History of the 104th Pennsylvania Regiment, from August 22nd, 1861, to September 30th, 1864

Front matter

HISTORY OF THE 104th Pennsylvania Regiment, FROM August 22nd, 1861, to September 30th, 1864. BY W. W. H. DAVIS, LATE COLONEL. // PHILADELPHIA: JAS. B. ROOGERS, PRINTER, 52 & 54 NORTH SIXTH STREET 1866. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 18G6, By W. W. H. DATIS, In tbe Clerk's Office of tbe District Court of tbe United States, in and for tbe Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 2|c.$itftti0U. S« HENRY M. NAGLEE, OF SAN JOSE, CAL., ESQUIRE, LATE BRIGADIER GENERAL IN THE VOLUNTEER ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES, THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, AS A TRIBUTE OF RESPECT TO HIS PATRIOTISM AND GALLANTRY, BY THE -•V U T H O K . ILLUSTRATIONS. G-eneral Henry M. Naglee, Frontispiece. Major John M. Gries 85 Lieutenant Edward S. McDowell, 109 Head-Quarters, 185 Camp on Morris Island, 265 Lieutenant Philip Burke. CONTENTS. TAGE

Preface

. This volume contains the history of the One Hundred and Fourth Pennsylvania Regiment. When I re-entered the military service, in the fall of 1861, I be came possessed of two hobbies; one, that of writing the history of my regiment, and the other, to have a monument erected to the memory of those who might fall in action, or die of wounds or dis ease, which I hope to be able to carry out some time in the future. The former has been accomplished in the following pages; while nearly enough money has been raised to build the latter. This work needs no apology. It contains no wonderful exploit; but a simple narrative of the campaigns of the regiment, which has been written without passion or prejudice, and with a sincere desire to do justice to all. No doubt, many other regiments performed more brilliant service; but none bore more faithful allegiance to the great cause of the Constitution and the Union.

In the qualities that make good soldiers, — discipline, respect for superiors, perfection in drill, cleanliness, steadiness under fire, freedom from pillage, and manly endurance under all the trying vicissitudes of war — the men of the 104th Pennsylvania regiment had no superiors. With this preface, the work is given to the public. W. W. H. Davis. Doylestown, Pa., October 1st, 1866. THE ONE HUNDRED AND FOIRTH PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENT.

Chapter I

Authority to raise a Regiment. — Commence to Recruit. — Union Meetings. — Camp-ground Selected.— Recruits go into Camp.— Supplies Arrive.— Military Instruction.— Field and Staff-officers Appointed. — Fun and Pets. — Excursions, to Danboro' and Hartsville.— Flag Presentation. — Visit of the Governor. — Death in Camp. — Contributions to the Soldiers. — Female Nurses Selected. — Orders Arrive to go to Washington. — Strength of Regiment. ON the 21st of August, 1861, after my return home from the campaign on the upper Potomac, I was authorized, by the Secretary of War, to raise a regiment of infantry and a six-gun battery, to serve for three years or during the war. The instructions given were of the most liberal kind. I was authorized to form a camp of instruction at Doylestown, and the respective departments were directed to furnish me with every thing necessary to equip and make the men comfortable.

The work of recruiting men commenced immediately. The war-feeling ran high, and the disposition to sustain the government against armed rebellion was universal. I issued an appeal to the young men of the county to rally around the flag, and they responded nobly to the call. A meeting was advertised to be held in the court house, on Friday evening, the 30th instant, for the purpose of raising recruits. It was well attended. After the object of the meeting was stated, a roll was laid on the table, and the young men present were requested to enrol their names. Before the adjournment forty had volunteered. When it became known that authority to raise a regiment in Bucks county had been granted me, numerous applications for permission to raise companies or parts of companies, were received. Many of these were from young men who had already served under me three months, and had obtained a little practical knowledge of the duties of a soldier.

