Civil War Blog

Posted By Jake Wynn on July 4, 2013

For the Army of the Potomac, Gettysburg didn’t mean the end of campaigning in the summer of ’63. Henry Keiser and the rest of the 96th PA waited on the battlefield until Lee’s army left the area. Then the long pursuit began which required tough marching in the infamously muddy conditions from Gettysburg. Here is some of what Keiser experienced in the days following the battle.

Saturday, July 4, 1863.  OK has been cloudy ever since we were on the march.  Rained little last night.  All is great along the line this morning.  I picked up a tent and green blanket while going over to the battlefield.  The Rebs are over a mile from here.  At ten o’clock a.m. —–.  Post was made in fence and then returned to our old position.  It was though the Rebs were learning, but it was a mistake.  First Sergeant F. N. Henden [Douden?] 

 

Sunday, July 5, 1863.  It rained all night.  This morning at daylight we were routed up, the rain still falling.  The Rebs had gone.  We followed slowly, feeling our way carefully as we went.  It rained all forenoon and was very muddy.  Every barn we passed was converted into a rebel hospital and had the red flag floating over it while we were halting near one (a large barn full of wounded Rebs I ran over to see how it looked, it was sickening to look at.  The barn floor and every place in the barn where a person could be layed was filled with wounded Rebels, and outside the barn on the South Side, I seen a pile of hands, feet, legs, and arms at least two feet high.  At five o’clock this evening, we came up to enemies rear guard.  We advanced in line of battle or regiment on the extreme right, expecting to capture part of their wagon train, but night coming on they escaped.  Encamped for the night near Fairfield.  A great number of prisoners were picked up by the way today.

 

Monday, July 6, 1863.  It rained a little last night.  Harry Romberger rejoined the company this morning, having been in the rear since the 2nd inst.  The Rebels kept possession of Serrie [?] “Sap” until toward evening.  At six o’clock p.m. followed up, passing through Fairfield, and after marching near three miles, we halted until 11:30 p.m. when we again started off.  Saul Stabe who had been in the hospital, rejoined the company this evening.

 

Tuesday, July 7, 1863.  We had a very hard march last night, being 2 very muddy through Neuman’s Cut.  At three o’clock a.m. we re-crossed into Maryland and passé through Emmetsburg which was partly burned down.  At daylight this morning we halted a short distance from the town, but at ten a.m. we resumed our march passing through Mechanics and Thumps in Furnace [?].  It rained most all forenoon.  After dark we commenced to ascend the {Catoctin}Mountains but my feet being wet.  My shoes full of mud.  A steep mountain before us, and a very dark night with not much of a road.  I stopped back for the night and went into camp. 

Category: Events, Overviews, Research, Stories | Comments Off on Henry Keiser: After Gettysburg
Tags: Civil War 150, Gettysburg, Road from Gettysburg

Posted By Jake Wynn on July 3, 2013

While much in the way of the daily record in the area covered by this blog is lost, we are very lucky to have one great record of nearly the entire war. Henry Keiser, of Lykens, PA, served in the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment throughout the Civil War. He and the regiment saw some of the worst of the action in places across the eastern theater. He stands out from most of the other men in his regiment for one huge reason. He kept a daily diary that records much about his experiences in the Civil War.

The 96th Pennsylvania in 1862

Here are Henry Keiser’s diary entries for the days of June 30, and July 1-3, 1863:

“Tuesday, June 30, 1863.  It rained a little last night.  Left camp at 7 o’clock this morning and passé through Gainesville at eight o’clock p.m. and through Westminster, the county seat of Carwell (Carroll) County, Maryland, at one o’clock p.m.  Westminster is a beautiful town.  We marched until six o’clock when we went into camp for the night near Manchester, having marched eighteen miles.  It was cloudy all day and rained occasionally.  The citizens all along our line of march seem very pleasant.  Received a letter from mother containing stamps and stating that father and Brother George had enlisted for six months in the Pennsylvania State Militia.  Also a letter from Lucy.

