THE PENNSYLVANIA INVASION.

 

I.

 

 

IN CAMP NEAR WASHINGTON.

 

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When the Bucktails, with the other regiments constituting the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, were ordered to the defences of Washington, it was supposed that their duties would be lighter and their life easier than it would be, should they remain in camp near Fredericksburg. This was hardly the case, excepting insofar as they, owing to their absence, failed to participate in the battle of Chancellorsville ; for in addition to shifting their camp on several occasions, the enemy's skirmish­ers and guerrilla forces were almost daily and nightly in contact with the guard, thus making picket duty unusually frequent and severe. In fact, upon the 14th, there was almost a mutiny in the brigade on account of some of the men having been assigned to picket duty for seven successive days. The winter, too, was remarkably severe, snow alternating with heavy rain making things generally uncomfortable. Even as late as March 31st, eighteen inches of snow were recorded; nor was this the last fall, as on April 5th, another heavy snow storm obstructed the camp.

Yet at the same time, owing to the proximity of the camp to the capital, and to the comparative ease with which passes could be obtained, the change was beneficial to the men. Even when most dangerously threatened, Washington showed but little signs of war. That is, the theatres continued to be well

 

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patronized, the drives to be crowded with handsome equipages, and social functions to be well attended. Indeed it is doubtful whether the war did not actually increase the gaiety of the city, by adding to its population.[1]

The Bucktails were not behind other troops in endeavoring to avail themselves of the good things offered. Arriving at Alexandria on the morning of the 7th, that evening found some of them at the circus. Their camp was pitched about one mile from Alexandria, and here, on the 9th, the regiment was in­spected. Marching to the railroad on the 12th, they boarded the cars and were carried to Fairfax Station, where they imme­diately proceeded to fit up their quarters. The enemy being active, men from each company in the regiment were sent out scouting on the 15th. From then, to the 23rd, it rained or snowed every day, and considerable uneasiness was occasioned by the outbreak of small-pox. Fortunately the cases were few and the disease did not spread, though on March 6th, it caused the death of Austin Irvin, of Company K. The citi­zens of the village of Fairfax were, almost to a man, secession­ists, but being within the Union lines, they were fairly hospit­able and civil. Still on a few occasions, when the questions of the day were inadvertently broached, the men discovered that familiarity with the vocabulary of swearing, was not a posses­sion peculiar to the army.

On the night of the 8th of March, the camp was thrown into a turmoil. About 2.30 A. m., Mosby, with twenty-nine of his men, rode into the town, roughly awakened Brigadier­General Edwin H. Stoughton, and carried him off. With him, the raiders took two Captains, thirty other prisoners with their

 

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arms and equipments, and fifty-eight horses.[2] In a measure, to guard against a repetition of such a humiliating experience, the Bucktails were ordered to move their camp closer to the village, a precaution which resulted favorably, for during the time of their presence, Mosby's Rangers did not again penetrate the Union line in that vicinity. Efforts had been made fre­quently to capture this audacious raider, though without avail. Therefore it was time that ordinary measures should be aban­doned and strategy brought into play. Early on the 9th, four men from each of the companies were told off, divided into four squads, and placed in four army wagons. So well kept was the secret of the service required of the detail, that the other regi­ments, believing that the Bucktails were being sent to Harris­burg to rest and recruit, while they were still retained on duty, jeered at them. The scheme concocted was a simple one. The expedition, far from having warlike designs, was a simple for­aging one. The Bucktails were to conceal themselves in the covered wagons, escorted by a plainly insufficient detachment of cavalry.[3] Surely Mosby's men would snap at the bait; the escort was very small, and four wagons would make a nice addition to the loot already collected.

