PENNSYLVANIA AT GETTYSBURG
DEDICATION OF MONUMENT
31ST REGIMENT INFANTRY*
(SECOND RESERVES)
ADDRESS OF MAJOR E. M. WOODWARD
_______________________________________________________
*Organized at Harrlsburg, October 29,
1861, to serve three years. It was mustered out June 16, 1864, by reason of expiration of
term of service.
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Pennsylvania at Gettysburg.
rest and
recruit." Leaving the Army of the Potomac, General Hooker commanding, they proceeded
via Belle Plain, to Alexandria, where the First Brigade, under Colonel William McCandless,
of the Second Regiment marched to Fairfax Court House to watch Colonel Mosby and his
guerrillas. Being accustomed to the freedom of soldiers in the proximity of the enemy and
being more annoyed than interested by the guerrillas, the constant drilling, restraint of
camp and absence of excitement created dissatisfaction, and they longed to return to
active service.
On the 15th of June General Hooker
and staff passed our encampment preceded and followed by the Army of the Potomac. To see
our comrades moving to meet the enemy who we knew were heading for Pennsylvania
threatening our homes and loved ones, and for us to remain behind was mortifying, and
although we had sent officers to Washington to intercede for marching orders, we met with
no encouragement. We therefore prepared and forwarded the following petition which was
signed by all the officers of our regiment present:
"HEADQUARTERS SECOND REGIMENT INFANTRY, P. R. V. CORPS,
"FAIRFAX STATION, VA., June
17th, 1863,
"To Colonel WILLIAM McCANDLESS, Commanding
First Brigade, Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps:
"COLONEL: We, the undersigned,
officers of the Second Regiment Infantry Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps, having
learned that our mother State has been invaded by a Confederate force, respectfully ask,
that you will, if it be in your power, have us ordered within the border of our State for
her defense.
"Under McCall, Reynolds, Meade,
Seymour, Sinclair and yourself, we have more than once met and fought the enemy when he
was at home. We now wish to meet him again where he threatens our homes, our families and
our firesides.
"Could our wish in this behalf
be realized, we feel confident that we could do some service to the State that sent us to
the field, and not diminish, if we could not increase, the lustre that already attaches to
our name.
"We are, Colonel, very
respectfully,
"Your obedient servants.”
Our petition having been acceded to,
on the 25th orders were received to move immediately, and at 5 o'clock that afternoon the
Second, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel George A. Woodward, left the station and marched
in a northwesterly direction through Fairfax Court House and Vienna, near which we
bivouacked at 11 o'clock that night. Just as we started it commenced drizzling and
continued so to do all night. The next morning at 4 o'clock we resumed our march,
continuing in the same general direction, passing between Dranesville, our first
battlefield and the first victory of the Army of the Potomac, and Leesburg, making Goose
Creek that night. Up to four o'clock it was very warm, and we were enveloped in clouds of
dust, but a grateful though violent rain set in, which was most refreshing to the wearied
boys. As we were making forced marches quite a number fell out, and did not get up to us
until daylight the next morning. The Third Brigade, Colonel J. W. Fisher of the Fifth
Regiment commanding joined us in the morning from Alexandria; the Second Brigade,
Colonel H. G. Sickel of the Third Regiment commanding, being retained for the defense of
Washington and to join General George Crook in his West Virginia campaign. Colonel,
afterwards Brevet Major-General Sickel, had commanded the division of Reserves from
General Meade s assignment to the command of the Fifth Army Corps, with a short ex-
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at Gettysburg. 227
ception,
until now, when Brigadier-General S. W. Crawford, U. S. Army succeeded him.
The next morning at daylight we
resumed our march, passing near a portion of the field of "Ball's Bluff," where
Colonel Baker so gloriously fell, and crossed the Potomac at Edwards' Ferry on pontoons.
That night we reached the mouth of the Monocacy in spite of the heavy roads. On the 28th,
at daylight, we moved off, and crossing the aqueduct of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal over
the Monocacy, passed through Buckeystown and bivouacked about two miles from Frederick
City. Here we came up with the main army, and reported to General Sykes, commanding the
Fifth Army Corps, to which we were assigned. This corps until then had been commanded by
General Meade, who had made application to have us sent to him, but the day of our arrival
General Hooker was relieved of the command of the Army of the Potomac and Meade assigned
to it.
