History Sixty-first regiment Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-1865

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Preface

The Sixty-first Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers began its brilliant career in August. 1861, and ended it June 28, 1865. The men, coming from four different sections of the state, widely separated, had little opportunity to perpetuate their acquaintance, and, having no regimental association they gradually merged into the communities whence they came. Now, after the lapse of nearly half a century, stimulated by a generous law of the state, the survivors are presenting this history'

Fortunately, the regiment, in all its experience, served with troops in the region where the most tremendous operations were conducted of which ample official records exist; besides, innumerable accounts have been published, many written by the men conspicuous in the services described. From these reliable sources of information, supplemented by recollection, by diaries kept during the war, and by various newspaper accounts and other publications, it has been comparatively easy to write a history of the regiment as an organization composing a part of certain brigades, divisions, corps and armies. Such a history is of vast importance to the people of the state and of priceless value to the survivors of the regiment, and would richly deserve publication in a convenient and accessible form if it went no further.

But the regiment, from the first to last, had 1987 men, whose heroic deeds gave it the fame of which the state is so justly proud. The individual record, the roster as it is called, of these men is of great interest and importance to them and their descendants. And if the general, regimental and line officers had kept books and records, had made reports and statements as required by military regulations, there would be no difficulty in giving a complete account of the services of each man. But the officers generally high and low. upon whom the responsibility rested, paid little attention to what they called red tape, and the Government itself shared the indifference, ignoring statutes as well as regulations. In fact, the struggle was so great and the number so vast that only current, obvious and absolute essentials received official attention.

The Sixty-first suffered in common with other organizations, leaving the service at the end of the war with an imperfect record. Under these conditions, the Government itself not having made a correct record, it is not reasonable to expect the survivors to do so after the lapse of over forty years, especially when, for historic purposes, the nation is compelled to deny access to its own meager records as improved and supplemented since the war closed. Working under the difficulties incident to such a situation, the rosters have been prepared and are presented herewith, practically complete as to field and staff and companies A and D, but defective in greater or less degree as to the other companies.

In preparing the narrative in this volume the historian has reread all the good works on the subject with which he is familiar, such as the memoirs of Generals Grant and Sheridan. The books of Generals McClellan, Doubleday, Humphreys, Webb, Keifer and Horace Porter. The excellent histories by Dr. George T. Stevens, George E. Pond. F. W. Palfrey. John C. Ropes, the Count of Paris, and others on the Union side; on the Confederate, the works of Generals Longstreet, Johnston and Gordon. Besides, much aid has been derived from the material prepared and left by Col. Robert L. Orr. The valuable diary of James M. Walker of Company A has been constantly used and found reliable in every particular. Major Parsons, Capt. Glenn, Secretary Blair, and other members of the regiment, have furnished valuable assistance. Bates' History of Pennsylvania Volunteers has been freely used for the roster data and has been drawn upon for facts appearing nowhere else. Many references are made to these works and frequent quotations therefrom have been made by permission of the publishers. But f above all, the historian has found the most valuable help in the "Rebellion Records.' a stupendous work published by the United States, containing official orders, reports and correspondence of the Confederate as well as the vast Union Army.

The pictures of Colonels Rippey, Spear and Orr, and of Lieutenant-Colonel Crosby are all taken from small war-time photographs, faded and dimmed by the flight of time. But the record of these brave officers as shown in the rosters is still vivid, and will remain unclouded so long as the deeds of heroic patriots are cherished among men

This history, with many imperfections of which the author is conscious and doubtless many more of which he is not aware, is now submitted in the hope that it will furnish in permanent shape a reliable record for the State of Pennsylvania of the regimental organization and service; and bring to the members of the Sixty-first regiment, and their families, a welcome chronicle of valiant service in a great cause through a period of depression and triumph, of defeat and victory, to a fame as durable as the mountains of the Keystone State.

THE SIXTY-FIRST PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION

*H. O. C. Oehmler, President. fW. J. Glenn, Treasurer.

O. A. Parsons, Vice-President. F. L. Blair, Secretary.

A. T. Brewer, Historian.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

Co. A— Wm. L. Buchanan Co. F— Geo. B. McKee

Co. B — Alex. Thompson Co. G — John A. Lepley

Co. C— Andrew Bingham Co. H— H. K. Tyler

Co. D— Thomas R. Conner Co. I— A. G. Pratt

Co. E — Geo. A. Cassidy Co. K — Jos. A. Espy

fDied August 27, 1908 — Succeeded by Geo. A. Cassidy. *Died August_19, 1910.

