PENNSYLVANIA AT GETTYSBURG
39TH REGIMENT INFANTRY*
(TENTH RESERVES)
ADDRESS OF FIRST LIEUT. AND ADJUTANT
GEORGE W. McCRACKEN.
COMRADES and friends:It is unnecessary for me to remark that the time, to which I am limited on this occasion, entirely precludes anything that could be fairly denominated history. The history of the Tenth Regiment, would require a volume of several hundred pages. What I offer is a brief sketch of its organization, what might be called an itinerary of its campaigns, and a few statistics.
During the month of June, 1861, there assembled in the old "Fair Grounds," on
Penn street, in Pittsburgh (for the time-being called "Camp Wilkins") seven
companies of young men, who had enrolled themselves, at as many different places,
scattered over territory embraced in six of the counties of western Pennsylvania. Three
others of the same make-up had, at the same time, come together at Camp Wright, at Hulton
Station, about ten miles up the Allegheny river. On the 28th of June these companies
were organized as a regiment of infantry. John S. McCaImont of Venango county, was
colonel; James T. Kirk of Washington county, lieutenant-colonel, and Harrison Allen of
Warren county, major. The organization was designated by the Governor of Pennsylvania,
"The Tenth Regiment of Infantry of the Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps."
The Pennsylvania Reserve Corps was a military organization then being formed in pursuance
of an act of the general assembly, approved May 15,1861, and designed primarily for the
defense of the State, but subject at any time to be called into the service of the United
States.
To bring the regiment into one camp,
the companies at Camp Wilkins, which were those known during their service as Companies,
A, B, C, D, G, I and K, marched on the afternoon of July 1, to Camp Wright.
In Camp Wright, along with Colonel J.
W. McLane's old Erie Regiment, and the Ninth and Eleventh regiments and Battery B, of the
Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, the Tenth was exercised in drill and instructed in guard duty
until the afternoon of July 18, when it marched aboard a train of twenty-one cars, and,
after an all-night ride over the Pennsylvania railroad to Huntingdon, and thence over the
Huntingdon and Broad Top railroad, landed at Hopewell, Bedford county. Pa., next morning.
In afternoon marched to Bloody Run,
near Everett; next morning marched back to Hopewell; again took the cars; about midnight
were bountifully fed by the good ladies of Huntingdon, and shortly after daylight, July
21, 1861 (day of battle of Bull Run), landed in Harrisburg, put up at Camp Curtin. That
afternoon the regiment was mustered into the service.
_____________________________________________________
Organized at
Harrisburg August 11, 1861, to serve three years. It was mustered out June 11, 1864, by reason of expiration of service.
264
Pennsylvania at Gettysburg.
of the
United States for the term of three years, being the first of the Pennsylvania Reserve
Corps so mustered. The mustering officer was lieutenant-colonel, afterward General T. W.
Sherman, United States Army. On the afternoon of 22d, again marched aboard the cars, and
next morning at an early hour arrived in Baltimore. Marched across the city with muskets
loaded, and camped for a night at Mount Clare.
Late in the evening of July 24, the
regiment embarked on a train of box cars, and in the night arrived at the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad station, in Washington. In and around the depot the men made themselves as
comfortable as circumstances would allow until noon, then bivouacked for two nights on the
Capitol grounds (then enclosed by a high fence), near the northeast corner of the Capitol
building, and then camped a few days on the commons near Eastern Branch of Potomac. On the
5th of August, marched up Pennsylvania avenue and out through Georgetown, to Tennallytown.
The day was intensely hot, and probably more of the men suffered from exhaustion and the
effects of heat on this short march (six or seven miles), than on any other day in the
history of the regiment. At Camp Tennally the Tenth Regiment remained more than two
months, occupied in drilling, guard and picket duties, building fortifications, being
reviewed, etc. ; included in this time, one week, August 13-20, was employed as advanced
guard at Great Falls. The march to that place was made in a terrible down-pour of rain,
the old turnpike being flooded in many places, some of them several feet in depth.
The entire Pennsylvania Reserve Corps
was assembled at Tennallytown, General George A. McCall commanded the division, which was
organized as three brigades, commanded respectively by Brigadier-General John P. Reynolds,
George G. Meade and Colonel John S. McCalmont. Colonel McCalmont continued in command of
the Third Brigade, constituted of the Sixth, Ninth, Tenth and Twelfth regiments, until
November 20, 1861, when Brigadier-General E. 0. C. Ord was assigned to its command. Of
this brigade the Tenth Regiment continued to be a part during its entire term of service.
October 9, 1861, the Pennsylvania
Reserves crossed the Potomac, at Chain Bridge, and first trod the soil of Virginia, few of
the boys dreaming how much they were to come in contact with that sacred article during
the three years that were to follow. The division now encamped at Langley's, on the Old
Georgetown and Leesburg pike, called their camp "Camp Pierpont," and occupied it
just five months, engaged in drill, guard and picket duty, with occasional variety in the
way of expeditions beyond the lines to obtain information of the enemy or gather forage.