In less than a week's time the roll of the first company was full, and I mustered it into the service of the United States at Clemens' hall, the 6th of September. Edward L. Rogers was appointed captain, and the company called the "Young Guard." The business of recruiting was carried on so briskly that in ten days four hundred men were enrolled. I had several offers of companies from a distance, but re jected all but two, one from Reading and another from Philadel phia, as I desired to make mine a Bucks county regiment. The whole ten companies could have been raised in the county with the greatest ease. Recruiting the regiment created considerable excitement through out the county, and others than those who intended to enter the service helped along the enterprise. Citizens of all parties tendered their assistance, and labored with a will.

Public meetings were called in various parts of the county. Some of these were known as "Union mass meetings" and others "War meetings." They were generally held in the open air, in a wood or grove, and were well attended. The one which was holden near Addisville, in Northampton township, was the largest and most enthusiastic of the series. It was believed there were eight thousand people present a very large proportion being ladies. General Davis, of Bucks, presided; and patriotic speeches were made by the honorable Wil- Ham D. Kelley, Lewis C. Cassiday, esq., of Philadelphia, the reve rend Jacob Bellville, and George Lear, esq., of the county. The place selected for the camp was the exhibition ground, half a mile south-west of Doylestown. It was a pleasant location, and combined several advantages.

It was named "Camp Lacey," in honor of the gallant brigadier general John Lacey, of Bucks county, of the Revolutionary army. Camp and garrison equipage, and quartermaster's and commissary stores, were on the ground by the 12th of September. Tents were pitched for three hundred men on the 14th, and by the 17th there were enough up to accommodate the whole regiment. Enlisted men began to arrive by the 13th. That evening the train brought up a number of men for the battery, and a detachment of recruits unassigned. They quartered at the hotels for the night. The next morning a portion of captain Dun can's company came up from the city; and before evening all who had arrived were placed under canvas. On the 15th, forty men of captain Walter's company arrived from Reading. Camp duties were now commenced, and a few simple regulations established to govern those who were as yet unused to the harsher rules of the service.

There was difficulty at first in procuring blankets, on ac count of the great demand for the Army of the Potomac, and the men suffered during the cold rains of September, but in a short time an abundant supply was received. The tents were floored, and each company had a little frame kitchen. The encampment was laid out with regularity, and in accordance with the rules of the service. Before the arrival of arms, guard duty was done with clubs. Recruits poured in rapidly after the camp was established. By the 24th of September there were six hundred men present, and before the month had expired, the whole ten companies were in camp. The quartermaster commenced issuing clothing on the 19th, and by the following Saturday, the 21st, all the men were supplied with a complete outfit, except drawers, caps, and overcoats, which could not be procured until October.

The uniform made a wonderful change in the appearance of the men, and gave them at once the characteristics of an organized body. The regiment was supplied with flour from the borough mill, and thc bread baked at the bakery of Mr. Hahl, Doylestown. Beef was furnished on con tract by Messrs. Barber and Hoff, while the remainder of the com missary stores was brought from Philadelphia. While the regiment was in camp, two hundred and fifty-four barrels of flour were con sumed. For the accommodation of the men, four refreshment stands were established inside the grounds, allotted to the highest bidder, the rent for which was placed in the regimental fund. The deputy quartermaster general at Philadelphia furnished the quartermaster with an army wagon and harness, and authorized him to purchase two horses, with which he did the necessary hauling for the regi ment.

The arms and equipments were received about the first of October, and were distributed to the men on the 9th. The two flank companies were armed with the rifle-musket, and the eight battalion companies with the old smooth-bore. Many of these guns were thirty and forty years old, and of various patterns. They were only uniform in caliber. Now we were able to perform military duty legitimately. However well a club may become a constable or policeman, every instinct of a soldier rebels against being armed with such a weapon. The men grasped their fire-locks with pleasure, and soon learned to handle them with ease and skill. A strict and pretty thorough system of instruction was now es tablished in camp. The commissioned officers were formed into a squad and drilled two hours in the morning, who in turn drilled their non-commissioned officers, and the latter drilled the privates in squads of eight or twelve.

