Part 1

EIGHTY-FOURTH REGIMENT,

Pennsylvania Volunteers.

(INFANTRY.)

ADDRESS

BY

CAPTAIN THOMAS E. MERCHANT,

AT THE

DEDICATION OF MONUMENT,

ON

Battlefield of Gettysburg,

1889.

PRESS OF

Sherman & Co., Philadelphia.

On the 15th June, 1887, the State of Pennsylvania provided for the erection of a Memorial Tablet, or Monument, for each of the Pennsylvania Commands that participated in the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1st, 2d and 3d, 1863.

At a Re-Union of the 84th Regiment held at Huntingdon, Pa., 21st September, 1887, Captain Thos. E. Merchant, Gen. Geo. Zinn, Adjutant Edmund Mather, Sergeant A. J. Hertzler, and Henry L. Bunker, were appointed a Committee on Monument, with full power to act as to design, inscription and dedication.

The dates, September 11th and 12th, 1889, were named by the Governor of the Commonwealth to be "Pennsylvania Days"--Wednesday, the 11th, for the dedication of the Monuments by the Associations of the respective Commands; and Thursday, the 12th, for the transfer of the Monuments to the State.

On the 10th August, 1889, full information of the Day was sent to every Soldier of the 84th, whose address was known, and the response had in the attendance of one hundred and forty-six Comrades, coming from all parts of the State and some from beyond, spoke forcibly to the memory, and testified clearly to the reality of the old Command. The presence of so large a number so many years after the War, tended to, and did, awaken the most earnest feeling, and every one knew how great was the loss to the Comrades not there.

The introductory words at the Monument by the Vice-President of the Regimental Association, Captain Robert Johnson, were highly appropriate to the occasion, and marked the earnestness of the ceremony in which the Soldiers of the 84th were now engaged.

The Chaplain of the Association, Rev. John P. Norman, Surgeon of the Regiment, offered Prayer.

Letters from absent Comrades were read by Adjutant Mather.

Gen. Joseph B. Carr, whose Brigade (the 1st, 2d Division, 3d Corps) in the Gettysburg Campaign included the 84th, had expressed his earnest wish to be present at the dedication, a feeling on his part highly gratifying to Soldiers who had served under so able a Commander.

While desiring it to be understood that he was there as a hearer, to witness the services, he felt that he could not properly refuse to respond to the request for a talk, which he did most cheerfully.

His words, written in granite, would stand as a Monument of Honor to the Regiment so long as the stone would endure.

A group picture, taken at the time of the dedication, will be of lasting interest. At no time since their muster-out had there been so many Soldiers of the Regiment touching elbow, and never, this side, will there be again so many.

The Address by Captain Merchant, Chairman of the Committee on Monument, is published in compliance with the expressed desire of the surviving members of the Regiment.

Soldiers of the Eighty-Fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers:

If the feeling with which these words of salutation are heard and accepted, is like unto the feeling that prompts their utterance, then are we fully compensated in our coming together.

We name the old Regiment, and what recollections crowd in upon us; memories of the camp, the march, and the field. Some fond--many weighted with the touch of sorrow felt in its heavy burden even until now, through all of so much of time.

In the presence of these recollections I could not hope to control your thought. I would not ask you simply to follow words as I speak them, but rather that you be all of memory, all of feeling, thinking, listening the while if you can, but surely thinking. For in thought you can cover more ground in moments than I could travel for you in days.

Together you comprise the Whole Book, the turning of whose pages wakens memory to every detail, while from the one individual you can have no more than the head-lines to the volume whose contents you are so familiar with.

Together you know what our Regiment was; alone I can but outline to you, and that roughly, a meagre part of the full story of the 84th.

Its history could be found only in the everything that could be told by each of all the hundreds, living and dead, who numbered its total strength. But where your special individual interest lies it is not possible for me to tread. I wish I could tell the story of every Company, relate the incidents of every mess, and note the experiences of every individual.

Many the time we have recalled our comradeship, more especially with those with whom we were brought in the closer association. It would be a pleasant theme were I at liberty to name the latter and their never-forgotten deeds, that I might place on record my keen appreciation of their kindly acts at a time when kindness was most to be valued, and fidelity most to be prized. But in whatever I do upon this occasion, I stand reminded that I am not to tread over again my individual walk, nor speak again my personal conversation. What is said--what is done--shall be, so far as may be, of all for all.

Not many of us had the opportunity to know very much outside the limits of the Company; and fewer of us beyond the limits of the Regiment. And it was well for good service that the majority of soldiers were content with the work assigned them, and gave but little heed to the details of location of armies or corps, and but little thought to the place of divisions or brigades.

Who was the best-posted man on the news? Who the readiest army talker? Who the general of the camp? The soldier who was not to be found in the place his enlistment called for at the time when his presence would have told the most. It was well for the service that he did not number many.

