MILITARY: One Hundred and Fiftieth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Second Regiment, Bucktail Brigade, Chapter 19 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. 204 ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH CHAPTER XIX. ACROSS THE RAPIDAN - THE WILDERNESS. THE merging of the First Army Corps into the Fifth, by which the former lost its identity during the rest of the war, was a source of profound regret to all who had served with it, and under McDowell, Hooker, Reynolds and Doubleday had assisted in giving it an enduring name in history. Unfortunately, the departure of a number of regiments whose terms of enlistment had expired, and the marked depletion of its ranks by the accidents of battle, seemed to justify this disagreeable measure, against which even those who questioned its expediency hesitated to present a formal protest. By this change the Fifth Corps was much strengthened, and consisted thenceforward of four divisions, commanded in their numerical order by Generals Griffin, Robinson, Crawford and Wadsworth. Stone's brigade became the Third in Wadsworth's (Fourth) division. The army continued its encampment in the vicinity of Culpeper, and until the beginning of May every portion of it was kept astir, drilling almost daily - frequently in heavy marching order - in preparation for the severe demands about to be made upon it. Inspections were frequent and thorough, to detect and remedy any defects in the equipment of the troops while the needed supplies were easily within reach. Special Order No. 78, issued by General Wadsworth, April 6, contained the following paragraph: 1o. Lieutenant-Colonel Osborne, division inspector, and Lieutenant Tinker, division ordnance officer, will forthwith make a thorough inspection of the arms and equipments of this command and will report thereupon; and likewise in the order of merit or COLONEL GEORGE W. JONES. QUARTERMASTER A. S. VOORHIS. ADJUTANT WILLIAM WRIGHT. ASSISTANT SURGEON J. L. MORRIS. PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS 205 demerit of the three regiments in which the arms and equipments are in the best condition, and the three in which they have been most neglected. This report will be made as soon as possible, and will be published throughout the command. From the circular which was soon after published, it will be seen that the 150th continued to maintain its well-earned reputation, and but for the fact that the 6th Wisconsin enjoyed the advantage of a more recent issue of clothing, the Bucktail Regiment would probably have stood first in the order of merit in dress and appearance. HEAD-QUARTERS FOURTH DIVISION, FIFTH ARMY CORPS, April 16, 1864. CIRCULAR. The following extract from the report of the inspection made pursuant to paragraph 10 of Special Orders No. 78 from these headquarters is furnished for the information of the command: The three regiments in which the arms and equipments were in the best condition are as follows: - 1. 6th Wisconsin Veteran Volunteers. 2. 150th Pennsylvania Volunteers. 3. 147th New York Volunteers. The percentage in excellence of condition of the arms and equipments is equal. The 6th Wisconsin Veteran Volunteers excelled in neatness of clothing and appearance. The three regiments in which the arms and equipments were in the worst condition are as follows: - 1. 95th New York Volunteers. 2. 24th Michigan Volunteers. 3. 121st Pennsylvania Volunteers. The percentage of excellence of condition of arms and equipments in the 95th New York Volunteers was the lowest of the above three regiments, but they excelled the others in neatness of clothing and appearance. This circular will be read at the first dress parade after it is received in each regiment of this division. By command of BRIGADIER-GENERAL WADSWORTH. A. W. H. GILL, Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General 206 ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH On the night of May 3d, camp was broken, and soon after midnight, with the cavalry in the lead, the army started on the most wearing campaign it had ever undertaken. Grant was at the front to direct its movements, and officers and men alike felt that the two great opposing forces were about to enter upon the home-stretch, with chances in favor of the North, which could best stand the hard knocks and more readily fill the gaps necessarily resulting from a long succession of conflicts. The 150th left Culpeper shortly before dawn, its strength (as ascertained from a copy of the last weekly report made by H. M. Kieffer, hospital steward, just prior to the movement) being about three hundred and forty-six officers and men. Late in the forenoon it crossed the Rapidan at Germanna Ford, on a pontoon bridge over which a good portion of the Fifth Corps (Warren's) had already passed. The Sixth Corps (Sedgwick's) followed the Fifth. The latter moved without interruption to Old Wilderness Tavern, and bivouacked in line, facing west, with Sedgwick on the right. The Second Corps (Hancock's) rested at Chancellorsville, having crossed the river at Ely's Ford. In pursuance of orders from General Grant, Warren, early on the morning of the 5th, set his corps in motion to take up a position at Parker's Store, on the Orange plank road. After marching about a mile the column