Civil War Ring Returned to Owner's Family

FREDERICKSBURG, Va., April 10 (UPI) -- A Virginia man who found a silver ring engraved with the name a Civil War soldier said he spent seven years tracking down the owner's family.

John Blue of Manassas, who has been hunting Civil War relics for 30 years, said he found the ring engraved with the name of union soldier Levi Schlegel at a Fredericksburg construction site and decided to return the $1,500 relic to Schlegel's family, WUSA-TV, Washington, reported Wednesday.

"I wanted to set an example. I've never heard of an ID piece going back to an original family member," Blue said.

Blue said he enlisted the help of a genealogist, who eventually sought assistance from the Reading (Pa.) Public Library.

"They actually said you know there's a Schlegel that works here and it just happened to be the guy that I'm meeting today," Blue said of the library.

Blue said he was proud to be able to hand the ring over to Ernie Schlegel, a fifth-generation descendant of Levi Schlegel.

"After 30 years of metal detecting, I wish my dad was here to see it," Blue said.

Schlegel, who said he learned his ancestor survived the Civil War and lived to be 93, said the ring will remain in his family.

"The ring is going to be handed down to my son. It will stay in the family," Schlegel said.

And here is the record of the 167th Pa. Volunteers:

The 167th Pennsylvania
Civil War’s Only All-Berks Regiment
by Gary L. Shugar
A common Northern misconception at the beginning of the American Civil War was that it would be a short, decisive conflict. The Union, after all, had the decided advantage of industrial and economic might.

But what happened in the North at the outset-after the aging General-in-Chief of the Army Winfield Scott was forced into retirement - was that General George McClellan was chosen as Scott's replacement.

McClellan consistently insisted that he needed more troops, more ordnance, more of everything, even though - to quote historian Carl Sandburg “money, men, bread, beef gunpowder, arms, artillery, horses, had been given McClellan on a colossal scale.”

Finally, after frustrating President Lincoln for months, McClellan left Washington, D.C., on 17 March 1862, on his Peninsular Campaign and proceeded down the Potomac River. He landed with some 90,000 men on the Virginia peninsula and advanced toward the confederate capital of Richmond, still convinced he would be out-manned and out-gunned.

After the first year of the war, very few men were volunteering for military service. In order to get enough men to fill their quotas, Pennsylvania and other states had to resort to bounties and the draft. Although Congress did not initiate a draft until 3 March 1863, the state had the authority to draft men for 9 months. Pennsylvania initiated the draft during the fall of 1862. Berks County received its quota and established a system for drafting men and Colonel Henry S. Kupp was appointed Commissioner of the Draft.

In November 1862, the drafted men were ordered to report to Camp Kupp to begin 9 months of service.

One of the draftees ordered to this camp was 42-year-old Reuben B. Brown, the great-great grandfather of the author's wife, Lisbeth A. (Fox) Shugar. It was finding a photograph of him in a Civil War uniform that started this inquiry into the history of the 167th Regiment, where he served as a private in Company I.

The camp was located in a large field known as the “Hiester Farm” just north of Charles Evans Cemetery about equidistant between the Pottsville Turnpike (present day Centre Avenue) and the Reading Railroad tracks.

The work of putting up the tents was started on Monday, 3 November by 2 companies of draftees under the command of Captains Melcher and Drenkle. The men took up permanent residence there on Wednesday, 5 November. A large frame store-house was erected for the commissary near the entrance. The entrance to the camp was on a road leading from the Pottsville Turnpike to the railroad. (This road no longer exists. It ran from the present day intersection of 6th and Richmond Streets to just south of Bern Street at Centre Avenue.)

There were 400 tents neatly pitched on the side of the hill. They were arranged in rows of 20 each. Each company had 16 tents with 6 men in each tent. The tents for the captains and lieutenants were a few yards above the others. Above the tents at the head of each “street” and arranged in line was the cooking department. Here the fires burned briskly and the kettles were filled with first class beef Captain William A. Schall, the commanding officer of Company C noted, “The rations consist of fresh bread and beef 3 times a day. But today we got some crackers. We have sweetened coffee at every meal.” A spring for water was located nearby.

Below the line of tents was a level plain used as a parade ground for drill which was held daily from 9 to 10 a.m. The men also learned to build fortifications. Three of the fortifications along the perimeter of the camp were named Forts Bockmuhl, Yost, and Monroe.

Because the camp was on the north side of the hill, it was exposed to the cold winter winds. The newspaper reported that “the coldness has begun already to make itself felt and last night many of the men who were not as well supplied with clothing as they should be, found their tents so uncomfortably cold, that they were induced to go out and spend the night around the kitchen fires.”

Later, the name of the camp was changed to Camp Terrill, in honor of General William R. Terrill, a young Virginian fighting for the Union, who was killed in the battle of Perryville on 8 October 1862. At the time of his death, General Terrill was well known in Reading and his family was residing here. He is buried in an unmarked grave in Charles Evans Cemetery.