The good soldier ought not to think it strange, that while in everything he did his duty well, he does not know much of what was done by regiments other than his own, and would be at a loss to name the number of his brigade. Nor must he think that the comrade who stood side by side with him is the only one mistaken as to the occurrences of the day. It would not always be well to accept a soldier of F Co. as a conclusive witness of what took place in E, if there was dispute as to the bearing of the line, or question as to who were the first to advance; and yet, no one will bend the ear more gladly than myself to the recitals of a soldier in fact, because I know he gives us the truth as he believes it. And if from the data thus gathered, I count that his regiment was killed, or permanently disabled, _twice over_, I attribute the outcome to a lack somewhere in the arithmetic, and not to a vice in the teller. And, in this connection, we must not overlook the fact of the years that have rolled by.

Twenty-four years and upward in the circle of time measures the distance of our close, very close, comradeship. Years more than many of us had numbered prior to the beginning, four years before, of the long campaign. The time that preceded and that which has followed, make up the life ordinary. The long four years was the life within the other life. In it was contained the greatest of all wars from the world's beginning--the war against the Rebellion of '61.

Hirelings were not upon either side. It was man against man in the fight. Soldier pitted against soldier. Each individual fighting the issue which so nearly concerned himself. It was the greatest of rebellions against the grandest of governments. If successful, to the world it would have been the greatest and grandest of revolutions.

It was not a conflict forced merely for the perpetuation of slavery. It was the institution of the crown, and not preservation of the chattel, that most moved the men who moved the South from '89 to '61.

One people in Government, and yet in sentiment and practices as far removed as two nationalities.

Forced together for mutual protection, yet from the beginning thoroughly divided in appreciation of the powers of a free Government.

In human direction, it was but a run of time when, as a Government for the whole people, the central power would be called upon to assert itself by the power of might.

Neither of the existing conditions would have won to the United States a constitution for their government such as was fixed upon and has come along, in its working, through all of a hundred years, without a break in any of its provisions. Every line of it, as to matters upon which men could differ, was agreed upon for submission to the States, because necessity admitted of no other course for them, and live. Well was it for stability of government that, when the substance had passed the gauntlet of discussion, the words had been so well placed, that not a letter was found astray when the great test came. No document of State has, or ever will, surpass it in sublimity of thought, arrangement of detail, clearness of expression, or force of power.

In the assertion of the binding powers of this Constitution, the 84th had a part, and _you_ were a part of the 84th.

Your Regiment was to you the command which centred your soldier life. And well content may you be in the fact that its character secured for it a reputation which, to every one of us, has been a thing of just and affectionate pride. I studied that character at a time when I felt it was everything to me. My varied experiences in the several positions in company and regiment, which I occupied, enabled me to found a judgment which has been very clearly and most positively strengthened by every knowledge since acquired. The tenor of that judgment you will gather as I proceed, in an imperfect way, to tell you a part of what you did in three years and nine months of soldier life.

RECRUITING AND ORGANIZATION.

In the month of July, 1861, authority was granted, directly by the Secretary of War, to recruit in the western part of Pennsylvania the _Mountain Brigade_, to be composed of Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery; and upon its organization to be mustered into the service of the United States.

Among the persons named in the order was one J. Y. James, who was to be assigned to the command of the troops when thus organized.

The recruiting camp for the Infantry was located three miles out of the town of Huntingdon, on the Warm Springs Road.

In accordance with the purpose that the recruiting and organization of the Brigade should be under the direction of a Regular Army officer, Captain Crossman, of the Quartermaster's Department, United States Army, was detailed by the War Department for that duty, hence the name given to the camp to which the early recruits of the 84th ever looked back as their original soldier home, and the birth-place of the Regiment.

The projectors of the Brigade had reached out to three regiments of Infantry, to be numbered, respectively, 84, 110, and, somewhat uncertain but said to be, 39.

I have given the numbers in the order named, placing the 84th at the head, in view of the fact that its commander was to be the ranking regimental officer of the Brigade.

William G. Murray, Blair County, was selected as the Colonel of the 84th;

William D. Lewis, of Philadelphia, as Colonel of the 110th; and

---- Curtis, of Philadelphia, as Colonel of the third regiment.

Whatever was done toward the building up of the last-named regiment came to naught by the promulgation of an order transferring its recruits to the 110th, and making transfers from the 110th to the 84th. While the reason for this double transfer has been intimated, it is not so certainly correct as to justify its statement as altogether fact.

The brigade feature failed of accomplishment. Cavalry nor Artillery put in an appearance; and James, the proposed Brigade Commander, did not identify himself with either regiment.

But, while James did not become commander of the Mountain Brigade, the attempt to so locate him did place in the field two of the most efficient among all the regiments that entered their country's service in the War of the Rebellion, whether in the Army of the Shenandoah, the Army of Virginia, the Army of the Potomac, or any other of the armies of the Union.