was halted, and the 150th, under Major Jones, was sent to the front and deployed as skirmishers. The regiment advanced, zigzagging through the woods with occasional stops for rest, until after eleven o'clock, when the enemy was encountered and his skirmishers gradually pushed back towards their supports. In spite of the dense undergrowth which almost completely screened the combatants on both sides from view, blood soon began to flow, and disabled men in quick succession passed to the rear. Lieutenant John H. Harter was called to the command of Company D, PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS 207 Captain Roland Stoughton having received a shot through the leg, below the knee, necessitating amputation, from the effects of which he died in hospital at Fredericksburg three weeks later. Major Jones's order to his men was still "Forward", but the opposing fire grew in intensity as they pushed on. Soon they were moved some distance to the left to make room for sharpshooters of the 147th New York, who joined them on the right, and made the woods echo with the rapid discharge of their breech-loaders. All this time the attenuated line of those engaged was apparently alone, no supporting force being in sight. But heavier bodies of troops were not far away. Wright's division of the Sixth Corps joined Warren's right, and Getty's division, also of the Sixth Corps, had been ordered to Warren's left. In this formation a general attack was to be made, the line extending across both the Orange plank road and the Orange turnpike, which at this point were separated by a considerable belt of dense forest, the same nearly impenetrable screen of woods continuing north and south of these almost parallel roads. Hancock was instructed to reinforce Getty, who was somewhat isolated from Warren, and join in the assault. Owing to the wilderness-like nature of the ground fought over, it is impossible to give a lucid account of the various movements, or specify their limits with accuracy. It was for the most part a battle of musketry, the artillery finding little opportunity to do effective work. When Warren's main line advanced, it was the "Iron Brigade" which crashed through the undergrowth in rear of the 150th, as it hurried forward to take up the gage of battle. Its solid front passed over the prostrate skirmishers, more than one-half of whom, however, joined the ranks of the veterans of the northwest, leaving Major Jones with an insignificant command to move with the other supporting lines in the rear. This was unfortunate, but under such circumstances it is hard 208 ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH to restrain men from sharing in a movement, which, in their enthusiasm, they think is about to be crowned with success. On went the rush; the opposing skirmishers are brushed away, and the enemy's first line of battle vainly strives with murderous volleys to stay the victorious advance. Many lives are snuffed out, and wounded men fall by scores, but the movement goes on. Another deafening crash of musketry from an unseen force tells that the enemy's second line has been reached. The Iron Brigade arrests its steps for a moment to return the deadly fire, then presses forward with loud cheers, and the opposing ranks are dislodged. Dislodged, but not terrified, they avail themselves of the protection of trees and bushes, and every favorable accident of ground, fighting desperately in slow retreat, and punishing the assailing troops as severely as they themselves are punished. Progress is no longer easy. The woods reverberate with the crash of small arms, and, with the frequent bursts of "rebel yells" and Union cheers super-added, the din is simply infernal. Supports come up and join the Iron Brigade, and regiments and brigades are sadly intermingled; but by sheer force the enemy is pushed back little by little, with frightful loss of life and endless shattering of limbs on both sides, until at last the "men in gray" seem to, melt away, or are swallowed up in the gloomy forest. Suddenly another thunderous volley meets the advancing host. The enemy's third line has been struck. The unexpected has happened, the Union advance is spent, and with a suspicion that their flanks are "in the air", Warren's exhausted men turn in retreat. In more or less confusion they hurry over the ground which had witnessed their successes, with Lee's active forces in pursuit; and but for the happy accident that temporary defences had been thrown up by the troops in the rear, a serious disaster might have forever clouded the record of the day. Here, as related by Sergeant Ramsey, "a number of the scattered members of the 150th got together, and, in PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS 209 charge of a non-commissioned officer of the regiment, by order of a staff-officer, took and held a position in the breastworks until the onset of the rebel line was checked. They then hunted up and rejoined the regiment, which, with the brigade, was found at a point near the Lacey House". Stone's command suffered heavily in this morning engagement, contributing a long list of killed and wounded to the aggregate of casualties. In the advance just described Lieutenant John H. Harter, of Company D, had an altogether unique experience and acquitted