Chapter I. Preparation

The 61st regiment was authorized July 24, 1861, when Gov. Curtin issued commission to Rippey appointing him colonel — Mexican War — Other military experience — The three months' quota for Pennsylvania — <)lst raised in thirty days — Leaving Pittsburg September 1, '61 — Arrival in Washington — Gen. Scott — Armed with old muskets — Uniforms — Equipment — First march — Washington to Alexandria — Camp Advance near Fort Lyon— Drill and discipline — Affection for 63d and 105th P. V. — Good foundation for a great career — Fatalities in the month of May — New flag presented — Brilliant address of Col. Rippey — March to Mt. Vernon — Orders on dress parade concerning Forts Henry and Donelson — Brigadier with the suggestive initials U. S.— February 19, 1862, left Camp Advance— Consolidation with 23d P. V. — Readjustment of Field and Line officers — Arrangement satisfactory to both regiments — A representative organization — Lincoln's War order — Army advance — Regiment in Graham's brigade. Couch's division — Keye's 4th Corps — March to Prospect Hill.Va. — Retirement of the rebels from Manassas — Monitor and Merrimac— Regiment returned to Washington — Army to go to the Peninsula — Description of that region 11-19

^ FAIR OAKS.

Chapter II

Move to Hampton Roads by water — Waning glory of old Navy — The Monitor^ Strength of the army — Move up the Peninsula — Impressive scenes — Warwick Court House and river — Yorktown— Siege operations — -First under artillery fire — Enemy retreat — Battle of Williamsburg — Fighters come to the front — Slow pursuit of the rebels — Reach and cross the Chickahominy — ^Advance to Fair Oaks — Battle at that place — Hard knocks for the 61st — A great record made for bravery — Rippey killed — All other field officers killed or wounded — Most line officers among the killed, wounded or missing — Coolness of Gen. Couch — The struggle described — ^Deadly fight over the flag — It goes home with Rippey's body — Night of May 31st — June 1st — The killed and wounded — Bravery of general officers — Loss of the 61st more than any other regiment- List of officers killed — Regiment took into battle 574 men — No just complaint for leaving the regiment unsupported — Number Union and Confederates hit in every 1000 — -Union loss — Meagerness of official reports — ^Incidents of the battle — Bravery and suffering 20-30

Chapter III. Malvern Hill—antietam

Wounded of Fair Oaks taken to White House, then north in hospital steamers — Astonishing patriotism and generosity of Philadelphia — Loving care of the wounded — .\fter the battle of Fair Oaks army occupies same position until

June 27, 1862 — The seven days' battle — Hard fighting — Mechanicsville — Gaines Mill — Savage Station — Allen's Farm, Peach Orchard, — White Oak Swamp — Frazier's Farm — Glendale — Malvern Hill — Night Marches — Hot weather — Great trials — Rebels defeated — Loss of the 61st — Army moved to Harrison's Landing — Visited by Lincoln — Company elections to fill vacancies — Move down the Peninsula to Yorktown — Sail for Alexandria — March out to Fairfax to support Pope — September 6 move to Maryland — March to Antietam — In that battle opposite Dunker Church — Horrors of that bloody battle — Loss of the 61st — Total Union loss — Number mortally wounded — ■ Served in Couch's division — Gen. Franklin's command — Cases of rigor mortis — Pursuing the rebels — Loss at Williamsport, Md. — Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation — Some supplies — A suggestive list — March up to Hancock, Md. — First campaign with the 6th Corps — "Only take the top rail" — Removal of Gen. McClellan — Sentiment in the army — Details .to bring recruits from Harrisburg 31-44

Chapter IV. Fredericksburg

Gen. Burnside succeeds McClellan — Army has confidence in Lincoln — Move to Rappahannock River below Fredericksburg — Snowstorm at Belle Plains — Cold Weather — Cross Dec. 12 — Battle on the 13th — Bloody repulse — Heavy Union loss in battle — Army recrosses the river going into camp — The Mud March — Burnside fails — Blames subordinates — The Light Division — Gen. Hooker supersedes Burnside — Lincoln's letter to the new commander — The army is satisfied with Hooker — Lincoln reviews the troops 45-50

