iHHlffliwSiii^^ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS >^ .^-^ • • • ' V ^^ bV" -^^0^ -t.-o^ ^^V Ao^ ^oV^ 0* >' ^ rv> * • - '^ :\ .-? COLONEL HENRY A. MORROW. (brevet brigadier and brevet major general.) HISTORY TWEHTYfOUHTfl flllGllIGAIl IRON BRIGADE, KNOWN AS THE DETROIT AND WAYNE COUNTY REGIMENT. ILLUSTRATED. ^WdV; By OrB^CuRTis, A. M., OF THE REGIMENT. ^ DETROIT. /niCll. Winn &. liA/A/noND. 1891. To Our Heroic Dead who Perished FOR THEIR Country, in Hospital, Prison Pen and on the Battlefield this Vol- ume is Respectfully Dedicated. the author. ELS w COPYRIGHT, 1891, BY O. B. CURTIS. 1st DIVISION-lST ARJIY CORPS. 3rd DIVISION— 5th ARMY CORPS. Introduction. By request of his comrades the author has written this volume. For centuries, the story of the Anabasis and Retreat of the Ten Thousand Greeks, and the incursions of Hannibal into Italy have been perused with interest by classical readers ; while the great campaigns of Bonaparte against the Allied Powers have been the wonder of modern times. But our own nation has a martial record as eventful as any in previous time. A full history of its Great War can never be written. Each soldier's experience is a volume in itself, portions of which are related in country stores in winter, at noonings in harvest and around veteran camp-fires. Such recitals must soon cease. To preserve the deeds of the Regiment which sustained the heaviest loss in the greatest battle of that war, and incidently those of the Iron Brigade which suffered the greatest per cent of loss during the war, of all the Brigades of the Union Armies, this history is written. It has required many months of research through war time letters, diaries and official records, by one who was an actor in a portion of that strife. In this laborious task, the author acknowledges valuable assistance from the late Sergeant S. D. Green (N. C. S.), from Chaplain WILLIAM C. Way, and Major E. B. Wight ; also from Colonel A. M. Edwards, Captain William R. Dodsley and Sergeant Robert Gibbons of the Publication Committee, Should this volume interest its readers, the compiler will be repaid for his gratuitous labors. O. B. CURTIS. Detroit, Michigan, ) (3) Contents. Chapter. Page. I. The Slaveholders' Rebellion, 9 II. Raising the Regiment, 24 III. First Months of Army Life, 52 IV. March to the Rappahannock 71 V. Battle of Fredericksburg, ......... 86 VI. Winterquarters at Belle Plain 105 VII. Chancellorsville Campaign 121 VIII. From Chancellorsville to Gettysburg 137 IX. Battle of Gettysburg, 155 X. After Gettysburg — 1863 193 XI. Winterquarters near Culpepper, 214 XII. Grant's Campaign — 1864 229 XIII. Siege of Petersburg — 1864, 266 XIV. Closing Months of the War, 287 XV. The Armies Disbanded, 307 XVI. Original Members of the Reglment, 321 XVII. Recruits, 346 XVIII. Roster of Officers 357 XIX. The Dead of the Twenty- fourth Michigan, 371 XX. Records of the Survivors, 382 XXI. Michigan Day at Gettysburg, 403 XXII. Confederate Prisons, 428 XXIII. Iron Brigade and Battery B, 452 XXIV. Our Last March, 474 (4) Illustrations. Nu I. 2. 3- 4. 5- 6. 7- 8. 9- lO. II. 12. 13- 14. 15. 16. 17- 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23- 24. 25- 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31- 32. 33- 34- 35- 36. 37- 33. 39- 40. 41- 42. 43- 44- 45- 46. MBER. Page. CoL Henry A. Morrow, Frontispiece First Corps Badge, Frontispiece Fifth Corps Badge, Frontispiece Slaves Planting Cotton, The Cotton Gin, .... Hon. Charles Sumner, . . . John Brown, Fort Sumter, 1861, .... The Peninsula, Va., . Campus Martius, Detroit, Capt. E. B. Ward Hon. Duncan Stewart, . Hon. Lewis Cass, .... Wayne County Map, . . • Departure from Home, . Route to the Front, . . . . Scene in Pennsylvania, . Route to Camp Shearer, . Pope's Campaign — Map, On Cars through Maryland, . Route to Join the Army, At Middletown, Md., .... 63 9 10 14 15 19 22 25 27 27 32 36 47 50 51 53 56 59 61 Route to Berlin, 1862, Burnside Bridge, American Eagle, Berlin Crossing, . Raiding Strawstacks, Warrenton, Va., . General McClellan, . Route to Fredericksburg, Persimmon Tree, . General Burnside, Franklin's Crossing, . Barnard Mansion, Field of Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg, Va., Battle of Fredericksburg, 64 67 70 72 73 76 78 82 85 87 89 90 92 94 98 General Doubleday, loi Soldier's House — Tent,. . . 104 Camp Isabella 106 " Mud March," iii Wearied Soldier Boy, .... 113 General Hooker, 117 24th Michigan in Bivouac, . . 120 Port Royal Expedition, . . . 122 Port Royal Crossing 123 Number 47. Fitzhugh Crossing, . 48. Drummer Boy 49. Field of Chancellorsvilie, . 50. United States Flag, . . . 51. "Chuchor-Luck," 52. Captured Oxen, .... 53. Westmoreland Expedition, 54. Executing Deserter, . 55. Route to the Potomac, . . 56. March to Gettysburg, . . 57. General Meade, .... 58. Bealeton Station, Va., . 59. General Reynolds, . 60. Gettysburg, Frst Day, 61. Iron Brigade at Gettysburg, 62. Defending the Colors, . . 63. Field of Gettysburg, 64. Seminary, Gettysburg, . 65. John Burns, .... 66. Place of Reynold's death, 67. Pursuit of Lee, . . . 68. Bivouac and Camp Fire, 69. Route to Rappahannock, 70. Brandy Station, Va., . . 71. Campaign of Maneuvers. 72. Thoroughfare Gap, Va., . 73. Mine Run Campaign, . 74. Field of Mine Run, . . 75. General Rufus King, . 76. Penal Drill, 77. Rail Fence Guard, . . 78. Gen. John Newton, 79. Gen. U. S. Grant, 80. Gov. Austin Blair, .... 81. Old Flag of the 24th Michigan 82. Route to Rapidan, ' . . . 83. Germanna Crossing, 84. Iron Brigade at Wilderness, 85. Wilderness Battlefield, . . 86. Fighting in Wilderness, . 87. General Wadsworth, . . 88. Todd's Tavern, 89. Iron Brigade at Laurel Hill, 90. At the Salient 91. Tree cut down by bullets, . 92. Field of Spottsylvania, . . Page. 126 129 132 136 138 140 142 145 148 151 153 154 156 158 161 164 174 181 183 192 195 197 199 202 206 208 2X1 212 215 217 218 220 222 223 228 229 230 232 233 234 236 239 240 243 244 245 (5) ILLUSTRATIONS. Number. Page. Num 93. Route to North Anna, . . . 249 124. 94. Route to Cold Harbor, . . . 254 125. 95. Route to Petersburg, , . . . 259 126. 96. Iron Brigade at Petersburg, . 261 127. 97. Wounded Burning up, . . . 265 128. 98. Siege of Petersburg 268 129. 99. Position on Weldon Road, . . 272 130. 100. Burying the Dead, .... 273 131. loi. General Crawford 277 132. 102. Map of Hatcher's Run, . . . 278 133. 103. Destroying Railroad, .... 283 134. 104. General Warren, 299 135. 105. Abraham Lincoln 304 136. 106. Lincoln's Home 306 137. 107. Lieut. -Col. Mark Flanigan, . . 316 138. 108. Lieut.-Col. W. W. Wight, . . 316 139. 109. Lieut.-Col. A. M. Edwards, . . 316 140. no. Major Hutchinson 3x6 141. 111. Amputating Table, .... 319 142. 112. Jericho Mills 345 '43- 113. Washington's Tomb 400 144. 114. Gen. Byron R. Pierce, . . . 402 145. 115. Col. Samuel E. Pittman, . . 402 146. 116. Gen. Luther S. Trowbridge, . 402 147. 117. Rev. James H. Potts 402 148. 118. 24th Michigan Monument, . 406 149. 119. Capt. Wm. R. Dodsley, . . . 410 150. 120. Lieut. E. B. Welton, . . . 410 151. 121. Lieut. C. H. Chope 410 152. 122. O. B. Curtis, 414 153. 123. Sergt. Robert E. Bolger, . . . 414 154. BER. Price. Sergt. S. D. Green, .... 414 Sergt. Robert Gibbons, . . . 414 Capt. W. G. Vinton, .... 418 Major Edwin B. Wight, . . . 418 Chaplain Wm C. Way, ... 418 Lieut. C. C. Yemans, .... 418 Camp Scene, 427 Union Prison, Elmira, N. Y., 429 Rebel Prison, Millen, Ga., . . 431 Salisbury Prison, N. C, . . 435 Libby Prison, Richmond, . . 438 Prison Dead Wagon, . . . 439 Scene in Andersonville, . . . 443 Andersonville Prison, . . . 447 Starved Union Prisoner, . . . 449 449 "... 449 War Scene, 451 Turner's Pass, South Mountain, 453 Gen. Lucius Fairchild, . . . 456 Gen. John Gibbon 462 Gen. Sol. Meredith 462 Gen. Lysander Cutler, . . . 462 Gen. E. S. Bragg, 462 Gen. W. W. Robinson, ... 468 Gen. Henry A. Morrow, . . . 468 Gen. J. A. Kellog, .... 468 Gen. Rufus Dawes, .... 468 Battery B. in action, 476 Major James Stewart, . 472 Doc C. B. Aubrey, .... 473 Errata Page 71, line 11: "Lieutenant Flanigan " should read "Lieutenant- Colonel Flanigan." Page 91, line 25 : " formed " should read " moved." Page 163, line 14: all after "field" should not appear. Page 163: line 15 should not appear. Page 163, line 16: after "flag" should appear "from a wounded soldier." Page 339: "Abraham Hoffman" should be "Abram Hoffman." Page 340: after Edward Wilson, "Germany, 26," should be "Detroit, 20." (7) CHAPTER L The Slaveholders' Rebellion. SLAVERY ITS CAUSE. ^■■■^ HE Civil War of 1861 to 1865, in America, was a rebellion of ■^^^^^ slaveholders against the government of the United States. B It formed an extraordinary epoch in the world's history. It cost over half a million of lives and a mountain of debt. It brought devastation to many parts of the land. It caused untold sorrow throughout the nation. The cause of this terrible and unjustifiable war was an unsuccessful effort to extend and perpetuate slavery of the African race in the United States. Every reason for the rebellion can be traced to this root. •»»7T ITS INTRODUCTION, GROWTH AND INFLUENCE IN THE COLONIES. In August, 1619, a Dutch war vessel arrived at Jamestown, Virginia, with twenty negroes who were sold to the planters for slaves. In 1790, the slaves in the colo- ^^ nies had increased ^ to 697,897, of which 40>373 were in six of the Northern, and the rest in the six Southern States, Massachusetts hav- ing none. During the strug- gle for American Independence, slav- ery was an anoma- lous feature of the free republic. The colonists were seeking sympathy from the civilized world in their efforts for liberty, and yet, were holding in slavery their own fellow 2 (9) SLAVES PLANTING COTTON SEED. 10 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. human beings! It was a marvelous sight to General Lafayette, who had brought upon himself the reprehension of his own government and braved the perils of the sea and his capture in behalf of the struggling people of the New World, to behold the " black domestiques " held in bondage by those for whose own liberty he was about to hazard his immense fortune and his life. Slavery's influence had become so great that, after the Revolution-, it was a great embarrassment in the formation of the new government. The best statesmen, South and North, believed it in the course of ultimate extinction. That all the colonies might be induced to enter the Union, compromises were incorporated in the Constitution whereby, (i) It was made a reserved right of the several States to retain or abolish slavery ; (2) States retaining the system were allowed a three-fifths representation in congress and the electoral college for their slaves; (3) The foreign slave trade was permitted to continue for twenty years; (4) The rendition to their masters of slaves escaping to another State. The " institution," as it came to be called, gradually receded from the Northern States, and Washington, as an example, manumitted his own slaves at his death. INFLUENCE OF THE COTTON GIN. About this period slavery received a great stimulus in the South from the invention of the cotton gin a few years before by Eli Whitney, a school-mast e r from Connecticut teaching in the South. It was a machine so simple that the rudest African could operate it and separate the cot- ton seeds from the fibre. The great demand for cotton and its preparation for the market made thus easy, its SLAVES AND THE COTTON GIN. prOUUCtlOn ' WaS THE SLAVEHOLDERS REBELLION. II enhanced, and slavery became profitable in the cotton growing States. These States, upon the termination of the foreign slave trade, relied upon the border, or slave States adjacent to the free States, for their supply of human chattels, and thus the system became a source of profit to the entire South. For this it Avas fostered, and its extension and protection became the chief effort and study of Southern statesmen. COMPROMISES FOR SLAVERY — ITS BARBARISM. Slavery became a power in the Nation. Scarcely a question arose in State or Church, but had slavery as a factor in its determination. Its demands were usually made with the alternative of a dissolution of the Union. Under such threats, in 1820, a new compromise was granted the South, by which, in lieu of the admission of Missouri as a slave State, all territory of the Louisiana Purchase north of 36^ 30' should ever after be free. This became known as the Missouri Compromise. In 1845, it demanded the annexation of Texas and the Mexican War, all for the acquisition of territory from which to carve new slave States. In 1850, it again threatened the Union without new guaranties. Its behests were granted with the odious Fugitive Slave Law, which not only returned the escaped slave to his master, but gave the latter power to carry off any colored person, bond or free, without jury trial, or permission of such colored person to testify in his own behalf, and consign him to life-long bondage. Its enforcement permitted the tearing away of parents and husbands from wives and children, and making Northern people parties to the inhumanity, or suffer fine and imprisonment for refusal to act the part of slave hounds at the bidding of the master. The South had always practiced the inter-state slave trade, which was not a reserved right of the States. Children were taken from mothers and husbands from wives, like animals, and sold from each other forever! The decks of boats going down the Chesapeake, or Ohio and Mississippi, frequently contained chained gangs of human beings of both sexes and all ages — guilty of no crime — destined for the slave marts of the far South. The people of the North had a right to protest against this internal (and infernal) slave traffic, as a matter of inter-state commerce ; but legislation thereon had never been attempted, under threats that the South would dissolve the Union. 12 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. ABOLITIONISM — AGITATION — "UNCLE TOM'S CABIN." While Southern statesmen and divines were arguing the christianizing effects of slavery upon the African race, and complaining against its agitation, they seemed to forget that their own conduct of their system was largely the cause of such agitation by a few scattered "Abolitionists " in the North. The barbarism of slavery begot abolitionism. While a portion of the South was fostering the foreign slave trade which had been outlawed as piracy, the few abolitionists in the North, believing that slavery was not divine, but the " sum of all villainies," kept the " underground railroad" in operation, by which slaves were spirited away and on towards the free soil of Canada.* The abolitionists were a despised set, North and South, much like the anarchists of the present time. They believed that slavery should be abolished, but just exactly how this could be brought about they knew not, but ever wound up their arguments with the averment that the Almighty would in time devise some plan to such end. In 1852, Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote " Uncle Tom's Cabin," which aroused the deep conscience of the North by mildly disclosing the enormities of slavery. Doubtless, no book, except the bible, was ever translated into so many languages about the globe, and having been dramatized is at this day the most popular play on the stage, in any land. It was a most powerful generator of anti-slavery sentiment, and began to make abolitionism respectable in the North. Yet, notwithstanding the growth of this feeling, the two great political parties of the country — Whig and Democratic — insisted as late as 1852, in their national platforms, that the constitutional provisions relating to slavery must be kept in honor. For two years slavery agitation seemed to cool off. Abolitionism and free-soilism seemed to have lost much of the force which "Uncle Tom's Cabin" gave them. Had the South rested its case where the compromises of 1850 had left it, and as endorsed by the great political parties of the land, the troublous times which followed would have been postponed, without doubt, for some indefinite time, if not generations. *The Detroit was the "Jordan River" for these escaping slaves. For many years, the last station on this "underground railroad" was located about PuUen's Corners, Romulus Township, Wayne County. By night the fugitives were driven to the Detroit river and rowed across to their " Canaan shore." THE SLAVEHOLDERS' REBELLION. 1 3 GRASPING POWER OF SLAVERY — REPEAL OF MISSOURI COMPROMISE. But slavery would not be satisfied. Every census showed a rapid advance in population in the North and West. Not so in the South, to which immigration, which usually follows isothermal lines, could not be diverted. Its political power was waning. It must have more territory out of which to form new slave States. So, in 1854, it demanded and secured the repeal of the Missouri Compromise of 1820, thereby opening up to slavery all the remaining territory of the Louisiana Purchase, including Kansas, Nebraska, North]* Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Idaho. The North became aroused at the grasping behest of the slave power, and a firm stand was made against any extension of slavery beyond the limits of the States in which it then existed. The Republican party came into existence at this time and embodied the principle of non-extension of slavery as its central idea. The Whig party went out of existence. The free-soilers and abolitionists generally voted with the new Republican party as being nearest to their views. The largest portion of the Democratic party in the South and North, with many old line Whigs, adhered to the Democratic party, whose central idea, as opposed to the Republicans, was, that the question of slavery, with other local issues, in the territories, should be left to a vote of the people therein. This doctrine was popularly called by its friends in those days, " squatter sovereignty." And thus the now two great parties of the country — Democratic and Republican, — so divided on the question of slavery, went into the presidential election of 1856.' AGITATION — CANING OF SUMNER — JOHN BROWN RAID. And thus were the floodgates of slavery agitation re-opened. The years from 1854 to i860 were almost wholly, in congress and the public press, devoted to acrimonious disputes over questions involving slavery. In country stores, on the streets, at church, and everywhere, when two men met of opposite political faith, a raspish debate with hot words was sure to follow on the subject of slavery. Its adherents and opponents met in Kansas Territory and in fighting out the question of its being a free or a slave State, on the "squatter sovereignty" line, bloodshed resulted between the contestants from the North and South who met there. The presidential election of 1856 was the bitterest and most exciting that ever occurred in this country. James Buchanan, the Democratic candidate, received the H HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. vote of all but the entire solid South, defeating John C. Fremont, the Republican candidate, who received the electoral vote of the solid North except four States. And thus party lines became distinctly sectional upon the slavery question, and the agitation went on CHARLES Sl'MNER. — the South making new demands under threats of dissolving the Union in the event of the election of a Republican president, and the North passing personal liberty bills, under the reserved rights of the States, rendering difficult the execution of the odious fugitive slave law. Within the space of three years, during this period, occurred two events which did more than all else to fire the hearts of the two sections, — yet, vulgarly speaking, they were mere side shows, but attracted more attention than the entire menagerie. One was an aggression against the North, and created more recruits for the Republican party than all other issues. The other was an aggression against the South, which did more than all else to advance the secession sentiment of the South. (i). In 1856, Senator Butler, of South Carolina, delivered in the United States Senate a harsh speech against Senator Sumner, of Massachusetts. Soon after, the latter made an able but sarcastic THE SLAVEHOLDERS REBELLION. 15 speech in reply, quite as harshly arraigning his opponent in debate, which enraged the slave-state senators. A day or two later, while Senator Sumner was sitting alone at his desk writing letters, after the adjournment of the senate, Preston S. Brooks, a representative of South Carolina and a relative of Senator Butler, stealthily approached Mr. Sumner's seat with a heavy bludgeon, and without warning, caned him nearly to death, breaking this gutta-percha weapon over his head in his cowardly and murderous assault. Several Southern senators witnessed the affair from the cloak rooms, ready to come to Brooks' assistance if needed. This brutal act was applauded in the South, and caused great anti-slavery agitation in the North as a slavery blow at free speech in the senate. After several years' absence from his seat by reason of this outrage, Mr. Sumner returned to his seat in the senate, but eventually died of the effects of the caning. Both Brooks and Butler went to their graves within a year after the brutal assault. JOHN BROWN. (2). In 1859, t^^^ South became greatly inflamed over the insane act of a monomaniac. John Brown was a graduate of the pro-slavery troubles in Kansas. He had been driven from his home there, and l6 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. two of his sons killed by pro-slavery mobs. On March 12, 1859, ^^ arrived in Detroit with fourteen slaves from Missouri. That same night, Frederick Douglass, the colored orator, lectured in Detroit,^ after which, John Brown, Douglass, and several well-known colored people of Detroit met at 185 Congress street east, which seemed to be a preliminary meeting to plan the Harper's Ferry insurrection. The plans were perfected at Chatham, Canada, some time after. With twenty-one followers, John Brown attempted to put them in operation in September following, at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. Seventeen of them, including their leader, were killed on the spot or hanged. This invasion by these few misguided men greatly inflamed the Southern heart, as indicating the attitude of the North towards them. John Brown's act was generally condemned in the North, and was not more insane than that of the South eighteen months later,, when it fired upon the flag the shot that freed four million slaves. PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF i860. The summer of i860 disclosed the opening acts of secession in the Democratic National Convention at Charleston, South Carolina. The conspirators demanded advanced ground in behalf of slavery. Senator Pugh, of Ohio, evidently speaking for Stephen A. Douglas,, the great Democratic leader of the North, plainly told them that the party had stood by the South until it was in the minority in nearly every Northern State, and it would never take advanced ground for slavery in defiance of the will of the people. Such language the South had never before heard in a national convention. The eyes of the Southern delegates snapped as if lightning had struck the building. They withdrew and nominated a slaveholders* ticket, thereby securing the success of the man whose election they declared would be a sufficient cause for dissolving the Union. The slavery question was virtually the sole issue in this presidential campaign. (i). The slaveholders' platform (Breckenridge and Lane's) held that slavery existed in any territory whenever a slaveholder entered it with his slaves; tliat neither congress nor a territorial legislature had any power to prohibit its introduction or impair its existence therein ; and that slaveholders had a right to travel with their slaves in the free States, and with said slaves sojourn therein without molestation of any free State laws. (2). The Republican platform (Lincoln and Hamlin's) held that all national territory was free, and opposed any legislation giving THE slaveholders' REBELLION. 1/ slavery validity therein, as well as the admission of any more slave States; and, as a reserved right, a State might free all slaves found therein, except fugitive slaves. (3). The Northern platform of the Democratic party (Stephen A. Douglas') declared for non-intervention by congress with slavery in the territories, leaving the question to a vote of the people therein; that all rights of property are judicial, and pledging to defer to the decisions of the supreme court on the subject. (4). The Pro-slavery National Union platform (Bell and Everett's) had nothing to say on the subject. The contest resulted in the election of Abraham Lincoln by nearly every Northern electoral vote, while the South divided its votes between Breckenridge and Bell. THE DOCTRINE OF SECESSION. Southern leaders had declared that the election of Lincoln would be a sufificient cause for seceding from the Union, and at once began to carry out their threats. The doctrine of secession had been taught for many years in the colleges, magazines and press of the South. In brief, this doctrine was that a man's first and highest allegiance was to his State ; that the States as sovereignties had ceded only certain rights to the federal government ; and whenever a State had a sufificient grievance, of which itself was the sole judge, it might resume to itself all the powers that it had before it entered the Union. This extraordinary claim rested upon the doctrine that the Union was only a confederation, or compact, or agreement — a sort of "free love" at pleasure between independent States, and not a Nation ; that the general reservation in the Constitution, to the States, of powers not granted to congress nor prohibited to them, made secession a reserved State right by implication. Thus by a perversion of language they set up their illogical doctrine as an escapement for treasonable conduct. The Constitution itself best refutes these secession assumptions. This instrument was adopted in each State by conventions of delegates chosen by the people, and though, when completed, it was not submitted directly to the people, yet the latter had a voice in its adoption when they elected the delegates of their choice. After being thus adopted, it expressly voiced its own authority. In no part does it declare that it is a league of States, or compact or confederacy. On the contrary, it plainly says: "We, the People of the United [States, etc., do ordain and establish this Constitution," l8 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. which it declares to be "the supreme law of the land," "anything in the constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding." It further declares as " supreme law," that " no State shall enter into any treaty, alliance or confederation,'' nor " enter into any agreement or compact with another State." These are a few of the fundamental principles of the American Constitution, given up to the general government by the States, not for any specific period and then to terminate by some State's action, hwV forever. There is not a single principle in the Constitution for its own suicidal dissolution, and the above quoted prohibitions to the States exclude every idea of secession as a reserved right, in any manner. Secession was simply treasonable rebellion against constituted authority, established by the States themselves. It was not even revolution which is right only when its cause is justifiable in the deep conscience of nations and has a reasonable hope of success, neither of which the South had. We shall not follow this treasonable doctrine into the mazy subtleties of John C. Calhounism, nor dwell upon the many useless efforts in Congress and peace conventions to conciliate the South. They were compromise breakers and without honor in keeping agreements. In fact their leaders would accept no compromise now — 'nothing less than disunion. SLAVE POWER BROKEN — SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY ORGANIZED. The main cause of the South's rebellious conduct now was, that slavery had ceased to rule. The federal government had existed seventy-two years, during which, slaveholders had held the presidency over forty-nine years. Of the twenty-eight judges of the supreme court, seventeen had been slaveholders. The pro tern, presidency of the Senate had been filled by slaveholders every year but three, the speakership of the House forty-five years, and so on. But henceforth, not another slaveholder would ever occupy the White House. No more wars for territory out of which to carve slave States. The slave power was broken in the Union, and having ceased to rule, would now destroy it. There were traitors in the Senate, in the House and in the Cabinet. President Buchanan being indebted to the South for his election, charged all the troubles to the North, declaring in his senility that no State had a right to secede, but there was no power to prevent it if it did. This was plainly telling the Southern States that he would interpose no hindrance to their seceding, and they improved the opportunity. Michigan's time-honored statesman — Lewis Cass — THE SLAVEHOLDERS REBELLION. 19 resigned from the Cabinet, which act was a fitting rebuke to Buchanan's course. Oh, for sixty days of Old Hickory to stamp out this'rebellion in its infancy ! While deprecating slavery as a heaven-defying practice, we do not anathematize all who^held slaves, and these often by inheritance, to whom the laws forbade manumission. There were good men among them as their system allowed. The edicts of heaven were against it, but what to do they knew not, no more than sober reason in the North could tell. Notwithstanding the secession leaders, there was a large Union sentiment in parts of the South, of which Alexander H. Stevens, of Georgia, the ablest statesman in the South in his time, was the exponent. He openly declared that the South had not sufificient cause for secession, and clearly foretold the evils that it would bring upon that section. But the "fire-eaters," as the radical disunionists were called, fired the Southern heart, and by the most deceptive arguments and murderous browbeating all but four of the slave States passed ordinances of secession and formed a Southern Confederacy, with Jefferson Davis for president and Alexander H. Stevens for vice-president. The latter was a disciple of Calhoun's teachings, and he followed his State out of the Union. THE WAR BEGUN — UPRISING OF THE PEOPLE. Ere the conspirators in Washington had gone forth to organize secession, the approaching storm became manifest by the seizure of unguarded forts in the seceding States. On the night of December 26, i860, Major Ander- son transferred his command of four score men from Fort Moul- trie to Fort Sumter, the strongest in Charleston Harbor, to the indignation of all secessiondom. On March 4, 1861, Mr. Lincoln became President, and in his " In your hands, not in The sfovernment will not FORT SDMTKK- inaugural address thus assured the South mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. 20 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. assail you ; you can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors." And such they became by firing upon the Nation's flag and Major Anderson's devoted band to prevent this half-starved garrison from receiving provisions. The first treasonable shot was fired before daybreak of April 12, 1861, and on the following day, when all provisions were gone but half a barrel of pork, the fort was surrendered to the thousands of traitors who assailed it. The patriotism of the North was powerfully aroused, and all loyal hearts throbbed at the thought that the secession traitors had dared to fire upon the flag and its defenders. There was a unity of determination that the dastardly act should be avenged, and the President's call for troops filled every loyal heart with patriotic fervor. The uprising of the people was a sublime spectacle, like that of the Crusader hosts who sought to rescue the Holy Land from infidel hands. The national flag was displayed from every housetop, and busy preparations were made for the coming struggle. THE NATION UNPREPARED. War had come and found the nation unprepared for it. For many months the South had been preparing for the conflict. Nearly all the war material had been shipped from Northern arsenals to the South. At the Dearborn Arsenal, eight miles west of Detroit, in the summer of i860, a few boxes of guns were auctioned off at one dollar apiece, and the balance sold for a small sum to some mysterious stranger, an agent of the embryo Southern Confederacy. Every war vessel except a few useless hulks, had been ordered as far away in foreign seas as wind could blow and water float them. FIRST YEAR OF THE WAR. The first great contest occurred at Bull Run, on Sunday, July 21, 1861. The Union army was everywhere victorious until in the afternoon, when re-inforcements of the insurgents turned the tide of battle in their favor, and a panic routed our army back to Washington in great confusion. The South was exalted and thousands joined its standards of revolt. The North recovered from its humiliation, abandoned the delusion that the struggle would be brief, and made preparations for a desperate war. Gen. George B. McClellan was put in command to organize and lead the national forces. In the West, a battle was fought at Wilson's Creek, Missouri, in August, in which Gen. Lyon of the Union army was killed. In THE SLAVEHOLDERS REBELLION. 21 October, the Union Gen. Baker lost his life at Ball's Bluff on the Potomac. In November, two rebel emissaries. Mason and Slidell, were forcibly taken from the British steamer Trent, and a war with England barely averted. The South had been the best prepared to fight. Most of the army and many of the navy ofificers were from that section and joined the Southern forces, with a few notable exceptions. And thus the year 1861 closed dismally for the Union cause. SECOND YEAR OF THE WAR — SUCCESS IN THE WEST. The year 1862 opened with a series of victories that cheered the hearts of Unionists. While "all quiet on the Potomac" was nightly for months, telegraphed over the land, good work was being done in the West. January 19 and 20 brought a brilliant victory at Mill Spring, Kentucky, which prepared the way for expelling the insurgent armies from that State and Tennessee. On February 6 followed the evacuation of Fort Henry on the Tennessee, and on February 8, another victory at Roanoke Island in the East. Yet these hardly awakened the North from its depression. February 14, 15 and 16 brought a victory that was the wonder of both continents, and introduced to fame the man who proved to be the general of the war — Ulysses S. Grant. The Fort Henry insurgents had escaped a dozen miles east, to Fort Donelson on the Cumberland river, where they were arrested by Grant's army. It was a keen, wintry, Sunday morning when, as preparations for a renewal of the battle were going forward, a white flag appeared. General Buckner suggested to General Grant an armistice for commissioners to arrange a capitulation. Then was sent back the famous "unconditional surrender" reply: " I propose to move immediately upon your works," was Grant's answer, and forthwith, large white sheets pinned to poles appeared on the fort, in token of surrender. This capitulation included 14,000 prisoners and a vast amount of military stores, involving the loss to the Confederates of Missouri, Kentucky and all Northern and Middle Tennessee, including Nashville. The moral effect of this victory was like that of Saratoga in the Revolution. It brought heart back to the North, produced a depression in the South and set Europe to doubting the success of the Confederate cause. Three weeks later General Curtis routed Van Dorn and Price at Pea Ridge, Arkansas. On the 6th and 7th of April was fought at Pittsburgh Landing on the Tennessee, a bloody battle in which the 22 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. insurgents were put to route. On April 8th, Admiral Foote captured Island No. lo in the Mississippi, with 5,000 prisoners. New Orleans and Memphis fell into Union hands soon after, and so the successes in the West rejoiced the nation. DISASTER IN THE EAST. In April, 1862, General McClellan transferred the main portion of the Army of the Potomac to Fortress Monroe for the Peninsular Campaign. Investing Yorktown until its evacuation, the retreating enemy were overtaken at Williamsburg, and put to rout after a sharp contest. Pursuing to the Chickahominy, McClellan 's advance reached within seven miles of Richmond, the Confederate capital. "the PENINSULA," VIRGINIA Amicl tile malarial swamps of this stream he remained with his army several weeks. It was astride of the stream, which by a sudden rise divided his forces. The Confederates attacked the half that lay south of that river, at Seven Pines and Fair Oaks, but were repulsed. Meanwhile, the Union army became greatly reduced by malarial fevers from lying in the swamps, and the Confederates were strengthened by fresh conscript levies. On June 25, the insurgent General Jackson, better known as "Stonewall Jackson," by forced marches from the Shenandoah Valley, struck McClellan's right, at Mechanicsville, but was repulsed the next day. On June 27, the enemy again attacked his right at Gaines' Farm and drove it in, with terrible slaughter on both sides. McClellan now resolved to unite his army on the south side of the Chickahominy and move it to the James River for a new base of supplies. General Robert E. Lee, whose magnificent residence crowned Arlington Heights, in view of Washington, had succeeded to the full command of the Confederate forces about Richmond. Lee might have commanded the Union army and become president of the United States, had he not violated his oath and become a traitor to the country which had educated and honored him. But he went with his State when it seceded. He hastened to intercept McClellan's left flank movement, and struck the Union army at Savage Station THE SLAVEHOLDERS REBELLION. 23 and White Oak Swamp. He pursued it to Malvern Hill, where was fought, on July i, 1862, one of the bloodiest battles of the war. Lee massed his forces to carry the position by storm. All the Union cannon were drawn up along the crest of the hill, and again and again did the enemy charge up out of the deep pine forest, only to be cut in pieces by the Union artillery from Malvern Hill and the Union gun boats lying in the James. Although victorious, the withdrawal of the Union army continued the next day to Harrison's Landing on the James. McClellan's army had become greatly reduced by battle, fevers and a large number on furlough. He called for reinforcements, but was told that there were none available. He wanted McDowell's corps at Fredericksburg to be sent to him, but the President did not deem it prudent thus to uncover the defenses of Washington and allow a sally by the enemy to result in the capture of the National Capital, as such an event might result in the end in a foreign recognition of the Confederacy. The military events that followed a few weeks after proved the wisdom of this decision. About this time President Lincoln made a call upon the country for three hundred thousand new volunteers. And here we must leave this army to note the raising of this vast additional levy which included the regiment whose war history this volume is designed to contain. CHAPTER 11. Raising the Regiment. CALL FOR 300,000 MORE MEN. SUCCESSES of the Union arms in the West in the early months of 1862, and the high expectations of the Army of the Potomac, led to a cessation of recruiting in the North. While there was a reduction in the Northern armies from battle and disease, the Southern armies had been greatly increased by conscripts. The refusal of troops which the early outburst of patriotism offered was a mistake by our government. On June 28, 1862, the loyal governors requested Mr. Lincoln "to call upon the States for sufBcient men to speedily crush the rebellion," and he made a call for 300,000 volunteers. In Detroit there was no response until July 1 1, when the Advertiser and Tribune said: "Do the people realize that treason threatens to destroy our government? Hesitation now will confirm the invincibility of the rebellion and invite intervention." On July 12 Governor Blair's proclamation said: "It is the call of your country to defend its existence and the integrity of its territory. It comes by the blood of fellow citizens, dead, and wounded in battle. The thinned ranks of our gallant regiments, who have made themselves and the State illustrious, appeal to you to restore their wasted numbers." He called for six new regiments, one from each congressional district, and recruits to fill up old ones. WAR MEETING TO PROMOTE ENLISTMENTS. To facilitate enlistments, the Mayor called a war meeting on the Campus Martins for Tuesday evening, July 15. The Free Press thus commended the call: To Arms ! The Union is now in its greatest peril. Unless the people rush to the flag, the days of American glory will be gone forever. Let the meeting be marked by harmony, enthusiasm, patriotism. Let every man forget party and behold only his imperiled country. The federal union must be preserved. The folds of the flag must wave forever over all the territory the fathers left us or which we have acquired by the blood and treasure of the nation. (24) RAISING THE REGIMENT. 25 At the appointed hour the space was filled with people for a long distance from the stand which had been erected on the site of the Soldiers' Monument. The following were the officers of the meeting: CAMPUS MARTItrS, DETROIT, MICH.— SCENE OF WAR MEETINGS, 1862.— DETROIT RIVER AND CANADIAN SHORE SEEN IN THE DISTANCE. President, Mayor William C. Duncan ; vice-presidents, Hon. Lewis €a.ss, Captain Eber B. Ward, Judge B. F. H. Witherell, Hon. C. C. Trowbridge, Hon. John Owen and Hon. Duncan Stewart; secretaries, E. N. Wilcox and William A. Moore. The Mayor briefly addressed the meeting and then introduced the Hon. William A. Howard, who made a stirring address. He was followed by Theodore Romeyn. When T. M. McEntee arose to speak the noise of rowdies prevented him. Recorder Henry A. Morrow then spoke as follows: Fellow Citizens — We are met here now in the second crisis of our country. {Confusion among the crowd.] There is a mistaken feeling that this meeting is preliminary to a draft. Enough can be procured without such measures. Every one who can, should go, and the men who stay at home must support the families of those who go. This meeting is for inducing men to volunteer, and I for one, am ready to go. [Cheers.] Those of us who have no families should go. I do not propose that men of families shall perform duties that we young men should perform. [Cheers.] Let each man ask himself: 'Will I go?' [A voice — 'Will you go?'] I have already said I would. The government has done as much for me as for you and I am ready to assist in upholding it. [Cheers and confusion.] RIOTOUS DEMONSTRATIONS. The meeting ended in confusion. A few dozen secession sympathizing rowdies were distributed about the crowd and their howls prevented the speakers from being heard. Windsor, across the (3) 26 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Detroit river in Canada, had become the receptacle of a lot of Southerners who had re-inforced the mob. The instigators had reported that the meeting was to prepare for a draft. When Wm. A. Howard moved a committee to "draft" resolutions, an old eighth-warder exclaimed: " Did you hear that boys? Didn't I tell ye they are going to draft?" And the riotous howls began. The scoundrels seemed to have a spite against Capt. Eber B. Ward and Hon. Duncan Stewart, two noted Detroit business men and Unionists. They rushed for these gentlemen, and only by the utmost exertions of Sheriff Mark Flanigan did they find refuge in the Russell House. The mob next broke down the speakers' stand, tore the Union bunting into strings, and insulted the of^cers and speakers of the meeting. The venerable Lewis Cass barely escaped their vengeance as they rushed upon his carriage. Next the mob sought the Russell House entrance with the avowed intention of hanging Messrs. Ward and Stewart, but were met by Sheriff Flanigan and a deputy, with drawn revolvers, who held the mob at bay for an hour and until darkness ended the riot. The Advertiser and Tribune thus mentioned the affair: The meeting was one of the most melancholy spectacles it was ever our lot to witness. At an early hour, a rowdy element of formidable dimensions was present, composed of bigoted, ignorant persons who had evidently been tampered with through political prejudice. The Detroit Free Press thus spoke of the riot : We regret the disturbance at the meeting. So far as we can ascertain, the origin of the difficulty was a rumor that the government intended to draft. It was so- utterly without foundation that we cannot resist the conviction that their motives were infamous. * * Yet, if the exigencies of the war require a draft, we do not see why it should be resisted. THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN PROJECTED. This disgraceful event occurred near the spot where General Hull humiliatingly surrendered the city to the British fifty years before,, when General Lewis Cass broke his sword in disgust. It was a dark week for the City of the Straits. Other cities of the North were holding successful war meetings. Cititizens gathered in knots to discuss the matter. Deep humiliation and indignation prevailed. To^ wipe out the disgrace it was resolved at a meeting of patriotic citizens at the Michigan Exchange the next evening to raise an extra regiment in Detroit and Wayne County, in addition to their quota. CAPTAIN EBER B. WARD. HON. DUNCAN STEWART. RAISINC. THE REGIMENT. 29 For this purpose Adjutant-General John Robertson and Henry Barns of the Advertiser and Tribune went to Jackson to confer with Governor Blair. MRS. BLAIR's timely INFLUENCE. The Governor had met with some difficulty in getting troops accepted by the War Department. He had sent sixteen infantry regiments, and the seventeenth was being recruited with difficulty. Six new ones were called for, which would make twenty-three ; and to attempt the twenty-fourth might retard the raising of the others. His consent was withheld until morning, Avhen he refused. Mrs. Blair had been a listener to the conversations for the extra regiment, and now^ told her husband that the morning papers brought bad news from the seat of war; that the government needed all the men it could get, and that, in her opinion, the request of the two gentlemen from Detroit should be granted, and the Governor finally consented. Little did this patriotic lady think that her influence on this occasion would be productive of a regiment which, within one year, would rank among the most distinguished in the army, by its suffering the greatest loss of over 400 regiments in the greatest and bloodiest battle of the war. SECOND WAR MEETING ON THE CAMPUS MARTIUS. On Saturday, July 19, the indignation of the citizens found vent in over 3,000 signatures to the following call: Men of Detroit ! The fair fame of your city is at stake. Come forth in your might and prove your patriotism to meet the crisis. Your friends from many a stricken field call you to the rescue. Shall a few pestilent sympathizers with treason neutralize your patriotic effort? Let an expression go forth which shall rebuke the traitors and vindicate the patriotism of the city. All who favor an energetic prosecution of the war are requested to meet on the Campus Martius on Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock, July 22, 1S62. Long before that hour the people began to assemble in numbers to cause every patriot to rejoice. Processions from foundries, machine shops, and shipyards filed about the speakers' stand, which was located on the present City Hall side of the Campus. Far up every street was a mass of determined and enthusiastic patriotism — some with molding clubs for any secesh rowdies who should open their blatant mouths. The meeting was called to order by the Hon. E. C. Walker, and the following officers chosen: President, Mayor Duncan; vice-presidents, Hon. Lewis Cass, Ross Wilkins, Judge Witherell, 30 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Bishop McCroskey, Right Reverend Lefevre, Shubael Conant, Colonel Ruehle, aldermen Joseph Godfrey, James Shearer and J. W. Purcell, Adam Elder, Gideon Campbell, Edward Kanter, Alexander Chapoton and Frederick Buhl ; secretaries, Stanley G. Wight and C. Wood Davis. After the adoption of suitable resolutions, Recorder Morrow was loudly called for, and spoke as follows: SPEECH OF COLONEL HENRY A. MORROW. Felloiv Citizens — We are hereto rekindle our devotion to our beloved country which is in peril. This is the time of its destiny ; this is the crisis of its fate. From this terrible struggle it will come forth purified and respected, or it will sink into obscurity and disgrace, known on the historian's page as the weakest of human inventions. Our fathers thought they were erecting a temple of liberty which should last for ages, where oppression should be unknown and freedom find an asylum. LTnless this causeless rebellion is crushed, the hopes of mankind in republican liberty are blasted. This generation of loyal citizens has assigned to it the noblest work ever intrusted to a nation — that of maintaining in its integrity, the government of the United States. A generous and intelligent people will not decline the labor. Let us understand the issue. It is government or no government, national life and honor, or national death and disgrace. It is more — it is individual disgrace. If our Southern brethren had been menaced even, in their constitutional right to liberty or property, I should not be here to-day. By birth, by education, by sympathy and interest, I am deeply attached to the Southern people, and if the government of the United States had turned aside from its constitutional prerogatives of defending and protecting the States, and become their oppressor and destroyer, I know my duty; and as certain as I am here to-day, I should not be here, but would be found in the ranks of the Southern army ! But this was not so. The government never oppressed the South. The national statute book did not contain a law which deprived the South of any constitutional right. Out of sixteen Presidents the South has furnished eight, and while no Northern President was ever re-elected, five out of the eight from the South were re-elected. The country has been forty-nine years under Southern Presidents and only twenty-five years under Northern. It is notorious that the Southern people have enjoyed a very large proportion of the public offices. Is it not a curious fact that a people who have controlled the nation and shaped its foreign and domestic policy for two-thirds of the time, and who have never suffered a single wrong should raise their hands to strike down its flag? Could they anticipate any wrong when they commanded the two houses of Congress and could control the policy of the government? Had Lincoln been disposed to do them injustice, he was entirely at the mercy of Congress. It was not oppression, nor the fear of it, that drove the South into rebellion, but an unholy lust for power. The war was forced upon us. The South began the conflict. The government struck no blow. It simply demanded the right to perform an act of humanity which the Southern people should have performed themselves. It asked that bread might be sent to a starving garrison. Major Anderson was nearly out of supplies, and in response to an arrogant demand for surrender, he returned the thrilling reply, "If you will wait till to-morrow noon I shall be out of provisions, and hunger will compel me to surrender 1" Did they wait? No, but like savages opened their guns upon Fort KAISINC; THE RE(;iMENT. 3 1 Sumter. Their Secretary of War and Jefferson Davis made speeches at the Confederate Capital that night. The former declared that " They had that day begun a war, the issue of which no man could foretell " — a confession from one in authority that THEY, and not we, were the aggressors. Now, can any man, in a situation to serve his country, hesitate as to what is his duty in this hour of danger and disaster? Will you see your country dishonored before the world and raise no hand }.o save it ? Patriotism is natural to the human heart. Love of country is one of the noblest feelings in the breast of man. It belonged to the Greek and Roman in ancient times, and it burns like a star in the heart of every lover of his country. It moved Washington amid the snows of Valley Forge, and it inspires the hearts of twenty millions of people in the lojal States. It is an instinct in the breast of every honest man. The noblest heroes in history, whose names are synonyms of courage and fidelity, have devoted their lives to their country. Hampden, and Sydney, and Russell, were patriots, and history has embalmed their names in its choicest amber. Emmet was a patriot and martyr, and his very name will ever arouse the Irish nation. Washington, first and best of men, was a patriot, and the world claims him for its own. Major Anderson is a patriot, and the children of men through generations shall read, with glowing hearts, his heroic defense of Sumter. My young friends, I appeal to you by all that is sacred, to come forward and sustain your government. Are you a patriot? Now is the time to show it. Do you seek comfort and security for yourselves and families ? Come then, and help subdue this insurrection. Have you a pride in the greatness and respectability of your government? They are gone forever unless this rebellion is subdued. We shall sink into a fifth-rate power and be as contemptible as Mexico or Morocco. Do you wish for adventure and distinction? Here is the field in the best fed, best clothed, and most intelligent army that ever went forth to battle. One word for myself. I am going to the field. I invite you to go with me. I will look after you in health and in sickness. My influence will be exerted to procure for you the comforts of life, and lead you where you will see the enemy. Your fare shall be my fare, your quarters my quarters. We shall together share the triumph, or together mingle our dust upon the common field. We are needed on the James River. Our friends and brothers are there. Let us not linger behind. In this time of national peril, the government turns to you. Let it not appeal in vain. [Prolonged applause.] LAST PUBLIC SPEECH OF HON. LEWIS CASS, Hon. Lewis Cass was loudly called for. He was too feeble to make more than a brief speech, but the immense crowd would brook no refusal from this noted descendant of a former generation. He had made Detroit his home for over half a century and had held many high positions of national trust and honor. It was his last speech in public life, and his few remarks were influential throughout the Union. The venerable statesman spoke as follows: Felloxv Citizens — Standing here- and witnessing the patriotic enthusiasm of the people, my heart is too full for utterance. There is no man who feels more anxious that the Constitution shall be preserved as it was given to us by our fathers. We of this generation have a noble duty to perform for mankind. We are to preserve this fair land a heritage to our children and to freedom forever. Our fathers endured 32 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. HON. LEWIS CASS. much in their struggle for independence, and shall we prove degenerate sons of those noble sires? It cannot be. The people of the North will rescue the government. [Cheers.] SPEECH OF SHERIFF MARK FLANIGAN. Fellow Citizens — At a time like this it behooves every man to put forth his utmost energies in defense of the government. Every man who is loyal to his once happy land and abhors rebellion, should rise to a full sense of his duty in this hour of its adversity. Judge Morrow and myself are going to raise a regiment. I hope every man will respond to his country's call. [Cheers.] SPEECH OF HON. DUNCAN STEWART. Fellow Citizens — I have not the language to deal a sufficiently withering rebuke to those who instigated the violence at the former meeting. This regiment must be raised. Though I cannot go myself, I have money and it shall be poured out freely in this cause. I will give five dollars to every man who shall enlist in the first company mustered into this regiment. I will give four dollars a month during the war to twenty-five families where there are four children, and two dollars a month to twenty families where there are three children, the fathers of whom shall enlist in this regiment. [Cheers.] The aldermen, as supervisors, have done much to discourage enlistments by their disreputable manner in looking after the wants of volunteers' families, who had been compelled to beg about our streets for bread, and when they applied for provisions, the answer was, 'Oh ! your husband was a drunken fellow ! ' Gentlemen aldermen, you have nothing to do with what difference it makes if the husband was a shiftless vagabond. I have more respect for a drunken patriot than an unpatriotic alderman. [Cheers.] SPEECH OF HON. JAMES F. JOY. Fellow Citizens — lam proud that I am a citizen of Detroit. That our city is loyal to the core, this meeting proves. The Constitution is in peril. It is a war, not for tariff or free trade, or sailors' rights. Before me are men of every nation. It RAISING THE REGIMENT. 33 depends on us whether this country shall fall and be a shame in the eyes of the world. If not, we must fight. There was a time when the Roman Republic was invaded by Hannibal. Many of the provinces revolted and joined him. The Roman armies were almost totally destroyed. They raised another army, and yet another, and won. Let us emulate their example. [A voice — 'Will you go?'] They will not have me, but I will furnish twenty substitutes. [Cheers.] What I have is at the service of my country, if it takes every dollar. [Applause.] Hon. C.'I. Walker and others made brief, patriotic speeches, and great enthusiasm was manifested throughout the meeting. It was a great success, and if any secession scoundrels were present they wisely, for themselves, concealed the fact. The meeting was not only productive of putting a full regiment into the field in a brief period, but it stimulated enlistments throughout the State, as its details made known what efforts were made here on the Nation's border in response to the President's call for troops. THE WAR MEETING. Heretofore, the war meeting had been little known. Regiments in the field had been raised without excitement. Soldiers had enlisted at some recruiting office, or with some officer who appeared in town or village and quietly solicted recruits. Those who had entered the service, up to this period, seemed to have been but the surplus population, and afTairs moved on in the North much as though no war existed. But this urgent call of the President for so large a number of men forthwith changed the whole order of recruiting. It was like a second Holy Land crusade, and every community was stirred to its depths. The great struggle for national life had apparently but just begun. Heroic bugle calls and war drum-beats more than ever sounded the alarm notes for a general uprising of the Nation's reserves. And so the war meeting became a new feature and was a solemn affair. It brought deep reflection to every mind. It disarranged completely the future plans of many. It was usually held in some hall, church or schoolhouse; frequently in open air. Appeals of orators called for volunteers — not to vote for some political candidate or consider the questions of a life beyond the grave, but to hazard their lives for their country's salvation. Should we submit to national disintegration, or fight? Should we allow traitors to insult our flag and destroy the country upon the election of a President in the usual constitutional way, or fight? Must cheeks of Americans, at 34 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. home and abroad, tinge with shame and reproach at the conduct of traitors, or shall we fight? Solemn reflections burdened every countenance, emphasized by the fact that the early romance of the war had passed away. Battle lists of killed and wounded appeared in almost every paper. Coffined remains of soldier-dead were borne home, — evidence of the stern reality of a fearful war. To enlist now might mean a bloody shroud, an ebbing aAvay of life's current in old fields and ravines in the far South, as well as pillows of sorrow at home. It meant silvered heads bowed in their last grief, and the bride of a month wearing the widow's weeds. Wonder not, then at the wife's pale cheek as she notes the flushed face of her husband. She plainly reads his resolve ere he signs the enlistment roll. Yonder mother, with quivering lip, observes her youthful boy's attention to the recital of his Nation's wrongs, and pales as he acts upon the impulse to fight his country's battles, while the aged father buries his grief in thoughtful silence. "The time has come when brothers must fight, And sisters must pray at home." WAR MEETINGS IN WAYNE COUNTY. And 'so, for a brief period after the great war meeting on the Campus Martins, the war excitement in Wayne county exceeded anything in the annals of Michigan. Fife and drum were heard on every street, and war meetings were of daily and nightly occurrence, for recruiting the Twenty-fourth Michigan. Captain Cullen enlisted nearly his entire company the first Sunday. Factories, shipyards and foundries were closed, threshing machines stopped, grain left uncut in the field. Recruits went from farm to farm, gathering additions in each neighborhood. One Canton farmer whose boys had enlisted, said: "Why, boys, are you going to leave me in the midst of my threshing?" One of them replied: "But, father, Uncle Sam has a bigger job of threshing to do." Contractors would leave workmen upon a building in the morning, but upon returning to note the progress of their labor, would hear the sound of neither hammer nor saw. A neighbor would inform him that his men might be found enlisted over yonder, in Colonel Morrow's regiment, as they had all gone there with a recruiting officer. Colonel Morrow announced war meetings in various parts of Detroit and Wayne county, which were addressed by himself and some of the following speakers: Mark Flanigan, Lieutenant-Governor RAISING THE REGIMENT. 35 Backus, David E. Harbaugh, E. N. Wilcox, C. I. Walker, Colonel Sylvester Larned, Henry C. Knight, William Jennison, Henry M. Cheever, Rev. Manasseh Hickey, Rev. Seth Reed, J. Logan Chipman, Alfred Russell, and others. At Perkins' Hotel, on Grand River avenue, Saturday evening, July 26, was an immense gathering. The patriotic appeals reached the hearts and pockets of the multitude. The recruiting was lively for Captain Warren G. Vinton's company. One could not go because of a wife and five children, but he would contribute one-tenth of his earnings for the families of those who did go. Another had no money, but, stretching forth his brawny arm, exclaimed, " I have muscle, and my country shall have that." An enthusiastic meeting was held at Clark's Dry Dock (Springwells) the same evening. On Monday evening, July 28, over 5,000 gathered in front of the Biddle House to hear Senator Jacob M. Howard, Hon. Rowland E. Trowbridge, Governor Austin Blair, Captain E. B. Wight, and others. Judge James V. Campbell presided. Two brass pieces were brought up from the Fort and a salute of thirty-four guns was fired. On Wednesday evening, July 30, Degendre's Hall, in the old seventh ward, was filled, and the enthusiasm brought several recruits. On Thursday, July 31, two spirited demonstrations were held in the Congregational church at Wayne. In the afternoon. Colonel Morrow earnestly pleaded with the wives and mothers to give up their husbands and sons for their country. Upon a vote, many women rose up who were willing to make the sacrifice. One mother of five boys arose in opposition, declaring she would disown her sons if they should go. Upon hearing that two of them had enlisted, she relented, and called God's blessing upon them. It was only a mother's excusable love. Dr. Alexander Collar presided at the evening meeting. The enthusiasm was strong and good results followed. A large number of ladies were present, who manifested their approval with smiles and tears. On Friday, August i, a goodly number enlisted in Captain W. W. Wight's company, at a meeting at Livonia Center. The same evening a most excitable gathering was held on the corner of Beaubien and Elizabeth streets. It was dark, and a candle afforded light for signing the enlistment roll. Captain William J. Speed was the chief speaker. As the announcements of the names of recruits were made, the young men tossed their hats in the air and the old men shouted for joy. 36 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. On Saturday, August 2, at the Redford Center meeting, the people were inspired by the deepest sentiments of patriotic devotion, and over forty enHsted. The Methodist churcli of the place had been foreclosed on a mortgage, and sold back to the congregation for their TOWNSHIP MAP OF WAYNE COUNTY, IN WHICH THE " TWENTY- FOURTH MICHIGAN" WAS RECRUITED IN AUGUST, 1862. individual notes. The holder of these notes was at this war meeting a few weeks after, and agreed to return to each man his note, who would enlist. Nearly every note was cancelled on the spot. This same evening a meeting was held at Grosse Pointe, and on Monday night, August 4, there was a fine rally at the corner of Seventh street and Michigan avenue. The Plymouth meeting, on Tuesday, August 5, will never be forgotten while any one who was present survives. The triangular grove in the village witnessed one of the largest outpourings ever held RAISING THE REGIMENT. 37 in the county. The excitement was intense, and many affecting scenes occurred to thrill the heart as the enlistments were announced- Nearly an entire company enlisted inside of two hours amid the wildest enthusiasm. It was truly an en masse meeting, and an honor to that loyal old township. At the Pike's Peak meeting, on Wednesday, August 6, thirty-three volunteered, one man donating a cow to the relief fund. On the same day, very successful meetings were held in Greenfield, and at Euler's Hall in Detroit. The Dearborn meeting, on Thursday, August 7, was a general turnout, and thirty-one volunteered. Dr. Sweeney canceled all accounts against any volunteer, and gave his services free to the families of those enlisting. At Belleville, Friday, August 8, a large open air meeting was held. Hon. C. I. Walker made the chief address, and fifteen enlisted. At Flat Rock, on Saturday, August 9, the loyal citizens of Brownstown, Huron and Sumpter assembled in great numbers, many ladies being present and several bands of music. The ladies contributed liberally to the relief fund. Alexander Kittle could not go, but gave two cows. Lieutenant Wallace enrolled forty-seven recruits, and was tendered, through Dr. John L. Near, a sword and belt for his past services in the army. On the same evening, at Trenton, a war meeting was held, women, children, and even Canadians from over the river contributing to the relief fund. On Monday, August ii, the final meeting for filling up the regiment was held at Wyandotte, at which Captain Eber B. Ward was the leading spirit. And thus the recruitment of the regiment proceeded. Colonel Morrow received authority to raise the regiment on Saturday, July 19, and recruiting began that day, but not till a week later, July 26, was it arranged who should try to raise companies and enlist recruits for commissions. In ten days thereafter, exclusive of Sundays, enough had enlisted for the regiment's organization. Within two weeks from the arrangement of July 26, the maximum limit was reached and the regiment mustered. Men were even turned away to other regiments. Captain Edwards recruited the last company within two days. AT CAMT RARNS. The Detroit Riding Park, or old State Fair Ground, was designated as the place of rendezvous and called " Camp Barns," 38 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. after Henry Barns, editor of the Advertiser and Tribune. The field extended from Woodward to Cass avenue, and from Alexandrine avenue on the south to a point a few rods north of Canfield avenue. Here, on July 29, Captain Cullen's company went into camp, followed the next day by the companies of Captains Vinton and Ingersoll. By August 6, those of Captains E. B. Wight, Owen and Speed had joined the camp, which now assumed a martial aspect. The other companies came in directly after and all were lettered as follows : Company A — Captain E. B. Wight. Company F — Captain Edwards. B — Ingersoll. G — Owen. C — Crosby. H — Vinton. D — Speed. I — Gordon. E— Cullen. K— W.W.Wight. On Wednesday afternoon, August 13, Col. J. R. Smith, U. S. A., mustered Companies A, B, D, E and G into the United States service, and on Friday, August K, he mustered in Companies C, F, H, I and K. The sudden manner in which those enlisting had to give up their wage-earning occupations, would have resulted in hardship to their families, had not the city and citizens of Detroit raised a relief fund to assist the families of volunteers until the paymaster came up. And thus, while not a man of the Twenty-fourth Michigan received a cent of State or County bounty, through the liberality of generous friends, a relief fund was raised for those enlisting in Detroit. This course was pursued in four or five townships, but those enlisting in the other townships received no local aid whatever. On August 23, the allotment commission visited camp and arranged for the assignment of portions of the soldiers' monthly pay for the benefit of their families. The men were very liberal, giving nearly all their pay to those at home dependent upon them. The few days between the mustering and day of departure were occupied with busy preparations for the field. Clothing and arms were distributed and the voice of the drillmaster was heard from daylight till dark. Relatives and friends crowded the camp daily, to complete final home arrangements with those who so suddenly were leaving their firesides for the war. PRESENTATIONS. Presentations were numerous. On August 18, J. Logan Chipman, on behalf of some friends, presented a sword to Captain Cullen, who replied: RAISING THE REGIMENT. 39 Friends — There are emotions which no man can express. They are felt and buried in the grave, unknown to those who e.xcite them. Such are mine at this moment. On August 22, Adjutant Barn.s was presented with a sword by his brother, Henry Barns, who said : Sir — For long months you have been a prisoner in rebel dungeons. May this sword witness that your own and your country's wrongs are avenged. To which Adjutant Barns replied: I shall observe your admonitions with all the will which my own and my country's wrongs prompt." On the same day, H. N. Walker, for the Free Press, in the presence of Company E, gave Lieutenant O'Donnell a sword, who replied : Sir — To be the recipient of this blade from a body with whom I have labored for years, is a happy honor. In the hands of an O'Donnell it will never cause a blush to mount the cheeks of those kind friends. On that evening, the friends of Captain E. B. Wight presented him with a sword, who accepted, saying : Friends and Neighbors — Going forth with hundreds of others in Detroit's favorite regiment, may it never be said that I disgraced my birthplace, and may the record show that I have proved faithful to this trust. God bless you all. On August 23, Captain Vinton was presented with a sword by H. C. Knight, Esq., who said: Sir — Your neighbors present you with this weapon. You understand the . claims of our beloved country upon her citizens, for you have dedicated to her your life. We need not urge you to be a true soldier, for no man but a hero is expected to enlist in a Michigan regiment. May God bless you, and when this sword flashes in the face of foes, remember kindly your friends who have not the privilege of serving by your side. ■; Captain Vinton responded with feeling and in fitting terms. On August 25, Captain Edwards' Company presented him with a sword through Colonel Morrow, which he accepted, saying: Colonel Morrow and Men — I receive this sword with the sacred resolution so to use it, that neither you nor I shall ever regret your kindness. I am devoted to the cause of my country and the blade I now draw shall not be sheathed till the stars and stripes shall wave over every foot of American soil. 40 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Other sword presentations were made ^ to Lieutenant Birrell, by his friends; to Captain Speed, by the Detroit Bar; to Lieutenant- Colonel Flanigan, a sword by the deputy sheriffs of Wayne County, and a horse by other friends ; to Doctor Collar, a sword by citizens of Wayne ; to Lieutenant Farland, a sword by Company D ; to Lieutenant Rexford, a sword from the Detroit Bar; to Lieutenant Dillon, a sword from the Molders' Association ; to Lieutenant Yemans, a sword from friends of the First M. E. Church of Detroit. Captains Ingersoll and Owen, and Lieutenants Sprague, Hutchinson, Burchell and other ofificers were remembered in similar manner. On August 25, the friends of Colonel Morrow presented him with a three hundred dollar horse purchased from Samuel Lyndon of Canton, through William Jennison, who said : Colonel — It seems but yesterday that you pledged the people to organize a regiment. That pledge stands redeemed, and one thousand brave men await your command to march to the front. With grateful pride at your success, your neighbors ask you to accept this living token — in peace the emblem of labor. Amid the storm of battle, may it bear you triumphantly against your country's foes. Colonel Morrow replied as follows: The worth of this present is a thousand times enhanced by the fact that it is a gift from the citizens of Detroit, among whom I have passed all the days of my manhood. This camp, the roll of yonder drums, and these brave men, all seem like a dream. But yesterday, I was in the quiet pursuit of my profession. I am here because my country needs my services. I came to Detroit ten years ago, an unknown boy. Its people adopted me, and I have had honors beyond my deserts. If, by leading this regiment to the field, I can repay the debt of gratitude I owe them, I welcome the opportunity. I shall take good care that the high character of my State sustains no injury, and my battle cry shall be "Detroit, and Victory !" FLAG PRESENTATION. On August 26, the regiment assembled on the Campus Martius, at 5 o'clock P. M. to receive a beautiful flag donated to it by Messrs. F. Buhl & Co. It was presented by David E. Harbaugh, who said: Colonel Morrow — Your regiment has been sooner raised than any other that has left the State. Messrs. F. Buhl & Co. request me to present, through you, to the regiment this beautiful banner. It is the gift of generous, loyal men to patriotic soldiers. It symbolizes our Union, its power, grandeur and glory. In the smoke and din of battle, may its beautiful folds ever be seen till victory shall bring peace to our distracted country. Colonel Morrow, taking the flag, said : This is the flag of the United States, and it shall never be any other. I have a check from a citizen of Detroit for the color-bearer, Abel G. Peck, of Nankin, and a further assurance of one hundred dollars in the event of the flag not being lost in battle, — as it never will be. [Cheers.] RAISING THE REGIMENT. 41 Judge J. V. Campbell then spoke as follows: Colonel Morro'cv — The people of this old county feel a deep interest in those under your command, who belong to their own households. It is my pleasant duty to offer you this sword from those who will renew their proof of confidence when you lead them in battle. Let it gleam at the head of your columns until there is no longer an enemy to meet them. To which Colonel Morrow replied : I thank you for this handsome gift. It shall never be used except in defense of my country. If I die it will be with my face to the foe. Once more, and it may be the last time, I bid you adieu. It was truly an affecting scene, and as Colonel Morrow martially mounted his horse and, in loud voice, gave the commands that moved his regiment away to Camp Barns, there was many a "God bless you" from those who witnessed the interesting event. MATERIAL OF OFFICERS AND MEN. With very few exceptions, the Twenty-fourth Michigan had competent and brave oflficers. Colonel Henry A. Morrow, than whom braver man never drew a sword, was born at Warrenton, Virginia, in 1829, and was educated at Rittenhouse Academy, Washington, D. C. In youth he became a page in the United States Senate and was the favorite of Senator Lewis Cass. When but seventeen years old, he became a volunteer in the Maryland and District of Columbia regiment, and for one year was in the Mexican War, participating in the battle of Monterey and the campaign against Tampico. In 1853, upon the advice of Senator Cass, he resolved to make Detroit his home. Here he studied law and, in 1854, was admitted to the bar after examination before the supreme court. For two terms he was elected city recorder, and in 1857 was elected the first judge of the recorder's court, which position he held when he raised the Twenty-fourth Michigan. Lieutenant-Colonel Mark Flanigan was, physically, the best developed man in the regiment, being six feet four inches tall, and brave as a cavalier. In i860, he became sheriff of Wayne county, which lucrative position he left at his country's call. The field roster was not completed when the regiment left Detroit. Colonel Morrow resolved to leave the Majority vacant until it reached the front and there make a selection from some of the old regiments for that position, whose military experience would be valuable to the Twenty-fourth Michigan. Upon its arrival at Fort Lyon, he selected Captain Henry W. Nail, of the Seventh Michigan Infantry, for Major. He had seen a year's service with that excellent 42 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. regiment. He was a citizen of Detroit and brought a ripe experience in the field to the formative period of the Twenty-fourth. Adjutant James J. Barns was a Corporal in Company F, First Michigan (three months) Infantry. He was captured at Bull Run, and had been a prisoner till July 6, 1862. Quartermaster Digby V. Bell, Jr., left a good position in the custom house. Surgeons J. H. Beech, Charles C. Smith and Alexander Collar were experienced practitioners. Chaplain William C. Way was a member of Detroit Conference. Captain Edwin B. Wight was a graduate of Michigan University. He had studied law, and was extensively engaged in the lumber business. Captains W. G. Vinton and Isaac W. Ingersoll were well established builders, and left a thriving business to raise a company each for the Twenty-fourth Michigan. Captain C. B. Crosby was a merchant at Plymouth. Captain William J. Speed had just finished a term as city attorney; for several years he had been a member of the Detroit Light Guard, and brought good knowledge of military tactics to the regiment. Captain James Cullen was a contractor, and was zealous in raising his company. Captain William A. Owen had been admitted to the bar, but was in business. Captain George C. Gordon was a recent graduate of the Universty Law School, and Captain W. W. Wight was a Livonia farmer. Captain A. M. Edwards had been a student for two years in Michigan University and was a sergeant in Company K, First Michigan (3 mo.) Infantry. He was captured at Bull Run, July 21, 1 86 1, and was held a prisoner of war until May 20, 1862. During this period he was among those selected as hostages for the captured privateers of the enemy. He was sent to Castle Pinkney and thence to Charleston jail, where he shared lots to be hanged in retribution for the first privateer whom the Federal government should execute. After an imprisonment of ten months he was exchanged, and recruited a company for the Twenty-fourth Michigan. Lieutenant Richard S. Dillon was in the iron business; Lieutenant Wm. H. Rexford was practicing law; Lieutenant Charles A. Hoyt was engaged in farming; Lieutenant John M. Farland was copying in the County Clerk's office; Lieutenant John J. Lennon had already served at the front; Lieutenant Ara W. Sprague had served in the Mexican war; Lieutenant William Hutchinson was in the service of Captain Owen, in the butcher business; Lieutenant John C. Merritt was in the employ of the Michigan Central R. R. Company; Lieutenant Walter H. Wallace had been a sergeant in Company F, RAISING THE REGIMENT. 43 Second Michigan Infantry, and lost an eye at the battle of Fair Oaks; Lieutenant H. Rees Whiting was engaged in journalism ; Lieutenant Frederick A. Buhl was a junior in Michigan University; Lieutenant W. S. Safford was a farmer, and Lieutenant C. C. Yemans was a member of the Detroit Conference; Lieutenant Malachi J. O'Donnell was foreman of the Free Press composing rooms; Lieutenant Jacob M. Howard, Jr., was a son of United States Senator Howard; Lieutenant George W. Burchell was of military ancestry, his grandfather having fought at Waterloo; Lieutenant Newell Grace left a good law practice; Lieutenant J. M. Gordon was in the shoe trade, and Lieutenant David Birrell was in the drug business. Such honorable mention might be continued through the non-commissioned ofificers and men. In the ranks were physicians, ministers, lawyers, teachers, surveyors, students of Michigan University and every college in the State, as well as men of almost every business and trade. The regiment contained the best blood of the county; rich men and poor men; sons of the wealthy and sons of the laborer; men from foreign shores and isles of the sea, who could but imperfectly understand our language, but would help us fight our battles ; men with gray hairs, far above exemption limit, and beardless youths of tender culture. Some had already shared the hardships of the field in the earlier stages of the war. A full list of all the original members of the Twenty-fourth Michigan, with their nativities, ages; residences, etc., will be found in appendix A. Its perusal will prove interesting, although statistical, to other readers than members of our regiment. NATIVITIES. AMERICAN BORN. FOREIGN BORN. Detroit, 64 Germany 100 Wayne County, 161 Ireland, 85 Other counties, 117 England, 55 New York, 250 Canada, 49 Ohio 29 Scotland, 16 New Jersey 15 France 7 Vermont 14 Switzerland, 6 Pennsylvania, Ii Belgium, 3 Maine, 8 Wales 2 Connecticut, 7 Sweden, 2 New Hampshire, 6 Massachusetts 4 Nine other States 14 Total, 700 Total 325 Born in Michigan, 343; in other States, 357; in foreign lands, 325; unknown, 5; total, 1,030. (4) 44 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. NATIVITIES BY COMPANIES. Detroit, Wayne County, - Other counties, New York, Other States, England, Ireland, . . . Canada, Germany, Other countries, Total, . . Americans, . . Foreigners, . , 15 7 13 20 9 I 6 7 16 7 64 37 3 9 22 14 9 21 8 6 4 104 56 48 34 5 46 D I 35 5 20 3 18 69 33 9 2 6 16 7 6 37 7 105 40 65 5 9 19 22 14 I 5 3 15 69 32 10 17 19 II 9 3 3 9 4 103 75 28 H 3 25 24 18 5 7 4 15 lOI 70 31 4 28 8 26 II 9 3 5 4 3 77 24 K 3 30 9 30 83 18 AGES OF THE MEMBERS. Twenty years and under, .... 312 Between 20 and 25, 271 25 " 30 193 30 " 35, 97 35 " 40, 78 Between 40 and 50, 50 Over 45 years 27 Unknown, 2 Total, 1030^ AVERAGE AGES BY COMPANIES. A — 24 years, 2 months. B--25 " iiK C — 23 " 1% D — 24 " I " E — 26 " 4 F — 28 years, 5 months. G — 23 " 5 H — 24 " o I — 26 " 2 K — 25 " 4 Average age of members of the regiment, 25 years, 3 months. RAISIN(; THE REGIMENT. 45 OCCUPATIONS OF ITS MEMBERS Farmers, Laborers, Carpenters, Clerks, Sailors, . Blacksmiths, Printers, Shoemakers, Painters, Masons, . Coopers, Tinsmiths, . Teamsters, Students, 412 88 62 38 34 25 21 18 17 14 12 II Molders, . Butchers, Machinists, . Cigarmakers, . Engineers, Millers, . . . Wagonmakers, Book-keepers, Boilermakers, Lawyers, Tailors, . . Wheelwrights, Bakers, Brickmakers, . Ironworkers, Peddlers, . Doctors, . Sawyers, . Teachers, Journalists, Preachers, Coffin maker. Other trades, Unknown, Total, . • 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 I • 75 10 1030 RESIDENCES OF MEMBERS BV TOWNS, ETC. . . 42S Springwells, ... 19 Exeter (Monroe Co.) Huron, 18 Canton, 16 Trenton, .... 14 Sumpter, 11 77 61 Clinton Co., . Washtenaw Co., Oakland, Co., Other Counties, Unknown, Detroit, . . Plymouth, Redford, . . Livonia, . Brownstown. . Nankin, 41 Greenfield, ... 9 Dearborn, .... 35 Hamtramrk, ... 8 Wyandotte, .... 23 Ecorse 7 Total, Van Buren, ... 20 Grosse Pointe, ... 4 Romulus, .... 19 Ash (Monroe Co.), . 29 Summary : Detroit, 428; Wayne County townships, 479; other counties, 120; unknown, 3. Total, 1030. . 6 35 . 28 10 12 3 1030 RESIDENCES BV COMPANIES. Staff — Detroit 7, townships 3, other counties i. Total 11. A — Detroit 58, Brownstown b, other townships 12, Ash in Monroe County 11, other counties 14. Total loi. B — Detroit 60, Wyandotte 19, Trenton 13, townships 8, outside counties 4. Total 104. C — Plymouth 69, Canton 7, Livonia 9, Nankin 6, Salem 8, Detroit r. Total 100. D — Detroit 27, Dearborn 27, Nankin 11, Canton 8, Romulus 10, Van Buren 9, other towns 8, other counties 2. Total 102. E — Detroit 87, townships 13, other counties 5. Total 105. F — Detroit 41, Van Buren 10, Ecorse 7, other townships 23, Washtenaw County II, other counties 9. Total loi. G — Detroit 48, Sumpter 10, Brownstown 8, Springwells 5, Huron 5, other towns 8, Ash 15, other counties 4. Total 103. H — Detroit 53, Greenfield 5, Livonia 5, other towns 13, Clinton County 17, other counties 8. Total loi. I — Redford 51, Detroit 30, Nankin 7, other towns n, other counties 2. Total loi. K — Livonia 31, Brownstown 31, Detroit 15, Nankin 9, Huron 9, other towns 6. Total loi. 46 HISTORY OF THE TWENTV-FOURTH MICHIGAN. MISCELLANEOUS FEATURES. The Twenty-fourth Michigan might have been called a regiment of relatives, as 135 of its members had brothers in it, the brothers being most frequently in the same companies. Company A had 20 brothers, C had 18, D had 20, F had 17, G had 14, H had 14 and K had 17, while numerous ones had brothers in other companies than their own. There were several cases of father and son, cousins, brothers-in-law, etc. Company H. had a father and two sons — the Steele family. There were also several cases of three brothers of one family in its ranks. One boy was discharged by " habeas corpus " before the regiment left Detroit, Three men were not mustered, by some error. One man died and eleven deserted before the regiment left for the front. Company C was the youngest in average age and F the oldest. C also contained the greatest number (62) whose ages were between twenty and thirty years. It was the color company, one of its corporals, Abel G. Peck, being the first color-bearer. The first man to enlist in the regiment was Corporal George W. Chrouch of D, on July 19, 1862. He had already seen service in the First Michigan (3 mo.) Infantry, and was wounded at Bull Run. He was also the tallest enlisted man, measuring six feet three inches. John Renton of the same company was next in height, being one-half inch shorter. D also had forty-eight men between twenty and twenty-five years, the greatest number of like ages in any company. Company E had the greatest number (14) over forty years old. In average age G was next to the youngest company. It contained the youngest member of the regiment, Willie Young, b*arely thirteen years of age, who served as drummer through the war. The tw^o youngest in the ranks who carried guns were Patrick Cleary and August Lahser of Company I. Company K had seventy-two farmers, the most of any; also the oldest man, James Nowlin, who was seventy years old. It also contained the greatest number of boys (46) who were twenty years old and under. Company C had the greatest number of American born (92), and Company E the greatest number (65) of foreign born. DEPARTURE FROM HOME. As the day of departure drew near, activity increased in camp, Happy he who obtained a furlough to visit home and friends once liKPARTrRE FOR THE WAR, AVGl'ST 29, 18C2. 48 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOUR'JH MICHIGAN. more. Familiar faces in suits of blue hastened about. Sad the hearths which soon will have vacant chairs. Up yonder shaded walk move two affianced hearts vowing eternal fidelity and devotion "till this cruel war is over." Blue forms bend over sleeping babes, whom the infant's eyes will never more behold. Mothers press sons to their hearts again and again, then go to their closets to pray. Fathers grasp tender hands they so often have led in younger days, try to talk in old familiar tones, and with a " God bless you," part with their sons forever! Friday, August 29, 1862, dates our departure for the front. Knapsacks are packed, ranks formed, and at 5 o'clock in the afternoon the regiment bade farewell to Camp Barns, and keeping step to the grand music of the Union, marched down Woodward avenue, thence up Jefferson avenue to greet General O. B. Wilcox, just returned from Southern captivity, thenCe to the Michigan Central wharf. From many- hamlets in and out of the city had come relatives and friends to bid a last adieu. But few families there were in city or county that had not some friend or near acquaintance in this regiment, and its departure drew hard upon the hearts of the people. Thousands and thousands crowded the sidewalks and streets.. Other thousands viewed from the housetops, balconies and windows. Continuous waves of flags and handkerchiefs, and cheer after cheer saluted the ranks throughout their march. Roman emperor never had a prouder greeting than the men who, with flying colors, this day marched along "The beautiful streets of the beautiful town That sits by the inland seas." Thousands of anxious souls strove to bid good-bye, "just once more," by embrace, word, or glance only, to departing friends. The lines of the "May Queen," bearing Companies A, B, C, D and E, and the "Cleveland," bearing Companies F, G, H, I and K, are cast away, and the boats slowly leave the wharf with their living freights of blue. Ten thousand final farewells pass between shore and steamers, amid cheers and wavings of handkerchiefs and hats. The immense throng continued to gaze upon the receding vessels till they are lost to view, and only would they leave the wharf when the boats could be seen no more. Sadness was upon pillows in many Wayne county homes that night. RAISING THE REGIMENT. 49 ( From the Detroit Advertiser and Tribune.) They have gone, the pride and glory of our homes, the loved and true, They have left us bowed with anguish, filled with proud rejoicing, too; For a nobler band of soldiers never passed Virginia's shore. Than have left us soon to struggle with brave ones gone before. They have left us, bearing with them hearts that never quail with fear; Arms that only grow the stronger as the danger draweth near. Left us? Aye! The lonely firesides many a plaintive story tell, Waking in our hearts a struggle, which we vainly strive to quell. Oh! Defend them, God of battles, swiftly to the rescue come; Hear the earnest prayers ascending from each lonely, stricken home. Yet the still, small voice replying, bids the warring tumult cease. And return them to our firesides, crowned with liberty and peace.* OUR JOURNEY TO THE FRONT. After a night of rough passage on Lake Erie, Cleveland was reached in the morning, and cars taken for Pittsburg, at which busy and smoky city we arrived before dark, after a pleasant journey through Ohio. Of our tarry here, the Pittsburg Gazette said: The Twenty-fourth Michigan arrived in this city Saturday evening, August 30. Its soldiers are of the very best class of men, stout, hearty, cheerful, intelligent and splendidly equipped. They were marched to the city hall, where a sumptuous repast awaited them, during which Colonel Morrow made a patriotic address, thanking the committee for their kindness, and assuring them that when this war is over and the Pennsylvania regiments passed through Detroit to take Canada, their kindness would be reciprocated. He read dispatches from the seat of war, and lusty cheers were given for Pittsburg and our cause, when the regiment marched to the Eastern train. Long will our tarry here be remembered. Nearly every man received a bouquet and a "good-bye, soldiers," from the Pittsburg girls, who seemed to fall in love with the regiment at first sight. Rings, ambrotypes, and handkerchiefs freely exchanged ownerships, and a portion of the regiment was in a fair way of being "captured," when a blast from the iron horse ended this coquetry of an hour, and our train was soon speeding for the Alleghanies and the lovely Juniata Valley. At 9 o'clock on Sunday morning, our train arrived at Harrisburg, and was switched off for Baltimore, where we arrived at noon. Marching to the Washington depot, five regiments were ahead of us awaiting transportation. After waiting around till 3 o'clock Monday * Written for the occasion by a lady of Redford. so HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. RAISING THE REGIMENT. 51 morning, September i, part of the time in a drenching rain, we were placed in cattle cars and started on a forty-mile ride for Washington, but, being sidetracked so often for passing trains, it was noon ere that city was reached. We filed into some barracks, called a " Soldiers' Retreat," for dinner, but a single company could have eaten the whole spread had the quality of the food admitted. This was our first experience with the outrageous army contractor who received full pay for food that would insult a hog. Ranks were again formed, and up Pennsylvania avenue we marched, thence south to the Long Bridge across the Potomac, which leads to "Secessia." Here the regiment was halted for some time to allow a long train of ambulances to pass, containing wounded from the neighboring battle-fields. In one was the bod)' of Colonel Horace S. Roberts, of Detroit, which produced a profound sensation in the regiment. The sight of these wounded soldiers caused the first emphatic impression of the work we had enlisted to engage in. Crossing the Long Bridge to the tune of "Dixie," we first set feet upon rebellion soil. SCENE IN PENNSYLVANIA WHILE GOING TO THE FRONT. CHAPTER III. First Months of Army Life. ALEXANDRIA — FORT LYON. PURSUING our march into Virginia on the evening of September i, we reached Alexandria, the quaint old town from which, in colonial days over a century before, Braddock's troops marched for the field of his fatal defeat. The city was a hot-bed of secession. " Here was the Marshal House where the youthful Ellsworth and Jackson, his murderer, met death in the same moment. Yonder was the Slave Pen from which the F. F. V's* shipped their surplus human chattels to the slave marts of the far South. But its barbarous purposes were ended forever. Marching a couple of miles beyond this city, we climbed to the top of a high hill crowned by Fort Lyon, named in honor of the hero of Wilson's Creek. Its ponderous guns frowned down upon the secesh city below. It was now past sunset, and scarcely had the crest been reached when angry, dark clouds hovered low over our heads, soon bursting into one of Virginia's severest rain storms, which lasted till morning. The men had neither tents nor shelter, and they suffered greatly from the cold storm — a most severe initiation into the hardships of soldier life. And such was our first night at the front. Colonel Morrow and a few of the men found shelter in a house where General Joseph Hooker was stopping for the night. The latter had just arrived from the battlefields near by, and the two formed an acquaintanceship which continued through later experiences in army life. CAMP MORROW — JADED TROOPS. The next morning, September 2d, fires were built, our clothes dried upon our backs, and from our haversacks we ate our first meal in "Dixie," as the South was called. The location was named "Camp Morrow." It was customary to name regimental camps after some member, patron, friend or dead member of the regiment. At two ♦First Families of Virginia, (52) FIRST MONTHS OF ARMY LIFE. 53 /]a m^Vf. 133 G ayVA^O VN 61A< '»^ ^ Vf ^j^^l>w. i, V^ ^^ ^ 54 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. o'clock marching orders came but no start was made. Ammunition was distributed and that night we slept on our arms, or with our guns by our side, as the enemy's pickets were not far away. The following day we saw the jaded, foot-sore and dusty fragments of the once magnificent Army of the Potomac, pass by our camp, to within the fortifications around Washington. For seventeen days had these decimated regiments been fighting and retreating before a victorious foe — men who had fought their way up the Peninsula to within sight of the Richmond spires, slept in the noxious swamps of the Chickahominy, and even among festering bodies of unburied dead men and horses, and whom we had come to re-enforce. Surely the authority that stopped enlistments the spring before, most stupidly miscalculated the necessities of the hour and scope of the war. CAMP WAYNE — FALSE ALARM. On the afternoon of September 4th, we marched to Camp Wayne, about four miles South of Fort Lyon. While pitching our tents all were ordered in great haste into line of battle. It proved a false alarm, and well it was such, for some amusing and clumsy evolutions were made, this being our first maneuver of the kind. Retiring under our tents, we were suddenly awakened again at midnight by the long roll and shrill voices of orderlies to "fall in." This time the movement was quickly executed and without confusion, each man being able by some private identification to place his hand upon his own gun by night or day. It proved to be another false alarm, but the discipline was good. The regiment was now on the extreme left of the army, guarding Hooker's division. The enemy's lines were a mile beyond. Camp Wayne was finely situated in the woods. It was the location of the Michigan brigade the winter before, and then called Camp Michigan. On the 6th, the men were gladdened by the presence of John J. Bagley and several Detroit citizens. Though but a week from home, anybody, or even a dog, from Wayne county was welcome in camp. MOUNT VERNON — MARCHING ORDERS. On Sunday, the 7th, a few of us visited Mount Vernon, about four miles away. Our guns were left outside the enclosure, as no soldier of either army was allowed to bear arms inside the hallowed grounds. With delight we stood upon the stately veranda, passed FIRST MONTHS OF ARMY LIFE. 55 along the graceful walks and beneath the magnolia tree planted by Washington's hands. We visited the ancient mansion, going from room to room. Up a narrow staircase to the left we reach the room in which he died, where still stands the bedstead on which he breathed his last. The shutter of the window was adjusted as it was to allow him to behold his last sunset view. His tomb was visited, and, with uncovered head, we gazed upon •the mound containing his mortal remains. On returning to camp, we passed the negro quarters, where dwelt the descendants of Washington's slaves, one of whom was an aged servant far back to Washington himself, whom he distinctly remembered, and whose word there was no reason to doubt. These people still formed the working force of the plantation. Arrived in camp, we found the men packing up under marching orders, and at 9 o'clock we started for Leesburg, taking our blankets only, to be in light marching order, as it was understood that we were to go in pursuit of Lee, who had invaded Maryland. The night was moonlight and beautiful. Passing by Camp Morrow and again through "secesh" Alexandria, we bivouacked at 2 o'clock, two miles from the Long Bridge, on the Potomac bank, and in the morning (September 8) moved on to Washington. By some mistake at the War Office, the Seventeenth Michigan was ordered to take our place for Leesburg, while the Twenty-fourth Michigan was sent across Anacostia creek to Fort Baker. Thus, the histories of these two regiments were interchanged. ARMY LIFE AT CAMP SHEARER. Our new location was called "Camp Shearer." It was healthy, well drained, and there was good spring water near by. It was soon adorned with pines from the neighboring woods, a retired resort from which was had a good view of the Capital City, over the tops of trees in the valley between. Only the boom of the navy yard guns for practice disturbed our quiet. Here were spent three of the happiest weeks of army life, and Camp Shearer is a pleasant memory to this day. The first death in the regiment since it left home was that of George B, Parsons, of Company D, who died in the ambulance going thither from Camp Wayne, from delirium caused by fright from tlie sudden call to arms on the night of the 4th. His remains were sent home at the expense of his comrades. The regiment was attached to General Woodbury's Engineer Brigade, and two companies were detailed each day to chop away the 56 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. young growth of pine in front of Fort Baker to allow a better range of its guns. When not on such fatigue duty, the men were engaged in drill, and soon became skilled in the evolutions and school of the soldier. On Sunday, the 2ist, the regiment was inspected by General Woodbury and staff, who pronounced it "as fine a body of men as he ever saw." But he probably made the same remark to every regiment inspected by him. On the 14th and 17th of September, the booming of guns was heard forty miles distant, at the South Mountain and Antietam battle-fields, and we wonder how long ere we, too, will be engaged. On the 25th, 26th and 27th, the regiment was drilled in sham fighting, which accustoms the men to the sound of their own guns in action. On the first day, Peter Euler, of G, was shot in the leg. On the next day, a man's face was filled with powder. On the third day, a soldier shot off his ramrod, which struck Orderly Sergeant W. R. Dodsley, of H. These accidents terminated this manner of drill. On the last day. Governor Blair witnessed the sham battle. And thus a trio of weeks passed by, ourselves gladdened with daily mails, a good place to sleep, and ample and wholesome food ; our evenings gleeful with music, dancing, and song, while the prayer meetings were well attended by such as found interest therein. But September 29 brought an end to these pastimes by orders to start next morning for the Army of the Potomac. POPES CAMPAIGN — DISASTER. Before proceeding further with our story, let us survey the army movements since we left the Army of the Potomac at Harrison's Landing on the James river in the early days of July. While this army was on the Peninsula, three other commands had been formed: (i) McDowell's, at Fredericksburg; (2) Banks', in the Shenandoah Valley, and (3) Fremont's, in West Virginia. These were united under General Pope, who issued a bombastic address, the pungency of which was evidently aimed at McClellan and his army. His satire was not calculated to foster for him MAP OF pope's campaign, 1862. FIRST MONTHS OF ARMY LIFE. 57 the respect of the generals of that army, and the failures that soon fohowed are possibly traceable to this cause. Meanwhile, General Halleck had been appointed General-in-Chief of all the Union armies. Pope with 40,000 men was at Culpepper, McClellan with 90,000 men was on the James river below Richmond, and Lee with a large army of the enemy lay virtually between the two Union armies. It was deemed advisable at the War Office that the two parts of the Union army be united, and McClellan was ordered to withdraw his army by water for this purpose, to Alexandria. Instead of obeying the order with alacrity, leaving consequences with his superiors he protested and tried to defeat it, but finally obeyed after some delay. Meanwhile, Lee was quick to perceive his opportunity. Keeping a portion of his men to watch McClellan, he sent forward Ewell and Jackson to encounter Banks' corps of Pope's army, with whom he fought a battle at Cedar Mountain on August 19. So soon as McClellan was fairly under way. down the Peninsula to embark for Alexandria, Lee went with the rest of his forces in pursuit of Pope, whom he hoped to defeat ere the Union forces could be united. Pope retired, before Lee's overwhelming forces, behind the Rappahannock, hoping to hold its fords until the Army of the Potomac could come to his aid. While thus engaged, "Stonewall" Jackson crossed higher up, and by forced marches got in the rear of Pope at Manassas Junction on August 26, completely cutting off his railroad communications with Washington. Pope sent McDowell's corps from Fredericksburg to intercept him. As McDowell, with General Rufus King's division far in advance, reached the Warrenton Pike near Gainesville, on August 28, this single division presented its flank to Jackson's corps which furiously assailed it. Gibbon's brigade was the first to encounter their murderous fire and heroically stood the onset till King's whole division could get into line. The battle lasted until after dark. It was bloody. At midnight the division fell back to Manassas Junction, tarrying to bury their dead in the darkness, and leaving Jackson to unite with Longstreet. August 29 and a few days following were sad ones for the Army of the Potomac which had now been united with Pope's under the command of the latter. We shall not trouble our readers with the maneuverings of our army during that time, as there are still sharply disputed points about them. Our army seemed to be defeated by brigade at a time. Pope's satire of six weeks before was apparently felt yet by some of McClellan's Generals who were now serving under 58 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Pope himself, and their eagerness for his success may not have been all that patriotic duty demanded. One General, Fitz John Porter — is credited with saying that " Pope ought to be defeated." While McClellan even wrote a letter to Lincoln, suggesting that " Pope be left to get out of his scrape the best he could." The President felt compelled to request McClellan, for the sake of the army and country, to urge the Generals who had served under him, to drop personal feelings and render loyal assistance to Pope, which he did. Shame, that such is a part of our Country's history, when want of harmony among Generals is a greater element of defeat than the opposing foe! In one day — August 29 — by reason of such quarreling more union men were killed and wounded than during either the entire Revolutionary or Mexican Wars ! Non-commissioned ofificers could have done better. The battles of Manassas and Chantilly followed, the advantages being with the enemy. Halleck now ordered the remnant of this once proud army within the defenses of Washington. Gibbon's brigade acted as rear guard and an eye witness thus speaks of it : Gibbon's brigade covered the rear, not leaving the field until after 9 o'clock at night, showing so steady a line that the enemy made no attempt to molest them. It was with this brigade of King's division that the Twenty-fourth Michigan was afterwards united. This decimated army was the body of jaded troops that passed our camp at Fort Lyon. MARYLAND INVASION — SOUTH MOUNTAIN — ANTIETAM. Lee was too wise to assail the defenses of Washington, and resolved "to liberate Maryland," ere the northern levies could be made available. His illusions persuaded him that his army could be largely recruited in that State, and thither he directed his forces, but met with no such welcome as he expected. His ragged and shoeless soldiers did not inspire the Marylanders, and but few joined his standard. On September 4th, the President re-instated McClellan to the command of the Army of the Potomac. He soon after went in pursuit of Lee, whom he found on Sunday, September 14, strongly posted on the east side of South Mountain, holding Turner's, Fox's and Crampton's Gaps. What is known as the National Road leads over the South Mountain at Turner's Gap. This main road was stormed by Gibbon's brigade at half-past five in the afternoon, and at 9 o'clock at night, the enemy was routed and had to vacate the pass. They were assisted by ^Battery B, Fourth United States FIRST MONTHS OF ARMY LIFE. 59 Artillery which was attached to this brigade. At Fox's Gap, a mile south, the Seventeenth Michigan had charged in the forenoon and won lasting fame. Lee withdrew to the south side of the Antietam, a deep stream emptying into the Potomac six miles above Harper's Ferry. On Wednesday, the 17th of September, was fought on the banks of this stream, the bloodiest battle of the war, considering the few hours that the engagement lasted. This battle was begun by the advance of Hooker's corps, and Gibbon's brigade became hotly engaged, opening the battle, dislodging the enemy in their front and holding their ground like a mountain or wall of iron until relieved by fresh troops. For its intrepidity on this occasion and its valorous charge in carrying the South Mountain pass three nights before, it secured from General OUR JOURNEY THROUGH MARYLAND TO JOIN THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. McClellan the title of "Iron Brigade," a name well won and honorably borne thereafter, as it was found, when the war closed, to have sustained, in proportion to its numbers, greater losses than any other brigade. On September 18, both Lee and McClellan agreed to an armistice for eight hours to bury their dead and care for the wounded. But Lee utilized this time, in violation of the truce, by digging trenches for escape through the sides of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, and that night, escaped unobserved, with his army, through the excavations C5) 6o HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. across a ford of the Potomac into Virginia. Lee's violation of the terms of the truce was prompted by his same traitorous heart which led him to violate his sworn oath and turn traitor to the country which had educated him gratuitously, and which educational acquirements he was now employing against his country. OUR JOURNEY TO FREDERICK CITY. After receiving marching orders on September 29, the camp was busy with preparations for removal. Letters were hastily written and much of the night was spent in making ready for the journey. At 6 o'clock on Tuesday morning, the 30th, we turned our backs upon Camp Shearer, around which cluster many associations of interest, and marched away to the Capital City. Transportation not being in readiness, we proceeded to the Capitol grounds where we remained all day, and at evening entered the enclosure, bivouacking in the East Park, under the shadow of the Capitol itself. But a few rods away on the eastern portico, the several Presidents of this great republic had taken the oath of office. Indeed we are now on classic ground, and beneath the foliage of stately elms, we prepare our beds for sleep. Our heart was stirred with deep emotion at this time. These massive walls of the Nation's council chambers were lighted from basement to unfinished dome, within which, on cots of anguish and pain, lay hundreds of our country's defenders, brought from the recent battle-fields up the Potomac. Yonder stands the old Capitol, so resonant in days agone with the eloquence and teachings of the early statesmen of the Republic — now a prison for those who seek to take its life. Here is the silent, yet eloquent, statue of the great Washington, amid armed legions gathered to defend from sacrilegious hands the Temple of Liberty which he did so much to build. These wounded, and the daily clangor of arms and martial strains about the Nation's capital, attest the inexpiable crime of that hateful treason which has filled our land with mourning. But, alas! the traitorous marplots who brought on this awful war are not among those who do the fighting. Not they. Far better should they have been blown to perdition ere their conduct had brought about the terrible sufferings of those who have to fight. Our reveries and dreams were brief, for at i o'clock in the morning the ringing voice of Colonel Morrow awoke us from our slumbers with "The Twenty-fourth, fall in." Once more aboard cattle cars, we left for Frederick City, Maryland, at 8 o'clock. We welcomed our transition from the hot and dusty streets of the city to FIRST MONTHS OF ARMY LIFP: 6i the cool hill country of "Our Maryland." At the Relay House our railway crosses that wonder of science and skill, the massive viaduct, and then, with an abrupt sweep to the left, under the precipitous and overhanging rocky banks of the Patapsco, we pass on up the valley of that meandering stream for miles, by charming waterfalls and scenes of grandeur, watching this beautiful, diminishing stream until it is lost in the summit of the mountain. Descending into the Monocacy Valley, the landscape scenery continues sublime amid circles of hills and beautiful farms. With banners and waving handkerchiefs, we are cheered on our journey. From hewn-stone mansions and humble cottages came loyal greetings as we passed them by. One old man, with snow-white head, and grandchildren by his side, waved the old flag at us with an energy that would have borne him to the field had his years permitted. Now and then we saw motionless hands and silent lips, but they were few. No more the slave will do their waiting — the true secret of their grumpy sullenness and soured mien. It did our hearts good to see the old flag waved from Maryland farm-houses. It was done with an expression that evinced no doubt of the sincerity of their loyalty to the Union amid secession surroundings. It was a day of pleasure, and at midnight we left the cars at our destination to make ourselves comfortable in the nearest field. 