BY E. C. STROUSS.
We Leave Gettysburg--Rebel Spy Hung--French's Division Joins the 3d
Corps--Enemy's Position at Falling Waters--He Escapes Across the
Potomac--In Old Virginia Again--Manassas Gap--Camp at Sulphur
Springs--Movement to Culpepper--Eleventh and Twelfth Corps Sent
West--Lee's Efforts to Gain Our Rear--Skirmish at Auburn
Creek--Warren's Fight at Bristow Station--Deserter Shot--Retreat of
the Enemy--Kelly's Ford--Mine Run Campaign--The Regiment
Re-enlists--The "Veteran Furlough"--Recruiting--Presented with a New
Flag by Governor Curtin--Back to the Front--General Grant Commands
the Army--Reorganization--The Wilderness Campaign--Three Days of
Hard Fighting--Loss in Fifty-Seventh.
On the morning of July 7th we left Gettysburg and moved southward,
through Emmitsburg and halted for the night at Mechanicstown, Md. On the
8th we passed Frederick City, and encamped two miles beyond the town.
While passing the town we could see away off to our right near the town
a gallows standing, and a large crowd gathered about it. A rebel spy had
been caught and hung. Some of our men who saw this spy, recognized in
him the same man who sold and sang songs throughout our camp the summer
before when we lay in front of Richmond. He was a fine singer and sold
lots of his songs, but he met the fate of a spy at last. On the 9th we
moved again and at night we reached South Mountain.
About this time the division of Gen. W. H. French was assigned to our
corps and became the 3d division. General French being the senior
general, now took command of the corps. Colonel Tippon had been relieved
from the command of the brigade, which was now commanded by Colonel
Madill, of the 141st Pennsylvania.
On July 10th we marched from South Mountain to a point about five miles
beyond Keedysville, Md. On the 12th we were drawn up in line of battle
near Falling Waters, and expected to attack the enemy, who had thrown up
a strong line of works to cover their crossing of the Potomac. The
attack, however, was delayed too long, and when we advanced on the 14th
we found their works deserted and the enemy safely across the river.
Previous to this many of their wagons had been captured and many
prisoners taken by our cavalry.
[Illustration: Monument and group of survivors of the 57th Regiment,
Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers.]
It was humiliating to think that the enemy escaped so easily. With the
swollen Potomac in their front, their pontoon bridge destroyed, and our
victorious army in their rear, they ought to have been compelled to
surrender. But Appomattox was still a long way off and many brave boys
would fall before the end came. The news that General Grant had taken
Vicksburg, and caused the surrender of Pemberton's army, was some
consolation in our disappointment over Lee's escape.
On the 15th we passed over the old Antietam battlefield, and halted for
the night about two miles beyond Sharpsburg. On the 16th we passed
through Brownsville and Rohrersville and encamped near Harper's Ferry.
The next day about dark we crossed the Potomac at Harper's Ferry and
were once more on the soil of Virginia.
We resumed our march on the 18th and 19th, and on the 20th we reached
Upperville. On the 23d we were near Manassas Gap, where it was expected
we would strike the enemy's column, which was moving up the Shenandoah
valley. We moved to the top of a high hill, where we had a fine view of
Front Royal and the surrounding country. We also witnessed a fight in a
field in the valley to our right, of a force of the enemy and Sickles'
old Excelsior brigade. This engagement, in which we were but slightly
engaged, is known as the skirmish of "Wapping Heights." The enemy
retreated during the night and next day we moved some miles beyond
Piedmont on the Manassas Gap railroad. The greater part of our march was
over the torn up railroad track, and as the day was excessively hot we
were a tired lot of men when we encamped that night.
