History of the 118th Pennsylvania Volunteers Corn exchange regiment, from their first engagement at Antietam to Appomattox. To which is added a record of its organization and a complete roster. Fully illustrated with maps, portraits, and over one hundred illustrations, with addenda

Front matter

I

Brevet-Brig.-Gen. U. S. Vols.

HISTORY

Preface

TN this History, thirty years after, we fight our battles ov^er again.

It is not a labor, but a pleasure. Nothing delights an old soldier so much as to live again in the stirring scenes, and on the battle-fields. But in these pages we do not pretend to write the history of the war. We only give sketches and incidents that came under the observation of the privates in the ranks. Of course the histories are all correct. They tell of achievements of great men who wear the laurels of victory, have great honor conferred on them, high positions in civil life.

Ponderous histories of the war have been written in which the generals were giants and the privates pygmies. But we believe that it was the patriotism and the sturdy valor of the private soldier that triumphed, rather than the skill and courage of the generals.

This book will tell of the men who did the drilling, standing guard and picket-duty, built breast-works, corduroy roads, stood firm when bullet, shot and shell were doing their deadly work, and making gaps in the line ; who were wounded and killed for their love of Union. This book tells of these men, who drew thirteen dollars a month, rations, and the ramrod.

We only describe what we saw in an infantry regiment. We write entirely from notes taken at the time and letters sent home then and answered. You must remember that these things happened thirty years ago — a long time in a man's life. Every man who clung to his regiment became a living part of it, and of its history. This volume is the life of the iiSth.

To bring the past back clearly and vividly its scenes and events must be recalled. Many of the facts and incidents are drawn from the letters sent home of officers and men of the regiment. Notable among those who have assisted are: General Charles P. Herring, Surgeon Joseph Thomas, Major Joseph Ashbrook, Sergeant Alfred Layman, Sergeant Samuel Nugent, L. Teal and Captain N. D. Preston.

Thanks are due Sergeant Thomas J. Hyatt for revising the manuscript and adding a number of interesting and hurriorous incidents, as well as for the reliable picture of life in the prisonpens of the South from his actual experience and observation.

To Private Henry H. Hodges is due acknowledgment for his preparation of the admirable roster.

Acknowledgments are due to Col. John P. Nicholson ; Col. George Meade ; Major Thomas Ward, Asst. Adjt.-Gen. U. S. A.; ex-Senator A. G. Cattell ; Col. O. L. Pruden, and Capt. I. W. Heysinger, M.A., M.D.

Many works have been consulted ; among them are : Humphrey's "Virginia Campaign of 1864-65;" Doubleday's " Chancellorsville and Gettysburg ; " Palfrey's " Antietam and Fredericksburg ; " Lt.-Col.Wm. F. Fox's " Regimental Losses ;" Gen. Walker's " Second Corps ; " Parker's (History of) " 22d Mass. Regiment," and Lt.-Col. Wm. H. Powell's "History of the Fifth Army Corps."

In addition to the above, much matter of an important character from the hitherto unpublished manuscripts of Generals Warren, Griffin and Chamberlain on the later campaigns of the war, has been added.

INTRODUCTORY.

TT is peculiarly agreeable to me to have this opportunity of ^ bearing testimony to the soldierly character and honorable service of the 1 1 8th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers.

It was my good fortune to be more or less intimately associated with this regiment during its entire career in the field. On many occasions of special service, and at last permanently, it was in my own command. I had therefore opportunity to observe and occasion to test its qualities.

I was witness of the terrible initiation into the realities of war, which precipitated itself like an avalanche upon this gallant regiment within three weeks from its muster into the service, where, by the force of manly character which well supplied the place of long discipline, and by the principle oi noblesse oblige which recalls the times of chivalry, it held its front against desperate odds and at fearful cost, long after the rules of war, and even the orders of the division commander, permitted it to retire with honor. This conduct won for it, while as yet almost the junior regiment in the corps, that respect which veterans give only to veterans.

I need only say that its whole career confirmed the prestige of this beginning.

The history of this regiment affords a notable instance of

that strange and hitherto unexplained phenomenon so frequent

in the experiences of our civil war, that those reared amidst

(vii)

what are supposed to be the enervating influences of city life, when suddenly summoned to the privations and hardships of war, grew stronger under the test, and in multitudes of instances even surpassed in endurance and persistence of physical force men inured to outdoor toil, and whose stalwart and muscular forms on their appearance in the field made them seem invincible.