Proceeding down the pike, under the guidance of a Union­ist, called "Yankee" Davidson, everything went peacefully, the party putting up for the night in a barn. Hardly, however, was the expedition under way the next morning, when the cavalry in the advance ran into some of Mosby's men and immediately retreated upon the wagons. The Bucktails, lying in their place

 

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of concealment, heard the cavalry come racing back, and natur­ally inferred that the guerrillas were in full pursuit. Leaping to their feet, they threw back the curtains of the wagons and blazed away. Instantly the Confederates realized the trap set for them, and not being too near to prevent such action, wheeled and made good their escape. The hook having been seen, it was not to be expected that the prey would bite a sec­ond time; so the wagons were reluctantly headed for Fairfax and the return commenced. Though the men were deprived of the company of Mosby or his men, they were accompanied by numerous chickens, ducks and various other delicacies that had been confiscated; nor should it be believed that all such booty was turned over to the Commissary Department, unless by the Commissary Department is understood, hollows scooped in the earth beneath sundry mattresses in various tents.[4]

The Union troops being engaged in digging and throwing up rifle pits, the Bucktails had to do their share of this work. Regimental inspections became more frequent, squads were fre­quently detailed for scouting, and a hundred and one other duties fell to their lot[5] Some of them also got into trouble over an unauthorized flag raising and suffered through the ire of General St. Clair.

Their pay was distributed pretty regularly, and accounts

 

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were generally settled at such times. Many of the men were careful and sent home the bulk of their money; in fact some of them seem to have bought not only teams, but farms, while in the army, though such purchases cannot have been made entirely through their pay; others were perpetually in debt. There were many in the regiment who made no charge for loans, but others increased their earnings through such means. Curiously enough, instead of a percentage being charged, as far as can be seen by existing .records, fifty cents was the charge made, irrespective of whether the advance was two or five dollars. It is plain at any rate that subsequent to pay-day, fresh meat was plentiful in the camp and that "shy" players at poker were rare.

Occasionally the men received papers and novels; but the conduct and progress of the war proved to be the chief theme of interest. The reports of the battle of Chancellorsville, fought during the early days of May, were a great disappointment to the camp,[6] and shook the belief not only of the army but of the country in the ability of General Hooker.

On the 15th of May the One-Hundred-and-Forty-Ninth Pennsylvania presented the regiment with a magnificent flag to replace the one lost in the Chickahominy swamp. This was an exceedingly graceful action and much appreciated. It will be remembered that Major Stone and Captain Wister had left the regiment to recruit others, while at Harrison's Land­ing; Major Stone had been elected Colonel of the One-Hun­dred-and-Forty-Ninth Pennsylvania, and Captain Wister Col­onel of the One-Hundred-and-Fiftieth Pennsylvania; and both

 

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these regiments had received authority to wear bucktails. Hence there was a fitness in the new Bucktails giving a flag to the old; nor had the unfortunate feeling in regard to the insignia crys­talized at that time.

While at Fairfax the regiment was reorganized. The State Legislature passed a bill, approved February 27, 1863, author­izing the Governor to issue commissions to fill the vacancies in the several regiments of the Pennsylvania Reserve Volun­teer Corps, in the same manner as similar vacancies were filled in other Pennsylvania volunteer regiments: providing that such appointments were made from members of the Corps. Gover­nor Curtin acted promptly, and the chief commissions issued were as follows:[7]

FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS: Charles Frederick Taylor, Captain of Company H, was promoted to Colonel; Edward A. Irvin, Captain of Company K, was promoted to Lieutenant­-Colonel, and Alanson E. Niles, Captain of Company E, was promoted to Major. Captain Irvin's wounds made it impossi­ble for him to be mustered and he was forced to ask for his discharge, an act the necessity for which was deplored, not only by his brother officers, but by the men also.[8] Major Niles was then promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, Adjutant Harts­horne was promoted to Major and Sergeant-Major Roger Sher-

 

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man promoted to Adjutant.[9] Dr. Freeman had resigned in October, 1862, and Dr. Jonathan A. Comfort was appointed Surgeon in his place.

Of the Assistant-Surgeons, Dr. W. T. Humphreys had been promoted to Surgeon of the One-Hundred-and-Forty-Ninth Pennsylvania.[10] Dr. W. B. Jones had resigned November 1st, 1862, and Dr. Daniel O. Crouch resigned June l0th, 1863,[11] so that the medical staff now consisted of Dr. Comfort only.