62 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. CAMP CLARK. In the morning, Thursday, October 2, a good tenting field was found near the raih'oad, which was named " Camp Clark," after Dr. E. M. Clark, of Detroit, who gratuitously passed upon the physical fitness of our regiment at Camp Barns. Here, the regiment was temporarily placed in General Paul's brigade. We spent a few days in drilling and bathing, and washing our clothes in the Monocacy. On October 4, President Lincoln passed by our camp, from a visit to the recent and neighboring battle-fields. He stood at the rear of his train, bowing to us as it slowly moved by. His head was uncovered and he looked careworn from the weighty matters upon his mind. We gave him some Michigan cheers as the train moved slowly by. The following day being Sunday, some of us visited Frederick City, near by. About every church or public place in the town was filled with the wounded from South Mountain and Antietam battles. This is quite an old city for this country, its market house being erected in 1769. Its people were generally loyal to the Union with some exceptions. Some of the disloyal dames invited the Confederate officers while there, to their homes, but the lively appearance of their beds when the chivalry had gone, made them regret the courtesy shown their secesh friends. MARCH TO SHARFSBURC — BATTLEFIELD SCENES. Monday, October 6, at 4 o'clock, P. M., we started by the National Road, on our march for Sharpsburg, Maryland. Passing through Frederick City, we had a right royal greeting from the people with a slight mixture of the secesh frown. About five miles from the city, we passed over the Catoctin Mountains and down into Middle- town Valley, turning, at night, into a meadow for bivouac. Next morning, at 6 o'clock, our journey was resumed through Middletown Village. The soil is rich and cultivated farms may be seen nestling in the woods on the distant mountain tops. A little west of the village, the Catoctin stream was forded, as the stone bridge over it had been blown up by the retreating foe, at the beginning of the battle of Sunday, September 14. Thence we moved up to the crest of the South Mountain range where a halt of six hours was made in Turner's Gap. This National Road dates back to Colonial days, and before the age of railroads it formed the great highway between the East and FIRST MONTHS OF ARMY LIFE. 63 West, It was a broad, macadamized way, and wound over mountains and hills which had been leveled off to form it. Over it, the produce came from the West and many a statesman found this a route by stage to the Capital City. Over it, Braddock marched his troops to defeat and his own untimely death. All about us were evidences of the late battle — shells lying around, trees and fences cut down. Here, Gibbon's brigade for four hours fought its way till into moonlight and carried the ground on which we have halted. Many of us visited the scene of the struggle. THE "twenty-fourth MICHIGAN"' MARCHING THROUGH MIDDLETOWN, MD., OCTOBER 7, 1862. The main fighting occurred at Fox's Gap about a mile south, on the farm of John Wise, where the old road from Middletown to Sharpsburg crosses the mountain. Mr. Wise was present to give us particulars of the fighting. His log house was pitted with bullets like small pox scars. In that barn, two Confederate and two Union ofificers fought each other to the death. Here was the lane between two stone walls in which was concealed Drayton's South Carolina brigade on that Sunday morning. In that copse of wood at the foot of the hill, the Seventeenth Michigan formed. It was in Michigan scarce two weeks before. Up, across the open field it charged, right over that stonewall, with a loss of twenty-eiglit of its own in killed, while the dead bodies of 154 of the South Carolina brigade were left in the lane. Of the latter, fifty-nine were hurried in Wise's well and the balance in a trench in his garden. Here is where the Seventeenth Michigan won its title as the "Stonewall Regiment," and rightly is it entitled to its fame. 64 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. By that chestnut tree in the adjoining field, General Reno fell, a victim to the enemy's sharpshooters. Accoutrements, canteens and hats with the terrible bullet holes in front, were scattered around. Here was a pile of knapsacks marked " ist S. C." Their owners lay in yonder garden. These scenes were food for serious reflection. How long ere we, too, [would be actors on the field of deadly combat and fill soldiers' graves? At 5 o'clock p. m. the Regiment marched on to Boonsborough ; thence three miles south on the Keedysville road and bivouacked for the night. Wednesday, October 8 ; on the march at 7 o'clock. Keedysville is passed and we move on over a portion of the Antietam battle ground, over the historic Burnside bridge, through the now famous Sharpsburg village, and on a mile southeast to within half a mile of the Potomac, and went into camp. FIRST MONTHS OF ARMY LIFE. 65 CAMP HARBAUGM. The location was called Camp Harbaugh, after Wayne County's Prosecuting Attorney. The First, Fourth and Sixteenth Michigan were camped near us. Wood and water were not easy of access. The spires of Shepherdstown peered out of the woods across the Potomac. It was occupied by Confederates who picketed the opposite bank of the river. Near us were the excavations through the canal banks by which Lee and his army escaped after the battle. Near by was a large pile of unburied amputated limbs. Every barn, building and shed about us was filled with the wounded enemy to the number of several hundred, left by Lee after his retreat. Near to our camp was a barn filled with them, many of whom declared their fixed purpose to return to their ranks as soon as paroled. They expressed an undying hatred of the Union and were willing to march and fight, though shoeless and half-clad. A few only expressed contrition and a desire to return to their allegiance. THE IRON BRIGADE. Thursday, October 9, 1862, was the formal date of our admission to the Army of the Potomac. This day the regiment was inspected by General Gibbon of the " Iron Brigade," to which we had been assigned by General McClellan. The latter had applied to the War Of^ce for some Western troops, saying that he wished some Wisconsin or Indiana men for a Western brigade. If he could not have any from these States, he would take one from Michigan. The Twenty-fourth Michigan was sent up, and assigned to General Gibbon's command. It was not at his request, and he received us with considerable reluctance. Our regimental inspection over, we were drawn up in front of the rest of the brigade, whom we almost outnumbered. Our suits were new; theirs were army-worn. Our Colonel extolled our qualities, but the brigade was silent. Not a cheer. A pretty cool reception, we thought. We had come out to reinforce them, and supposed they would be glad to see us. Neither was satisfied with the other. The brigade was a good one. It had already won envious fame at dark and bloody Gainesville, carried Turner's Gap in the South Mountain range, opened the battle of Antietam, won the title of ''Iron Brigade," and had a right to know before accepting our full fellowship if we, too, had the mettle to sustain the honor of the brigade. This brigade was composed of the Second, Sixth and 66 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Seventh Wisconsin, and Nineteenth Indiana, to which, now, the Twenty-fourth Michigan was added. It was the Fourth Brigade, First Division and First Army Corps. General Gibbon commanded the brigade. General Doubleday the division, and General Hooker the corps. At this time the corps was immediately commanded by General John F. Reynolds while General Hooker was recovering from his Antietam wound. We were truly in a fighting brigade, a fighting division and a fighting corps, all commanded by fighting generals. DRILL. When not on the march or in action, drill, drill, drill, is the business of the soldier. It is tiresome, but necessary. No one can be a good soldier without it. A mistake on the battle-field in not properly giving or understanding how to execute a command, might cost many lives. In this discipline our Colonel is determined that the Twenty-fourth shall rank among the most ef^cient regiments in the service. Hence it is kept on battalion drill for six hours each day, and in the quickstep and other evolutions of the soldier school for an hour-and-a-half each day. This duty, with dress parade at 5 o'clock, quite occupied our time. DRESS PARADE. The dress parade is a feature of army life. It usually occurs daily, near evening. Each company is expected to turn out in full and every man in neat appearance. The Orderly or First Sergeants form the companies, each on its respective ground. The men " fall in," which consists of their forming a line, the tallest man on the right and so on down the line, the shortest being on the left. The band strikes up a lively tune and marches to the parade ground. Each company is marched out by its commanding ofificer, and all arranged in their proper places in battle line. The band ceases its music; the Adjutant orders the battalion to present arms, and each gun is brought to a perpendicular before the body. Turning and saluting the commanding ofificer of the regiment who stands several rods in front of the regiment, he announces to him that the parade is formed. The Adjutant then marches to a position behind the Colonel. The manual of arms is usually gone through with, and the band playing a lively piece, marches at quick step, then counter marches the whole length of the line, returning to their place of starting. The Adjutant then takes a FIRST MONTHS OF ARMY LIFE. 6/ position as before and tells the orderlies to report by calling them to the center of the regiment. Each orderly makes a report, "all present or accounted for," They then outward face and double quick to their posts. The Adjutant next reads any orders or communications that are to be made to the regiment, when the line ofificers march from their respective companies to the center of the regiment, face the Colonel, and in line all come forward, keeping step to the music. They halt a few spaces before the Colonel, saluting in the usual way. The Colonel gives any instructions he has for them and dismisses them. The several companies are marched back to their grounds and break ranks. THE soldier's HOUSE. The regiment was supplied with " French shelter tents." A piece of drilling six feet square, (impervious to rain unless punctured by pin or torn) with pieces of rope fixed to each corner, is allowed to each man. Two of these stretched over a pole upon two stakes, and the corners stretched out and fastened to the ground with wooden BURNSIDE HRIDOE AT ANTIETAM. pins to which the pieces of rope are tied, with a third piece on the gable, form a shelter for three soldiers. In camp, these tents are arranged in rows, and three or four hundred of them in a regiment or brigade, form quite a village of such out door habitations, When on the march without knapsacks, this piece of tent is rolled up with the soldier's blanket and the ends tied in horse-collar shape. It is then 68 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. slung over one shoulder and under the opposite arm. The soldier is now in light marching order, with his haversack for his food, his canteen for water, and with his gun and accoutrements. BATTERY B. Attached to the Iron Brigade was Battery B, Fourth United States Artillery, popularly known as "Gibbon's Battery," after our brigade general. It was in the Mexican war and had a history. It is said that the General had a brother in the insurgent army who boasted that he would capture this Battery at anj^ cost. The attempt was made here at Antietam, the foe charging up to the very muzzles of his guns, and were knocked down by the artillerists with their ramrods. At this critical moment, General Gibbon himself sighted some of the guns which were double shotted with grape and canister. The carnage was terrible. The Battery was not taken but lost severely in men. On Saturday, October ii, twenty men of the Twenty-fourth Michigan were detailed to duty in this Battery. ARMY BALLOON — MARCHING ORDERS, ETC. In a ravine near our camp was Professor Lowe's balloon which made several ascensions each day, to note the dispositions of the enemy's troops over the river. Strong picket guards were posted on each side of the Potomac. Soldiers were restricted to their regimental lines, under -penalty of being sent to work on the fortifications at Harper's Ferry. At I o'clock Sunday morning, October 12, our commissariat was aroused to prepare two days' cooked rations at once. Orders to march were momentarily expected, to intercept Stuart's cavalry, which was making a complete circuit around our army. But ere our rations were cooked, they had recrossed to the Virginia shore, and were climbing up the opposite bank, loaded with plunder, just as our cavalry arrived at the river. Our camp, which was agog all Sunday over this affair, settled down to duty again. Now that we are in the field, the soft bread and luxuries that we enjoyed at Camp Shearer have given place to hard tack, beef, pork, coffee, sugar and rice. The soldier's ration is more than he can ordinarily eat when he gets it, but for one reason and another, he scarcely ever gets it. Sometimes the fault of the dishonest contractor. FIRST MONTHS OF ARMY LIFE. 69 frequently the delays attending the circumstances of war for which no one can be blamed. INSPECTION — THE BATTLE-FIELD — VISITORS. Thursday, October 16, at 2 o'clock, our regiment was again inspected by General Gibbon, who is a thorough soldier by education and practice. The regiment did credit to itself in its evolutions, and officers from veteran regiments present declared that no other surpassed us for our limited instruction. Our officers were marched to the center, when the General complimented them saying, "The regiment was the best drilled after such a short time of service of any he had ever reviewed," an encomium of which we all felt highly proud. The review over, about 500 of the regiment, headed by Colonel Morrow, visited the Antietam battlefield near by. No pen can describe the scenes enacted on this field of blood. The ground was stamped level and hard by troops and artillery. The dead were buried, some singly where they fell ; others in trenches and heaps. On one stake was inscribed, "Here lie 150 bodies, Ga. and S. C." Many were insufficiently buried, and here and there was seen a foot or hand, or a skull protruding. Lee did not bury many of his men at all, when granted an armistice to do so, but in violation of his agreement, bent all his energies in digging a way for escape under the canal tow-path, leaving his dead for our forces to bury. Friday, October 17, marked the advent to camp of several wives of our officers: Mrs. Flanigan, Mrs. Owen and Mrs. Rexford, also Mrs. W. Y. Rumney, wife of our sutler. They received a hearty welcome, and the regiment was again under woman's refining influences. Their arrival was the amusing occasion for several of the officers that night to search the camp for new quarters to sleep, or shiver about some campfire. CAMP PENNIMAN. Monday, October 20. While out on battalion drill this morning an order came to march in fifteen minutes, which caused a lively double- quicking for camp. Tents were struck, rations and accoutrements packed, and the men in line by the required time. A march of six miles up the river, through Bakerville, brought us to a fine, healthy location away from the effluvia of the Antietam battle-ground, and served as an outpost for a foray of the enemy. Our new abode was named "Camp Penniman," in honor of Hon. E. J. Penniman, of 70 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Plymouth. Three days' rations were ordered to be kept constantly in our haversacks which kept us in moving expectations. The soldiers know not when or where they are to go. Rumors are afloat about this, that, or something else, but scarcely ever do the men, when on the march, know their destination. Regimental inspection was ordered for Friday morning, but after standing in line all day, awaiting the inspecting officers, we proceeded to our tents. The farce seemed likely to be repeated the next day, but they finally came and the unpleasant performance was ended once more. HURRAH FOR THE UNION! CHAPTER IV. March to the Rappahannock. RAIN STORM MARCH — CAMP MISERY. AMID a hard, freezing rainstorm on Sunday afternoon, October 26, we were ordered to strike tents and march in one hour. Our blankets and tentstrips were rolled into packs, and at 3 o'clock we moved ofi in the mud and slop, wet and cold. We marched back to Bakerville, thence along the edge of Antietam battlefield, by Smoketown Hospital to Keedysville ; thence south across the road by which we marched to Sharpsburg. Too dark to march, the soldier in our front is scarcely seen. Filing into an open field, we bivouacked for the' night, calling the place "Camp Misery." It was on a sloping field without grass, and in lying down anywhere, one soon found himself wet with running water from the hill top. Rails were soon brought from the nearest fence, fires built, and all night long while drying one side of our bodies, the other was getting wet from the drenching rain. And thus the miserable night was passed. [For route see map in last chapter.] CAMP COMFORT — CAMP HICKEY. Monday, October 27, morning came, cold, but the storm had ceased. Hardtack and coffee were swallowed in a biting, cold wind, and we were again in line for the march. A halt was made for two brigades to pass. Ranks were broken and in a few moments scores of fires were blazing from Maryland fence rails. Our clothes were dried and we moved on happy again. After a march of ten miles over the Blue Ridge Mountains, we encamped in Pleasant Valley and called the place "Camp Comfort." Tuesday, October 28, eleven o'clock, found us on the road again, passing by log houses, over South Mountain, via Crampton's Gap, through Birkettsville and Petersville, halting for the day about two miles from Berlin on the Potomac. Our location was called " Camp Hickey," after Reverend Manasseh Hickey of Detroit Conference. We were in the midst of marshalled legions, six miles below Harper's (71) 72 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Ferry, waiting our turn to cross on the pontoons over which troops were passing day and night into Virginia. Here our knapsacks arrived from Washington and we welconaed them for the clothing they contained. An opportunity was given for such of the Twenty-fourth as desired, to enlist in the regular army. Colonel Morrow feelingly discouraged the idea, giving good reasons for our remaining a " Volunteer," a name full of glory and honor. Not a man enlisted from our regiment. BACK IN OLD VIRGINIA — CAMP HENNESSY. Thursday, October 30. Our turn to cross the Potomac will come in two hours. Our sick are hastily forwarded to Washington by rail. The regiment was assembled and Chaplain Way invoked the guidance of the Lord of Hosts as we should move on in the holy cause of our country's rescue, and that our friends in far away Michigan may be permitted to welcome us to hearth and home when our task is done. Tents were struck, knapsacks slung and off we moved for the Potomac I^ Hi^IT^ r^^^ir^ CROSSING POTOMAC AT BERLIN, MD., ON PONTOONS, OCTOBER 30, i862. which was crossed to the tune of Yankee Doodle. This day our lady visitors left us, and as we moved up the Virginia bank, they stood on the opposite shore of the river waving a tearful adieu. Winding our way up the steep Virginia bank of the Potomac, we traversed once more the "sacred soil," as the Virginians boastingly termed the earth of that State. By the quickstep we made good time MARCH TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK. 73 over excellent roads for about eight miles, passing through Lovettsville and about 9 o'clock, encamped in a field sheltered on two sides by pine woods. Our temporary home was named "Camp Hennessy," after Father Hennessy, of Detroit. Fires were built with Virginia rails, coffee made, and soon we slept again in Secessia. CAMP DUNCAN STEWART — RAIDING. Friday, October 31. In the afternoon, after being mustered for pay, we moved forward a couple of miles and pitched our tents in an orchard, the trees of which were loaded with the fruitage of the season. The location was called "Camp Duncan Stewart," after Detroit's generous citizen whom the mob was going to hano- at the war meeting on the Campus Martins, for his Unionism. The camp was on the farm of a man who, with several sons, was in the enemy's army. This fact becoming known to the brigade, in less than twenty minutes, a large straw stack was carried away by the armful for bed- ding, and all out-build- ings were stripped of vegetables and every- thing eatable, turkeys and chickens included, unless they roosted high. A guard soon ended the raiding and the plunder was ordered returned, but many a fowl with its neck wrung, and other booty were concealed beneath the men's blankets on which they were "resting" after their two mile march, when the searching detail passed around. The men justified their conduct on the ground that we were in a secession State, and that it was no worse than the enemy treated Union men. Right or wrong it was one of the evils that Virginia had brought upon herself when she left the Union. RAIDING A STRAW STACK. 74 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. THE soldier's KNAPSACK. The soldier's knapsack forms an important part of his outfit. To him, it is like a trunk for the traveller, except he lugs it on his back or shoulders. With this filled with winter clothing, and with his shelter tent, blanket, three days' rations, canteen, belt, gun and sixty rounds of cartridges, each soldier has a load of burdensome weight. At the several halting places on the march, many articles of clothing, etc., were thrown away to lighten their burdens. Then each knapsack frequently contained articles presented by friends, — such as bibles, mirrors, brushes, and home souvenirs, not to mention half a dozen ambrotypes of as many of the "girls they left behind them." As the load, in weight a burden to a mule, is borne along amid the rays of a southern sun, article after article is tossed by the wayside, even the ambrotypes of all but the soldier's best girl. Carefully looking at each one of these, he thought " How happy he could be with either, etc." But as all these dear charmers are far away, he resolves no longer to make his back a traveling daguerrean gallery. So, selecting out the one of his best girl to keep, he says good-bye to the pictures of Miss Nettie and Miss Susan as they go humming down among the rocks or over into some stream. MARCH TO PURCELLSVILLE — CAMP TOWERS. Saturday, November i. Breaking camp at lo o'clock, we went twelve miles on the quickstep to Purcellsville, in Loudon County. It was our hardest march so far, excepting our rain march on Sunday last. We bivouacked in a fine grove of oak and walnut trees and called the place " Camp Towers." Sunday was a beautiful day which we enjoyed in our forest home. Colonel Morrow gave the men some good advice how to act in battle, and Surgeon Beech instructed us what to do in case we should be wounded, to prevent a loss of blood, saying that a bayonet could be run through a man almost anywhere without killing him, which braced up somewhat our expectations of human life. Some cannonading was heard towards Snicker's Gap, six miles away, and Company F was sent out on picket duty. During the afternoon, a council of war was held at a house near by. Generals McClellan and Burnside were present on the veranda in front, where they were observed by many for half an hour. We were ordered to keep under arms, but had a good night's rest. No more will the huge MARCH TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK. 75 baton flourish ahead of our band at guardmount and dress parade, our fife and drum majors having been sent home this day as unnecessary appendages. MARCHING THROUGH FAUQUIER COUNTY. The morning of Monday, November 3, found us in marching array again, this marching being a part of the soldier's business. We were kept standing by our guns until noon, when we marched seven miles with but one halt, to Snickersville at the foot of the Blue Ridge, halting in a cornfield for bivouac. Tuesday, November 4. Another march of six or seven miles brought us a mile southeast of Bloomfield. Lieutenant Flanigan led the regiment as Colonel Morrow was in command of the brigade. He organized his brigade staff by selecting Lieutenant D. V. Bell for acting assistant Commissary, and Lieutenant Whiting as Aide. General Gibbon Avas in command of a division. Scarcely an ablebodied man was seen hereabouts. The women were saucy secessionists, the young ladies singing secession songs. The raiding of flocks and poultry continues. The old regiments are more expert, but the new ones soon learn. On the 5th, the regiment moved rapidly about fifteen miles to Piedmont in Fauquier County, on the Manassas Gap railroad, the gap being seen clearly in the west. The roads were rough and rocky. We encamped near McClellan's headquarters and numerous signal rockets of lurid red, white and blue, were sent burning through the sky. Company D was sent on picket, the enemy's pickets being in view, as disclosed by their campfires. GUARDING THE WAGON TRAIN — COLONEL MORROW'S OLD HOME. On Thursday the 6th, the Twenty-fourth Michigan was detailed to guard the wagon train, while Colonel Morrow with the rest of the Iron brigade got an early start ahead. The corps this day marched by company front through fields; the artillery, baggage and ammunition trains moving in the road, thus guarded against an expected raid. Longstreet's corps of the enemy was at Warrenton, our destination, but it moved out as the Iron Brigade came in at 5 o'clock. This is the town in which Colonel Morrow was born and sported in early boyhood. Directly facing the road by which he entered the town at the head of the Iron Brigade, stood the house in which he (6) je HISTORY OF THE T VVEt>JTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. spent his childhood hours. In yonder graveyard his mother lies buried. The town now is bitterly disloyal. Not a welcome voice was heard nor a Union flag displayed. All houses and buildings were closed and a few old secession flags fluttered in the northern- breeze. The Iron Brigade moved out on the Sulphur Springs road about a mile and went into camp. WARRENTON, VIRGINIA. TRIALS OF THE MARCH ^ — THE DESERTED HOME. All day the Twenty-fourth Michigan plodded along for eighteen miles in rear of the wagon-train, which was stretched out for several miles, halting at many intervals for the teams to get out of some axle-deep mire hole. Scarcely would one wagon get pried out ere the next driver would get his wagon stuck in the same place. The enemy's guerrillas got their work in on a part of the train far away from the Twenty-fourth, and destroyed some of the wagons. We passed through White Plains village early, the most dismal and forsaken looking town we ever saw — not a human soul, nor MARCH TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK. "jy fence, nor house-shutter to be seen. Desolation reigned supreme, each house a veritable "Deserted Mansion." " No figure stirred to go or come. No face looked forth from open shut or casement; No chimney smoked; there was no sign of home, From parapet to basement. No dog was on the threshold, great or small. No pigeon on the roof, no household creature; No cat demurely dozing on the wall, Not one domestic feature." CAMP FLANIGAN — SHORT RATIONS. It was midnight ere we reached Warrenton, through which we passed by moonlight, moving on to a position near our brigade. Weary and footsore, each man dropped down upon the ground for a little rest, but awoke in the morning to find himself covered with snow. We were in a thick wood, and the place was named "Camp Flanigan." During our tarry here the regiment experienced its first dearth of food, being two days without bread or other eatables. Colonel Morrow returned to us, and every little while "hardtack" was yelled out through the camp in impatient tones. For some reason our supplies were not up. At the end of two days a grist mill was seized, our millers set to grinding, and rations of corn meal were provided. This was cooked into mush, hoe-cake, and in other ways, as each man preferred. It continued to snow, and a cold wind, with a dearth of rations and smoky tents, rendered this a most disagreeable camp. REMOVAL OF GENERAL McCLELLAN. Monday, November lo, 1862. General McClellan having been relieved ^from -'command of the army, took his farewell leave of the troops this day. T Each brigade was drawn up in line as he rode by with uncovered head, his staff following. A few rods behind them rode his successor. General Burnside, and staff. The retiring General was cheered by his old troops. Considerable discussion, in field and press, followed his deposition. There had not been entire harmony between him and the President and War Office, for many months. He had one plan and the Washington officials seemed to have another, at almost every stage of the war thus far. Politics entered 78 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. ^^^fe" MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE B. McCLBLLAN. largely into the debate, and as our regiment had served under him only thirty days, it seems inappropriate to discuss the matter in this volume. He issued the following farewell address: Headquarters of the Army of the Potomac, ) Camp near Rectortovvn, Va., Nov, 7, 1862. ) Officers and Soldiers of the Ar}?iy of the Potomac : An order of the President devolves upon Major-General Burnside the command of this Army. In parting from you, I cannot express the love and gratitude I bear to you. As an army you have grown up in my care. In you I have never found doubt or coldness. The battles you have fought under my command will probably live in our Nation's history. The glory you have achieved over mutual perils and fatigues, the graves of our comrades fallen in battle and disease, the broken forms of those whom wounds and sickness have disabled, the strongest associations which can exist among men, unite us by an indissoluble tie. We shall ever be comrades in supporting. the Constitution of our Country and the Nationality of its people. GEORGE B. McCLELLAN, Major-General U. S. A. Some inconsiderate inferiors importuned him to ignore the President's order of removal and march his army on Washington. All such foolish proposals met with a most decisive rebuke in the above terse, appropriate and patriotic farewell, which can but command respect from friend and critic. MARCH TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK. 79 DRAWING AND COOKING RATIONS. As at home, so in the army, eating is an essential part of life. In new regiments, it is customary to have a cook for each company, who with an assistant is detailed to prepare food for the men. Several large sized camp kettles form part of their outfit in which they boil the beef, pork, beans, etc. When the order " Fall in for rations " is given, the men form in line with their tin cups and tin plates. The freshly cooked food is frequently all given out before some at the end of the line get any — the fault of the stupid miscalculations of the cook, how much to give each man, or of the selfish "hog" who usually manages to get a double share. Dissatisfaction results and the company's cook dies early. His history like his epitaph is brief. He is fired back into the ranks and a new system adopted. The orderly with a detail goes to the Regiment's Quartermaster and draws the company's rations of beef, pork, sugar, ground coffee, rice, etc., which are divided up in a more even way. The raw beef or pork is cut into pieces about the size of a tea cup, and then the men gather around the orderly or non-commissioned officer having the distribution in charge, like chickens around a hen, and as each man's name is called, he walks up and gets one or more day's rations, which he can cook to suit himself. If wasteful of his rations, he alone suffers. Cooking rations is another feature of army life. Sometimes the pork is fried in tin plates, sometimes, like the beef, a slice is stuck on the end of a ramrod and held over the campfire, a hardtack being usually held under in order not to lose any of the grease that melts out of it. Our bread is of cracker shape and thickness, about four inches square, and very hard — hence the name "hardtack." The boxes containing it frequently were marked " B. C." evidently the manufacturer's initials, but the soldiers insisted that it stood for " Before Christ," when the stuff must have been made. To make it palatable it is soaked a few minutes in cold water, which leavens it to a pulp, and we then fry it on our tin plates, with a slice of pork. Hot water has no effect on the hardtack except to make it tough like leather. The soldier fills his tin cup two-thirds full of cold water and puts in a spoonful of ground coffee. The cup is set over some coals and when it boils, his coffee is ready to drink. He sugars it, but as to milk and such luxuries, he bade farewell to these when he enlisted. And thus his meal is made, sometimes by a little fire he builds himself; at other times with his tentmates. 8o HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Occasionally he has to eat his pork raw as there is no chance to cook it or boil his coffee. The soldier likes nothing better than his coffee ; without it he could not long endure field life. Only at times in camp "are the large kettles brought out for a beef soup to save the marrow and meat that adhere to the bones. But the cooking of his coffee and food is often attended with patience — frequently without it. Often as the soldier gets his coffee nearly boiled, or meat and hardtack nearly cooked, someone passes along and accidentally gets his foot upon the protruding end of the rails or sticks in the fire, and away goes the food onto the ground. The soldier's menu is made up as follows: Breakfast — Coffee, Hardtack, Pork. Dinner — Hardtack, Pork, Coffee. Supper — Pork, Coffee, Hardtack. An occasional beef ration takes the place of pork. He has plenty of sugar and salt. Occasional rations of rice and of beans are issued, which are boiled in their tin coffee cups. MARCHING SOUTHWARD — CAMP NALL — ARMY PROFANITY. Tuesday, November ii. The delayed provision trains arrived last night and this afternoon the army moved on southward under its new commander. Marching back to Warrenton, whose citizens viewed us with a morose and dogged sullenness, we continued eight miles south to Fayetteville — a place without a house — where we halted for several days, calling our abode "Camp Nail." Monday, November 17. Amid a snow and rain storm last night, we were ordered to fall out of our tents to draw three days* rations, and 9 o'clock this morning found the line again on the march. Crossing the Orange & Alexandria Railroad at Bealton, we moved fifteen miles, and the next day ten miles further, into Stafford county. On the 19th we proceeded a mile and a half to Potomac Creek, a small stream', but bordered by very steep bluffs. Up the winding roadway the artillery and wagons were dragged by the weary teams, assisted by the soldiers. One driver, while urging his team up the hill, indulged in gross blasphemy and was overheard by our Chaplain giving orders to the Deity to do so and so. The good Chaplain believing this an occasion for the exercise of his duties, mildly asked the driver if he knew who it was that he was addressing, and received the reply, " Don't MARCH TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK. 8 1 propound any of your conundrums to me now." Profanity prevailed to a horrible extent in the army, as if necessary for emphasizing speech. The absence of woman's direct influence probably had something to do with this phase of army life. One not accustomed to the ungentlemanly habit, had to be very guarded not to indulge in it himself, so general was the practice. CAMP BLAIR — WONDERFUL COINCIDENCE. After sleeping all night in a drizzling rain, at 5 o'clock of the 20th, we pushed on up the slippery bank and through the red, clayey soil for three miles to Stafford Court House, one of the most ancient of the Old Dominion, and near which is the famous Stafford Hall, where General Robert E. Lee was born and reared. First encamping in an old corn field we soon pulled up for some woods nearer the Iron Brigade, and named the location "Camp Blair," after Michigan's war governor. Hardly were we in our tents, when a cold, severe rainstorm set in for all night. Fires could only be built by holding blankets over the fuel until the heat gained strength over the hostile elements. But neither tents nor fire were sufficient to protect from the storm, and all got drenching wet. Here the regiment learned of its second man's death since it left home — Roswell B. Curtiss of Nankin, Company C, who died at Harewood Hospital in Washington, D. C, ten days after leaving the regiment at Berlin, Maryland, of diphtheria induced by exposure on the fatal rain-march of Sunday, October 26. By a strange coincidence, Corporal O. B. Curtis of Company D, a month after the receipt of this news, after passing through the terrible tempest of battle, was taken wounded to Washington and placed on the same cot on which his cousin, the above comrade, had died. Name and family resemblance discovered the relationship to the physician and nurse, from whom were first learned the full particulars of his death. The Michigan papers confused their names, and the confused intelligence was the occasion of a discourse by President Tappan on the latter, in the chapel of Michigan University, which institution he had left for the war a few months before. Great was the surprise of Dr. Tappan, some months later, during the chapel exercises, as the supposed dead student soldier walked up the aisle to a seat, amid the stamping of his classmates. 82 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. C^ #1 Cv- ^ <'^ I 9^ 4'^ .vCw^ ■> a^"^*^ MARCH TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK. 83 CAMPS WARD AND CHANDLER — GUARDING RAILROAD. On Saturday afternoon, the 22d, the regiment marched seven miles and halted for three days at "Camp E. B. Ward," named after the Detroit citizen whom the mob of July 15 was going to hang on the Campus Martins for his Union sentiments. At this camp Captain William J. Speed was appointed Division Judge Advocate; Captain C. B. Crosby was seriously ill but loth to go home so long as he could do duty ; General Meredith, late Colonel of the Nineteenth Indiana, had been assigned to command the " Iron Brigade," and Lieutenant J. M. Howard, Jr., was promoted to Aide on his staff. Tuesday, November 25. The regiment was this day assigned to guarding about ten miles of the railroad from near Acquia Creek on the Potomac towards Falmouth on the Rappahannock, opposite Fredericksburg, with headquarters at Brooks' Station, about five miles from the Potomac. The location was upon Accaceek Creek, the old Indian names still prevailing in Virginia, and was called "Camp Chandler," after Michigan's great war senator. The companies guarded their respective sections of track. Company A being nearest to Acquia Creek, and each company in order as it appears on parade, the march, or in line of battle, which is as follows as to letter and number: A, I, For the next eleven days each company enjoyed camp life by itself and the men wondered if it was to be a permanent arrangement for the winter, as timber and good water were abundant. The locomotive " Government " had been brought down from Washington by boat and hauled trains of supplies to the legions of Union soldiers marshalled along the Rappahannock. Thanksgiving Day passed with the usual camp duties, but none of the good things the day brings at home. SAD EXPERIENCE AT BROOKS' STATION.^ On Friday, December 5th, the companies were relieved from duty on the railroad, gave up the huts and encampment houses they had built, to the relieving command, and assembled at Brooks' Station. The clouds poured down a heavy rain which changed to a freezing snow storm, the wind whistled shrilly over the hills in northern winter style. Every tree and twig was covered with ice, F, D, I, C, H, E, K, G, 6, 4. 9. 3, 8, 5, 10, 7. 84 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. and much discomfort prevailed. The tent hospital was filled with pneumonia patients. It was hard thus to be sick in a field tent with none but men for nurses, and lying on a hard board or the ground. Colonel Morrow passed from one to another of the sick, cheering them with hopeful words. Efforts were made in vain by Colonel and Surgeons to secure a house for the sick until an application was made to General Meade, who was formerly connected with the " Lake Coast Survey" at Detroit, and acquainted with Colonel Morrow. He immediately dispersed a Court Martial and placed the building in the hands of our Surgeons, who removed our sick thereto. To the credit of Michigan soldiers, our regiment had thus far borne up bravely. But our days of trial as to disease and death were with us at Brooks' Station. That row of graves on yonder knoll told the sad story of our hardships here. The frozen earth that fell on their rough coffin-lids struck a pang to the hearts of loved ones in far away Michigan. Each was buried with appropriate religious and military customs, and their graves distinctly marked and enclosed. One boy was but seventeen years old. Sad indeed that one so young should have to die from hardship so far away from home and friends. Reader, if you have boys of that age, ask yourself how you would like to see them bear the burdens of soldier life far away from your fireside — to die from exposure and homesickness — and you begin to measure the hardships of war. At the firing of one funeral salute, a ball cartridge had been carelessly put into a gun, and Abraham Hoffman of Company H, was shot from shoulder to shoulder. Captain C. B. Crosby having resigned, started for home from this camp. Left sick at Detroit when the regiment took its departure, he rejoined it too soon. He made the fatiguing marches of the past two months when not fit to be in the field, and to save his life, the Surgeons insisted that he should resign, which he reluctantly did. BURIAL PARTY WAIT FOR A SOLDIER TO DIE — MARCH TO THE FRONT. On December 8, ex-Justice James Nowlin, of Romulus, of Company K, died of homesickness and general debility. He was 70 years old but at his enlistment represented himself as 43 only. The regiment was under marching orders and Assistant Surgeon Collar told Quartermaster Bell that a coffin would be needed for Nowlin. Supposing the man was dead, his coffin was procured by the Quarter- master, and Lieutenant C. C. Yemans, with the Chaplain and burial MARCH TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK. 85 party, arrived with it at the hospital at 9 o'clock at night, to bury him. His grave had been dug and all preparations made for a funeral — except the corpse. To the astonishment of the burial party they found the man still alive. At the end of two hours his spirit had taken its flight and the old man was buried at midnight with the usual honors of war. Soon after midnight on Tuesday morning, December 9, the regiment marched away from Brooks' Station to within five miles of the Rappahannock and on the loth moved two miles nearer and awaited orders to move forward into the impending battle. THE PERSIMMON TREE. CHAPTER V. Battle of Fredericksburg. THE SITUATION — HEROIC CHARGE OF THE SEVENTH MICHIGAN INFANTRY. UPON assuming command of the Army of the Potomac, General Burnside re-organized it into three grand divisions. General Sumner commanded the right (Second and Ninth Corps); General Franklin commanded the left (Twelfth and Sixth Corps); and General Hooker the center (Third and Fifth Corps). The Eleventh Corps under General Sigel u^as on the reserve. At this time, one part of the Confederate army was at Culpepper, and the other part in the Shenandoah Valley. Instead of interposing between these divided forces, Burnside started his army for Falmouth, nearly opposite Fredericksburg. When Lee discovered this movement, he united his forces at Fredericksburg. Before the pontoons arrived for Burnside to cross the river, Lee arranged his army along the hills in the rear of the city and strongly fortified the heights with earthworks. On both sides of the Rappahannock at this place, run well defined crests of hills. The northern are known as Stafford Heights, and are close to the river's margin. The southern are about a mile, more or less, back from the stream. The strongest position of this range is Marye's* Height, directly back of the city. Near its base is a sunken road, also a stone wall. Both the Height and the adjacent hills were defended with ranges of artillery. The pontoons arrived after much delay. On the night of December lo they were conveyed to the river bank and 149 pieces of Union artillery placed along Stafford Heights. The laying of the pontoons was begun early on the morning of the nth. When discovered by the enemy, a deadly fire of musketr)'- from rifle pits and houses opposite compelled the workmen to stop. The Federal batteries bombarded the city and fired it in several places. The bridge (S6) * Pronounced Maree's BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 8r building was renewed several times, but each time without success, the enemy's bullets being too deadly for the pontooneers. The Union artillerists could not depress their guns so as to reach the rifle pits. Burnside resolved to send over a storming party, in boats, to disperse the enemy's riflemen. Colonel N. J. Hall volunteered to attempt the heroic deed, saying that he had a Michigan regiment that would perform the task. Five minutes later away dashed the gallant Seventh Michigan Infantry down the river bank. Jumping into the boats, they pulled for the MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE. opposite shore — a heroic act that brought cheers from the other soldiers, and waving of handkerchiefs from some lady spectators on the blufT. Volleys from the enemy's rifle pits produced their deadly work. The Union guns on the Heights played upon the houses in front, and the occasion became intensely grand. A landing was effected and up the bank swept that heroic band, capturing as many prisoners as the storming party numbered. And thus in twenty minutes a handful of Michigan men, by a dash of bravery, accomplished what ten hours and tons of artillery metal had failed to do. This gallant deed added new honor to the already lustrous record of Michigan troops. 88 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. "Dark rolled the Rappahannock's flood, Michigan, my Michigan. The tide was crimsoned with thy blood, Michigan, my Michigan. Although for us the day was lost. Yet it shall be our proudest boast. At Fredericksburg our Seventh crossed, Michigan, my Michigan. After the Seventh Michigan had crossed, the boats were rowed back across the river to bring over the Ninteenth and Twentieth Massachusetts. The bridges were soon completed and a division passed over and occupied the town that night. ON THE LEFT — MARCHING TO THE FIELD — TAKING POSITIONS. The two bridges for FrankHn's grand division to cross, about a mile and a half below the city, were not completed till one o'clock on Thursday the nth. Some resistance was offered, but a few charges of canister caused the enemy to flee. Franklin sent a few troops over in the afternoon, but recalled them until the bridge opposite the City was laid. The Twenty-fourth Michigan arrived at the river with the Iron Brigade (General Meredith in command), on Thursday, December nth. While listening to the roar of the Union guns farther up the river, the paymaster arrived and paid the regiment the ever welcome two months' pay. Many entrusted their pay and allotment checks to Chaplain Way, to be forwarded to their friends at home. Some sent their last pay and wrote their last letters on that day. The regiment bivouacked for the night near the bridges. Early on Friday morning, the I2th, the bugles sounded and ■drums beat, hardtack and pork being eaten, and hot coffee drank so hastily as to burn the throats of many. Ranks were formed and all made ready to move at command. The regiment moved to the right of the Iron Brigade, and closed column by division (two companies in a regimental division) on first division, where Colonel Morrow gave the men some good advice as to their behavior in the impending battle. He said Wayne County expected every man to do his duty — but his speech was cut short by one of General Meredith's Aides ordering him to move his regiment out at once. It was about noon when the Iron Brigade crossed the lower of the two bridges known as BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 89 Franklin's Crossing, and marched down the river about a mile, halting to allow some troops in front to maneuver into position. The long range of hills on which were planted the enemy's guns appeared in view. The Sixth Corps had preceded the First Corps across the pontoons and formed a line of battle parallel with the river and within half a mile of the enemy's position. General Gibbon's division of the Frst Corps joined on the left of the Sixth Corps, with FRANKLIN S CROSSING TO BATTLEFIELD OF FREDERICKSBURG. Meade's division on his left, and forming at right angles with Gibbon ; Meade's left resting on the river at Smithfield. Doubleday's division (in which was the Iron Brigade) formed in reserve in rear of Gibbon and Meade. The Iron Brigade was formed in column by companies closed £n masse on top of a slight elevation where their guns were stacked and ranks broken. The enemy soon discovered their position and trained their guns upon them, and dropped a few solid shot and shell squarely among them. The first one that struck in the Twenty-fourth caused some commotion, but did no damage. The Colonel told the men not to get excited, as lightning never struck twice in the same place. Immediately another shell exploded in closer proximity to him. "The h it don't" exclaimed a man in Company C, and all •were moved forward a short distance, off the crest, so as not to draw 90 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. the fire of the enemy. This piece of merriment restored coolness. Moving further down the river, the Twenty-fourth bivouacked in a chestnut grove near the Barnard House where it remained without fires until morning. This house was a stately, ancestral stone mansion fronting the Rappahannock. Its owner, Mr. Barnard, was a full blooded F. F. V. Some Surgeons had taken possession of it for a hospital, against his protests. His word had long been authority thereabouts and he BARNARD'S MANSION. haughtily demanded of General Reynolds, its immediate evacuation. This ofificer was noted for his reticence and made no reply; but soon after, this proprietary nuisance was marching off in charge of a corporal's guard and caused no more annoyance. On Saturday morning, December 13, under cover of a dense fog, the Federal troops formed for the terrible contest, on the open plain in rear of the City and three miles below. Meade's division changed front, facing the enemy on the heights and extending the lines further down the river. Doubleday's division was formed at right angles with Gibbon, and as Meade's regiments moved forward and wheeled to the right into line of battle, Doubleday's division moved forward taking the place of Meade, the left of the Twenty-fourth Michigan resting nearly on the river at Smithfield. It was a grand sight to see the troops, as far as the eye could reach, moving into their respective BATTLE OP^ FREDERICKSBURG. 9I positions with the regularity of clock work. Regiments with the alacrity of a company, brigades moving as a single regiment, formed for the terrible onset. About a mile back from the river was a range of hills which gradually lowered down to the level of the plain on the left of the battlefield. At the front of the range and nearly parallel with it ran the Richmond railroad. Nearer the river was the Bowling Green or old Richmond Stage road, between which and the river is a wide open plain. Some distance further down, the Massaponax creek runs into the Rappahannock. About nine o'clock the ball was opened by Reynolds' Corps (ist) with his center division under Meade, supported by Gibbon's Division on the right. Doubleday's division was in reserve on the extreme left. Meade and Gibbon, after a severe struggle, carried the first line of the enemy's works on the crest. In the dense wood their divisions lost connection, and the enemy getting a reverse fire upon Meade's flanks, both divisions retired from their mile of advance. Shortly after Meade's advance in the morning, Doubleday's Division was turned off a mile to the left to repel a menaced attack towards the Massaponax. MOVEMENTS OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH AND THE IRON BRIGADE. Early in the morning Battery B, Fourth U. S. Artillery, took position, and the Iron Brigade was ordered to support it. After a time the Twenty-fourth was formed by the right flank a short distance to clear the houses, and formed a line of battle, still facing south. While waiting to be ordered forward, some wounded from the center division were carried past, which severely tested the nerves of the men. One fellow had a crushed foot. Another, with both calves of his legs shot away, was breathing heavily and trying to conceal his agony. He said : " God bless you, boys. May He keep you from this terrible slaughter." The Iron Brigade was formed in column by regiments at the head of the division. The Twenty-fourth Michigan being a large regiment, its right wing was formed on the right of the brigade and its left wing in rear of the other wing. The other four regiments were formed in the rear with one hundred paces between each. In this manner the Iron Brigade moved forward half a mile to a ravine, when it was halted and the Twenty-fourth deployed into line, their left reaching the river, supported by the other regiments formed in (7) 92 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. •column by division. At this time the enemy opened with artillery, but owing to a heavy fog his range was imperfect and there was no injury. Our skirmishers had now met those of the enemy, and the musketry indicated opposition to further advance. The Iron Brigade advanced across the ravine and a line of battle was formed with the Sixth Wisconsin on the left. Advancing some distance the skirmishers reported a force of cavalry and infantry concealed in a piece of pine woods skirting the river, immediately in front. The four center companies of the Twenty-fourth were broken to the rear and six of Battery B's guns planted in the space. They opened fire at once and shelled the woods. BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 93 The Iron Brigade then advanced in two h'nes on the wood. In the first line were the Twenty-fourth Michigan and Seventh Wisconsin. In the second Hne were the Nineteenth Indiana and Second Wisconsin; the two lines being supported by the Sixth Wisconsin. The advance was preceded by some U. S. sharpshooters, whom the Twenty-fourth overtook at a fence and who refused to enter the woods. The captain of the sharpshooters called on the Twenty-fourth " to kick his men ■over the fence," and move ahead into the woods, which it did, as General Doubleday said, " in gallant style, taking a number of prisoners and horses." This division commander further said: In this affair my attention was particularly called to the Twenty-fourth Michigan Volunteers, a new regiment for the first time under fire. I was pleased to see the alacrity and courage with which they performed the duty assigned them. The thorough drill of the Twenty-fourth thus won for it this praise, its alignment being straight as an arrow and winning the admiration of the whole division. In passing through the wood it proved to be a very strong position intersected with ravines and covered with undergrowth, while fortifications and masked batteries were arranged to sweep the river a long distance. After some further advance toward the Massaponax, the Iron Brigade changed front, and forming to the right in an open field with a ravine running through it, held a line running parallel with the Bowling Green road. While there, one of our batteries crossed the ravine, and opened fire on the enemy's batteries. In a short time, orders came for the Twenty-fourth to advance and support the battery. It marched to the ravine. Some lay down in a ditch, others in water, the shot and shell whizzing over their heads as thick as hail from batteries on the right, left and center, which filled the air and ploughed the earth around. The artillerists were wounded and reduced. A call was made for volunteers to man the guns, and immediately privates Seril Chilson and Abram F. Burden of D, and Sullivan D. Green of F, stepped to the front and worked with the battery the rest of the day. OUR FIRST CASUALTIES — DRILL ON THE BATTLE-FIELD. Soon after, the Twenty-fourth formed on the open brow of the hill again, fully exposed to the belching fire of the enemy's guns. It was about 4 o'clock. The regiment soon found shelter again in the friendly ditch, but not before sustaining its first losses in action. A solid shot cut off the arm of John Bryant, and instantly killed 94 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Louis Hattie by severing his head from his body. Both be- longed to Company I. Young Hattie was but eighteen years old, and the favorite of the regi- ment. The casualty was soon known along the line and created some unsteadiness in the execution of orders. It was a most trying moment as the cannon balls ploughed through the ranks, and shells shrieked like demons in the air. Colonel Morrow saw the wavering lines and was quick to discern that no troops would long stand in such a fire unem- ployed, without the privilege of returning a single shot. To' bring the men to themselves he halted the regiment and put it through the manual of arms drill. His sonorous orders: "Attention, battalion! Right dress ! Front ! Support arms,, etc." were heard over the field,, and with all the precision of a parade, the orders were obeyed. It was a glorious sight to see nearly a thousand men standing at a "support arms," while the air was torn with cannon balls and the very hills seemed to rock under the reverberations. This drill showed admirable discipline, and was creditable to men and Colonel. The Twenty-fourth again found shelter in the ravine ditch. But soon after, to meet BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 95 some demonstrations from a supposed cavalry attack, it was moved back toward the wood and formed square to resist cavalry. Meanwhile Battery B was sent to contend with two batteries and soon silenced them. The Iron Brigade would have captured them, but the attack of Meade and Gibbon had failed, and the enemy, with loud yells, was following back these divisions. The Iron Brigade was moved by the right flank to ward off this danger, but the work was done by other troops. In this movement a cannon shot took off the head of David Reed of B, and wounded several others. The enemy had the range again with fatal effect. A fence was in the regiment's front with ditches on each side. Colonel Morrow gave orders to lie down. The men went into the ditch with a plunge pell-mell, oflficers and men alike. It was well they did so for they were under a terrible crossfire. Remaining there till about dark, another order came to move by the left flank to a position that would be under cover of some woods, where it was supposed they would be out of the reach of the enemy's guns. The most of the Iron Brigade was behind a ditch running from the Bowling Green road to the wood on the river bank. In the last movement of the Twenty-fourth a single shot took off the heads of Lieutenant David Birrell and three others : killing also another and wounding three more, all in Company K. The Twenty-fourth regiment lay down in the woods on the left of the line, and the grape flew lively over the tree tops. In a short time, they marched back again to the fence where they lay on their arms in the ditch all night, the enemy from several pieces of artillery continuing to hurl canister over their heads far into the night. It was the regiment's first fight. Nobly had it stood the fiery ordeal of its bloody baptism without the poor privilege of returning an answering shot. It had won honor for itself and old Wayne County, but sorrow filled every breast. It was truly a mournful event when the Captain of Company K, that night, searched for the trunkless head of his son upon the battlefield, Avhile the canister was whistling above him, and placed it with the young boy's remains for burial ! Lieutenant Birrell and the latter. Sergeant Wallace W. Wight had slept together the night before and laid plans for the day's contest. Alas, for human hopes! their dreams of youth were brief and they again slept side by side, in bloody graves. 96 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. ON THE FEDERAL RIGHT — CHARGE OF THE IRISH BRIGADE. The attack by Sumner on the extreme right began about ir o'clock, when his forces deployed from the city over the plain and up the elevation in front of Marye's Height, but without avail. The whole field was swept so effectually by converging crossfires from batteries along the semi-circular crest, that a chicken could scarcely get through alive. It seemed folly to march men up into such a vortex of death — a movement which every soldier and officer except the Commander, believed to be useless. Three unsuccessful attempts had been made to scale these Heights, yet Burnside insisted " That crest must be carried to-night," a resolve born of desperation,, not of judgement or good generalship. Soon after, loud cheers were heard at the front ; not the " rebel yell," but from the proud ranks of Thomas Francis Meagher's Irish Brigade. With sleeves rolled up, bearing aloft the green flag of Ireland and the Star Spangled Banner, they moved upon the stone wall in that valley of death. For several minutes not a gun was fired on either side. It was a forlorn hope and the desperate charge was beheld with interest and wonder by friend and foe. As they neared the vortex of death, a hundred guns opened upon them. Closing up their ranks, they double-quicked for the Heights, but vain task! with fearful loss the gallant charge was a failure. Next, Hooker was ordered in. Surveying the field and consulting those who had preceded him in the attempt he spurs his horse back to Burnside and urges him to cease the attack. But the latter insists, and Humphrey's division, with empty muskets, 4,000 strong,, formed for the charge. In half an hour, 1,800 of them lay dead and wounded on that bloody plain. Darkness dropped its curtain on the tragic contest. Far better had the bloody efforts ceased after the first assault disclosed the impregnability of the enemy's position, and the fearful slaughter that followed would have been averted. That night was very cold, and mortal can never know the agony and suffering of the wounded on that crimsoned field. No aid could reach them that night nor the next day, and as the dead stiffened, they were rolled into heaps to protect those still living. A woman residing near the scene said the field at night was blue, but the next morning it was white, as the dead had been stripped of their clothing by the enemy. Burnside resolved to renew the fight the next morning> leading his old Ninth Corps himself, but the unanimous voice of his- Generals prevailed against it and the tragedy was ended. BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 97 AFTER THE BATTLE — COMMENTS. Returning to the Iron Brigade: by the blunder of an Aide, General Meredith was relieved by Colonel Cutler of the Sixth Wisconsin, who slightly changed the line of the Twenty-fourth to avoid an enfilading fire. The Seventh Wisconsin was on its left and the other regiments in a second line 200 paces in the rear, which position was occupied during Sunday and Monday. During this time a portion of the Twenty-fourth was sent to the front on picket. There was sharp skirmishing but no engagement, and at intervals a brisk cannonading from the enemy's batteries. Their position was a strong one upon hills covered with a thick growth of wood, protected in front and flank by creeks, marshes and almost impenetrable underbrush. The whole was armed with batteries, ready to repel any effort to storm their stronghold. On Monday the 15th, General Franklin desiring to know the location and force of the extreme right of the foe, gave Colonel Morrow permission to make a reconnoissance to the Massaponax. In full view of the enemy, with Companies C and I and a few of E, he performed the task which resulted in much valuable information. The movement was hazardous, as they pushed nearly to the enemy's lines and might have been made prisoners easily. The Colonel and men received the thanks of General Franklin on the field for their work. On Monday the dead of the Twenty-fourth were gathered and the last sad rites performed. They were buried near where they fell, near the banks of the Rappahannock, on the field yet red with their blood. At half-past nine on Monday night, amid a rain storm, silently and secretly, not above a breath, came the order to pack up and be ready to move. At midnight, leaving the battle ground behind, and having placed pine boughs on the pontoon bridges to prevent the rumble of moving artillery, they quietly re-crossed the river at a quickstep, and moved up the hill which they had lately descended so full of hope. On Tuesday morning the whole Union army was safely on the north bank of the river without the loss of a gun. In the recent battle the Union army numbered 113,000 men, and the Confederate 78,500. The Union loss in killed, wounded and missing, was 12,653 ! the Confederate loss, 5,377. The common voice of mankind will condemn such sacrifice without any gain. Within five weeks after a change of commanders this army lost nearly as BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 99 many in action as was its total loss in action on the Peninsula. Yet, we do not wholly censure Burnside for the result. He protested that he was not equal to the command when it was forced upon him. The newspaper generals, too, must share the responsibility for a public sentiment which demanded that an end be put to a so-called " inactivity and delay," utterly regardless of all preparations of the army and essential conditions for success. It was Bull Run re-enacted. The new commander must fight a battle or suffer reproach and contumely from "shin-toasters" at home firesides. He fought and failed. Most generously did he assume all the responsibility, which somewhat blunted the keen edge of criticism. His plan of massing on the strongest point of the enemy was a tried military tactic. Greater generals had tried it, and both failed and succeeded. By it Napoleon won his victories ; yet it failed him at Aspern and Waterloo. By it Austerlitz, the Bridge of Lodi, and Wagram were won ; and later, Magenta and Solferino. Lee adopted it at Malvern Hill and Gettysburg and lost. Burnside had used it at Roanoke and Newbern and won. His heart was in the cause for which he fought, whatever his error in judgment or execution. It is idle to speculate on what might have been. Defeated and despondent, the army resumed its position on the north bank of the Rappahannock. LOSSES OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. * The following were killed on the battle-field : Second Lieutenant David Birrell, Company K. David Reed, B James R. Evving K Louis Hattie I John Litogot, K Sergeant Wallace W. Wight, . K Francis Pepin K The following were the wounded : Captain William A. Owen, in spine, by concussion of shell, G First Lieutenant Charles A. Hoyt, in leg, " " C Second " H. Rees Whiting, " " " A Second " F. Augustus Buhl, in arm, by shell, B Sergeant Robert A. Bain, arm amputated, K Sergeant George W. Fox, in shoulder K Corporal Daniel McPherson, in hand C Corporal Orson B. Curtis, D, lost left arm fighting in Third Brigade, Second Division, Second Army Corps, while on his way from the hospital at Brooks' Station to find his regiment, by consent of Assistant Surgeon Charles C. Smith. Corporal John Tait, in shoulder, G Private John Bryant, arm amputated I Private Fernando D. Forbes, in shoulder, K lOO HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Charles Willaird, wrist, ... A Bristol A. Lee, hand, . . . C Clark Davis, head, B Abraham Velie, arm, .... C George H. Graves, arm, . . . B Robert D. Simpson, shoulder, H The following were taken prisoners: Corporal Benjamin F. Buyer, F Corporal Irwin W. Knapp, F Corporal Royal L. Potter, F Oliver M. Moon, D Daniel D. Webster, F John Southard E Edward L. Farrell, H Edward Tracy, E Albert Ganong, K The following were missing: Arnold Stowell, H Alexander J. Eddy, I Sujnmary : Killed, 7; wounded, 18; prisoners, 9; missing, 2. Total, 36. The other regiments of the Iron Brigade lost as follows: Second Wisconsin, 11 Seventh Wisconsin, 12 Sixth Wisconsin, 4 Ninteenth Indiana, 6 COMPLIMENTS — MARCH TO BELLE PLAIN. A Detroit Free Press correspondent said : Let me record for our children, and our children's children, that the regiment which Wayne county raised in little more than ten days has, on its first field, fully sustained the honor of its State and added glory to the already bright record emblazoned upon the banners of other Michigan regiments. The day after the battle, General A. P. Hill sent in a flag of truce with which he sent his compliments to General Doubleday in admiration of the unyielding front maintained by his division, and that he never saw troops stand such a shelling in his life. The Confederate truce officer inquired, " What regiment of blue breeches was that .which withstood so gallantly the terrible enfilading fire of his batteries the evening before?" He was told that it was the Twenty-fourth Michigan. On December 19, General Meredith wrote to Colonel Morrow: The Twenty-fourth Michigan behaved splendidly under a terrific and continuous artillery fire, calculated severely to test the oldest and best disciplined troops, proving themselves worthy of association with the Iron Brigade, and it affords me pleasure to say that the compliments paid the regiment for their gallantry on that occasion are well deserved. BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. lor In his official report General Meredith also'said : The Twenty-fourth Michigan is a new regiment, having never before been under fire. They showed themselves worthy of the praises they have received. Their line of battle upon entering the woods was splendid, showing both courage and discipline. GENERAL ABNER DOUBLEDAY, COMMANDER OP FIRST DIVISION FIRST CORPS. General Doubleday in his official report said : Colonel Morrow's regiment led the advance and carried the woods in gallant style, capturing many prisoners and horses. In this affair my attention was particularly directed to this regiment, which had never before been under fire, and I was pleased to see the courage and alacrity with which they performed the duty assigned them. * * * The enemy were pressing hard upon my center, evidently with an intention to break it, and I used all the means within my power to strengthen that portion of my line. But there was no danger. The men stood as if rooted to the spot and though suffering severely from the enemy's canister they did not yield an inch of ground. The Twenty-fourth Michigan made a good appearance in this their first engagement. They were exceedingly anxious to go always to the front, and, resting upon our hard earned laurels, we were generously willing they should do so. But there was little choice of place on that open plain. No soldiers ever faced fire more bravely, and they showed themselves of a fibre worthy to be woven into the woof of the Iron Brigade. Colonel Morrow was equal to all requirements, enterprising, brave, and ambitious, he stepped at once into a circle of the best and most experienced regimental commanders in the Army of the Potomac. — General Dawes' Service with Sixth Wisconsin. And thus Colonel, [officers and men behaved most nobly. Quartermaster Bell was on the field every day with rations for the men, an exposure to danger rarely made by his class. 102 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Previous to the late battle, the older regiments of the Iron Brigade refused all sociability with our regiment, regarding us with aversion and studiously keeping out of our camp. But its noble conduct on this occasion entirely destroyed this exclusiveness and the greatest cordiality ever after prevailed. While in camp opposite Fredericksburg, after the battle, the regiment received an agreeable visit of three days from Mr. Stanley G. Wight of Detroit, a brother of Captain Edwin B. Wight. He was a stanch friend of the regiment and during its recruitment period, contributed liberally in its behalf. After remaining in camp four •days at this place, the regiment with the Brigade, on Saturday, December 20, moved towards Belle Plain. It marched about ten miles and bivouacked, after wandering about some time on the wrong road. On the morning of the 23d, they moved on to within a mile of Pratt's Landing on the Potomac, near Belle Plain, and began building winter cabins. LETTER OF CHAPLAIN WILLIAM C. WAY. Camp Isabella, near Belle Plain, ) Stafford Co., Va., Dec. 31, 1862. ) The hour and circumstances are indeed solemn. It is almost midnight and all is still save the sound of the mournful wind, whose wintry moans are a fit requiem for the dying year — full of interest and sorrow. It has borne many a brave form to the grave and his spirit to the changeless shores of eternity. Its now dimmed eye has witnessed the tear of anguish as it has coursed from the cheek of father, mother, brother, sister, wife and child, because of the fates of war that have carried sorrow to their once happy home. Some stirring scenes and changes have occurred in the Twenty-fourth. Some of our noble boys sleep in honored graves, fallen in defense of our nation's ensign. In camp here we have buried two of our men, Joseph Gohir and Marcus G. Wheeler of Company F. Exposure for two nights on the battlefield without blankets, has multiplied our sick. We have for hospital use, a log house and two large tents, with stoves, and straw for bedding, but a lack of proper remedies and food. It is hard for a well man to live on hardtack; much more a sick one. It is almost impossible to get delicacies and medical stores, and the lives of our men are often sacrificed for want of them. The Twenty-fourth won its spurs in the late battle and has a right to wear the Black Hats of the "Iron Brigade," the only entire brigade that wears them, and the old regiments say that they can now swear by the Twenty-fourth. A rebel force was concealed in a clump of woods, and Colonel Morrow was given permission to "clean out the nest." An Aide said to General Doubleday: " This regiment has never been under fire." Colonel Morrow hearing the remark, replied: "That is immaterial, Sir, we will take the wood," and they did. Then General Doubleday rode up to Colonel Morrow and said: "lam satisfied. Your regiment has behaved most splendidly." Lieutenant-Colonel Flanigan proposed three cheers for the General, which were heard above the din of battle. BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. IO3 A piece of shell struck Captain C. A. Hoyt on the knee, causing a painful contusion. Being advised by the Colonel to retire, he replied: " No, Sir, I have been trying to regard this as a wound, but it won't do. I must try again." Lieutenant C. C. Yemans performed the duties of Acting Adjutant for forty-eight hours on the battlefield. Corporal Silas H. Wood of I, Sergeant Wm. B. Hutchinson of F and Sergeant William Murray of I distinguished themselves by acts of bravery. The instances of individual acts of bravery are numerous. " Right dress" has l?ecome a byword in camp since the manual of arms exercise of the regiment under the terrific artillery fire. Many hairbreadth escapes and heroic incidents are related around the campfires. Memory will carry many of us back to-morrow to other days when peace and prosperity blessed the land, and thousands of brave men who have voluntarily estranged themselves from home were enjoying the gain of their industry with their families on New Year's day. With a wish that our friends at home may have a happy New Year, I wrap my blanket around me and lie down to rest as soldiers do. WILLIAM C. WAY, Chaplain. RESIGNATIONS — PROGRESS OF THE WAR. During the closing days of the year, several officers of the Twenty-fourth resigned, each for sufficient reasons. Before the regiment started for Belle Plain, after the battle, Major Henry W. Nail left it on sick leave to go to Baltimore Hospital. His health was so precarious from arduous service in the Peninsula Campaign,, that both himself and some of the officers of the regiment believed he would never return, and their expectations were well founded. Captain Edwin B. Wight was immediately appointed Acting-Major and eventually succeeded to the full majority after the death of Major Nail, a few months later. The following officers resigned about this time: Captains James Cullen, Isaac W. IngersoU and Warren G. Vinton; and Lieutenants John M. Gordon and John J. Lennon. The resignation of Captain Vinton was against his .wishes, but in compliance with the advice and assurance of the Surgeon that his life depended upon his retirement from the exposures of the field. He had shown great zeal and sacrifice of business and money in the organization of the regiment, and was loth to leave it, and utterly refused to do so until after its first engagement. During the fall and closing months of 1862, the Western Armies had not been inactive. During August, the general operations of the main armies, east and west, were in favor of the South. On September 16, the Confederates captured 4,000 Union prisoners at Mumfordsville, Kentucky. But on the 19th and 20th, General Rosecrans defeated the Confederates with great loss at luka, Mississippi. On October 3d, the Confederates were defeated with great loss at Corinth, Mississippi. The Confederate Army in the 104 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. West pushed headlong for Louisville, while Lee was invading Maryland, but was compelled to retreat, during which a bloody battle was fought at Perry ville, Kentucky, when it was forced to resume its retreat south. On December 31st, the battle of Murfreesboro, or Stone's River, in Tennessee, commenced with a Federal repulse. The battle was continued with great slaughter on both sides the two following days. But on January 3d, the Southern Army retreated. Of the many minor engagements east and west, we shall attempt no mention, as they are without the scope and object of this volume. The Union losses only stimulated the iron resolution of the North which showed, amid its reverses, an unfaltering spirit to furnish whatever was required for success, in men and money. CHAPTER VI. Winter Qjjarters at Belle Plain, EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION — CAMP ISABELLA — ARMY 'cabins. ^^^^URING the reverses in the summer of 1862, President ^^^^ Lincoln took a vow that if Providence would bless the ^^^^ Union arms with an important victory he would exercise the war powers of the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Army and emancipate the slaves. Accordingly, after the brilliant victories of South Mountain and Antietam in September, he issued a warning proclamation to the Confederate States in rebellion, that unless they returned to their allegiance within one hundred days, he would declare every slave free within the borders of districts still in rebellion on January i, 1863. He was punctual to his warning and issued such proclamation, declaring all slaves forever free in such States and parts of States as were still in arms against the Union. Prior to the firing upon Fort Sumter there was no disposition in the North, except with a few harmless abolitionists, to disturb the slave conditions of the South — certainly not by the Democratic party, while the Republican party had ever disavowed any interference — their doctrine simply being limitation of slavery within its then existent borders. But when the South rent the Union and drenched our land with blood in slavery's behalf, abolitionism became less odious. One battle is sufficient to educate and convert a nation to an idea, and as regiment after regimeut of Northern soldiers left for the South, thousands of them never to return, there was but little opposition in the North to the action of the President. Some discussion was excited, but it gradually died out in approval of his course. Camp Isabella, named after the Colonel's wife, who brightened camp life by her genial presence during the winter, was to be the home of the Twenty-fourth Michigan for the next four months. It (105) io6 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. was situated upon the side of a steep knoll or bank of one of the numerous ravines that break up the surface of the country around, so that no level camping ground could be found. It was about three miles from Belle Plain where Potomac Creek enters the larger river of that name, and whose expanse can be seen from the camp. Upon arrival here the men began to build winter habitations with material from the neighboring woods. These army cabins had a variety of style. Some were dug out of the steep bank; others made of small logs. They were about eight by ten feet in size and five feet high, with shelter tents for roof and gable coverings. The hillsides furnished good fiire-places, which were HEADQUARTERS OP THE "TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN" AT CAMP ISABELLA, BELLE PLAIN, VA., DURING WINTER OF 1868-3. — SKETCHED BY H. J. BROWN, OF " TWENTY- FOURTH MICHIGAN." finished with stone, and had mud and stick chimney. The spaces between the logs were plastered with mud which soon hardened. The hard ground answered for a floor, while bedsteads were fashioned from poles covered with pine and cedar boughs. The beds served for chairs and knees for tables. A bed was constructed on each side of the cabin, and the space between was kitchen, sitting-room and parlor in one. A hardtack box served for a pantry, and such was the soldiers' winter quarters. A bayonet stuck in the ground with a candle on top served for lighting the humble abode, which was usually occupied by three or four comrades. Here the soldier cooked, ate, slept, and passed his time when other duties permitted, waiting for the activities of the army in the spring. WINTER QUARTERS AT BELLE PLAL\. I07 SHODDY CONTRACTORS— HOME SOUVENIRS — PROMOTIONS. Friday, January 2, 1863, found many sick in camp. There was much suffering for want of food and clothes, largely the fault of rascally' government contractors and inspectors who were usually in collusion to force upon soldiers articles of shoddy make-up and material. The shoes frequently had for soles scraps and shavings of leather, glued or pasted together, which went to pieces in one day's march in mud or rain. Their pantaloons and other clothing were soon in shreds or " out all around," because of shoddy material. As a result of this swindling the hospitals were filled with victims to exposure. These rascals did more to weaken the army by sickness and disease than battle casualties. Had one of these rascals been occasionally hanged or shot for this worse than treasonable conduct, it would have been as justifiable as shooting some boy deserter who was perhaps prompted to become such by' sufferings caused by these rascals. But such severity of punishment was always reserved for the humble rank and file who cannot resign to evade punishment. On Monday the 5th, Generals Doubleday and Wadsworth reviewed the division, and the next day in a cold rain Companies A, D and F were sent on picket. Others took their turn at this duty during the winter. Saturday the loth, was a gala day in camp. > Lieutenant-Colonel Flanigan had arrived with three wagonloads of boxes from home. They contained cakes, gloves, shoes and a variety of parcels, which were opened with eagerness before a crowd of envious gazers. Some touching messages came also. One read, *' We are all well but with sorrowing hearts. Mother wept for three days after the battle till she heard that you were safe, but now she is anxious for tidings of our two brothers from the bloody field in Tennessee (Stone's River)." Several boxes of sanitary stores came for the hospital, and the appeal of the Colonel in early winter for gloves for the men was cheerfully met. On Sunday the iith, the regiment was formed in a hollow square to witness the promotions to vacancies caused by the recent resignations. The favored ones were called to the center and briefly addressed by the Colonel who then gave each his commission. First Lieutenants Rexford and Hoyt, and Second Lieutenant O'Donnell became Captains; Second Lieutenants Buhl and Safford, and Sergeant- Major Edwin E. Norton became First Lieutenants, while Sergeants Witherspoon, Hutton, Dempsey and Humphreyville became Second Lieutenants. Cheers went up for the new officers on reaching camp. (8) I08 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. THE FUNERAL IN CAMP. The death angel continued to call at the hospital for those who were sick and far from the endearments of home friends. Sergeant Herbert Adams of H, and Charles D. Hoagland of K, were summoned to their final discharge early in the new year. A funeral in camp is a solemn affair. Though inured to death on the battle-field, the soldier who died in camp was mourned for as if a neighbor at home, by his comrades, and sympathy was shown a friend or relative who might be present. He died far away from mother, or wife and children. No hand of womanly affection smoothed his pillow, but his comrades did for him what they could and gave him a soldier's burial. In his uniform of blue, he was placed in a plain, rough cofifin and sometimes in his blanket only. Over his remains were hung the stars and stripes. The solemn procession, headed by the Band with muffled drum, commenced its slow march to the grave. The solemn strains were borne away upon the chilling breeze. With reversed arms, his comrades followed and halted at the lonely grave. Amid silence the Chaplain performed his sacred duty. Prayer was ofTered and "Ashes to Ashes" were the words heard as the clods fell upon the lowered coffin. Volleys were fired as a salute to the dead and the departed comrade was left in peace. "The muffled drum's sad roll has beat the Soldier's last tattoo ; No more on Life's parade shall meet the brave and fallen few, On Fame's eternal camping ground his silent tent is spread, And Glory guards, with solemn round, the bivouac of the dead." His marches and fatigues are over, no more will he respond to awakening notes of reveille. There is sorrow in camp and at home. May the Great Comforter heal those hearts which bleed at the bereaved Michigan fireside. If a son, fond parents will mourn the vacant chair of him who sleeps for the flag in rebellion land. If a father, hear the leaves rustle and winds moan about yonder cabin door. Over the cheerless hearth within, a woman weeps and a sympathizing group anxiously ask why mamma weeps so, and why papa don't come home. "Alas ! Nor wife, nor children more shall he behold, Nor friends, nor sacred home." WINTER, QUARTERS AT BELLE PLAIN. IO9 WINTER CAMP EVENTS — ABORTIVE MOVEMENT. On the i6th, news came of the fate of some of the missing in the late battle. Having sought a better sleeping place the night of the withdrawal, they were astonished the next morning to find the field -deserted, and were soon after hailed by the " Greybacks" to lay down their arms. They were taken to Richmond where, for twenty-three days they put up at the " Libbey House," when all were exchanged but Corporal Potter and Albert Ganong, who had died of typhoid fever. James F. Raymond, leader of the Band, was a brother of Honor- able Henry J. Raymond of the New York Times. The latter resolved upon a visit to his brother, and a telegram informed him that his brother's corps was at Belle Plain, but the operator put a final e to the word corps, and he at once started for his brother's supposed remains. Arriving at General Wadsworth's tent, a messenger was sent to Colonel Morrow, asking if James F. Raymond was dead. ""You would not think so if you had heard him blowing his horn this afternoon," was the reply. The brothers met with mingled astonishment and happiness. The Colonel was determined that the Twenty-fourth should not be excelled in drill proficiency, and each permanent camp brought orders for a daily exercise in the tactics. The men were trained to know the several bugle calls of camp and the more important ones of ■"advance" and "retreat" in battle. The policeing of the camp and sanitary habits of the men received close attention as well as their personal appearance. Divine worship was established and the Chaplain preached on Sundays as often as the elements and circumstances would permit. The several companies were drawn up in line, and such as were of a different worship were told to step out of the ranks, while the rest were marched to the " meeting ground," where a short discourse was preached by the Chaplain. When the elements precluded this exercise, the Chaplain supplied the men from tent to tent with reading matter. The shoddy contractors got in their work in poor rations no less than in shoddy clothing. Sometimes a piece of bacon encased in cloth canvas was so full of worms that the sack could be plainly seen in a continuous motion from the wriggling maggots within. Such offensive food was sent for the soldiers to eat. Boards of Review were occasionally appointed from the officers to condemn the wormy bread and bacon and decayed beef. no HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. About two weeks after the defeat at Fredericksburg, Burnside resolved upon another movement against the enemy, this time, severt miles down the river. The movement was to begin December 30,. but was abandoned by order of the President, who informed^ Burnside that his Generals were unanimous in declaring that the movement would end in disaster. Amazed at this revelation, of want of confidence in himself and yet aware that only a successful movement could restore to him the confidence of the army and country, he resolved, three weeks later, upon a mid-winter movement seven miles- above Fredericksburg. Accordingly, January 18, brought orders for several days' rations in haversacks and a movement against the enemy was announced with cheers. Before starting an order was read from General Burnside, dishonorably dismissing from the service, Lieutenant Kinney, for tendering his resignation while his regiment was under orders to meet the enemy and for expressing therein unsoldier-like and treasonable sentiments. MUD MARCH CAMPAIGN — BURNSIDE RETIRES. On January 20, began the famous " Mud March " of Burnside. Up to this time the roads had been good, but a deluging rainstorm swamped the whole Army which became stuck in the plastic mud- Pontoon wagons, artillery and caissons, and trains of all kinds plunged axle deep into the miry clay, whence they could be scarcely drawn by any effort of teams and men with ropes combined. All were besmeared with the adhering soil. The enemy opposite discovered the attempt and jocularly offered to "'come over and help build the bridges," The elements this time spared the President a prohibition of the movement. What might have been, but for these natural causes, it is idle to divine, as the enemy had massed his artillery and troops opposite for a desperate resistance. [For map of march see Chapter VII.] From a letter of Chaplain W. C. Way, we learn the movements of the Twenty-fourth Michigan on this famous march, as follows : The Twenty-fourth broke camp at noon on Tuesday, January 20, and marched towards Stoneman's Switch on the Acquia Creek railroad,' which we reached at 9 p. m., a distance of twelve miles. Toward evening it began to rain and when we hadi reached the railroad, it came down thick and fast. Amid storm and darkness the 112 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. regiment filed into the woods and bivouacked for the night, pitching tents by the dim light of a distant campfire. Many, tired and exhausted, lay on the ground with nothing but a blanket and rubber to protect them, sleeping soundly till reveille. Soon all were astir, coffee made, the plain repast eaten, and soon in line of march forward — and such a march. The rain had made sad work with the roads, and we pushed forward through the fields, over ditches and streams whose banks were overflown, for four miles; when at i o'clock, we encamped in a dense pine forest near the enemy. The scenes on the march defy description. Here a wagon mired and abandoned; there a team of six mules stalled, with the driver hallooing and cursing; dead mules and horses on either hand — ten, twelve and even twenty-six horses vainly trying to drag a twelve-pounder through the mire. At midnight on the 22d, orders came to mardh back to camp at 8 o'clock the next morning, where we arrived at 5 o'clock p. M. of the 23d, and found it occupied by the Twenty fifth Ohio, who made us comfortable for the night and moved out the next day. Hundreds of soldiers were employed for two days in building^ corduroy roads by which the trains were finally extricated and the Army returned to winter quarters. The lack of confidence in the Commander after the disaster at Fredericksburg, was accentuated by this abortive movement and on January 23, he issued an order of dismissal from the service of several of his Generals who had indulged in criticisms of his movements, which was overruled by the President, upon which General Burnside resigned the command of the Army and issued the following address: Headquarters Army of the Potomac, ) Camp near Falmou'iH, January 26, 1863. ) By direction of the President the Commanding General this day transfers the command of this Army to Major-General Joseph Hooker. The short time that he has- directed your movements has not been fruitful of victory or any considerable advancement of our lines, but it has again demonstrated an amount of courage, patience aud endurance that under more favorable circumstances would have accomplished great results. Continue to exercise these virtues. Be true in your devotion to your country and the principles you have sworn to maintain. Give to the brave and skillful General who has long been identified with your organization, and who is now to command you, your full and cordial support and co-operation, and you will deserve success. In taking an affectionate leave of the entire Army, from which he separates with so much regret * * * jjjg prayers are that God may be witlt you, and grant you continued success until the rebellion is crushed. MAJOR-GENERAL BURNSIDE. WINTER QUARTERS AT BELLE PLAIN. 113 DISCIPLINE, FURLOUGHS, ETC. — COWARDS DRUMMED OUT. The recent disastrous failure and abortive movements, as well as changes of commanders, produced their effect upon the morale of the army, and there was considerable despondency or dissatisfaction among the troops, as 200 desertions a day from the army proved. During the " Mud March " week, twenty-five members of the Twenty-fourth were reported "missing" and the utmost vigilance was ordered in every regiment. Camp guards were established, and roll calls were ordered three times a day. On January 31, a detail of fifty men under Lieutenant-Colonel Flanigan went in search of "skedaddlers," and three days later, after a circuit of fifty miles, returned with ten who were apprehended at Port Tobacco on the Potomac, and several citizens who were aiding in their escape. On February i, several who had "straggled" were publicly reprimanded on dress parade, and thus this evasion of duty was promptly squelched. Meantime, Colonel Morrow had been appointed President of a General Court Martial for the Left Grand Division. Insubordination, desertion and cowardice had become too common among officers antl men, and it was evident that more stringent punishments, even the extreme penalty, were necessary as deterrents against military offenses. Colonel Morrow's judicial experience eminently qualified him for President of the Court. Winter quarters brought frequent requests for furloughs. An order from General Hooker limited them to fifteen days each and THE WEARIED SOLDIER BOY. 114 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. but two for each TOO men ; married men to have the preference. To obtain a furlough, the apphcation must be marked "approved" by the Colonel, who passed it on to the Brigade Commander. And thus it must pass through five,headquarters. Lucky he whose request would run the gauntlet. Then the time spent in going and returning left little of the time to be with friends at home. But sweet it was, however brief. Frequent details from the Twenty-fourth had already been made for artillery, pioneer and ambulance service, and February 7, brought an order for forty men for Battery B, which with deaths, discharges and sickness, perceptibly diminished its ranks. A Virginia winter is a make up of a variety of frost, rain, snow, slush and mud, sandwiched with sunshine and heavy gales. One day clear and mild, the next a fierce cold northeaster sets in, with a dashing snow storm for a few hours which turns to drizzling rain, producing a knee depth of red clay mud, almost impassable for man or beast. The men backed up for a mile or more the necessary fuel through the plastic soil, with which to cook their food and warm their cabins. Several musicians enlivened the camp with violins at night. Fresh potatoes, soft bread, onions, etc., were issued for rations; and the winter days were passed with the usual tours of drill and picket duty. Several ladies, wives of ofificers, graced the camp, and an occasional friend from Wayne county, to see sick ones. Obtaining the difficult "pass" restrained more from coming. February 21 was a day of painful interest, in the execution of court martial sentences upon seven members of the Brigade. Its five regiments were drawn up inclosing a hollow square, within which the offenders were brought under guard. After a few remarks from General Meredith, their sentences were read. " For misbehavior before the enemy, etc.," five of them were to forfeit all bounty and pay; to have their heads shaved and be drummed out of camp. The other two were to be drummed out only. One of the latter was a Twenty-fourth Michigan man. The "barberous" part of the program over, the regiments were drawn up in two lines and the seven cowards, with uncovered heads, were marched between. A line of guards with reversed muskets preceded them, and closely behind followed a guard with pointed bayonets but a few inches from them. At a quickstep, the band playing the " Rogues' March," the disgraced men were sped out of camp, amid the scorn and contempt of their late comrades, a cold wind blowing upon their shaved heads. WINTER QUARTERS AT BELLE PLAIN. II 5 REGIMENTAL AND BRIGADE RESOLUTIONS. The despondency of the army after Fredericksburg was magnified in some sections and was proving a weakness to the Union cause. A distinctive anti-war party had arisen in the North to oppose every war measure of the government. Clement L. Vallandigham, a member of Congress from Ohio, was the leader of this faction. They flooded the army with letters encouraging desertions, and discouraged enlistments. Thus, while the South would tolerate no division of sentiment among themselves, the North had not only the rebellion to fight, but was annoyed by this enemy at home. To counteract the impression of apathy, many regiments set forth their sentiments and belief in the ultimate triumph of the Union arms. A committee consisting of Captains Edwards, Gordon and Edwin B. Wight, and Lieutenants Hutchinson, Yemans, and Colonel Morrow (all Democrats except Captain Edwards), drafted some resolutions which were unanimously adopted by the Twenty-fourth Michigan on March ii, as follows: Whereas, We have heard with astonishment, that a feeling is fostered in the North and West, adverse to a vigorous prosecution of the war, and believing that this feeling, unless checked by the patriotism of loyal citizens, may extend until the government shall be compelled to make peace on dishonorable and disastrous terms, therefore Resolved, i. — That a settlement of this war on any other terms than an unconditional return of the rebellious states to their allegiance, shall meet our united disapproval; that as the only way to secure a speedy, lasting and honorable peace, we are in favor of the government using its vast resources in a vigorous prosecution of the war ; that we discard all former differences of party or sect and unite with the loyal citizens everywhere in restoring our blood bought union to the high prestige it has heretofore held among the nations of earth for guaranties of constitutional liberty ; that we have seen with regret and indignation, the efforts of professing friends of the government, to discourage the volunteer soldier, and that we recognize no difference between such traitors and those in armed rebellion. 2. — That the law for the enrollment of the National forces meets our approbation ; that every citizen owes allegiance to the National Government, and if able-bodied men, not justly exempt from military service, are so base as to refuse their support to the government when called for under the Supreme Law of the land, we shall be ready to meet their resistance at the point of the bayonet. 3. — That we not only feel but know that the Army of the Potomac is neither "disorganized" nor "demoralized," but at this moment is as efficient in discipline as any army in the world. A few days later, General Meredith rode over to the Twenty-fourth Michigan camp. The bugle was sounded and the men assembled without arms. He stated that they were called together, not to obey orders, but to vote upon a set of Iron Brigade Il6 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. resolutions, and each soldier was invited to vote as he felt. The resolutions were as follows: Whereas, Certain evil minded persons in the army and at home, have circulated slanderous reports as to the demoralization of this army, a report circulated by Northern traitors to justify their own wicked designs, and that we are in favor of peace on any terms. To refute a slander so insulting to us as soldiers and citizens, we, the members of the Iron Brigade, do resolve : I. — That we denounce such reports and emphatically declare that there are no men in our ranks but would blush at a dishonorable peace, or sacrifice their all for the maintenance of our constitution, the integrity of our country and the crushing out of the rebellion. 