SURGEON OF THE 96TH P.V.I. DR. D. WEBSTER BLAND

Following is a letter written by the Surgeon of the 96th P.V.I. Dr. D. Webster Bland to his friend in Schuylkill Haven, Dr. Koehler. It is in turn given to the Pottsville Miners Journal. The letter descripes the action the 96th took part in near Rappahannock Station on November 7, 1863.
This is one of the finest letters written about a battle that I have ever come across. One can almost hear the sounds and sights of the battle.



Headquarters 96th Reg. P.V.
Camp Near Brandy Station, Va. Nov. 13, 1863


LATE FIGHT ON THE RAPPAHANNOCK

My Dear Doctor and Family, As you are doubtless aware of the late fight of the noble old 6th Corps, I hasten to write you a letter, not only to give you an account of the battle, but as an answer to your last, that was handed to me today after my return from Washington.
On last Saturday morning we broke camp near Warrenton, and took up the line of march for Rappahannock Station. The day was clear and cool, and a bracing air. The distance marched was nearly fourteen miles. The orders were to take possession of the Station and go into camp. We reached the point designated about 2 p.m. The troops were halted in the woods in line of battle.
A line of skirmishers deployed to the front. No one was suspicious of an engagement until we observed the line of pickets of the enemy. Things now looked ominous. We soon realized there was hot work before us and in order to accesses the station a battle must be made. Strategy was immediately commenced. The corps was arraigned in battle array, the first division resting on the railroad and their followed the second and third divisions to their respective positions. Artillery was ordered to the front. I at once set about organizing my field hospital, and collecting the detail of medical officers. This was no ordinary duty, as houses and barns are not to be observed within miles of each other.
Having succeeded in securing a comfortable house which for a time was rather unpleasantly situated, we were in readiness to receive the unfortunate wounded. Profound silence reigning for a time along the line, I rode down the line in search of information, and to observe the work before our brave boys. On my way I overtook General Wright, who that day was in command of the Corps. Upon exchanging the compliments of the day, he laughed, and at the same time remarking, “We shall have some fun in few moments”. Sure enough such were the indications. The line of skirmishers were ordered to advance. The column of infantry were in line of battle. The sight was magnificently grand. The clear blue sky, the clear cold air that nerved every man to action, rendered the picture one for an artist.
Steadily forward went the line of skirmishers, and as rapidly did the enemy’s line retire until they fell within the limits of their rifle pits. Rapid firing now commenced along the whole line of skirmishers, Pop, Pop went the muskets when all at once the boom of the cannon was heard, which announced that a battle had begun.
There was hurrying to and fro. “The rattle of musketry continued and increased. The roar of might guns shook the earth from “turret to foundation of stone”. Ambulances were going in long lines to the hospital, flags were waving from different parts of the field, orderlies were galloping in every direction, and still the war of destruction went on.