 

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Chaplain W. H. D. Hatton, who in addition to his spiritual duties had always been willing to carry ammunition, tend the sick, or to do anything else within his abilities, had resigned on account of impaired health, and this position remained vacant. Quartermaster Henry D. Patton was promoted to Captain and Acting Quartermaster, United States Volunteers, and Lucius Truman, First-Lieutenant Company E, was ap­pointed Quartermaster.[12]

COMPANY OFFICERS

COMPANY A.-John A. Harrower,[13] First-Lieutenant, was

 

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promoted to Captain, vice Philip Holland, who was killed at New Market Cross Roads. First-Lieutenant Neri B. Kinsey, being appointed Captain of Company C, First-Sergeant Edward B. Leonard was appointed First-Lieutenant in his place, and Private Daniel Orcutt was promoted to Second-Lieutenant.

COMPANY B.-Thomas B. Lewis,[14] was promoted to Cap­tain, vice Captain Wister, who had been promoted to Colonel of the One-Hundred-and-Forty-Ninth Pennsylvania Volun­teers. Sergeant Philip E. Keiser was promoted to First-Lieu­tenant and Sergeant Joel R. Sparr to Second-Lieutenant.

COMPANY C.-Neri B. Kinsey,[15] formerly First-Lieutenant,

 

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Company A, was promoted to Captain, vice Captain Gifford, who resigned on account of wounds received during the Val­ley campaign. First-Sergeant J. Wood Craven was promoted to First-Lieutenant, and Moses W. Lucore to Second-Lieuten­ant.

COMPANY D.-First-Lieutenant D. G. McNaughton was promoted to Captain, vice John T. A. Jewett, resigned; Second ­Lieutenant Ribero D. Hall to First-Lieutenant and Sergeant Robert Hall to Second-Lieutenant.

COMPANY E.--Second-Lieutenant Samuel A. Mack was promoted to Captain, vice Captain Alanson F. Niles, promoted to Major. Sergeant George A. Ludlow was promoted to First­Lieutenant and Sergeant William Taylor to Second-Lieutenant.[16]

COMPANY F.-Second-Lieutenant John A. Wolfe,[17] Com-

 

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pany G, was promoted to Captain, vice Captain Dennis McGee, discharged. Second-Lieutenant Ernest Wright[18] was promoted to First-Lieutenant and Sergeant Daniel Blett, of Company K, to Second-Lieutenant.

COMPANY G.-Sergeant John L. Luther was promoted to Seoond-Lieutenant.

COMPANY H.-First-Lieutenant John D. Yerkes[19] was pro­moted to Captain, vice Captain Taylor, promoted to Colonel. Sergeant Thomas J. Roney was promoted to First-Lieutenant, and Sergeant Robert Maxwell to Second-Lieutenant.

COMPANY I.-First-Lieutenant Frank J. Bell[20] was pro-

 

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moted to Captain, vice Captain Blanchard, who resigned on account of wounds. Second-Lieutenant R. Fenton Ward was promoted to First-Lieutenant and Sergeant Richard A. Rice to Second-Lieutenant.

COMPANY K.-Second-Lieutenant James M. Welch[21] was promoted to Captain, vice Captain Irvin, discharged on account of wounds. Sergeant John P. Bard was promoted to First­Lieutenant, and Sergeant John E. Kratzer to Second-Lieuten­ant.

The effort made to recruit the numerical strength of the regiment had little effect. Lieutenant Winslow, of Company B, and Quartermaster Truman, who were sent home with that object in view, accomplished practically nothing. A certain number returned from the hospitals, but to offset them, others were discharged. Still, if the ranks were depleted, the men

 

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were happy in being again intelligently and completely officered. and when the time came to take the field once more, in the latter part of June, they moved forward full of enthusiasm, confident of their ability to do that which should be required of them.