On the 25th we marched to within six miles of Warrenton, in Fauquier
county, Va. The next day we moved four miles beyond the town and
encamped at Fauqueir Sulphur Springs. Here we remained for about six
weeks, during which time Colonel Sides and some of the officers and men
who had been wounded at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg returned for
duty. Here we had a fine camp, with good facilities for bathing in
Hedgeman's river, a branch of the Rappahannock. The large brick hotel at
the springs had been destroyed by fire the year before during Pope's
campaign. Back of the hotel site was a fine park which was surrounded on
three sides by cottages which had been used by summer sojourners at this
place. Near the center of the park stood a pavilion, under which was the
noted spring, the water of which was very cold and strongly impregnated
with sulphur. We drank freely of this water and were advised to do so by
the medical officers of the division. If we had been afflicted with the
itch, the water would no doubt have been an effective remedy, but the
only itch that troubled us was caused by a small insect known among
scientists as the _pediculus vestimenti_ and the sulphur water was not
effective in driving the pests away.
Our camp at the spring was broken up on the afternoon of September 15th,
when we moved southward to Freeman's ford, where we crossed the
Rappahannock and took up a position between Culpepper and Stone House
mountain. The whole army was now in position between the rivers
Rappahannock and the Rapidan.
About the end of September the 11th and 12th corps were detached from
the Army of the Potomac and under General Hooker were sent to the west
to reenforce our army operating around Chattanooga, Tenn. Longstreet's
corps of the rebel army had previously been sent to the same point to
reenforce General Bragg.
We remained in the vicinity of Culpepper until October 12th, when it was
found that Lee's army had crossed the Rapidan and was turning our right.
This caused a retrograde movement of our whole army. Our division moved
to the rear on October 11th, the 57th acting as flankers on the left of
the column. At one point, when on a high hill, we had a fine view of a
cavalry battle which was going on in our rear near Brandy Station. In
the evening we crossed the Rappahannock at Freeman's ford and halted for
the night in a pine woods. On the morning of the 12th we learned that
the enemy had driven back our cavalry, and was crossing the river at our
old camp at Sulphur Springs, about three miles above us. Our march to
the rear continued on a by-road which brought us to the Warrenton branch
of the O. & A. R. R. about three miles east of Warrenton. We rested here
for a while and then after a march of about five miles further we halted
for the night.
About 4 p. m. on the 13th we encountered the enemy's cavalry at Auburn
creek. Our brigade held the advance of the column on this day, and the
57th was the leading regiment. Companies A and K acted as advance guard.
These companies deployed on both sides of the road and opened fire on
the rebels, who were dismounted and advancing through the woods and
fields. Our firing soon brought up the rest of the brigade and a
battery, whereupon, the rebels seeing we were well supported, mounted
their horses and retreated at a lively gait. Several men of our regiment
were slightly wounded in this affair. When the skirmish was over we
resumed our march, and about dark we reached the English settlement
called Greenwich, where we encamped, and our regiment was posted as
pickets.
We started again next morning and moved to Centerville, via Bristow and
Manassas Junction. Late in the afternoon, the 2d corps, under General
Warren, acting as rear guard, had a severe battle with Hill's corps, in
which Warren was victorious, capturing a battery, several battle flags,
and about four hundred prisoners.
On the 15th we moved to Fairfax Station and here on the following day,
our regiment for the first time witnessed the solemn spectacle of a
military execution. A private of the 5th Michigan who had deserted to
the enemy and had been recaptured, was shot for desertion.
In the late movements, General Lee's object was to gain our rear and cut
us off from Washington, but when we reached the strong position on the
heights of Centerville, he found he was foiled, and then it became his
turn to retreat. He was followed by our cavalry and several brisk
skirmishes took place between our troopers and the enemy.
On the 19th our division was again moving, this time with our faces
toward the Rappahannock, and at night we encamped near Bristow station.
On the 20th we marched through Greenwich and encamped two miles beyond
the town. On the 21st we passed through Auburn, and over the ground
where Gen. Alex. Hay's division of the 2d corps had engaged the enemy a
few days before, and at night we encamped near Catlett's station. From
this date until November 7th we moved to various points along the
railroad, which having been destroyed by the enemy, made it necessary
for us to rebuild it, consequently our advance was slow.
Near Warrenton Junction, at 5 a. m. on November 5th we broke camp and
moved to Kelly's ford on the Rappahannock. Here our crossing was
disputed by the enemy and a brisk skirmish ensued. They finally
relinquished their attempts to hold the ford when we crossed over and
encamped about dark. In this skirmish, while Capt. T. L. Maynard, our
brigade inspector, was giving a drink of water to a wounded rebel, he
was mortally wounded and died next morning.