himself a hero. On the evening of May 3d, he had been mustered as first lieutenant of his company, having been previously first sergeant. As the army moved before daylight next morning, he had no opportunity to get either uniform or sword; but on the march he picked up the scabbard of a cavalry sabre, which he used as a walking-stick and as a badge of his authority. On the 5th the regiment was deployed as flankers and later as skirmishers; and while forcing his way through the underbrush, Lieutenant Harter very unexpectedly came upon Three rebel soldiers and a captain, fully armed, in a rifle pit under his very nose. Brandishing his scabbard high in air, with language more emphatic than polite, he demanded their immediate surrender. The officer lost no time in unbuckling his sword and handing it over to his captor, who courteously directed the four prisoners to the rear. In this novel manner Lieutenant Harter was provided with a serviceable weapon, which he had an opportunity to use to advantage, next day, on a Confederate who fired at him at short range. Late in the afternoon Wadsworth's division and Baxter's brigade of Robinson's were ordered to the left to report to Hancock, whose troops, with Getty's, were in hot conflict with the enemy at and near the intersection of the Brock and plank roads. In line of battle facing southward, with a strong force of skirmishers well in advance, Wadsworth moved in the direction of the firing; but the almost impenetrable thicket of young 210 ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH pines impeded his progress to such an extent that night overtook him before he succeeded in striking Hill's left flank or connecting with Hancock. Stine, in his "History of the Army of the Potomac", says, "General Wadsworth's orders were to proceed quietly. The conflict with the Confederate pickets, and Colonel Roy Stone's enthusiasm, made it (presumably the forest) a howling wilderness". The firing in Hancock's front having ceased, and the darkness making it impossible longer to preserve an alignment, Wadsworth, in uncertainty as to his bearings, prudently halted his troops, who rested on their arms in line of battle. Grant, in his memoirs, states that Hancock was to make an assault on the morning of May 6th, at five o'clock, and that Wadsworth, who lay to Hancock's right, almost perpendicular to Hill's line, was to move at the same time and attack Hill's left. Wadsworth advanced at half-past five, and was soon in touch with the Second Corps, which was pushing to the attack. The troops of Birney, who commanded the right wing of Hancock's force, extended across the Orange plank road at the outset, but they were gradually crowded to the left as the movement progressed, and a portion of Wadsworth's command, including the 150th, presently found itself on the left of the road, and so continued during the morning. Hill was pressed back rapidly a mile or more, but not without severe fighting, in which the Union arms received many momentary checks. Some confusion prevailed in both Hancock's and Wadsworth's ranks, owing to the nature of the field, and regiments and brigades became more or less intermingled; but the men responded with alacrity to every order to stand or advance, and up to about seven o'clock no rearward step was taken. At the farthest point reached by the 150th, Sergeant Ramsey, of Company F, received a severe wound, which resulted in the loss of a leg, and for a time he lay between the contending lines. Before the hour named, Longstreet's troops had begun to GENERAL U. S. GRANT. [portrait] PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS 211. arrive, and the presence of Field's and Kershaw's divisions was speedily felt. As stated by General Humphreys, Meade's chief of staff, "It was when Hancock's troops were partially checked by the fresh troops of Longstreet's corps that the necessity of readjusting his formation became imperative. Regiments were separated from their brigades and mixed with others, and the line of battle was very irregular, and commanders were in this way losing the control of their troops". Such readjustment was effected as circumstances would permit, the left of Birney's line, which had outstripped the centre, being drawn back some distance; but little headway was made after Longstreet's troops and Anderson's division of Hill's corps became factors in the engagement. In the varying fortunes of the morning, the 150th clung to the plank road and its immediate vicinity, charging time and again in the face of a destructive fire, and losing many men. On several occasions, as related by Major Jones and others, General Wadsworth, who was always at the front, called out in his paternal way, "Come on, Bucktails!" and led the little regiment in person against the enemy. Between nine and ten o'clock the Iron Brigade, commanded by General Cutler, and a portion of Roy Stone's command, were borne backward in some disorder, but other troops were thrown into the gap as speedily as possible, re-forming the line, but not without loss of ground. An hour or two later a successful flank movement, executed by portions of Longstreet's and Hill's commands, overcame the left of Hancock's line, compelling it to retreat; and at the same time a violent attack by fresh masses in front involved the centre and right in a similar misfortune, the entire line being swept back towards the breastworks held in the morning. Wadsworth, who had previously had two horses killed under him, in his efforts to rally his men and hold his position, was now mortally wounded, a ball passing through his head, and fell into the hands of the enemy. 