Schuylkill
County and the American
Indian Wars.
Friday, August 11, 2017
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY AND THE INDIAN WARS.
On
June 2, 1860 the Pottsville Miners Journal ran an article about the capture
of a local resident by the Commanche
Indians.
Captivity Among the Commanches-Return After Thirteen Years Absence.
The St. Joseph
Journal of the 16th ult. States that Mr. George Brubaker, a citizen of
Lancaster County, Pa. Reached that city the previous day, on his way home. He
was captured by a band of Commanches while on his way to California in 1847,
thirteen years ago, and has just escaped from them. There were but three of the
party captured alive, George Richardson, of Schuylkill, and Peter Demy, of
Dauphin County, Pa. Both of whom were afterwards burnt at the stake for
attempting to escape from the savages.
After becoming
acquainted with the language and habits of the Indians, he was made a medicine
man, and in that capacity did a great deal of good among them, and has
succeeded in converting over two hundred to the Christian religion. It was only
after the most solemn promise that he would return that they allowed him to
depart, and he will go back as soon as he has seen his family, who have mourned
him for years as dead.
It was probably
in the quest for the new found Gold fields of California that drove Mr.
Richardson in that direction, only to have his dream of wealth, ruined by being
killed by the Indians.
July 6, 1865 the Pottsville Miners Journal posted this article concerning A
Capt. A. H. Halberstadt. A.A. I. Gen.. 1st Cavalry Division, ( Bufords old
Division) was in town this week. We learn that the Captain has been assigned to
duty upon the staff of Major General Gibbs, who is ordered to report to General
Sheridan in Texas. Captain H. Sailed on Wednesday last for his field of duties.
It is satisfactory to the many friends to know that the Captain rendered
valuable service during the war, and has won the esteem of his general officers.
The Pottsville Miners Journal November 24, 1866.
Ran an interesting article concerning the career of one of its local residents
Captain. Edward L. Hartz .
Reinstated.
Captain Edward L.
Hartz, we are pleased to learn, has been reinstated as Captain in the regular
service. The news must be equally gratifying to the many friends here of the
Captain, who admire his many excellent social qualities, and recognize his
capacity for military command. A brief sketch of the Captain’s military career
mat not be uninteresting. We subjoin it:
He entered West
Point in 1851, and graduated in 1855 as a first Captain of the Corps of Cadets.
He was appointed brevet-second lieutenant in the Seventh Infantry, and shortly
after advanced to second Lieut. In the Eight Infantry. After temporary services
as a topographical officer of several expeditions. July 26, 1856, he was
gazetted for gallantry in action against the Indians. In 1857-8 he commanded
Infantry escort to Captain now Major General Pope, in the Artesian well
expedition in the Llano Estacado and in New Mexico. During the summer of 1859
captain Hartz conducted the experiments upon the adaptability of the camel for
military service. During the winter of 1859 he served with his company in the
expedition against Cortinas, the Mexican bandit. March 1861, he was appointed
adjutant of his regiment, the Eight ; on the 14th of May, same year Captain,
and on the 17th captain on staff. From July 1861 to January 1864 he was chief
A.Q.M. department Washington. From the latter date until April, 1864 he was
confidential sea-service, when he was assigned to duty as chief A.Q.M.,
department of the Cumberland, and was placed in charge of the depots of
Chattanooga and of the supplies of the armies of the Ohio, Tennessee and
Cumberland, combined, combined under Sherman. He was the originator and founder
of the United States Mortuary, record and burial system.
The Pottsville Miners Journal for March 30, 1867 ran this article
concerning one of the Military Surgeons from Schuylkill County.
Brevet Major H.
R. Silliman, Assistant Surgeon, United States Army, who during the past few
months has been stationed at Fort Wadesworth, Dakotah Territory, has in the
consequence of ill health, been ordered to report tot he retiring board. We
understand that he was so severely
prostrated by sickness at his post lately, that grave apprehensions were
entertained for his life, and that Dr.
Charles Woodmitt, late of this
borough, but now of De Pere Wisconsin,
had gone for the purpose of bringing home the Doctor to his home in this
borough. Wheter he will attempt the fatigues of so long a journey at this
inclement season of the year we have yet learned.
Also on the 30th
Brevet Major H. C. Parry, Asst. Surgeon
United States Army, has been transferred from the department of the East to the
department of the Platte., also Lieut. William W. Parry has been promoted to a
First Lieut. In the Thirty fourth U.S. Infantry.
On May 11. 1867 The Miners Journal reported
that a familiar named person was once against he news. William H. Werner of the
late 2nd California Cavalry, during the war was off again for another
adventure.
Left For Colorado.
On Monday last
Henry son of Mr. John Morris, Valentine Guss and Harry Slater, of this Borough
started for Colorado. On Tuesday Mr. W.
H. H. Werner son of John T. Werner,Esq. Who for the last eighteen months has
been a clerk in the Miners Life Insurance and Trust company, of this Borough,
also started for the same destination. Mr. Werner crossed the plains in 1850,
when he was about 17 years old, and was for some time in gold diggings of California.
During the rebellion he served in the Second California Regiment, for three
years. He returned home to Pottsville in 1864, in which place he resided up to
the time of starting for Colorado. We wish these energetic young men success in
their future enterprises in the distant West.
On July 29th The Journal had a follow up article on
the young men who left for Colorado. Entitled:
Reached Colorado.
William W. H.
Werner, J.C. Guss, Henry Morris and Harry P. Slater, who left this Borough on
the 7th of May, reached denver City, Colorado, on the 30th of the same month.
All are well. In consequence of the Indian War, and the necessity of the
citizens taking up arms to defend the territory, they all enlisted on the 8th,
for sixty days’ service against the savages. These troubles have caused a
complete stagnation in business in Colorado, and is not advisable to emigrate
there at the present time.
July 28th 1867 The Miners Journal reported a story
about another son of Old Schuylkill:
General William A Nichols
General William A Nichols, USA, who
has been during the past fortnight on a visit to this Borough, sojourning at
the residence of his brother, Mr. H.K. Nichols, went to Washington on Thursday
last. The General will return to this Borough on Tuesday next, and in a few
days thereafter start for St. Louis, which is the H.Q. of the Department of Missouri. We never see
the soldierly figure of Gen. Nichols here amid scenes familiar to his youth and
early manhood, with out thinking of the noble stand he took when General
Twiggs, his commanding officer in Texas early in 1861, dishonored the uniform
he wore by becoming a traitor. Intimations of Twiggs disloyalty had reached the
Secretary of War, Holt, and on the 18th of January, in a general order was
relieved from the command of the Department of Texas, and it was turned over to
Col. Carl A. Waite, of the First Regiment of Infantry. But the suticipated
mischief was accomplished before the order could perform its intended work.
When the Rebel Commissioners were informed of its arrival at Twiggs
headquarters, at the Alamo, in the city of San Antonio, they took measures to
prevent it reaching Col.Waite, whose headquarters were at least sixty miles
distant, on the Verde Creek, a branch of the Guadeloupe River. But the
vigilance and Activity of General ( then Colonel) Nichols who was Twiggs asst.
Adjutant-General, and who watched his chief with the keen eye of full
suspicion, foiled them. He duplicated the order and sent two carriers by
different routes. One of them was captured and taken back to San Antonio, and
the other reached Waite with the order, on the 17th of February. At that period
when every inducement was held out to officers and men in the department, to
desert the colors, Col. Nichols wrote a letter to a friend in Pottsville, in
which he used the following patriotic language. “ If but one State remains to
float the flag of the Union I will remain with that state, be it Maine or
Texas.”
We refer to these
interesting reminiscensenses with greater pleasure as General Nichols is a son
of Schuylkill, in whose career we feel a natural interest. The General now goes
west in an important Military position and his many friends here wish him
continued health and Prosperity in the future.
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY CIVIL WAR STORIES
The
Gallant Conduct of Lieut. Leib
Of
The Fifth U.S.
Lieut. Edward Leib of Pottsville
The Right Wing, Army
of The Potomac
Friday, June 13,
1862 10 P.M.
Today the right wing of the army was
attacked by the rebels at a point little anticipated. It has been known for
several days past that the enemy has been lurking near Hanover Court House, and
a small force has been detailed every day to watch his movements. The rebels
became emboldened by the apparent indifference with which we kept watch of that
motion. By not having a larger force on guard, and made a bold dash toward our
pickets and rear-guard which was not wholly successful.
The portions of our force engaged was
companies D,C, F and H of the Fifth United States Cavalry, who have been for
the last ten days stationed on picket duty at the Old church, which is situated
on the main road midway between the Chickahominy
Bridge
Early this morning, Company F was sent out
on a scouting expedition to the right of the Hanover Road
At the same time the scouting party also
fell in with a large body of rebel cavalry, but did not venture to attack them
until reinforcements should arrive, a messenger having been sent back to Old Church
The enemy, however was not to be delayed
in his movements and immediately made a dash for our scouts, forcing them to
retire, but on the retreat they were met by company F and the remains portion
of company B when the combined forces turned and engaged the enemy.
The rebel force was estimated to be four companies of
cavalry, one of infantry, and a portion of artillery.
It did not take long to ascertain the
rebel force outnumbered our own and that it would be useless to break or drive
them. But our gallant band was determined to do the best they could, and show
the rebels that they had a good quality of metal to extend against. with this
our men under the command of Capt. Boyd formed in line prior to making a dash.
A the same moment the rebels opened their pieces with the infantry coming
forward and pouring out a volley of musketry. The cavalry then came on, the
combined effort of the whole causing our men to fall back to the Old Church
Miners Journal June 27, 1862.
Dranesville.
One of the first engagements after the Union defeat at Bull Run was a
small engagement by Federal and Confederate foraging parties, five days before
Christmas of 1861, at the town of Dranesville , Va. Pennsylvania Dranesville ,
Va.
Serving with the 6th Pennsylvania Reserves was a Schuylkill
countian, Lieut. Jacob A. Bonewitz, who wrote a descriptive account of the
fight, which would become a big morale lifting victory for the Union forces.
Langlytown Camp, Pierpont January 8th,
1862.
Dear --- We had a little fun on the 20th of December last in Dranesville
with the rebels. I shall not enter into details, as I suppose you have seen the
particulars of the fight in the papers.
We left our camp a little before daybreak on the morning of the 20th and
started for Dranesville on a foraging expedition. We got as far as Difficult
Creek when began throwing skirmishers out in front of our regiment. As company
A, and our company K, are the two flank companies, we were thrown out on the
left of the pike. Company A near the road, and my company on the left of the
former. We started through the woods on quick time. I was the only officer in
our company that day. The Capt. was in Washington Battery .
The balls were now flying like hail from the rebel infantry. When they saw us
try to cross the hill, they opened their large guns on us. The shells and
canister poured upon us. After getting near half way across, two of my men
fell. One was shot through the side, and the other in the leg. They crawled
behind a small bank near the pike, as we had no time to lose going over there.
When I got a little further a piece of shell struck me on the leg tearing off
one of my pantaloon legs, and scratching my leg slightly. We got a little
further, when two more dropped, that had got in my company (strangers) They
died in a few minutes: but we got across and now came our time for operation.
Our Battery opened on them and the Rebels were
soon laying in all kinds of shapes. Some with no heads on; some with no arms,
no legs, and some you could not tell what they were. We soon silenced their
battery. We then made a charge on them through the woods. I must admit they can
run faster than we can by a good deal, but they could not run out of sight of
our balls. The woods were full of them. There was one spot were we could
scarcely get over the dead and wounded rebels. Our loss was 10 killed and 30 or
40 wounded. The Rebel loss was severe. There were 170 rebels buried the day
after the fight and we brought in some 40 of them wounded and 14 prisoners. All
in all, it was a complete victory for Uncle Sam. Our wounded are doing well in
the hospital; are in good spirits, and express themselves anxious to have
another chance at the rebels soon. In our Regiment their were three killed, and
thirteen wounded, of which three belong to our company. The Bucktail Regiment;
our Regiment, and the 9th suffered the most. The 10th and the 12th I believe, did not lose a man,
as they were not in the hottest of the fire.
Yours
&c.
Lieut. J.A.B.
Miners Journal February 15, 1862.
Accidentally
Killed.
On July 16, 1864 a letter was written to the Miners Journal concerning
the death of Capt. Samuel McKee, formerly from Pottsville
The letter states that on the
June 21, 1864 before Marrietta, while skirmishing with the enemy, he was killed
by a gun in the hands of one of his own men.
It
seems that Capt. Mckee and his men were sheltered in an old log house, picking
off rebel sharpshooters. Capt. Mckee the
best marksman wounded a rebel sharpshooter. Two rebels came from behind their
shelter to help their comrade off. The Captain saw this, and asked that another
gun be handed to him quickly. It was
handed to him cocked, it discharged and the contents entered his right side,
and passing out of the left, carrying away part of his lungs and liver. He
lived until the next day. When he died he breathed the following words:
"Tell my brother I have done my duty."
Capt. Mckee was an officer who was highly esteemed by all who knew him.
He was faithful in the discharge of his duty, and brave to a fault. In his
death the cause of liberty and human rights lost a staunch champion.
November 22, 1862 brought home to the people of Schuylkill County George W. Overbrook , aged 28 years, a member of Company G, 8th
Penna. Cavalry, was accidentally killed on the 2d instant, while assisting at Unionville , Va.
THEIR
MUSIC WAS INSPIRING.
SCHUYLKILL
BANDS AND THEIR REGIMENTS.
One of the most popular pastimes for
people of the 1860's was music. Families sang around the fire place, concerts
were held by local brass bands throughout the summer months in almost all the
communities in the county. And with the news of the capture of Fort Sumter ,
and the southern states' talk of succeeding from the Union ,
bands were utilized by the captains of local militia units to entice men to
join their ranks.
After the three months regiments fulfilled
their tour of duty, and President Lincoln called for men to enlist for three
years, two bands composed of men from Pottsville
According to letters written from soldiers
and books concerning different regiments in the civil war, many of these army bands just made a lot of noise. But the
two bands from Schuylkill
County
From an article printed in the Pottsville
Republican on April 18, 1900 entitled " Schuylkill County Bands
With Some Famous Regiments", we take the following items.
The Forty - eighth Regiment Band with J.W.
Souders as its leader and twenty three members known as the Citizens Band of
Pottsville, were mustered in on September 2, 1861.
THE
48th REGIMENTAL BAND.
Wm. A. Maize, Staff Major. J.W. Souders, Leader.
Wm. J. Feger, Eb coronet. Daniel Kopp, Eb coronet.
John T. Hays, Eb coronet. Chas. Hemming, Alto.
Levi Nagle, Alto. Wm. Birt, Eb clarinet.
John Cruikshank, Alto. Thomas Severn, piccilo.
Chas. A. Glenn, Alto. John George, Tenor.