Sometimes these encountered similar parties of the enemy. Of these encounters the most
important occurred at Dranesville, December 20, 1861. Ord's Brigade, that day, met a
brigade of rebels commanded by the famous cavalry leader, J. E. B. Stuart, and in the
engagement which followed, the enemy, consisting of the First Kentucky, Sixth South
Carolina, Tenth Alabama and Eleventh Virginia regiments, were very decidedly worsted.
General Stuart reported his loss as forty-three killed, one hundred and forty-three
wounded and eight missing. The loss on our side was seven killed and sixty-one wounded. Of
the Tenth Regiment only one platoon of Company B, and
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at Gettysburg. 265
the Pioneers
under command of Captain Thomas Mc'Connell were engaged, and they were so fortunate as to
meet with no loss, though performing well a very important part, and occasioning great
loss and demoralization to the enemy. This detachment was sent by Colonel McCalmont to
observe and if opportunity offered attack the right flank of the enemy. It succeeded in
getting possession of a washout or ravine in the thick, pine woods, close up on the flank
of the Eleventh Virginia and Tenth Alabama regiments, which were engaged with the
Bucktails in their front, and at once opened a very destructive fire, which doubtless
hastened the departure of those regiments from that part of the field.
On the 10th of March, 1862,
participating in the general advance of the Army of the Potomac, the division moved out to
Hunter's Mills; Centerville and the line of Bull Run having been abandoned by the rebels,
the Pennsylvania Reserves were ordered to Alexandria, and marched to reach that
destination by a circuitous route, over fields of mud, during a day of constant snow and
rain. This march was always remembered as one of the times of unmitigated discomfort and
exposure, in the experience of the regiment. The division halted near Fairfax Seminary,
being assigned to the First Army Corps, of which Major-General Irvin McDowell was
commander, and remained near Alexandria while the other corps were embarking for the
Peninsula. The First Army Corps was originally composed of the divisions commanded by
Generals Franklin, McCall and King. Franklin's Division was sent to Yorktown in April and
became the First Division, Sixth Army Corps. April 10, the Third Brigade, Pennsylvania
Reserves, marched by way of Fairfax Court House and Centerville, crossing Bull Run at
Blackburn's Ford, and arrived at Manassas on the 11th. The Tenth Regiment was assigned
quarters in a rebel camp about a mile southeast of Manassas Station, but in a few days
marched to Catlett's, where it endured nearly three weeks of extremely disagreeable
weather, and on May 4, to Falmouth via Hartwood Church. Though out of season, some bee
products and some turkeys were confiscated on this march, even the dignified colonel of
the Tenth Regiment being said to have been implicated in the turkey business.
After a few days near Falmouth, the
Tenth Regiment moved to the vicinity of Potomac Creek and fitted up a camp in very fine
style, the other regiments of the brigade doing likewise. Heavy details were here employed
in cutting and hauling timber, building bridges and repairing the railroad from Aquia
Creek Landing on the Potomac to Fredericksburg and beyond. These, with drill, guard and
picket, kept the men very fully employed. Here the brigade lost the leadership of General
Ord, who was promoted to be a major-general and assigned to the command of a new division
attached to the First Army Corps. Brigadier-General Truman Seymour was assigned to command
the brigade, a change of commanders that was never appreciated by the command.
The Tenth Regiment also lost its
honored chief. Colonel McCalmont's personal affairs rendered it imperative that he should
resign, and much to the regret of both officers and men, he was mustered out of the
service. Lieutenant-Colonel Kirk became colonel, and Captain A. J. Warner of Company G was
promoted to lieutenant-colonel.
266 Pennsylvania
at Gettysburg.
June 13th, the Tenth Regiment
embarked on the Rappahannock river above Port Royal, on the steamer Thomas Jefferson and
the schooner T. Raymond which was towed by the steamer. There was considerable novelty in
the trip, occupying most of two days, down the Rappahannock both steamer and schooner
often finding the bottom of the river. On the morning of the 16th, the Tenth landed at
White House, on the Pamunkey, and marched out the railroad, passing Tunstall's Station,
just missing J. E. B. Stuart's cavalry in its famous raid around the Army of the Potomac.
The Third Brigade was here temporarily reduced to three regiments, the Sixth Regiment
being detached to guard the railroad. June 18th, the division marched from Dispatch
Station up the north side of the Chickahominy, and passing Porter's Provisional Fifth Army
Corps, at Gaines' Mill, took post at the advance of the right wing of the army, on Beaver
Dam run, about a half mile east of the village of Mechanicsville, which village (entirely
deserted by its inhabitants) was occupied by our pickets as their reserve post, and is
only five miles from Richmond. The intrenchments and camps of the rebels were in plain
view across the Chickahominy.
Some small earthworks were thrown up
by the Third Brigade along the east bank of the Beaver dam, and the timber bordering that
stream mostly cut down, the enemy meanwhile keeping us stirred up by an occasional shot or
shell, which they could throw from their works beyond the Ohickahominy entirely over our
camps.
