Showing posts with label 28th PA INF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 28th PA INF. Show all posts

Friday, February 2, 2024

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Wednesday, August 14, 1861

The Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania, commanded by Col. Geary, occupied the town. We established our camp about five o'clock, P. M., close to that of the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 16-7

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Thursday, August 15, 1861

Witnessed the drumming out of a soldier of the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania for stealing from his comrades.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 17

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Friday, August 16, 1861

Return of Capt. Reynolds, with the Third Battery, afterwards Battery B, Rhode Island Light Artillery, and some recruits for ours. The newly raised battery should have relieved us, and taken our pieces, as we had the promise of entirely new ones. We all expected to return to Washington; but Col. Geary, being in the immediate neighborhood of rebel troops, remonstrated against our departure, saying he would not rely on a new battery at such a critical moment. Owing to this, the Third Battery returned to Washington the same evening, in command of Lieut. Vaughan, he being promoted to Captain. Sergeant-Major Randolph was promoted to Lieutenant. All quiet up to [Wednesday, August 21, 1861.]

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 17

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Wednesday, August 21, 1861

The Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania received two guns for their own use. Signs of a demonstration show themselves this evening. All our baggage was sent off; the tents only left standing, ready to be burnt in case we had to leave.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 17

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Monday, September 2, 1861*

Orders arrived for our remaining section to unite forthwith with the rest of the battery at Darnestown. The morning was beautiful. The battery got ready to march. Col. Geary had his regiment drawn up in line. The whole regiment presented arms as we passed by, they being greatly attached to us, while we gave nine cheers and a Narragansett for Col. Geary and his brave regiment. This day's march will always be a pleasant recollection for the surviving. Our road was leading through the most beautiful parts of Maryland. Late in the afternoon we arrived at Darnestown, and united once more with the rest of the battery, after having been parted for three weeks. Gen. Banks' headquarters are there, and all the troops of his command, lying around the town. We had a very pleasant camp, but should not enjoy it long.
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* Misdated as Monday, August 2, 1861.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 18

Friday, October 2, 2015

Captain Charles Fessenden Morse, November 14, 1862

Camp Near Sharpsburgh, November 14, 1862.

I wonder if you are having as charming a day at home as we are having here. It is genuine Indian summer, with that soft, hazy atmosphere so peculiar to the season. The sun is almost hot, and only the chill in the air occasionally tells one how near winter it is. The leaves have nearly all fallen from the trees around us, and the river is almost in view from my tent door. Our camp must now be in plain sight from the other side, but I trust the rebs won't be so ill-mannered as to throw any shells into it.

Everything about our camp has the appearance of winter quarters; the men have, most of them, built themselves very comfortable houses of logs, boards, etc., with fire-places of various kinds in them, all far more comfortable than anything we had last winter. We officers are all fixed up in some shape or other, very pleasantly. I am living alone now and have my tent nicely floored; at the end of it, I have had the seam ripped up and have had built a good, open brick fire-place, so that now these cold evenings, and, in fact, nearly all the time, I have a fine blazing wood fire. You have no idea how cheerful this is; it seems almost like sitting down at home.

We heard, yesterday, the joyful news that Harry Russell had been exchanged. He won't allow much time to elapse before he joins the regiment. I know we shall all be glad enough to see him. He is one of our very best officers and a first-rate fellow; I hope he will never have to go through another such experience as he has had this summer.

You don't know what an interesting thing it is to ride over the hard fought ground of Antietam. Yesterday, Bob Shaw and I visited all the places where we were engaged, saw where our men were killed, etc.

We could follow our first line along by the graves; next to ours came the Third Wisconsin's, which lost terribly in this place; next to that was a battery which was splendidly fought. Where it stood, in one place there are the remains of fifteen dead horses lying so close that they touch each other. Farther on, towards our left, we found numerous graves of the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania men; they were in a wood. Every tree in the vicinity is scarred by bullets, and the branches torn by shell and shot. No language could describe more forcibly the severity of the fight. It is hard to realize, in riding through these now peaceful and beautiful woods, that they could have been filled so lately with all the sights and sounds of a great battle.