About 1400 to 1500 men inhabited the camp. From these men a full regiment of 1,010 men was formed. The remaining men were put into companies to be assigned to another regiment.

The 167th Pennsylvania Regiment was officially mustered into federal service on 4 November 1862 and consisted entirely of men from Berks County. Of the approximately 6,800 men from Berks County that served their country in the Civil War, 1,010 were members of this regiment. Despite this, rather little has been written about the part these brave men played in the defense of the Union.

Charles A. Knoderer was selected to organize the 167th Pennsylvania Regiment. Knoderer was a German born immigrant who had attended the Polytechnic School of Karlesruhe where he studied engineering. He had served as a captain in the Baden Revolution in Germany. He later came to the United States and settled in Berks County where he worked as an assistant engineer for the Schuylkill Navigation Company. When the Civil War began, he served as a captain on the staff of General Frantz Sigel during General John C. Freemont’s Missouri campaign. At the close of this campaign, he returned to his job with the Schuylkill Navigation Company.

In the summer of 1862, when the governor of Pennsylvania put out a call for emergency troops to defend Pennsylvania, he enlisted as a private. Because of his experience, he was made a colonel in the 11th Pennsylvania Militia. He was then offered a state commission as a colonel with authorization to form the 167th Regiment.

Despite the fact that these men were draftees, they seemed to be in good spirits. Captain William A. Schall writes, “The drafted with a few exceptions seem to like it. They are jolly and good humored, the song and jest abounds all around and at nights you hear the men singing hymns in full concert. A very good sign that God will safely carry them through their unwilling 9 months campaign.”

One incident reported in the newspaper that caused some excitement in camp in November 1862 “was the arrest of a substitute Broker, who had gained admission to the camp under false pretenses. He offered substitutes [men paid to serve in your place] at $200 a piece, when the men in camp becoming excited, arrested him and took him before Col. Knoderer. After a patient hearing of the case, the colonel kindly allowed him to depart in peace. But for that the fellow would have been ridden on a rail, and by the time the Drafts would have been done with him he would have been about as dirty in appearance as a substitute Broker doubtless is in character.”

Muskets and cartridge boxes arrived on 4 December. Clothing had arrived shortly before.

The 167th Regiment left Camp Terrill on 11 December 1862, when it was ordered to Washington, D.C. for active service. The newspaper account read, “They moved into town byway of 5th street, preceded by the City Coronet Band, and with their knapsacks slung and muskets and bayonets gleaming in the sunlight presented a gallant sight. After marching through the principal streets, they took the [railroad] cars for Washington via Harrisburg about 5 p.m. carrying with them the good wishes of thousands of friends and relatives who witnessed their departure.”

The regiment traveled to Harrisburg on the Lebanon Valley Railroad, arriving there about 1 a.m. They left Harrisburg in the same railroad cars and arrived in Baltimore about 10 a.m. Here they were given dinner by the Union Refreshment Association. At 6 p.m., they boarded cars of the Washington Branch Railroad. Some of these cars were in very poor condition. The 39 mile trip took 7 hours. The newspaper reports, “The Regiment arrived in Washington about 1 A.M., and no lodging being provided for the men, they enjoyed the privilege of spending the balance of a cold night under the blue blanket of Heaven, without a sufficiency of boards or aught to lie upon; the accommodating Rail Road officers throwing them out of the poor shelter of the cars immediately upon arrival.” By 10 a.m., they were housed in the barracks just vacated by the 12th New Jersey Regiment.

The following day, the remaining 2 companies left Reading to be assigned to another regiment and Camp Terrill went out of existence.

From Washington, the 167th Regiment was sent to Suffolk to be under the command of General Peck.

On 22 September 1862, General John J. Peck was ordered to Suffolk with about 9,000 men to repel the advance of 5,000 men under General A Pettigrew and French who were coming from the area of the Blackwater River. The town of Suffolk had been previously captured on 12 May 1862 by Colonel Charles C Dodge's First New York Mounted Rifles. General Peck had commanded a division of the Fourth Army Corps in McClellan's Peninsular Campaign. This divisions remained behind to occupy the area around Hampton Roads when McClellan's Army of the Potomac was withdrawn.

Suffolk was chosen because it covered the approach to the mouth of the James River, and hence to the Union-held cities of Portsmouth and Norfolk, to the north of the Dismal Swamp. There were also several rail lines that converged there. These railways ran to Petersburg, Portsmouth, and Norfolk, Virginia, and to Weldon, North Carolina. General Peck was charged with holding the line south of the James River, covering the approaches to Portsmouth and Norfolk. General Peck's command was apart of the Department of the James under the command of General Dix.

On 25 September 1862, the construction of fortifications around Suffolk commenced, and when the 167th arrived, they assisted in this project. Colonel Knoderer received a commendation from his superiors for the excellent defenses that he and his men erected.

Such activity alarmed the Confederates who believed this was to be the base for an attack on Richmond. In response they fortified the entire length of the Blackwater River as well as Cypress Swamp and the Chipoak River. This fortification line ended at the James River near Fort Powhatan.