Recruiting for the 84th commenced early in the month of August, the first enlistment date on the roll being the 16th of that month.

I do not venture the name of the first soldier of the Regiment, lest, like to the naming of the youngest boy in the army, I might afterwards be met with scores of avowals that the record does not show strictly correct. Then, again, the serenity of manner, and mildness of word, with which a soldier is wont to put a criticism, makes it desirable to avoid placing such a necessity before him, if a simple omission will save his feeling upon the particular point, and the service be in no way injured thereby.

On the 23d of October, the Regimental organization was effected.

In November, the Regiment was ordered to report at Camp Curtin, which most Pennsylvania soldiers remember so well as overlooking Harrisburg. Here the enlistments were continued, and on the 23d of December the officers and men were mustered as a regiment into the service of the United States for three years, there being at the time nine companies, "H" omitted.

Two days previous to the muster, the Regiment was presented by Governor Curtin, on behalf of the State, with the Colors.

THE FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS WERE:

Colonel, William G. Murray. Lieutenant Colonel, Thomas C. MacDowell. Major, Walter Barrett. Adjutant, Thomas H. Craig. Quartermaster, John M. Kepheart. Surgeon, Gideon F. Hoop. Assistant Surgeon, C. A. W. Redlick. Chaplain, Alexander McLeod.

Sergeant Major, William M. Gwinn. Quartermaster Sergeant G. A. Ramey. Drum Major, Foster Wighaman. Fife Major, Thaddeus Albert.

LINE OFFICERS:

"A" Co.

Captain, Robert L. Horrell. First Lieutenant, Jonathan Derno. Second Lieutenant, Charles Reem.

"B."

Captain, Harrison W. Miles. First Lieutenant, Samuel Bryan. Second Lieutenant, George Zinn.

"C."

Captain, Abraham J. Crissman. First Lieutenant, B. M. Morrow. Second Lieutenant, Charles O'Neill.

"D."

Captain, Alexander J. Frick. First Lieutenant, Uzal H. Ent. Second Lieutenant, Calvin MacDowell.

"E."

Captain, Patrick Gallagher. First Lieutenant, Patrick F. Walsh. Second Lieutenant, John Maloney.

"F."

Captain, Robert M. Flack. First Lieutenant, Milton Opp. Second Lieutenant, Jacob Peterman.

"G."

Captain, J. Merrick Housler. First Lieutenant, James Ingram. Second Lieutenant, D. N. Taggart.

"I."

Captain, Joseph L. Curby. First Lieutenant, Clarence L. Barrett. Second Lieutenant, John W. Paulley.

"K."

Captain, Matthew Ogden. First Lieutenant, Charles H. Volk. Second Lieutenant, John W. Taylor.

STRENGTH OF COMPANIES:

Officers. Serg'ts. Corp'ls. Privates. Music'ns. Wagon's. Total. A 3 5 8 77 2 1 96 B 3 5 5 44 3 1 61 C 3 5 8 67 2 1 86 D 3 5 3 67 2 1 81 E 3 5 6 73 2 1 90 F 3 4 4 70 2 1 84 G 3 5 2 70 2 1 83 I 3 5 8 75 2 1 94 K 3 5 8 72 2 1 91 ---- Total officers and men, 766

Murray's selection for the Colonelcy of the 84th may be attributed to the part which he took as an officer in the Mexican War, where he did honorable and praiseworthy service.

Several of the men had responded promptly to the first call for three months' troops, and were now on their way for the _longer_ term.

OFF TO THE "FRONT."

On the 31st of December, the last day of the year, 1861, acting upon orders received to report at Hancock, Maryland, the Regiment left Harrisburg at two o'clock in the afternoon, on a train made up of twenty-one cars, for Hagerstown, where it arrived at six o'clock in the evening of that day.

FIRST MARCH.

On the first of January, 1862, early in the morning, began the first in the long series of the weary, footsore, leg-tiring, patience-testing and body-exhausting marches which were to be taken in the coming three and a half years.

The morning was cold--cold enough to do full justice to the time of the season and the season of the year, what we characterize a bitter day, and a bitter experience was it for the boys who were yet to learn the attendants of war. A driving wind, with a fall of snow, made what would have been a more than uncomfortable bivouac for the night, were it not that to the weary traveller there is not less of comfort in stopping than in going. It was the less for the greater hardship, and the freezing could go on through the night unaccompanied by the strain of the march.

Clear Spring had been left behind through the day, and the stop at night was without tents.

ARRIVAL AT THE "FRONT."

Nine o'clock of the 2d marked the Regiment again on the way, and on the mountain top at Fairview was had the first sight of secession land, the Dixie of the song, and then on to Hancock, by the bank of the Potomac, the terminal of the order that initiated the war service that started active, and on that line developed, continuously, to a fulness sufficient to meet the hardiest speculations of the most radical expectant.

