MILITARY: One Hundred and Fiftieth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Second Regiment, Bucktail Brigade, Chapter 12 Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB & JP Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm Table of contents for the book with graphics, may be found at http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/1pa/military/cw/150-bucktails/150-bucktails.htm ________________________________________________ HISTORY OF THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH REGIMENT PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS, SECOND REGIMENT, BUCKTAIL BRIGADE. BY LIEUTENANT-COLONEL THOMAS CHAMBERLIN, HISTORIAN OF THE SURVIVORS ASSOCIATION. REVISED AND ENLARGED EDITION, WITH COMPLETE ROSTER. PHILADELPHIA: F. McMANUS, JR. & CO., PRINTERS, 1905. 98 ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH CHAPTER XII. IN CAMP AT WHITE OAK CHURCH. EXCESSIVE fatigue, loss of sleep, the pouring rain, and, above all, the knowledge that a great movement, auspiciously begun, on which so many hopes were based, had proved unsuccessful, conspired to depress the spirits of the rank and file and develop for a time a certain degree of irritability. In mounting the steep, wooded hill facing the ford, men of different regiments became more or less intermingled, and their criticisms of one another were not all of the politest; while some of their officers, who strove to preserve an appearance of order in the ranks, failed to command the respect to which their position entitled them. It was not, however, an hour in which to meditate harsh measures, and indeed, after the trying experiences of the past few days, the men had claim to more than usual forbearance. When the column reached the summit, and could move more freely on the muddy but otherwise unobstructed roads, a better feeling began to prevail, and all swung forward with alacrity, in the hope of soon being halted and allowed to go into camp. But no such good fortune was in store for them, - at least for Colonel Stone's brigade. Either that officer had omitted to obtain orders as to the destination of his command, or he must have misinterpreted them, for he continued to lead it through the pelting rain over roads that grew every moment more difficult, and once at least, by mistaking the way, necessitated perhaps a mile or two of useless marching, when every needless step was a punishment. At last, about noon, a halt of two or three hours was made, and most of the men refreshed themselves with coffee, though PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS 99 many did not go to the trouble of building fires to prepare it, fearing that an order to move might come at any moment and leave them with only "their labor for their pains". The march was resumed near the middle of the afternoon, and the experience of the next few hours was worse than that of the morning. In many places brooks had overflowed their banks and spread over wide spaces between the hills, and through these muddy torrents the brigade was compelled to pass, with water reaching to the cartridge-belt, chilling exhausted limbs and causing suffering stomachs to yearn for warming food and drink. It was a cruel stretch, lasting into the night; and when, about eight or nine o'clock, the fires of a cavalry post were seen at White Oak Church, each regiment dissolved without command, to seek shelter wherever it could be found. A few were accommodated in the little church, but the larger number hunted up the deserted camps in the immediate neighborhood, where they found protection from the rain, and in blessed sleep forgot the day's accumulated unpleasantnesses. Colonel Wister and Adjutant Ashhurst were fortunate enough to obtain quarters in a farm-house near by, where they were comfortably entertained; while the lieutenant-colonel and major, from lack of enterprise or utter exhaustion, accepted the first resting-place which offered, without considering the question of previous occupancy. On the following morning a melancholy beating of rain-soaked drums called the scattered men together, their clothing and equipments still sadly suggestive of a long struggle with water and mire; and without obtaining orders where to go, Colonel Stone led the brigade back to its old quarters near Belle Plain. Here orders sought him, and, on the morning of the 9th, after a comfortable night's rest, he marched his command back to the neighborhood of White Oak Church, and went into camp in a wood, about two miles from the Rappahannock, not far from Pollock's Mills. 