Confederate General Roger A. Prior would frequently cross the Blackwater to reconnoiter and forage for supplies. He would retreat back to the town of Franklin at the first sign of Union movement. On 28 January 1863, General Prior had crossed the Blackwater River with 3 regiments of infantry and 14 pieces of artillery.

The 167th was first exposed to enemy fire at the end of January of 1863. On 29 January, at 11 p.m. the regiment was ordered to prepare for a march at midnight. They were to take 44 rounds of ammunition and 2 days rations. The pickets were recalled and at midnight they moved out under the command of Brigadier General Corcoran, General Peck's second in command, along with the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry, a field battery of 15 pieces, the 130th New York, the 13th Indiana, a part of the 6th Massachusetts, the 69th New York, and the 155th New York.

They proceeded west on the Blackwater Road (also known as Poor House Road) toward Carrsville. (This road today is Indian Trail.) At some places the road was covered by knee deep water which the troops needed to wade through. After about 7 miles, they encountered the Confederate pickets. The cavalry skirmished with the pickets for an additional 3 miles where they encountered the main body of Confederates near a place called Deserted Farm or Deserted House. The Confederates referred to this location as Kelly's Store. Although General Prior had been caught unawares, he was certainly prepared for a fight. The battlefield selected by General Prior was a 200 acre oblong field surrounded on all sides by dense pine forest. The Blackwater Road crossed the field across its shorter dimension. (The battlefield is located on Indian Trail between Milford Lane and Buckliorn Drive.)

The Confederates opened fire with the 14 cannon. The Union battery got into position. The two batteries were now facing each other 600 to 700 yards apart across a field that was empty except for a few apple trees. Behind each battery was a pine forest. The road through the forest on the Union side was straight for about 1 1/2 miles and the Union forces continued to move along the road, filing right and left at the edge of the woods to positions behind the artillery.

Apparently this was not what the Confederates expected them to do. They expected them to march through the forest on either side of the road so that is where they concentrated their fire. The 130th, 13th and 6th were almost in position when the Union cannon began to fire. The flash from these big guns revealed that other regiments were still coming up the road and the Confederates now concentrated their fire on the road. When the front of the 167th Regiment was about 50 to 100 yards from the battery, a halt was ordered and the regiment was commanded to lie down along the side of the road. This order came just in time, for the Confederates had concentrated their fire on that location and many men would have been hit if they were not lying down.

In a letter to the Berks and Schuylkill Journal, one of the men described the night in the following way: “The scene at this time was remarkably interesting. The moon shone brightly and all nature - the broad fields and the vernal woods - seemed tricked out in an unusually gauzy mystery of enchantment, strange peculiarities and oddities of every kind, of course imaginary ones.

Colonel Knoderer continued to ride up and down the line, encouraging his men. When he was in the front and to the left of the regiment, his horse was hit by a shell and killed. The explosion tore away the colonel's left hip, severed an artery, and left him with a deep wound in his side. Lieutenant-Colonel Davis’ horse was also killed beneath him, and he was badly bruised and incapacitated for a while. Major Worth rode forth amid the severe fire and ordered the regiment forward. No sooner had the men risen than General Corcoran decided against an advance and ordered them to lie down again. Soon after this order, the Major's horse was killed.

One of the Union cannon was disabled and taken to the rear. Some cavalrymen passed back and 2 companies of the 6th Massachusetts who could no longer remain in their position moved to the rear. Some of the men of the 167th mistook this as a sign of defeat and began to retreat. Both the New York Tribune and the Daily Times reported this action as an act of cowardice. The Tribune reported, “Shame to record it, the 167th Regiment Pennsylvania Militia - drafted men - were not equal to the emergency. Like the veriest cravens that ever cursed a noble cause, nearly every man of this regiment skulked, and all were as deaf to the call of their commanding general as they were insensible to the demands of patriotism and the ordinary dictates of manhood.

“The delay occasioned by the supineness of the Pennsylvania regiment lost us the golden opportunity to capture a large portion of the enemy's cannon and many prisoners.”

The commanding generals, however, did not share this opinion and absolved the regiment from blame as can be seen in the 4 February 1863 official report of Major General John J. Peck, based largely on Brigadier General Corcoran’s report.

“General Corcoran ordered the infantry to advance at 5:15 a.m., but the order was not promptly executed, although given more than once. He says the One hundred and sixty seventh Pennsylvania became a confused mass, mixed up with other regiments, and filled up the entire road, leaving it impassable and creating a temporary confusion among some other regiments in the rear. At the request of the lieutenant colonel Joseph DePuy Davis] it was sent to the rear to restore confidence and reform.

