The 133d Penna. Vols., in the Recent Battles Camp near Falmouth, Va. May 9, 1863 Doubtless you have been waiting on the tiptoe of expectation for something to “turn up” in this quarter. The mysterious “givings out,” in homeopathic doses of information by the daily press – the nods and winks and hearty congratulations of citizens at home that at last the Army of the Potomac was about to move – all conspire to attract public attention to this army. Within ten days’ time, from the 27th April to May 6th, the army has marched sixty miles, fought and won hard battles, and retreated in good order to their old position where are now ensconced, eating their rations calmly as possible. The 5th, 11th and 12th corps struck tents on the morning of the 27th April. The 5th corps started at 12 o’clock. The line of march was up the Rappahannock. Our regiment marched ten miles the first afternoon and encamped for the night. Next morning, the 28th, we were aroused before daylight and ordered to cook our breakfast so as to be ready to march at eight o’clock. While we were devouring our hard tack and fat pork, in obedience to this order, Gen. Hooker rode past and was heartily cheered. We did not get started, notwithstanding our preparations, until eleven o’clock. Today we marched eighteen miles in the direction of Kelly’s Ford. It was hard marching; raining all day, more or less, and the mud ankle deep. On this day’s march, Lieut. Col. M’Cartney, who had been commanding our regiment for several weeks past, ordered us to halt and rest for a few moments without permission from the Brigade commander, for which he was placed under arrest and Col. Speakman ordered to take the command. We encamped for the night in a dark thick woods. On the 29th, we were up early but did not march over two miles during the day. The reason for this was that we were then one mile distant from Kelly’s Ford and our brigade was the rear guard of the three corps. There was but one pontoon bridge to cross on, consequently it took the troops a long time to march four abreast over the river. At dusk we crossed. The pontoons were made of canvas which was inflated – a new invention lately brought from Washington. This night we received orders that we would be obliged to march all night. The boys were up and ready at all hours but for some unexplained reason we did not move until the day had begun to dawn on the morning of the 30th. This day we marched fifteen miles before three o’clock on a rough road. On this march Albion Severance, of our company (F) fell out of ranks, he being sick at the time. He has not been heard of since. We halted in sight of the Rapidan for a few hours when we again received orders to march. There were no pontoons for us to cross on, so we were compelled to wade it. The water was arm-pit deep to a soldier five feet six inches high. The river was about one hundred yards wide and very swift. We marched two miles further and encamped for the night. On the morning of May 1st we resumed the march at daylight. Marched about three miles and halted. Here we came up with the main body of the army and here we were reinforced by the 1st, 2d and 3d corps who had crossed at United States Ford, two miles distant. The first shot was fired at ten o’clock this morning. At one o’clock we started forward and proceeded some two miles. We passed a deserted rebel camp by the way; they have the same kind of tents we have. Our Generals discovering that the Rebels were outflanking us, we were immediately about-faced and sent back on a double-quick to the point where we had last started from. No sooner had we halted than the enemy charged on Syke’s division of Regulars, but was nobly repulsed. Again we were ordered into line and went off at double-quick towards United States Ford. Col. Allabach complimented the brigade on the rapidity of this march, we making four miles in forty minutes. We reached the heights near the ford just in the nick of time. The Rebels were in sight when we arrived but retired on our approach. We slept on our arms during the night. We were engaged all Saturday morning, May 2d, in throwing up breastworks. Firing heard occasionally on our right. The balance of the day we laid behind our stacks, sleeping on our arms at night in the entrenchments. Almost eleven o’clock in the night the enemy charged upon our centre, held by the 11th corps, taking them by surprise. The whole corps broke and run and had it not been for the timely arrival of the 3d corps on the ground, the enemy would have succeeded in breaking through our lines. No advance was made by our troops during the night but great preparations were made for bloody work on the morrow. The morrow, May 3d, came and was ushered in by the booming of artillery and rattle of musketry. We received orders to proceed immediately toward the scene of strife and carnage. Started on a double-quick, every man throwing away his knapsack so as to be enabled to keep up with his regiment. While on the road to the field, the shells flew in all directions, frequently cutting huge limbs from the trees, one of which fell on the cap of your correspondent’s left knee, disabling him to such an extent as to prevent his accompanying the regiment into the fight. The 133d was not in a general engagement but they were under fire from seven in the morning till two in the afternoon. Shells, grape and canister flew thick and fast around them, yet, strange to say, not a man in Co. F was even wounded. The regiment however, lost one killed, Adjt. E. Charles Bendere, seven wounded and four missing. That night Co. F was detailed to throw up breastworks and worked till three in the morning. Fifteen of our number threw up a trench four feet wide, three feet deep and twenty-five feet long, together with a breastwork for a cannon, five feet high, six feet thick and ten feet long; after completing which, the company returned to the regiment. Monday, May 4th, we were up at daylight but with the exception of keeping the men ready for any emergency, nothing was done during the day. That night, eight days’ rations were issued to the men. Tuesday, May 5, the troops lying quietly on their arms. There was no firing, excepting an occasional shot between the pickets. The moving of our wounded, provisions and ammunition across the river gave every indication that the army was about to retreat. All the pioneers in the army were detailed to throw up a second line of breastworks from the Rapidan to the Rappahannock, so as to give protection to the rear-guard while on the retreat. As soon as darkness covered the earth, all the artillery started across the river. At three on Wednesday morning, May 6th, the infantry took the line of march, the 2d corps leading the way; while the 5th corps was the last to cross, Griffin’s division bringing up the rear. There were two pontoon bridges to cross on. All the troops got safely over but not without being shelled by the rebels from a distant hill, the shots falling short. When all had crossed, we stared for our old camp, fifteen miles distant. It had rained incessantly the night before and the roads were almost impassable; so we flattered ourselves that, under the circumstances, we had made pretty good time when we succeeded in reaching our destination after a seven hours tramp. In camp we have been ever since. As to what constitutes the cause for this retrograde movement of course we are not informed. But it is a fact conceded by both soldiers and citizens that it could not have been a want of men. The army in the field is large enough to crush the rebellion, crush, it almost, at a blow. That this will be done ultimately I have not the slightest doubt; the final issue of the success of our arms is merely a question of time. But here a question comes up which is entitled to the serious consideration of every truly loyal man in the North. To procrastinate the war to an indefinite period in the future, or, by bringing double the force we now have into the field, crush out at once every spark of rebellion that yet remains – which were the safer method? I have always deprecated the policy which so many of our newspaper and speakers have embraced of underrating the enemy; it is calculated to do infinite mischief to our cause. The Rebel troops are not the poor miserable, half-starved wretches that slap-trap orators at home, far away from the battlefield delight to style them. Within the past two weeks I have had opportunity of seeing and conversing with many prisoners from the Rebel army and of inspecting their clothing and general appearance. So far as clothing is concerned they are reasonably will provided and in physical condition they are quite the equal of our troops. Their clothing it is true is not so stylish as that worn by our men, but it is of homespun, undyed, stout and strong, and for all practical purposes better than the finest fabrics. The colors too are not so distinctive as our uniforms, being gray and drab, which assimilates so closely to the color of the earth as to render it far more difficult to “draw a bee line” upon a Rebel soldier at two hundred and fifty yards than it would be upon our troops at the same distance. [Signed] E. R. W. Gen. M’Clellan Gen. M’Clellan is reported as having recently sent to the President a request that he be either assigned to duty or mustered out of the service. This request does him honor. There are now quite a number of Major Generals standing idle – M’Clellan, Fremont, Butler, Sigel and others - who are costing the Nation quite a sum which they do not earn – and it is no fault of theirs. It is not their choice to eat the bread of illness however well buttered; and they should either be set to work or sent about their private business. We beg the President to take early action in the premises so that those he does not want as Major Generals may be at liberty to enter the service afresh as Colonels or Captains should they see fit. Any of the Major Generals could easily raise a picked regiment of veterans if he saw fit and some of them might see fit. At all events, give them work or leave them free to find work for themselves. Stoneman’s Great Cavalry Expedition The following account of Gen. Stoneman’s remarkable expedition comes from one who accompanied it: Gen. Stoneman with 2,700 picked men and a light battery of six pieces composed of a section selected from three batteries with special reference to procuring the best horses and men, started on the raid which has now become famous. On the 13th of April, owing to heavy rains and various other circumstances, he did not cross the Rappahannock until ten days or a fortnight afterward. At the time of the crossing, General Averill started with a column along the end of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad with the intention of driving Lee and Hampton who were in that vicinity to Culpepper and Gordonsville, thus clearing the way for Gen. Stoneman’s body of cavalry who were to accomplish the real objects of the expedition. General Stoneman crossed the Rappahannock at two places below where Gen. Averill crossed and advanced on the Shepherdsburg road. Sending out a party to reconnoiter toward Shepherdsburg, they came upon the rear pickets of the enemy who were in force between Stevensburg and the railroad with Gen. Averill in front. The nature of Gen. Stoneman’s expedition did not allow of his remaining there to fight, as to seek a battle would prevent the accomplishment of his designs; he therefore moved on to Raccoon Ford upon the advance. Reaching this place they found it defended by infantry and artillery. A detachment was therefore sent to cross the Rappahannock at a point some distance below Raccoon Ford and then to attack the enemy in the flank and rear. This was successfully accomplished and the main body crossed safely at Raccoon Ford. The command then proceeded down the direct road to Louisa Court House, sending out parties along every intersecting road to destroy bridges and telegraph wires and to obtain forage and provisions. The bridges over unfordable streams, on the direct road, were left to be guarded by detachments in case they were required as a line of retreat. Reaching Louisa Court House on the line of the Virginia Central Railroad, expeditions were sent out along the road in either direction to destroy the road, telegraphs, burn the water tanks, depots and railroad ties. The expedition toward Gordonsville encountered a force of the enemy, who, by this time, had been driven from Culpepper and Gordonsville by Averill, who did not, however, effect a junction with Stoneman as directed. The enemy were in such force that re-enforcements were sent out and the Rebels were driven back to Gordonsville. The destruction of the road was completed and a party proceeded to tear up the railroad between Gordonsville and Charlottesville. Parties were also sent out from Louisa Court House to destroy the bridges over the North Anna River. The command then proceeded through Sauceyville and rendezvoused at Thompson’s Crossroads. From there three expeditions were sent out – one along the South Anna River to destroy the bridges across this unfordable stream; another to destroy the Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad from Ashland down; also the railroad from Richmond to Hanover Court House to get as near Richmond as possible, and if practicable to cross over to Pamunky River, destroying such bridges as it was practicable to destroy and then to proceed down the Peninsula to West Point; the third expedition was to strike the James River at Columbia, break the locks of the canal and destroy the bridges as far down the river as might be. This expedition was to cross a small force over the James at Carterville and pass down and destroy the railroad bridge on the Richmond and Lynchburg Road, over the Appatuattox [as spelled in newspaper] River. Gathering the balance of his force together at Thompson’s Cross roads, Gen. Stoneman prepared to return. By this time, Stuart, Lee and Hampton were in pursuit of the audacious party. The forces of the latter two were driven in the direction of Charlottesville and Stuart was drawn off in the direction of Guiney’s Station, by an apparent diversion of our forces in that direction. Having thus separated Stuart’s command, Gen. Stoneman started on his return between the two bodies along the same route he went out. His scouting parties encountered the enemy’s infantry pickets on the road to Spotsylvania Court House but the command succeeded in safely re-crossing the Rapidan and Rappahannock Rivers, swimming the latter. The feat of getting the artillery across the latter stream, the horses swimming and drawing the guns, is certainly worthy of notice. Only one man was lost by drowning. The success of the whole expedition is mainly due to the deception practiced upon the inhabitants. The force was everywhere magnified and, by scattering in small parties, the delusion was completed by dividing the command into different expeditions. They were enabled to supply themselves with forage and provisions and thus live upon the country through which they passed. Their pack-mules were sent back the first day out, and officers and men only carried what they could upon their horses. For two days and three nights they never built a fire. In many places they camped as though intending to remain, giving out that they were merely the advance guard of the main army. With telegraphic communication destroyed and railroads interrupted, this was only too readily believed. The inhabitants were paroled and sent to Richmond. The officers captured were detained as prisoners; among these was Major Johnston of Gen. Stuart’s staff. At one place, two large houses were found, filled with hams. What of this was not needed was destroyed. Twelve hundred hogsheads of tobacco were also captured, most of which were burned. Such horses as could be found were taken and those worn out by the march were left in their places. Gen. Stoneman reports large quantities of supplies in Albemarie county, gathered there by the inhabitants. It was to protect these that Lee and Hampton proceeded in that direction. It is estimated that the total number of miles traveled by the different expeditions will exceed one thousand. The men return in the best of spirits though of course, considerably fatigued by their march. It seems almost incredible that the battery should have made the entire march with the main body, and returned without accident. The roads were in wretched condition and all the streams considerably swollen. During the whole time Gen. Stoneman has had no communication with General Hooker’s army. Chancellorsville For a week past, says the New York TRIBUNE, the people of the loyal States have been surfeited with extracts from the Richmond journals, boasting that the Rebels took 10,000 prisoners in the recent battles between Gen. Hooker’s army on the Rappahannock and the rebel forces led by Gen. Lee. At length those prisoners are forwarded to City Point for exchange and the actual count reduces them to 4,500. The rebels in Virginia have seven thousand prisoners in all to exchange, but only 4,500 of them belong to the Army of the Potomac. Here are facts in correction of bulletins whereby we may confidently measure past and future vaunts of rebel triumphs. Meantime the fact remains questioned and unexplained that Gen. Lee had ample notice of Gen. Hooker’s retreat across the Rappahannock, yet did not venture to assail or molest him. Crossing a deep rapid river in the face of a resolute enemy is always a hazardous and costly undertaking; but retreating across such a river in presence of a hostile force is ten times more difficult and perilous than advancing. Had Lee’s army been in fighting condition, it is not possible that he would have suffered this passage without even an attempt to profit by it. The simple truth manifestly is that Lee’s army, which consisted of but 50,000 men at the onset had suffered so terribly and been overworked so fearfully during the four or five days preceding that it could not attempt to press on Hooker’s rear during the passage of the Rappahannock. Lee is a good General, thoroughly wide awake and his army is brave and resolute, but there are limits to human capacity and endurance. They had fought Hooker on Saturday and Sunday and Sedgwick on Monday and though they crowded our men in either case, this fact compelled them to expose compact bodies of infantry to the murderous fire of our powerful and well-served artillery so that their losses in killed and wounded were doubtless greater than ours, ably as they were handled. Then they must have nearly or quite exhausted their ammunition for their great guns, as they made little or no use of them in the later conflicts. Had Gen. Hooker known how incapable were his adversaries of further exertion, he would not have re-crossed the Rappahannock; and though the prestige of success is with them, their losses including that of Stonewall Jackson trench more severely on their resources than ours do upon our own. Their “victory” is like that of Pyrrhus of Macedon over the Romans of which he remarked that one more like that would be his ruin. Re-Enlistment of Officers By order of the Secretary of War, officers of regiments going out of service by reason of the expiration of their terms of service, may, with the consent of their respective Governors, re-enlist their regiment within thirty days from the expiration of their original service for a term of three years, unless sooner discharged; and upon the regiments being filled up within thirty days aforesaid, the officers shall be restored at their rank as from the date of their original commissions. This however will give no claim to pay for the time between muster out and re-entry into the service. ------------------------------------------------------------------- MARRIAGES Horn-Devil Married at Loretto by Rev. T. S. Reynolds on Sunday, 10th inst., Mr. Thaddeus Horn of Carroll township, to Miss Lizzie Devil, of Allegheny township. “In future bliss may they always revel, For passing few to joy are born; The youthful bride, the graceful Devil, May she find comfort – in a Horn!? L ---------------------------------------------------------------- DEATHS Another Hero Gone We are sorry to be obliged to chronicle the death of another of Cambria’s brave sons in the recent fight near Fredericksburg – Lieut. Peter Kaylor, Jr., of Co. F, 28th Penna. Vols. The deceased had been in the service of his country ever since the commencement of hostilities between the North and the South and nobly did his duty to the last. He also served throughout the Mexican War and was one of the celebrated “forlorn hope” at the battle of Chapultepec, composed of some 160 men, only 16 escaping the bullets of the foe – he of the number. He resided in Alleghany township and was about 35 years of age. A true patriot, a tried soldier, a respected citizen, a good man, may his memory live forever. John Kibler John Kibler of Co. D., 115th Penna. Vols., who was killed at the late battle near Fredericksburg, was a son of Mr. Jacob Kibler of Chest township, this county. and was aged about 21 years. He was an estimable young man and much beloved by all who knew him. A letter from one of his messmates speaks of him as having been brave as a lion and says that he “fell at his post.” He was shot through the head, death ensuing instantaneously. Peace to his ashes! Mark Gallagher Died in Division Hospital, Falmouth, Va., March 9, 1863, of typhoid fever, Mark Gallagher, a member of Co. H, 110th Penna. Vols., and son of James S. Gallagher of Beccaria, Clearfield county, aged 26 years and 3 months. The remains of the deceased were brought to Mt. Pleasant, Clearfield county on the 29th March and there interred. (The obituary accompanying this announcement is too long for our columns and we are obliged to omit it.) _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t1_allup_explore_012009