212 ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH He was on the plank road at the time, leading his horse, having been persuaded to dismount by some of his officers, who remonstrated with him upon the folly of needlessly exposing himself to the fire of sharpshooters. Upon this point the testimony of a number of officers and men of the 150th, who were near him when he was struck by the fatal bullet, is conclusive, although most of the published accounts of the battle represent the gray-headed hero as shot from his horse. Major Jones made a gallant effort to recover his body, but the enemy in vastly superior force pressed forward too rapidly to permit of success. The division fell back to the Brock (or "mud") road at its intersection with the plank road, where a line of defences had been thrown up the previous evening. This fortified position was held tenaciously until the middle of the afternoon, when Longstreet's troops, by a heavy attack, succeeded in effecting a lodgment in a part of the works. Meanwhile, Lieutenant-Colonel Osborne, division inspector, had got together the remnants of Colonel Roy Stone's brigade, with the brigade and the several regimental colors still safe, and, leading them into the woods a few yards from the plank road, re-formed their line and instructed them to refresh themselves with coffee and such other supplies as their haversacks contained. Colonel Hoffman, of the 56th Pennsylvania, re-formed Rice's brigade of Wadsworth's division near the same spot. Colonel Stone had been disabled on the evening of the fifth by a fall from his horse, compelling him to retire, and at Osborne's suggestion, Lieutenant - Colonel Irvin, of the 149th Pennsylvania, assumed command of his brigade. About four o'clock, soon after Longstreet had won a portion of the fortified line near the intersection of the two roads, General Hancock, accompanied by one of his aids, Captain Wilson, came riding through the woods, and, finding Irvin's and Hoffman's men in good shape, called out sharply, "What troops are those ?" Receiving a PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS 213 prompt response, he said, "Just what I want", and immediately gave orders to the two brigades to charge and retake the lost works. Instantly the lines were formed, and, advancing swiftly, rushed upon the intrenchments, which, after a brief but bloody encounter, were freed from the clutch of the enemy, who was pursued far beyond into the woods. Strangely enough, General Hancock, in his official report of the battle, gives the credit of this gallant achievement to Carroll's brigade, of his own corps, which had nothing whatever to do with it; and General Grant, in his "Personal Memoirs", and General Humphreys, in "The Virginia Campaign of '64 and '65", naturally perpetuate the error. General Hancock, to whose attention the matter was brought by General Hoffman and others, admitted that he had been guilty of an inadvertence, and promised to straighten the record, but passed away without doing so. Among those who lost their lives in this brilliant and successful charge was Captain Horatio Bell, of Company G, who was one of the first to mount the works, and with the rifle which was his constant companion in the field gave proofs of superior marksmanship. Though comparatively devoid of education, and as little versed in the niceties of the tactics as in the processes of the higher mathematics, he possessed great natural ability, was accomplished in woodcraft, and with an absolute devotion to the cause of the Union united a degree of physical courage that was equal to any test. He died lamented not only by his own company, but by the entire regiment and by many outside of the command, who recognized his zeal, his valor and his rugged honesty. Soon after the recapture of the breastworks the brigade was relieved and led to the rear, where it was permitted to rest that night and the following day, though a large detail was sent to the front, beyond the works, for picket duty. Major Jones, who was in charge of the pickets that night, relates that soon 214 ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH after the men were posted one of the line-officers came to him in the twilight and reported a regiment of federal troops as located a short distance in his front. The major, mystified by this intelligence, and deeming the matter worthy of investigation, accompanied his informant to the spot indicated, and there, true enough, found a line of men in blue, but all silent in death! Proceeding a little farther to the front, he discovered a similar line in gray, - mute witnesses to the desperate nature of the morning's struggle. The battle of the Wilderness was over, and neither side could claim any decided advantage. Both armies were much exhausted, for every portion of the two lines had been warmly engaged at one time or another, and at times the contest raged along the entire front. The noise of the