“The demoralization of the One hundred and sixty seventh Pennsylvania, already spoken of, undoubtedly arose from a complication of unfavorable circumstances rather than any determination to disobey orders. It had never been under fire, its position at the head of the column near the artillery (exposed to the enemy's fire for near two hours in darkness without being engaged),and the fact that the colonel [Knoderer], was desperately wounded and the lieutenant-colonel [Davis] and major [Worth] unhorsed were considerations well calculated to create temporary confusion. From this it recovered, and no complaint was made during the subsequent operations. This regiment should avail itself of the earliest opportunity to wipe out any suspicion that may be attached to its conduct at the Deserted House.”

A 15-year-old regimental drummer boy, named Arthur, was indignant over the accusations of cowardice and wrote home to his mother: “I am very sorry such false reports are raised about our Regiment. . . I was eager to get into battle, and just as eager to get out of it; but am glad to say did not skedaddle. .. It is a very likely story to say that our Regiment skedaddled. When we first started the New Yorkers were ahead of us, and when we got into the battle we were ahead of them. They want to have all the honor to themselves and don't want anyone else to have any at all... The pickets took the skedaddlers and put them in jail. They had about 20 of our men, a good many out of other Regiments, some of the New Yorkers of course with the rest.”

During the confusion of the retreat, men from various regiments became mixed together. The moon had set and it was too dark in the pine forest to regroup.

Summing up the Deserted House battle there were 134 Union casualties, while the Confederates had only 39.

All but one of the 167th regiment officers’ horses were killed, although Colonel Knoderer was the only one in the all-Berks regiment to be seriously wounded. Seven other men in the regiment received wounds.

The colonel was carried on a stretcher back to Suffolk. Private Jeremiah Boyer of Earlville, was one of the litter-bearers and he wrote home that the colonel was in considerable pain. Colonel Knoderer died of his wounds about 2 weeks later. His body was returned to Reading and buried in Charles Evans Cemetery.

Lieutenant Colonel Joseph DePuy Davis became the commanding officer of the 167th and was later promoted to full Colonel.

About 26 February 1863, the Confederate General Longstreet was detached from Lee's army and placed in command of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina with headquarters at Petersburg, Virginia. Of his corps, 12,000 men were positioned along the Blackwater River and another 12,000 near the railroad between Petersburg and the Blackwater River.

Longstreet was assigned 3 tasks: 1) to protect the Confederate capital, Richmond, 2) to gather food and clothing to be sent back to Lee's troops, and 3) to be ready to move back to the Rappahannock River if Lee needed him.

He conceived a plan whereby he would attack the Union lines at 3 points: New Bern and Washington in North Carolina and Suffolk in Virginia. He hoped the Union forces would retreat to their fortifications. As he held them there, foraging teams behind his lines would be buying food and clothing from this area that had been held by the Union for almost a year. At the time of Longstreet's arrival, he had 44,193 men while the Union had 50,995.

Of course, the Berks men of the 167th regiment knew nothing of such planning.

In a letter dated 5 April 1863 to the editor of the Berks and Schuylkill Journal, a Reading newspaper, Private Isaac Cleaver of Company C writes, “We have now been lying at this place [Suffolk] nearly 4 months, all of which time has been devoted to drill, until from raw militia men, the regiment has been transformed into disciplined troops. A few weeks ago we exchanged our old smooth bore muskets, some of which bore the incient [sic] date 1832, for new long ranged English Rifles. The boys were in high glee over the good fortune.”

“Our Regiment thus far has been very healthy, there being but few cases of sickness in the Hospital and but very few died since we are in service.”

Another letter, signed only “One of the 167th”, dated 6 April 1863, reads, “The 1st of April was the happiest day of the year in this camp. About noon the paymaster and his money chest made their appearance. The good news spread rapidly among the men, not a few regarding it as a ‘fool's day’ catch.”

“The men generally received $54.60 each, and of this not a few, indeed so far as I know, nearly all, has sent $50 [home], keeping but $4.60 for personal use.”

A private’s pay was $13 per month. Apparently the regiment had not been paid since they left Berks County since this amount was over 4 month's pay.

On 14 March, some of Longstreet's troops, under Generals Hill and Pettigrew, moved against New Bern and on 30 March against Washington, North Carolina. The siege of Washington, North Carolina lasted until 16 ApriL

It was hoped that these actions would cause troops to be sent from their positions in southern Virginia, especially Norfolk and Fort Monroe. This maneuver was successful, since on 10 April 1863, General Peck was ordered to send a “considerable portion “of his force to Major General John G. Foster in Washington, North Carolina.

On 9 April, the 167th and their brigade were ordered to North Carolina to assist General Foster. One of the men of the regiment reported to the newspaper, “We had broken camp and just finished getting aboard the cars, bag and baggage for Norfolk, when the order was countermanded, and we were ordered back to our old camping ground. But alas! our tent-floors were gone, and our boxes (converted into cupboards) had disappeared. Our men were not much pleased to be ordered back, and were a good deal displeased to find their little comforts non est. But our return saved Suffolk.”

Deserters from the Confederate Army had reported that troops were moving to the vicinity of the Blackwater River. A pontoon train had arrived from Petersburg and bridges were being constructed. This information forewarned the Union forces of the coming attack.