SOURCE: Charles Fessenden Morse, Letters Written During the Civil War, 1861-1865, p. 105-6

Saturday, December 7, 2013

From Fremont’s Army

STRASBURG, May 16.

Yesterday morning a band of guerillas made a dash on the railroad beyond Front Royal, and killed one man and took fourteen prisoners – all belonging to the 28th Pennsylvania.

The railroad bridge, 50 feet high and 850 feet long, over the north fork of the Shenandoah was completed to-night.  The track will be laid and trains will pass tomorrow.  The work was constructed in 48 hours, under the superintendence of G. D. Nagle, Government bridge builder.

All is quiet in front to-night.  It is currently reported that Milroy and Schenck are in occupation of Staunton.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, May 19, 1862, p. 1

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Special to New York Papers

(Tribune’s Despatch.)

NEW YORK, April 2. – It is said the Senate Military Committee dissents from the rule that the Volunteer officers must rank for promotion in their own branch of service – only they think vacancies in the regular army should be filled by experienced men from the Volunteer regiments.

Mr. Arms, of the Chickopee manufactory, has present Flagg Officer Foote with a sword, and Lieut. Worden a cutlass.


(Times Correspondence.)

Prisoners taken in the recent reconnoissance to the Rappahannock state that the rebel force in that vicinity consists of eight regiments of infantry, two of cavalry, and six pieces of artillery.  Gen. Ewell of Drainsville notoriety, was in command.

On the return of our forces to Warrenton Junction, the rebels hover around the outskirts of our army and frequently succeed in packing off small parties of our men who, contrary to commands, go out on foolhardy foraging expeditions.

Information has just been received from the Times correspondent on the lower Potomac that contrabands from Fredericksburg report that town now occupied by thirty regiments of the enemy, the main part of which have arrived there within the last three days.  They report the steamer St. Nicholas and one other, which formerly plied to different points on the Rappahannock, as being held in readiness to transport rebel troops down the Rappahannock to some point.  Other rebel troops are reported as having gone down York river to reinforce the enemy’s position at the mouth, where the rebels have batteries.

A small detachment of rebel cavalry still occupy Acquia Creek and as far up as Dumfrees.

Another magazine has been found at Shipping Point containing a large quantity of shells.


(Herald’s Despatch.)

About one and a half millions of six per cent certificates were issued to-day chiefly of the denomination of one hundred dollars.  The checks and warrants now in all amount to about ten millions.

Yesterday the Jacob Ball and Stone visited Evansport.  A boat crew from each vessel was sent on shore; they visited mostly all the batteries in that vicinity, including one on a hill about half a mile back of Evansport, where was found the gun that Capt. Roland had attempted unsuccessfully to burst it, it is a 32-pounder.  This battery aided by field pieces was intended to cover the retreat of the rebels through the woods in the rear in the event of their being driven from the lower batteries.  It was well defend[ed] by rifle pits.  Several men went a considerable distance into the country, but there were no signs of rebel troops nor inhabitants.  Both parties of seamen subsequently returned on shore in command of Lieutenant Commanding McGraw of the Jacob Ball, proceeding inland where they found five rebel store houses containing hay, cutting machines, platform scales and other useful implements. – They set fire to the buildings which were entirely consumed.

A citizen of Cambridge, Massachusetts, who went to Bull Run to recover the remains of his brother, who belonged to a Boston company, gives a melancholy account of the sacrilege committed upon the graves of our soldiers by the rebels.  About twenty of the Boston company and Chelsea company had been buried near each other, but every skull had been taken away, and nearly all the principal bones of the bodies were gone, some of the bodies had been dug out and others pressed out of the graves with levers, and in some cases the sleeves of uniforms were slit to obtain the bones of the arms.


(Tribune’s Dispatch.)

WASHINGTON, April 2. – A reporter sent to the other side of the Potomac informed us this morning that Secretary Stanton had issued an order forbidding newspaper correspondents, as well as all others not directly connected in some way or other with the service, from accompanying any of the corps de armie.

Many correspondents are now within the army, and it is understood that an order was dispatched yesterday that the whole of them be cleared out and sent back under the penalty of immediate arrest and confinement if they attempt to stay.