musketry, multiplied and re-echoed by the thick woods, was often frightful, and many a stout heart which had passed unshrinkingly through the dangers of well-fought fields quailed before the leaden blast which cut and stripped the young pines as if a cyclone had swept over them. To add to the horrors of the strife, the underbrush took fire at many points in the wooded belt which formed the principal scene of the protracted struggle, and a large area, in which lay many dead and helpless wounded, was ravaged by the flames. Even the breastworks were in places invaded by this new enemy, and the smoke from the muskets of the contending infantry mingled with the hotter smoke of burning timber. It was a fearful experience, which those who shared it will remember to their dying day. Sergeant Frey's narrative of the battle of the 6th, is so circumstantial and graphic, that its introduction in this place will command general approval: - "At five o'clock A. M. we were ordered into ranks. All night long troops had been *Captain Rorer. PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS 215 brought up and placed in position, and by morning our lines were all properly established, and we were ready to fight a fair, square, stand-up battle. The sun rose with unclouded brilliancy. As its first rays came streaming through the woods, we moved forward on the enemy's position. To a looker-on, I think the advance that morning was the grandest display of military strength that was ever seen on this continent. We press on in six parallel lines of battle, and as the mighty host advances along the plank road, it seemed as if nothing could check its progress. Our brigade was in the third line from the front. "The front line had not proceeded over a hundred yards before it came upon the enemy, who, judging from the quantity of corn meal scattered over the ground, must have been drawing rations. The battle opened at once. They give way before the fierce attack of our front line, fighting, however, as they retire; and for more than a mile they are borne steadily back, and it looked as if we would have an easy day of it. But their batteries have now got into position, and are throwing shells through our ranks at a terrible rate. At this juncture Longstreet's corps arrives and advances to the attack. Our foremost line, which has been doing such splendid fighting, is now checked, and then falls back. The second steps to the front and pours in its volleys. It bears up bravely for a while, but at last is also compelled to give way before the desperate onslaught of the enemy. Now is our turn. As the men composing our first and second lines take refuge in our rear, we move to the front, and General Wadsworth riding up to our regiment says: 'Give it to them, Bucktails!' We pour in one close, deadly volley, and they stagger under the terrible fire. The general shouts: 'Boys, you are driving them; charge!' Our brigade, now the front, charges fiercely, driving them back some distance; but a fresh line comes to their support, fires a volley in our very faces, and sends us back over the ground we 216 ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH had just gained, charging us in return. A new line comes to our aid, pours its fire upon the opposing ranks, compelling them to give way; and again we charge over the same ground, only to be driven back in turn, on our reserves, as reinforcements come to the help of the enemy. The battle now becomes close and bloody. Charges and countercharges are made in quick succession. Five times we traverse the same ground, led by General Wadsworth, who sits on his horse with hat in hand, bringing it down on the pommel of his saddle with every bound, as he rides at the head of the column. Then as the bullets strike among his men like hail, and they begin to recoil, he rides slowly back in their midst, speaking kindly to them, with ever a smile on his pleasant countenance, which shows no concern for the storm of lead and iron raging around him. "The battle continues for hours with great fierceness, and so close do our lines get at times that I could see the flash of the enemy's guns through the thick smoke that hung over us. For miles it is one continuous roar of musketry, and the carnage is appalling. The woods are full of wounded going to the rear, the badly hurt being assisted by their comrades, while those absolutely disabled are carried away on stretchers. The dead lie everywhere, the 'Blue' and the 'Gray' side by side. "At last there came a lull, as if the fury of the storm that had been raging since early morn had spent itself. Our brigade, which had been badly cut up, was now re-formed, and several lines of raw troops were moved to the front. After resting a while, we close up on these. The firing becomes more regular, and, when not advancing, the men lie close to the ground. After some time the line of raw troops in front, thinking the musketry is getting too hot for comfort, begins to fall back in squads, in spite of all their officers can do to keep them in place. At last the whole line crumbles to pieces and retires behind our position, and we are ordered forward to fill the gap. This places us once more in the front. There is FIRST SERGEANT HENRY B. EVANS. [portraits] Company F. SERGEANT WM. R. RAMSEY. Company F. SERGEANT