The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-03-02

assign me, should like to go to one
where my men, who are new In mill
tary life, will find my advice illus
trated."
Hancock looked at the young
soldier fixedly for moment and then
said:
"Colonel, regret to say we have
no such brgades, 1 only wish we
had"
He then ordered Colonel Beaver to
report to the first brigade of his divis-
ion, and the two parted. During the
Intervening weeks disastrous Fred.
Charlottesville tire l4Sth Regiment
simply took its part i'm the camp-life
of the Army of the Potomac.
SHOT THROUGH TIE BODY.
Sunday morning, May 8, was an
cventful day for Colonel Beaver and
his new regiment. The long roll was
beaten early, and the l4Sth Regiment
| was first in line and out in the road,
ceeded to Stonewall Jackson's place
after the latter's death, and was fol-
lowing Jackson's plan to turn the
right flank of the Union army. Col
| onel Beavers regiment stood i'm the
road, waiting for the rest of the bri-
gade to form. General Hooker rode
up hurricdly, and interrogating him,
| said:
"Is this the Fl irst brigade, first divis-
ion, Second Corps?'
ut is" replied Colonel Beaver.
''Then follow me, and III show you
1 where to go into line"
Hooker and Colonel Beaver rode on
together toward the enemy's line with
the l4sth Pennsylvania Regiment,
leaving the, rest of the Brigade to fol-
low. When they reached the wood
| which the enemy had already occu-
| pied. Fighting Joe. Hooker pointed
to the place where he should put the
regiment in line.
Hadn't l better throw out a line of
skirmishers?" inquired Beaver.
"There is no time to form skirmish
line, everything depends upon hold
ing the road" replied the command
| ing General as he rode away.
Beaver marched his regiment into
the underground, and had not pro-
ceeded far in the direction Hooker had
named before he was met by a wither-
ing fire which struck his regiment on
| the right flank. He had dismounted
in order to more readily command his
troops, and he at once turned and
ordered the command to change front
so as to better receive and return the
enemy's fire. Just as he gave the
order lie fell forward on his face shot
through the body. Two comrades
picked him up, when he remarked
II am ofno more use; leave me and
after the battle is over it will he time
to look for the dead"
He was, however, carried to the rear
and kindly cared for by the division
surgeon, who probed his wound and
found that, although very severe, it
was not necessarily mortal He was
sent North as soon as able to he moved,
and arrived in Harrisburg as Lee was
marching toward Gettysburg. Gen
enl Couch had been assigned to the
command of that military district, and
all the North was aroused ut the threat
ened invasion of the keystone State.
The emergency men were Just then
pouring into Camp Curtin. 1t needs
a trained military mind and great
courage and tact to form this crude
material into effective regiments.
There had been trouble in camp Just
before Colonel Beavers arrival, and
although weak and still suffering from
what every one supposed at first to. he
fatal wound, he took q place upon
General Couch's staff, at his request,
and assumed command of Camp
Curtin. He readily brought order out
of chaos, and organized and sent tO
the field the emergency regiment that
participated in the Gettysburg cam.
paign. This duty performed, he again
rejoined his regiment in the latterpart
of July, 1868.
A SECOND AND THIRD WOUND.
r AT Auburn Hill, where the compli-
ment at the head of this article was
drawn from General Warren, he dis
tinguished himself and again at the
battle of BristOw Station. From this
time to the battle of Cold Harbor he
followed the fortunes OF the Army OF
the Potomac, participating in and do.
ing excellent service in all the battles
which hung the Union laurels along
the route of Grants march to Rich
mOnd. AT Cold Harbor he was
promoted to the command of his
brigade. Thrice before had he been
offered an equally high place, but he
refused to leave his regiment to ac.
cept promotion. Until the command
of the brigade to which it belonged
became vacant, he preferred to remain
with his own regiment. Three of the
commanding officers of the brigade tC
which it belonged were killed within
the week preceding Colonel Beavers
elevation to this command he had eveI
aspired to lead.
AT Cold HarbOr he was again
wounded in the right hip. 1t laid him
up but short time, however, when
!. he resumed his command as a Briga
! dier-General. At Petersburg, while
rallying his forces he was LITERAL,
blown up with a shell which struck
almost under his feet and bursted. A
: piece of it struck him i'm the left sid,
making terrible wound. This wa.
the seyerest mishap he ever received
except the final one which disabled
him for life. AS soon as he coult
travel he was sent north, where he re
manned for some time. He returned
to his brigade before fit for duty, anC
General Hancock would not consen
to his taking command of it while
still suffering from his injuries. III,
went north again and after THIRTY
days leave reported to General Han
cock the day of the battle of Ream'!
Station, on the Wilmington and Wei
don Railroad, the oath of August
: 1864.
/ GENERAL BEAVERS LAST BATTLE.
This was an important engagement
: and General Hancock was In persona
t command of the troops. Reporting
l at headquarters, and finding that hi
( division had gone into action, he tool
an ambulance and followed it.