But whatever may be the hidden physiological law shadowed forth in this, the record of this regiment gave ample illustration of those other truths made clear in days of trial, that " blood tells " — that virtue is manhood, and valor, worth.

It was a fitting consummation of this faithful and gallant service that this regiment was one of those which won the triumphant privilege of forming that last line of battle before which Lee's army laid down the arms and colors of its surrendered cause.

These words are written for the brave men held in cherished memory and undying affection by one who shared with them the sufferings and glories of the field, following, or rather bearing forward, the blood-red cross which made way for the Nation's flag.

And I bespeak of the readers of this history that appreciative interest which is due to those who for the well-being of their country pledged and imperilled all that life holds dear, and in this devotion gave proof that there are things nobler than pleasure and greater than self, which men and women count worthy of bravest endeavor and supreme sacrifice.

Joshua L. Chamberlain,

Chapter I. Camp Union

Resolutions of the Corn or Commercial Exchange— Organization of the Reo-i." ment — Interest taken in the Regiment by the Exchange — Letter from Governor Ciirtin, after Shepherdstovvn — Colonel Prevost — Camp Union— The First Guard — The Misfit — The Awkward Squad— Bacon, Hard Tack, and Salt Pork — The Battalion Drill — The Untrained Sentry — Absence without Leave — Roll Call — Rations — The Day's Work— Pranks— Divine Service— A Gift Dress Parade — Journey to Washington — The Soldier's Retreat — The Government Corral — Bivouac at Arlington Heights — Fort Albany— Enriched Water — The Meal Chest — Fort Corcoran I

Chapter II Antietam

The Regiment Brigaded— Colonel Barnes—" Comrades, Touch the Elbow " — The March from Fort Corcoran — Bivouac at Silver Springs — Diminution of Baggage—" Where is the I i8th ? "—Battle of " the Monocacy"— Sounds of Conflict — John Monteith— Charge upon the Hogs—" I Can't Eat a College "—Signs of War— Thirsty Soldiers— A Martial Display— Monument Hill— Moving Columns— The Army Loosened— The Battle — The Irish Brigade — Burnside's Charge— Horrors of War— An Uncomfortable Line — Sharp-Shooting — "Are There any Rebels About Here?" — Lee's Retreat —Carrying off the Wounded— Sharpsburg— Blackford's Ford . . 25

Chapter III

The Advance— Fording the Stream — Ascending the Bluff— Hanging Horses —Order to Retreat— Steady Behavior of the Men— Galling Fire— Defective Enfield Rifles— Private Joseph Meehan's Description of the Guns ; Colonel Prevost's Description — Number of Confederates Engaged— Close Fighting— Colonel Prevost Advances with the Colors— Colonel Previ>st

Wounded — An Awful Scene — Death of Captain" Ricketts — The Retreat — The Old Mill — Saving the Colors — Killed by Our Own Men — Incidents of the Retreat — Lieutenant White Killed — West's Close Call — Incidents of the Fight — " Oh ! Captain Ricketts ! "—Doubt About a Quinine Pill — " Give it to them, Boys ! " — Lieutenant Crocker's Flag of Truce — " Shell and be d — d ! " — Crocker and the Confederate General — Major Herring and the Regulars — Joseph Meehan's Story — Dr. Joseph Thomas's Narrative — Sergeant Peck's Experience as a Prisoner — The iiiSth Regiment — One of Stonewall Jackson's Staff Visits his Folks 54

Chapter IV. From Shepherdstown To Fredericksburg

Houseless and Homeless — Examining the Doctor — On the March Again — Bivouac at Bryant's Farm — Maryland Heights — Crossing the Potomac — In the Shenandoah Valley — A Rich Country — " Goose Creek " — Supplies Needed — Snicker's Gap — Couit-Martial on a Pig — Yankee Trading — Empty Pockets — George Slow, and his Visit Home — The Famine at Snicker's Gap — A Life of Emergencies — Ostracism by the Southerners — On the March in a Snow.storm — White Plains — At Warrenton — A Chaplain's Call — McClellan Relieved of Command — Removal of Fitz-John Porter — " Red Warrior " — A Muddy Waste — Belle Plain 95