Blenker’s brigade has been assigned to Fremont’s command.

Carl Schurz is to have command of a division under Fremont.

Col. Van Allan resigned his command of the New York Cavalry yesterday.  Lieut. Col. Mix will succeed him.


(Times Correspondence.)

It is not yet positively determined who will succeed Carl Schurz as Minister to Spain, and no nomination will be made to the Senate by the President until Schurz is confirmed as Brigadier General.  Hon. Geo. Ashman of Mass., is talked of for the place.

Major Donaldson, chief of the Quartermasters Department in New Mexico arrived at Washington to-day.  He brings much important information in regard to the rebel raid into that territory.  He says the rebels hold every position of value except Forts Craig and Vrain, the latter which is the most important fort in the far west, contains millions of dollars worth of Government stores, is now safe beyond peradventure, and garrisoned by fifteen hundred soldiers, has water within the fortifications and provisions for a long siege.  It will be the rallying point for the ample Union forces now marching to expel the invaders.  Maj. Donaldson relates many incidents of the late battle near Fort Craig, he says that Major Lockridge of the Nicaragua filibusters fell dead at the head of the Texas Rangers in the terrible charge upon McRea’s battery.

Secretary Stanton will proceed to Fortress Monroe to-morrow to give matters there his personal attention.


(Herald’s Dispatch.)

NEW YORK, April 3. – It is rumored here to-day that the Rebel Cabinet has decided to burn the city of Richmond on the approach of the Union army.

Business was never so brisk on the line of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad as it now is.

Since the affair in the Sickles Brigade, where a master shot at his servant, Gen. Hooker has positively refused passes to go into the camps of his division to hunt contrabands.

Lieuts. J. H. Hall and W. McGungle have been ordered to report to Flag Officer Foote.

The number of sick soldiers in the Government Hospitals in the District, at the last weekly report was 2,314.  Of those 536 are from N. Y. regiments.

Slight skirmishing continues to be the order of the day along our front, each army lying in sight of each other, enlivening each other with occasional artillery practice and cavalry charges.

Yesterday Col. Geary captured a number of rebels after a spirited skirmish, in which several of the enemy were killed.

The completion of the railroad to within the immediate neighborhood of the advance, places many of our forces in a much more advantageous position and will be doubtless greatly accelerate the movements of our advancing army.

The rebel cavalry continues to make incursions through the country beyond Manassas Junction.

Woodstock, 2. p. m. – The rebels, when retreating yesterday, attempted to burn a bridge over the creek near its narrow passage, but it was extinguished.  The Magentic Railroad bridge, one hundred feet high, over the same stream, was burned by Jackson, when retreating from Gen. Shields.

The gray stallion said to be Col. Ashley’s was shot yesterday near this town.  The ball must have wounded the rider in the left thigh.  The current report, however, that Ashley was wounded is not credited at head quarters.

Some of Ashley’s scouts made their appearance this morning early, on the high wooden ridge, on the opposite side of Stoney Creek, beyond Edenburg.  They were fired upon by some of the 29th  Penn’a, when Ashley unmasked four guns and threw several shells into the camp – He subsequently retreated under the fire of our guns.  During the day they frequently interfered with our bridge builders, by shelling them at long range.  The foot of the bridge, however has been completed, and our skirmishers and some of the shop shooters are now on the other side, beyond the town.

Lieut. Doll and two privates of Ashley’s cavalry were captured yesterday while carrying dispatches, but refused to divulge the contents or tell who they were from.

A late intercepted letter from a rebel line officer, speaks of the anticipated negro rebellion in Maryland, but this is regarded as one of the means resorted to by secession leaders to dupe their followers.

Ashley’s artillery was reinforced to-day by two guns with which he practiced on us along our line.  Gen. Banks is here and General Shields at Strasburg.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 5, 1862, p. 3

Monday, May 14, 2012

From Harper’s Ferry


A FORWARD MOVEMENT.