100 ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH Measures were promptly adopted to repair the wear and tear of the Chancellorsville movement, and in a few days the 150th, which knew no idle moments, was again in an approved state of discipline and efficiency. Lieutenant-Colonel Huidekoper, who, by the courtesy of Colonel Wister, had much to do with the instruction of the regiment in its manifold duties, granted mild indulgences to the member of each company who kept his clothing, arms and accoutrements in the most satisfactory condition, begetting in this manner an agreeable rivalry which was productive of the best results. In his brief "History of the 150th", published in the Scout and Mail, Sergeant Ramsey, of Company F, says, "While encamped at White Oak Church an incident occurred which will serve to illustrate the impartiality of Lieutenant-Colonel Huidekoper's judgment as an inspecting officer, and his perfect recollection in after years of any circumstance connected with the regiment. The camp and regiment were regularly inspected every Sunday morning, and everything done to incite the zeal of the various companies and individual men to excel in their appearance. In one of the companies was a young man who was constantly commended by the lieutenant-colonel for having his piece in the best order. This produced criticism, and, finally, the allegation of favoritism, and the boys determined to test the matter by having the gun of the supposed favorite exchanged for that of another member of the company who always had his gun in good order. When the company in which these men were was reached, the inspecting officer, Lieutenant-Colonel H-----, handled several muskets before coming to the one in question, which was taken, carefully examined, and returned with the remark, 'Baker, you have your piece as clean this morning as Reynolds's ever was; now see if you cannot have it so every morning.' Nearly twenty years after this occurrence (Colonel H-----, not having seen him in the meantime) Reynolds called at the colonel's office and, giving his name, remarked, 'I do not suppose you PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS 101 remember me'. The immediate answer was, 'Oh, yes; the boy who always had a clean musket'". If the regiment excelled in the neatness of its clothing, - as it certainly did,-this was largely due to the watchfulness of Adjutant Ashhurst, who was not only painstaking in all the routine duties of his office, but kept a vigilant eye on the appearance and bearing of the men. To his prudent foresight the command was indebted for a perennial supply of white gloves, which added greatly to the attractiveness of its dress parades, already noticeable for the perfection of the men in the manual of arms. On every occasion of this kind the number of spectators from other camps equalled or exceeded the strength of the regiment. Picket duty was one of the most pleasing features of the service at this point. The "turn" of each regiment lasted two days, and as the weather was for the most part delightful, and a tacit understanding existed between the two lines (separated for some distance only by the width of the Rappahannock) that there should be no firing, the men went as cheerfully to this duty as to a picnic. In a letter to a member of his family, written Sunday, May 17, Lieutenant-Colonel Huidekoper says, "One-half of my picket line ran along the river, on the opposite bank of which rebels sat, talking and chatting at ease. They go in swimming by dozens and paddle half-way across. They are talkative and on good terms with our men. As they parted to-day, each promised to take care of the other if they should be taken prisoners. It was the 19th Georgia. Some of the questions asked were these: - "Rebel.-'Where is Joe Hooker now?' "Answer.-'Gone to Jackson's funeral.' "Rebel.-'Has Joe got the splinters out of his face?' "Answer.-'Oh, yes; they grew out.' "Rebel.-I'll give you these plugs of tobacco for some coffee, and swim across for it.' 102 ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH "Answer.-'Oh, we have plenty of tobacco.' "Yesterday the 2d Wisconsin exchanged newspapers with the enemy. My headquarters were in the yard of Assistant Secretary of War (C. S. A. ) Major Seddon's house, about a quarter of a mile from the river. It is on a hill, and the view is perfectly lovely. The valley is three or four miles wide, and on either bank were thousands of cattle and mules, pasturing in the heavy clover. Officers rode along either bank in safety. At Mrs. Seddon's house was a signal station. The darkies supplied me with milk by stealing it from the buckets. They are good friends to the Union army". On the 18th of May the regimental camp was moved from the cool woods to a hill as bare as a billiard-ball, because the medical director pronounced the other location unhealthy. ' By erecting arbors in front of their tents, covered with twigs cut from the grove, the men succeeded not only in obtaining a grateful shelter from the warm sun, but in giving to the camp a peculiarly