Chapter V. Fredericksburg

Promotion to the Ranks — " Unloading Boards" — Signs of Battle — " Stafford Heights" — Marye's Heights — Attempts to Lay the Pontoons — Crossing the River in Boats — The Pontoons Laid — Crossing — A Thrilling Scene — A Game of Euchre — The Regiment Crosses the River — View of the Confederate Position — Slaughter — Diving for Tobacco — Sack of the City — Charge over the Plain — Scipio Africanus Rises — Moving to the Front — The Brick-yard — Major Herring Wounded — "This is What we Came Here for" — Coolness of Colonel Barnes — The Corner Store and Something in it — Sunday Morning — Sergeant Stotzenberg — A Prohibition Bullet — Losses in the liattle — The Regiment Relieved from the Front — Retreat of the Army — Was it a Blunder? "2

Chapter VI. Winter-quarters — Richard's Ford Reconnoissance — Mud

MARCH.

A Military Town — Potomac Creek Bridge — Decorations — Fuel — Amusements — Military Etiquette and Loaded Arms — Weeding out Incompetents — Discipline — Colonel Gwyn in Command — ^Picket Duty — Preparation of a Virginia Family Dinner — Something Suspicious — Investigating the Country — A Cavalry Vedette — Scipio Africanus Receives the Parade — A Sad Ending to Scipio's Greatness — A Reconnoissance — Beans Cooked for Five Miles — Crossing the Rappahannock — A Treacherous Raft — A Wounded Girl — The Dame at the Spring — A Confederate Postman — The Return — The Old Year Out — A Battle-line of Ducks — -An Army of Crows — Boxes from Home Sent by the Corn Exchange — Peculiar Tastes — An Unfinished Task — Mud March — The Second Deluge — Three Miles a Day — Stuck — The Wager and its Consequences — Campaign Abandoned . . . 140

Chapter VII. Chaxcellorsville

Return of Colonel Prevost — Condition of the Army — General Hooker in Command — "Joe" Hooker is our Leader — Extra Clothing and Eight Days' Rations — Woollen Lined Roads — Crossing at Kelly's Ford on Canvas Pontoons — Fording the Rapidan — The Farthest Stretch — Travelling Through the Woods — The Chancellor House; Rescuing the Inmates — "Hospitalities of the Country" — Meeting the Enemy — A Quiet Stare — A Controlling Position — Disappointment — Dr. Owens Complimented by the Confederates — Army Head-quarters — General Hooker's Order — Egyptian Plague — Beginning of the Fight — Thompson's Tobacco — Withdrawal of the Brigade — Scipio Africanus Surrounded — Drawing in the Pickets — Rout of the nth Corps — The Rebel Charge — Scarcity of Rations— Shelling the Hospital — General Griffin's Bowling — Wounded Horses — Woods on Fire — Casualties — Death of General Whipple — Peter Haggerty — Treed — Captain O'Neill's Eccentricity and Bravery — Retaking the Line — "A Bit of a Talk" — Explosive Cartridges — Captain O'Neill's Candle — The Storm — Withdrawal of the Army and the Pickets — Pursuit — March to Camp — Blue and Gold — Dropping Out — Chris's Ride — Another Blunder. 165

Chapter VIII. After Chancellorsville Camp At Gold Mine Farm — Mid

DLEBURG — UPPERVILLE.

Scipio Africanus Vanishes — General Griffin and the Adjutant — The Captain's Jacket — Whoopers — Guarding the 25th New York — Presentation to General Barnes — " By George, Sir, You're an Orderly" — Retirement of Colonel Prevost — Strong Picket Line — Gold Mine Farm — Cavalry Fight at Brandy Station — A Compromise on Fence Rails — Manassas Plains — Intense Heat and Scarcity of Water — Gum Springs — Goose Creek Again —

Fight at Aldie — Middleburg — Capture of Stuart's Horse Artillery — Cavalry Charges — The " Hooker's Retreat " — Mosby's " Happy Hunting Ground " — Dark Days ......... . 210

