MUSTER OUT.

 

 

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As soon as the Reserves were relieved from the firing line the separation of those who had re-enlisted from those who were about to leave for home took place. Of the body of over thirteen thousand men who had originally constituted the infantry regiments, but one hundred and twenty-four officers and two thousand and thirty-eight men remained in the Army of the Potomac.[1] The Third and Fourth regiments were in western Virginia, and the Eighth and Ninth had previously been mustered out.

The seventeen hundred and fifty-nine of the survivors of the Reserve corps who re-enlisted were organized into two regiments, the One-Hundred-and-Ninetieth and the One Hundred-and-Ninety-First Pennsylvania.

According to Fox the total enrollment from first to last in the Bucktail regiment was 1,165 men. [2]On May 31st, 1864, as far as can be ascertained, but 471 remained on the rolls; of

these 154 re-enlisted in the One-Hundred-and-Ninetieth, 69 were transferred to the same regiment to serve unexpired terms, 204 were mustered out at Harrisburg, while the remaining 44 were absent, sick in hospitals, on detached duty, etc., etc.

If we add to the losses shown in the official casualty reports, previously quoted in the present volume, the losses at

 

 

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Harrisonburg, (7 killed, 39 wounded, 7 captured or missing), Chantilly, (1 wounded), the loss of the regiment throughout its term of service is shown to be 80 killed, 438 wounded (including those mortally wounded) and 238 captured or missing (including those wounded in addition to being captured), a total of 756, to which must be further added the 92 killed, wounded and missing at New Market Cross Roads, reported by Major Stone, bringing the total killed, wounded, and captured or missing up to 848. And this total must be below the truth, as there is no record of losses suffered in many of the skirmishes in which the regiment participated. Fox places the total of the killed and mortally wounded at 162[3] and his figures, for the most part, vary but little from those to be obtained by tabulating the information given in the muster rolls in the appendix to the present volume.

Upon the completion of the organization of the One-Hundred-and-Ninetieth, Major Hartshorne was promoted to Colonel, Captain Wolfe to Major, Lieutenant Wright to Adjutant, while Lieutenant Truman, Dr. Comfort, Dr. Butler and Quartermaster-Sergeant Hunter retained their respective offices of Quartermaster, Surgeon, Assistant-Surgeon and Quartermaster-Sergeant. Captain Kinsey became Captain of Company C, and Lieutenant Lucore was promoted to First-Lieutenant of the same company; Sergeant Christnot was promoted to FirstLieutenant of Company E ; Lieutenant Blett became SecondLieutenant of Company F, and Sergeant Thompson, who was captured on May 3oth, upon his return was promoted to Captain of the same company; Lieutenant Kratzer was promoted to Captain of Company H, and Sergeant West to First-Lieutenant of the same company.[4]

 

 

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The parting between the men was an exceedingly painful one. It was inevitable that true and sincere friendships should have been born of hardships mutually endured by them, and cemented by the esteem in which they held each other. Parting for an indefinite period, even in the ordinary course of events, it was certain that some would never meet again. And to the ordinary uncertainty of human life was added the rapacious element of war. Nearly one-half were to return and resume battle.

While the men were talking Major Hartshorne seized the regimental flag, saying, "We'll use this,"' and till captured the

 

 

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flag of the Bucktails continued to lead the new regiment.

The troops had moved to the rear with bands playing and colors flying. On June 1st General Crawford issued the following farewell order:

"SOLDIERS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RESERVES:-To-day the "connection which has so long existed between us is to be severed forever.

"I have no power to express to you the feelings of gratitude and affection that I bear to you, nor the deep regret with "which I now part from you.

"As a Division you have ever been faithful and devoted "soldiers, and you have nobly sustained me in the many trying "scenes through which we have passed, with an unwavering "fidelity. The record of your service terminates gloriously, and " `the Wilderness,' `Spottsylvania Court house,' and 'Bethesda " `Church,' have added to the long list of battles and of "triumphs that have marked your career.

"Go home to the great State that sent you forth three "years ago to battle for her honor and to strike for her in the "great cause of the country, take back your soiled and war"worn banners, your thinned and shattered ranks, and let them "tell how you have performed your trust. Take back those "banners sacred from the glorious associations that surround "them, sacred with the memories of our fallen comrades who "gave their lives to defend them, and give them again into the "keeping of the State forever.

"The duties of the hour prevent me from accompanying "you, but my heart will follow you long after you return, and "it shall ever be my pride that I was once your commander,

 

 

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"and that side by side we fought and suffered through campaigns which will stand unexampled in history. Farewell.