In the afternoon of June 26, the
rebel divisions of D. H. Hill and A. P. Hill, having crossed the Chickahominy above and at
Mechanicsville, capturing most of the pickets, appeared on the high ground west of the
Beaver dam, and soon advanced furiously to attack our position. Our line was held by the First Brigade, General John F.
Reynolds, on the right, on its left two companies, A and B of the Tenth, then the Twelfth
Regiment completing the line to the Chickahominy flats, on our left. The other companies
of the Tenth and Ninth regiments were in reserve, and the Second Brigade, General George
G. Meade, held the line of the Chickahominy to left and rear. Archer's and Field's
brigades of A. P. Hill's Division, attempted to carry the right of the line, and Ripley's
and brigades of D. H. Hill's, were hurled against our
left. At every point they were most severely repulsed, the First North Carolina and
Forty-fourth Georgia regiments of Ripley's Brigade meeting with losses exceeded in very
few instances during the war. Official report gives loss of Forty-fourth Georgia as three
hundred and twenty-five killed and wounded in this engagement. The whole rebel loss was
one thousand three hundred and sixty-five killed and wounded, and that of the Pennsylvania
Reserves, the only troops engaged on the Union side, was two hundred and fifty-six killed
and wounded, and one hundred and five missing, the missing including the captured pickets.
Next morning the division marched back about four miles, and rested behind the lines of
Morrell's Division at Gaines' Mill. The rebels, reinforced by Longstreet's Division and
the three divisions under Jackson, followed the movement closely, and in the afternoon
assailed Morrell's and Sykes' positions in heavy force, bringing on one of the most
stubbornly contested battles of the war. The regiments of the Third Brigade were sent into
action separately, as their presence seemed to be
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at Gettysburg. 267
needed to
support the hard-pressed front line. The Tenth, going to the assistance of Griffin's
Brigade, took a gallant part in repulsing repeated assaults of Pender's, Gregg's and
Anderson's brigades of A. P. Hill's Division, holding its ground until late in the
evening, when, with ammunition exhausted and ranks sadly thinned, the whole line was
forced to give way, before the overwhelming onslaught made upon it by Longstreet's,
Jackson's and Whiting's divisions. The loss suffered by the Tenth Regiment at Gaines' Mill
was numerically the greatest it ever sustained, although the percentage of loss out of
number engaged was much greater at Manassas,
and also at Fredericksburg, and was the heaviest of any regiment in the division except
the Eleventhbeing forty killed and one hundred severely wounded. During the night of
the 27th Porter's command crossed the Chickahominy to Trent's Hill, where we remained
during the following day. On the 29th, marched, passing Savage's Station and White Oak
Swamp, to Charles City Cross Roads, called also Glendale, where, on the 30th, the Tenth
Regiment was again engaged with the enemy, performed with entire success the difficult
manoeuvre of making a left half wheel, under a heavy fire of artillery, and in the
presence of an attacking column of infantry, and immediately charging, completely broke up
the Seventeenth Virginia Regiment of Kemper's Brigade, capturing nearly half its number,
and itself suffering very slight loss in doing so. But, a little later, by somebody's
blunder or want of judgment, it was placed in an exposed and untenable position, where it
suffered severe loss. Its loss this day was twenty-four killed and forty severely wounded.
July 1, the division enjoyed the position of lookers-on at the battle of Malvern Hill, and
at night led the army in its march to Harrison's Landing, on the James river. Here it
rested, suffering from the heat of the weather and the badness of the waterall who
were there doubtless remember vividly the pork-barrel wells that were dug, also the
shelling by the "rebs" from the south side of the James, on the night of July
31. After the latter occurrence the Third Brigade was sent across the river, and spent a
pleasant week at Coggin's Point, the old Edmund Ruffin plantation.
On the withdrawal of the Army of the
Potomac from Harrison's Landing we embarked on a steamer, two regiments. Tenth and
Seventh on one boat, landed at Aquia Creek August 19, and were at once transported by rail
to Fredericksburg. Late in the evening of the. 21st the division, now commanded by General
John F. Reynolds, started out upon what tried to the utmost its powers of
endurancethe march to Warrenton, to join the army of General Pope. We rested at
Warrenton until afternoon of August 27, 1862, when departure was taken in haste by the old
turnpike toward Bull Run and Centreville, the division again forming part of the First
Army Corpscommanded by Major-General McDowell. We came in contact with the enemy on
the morning of the 28th near Gainesville and again in the afternoon, and in the night made
a long circuitous march nearly to Manassas and back nearly to the Henry House on the old
battlefield of Bull Run.
