Civil War: One Hundred and Nineteenth Regiment Regiment, History and Roster, Delaware Co., PA Copyright(c) 2003 by Cyndie Enfinger http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ******************************************************** Source: History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, by Henry Graham Ashmead, L. H. Everts & Co., 1884, pp. 133-135. The One Hundred and Nineteenth Regiment (Three-Years’ Service).-On Aug. 5, 1862, Peter C. Ellmaker, of Philadelphia, who had been authorized by Governor Curtin to enlist a regiment, began recruiting for the One Hundred an Nineteenth Pennsylvania. William C. Gray, of Chester, had raised a company in Delaware County known as the Delaware County Guards, which he tendered to the authorities here to be credited to this county, but was told that the quota was full and the commissioners did not feel justified in accepting them. Capt. Gray thereupon offered the company to Col. Ellmaker. The offer was accepted, and the organization was mustered in as Company E, of the One Hundred and Nineteenth Regiment, on Aug. 10, 1862. The demand for troops became so pressing that on August 31st, before the regiment was perfectly organized, it was ordered to Washington, the following day reported at the capital, and was assigned for the protection of the arsenal. About the middle of October it joined the Army of the Potomac, then in camp near Antietam, being assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division, Sixth Army Corps. “Though suddenly thrown among veterans of two campaigns,” says Bates, “it was prepared by its thorough training to hold its place with credit.” On Dec. 15, 1862, at Fredericksburg, the regiment was for the first time in action, and, although exposed to heavy artillery fire, maintained its ground like veterans. Subsequently, when the “Light Division” was organized, it was assigned to the Third Brigade, First Division, under Gen. Russell. On April 28, 1863, when Hooker advanced, under cover of night the brigade crossed the Rappahannock at Banks’ Ford on pontoon-boats, drove in the Confederate pickets and held the position on the right bank of the river. The next morning it moved forward in line of battle and drove the enemy from the rifle-pits, which it held until May 3d, when the Confederates retreated and the corps was sent in pursuit, the One Hundred and Nineteenth and Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania Regiments detached and marched along the plank-road in the direction of Chancellorsville. At Salem Church the latter force coming upon the enemy posted in a woods, concealed from sight, an immediate engagement followed at close quarters. The One Hundred and Nineteenth, posted on the left of the road, were confronted by a largely superior force, but gallantly maintained its position, although it suffered severely, losing out of four hundred and thirty- two men twelve killed and one hundred and twelve wounded. The following day Sedgwick, learning that Hooker had been defeated and finding that the corps was outnumbered and would be overwhelmed, recrossed the river. On July 1, 1863, the brigade was at Manchester, Md., when it was hastily summoned to Gettysburg, and at nine o’clock began its march, which, without intermission, was continued until four o’clock the next afternoon, when it reached the field of battle. On the morning of the 3d it moved to the extreme left of the line, in rear of Round Top, to meet any flank movement which might be made, but was not engaged, the enemy making no determined assault at that part of the field. On the 4th it was stationed at Little Round Top, and on the 5th was in advance in pursuit of the retreating enemy, with whom it had a slight engagement at Fairfield. Pursuit was then abandoned by Meade, but the One Hundred and Nineteenth, on the 13th of July, came upon the enemy at Hagerstown, and at once engaged the latter’s skirmishers, but during the night the Confederates decamped. On November 7th, at Rappahannock Station, the Confederates were in strong position, covering three pontoon bridges, when, at the earnest desire of Gen. Russell, he was ordered to storm the works, and, in the face of a murderous fire, the intrenchments were carried at the point of the bayonet, the whole of the enemy being captured. Gen. Meade, in his order, publicly thanked the storming party for their gallantry in the assault, in which four guns, two thousand small-arms, eight battle-flags, one bridge-train, and sixteen hundred prisoners were taken. In this fierce struggle the One Hundred and Nineteenth lost seven killed and forty-three wounded. In the Wilderness campaign, on the 4th of May, 1864, the