The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-03-15

SoA4k0 xllloAAe&y 80 ~OAA4f1y - esAA~
served as such during the first thre'
months campaign. The regiment
became part Of General Patterson'l
command and marched into Shen.
andoah Valley before the battle o.
Bull Run. Il was near enough tt
the skirmish at Falling Waters. one
of the first engagements of the wal
to hear the shrek Of q shell but
not to smell powder.
After the three months campaign
Lieutenant Beaver united with
Lieutenant-C Colonel Thomas Welsh,
of Columbia, Pennsylvania, and re-
cruited the Forty-fifth Pennsylva-
Infantry, a full three years regi-
ment. Welsh became its Colonel
and Beaver its Lieutenant-C Colonel.
This command was ordered into
South Carolina, and did service at
Beaufort and Hilton Head for near
ly a year. During this time Penn
sylvania was pouring its troops into
the field as no other State in the Tn.
ion was. During August of 1862
nearly full regiment was raised in
Centre County, and when it was
about ready for the field Lieutenant
Colonel Beaver was requested to be-
come its commanding officer. He
resigned on the 4th of September,
1862, and reached Harrisburg on
the 9th and took command of his
new regiment (the One Hundred
and Forty-eighth) on the same day
without even going home, armed
and equipped it in two days, and on
the 9th marched along the line of
the Northern Central Railroad to do
guard duty. This was during the
Antietam campaign and the Con-
federates were making desperate eff
forts to get a foothold on northern
soil, and to destroy the Northern
Central Railroad leading into Balti-
more, one of the important links in
the line of communication between
the North and its base of military
operations at Washington. Z.
From that time Colonel Beaver be-
gan showing interest in military af-
fairs he was known as strict disci-
plinarian, and he impressed upon
the troops he commanded, whether
in camp or on the march, the value
of its military importance. From
picket duty along the railroad he
was ordered with his regiment to
the Army of the Potomac just be-
fore the battle of Fredericksburg.
Not being able to procure transpor-
tation he made forced march from
Washington, but did not reach the
scene of action until the day after
the battle. Upon his arrival he was
ordered to report TO General Han
cock, who then commanded the
first division of the Second Army
Corps. When he reported to that
great soldier, who has since become
80 famous, th're was an occurrence
which createdr e friendship between
them that has continued through
all the cicles of years and tides of
politics from that day to this. Colo
mel Beaver was young and very
youthful looking, but he was every
pch soldier. When he went to
Hancock's quarters to report he said:
General l have endeavored to
impress upon my men the value of
strict discipline, and while do not
presume to suggest to what brigade
you shall assign me, should like
10 60 to the one where my men, who
ire new in military life, will find
ny advice illustrated"
Hancock looked at the young sol
iier fixedly for a moment and then
'aid
Colonel, I regret to say We have
10 such brigades, l only wish we
lad.'
He then ordered Colonel Beaver to
'eport to the first brigade Of his di-
Tision, and the two parted. During
he intervening weeks between dis
lstrous Fredericksburg and the
doubtful field of Charlottesville
he 14Sth Regiment simply took its
BART in the camp-life of the Army Of
he Potomac.
SHOT THROUGH THE BODY.
Sunday morning, May 8, was an
day for Colonel Beaver and
lis new regiment. The long roll
vas beaten early, and the 148th Reg
ment was first in line and out in
he road, ready for duty. Jeb Stew
4rt had succeeded to Stonewall Jack
on's place after the latter's death
md was following Jackson's plan to
urn the right flank Of the Union
4rmy. Colonel Beavers regiment
TODD in the road, waiting for the |
est of the brigade to form. Gener-
i Hooker rode up hurriedly, and |
nterrogating him, said /:
'Is this the first brigade, first d. |
'ision Second Corps ?''
1T is," replied Colonel Beaver. |
sThen follow me and I'll show
'ou where to go into line"
Hooker and Colonel Beaver rode
N together towards the enemies
ines with the 14Sth Pennsylvania
regiment, leaving the rest of the
'rigade to follow. When they reach
d the wood which the enemy had
lready occupied, Fighting Joe
locker pointed to the place where
e should put his regiment in line.
Hadn't l better throw out line
f skirmishers 2" inquired Beaver.
"There is no time to form skir-
,ish line, everything depends on
olding this road" replied the COM
General as he rode away.
Beaver marched his regiment into
he undergrowth, and had not pro-
seded far in the direction Hooker
al named before he was met with
whitening FIRE which struck his
,giment on the right flank. He
nd dismounted in order to more
,adily command his troops, and he
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