On the 29th the Third Brigade
especially was used as a detachment to feel for the enemy's position in front of the left of Pope's army and open communication with Fitz
John Porter's command should it advance
268
Pennsylvania at Gettysburg.
upon the
enemy. On the afternoon the Third Brigade with General G. K. Warren's Brigade of the Fifth
Corps and McLean's Brigade of Sigel's Corps were the only infantry left on the south side
of the pike and bore the brunt of the overwhelming charge of Longstreet's whole corps. The
loss suffered here by these brigades testify to the fact that they did all that men could
do to hold their ground. The Tenth lost in this battle twenty-two killed or mortally
wounded and about forty others wounded. The last day of the month was spent at
Centerville, the division picketing along Cub run at night. September 1, we reached
Chantilly late in the evening, and in an outpour of rain halted in support of Kearny's
Division in the engagement in which that dashing leader lost his life. Next day marched
from Fairfax Court House to Arlington, where we rested until the night of the 6th during
which we marched again, crossing Long Bridge and through the city of Washington to
Leesboro, Md. After here receiving some much-needed supplies, our march was continued
northward, and on the evening of the 13th we bivouacked at the crossing of the Monocacy by
the Frederick pike. Next day pushed forward through Frederick and Middletown, and in the
afternoon took an active part in dislodging the enemy from his formidable position on
South Mountain. At the foot of the mountain the division filed off to the right about a
mile, and charging up the face of the ridge quickly dislodged the enemy, completely
dispersing Rodes' Alabama Brigade. Loss in regiment, seven killed, and thirteen wounded.
Next morning followed the retreating rebels to the Antietam just beyond Keedysville.
After waiting until the evening of
the 16th, the First Corps, which since leaving Washington had been commanded by General
Joseph Hooker, moved up the creek a short distance, crossed by a stone bridge, pushed on
to the Hagerstown and Sharpsburg pike, and Meade's Division being in advance, we got
sharply into action with the enemy just before dark, and the opposing line of battle
passed the night only a few yards apart. The attack by Hooker's Corps was resumed at dawn
on the 17th, King's Division going to the front, immediately followed by the Third Brigade
of Meade's, and at once began the bloodiest forenoon's work of the war. Fortunately for
the Tenth Regiment, the confidence of the corps commander either in its reliability or in
the skill of its lieutenant-colonel, in a situation that might require the exercise of
those qualities in unusual degree, was here the occasion of our escaping the very fiercest
of the conflict. Just as it was entering the famous cornfield. Colonel Warner was ordered
by an aide of General Hooker to move his regiment by the right flank across the turnpike,
go as far to the right and front as possible, and watch the movements of the enemy. This
duty it performed, itself suffering but little, except the very serious wounding of its
gallant commander.
The regiment encamped near Sharpsburg
until the 26th of October, on which day it marched to the summit of South Mountain at
Crampton's Gap, a day and night of experience with mud and rain and fierce searching wind
on the dreary mountain top. We crossed the Potomac again into Virginia, at Berlin, October
30, marched across Loudoun county by way of Lovettsville, Philomont, Union and Middleburg
to White Plains and Warrenton, and sheep and hogs being numerous and in prime condition,
we
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at Gettysburg. 269
fared as
well as at any time during the service. The First Corps moved from Fayetteville near
Warrenton, November 17, and next evening camped at Stafford Court House, soon moving again
to Brooke's Station, and after some two weeks of extremely cold weather for so early in
the season spent there, moved on the 6th of December to White Oak Church, from whence, at
2 o'clock on the morning of the 11th, we started for the Rappahannock, the Tenth being
detailed to guard the laying of pontoon bridges at Franklin's Crossing, about two miles
below Fredericksburg. The enemy's pickets were quickly driven from the opposite bank and
two bridges soon completed. The Sixth Corps crossing on them during the afternoon, and the
First Corps on the 12th; the latter corps moved down the river to Bernard's plantation,
where it bivouacked. Nothing was visible on the morning of the 13th but a most remarkably
dense fog. The division however moved out across the Bowling Green road finding there
the skirmishers of the enemy. The lines of the First Corps, which was now commanded by
General John F. Reynolds, were soon formed, the First Division on the left faced nearly
east, the Third Division (Pennsylvania Reserves), General George G. Meade commanding, on
its right fronting nearly to the south at almost a right angle with the First, faced the
enemy's batteries and lines of infantry on the wooded hills beyond the railroad, the
Second Division on its right extending in the same direction, and the Sixth Corps
prolonged the line still farther to the right. The assault on the enemy's position was
made by the Third Division, now consisting of the thirteen old regiments of Pennsylvania
Reserves and two new regiments, the One hundred and twenty-first and One hundred and
forty-second regiments Pennsylvania Volunteers, incorporated respectively in the First and
Second Brigades. The First Brigade was deployed on the right, the Third on the left and
the Second massed in rear of the center. The Tenth Regiment formed the extreme left of the
line. It had only eight companies in line. Company B having been sent out as skirmishers
down the Bowling Green road, where the cavalry skirmishers of the enemy had become
troublesome, and Company D being provost guard of division.