By this system the men soon became familiarized with the rudiments of the soldier's drill. In due time company drill was commenced and continued until they were quali fied to be consolided as a regiment and exercised as a battalion. So far as practicable the instruction was conveyed in a regular series of lessons, and the officers and men obtained a tolerable knowledge of one branch before another was attempted. This course was continued the six weeks we lay in camp, and by means of it the regiment was well grounded in all the essential movements and duties that belong to the schools of the soldier, company and battalion. But few, if any, regiments which entered the service in 1861, were as well drilled before leaving their camp of instruction as the 104th. The chaplain held religious services in camp daily, and on Sunday there was preaching in morning and afternoon.

The camp now became a place of great resort. Large numbers of people visited it daily, and some days the visitors numbered several thousand. They came many miles. Independently of the feeling which prevailed every where in favor of the volunteer movement, there was a great desire among the people to see soldiers and witness their manœuvres. But few of the present generation had ever seen five hundred men under arms at any one time in a body, and the sight was a novelty. Visitors were not permitted in camp, on Sunday, before 3 o'clock in the afternoon. At this time the law authorized each regiment of infantry to have a band of twenty-one musicians, with a leader- The demand was so great that it was somewhat difficult to obtain a good band ; but I engaged one at Emaus, Lehigh county, composed of young Germans, which soon became quite skilled in playing.

It joined us on the 23rd of September and the members were mustered into service the same day. Our numbers increased every day. On the 25th of October the aggregate strength was a thousand and seventy, officers and men, and ten days later it had risen to eleven hundred and thirty-five. By this time the battery numbered about a hundred and forty men. The 8th of October, the day of the State election, polls were opened in camp, and the men voted for candidates of their choice without let or hinderanee. At the proper time, I appointed the field and staff officers. I offered the position of lieutenant colonel to my neighbor, George Lear, esquire, who declined. It was next offered to captain John W. Niclds, of the 1st regiment Pennsylvania Reserves, then in the field, who accepted, and soon after reported for duty.

Mr. John M. Gries, of Philadelphia, architect, was appointed major, and lieutenant Thompson H. Hart, adjutant. James D. Hendrie, a lieutenant in the first company recruited, was appointed quartermaster. The post of chaplain was tendered to the reverend Wil liam R. Gries, pastor of Saint Paul's Episcopal church, Doyles town and accepted. He immediately entered upon his duties, and likewise was active and useful in the general work of recruit ing. Doctors William Allen Peck and William T. Robinson, of Montgomery county, were assigned to the regiment as surgeon and assistant surgeon. For sergeant major I had Edmund A. Wallazz, of Philadelphia, a pupil of the renowned Stonewall Jack son, at the Lexington military academy, Virginia. He was partly reared in the family of Edmund Ruffin, who fired the first gun of the rebellion, at Sumter, and afterward blew his brains out from chagrin at the failure of the cause.

With Robert Holmes, for quartermaster, and James M. Rogers for commissary, sergeant, and John Hargrave and Joseph Winner for principal musicians, the organization of the staff was complete. The leader of the band was John Z. Jobst, who received the pay of second lieutenant. It was much the custom of the times to give regiments some name by which they might be known independently of their number as designated by the State. I therefore selected the name of the gallant artil lery officer who was killed at the battle of Resaca de la Palma, and called it the " Ringgold Regiment." The number, 104th, was not given to it until some time after its organization. Soldiers are fond of fun the world over, all the more, no doubt because they are debarred from the general pleasures of society and so many of the sex confined in one body.

Amusement was oro-anized before the regiment, and the campaign of camp Lacey was as successful in this respect as any the regiment afterward made in the field. The men soon collected about them a fine array of pets to cheer the solitude of their tents. The affections of one company were lavished upon a large Newfoundland dog, which stepped around the company street with great pride ; another had a comic coon, to the training of which the men devoted their leisure time. This little animal went into the field with us, but its career was closed with that of many of its admirers on the bloody field of Fair Oaks. A cat was the pet of another company. It made the campaign of the Peninsula on the knapsack of its owner — survived the famous re treat to the James, and died in peace in camp at Gloucester point at the end of a year's service.