On 9 April, Longstreet marched southeastward in the direction of the lower Blackwater River crossings, then toward Suffolk. The advancing Confederates had 21,108 men and the Union defenders numbered 20,192. Peck, however, estimated the Confederate strength at 40,000 to 60,000 and retreated behind the fortifications at Suffolk. Longstreet continued the siege while his commissary officers bought all the food and clothing they could find. During the siege an additional 9,000 Union soldiers arrived in Suffolk from Hampton Roads.

On 11 April, at 5 p.m., a long drum roll mustered the 167th and in less than 10 minutes they were marching double time to the western front. Four companies under Major Jonathan See went to Fort Rozencrans and the redan (a V shaped work projecting from a fortified line) nearby. The other 6 occupied the rifle pits for a short time, then they were ordered to Drawbridge Battery (or Fort Peck as it was sometimes called). After nightfall, companies D, F, H, and I were ordered to a place between Drawbridge Battery and Fort Rozencrans where they labored 3 days and nights to build fortifications and tear down old houses that might obstruct their line of fire. Companies E, G, and K remained at Fort Rozencrans and were fired upon by Confederate sharpshooters.

On 15 April Longstreet recalled, to Suffolk, his men from Little Washington, and the remainder of his men soon thereafter.

For many days the bombardment of Suffolk was almost continuous, but the fortifications and defenders held. On 17 April 1863, Longstreet wrote to the Confederate Secretary of War, “I am very well convinced that we could reduce it [Suffolk] in two or three days, but I doubt if we can afford to expend the powder and ball. To take it by assault would cost us three thousand men. .. The principal object of the expedition was to draw out supplies for our army. I shall confine myself to this unless I find a fair opportunity for something more.”

On 30 April, Longstreet received orders to move without delay to support Lee. Union Genera/Hooker was massing great strength at Fredericksburg. Longstreet withdrew from his siege the night of 3 May, and his entire command had crossed the Blackwater River by sundown on 4 May.

During the siege, Longstreet had constructed 8 to 13 miles of covered ways, rifle pits and fieldworks. He lost his 6-gun Fauquier Battery and about 2,000 men.

The Union line consisted of 20 forts and redans connected by a continuous line of rifle pits and breastworks and was about 14 miles in length.

On 13 May, the 167th Regiment along with seven other regiments all under the command of General Foster were sent to tear up the rails of the Roanoke and Seaboard Railroad west of Suffolk. They met with some enemy opposition near Carrsville.

Second Lieutenant Thomas Gordon Miller, an officer in Company E, related what happened on 16 May: “Co. E, of the 167th constituted the advanced picket, and for an hour during the morning it was exposed to the fire of about 1,500 rebel infantry. The men of Co. E acted well on this occasion, they delivered a calm, steady fire, and fired 50 rounds of cartridges per man. After the action had lasted three-quarters of an hour our artillery began to open, and in fifteen minutes more the 165th Penna. was sent as a reinforcement to Co. E.” The 69th New York Regiment later joined them. Two members of Company F were wounded, but not seriously.

During Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania, during the end of June, the regiment was a part of a command sent to move toward Richmond. Apparently the purpose was to make the Confederates think their capital was being attacked. This would cause them to withdraw troops from other areas to defend the capital.

After their return from this mission, they were sent to join the Army of the Potomac, that was then pursuing the retreating Lee's army in Maryland after its defeat at Gettysburg. They joined the Army of the Potomac, close to Hagerstown, Maryland, on 15 July, the day after the Confederates had crossed the Potomac. They were assigned to the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division of the 1st Corps.

At this time, 2OJuly, the Union Army of the Potomac under the command of General Meade had about 105,623 while General Lee had only 50,178. With these odds, Lee had little choice but to continue his retreat.

Lee had crossed the Potomac River at Falling Waters. He then proceeded down the valley between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Mountains, crossed through the Blue Ridge Mountains via the Chester Gap near the town of Front Royal and reached Culpepper on 23 July 1863.

On 17 18, 19 July, the Army of the Potomac crossed the Potomac River. The crossing was made at 2 points, Harper's Ferry and Berlin, about 6 miles downstream. Meade headed south in the valley to the east of the Blue Ridge Mountains toward Warrenton. From Warrenton, Meade sent a cavalry and infantry column across the Rappahannock River on 31 July. Lee resisted this movement but knew he could not stop it and by 4 August he had retreated beyond the Rapidan River, ending the 60 days of the Gettysburg campaign. Both armies were back at their approximate starting points and Meade did not pursue.

The 167th participated in the pursuit of Lee to beyond the Rappahannock. Since their 9-month term of service was almost at an end, they were ordered back to Reading. On 7 August, a dispatch was received from Colonel Davis in Washington, D.C., stating that the 167th was on its way by railroad to Harrisburg.