About 2 o'clock they moved forward as
steadily and in as complete order as though its ranks were not being plowed by shot and
shell from the enemy's batteries. The distance to be traversed was about a half mile over
a treeless plain, which was found to be crossed by fences bordered with briars, and a wide
ditch about five feet deep with nearly perpendicular sides, and water and ice at the
bottom, but these obstacles scarcely occasioned a break in the line as it swept on toward
the enemy. After crossing the railroad the Tenth Regiment found itself exposed to a heavy
crossfire from the left as well as the fire in its front. In fact the left of our line
had struck near the center of Archer's Brigade, and the right of that command overlapped
our left, thus compelling the left of the Tenth to fall back to the railroad, which it
held, engaging the enemy, and keeping silent a section of artillery posted about two
hundred yards to its left and front. The right of the Third Brigade dislodged the
Nineteenth Georgia Regiment forming the left of Archer's Brigade, almost annihilating it,
and capturing its colors, and swinging forward to the left, widened the interval between
it and the left of the First Brigade. This interval was at once
270
Pennsylvania at Gettysburg.
occupied by
the Second Brigade, which, pushing directly forward, badly worsted the famed South
Carolina Brigade of General Maxcy Gregg, and causing the death of General Gregg. The
ground thus wrested from the enemy the division held for about two hours, repulsing all
attempts of the enemy to retake it, until, after nearly half its numbers were killed or
wounded and its ammunition entirely expended, it retired over the same ground it had made
its advance, bringing back every one of its colors, and also several others taken from the
enemy. The division entered the engagement with less than four thousand five hundred men
and lost therein over two thousand killed, wounded and missing. The Tenth Regiment, out of
about two hundred and fifty engaged, lost eleven killed, eighty-one wounded and
forty-seven missing, as reported immediately after the battle; of the wounded, twelve died
of their wounds. Although the Tenth did not penetrate the enemy's line as far as some of
the other regiments, it held most determindedly a position that was all important to the
safety of the whole division, and it was only by the greatest possible effort that the
unemployed enemy on its left were held back from closing the gap in the rear of those who
had advanced into the woods. As a military movement, for dash and gallantry in making the
advance, for steadiness and determination in holding a position gained within the lines of
an enemy much superior in numbers to the attacking force, and especially for the
adhesiveness shown in retiring without assistance, and without loss of organization, from
so exposed a situation, this charge of Meade's Division certainly compares creditably with
anything recorded in history.
The division crossed back to the
north side of the river on the night of the 15th of December, and after a few days moving
about settled down in a camp among the sand hills near Belle Plain Landing, where it
remained, with the exception of three Says following January 23, 1863, during which it
participated in the no way pleasant experience of "Burnside's Stuck in the Mud,"
until February 9, when it embarked on the Potomac, and next day landed at Alexandria,
marched to Minor's Hill, and was employed in picketing in front of the fortifications of
Washington, until April 20, when the Third Brigade moved into Washington, occupied
barracks on East Capitol street, and up to the 1st of June was engaged in various duties
pertaining to the Military District of Washington.
June 1, 1863, the Third Brigade
marched to Upton's Hill, and thence, on the 25th, along with the First Brigade (the Second
being left at Alexandria), set out to join the Army of the Potomac, coming up with it on
the 28th at Ballinger's creek near Frederick, Md. The two brigades now became the Third
Division, Fifth Army Corps, and so remained until expiration of their service. June 29, we
marched to Liberty, on the 30th to Union Mills, Md., and on July 1, crossed into
Pennsylvania, and were pushed on toward York, so far from Gettysburg that the sound of
battle did not reach us at all, and we were entirely unaware of the desperate conflict
going on, until late in the afternoon, when news was receive that a battle was in progress
and that General Reynolds had been killed. The news of the death of General Reynolds
caused a universal feeling of sadness throughout the division, which had known him from
the begin-
Pennsylvama
at Gettysburg. 271
ing as
brigade, division and corps, commander, and all honored and respected him in the very
fullest sense.
Late in the evening of July 1, the
head Of column of the Fifth Corps was turned toward Gettysburg, the Third Division passing
through Hanover after dark. The weary march was until after midnight, when near the
village of Bonneauville a halt was made, and the tired soldiers laid down and slept by the
roadside until day, which came at a very early hour. After a hasty breakfast the corps was
again on the march, and soon came in sight of the skirmishers of the enemy, who held
possession of that road to the town of Gettysburg. We let them keep it, and filed to the
left down a small stream until we reached the Baltimore 'turnpike, which we followed
toward Gettysburg. After crossing Rock creek the Fifth Corps filed off the pike to the
left, lay down and rested until about 5 o'clock in the evening, at which hour the sound of
battle came loud from this part of the field. Quickly under arms the corps was soon in
motion toward the sound, crossing the Taneytown road, we ascended the slope of Little
Round Top, meeting many wounded from the battle which was fiercely raging beyond the hill.
,
The First and Second Divisions had
preceded us, and the Third Brigade of each had been left to hold Little Round Top and
drive the enemy from the rocky valley between the two hills, while the other brigades had
passed on to the wooded broken ground and the wheat field beyond.