brigade crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford, and at noon on the 5th became engaged, the One Hundred and Nineteenth holding the centre. The fighting continued until nightfall, and during it four color-bearers were killed or wounded. On the 10th the fighting was very severe, and in the terrible charge through the iron storm of death that afternoon the colors of the regiment were borne to the front and planted on the enemy’s works, but being unsupported, it was finally forced to fall back, suffering fearfully as it retired. On the 12th it was in action from seven o’clock in the morning until nightfall, in the struggle known as the “Bloody Angle,” or “Slaughter Pen,” where it expended two hundred rounds of ammunition per man. From the 4th to the 12th of May, out of four hundred men fit for duty, the regiment lost two hundred and fifteen in killed and wounded. During all this series of severe engagements the One Hundred and Nineteenth was led by Capts. Gray and Landell, Col. Clark resuming command of the regiment on the 12th of that month. On June 1st, at Cold Harbor, the brigade was ordered to feel the position of the enemy, and on the 12th it lay within one hundred and fifty yards of the Confederate line, under a constant fire. During all the fierce fighting which had occurred from the 1st to the 12th, Maj. Gray was in charge of the regiment, and afterwards continued to direct its movements at Bermuda Hundred and before Petersburg. When Early was demonstrating in the valley of the Shenandoah, the Sixth Corps was dispatched to the support of the army there. On September 19th, at the battle of Winchester, the One Hundred and Nineteenth drove the entire rebel line for half a mile, until the latter, falling back on a strong position, its advance was temporarily checked. At four o’clock the union line was strengthened, and Sheridan leading it forward, the enemy were driven before it in utter rout. On the 20th the brigade was detached for garrison duty in Winchester, where it remained until the following November. During the last struggle of the war the One Hundred and Nineteenth was highly distinguished, for on April 2d the regiment, unaided, and under a fierce fire from font and flank, stormed and carried part of the enemy’s intrenchments in front of Petersburg, capturing the opposing force, with all the artillery, small-arms, and colors. Col. Clark having been wounded early in the action, the command devolved on Lieut.-Col. Gray. The enemy in fleeing, on the 6th, was overtaken, strongly posted on Sailor’s Creek. The brigade forded the stream, waist-deep in water, and charging on the demoralized Confederates captured them in mass. This was the last engagement in which the One Hundred and Nineteenth took part. After the surrender of Johnston (the regiment had marched to Danville, Va., to unite with Sherman’s army) it returned to Washington, and on the 6th of June was mustered out at Philadelphia. On May 13, 1864, Maj. Gray was commissioned by Governor Curtin lieutenant-colonel, and on April 6, 1865, the President commissioned him lieutenant-colonel by brevet, for gallant and meritorious services before Petersburg and at the battle of Little Sailor’s Creek, on March 10, 1865. The following is the roll of COMPANY E. William C. Gray, capt., must. in Aug. 10, 1862; pro. to maj. June 29, 1864. James Cliff, capt., must. in Aug. 20, 1862; pro. from sergt. to 1st lieut. May 31, 1864; to capt. July 24, 1864; must. out with company June 19, 1865. James Dutton, 1st lieut., must. in Aug. 20, 1862; pro. from 1st sergt. July 25, 1864; to capt. April 6, 1865; must. out with company June 19, 1865. Jacob Bardsley, 1st sergt., must. in Aug. 11, 1862; pro. to 1st sergt. Nov. 16, 1864; com. 2d lieut. June 9, 1865; not must.; must. out with company June 19, 1865. Frederick Williams, sergt., must. in Aug. 11, 1862; wounded at Fort Steadman, Va., March 25, 1865; disch. by G. O. July 5, 1865. George McClintock, sergt., must. in Aug. 20, 1862; pro. to sergt. Nov. 16, 1864; must. out with company June 19, 1865. Benjamin S. Tindall, sergt., must. in Aug. 22, 1862; pro. to sergt. Jan. 6, 1863; prisoner from May 10, 1864, to April 19, 1865; must. out with company June 19, 1865. Jeremiah O’Leary, sergt., must. in Aug. 11, 1862; pro. to sergt. Dec. 31, 1864; captured; ret. March 17, 1865; must. out with company June 19, 1865. Robert E. Cuskaden, sergt., must. in Aug. 30, 1861; trans. to Co. F, 88th Regt. P. V., Dec. 6, 1862. Nathan Heacock, sergt., must. in Aug. 22, 1862; died at Winchester Oct. 4, of wounds received at Opequan, Va., Sept. 19, 1864. James Elliott, corp., must. in Aug. 22, 1862; pro. to corp. Feb. 24, 1863; disch. by