2. — That, toilsome as soldier life may be, and much as we long for the society ' of our families and the endearments at home, we feel it our duty to carry on this war to the bitter end, and whatever the consequences to ourselves, do not desire peace until the last rebel in arms has vanished from our soil. 3. — We warn our friends at home to beware of the traitors in their midst, and never forget that the first duty of a good citizen and true patriot is a maintenance of his rightful government, and submission of all personal, political or social interests to the great common cause. The blood of thousands of our friends, already sacrificed upon the altar of our country, cries aloud to you to follow their glorious example and fill the thinned ranks of an army which will never submit to an inglorious peace. 4. — The safety of our country lies in a vigorous prosecution of the war until the last rebel in arms is subdued, and the stars and stripes float over every inch of territory of the United States. 5. — We endorse the late Congressional militia law and hope that the grumblers at home may have an opportunity of shouldering the musket and understand that no neutrality can exist in the present struggle, and that they must "fight, pay or emigrate." 6. — That we recognize the administration as the government de facto and endorse all its acts or measures having for their object the effectual crushing out of this rebellion. The resolutions were adopted with such a tremendous " aye," that it sent the horses of the General and his staff plunging away from the thunder of half a thousand voices, cheering for Generals Meredith and Hooker, and for the Union. CAMP EVENTS — BADGES —COMPLIMENTS. April I, 1863, found the regiment still in winter quarters, and likely to continue so until the roads should permit a move. The reports showed the regiment to be in excellent order, in discipline, drills, arms, clothing, health and patriotic ardor. There were present for duty 619 men and officers; present sick, 55. No paymaster had been seen for five months. The men tenderly enclosed the regimental burial ground with a neat post and rail fence, about twenty-four by forty feet. Some resignations were made about this time for bad WINTER QUARTERS AT BELLE PLAIN. II/" MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER. health and other causes. During the past week Governor Morton of Indiana visited the camp. The bugle assembled the men who were briefly addressed by the distinguished visitor. He declared for " War to the knife — no compromise with traitors — the Union, the whole Union, and all for the Union." For the purpose of ready recognition of the divisions and corps, cloth badges were ordered to be sewed on the caps or hats of every officer and man, in shape, each corps as follows: First, a Sphere or round piece; Second, a Trefoil; Third, a Lozenge; Fifth, Maltese Cross; Sixth, Greek Cross; Eleventh, Crescent; Twelfth, Star. In color — First divisions. Red; Second divisions, White; Third divisions, Blue. The Twenty-fourth Michigan and all of the Iron Brigade being now in the First Division, First Corps, their distinctive badge was a round piece of red woolen cloth sewed to their hats. On April 2, the First Division was reviewed by General Wadsworth and General Hooker. On the 3d, the Iron Brigade was complimented in general orders, as follows : Soldiers of the Iron Brigade: your Commanding General takes great pleasure in thanking you for the manner in which you appeared upon the Review yesterday. Your soldierly bearing and general fine appearance, attracted the attention of the military men present, winning for yourselves the highest encomiums from all. Il8 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. The Twenty-fourth Michigan was specially complimented, as follows : Headquarters Fourth Brigade, April 3, 1863. COLONEL HENRY A. MORROW, Ttventy-foiirth Michigan Volunteers. Colonel — While feeling more than gratified with the conduct of my command at the Review yesterday, I cannot refrain from expressing the extreme pleasure afforded me by the manner in which your Regiment conducted themselves on that occasion. The cool courage displayed by them when first under fire upon the plain of Fredericksburg, had led me to expect much of them, but that they should, in the short time that has elapsed since they entered the service, be able to compare so favorably with the veteran troops with whom they are associated, was not expected. Their soldierly conduct and bearing, efficiency in drill, and the discipline displayed by them, richly entitles them to the position they now hold in the Iron Brigade. It gives promise that a glorious future awaits them. Accept, Colonel, for yourself and men, my sincere thanks. S. MEREDITH, Brigade-General. A day or two later, there was a cavalry review near Falmouth, at which Colonel Morrow, Acting-Major E. B. Wight and other ofificers of the Twenty-fourth were present. The review over, the officers were presented to the President and General Hooker. The latter remarked to Colonel Morrow : Oh, we are old friends. I noticed your regiment the other day ; it's a splendid regiment ; it's as fine as silk. The above compliment was well deserved, for no officers had labored harder to make a regiment excellent in discipline. Then there was a commendable rivalry between the companies as to which should be best drilled, have brightest guns, etc. It received a daily inspection, the right wing by Lieutenant-Colonel Flanigan, and the left by Acting-Major E. B. Wight. Besides, the Twenty-fourth being the only Michigan troops in the First Corps, it was determined to sustain the honor of the State. REVIEW BY PRESIDENT LINCOLN. On Thursday, April 9, 1863, the First Corps was reviewed by President Lincoln, General Hooker and staff. Chaplain Wm. C. Way thus described the occasion at the time : The day was fine and at ten o'clock the whole corps was in reviewing position. The batteries were in rear of the troops en masse. Uniforms were clean, guns bright as new, and equipments in fine condition. At two o'clock the booming of cannon -announced the approach of the cavalcade, our Battery B doing the honors of the day. WINTER QUARTERS AT BELLE PLALN. I I9 Looking to the left we saw a cloud of dust, and all eyes were bent in that direction. The expected ones round a curve in the road and gallop past us. President Lincoln was mounted on a splendid bay, richly caparisoned, while General Hooker rode his pet gray on his left. They were followed by a host of officers in gay uniforms, and these in turn by lancers with fluttering pennants, a troop of orderlies galloping after. In the crowd we noticed Master ' Tad ' Lincoln and his orderly. Having reached the right of the column the cortege rode down the front in review. The numerous banners dipped gracefully, the banners playing while the bugles sounded their flourish of greeting. The President rode down the front with head uncovered. He next took a position with the generals in front, and then commenced the almost ceaseless tramp of the regiments by him, like waves of the sea. As each regiment passed, its banners were dipped gracefully, which was acknowledged by the President by lifting his hat. Mrs. Lincoln accompanied the President, riding in a carriage drawn by four bays. The affair passed off in fine style, and must have been gratifying to the Chief Magistrate. The general bearing of the troops was excellent, and the Iron Brigade was not excelled by any other, while the Twenty-fourth won golden opinions. The marching of the regiment was splendid and fully deserved the high compliment paid it by General Meredith on April 3d. My position was just in rear of the President and reviewing officers, and such that I noticed each regiment in the entire corps, and especially those of the Iron Brigade. No regiment had brighter guns, cleaner accoutrements, or tidier men than the Twenty-fourth. A SOLDIERS LETTER ON CAMP AFFAIRS. As the spring advanced, mild weather and good roads appeared. The peach trees were now in bloom and all nature was gay. On Sunday, April 12, 1863, Peter C. Bird of D wrote from Camp Isabella, to the author, describing camp affairs as follows : We have fine times here now — inspection every morning and Sundays twice. The men have to turn out with boots blacked, clothes brushed and besides that the two cleanest and neatest men, and the two dirtiest and most slovenly in each company, have their names read on dress parade. So we have a chance to get our names up now. We had another scene this morning. Ira F. PearsoU of H, who deserted last fall while we lay in the woods near South Mountain, was caught at Grand Rapids, Michigan, about three months ago and sent here under guard. He was tried by court martial and sentenced to be dishonorably discharged with forfeiture of all pay due or to become due, which was a very slight punishment and he thought so too, and boasted and danced around all day yesterday which provoked Captain Merritt so that this morning, the time he was to leave, the Captain formed the company at open ranks and surrounded him with twelve bayonets, and the band behind him, and marched him all around the regiment, the band playing the "Rogues' March." As he passed between our regiment and the Nineteenth Indiana, Captain Merritt ordered him to take off his hat, but he refused. So it was taken off for him. Our regiment followed, hissing and jeering him half way to the Landing. William H. Ingersoll, of H, was discharged with him for desertion, also. The regiment is disposing of its cowards pretty fast. Colonel Morrow comes it over them I20 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. so he gets their sentences lightened considerably. In the other regiments they shave their heads, but the Colonel works as hard to help them from being disfigured as though it was his own person. He seems to feel worse than the prisoners themselves and cries while their sentences are being read. April 14 brought orders to make ready to move at any moment. Knapsacks were inspected and all extra clothing and tents of officers turned in, the latter taking the common shelter tents like the men. On the 15th, a heavy rain storm set in, continuing all night. On the 20th, the first division was ordered out for marching drill, but the storm prevented. The night of the 21st brought new orders to make ready to move at once. "twenty-fourth MICHIGAN" IN BIVOUAC— SKETCHED BY H. J. BROWN OP THE REGIMENT. CHAPTER VII. Chancellorsville Campaign. PORT ROYAL EXPEDITION. JUST as the Twenty-fourth Michigan were finishing their dinners on Wednesday, April 22, 1863, an order came to turn out forthwith with three days' rations and blankets, and in fifteen minutes they were on the parade ground in light marching order, all expectant as to where they were going. But no matter, anything and anywhere, for a change was welcomed with enthusiasm. General Reynolds, commanding the First Corps had sent the following order to General Wadsworth, commanding the First Division : You will detail two picked regiments to march to Port Conway, at once, with the pontoon train, so as to arrive there to-night, keeping out of sight of the opposite shore of the river. You will direct the officer in command to throw a regiment or part of one, over in the boats, and sweep through the town of Port Roj'al opposite, capturing all the enemy he can pick up and then return. I will suggest that Colonel Morrow of the Twenty-fourth Michigan be sent in command. The troops selected were the Twenty-fourth Michigan and Fourteenth Brooklyn (Zouaves), with one piece of Battery B, under Lieutenant Stewart. The latter rode "Old Bob Tail" which had been in the Battery for sixteen years. His tail had been shot off entirely in battle, and whenever he heard the roar of cannon, he wheeled around so as to face the music. For a full account of this animal the reader is referred to Chapter XXI. At 2 o'clock the expedition was under way. Generals Reynolds and Wadsworth accompanied Colonel Morrow about half the distance. The weather was fine, but the roads yet bad. King George Court House was passed and the vicinity of Port Conway reached at 10 o'clock at night, the regiment bivouacking in an open field. Port Conway was about eighteen miles down the Rappahannock from Falmouth. The river is about 350 yards wide at this point. This was the birthplace of President Madison, and the ruins of the house where he was born still remained. (121) 122 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN, It commenced raining at mid-night and continued hard all the- next day. At early dawn, amid the drenching rain, the pontoon boats, thirteen in all, were put together and carried to the river bank. They were composed of a light, pine skeleton, over which a water-proof canvas was drawn. A detail of twenty-five men for each boat was called for, the Twenty-fourth Michigan furnishing its quota of 200 by volunteers, all under the immediate command of Lieutenant-Colonel Flanigan. The boats were filled and the men pulled for the opposite bank. This twilight scene was grand, somewhat like the Revolution event of Washington crossing the Delaware. No floating ice impeded their progress, but a vague uncertainty prevailed. A view of the MAP OP MUD MARCH AND PORT ROYAL EXPEDITION. opposite shore showed numerous rifle pits of great extent from which might blaze a shower of bullets or cannon balls. As they neared the bank what had, in the fog, appeared to be a regiment in line, was but a palisade fence. Up by the defenses the men passed and swept through the streets of Port Royal, an ancient borough of colonial days. A few of the inhabitants came out, but soon rushed back to their houses and fled with a few hurriedly packed up effects. Two bodies of cavalry made off at high speed, about seventy-five men in all, but not a hostile shot was fired. The town was depopulated of whites, the furniture in the houses remaining as they left it. The " contrabands," as the CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN. 123 slaves were known by since the war began, were full of joy and afforded all information they could. Several white females wept profusely, but being assured that no harm would be done them, exclaimed : " Thank God for that." A wagon-train was seen making fast out of town, but Lieutenant- Colonel Flanigan took a cross street and appeared before the wagon- master unawares. He was called upon to halt, but not being disposed to do so, the sight of a well-aimed " Spencerian " rifle stopped the train. The wagons with their contents of grain and meal were burned and the best animals taken. After thoroughly searching the town and obtaining what information they could, the expedition re-crossed the river with six CROSSING THE RAPPAHANNOCK AT PORT ROYAL, BY VOLUNTEERS FROM THE "TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN" AND FOURTEENTH BROOKLYN — SKETCHED BY H. J. BROWN OP THE "TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN." prisoners, fifteen horses and mules, a rebel mail and two loyal lady refugees detained there. The captured animals were swum over the river behind the returning boats. One mule braced his feet against the bottom of the stream before deep water was reached and stopped the boat. He was let loose, but being headed for the opposite shore, swam over of his own accord, and the men were there to receive him upon his arrival. (9) 124 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Stonewall Jackson, with about 6000 men, lay encamped five miles back of the town and the enemy appeared in force and fired upon the last boat as it was being taken from the water, but without injury to anyone. Camp was reached at dark, the men weary and tired. At headquarters it was deemed a hazardous undertaking and there was joy in camp upon their return without accident. The expedition acquitted itself with credit, as the fpllowing from Major-General Reynolds will show : The general commanding takes occasion to thank the Twenty-fourth Michigan and Fourteenth Brooklyn for the prompt manner in which they accomplished the object of the expedition to Port Royal. The endurance shown by their march of nearly thirty-six miles in twenty-four hours, during the very inclement weather of yesterday, proves their valor as tried and experienced soldiers, and entitles them to the highest admiration and praise." The next day was one of hilarious enjoyment among the men, each of whom had his story to tell. All felt happy, as it was the first "outing" they had had since the "Mud March." This expedition was simply the prelude to more important movements in the spring campaign thus opened. THE SITUATION — FITZHUGH CROSSING. For four months the opposing armies had faced each other on the Rappahannock — Lee with 70,000 men on the Fredericksburg side, and Hooker with 120,000 -on the Falmouth side. The last of April, 1863, Hooker resolved upon a fl^nk movement to compel the enemy to fight outside of his strong intrenchments, or move south. The Rapidan flows into the south side of the Rappahannock, about twelve miles above Fredericksburg. The United States Ford is about a mile below the mouth of the Rapidan. Bank's Ford is about midway between U. S. Ford and Falmouth. Kelly's Ford is about twenty-five miles above Falmouth. South of Kelly's Ford, twelve miles, is Germanna Ford and the mouth of the Rapidan. Hooker's plan was to cross a few of. his forces three or four miles below Fredericksburg to draw the attention of the enemy; meanwhile, to move the bulk of his army up to Kelly's Ford, thence south to Germanna Ford, across the Rapidan, and place it in the rear and flank of Lee, compelling the latter to abandon his strong position which he had so successfully held against Burnside's attempt. Wadsworth's Division of the First Corps, in which was the Iron Brigade, was a part of the troops selected to make \.\\& feint below Ft"edericksburg. CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN. I25 At noon of Tuesday, April 28, 1863, the Twenty-fourth Michigan bade farewell to Camp Isabella, their winter home, and marched away to the southwest, bivouacking at night about two miles south of White Oak Church. At 11 r. M. the regiment was aroused for march. It reached the Rappahannock at day-break, four miles below Fredericksburg, near the Fitzhugh House, on the 29th. Fitzhugh Crossing where the First Division was to be thrown over was near by. About 5 o'clock, under cover of a dense fog, the pontoon train was run down to the bank of the river and the first attempt made by engineers to unload the boats drew the fire of the enemy from the opposite bank. The darkey drivers unhitched their teams and went up the bank of the river to the rear and out of reach of the enemy's guns, as if Satan was after them. A few of the boats had been unloaded and pushed into the stream. The enemy's fire became so hot that the engineers and train guard had to leave the boats and fall back. The Twenty-fourth Michigan and Sixth Wisconsin were ordered down, and taking position on the river bank, kept up a fire across the river for some time in the fog. When the fog began to rise and the dim outlines of the enemy's works came into view, these two regiments were ordered back about 300 yards to a less exposed position. During this part of the engagement, Joseph Coryell of F was killed. Further attempts to unload the boats and lay the bridge while the fog lasted proved equally unsuccessful. It being evident that the bridge could not be laid unless the enemy were driven from the rifle pits, a storming party was organized to cross the river in open boats and drive the enemy from their intrenched position at the point of the bayonet. This seemed more of a forlorn hope than the famous crossing of the Seventh Michigan at Fredericksburg. The heights opposite were more impregnable and manned with more troops. The river at this point was wider. The bank to be charged up was steeper, it being almost impossible to climb it, as the undergrowth was very' thick, and the enemy had formed an abatis by felling trees with the tops down the hill. The rifle pits were manned with a brigade composed of the Sixth Louisiana and Twentieth Alabama, and three other regiments. The storming party consisted of the Twenty-fourth Michigan and Sixth Wisconsin, while three companies of the Second Wisconsin were detailed to run the pontoon wagons down the bank and launch the boats. All being ready, with a ringing yell, off rushed the 126 HISTORY or THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Storming party on the double-quick, down the bank to the boats, and a moment later, amid a terrific fire, were pulling for the opposite shore, using poles and the very butts of their guns for oars. A landing effected, up the difificult bank they charged amid the blaze of musketry to the very rifle pits, which they scaled, and completely routed the enemy within, killing several and capturing 103 prisoners,, including a Lieutenant-Colonel and two other officers, as well as all of the cannon. FITZHUGH CROSSING. — "TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN" AND "SIXTH WISCONSIN" CROSS THE RAPPAHANNOCK IN BOATS AND CARRY THE OPPOSITE HEIGHTS. SKETCHED BY H. J. BROWN OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. The Twenty-fourth Michigan was in the lead, its flag landing first, though there is a dispute as to which regiment belonged the boat first to land. It matters not. It was a neck and neck race, between two friendly regiments of the Iron Brigade, in a hazardous and brilliant movement, and there were bullets and glory enough for both. Just seven minutes elapsed from the time the Twenty-fourth unslung knapsacks until they had scaled the heights and the task was completed, a most daring achievement that won favorable notice from the whole division. Meanwhile, General James S. Wadsworth swam his horse across the Rappahannock and riding his dripping steed in front of the regiment which had just been drawn up in line, took off his Cap, which had been perforated witli two of the enemy's bullets, and exclaimed : " God bless the gallant Twenty-fourth Michigan. God bless you all." CIIANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN. 12/ After the crossing, the boats were sent back after the rest of the Iron Brigade, who lost no time in following up their comrades. The bridges were laid and the rest of the division crossed, occupying the lower part of the Fredericksburg battle-field of December 13, 1862. As soon as the bridge was completed, the Iron Brigade moved to the left to prevent a flank movement of the enemy, and formed in oblong square, near the edge of some woods that lined the river bank. The left of the Twenty-fourth Michigan rested on the Rappahannock, the regiment at right angles with the river. On its right, and parallel with the river, was the Nineteenth Indiana, aligned and joined to which were the Second and Seventh Wisconsin, while the Sixth Wisconsin extended at right angles with the right of the Seventh to the river. Around this parallelogram was a ditch in which the men took shelter for the night. The enemy's pickets were in full view, but by agreement under a flag of truce sent in by the enemy, there was no picket firing. The next day, April 30, the men hastily threw up breast-works as a protection against musketry, putting in all the farming implements on the plantation — mowers, reapers, plows, drags, fanning mills, etc. Everything went. While so engaged, the enemy kept up a lively shelling from 5 to 7 p. M. which was vigorously replied to by our batteries across the river. A solid shot killed Sergeant Asa Brindle of B, and Sergeant John Tait of G, and wounded two others. As soon as night came, the men went to work in good earnest and by daylight on Friday morning. May 1st, had a line of intrenchments strong enough to resist solid shot and shell. The two Sergeants that were killed, were buried within the lines of the intrenchments with appropriate religious services, conducted by Private Willian R. Graves, a "local preacher" of the Methodist Church. During the regiment's tarry here the old battle-ground of December 13 was visited and the bodies of Lieutenant Birrell and Sergeant Wight, of K, were removed to the north side of the river. In January previous a request was made under a flag of truce for the ■enemy to allow the friends of Lieutenant Birrell to remove his body, but General Lee refused the request. All day Friday the men lay behind their breastworks, there being no firing from the enemy. At night, orders came to make ready to march. On Saturday morning. May 2, the Iron Brigade was up and had breakfasted at 4 o'clock. At 7 o'clock they received a lively shelling from a battery, which was soon after silenced by our battery over the 128 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. river. Soon after the recrossing of the river began. The men crawled out of their pits and down the hill to the river bank,, unobserved, and then came back again in full view of the enemy, giving them the idea that we were receiving reinforcements. Again the enemy opened fire with large caliber guns from the heights and kept it up until our last man was safely across the river. During the recrossing, the colored servant of Lieutenant Witherspoon had gone across the pontoon leaving his pack-mule hitched to a stake on the south bank. Prevented by the sentinels from crossing to get the mule, he very excitedly, amid the dropping of the enemy's shells around, yelled out, "Tie dat mule loose! tie dat mule loose!" Presently a shell cut away the stake to which he was tied and the men rolled the mule over the bank into the river. He swam across and was received by the darkey driver, to the merriment of the men. The pickets of the Iron Brigade were the most exposed and last to come over the river. Company H of the Twenty-fourth was dejjloyed as skirmishers on the left, the left of the company resting on the river about 500 yards below the works. Lieutenant Grace was in command of the company at the time. Orders came to retire the skirmishers, as the troops had crossed the river. Lieutenant Dodsley could run faster than Lieutenant Grace and so ran to the left and ordered the men back who ran for the works. About half a dozen men with Lieutenant Dodsley had to take to the bank of the river which was covered with underbrush. When they arrived at the crossing the bridge was taken up and a boat left for them to cross in. Lieutenant Dodsley being the last man to get into the boat. Some prisoners 'during the assault on the rifle pits, recognized their captors as Twenty-fourth men and said : " You boys crossed at Port Royal the other day and are not afraid of anything." The following were the casualties of the Twenty-fourth Michigan at Fitzhugh Crossing, April 29 and 30, 1863 : KILLED ON THE BATTLEFIELD: Sergeant Asa W. Brindle, . . . B Forest C. Brown, C Sergeant John Tait, G Joseph Coryell F DIED OF WOUNDS: William H. Jamieson, foot amputated, G WOUNDED: First Lieutenant George W. Burchell, shoulder, . . . G Sergeant George W. Haigh, wrist, D Sergeant Shepherd L Howard, arm, D WILLIE YOUNG, DRUMMER BOY, YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE REGIMENT. CHANCELI.ORSVILLE CAMPAIGN. I3I Herman Blankertz, foot, ... A Richard Downing D Thomas A. Wadsworth, foot, . . A Aldrich Tovvnsend D Leander Bauvere, arm, . . . B Andrew Waubec, leg, . . .. E Richard Conners, head . . . . B James D. Shearer, hand, . F John M. Doig, foot, C Henry Robinson, head, .. . G Hiram W. Hughes, hand, . . . C Joseph Ruby, face, . . . H James McKee, arm, . . C John L. Stringham, head, ... I Samuel W. Phillips, foot, . . . C Lilburn A. Spaulding, arm, . . K Ludovico Bowles, neck, . . . D Swninaiy: Killed and mortally wounded, 5; other wounded, 20. Total, 25. Our losses would have been greater, but during the fog the enemy fired at random, and while in the boats the shots of the enemy passed over them as they neared the opposite bank. CHANCELLORSVILLE — STRATEGY — WITHDRAV^AL. The operations about Fitzhugh Crossing were merely a ruse to hold the attention of the enemy about Fredericksburg while the greater operations of the army were to occur farther away. To the First, Third and Sixth Corps was assigned this duty, and it proved very successful. During its progress the rest of the Army of the Potomac marched to Kelly's Ford, thirty miles away, thence south to the Rapidan, which was crossed by the men fording the stream up to their armpits. They proceeded to Chancellorsville, a place containing but a single house, about ten miles a little south of a direct line west from Fredericksburg. Here they were joined by the Second Corps via the United States Ford and the Third Corps also. On Friday morning. May ist, five corps were successfully in the enemy's rear, compelling him to come out of his intrenchments at Fredericksburg. The First Corps joined the flanking column on Sunday, May 3d. On the morning of the 1st, Hooker sent out columns by the river, turnpike and plank roads to meet Lee, over whom he had secured several strategic advantages in position, surprise, etc. But as soon as the opposing pickets met Hooker ordered his forces back and began to fell trees that night for an abatis, and to throw up rifle pits, on the defensive, though having a greatly superior force — a movement strangely enigmatical to this day. Military critics aver that he frittered away a golden opportunity for victory. All day Saturday, the 2d, Hooker lay upon the defensive. Now, it was Lee's turn to flank. While engaging Hooker with front demonstrations, he sent "Stonewall" Jackson with 22,000 men 132 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. p'f^J^ CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN. 133 around on the west side of Hooker and suddenly struck his right at five o'clock in the afternoon, completely scattering the Eleventh Corps, whose fleeing caused a panic. General Warren, with Hooker's old division and fifty pieces of artillery, stemmed Jackson's advance after dark. On Sunday morning the First Corps (Reynolds') took the place of the Eleventh Corps. Soon after nightfall the intrepid Confederate leader, "Stonewall" Jackson, with his staff, rode forward beyond his lines to make a personal reconnoissance, and when they turned back to re-enter their lines the party was fired upon by their own pickets, and Jackson mortally wounded. And thus died the greatest of Lee's generals. He was \.\\& Phil SJteridan of the Southern Army — a bold, dashing ■officer, with acuteness to comprehend the situation in an instant, and quickly take advantage of it. He was noted for successful flank movements, and though his soldiers did not love his exacting discipline, yet it was their boast that he usually gave them victory. Lee's army was now divided. All of Hooker's forces but the Sixth Corps under Sedgwick lay between Lee's divided forces. Sedgwick was still below Falmouth, and could easily have joined the main body via the United States Ford without the loss of a man, and Hooker's army been thus united. But the latter ordered Sedgwick to ■occupy Fredericksburg, seize Marye's Height, gain the plank road in the rear, and join the main body that way. Early Sunday morning he occupied the town, formed a storming column and gallantly carried the Height at the cost of i,ooo men. He then started for Chancellorsville by the plank road, but was intercepted by Lee at Salem Heights and defeated with a loss of 4,cxx) more men. Prior to Sedgwick's fight at Salem, Hooker's main force was being transferred to a new line of defense back of Chancellorsville, nearer the fords of the river, in which movement a part of the main force was badly punished by Lee, who then turned and defeated Sedgwick in his rear, and the next day. May 4, drove him across the Rappahannock. Sedgwick's corps thus being eliminated from the battle, Lee turned back on Tuesday, May 6, to strike Hooker's main force again. But during the night. Hooker withdrew all his army -across the river, leaving behind its killed and wounded and fourteen pieces of artillery, not to mention thousands of small arms. 134 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. MOVEMENTS OF THE IRON BRIGADE AND TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. After recrossing the Rappahannock to the north side at Fitzhugh, on Saturday morning, the Iron Brigade moved up the river a mile and lay near the Sixth Corps in the open field until T I o'clock. It was near Franklin's Crossing to the Fredericksburg field in December preceding. The Sixth Corps had been helping the ruse at this point. The Iron Brigade then passed up the river via Falmouth, having a most beautiful view of Fredericksburg and the hills beyond, the heights still frowning with confederate batteries. The march was continued for seventeen miles along the river road to the Catlett road, thence to Hartwood church, and bivouacked at 10 o'clock at night near United States Ford. At 2 o'clock the next morning, Sunday, May 3, they crossed the Rappahannock at United States Ford, and taking the Ely Ford road for four miles, reached the battlefield of Chancellorsville at 6 o'clock. The Iron Brigade took position just behind the Pike leading from Fredericksburg up to Ely's Ford, forming the second line of battle. Syke's Regulars were directly in front behind some breast-works which they were throwing up. A terrible artillery firing began early in the morning and lasted until noon. The Fifth Maine Battery lost all its horses. The Irish Brigade, by hand, drew off their guns. During the afternoon. General Hooker and staff rode by. He recognized the Twenty-fourth Michigan, and said, "You are the boys that crossed at Port Royal." The fighting was very severe during the day, but the Twenty-fourth being in the reserve, had but one man wounded, , Thomas Burns of F. One of its men was also wounded in Battery B, Thomas D. Ellston of E. On Monday, May 4th, a flattering compliment was paid to the Twenty-fourth on the battle-field. By some oversight, the right flank of the Federal Army had been left exposed. The two roads leading from United States Ford on the Rappahannock to Ely's Ford on the Rapidan, had been left unguarded, so that the enemy might easily cut off the Army from its pontoons. In the monrning, an Aide of General Reynolds reported this state of things to General Hooker, who was silent for a moment. He compressed his lips as if in deep thought, and then said; "Tell General Reynolds to 'send the best regiment he has to guard the roads. Tell him to send Colonel Morrow and the Twenty-fourth Michigan." The regiment moved on its mission to the extreme right within a mile of the Rapidan near Hunting Creek, where it barricaded the CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN. I35 roads. Company A was deployed as skirmishers in front and B to the extreme right near the Rapidan. On Tuesday, May 5th, H and three other companies were taken still further to the right where they formed an abatis, threw up earthworks and lay on their arms at night. The position of the regiment was dangerous, but honorable. A terrible thunder storm came up which lasted thirty-six hours, saturating the men's clothes and greatly swelling the rivulets and streams. When the withdrawal of the army began, the Twenty-fourth Michigan seemed to have been forgotten while out on its picket duty. That night, General Paul of the Regular Army came upon the regiment and calling Colonel Morrow out of his " dog tent," informed him that he was the last man except the Twenty-fourth Michigan on the field; that the rest had all gone over the river! The pickets were called in and at 3 o'clock on the morning of May 6th, while the men were leaning against trees, trying thus to keep the rain off and get some sleep, the regiment quietly marched back to where the army had been, but to their astonishment, no troops could be seen, and the men then first knew that it was a retreat. For miles they traveled through the brush until they came in sight of our troops crossing the pontoons at the United States Ford on the double-quick. During the darkness, five companies got separated from the regiment in the woods and were supposed to be captured, but they finally came up all right, and all joined the rest of the Iron Brigade near the river. In the haste at the pontoons, there was danger of a panic and the Iron Brigade was ordered back to the woods once more to build fires and make coffee, thus leaving the rest of the army to believe that there was no danger of an attack. At 9 o'clock the regiment re-crossed the river, being the last troops to leave the inglorious field of Chancellorsville. All day the regiment marched, considerably despondent. The rain came down incessantly. After descending precipices, wading creeks and through mud knee deep for fifteen miles, it bivouacked at night, three miles from Stoneman's Station, wet, hungry and so fatigued that in ten minutes the men fell asleep in some pine woods, each one where he happened to be. COMMENTS — COMPLIMENTS. In these engagements, including the crossing below Fredericksburg, the battle of the Sixth Corps at Marye's Height and at Salem Heights, Lee reported an aggregate loss of 10,281 while the aggregate 136 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Union loss was 16,030. And thus another inglorious chapter was added to the history of the Union arms. We have neither space nor heart to dilate upon the want of Generalship that allowed 70,000 Confederates to outmaneuver and rout 120,000 Union men. There was not an hour from the beginning of this movement to its close, when victory was not within the grasp of the Union commander, but sad to say, it was frittered away completely by an inexcusable imbecility. Oh, for a leader for the Army for the Potomac ! ^jj^ On May 9th, General Wadsworth, in general orders, commended the recent gallantry of the Iron Brigade, as follows: The General commanding deems it proper to express his thanks to Colonel Morrow, (Twenty-fourth Michigan), and Colonel Bragg, (Sixth Wisconsin), and the gallant men under their command, for the heroic manner in which they crossed the Rappahannock and seized the heights on the opposite shore, on the 29th of April, and to the whole of the Brigade for the promptness with which they followed, on this daring enterprise. Commenting on which the Detroit Tribune said : We had faith in the Twenty-fourth before they left us ; but now, what Detroiter does not feel his bosom heave with pride as he reads the history of their heroism and the acknowledgment of their services from the Commanding General. Those who have known General Wadsworth, will describe him as a man of great -deliberation and very few words, from whom a line of praise is more valuable than volumes from others. CHAPTER VIII. From Chancellorsville to Gettysburg. CAMP WAY — THE FITZHUGH ESTATE. BARLY on the morning of May 7, the weaned men continued their march through Falmouth to within a mile and a half of White Oak church, and encamped on a rising knoll in an old orchard on the Fitzhugh estate, near the crossing of that name. It was a most beautiful spot, well supplied with wood and water, and by far the pleasantest camping ground of the regiment yet. It was named "Camp Way," after our Chaplain. The ten days of marching and fighting and retreating had made camp life, with its routine, welcome. Company streets were laid out, graded and ornamented with evergreens from the groves, forming fine walks and arbors. And here the men gathered about the camp-fires and related hair-breadth escapes from lips eloquent with patriotic inspiration. The regiment had added new laurels to its history. Its worn and tattered flag was first across at Port Royal and at Fitzhugh Crossing, and will be borne in the van while a shred of it remains. This Fitzhugh estate once belonged to the Washington family, and was the scene of the youthful George's experiment with his hatchet upon the cherry tree, which historical incident gave the old house, the orchard, and broad inter-vale for more than a mile from the wood-crowned bluff of the Rappahannock, an additional interest. The buildings were now untenanted and dilapidated, and the once magnificent garden in ruins. It was near the crossing where Washington, when a young man, is related to have thrown a stone across the Rappahannock, a feat, like his inability to tell a lie, considered sufificiently marvelous for historical record of the great man; but when several members of the Twenty-fourth Michigan easily performed the same feat, they believed that the youthful George's ability to tell the truth and perform this stone throwing act was not at all remarkable. (137) 138 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. CHUCK-OR-LUCK — FRIENDLY PICKETS, ETC. On Sunday, May 10, the Chaplains of the Iron Brigade were endeavoring to re-estabhsh religious services, but they met with a counter-attraction, as the following facetious request of Colonel Robinson of the Seventh Wisconsin to the Assistant Adjutant of the Iron Brigade will show: Sir — There is a large crowd of soldiers in the grove below, engaged in the interesting game called "Chuck-or-Luck." My chaplain is running his church on the other side of me, but " Chuck-.or-Luck" has the largest crowd. I think this unfair, as the church runs only once a week, but the game goes on daily, I suggest that one or the other of the parties be dispersed. SOLDIKRS PLAYING CHUCK-OR-LUCK. This game which had such a fascination among the soldiers, was a diminutive system of gambling, the elements of which too often are found in methods adopted by churches and Sunday schools for raising money by raffles and chance. This game was played with dice or small blocks in imitation. Sometimes it was played on a board ; often on a rubber blanket or the hard ground. Six sections were spaced off, each numbered in order. Two soldiers would play the game, one representing the "banker" and the other the venturer. The latter would choose one or two of the numbers and place FROM CHANCELI.ORSVILLE TO GHTTYSHURG. 1 39 a piece of money on each, which were covered by the "banker" with an equal amount. If the dice thrown gave the number or numbers chosen, then the player won and the "banker" lost. If the dice failed to turn up the numbers chosen, then the "banker" took all the money. The chances were about five to one in favor of the latter. Soon after pay-day this game had a great run, and many a poor fellow's two month's pay was gone in this manner. This game was sometimes called the " sweat board," but there were other games by night in some tents of ofificers of the army where decks of "sweat boards" were used for much larger amounts at stake. Early in its service. Colonel Morrow issued stringent orders against the practice of gaming for money within the regiment. On May 13th, our ambulances crossed the river for the wounded left behind in the recent battle. The enemy was full of exultation and confidence. That night the Twenty-fourth was sent out on picket for forty-eight hours, along the Rappahannock. The enemy's pickets were very friendly and conversation was continually had with them. It was a frequent occurrence to see the opposing pickets swim to the middle of the stream and exchange coffee and tobacco. They had only rye coffee and no sugar, while eggs were $3.50 a dozen in their currency. The enemy seemed to be very active across the river all day on the 14th, and that night the men were aroused twice from their slumbers, amid a terrible thunder shower. Returning from picket duty at noon of the 15th, they were regaled in the afternoon with speeches from Senators Chandler of Michigan and Wade of Ohio, who were on the committee on the Conduct of the War, and were doubtless looking up the causes of our recent disaster. For two weeks after its return from the bloody field the Twenty-fourth enjoyed the repose of its pleasant camp amid green fields, fine groves and stately oak forests. An abandoned yoke of oxen were brought into camp and used to haul the fuel and water for the Twenty-fourth. They were general favorites, as they saved the men some hard lugging of those necessary articles. A few weeks later, when the army started North, they were killed for beef. The rest for the Twenty-fourth was of brief duration. Soon after midnight on Thursday, the 21st, it was roused up and ordered to march at daylight, with three days' cooked rations. To and fro the men hurried, filling canteens and haversacks, wondering, and asking each other, "What's up now?" 140 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. WESTMORELAND EXPEDITION. After two hours of busy preparation, the stir proved to be an expedition composed of the Twenty-fourth Michigan, Nineteenth Indiana, Second and Sixth Wisconsin regiments of the Iron Brigade^ about i,2CXD men, under command of Colonel Morrow. Destination: King George and Westmoreland Counties. Its object was to clear the mwh'l ' <. v> m YOKE OF OXEN FOUND AT CAMP WAT — SKETCHED BY H. J. BROWN OF THE "twenty-fourth MICHIGAN." Northern Neck (as the Peninsula is called, between the Potomac and Rappahannock), of any Confederate troops intercepting the Eighth Illinois Cavalry which had gone down a few days before. The following is Colonel Morrow's report of the expedition : At daybreak on May 21st, the Expedition marched directly for King George Court House, where it halted for dinner ; thence to Millville where we arrived before dark, having marched twenty-eight miles. The day was excessively hot and many gave out from exhaustion. ^Resumed march at daylight of 22d and arrived at Mattox Creek about 8 o'clock, (seven or eight miles). The bridge over Mattox Creek had been destroyed the Sunday before. From a few half-burned planks and timbers, Captain Ford of General Wadsworth's staff and Captain Merritt of the Twenty-fourth Michigan, in a few hours with a working party, had so far repaired the bridge as to allow the passage of Infantry and Cavalry. These officers are deserving of much credit for their skill and efficiency. Having information of a force of the enemy near Leesvllle, opposite Port Micou, I resolved to march to that place, leaving a small detachment with Captain Merritt to complete the bridge and guard it. I marched to Leesville, scouring the country on both sides of the road to be sure the enemy did not get in our rear. We saw no rebels and arrived at Leesville a little before sunset, a march of thirteen miles. We bivouacked for the night behind a skirt of woods out of sight of the opposite side of the river. I picketed the river and attempted to burn the boats on the opposite side of the river, but failed. FROM CHANCELLORSVILLE TO GETTYSBURO. 141 I fired a few rounds across the river at a squadron of Cavalry doing picket duty about Port Micou. After the first volley, the Cavalry quickly withdrew behind a slight rise of ground in rear of the town, leaving not a picket to watch our movements. It VTas now about 7 o'clock Saturday morning, the 23d, and I moved the column down the river as if to march for Leedstown, three miles below, but after marching a short distance, I turned to the left and marched for Oak Grove to intercept any rebels that might be there. I sent a party of mounted men to Leedstown. As I was turning to leave the river, I saw a man in rebel uniform crossing the field and evidently making for the water. He was captured and proved to be Lieutenant Col. Critcher, Fifteenth Virginia Cavalry. The column halted at Oak Grove a little after noon (SJ.j miles), a place of no importance except it is the intersection of several roads on Northern Neck. Early Sunday morning, I marched my command to within one mile of Westmoreland Court House, and met the advance of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry on its return, with an enormous train of wagons, carts, horses, mules and contrabands, and encamped for the night, after a march of eleven miles. At 4 o'clock in the morning we retraced our steps, marching fourteen miles before breakfast, and bivouacked for the night near King George Court House, after a march of twenty-nine miles. At 5 o'clock on the morning of the 26th, the column resumed its march and reached camp near White Oak Church, at noon (21 miles), having marched 130 miles in five and a half days. Besides Colonel Critcher, the captured train consisted of three confederate officers, fifty prisoners, five hundred horses and mules, one thousand slaves of all ages and both sexes, and a large quantity of bacon and corn. Besides three hundred confederate prisoners were paroled. The country was bursting into vernal greenness, and was a marvel of beauty and fertility. The boys lived on the " fat of the land," though it was very warm and dusty and many of them blistered their feet. It was the captured Colonel's cavalry that retreated from Port Royal upon the advent of our men there a month before. He had come over the river to visit his family ostensibly, but really to plan for the capture of our cavalry, which the arrival of the Iron Brigade prevented. He had burned the Mattox Creek bridge and was hiding in the grass when a mounted orderly found him. It was Captain A. M. Edwards and six men who volunteered to cross the river at Port Micou aud burn the two boats. The pilot steered the wrong way and they were discovered and driven back. Upon their return, the column passed near the site of Washington's birthplace, marked only by fragments of a chimney. Upon a stone, overgrown with bushes, is the inscription : " Here was born George Washington, February 1 1, 1732." VISITORS — BLACK HATS — REORGANIZATION, ETC. Upon arrival in camp they found several visitors from Detroit. The following evening. May 27th, the regiment listened to speeches from several of them — from John J. Speed, brother of (10) 142 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN, Captain Speed, Rev. F. A. Blades, Henry Barns, and a "rouser" from private Jones of the Sixth Wisconsin. The regiment was this day furnished with the "Black Hats" peculiar to the Iron Brigade, no other troops wearing them, making their appearance like their name, quite unique. On May 28, Governor Blair and his wife, also David Preston, of Detroit, visited the camp, the former making a speech on dress parade. On May 30, General Reynolds reviewed the First Corps, and the next day the regiment went on picket. It witnessed a review of twenty-five regiments of the enemy on the old Fredericksburg battle-ground, which betokened a mysterious something brewing among them. 7» » i-6 ROUTE OF IRON BRIGADE ON THE WESTMORELAND EXPEDITION. By reason of the expiration of the terms of service of the two years' men and the nine months' men, the First Corps had been reduced from 16,000 to 9,000 men, the smallest in the Army of the Potomac. There Avas a consequent re-arrangement of organizations and the "Iron Brigade" became, after June ist, 1863, the First Brigade of the First Division of the First Corps, which gave it the honor of carrying the division colors — a large white, tri-angular flag with the symbol of the First Corps — a red sphere or disc in the center. If all the Armies of the United States were in one line, the Iron Brigade would now be on the extreme right, adding the uniqueness of position and number to that of name and dress, of this now celebrated Brigade. Mysterious movements continued across the river and midnight of June 3d, brought moving orders. Tents were struck at daylight FROM CHANCELLORSVILLE TO GETTYSBURG. I43 and, after lying around till eleven o'clock, orders came to " pitch tents " again, and camp routine was resumed. The enemy seemed to have left their camps over the river, leaving a strong line of picket. The next afternoon, a part of the Sixth Corps crossed the river to reconnoitre, capturing 300 prisoners. Evening brought new orders to move at daylight on the 6th. All readiness was made, wagons loaded and arms stacked on the parade grounds till ten o'clock, when tents were again pitched and camp life resumed. On Sunday, IVtay 7th, the Seventh Wisconsin and a part of the Second Wisconsin were sent off on an expedition to uncover the movements of the enemy. A few days later they struck the enemy near Culpepper, and ascertained by this event and captured mails that Lee had started on an invasion of the North. The defeats of the Union Army at Fredericksburg in December, 1862, and recently at Chancellorsville, and the reduction of Hooker's Army by battle, and departure of those whose enlistment terms had expired, to less than •90,000 men, not to mention an assured hope or promise of foreign recognition and consequent intervention of European powers, in case of a successful Northern Campaign, doubtless induced Lee to this bold attempt. Thursday, June I'lth, brought strict orders for all civilians to leave the Army at once, all extra baggage to be sent to the rear, and the men's extra luggage reduced to the lowest possible amount, and be ready to march before daylight the next day. Like their departure from Camp Isabella, the final breaking up at Camp Way was attended with much interest, both because of the pleasant location of the camp and the few happy weeks spent amid the orchard blossoms of the vernal months, and because of the vague uncertainties of the future. There was an exciting campaign before them and the camp that night was one of unusual anxiety. The regiment had been but ten months in service, yet, in this brief period, it had been occupied almost constantly in drill, expeditions, forced marches in rain and mud, fighting and taking its tours of picket duty. It had endured hunger, suffering, and all the hardships of exposure and fatigues of army life. From these causes and from sickness, death, wounds, disease, promotions and details to Battery B, pioneer and ambulance service, it had become reduced to nearly one-half its original number. But its brilliant record had won for it and its State, a proud name. The Detroit Tribune thus mentioned it at this date: 144 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. It was a source of great pleasure, on a recent visit to the army, to find that the Twenty-fourth Michigan had earned for itself in that vast army, an honorable and high reputation for bravery and soldierly bearing. It stands among the highest and is considered among the very best by the general officers of that army. It was a pleasure to see the men so generally hardy and ready to do their whole duty. START FOR GETTYSBURG — MILITARY EXECUTION. Sunrise of P>iday morning, June 12, found the regiment, with the Iron Brigade, well away from Camp Way. The line of march was up the river and across the railroad at Stoneman's Switch, two miles from Falmouth, out of sight of the opposite side of the river. The column moved briskly, although the heat and dust were oppressive. At noon it reached the main Barnett's Ford road at Berea Church and halted for an hour's rest and to witness the death penalty upon a soldier of the Iron Brigade for desertion to the enemy. Sergeant Sullivan D. Green of Company F, Twenty-fourth Michigan, thus described, at the time, the tragic event : This day is to witness an impressive and unusual sight. In one of yonder ambulances sits a young man under strong guard whose hours on earth are numbered. The other ambulance carries his coffin. He is going to his execution. Many before him have been pardoned by the president, but he will not be thus fortunate. His case is an aggravated one. He has been tried for three previous attempts at desertion and this time endeavored to pass himself off at the court martial in which he had the folly to give his own name, and place of birth, and also claimed to belong to a rebel regiment of the same number as that to which he really belonged, the Nineteenth Indiana. This led to his recognition by the provost marshal who had a full descriptive list of the prisoner. He was found guilty and sentenced to 'be shot to death with musketry, in presence of the division, on Friday the 12th day of June inst., between 12 M. and 4 p. m. At about 2 o'clock the Iron Brigade led the column into a field, preceded by the prisoner sitting on his coffin. In silence, three sides of a hollow square were formed. The coffin was placed upon the ground, the prisoner alighted from the ambulance with the chaplain who held a few moments' converse with the doomed man, knelt and prayed with him, and then withdrew a little distance. The detail of twelve men who were to execute the sentence were ordered out in line, when General Wadsworth addressed them for a few moments. They received their instructions and moved in single file in front of a line of guards, with loaded musketry, and as the two lines faced each other, the muskets were taken one by one from the guard and passed to the detail for the execution, the officer inspecting the lock to ascertain if it was in good condition. They were then marched in single file in front of the coffin and about ten paces distant. In the meantime, from a desire of the prisoner, the Chaplain came forward the second time. Some moments were spent in solemn conversation and prayer, both kneeling, and as the very air grew still with the hush of death's angel and each heart- beat of the thousands standing around them seemed measured by minutes, they rose to their feet. The Chaplain spoke a last word commending a fellow-mortal's spirit to God, received his last message, pressed his hand and turned away. The last moment had come. FROM CHANCELLORSVILLE TO GETTYSBURG. 145 146 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. As the marshal stepped toward him, the prisoner took off his hat, placed it on' the ground, and as he turned to his coffin he stood face to face for an instant with his- executioners, and beyond them the long lines of his comrades who gave him a last, sad, pitying look. However just and necessary the penalty, there is something in such a moment that can scarcely be felt but once, and that at such a time. He was calm and resigned; moved with steady step to his coffin and sat upon it. He said to the marshal that he woiild rather not have his arms pinioned or his eyes blindfolded, as he was not afraid of the death he was about to meet, but if it was according to custom he would not object. He took his last look of earth. Whether his thoughts were there or elsewhere, God only knows. The day was most beautiful, and the summer's sun in its warmest brightness fell around him. The field was green and wavy in its verdure. It was the last. A handkerchief was placed over his eyes, and his arms and legs were bound. Then only, a slight shudder passed through him. His shirt was ripped open and his breast made bare. All was ready. At the command "attention," the usual word of caution or preparation, they were to fire. The hat was lifted — 10,000 eyes were strained in one breathless gaze — it was lowered, and many eyes withdrew from the sight that was to follow. The report of arms was heard and a lifeless body fell backward to the dust ! A comrade had died at the hands of his fellow soldiers by the same death he feared to meet in the ranks of patriotism. He had cravenly deserted them in the hour of danger and had now paid the penalty. Better had he died amid the carnage of the deadly field and won a heroic fame; better had he borne a maimed and shattered body through his waning years; better have nobly done his duty and been honored as one of his country's best defenders in her need ! The division marched by the corpse, the burial detail struck their spades into the earth; the body limp and bleeding, with four bullet holes through the heart, was placed in the coffin, the column moved forward to the dusty road on its march, and we leave each to his own reflections. The young man up to an hour before his death expected to be pardoned, as had been done so often in other cases of the death Sentence, and as the Army was on the march this expectation was increased. But the Lieutenant in charge of the guard informed him that he must surely die that day, when his demeanor assumed a more serious aspect. Doubtless then his mind turned towards friends with a regret that he had not performed the whole duty of a soldier. William Smith of Company B was one of his guards that day. Thomas Nixon of B, and Joshua Minthorn of C, were on the detail from the Twenty-fourth to do the shooting which was done by a selection of men from the different regiments of the Iron Brigade. The provost marshal informed the shooting party that the man must be killed and that it was better for each one to take good aim and kill him instantly than to wound and only half kill him. They were told that one gun of the twelve was empty or filled with a blank cartridge, and each man FROM CHANCELLORSVILLE TO GETTYSBURG. I47 of the detail might suppose himself to have that gun. It was a most melancholy experience for all who saw it and one that none could desire to witness again. FORCED MARCH TO CENTERVILLE. After the execution, the column moved at a quick pace to Deep Run and encamped at the mill near the Junction of the Warrenton and Barnett's Ford roads, the Twenty-fourth advancing half a mile in support of the picket line. The men recognized the right-hand road as the one they marched clown last fall from Warrenton to Fredericksburg. The face of the country robed in its summer dress appeared finer than the hard trodden barriers of Stafford Heights. At daylight on Saturday morning, June 13, the regiment marched on through Grove Church, halting an hour at "Cool Spring;" thence four miles to Morrisville, places with scarce half a dozen houses each. Few houses are required in Virginia for towns of high sounding names. They frequently have but one street, the road that passes through them. Moving on through Bealton Station, they halted for the night two miles beyond, at Liberty Church. Six o'clock Sunday morning, June 14, found the column again advancing, halting for a brief rest at Germantown, the birthplace of Chief Justice Marshall. This section bears the name of " Effingham Forest " after Lord Effingham of colonial times. Another march brought the regiment to Warrenton Junction at 2 P. M. where a halt was made for " coffee," which favorite beverage being swallowed, a quick pace was taken through Catlett's to Kettle Run, within a mile of Bristow Station. It was after dark, but only a brief halt was allowed for supper. Colonel Morrow informed the men that it Avas necessary to go forward still further that night, as it was a question of speed whether they or the enemy would first reach the Centerville Heights. All day the weather was hot and roads dusty, many falling out of the ranks exhausted and sinking to the ground. For three miles before the halt for supper at Kettle Run, the men became frantic for water, as there was none save now and then in some mudhole or slimy frog marsh. Crossing Kettle Run after an hour's halt, by stepping from stone to stone in the darkness, and later in the night Broad Run also, in the glare of torches and bonfires on the bank, by an improvised bridge of rails, they marched all night and reached Manassas Junction just before sunrise on Monday morning, June 15. The night march was tedious, HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. THE MARCH FOR GETTYSBURG. FROM CHANCELLORSVILLE TO GETTYSBURG. I49 though but for the need of sleep not so exhausting as in the heat of day. The halt for breakfast was made on the very spot beside the Manassas railroad track where the rest of the Iron Brigade made their morning meal after retreating from the bloody field of Gainesville, August 29, 1862. They had remained on the field till midnight to bury their dead, but ere the task was done had to retire, and at sunrise halted on this spot. After a rest of four hours, the Iron Brigade passed on over the plains of Manassas, by the fortificatins and Beauregard's headquarters. Yonder earthworks command the wide plain sloping towards the heavy timber that fills the Bull Run valley. Dark and gloomy seem their depths and over tree tops can be seen the Heights of Centerville, six miles beyond, which form the outposts of the defenses of Washington, twenty-five miles away. Captain A. M. Edwards pointed out the little grove where, with 500 fellow prisoners, he passed the first night of his ten months' captivity in Dixie. The regiment entered the woods and halted for dinner at Blackburn's Ford suf^ciently long for the men to take a needed bath in the waters of the now historic Bull Run. At this Ford occurred the first encounter of the war between the northern and southern troops. The Second and Third Michigan Infantry opened the contest. Crossing the Ford, the regiment proceeded to Centerville, where it arrived at 3 P. M., encamping southeast of the village, seventy-five miles from Falmouth. Here the men learned the exciting news of the invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania by Lee's army. NORTHWARD MARCH TO PENNSYLVANIA LINE. After resting till daylight of Wednesday 17, the column marched towards Leesburg. The weather was terrible, but the men stood it well until obliged to retrace their steps a mile or two on the wrong road, when their spirits and power of endurance waned under this depressing influence. They could march well through woods where not a breath of air stirred, or along fields under rays of a burning sun, but this useless marching greatly discouraged them, as an exhausting march is more dreaded than the deadly fight. The regiment went but little further that day, and crossing the Alexandria & Loudon Railroad near Herndon, halted to rest in an open field amid springs of clear water, after a march of ten miles. Thursday, the i8th, was a day of rest. Copious showers of rain fell that night and the next day, the first rainfall for six weeks. At 1 1 o'clock on the 19th, the column moved four miles up the railroad 150 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. towards Leesburg, to Broad Run and bivouacked near Guilford Station, Loudon County, Virginia. All Saturday and Sunday, the 2 1st, the men lay under arms ready to move. Heavy firing was heard in the direction of Ashby's Gap. It was our Cavalry annoying Lee's troops on their way north. Lee had been transferring his forces via the Shenandoah Valley towards Maryland, and Hooker had carefully kept the Union Army between Lee and Washington. On Monday, the 22d, Colonel Morrow dismissed the commissioned ofificers to the camp and put non-commissioned ofificers in their places for a drill. Several stepped forward and successfully put the regiment through the battalion evolutions, much to their credit. While halting here for a week, the men had a good rest before the terrible events soon to be unfolded to history, and many a poor boy wrote his last letter home. After an all night's rainstorm, the Iron Brigade marched at 8 o'clock on Thursday morning, the 25th, crossed the Potomac at Edwards' Ferry on pontoons, and proceeding through Poolsville, Maryland, bivouacked at dark at Darnesville near Sugar Loaf Mountain. A most beautiful sight was a large school of children at Poolsville, who gazed upon the soldiers as they marched by. One cannot imagine, without experience, the cheerful feeling such a sight induces among those who have not for months witnessed this feature of civilization. This reminder of home brought tears to many an eye of those accustomed to hardships of the campaign. The soldiers were welcomed all along the route, by fair women and glad children who hailed their protectors from war's devastation. Early Friday morning, June 26th, the column wound its way over Sugar Loaf Mountains by a very rough road, through heavy woods, into the valley of the Monocac)'', which was crossed at Greenfield Mills by a bridge 256 feet long. It rained all day, which made disagreeable roads, but averted the heat of the sun. Two miles further on the Iron Brigade halted for dinner, when a farmer dolefully inquired of General Meredith, if the men were burning his rails by Meredith's orders. The General told him that the men must cook their coffee, and if he was a loyal man, the government would pay him all damages. The country was inexpressibly beautiful with its fields of waving grain nestling on the mountain sides and in the valley. the views from the summits being most grand. Crossing the range, the regiment encamped one mile south of Jefferson, about six miles below Middletown. THE MARCH TO GETTYSDURO. 152 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN, On Saturday the 27th, a further march of six miles was made up the Valley, encamping two miles northwest of Middletown, where the Iron Brigade halted till 3 P. M. on Sunday, June 28th, when the long roll beat and the troops marched across the mountain to Frederick City, eight miles, by a rough road north of the National Road, through Shookstown. On Monday, .June 29th, the march lay through Lewiston, Catoctin, Furnace, Franklinsville and Mechanicstown, (the latter overflowing with patriotism and hospitality) — to Emmitsburg. At this place was located St. Joseph's Academy, under charge of the Sisters of Charity, who in the course of this war were ministering angels to our sick and wounded comrades. On the 25th, Captain A. M. Edwards was ordered to Alexandria, to bring back convalescents for the First Corps. He rejoined the Army at Frederick, Maryland, with 1,219 ^^ ^^^is class, on the 29th. Leaving Emmitsburg behind on Tuesday, June 30, the Iron Brigade, with the Sixth Wisconsin in advance, crossed the Pennsylvania line, being in the van of the Potomac Army. It moved on five miles, nearly to Greenmount, Adams County, Pennsylvania, 160 miles from the starting point on the Rappahannock, and bivouacked about noon near Marsh Creek, where the men where mustered for pay which many of them were never to receive. The bivouac was but six miles from a field which their blood will make immortal ere another sunset. Alas, the last campfire for many a weary soldier! "To-night we sleep on Bosvvorth Field — to-morrow where?" CHANGE OF COMMANDERS. In this impending crisis, another change of Commanders in the Army of the Potomac now seemed advisable to the Washington authorities, and the following address was issued : Headquarters Army of the Potomac, ) Frederick, Md., June, 28, 1863. f In conformity with orders from the War Department, the command of the Army of the Potomac is transferred to Major-General George G. Meade, a brave and accomplished officer, who has nobly earned the confidence and esteem of the army on many a well fought field. Impressed with the belief that my usefulness as the commander of this army is impaired, I part from it, yet not without the deepest emotion. The sorrow of parting with the comrades of so many battles is relieved by the conviction that its courage and devotion will never cease nor fail ; that it will yield to my successor, as it has to me, a willing and hearty support. With the earnest prayer that the triumph of its arms may bring successes worthy of it and the nation, I bid it farewell. JOSEPH HOOKER, Major- General. • FROM CHANCELLORSVILLE TO GETTYSBURG. 1 53 In assuming command of the army General Meade said : The country looks to this army to relieve it from the devastation and disgrace of a hostile invasion. Whatever fatigues and sacrifices we may be called upon to undergo, let us have in view constantly the magnitude of the interests involved, and let each man determine to do his duty. It is with just diffidence that I relieve an eminent and accomplished soldier, whose name must ever appear conspicuous in the history of its achievements; but I rely upon the hearty support of my companions in arms to assist me in the discharge of the duties of the important trust confided to me. General Hooker's management of the Chancellorsville campaign had not been satisfactory to the War Department, and he was now- denied the command of some troops within his department which were afterwards placed under the command of his successor. General Hooker thus felt that " his usefulness as commander was impaired," :/V'' MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE. and requested to be relieved. Two days after, General Meade, awake to the great interests involved in the impending crisis, issued the following : The Commanding General requests that previous to the engagement soon expected, officers address their troops explaining the immense issues involved. The enemy is now on our soil. The whole country looks anxiously to this army to deliver it from the presence of the foe. * * * Corps and other commanders are authorized to order the instant death of any soldiet who fails to do his duty at this hour. ^54 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Though measuring the importance of the struggle, this -severe menace was not necessary. An appeal to their honor would have sufficed, such as Nelson signaled from his flagship before the battle of Trafalgar: " England expects every man to do his duty to-day." BEALTON STATION, VA. SKETCHED BY H. J. BROWN. CHAPTER IX. Battle of Gettysburg. JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE. IN THE closing week of June, 1863, both the Confederate army under Lee, and the Union army under Meade, arrived in Pennsylvania, the former in advance. An important significance attached to the next day's bloody conflict which was necessary to prepare the way for a colossal Union victory two days after. Upon its issue depended the Nation's life. The very fate of the Union cause — even the recognition of the Southern Confederacy from a failure of the Union arms at this time — would soon be decided on the field of mortal combat. It was an hour of agonizing suspense, the darkest in our blood-stained annals. On June 29, 1863, Lee heard of the Union army being also in Pennsylvania and the next day started his forces for Gettysburg. A judge in the latter town, obtaining this information, sent a messenger off to a distant railroad station, and that night the Governor of the State thereby learned of Lee's intentions. The news was sent to Meade by a circuitous telegraphic course, and he, too, began to direct his scattered corps to the same place. During Tuesday, June 30, unbeknown to each other, Lee advanced his army eastward, while General Reynolds of the First (Union) Corps advanced northward, bivouacking, each, about an equal distance from Gettysburg, whose advantageous heights were most valuable to either army. At an early hour on Wednesday morning, July i, the men partook of their frugal meal of hardtack, pork and coffee, as usual. The Pennsylvania line had been reached and the forces of the enemy must be met very soon, though none suspected that the foe was w^ithin a few hours' march. Before resuming the daily journey it was deemed proper to assemble the regiment for prayer. During Chaplain Way's invocation, cartridges and hardtack were dis^ibuted among the men. Time was precious and not to be lost. The line of advance was resumed up the Emmitsburg road. All seemed merry until yonder booms and pufTs of cannon smoke told (155) 156 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. plainly that the opposing pickets had met. Our Union cavalry had halted the enemy, dismounted, and were having a hot time to keep the foe in check until the approaching First Corps could arrive. Suddenly a fleet horseman from the front dashed up with a hasty message for General Meredith of the " Iron Brigade." Route step and merriment now gave way to a quick pace, while all non-combatants and pack mules were ordered to fall to the rear, as the regiment with its brigade filed off the road to the left about a mile from the town, near Cordori's House. CAPTURE OF ARCHERS BRIGADE — DEATH OF REYNOLDS. The Iron Brigade advancing in order — Second and Seventh Wisconsin, Nineteenth Indiana and Twenty-fourth Michigan — was double-quicked into line, without guns being loaded or bayonets fixed, which was done on the run. (The Sixth Wisconsin of this brigade had been detached for service elsewhere in this corps during the morning.) Hastening across the fields the Iron Brigade's right wing ^^«^ vn;:5>~-Xv^:;-N' MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN F. REYNOLDS, KILLED AT GETTYSBURG. BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 1 57 halted on the crest of a ridge looking down into a wooded ravine, from which blazed a shower of bullets from Archer's Tennessee Brigade. Its left wing, consisting of the Twenty-fourth Michigan, swung clear around into the forest in the rear of this Tennessee Brigade. A special in the New York Tribune thus described the event : Reynolds has ridden into the angle of wood, a bow-shot from the Seminary, and cheers the Iron Brigade as they wheel on the flank of the oak trees for a charge. Like a great flail of steel they swing into the shadows with a huzza that is terrible; low, crouching by his horse's head, the General peeps into the depths of the grove. "Boom" from the oaken recesses breaks a hailstorm of lead, and Reynolds, with the word of command upon his tongue, falls forward. The architect of the battle has fallen dead across its portal ! Across the brook and up the hill, out from the wooded ravine, two jagged arcs leap into sight. Huzza ! From the skirts of the oak the great double doors of the Iron Brigade shut together, with a slam as if of colliding mountains, folding between them 1,500 rebel prisoners of war. In this maneuver, while the greater part of Archer's Brigade was thus captured, a large number of them ran for the railroad cut a little to the north and concealed themselves therein. But soon after, the Sixth Wisconsin of the Iron Brigade (this day on detached duty), succeeded in capturing this remnant of Archer's Brigade. Thus the Iron Brigade had the honor of capturing this whole Tennessee Brigade. The Twenty-fourth Michigan was on the extreme left of the Iron Brigade during the charge, and swept over the hill, down across Willoughby Run, swinging clear around the ravine in which was Archer's forces, most of whom were thus captured with General Archer himself. It was a victory indeed, but at the cost of precious lives, including its valiant color-bearer. Sergeant Abel G. Peck. The regiment then about-faced and drove the uncaptured foe over the crest and a hundred yards beyond, but soon after withdrew to the eastern side of the stream and hastily formed, during which Lieutenant-Colonel Mark Flanigan lost a leg, and Adjutant Rexford was severely wounded. BATTLE-LINE IN McPHERSON'S WOOD.S. The Iron Brigade was now on the extreme left of the Federal position, with the Twenty-fourth in the center, the Nineteenth Indiana on its left, and the Seventh and Second Wisconsin on its right, in McPherson's woods, something over a mile west of the town. The right of the Twenty-fourth was curved back to unite with the 01) * 158 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. 1>- % '^n ROUTE OF IRON BftlGADE ON BATTLEFIELD OF GETTYSBURG, BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 1 59 Seventh Wisconsin, its two wings forming the sides of an obtuse angle. The left of the Twenty-fourth extending down a hillside to a deep hollow was scarcely visible to the right wing, and was completely commanded (as was the Nineteenth Indiana) by the enemy on the hill opposite, a position that plainly could not be maintained. Colonel Morrow thought this part of the line should have been formed on the elevated ground behind and represented three times to headquarters that the position was untenable. But the invariable reply was that ''the position must be held." It was now eleven o'clock, and a brief lull ensued in the enemy's firing, evidently to allow his tardy forces to take position. But he shelled the woods meanwhile, and company B, under Lieutenant Fred. A. Buhl, were deployed as skirmishers. The enemy's strong divisions ■of Heth and Pender, supported by eighty pieces of artillery, vehemently attacked the little First Corps of 9000 men as if to annihilate it ere aid could come to it. Says the historian Abbott : Noon came and passed and no help for the dwindling band who stood among their dead, immovable. Glorious among this Spartan Corps flashed the Iron Brigade, resistless as Western nerve and pluck can be. It was well after one o'clock when two divisions of the Eleventh Corps arrived, forming a broken arc of battle-line around to the north of the town. But they were soon outnumbered by the arrival from the opposite direction of Ewell's Confederate Corps, which united with Hill's Corps, already confronting the First Corps, exceeded the Union forces nearly two to one. Two-thirds of Lee's army thus confronted the smallest Union Corps and part of another. GREAT BATTLE OF FIRST DAY — WHIRLWIND OF DEATH. The enemy having completely drawn two battle-lines in front and on the flanks of the First and Eleventh Corps, the onset of battle was again sounded. They approached in two splendid lines of battle, after forming in the woods beyond the open field. Their serpentine lengths of grey soon appeared, their right overlapping the Federal left by a quarter of a mile. General Meredith of the Iron Brigade was soon wounded and left the field. Some historians have assigned Colonel Morrow to the command of the Iron Brigade for the rest of the fight, but in a private letter from Colonel Henry A. Morrow to the author, in 1890, he disclaimed any command on that day of the Iron Brigade, saying that Colonel Robinson of the Seventh Wisconsin l6o HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOU^ITH MICHIGAN. took Meredith's place after the latter was wounded. Certain it is that Colonel Morrow retained immediate command of his own regiment until he was wounded himself. Soon after, Brockenbrough and Pettigrew's brigades attacked the Twenty-fourth Michigan and Nineteenth Indiana, in front and left flank, as if to crush them. Other troops came down upon the Seventh and Second Wisconsin as if to drive them in. Colonel Morrow directed his men to withhold their fire until the enemy should come within easy range, and they approached within eighty paces, so close that the commands of their offlcers could be heard. Soon the whirlwind of battle began. As the enemy approached, just in the rear of their line rode a Colonel on a mule repeating " Give 'em boys," when a bullet knocked his cap off. Catching it in his hand, he continued to urge on their line. From the nature of the ground but little injury was inflicted orb the enemy at this time, as their advance was not checked, and on they came, yelling like demons. The Nineteenth Indiana fought valiantly,. but overpowered by flanking numbers, with a disadvantage of position, they were forced back after severe loss and formed on a new line. This exposed the Twenty-fourth Michigan to a terrible cross fire, the men falling like grass before the scythe. Captain William J. Speed, as Acting-Major (Major Wight was acting now as Lieutenant-Colonel) attempted to swing back two companies on the left so as to face the enemy on the flank, but while executing the movement, a. Confederate bullet pierced his heart ! Lieutenant Gilbert A. Dickey and the second color bearer had been killed, several officers wounded,, and many of the men lay dead or wounded on this line, a superior force compelling them to take a new position. The enemy had now approached a little within the first line of battle of the Twenty-fourth Michigan, where they were held for some time, the work of death going on without ceasing. They were the Twenty-sixth North Carolina and expected to meet militia only, and have an easy victory. But their dead and wounded lay quite as numerous as our own among the trees. The Iron Brigade wearing a different head gear from the rest of our army (stiff, broad brimmed, tall, black hats), this unique feature made them recognized by their old antagonists who now were heard by our own wounded to exclaim : " Here are those black-hat fellows again ! This is no militia." They had met this Iron Brigade before, and well knew when they did so that business was meant. BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. i6i l62 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. The Second Line of Battle of the Twenty-fourth Michigan was speedily formed. Meanwhile, a desperate resistance was made against Scales' Confederate Brigade on our right, which the rest of the Iron Brigade, chiefly the Seventh and Second Wisconsin, aided by Battery B, Fourth U. S. Artillery from another section of the field, almost annihilated. Our fraternal Second Brigade of Wadsworth's Division was also doing its whole duty further to the right. Fresh regiment after regiment was dashed against the Iron Brigade to break the Federal left. The ranks of the Twenty-fourth had again become thinned, a windrow of killed and wounded indicating the position of this line. Overwhelmed again, it was forced to take another new position beyond a small ravine. On this TJiird Line of Battle its third color-bearer was killed, and Major Edwin B. Wight (acting as Lieutenant-Colonel) lost an eye.. He was thrown completely down and supposed by the men to be killed, but recovering himself he was forced to leave the field. Scarcely a fourth of the regiment taken into action could now be rallied. Lieutenants Safford, Shattuck and Wallace were killed, and twelve officers had received wounds more or less severe. For over two hours had the terrible conflict lasted. The Eleventh Corps was going to pieces, forced back by superior odds. The valiant little First Corps, which had borne the brunt of the battle since early morning, had been forced back on its right. Long had Wadsworth held its line. "The fire was such as veterans never saw before," says the historian Abbott. The nervy Iron Brigade still held out against the crushing blows of greatly preponderating forces, doubled even, to dash it in pieces or capture it, and yet no orders came for it to retreat. We can say but little of the other regiments of the Iron Brigade at this time, or until the conflict ended. No General seems to have been giving orders to them or to the brigade. Each regiment was fighting by itself, and none seem to know what the others were doing,, except to be hotly engaged like themselves. The Twenty-fourth regiment had now retired from the woods into the open field towards the Seminary. A Fourth Line of Battle was next attempted. The last of the color-guard planted the flag around which to rally the men. He was shot in the breast and left on the field. The entire color-guard now being gone, Colonel Morrow took the flag to rally the remnant of his devoted band of Wayne County boys and men, when a private took the colors from his hands and was instantly killed by the Colonel's BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 163 side. Lieutenant Humphreyville was killed on this line, and Colonel Morrow again seized the colors. A Fifth Line of Battle was attempted where he planted the colors. On this new line, while waiving his sword over his head to rally the men, Captain O'Donnell was instantly killed, and Lieutenant Grace received two wounds, both of which were mortal. Gradually contesting every foot of ground, step by step, frequently almost surrounded, through and out of the woods and over the open field, what was now left of the Twenty-fourth had been forced back to the friendly rail fence barricade just west of the Seminary. Its Sixth Line of Battle was attempted to be formed at this place. It fought for a time, during which Colonel Morrow, holding aloft the bullet-riddled flag, received a wound in his head and was forced to leave the field, first turning the command of the regiment over to Captain A. M. Edwards, the senior officer now present. Captain Edwards took the flag and waiving it, the men who were left gallantly rallied to it as well as some of the rest of the Iron Brigade. This was the last stand made by the Union troops on that part of the field. The position was held amid a murderous fire from front and flank, until orders came from General Doubleday (command- ing the First Corps since Reynolds' death in the morning) to fall back, the first order of the kind received during the struggle. Captain Edwards, still carrying the flag, led the way through the town to the Cemetery, followed by only twenty-six of the Twenty-fourth Michigan, in comparative good order. What were left of the Iron Brigade were soon after moved to Gulp's Hill and a new line formed with the Twenty-fourth Michigan on the left. It reached from the top of the elevation to the foot of the hill facing the town. A sorrowful band, indeed, that night ! Of the Twenty-fourth Michigan only ninety-nine men and three officers could be rallied to the flag, out of 496 who followed it into action that morning. DEVOTION TO THE FLAG. The conduct of the Twenty-fourth Michigan in this first day's battle, from Colonel to private, was a series of the most heroic and brilliant acts of supporting and rallying on the flag, amid showers of leaden hail, ever known in the annals of war, and conferred immortal honor upon that Spartan band as lasting as the blue sky that looks down upon that field of carnage and glory. When its flag was presented to the regiment in Detroit, a solemn vow was taken, never to allow it to trail before the enemy or fall into 164 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. his hands. That flag, pierced by twenty-three fresh bullets from the enemy's guns, aside from those that splintered its staff in this engagement, spoke more forcibly than any words could, with what sacredness the vow was kept. The noble and stalwart Color-Sergeant, Abel G. Peck, in whose keeping the colors were placed, on the Campus Martins, yielded up his life in their defense, early in the morning fight, being the first man of the regiment killed in this battle. Before they touched the ground, as Peck fell, Color-Corporal CHARLES Bellore of E sprang forward and seizing the colors, bore them aloft as the troops advanced to the capture of Archer's Brigade. Bellore, too, was killed in McPherson's woods near the second line of battle. DEFENDING THE COLORS AT GETTYSBURG, JULY 1, 1863. BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 165 Private AUGUST EARNEST of K now took the colors from the ground and carried them until the third line of battle was formed, when he, also, shared the fate of his comrades. When Earnest dropped dead, the flag fell with him at the feet of First Sergeant EVERARD B. Welton of H, who reached forward and picked it up, holding it till Colonel Morrow ran to him and took the thrice prostrated flag from his hands. He gave it to Color-Corporal Andrew Wagner of F, who boldly waved it in the face of the advancing foe, and under a terrific fire, took a new position indicated to him by Colonel Morrow. Wagner in turn, the last of the Color Guard, was shot and fell with the colors. Colonel Morrow took them from under Wagner, and, assuring him that his wound was not mortal, himself bore them until Private WiLLlAM Kelly of E came up and took them, saying: "The Colonel of the Twenty-fourth Michigan shall not carry the colors while I am alive." In an instant after his lifeless body lay at the feet of the Colonel ! After the death of the brave Kelly, the flag was carried for a time by Private LiLBURN A. SPAULDING of K, when Colonel Morrow again took it and made another effort to rally his more than thrice decimated ranks. He carried it aloft until he himself was wounded near the Seminary. Somewhere between the first line of battle in McPherson's woods and the rail fence barricade near the Seminary, Corporal WiLLIAM ZlEGLER of A, was instantly killed, and Sergeant WiLLIAM J. Nagle of A, Corporal THOMAS SUGGETT of G and Private Thomas B. Ballou of C were mortally wounded, each while acting as color guard. What became of the colors or who took them after Colonel Morrow was wounded, will ever remain a mystery known only to the God of heaven and the brave spirit of him in whose possession they were found. Soon after assuming command. Captain A. M. Edwards saw the flag lying on the ground in the hand of a dead or dying soldier boy, who was reclining on his right side, his gun being near him. Captain Edwards took the flag from the young soldier's hands which were grasping it with a deathlike grip, and after rallying the men to it amid a shower of bullets, bore it through the town to the Cemetery, where he planted it near a battery, and sat down on a grave stone while the remnant of the regiment rallied about its bullet-riddled folds. Few instances of such devotion to the flag can be found in the history of any war. During this first day's fight, the flag of the l66 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Twenty-fourth Michigan was borne by no less than ten different persons, five of whom were killed and two were wounded, while one other of the color guards was instantly killed and three others mortally wounded. Nine color bearers and guards of the Twenty-fourth Michigan lost their lives or received mortal wounds in the defense of its flag this first day of the great battle, a bloody but most glorious record. RESULTS OF THE FIRST DAY'S BATTLE. For many years Pickett's charge on the third day was considered the chief feature of the battle of Gettysburg, and the fighting on the second and third days, when all of both armies were in line, had attracted most attention. But a closer study of the whole field shows that the first day's struggle Avas the greatest, the losses on this first day exceeding those of either of the next two days' fight. Fox, who has become the acknowledged authority, in his " Book of Regimental Losses," says : This Corps (ist) did some of the best fighting of the war. It fought that day with no other protection than the flannel blouses that covered their stout hearts. Fox also says: "The First Corps entered the fight with 9,403 men and lost 6,024;" also, that "The Eleventh Corps had less than 9,000 engaged and lost 3,801," a total of 18,000 men engaged with over 25,000 of the enemy. Fox says further: "The Iron Brigade lost 1,153 men out of 1,883 there engaged, or sixty-one per cent ! " A Public Journal in war days said : "It was to the Iron Brigade more than any other that the nation owes its salvation at Gettysburg, and we say not more than history will verify, that of all the heroic regiments which fought there, the Twenty-fourth Michigan stands preeminent for its devotion and valor. Against the overwhelming hordes of the enemy, it stood for hours, a wall of granite, which beat back, again and again, the resolute but baffled foe." For three days the contending hosts fought and more than 40,000 men lay dead and wounded on this immortal field. Of the 400 Union regiments, all of which distinguished themselves for valor at Gettysburg, Detroit and Wayne County, Michigan, sent forth the one which suffered there the greatest number of casualties. Says Fox : " This melancholy honor belongs to the Twenty-fourth Michigan Infantry." BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 167 TERRIBLE BATTLEFIELD DUEL, A most notable incident of opposing valor occurred on the first day, between the Iron Brigade and Pettigrew's Confederate Brigade. These two brigades fought facing each other, frequently not over four or six rods apart. For two hours they shot each other down, at such remarkably short range, in open field, and with an unflinching tenacity which is worthy of historical record for all time. It is a coincidence that the Iron Brigade lost the heaviest of any brigade at Gettysburg and that Pettigrew's Brigade which fought against it, suffered next to the heaviest loss of any of the Confederate Brigades engaged there, being exceeded only by a loss of eighty-six more men in Armistead's Confederate Brigade in Pickett's Charge. It is another coincidence that the two opposing regiments which sustained the greatest loss at Gettysburg belonged, the one (Twenty-fourth Michigan) to the Iron Brigade and the other, (Twenty-sixth North Carolina) to Pettigrew's Confederate Brigade. A comparison of these two regiments on that day, which faced each other down to death, tells the pointed story of the terrible combat : TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. TWENTY-SIXTH NORTH CAROLINA. Entered battle with - - - 496 men ; 800 men. Killed and wounded, - - 316 " 588 " Missing in action, - - - 81 " 120 " Remaining, - - - 99 " 92 " Per cent, of killed and wounded, 64 73.5 Per cent, of loss, - - 80 88.5 It is said that in two companies of the Twenty-sixth North Carolina, not a man ever reported for duty after this battle. Such valor deserves a distich in immortal verse. Mortal can never tell what would have been the loss figures, had these two regiments and brigades fought till dark. Each seemed determined to exterminate the other, and the faster the comrades fell, the cooler and harder the balance seemed to fight. It was undoubtedly the liveliest "shooting match " that ever occurred on a battlefield. THE day's defeat A GREAT VICTORY. And thus the enemy's lines were held back, hour after hour, by the little First Corps and part of the Eleventh Corps, till the friendly sunset and darkness came, while Meade's absent corps, by forced marches, were hastening to the field. Though the Union troops l68 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. which fought the first day were decimated and forced back from their fighting ground, they had in reahty won a great victory whereby Cemetery Ridge, Gulp's Hill and Round Top were saved to the Union army and a great victory made possible two days after. And of all the troops who so valiantly faced the whirlwind of death that day, history will accord to the Iron Brigade the honor of being the last to leave the field. Three days after. General Wadsworth paid Golonel Morrow and his command the following high tribute: Colonel Morrow, the only fault I find with you is that you fought too long, but God only knows zuhat would have become of the Army of the\Potomac if you had not held the ground as long as you did. The remark will apply equally to the other regiments of the Iron Brigade. The Confederate dead and wounded were too numerous over the field for the daring Lee to venture his rashness further that night. He arrived upon the field in time to see the last of our forces cHmbing up Cemetery Hill, and beheld up there the lunettes which the considerate Prussian officer. General Steinwehr, of the Eleventh Corps, with Germanic coolness and foresight, had hastily constructed during the day's fighting. And thus ended this first day's contest, with victory apparently with the Confederates, yet really the Union army remnant had secured and firmly held. the advantageous heights and vantage ground for the remainder of the struggle. SECOND day's battle. By Thursday forenoon, July 2d, both armies had fairly got into line. The Union army had seven small corps (82,000 men and 300 cannon) arranged in fish hook shape from Gulp's Hill on its right, to Round Top on its left, in order following: On Gulp's Hill — the Twelfth Corps (Slocum's) and First Division (Wadsworth's) of First Corps; on Cemetery Hill — Eleventh Corps (Howard's), Second Corps ( Hancock's) and the rest of the First Corps ; along Cemetery Ridge — the Third Corps (Sickles'), Fifth Corps (Sykes') and Sixth Corps (Sedgwick's). Lee had three large corps (70,000 men and 250 cannon) arranged as follows: First Corps (Longstreet's) and Second Corps (Hill's) extending from in front of Round Top on his right, along Seminary Ridge and through the town, uniting with the Third Corps (Ewell's) in front of Gulp's Hill, on the left. Meade intended his left to extend to Round Top, but Sickles seeing higher ground in his own front, moved his corps half a mile out to the Emmitsburg road. At 4 o'clock, his line was vigorously BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 169 assaulted, during which he lost a leg, and the Confederate General Barksdale was mortally wounded. His lines were forced back to Cemetery Ridge. This action is known as the Peach Orchard battle, from the fact of its occurrence in an orchard of peach trees. The locality is still planted to peach trees as in those days. The enemy then advanced to capture Little Round Top. but General Warren had been up there during the fighting below and noting its value, spurred his horse down the slope and hurried up a few regiments to possess it. A battery had to be dragged up its rocky sides by ropes, wheels and pieces at a time, and Round Top was saved. Some Michigan sharpshooters held the enemy back when they first came up to the attack, a fact confessed by General Longstreet, on a visit to the field at the dedication of the monuments in 1888, when he said in a speech: If you Michigan gentlemen had not detained me forty minutes on the morning of the second day, I should have had Round Top and the battle of Gettysburg would have been ours. It was a bloody contest below which is known as the Valley of Death. Next, Hancock's and Sedgwick's Corps made a counter charge and forced the enemy from the. foot of Cemetery Ridge back to the position Sickles had taken in front. This action is known as the Wheatfield battle, from the fact of its occurrence in a large field of uncut wheat. During this conflict, two divisions of the Twelfth Corps had been taken from Gulp's Hill to assist on the left. Seeing this, Ewell assaulted the Union right, and Johnston's Division of his Corps lodged itself in the works from whence our troops had been taken to assist Sickles, thus greatly endangering the rear of the Union right, for it was near our reserve artillery and the Baltimore Pike. Upon the return of the two divisions of the Twelfth Corps, they were surprised to find the enemy in their works. Thus closed the second day's struggle with no material advantage to either army, except the possession of Round Top by the Union, and the lodgment of the enemy's division on Gulp's Hill. THIRD day's battle. At daybreak on Friday, July 3, the Twelfth Corps opened their artillery into Johnston's division and at sunrise made an infantry attack, requiring seven hours and a terrible slaughter to dislodge them. Lee next attempted to break the Union center. Quiet had reigned I/O HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. most of the forenoon along the lines after the struggle over on •Gulp's Hill. But at one o'clock the great signal gun of the enemy- heralded the most terrific cannonading ever known on earth, responded to by one hundred Federal cannon along Cemetery Ridge. Even the wild rabbits leaped into the men's bosoms for protection under their blouses. The scene is thus described by a New York correspondent : The storm broke upon us so suddenly that soldiers and officers who leaped, as it began, from their tents or lazy siestas on the grass — were stricken in their rising with mortal wounds, and died, some with cigars between their teeth, some with pieces of food in their fingers. Horses fell writhing in hopeless agony. The boards of fences scattered by explosions, flew splinters through the air. The earth, torn up in clouds, blinded the eyes of hurrying men; and through the branches of the trees and among the gravestones of the cemetery a shower of destruction crashed ceaselessly. As, with hundreds of others, I groped through this tempest of death for the shelter of the bluff, an old man, a private in the Twenty-fourth Michigan, was struck, scarcely ten feet away, by a cannon ball, which tore through him, extorting such a low, intense cry of mortal pain, as I pray God I may never again hear. The hill, which seemed alone devoted to this rain of death, was clear in nearly all its unsheltered places, within five minutes after the fire began. After three hours of cannonading, in which the very hills trembled, the fire of the Union guns was slackened to allow them to cool, in the vicinity where the attack to follow was designed to be made by the enemy. They supposed the silence resulted from disabled batteries and believed the moment for the infantry assault had come. PICKETT'S CHARGE. Their storming party, mainly Pickett's Division, had been formed, many thousand strong, under cover of some woods on Seminary Ridge. General Pickett then rode up to Longstreet and (in the presence of Lee) saluting, said in a chivalrous manner: "Give me the order to advance, sir." Longstreet felt that the charge would be a mistake and had so expressed his mind to Lee, but without avail. Knowing it had to be, but unwilling to give the order, he turned his face away from Pickett who said : " I shall go forward with my command, sir." He spurred his horse back to the charging column. His Virginians hesitated to move. Knowing what was expected of them, by that wonderful discernment or intuition of the ranks which often occurs, they did not believe they would succeed. They had bidden each other farewell, had shaken hands in dying friendship, and naturally of one mind desired a moment longer of life. Presently BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, 171 someone cried out, "Oh, boys, do you want to live forever?" and with a yell away they started for glory and death. Emerging from the woods, they disclosed column after column of grey in brigade length fronts, and began to cross the mile of interval between them and the Union lines. As they passed down the slope of Seminary Ridge, they swept along under the friendly fire of their own cannon to disconcert the Union lines in their front. Then they must pass half a mile over a level plain and still ascend the Cemetery Ridge. As they drew into view out of the woods, every battery from Round Top along Cemetery Ridge to Culp's Hill poured shell and canister among them. At this the Confederate guns turned their attention to the Union cannon which however paid no regard whatever to these more distant foes, but continued to send every shot into Pickett's advancing columns. They wavered not, but closed up their ranks gallantly, crossed the Emmitsburg road in proud array and swept on up the gradual ascent. Pickett, as if to mislead the Union generals, halted his column, as he neared the Union lines, and wheeled his front to the left to strike the Union line at an unexpected point, leaving the rest of his column to move directly forward. Meanwhile, the work of death from the Union guns was perceptible in their decimated ranks. The Union infantry moved upon both flanks of one of their storming columns unexpectedly, and thus it was double flanked and getting grape and canister from front. Their other column moved straight forward to the Union lines. As they approached on up the gentle slope of the Ridge, General Gibbon ordered his infantry to fall back to the rear of his batteries, which double-shotted with grape at thirty paces, swept down the foe like a cyclone. For a few moments a hand to hand contest was waged. They had pierced the Union line and planted their flag even at the clump of trees, their objective point, but for a moment only. Their General Armistead was taken from his horse mortally wounded, and the Federals from all sides drove the foe down the slope when our artillery again played upon them, as fresh troops were seen coming to their aid. Many threw themselves upon the ground in token of surrender and crawled up to the guns, without their arms, under the belching fire, and gave themselves up. But a remnant of Pickett's men returned to their lines. The battle was ended and no shout went up in the Soitthern Confederacy from that hour. The bloody water-mark of the rebellion here reached its highest ebb, and the Southern cause waned from that hour. 1/2 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. European nations had little confidence in the success of the Southern cause henceforth. It was the design to have Stuart's Cavalry of the enemy come through from the opposite side at the time of Pickett's charge, but unknown to the Confederate Generals, when Pickett set out on his death march, the Union cavalry had met and utterly defeated and routed this branch of the Confederate service. In this engagement the Michigan Cavalry Brigade took an important part and won honorable distinction. COMPARATIVE LOSSES. A comparison of the commands which sustained the heaviest losses, on both sides, will be interesting. By Corps the losses were as follows : UNION CORPS. CONFEDERATE CORPS. First, 8 Brigades, 6,052 First, 13 Brigades, 7,354 Second, 11 Brigades, . . . 