Forward once more.
The company has now been in active service one year, and the ranks are
reduced from 94 to a mere guard of 30 present for duty, not one-third
of the number is left, while the Penn'a Reserves, by the fatalities of
warfare are reduced from the original 15,000 to barely 4,000 for duty.
The command went into camp near Sharpsburg, where 2nd Lieut. Minnigh
was promoted to 1st Lieut. and Serg't Kitzmiller to 2nd Lieut. and
Capt. Stewart returned to the company from Gen'l Hospital.
Breaking camp once more on October 30th, we re-crossed the Potomac at
Berlin ferry, going southward, through Lovettsville, Warrenton,
Rappahannock station, and finally go into camp at Fredericksburg.
While here, and before the Fredericksburg campaign opened, Co. K, was
detailed on special duty at Brooks' station, on the Aquia creek
rail-road, and as a consequence did not participate in the Battle of
the 10th of December, in which the Penn'a Reserves once more
distinguished themselves, making a charge, that for dash and daring,
has not a parallel in the entire history of the war. Of this charge a
distinguished writer says, "They broke through two well entrenched
lines of the enemy, and accomplished what was expected of them, but
for want of support they were compeled to retire." The loss in this
assault was 176 killed, 1197 wounded and 468 missing, a total loss of
1841, out of a possible 4500, two-fifths of the total loss reported in
said battle. The detail of the company with the ambulance corps, did
duty on the field.
On February 8th, the whole command was relieved from the front, and
transferred to the defences of the city of Washington, to afford an
opportunity, it was said, to recruit our decimated ranks and wasted
energies, but as the event proved, in the 1st Regiment at least, to
perform more arduous duty than we had done when with the main army.
Our camp was located on the north bank of the historic Bull-run, and
finally at Fairfax court-house. It was here the famous Photo of
company K. was taken, June 4th, 1863.
The battle of Chancellorsville, was fought on May 2nd, and when the
Army of the Potomac followed on the flank of Lee's forces which were
moving northward, we rejoined our old comrades, in pursuit of the
enemy.