"S. W. CRAWFORD."

Guarding some six hundred prisoners, and accompanying about one thousand wagons, the line of march was directed towards White House Landing, which was reached on the 2nd. There, on the 3rd, the Bucktails boarded the "John Brookes" and landed near Washington, at 8 A. M. on the 4th.

Stopping over night at the "Soldier's Rest," the troops were placed on railroad cars on the morning of the 5th, a stop being made at Baltimore. On the morning of the 6th, they reached Harrisburg.

Returning to the city from which they had set out, the Reserves were received with the enthusiasm which, because of their record, was their due.

"Market Street, from the river bank to the depot, on both "sides, was one dense mass of men, women and children. We "never before witnessed so large a gathering of our people. "All who could get out were on the sidewalks. .The old man "of three score and ten jostled the youth of scarce one score"the maiden in her blushing beauty and with beaming eyes, "ready to welcome the heroes with her sweetest smiles, stood "by the anxious and wondering matron, solicitous, as mothers "only can be, as to whether `the dear boys' were not glad with "their return home, and with eyes overflowing with tears when "the thought called forth the inquiry as to how many mothers "all over the State, would weep in vain for the return of their "sons who marched forth to battle with the Reserves. This "thronging crowd waited patiently until the court-house bell "rang the signal, and at half-past eleven the train which car"ried the Reserves approached the city; while it was on the "bridge that spans the Susquehannah another great crowd as-

 

 

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"sembled at the foot of Mulberry street, and as the train left "the bridge at that locality the enthusiasm of the people broke"forth in the wildest and most tumultuous cheering. Such a "scene we never before witnessed. For a moment it was feared"that hundreds would be mangled beneath the wheels of the"cars. The rush all along Mulberry street was tremendous,"and as the train passed over that portion of the road and

"reached the depot, the crowd increased until the avenue was"filled with an excited, enthusiastic, and even tumultuous mass

"of human beings. While all this was going on as the train passed to the depot, the bells of the city were ringing, and "from every street, avenue and alley crowds of people hurried "to the depot.

"As soon as the train stopped, the troops began with great"order to disembark. But there was no time offered for the display of much discipline; and the men were at once conveyed to "the `Soldiers' Retreat,' where a substantial collation awaited"them. Before and after the men had finished their collation,"warm greetings took place between old friends and companions in arms. These were eloquent and impressive. We saw "strong men grasping each other's hands while big tears glistened on their brown cheeks-we noticed other salutations, "full of that rough sincerity which distinguishes the true sol"dier-while others again were perfectly uncontrollable, literally wild with joy at finding themselves once more among their"friends."[5]

Chief Marshal William H. Kepner formed a column including the Mayor, the councilmen, the civic societies, the First New York artillery and soldiers of 1812. As the Reserves advanced, Governor Curtin, who, accompanied by his staff, awaited them, bowed a welcome to the survivors of the organi

 

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zation which owed its existence to his foresight and ability. Recognizing him instantly, the troops returned his salutation with shouts and cheers, in which the people joined, while to add to the tumult a battery fired a salute of one hundred guns.

Mayor Roumfort addressed the Reserves as follows

"HAIL, BRAVE SOLDIERS OF PENNSYLVANIA:-In the name "of the city of Harrisburg I greet you with a hearty welcome to "the Capital of the State. During the three years of your absence I have heard the most glowing accounts of your conduct "as soldiers, and discipline as men.

"Three years ago you marched from the State Capital "about twenty thousand strong. You now return with your "ranks decimated to about two thousand men. We have heard "the glorious accounts of your victories, which have resounded "through the State from the Alleghanies to the Delaware.

"It was the intention of the citizens of Harrisburg to give "you a dinner on this very spot to-day, but you have taken us "by surprise. You have completely outflanked us. We had "no time to perfect our arrangements, and it is now proposed "that on Wednesday next, at 2 P. M., we will give you a dinner. "We will make it at a time when you will enjoy a good meal. "We will take you to our own firesides, to mingle with our own "families, where you will once more realize the full pleasures "of your own firesides, under your own vine and fig tree."