Wm. Lee, clarinet/cymbals. Edward L. Hass, baritone.
James Aikman, Eb bass. Fred'k Brown, tenor.
Nickolas McArthur, Eb bass. Albert Bowen,snare drum.
Jas. N. Garrett, snare drum. John Aikman, bas drum.
Wm. Hodgson, Tenor. Chas. Singluff, alto.
Wm. H. Gore, Tenor. C.T. McDaniel, cook.
The band soon got down to work playing for
the different military movements in a style which called forth praise from
commanding officers.
They were next called to duty at Fort
Monroe, next to New Berne, then Newport News, where they were placed on
transports several times to be taken to the seat of war, only to be recalled.
Their impatience was finally appeased by
the regiment being ordered to Fredricksburg and later Culpepper Court House,
from which place the band received the order to muster out.
During this year of service with the
regiment they had played at receptions and gatherings of many distinguished
army officers.
At one time a grand ovation was tendered
by General Burnside, a corps commander of remarkable ability, at which the band
held the place of honor in the musical department.
Many gatherings of Union officers were
assisted by the 48th Regiment Band. At Brigader General Nagle's headquarters on
numerous occasions the band did the honors for leading Generals of the U.S.
Army.
THE
NINETY - SIXTH REGIMENTAL BAND.
The Ninety - Sixth Regt. Band, with N. J.
Rehr, leader, left for Washington
N.J. Rehr, Leader H.K. Downing,
drum major.
Horace G. Walbridge, Eb coronet.
Christian Ferg, Eb coronet.
Amos F. Walbridge, 1st coronet.
Christ Rodman, 2d coronet.
H.M. Law, 2d clarinet. Henry
Rodman, clarinet.
Henry Hoffman, clarinet. John W.
Morgan , clarinet.
Fidel Fisher, piccolo. Adolphus
Walbridge, alto.
W. McDaniel, cook Henry Walbridge, alto.
George W. Roehrig, alto. John
Ward, teno.
Charles Oberlies, tenor. Andrew Smith, baritone. H. Curtis Shoener, 2d baritone. John Rodefield, Bass.
J.N. Lauer, 1st bass. Joseph Kepley, snare dr.
Augustus Pfaltzgraph, snare dr.
Samuel H. Parker, bass dr.
Cornelius Trout, cymbals.
THE REGIMENTAL BAND SHIPPED IN
ROOFLESS CARS.
The freight car had its roof broken in,
and it rained all day. The train went via Gordon, where the regiment got out
and walked down the plane, and then on to Sunbury, Harrisburg, and arriving at
Washington on Saturday, November 9th 1861 at 2 a.m. in anything but good
condition.
They were immediately given quarters in an
old stable, and Oh, how cold it was! Wet to the body, and with no covering,
they shivered until daylight appeared, at which time they took up the march to
new quarters through mud knee deep, for several miles, arriving at Camp Blatensburg
Toll Gates, having gained in the meantime the knowledge that it was much better
playing for the regiment on Lawton's Hill, Pottsville than through which they
had just passed.
The band remained here with the regiment
for sometime, until they received orders to go into winter quarters at Camp Northumberland
After almost a year's service, the band
received its discharge August 14, 1862 all bands being mustered out, and the
regiment having been given marching orders.
AT
LEXINGTON
After both bands had received their
discharges from the service and returned to their respective duties at home, they
formed a new musical organization called the Pottsville Coronet Band.
They received a three months engagement
with the 48th regiment which was then stationed in Lexington Ky.
A local entertainment at Cynthiana , Ky. Paris
When the subject of a picnic at the Henry
Clay homestead at Ashland , Ky.
PRESENTED
WITH A FLAG.
Before the regiment broke camp to proceed
on marching orders, two ladies residing near the camp, purchased a handsome
silk flag and presented it to the band. They thought it a handsome and
appropriate gift, and resolved to keep it in a safe place until they got home.
Having a little money in their treasury, several hundred dollars, they decided
to visit some of the principal cities of the United States Cincinnati
said he, "for that is the
worst rebel house in the city of Cincinnati Cincinnati
The above stories were taken from the
Pottsville Daily Republican. April 18, 1900. There were numerous stories in
this issue pertaining to the 39th anniversary of the First Defenders that was
being held in Pottsville
How
Schuylkill County
Shelling
of Fort Sumter
In the files of the Schuylkill County Historical Society is a short
article written about the first dispatches of the shelling of Ft. Sumter It was
written by a Mr. John Beck of Pottsville
Mr Beck accepted a posting as a pressman on the Willmington N.C. Herald.
As the time grew near when it was apparent that war must come, Mr. Beck quietly
began to make arrangements to return north. There was a strong Union sentiment
in Willmington but not strong enough to secure absolute protection to its
advocates. The editor of the paper was opposed to secession, but there were the
controlling interests in the paper directorate that held him to the course of
supporting the south.
On the day on which Fort
Sumter Fort
Sumter
The message did get through. On its receipt, Mr. Benjamin Bannon greatly
excited took the telegraph up to the Miners National Bank, and should it to Mr.
Issac Beck, saying: " I have just recieved a message this message from
John, can I believe it ?"
" What ever John has said must be true. Try to have it
confirmed," was the reply. Mr. Bannon immediately got in communication
with Philadelphia and New York
So it is very possible Pottsville
Samuel
Beddal
Diary
June and July 1864
June 2, 1864:
We made extensive earth works, remained in
them till the afternoon when we left, we marched 2 1/2 miles when the rebs
piched into our rear then we met and hansomley repulsed. We laid in line all
night.
June 3, 1864
We advanced on the rebs, our co. as
skirmishers. We drove them into their pits. We silenced their artillery. Our
company lost one killed and nine wounded. 4 casehorns were destroyed. They left
one battery wagon in our care.
June 4,1864
Shady Grove Va.
June 5, 1864
Cold Harbor Va. Went on detail with 17 men
to build brest
June 6, 1864
Our regiment is on picket.Our company on
the reserve. The rebs shelled us very heavy, they then advanced in line of
battle. Our skirmishers fell back, we gave the rebs a warm reception. The
firing lasted until dusk.
June 7, 1864
last night the rebels fell back. This
morning our skirmishers advanced to where yesterday. The firing was prety heavy
all day.
June 8, 1864
We were relieved of picket duty by the 1st
Div. Corp. R. Pennman and Antony Wade both of company E were wounded while the
regiment was resting the gun went off accidently.
June 9, 1864
Anthony Wade died today. The casulaties of
company E 48th up to the present since the commenement of the campagin is 2
killed 2 sergents wounded 3 Corp, and 15 enlisted men wounded Lieut. William L
Farell killed.
June 10, 1864
Yesterday Antony Wade expired about 3
o'clock afternoon. The lss of so good a soldier is greatly felt in the company.
I wrote a letter home today we remain in the same postion as before.
June 11, 1864
Cold harbor .
Since we left Shady grove va. we have been in the vicinity of Cold
Harbor about one mile apart. I have sent today for the
Philadelphia Inquire for a period of three months. We are near the pahiquet
Chicky rivers, rich Va 8 miles.
June 12, 1864
Red. a letter from home yesterday.
Anserwed it today. Attended devine service today. Marched all night towards the
White House. Left Cold Harbor at dark. The march was a weary some one. It being
very bad road.
June 13, 1864
This morning we halted on General Lee's
estate. Remained there until noon, we then marched until mid night. Direct
across the peninsula.
June 14, 1864
Marched all day in the direction of the James River . reached camp about 8 o'clock P.M. we can see
the boats on the river.
June 15, 1864
We crossed the river at dusk and marched all
night we marched about 25 miles after crossing the James
river . We marched in direction of Petersburg Va.
June 16, 1864
Marched all forenoon in the afternoon we
came up with the jonnies who found strongly entrenched. Near Petersburg
June 17, 1864
Battle near
petersburg
June 18, 1864
This morning we advanced about 1 1/2 miles
the rebels were driven beyond the railroad to within sight of Petersburg Va.
June 19, 1864
I wrote a letter home today to Benj.
Tomhpson and Robert Thompson. was both wounded in the foot. John Major was
killed on the 17th six others were wounded near Petersburg
June 20, 1864
Near petersburg
Va. Petersburg Va.
June 21, 1864
Wearing thin is ??? front, with the
reception of a few Col. Pleasant
commanding the brigade.
June 22, 1864
Avanced to the second line of
entrenchments remained there until midnight. Felt prety sick the commisary
effected my head a little. Petersburg
Va.
June 23, 1864
Near Petersburg
Va.
June 24, 1864
Today we drew rations for three days,
crackers coffee and sugar and pepper and salt dryed apples. Beef and pickles
and sour crout. I had a good wash today.
June 25, 1864
The weather is very warm the last 2 days.
Everything is quiet in front. The 48th regt. started to undermine the rebel
fortifacations.
June 26, 1864
Near petersburg
Va.
June 27, 1864
The rebels annoyed us greatly with their
mortars. Pat grant and John Watson was both wounded in the leg today. It is
feared that Grant will lose the leg.
June 28, 1864
Yesterday I recieved a letter from home.
Today I answered it. We draw whiskey regular at the commisary. We still lay in
front of Petersburg
June 29, 1864
Our regiment is on special duty, at
driving a tunnel they are in up to this evening about 60 yards. The regiment is
excused from picket duty on that account. Near Petersburg Va.
June 30, 1864
Today we moved back to the rear and
entrenched our selves. heavy fighting on the right of our division. This
evening don't know the results.
July 1, 1864
Today the weather is fair, the heavy
firing yesterday was caused by an assault on the rebel army. On the right our
corps and the left the 5th.
July 2, 1864
Today the weather is fair but very warm.
Nothing of importance transpired. Wm. McWath sick P Rodgers detailed as cook
recieved intelligence of the deaths of William Wvans J. Regan Wm. Reasons all
of company E.
July 3, 1864
Today was passed in silence, the working
men keep coming and going all night the duty is pretty heavy, pretty much all
the regiment are on that detail.
July 4, 1864
As this day is always most highly
celebrated by the civil and millatary ?? it was passed to day without any thing
transpiring it passed off very quiet. Talking of ????
July 5,1864
Today was a very fair the firing of
mortars and sharpshooters was about the only thing practiced. I wrote a letter
home to day in answer to one rec'd July 1st today one of Co. D 48th was killed
by miiny ball.
July 6, 1864
Weather fair, nothing unusuall transpired
today.
Big Jim Wilson
James A. Wilson
a 19 year old Irish miner born in Kilkenny , Ireland
lived and worked in Frailey
Township Schuylkill County
On June 27th
1863 the Seventh Pa. Cavalry made one of the
most daring charges against the rebels at Shelbyville , Tenn. Schuylkill
County
Another
incident that was well remembered by the men of the Seventh was the time when
Jim Wilson was acting as a mounted Provost Guard in the city of Huntsville , Ala. Wilson Col.
Jim Wilson
would also be remembered for his kindness. On December 22, 1862, a few days
after the battle of Stones
River
It was a bitter
cold day and when the detail of the southern army appeared on the scene it
proved to be members of the eighth Georgia, crackerjack fighters who were
worthy of brave men’s steel.
The Georgians’
uniforms were tattered and torn and they had little or no shoes on their feet.
Their condition moving to compassion their enemies of the Northern army, so
much so that big Jim Wilson made the rounds of the Seventh’s ranks and the
result was that every Georgian soldier went back to his camp well clad and
comfortably shod while the knapsacks of the Seventh boys were that much
lighter.
This soldierly
action so impressed the Georgians that thereafter whenever the two regiments
were opposite each other on the contending army lines the 7th’s men
would be hailed thusly. “ Who’s on picket thur?” and if the reply was, “The
Seventh Penna. Cavalry,” the confederate picket would call out. “No firing from
the Eight Georgia tonight,” and there would be none on either side.
Jim Wilson
would fight through hundreds of skirmishes and numerous major battles with the
Seventh Pa., and would be only wounded one time. On October 14th
1863 while on a mission to Nashville to procure
a lot of horses for the regiment, he was shot in the right shoulder by a member
of the 18th Michigan
Big Jim would
return home after serving three years in the cavalry, and work in the mines. He
died and was buried in Branchdale in 1894 at the age of 52.
Pottsville
The Seventh Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Cavalry, Its
Record, Reminiscenes and roster.
Pottsville
BOOTS
AND SADDLES
SCHUYLKILL
COUNTIANS
IN
THE CAVALRY
During the Civil
War Schuylkill
County
Following is a list of the
regiments in which the boys served and
the number of Schuylkill coutians in each
regiment.
PENNSYLVANIA
1st. 23 men.
2nd. 6 men
3rd. 205 men.
4th. 6 men
5th. 145 men.
6th. 66 men
7th. 544 men.
8th. 43 men.
9th. 29 men.
11th. 47 men.
12th. 10 men.
13th. 66 men.
14th. 2 men
15th. 25 men.
16th. 96 men.
17th. 176 men
18th. 2 men.
19th. 3 men.
21st. 15 men
Capt. Thomas Richards' Schuylkill County
John Weidman's Cavalry. 2 men.
Harris Pennsylvania Cavalry. 4
men.
Lamberts Independent Cavalry. 12
men.
OTHER
STATES.
1st. N.Y. 2 men.
3rd. N.Y. 1 man.
5th. N.Y. 1 man.
18th. N.Y. 1 man.
24th. N.Y. 1 man.
2nd. N.J. 1 man
3rd. N.J. 2 men.
2nd. Mass.
2nd. Calif.
5th. Ohio
8th Ill.
2nd Iowa
1st. Colo.
U.S.
1st. U.S.
2nd. U.S.
5th. U.S.
6th. U.S.
Join
the Army and Get the girls.
Like any major war when the men from the community are gone and the
soldiers from other areas are occupying the homefront, the local non serving
men and boys are lacking for female companionship.
On September 12, 1863 a young man known only as "M" wrote a
complaint to the Miners Journal about the attention of young ladies in the
area. The Journal offered some good advise to this young man.
"M" complains that the soldiers monopolize all the attention
of the girls, and that young masculine civilians have no show when the brass
buttons are around. We have no consolation to offer "M." We can only
advise him to don Uncle Samuel's uniform, and do service for the country, and
then possibly, if he is a pleasant fellow, the girls won't cut him.
IT'S
BETTER TO BE A COAL HEAVER !
During the Civil War, many Schuylkill
County
Editor National Tribune; The following is a comparison of work performed
by a soldier in the war of 1861 to 1865, and his wages, with that of a laboring
man at the coal mines of Pennsylvania at the same time.
The labor performed by a soldier was to march and carry his load; the
average laboring man to load coal. The average day's work of a soldier we will
say, was to march 16 miles per day, carry his gun, 40 rounds of ammunition,
three days rations, and knapsack, which would weigh 56 pounds: the average
weight of a soldier is 150 pounds; making a total weight of 206 pounds.