The pleasures of music predomi nated, but it was more noted for diversity of tune and noise in execution than artistic skill. One could hear at any hour of the day and until tattoo in the evening, as he walked through the camp, any number of songs tuned in beautiful discord, embracing almost every thing in the category of popular airs from " Carry me back to old Virginny," to " Uncle Ned had no wool on the top of his head," &c. One of the best jokes that took place in camp occurred at the guard-house, and the hero of it was a private in company I, named Wesley Peake. Upon one occasion he had indulged too freely in bad whisky, and was sent to the guard-house for punishment. He was sentenced to walk post with a placard on his back containing the word "Drunk" in large letters. While thus expiating his of fence, a woman came in at the gate and was struck with the letters on his back.

She stopped to look at them, and tried hard to make them out, but not being very well versed in English, she found her self at fault. She spelled the word as far as the letter "u," but could get no farther, and, after repeating it several times, she was about to give up the task in despair. Peake overheard her trying to decipher the rude, and not complimentary, inscription on his back, and resolved to help her out to his own advantage. He said to her, "Madam, the letters are d-r-u-m, and they spell drum. — I'm the drum-major of the regiment." Not being particularly well versed iu military matters she accepted his explanation, and turned away entirely satisfied. The regiment made two excursions while encamped at Doyles town. The first to attend a Union mass meeting held in a grove near Danborough, five miles from camp, on the 5th of October.

It left camp at noon, eight hundred strong, with the band playing lively airs, and marched up the turnpike to the place of meeting. The men had not yet received their caps, but were otherwise in uniform, and made a very handsome appearance; they were without arms and equipments. The reception was cordial. We returned to camp at sun-down covered with dust. The next day the major conducted the men to the Neshaminy creek after divine service, where they rid themselves of the dust of the march by bathing. On the 17th the citizens of Hartsville and vicinity held a union festival, gotten up partially on account of the regiment, and which it was cordially invited to attend. We left camp at 8 o'clock and took the road by Pebble hill and Bridge Valley. The appearance of the regiment was very fine as it marched by the flank over the hills and through the valleys.

As the sun played upon the bright muskets and shining equipments, it had the appearance, when viewed from a distance, of a huge serpent clad in glittering scales winding his way through the country. The field and staff were mounted, and the baggage wagon accompanied us. At Jamison's corner we were met by a committee of fifty horsemen, headed by Mr. Robert Beans, with a beautiful banner, which came out to escort us to the place of festival. We reached Hartsville about 11 o'clock, and were received by the very large concourse of people with shouts of welcome. Arms were stacked in a large field in the rear of the hotel. Ample preparation was made for the entertainment by the ladies, who were the moving spirits in the feast. On the west side of the field eleven tables, each forty-eight feet in length, were erected, covered with cloths of spotless white, and loaded with almost untold luxuries and substantials, the contributions of some two hundred families of that vicinity.

The hundred pounds of roast beef, veal, mutton, pigs, chickens and boiled ham, delicate white bread, and butter the color of gold, the quantities of fresh pies and cakes, and numerous other edibles were almost marvellous to behold. At 12 o'clock the regiment was marched to dinner, each company occupying a single ta ble, where the men were bountifully helped to the inviting repast prepared by the hand of affection and patriotism. After dinner a meeting was organized in the field. The regiment was drawn up in close order immediately in front of the stand. After a prayer, the Rev. Jacob Bellville delivered a brief but eloquent address, in which he thanked the soldiers in warm terms for their promptness in re sponding to the call of the country. Among those seated on the stand were nine veterans of the war of 1812, men who had come down from another generation to witness the martial scenes of the present.

