CHAPTER XXV

 

RAPPAHANNOCK STATION • THE SWORD BANQUET • MILITARY EXECUTION • MARCH TO CULPEPER COURT HOUSE

 

IN our camp at the Station, wells and sinks were dug, bough arbors erected, clothing and an abundance of rations issued, our sutler's tent kept well supplied, mail facilities afforded, and the "Philadelphia Inquirer," the soldier's paper, received the day it was published. The usual routine of camp, guard mounting, drills and dress parades, were established, and the discipline which is so apt to become relaxed during an active campaign was reestablished.

While here the boys who were always fond of bathing had ample opportunity of enjoying that luxury, but unfortunately one day Samuel Black of Company F was drowned.

Nothing of moment occurred until the middle of the month, when late one afternoon, notice was received that the enemy was advancing upon us, and orders were issued to be in readiness to fall in prepared for action at a moment's notice. A signal gun was fired from corps' headquarters, upon which a large number of troops crossed the Rappahannock, but the night passed over without any sound of battle. The next morning it was ascertained the alarm had been occasioned by an aide having "a rush of rats to the head," which caused him to mistake our returning scouts for the enemy.

The officers of the Reserves having determined some time pre­vious to present to General Meade a testimonial of their esteem and admiration for him, as an officer and leader, had procured through their chairman, Colonel McCandless, a costly sword of most exquisite workmanship, a sash, belt and a pair of gold spurs to offer for his acceptance. On the 28th the presentation took place. Invitations were extended to Governor Curtin and a number of gentlemen prominent in civil and military life, who were present. The banquet was one of the most magnificent affairs of the kind ever gotten up in the Army of the Potomac. For ten days one hundred men had been engaged in decorating the grounds, building green arbors, arches, and towers

 

230      - OUR CAMPAIGNS -

 

of the most exquisite taste and artistic style. The day was a most beautiful one, and about five in the evening, there gathered upon the ground a large assemblage of officers, of our division and the army, and among them some of the most distinguished heroes of the war, all dressed in full uniform, with sash and belt, but without swords. General Meade, surrounded by a staff of distinguished personnel mounted the stand, and General Crawford, taking the sword from the case, in a neat and appropriate speech, handed it to the General, who stepped forward, amid the most vociferous cheering, and responded as follows:

 

"GENERAL CRAWFORD AND OFFICERS OF THE DIVISION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RESERVE CORPS: - I accept this sword with feelings of profound gratitude. I should be insensible to all the promptings of nature if I were not grateful and proud at receiving a testimonial of approbation from a band of officers and men so distinguished as has been the division of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, during the whole period of this war. I have a right, therefore, to be proud that they should think my conduct and my course have been of such a character as to justify them in collecting together here so many distinguished gentlemen, as I see around me, from different parts of the country, and our own State, to present to me this handsome testimonial. It in effect says to me, that in their judgment I have done my duty towards them and towards the country. I began my career in this army, by commanding the Second Brigade of your division. I faithfully endeavored, during all the time I held that com­mand, and also the command of your division, to treat the officers and men in a manner that would express to them my high appreciation of their conduct as soldiers and brave men.

"I am very glad, sir, that you have mentioned your distinguished guest, the Governor of Pennsylvania. I have a personal knowledge of his patriotic efforts in behalf of the soldiers. To him the country is indebted for putting into the field in its hour of sorest need this splendid corps, and I have watched with pleasure and satisfaction the solicitude he has always shown, to see that all its interests and wants are attended to. I have been with him on the occasions when he has visited the officers and men from our State, and I know that they are indebted to him for many comforts, and that the country is indebted to him for words of eloquence which he addressed to them to inspire them with increased patriotism and courage. I am grati­fied that he is here to witness this presentation, and I heartily join you, sir, in the hope that his fellow-citizens will remember, on elec­tion day, his services in promoting the interests of the country and the suppression of the rebellion.