Chapter IX. Gettysburg

Suspense at the North — March to Gettysbu;'g — " An Army with Banners" — Leesburg — Fording the Monocacy — A Remarkable Spring — " Old Four Eyes" — Frederick City — Region of Abundance — Disobedience Means Death — General Sykes and the Irishman — In Pennsylvania — York — Hanover — Visitors — A High Private — The First Day's Fight — A Canard — In the Fight — Holding Little Round Top — The Wheat-Field — The Roar of Battle — Bigelow's Battery — An Unwilling Recruit — Steady Work — Change of Front — Orderly Retirement — The Trostle House Fight — Death of Captain Davids — Georgia Prisoners — Major Herring and the Colors — Charge of the Pennsylvania Reserves — Dr. Thomas's Description of Second Day's Fight — The Last Day — The Devil's Den — Seminary Ridge — A Confederate Officer's Mistake — Horrors of Battle — The Crisis — The Charge — The Repulse — The Victory — " Go and Fight Somewhere Else " — A Famous Rabbit — Bigelow's Battery — Brady's Hundred Rounds and his Gun — Importance of Battle of Gettysburg ....... 229

Chapter X. From Gettysburg To Warrenton

General Barnes Wounded — Delicacies for Confederate Prisoners — Surgeon Thomas's Order — Indignant Visitors — Identifying a Leg — Corporal Smith and the Goose — A Missing Father — The Goose is Cooked and Taken to Camp — Attempts at Carving — The Goose Victorious — Advancing — Quartermaster Gardner — Chaplain O'Neill and General Meade — Lieutenant Binney — Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching — Recruiting — Keystone Battery — Up the Mountain — Fighting for over Fifty Days . . 272

CHAPTER XL

AROUND WARRENTON — BEVERLY FORD — EXECUTION OF FIVE DESERTERS.

Sunday-morning Inspection — Wrong Ammunition — A Facetious Bugler — Recruits for the Regiment — Bounty-jumpers — Quaker Recruits — Heat and Insects — A Dangerous Bath — Heroic Rescue — The Five Deserters — Their Trial — Sentence — Death-watch — Execution — Horse-racing — Captain

Crocker's Mansion ; it is Warmed — Captain Donegan's Picket Line — General Sykes and the Picket — " You're got Moseby ! " — A Brave Deserter — The Patton House, Reception at — Jealousy and its Consequences . . '290

CHAPTER Xn.

lee's movement, etc.

Fight at Bristoe Station — Raccoon Foid — The Maple Grove — Captain Donaldson and the Lady — The Captain's Confederate Brother — Information Gained — Brandy Station — General Griffin and the Battery — Beverly Ford — Martial Display — Back to Brandy Station — A Busy Day for the 5th Corps — Stuart's Cavalry Mixed up with Union Forces — Attack at Broad Run — Monaghan, of "1," and the Ditch — Movement of the 2d Corps — Centreville — Fairfax Court-House — Shields, of " H " — Bull Run Battle-field — Uncovered Remains — Grave of Colonel Fletcher Webster — Captain Bankson's Album — Buckton — The Road that did not go — Major Herring's promotion — Chilly Times — "Joe" Hooker's Retreat ..... 312

CHAPTER XHL RAPPAHANNOCK STATION.

The " General " — Destruction and Ruin — A Lunette — Signs of Approaching Conflict — Captain Sharwood — M'Candless Wounded — "The Guide is Left! the Guide is Left!" — A Feint — The Assaulting Column — "Drop that Lanyard" — Capture of the Position — Killed and Wounded — Fifteen Hundred Prisoners, Four Guns, Seven Battle-Flags — The Devil in Command — "Odjutant, dot Horse nq Colic got" — "Hard Tack" — Major O'Neill — His New Uniform — " This is the Way we used to Dress in Ingee " An East Indian Parade — Battalion Review — " Halt, Disperse, and be d — d to you" 335

CHAPTER XIV.

MINE RUN.

The March — French's Blunder — " Look Sharp, Kelly ! " — Stealing a Wagon Train — A Spy Dies — Flankers — The Regiment Lost — An Abandoned House — Rations — A Comfortable Night — A Lost Pig Found — Connecting with the Enemy's Pickets — Pocketful of Flat Irons — A Delicate Position — Colonel Throop in Command — Finding Persimmons and the Enemy — DeVille— Mine Run— Cold Comfort— A Shell, Chaplain O'Neill, and a Cup of Coffee — Orders for the Charge — A Solemn Time — ^James W. Hyatt Lifted by a Solid Shot — Walter's Reconnoissance — The Retreat . . 353

— XIV —

CHAPTER XV.