We returned to camp before dark delighted with the trip, bearing several baskets full of delicacies to the sick and others who remained behind. The reception of the regiment, wherever it appeared, was equal to an ovation. The citizens flocked to the side of the road and cheered the men as they passed. Soon after I commenced to raise the regiment, a few patriotic ladies in the county put on foot the project of presenting it with a standard of national colors, and a committee was appointed to collect money for the purpose. The whole amount raised was one hundred and forty one dollars, of which seventy-five were collected in the borough of Doylestown. The flag was made by the Messrs. Horstmann &, Co., Philadelphia, of the best quality of silk, and of regulation size. On the middle stripe were the words "Ringgold Regiment," beautifully wrought in silver, with the number on the next stripe below.

It was presented to the regiment at the encampment, on the 21st of October, in the presence of a large concourse of people. The num ber was estimated at five thousand, at least one half of whom were ladies. A platform had been erected on the parade ground, and the regiment was drawn up in front of it under arms. The committee of ladies having the matter in charge had invited the Rev. Jacob Bellville to present the flag in the name of the fair donors. He delivered an impressive discourse on the occasion. I received the flag in the name of the regiment, and delivered it into the hands of color-sergeant Laughlin, who was charged to preserve it as the apple of his eye. The regiment received a second flag from the State. The Legislature had made an appropriation for the purpose of purchasing a stand of colors for each regiment of volunteers raised in Pennsylvania, which the governor was authorized to deliver to them before they took the field.

Governor Curtin was invited to come to Doylestown and present the flag to the One Hundred and Fourth in person, which he promised to do, and the 21st of October was the time fixed for the ceremony. In view of a visit from the executive of the State, a public meeting of citizens was held in the court house, and a committee of fifteen, composed of men of both political parties, was appointed to make the necessary arrangements for a civic reception in connection with the military. The day was one of the finest of the season. At an early hour the citizens of Bucks and the neighboring counties came pouring into town, until it seemed that the entire population had made the occasion a grand gala-day. The camp ground was fairly alive with visitors. Among the soldiery all was bustle and preparation, and every thin"-, from top to toe, was put in the most complete order.

The governor and staff left Philadelphia in the morning train, and were met by a committee several miles down the road. The train came in at 11 o'clock. The right wing of the regiment was drawn up at the depot to receive him. When he stepped upon the platform arms were presented, the drums saluting and band playing "Hail to the Chief." He was escorted to his quarters, at the Cowell house, through the principal streets of the town. The troops were then marched back to camp for dinner. At 1 o'clock P. M., the governor and suite and committee of arrangements, in carriages, were escorted by the military to the encampment. As on the former like occasion a platform was erected on the parade ground, in front of which was the regiment, and around them on every side the thousands who had been attracted thither by the ceremony of the day.

After the band had played " Hail Columbia," the governor arose with the flag in his hand, and delivered a patriotic speech to the people. He then handed the flag to me, which I accepted in the name of the regiment, and delivered it to sergeant Slack, who had been chosen to bear it. At the conclusion of the ceremony the citizens and mi litary loudly cheered the governor, the flag and the regiment. When silence was restored, the Rev. Dr. Andrews, on behalf of the Bucks County Bible society, presented to each officer and soldier a copy of the New Testament. The regiment then broke into com panies and marched in review before the governor, after which he was escorted back to the Cowell house. He returned to Philadelphia by the afternoon train. The regiment lost the first man by death while it lay at camp Lacey, and while there it also had the first blood drawn.

Private Joseph B. Smith, of company D, died of epilepsy, at the house of Charles Selser, near the encampment. He was ill about a week. His parents lived in Richland township, whither his body was taken for burial. The blood was drawn from the person of a private of company A, in an attempt to run the guard under cover of darkness. He was shot by a vigilant sentinel of the battery, but the wound was not at all serious. On Sunday morning the 3rd of No vember, there was a baptismal ceremony in camp. Privates Mus selman, Godshall and Shelly, of company D, offered themselves as candidates for baptism on profession of religion. A drum, covered with a small American flag, was the improvised chancel around which they knelt while the rite was administered. The people of the county were liberal in furnishing the enlisted men with articles necessary to their comfort.