 

Wednesday, July 1, 1863.  It is still cloudy this morning.  Were pleased to hear that we could rest today.  Were mustered for pay.  At ten a.m. we had Company Inspection.  Wrote a letter to mother, one to Miss Polly Kessler, and one to Cousin Lucy.  At eight o’clock this evening we left camp and marched back some distance on the road we had come in on yesterday, then turned to the right, arriving at the Gettysburg Pike at midnight, turning left, down the pike.

 

Thursday, July 2, 1863.. Instead of turning to the left last night we should have turned to the right, and by the time we were fairly started on the right road it was daylight.  At 8:30 this morning we crossed the line into Pennsylvania, at ten a.m. we passed through Littlestown.  The citizens along the line of march could not do enough for us. Most every house hold standing reading with water buckets, dealing out water to the boys as we marched along and the stars and stripes hanging out in all directions.  It made us feel as if we were home once more, and the citizens of Southern Pennsylvania, through their kindness to the soldiers have put new life into us.  Can hear heavy cannonading ahead all day.  At five o’clock this evening we arrived at what is called Round Top, a short distance from Gettysburg.  Very heavy fighting to our left, at five o’clock.  At six this evening we filed left, marched some distance, when we formed a line of battle on a knoll and in some underbrush.;  Our troops gave way and the Rebs drove our men.  The Pennsylvania Reserve forming in our front, counter charged the Rebs, our line following up sharp.  The enemy was driven back and we regained the ground lost a short time before.  We battled in a hollow behind a stone fence, having marched since last evening thirty two miles at the time we formed a battle line.  I threw my knapsack portfolio, being too tired to carry it in the charge, but after advancing a short distance, the Regiment was halted and the men unslung knapsacks and had guards placed over them.  As we were going in, Gen. Sickles was carried past on a stretcher. 1st Sgt. Frank Douden, W. D. Ferree, John Glass, and John Romberger are back this evening.

 

Friday, July 3, 1863.  Last evening while the enemy was being driven back, the troops on Little Round Top cheered lustily, but the Rebs cut instant by giving the, a dose of artillery gravel, which made the boys take to their holes in the rocks in “Double Quick.”  This morning Col. Fessig informed our Captain that there were some spare knapsacks left on the knoll where they had been left, guarded by the pioneers, which those of the boys having lost.  Knapsacks — could get the Captain reformed us —- it and —– I might get there went up and the first one the pile was my own knapsack — the colonel having mistressed [?] the princess to gather up all knapsacks —being among which they did mine being among the number I was well pleased as I had 25 letters in it which I destroyed at once.  The first is covered with dead and wounded there must be fateful fighting in the right siedging from the very heavy firing sometimes coming down the line pretty near to us.  We were shelled unnecessary driving the day, but never of our country was hurt. At five o’clock this evening the —  in our front charged the  [enemy] and drove them over a mile taking.

This gives amazing insight into the daily life of a soldier before, during, and after the largest battle this nation had ever seen. Chaotic battle scenes dot his recollections of the battlefield those days. No doubt, the confusion of battle and the furious smoke rising from the thousands of muskets and cannons being fired obscured his view. Still, this narrative gives a great opportunity to see what the local men of the 96th Pennsylvania witnessed during the fight at Gettysburg.

Click to enlarge photo.

Check out tomorrow’s post for the story of the 96th Pennsylvania’s role in the battle at Gettysburg.

Category: Culture, Overviews, Reflections, Research, Stories | 1 Comment »
Tags:

Posted By Jake Wynn on July 2, 2013

Driving on Route 15 through western Maryland, you are crossing through some of the most important territory of the Civil War. This region played host to important campaigns in 1862, 1863 and 1864, and has earned its reputation as the Heart of the Civil War.

Just off the Rosemont Avenue exit in the city of Frederick lies the Schifferstadt Architectural Museum. The land was originally settled by the Bruner family of Germany during the mid-1700s and the current structure was completed in 1758.