Chapter V. Mar Ye 's Heights

Hooker has 124,500 men — Plans aggressive campaign — Cavalry to operate on Lee's communications — Hooker to concentrate at Chancellorsville — 6th Corps to take Marye's Heights — Movements begin April 28, 1863 — 61st moves after dark — Helps to make pontoon bridge — Crossing the river in face of the enemy —Brave and quick work — First bridge laid in 45 minutes — number of bridges laid in the campaign — 61st crosses May 1st — Then recrosses — In the evening crosses again — Sunday morning May 3d — Waiting for the fog to rise — Marye's Heights to be assaulted — Ominous preparation— 61st to lead the corps — The regiment strips for the work — Plan of the charge — Cooperative movements — Column to move 300 yards crossing a bridge — The regiment moves. Col. Spear leading — He is killed — Brave support of Gen. Shaler and his troops — The Heights are taken — Heavy loss — Gen. Sedgwick follows the enemy after some hours delay — Fight at Salem Church — Hot work May 4th in getting back over the river — 6th corps in great peril — Gen. Sedgwick praises the 61st — Hooker's fight at Chancellorsville — He is defeated — Partly through famous flank movement of Jackson — Rebels concentrate on the 6th corps — Lively movements of that corps — Rebels are severely punished — Artillerists mistake - — Loss of the 61st — Soldiers' opinion of Hooker — His prestige gone — The 6th corps badge— Abohtion of the Light Division .51-58

Chapter VI. Gettsyburg

Composition of the 6th corps— Another move across the Rappahannock— A diversion which does not divert— June 14, 1863, started for Pennsylvania— Route and march described— July 1st, 6th corps is at Manchester— Its famous march to Gettysburg— Appearance on that field July 2d— Various positions on the field— Fight at Little Round Top— Hard experiences of the army July 1st— Coffin's description of 6th corps arrival— Pickett's charge— Union victory—Places made memorable on the field— Sad fate of Jennie Wade, the Union bread-maker— Description of the field— Losses of the 61st— Total loss of the army— Following the enemy— Hurrying over the mountain passes- Lee retreats into Virginia, July 12 59-69

Chapter VII. Rappahannock Station-mine Run

Army moved from Funktown to Berlin where Potomac was crossed— March resumed through the Old Dominion toward Warrenton— Objectionable train guard duty— Vermont brigade went to New York and on return get an ovation—Habit of sending 6th corps on special missions— Movement to Culpepper —State election— Battle of Chickamauga— Detachment 11th and 12th corps —Advance to the Rapidan— Retirement to Centerville— Bristoe Station fight— Charge at Rappahannock Station— Quick and brilliant work— Results —Mine Run movement— Advance to Robertson's Tavern, crossing Rapidan at Jacob's Ford— Cold weather— Strip for a charge— Return to Brandy Station— Winter quarters— Cavalry raid— Christian commission— Religious mterest— Gen. Grant— Description of Virginia— Culpepper to Richmond- Grant's headquarters with the Army of the Potomac 70-78

Chapter VIII

Lincoln's promise to sustain Grant— Strength of the Union Army May 1,1864— Gen. Meade retained— Position of the Union and rebel armies— Order to advance— Its significant provisions— The 6th corps— Its composition— March mto the Wilderness— Incidents— Position on the field— Bloody work— Impenetrable forests-Men of the 61st fired 100 rounds-Woods in flames-Smoke— Fightmg under Hancock— Advance and retreat— 61st under destructive artillery fire— Heavy loss— Hancock's battle the second day— Flank attack on the right of the 6th corps— Capture of Gen. Shaler— Heroic resistance- Rebels driven back— Neill's brigade on the right— Night attack— Repulsed— Loss of the 61st— Gen. Grant on certain features— Signal Service— Telegraph —Night of May 7 army moved to Spottsylvania— Night fight on the 8th— Death of Adjutant Wilson— 61st suffers from heavy artillery fire— Death of Gen. Sedgwick— Other major generals killed in battle— Gen. Wright commands 6th corps— Brave charge of Gen. Upton— Deadly work every day- Grant's letter proposing to fight it out "on that line"— Battle of May 12th— The Bloody Angle— A long hard fight— Big tree cut off— Rebels retreat— des- . cnption of this fight by general officers— Movements after the 12th— New troops— Grant under fire— Fighting by day and marching by night— Losses of the 61st— Of the army— In the month 61st lost over 290 79-98

