The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-01-26
TIE WILD CATS.
Some Random Sketches of the 105th
Pennsylvania.


TIoNAL TRIBUNE relating to the brave men of
the 1o5th Pa, have jotted down few Incl
dents that have occurred to me.
At Fair Oaks, when the battle waged hottest,
Jas. Crook, of Co. F, who was very large man,
said to his comrade, Perry Capler, who was
considerably smaller in stature, Pete, if you
will do the shooting of both our guns 1 will do
the loading" Capler agreed, so they both lay
behind large whIteoak stump, and as fast
Crook loaded Capler would jump upon the
stump and fire and then get down again, until
he had fired 100 rounds apiece. Soon after, the
regiment moved to the left, and had gone only
few rods, when Crook fell, shot through the
head. AT Charlottesville this same Capler
went into the rebel lines and brought out Col.
Meningitis horse after he fell. He was Sc
verely WoRnded i'll this fight, aud while in hos
pltal with these wounds received the kear-
ney Cross y; but, like all truly brave soldiers
he dislikes any n0toriety, and says, don't
know how came to get it,"
S. d. Fulmer, of the same company, was
severely wounded at Gettysburg on the front
line where the regiment fought so hard. After
he fell rebel was just III the act of bayoneting
him, when his gun was knocked aside by rebel
Lieutenant. He then made his way toward
the Sherfey house, but the rebel sharpshooters
discovering him, he crawled under Mrs Sher-
feys bake-oven, and after the firing ceased
cFawled TO the house, where he remained all
night but in the morning was ordered out by
a rebel Sergeant. Not being able to walk, Gen.
Pickett who came up at that moment, ordered
a stTetcher, and he was taken to rebel hoSpi-
tai, where his wound was cared for. The next
day he was released on our forces again occu-
plying the ground, and was taken to Baltimore,
where his leg was amputated. Mr.. Fulmer
now in business in Mediopols, Iowa, attended
the Reunion of the Third Corps at Gettysburg
in 1886, and called upon Mrs. Sherfey to thank
her for her care of him % years before.
To show the stuff the 105th was made of, I
will relate couple of incidents, one of which
will give in the words of DR.. Adam Wenger,
Surgeon of the regiment, merely adding that
the soldier referred to stayed with his regiment
until he had veteran" written against his
name and came home Lieutenant of his COM
pany.
"There is one incident that it is always pleas
ant for me to recall. 1t is that of one of the
men of the 105th, whose bravery and patriotism
stands forth in bold relief. After being several
times severely wounded every time promptly
returning to again share the dangers of battle,
he was at last so disabled as to be totally unfit
ted for a soldier, and was informed that his
discharge sEom the service was necessary He
begged to remain, and asked me if he could not
ride in the ambulance the marches, which
request granted; but he never availed him
self of the privilege when there was prospect
of fight and in case he was in the ambulance,
and firing was heard in tue front, he would
leave his comfortable quarters and hurry to his
place in the ranks, musket in hand, with all
the speed he was capable OF. 1t must be re-
membered that pass to ride in the ambulance
excused the soldier from all duty. There were,
of course, others just as brave and patriotic as
this man, but for certain reasons his actions
greatly impressed me. He had been reared in
poverty, and had scarcely any education"
Another poor boy, who when he went into
the army could neither read nor write, was
one of those jovial, good fellows who had all
the fun there was to be had out of the war
Always up to fun and the merriest one Of his
company, knowing no fear and caring little
for his own personal safety, and just as un-
thinking as to his future, lie came out at the
end of the war crippled for life. After knock
ing about for some time, having no trade and
no education, he finally came to realization
of his condition, and said to himself: Sam,
this won't do. Here you are, with only one
leg, not able to do hard work. Now, you will
have TO go to work and learn something, or be
deadbeat all your life." And he did go to
work. He stated his case TO some kind Chris
tian people, who took the young soldier in
hand, and at 81 years of age he began to learn
to read and write, and with untiring energy
applied himself until he had mastered the
common rudiments of learning He then
@
the Pennsylvania Railroad Co., and then drifted
westward, where he married an estmabe and
accomplished young lady, and is now engaged
in lucrative and prosperous business in his
adopted State. He is one of the leading citi-
zens of the town and County where he lives
and, with his little family about him, can
scarcely realize that he began his education
when well on toward middle life.
An officer of Co. informs me that Corp1
Samuel Kesslar, Of that company, was with the
company from Its organization until its final
mGsteE-out: never missed roll-call from sick
ness, never missed single engagement in
| which his company took part; never received a
wound and never applied for Through; an
| instance, | think, that has scarcely a parallel
| On the march to Gettysburg Capt Samuel
McHenry, of Co. X, rejoined the regiment. He
/ was still lame from wound received at Chan
! cellorsyile, and had to ride in an ambulance
/ during the greater part of the march but he
went into the fight with I5-days' unexpired
/ leave in his pocket. Capt. McHenry was Sc
| verely wounded in this battle, and so seriously
| disabled that he was compelled to be dis
charged.
serg't George Reed, of Co. K, at the battle Of
! Charlottesville sprang upon the enemy's
| breastworks and began to pull the rebels over
| by the hair. He was one of the most daring
men in the regiment, and died from wound
received st the Wilderness, where after the
/ rest Oh the regiment udu Ialleu DdCK he re-
manned to give the enemy his last cartridge.
Capt. JAS. Miller relates thus his experience
| at the battle of Fair Oaks: Just as we halted
at the woods before entering the slashing, one
| of our men, who was more dependent on the
! Government than the Government was upon
| him. stepped out Of the ranks. Capt Thomp-
son ordered him back, but he made some ex-
cuse and was forgotten for the moment, and
| the regiment was ordered forward but Capt.
Thompson, seeing the man was gone, in his
firm manner said Serg't Miller, hunt him up
and bring him in ! searched for him, but he
was too old a coon for me and had made good
his. escape. l then started to rejoin my
company, but the regiment was out OF
sight, and owing to the thick woods |
passed it, and found myself on the left of the
63d Pa. ] was about to pass toward the right
to again look for my regiment, though the
men were all in a kneeling position, and man
who would rise to his feet ran the risk of draw
| ing a direct fire. At this moment an officer OF
the 63d requested me to go some Is rods to the
left, in the woods, and act as an outpost, to
give the alarm in case of a flank movement OF
the enemy. i told him that | would have To
report TO my own regiment but he told me
| could not cross that fire. i told him | would
do as he wished, if he would take my name
and give me his. This was done. and then
took my position according to his orders and
had nothing to do bnt keep watch for the
enemy; but we were soon fanked on the right
and by this movement soon found myself in.
- IL