CHAPTER VIII.

 

PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN--MALVERN HILL--HARRISON 'S LANDING.

 

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Battle at Turkey bridge--Withdrawal of troops to Malvern hill­--Noble efforts to save the wounded--Line of battle on Malvern hill--The battle--Retreat to Harrison's landing--March of the Reserves--Situation at Harrison's landing--Casualties in the Reserve Corps--Reorganization --Labors of the surgeons--Promotion of officers--Colonel McCandless –Fisher--Ricketts--Sinclair--Harvey--Hays – Jackson--Anderson­—Taggart--Hardin--Donations of delicacies and vegetables--Mrs. Harris --Prof. Kevinski--Return of prisoners from Richmond--Their recep­tion--McCall at home; sword presentation at West Chester--Resig­nation--General Reynolds assumes command of Reserves--President Lincoln and General Halleck visit the army--General Pope assigned to the army of Virginia--His mission--McClellan ordered to withdraw from the Peninsula, Tardy obedience--Critical situation of the armies --General Hooker's reconnoissance to Malvern hill--End of Peninsular campaign.

 

GENERAL Fitz John Porter having been misled on the night of the 29th of June, did not reach Malvern hill until nine o'clock on the following morning. He then placed his troops in a position to command all the roads leading from Richmond and the Chickahominy swamps, to the James river, converging at Turkey bridge. Through the com­mand thus posted, the supply trains and the reserve artil­lery passed in safety to the river behind Malvern hill.

The splendid artillery was picturesquely placed on the hill, formed in fan shape at the salient points, and its sup­ports were disposed in admirable cover in the hollows between the undulations of the bluffs. Some of the power­ful batteries of seige guns were posted in the centre so as to sweep the plain towards Richmond.

At four o'clock in the afternoon of the 130th of June, the

 

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rear of the immense supply train had passed Charles City cross-roads, and soon, the last wagon arrived in camp at Haxall's landing. The furious battle raging in front of General McCall's division gradually expanded, and extend­ing towards the left, the shock was felt by Porter's troops at Turkey bridge, and at Malvern hill at about five o'clock. Finding that he could not pierce the centre on the New Market road, General Lee attempted to turn the left at Malvern hill. Ile planted his artillery under cover of a kirt of timber in front of General Porter's position. Under fire of these batteries he pushed forward a body of infantry to attack a point held by Colonel Warren's brigade. The discharge of artillery was very heavy, and though a con­centrated fire of about thirty guns was opened on the enemy, his forces coolly braved the storm of shot and shell, and vigorously attacked the hill. The gunboats, Galena and Aroostook, took a position at the head of Turkey island and opening their ports plunged their awful metal into the woods among the rebel masses. As the sun settled down behind the forests, the artillery firing became heavier and more powerful. The missiles of the enemy plowed and tore through the fields and bluffs on Malvern hill, and the terrific concussion of the great guns on the boats in the river, and the explosion of the huge shells they sent tearing and crashing through the forest, made the earth quiver, and filled all present with awe. At last the terror of the artil­lery fire and the deep darkness that covered the scene put an end to the conflict. The enemy withdrew and sullenly sat himself down to watch his prey.

Late in the afternoon General Franklin withdrew from 'White Oak creek bridge, and marched slowly towards the James. Other divisions along the line were ordered to follow Franklin's corps, and before midnight, all the troops north of the New Market cross-roads were in motion towards Malvern hill. Early in the evening, General McClellan, who had all day been on the James, heard of the withdrawal of Franklin, and sent out one of his aids to learn the situa-

 

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tion in the front. The messenger had not gone far before he met two officers despatched from General Franklin to headquarters with the report, that he was falling back. Orders were then sent to General Sumner and General Heintzelman to retire their commands to Malvern hill. At midnight, General Seymour commenced the withdrawal of the Reserve Corps. He directed that the wounded should be left behind, and that the regiments should retire with as little noise and confusion as possible. The men felt incensed at the order to abandon their wounded comrades to the cruel­ties of the enemy; many of the soldiers stole away under cover of darkness, and went to the hospitals to search out and carry away their suffering companions. Captain Hen­derson of the Seventh regiment made diligent and successful efforts to remove the wounded men of that regiment. Lieu­tenants Harvey and Laycock of the same regiment assisted Colonel Harvey, and Lieutenant Watmough of Meade's staff, to escape to the river; both of these officers were wounded and in the hospital, and but for the humane conduct of their fellow officers, would have fallen into the hands of the enemy. Many noble men that night, who were wearied, jaded, hungry, and thirsty, did not leave their unfortunate comrades in arms, without an effort to deliver them from the dreadful fate that threatened them. Some succeeded, but most of the efforts failed; yet the self-sacrificing spirit, evinced under the most trying circumstances, demonstrated, that the soldiers in the Reserve Corps were as affectionate and humane, as they were patriotic and brave.

Late in the night of the 30th, General McClellan came up from the James river, and remained at General Porter's headquarters on Malvern hill until twelve o'clock. When he then learned that the enemy had been repulsed on the New Market road, and that Franklin, and the troops on the road were retiring towards Malvern hill, he returned to the river at Haxall's landing, and sent General A. A. Humphreys, chief of topographical engineers, to Malvern hill, with orders to receive the troops as they arrived, and post

 

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 them in line of battle on the hill. General Humphrey's proceeded at once to the hill, and reconnoitred the grounds in order to place the a-Imy in a position to defend itself against the pursuing enemy. Soon after three o'clock in the morning, he met General Barnard, chief engineer on McClellan's staff; who had also been ordered to post the troops, and was at that hour engaged in the examination of the grounds. The two officers joined their efforts, and before daylight, had succeeded in constructing a line of defence.

The line of battle was so formed, that the left and centre rested on Malvern hill, and the right curved backwards through a wooded country towards a point below Haxall's, on James river. Malvern hill is an elevated plateau about a mile and a half by three-fourths of a mile in area, well cleared of timber, and with several converging roads cross­ing it. In front are numerous defensible ravines, and the grounds slope gradually toward the north and east to the woodland, giving clear ranges for artillery in those direc­tions. Towards the northwest, the plateau falls off more abruptly into a ravine, which extends to the James river. From the position of the enemy, his most obvious lines of attack would come from the direction of Richmond and White Oak swamp, and would almost of necessity strike upon the left wing. Here, therefore, the lines were strengthened by massing the troops and collecting the prin­cipal part of the artillery. Porter's corps held the left of the line, formed with Sykes' division on the left, Morell's on the right with the artillery of the two divisions advan­tageously posted, and the artillery of the reserve so disposed on the high ground that a concentrated fire of some sixty guns could be brought to -bear on any point in his front or left. Colonel Tyler also had, with great exertion, succeeded in getting ten of his siege guns in position on the highest point of the hill.

Couch's division was placed on the right of Porter; next came Kearney and Hooker; next Sedgwick and Richardson;

 

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next Smith and Slocum; then the remainder of Keyes' corps, extending by a backward curve nearly to the river.

The Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, which had been on the most severe duty since the 26th of June, having fought three battles, and performed the most fatiguing night marches, was now, properly, held in reserve, stationed behind Porter's and Couch's troops. One brigade of Porter's corps was thrown to the left on the low ground to protect that flank from any movement direct from the Richmond road. The line was very strong along the whole front of the open plateau, but from thence to the extreme right the troops were more deployed. The right was rendered as secure as possible by slashing the timber and by barrica­ding the roads. Commodore Rodgers, commanding the flotilla on James river, placed his gunboats so as to protect the flank, and to command the approaches from Richmond.

The enemy appeared in front of this line soon after nine o'clock, in the morning of the 1st of .July, and commenced feeling the strength of the troops in position.

About two o'clock, a column of the enemy was observed moving towards the right, within the skirt of woods in front of Heintzelman's corps, but beyond the range of his artil­lery. Arrangements were at once made to meet the antici­pated attack in that quarter, but, though the column was long, occupying more than two hours in passing, it disap­peared, and was not again heard of.

About three o'clock, a heavy fire of artillery opened on Kearney's left and Couch's division, speedily followed up by a brisk attack of infantry on Couch's front. The artil­lery of these two divisions returned the fire with good effect; the infantry remained lying on the ground until the advancing column. was within short musket range, when the men sprung to their feet and poured in a deadly volley which entirely broke the attacking force and drove it in disorder back over the ground. This advantage was fol­lowed up until the right of the line had advanced some seven or eight hundred yards, and rested upon a thick

 

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clump of trees, giving it a stronger position and a better fire.

The battle had lasted but an hour, when the firing ceased along the whole front, but the enemy evinced no disposition to withdraw from the field. There was quiet during two hours. But at six o'clock, the enemy suddenly opened upon Couch, and Porter with the whole strength of his artillery, and at the same time began pushing forward his columns of attack to carry the hill. Brigade after brigade formed under cover of the woods, started at a run to cross the open space and charge the batteries, but the heavy fire of the guns, with the rapid and steady volleys from the infantry, in every case sent them reeling back to their shelter, and covered the ground with their dead and wounded. Iii several instances the infantry withheld their fire until the attacking column, which rushed through the storm of can­ister and shell from the artillery, had reached within a few yards of their lines. They then poured in a single volley, and dashed forward with the bayonet, capturing prisoner and colors, and driving the routed columns in confusion from the field.

Before an hour had passed, many of the troops had already exhausted their ammunition, and had been relieved by fresh regiments. General Meagher and General Sickles had moved forward their brigades to relieve Porter's and Couch's troops. Batteries from the splendid reserve artil­lery, which McCall's division had guarded in safety to Malvern hill, replaced the batteries in their front, and the thunder of artillery, mingled with the louder peals from the massive metal on the gunboats was incessant. The enemy persisted in his desperate efforts to carry the position until after dark, but his repeated attacks were repulsed with great slaughter. Finally, broken and defeated, lie was compelled to withdraw from the front, and beyond the range of the gunboats.

As soon as the battle was ended, General McClellan com­menced the withdrawal of his army to Harrison's landing.

 

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A Confederate officer reporting the battle of Malvern hill, says: "About half-past four, our troops reached the vicinity of the well-known farm of D. Carter, know as Malvern hill. Here General McClellan had again drawn up his army to re-open the fight. General Magruder no sooner saw the enemy's position than he once more led his men to the attack. His columns advanced in magnificent order over the space that separated them from the foe, and stormed the intrenched position. But a murderous hail of grape received the brave fellows and mowed them down, until finally the fragments of these splendid divisions were compelled to seek the shelter of the woods. Again Gen­erals Smith, Anderson, and Holmes led on their troops, but suddenly missiles of monstrous dimensions tore down whole ranks of our soldiers, and caused the most appalling damage.

This was the fire of the fleet, which, although two and a half miles distant, now took part in the contest. Our men still rushed forward with desperate courage against the hostile position, and Malvern hill was attacked on all sides. McClellan defended himself courageously, and it was twelve o'clock at night ere he evacuated this position, which both nature and art had made a 'strong one. The heroic daring and energy of our troops had overcome all obstacles.

The battle of the seventh day will live forever in the memory of the people as the battle of Malvern hill. No­where, in all the actions fought around Richmond, was the contest confined within so small a space, and there was added to it the fire of the monster guns on board the enemy's ships. It was terrible to see those two hundred and sixty-eight pound shell crashing through the woods, and when one exploded it was as though the globe had burst. Never, in any war since the world began, were missiles of such magnitude before used. The battle of Malvern hill will be a monument for that people, testifying to the determined will and resolution with which it con­tended for its independence as a nation, and the indomi­table firmness of its vow to conquer or to die.

 

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At Harrison's landing, where the James river forms a curve, General McClellan collected his shattered army, under the guns of the Federal fleet. But on our side we had no longer an army to molest him."

General McClellan says in his report: "Although the result of the battle of Malvern was a complete victory, it was, nevertheless, necessary to fall back still further, in order to reach a point where our supplies could be brought to us with certainty. As before stated, in the opinion of

Captain Rodgers, commanding the gunboat flotilla, this could only be done below City Point; concurring in his opinion, I selected Harrison's bar as the new position of the

army. The exhaustion of our supplies of food, forage, and ammunition, made it imperative to reach the transports immediately."

The battle of Malvern hill, beyond doubt, terminated in a complete victory for the National army over the Con­federates. The rebel army had not only been repulsed, but it had also been broken into fragments and routed. It was believed and asserted, at the close of the engagement, by

some of the ablest generals in the United States army, that twenty thousand troops could take Richmond. General McClellan, however, had determined to withdraw his army to Harrison's bar, and the battle of the 1st of July had been fought solely for the purpose of holding in check the rebel army, until the trains and materiel of the army of the Poto­mac could pass in safety to the James river. Whether the battle, therefore, had terminated in victory like those at Mechanicsville, Savage Station, and New Market cross-roads, or in defeat, like the battle of Gaines' mill, the final result

would have been the same; it had been predetermined that the army should retire to Harrison's landing.

When the order to retreat was promulgated to the victorious army on Malvern hill, on the night of the 1st of July, shame,. deep sorrow, and patriotic indignation filled the hearts of many of the brave officers and men. Some

demanded that the army be led on to Richmond; a major­-

 

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general exclaimed: "We ought rather to pursue the defeated foe than to be shamefully flying from him." Gene ral Philip Kearney, who had for twenty-five years been a soldier in the United States army, and who had seen more field service than any of his associate officers, having served during two wars in the French army, was moved to the verge of insubordination. Surrounded by a group of gene­ral officers, to whom McClellan's order was read, this gallant soldier exclaimed

"I, Philip Kearney, an old soldier, enter my solemn pro­test against this order for retreat. We ought, instead of retreating, to follow up the enemy and take Richmond. And, in full view of all the responsibility of such a declara­tion, I say to you all, such an order can only be prompted by cowardice or treason."

Notwithstanding the feelings of the subordinate officers, in obedience to the order of the commanding general, the army of the Potomac retreated to Harrison's landing. . The troops, by divisions, withdrew in order from their position, and marched down the river. A drenching rain set in, and the roads soon became deep and heavy with mud, and hence though the retreat was commenced on Wednesday morning, the 2d of July, the rear guard did not arrive in camp at Harrison's landing, until Thursday night. The enemy, who had been so severely beaten in the battle, did not attempt to pursue; the withdrawal eras therefore accomplished with­out loss.