On the afternoon of Saturday 8 August, they returned to Reading and were met at the upper depot (near where later would be the outer station) by a battalion of volunteer militia under the command of Major Ellis from Camp Muhlenberg, and escorted to Lauer’s Park. Here they were treated to refreshments, prepared on short notice by brewer Frederick Lauer and committee. They were welcomed by Congressman S.F. Ancona. Colonel Davis made some brief remarks and the regiment was invited into a large building attached to the park. They celebrated through the entire night at Lauer’s Park and on Sunday, 9 August, they marched to Camp Muhlenberg. Here they took up quarters until 12 August when they were paid and mustered out of the service.

Camp Muhlenberg, named in honor of General Peter Muhlenberg, was located south of present day Perkiomen Avenue in the vicinity of 19th Street. It had been established in the spring of 1863 during the Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania to receive troops enroute to Harrisburg to counter the invasion. At this time, the camp was about a mile outside the city limits on the farm of Michael Haak. Heiner’s spring provided drinking water, and a pond on the Rose Valley Creek could be used for bathing.

As they had not been paid since April, each man received a very handsome sum. The payroll was estimated at $100,000.

On 12 August 1863, the regiment was mustered out. General Cutler, the commander of the 1st Division of the 1st Corps, wrote the following to Colonel Davis: “As you are about leaving the service with your command, I desire to express to you, and through you to your command, my entire approval of the manner in which they have discharged their duty as soldiers since they joined this division. The regiment has been a pattern of order and promptness on the fatiguing marches of the last month. Wishing you and them a safe and pleasant return to your homes and friends, I am, very truly yours.”

About the author:

Dr. Gary L. Shugar, who lives on Bern Street, Reading, is a graduate of Reading High School, Albright College and the Jefferson Medical College, where he earned his MD. He is currently employed by the Ephrata Community Hospital.

http://www.berkshistory.org/articles/civil.html

And here is the record of the 198th Pa. Volunteers . A regiment raised late in the war with , probably a pretty high number of drafted men or substitutes. It saw a lot of combat in the final operations around Petersburg and in the Appomattox Campaign. This is from the ever faith Dyer's Compendium:

198th Regiment

Pennsylvania Volunteers

This regiment was recruited in the city of Philadelphia, under the direction and aid of the Union League Association, during the summer of 1864. Recruiting was commenced soon after the muster out of service of the Reserve Corps, and Horatio G. Sickel, who had commanded the Third Reserve Regiment, was selected in conjunction with James H. Orne, Esq., Chairman of the Executive Committee of the association, to superintend the work of filling the ranks and organizing the command. In five weeks it was completed, and on the 9th of September, a regimental organization was effected, with the following field officers:

Horatio G. Sickel, Colonel

John B. Murray, Lieutenant Colonel

Edwin A. Glenn, Major

Early on the morning of the 19th, the regiment moved from camp, and pausing at the Headquarters of the Union League to receive the State colors, thence proceeded to join the army of the Potomac in front of Petersburg. Upon its arrival it was assigned to the First Brigade, First Division, of the Fifth Corps, and joined it at a point on the Weldon Railroad, which had just been captured from the enemy. Soon after its arrival, Colonel Sickel was placed in command of the brigade, and Lieutenant Colonel Murray succeeded to the command of the regiment.

The battle of Peeble’s Farm opened on the 30th, and here the regiment had its first baptism of fire. It had scarcely got into position, when incessant volleys of musketry and artillery were opened upon it from a wood in front, where the enemy was posted. Advancing at once to the attack, the regiment opened fire, and though little accustomed to the terrible ordeal to which it was subjected, finally succeeded by hard fighting, in driving the enemy from the first line of works, inflicting severe loss upon him, two of his field officers being included among the prisoners.* Thursday, May 03, 2001 12:16:52 Breast-works were immediately thrown up, and here the regiment remained heavily engaged until the 2d of October, when it moved up near the enemy's works, where, for five hours, it held its ground under a severe fire. It was then withdrawn a short distance, and again threw up works, and on the following day went into camp half a mile to the rear. The regiment lost in this engagement one killed and five wounded. On the 27th, it moved with the corps for a demonstration upon the South Side Railroad, in which it was joined by the Second and Ninth Corps. With four days’ rations and forty rounds of ammunition to the man, it moved at daylight, and after five hours toilsome marching, through dense timber, arrived in front of the enemy's formidable works, where it was exposed to a severe artillery fire. At sunset a strong picket line was thrown out, which was engaged nearly the entire night. Until noon of the following day, the pickets were kept busy, when the entire regiment was withdrawn two miles to the rear, where it was posted in support of batteries, but soon after returned to its encampment on the Squirrel Level Road. Here comfortable quarters were erected, in which the National Thanksgiving on the 27th of November was spent, in the enjoyment of a profusion of dainties sent by kind friends of members of the command at Philadelphia. On the 6th of December it marched with the corps for the destruction of the Weldon Railroad. Until the evening of the 9th, the work of destruction was vigorously pushed, the ties being burned and the rails twisted for a considerable distance beyond Bellefield. Upon the return march there was much suffering, the weather being intensely cold, and the troops being exposed to the peltings of a pitiless storm. Winter quarters were again erected, and a neat chapel for religious and other meetings was built, as had been previously done at the encampment on the Squirrel Level Road. Lieutenant Colonel Murray was relieved on account of physical disability on the27th of December, and the command devolved on Major Glenn.