Chapter IX. Cold Harbor-fort Stevens

Two minie balls met — Grim determination of the Union Army — Move to Noi th Anna — Peculiar sound effect of artillery fire — Advance toward the Pamunkey 61st at Hanover Court House — At Cold Harbor — Bloody encounters — Rebels are well fortified — Union loss — 61st loss — Work of the cavalry — Sheridan's campaigns — Movement to the James River — Long pontoon bridge — Rapid work — 61st at Petersburg — March to relief of Gen. Wilson — His cavalry raid — 6th corps goes to Washington — Meets the President — Marches to Fort Stevens — Fight at that place July r2th — Distinguished spectators — Rebels are driven away — Hot pursuit — Heavy loss of the 61st and other commands — Graphic descriptions of the battle — Names of killed and wounded in the 61st. 99-109

Chapter X. Shenandoah Valley

Marches and countermarches of the 6th Corps in Virginia and Maryland — Apparently aimless — Great hardships with no advantages — Gen. Sheridan assigned to command — His character — -The Shenandoah Valley — Strength and composition of Sheridan's army — Rebel army — Movements up and down the Valley in August — Fight on the 21st at Flowing Spring — Loss of the 61st — Expiration of three years' term and departure for home of those not reinlisting — -Regiment reduced to a battalion — Changes in officers — Camp near Berryville — Battle of Opequon — March at midnight— Cavalry advance — Heroic charge of 2d O. V. C. — Position of the 6th corps — Hard fighting and plenty of it — Death of Gen. Russell — Rebels driven off the field — Heavy loss of the 61st and of the army — Pursuit the next day to Fisher's Hill — Rebels demoralized — Brilliant flank movement routs the rebels and results in Union victory — Prisoners and guns captured — Loss of the 61st — Honors for Capt. Rhodes of Co. D — The enemy is pushed up the Valley to Harrisonburg — Destruction of rebel sources of supply — Sheridan moves back, smoke and flames on every side — Cavalry fight at Tom's Brook — Rebels badly defeated — Position of the army at Cedar Creek October 14th —Sheridan ordered to Washington — Rebels attack early October 19th — Surprise and disperse left of the Union Army — Great fight of the 6th corps for five hours — Sheridan's ride — His reception by the troops — Rebels attacked and defeated — Nearly annihilated — Their loss — Union loss — The 61st in the battle — Its loss — Incidents of the remarkable battle — 6th corps divisions fought separately part of the time — Sheridan's ride along the infantry line — Force of Sheridan for the last move — Sheridan's Ride poem 110-129

CHAPTER XL

PETERSBURG-APPOMATTOX.

The 61st advance to Strasburg after Cedar Creek fight — Where two companies of recruits came — Line officers and organization at that time — Lincoln reelected — December 9th 61st started back to Petersburg, arriving the 16th — Position and work at Petersburg — More recruits March 2d, 1865, making full regiment — Fight on March 25th, 1865 — Loss of the 61st' — Size of the Confederacy in the spring of 1865 — Union and Confederate armies — Grant's principal generals — Lee's lieutenants — Sheridan's return from the Valley — His battle

at Five Forks — Rebel works attacked April 2d — Charge of the 6th corps

Rebel lines broken— Beginning of the end— Gallant work of the 6th corps— The 61st had an honorable part — Its losses — Description of its part in the charge by Col. Orr— Honors for men of the 61st and promotions — Death of Col. Crosby — Loss of the 6th corps — Retreat of the rebels and capture of Richmond— Fights in the pursuit of Lee — Sailors Creek— Appotmattox— Lee's surrender— 61st presents captured rebel flags— Address of Gen. Meade- Grant on his deathbed praises Army of the Potomac — 61st moves to Danville — Returns by rail to Richmond — Marches to Washington — Is reviewed and mustered out June 28th, 1865 130-145

Chapter XII. Peace

61st awakes to find itself famous — Facts about the regiment in Fox's "Regimental Losses" — Most officers killed in action — Other honors — List of officers killed while commanding the regiment— List of all officers killed— Officers wounded —Tables of lo.sses by Company— In each battle— Meager historical information — Fair Oaks reunion — Reception in Richmond — Address of Gen. Keyes — List of some men present— Gen. Sedgwick's memorial at Spottsylvania Court House — Warm welcome at Fredericksburg — Interesting program May 11th, 1887— Dedication May 12th — Scenes on the memorable field — The big tree— The Bloody Angle— Generals Wright and Getty present — Fox's graphic description of the 6th corps— Meeting at Gettysburg and dedication of the regimental monument — Description — Its inscriptions — Honors to members of the 61st— Pittsburg reunion January, 1908- Arrangements for regimental history — Officers of the association — Work on the history — Death of Col. Glenn — Loss to the organization — Col. Glenn was to write account of flags — Work incomplete— Description of flags from Bates History furnished by Col. Orr. . 146-158

Index

COLONEL O. H. RIPPEY Killed at Battle of Fair Oaks, May 31st, 1852

HISTORY

Chapter I. Preparation

"Whenever my country calls upon me, I am ready to take my musket on my shoulder." 1774. George Washington.