We started the next day at noon, and,
moving a few miles, halted in a lane nearly all the afternoon, and at 7 o'clock crossed
the Monocacy bridge on the Baltimore pike and turned up the bank of the stream, heading
north. Soon after we waded the river and struck across the fields and about 10 o'clock
bivouacked in a wood, having made a tiresome day's march of but ten miles. This slow
marching was occasioned by our being in the rearguard of the Reserve Artillery, which
consisted of two hundred and forty-eight guns supplied with two hundred and fifty rounds
of ammunition each, making in all sixty-two thousand rounds. Before night that day the
enemy's cavalry entered Frederick. That night heavy details were made from our regiment
for a wagon guard.
The next morning we marched early,
passing through Liberty, Union Bridge, and Uniontown, where a pontoon train that
accompanied us created much wonderment among the rustics, who did not believe we could do
much with our "gun-boats" up in the mountains. We marched twenty miles and
bivouacked near dark two miles beyond Uniontown and were mustered for pay.
The next morning, July 1st, we moved
at 5 o'clock and learning the enemy's scouts had been in the neighborhood the day before,
each regiment threw out flankers to the right and left, in which way we advanced until the
nature of the country became such that cavalry could not operate against us. About 2
o'clock we halted within a few hundred yards of the Pennsylvania State line and rested
ourselves. That day was one of the happiest of our lives, and every heart beat warm with
the thought we would soon press the soil of
our Mother State to whose defense we were marching. The bands and regimental drum corps
poured forth their soul-inspiring airs from morning until night, and light was the tread
of our feet to their notes. About 3 o'clock we were drawn up to hear a patriotic address
from General Crawford, after which we marched on, and as we crossed the line cheer after
cheer rang out from the regiments, which rolled over the hills and through the valleys
until lost in the far distance. We soon came to a fine open woods where we halted until
night, rolling on the good old soil of Pennsylvania and listening to the sweet airs of the
bands. Abundance of rations and sixty rounds of cartridges per man were distributed, the
former for ourselves and the latter for our friends the “Johnnies."
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Pennsylvania at Gettysburg.
While lying here, through the
branches above us, amidst the bright sunshine, a large star was discovered shining over us
with all the brilliancy of a heavenly visitant, which was gazed upon with great interest
and received as an omen of victory.
While here all our wagons were sent
to Westminster, Maryland, twenty-five miles from the battlefield, and the ammunition
wagons and ambulances were pushed forward. At dark we again took up our march, and a long
weary one it proved. We did not rest until two the next morning when we laid down in an
open woods, having made twenty miles and being awake twenty-two hours. But in an hour's
time the drums beat the reveille and soon we were again in motion, moving slowly and
cautiously along the roads and across the fields, and about noon struck the Baltimore
pike, and coming to Rock creek, filed to the left and laid down in rear of the line of
battle.
The tumult of battle was raging on
our left front, but we lay at rest until about 4 o'clock when we moved towards the sound
of battle where our brigade took position on the western slope of Little Round Top
overlooking the Sickles field. They remained here but a few moments, our front being
covered with fugitives from the field followed by the victorious foe. All seemed lost, the
right of our brigade opened fire almost in the face of the enemy. At the same time the
Bucktails and our regiment on the extreme left attempted to change front as we moved from
the second line to the brigade front, when the enemy broke in upon us. For a few moments a
desperate struggle ensued, but few shots were fired on either side, the bayonet and butt
of musket doing the work. The balance of our brigade charged, and when we, with a yell,
pushed our opponents down the top and started them over the meadow. At the stone wall they
rallied, and here again they showed that desperate courage that animated them upon every
field. But it was on Pennsylvania soil we were fighting. On went the flag, three standard
bearers were shot down, but up and on to victory it went. The wall was ours and the foe
driven over the wheat field.
Plum run in our rear was lined on the
west side by Sickles' wounded who could not cross, and on the east side by the
Confederates who had strength to reach it from Little Round Top, while the bed of the run
was choked with the dead and dying who attempted to cross. From it only could our boys
obtain water to quench the sudden and burning thirst that follows the excitement of
battle.
Until late at night we were engaged
in caring for the wounded who thickly strewed the field in our front and rear, and then we
sank to sleep in line of battle with muskets in our hands. For a little while, perhaps an
hour, not a sound could be heard, even the wounded forgetting their pain in slumber. The
bright stars twinkled in the heavens and the moon shone down in mild rays. Peace now
rested over the field where the rage of demons and of hell had reigned supreme a few hours
before. But the loved angel of peace was soon to vanish, the demon spirit only slept, and
with the dawn's light was to burst forth with all its fury. The restless foe at Devil's
Den soon commenced stirring and the half-suppressed groans of the wounded gradually
increased as they awoke to consciousness and the unwelcome dawn appeared.