"After the address of Mayor Roumfort, Governor Curtin "appeared on the steps of the Capitol, and then ensued a scene ``of enthusiasm scarce equalled in the history of the old State"House itself. After quiet was partially restored, the Governor "proceeded to address the vast multitude. The cheers were so "vehement during the delivery of the address, that frequently "the voice of the speaker could scarcely be heard. He said

"I thank you, Mr. Mayor, and the people of this city, for

 

 

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"this most hearty welcome. The hearts of the people are indeed "stirred; the presence of this shattered remnant of a once "mighty corps speaks, if I may be pardoned the expression, a "volume in an instant; and I am utterly at a loss to find language to express to you the sentiments and feelings of the "people of Pennsylvania towards you; it may be, however, "compressed into this brief sentence: `You have done your " `whole duty to your country.'

"Three years ago you left the State a mighty army, and

"hastened to the then endangered and beleaguered Capital of "your country, and nearly that length of time has passed since "at that Capital, while you were nobly guarding the citadel of "a nation's honor, and the metropolis of a nation of freemen, I "had the honor to commit to your care these standards, which, "tattered and torn, but covered with the evidences of lofty "service, you return in honor to the State to-day. You have "never visited the State since then save once. Once you came "back to Pennsylvania, and then we all heard of `Round-top,' at "Gettysburg. When the rest gave way, we heard your shouts "around the strongholds of the foe in that devoted country, and "to you-to the Reserves of Pennsylvania-belongs the honor "of changing the tide of battle there.

"I cannot speak of your deeds, they have passed into history, and I have not time to enumerate the battles you have "been in. History, I repeat, has recorded all you have done "for your country. To-day I feel proud of my office, for here, "speaking for the whole people of Pennsylvania, and in their "name I declare their belief THAT THE RECORD of THE PENNSYLVANIA RESERVES IS WITHOUT SPOT OR BLEMISH. I this "day thank God that we, at the right moment, armed the Reserves.

"Of the heroic dead I am not qualified to speak; you have

 

 

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"left them on the battle-fields of the Republic, and upon their "graves centres the gratitude of a grateful people. I say I "cannot speak of them;-I am not equal to it; the field of the "dead `rushes red on my sight,' and language fails me. But I "can welcome you to your homes, from the North to the South, "from the East to the West, the voice of the old Common

wealth bids you welcome, and the people refer with pride and "pleasure to the part this great State has borne in this contest, "from Dranesville down to Bethesda Church, where you struck "your heaviest blows.

"May you all find a happy welcome to your homes ! May "you ever be marked as brave men who served their country "faithfully in times of great peril. May you never regret that "you belonged to the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, fighting on "every battle-field of the Republic.

"With this welcome, I bid you farewell; I had something "to do with making the Reserve Corps-God be blessed!

"I am not ashamed to boast in this multitudinous assemblage of sunburnt, bronzed faces, that I have stood by the "Reserve Corps in all their history. I bid you welcome freely."[6]

The Bucktails went into camp at Camp Curtin to await their muster-out. Some little conflict of authority occurred. At first the officers at the camp demanded that the regiment should be subject to all rules of the camp, including detail. Captain McDonald, considering that the Bucktails had performed their fair share of guard and similar duty, promptly notified the camp authorities that he declined to permit his regiment to be treated in the manner suggested, adding that the Bucktails, as they were only waiting for their formal dis

 

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charge, would enter or leave camp according to each man's individual desire. He was informed that if that was the case they would receive no rations. The Bucktail Captain, not the least disconcerted, laconically remarked that he understood that most of the men had their rifles with them; that when upon previous occasions they had been unable to obtain rations, it was his impression that none of them had starved, and that in the present circumstances he "guessed they'd get along all "right."

In the face of the Bucktail reputation the matter was immediately and permanently dropped. The men came and went as they pleased, while every care was taken to see that their rations were delivered promptly.[7]

On June 13th the Bucktails were formally mustered out of the United States service,[8] despite the fact that they had never been mustered in. On the other hand, they were permitted to depart without being mustered out of the State service, into which they indisputably had been mustered out.[9] On the 15th they received their discharges and were paid off.

In squads and parties the men returned to their homes, cities and towns; and these cities and towns strove to show their appreciation of the services rendered to the country by their returning citizens or townsmen, by public meetings and formal observances.

Gradually the war-worn veterans settled down and re

 

 

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sumed the occupations which they had left at the call of their country; though they watched eagerly the concluding acts of the drama, which under the guidance of the Commander, under whom they had last fought, speedily moved to an end.

The next spring, on April 9th, from one end of the continent to the other, the news was flashed that General Grant, at the head of the Army of the Potomac, had received the surrender of General Lee.

Great was the thankfulness that welled up in the hearts of each, that the cause for which they had battled had triumphed; and great was their pride that the army under whose banners they had fought had in the end achieved the victory to which, though long delayed, they had ever looked forward with confidence.