CAMP BARNES THE WINTER AT BEVERLY FORD.

Third Winter of" the War— Soldiers' Fibs— The Sudden City— The Chapel- Amateur Theatricals — The Light of Cincinnati — Dainty Dishes — A Cube Meal — An Indignant Cook — Rats — Sergeant Nugent's Campaign — Albert DeVille's Sword Hand — Godwin's Musket — "The Homespun Dress" — Corporal Smith — "The Trusty Soldier and the Canteen of Whiskey" — Larry Mullen's Suavity — Captain Crocker Resigns — Captain Donegan Resigns — The Brigade Broken up — General Bartlett — Lincoln and the Generals — The Encampment Ends in Smoke ....... 376

CHAPTER XVL THE WILDERNESS — LAUREL HILL — SPOTTSYLVANIA.

The Army Moves — Crosses the Rapidan — Movements of the Division — Griffin's Division Opens the Fight — General Bartlett's Narrow Escape — " K " persuades a Battery to Remain — Colonel Gwyn Wounded — Loss of the Il8th — A Fruitless Fight — A Woful Night — Forest Fires and the Wounded — General Wadsworth's Death — Musketry Fighting — Colonel Herring and the Johnny — The Army Unwinds Itself — Colonel Herring Commands the Pickets — March by Brock's Road — Movements — Colonel Herring Successfully Resists a Desperate Charge — Makes Arrangements to Retain his Position — Severe Loss — Sergeant Fryer Wounded — General Warren's Compliment to Colonel Herring — General Sedgwick Killed — From the Wilderness to Spottsylvania — A Touching Incident — Movements on the loth — Country around Spottsylvania — Damp Reflections — " W'here's the Ii8th?" — Heavy Fighting — Success — Carrying Ammunition — Despatch to Colonel Herring — Night of the 13th — Halt in the Night March — A Vivid Contrast — The Ny — Enemy's Entrenchments — Picket Firing — Peculiar Skirmishing — Visitors to the Front — Wray's Experience — Advance oftheiSth — Tapping the Corps — Imprudent Johnnies .... 395

.CHAPTER XVII.

NORTH ANNA — BETHESDA CHURCH — COLD HARBOR.

The 5th Corps Moves — Both Armies Moving Southward — Telegraph Road — An Air of Comfort and Ease — Capturing a Major — Successful Foraging — Paddy Mulchay and the Goose — Dog Robbers, Pot Wrestlers, Coffee Coolers — A False Real Alarm — Ned Wolfenden and the Mule — Corporal Smith to the Front — The Enemy's Advance Checked — A Decoy and Vengeance — Matthew's House — Cutting the Virginia Central Railroad — " By the Left Flank" — Mongohick Church — Henry Clay's Birthplace — Entrenching —

XV —

Advancing and Covering — Heavy Skirmishing — A Resolute Attack — Cold Harbor— Bethesda Church — An Interrupted Dinner — " Mark Time, Kelly ! " — Lenoir's Battle — Corporal Smith to the Rear; and with the Regulars — Capture of the Fairies — Colonel Herring Covers his Regiment — A Tremendous Battle — Walter's Captures — Lieutenant Ware — Successful Ruse — Shady Grove Church Road — Ashbrook and Moore — Chickahominy Swamp — Shelling the Wrong Place — Friendliness ..... 434

CHAPTER XVHL

PETERSBURG — WELDON RAILROAD PEEBLE's FARM.

A Long Wait — Feint towards Richmond — Failure to Seize Petersburg — Crossings of the Chickahominy — Pontoon Bridge — Looking after River Front — Water Famine — Washing in Creation — A Dig for Cover and a Dig for Water — Assault on Petersburg — Beauregard's Withdrawal — The Hare House — " Piles of Dead " — Colonel Chamberlain Wounded — Commencing the Siege — Works around Petersburg — Sergeant Nugent's Well — Friendly Pickets — A Fac-simiie Letter — A Cowardly Act and its Punishment — " Yanks, Don't Fire! the Hull Thing's a Mistake" — Breastworks — Fort Hell and Fort Damnation — Building Bomb-proofs — An Improved Construction is a Failure — Pud's Supper — Desertion by Brigade — Amnesty Proclamation — Careless Exposure — Artillery Practice — Burnside Mine Explodes — Sergeant Nugent's Wisdom — The Colored Troops — Dodging — Movement to Weldon Railroad — Brutality — Artillery to the Front — Flowers House — A Deserved Reprimand — Major Hopper's Account of Engagement — Smith and the Grape Jelly — Buzzing Bees — Horse- Racing — Sheridan Routs Early — Fort McRae Captured .471

CHAPTER XIX.