A wonderful scene met the gaze of the
Pennsylvania Reserves when they reached the crest of Little Round Top. It was near the
close of what General Longstreet has denominated "the best two hours' fighting that
ever took place on this planet." It was the moment just before exhaustion of the
tremendous and desperate effort by the divisions of Hood, McLaws and Anderson, comprising
thirteen brigades of the very flower of the rebel army, under the personal direction of
Generals Lee and Longstreet, to crush the left wing of the Union army, and gain possession
of Little Round Top. It should be remarked that the brigades of the rebel army at this
time were just about one-third heavier than those of ours. The two being nearly equal in
numbers, theirs was composed of thirty-eight infantry regiments and ours of fifty-one.
So that while our brigades averaged about one thousand and five hundred men, theirs
exceeded two thousand. In repelling this mighty assault there had been engaged the six
brigades of the Third Corps, four brigades of First Division, Second Corps, and five
brigades of the Fifth Corps. .
When the Pennsylvania Reserves looked
down the western slope of little Round Top, the skirmishers of the enemy were almost at
its foot and his somewhat broken and disordered but exultant lines not far in their rear.
The First Brigade dashed down the slope, deploying as it went, drove back the skirmishers
and nearest brigade of the enemy, and the mighty effort put forth to wring from the Union
army the key to its position was over, and with it had passed the highest wave of the
rebellion. From those two hours fighting5 to 7 o'clock, July 2, 1863, may be dated
the commencement of its ebb-tide. When the First Brigade charged down the slope of Little
Round Top, the Third Brigade was sent to the left into the valley at the foot of the
larger hill, the Ninth and Tenth regiments forming line
272 ,
Pennsylvania at Gettysburg.
of battle
perhaps over one hundred yards in rear of the position marked by the stone wall which they
subsequently built and which is marked by their monuments, and the Fifth and Twelfth
regiments dislodged part of Law's Alabama Brigade and occupied the summit of Big Round
Top. At daylight next morning the Tenth Regiment advanced to the position now-marked, and
at once commenced and in surprisingly short time completed the construction of this wall;
in pushing back the skirmishers of the enemy from this position, two men of the Tenth were
killed and three wounded. The sharpshooters of the enemy, under cover of the rocks and
trees, were very troublesome, but volunteers from the Tenth were ready to meet them, and
they were very soon receiving as good as they sent. Major J. C. Rogers, commanding the
Fifth Texas immediately in our front, says in his report, "just before day on the
morning of the 3d orders reached me that breastworks must be thrown up and the position
held. During the day constant skirmishing was kept up with the enemy which resulted in the
loss to us of many of our best scouts."
On the 5th of July the regiment
marched in pursuit of the enemy, with whom we came up and skirmished on the 12th and 13th
near St. James College and Williamsport, Md. The rebels having escaped across the Potomac,
we marched back over South Mountain and on the 17th of July again crossed into Virginia at
Berlin. Here Colonel Warner, whothough suffering from his wound received at Antietam
to a degree that would have entirely disabled almost any other manhad up to this
commanded the regiment, gave up the command to Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. Knox. July 23, we
reached Manassas Gap or Wapping Heights, where we advanced over the summit of the Blue
Ridge in line of battle, but the enemy retired without causing us any loss. From the gap
we marched to Warrenton (blackberries being all the provender in sight), then on down by
Fayetteville to Rappahannock Station, where we rested until the 16th of September, when
advance was made, the Fifth Corps locating beyond Culpeper, and again we took things easy
in a very pleasant camp until the 10th of October. The rebel army then commenced a
movement by way of Warrenton, toward our rear. We got into action with Hill's Corps at
Bristoe on the 14th. The enemy in his eagerness to attack the Fifth Corps which was in a
rather exposed position, exposed himself to the Second Corps, and lost heavily; two
brigades, Cooke's and Kirklands of Heth's Division, being almost annihilated and a battery
captured. The Tenth Regiment here performed the duty of rear guard of the Fifth Corps,
holding the enemy in check while the corps withdrew toward Manassas. Its loss was one
killed and two wounded. We retired to Manassas, then returned to Bristoe after night, to
assist the withdrawal of the Second Corps, then
again passed Manassas, crossed Bull Run to Blackburn's Ford and next morning were at
Centerville. In the advance which followed we marched by way of Bull Run battlefield and
Greenwich to Warrenton Junction, where we halted from October 21 to November 7, when the
Fifth and Sixth Corps advanced to Rappahannock Station, a brigade of the Sixth assaulting
the enemy's entrenchments captured almost entire Hays' and Hoke's brigades of Early's
Division, one thousand six hundred men with their arms, a battery and pontoon bridge.
Pennsylvania at Gettysburg. 273
Crossing the Rappahannock at Kelly's
Ford we moved out to Mountain run, and occupied new and commodious quarters just built by
Battle's Alabama Brigade, but left them on the morning of the 26th of November, on which
day we crossed the Rapidan, at Culpeper Mine Ford, and bivouacked that night at the
junction of the Germanna and Orange Plank Roads; next day marched by old Plank road toward
Orange Court House, and in the afternoon came up with Gregg's Cavalry Division engaged
with the enemy at New Hope Church, and at once proceeded to take part, but, thanks to good
luck or good dodging, none of the Tenth were seriously hurt.