WOUNDED
The wounded were coming in rapidly, and mostly from our own division. It was fast growing dark. The fire belched from the cannons mouths, illuminating the heavens by their flash, while the fuse of the shell fled through the air lighting rapidity, resembling meteors in their fall. The flash of musketry could be distinguished. Up to this time we had been gaining ground, when the order was given for a charge upon the rifle pits and fort. The men may have surveyed the work for the moment, but did not falter. The 6th Maine and 5th Wisconsin, supported by the 119th and 49th Regt’s P.V., on the left, while the 5th Maine and the 121st New York supported by the 95th and 96th P.V. charged on the centre. One wild shout rent the night air, and these gallant boys went forward to conquer or die. They were victorious beyond expression, but their comrades covered their pathway with their bodies. The fort with seven guns and the rifle pits nearly one mile in length were taken.
Night had now thrown her sable mantle over mother earth, and over the honored dead that were strewn over the ground. It was so dark that friend and foe could only recognize each other by coming in contact. The fight inside of the fort was severe. Bayonet wounds and contused heads were admitted into the hospital. In one case a rebel officer who refused to surrender, his brains were scattered to the four winds of heaven by a powerful blow fro a musket.
The gallant 96th, ever true to her colors and her hard earned prestige, were prominent in the fight. Under the leadership of the dashing Col. Lessig, we took and held the enemy’s bridge, and were first to cross the river capturing two prisoners and killing one, who refused to halt. We had only one man wounded by a shell, Our escape was indeed a miracle.
By ten o’clock at night we had nearly two hundred wounded in our charge. The surgeons were busy at work among the wounded. Many amputations were performed, and many were allowed to become secondary cases.
Among the wounded were many serious cases. Many of them died during the night, quite a large number will never recover from their wounds.
The brunt of the fight was sustained by the 6th Maine and 5th Wisconsin Regiments belonging to the third brigade, commanded by General Russel. Our forces captured about two hundred more prisoners than we had, men engaged, this at least proving that we are equal, if not superior in our metal.
Sunday morning broke upon us in all its brilliancy. The order was given for an advance. We were tired being up all night and busy with the wounded. At 10 a.m. I received orders from the Corps headquarters to load the wounded and proceed to Washington, taking with me what assistance I required. I left the hospital with seventy ambulances at 11 a.m. and reached the junction at 3 p.m. At 4:50 we were on our way to Washington, where we arrived at midnight. The ride was tedious and cold. Eight of the seriously wounded died before we reached Washington. By Monday morning at daylight I had the wounded all sent to their respective hospitals, and at 5 a.m. I was snugly ensconced in bed at the National Hotel.
I do not know how beautiful, nor how powerful language could express the pleasure I realized upon creeping between two cleans sheets, but one thing is certain, It was a luxury. I soon fell asleep, and when waking found myself too late for the first breakfast, consequently came in at 10 ½ A.M. rather a fashionable hour for a soldier.
I “riz” dressed, took a little wash, went down to breakfast, and oh ye Gods! If I ever astonished my stomach, I did that morning. I applied a perfect poultices of good buckwheat cakes, broiled steak, and so on. Heavens, what a luxury! A breakfast that I would have often given ten dollars for. I then went in to the boot black, from thence to the barber, had a shave, a smattering of pomatum, and then struck a line for the bath. Did I say a Bath? The Metropolitan furnishes the ablution tub, and good style. I for the first time in more than two years, stood a la Adam, in a tub filled with warm water. It was grand-perfectly elegant. This over, I called at General Martindale’s office for a carte Blanche during the stay in the city. I then called upon Doctor Sheldon and reported the condition and number of wounded, which met with his approbation.
I appreciated the indulgence in my getting to Washington, and determined to prepare my stomach for a good dinner. At 4 ½ P.M. we went to the table and at 6 ¼ we vacated our seats. We astonished the guests, nonplussed the waiters, and almost killed ourselves.
On Tuesday morning we bid adieu to the city of magnificent distances, and after partaking of inconveniences we arrived safe at our respective camps in the vicinity of Brandy Station.
On my return I had the pleasure of meeting and caring for the reputable Dr. MacGouan, of world wide notoriety as a traveler and explorer. He is a polished gentleman in every respect.
The weather has been intensely cold during the past few days, but since the little visitation of snow seems to have moderated.
We may in all probability, remain here for a week, or ten days. The indications are that Acquia Creek will be the next depot of supplies.
The enemy had already erected winter quarters at this point, which we are now being burned by our men.
General Bartlett has assumed command of a division in the 5th Corps and Richards has gone with him.
Dr. D.W. Bland