 

MEADE'S SWORD    231

 

"In speaking of the pride which I experience in receiving this sword, I feel myself justified, even at the risk of being charged with egotism, in saying a few words about the services rendered by this division. I say unhesitatingly here before this assembly, and I am quite sure that when the history of the war is written, that the facts will vindicate me, that no division in this glorious Army of the Potomac - glorious as I conceive it to be - is entitled to claim more credit for its uniform gallant conduct, and for the amount of hard fighting it has gone through, than the division of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. I do not wish to take any credit to myself in this. It is not of my own personal service that I would speak, but of the services of the soldiers - of the privates of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, and I have only to appeal to Drainesville, where the first success that crowned the arms of the Army of the Potomac was gained, unaided and alone, by a single brigade of the Pennsylvania Reserves. I have only to refer to Mechanicsville, where the whole of Longstreet's corps was held in check for hours, and victory really won, by only two brigades of the Reserves. I refer you to New Market Cross Roads, sometimes called Glendale, and refer emphatically to that battle, because certain officers of the army, not knowing the true facts of the case, and misled at the time by the statement of other equally ignorant with themselves, and whose statements have since been proved incorrect, brought charges against this division on that occasion. I was with the division during the whole fight, and until dark, when it pleased God that I should be shot down and carried off the field.

"I have been told that the division ran off, but I know that I stayed with it until it was dark, and my men were engaged in a hand-to-hand contest over the batteries with the enemy. I do not say that there were not some who ran away, but that is nothing singular. There are cowards in every division; there are bad men in every corps. I do say, however, that the large body of the gallant men of the Pennsylvania Reserves remained on the field until dark, and did not leave it until the enemy had retired. Those guns were never captured from them. They remained on the field, and were not taken until ten o'clock the next day. I refer to South Mountain, and it is not necessary for me to say much of their conduct there, for their gallant ascent of the height in the face of the enemy, and turning their left flank, was witnessed by the Commanding General, and they received full credit for it. I speak of Antietam, where, on the 16th of September, the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, always in the advance, boldly attacked the portion of the Confederate army in its front, without knowing its strength, and continued to drive it until dark, and

 

232      - OUR CAMPAIGNS -

 

then held the position it had gained until morning, when the battle was renewed. I speak again of Fredericksburg, where the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps crossed the railroad, and led the advance, unaided and alone, up the heights, and held their position for half an hour. Had they been followed and supported by other troops, their courage that day would have won a victory. I repeat, therefore, that I have a right to be proud and grateful when the officers and men of such a command, who can with truth point to a hard-earned and dearly-bought record of bright deeds, present me, who have had the honor of commanding them, with such a testimonial.

"While, however, I give expression to these feelings, they are not unmingled with others of a sad and mournful nature, as I look around you and reflect that so many of the brave officers and soldiers who originally composed this division sleep their last sleep, and that others have been obliged to return home crippled and maimed for life. It is terrible to think that there should be any necessity for so much misfortune and misery! Sad, that in this country, a land flowing with milk and honey, and in which we are all brothers, we should raise our arms against each other, and such scenes should be enacted as I have been a participant in. It is sad that there should be an occasion like the present, for the presentation of a testimonial such as this. These are sad, sad thoughts to me, but at the same time I am sustained in my present position by a consciousness that I am acting from a high and proper sense of my duty to my country. It is impossible that this great country should be divided; that there should be two governments or two flags on this continent. Such a thing is entirely out of the question. I trust that every loyal man would be willing to sacrifice his life before he would consent to have more than one government and one flag wave over the whole territory of the United States. This reunion, gentlemen, awakens in my heart new sorrow for an officer which it vividly recalls to my mind, for he commanded the division when I commanded one of the brigades. He was the noblest as well as the bravest gentleman in the army. I refer to John F. Reynolds. I cannot receive this sword without thinking of that officer. When he fell at Gettysburg, leading the advance, I lost not only a Lieutenant of the utmost importance to me, but I may say that I lost a friend, aye, even a brother. I miss other faces which were familiar to me in your midst - Bayard, of the cavalry; Jackson of the Third Brigade; Simmons, of the Fifth; McNeil and Taylor, of the Rifles; young Kuhn, who came from Philadelphia to assist me in the field; Dehone, and a host of others whose memories you all cherish.