Next day moved to the right to where
the old Fredericksburg and Orange Court House turnpike crosses Mine Run. On the 29th
remained in position, looked at rebs building works on their side of the run and worked
some at same on ours. The morning of the 30th was extremely cold; moved very early about
two miles to right, where Fifth and Sixth Corps massed and prepared to assault the enemy's
works, but to the great satisfaction of everybody the order to attack was countermanded
and we returned to the position of the previous day. December 1 continued to fortify, and
so did the enemy. The Tenth was on, the skirmish line, was relieved after dark and started
to the rear by the old turnpike, recrossed the Rapidan at Germanna Ford at daylight, and
crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford and continuing on to Warrenton Junction, there
built winter quarters and went to guarding the railroad. After changing several times, the
Tenth finally was located, December 30, 1863, to pass the winter at Manassas. Divided into
detachments to guard the railroad we were constantly annoyed by guerrillas, by whom at one
time two men were wounded and captured, and two were killed April 15, 1861.
During the winter one hundred and
twenty men of the regiment re-enlisted, and were given furlough for thirty-five days.
April 29, the Tenth Regiment bade final farewell to Manassas, and on the 30th crossed the
Rappahannock, and joined the Fifth Corps near Stevensburg.
Very early in the morning of the 4th
of May, the Fifth Corps (now including the First) set out for its last trip across the
Rapidan, crossing it about noon at Germanna Ford, it pushed on to old Wilderness Tavern.
Next morning Third Division started on by a cross-road toward Parker's Store, but soon
came up with the enemy, and after some skirmishing fell back nearly to the old tavern. On
morning of 6th, pushed to the front on both sides of the turnpike, capturing a heavy line
of skirmishers, until we found ourselves facing a line of earthworks and in a very exposed
position. Here we held on, however, until evening, losing five killed and several
severely wounded, among the latter, very unfortunately, being Colonel Ayer, and from this
time Adjutant G. W. McCracken was virtually commander of the regiment. After dark moved at
double-quick down the Germanna road to support Sixth Corps, which had been attacked and
Seymour's and Shaler's brigades captured, but returned later in the morning, crossed
Wilderness run and lay quiet until night.
Then the Fifth Corps pulled out,
crossed the old Plank road, passing along the lines of the Second Corps lying in their
entrenchments along the Brock road, passed the cavalry just at daylight at Todd's Tavern,
and then commenced pushing back the enemy's cavalry, and clearing the road
274 Pennsylvania at Gettysburg.
of
obstructions, which continued until we crossed the Ny river and found ourselves in the
presence of and sharply engaged with Longstreet's Corps in front of Spottsylvania Court
House. That evening, May 8th, the Third Division, supported by the First, charged upon the
enemy. We advanced through thick woods until dark, got into the enemy's line, engaged in
numerous hand-to-hand encounters, and lost a good many men reported missing, most of whom
doubtless were killed, as they were never heard from afterward. Those who were captured
were very fortunate in being recaptured next day by the cavalry at Beaver Dam Station. The
Tenth was engaged with the enemy every day and almost every night for a week on this
northwest side of Spotsylvania Court House; then during the rainy and exceedingly dark
night of the 14th of May, moved around to the east and put in another week, but without
being quite so constantly engaged. Loss in all these actions, twenty-five killed and sixty
wounded. Pulling out to Guiney's Station on the 20th, we took the Richmond road, crossed
the North Anna river at Jericho Mills on the 23d, and had a brisk fight, losing two
killed. Next afternoon the division pushed down between the river and enemy and covered
the crossing of the Ninth Corps. Next morning pushed forward still farther down the river,
and during 25th and 26th confronted enemy's worksat a distance of two hundred to
three hundred yards.
During night of 26th withdrew to
north side of North Anna, and started down the river, crossed the Pamunkey at Hanover
Ferry, and on the 29th pushed out to Totopotomoy creek where the Tenth skirmished with the
enemy, being on picket line that night. Next forenoon were relieved by Ninth Corps, and,
crossing the creek, we joined the division near the Mechanicsville road. Skirmishing was
going on, and as soon as we came up we were ordered to the skirmish line to take the place
of the Fifth Regiment which, armed with smooth-bore muskets, was unable to drive the
enemy's skirmishers. The Tenth at once deployed and moved forward to the skirmish line
where we found the Bucktails deployed to our right. The whole line was ordered forward,
and forward it went driving before it a heavy line of rebel skirmishers, and followed by
the division in line of battle which halted and threw up some slight breastworks near
Bethesda Church. The skirmishers kept on for nearly a mile over open fields and then
across a narrow swamp, when they found a line of earthworks facing then at not more than
one hundred and fifty yards distance; over these works at once came the enemy in force;
that the Tenth Regiment got out of that strip of woods, and back over open fields three
hundred to four hundreds yards wide, before any cover was reached, has always seemed a
piece of wonderful good fortune. But it did so without having a man seriously hurt, and
losing only two captured. The skirmishers rallied with their brigades, who had hastily
thrown together some rails for breastworks, and the enemy, two brigades of Ewell's Corps,
following them up, were received with a fire that almost annihilated them. One of these
was the famed old Stonewall Brigade, its commander. Colonel J. B. Terrill, falling about
one hundred yards in front of the Tenth Regiment. For destructiveness to the enemy,
coupled with slight loss to ourselves, this engagement at Bethesda Church was very much
like those of Dranesville and
Pennsylvania
at Gettysburg. 275
Mlechanicsville.