After the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, the Union and Confederate armies drifted south and for three months sparred with one another on the rolling plains of northern Virginia. Little was accomplished, however, and in late October General Robert E. Lee withdrew his Confederate army behind the Rappahannock River, a line he hoped to maintain throughout the winter.
A single pontoon bridge at the town of Rappahannock Station was the only connection Lee retained with the northern bank of the river. The bridge was protected by a bridgehead on the north bank consisting on two redoubts and connecting trenches. Confederate batteries posted on hills south of the river gave additional strength to the position.
The bridgehead was an integral part of Lee's strategy to defend the Rappahannock River line. As he later explained, by holding the bridgehead he could "threaten any flank movement the enemy might make above or below, and thus compel him to divide his forces, when it was hoped that an opportunity would be presented to concentrate on one or the other part." The Union Army of the Potomac's commander, Maj. Gen. George G. Meade, divided his forces just as Lee expected. He ordered Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick to attack the Confederate position at Rappahannock Station while Maj. Gen. William H. French forced a crossing five miles downstream at Kelly's Ford. Once both Sedgwick and French were safely across the river, the reunited army would proceed to Brandy Station.
Battle
The operation went according to plan. Shortly after noon on November 7, French drove back Confederate defenders at Kelly's Ford and crossed the river. As he did so, Sedgwick advanced toward Rappahannock Station. Lee learned of these developments sometime after noon and immediately put his troops in motion to meet the enemy. His plan was to resist Sedgwick with a small force at Rappahannock Station while attacking French at Kelly's Ford with the larger part of his army. The success of the plan depended on his ability to maintain the Rappahannock Station bridgehead until French was defeated.
Sedgwick first engaged the Confederates at 3 p.m. when Maj. Gen. Albion P. Howe's division of the VI Corps drove in Confederate skirmishers and seized a range of high ground three-quarters of a mile from the river. Howe placed Union batteries on these hills that pounded the enemy earthworks with a "rapid and vigorous" fire. Confederate guns across the river returned the fire, but with little effect.
Maj. Gen. Jubal Early's division occupied the bridgehead defenses that day. Early posted Brig. Gen. Harry T. Hays's Louisiana brigade and Captain Charles A. Green's four gun Louisiana Guard Artillery in the works and at 4:30 p.m. reinforced them with three North Carolina regiments led by Colonel Archibald Godwin. The addition of Godwin's troops increased the number of Confederate defenders at the bridgehead to nearly 2,000.
Sedgwick continued shelling the Confederates throughout the late afternoon, but otherwise he showed no disposition to attack. As the day drew to a close, Lee became convinced that the movement against the bridgehead was merely a feint to cover French's crossing farther downstream. He was mistaken. At dusk the shelling stopped, and Sedgwick's infantry rushed suddenly upon the works. Col. Peter Ellmaker's brigade advanced adjacent to the railroad, preceded by skirmishers of the 6th Maine Volunteers. No Union regiment gained more laurels that day nor suffered higher casualties. At the command "Forward, double-quick!" they surged over the Confederate works and engaged Hays's men in hand-to-hand combat. Without assistance, the 6th Maine breached the Confederate line and planted its flags on the parapet of the easternmost redoubt. Moments later the 5th Wisconsin swarmed over the walls of the western redoubt, likewise wresting it from Confederate control.
On the right, Union forces achieved comparable success. Just minutes after Ellmaker's brigade penetrated Hays's line, Col. Emory Upton's brigade overran Godwin's position. Upton reformed his lines inside the Confederate works and sent a portion of the 121st New York to seize the pontoon bridge, while the rest of his command wheeled right to attack the confused Confederate horde now massed at the lower end of the bridgehead.
Confederate resistance dissolved as hundreds of soldiers threw down their arms and surrendered. Others sought to gain the opposite shore by swimming the icy river or by running the gauntlet of Union rifle fire at the bridge. Confederate troops south of the Rappahannock looked on hopelessly as Union soldiers herded their comrades to the rear as prisoners of war.
Aftermath
In all, 1,670 Confederates were killed, wounded, or captured in the brief struggle, more than eighty percent of those engaged. Union casualty figures, by contrast, were small: 419 in all.