 

THE DESERTERS       233

 

"It is oppressive, gentlemen, to me to go over the list of these officers who have been sacrificed; but if I could remember and name every soldier of your division that has fallen, what a long list, and what a trying recital it would be to us all! How many men who once belonged to the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps now sleep in the grave, or are lingering on earth, joyfully expecting death to end their sufferings.

"I thank you, General Crawford, for the kind manner in which you have conveyed to me this elegant testimonial, and I also thank these gentlemen who have come so far to be present. I trust, sir, this sword will be required but a short time longer. Affairs and events now look as if this unhappy war might be brought to happy termination. I have to request of you, gentlemen, who are in civil life, that, when you return home, you will spare no efforts to make the people understand that all we want are men to fill up our ranks. Send these to us. Give us the numbers, and the war will soon be concluded. I think the Confederates are now satisfied that their struggle is only a matter of time, as we have the force on our side, and that as soon as they see that we are bringing out that force in earnest they will yield. Permit me, before I close, to mention what I intended to refer to before this, but is escaped my memory. I intended to express my delight, sir, on hearing that at Gettysburg, under your command, the Reserve Corps enacted deeds worthy of their former reputation, showing that they had lost none of their daring, and could always be relied on in the hour and post of danger. I expected that this would be the case, it was particularly gratifying to me to hear it from your immediate commander on that occasion. Thanking you for your gallantry there, and again thanking you for your kindness, I will conclude."

The General was followed by Governor Andrew G. Curtin, in a patriotic and soul-stirring speech, in which he paid a touching tribute to our dead, and spoke with the highest admiration and deepest regret of the lamented Reynolds. After his Excellency followed Colonel R. Biddle Roberts, late of the First Reserves, the Honorable Morton McMichael and Colonel John W Forney after which all retired to the banquet hall, where was spread all the delicacies that a refined taste and epicurean palate could suggest. After passing a most happy evening, about ten o'clock the mirthful party broke up, and civilians taking the cars at Bealton Station, and the officers dispersing to their various camps.

The day following the banquet, the execution of five substitute deserters took place in the presence of the Fifth Corps, to which they belonged. The spot chosen was well fitted for the occasion, the

 

234      - OUR CAMPAIGNS -

 

troops being drawn up on the slope of a hill from which all could witness it. A death procession, composed of the culprits, a priest, a rabbi, the guard, the firing party, and the band, to the most beauti­ful and solemn dirges, passed down the line and halted in front of the graves. The prisoners seated themselves upon their coffins, where blindfolded, a short prayer was said, the order, "ready"-"aim" ="fire" given, and the culprits fell back dead. Their graves were filled up, and the troops marched back to their camps with their bands playing merry tunes. Men who sell their blood for money and then desert, deserve no sympathy.

On the first of September, Lieutenant-Colonel G. A. Woodward left us, he having been transferred to the Invalid Corps, on account of wounds received at Glendale, which incapacitated him for field service, although in his crippled condition he served through the Pennsylvania campaign.

The command of the regiment devolved upon Major McDonough.

On the 15th, orders were received to march, and the next morn­ing at eight we moved, crossing the Rappahannock at Beverly's Ford, and halted for the night near Mountain Run. Early the next morning we moved on, passing through Culpeper, which is a fine town and encamped about four miles beyond. Beyond the town the country was more hilly and wooded, and on an elevated range we found the marks of the artillery fight of the preceding Sunday. The trees were torn and shivered, and the carcasses of numerous horses emitted a most intolerable stench. Some of the rascally rebs took the trouble, and that under fire, of driving some of their wounded horses to the neighboring wells and tumbling them in, to spoil the water for us. On the outskirts of the town is a soldiers' burial ground, containing about a regiment, formed in column of companies, with the graves neatly sodded and marked with headboards.

            About this time Adjutant Woodward was honorably discharged from the service on account of disability, and Lieutenant John L. Rhoads, commanding Company G, appointed his successor.

---