[1] 'Colonel Thomas Chamberlain in his "History of the isoth Penn­sylvania" mentions several of the attractions that were most patronized by soldiers. (Revised edition, chapter VIL, p. 54-59.)

 

[2] 'Probably the best account of this raid is that written by Colonel Mosby himself, published in the "Bedford Magazine" in 1892, and re­printed in "Mosby's Rangers" by Jas. J. Williamson, p. 34-36. The capture ruined General Stoughton, who had only been nominated Briga­dier-General and who on account of the resultant ridicule was forced to abandon military life.

 

[3] 'From the First Rhode Island.

[4] 'Colonel Mosby in his "Mosby's War Reminiscences," p. 46, refers sarcastically to this expedition, and compares it to the Wooden Horse of Ulysses. He is, .however, in error when he states that while the wagons were away he had gone by another route to Fairfax and never saw them; for he did not appear at Fairfax again on the 9th, or on the loth, and the expedition was in contact with his men on the latter date. The Orderly-Sergeant of Company F was one of the detail; hence he is in position to speak from personal knowledge.

 

[5] "Digging graves for dead horses"; "cutting wood"; "drawing "rations," and "target shooting" for a prize of 5o cents, offered by Colonel Taylor, are the most prominent of the entries in the diaries about this time.

 

[6] 'Fought May 3-4, 1863, under the direction of General Hooker. Commencing brilliantly, the tactical advantages gained were not fol­lowed up, and the battle ended in a virtual defeat for the Union forces. The losses were announced as: Union, 17,197; Confederate, 13,019, but the Confederate figures are probably not accurate.

 

[7] 'The actual dates are shown in the muster rolls. A few, as there shown, were made prior to the passage of the act. It has not been deemed necessary to insert in this place the minor promotions, nor intermediate appointments, i. e., appointments such as one to a Second­Lieutenancy, followed immediately by promotion to a First-Lieu­tenancy.

[8] He did not permit his withdrawal to affect his interest in the regiment. Both during the continuation of its militant existence, and since its muster out, Colonel Irvin has been active and prominent is all its affairs.

 

[9] 'Roger Sherman was a son of Conger Sherman, the head of the well-known printing house, and was born in i84o. After finishing his education he entered his father's house, serving both as compositor and printer.

After enlisting in the Bucktail regiment he was elected Sergeant­Major, and on May 23, 1863, promoted to Adjutant. He resigned on March 16, 1864, and Major Hartshorne in command of the regiment in accepting his resignation (Reg't orders i9) bore witness to his faith­ful and zealous service, and to his regret at parting with such an officer.

During the war he kept a diary and wrote a history of the reg­iment which he presented to Justin R Sypher, for use in connection with the preparation of the "History of the Pennsylvania Reserve Vol­unteer Corps." Mr. Sypher, on page 442 of that book, acknowledges his indebtedness to the information contained in the manuscript. Un­fortunately, a search made for the manuscript has proved unavailing.

Subsequently-to the war Adjutant Sherman returned to his father's printery, and in 1867 or 1869 succeeded him as the head of the estab­lishment. He became the owner and publisher of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, American reprint, Ninth Edition, from May 1, 1883, and car­ried its publication and sale with his business, until his death, which occurred August 25, 1886.

 

[10] Dr. Humphreys was one of the first of the Bucktails. While with the 149th Pennsylvania at Chancellorsvillp, he was promoted to brigade-surgeon. At Gettysburg his hospital vas captured by the Con­federates, but the Doctor was released the day following the battle. In x865-x866 and 1874-1876 he served in the Pen`sylvania House of Rep­resentatives. His death occurred in 1897.

 

[11] It will be remembered that Dr. Crouch was wounded while pre­paring to operate upon Private Jackson at Fredericksburg. Besides his professional skill, his sympathy with and kindness to his patients had made him universally beloved. The announcement of his resignation was received with deep regret.