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at Gettysburg. 229
At daybreak the enemy's skirmishers
opened with spirit, the noise of musketry almost resembling battle. Our pickets were
promptly reinforced by volunteers but soon the fire slackened and settled down to
common-place picket fighting, affording the boys excellent opportunities for the display
of address in manoeuvering for good shots which at times created considerable amusement.
About 11 o'clock everything quieted
down and for two hours no noise was heard upon the field. Suddenly a signal gun of the
enemy opened the grand cannonade of over two hundred guns that hurled their bursting
missiles through the air and enveloped the lines of battle for two miles in flame and
smoke. As suddenly all was hushed and then Pickett's eighteen thousand men advanced to the
charge. Again our guns opened upon them sweeping destruction through their ranks, yet they
faltered not until with bayonet they met the fire of our infantry, when crushed, torn and
bleeding, their scattered fragments fled from the field.
As we lay far in advance of our line
of battle we had a full view of this magnificent and thrilling sight. The boys became
restive and it was impossible for the officers to prevent some of them from slipping off
and firing upon the column as it advanced and retreated. Corporal George Stewart of E,
here lost his life and John Seadinger of H, was wounded.
It was then, after Pickett's
charge—one of the grandest of earth—that General Crawford determined to raid the
enemy's lines in our front and left, and our regiment with the brigade leaped the wall and
McCandless swept over the wheatfield, crushed into the enemy's line and after a short
fight stampeded McLaws' Division towards the Peach Orchard. Benning's Brigade of McLaws'
Division on our left, being cut off from the main army, fought stubbornly, but after
losing many in killed and wounded and over two hundred prisoners and the flag of the
Fifteenth Georgia Infantry fled, pursued by us for over half a mile to near Slyder's
house, where we came near running into Hood's Brigade, which piked off on the
double-quick.
Night was now fast approaching and
McCandless by order withdrew the brigade to the point where we first struck the enemy's
line near the southern end of Rose's woods. Here we buried our dead, and among them poor
Andy Ryan, a boy who had amused us so often with his comic songs. About 2 o'clock on the
"glorious Fourth" we moved over the wheatfield to the north end, and crept up
through the wood, pushing the Johnnies out, neither party caring much about fighting, in
fact all we wanted was the position. Here we laid until daylight when picket fighting
commenced. A few shots from a battery on our left came ricochetting over the field, a line
of skirmishers was sent out before whom the enemy retired, and the spiritless affair
died out, the Reserves winding up the battle.
The Confederates were undoubtedly
victorious over Sickles on the left, crushing out and driving from the field his gallant
regiments whose arms were untarnished by the defeat, but when they were repulsed in their
charge upon the Round Tops, and failed to hold the stone wall, and when their lines were
raided after Pickett's charge, it seems that the Reserves somewhat tarnished "the
silver lining of the cloud upon the left" which some of their authors delight in
lingering upon.
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Pennsylvania at Gettysburg.
About noon we were relieved by a
brigade of regulars and moved back to the stone wall where, being relieved by other
troops, we crossed the meadow to Little Round Top. A heavy rain set in, rations were
distributed and we rested in peace until the afternoon of the next day.
Lieutenant-Colonel George A. Woodward
being unable to accompany us on the field on account of wounds received at Glendale, Major
P. McDonough led us in the charges.
Our regiment took into battle one
hundred and forty-seven officers and men of which ten were killed and thirty-nine wounded,
forty-nine in all.
At five o'clock on the afternoon of
the 5th we moved off in a southwesterly direction over muddy roads, and at midnight
bivouacked in an open field, and with the division was encircled with pickets. The next
morning we crossed the State line, where a congratulatory address from General Meade was
read and we bivouacked for the remainder of the day and night.
At four o'clock on the 7th we moved
off, passing near Emmitsburg and continuing along the base of the South Mountains,
marching on the fields skirting the pike and passing through Graceham and Creagerstown,
and bivouacked at dark six miles from Frederick, having marched twenty-one miles over
heavy roads.
On the 8th, at six o'clock, we
marched, heading west, and passing over fields soon struck the Catoctin Mountains, up the
rugged sides of which we clambered through a heavy rain that had been falling all night.
Arriving at the summit we commenced the descent along a narrow and rough road, and had a
fine view of the magnificent valley in which Middletown it situated, and a large number of
troops were laying. Passing through the town which was filled with moving columns of
troops and wagons, we turned to the left and bivouacked a mile south of it. During the
night rations were served out to the companies.
The next morning we marched at six
o'clock and crossed South Mountain at a point where the left wing of our army had gained a
victory on the 14th of September and where Reno fell. Descending the western slope we
bivouacked about two miles, from Keedysville, within sight of Antietam's glorious field.