picturesque appearance. Here the fondness of men, whose home ties are sundered, for pets of all kinds, cropped out to a marked extent. At the colonel's quarters a black-and-tan hitch, of good strain and heavy with pups, which had followed the regiment from Chancellorsville, was the object of much attention, and frequent were the friendly disputes as to the partition of the expected litter. In some of the company camps could be found a young crow or two, a cat, a tame squirrel, dogs, and even a wretched buzzard, whose scanty and rumpled feathers were suggestive of the repentant parrot after its famous encounter with the monkey. Mention must not be omitted of the dog "Jim", of whom the property right was vested in Sergeant "Jack" Kensill, of Company F, but who was known to every man in the regiment, and endeared himself to all by his pluck and constancy. He shared the fortunes of the command until the close of the war, PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS 103 running narrow chances of death or disablement on many fields; and though often separated from his immediate master, and at times from the regiment, by the accidents of battle, invariably turned up in the right place to receive the congratulations and caresses of his numerous friends. He was duly mustered out in the spring of 1865, and provided with a written discharge as formal in its wording as the valuable paper furnished by the War Department. On the 21st of May, Adjutant Ashhurst writes, "We have been ordered to be ready to move to-night. The idea is this. A regiment crossed over from the other side to plunder, some days since, and we sent some cavalry down to meet them. To-day the rebels telegraphed by signals that a bridge was broken, cutting off our cavalry, and by re-enforcements they could capture it. Colonel Morrow's (Iron) brigade, First Division, was sent this morning to repair the bridge and meet the enemy. If needed, we are to go to-night". On the 22d he adds, "We did not move last night, and are remaining here very quiet. The bower we have in front of our tent makes it pretty cool. It is still cool at nights. Very many of our officers are sick - Widdis and Fisher, of A; Sears, of F; Gutelius, of D; Tryon, of I; Davis, of C; Reisinger, of H; Pine and Carpenter, of E; and Chatburn, of B. Gutelius has been very ill, but is getting better now. Tryon is quite ill. I think Davis and Pine will either resign or go on the invalid detachment. Reisinger has hurt his leg with a bayonet. Chatburn is getting better. The others are light cases". On the 25th of May, Lieutenant-Colonel Huidekoper, impressed by the beauty of his surroundings and the harmony which filled the air, wrote to one of his friends, "The bands around us and across the river have been playing sweetly for a few days. It is delightful as the sun goes down to sit in one's tent and enjoy the music, which seems to float from camp to 104 ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH camp. Camp life will have a thousand recollections which will outlive all memory of the hardships". Captain H. W. Crotzer, of Company D, was mustered out of the service on the 18th of May, on surgeon's certificate of disability. His physical condition was none of the best before quitting Belle Plain, and on the long march to United States Ford, on the 2d of May, he broke down completely. Reaching the ford with great difficulty, he received much-needed medical attention, and, as soon as his strength permitted, turned in and did what he could to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded in the field hospitals at that point. As his own trouble was of a chronic nature, he deemed it best to retire from the army. Captain John B. Fay, of Company C, had been stricken with malaria prior to the breaking of camp, and also took no part in the Chancellorsville campaign. He was sent to one of the hospitals, and, typhoid fever developing itself in his case, he never resumed command of his company, but was honorably discharged, on surgeon's certificate, on the 16th of the following September. Dr. Philip A. Quinan, who had been assigned as surgeon to the regiment, reached camp and assumed his duties on the 28th of May. He claimed to have had experience as an assistant surgeon in the regular cavalry for several years, and seemed to be well up in his profession; but a natural or studied cynicism, coupled with excessive self-consciousness and a disposition to belittle his superiors in the medical department, failed to commend him to his fellow-officers or secure their friendship. His advent was signalized by an almost immediate reduction of the sick-list from seventy to twenty-nine, whether wisely or unwisely it would be difficult to say. On May 27 the adjutant writes, "I was down at the picket line to-day. The rebels on their side are as