D. WEBSTER BLAND.
Dr. Bland was commissioned Surgeon, October 12, 1861, by Governor Curtin, and assigned to duty with the 96th Penna. Regiment, by order of Surgeon-General Henry R. Smith. He reported for duty, October 19. and arrived in Washington, November 11. On the 25th of November the Regiment was assigned to the Brigade of Gen. H. Slocum, and remained in camp during the winter of 1861-2. In January, 1862, Dr. Bland was
detailed by order of Gen. Franklin, as a member of a Medical Examining Board, to examine recruits. At the Battle of West Point, May 7, 1862, Dr. Bland was detailed as an assistant to Dr. Frank Hamilton for operative duties. He was with the Regiment during the memorable seven days before Richmond, sharing the hardships incident to that campaign. He was present at the Battles of Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mill, White Oak Swamp, Charles City Cross Roads, Chick hominy, Glendale, Smith's Farm, and Malvern Hill. He was on the Peninsula during July and part of August, and at Second Bull Run, Crampton's Pass and Antietam. At the First Battle of Fredericksburg he was detailed as one of the operating surgeons of the 1st Division, 6th Corps. He was present at Gen. Burnside's move, January, 18(at Second Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. After the latter engagement he was detailed to take four hundred wounded to Washington. After his return he was placed in charge of flag of truce at the Lacey House, to receive
our wounded that had been left in the hands of the enemy. In May, 1863, Dr. Bland
was appointed Acting Medical Director of the 1st Division, 6th Corps, Gen. Brooks, of the field hospital of which he was Surgeon-in-Chief during the Gettysburg campaign. He continued Medical Director of that Division during September and October, and was President of an examining Board for admission into the Veteran Reserve Corps. He was
Surgeon-in-Chief of the 1st Division, 6th Corps, during the brilliant movement and complete victory over the enemy at Rappahannock Station, Nov. 7, 1863. On the following day he superintended the removal to Washington, of 376 wounded of his Corps. He was Surgeon-in-Chief of the 1st Division, 6th Corps, during the memorable Mine Run affair, December, 1863. Was in winter-quarters at Brandy Station, 1863-4, he was detailed as a member of examining Board of his Division, for general and special duties connected with the Medical Department. On the 12th of April, 1864, Dr. Bland was detailed by order of General Meade, as Medical Inspector of the 6th Corps, and assigned lo duty on the Staff of Gen. John Sedgwick. He was with the
Corps during the historical campaign of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and the Weldon Rail Road. On the 19th of July the Corps was ordered to Washington; Gen. Wright assumed command of the Middle Military Division, of which Department Dr. Bland was made Medical Inspector. When Gen. Wright was relieved and Gen. Sheridan took command, Dr. Bland remained Medical Inspector of the
Corps, and was present at the brilliant battles in the Shenandoah Valley. He left the field, Sept. 23, 1864, and was mustered out by reason of expiration of term of service, on the 21st of October.


Dr.Bland's Tombstone in front of the Chapel at Charles Baber Cemetery Pottsville

T5 Francis "Choc" Piacine 153rd Engineers

Francis “Choc” Piacine
153rd Engineers
1923-2009

Today January 5, 2009 is a sad day for me because Choc is gone. Now I must try and write this little blog story about one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. A man who in the forty some years that I had the pleasure to know was about as straight as you could be. I can’t think of time I ever heard him denigrate or say horrible things about any person. A man who helped me over the years with the things I could not do, like plumbing, cementing etc. He was always there for us. Choc always treated me great! And in the words from time gone by I can truly say “I knew Choc Piacine and I have no complaints”. He was my father in law.
I find it hard when I try to write up these blogs about all the men who served our country. Because its hard to get all that they did and what they stood for in a few paragraphs. I wanted to write his story up a few months ago, but as usual I let it go to long. But today I want to write up his story for he to is a hero, a hero to me and his family, another of that “Greatest Generation” who are leaving us at a too fast a rate.