Through the day we heard heavy firing in the direction of Williamsport. A full supply of
shoes and stockings was distributed through the night.
The next morning we commenced our
march at six o'clock and soon afterwards heard heavy connonading. Passing near Keedysville
and LaRoy, we struck Antietam creek passing by Delamont Mills, where the enemy had been in
the morning and some of their officers had ordered dinner which they kindly left for us to
eat. Just beyond we halted and threw out cavalry and infantry skirmishers who occasionally
exchanged shots with the enemy for several hours.
On the morning of the 11th we moved
forward cautiously to near the Sharpsburg and Hagerstown turnpike where we deployed in
line of battle and rested until four in the afternoon, at which time the division moved
forward in columns of companies with the regiments at deploying distance, with a heavy
body of skirmishers in front and pioneers to tear down the fences. Having advanced about
two miles the division halted, and our regiment and five companies of the Fifth, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Wood-
Pennsylvania
at Gettysburg. 231
ward, were
sent out on picket. We found the Second Corps pickets engaged with the enemy on the pike
for the possession of a piece of woods, and being in reserve to them did not make our
connection with their line until after dark when we occupied the inner edge of the woods
in dispute. The Second Corps fell back and changed their line twice through the night, and
we had to alter ours to correspond.
The next morning, Sunday, we advanced
our line, occupying the woods in dispute without much opposition, crossed the pike and
posted our line on the elevated ground beyond, sending Companies C, Captain Byrnes, and H,
Captain Mealey, to occupy a piece of heavy timber further in advance and in close
proximity to the enemy's picket-pits. Soon after heavy artillery and musket firing was
heard on our right, and about four o'clock orders were received to withdraw our line about
half a mile to the left. Here we rejoined the division and soon afterwards were thrown out
as skirmishers beyond the pike. Some sharp firing took place but without much result. The
division moved back to their former position and at nine o'clock that night we were
relieved and joined them. At a house behind the picket line we found our friends, the
Johnnies, had again ordered for us a fine dinner which in our hunger we enjoyed very much,
notwithstanding a ball occasionally whistled through the windows and one broke a pitcher
on the table.
July the 13th was a rainy and
disagreeable day and we did not move until nearly three in the afternoon, when we marched
to a line of rifle-pits that the division had thrown up, where we laid all night. That
night orders were received to march early with the greatest secrecy, but we did not move
until morning, when it was discovered the enemy had evacuated their position through the
night. As we advanced we found three long lines of formidable rifle-pits which the enemy
had abandoned leaving many tools behind. We also found a number of arms, and many
prisoners were brought in. In this movement the "Bucktails" were posted on the
right and we on the left as flankers, and at ten o'clock we arrived within sight of
Williamsport on the upper Potomac. At noon we recommenced our march and proceeded to
Falling Waters, where we arrived too late to participate in the brush with the enemy.
Here our cavalry under Kilpatrick overtook the rear guard and captured two guns, several
flags and a number of prisoners; Lee's army had crossed during the night.
The pursuit of Lee's army was not yet
abandoned, but an attempt was made by General Meade to head it off through some of the
gaps in the mountains to the east of the Shenandoah valley, up which Lee was marching.
The next morning, the 15th, at four o'clock, we commenced our march, nearly retracing our
steps, passing near Delamont and down the Hagerstown pike to the Keedysville road, and
halted to make coffee about noon on the site of the "Smoketown hospital." Near
by was the burial ground of the Union dead of Antietam, with a handsome wooden monument
erected in the centre by the convalescents. We easily recognized the point from which we
turned into the fields to open the battle of Antietam on the afternoon of September 16,
1862. Moving on we crossed the Antietam, passed through Keedysville and over South
Mountain by the same road we came, and encamped near its eastern base. The day was very
warm and
232
Pennsylvania at Gettysburg.
the march
was over a rough and hilly country, in many places the roads very muddy, and the distance
made being twenty-three miles, the men were much fatigued.
We moved the next morning about five,
skirting along the base of the mountains through Burkittsville and Petersville and halting
about two miles from Berlin, encamped in a fine wood about eleven o'clock. The next day
our wagons came up and the officers got a change of clothing, the first they had since
leaving Fairfax Station.
It rained hard all night and through
the day of the 17th until four in the afternoon when we moved off and crossed the Potomac
on a pontoon bridge at Berlin, and trod once more the soil of Virginia. Moving on to
Lovettsville, three miles beyond, we bivouacked near it, being the first infantry that
crossed.
The next day, the 18th, our regiment
was detailed as corps wagon-train guard and reached Wheatland at three p. m. On the 19th
we marched at six in the morning and passing through Purcellville bivouacked in a woods at
ten o'clock. We passed a number of prisoners belonging to White's Cavalry. Our movements
now were rather cautious, as we had a large train and the enemy's cavalry were in the
neighborhood.
