The National tribune., 1886-08-19
THE 26TH PA.
Comrade Force Gives an Interesting History OF His
Regiment

To THE EDITOR: | have been a careful
reader of your boss soldier paper for over three
years, and i'll oil that time have not seen one
word from member of the Goth Pa, and at
the Reunion of the Third Corps at Gettysburg
on July 2 / thought would meet with some
old cornrade there, but not one did / see.
think il is a well-kuown fact that the 26th Pa
was first raised by William r. Small for three
months and was ordered TO Washington with
out arms
On their way through Baltimore they were
mobhed, and were compelled 10 return home
After Small returned to Philadelphia he COM
menced reorganizing, and on May q he mus
tered the 26th for three years, aud early in June
this time with arms again started for Wash
ingtOn By way OF Baltimore, arriving there the
next day without adventure of any kind. In
September We were brigaded with the LIST and
18th Mass. and I'd NJ During the Winter of
lS6l-'62 we did guard duty on the Maryland
side of the Potomac at Budd's Ferry in connec-
tion with the Excelsior Brigade. commanded by
ID. s. Sickels, and New York brigade CON-
manded by II think Gen. Mott. This formed
the Second Division of the Third Corps, and
was commanded by HOoker-Gen. Negley tax
ing command of our brigade. In April, 1862,
we were sent to the Peninsula to join Mcclellan
at Yorktown. We then followed the fortunes
of the Army of the Potomac TO within six miles
of Richmond and back to HarrisOn's Landing
on the James, participating in all the hard
fought battles. From there we were sent TO
Alexandria, then to Warrenton Junction. We
fought with Jaekson's men at Bristow Station |;
then two days at second Bull Run back again
to Alexandria, then down to Falmouth op-
posite Fredericksburg; was engaged on the ex-
treme left at the battle of Fredericksburg
fought and lost heavily at Charlottesville;
then shared with the Army of the Potomac that
hard and weary march TO Gettysburg. There,
in the Emmitisburg road, OH the left center of
our army, July 2, 1863 from about o'clock to
dark we fought hard against overwhelming
numbers giving way inch by inch, leaving the
ground wet with blood and almost covered with
killed aud wounded of both friend and foe. We
lost in killed eight aud wounded II out of my
company TX }, which numbered when first en-
gagged 80.
Now, in a book published by J. Howard West,
of Harrisburg, Pa, the credit for this is given to
the 9th Pa; for on page 135 he WEST says:
" His (Carr's) brigade, known as Rockers old
brigade, consisted OF the LIST, 18th and 10th Mass,
l1th n. j., 18th \. H., 9th and S4th Pa" Now,
l never knew that the last four regiments ever
belonged to that brigade; and also think that
it would be impossible for tire 9th to belong to
the Second Division of the Eleventh Corps and
the Second Division Of the Third Corps and be
engaged on the extreme right and on the left
center in one battle and at about the same hour
This is really more than | can understand
What numbers of men the Goth Pa lost during
their time Of service / cannot say. but Co. *
lost by sickness, two Chaplains and two pri-
Yates; discharged for disability two Sergeants
and two privates killed. one Captain, one Ser
geGnt, two COrporals and six priyates wounded,
two Sergeants, two COrporals and - pTiyates;
taken prisoners, two, making in ali 50 officers
and men.-IsAAc 7. FORCE, Co. X, Goth Pa,
Alexandria, Va