While we were fighting at Kelly's ford, the 5th and 6th corps had a
fight with the enemy, whom they drove out of their works at Rappahannock
station, about eight miles above Kelly's ford.
On the 8th we reached Brandy Station and after a few days we moved into
the woods near James Barbour's house, and occupied a lot of huts, which
had lately been constructed by the rebels, to be used as winter
quarters, but they had now fallen back beyond the Rapidan river. We
remained in this camp for a few weeks and then were once more on the
move to take part in what is known as the "Mine Run campaign."
On the morning of November 26th we moved out of camp, and in the evening
crossed the Rapidan at Jacobs' ford, without interruption from the
enemy. The advance was resumed next morning and about 4 p. m. our
division was hurried to the front to relieve the 3d division, which had
become engaged with Johnson's division of Ewell's corps. We got into a
brisk little fight in which the 57th had seven wounded. This action
occurred near Locust Grove. It appears that our corps commander, General
French, had been instructed to move on a road which would have led him
between the corps of Hill and Ewell, who were miles apart, but he got on
the wrong road and ran against the corps of Ewell, which brought on the
engagement. The enemy retreated during the night and the next morning
their army was concentrated, which our movements the day before were
intended to prevent.
On the 28th we started again and after marching all day in the rain we
came up with the enemy, who were occupying a strong position near the
western bank of Mine run. This stream, flowing north, is deep and
sluggish, with steep banks, and empties into the Rapidan at Mitchell's
ford.
On the 29th the regiment lay in rear of a battery as a support, and at
night a part of the regiment was sent out to the run to support the
picket line. It was bitter cold, and we were allowed no fires, so we had
a very uncomfortable night of it.
General Warren, with the 2d corps, held the extreme left of the line,
and he thought that he could carry the enemy's position in his front, if
strongly reenforced. Early in the morning one division of the 6th corps,
and the 2d and 3d divisions of the 3d corps were sent him. We of
Birney's division were in the center, posted along the brow of a hill
with the enemy behind breastworks about three-fourths of a mile in our
front. We were to hold ourselves in readiness, upon hearing the sound of
Warren's guns, to charge the enemy's works. Warren, upon further
examination of the enemy's lines, informed General Meade that the
enemy's lines were too strong to hazard an attack. We were not sorry
when we heard this, for it would have been extremely perilous to have
charged over the broad open field in our front up to the enemy's works.
On December 1st a snow storm set in, and after dark we marched to the
rear, and recrossed the Rapidan at Culpepper ford about daylight on the
2d. About 9 o'clock our march was resumed, the 57th and the 63d
Pennsylvania acting as wagon guard to our long train. Having run out of
rations we were very hungry, but we contrived to get something to eat
before night. On December 3d we reached our old camps, and finding our
huts still standing, we soon had them roofed, and were again comfortably
housed.
A few days after we got settled down, the question of reenlistment was
much discussed among the men. The War Department had issued General
Order No. 191, which allowed every man who reenlisted a bounty of
$400.00 (to be paid in installments) and a furlough for thirty days.
Before leaving on furlough each man was to be paid $100.00, under the
bounty act of July 22, 1861, one month's pay in advance, $13.00,
premium, $2.00, and first installment of bounty under General Order 191,
$60.00, making a total of $175.00. Where three-fourths of the men
present for duty in a regiment reenlisted, the regiment was allowed to
go in a body with their arms to place of organization, and from thence
the men could go to their homes on furlough. They were also entitled to
be designated as "veteran regiments," and each man was allowed to wear
the veteran stripes on the sleeves of his coat.
On the 24th of December the regiment was formed in a hollow square in
front of headquarters, and was then briefly addressed by Chaplain McAdam
on the propriety of reenlisting. At the conclusion of the chaplain's
remarks, Colonel Sides requested those who were willing to reenlist, to
step three paces to the front. Over three-fourths of the men stepped
forward, and, after giving three hearty cheers for the Union, were
dismissed. Then for several days the officers and first sergeants were
busy making out muster rolls, furloughs, and reenlistment papers.