The Pennsylvania Reserves were not called into action on Tuesday at Malvern hill; the enemy's shells fell in their camp and exploded among the men but without doing much injury.

The Reserve regiments broke camp on Malvern hill, just before midnight on the 1st of July, and took up the march towards Harrison's landing. Though the night was exceed­ingly dark, the road was well lighted up by numerous fires, that were kept continually burning by the guards stationed on the wayside. At daybreak a short halt was ordered; the troops rested and refreshed themselves from their scanty

 

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supplies, and then resuming their march, moved on through the woods until they crossed Herring run, and debouched on the open plain at Harrison's landing. Several of the regiments were ordered to encamp in a beautiful field of oats, nearly ripe for the reaper; the heavy rain and the con­tinual tramp of the troops soon transformed the silvery freshness of the waving grain into a plain of mud. The whole division was, during the afternoon of the second ordered to encamp in a dense pine thicket. The men cut boughs and constructed huts and shelters to protect them­selves from the storm.

As soon as the army had arrived at Harrison's landing, the work of fortifying was commenced, and the worn and exhausted soldier was again called upon to handle the spade,

and days of drenching rain or scorching sun, and cool damp nights were spent in the trenches. In a short time, eight miles of intrenchments were thrown up, roads were con­structed, bridges were built, and the position put in a proper condition for defense. The new position selected by General

McClellan consisted of a strip of land on the northern bank of the James river, five miles in length, and protected by a swamp on the northeast border. The addition of the earth-

works thrown up made the position secure against attack, as the enemy had been so severely dealt with in his previous encounters, that he was no longer able to assail with hope o f

success, a strong position defended by the army of the Potomac.

In a letter addressed to President Lincoln and dated at "Harrison's bar," July 4th, 1862, General McClellan said

"We now occupy a line of heights, about two miles from the James, a plain extending from there to the river ; our front is about three miles long; these heights command our whole position, and must be maintained. The gunboats can

render valuable support upon both flanks. If the enemy attack us in front we must hold our ground as we best may, and at whatever cost.

" Our positions can be carried only by overwhelming


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numbers. The spirit of the army is excellent; stragglers are finding their regiments, and the soldiers exhibit the best results of discipline. Our position is by no means impreg­nable, especially as a morass extends on this side of the high ground from our centre to the James on our right. The enemy may attack in vast numbers, and if so, our front will be the scene of a desperate battle, which, if lost, will be decisive. Our army is fearfully weakened by killed, wounded and prisoners."

On the 4th of July, General McClellan issued an order to his troops, in which he bestowed upon them that praise for heroism and endurance, which they so richly deserved, and which will continue through all time to be awarded to the noble patriots, whose deeds of undying glory saved the nation, and made the misfortune of having belonged to the army on the Peninsula, a title to the most distinguished honor.

The rebels granted to the army at Harrison's landing undisturbed repose until the night of the 31st of July, when their hostile presence was again exhibited by a fierce attack with artillery from the south bank of the James. The enemy had transferred a considerable body of troops to the south bank of the river, and in the darkness of night, had marched down to a point opposite the position occupied by the National army. The rebel batteries fired several hundred shells and solid shot into the camps, and among the shipping on the river, but such was the inaccuracy of their aim, that the fire was harmless. In less than half an hour, the batteries at Harrison's landing were trained on the enemy and he was soon silenced and driven from the field.

The loss in the army on the Peninsula, in the battles fought during the change of base, commencing on the 25th of June and ending on the 1st of July, was fifteen thousand two hundred and forty-nine men. Of these one thousand,, five hundred and eighty-two were killed, seven thousand seven hundred and nine were wounded, and five thousand nine hundred and fifty-eight were missing. Many of the,: latter class, who were reported "missing in action," had been

 

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severely wounded and (lied in the woods; others perished in the swamps apart from their comrades.

The Pennsylvania Reserve corps, which, in comparative numbers, constituted about one-fifteenth of the available force on the Peninsula, lost three thousand one hundred and eighty men, or more than one-fifth of the loss sustained by the army. Their casualties numbered three hundred and ten killed, one thousand three hundred and forty wounded, and one thousand five hundred and eighty-one missing. Among the killed, wounded, and prisoners, were some of the most efficient officers and bravest men in the corps. In the First regiment, Captain George H. Hess and Lieutenant

Joseph Stuart were killed; Lieutenant-colonel H. M. McIntire, Adjutant W. W. Stewart, Captains J. F. Bally and William C. Talley, Lieutenants W. T. McPhail, J. T. McCord and I. H. Graham were wounded, and over two hundred privates were either killed, wounded, or taken prisoners.

In the Second regiment Lieutenants J. Baxter Fletcher and James R. Nightingale were killed; Major George A. Woodward, Captains J. Orr Finnie, Horace Neide and P. I. Smith, and Lieutenants Daniel H. Connors, Hugh P. Ken­nedy and John B. Robinson were wounded; and one hundred and seventy-nine men were killed, wounded, or missing. Surgeon Edward Donnelly of the Second regiment, gener­ously volunteered to remain in charge of the wounded in the hospitals on the battle field of New Market cross-roads, and when the enemy advanced he became a prisoner of war.

In the Third regiment, Captains H. Clay Beatty and William Brian, Lieutenants I. B. Roberts, George C. Daven­port, D. W. Donaghy and I. Lehman were wounded; Major Richard H. Woolworth of this regiment was on detached duty,

acting as lieutenant-colonel in the Fourth regiment, and was severely wounded at the battle of New Market cross-roads. Doctor James Collins, surgeon of the Third, too noble to abandon his brave companions to the cruelties of rebel surgeons, without attempting to relieve the sufferings of the wounded, first labored energetically to remove a large

 

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number of them to the rear, beyond the reach of the enemy, and when no more could be saved from capture, the faithful surgeon surrendered himself a prisoner, and continued in charge of the wounded on the New Market road, until they were removed to Richmond. The casualties in the Third regiment numbered one hundred and eighty-seven. In the battle of Gaines' mill, and again at New Market cross-roads, Colonel Sickel had his horse shot under him and narrowly escaped with his life, but in both cases he continued to lead on his regiment till the end of the battle.

In the Fourth regiment, Richard H. Woolworth, acting lieutenant-colonel, Major John Nyce, Captains Frederick A. Conrad, William C. Besselieve, Francis H. Burger, Thomas F. B. Tapper and Elisha B. Gates, and Lieutenants James St. John, James N. Blundin, George W. Busser, and John C. Chance were wounded; and over two hundred men were numbered in the list of casualties.

In the Fifth regiment, first of all, the officers and men mourned the loss of their gallant colonel, the noble Simmons, who fell fighting in the thickest of the battle. Captains James Taggart, Thomas Chamberlin and John McCleary and Lieutenants J. C. Riddle, Theodore H. McFadden, and Charles M. Hildebrand were severely wounded, and two hundred and seventy privates were placed hors du combat.