 

[12] Lucius Truman was born April 18, 1818, at Oswego, N. Y. His father, Asa Truman, was engaged in the lumber and general merchan­dise business, and after graduating from the Oswego Academy, Lucius Truman was associated with him. In i84o he married Miss Mary P. Leach, and entered into a business partnership with William A. Stone. Shortly after he removed to the Pennsylvania lumber regions, where he engaged in business with John R Bowen till 1857, when, owing to a financial panic, the firm was dissolved. Moving to Philadelphia, he remained there till the outbreak of the war, assisted in raising volun­teers and was elected 1st-Lieutenant of Company E, of the Bucktails. On March 1, 1863, he was promoted to Quartermaster, and when his term of service expired re-enlisted in the 19oth, continuing as Quarter­master till mustered out, June 28, 1865.

Subsequently to the war he again went into business with Mr. Bowen, but in 1883 was appointed Deputy Collector of Internal Rev­enue. In 1887 he was elected County Auditor, and for some years was Crier of the Courts. His death occurred at Wellsboro, May 23, 1890.

[13] John G. Harrower was born on December 1o, 1838 at Lindley, Steuben County, N. Y. He attended the public schools there, and at Lawrenceville, Pa., also taking a commercial course at Buffalo, N. Y.

Upon the outbreak of the war he enlisted in the company recruited by Philip Holland, which became Company A, of the Bucktails, and was elected 1st-Lieutenant. After the death of Captain Holland at New Market Cross Roads, he commanded the company at Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg. He was com­missioned Captain, March 1, 1863, but resigned on June 22, 1863, to become Adjutant of the 161st New York, of which regiment his uncle, Gabriel T. Harrower, was Colonel. He remained with this regiment till September, 1865.

Subsequently to the war he married, engaged in the lumber business with Cameron and Hamilton, at Flint, Michigan, and later in Wiscon­sin. While on a visit east in July, 1899, he was taken ill and died at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, at Bath. N. Y., on July 24, 1889.

 

[14] 'Thomas B. Lewis was born in Duncannon, Pa., July 25, 1837., Educated in the public schools, he also learned the trades of blacksmith and nailer, acquiring great efficiency in each. He was one of the first to enroll himself as a member of the "Morgan Rifles," which, under the Captaincy of Langhorne Wister, became Company B, of the regi­ment. Appointed 1st-Sergeant, it was not long before he was advanced in rank, for, on December 12, 1861, he was commissioned 2nd-Lieu­tenant. Taken prisoner at Gaines' Mill, he was paroled and subse­quently exchanged. He remained with the regiment till its term of service expired, when in civil life he became connected with the Penn­sylvania Railroad. True to his early training, his love of hunting and fishing obtained for him a wide reputation. Bates gives the date of his commission as Captain as September 16, 1862. With the condition resulting from conflicting laws and or­ders, it is probable that he did not receive his official commission until after the passage of the act of February 27, 1863.

 

[15] Neri B. Kinsey was born in Watertown, Jefferson County, N. Y., January 29, 1836, but his father moving to Lawrenceville, Tioga County, Pa., he was educated in the district schools, and later at the Academy, at that place. Previous to the outbreak of the ware read law under the late Kasson Parkhurst, of Lawrenceville. Enlisting under Captain Holland, as a private in the "Anderson Life Guards," he was pro­moted to 2nd-Sergeant. When this organization became Company A, he was elected and commissioned 2nd-Lieutenant. He was promoted to 1st-Lieutenant June 30, 1862, assigned to Quartermaster's Department December 1, 1862, to act as Regimental Quartermaster, and then promoted to Captain, Company C, March 1, 1863. Re-enlisting in the 190th, he retained his rank, being commissioned Captain of Company C of that regiment, was brevetted Major October 1, 1864, for "gallant "services at Chapel House, Va.," commissioned Major by brevet of U. S. Volunteers to rank from March 13, 1865, for "gallant conduct at Gettys­burg," and discharged March 11, 1865. Wounded slightly at Gettysburg, he suffered more severely at Spottsylvania, a Minnie ball passing through both thighs, hitting the bone in each case. At Chapel House, Va., both feet were injured by a shell, partially crippling him. Subsequently to the war, Major Kinsey engaged in mercantile business, and in i89i was appointed Post-Master of Saginaw, Mich. In 189o the Major went to the State of Washington and secured i6o acres of land from the Gov­ernment, partially by occupation and partly through credit obtained by war record. His pension reads, "Totally incapacitated for any manual "labor whatever."