The next morning we sounded reveille
at two o'clock, and moved almost over the same ground we did last year under McClellan,
passing by Philomont and our old camps near Uniontown, and encamped about noon on Goose
creek. Our route laid through a finely-watered and picturesque country with fine farms and
houses, but all the fences were gone and roads blotted out.
The 21st was spent in camp, the boys
occupying their time in writing home, bathing and washing clothes. In a stone wall in the
meadow in front of us, some copperhead snakes were discovered and soon nearly half of the
division was at work with clubs hunting them, and in an incredibly short time the wall was
leveled with the ground.
At two
o'clock the next afternoon we marched off over the fields and along by-roads to Rectortown
and encamped near the Manasses Gap railroad in a heavy woods. On the 23d we formed a
field hospital, and left our wounded and sick in charge of surgeons and guard, with
provisions and medicines. Among those left was Sergeant-Major Hiram G. Hostetter, who died
and was buried there. He was a good soldier and exemplary young man.
The next day we marched early,
keeping along the general course of the railroad, passing through Markham, Petersville and
Linden. About three o'clock we reached the eastern base of the Gap, and soon skirmishing
commenced on Wapping Heights, which lasted until nearly dark, when the enemy were driven
from the Gap. Soon after we moved on past Wapping, which consisted of a defunct tavern, an
empty store and several shanties, and encamped about a half mile beyond. That day we
marched twenty-five miles.
Being in the presence of the enemy no
"calls" were sounded. The next morning we marched up the railroad and moving to
the right, formed in columns of division and moved in by the right flank and advanced up
the side of a steep mountain covered with a thick growth of timber and under-
Pennsylvania
at Gettysburg. 233
brush. So
steep was it that the field officers were forced to dismount. Having reached its base on
the opposite side, the ascent of a still steeper and higher mountain was commenced, which
required great exertion to accomplish, and by the time the command had crossed the men
were completely fagged out. The day was excessively hot, several men were overcome by
the heat, one broke his neck and another was accidently shot through the head. A small
force of the enemy could have held the mountains against us as they would have had every
advantage. A line of skirmishers properly supported would have been more effective. Upon
arriving at the western base, the men were collected and reformed in a little valley,
and after an hour's rest were marched back and encamped, where fresh beef was served out.
On the 25th, we sounded reveille at
three o'clock and retracing our steps for some miles turned to the right following along
the foot hills of the Blue Mountains, and halting about three in the afternoon,
bivouacked. The next morning at five o'clock we marched off in good spirits, passing a
large number of prisoners near Orleans whom the boys hailed in friendly terms. At noon we
halted in a clover field about two miles from Warrenton, having made thirteen miles with
but one halt of fifteen minutes.
We had been short of provision for
several days, and while we laid here General Crawford was saluted by his hungry boys with
the cry of "crackers" as he passed by. This annoyed him and he rode over to
General Meade and demanded rations. "Why my dear General," he replied, "you
should not let that annoy you. One night at White Plains, where I marched the boys a
couple of miles out of the road, they actually called me a 'four-eyed old devil,' but upon
my soul I could not get mad at them."
Towards dark we got into motion, and
marched six miles, passing to the west of Warrenton we bivouacked in a low open field,
where we were annoyed for the first time during the war by mosquitoes. The next morning
we sounded no reveille, but woke the men up early and marched towards Fayetteville, near
which we halted at eight in the morning for the day and night. On the 28th we moved about
two miles to a new position where we laid
until August 1st spending one day on picket. While here First lieutenant John Taylor,
commanding Company E, was appointed an aide-de-camp on Colonel McCandless' staff.
Considerable cannonading was heard towards Warrenton Springs, our cavalry skirmishing with
the enemy.
From there we moved to Rappahannock
Station where we formed a regular encampment, and the Gettysburg campaign closed.
For ten days prior to this, we had
been almost every night upon the march not getting far from our original starting point.
The clink of tin cups on the bayonets and the rumbling of artillery wagons was continually
heard. At every stopping place orders were issued to lay out our camps regularly, dig
sinks and build bough arbors over our tents. Orders were issued that the army would be
supplied with knapsacks in which we were expected to carry a large number of light rations
and extra rounds of ammunition. Troops were continually arriving from a short distance up
the railroad. These movements impressed the enemy with the idea
234
Pennsylvania at Gettysburg.
we were being heavily reinforced and intended moving towards Richmond when in fact large numbers of troops were being secretly sent to certain points in the Northern States.
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