While walking on a level road his average step would be about 28 inches,
and the height from the ground to his thigh joint would be 34 inches. At every
step he lifts his center of gravity 2½ inches. All the weight above the knee
would be raised 2½ inches at every step. Now we will assume 180 pounds to be
lifted 2½ inches at every step.
In
one mile there are 2,263 steps; 2,263 steps by 2½ inches equils 5,658 inch
pounds; or 471 foot pounds by 180, equals 84,780 pounds. The soldier's weight
with his load would equal 84,780 foot pounds, or 2,58 horse power per mile.
If a
soldier marches 16 miles per day this would equal 41 horse power , or 1,383,000
units of work per day.
The
work performed by a laboring man about the mines is to load eight cars of coal
per day from the bottom of the chamber or gangway. As each car holds 96 cubic
feet of loose coal it will take 350 No. 3 scoop shovels of coal to fill one car
350 by 8 cars equals 2800 shovels of coal per day. The labors throw the coal
seven feet high into the cars. The weight of the coal and shovel is 20 pounds.
The force necessary to throw the coal 7 feet high would be 40 pounds, making a total
of 60 pounds. 2,800 by 60 equals 168,000 pounds by 7 feet high equals 1,176,000
foot pounds. The soldier received an average of $1.10 per day to perform 41
horse power. The laboring man receives $2.37 per day to perform 35.6 horsepower
per day. The soldier received 26 months at $13.00 per month. $338.00; 10 months
at $16 per month, $260.00: Us bounty, $100.00: Three years board at 25 cents
per day $275.75: three years clothing $126.00; Total $997.75 . The laborer
received 12 months at $30.00 per month;
$360.00 12 months at $60.00, $720.00, 12 months at $87.50 per month,
$1,030.00, total $2,180.000.
A
soldier would have to receive a pension of $4.00 per month for 23 years 7
months and 2 days to receive as much wages as the laboring man who stayed at
home. This average I send you is that of a strong young man employed by me in
my mines for the last 13 years. If I should take the average of 300 men
in my employ it
would be 25 % less.
It is
interesting to speculate as to how many men would have made a different choice
knowing the facts presented, and would have stayed with the coal shovel instead
of shouldering a musket for Uncle Sam. Either way both the soldier and the coal
heaver suffered in their own way.
ONLY THE BRAVE WERE CHOSEN.
THE
FLAGS AND COLOR BEARERS OF SCHUYLKILL
COUNTY
REGIMENTS.
This stirring poem was written about the
battle flag of the 96th P.V.I. and states with pride and honor what an
important part the flag played in the make up of this regiment.
The regimental flag was to be protected at
all costs, even with the lives of the men entrusted with its care, the color
bearers and the color guard. To be selected as a member of the color guard was
one of the most distinguished honors bestowed upon a Civil war soldier. To carry
the colors into battle meant that one was in the fore front of the regiment.
One knew that enemy fire would be focused on one's position and the possibility
existed that one would be killed or wounded. It took a man of extraordinary courage to be a color bearer,
and men from Schuylkill county courageously
filled this post of honor often paying with their lives. Not once in battle did
a Schuylkill county regiment permanently lose
their colors to an enemy regiment.
At the out break of the Civil War every
regiment had a flag that was either
given to them or was purchased by the individual companies comprising the
regiment. The call went out in 1862 for volunteers to enlist for three years.
These regiments were formed from the remnants of the three month volunteers.
After forming and being mustered into service the regiment was issued a
regimental flag by the State of Pennsylvania Union .
In 1861-1862 Governor Andrew Curtin of Pennsylvania Camp Curtin
on the outskirts of Harrisburg just before their
departure from Camp
Curtin Col.
On November 6, 1861, the 96th P.V.I.
marched down from their Camp on Lawton 's Hill to
the American House hotel in downtown Pottsville
The 129th, also encamped at Camp Curtin Harrisburg Schuylkill County
The regiments carried their State flags
into battle and also flags that were presented to them by the people from their
communities. The 96th carried with them a flag that was presented to the old
25th Regiment and Col. Joseph W. Cake who commanded it. This flag was carried
on the Peninsula Campaign and was used in the fight at Crampton's Pass Md. on
September 14, 1862. On June 11, 1863 a flag was presented to the regiment by a
group of men on behalf of the Ladies' Aid Society Of Pottsville. It was a
magnificent flag that carried the names of the battles that the 96th had
participated in up till that time. On February 22, 1864, Webster Bland of Pottsville
The 48th carried a flag given to them by a
citizen of Pottsville
The men of the 48th came home on veteran
furlough in 1864 and while at home were presented with a blue regimental flag
with the state coat of arms on one side and the national arms on the other.
Surrounding the coat of arms were the names of four battles the 48th
participated in. This flag was presented to
the regiment by Representative John H. Campbell on behalf of Mrs. E.R.
Bohannon and Miss. Miesse both ladies of Pottsville
The 7th Penna. Vol. Cavalry received a
blue standard and 12 swallow tailed guidons on March 1, 1864, given to them
jointly by the Ladies Aid Societies of Pottsville and St. Clair. They also carried two state standards throughout
their service.
The 129th, a nine month regiment carried a
state flag and a national flag, both of which would fall into enemy hands
during the battle of Chancellorsville in May
of 1863, but would be immediately recaptured by the heroic actions of Col.
Jacob Frick and returned to the
regiment.
In February 1865 Pottsville Center street Pottsville U.S.
The color company of a Civil War regiment
was usually" C" company and always placed in the center of the
regiment. The other nine companies were placed around the color company usually
by the seniority of their Captain. Such as:
A.F.D.I.C.(colors)H.E.K.G.B.
The color guard was composed of
eight corporals and one or two sergeants who were selected to carry the flags.
The formation of the color guard was highly visible in line of battle as these
men were usually out in front marching ahead of the regiment. The color guard
was formed up in the following fashion.
CORP.
SGT. SGT. CORP.
CORP.
CORP. CORP.
CORP.
CORP. CORP.
As men were wounded, the color guard would
naturally diminish in size and upon the order to halt, the colors would retreat
behind the double lines of infantry and remain there until the order of
"advance the colors" was given. At that time they would move to the
front once again.
On September 14, 1862 the 96th P.V.I. went
into action at Cramptons Gap , Md.
northeast of Harpers Ferry, in an effort
to thwart Robert E. Lee's proposed
invasion into Maryland and the taking
of Harpers Ferry . Opposing the 96th were
Confederate soldiers of Gen. Lafayette McLaws.
Advancing in line of battle and being
shelled by Confederate artillery
postioned on the slopes of South
Mountain
" The disposition for the final
charge having been made, the 96th was ordered forward to draw the concentrated fire of the enemy,
and turn his left which was immediately in front, and held by the 16th Georgia New York
Col. Cake, on foot, as were most of
the officers, was the first man on the right to leap the fence, waving his sword and calling on the men to
follow. Seeing some hesitate, he returned toward the fence from which he and others had gone a dozen steps or
more, just as some of the more nervous of the men fired their muskets at random, some in the air, others into
the earth at no great distance ahead, and a few in the direction of the enemy. The very great majority,
however, returned their fire, and a few moments thereafter used it most effectively.
The regiment or that part of it which
now remained, was within forty or more
paces of stone wall behind which
the enemy was fortressed. Here a narrow patch of standing corn hid the centre
companies from view, the right
companies being fully exposed to the foe together with the left, which was a
distance to the rear of the 5th Maine , 16th New York , and Newton
"Here, Casey," he exclaimed
to his first sergeant, "take my sword and follow the Colonel." Casey
moving near received the sword
from the hand of his dying leader,
whirled it around his head and called on the
men who were now as fierce as bloodhounds, to move forward. For this act which transpired under
the immediate notice of Colonel Cake, the sergeant received honorable mention
in that officer's official report, and shortly afterwards became the recipient
of a second Lieutenant's commission, which he foully disgraced. A moment after Dougherty fell, the gray
headed Scotchman color Sergeant Sol. McMinzie of company C, who was bravely
upholding the State Ensign received a mortal wound in the breast. "I am
shot," he exclaimed, as he staggered forward his eyes sparkling with
unearthly luster and his manly frame - inured to war by twelve years in the
Royal Artillery - trembled all over with excitement, and again he cried. As the flag staff slipped from his
nervous grasp, and with shattered thigh, he sank with a sigh into the arms of
death. The old standard shot-torn and gory with the blood of Gaines Hill, had
scarcely kissed the earth, before the
regimental or Col. Joseph C. Cake flag, which thus far had been borne by Sergeant Thomas
Oliver, of company C. trailed its drooping
folds in the dust, its carrier
having received a disabling wound in the foot. A cry of exultation went up from the rebel line,
and a chill of dismay shivered through the frames of those of the regiment who
saw the occurrence. The situation was
critical; The moment one of terrible apprehension enough to appall the stoutest heart.
Ordered by Captain Royer, private
William Ortner,of company H, stopped to take the flag staff from the hands of Sol. McMinzie, but scarcely
had he touched it before he was struck by a ball, which forced him to relinquish his hold. Color Sergeant
Johnson raised the staff, but relinqushed it with a disabling wound. Seeing this private Charles Ziegler
of the same company, with distinguished gallantry, rushed from his position, grasped the staff and essayed to roar
it in the air, but before he could accomplish it, a bullet deprived him of life and he fell forward to earth,
covering its silken folds with his blood. Nothing daunted by the fate of his
comrades, Corporal Henry H. Hunsicker caught up the standard and had the honor
unscathed of carrying it through the rest of the engagement. The other flag
after passing through the hands of private David Thomas, William Miller
and others, came at length into
the keeping of gallant Patrick Powers,
of company F. who bore it full high advanced to the top of the mountain."
The two color bearers who gave their
lives on this gallant charge were
Solomon McMinzie, a forty - one year - old native of Scotland ,
who resided in Pottsville
On April 2, 1865 the largest cavalry
force ever used in the Civil War was on
the move near the outskirts of Selma ,
Alabama Wilson
was ordered by Gen. George H. Thomas commander of the Department of Tennessee and the Cumberland to mount an attack against Selma ,
Alabama Selma
Riding with Wilson
on this raid was the Seventh Penna. Cavalry consisting of two full companies of
Schuylkill County
Facing the Seventh and her sister
regiments was a formidable array of defenses. The Union troops looked out upon
an open field with no natural cover. If that field was successfully crossed
while enduring constant enemy shot and shell, the troops would fall upon
abatis, sharpened wooden stakes pointing toward them. If they made it beyond
the abatis, they entered into a deep ditch which fronted a fifteen foot embankment.
Behind the embankment, the rebels waited to repulse their Union enemies.
A mounted attack would never work on this
type of defense so Gen. Wilson ordered the men to dismount. The Brigade
Commander, Gen. Eli Long, gave his 1500 men the command to advance. With
officers out in front, the Seventh boys, now dismounted, started across the
open field to their front. Under heavy shot and shell the whole way across the
open field, the Seventh successfully reached the stockade where they pulled out
some of the abatis and made a small opening through which they passed. Just
outside the fortification, Sergeant John Ennis, color bearer from St. Clair,
was fatally wounded by a minnie ball. Sergeant Louis Bickel, company I,
retrieved the standard from the dying grasp of John Ennis and carried the
colors to the top of the embankment and into the rebel held fort.
This charge cost the life of one officer
killed, three wounded and forty seven enlisted men wounded. The Seventh
captured 198 prisoners, seven pieces of artillery and over 250 enemy muskets
and rifles.
John Ennis was the only enlisted man from
the Seventh killed in the charge. He would lay wounded for five more days dying
on April 7, 1865 two days before Gen. Robert E. Lee would surrender to Gen.
Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Crimea ,
holding several medals of honor for his service to Crown. He was commended in
orders numerous times with the Seventh Pa. Cav. Also the John Ennis Post No. 44
of the Grand army of The Republic was
named in his honor by his comrades from St. Clair.
On December 13, 1862 the battle of
Fredricksburg was raging. As the 129th P.V.I. was attacking the enemy postions
on the Heights above the city, most of the color bearers were down with wounds.
Leading his men, Col. Jacob Frick of Pottsville
Again on May 3, 1863 Col. Frick would be
involved in another rescue of the regiments colors at the batte of Chancellorsville . While rebel soldiers tried to capture
the regiment's colors, Col. Frick recognized the danger and went forward and in
hand to hand fighting rescued and saved his regiment's colors.
The color bearers from Schuylkill County
FORTY
EIGHTH P.V.I.
Sgt. John Roarty Company C. to
10-02-64.
Sgt. Samuel Bedall Company E.
10-02-64 to 07-20-65. Tamaqua.
Sgt. John Taylor Company A.
04-02-65. Port Clinton
Sgt. Arthur Hatch Company C. Port
Clinton
Sgt. Edward Flanagan Company G.
Pottsville.
NINETY
SIXTH P.V.I.
Sgt. Joseph S. Johnston Company
H. Wounded 09-14-62 Cramptons
Gap.
Corp. William Ortner Company H.
Wounded 09-14-62 Cramptons Gap.
Sgt. Charles B. Zeigler Company
H. Killed 09-14-62 Cramptons Gap.
Sgt. Solomon McMinzie Company
C. Died 09-17-62 Cramptons Gap. Pottsville
Corp. Thomas Oliver Company C.
Wounded 09-14-62 Cramptons Gap.
Port Carbon.
Pvt. Harry Hunsicher Company H.
Carried Flag at Cramptons Gap.
West Brunswick .
Sgt. J.W. Conrad Company Wounded 5-9-64 at Spotsylvania Va. Pottsville
Corp. George W. Foltz Company C.
Wounded 05-10-64 Spotsylvania Va.
Corp. William Beynon, Co. A
Killed May 11, 1864.
Sgt. Fredrick Snyder, Co. B
wounded May 10, 1864.
Sgt. Charles Fisher, Co. C
wounded May 10, 1864.
Sgt. Ezra Hendley Company D.
Wounded 05-10-64 Spotsylvania
Va.
Campaign.
Sgt. William Lord Company A.
Carried Colors 05-10-64 Spotsylvania Va. Pottsville
Sgt. John Shan, Co. H. Wounded May 10, 1864 died May 15, 1864.
Sgt. John Keegan Co. I.
Sgt. John Gough, Co. D killed May 10, 1864.
SEVENTH
PENNA. CAVALRY.
Sgt. John Ennis Company A. Killed
Selma Alabama
EIGHTY
FIRST P.V.I.
Corp. Thomas Foster. Company I.
Sgt. James B. Murray. Company H.
Killed Reams Station. Va.
08-24-64.
THIRTY FIRST P.V.I.
2d RESERVES.
Corp. Thomas J. Foster.
Fifty-Second
P.V.I.
Corp. Samuel Williams, Co. I
Fifty-Fifth
P.V.I.