numerous and easy as usual, bathing, fishing, etc. I saw one man walking his PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS 105 beat, carrying his gun. He is the first I have seen doing that. They nearly all lie down, while our men are nearly all obliged to walk their beats. If we move now we must leave behind us Jones, Reisinger and Pine. The two former, I believe, are suffering from intermittent fever, the latter from exhaustion and nervous debility. Also Lieutenants Tryon, Gutelius and Davis. Tryon is convalescent, Gutelius has had a relapse, Davis is used up". On the 28th he continues, "We did not move yesterday or to-day, and our movements are still most uncertain. The rebels were said this morning to be withdrawing from our front, but this afternoon they are out in large force, holding brigade drills across the river in 'view of our line. We have the belief that they have a scheme of crossing somewhere, and the excessive movements they are making everywhere are intended to blind us to something, - exactly what, we do not know. "We rode out to the picket line this afternoon, and went up to Mr. Strother's, where we get our butter, and had a nice talk with his three daughters, rather fine girls. Mr. Strother is a bitter secessionist, but his wife and daughters are very pleasant and courteous, and make very good butter, at fifty cents a pound... .. They are much disgusted at our men having milked their cows last night. Old Strother says, 'If your men milk the cows there can be no butter for you,' and the truth of his statement cannot be denied". On the 29th of May, Assistant Surgeon M. A. Henderson sent in his resignation, which was promptly accepted. Having passed his prime, and ill health seriously limiting his usefulness in the field, he could easily be spared by the regiment. It is suspected, however, that Surgeon Quinan assisted him in making up his mind to leave. In the latter part of May and beginning of June it was evident that General Lee had begun a movement of importance, 106 ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH the exact object of which it was General Hooker's aim, by the unsparing use of his cavalry, to discover and prepare to thwart. The enemy veiled his intentions by equal activity on the part of his mounted forces, and the uncertainty resulting from this state of things kept the Union army, for a time, in a condition of unrest that was far from enjoyable. Orders to be in readiness to move were received every day or two, only to be countermanded within a few hours, perhaps, after all the labor of packing and breaking camp had been gone through. From their very frequency the regiment soon came to regard these orders with serenity, and in the first days of June abandoned itself, in unclaimed hours, to the pleasant pastime of cricket - a game very dear to Philadelphians - for which a complete outfit had been ordered some time before. On the 5th of June it was reported that the enemy had evacuated the heights, a heavy force of Union cavalry having passed the river the previous day to reconnoitre. The Second Division of the Sixth Corps crossed near Pollock's Mills on the afternoon of the 5th. On the 6th, Stone's brigade was under arms more or less from three A.M. until four P.M., when, a storm coming up, tents were pitched again without orders. The 150th went on picket on the following day, the adjutant remaining in camp to receive orders. In a letter of that date he mentions the fact that Captain Pine and Lieutenant Tryon had been sent to Georgetown Hospital, and Captain Reisinger and Lieutenant Gutelius to the hospital at Windmill Point. On the 10th he writes, "There is nothing new here. The enemy shows considerable force opposite us. We changed the position of our reserve and picket line on Monday, bringing some one hundred and fifty men forward from the woods into a hollow not far from the river. This the enemy construed into an attempt to cross, for they brought down a battery and a brigade of infantry, which they drew up in line to oppose our crossing. Finding us quiet, they withdrew them about eight PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS 107 A.M. yesterday, but kept their rifle-pits filled and heavy pickets out all day. Our regiment flatters itself at having produced considerable sensation among the rebels without intending it. Our men came in from picket to-day". On the 8th, while on the picket line, Elvidge recorded in his diary, "Went on picket. Brought everything along with us. The rebs are making a big show across the river, so I guess they mean a move of some kind". Three days later Lieutenant-Colonel Huidekoper writes, "We have been under marching orders for eight days, during which the men have had to live on coffee, crackers, and some meat". The Gettysburg campaign was about to begin.