Among the men the furlough was the all-absorbing theme. When were they
to be granted? It is safe to say that a bounty of $1,000.00, without the
furlough, would have secured but a small number of the men. But the
assurance of spending thirty days at home was the great inducement for
reenlisting, as most of the men had been absent from home for two years
or more.
January 8th, 1864, was the time appointed for the regiment to depart for
the north, and long before daylight the boys were up and getting ready
for their departure. The men who had not reenlisted were temporarily
assigned to the 141st Pennsylvania. At 7 o'clock a. m., in the midst of
a snow storm, we boarded a train at Brandy station and were soon on our
way to Washington, where we remained for a day and a night, and then
started for Harrisburg. Here we deposited our arms and accoutrements in
the arsenal, and then the men departed by different routes for their
homes.
Our stay at home was one continual round of pleasure. There were
parties, festivals and sleigh-rides without number and the men will
never forget those halcyon days of our "veteran furlough."
After the men had been at home for some days, many of their friends were
anxious to enlist and return with them to the army. On account of our
success in obtaining recruits our furlough was extended. When we left
for home the regiment numbered barely two hundred men. After an absence
of forty-five days we returned with nearly five hundred men in our
ranks.
Our old flag which had been torn by the bullets of many battles was left
at Harrisburg while we were on furlough, and when we returned to the
front we received a new one, with an appropriate speech, from the hands
of Governor Curtin.
On the 25th of February we rejoined our old brigade near Culpepper, Va.,
and on the 27th we went with the division on a reconnaissance to James
City. We were gone two days, during which time nothing of importance
occurred.
General Grant, having been appointed lieutenant-general, and placed in
command of all our armies, made his headquarters with the Army of the
Potomac some time in March, 1864. About the 16th of March the army was
reorganized, the 1st and 3d corps were disbanded and the divisions
assigned to other corps. The 1st and 2d division of the 3d corps (the
old divisions of Kearny and Hooker) were assigned to the 2d corps,
commanded by General Hancock. The 3d division was assigned to the 6th
corps. Our division, now designated as the 3d division, of the 2d corps,
was commanded by General Birney. It consisted of two brigades commanded
by Generals Ward and Hays. Our brigade (now designated as the 2d
brigade, 3d division, 2d corps) was commanded by Gen. Alexander Hays and
was comprised of the following named regiments: 4th and 17th Maine; 3d
and 5th Michigan; 93d New York; 57th, 63d and 105th Pennsylvania, and
1st United States Sharpshooters. The 68th and 114th Pennsylvania of our
old brigade were detached, and acted as provost guard at army
headquarters. The 141st Pennsylvania was attached to Ward's brigade.
The men were proud of the record of the army corps to which they had
formerly belonged, and felt very glad to know that they would be allowed
to wear the old badge of the corps in which they had previously served.
Under the reorganization the Army of the Potomac consisted of three
corps, as follows: 2d corps, General Hancock; 5th corps, General Warren;
6th corps, General Sedgewick. The 9th corps, under General Burnside,
joined the Army of the Potomac about the 5th of May.
The great campaign of 1864 began soon after midnight on May 3d. Our
corps, preceded by Gregg's cavalry, moved out, and about daylight
crossed the Rapidan on a pontoon bridge at Ely's ford, and on the night
of the 4th we bivouacked on the old Chancellorsville battlefield, on the
ground over which we had fought one year before.