 

[16] 'Bates gives dates of commission as September io, 1862. The dis­pute between State and military authorities again is the cause of the probable inaccuracy.

 

[17] 'John A. Wolfe was born March, i84o, and was educated at Boals­burg, Pa. He enlisted as a private under General Kane, when the latter was recruiting his companies in the lumber districts of Penn­sylvania. He was made Sergeant of Company G, and promoted to

2nd-Lieutenant on April 23, 1862. Upon the discharge of Captain Mc Gee, of Company F, Wolfe was promoted to Captain of that company -1st-Lieutenant May 2, 1863-Captain May 4, 1863. When the reg­iment was mustered out he re-enlisted in the 190th, being promoted to Major. He was wounded at Petersburg June 17, 1864, and mustered out with his regiment June 28, 1865.

Subsequently to the war he engaged in mercantile business at Snow Shoe, Pa., Philipsburg, Pa., and Patton, Pa. After he had resided at the latter place for four years, being troubled with his heart he re­moved to Mt. Lake Park, Md., where he died on May 2, x899. He was a Free Mason, and in 1897 was president of the Regimental Association of the Bucktails.

 

 

[18] Bates gives date of commission as 2nd-Lieutenant as September 14, 1862.

 

[19] 'John Dull Yerkes was born October 28 1833, at New Garden,Chester County, Pa. Educated at Marietta, Pa., after attaining man­hood he engaged in farming, but upon the outbreak of Ithe war speedilyenrolled himself in the company recruited by Captain Taylor. Originally

Orderly-Sergeant, he was elected 1st-Lieutenant in 1861. During the absence of Captain Taylor, he commanded Company H, and upon the

latter's return and subsequent elevation to the Colonelcy, succeeded him as Captain, being wounded in the first battle after his promotion­

Gettysburg. Discharged July ii, 1864, he was brevetted Major, March 13, 1865. Subsequently to the war for seventeen years he was superin­

tendent of Franklin Square, Philadelphia, dying in that city March 16,1895.

 

[20] 'Frank J. Bell was born in Ceres, Allegheny County, N. Y., April 14, 1836. He was a member of the "McKean Rifles," and when that organization became Company I of the regiment, he was elected 1st- Lieutenant. At Antietam he was wounded in the right breast, and be­came Captain, March i, x863. Losing a leg at Gettysburg, he was dis­charged on October i9, 1863. He was brevetted Major, and served in the Veteran Reserve Corps, being mustered out June 30, 1866. Subse­quently he studied law, being admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court in the District of Columbia, October 26, 1869. His death occurred at Washington on April 1, 1894.

 

 

[21] 'James Miles Welch was born February 14th, 1836, near Curwens­ville, Pa. Like many of the officers of the regiment, his boyhood was spent in the farming and lumber districts of the State. A true son of the soil he attended the common schools of Pike and Lawrence townships, Clearfield County. He assisted Captain Irvin and Adjutant Hartshorne to recruit Company K. As 2nd-Lieutenant, though in reality filling the position of 1st-Lieutenant, he was captured at Mechanicsville. After Captain Irvin was wounded at South Mountain he commanded his company till he was wounded at Antietam, a ball passing through his breast and left lung, totally destroying the latter. Though promoted to Captain on March 2i, 1863, he was compelled through physical dis­ability to accept a transfer to the 2oth regiment, Veteran Reserve corps on June 28, 1863. Since his return to civil life, Captain Welch has returned to his previous occupation of farming, residing. at the present time in Republic City, Kansas.