4,351 Second, 14 Brigades, . . . 6,912 Third, 7 Brigades 4,198 Third, 15 Brigades, .... 6,649 Fifth, 9 Brigades, .... 2,186 Cavalry and revised losses, . 6,610 Sixth, 10 Brigades, .... 242 Eleventh, 7 Brigades, . . . 3,801 '^°^^^' ^7.525 Twelfth, 7 Brigades, .... 1,082 Artillery Reserve, .... 242 Cavalry, etc 849 Total, 23,003 The above figures include killed, wounded and captured, or missing. The killed and wounded in both armies amounted to 40,261. The brigades that suffered the most were as follows: Armistead's, Confederate 1,191 Iron Brigade, Union, i,i53 Pettigrews's, Confederate 1,105 , Union, 1,041 Cutler's (Wadsworth's Division), Union, 1,002 As to regiments, the following sustained the greatest losses: Twenty-sixth North Carolina, Confederate, 702 Twenty-fourth Michigan, Union, 397 One Hundred and Fifty-first Pennsylvania, Union, . . . 337 One Hundred and Forty-ninth Pennsylvania, Union, . . 336 One Hundred and Fifty-seventh New York, Union, . . . 307 The highest per cent of loss in numbers were : Twenty-sixth North Carolina, Confederate, . . 88.5 per cent. First Minnesota, Union, 86 Twenty-fourth Michigan, Union 80 " " And each of the regiments above more than . . 70 " BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. I 73 Though larger forces had contended in battle, Gettysburg has few parallels in history. At Leipsic — "The Battle of the Nations" — the numbers were far greater, the Allies having 330,000 and Bonaparte, 175,000. Borodino was the bloodiest battle since the introduction of gunpowder in war. There the killed and wounded were numerically greater than at Gettysburg or Waterloo, yet the per cent of loss was much less. The two great battles of this century were Waterloo and Gettysburg, and a striking comparison exists between these engagements: At GeUysburg the Unionists had 82,000 men and 300 guns. " " Confederates had 70,000 men and 250 guns. " " " Union loss was 23,003 men. " Confederate loss was 27,525 men. At Waterloo the French had 80,000 men and 252 guns. " " " Allies had 72,000 men and 186 guns. " " Bonaparte's loss was 26,300 men. " " Wellington's loss was 23,185 men. After Pickett's charge, both armies seemed to be dazed at the terrible struggle. Immediately Lee began to make arrangements for retreat, and at dark it began. By the next morning his whole army was fairly on the road for the South except a few pickets left for effect. For this escape there was no little criticism. After accomplishing this great victory, after an one hundred and sixty mile march from the Rappahannock, whereby the life of the nation was saved ; our army was saved; Washington, Philadelphia and New York were saved from the invading foe, and he was soundly threshed and hastening away — after all this in a three days' battle at such an awful cost of life and wounded, the ever dissatisfied critics who never did anything themselves towards putting down the rebellion, found fault because Meade and his wearied army did not do more — did not in fact capture or annihilate Lee's army. We have no language to express the supreme meanness and shallowness of any such expectation. The shattered brigades and regiments had suffered too much, on both sides, for either army to surround or subdue the other. Their numerical forces were yet too nearly alike. However, it is impossible to say what might have been, had these critics been in the ranks at the time to assist. EXPLANATION OF MAP. The top of the map is due north. Gettysburg is 35 miles southwest of Harrisburg, Penn. Population, 3,000. Cemetery Hill is half a mile south of the town. Cemetery Ridge extends three miles further south to the Round Tops. (12) 174 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. MAP OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, JULY 1, 3, 3, IS - - UNION LINES. ^•^m CONFEDERATE LINES. BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 1/5 Nearly parallel with and nearly a mile west of Cemetery Ridge, runs Seminary Ridge, taking its name from the Lutheran Seminary half a mile west of the town. McPherson's woods are less than half a mile west of the Seminary. On west towards Willoughby Run a short distance, was the Twenty-Fourth Michigan's first line of battle in the woods. Gulp's Hill is half a mile east of Cemetery Hill. The "Wheatfield" is about half way on a direct line as you look from Little Round Top to the Peach Orchard. Looking down, a little southwest, is seen " Devil's Run," and a little distance beyond is the " Loop." North of the town is Pennsylvania College. Beyond and to the left is Oak Hill. The Tarrytown road south, runs over and just east of Cemetery Ridge. The "Clump of Trees," the end of Pickett's charge, is a mile and a half south of the town, on the west side of Cemetery Ridge and near to it is the " Bloody Angle." One mile south of town, on the Emmitsburg Road, is the Cordori Farm where the Iron Brigade filed off towards McPherson's woods to capture Archer and his brigade. THERE HAS BEEN A BATTLE. There has been a battle, as the words along the lines come thrilling. The mighty East and West and North, with the giant echo filling ; And all along the busj^ street, amid the rush and rattle. The hurrying men pause as they meet, to say, "There has been a battle." Sitting in idle quiet here, in my low chamber lonely. Their eager voices meet my ear, but not their voices only. The loitering breezes o'er and o'er are telling me the story, Of faces that shall come no more, and battlefields all gory. Of brave men in the carnage killed, still on the red ground lying. And hospitals whose wards are filled with true hearts slowly dying ; And forms the noblest of the North, who fought and faltered never, That must from those dear wards go forth as crippled forms forever. And lightly borne across the moor, by the low south wind sweeping, There comes to me from many a door, the voice of many weeping ; Weeping above their battle dead, in hopeless, helpless sorrow; Refusing to be comforted through faith in any morrow. —By M. IV. Edgar. LOSSES OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN AT GETTYSBURG. KILLED. Color Guard. Officers. Sergt. Abel G. Peck, C. Corp. Charles Bellore, E. -Capt. William T. Speed, D. ,, ^r-n- v i a r i ^ William Ziegler, A. " Malachi T. O'Donnell, E. u • . a . it f i- -' Private Augustus Ernest, K. 1st Lieut. Walter H. Wallace, K. .. William Kelly, E. " WiNFIELD S. SaFFOKD, C. tt , t, ,..;„'„ fl„„ ' Unknown Boy, grasping nag. Newell Grace, H. 2d Lieut. Reuben H. Humpiireyville.K. Non-Commissioned. " Lucius L. Shattuck, C. ist Sergt. Andrew J. Price, B. " Gilbert A. Dickey, G. " Charles Bucklin, F. 176 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. 1st Sergt. William H. Luce, G. Sergt. George Cline, B. " Joseph Eberly, D. " George O. Colburn, G. " John Powell, H. Corp. William Carroll, B. " John H. Pardington, B. " Otis Southworth, C. " David E. Rounds, D. " James Sterling, D. " Iltid W. Evans, F. " Jerome P. Fayles, G. " John W. Welsh, G. " George N. Bentley, I. " James B. Myers, I. " Jerome P. Lefevre, K, Privates. Joseph Carroll, A. Garrett Chase, A. John Dingwall, A. Augustus Jencks, A. Michael Tiernay, A. Mathew Duncan, B. George L. Cogswell, C. Oliver C. KcUey, C. John E. Ryder, C. John Dwyer, D. John Groth, D. William H. Houston, D. James Doyle, E. Thomas S. Orton, E. William S. Bronson, F. James Hubbard, F. Ernest F. Argelbeim, G. . Elias B. Browning, G. Charles Coombs, G. George A. Codwise, G. Patrick Hefferman, G. John Martin, G. George H . Pettinger, G. John Shoane, G. Albert Wasso, G. Dr. Robert R. Herrman, H. Edward B. Harrison, H. James Mooney, I. Adolphus Shephard, I. Henry Viele, I. Peter Case, K. David F. Delaney, K. Conrad Gundlack. K. Lewis Harland, K. Henry W. Jamieson, K. Elijah P. Osborne, K. Andrew Smith, K. MORTALLY WOUNDED. On Color Guatd. 1st. Sergt. William J. Nagle, A. Corp. Thomas Suggett, G. Private Thomas B. Ballou, C. Rank and File. Corp. Edward Dwyer, B. '•■ John M. Walls, E. " Charles E. Crarey, H. John S. Rider, B. Arm amputated. William Williams, B. Leg amputated. Mason Palmer, D. Arm amputated. Henry C. McDonald, B. Edward M. Corey, C. Lucius W. Chubb, C. Eliphalet Carleton, D, Charles Ruff, D. Charles Paton, E. John McNish, F. Josiah P. Turner, F. Henry Crothine, G. Myron Demary, H. John Dubois, I. Nelson Harris, I. Hiram A. V.'illiams, I. OTHER WOUNDED. Col. Henry A. Morrow, in head, and prisoner, Field Officer. Lieut. -Col. Makk Flanigan, leg amputated, Field Officer. Major Edwin B. Wight, sight of right eye lost, Field Officer. Capt. William W. Wight, wounded slightly, K. " William H. Rexford, hip and thigh, B. " Charles A. Hoyt, ankle and arm, C. " William Hutchinson, thigh and groin, G. " Richard S. Dillon, wounded four times, A. BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 177 1st Lieut. John M. Farland, in groin by fall, D. " Frederick A. Buhl, in leg badly, B. " Edwin E. Norton, arm, E. 2d Lieut. Michael Dempsey, hip, E. " William R. Dodsley, shoulder, H. " Abraham Earnshaw, breast, I. Sergt. -Major Andrew J. Connor, shoulders, N. C. S. Color-Corp. Andrew Wagner, lungs, F. 1st Sergt. Asa Joy, leg amputated, C. Sergt. Edgar O. Durfee, arm amputated, C. " John W. McMillan, leg amputated, G. John Happe, foot amputated, A. William Smith, arm amputated, B. John W. Babbitt, leg amputated, C. Patrick Tunney, leg amputated, E. Eugene Sims, arm amputated, F. William A. Armstrong, arm amputated, G. Patrick Clarey, leg amputated, I. Richard M. Fish, leg amputated, I. Samuel T. Lautenschlager, in both legs, G. Van Rensselaer W. Lemm, in arm, H. Sergeants. (ist) George W. Haigh, knee, D. " Joseph R. Boyle, ribs, E. " Benjairiin W. Hendricks, thigh, G. " Albert E. Bigelow, leg, L " George W. Fox, arm, K. Hugh F, Vanderlip, thigh, A. George H. Pinkney, side, B. John M. Reed, neck, B. Samuel Joy, hip and arm, C. Augustus Pomeroy, foot, C. John Blackwell, three times, E. James D. Shearer, ankle, F. George H. Canfield, bowels, L William D. Murray, arm, I. Samuel F. Smith, shoulder, K. ! Corporals. John S. Coy, wounded five times, A. Lewis E. Johnson, nose, A. James S. Booth, thigh, B. Samuel W. Church, neck, B. Nathaniel A. Halstead, twice, B. Clark Eddy, hip, C. Daniel McPherson, hand, C. Claries Pinkerton, breast, C. Roswell L. Root, foot, C. William H. Whallon, three times, C. Jabez Walker, arm, D. John W. Fletcher, twice, E. James S. Murphy, face, E. William Powers, twice, E. Eugene Smith, twice, E. George W. Chilson, body, F. Levi S. Freeman, body, F. Erastus W. Hine, body, F. William Kalsow, hip, F, Abel P. Turner, shoulder, F. Augustus Hussey, leg, H. Fred E. Welton, arm, H. David S. Sears, groin, I. Thomas D. Dushane, K. Jacob M. Van Riper, K. Privates. Solomon S. Benster, lungs, A. Francis Brobacker, body, A. Oscar N. Castle, body, A. William Dusick, thigh, A. Patrick Gorman leg, A. Walters. Niles, bowels, A. Abraham Schneider, thigh, A. Victor Sutter, Jr., w'd twice, A. David Wagg. thigh, A. Philip Weitz, groin, A. George Zulch, w'd four times, A. Andrew J. Arnold, w'd three times, B. Willett Brown, w'd three times, B. 178 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. John Black, arm and leg, B. Richard Conners, thigh, B. Edward B. Chope, leg, B. Frederick Delosh, arm, B. William H. Fowler, thigh, B. Henry M. Fielding, ankle, B. Franz Koch, neck, B. Anton Krapohl, body, B. Arthur Macy, w'd twice, B. Terrence McCullough, leg, B. James Mcllhenny, neck, B. Thomas Nixon, leg, B. Patrick Shannon, w'd twice, B. Daniel Sulliran, finger off, B. Lafayette Veo, w'd three times, B. Henry Wallace, w'd twice, B. Elisha Wheeler, shoulder, B. Benjamin F. Brigham, thigh, C. Alfred Courtrite, thigh, C. Ammi R. Collins, arm, C. Charles D. Durfee, foot, C. Robert Everson, arm, C. Alvah S. Hill, leg, C. George W. Kynoch, shoulder, C. Samuel W. Phillips, foot, C. William H. Quance, body, C. Ambrose Roe, body, C. Christian Stockfleth, ankle, C. Joseph A. SafTord, body, C. Alfred C. Willis, hand, C. Peter C. Bird, thigh. D. Robert C Bird, arm, D. Henry Babcock, hand, D. James N. Bartlett, scalp, D. 'Anthony Eberts, body, D. James H. Johnson, leg, D. Samuel R. Kingsley, Jr., foot, D. Oliver M. Moon, leg, D. John Moody, hand, D. John Orth, w'd and prisoner, D. Richard Palmer, body, D. John Renton, both legs, D. William W. Sands, leg, D. Peter Stack, thigh, D. Jesse R. Welch, hand, D. Thomas Brennan, both legs, E. Stephen Delorme, hand, E. Martin Devine, body, E. William Floyd, side, E. John Frank, thigh, E, James D. Jackson, hand, E. Frank Kendrick, w'd twice, E. James Laird, w'd twice, E. John McDermott, body, E. Henry Moynahan, body, E. Charles Patten, body, E. Frank Schneider, knee, E. Edward Tracey, w'd twice, E. Patrick Connelly, foot, F. Charles Gochy, knee, F. Charles E. Hale, thigh, F. John B. Moores, body, F. Solomon R. Niles, three times w'd, F. George F. Neef, foot, F. Edwin Plass, w'd twice, F. Peter P. Rivard, w'd twice, F. Frank T. Shier, w'd twice, F. John Stoffold, head, F. Mordaunt Williams, twice w'd, F. Amos Andrews, thigh, G. Charles F. Allyn, w'd twice, G. Michael Brabeau, head, G. Theodore Bach, mouth, G. Lyman W. Blakeley, body, G. John Cole, head, G. James Ford, knee, G. George Hinmonger, knee, G. William Harvey, w'd twice, G. Enoch F. Langs, w'd twice, G. Charles W. Langs, w'd twice, G. Charles G. Malley, breast, G. Jeremiah Sullivan, thigh, G. William H. Southworth, face, G. George E. Walker, face, G. Robert E. Bolger, leg, H. Anthony Brabeau, mouth, H. Michael Cunningham, arm, H. James F. Clegg, arm, H. Michael Donavan, w'd twice, H. Evi French, arm, H. Theodore Grover, leg, H. Morris L. Hoople, side, H. Charles M. Knapp, hand, H. Dennis Mahoney, foot, H. Richard A. Riley, leg, H. Joseph Schunck, w'd twice, H. Frederick Uebelhoer, thigh, IL Abner D. Austin, hand, I. Ralph Archibald, leg, I. Hiram Bentley, side, I. BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 179 Seymour L. Burns, leg, I. Jacob H. Canfield, thigh, I. William Charlesworth, arm, I. George L. Carey, arm, I. Ephraim D. Cooper, w'd twice, I. William W. Coon, w'd twice, I. Francis C. Hodgman, groin, I. Francis Hynds, body, I. James Magooghan, body, I. Charles Robinson, body, I. Gilbert Rhoades, body, I. Henry Schindehette, leg, I. Wesley A. Tinkham, back, I. Theodore B. Thomas, arm, I, John R. Bruce, body, K. Andrew Bruihaumpt, knee, K. Joseph Fersfell, hip, K. Patrick Gaffney, thigh, K. David J. Kellar, back, K. James Leslie, arm, K. William D. Lyon, body, K. Barney J. Litogot, arm, K. Daniel W. Lossee, knee, K. Eugene R. Mills, body, K. Charles E. Miller, leg, K. Francis E. Miller, hip, K. Andrew J. Nowland, head, K. Sherman Rice, shoulder, K. Thomas Saunders, leg, K. Jerome B. Stockham, body, K. Enoch A. Whipple, body, K. Gurdon L. Wight, leg, K. PRISONERS OF TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN TAKEN SOUTH. Capt. George C. Gordon, I. 1st Lieut. Afa W. Sprague, F. 2d Lieut. H. Rees Whiting, A. Sergt. Charles A. King, D. " William H. Hoffman, H. " John k. King, H. " B. Ross Finlayson, K. " Ira W. Fletcher, w'd, K. Corp. John C. Sherwood, C. " James Gillespie, C. " John M. Andres, w'd, D. " Thomas G. Norton, E. " Henry L. Houk, w'd, L " Orville W. Stringer, L Pi-ivates. Max Couture, A, Peter N. Girardin, w'd, A. Augustus R. Sink, w'd, A. Oscar A. Eckliff, B. Charles D. Minckler, B. Morris Troutt, B. D. Leroy Adams, C. John A. Bartlett, C. William A. Herrendeen, C. Joshua Minthorn, C. John C. Marshall, C. Charles W. Root, C. James S. Seeley, C. Robert Towers, C. Almon J. Houston, D. Merritt B. Heath, D. George H. Lang, D. Melvin H. Storms, w'd, D. Moses Amo, E. Dennis Dryden, E. James Donavan, E. Lewis Grant, E. Robert Gaunt, w'd, E. Patrick J. Kinney, E. Nelson Pelon, E. Frederick Stotte, E. Abraham Akey, F. John G. Klink, F. Antoine LaBlanc, F. Joseph P. Rivard, w'd, F. William R. Shier, F. Henry Bierkamp, G. Philip T. Dunroe, H. Marquis L. Lapaugh, H. Frederick Bosardis, I. William A. Flynn, I. Peter Jackson, I. Alpheus Johnson, L August Lahser, w'd, I. David W. Tillman, L Franklin A. Blanchard, K Charles S. Hosmer, K. John J. Post, K. prisoners of TWENIY-FOURTH MICHIGAN paroled on field and MARCH. Sergt. John Hogan, E. " John Roach, E. " E. Ben Fischer, D. i8o HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Corp. Fred A. Hanstine, A. " Lewis L. Wadsworth, A. " William Bruskie, D. Privates. Harrison Baker, A. Jonathan D. Chase, A. John Chandler, A. William Rousseau, A. Charles Willaird, A. Robert Wortley, A. Amander G. Barns, wounded, B. George F. Higbee, B. William H. Ingersoll, B. Richard Maloney, wounded, B. John McCutcheon, wounded, B. Jeston R. Warner, B. George P. Hubbell, C. Draugott Haberstrite, D. Conrad Kocher, D. Henry H. Ladd, wounded, D. James Renton, D. Henry W. Randall, wounded, D. Albert A. Wallace, D. Joseph Hirsch, E. Henry C. Chapman, wounded, F. David H. Campbell, F. Sheldon E. Crittenden, F. Peter Ford, F. Adolph Fritsch, F. Elisha C. Reed, F. John Broombar, wounded, G. John Butler, G. John Cavanaugh, G. Charles A. Wilson, G. Thomas Fitzgibbons, H. John H. Fryer, K. Missing. Corp. Bela C. Ide, C. Herman Schullz, G. Nicholas Ruby, H. Joseph Ruby, H. Conrad Springer, K. The following is a summary of the casualties and losses of the Twenty-fourth Mich- igan Infantry at Gettysburg, as given above : 1. Killed and Died of Wounds — Officers, 8 ; non-commissioned officers, 26 ; privates, 56. Total, 90. 2. Wounded — Field and staff officers, 3 ; line officers, 11 ; non-commissioned officers, 48; privates, 170, Total, 232. 3. Prisoner's Taken South — Officers, 3 ; non-commissioned officers, 10 ; privates, 44. Total, 57. 4. Prisoners Paroled — Non-commissioned officers, 6 ; privates, 32. Total, 38. 5. Missing — Non-commissioned officer, i ; privates, 5. Total, 6. 6. Aggregate of casualties and losses, 422. 7. Deduct prisoners counted among wounded, 17 ; wounded in battery, 9. Total, 26. 8. Total net loss (besides those in batteiy), 397. 9. Remaining with flag first night of battle, 99. 10. Entering battle with regiment, 496. Fox places the death loss at 94, but since the war closed two of the reported dead have turned up alive. This leaves still two unaccounted for as between his research and our own. Total killed and wounded, 317. Per cent, of killed and wounded, 64. Per cent, of loss. 80. Of the captured, 5 died in confederate prisons and two died of prison disease after exchange. Of the wounded, 6 died of disease, 62 were transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps for wounds and 5 for disability ; 47 were discharged for wounds and 12 for disability. There returned to the regiment, 93 of the wounded and 64 of the prisoners and missing, a total of 155, while out of the 496 who went into the battle, 240, or very nearly one-half, never again saw the face of the regiment. BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. I«I PERSONAL INCIDENTS. Many incidents of interest occurred in connection with the Twenty-fourth Michigan in this engagement. We can mention but few. Lieutenant WilHam R. Dodsley was the first officer of the regiment wounded, and Lieutenant Gilbert A. Dickey, the first offtcer killed. Captain Malachi J. O'Donnell was the last oflficer killed outright. Lieutenant Newell Grace received three mortal wounds soon after. Captain A. M. Edwards, Lieutenants George Hutton and John Witherspoon were the only ofificers left uninjured. Of the other twenty-five ofificers, eight were killed, fourteen were wounded and three captured. First Sergeant E. B. Welton of H was the only Orderly Sergeant left. Color Sergeant Abel G. Peck was the first man of the regiment killed on this bloody field. He was a stalwart farmer of Nankin and bravely met his fate. Colonel Morrow said of him : " He was singularly pure in his private life, and in all the engagements in which his regiment took part, he was conspicuous for his gallantry." Said Chaplain Way: "Where his body lies, none knows but 'Him who watches all our dust,' but his memory is embalmed in the hearts of his comrades." Private William Smith of B was the first man of the regiment wounded here, losing an arm. Seven of the Companies had not a single ofificer left, and the other three companies but one ofificer each. B had but ten men left, C had but three, D had eleven, I had only eight, and so on. Edward B. Harrison of H was wounded and John Malcho was helping him ofT the field. John W. Welsh of G took Harrison's other arm, and while thus assisting their wounded comrade, a Confederate bullet killed Welch instantly, and at the same moment another bullet LUTHERAN SEMINARY, QETTYSBURO. l82 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. instantly killed Harrison, and tore off a part of Malcho's shoe. Harrison and Welch fell side by side. In life they had been friends, and were buried in one grave. Corporal Thomas Suggett of G was one of the color guard and mortally wounded. Some time before, when Colonel Morrow called for volunteers for the color guard, saying, they must be men of iron, as the bullets would rattle off from them like hail from a roof, Corporal Suggett was the first to step out of the ranks to be one of the brave color defenders. Corporal Andrew Wagner who was shot through the breast while carrying the colors, lay twenty-four hours where he fell, and was robbed by the enemy of his money and shoes. Then they made for him a pillow as they thought, for his dying head. He was the only survivor of tzvo entire color guards on that day, but died of his wound three years later. Many received an additional wound while lying on the field, and relief did not come for several days and nights, nor until the maggots began to crawl and fatten in their festering wounds! Gladly would we continue these incidents, though some would be revolting to tender feelings. The recital of other events will crowd them out. On the morning of July i, four members of B — Andrew J. Arnold, George H. Pinkney, Richard Conners and John S. Rider had obtained the Surgeon's permission to fall out of the ranks. Upon hearing the booming of the cannon they realized that a battle was coming and desiring to keep their record unbroken by being in every action with their regiment, they hurried to the field to be with their Company. Within an hour every one of the four lay on the field with a bullet in his body. Rider lost an arm and'' died of his wounds. Such devotion to duty is worthy of record. '' OLD JOHN BURNS." On the first day of the battle. Constable John L. Burns of Gettysburg, over seventy years of age, upon hearing the firing, seized his old-fashioned rifle, ran across the field and offered his services to Colonel Wister of the One Hundred and Fiftieth Pennsylvania. Afterwards he went over to the Second Wisconsin on the right of the Iron Brigade. He wore an old banged-up, bell-crowned hat, and swallow-tailed coat. His unique dress and temerity in venturing into so dangerous a place without occasion, seemed the act of an insane zealot, and invited the jibes of the men. Thence he passed on to the BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 185 Seventh Wisconsin where he remained awhile. Next he passed over to the Twenty-fourth Michigan and was with the latter regiment in the east edge of McPherson's woods, when he was wounded. He JOHN BURNS OF GETTYSBURG— FROM A PHOTOGRAPH SOLD BY HIMSELF AFTER 'IHB BATTLE fought till three bullets were lodged in his body. His wounds were dressed by Assistant-Surgeon Collar of the Twenty-fourth Michigan. On July 15, 1863, Chaplain W. C. Way wrote of him thus: We called upon the old patriot, Mr. Burns, the other day and found him quite comfortable. He is the man, though past seventy, who shouldered his musket and went to the field and fought with the Iron Brigade. He is made of the right kind of stuff. Let his name be recorded in history as an example of mature patriotism. General Doubleday commended his conduct and the old man's fame has found a place in the school literature of the land. Many a youth has declaimed the poet's lines on his patriotic conduct. He lived to be over eighty years old and lies buried by his wife at Gettysburg. l84 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. EXTRACTS FROM WAR-TIME LETTERS. Members and friends of the Twenty-fourth Michigan remember with what interest were perused, in war days, the articles of S. D. G. in the Detroit Free Press. Their author was Sergeant Sulhvan D. Green of F and the N. C. S. Below are some extracts from his letters in those days: CuLp's Hill, July 2, 1863. — If ever one sat down with a sad heart to write, that task is mine this morning, surrounded by the broken fragments of the Twenty-fourth which has now indeed "been all cut in pieces." Seven officers and four of them wounded are all we have with us, out of twenty-eight ; and ninety-nine men out of five hundred and seventeen* in yesterday's field report, after the fiercest battle of the war. Our list of killed and wounded receives additions every few hours, from the missing who bring us the names of those they saw fall. This fearful list tells in what a storm of balls they stood their ground, slowly falling back with grim and bloody front to the foe, foot by foot, first to the fence then behind trees and piles of wood, and finally through the town, while a deadly fire, in flank and rear, cut through the streets. The day for us was fearful and our thoughts turn to those at home whose dear ones lie on yonder field; some in their last gory sleep, others suffering from wounds and no aid near them. Some were struck while passing through the town and most of those captured were taken there. On Battle-field, July 4, 1863. Colonel Morrow has just come out of the city, which the enemy left during the night, but their lines still inclose our first and bloodiest field. Last night the Colonel visited that scene of conflict and brought in some of the wounded who had lain there three days with no care except what the rebels bestowed, who gave them water and treated them well. They, however, stripped and robbed the bodies of the dead who still lie there so bloated as to be unrecognizable. Our wounded were full of enthusiasm, though unable to move, with limbs crushed and swollen, and without food. They greeted the Colonel with a cheer and asked him how he was now satisfied with the Twenty-fourth. On Battle-field, Sunday, July 5, 1863.— We have changed position to near the scene of the rebels' desperate and final charge. Here are evidences of the struggle — the ground trampled down ; buildings riddled with shot or in black ruins ; trees cut and fences splintered with grape on Pickett's charge. Details are still burying the rebel dead, and the long trenches of fresh filled earth attest the fullness of death's harvest, while lesser heaps of rocks and clumps of bushes show where a sharpshooter met his fate. Yonder is the crest of a shallow ravine, thickly wooded, and the field whence came the attacking forces to defeat and death. Between yonder belts of timber a mile away is the field of the Twenty-fourth's dead. Our comrades lie there unburied on the field consecrated with their blood. Some of our boys have visited the field and the doubt that hung over the fate of the 'missing' has been partly cleared away. That list, so full of suspense, has been diminished and the ' killed ' and 'wounded' lists increased. There is no time for search for the killed that lie on all * Note — Twenty-one of the regiment had been detailed to do duty at Corps Headquarters and though carried in the field reports, were not in the action. These deducted from 517 left the 496 who fought ou the field. BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. l8S portions of the field. The army is in motion towards the retreating invaders. Stranger hands will bury our late comrades and your friends, mourners in the Peninsular State, and you will think of "A nameless grave on the battle-field." They are as near heaven as if they lay in Elmwood. In this their last battle they did nobly sustain the honor of their State. Captain A. M. Edwards wrote as follows to the Detroit Tribune: Gulp's Hill, July 5, 1863. — I send you a list of casualties and losses as far as known. The list is terrible. I forbear comments. Our wounded and missing are mostly prisoners. Five color-bearers were killed but our colors are safe. All three of our surgeons are prisoners. No regiment from our State ever suffered so much in one battle. There will be many sad hearts in Wayne Gounty, but we carry the sweet reflection that our blood was not spilled in vain. We have gained a glorious victory. Our boys, what is left of them, are in good spirits. The following are extracts from Chaplain William C. Way's letters to the Detroit Tribune : Gettysburg, Pa., July 7, 1863. — It is sad to look upon the decimated ranks of one of the bravest regiments that ever left the Wolverine State. Gettysburg is one vast hospital. The Gourt House, Gollege, Seminary, Ghurches, Schoolhouses, warehouses and private buildings are filled with wounded. Very many are kindly cared for by citizens in their residences. Our surgeons, Drs. Beach and Gollar are in full charge of one of the hospitals. Dr. Towar has gone to the regiment. I went upon the field with two of our regiment and buried several of our fallen comrades, and there witnessed a savage vandalism — our dead were robbed of everything, their bodies stripped of clothing and shoes ! Gettysburg, July 15, 1863. — I have been constantly engaged in the comfort of our wounded and astonished at their cheerfulness. Their "stumps" are doing nicely. Our regimental band deserve credit for their efforts as nurses. The town is filled with sad hearted relatives. It is saddening to stand near the Express office and see the coffined remains of hundreds being sent to their former homes. Many are dying and it is almost impossible to get a coffin. Gettysburg, August 7, 1863. — Some of our noble boys are not yet out of danger, yet we trust that God will answer prayer and restore them to their friends. Many of the Rebel wounded are loud in their praises for their kind treatment. They receive the same care as our own men, which contrasts strangely with the treatment of our prisoners in Dixie. Soon after news of the battle reached Detroit, Rev. George Duf^eld, a very patriotic Detroit clergyman, hastened to the battlefield and wrote to the Detroit Tribune as follows : Gettysburg, July 9, 1863. — Many of our dead are still unburied. A hundred times to-day would I have given a score of "D. D's" for one "M. D." A single day here would pay for the study of surgery for a lifetime. Yesterday we started for a field hospital two miles from town, where were some of the Twenty-Fourth. Soon 1 86 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. the road appeared full of wounded to whom the order had come that all able to walk might go to the depot and thence to Baltimore with a prospect of a furlough home. Oh, the magic of the word home, and what almost superhuman efforts of the wounded to get there! Such bandaged heads, battered faces, naked and swollen limbs, I pray never to see again. And then such extraordinary efforts at locomotion — some with one crutch, some with two, some hopping with a stick, some holding on by the fence, and crawling even, to lose no time. Ever since the battle the heavens have been pouring their tears over the scene of blood. The weather continues cool and thousands will owe their lives to the rain and opportune weather. The bullets taken from the bodies of our soldiers and which they proudly show, will be more precious in the eyes of posterity than pearls. The Detroit Board of Trade sent a committee to the battlefield to look after the Twenty-Fourth's men and " C. R. B." thus wrote to the Detroit Tribune : Gettysburg, July 12, 1863. — We find ourselves amid scenes only seen near a battlefield — streets filled with soldiers with arms in slings or heads bandaged, surgeons and strangers from every part of the North. The windows are removed from most of the houses to allow more air to the wounded within. It is sad to see noble forms stretched out on the floors, wounded in every way; many trying to repress groans of anguish; some doomed to a lingering death; others maimed for life. I was shocked at the sight of one of Company D lying in a feed store, shot through the thigh, but happy in the hope of restoration to friends. Alas, the doctors say he is doomed to die.* I walked over the field where the Twenty-Fourth fought and its dead lie buried. The scene of their severest fighting was in a beautiful grove, covered now with graves almost as thickly as in a cemetery, and nearly all the trees are bullet scarred. Many of the graves of our fallen are marked, but many are unrecognizable. The fathers of Lieutenants Dickey and Wallace found where their sons lay, and bitter tears were shed by these afl3icted parents over the graves of their noble boys. This spot should be marked by a monument to Wayne County's own regiment, that strangers and future generations may know of the brave conduct here, of the Twenty-Fourth Michigan. Is the cause they are fighting for worth all this? Go to the wounded soldiers on this gory field, and with sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks, they will answer, yes. Brigadier-General Meredith, who was wounded, wrote to Colonel Morrow on July 17, 1863, from his bed in Washington, as follows: I cannot longer delay tendering to you and your brave men, my heartfelt thanks for the gallant bearing of yourself and regiment in the battle of the ist inst. No troops ever fought with more bravery than did the Twenty-fourth Michigan on that occasion. The old Iron Brigade had to meet the first shock of a desperate attack of a far superior force, and nobly did it do its duty. You and your oflScers and men are justly entitled to a full measure of the honors won in that great conflict and will receive the gratitude of all who love our glorious Union and its holy cause. * Peter C. Bird, late Deputy Register of Deeds, Wayne County. BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. I 8/ General A. P. Hill of the Confederate army declared while in Gettysburg that he "never knew troops to fight better than those who opposed him on the first day." General Ewell said he was surprised when Colonel Morrow's men fired upon his advance. Ewell's troops purposely withheld their fire "to capture them alive," but when they received a volley at very close range from the Twenty-fourth Michigan and Iron Brigade they could not do otherwise than return the fire. A conversation occurred between General Ewell and Colonel Morrow while a prisoner. Ewell said the Twenty-fourth Michigan were foolish that they did not surrender, in preference to being so badly cut up. The answer of Colonel Morrow was to the point, and brought a blush to his fellow-born Virginian : "General Ewell, the Twenty-fourth Michigan came here to fight, not to surrender." SPEECH OF COLONEL MORROW IN DETROIT. While on a visit home after the battle. Colonel Morrow declined a reception but consented to address the entire people on the Campus Martius, on Thursday, July 30, 1863, at 4 o'clock P. M. A very large concourse of people assembled to hear him, and many eyes were suffused with tears during his eloquent and pathetic speech, from which we give the following extracts: Friends and Fellow Citizens : I have no language to express my feelings on this occasion. Less than one year ago, I left this beautiful city with the husbands, sons and friends of the people of Detroit and Wayne County. Less than a year has sufficed to wipe that splendid regiment almost out of existence, and I stand here almost alone out of all the brave men who marched through these streets for the seat of war on the 29th of August last. Where are those boys that went with me? Alas, many occupy graves in southern soil. They died as soldiers should die, with faces to the foe, upholding the banner of our country. They have indeed gone, but they will live in your hearts and in the memory of their countrymen for all coming time. I come back to you after having led my boys to victory to render my account. At Fredericksburg your regiment received its baptism of fire, winning praise for its coolness and gallantry. It has behaved everywhere. At Fitzhugh Crossing it had the honor of planting the first flag on the opposite bank. On the first of this month, we were marching and joking, with no idea of being on the verge of a battle. An occasional booming of cannon was not strange, yet indicating that our cavalry had met the enemy. It became more constant and with a quickstep we marched for Gettysburg, passing to the left of the town. We crossed an insignificant branch and were moved forward into line on the double-quick. An order came to charge at once. The regiment had unfixed bayonets and unloaded guns. I halted the men, had them fix bayonets and they had partially loaded, when the order came again to advance, the men finishing loading while advancing and l88 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN, came to the brow of a hill. We then saw our danger, charged down into the ravine through which flows Willoughby's Run, where we captured a Rebel brigade of 1,500 men with General Archer its commander. I had lost my color-sergeant, Abel G. Peck, several of my color guard and men. We changed front, advancing to the crest of the hill beyond the Run, but soon after withdrew to the eastern bank of the stream and formed in McPherson's woods. During this movement my Adjutant was severely wounded, and Lieutenant-Colonel Flanigan lost a leg. I helped him off his horse where he lay for two hours. Company B under Lieutenant Buhl, a brave and gallant soldier, dignified and efficient officer, were sent out as skirmishers. Captain Rexford had already been wounded. From some prisoners sent in by Lieutenant Buhl, I learned that the entire corps of Generals Ewell and A. P. Hill were in our front. I several times sent to the General commanding suggesting a change of position as it was, to my judgment, untenable. The only reply was that the position must be held. Soon after the rebels advanced in two lines of battle with their splendid banners, greatly overlapping us on the left, almost surrounding us. The Twenty-Fourth was lying down resting. I called them up, and when the Rebels got near, gave the order to fire by file. The Nineteenth Indiana, on our left, after maintaining their line until their dead were thick upon the ground, became overpowered and gave way, which left the Twenty-fourth Michigan to bear the brunt of the battle alone. We fought until nearly surrounded, to prevent which. Captain Speed (acting as Major in place of Major E. B. Wight, who had been wounded), started to change the front of two companies, and was instantly killed. Over fifty fell here and we were forced to fall back a little distance, where all my color guard were shot down. We then fell back and rallied again, losing over one hundred men. Again we fell back and rallied, the men being literally slaughtered as they tried to form. Finally the whole corps having fallen back, the Twenty-fourth also fell back to the Seminary. Here I was wounded in the head and stunned, when I turned the regiment over to Captain Edwards. My head was dressed by a lady of Gettysburg, a true Union girl, who wanted to hide me when the rebels came into town. I refused as they were sure to search the house. There were other wounded there and soon the rebels ordered us all into the street. We were marched four miles to the rebel camp where I found fifty-four of my regiment, some wounded and some taken while firing their guns. I slept in an open field and the next morning a rebel surgeon dressed my head. He said I was not fit to march [both were Master Masons] and sent me to the hospital, while the other prisoners were sent to Richmond. When I got back to Gettysburg I was left to myself and I cut off my shoulder straps and became a sort of surgeon. With Assistant-Surgeon Collar, indefatigable in season and out, I visited the hospitals and battlefield of July 3, determining the names of the fallen, and helped bring in the wounded. In a barn among 200 others, I found a brave little Irish boy from Detroit — Patrick Cleary — who told me that the doctor said he could not live. I told him the doctor was the best judge and he had better prepare to die. Said he, "Colonel, if you'll have my leg taken off, I'll be with the regiment in a week. Ain't you proud of the Twenty-fourth now?" God bless that boy. His leg was taken off but he is dead now. [A voice, " He is yet alive. "]I am glad to hear it He is a credit to his native and adopted country. One of the officers captured by us at Fitzhugh Crossing met me at Gettysburg while I was a prisoner. He came up to me and said, "You don't seem to know me. Your regiment captured me at Fitzhugh." Said I, " Glad of it. Didn't we treat you BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 189 well?" " Bully," said he. " Then treat me the same." "Wewill. Where are your straps?" " I have lost them for the time being," said I. lie replied, "All right. I'll not say a word." He kept his promise and the rebels took me for a surgeon. On the last day of the great battle, I went into a steeple to see the great attack upon the Union centre. An old man who had come up into the steeple, white-haired and venerable, stretched up his hands and made such a prater as I never before heard, beseeching most earnestly for victory of our arms. It was an exciting moment. The terrible cannonading ceased and there was an awful pause, just before their infantry attack. The rebel lines stretching as far as the eye could see, advanced to the charge. Our skirmishers fell back, every Union gun was turned upon the advancing column, and finally the firing ceased. The smoke arose and revealed the enemy fleeing in confusion. We had won a most glorious victory and that night Lee retreated leaving 15,000 wounded in our hands. I went down and told the boys in our hospital warning them not to shout as the rebels still held the town. Of course all were immensely pleased. A word for our dead. Braver men never went to war. Captain Speed was gallant and noted for his amiable qualities. Well posted in military tactics, had he lived, he would have entered the regular army. Captain O'Donnell went out as a Second Lieutenant and his bravery and virtues had won for him a Captaincy. He was killed near the last rally, shot through the head. He had fought by my side for three hours and fell with his sword aloft, cheering on his men. The enemy stripped his body of clothing as they did all our dead, and it was impossible to identify his remains. I saw Lieutenant Dickey fall. He has the glorious honor of falling nearest the rebel lines of any soldier at Gettysburg. I picked him up myself. Lieutenant Grace commanded his company during the battle. He was wounded near the rail fence and taken to the Seminary. Being told that his wounds were mortal, he disposed of his effects and died on the 3d while the battle waged fiercest. The other Lieutenants were daring men, as well as all my non-commissioned officers and privates who fell on that terrible but glorious day. The whole regiment discharged its duty acceptably and won the admiration of the whole army of the Potomac. FROM COLONEL MORROW 'S OFFICIAL REPORT. Some portions of Colonel Morrow's official report refer to what has already been treated in the preceding pages. Such parts are omitted below. We quote the following extracts: Previous to abandoning our last position, orders came to fall back. Captain Edwards behaved very gallantly in rallying the men under a murderous fire. The field over which we fought from our first line in McPherson's woods to the barricarde near the Seminary was strewn with killed and wounded. Our losses were very large, including three hundred and sixteen killed and wounded and about eighty men and officers missing, in the action, many of whom have never been heard from. Of the killed, their conduct was brave and creditable to themselves and the service. Captain Speed's death was a severe loss to the service and an almost irreparable one to the regiment. Captain O'Donnell had given strong proof of Eourage and capacity and his death was deeply deplored. Lieutenant Wallace was a brave officer and good disciplinarian. Lieutenant Dickey had given great promise of future usefulness. Lieutenant Grace was one of the bravest men I ever saw. Lieutenants Humphreyville, Safford and Shattuck were distinguished for unflinching (13) 190 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. courage in battle. The remains of Captain Speed and Lieutenants Wallace and Safford were conveyed to Michigan, but the other officers sleep with the brave non-commissioned officers and privates who fell that day, in the cemetery in which a grateful nation will erect a mausoleum to perpetuate the memories of its defenders. Lieutenant-Colonel Flanigan lost his left leg, and his conduct in battle was daring and gallant. Major E. B. Wight acquitted himself in the most creditable manner and remained at his post until forced by his wound to leave the field. Both of these officers were universally respected. Captain Rexford was wounded early. His conduct was gallant and conspicuous. Captain Hutchinson received a severe contusion in the groin early in the day but remained with his company and behaved very gallantly. Captain Edwards displayed great coolness and courage, and deserves honorable mention. Captain Dillon commanded his company with skill and behaved very handsomely. Captain W. W. Wight exhibited much coolness and courage. Lieutenant Dempsey was conspicuous for his gallantry in the charge across Willoughby's Run. Lieutenant Hutton was near me when I was wounded, and it was mainly through his assistance that I got off the field. His conduct was all that could be desired. Captains Hoyt and Gordon and Lieutenants Farland, Dodsley, Sprague, Witherspoon, Norton, Buhl, Earnshaw and Whiting, all acquitted themselves honorably. The historian of the regiment will narrate the heroic conduct of the brave sergeants and corporals who were killed. Sergeant-Major Connor was conspicuous for his bravery and was severly wounded. Sergeant Haigh of Company D was suffering from a wound received at Fitzhugh Crossing, but went into this battle and was severely wounded. He deserves mention for his bravery. Captain Edwards says of Sergeant Bucklin and Corporal Evans, killed on the field : "They were distinguished in camp for the purity of their lives, and in the field for unflinching courage." This is high praise and well bestowed. Captain Burchell says of Corporals Dwyer and Carroll of B: "They were efficient and brave men." Captain Witherspoon, himself a brave soldier, commends highly the gallantry of Sergeant Pomeroy. Being too severely wounded to handle a gun he tore cartridges for his more fortunate comrades. First Sergeant William Nagle was wounded near me. His conduct was brave to temerity. Captain Farland speaks in high terms of Sergeant Eberle and Corporals Rounds, Sterling and Strong. It affords me pleasure to bear witness to the bravery of the latter. Sergeant Eberle continued to fight after being twice wounded. Private George Klink of Company F acquitted himself finely. Surgeons Beech, Collar and Towar were devoted and untiring in their attendance to the wounded. Of Dr. Beech, it may truly be said that no surgeon rendered more valuable service at Gettysburg. Chaplain Way was early in attendance at hospitals and rendered valuable services. He remained several weeks after the battle and both officers and men speak in the highest praise of his efficiency. EXTRACT FROM THE WASHINGTON HERALD. The following conversation occurred at a Washington Hotel with Colonel Bachelder, the historian of the Battle of Gettysburg. Said Colonel Bachelder : This jostling crowd little realize that those two gentlemen in conversation yonder (pointing to Senator Gordon, of Georgia, and General Morrow, of the United States Army), were prominent actors on opposite sides at the battle of Gettysburg. BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. I9I Colonel Morrow commanded the Twenty-fourth Michigan which belonged to the famous Iron Brigade. It was with this Brigade that General Reynolds was killed, and it was Colonel Morrow's regiment which enveloped the flank of Archer's Brigade. The sanguinary character of the engagement of the Twenty-fourth Michigan will be better realized when it is known that out of four hundred and ninety-six men and oflScers, three hundred and sixteen were placed hors de combat, losing nine color bearers killed and wounded and all the color guard, after which Colonel Morrow took the flag and was struck by a ball on the top of his head, the blood from which covered his face. While washing it away he found his retreat cut off. Late on the Third day. Colonel Morrow allowed Mrs. Judge Wills, whose guest he was, to tie a green scarf (a surgeon's insignia) about him. He then sallied out and soon met General Gordon and staff. Saluting he said, "General, I am informed that our wounded of the first day's battle lie uncared for where they fell and I ask your assistance in having them attended to." "You astonish me," answered the General, and turning to a surgeon said, "Is this so, and if so why is it?" The surgeon assured him that the wounded of both armies had been cared for alike, but that they had been unable to visit that extreme part of the field. Turning to Colonel Morrow, General Gordon said : ''Doctor, I will give you a detail of ambulances this evening to bring in your wounded." At nightfall. Colonel Morrow started with a train of twelve ambulances with Confederate drivers, for that part of the field where the battle opened. It was a weird sight, that long train of army nurses, as by the fitful light of a half-clouded moon, made more obscure by the lanterns they bore, this party threaded its way among the blackened and swollen corpses. The moans and cries for assistance and water were heartrending. Some were delirious and talked of home and friends and wondered that they neglected them so long, while others, in their wild delirium cheered on their comrades as they fought over in imagination the terrible battle. By midnight they were tenderly borne away to receive the care they so much needed. ON gulp's HILL. — CAPTAIN EDWARDS' ADDRESS. The ninety and nine of the regiment that rallied around the flag on Gulp's Hill the evening of the first day's fight, bivouacked there for the night, pondering over the terrible reality that they were but a fifth part of the regiment that so happily camped but six miles away the night before. Alas, many a soldier's diary was cut off by this day's awful events. The next morning the survivors hastily intrenched themselves, and their line of breastworks on the brow of Gulp's Hill, built nearly twenty-eight years ago, still remains. During this and the following day, the regiment, with the Iron Brigade, supported a battery which was playing upon the enemy from near where they lay. We would gladly give the names of those who were with the flae the cvenimj of the first dav, but cannot do so accurately. Gaptain A. M. Edwards issued the following to the men : Gulp's Hill, July 2, 1863. — All the field officers of this regiment having been wounded, and the senior captains killed or wounded, I hereby assume command. In thus being called to this responsible position, as little desired as expected, I 192 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. congratulate you, brave soldiers, upon your splendid achievements of July i, a single Division holding in check an entire army corps, the flower of the Southern army, an achievement of which you may well feel proud. The enemy's dead in front of your lines attest your valor and skill. Again have you merited a nation's gratitude ; again have you shown yourselves worthy of the noble State you represent and the glorious cause for which you are fighting. Our joy in the glory of our arms is mingled with sadness for the heroic dead on the field of honor. Let the memory of our lamented comrades inspire your hearts with new life and zeal to emulate their heroic virtues and avenge their untimely fall. A thousand hearts are beating for you to-day in your own loved Michigan, and thousands of eyes are looking anxiously for the records of your gallant deeds. Let that record be as pure, as noble, and as heroic in the future as in the past, and a redeemed and purified land will bless your names and hold them in sweet remembrance. On the following day, July 3, the fragments of the regiment were formed in four battalion companies, as follows : (i.) A and F under Captain William W. Wight. (2,) D, I and C under Leiutenant John Witherspoon. (3.) H, E and K under Lieutenant Edwin E.Norton. (4.) G and B under Capt William Hutchinson. The regiment remained on Gulp's Hill during the terrible struggles of the second and third days of the battle. It was not actively engaged except to hold back the enemy from occupying Gulp's Hill. At nine o'clock Sunday morning, July 5, it moved to the left near the scene of Pickett's charge where it halted until six o'clock the next morning. CHAPTER X. After Gettysburg- i86: PURSUIT AND ESCATE OF LEE — VALUE OF INTRENCHMENTS. BY THE morning of July 6, the Union army was well under way in pursuit of Lee. At an early hour the Iron Brigade was on the march amid a heavy rain storm, A march of eleven miles brought it to the hills east of Emmitsburg and soon after the Twenty-fourth went on picket. Moving at daylight on the 7th, it passed through Emmitsburg where it found the Sixth Corps asleep, having just arrived after an all night's march. Moving forward on the Pike through Franklinsville, Mechanicstown and Catoctin Furnace it halted at Lewiston for dinner, and then turning short to the right, followed up a very rocky branch of the Monocacy. By a steep, narrow, stony path, practicable only for infantry and packmules, but dry and shady, the Iron Brigade passed over the Catoctin Mountain and through Hamburg on the summit. The men were frequently obliged to march in single file, so stretching the line that a halt of several hours was made to get closed up. A jDetter road was found on the western slope. The view from the mountain top was most beautiful. They moved five miles up the Middletown valley to Bellsville, and camped, weary and tired, after a twenty-four mile tramp. Wednesday, July ^. The march was resumed at an early hour in a drenching rain, by the Boonsboro Pike, through Middletown. A halt was made at 11 o'clock for dinner, a warm sun permitting the men to dry their tents and blankets, it having rained almost every day for two weeks. Moving on at three o'clock, the Iron Brigade passed over South Mountain by the National Road, (a macadamized way which winds its course about abrupt peaks and along the steep gorges of the mountain) over the same route it passed in the autumn of 1862, and bivouacked on its western slope near the foot, a mile east of Boonsboro, in the edge of some woods overlooking the Antietam battlefield. During the afternoon, our Michigan cavalry brigade (193) 194 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. engaged the enemy in this vicinity. They hovered on Lee's flanks and inflicted heavy losses on his train. Thursday the 9th, was spent in camp while the rest of the army continued to pour over the mountain, and the clatter of artillery wheels rolled along the road. The material and force of a large army were pouring out in yonder fields. The game of war went on with determination on one side and desperation on the other. Friday, July 10. At an early hour the Iron Brigade moved on through Boonsboro to about two miles of Funkstown, and threw up intrenchments east of the Pike, half a mile from Beaver Creek. Sneers at the " spade " may affect the morale of a General, but no troops can afford to discard this element in war. The Roman soldiers never retired to sleep without first securing themselves with an intrenchment of earth. A remarkable strength is added to an army by an hour's work, in thus improvising shelter against the foe. A rail fence properly disposed, and covered with a few shovelfuls of earth, doubles the defence of the troops as well as gives strength to their confidence. Behind their barricade the men lay till Sunday noon, July 12, when they marched to the right, halting half an hour or so at Beaver Creek village ; thence to the left to the Pike at Funkstown where it crossed Antietam Creek, formed a line of battle supporting a brigade of Maryland troops, in right of the enemy's lines, and again threw up earthworks. For ten days Colonel Morrow had tried to do duty with the regiment, but his wound became too troublesome in the hot weather marches, and on the 14th he left for home for needed restoration, leaving Captain Edwards in command. For a week past our army had been rolling over the mountains, drawing its folds closer around the retreating army. Many in the North still seemed to think that Meade's army should have annihilated it. It had won a great victory in defeating and turning back the invaders, but the opposing armies were too nearly equal, both before and after the Gettysburg battle, for either to destroy the other. Our victory had cost us too dearly to be rash. Like wounded lion, the invader pushed his way back along his line of retreat, turning at bay to confront his pursuers when pressing him too hard. Under cover of very strong intrenchments near the Potomac, the enemy withdrew across that stream at midnight of July 13, leaving 2,000 men as a rear guard, who were captured, and their commander, General Pettigrew, killed. It was this brigade to which belonged the AFTER GETTYSBURG — 186' 195 famous Twenty-sixth North Carolina, which fought such a terrible duel with the Twenty-fourth Michigan at Gettysburg. At ten o'clock on the 14th, the Iron Brigade by a forced march pushed forward to within two miles of Williamsport and passed through the intrenchments which Lee's army had vacated. A glance showed what a slaughter an assault would have cost, upon the succession of Lee's naturally defensive lines, doubly strengthened by ROl'TK OF IRON BRIGADE KKOM OETTYSBURO IN PURSl'IT OF LKE S ARMY. 196 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. skill. The thrice decimated regiments that closed around the enemy and compelled him to seek inglorious flight to the war-stricken fields of Virginia, may answer how many men they could spare to drench the fields above Antietam's bloody ground. Everything indicated a sudden departure. The air was thick with putrid odors, compelling the Iron Brigade and other troops to move half-a-mile back from the road and camp as far as practicable from the abandoned works. The puffed, distended body and legs of a defunct mule or horse dotted the field here and there, and occasionally there was seen standing by the roadway or in a field, mute and motionless, a many ribbed specimen of kindred kind, unharnessed and turned out to die after his hard term of army service. RETURN TO VIRGINIA. — LOYAL VILLAGE. — CAMP FIRE. On the morning of the 15th, at six o'clock, the regiment moved off on the Pike to within sight of Hagerstown ; thence across the country to the Sharpsburg Pike ; thence south and eastward through Jones' X Roads and Smoketown. Soon after, it crossed the Antietam stream and passed on through Keedysville, reaching the base of Crampton's Gap after dark, and rested for the night. The march this day, a part of the way, was by the same roads the Twenty-fourth traversed upon the cold, stormy Sunday, October 26, 1862, when it left camp near Bakersville. The camp this evening was but a short distance from the site of " Camp Misery " on that fearful night. On July 16, the march was resumed at seven o'clock in the morning, over South Mountain at Crampton's Gap, into Pleasant Valley and on to " Camp Hickey," near Berlin, where it halted two days last October before crossing into Virginia. The field return for the regiment this day showed four officers and one hundred and thirty-five men present for duty. After resting a day, the long roll sounded at three o'clock on the morning of July 18, and the regiment again crossed the Potomac at Berlin, where it entered the confederacy just eight months and twenty days previously. Through a fair region not before ravaged by the war, the column passed on to Milltown, and bivouacked nine miles from Berlin, at Waterford, a most beautifully embowered and intensely loyal village. It seemed strange to find so patriotic a place in the Confederate dominions, and that evening merry maidens of the place with elastic step, tripped the fantastic toe with the army officers. Sunday, July 19. This morning the Twenty-fourth Michigan led AFTER GETTYSBURG — 1 863. 197 the First Corps on the march, headed by a band made up of the fragments of several regimental drum corps. Their notes were somewhat discordant, but the martial strains were full of life. (The Twenty-fourth's band was still at Gettysburg, soothing the sufferings of wounded comrades, having been ordered by Colonel Morrow to play for the men at the different hospitals every evening). This improvised corps of fifes and drums awakened chords responsive in the hearts of the Waterford denizens. The streets were lined with smiles and beauty. Windows and balconies were filled, and matron, maiden and child waved handkerchiefs and the starry flag, and cheered on the Union troops with many a "hurrah for the Union." In the best of spirits the column marched six miles to Hamilton and camped five miles west of Leesburg. At four o'clock the next morning, July 20, the 'march was resumed past Circleville, Philomont, Mountsville and Millville; thence across Goose Creek by fording a two and a half feet depth of water; thence on to Middleburg in Loudon county — ^a most offensive THE UIVOUAC AND CAMP FIRE. 198 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. secesh town; not a door or shutter open and scarcely a resident was to be seen, everyone with a scowHng mahgnity and steeped in secession. While riding in advance of the column this day, the corps commissary, his orderly and a colonel were captured by the enemy's " bushwhackers " who infested this vicinity. This event called out the next day strict orders against "straggling," which had become rife among the boys for obtaining soft bread, butter, berries, etc. After a hard march, the troops ever welcomed the bivouac. The regiment and brigade were filed off into some field or woods, ranks were closed up and arms were stacked in front of each company. The stacking of arms was a " trick " which only the soldier could do. Three soldiers hitched the tops of their guns together by gyrative motions unexplainable in print, forming a tripod with the butts on the ground, around which others placed their arms. Each squad of comrades who usually chummed by themselves then selected a spot for their "fly tents" which were described on page 67. One pitched or erected the tent, another took the canteens and hied himself in search of some spring or brook for water, and another got a fire started with any fuel most convenient — whether fence rails or dead tree limbs. Soon scores of blazing fires and a city of tents had risen up and the men were cooking their bacon and coffee. Supper over and duty done, a larger camp fire was usually built, as fuel permitted, around which the men gathered for the evening; some trying to make out their latest letters from home ; some trying to write letters by the firelight, often in a stifling smoke ; some smoking their laurel or corn cob pipes and discussing any and every subject of science, politics, philosophy and religion. The volunteer was still a citizen, freeman and man, and so long as he attended to his duties he could carry his mouth with him and discuss as he chose, which he did — perhaps the events of the latest fight or skirmish, how he fought and his hairbreadth escape ; the conduct of the war — in fact give his opinion on any subject he desired ; or perhaps they calculated the time "in the sweet by and by" when they could see home again. So long had they been rousting about at soldier life out-doors that they could hardly hope at once to resume their old home babits. The first night they would sleep in the hog pen; the next night in the corn crib or barn ; the next night in the woodshed, and in about a week they thought they might venture into a "feather bed." Then to sit at a table and eat ! They had forgotten what tables, chairs and such things were for. ROUTE OF IRON BKIGADE TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK, JULY, 1863. FAMILIAR SCENES — MUTIN- OUS TROOPS — BACK TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK. Wednesday, July 22. The column marched at 3 P. M. through a fine hill country, eleven miles to White Plains on the Manassas Gap railroad, five miles west of Thoroughfare Gap. This was the " Deserted Village " described in a previous chapter, by which the regi- ment passed, November 6th last. July 23. Marched at 8 A. M. as train guard, by regiments, to protect the wagon-trains from cavalry or other attack. Passed through Georgetown and N e w Baltimore, joining here the Centerville Pike ; thence to Warrenton, a march of thirteen miles, which place was reached a little before dark, encamping on the Sulphur Springs Road a mile southwest of the town. Early the next morning the men moved their camp a short distance to the top of a commanding hill and near the sight of "Camp Flanigan" or "Camp Cold, Rain, Snow and Hunger." Sergeant S. D. Green with some comrades visited the site of this former camp and there found scraps of Detroit newspapers, etc., Ij'ing around, just as we left it November 1 1 last. Saturday, July 25. Reveille at 3 A. M. Marched at daylight to W a r r e n t o n 200 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Junction and went into camp at mid-afternoon. The Nineteenth Indiana and forty men of the Twenty-fourth Michigan were sent out on picket. Sunday morning brought a large mail, the first for ten days. Here the regiment remained a week, resting up. The present location was called "Camp Speed" in honor of the late Captain of Company D. At 5 o'clock on Saturday morning, August i, the Iron Brigade was ordered to fall in for the day's march. On July i6, the One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Pennsylvania (nine months' troops) were assigned to the Iron Brigade to complete their term of service, about twenty days more. This morning that regiment refused to move when ordered. They were conscripts, and officers and all claimed their term of service had expired, reckoning from the average time of their enlistment instead of the time of their muster. The rest of the Iron Brigade were drawn up in front of them with loaded muskets, and the commands " Ready ! Aim !" were given by General Cutler, but before the word "Fire" was given, there was a. wonderful hustling among them to get their accoutrements on and get into line. They well knew that the Iron Brigade would stand no such nonsense and that until they were mustered out by proper authority, they must obey orders like other troops. The Sixth Wisconsin was placed behind them with orders to shoot any man who fell out of the ranks. They marched. The column moved along the railroad past Bealton, to near Rappahannock station and encamped opposite Norman's Ford. Considerable cavalry fighting occurred during the day, across the river. At daylight on Sunday, August 2, the Iron Brigade marched, without breakfast, across the river on pontoons just below the railroad crossing and occupied a position commanding the fords and bridges, in some woods half a mile from the river and threw up earthworks. The Twenty-fourth sent one hundred men on picket. The enemy's pickets were within speaking distance but no talking was allowed. The railroad bridge was being rebuilt over the Rappahannock, which is here a deep, quick, muddy stream, running between low banks grown thick with willows. A battle was expected on the 4th and readiness was made for such an event, by sending pack mules over the river, etc. It was only a brush with the cavalry. Colonel Morrow and the band returned on August 7. The next day the camp was moved to the north side of the stream, and the regiment, with the Second and Sixth Wisconsin were sent over the river on outpost duty again until August 12. In fact the men of the AFTER GETTYSBURG — 1 863. 20I regiment and Iron Brigade were almost constantly on picket south of the river, while the camp was just below what was once Rappahannock Station, all that remained of it now being a few chimneys. The army settled down for a few weeks of quiet by the Rappahannock, over which it kept watch and guard. The drinking water was poor until the men dug a well twenty-five feet deep which furnished good cool water. The camp was tastefully arranged with evergreen bowers and named after Captain Merrit who had recently died. Many went bathing daily in the murky river. Its waters were continually stirred and kept colored by the soluble soil of its bed and banks. Many troops were about this time taken north to enforce the draft, while every train brought conscripts and substitutes, who seemed to be a scurvy lot of fellows. They had received large amounts in bounties and their main intentions were to desert at the first opportunity. Their talk was more suited to service in the enemy's camp, and they were closely watched. This day, August 29, recalled an event twelve months ago, which the regiment and its friends will never forget — this being the anniversary of our departure from Detroit. None could realize then what havoc one year would make in its ranks. Then, ten full companies, 1,026 men, supported the flag it received. To-day, but 207 men and eight ofificers "dress upon the colors," and of this number, thirty were on extra duty, which left but 170 available men in camp. Truly the regiment had had glory and grief, joy and sorrow enough for one year. Though the summer's glorious triumphs at Gettysburg and Vicksburg gave buoyant hopes of an early peace, efforts were not to be relaxed until the military power of the rebellion was broken. IRON BRIGADE FLAG PRESENTATION. The heroic record of the Iron Brigade on many a bloody field since Bull Run; at dark and bloody Gainesville; its gallantry in carrying the South Mountain Pass and opening the battle of Antietam ; its valorous deeds at Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellors- ville and minor fields; and lastly, its generous sacrifice at Gettysburg, by which with its fraternal Second, it bought at so dear a price, the defensive heights that saved the army and nation, all contributed to the enrichment of the war history of the States from which came its men — Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan. In recognition of the splendor of its noble deeds, citizens of these three States residing in 202 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Washington, resolved to present to it a testimonial, the only honor of the kind in the history of any war in this country — a distinctive flag of its own, to this the First Brigade of the First Division, of the First army Corps of the Army of the American Republic. Thus numerically first, it was the first recipient of so proud a distinction. The anniversary of the glorious Antietam victory, September 17, was deemed a fitting occasion for its presentation. The event was to be a notable one and suitable preparations were made. A large evergreen arch was erected with the words "Iron Brigade" and "Welcome Guests" underneath. To the rear of the arch ran an embowered hall, 100 feet, for the banquet, and the leaves and underbrush were cleared away for the Iron Brigade assemblage. Notable guests were invited and all made ready, when inexorable orders came to move, causing an abandonment of all the preparations for the welcomed Hag event. At daylight of September 16, the Iron Brigade broke camp, crossed the Rappahannock, and marching by Brandy Station and Stevensburg halted at Pony Mountain near Culpepper. The day was hot and dusty, and the route over a beautiful rolling country without any cultivation of crops. For miles around the country was dotted with white tents containing the most of the army of the Potomac. The sound of the cannon was heard and all indicated another battle. The flag had been sent on and BRANDY STATION, vA. its prcscntation occurred on the appointed day, though under adverse circumstances, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Just before the hour, the rain came down in torrents, but soon ceased till after the ceremonies. The regiments were formed in a hollow square, in a grove near by. The band struck up "Hail to the Chief" and the flag was brought in, when Mr. Selleck, of Washington, addressed Colonel Robinson, of the Seventh Wisconsin, then commanding the Iron Brigade, as follows: This flag is presented to the Iron Brigade in behalf of the donors, as a mark of their admiration for the deeds of those who stand here before me, and the gallant dead who helped to win the fame of the Brigade. Take the flag, bear it at the head of your column till the final battle be won ; then carry it to your homes in the west, the pride of your friends and the noble States you represent. AFTER GETTYSBURG — 1 863. 203 Upon receiving the flag Colonel Robinson said : Accept our thanks for this appreciation of the Iron Brigade, a name the rebels had learned to award it on many an occasion. No stain of dishonor upon its folds shall ever shame the cheeks of its donors' This gift shall be brought back. It may be scarred and battle stained, but floating still proudlier in victory. The few who witness this scene from the thinned ranks are survivors of a much larger number who came at their country's call to restore its despised authority. Their comrades lie in their last sleep, on battle fields from which their deeds have told the story, which their children and grandchildren will ever be proud to hear. After recounting the battles in which the four oldest regiments had been engaged up to Antietam, he spoke of Michigan's merit to a share in the honors of the occasion, as follows : Soon after the battle of Antietam, the Twenty-fourth Michigan, a new regiment, joined us with its full ranks and new uniforms. We thought it put on too many airs, and longed to take it into battle with us. At Fredericksburg, it went with us into its first fight. Nobly did it stand the test, and from that day we took it into full fellowship. The flag was borne away at the head of the Iron Brigade and the ofificers and guests repaired to the banquet. Speaking followed, begun by Colonel Henry A, Morrow and followed by Colonel E. S. Bragg, of the Sixth Wisconsin, Generals Robertson, Newton and others. General Rice said : To the non-commissioned officers. and privates we owe everything. To the First Corps alone at Gettysburg, do we owe the result of that battle; to the rank and file of that corps who stood so many hours, beating back the tremendous odds thrown against them, holding the enemy in check until the troops came up and formed in position on the field ; to that corps and its indomitable pluck, the nation owes its most grateful thanks. The memory of General Reynolds was drank in silence. The flag was of the finest blue banner silk, upon which, by the needle alone, was produced the inscription with the national emblems, in a degree of perfection unsurpassed. Its colors, lights, shades, and contrasts were very brilliant and natural, and all in embroidery. In the center is the American Eagle which fairly seems to fly, so true to nature is the skillful embroiderer's work. His every shade is shown; the dark and brown of the beak and wings passing imperceptibly into the higher shades below, with glistening plumage, and eye as fierce as life. In bold Gothic are the names of the five regiments of the Brigade and the chief battles in which it had participated thus far; the whole unfurled (rom a lance of finest wood, 204 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. fastened by silver rod and socket, from which hangs a richness of scarlet and tassels. It is a fit and elegant tribute to the heroism of one of the most glorious organizations in the entire army. — New York Times. Reader of battle histories written in blood and spoken with tongues of fire from thundering cannon, may not that little brigade be proud of its honors, since their just meed of praise in nowise lessens the heroic deeds of others? PROMOTIONS — BREAKING CAMP — PROGRESS OF THE WAR. On September 19, the camp was moved a short distance to about three miles from Culpepper and fitted up as if for a long stay. It was named "Camp Peck" in honor of the noble color bearer who fell at Gettysburg. During the past few weeks several of the officers and some of the men who had become separated from the regiment at Gettysburg because of wounds, etc., returned, including Chaplain Wm. C. Way, Major E. B. Wight, Dr. Beech, and several squads of convalescents, after a six months or so of hospital absence. About this time numerous promotions were made among officers, non-commissioned officers, and men from the ranks, to fill vacancies and gaps made by the Gettysburg fight. Corporal Seril Chilson became Adjutant; First Lieutenants Farland, Hutton and Norton became Captains; Second Lieutenants Dodsley and Witherspoon became First Lieutenants ; and several Sergeants were promoted to Second Lieutenants, but as the regiment had not its minimum number, they were not permitted to muster. Here the regiment lay till the afternoon of September 24, when "Strike tents" came from Colonel Morrow's ringing voice, and soon all was commotion. It is wonderful how quickly a neat camp takes the appearance of a burnt district. When an order comes to move, it is a practice of soldiers to burn all they cannot take with them, that the enemy may not have any benefit of what must be left. So in a few minutes after moving orders come, a score of fires are seen in each camp consuming boxes, barrels, cabins, etc. Soon the regiment was on the road towards Raccoon Ford on the Rapidan, and halted under the shade of some woods skirting the river opposite Morton's Ford. A part of the Iron Brigade picketed the river and the rest became a permanent reserve to the picket guard. The enemy's pickets were seen opposite. AFTER GETTYSBURG — 1 863. 205 On September 29, the camp was moved back a little and named " Camp O'Donnell" after the valiant captain who fell at Gettysburg. On October 5, the regiment was called out to consider a proposition to "veteranize" by re-enlisting for three years, and they were almost to a man in favor of it, on the condition of a reasonable furlough to visit friends at home. The reader may deem it strange that after men have undergone so many hardships and survived so many battles, when so many of their comrades have gone down to death or become maimed for life, that they would take upon themselves a renewal of such experiences. But the rebellion must be subdued, and all honor to the men who thus, a second time, offer their lives to save their country. We have seen how Lee, after Gettysburg, withdrew his forces along the west side of the Blue Ridge to the south side of the Rappahannock ; and how Meade, keeping his army on the east side of the mountains, covered Washington and arranged his troops on the north side of that stream. Both armies had been weakened by the withdrawal of troops for other purposes. Longstreet's Corps was sent to help the Confederacy in Tennessee, and their Western army thus re-enforced, assaulted the Union army at Chickamauga. Longstreet's withdrawal induced Meade to cross the Rappahannock and drive the enemy across the Rapidan. This was the movement that interrupted the Iron Brigade flag presentation. Soon after, to counteract Longstreet in Tennessee, it was found necessary to send there the Eleventh and Twelfth Union Corps under General Hooker. This so weakened Meade's forces that Lee resolved upon a flank movement, by which he would interpose between Meade's army and Washington. CAMPAIGN OF MANEUVERS. And thus was inaugurated, during October, 1863, a campaign of maneuvers by which a good deal of rapid marching and some skirmishing were indulged in, but no great battle was fought. Both armies hastened for the heights around Centerville, but Meade arrived there first. Thus foiled, Lee retrograded south again, till the armies were about where they were before this movement began. Lee commenced this flank movement on Friday, October 9th. The next morning, the Iron Brigade was sent to within half a mile of the Rapidan which it made a feint of crossing, but lay in some woods all day. At night it moved back near Stcvensburg Heights and (14) 206 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. 7 3iirtJL^^t oSTbii^lo'jLia^i'^^^'t'^c^^l^. 0/6 3. /3 ^'^3uJj^ n.H Oft 3 oTo /^■ ^' '' /^XoD. AFTER GETTYSBURG — 1 863. 20/ bivouacked till Sunday noon, the enemy making their appearance as it withdrew. Colonel Morrow being compelled to go to Washington on sick leave, Captain Edwards took command of the Twenty-fourth, That afternoon the first corps, with the Iron Brigade as rear guard, marched north to the Rappahannock which it crossed at Kelly's Ford and bivouacked till one o'clock on the morning of the 13th, when it marched fifteen miles to Warrenton Junction by 9 o'clock and took breakfast. Then it moved on to Bristoe Station and bivouacked for the night, reaching Centerville Heights at 2 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, the 14th, in a very tired condition. This race with Lee was a severe one, but Meade's army got concentrated there first and held the key to the situation. The route passed over from the Rapidan was not a new one. Oft in the past two years had it been taken by hostile feet. Many desolate homesteads marked the way, through fertile fields rich in nothing but luxurious weeds. Black ruins and naked chimneys pointed out the desolating track; decaying head-boards and nameless heaps of fresh-piled earth told their tale along the way. On Saturday, the 17th, nine days' rations were issued. Marching orders came at daylight on Monday, October 19, and while packing up a drenching rainstorm wet everything. Crossing the Bull Run battlefield, the Iron Brigade marched by -way of Gainesville to Haymarket on Manassas Gap Railroad where it was deployed for the night on the Greenwich road as support to Kilpatrick's cavalry. That evening, one officer and thirty-four men of the Seventh Wisconsin were captured while on picket. At 4 p. m. of the 20th, it marched through Thoroughfare Gap to Georgetown, a distance of only four miles, but taking until nearly midnight, and bivouacking on the mountain side. Morning revealed a beautiful panorama of valley, a vast amphitheater with troops on every hill side. This beautiful site of the regiment was called "Camp Wallace" after the brave Lieutenant whose body then lay in the woods near Gettysburg. THE RETURN — GUARDING RAILROAD, ETC. The regiment remained in Thoroughfare Gap until 7 o'clock Saturday morning, October 24, when it began an extraordinary march in rain and mud. The Iron Brigade marched all day, the men wading several creeks waist deep. From Georgetown it marched to 2o8 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Haymarket without a halt ; thence to Gainesville, and on through Bristoe to Brentville, fording Broad Run and Kettle Run, and arriving at Brentville, the county seat of Prince William county, about 4 p. m. But ere tents were pitched, orders came to get coffee as soon as possible, and march back to Bristoe, amid a drizzling rain and over muddy and slippery roads. Arrived in bivouac, the men dropped down among the pines where they happened to be, for sleep. A cold Sabbath followed. The present site was named "Camp Bucklin," after Sergeant Bucklin of F who fell at Gettysburg. Several of the Gettysburg prisoners returned this day, October 25, and told of a famished march to Richmond after their capture. While in this camp Colonel (now Brigadier-General) Lucius Fairchild visited the Iron Brigade with his empty sleeve, made so at Gettysburg. He had been nominated for Secretary of State in Wisconsin. Michigan did not so honor her crippled soldiers. On the afternoon of October 30, the Twenty-fo.urth Michigan and Sixth Wisconsin were ordered to do guard duty on the Orange & THOROUGHFARE GAP, VIRGINIA. AFTER GETTYSBURG — 1 863. 209 Alexandria railroad, the Twenty-fourth's duty covering four miles of track from Slaty Run to Catlett's Station. This locality was familiar ground to the Iron Brigade. Months before they saw along this route pleasant homes which our soldiers under McDowell, had to guard. But now only charred ruins and chimney heaps mark the spots — no fences, outbuildings or timber are left. On November 5. Adjutant E. P. Brooks, of the Sixth Wisconsin, was very cleverly captured by the enemy. A few days before a handsome young lady came into camp and solicited a guard home, some two miles away. This day she returned with some butter to repay the politeness of the Adjutant who again agreed to see her safely home. Off they rode on horseback, but not more than a mile from camp Mosby and his men stepped out of the bushes and captured the badly sold victim of a female spy. While doing this railroad duty intelligence came that the dead of the Iron Brigade who fell at Gainesville on the 29th of August, 1862, had not been properly buried. A detail under Captain Hollon Richardson of the Seventh Wisconsin went over to the bloody field and properly buried their fallen comrades. MARCH TO BRANDY STATION — RESIGNATIONS. On the morning of November 7, at the bugle call, the regiment broke camp on the railroad, the guards having been called in, and passing Catlett's station and Warrenton Junction, bivouacked near Morrisville about five miles from the Rappahannock at 5 P. M. During the afternoon General Sedgwick had a fight at Rappahannock Station, taking 1,200 prisoners and a battery. On Sunday morning, November 8, the Iron Brigade marched for Kelly's Ford, crossed the river at 1 1 o'clock and pushed on to Brandy Station where it bivouacked at dark near the railroad. On Monday afternoon, the 9th, the bugle announced some movement in progress. Moving out of camp the regiments headed toward the river on the railroad track and commenced a friendly strife with the Second Division for the first passage of the stream, the last over to have the longest night march. The Twenty-fourth led the Iron Brigade and Division and such marching was never witnessed before, the Twenty-fourth reaching the river ere the other troops were in sight. Recrossing the Rappahannock, its pace did not slacken till it reached Beverly Ford at 7 r. M., when it bivouacked in some woods by the road for this night. 2IO HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. The next day it arranged its tents in an oak forest in camp order and named the place "Camp Dickey" in honor of Lieutenant Dickey, killed at Gettysburg. Here the regiment remained until November 26, engaged in picket and fatigue duty rebuilding the destroyed railroad. While here, Burt Sons of the Band rigged up a barber shop, his chair being a hickory stump and the back formed by a leaning sapling and piece of hardtack-box, against which his customers leaned their heads. On November 16, Quartermaster Digby V. Bell and Lieutenant Fred. Augustus Buhl having resigned, started for home, the latter to join the First Michigan Cavalry. Soon after, Lieutenant-Colonel Flanigan, Captains Charles A. Hoyt and Wm. H. Rexford were dis- charged, and Major Edwin B. Wight was compelled to resign, because of their Gettysburg wounds. Major E. B. Wight had lost the sight of an eye and after consultation with eminent oculists in New York and Washington, felt compelled to offer his resignation in deference to their opinions. Awaiting its acceptance, he returned to camp and soon found he had overrated his strength and could not take up active work. The Regimental, Brigade, Division and Corps Surgeons pronounced him unfit for any immediate service and unqualifiedly recommended his discharge. He had courageously endeavored to do duty but could not. The whole regiment regretted the necessity of his resignation, and there was a sad leave taking when the time came to say good-bye. He had been very active in the organization of the regiment and recruited Company A. Had his wound permitted him to remain in the field he would certainly have been promoted to higher honors. MINE RUN CAMPAIGN. After Lee's retreat from Centerville, he crossed the Rapidan and arranged his troops along the west side of Mine Run, a stream running at right angles to the Rapidan and emptying into it on the south at Morton's Ford. Of itself the stream was insignificant, but miry marshes extend along its sides, and Lee's position was on an elevated bank a little distance back, and intrenched so as to be virtually impregnable. It was a veritable slaughter pen in front, and he baited the Federal army by abandoning the fords of the Rapidan. Not understanding this condition of things, General Meade resolved to attack him, and began to move forward his army with rations for ten days, on Thursday morning, November 26, 1863. AFTER GETTYSBURG — 186- 211 <^/iO.^*yvuy\.i>G/i SftcL, ID "QLiny^eie a0^ r^^^X2^ >irt/re^ ^ Dee. i^,/f(>3. //. ^/>vT^«/vu'«. ^onr-^,''/Z.y>z^ tenuis ^(xr^. /3. ;6t*i;-^HtAG,:Di:c.2.^/f63. 212 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. The bugle again sounded the fall in, and the Twenty-fourth with the Iron Brigade, to which had been temporarily attached a battalion of New York sharpshooters, crossed the river at Rappahannock Station at daylight, passed down near Kelly's Ford on the Rappahannock; thence south through Richardsville to near Ely's BATTLE-FIELD OF MINE HUN, VA. Ford on the Rapidan, and bivouacked. At half past three the next morning, November 27, it crossed the Rapidan at Melville Mines Ford and continued south by Parker's Store to the intersection of the Spottsylvania Road with the Orange Plank Road. The ammunition train was attacked by Hampton's Legion who were repulsed by the Sixth Wisconsin. Pursuing the march through the Wilderness, the AFTER GETTYSBURG — 1 863. 213 Iron Brigade bivouacked for the night near Robinson's Farm on the old turnpike. At four o'clock the next morning, November 28. they advanced to Locust Grove and halted. At eight o'clock the Twenty-fourth Michigan and the New York Sharpshooters advanced as skirmishers, deploying six companies and advancing two miles, taking six prisoners. The next morning, November 29, the entire Iron Brigade moved forward to the crest overlooking Mine Run and the enemy's works opposite. All this day, Sunday, was spent in preparing for a great battle to begin the next morning, November 30. The weather was severe and cold and some of the pickets had frozen to death on their posts. Generals Sedgwick and Warren were to attack, at the same time, the flanks of the enemy. The former actually opened his artillery ; but General Warren, to whom fame had few allurements, carefully noting with the eye of a skillful engineer, the great hazard of assaulting Lee's works, took the responsibility to abandon his part of the programme, and so reported to Meade, who approved his judgment and decision. The water in the Run was breast deep and covered with a coating of thin ice. On the opposite side was a strong abatis of tree tops felled into the Run, and behind all a strong array of fortified batteries, and any attempt to move across the Run for a charge would have been another insane Fredericksburg slaughter. Would that the army had had more such Generals as John F. Reynolds and G. K. Warren. The attack upon the enemy's works having been abandoned, the army withdrew on the night of December i. One man, Henry Hoisington of K, had been severely wounded in the Twenty-fourth in this movement. The Twenty-fourth arrived at Germanna Ford at 1 1 P. M. and bivouacked on the south side. At 8 o'clock the next morning, December 2, it crossed the Rapidan and moving up as far as Mitchell's Ford, bivouacked till i o'clock P. M. of the 3d, when it marched towards Kelly's Ford on the Rappahannock, halting half a mile north of Mountain Run. The following day the camp was moved to near Kelly's Ford. CHAPTER XI. Winter Quarters Near Culpepper. LOG HUTS — LETTER OF CHAPLAIN WAY. ON SATURDAY morning, December 5, the sound of axes rang through the forest of oak, hickory and pine, which continued until the men of the First Corps had provided themselves with very comfortable winter huts. Colonel Morrow returned on the 6th and the regiment abode in their snug log cabins doing outpost duty until December 24, naming the place "Camp Beech" in honor of our ef^cient surgeon. The following letter of Chaplain Wm. C. Way will explain the camp life and trials of the men at this period: Near Culpeper C. H., Va., December 31, 1863. — "Out in the cold!" The first corps were turned out of their comfortable quarters near Kelly's Ford on a keen, cutting, cold day. At daylight on the morning before Christmas, we wound our way out of camp on the road hither in the face of a fierce, cold wind. Through the open fields the ground was frozen hard. The swamp roads were of the log or corduroy construction, but the wagons plunged into an occasional slough with a broken axle. Late in the afternoon we reached our present position, fairly in the front, on the Gordonsville Pike, in a location poorly supplied with wood, and it requires much activity and rubbing to enjoy a night's sleep, from the cold. , The men out on picket, through the fields and upon the bleak ridges, need the thickest clothing to keep the life current flowing. The cold stars overhead, the ice-bound earth — tramp, tramp through the long hours of the longest nights of winter, walks the picket on his beat till the relief comes, and the sentry returns. If there happens to be a smoldering fire at the reserve, he rakes out the embers and holds his benumbed hands a moment over the heat and then turns in. Otherwise he slaps his hands vigorously to warm up his finger tips, and rolls himself snugly up in his blanket, with knapsack under his head and is soon dreaming of home and its cheery fireside. I see sights every day of woe and want about the fields and squalid dwellings. Stillness as of the grave and a blight as of a curse brood in the streets of yonder town that once sat beautifully on the undulating hills whose feet the stream below laves. The meadows that were shaven by the scythe, now grow rank with weeds, and the fields once green, now lie hard. Yon spires beneath whose shadow worshipers once gathered, now rise above the stenchy atmosphere of stables into which the edifices have been turned. (214) WINTER QUARTERS NEAR CULPEPPER. 21$ Christmas found us in our shelter tents and the camp of December 25 and 26 was named "Camp Cheerless." The men set about felling trees for cabins and in a few days their second edition of cabins were built far superior to the first." PROGRESS OF THE WAR. — CAMP ROUTINE. The year 1863 closed with a brighter outlook for the union arms than the year before. By the surrender of Vicksburg on July 4, and of Port Hudson, July 9, the Confederacy sustained a combined loss of 38,500 soldiers to 7,500 by the Union armies, then under General Grant. These victories occurring about the time of the Gettysburg success left the Confederacy cut into by the Mississippi which was now open from the North to the Gulf of Mexico. It also was another nail well driven into the Confederate coffin. GENERAL RCFUS KING, FIRST COMMANDER OF IRON BRIGADE. At Chickamauga, Georgia, on the 19th and 20th of September there was a terrible battle. The Confederate army there had been reinforced by Longstreet from the East with his corps and they were determined to destroy the Western Union army. At this battle the Confederates lost 17,864 men and the Federals but 15,851; yet the latter were driven from the field and it became a very dearly bought Confederate victory, which was more than counterbalanced by the brilliant Union victories on November 23, 24 and 25, at Chattanooga, 2l6 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, when Hooker's corps became famous for their "battle above the clouds" on this height, which electrified the world. And thus the year closed in a halo of glory for the Union. There was a corresponding depression in the South, as the following from the RicJiniond Examiner of December 31, indicated: To-day closes the gloomiest year of our struggle. No sanguine hope of intervention buoys up the spirits of the Confederate public as at the end of 1861. No brilliant victory, like that at Fredericksburg, encourages us to look forward to a speedy and successful termination of the war, as in the last week of 1862. * * * Meanwhile the financial chaos is becoming wider and wider. Hoarders keep a more resolute grasp than ever on the necessaries of life. Non-producers are suffering more and more. What was once competence has become poverty, poverty has become penury, and penury is lapsing into pauperism. January i, 1864, was the coldest day experienced in the army during the war. It is also well remembered by many in the North. There was much suffering among the men whose cabins were not yet completed. The regiment had moved out still further on the Sperrysville road near a pine forest to make their winter quarters which became known as " Camp Meade." The cabins complete, the men became comfortable and settled down to the routine which a winter camp brings, such as fuel gathering, picket and sentinel duty, drill, etc. On the 3d, Colonel Morrow took command of the Iron Brigade and Captain Edwards of the regiment. The Sixth and Seventh Wisconsin and Nineteenth Indiana having veteranized for another three years were now gone home on the usual furlough in such cases, and the Seventy-sixth New York was temporarily attached to the Iron Brigade. The mail which usually arrived at sunset in this camp, gladdened the hearts of such as received missives from home and friends. Next to the Paymaster nothing so rejoiced the hearts of the soldiers as the sight of the approaching postmaster. They flocked to him like a parcel of children and listened for their names to be called out for a letter, as attentively as if it was a lottery wheel and they expected some valuable prize — for a most valuable prize was a letter to the soldier, only realized by those who have experienced this soldier-life enjoym.ent. Disappointment and often homesickness followed a failure to receive letters from home. A school of instruction for non-commissioned ofificers was established and a house erected for their drill. Captain William WINTER QUARTERS NEAR CULPEPPER. 217 Hutchinson had charge of the school. The men also built a church near Brigade headquarters, 20 by 30 feet in size. About the middle of the month the camp was cheered by the arrival of Mrs. Morrow, Mrs. Dillon and Mrs. Way. Several promotions also occurred about this period. First Lieutenant George W. Burchell became Captain; private David Congdon became First Lieutenant and Quartermaster, and Sergeants George A. Pinkney Benjamin W. Hendricks and Everard B. Welton became First Lieutenants. As at home, so in the army, a few required penal discipline, though to the credit of the Twenty-fourth, the "Guard House" was PENAL DRILL WITH STICKS OF WOOD. — SKETCHED BY H. J. BROWN. almost always unknown. Very little use was there at any time for it. The usual practice in regiments was to appoint the Major to try offenses. He was judge, jury and sheriff. His sentences were sent up to the Brigadier-General for approval, and they came back scarcely ever modified. Usually some mild form of punishment was meted out such as deduction of pay for a time, or in case of non-commissioned ofificers, reduction to the ranks, for failure to do proper duty or for unsoldierlike conduct. Sometimes they were compelled to drill a certain number of hours each day with rather heavy sticks of wood upon their shoulders, like the representation in the illustration. These punishments were for nothing very serious the offenders had done, but still their offences were sufficient to constitute violations of good discipline. This was the. beaten field of war. The golden sunsets overspread great camps of warlike men, for coming deadly strife. Yonder town of Culpepper was a canvas city busy in the arts of war. But few 2l8 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. inhabitants were left except the old and decrepit, women and children, who were often dependent upon our commissariat for food. They were all "Secesh" and the "Bonnie Blue Flag" was sung with spirit by the lassies who had a hatred of all Yankeedom; yet, those F. F. V. damsels would occasionally indulge in a flirtation with some of the dashing young Union officers. The denunciation of their peculiar institution led the people to believe that they, and not slavery, were hated. They mourned their loved and lost, and the widows' weeds told of bitter grief. A Division Review by General Rice occurred on January 29, and the Twenty-fourth Michigan carried off the palm for appearance. RACCOONYILLE RAID. On Saturday morning, February 6, reveille sounded at 5 o'clock with orders to fall in at 6. It was raining and visions of another mud march loomed up in the men's minds. Coffee over, the regiment was soon off for Brigade headquarters, and at 8 o'clock the column T] -^^^^ ' Ji^W ^M^^ THE 'guard'" over aIvIRGINIA RAIL FENCE. WINTER QUARTERS NEAR CULPEPPER. 219 marched for Raccoon Ford and halted about two miles away, being cautioned to keep quiet. While on the march details were made from each regiment of the Iron Brigade to storm the town of Raccoonville on the bank of the Rapidan, directly under the enemy's guns, and supposed to be occupied by their sharpshooters. At evening the picket formed a line of battle for support, and the storming party went forward' with matches into the town and in the very teeth of the enemy, set it on fire which soon lighted up the heavens for miles around. A dead Union cavalryman was found and taken from one of the houses first. The enemy opposite were perfectly amazed and soon could be seen in line of battle amid the gleam of the burning buildings, all of which were soon in blackened ruins. The party returned to the bivouac at 1 1 P. M. and all lay there till sunset on Sunday, February 7, when they started for camp. The roads were very muddy, it having rained most of the time since leaving camp. Three columns of troops moved on parallel lines and got somewhat mixed up. The Twenty-fourth became separated from the Iron Brigade, but all got safely into camp about 10 o'clock, very tired. The departure on this reconnoissance fanned into life the dying hopes of the village secessionists and they began to open their shutters and fairly insult our men with secesh songs and in other ways, but upon the return of the column to camp, their doors were closed again. On the 15th of February, General Sedgwick, in the temporary absence of General Meade, reviewed the First and Second Divisions of the First Corps. A snow storm blew up before the review was over. On the 23d the whole First Corp3 was reviewed by General Newton who had succeeded General Reynolds in its command after the latter was killed at Gettysburg. WINTER CAMP LIFE — CAMPAIGN PREPARATIONS. The months of February and March passed as usual in winter camp, with an occasional death in hospital. Places of amusement sprung up. The boys of the Fourteenth Brooklyn established an amateur theater for the edification of the camp. The veteranized regiments returned with some additions to their ranks in new recruits. During the latter part of March, Colonel Morrow and eight non-commissioned officers left for Michigan on special recruiting duty, and about this time the ladies who had been sojourning in camp for 220 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. two months went home also. During Colonel Morrow's absence, Lieutenant-Colonel W. W. Wight commanded the regiment, having been promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel Flanigan's position. But forty recruits had thus far joined the Twenty-fourth. Occasionally a few convalescents and recovered wounded comrades returned. The recruits very readily picked up the drill from the veterans. GENERAL JOHN NEWTON, COMMANDER OF FIRST CORPS. One would suppose that Sunday would be a welcome day in camp, but usually the reverse was true, for on that day, instead of being devoted to rest, there was more to fatigue the men than on any other day, even with their drill. When a severe march or fight was not planned for this holy day, a review or inspection was usually substituted. This day brought an inspection of the soldiers' accoutrements and knapsacks. His "brasses" must be polished and WINTER QUARTERS NEAR CULPEPPER. 