On the morning of the 5th we moved down the plank road to a point about
two miles beyond the Chancellor house, when we turned to the right,
which brought us to Todd's tavern about noon. Here we cooked our coffee
and then resumed our march until we struck the Brock road, where we
turned to the right and formed a line of battle facing west. Soon after
we were ordered back into the road, and then at double quick we went up
the road until we reached the Orange plank road. Here we saw General
Hancock, who ordered General Hays to throw in his first regiment on the
right of the plank road. This happened to be the 57th, and as soon as
our left had cleared the road we were faced to the left and advanced in
line of battle facing west, with the left of the regiment resting on the
plank road. We were now in what is known as the Wilderness. This is a
tract of land of about twenty thousand acres covered principally with
small pines and scrub oaks. It formerly belonged to Governor Spottswood,
and was once covered with heavy timber, which was cut down and made into
charcoal, used for smelting iron in the old fashioned furnaces, of which
there were many in this vicinity. We continued to grope our way through
the thicket and swamps and finally met the enemy and opened fire. The
whole division was soon engaged and the roar of the musketry was
terrific. In our front the enemy was less than two hundred feet from us,
but so dense was the underbrush that it was almost impossible to see
them. We had the advantage of the enemy, who were on higher ground, and
many of their balls passed over us. The left of the regiment had the
hottest part of the line, as it rested on the plank road and was
subjected to the fire of the rebels who were on the other side of the
road. The left began to break, when the 17th Maine coming up on the left
of the road soon gave the enemy enough to do on that side. The battle
lasted until nearly dark, when we were relieved, and moved a short
distance to the rear, where we remained for the night.
On the morning of May 6th our corps was ordered to begin the attack at 5
o'clock. We at once moved out the plank road and soon attacked the
enemy, this time on the left of the road. The fighting for a while was
all in our favor and we drove the enemy (Hill's corps) back for over a
mile and were just about entering the open fields around the Widow
Tapp's house, when Longstreet's fresh corps arrived and reenforced Hill,
whose corps was in great confusion. Owing to the density of the woods
through which we had been chasing the enemy, our lines had become much
disordered, and before that could be rectified, Longstreet attacked with
his usual vigor and we were in turn forced back. We retired fighting
until we reached the Brock road, where we took a position on the left of
the plank road in rear of the entrenchments that had been thrown up
along the Brock road. Here about 4:15 p. m. the enemy charged the works
and drove back the first line, when we advanced and retook them,
capturing a number of prisoners.
On the morning of the 7th we made a reconnaissance, crossing over to the
right of the plank road and advancing over three-fourths of a mile, when
we found the enemy entrenched behind strong works. We had a sharp fight,
and were then withdrawn, and again took position on the Brock road.
According to the monthly report of the regiment, dated April 30, 1864,
we had present for duty 18 officers and 357 men. As this was but a few
days before the battle, it will give a nearly correct estimate of the
number of men the regiment took into the field on May 5th, on which day
our greatest losses occurred. During the three days' fighting our losses
were 22 enlisted men killed; 4 officers and 128 enlisted men wounded and
3 enlisted men missing. Of those killed none was more deeply mourned
than First Sergeant Duke Miller, of Company E. He was one of the bravest
and best men in the regiment, and his social and intellectual qualities
were admired by all who knew him. Colonel Sides and Lieut. F. V. Shaw
were among the wounded.
Senior Captain A. H. Nelson had command of the regiment as Colonel
Side's successor until the last week in June, when Major Neeper, who had
been captured at Gettysburg, returned and took command.
Gen. Alexander Hays, commander of our brigade, was killed in the battle
fought on the afternoon of the 5th. He was one of the bravest men that
ever lived, and an accomplished soldier. With the exception of a short
time when he served in the 2d corps, in 1863, he had been identified
with the old 1st division of the 3d corps since the Army of the Potomac
was organized. He was a native of Venango county, Pa., and was a
graduate of West Point and had served with honor in the Mexican war. He
entered the war for the Union as colonel of the 63d Pennsylvania
Volunteers. At Gettysburg he commanded a division in Hancock's corps.
His reputation as a fighter was well known in both the Union and
Confederate armies.
The writer was wounded on the morning of May 6th, and went to the rear
in company with the color sergeant, Cyrus P. Slaven, also wounded. On
our way to the rear we turned into the woods along the plank road where
we had fought the afternoon before. The wounded and killed had all been
removed, but the trees were witnesses of the terrible musketry fire that
had raged here. Not a tree or a bush but bore marks of being hit by a
bullet. How any of us got out of there without being hit is a mystery.