The Sixty-first regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers originated July 24th, 1861, when Andrew G. Curtin, the War Governor of the State, commissioned Oliver H. Rippey, of Pittsburgh, its first Colonel, and Frank P. Robinson, of Allegheny City, its first Lieutenant-Colonel. The former had been lieutenant -.colonel of the Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers in the three months' service, going to the front April 23rd. 1861, and returning from Gen. Patterson's Shenandoah Valley Campaign the 23rd of July, the day preceding the date of their new commissions for service in the three years' regiment, whose number, then written for the first time, was destined to appear on every page of important history in the Army of the Potomac, until the war was triumphantly ended.

Col. Rippey had served in the Mexican War, going out in December, 1846 as a private in Col. Francis M. Wynkoop's First Pennsylvania Infantry, participating in the siege of Vera Cruz, and taking part in General Scott's hard fights and signal victories at Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Cheurubusco, Molina Del Rey, Chapultepec and Mexico City, returning in December, 1848.

With experience in the field equal to any one of his age in 1861, Colonel Rippey had all the elements of a good soldier, joined to patriotic zeal as a citizen. A trained jurist, he was also a brilliant orator with a sympathetic temperament and a strong sense of justice and fair play. He answered the timid apprehensions and irresolute demands for peace, because of the Bull Run defeat, by promptly re-enlisting for three years before the weary victims of that disaster had time to return to their former positions around the N.ational Capital. His regiment was for immediate service in the field, and the recruiting offices, opened in Pittsburgh and Allegheny, were soon thronged with enthusiastic volunteers.

The quota for Pennsylvania in the three months service was 12,500 men, but before enhstments could be stopped, the State had rushed in 20,175, far surpassing any other state and furnishing more than one-fifth of all the three months volunteers. Of the 500,000 men called by the President for three years and authorized by Congress in July and August, 18G1, the number asked of the Keystone State was 82,525; the generous response gave the Nation 85,160, including the 61st regiment.

Under date of August 1st, 1861, the new colonel enrolled about 500 men, subsequently composing Companies B, C, E, F and K. In the meantime, Jacob Creps and John Pollock recruited over one hundred men in Indiana County, who were assigned to the 61st, as Company A, with Jacob Creps as captian and John Pollock as first lieutenant. At this point, when 600 men had enlisted, the regiment was ordered to the front to meet the imperative demand for troops, and immediately prepared to obey the command, although the organization was incomplete as to field staff and line officers, and the men had neither uniforms, arms or camp equipment.

The regiment left Pittsburgh, September 1st, 1861, going over the Pennsylvania Railroad to Harrisburg, where a stop of two days occurred, some of the men being supplied with uniforms. The command then proceeded to the National Capital, passing through Baltimore in the night, yelling defiance at that unfortunate city, still suffering from the hostility created by the attack April 19th, 1861, on the 6th Massachusetts, while that famous regiment was hurrying to the seat of government, then in great peril. On arriving in Washington, the 61st camped on Capitol Hill, where the Congressional Library now stands. Here the men were armed with old smooth-bore muskets, used in the Mexican War, changed for percussion caps, the cartridge consisting of one round ball the diameter of the bore, three small buckshot, securely wrapped with the powder in tough Manila paper, the whole charge making a roll an inch and a half long, with the paper neatly folded over the powder end and pressed down along the side, ready to be torn off when loading. These guns were carried fifteen months and then exchanged for muzzle-loading Springfield rifles. While in camp on Capitol Hill, discipline was not strict and the new soldiers of the 61st swarmed into the galleries of the Senate and House to see and hear the congressional celebrities, gazed in breathless admiration on the historic paintings in the rotunda, and scanned with respectful curiosity, such members of the Supreme Court as made their appearance. Some of the 61st seeing General Scott in a carriage, showed their profound respect by removing their hats, wondering if they really beheld the hero of Lundy's Lane, the fearless and picturesque Indian fighter, the companion in arms of Zachary Taylor, William Henry Harrison and Andrew Jackson, the masterly conqueror of Mexico, the man who for thirteen years was contemporary of Washington and probably saw the Father of His Country many times. The fresh volunteers of the 61st also invaded the various departments, roaming through the White House, hoping for a ghmse of Father Abraham.