On the 5th of February, 1865, the Fifth Corps, in light marching order, moved for an assault upon the enemy's works, and came upon them near Hatcher’s Run. At three in the afternoon, the advance of the column encountered, and after a desperate struggle, carried a portion of his fortifications. Soon afterwards, the First Division, commanded by General Griffin, was sent for a diversion towards Dinwiddie Court House. This feint was a complete success. A large force of the enemy followed it, thus weakening the lines in front of the main body of the corps, which assaulted when this force was well away, and carried his works. Upon the return of the division, it was placed in the captured works, and a heavy skirmish line was thrown out. At threeon the afternoon of the 6th, it was attacked by a heavy force of the enemy anddriven in, a general engagement ensuing. General Sickel, seeing that the Second Brigade was hard pressed, led his command to its support. The One Hundred and Ninety-eighth moved at double quick, through mud and water, andwheeling sharply to the right into an open field, charged with shouts upon Mahone’s rebel forces. Sickel with sword in hand led the charge, and with desperate valor his men fell upon the foe. After a sanguinary struggle, in which General Sickel received from a rifle shot, a painful flesh wound in the left thigh, the brigade succeeded in driving him from the field and re-estalishing its lines. Determined to re-gain his lost ground, if valor could accomplish it, the enemy massed his forces during the night, and approaching cautiously, attacked in the darkness with overpowering force. For a time he gained possession of apart of the Union works. At the first signal of alarm, the One Hundred and Ninety-eighth rushed to arms, and delivering a volley, sprang upon the foe with the bayonet. The struggle for a time was hand to hand, muskets being clubbed, and bayonets freely used. He was finally beaten back, and amidst the fiery flashes of the musketry and of bursting shells, the works were re-gained and made secure. Strong lines of works were erected in rear, on the opposite side of Hatcher’s Run, for the more ample protection of the position, and on the 14th, when the defenses were completed, the regiment moved half a mile to the rear, and for the third time built winter quarters and a chapel. The loss during the operations of the 6th and 7th, was three killed and thirteen wounded. Lieutenant Charles W. Frazier was among the killed, and Captain J. H. Withington, Jr., among the wounded.

On the 25th of March, the enemy having pierced the Ninth Corps’ lines at Fort Steadman, the regiment was early put in motion, and during nearly the entire day was kept upon the march for the support of portions of the line where active operations were in progress. Late on the evening of the 28th, it was ordered to strike tents and rest upon its arms in readiness for an early march, the whole army awaiting the signal to deliver a decisive blow. At three o'clock on the morning of the 29th, the One Hundred and Ninety-eighth marched at double quick, leading the corps in a southerly direction, and crossing Rouanty Creek below the junction of Gravelly and Hatcher’s runs, pursued the road to Dinwiddie Court House as far as the Quaker Road, into which it turned, and again crossing Gravelly Run, encountered the enemy near the Old Saw Mill, where he was strongly posted behind earth-works. A cleared field stretched out in front of his fortifications, which was flanked on either side by heavy timber, in which his sharpshooters were posted. Across this space of a thousand yards, the regiment, in conjunction with the One Hundred and Eighty-fifth New York, and led by Sickel, dashed with determined bravery, and though receiving murderous volleys from front and flanks, reserved its fire until near the works, when, pouring in a well directed shot, it rushed upon the foe with the bayonet. The struggle for a few moments was at close quarters and desperate; but the firm bearing of the men of this brigade was triumphant, and the enemy was driven, though fighting most determinedly, and disputing every inch of ground with great valor. On reaching the Boydton Plank Road, unable to withstand the steady pressure brought to bear upon him, he broke and fled in confusion. In this action, known as the battle of Lewis’ Farm, the regiment sustained grievous losses. Major Charles I, Maceuen and Captain George W. Mulfrey were killed, and General Sickel, Captains, Samuel Wrigley, Benjamin F. Gardner and Thomas C. Spackman, and Lieutenants Jeremiah C. Keller and William A. Miller wounded. The entire loss was three hundred and eleven, of whom twenty-eight were killed and one hundred and seventeen wounded. After the surrender of Lee, the rebel General Ewell, in speaking of this battle, told General Chamberlain, that the One Hundred, and Ninety-eighth, supported by the One Hundred and Eighty-fifth New York, and one battery of the Fifth United States Artillery, were fighting no less than three brigades of the best Confederate troops.