The Tenth lost one man mortally wounded. This ended the services of the Tenth Regiment.
Next morning it received the following order:
"HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
May 31, 1864.
.
"Special Orders No. .
"2. In issuing the order for the return of the
Pennsylvania Reserves, whose term of service expires to-day, the general commanding begs
leave to express to them his great satisfaction at their heroic conduct in this arduous
campaign. As their commander he thanks them for their willing and efficient efforts, and
congratulates them that their successful engagement of yesterday, closing their term of
service and long list of battles bravely fought, is one they can ever remember with
satisfaction and pride.
"By command of Major-General
Warren.
The total enrollment of the Tenth
Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves was one thousand one hundred and sixty officers and men. Of
these one hundred and sixty were killed in battle or died of wounds, thirty-one died of
disease or accident, twenty-eight deserted or were dishonorably discharged, forty were
transferred to cavalry or artillery service in the regular army or to the Veteran Reserve
Corps, forty-two were discharged by order mostly to accept commissions in other
organizations, two hundred and seventy-one were discharged for disability largely caused
by wounds, two hundred and sixty-one were transferred to the One hundred and ninetieth and
One hundred and ninety-first regiments Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, two full
companies, I and K, of the One Hundred and Ninety-First being entirely composed of
veterans and recruits of the Tenth Regiment, and three hundred and twenty-seven were
mustered out at Pittsburgh, June. 11,1861.
Of the two thousand and forty-seven
regiments in the Union army during the rebellion the Tenth Regiment stands forty-fifth of
those sustaining the greatest percentage of loss in battle to total enrolment, its loss in
killed and mortally wounded being nearly fourteen per cent of enrolment. And this loss was
not (as was the case with some organizations suffering heavy losses) occasioned by any
overwhelming disaster, but in every instance represented hard fighting in which the
enemy had no particular advantage. In fact wherever there was marked advantage the enemy
had far the worst of it. This was unmistakably true at Dranesville, at Mechanicsville,
at South Mountain, and last but not least at Bethesda Church.
Of the forty-seven regiments of the
Union army suffering the largest percentage of loss in killed and died of wounds, forty
belonged to the Army of the Potomac; twelve of them to the First and Fifth Corps, and four
of them being regiments of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. It is also worthy remark that
eleven of the forty-seven were Pennsylvania regiments.
The loss of the Tenth Regiment by
disease was the smallest of any three-years' regiment in the entire army. In the Union
Army according to statistics compiled by the War Department, the aggregate number of men
enrolled was two million seven hundred and seventy-eight thousand three
276
Pennsylvania at Gettysburg.
hundred and
three, and the aggregate number of deaths from all causes, three hundred and fifty-nine
thousand five hundred and twenty-eight; nearly
thirteen per cent. of total enrolment. Pennsylvania furnished three hundred and
thirty-seven thousand nine hundred and thirty-six men, of whom there died from all causes,
thirty-three thousand one hundred and eighty-three; less than ten per cent. The killed or
mortally wounded of the entire army numbered one hundred and ten thousand and seventy; not
quite four per cent. Pennsylvania troops lost in killed or mortally wounded, fifteen
thousand two hundred and sixty-five; nearly four and a half per cent. Died of disease,
entire army, two hundred and twenty-four thousand eight hundred and eighty-six, a little
less than eight per cent.; of Pennsylvania soldiers, there died of disease, fifteen
thousand nine hundred and one; about four and three-fourths per cent. Thus we see that
while the loss of Pennsylvania soldiers by the missiles of the enemy was heavier in
proportion to numbers than that of the whole army, their losses from disease were only
about half the average. And in the case of the Pennsylvania Reserves this difference is
still more marked. The loss in killed and mortally wounded in the thirteen infantry
regiments of Pennsylvania Reserves was one thousand five hundred and ninety-three, a
little more than ten per cent. of the whole enrolment of the division; while those who
died of disease, including the unfortunates starved in Andersonville and other prison pens
of the South, numbered seven hundred and fifty, or less than five per cent.just
reversing the common statement that in armies two men die of disease for every one killed
in battle. But the experience of the Tenth Regiment was the most marked of all in this
respect; the losses of the Tenth Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves in the twenty-two
engagements in which it participated, were one hundred and sixty killed or mortally
wounded out of the aggregate enrolment of one thousand one hundred and sixty, nearly
fourteen per cent., while the deaths from disease, including those in southern prison
pens, were only thirty-one, being less than two and three-fourths per cent. of the
enrolmentor less than one-fifth as many died of disease as were killed in battle.