THE hatcher's RUN OF OCTOBER, 1 864 — HICKSFORD AND BELLE- FIELD, WELDON RAILROAD, RAID — DABNEY's MILLS.

General Warren's Report — An Early Start — Forest Fighting — Colonel Herring Commaiids Skirmishers, and Checks the Enemy — Deceived Innocence — The Capture and Escape — Disguised — Notice to Quit — Move to Destroy Railways — Destruction — Confederate Artillery Driven Off — A Barrel of Sorghum: Sergeant Paschall Bathes in it; Likewise Tom Gabe — A Social Time — The Colonel's Traps and their Fate — Dew of the Orchard — Done — Guerillas — General Order 65 — Furloughs — Executions — Robert Rufifin — Composition of Brigade — Intercepting Supplies — Turkey Chase — Hatcher's Run — The Enemy Driven — The Regiment Engaged — Captains Scott and Bayne Wounded — Colonel Herring Wounded ; He Loses his Leg — Cold Comfort — Extract from General Warren's Report — Getting Ready for the Final Plunge . . . ^ 526

XVI —

CHAPTER XX.

WHITE OAK RIDGE — GRAVELLY RUN FIVE FORKS

APPOMATTOX.

The Beginning of the End — Griffin's Division — An Abominable March and Successful Fighting — Taunting the Johnnies — Five Forks and Nothing to Eat — A Break through the Bri^-^ade — Brigade Joins Sheridan — Capture of Return Works — Capture McGregor's Battery — iiSth Looks after Prisoners — Corporal Fletcher Killed — Griffin's Captives — The Sound of Battle — Unfortunate Sutlers — The Famous Race — High Bridge — Despatch from Sheridan — General Chamberlain — Report of Surrender — Lee's Surrender — Microscopic Rations — Confederate Arms — "Didn't we Give it to you at Shepherdstown ! " — The Foolish Wise — Remembrance of John Brown — Gathering Arms and Stores — Seasoned Meat — Relics — The Last Picket Line — Empty Hopes and Stomachs — Assassination of the President — Difficulty with Colored Troops — Hodge's Diary — Closing Thoughts . . 560

CHAPTER XXL SOUTHERN PRISONS.

Confederate Sanitary Commission — Close Quarters — A North Carolina Conscript — Conscience and Corn Cakes — Andersonville — Shelter — Location — Rations — The Stockade — Cook House — Water — Filth — Belle Islanders — Dead Line — Cleanliness — Soap — Tents — Thousands Shelterless — Broadways — Vendors — Running the Blockade — Gambling — Theft — Execution of Raiders — Punishment of Thieves — Escape — Tunneling — Wells — Wood Rations — Sickness — Doctor's Call — Medicines — Dead House — Dead Wagons — Burial Ground — Increase of Prisoners — Addition to Stockade — Ovens — Beans and Bugs — Fourth of July — Scene at the Gate — Prison Hospital — Death of Fullerton — Removal of Prisoners — Stockade at Millen — Blackshear — Florence — A Lost Dog — Christmas Dinner — Hospital at Goldsboro — Now or Never — Our Flag .........

Appendix

Laurel Hill and Sheridan's Raid — A Few Prison Reminiscences — William H. Henning's Prison Experience — Religious Aspect of the 118th — Brief History of the Army Hospital and its Work — Gettysburg versus Waterloo — Appetite of an Army Mule — A Strange Premonition — Old Big Feet — April Thirteenth, 1865 — Who was the Color-Bearer? — The Surrender of General Lee — Flag of Truce at Appomattox — The Private — Circular . . . 657

ROSTKR 68i

SuRvivDRs' Association, ii8th Corn Exchange Regiment. P. V. . 744

MAP

or THE RE ro

GKTTYSBl'KG and APPOMATTOX COIRT HOl^SE . \'a.

r«t BATTLE FIELDS a.d iilu„..t,«o

THE |v<af\ches or TMc

Hollinger Corp. pH8.5

4 HISTORY

OF THE

1 8th PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS

Chapter I. Organization — Camp Union — Forts Albany And Cochran

And blessed is a country with stout hearts like these;

The tramp of her armies is swelling

the breeze.