In the Seventh Regiment, Colonel Elisha B. Harvey was severely injured by the explosion of a shell and the fall. of his horse. Captains R. ill`. Henderson, E. G. Lantz, W. W. White, and Samuel B. King, and Lieutenants Levi G. McCauley and G. L. Zug were wounded; and nearly three hundred men were killed, wounded, or captured.

In the Eighth regiment, Major S. M. Bailey, Captains R. E. Johnson, G. S. Gallup, Alexander Wishart, John Eichel­burger and C. L. Conner, and Lieutenants William M. Carter, H. McQuilken, Jefferson Bradford, E. Eichelbergcr, G. W. Miller and L. B. Waits were wounded. The loss in killed, wounded and missing in this regiment, numbered two hundred and thirty.

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In the Ninth Regiment, Lieutenant James P. Beatty was killed; Adjutant T. Brent Swearingen, Captains Charles Barnes and John Cuthbertson, and Lieutenants J. F. Kirk­patrick, J. K. Barbour, William  H. Hope, John S. Hunter, and Jacob S. Winans were wounded; two hundred and eight men were either killed, wounded or taken prisoners.

In the Tenth regiment, Adjutant 0. H. Gaither, Captain Thomas McConnell, Lieutenants James L. Wray, Valentine Phipps, John L. Moore and P. E. Shipler were wounded; the casualties among the private soldiers exceeded two hundred.

The Eleventh regiment was captured at Gaines' mill. Colonel Gallagher, nearly all of his officers, and about six hundred men were made prisoners. One hundred and sir men in command of Captain D. S. Porter and Lieutenants Hannibal F. Sloan, Archibald W. Stewart and James H. Mills, who escaped capture, entered the battle of New Market cross-roads, and lost in killed, wounded and missing, thirty-four of their number.

In the Twelfth Regiment, Lieutenant William W. Arnold was killed in battle at New Market cross-roads; Captains A. G. Oliver, Franklin Daniels, and Thomas D. Horn, and Lieutenant W. H. Kern were wounded. The number of killed, wounded, and prisoners in this regiment did not exceed one hundred and fifty.

The Bucktail regiment entered the Peninsula campaign with six companies, numbering in the aggregate four hundred and fifty-six men. Four hundred men went into the battle of Mechanicsville, on the 26th of June, and on the 1st of July, at the battle of Malvern hill, one hundred and seventy men was all that remained of the six companies. Captain Philip Holland, a most noble officer, was killed while rallying his men in the battle of New Market cross-roads; Adjutant W. R. Hartshorn was wounded; and Captain Alanson E. Niles, Lieutenants Lucius Truman and Samuel A. Mack, and Captain Edward A. Irvin and the officers and men of his com­pany were taken prisoners at Mechanicsville.

 

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The batteries of artillery attached to McCall's division suffered heavy loss. Captain Hezekiah Easton, command­ing battery A, was killed at Gaines' mill, and Lieutenant 'William Stett of the sane- company was wounded; this battery also lost nearly all of its horses, and half of its guns in the battle of Gaines' mills. In Captain Cooper's battery, Lieutenants Thomas Cadwallader and Henry S. Danforth were killed; eighteen non-commissioned officers and privates were killed, and in the battle of New Market cross-roads, sixty-one horses were disabled by the fire of the enemy; this battery, with other artillery on the field, was abandoned by order of the superior officers command­ing in the absence of General McClellan. De Hart's regular battery was completely demolished at Gaines' mill, and Randall's was broken and destroyed, and afterwards aban­doned on the field at New Market cross-roads.

In Kern's battery, company G, Captain Mark R. Kern, was wounded at Gaines' mill, seven of his men were killed and eleven were wounded; ten horses were killed and two guns with equipments were captured.

The Sixth regiment commanded by Lieutenant-colonel H. B. McKean , had been stationed at Tunstall's, on the 15th of June, and remained on guard until the 28th, when Gene­ral Stoneman ordered it to march to White House, and embark on the transports for the James river. On the same day all the stores, materials and transports on the Pamunkey were removed, and the post at the White House was abandoned. The Sixth regiment arrived at Harrison's landing on the 1st of July, and on the following day, joined the division. The consolidated morning report for the 6th of July shows, that of the ten thousand effective men, who entered the Peninsula, less than seven thousand reached Harrison's landing in safety, of the four general officers, but one remained; seven general staff officers, eight field offi­cers, five regimental staff officers, and eighty-one company officers were among the killed, wounded, and missing. Nearly one-third of the commissioned officers of the divi-

 

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sion were, therefore, placed hors du combat, during the seven days of battle in front of Richmond. The casualties among the privates were about in the same proportion. The battle of Waterloo, one of the severest conflicts of modern times, affords no parallel to this reduction of fighting force in the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, in its march from Mechanics­ville to Harrison's landing. Many of the officers and men, who reached the James river in safety, were soon prostrated from exhaustion, and by disease, to which their over-taxed systems became an easy prey. Large numbers were sent to the hospitals, many of whom died; of the officers, many were sent home on leave of absence to regain their strength. Some were unable to return again to their commands, but were compelled to resign their commissions. Of these some have since died, and others will, to their latest days, live in pain and misery.

Because of the large number of casualties, it was neces­sary to reorganize the division, and provide officers for brigades, regiments, and companies. Colonel Roberts of the First regiment went home on leave of absence to recover his health; in his absence Colonel Hays of the Eighth, who was the ranking officer present, commanded the First brig­ade; but on account of ill health, he was unable to discharge the duties of brigade commander, and therefore, turned over the command to Colonel McNeil of the Bucktail regiment, who, having recovered his health, rejoined his regiment at Harrison's landing. Colonel Magilton of the Fourth regi­ment commanded the Second; and Colonel Jackson of the Ninth commanded the Third brigade.

The medical department of the Reserve Corps was put to the severest test. The patients were numbered by thousands; wounded, sick, and dying men demanded all the facilities and energies of the profession. Not only was professional skill required, but a self sacrificing and patri­otic devotion to the cause of humanity was needed to sustain the exhausted energies, and urge the overworked surgeons to supernatural exertions, in their daily and nightly rounds

 

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of duty. There was no division in the army more fortunate in the selection of its medical,men, than was this corps.

The law under which the Reserve regiments were organ­ized, required that all surgeons and assistant-surgeons, "now or hereafter appointed," should be first examined by the Sur­geon-general and a "board of surgeons," not exceeding three, and that the qualifications and fitness of all surgeons, and applicants for appointment as such, should be reported to the governor in writing. A board of examiners was organized, consisting of Division Surgeon James King of Pittsburg, together with Dr. George Dock of Harrisburg, and Dr. D. Hayes Agnew of Philadelphia, and was ordered to meet in Harrisburg, on the 29th of May, and arrange the system of examinations. Permits to appear before the Board were sent to two hundred and twenty-three appli­cants, whose applications for appointment were in the hands of Governor Curtin. Out of two hundred and twenty-­three, only sixty presented themselves. Of these, five withdrew after the morning session, without completing their examination.