T5 Francis “Choc” Piacine lived his whole life in Palo Alto. He served with the 153rd Engineers Company C, a heavy construction battalion from April 1943 until January 1946. Choc served in the Pacific Theatre of operations at New Guinea, Phillipines, and the occupation of Japan. Choc trained at Ft. Lewis Washington before shipping out the Pacific and landing in New Guinea.
The following narrative was recorded by me in an interview with Choc about 12 years ago.
“We shipped out as a battalion and were by ourselves. The troopships took the southern route, leaving San Francisco and arriving in Australia about thirty days later. From Australia, we went up to New Guinea and further on up to the northern coast, a place called Mathan Bay. They were still fighting in this area and when we landed the perimeter was right off the beach. You couldn’t go beyond the beach or you were in the jungle and that’s were the Japs were. We could see our aircraft bombing the Japs in the jungle. Most of the heavy bombing took place about a mile north of our position on the perimeter line. At this time there were no American troops north of the perimeter. It was a strange place, some of the local natives were head hunters so you couldn’t just walk off by yourself.
The main type of work we did in New Guinea was the building of runways, and air strip maintenance, road repair and what ever else was necessary to maintain an airbase. The famous P-38 pilot Dick Bong was there and flew out of the airfield we repaired. We stayed in New Guinea from May 1944 to September 1944, and then we boarded LST’s and landed in Leyte in the Philippines. The Philippines were stilled occupied by the Japs and there was a lot of fighting going on there. We once again were assigned the duty of maintain the airfields and landing strips for P-38’s. Our field was bombed by the Japs pretty hard and there was a lot of bomb damage that needed constant repair. While in Leyte, we also maintained the docks, ran a rock quarry and built a reservoir that supplied fresh water for the ships. We built floating docks for the invasion of Manila, and also lots of barges for the troops to use in the invasion of Luzon. After staying in the Philippines for a few months my unit was slated for the up coming invasion of Japan. We were taken out of the heavy construction and put into the Combat Engineers. Our responsibility was the clearing of mine fields when we got to the beaches. Fortunately the invasion of Japan never took place, because we dropped the atomic bomb. But then they sent us to Japan as an occupation force.
On the way to Japan we were on a ship [that was damaged in a typhoon. We had to abandon the ship and were transferred to a destroyer. We went over to the destroyer on a boatsin chair. That was a pretty hairy event in the rough seas. We landed in Yokohama and were near the Jap sub base that was located there. It was never touched by all the bombing raids, they actually kept the torpedoes up in the mountains in caves. We stayed in Japan for a few months and then we returned home to the states and the war was over.”

Choc worked all of his adult life as a Pipe Fitter/ Welder working for Wertz Engineering out of Reading Pa. Hre was a life member of the Amvets and Post 2198 VFW Orwigsburg, Pa. He was married to Margaret Wood Piacine and had two children, Danielle, and Francis. His son Francis retired as a Lt.Col in the Army having served in Iraq. Franks story is in another blog on this site.


Choc, his Daughter Danielle, Son Frank and Great Grandson Nathaniel

You are sadly missed by all Choc.

Stu

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED AND TO ALL THOSE WHO SERVED THIS GREAT COUNTRY FROM THE ANTHRACITE COAL REGION

FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SPENT CHRISTMAS AWAY FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS. HERE YOU ARE TRULLY APPRECIATED.


I WISH ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO MAKE THIS CHRISTMAS POSSIBLE FOR MY FAMILY.



YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND UNTIL YOU'VE BEEN THERE

I WANT TO THANK ALL WHO HAVE SERVED FROM THE REVOLUTION TO THE CURRENT WAR ON TERROR.

A SANTA BOU FROM MY DAYS IN VIETNAM

I SALUTE YOU


STU RICHARDS

Schuylkill Countian Escapes From Andersonville Prison 1864

Arriving At Andersonville

BRANCHDALE SOLDIER ESCAPES FROM ANDERSONVILLE PRISON CAMP.


