Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-24
THE PENNSYLVANIA RESERVES.
Talks and "reminiscences About the Exploits
Of Those Far-Famed, Fear
less Fighters. -
DRAFTED FOE THREE YEARS SERVICE,
Wills Lincoln Was Calling Out Volunteers for Only as
Many Months

Dldl W luCICdSG lllG oLtl lSGNlSuo VI Abo luSCb'
ing nights Chairman ]. Ii. Stevenson, OF
the Entertainment Committee, has mapped
out a series of talks on various military or
ganizations Of the late war, one of which is
to be taken up at each meeting. Last
night was the first of these. The veterans
assembled in their new hall on Third street,
Allegheny, aud spent several hours ex-
changing "reminiscences and Informal talks
on the famous Pennsylvania Reserves.
Owing 70 the change of meeting place there
were not as many present as had been ex-
pected but there were enough to make the
evening a very pleasant one. Old soldiers
delight in getting together and Frightening
their memories on incidents OF the war. By
confning the talk to one subject Union No.
hopes to get more benefit out of these dis
cussionS
Mr. Stevenson opened the entertainment
last evening. He began by commenting on
the peculiar fact that the Revolutionary,
Mexican and Civil wars all began in the
month of April, so that the anniversaries Of
the three came very near together.
Governor Curtin's Little Plan.
i. OtefSuSOu-Nf w ullC ICSluGuk AluSO4u
was calling ior' volunteers for three months
service Governor Curtin had conceived an
other plan. Believing that the war would
not be settled in three months he de-
cided TO get together 10 regiments
Of Pennsvlvanians to be used as a reserve
force. There were 13 regiments of infantry,
one cavalry and one artillery. The men were
L. The apapnuv1va-
MIA Reserves, as they were called. were the
first soldiers of the war who mustered for such
long service. When the first battle of Bull
Run took place the Reserves were scattered
all over the State. Had it been otherwise
the result of that battle would have been
different. At the battle of Fredericksburg
the Reserves turned the flank of the rebels,
but they were unsupported, and the battle
was lost. The Army of the Potomac was
characterized by such mistakes. Men we're
not centered enough on a battle, and the
part of the army that bore the brunt of the
fight was not supported by the other forces.
General NcClelland himself was never
present at any of the battles on the 'Penin-
sula."
Comrade Thomas Hood spoke next, dwell
ing at considerable length on tine important
engagements the Reserves figured in and the
valiant service they performed.
One Of the Hardest of All Fights.
Conrade John Beers-I was with the Penn
sylvauia Reserves at MechanicSville, which
was one of the hardest-fought battles of the
war. There was perfect blaze of fire and
we were so blinded by smoke We could
scarcely see each other. At Charles City Cross
roads the Reserves again figured prominently
in a hand-to-hand fight with the rebels, and
they never finched. missed South Mountain
and Antietam, but was at Fredericksburg,
where we charged the heights. Brigadier Gen.
eral Jackson was with us, but when stone
wall jackson drove us back he was killed.
Colonel Jackson then took his place. 1t was
considered remarkable that these three Jack
should come together that way.
We had them whipped there. and il the re-
serves had been properly supported we would
have taken the heights. AT Coal Harbor two
members of company were killed on the
very day their service time was up. AS said
before. l missed two big batties-boarding with
the rebels at the Richmond prison. People
talk of Pickett's great charge at Gettysburg.
1t was no greater than ours at Fredericksburg.
Captain Stewart, of our company, was the first
man killed. and out of 30 members of the COM
pany only remained alive after it. The Penn
syvania Reserves made one OF the best bodies
of military in the country.
COmTade Charles NJ. Greene-lt has been
charged that few fathers urged their sons to go
TO war. This is wrong. In good old Demo-
cratic w eStmOrelaOQ county KNOW OF q great
many fathers who advised their sons to Join the
army, My father was one of them. Mothers
were the same way, and sweetheartS too. l
remember one sad case where the betrothed OF
a Young man knew said to him: Your country
needs you more than 1 do" He went to the
war and was killed, A few weeks later she
died of broken heart
An Interrupted Little jag.
There was some talk at this point about
peculiar feature of the battle at Fair Oaks. A
New York regiment had Just come in from As
hours picket duty, and was getting Its ratons
of whisky, when the rebels rushed in on them
and spoiled the drink. Comrade Beers spoke
for time. taking exception TO the criticism of
General Mcclellan whom he claimed had been
frequently wronged. II MCClelland had kept
out OF politics he would have been all right
Comrade SteyensOn-One peculiar feature of
the Pennsylvania Reserves was that the di-
vision was made up entirely of Pennsylvsrans.
It was the custom in the Union army to make
uD the brigadeS from various States, and the
Reserves were about the only exception to this
rule. On the other hand, the rebels kept their
various States distinct in different brIgades
This was the better policy, as it created a sort
of State pride in the men. The eyes of all
Pennsylvania were on the Reserves. All the
men were from the same locality, and for that
reason largely they were more effective and
were used in important places They occupied
the left flank in the second battle at Bull Run.
Cnmrade Greene-I think it woold have been
better to have not scattered regiments from
the same State among various brigades. We
but the charge of the One Hundred and Thirty
ninth Regiment Of the Sixth Army Corps at
Spottsylvania court house exceeded it. Pickett
had an open field, while we had to charge the
bloody angle through brush.
Stopped When They Reached Gettysbur
Comrade Beers-The Pennsylvania Reserves
were scattered about Washington the first day
of Gettysburg. We got over into Maryland
and took the Baltimore pike. We could hear
the cannon at Gettysburg, 40 miles away, and
Dever stopped two hours till we got there. AS
we passed through Hanover the women came
ont and handed us food we marched by. |
We charged the ''Bucktails'' at Little Round
Top and saved the day there.
Comrade Greene-There have been some !
mistakes made in placing the monuments at |
Gettysburg The One Hundred and Twenty
ninth Regiment should have been placed |
where the One Hundred and Fifty-fGth Is. |
Comrade Hood-At the battle of Antietam |
remarkable thing occurred. Four color bear
ers of the Ninth Regiment were shot down, |
one after another. Finally little Irishman /
seTzed the flag, lay fiat down and held it up. |
He escaped uninjured.
COmrade Greene-Iu was remarkable how
some men believed they could never be killed. |
One man in my own company often declared /
that no bullet was ever nodded to hit him. At 1
Spottsylvania he was picked up after the bat |
tie with ii balls in him.
At the next meeting night some other SUBJ |
iect will be taken up for discussion and large
attendance is expected.
cuTDs