Out of the sixty examined, the names of eighteen were returned to the Governor as qualified for the duties of sur­geons, fifteen of whom were subsequently assigned, in the order of merit, to the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps; of the others, thirty-one were reported as qualified for the post of assistant-surgeon, fifteen of whom were also subsequently

a, siyned to the Reserve Corps, and nine were returned as

s , unqualified for either post; these latter, with the four that withdrew, making nearly twenty-five per cent. of those present who were regarded by the Board as unqualified for appointment.

During the existence of the camps of the Reserve Corps at Pittsburg, Harrisburg, Easton, and West Chester, they were frequently visited by Surgeon-General Smith, and the medical officers were carefully instructed and exercised in their camp duties. Hospitals were built and furnished with all that was requisite for the comfort and welfare of the sick

 

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soldiers. Surgeon-General Smith says in his report;  “In these arrangements, the department received much assist­ance, and many valuable contributions from the citizens of the towns of Pittsburg, Harrisburg, Easton, West Chester, and Philadelphia, and especially from the ladies in these neighborhoods, many of whom indicated a devotion and interest only equalled by that of mothers and sisters. Extra clothing, articles of sick diet and luxuries, all showed their patriotism and interest in the comfort of the troops"

At an early period, in these encampments, active steps were taken by the department to secure the troops against the small-pox. Of the Reserve Corps, nearly twelve thou­sand were vaccinated or revaccinated before the regiments left the State.

Many of these surgeons and assistant-surgeons were early promoted, and some have risen to the highest places in the medical department of the State and in the field.

In many instances the chaplains of the regiments were unceasing in their labors for the comfort of the sick and wounded; in body and spirit, they followed in the wake of the surgeons, working and praying continually, for the recovery of the afflicted. They stood like guardian angels over the bodies of the dying, receiving their last words acid messages to the dear ones at home, and spiritually encour­aging there until the soul, released from the body, would take its flight to heaven. In the Seventh regiment, the chaplain, Rev. Thomas P. Hunt, and the sutler, Dr. M. Steck, were educated physicians and experienced prac­titioners; they rendered valuable service in their profes­sional attention to the men of the regiment, and were rewarded With the gratitude and affections of the generous soldiers who suffered on the Peninsula..

On the 10th of July, Lieutenant-colonel McCandless, of the Second regiment, received his commission as colonel, to date from the 1st of November, 1861, the day on which he had been elected to the colonelcy by the regiment. The commission had been withheld, because of a doubt enter-

 

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tained by the Secretary of War, as to whether the Second regiment was entitled to a colonel. In August, 1861, when the regiment arrived at Sandy Hook, the men were required to be resworn into the service, and a dispute arose between Fitz John Porter, the mustering officer in Banks' command, and the men of the Second regiment, which resulted in the disbanding of four companies; subsequently Captain Patrick McDonough recruited company B, and returned to the regi­ment. In April, 1862, Captain John M. Clark's company of Pennsylvanians, which had been temporarily attached to the First District of Columbia regiment, was ordered to join the Second and became company F; on the 10th of July, Captain William D. Reitzel, joined the regi­ment at Harrison's lauding with company G, which had been recruited in Lancaster and Philadelphia. This addition increased the number of companies in the regiment to nine, and entitled it to a full complement of regimental officers.

Lieutenant-colonel J. W. Fisher was promoted to the colonelcy of the Fifth regiment, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Colonel Simmons.

Joseph Washington Fisher was born on the 16th of Octo­ber, 1814, in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania; was raised on a farm, and educated in the public schools of his native county. In 1840, he removed to Lancaster county and settled in the borough of Columbia. There he read law, and was admitted to practice at the Lancaster bar in 1855. When the war broke out, in 1861, Mr. Fisher enlisted as a private in a company recruited by Captain Welsh, and marched with the company to Harrisburg, under the call for seventy-five thousand troops to serve for three months; while the company was encamped at Harrisburg, the Secre­tary of the Commonwealth, Honorable Eli Slifer, advised Mr. Fisher to return home and recruit another company for the three months service. Acting on this suggestion, he procured a discharge from Captain Welsh's company and returned to Columbia, where he recruited a company called the " Cook­man Rangers." He again enlisted as a private, but upon

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the organization of the company was chosen by the men to be their captain. The company marched to Harrisburg, where it arrived on the 5th of May, but the quota of the State having in the mean time been filled, Governor Curtin could not receive it into the service. Captain Fisher immediately applied to the Legislature, which was then, sitting in extra session, and procured the passage of a joint resolution, admitting the "Cookman Rangers" into Camp Curtin. When the Fifth regiment was organized, the company was incorporated as Company K, and Captain Fisher was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy. By his gallant and meritorious conduct in the Peninsular cam­paign, be won the confidence of his men and the respect of his superior officer; upon the death of Colonel Simmons, he was promoted to the colonelcy of the Fifth regiment.

The Sixth regiment also underwent a change of com­manders, necessitated by the discharge and death of Colonel Ricketts.

William Wallace Ricketts was born in Rohrsburg, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, on the 22d day of January, 1837. After a preparatory course of study at the Wyoming Seminary, he entered West Point Academy in June, 1855, and remained there until February, 1857. Shortly after leaving West Point, he commenced the study of medicine and graduated from the Philadelphia Medical College in March, 1860. The same year Dr. Ricketts began to practice his profession at Orangeville! in his native county, with every prospect of a brilliant and successful career.

When the call was made for volunteers in 1861, he threw down the scalpel and took up the sword. He entered with great heartiness and zeal into the contest, and recruited, organized, and led from Columbia county, the " Iron Guards," one of the best drilled companies which, up to that date, had reported itself at Harrisburg. He went to Harrisburg as Captain of the "Iron Guards," and upon the organization of the Sixth Pennsylvania Reserve regiment, he was elected colonel.

 

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It was the misfortune of Colonel Ricketts never to have led his regiment in a fight. At the battle of Dranesville he was sick in his tent, and before the Reserves marched to the Peninsula he was discharged the service for physical disa­bility. He went home, and lingered until the 10th of August, 1862, where he died at his father's house at Orange­ville, in Columbia County, of hemorrhage of the lungs.

Colonel Ricketts possessed a most decided military genius; he had quick perception, and a facility in handling and commanding troops remarkable in one so young, and with no previous experience. He was a man of fine per­sonal appearance, was six feet in stature and well propor­tioned. When he entered the service he was in perfect health, and a glorious career seemed to open before him. He was, however, suddenly, taken ill, supposed to have been poisoned by eating drugged oranges, the exposure in camp, rapidly reduced him to the verge of death, and reluctantly resigning his commission, he went home to die, an early victim of the basest treachery practised by the enemies of his country.

Captain William Sinclair, commanding a battery of United States Artillery, was elected to the colonelcy of the 'Sixth regiment, in April, but did not report for duty until after the arrival of the regiment at Harrison's Landing.

The Sixth regiment was then transferred from the Third to the First brigade, and the Eighth regiment was trans­ferred from the First to the Second brigade, and Colonel Sin­clair was ordered to assume command of the First brigade. The Eleventh regiment was transferred from the Second to the Third brigade.

Early in the month of July, Colonel Harvey resigned his commission as colonel of the Seventh regiment, and his resignation having been accepted by the Secretary of War, he took leave of his troops and returned to Pennsylvania.