Schifferstadt in an undated photo

Same angle today

Frederick was a crossroads town during the colonial era, becoming a hub for settlers moving west towards the frontier. It was during this time period that masses of German, or Pennsylvania Dutch migrated into Frederick from the Lancaster region. This shared German ancestry should be noted when comparing the Frederick area to that of coverage area of the Civil War Blog. The city would go on to play a vital role during the French and Indian War, as well as during the American Revolution.

We pick up the story decades later. The Civil War has entered its second year, and things could not be going worse for the Union. After being routed and forced out of Virginia in late June following the disastrous Peninsular Campaign, the Army of the Potomac was again defeated in the area around Manassas Junction, Virginia, retreating back to Washington in much the same way they had the year before. September 1862 was to be a momentous month for both sides.

Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia took the opportunity and spilled north across the Potomac into Maryland. The chaotic state of the Union army prevented immediate mobilization. By September 6, Lee occupied Frederick and was making plans to move west towards Hagerstown and the Union garrison at Harper’s Ferry. His infamous decision, known as Special Orders 191, would nearly prove to be his undoing. The divided city of Frederick lived a few days under something that seemed very alien to the people of the city: enemy occupation. Many citizens of Frederick County were of German descent and against secession and the South. The Confederate army provided some uneasy times for those with Northern leanings.

Reinstated General George McClellan slowly trod after Lee. McClellan could only guess where Lee was headed, but continued to march his troops toward Frederick. Through impossible odds, Union troops found a copy of Lee’s Special Orders lying in a field where General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s troops had made camp previously. Suddenly, McClellan had the entire enemy’s battle plan in his hands and with it the chance to “whip Bobby Lee.” With this, the seeds were planted for one of the largest battles of the American Civil War.

Schifferstadt was known as Willow Grove at the time of the Civil War

Schifferstadt was known as Willow Grove during the Civil War years and was owned by Lewis H. Steiner. He leased out the home to a tenant farmer by the name of Martin Yonson. Following a skirmish in the city of Frederick along the National Road, the Union army occupied the city. A dispatch from the farm during the days of the Union occupation said that:

“Upon it and about it Sumner’s corps – the main body of Burnside’s army – rested for the night..”

Sumner’s II Corps was made up of several Pennsylvania regiments, mostly hailing from the Philadelphia region and would go on to heroically fight at the Battle of Antietam a few days later. The 53^rd PA, of which several men from the Lykens Valley area served, was present as well. This dispatch also tells that a young soldier “says he never saw so large a proportion of pretty young ladies..” and that “our troops were complimented for their clean appearance and good dress, notwithstanding the unavoidable dust that covered them..”

General Edwin “Bull” Sumner

Several items of importance can be retrieved from these statements and facts. It is likely that the troops from the II Corps made camp in the area around Schifferstadt (Willow Grove.) Unlike its appearance today, the area around the dwelling was mostly rolling farmland. The current neighborhoods north and east of the building, as well as Hood College now sit on the property that belonged to the Schifferstadt estate.

Another is something that relates to the experience of the citizens of Frederick during this time period. The Confederate army had been on the move for months. The men of the Army of Northern Virginia were tired, hungry and dirty. On the appearance of the Confederate army, one Fredericktonian famously stated that they were “a lean and hungry set of wolves.” Another noted that they could be smelled before they were seen.

Confederate troops waiting to march along Patrick Street in Frederick

The Union army could not have been more different. They were well dressed in consistent blue uniforms, well supplied and were a much adored group in the eyes of the Union supporters who had just dealt with an invading army. This idea is echoed by Lt. Samuel K. Schwenk of Co. A, 50^th Pennsylvania when he stated “To most of the citizens the appearance of our army seemed as a relief from bondage. In many instances they showed acts of kindness and bursts of enthusiasm.”

50th Pennsylvania

September 14, 1862 would go on to be the first major battle fought in Maryland. I will more thoroughly cover the 50th’s role in battle of South Mountain in a post tomorrow. Several more posts are going to cover this battle and local regiments and companies that shaped the outcome of battle.