The National Pike furnished the roadway from Hagerstown to Hancock.

The arrival at Hancock was in the evening of the 2d. The Regiment was put in quarters just vacated by the 13th Massachusetts, which had been passed on its way down the river in canal boats.

The day of arrival at Hancock was in the ninth month of a War that had not been lacking in vigor of movement on the part of the foe which the Government had encountered, and yet so little of system had been attained, and so little of war wisdom sought after, that a regiment of soldiers was travelled from Harrisburg without arms, and that to a point just across a river, narrow and shallow, from where lie the forces whose movements the regiment had been sent to check.

On the 3d, the guns were handed out. They were of the old Belgian make, containing all the tallow that the barrel would accommodate in addition to the several cartridges necessary to be supplied before the moistened powder could be induced to ignite. When they were carried over into Virginia, and the warmth of the fire reached the explosive grain, you can think now, as you realized then, that even the Belgian was not built to throw more than one ball at the same fire without repairs to one or the other--the gun or the man.

But why _say_, or even _think_ fault of what was done, for what was not done, then. Everybody is wiser now.

Through all its after course the Regiment proved itself full worthy of the reputation, at that time, so early in its history, at the very beginning of its first campaign, impliedly accorded it, that it would go wherever ordered to go, and pick up on the way whatever could be found most effective for the best work.

And there was the full Regulation uniform. The appearance presented in the dark blue, the tail coat, the plentiful hat, and the extra cap. Who can say that these things were not sufficient to keep Stonewall Jackson on the other side, notwithstanding the apparent absence of arms? for, competent soldier that he was, he could not have been induced to believe that, in the ninth month of the War, a regiment of United States _Regulars_ would have been permitted at the front without all requisite paraphernalia close at hand.

INITIAL ENCOUNTER WITH THE ENEMY.

On the night of the 3d, the Regiment was crossed over the Potomac on scows, and marched six miles across the country to Bath, the summer resort known as Berkly Springs.

Here were met Captain Russell's company of First Maryland Cavalry, two companies of the 39th Illinois Infantry, and a section of Artillery, two guns, with which force the 84th was to co-operate, with Colonel Murray, the ranking officer, in command.

On the morning of the 4th, from out of Bath, up on the mountain top, and there formed in line. From this point the rebel army could be plainly seen advancing along the three roads; Jackson's force of 10,000, consisting of Ewell's, Longstreet's and Early's brigades, supplemented by Ashby's Cavalry.

A detail from the Regiment was thrown out as pickets or skirmishers. It is hardly required to say that these were forced back as the enemy moved on, until our small force was almost surrounded. Sufficient show of strength was kept up to deter Jackson from moving faster.

About one o'clock in the afternoon, word was had that the Artillery had exhausted their ammunition, and Murray concluded to fall back. The Regiment could not return by the way it had come. A guide was sought, found and pressed into the service. His inclination was much toward the other side, and he soon showed himself more desirous of coming up with Ashby than of pointing out a safe approach to the river. At one point he came so near the accomplishment of his purpose, that Murray gave him a gentle caution in about these words: If one of my men loses his life by your movement, your own life will be the forfeit. Thus kindly admonished, the guide changed the course of the march and conducted the Regiment to Sir John's Run, six miles up the river, from which point the way was along the railroad, under the high bluffs, to the old mill opposite Hancock.

The problem now presented was how to avoid attack while recrossing. Upon Captain Russell's suggestion the two companies of the 39th Illinois were placed in ambush, while he so disposed his men as to draw Ashby on. The man[oe]uvre worked well, and Ashby was so much surprised by the unexpected fire as to desist from further attempt.

Some of the men, to avoid the delay attending the slow navigation of the ancient ferry, adopted the alternative of wading the stream, trusting to the artillery fire of the enemy to warm them up by the time they reached the other side.

In the crossing, one man was lost to the Regiment--whether to the world is to this hour a question.

As an addendum to the story of the muskets, it may be stated that the Regiment crossed the river without belts, cartridge boxes or cap pouches, carrying the cartridges in one pocket and the caps in the other. This omission was for want of time to adjust the belts.

It seems incredible that less than a thousand men were thus successful in holding so many thousand in check for an entire day, and without death, wound or capture of a man. However, the good service was in fact done, and history is no more remiss as to this event than it is as to the deprivation, toil and fighting of all the campaign in the Valley to July of '62.

On the night of the 4th, General Lander arrived at Hancock and assumed command of all the troops.

JOINED BY THE 110TH.

The regiment that was to go side by side with the 84th for the coming eighteen months, now composed a part of the force at Hancock, the 110th Pa.

The enemy kept up the artillery fire from the bluffs opposite until midnight.