221 shoes " blackened " though there might not be a box of blacking and brush within a hundred miles which they could obtain. It was customary for the bugle to assemble the companies each Sunday morning, after guard mount, which was about like a dress parade on a small scale, on the parade ground. Each man's gun must be in good order and thoroughly cleaned, his knapsack neatly packed and everything in like order. The Band formed on the parade ground, the companies marching to the music and forming as if on dress parade. The Adjutant saluted the Colonel, telling him the battalion was formed. The Colonel then gave the order for the companies to right wheel. The right of the company stood still, and the rest of it wheeled, halting at a right angle from the line in which it was, thus leaving a space between the companies. Then the command "To the rear — open order" and the front ranks came to an "about face" — the rear ranks having taken a few paces to the rear. This left a space between both ranks for the inspecting ofificers to pass. In this position several hours often intervened before these functionaries arrived — the men meanwhile standing there in open field, in rain, hail, snow or sunshine. When they did appear the men were ordered to "ground arms" and unsling knapsacks. These orders had to be executed with exactly the same number and like motions. Each man placed his knapsack at his feet, opened for inspection. The contents must be clean and neatly arranged. The overcoat was folded into a nice roll and strapped on top. The right company was inspected first the Band playing a slow tune. As fast as a company was inspected the men returned to their quarters, and as it usually took two hours to inspect the whole regiment, the last company had a tedious time waiting. There was so much required of the soldiers on Sunday that it called forth from President Lincoln, in November, 1862, an order against it, but there never seemed to be any change from the old practice. The month of April wore away and still found the men in their winter huts at their usual duties, but the opening spring brought warmer and more cheerful weather after a winter of mud. Busy preparations began to be made for another campaign. All extra baggage was ordered turned in, the men placed in light marching trim, and the sutlers ordered to the rear. At last the army had a commander, one who would brook no interference from the meddlesome marplots who infested the war office and confused plans and their execution. The President had let the contract of finishing up the rebellion to Ulysses S. Grant, without (15) 222 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. condition or interference from headless subheads. The confident belief was that the task would be accomplished though at the cost of much blood. Still if it be not spilled in vain, and the lives lost would only count for some good result, the men were willing for the sacrifice. Soon after his appointment as Lieutenant-General, General Grant made his headquarters with the army of the Potomac where he GENERAL ULYSSES S. GRANT. directed affairs till the close of the war, although General Meade continued its commander, receiving his orders from Grant, whose tents were but a few rods apart. He immediately set about a reorganization of the Army of the Potomac into three corps, known as the Second, Fifth and Sixth Corps, with a separate corps under Burnside. The old First and Third Corps were broken up and consolidated with the others. Most of the First Corps went into the Fifth Corps under General Warren. General Hancock continued in command of the Second Corps. The Sixth Corps was under Sedgwicl*. This produced no little ill feeling at first, as the brigade and corps disorganized would lose their identity purchased with blood and held most sacred. However, the men were permitted to wear their old corps badges. Upon retiring from the command of the First Corps, after its consolidation. General Newton said of it in an order: HON. AUSTIN BLAIR, "WAR GOVERNOR" OF MICHIGAN. WINTER QUARTERS NEAR CULPEPPER. zzj Identified by its services with the history of the war, the First Corps gave at Gettysburg a crowning proof of valor and endurance in saving from the grasp of the enemy the strong position upon which the battle was fought. Its terrible losses in that conflict attest its supreme devotion to the country. Though the corps has lost its distinctive name, history will not be silent upon the magnitude of its services. The Fifth Corps now consisted of four divisions, as follows: — 1st, General Grififin ; 2d, General Robinson ; 3d, General Crawford ; and 4th, General Wadsworth, The latter division consisted of three brigades: ist, General Cutler ; 2d, General Rice; 3d General Stone. The old Iron Brigade in the main preserved its identity, except it now became the First Brigade, Fourth Division, Fifth Corps. It consisted of the Second, Sixth and Seventh Wisconsin, Twenty-fourth Michigan and Nineteenth Indiana as formerly, to which had been since attached the Seventh Indiana and a battalion of the First New York Sharpshooters. General Cutler commanded the Iron Brigade, General Wadsworth the Fourth Division and General Warren the Fifth Corps. If the reader will be careful to remember this arrangement, it will often make clear the movements of our regiment and brigade. NEW FLAG FOR THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. The old flag of the Twenty-fourth Michigan having become too battle torn for duty, the friends of the regiment in Detroit purchased a new one for it, and its presentation to Colonel Morrow for the regiment called forth a large concourse of people on the Campus Martins, on April 27, 1864. Judge James V. Campbell delivered a patriotic and finished address on the occasion in which, after reviewing the honorable record of the regiment, he said : There is no duty so pleasant as that of publicly honoring those who have defended their country, I feel proud to express the thanks of the people of this old county to her gallant sons, brave among the bravest, for doing deeds that will crown her with endless glory. The noble veteran Twenty-fourth rests its fame securely in the pages of history whose like the world never saw. Time has never before looked upon so sublime an uprising as its organization. On August 26, 1862, the Twenty-fourth regiment assembled in this place to receive a flag. They were the very flower of our citizens from all parts of the county. The regiment has followed that flag on many a bloody field. At Gettysburg, fourteen different persons bore it aloft and guarded it, nine of whom were killed or mortally wounded on the field and two otherwise wounded. * * * I need follow no more these thinned ranks. Its old flag, begrimed and in tatters, has never been waved over cowards or been dimmed by the blight of disloyalty. We replace it to-day with another blazoned with the memorials of battle and destined we hope to return with greater glories. To you, sir, [turning to Colonel Morrow] I commit this flag. I know it will never be 226 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. dishonored, your gallant men have done too well to fail in the future. Bear to your command the hearty greetings of their fellow citizens, who will never forget the heroes of Gettysburg, the Iron Twenty-fourth. The following poem by D. Bethune Duffield, Esq., was then read : 1. What tho' fair maids be sighing, and what tho' wives are crying. As they buckle on the belt ; Our flag is up and flying, and soldier boys are dying. Where the battle's blows are dealt. Chorus — So march, boys, march with the gallant Twenty-fourth, And o'er each hill and glade, where our noble boys are laid. We'll sing the priceless Worth of the Triple State Brigade, The Ironclad Brigade and the gallant Twenty-fourth. 2. You know the stormy waking when day was slowly breaking, 'Round Frederick's cloudy height; How like the thunder quaking, our guns the hills were shaking. And how bloody was the fight. Chorus — Then march, boys, march with the gallant Twenty-fourth, And on Frederick's Esplanade, where our noble boys are laid, etc. 3. At Fitzhugh's bloody crossing, how dark those waves were tossing, As our boats rushed on their way. With oar and musket clashing, and bullets round us splashing. How we stormed on to the fray. Chorus — Then march, boys, march with the gallant Twenty-fourth, And along the river's shade, when the cannon on us played, etc. 4. Then through the midnight marching, our tongues all dry and parching. To Chancellorsville we prest ; When, from the dead fast piling, the noblest souls were filing, ' To the soldier's final rest. Chorus — Then march, boys, march with the gallant Twenty-fourth, And through that dreary glade where those hero boys are laid, etc. 5. Next, thro' Gettysburg we trod ; and still trusting in our God, Thro' those Independence Days, With our blood we soaked the sod, and o'er hundreds heaped the clod. Their holy mound of praise. Chorus — Then march, boys, march with the gallant Twenty-fourth, And when that grassy glade, by our blue coats was o'erlaid, etc. 6. Then Peck our colors grasping, tho' death his form was clasping. Still held them up in sight. Till other hands were reaching, and other boys beseeching. To bear them thro' the fight. Chorus — So march, boys, march with the gallant Twenty-fourth, And where they all were laid, Grace, Dickey, Safford, Speed, etc. WINTER QUARTERS NEAR CULPEPPER. 227 7. That flag now rent and tattered, by shell and bullet shattered, Is sacred in our eyes ; For when the Captain found it, five brave ones were lying around it. Who fell to save the prize. Chorus — Then march, boys, march with the gallant Twenty-fourth, Since by each broken blade, that on their breasts were laid. They won immortal birth, for the Triple State Brigade, For the Iron Clad Brigade and our gallant Twenty-fourth. S. What tho' fair maids be sighing, and what tho' wives are crying. As they buckle on the belt. Our flag is up and flying, and soldier boys are dying, Where the battle's blows are dealt. Chorus — So march, boys, march with the gallant Twenty-fourth, And if by hill or glade, in our blanket robes we're laid, Still our land shall see the worth of our Triple State Brigade, The Iron Clad Brigade and the gallant Twenty-fourth. After the reading of the above poem, Colonel Morrow made a long speech exhorting all to rally to the support of the President, to stay up his hands as Joshua stayed up the hands of Moses of old. He bore the new fiag back to the regiment and the following color guard volunteered to carry and protect it: Co/or Bearers : Sergeant George R. Welch of C and Corporal Thomas Saunders of K. Color Guard: Corporals George Higbee of B, Patrick Coffee of E, Marshall Bills of H, Joseph U. B. Hedger of I, Amos B. Cooley of F, William Thompson of A, John T. Paris of G and Walter Morley of D. Several of these were promoted to Corporals for this honorable and dangerous task. The old flag was cut in pieces and divided up among the men of the Twenty-fourth as mementos. Colonel Morrow having returned to the regiment on May i, 1864, immediately put it in shape for the campaign about to open. Marching orders were received on the 3d of May. The following was the roster of the ofificers of the regiment at that date, present for duty: Colonel, Henry A. Morrow. Lt.-Col., W. W. Wight. Major, A. M. Edwards. Adjutant, Seril Chilson. Surgeon, J. H. Beech. Asst. Surgeon, Geo. W. Towar. Chaplain, Wm. C. Way. Qr. Master, David Congdon. Com. Sergt., C. H. McConnell. Qr. M. Sergt., Alonzo Eaton. Hosp. Steward, E. D. Wallace. Prin. Musician, Edwin Cotton, Sergt. Major, A. F. Ziegler. Captain, Geo. W. Burchell, B. " John Witherspoon, C. " George Hutton, E. " Edwin E. Norton, H. " Wm. R. Dodsley, K. ist Lieut., Michael Dempsey, A. " Geo. a. Ross, B. " W. B. Hutchinson, C. Geo. W. Haigh, D. Benj. W. Hendricks, F. E. B. Welton, G. " E. B. Wilkie, I. " Geo. H. Pinkney, K. 228 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Captain Richard S. Dillon of A was Acting Assistant Inspec- tor-General, and Lieutenant Andrew J. Connor of E was Acting Aide, on the Iron Brigade staff. Both had been appointed to such duties January 6, 1864. Captain John M. Farland of D had been in the hospital in Washington for treatment since March 20, 1864. Captain William Hutchinson of G was in Michigan on recruiting service. Of the thirty-nine commissioned ofificers originally with the regiment, including the surgeons and chaplain, but ten were left at this time, besides three who were held in Southern prisons: Captain Gordon of I, First Lieutenant Sprague of F, and Second Lieutenant Whitinsf of A. THE OLD FLAG. CHAPTER XII. Grants Campaign- 1864. BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. MAY I, 1864, the Army of the Potomac lay along the north side of the Rapidan, and Lee's army was well intrenched a few miles south of that stream. Grant had 99,000 men and 274 guns; Lee had 62,000 men and 224 guns. Grant had the most men and reserves from the North to fill up his depleted ranks. Lee had no such reserve from the South to draw on. Boys of seventeen and old men of fifty-five had been gathered into his ranks and the last successful levy had been made. But Lee had the advantage in defensive and inner positions, the country being better adapted to a defensive than offensive campaign. At midnight of Tuesday, May 3, the bugle once more sounded the fall-in call, and the army began its march on the great forward movement to exhaust the military resources of the rebellion. ROUTE OF mON BRIAODE TO THE RA PI TAN. (229) 230 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Soon after midnight on Wednesday morning, May 4, the Twenty-fourth Michigan with the Iron Brigade and Fifth Corps, broke camp near Culpepper. They passed around to the south of that town, thence by Pony Mountain through Stevensburg, about twenty miles, and on to Germanna Ford by 10 o'clock A. M. The march was very hard and the weather warm. After a halt of an hour, it crossed the Rapidan without opposition, on pontoons, and continued along the Germanna Plank Road to its junction with the Orange Court House Turnpike ; then east to the Wilderness Tavern, and bivouacked where Grant and Meade came up the next morning, Thursday, May 5, and made their headquarters during the battle. The Wilderness is a few miles west of Chancellorsville battle- ground and is so named from its makeup of dense second-growth woods and entangled thickets amid deep scrub pines, in which troops could be seen but a few rods away, nor could artillery be used to advantage. Early this morning, May 5, the Twenth-fourth was ordered out, and cofTee over, it was drawn up in line and men and guns counted. There were present 302 men in the ranks, (some of whom were recruits), three field of^cers besides the Adjutant and Sergeant-Major, and thirteen line officers, a total of 320. Shortly after the roll had been called, the Corps took up its line of march for Parker's store on the Orange Court House Plank Road, Crawford's Division leading, followed by Wadsworth's, with Robinson's and Grififin's bringing up the rear. The Corps advanced along a woody road, and shortly after the head of the column had reached the open ground at Chewning's farm, about a mile from Parker's Store, the enemy's skirmishers were encountered. A halt was ordered. The head of the column countermarched a short distance, turned to the right and formed a line of battle at right angles with the woody road, facing southwest. Grififin was ordered to form his Division on the right of the Orange Turnpike and Wadsworth on the left, supported on the left by Dennison's Brigade of Robinson's Division. As the line of battle was formed, it placed the Iron Brigade at the left of the GERMANNA CROSSING. grant's campaign — 1864. 231 Division and the Twenty-fourth Michigan on the left of the Iron Brigade. On its right was the Nineteenth Indiana, followed by the Second and Seventh Wisconsin on the right. The Seventh Indiana and Sixth Wisconsin were held in reserve. In these positions the two Divisions, about 10 o'clock, were ordered forward to attack the enemy. Pushing through the dense thickets, at times marching b}' the flank to close up with the right, then again in line, the two divisions advanced about one mile with the skirmish line in front. Here the Confederate line of battle was encountered, two lines deep, made up of troops from General Ewell's Corps. The firing at once became brisk all along the line, and the battle of the Wilderness had begun in earnest. After a short but very sharp engagement, the Iron Brigade with its old-time yell, charged the enemy, completely destroying the first line of battle which consisted of Jones' Brigade of Johnson's Division, capturing about 300 prisoners, the Twenty-fourth Michigan securing the battle flag of the Forty-eighth Virginia of Jones' Brigade. This flag was taken from a Confederate color-bearer by Major Albert M. Edwards of the Twenty-fourth Michigan. This act was witnessed by Sergeant William C. Bates of Company A of the latter regiment. We are thus particular because some accounts attribute the capture of that flag to another regiment. Major Edwards carried the flag to the rear. When Colonel Morrow was brought to the regiment on a stretcher after he was wounded, he made a brief good-bye speech to the boys. Major Edwards tore the captured flag' from its staff and put it in Colonel Morrow's haversack. The latter took it to the hospital in Washington with him, and then to Detroit where it was on exhibition. It was afterwards placed in the archives of the War Department at Washington. Pushing ahead for the second line of the enemy without waiting to reform its own ranks, the Iron Brigade was soon engaged in another sharp fight with this second line which proved to be the "Stonewall Brigade." Driving them back, they were believed to have retired from the field. Instead, the commanding oflicer of the "Stonewall Brigade," having discovered that the left flank of the Iron Brigade was entirely unprotected, had fallen back beyond the range of the Union guns, reformed his ranks, moved by his right flank and placed his brigade on the left flank and rear of the Twenty-fourth Michigan, and between it and Dennison's brigade which should have protected that flank.* McCandless' Brigade of Crawford's Division had been *An officer of the Stonewall Brigade, who was in the battle, during a conversation with a member of the Twenty-fourth Michigan some years ago, stated that his Brigade executed the movement described abovej 232 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. ordered to make connection with the left of the Iron Brigade when it advanced through the woods, but had failed to keep up with the rapid advance of Wadsworth's Division. This movement of the enemy compelled the left of Wadsworth's Division to fall back in some confusion and thus all the advantage gained by the hard fighting Stowifyall Bcisa^a.l^loosAvo. lvrOtT.'Bttga£l^. 2'-'* po€r»iOvi. i4^ jvaioit. ' ' ICOI^ Be.i2,a(le,\%^ po-i'ViO'.-v. ;<5!^"i\-v-!x il'if- V\vi W'^ Wis 1 4v ln.eL. Iie,vv\.-v.vSo vts B^!, TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN AND SIXTH WISCONSIN AT THE SALIENT. removed. The night was very dark and the flash of the enemy's muskets over their second line showed their line of earthworks at the Salient, and the oak tree was used as a guide to fire by. Standing in deep mud and keeping up a constant fire for hours and till after midnight, the men's muskets became so foul that details were made to clean the guns while their comrades kept up the fire. The men were so weary (having been under fire night and day for a week), that some lay down in the mud under the enemy's fire and slept soundly amid the thunders of battle, despite all efforts to arouse them. During the night the remnant of the Twenty-fourth used up 5,000 rounds of cartridges at this spot. Lossing says: Probably there never was a battle in which so many bullets flew in a given space of time and distance. Two years afterward full one-half of the trees of the wood, at a point where the fiercest struggle ensued within the Salient of the Confederate works, were dead. 244 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. The fighting at the Salient was continued till midnight when, after a contest of twenty hours, Lee gave it up and withdrew from the place altogether. In the War Department at Washington is the section of the trunk of the large oak tree, referred to above, which stood inside the Confederate Salient and under which were the Confederate batteries, which the constant musketry firing prevented them from getting and using. The section of the tree is five feet six inches in height and twenty-one inches in diameter, and had been finally cut off by the Union bullets fired that night from guns in the hands of the Twenty-fourth Michigan and Sixth Wisconsin. This section of said tree was on exhibition at the Centennial, and a picture of it is here given. Several eastern regiments are claimed in the "Century" to have shot this tree off, Second Corps regiments of course. They undoubtedly helped; but it is a historical fact that the tree fell about midnight after several hours of shooting at it by the Twenty-fourth Michigan and Sixth Wisconsin. These two regiments stood nearest to it, fired at it SECTION OP TREE CUT DOWN longfest, and were shooting away at it zvJien it fell. BY BULLETS AT THE SA- O ' Q J J LiENT," FIELD OP spoTT- jj^jg jg ^.^g ^j-ue account of that battle-field relic SYLVANIA. But all the regiments which fired at it that day and night should share whatever honor attaches to this feat. Friday, May 13. During the night Major Edwards, commanding the regiment, became tired and sat down to rest on what he supposed was a log, but it proved to be a dead man. At daylight the Twenty-fourth Michigan moved up and found only one unharmed Confederate in the works, the rest having quietly left in the night. The Second corps men lay thick on the ground, riddled with bullets. Over in the Salient was the most awful sight ever witnessed on a battlefield — dead Confederates lay several deep, in all shapes as they fell — some piled up for breastworks to protect those still living. The trench by the Salient breastwork was filled with dead men and the burial party never removed them but turned the breastworks over upon them for a covering — thus they actually died in their graves. The Twenty-fourth moved a short distance to the right and joined the rest of the Iron Brigade. After dark it went on picket though up all the night before. It remained out till nearly midnight when moving orders came, which proved to be another left flank affair. (;rant's campaign— 1864. 245 SPOTTSVLVANIA COURT HOUSE. Soon after midnight on the morning of May 14, the Fifth Corps was on the march which was kept up till morning. It went via Shelton's, Landrum's and thence by a farm road to the Ny River FIELD OF SPOTTSVLVANIA. which it forded. The column then moved across the country through fields to the Fredericksburg and Spottsylvania Court House road, along which it advanced, and re-crossed the Ny waist deep, and formed on the left of Burnside's Corps. This circuitous night march was only eight miles but very fatiguing. It was rainy and the darkness intense. Fires were built along the route but the rain and mist extinguished them. The mud was deep and the march slow; yet men lost their way and lay down exhausted until daylight enabled them to go on. Only forty-six men were up with the regiment when it halted at^daylight, but the rest came up during the day. 246 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. The Iron Brigade was now about half a mile northeast of Spottsylvania Court House in the first line of battle with its corps the left of the Brigade resting on the Fredericksburg Turnpike. This Corps had been ordered to attack at 6 A. M. but it was so scattered that the attack was deferred. The armies intrenched, and faced each other for a week, each seeking an opportunity to gain some advantage. Early on May 18, a fierce artillery duel took place, followed by an assault of the Second and Sixth Corps, which was repulsed. In the evening the enemy attacked and were in turn severely repulsed. This is often the fate of the attacking party on either side. It suffers the most. The Union losses on the battlefield of Spottsylvania were 15,722 killed and wounded and 2001 missing and prisoners, a total Union loss of full 33,000 since crossing the Rapidan only eight days before. CASUALTIES OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN AT LAUREL HILL. KILLED OR On May 8, 1864. William Irving (in Battery), I. Isaac L. Vandecar (in Battery), K. John H. Fryer, K. On May lO, 1864. Corp. John T. Paris, leg ampt'd, G. Reuben Cory, D. Horace Rofe, D. Andrew J. Marden, G. Charles A. Wilson, G. John Matrie, I. On May 12, 1864. Sergt. John M. Reed, leg ampt'd, B. " William Floyd, E. On May 8, 1864. Sergt. George R. Welsh, leg, C. Corp. Wm. D. Lyon, thigh, K. Peter Batway (Battery), G. John Orth (Battery), D. Peter Vermiller(R.), A. Orson Westfall, shoulder, C. John Danbert, D. John R. Brown, hand, K. Elijah Little, hand, K. On May 9, 1864. Frank Brennon, arm, A. MORTALLY WOUNDED. On May 12, 1864. Corp. George P. Hubbell, C. " Michael O'Brien, D. " Albert A. Wallace, D. " James T. Rupert, K. Philip Blissing, with enemy, A. William Lawrence (R), B, Lorenz Raiser, D. Patrick J. Kinney, E. Frederick Chavey, F. George A. Neef, F. Henry Coonrad, I. August Lahser, I. WOUNDED. Err Cady, foot, B. William W. Coon, face, I. On May 10, 1864. Sergt. Jacob M. Van Riper, K. Corp. Alexander Purdy, D. John Passage, jr., hand, C. Ralph G. Terry, arm, C. William T. Nowland, arm, D. Henry Bedford (R.), G. William Weiner, hand, G. Artemas Hosmer, head, K. grant's campaigx — 1864. 247 On May 11, 1864. Amos Abbott, arm, D John Frank, hand, E. Ludovico Bowles, D. Hugh Murphy, leg, E. Merritt B. Heath, D. A. Brutus Heig(R.), D. On May 12. 1864. William Jackson, D. Capt. George W. Burchell, B. Christopher Mayhew (R.), D. Sergt. Robert Gibbons, arm, B. John Stangc, D. " Shep. L. Howard, hand, D. Cornelius Crimmins, E. Corp. Roswell L. Root, C. William R. Shier, F. " Walter Morley, D. Joseph Jamieson (R.), F. Charles Fellrath, leg, A. Daniel Donahue (R.), !• The following casualties occurred near Spottsylvania Court House: May 13. James F. Clegg, wounded in shoulder, H. May 14. First Lieutenant Michael Dempsey, wounded, A. May 17. Sergt. Arthur G. Lynch, leg amputated and died, B. There were no casualties at the Salient, in the regiment. The enemy fired over the heads of our men, or in another direction. Sum/nary: — Died on the battle-field, 24; wounded, 41 ; total, 65. INCIDENTS — RECRUITS — MARCH TO NORTH ANNA. This is but a tale of blood. Within two weeks after the regiment started on this campaign, its fighting force had been reduced from 320 to 149, from battle casualties. The beautiful flag which the people of Detroit presented to it three weeks before, was now tattered and riddled with bullets. One of the new color guard had been killed and three wounded. Just before the regiment started from near Culpepper upon this campaign, the men discussed their chances in the battles which they knew were before them. Two comrades, Arthur G. Lynch and John M. Reed, of B, declared they would rather be killed than to lose a leg and have to hobble around for life. Laughingly, each agreed to kill the other, should he lose a leg. Both of them, within two weeks, had been in battle, both were wounded, both lost a leg, and both were dead ! On May 19, the regimental band returned and was disbanded the next day, the members returning to their companies. May 20 was occupied by the regiment in building a strong abatis in their front. Though there was some cannonading at intervals, as well as one or two unsuccessful attacks of the enemy. The week following the fighting about Spottsylvania was comparatively quiet, affording opportunity for burying the dead and removing the wounded to hospitals. The houses and streets of Fredericksburg were but a vast 248 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. hospital for Union wounded, and all the way from the murmuring rills in the Wilderness could be seen, here and there, freshly heaped piles of earth where soldiers were resting from all strife. At the same time, the losses in Grant's army were made good by 25,000 veteran recruits and 30,000 "hundred day" men. The fortifications around Washington were stripped of troops who had for two years done nothing but garrison duty. These were sent to the front and Invalid Corps men put in their places. Thus strengthened, Grant resumed his "left flank movement." Lee, divining the next move, took up his line of march for the North Anna, twenty-three miles distant, and went into some intrenchments previously constructed on the south side of the river. The rival armies moved southward by parallel roads without annoying each other. The country was fertile and beautiful, abounding in rich plantations free heretofore from the ravages of war. The houses were grandly surrounded with ancestral elms dating far back into colonial days. Saturday, May 21. At i o'clock p. M. the regiment with the Iron Brigade moved out of its works in froift of Spottsylvania Court House, crossed the Ny and took a south-easterly course down the north side of that stream some distance and then across to Guinea's Station on the Fredericksburg & Richmond Railroad; thence south on the track one mile; then west about a mile where they bivouacked. Sunday, May 22. Moving with the Iron Brigade at 4 A. M. while the rest of the Corps was sleeping, the Twenty-fourth crossed the river at Guinea's Bridge below the junction of the Po and Ny, and marched three miles due west to Madison's Store on the road from Spottsylvania, arriving there about four hours after the enemy had passed, and threw up earthworks across the road at i P. M. During their construction, Grant, Meade and several other Generals came up. Here the Iron Brigade remained as guard until the Fifth Corps, led by the Sixteenth Michigan, passed with its trains. The Brigade then followed in the rear, moving west by Madison's Ordinary to the Telegraph Road; thence across the Ta at Thornburg and on south to Nancy Wright's; thence east towards Milford Bridge on the Mattapony, some distance and halted at sunset for the night, at Bethel Church, near the Mattapony River. Early the next morning, the Twenty-fourth under Lieutenant-Colonel W. W. Wight started westerly and soon struck the Telegraph Road and followed it below Bethany Church, then turned back as it was on the wrong road, and took a road southeast from the church, leading to Jericho Mills on ^ . J5t»»-*-K.«e max/ Qj/j lilaif. KOUTE OF IRON BRIGADE FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO NORTH ANNA. 250 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. the North Anna, the Iron Brigade arriving there only one hour behind the enemy. On the way an old darkie told them : " De udder fellows right ahead of you — you'll catch up wid 'em." BATTLE OF NORTH ANNA. The banks of the North Anna are very precipitous here and the bed rocky, very high bluffs skirting the south shore. Bartlett's Brigade at the head of Warren's Corps boldly waded the stream, armpit deep, and covered the construction of the pontoon bridge. About 4 P. M., of May 23, the divisions of Cutler and Crawford and the balance of Griffin's crossed the river to the south side. After the Iron Brigade crossed the stream, they wound up the steep bank and formed on a plateau of cleared fields about a mile square. There were woods on the west and south and the river wound about the north and east of the field. Halting a short distance from the river the men stacked arms and commenced preparations for supper. Down in the southwest corner of the woods, some troops were observed moving about and were at first supposed to be our own men, but the error was soon discovered by the commanding officer, and the Division ordered to fall in at once. • They moved before the men had time to drink their coffee or eat their hardtack. Some of the men carried their coffee pails on sticks, others carried frying pans containing their partly cooked pork, just as they had snatched them from the fire. The line of march was towards the southwest corner of the woods. Crawford had formed his Division with its left resting on the river — and Griffin next. These two Divisions had advanced a short distance in the woods and halted, when Cutler was ordered to form his Division on the right of Griffin, continuing the line in a westerly direction. The Iron Brigade led the advance of the Division and when the left had passed Griffin's right, line of battle was formed and the Iron Brigade pushed into the woods about two rods when they were halted to allow the balance of the Division to form on the right. In the formation of the Brigade, the Sixth and Seventh Wisconsin were on the left, the Twenty-fourth Michigan in the centre and the rest on the right. Before the balance of the Division could be put in position the enemy attacked both the front and flank of the Iron Brigade. This sudden onset of the enemy on the flank of the Brigade broke the right and compelled it to fall back in some disorder, hotly pursued by the enemy. At the time of the attack Bragg's Brigade was passing grant's campaign — 1864. 251 in the rear of the Iron Brigade to take position further to the right, but on the recoil of the Brigade, Bragg's and the balance of the Division went to the rear. Suddenly from the left came a rifled battery of four guns, followed by another battery a short distance in the rear. The first one swung into position and opened fire on the enemy that had flanked the Brigade and were now in the open field not six hundred feet away. The second battery opened on the enem.y in the woods farther to the left. At this juncture, Captain Wood, the Assistant Adjutant-General of the Iron Brigade, together with Captain W. R. Dodsley, Lieutenants E. B. Welton and George A. Ross, Sergeants C. H. Chope and Robert E. Bolger of the Twenty-fourth Michigan rallied about fifty men of the Iron Brigade, mostly of the Twenty-fourth Michigan, and forming on the right of the battery, assisted in 'driving back the enemy from the field in as much disorder as they had driven Cutler's Division a few moments before. The other two Divisions had been attacked at the same time as Cutler's, but held their ground, and after a sharp contest, the enemy were repulsed all along the line. About 1,000 of the enemy were made prisoners. Lieutenant-Colonel W. W. Wight was in command of the Twenty-fourth Michigan dur- ing this fight, and conducted himself with his usual gallantry. The prisoners captured on the right declared that the rapid retreat of the Iron Brigade was a "Yankee" trick to draw them under the fire of our batteries. During this campaign it seemed to be the misfortune or hard luck of the Iron Brigade never to have its flanks properly protected. In this case, the right flank was " in air." There were not even skirmishers on the flank to give warning of the near approach of the enemy. General Meade issued an order complimenting the troops engaged in the repulse of the enemy. After the failure of the enemy to drive our men into the river as they expected, the Union lines were reformed in about the same position as before the attack and strongly intrenched before night. On Tuesday morning. May 24, the Iron Brigade moved out towards the Virginia Central Railroad near Noel's Station and built new works. During the afternoon numerous prisoners from the enemy came into camp. On Wednesday morning, the 25th, the Iron Brigade left its new works at 4 o'clock and moved back to its Division which moved down the south bank of the North Anna, halted and formed in line on the center. After driving the enemy's skirmishers back half a 252 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. mile to their works, the Division built a good line of works in the woods and rested for the night. On Thursday morning, May 26, breakfast and spades came before daylight. A heavy rainstorm came up which lasted all day, driving the men from their works, in which the water was knee deep. Excessive firing was kept up all the time by the enemy. During the day a woman was captured dressed as a Confederate soldier. The Army of the Potomac was now in great peril. Its wings were separated by the enemy on one side of a stream difficult to cross, and liable to a sudden increase by rains. The enemy's flank^ were thrown back to allow such a Union position, while his centei!? powerfully menaced Grant's center on the opposite side of the stream. It was a grand opportunity for Lee, being on the inner lines, first to strike one of the Union flanks and then assail the other. But Grant at once resolved to get his army out of this perilous position, and at dark re-crossed his forces to the north side of the North Anna, earth having been spread over the pontoons to prevent discovery by the enemy. There had been fighting by the other Corps but the scope of our work forbids a recital of every field movement. The following were the losses of the Twenty-fourth Michigan at the battle of North Anna (or Jericho Ford) from May 23 to 26, 1864: KILLED. Elisha Wheeler, of B, on May 23. On May 23, Richard Ladore, B. Calvin Maxfield, C. Wm. A. Ringgold (R) E. John J. Larkins, H. MORTALLY WOUNDED : Corporal Evan B. McClure, of K, May 23. WOUNDED. Mathew Myers, H. On May 25. Corporal John Moody, arm amputated, D. Aldrich Townsend, D. Charles E. Jenner, F. On May 23. Corporal Frederick Woods, E. Robert Gaunt, E. CAPTURED. Sergeant Richard A. Riley, H. Corporal Marshall Bills, H. Sununary : — Killed and died of wounds, 2; wounded, 8; prisoners, 4. Total, 14. FIGHTING AT TOLOPOTOMOY (FIELD OF COLD HARBOR). Grant's withdrawal across the North Anna, secretly begun on the night of May 26, was successfully accomplished and his army was headed eastward and southward to cross the Pamunky which is formed by the confluence of the North and South Anna. His new grant's campaign — 1864. 253 turning movement was met by a corresponding retrograde movement by Lee, who, not having half the distance to march, had his army well intrenched on the south side of that stream before Grant's arrival. After re-crossing the North Anna, Thursday night, the Twenty- fourth with the Iron Brigade found itself at daylight near Bethany Church after an all night's march. On Friday the 27th, rations were issued before daylight and the column started south-eastward for Hanover Town, distant 33 miles. Showers had laid the dust and the marching was good. After a march of twenty miles, a halt was made for the night at Magnolia Church. On Saturday the 28th, the Iron Brigade moved at 5 A. M. and crossed the Pamunky on pontoons at Dabney's Ferry, before midday, and moving forward to Hanover Town about a mile, threw up breastworks which they occupied during the passage of the river by the army. The Twenty-fourth then moved in rear of the Sixteenth Michigan to let Battery B have its position. The Confederates had posted themselves south of the Tolopotomoy, a creek running nearly east and emptying into the Pamunky on its south side, two miles below Hanover Town. Each corps was ordered on Sunday morning. May 29, to make a reconnoissance in the front, Warren's Corps by the Shady Grove road. Grififin's Division led and soon found the enemy. Cutler's Division followed and then Crawford's. The enemy's infantry and skirmishers fell back, Griffin's following them until they entered a thickly wooded, swampy ground formed by several affluents of the Tolopotomoy which here crossed the road. Opposite this swampy ravine was Huntley's Corners, occupied by the enemy who made an attack upon Griffin's Division, which was repulsed. To support Griffin, the Iron Brigade was marched, by Hawes' store, about three miles, part of the way on the "double-quick." It was stationed on the right of that Division and threw up slight earthworks. Here it bivouacked all night in line of battle near the grave of Patrick Henry. BATTLES OF BETHESDA CHURCH AND COLD HARBOR. During the afternoon of Monday, May 30, General Early (Confederate) moved his forces out on Old Church Pike to Bethesda Church across Warren's left. Crawford's Division was sent to look after them and Cutler's Division (in which was the Iron Brigade) moved up to the support of Griffin. The Iron Brigade moved two miles to the front and constructed earthworks under a heavy shell fire 254 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. from the enemy's batteries. Rhode's Division of Early's Corps moved up to attack them, but Battery B (Captain Stewart) moved out and kept them at bay till Crawford was fully in line on the left of Cutler. Just before dark, Ewell's forces made a resolute attack upon the entire Fifth Corps but was repulsed with a loss of many prisoners, and several high officers killed. At night the enemy retired leaving his dead and wounded on the field. After the fight the Iron Brigade built a strong line of works in less than half an hour. ROUTE OF IRON BRIGADE TO BETHESDA CHURCH AND COLD HARBOR. grant's campaign — 1864. 255 Tuesday, May 31, was spent in burying the dead and bringing in the enemy's wounded. Just before sundown, the Twenty-fourth Michigan, under Major A. M. Edwards, was detailed for picket in front of the Division, the line being formed after considerable difficulty, by reason of the density of the forest and thick underbrush. During the night sharp firing was indulged in at times by the pickets on both sides. By another flank movement Grant planned to force a passage of the Chickahominy near Cold Harbor, and this night moved the Sixth Corps (Wright's) around to the left. Some parts of the Tenth and Eighteenth Corps had come up from the James River to help our army. They were commanded by General Smith. On Wednesday morning, June i, Lee having learned of this movement withdrew Longstreet on his left who secured a good position behind Cold Harbor. His withdrawal was discovered by Meade who sent Cutler's Division and another forward to attack him about 10 o'clock A. M. They moved forward and drove the enemy beyond the Mechanicsville Road. The supporting Division being delayed by the wooded swamps of the Tolopotomoy and Matadequin streams, Cutler's Division halted and fortified. The enemy shelled very hard and attempted to drive our forces away but failed. The Twenty-fourth Michigan was deployed on the skirmish line in front of Cutler. It advanced and drove the enemy's skirmishers back out of the woods and into their rifle pits but a short distance in front of their earthworks, and established a skirmish line in a piece of woods not forty rods from their works. The enemy's earthworks were already built for them, and all they had to do was to march in and occupy them. The regiment witnessed from this point the movement of large numbers of Lee's troops from his left to his right, to oppose the advance of our troops on our left. The enemy tried to drive back the Twenty-fourth a number of times during the day, but failed. Then they tried what good their artillery would do, but that failed. Each man of the regiment Avas protected by a stout tree from which he kept up an incessant fire on the enemy. They forced back our skirmishers on the right and left but did not move the Twenty-fourth. Late in the afternoon when Major Edwards was told that the men were out of cartridges, he called out, "Then we will hold these woods at the point of the bayonet." About 10 o'clock at night the Twenty-fourth was ordered in and found a new skirmish line had been formed a long distance in our rear. It found the Division about a mile in the rear of the advanced (17) 256 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. position they had occupied during the day. It joined its Brigade and a short time afterwards the Division moved forward more to the left of the point which the Twenty-fourth had held. It formed a line of battle and advanced to within a few rods of the edge of the woods and about three hundred yards from the enemy's line of earthworks, on the other side of the field where the line was established and a good line of works built by daylight of the 2d of June. On the left, during the afternoon of the ist, there was hard fighting which resulted in our forces securing a firm grasp upon Cold Harbor. The next morning, June 2, the Iron Brigade and its Division strongly intrenched its new line, south of the Mechanicsville road in the vicinity of Bethesda Church. In the afternoon, Burnside began to move to the left and the enemy fiercely attacked him, taking some prisoners. Then they struck Warren's flank and turned back Grif^n's Division somewhat, capturing four hundred men. During the night the national forces were arranged in the following order from Bethesda Church past Cold Harbor to Elder Swamp Creek running into the Chickahominy. On the right, Warren ; then the corps of Smith, Wright and Hancock. The rear of the left up to the Tolopotomoy was protected by Burnside. Lee's position in front of Hancock was naturally strong and well intrenched throughout, with open ground along his front. The attack was ordered by Grant to follow the signal gun at 4.30 on the morning of Friday, June 3. A few minutes later the advance of the Federals to the attack was begun and immediately followed the bloodiest engagement of the war for a short time. In less than twenty minutes to,ooo Union men lay dead and wounded on the field, while the Confederates, sheltered by their works, had lost not more than 1,000. It was emphatically "short, sharp and decisive." Warren's Corps was too extended over a three mile front to do more than hold his line intact. Some successes attended parts of our line, but they were altogether overbalanced by the general repulse. There was a deep consciousness in every soldier that further attacks would be useless. General Grant confessed in his memoirs, that this was a charge he wished he had not ordered. He certainly fought at a disadvantage and it confirmed the wisdom of his flank movement plan. It is to be regretted that he did not resort to another such movement before this fatal charge. Some hours later, Meade ordered each Corps to move at its option to another attack without regard to the other Corps, but the order was suspended upon a dispatch from Grant that the Corps commanders were not sanguine of success. This was about A grant's campaign — 1864. 257 I o'clock p. Ri. and soon after, the enemy attacked the Union forces, and again at dark, but were repulsed each time. The battle was now ended each side holding its position firmly and neither being able to drive the other out. The following were the losses of the Twenty-fourth Michigan in these battles: KILLED: WOUNDED JUNE I: May 30. William Funke, (Battery) D. Patrick Fury, E. Junes. William Dusick, A. Lewis Hartman ( R. ), E. William Scerle, G. Nicholas Harming (R), E. June 4. Jacob Eisele, H. Peter Ford, leg, F. MORTALLY WOUNDED, JUNE 3: Mark Hearn, body, I. Stephen Jackson ( R. ), A. Jonathan Jamieson, K. Frank Tscham ( R. ), B. ^ ,., .. ,. , WOUNDED ll'NE 3: George W. Velie, ( R. ), C. "^ Ignace Haltar, A. WOUNDED, JUNE I: Corp. James R. Lewis, G. Frank Picaud, hand, A. Charles F. Allyn, twice, G. Sergt. Andrew Strong, arm, D. Amos Arnold ( R. ), }I. Sergeant Samuel F. Smith, wounded June 2, in both legs, K. Summaty :— Killed and died of wounds, 7; wounded, 13. Total, 20. BURYING THE DEAD — SHARPSHOOTERS — FORWARD AGAIN. The week after the last battle was occupied by the two armies watching each other in very close proximity. It was dangerous and difficult to establish the picket lines. The enemy made occasional attacks but were repulsed each time. The Union dead and wounded lay between the lines and on the 5th of June, General Grant proposed an armistice for burying the dead and removing the wounded between the two armies, but General Lee refused such an arrangement until the 7th, by which time most of the wounded were dead. The enemy's sharpshooters were possessed of superior arms with which they covered every portion of our lines. Not a man could expose his person above the earthworks without a dozen bullets "zipping" at him from the watchful foe. To obtain an estimate of clothing, it was necessary to go to the front amid incessant skirmish firing. Lying in trenches, behind stumps and trees, the men crouched, w^hile the messenger must dodge from tree to tree and stump, crawl on hands and knees or roll even amid leaden death. As Sergeant Eaton was getting some requisitions signed by Major Edwards, a solid shot buried itself in the tree at the foot of which they were sitting. On June 3, two men in the Twenty-fourth were killed by the enemy's sharpshooters. One William Dusick, had gone out a few feet in front 258 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. of the breastworks and just as he turned to come in, he was shot in the back and fell dead. There his body lay till nightfall, it being certain death to go for it before dark. The place was a veritable " Hell's Half Acre" as the boys called it. At 9 o'clock on Sunday night, June 5, the Iron Brigade with its Corps began to withdraw to the left, and after an all night's march arrived at Cold Harbor at 4 o'clock in the morning. Here the baggage wagons came up for the first time in a month and some of the officers obtained a much needed change of clothing. On the movement of the Corps to the left, Major Edwards of the Twenty-fourth was left in command of the Division skirmishers. He was told that he would be ordered in before daylight, but the order to withdraw his men was not received by him until long after daylight. However, he withdrew his men without the loss of a man, though, as soon as they rose from the rifle pits they were exposed to the fire of the enemy's sharpshooters. A part of the enemy's skirmishers were in the earthworks before the detail of the Iron Brigade was three hundred feet away. On Tuesday, the 7th, the Corps moved towards the left at 4 P. M. and continued the march to within a mile of Despatch Station on the York Railroad near the Chickahominy River. The next day a heavy picket detail was sent out from the Twenty-fourth for duty on the river. The enemy's pickets were very friendly. There was no firing on either side and many came over to trade tobacco for coffee. On June 5, Adjutant Chilson was permanently detailed as Aide on General Cutler's staff at Division headquarters and Lieutenant E. B. Welton became acting Adjutant. On the 7th, Colonel Bragg of the Sixth Wisconsin took command of the Iron Brigade. Lieutenant-Colonel W. W. Wight having resigned, Major A. M. Edwards assumed command of the Twenty-fourth. Lieutenant- Colonel Wight had served long since he was scarcely able to endure the hardships of the field and he had to yield to poor health. He had with gallant coolness discharged every duty that devolved upon him. Only 125 men and five officers of the regiment were at this time present for duty, about forty being on detached service. The rest were absent from wounds and sickness or lay among the dead. On June 10, Major Edwards divided the regiment into four companies for field duty, commanded as follows: (i) Lieutenant Dempsey. (2) Captain Hutchinson. (3) Captain Dodsley. (4) Captain Burchell. grant's campaign — 1864. 259 QUININE AND WHISKEY RATIONS — MARCH TO PETERSBURG. During the past week the daily skirmishes were often sharp in front of some divisions. At night there was heavy artillery firing and often musketry. The labor of strengthening the intrenchments had been arduous. There was no water for the men in the trenches except of the worst kind. What with exposure to the heat of day and little sleep ; the rudest facilities for cooking ; no vegetables for over a month, and beef from cattle exhausted by long marches and scanty forage; the effluvia from dead horses and mules, and ofTal scattered along the line of march as well as the unburied dead of both armies, while remaining near the field of carnage; and the general malaria ROUTE OF IRON BRIGADE FROM DKSPATCH STATION TO PETERSUrRO. 26o HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. incident to the low and marshy Chickahominy region, the wonder is that the whole army was not prostrated by causes more potent than fighting the foe. To counteract these unhealthful conditions rations of quinine and whiskey were issued to the men. Having failed in the destruction of Lee's army by capture or dispersion, Grant resolved to transfer his army to the south of James River and interpose it between Richmond and the region from which that city and the Confederate army received its supplies. This movement began on Sunday, June 12. After a week of rest from fighting, the Iron Brigade with its Corps left camp at 9 o'clock that evening. It crossed the railroad near Despatch Station, marched several miles and bivouacked. At daylight of the 13th, the Iron Brigade leading the Fifth Corps, moved on. Crossing the Chickahominy at Long Bridge, it took the White Oak Swamp road towards Richmond as if pushing for that place. Lee withdrew his forces within the fortifications of the Confederate capital. After a march of two miles, the Brigade halted till 4 o'clock P. M. It then returned to Long Bridge where it waited till an hour and a half after all the other troops had passed, and at 8 o'clock followed as rear guard. At midnight it went into camp near St. Mary's Church. On Tuesday morning, June 14, cofTee was made about daylight and the column soon after started. Marching by a very crooked road via Salem Church and Westover Church, it reached Charles City Court House at ii A. M., and passed on to near Wilcox's Landing on the James River, after a weary march of forty miles. The Twenty-fourth Michigan went into camp in a large field of oats on the plantation of ex-President John Tyler. After resting a day, the men .were aroused early and were ready to move at sunrise on the i6th. They were marched down to the banks of the James River near Wilcox's Landing, and at 10 o'clock crossed the river on transports. They lay in the sun near the river till 5 P. M., when the line of march was resumed through Prince George Court House, halting at midnight before Petersburg. The rest of the army was also well on the south side of the James and taking positions around the latter city. BATTLE OF PETERSBURG. Petersburg is situated 22 miles south of Richmond and several railroads centering there from the South became feeders for the Confederate army and capital. It was coveted by both armies and when the Union army began to cross the James, Lee hastened his forces to occupy it. grant's campaign — 1864. 261 Friday morning, June 17, the Iron Brigade threw up breastworks in front of the enemy, but the Twenty-fourth Michigan was sent out on picket early in the morning on the left of the Division. They had been out but a short time when they were withdrawn and deployed as skirmishers in front of the Iron Brigade farther to the Z— Llvvvj. o^ Cow^«tt.c\.-a.tfe .rocK. POSITION OP IRON BRIGADE IN BATTLE OP PETERSB/'Ra, JUNE 18, 1864. right. The left of the skirmish line rested on the Suffolk and Petersburg Railroad, three miles from Petersburg. The regiment, under Captain Burchell, after being deployed in a ravine that ran in front of the Brigade, received orders from a Brigade staff officer, to advance and relieve the skirmishers of a Pennsylvania regiment that were said to be out in front. When the order to advance was eiven, the men of the Twenty-fourth sprang forward with a will to relieve 262 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN, our troops in front. None were found, but that did not stop the rush of the hne as they went on until they drove the enemy out of his rifle pits not a hundred yards from his earthworks, and occupied and held them all the day until relieved about 9 o'clock at night. During the day the Second and Ninth Corps and Crawford's Division of the Fifth Corps (Warren's), charged the enemy's works which were penetrated some distance but not held, the only result being to establish a line nearer his works. After the assault, the enemy abandoned his outer temporary line for a more formable one nearer Petersburg. Believing that most of Lee's army had not yet come up from Richmond, Grant ordered a general assault on the enemy's works about Petersburg for the next morning. At sunrise on Saturday morning, June 18, the Iron Brigade was formed in line of battle on the extreme left of the Army of the Potomac. The Seventh Wisconsin was on the right, the Sixth Wisconsin on the left, and the Twenty-fourth Michigan, Seventh and Nineteenth Indiana in the center. They advanced across the Norfolk Railroad through three lines of Confederate works and forced the enemy's skirmishers to their earthworks, a mile from Petersburg, when the skirmishers were called in as the other Corps were not all moving forward simultaneously. The Iron Brigade with the Fifth Corps made a halt until the general assault of mid-afternoon, when all the Corps advanced. The Fifth Corps had over a mile to advance, and a deep ravine and intricate cut of the Norfolk Railroad interposed between it and the enemy's lines. This cut was deep and difficult to cross and Avas held by the enemy at its northern end. Its direction curved so as to hinder the advance of a line of battle. To the Fifth Corps was assigned the duty of clearing out the enemy from this cut, as a preliminary to the general attack. Its ground being thus difficult and chiefly in open field, was exposed to the enemy's artillery for a long distance. (See map on preceding page.) Cutler's Division was formed for the charge in column by Brigades — the Iron Brigade in the second line. The formation of the column was made under cover of the woods and behind a slight hill midway between the woods and the enemy's works 500 yards away, over the fields without any protection from the enemy's fire, after exposing themselves on the hill. The order to advance was given and the men moved forward to the work assigned them, with a dash that would have been a victory, had not the order been given when the Brigade was under as deadly and withering a fire of artillery grant's campaign — 1864. 263 and musketry as it ever encountered, to move by the right flank so as to bring them directly in rear of the first line, as General Cutler thought it would make the charging column stronger. When the order to advance again was given, but a part of the Brigade obeyed the command — the balance falling back under cover of the hill. What few did obey advanced to a position within pistol shot of the enemy. Some of the men of the Twenty-fourth fell close up under the Confederate works. The men of the Division, finding themselves unable to carry the enemy's position, sought shelter in a ravine but a short distance from the works they had tried to carry, where most of them remained until after dark when they were all withdrawn and reformed under cover of the hill they had charged over during the afternoon. Shortly afterwards, the Iron Brigade was sent down into the ravine to try to carry the enemy's works from that point, but General Bragg deciding that it was impossible to do so, withdrew the Brigade to its position on the hill where the Division soon had a good line of works completed not three hundred yards from the enemy. The attack of each Corps was a terrible Union disaster, and there was a general repulse along the whole line with a loss of several thousand men. The only success or advantage was to gain positions very near the lines of the enemy which were intrenched, and the lines of the two armies remained about the same till the close of the war. During the next few days, there were some spirited skirmishes and sharp picket firing, by moonlight as well as by day, but no general attack. On the 19th, Major Hutchinson was wounded within fifteen minutes after his return from hospital, while drinking a cup of coffee with Lieutenant-Colonel Edwards. The following were the losses of the Twenty-fourth Michigan in the battle of Petersburg and the few days following: KILLED JUNE l8, 1864: WOUNDED, JUNE 17. Adjutant Seril Chilson, Aide. Corp. Anthony Bondie, thigh, F. Sergeant William Maiers, G. Jeremiah Sullivan, G. Corporal Orville C. Simonson, G. Charles Bills, scalp, H. Richard Downing, D. Edward L. Farrell, leg, H. John B. Beyette (R), F. John B. Cicotte, (R), F. Timothy O. Webster, F wounded, JUNE 18. Capt. George W. Burchell, B. 1st Lieut. Michael Dempsey, A. mortally wounded, JUNE 18: Sergt. Frederick A. Hanstine, A. Ezra E. Derby, C. " John J. Duryea, B. Elisha C. Reed, F. " Thomas Stackpole, E. Nathaniel J. Moon, H. " Ferd. E. Welton, H. Theodore B. Thomas, I. Corp. Barnard Parish, A. 264 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Corp. Amos B. Cooley, groin, F. " Orville W. Stringer, I. Joseph Aff halter (R.), A. Henry Hanstine, thigh, A. WOUNDED, JUNE 18. John Parish, (R.), A. Stephen Prairie, A. Ferdinand Stark (R.), A. Joseph E. McConnell (R.) leg amp., B. Robert Towers, arm, C. William Kells, C. Ralph G. Terry, C. William Bigsley (R.), D. Andrew J. Bucklin (R.), F. Charles B Cicotte (R.), F. Oliver Dubey (R.), F. Bozile Vallade (R.), F. William Vandervoorts, I. Gurdon L. Wight, leg amputated, K. WOUNDED, JUNE I9. Major William B. Hutchinson. WOUNDED, JUNE 20. Herman Krumbach (R.), F. WOUNDED, JUNE 21. 1st Lieut. George H. Pinkney, K. Sergt. Charles H. Chope, neck, G. Charles D. Minckler, leg, B. Thomas Robinson (R.), F. Michael Brabeau, head, G. WOUNDED, JUNE 23. Anselm Ball (R), I. WOUNDED, JUNE 29. James Murphy, A. Summary: — Killed and died of wounds, 11; wounded, 38. Total, 49. DEATH OF ADJUTANT CHILSON. — PERSONAL REMINISCENCE. In the Petersburg battle, the Twenty-fourth Michigan lost one of its bravest and most promising young ofifiicers — Adjutant Seril Chilson who was killed while serving on General Cutler's staff. The fatal ball severed the jugular vein and came out near the eye. He fell forward on his horse which bore him back to his lines and which became drenched with his blood. Chaplain Way thus wrote of the sad event at the time: All mourn his loss, but our mourning is not without hope. During the latter part of the winter he felt the justice of God's claim upon his affections and for .some time before breaking camp he fully consecrated his heart to God. In conver- sation three days before his death he gave the happy assurance that all was well, and said that if he fell in battle it would only be to exchange this for a better state of ex- istence. He freely gave himself to his country and God took him home. Recording this incident recalls sad reminiscences. This noble young officer and the writer of these pages had been friends in youth, as students and teachers. Each had enlisted in the same company, unbeknown to the other until they met at Camp Barns. Neither joined in the scramble for positions and received none. On mustering day, our young comrade was too weak to stand to be sworn in without leaning upon the support of his friend. Captain Speed of their company, whom neither knew before coming into camp, after the muster, assured both of his regret that no non-commissioned positions were left unfilled, but their promotion should follow their soldierly grant's campaign — 1864. 265 merits when vacancies occurred. Such words inspired both with a friendly rivalry for advancement. The day of battle came and found one sick with pneumonia at Brooks' Station, Virginia, sixteen miles from the field of Fredericksburg. Knowing that absence from the ranks in the engagement might be misconstrued and result in being outranked by others in the promotion list, he hastened from a sick bed to find his own regiment, and failing to do this became mingled with another in the battle and came out both maimed for life and all chances for promotion forever gone. His comrade on that battleday won promotion on the field by volunteering to help man a battery and establish a dangerous picket line. In due time his reward came as Adjutant of the Twenty-fourth Michigan. While under twenty years of age, and having won an honorable record, he was cut down in the harvest of death, on the threshold of early manhood — a martyr to his country. Farewell, friend of our youth ! May his comrades revere his memory as they pass his grave on the banks of the Huron. OUR WOUNDED BURNING UP IN THE WILDERNESS. CHAPTER XIII. Siege of Petersburg -1864 PROGRESS OF THE CAMPAIGN — BROOKS EXPEDITION. ^T* ESS THAN two months had passed when this campaign I g against Richmond had cost the Union army over 65,000 men j/t/g in killed, wounded and missing, or more than the entire number in Lee's army during this period. This disparity resulted largely, as noted in the last chapter, from the Confederates fighting behind intrenchments, while the Union troops were the assaulting party against whom the hazards of battle are usually greatest. Witness Lee at Malvern Hill, Gettysburg and the Bloody Angle at Spottsylvania ; Burnside at Fredericksburg, and Grant at Laurel Hill and Cold Harbor, not to mention examples in the wars of history. The nation and world stood aghast at this deluge of blood. Gold, to some extent the barometer of national success or failure, reached its highest quotation, while criticism of the General of the age was shared not alone by those whose wishes were manifested by their oft lamenting expression, '^ If Lee only had the meny But these sacrifices were required to save this nation. While ability managed the southern army, the statesmen of the South (if it had any) should have insisted, in the interests of humanity to their own people, that the war terminate after Gettysburg, Vicksburg and Port Hudson. But no, the "last ditch" must be reached, and their last man (their own persons excepted) must be sacrificed. Already "the cradle and the grave had been robbed" for recruits. Those loudest in the continuation of the war were not in it. Scarcely a man of the traitors who brought on this war and plunged the whole land into a sea of blood ever perished on the field. It is usually so. The military resources of the South had to be exhausted, its armies subdued, annihilated or captured. Every man rendered useless to fight, brought the rebellion so much nearer its close. Grant knew this. He knew his available resources and his reserves. He knew (266) SIEGE OF PETERSBURG— 1864. 267 that even at that late day, foreign recognition of the Confederacy was possible and probable, unless the suppression of the rebellion be accomplished without delay. This required a large outlay of blood for the restoration of national authority, and he possessed the cool, indomitable fortitude to pursue a course and tJie course to that end, leaving political matters to others. The terrible battles of the Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Salient at Spottsylvania, North Anna, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor and Petersburg, each embracing several days of carnage — all fought inside of six weeks — caused no greater bloodshed than an equal number of battles of the war fought by other generals and covering a period of many months. Something had been accomplished. The insurgent army had been greatly reduced and hemmed in about Richmond and Petersburg never to come out again except for a chase and capture. What is known as the Siege of Petersburg now began, having for one object an investment of the Eastern insurgent army in a firmer grasp, by a system of forts and intrenchments from which there was no escape, while General Sherman was exhausting the Western Confederates, without either Southern army receiving reinforcements from the other. And thus the close of this wicked, cruel and cause- less rebellion was apparent. After the Petersburg battle a company of thirty-two men from the regiments of the Iron Brigade, under Adjutant E. P. Brooks of the Sixth Wisconsin, was sent out to destroy some bridges at Roanoke on the Danville Railroad. The men were picked, well armed and mounted. On the morning of June 22, they found a Confederate ofificer at a house, "sick." They paroled him and rode on. At mid-afternoon the company halted at a farm house, dismounted and stacked arms for supper, without throwing out any guard. Soon after they were surprised by a demand from the paroled of^cer of the morning to surrender. He had gathered a lot of farmers who with shotguns went in pursuit. Deploying his squad over a hill so that only the heads of their horses and men could be seen, they appeared more numerous than they were. He demanded of the Brooks Company a surrender to his "superior force," which was complied with. All their horses, accoutrements and arms were taken from them and the whole command made prisoners of war. Five of this company belonged to the Twenty-fourth Michigan: Anthony Long, of A; Samuel W. Foster, of C; Shelden E. Crittenden, of F; George Martin, of G, and Corporal Frederick Bosardis, of L 268 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. THE SIEGE. — PETERSBURG MINE. — PROMOTIONS. During the coming months of the siege, the intermitting blasts of battle and the ebb and flow tide of war h_eaved around Petersburg like ocean swells. Occasionally there was an hour of stillness, but usually the air was broken, night and day, by the sharp concussions of nearer guns and the boom, boom of more distant ones. During the next few weeks the Iron Brigade alternated with its fraternal Second Brigade in the rifle pits, about twice a week. When out of the trenches, the Twenty-fourth Michigan withdrew to the woods for a day or two of rest, glad of an opportunity to stand up SIEGE OF PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA. SIEGE OF PETERSBURG — 1 864. 269 without getting a bullet through their heads. Monday, July 4, was remarkably quiet. Every few days a heavy detail was made when not in the rifle pits to work on the new forts and fortifications. On July 13, several of the fatigue party, while picking berries, were captured by the enemy, including Charles Martin, of G, of the Twenty-fourth. On Sunday, the i/th, several deserters came in and reported an intended attack that night on our lines. The Iron Brigade after dark moved out to near the front line, and in an hour had thrown up new works, but no enemy came, and at daylight they returned to camp. Tuesday, the 19th, was noted for the first rain fall in forty-three days. There had become a great dearth of surface water. While in camp good water was obtained by digging wells a few feet in depth. By reason of the rain, the Iron Brigade did not reheve the Second Brigade in the rifle pits that night, but did so at 9 o'clock the next morning without disturbance from the enemy. On Sunday, the 24th, about six hundred from the Iron Brigade took up a railroad ti'ack and converted it into a wagon road. Under one of the strongest of the Confederate forts a mine had been constructed, consisting of eight magazines in which were placed 8,000 pounds of powder. The magazines were connected with the Union lines 200 yards away by a tunnel four and a half feet high and the same in width. At 5 o'clock on the morning of July 30, the explosion occurred, when the fort, its guns and garrison of 300 men were blown up and annihilated. The explosion made an excavation in the ground two hundred feet long, fifty feet wide and thirty feet deep, and it was a signal for all the Union guns to open a heavy cannonade. A charge was made at the same time by the Ninth Corps troops, to capture a hill in the rear of the destroyed fort, which commanded the city of Petersburg, They went no further than the crater just formed, and a division of colored troops went forward to the charge of the hill. They pushed well up towards the crest but were twice repulsed and fled in confusion to the crater, where they and the Ninth were unmercifully slaughtered by the enemy. It was death to remain and death to try to escape. The Union loss was about 4,400 men and the Confederate 1,000 — a most lamentable failure. In this affair the Iron Brigade occupied the first line of works and opened a musketry fire as the mine exploded within their view. During that night the Iron Brigade was relieved from the trenches. The Union dead and wounded were still lying between our lines and the ruined fort. The enemy refused a flag of truce for their relief. 2/0 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. At 3 o'clock on Sunday afternoon July 31, the Iron Brigade left camp for a new one on the left of the army, guarding its left flank and rear. The new camp was within 150 yards of a strong fort and a line of breastworks in front. Here the regiment enjoyed a much needed rest for two weeks, the location being a pleasant one. It was called "Camp Chilson " and was near the Suffolk and Norfolk Railroad. About this time several promotions occurred in the regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Wight had resigned in June and now Major A. M. Edwards was promoted to Leiutenant-Colonel. He had commanded the regiment since the former left, Colonel Morrow still being absent because of his Wilderness wound. Captain Hutchinson became Major. First Lieutenants Connor and Haigh became Captains; Sergeant Lewis A. Chamberlin became First Lieutenant and Adjutant ; Quartermaster Sergeant Alonzo Eaton, Sergeant George W. Chilson and Corporal Albert Wilford became First Lieutenants. Captain John M. Farland resigned in July, 1864. The regiment was now but a remnant of its former proud array. But few of the original officers were left, most of the present ones having risen from the ranks. Numerous also were the promotions among the non-commissioned officers and privates. Surgeon Beech had charge of the Iron Brigade hospital and had nearly exhausted himself in amputation duties during the campaign from the Rapidan. Being a skillful surgeon his services were in great demand in the Division. Divine services which had been suspended during the marching and fighting, were again established by Chaplain Way. The regiment tarried here until Sunday August 14th, when it received orders to move. It halted on ground which Hancock's Corps left. Towards the middle of August this Corps (Second) had been sent north of the James River near Deep Bottom to attract the attention of Lee and get him to weaken his forces about Petersburg. This accomplished, Warren's Corps was moved around to the left to seize the Weldon Railroad and cut off one of the main feeders of the Confederate capital and army. The excessive fall of rain compelled a slight change of camping ground on the i6th. BATTLE ON THE WELDON ROAD. Thursday, August 18. At 4.30 A. M. the Twenty-fourth Michigan with the Iron Brigade moved with Warren's Corps out on the Jerusalem Plank Road and then about six miles off to the west to Yellow (or Globe) Tavern on the Weldon Railroad, and destroyed a SIEGE OF PETERSBURG — 1 864. 27 1 long piece of it. Warren left Griffin's Division to guard the point seized, and forming the rest of the Corps in an east and west line, advanced north towards Petersburg about a mile and halted when it found the enemy in front. About 1.30 r. M., when Warren attempted to advance, the enemy suddenly massed on his left and in the fight, the 5th Corps lost several hundred men, but Warren held the field and had possession of the coveted Weldon Railroad. The Iron Brigade was not actively engaged. The line advanced to the edge of a piece of woods and built earthworks. Friday, August 19, Lee was determined to regain the Railroad, so important to the Confederates, and during the night sent heavy reinforcements for that purpose. The Iron Brigade was deployed as skirmishers, its right extending from the right of the Fifth Corps to the left of the old line and covering a frontage of over a mile in length. The Twenty-fourth Michigan held the center and the entire line run through dense woods. About 3 o'clock r, M., the enemy massed a division on the right center of our line, made an attack and drove back the Nineteenth Indiana veteran volunteers on our right. Lieutenant-Colonel Edwards immediately moved the Twenty-fourth Michigan by the right flank and covered the ground vacated by the Indiana troops. This new line was held for a few moments only, as there were no supports. But by holding the ground for that brief time, it saved a large portion of the Iron Brigade from capture. As it was, Mahone's Confederate Division struck the advance skirmish line of the Twenty-fourth Michigan and captured twenty-one of its men. They were not four rods in front of the regiment, but owing to the dense woods the enemy came upon them by surprise. Immediately there was great confusion as the enemy had nearly surrounded that part of our line, capturing the sharpshooters and part of the Seventh Indiana. Every man then took care of himself, and there was a lively foot race amid shower after shower of bullets, as the men had no desire to visit Georgia and other Southern prison pens. A volume might be written on the narrow and often laughable escapes of the men at this time. A couple of brigades of the Ninth Corps opportunely came up, enabling Warren to reform his lines and regain the lost ground, compelling the enemy to fall back to his intrenchments. At night there were but fifty-four men left in the Twenty-fourth Michigan besides the officers, and but one hundred and seventy men left in the Iron Brigade. Saturday, August 20. The Iron Brigade Headquarters were established near the Yellow or Globe Tavern, and during the day the (18) 272 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. scattered men came in so that it had five hundred men and the Twenty-fourth Michigan seventy-six. At noon the Iron Brigade crossed the Railroad, formed a Hne and built strong earthworks running north and south. During the day the Seventh Wisconsin came up. Tliis regiment lost but very few men and held its ground out on the extreme right of the skirmish line. FeAc.^V Lc^a'.>.-,i.R^ ^ u (;u>..ssv>^t o.a.^v ITeV^ftr^ B,cxAcoc.'£t. BATTLE-GROUND ON WELDON RAILROAD, AUUUST 21, 1864. iiil Sunday, August 21. About 9 o'clock A. M. the enemy opened with thirty pieces of artillery, crossing their fire at right angles over the heads of Warren's troops. After an hour's diversion of this kind, they advanced to the attack on front and flank in three lines of battle and met with a most terrible reverse. Two of their lines were almost entirely killed or captured. In front of the Union earthworks was a cornfield, back of which were some woods from which the enemy SIEGE OF PETERSBURG — 1 864. 273 charged in good style. They were allowed to come up pretty close, when a general rattle of musketry and artillery cut them in pieces. Some concealed themselves in a ditch near by, and it being death to advance or retreat, they dropped their guns and, waving their hats or anything they had in token of surrender, rushed pell-mell over the Union works as if Satan would get the last man. Our men took them by the hand in many instances and helped them over the works. At night the enemy fell back from our front, leaving his dead and wounded. This was the first time the Twenty-fourth Michigan had ever fought from behind breastworks. Frequently it had built them but came out in front to do its fighting. On this occasion they doubly welcomed the enemy's attack. The Iron Brigade captured nearly the whole of two Confederate regiments. The Twenty-fourth Michigan was credited with capturing twenty-six prisoners, including one Colonel, one Lieutenant-Colonel, one Major, five line ofificers and the flag of the Twelfth Mississippi. In this day's affair, but one man was wounded in the Twenty-fourth Michigan. Lieutenant-Colonel Edwards asked the captured Colonel to what troops he was attached. He replied : " The troops that have whipped you so often — Mahone's Division — but they did not do much of that thing to-day." This timely victory left Warren in full possession of the Weldon Road which cut off this important line of the enemy's supplies. Monday, the 22d, was spent in burying the enemy's dead and bringing in his wounded which were thickly scattered over the cornfield. Among their killed was a Major who was buried where he BURYINQ THE DEAD. 274 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. fell, and being disinterred was recognized by an enlisted man of the Second Brigade of this Division as being his own son. The following were the casualties of the Twenty-fourth Michigan at the Battle of the Weldon Road, in August, 1864: Corporal Rufus J. Whipple of K, mortally wounded, August 2i. WOUNDED, AUGUST l8: WOUNDED, AUGUST I9: Charles Daney (R.), !• George W. Segar, breast, D. Daniel Donehue (R.), I. John McDermott, E. CAPTURED AUGUST I9. First Lieut. Alonzo Eaton, B. Sergt. John Roach, E. " Eugene F. Nardin, I. " B'. Ross Finlayson, K. Corp. John A. Sherwood, C. " Thomas G. Norton, E. " Robert E. Bolger, H. Charles Willaird, A. Err Cady, B. William A. Herrendeen, C. John Passage, jr., C. Henry H. Ladd, D. Samuel Reed (R.), D. William Bruskie, E. William Powers, E. Daniel Bourassas, F. Thomas Burnett (R.), H. Clark W. Butler, (R.), H. August Gillsbach, H. Francis Hynds, H. John Chapman (R), K. FORTIFICATIONS — SIEGE DUTIES — PEEBLES FARM, ETC. Immediately after the Petersburg battles of June 17-22, the army settled down to fortification building but a short distance from the enemy. Portable sawmills were set up along the Blackwater and forests of oak and pine converted into timber, etc., and the work of fort building went on from Fort McGilvary near the Appomattox around to the south side of Petersburg. To prevent this fort building the enemy nightly resorted to artillery and musketry firing which was very excessive in some places. In the Fifth Corps line near where the Iron Brigade had charged with such fatal results on June 18, was Fort Sedgwick — but so hot a place did it become from the enemy's bullets that it was nicknamed " Fort Hell." This new victory of Warren on the Weldon Railroad now required an additional amount of fort building and the work was pushed forward with alacrity. To supply the necessaries of the army a military railroad was constructed from City Point running off towards Petersburg and just outside the reach of the enemy's guns, extending clear around to the south side. It went up grade and down grade and over trestles. These forts, fortifications and the military road were all constructed and operated by enlisted men of the army. During the next few weeks the Iron Brigade was engaged in siege, picket and fatigue duty, making forts and earthworks. Its SIEGE OF PETERSBURG — 1864. 2/5 numbers were greatly reduced and the numbers of the Twenty-fourth Michigan present for duty were the fewest since it left Detroit. Company K, Captain Dodsley, had now but two men left, Sergeant Ira W. Fletcher and Elijah Little, and during this period it afforded amusement to witness the evolutions of this company. Colonel Morrow had so far recovered from his Wilderness wound as to go to Michigan on recruiting duty in which he was fairly successful. On August 23, the Iron Brigade strengthened its works on the Weldon Railroad and built an abatis in front. The next day it erected works for a couple of batteries. About noon the Twenty-fourth Michigan moved to the east side of the railroad and went into camp, fitting it up with shades, etc. On the 25th, the Iron Brigade was ordered to go to Hancock's assistance at Reams' Station. After marching half a mile, they returned to camp as the enemy were repulsed. The Fourth Division was this day broken up and merged with the Third under General Crawford. The Iron Brigade will now be known as the First Brigade, Third Division, Fifth Army Corps. On the 26th, Crawford's Division formed a new line facing the rear of Yellow or Globe Tavern. On August 31, the camp was moved over into some woods affording a far better location, and the men engaged in the usual pastime of fort building. On September i, Morris L. Hoople of H was captured by the enemy. Two years ago this day the Twenty-fourth Michigan arrived in Washington from home — then over 1000 strong; this day less than 100 men gather about its flag! At 2 A. M. of the 2d, the Iron Brigade was aroused and marched down the railroad and massed with its Division until daylight, to resist an expected cavalry attack. The Division was then moved back and massed near Yellow or Globe Tavern until evening, when all repaired to camp. On the 12th a brisk picket firing was kept up all day, caused by the Union forces attempting to strengthen their lines. On the morning of the 14th the camp was again moved so as to bring the Iron Brigade together. This camp was very inferior to the former one. Some recruits had begun to arrive for the Twenty-fourth and they were drilled eight hours each day. On the 22d, General Warren reviewed the Iron Brigade, complimenting it upon its appearance. On Sunday the 25th, General Grant, Secretary Seward and other notables came to the front, and eight officers of the Twenty-fourth went off without leave to see them. While gone, the Iron Brigade received orders to move into the front line of works and the regiment started off without the absent officers, whom they met as they were on their way to camp. Lieutenant- 2/6 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Colonel Edwards notified them to consider themselves under arrest. On the following day they received a suitable admonition to return to duty and set no more such examples. On Friday, September 30, the First and Second Divisions of the Fifth Corps with the Ninth Corps, made an attack upon the enemy at Peeble's Farm. The brave Colonel Norvell E. Welch of the Sixteenth Michigan, waving his sword over his head, exclaimed: "A commission for the first man who will scale the enemy's works," and himself led the charge. Mounting the breastworks, he leaped from their top over into the works, but before reaching the ground, two minnie balls pierced his head, killing him instantly. No braver man ever fell for his country. In the afternoon, the Iron Brigade left its works and moved back to the old camping ground and awaited orders. At 3 o'clock on Saturday morning, October i, the Iron Brigade was called up and soon after moved out with its Division near the Flower House on the Vaughn Road and threw up earthworks. The enemy charged the line on the left but were repulsed. The Iron Brigade was not engaged, and on Monday, the 3d, was set to building a small fort near the Vaughn Road, and about dark went back to its old camp near the Gurley House. It lay in bivouac till 4 o'clock the next day when it was ordered to support the skirmish line, after which it moved to its old camp at the left of Fort Howard. On the 7th drill and guard mounting were resumed, for the first time since spring. — The next day the picket line was advanced nearly a mile. A part of it was driven back about dark and the Twenty-fourth went out to help them form a new line. — On the next day, Sunday, the 9th, the regiment was sent out on picket. There ■ was some firing in the morning and at midnight. — On the loth, Sergeant Roswell L. Root, of C, captured and brought in two prisoners. One was six feet, five and one-half inches in height. — On the 13th, the old regiments of the Iron Brigade turned out to bid good-bye to the Nineteenth Indiana which left for home after their hard service of three years. — October 14th found the regiment again on picket duty. A horserace track had been improvised near Fort Dushane, which many of the Generals, other ofificers and men visited on race days. — On Sunday, the i6th. Corporal Rhoades brought in two deserters from the enemy very early, belonging to the sixty-fourth Georgia. — On the 19th, Lieutenant-Colonel Edwards called General Crawford's attention to the horse racing near Fort Dushane, as having a demoralizing effect upon the army. — The next day the Twenty-fourth again took its tour at picket duty. — On Saturday, the SIEGE OF PETERSBURG — 1864. 2/7 22d, General Warren sent down and arrested all the enlisted men at the horse races. Several Generals and numerous other officers were present. — On the 24th, the Iron Brigade turned out to straighten the works in front. All trees in camp were ordered to be cut down. — All the next day the Twenty-fourth was engaged in work on the new lines and clearing away the fallen trees. — On the 26th there was noticeably no picket firing. All soldiers very correctly divine that such periods of silence are usually but preludes to something ominous. GENERAL SAMUEL W. CRAWFORD. The wagons were all packed and sent to the rear and orders received to be ready to move at 4 o'clock the next morning. BATTLE OF HATCHER'S RUN — CLEVER CAPTURE. Before winter began Grant resolved to gain possession of the Southside Railroad which had become the main channel of Confederate supplies. The Second, Fifth and Ninth Corps were selected for this task of turning Lee' right flank. The Boydton Plank Road runs nearly parallel with the Southside Railroad, between the latter and the Weldon Railroad. Hatcher's Run is formed by several affluents, and it meanders around considerably. In this vicinity it heads in a southeasterly course. Thursday, October 27, 1864. Punctually at 4 A. M. the Twenty-fourth Michigan with the Iron Brigade (Crawford's Division and Fifth Corps), left camp, moving westward to where Poplar Spring Church had been burned ; thence south to our line of works; then west again, passing out of the works at Fort Clemens on our 278 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. extreme left flank near the Squirrel Level road. The column turned down this road to the Vaughn Road ; thence down that road, to a new one cut through the woods west to Armstrong's Mill on Hatcher's Run. At the Fort, the column passed Generals Grant and Meade, the former sitting on a log, quite alone, enjoying a cigar. The Iron Brigade crossed the Run about noon and formed in line of battle, this Brigade being in advance with its right next to the stream. The rest of the Fifth Corps was on the opposite side of this REGION SOUTHWEST OF PETERSBURG, VA. HATCHER'S RUN, DABNEY'S MILLS, ETC. stream and up both sides of it the Corps moved. The Iron Brigade marched about three miles up hill and down hill, by the right flank and by the left flank, but actually advanced only about half that distance. The dense low growth of woods and crookedness of the Run caused much delay. A large affluent was mistaken for the main stream which produced diversion, aside from the difficulty in crossing the side stream, the enemy having slashed down the trees upon its bank and felled them into it. Having crossed this tributary, Crawford formed his Division in line, with the Iron Brigade on the left flank and the Twenty-fourth SIEGE OF PETERSBURC; — 1 864. 279 Michigan on the left of its Brigade. The Second Corps had made a longer march around to the left of Crawford, but did not connect with him. This Corps (the Second) and the 9th were engaged, but the Fifth was not, except its skirmish line. The Seventh Wisconsin with 156 muskets were sent out as skirmishers, and in the engagement, captured 216 prisoners, and released about fifty Union prisoners that had been captured by the enemy. It was difficult for the two parts of the Fifth Corps to communicate, as the banks of the Run were dammed up and swampy as well as covered with timber slashing. After the repulse of the enemy's attack by the other Corps, night came on and the troops all bivouacked where they were. During the afternoon it was unsafe to be even a few rods from the line, as the "Johnnies" appeared to be there as well as in front. Captures and recaptures were frequent. Instances of one man capturing several prisoners have been boastfully claimed during the war, with much incredulity, but the Twenty-fourth Michigan claims one such instance, though not vi et annis, but with the tongue. Sergeant Robert Gibbons of B, went a few rods in front of the line to ascertain the position of the enemy when he was captured by half-a- dozen or more "Johnnies." While trying to get back with their capture, "Bob," as he was known in the regiment, tried his argumentative powers on the " we 'uns." He told them that they had better consider themselves as his prisoners and go into his lines ; that his side was going to beat in the end and they had better go where their safety and good feeding were assured. The leader of the squad told him: "Yank, if you don't stop that kind of talk, I'll blow the top of your head off." Gibbons then walked with him and told him they would wander around in the woods between the lines until all of them would get their heads blown off, and it was better to go in with him where they would have no more fighting. "This," said he, "was far better than having a head blown off." The leader and the whole squad were persuaded that their cause was going up sure and their prisoner's advice was wise for them, and they consented to go with him. Sergeant Gibbons then had a difficult task to find even his own lines and get in unharmed. Presently he heart the loud " Baw — baw — baw" of some of the enlisted Indians in one of the Wisconsin regiments of the Iron Brigade, and turned in the direction of their familiar whoop. He succeeded in getting in safely with all his captors who laid down their arms at the sight of the Seventh Wisconsin, which regiment was sent out to reconnoiter. 28o HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Friday, October 28, was rainy like the day before. In the darkness of the night, the Hnes were quietly changed. The leaders finding that what ought to have b.een accomplished yesterday, had failed, resolved to abandon the movement. At daybreak, the Twenty-fourth Michigan was marched out of the woods and placed on picket to cover the backward movement, the design evidently being to sacrifice this picket line to effect the safe withdrawal of the rest of the troops. However, the regiment discovered that all the other troops had gcyne and the men had a lively run to prevent being captured. They overtook the column at Fort Clemens on the backward march. They arrived in the camp they had left when they set out, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon with only one man missing — A. Brutus Heig (Recruit), of Company D. RECRUITS — CABINS — ELECTION — CAMP AFFAIRS. Over one hundred recruits had been added to the regiment during the autumn months and these, as had other recruits in former battles, demeaned themselves in a very creditable manner on this occasion. Saturday, October 29. The regiment moved its camp back from the line of works and worked all this day and Sunday in building cabins. They worked like beavers to complete their houses before the inclement weather set in and were none too soon. On Sunday night the enemy attacked the picket line. The Twenty-fourth was hastily put into line but their services were not required. Tuesday, November 8. Election Day. An election in a Virginia Camp for candidates away off in Michigan was a novel affair. The day before was ominous with silence by the enemy and an outbreak was expected to disturb the voting, but all was quiet. The polls were opened at eight o'clock at Regimental Headquarters. Lieutenant- Colonel Edwards, Captain Witherspoon and Lieutenant Hendricks were made Inspectors, and Captain Dodsley and Adjutant Chamberlin were made Clerks of Election. For President, the vote stood 177 for Lincoln and 49 for General McClellan. Ex-Lieutenant- Colonel W. W. Wight was present as Commissioner and carried the vote to Michigan. During the voting, a deserter came in from the enemy and said he wanted to vote for Lincoln. The vote of the old regiments of the Iron Brigade was 543 for Lincoln to 116 for McClellan. Sunday, November 13. Colonel Morrow returned to the regiment looking quite well. For several weeks he had been detailed on a SIEGE OF PETERSBURG — 1 864, 28 1 General Court Martial at Columbus, Ohio, after his recovery from his Wilderness wound. For the rest of the month nothing unusual occurred in the affairs of the Twenty-fourth Michigan aside from the usual inspections, camp, fatigue and picket duties. During three days and four nights it rained incessantly after which, on the 23d, the ground froze solid and winter had really begun. That morning Patrick English (Recruit) of C was wounded on the picket line. There Avas usually very little picket firing when the black hats of the Iron Brigade were seen ; but along the other lines, the spiteful popping was heard, averaging from sixty to one hundred shots a minute. It was so common that it was hardly noticed. Quite a number of deserters from the enemy came in every night and a score or more of them reported at Division Headquarters every morning. Thanksgiving Day came on the 24th and a good dinner from friends at home was expected, but the delay of a boat disappointed the men, and the good things did not arrive for several days after. There was a treat in camp when they did come, and the men began to count the days until August 15 next, when their three years of service would permit them to enjoy the full blessings of that enchanted place, home. Several promotions about this time occurred in the regiment. First Leiutenant Benj. W. Hendricks became Captain, and Sergeants Samuel W. Church and Shepherd L. Howard became First Lieutenants, while numerous advancements were made among the rank and file. The camp of the Twenty-fourth Michigan was in front of General Meade's headquarters, which locality was marked by a mammoth flag by day and two red lights by night. Rows of huts roofed with cotton and plastered over with Virginia soil were everywhere to be seen. Major Graves, the sutler of the Twenty-fourth Michigan and Iron Brigade purveyor, came up with a fine supply in his line. The Military railroad ran near the camp and within hearing distance of the southside railroad operated by the enemy. The shrill whistles of their engines were answered back and forth as each was hauling supplies for its respective army. The health of the regiment was good and now was recruited up so that 300 men appeared in its dress parades. RAID TO MEHERRIN RIVER. Monday, December 5, 1864, brought orders to leave camp on the following morning with six day's rations. The Sixth Corps came to relieve the Fifth and the fine cabins of the Twenty-fourth were to be 282 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. occupied by the Fifteenth New Jersey. Thus the soldier knows not in the morning where he will sleep at night ; or whether he will sleep at all, or in eternity. There was hurrying to and fro. All baggage was to be left behind and the men discarded all extra pieces of tents, blankets and clothing with which they hoped to make themselves comfortable during the winter. They saw a hard winter's march before them for some place, none knew where, and not wishing to be burdened with a heavy knapsack, put themselves in light marching order. Here and there was some soldier giving some message to a comrade who was to remain behind, or entrusting his valuables to him for safety while he went on a doubtful campaign. Letters from friends and " the girls at home" were carefully consigned to the flames that they might never by chance be seen by eyes of strangers. The camp sank to rest amid the echoes of bugle and drum beat that filled the fields and woods with tattoo, as the entire Fifth Corps seemed to be camped near by. On Tuesday morning, an early reveille awakened all the field and hundreds of fires blazed up to cook the frugal breakfast of coffee and bacon. At daylight the long line of blue moved away about two miles and massed near the Jerusalem Plank Road. A portion of the Twenty-fourth Michigan had been out on picket during the night and in the morning while one of the men, Samuel Davis of B was cooking his coffee about 8 o'clock, he was killed in a most murderous manner by a rebel fiend who stealthily crept up and shot him dead. The act was the more dastardly from the fact that for two months amicable relations had existed between the pickets and videttes of the enemy and those of the Iron Brigade, and our men felt safe from picket firing. The members of the Twenty-fourth Michigan rightfully felt very bitter over this treacherous murder and had they been allowed to remain upon the line, there would have been a fearful retaliation. His comrades brought his body away and buried it with military honors about half a mile south of Fort Stevenson where the troops were massed. The deceased was only twenty years old and his parents resided in Detroit. Wednesday, December 7. The column left camp at 7 A. M. and marched south on the Jerusalem Plank Road. It crossed Nottaway River on pontoons near Freeman's Bridge and pushed on as far as Sussex Court House where they bivouacked for the night. At daylight on the 8th, they moved on south and soon turned in a westerly direction. Reaching the Weldon Railroad at Jarratt's Station, they burned the station and 'the bridge north across the SIEGE OF PETERSBURG — 1 864. 283 Nottaway without opposition, destroying the railroad between. Lieutenant-Colonel Edwards was made Field Officer of the Division and posted pickets to protect the men while destroying the railroad. On the 9th they moved further south tearing up and destroying the railroad as they advanced, for a distance of twenty miles, as far as Hicksford on Meherrin River. The railroad was completely destroyed. The rails were heated by being placed on top of heaps of burning ties and fence rails, and then twisted around trees and rendered useless. Culverts and bridges were burned, and every unoccupied dwelling along the line of march was laid in ashes as the column returned. SOLDIERS DESTROYING THE WKLDON RAILROAD. This raid seemed to be the most vindictive that the army had ever engaged in. Some of our stragglers had been murdered by guerrillas and their bodies savagely mutilated, which so enraged our troops that vengeance was wreaked upon everything that would benefit the enemy. The destruction of the railroad was a military necessity, as the enemy used it to transport their supplies; but the destruction of the houses of peaceable women and children, though venomous in their Union hatred, cannot be justified. We are glad to record that the Twenty-fourth Michigan and the Iron Brigade had no share in the vandalism. The country passed over had been pretty badly used by the enemy themselves and most of the dwellers had gone further south away from the track of war. 284 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. On Saturday December 10, about daylight, the column commenced moving back. The Iron Brigade moved about 11 o'clock covering the rear, by the direct road to Sussex Court House. The biting wind, cold snow and sleet with the muddy roads, long and rapid marches, made the expedition a tedious one. After a march of fifteen miles, the Twenty-fourth Michigan was put on picket to guard the rear, about five miles south of Sussex Court House. On Sunday the nth, the Iron Brigade again acted as rear guard to the returning column. It moved at 8.30 A. M. and kept half a mile behind the main column. The enemy followed close but did not attack with any spirit. They crossed the Nottaway and bivouacked two miles north of it. Continuing to act as rear guard, the Iron Brigade reached Fort Stevenson about sunset on Monday evening, the column having marched over 100 miles in six days, aside from its labor in destroying over twenty miles of railway track. CAMP CRAWFORD — NEW COLOR GUARD — PROGRESS OF THE WAR. After its return from the Meherrin River Raid, the regiment remained in most uncomfortable bivouac in an open field, exposed to the cutting cold, damp winds, and stiflng smoke of pine wood fires until Friday morning, December 16, when the bugle sounded the "pack-up." The column moved across the Jerusalem Plank Road, toward the rear and eastward, followed by the wagon trains. The Iron Brigade filed off to the east of the Plank Road into a thick growth of small pines, flanked by heavier woods in every direction, and began cutting logs for new winter quarters. The location was a good one, and about two miles from the military railroad. It was named " Camp Crawford " after the Division Commander. On this day Colonel Morrow reorganized the color-guard. The guard appointed on May 3 had nobly borne and preserved the regimental flag till nearly all were wounded and had to relinquish their charge. Special order No. 68 declared : Sergeant Charles D. Durfee of Company C, having volunteered his services, and having by long service entitled himself to this honorable distinction, is hereby appointed Color Sergeant of this regiment. The following Corporals are also appointed to the color guard : Frank Stewart of Company C, James Lindsay of Company D, William Weiner of Company G, John Malcho of Company H, and Frank Kellogg of Company K. ^ On December 17, Lieutenant-Colonel Edwards rode up to the place where the Twenty-fourth Michigan made its fearful charge on SIEGE OF PETERSBURG — 1 864. 285 the 1 8th of June last. The trees had all been cut away and its appearance much changed. All day Sunday the i8th, the men worked to complete their cabins. — With winter-quarters, the furlough season returned. In granting furloughs, preference was given to married men and those who had never been away from the regiment on furlough or otherwise. — Captain George W. Burchell was appointed to try and determine court-martial cases for violations of the military discipline. — The holidays were spent without an)' special event. General Bragg having gone on a leave of absence, December 22d, Colonel Morrow took command of the Brigade, and as Lieutenant- Colonel Edwards left the same day on leave, the command of the Twenty-fourth Michigan devolved upon Major Hutchinson. During the months of the siege of Petersburg, it is well to note the progress of our arms in other parts of the Avide field of war operations. We have already noted the departure of Sherman upon his campaign at the same time that Grant crossed the Rapidan on his Richmond advance in the early days of May last. During the summer, Sherman had victoriously fought his way to and captured Atlanta, including the battles at Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain and Marietta, during the six weeks that Grant was moving from the Rapidan around to Petersburg. Both wings of the Union army seemed "to flap together" for once, owing to the directive mind of one man. At midnight of May 3 when Grant started on his line of march, he telegraphed the fact to Sherman who also set out with his army. These dual operations of the eastern and western sections of the Union forces occupied the attention of the Confederate armies opposing each, so that neither, as frequently had been the case theretofore, could spare troops to assist the other. On the 23d of July, Atlanta fell, which was a great loss to the Confederacy, as it had been the great center for manufacturing war material for the Southern armies. Admiral Farragut and the Union navy were also getting in their work on the water borders of the would be slave-government. During August, he captured Mobile and so, slowly but surely, the good work went bravely forward. While Grant was firmly holding the enemy to his defences around the Confederate capital and Petersburg, Sherman was resting at Atlanta, making preparations for his great movement a few months later which would startle the world and strike terror into the heart of the Confederacy. Then too, during this autumn there were the most glorious victories of Sheridan over the Confederate Early in the Shenandoah 286 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Valley, at Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, which electrified the nation, knocked gold from its dizzy height, and placed the Union cause upon an assured basis. Story and song have made famous "Sheridan's Ride" from Winchester to the front on his coal black steed, and by his magnetic presence reorganizing the fleeing troops and winning a brilliant victory out of defeat. The Shenandoah Valley had been the granary for the Confederate army and Grant ordered Sheridan to destroy it so completely that " a crow would have to carry rations in flying over it," and it was done. Every house, barn, shed, farming implement and fence that could in any way be utilized in cultivating crops to feed the enemy's army was destroyed. Such is war. Virginia and many parts of the South drank the waters of bitterness during the four years of their armed rebellion — but they invited and brought the trouble upon themselves when they set at defiance the national authority. The day after election, General Sherman, having allured Hood's army to follow up a part of his troops away from Atlanta towards Nashville, cut loose from his communications with the North. After having completely destroyed Atlanta as a military supply center for Confederate armies, he started on his great "March to the Sea" which became the wonder of both continents. He captured Savannah just before Christmas and disclosed the weakness and inevitable collapse of the Confederacy. General Hood had gone on to Nashville where General Thomas gave him battle, and his army was so completely annihilated and its remnant so dispersed, that it was never heard of after, except in history. All in all, the year 1864 closed with every encouragement for the success of the Union cause and speedy restoration of peace, and New Year, 1865, was the brightest since the war began. CHAPTER XIV. Closing Months of the War. INDORSEMENT — CAPTAIN BURCHELL — GENERAL MORROW. WINTER quarters, the most comfortable and uniform that the regiment ever had, were completed during the early days of January, 1865, and called "Camp Crawford." It was laid out in five streets, a company on each side of a street, the cabins were 6^4 x 10 feet in size, with chimneys in the rear, each cabin accommodating four men. Major Hutchinson applied to the War Department to have the Twenty-fourth Michigan filled up and General S. W. Crawford endorsed the recommendation in the following flattering terms: Headrt.rac. ^^g RESIDENCE. Corporals: 1. William H.Cross Redford Farmer, Redford Aug. 5 2. Silas H. Wood Canada, 44 Carpenter, Detroit 5 3. Pratt B. Haskall New York, 37 Lumberman, Detroit 8 4. Jos. U. B. Hedger Ohio, 20 Clerk, Nankin 8 5. George W. Ormsbee Oakland, 23 Farmer, Redford 4 6. Louis Gautherat Redford, 26 Farmer, Redford 7 7. Ferdinand F. Bates New York City, 18. Clerk, Detroit July 31 8. Henry L. Houk Redford. 21 Farmer, Redford 26 Musicians — Francis R. Ward England, 29 Farmer, Greenfield Aug. 11 Henry C. Stoddard Greenfield, 21 Tinsmith, Detroit 9 Wagoner — Alonzo F. Anscomb Redford, 23 Farmer, Redford 9 Frivaiei: Abner D. Austin Canada, 19 Laborer, Redford 2 Ralph Archibald England, 21 Machinist, Detroit July 28 Hiram Bentley Genesee, 18 Clerk, Flint Aug. 5 John Bryant England, 18 Farmer, Redford 2 Seymour L. Burns New York, 28 Farmer, Redford 2 George W. Bentley Bloomfield, 24 Farmer, Redford 4 John P. Barrett England, 42 Farmer, Redford 11 Jonathan Briggs England, 33 Cooper, Detroit 11 Frederick Bosardis France, 18 Farmer, Redford 5 Peter Brink New York, 36 Sawyer, Livonia 5 Wm. Charlesworth Redford, 21 Farmer, Redford 2 Jacob H. Canfield New York, 33 ....Carpenter, Redford 4 William W. Coon Redford, 26 Laborer, Redford July 23 Samuel F. Cromer Redford, 23 Laborer, Redford Aug. 7 George L. Carey England, 28 Farmer, Wayne Co 9 Patrick Clarey Ireland, 16 Teamster, Detroit 5 Henry H. Crarey ; Vermont, 36 Farmer, Redford 11 Henry Coonrad Germany, 40 Farmer, Redford 11 Luther D. Carr Vermont, 29 Farmer, Redford n John Clark England, 40 Farmer, Redford July 30 Ephraim D. Cooper New York, 39 Farmer, Romulus Aug. 11 Oscar Delong Wayne Co., 17. . . .Laborer, Detroit 4 John J. Dickey Maine, 35 Ostler, Detroit 7 Charles Devantoy France, 35 Farmer, Wayne Co 13 John Dubois Redford, 27 Farmer, Redford 11 Wallace P. Dicks Wayne Co, 18 Farmer, Redford 11 Ale.