The regiment bivouacked upon the field, where it remained for thirty-six hours, exposed during a part of the time to a driving storm. On the morning of the 31st, it again moved off, leading the column, and came upon the enemy at White Oak Swamp. Quickly forming, it was led to the attack, and after a spirited action, drove him from the field. The loss was six killed and forty-six wounded. Lieutenant A. A. Pomeroy was among the killed and Captain Isaac Schroeder mortally wounded. Soon after the conclusion of the battle, the regiment moved forward towards Five Forks, and bivouacked for the, night. On the following day it greeted with hearty cheers Sheridan's Cavalry, and, when he had passed, joined in the movement, plunging into a dense thicket of pine which lay before it. Scarcely an hour had elapsed, when the stillness of the forest was broken by the sharp fire of the skirmishers, followed by heavy volleys. Hastening forward, the regiment soon reached the scene of conflict, encountering the enemy's skirmishers, and driving them in upon his heavy defensive works. As the Union line emerged from the timber, an assault was ordered, which was gallantly made, but failed to dislodge the enemy. As the troops were falling back, General Chamberlain, who was in command of the division, dashed up to Major Glenn, quietly awaiting orders, and exclaimed, “Major! Can you take those works, and hold them?” Turning to his men, the Major asked, “Boys, will you follow me?”’ With a wild cheer they answered, and pressing with their standard close upon the footsteps of their brave leader, dashed forward in the face of a terrific fire of musketry with irresistible force. Thrice was the standard beaten down, and as often was caught up and borne bravely forward, until finally, blood-stained and torn, it floated in triumph over the works. The enemy was driven and his ground was held. Filled with a soldier's pride, General Chamberlain, who had witnessed this gallant and triumphant charge, rode forward to congratulate the leader, and order his promotion on the field. But, alas! At the moment when the triumph was assured, and Major Glenn had seized one of the enemy's colors from the hands of a rebel standard bearer, he was pierced by a bullet, which inflicted a mortal wound. The evidences of rout and confusion were visible on every hand, and prisoners, guns, and battle-flags fell to the hands of the conquerors. The loss in the One Hundred and Ninety-eighth, was one killed and fifteen wounded. That night the regiment slept upon the field of its triumph, and at eleven on the following morning, moved on one of the most tiresome marches of its entire service, extending far into the night, and being resumed at light of the following day. On the 5th, the joyful tidings were received, that Richmond had fallen, and that Lee was retreating with his whole army. On the marching columns pressed, passing the debris of the fleeing enemy, and guided by the thunder of Sheridan's relentless guns. Late on the evening of the 8th, overcome with exhaustion, the troops threw themselves upon the ground and slept soundly. On the morrow, they were early on the march, and passing through a narrow curtain of wood, suddenly came upon a grand spectacle. There, on the wide fields stretching far away, and surrounded by heavy timber, completely hemmed in by the Union forces, was Lee's entire army. The skirmishers advanced, and the enemy withdrew to his main line; but soon a white flag was displayed, and the news of the surrender quickly spread from rank to rank through the Union army. On the 11th, the enemy stacked arms and furled his flags, and, on the 15th, the regiment commenced the homeward march. At Arlington Heights it went into camp, where it remained until the 3d of June, when it was mustered out of service, and returning to Philadelphia, was received with demonstrations of rejoicing.

_______________

* In referring to this action, General Sickel says: “ While our brigade was forming for the charge, the regimental commander misunderstood the order, and filed his regiment into apiece of woods in the rear, leaving our left exposed. When the right of the line reached the enemy's works, I found our flanks exposed and threatened, and a disaster might have been the result, but for the discerning sagacity of Captain John E. Parsons, Adjutant General of the brigade, who galloped all through a storm of bullets, re-formed the regiment, and directing the charge in person, routed the enemy, and the result was a complete victory.
Source: Bates, Samuel P. History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-65, Harrisburg, 1868-1871.

Organization:

Organized at Philadelphia September 9, 1864.
Left State for Petersburg, Va., September 19, 1864.
Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps.
Service:

Siege of Petersburg September, 1864, to April, 1865.

Poplar Springs Church September 29-October 2, 1864.

Reconnoissance to Boydton Road October 8.

Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28.

Warren's Raid to Weldon Railroad December 7-12.

Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865.

Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.

Junction, Quaker and Boydton Roads March 29.

Lewis Farm near Gravelly Run March 29.

White Oak Road March 30-31.

Five Forks April 1.

Appomattox C. H. April 9.

Surrender of Lee and his army.

March to Washington, D.C., May 1-12.

Grand Review May 23.

Mustered out June 4, 1865.

Losses:

Regiment lost during service:

6 Officers and 67 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and
44 Enlisted men by disease.

Total 117.

Source: Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion Compiled and Arranged from Official Records of the Federal and Confederate Armies, Reports of he Adjutant Generals of the Several States, the Army Registers, and Other Reliable Documents and Sources.Des Moines, Iowa: The Dyer Publishing Company, 1908

http://www.pa-roots.com/pacw/infantry/198th/198thorg.html

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach	join list or digest view topics view or post blog bookmark post a topic subscribe

Thanks exit82. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.