In various locali ties societies were organized for the purpose, which laid the foundation of the future "Aid Societies," which did such effectual work during the war. Contributions came in daily. Considerable money was collected, which was expended in the purchase of useful articles for them which the government did not supply, such as towels, combs, warm gloves, etc. The surplus money from the flag-fund was thus appropriated. Chaplain Gries received one hun dred and sixty-one dollars, which he laid out for rubber blankets, and prayer-books stamped with the name of the regiment. Among the contributions was a well assorted field-library and case. Bishop Stevens gave twenty-five dollars from his private purse for this purpose. The people of Reading were liberal toward the men who were enlisted in that town.

Mrs. Catharine Price, a lady eighty years old, presented me a pair of fine wool stockings, which she knit with her own hands. In this, as in all other matters pertaining to the soldier, the mothers and daughters of the county gave unmis takable evidence that their warmest affections went out toward those who perilled life and limb for the Union. In this regard, the wo men of Bucks county were the equals of their sisters in other parts of the country. While at Doylestown two female nurses for service in the hospital, joined the regiment; — Mrs. Leedom and Miss Emi line Sibbitts, both of Buckingham township. One had a husband, and the other a brother, in the ranks. They accompanied us to Washington, and remained until we were ordered to take the field. in the spring. They rendered valuable service in nursing the sick, and assisting to prepare the dead for the grave.

Their conduct was such as to merit and receive the respect of both officers and men. While we lay in camp several of the officers were presented with handsome swords, by their friends. Upon one occasion the ceremony took place in the Court House, where music and the smiles of wo men gave animation to the scene. An officer and several men were married on the eve of our departure, and left behind them weepino wives in the place of disconsolate sweet-hearts. The days of camp Lacey were now numbered. Soon the soldiers of the One Hundred and Fourth were to leave this pleasant place, and the spot which had known them so long, would know many of them no more forever. When the governor was in Doylestown, I received verbal instruction to hold the regiment in readiness to pro ceed to Washington, as soon as I received notice that transportation was ready.

Quartermaster Hendrie was sent to Philadelphia to make the necessary arrangements with the roads over which we must pass on our way to Washington, and upon his return he re ported that transportation would be ready on the 6th of November, Wednesday. On Monday evening I received an order by telegraph, from the governor, to proceed as soon as practicable to Washing ton. I announced the order at dress parade, Tuesday evening, and directed the camp to be broken at daylight in the morning. It was received with lively satisfaction, and after the parade was dis missed, the men made the camp echo with their shouts. Could they have read the future, and foretold the deaths, wounds, disease and hardships that were in store for them, they would have been less boisterous in their gladness. The strength of the regiment when we marched, was ten hundred and forty-nine, including the battery.

Chapter II

Regiment leaves Doylestown.— Ride to Philadelphia.— Arrival at Washington.— Go out to camp.— Cold night.— Our location.— Washington a great camp.— Brigade formed.— Review of army of Potomac. — A grand scene. — Life in camp. — Health of regiment. — Officers detailed to recruit. — Peter Wykoff. — Receive permission to build barracks. — A description. — On court martial. — Company savings. — Reception at White House. — Move into barracks. — Color guard appointed. THE 6th of November, 1861, was an eventful day in the lives of the untried soldiers in camp Lacey. The reveille sounded at 3J o'clock, A. M., and by sunrise the tents were struck and the baggage ready to be hauled down to the cars. In another hour the regiment was in march to the station, where a train of twenty-five cars stood ready on the track to receive it.

Without unneces sary delay the men and baggage were put aboard. Notwithstand ing the early hour a large number of people had come in from the surrounding country to witness the departure of the regiment, and bid a last farewell to their friends. In many cases the parting was affecting in the extreme, and with a large number of the men the greeting with the loved ones left behind was the last on earth. A little after 7 o'clock the great locomotive Cheltenham stretched its traces and the train moved off amid the plaudits of the multitude. The day was made unpleasant by a drizzling rain. The regiment was saluted with cheers at every station, cross-road and farm house on the line between Doylestown and Philadelphia, which were an swered by returning shouts from the men and music by the band. Disembarking at Master street, we marched down Fourth street to the Volunteer Refreshment Saloon.