Elisha B. Harvey was a descendant of the Harvey and Nesbitt families of the Wyoming valley, who were con­spicuous victims in the "Wyoming Massacre." He was

 

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born in Harveyville, Luzerne county, on the 1st of October, 1819. He was raised on a farm, until he reached the age

of twenty years, when he entered school, and in 1845, gradu­ated at the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Connec­ticut. Subsequently he studied law, and having been admitted to the bar, practised his profession in Wilkesbarre.

When the Southern traitors commenced the rebellion in 1861, Mr. Harvey was invited, simultaneously, by two com­panies, to take command as captain; one company had been recruited in his native village, and the other in Wilkes­barre. Mr. Harvey immediately offered the services of both of these companies to Governor Curtin, under the first call for seventy-five thousand troops, but was informed that the quota was full, and that his companies could not be received

After the passage of the act, creating the Reserve Corps. Captain Harvey renewed his offer of service, and in reply, received orders to march with his command to Camp Wade near West Chester. Upon the organization of the Seventh regiment, he was elected and commissioned colonel, and served at the head of his regiment with honor, until broken down in health by the severity of the service in the Peninsular campaign, he resigned and was honorably discharged from the service of his country in the field.

Colonel Hays, discovering his injuries, received in the battle of New Market cross-roads, to be more serious than he had at first supposed them to be, resigned his commission at Harrison's landing, and retired from the command of the Eighth regiment; two years after the date of his resignation, he still despaired of ever again fully recovering his strength.

Lieutenant-colonel Oliphant of the Eighth regiment was taken down with a fever, and Major Bailey had been severely wounded at the battle of Gaines' mill; the regi­ment was therefore left without a field officer to command

it; Captain Lemon of. company H, being the senior officer, assumed command. Lieutenant Blake of this company soon resigned on account of disability, and company H, being


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without a commissioned officer, passed into the command of Sergeant Cue.

Colonel Conrad F. Jackson of the Ninth regiment, was promoted to a brigadier-generalship and commissioned to date from the 17th of July, and on the same day, Lieutenant­-colonel Robert Anderson was promoted to the colonelcy made vacant by the promotion of Colonel Jackson.

Colonel John H. Taggart, commanding the Twelfth regi­ment, resigned his commission on the 8th of July, 1862, and returned to private life. When the Government adopted the policy of recruiting negro regiments, Colonel Taggart was appointed principal of the "Free Military School," established in Philadelphia by philanthropic citizens, for the education of officers for the command of colored troops.

Lieutenant-colonel Hardin was promoted to fill the vacancy in the Twelfth regiment.

Martin D. Hardin, was born at Jacksonville, in the State of Illinois, on the 26th of June, 1837. He was a descendant of a martial ancestry on both his father's and mother's side. His great grandfather was General John Hardin of Ken­tucky, . who commanded a company of troops in Colonel Morgan's celebrated regiment of riflemen at the battle of Saratoga, and was present at the capture of the British army under General Burgoyne, on the 17th of October, 1777. He subsequently distinguished himself in the Indian wars, and finally fell a victim to their barbarous treachery, and was killed while negotiating a treaty of peace. The grandfather of Colonel Hardin, was General Martin D. Har­din, of Kentucky, who died in 1823. Colonel John J. Har­din, whose mother was a member of `the Logan family, celebrated in the history of the Indian wars in Kentucky, was the father of the subject of this State. He was a law­yer at Jacksonville, Illinois; entered the military service against the Indians under Black Hawk, was several times a member of the Illinois Legislature, and represented his district in the XXVIIIth Congress. When the United States declared war against Mexico, Mr. Hardin, aided by

 

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the people of his State, organized a regiment of volunteers ; lie was commissioned its colonel, and marched with his com­mand to the seat of war. At the battle of Buena Vista, on the 28d of February,1847, Colonel Hardin fell at the head of his regiment, while gallantly leading his troops in a charge. As a reward to his family, for the distinguished services rendered to his country by Colonel Hardin, the State of Illinois presented to his eldest son, Martin D. Hardin an elegant sword.

The son, so honorably connected with the military his­tory of his country, entered the Academy at West Point, as ~i cadet at large, in June, 18-5-1, and graduated with honor is 1859. On the 1st of July, of the same year, he was bre­vetted a, second lieutenant, and assigned to the Third regiment United States artillery. Lieutenant Hardin was one of the officers who accompanied the expedition of three hundred men up the Missouri river, and across the Rocky Mountains to Washington Territory. Soon after the ar­rival of the troops on the Pacific, he was placed in command of Fort Umqua, on the coast of Oregon, and in May, 1861, was promoted to a first lieutenancy, and ordered to join his regiment at San Francisco, then about to sail for New York. During the winter of 1861, while stationed near Washinton with his battery, Lieutenant Hardin made the acquaintance of the officers of the Pennsylvania Re­serves, and when a vacancy occurred in the Twelfth regi­ment, he was elected to the lieutenant-colonelcy.

The services of Lieutenant Hardin were, however, deemed to be more valuable as an artillery officer, and he was therefore retained in command of his battery, and accom­panied the army to Yorktown. A short time before the evacuation of that place by the enemy, he was taken seriously ill, and was sent to the hospital at Fortress Monroe, where, attended by Surgeon Cuyler, medical director of the post, he recovered sufficiently to be removed to the residence of his step-father, Chancellor Wadsworth, at Sara­toga Springs. As soon as he had recovered from his illness,

 

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he rejoined the army, and was placed on the staff of General Bunt, chief of artillery; in that position he participated in the battles in front of Richmond, and when the army arrived at Harrison's Landing, he joined the Reserves, and being promoted to the colonelcy, took command of the Twelfth regiment.

The arms and equipments of the regiments of the Reserve Corps, as well as those of all others, were inspected, ex­

changed, and renewed, so that the men were thoroughly armed, and properly equipped for active service. Their

clothing, which had been quite worn out, was replaced by new suits, and the veteran. heroes were clad and shod for a

renewal of campaigns, and battles, and the severest toils of war.

While the army rested at Harrison's landing, the patri­otic citizens of the North shipped vast quantities of dainties for the sick in the hospitals, and a great variety of vegeta­bles for the soldiers in camp. The "Ladies' Aid Society'' of Philadelphia, an association organized by the Christian ladies of that city in April, 1861, was the first to arrive with supplies of jellies, fruits, vegetable, bandages, and medicines on the James river. The agent of this society, Mrs. Dr. John Harris, a noble woman, worthy of the highest praise, moved among the troops, in hospitals and in camp, as one possessed of divine virtue, so that even to touch the hem of her garment, seemed to revive the dying soldier. In one day, as she stood on the large army wagons, she distributed sixty barrels of onions to the patriotic soldiers, who thronged around her, with outstretched hands, uplifted caps, and empty haversacks, to receive the precious gift. The hardest heart melted at the scene, and many manly cheeks were wet with tears. The weary and battle-scarred soldiers thought of their homes in the North, and as they turned away, whispered prayers of gratitude, and invoked heaven's blessings on their benefactress.