G. O., date unknown. Thomas M. Seth, corp., must. in Aug. 25, 1862; pro. to corp. April 20, 1864; disch. by G. O. June 8, 1865. Thomas Brunner, corp., must. in Aug. 20, 1862; absent, with leave, at muster out. Privates. Henry Aull, must. in Aug. 19, 1862; must. out with company June 19, 1865. Samuel Braden, must. in Aug. 25, 1862; must. out with company June 19, 1865. John Baker, must. in Aug. 29, 1862; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Dec. 12, 1864; disch. by G. O. July 10, 1865. James Burns, must. in Aug. 20, 1862; died at Charleston, S. C. October, 1864. David P. Congleton, must. in Aug. 22, 1862; must. out with company June 14, 1865. Isaac Collesin, must. in Aug. 25, 1862; prisoner from June 11, 1864, to May 14, 1865; must. out with company June 19, 1865. Jonathan Culbert, must. in Aug. 20, 1862; died at Fredericksburg, Va., May 20, of wounds received at Spottsylvania Court-House May 10, 1864. Samuel Clayton, must. in Aug. 30, 1862; not on muster-out roll. Joseph Denight, must. in Aug. 27, 1862; must. out with company June 19, 1865. William Ewing, must. in Aug. 20, 1862; wounded at Spottsylvania Court- House, Va., May 10, 1864; absent, in hospital, at muster out. Robert Elliott, must. in Aug. 22, 1862; wounded in Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864; disch. by G. O., date unknown. Armstrong Elliott, must. in Aug. 27, 1862; disch. on surg. certif. Dec. 8, 1862. Nathaniel Ewing, must. in Aug. 20, 1862; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Dec. 12, 1864. Henry Hall, must. in Aug. 20, 1862; must. out with company June 19, 1865. James C. Hughes, must. in Sept. 28, 1862; must. out with company June 19, 1865. Francis Hall, must. in Aug. 20, 1862. John Kincaid, must. in Aug. 30, 1862; must. out with company June 19, 1865. Frederick Kyle, must. in Aug. 18, 1862; must. out with company June 19, 1865. William Keers, must. in Aug. 19, 1862; disch. by S. O. April 15, 1863. Matthew Linton, must. in Aug. 19, 1862; must. out with company June 19, 1865. James Louther, must. in Aug. 19, 1862; wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864; disch. by G. O. June 5, 1865. Thomas G. Lee, must. in Aug. 27, 1862; must. out with company June 19, 1865. Adam Lord, must. in Aug. 22, 1862; disch. on surg. certif. Nov. 9, 1864. William Logan, must. in Aug. 29, 1862; not on muster-out roll. Newton H. Morgan, must. in Aug. 20, 1862; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Jan. 24, 1864. George Mills, must. in Aug. 25, 1862; not on muster-out roll. William McCone, must. in Aug. 29, 1862; must. out with company June 19, 1865. James McGee, must. in Aug. 25, 1862; wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864; disch. by G. O., date unknown. John A. Peterman, must. in Aug. 20, 1862; captured; returned; disch. By G. O., date unknown. Isaac Pike, must. in Aug. 20, 1862; died at Washington, D. C., Aug. 15, 1864, of wounds received at Wilderness, Va.,; buried in National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. W. H. Richardson, must. in Aug. 27, 1862; disch. by G. O. May 26, 1865. Robert Beaney, must. in Aug. 20, 1862; com. 2d lieut. Aug. 20, 1863; not mustered; killed at Rappahannock Station, Va., Nov. 7, 1863. William Roberts, must. in Aug. 28, 1862; died at Belle Plain, Va., Jan. 21, 1863. William Rapine, must. in Aug. 25, 1862; died at Washington, D. C., May 8, of wounds received at Salem Church, Va., May 3, 1863. John Scull, must. in Aug. 25, 1862; must. out with company June 19, 1865. John C. Steel, must. in Aug. 23, 1862; must. out with company June 19, 1865. George S. Smith, must. in Sept. 28, 1862; wounded at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; disch. by G. O., date unknown. John Steel, must. I nAug. 20, 1862; died at Annapolis, Md., Dec. 8, 1863; burial record Oct. 9, 1863; buried in Camp Parole Hospital Cemetery. William Stewart, must. in Aug. 19, 1862; died at Washington, D. C., of wounds received at Rappahannock Station, Va., Nov. 7, 1863. David Sloan, must. in Aug. 19, 1862; killed at Spottsylvania Court- House, Va., May 12, 1864. Joseph Stevens, must. in Aug. 22, 1862. John B. Tetlow, must. in Aug. 20, 1862; killed at Salem Church, Va., May 3, 1863. William J. Woriton, must. in Aug. 25, 1862; must. out with company June 19, 1865. Ebenezer C. Welser, must. in Aug. 20, 1862; disch. by G. O., date un- known. Robert Wright, must. in Aug. 25, 1862; drafted; disch. by S. O. March 24, 1864. Ebenezer Wilson, must. in Aug. 20, 1862; not on muster-out roll. Martin Wolf, must. in Aug. 30, 1862; not on muster-out roll. Robert Walker, must. in Aug. 28, 1862; not on muster-out roll. David Young, must. in Aug. 20, 1862; not on muster-out roll.