View of Fox’s and Turner’s Gap on South Mtn. from Gambrill State Park

Schifferstadt Architectural Museum is a valuable resource  for a wide range of historical and cultural value. The current dwelling itself was completed in 1758, and has an addition completed in the mid-1800s. It is a well-preserved piece of Pennsylvania Dutch heritage, even though it lies below the Mason-Dixon Line. The connection of architecture and culture are directly relatable to the German heritage present within the Lykens Valley area.

Schifferstadt is located at 1110 Rosemont Avenue      Frederick, MD 21701

From the Schifferstadt Architectural Museum’s website:

http://www.frederickcountylandmarksfoundation.org/fclf_schiffgen.html

Museum hours are:
Noon to 4 Saturdays Only.
April through October.
The museum is also open by appointment.
For more information about the museum please call 301-663-3885
In the off-season and for more information about Frederick County Landmarks Foundation, call 301-668-6088 or email fredcolandmarks@aol.com.

Category: Museums, Overviews, Research | 5 Comments »
Tags: Regiments

Posted By Brian Tomlin on June 30, 2013

June 1863

June 7th.

Mexico City captured by French troops. French troops under Bazaine entered Mexico City on 7 June 1863. The main army entered the city three days later led by General Forey. General Almonte was appointed the provisional President of Mexico on 16 June, by the Superior Junta (which had been appointed by Forey) The Superior Junta with its 35 members met on 21 June, and proclaimed a Catholic Empire on 10 July.

June 13:

Samuel Butler publishes his  article/essay “Darwin Among the Machines”. The article raised the possibility that machines were a kind of “mechanical life” undergoing constant evolution, and that eventually machines might supplant humans as the dominant species.

Day by day, however, the machines are gaining ground upon us; day by day we are becoming more subservient to them; more men are daily bound down as slaves to tend them, more men are daily devoting the energies of their whole lives to the development of mechanical life. The upshot is simply a question of time, but that the time will come when the machines will hold the real supremacy over the world and its inhabitants is what no person of a truly philosophic mind can for a moment question.

Butler developed this and subsequent articles into The Book of the Machines, three chapters of Erewhon, published anonymously in 1872

June 17:

Traveler’s Insurance C0mpany of Hartford, CT chartered as the first accident insurance company. It was originally founded to provide travel insurance to railroad travelers at a time when travel was far more risky and dangerous than today.

June 20:

The National Banking and Currency Act was passed by Congress and signed into law in 1863. First National Bank in Davenport was the first bank in the country to open under the new act. It was chartered on June 20, 1863 and opened on June 29.   A $12.60 check written by Henry Hess was the first check in the country to clear the new banking system.

Category: Culture | Comments Off on Events of the World: June 1863
Tags:

Posted By Jake Wynn on June 29, 2013

South Mountain State Battlefield, a half hour drive from both Hagerstown and Frederick, should be a stop for any Civil War historian or novice. Located about 30 minutes away from both Frederick and Hagerstown, its a great place for combining hiking and history.

Washington Monument State Park:

Originally constructed in the early half of the 19th century, the Washington Monument (not to be confused with one in D.C.) rises 30 feet above the surrounding mountain side. Constructed to honor the late George Washington, the unique stone monument stood during the time of the Civil War and was used as a Union signal station. Following the war, the site twice crumbled and was repaired. It was restored to its present state by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. The site is now on the National Register of Historic Places and resides within Washington Monument State Park.

Washington Monument sits atop Monument Knob

The view from atop the monument is fabulous, and one can easily see why the spot would have been picked by Union engineers. It gives a commanding view of the surrounding countryside. From this perch, you can see over the entire Antietam battlefield, Hagerstown and even into Pennsylvania. Its a view that is worth the small hike to the summit.

The view from the top of monument

The main office for the South Mountain State Battlefield is on the grounds, as well as the park’s museum that holds artifacts from both the monument and the battle. From the park’s website:

Museum
The monument museum features historical artifacts related to the history of Washington Monument and the Battle of South Mountain. It is open on weekends only in April and October, and seven days a week from May through September. It is closed during the winter.

The address of the park is 6620 Zittlestown Road, Middletown, MD 21769. Complete directions can be found on the park’s website. The park is well marked on Route 40 (The National Road Scenic Byway) between the towns of Middletown and Boonsboro.