Color Sgt. Michael Murry, wounded
at Cold Harbor . 6-3-64
Color Sgt. James Miller, died of
disease at Beaufort , South Carolina Scotland
One
Hundred and Sixteenth P.V.I.
Sgt. Charles Mauer Co. F. The
regiments last color Bearer.
Sgt. Edward Kelly Co. F.
Pvt. James M. Seitzinger Co. G
One
Hundred and Twenty Ninth P.V.I.
Sgt. Lewis S. Boner Co. E
Col. Jacob Frick rescued and
carried the colors at Fredricksburg.
DON'T
WAIT TO BE DRAFTED !
It may not be out of place at this time to
state that should the Government find it necessary to resort to a draft to
raise the new levy called for by the President, the men enrolled under it will
not receive a dollar of the bounty offered to volunteers. There is, indeed, a
wide difference between volunteer and the drafted soldier. The former receives
the full bounty, being $25 advance bounty, one month's advance pay, $13, and
$75 at the end of his term of service, and, if he chooses, he can have the one
hundred and sixty acres of bounty land. His family, also, receives pecuiary
assistance during his absence. Those who are drafted, however receive no bounty
money, no advance, and but $13 per month pay.
So stated this article in the Miners
Journal of early July, 1862. In the summer of 1862 President Lincoln had
called for three hundred thousand volunteers and the fear was that he would not
get them, so the talk of a draft was on the public's mind creating many news stories. Governor Andrew
Curtain set the quota for Schuylkilll County Pottsville
The draft would not come about until
1863, when Congress would sign into law the national conscription act. The
first names drawn on 13 July 1863 would create riots through out the country
and also in Schuylkill county.
Miners Journal July 8, 1862
A Memorial to Patriotism,
Wallace.
The
Eighth Pennsylvania
Gallant
Charge At Chancellorsville
May
2, 1863
The Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry was raised
mainly in the Phialdelphia area, although over 45 men served in the ranks from
the Schuylkill county area. During the Chancellorsville campaign under General Hooker in early
May of 1863 the Eighth played a pivotal part in stopping General Stonewall
Jackson's command. While riding down a very narrow dirt road, the Eighth
charged the on coming confederate troops thus delaying their advance.
George W. Burton, from Schuylkill Haven, and a member of company K wrote
to the Miners Journal about their engagment at Chancellorsville .
Camp Of
The 8th Pa.
Editors Miners Journal:- I see in
your paper letters from a number of Pennsylvania Regiments but none from ours.,
The 8th Pa. Cavalry. As there atre quite a number of the regiment from Schuylkill County Chancellorsville ,
and if you think the incidents of suffcient interest to publish, they are at
your service.
On the morning of the 29th of April our regiment crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford to take the advance of the
5th Army Corps, which had already crossed, and started for Ely's Ford on the
Rapidan with the intention of forming a junction with the 12th Corps. Which
would cross the Rapidan at Germania Ford at Chancellorsville .
Nothing of importance occured on the march until we arrived at Richardville,
when the gallant Major Keenan took a battalion to Richard's Ford on the
Rappahannock, and succeeded in surprising and capturing the entire post,
consisting of one Captain, two Lieutenants and 35 men. In the meantime the rest of the regiment, under
the command of Major Huey, proceeded to Ely's Ford, where they found the enemy
on the other side.They formed their skirmishers on the hills above the ford and
challenged us to come over. Captain Goddard's squadron was ordered to deploy as
shirmishers and cross. The moment our men obtained a footing on the opposite
shore the enemy took to their heels. We pursued them about two miles, when we
stopped for the night as it was then almost dark.General Griffith Chancellorsville
. The p[soition they had just left
Major Edward Wynkoop
Of the 1st Colorado
With the war
progressing in the east and most of the regular cavalry and infantry fighting
the great battles, the members of the 1st Colorado Cavalry were keeping the trails and
routes open to the west, while constantly skirmishing with the hostile Indians.
In the midst of the civil War Major Edward Wynkoop would find time for scientific investigation and
write an interesting article to the Miners Journal.
Major Edward W.
Wynkoop of the 1st. Cavalry of Colorado, recently had an
interesting chase after Ute and Shoshone Indians, who infest the overland stage
route. Although the “Red skins” succeeded in escaping, the force had an
interesting march through portions of the Territories of Colorado, Nevada , Idaho and Utah
“Having taken
up the trail of the Indians, I followed it by rapid marches for the distance of
about eighty miles in a westerly direction, passing the waters of Bear and
White rivers, and coming on the waters of the Grand. From that point the trail
struck directly south. In the vicinity of our last camp ground, before
proceeding in a southerly direction was a peculiar sulphur spring, which I hope
some day it may be scientifically investigated. It has formed for itself a
basin in the shape of a cauldron-out of a crust, produced by the continual
overflow of the water. It is as near as we could ascertain, about sixty-eight
foot above the level of the river. It is of a circular form, perfectly
symmetrical, and as my horse’s feet struck the crust forming the outside of
this immense cauldron, it gave forth a hollow sound, leaving the impression
that were it possible for you to break through, you might soon be engulfed in
an ocean of boiling water.”
Miners Journal Sept. 19, 1863
± To Be Shot To Death.
The
Military Execution.
During
the Civil War 267 Union soldiers were executed for infractions of military law
such as rape, murder, and the most
common of all, desertion in the face of the enemy. The 96th P.V.I.
witnessed three executions during their three years of service, and in one
execution was assigned the unpopular task of being the firing squad.
The 96th witnessed their first execution on December 13, 1861. The
soldier executed was a Private William Johnston, a deserter from the 1st New
York Cavalry. He would be the first soldier executed for desertion during the
war. Pvt. Henry Keiser a member of company G of the 96th wrote about this
execution in his diary. " At two O'clock this afternoon, our regiment was
formed to be in readiness to go to the execution. At two-thirty P.M. we left
camp and marched about one mile to where the execution was to take place. Our
regiment, the 5th Maine
On August 13, 1863 the 96th was detailed to supply twenty men, two from
each company to man a firing squad for the execution of a deserter from the 5th
Maine Salem Church
of Company H describing this
execution.
Camp near New
Baltimore, Aug. 14, 1863.
This afternoon we are to have a military execution. The victim is Thomas
Jewitt, of the 5th Maine Volunteers. He has been convicted of desertion and
sentenced to be shot on this " 14th day of August between the hours of
twelve and four." A detail of twenty men from our regiment is to do the
shooting, two being taken from each company. Only ten will fire, and if that does
not produce the desired effect, the others will have a chance. Desertion has
become such an evil, that it is necessary to shot somebody; and I think, before
the month is out, several more will meet the same fate.
Aug. 15, - About 10 A.M., yesterday, the Regiment started from camp, and
marched to within about two miles of Warrenton, the place decided upon for the
execution. The Division was drawn up in two lines, and formed three sides of a
square. About 12½ O'clock, a Government wagon, drawn by four horses, and
containing the prisoner and the Chaplain of the 5th Maine Regiment, made its
appearance. Everything being ready, our brigade band struck up a funeral dirge,
and the wagon, with the prisoner, was driven around the inside of the square so
that everyone could have a good view at him. The prisoner was then taken out
and placed on his coffin. The Chaplain offered up a short prayer, and the
prisoners eyes were bound with a white handerchief. The executioners were drawn
up in two lines of ten men each. Eight muskets in each rank contained the fatal
balls, the balance being blank cartridges. As I said before, only the front
rank were to fire, unless they did not succeed in killing him. The shooting
party now moved up to within twelve paces of the prisoner, and the command,
"fire!" the muskets were discharged simultaneously. I never heard
better firing in my life. Before we heard the report of the guns the prisoner
fell from his coffin. Six balls passed through his body. Two guns failed to go
off, which accounts for more balls not going through. As soon as he was
pronounced dead, the bands struck up lively airs, and we were all marched by
him, and continued on our way home. The firing party were very highly
complimented for their excellent firing.
POTTSVILLE
FIRE COMPANIES IN THE CIVIL WAR.
Pottsville
had four active fire companies during the Civil War: the Good Intent, the
American Hose, the Humane Fire Company and the Schuylkill Hydraulian Company,
known today as the Phoenix
In April 1861 after the out break of
hostilities the American Hose Company held their monthly meeting. At which time
most members volunteered for duty in the local regiments. Unfortunatly there are no records indicating
which regiments the men joined. American Hose Company files state that from May
1861 to April 1864 "No records of meetings was kept because entire company
having joined the service of the North during the Civil war."
The Schuylkill Hydraulian Company, (Phoenix
The
Hydraulians were located on North
Centre Street Union . The firemen adopted the name the
Union Guards of Pottsville and the unit left Pottsville
on April 24, going to Harrisburg
President John Powers.
On April 17, 1861 the Miners Journal
reported:
The Union Guards of Pottsville
composed largely of members of the
Schuylkill Hydraulians Fire Company
and Captain Joseph Anthony attended Mass at St. Patricks church last
Tuesday and Wednesday morning immediately before their leaving. Rev. Father
Nugent, the resident Irish Catholic Priest, addressed them in a most patriotic
strain and with thrilling effect urging
their
stalwart defense and maintainence of
our National
Government as the highest form of their
religion.
The Union Guards of Pottsville mustered in
at Harrisburg Pottsville
History of the Good Intent Fire
Company No. 1 1899.
125th Anniversary Good Intent
Fire Co.
When Duty Calls Phoenix
Memorial To Patriotism, Wallace.
Advance the Colors Vol. 1-2.
Richard Sauers.
Pottsville
Braver Man Never Drew The Sword
Col. George C. Wynkoop
Col. George C. Wynkoop the
Colonel of the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry would serve and fight with his
regiment for almost three years, before his health failed and he had to resign.
During the battle of Gallatin ,
Tenn.
From the Miners Journal October 18, 1862 is the
account of this action.
Mr. Editor: We
were filled with surprise and indignation on seeing the report of the battle
near Gallatin Tenn. Harrisburg
Mr. Editor, we
have had the honor to be on duty with the 7th Pa. Cav. almost daily
since its organization; we have seen the Colonel’s fortitude in great many
hardships and fatique, and we have fought side by his side, when steel met
steel, and when the clash of arms in hand to hand conflict was the music of the
hour, and when the enemy fled in uter rout and dismay, before our rapidly
advancing column, we believe we express the opion of every man in his command,
when we say, a braver man never drew the sword than Col. George C. Wynkoop.
The
Saber Regiment
The
Seventh Pennsylvania
The
Gallant Charge At Shelbyville ,
Tennessee
During the Civil War the Seventh
Pennsylvania Cavalry was known as one of the finest cavalry regiments in the
Union Army.
Serving with the Army of the Cumberland Schuylkill County Shelbyville , Tenn
The Army of the Cumberland was organized
in November, 1862, out of the army of the Ohio Peryville Ky. Washington
By the time General Rosecrans was ready to move on Murfreesboro Murfreesboro
During the five months the army
remained at Murfreesboro General Stanley was exceedingly active in
strengthening, equiping and remounting the corps. The corps was kept
reconnoitering and making raids upon the confederate outposts and flanks.
Numerous skirmishes took place; some almost amounted to regular battles. The
Seventh Pennsylvania made several saber charges; ,one at Rover Tenn. January
31, 1863, upon the Seventh confederate regular cavalry, completley routing
them; one into the town of Franklin Tenn.; one at Eagleville; one at Spring
Hill, Tenn. under an expedtion commanded by General Phil Sheridan; another at
McMinville, Tenn. and several others. General Rosecrans named the Seventh
Pennsylvania cavalry "The Saber Regiment of the Army of the Cumberland
On the 25th of June one of the best equipped corps of Cavalry in the
Union army moved out of camp at daybreak. General Rosecrans had decided,
contrary to his corps commanders opinions, to move on the confederate strong
holds at Tullhoma, Belbuckel, and Shelbyville; twoe thirds of our cavalry moved
out on our right on the Shelbyville pike. The movement was unexpected by
General Bragg. The pickets were driven to the main army the first day. His
right was very heavily pressed, causing Bragg to draw from his left at Columbia
At 3 O'clock a.m. June 27, the bugle sounded reville. A heavy fog
surrounded us. The cavalry was formed in an open field in columns of regiments.
By 7 O'clock the fog had disappeared. As the bright morning sun shone upon the
seven thousand horsemen massed in the field I beheld one of the finest military
displays I saw during the entire war. The "Forward" was sounded and
seven thousand men and horses began to move for the pike. After marching in
column for several miles we came to a halt. The Seventh Pennsylvania depolyed
on the right of the pike in a small piece of cedar woods. A forward movement
was made about a half mile, then we recieved orders to take the advance of the
column. As we reached the top of a hill we passed a fortified picket post,
which Colonel Stokes, with the First Tennessee cavalry, had charged
successfully.
Before us was the beautiful Guy's Gap, through which we passed on a trot
for the distance of three miles. The east end of the Gap was protected by a
line of trenches running along the summit of a hill, north and south, as far as
the eye could see. Wheeler's confederate cavalry had moved from Columbia
We moved on a walk till we passed over a small bridge spanning a
rivulet. Then we went up the hill on a trot intil we reached the trenches,
through which we passed on a gallop. The Fourth Michigan were coming in on the
right on the confederates' left flank. The enemy's line wavered, the men
huddled like sheep, broke and went at full speed towards Shelbyville. The first
battalion of the Seventh Pennsylvania did not halt, but charged with
impetousity, cutting right and left, causing hundreds to fall. The second
battalion charged through the woods on the
left of the pike. A hand to hand
fight took place for two miles, when the confederates turned off the pike on to
a road leading to Wartrace. The second battalion under Capt. B.S. Dartt, coming
in on the left cut them off, and with the aid of a cedar stockade fence brought
four hundred and eighty to a stand; these were taken prisoners. Colonel Seipes
gathered the prisoners and took them to the rear, having over five hundred in
his possession.
The dead and wounded along the pike numbered over a hundred. Our loss
was but one man, private Felix Herb, of company A. I must relate how he was
killed at the cedar stockade fence. Herb took two prisoners; they threw up
their arms as a signal of surrender, but changed their minds. Not seeing
immediate support for Herb they shot him, the bullet passing through the centre
of the forehead. While this was going on Sergeant James A. Wilson of company F,
arrived and shot both the confederates who had shot Herb. I reached the spot
just as Wilson Wilson
As Colonel Seipes passed to the rear with the prisoners he gave me
orders to gather up the men who had become seperated from the regiment during
the charge. In the meantime the confederate artillery posted on the square in
Shelbyville was throwing shells along the pike. I collected eighty men of our
regiment and formed them into a company; then deployed them on our front and
flanks. In the meantime our third battalion arrived; also the other regiments
of the second division. Davis
"My regiment is back with the prisoners. I cannot make another
charge."
Colonel Minty overheard this remark and came to Colonel Seipes saying;
"Your third battlion is in good order - horses comparatively fresh.
All the other horses of the brigade have been run down."
Colonel Seipes replied.
"If I must make the charge I will take the artillery and drive them
into the Duck River
I then called in the men I had depolyed and formed them on the left of Davis Murfreesboro
Major Charles C. Davis led the charge. The Colonel and myself took our
proper place in column. Two pieces of Captain Newwll's Ohio Indiana Duck
River
At the east end of the bridge stood Sergeant Edward Shutt, of company A,
bareheaded his long golden hair disheveled and waving in the breeze, sabre
drawn and holding the third piece of artillery. But in this river was one of
the most heartrendling scenes man ever beheld. The river was high and a strong
current flowing owing to the rain the day before. The banks of the river are
very high - at least twenty feet high. Down the precipice leaped the
confederate cavalry, on both sides of the bridge to escape the sabres of the
Seventh. In the stream were hundreds of horses and men struggling to escape.
Many horses and men were drowned. Some gained the shore and stood wet and
shivering. The sun was down as the last man of the two hundred returned and
reported no enemy to be seen. The sick in the hospitals in Shelbyville took up
the stampede and assisted to choke the bridge and add to the misery of the
troops.
General Wheeler's cavalry never stood our cold steel. This day they
stampeded and were totally routed. General Wheeler had his horse shot from
under him during the charge. He escaped by mounting another horse and swimming
the river. The confederate captain of artillery said that he would have given
us a dose of grape as we came in town, but he dared not. He was a German, and
took his misfortune philosophically. Sgt. Major Braut took a sword from a
confederate officer marked "Toledo Washington Balaklava
during the Crimean War. He, remarked, after the charge into Shelbyville, that
the charge was not surpassed at Balaklava . The
Sergeant John Ennis, was killed at Selma ,
Alabama
From the National Tribune May 27,
1882
THE
RIGHT FLANK AT GETTYSBURG
THE
3RD PENNA. CAVALRY
On July 3rd 1863 General J.E.B. Stuart and
3 brigades of cavalry numbering about 6500 men moved to the left of General
Ewell's position near Culps Hill. Stuart trying to avoid Federal cavalry
screened his troops behind a small rise in the ground called Cress ridge. The
ridge was located about three miles east of Gettysburg
One of the theories surrounding Gen.
Stuart's battle plan called for him to
attack the Union rear and try to turn the union right flank while General
George Picket's infantry attack would assail the Federal front located on
Cemetery ridge. Although there is no evidence to support this theory, it now
appears to some historians that General R.E. Lee just wanted Stuart to protect
his left flank and to harass any Federal troops that would be routed in
Picket's charge.
Arriving at Cress ridge, Stuart observed
that there were no federal troops in
view, and an open area to his front seemed clear for any attack. The only
obstruction facing Stuart was the farm buildings of the Rummel farm. Stuart
sent out sharpshooters to occupy the farm buildings and snipe at any federal
troops in range. He also split up his cavalry brigades putting Wade Hampton and
Rooney Lee on the right and General John Chambliss's cavalry on the left along
with Col. Milton Ferguson's mounted infantry.
Around noon General David McMurtrie
Gregg's federal cavalry division with two brigades lead by Col. John B.
McIntosh and Col. J. I. Gregg was reinforced by General George Custers Michigan
brigade. Close to 1 P.M. Col. McIntosh relieved Custers Brigade which had been ordered to go to the Union left near the roundtops. Riding with McIntosh was
the 3rd Pennsylvania Cavalry containing 28 men from Schuylkill County
At 2 P.M. McIntosh sent out the first New
Jersey cavalry as dismounted skirmishers toward the Rummel farm where they met
a fierce fire from the rebel sharpshooters placed there by Stuart. Joining the
1st New Jersey were two squadrons of the 3rd Pa. Ashland Pa.
Stuart's horse artillery commenced firing
from behind the Rummel farm which caused Col. McIntosh to call for reinforcements.
He also sent word to Gen. Gregg that he was
outnumbered. General Gregg met with Custer and decided to countermand
his orders to go to the left and sent him in support of McIntosh near the
Rummel farm.
The fighting around the Rummel farm
continued into the early afternoon when the 1st New Jersey
and the boys from Schuylkill in the 3rd Pa. Michigan Pa. but was immediately checked
by the arrival of the 5th Michigan
A mounted charge was attempted by the
rebels but was halted short by the fire on their flanks by the dismounted
members of the 3rd Pa. New Jersey and 5th Michigan
Michigan ,
lead by Gen. Custer, went out to meet the rebel attack and came face to face
with the 1st Virginia Michigan ,
the 1st Virginia
After the fight, a short pause occurred
until shortly after 3 P.M.. At that time General Wade Hampton and General Fitz
Hugh Lee's brigades formed with sabers drawn in front of Cress Ridge. The
rebels advanced in close columns of squadrons, the Union artillery opened on
them with canister inflicting many casualties. The Schuylkill
countians in the 3rd Pa. Cav, who were dismounted, fell back toward their
horses. In the mean time General Gregg rode toward the men of the 1st Michigan Michigan Pa.
Given orders to rally their men, Captains Rodgers, Triechel
and Edmonds Fraiely
Township
In the initial charge when the heads of
both columns met, horses were seen to go end over end crushing their riders
beneath them. The fight then developed into a hand to hand melee. It was only
minutes but it seemed like hours as the rebels held their positions. Quickly
their flanks started to collapse and they started to retreat. Their retreat
turned into a mad rush toward the cover of the Rummel farm and Cress Ridge. The
Union troops followed in close pursuit capturing many straggling and wounded
rebels.
The Union troopers remained in control of
the field all night and into the morning. Then they moved out in pursuit of the
rebels. All six officers of the 3rd Pa.
When Mr. Rummel was helping to remove the
dead soldiers from his farm area, he came upon a private in the 3rd Pa. Pa. Pa. from Schuylkill County
FIGHTING
FIREMEN OF POTTSVILLE
THE
GOOD INTENT LIGHT ARTILLERY.
Patriotism runs deep in the blood of Schuylkill County
and when the southern traitors fired their guns on Ft. Sumter Schuylkill
Countians by the hundreds volunteered their service for the defense of the Union . The issue of slavery was hardly thought of by the
common man in the county. The men went of to war with a burning feeling of
patriotism and a desire to preserve the Republic as their forefathers had.
Bands played military marches, citizens made rousing speeches, women and
children paraded in the streets waving flags and handerchiefs. What man could
resist the call to volunteer and to
fight for the Union ?
Preserving the Union was one reason to
fight but many Schuylkill
County
Poverty was a major fact of life in rural Schuylkill . Posters showing a fifty dollar bounty, and an
advance of thirteen dollars, the monthly pay of a private soldier, and with
bonuses of up to one hundred dollars certainly encouraged some of the men to
enlist. For whatever reason the men of Schuylkill
did enlist and went off to war with pride and a sense of honor. They fought and died on the bloody
battlefields of America
Many of these men were local members of
volunteer fire companies. One of these companies was "Pottsville Schuylkill . The majority enlisted in the Washington Artillerists and
the National Light Infantry, the famed First Defenders. Subsequently, they
marched off to Washington
On September 7, 1861 at a meeting held by
the Good Intent a resolution was passed that, due to the large number of men
serving in the volunteer regiments from the fire company and the depressed
state of finances, each member would be credited with six months dues. A
committee, consisting of I.E. Severn, John Lesig, Samuel R. Russel, Wm. Lessig,
Wm. B. Severn and Geo. Foltz, was appointed to procure a light rifled cannon
for the company. On that day in the Miners Journal a short
article appeared.
Good Intent Light Artillery is the name
of a new military organization
intended to be connected with Col.
Mr. Hugh Stevenson of 332 E. Arch St. Pottsville
The members of the battery were mostly
firemen of the Good Intent Co.
after which the battery was named. The battery which was first commanded by
Capt. Wm. Lessig; First Lieut. Isaac Severn; Second Lieut. Samuel Russel and
First Sergeant Edward L. Severn, was to be short lived, that is as far as the
name was concerned. The members were unable to secure any ordnance to drill
with and finally the "boys" decided to swipe brass and make a cannon
themselves. Piece by piece they scraped together the brass while some poor,
unsuspectin victim scratched his head and wondered at the mysterious
disappearance of some article of brass from his shop or household. When enough had been secured the
brass was melted and molded into a fine
cannon by Geo. W. Snyder. The cannon was the "only one" in the
eyes of the boys and carefully guarded. The battery camped on Lawton
The cannon was a centerpiece of pride for
the citizenry of Pottsville
The Good Intent Light Artillery
Company, attached to Col. Cake's
regiment pitched its tents on the hill this week. A cannon for this company is
being cast by Geo. W. Snyder and the gun
carriage is also being made here. This company has some thirty men encamped on
the hill.
From the Miners Journal of
October 19, 1861 this interesting article appeared:
The Good Intent Light Artillery Co.
took a brass field piece up to
their camp on Saturday last. It was cast by Mr. George W. Snyder and rifled by
Mr. Schalk. A trial of the gun was held last week at Tumbling Run and was satisfactory.
At 500 yards it planted a ball one pound and a quarter in weight within three
inches of the center of the target. With a couple of these guns, and three or four howitzers
this company could bring an
effective battery into the field. We understand that it is rapidly filling up.
The men of the Good Intent Artillery now
attached to the 96th P.V.I. as company C (The Color Company) would make their
mark throughout the war with the 96th and famed Sixth Corps. Because they were
an infantry regiment, the men would lose their cannon to a Massachusetts
Battery while attached to the First Brigade of the Sixth Corps in July of 1862.
The only Massachusetts Battery attached to the first Brigade was the 1st Mass.
Artillery. The Miners Journal of August 2, 1862 reported the
transfer of the cannon to the 1st Mass:
The small rifle cannon cast by Mr.
George Shalk, for Company C 96th
Regiment is now in a Mass. Battery and
the men think so much of it that they would sooner part with any other pieces than it. This
speaks so highly for its
quality.
Where is the cannon? Did it survive the
war? We may never know the answers to these questions.The whereabouts of this
cannon still remain a mystery onehundred and thirty three years after it was
turned over to the 1st. Mass. Battery ..
Memorial To Patriotism, Wallace.
125th Anniversary of The Good
Intent Fire Company.
Miners Journal Sept. 7, 1861
Miners Journal October 5, 1861
Miners Journal October 19, 1861
Miners Journal October 12, 1861.
Miners Journal August 2, 1862.
Pottsville
EARLY
WAR SERVICE WITH THE RINGGOLD RIFLES
OF
MINERSVILLE.
After the Washington Artillery and the
National Light Infantry returned home from Washington , Pennsylvania Huntington ,
Berks, Lebanon and Schuylkill Counties ,
Schuylkill sending four companies to fill the
regiment. One of these companies was the
Ringgold Rifles of Minersville.
Fredrick Gunther, residing in Minersville
in April of 1861 was a member of the
Ringgold Rifles and left an interesting letter describing service with the
Ringgold Rifles and Fifth Regiment.
"I was a member of the Ringgold
Rifles of
Minersville
Pa.
services as a company to Governor
Curtin,
April 19th 1861 and where immediately
excepted.
We left Minersville Saturday April
20th and arrived
at Camp Curtin U.S.
service Sunday April 21st as Company I
5th Regt. Pa.
Vol. Infantry Capt. J. Laurence, 1st.
Lieut. S.
Richards 1st Lieut. C.N. Brumm company
officers.
The company left Harrisburg
for Washington
of little York , Pa.
to Harrisburg
York Harrisburg
Monday morning at daybreak. Started
for Washington
by way of Lancaster ,
Philadelphia and Delaware
Chesepeak canal and Annapolis Naval
Academy
Philadelphia Navy Yard was transported
to Naval
Academy by boat. Marched after a few
days rest at
Academy to Annapolis Junction over
railroad which
had been torn up and bridges and culverts
had been
destroyed . Distance marched about 21
miles which
was made by the regiment in one day.
Other
egiments which made the march took two
days
in covering the same distance. 5th
Regiment done
duty at Annapolis
boarded flat cars with benches for seats
and reached
Washington
D.C.
The regiment was assigned to quarters
temporarily.
In temporary building in rear of the
old city hall
the building had been used as the
inaugural ball
room, President Lincolns Inauguration
March 4th
1861. The regiment was later sent out
to camp in
tents on east capitol hill, and later
on when the
advance on Alexandria
marched over the Long bridge to Alexandria Va.
distance about 9 miles. made the march
in about
three hours on a very warm day in
June. The same
day Col. Ellsworth of the New York
Fire Zouaves
was shot by Jackson
down the confederate flag off the pole
on the
Marshall
house, of which Jackson
The 5th Regiment arrived on the scene
of the
shooting about two hours after. The
other troops
of the expedition came down by boat on
the Potomac
and the 5th Regiment marched down. It
was reported
in the newspapers at the time of the
5th Regts.
arrival and march down Pennsylvania Avenue
the B&O.R.R. Depot to the City
Hall that the Penna.
5th was the first regiment to arrive in
Washington
fully equipped for action armed with Harpers Ferry
muskets, 40 rounds of ammunition and 5
days rations
of sea biscuits and salt horse sugar
and coffee.
But the rations had been mostly
consumed by the
time we reached Washington
Fredrick Gunther served as 1st. and 2nd
Sergeant of company I 5th Regiment P.V.I. from April 21st 1861 to July 23rd
1861. He also served for three years in company L 3rd Pa. Sawtewlle , Calif.
The actual letter is in the files
of the Schuylkill County Historical Society.
There
Should Be A Memorial For Horses
The
Horses of The Seventh Penna. Cavalry
During the Atlanta Washington D.C.
HQ 7th Penna.
Cav.
Near Blakes
Mills, Ga
Sept. 13,
1864
Capt. R. Burns
A.A.A.G.
1st Brig. 2nd Cav. Div.
Sir, I have the honor to report that the
7th Reg. Penna Vol. Cav. started on the 30th day of April with 919 horses,
fresh from the corral at Nashville Nashville R. Rd. Ned City rec'd 28 Ibs of corn for 3 days to be carried
upon the horses in addition to 5 days rations and travelled 33 miles crossing
at Raccoon Sand and a spur of Lookout
Mtn.
From the 16th of May to the 19th the
horses had no feed except the leaves and short grass to be found in the hills
around Andersonville , Ga. Kingston Stone
Mountain . All was hacked upon the withers of the horses doing as
much harm to the horses as the feed did good causing sore backs. From Aug. 1 to
Aug. 15 the command was 5 miles away from the horses. 4 horses were groomed by
1 man cause consequently they were not as well taken care of as the ride would
give them. For 48 hurs they were without feed.
Aug 15 and 16 rec'd 1 qt. per head and
travelled 24 miles over a country devastated by the army. Aug 17 and 18 rec'd 1
pint feed from 3d Div. Aug 19, 20, 21,22,23, and 24 travelled 120 miles feeding
but once on green corn. 1/2 ration of forage was issued to Sept. 9 Sept. 9
,10,11 no feed and no grazing. The stock rec'd no salt or hay during the
campaign. Lost in action Aug. 20 112 horses.
Started with 919 horses
captured 42 horses
total 961 horses
Abandoned
and died 230 horses
killed and
captured 171 horses
Total Lost 401 horses
Present in
the field 560 horses
961 horses.
From the Regimental Records Book
National Archives.
Jack
Crawford, The Poet Scout
Jack Crawford from Minersville, enlisted
in the 48th Pennsylavania Volunteer along with his father in February 1864.
Jack's father had served with the
Ringold Rifles of Minersville in the early part of the war. The elder Crawford
was wounded twice during the war, once at Antietam and again on May 18, 1864 at
Cold Harbor so badly that it would cause his
death shortly after the war.
When Jack was a young teenager, he would
try to enlist in two differnt regiments but would be rejected because of his
age. Finally he would be excepted inthe 48th regiment company F along with his
father. Jack fought with the regiment through the Wilderness campaign and
Spottsylvania where he was wounded on May 31, 1864 thirteen days after his
father was wounded. On the 31st near the Totopotomy Creek, the 48th was
advancing across some of the worst ground of the campagin, they encountered the
rebels and a very severe fight insued. The regiment lost very heavily in this
fight. Along with Jack being wounded the regiment lost Major Joseph A. Gilmor
and two Lieuts.
Jack would again be wounded on April 2,
1865 in General Grant's all out assault on the Petersburg Fort Virgina
The Civil War would be just the begining
for one of the most interesting Schuylkill
countians who ever lived. Jack would go on to become known as the "Poet
Scout". He would be one of the founders of 5 cities Deadwood; Custer City ,
Crook, Gayville and Spearfish, South
Dakota New Mexico Long Island ,
on February 28, 1917.
Doing
Nothing But His Duty.
John
Kanes Story.
On August 30th 1862 James Kane a 26 year old married man with three
small children would feel the patriotic fever that struck many a man from Schuylkill county and volunteer his services to the Union
cause. He would leave his native Port Carbon and travel to Philadelphia
He would serve for just 4 months and five days when he would tragically die at Point of Rocks Md.
Sergeant Kane was bucked on December 27, 1862 for disobeying an order to
fetch a lose horse that was in camp. He was ordered to catch the horse by a
Major White, the adjutant. Kane stated that he did not obey the order because
at the time he was acting orderly Sgt. and was hunting two men for another
detail and didn't notice the horse. Kane was put under arrest at 9:00 AM on the
27th of December and the punishment continued till 3:00 PM. He was released
from the punishment when his company Captain returned from a scout. On January
4, 1863 Sgt. James Kane was dead.
James body was returned to his native Port Carbon and was laid to rest
with full military honors on the 11th of January 1863. His grieving wife
Dorothea and their 3 small children stood by his grave on that cold and cloudy
Sunday. The tragic story of this soldier does not end here, In the January 17th
issue of the Miners Journal two articles were written in regards to James Kane.
One titled "Coroner's Inquest" stated that Coroner Johnson performed
an inquest on the body of Sgt. James B. Kane at Port Carbon and according to
the evidence, unwarranted punishment (called bucking) and exposure, by order of
Major White, who was then in command of the 13th Pa. Cavalry. Verdict
accordingly. Another article was titled "A matter for investigation".
James was a member of the Schuylkill lodge No.
27 of I.O. of O.F. Lodge of Odd Fellows. The members of the Port Carbon Lodge met during the week and
made up three resolutions involving the
death of there fellow brother. We have
learned with regret of the death of our late brother James Kane, We have
learned that brother Kane should have come to his death by undue and improper
punishment inflicted by order of the Major of the said cavalry; and we ask that
the Honorable James Campbell M.C., to represent the matter to the War
Department for investigation.
The resolutions were sent to the Hon. James Campbell and an
investigation was opened on February 3, 1863 by order of Brig. Gen. Kelly.
Passing the investigation down through channels it finally fell into the hands
of Col. Galligher the commanding officer of the 13th Pa. Cavalry. An
investigating board was set up to question those who were involved in the
punishment. First to be questioned was the regimental Surgeon Geo. B. Lummis,
he stated that he attended the Sgt. on the 30th December and that he died of an
inflammation of the brain on the 4th of January. In his opinion the bucking
could not have been the cause of the soldiers death. The condition of the
soldier when first seen was comatose accompanied by wandering delirium which is
common of the disease. He had no marks of bucking. Another Surgeon named Stanton
Eight witnesses were questioned and various statements were made in the
official record of the case. Some of the statements made concerning his bucking
were: " He was tied tight, orders
were to see the bucking through", Kane complained of being unwell on
Monday night he said "his wrists hurt". He complained that he was
tied to tight for doing nothing but his duty. Another private stated
"Sunday was a chilly day for one to be tied". Private White stated
"His wrists were all swollen and he appeared to be excited", another
stated "it was awful cold in the morning; no fire in the guard house, and
he was in a very weak condition on Monday, said he was to weak to come after a
drink of water." Private Cole remarked "when Kane came into the
hospital he showed me his wrists, they were all swelled, he was so sore across
his bowels that he could not stoop over, and his last words spoke was that
bucking would be the cause of his death.
The court of Inquiry report states the evidence is sufficient to require
the said Major White's case to be examined and proceed upon by a General Court
Martial and the evidence does not leave Major White blameless.
The Coroners jury report that Kane died of congestion of the brain
produced by unwarranted punishment called bucking, inflicted by Major white.
On April 24, 1863 charges were preferred against Major White that while
awaiting the findings of the General Court Martial he left the town of Winchester and went to Bunker Hill ,
charge: Breach of Arrest and being drunk. On April 24, 1863 Brig. General
Elliott recommended the dismissal of Major White stating " Of this quiet
Major White I have no doubt and I believe that the sooner the service is rid of
him the better." White tendered his resignation in a letter stating "
I know my conduct has been exemplary until this unfortunate affair
happened." The reason he gives for
resigning are the sickness of his wife, and a desire to engage in more peaceful
pursuits.
Corporal punishment was permitted in both the Union and Confederate
armies during the war and was at the discretion of the officers in charge, as
this story states a man died from the effects of this cruel punishment leaving
a wife and three small children, to die in combat was almost expected by the
families but I don't think any family would expect to receive news such as what
the Kane family received.
William
Harrison Madara
A
Soldier
When the rebel guns fired on Fort Sumter
on April 12, 1861, 21 year old William Madara of Pottsville , Pennsylvania Arch street
His wages were almost wholly paid
to him in dry goods and groceries from the store. The goods were used in
support of his widowed mother and sister with whom he lived. There was also
another brother, Charles, who was older than William and who also helped in
support of the family.
What compelled William to enlist in the
army,is not known. It could have been the need for money or the patriotic fever
that struck most of the 13,000 young men from Schuylkill
county. But on April 15, 1861 William would enlist in the National Light
Infantry from Pottsville Pottsville Pottsville Center Street Baltimore
Arriving at Washington
in the evening, William and his company were the first volunteers to enter Washington Fort
Washington , on the Potomac for about
three months and finally returned home to Pottsville
As soon as the three month regiments
returned to Pottsville , Col.
After leaving winter camp at White House
Landing, the 96th crossed the Rappahannock
River Orange
turnpike. They move west on the turnpike with the 5th Maine Salem Church Salem Church
This story occured many times to
families in Schuylkill
County
Memorial To Patriotism. Wallace
On Battle
Major
Claude White
of the " White Horse
Company "
3rd
Pennsylvania
Major White was born in England Schuylkill
County during the year 1852 and was in
the coal operation business in Reilly Township , and resided in Swatara , Pa.
On the out break of war, Major White volunteered as a three months
volunteer. He would recruit his own company of men for a regiment of cavalry
known as " The Kentucky Light Cavalry" which became the 3rd
Pennsylvania Cavalry, company L and would muster over 200 men.
This story concerning Major White, was taken from the regimental
history entitled, " History of the
Third Pa. Cav. 1861-1865.
" Of all our drills none were more exciting than when Major Claude
White was in command. How he loved to charge us down to the station, calling
quickly, "Halt", then adding "Fours right wheel, forward, head
of the column right". All of this was for the fun of seeing the men get
untangled and figure their place in line. It was not an easy task to keep our
line as some of our horses persisted in going into the ditch. Those which could
not be cured of this habit were relegated to the wagon train."
Another interesting story about Major White was how he choose the color
of the company horses. In some regiments the horses were separated into
different companies by their colors. Most company commanders avoided the whites
or greys.
" Captain White, he made this appropriately his choice and his
command was mounted chiefly on white horses. The men spoke of Captain White
jocularly as Captain White of the "White Horse Company" always
however with respect, for he won our esteem, affection and regard by his
kindness of heart, as well as his brave and soldierly qualities."
Major White resigned his commission with the Third Pa. Cavalry on July
15, 1863 for health reasons. He returned to Pennsylvania
There
was nothing safe at Petersburg
On January 2, 1865 Corporal William
Levinson of Company C 48th P.V.I. was instantly killed by a sixty-four pound
mortar shell coming through his quarters in Fort
Sedgwick , or as it its called at the
front, "Fort Hell " in front of Petersburg
Miners Journal January 1865.
A
Mothers Sorrow
Lewis Lewis, was eight years old when he was brought to this country
from his native South Wales in 1851, by his
parents Thomas and Cecilia Lewis. The family settled in the mining community of
Swatara, Schuylkill
County Schuylkill Guards,
and went off to war. Lewis fought with the 55th at the battle of Cold Harbor
were the Regiment lost 151 men on June 3, 1864. On June 18 the 55th was engaged
in the attacks on the rebel held positions near Petersburg Va.
"In a charge that was made on the rebel works in front of Petersburg Hampton
Va.
SCHUYLKILL
MEN BEFORE THE MAST.
Contributing less than 40 men to the
United States Navy and Marine Corps, during the war of the rebellion, Schuylkill County
In late 1861 the Miners Journal
lists several countians that enlisted in the navy and have applied for and
passed their Asst. Engineer test and served on board ship as engineers. From Pottsville
Serving aboard the U.S. Steamship
Hatteras, was First Defender, Thomas Corby, from Pottsville Corby who was a seaman enlisted
in the Navy on October 10, 1861. He was assigned on board the U.S.S. Hatteras,
a sidewheel steamer: 1126 tons. She was 210 feet long and was armed with 4
32-pdrs and 1 20 pdr. rodman. She had a speed of 8 knots.
The sinking of the Hatteras is one of the
most interesting naval engagements of the Civil War. The Hatteras was anchored
off the coast of Texas near Galveston
"Knowing the slow rate of speed
of the Hatteras, I at once suspected
that deception was being practiced, and hence ordered the ship cleared for
action, with everything in readiness for a determined attack and a vigorouse
defense.
When within about four miles of the
vessel, I observed that she had ceased
to steam, and was lying broadside and awaiting us. It was nearly seven o'clock,
and quite dark; but, notwithstanding the obscurity of the night, I felt
assured, from the general character of the vessel and her maneuvers, that I
should son encounter the rebel steamer Alabama
I came within easy speaking
range-about 75 yards, and upon asking, "What steamer is that ?"
received the answer, "Her Britannic Majesty's
Ship Vixen." I replied that I would
send a boat aboard, and immediately gave the order. In the meantime, the
vessels were changing positions, the stranger endeavoring to gain a position
for a raking fire. Almost simultaneously with the piping away of the boat, the
strange craft again replied, "We are the Confederate steamer Alabama Alabama
With the vessel on fire in two
places, and beyond human power, a
hopeless wreck upon the waters, with her
walking - beam shot away, and her engine rendered useless,I maintained
an active fire, with the active hope of disabling the Alabama and attracting
the attention of the fleet off Galveston, which was only twenty - eight miles
distant."
Ordering the magazine flooded so that the
ship would not explode, and firing of a lee gun, the Hatteras admitted defeat.
The Alabama
Corby and the rest of his crew went into
the water, and after a short delay from the Alabama Alabama
set sail to the east and after a long journey through rough sea she reached Jamaica
Thomas Corby would eventually return to
the navy, finish out the war as a gunners mate on the U.S.S. Gertrude a Screw
Steamer of 350 tons, and would be discharged from the navy on November 8, 1864.
The First Defenders. Heber
Thompson.
Service Afloat. The Remarkable
Career of The Confederate Cruiser
Sumter
And Alabama
The
Total Number of Men Furnished By
Schuylkill County
From The Miners Journal:
Hardly had we finished copying the list of
Volunteers, in April, 1865, when an order from the War Department, cnsequent
upon the fall of Richmond
From April 17, 1861, to April 13, 1865,
the number of men furnished by Schuylkill
County
Three months Service...........................1,795
Three's years' troops, recruited
in 1861.......4,007
Nine Months' troops
1862.......................786
Militia for state defence,
1862................647
173rd Regiment (drafted men) nine
months.......310
Emergency militia, 1863........................1,576
Drafted men who entered the
service under draft
of
1863........................................72
Re-Enlisted veterans and
volunteers recruited
in winter and spring of
1864...................1,864
Volunteers under call, July 1864...............351
One hundred days men,
1864.....................175
116th
Regiment.................................71
Volunteers under defiiency call,
December
19,
1864.......................................681
Total..........................................12,335
If we add to this the number of citizens
who furnished substitutes, we find that Schuylkill County
Never
To Old To Serve.
During the Civil War Pennsylvania was credited with 337,936 men who
served in the Union Army, this was 12.1% of the army and consisted of 14.3 % of
the states population. Of this number less than 1 % of the men were over the
age of sixty.
Serving in the 48th Regiment was a soldier by the name of Charles Arndt, and at the ripe old age of 67
was on active duty. On July 12, 1862 in the Miners Journal an article entitled, "An Old Soldier And A Patriot",
which described his military career.
"The following communication from a non-commissioned officer of Co.
D, 48th Reg. P.V., we publish with pleasure. The facts contained in it, are
highly creditable to the subject of the notice:
Editors Miners Journal:- There is a man in Co.D, 48th Reg. P.V. who is
67 years old, and quite an active man, having never missed a day's duty, while
in the service of the United
States Germany ; but has resided in Schuylkill County Germany Ashland , Schuylkill County
Pa.
Charles served his three year enlistment and was discharged on February
12, 1865 on a surgeons certificate, there is no listing of him being wounded, so
one assumes he became ill and was discharged for illness.
The
Union Guards Of
Orwigsburg.
The Union Guards were formed shortly after the fall of Fort Sumter
On September 12, 1862 the men met in the Arcadian Institute in the
Borough of Orwigsburg for the purpose of voting in there officers. Following is
a list of the men of this unit and there elected officers.
1. William H. Schall
2. John Schall
3. Charles Hermansader
4. Samuel M. Yost
5. James Lehr
6. John A. Shingler
7. Joseph Shoener
8. Morgan Shoener
9. Jacob Hay
10. James A. Gerber
11. William Kimmel
12. David Houser
13. Edward Yeager
14. George Koch
15. George W. Maurer
16. William Smith
17. Jacob Leng
18. William H. Leffler
19. Thomas Schall
20. Victor Wernert
21. Charles H. Miller
22. Christian Deifender
23. George Lewis Jr.
24. Charles Medlar
25. Charles Fisher
26. Henry Hammer
27. Henry Day
28. Jacob Kimmel
29. E.L. Hultzer
30. Jerimiah Leymeister
31. Joseph Zall Jr.
32. Jermiah Smith
33. Morgan Albright
34. Jacob Deen
35. Jacob Faust
36. Felix Smith
37. Joseph Hillabach
38. Lewis F. Kimmel
39. Morgan W. Koch
40. Daniel Ruhf
Union
Guards
41. Henry A. Newman
42. Lewis Reigel
43. Edward Shoener
44. Thomas Wagner
45. William Gerhard
46. Joel Deitrich
47. John A. Hasesler
48. George Freed
49. William H. Mayer
50. Goerge W. Faust
51. Francis Fidler
52. Thomas Hammer
53. Rhubin Hay
54. Francis Yeager
55. Franklin W. Wagner
56. Henry Hay
57. Thomas Hoy
58. William J.F. Sterner
59. Benj. Pott Jr.
60. William F. Leymeister
61. Solomon Reed
62. Francis Moyer
63. Charles Maurer
64. John S. Snyder
65. Edward H. Mull
66. J.T. Clause
67. Samuel H. Madden
We the superintendent and assistants at the election for Officers of the
Military Company call the Union Guard of Orwigsburg, held at the Arcadian
Institute in the Borough of Orwigsburg in the County of Schuylkill, Pa. on the
12 day of September 1862 having carefully added together the votes polled
according to law do certify that the following is the result as appears by the
tally paper.
For Captain: William M. Bickel 49
votes.
Ed. K. Mull 19 votes.
For 1st. Lieut. James O Lehr 53
votes.
Charles Hermansader 14 votes.
For 2d Lieut. William H. Schall
57 votes.
For Quartermaster Sgt. John
Clouse 42 votes
For 1st. Sgt. Eugene L. Holzer 9
votes.
Daniel Ruhf 18 votes.
Victor Wernert 35 votes.
For 2d Sgt. Thomas Hammer 53
votes.
For 3rd Sgt. John Schall 51 votes
For 4th Sgt. John B. Snyder 58
votes
For Corporal Francis Fiddler 26
votes. Thomas Hoy 29 votes.
Samuel M. Yost 11 votes. Reuben Hoy 30 votes.
Charles Maurer 46 votes.
Charles
P. Potts
151st
Pennsylavania Regiment
At
Gettysburg
In the early part of 1863 our regiment
joined the army of the Potomac, being assigned to the first Corps, and doing
picket duty until the move on Chancellorsville ,
when we were sent to the extreme right to occupy the postions vacated by the
eleventh corps. Not gaining our object under Hooker, we crossed the river and
went into camp near our old grounds overlooking Fredricksburg, but we were not
to remain long.
Lee's army was short of food, and he was
on his way to Pennsylvania Gettysburg
I could see we could not hold our postion
long, as the rebel reinforcements were being thrown on to our left flank, and
our men gradually giving way. Occupying a postion n the centre of the line,
while the right and left were being driven back, placed us in a very exposed
postion, when we, too had to fall back to the rear and took shelter in a grove
surrounding the Seminary Building, while all other troops had fallen back,
leaving us alone to hold our ground as well as we cold, with one battery of
artillery.
We soon found that we must vacate our
postion, or be surrounded and our whole command captured. Our general officers
had all left the field, excepting Col. Chapman Biddle, who commanded our
brigade, and was wounded in the head, but he was well mounted, and made his
escape. Retreating for the second time, we made directly for the town, thinking
we would be able to make another stand, but, to our great surprise, the rebel
cavalry had cut off our retreat, and we were well bottled up.
It had never occured to me that I might be
taken prisoner, and when I found out that I was helpless in their hands my
feelings can't be described.
Meeting a few wounded men of my company, I
took them into the Lutheran church, then used as a hospital and rather than
have the humiliation of delivering my sword to a rebel, I hid it in the
building.
After supplying the boys with
water, I went to the front just in time to see the chaplin of the 90th Penna.
killed, while standing in the doorway of the church. In company, with two
others, we picked him up, but he had been instantly killed, the ball entering
his mouth and taking an upward course through his brain. The rebels were
picking up lose yankees and sending them to a prison camp north of the town
under the command of Col. French of the 14th West Virginia.
He extended us a welcome, taking our
names, rank, and regiment, but offering us no further accommodations than the
cold ground for a bed and an empty haversack for supper. We found him a good
hearted old Virginia
Our regiment in a few hours had been
completley torn to pieces. We marched into the engagement with 66 al told, and
our loss was 337. Our opponents were the
11th and the 26th North Carolina
The guns had ceased firing, the remainder
of our army had taken up a postion on Cemetery Ridge, entrenched and waiting
reinforcements. As night was approaching we thought it was time to have
something to eat, before retiring to a bed of clover. I found my stock of
provisions consisted of only three and one half pieces of hardtack.
On the morning of July 2d we were moved to
Willoghby Run at the Rebel General Pickett's headquaters, and there remained
during the remainder of the fighting, being directly in the rear of the rebel
batteries, until the morning of the fourth, when the enemy thought it better to
go south.
All this time the rebs gave us no food
until the eve of the 3rd, when they gave us a small quantity of flour, which we
mixed with the waters of the creek and baked it on flat stones, as best we
could, into some kind of bread, the like of which I had never seen before, but
would have been very glad to have later on.
From A First Defender in Rebel
Prison Pens.
By Charles Potts, Late Lieut.
151st P.V.I.
Read before the Society October
29, 1913
Schuylkill
Men Open the Battle Of Chickamauga
On the morning of September 18, 1863
Captain Heber Thompson of the Seventh Pa. Cavalry was ordered to lead a
reconnaissance of 100 men toward Ringgold
Ga. Chickamauga Schuylkill countian Pvt. John Ward was the first Union
soldier killed in the battle.
A Illinois National Cemetery
in Chattanooga
Miners Journal Oct. 26, 1914
Pennsylvania
At Chickamauga and Chattanooga
Robert Reid
Native of Scotland
Resided in Pottsville
Worked in Fishback
Palo Alto
Co.
G 48th
From Mulhollands History of
Honor:
Mr. Reid was born at Raploch,
near Stirling Scotland, Jan 22, 1842: At Petersburg June 17, 1864 he captured a
flag of the 44th Tenn. Infantry, and these few words tell of a sever fight, of
a hand to hand struggle in which Mr. Reid conquered. A splendid soldier and
true son of old Scotland
During the Spottsylvania engagement of May
12, Robert Reid of Company G descripred the battle which the 48th took part in.
It was a very foggy morning when Captain
Mc Kibben of General Potter's staff ordered Col. Pleasants to follow him with
the 48th, and it will be remembered that McKibben rode a very dilapidated plug
of a horse that day, but he rode right to the front, leaning forward on his
horse, as he led us up on the hill, until he had us under fire, when we formed
line of battle behind the brow of a hill, directly in our front, and our
postion did not suit the Colonel. We moved forward past the right of the
advanced regiment until we got about half way between it and the enemy, which
proved to be the 13th Ga.
"I claim that this was the regiment
of the enemy which Grant in his memoirs claims to have captured on the same day
that Hancock captured Johnson's divsion.
"Among the many killed in this
engagement, none was more deeply regretted thatn Lieut. Henry Jackson, of
Company G."
From The Story of The
Forty-Eighth Joseph Gould.
Dying
For His New Country
Family members fighting in the Civil War was a common occurance and many
families suffered grief with the death of a loved one, this story taken from
the Miners Journal on November 26, 1864 describes a patriotic story of two
immigrant brothers from Scotland
Death of a Soldier-A Remarkable Case-Two gallant young men, brothers,
named David Miller and John Miller, natives of Lanarkshire ,
Scotland , landed in New York on the 6th of September last, and a few days thereafter
arrived in Pottsville Pottsville
on the 14th, arriving before Petersburg Richmond Annapolis , Md. Pottsville Market street Presbyterian Cemetery
John the brother of the deceased, is still with the Regiment, fighting
in defense of the liberties that he hopes in the future to enjoy peacefully.
His age is 26 years. All honor to these patriotic young Scotchmen.
Pottsville
Born Aug 29 1842
Printer
Enlisted March 23 in USMC
at Philadelphia
He was under Admiral Dupont, Dahlgren,
Farragut and Porter, and served with the South Atlantic Sqd. In all its
operations from the time he entered the service,including the naval investment
of Forts Wagner and Sumter, in Charleston
Harbor , serving at different times on
the vessels Wabash and Pawnee. In the siege if
Charleston he had charge of and command of a naval battery on Morris Island, In
the harbor, and after captiulation of Fort Sumter, when the services of the
Marines were no longer required on the south atlantic seaboard, the battlion of
marines under the command of col. Reynolds, to which Mr. Slater belonged was transferred
to the marine barracks at Washington, and there held in reserve for a
considerable time. In the meantime the Confederate cruiser Alabama
was committing depradations on the commerce of the United States France St. thomas , W.I. where it lay for several days for repair
and general overhauling and were the news of the destruction of the Alabama Philadelphia
NAVAL LETTERS.
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN BLUE
JACKET SEES ACTION.
In early May 1862 Gen. McClellan’s army
was advancing up the Peninsula in pursuit of a retreating Confederate General
Joseph E. Johnston, who was falling back toward Richmond port of Norfolk Charleston , South Carolina
Hampton ’s
Road, Va.
Editors Miners Journal - We had a
glorious” days shooting” yesterday. The Susquehanna, San
Jacinto , Seminole, Naugetuck
and the Monitor bombarded Sewell’s Point. Agreeably to Flag Officer Goldsborough’s order we all got under
way about noon yesterday and steamed up off Sewell’s Point in fine style. Upon
arriving as close as possible to the rebel batteries on the point, which is
nearly opposite Fortress Monroe, we immediately opened fire upon them. The day
was a magnificent one - clear, pleasant and just breeze enough to raise the
smoke. The secession flag was plainly seen over the batteries on the Point. The
bombardment was kept up briskly on our part for several hours. The water
splashed, the sand flew about in torrents, and shells exploded with tremendous
reports in and around their batteries.
We knocked down their flag staff, which
was however, instantly replaced, dismounted some of their guns, scattered their
sand battery, and what other damage or loss of life the enemy sustained we
could of course not learn, as the sequel will show. The enemy did not appear to
be very earnest, or else our shells and the flying sand must have prevented
them from working their guns, as they fired only now and then, and most of
their shots were directed at the Susquehanna and the daring Monitor. One rebel
shell burst near the water close by our ship, and several whizzed over our
heads, causing us to repeat our Port Royal
politeness and courtesy to the enemy’s fire, vis, bowing and dodging. The
Monitor, which by the way, is the greatest, smallest, queerest “Institution”
ever got up, closely hugged the shore and sent her shot with unerring precision
at the enemy’s stronghold. She steamed
up alongside of us once during the action, when we all had a fine chance to see
her. The enemy, notwithstanding the galling fire on our part, and their
inability to work their guns, obstinately refused to haul down their colors. We
shelled them, without receiving any loss or damage from them, for about four
hours, when a dense black smoke across in their fortifications and near their
flag. Soon licking flames surrounded and rapidly spread, the smoke becoming yet
thicker and blacker. While this fire, caused by one of our shells, raged, we
still kept pouring in our shot and shell. Their flag still defiantly flew and
occasionally a shot came toward us. Some striking too short, others passing
over us. We could not understand this game, this desperate holding out on their
part. Soon however, we observed another column of smoke in the direction of Norfolk Newport News , we saw the remains of the Cumberland
There are three foreign nations
represented here in the roads; England
by her war vessel, Rinaldo , France by the Gasseudi, and Norway United
States Baltimore
S.S.B.
On May
10, 1862 infantry was landed across Hamptons Roads and advanced to Norfolk Norfolk
Norfolk
The
other evening troops were conveyed across the Roads from Fortress Monroe, who
marched towards Norfolk Norfolk
About
sunrise this morning the Flag Officer signaled to a portion of the fleet in
Hampton Roads to get under way, and prepare for action. In obedience to another
signal our barge went to the Flag-ship and upon returning, the Captain
immediately gave the order to ship the cable, saying we were off for Norfolk Dacotah , Mount Vernon ,
and one or two others, were under way and stood towards Elizabeth Norfolk Elizabeth Craney
Island Craney
Island Norfolk
I shall write again
soon, meanwhile
Respectfully yours, S.S.B.
Miners Journal, May 10, 1862 Warships and
Naval Battles Of The Civil War./ Tony Gibbons. Duel Between The First
Ironclads. William C. Davis.
The
Eighth Pennsylvania
Gallant
Charge At Chancellorsville
May
2, 1863
The Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry was raised
mainly in the Philadelphia area, although over
45 men served in the ranks from the Schuylkill
county area. During the Chancellorsville
campaign under General Hooker in early May of 1863 the Eighth played a pivotal
part in stopping General Stonewall Jackson's command. While riding down a very
narrow dirt road, the Eighth charged the on coming confederate troops thus
delaying their advance.
George W. Burton, from Schuylkill Haven, and a member of company K wrote
to the Miners Journal about their engagement at Chancellorsville .
Camp of
the 8th Pa.
Editors Miners Journal: - I see
in your paper letters from a number of Pennsylvania Regiments but none from
ours. The 8th Pa. Schuylkill County Chancellorsville ,
and if you think the incidents of sufficient interest to publish, they are at
your service.
On the morning of the 29th of April our regiment crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford to take the advance of the
5th Army Corps, which had already crossed, and started, for Ely's Ford on the
Rapidan with the intention of forming a junction with the 12th Corps. Which
would cross the Rapidan at Germania Ford at Chancellorsville .
Nothing of importance occurred on the march until we arrived at Richardville,
when the gallant Major Keenan took a battalion to Richard's Ford on the Rappahannock , and succeeded in surprising and capturing
the entire post, consisting of one Captain, two Lieutenants and 35 men. In the
meantime the rest of the regiment, under the command of Major Huey, proceeded
to Ely's Ford, where they found the enemy on the other side. They formed their
skirmishers on the hills above the ford and challenged us to come over. Captain
Goddard's squadron was ordered to deploy as skirmishers and cross. The moment
our men obtained a footing on the opposite shore the enemy took to their heels.
We pursued them about two miles, when we stopped for the night as it was then
almost dark. General Griffith’s Division of General Meade’s Corps (5th)
crossed immediately after us to hold the ford against any force the enemy might
bring down in the night. The men were wet to their waists in crossing the
river, but the fences being in good condition furnished an amble supply of fuel
with which to dry themselves. At day light next morning (30th) we
started again and soon came upon the enemy pickets, who opened fire upon us.
Our advanced guard with Capt. Arrowsmith and Lieutenant Carpenter at the head,
charged them capturing the entire party, consisting of three commissioned
officers and twenty seven privates. We then pushed on and soon found ourselves
in front of two brigades of infantry, who were drawn up in line of battle to
relieve us. After a sharp skirmish of about two hours they were driven from
position and fell back some two miles beyond Chancellorville . The position
they had just left was a line of earth works at the junction of the roads
leading from United States Ford on the Rappahannock and the road we were on. Our infantry moved
up and occupied Chancellorville, while we followed up the enemy’s rear. At a
point about two miles beyond Chancellorville we found the enemy in strong force
and strongly entrenched. After reconnoitering the position to our satisfaction
we fell back near Chancellorsville , leaving
pickets on the road. The enemy were busy all night. We could distinctly hear
them felling trees and moving artillery. About 8 o’clock the next morning, May
1st the enemy were discovered
approaching our lines in apparently strong force and soon our pickets,
consisting of Co’s K and H commanded by Captain Wickersham, were attacked by
the enemy’s skirmishers. We, however, held our ground against greatly superior
numbers until the balance of the regiment came to our support, and finally,
until General Sykes had sent out his skirmishers and formed them into line of
battle, when the fight became general, the artillery on both sides having
commenced their work of death. The enemy followed up their attack with vigor,
but were promptly met and driven back by our troops. The fighting continued all
day, ceasing when it became dark.
At an early hour the next morning the
fighting was renewed. At about three o’clock, p.m. it was supposed that the
enemy was in retreat and the 2nd Cavalry Brigade, consisting of the
6th N.Y., 8th Pa.
Major Keenan’s loss is severely felt, as
he was considered one of the most efficient cavalry officers in the service.
The fighting continued until past midnight and was again renewed early the next
morning. Shortly after it commenced word was received that Fitzhugh Lee, with a
force of cavalry and artillery was coming down on our rear from Warrenton. We
were ordered to ascertain if such was the case. The regiment moved across
United States Ford to Hartwood
Church
Plenty of Rebs are to be seen on the
opposite side of the river. They are very quiet and sometimes very
communicative. We frequently ask them about Vicksburg ,
and they in return as us about Chancellorsville .
More Anon….
Yours respectfully,
G.W.B.
SCHUYLKILL
BOYS AT VICKSBURG
General Ulysses S. Grant endeavored to
take Vicksburg Miss. Vicksburg campaign was started
on the 16th Of October 1862, the day he became commander of the Department of
the Tennessee
In the spring of 1863 Grant would change
his strategy and attempt to take Vicksburg from
the west bank of the Mississippi Vicksburg
started on May 14th with the attack on Jackson , Mississippi cutting of Confederate General Joseph Johnson
from General John Pemberton and isolated Pemberton inside the heavily defended Vicksburg Vicksburg Vicksburg Union close to 1000 men. On the 20th Grant met with his
commanders and agreed the attack of the 19th failed because of the natural
strength of the position and the nature of the ground. They were limited to
attacking the most heavily defended points. They decided to attack again on the
morning of the 22nd, with Sherman
Fighting under the command of General
Sherman was his old regular army regiment the 13th U.S. Infantry. Among the
members of the 13th Regulars were 15 Schuylkill countians who were in all the
engagements of the Vicksburg
On the 21st of May, William R. Griffiths
wrote a letter to his parents in Jalappa, in the Borough of Pottsville from Vicksburg , Mississippi
There is nothing here at present but
blood,
blood, blood; nothing but the continual
roar
of cannons, musketry, gunboats, etc. We
attacked
Vicksburg
almost day and night. We are in
possession of
Jackson, and I hope and pray that Vicksburg
will be ours soon. We have whipped them
almost
at every point, capturing thousands and
thousands of rebels, and have taken
hundreds of
their largest guns. You can think
yourself how
we have fought, when they had for 15
miles all
around the city, breastworks after
breastworks
and our brave boys have driven them
into within
one mile of the city. Gen. Grant has
command.
Our regiment is under our favorite,
General
Sherman
yesterday Sherman
Bluff of which you have read about,
with 9000
prisoners; but hundreds of our brave
boys bit
the dust. Dear Mother I have stood
before secesh
lead before but it was nothing to this
time.
We have traveled for the last two days
with
blood and mud and water up to our
knees: but
we have won the laurels. We have driven
them
over twelve miles in seven days, which
they have
been fortifying for the last two years.
Gen.
Pemberton, their commanding General was
put in
irons by his own men because he wanted
to
surrender the city three days ago. Gen.
Taylor old Zachariah
Taylor's son has command in his
place. Yesterday they sent to General
Grant
that they would surrender the city if
he would
let them get all of their men out, but
he would
not except it.
There are a great many of our brave
boys in my
regiment killed. Our flag floats on the
next fort
to the city, and before another sun
sets Vicksburg
I hope will be ours. Our men are in
great spirits
and put great confidence in Gen. Grant.
It is true
a great many of our brave boys are
killed, but not
near as many as the rebels.
The 13th U.S. Regulars, General William T.
Sherman's favorite regiment performed a military funeral for his son, Willie, who became sick and died from the
effects of typhoid fever on October 3rd 1863. General Sherman wrote a letter to
the commanding officer of the 13th battalion tellling him that
"Willie was, or thought he was a
sergeant
in the Thirteenth. I have seen his
eyes brighten,
his heart beat, as he beheld the
battalion
under arms, and asked me if they were
not real
soldiers. "
General Sherman conveyed to the members of
the Thirteenth battalion that in years after if they:
"Call on me or mine, and mention
that
they were of the Thirteenth Regulars
when
Willie was a sergeant, they will have a
key to
the affections of my family that will
open all
it has; that we will share with them
our last
blanket, our last crust!"
Miners Journal June 11,
1863.
A
Soldier's Farewell.
"In this fight I was one of the color
Guard of the regiment. Comrade John Morrisey, of my company, came to me just
before our charge across the swamp and bade me good-bye. Inquiring why he did
so, he replied: I shall be killed today. I chided him, and tried to cheer him:
then suggested that he remain out of the fight, which we all felt to be at
hand. He indignantly refused, and said: "I have never shirked my duty, and
will not do it now. After I am dead, write to my sister, Mary, and tell her I
died facing the enemy." Just then the bugle sounded the advance. He ran to
his company, and immediately fell, shot through the forehead. After returning
to our postion, subsequent to the charge, we dug a hole with the bayonet;
wrapped him in his blanket and buried him. Then, upon a piece of cracker box,
we wrote, with a charred stick, his
name, company and regiment. While lying in the hospital at Chestnut Hill , Pa. Philadelphia
Related by William J. Wells, of
Company F:
From The story of the Forty
eighth Joseph Gould.
The
War In The West.
During the Civil War most of the fighting
was done in the east the western theatre, Tennessee ,
Kentucky
Alabama Mississippi
and hardly anything was ever reported about the fighting in Schuylkill
county. Major Edward Wynkoop and private William H.H. Werner were exceptions to
this rule. They both fought Indians, not rebels, in Colorado
and California
The following letter was written by a Pottsville boy, now a member of the 2d Regiment of
California Cavalry, and on duty in the northern part of the Golden State ,
to his relative in the borough of Pottsville
Camp Independence ,
Owen's River Valley
June 19,
1863,
My Dear father-Yours dated May 6th was
handed to me yesterday when I arrived in camp, having been out on a scouting
expedition for the past twelve days, scouting the mountains to the north and
west of this place, trying to catch "Jim," an old Indian chief, who
refuses to come in with his band. The other "Captains" or
"Chiefs" have all come in, and are all desirous for peace. They have
come to the conclusion that it won't pay to fight "white men" any
longer with starvation staring them in the face, and say that they "no
care to fight Mexicans (white men) more." They were in starving conditions
when they came in, but are getting fat on "Uncle Sam's " feed beef
and barley now. It is a caution to see them eat a whole beef, leaving nothing
but horns and bones, and even the bones they burn and suck as though they were
even unwilling to throw them away; as for the hide, they burn, roast and pound
until it becomes soft, and then it disappears also. It is laughable to go down
and witness the scene at the slaughter pen, for as quick as a bullock is driven
up the Indians flock over and watch every movement of the butcher. After the
beef is skinned the offal is thrown one side the Indians both old and young
make a rush for it and such scratching, cutting and slashing you never
witnessed. The boys stand back about that time, for it is dangerous to be near,
especially if a person has any regards for personal cleanliness. Yet strange to
say, with so many knives flying about, none of them are hurt. "Captain
Jim" said to the Indian runner who brought in the Indians, when peace was
proposed to him, "Mexicana much a lie, no come." Jim is much like
Jeff Davis, all he wants is to be let alone, so he says.
In our recent scout we started
from this place on the 6th inst. and on the 8th camped on Bishop"s creek,
(the home and camping ground of Jim's) 50 miles above this place, where we lay
several days, sending out Indian runners to tell Jim to come in, and every time
they would come back they would bring the above message from him. So one
evening orders were given to put up 6 days rations for a trip into the
mountains. Some of our under strappers made a mistake in giving out party or
detail from our company the order, and told us two instead of 6 days rations.
The other parties had received the order correctly, and went supplied, while
our party went hungry for two days after getting on the other side of the
Sierra Nevadas. We left Bishop's creek on the morning of the 12th, passing
through Round Valley, (one of the prettiest valleys this side of the mountains,
contains about 3000 acres of tillable land, well watered, with plenty of timber
within a few miles, almost round with high bluffs to the east and mountains on
the west, and would require but little fencing, and then it would be the best
farm I have met with in many a day, 12 miles from Bishop's Creek, and if the
mines turn out to be rich, I think it will be very valuable. I think if I were
free I would settle here for a few years until I found out whether the mines
were good for anything or not.) and then passed north, bearing a little west,
over a ridge, and around the base of a high spur of the Sierra Nevadas. The
land here is composed almost entirely of sand and rocks, with no vegetation. We
then struck the Indian trail, and traveled a little west of south up the south
fork of Owen's River, and camped on the side of the mountains, on one of the
heads of Owen's River, about 40 or 45 miles from Bishop's Creek. Via the way we
came, though the Indian guide told me we were
west of Bishop's Creek and I should suppose but 15 miles from there in a
direct line. I was detailed for guard this night, and was so tired I could hardly
walk, besides it was very cold, as we were in the regions of the snow, which
lay piled up in immense banks above and below, though around us was the only
green spot I could see. The scenery was magnificent. High mountains on three
sides, and the pass through to the north through which we came, and looking
down which we see in the smoky distance a small valley, while at our feet flows
the river, with here and there lakes and lakekets, while above, below and
around us the pine trees sigh and moan forever, while silvery streams come
trickling down the sides of the mountains, here forming falls, and there
running quietly and smoothly, as though nothing could disturb their silvery
beauty. The sun, shedding its last rays on the mountain tops, caused the snow
to sparkle like ten thousand diamonds. The scene was grand. My pen, my mind is
to weak to do justice to it; but after dark when our bonfires lit up the gloomy
darkness, it was wild. With our hundred Indians scattered around, adding still
a wilder expression to our surrounding objects, how can I describe the scene? I
was sick and tired. After I lay down I could not sleep for some time; my legs
ached so. Walking up and down the mountains during the day so as to save my
horse, pretty nearly used me up. Laying in camp and having little or no exercise,
and then rushing a man over these mountains is no fun, I assure you. Next
morning the bugle sounded early, and after breakfast we started up the side of
the mountain, traveling still south for 8 or 10 miles, when our course changed
to west and north, coming to the base of a high hill. The Indians told us the
top was the summit. We took a zig zag course up the side. On the top we found a
large bed of snow, which we crossed making the fifth that we crossed in the
course of five miles. We crossed over the top and began our decent to the head
waters of the San Joaquin
River
We could see what we supposed to
be the San Joaquin
Valley Camp Independence
William.
Col.
William Thompson
17th
Pennsylvania
Brevet Lt. Col. William Thompson was born in Pottsville Pottsville Schuylkill county, which would become company H, 17th
Penna. Cavalry and William was appointed
the Captain.
As a Captain, William commanded General George G. Meade's escourt. He
would later serve with General Phil Sheradin in all his cavalry battles. He
would be severly wounded in the shoulder in a charge during the battle of
Kearneystown, W. Va. He never lost time away
from his regiment other than when he was wounded.
After the war Lt. Col. Thompson went back to the business of Banking and
was actively engaged in GAR. He would design the monument of the 17th Pa. Cav.
at Gettysburg Pottsville
Major
Edward Wynkoop
In 1861 Colorado Union and others for
the Confederacy. There were no battles fought in the territory but the state
supplied 3 cavalry regiments, 1 artillery battery and 2 infantry regiments for the Union cause.
Fighting with one of these cavalry regiments was Major Edward Wynkoop, of the
famous Wynkoop family. He was in command of the 1st Colorado Cavalry, and was
the post commander at Fort
Lyon Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians, at Sand Creek near Fort
Lyon
Major Wynkoop had set up a meeting between
The Governor of Colorado and the Indian Chiefs of the Cheyenne
Leading about 900 men from the 3rd Colorado Cavalry Col. John M.
Chivington attacked the camp from three different sides, Chief Black Kettle
raised the American flag over his camp as a sign of peace. Following the orders
of Chivington, the soldiers killed over 400 of the Indians.
THE
ZOUAVE
SCHUYLKILL
COUNTY SOLDIERS
ZOUAVE
REGIMENTS
A very fashionable uniform during the civil war was the zouave uniform
copied after the French soldiers who fought in the Crimea
in the 1850's. These soldiers were noted for their bravery and their colorful
uniforms. This uniform was copied from the Algerian tribesmen from Zouaoua. The
uniform consisted of
different colored baggy pants, a
short jacket, and a tasseled fez. Most American Zouave units designed their own
version of this uniform.
Schuylkill
County Fort Wagner ,
at Charleston S.C.
The 76th P.V.I. known as the Keystone Zouaves was formed in August 1861.
All of the companies came from different counties in the state. Company K in
which the Schuylkill boys served was from Schuylkill, Allegheny and Beaver Counties Fort
Pulaski Charleston Cass
Township
On July 11, 1863 the regiment was involved in the attack on Charleston Fort Wagner Barry Township Fort
Wagner
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