\ander J. Eddy New York, 19 Farmer, Redford 6 Jay Ferguson New York, 26 ... . Farmer, Redford Ju'y 29 William A. Flynn New York, 35 Sailor, Detroit Aug. 9 Richard M. Fish Lapeer, 20 Farmer, Redford 9 George B. F. Green Redford, 21 Farmer, Redford July 28 Oliver Gagnier Detroit, 2i Farmer, Redford Aug. 8 Albertus A. Hutchinson Redford, 17 Farmer, Redford July 29 342 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. OAXT.^ AVT,^ M»,*ij NATIVITY AND OCCUPATION AND RANK AND NAME. ENLISTED AGE. RESIDENCE. oicu. Nelson Harris. Redford, 22 Farmer, Redford Aug. 2 Francis C. Hodgman New York, 22 Farmer, Redford 6 Charles H. Houk Plymouth, 21 Farmer, Plymouth 5 Mark Hearn Wayne Co., 18. . . .Farmer, Redford 8 Louis Hattie New York, 18 Jeweler, Detroit 8 Francis Hynds Ireland, 18 Mason, Detroit 2 John B. Harris New York, 23 Farmer, Redford 11 Cross Harris Wayne, 22 Farmer, Nankin 13 Lewis Hawkins Redford, 27 Farmer, Redford 7 William Irving England, 18 Trimmer, Detroit 9 Isaac Innes Wayne Co., 18 Broommaker, Nankin 13 James S. Innes New Jersey, 26. . . .Broommaker, Nankin 13 Alpheus Johnson Wisconsin, 21 Farmer, Redford July 31 Peter Jackson Nankin, 20 Farmer, Nankin Aug. 11 Charles A. Kinney New York, 25 Farmer, Redford 2 Isaac J. Kibbee Jackson, 21 Carpenter, Redford i August Lahser Prussia, 16 Wheelwright, Redford 6 Adolphus Londrush Detroit, 39 Farmer, Redford 6 James B. Myers New York, 25 Cab-maker, Redford 2 James Magooghan Ireland, 41 Gardener, Detroit 2 John Maitrie Switzerland, 23. . . . Farmer, Redford 6 Emile Mettetal Redford, 19 Farmer, Redford 12 James Mooney England, 18 Peddler, Detroit 5 Eugene F. Nardin New York City, 24. Carpenter, Detroit 5 Alexander O'Rourke New York, 18 Farmer, Flint 11 Byron Pierce Wayne Co., 20 Laborer, Redford 11 Charles Robinson Detroit, 17 Butcher, Detroit Ju'y 3i Wm. J. Riffenbury Oakland, 27 Laborer, Detroit , Aug. 9 Gilbert Rhoades Wayne Co., 26. . . .Farmer, Dearborn 7 Palmer Rhoades Wayne Co., 19. . . .Farmer, Dearborn 7 Charles F. Sweet New York, 22 Farmer, Wayne Co 2 Orville W. Stringer Livonia, 18 Farmer, Livonia 4 John L. Stringham New York, 29 Carpenter, Detroit 7 David S. Sears New York, 25 Farmer, Redford 8 Adolphus Shephard Detroit, 25 Carpenter, Detroit 8 Henry Schindehett Germany, 22 Sailor, Detroit 11 Wm. E. Thornton New York, 31 Com. Merch., Detroit 7 Theodore B. Thomas Pennsylvania, 48. .Laborer, Detroit 8 Wesley A. Tinkham Ohio, 19 Farmer, Romulus 11 John H. Townsend New York, 35 Farmer, Romulus 11 David M. Tillman Genesee, 20 Farmer, Wayne Co 12 Cornelius Veley Wayne Co., 26 . . . .Farmer, Livonia 5 Jeremiah Vining . . .' New York, 41 Wheelwright, Huron 11 Roswell Van Kuren New York, 46 Farmer, Redford 11 Wm. Vandervoort Monroe, 24 Farmer, Wayne Co 11 Henry Viele Germany, 40 Brickmaker, Springwells. . 8 James Whalen Pr. Edward I'd, 39. Farmer, Redford July 29 Hiram A. Williams New York, 31 Farmer, Redford 28 Henry Wooden New York, 36 Cooper, Detroit Aug. 11 ORIGINAL MEMBERS. 343 COMPANY K. RANK AND NAME. NATiyiTY AND OCCUPATION AND ^^^ISTED. AGE. RESIDENCE. r.s^i.i.^1 cu. Oncers: 1862. Capt. Wm. W. Wight New York, 45 Farmer, Livonia July 26 1st Lt. Walter H. Wallace.. . .Flat Rock, 23 Student, Flat Rock 26 2d Lt. David Birrell Tecumseh, 23 ... .Druggist, Detroit 26 Serjeants : 1. Robert A. Bain Scotland, 19 Salesman, Detroit Aug. 4 2. R. H. Humphreyville New York, 29 Carpenter, Livonia 12 3. B. Ross Finlayson New York, ig Druggist, Detroit 7 4. George W. Fox New York, 25 Farmer, Livonia July 28 5. Wallace W. Wight Livonia, 18 Farmer, Livonia 28 Corpofals : 1. Ira W. Fletcher Taylor, 18 Clerk, Flat Rock 31 2. Samuel F. Smith Brownstown, 26. . .Farmer, Brownstown Aug. 6 3. Jerome F. Lefevre Canada, 24 Clerk, Detroit July 28 4. James T. Rupert New York, 30 Unknown, Brownstown Aug. 6 5. Isaac M. Jennie Ohio, 26 Carpenter, Dearborn 8 6. Samuel Johnson Pennsylvania, 28 . . Farmer, Livonia July 28 7. Francis T. Dushain Detroit, 35 Farmer, Livonia 28 8. Thomas Saunders England, 28 Farmer, Brownstown Aug. 11 Musicians — Eli A. Blanchard Livonia, 18 Farmer, Livonia 5 Webster A. Wood Livonia, 20 Farmer, Livonia 5 Wagoner — Hiram Ruff Dearborn, 30 Farmer, Nankin 12 Pi'ivates : Richard D. Ainsworth New York, 35 Painter, Nankin 8 Thomas Butler New York, 19 Farmer, Huron li John R. Bruce New York, 29 Farmer, Nankin 2 Franklin A. Blanchard Livonia, 20 Farmer, Livonia 12 Andrew Bruthaumpt Germany, 43 Cabt. maker, Detroit 5 John R. Brown New York, ig Farmer, Brownstown 9 Orville Barnes Ohio, 37 Farmer, Livonia 7 Martin Cole Canada, 37 Lumberman, Detroit g Wm. J. Chase Canada, 32 Farmer, Brownstown 2 Peter Case New Jersey, 18 ... Farmer, Brownstown g William H. Cole Canada, 21 Sawyer, Detroit 13 Michael Daly Detroit, 20 Teamster, Dearborn 12 David F. Delaney Romulus, 18 Farmer, Nankin 8 George H. Dewey New York, 18 Farmer, Wayne Co 7 Wm. H. H. Dana New York, 21 Sailor, Detroit 8 James R. Ewing Livonia, 18 Farmer, Livonia 11 August Ernest Prussia, 18 Farmer. Brownstown July 31 John H. Fryer New York, 18 Farmer, Nankin Aug. 8 344 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN NATIVITY AND OCCUrATION AND RANK AND NAME. ^^^ RESIDENCE. ENLISTED. Joseph Ferstell Germany, 33 Brickmaker, Romulus . . . .July 28 Fernando D. Forbes New York, 24 Farmer, Brownstown 31 Eugene C. Gessley New York, ig ... .Farmer, Brownstown Aug. 4 Abner A. Galpin Dearborn, 18 Farmer, Brownstown 2 Conrad Gundlack Germany, 45 Laborer, Detroit 2 Isaac I. Green Redford, 23 Farmer, Livonia July 28 A-lbert Ganong Nankin, 18 Farmer, Nankin Aug. 8 Patrick Gaffney Greenfield, 18 Farmer, Livonia 11 Charles Gaffney Greenfield, ig Farmer, Livonia 2 Henry Hoisington New York, 36 Farmer, Livonia 11 Lewis Harland Pennsylvania, 24. .Farmer, Livonia 11 Charles D. Hoagland New York, 20 Farmer, Brownstown 6 Charles S. Hosmer Huron, 18 Farmer, Huron ... 5 Artemas Hosmer Huron, 18 Farmer, Huron 5 Wm. M. Johnson Pennsylvania, 3g. .Farmer, Livonia July 28 Henry W. Jameson Green Oak, 20 Farmer, Brownstown 31 Jonathan Jameson Green Oak, 18 Farmer, Brownstown Aug. 2 Frank Kellogg Ohio, 18 Moulder, Detroit i David J. Kellar New York, 18 Farmer, Nankin 6 George Kipp Huron, 24 Farmer, Huron 6 Marvin E. Lapham Livonia, ig Farmer, Livonia 12 James Leslie New York, 36 Farmer, Livonia 5 Elijah Little Canada, 40 Farmer, Wyandotte 7 Charles W. Loosee Monroe Co., 18 Farmer, Brownstown 9 Daniel W. Loosee Monroe Co., 20. .. .Farmer, Brownstown 4 William Laura Dearborn, ig Farmer, Brownstown 2 Barney J. Litogot Wayne Co., 24. . . .Farmer, Brownstown 14 John Litogot Wayne Co., 27 Farmer, Brownstown 11 William D. Lyon England, 31 Brewer, Detroit July 28 Evan B. McClure Pennsylvania, 23. .Farmer, Livonia 28 Neil McNeil Scotland, 51 Farmer, Brownstown Aug. 2 Chas. E. Maynard Redford, 19 Farmer, Livonia 11 Charles E. Miller Eaton Co., 18. .. .Teamster, Dearborn 18 Francis Miller Brownstown, 18. . . Farmer, Brownstown 2 Simon Miller Pennsylvania, 50. .Farmer, Brownstown 2 Hiram B. Millard New York, 37- •• -Farmer, Livonia July 28 Eugene R. Mills New York, 21 Teacher, Detroit Aug. 12 James Nowlin New York, 70 Farmer, Romulus 7 Andrew J. Nowland Huron, 23 Farmer, Huron 13 George W. Olmstead Ypsilanti, 18 Farmer, Brownstown 2 Robert Outhwaite Plymouth, 29 Blacksmith, Huron 5 Elijah P. Osborne New York, 20 Farmer, Nankin 7 John J. Post New Jersey, 27 Carpenter, Brownstown . . .July 31 Robert R. Peters New York, 28 Farmer, Brownstown Aug. 4 William Piatt England, 39 Mason, Brownstown 2 John A. Pattee Huron, 18 Farmer, Huron 5 Francis Pepin Detroit, 19 Carpenter, Detroit 12 Sherman Rice Huron, 18 Farmer, Huron 5 Hugh G. Roberts Wales, Eng., 26. . .Farmer, Livonia n ORIGINAL MEMBERS. 345 RANK AND NAME. NATIVITY AND AGE. OCCUPATION AND RESIDENCE. ENLISTED. Abraham Rathbone New York, 33 Farmer, Livonia Aug. 6 Andrew Smith England, 29 Farmer, Brownstown 9 Jerome B. Stockham New York, 34 Farmer, Livonia 8 Conrad Springer Germany, 26 Clerk, Detroit 8 Lilburn A.Spalding.! N. Hampshire, 19. Carpenter, Livonia 5 Charles A. Sutliff New York, 22 Farmer, Livonia 5 Wilber F. Straight Nankin, 21 Farmer, Nankin 2 Isaac L. Vandecar New York, 18 Farmer, Huron 5 James Van Houten Ash, 20 Farmer, Livonia 6 Jacob M. Van Riper Ash, 22 Farmer, Brownstown July 31 Enoch A. Whipple New York, 37 Carpenter, Brownstown. . . .Aug. 11 Rufus J. Whipple New York, 39 Farmer, Brownstown 9 Gurdon L. Wight Livonia, 19 Farmer, Livonia 5 David A. Wood New York, 19 Farmer, Livonia 5 Wallace A. Wood New York, 19 Farmer, Livonia 5 JERICHO MILLS ON THE NORTH ANNA. (28) CHAPTER XVII. Recruits of The Twenty-fourth Michigan. I. — THOSE WHO SAW SERVICE AT THE FRONT. QUITE a number of recruits came to the Twenty-fourth Michigan but only a small part of them saw service at the front. The war history of the regiment was made by the 1026 original members and 216 recruits who joined it at the front. They began to come in during the spring of 1864, while the regiment was wintering near Culpepper Court House, and are known as " Culpepper Recruits," to distinguish them from those who joined the regiment at Camp Butler, near Springfield, Illinois. These earlier recruits joined at a critical period of the war and are entitled to share in full the honors of the regiment, as they helped fight some of the severest battles in which it was engaged. Some of them were placed in the ranks even during an engagement, and were killed or wounded in that day's battle. These recruits served well and shared all the later dangers which confronted the original members. Some had brothers and relatives killed already in this regiment and had patriotically gone down to take their places. Some were captured and died in Confederate prisons; others came home maimed for life. Below is a list of such recruits who are entitled to share the full honors of the regiment and Iron Brigade : NAME. COMPANY. Joseph Affholter A . . Richard M. Bays Albert Couture George W. Dingman Peter Desnoyer Francis Griffin, jr Joseph Grisemaire Thomas D. Harris John W. Hodgetts AGE AND RESIDENCE. ENLISTED. Grosse Point Jan. 5, 1864 Niles Aug. 16, Grosse Point 19, " Ash Feb. 9, " Detroit 17, " Detroit 22, " Riga Sept. 27, " Wayne Co Aug. 23, " Bruce Apr. 26, " (346) RECRUITS. 347 NAME. COMPANY. Stephen Jackson A . . , Lewis D. Moores James Malley John Parish Peter Roberts Ferdinand Stark Julius Schultz John Townsend Albert Thalen Andrew J. Vinton Peter Vermiller Peter G. ZoU Henry R. Bird John P. Bell Charles Bruskie Darius H. Connor Robert H. Collinson Lewis Champaign Albert S. Cooper Edward Flood Samuel Fury J. Burkhardt Freund James Grills Luther Hemmingway William Lawrence Henry Loss Joseph E. McConnell James Morton John O'Connor Samuel Smith William Sullivan Lorenzo D. Smith Jacob Smith Frank Tscham Peter Velie James Bourdon Ara Cook Owen Churchill Niel Christiansen Patrick English John R. Field Jerome Head John Hutchinson George K. Innes Andrew E. Mitchell Reuben W. Page Charles M. Phillips Charles Rose George W. Stebbins Theodore D. Swain .20 .18 •30 .19 .18 .40 .22 .18 ■39 •32 .26 ■44 .18 .18 .20 .29 •25 .22 .18 .21 .21 •31 •35 .29 .18 .24 .19 .40 .22 .24 .18 .18 .21 ■32 .28 .22 .20 •24 •25 •34 •39 ■37 .19 •38 .28 .21 .19 .24 •34 .18 AGE AND RESIDENCE. ENLISTED. West Bloomfield Jan. 21, 1864 West Bloomfield 21, Ash 29, West Bloomfield 21, Wayne Co Sept. 26, Greenfield Jan. 4, Wayne Co Feb. 5, Nankin Aug. 19, Greenfield i, Oct. 26, Wayne Co Jan. 4, Wayne Co Sept. 26, Washington, D. C Apr. 23, 1863 Milton Aug. 25, 1864 Royalton 21, Grosse Point Feb. 25, Ash ' Mar. 24, Canton Feb. 29. Wayne Co 16, Jan. 16, Ash Mar. 17. Royalton Sept. 3, Wayne Co Jan. 4, Berrien Co. Sept. Marlette Feb. Dundee Sept. Detroit Apr. Coldwater Mar. 31, 1864 Avon Feb. 2, Sept 9, Royalton Aug. 21, Royalton Sept. 6, Kalamazoo Aug. 17, Springwells Feb. 27, Erin Mar. 30, Niles Aug. 30, Niles July 29, Niles Aug. 24, Ecorse Jan. 28, Bertrand Sept. 12, Niles Aug. 31, Niles 22, Niles 27, Nankin Jan. 19, Niles Aug. 15, Armada Jan. 20, Oronoco -^ug. 25, Detroit 12, Tecumseh 5, Bertrand 19, I, 8. I, 1863 348 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. NAME. COM Henry Smith Oscar St. John James St. Johns James L. Stafford Gideon B. Stiles James L. Sharp Amos A. Thompson George M. Velie Barney Anderson William Barrett William Biggsley Samuel Brown Agustus F. Brousky Thomas Baxter Allen Brown Henry Carpenter James L. Collard Thomas Downing George Dolan James L. Fairweather Reuben E. Glass John Guest John L. Gould A. Brutus Heig Richard Hamilton Harvey D. Hale Christopher Mayhew Frederick Maths Samuel Reed James M. Turing Henry Aldridge Hugh Brady Henry E. Bradley Patrick Coffee Joseph Collins George Curtis Dayton Fuller Lewis Hartman Nicholas Hanning William H. Kennell Cornelius Mahoney Benjamin Pettengill William A. Ringgold Thomas Rourke John L. Ryan George Ruby Ephraim P. Stratton Morgan Steinbeck John Talbot PANY. c .. AGE AND RESIDENCE. ENLISTED. .18 Ash Nov. 15, 1864 .24 Buchanan Aug. 31, " .18 Buchanan 29, " .27 Niles 23, " .22 Niles Sept. 2, " .28 Niles Aug. 16, " .18 Niles 29, " .27 Plymouth Jan. 4, " .42 Detroit Oct. 12, " .20 Detroit 24, " .22 Dearborn Dec. 2t, 1863 .23 Dearborn 27, " .18 Redford Sept. 5, 1864 .18 Greenfield 5, " .40 Springwells . 20, .21 Franklin Aug. 11, " .20 Romulus.., Feb. 2, " .33 Romulus 2, " . 18 Port Huron Dec. 29, 1863 .36 Ecorse Sept. 9,1864 .18 Redford 5, " .45 Dearborn Dec. 14, " .18 Detroit Oct. 18, " .18 Detroit Dec. 29, 1863 .18 Detroit Oct. 7,1864 .37 Romulus 18, " .27 Dearborn Jan. 16, " .18 Dearborn Dec. 14, 1863 .34 Dearborn Feb. 25, 1864 .25 Detroit Oct. 4, " .28 Buchanan Aug. 31, " .20 Dec. 12, 1863 .20 Niles Sept. 12, 1864 .28 Detroit Dec. 21, 1863 .20 Dearborn 14, " .37 Ontwa Sept. 5,1864 .39 Niles 5, " .18 Dec. 29, 1863 .19 Wayne Co 28, " .23 Dearborn 14, " .18 29, " .34 Niles Sept. 2, 1864 .18 .Dec. 26, 1863 .44 Raisin... 15, .23 Detroit Aug. 11. 1864 .18 Redford Sept. 16, " .35 Berrien 2, " .38 Milton Aug. 16, " .23 Niles Sept. 3, " RECRUITS. 349 NAME. COMPANY. Henry T. Willard E 44 Ephraim M. Yaw " 32 Silas Ausunkerhin F 18 Paul Boutts " 18 Andrew J. Bucklin " 22 Henry Baker " 18 John B. Beyette " 39 John B. Cicotte " 35 Charles B. Cicotte " 27 Daniel W. Crane " 18 Allen H. Cady " 19 Albert A. Doty " 39 Abel A. Doty " 34 Oliver Dubey " 22 Chester V. Daniels " 18 John S. Ensign " 42 V.'m. W. Griffin " 19 Joseph Gaffele " 18 Joseph Greusel " 29 Leander Herrick " 18 Bird H. Hosmer " 24 Joseph Jamieson " 35 Herman Krumback " 16 ■William Kenney " 25 John Largess " 19 Adam Oehring " 43 Henry Oakes " 17 Anthony Reno " 36 Frank M. Rose " 21 Thomas Robinson " 41 Bozile Vallade " 19 Franklin Van Schoick " 18 Joseph Baker G 18 George Beresford " 29 Henry Bedford " 20 Mathew Cavanaugh " 39 John Casey " 40 Isaac Conling " 43 David W. Fox " 19 Daniel Hemming '' 31 John Henderson " 23 James Keenan " 33 Richard Lennon " ....... 42 Thomas McMahon. " 38 Andrew Musberger " 31 John McPherson " 18 August McKeever " 20 Henry S. Paris " 21 Charles Rhew " 27 Thomas M. Smith " 38 AGE AND RESIDENCE. ENLISTED. Dearborn Oct. 3, 1864 Niles Sept. 3, " Erin Mar. 26, " Canton Aug. 10, " Dearborn Dec. 27, 1863 Detroit . . .Aug. 16, 1864 Ecorse Feb. 26, " Ecorse 26, " Ecorse 26, " Plymouth Aug. 24, " Plymouth 24. " Grosse Point Mar. 8, " Detroit Oct. 17, " Detroit Dec. 28, 1863 Dundee Aug. 25, 1864 Wright Mar. 3, " Detroit Aug. 11, " Detroit Dec. 13, " Franklin Aug. 10, " Plymouth Aug. 13, " Detroit Oct. 6, " Erin Mar. 24, " Detroit Dec. il, 1863 Macon Aug. 12, 1864 Springwells Sept. 19, " Ecorse Jan. 24, " Detroit Aug. 13, " Ecorse Feb. 26, " Dearborn Dec. 14, 1863 Dearborn Apr. 25, 1864 Ecorse Feb. 26, ' ' Dundee Aug. 25, " Plymouth 14, " Detroit Oct. 5, '" Detroit Dec. 30, 1863 Detroit Oct. 3, 1864 Detroit 4, " Fairfield Sept. 9, " Detroit Oct. 6, " Detroit 8, " Canton 3, " Redford . . .Sept. 14, " Dearborn 3, Woodstock 17, " Canton Oct. 3, " Detroit 7, " Detroit 7, " Columbus Mar. g, Springwells Sept. 20, " Hamtramck 14, " 350 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. NAME. COMPANY, Clement Saunier G . , Albert Taylor " . , Simon G. Taylor " Amos Arnold H . . Mathevv Anderson " ApoUos Austin " .. Thomas Burnett " .. Clark W. Butler " .. Uriah Caesar " James L. Colligan " . . Thomas Drumming " Ransom J. Fargo " Henry McNames " George Moore " John Relders " Edwin Sharais " Harlow S. Sherwood " James White " 26 18 ■■•.32 .... 20 .... 20 35 •••37 18 ....18 ... .21 21 ... .20 .... 20 ... .20 44 ....17 ... 42 ....19 James Anderson I 37 Anselm Ball " 33 John Donahoe " 25 Charles Davey " 21 Daniel Donahue " 18 Stephen Flynn " 18 James Johnson " 41 William T. Keays " 18 James Miller " 36 John C. Morehouse " ig Levi McDaniels " 42 Abner D. Porter " 18 Joseph Peyette, jr " 18 John Shannon " 22 Richard Taylor " 18 George P. Vorce " 40 Henry B. Vorce " 18 George Wallace " 18 John Chapman K i8 Franklin Colbetzor " 27 Alanson Cain " 40 William L. Conditt " 23 Henry Dumont " 18 Mathew Frankish " 19 Chauncey M.Griffith " 24 James Lynch " 27 Edward Merriman " 22 Henry L. Morse, " 31 Anson Miller " 23 Reuben Merrill, jr " 22 Henry Nowland " 23 Max Pischa " 43 AGE AND RESIDENCE. ENLISTED. Detroit Dec. 30, 1 863 Detroit Oct. 6, 1864 Canton 3, " Butler Feb. 8, " Royalton Sept. 24, " Ypsilanti 12, " Jackson Feb. 4, " Detroit .... Dec. 12, 1863 Dearborn 18, " Detroit Sept. 27, 1864 Detroit Jan. 13, " 20, " Freedom Feb. 4, " Wayne Co Aug. 5, " Wayne Co Dec. 18, 1863 Milton Sept. 12, 1864 Lasalle 3, " Lasalle 24, " Whiteford Oct. 29, " Somerset Jan. 4, " Huron Feb. 29, " Fairfield Aug 29, " Dearborn Feb. 18, " Tecumseh Aug. 6, " Wayne Co Jan. 28, " Dearborn Oct. 12, *' Troy Sept. 2, " Detroit Oct. 8, " Canton Sept. 23, " Springwells Feb. 17, " Ecorse Jan. 13, " Wayne Co Oct. 8, " Rutland Aug. 20, " Madison 13, " Madison 13, " Wayne Co Nov. i, " Saginaw Apr. 22, " Royalton Aug. 31, " Commerce Sept. 2, " Niles Aug. 27, " Dearborn Feb. 2, ' ' Niles Sept. 2, " Ann Arbor Aug. 30, " Farmington Sept. 2, " Nankin Aug. 30, " Royalton 31, " Niles 24, " Van Buren Oct. 3, " Huron 8, " Wayne Co Feb. 23, '' RECRUITS. 351 COMPANY. AGE AND RESIDENCE. John M. Reese K 23 Milton Aug. 24, 1864 Sylvester Riggs . . , Henry Smith Frederick Smoots. , Silas Tomlinson . . Edward M. Vesey John Veitz , John Wightman. . , .22 .22 .18 .22 .41 •37 •27 Detroit Oct. 6, Niles Aug. iG, Detroit Mar. 31, Buchanan Sept. 2, Ann Arbor Aug. 30, Ann Arbor 30, Nankin Jan. 2, Total 216, including 4 re-enlistments who were original members of the Regiment. 2 — SPRINGFIELD RECRUITS. By such are meant those who joined the regiment at Camp Butler, near Springfield, IlHnois, while it was on guard duty at the Draft Rendezvous there, and undergoing re-recruitment, for this was the second recruitment aside from its original formation. These men all enlisted during the months of January, February and March in 1865, and joined the regiment prior to March 29, 1865. One squad of them had even reached City Point, Va., to join it, after it had started for Springfield, and followed it to the latter place. A few of these recruits had seen service in other regiments and were attracted to the service again. Many had relatives and friends in the Twenty-fourth and were thus attached to it, as well as by the good name which it had acquired. Some probably read the signs of the times and believing the war to be near its close, hoped to escape field duty by joining this regiment where it then was. The war had closed by the surrender of Lee, just ten days after the regiment was recruited to its maximum. Had the war continued, the regiment would undoubtedly have returned to the field of operations with full ranks, and these recruits would doubtless have sustained its reputation had opportunity been presented. The history of the Twenty-fourth would be incomplete without their names. They were welcomed to its ranks at the time, and were sought for by our recruiting officers. They were all mustered out with the regiment except twenty-six who died of disease at Camp Butler and twenty who deserted, the latter being marked with a star (*). George A. Coykendall, Robert Cowan,* Solon M. Dewey, Alfred J. Deming, Ansel Farr, Henry Goldsmith, Hugh Gamble, COMPANY A. Henry H. Bowen, Alexander Beal, John W. Black, Jacob Blankertz, T. G. Bartholomew, William F. Henry, Andrew J. Holmes, Daniel C. Holmes, George W. Hanna, Emmet D. Harman, Henry H. Hunt, Selah F. House, 352 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. John G. Kettler, William Kent, Charles H. Kipp, William Loughburn, Joel O. Lyon, Alex. P. McManoney, James C. Moore, Josiah M. Milburn, Thomas A. Moore, Lester McKnight, Andrew Miller, George F. Niles, Henry Patno, William Powers, Winfield S. Preston, Watson P. Reed, Nathan Rhinehart, Hugo Rhodick,* Warren S. Stearns, William A. Story, Milton S. Story, Joshua L. Sutton, Jacob Saltsman, Hubert C. Southworth, Greenville M. Smith, George W. Sullivan, Llewellyn Smith, John W. Sutton, Stephen S. Stout, James O. Smith, Seldon D. Sperry, Zadock P. Thornton, Augustus O. Taylor, George Ventile, Henry P. Vannetta, Rollin G. Wood, Charles H. Williams, William H. Weaver, William White, Calvin Ward. COMPANY B. August Arlin, Calvin W. Aiken, John H. Alley, Darius J. Benjamin, Horace M. Bockway, James Cheeseman, E. Cross,* Edward Dompier, Charles Dobson, Win. H. Emmons, Joseph French, Gotlieb Gebhardt, Carlton Greenleaf, William Hamilton, Christian Hopp, James Hogan, Anthony Hawkins, Darius K. Irwin, Lyman Knapp, Andrew F. Kipper, Patrick Kealy, William J. Keagle, Peter Lacroix, Henry A. Leming, Peter Lapier, Jacob Lightner, Samuel P. Lockwood, Arthur E Martin, James McCabe, Henry Miller, Clifford Montgomery, Christian Metzer, Henry McWithey, Augustus Note, John Newman, Francis O'Niel, Abram J. Pierce, Edward Pope, Jerome Pierce, Joseph Parker, William H. Parker, Henry Pope, William C. Pope, James E. Parker, David L. Reynolds, Andrew Smith, Levi Shumway, George K. Smith, John F. Tuthill, Lyman Thornton, Joseph Wagner, Albert Watson, John Whitehouse, Owen Walters, Daniel Walters, David Walters, Charles Welch, Frank Willis, George S. Warren. COMPANY C. Charles Avery, Henry E. Alton, Henry Ashdown, Franklin Billings, M. Burke,* Samuel T. Babbitt,* Job W. Boyce, James Brain, Harrison Bump, Frank Baker, Henry H. Calkins, Robert H. Collins, Elmer E. Cooper, Thomas Checken, Henry Delessee, George G. Everett, Francis M. French, George Fox, Joel S. Fessenden, Thomas Genderson, Michael Greening John Greening, George Glover, Edward Haven, George Horn, Thomas Hastings, Myron Holden, Hiram Hilton, John J. Hart, Davis L. Hurlburt, John Haines, Anselm H. Jessup, Henry W. Jones, Joseph C. Kyle, Alonzo R. Kyle, Erastus Kidder, Richard Kern, Peter G. Kelley. Peter S. Green, Nelson Lemon, William Lawrence,* Marcus Morton, Walter S. Mizner, Benjamin F. McNitt, James M. Noell, Henry P. Odell, James O'Brien, John Reynolds, Thomas Stapleton, RECRUITS. 353 Thomas Shannahan. Frank Varbaum, George White, Eli Whiley. COMPANY D. James Adams, Malcolm Angel, William Burlingame, Henry Brown, Nelson Barcume, Chas. A. Champion, Philip Cornell, John Cameron, William Cummings, Orrin Dodge, John Downing, John A. Devoe, James C. Dancer, Thomas Feagan,* Peter H. Fryer, Lewis Fisher, August Farland, Edward A. Herrick, Charles Jones, Eli Jacobs, John F. Jackson, George Kuyle, David J. Kendall, Joseph Labadeaux, Joseph Ladue, William Millard, Michael S. McNamara, William McLane, Basil Martin, Isaac Mennor, Robert Martin, Thomas McMann, Samuel Perry, Isaiah Pegram, Stewart W. Perry, Charles N. Smith, Martin Stewart, Philip Sage, Henry Varsop, Edward Webster, John Weid, William White, Daniel B. Wisener, Wm. R. Whitman. (24) COMPANY E. O. M. Armstrong, Pliny T. Averill, Joseph Booth, Hosea Birdsall, Bradford Blanchard, Clark Bailey, Newton Belden, Oscar Blakesley, John H. Beleon, Ezra Brainard, Israel Buzzard, Manly M. Boyington, Levi Bankman, Andrew J. Buck, James Baker, jr., Charles Barney, Owen Carrack, Edward Crow, Jonathan W. Crawford, Milo Crawford, Chauncey T. Carpenter, Clarence D. Case, James Caffrey, William Carter, William Campion, Augustus S. Denton, William Deal, Harrison M. Dickey, John M. Davis, Charles E. Durfee, Fred'k H. Esenhart, George Frear, Jerome B. Frasier, James W. Goodfellow, James S. Gouder, William H. Giles, Rudolph E. Hammond, Daniel Harrington, John H. Hawkins, Hiram Kenyon, Melvin G. Lincoln, Charles Leigh, Lyman W. Liscomb, Charles McKenstry, Frederick C. Moore, John M. Marlow, Lewis Metcalf, William. H. Parker, Augustus N. Parker, Nathan Penrod, Patrick Quickley, Owen Riley, C. Sidman,* Charles B. Salsbury, John Sixby, Townsend Trombley, George Vandine, W. C. Wilmarth, George E. Walcott, William Welch, James E. Whalon, Duane Witherell, Julius M. Ward, Henry O. Wheaton, Hollis A. Ward, Erskine Wood. COMPANY F. William Ayling, Chas. E. Armstrong, Nelson Burch, Adam Burwell, James C. Bruce, George Brookleback, William H. Bailey. James Canary* Gideon Chilson, Angus Campbell, Jeremiah Crawley, John G. Collins, William L. Congell, William B. Cox, Orson J. Davis, Charles Davis, George R. Doxey, Henry De Rosslyn, Rodney Enos,* Almeron Fuller, John French, John Forest, Charles M. Failing, John A. Fisher, Joseph Gravel,* Charles Gildea. Games Jaffley, Ezekiel P. Gee, •Charles W. Goodrich, Alonzo W. Hozner, Joshua Herrington. 354 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Amos Jarey, Benj. F. Lamoyne, Henry Miller,* Robert Milburn, Joseph Mallette, David Mitchell, Peter Munanson, Charles A. Moore, Andrew Moore, Joseph Mott, Francis McArthur, William H. Marsh, Thomas O'Neal, David O'Hara, James B. Purdy, Samuel Piper, Luther S. Pelham, Edward Phillips, Joseph H. Reed, Joseph J. Roberts, William Reynard, Edward S. Rodgers, Alexander Reed, Thomas W. Rutledge, John B. Tutton, Jacob Thompson, Orin L. Vreeland, William Wallace, William Welch, William Woodley, Wilmot Wooleven. COMPANY G. Henry S. Barrett,* Sylvanus A. Bennett, Thomas Belknap, Joseph Brabau, Alfred Casgrain, Michael Cassedy, August Chaplin, Henry Campbell, Stephen A. Carpenter, Martin Conners, David W. Curry, Robert Davis, Thomas Delano, Horace Dean, James H. Dewer, Richard Eanser, George W. Fox, Wm. B. Flanigan, Joseph Forester, Patrick Hayes, Harvey B. Hall, Hub Lull, John Lyon, John Miller, John McLeod, James McGowan, William Reeves, James Smith, Mathus Shinners, Henry A. Smith, Frederick Shieck, William A. Stone, Edward R. Smith, John R. Stevenson, William H. Warner. COMPANY H. G. W. Brockinshaw, Levi Clark, Henry H. Connor, Leander G. Cutting, Joseph Chutter, John W. Coverstone, Thomas Cobbeldick, Almond S. Cook, Edward Calkins, John V. Dobson, Porter A. Dean, James Edwards, Edward English, Sharon Elrick,* Christopher H. Fetzmire, Andrew Fetchelon, George Gottwald, William Gibbons,* Philo Hallett, John B. Hill, Daniel Horning, Frank E. Higbee, Eleazer B. Howard, Caleb G. Howell, Frederick W. Holmes, Benjamin H. Hodge, John Hogan, Richard Hannis, Edward D. Hoisington, Mader Isabell, Thomas Iddles, Frank Joslyn, William Johnson, Thomas Kane, James H. Kennicut, Francis Little, Bernard Lucke, Daniel McGraw, Angus Matherson, Alvin H. Martin, Benjamin Montville, Edward Newberry, Adolphus Nollett, James H. Owens, James W. Parker, John Rickel, William F. Rogers, John Rhea, William Steele, Edwin C. Stevens, Timothy Sullivan, Edward S. Staples, Archibald Shotwell, Dewain Sweezy, Morris J. Smith, Chauncey W. Stevens, William W. Studley, Alfred Turner, Andrew Timis, Henry Turner, Frank Whipple, Charles F. Wickwire, Charles Weed.* COMPANY I. Franklin Bichard, Mathew Black, George Brown, James Blythman, Emery O. B. Chadwick, Day Cudderback, John M. Chapman, Michael Donohue, Edward N. Davie, William Davaney, William Davis, Thomas Evans, Henry Franklin, James Fancheon, William Graham, RECRUITS. 355 William Graham, Jr., William Gault, Sylvester R. Holden, Theodore Hiller, John Hollingvvorth, William Hagarty, Robert Johnson, Henry Jeffrey, James Jeffrey, James Kelley,* John Louw, Ezra Lewis, Spencer Langdon, Cornelius Locker, John McGlenchy, Edward Major, Wm. H. Morton, James H. Nortrand, Garrett N. Nieland, John O'Connor, John W. Norris, Orison C. Pierson, Amos H. Palmer. Solomon Phagon, William L. Pattison, Thomas E. Paver, John Quinn, Joseph Quibell, Peter Riley,* Everett Russell, Jackson Robertson, James Roe, John Ryan, Richard Rone, John Rooney, Charles M. Richeson, Thomas Roberts, Joseph Sharpless, William W. Sly, Harvey Smith, Job W. Sexton, Richard Somers, Joseph Sampler, John Scrivan, John K. Taylor, William H. Thomas. William Utley, William D. Warner, Samuel Walters, Jacob Walters, Homer Watson. COMPANY K. James Anderson, George W. Annis, William H. Ames, Thomas Brown, William Burke, George G. Barre, George H. Barnum, William Breen, George M. Coy,* William Carmon, John Cook, Morris Cummings, Byron Crittenden, Wm. H. Dennison, George S. Engle, Andrew J. Gallery, William Gordon, John Hewins, James K. P. Heath, Jacob Hamp, William Haywood, John Hasley, Owen King, Edmund Little,* Ira Lucas, Seymour A. Long, Robert Miller, Andrew McBride, William Morse, Oliver G. Meacham, Henry L. McCarthy, Ezra McVay, Archibald McLean, Charles Millimine, George W. McGlenn, Bela H. Morrow, Simon B. Meade, Charles F. Marble, Charles E. Morgan, Thomas Newton, Evert R. Nickerson, Samuel O. Phelps, Isaac F. Parrish, Dexter B. Proper, Henry J. Philleo, Albert H. Reed, Sylvester Riggs, Elijah J. Rhinehart, John Shoemaker, William A. Smalley, Edson Sherman, Timothy Shein, Peter Shewfelt, James K. Thompson, Stephen Underbill, Henry H. Van Est, John Vandercruk, William C. Voorhies, J. Wickham,* Albert O. Williams, James H. Webb, Richard A. Ward, Luther White, George H. West. UNASSIGNED. James Ackley, Bela Ames, William H. Ames, James A. Armstrong, Richard H. Blodgett, Austin Birch, David Boyd, Charles F. Beardsley, Detzel Bradford, James Brooks, George A. Bidwell, Robert Burton, Ezra C. Crane, George R. Chapman, George Cornwell, Moulton H. Canfield, James S. Cole, Jacob Cole, William E. Craig, Marshal B. Dunlap, James Daama, Theodore Dickinson, Dexter Davis, Peter Frey, John R. Fowler, Elmore Gates, Peter D. Gibson, Henry Griffith, James A. Gould, Edwin M. Huntington, Henry J. Haight, William Hartranft, William E. Hunt, 356 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Samuel A. Hubbard, Michael Hartigan, George Hett, John Harris, Robert Harding, William Havens, William Hollister, Nelson Hendershot, Edward Harrison, George S. Johnson, John Jones, Edward Leeland, Lewis Lebeaux, Lewis Mapes, Jackson R. Myres, Jacob Munshaw, Jerome Moekma, William H. Mitchell, John Niblas, Mathew Notier, Edwin C. Noyes, John Preston, Jasper Perry, Charles Pike, Frank S. Popplewell, William A. Peavey, Amos W. Rogers, Richard R. Root, George Reese, Otis Reed, B. J. Reeves, David R. Ragan, Maxwin Robedeaux, Edward Robinson, David B. Shannon, Charles H. Safford, William W. Lewis, Emery D. Still, Richard Scarritt, James Thomas, John F. Tidd, Gardner A. Terry, Henry G. Thompson, Jos. T. Van Amburg, David R. Wood, Ira Wayland, Robert Wycoff, Henry White, William Wright, James W. Whittaker, Wm. W. Woodford, Christopher A. Walker, William Weir, Hamilton Walker, Wm. H. Wright. The " unassigned " enlisted before the close of the war, but most of them arrived in Camp Butler for the Twenty-fourth Michigan, a few days after its maximum number was made up. They were organized into a company by themselves and Lieut. Augustus F. Ziegler was detailed by Col. A. M. Edwards to command them. They were discharged with the regiment. CHAPTER XVIII. F Roster of The Officers. OLLOWING are the records of the officers of the Twenty- fourth Michigan Infantry. The star (*) signifies: " Mustered out with the Regiment at Detroit, Michigan, June 30, 1865." FIELD AND STAFF. Henry A. Morrow. Colonel, Aug. 15, 1862. Brevet Brig.-Gen'l U. S. Vols, by the President on recommendation of Gen. Meade, Dec. 2, 1864, to rank from A.ug. i, 1864, " for gallant and distinguished services during the present campaign before Richmond." Brevet Major-Gen'l, U. S. Vols., to rank from Feb. 6, 1865, " for conspicuous bravery and general good conduct at the battle of Dabney's Mills, Va." — On leaves of absence from Feb. 12 to 16, from March 24 to April i, from June i to 5, 1863 ; from March 7 to II, and Sept. 20 to Nov. 12, 1864. On sick leaves from July 14 to Aug. 7 and Oct. 10 to Dec. 6, 1863. On Recruiting Service in Michigan from March 21 to May i and Aug. 2 to Sept. 20, 1864. On Court of Inquiry at Columbus, Ohio, from Oct. 5 to Nov. 7, 1S64. — Commanded Iron Brigade from Nov, 4 to 6, 1862 ; from June 7 to 13 and Aug. 21 to 23, 1863 ; from Jan. 3 to Feb. 28, 1864 ; and from Dec. 22, 1864 to Jan. 20, 1865. — In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness and Dabney's Mill. On Mud March and Raid on Weldon Railroad to Hicksford on the Meherrin River. In command of Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions and jointly with Col. Bragg of the 6th Wis. at Fitzhugh Crossing ; also, on Raccoon Ford recon- noissance. — Wounded at Gettysburg July i, 1S63, and taken prisoner. Escaped without parole on July 4. Wounded severely in leg at Wilderness, May 5, 1864 ; also wounded at Dabney's Mill, Feb. 7, 1864. — Left Regiment permanently at Springfield, 111., April 14, 1865, to command the Iron Brigade, until June 22 In command of Provisional Division (including Iron Brigade), at Louisville, Ky, from June 22 to July 19, 1865, when he was mustered out. Lieut. -Colonel 36th U. S. Inf. July 28, 1866. To 15th U. S. Inf. March 15. 1869. Colonel 2ist U. S. Inf. April 27, 1879. Mark Flanigan. Lieut. -Colonel, Aug. 15, 1862. In command of Regiment from Nov. 4 to 6, 1862 ; Feb. 9 to 16, March 24 to April i, June i to 5 and 7 to 13, 1863. — In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions. Wounded at Gettysburg, losing a leg. Discharged for wounds Nov. 21, 1863. Brevet Colonel, U. S. Vols.. March 13, 1865, " for gallantry in action at Fredericksburg, Va " Brevet Brig.-Gen'l, March 13, 1865, " for meritorious conduct in the campaign of Gettysburg, Pa., and for services in that engagement." William W. Wight. Captain of K, July 26, 1862. Lieut. -Colonel, Feb. i, 1864 to rank from Nov. 22, 1863. In command of Regiment from Feb. i to 28 ; from March (357) • 358 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. 8 to II ; from March 21 to May i; from May 5 to 9 and from May 23 to June 9, 1864. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilderness (May 6 and 7, 1864),! Laurel Hill (May 8),f Jericho Ford.f North Anna.f Tolopotomoy and Bethesda Church, f On Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers and Mine Run; also. Raccoon Ford Reconnoissance. — On sick leaves from Jan. i to Feb. 8 and from Aug. 11 to Oct. 6, 1863. In Field Hospital from May 9 to 23, 1864. Wounded at Gettysburg. Resigned for disability, June 9, 1864. Left the Regiment behind their works near Bethesda Church. Albert M. Edwards. Captain of F, Aug. 15, 1862, to rank from July 26. Major, Feb. I, 1864, to rank from Nov. 22, 1863. Lieut. -Colonel, July 17, 1864, to rank from June 9. Acting Assistant Inspector General from June 11 to 13, 1863. Brevet Colonel, March 13, 1865, "for gallant and meritorious services during the war." — In command of Regiment from 4.30 p. m. July i to July 4, 1863; from July 14 to Aug. 9, from Aug. 21 to 23 and Oct. 10 to Dec. 6, 1863: also, from Jan. 3 to Feb i, May 9 to 23 and June 9 to Nov. 13, 1864; also, from Jan 17 to 20, from Jan. 24 to March 31, from April 14 to 22, on May 4 and from June 17 to 30, 1865. — To Alexandria for 1,300 convalescents, June 25 to 29, 1863. On leave of absence from Feb. 10 to 25, 1864; a:lso from Dec. 22, 1864, to Jan. 16, 1865. To New York with recruits from April 5 to 12, 1865. In command of Camp Butler, 111., from April 14 to 25, 1865. President of General Court Martial at Springfield, 111., from April 24 to June 17, 1865. On Guard of Honor over President Lincoln's remains. May 3, 1865. — In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg (in command after 4.30 p. m. July i,) Locust Grove, f Wilderness, Laurel Hill, (May 9 to 12), f Salient at Spottsylvania,f Jericho Ford, North Anna, Tolopotomoy, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, f Petersburg,! Siege of Petersburg,! Weldon Railroad, f Hatcher's Runf and Dabney's Mill.f On Mud xMarch, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers,! Mine Run,f Reconnoissances to Raccoonville, Yellow Tavernf and Vaughn Road,f and Raid to Meherrin River.* Never wounded— In every battle and march of the regiment. Henry W. Nall. Major, Sept. 4, 1862. Appointed to try cases in Regimental Court Martial offenses, Sept. 25. In battle of Fredericksburg. On sick leave from Dec. 18, 1862, until honorably discharged for sickness, April 17, 1863. Left Regiment in bivouac near Falmouth, Dec. 20, 1862. Edwin B. Wight. Captain of A, July 26, 1862. Acting Major from Dec. 18, 1862, to June 22, 1863, when he was mustered as full Major to rank from June i. Appointed Dec. 24, 1862, to try cases in Regimental Court Martial offenses. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions and Campaign of Maneuvers. Wounded at Gettysburg July i, 1863, losing an eye, while acting as Lieutenant-Colonel. Returned to Regiment Sept. 23 while it was at "Camp Peck" near Culpepper, Va. Honorably discharged for wounds, Nov. 17, 1863, being pronounced by his Division and Corps. Surgeons unfit for further duty in the field. Left Regiment near Beverly Ford, Nov. 20, 1863. William Hutchinson, ist Lieutenant of G, July 26, 1862. Captain, April 20, 1863, to rank from March 10. Major, July 17, 1864, to rank from June 9. Brevet Lieut. -Colonel, March 13, 1865, "for gallant and meritorious service during the war." In command of the Regiment from Dec. 22, 1864, to Jan. 17, 1865, and from April 22 to June 17. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Siege of Petersburg, Weldon Railroad and Hatcher's Run. On Mud March, t In command of Regiment. ROSTER OF THE OFFICERS. 359 Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run, Reconnoissances to Yellow Tavern and Vaughn Road and Raid to Meherrin River. — On detached service in Michigan from Feb. 5 to June 19, 1864. Wounded at Gettysburg and behind works before Petersburg, June iq, 1864, a few minutes after his return to Regiment from Michigan. On leave of absence from Jan. 20 to Feb. 22 and from March i to April 22, 1865. Served a tour as Guard of Honor over remains of President Lincoln, May 3, 1865.* Dr. John H. Beech. Surgeon, Aug. 24, 1862, to rank from. Aug 15. With wounded at Gettysburg until Aug. 19, 1863. Acting Brigade Surgeon Dec. 31, 1863, Surgeon-in-Chief of Iron Brigade from July, 1864, to March, 1865. Returned to Regiment at Camp Butler, 111., March 12. Resigned for ill health, April, 4, 1865. Dr. Charles C. Smith. ist Assistant Surgeon, Aug. 15, 1862. Honorably discharged on tender of resignation, Feb. 14, 1863. Left Regiment at Belle Plain, Va., Feb. 16, 1863. Dr. Alexander Collar. 2d Assistant Surgeon, Aug. 18, 1862, to "rank from Aug. 14. Left with wounded at Gettysburg until honorably discharged for ill health, Sept. 18, 1863. Dr. George W. Towar, jr. Joined Regiment at Belle Plain, as Assistant Surgeon, Aprils, 1863, to rank from March i. On duty with sharpshooters connected with the Iron Brigade, during autumn of 1863 till Nov. ist. With wounded after Wilderness from May 5 to May 29, 1864. Returned to duty with Regiment.* Dr. Edward Lauderdale. 2d Assistant Surgeon, April ir, 1865, to rank from March 30. Joined Regiment at Camp Butler, 111.* James J. Barns, ist Lieut, and Adjutant, Aug 15, 1862. On sick leave from Oct. 25, 1S62, to Feb. 5, 1863. In battles of Fitzhugh Crossing and Chancellorsville. On Port Royal Expedition. Resigned for disability May 9, 1863. Left Regiment at "Camp Way" near Fitzhugh. Seril Chilson. Enlisted in D, Aug. 5, 1862. To 4th Corporal Jan. 25, 1S63. Brigade Quartermaster's Clerk from Jan. 10 to Aug, 27, 1863. ist Lieut, and Adjutant, Sept. 15, 1863. On leave of absence from Dec. 19, 1863, to Jan. 5, 1864. Acting Aide on General Cutler's Staff, at Division Headquarters, June 5, 1864. In battle of Fredericksburg, Campaign of Maneuvers, Locust Grove, Mine Run, Reconnoissance to Raccoonville, battles of Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania, Jericho Ford, North Anna, Tolopotomoy, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor and Petersburg. Killed in battle before Petersburg, June 18, 1864. Lewis H. Chamberlin. Enlisted Aug. 12, 1862, in F. To 4th Sergeant Aug. 15. On detached service at ist Army Corps Headquarters from May 17 to Sept. 9, 1863. To 1st Sergeant, May i, 1864. ist Lieutenant, July 6, 1864, to rank from Nov. 22, 1863. (Not mustered.) ist Lieutenant and Adjutant, July 28, 1864 to rank from June 19. — On detached service at Grand Rapids and Jackson, Mich., from Feb. i to Aug. 13, 1864. Returned to Regiment Aug. 14, 1864. — In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Siege of Petersburg, Weldon Railroads Hatcher's Run, and Dabney's Mill. On Mud March, Port Royal Expedition, Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run, Reconnoissances to Yellow Tavern, Vaughn Road and Raid to Meherrin River. — Wounded at Dabney's Mill, F'eb. 7, 1865. To New York with 300 conscripts from Camp Butler, 111, in March, 1S65.* DiGBY V. Bell, jr. ist Lieut, and Regimental Quartermaster, July 28, 1862. Acting Brigade Commissary, Nov. 4 1862. On leave of absence from Feb. 25 to 360 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. March 15, 1863. Acting Commissary of Subsistence for Iron Brigade, Oct. 18, 1863. Honorably discharged on tender of resignation, Nov. 3, 1863. Left Regiment near Beverly Ford, Va. , Nov. 17. David Congdon. Enlisted in H, Aug. 8, 1862. Quartermaster's Clerk, October, 1862. ist Lieut, and Regimental Quartermaster, Jan. 27, 1864, to rank from Nov. 3, 1863.* Rev. William C. Way. Chaplain, Aug. 19, 1862, to rank from July 26. With wounded several weeks after Gettysburg. Returned to Regiment, Sept. 13, 1863. On duty in Field Hospital of 4th Division, 5th Corps, from July 4 to Sept. 23, 1864, and for two weeks from Nov. 15. Correspondent of Detroit Tribune while in the service. Only Chaplain of a Michigan Regiment who remained in the service from the muster-in to the muster-out of his regiment.* LINE OFFICERS — CAPTAINS. Isaac W. Ingersoll. Captain of B, July 26, 1862. In battle of Fredericksburg. Resigned for old age and disability, Dec. 20, 1862. Left Regiment on march from Falmouth to Belle Plain, Dec. 22, 1862. Calvin B. Crosby. Captain of C, July 26, 1862. Resigned for ill health, Dec. 5, 1862. Left Regiment at Brooks' Station, Va., Dec. 9. William J. Speed. Captain of D, July 26, 1862. Division Judge Advocate of General Court Martial, October, 1862. On Sick Leave from Jan. 3 to Feb. 7, 1863. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. On Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions. Killed at Gettysburg, July i. 1863, while Acting-Major of his Regiment. James Cullen. Captain of E, July 2b, 1862. In battle of Fredericksburg. Resigned for disability, Dec. 20, 1862. Left Regiment on march from Falmouth to Belle Plain. William A. Owen. Captain of G, July 26, 1862. Wounded at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862, by concussion of spine by shell. Absent in General Hospital from Dec. 16, 1862, to March 7, 1863. Discharged March 14, 1863, at Belle Plain, Va., for injury received in action at Fredericksburg. Warren G. Vinton. Captain of H, July 26, 1862. In battle of Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. Honorably discharged for ill health upon advice of surgeons, Dec. 29, 1862. Left Regiment at Belle Plain, Va. George C. Gordon. Captain of I, July 26, 1862. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions. Prisoner at Gettysburg, July i, 1863. Confined in Libby, Andersonville and Millen, Ga., and Columbia, S. C. Escaped three times and twice re-captured. Final escape, Feb. 14, 1865. Returned to Regiment at Camp Butler, 111., May i. Nominally in command of Regiment, June 16, 1865 — one day. Brevet Major, March 13, 1865, "for gallant and meritorious services during the war."* William H. Rexeord. ist Lieutenant of B, July 26, 1862. Captain, Dec. 20, to rank from Dec. 13. Acting Adjutant from May 9 to July i, 1863. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions. Wounded at Gettysburg, July i, 1863. Honorably discharged for wounds, Nov. 21, 1863. ROSTER OF THE OFFICERS. 361 Charles A. Hoyt. ist Lieutenant of C, July 26, 1862. Captain, Dec. 13. On Sick Leave from March 18 to May 10, 1863. In battles of Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. On Mud March and Westmoreland Expeditions. Wounded at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1S62, and severely at Gettysburg, July i, 1863. Honorably discharged for wounds, Nov. 21, 1863. MAL.A.CHI J. O'DoNNELL. 2d Lieutenant of E, July 26, 1862. Captain, Dec. 24. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland E.\peditions. Killed at Gettysburg, July I, 1863. John C. Merritt. ist Lieutenant of H, July 26, 1862. Captain, Dec. 29. On Leave of Absence from April 26 to May 10, 1863. In battle of Fredericksburg. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions. Sent to Georgetown Hospital, June 18, while Regiment was at Guilford C. H., Va. Died of typhoid fever at Georgetown, D. C, July 9, 1863. Richard S. Dillon, ist Lieutenant of A, July 26, 1862. Captain, June 22, 1863, to rank from. June i. Acting Assistant Inspector General of Iron Brigade from Jan. 6 to Aug. 5, 1864. Brevet Major, April 9, 1865, " for meritorious services during the campaign terminating in the surrender of the insurgent army under Gen. R. E. Lee." On Recruiting Service in Michigan from Aug. 6 to Nov. 2, 1864. In command of Pioneers, Headquarters 3d Division, 5th Corps, from December, 1864, until after Lee's surrender. Returned to Regiment at Camp Butler, 111., May 30, 1865. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Laurel Hill. Salient at Spottsylvania, Jericho Ford, North Anna, Tolopotomoy, Bethesda Church, (field of Cold Harbor), Petersburg, Siege of Petersburg, Dabney's Mill, Boydton Plank Road, White Oak Ridge, Five Forks and Appomattox. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run and Raid to Meherrin River. Wounded at Gettysburg, July I, 1863, and returned to duty August 30, 1863.* John M. Farland. ist Lieutenant of D, July 26, 1862. Acting Assistant Quartermaster, ist Corps, from March 20 to May 15, 1863. Captain, Aug. 31, 1863, to rank from July 4. In battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and Locust Grove. On Mud March, Westmoreland Expedition, Campaign of l^Ianeuvers, Mine Run and Reconnoissance to Raccoonville. Wounded at Gettysburg, July i, 1863. Returned to Regiment in August. On Sick Leave from March 20, 1864, until discharged for disability, July 9, 1864. George Hutton. ist Sergeant of G, July 24, 1862. Ordnance Sergeant, Nov. 13, 1862. 2d Lieutenant of C, Dec 13. Acting Adjutant from Jan. 17 to Feb. 8, 1863. Acting Regimental Quartermaster from Feb. 23 to March 23. ist Lieutenant of I, March i. Acting Adjutant from July 2 to Sept. 15. Captain of E, Aug, 31, 1863, to rank from July 4. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellors- ville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove and Wilderness. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run and Reconnoissance to Raccoonville. Killed in Wilderness battle, May 5, 1864. Body never found. Supposed to have been burned Edwin E. Norton. Enlisted in F and became Sergeant Major, Aug. 16, 1862. 1st Lieutenant of E, Dec. 24, 1862. Wounded at Gettysburg, July i, 1863. Captain of H, Sept. 30, 1863, to rank from July 9. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove and Wilderness. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine C?5) 362 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Run and Reconnoissance to Raccoon Ford. Prisoner at Wilderness, May 5, 1864. Released Feb. 8, 1865, Returned to Regiment at Camp Butler, 111., April 26.* (Had been private in ist Michigan, 3 mo.. Inf.) George W. Burchell. 2d Lieutenant of G, July 26, 1862. ist Lieutenant, April 17, 1863, to rank from March 10. Captain of B, Jan. 29, 1864, to rank from Nov. 21, 1863. On Recruiting Service in Michigan from March 24 to May 3, 1864. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing (field of Chancellorsville), Locust Grove, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Salient at Spottyslvania, Bethesda Church (field of Cold Harbor), Petersburg, Siege of Petersburg, Weldon Railroad and Hatcher's Run. On Mud March, Port Royal ■ Expedition, Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run, Reconnoissances to Raccoon Ford, Yellow Tavern and Vaughn Road. — Wounded at Fitzhugh Crossing, April 29, 1863. Returned to Regiment in August. W'd at Laurel Hill, May, 12, 1864. Returned to duty June 3. W'd before Petersburg, June 18. Returned to duty June 26, 1864. Appointed, Dec. 28, 1864, to try Regimental Court Martial cases. Resigned for disability Jan. 21, 1865. Left Regiment at " Camp Crawford," in front of Petersburg. John Witherspoon. ist Sergeant of B, July 24, 1862. 2d Lieutenant, Dec. 13. On leave of absence from Jan. 14 to 31, 1863. ist Lieutenant of C, Sept. i, 1863, to rank from July 14. Captain, Feb. i, 1864, to rank from Nov. 22, 1863. Wounded at Wilderness, May 5, 1864. Returned August 5. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Weldon Railroad, Hatcher's Run and Dabney's Mill. On Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run, and Siege of Petersburg, on Reconnoissances to Raccoon Ford, Yellow Tavern and Vaughn Road. On General Court Martial at Springfield, 111., June 14 to 17, 1865.* (Private in ist Michigan, 3 mo.. Inf. Severely wounded in wrist at Bull Run, July 21, 1861.) William R. Dodsley. Enlisted in H, Aug. 5, 1862. ist Sergeant, Aug. 15. 2d Lieutenant to rank from Dec. 29. Wounded at Gettysburg, July i, 1S63. Returned July 27. 1st Lieutenant of K, to rank from Sept. i, 1863. Captain, Feb. i, 1864, to rank from Nov. 22, 1863. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Salient at Spottsylvania, Jericho Ford, North Anna, Tolopotomoy, Bethesda Church, (field of Cold Harbor), Petersburg, Siege of Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Hatcher's Run and Dabney's Mill. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run, Reconnoissances to Raccoon Ford, Yellow Tavern, Vaughn Road and Raid to Meherrin River. Served on Court Martial while in front of Petersburg, Va., and on General Court Martial in Springfield, 111., from April 24 to June 17; 1865. Served as Guard of Honor over remains of President Lincoln, at Springfield Capitol, 111., May 3, 1865.* George W. Haigh. ist Sergeant of D, Aug. 12, 1862. Acting Regimental Quartermaster from Oct. 18, 1863, to Jan. 29, 1864, and from March 13 to April 22, 1864. 1st Lieutenant, Oct. 7, 1863, to rank from July 4. Wounded at Fitzhugh Crossing, April 29, 1863. Returned June 23. Wounded at Gettysburg, July i, 1863. Captain, May 3, 1864, to rank from Nov. 22, 1863. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, (field of Chancellorsville), Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Jericho Ford, North Anna, Tolopotomoy, Bethesda Church (field of Cold Harbor), Petersburg, Siege of Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Hatcher's Run and Dabney's Mill. On Mud March, Port Royal Expedition, Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run, Reconnoissances to Raccoon Ford, Yellow Tavern, Vaughn Road and Raid to Meherrin River. ROSTER OF THE OFFICERS, 363 H. Rees Whiting. 2d Lieutenant of A, July 26, 1862. Acting Adjutant from Oct. 23, 1862, to Jan. 25, 1863. Wounded at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. Captured at Gettysburg, July I, 1863. Paroled from Libby Prison, March 14, 1864. Returned to duty June 29, 1864. Captain of E, to rank from May 6. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Siege of Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Hatcher's Run, Dabney's Mills, Boydton Plank Road, White Oak Road, Five Forks and Appomattox. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Reconnoissances to Yellow Tavern, Vaughn Road and Raid to Meherrin River. Acting Aide on Staff of Gen'l Henry A. Morrow, 3d Brigade, and Stafif of Gen'l Crawford of 3d Division, 5th Corps, from Feb. 5, 1865, till after Lee's surrender. Returned to Regiment at Camp Butler, 111., June 8. Brevet Major, April i, 1865, " for gallant and meritorious services in front of Petersburg."* Andrew J. Connor. Enlisted in F, Aug. 5, 1862, and became Adjutant's Clerk. Sergeant Major, April 17, 1863, to rank from March 10. Wounded at Gettysburg, July, I, 1863. Returned to duty Aug. 2j. ist Lieutenant of E, Oct. 7, to rank from July g. Acting Adjutant from December 20, 1863, to Jan. 5, 1864. Acting Regimental Quartermaster from April 22 to 25, 1S64. Captain of F, June 9 and of G, Aug. 4, 1864. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Salient at Spottsylvania, Jericho Ford, North Anna, Tolopotomoy, Bethesda Church (field of Cold Harbor), Petersburg, Siege of Petersburg and Weldon Railroad. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers and Mine Run, and Reconnois- sances to Raccoon Ford, Yellow Tavern and Vaughn Road. Discharged for disability, Oct. 14, 1864. Benjamin W. Hendricks. 2d Sergeant in G, Aug. 12, 1862 ist Sergeant, Feb. 20, 1863. Wounded at Gettysburg, July i, 1863. On Recruiting service in Michigan from Jan. 4 to April 25, 1864. ist Lieutenant of E, April 30, 1864, to rank from Nov. 21, 1863. In command of F, May 3, 1864. Wounded in Wilderness, May 6. Captain of G, Nov. 19, 1864, to rank from Oct. 14. Wounded at Dabney's Mill, Feb. 6, 1865. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Siege of Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Hatcher's Run and Dabney's Mill. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run, Reconnoissances to Yellow Tavern and Vaughn Road, and on Raid to Meherrin River.* George A. Ross. 2d Corporal in F, Aug. 13, 1862. 3d Sergeant, Sept. 29. ist Sergeant, July i, 1863. On Recruiting Service in Michigan from Jan. 4 to April 25, 1864. . 1st Lieutenant of I, April 28, 1864, to rank from April 13. Captain of F, Oct. 26, 1864, to rank from Oct. 17. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Salient at Spottsylvania, Jericho, Ford, North Anna, Tolopotomoy, Bethesda Church (field of Cold Harbor), Petersburg, Siege of Petersburg, Weldon Railroad and Hatcher's Run. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers and Mine Run ; Reconnoissances to Yellow Tavern and Vaughn Road, and Raid to Meherrin River. On Leave of Absence from Jan. 20 to Feb. 10, 1865. On General Court Martial at Springfield, 111., June 14 to 17, 1865.* Edward B. Wilkie. 5th Sergeant in A, Aug. 12, 1862. 4th Sergeant, Nov. 13. 2d Sergeant, Jan. 24, 1863. Ist Lieutenant, Oct. 7, 1863, to rank from June i. In command of G, Jan. 24, 1864 ; of I, May 3 ; of G, from Oct. 15 to Nov. ig, and of H from Dec. i to March 14, 1865. Missing May 5 to 19, 1864. To duty July 3, 1864. t 364 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Siege of Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Hatcher's Run and Dabney's Mill. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run ; Reconnoisances to Raccoon Ford, Yellow Tavern, Vaughn Road, and Raid to Meherrin River. Captain of B, March 14, 1865, to rank from Jan. 21.* FIRST LIEUTENANTS. John J. Lennon. ist Lieutenant of E, July 26, 1862. In battle of Fredericksburg. Honorably discharged for disability, Dec. 20, 1862. Ara W. Sprague. 1st Lieutenant of F, July 26, 1862. In battles of Fredericks- burg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions. Prisoner at Gettysburg, July i, 1863. Died in rebel prison at Charleston, S. C, Oct. 14, 1864. Henry P. Kinney, ist Lieutenant of I, July 26, 1862. Acting Regimental Quartermaster, Nov. 7, 1862. In battle of Fredericksburg. Dismissed by order, Jan. 28, 1863. Walter H. Wallace, ist Lieutenant of K, July 26, 1862. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions. Killed at Gettysburg, July i, 1863. Frederick Augustus Buhl. 2d Lieutenant of B, July 26, 1862. Acting Aide on Staff of Gen'l Meredith from Nov. 10 to Dec. 4. ist Lieutenant of B, Dec. 20, to rank from Dec. 13. Acting Regimental Quartermaster, March 23, 1863. In command of B, at Gettysburg, where he was wounded, July i, 1863. Returned to duty in September. — In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions and Campaign of Maneuvers. Resigned Nov. 10, 1863, to accept Captain's commission in 1st Michigan Cavalry. Left Regiment, Nov. 17, at "Camp Dickey," near Beverly Ford, Va. Subsequently killed in action. WiNFiELD S. Safford. 2d Lieutenant of C, July 26, 1862. ist Lieutenant, Dec. 13. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions. Killed at Gettysburg, July i, 1B63. Newell Grace. 2d Lieutenant of H, July 26, 1862. ist Lieutenant, March, 1S63, to rank from Dec. 13, 1S62. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing. Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions. Mortally wounded at Gettysburg, July, i, 1863. Died at Seminary Hospital, July 3. EvERARD B. Welton. 2d Sergeant in H, Aug. 13, 1862. ist Sergeant, Jan. i, 1863. On Recruiting Service in Michigan from Jan. 4 to April 25, 1864. ist Lieutenant, April 29, 1864, to rank from July 9, 1863. Acting Adjutant from June 5 to Aug. 15, 1864. In command of H, Aug. 15. Acting Assistant Provost Marshal at 3d Division Headquarters, 5th Corps, from Oct. 11, 1864, until after the surrender of Lee. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Salient at Spottsylvania, Jericho Ford, North Anna, Tolopotomoy, Bethesda Church (field of Cold Harbor), Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Hatcher's Run, Dabney's Mill, Boydton Plank Road, White Oak Road, Five ROSTER OF THE OFFICERS. 365 Forks and Appomattox. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers and Mine Run; on Reconnoissances to Yellow Tavern, Vaughn Road and Raid to Meherrin, River.* Abraham Earnshaw. Enlisted in I, July 26, 1862. 2d Sergeant, Aug. 15. 1st Sergeant, April 5, 1863. 2d Lieutenant, June 20, 1863, to rank from June i. W'd at Gettysburg, July i, 1863. Returned Sept. 19. ist Lieutenant, Oct. 26, to rank from July 4. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Locust Grove. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers and Mine Run. Dismissed by order, March 4, 1864. George H. Pinkney. Enlisted in B, Aug 12, 1862. 3d Sergeant, Aug. i6. ist Sergeant, July i, 1863. On Recruiting Service in Michigan from Jan. 4 to April 25, 1864. 1st Lieutenant of K, April 28, to rank from Nov. 10, 1863. Wounded at Gettysburg, July i, 1863, and before Petersburg, June 21, 1864. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Salient at Spottsylvania. Jericho Ford, North Anna, Tolopotomoy, Bethesda Church (field of Cold Harbor), and Petersburg. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers and Mine Run. Accidentally killed by discharge of a revolver in hands of a Union soldier in a tent at Camp Taylor, near Arlington Heights, Va., Aug. 15, 1864. Michael Dempsey. Enlisted in E, July 21, 1862. 5th Sergeant, Aug. 15. 3d Sergeant, Oct. 10. ist Sergeant, Dec. 14. 2d Lieutenant, Dec. 24. Wounded at Gettysburg, July i, 1863. Returned Aug. 22. ist Lieutenant, Feb. 1, 1864, to rank from Jan. 19. Transferred to A. Wounded at Spottsylvania, May 14, 1864. Returned June 3. Wounded before Petersburg, June 18. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, CJiancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Salient at Spottsylvania, Bethesda Church (field of Cold Harbor), and Petersburg. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run and Reconnoissance to Raccoon Ford. Left hospital at Annapolis, Md., July 11, 1864, and dismissed the service by order, Oct, 14, 1864. William B. Hutchinson. 5th Sergeant in F, July 24, 1862. In Ambulance Corps, Oct. 12. On furlough and Recruiting Service in Michigan, from March 21 to April, 1863; also, from Jan. 4 to April 25, 1864. ist Lieutenant of C, April 28, to rank from April 15. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove and Wilderness. On Mud March, Westmoreland Expedition, Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run and Reconnoissance to Raccoon Ford. Killed in Wilderness, May 6, 1864. George W. Chilson. 7th Corporal in F, July 30, 1862. Wounded and paroled prisoner at Gettysburg, July i, 1863. Returned Oct. 13, Acting Brigade Hospital Steward during early months of 1864. 4th Sergeant, May t, 1864. On Leave of Absence from June 20 to Aug. 14. ist Lieutenant of D, Aug. 15, 1864, to rank from May 6. In Ambulance Corps from Aug. 16 to September. Acting Regimental Quartermaster from Oct. 3, 1S64, to Jan. 8, 1865. Acting Adjutant from Jan. 8 to Feb. I, 1865. Acting Aide in 3d Brigade, 3d Division, 5th Corps, Feb. 5, 1865. Returned to Regiment at Springfield, 111. Acting Adjutant from March 30 to April 5, 1S65. On General Court Martial at Springfield, 111, from April 24 to June 17, 1865 — In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Salient at Spottsylvania, Jericho Ford, North Anna, Tolopotomoy, Bethesda Church (field of Cold Harbor), Petersburg, Siege of Petersburg and Dabney's Mill. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers and Mine Run.* 366 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Alonzo Eaton. Enlisted in E, Aug. 11, and became Quartermaster Sergeant Aug. 12, 1862. On Recruiting Service in Michigan, March 20, 1864. 1st Lieutenant of B, July 17, 1864, to rank from June 9. Captured at Weldon Railroad battle, Aug. 19, 1864. Prisoner of war in Libby, Salisbury, N. C, and near Columbia, S. C, until Feb. 22, 1865. Returned to Regiment May i, 1865.* Albert Wilford. Enlisted in G, Aug. 12, 1862. ist Corporal, May 29, 1863. On furlough and Recruiting Service in Michigan, from Dec. 15, 1863, to May i, 1864. 1st Lieutentant of C, Aug. 15, 1864, to rank from July ig. In command of H from Oct. II to Dec. 5, 1864. Returned to duty in C. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Salient at Spottsylvania, Jericho Ford, North Anna, Tolopotomoy, Bethesda Church, (field of Cold Harbor), Petersburg, Siege of Petersburg, Weldon Railroad and Hatcher's Run. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers, and Mine Run ; Reconnoissances to Yellow Tavern, Vaughn Road, and Haid to Meherrin River.* Edgar A. Kimmel (Recruit), ist Lieutenant in K, Oct. 6, 1864, to rank from Sept. 27. In command of I, from Oct. 15 to Dec. 15. Transferred to I, Feb. i, 1865, and in command until return of Capt. Gordon in May. In battles of Hatcher's Run and Dabney's Mill. On Raid to Meherrin River.* Shepherd L. Howard. Enlisted in D, Aug. 12, 1862. 6th Corporal, Nov. 25. 2d Sergeant, June 25, 1863. 1st Sergeant, Oct. 7. On Recruiting Service in Michigan from March 21 to May i, 1864. Ist Lieutenant, Dec. 3, 1864, to rank from Oct. 4. Transferred to K, Feb. i, 1865. Wounded at Fitzhugh Crossing, April 29, 1863, and and at Laurel Hill, May 12, 1864. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, (field of Chancellorsville), Locust Grove, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, (field of Spottsyl- vania), Siege of Petersburg and Dabney's Mill. On Mud March, Port Royal Expedition, Campaign of Maneuvers and Mine Run, and Raid to Meherrin River.* -Samuel W. Church. 6th Corporal in B, July 24, 1862. 4th Sergeant, Nov. 18, 1863. 1st Sergeant, May 2, 1864. Acting Sergeant Major, July 25, 1864. ist Lieutenant in E, Nov. 17, 1864, to rank from Oct. 14. In command of B, from Dec. 31, 1864, to March 14, 1865; of E, from March 14 to June 10. On General Court Martial, at Springfield, 111., from June 14 to 17, 1865. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Salient at Spottsylvania, Jericho Ford and North Anna, _ Tolopotomoy, Bethesda Church, (field of Cold Harbor), Petersburg, Siege of Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Hatcher's Run and Dabney's Mill. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland E.vpeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run ; Reconnoissances to Raccoon Ford, Yellow Tavern and Vaughn Road, and Raid to Meherrin River.* Augustus F. Ziegler. 2d Corporal in A, Aug. 4, 1862. 5th Sergeant, Jan. 24, 1863. Ordnance Sergeant from Aug. 16, 1863, to Jan. 22, 1864. Sergeant Major, Oct. 7, 1863. 1st Lieutenant of F, Jan. 7, 1865, to rank from Oct. 14, 1864. Acting Adjutant, March 23 to 30, 1865. In command of Company U (unorganized Recruits), April 21, 1865. Wounded and prisoner in Wilderness, May 6, 1864. Returned Oct. 13. Wounded at Dabney's Mill, Feb. 6, 1865. Returned to Regiment March 17. In battles of Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Hatcher's Run and Dabney's Mill. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers and Mine Run, Siege of Petersburg, Reconnois- sance to Raccoon Ford, and Raid to Meherrin River.* ROSTER OF THE OFFICERS. 367 Elmer D. Wallace. Enlisted in H, July 25, 1862. Hospital Steward, Aug. 28, 1862. 1st Lieutenant of B, Nov. 17, 1864, to rank from Oct. 17. In command of A, from Dec. 15, 1864, to May 30, 1865. On Leave of Absence from Feb. 4 to March 27, 1865. On Raid to Meherrin River.* Ferdinand E. Welton. Enlisted in H, Aug. 18, 1862. 3d Corporal, Feb. 16, 1863. 5th Sergeant, Aug. i. ist Sergeant, May 2, 1S64. On detached service to Grand Rapids and Jackson, Mich., Feb. 5, 1864. Wounded at Gettysburg, July i, 1863, and at Petersburg, June 18, 1864 ist Lieutenant, March 20, 1865, to rank from Jan. 21. In command of H, from April 5 to May 18, 1865. To duty in G. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Salient at Spottsylvania, Jericho Ford and North Anna, Tolopotomoy, Bethesda Church (field of Cold Harbor), Petersburg, Siege of Peters- burg, Weldon Railroad, Hatcher's Run and Dabney's Mill. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run ; Recon- noissances to Yellow Tavern, Vaughn Road, and Raid to Meherrin River.* SECOND LIEUTENANTS. Charles C. Yemans. 2d Lieutenant of D, July 26, 1862. Acting Adjutant, Dec. 13 and 14, 1862, on field of Fredericksburg, Acting Aide on Gen. Meredith's Staff, Iron Brigade, from Jan. 17, 1863. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. On Burnside's Mud March. Resigned for disability, Sept. i, 1863. Jacob M. Howard, Jr. 2d Lieutenant of F, July 26, 1862. Aide on Gen. Meredith's Staff, Iron Brigade, Dec. 4, 1862. Aide to Gen. Hartsuff, Jan. 2, 1863. In battle of Fredericksburg. Resigned Aug. 15, 1863, for promotion to Captain and Aide, U. S. Vols. Brevet Major and Lieut. -Colonel, Aug. 11, 1S65, "for faithful and meritorious services during the war." John M. Gordon. 2d Lieutenant of I, July 26, 1S62. Honorably discharged on tender of resignation, Dec. 28, 1862. David Birrell. 2d Lieutenant of K, July 26, 1S62. Killed in battle of Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. Reuben H. Humpiireyville. Enlisted in K, Aug. 12, 1862. 2d Sergeant, Aug. 15. 2d Lieutenant, Jan. 10, 1863, to rank from Dec. 14. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland E.xpeditions. Killed at Gettysburg, July i, 1863. Lucius L. Shattuck. 2d Sergeant of C, Aug. 5, 1S62. ist Sergeant, Dec. 22. Sergeant Major, Jan. i, 1863. Commissary Sergeant, Jan. 27. 2d Lieutenant, April 5, to rank from March 5. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions. Killed at Gettysburg, July i, 1863. Wm. T. Wheeler, ist Sergent of I, July 29, 1862. 2d Lieutenant, March i, 1863. In battle of Fredericksburg. On Mud March and Port Royal Expeditions. Dismissed the service by order, Slay 26, 1863. (Had been Corporal in ist Michigan, 3 mo., Inf., and 2d Lieutenant in 8th Michigan Infantry. Resigned April 2, 1862.) Gilbert A. Dickey. Enlisted in E, Aug. 11, 1862. Commissary Sergeant, Aug. 15. Sergeant Major, Jan. 27, 1863. 2d Lieutenant of G, April 17, to rank from March 10. In battles of Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. On Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions. Killed at Gettysburg, July i, 1863. 368 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Andrew J. Bucklin (Recruit). Enlisted in F, Dec. 27, 1863. Transferred to E, Nov. 26, 1864. 1st Sergeant, Nov. 29. 2d Lieutenant of G, Jan. 27, 1865, to rank from Sept. 27, 1864. In battles of Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Salient at Spottsylvania, Jericho Ford and North Anna, Tolopotomoy, Bethesda Church (field of Cold Harbor), Petersburg, Siege of Petersburg, Hatcher's Run and Dabney's Mill. On Reconnoissance to Raccoon Ford, and Raid to Meherrin River. Wounded at Petersburg, June 18, 1864. Returned October 16. Honorably discharged on tender of resignation, May 3, 1865. Charles H. Chope. 5th Sergeant in G, July 23, 1862. ist Sergeant, Oct. i, 1864. 2d Lieutenant of B, April 12, 1865, to rank from March 21. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Salient at Spottsylvania, Jericho Ford and North Anna, Tolopotomoy, Bethesda Church (field of Cold Harbor), Petersburg, Siege of Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Hatcher's Run and Dabney's Mill. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run, Reconnoissances to Raccoon Ford, Yellow Tavern, Vaughn Road and Raid to Merherrin River. Wounded in rifle pits before Petersburg, June 21, 1864.* Augustus Pomeroy. 3d Sergeant in C, Aug. 8, 1862. ist Sergeant, Nov. i, i86'3. On Recruiting Service in Michigan from March 21 to Sept. 5, 1864. 2d Lieutenant, April 20, 1865, to rank from March 21. Wounded at Gettysburg, July i, 1863, and at Dabney's Mill, Feb. 7, 1865. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Siege of Petersburg, Hatcher's Run and Dabney's Mill. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run, Reconnoissances to Raccoon Ford, Vaughn Road and Raid to Meherrin River.* George Dingwall. Enlisted in A, Aug. 11, 1S62. ist Corporal, Jan. 23, 1863. 3d Sergeant, April 23. ist Sergeant, Nov. 8. On Recruiting Service in Michigan from March 20 to May i, 1864. Wounded and captured at Wilderness, May 5, 1864. Taken to Andersonville, Ga. Released Dec. 25. 1864. Returned to Regiment April 13, 1865. — 2d Lieutenant, April 25, 1865, to rank from March 30. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburgh, Locust Grove and Wilderness. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run and Reconnoissance to Raccoon Ford.* Chares A. King. Enlisted in D, July 24, 1862. 4ih Sergeant, Aug. 8. Prisoner at Gettysburg, July i, 1863. Taken to Richmond. Reached Annapolis Parole Camp, Aug. 2, and Regiment Oct. 6. Clerk at Iron Brigade Headquarters from Nov. 18, 1863, to March, 1864. In Iron Brigade Commissary Department from May 15, 1864, to Feb, 11, 1865. 2d Lieutenant, April 25, 1865, to rank from March 31. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. On Mud ■ March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, and Campaign of Maneuvers.* James D. Shearer. Enlisted in F, Aug. 6. 1862. ist Corporal, Sept. 29. 2d Sergeant, Nov. i. ist Sergeant, July 17, 1864. 2d Lieutenant, April 25, 1865, to rank from March 31. Wounded at Fitzhugh Crossing, April 29, 1863. and at Gettysburg, July I, 1863. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Salient at Spottsylvania, Jericho Ford and North Anna, Tolopotomoy, Bethesda Church, (field of Cold Harbor) Petersburg, Siege of Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Hatcher's Run and Dabney's Mill On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers, ROSTER OF THE OFFICERS. 369 Mine Run ; Reconnoissances to Raccoon Ford, Yellow Tavern, Vaughn Road and Raid to Meherrin River.* Ira W. Fletcher. Enlisted in K, July 31, 1862. ist Corporal, Aug. 15. 5th Sergeant, Dec. 13. Prisoner at Gettysburg, July i, 18C3. Taken to Richmond. Paroled Sept. 23. Returned to Regiment June 6, 1864. ist Sergeant, Nov. i, 1864. Sergeant Major, Jan. 7, 1865. 2d Lieutenant of K, April 21, 1865, to rank from March 30. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Petersburg, Siege of Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Hatcher's Run and Dabney's Mill. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions; Reconnoissances to Yellow Tavern, Vaughn Road, and Raid to Meherrin River. Acting Adjutant from March to May 17, 1865.* E. Ben Fischer. 3d Sergeant in D, Aug. 12, 1862. Clerk to Division Court Martial in fall of 1862. Prisoner at Gettysburg, July i, 1863, and paroled. Returned to duty Aug. 20. 2d Sergeant, Oct. 7. Prisoner at Wilderness, May 6, 1864. Escaped Feb. 18, 1865. Returned to Regiment in April. 2d Lieutenant of E, May 26, to rank from April 25, 1865. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove and Wilderness. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run, and Reconnoissance to Raccoon Ford.* Augustus Hussey. 8th Corporal in H, Aug. 8, T862. 3d Sergeant, Aug. i, 1863. Wounded at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863. Prisoner at Wilderness, May 5, 1864. Taken to Andersonville. Released Nov. 30. Returned to Regiment April g, 1865. 2d Lieutenant of G, May 24, to rank from April 25. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove and Wilderness. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers and Mine Run, and Reconnoissance to Raccoon Ford.* Hugh F. Vanderlh'. Enlisted in A, Aug. 11, 1862. ist Corporal, Nov. 13. 4th Sergeant, Jan. 23, 1863. Wounded at Gettysburg, July i, 1863. Returned Dec. 7. In Ambulance Corps from March 3, 1864, to Feb. 12, 1865. ist Sergeant, April i, 1865. 2d Lieutenant of H, May 27, to rank from April 20. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg. On Mud March, I'ort Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions.* Wn.LiAM M. McNoAH. 2d Corporal in G, Aug. 7, 1862. Sergeant, July i, 1864. 1st Sergeant, April 11, 1865. 2d Lieutenant of I, May i — not mustered. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Salient at Spottsylvania, Jericho Ford and North Anna, Tolopotomoy, Bethesda Church (field of Cold Harbor), Petersburg, Siege of Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Hatcher's Run and Dabney's Mill. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run, Reconnoissances to Raccoon Ford, Yellow Tavern, Vaughn Road and Raid to Meherrin River.* NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF. Edward B. Chope. Enlisted in B, Aug. 8, 1862. ist Corporal, Jan. i, 1863. Wounded at Gettysburg, July i, 1863. Returned to Regiment April 10, 1864. Wounded in Wilderness, May 5, 1864. In Iron Brigade Commissary Department from July 4 to Oct 3, 1S64. Sergeant, Oct. 25. ist Sergeant, Nov. 17. On Recruiting Service in Michigan, March 13, 1865. Sergeant Major, (N. C. S.), April 11, 1S65. In (26) 370 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Siege of Petersburg, Hatcher's Run and Dabney's Mill. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Reconnoissances to Vaughn Road and Raid to Meherrin River.* Sullivan D. Green. Enlisted in F, Aug. 13, 1862. Acting Sergeant Major (N. C. S.), July 3 to Aug. 27, 1863. Clerk in Iron Brigade Quartermaster's Department, Aug. 27, 1863. Regimental Quartermaster's Sergeant (N. C. S.), July 17, 1864. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers and Siege of Petersburg. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Correspondent of Detroit Free Press known as S. D. G., during his term of service.* Francis Raymond, jr. Enlisted in D, July 24, 1862. 2d Sergeant, Aug. 13. Commissary Sergeant, (N. C. S.), April i, 1863. Resigned April 22, 1864, for promotion to ist Lieutenant and Adjutant in ist Michigan Infantry. In battle of Fredericksburg and on Mud March while with the Regiment. In other engagements and wounded after he left the 24th Michigan. Charles H. McConnell. Enlisted in B, July 24, 1862. 4th Corporal, Aug. 15. 5th Sergeant and Color Sergeant, Sept. i, 1863. On Recruiting Service in Michigan from March 21 to May i, 1864. Commissary Sergeant (N. C. S.), April 22, 1864. In battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and Locust Grove. On Mud March, Port Royal and Westmoreland Expeditions, Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run and Reconnoissance to Racoon Ford.* Owen Churchill (Recruit). Enlisted for one year in C, Aug. 16, 1864. Hospital Steward (N. C. S.), Nov. 18, 1864.* James F. Raymond. Enlisted in H, Aug. 13, 1862. Principal Musician (N. C. S.), November, 1S62. Discharged Jan. 30, 1863, for promotion in a New York regiment. Demain Wheelhouse. Enlisted in E, Aug. 13, 1862. Principal Musician (N. C. S.), Feb. 13, 1863. Died of pneumonia at Rappahannock Station, Va., Nov. 30, 1863. Arthur S. Congdon. Enlisted in E, Aug. 13, 1862. Principal Musician, (N. C. S.), Sept. I, 1863.* Edwin Cotton. Enlisted in H, Aug. 13, 1862. Principal Musician, (N. C. S.), March i, 1864.* David B. Nichols. Drum Major (N. C. S.), Aug. 15, 1862. Discharged by order of General Gibbon, Nov. 3, 1862. Charles M. Phillips. Fife Major (N. C. S.), Aug. 25, 1862. Discharged by order of General Gibbon, Nov. 3, 1862. CHAPTER XIX. The Dead of The Twenty-fourth Michigan. " Nor shall their glory be forgot, while fame her record keeps, Or honor points the hallowed spot, where valor proudly sleeps. Nor wreck, nor change, nor winter's blight, nor time's remorseless doom, Can dim one ray of holy light that gilds their glorious tomb." KILLED ON THE BATTLEFIELD. Capt. William J. Speed of D, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863; age 31. " Malachi J. O'DoNNELL of E, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863; age 24. " George Hutton of E, at Wilderness, May 5, 1864; age 36. Adjt. SiREL Chilson (Staff), at Petersburg, June 18, 1864; age 21. ist Lt. Walter H. Wallace of K, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863; age 23. " Winfield S. Safford of C, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 22. " Newell Grace of H, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 36. " Wm. B. Hutchinson of C, at Wilderness, May 6, 1864 ; age 23. 2d Lt. David Burrill of K, at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862 ; age 25, " R. H. Humphreyville of K, at Gettysburg, July i,- 1863; age 30. " Lucius L. Shattuck of C, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 26. " Gilbert A. Dickey of G, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 20. Company A. — Corp. Joseph Carroll, at Gettysburg ; age 22. Corp. William Ziegler ( Color Guard ) at Gettysburg ; age 24. Garrett Chase, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 28. John Dingwall, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 21. Augustus Jencks, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 41. Michael Tiernay, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 24. William Dusick, at Bethesda Church, Va., June 3, 1864 ; age 22. Wounded also, at Gettysburg. Company B. — Sergt. Asa W. Brindle, at Fitzhugh Crossing, April 30, 1863 ; age 23. Killed by solid shot passing from his head to his thigh. 1st Sergt. Andrew J. Price, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863; age 26. Sergt. George Cline, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 30. Corp. William Carroll, at Gettysburg, July i. 1863 ; age 25. Corp. John H. Pardington, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 24. Private Mathew Duncan, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 31. Sergt. Arthur G. Lynch, at Spottsylvania, May 17, 1864 ; age 19 (in Battery). Corp. Anton Krapohl, at Wilderness, May 5, 1864 ; age 29. Wounded at Gettysburg. (371) 3/2 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Samuel Davis, on Vidette Post, Va., Dec. 6, 1864 ; age 20. David Reed, at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862 ; age 20. Elisha Wheeler, at North Anna, May 23, 1864 ; age 32. Wounded at Gettysburg. William Lawrence (R),* at Laurel Hill, May 12, 1864 ; age 18. Company C. — Color Sergt. Abel G. Peck, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 43. First Color Bearer in the regiment. Sergt. Charles Pinkerton, at Wilderness, May 5, 1864; age 24. Killed on skirmish line by accidental shot of one of his regiment. Corp. Otis Southworth, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 29. George L. Cogswell, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 25. Oliver C. Kelley, at Gettysburg, July 1, 1863; age 21. John E. Ryder, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863; age 20. Forest C. Brown, at Fitzhugh Crossing, April 29, 1863 ; age 26. James McKee, at Wilderness, May 5, 1864 ; age 26. Wounded at Fitzhugh. Company D. — Corporal William Funke, at Bethesda Church, M*ay 30, 1864 ; age 20. In Battery. Leg amputated. Died in ambulance. Sergt. Joseph Eberly, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 25. Corp. David E. Rounds, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863; age 22. Corp. James Sterling, at Gettysburg, July i, 1S63 ; age 24. John Dwyer. at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 18. John Groth, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 19. William H. Houston, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; aged 20. Corp. Michael O'Brien at Laurel Hill, May 12, 1864 ; age 25. Corp. Albert A. Wallace, at Laurel Hill, May 12, 1864 ; age 21. Reuben Cory, at Laurel Hill, May 10, 1864 ; age 27. Lorenz Raiser, at Laurel Hill, May 12, 1864 ; age 20. Horace Rofe, at Laurel Hill, May 10, 1864 ; age 23. Richard Downing, at Petersburg, June 18, 1864 ; age 37. Body not found until July 22. Wounded also, at Fitzhugh Crossing. Theodore Palmer, at Wilderness, May 5, 1864 ; age 27. Co?npany E. — Sergt. William Floyd, at Laurel Hill, Va., May 12, 1864; age 28. Wounded at Gettysburg. Corp. Charles Bellore, at Gettysburg, while carrying the flag ; age 32. William Kelley, at Gettysburg, while carrying the flag ; age 23. James Doyle, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 23. Thomas S. Orton, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 27. Patrick J. Kinney, at Laurel Hill, May 12, 1864 ; age 32. Wounded and prisoner at Gettysburg. Company F. — Frederick Chavey, at Laurel Hill, May 13, 1864 ; age 27. Struck by solid shot, his blood bespattering Major Edwards, ist Sergt. Charles Bucklin, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 31. Corp. Iltid W. Evans, at Gettysburg, July 1, 1863; age ig. William S. Bronson, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 43. James Hubbard, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 33. Sergt. Erastus W. Hine, at Wilderness ; age 27, Wounded at Gettysburg. John Stoffold, at Wilderness ; age 20. Wounded at Gettysburg. George F. Neef, at Laurel Hill ; age 36. Wounded at Gettysburg. * Recruit. THE DEAD OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. 373 Sergt. Oren S. Stoddard, at Wilderness May 5, 1864 ; age 28. Joseph Coryell, at Fitzhugh Crossing, April 29, 1863, age 32. Corp. Timothy O. Webster, at Petersburg, June 18, 1864 ; age 23. John B. Beyette (R-), at Petersburg, June 18, 1864 ; age 27. John B. Cicotte, at Petersburg, June 18, 1864; age 35. Covipamy G. — Corp. John W. Welsh, at Gettysburg; age 22. Killed while assisting a comrade off the field. Both killed. Sergt. George O. Colburn, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863; age 30. Sergt. William H. Luce, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 24. Corp. Jerome P. Fayles, at Gettysburg, July r, 1863 ; age 20. Ernest F. Argelbeim, at Gettysburg, July r, 1863 ; age 19. Elias B. Browning, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 19. George A. Codwise, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 26. Charles Coombs, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 22. Patrick Hefferman, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 34. John Martin, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 25. Sergt. George H. Pettinger, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 28. John Shoane, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 23. Albert Wassow, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863; age ig. Sergt. William Maiers, at Petersburg, June 18, 1864 ; age 28. Corp. Orville C. Simonson, at Petersburg, June 18, 1864; age 30. Sergt. John Tait, at Fitzhugh Crossing, April 20, 1863 ; age 37. Corp. Edward H. Hamer, at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864; age 33. Edwin Delong, at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864 ; age 20. Andrew J. Marden, at Laurel Hill, Va., May 10, 1864; age 31. Charles A. Wilson, at Laurel Hill, Va., May 10, 1S64 ; age 18. William Scerle, at Bethesda Church, June 3, 1864 ; age 20. John Henderson (R.), Dabney's Mill, February 7, 1865 ; age 24. Company H. — Edward B. Harrison, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 21. Had been sentenced "capitally" for straggling. Pardoned July 16 by the President, two weeks after he was killed in battle. Killed while wounded and being helped from the field. His assistant also killed. Sergt. John Powell, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 27. Robert R. Herman, M.D., at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 46. Gilbert Dubuc, at Wilderness, May 5. 1864 ; age 26. George Teufil, at Wilderness, May 5, 1864; age 21. Jacob Eisele, at Bethesda Church, June 4, 1864; age 42. Company I. — ist Sergt. George H. Canfield, at Dabney's Mill, Va., February 7, 1865 ; age 21. Just returned from furlough. Wounded at Gettysburg. Corp. George N. Bentley, at Gettysburg, July i. 1863 ; age 25. Corp. James B. Myers, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 26. James Mooney, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 19. Adolphus Shephard, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863; age 26. Henry Viele, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 41. Louis Hattie, at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1S62 ; age iS. First man killed. William Irving, in battery, at Laurel Hill. May 12, 1804 ; age 20. Isaac J. Kibbee, at Dabney's Mill, February 7, 1865 ; age 23. George Wallace (R.), at Dabney's Mill, February 7, 1865 ; age 18. 374 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Company K. — Sergt. Wallace W. Wight, at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862 ; age 18. A son of Capt. W. W. Wight. Corp. Jerome T. Lefevre, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 25. Peter Case, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age iq. David F. Delaney, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 19. Conrad Gundlack, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 46. Lewis Harland, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 25. Henry W. Jameson, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 21. Elijah P. Osborne, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 21. Andrew Smith, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 29. August Ernest, with flag, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 \ ^gc 19- Corp. James T. Rupert, at Laurel Hill, May 12, 1864; age 32. Leg amputated and died on the field. Isaac L. Vandecar, in battery, at Laurel Hill, May 8, 1864 ; age 20. James R. Ewing, at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862 ; age 19. John Litogot, at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862 ; age 27. Francis Pepin, at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862 ; age 19. DIED OF WOUNDS RECEIVED IN BATTLE. Company A. — ist Sergt. William J. Nagle, at Baltimore, Md., November 8, 1863; age 24. Wounded at Gettysburg, July 1st. Philip Blissing, with enemy at Locust Grove, Va., May 19, 1864; age 38. Wounded at Laurel Hill, May 12th. Stephen [ackson (R), at City Point, Va., July 6, 1864; age 20. Wounded at Bethesda Church, June 3d. James Malley (R), at home in Ash, Mich., June 6, 1864 ; age 30. Wounded at Wilder- ness, May 5th. Company B. — Frank Tscham (R.) at Washington, D. C, July 16, 1864 ; aged 32. Wounded at Bethesda Church, Va., June 3d. Sergt. John M. Reed, at Washington, D. C. May 17, 1864; age 31. Mortally wounded at Laurel Hill, May 12th. Leg amputated. Wounded also at Gettysburg. Corp. Edward Dwyer, at Gettysburg, October i, 1863 ; age 21. Wounded July ist. Henry C. McDonald, at Gettysburg, July 13, 1863 ; age 30. Wounded July ist. John B. Rider, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 24, Arm amputated. William Williams, at Gettysburg, July i, 1863 ; age 31. Leg amputated. Company C. — Corp. John A. Bartlett, at Wilderness, May 9, 1864, with the enemy ; age 27. Wounded May 5th. Prisoner at Gettysburg. Taken South. Corp. George P. Hubbell, at Laurel Hill, May 17, 1864 ; age 22. Wounded May 12th. Corp. Thomas B. Ballou, at Pittsburg, Pa., November 28, 1863, while coming home ; age 23. Wounded on color guard at Gettysburg, July ist. Edward M. Corey, at Gettysburg, July 7, 1863 ; age 38. Wounded July ist. Lucius W. Chubb, at Philadelphia, August 17, 1863 ; age 20. Transferred from Com- pany E, and wounded July ist, at Gettysburg. Ezra E. Derby, at City Point, Va., June 23, 1864; age 24. Wounded at Petersburg, June 18. William McLaughlin, at Wilderness, May 9, 1864, with the enemy ; age 37. Wounded May 5th. George M. Velie (R.), at Washington, D. C, July 18, 1S64 ; age 27. Wounded at Bethesda Church, Va., June 3d. THE DEAD OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHKiAN. 375 Company D. — Eliphalet Carleton, at Philadelphia, July 19, 1S63 ; age 20. Wounded at Gettysburg, July ist. Mason Palmer, at Gettysburg, July 23, 1863 ; age 23. Wounded July ist. Arm amputated. Death hastened by his jumping out of a window in delirium. Charles Ruff, at Gettysburg, July 22, 1863 ; age 20. Wounded July ist. Company E. — Henry Aldridge (R.), at City Point, Va., February 22, 1S65 ; age 29. Wounded at Dabney's Mill, February 7, 1865. Corp. John Walls, at Gettysburg, July 5, 1863 ; age 43. Wounded July ist. Charles Paton, at Gettysburg, July 5, 1863 ; age 21. Wounded July ist. Company F. — Elisha C. Reed, at Alexandria, Va., September 7, 1864 ; age 42. Wounded at Petersburg, June 18th. John McNish, at Gettysburg, July 23, 1863 ; age 31. Wounded July ist. Josiah P. Turner, at Baltimore, Md., September 7, 1863 ; age 29. Wounded at Gettys- burg, July 1st. Company G. — Corp. John T. Paris, at Washington, May 19, 1864 ; age 23. Wounded May loth, on color guard. Leg amputated. Corp. Charles Suggett, at Gettysburg, August 2, 1863; age 21. Wounded on color guard, July ist. Henry Crothine, at Fort Schuyler, N. Y., July 23, 1863 ; age 24. Wounded July ist, at Gettysburg. William H. Jamieson, at Fitzhugh hospital. May 25, 1S63 ; age 24. Wounded at Fitz- hugh Crossing, April 29th. Foot amputated. Doing well, but lost courage and gave up to "home sickness." Company H. — Corp. Charles E. Crarey, at Philadelphia, August 3, 1863 ; age 24. Wounded at Gettysburg, July ist. Myron Demary, at Washington, D. C, Dec 9, 1863 ; age 19. Wounded at Gettysburg, July I. Henry McNames, (R.), at Wilderness, May 5, 1864 ; age 20. Mortally wounded and body supposed to have been burned up in the woods. Nathaniel J. Moon, at Alexandria, Va., Aug. 4, 1864; age 20. Wounded near Petersburg, June 18. Edwin J. Ranger, at Baltimore, Md., Feb. 22, 1865 ; age 26. Wounded at Dabney's Mill, Feb. 7. Last man killed in the regiment. Company I — Seymour L. Burns, at Wilderness, May 5, 1864. Wounded and body supposed to have been burned up in the woods. Henry Coonrad, at Washington, D. C, June 13, 1864; age 42. Wounded at Laurel Hill, Va., May 12. Leg amputated. John Dubois, at Gettysburg, Sept. 20, 1863 ; age 28. Wounded July i. Nelson Harris, at Gettysburg, July 5, 1863 ; age 23. Wounded July i. Hiram A. Williams, at Gettysburg, July 5, 1863 ; age 32. Wounded July i. August Lahser, at Washington, D. C, May 23, 1864 ; age 18. Wounded at Laurel Hill, Va., May 12. John Matrie, at Washington, D. C, May 23, 1864; age 25. Wounded at Laurel Hill, Va., May 10. Theodore B. Thomas, at Washington, D. C, July 11, 1864; age 50. Wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 18. Company K — Corp. Evan B. McClure, at Washington, D. C, May 30, 1S64 ; age 25. Wounded at North Anna, Va., May 23. 376 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Corp. Rufus J. Whipple, at City Point, Va., Aug. 26, 1864; age 41. Wounded in action on Weldon Railroad, Aug. 19. John H. Fryer, at Alexandria, Va., June 21, 1864; age 20. Wounded at Laurel Hill, Va., May 8. Francis E. Miller, at Washington, D. C, May 22, 1864 ; age 20. Wounded in leg and shoulder in Wilderness, May 5. Doing well until night of May 9, when, in a stampede from a supposed guerrilla attack, someone trod on his wounds, rendering them mortal. Wounded also at Gettysburg. DIED IN CONFEDERATE PRISONS, ist Lt. Ara W. Sprague, at Charleston, S. C, Oct. 14, 1864 ; age 41. Company ^—Jonathan D. Chase, at Florence, S. C, in December, 1864; aged 22. Captured at Wilderness, May 5. Anthony Long, at Florence, S. C. , in December, 1864; aged 25. Captured on "Brooks' Expedition," June 22. Charles Willaird, at Salisbury, N. C, Nov. 22, 1S64 ; aged 23. Captured Aug. 19, 1864, in action on Weldon Railroad. Wounded at Fredericksburg. Company B — Lewis A. Baldwin, at Andersonville, Georgia, Oct. 22, 1864 ; age 33. Captured at Wilderness, May 5. Peter Viele, (R.), at Libby Prison, Richmond, June 21, 1864 ; age 28. Captured at Wilderness, May 5, three days after joining the regiment. Company C— Corp. John A. Sherwood, at Salisbury, N. C, Jan. 9, 1865 ; age 33. Captured at Gettysburg ; also on Weldon Railroad, Aug. 19, 1864. Charles R. Dobbins, at Florence, S. C, in 1864; age 20. Captured at Wilderness, May 5. John Passage, jr., near Salisbury, N. C, in February, 1865; age 29.' Wounded at Laurel Hill. Captured on Weldon Railroad, Aug. 19, 1864. Died on cars soon after leaving the prison. Alfred C. Willis, at Andersonville, Ga., in 1864; age 20. Wounded at Gettysburg. Prisoner at Wilderness, May 5, 1864. Company D. — Corp. John M. Andres, at Andersonville, Ga., in 1864 ; age 24. Prisoner at Gettysburg ; also on the color guard, at Wilderness, May 5, 1864. George H. Lang, at Belle Isle, Dec. 16, 1863 ; age 24. Prisoner at Gettysburg. Andrew Rich, near Fitzhugh, Va., June 15, 1863 ; age 20. Hospital captured by the enemy after our army left for Gettysburg, June 12. Company E. — Corp. Frederick Woods, at Andersonville, Oct. 21, 1864 ; age 20. Prisoner at North Anna, May 23. Sergt. William Bruskie, at Salisbury, N. C, Feb. 10, 1865 ; aged 21. Prisoner at Weldon Railroad, Aug. 19, 1864. Robert Gaunt, at Andersonville, in 1864 ; age 26. Wounded and prisoner at Gettysburg. Taken south. Prisoner at North Anna, May 23, 1864. Frederick Stotte, at Libby Prison, Jan. 29, 1864 ; age 36. Prisoner at Gettysburg, July I. Company /'.—Corp. Royal L. Potter, at Libby Prison, Jan. 8, 1863 ; age 42. Prisoner at Fredericksburg, Dec. 16, 1862. Daniel Bourassas, at Salisbury, N. C, Dec. — , 1864; age 31.- Prisoner on Weldon Railroad, Aug. 19, 1864. THE DEAD OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. 377 Antoine La Blanc, at Libby Prison, Jan. 6, 1864 ; age 35. Prisoner at Gettysburg, July I, 1863. Company G. — George Martin, at Andersonville, Ga., in November, 1864; age 23. Captured on "Brooks' Expedition," June 22. Clement Saunier (R.), at Andersonville, Ga., June 29, 1864; age 27. Captured at Wilderness, May 5. Company H. — Sergt. Richard A. Riley, at Andersonville, Ga., Oct. 19, 1864; age 25. Wounded at Gettysburg. Captured at North Anna, May 23, 1864. Corp. Marshall Bills, at Andersonville, Ga., in 1864; age 21. On Color Guard. Captured at North Anna, May 23. Philip T. Dunroe, at Andersonville, Ga., Nov. 22, 1864 ; age 30. Prisoner at Gettysburg. Taken south. Returned March 4, 1864. Prisoner at Wilderness, May 5, 1864. Marquis L. Lapaugh, at Florence, S. C, in 1864; aged 26. Prisoner at Gettysburg. Taken south. Returned Sept. 11, 1863. Prisoner at Wilderness, May 5, 1864. George M. Riley, died on "Steamer Geo. Leary," off Hilton Head, S. C, Nov. 23, 1864 ; age 27. Had been in Andersonville. Captured at Wilderness, May 5, 1864. Clark W. Butler ( R.), at Salisbury, N. C, Dec. 28, 1864 ; age ig. Captured in action on Weldon Railroad, Aug. 19, 1864. Thomas Burnett ( R.). at Salisbury, N. C, Jan. 16, 1865 ; age 38. Captured in action on Weldon Railroad, Aug. 19, 1864. Company I — Sergt. Eugene F. Nardin, at Salisbury, N. C, Dec. 31, 1864; aged 26. Wounded and prisoner at Wilderness, May 5. Escaped and captured in action on Weldon Railroad, Aug. 19. Hiram Bentley, at Andersonville, Ga., Oct. 7, 1864 ; age 20. Captured at Wilderness, May 5. William A. Flynn, at Libby Prison, Richmond, Oct. 23. 1863 ; age 36. Captured at Gettysburg, July i. Corp. Henry L. Houk, at Andersonville, Ga., Oct. 28, 1864 ; age 23. Captured in Wilderness, May 5. James Johnson, (R.), at Andersonville, Ga., Aug. 23, 1864; age 41. Captured in Wilderness, Va., May 5. Joseph Peyette, (R.), at Andersonville, Ga., in 1864 ; age 18. Captured in Wilderness, May 5. Company K — Albert Ganong, at Libby Prison, Va., Jan. 11, 1863 ; age 18. Captured at Fredericksburg. Dec. 16, 1862. Charles S. Hosmer, at Libby Prison, Richmond, Nov. 19, 1S63 ; age 19. Captured at Gettysburg, July i. John Chapman, (R.), at Salisbury, N. C, Dec. 9, 1S64 ; age 19. Captured in action on Weldon Railroad, Aug. ig. Max Pischa, (R.), at Libby Prison, Richmond, Va., in 1864 ; age 43. Captured at Wilderness, May 5. DIED COMING HOME FROM CONFEDERATE PRISONS. Company B — Oscar A. Eckliff, at Annapolis Parole Camp, Md., Dec. 13, 1863 ; age 2g. Captured at Gettysburg, July i. Company C — William A. Herrendeen, at Washington, Feb. 6, 1865 ; age 23. Prisoner at Gettysburg. Wounded at Wilderness. Captured on Weldon Railroad, Aug. 19, 1864. (27) 378 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Andrew B. Lanning, drowned on "Steamer Gen. Lyon," destroyed by fire on the ocean, March 6, 1865, while carrying exchanged prisoners to New York. Captured in Wilderness, May 5, 1864, and taken to Andersonville, Ga., where he kept the burial records of the Union dead. His death with the loss of his diary was irreparable. His age was 23. Company E — Sergt. John Roache died coming from Salisbury prison, N. C, in February, 1865 ; age 21. Captured on Weldon Railroad, Aug. 19, 1864. Corp. Thomas G. Norton, in Detroit, of prison mistreatment, April 18, 1865, just after his arrival home ; age 23. Prisoner at Gettysburg. Exchanged and again captured on Weldon Railroad, Aug. 19, 1864, and taken to Salisbury, N. C. Company I — Sergt. Emile Mettetal, drowned on " Steamer Gen. Lyon," burned at sea, March 6, 1865 ; age 22. Captured in Wilderness, May 5, 1864, and taken to Andersonville, Ga. Corp. Frederic Bosardis died at Baltimore, Md., March 18, 1865 ; age 21. Prisoner at Gettysburg. Exchanged and captured again on the "Brooks Expedition," June 22, 1864, and taken to Andersonville, Ga. Peter Jackson died at Annapolis, Md., Nov. 28, 1S63 ; age 21. Captured at Gettysburg and taken to Andersonville, Ga. Company K — John J. Post died at Annapolis, Md., Aug. 31, 1863 ; age 26. Captured at Gettysburg and taken south. DIED OF DISEASE DURING THEIR SERVICE. Capt. John C. Merritt, H, at Georgetown, D. C, July 9, 1S63 ; age 24. 1st Lt. George H. Pinkney, K, at Alexandria, Va., Aug. 15, 1864; age 31. Demain Wheelhouse, (N. C. S.) at Rap'k. Sta., Nov. 30, 1863 ; age 24. Company A. — Corp. John Sterling, at Culpepper, Va., March 3, 1864 ; age 23. Christopher Beahm, at Brooks' Station, Va., Dec. 19, 1862 ; age 18. Charles Quandt, drowned in the Rappahannock, Aug. g, 1863 ; age 29. Detailed to Battery B, Feb. 9, 1863. Lewis D. Moores (R.), at Culpepper, Va., April 14, 1864 ; age 18 Peter G. Zoll (R ), at Camp Butler, 111., March 30, 1865 ; age 45. Company B. — Clark Davis, at City Point, Va., June 24, 1864, of pneumonia ; age 29. Wounded at Fredericksburg. Henry Wallace, at Philadelphia, Oct. 14, 1864 ; age 37. Wounded at Gettysburg. Company C. — Sergt. Clark Eddy, near Petersburg, Va., Jan. 18, 1865, of typhoid fever ; age 22. Wounded at Gettysburg and Wilderness. Charles Burr, at Washington, D. C, June 19, 1864 ; age 24. Roswell B. Curtiss, at Harewood Hospital, Washington, D. C, Nov. 8, 1862, of diphtheria induced by rain march of Oct. 26 ; age 21. John H. James, at Washington, D. C, Jan. 11, 1863 ; age 27. Bristol A. Lee, at Frederick City, Md., Aug. 13, 1S63 ; age 26. Wounded at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862. Daniel B. Stevens, at Washington, D, C, Dec. i, 1862 ; age 19. George W. Soper, at York, Pa., Nov. 27, 1862 ; age 27. Andrew E. Mitchell (K.), at Camp Butler, 111., April 22, 1865 ; age 29. Gideon B. Stiles (R.), at Niles, Mich., Nov. 5, 1864; age 22. THE DEAD OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. 379 Company D. — Ludovico Bowles, at Camp Butler, 111., April i, 1865, of typhoid fever; age 26. Wounded at Fitzhugh Crossing, the ball passing between his windpipe and jugular vein. Wounded again at Laurel Hill, Va. Francis Demay, at Camp Butler, 111., April 17, 1865 ; age 21. Anthony Eberts, at Camp Butler, 111., March 19, 1865 ; age 23. In Battery B two years. Wounded at Gettysburg. John Hamley (Wagoner), at Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 10, 1863, while coming home on furlough ; age 37. In Battery B. Henry H. Mills, at Baltimore, Md., Dec. 12, 1863, while coming home on furlough ; age 22. John Newman, at Washington, D. C, April 2, 1864; age 20. Henry Palmer, at Belle Plain, Va., March 10, 1863 ; age 25. George B. Parsons, in ambulance, D. C, Sept. 8, 1862, from fright induced by sudden call to arms ; age 44. Henry Carpenter ( R.), at Pittsburg, Sept. i, 1864 ; while en route to join the regiment ; age 21. James L. Collard ( R.) at Culpepper, Va., April 2. 1864; age 20. Frederick Maths, (R.) at Culpepper, Va., March i8, 1864; age 22. Company ^.—Michael Cavanaugh, in Detroit, Aug. 28, 1862; age 35. Died before the regiment left home. First death. Martin Devine, at Alexandria, Va., July 28, 1863, of pneumonia ; age 42. Wounded at Gettysburg, July i. George Curtis (R.), at Camp Butler, III, April 7, 1865 ; age 38. Company F. — Jasper Burt, at Belleville, Mich., Oct. 15, 1863; age 28. Injured by kick of a mule in the face, June 12. Had no teeth when he enlisted and procured a set to pass surgeon's inspection. James Burns, at Washington, D. C, March 24, 1864 ; age 32. Joseph Gohir, at Belle Plain, Va., Dec. 28, 1862 ; age ig. Peter P. Rivard, found dead in his tent at Culpepper, Va., March 29, 1864 ; age 24. Wounded twice at Gettysburg. Returned March 22, 1864. James Robertson, in hands of enemy near Fitzhugh's, Va., July 12, 1863 ; age 38. Hospital fell into enemy's hands after start of our army for Gettysburg, June 12. Marcus G. Wheeler, at Belle Plain, Va., Dec. 29, 1862 ; age 18. Daniel D. Webster (musician), at Camp Butler, 111., March 9, 1865 ; age 21. Prisoner at Fredericksburg. Albert A. Doty (R.), at Camp Butler, 111., March 30, 1865 ; age 40. Company G. — Arden H. Olmstead, on boat going from Belle Plain to Washington, a few hours after his discharge, Jan. 28, 1863 ; age 24. Charles O. Baldwin, at Brooks' Station, Va , Dec. 6, 1862 ; age 24. Henry Collins, at Culpepper, Va., March 18, 1864 ; age 21. John Foster, at Camp Butler, 111., March 11, 1865 ; age 21. Edwin Johnson, at Fort Schuyler, N. Y., Sept. 29, 1864; age 25. Simon G. Taylor (R.), at Camp Butler, 111., March 28, 1865 ; age 33. Company H. — Michael Cunningham, killed by fall of a tree in Canada while on furlough, March 9, 1864 ; age 21. Wounded at Gettysburg. Sergt. Herbert Adams, at Belle Plain, Va., Jan. 5, 1863 ; age 39. John Benedict, at Alexandria, Va., Feb. 29, 1864; age 23. William Morgan, at Belle Plain, Va., Feb. 24, 1863 ; age 21. Daniel Steele, at Brooks' Station, Va., Dec. 7, 1862 ; age 19. 380 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Edward Wilson, at Urooks' Station, Va., Dec. 8, 1862 ; age 20. Born in Detroit. Robert D. Simpson, at Belle Plain, Va., March 4, 1863; age 21. Wounded at Fred- ericksburg. Brought home for burial. Company I. — William Charlesvvorth, in Redford, Mich., Dec. 5, 1864; age 23. Wounded at Gettysburg. John B. Harris, at Brocks' Station, Va., Nov. 27, 1862 ; age 24. Cross Harris, at Washington, D. C, Nov. 22, 1S62 ; age 20. Charles Devantoy, at Washington, D. C, Sept. 20, 1863 ; age 36. Isaac Innes, at Washington, D. C, Dec. 11, 1862 ; age 18. John H. Townsend, at Belle Plain, Va., Feb. 23, 1863 ; age 36. Wesley A. Tinkham, at Washington, D. C, Dec. 16, 1863; age 20. Wounded at Gettysburg, July i, 1863. Company K. — Eli A. Blanchard (musician), in Livonia, Mich., June 21, 1865 ; age 21. On sick furlough. Orville Barnes, at Culpepper, Va., March 27, 1864; age 39. Charles D. Hoagland, at Belle Plain, Va , Jan. 13, 1863 ; age 21. Charles W. Lossee, at Brooks' Station, Va., Dec. 3, 1862 ; age 18. Simon Miller, at Brooks' Station, Va., Dec. 3, 1862 ; age 50. James Nowlin, at Brooks' Station, Va., Dec. 9, 1862 ; age 70. Hiram Ruff (wagoner), in Washington, Jan. 14, 1863; age 31. Franklin Colbretzer (R.), Camp Butler, 111., April 25, 1865 ; age 28. Edward Merriman, (R.), Camp Butler, 111., March 15, 1865 ; age 23. Silas P. Tomlinson, (R), at Alexandria, Va., Dec. 5, 1864 ; age 22. SPRINGFIELD RECRUITS WHO DIED AT CAMP BUTLER, ILL. Thomas Checken, C, drowned in Sangamon River, June 4, 1865. Thomas Shanahan, C, drowned in Sangamon River, June 4, 1S65. George H. Barnum,, K, died at East Saginaw, April i, 1865. Marshal B. Dunlap, unassigned, died May 3, 1865. Lewis Mapes, unassigned, died March 24, 1865. William H. Wright, unassigned, died May i, 1865. William F. Henry, A, March 28. Wm. H. Marsh, F. April 8. William. White, A, April 8. James W. Parker, H, March 21. Benj. F. McNitt, C, April 27. Wm. F. Rogers, H, April 12. Sergt. Joseph Booth, E, April 13. Alfred Turner, H, April 22. O. M. Armstrong, E, May 15. William Gault, I, April 15. Oren Carrack, E, May 21. John Louw, I, April 17. Edward Crow, E, May 14. John Hewins, K, April 17. R. E. Hammond, E, March 21. Robert Miller, K, April 13. W. C. Wilmarth, E, April 22, Henry J. Philleo, K, April 7. Charles W. Goodrich, F, April 29. Henry H. Van Est, K, March 26. THE DEAD OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. 38 1 SUMMARY. Killed on the battlefield, ....... 126 Died of wounds, received in battle, ..... 45 Wounded and burned in Wilderness, ..... 2 Died in Confederate prisons, ...... 39 Died after exchange, while coming home, . . . . g Died of disease while in service, ..... 71 Springfield Recruits, died of disease, ..... 24 Springfield Recruits, drowned, ...... 2 Total dead of Twenty-fourth Michigan, .... 318 The above list does not include those who have died since they left the army. Several died during the war and soon after leaving the service, including Major Nail and others. And thus what a trail of blood the old regiment left behind it, from young Hattie, not yet arrived at manhood, the first one to fall in battle and give up his precious young life to his country, to the last, Ranger, the bearded and bronzed veteran of many battles. And so, on battlefield, by lonely wayside, in Confederate prison burial lots in the far South, and in national cemeteries do our departed dead rest from all strife. " No more the bugle calls the weary ones ; rest noble spirits in thy graves alone ; We'll find you and know you among the good and true, Where robes of white are given for our faded coats of blue." CHAPTER XX. Records of the Survivors. RECORDS of the survivors of the Regiment are necessary for a completement of its history. Gladly would we enlarge the account of the services and deeds of each man did space allow. The events of each one's conduct would fill a volume. In the following pages of this chapter will be found in brief the record of each survivor. It is a continuous story of heroic deeds, except the few who left their comrades, without permission, to make up the glorious story of its history without them. It was the fate of some to find themselves, early in their service, unfit for soldier life from disease or disability which was undeveloped when they enlisted. Others were wounded early, and were discharged or placed in the Veteran Reserve Corps to serve out their enlistment term. The fate of a few is unknown. They may be sleeping for the flag in the South or properly discharged from some of the numerous hospitals that the necessities of the war created. A perusal of this chapter will prove sadly interesting, and we commend it to the reader as furnishing food for contemplation, when it is remembered that this is but one of the hundreds of regiments that went through the terrible ordeal of the war. TO VETERAN RESERVE CORPS FOR WOUNDS. Corp. Lewis E. Johnson, A, Sept. 3, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Francis Brobacker, A, March i, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. Oscar N. Castle, A, February 15, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. Patrick Gorman, A, Jan. 16, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Walter S. Niles, A, Sept. 12, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Abraham Schneiter, A, May i, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Augustus R. Sink, A, April 15, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Victor Sutter, Jr., A, April 15, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. David Wagg, A, Dec. i, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg. George Zulch, A, Feb. 15, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Herman Blankertz, A, Feb. 15, 1864 ; wounded at Fitzhugh. Thomas A. Wadsworth, A, Feb. 15, 1864 ; wounded at Fitzhugh. Corp. N. A. Halstead, B, Jan. 21, 1865 ; wounded at Gettysburg. John Black, B, May 15, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. (382) RECORDS OF THE SURVIVORS. 