Almost one third of the some 40,000 federal prisoners who entered the Confederate Prison at Andersonville remain there today in its cemetery. Strikingly it is estimated that only two dozen men broke out of Andersonville and successfully reached Federal lines. And despite legends to the contrary, almost none of them escaped by tunnel.
This is the story of Pvt. David Weir born in Kilmarnock, Scotland he resided in Branchdale, Schuylkill County. Unbelievably Pvt. David Wier is one of the two dozen men to have made history by escaping from Andersonville Prison.
David Wier enlisted in the Union Army on September 3, 1861. He enlisted in Company E of the 55th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry under Captain Horace Bennett of Minersville, who was killed in action bravely leading his men at the battle of Pocotaligo River in May 1862 Most of the men in Company E were from the Minersville, Frailey Township area of Schuylkill County.
Pvt. Wier took part in many of the engagements that the 55th was involved in from late 1861 until May 10, 1864 when he was captured in the battle of Drewry’s Bluff. During the battle he received a bullet wound in the thigh. He was taken prisoner and moved into Petersburg Va. Were the confederate surgeons worked on his leg. He was hospitalized for a month and later transferred to Charleston S.C. where he was processed and then sent on to Andersonville. Arriving sometime in July of 1864.



Captured along with Private David Wier was Pvt. Thomas Conway and Pvt. David Hughes both friends of his who grew up in Branchdale with him. Privates Weir, Hughes , Conway were mess mates in H Squad North Mess. The men usually formed into small messes with comrades from the same regiment or company. In this way they would draw rations and share everything they had with each other and also protected one another from the roving bands of thieves and murderers that existed in the camp. this was one way of trying to survive the horror that was Andersonville.



As stated above of all those who were held in Andersonville only two dozen men ever escaped. On October 18, 1864 Wier, Hughes, Conway and another man a Tennessee scout by the name of Thomas Cheshire made their escape. The story has it that Cheshire bribed one of the rebel guards to help them escape. Upon leaving Andersonville the group fled through the swamps Weir, Hughes, Conway and Cheshire continued their flight, hiding in the bushes by day and traveling by night while being pursued by Bloodhounds sent after them by the rebel militia.
In a story written by Wier that was published in the Pottsville Republican on November 16, 1927 Wier relates that Conway weakened by sickness and prison privation was unable to proceed and was caught by the rebel guards and their bloodhounds and sent back to prison along with David Hughes, but Cheshire’s report states that three of them escaped.
During this harrowing flight the remaining three somehow found a sympathetic slave who agreed to help them, the slave at great risk to himself hid the men in his wagon under a load of corn and took them over seventy miles through two Rebel towns and across a ferry. The slave turned the men over to another slave who guided them to some sympathetic white Floridians who were loyal to the Union. These people gave the men a boat that they took out into Ochlocknee Bay near Tallahassee.
Running down the coast was the U.S.S. Mortar Schooner Oliver H. Lee enroute to Key West. The Lee had just put some men in a small boat looking for fresh water, when the trio signaled the men and were rescued. Their journey took them over 200 miles, quite a feat for starving and sick men.

Later Thomas Cheshire would write an interesting story about his escape from Andersonville. The story is held in the Gettysburg College archives listed under the Thomas Cheshire Papers.
David Wier arrived in New York on Thanksgiving Day 1864. Unbelievably he rejoined his company immediately and participated in the fall of Petersburg April 2nd 1865 and was present at the surrender of Robert E. Lee and the Confederate forces at Appomattox, Va. April 9, 1865. On May 19, 1865 he was mustered out of Company E 55th P.V.I. In 1925 Pvt. David Wier was one of the last surviving members of the George Lawrence Post 17 in Minersville. After the war he went back to working in the mines where he worked as a breaker hand, he ran the engine in the Otto Colliery. One of those long lost heroes of Schuylkill County.
David Hughes also went back to the regiment and was mustered out December 29, 1864.
Thomas Conway survived the ordeal at Andersonville and was also mustered out with the company on August 30, 1865.

The Cost of Andersonville

For those interested in reading about the escapes from Andersonville Robert Scott Davis wrote an excellent book entitled “Ghost Shadows of Andersonville.”