The "Patriot Daughters" of Lancaster forwarded a large number of boxes and barrels, in charge of Prof. John B.

 

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Kevinski, who proceeded with .his stores to Harrison's landing, and distributed them to the companies in tile Reserve regiments. An officer acknowledging the receipt of the supplies, says: " Could the ‘Patriot Daughters' of Lan­caster have but seen the countenances, and heard the grate­ful expressions, which fell from the lips of the survivors of the bloody conflicts before Richmond, they would have been in some measure repaid for their generous offering."

The Sanitary Commission and Relief Societies from all the States, sent their agents to the army with supplies for the soldiers, and Government transports, laden with these liberal donations from a generous public, were daily arriv-

ing at the camp of the army, on the James.

On the 8th of August the officers and privates, who had been captured in front of Richmond, were escllallged and

returned to the artily. General McCall gild General Rey­nolds, Colonel Gallagher, and all the officers and privates

of the Eleventh regiment, and the other prisoners captured from the Reserve Corps, rejoined their commands. When it became known among the regiments, that Generals McCall and Reynolds had arrived at the landing, the troops imme-

diately assembled at the head-quarters of the division to receive their beloved commanders. General McCall briefly addressed the men, thanking them for the hearty reception they had given him, and expressed the hope, that he would soon be able again to lead them to battle and to victory. The officers and men crowded around their general, and many took him by the hand to welcome hire back to the command of the division.

The severity of the Peninsula campaign, and the close confinement in the rebel prison lead so seriously impaired General McCall's health, that he was compelled to procure the medical care which his condition required, and to seek temporary relief from the exposure of camp life. With the approval of the Secretary of War, he therefore repaired to his home in Chester county. Soon after he arrived in Penn­sylvania, his friends presented him with a sword, in testi-

 

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mony of their appreciation of the distinguished services he had rendered, as commander of the Reserve Corps. Hon. John Hickman, who presented the testimonial in the name of the citizens of Chester county, in the presence of a vast assemblage in West Chester, addressed General McCall as follows:

 

General:---Your neighbors and friends, who have known you long and well, bid me, in their names, declare the high gratification they experience upon your safe return to their midst. Your worth as a citi­zen and your services as a soldier, they recognize and appreciate. It was no morbid ambition or selfish design that led you from the peaceful and plentiful home to the discomfort of the camp and dangers of the field. It was enough for you to be assured that our hallowed Union was imperilled; that the cause of humanity was at stake; that liberty required the aid of her votaries. You became a volunteer to serve and suffer; not tardily, but with alacrity ; not doubtingly, but with a holy faith.

The love which many a father and mother, now present, entertain for you, you will not believe, for you do not sufficiently value the favors you have rendered them. Their sons and kinsmen were intrusted to your guardian care ; you have led them nobly, and stories of your kind­ness and magnanimity have often reached their ears, and their hearts Lave gone out towards you as their lips quivered with your name. You have been a father to the fatherless; a sympathizer with the distressed ; faithful to the faithful ; a devotee of country ; therefore, they wait upon you, and demand that I shall attempt to express what they so deeply feel. Traitors would have us believe that you have jeoparded your life for negro equality in an Abolition war. They defame you and all loyal men. It is

"Such stuff as madmen

Tongue and brain not."

You did not leave us for such an objector such a contest. You enlisted under the banner of the Sovereign of the world, which Mirabeau declared to be "Right," but which is truly God. You leave fought the fight; you have kept the faith; the fight against crime, the faith in the justice of the equality of our race.

The trials and sacrifices are for a Government ordained of Heaven, and which impious men have conspired to destroy. If our fathers are enshrined in our affections for establishing our institutions, we will hold in everlasting remembrance, and history will immortalize those heroes who, by their valor, shall preserve us a nation. The eyes of a world are resting upon you and your companions in arms. Tyrants fear your success, and the down-trodden tremble lest your fortune shall be defeat.

 

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The greatest interests are in your keeping; the wealth of toil, the honors of the student, the triumphs of genius, the temple and home of the wife, the mother, and the child.

We congratulate you upon the early deliverance from the hands of the enemies of the country ; from the grasp of those who only intent upon destruction, have set all the usages of civilized warfare at defiance, and added unspeakable barbarism to murder---

"More fierce and more inexorable far,

Than empty tigers or the roaring sea."

Bear with you our blessing, for we bless you : Citizen soldier, you have the prayers of all good men, and the Lord of hosts is on your side.

General, an additional duty has been assigned me, the discharge of which is equally pleasant. A number of the citizens of this county, from consideration of gratitude and a profound regard, desire you to accept this sword. It is their heart's offering to one of their own people ; to one who, at the head of the Pennsylvania Reserves, has demonstrated his patriotism in the face of an insolent foe, and who is still anxious to do battle for the rights of man, It is a token from us ; may it prove a defence to you.

General McCall replied:---Major Hickman: My unpremeditated return to my home and family, with a view to restoring my health during a temporary cessation of active operations by the army of the Potomac, has been doubly enhanced by the warm welcome I have met with from my friends and neighbors. I did not anticipate a public reception

nor did I, indeed, at this time desire it ; and my meeting you on this occasion is simply in compliance with the expressed wishes of my friends among you.

You have referred, sir, in the kindest terms, to my social relation in years past, with those whom you represent. For this I heartily thank you and them, and I assure you I reciprocate those kindly feel­ings most cordially.

You have also been pleased to refer in terms of commendation to my services during this war ; and you have assured me that my motives in becoming a volunteer were known to be purely disinterested. This, sir, is most true ; for I had no other incentive than a desire to do my duty in upholding the flag of the Union and battling for the maintenance of the Government under which I live. And I trust I shall always be found ready to defend and maintain the supremacy of the Constitution to the best of my ability, while health and strength permit. More, than a year has gone since the startling intelli­gence reached us of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, the tocsin which called to arms the loyal citizens of the country. At this crisis of our affairs, I was called upon by the Chief Executive of the State to organize a new corps of 15,000 men, to be styled the Pennsylvania Volunteer Reserve Corps, and by Act of Assembly, ordered for the defence of the State frontier. Although I had previously retired from

 

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the United States army, and come among you to pass my days in peace and retirement, I accepted the office with alacrity, and at once entered upon the arduous and important duties assigned. It was not long before war burst upon us, and its announcement was disaster. The Reserve Corps yeas now called into the service of the Federal Govern­ment, and I moved at the head of the column to the capital. What was my surprise and mortification, on arriving there, to learn from the General-in-Chief that it was his intention to break up and separate this fine corps, which I had so zealously labored to perfect! And this measure, in fact, was in part carried out. Notwithstanding this, my efforts to bring the regiments together again were immediately addressed to the War Department, and the most strenuous arguments I could advance were brought to bear upon the subject. At length. my exertions were crowned with success, and I had the satisfaction to reunite the regi­ments, much to their own gratification. This act I have never had cause to regret. The Corps was now converted into a division under my command. We joined the Army of the Potomac, and I am proud to say that, from that day to this, no discredit has ever fallen upon that division. On the contrary, the battle of Dranesville, Mechanicsville, Gaines' mill, and New Market cross-roads, will ever attest the valor of the Pennsylvania Reserves, and the devotion with which they have shed their blood to preserve the Union. Such laurels could not be gathered without heavy losses, and we have to lament the many gallant dead, who gloriously fell on those bloody fields. Our sympathy is also due to those whose honorable wounds speak more forcibly than words of their heroic deeds of arms. Some of these are of our dearest friends and relatives. May the God of Battles reward their virtue here and hereafter.