383 Willett Brown, B, April 10, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Richard Connors, B, March 15, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. William H. Fowler, B, March 15, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. John H. McCutcheon, B, Jan. 15, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Thomas Nixon, B, May i, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Jeston R. Warner, B, Nov. i, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Sergt. Samuel Joy, C, Feb. 15, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Benjamin F. Brigham, C, May 15, 1S64 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Alfred Courtrite, C, Feb. 15, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Ammi R. Collins, C, March 10, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. Robert Everson, C, March 15, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. William H. Quance, C, March 15, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Joseph A. Safford, C, March 15, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Hiram W. Hughes, C, March 12, 1864 ; wounded at Fitzhugh. Samuel W. Phillips, C, March 15, 1864 ; wounded at Fitzhugh and Gettysburg. Corp. Daniel McPherson, C, Jan. 15, 1864 ; wounded at Fredericksburg and Gettysb'g. James H. Johnson, D, June 15, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. Samuel R. Kingsley, jr., D, Dec. i, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg. John Renton, D, April 30, 1S64 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Jesse R. Welch, D, April 20, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Oliver M. Moon, D, March 31, 1S64 ; prisoner at Fredericksburg ; wounded at Gettysburg. Sergt. John Blackwell, E, April 16, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Corp. John W. Fletcher, E, Jan. 15, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. Stephen Delorme, E, May 15, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. James Laird, E, Feb. 14, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Discharged from V. R. C. in October, 1864, and while coming home over the B. & O. R. R., was captured by the enemy's guerrillas, with several hundred others, and two paymasters. Confined in Libby Prison six months. The raiders took $200 in money from him. Edward Tracy, E, March 15, 1864; prisoner at Fredericksburg; wounded at Gettysburg. Corp. William Kalsow, F, June 15, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. Corp. Abel P. Turner, F, July i, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. Henry Chapman. F, Sept. 30, 1863; wounded at Gettysburg. Charles Gochy, F, March 31, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. John R. Moores, F. Sept. 30, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Solomon R. Niles, F, April i, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. Edwin Plass, F, May, 15, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. Mordaunt Williams, F, March 15, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. Thomas Burns, F, Sept. i, 1863 ; wounded at Fitzhugh. Henry Robinson, G, in 1864; wounded at Fitzhugh. William Harvey, G, Feb. 19, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. Charles W. Langs. G, June 15, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. Enoch F. Langs, G, in 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Jeremiah Sullivan, G Jan. 21, 1865; wounded at Gettysburg, and on picket near Petersburg. Corp. Charles M. Knapp, H, Nov. i, 1863; wounded at Gettysburg. Van Renselaer W. Lemm, H, April 28, 1864 ; wounded at (Gettysburg. Frederick Uebelhoer, H, Jan. 15, 1865 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Andrew Waubecq, H, April 7, 1864; wounded at Fitzhugh. From E. Abner D. Austin, I, May, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. 384 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Ralph Archibald, I, Feb. 15, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. George L. Carey, I, March 15, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. Ephraim D. Cooper, I, July 15, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. James Magooghan, I, March 25, iSfm wounded at Gettysburg. 1st Sergt. Geo. W. Fox, K, Dec. 19, 1863; wounded at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. Sergt. Fernando D. Forbes, K, Dec. 19, 1863 ; wounded at Fredericksburg. Corp. Francis T. Dushane, K, April 6, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. Jerome B. Stockham, K, April i, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. John R. Bruce, K, April 28, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. Patrick Gaffney, K, April 10, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. James Leslie, K, April i, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Daniel W. Lossee, K, Jan. 9, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. Charles E. Maynard, K, Jan. 15, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. Eugene R. Mills, K, July i, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. Charles A. Sutliff, K, Jan. 25, 1865 ; wounded at Wilderness. TO VETERAN RESERVE CORPS FOR DISABILITY Compa7iy A. Harvey J. Brown, Feb. 15, 1864. Dexter B. Crosby, May i, 1864. George A. Moores, March 16, 1864. John Schlag, Sept. 30, 1863. John Schubert, Sept. 30, 1863. Francis Wright, Feb. 15, 1864. Company B. Duncan S. Alexander, March 15, 1864. Charles Henson, in 1864. Jacob Walce, in 1865. Company C. Corp. Bela C. Ide, March 15, 1864. William F. Hughes, March 15, 1863. Sebri H. Fairman, Feb. 4, 1864. Alonzo B. Markham, Dec. 19, 1863. Company D. Oliver Herrick, Jan. 21, 1865. Jacob Kaiser, May 31, 1864. James Palmer, in 1864. John Guest (R.), May 3, 1865. Company F. Corp. Christopher Henne, Jan. 15, 1864. August Albrecht, July i, 1863. Louis L. Beaubien, May 15, 1864. Edward Burkhans, March 15, 1864. William Bullock, Feb. 15, 1864. Ludwig Herzel, Jan. 15, 1864. Company E. Corp. Lewis Dale, May 15, 1864. Thomas Gibbons, April 10, 1864. Company G. John M. Dermody, Sept. 30, 1863. William R. Graves, March 15, 1864. Barney McKay, April 14, 1864. Silas A. McMillan, July r, 1863. Joseph J. Watts, July i, 1863. Company H. Barney J. Campbell, Dec. 19, 1863. John Peterson, Jan. 15, 1864. Company I. Charles H. Houk, July i, 1863. Peter Brink, Jan. 15, 1864. John P. Barrett, Jan. 15, 1864. John J. Dickey, Jan. 15, 1864. David Lewis (R.), March 8, 1864. Company K. Thomas Butler, Aug. 10, 1864. Michael Daly, April 27, 1864. Robert Outhwaite, Dec. 19, 1864. Robert R. Peters, Sept. i, 1863. James Van Houten, Sept. 30, 1863. David A. Wood, March 13, 1864. Hiram B. Millard. March 10, 1864. RECORDS OF THE SURVIVORS. 385 Morris Troutt, B, in 1864. Captured at Gettysburg. Prisoner 14 months. Edward A. Raynor, B, Feb. i, 1S64. In Battery B 17 months. Joseph Smith, B, Nov. 15, 1863. In Battery B 8 months. William H. Wills, B, Nov. i, 1863. In Battery B 8 months. Henry S. Baker, D, March i, 1864. Quartermaster's Clerk, 18 months. Corp. Irwin W. Knapp, F. Prisoner at Fredericksburg. DISCHARGED FOR WOUNDS. Lieut.-Col. Mark Flanigan, Nov. 21, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Major Edwin B. Wight, Nov. 17, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Capt. William H. Rexford, Nov.' 21, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Capt. Charles A. Hoyt, Nov. 21, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Corp. John S. Coy, Jr., A, Jan. 20, 1864 ; wounded four times at Gettysburg. Corp. Mark T. Chase, A, Oct. 7, 1864 ; captured in Div. Prov. Guard, Dec. i, 1862. Prisoner seven months. Wounded and prisoner at Wilderness. Corp. James P. Horen, A, April 6, 1865 ; lost an arm in Wilderness. Corp. Herman Stehfest, A, June 15, 1865 ; lost an arm at Dabney's Mill. Served in Battery B, 19 months. Solomon S. Benster, A, Oct. 27, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Frank Brennon, A, June 2, 1865 ; wounded at Laurel Hill. Albert Peyscha, A, March 10, 1865 ; wounded at Wilderness. George W. Dingman (R.), A, June 7, 1865 ; wounded at Dabney's Mill. Ferdinand Stark (R.), A, July 24, 1865.; wounded at Petersburg. Peter Vermiller (R.), A, May 17, 1865 ; wounded at Laurel Hill. John Happe, A, Dec. 10, 1863 ; lost a foot in Battery B at Gettysburg. Sergt. John J. Duryea, B, May 26, 1865 ; wounded at Petersburg. Corp. James S. Booth, B, May 9, 1865 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Andrew J. Arnold, B, Jan. 24, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Frederick Delosh, B, Sept. 10, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Henry M. Fielding, B, Jan. 14, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Daniel Sullivan, B, June 23, 1865 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Patrick Shannon, B, Nov. 24, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Lafayette Veo, B, Nov. 24, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Richard Maloney, B, June 5, 1865 ; wounded and prisoner at Gettysburg. Charles D. Minckler, B, April 5, 1865 ; prisoner at Gettysburg, wounded at Petersburg. William Smith, B, Nov. 28, 1863 ; lost an arm at Gettysburg. Joseph E. McConnell, B, in 1865. Went out with regiment. Not regularly enlisted and not mustered. Served until Dec. 20, 1862, and received no pay or aid. Refused to muster and permitted to go home. Enlisted in regiment, April i, 1863 ; wounded at Petersburg ; left leg amputated and wounded in other leg. George H. Graves, B, June 21, 1863 ; wounded at Fredericksburg. 1st Sergt. Asa Joy, C, Oct. 16, 1863 ; leg amputated at Gettysburg. Sergt. Edgar O. Durfee, C, Dec. 28, 1863 ; arm amputated at Gettysburg. Corp. Aiken HoUoway, C, April 4, 1865 ; wounded at Wilderness. Corp. Wm. H. Whallon, C, Jan. 22, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. John W. Babbitt, C, Nov. 16, 1863 ; leg amputated at Gettysburg. Calvin Maxfield, C, April 27, 1865 ; wounded at North Anna. Christian Stockfleth, C, May 3, 1865 ; wounded at Gettysburg. (28) 386 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Robert Towers, C, March 23, 1865 ; prisoner at Gettysburg ; wounded at Petersburg. John M. Doig, C, Nov. 11, 1863 ; wounded at Fitzhugh. Corp. John Moody, D, Aug. 21, 1865 ; wounded at Gettysburg and Jericho Ford ; arm amputated. Corp. Orson B Curtis, D, March 2, 1863. Left in hospital at Brooks' SAtion, Va., when army moved for Fredericksburg. Heard firing on Rappahannock and with permission of Assistant Surgeon C. C. Smith, started for his regiment. Marched 14 miles, fell in with Seventh Michigan Infantry, crossed Rappahannock with them in boats, and helped clear the enemy from the rifle pits ; wounded in subsequent engagement ; left arm amputated on the field. Peter C. Bird, D, Oct. 21, 1865 ; wounded severely in leg at Gettysburg. John Danbert, D, June 8, 1865 ; wounded at Laurel Hill and Dabney's Mill ; leg amputated. Richard Palmer, D, April 6, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg by ball striking his breast plate, producing paralysis of body. Amos Abbott, D, July 20, 1865 ; wounded at Laurel Hill. William T. Nowland, D, Dec. 1, 1864 ; wounded at Laurel Hill. Christopher Mayhew, D, Feb. 23, 1865 ; wounded at Laurel Hill, (R.) Henry W. Randall, D, Sept. 13, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg.. Sergt. Andrew Strong, D, June 9, 1865 ; wounded at Bethesda Church. Wm. Walter Sands, D, April 28, 1864 I wounded at Gettysburg, severely in leg. Samuel Brown (R.), D, May 18, 1865 ; wounded at Wilderness. J. L. Fair-weather (R,), D, May 17, 1865 ; wounded at Dabney's Mill. 1st Sergt. Joseph R. Boyle, E, Oct. 26, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg and Wilderness. Sergt. Thomas Stackpole, E, Jan 14, 1865 ; wounded at Petersburg. Corp. James, S. Murphy, E, Nov. 18, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Corp. Frank Schneider, E, May 6, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. Corp. Eugene Smith, E, Oct. 7, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg and Fredericksburg. Patrick Tuney, E, Jan. i, 1864; leg amputated at Gettysburg. Joseph Collins, E. After the war ; wounded at Wilderness. Corp. Andrew Wagner, F, March 28, 1864; wounded severely at Gettysburg while carrying the colors. John G. Klinck, F, Oct. 22, 1864; prisoner at Gettysburg; wounded at Wilderness. Noted for his "mouth organ" music in camp. Charles B. Cicotte (R.), F, Dec. 19, 1864; wounded at Petersburg. Thomas Robinson (R.), F, Dec. 27, 1864; wounded at Petersburg. Peter Ford, F, March 29, 1865 ; wounded at Bethesda Church. Eugene Sims, F, Nov. 7, 1863 ; lost left arm at Gettysburg. Charles F. Allyn, G, May 17, 1865; wounded twice at Gettysburg and twice at Bethesda Church. Michael Brabeau, G, April 16, 1865. Wounded at Gettysburg, Petersburg and Dabney's Mill. Sergt. John W. McMillan, G, Nov. 30, 1864; lost a leg at Gettysburg. Corp. James R. Lewis, G, Dec 17, 1864; wounded at Bethesda Church. Wm. A. Armstrong, G, Nov. 26, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg. George Hinmonger, G, Dec. 31, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Wm. H. Southworth, G, Nov. 2, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Sam'l T. Lautenschlager, G, March 29, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Charles G. Malley, G, June 8, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. James Ford, G, June 7, 1865 ; wounded at Gettysburg and Wilderness. RECORDS OF THE SURVIVORS. 387 Edward L. Farrell, H, June 9, 1865 ; prisoner at Fredericksburg, wounded at Wilder- ness and Petersburg. James F. Clegg, H, May 13, 1865 ; wounded at Gettysburg and Spottsylvania. Anthony Brabeau, H, Sept. 20, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Joseph Schunck, H, May 24, 1865 ; wounded at Gettysburg. John J. Larkins, H, July 31, 1865 ; wounded at North Anna. Mathew Myers, H, May 23, 1865 ; wounded at North Anna. ist Sergt. Albert E. Bigelow, I, Nov. 11, 1S64 ; wounded at Gettysburg and Wilderness. Corp. Orville W. Stringer, I, Jan. 4, 1865 ; prisoner at Gettysburg ; wounded at Petersburg. John Bryant, I, March 7, 1863 ; lost an arm at Fredericksburg. Corp. David S. Sears, I, March 11, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. Francis C. Hodgman, I. Nov. 17, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Charles Robinson, I, Dec. 10, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Henry Schindehett, I, March 24, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. John H. Canfield, I, May 31, 1865 ; wounded at Gettysburg and Wilderness. Patrick Clarey, I, Feb. 26, 1864 ; leg amputated at Gettysburg. Richard M. Fish, I, May 3, 1865 ; leg amputated at Gettysburg. Mark Hearn, I, May 29, 1865 ; wounded at Bethesda Church. Charles Daney, I, March 9, 1866 ; wounded on Weldon Road. 1st Sergt. Robert A. Bain, K, Dec. 10, 1863 ; arm shot off at Fredericksburg. Sergt. Samuel F. Smith, K, Dec. 14, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg and Bethesda Church. Corp. Wm. M. Johnson, K, Jan. 5, 1865 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Corp. Isaac M. Jennie, K, Oct. 6, 1864; wounded at Wilderness. James Lynch (R.), K, May 31, 1865 ; wounded at Dabney's Mill. Andrew Bruthaumpt, K, April 25, 1864 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Joseph Ferstel, K, Sept. 5, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg. David J. Kellar, K, April 25, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. Charles E. Miller, K, June 6, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg. Enoch A. Whipple, K, Sept. 12, 1863 ; wounded at Gettysburg. Wilber F. Straight, K, Dec. 30, 1864 ; wounded and prisoner at Wilderness. Gurdon L. Wight, K, July 13, 1865 ; wounded at Gettysburg and at Petersburg ; left leg amputated. RESIGNED. Lt.-Col. W. W. Wight, June 9, 1864. Capt. James Cullen, Dec. 20, 1862. Major Henry W. Nall, April 17, 1863. Capt. Wm. A. Owen, March 7, 1863. Surgeon John H. Beach, April 4, 1865. Capt. W. G. Vinton, Dec. 29, 1862. Asst. Surgeon C. C. Smith, Feb. 13, 1863. Capt. J. M. Farland, July 9, 1864. Asst. Surg. Alex. Collar, Sept. 18, 1863. Capt. A. J. Connor, Oct. 14, 1864. Adjt. James J. Barns, May 9, 1863. Capt. George W. Burchell. Jan. 21, 1865. Qrm. DiGHY V. Bell, jr., Nov. 3, 1863. 1st Lt. J. J. Lennon, Dec. 20, 1862. Capt. I. W. Ingersoi.l. Dec. 20. 1862. 2d Lt. C. C. Yemans, Sept. i, 1863. Capt. Calvin B. Crosby, Dec. 5, 1862. 2d Lt. John M. Gordon, Dec. 28, 1862. DISCHARGED FOR DISABILITY. Company A. Harrison Raker, May 31, 1865. Sergt. Wendell Benster, Dec. 22, 1862. George Eldridge, April 25, 1865. Corp. Menzo M. Benster, Feb. 8, 1863 ; Jacob Fischer, Feb. 2. 1863. was with the color guard. William Kendall, April 14, 1863. HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Wm. W. Smith, Aug. 28, 1863. James K. Soults, Sept. 26, 1862. Company B. Sergt. Martin L. Peavy, May 26, 1865. Corp. James Hanmer, jr., June 29, 1865. Francis Baysley, March 31, 1865. Thomas Coope, Jan. i, 1863. Joseph French, Aug. 6, 1863. Frank Hicks ; never left Detroit. Jacob Klinck, March 31, 1863. John J. Lucas, July 6, 1863. William Smith, Dec. 25, 1862. Nathan Way, June 11, 1863. Corp. Arthur Macy, June 5, 1865 ; wound- ed twice at Gettysburg. Timothy O'Connor, May 8, 1865 ; absent since Sept. 8, 1862. Company C. 1st Sergt. Charles Westfall, Oct. 31, 1862. Corp. Oscar N. Loud, Nov. 13, 1862. Corp. Dewit C. Taylor, Nov. 13, 1862. Thomas A. Armstrong, Nov. 13, 1862. Oscar N. Baker, Nov. 13, 1862. Wm. H. Brigham, Sept. 26, 1862. Wm. W. Barton, Aug. 17, 1863. Chas. H. Cogswell, May 28, 1864. James B. Crosby, Dec. 22, 1862. Henry C. Dennis, Feb. 28, 1863. Jacob Farley, Sept. 20, 1862. Alfred W. Hanmer, June 10, 1863. James N. Loud, Nov. 24, 1862. Wm. H. Lewis, Sept. 20, 1862. Nelson H. May, Sept. 30, 1862. James St. John (R.), July 19, 1865. Henry Smith (R.), June 3, 1865. Norman Collins, May 19, 1865, (drummer). Watson W. Eldridge, June 3, 1865, two years in Hosp. Detach. George W. Hoisington, April 28, 1865 ; teamster for two years. James S. Seeley, Oct. 7, 1863 ; prisoner at Gettysburg. Company D. Sergt. Geo. E. Moore, March 14, 1864. Corp. Geo. W. Chrouch, Nov. 12, 1862. Corp. A. C. Chamberlin, Sept. 30, 1862. Corp. Wm. F. Hicks, Feb. 7, 1863. Persons H. Brace, March 24, 1863. Geo. H. Cheeney, Feb. 6, 1863. Draugott Haberstrite, Sept. 10, 1863. William Hall, May 19, 1865 ; in ambu- lance corps 2^^ years. Frank Heig, May 12, 1865 ; in ist Corps Qrm. Dept., 2 years. Peter F. Lantz, June 4, 1863. Fernando W. Moon. Jan. 13, 1864. James Renton, Oct. 23, 1863. William M. Ray, June 15, 1863. Newell Stevens, June 30, 1863. Company E. Sergt. Thomas Burns, July 6, 1863. Corp. Garrett Rourke, Feb. 6, 1864. Corp. Amos C. Rogers, April 22, 1863. Henry Coonrad, June 11, 1863. Patrick Coffey, April 8, 1863. Patrick Conlon, Feb 23, 1863. Owen Donavan, Sept. 28, 1862. John Gabriel, Feb. 2, 1863. Evens H. McCloud, Oct. 19, 1863. George D. McGiveron, April 2, 1863. Andrew Kelley, July i, 1864. John Schultz, Feb. 28, 1863. Joseph Trumbradd, June 11, 1863. James E. Whalon, Sept. 28, 1862. Thomas Rourke (R.), Oct. 29, 1864. Cojtipany F. Sergt. Jno. J. Littlefield, Feb. 23, 1863. Corp. John J. Sullivan, Dec. 8, 1862. Joel R. Brace, Nov. 14, 1862. Francis, Flury, Sept. 18, 1862. William S. Fox, March 17, 1863. George M. Holloway, May 29, 1863. Elmer Holloway, Dec. 17, 1862. John Hartman, May 28, 1863. Fayette Jones, Nov. 12, 1862. Gideon Martin, May 13, 1863. Myron Murdock, July 6, 1863. Charles Raymond, March 14, 1863. Henry Seele, Oct. 20, 1862. Theodore Smith, Jan. 5, 1864. A. L. Schmidt, June 10, 1863. Company G. Garrett Garrettson, jr.. May 20, 1865. John H. Terry, Nov. 8, 1864. Wm. H. Vannoiler, Sept. 20, 1862. Albert Taylor (R.), Mar. 27, 1865. RECORDS OF THE SURVIVORS. 389 Daniel Blakely, Musician, Jan. 3, 1863. Charles H. Dalrymple, March 29, 1864. Wm. R. Lewis, to Qrm. Dept., June 19, 1863. Company H. Sergt. Rich'd H. Davey, Dec. 8. 1862. Sergt. John H. Wiley, Sept. 10, 1863. Corp. Robert Simpson, April 27, 1863. Corp. Anthony Jacobs, Aug. i, 1863. Corp. Wm. Featherstone, Aug. 10, 1865. Edward Eberts, Feb. 28, 1863. William Ford, Dec. 8, 1862. Leander R. Hoople, March 30, 1863. Wm. H. Howlett, Sept. 25, 1862. Charles E. Letts, Jan 30, 1863. William F. Reed, Feb. 25, 1863. Geo. W. Severance, Jan. 14, 1863. Samuel Steele, Dec. 12, 1862. Charles W. Thomas, April 30, 1863. Charles M. Stickles, Nov. 12, 1862. Thomas Drumming (R.), May 3, 1865. D. C. Butterfield, Feb. 27, 1863. Geo. G. Cady (wagoner), Sept. 25, 1862. David Ferguson (drummer), Jan., 1863. Abram Hoffmann, March 5, 1863, for injuries from firing " funeral salute," at Brooks' Station, Va. Benj. Pelong, June, 1865. Absent from regiment two years. F. A. Schaube (musician), Jan'y, 1863. Company I. Sergt. Silas H. Wood, Oct. 26, 1863. Corp. Wm. H. Cross, Sept. 10, 1863. Corp. Pratt B. Haskell, Sept. 10, 1863. Corp. Fred. F. Bates, April 27, 1863. Henry H. Crarey, March 14, 1863. Luther D. Carr, April 11, 1863. John Clark, Jan. i, 1863. Oscar Delong, July 13, 1863. Wallace P. Dicks, Feb. 23, 1863. Alexander J. Eddy, Aug. 15, 1865. Lewis Hawkins, Jan. i, 1863. A. J. Hutchinson, Feb. 24, 1863. Alpheus Johnson, Oct. 10, 1863 ; prisoner at Gettysburg. Adolphus Londrush, Jan. 2, 1863, Alexander O'Rourke, Sept. 26, 1862. Byron Pierce, April 27, 1863. Wm. J. Riffenbury, Sept. 26, 1862. Charles F. Sweet, April i, 1863. Cornelius Veley, Feb. 4, 1863. Jeremiah Vining, Sept. 10, 1863. Roswell Van Kuren, Jan. i, 1863. James Whalen, Jan. 20, 1863. Henry Wooden, Feb. 4, 1863. Company K. Corp. Samuel Johnson, May 23, 1865. Richard D. Ainsworth, Aug. 9, 1863. William H. Cole, Feb. 4, 1863. Eugene C. Gessley, Feb. 21, 1863. Albert A. Galpin, Jan. i, 1864. Marvin L. Lapham, Feb. 16, 1S63. William Lorra, April 25, 1863. Neil McNeil, Feb. 17, 1863. Geo. W. Olmstead, Feb. 21, 1863. William Piatt, Nov. 17, 1862. Hugh G. Roberts, Sept. 20, 1862. Abraham Rathbone, Dec. 12, 1862. Wallace A. Wood, Sept. 6, 1863. John Wightman (R.), Oct. 13, 1864. DISCHARGED FOR PROMOTION IN THE REGIMENT. Sergt. George Dingwall, A. Sergt. Hugh F. Vanderlip, A. Sergt. Edward B. Wilkie, A. (N. C. S.) Augustus F. Ziegler, A. Sergt. Samuel W. Church, B. Sergt. George H. Pinkney, B. Sergt. John Witherspoon, B. Sergt. Augustus Pomeroy, C. (N. C. S.) Lucius L. Shattuck, C. Corp. Sirel Chilson, D. Sergt. E. Ben Fischer, D. Sergt. George W. Haigh, D. Sergt. Shepherd L. Howard, D. Sergt. Charles A. King, D. Sergt. Michael Dempsey, E. (N. C. S.) Gilbert A. Dickey, E. (N. C. S.) Alonzo Eaton, E. (N. C. S.) Andrew J. Connor, F. (N. C. S.) Edwin E. Norton, F. Sergt. L. H. Chamberlin, F. 390 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Sergt. George W Chilson, F. Sergt. William B. Hutchinson, F. Sergt. George A. Ross, F. Sergt. James D. Shearer, F. Sergt. Andrew J. Bucklin (R.), F. Sergt. Charles H. Chope, G. Sergt Benjamin W. Hendricks, G. Sergt. George Hutton, G. Sergt. William M. McNoah, G. Sergt. Albert Wilford, G. Sergt. Augustus Hussey, H. Sergt. William R. Dodsley, H. Sergt. Everard B. Welton, H. Sergt. Ferdinand E. Welton, H. Private David Congdon, H. (N. C. S.) Elmer D. Wallace, H. Sergt. Abraham Earnshaw, I. Sergt, William T. Wheeler, I. Sergt. R. H. Humphreyville, K. (N. C. S.) Ira W. Fletc'.ier, K. DISCHARGED FOR PROMOTION IN OTHER REGIMENTS. ist Lt. Frederick A. Buhl, B, Nov. lo, 1863. (Capt. ist Cav.) 2d Lt. Jacob M. Howard, jr., F, Aug. 15, 1863. Staff Duty. (N. C. S.) Francis Raymond, jr., April 29, 1864. (Adjt. ist Mich. Inf.) (N. C. S.) James F. Raymond, Feb. i, 1863. Sergt. Wm. H. Ingersoll, B, Oct. 10, 1863. (gth Mich. Cav.) Corp. John C. Alvord, B, Jan. 20, 1863. (9th Mich. Cav.) Corp. James R. Havens, B, Dec. 25, 1862. (9th Mich. Cav.) Corp. Warren A. Norton, H, Dec. i, 1862. (Capt. 27th Mich. Inf.) Amander G. Barns, B, Sept. 27, 1863. Wounded at Gettysburg. Henry B. Hudson, B, Jan. 20, 1863. (9th Mich. Cav.) Lionel B. Hartt, D, May r, 1864. (Chaplain 95th N. Y.) William B. Knapp, D, April 10, 1864. (Hosp. Steward, U. S. A.) Amos Andrews, G, March 29, 1864. (ist Lt. io2d U. S, Colored Infantry). Wounded at Gettysburg. DISCHARGED FOR MISCELLANEOUS REASONS, 1st Lt. Henry P. Kinney, I, Jan. 20, 1863. (By order). 1st Lt. Abraham Earnshaw, I, March 4, 1864. (By Court Martial). 2d Lt. Wm. T. Wheeler, I, May 20, 1863. (For cowardice). Sergt. Willard Roe, C, June 14, 1864. (For Signal Corps). Sergt. Frank Kendrick, E, Dec. 14, 1865. (By order). Wounded at Gettysburg. Corp. Benjamin H. Conwell, B, May i, 1864. (To enter navy). Corp. Charles H. Owen, G, April 24, 1864. (To enter navy). Corp. Patrick W. Nolan, E, Sept. i, 1863. (To enter navy). Neil Christensen (R.), C, April i, 1864. (To enter navy). John Southard, E, April i, 1864. (To enter navy). Willard A. Smith, F, April i, 1864. (To enter navy). John H. Drew, G, April i, 1864. (To enter navy). Jonathan Briggs, I, April 15, 1864. (To enter navy). Ambrose Roe, C, June 30, 1864. (For signal corps). Daniel Mara, B, Aug. 22, 1862. (By habeas corpus). Thomas Brennon, E, Feb. 2, 1864. (By habeas corpus). Daniel B. Nichols (Drum Major), Nov. 3, 1862. Honorably by order. Charles Phillips (Fife Major), Nov. 3, 1862. Honorably by order. George F. Hamilton (musician). A, March 20, 1863. Honorably by order. RECORDS OF THE SURVIVORS. 39 1 Herman Krumback (drummer), B, March 20, 1863. Honorably by order. Patrick Malone (drummer), B, March 20, 1863. Honorably by order. Charles A. Phillips (drummer), C, March 20, 1863. Honorably by order. Henry D. Chilson (drummer), D, March 20, 1863. Honorably by order. Charles Pascoe, E, March 20, 1863. Honorably by order. James T. Newington, B, Feb. 23, 1863. By court martial. John Largest (R), F, May 6, 1865. By court martial. William IngersoU, H, April 12, 1863. By court martial. Ira F. Pearsoll, H, April 12, 1863. By court martial. DISCHARGED AS PAROLED PRISONERS. Sergt. William C. Bates, A, June 8, 1865. Wounded and prisoner at Wilderness. In Andersonville and other prisons. Francis Griffin, Jr., (R.), A, April 18, 1865. Wounded and prisoner at Wilderness. In Andersonville. Samuel Fury, B, June 24, 1865. Prisoner at Wilderness. Corp. James Gillespie, C, June 8, 1865. Prisoner at Gettysburg. At Belle Isle, Andersonville and Florence prisons, 21 months. Samuel W. Foster, C, May 15, 1865. Captured on " Brooks' Expedition." George W. Kynoch, C, June 8, 1865. Wounded at Gettysburg. Wounded and prisoner at Wilderness. In Andersonville. Henry H. Ladd, D, June 16, 1865. Wounded at Gettysburg. At hospital duty until April, 1864. Mounted orderly for Gen. Wadsworth until the latter was killed. Orderly for Div. Surgeon-in-Chief Chamberlin and Gen. Cutler until Aug. 1864. Prisoner at Weldon Railroad fight. At Belle Isle and Salisbury prisons. Melville H. Storms, D, June 8, 1865. Wounded and prisoner at Gettysburg. In Andersonville and other prisons 21 months. Sergt. Rice F. Bond, E, June 8, 1865. Prisoner at Wilderness. In Andersonville. Dennis Dryden, E, at Annapolis Parole Camp, in 1865. Prisoner at Gettysburg. In Andersonville 20 months. Corp. Levi S. Freeman, F, June 8, 1865. Wounded at Gettysburg. Prisoner at Wilderness. In Andersonville. Abram Akey, F, May ig, 1S65. Prisoner at Gettysburg. In Andersonville 17 months. Andrew Musberger, G, June 24, 1865 (R.). Prisoner at Wilderness. James S. Innes, I, in 1865. Prisoner at Wilderness. In Andersonville. Paroled and on board "Stm. Sultana" when blown up on the Mississippi, April 27, 1865. George W. Ormsbee, I, June ig, 1865. Prisoner at Wilderness. In Andersonville. Sergt. B. Ross Finlayson, K, June 16, 1865. Prisoner at Gettysburg and again at Weldon Road. At Belle Isle and Salisbury. Claims to have carried the flag for a brief time at Gettysburg. Frederick Smoots, K, July 5, 1S65 (R.) Prisoner at Wilderness. At Andersonville. Several who were mustered out with the regiment had just returned from long captivity, UNACCOUNTED FOR. John Chandler, A, since July 5, 1863. Philip Weitz, A, since July 3, 1863. Wounded July i. Robert Wortley, A, since July 5, 1865. Paroled prisoner. Julius Schultz, A, Missing at Wilderness (R.) 392 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Albert Thalon, A. Missing at Yellow Tavern (R.) Leander Bauvere, B, since Aug. 4, 1863. Wounded April 29. John Hackett, B, since Jan. 25, 1865. Two years in Battery. Franz Koch, B, since July 5, 1863. Wounded July i. Richard Ladore, B, since May 23, 1864. Wounded at North Anna. Terrence McCullough, B, since July i, 1863. Wounded same day. John McCrudden, B. On furlough in Canada, June 30, 1865. James Tyrrell, B. In hospital, last known. Conrad Kocher, D, since July 5, 1863. Came up after the war. Hugh Brady, E. Recruit. Absent sick, last known. Thomas D. EUston, E. Left hospital, Sept 10, 1863. Wounded April 29. John Frank, E. Wounded at Gettysburg and Laurel Hill. Lewis Grant, E. Prisoner at Gettysburg. Enlisted in Navy. Joseph Hirsch, E. Missing at Gettysburg. Came up Oct. 23, 1863. William Ringgold, E. (R.) Wounded at North Anna. Bozile Vallade, F. (R.) Wounded at Petersburg. John M. Evans, F, since Jan. 20, 1863. Enlisted elsewhere. Thomas McMahon (R.), G. Absent sick. George E. Walker, G. Missing from Battery, Sept. 18, 1864. Thomas Fitzgibbons, H. Paroled prisoner at Gettysburg. Martin K. Donnelly, H. Missing at Cold Harbor, June i, 1864. Joseph Ruby, H. Wounded at Fitzhugh. Missing at Gettysburg. Nicholas Ruby, H. Missing near Weldon R. R., Sept. i, 1864. Andrew Stowell, H. Missing at Fredericksburg, Dec. 14, 1862. Amos Arnold (R.), H. Wounded and absent since June 12, 1864. James White (R.), H. Wounded Nov. 9, 1864. Morris L. Hoople, H. Wounded at Gettysburg. Prisoner Sept. i, 1864. John Donahue (R.), I. No record. Geo. B. F. Green, I. Missing at King George C. H., May 21, 1863. Daniel Donahue (R.), I. Absent wounded since Aug. 18, 1864. Henry Dumont (R.), K. Absent sick. LEFT WITHOUT LEAVE AND NEVER RETURNED. 1st Lt, Michael Dempsey, A, at Annapolis Hospital, July 11, 1864. 1st Sergt. B. B. Halstead, A, at Belle Plain, Va., Jan. 20, 1863. Sergt. Hyacinthe Clark, A, on furlough, March 16, 1863. Sergt. Oilman Gilson, A, at Belle Plain, Jan. 20, 1863. Dennis Carroll, A, at Belle Plain, Jan. 20, 1863. Charles Conlisk, A, at Camp Wayne, Sept. 9, 1862. Lewis Cummings, A, at Camp Barns, Aug. 27, 1862. Christopher Daniels, A, at Belle Plain, Jan. 20, 1863. Charles Dubois, A, at Camp Shearer, Sept. 29, 1862. Daniel F. Ellsworth, A, at Belle Plain, Jan. 20, 1863. George M. Kemp, A, near Falmouth, Dec. 19, 1862. Stephen Kavanaugh, A, at Camp Barns, Aug. 29, 1862. Thomas Mercer, A, at Warrenton, Va., Nov. 9, 1862. Alex. G. Picard, A, at Camp Shearer, Sept. 29, 1862. John Schlittler, A, on furlough, Feb. 10, 1863. RECORDS OF THE SURVIVORS. 393 Alexander Stewart, A, at Belle Plain, Jan. 20, 1863. Andrew J. Vinton (R.), A, at Camp Butler, April 4, 1865. John R. Donaldson, B, at Belle Plain, Jan. 20, 1863. William Hicks, B, at Baltimore. Sept. i, 1862. William Lloyd, B, at Frederick, Oct. i, 1862. James McKnight, B, at Belle Plain, Jan. 20, 1863. Alonzo C. Mercer, B, at Belle Plain, Jan. 7, 1863. Daniel O'Beere, B, at Camp Barns, Aug. 16, 1862. James Pender, B, at York Hosp., May 24. 1863. Thomas Potter, B, at Camp Barns, Aug. 28, 1862. Andrew Simmons, B, at Belle Plain, Jan. 20, 1863. Edward Flood (R.), B, at Camp Butler, May 12, 1865. John O'Connor (R.), B, at Camp Butler, June, 1865. Samuel Smith (R.), B, at Fort Wayne, Ind., Feb. 16, 1865. Charles M. Phillips (R.), C, at Camp Butler, April 7, 1865. Richard Hamilton (R.), D, at Camp Butler, June 10, 1865. ist Sergt. John Galloway, E, at Frederick, Md.. Oct. i, 1S62. Sergt. Timothy Finn, E, at Frederick, Md., Oct. i, 1862. Sergt. Patrick G. Dollard, E, on march in Pa , July 6, 1863. Corp. Michael Finn, E, at Frederick, Md., Oct. i, 1862. George Brott, E, at Alexandria, Sept. 7, 1862. John Dee, E, on march in Pa., July 6, 1863. Joseph Green, E, at Camp Barns, Aug. 20, 1862. John Hunt, E, at White Oak Church, Va., June 9, 1863. Fred W. Kuhn, E, at Alexandria, Va., Sept. 7, 1862. James R. Kernan, E. at Camp Barns, Aug. 14, 1862. Clark Ellis, E, at Camp Barns, Aug. 26, 1862. John McGeary, E, at Camp Barns, Aug 29, 1862. William Vent, E, at Camp Barns, Aug. 23, 1862. John Lee, E, on march in Md., July 14, 1863. George Nugent, E, on march in Md., July 10, 1863. Michael O'Neil, E, at Washington, Oct. i, 1862. Cornelius Mahoney (R.), E, from General Hospital, Jan. 25, 1865. Benj. F. Buyer, F, at Annapolis, Md., Feb. i, 1S63. John Dougherty, F, at Camp Barns, Aug. 17. 1862. Alexander D. Fales, F, at Belle Plain, Va., Jan. i, 1863. Adolph Fritsch, F, on furlough, Feb. 2, 1864. Isaac Nelson, F, at Belle Plain, Jan. i, 1863. Nathan Smith, F, at York Hospital, Oct. 8, 1863. William K. Yates, F, at Washington, Nov. 13, 1863. Oliver Dubey (R.), F, on furlough, August, 1864. Joseph Jamieson (R.), F, at Camp Butler, 111., April 8, 1865. William Kenney (R.), F, at Camp Butler, 111., March 17, 1S65. Daniel Munze, G, at Camp Barns, Aug. 29, 1862. Thomas M. Smith, (R.) G, while on furlough. Peter Alterman, H, at Camp Barns, Aug. 27, 1862. Mathew Anderson (R.), H, at Canap Butler, June 6 1865. Ransom J. Fargo (R.), H, on furlough. May 9, 1865. Corp. William Hunter, H, in Maryland, Oct. 26, 1862. P. G. Scanlon, H, at Camp Barns, Aug. 28, 1862. (29) 394 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Jay Ferguson, I, at Camp Barns, Aug. 29, 1862. Oliver Gagnier, I, at Frederick, Md., June 20, 1863. Wm. H. H. Dana, K, at Camp Wayne, Sept. 7, 1862. Conrad Springer, K, at Gettysburg, July, 1863. MUSTERED OUT WITH THE REGIMENT. This list includes only original members and recruits that joined at the front, together with eleven who joined at Springfield, Illinois, and who had become non-commissioned officers. The regiment was mustered out at Detroit, Mich., June 30, 1865. Those who had already been discharged were, at the time of their discharge, mostly in the various hospitals about Washington, Alexandria, Philadelphia, Baltimore, etc., as well as in those in the field. (R.) signifies recruit, and (Spr. R.), Springfield recruit. Lieutenant-Colonel Albert M. Edwards. Major William Hutchinson. Asst. Surgeon Edward Lauderdale. Adjt. Lewis H. Chamberlin, Chaplain William C. Way. Surgeon George W. Towar. Quartermaster David Congdon. Sergt. -Major Edward B. Chope, (N. C. S.) Quartermaster-Sergt. Sullivan D. Green, (N. C. S.) Commissary-Sergt., Charles H. McConnell, (N. C. S.) Hospital Steward, Owen Churchill (R.), (N. C. S.) Principal Musicians — Arthur S. Congdon and Edwin Cotton, (N. C. S.) Cotnpany A. Captain Richard S. Dillon. ist Lieut. Elmer D. Wallace. 2d Lieut. George Dingwall. Sergeants— {1) Alfred Rentz ; (2) Henry Hanstine, wounded at Petersburg; (3) Ignace Haltar, wounded at Bethesda Church ; (4) George A. McDonald, wounded at Wilderness ; (5) Barnard Parish, wounded at Petersburg. Corporals — (i) Alexis De Claire, prisoner at Wilderness ; in Andersonville ; (2) Stephen Prairie, wounded at Petersburg ; (3) William Thompson, with colors ; (4) Charles W. Fuller, prisoner at Wilderness; in Andersonville; (5) Max Couture, prisoner at Gettysburg ; in Andersonville and other prisons, 18 months ; (6) Thomas D. Harris (R.) ; (7) James Murphy, wounded near Petersburg; (8) Charles Fellrath, wounded at Laurel Hill. William H. Blanchard, prisoner at Wilderness ; in Andersonville. Roderick Broughton, in Ambulance Corps, 20 months. Corp. Peter N. Girardin, wounded and prisoner at Gettysburg ; wounded at Wilderness. Sergt. Frederick A. Hanstine, wounded at Petersburg. Charles Lature, in Commissary Guard one year. Michael Moren, hostler to Surgeon after September, 1863. Nelson Oakland (wagoner), injured by overturning of wagon. Robert Phillips, in Battery B and Provost Guard, iS months ; prisoner at Wilderness ; in Andersonville. Frank Picard, in Battery B 20 months ; wounded at Bethesda Church. RECORDS OF THE SURVIVORS. 395 William Rosseau (wagoner), on provost duty i8 months. Anthony Sylvia, nurse in hospital several months. Sergt. Lewis L. Wadsworth, paroled prisoner at Gettysburg ; at Headquarters medical department. Army of Potomac, three months ; in Division Guard, nine months ; Brigade Quartermaster's clerk, ten months. Andrew Wright, in Pioneer Corps, one year. Peter Desnoyer (R.), wounded at Wilderness. Recruits — Joseph Affhalter, Richard M. Burss, Albert Couture, Joseph Giesmaire, John W. Hodgetts, John Parish, Peter Roberts and John Townsend. Company B. Captain Edward B. Wilkie. 1st Lieut. Alonzo Eaton. 2d Lieut. Charles H. Chope. Sergeants— (\)'Rdb^xi Gibbons, wounded at Laurel Hill, May 12, 1864 ; captured Oct. 26, 1864, by several Confederates whom he persuaded to enter the Union lines; in Brigade Commissary Department four months ; in command of the company when it came home. (2) Christopher Gero ; (3) George K. Smith (Spr. R.) ; (4) Henry Brown, in Battery B, 18 months. Corporals — (i) George F. Higby, color guard. May 3, 1864; (2) James Morton (R.) ; (3) William J. Keagle (Spr. R.) ; (4) Henry Loss (R.) ; (5) William H. Emmons (Spr. R.); (6) James E. Parker (Spr. R,) ; (7) Francis O'Neil (Spr. R.) ; (8) Charles Bruskie (R.) Anson B. Culver, in regimental and brigade bands. Err Cady, wounded at Laurel Hill; prisoner on Weldon R. R.; taken to Salisbury, N. C. Henry R. Bird (R.), drummer ; Edward Carbey. Robert Henry, Corps Headquarter's Guard over two years. James Mcllhenny, wounded at Gettysburg. William M. Macard, at hospital duty most of his time. Corp. James Roach, in Division Headquarter's Guard over a year. Robert H. Collison (R.), wounded at Wilderness. Recruits — John P. Bell, Darius H. Connor, Louis Champaigne, Albert Cooper, Burkhardt Freund, James Grills, Luther Hemmingway, William Sullivan, Lorenzo D. Smith and Jacob Smith. Company C. Captain John Witherspoon. 1st Lieut. Albert Wilford. 2d Lieut. Augustus Pomeroy. Seargeants — (i) Roswell L. Root, wounded at Gettysburg and Laurel Hill ; (2) Alfred . Noble, orderly at Corps Headquarter's five months ; (3) Minot S. Weed, in Battery B 19 months ; (4) William U. Thayer ; (5) Color Sergeant Alvah S. Hill, since Feb. I, 1865 ; he brought the colors home. Corporals — (i) D. Leroy Adams, prisoner at Gettysburg ; escaped in Virginia on road to Richmond ; recaptured by enemy ; paroled and on duty at Annapolis Parole Camp until March 10, 1865 ; claims to have carried the colors a brief time at Gettysburg. (2) William E. Sherwood, in ambulance corps one year ; (3) Charles H. Holbrook, in ambulance corps 17 months; (4) Frank T. Stewart, with colors; wounded at Wilderness. (5) Orson Westfall, in Div. Engineer Corps ; wounded at Laurel Hill. (6) Ralph G. Terry, wounded at Laurel Hill and Petersburg ; (7) Abraham Velie, wounded at Fredericksburg ; in Battery B 19 months. (8) Nelson Pooler, prisoner at Wilderness; in Andersonville. Joseph McC. Bale (musician), at duty in Quartermaster's Department and hospital. 396 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. James T. Gunsolly, in Battery B 19 months. William Kells, wounded at Petersburg. Joshua Minthorn, prisoner at Gettysburg ; in hospital one year. John C. Marshall, prisoner at Gettysburg ; in prisons one year. Charles W. Root, prisoner at Gettysburg ; in Andersonville 21 months. Sergt. George R. Welsh, Asat. Commissary Sergeant 10 months ; color sergeant, May i, 1864 ; wounded at Laurel Hill, May 8. Sergt. John Hogan, transferred from E. Recruits — James Bourdon, Arra Cook, Patrick E. English, John R. Field, Jerome Heald, John Hutchinson, George K. Innes, Reuben W. Page, Charles Rose, George W. Stebbins, Theodore W. Swain, James L. Stafford, Oscar St. Johns, James L. Sharp and Amos A. Thompson. Company D. Captain George W. Haigh. 1st Lieut. George W. Chilson. 2d Lieut. Charles A. King. Serjeants — (i) Oren D. Kingsley, in Div. Com. Guard, ten months; (2) Henry Babcock, wounded at Gettysburg ; (3) Joseph Funke ; (4) Alexander Purdy, wounded at Laurel Hill, May 10, 1864; (5) Walter Morley, in Provost Guard nine months ; Color Corporal May 3, 1864 ; wounded at Laurel Hill May 10 ; wounded at Dadney's Mill, Feb. 6, 1865. Corporals — (i) Robert C. Bird, wounded at Gettysburg, Wilderness and Dabney's Mill; (2) William Jackson, wounded at Laurel Hill; (3) John B. Turney, in Div. Provost Guard; (4) Thomas Hall; (5) John Moody, not discharged till Aug. 21, 1865; (6) James N. Bartlett, wounded at Gettysburg; in Pioneer Corps, ten months; (7) George L. Packard, in hospital 19 months from loss of voice; (8) Aldrich Townsend, wounded at Fitzhugh Crossing and North Anna. Abram F. Burden, Brigade Qrm. Orderly. 21 months. Clark Chase, in Battery B two years. Sergt. Isaac L. Greusel, transferred from E. Almon J. Houston, prisoner at Gettysburg ; in rebel prisons, ig months. Merritt B. Heath, prisoner at Gettysburg; wounded at Laurel Hill. John H. Kingsley, in " Hospital Detachment" three months. James Lindsay, Div. Train Guard, Dec. 7, 1862 ; Color Guard, Dec. 3, 1864. John Orth, in Battery B, 19 months ; wounded at Gettysburg. Robert Polk, in Ambulance Corp, 17 months. George P. Roth, in " Inv. Detachment," 10 months; in Andersonville 11 months. Corp. John Stange, in Div. Train Guard, 13 months ; wounded at Laurel Hill. Corp. Geo. W. Segar, Hospital duty 10 months ; wounded at Weldon Railroad. Peter Stack, wounded at Gettysburg. Anthony Thelan (Fifer), in Div. Train Guard 15 months. Corp. Jabez Walker, wounded at Gettysburg ; one year in Com. Dept. Corp. George Wetterich, in Qrm. Dept. and Hospital 16 months. William Biggsley (R.), wounded at Petersburg. William Barrett (R.), wounded at Dabney's Mill. George Dolan (R.), wounded at Dabney's Mill. A. Brutus Heig (R.), wounded at Laurel Hill. Samuel Reed (R.), wounded at Wilderness ; prisoner at Weldon Railroad; taken to- Salisbury, N. C, prison for 7 months. RECORDS OF THE SURVIVORS. 397 Recruits — Barney Anderson, Augustus F. Brousky, Thomas Baxter, Allen Brown, Thomas Downing, Reuben E. Glass, John L. Gould, Harvey D. Hale and James M. Turing. Company E. Captain H. Rees Whiting. 1st Lieut. Samuel W. Church. 2d Lieut. E. Ben Fischer. Sergeants — (i) Charles D. Durfee, wounded at Gettysburg ; Volunteer to Color Guard, Oct. i6, 1864 ; transferred from C to E. (2) Henry T. Willaird (R.) ; (3) James D. Jackson, wounded at Gettysburg ; (4) Harrison M. Dickey (Spr. R.); (5) William Kennell (Spr. R). Corporals — (i) Charles Leigh (Spr. R.); (2) Patrick Coffee, re-enlisted ; vol. to Color Guard, May 3, 1864. (3) Patrick Fury, wounded at Bethesda Church ; (4) George Wolcott(Spr. R.); (5) James L. Ryan (R.); (6) George Ruby (R.); (7) Charles Salsbury (Spr. R.); (8) Jonathan W. Crawford (Spr. R). Harvey Allen — James W. BuUard (wagoner). Sergt. Moses Amo, wounded and prisoner at Gettysburg. Sidney P. Bennett, no record except mustered out. Cornelius Crimmins, wounded at Laurel Hill. James Kidd (fifer); — Sergt. Frederick W. Wright. Hugh Murphy, wounded at Laurel Hill. Henry Moynahan, wounded in Battery B at Gettysburg. Andrew Nelson, in Ammunition Train 17 months. Nelson Pelon, prisoner at Gettysburg ; at Headquarters for one year. Corps. John Proctor, William Powers and Erskine Wood. Robert Reed, in Battery B and Div. Provost Guard, two years, nine months. Henry S. Wood (musician), in Brigade Band one year. James P. Wood (musician), in Brigade Band one year. Recruits — Henry E. Bradley, Dayton Fuller, Lewis Hartman, Nicholas Hanning, Benjamin Pettengill, Ephraim P. Stratton, Morgan Steinbeck, John Talbot and Ephraim M. Yaw. Company F. Captain George A. Ross. 1st Lieut. Augustus F. Ziegler. 2d Lieut. James D. Shearer. Sergeants — (i) Ransford Wilcox, in band 16 months; (2) Herman Krumback (re-enlisted); (3) David H. Campbell; (4) Shelden E. Crittenden, captured on "Brooks' Expedi- tion" and taken to Andersonville ; (5) Frank T. Shier, wounded at Gettysburg. Corporals — (i) Amos B. Cooley, Color Guard, May 3, 1S64 ; wounded at Petersburg, June 18. (2) Anthony Bondie, wounded at Petersburg ; Sergeant, July 12, 1S64 ; lost rank from sickness. (3) George Krumback; (4) William R. Shier, prisoner at Gettysburg; wounded at Laurel Hill. (5) Frank H. Pixley, wounded at Wilder- ness ; i6) Daniel W. Crane (R.); (7) Allen H. Cady (R.); (8) Silas Ausunkerhin (R.) William'.W. Graves (musician), — Patrick McGran (wagoner). Patrick Connelly, wounded at Gettysburg ; prisoner at Wilderness. Corp. James Donavan, prisoner at Gettysburg ; in H, E and F. Edward Gohir, in Battery B 19 months. Corp. Charles E. Hale, wounded at Gettysburg. Charles E. Jenner, wounded at North Anna and Dabney's Mill. Sergt. Norbert Multhaupt. 398 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Julius A. Reynolds (wagon nmaster) ; in Quartermaster's Department. Matthew Wehrle, on duty in Division Hospital most of service. Recruits — Paul Boutts, Henry Baker, Charles V. Daniels, Abel A. Doty, John S. Ensign, William W. Griffin, Joseph Greusel, Joseph Gaffele, Bird H. Hosmer, Leander Herrick, Anthony Reno, Adam Oehring, Henry Oakes, Frank M. Rose and Franklin Van Schoick. Compariy G. Captain Benjamin W. Hendricks. 1st Lt. Ferdinand E. Welton. 2d Lt. Augustus Hussey. Sergeants — (i) Wm. M. McNoah; (2) Charles Stoflet, wounded at Wilderness ; (3) Peter T. Lezotte; (4) Peter Euler; (5) Henry Bierkamp, prisoner at Gettysburg. Corporals — (i) John Broombar, wounded at Gettysburg ; (2) Samuel Brown, wounded in Wilderness ; (3) Julius Lezotte ; (4) George W. Wilson, wounded at Dabney's Mill ; (5) Thomas Jackson; (6) Edwin Martin; (7) Samuel T. Hendricks; (8) Joseph G. Thompson. William Young (drummer); — Benj. W. Pierson (wagoner). Peter Batway, in battery 19 months ; wounded at Laurel Hill and Dabney's Mill. John Butler, paroled prisoner at Gettysburg ; came up Oct. 5, 1863. Theodore Bach, in battery 19 months ; wounded at Gettysburg. Lyman W. Blakely, in Battery B 22 months. John Cole, wounded at Gettysburg. John Cavanaugh, paroled prisoner at Gettysburg. Charles Dennis, in Ammunition Train till Feb. 12, 1865. Sidney B. Dixon (musician), in Brigade Band one year. Marion Hamilton, prisoner at Wilderness ; in Andersonville. Michael Hanrahan, in hospital two years. William Jewell, prisoner at Wilderness ; in Andersonville. Lewis W. James, — Charles Martin. Douglas M. Page, — Herman Shultz. George Oakley, in Battery B 19 months. David Valrance, jr., in Ammunition Train till 1865. Color Corp. William Weiner, wounded at Laurel Hill. Henry Bedford (R.), wounded at Laurel Hill. Recruits — John Baker, George Beresford, Isaac Conling, Mathew Cavanaugh, John Casey, David Fox, Daniel Flemming, James Keenan, Richard Lennon, John McPherson, August McKeever, Henry S. Paris and Charles Rhew. Company H. Captain Edwin E. Norton. 1st Lt. Everard B. Welton. 2d Lt. Hugh F. Vanderlip. Sergeants — (i) William H. Hoffman, prisoner at Gettysburg ; wounded at Wilderness. (2) John Malcho ; (3) Robert E. Bolger, wounded at Gettysburg ; prisoner at Weldon Road ; at Belle Isle and Salisbury prisons. (4) John Langdon ; (5) Jacob Whyse. Corporals— {\) Charles W. Harrison ; (2) Israel Harris, prisoner at Wilderness ; in Andersonville ; on " Steamer Sultana," when it blew up on the Mississippi, on his journey home. (3) Michael Donavan, wounded at Gettysburg and Wilderness. (4) Robert Morris, in battery 19 months. (5) Eli French, wounded at Gettysburg. (6) Theodore Grover, in battery 19 months ; wounded at Gettysburg. (7) John Moynahan, from E ; wounded at Wilderness. (8) George Moore (R.) RECORDS OF THE SURVIVORS. 399 Charles Bills, wounded near Petersburg. August Gilsbach, prisoner at Weldon Road. Sergt. John R. King, prisoner at Gettysburg ; at Andersonville. Dennis Mahoney, wounded at Gettysburg. Alexander H. Morrison, Mt'd Orderly at Brigade Hdqrs. John Nollette, in Div. Eng. Corps two years. A. Wilder Robinson, served in Battery B. Andrew J. Stevens, in Brigade Com. Dept. one year. John Steele, in Ambulance Corps one year. Albert Sons (musician), in Brigade Band one year. Corp. William C. Young. Recruits — Apollos Austin, Uriah Caesar, James L. Colligan, John Reeder, Harlem S. Sherwood and Edwin Sharai. Company I. Captain George C. Gordon. 1st Lieut. Edgar A. Kimmel. 2d Lieut. William M. McNoah. Sergeants — (i) William E. Thornton ; (2) Joseph U. B. Hedger, to Color Guard May 3, 1864; wounded and prisoner May 5, in Wilderness ; (3) Gilbert Rhoades ; (4) William D. Murray, wounded at Gettysburg ; (5) David M. Tillman, prisoner at Gettysburg. Corporals — (i) John L. Stringham, wounded at Fitzhugh Crossing; (2) William W. Coon, wounded at Gettysburg and Laurel Hill ; (3) John C. Morehouse (R.); (4) Charles A. Kinney; (5) Lewis Gautherat (wagoner); (6) Abner D. Porter (R.); (7) William Vandervoort; (8) Samuel F. Cromer. Henry C. Stoddard (drummer). Francis R. Ward (Musician). Alonzo F. Anscomb (wagoner). Francis Hynds, wounded at Gettysburg and Weldon Road. Palmer Rhoades, wounded at Gettysburg. Anselm Ball (R.), wounded at Petersburg. Recruits — James Anderson, Stephen Flynn, William T. Keays, James Miller, Lewis McDaniels, Richard Taylor, George P. Vorce and Henry B. Vorce. Co?npaiiy K. Captain William R. Dodsley. 1st Lieut. Shepherd L. Howard. 2d Lieut. Ira W. Fletcher. Sergeants — (i) Thomas Saunders, wounded at Gettysburg; (2) William D. Lyon, wounded at Gettysburg and Laurel Hill ; (3) Barney J. Litogot, wounded at Gettysburg and Wilderness ; (4) Jacob M. Van Riper, wounded at Gettysburg and Laurel Hill ; (5) Lilburn A. Spaulding, carried colors at Gettysburg for a time ; on Recruiting Service one year. Corporals — (i) Franklin A. Blanchard, prisoner at Gettysburg ; (2) Johathan Jamieson, wounded at Bethesda Church ; (3) Frank Kellogg, in Battery ig months, on Color Guard ; (4) John R. Brown, wounded at Laurel Hill ; (5) Isaac I. Green, wounded at Wilderness ; (6) Andrew J. Nowland, wounded at Gettysburg ; (7) William L. Condit (R.); (8) Henry L. Morse. Webster A. Wood (musician). Martin Cole. William J. Chase, wounded at Wilderness. 400 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN George H. Dewey, in hospital i8 months. Charles Gaffney, wounded at Wilderness. Henry Hoisington, wounded at Mine Run. Artemas Hosmer, wounded at Laurel Hill. George Kipp, wagoner in Div. Supply Train. Elijah Little, wounded at Laurel Hill. John A. Pattee, in Battery B i8 months. Sherman Rice, wounded at Gettysburg by solid shot striking top rail of fence, throwing it several rods against Rice. Corp. John McDermott, in Battery 19 months ; wounded Aug. 19, 1864. Recruits — Alanson Cain, Mathew Frankish, Chauncey M. Griffith, Anson Miller, Reuben Merrill, jr., Henry Nowland, John M. Reese, Sylvester Riggs, Henry Smith, Edwin Vesey and John Vietz. WASHINGTON S TOMB. MICHIGAN DAY AT GETTSYBURG. UEXEUAL IJYROX R. I'lEHCE. (President of the Day.) COLONEL SAMUEL E. PITTMAN. (Officer of the Day.) GENERAL LUTHER S. TROWBRIDGE (Delivered Address on Michigan Troops at Gettysburg.) REV. JAMES H. POTTS, D. D. (Delivered Memorial Address.) CHAPTER XXI. Michigan Day at Gettysburg. IMPORTANCE OF THE BATTLE — NATIONAL CEMETERY. aETTYSBURG was the greatest conflict of the Civil War. On no other of the many battlefields of that four years' struggle was there such equality of numbers, or greater strategic issues at stake ; troops from more States, on either side, or greater valor displayed on both sides; more bloodshed or a greater number of casualties. Gettysburg not only marked the recession of the highest tide of the Rebellion, but it formed an epoch in the history of the ages, and will ever be classed among the few decisive battles of the world, with Arbela, Cheronea, Pharsalia and Waterloo. ' It was the only battle fought on Northern soil, not mentioning South Mountain and Antietam the year before, fought in the border slave State of Maryland. At the time of the battle a motion was pending in the British parliament for the recognition of the Southern Confederacy. Upon the first intelligence from America of the results of that battle, the above motion was indefinitely postponed, and thus all prospect of foreign intervention, the only hope of Confederate success, was forever lost. More attention has been paid to the issues involved, the details, strategic movements, plans and results of this battle than many others. It was recognized at once by both sides in the struggle and by disinterested foreigners, as the most important battle that far, and in a few months was made conspicuous from other fields by a national dedication in which President Lincoln delivered the epic which will be as lasting as his fame. For three days the contending hosts fought and 40,000 men lay dead and wounded on the field. Of the 400 Union regiments, all of which distinguished themselves for valor there, Detroit sent forth the one which suffered the greatest number of casualties. According to "Fox's Book of Regimental Losses," this melancholy honor belongs to the Twenty-fourth Michigan Infantry of the Iron Brigade. The Union dead at Gettysburg were buried in trenches, and wherever convenient, after the battle. Later, a tract of seventeen (403) 404 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. acres on Cemetery Hill, south of the town and adjoining the village (Evergreen) burial ground, was purchased for a soldiers' national cemetery. The removal of the Federal dead thereto began October 17, 1863, and consumed five months. This national cemetery was dedicated November 19, 1863, when President Lincoln delivered his singularly impressive address which succinctly stated the whole issues of the war, and will ever be a most wonderful American classic. In 1864, the Michigan Legislature, in unison with the action of other loyal States, appropriated $3,500 for the improvements of the cemetery and, in 1865, $2,500 for completing them and keeping it in repair. Union soldiers from eighteen States are there buried. A national monument sixty feet high occupies the crown of the hill, around which, in semi-circular slopes, are arranged the graves. Alleys and State dividing-walks separate the grounds into twenty-two sections ; one for the regular army, one for each State, and three for the " unknown dead." The graves are uniformly graded, and the headstones of equal size, nine inches above ground and ten inches of upper surface for inscription of name, company and regiment. Just inside the cemetery entrance stands a colossal bronze statue of General Reynolds, on monument base, erected by the State of Pennsylvania. The cemetery is a most beautiful place, the national monument and grounds costing $150,000. It contains 3,583 graves of soldiers, 979 of whom have only the word "unknown" for their epitaph. Michigan stands third in the number slain and first in rank of population. The Michigan lot contains 172 known dead. The frequent names of the Twenty-fourth Michigan are seen among them. The rest lie in the " unknown " lot, except such as were removed by friends to burial grounds at home. Rev. Dr. Potts, in his memorial address there, truly said: "It is an honor to rest on such a spot as this. I could wish no higher honor for my mortal frame than to be laid by my comrades in this beautiful retreat." THE MICHIGAN MONUMENTS. A few years ago the Second Massachusetts Infantry erected on Gulp's Hill, where it fought, a monument to its dead. The plan thus originated, of marking with monuments, the positions of regiments on that battlefield, was first adopted by that State, and soon other States emulated the good example, until 300 monuments may be seen on the field, erected by the States under the auspices of the TWENTY FOURTH MICHIGAN MONUMENT AT GETTYSBURG. ERECTED BY THE STATE OP MICHIGAN. MICHIGAN DAY AT GETTYSBURG. 407 "Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association," who have purchased sites and avenues along the battle lines. In 1887, the Michigan Legislature appropriated $20,000 for the erection of its monuments there. Colonel Geo. G. Briggs (Seventh Michigan Cavalry), Lieutenant George W. Crawford (Sixth Michigan Cavalry) and Lieutenant Peter Lennon (Fifth Michigan Infantry), were appointed a commission by the Governor to expend the appropriation. They paid $2,500 to the Battlefield Association for a conveyance of all privileges needed to protect Michigan's interests on the field. They served without compensation and were able to set apart $1,350 to each of the eleven regiments for its monument, $1,000 to the battery and $500 to the four sharpshooter companies. In the spring of 1889 the monuments were completed and located as follows: First Infantry, between the Wheatfield and Emmetsburg Road ; Third Infantry, in the Peach Orchard ; Fourth Infantry, in the Wheatfield ; Fifth Infantry, in the woods west of the Wheatfield Seventh Infantry, near the Clump of Trees where Pickett charged Sixteenth Infantry and Sharpshooters, on Little Round Top Twenty-fourth Infantry, in McPherson's Woods (now called Reynolds Grove); Battery I, on Cemetery Ridge; and the First, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Cavalry, east of the town where the cavalry fight occurred. The monument of the Twenty-fourth Michigan is situated in the western part of McPherson's Woods, where its first battle line was formed after driving the remnant of Archer's Brigade across Willoughby Run. It is quite elaborate and compares favorably with the other monuments. The following are its dimensions: 1st Base — 5 ft. by 5 ft. by 14 in., one stone, Woodbury granite. 2d Base — 3 ft. 8 in. by 3 ft. 8 in. by 15 in., one stone, Barre granite. Die — 2 ft. 8 in. by 2 ft. 8 in. by 3 ft., one stone, Barre granite. Plinth — 2 ft. 4 in. by 2 ft. 4 in. by 25 in., one stone, Barre granite. Statue — 7 ft. high (soldier with hat on in act of loading a musket). Hard wick Granite. Total Height — 14 ft. 6 in. Monument faces nearly west. West Face — Front. On 2d Base — " ist (Iron) Brig., ist Div., ist Corps," on raised and polished panel. On. Die — "Corps Badge," raised and polished; "Cross Flags" cut in relief; "24th Michigan" in raised and polished letters. On Plinth — "Bronze Plate," 18 in. by 18 in.; " Michigan State Coat of Arms." South Face — Left. On Plinth — " Iron Brigade Badge," raised and polished. On Die — Polished panel on which is cut the following inscription : "July 1st, 1863. Arrived upon the field to the south of these woods in the forenoon of July ist. This Regiment with others of the Brigade (2d and 7th Wisconsin and 19th Indiana), charged across the stream in front (Willoughby Run) to the crest beyond, assisting in the capture of a large portion of Archer's Tennessee Brigade. It 408 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. was then withdrawn to this position, where it fought until the line was outflanked and forced back." East Face — Rear. On Plinth — " Corps Badge," raised and polished. On Die — Polished panel upon which appears the remainder of the inscripticn as follows : Officers. Men. Total. " It went into action with ... 28 468 496 " It lost, killed and mortally wounded, .8 81 89 "Otherwise wounded, .... 13 205 21S "Captured, 3 53 56 Total casualties, ......... 363 " Five Color Bearers were killed and all the Color Guard were killed or wounded. Position July 2d and 3d, on Gulp's Hill. The Regiment was raised in Wayne Co., Mich., and mustered into the U. S. Service, August 15, 1862. Mustered out at Detroit, June 30, 1865." North Face — Right. On Plinth — "Brigade Badge," raised and polished. On Die — Polished panel. The monument was made by the Ryegate Granite Co. of South Ryegate, Vermont, and cost $1,350. DEDICATION. Upon the completion of the monuments, Governor Luce invited representatives of the Michigan organizations engaged in the battle, to meet at Lansing on March 27, 1889, ^o arrange for their dedication. Hon. Robert E. Bolger, O. B. Curtis, Chaplain Wm. C. Way and Gurdon L. Wight attended on behalf of the Twenty-fourth Michigan. Governor Luce presided. Wednesday, June 12th, 1889, was selected for " Michigan Day at Gettysburg." The Governor appointed the following committees : Program — Generals L. S. Trowbridge, B. R. Pierce and S. S. Mathews. Floivers — O. B. Curtis, Wilbur Howard and Captain H. N. Moore. Transportation — General S. B. Daboll, Colonels E. C. Fox and F. E. Farnsworth. Legislation — General B. F. Partridge, O. B. Curtis and Robert E. Bolger. The legislature appropriated $8,000 for the dedication, $5,000 of which was to be devoted to the transportation of the Michigan survivors of the battle. The share of the Twenty-fourth Michigan was inadequate, and as it was Detroit's regiment whose enlistment redeemed the good name of the city in its darkest hour, it was resolved to ask the citizens to aid its regiment to revisit the field on which they had won an honored name for themselves and their city. The responses were generous and, with the sum received from the appropriation, sufficient to furnish free transportation to all the CAPTAIN WILLIAM R. DODSLEY. LIEUTENANT EVEIIARD B. WELTON. LIEUTENANT CHARLES H. CHOPE. MICHIGAN DAY AT GETTYSBURG. 4II survivors of the regiment who fought there. The following contributed the fund: Hon. James McMillan, D. M. Ferry & Co., Hon. C. H. Buhl, Hon. James F. Joy, Captain W. G. Vinton. Lieutenant C. C. Yemans, M. S. Smith, F. Hecker, H. C. Parke, Wm. A. Butler, J. L. Hudson, Mabley & Co., Globe Tobacco Co., S. J. Murphy, Bagley & Co., Walter Buhl, S. D. Elwood, S. D. Miller, A. C. McGraw & Co., Allen Shelden, Hon. J. S. Farrand, Hon. Alanson Sheley, Hon. M. H. Chamberlain, Detroit Stove Co., Sidney B. Dixon, R. W. Gillett, Ralph Phelps, W. J. Chittenden, A. G. Lindsay, A. M. Steele, E. Chope, Phelps, Brace & Co., A. Chapaton, Boydell Bros., E. Ferguson, A. H. Day, Vail & Crane, Emory Wendell, F. G. Smith & Sons, John R. Fiske, R. H. Fyfe, A. Ives, Jr., R. & Bro., Wright, Kay & Co., O. W. Shipman and T. E McDonough. The following appointments were made by the Twenty-fourth Michigan for the Gettysburg excursion : Ccmmandcr- — Captain William R. Dodsley. Assistants — Lieutenants E. B. Welton and Chas. H. Chope. Quartfrinaster — Thomas A. Wadsworth. To Carry Regimental Flag — Charles D. Durfee. To Carry Iron Brigade Flag — Alexander H. Morrison. These flags had been carried, respectively, by these veterans, for a time during the war. The Iron Brigade Flag, the presentation of which to the Brigade is given in Chapter X, had been brought from Madison, Wis., and attracted much attention. Hurrying along the streets of Detroit, on Monday, June 10, 1889, with G. A. R. badges and blue suits, were several hundred survivors of the different Michigan regiments that had taken part in the Gettysburg battle, who had gathered for their departure to the dedication ceremonies. About six o'clock in the evening Arthur S. Congdon of Chelsea, the old bugler of the Twenty-fourth Michigan, blew a familiar call from his battered instrument, on the old Antisdel House steps on Michigan avenue, at which several score of veterans dressed on the flags in the street, under the command of Captain Wm. R. Dodsley. Detroit G. A. R. Post No. 384 was present, besides the six Detroit companies of State troops, headed by their regimental band, as escorting organizations to the cars. The column was joined by the cavalry contingent which sedately marched to the depot. It was the supper hour, and the tens of thousands were not present who lined the streets upon the departure of the Twenty-fourth for tiie war twenty-seven years before. 412 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN The train consisted of six day coaches, five sleepers, one private sleeper and a baggage car, in which were a number of large packing boxes filled with Michigan fl6wers. Slowly the train moved around the city, taking on a ton of flowers at West Detroit, brought by the trains from the interior towns of the State. The trip, occupying two nights and one day, via Toledo and Wheeling, over the Baltimore and Ohio route, was of the usual interesting excursion kind. Badges were distributed^ — blue to the infantry, yellow to the cavalry and red to the artillery. The hills of West Virginia appeared like old acquaintances and reminded the men of many a hard march in, as well as on, the "sacred soil." By daybreak of June 12, the Michigan veterans and people had all arrived, about 1,000. An old war time rain storm had centered over the town and continued until midday, which destroyed the procession feature of the dedication. A large rink was secured, in which gathered about 2,000 people to listen to the following program of exercises : I. Music by the Band. 2. Prayer by Chaplain Wm. C. Way. 3. Loyal Song by Glee Club. 4. Address on " Michigan Troops in the Battle of Gettysburg," by General L. S. Trowbridge. 5. Song, " Michigan, my Michigan," by Glee Club. 6. Address and Presentation of Monuments to the Governor of Michigan, by Colonel George G. Briggs. 7. Response and Presentation of Monuments to the Battlefield Association, by Governor Cyrus G. Luce. S. Response by Hon. Edward McPherson of Gettysburg. 9. "The Soldier's Dream," by the Band, 10. Song, " Blest be the Ground," by Glee Club. II. Memorial Address, by Michigan's War Governor, Hon. Austin Blair. 12. Hymn, America. 13. Benediction, by Rev. J. H. Potts. The speeches were able and full of patriotic expressions. General Trowbridge had creditable words for each of the Michigan regiments there engaged, and referred to the Twenty-fourth Michigan in the following terms : " When the First Corps came on the field on the morning of the ist, among the first to be thrust into the baptism of fire was the Twenty-fourth Michigan. Comparisons upon such an occasion as this are out of place, and yet it will not be improper to say that on no battlefield of the war was there greater heroism shown than by that regiment on that day. Confronted by vastly superior numbers, with most stubborn courage it maintained its ground until more than half its numbers lay dead or wounded on the bloody field. The loss was very great, but the emergency was great. Hours were most precious, and the check thus given to the enemy permitted the concentration of the Army of the Potomac and rendered possible the great victory of the third day." Announcements of reunions were made at the close, usually that the survivors would meet at their separate monuments in the afternoon, " rain or shine," where each was dedicated with appropriate exercises. O. B CUETIS. (Chairman Committee on Decoration. ) HON. ROBERT E. BOI.GER. (Chairman Committee on Legislation.) SERGEANT S. n. GREEN, (N. C. S.) (War Correspondent of Detroit Free Press.) SERGEANT ROBERT GIBBONS. (Of History Committee.) MICHIGAN DAY AT GETTYSBURG. 415 For a full account of all the proceedings, general and regimental, on this day, we refer our readers to the book of the events compiled by General Trowbridge called " Michigan at Gettysburg." The survivors of the Twenty-fourth Michigan assembled at four o'clock in front of the Eagle Hotel on the public square, about the same in number as rallied around their flag on Gulp's Hill the night of the first day's fight. They were formed under the command of Captain Wm. R. Dodsley and marched through the mud and rain to the rink. Captain Warren G. Vinton presided and Lieutenant C. C. Yemans offered a brief prayer in the absence of the Chaplain. Major Edwin B. Wight of Cleveland, Ohio, then delivered the Address of Dedication, at the close of which all united in singing the " Sweet Bye-and-Bye," in memory of our fallen comrades. The occasion was one of sorrow and meditation. The men were carried back to a terrible day in July, twenty-six years before, when the very ground where they were shook from artillery firing in the greatest battle of the age. The idea of decorating the graves with MicJiigan flowers originated with the writer of these pages, whom Governor Luce appointed Chairman of the Floral Committee. An appeal was made to the Michigan schools and a responsive chord was touched which brought flowers from every county except the far north woods where vegetation was not yet sufficiently advanced in the growth of nature's jewels. The flowers were conve3'ed free to the battlefield, where they arrived in good condition. For five hours the committee worked in the rain, arranging the flowers on the 173 Michigan graves, each of which was marked with a Union flag. The rain brought out beautifully the national colors and nature's tints on the green sward above the heroic sleepers, which was carpeted with brilliant Michigan flowers. The tender messages tied to the flowers proved that the bullet which destroyed a soldier's life sped on to some loving heart in the far away North. " Place this upon my grandpa's grave. I never saw him." "Put this upon my dear son's grave" — and so read the requests which were all carried out amid the prevailing rain storm, except one whose grave could not be found. The tribute was tossed over upon the "unknown" lot in hopes it might by chance fall upon the right grave. And so this sad duty was performed. Citizens from the village desired to see the Michigan flowers. "There they are," said the keeper of the cemetery, "and they are the finest lot of flowers ever brought here." 4i6 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. The grave of old John Burns was also suitably decorated by comrades of the Twenty-fourth Michigan, as it was in the Iron Brigade that he did his fighting. At the evening camp fire at the rink, Rev. J. H. Potts delivered a most eloquent address in memory of the Gettysburg dead. VISITING COMRADES. The following survivors of the Twenty-fourth Michigan attended the Dedication of the Monuments at Gettysburg, June 12, 1889: Col. A. M. Edwards, James Mcllhenny, Major E. B. Wight, Charles D. Minckler, Capt. W. G. Vinton, William Smith, Morris Troutt, Jeston R. Warner. Capt, Charles A. Hoyt, Capt. J. M. Farland, Capt. Geo. W. Burchell, Capt. Wm. R. Dodsley, Chaplain Wm. C. Way, Lieut. E. B. Welton, Lieut. Albert Wilford, Lieut. Chas. C. Yemans, Lieut. Chas. H. Chope, Lieut. Augustus Pomeroy, (N.C. S.) A. S. Congdon, (N. C. S.) S. D. Green. Company A. Solomon S. Benster, Roderick Broughton, William C. Bates, John S. Coy, Alexis Declaire, George W. Dingman, Ignace Haltar, Charles Latour, George A. Moores, Barnard Parish, Alfred Rentz, Augustus R. Sink, Herman Stehfest, Thomas A. Wadsworth. Company B. Andrew J. Arnold, Henry R. Bird, Richard Connors, Christopher Gero, George H. Graves, James Hanmer, Company C. D. Leroy Adams, John W. Babbitt, Norman Collins, Chas. H. Cogswell, Watson W. Eldridge, James Gillespie, Charles H. Holbrook, Aiken Holloway, Asa Joy, Ambrose Roe, Willard Roe, Roswell L. Root, Charles W. Root, Ralph G. Terry, Robert Towers, Orson Westfall, Minot S. Weed. Company D. Amos Abbott, James V. Bartlett, Robert C. Bird, O. B. Curtis, Draugott Haberstrite, Almon J. Houston, James H. Johnson, William H. Jackson, Jacob Kaiser, Samuel R. Kingsley, Jr, Henry H. Ladd, Peter F. Lantz, Fernando W. Moon, George E. Moore, Robert Polk, John Renton, James Renton, Henry W. Randall. Company E. Moses Amo, Harvey Allen, Cornelius Crimmins, Charles D. Durfee, Isaac L. Greusel, James Laird, John W. Proctor, Garrett Rourke. Company F. Shelden E. Crittenden, Levi S. Freeman, Francis M. Rose, Frank T. Shier, William R. Shier, Mordaunt Williams. Company G. Michael Brabeau, John Cole, Sidney B. Dixon, Lewis W. James, Charles F. Langs, William H. Southworth, Joseph G. Thompson, David Valrance, William Young. Company H. Robert E. Bolger, Edward L. Farrell, William Ford, William H. Hoffman, CAPTAIN WARREN G. VINTON. MAJOR EDWIN H. WKJHT. CHAPLAIN WILLIAM C. WAY. LIEUTENANT CHARLES C. YEMANS MICHIGAN DAY AT GETTYSBURG. 419 Charles M. Knapp, John Langdon, Alexander W. Morrison, Robert Morris, Jr., Joseph Schunk, Frederick Uebelhoer. Company I. Ralph Archibald, John Bryant, Total, 126 ; of whom latter, 46 were wounded there Albert E. Bigelow, Patrick Cleary, Charles A. Kinney, James Magooghan, Henry S. Stoddard. Company K. John R. Brown, B. Ross Finlayson, 112 were present at the and 13 captured. Patrick Gaffney, Henry Hoisington, William M. Johnson, William Laura, Henry B. Millard, John A. Pattee, Samuel F. Smith, Thomas Saunders, Jacob M. Van Riper. battle of Gettysburg. Of the Morning brought fine weather, and the forenoon was happily spent in visiting points of interest on the battlefield. About 60 of the Twenty-fourth assembled at their monument, and were successfully photographed, in an 18 by 22 inch picture. The features of the comrades are plainly shown, as well as the monument, with the regimental and Iron Brigade flags ; also, a few of the identical trees on the first line of battle. It is a beautiful memento, as it shows faces that were there 26 years before, in the whirlwind of death. Many went to Gulp's Hill and viewed the line of breastworks built by the small remnant with the flag, the first night of the battle. There was a melancholy sadness as the men pointed out the places where they or their comrades fell and many of the latter died. None but the veterans themselves could appreciate the interest taken by them in their re-visit to this field of sorrow, an occasion they had never expected, but one which will soften the evening of their days as they pass, one by one, to the final camp of eternal rest. At 2:30 P. M., on June 13th, the veterans started on the homeward journey, though not in cattle cars as when they went to the front in war days. The return trip was by way of Harper's Ferry, where the train halted for two hours, affording a fine view of Maryland and Loudon Heights, and the scene of John Brown's raid 30 years before. The engine house in which he sought refuge and was captured by Robert E. Lee, has been mostly carried away by relic hunters. When night came the train was winding over the mountains, while incidents of the battlefield visit were topics for conversation among the veterans who arrived safely home at midnight of June 14th, each to carry through life a happy remembrance of his trip to Gettysburg. (30) 420 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. ADDRESS OF MAJOR EDWIN B. WIGHT, At Gettysburg, June 12, 1889. Comrades and Countrymen: — It is one of the cardinal features of the Moslem faith that its devotees shall prayerfully face daily toward Mecca; but this further injunction is laid upon them that, "health and wealth permitting," every member of that great religious family shall, once at least during their lives, make a pilgrimage thither. No conveniences of travel mitigate the discomforts of the journey but, in the fashion of their ancestors, they plod on in the beaten caravan route, spending weeks or possibly months in their faithful efforts to reach the spot which they deem the holiest on earth. We are inclined to sneer at these pilgrims and to write them down fanatics ; but, surely it would not harm us sometimes to imitate the zeal with which this reverence of locality has inspired them. With something of their spirit, to-day we stand upon hallowed ground and now we see before us and around us the Mecca towards which our pilgrim feet have turned. Since the hour, more than twenty-five years ago, when our "tramp-tramp- tramp" was first heard among these hills, many of us have been virtually pilgrims and our way up and down the earth has been a winding one and strange. Some of us could not, if we would, have revisited these scenes during all these years — while other some, fanciful as it may seem, would not, if we could ; and so it has happened that not many of the five hundred whom we represent to-day have gazed upon these vales and ridges since the days when they gleamed in the July sun of 1863. And as we now fall in and, seeking to live over again our soldier experiences, begin to call the roll — how slowly and how sadly come back the responses and what long waits there are between the answering voices. Many, alas — how many, almost within eye-shot of where we now stand, passed over to the silent majority. For them can only come the softly spoken words and yet most glorious ones with which, for many years, answer was made when the name of the First Grenadier of France was called — "Dead on the field of honor." For others, we know that their final discharge came in the still watches of the night and that they were silently borne away from some hospital ward where they had long contended in their steadily losing fight with wounds or disease or both. Still others long time starved and then passed away from earth mid the confines of crowded and horrible Southern prisons while other some, bearing within them the seeds of disease contracted through long and exhaustive service or with the insidious poison of never healing wounds sapping the life current, have, in the more peaceful surroundings of their own firesides, shifted their camp across the river and are tenting on the higher plains beyond. The many are gone — the few, the small minority remain to answer "Present" as their names are read. Each passing year makes deeper inroads among the ranks of the survivors and soon — ah — too soon the last of the Old Guard will have "folded his tent and silently stolen away," leaving but a memory behind. What think you? Can it ever be such a memory that the "world will willingly let it die?" This Monument, so long as it shall stand, will give prompt answer to your query. Michigan, in a larger way, has had her day of dedication and has fittingly emphasized the fact that thirteen independent organizations of her own did valorous service for the country on this field. Her tablet inscription evidences to all how MICHIGAN DAY AT GETTYSBURG. 421 lovingly and how reverently she has performed the act of erecting these memorials "to her martyrs and heroes who fought in defence of Liberty and Union." And while we come to join in this general demonstration of affectionate remembrance of all the Michigan heroes, and martyrs, it is most natural that we should feel more closely drawn to the Comrades of the dear Old Twenty-fourth with whom we tented and marched and fought and with whom our lives were wondrously united for so many long months. And, in attempting to hold our own special services to-day, we do insist that we shall not be charged with the design of unduly seeking to parade our own deeds. We simply hold to-day, as we oft have held in the past, our Regimental Reunion. It matters not that we have changed our place of meeting. For the Old Flag is here. The "boys" are here Not perhaps the lively, singing, quick-stepping boys of '63 — but still the boys, with much of the old time spirit and all of the old time patriotic blood pulsing rapidly through their veins. We come, not as at first, from the single County of Wayne but from various parts of the State and even from other States — but, from wheresoever we come, we bring with us the deepest devotion to the Old Regiment, the One Flag and the One Country. And we should be less than human if there did not come to us, as we stand upon this spot and group ourselves about this Monument, a true feeling of pride that, as representatives of this most loyal State, we were permitted to fight this battle through from start to finish. Surely none dare blame us for this feeling. We only sought to do our duty and modestly we now claim our meed of praise. With rare compliment, you have asked me to speak to you at this Reunion and I confess that I am awkwardly embarassed for a theme. At former meetings, the Regimental History has been most fully rehearsed and personal incidents most delightfully told. It would seem that these topics were worn so threadbare that he would be rash indeed who ventured to make use of them here and now. And yet after all, the "nothing new under the sun" helps us to conclude that the old things may lose something of their staleness, if a little different posing of subject is given or some change of color is dashed in. When General Lee had put his army in motion for an extended invasion of the North, the Washington City Guard or rather the Army of the Potomac was started upon a similar mission. Without serious mishap, though there were man)^ sharp collisions between the Cavalry forces of the two armies, the Potomac River was crossed and the "sacred soil of Virginia" was soon exchanged for the less trodden one of " Maryland, My Maryland." General Hooker had brought the Union Army from its old camping-ground along the Rappahannock, moving it with consummate skill even into Pennsylvania until it seemed as if, at any hour, the two great rival forces would meet in deadly combat and then — just then, the old drama must be re-enacted and the Potomac Army must have a new Commander. What a patient, long-suffering, hard-marching and harder fighting Army that was. Composed of some of the very best combative material in the whole country, it often saw its sturdiest efforts to win victory completely balked by the inscrutable jealousies of its higher officers, by the indecision of its then commander or by the machinations of meddling politicians. There was no lack of proper stuff from which to make Division, Corps and Army Commanders — that was shown over and over again— but, in the early years of the war, no officer dared to be too successful. What a wearying burden the martyred Lincoln carried upon his brain and heart. View the picture of his surroundings as you read the story of that life, so full 422 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. of devotion to the single thought of preserving the Union of the States, and wonder not at the careworn brow and at the aching heart. Think of his days of toil and suffering and suspense — think of his restless, sleepless nights and all this intensified by the harassing thought that those who should have been staunch supporters and hearty co-operators in his patriotic labor were often proven to be spies in the camp and thwarters of his every move. Thank God — all were not such. Many were of a nobler mould and gave him their best thought and word and deed — yea, life itself, if that were needed. Foremost among these noble ones, we are proud to place our old Corps Commander, John F. Reynolds. Perhaps few knew him intimately, for he was a strangely reticent man and it may be that the fate of other officers, his equals in rank, taught him more and more the wisdom of guarded speech. But the quiet demeanor could not wholly mask the ardent spirit. His opponents recognized his ability and his soldiers knew that he held in reserve a latent force of clear and cool-headedness that could always be relied upon. They trusted him implicitly. And when the news reached the ist Corps that General Hooker had been relieved, it was not strange that many of us jumped to the conclusion that our Reynolds would be selected to lead the whole army in the contest that so soon was to occur upon the soil of his native State. We should have considered that his promotion was only a fitting tribute to his worth and that his military success was certain, if the opposition to his plans came only from Lee and his Lieutenants. And yet all the while we felt that we wanted him with us and as our special leader rather than have him gain the higher office, for which he was so pre-eminently qualified. If thus we wished, our wish was granted. General Meade was placed in command of the Union Army but three days before the contending forces met. Brief space indeed to familiarize himself with the task imposed upon him ; a task, from which a less cautious and a more brilliant soldier might well have shrunk. But he found worthy coadjutors. Reynolds was continued in charge of the Left Wing of the Army (consisting of the ist, 3rd and nth Corps) and much, very much was left to his discretion. No one seemed to know just where or when the blow would fall. Only this was definitely known that Lee had checked his Northward advance and was either at a standstill or else, holding his forces well in hand, was concentrating towards Gettysburg or towards some point in that vicinity. The Union troops were feeling- their way along at a snail's pace, covering much ground of necessity with their trains and artillery and yet all within reasonable supporting distance, wh6n all the circumstances of the case are considered. General Meade had conceived the idea of taking up a defensive position on Pipe Creek. He had examined the locality, had recognized its natural advantages and had hoped and perhaps planned that the expected battle should there occur. This might have been well enough, if he could have been positive that Lee would surely attack him there. This Lee might possibly have done, for he is reported to have said that "he was weary of all this marching, campaigning and bloodshed and was strongly desirous of settling the whole matter at once." Besides, the Army of Virginia was in the best possible condition. Officers and men were elated with their triumph at Chancellorsville ; they had carried the war into the enemy's country ; they had easily brushed the Militia from their path ; they had enjoyed rare foraging and feasting in Pennsylvania and, evidently, were ready and anxious for a fight anywhere and. everywhere. MICHIGAN DAY AT GETTYSBURG. 423 As opposed to any defensive warfare, read what General Doubleday, in his book on Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, says on page 122. "Reynolds had the true spirit of a soldier. He was a Pennsylvanian and, inflamed at seeing the devastation of his native State, was most desirous of getting at the enemy as soon as possible. He told me at Poolesville that it was necessary to attack the enemy at once to prevent his plundering the whole State. As he had great confidence in his men, it was not difficult to divine what his decision would be. He determined to advance and hold Gettysburg. He directed the Eleventh Corps to come up as a support to the First and he recommended, but did not order, the Third Corps to do the same." Providence seemed to have inspired the plan of Reynolds. The light of the first July sun of 1863 is just penciling a tinge of brightness amid the leafy shadows of Marsh Creek and, as here and there, its rays penetrate deeper and deeper and light up the misty forest gloom, stalwart forms are seen to spring lightly from their sylvan couches and to step quickly out into the warm sunlight and to drink in the tonic air of the wooded hillside. Out upon the vibrant air sound the bugle notes of Reveille and soon all the peaceful quiet of the scene is changed. The early day routine goes on and then brief space of anxious waiting ; for all are expectant, restless. Marching orders come, and ere half the distance to Gettysburg is compassed, fighting orders are inferred as the boom of the cannon and the crack of the carbine announce that Buford has engaged the enemy and our Division, as the nearest at hand, is needed at the front. No loitering now. The ordinary march step is quickened and then this is doubled, till the "black-hatted fellows" are seen and heard from as they envelop and complacently invite to the rear a goodly portion of Archer's Brigade. This is the first success of the day. The few, swift minutes of fighting resulted however, not only in considerable Regimental loss, but they had been sufficient to deprive us of our Chief. Yet even then the messenger of death was merciful, for the bullet instantly did its fatal work. Verily, the "architect of the battle had fallen dead across its portal." It is useless to speculate as to what would or would not have been done, July 1st, had Reynolds' life been spared. The odds against us were too great to have made it possible to do more than offer stubborn resistance to the enemy's attacks. No officer in the army would have fought the few troops then in hand with more tactical skill and judgment than Reynolds would have done and with less hazard and consequent loss. He believed in his soldiers and they as thoroughly believed in him ; he knew that they could be depended on to fight and to fight well wherever he would lead them ; he considered Gettysburg a fitting battle ground and there he fought and there he fell. The First Corps owes much of its success to his forming hand and to his wise, keen brain and every member of it, reverences his memory with undying affection. After Reynolds' death, there comes a brief lull in the combat. Thus far, the First Division of the First Corps and Buford's Cavalry have been the only Union troops engaged and the two remaining Divisions of the Corps did not arrive upon the field till II A. M. An half hour later, General Howard makes his presence known and assumes command. His Eleventh Corps does not appear till about i i'. m. And now the conflict is renewed, with even more vigor and deadliness than before. But who can depict all the happenings of this day? Who can venture to say that his description will prove satisfying to his comrades or even to himself? For 424 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. after all, how small a portion of a battle-field, its topography or its incidents come within the actual knowledge of a line officer and shape themselves into tangible form before his eyes. Recall, if you can, any engagement of the war and positively state, of your own knowledge, that you passed through some particular field (a wheat field, for instance) when you were ordered forward to charge the enemy's position. You did pass through the open ; so much you remember, but the nature of the field you never once considered. You took possession of a strip of woodland, as a bit of shelter from the skurrying shot, but the character of the fruit or forest trees did not impress itself upon your memory. Some hill or ridge was near; you occupied it as a natural vantage-ground for present or later conflict — but how it sloped or what were its surroundings, you had no time to note. You charged the enemy or were charged by them ; but just how you advanced or how you met the onset, you were too busy then to enter in your mental memorandum book. Subsequently, some military or civilian report mentioned a wheat field, a peach orchard, an Oak Hill or a Seminary Ridge and thenceforth you adopted the names in your attempted description of the battle. But while the battle raged, your horizon range was limited. The lines of your Regiment or possibly of your Brigade covered all the field that your vision seemed able to compass and accurately note. And even then, in the excitement of the struggle, many little incidents occured in your immediate vicinity of which you were not cognizant. Volumes have been written, with The Battle of Gettysburg as sole and only topic, but the whole story has not been told. Much of the planning and more of the doing has been omitted. The living may have given their version of what they did and of what they witnessed there — but, oh — if the dead lips could be unsealed, what truer and larger testimony might be spread upon the pages of history. Then we should learn, in fullest measure, how the brave 9,000 First Corps men fought on open plain and on unfortified ridge and hillside, "with no other protection than the flannel blouses that covered their stout hearts ;" holding their own, for two long hours, against nearly twice their number and then were slowly and steadily forced back, contesting however every inch of backward move so bloodily that welcome night cried "Halt," before the victorious larger force concluded that they might have accomplished even more, had they but resolutely pressed on. The great loss inflicted upon our opponents and the fear that still greater loss might ensue, if farther advance was made, begot a caution that proved the salvation of the few remaining Union heroes on that eventful afternoon. Defeated, but not disheartened, the shadowy remnant of the Old First Corps gather on Cemetery Hill and darkness draws its sheltering curtain about them and grants them needed rest. Rest came indeed to weary limbs, but hearts were overborne with sorrow and sadness banished sleep. For, of the 9,000 that went into action that day, two-thirds were among the killed, wounded and missing and, of the missing, a very large proportion were either killed or wounded. And three-fourths of those who answered to the Twenty-fourth's Regimental roll-call in the morning at Marsh Creek were not present at nightfall. Listen to the inscription cut so enduringly on yonder shaft : — "Went into action with 496 officers and men. Killed and mortally wounded 8g. Otherwise wounded 218. Captured 56. Total casualties 363. Five color bearers killed and all the color guard killed or wounded." What a record of heroism. What a record of loss. Colonel Fox, in his compilation of Regimental Losses in the Civil War, page 390 says — "The largest number of casualties in any regiment at Gettysburg occurred MICHIGAN DAY AT GETTYSBURG. 425 in the Twenty-fourth Michigan. It was then in the Iron Brigade, Wadsworth's (ist) Division, First Corps and fought in the battle of the first day, while in position in McPherson's Woods near Willoughby Run. It was obliged to fall back from this line, but did not yield the ground until three-fourths of its number had been strucly down." I would add that Colonel Fox insists that the number of killed and mortally wounded at Gettysburg was 94 and not 89, as given on the monumental tablet ; and he claims to have verified all his figures by a personal and thorough examination of State as well as Government Records. Whichever should eventually prove to be the correct number, this fact will always remain that the casulties that day were simply frightful ; the total of killed and mortally wounded being nineteen per cent, while that of killed, wounded and missing reached the staggering figures of eighty per cent, of the whole number engaged. We do stand to-day upon ground which we helped to make historic. Within the scope of our vision occurred the greatest battle of the war. Greatest, not in the number of troops upon the battle-field, for, in the Seven Days' battle, Lee's Army of Virginia was about 100,000 strong, while at the Wilderness, General Grant had about 125,000 men. But greatest, in that here the loss of life exceeded that of any other field of combat and that here the Confederate Cause found its Waterloo and henceforward it became more and more a " Lost Cause." We would not depreciate the valor of the Southern Soldiery, for that would make of but little worth the courage we ascribe to our own. They were "foemen, in every way, worthy of our steel ; " boasting the same lineage and proud to be called Americans. When we fought them, we styled them traitors and we fought them to the death. To-day, we heap no harsh epithets upon them ; for the war is over and we know but One Country and all the inhabitants thereof are countrymen. And we claim that we shall be none the less loyal to the cause for which we fought, if now we show to all our former foes that we cherish "malice towards none" and only the largest "charity for all." To friend and foe alike, this whole field is sacred. The baptism of fire and of blood is upon it. It was dedicated in smoke of cannon and riflie which rose like incense during three long Summer days and it needs no word nor stroke of pen to reiterate the consecration then given to it. Yet, since that date, eloquent lips have inspiringly told the story of the mighty struggle that these hills and valleys witnessed. State after State has commemorated with shaft and column the deeds of their noble citizen soldiers and thus have marked for all time one of the localities where these brave men so grandly exhibited their loyalty. As a Regiment and then, as individuals, we would tender to " Michigan, My Michigan" our grateful acknowledgments for the graceful and appropriate monument that crowns this knoll and we would heartily thank all who, by vote or voice, helped to place it here. With the countless other ones that range along these slopes and ridges, this shall prove a marker that shall worthily show where the strong tide of battle ebbed and flowed. Thousands will visit this spot and, recalling the names of some who fought and of some who fell upon this field, will rejoice that the Peninsula State has here so handsomely remembered her gallant soldiers. These State days and these Regimental days that specially dedicate these Memorial Shafts in honor of the Union Soldier seem but a fitting sequel to that earlier service of consecration in November 1863, when our great War President uttered in yonder Cemetery the words that thrill us even now with their strange pathos : 426 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new Nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that Nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it far above our power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here ; but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us: that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion ; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain ; that this Nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom ; and that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth. A quarter of a century ago these words were spoken and the task that weighed upon this noble heart had not been finished. With "these honored dead," of whom he so touchingly speaks, he dedicated and devoted his life to this unfinished work. His words come to us to-day with peculiar meaning and they commend themselves to our most earnest thought. For perhaps we increasingly need to learn what patriotism really signifies and what a wealth of meaning is infolded in that lofty, loyal spirit which places love of country and devotion to that country's best interests far above and beyond all petty sectional feeling and party success. Gleaning then an object lesson on this patriotic field, our presence here shall be productive of unquestioned good. It may be that I should apologize because I have made no personal mention of any member of the regiment and have avoided all allusions to any incidental happenings on the march or in the field. If, in this omission, I have disappointed any — I can now only express my sincere regret and humbly beg to be forgiven. At Gettysburg, every one did full soldierly duty and filled the niche he was called upon to occupy. Ofl5cer and man, rank and file, all were in the places assigned them and all were equally brave an4 deserving of the highest praise. We grasp the hand of the living and try to show them how glad we are that an over-ruling Providence protected them and spared their lives, not only through the terrible storm of shot and shell that fell about them on that first July day, but for so many years thereafter and has brought them safely onward to this present and has granted them the possession of so many earthly enjoyments. We would pay fitting homage to the silent ones who peacefully sleep on yonder hill or in the quiet God's Acres in our own State and would garland their resting place with amaranthine flowers. Their memory we shall ever cherish as a priceless treasure. Many of the heads I see before me are tinged with gray ; the upright forms of long ago are bending over towards Mother Earth ; the old time lope has given way to the slow and measured pace and the eyes are losing much of their pristine brightness. These facts touch us solemnly as we reflect that this may be, for some of us, our last Reunion. Since we have met and have traversed these hills and valleys together, there has come to us a sense of sadness and disappointment. For we find not here all that we sought or hoped to see. How changed is all the landscape. And, as with all the goodly things around us, so with us time has wrought most startling changes. Nature here has covered MICHIGAN DAY AT GETTYSBURG. 427 with her mantle of green or has hidden with great growths of shrub or forest the spots which we thought that we could easily recognize. And as we gaze about us, we stand amazed at the outlook ; for the scars of conflict are all concealed, if not wholly blotted out. Is it not, my friends, one of God's loving ways of teaching us that he is constantly seeking to overlay our heart-sorrows with greater and more lasting heart-joys ? The battle here, with all the woe and pain and death it brought to many an individual soldier, resulted in a glorious fruitage. For the laurel of Victory was the precursor of the olive branch of Peace. An entire Nation, united and prosperous, now rejoices in the blessings that were made possible, in God's good time, by the bloody field of Gettysburg. CHAPTER XXII. Confederate Prisons. aLADLY would we forego the recital of the revolting details of this chapter. To do so would be an untruthful abridgement of history. Thirty-nine soldiers of the Twenty-fourth Michigan died of starvation, and disease resulting therefrom, in Confederate prisons, and nine more of the Regiment died while coming home, after their release from those prison pens, not to mention the untimely graves and shattered healths of 85 others of this one regiment who were confined in them. Confederate prisons form the darkest chapter in the blood-stained annals of this nation, and conclusively prove that a people of a section guilty of such barbarities to those within their power were totally unworthy of, and unfit for, separate nationality. Savages of the forest and cannibals of the sea isles never exhibited greater cruelties to captives than the Confederates did to their prisoners of war. From public records on both sides, from personal narratives of our regimental comrades still living in this city, and from a visit of the author to Andersonville in 1869, has he been able to collate the awful facts of this chapter. We offer no apology for this narration. The pen must convey thoughts which the tongue will hesitate to utter. By-gones may be by-gones with sentimentalists whose feelings go out to the authors, but never to the victims of crime. But zve can never forget and zvill never forgive those in the South guilty of the barbarisms practiced upon our unfortunate comrades whom the chances of war placed under their control. As martyr fires emblazon the deeds of fanaticism and bigotry, and burnings at the stake lighten up the forest darkness among savages, so the records of Southern prison pens disclose the enormities of slavery's influence, which read like pages from the history of hell ! The captive insurgents were well fed, comfortably housed, and as generously treated as if they had been hospital patients of the Union army. Not one of them ever died of starvation ; not one ever suffered (428) CONKl-.DKKATI-: I'KISONS. 429 )il' , If If I 430 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. for want of food, clothing or medical attention. Whatever mortality prevailed among them was from natural causes, greatly from small-pox, the result of their own failure to vaccinate. Not so in the South with the Union captives, where they had, for the most part, no shelter from storms, cold or sun heat other than dug-outs in the ground, with but inadequate and the foulest food and water; and this, too, in sight of standing forests, the purest water, and an abundance of food, which were denied them. The scope of our work forbids a full treatment of this subject and descriptions of those infernal prisons. Libby prison was a large warehouse in Richmond, owned by Mr. Libby, a Unionist, whose property was seized for prison uses. It was three stories high, besides a basement. It contained six rooms, 40 by 100 feet each, in which were confined 1,500 Union officers and men, with no conveniences to cook, eat, wash their clothes, and bath, or even sleep except upon the bare floor. There was no fire, and the windows being broken, the cold wind blew through the building. Under penalty of being shot by the guard, no one was allowed to go within three feet of the windows. The brutal guards were given a furlough for each Union prisoner thus killed. Yet the prisoners in Libby fared better than those on Belle Isle, as they were under a roof. Those on the island were without shelter for the most part. This island consisted of about eight acres in the James River, in front of Richmond. A portion of it was a beautiful, grassy bluff, shaded with trees. About five acres were low, treeless, and sand-barren, where the prisoners were confined and never allowed to seek the shelter of the grove a few rods off. Here 11,000 Union prisoners were held, with shelter for a few only. When the Union captives were taken they were searched and stripped of all valuables, blankets, overcoats and often even their shoes. In winter the prisoners had to bundle together like hogs to keep warm. In sleeping on the ground they took turns who should be the outside men, and in the severe wintry mornings this row was marked by stiffened forms, frozen to dcatJi, within sight of the Confederate capitol and the residence of Jefferson Davis ! The Union prisoners were slowly starved by a diminution of food, and thus cold and hunger were like two vultures gnawing at their vitals. While women of the North were permitted to visit the Confederate captives and alleviate their sick and wounded in prison and in hospital, we have yet to learn that a single Southern woman ever visited a Confederate prison where Union soldiers were confined. CONFEDERATE PRISONS. 431 432 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. except once, when the wife of the Confederate Secretary of War visited Libby and declared if she could have her way she would hang them all ! This she-devil feeling, we are glad to note, was not shared by all the women of the South. For, in its later periods, as the Union prisoners were taken from place to place to evade recapture, some of the Southern people were horrified at their awful appearance, and moved to commiseration. The Confederate authorities refused to allow alleviation to be extended to the Union prisoners. The cruelties practiced in Libby and at Belle Isle were not so revolting as those in more southern pens. As the war was prolonged and Union prisoners accumulated, and the chances of recapture about Richmond became greater, more Southern dens were constructed, and the accumulations in Libby and Belle Isle were forwarded thence. The number of Union prisoners about Richmond became greater when, late in 1862, the exchange of prisoners was stopped by Jefferson Davis, who refused to recognize the captured colored soldiers as prisoners of war. Our Government could do no less than protect these allies of the Northern white soldiery, and so the exchange ceased. It was revived later, but the South would only send forward for exchange the emaciated forms of dying captives and such as were unfit for field duty again, purposely starved that they might be thus useless, while the Southern soldiers exchanged left the Northern prisons in full health, and at once re-entered the Southern army. Below is the diary of Henry H. Ladd, of the Twenty-fourth Michigan, still living in Detroit, who was captured on the Weldon Road. It is a sample of such wonderful records that have survived those awful prison months. DIARY OF HENRY H. LADD. Friday, Aug. iq, 1864. — I am a prisoner ; marched to Petersburg, and lodged in gaol. 20th. — Start for Richmond. Escorted to a tobacco warehouse near Libby Prison. Sunday, Aug. 21. — Feel rather rough after sleeping on the hard floor with wet clothes on. Move into Libby Prison. All are searched for the third time. March to Belle Isle. 22d. — Slept on the ground without a rag under or over me. No tents on the island. Had one meal to-day, half a cup of bean soup and corn bread. Rained all the afternoon and night. No tents nor blankets. 