They rush to her rescue, their lives freely give — 'Twere better to die than in bondage to live.

promising results anticipated from the majestic advance of the splendidly appointed Potomac Army from Yorktovvn to the Chickahominy in the spring of 1862 were speedily dissipated.

Williamsburg had tested the capacity of the Union soldiery for vigorous assault, while Fair Oaks and Seven Pines were assurances of ability for indomitable resistance. Then for a month there was ominous quiet, while the lines of beleaguerment were maintained about the Confederate capital, when suddenly upon the exposed right fell the overwhelming shock of Gaines' Mill and Mechanicsville. The famous Seven- Days' battles followed, with all their valor and all their fatalities, and concluding resultlessly at Malvern Hill, the leaguers went a-summering on the banks of the James.

An anxious people viewed the situation with alarm. The Government, stirred to renewed activities, called again upon the gallant North to recuperate the depleted ranks of her sorelypressed soldiers. Disaster had not abated enthusiasm, nor failure diminished zeal. Emergencies are the opportunities of heroes, and the patriotic freemen of the North, the East and the West again promptly responded with their sturdy volunteers. It was this condition of public sentiment that gave birth to the 1 1 8th Pennsylvania.

The Corn Exchange of Philadelphia, now better known by the more significant name of the Commercial Exchange, was composed of a membership conspicuous for their loyalty to the Union and their zeal and liberality in sustaining the Government in all its efforts to put down the Rebellion.

On the morning of the 15th of April, 1861, when the telegraphic announcement had reached the North of South Carolina's defiant insult to the American flag by opening fire on Fort Sumter, the busy hum and bustle of the every-day life of the association was arrested to give voice to their indignation. The members gathered around the speaker's rostrum with anxious faces and sorrowing hearts, and after some preliminary proceedings, including stirring addresses by Alexander G. Cattell and others, it was unanimously resolved " that the Room Committee be instructed to purchase immediately and cause to be extended the insulted and still-beloved flag of the United States in front of their building, and to keep it flying there under all circumstances until the Rebellion was subdued."

Upon the minute-book of the association of that day may be found the following preamble and resolution, which were unaniniously adopted:

Whereas, Armed rebellion lias raised its hand against the Government of the United States, and is now engaged in infamous outrages upon the honor, integrity and safety of our beloved country ; and,

Whkreas, It is the duty of all true men, in a crisis like the present, to express their devotion to the sacred cause of their country, and their firm determination never to abandon her to her enemies ; therefore

Resolved, That the Corn Exchange Association, in the manifestation of their unreserved and entire sympathy with the administration in this tiying hour, and of their earnest desire to do all that men may do in behalf of their country, do now instruct their Room Committee to purchase immediately, and cause to be extended, the insulted but still beloved flag of the United States in front of their building before sunset, and to keep it flying there under all circumstances.

Both the letter and spirit of this resolution were faithfully kept. Before the sun had sunk behind the western hills, the old flag was waving in the breeze, and there it continued to wave, in sunshine and in storm, through summer's heat and winter's cold, until its honor was vindicated and its supremacy and rightful authority were recognized all over the land.

Nor did this patriotic commercial body stop with sentiment, patriotic and assertive as it was. In the first year of tiie war its generous treasury was lavish with contributions, and its individual members were liberal with their private means to sustain the Government, and aid the soldier to meet the emergencies the country had been so unexpectedly called upon to encounter.

In the summer of 1862, still fervent in its unflinching loyalty, and abreast with the time, the Corn Exchange resolved, as its response to the call for three hundred thousand volunteers, that it would give its money and lend its strength and influence to furnish an entire regiment of Pennsylvania soldiers, to discharge in part the obligation put upon the good old Commonwealth by this other call for troops.

At a meeting of the association held July 24, 1862, the following action was taken, as appears by the minutes of that day. Mr. Cattell offered the following :