This pleasure, however, was soon ended, and the regiment prepared for its first march with all the equipment of real soldiers; each man with a gun, a cartridge and a cap-box, a canteen, a haversack and a knapsack. The start was made from Capitol Hill, the route through the city to Long Bridge, across the Potomac and down on the Virginia side to Alexandria. The September day was hot, the roads dusty, the distance interminable, the new shoes intolerable, except in a few instances where they happened to fit. The first Virginia camp was near Fairfax cemetery, an ancient burying ground, whose interments were soon outnumbered by Union soldiers, who, unable to stand the change of climate, with the rigors of camp life, answered the last roll call before meeting the armed enemy. In a couple of days the regiment moved below Alexandria, taking position on the high ridge near the road leading to Mount Vernon, overlooking the Potomac about a mile south of the point where Fort Lyon was subsequently built. This location was called Camp Advance, being further to the front than any other position held by Union troops in that region. The place was well watered, the land undulating and the natural woods nearby, afforded a bountiful supply of fuel for the autumn and winter, while timber was sufficient for necessary regimental structures and for huts which the soldiers soon learned to build with the A camp tent for a roof.

Here the regimenfremained from early October, 1861, until February 19th, 1862, a period of five months, in which the command received the discipline so necessary to make real soldiers effective in the presence of the enemy and able to endure the hardships of campaigning without losing health or martial spirit.

Before describing this period of strenuous preparation, wherein the true American soldier was evolved from the citizen, it is necessary to have a closer view of the regiment as it then existed. The active field officers then in service were: Colonel, Oliver H. Rippey; Lieutenant Colonel, Frank P. Robinson; Adjutant, W. Gibson Miller; Quarter-Master, Benjamin W. Baldwin; vSurgeon, Robert M. Tindel; Assistant Surgeon, Ambrose I. Hew.

According to a published order under date of October loth, 1861, five Pennsylvania regiments, the 32nd, 45th, 61st, 63rd and 105th, were to constitute the 3rd brigade of Heintzelman's division, but the 45th was detained elsewhere, and the 32nd was detailed for garrison duty, so that the brigade was actually composed of the other three regiments and was commanded by Brigadier General Charles D. Jamison, an ideal soldier, who soon gained the confidence of his men. The regimental commanders were Col. O. H. Rippey, 61st; Col. Alexander Hays, 63d; and Col. A. A. McKnight, 105th. The work of seasoning the raw material began at once in real earnest. In the forenoon details worked on Fort Lyon, gaining a knowledge of fortifications, while those remaining in camp were engaged in squad and company drill, including exercise in the manual of arms. In the afternoon batallion and regimental drills alternated with brigade evolutions, including a great variety of field manoeuvers, in which the several regiments moved to the front in line of battle and in mass, marched by the flank, made charges, formed squares, deployed, rallied, advanced, retreated, wheeled, obliqued, encountering obstacles, sweeping over fields, crossing ravines, rushing through woods, returning to camp in the evening tired and hungry.

In the meantime the field, staff and line officers were schooled in their respective duties, and the non-commissioned officers were carefully taught how to do their work. The surgeons and hospital stewards were also systematically instructed in their service and the men were thoroughly educated in the preparation of food, the care of their clothing, and the principles of hygiene.

Five months of this experience produced three regiments of unsurpassed efficiency in campaigning, and in battles their intrepidity was displayed on every important field in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, all three organizations standing high on the official roll of honor, published in 1889. Only 13 regiments out of the whole 2,000 composing the Union army stand higher in the per cent of killed in action than the 63rd, and only 8 regiments had more killed in action than the 105th, while the 61st surpassed all other regiments in the number of its officers killed in action, and has other special honors of which more will be said later. Official figures show these three regiments had 668 men killed in battle, saying nothing in this connection about the wounded or those dying of disease.

It appears of record that hard fighting regiments had the smallest proportion of losses from sickness, which is confirmed by the history of these three Pennsylvania regiments. Three reasons exist for this comparative exemption from fatal disease.

First: They were drilled in the best methods of taking care of themselves and warding off disease.

Second : The good discipline of the men extended to quarter masters and commissaries, who, in spite of all perils managed to furnish the soldiers even on the fighting line, with coffee, bacon and hard tack.