23d. — A cool morning. Spend my time reading my testament. Had two meals. Lay on ground. 24th. — A hot day. Don't feel well. 25th. — Up and ready for my corndodger. Wish I was home to have a good meal. There are 4,500 prisoners on about two and one-half acres here. Bought a loaf of bread for $1.50. 26th.— Lay on the wet ground. Paid twelve shillings for a piece of bread for breakfast. Got no rations till night. Shall attend CONFEDERATE PRISONS. 433 prayer-meeting to-night. 27th. — Rained last night. No breakfast. One of our boys was shot last night by the guard. Bought two loaves of bread for two dollars. Sunday, Aug. 28. — Dreamed of home last night. How I wish it was so. I would attend church in old Dearborn. Had a cup of bean soup and a one-quarter pound corn-dodger to-day. 29th. — Rained last night. Cool this morning. Have all been counted. Two thousand more prisoners arrived to-day. 30th. — Had a cup of coffee made from grounds. Buy three small biscuits for a dollar. Wish I could hear from home. 31st. — Cold last night. Bought three loaves of bread for two dollars. Sept. 1st. — Our Government refuses to parole us. The men think it hard. 3d. — Did not sleep half an hour all night. Sunday, Sept. 4. — Rained last night. All were counted to day. No grub. Paid fifty-cents for some bread. Have spent my last shilling. Sold my wallet for three loves of bread. Had prayer meeting to-night. 5th. — Heard good news by the rebel papers that Atlanta is ours. Have a loaf left for breakfast. Rained in the night. 6th. — All counted again. Sold my canteen for two loaves of bread. Rained again at night. 7th. — No grub. If 1 was on the Island of Juan Fernandez, I could have something to eat, but alas. Belle Isle is barren. 8th. — Nearly froze last night. Am hungry but nothing to eat. qth. — Sold my knife for six loaves of bread. loth. — The day closes with a row and calls for tents. Sunday, Sept. 11. — Got half a loaf for this day's ration. Have an old bag for a bed. 12th. — Did not sleep any last night on account of cold. Nothing to eat. Not well enough to go to prayer meeting. 13th. — Sold my haversack for two loaves and ate them for breakfast. Had a good prayer meeting with a large attendance. 14th. — Dreamed of home. Hear heavy cannonading. All called out. 15th. — Sick with fever. Sold my ring for a loaf of bread. i6th. — Fever all night. Wrote home. 17th. — Ration of bread for breakfast. Sunday, Sept. 18. — Headache and fever all night. 22d. — Rained through the night. Have a bad cold. 23d — A wet day. 24th. — Have a tip-top appetite but nothing to eat. Sunday, Sept. 25. — How hard to be a prisoner. Wish I was home to dinner. 26th. — Slept cold last night. Out to be counted to-day. 27th. — Nothing to eat till noon. Hear of Early's defeat in the Valley. 29th. — Two of our boys retaken who attempted to escape. Did not get any grub till 3 o'clock; nearly famished. 30th. — Over 650 prisoners came from Libby. Oct. ist. — Nothing to eat till noon. Very hungry and cold. Rained all day. Sunday, Oct. 2. — Slept hard last night ; head aches. Am getting thin and poor. Another man shot by the guard last night. 3d. — Some tents came to-day. 4th. — This is a hard life to live and starve, but hope for better days, i.ooo men went south to North Carolina to-day from Belle Island. 5th. — About 950 men left for Southern prisons to-day. 6th. — Left Belle Island to-day and reached Danville at 5 P. M. Sixty men in one cattle car. Such a crowd and such a time! Sell my ink bottle for bread. Good-bye Belle Isle, may I never see it again. Have ate all my bread. Still hungry. 7th. — No rations. Sell my eye-glass for two apples. 8th. — Slept in the open field. Arrived at Salisbury, North Carolina. No rations. Staid all night out in an open field. Have not slept for four nights. Sunday, Oct. 9. — We are in an inclosure of twelve acres. Got two meals to-day. Am shivering with cold. loth. — Got half a loaf of bread for to-day's ration. Am getting very thin in body. nth. — Two men died last night from exposure. 12th. — Wish I could hear from home, or get a letter to my friends. 13th. — Got some soup and five hard tack to-day. Flour is $225 a barrel, Confederate money. Pies and 434 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. cakes three dollars each. 14th. — Had a cup of crust coffee and half a cake for breakfast. Hope God in his Providence will deliver us from here. Half a dozen die daily from starvation. 15th. — Drew some bread and molasses to eat to-day. Sunday, Oct. 16. — Wish I was at home to go to church at Dearborn. Home, sweet home — will I ever see you again? Shall keep up good cheer and trust in Providence. One of our officers was shot to-day while hanging his clothes on a tree. 17th. — Sold some buttons and bought half a corn dodger. i8th. — How hard to be here starving and suffering cold when one has a home with plenty. Could I only have the crumbs of my own table I would not complain, igth. — The officers leave to-day for another prison. 20th. — No news yet from home. Eighty a week are dying here. Boys digging and making earth shanties. The hospital is overflowing. Diarrhea and black fever prevail, caused by starvation. 21st. — Grub came at 9 A. m. Have a severe headache. 22nd. — No tents or barracks and many must perish. Think of my dear old home daily. Sunday, Oct. 23. — Up and ready for my halfloaf. It can't be colder in Michigan. 24th. — Got a cup of flour and molasses to eat to-day. Got one tent for 100 men to-day. 25th. — Sold my hat band for a loaf of bread. Two loads of dead went out. They bury our men without coffins or straw. 26th. — Noon and no rations. Discouraged. Ten died last night. Oh, will our government leave us here to perish. 27th. — Cloudy and rainy. How our men suffer. Will get no provisions till to-morrow. Will not the Almighty punish men for such treatment of prisoners? 28th. — Twenty-two died last night. No rations to-day. Starvation stares us all in the face. 29th. — No food for 36 hours. Will get no bread to-day. Almost famished. The men are about to raise a mob and break out. Twelve died this morning and others dying every hour. Sunday, Oct. 30. — Sixty hours and only one quart of rice and two small pieces of meat to eat. Twenty died this morning. Hear we are to be paroled. God grant it. 31st. — Got half a loaf of bread to-day. Eighteen dead hauled out to-day. Nov. i. Sold my hat for a loaf of bread and $500 Confederate money. 2d. — No rations till dark and then drew flour. Rains and cannot cook it. 3d. — Cloudy and awful cold. Thirty died last night. Drew half a pint of flour to day. 5th. — A few of our men are enlisting in the Confederate army hoping to escape death here. The men are forced to it by starvation. Language nor pen can describe the suffering we undergo. Men die every hour. Sunday, Nov. 6. — Drew meal and tripe for rations. 7th. — How I wish I was back to my old Wayne county home. God has kept me thus far, and I will rely on his mercy. Six hundred came from Richmond last night. 8th. — No rations to-day. gth. — Trade pantaloons and get half a loaf of bread to boot. Traded boots and gave half a loaf of bread worth five dollars. loth. — Rainy. Slept only half the night, nth. — Saw a piece in the Raleigh Standard OnzX the Governor of Georgia favors peace. Sunday, Nov. 13. — What a cheerless Sabbath; about eighteen die daily. 14th. — Hear that Lincoln is elected. Bourassas of Company F, Twenty-fourth Michigan, is dead. i6th. — Half a loaf of corn bread for this day. 17th. — Hear that letters will go North. Must write to my friends. iSth. — Corn bread for ration. 19th. — Lay abed all day to keep warm. Cold and Stormy. Got half a loaf of poor corn bread. Men are dying like sheep with the rot. Sunday, Nov. 20. — It still rains. Cold and muddy. In bed to keep warm. Got half a loaf of sour corn bread. 21st.— Rained all night and all day. Mud knee deep. 22d. — Awful cold day, one freezes to stir out long enough to draw rations. Willaird, of Company A, Twenty-fourth Michigan, died last night. 23d.— Too cold to take off our clothes to skirmish for "greybacks." 24th.— Thanksgiving Day at CONFEDERATE PRISONS. 435 home. We only get a quarter loaf of bread. Hardly enough to live on. Forty die daily. 25th. — I write with a sad heart. Only got four ounces of bread to-day. Suffering with cold. Nearly naked. Covered with lice. Oh, what a fate ! Must we die? Will not God deliver us from this hell? 26th. — Yesterday the mob secured the guard and rallied to get out. We lost in killed and wounded about ninety. prisoners' riot for food at SALISBURY PRISON, NORTH CAROLINA. .Sunday, Nov. 27. — Drew half a loaf. One hundred colored soldiers came in to-day. 28th. — Got two ounces of meat. There is plenty of bread in the cook house but C. S. A. would rather have us starve fifty a day. 30th. — Saw a man drop dead front starvation. Dec. 5th. — No hope of parole. Half a loaf and a potato for to-day's ration. 8th. — Chapman, of Company K, Twenty-fourth Michigan died this morning, loth. — Seventy-five men have died since yesterday. Sunday, Dec. 11. — Men still dying over fifty a day. Hear that Sherman is twenty-five miles of Savannah. Hope something will turn up. 13th. — Slept none last night it was so cold. 15th. — On quarter rations. Hear we are to go to South Carolina. Hope we will get out of this accursed place. Shall I ever see home again? 17th. — Bought an onion for a dollar.* Sunday, Dec. 18. — Had a good cup of soup made from a bone. 20th. — In bed all day. Rain at night run in on our bed. 21st. — Cold and muddy. Still stick to our beds to keep from freezing. Got only half a loaf of bran bread to-day. Disease and death doing their work as usual. 22d. — Drew bread and molasses. 23d. — Nearly frozen. No fire. Only a piece of raw corn bread to eat. How long must we suffer so? *'rhe prisoners dickered and traded around among themselves for the money which the new captives brought to the prison. (31) 436 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Sunday, Dec. 25. — Had a loaf of bread and rice soup for Christmas dinner. 26th. — The Catholic prisoners, about 200, left for a new camp. 28th. — Clark W. Butler, of Company H, Twenty-fourth Michignn, died today. 30th. — Half a loaf only. Getting discouraged. Men still dying like sheep. No relief. Our government has forsaken us ! God forgive, but we never can. Sunday, Jan. i, 1865. — Sergeant Nardin of Company I, Twenty-fourth Michigan, died last night. 2d. — Living in bed to keep warm. Oh, how dreary is such a life. Will we ever get out of this place? 3d. — Drew salt meat and bread. 4th. — The men still sicken and die. 5th. — In bed to keep warm. Will it ever be my lot to see home again? 6th. — Rainy and mud knee deep. Sunday, Jan. 8. — Too cold to look over my clothing for lice. Got half a loaf. Burnett of Company H, Twenty-fourth Michigan, is dead. 9th. — Sitting in bed all day shivering with the cold. loth. — Rained all night, mud too deep to stir outside. John A. Sherwood of Company C, Twenty-fourth Michigan, has also died here. nth. — Only some molasses to eat to-day. 12th. — Got half a loaf. 13th. — Hunted lice on my shirt all day. Oh, %vhat a life ! 14th. — No rations in camp; 100 of us go out to work on R. R. Got half a loaf for our day's work. 20th. — Bee7i in bed six days to keep warm. Sunday, Jan. 22. — Sick in bed. 23d. — Men dying like sheep every hour. Oh, what a horrid place ! Such a stench and lice. One can hardly live. 24th. — Still in bed to keep warm. 25th. — Hundreds are sick and dying goes on all the time. 26th. — Nearly frozen to death. No fire, no clothing or anything to keep warm. One can lie down and die of despair. Hope is all that is left. 27th. — Still awful cold. One of the boys by my side died last night. 28th. — Still in bed shivering from cold. It breaks the stoutest heart. Sunday, Jan. 29. — Still suffer and sick. 30th. — Get less to eat every day. Am poor ; will not weigh ninety pounds. 31st. — Things look dreary, but hope to see home again. Feb. ist. — Sold my last article, my housewife, for two onions. Sunday, Feb. 5. — Bread and molasses for rations to-day. Men dying as usual. 7th. — My diary is kept only weekly now for want of space. Snow and sleet. Lie abed all day. Could not sleep for hunger last night. Sunday Feb. 12. — Bruskie of Company E, Twenty-fourth Michigan, died last night. This makes the eighth man of our regiment that has died here, who were captured on Aug. 19th last. Sunday, Feb 19. — Parole papers are made out and we are to start for our lines. Thank God, the day of deliverance has come. One thousand left last night. There have died in this prison 5,019 prisoners since I came here last October. Feb. 22d. — Left Salisbury prison for the north at noon. (Diary filled.) Of the twenty-one members of the regiment captured on the Weldon Road, eleven died in this prison and while coming home ! Like all the Confederate prisons, Salisbury, North Carolina, was one of the most loathsome. The prisoners suffered terribly from want of food and shelter and it was a place of cruelty and horror. Though the weather was inclement and frequently cold in the winter months, the men sold their coats and shoes for food, and went around in rags, frequently with nothing on but a shirt! Plenty of woods were near from which comfortable huts and fuel might have been obtained, but it was not permitted. The clothing of the men was covered with CONFEDERATE PRISONS. 437 vermin which it was impossible to get rid of, and which tortured the sick who were too weak to kill them. At winter time, shelter tents were furnished for a few only. Full one half had to burrow in the ground for a covering. The dampness brought disease and death. This prison was a large cotton factory flanked by a few tenement houses set up two or three feet from the ground on posts. Under these houses the men crowded like hogs to sleep and formed their beds on the ground. The dead house was frequently so full that the bodies were piled on top of each other. When a man died there was often a quarrel to see who should have his vermin covered garments. His comrades would then carry him to the dead house, leave the body upon the accumulated pile of dead which were buried as naked as when they came into the world. On November 26, 1864, after having been without rations for three days and nights, the men concluded they might as well die in an attempt to liberate themselves as to starve to death. In this movement Robert E. Bolger of the Twenty-fourth Michigan, still a resident of Detroit, was one of the five leaders. At a certain moment, every prisoner was to seize whatever was nearest to him — brickbat, stone or stick — overpower and disarm the guards and make a break for freedom. The guns were wrested from the fifteen relief guards, as they entered the yard and the combat began. It was an unequal one, for the other guards opened on them and before the prisoners could effect their escape, the field pieces raked the prison with grape and canister, killing sixteen and wounding sixty. Not a tenth of the Union prisoners took part in the riot and a great many knew nothing of it until the garrison cannon swept the prison pen. By looking at the illustration on page 433 the reader will observe the beginning of the riot. The limbs of the wounded were amputated by moonlight under the tree in the foreground. Below is the statement of Almon J. HOUSTON of the Twenty- fourth Michigan, now living in Detroit, Michigan : I was captured at Gettysburg, July i, 1863, and on July 4, was marched south with several hundred other captives, not halting till we reached Williamsport where the rise of the Potomac detained the crossing for two days. Thence we were marched for Staunton. The first night of this march, we were halted in a field and searched for all valuables and surplus clothing. When I saw this, I cut my new rubber blanket into shreds with my knife, rather than let the enemy have it. For this act I was bucked and gagged for over two hours. This was done by tying my wrists together and drawing my elbows down below the under part of my knees, and putting a stick between the knees and elbows. A stick was put in my mouth and tied behind my head. Circulation stopped in my limbs and I could not stand when cut loose. 438 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Next morning the march was resumed for Staunton, Virginia, where we were put into old cars and taken to Richmond. I was five weeks in Libby prison and then put on Belle Isle. While here, in November, eight or ten of our soldiers died while sleeping on the outside of the embankment thrown up to separate us from the guard. TJiey had frozen to death. Their bodies were left there for five days until the hogs on the island ate them up, the rebels refusing to have them removed. At first we had a very small piece of meat and a cup of pea soup, once a day. These peas where infested with black bugs in the shells and often they had eaten the entire pea out. Of such peas was our soup made, bugs and all. Often we had to scrape the bugs off the top of our soup before we ate it. The Union Sanitary Commission sent supplies for us but the rebels confiscated them and they did not reach us. The guards would show us the supplies, saying they were from the Yankees, and eat them before our eyes. Occasionally they threw pieces of food down into the open sinks to see our starved men in their rage for food, reach down into the fecal mass of filth and fish them out to eat ! LIBBY PRISON, RICHMOND, VA. Often the stomachs of our men could not digest the poor, uncooked food furnished us, and they would vomit it up. I have seen a comrade gather up the whole beans vomited up, wash, re-cook and eat them ! During my stay on Belle Isle, the rebel surgeons vaccinated the prisoners with poisonous vaccine that killed the men off faster than if they had the small pox. The vaccinated limbs would rot and the whole body became infected with the poisonous virus. On February 22, 1864, I left that God forsaken island and was taken back to Richmond, and then further South. None knew where we were destined until, at the end of six days and nights on the cars, we arrived at Andersonville prison. One day on the route we had peanuts only to eat. We were turned into this pen without shelter, like a lot of animals. Here, for rations, we received corn meal, a pint for twenty-four hours, and nothing to cook it with, although forests we could see all around us. The meal often was sour and being eaten uncooked gave the men a diarrhea from which they died by the hundred. Soon our numbers increased to- 35,000 men in the prison. CONFEDERATE PRISONS. 439 At night, pine fires were built all around the prison to light up the pen for the guards to sight any escaping. From the smoke of these pine fires, the men's faces, hands and naked feet became black. Their clothing hung in tatters from their emaciated limbs. Many had no hats. Many had no shirts, or coats or shoes. A swamp ran through the center of this camp, one side of which was used for a sink, which under a broiling sun, became too vile to describe, and maggots covered the surface of the stagnant mass. Our men died off from starvation like sheep with the rot. Every morning corpses were laid out to be hauled away. One day I counted over 200 dead who had died within twenty-four hours ! Negroes would come in with a span of mules hitched to a wagon with the box top spreading outwards, and the WAGON AT ANDERSONVILLE USED TO CARRY IN THE FOOD AND CARRY OUT THE JEAD. 440 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. stiffened corpses would we tossed into the wagon like so many dead hogs, one top of the other, until the box was filled. This same wagon, uncleaned, was used to haul in, to our men, their daily supply of food ! Every few mornings the deep mouthed hayings of the large blood hounds kept for the purpose, were heard in the neighboring forests, indicating the woeful fate of some escaped prisoner. I have read histories of those Southern prisons, but the fullness of all their hellish enormities has never been told. It never can be. In the fall of 1864, many of us were taken to Millen, Georgia. This was the same as Andersonville in the treatment of the men. A few months later, I was released for exchange along with 1,100 others. My diary that I had kept was taken from me by the rebels before I got out of their hands. There were thirty-two of our men who died while coming North, too weak to stand the journey. These accounts by comrades Ladd and Houston are but specimens of a score of others we might publish, did space allow, from our own regiment alone. They all contain the sickening details similar to the naratives of thousands of others. A few only are published ; the rest will go down to the graves of the witnesses of those awful events of southern prison life. They all agree that "Andersonville was the vilest place that God ever let the sun shine upon." But Florence, Millen and Salisbury were equally as bad. There is no doubt but that it was the design of the Confederate government to deplete our army by starving Union prisoners into their graves, or totally unfit them for further duty. Scarcely any of our returned prisoners ever were able to do soldier duties after their return. The rations issued, six 07iJices of flour, ttvo owices of bacon, one gill of molasses and a pint of cozvpeas, was a composition designed to disorder the bowels and produce marasmus and death. From the first battle of Bull Run till the surrender of the last Confederate soldier, Union captives were robbed of their clothing, only enough being left to cover them scantily, and frequently the rags of the captor were changed for them. No clothing was ever issued to Union prisoners by the enemy. There was a "dead line" in all the prisons, beyond which, or even near which, it was sure death from the guards, to get. Shelter was furnished to but a small portion of those confined in these prisons. The men had to burrow holes in the ground which often filled with water, driving them out. Many had no shelter at all. The same story as to diminution and poorness of food runs through all the prisons of fhe south. Some were known to catch rats cook and eat them. At Belle Isle, the commandant's dog was caught and eaten. Men would even at Florence and Andersonville, eat the offal from the rations of the guard, devouring scraps of stinking meats CONFEDERATE PRISONS. 44I and slops ; and they would even search the excrement and vomit of comrades for undigested food ! Reader, do you tire of these statements ? Wonder not then of the weariness of the actors of these incidents which bear the stamp of proof from living witnesses in our midst. Hundreds of pages of Congressional testimony, taken at the time, over a quarter of a century ago, from witnesses from every section of the Union corroborate each other as to those prison enormities. The water supply in all the prisons was bad. At Belle Isle the water frontage of the camp was narrow and the sinks contiguous to where the men must get their water. Frequently the prisoners were compelled first to remove the fecal matter on the surface before dipping up the water ! At Andersonville, a pure volume of water was within bowshot of the pen, but not a drop of it was allowed the prisoners. They must go to the swamp that divided the camp for water. The matter of fuel was no better. Within sight of forests, they were allowed no wood. Occasionally at Salisbury, a few sticks were brought in and divided, not an eighth of a cord to one hundred men. At Andersonville the men dug roots from the earth with which to cook their food. When a comrade died they contested for the privilege of carrying him to the dead pen outside, to enable them to obtain a few chips or sticks by way of barter with outsiders. Dying comrades were everywhere present, in their rude huts, often alone. Three men were known to bid each other good bye at night, and all were dead by morning. Frequently, the first evidence of a death was the stench that came from some burrow in the ground. Often they dragged themselves into the swamp to quench their burning thirst and died there. Again, they were found dead in the sink, amid the festering mass of maggots. Others threw themselves purposely over the dead line and were shot by the guards. It is said their passing away was without pain ; as if angels had come to welcome and pilot them from that Confederate hell to Paradise. The starvation and exposure to which the Confederate Government purposely and needlessly subjected them, produced their quick results. A healthy boy or man in his prime would be captured and frequently but ninety days would be necessary thus to kill him. Scurvy was very prevalent. It was quite as fatal as leprosy. Often sores would form on their swollen limbs and bodies, in which vermin festered. Gangrene ate the flesh from their cheeks, exposing the bones and teeth, and reducing them to a skeleton, with lusterless eyes, wild looking and hollow. Fever and diarrhea wasted others away and 442 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN many wandered about in a half naked condition, reason gone and death certain. To add to these enormities, a band of Raiders appeared amongst them. These were cut-throats, thieves and scoundrels in shape of bounty-jumpers who had been captured and here plied their profession. Men were robbed and murdered by them. A vigilance committee was organized among the prisoners for their capture which was successful. The prison authorities preserved no order in the pen and left disipline all to the men. Their sole attention seemed to be given to the slow starvation process, and training the cannon upon the Stockade. They allowed the vigilants to take the raiders into a seperate enclosure that surrounded the stockade. There they were tried by a select jury and defended in manner as if they had been at home. Six of them were convicted and hanged. They believed it all a joke as they approached the gallows, but the grim task went on in sight of the whole Andersonville stockade and many who came from the surrounding country to witness the event. The rope broke as one fell and he ran to the swamp to escape. He was hunted down and swung into eternity too. This had a beneficial effect upon the evil disposed in the camp. At Andersonville, Georgia, in less than fourteen months, 13,412 prisoners died ! In five months at Salisbury, North Carolina, 4,728 prisoners died. In all the Confederate prisons the number of deaths as ascertained by the number of known Union graves was 36,401, or a mortality per cent of 38.7 of the captures. The mortality per cent of the Confederate captives was but 13-25, In addition to the terrible mortality among the Union prisoners, 11,599 *^^^<^ before reaching their homes, and of those who did reach home, 12,000 died not long after, making an army of 60,000 unarmed Union prisoners of war who were thus destroyed by the barbarous effects of prison ill-treatment. At Andersonville, in September, 1864, one in every three died / In October, one in every tivo died ! Two monsters who were the tools of the Rebel Confederacy in causing the above enormity of worse than murdered lives, were John H. Winder and Henry Wirs. When the former left the Richmond prisons to assume charge of Andersonville, the "Examiner" said: " God have mercy upon those to whom he has been sent." His infamy may be judged by his issue of the following : CONFEDERATE PRISONS. 443 Headquarters, Andersonville Prison, Ga., July 27, 1864. Order No. 13. — The officers on duty and in charge of the Battery at the time will, upon receiving notice that the enemy has approached within seven miles of this post, open upon the stockade -Mith grapeshot, without reference to the situation beyond these lines of defense. JOHN H. WINDER, Brig. Gen. Conimanding. Thus twenty-five cannon were to be opened upon the 35,000 sick and dying Union prisoners, rather than suffer them to be rescued ! It was like savages who tomahawk their captives when re-capture is probable. $ And now come forward the apologists of such murderers and declare that these facts had better never been written. Then expurgate the account of the crucifixion from the testament, burn all history and leave but oblivion. Let these truths stand prominently out as beacon lights to the civilized world what demons the system of human slavery will make. They show pointedly, also, the sacrifices and cost to preserve this nation. Confederate testimony is ample in substantiating the universal narratives of the Union survivors of those prison pens. The archives of the Confederate War Department furnish conclusive confirmations A SECTION OF ANDERSONVILLE PUISON. KROM A REBEL PHOTOGRAPH. 444 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. of their horrible accounts. When Winder was laying out the Andersonville pen, he told Mr. Ambrose Spencer, a resident of Americus, Ga., near by, " The Yankees who would be put in the pen would need no barracks." When asked why he was cutting down all the trees, Winder replied : " I am going to build a pen here that will kill more Yankees than can be destroyed at the front." The Confederate records show that the attention of Jefferson Davis was repeatedly called to these enormities, by the Andersonville surgeons. The receipts of such letters and reports were acknowledged and confessed by indorsement on their back in Jefferson Davis' own handwriting! In August, 1864, when the pen contained 35,000 men Lieutenant-Colonel D. T. Chandler, C. S. A., after officially inspecting the Andersonville prison, thus reported to Jefferson Davis: There is no medical attendance provided within the stockade. Small quantities of medicine are placed in the hands of certain prisoners and the sick are directed to be brought out to the medical officers at the gate. Only the strongest can get access to the doctors, the weaker ones being unable to force their way through the press. Many are carted out daily whom the medical officers never have seen. The dead are hauled out daily by the wagon load, and hurried without coffins, their hands in many instances being first mutilated with an axe in the removal of any finger rings they may have. The sanitary condition of the prisoners is as wretched as can be, the principal causes of mortality being scurvy and chronic diarrhea. Nothing seems to have been done to arrest it by proper food. The ration is one-third of a pound of bacon and one and one-quarter pound of unbolted corn meal, with fresh beef at rare intervals, and occasionally rice — very seldom a small quantity of molasses for the meat ration. A little weak vinegar unfit for use has sometimes been issued. The arrangements for cooking have been wholly inadequate. Raw rations have to be issued to a very large proportion who are entirely unprovided with proper utensils, and furnished so limited a supply of fuel they are compelled to dig with their hands in the filthy marsh for roots. No soap or clothing has ever been issued. * * * My duty requires me to recommend a change in the officer in command of the Post, Brig. Gen. J. H. Winder, and the substitution of some one who unites good judgment with some feeling of humanity for the comfort of the vast number of unfortunates under his control — some one at least who will not advocate deliberately and in cold blood the propriety of leaving them in their present condition, until their number has been sufficiently reduced by death to make the present arrangement suffice for their accomodation ; who will not consider it a matter of self laudation and boasting that he has never been inside of the stockade, a place the horrors of which it is difficult to describe, and which is a disgrace to civilization. The above report from Jefferson Davis' own appointed agent, was acknowledged as received by him in his own handwriting, and yet, with the guilty knowledge of such enormities, instead of removing this fiendish keeper, Jefferson Davis promoted him — John H. Winder — to the command of all the prisons in the Confederacy, thus becoming a particeps criniinis of all those murderous methods. The above is a CONFEDERATE PRISONS. 445 Confederate s official testimony of the horrors of that prison pen which will ever disgrace the Confederate cause. The following document in possession of the Government is unanswerable proof of the settled policy of the Richmond Government towards Union prisoners : City Point, Va., March 17, 1863. Sir: — A flag-of-truce boat has arrived with 350 political prisoners. I wish you to send me all the military prisoners (except officers) and all the political prisoners you have. The arrangement I have made works largely in our favor. We get rid of a set of miserable wretches, and receive some of the best material I ever saiv. * * * ROBERT OULD, Confederate Com'r of Exchange. To Brig. Gen. John H. Winder, C. S. A. No apologies from the southern traitors or their northern cowardly sympathizers can wipe out such evidence. It is idle to attempt to parallel it with averments as to the treatment of Confederate prisoners in the North. Such an effort has recently been made in the Century magazine, wherein certain atrocities of similar kind are charged. If true, they deserve the branding shame of the perpetrators. If false, the statement deserves the opprobrium of falsehood. Is it not strange that these things have not been disclosed until after the lapse of a quarter of a century? What southern or northern press ever alluded to them in those days? The place of such averred mistreatment was at the camp for Confederate prisoners near Indianapolis, Indiana. Here were the headquarters of the Knights of the Golden Circle, a society inimical to the administration of Lincoln, an opposer of every war policy of the government and a treasonable organization. The averred mistreatment of the Confederate prisoners then escaped entirely the attention of those marplots against our government. However, the comparison of the death rates and the evidence of the people in the vicinity prove the falsity of the Century article. As previously stated in this article, the Confederate prisoners had the same treatment, the same rations, the same medical attention and care, the same fuel for warmth, that the Union soldiers had who guarded them, and when released were placed right back in the Confederate ranks for field duty, while scarcely any of our Union prisoners were ever fit for duty after their release. We have diverged from our subject to repel the statements in the Century article, feeling that justice to history demanded a refutation of what even every sympathizer of the southern cause in the North believes to be a malicious fabrication. 446 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. The illustration on page 447 affords a general idea of Andersonville Prison. Far down towards the Florida line, sixty miles south of Macon, in Sumpter County, Georgia, was located this infamous den. The reader is on the east side of the prison looking west. In the distance the cars are leaving a fresh arrival of Union captives. The Sweetwater Creek, a sluggish stream from four to ten feet wide and six inches deep — flanked on either side by several rods of swamp, meandered from the railroad down through the pen. This was cut from a solid pine forest and every tree but three cut away that the men might have no shelter. The camp of the guards was located so that the stream received the offal from the vaults, and thus polluted, flowed through the pen. And of this the prisoners must obtain their supply of water. The stockade was about 108 rods long by forty-eight rods wide and contained about thirty-six acres, of which six acres were swamp, so that over 1,000 men to the acre were turned into this pen like cattle, without shelter, subject to the cold rains and hot sun. Dense forests were all around whence they could have obtained material for shelter and for fuel, but these privileges were denied. The illustration is so reduced from the original drawing that the reader must observe closely and carefully, to understand it, but the study will repay him. The margin shows a few prison incidents. Commencing on the right hand is a picture of the author of the drawing, Thomas O'Dea, who spent several months in the den. Above him is an illustration of the modes of punishment for trying to escape, such as hanging by the thumbs, wearing a ball and chain, being bucked and gagged, and sitting in the stocks. The next shows the daily visit of Wirz to the bloodhounds, the large dog Spot appearing in front. Above this some escaped prisoners are being pursued in the woods and run down by the bloodhounds. Above shows a man coming out of a tunnel opening outside the stockade. The picture next above represents the men engaged in well digging and tunneling to escape. The right-hand corner picture shows the breaking away of the stockade after a severe storm. The water flooded the swamp and carried off the putrid matter that accumulated. The men waded into the swamp and gathered up the logs for fuel, but they were taken away from them. To the left is an indistinct representation of the diseases that afflicted the men. Again to the left is a dying prisoner and adjacent thereto his final thoughts of home and loved ones — his wife reading his last letter, his babe in the cradle, etc. The top center CONFEDERATE PRISONS. 447 picture represents the grave yard. A load of dead is being placed upon the ground — their arms and legs hanging over the wagon sides. In a long trench two feet deep are closely placed side by side the emaciated forms of men of health but a few weeks before — now starved to the grave. This same dead wagon, reeking with filth and vermin, without cleaning, was used to bring back into the stockade the food for the men ! Next to the left is the shooting of a man too near the dead line, by the guard. Then appears the difficult efforts of the men to cook their rations, with such chips, sticks and roots, that they could barter for and dig from the ground. In the left-hand corner may be seen a representation of hanging the six raiders. Below represents the method of drawing rations. These were divided as equally as possible according to the number in the squad, and placed on a blanket. Each man had his number and one fellow turned his back to the rations. The sergeant then pointed to a pile and asked "Who'll have this?" The man with his back turned would say " No. lo," and the man who bore that number would step forward, take the pile and devour it. The picture next below the ration scene represents the Providence Spring. Just inside the "dead line" on the northwest side of the swamp, one night after a terrible thunderstorm when shafts of 448 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN lightning were frequent, a fine spring of pure cold water burst out of the ground which was regarded as a miracle by the men, many of whom averred that it was a stroke of lightning that caused it to come forth. It furnished a sufificient quantity of fine water for the men during their confinement therein. This spring was still in existance several years later when the author visited the prison and from which he quaffed the Nectarean liquid. The scene next down on the left represents an excitement in camp caused by false rumors of exchange, after which many died from despondency. The next scene represents the dead brought daily to the gate and laid down to be carried out in the "provision wagon." Below is a picture of Father Whelan, of Savannah, Georgia, praying among the living and dead. All during July, 1864, the prisoners came streaming by thousands. In all, 7,128 during that month were turned into that seething mass of corrupting humanity to be polluted by it and to make it fouler and deadlier — fair youths in the first flush of hopeful manhood ; beardless boys rich in the priceless affections of homes were sent in to have their flesh rotted with scurvy and bodies burned with the slow fire of famine. These 35,000 young men were cooped up on thirteen acres of ground. There was hardly room for all to lie down at night, and to walk a few hundred feet would require an hour. The weather became hotter and hotter. At midday the sand would burn the hand. The thin skins of fair and auburn haired men blistered under the sun's rays, and swelled up in great watery puff's, which soon became the breeding grounds of the hideous maggots or more deadly gangrene. The loathsome swamp grew in rank offensiveness with every burning hour. The pestilence stalked at noon-day and one could not look a rod in any direction without seeing at least a dozen men in the last frightful stages of rotting death. Immediately around my own tent in a space not larger than a good sized parlor was a scene that was a sample of the whole prison. On this small space were at least fifty of us. In front of me lay two brothers in the last stages of scurvy and diarrhea. Every particle of muscle and fat about their limbs and bodies had apparently wasted away, leaving the skin clinging close to the bone of the face, arms, hands and ribs — everywhere except the feet and legs where it was swollen and distended with gallons of purulent matter. Their livid gums, from which most of their teeth had already fallen, protruded far beyond their lips. To their left lay a Sergeant and two others, all slowly dying from diarrhea and beyond, a fair-haired German whose life was ebbing away. To my right was a young Sergeant whose left arm had been amputated and he was turned into the stockade with the stump undressed, where he had not been an hour until the maggot flies had laid eggs in the open wound and before the day was gone the worms were hatched out and rioting amid the inflamed nerves where their every motion was agony. I would be happier could I forget his pale face as he wandered about holding his maimed limb with his right hand and occasionally pressing from it a stream of maggots and pus, before he died. This is what one could see on every square rod of the prision. — McElroy s Andersoiiville. With one exception, it is said that Catholic Priests were the only ministers of the Gospel who ever set foot in Confederate prisons. In February, 1865, on the last Sunday before the prisoners were sent CONFEDERATE PRISONS. 449 FROM PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY THB U. 8. GOVERNMENT OF UNION SOLDIERS, JUST AFTER THEIR RETURN FROM CONFEDERATE PRISONS. 450 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. North from Salisbury, N. C, three Southern Methodist Clergymen came into the pen and preached. They said they were Southerners and had for a long time been aware of the awful crimes that were being committed in that prison, but they were powerless to prevent them. They had sought for their liberation but in vain. They now came in to tell them that their exchange was near at hand and that " God Almighty would never prosper any government which practiced such awful cruelties tipon its defenseless captives!'' Several prisoners have told the author that some of the Southern people condemned these outrages in unmistakable terms, and the Southern women were moved to weeping at the awful looking skeletons and emaciated forms that emerged from that prison hell. The great trouble with the people of the South was their acquiesence in the wicked and treasonable acts of their leading men who involved the South in the War. Whatever their wicked and cowardly so called Statesmen proposed they meekly submitted to and half a million graves is the result of such homage. The fiend Winder who superintended the southern prisons was stricken to death by apoplexy at the depot in Florence, S. C, on New Year's Day, 1865, and after the war his pliant follower at Andersonville, the infamous Wirs, was captured, tried and hanged. The cowardly and equally infamous Jefferson Davis, President no longer of the defunct Confederacy, was captured by the Fourth Michigan Cavalry while escaping disguised in his wife's clothes ! Both he and his entire prisoner-starving cabinet should have swung from the same gallows with Wirz for their guilty knowledge of the crimes for which their tool was executed, and which they approved and abetted. Though bereft of spiritual advisers from without, except as above noted, there were preachers among the prisoners who organized prayer meetings and held services frequently, which were largely attended. At Andersonville, these "Camp Meetings" were held almost nightly and were powerful in evidences of divine spirit. The charnel house in yonder field was receiving the men by the score, and by fifties and by hundreds each day, and notwithstanding the congregating in that pent up den of so many different characters. [Avery good pamphlet narrative on Southern prisons is published by S. S. Boggs of Lovington, 111,, for twenty-five cents. We are indebted to this comrade for two cuts in this chapter. McElroy's History of Andersonville, by the Toledo Blade Publishing Company, is a large and very complete history of prison life.] CONFEDERATE PRISONS. 451 there was a strong following at these religious meetings. It is said that the singing possessed a peculiar pathos from the surroundings and was never surpassed in fervor and divine beauty. One piece was the most popular of any and we here reproduce it as sung nightly at Andersonville prison : My heavenly home is briglit and fair, Nor/a/« nor death can enter there ; Its glittering towers the sun outshine , That heavenly mansion shall be mine. I'm going home, I'm going home, I'm going home to die no more ; To die no more, to die no more, I'm going home to die no more, My Father's house is built on high. Far, far above the starry sky. When from this earthly prison free, That heavenly mansion mine shall be. While here, a stranger far from home. Affliction's waves may round me foam ; Although, like Lazarus, sick and poor, My heavenly mansion is secure. Let others seek a home below. Which flames devour or waves o'erflow. Be mine the happier lot to own A heavenly mansion near the throne. Then fail the earth, let stars decline And sun and moon refuse to shine. All nations sink and cease to be. That heavenly mansion stands for me. (32) CHAPTER XXIII. The Iron Brigade. HISTORIES of the war make honorable mention of this celebrated Brigade, a name and record bought with blood. Fox, in his Book of Losses, ascribes to it a per centage of loss, in proportion to its numbers, the greatest of any of the Union brigades. It was composed of Western men who possessed the indomitable pluck of that section. Early in the war it won for itself a noble record for fortitude and bravery, and sustained its proud reputation to the end. Generals confidently relied upon it and gave it positions of danger and honor. Every soldier in it was proud to belong to his particular regiment and highly proud to be a member of this Brigade. Each of its five regiments was distinguished for some exceptional excellence and all combined to make a record second to none. In a recent letter to the author, General John B. Callis of Lancaster, Wis., thus explains the origin of its name by which its fame has become world-wide : General McClellan told me at the Continental Hotel in Philadelphia, when his grand reception was given there, what he knew of the origin of the cognomen Iron Brigade. Said he : " During the battle of South Mountain my Headquarters were where I could see every move of the troops taking the gorge on the Pike [National Road]. With my glass I saw the men fighting against great odds, when General Hooker came in great haste for some orders. I asked him what troops were those fighting on the Pike. His answer was: 'General Gibbon's Brigade of Western men.' I said, 'They must be made oiiron.' He replied, 'By the Eternal they are iron. If you had seen them at Second Bull Run as I did, you would know them to be iron.' I replied, 'Why, General Hooker, they Jight equal to the best troops in the world.' This remark so elated Hooker that he mounted his horse and dashed away without his orders. After the battle, I saw Hooker at the Mountain House near where the Brigade fought. He sang out, 'Now General, what do you think of the Iron Brigade?' Ever since that time I gave them the cognomen of Iron Brigade." The Twentv-fourth Michigan did not join us until after all this, but I am proud to say they proved themselves to contain as much iron as any regiment in the Brigade. Thus it received its honorable title on the field of battle from the Commander-in-Chief of the Army — a distinction it excusably may be (452) THE IRON BRIGADE. 453 proud to boast and a heritage its posterity will highly prize. The Iron Brigade was composed of the Second, Sixth and Seventh Wisconsin, Nineteenth Indiana and Twenty-fourth Michigan regiments of Infantry Volunteers. From time to time some other troops were temporarily attached to it, but the above five regiments constituted .rii^^M turner's gap, south mountain, where the iron brigade won its name. the Iron Brigade of the West. Gladly would we give a full history of each of these regiments but such would be wholly beyond the scope of this volume. A brief reference to each must suffice. The Second Wisconsin was enrolled under President Lincoln's first call for 75,000 three months' troops. It rendezvoused at Madison, Wis., during the first week of May, 1861, where its organization was perfected under Colonel S. Park Coon. On May 16, the men all enlisted for three years except one company whose place was at once supplied by the " Wisconsin Rifles" of Milwaukee. The regiment was mustered June 11, 1861, and on the 20th of that month left for Washington, with the following roster: 454 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Colonels. Park Coon ; Lieutenant-Colonel — Henry P. Peck ; Major — Duncan McDonald; Adjutant — E. M. Hunter; Quartermaster — James D. Ruggles ; Surgeon — James M. Lewis ; Assistant Surgeons — Thomas D. Russell and P. S. Arndt ; Chaplain — J. C. Richmond. Captains — George H. Stevens, Wilson Colwell, David McKee, George B. Ely, Gabriel Bouck, William E. Strong, John Mansfield, J. F. Randolph, Thomas S. Allen, A. J. Langworthy. First Lieutenants — Edward H. Mann, Frank Hatch, C. K. Dean, A. B. McLean, John Hancock, A. O. Doolittle, A. S. Hill, A. A. Meredith, W. W. Lafleische, Caleb Hunt. Second Lieutenants — William W. Jones, Robert Hughes, William Booth, Dana D. Dodge, H. B. Jackson, Wm. L. Parsons, Samuel K. Vaughn, Nat. Rollins, Thomas B. Bishop and William A. Hopkins. Soon after it was brigaded with three New York regiments under command of Colonel William Tecumseh Sherman, who afterwards became the celebrated Major-General. On July i6, in Tyler's Division, it moved out to Centerville, and four days later participated in the battle of Bull's Run, in which it lost twenty-three killed and mortally wounded, 109 other wounded, six of whom were officers and forty prisoners, besides thirty-two other prisoners. After the battle it was placed in defense of Fort Corcoran. Soon after Edgar O'Connor of the regular army became its Colonel, Lucius Fairchild its Lieutenant-Colonel and Captain T. S. Allen its Major. It was transferred on August 25, to General Rufus King's brigade which then consisted of the Fifth and Sixth Wisconsin and Nineteenth Indiana. On December 9, 1861, Company K was organized as heavy artillery and its place filled on the 30th, by a new company. Its subsequent history was identified with the Iron Brigade until May, 1864, After the battle of Laurel Hill, it was permanently detached. May II, 1864, from the Iron Brigade to whose reputation its valor had signally contributed. It had now less than lOO men left for duty, with both field officers wounded and in the hands of the enemy. It was engaged as provost guard of the Fourth Division, Fifth Army Corps and on June ii, left for home its term of service being done. It was commanded in succession by Colonel S. Park Coon, Colonel Edgar O'Connor (killed). Colonel Lucius Fairchild and Colonel John Mansfield. Out of a total enrollment of 1,203 it sustained a death loss of 315 or 26.2 per cent. It had nearly 900 killed and wounded and according to Fox, ^^ It sustained the greatest perce7itage of loss of any regiment in the entire Union ArniyT At Gettysburg, it lost ^J per cent, of those present, Colonel Fairchild lost an arm and its Lieutenant-Colonel George H. Stevens was killed. The recruits and re-enlisted men were organized into two companies and attached to the Sixth Wisconsin. LUCIUS FAIRCHlr.D. (Brevet Major-General, U. S. Vols.) THE IRON BRIGADE. 457 The Sixth Wisconsin rendezvoused at Camp Randall, Madison, about June 25, 1861, and was mustered July 16, 1861, with the following roster: Colonel — Lysander Cutler ; Lieutenant-Colonel — J. P. Atwood ; Major — B. F. Sweet ; Adjutant — Frank A. Haskell ; Quartermaster — I. N. Mason ; Surgeon — C. B. Chapman ; Assistant Surgeons — A. W. Preston and A. P. Andrews ; Chaplain — Rev. N. A. Staples. Captains— K. G. Malloy, D. J. Dill, A. S. Hooe, J. O'Rourke, E. S. Bragg, William H. Lindwurm, M. A. Northrup, J. F. Hauser, Leonard Johnson and R. R. Dawes. First-Lieutettants — D. K. Noyes, J. F. Marsh, P. W. Plummer, John Nichols, E. A. Brown, Fred. Schumacker, G. L. Montague, J. D. Lewis, F. A. Haskell and J. A. Kellogg. Second-Lieutenants — F. C. Thomas, Henry Serrill, J. W. Plummer, P. H. McCauley, J. H. Marston, Werner Von Bachell, W. W. Allen, J. A. Tester, A. T. Johnson, John Crane. It arrived in Washington August 7, encamping on Meridian Hill. It joined the command of General Rufus King, known later as the Iron Brigade, " which was destined to fill such a glorious place in the annals of the war," and with which this regiment's history was subsequently identified. It was commanded successively by Colonel Lysander Cutler, Colonel Edward S. Bragg, Colonel Rufus R. Dawes and Colonel John A. Kellogg. Its total enrollment was 1940, and its death loss 357 or 18.4 per cent. Its total killed and wounded aggregated 867. Says Fox: "Under command of Colonel Dawes it won a merited distinction at Gettysburg. All histories of this field mention the maneuvre by which a part of a Confederate brigade was captured by it in the railroad cut." At the Wilderness, its Major, Philip W. Plummer, was killed. Altogether it had 16 officers killed, which was within three of the highest number of any regiment. It furnished two full commanders of the Iron Brigade — Generals Cutler and and Bragg, while the former rose to the rank of Division General. On December 31, 1863, the regiment veteranized, 227 re-enlisting for three years. They continued in the service until the close of the war, being mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, July 14, 1865, and arrived home at Madison, Wis., on the i6th of that month. The Seventh Wisconsin rendezvoused also at Madison, during August, 1861, and was mustered September 16, 1861, with the following roster : C^/^„^/_ Joseph Van Dor ; Lieutenant-Colonel— V^ . W. Robinson ; Major— Charles A. Hamilton ; Adjutant— C\y2ir\&s W. Cook ; Quartermaster— W^nxy P. Clinton; Surgeon— W&nxy Palmer; A ssistatit Surgeons— \^. Coo^^x hy^xs s.nAY.xnsX Cramer ; Chaplain — Rev. S. L. Brown. 458 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Captains — George Bill, J. H. Huntington, Samuel Nasmith, E. F. Giles, W. D. Walker, John B. Callis, Samuel Stevens, Mark Finnucan, George H. Mather and Alexander Gordon. First-Lieutenants — HoUon Richardson, S. L. Bacheldor, A. R. Bushnell, C. W. Cook, W. F. Bailey, Samuel Woodhouse, Homer Drake, C. M. H. Meyer, A. S. Rogers and F. W. Oakley. Second- Lieutenants — M. B. Misner, H. P. Clinton, E. A. Andrews, A. T. Reed, W. B. Manning, Henry F. Young, Samuel Kramer, Robert Palmer, J. N. P. Bird, David Sherrill. It arrived at Washington October i, and was assigned to General Rufus King's command at Camp Lyon, being henceforth identified with the history of the Iron Brigade. Of over 2,000 regiments in the Union armies, the Seventh Wisconsin was the third highest to sustain the greatest loss in killed and wounded, a total loss of 1,016. The Sixth Wisconsin stands tenth on the list and the Second Wisconsin, thirteenth. The commanders of the Seventh Wisconsin were successively Colonel Joseph Van Dor, Colonel William W. Robinson, Colonel Mark Finnucan and Colonel Hollon Richardson. Out of a total enrollment of 1,630, it sustained a death loss of 424 or 26 per cent. Its percentage of killed was even larger if the conscripts, but few of whom reported, were excluded. On December 28, 1863, it numbered 249 of whom 2ii veteranized. It was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, July 3, 1865, and arrived at Madison, Wis., on July 5. The Nineteenth Indiana was organized at Indianapolis, July 29, 1 861, and arrived in Washington August 5th. It was placed in General Rufus King's Brigade with the two Wisconsin regiments. Its commanders were successively Colonel Solomon Meredith, Colonel Samuel T. Williams, (killed), and Colonel John M. Lindley. Colonel Meredith became commander of the Iron Brigade. Out of an enrollmenc of 1,246, it sustained a death loss of 317. Its total killed and wounded was 712. Its first battle was at Manassas where it lost 259 out of 423 engaged or 61 per cent., its Major, Isaac M. May being killed. At Antietam, its Lieutenant-Colonel, Alois O. Bachman was killed, and Colonel Williams was killed in the Wilderness. It participated in all the battles of the Iron Brigade until the expiration of its term of enlistment in August, 1864, when the few remaining members who had not re-enlisted, returned home. The Iron Brigade thus organized under General Rufus King [See page 215], marched on September 3, 1861, to a position at the chain bridge and assisted in the erection of fortifications. During this month, the Fifth Wisconsin was permanently detached from this Brigade which then was joined to McDowell's Division. On October THE IRON BRIGADE. 459 15, it went into Winterquarters on Arlington Heights, doing out-post duty until March 10, 1862, near Falls Church. At this date the Brigade marched out sixteen miles to Germantown near Fairfax Court House. General King having been promoted to the command of the Division, Colonel Lysander Cutler, of the Sixth Wisconsin took temporary command of the Brigade. Returning to Fairfax Seminary, it remained there until April 5th, when it left with McDowell's Corps for the Rappahannock. Marching by Centerville, Manassas and Bristoe, it reached Catlett's on the 12th and guarded the railroad until the 2 1st, when it renewed its march and arrived at Falmouth on April 23d. On the 27th, it marched to Brooks' Station and worked upon a bridge across Akakeek Run, returning May 2d, to Falmouth. From here detachments were sent out to build and guard bridges. While thus employed, General John Gibbon took command of the Brigade and from this time it was known in history as "Gibbon's Brigade" until it earned and received the famous name of Iron Brigade, under which its name will be contemporaneous in future ages with this great war. On May 25, 1862, it crossed the Rappahannock and proceeded eight miles south on the Bowling Green road to Guinea's Station. On the 29th, it moved out to cut off the retreat of the Confederate General Jackson from the Shenandoah Valley. Proceeding via Falmouth and Catlett's to Haymarket, where it arrived on June i, it encamped for three days. On June 5 it moved on to Warrenton. The attempt to intercept Jackson having failed, it began the return march to Falmouth on the 8th. Marching via Warrenton Junction and Hartwood, it encamped near Falmouth, June 10, after a march of 104 miles. On July 24, it left Falmouth on a reconnoissance toward Orange Court House. Advancing via Chancellorsville, it struck the enemy's pickets on the 26th, a mile from the Court House and a skirmish followed in which the enemy was routed and a few prisoners captured. Having accomplished the object of the expedition, the Brigade returned to Falmouth, having marched eighty miles in three days. On Aug. 5, the Sixth Wisconsin was sent to Frederick's Hall, twenty-three miles from the Junction of the Richmond and Potomac railroad, to destroy the Virginia Central in that section. It tore up a mile of the road in each direction, burned a large warehouse filled with Confederate supplies, destroyed the depot and burned two bridges on its return. Meanwhile the rest of the Brigade marched on the Telegraph Road and on Aug. 5, engaged the enemey's cavalry at 460 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Thornburg on Ta River. On the 6th, it pushed forward to Beaver Dam Station on the Virginia Central where the rear of its column was attacked by Stuart's cavalry. It repulsed the assault, the enemy being driven back to Fredericksburg where they escaped, carrying off with them seventeen men of the Second Wisconsin, who had become exhausted on the march and been sent back. On Aug. 7, the Brigade moved to Spottsylvania Court House, where it was joined by the Sixth Wisconsin which had marched over 100 miles within three days, going thirty miles within the enemy's lines. On August 8, it returned to Falmouth and on the loth marched by Hartwood Church, twenty miles to Barnett's Ford, where it crossed the Rappahannock and pushed forward the next day via Stevensburg thirty miles to Cedar Mountain, near Culpepper Court House, where it took position in the advance line of Pope's army, and took part in the movements of that army. On August 19, the Brigade moved in the direction of Rappahan- nock Station, crossing the Rappahannock the next day, and occupied a position north of the railroad whence it moved to the right, covering Beverly Ford, where a skirmish with the enemy occurred, with but a trifling loss to the Brigade. On the 23d, it encamped on the road to White Sulphur Springs near Warrenton. Moving towards the White Sulphur Springs on the 26th, the Brigade skirmished all day with the enemy, with slight loss. On August 27, it marched by Warrenton sixteen miles to Buckland Mills. On the afternoon of August 28, the Brigade proceeded slowly on the left of the army, by Gainesville to Groveton, where it turned to the right on the Bethlehem Church road, and lay under arms until 5 o'clock. It then returned to the Warrenton Pike, marching towards Centerville. While moving by the flank, the Second Wisconsin in advance, was attacked by a battery upon which that regiment promptly advanced, and soon came upon the enemy's infantry. While awaiting the arrival of the rest of the Brigade, this regiment, for twenty minutes, checked the onset of " Stonewall " Jackson's entire Division, under a murderous concentric musketry fire. The fight was continued by the Brigade until 9 o'clock at night when the enemy's attack was repulsed, although holding his line. They remained until midnight to bury their dead, for the battle had been sharp and bloody, when the Division under General King retreated by the Bethlehem Road to Manassas Junction, where it arrived at sunrise, having left many of their wounded in the hands of the enemy. Jl'IlN (illJl'.i'X. (Major-General, U. S. Vols.) s I I ^ M I I I 111 I II (Brevet Mcljol (ieneral, U S Vols.) LYSANDER CUTLER. (Brevet Major-General, U. S. Vols.) EIlWARI) S. BRAGG. (Brevet Major-General, U. S. Vols.) THE IRON BRIGADE. 463 On the 30th of August, the Brigade participated in the terrible battle of Manassas or Second Bull's Run, repelling with great slaughter the attacks of the enemy, but being compelled to fall back with the rest of Pope's army. An eye witness said: "Gibbon's Brigade covered the rear, not leaving the field until 9 o'clock at night, and showing so steady a line that the enemy did not molest them." On September i, the movement to the rear was resumed by Centerville to Upton's Hill, near Washington, which was reached on the 2d. On September 6, the Brigade went with McClellan to intercept Lee's invasion of Maryland. Marching by Mechanicsville and New Market, a distance of 80 miles, it reached Frederick City, Maryland, on Sunday, September 14. Passing directly through the city it moved on the National Pike to Turner's Pass in the South Mountain range, where the enemy was strongly posted in the gorge, across the National Road. The duty of storming this position was assigned to Gibbon's Brigade. The assault began at 5:30 P. M., and at 9 o'clock the enemy was routed and driven from the Pass. It was here that it acquired the immortal name of IRON BRIGADE by which it was thereafter known. On September 15th, leading Hooker's Division in advance of the entire army, it pursued the retreating enemy through Boonsboro for fourteen miles to Antietam Creek where it had a skirmish but no loss. On the morning of September 17th, the Iron Brigade began the bloody battle of Antietam and soon became hotly engaged, dislodging the enemy in its front and occupying the position until relieved by fresh troops. On the 19th, the Brigade went into camp near the Potomac in sight of Sharpsburg where it remained for a month. During its bivouack here, it was joined by the Twenty-fourth Michigan. Its subsequent movements are interwoven in the history of this regiment, not so completely as we could wish for, but quite as much as the limits of the volume will allow. During the brief period from August 28, to September 17, 1862, the Iron Brigade fought in four bloody battles — Gainesville, Second Bull's Run, South Mountain and Antietam — and sustained a loss of 287 killed, 1,118 wounded and 177 missing, an aggregate loss of 1,582 men inside of twenty days. Out of over 2,000 regiments in the Union Army, the records of the regiments of the Iron Brigade make a most honorable showing. In percentages of killed and died of wounds, the Second Wisconsin stands first, the Seventh Wisconsin stands sixth, and the 464 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. Twenty-fourth Michigan stands nineteentJi. The aggregate killed and died of wounds of the five regiments of this Brigade was 1,131, and, as has already been quoted, Fox says: '^ In proportion to its munbers this Brigade sustained the heaviest loss of any in the war. Its aggregate losses is exceeded in only one instanced At Gainesville and Second Bull's Run, this Brigade lost 894 out of 2,000 engaged. At Gettysburg it had 1,153 casualties out of 1,883 engaged, or 61 per cent. Some of the regiments of the Iron Brigade suffered the greatest losses of any regiment engaged. At Gainesville, the Second Wisconsin suffered the most losses, the Nineteenth Indiana next, and the Seventh Wisconsin next. At Gettysburg, the greatest battle of the war, out of over 400 regiments there engaged, the Twenty-fourth Michigan sustained the greatest loss. At the Wilderness, this honor fell to the Seventh Wisconsin, and at Dabney's Mill to the Sixth Wisconsin. The War Department records show the following for the Iron Brigade: Total Battle Disease Total Per Cent. Strength. Deaths. Deaths. Deaths. of Deaths. Second Wisconsin 1,200 238 80 318 26.5 Sixth Wisconsin 1,940 244 116 360 18.6 Seventh Wisconsin 1,630 281 146 427 26.2 Nineteenth Indiana 1,250 179 128 307 24.6 Twenty-fourth Michigan 1,240 176* 142 318 25.6 Aggregate 7,260 1,118 612 1,730 23.8 In behalf of the Sixth Wisconsin, it is proper to state that in its aggregate of strength is included Company K, which early left it for artillery service and whose place was filled by another company but the death rates of the detached company do not figure thereafter with this regiment. Should they do so, its per cent of death loss would mount up to that of the other regiments of the Brigade. It is also proper to state that the Twenty-fourth Michigan's loss occurred during a period of two and one-half years only at the front, as against three and four years at the front by other regiments of this Brigade. But comparisons are often unsatisfactory and we shall leave the rest to others. The light of subsequent years has slightly changed the above figures of casualties and losses by disease, not sufficiently, however, to destr.oy their significance. The above table exhibits the totalities of * Fox places this number at 189 but the author cannot find so many, unless some in the "unaccounted for" and "desertion" lists belong there. THE IRON BRIGADE. 465 mortuary losses and is quite as instructive as if in battle detail, for in the latter, the few losses in the smaller regiments do not show up with the highest loss figures in the large regiments. This Brigade, by its intrepidity at Gainesville in Pope's Campaign, saved its division from utter rout and ruin and to it must be credited the chief burden of the Confederate assault at Gettysburg. Its record in this battle is a central point in war histories. Its dress was unique, being dark colored and tall black hats somewhat bell-shaped, with broad brims, by which they were always recognized by friend and foe. The Iron Brigade was commanded successively by Generals Rufus King, John Gibbon, Solomon Meredith, Lysander Cutler, Edward S. Bragg, William W. Robinson and Henry A. Morrow. It participated in the following battles : Blackburn's Ford, First Bull's Run, Gainesville, Second Bull's Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericks- burg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Mine Run, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Salient at Spottsylvania, Jericho Ford, North Anna, Tolopotomoy, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Siege of Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Hatcher's Run, Dabney's Mill, White Oak Road, Five Forks and Appomattox, not to mention numerous skirmishes, raids and reconnoissances. During the Wilderness campaign in 1864, the Seventh Indiana was attached to this Brigade until it was mustered out in August. The First New York Sharp Shooters' Battalion was also attached to it for a time, joining it in the fall of 1863. After the Twenty-fourth Michigan left it February, 1865, the Sixth and Seventh Wisconsin with those of the Second that had veteranized joined the First Brigade, Third Division, Fifth Corps. At the reunion camp-fire of the Iron Brigade held in Detroit in 1890, General Russel A. Alger, then National Commander of the G. A. R., spoke as follows : " I wish to say that we are as proud of you as though we were fortunate enough to belong to your splendid Brigade. I cannot talk to you as intelligently as though I were one of your number, but I want to thank you for the noble service you did our country. You may live in prosperity or adversity, you may be ruddy with the glow of health or crippled by the bullet of the foe, but you will leave a legacy to your children and your children's children that money cannot buy. I have traveled much and been astonished at the wonderful progress of the land into which you breathed the breath of a new life. You are no doubt astonished, as I have been, with the figures of the Nation's growth, and in our great prosperity it must be pleasant to you, it must compensate for privations endured and misfortunes encountered, to think that with your numberless comrades you laid anew the foundation of this great land. 466 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. " Let this Nation remember that 3,000,000 of you went upon the bloody field of war. Let it remember that upon its bill book was a debt almost boundless in its dimensions, and let it further call to mind its political bankruptcy and great moral disgrace. Upon the other side of this book you placed your names ; pledges they were to redeem our land. You promised to re-establish our credit, to wipe out our disgrace, to preserve our sisterhood of commonwealths, and you did it. Talk of pay for your deeds of valor, for your dauntless courage and noble fortitude ! Patriotism like yours cannot be bought and sold, cannot be compensated. Of the Twenty-fourth Infantry I want to say that you are the pride of Michigan, and a glory to the Nation." Phil Cheek of Milwaukee, Past-Department Commander G. A. R., and private of the Sixth Wisconsin, then entertained the veterans with a speech full of wit, pathos and reminiscence, which also contained matters of historical interest to the Iron Brigade. After noting the absence of many of the old of^cers, he said : " But if all the officers had run out, there wasn't a man in the Iron Brigade that wouldn't have made a first-class Brigadier-General. Commander Alger has said we never turned back. At that Second Bull Run, when we came marching out of the woods and found the Johnnies flanking us on both sides and saw those double-shot Napoleon guns, we knew there was to be music. There we were — the ' Swamp Hogs No. 19,' the lean lank Indianians, the 'Ragged Second,' the 'Calico Sixth,' the ' Huckleberry Seventh ' and you Michiganders, so brand-new and bright we called you the ' Featherbed Twenty-fourth.' And there we lay supporting the battery. You know how we supported the batteries, lying on our stomachs. Well, the batteries opened and the field looked like windrows in a hay field. We just rose upon our hands and knees and took in the spectacle, and one of the Indianians yelled out, ' Hi, set 'em up on the other alley ; they're all down on this ! ' And then away we run half a mile to the Bull Run bridge, the Johnnies at our heels yelling, ' Git, git, you Yanks ! ' — and we got ! " I am proud of our Brigade, but we ran. How I skedaddled with my short legs, and I wished I was as short as that' — (indicating with his hands the height of a plug hat.) In fact, I wished I hadn't been born. You know how scared they were in Washington to see a dirty soldier from the front. Well, one of them at last got there. ' Where did you come from ? ' ' Beyant in the field.' 'And you a soldier?' 'Yes, and a good one.' 'And you ran from the fight?' 'Yes, and the d — d fools that didn't are there yet ! ' "When we went down to the Potomac in '61 we were the only Western soldiers in the entire army, and we would have died rather than have dishonored the West. We felt that the eyes of the East were upon us, and that we were the test of the West. What made us good soldiers ? Was it because we were gritty and didn't blanch? Or because amid the 'zip-zip' of the bullets we didn't feel a peculiar corkscrew sensation when we felt that some Johnny had the drop on us? No, it was our pride ! We had rather have died than been b^-anded as cowards ! We stood when commanded to stand, and when ordered to go — we got ! "At Gettysburg, comrades, no regiment there in all that fight lost more killed than did the old Twenty-fourth Michigan — the ' Featherbeds.' We won't talk about the 'Calico Sixes; that was my regiment. Think of Queen Victoria in person decorating the heroes of that Abyssinian war, of which I'll wager most of us never WILLIAM V\. tiui'.iS^uS. (Brigadier-General, U. S. Vols.) HENRY A. MORROW. (Brevet Major-Geiieral, U. S. Vols.) .^feC5. .JOHN A. KELLOGG. (Brevet Brigadier-General.) Kl'FUS R. DAWES. (Colonel of Sixth Wisconsin.) (Brevet Brigadier-General, U. S. Vols.) THE IRON BRIGADE. 469 heard. I tell you, I wouldn't give for those little badges of the Iron Brigade any possesion I have or could have outside of my wife and children. We are all ' loyal legioneers ' — that is, I am not; I was a private. There are so many officers now, though, that I enjoy the distinction of being the only surviving private of the war !" The nicknames possess an humorous fact of history. The one appHed to the Twenty-fourth Michigan was because they were the last from home. The " Ragged " Second Wisconsin was the more euphonious name for that regiment. This arose from the fact that the government contractors seemed to have run short of good material when they made the pantaloons for that regiment, allowing their " flags of truce " always to be kept in their rear, and a half abandon delight all to appear in nniforvi, prevailed among them. Once on a review they were drawn up for inspection in their usual ragged pants, and the General's carriage with his little daughter therein stood directly behind them. Presently she said : " Pa, wouldn't it be just as well if our carriage stood in front of this regiment ? " The noble record of the Iron Brigade will not be dimmed by time. Not that they were better soldiers or patriots than others, but because the fortunes and misfortunes of war placed them where the fight was thickest. The Detroit Evening Journa/ \\^s fittingly said: "Almost every war brings some regiment or other military body to the front which distinguishes itself for special valor, constancy or endurance. Cromwell's Ironsides Regiment, Caesar's Tenth Legion, the Old Guard of Napoleon, the Light Brigade at Balaklava, are all illustrious of this fact. Among these bands of heroes should be enrolled the ' Iron Brigade.' " BATTERY B, FOURTH U. S. ARTILLERY. This important annex to the Iron Brigade has a charmingly interesting record. Its organization dates far into the early years of the Republic. The nucleus of this Battery did service in the War of 1 81 2, as a rifle company at the battle of Plattsburg. In 1821, we read of its separate organization into " Battery B, Fourth U. S. Artillery," when its pieces were dragged around by the men with ropes. In 1837, it was "horsed" and detailed to duty in Florida, where its guns were parked and the men acted as dragoons. In 1842, it was sent to Ogdensburg during Canadian troubles. In 1845, 't was sent to the Rio Grande with General Taylor. At this time Darius N. Couch, subsequently a Major-General, was a Second-Lieutenant in the Battery. When La Vega's Mexican Battery was captured at Resaca, two of its four-pounders were turned in to Battery B, which had already four 470 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. brass six-pounders and two twelve-pound howitzers, requiring a strength of 140 men to man them. It was in the siege of Monterey and then did guard service at Saltillo. On February 23, 1847, ^t Buena Vista, the Mexicans charged the Battery and captured one of its guns, but only after every cannoneer, driver and horse attached to BATTERY B IN ACTION. THE IRON BRIGADE. 47 1 it was killed or wounded. After the Mexican War it was stationed until 1856 on the Rio Grande, when it was sent to Fort Leavenworth where it arrived in March, 1857. In July following it was sent with the army to Utah to settle the Mormon troubles. It remained at Camp Floyd near Salt Lake City until May, i860, when its men were mounted and sent out to fight Indians. In July, 1861, it was ordered east and arrived at Washington in October, when it was put upon a full war footing under Captain John Gibbon, who had taken charge of it the year before in Utah. It was attached to King's Division of McDowell's Corps. When Captain Gibbon was promoted to the command of what afterwards was known as the Iron Brigade, Lieutenant Joseph B. Campbell took command of the Battery which was recruited to its full complement by men from the regiments in that Brigade and thus this Brigade and Battery became closely allied to each other, it being virtually a part of the Iron Brigade. In 185 1, Sergeant James Stewart, left New York City for duty with this Battery in Texas. In 1 861, he was promoted to a Second-Lieutenant in the Battery. On August 28, 1862, it did good service at the battle of Gainesville and again at Groveton, August 30. It was heavily engaged at the South Mountain Pass, September 14; and was also severely engaged at Antietam. Here, after its commander and men had rapidly fallen, wuthin thirty paces of the enemy, and the working of the guns thus became impeded, General John Gibbon, in full uniform, acted as gunner himself and drove the enemy under cover. The Battery lost forty out of lOO men in this action. Lieutenant James Stewart now became its commander and it was henceforth known as Stewart's Battery and ranked among the very highest in that branch of the service until the close of the war. It proved worthy of association with the Iron Brigade. And why not? Were not its men detailed from the ranks of the several regiments of that Brigade and made up of the same western pluck? The enemy learned early to respect and fear it, for its work was unerring and deadly. Its deep mouthed belchings gave tone and confidence to the Brigade on many a field. Its music cheered the men on to the combat in many a bloody struggle, and when the records of the war were sifted and sorted, like the Brigade with which it was associated it stood first. Colonel William F. Fox, has thus written of this Battery: The "Cannoneer" is correct in claiming for his Battery tlie greatest aggregate losses of any light Battery in the service. There is no doubt but that more men fell at Stewart's guns than in any other Battery in the Union Armies. 472 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. We shall attempt no extended allusions to the records of this celebrated Battery. The above brief testimony from the accepted Statistician of the Civil War is evidence that a history of said Battery must prove interesting and we are pleased to say to all who would like, in imagination, to ride down through the awful battles of the Army of the Potomac on a cannon without getting injured, send one dollar and a half to the National Tribune at Washington, D. C, for a copy of the "Cannoneer" which is a full and complete history of V this celebrated Battery and contains also a vast amount of invaluable war reading, written by Augustus Buell of Washington, D. C. There was one "comrade" in this Battery to which we have promised our readers to make reference here — Old Tartar, Lieutenant Stewart's horse, or "Old Bobtail" as he was called after his caudal annex had been shot off in battle. We give below " Old Bob's" biography from the pen of Captain Stewart of Carthage, Ohio, to the author of the "Cannoneer": Dear Comrade: — You ask for Tartar's "biography." His military record is as follows : He entered the service at Fort Leavenworth in July, 1857, just before Battery B started on the Utah expedition, and was then four years of age. Before reaching Utah, he was taKen sick with distemper of a malignant type, so we had to THE IRON BRIGADE. 473 abandon him when we left Green River Camp, Salt Lake. The following spring, General Albert Sidney Johnston offered $30 apiece for abandoned horses branded "U. S." I was at the tent of .Major Fitz John Porter one morning when two Indians came in with a couple of horses, one of which was Tartar. I had him taken over to the Battery. In the summer of i860 the personnel of the Battery was formed into Cavalry to keep open the mail and pony e.xpress between Salt Lake and Carson City, during which Tartar's average work was from forty to fifty miles a day. Early in 1861 the Battery marched from Utah to Fort Leavenworth, whence by rail to Washington. At the Second Bull Run Tartar was struck by a shell, carrying away his tail, and wounding both hips, or hams. At first I thought I could not use him any more and turned him into a small field. The ne.xt morning he jumped the fence and followed the Battery. Sometime after this President Lincoln reviewed the army in front of Fredericks- burg. After I had passed in review riding Tartar, I was sent for, to allow the President to look at the horse's wound. As soon as Mr. Lincoln saw it he said: "This reminds me of a tale !" which he proceeded to relate with great amusement. His little son "Tad," mounted on a pony insisted on trading horses. He persisted in telling me that his papa was the President and would give any horse I wanted in trade for Tartar. I had a hard time to get away from the little fellow. Tartar was again wounded at Fredericksbug and after that it was difficult to get him to stand under musketry fire. The day before we reached Gettysburg he was lamed by running a nail into one of his fore feet, and did not go into the battle. In pursuit of Lee he could not keep up and I left him with a farmer on the road. About a month afterward a friend informed me that he had seen him over in Kilpatrick's Cavalry tied up. I went over and got him. This was in August, 1863. He served through the war and was at Appomattox. In 1S66 I left Tartar with the Battery, in the tenth year of his service. DOC. C. B. AUBERY, IRON BRIGADE NEW.SBOY. (33) CHAPTER XXIV. Our Last March, KNAPSACK we shoulder now for a tramp to our last camp- ground. Many months the author has devoted to this compilation. The time has arrived when the result of all this labor must go to the type-room. From the first axe- stroke against the mighty forest oak to the launch of the ship, much good material accumulates which must be left behind. And so with this work. Narratives of each member of the regiment would be interesting, but they would require many volumes. And a full history of all the regiments of the Iron Brigade would also require a volume for each. Such task must be deferred to others. There has been a determination to exclude, as far as the truth of history would allow, all reflexive matter, as well as everything that could not strictly stand the test of good authority and sincere account. The foregoing recital should accord to every regiment of the Iron Brigade that full measure of praise which each has won for itself. While members of the Twenty-fourth Michigan pride themselves upon its glorious record, written in blood — its wealth of sacrifice which has contributed to the enrichment of Michigan history, they ever accord a full meed of praise to all other Michigan troops, mindful that every soldier, with pardonable pride, loves his own regiment the best. And so, while it is our special delight that we belonged to the "Twenty-fourth" and to the Iron Brigade, we are also proud that we belonged to a Michigan regiment. For, were not Michigan's troops the honor of every branch of the service where they served ? Did not their blood moisten over 8cxD battle-fields of the war? Did not their praises fall from the lips of generals? Did not the command of General Phil Kearney — " Put a Michigan Regiment on guard (474) OUR LAST MARCH. 475 to-night and then I can sleep," express the confidence of commanders in Michigan's soldiery? Were they not selected to lead "forlorn hopes" and perform most dangerous and dif^cult tasks? Thirty years have intervened since began the great struggle for national life. Since then a new generation has been born — a generation has passed away, while the magnitude of the struggle and the momentous questions at issue — those lost and those preserved — are fast passing beyond comprehension. The war cost the North alone 360,000 lives, 300,000 wounded, and over one million widows and orphans. No less could have been the casualties of the south. The North alone, and the South alone, lost each, more men in four years, than England lost in all her wars from its Invasion by William the Conqueror to Queen Victoria, a period of 800 years ! The sword settled that the United States are indivisible. State rights remain, but not State sovereignty. Sovereignty belongs exclusively to the Nation. The war taught the nations of earth and traitors at home that this nation cannot be destroyed without costly and bloody protest. It taught that majorities must govern, and so govern as to preserve inviolate the equal rights of all ; that a lawfully elected President shall serve his constitutional term ; that a minority oligarchy cannot permanently control this Republic. May the sacrifices of this war never be forgotten. May future generations note its awful scope and keep clear of the rocks on which it so nearly stranded. May the treasonable sophistries of Calhounism be extirpated from the text books and literature of the South, whose rising generation is being taught its deadly heresy, else other occasions may be sought to revive the " Lost Cause." Let a caution prevail in the discussion of internal questions of polity, nor admit too freely within our gates the objectionable and ignorant stranger; and when enlarging our domain, that we annex not enemies of our institutions, customs and form of government. May the blood- bought experience of this generation preserve for all time this noblest of human organizations, " of the people, by the people and for the people." 476 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. In Memopiam. The following comrades of the Twenty-fourth Michigan are known to have passed over to the silent majority since their resignation or discharge : Lieutenant-Colonel Mark Flanigan, at Detroit, Oct. 4, 1886. Major Henry W. Nall, at Long Branch, N. J., July 10, 1863. Major William Hutchinson, drowned on Stm. Morning Star, sunk on Lake Erie, June ig, 1868. Lieutenant and Quartermaster Digby V. Bell, at Detroit, Feb. 8, 1890. Surgeon John H. Beech, at Coldwater, Oct. 17, 1878. Assistant Surgeon Charles C. Smith, in Redford, April 18, 1890. Assistant Surgeon Alexander Collar, at Wayne, Sept 4, 1883. Assistant Surgeon Edward Lauderdale, at Detroit, April 16, 18S3. Captain Richard S. Dillon, at Detroit, March 3, 1886. Captain Isaac W. Ingersoll, at Detroit, April 9, 1881. Captain Edwin E. Norton, at Detroit, March 9, 1873. Captain William A. Owen, at Detroit, July, 26, 1887. Captain George A. Ross, at Detroit July 28, 1885. Captain George C. Gordon, in Redford, Aug. 27, 1878. Captain John Withersi'OON, killed in cyclone at St. Edwards, Nebraska, Aug. 4, 1887. Captain Edward B. Wilkie, Nov. S, 1875. Captain Andrew J. Connor, at Dayton Home, in 1890. Lieutenant Frederick Augustus Buhl, at Annapolis, Md., Sept. 15, 1864, of wounds received in cavalry fight. Lieutenant Augustus F. Ziegler, at Detroit, Jan. 2, 1870. Lieutenant Hugh F. Vanderlip, at Pontiac, Feb. 19, 1884. Lieutenant Ch.arles A King, in Missouri, soon after the war. Lieutenant John J. Lennon, of consumption, in March, 1865. Lieutenant George W. Chilson, at Las Vegas, New Mex., Jan. 18, 1881. Lieutenant Ira W. Fletcher, at Wayne, May 9, 1883. Lieutenant Michael Dempsey, at Detroit, in March, 1890. . Sullivan D. Green (N. C. S.), at Berlin Falls, N. H., Dec. 29, 1889. Daniel B. Nichols (N. C. S.), soon after the war. Company A — Peter N. Girardin, John Happe, James Murphy, Nelson Oakland; John Schubert, 1890 ; Francis Wright, 1889 ; and John S. Coy, 1S91. Company B — Andrew J. Arnold, 1891 ; James S. Booth, Willett Brown; George F. Higbee, 1878; Richard Maloney, 1869; Joseph E. McConnell, 1886; Patrick Shannon, 1872; Lafayette Veo, 1890; James Grills (Recruit). Co?npatty C — James M. Loud, Daniel McPherson, James S. Seeley. Company D — John D. Cameron (R.); Henry D. Chilson, of wounds received in another regiment, 1865 ; Clark Chase, Oliver Herrick, Frank Heig, killed on railroad; Conrad Kocher, James Lindsay ; Robert Polk, 1S90; William M. Ray, 1S79 ; Melvin H. Storms, Wm. Walter Sands; George P. Roth, 1880 ; John B. Turney ; Allen Brown (R.), 1889; George Dolan (R.), 1890. OUR LAST MARCH. 477 Company E — John Frank; Thomas Gibbons, 1890; John Hogan, James D. Jackson, Frank Kendrick, Patrick W. Nolan, William Powers, Frank Schneider, Thomas Stackpole. Company F — Abraham Akey; August F. Albrecht, 1890; Edward Burkham; William Bullock, 1875 ; William W. Graves, William H. Ingersoll, Charles E. Jenner, George Krumback, William Kalsow; John G. Klinck, 1886; Frank H. Pixley, Eugene Sims by gunshot accident soon after the war; Albert L. Schmidt, John J. Sullivan; Andrew Wagner, 1867 ; Myron Murdock, 1879 ! Herman Krumback. Company G — William A. Armstrong, John Broombar ; John Butler, 1872; Peter Euler ; William R. Graves, 1888; Garrett Garrison; George Hinmonger, 1889; Peter T. Lezotte, Jeremiah Sullivan, Charles Martin; Charles Stoflet, 1890; Joseph J. Watts, 1886 ; William G. Weiner, 1870 ; Douglas M. Page, Benjamin W. Pierson. Company H — Barney J. Campbell, 1881 ; Michael Cunningham, 1864 ; Michael Donavan ; August Gilsbach; 1889 ; Theodore Grover, 1890; Van Renselaer W. Lemm, A. Wilder Robinson, killed by falling out of a high story window while asleep; Andrew J. Stevens, 1872 ; Jacob Whyse ; Abram Hoffman. Company I — Peter Brink, Richard M. Fish, Francis Hynds, Alpheus Johnson, Cornelius Veley, Roswell Van Kuren, Levi McDaniels (R.) ; William H. Morton. Company K — Robert A. Bain, Andrew Bruthaumpt, George W. Fox, Abner A. Galpin, Artemas Hosmer, 1872 ; Frank Kellogg, David J. Kellar, James Leslie; Elijah Little, 1889; Barney J. Litogot, Jerome B. Stockham, Frederick Smoots, Enoch A. Whipple. DEATH OF GENERAL HENRY A. MORROW. It is with deep sorrow that we must record the death of our beloved Colonel which occured at Hot Springs, Arkansas, January 31, 1891. We had hoped he would survive to read this volume in which he had a great interest. Upon learning of his death the Survivors of the Twenty-fourth Michigan in Detroit, the Bar Association of this City and his regiment, the Twenty-first U. S. Infantry, passed suitable resolutions of respect. Of his war services this volume makes record, and it is one of the most brilliant. After the war, he was appointed Collector for the Port of Detroit, which he resigned to become Lieutenant-Colonel of the Thirty-sixth Regiment, U. S. Infantry, February, 1867. After entering the Regular Army he was assigned to important positions which he filled most satisfactorily. President Grant ordered him to Louisana where he assisted in the process of re-construction acceptably to the people. Later, he was sent to Utah to quell the Mormon disturbances in 1872-3, where his conciliatory methods were successful. In 1877, during the railroad riots at Scranton, Pennsylvania, his discreet conduct 478 HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN. won the special commendation of General Hancock. He subsequently became Colonel of the Twenty-first U. S. Infantry. He was a soldier, orator and jurist of the highest excellence in each. His address was affable and courteous. Meanness and injustice he despised. His own Twenty-fourth loved him, believed in him and would always follow where he led. No braver man ever drew a sword and he was ever regardful of the welfare of his command, every soldier in which could lay before him any grievance. His name in history is secure and deserves to be preserved in the choicest amber. He ever had a warm remembrance for the old Twenty-fourth and among his last letters was the following to Captain Geo. W. Burchell written at Fort Sidney, Nebraska, July 30, 1890: "What I desire above all things in this world is to hear of the health and prosperity of the remnant of the dear old comrades who stood with me, elbow to elbow, in the battle's storm of those horrible but splendid years when the Nation's life was saved by the Nation's valor. Your letter recalls many a scene. How quick come back the camp-fires, the weary marches, the dreadful preparation for battle, the long lines, the glittering bayonets, the inspiring cheers, the awful roar of musketry, the deep thunder of the cannon, the sickening carnage, the cries of the wounded, the ambulances, the mounds of fresh earth! Alas! Alas! God has been good to spare us so long to witness the glorious fruits of the sacrifices of the patriots of 1861-5. Perhaps we are not happier in our lots than the gallant men who fell fighting in the cause of freedom and humanity. May God be kind to those who are still spared, strengthen their failing limbs, and temper the winds to their declining vigor." On September 8, 1890, Colonel Morrow wrote as follows to Colonel A. M. Edwards : "I have just returned from the G. A. R. encampment, where I had a pleasant time, but you know I am all shattered in health. At present I cannot speak above a whisper. I do not pretend to give commands on the field. But I did not intend to tell you that your Colonel has been for a year and more, stricken by a fatal disease and will, in all human probability, be on the side of the majority to welcome you when your form shall appear on the opposite shore." His remains were conveyed to Niles, Michigan, the girlhood, home of Mrs. Morrow, where they laid in state in charge of "Frank Graves Post," G. A. R. until the funeral. The services were held in the Episcopal Church and the burial was under the auspices of said Post. As soon as the time of the funeral was learned in Detroit, several members of the old Twenty-fourth hurriedly arranged to attend and were present as mourners. The remains of our dear Colonel were laid away beneath the oaks of Silver Brook Cemetery with the honors of war. He has reached his last camp ground. Index Numbers Indicate Pages. See Illustration List for Portraits. A. Abolitionism, .... Alexandria, ..... Anderson, Maj. Robert, Army Balloon, .... Army Cabins, .... Archer's Brigade, .... Arsenal, Dearborn, Ages of Members, .... Allotments of Pay, B. Bagley, John J., Badges, ..... Ballon, Thomas B., Battlefield Duel, Barns. James J., 39, 42, Battery B., . 58, 68, 91, 95, 469- Battles : Antietam, 58, 69; Bull's Run, 20; Second Bull's Run, 58; Bethesda Church, 256; Cold Harbor, 256; Chantilly, 58; Chancellorsville, 131; Dabney's Mill, 289; Fredericksburg, 86; Fitzhugh Crossing, 125; Five Forks, 301; Gainesville, 57; Gettys- burg, 155, etc.; Hatcher's Run, 277; Laurel Hill, 238, 239; Mine Run, 210; North Anna, 250, 251; Peters- burg, 260; Salient or Bloody Angle, 241, 242, etc.; Tolopotomoy, 255; Weldon Railroad, 271, 272; White Oak Road, 298; Wilderness, 229, etc. ; Appomattox, . Beech, Dr. J. H., . Blair, Mrs. Gov., 29 12 Brooks, Preston S., 15 52 Brooks, Adjt. E. P., 209 19 Bragg, Gen. E. S., 25S, 263, 465 68 Brown, John, . 15 , 16 106 Breaking Camp, 204. 157 Brooks' Expedition, 267 20 Buhl, F. & Co 40, 364 44 Buhl, Frederick A., 43, 159. 210, 364 38 Buchanan, James, Bucklin, Andrew J., ] 3. 18 . 19 368 Burchell, Geo. W., 43, 261, 285, 287, 362 Burnside, Gen. A. E.. 74, 77 , 86, no. 112 54 Burns, John, 182, 416 117 16^ Battalions for Field Duty, 92, 258 167 c. 359 -473 Camps: Barns, 37; Blair, 81, Bucklin, Bell, Digby v., . Bellore, Charles, Birrell, David, Bird, Peter C, Bivouac and Camp-fire Blair, Gov. Austin; 42, 270, 42, 75, 84, lOI, 40, 43, 95, 127, 119. 29, 56, 303 359 359 164 367 186 198 142 20S; Beech, 214; Butler, 297; Clark, 62; Comfort, 71; Chandler, 83; Chilson, 270; Crawford, 284, 287; Crapo, 313; Duncan Stewart, 73; Dickey, 210; Flanigan, 77; Har- baugh, 65; Hickey, 71; Hennessy, 73; Isabella, 105; Morrow, 52; Misery, 71; Merritt, 201; Meade, 216; Nail, 80; O'Donnell, 205; Pen- niman, 69; Peck, 204; Shearer, 55; Speed, 200; Towers, 74; Wayne, 54; Ward, 83, Way, 137; Wallace, 207 Civil War and its Cause, 9 Call for 300,000 Men. ... 24 Campaign of Maneuvres. . 205 Campbell, Judge J. V., . 41, 225 Cass, Hon. Lewis, 26, 31 Capitol Park 60 Chrouch, George W., ... 46 Chilson, Seril. 93. 258. 264, 359 Chilson, George W., 270.365 Chuck-or-Luck 138 (479) 48o INDEX. Chope, Charles H., . .251, 368 Chope, Edward B., . 369 Chamberlin, L. A., . 270, 292, 359 Church, Samuel W., . 366 Churchill, Owen, .... 370 Cleary, Patrick, . . . .46, 188 Compliments to the Twenty-fourth : 118, 124, 126, 134, 136, 144, 168, 169, 186, 187, 287, 289, 293, 412, 452, 466, 469 172, 464 428, etc. 164, 165, 227, 284 370, 409 363 360 315 ■ 465 Comparative Losses, Confederate Prisons, Color Guard, . Congdon, Arthur S., Connor, Andrew J., . Congdon, David, Commanders of 24th Michigan Commanders of Iron Brigade, . Cotton Gin, .... 10 Collar, Dr. Alex., 35, 42, 84, 359 Crosby, Calvin B., . 42, S3, 84, 360 Cullen, James, . . 34, 4c, 103, 360 Curtiss, Roswell B., . 81 Curtis, O. B., 81, 99, 264, 386, 408 Cutler, Gen. Lysander, Century, Cowards, Drumming out, D. Davis, Jefferson, Democratic Party, Departure from Home, Dead of 24th Michigan : died of wounds, 374 ; in prison, 376 ; coming home, 377 ; of disease, 378 ; Spr. R., 380. Dedication of Monuments, . Dempsey, Michael, .... Devotion to the Flag, . Deserted Home, Destroying Railroad, Dillon, Richard S., . Dickey, Gilbert A., Dingwall, George, Discipline, . Dodsley, Wm. R, 56, 128 97. 238, 465 445 114. 119 19. 306, 444. 450 13 46, 47 48 Killed, 371; Doubleday, General, Drill, . Dress Parade, . 93. 408 • 365 163 76. 77 283 40, 42, 361 160, 181, 367 . 368 113. 217 181, 251, 275, 362, 411 100, loi, 102 66 66 unll on ±!attletieid, 94 Drumsticks, 317. 318 Deserters, .... 392 Discharged, .... 382 to 387 E. Earnshaw, Abraham, 365 Eaton, Alonzo, 257 270, 366 Edwards, Albert M., 39, 141, 149 152, 163, 165, 181, 185, igr, 231, 239. 244, 255, 258, 263, 270, 273, 284, 285, 291, 312, 3r4 315. 358 Election, .... 280 Emancipation Proclamation, . 105 Ernest, August, . 165 Errata, .... 7 Ewell, General, 187 Explanation of Map, 173 Execution of Deserter, 144 F. Farland, John M., . 40, 42, 270, 361 Fairchild, Gen. Lucius, . 208 Fitzhugh Estate, . 137 Fischer, E. Ben 369 Flag Presentation, 40, 201, 202, 203, 225, 226, 296 Flanigan, Mark, 26, 32, 40, 41 75. 107, 113, 118, 122, 123, 157, 315. 357 Fletcher, Ira W., 369 Fort Lyon, .... 52 Fort Baker, 56 Fords in Rapidan, etc.. 124 Fremont, John C, 14 . 56 Frederick City, Md., 62 Franklin, General, 97 Funeral in Camp, 108 Fugitive Slave Law, II Furloughs, .... "3 Flowers at Gettysburg, 415 Gibbon, Gen. John, 58, 63, 65, 66, 68, 69, 75. 471 . 279 42, 360 43. 103, 367 21, 221, 241, 256, 266, 310 Gibbons, Robert, Gordon, George C. Gordon, John M., Grant, Gen. U. S. INDEX. 481 Grace, Newell, . 43, 128, 181, 364 Green, S. D., 93, 144, 184, 313, 370 Guarding Wagon Train, . 75 Guarding Railroad, ... 83, 209 Grand Review, ..... 310 H. Haigh, George W., Harbaugh, David E., Harper's Ferry Raid, Halleck, General, Hattie, Louis, Harrison, Edward B., "Hell's Half Acre," Hendricks, B. W., . Hill, Gen. A. P., . Hoyt, Charles A. , Hooker, General, 52, 66, 86 Home Souvenirs, Howard Jr., J. M., Howard, Shepherd L,, Hospital Experience, Houston, A. J., Humphrey ville, R. H., Hussey, Augustus, Hutchinson, Wm., 42, 263, Hutchinson, Wm. B., . Hutton, George, I, Ingersoll, I. W., 40, 42, 103, 360 Incidents, 181, 247, 251, 257, 273, 282, 292 Inspection of Regiment, . 221 Intrenchments, value of, . . 194 Irish Brigade. 96, 134 Iron Brigade, 59, 65, 88, 89, 91, 93, 94, 97, 102, 117, 126, 127, 134, 135, 149, 157, 160, 162, 167, 201, 275, 452, 459 -462 J- Jennison, Wm., .... 40 Journeys, .49, 60, 294 Joy, James P., . 32 King, Gen. Rufus, Kinney, H. P., King, Charles A., 57. 58 no, 364 . 368, 270, 362 2 ;, 40 16 57. 58 94 181, 373 258 363 100, 187 42. 103, 361 96, 131. 133. 134. 152 107 ■ 4: 1.83, 366 281, 366 318 437 367 369 270, 315. 358 365 181, 361 L. K. Kelley, William, Kimmell, E. A. 165 366 Ladd, Henry H., . 391, 432 Lafayette, General, ... 10 Lauderdale, Dr. E., 359 Lee, General, 22, 57, 59, 81, 86, 133, 196, 302, 303 Left Flank Movement, . . 238 Lennon, John J., . 42, 103, 364 Lincoln, Abraham, 17, 19, 58, 62, 304 Losses of Twenty-fourth Michigan, in battles, 99, 100, 128, 131, 134, 175- 180, 236, 237, 246, 247, 252, 257, 263, 264, 274, 293 Louisiana Purchase, 11 Loyal Village 196 Log Huts, 214 M. Mail in Camp, .... 216 Marches, 51, 52, 54, 55, 62, 69, 71, 74, 75, 134, 147, 149, 193, 196, 202, 204. 207, 209, 212, 218, 230, 238, 242, 245, 248, 253, 258, 259, 276, 278, 282, 290 Maryland Invasion, . . • 58 Marye's Height, . . 86, 96, 133 Merritt, John C 42. 361 Meade, General, . .84, 153 McNoah, Wm. M 369 McConnell, Charles H 370 McDowell, General, .56, 57 McClellan, General, 20, 22, 23, 56, 57, 58. 59. 65, 74, 75. 77. 78. 452 McPherson's Woods, .157 Meredith, General, 83, 97, 100, loi, 1x5. 159. 186, 458 Medicine Rations, . 289 Memoriam, In, .... 476 Military Road, 274, 281 Michigan at Gettysburg, 403, etc. Monuments, . 404 to 40S, etc. Mine Run Campaign, 210 Miscellaneous Features of 24th, . 46 Missouri Compromise, n. 13 482 INDEX, Morrow, Henry A., 25, 30, 35, 37, 40, 41, 52, 60, 69, 72, 75, 77, 84, 88, 89, 113, 134, 135, 140, 159, 160, 162, 163, 165, 187, 189, 191, 194, 200, 207, 216, 219, 227, 231, 280, 285, 287, 307. 357, 474. 477 Mount Vernon, .... 54 Mud March, no Morton, Gov 117 Material of Regiment, . . . 41 Medals of Honor, . . 289 Mutinous troops, .... 200 N. Nagle, Wm. J., Nail, Henry W., Nation unprepared, . National Road, National Cemetery, . Nineteenth Indiana, Nativities of Regiment, Norton, Edwin E., Nowlin, James, . 165 41, 103, 358 20 . 53. 62 ■ 404 160, 458 43, 44 361 46, 84 Occupation of men. 45 O'Donnell, Malachi J., 39, 43, 181, 362 Original members. 321 to 345 Order of Companies, . 83 "Old Bob Tail," 121, 239, 472 Owen, Wm. A., 40, 42, 360 P. Parsons, George B., 55 Paul, General, . 62, 135 Peck, Abel G., . 40 46, 157, 164, 181 Petersburg Mine, 269 Peeble's Farm, 276 Peninsular Campaign, 22 Pickett's Charge, 170 Pinkney, George H., 365 Platforms, 16, 17 Pope, Gen. John, 56- 57, 58 Porter, Fitz John, . 58, 473 Port Royal Expedition, 121 Poetry, . . 49, 175, 226, 371, 38r Pomeroy, Augustus, 368 Presidential Elections, . 13, 16 Presentations, . 38 to 41 Profanity, 80, 8j Promotions, . 107, 204, 217, 270, 281 Progress of the War, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 56, 57, 58, 103, 204, 266, 284, 298, 305 Pursuit of Lee, .... 193 R. Raccoonville Raid, Raiding, Raising the Regiment, Rain Storm March, Raymond, Francis Jr., Raymond, James F., Raid to Meherrin River, Republican Party, Relief Fund, Rexford, Wm. H., . Residences of Members, Regiment of Relatives, Renton, John, Reynolds, General, 66, Resolutions, Review of Army, Resignations, Recruits, Richmond Evacuated, Riot on Campus, . Robinson, Col. W. W., Root, Roswell L., Roster of Officers, Ross, George A., . Safford, W. S Sedgwick, General, Secession Doctrine, Seventeenth Michigan, Seventh Michigan, Shearer, James F., . Sham Battles, Short Rations, .' Shoddy Contractors, Shattuck, Lucus L., Slave-holders' Rebellion, Slavery, .. . 9, 10, i Spaulding, L. A., . Speed, Wm. J., . 35, 40, 42, Stowe, Mrs. H. B., " Stonewall Jackson," General, 218 73 24 051 71 370 109 370 281 13 38 42, 157. 36a 45 46 46 124, 125 422 • 115 116 118 210 346 tc 35& 302 25 • 159, 238 276 256, 357 363 43, 364 133 17 55. 59. 63 86 368 5^ 77 107. 109 367 3-23 I, 12, i; . 18 I6S S3, 160, 36a 12 22, 57. 131. 133 INDEX. 483 Stewart, Duncan, Sonthern Confederacy, Shelter Tents, Soldier's Knapsack, . Soldier's Menu, Soldier's Letter, Second Wisconsin, Sixth Wisconsin, Seventh Wisconsin, Stewart, James, Survivors, Records of, Sumner, Charles, Sumter, Fort, Smith, Dr. C. C, . Sprague, A. W., . Stevens, Alex. H., South Mountain, Stafford Heights, Start for Gettsyburg, Suggett, Thomas, . Sunday in Camp, The War Meeting, . Tree Cut Down, . Towar, Dr. Geo. W., Trials of the March, U. 26, 32 18, 19 67 ■ 74 80 . 119 453 • 457 457 471 382-392 13 • 19 42, 359 42, 364 19 58, 63 86 142 165, 182 . 220 33 244 359 76 Uncle Tom's Cabin, 12 Underground Railroad, . 12 Uprising of People, . 19, 20 Unaccounted for, V. Vanderlip, Hugh F., • 369 V. R. C, . . 382-384 Veteranizing, . 205 Visitors, .... . 142, 360 Virginia Winter, . . .114. Vinton, Warren G., 35, 39, 42, 103, 360, 4' 5 W. War Meetings, .24, 29, 33-37 Ward, Eber B.. . . . 26, 37 Walker, C. I., . . . 33, 37 Way, Rev. Wm. C, 42, 72, 88, 102- 103, no, 118, 155, 181, 183, 185, 214, 264, 270, 289, 360 Wallace, Walter H., . 37, 42, 162, 364 Washington's Slaves, . . .10, 55 Wadsworth, General, 126, 136, 168, 235 Warren, General G. K., 133, 169, 213, 301, 302 165, 182 ■ 367 181 165, 181, 258, 364, 4U 276 367 140 43. 75. 363 Wagner, Andrew, Wallace, Elmer D., Welsh, John W., Welton, E. B., Welch, Norvell E., . Welton, F. E., . Westmoreland Expedition, Whiting, H. Rees, Wight, E. B., 35, 39, 42, 102, 103, 118, 160, 162, 210, 359, 42a Wight, W. W., 35, 42, 220, 239, 248, 251, 258, 270, 315, 357 95. J 27 102 128, 181, 362 230 270, 366 363 13 . 106, 214, 287 . 259 367 - 370 56 Wight, Sergt. W. W., Wight, Stanley G., Witherspoon, John, Wilderness, . Wilford, Albert, Wilkie, E. B.. Whig Party, Winter Quarters. . Whiskey Rations, Wheeler, Wm. T., Wheelhouse, Demain, Woodbury, General, HISTORY MADE HISTORICAL WORKS OP INTERESTING Charles Caiieton Coffin. Profusely Illustrated. Square 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $5.00 each. A HISTORY OF THE REBELLION IN FOUR VOLUMES DRUM-BEAT OF THE NATION— First Period of the War, from its Outbreak, to tiie Close of 1862. (Just Pub- lished.) MARCHING TO VICTORY— Second Period, Year 1863. REDEEMING THE REPUBLIC— Third Period, Year 1864. FREEDOM TRIUMPHANT— Fourth Period of the War. Its close. (Just Published.) OTMER VOLUMES THE STORY OF LIBERTY; OLD TIMES IN THE COLONIES; THE BOYS OF '76; BUILDING THE NATION— Events from the Revolution to the beginning of the War between the States. The above works are for sale by all booksellers, or will be sent by the publishers, postage prepaid, to any part of the United States, Canada, or Mexico, on receipt of price. Published by HARPER & BROTHERS, New York W n^ 80 C" > ^* a"^ "^ A V * !ji4.' ' 'b V" "^0^ " o •. <^'>' ^^^ "-'<( _ .^ -4* -.'^^^. - - -^ip^/ ^^'^'^ ""-^P*" ^^''^'^<- '^ %.*" -A'- \/ -Mfe'-. %.^" •' 'b V" 'bV" MANCHESTER, o