BOLIVAR, JEFFERSON CO., NEAR BALTIMORE, Feb. 28. – Since Monday night Harper’s Ferry and its vicinity have changed hands.  Our advance guard, consisting of the 28th Pennsylvania regiment, passed over the Potomac from Sandy Hook to Harper’s Ferry before day break on Monday morning by a rope ferry, and took possession of the town next day.  Ample provision for transporting troops over the river was provided, and our advanced guard considerably reinforced.

Bolivar and Charleston and a considerable portion of the country on both banks of the Shenandoah are now occupied by our troops.  Except about twenty of the enemy, which were captured, they all retired on the approach of the army.

The people in this town and neighboring places which our troops have occupied, where in a condition bordering on starvation.  There are comparatively few of the inhabitants remaining here now, and they all profess Union sentiments and great delight at being relieved from the thralldom which has oppressed them for the last six months.  Many refugees are returning.

The right wing of the army has considerably curtailed the Rebel territory in Virginia, and made a foothold for itself which all power of the rebellion cannot wrest from it.

The enemy have made sad havoc among the residences of the town where since the departure of our troops.

So far no opposition has been given to our advance, not a hostile shot having been fired.

Gen. Banks has established his headquarters on the road from Harper’s Ferry to Bolivar.

The enemy shelled a train to-day at Berlin as they were passing down to Bolivar, but their piece was bad and out of twelve shots fired only two exploded, and neither did damage.

The plans of Gen. McClellan are being rapidly unfolded and you may rely upon it, from my own personal observations that the young Chieftain is laboring to crush the monster rebellion.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 8, 1862, p. 3

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Gen. Banks Crosses the Potomac

BOLIVAR, Jefferson Co., Va., via
BALTIMORE, Feb. 28.

Since Monday night Harper’s Ferry and its vicinity have changed hands.  Our advance guard, consisting of the 28th Pennsylvania regiment, passed over the Potomac from Sandy Hook to Harper’s Ferry before daybreak on Monday morning, by a rope ferry, and took possession of the town next day.  Ample provision for transporting troops over the river was provided.  Our advance guard was considerably reinforced.

Bolivar and Charleston, and a considerable portion of the country on the north bank of the Shenandoah, are now occupied by our troops.  Except about twenty of the enemy, who were captured, they all retired on the approach of our troops.  The people in this town and the neighboring places, which our troops have occupied, were in a condition bordering on starvation. – There are comparatively few inhabitants remaining here now, and they all profess Union sentiments and great delight at being relieved from the thraldom which has oppressed them for the last six months. – Many refugees are returning.

The right wing of the army has considerably curtailed the rebel territory in Virginia, and made a foothold for itself which all the power of the rebellion cannot wrest from it.

The enemy have mad sad havoc among residences of the Union people here, since the departure of our troops.  So far no opposition has been given to our advance, not a hostile shot being fired.

Gen. Banks has established his headquarters on the road from Harper’s Ferry to Bolivar.

The enemy shelled the trains to-day at Berlin, as they were passing down to Baltimore, but their practice was bad, and out of 12 shots fired only 2 of them exploded, and none of them did any damage.

The plans of Gen. McClellan are being rapidly unfolded, and you may rely upon it from my own personal observation, that the brave young chieftain is diligently, as well skillfully laboring to crush the monster rebellion at the earliest moment.


BOLIVAR, Md., Feb. 28.

The army of Gen. Banks occupied Harper’s Ferry unopposed on Wednesday, with necessaries for a permanent occupation.  The advance took possession of Bolivar Heights yesterday, and pushed a reconnoisance to Charleston, capturing a few prisoners.  London Heights are also occupied by a strong force, and will be held against any attack.  The plans of the commanders are not know[n], but the movement is probably to cover the reconstruction of the Baltimore and Ohio R. R. bridges, and may mean more.  The troops are in excellent condition and well protected from the inclement weather.  No accident occurred in transporting the troops and supplies over the river.  The pontoon bridge was a complete success.

Hundreds of refugees have returned to their desolated homes, and those remaining are overjoyed at our presence.

Nothing reliable has been heard from Winchester, but current reports say it has been considerably reinforced.

A small body of the enemy are supposed to be south of London Heights, four our five miles back of the river, but not sufficient in strength to cause any alarm.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, March 3, 1862, p. 1