Permit me now, sir, to say that the presentation of this elegant sword by my valued friends and fellow-citizens of Chester county, in testi­mony of their approval of my services in command of the Pennsylvania Reserves, is an event in my military life as unexpected as it is gratifying, and words cannot but inadequately express the feelings with which I receive so strong an evidence of their confidence and esteem.

In conclusion, sir, I desire to offer you my thanks for the complimentary terms in which you have made known to me the sentiments of my friends in Chester county.

 

After having spent several weeks with his family, under constant medical treatment, General McCall became con­vinced that he would not again sufficiently recover his health, to be able to resume his position as commander of troops in active service, he therefore resigned his commis­sion, and retired to private life, and resided on his farm at Belair, near West Chester. General Reynolds, being the

 

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ranking officer in the division, relieved General Seymour  and assumed command of the Reserves; the officers and privates welcomed him with loud cheers and wild demon­strations of joy. A few days later Colonel Robert rejoined his regiment, and was placed in command of the First brigade, Seymour commanded the Second, and Jackson the Third.

The presence, in camp, of their favorite officers, so inspirited the men that they forgot their past sufferings, and thought only of coming battles and still more glorious victories.

The subject of the future operations of the Army of the Potomac was a matter of much deliberation on the part of the Government. General McClellan claimed, that the .Tames river was the true line of approach to Richmond,

and asked for fifty thousand reinforcements, in order to renew the campaign against the rebel capital. The Presi­dent of the United States visited the army on the 8th of July, but nothing was then decided upon. On the 25th of the same month, General Halleck, the General-in-chief of the Army of the United States, proceeded to Harrison's landing, accompanied by General Burnside, who had ar­rived at Fortress Monroe from North Carolina, with his victorious army. The general officers were called together, in. an informal council, and the question of withdrawing the army from the Peninsula was submitted to them. The majority of the officers expressed themselves in favor of a withdrawal. The opinion prevailed, that the men had become very much enervated and discouraged, and that it would improve the morale of the army, to prosecute a campaign on some other line.

In the meantime General Pope, who had been summoned from the army in the West, and by virtue of an order issued by President Lincoln, had, on the 26th of June, 1862 been placed in command of the three army corps, com-

manded, respectively, by Generals Fremont, Banks, and McDowell, had commenced a campaign into the enemy's country, towards Culpepper and Gordonsville. General Pope left Washington on the 9th of July, and proceeded to

 

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the front, to concentrate his troops, and organize his com­mand. The corps of Banks and Fremont were in the Shenandoah valley, near Middletown. One division of McDowell's corps was at Manassas Junction, and the other division was posted on the Rappahannock opposite Frede­ricksburg.

It was the wish of the Government, that General Pope should guard the approaches to the city of Washington, secure the valley of the Shenandoah, and at the same time, so operate in the direction of Gordonsville and Charlotts­ville, as to draw the rebel force from Richmond. The un­fortunate termination of McClellan's Peninsula campaign, and the retreat of the Army of the Potomac to Harrison's landing, so widely separated the two armies, operating against Richmond, that co-operation became impossible. The indisposition of General McClellan to renew the cam­paign a-ainst Richmond, still further embarrassed the Gov­ernment, and each day of delay at Harrison's landing rendered the situation of the armies more critical, and their movements more hazardous. The army in front of Wash­ington could not be removed to the Peninsula, without endangering the safety of the National Capital, yet it was manifest, that if the armies were not united, and sent against the enemy, both McClellan and Pope would be overwhelmed and destroyed in detail. In this crisis, it was determined to withdraw the Army of the Potomac from the Peninsula, and unite it with the Army of Virginia in front of Wash­ington. It therefore became the mission of General Pope to cover as far as possible the approaches to the National Capital, and to move against the enemy's communications with the west, so as to force him to make heavy detach­ments from his main force at Richmond, and thus to release the army at Harrison's landing, and ensure its safe with­drawal from the Peninsula. If, as it was feared, the enemy should throw his whole force in the direction of Washing­ton, General Pope was instructed to resist his advance at all hazards, and so delay and embarrass his movements, as to

 

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gain sufficient time for the transfer of the Army of the Potomac to Fredericksburg or Alexandria. The most serious apprehensions of the department at Washington were realized. As soon as the rebel authorities at Rich­mond discovered that General Pope, with an army of fifty thousand men, was advancing against Gordonsville, they detached a heavy force under their greatest field captain, General Jackson, and marched forward in hot haste to resist the advance of the National troops. On the 9th of August, General Banks encountered the enemy at Cedar Mountain, and a sanguinary battle was fought which forced the enemy, under General Jackson, to retreat across the Rapi­dan river, and to fall back to Gordonsville. On the l0th of August, General Lee, the commander-in-chief of the Confederate forces, arrived at Gordonsville, and before the 18th, the whole rebel army was concentrated in front of General Pope.

At about the same time General Burnside, who had always been prompt and vigorous in the execution of the

orders from the War Department, arrived, with the Ninth army corps, at Fredericksburg, and pushed forward with great energy, to reinforce General Pope, whose situation had now become exceedingly embarrassing.

On the 30th of July, General Halleck ordered General McClellan to remove all his sick from the Peninsula, so as to be unembarrassed in his future operations, and on the 3rd of August, he ordered him to withdraw the army at Harrison’s  landing, to Aquia creek on the Potomac. There was no enemy present to delay the embarkation, or to retard the movements of McClellan's army;  the general was fully aware of the critical situation, in which General Pope's army had been placed, by the withdrawal of the rebel forces from Richmond, yet it was not until the 15th of August, that "the advance corps and trains had fairly started " from Harrison's landing. The Pennsylvania Re­serves had again been placed in the advance, and on the 15th, at ten o'clock in the night, General McClellan tele-

 

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graphed to General Halleck that, "McCall's division, with its artillery, is now en route for Burnside." But the sick, who had been ordered to be sent to the rear on the 30th of July, had not all been removed until the morning of the 16th of August.

On the 5th of August, General McClellan had sent Gen­eral Hooker with a small force to dislodge the enemy from Malvern hill. The troops advanced by a road which led to the right of the hill, and entered the New Market road near Nelson's farm. The enemy was met and repulsed at Nel­son's, and driven back to his works on Malvern hill. General Hooker immediately ordered an advance, and after a spirited engagement of an hour, drove the energy towards Richmond on the river road, and took possession of the hill. On Wednesday night the 6th, General Lon-street arrived with a Confederate force to repel the National troops, but General McClellan had ordered Hooker to fall back to Harrison's landing, and before daylight on Thursday morn­ing, the troops had abandoned the hill, and were marching down the river. Thus ended the hideous carnival of blood and death, that has rendered the Peninsula so sadly famous in the memory of the American people.