EDWARD K. HESS. Company F. SERGEANT JOHN C. KENSILL. Company F. CORPORAL JOHN K. HIMES. Company F. WILLIAM A. McCAY. Company H. PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS 217 more or less fighting all the time, but no sharp renewal of the battle is brought on until about 3 P. when General Longstreet makes a desperate attack. Part of the Second Corps, on the left of the plank road, receives it first. The firing recommences with dread earnestness, and the crash of small arms rolling along the line is like the echoing thunder of a midsummer storm. The Second Corps begins to yield, and swings slowly back. General Wadsworth, seeing this, orders his division, which is on the right of the road, to make a left half wheel, pivoting on the plank road, in order to strike the enemy on their left flank as they follow up Hancock's yielding troops. The movement was successfully made, under a heavy fire, but it threw our own right flank in the air, exposing it to a destructive fire from two directions. We rush across the highway and pour in our volleys, but have not discharged more than eight or ten rounds apiece before our right flank begins to give way under the heavy pressure from all quarters. Regiment after regiment yields ground, and the whole division swings back towards the Brock road. At this juncture General Wadsworth received his death-wound, and in the confusion that followed he fell into the enemy's hands. John D. Musser, of Lewisburg, Pa., Lieutenant-Colonel of the 143d Pennsylvania Volunteers, was killed at the same time. "Soon after we commenced falling back we passed a brigade of the Sixth Corps advancing towards the position we had just left. The commanding officer halted his brigade and wanted us to fall in with his line, but we were a disorganized mass, every man looking out for himself. Besides, we had been in the furnace, and not caring to repeat the experience, kept on towards the rear. The brigade went forward, and I believe did some very good fighting; but it, too, was in turn compelled to fall back. Had that brigade arrived a little sooner, we might, perhaps, have held our ground. As it was, we were beaten; but it must be remembered that we were in a wilder- 218 ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ness, and unacquainted with the ground. Troops could not be handled and brought into action as rapidly as if manceuvring in the open country. Organizations a couple of hundred yards in rear of the front line could not know the position of those engaged, and had, necessarily, to move slowly, so that much valuable time was lost in bringing them into position in the right place. On the other hand, the enemy was well acquainted with the ground and could get its forces into action more rapidly. As Jim Cummings used to say: 'All that General Lee would have to do would be to call some of his men and ask them if they were acquainted through there, - Oh, yes! we used to hunt cows through here, and know every cow-path'. "As I have stated, the attack was made by Longstreet's corps; but, as success was crowning his efforts, he was struck in the neck by a bullet, and compelled to leave the field. It was reported that he made the remark, after being wounded: 'But for my wound, in half an hour there would not have been a Yankee regiment south of the Rapidan River left unbroken'. "We continued to fall back until we reached the Brock road, where our troops had thrown up a line of breastworks; and here we lay down in such a condition of fatigue that we did not feel able to rise from the ground again. A short distance back of this position was another line of works held by the second division of the Second Corps. After lying here a short time, brisk firing opened along the line, and two brass pieces (Napoleon guns), located on the road, belched grape and canister as fast as the men could load. We all prayed that we might escape this time, but it was not to be. Soon an officer rides up and gives the order: 'Fall in, Third brigade, double quick!' and we go out of the woods on a run towards the road, only to see the troops on our left give way, and the enemy spring on top of the works. We charge down the road, head of column in front, capture some prisoners and drive the charging column back. Many of the enemy who had sprung on PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS 219 top of the works were shot down, some falling on one side, some on the other, of the defences. One of their men fired at us when we were but a few steps away, - then threw down his rifle, and jumping down on our side, asked to be treated as a prisoner of war. But Lieutenant Harter's blood was up, and grasping the fellow by the arm he proceeded to give him a 'whaling' with his sword, saying after he got through: 'I'll teach you to shoot at us when we were almost on you, and then ask to be treated as a prisoner of war!' The firing for some time was very severe, but the enemy finally fell back out of reach. "Who can describe the Wilderness as it looked on the evening of that sixth day of May? Thousands of men wearing the Blue and the Gray, lay scattered through the woods, never again to hear 'tattoo', but awaiting the music of the last `reveille' to call them to life again. Trees were riddled with bullets from their roots to the