Fox’s Gap:

Fox’s Gap is located about a mile south of Route 40, along what is now called Reno Monument Road. Arriving at this section of the battlefield, you will see a few fields and monuments. Signs direct you to a small parking lot; this is within walking distance of much of the battlefield and was once home to the Wise homestead. Much of the battle was fought on this family’s land, and at the end of the battle, dozens of Southern bodies were dumped into their well.

Two monuments mark the area immediately around the parking lot. One resembles a small grave marker.

Marker for General Samuel Garland, killed at South Mountain

Near here in Wise’s field on the morning of Sept. 14, 2862. Brigadier General Samuel Garland, Jr. C.S.A. of Lynchburg, Virginia fell mortally wounded while leading his men.

Only a few yards away, behind a concrete wall lies a memorial to another prominent general felled by gunfire during the battle for Fox’s Gap, IX Corps Commander, General Jesse Reno. For such a small (by Civil War standards) engagement, the loss of two major leaders within such a small geographical location is curious. It says something about the nature of the fighting that Sunday in September 1862.

Jesse Reno, Corps Commander killed at South Mountain

Monument in approximately the area where Reno was mortally wounded

On the other side of the road lies the field across which the 17th Michigan made its heroic and deadly charge in the afternoon of the battle. Behind the stone wall, the Appalachian Trail scrambles through the rocks and trees where men in blue and butternut once mingled in a haze of battle smoke. The trail can be followed to the north and comes out a mile north at Route 40 in Turner’s Gap.

But the most identifiable of the monuments belongs to the men from North Carolina. The polished black stone monument depicts a fallen North Carolinian, cast in bronze, clutching a shredded battle flag. Inscribed with the Confederate creed, “Deo Vindice,” or “With God as our Defender,” the monument is the most striking on the battlefield and can be viewed by either walking the road or the General Garland trail.

The North Carolina soldier, immortalized in bronze

Fox’s Gap is a must see for anyone interested in the Civil War and with links to the Lykens Valley area. Many soldiers from the area took part in the struggle at Fox’s Gap. The next stop was possibly the most bloody struggle of the South Mountain battles, at least for the men of the 96th Pennsylvania…

Crampton’s Gap

This section of the South Mountain Battlefield is separated from the rest of the park by several miles. Located near the village of Burkittsville, the mountain looms very large over this small, historic village of 150 people. A small mountain road links the Middletown Valley from Pleasant Valley on the other side. A struggle here would prove to be one of the bloodiest of the day. The VI Corps charged up this steep slope under heavy fire. I will more fully cover the tale of the 96th Pennsylvania’s role in the battle in a few weeks time.

The village of Burkittsville should be the first stop on your tour. The small hamlet has cobblestone streets and many historic structures dating to the Civil War remain. Wounded men from both sides were initially treated in the churches of the town before being transferred elsewhere.

The steeple of a church in Burkittsville

Between the town and the mountain is where much of the battle took place. As most of this land has not been preserved or is private property, you will need to climb up into Crampton’s Gap itself for the next segment of your visit,

Gathland State Park lies at the crest of the hill. The area was the crescendo of battle at Crampton’s Gap, which saw the final collapse of the Confederate defense of the pass. It later became the estate of Civil War correspondent and novelist George Alfred Townsend. In the gap he constructed his home, including many buildings and the park’s marquee feature today.

War Correspondent’s Arch

The War Correspondent’s Arch is a 50 foot high memorial to the reporter’s of the Civil War. Completed in 1896, it is now administered by the National Park Service, even though it lies on ground owned by the state of Maryland.

Gathland State Park has many placards and interpretive markers disseminating information about the battle. It is a great spot to stop on your trek through the battles of South Mountain!

While much of your focus may naturally head towards Antietam, only a few miles away, a visit to South Mountain can complete your trek through the Maryland Campaign. The stories here are compelling, and if you have Civil War ancestors from the Lykens Valley, it may just be chance to connect with one of their lesser known struggles of the Civil War.

Category: Museums, Resources | 2 Comments »
Tags: