement of that Army, excepting Antietam. That you did your duty faithfully and well your list of .casualties will prove. The records of the War De- partment show that in every engagement you lost men and lin some of them from iforty to sixty per cent, of the whole number engaged. The original strength of the regi- ment was eight hundred and. fifty men, and your casualties were over eight hundred during the war; and at the final muster out but one of the original officers of the regiment remainedl to be mustiered out with you. Chaplain W. T. McAdam. I will now quote from the speech of Hon. Chauncey Depew, before the Society of the Army of the Potomac. He says: "Each oif the great armiles had its distinguishing PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. I«I merit; but in the achievements and in the records of the Western forces, following the precedent of previous wars, are largely represented the genius and personality of great commanders." To the Army of the Potomac belongs the unique distinction of being its own hero. It fought more battles and lost more in Willed and wounded than all others; it shed its blood like water to teach incompetent officers the art of war, and 'political tacticians the folly of their plans; but it was always the same invincible and undis- mayed Army of the Potomac. Loyal ever to its mission and to discipline, the only sound it gave in protest was the cracking of the bones as the cannon balls ploughed through its decimated ranks. A good soldier does full honor to his adversary. Although Americans on the wrong side, no more formidable force of equal number ever marched or fought than the Army of Northern Virginfa, and it had the rare fortune of being always under the command of one of the most creative and accomplished military minds of his time. Gen. Robert E. Lee. To conquer and capture such an army the captain of the Army of the Potomac must overcome what the greatest tactician has said was impossible, "an armed enemy in his own country," with the whole population venomously hos- tile; acting as spies; furnishing information, removing sup- plies; preparing ambuscades, and misleading the invaders. But it did accomplish this military miracle. It was hard and trying to be marched and countermarched for naught; to be separated and paralyzed at the moment when a su- preme effort meant victory; to be hurled against impassable defenses, andi then waste in repairing the mistake. The Army of the Potomac, was composed of thinking bayonets. Behind each musket was a man who knew for what he was fighting, and who understood the plan of campaign, and with unerring and terrible accuracy sized up his commander. The one soldier in whom he never lost confidence was him- self. This army operated so near the Capitol that Congress- men and newspapers directed its movements, changed its officers and criticised its ifailures to icionquer on blue lines penciled on Washington maps. It suffered four years under 1 82 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT unparalleled abuse, and was encouraged by little praise, but never murmured. It saw all its corps and division com- manders sign a petition to the President to remove its gen- eral, and then despairingly but heroically marched to cer- tain disaster at his order. It saw its general demand the resignation or court martial of its corps or division officers, and yet, undemoralized and undismayed, it charged under his successor in a chaos of conflicting commands. "On to Richmond! " came the unthinking cry from every city, vil- lage and cross roads in the North. "On to Richmond! " shouted grave Senators and impetuous Congressmen. "On to Richmond! ! " ordered the Cabinet. No longer able to resist the popular demand, the raw and untrained recruits were hurled from their unformed organizations and driven back to Washington. Then, with discipline and drill, out of chaos came order; the self-deserting volunteer has be- come an obedient soldier; the mass has become moulded into a complex but magnificent machine; and it was the Army of the Potomac! Overcoming untold! difficulties, fight- ing with superb courage, it comes in sight of the spires of Richmond, and then, unable to succeed, because McDowell and his corps o;f thirty thousand men are held back, it re- news each morning and carries on every night in retreat the Seven Days' Battle for existence; and, brought to bay at Malvern Hill, asserts its undaunted spirit in hard won victory. It follows Pope and marches and falls back; pursues enemies who are not before it, and finds foes for which it is unprepared, and fights and is beaten under orders so con- tradictory and councils so divided, that an army of European veterans would have disbanded. Immediately, it recognizes a general in whom it has confidence. The stragglers come from the bush and the wounded from the hospitals; regi- ments, brigades, divisions and corps reform, and at Antietam it is invincible and irresistible. Every man in the ranks knew that the fortified heights of Fredericksburg were impregnable, that the forlorn hope would charge, not into the imminent deadly breach, but into a death trap, and yet with unfaltering step this grand army salutes its blind* commander and marches to the slaughter! PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 183 " Theirs not to reason why, Theirs not to make reply, Theirs hut to do and die! " Every private was aware of the follies of the Rappahan- nock campaign. He knew that the opportunity to inflict an 'irreparable blow upon the army of Lee had been trifled away, and that after reckless delays to make a movement which at first would have been a surprise, conceived by the very genius of war, was then mere mid-summer madness; and yet this incomparable army, floundered through swamps, lost in almost impenetrable forests, outflanked, outmaneu- vered, outgeneraled, decimated, no sooner felt the firm hand of Meade than it destroyed the offensive and aggressive power of the Confederacy in the three days' fighting at Gettysburg. At last, this Smmortal army had at its head a great Captain, who had never Lost a battle. Every morning for thirty days came the order to storm the works in front and every evening for thirty nights the survivors moved to the command of "By the left flank, iforward! " and at the end of that fateful month, with sixty thousand comrades dead or wounded in the Wilderness, the Army of the Potomac once mom after four years, saw the spires of Richmond. Inflexi- ble of purpose, Unsensible to suffering, inured to fatigue and reckless of danger, it rained blow on blow upon its heroic but staggering foe; and the world gained a new and better and freer and more enduring reputilic than it had ever known, in the surrender of Appomattox. All the trials and 1 triumphs, all the hardships and privations, all the defeats arid humiliations I have enumerated you shared in common with the Army of the Potomac. In addition to this, in March. 1864, upon the reorganiza- tion of the army, the grand old 3di corps, to which you be- longed, was broken up; a corps with a name and a record as brilliant as any organization in the army, a corps that had furnished a galaxy of names second to none in bril- liancy; such names as He'ntzelman, Hamilton and Sickles, Kearny and Hooker, and Birney and 1 Berry. You must lose your identity, and 1 were ordered to lay off the badge which you had honored, the old diamond which you loved; the 184 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT badge that was put there in obedience to the orders of the dashing Kearny, and in its stead put on the badge of another corps. Against these humiliating orders there was no in- subordination, no murmur, or protest; but with heroic cour- age you marched to victory under other officers and as a part at another organization. You asked the powers to allow you to wear the old badge, and, thanks to General Grant's love of fair play, you were allowed to retain the old diamondi, and from that time until the surrender in every game of war diamonds were trump, and if you did not have a full hand, you could always be depended on to take a trick. Another humiliation which you hadi to endure as a regiment was in January, 1865, when the regiment, having been greatly reduced in strength by the severity of the sum- mer's campaign, was, in obedience to special orders of the War Department, dated January 11, 1865, broken up and consolidated into a battalion of six companies, and you saw your officers who had risen from the ranks, officers of your own choosing, officers whom you loved, mustered out and sent home as supernumeraries. Like Moses of old, who was not permitted to gaze upon the Promised Land, so some •cif your officers, after nearly four years of war, after having passed through more than a score of battles, after having endured all the hardships and privations that I have enu- merated, within sixty days of reaching the goal ifor which they had been fighting, were mustered out and were not per- mitted with you to stand at Appomattox and gaze upon the shattered reHics of the Southern Confederacy. Comrades, if I had the tame I would like to name each loved comrade who fell in battle, diedi of wounds or sank down from exhaustion on the weary march; and those who died a lingering death of starvation in prison pens, or died cf disease in some hospital, far from home and mother and friends, and who lie scattered through the South, in graves that only God shall know until] the resurrection morning. I would like to follow you from the time of your enlistment until the time the regiment came home, few and worn, with many a powder breath upon its flag and many a bullet hole through its folds. I would also speak of Sides and Neeper and Perkins and Lyons and Hill and McCartney and Morse PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 85 and Crossley and Oom stock and Burns and scores of others who seemed to have borne charmed lives and who were discharged and sent home when the war was over, but who have at last been mustered out. They have passed to the other side of the silent river. They have been made noble by God's patent. They have responded to the roll-call among men for the last time, until that day when the names of all the living and the dead shall be sounded before the Great White Throne. I would go back through the haze of years to hear the rattling drums, the bugle's call, the loud hooray, the tramp of soldier boys. I see the waving flags, the red cheeked lads, the bearded men; I see long lines marching out to do and die; I hear the mothers' cries, the sobs of wives, the sisters' wail, the sweethearts' moan; and then comes waiting, day by day and night by night, the women in darkened homes, the men amidst the dangers of the field. Today is hope; to- morrow comes the news, the dreadful news, the battle's crash, the roar of guns, the din of war, the sharp command, the fire and smoke, the whirl, the charge, the awful shock, the iron hoof, the swinging sword, the gush of blood, the piteous groan, the dying hero and the dead. Oh, b'tterness of victory! Oh, homes made desolate! How many hearts the battle breaks that never laid a hand to sword! How many tears must flow for wrong from eyes that only saw the right! The lesson that we read in blood is one we never can forget, and God has taught us this, as long ago he taught the lesson of the cross. Not for his friends alone was that blood shed, but for his enemies as well; and by this latter blood not one but all of us shall live; and on foundations firm as heaven itself the new Republic rises strong and towering upward to the sky; its glistening sum- mits Kft their points until they touch the far off blue, and overtopping all the world, they stand up clear against the clouds, so that the very lowest down may see, and, seeing, know that what they see is Freedom's home. After nearly four years of war, with the great Rebellion subdued, with not an armed enemy within our borders, the 57th Pennsylvania Volunteers was mustered out June 29, 1865, and we write "finis" on the last page of the military 13 1 86 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT history of one of the grandest organizations that ever took up arms for the preservation of a "Government of the people, for the people and by the people." Upon separating for your homes, your officers issued an address to the surviving members, from which I quote: "Parting as a band of trothers, let us cling to the memory of those tattered banners under which we have fought to- gether and which, without dishonor, we have just now re- stored to the authorities, who placed them in our hands. Till we grow gray-headed and pass away, let us sustain the reputation of this noble old regiment." That you have ob- served the injunction of your officers in that address, the testimony of your neighbors in every place in which you have lived since the war wtll prove. When you were discharged you had but one ambition. In that one supreme moment of triumph, your only thought was of home and family and friends. You went back into the localities from which you came, into the ranks as citizens; taking up the daily burden of 1'ife where you had thrown it down when enlisting, ceas- ing to be soldiers and becoming again private citizens. There was no evidence of the contaminating influence of camp life in your characters. There was no disorder where you went. On the contrary, your presence became the sign of order. You showed the world that great as you had been as soldiers, you had never forgotten that you were citizens. Most speakers who have made similar addresses upon this great battlefield of the war have made more extended remarks upon the movements of the army during the three days' fighting here, and some have censured certain com- manders. The battle of Gettysburg has given rise to a great many controversies, and each commander has been censured and complimented in turn. Doubleday charges that How- ard's troops gave way; Howard affirms that Doubleday's troops broke. General Meade is charged with ordering a retreat. One speaker charges that General Sickles made a great blunder in taking up a position too far in advance, which well nigh proved disastrous to our army. With all these charges I have nothing to do. I am not here to cen- sure or find ifault. I have only to do with the part you to'ok as a regiment. Whether, as some speakers claim, Sickles PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 187 saved the day and gained a victory by taking and holding an advanced line on July 2d, until the Roundtops could be oc- cupied, or whether, as others assert. Hancock, the "Superb," gained the victory by brilliant generalship and magnificent fighting on the 3d, I will leave the historian to decide. Suf- fice it to say, the 57th did her duty by obeying orders, and that is all that is required of any soldier or set of soldiers. You went as far as the farthest and left seventy per cent, of your number behind, when you were obliged to abandon the line. In regard to the movements of the 3d corps. I will simply read what President Lincoln wrote to General Sickles in reply to a request that a court of inquiry should be con- vened to inquire into his conduct during the battle. The President writes: "My Dear Sickles: You ask for a court of inquiry. They say you took up an advanced position on July 2d. They say you 'Crowded the enemy and brought on an engagement. I guess what they say is true; but, thank God, you gained a great victory. There were honors enough won at Gettysburg to go all round. History will do you justice. Don't ask for a court of inquiry. [Signed] A. Lincoln." Comrades, in all countries and in all ages the people have reared monuments to the memory of their dead heroes; their deeds of valor have been told in song and story, and the people have delighted to do them honor. The great Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania, recognizing the services of her brave soldiers, during the sitting of the last Legislature passed an act appropriating fifteen hundred dollars to build a monument to each regiment that participated in the battle of Gettysburg. In accordance with the provisions of that act, Capt. D. W. Gore, Capt. H. H. Nelson, Lieut. George Miller, Comrade Theodore Catlin and myself, were elected as a committee by the surviving members of the regiment to select the location, submit designs, and erect a monument. We organized at Gettysburg by electing your speaker chairman, and Captain Gore secretary. Not knowing the magnitude of the work before us, July 2d was agreed upon as the day upon which our monument should be dedicated. Scattered as the members of the committee were, over two 1 88 HISTORY FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT States and the District of Columbia, thus rendering it difficult to convene them, it was thought best that the chairman and secretary be authorized to act for the committee. The labor and expense thus devolved upon us have been considerable. We have been met with many and unlooked for obstacles; but one by one they have been overcome, and the result of our work is before you. As chairman of your committee, in the name of the tax- payers of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I present you with this beautiful monument, which will stand while gen- erations pass away, as a monument to the valor and patri- otism of the 57th regiment, and to the generosity of the citizens of this grand old State. Pennsylvania honors her- self in thus honoring the memory of those who fell in her defence. We dedicate this memorial shaft, not to those who fell at Gettysburg alone, but to the eight hundred who were swallowed up by the tide of death on other fields; in prison pens, in hospitals, and on the lonely picket line. We dedi- cate it to every member of that grand old regiment, either living or dead. We dedicate it to our children and our chil- dren's children forever. And when the few of us who yet survive shall have passed on to "join the innumerable caravan," may coming genera- tions, as they gather 'round this granite shaft and read the record chisled here, learn lessons of patriotism and heroic devotion and here may they gain inspiration and strength, which shall make them brave defenders of their country's institutions and her flag, which we so much love. Comrades, I cannot refrain from saying a few parting words to you. As I look over this audience, I am reminded that the boys of 1861 are now men on the down-hill side of life. The hand of time has silvered the hair and plowed deep furrows in the cheeks of the comrades I see gathered about me, and this will probably be the last roll-call to which a considerable number of the old regiment will re- spond. Soon these pleasant meetings, these delightful and hallowed associations, with each and all of us must come to an end. Let us live all the more closely together, then, in the brief road that remains to us. Let us be truer to our common name and common fame, so that we shall leave PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 1 89 nothing behind us which will tarnish the polished and war- worn escutcheons of the grand old 57th regiment. Let us continue to be good citizens. Let us lead such lives that when we hear the last tattoo and the lights are ordered out tried ^d true We shall never meet again; but as long a s life lasts t ,h»i! heTuhrin'of £T„f? "* °" "^ ^ ^wi^ neart-tnnll of gratitude and pride.