top, and the brush was cut away as if mowed with a scythe. Walking over the ground after the battle it seemed almost impossible that any one should have escaped. "After the firing had ceased we were moved back from the works, and the troops who had deserted them were brought up and occupied them during the night. That evening we had roll-call, and forty-nine men answered to their names, out of 346 who went into the battle with the regiment. In my own company, seven of us gathered around a camp-fire to cook our supper - all that were left of thirty-five who entered the fight." (On being moved, the following morning, to the centre of the army, an equally large body of men of the 150th was found, bringing the strength of the command up to about a hundred. The regiment had become divided in falling back to the Brock road, and each detachment thought itself the only one left.) From copies of his weekly reports, kindly furnished by Hospital Steward Kieffer, the mean strength of the regiment 220 ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH is ascertained for each week to November 19, 1864. From that of May 7th the following figures are taken: Mean strength of regiment . . . 276 Taken sick . . . . . . . . 6 Wounded . . . . . . . . . 74 Died of wounds . . . . . . 2 As the mean strength of the regiment a week before was three hundred and forty-six, the deduction of eighty-two "sick", "wounded" and "died" would leave only two hundred and sixty-four for duty. The discrepancy is owing to the return of convalescents from the hospitals. The field hospitals took no note of the killed, but from Bates's "History" and other sources is derived the following list of those who were killed or died soon after of their wounds: Company A. Corporal Samuel J. White, killed May 6. . . . . . 1 Company B. Corporal James McCann, killed May 5. Corporal Jonathan Wood, killed May 5. . . . . . 2 Company D. Captain Roland Stoughton, wounded May 5; died May 27. Private James Lucas, wounded May 6; died same day. . 2 Company E. Private Timothy Hefferman, killed May 5. Private William Mayers, killed May 5. . . . . . . 2 Company F. Private David T. Jenkins, mortally wounded May 6. . . 1 Company G. Captain Horatio Bell, killed May 6. Private Delos Otto, killed May 5. Private Charles B. Slocum, mortally wounded May 5; capt'd, died May 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS 221 Company H. Private David Brines, killed May 6. Private James M. Close, killed May 6. Private Sansom Smith, killed May 6. Private Silas Smith, killed May 5. . . . . . . . 4 Company I. Private Alexander Curry, killed May 5. Private Cyrus J. Lane, killed May 5. Private Christian H. Roup, killed May 5. . . . . . 3 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 WOUNDED, CAPTURED AND DIED. Company A. Private Michael Sheehan. . . . . . . . . . . 1 Company B. Private Patrick Mulhatton. . . . . . . . . . 1 Company C. Musician Peter Snyder. Private Abraham Stainbrook. Private Alexander P. Walters. . . . . . . . . 3 Company F. Private James Stevenson. . . . . . . . . . . 1 Company H. Private Andrew J. Work. . . . . . . . . . . 1 Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 LIST (PARTIAL) OF WOUNDED. Company A. Sergeant Albert Meley. Private Jacob Myers. Private Richard L. Sharpless. . . . . . . . . 3 222 ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH Company B. Corporal William H. Craig. Corporal John Dedier. Private William Baker. Private Richard Dunckley. . . . . . . . . . 4 Company C. Sergeant J. Hoover Shannon. Corporal Rodney Conner. Corporal Samuel P. Gilmore. Private William G. Barr. Private Isaiah Clark. Private Andrew Consolo. Private Hiram Consolo. Private James O. Looker. Private Samuel H. Roberts. Private James F. Shellito. Private Jesse D. Taylor. . . . . . . . . . . 11 Company D. Sergeant John A. Hauck. Private James A. Bell. Private Adam Deihl. Private John Donachy. Private Simon E. Foust. Private Simon Malehorn. Private Joel Reedy. Private William Stitzer. . . . . . . . . . . 8 Company E. Corporal Frank B. Jaggard. Private Lorenzo Keech. Private William J. Vandegrift. . . . . . . . . 3 Company F. Sergeant William R. Ramsey, lost leg. Corporal John D. Harris. Private Joseph P. Bailey. Private John K. Himes. Private Garrett C. Kean. . . . . . . . . . . 5 PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS 223 Company G. Private William Brown. Private Albert L. Lamphere. Private George Loomis. Private Samuel L. Provin. . . . . . . . . . . 4 Company H. Sergeant James T. Reed. Corporal William Adams. Corporal Samuel G. Robbins. Private Lafayette Abbott. Private Lorenzo Abbott. Private John W. Clark. Private Samuel Cooper. Private Joseph Curty. Private Joseph F. Haas. Private William C. Koonce. Private William A. McCay. Private Alonzo Markley. Private Asa Swift. . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Company I. Sergeant Gilbert Gordon. Sergeant Peter Z. Fink. Private Esquire J. Campbell. Private Moses Cook. Private William S. Coyle. Private Almond Delamater. Private Morris M. Freeman. Private William H. Hill. Private Peter S. Kepler. Private Phares D. Kepler. Private John Kochler. Private H. Banning Odell. Private Henry V. Proctor. Private Jesse M. Smith. . . . . . . . . . . 14 Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65