The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-01-26

UT EuOs Spubr. Company ttnud II, Jatt
Regiment Pennsylvania veteran Vol,
unteer Infantry.
Enlisted at Harrisburg, Pennsylva.
MA. February fist, 1869; my first ex
perience of the duties OF private
soldier occurred shortly after our ar
rival at Washington, ID. G. Camping
In the outskirts of that great city fol
n short time we were ordered to pro
coed to Bladensburg. marchin g
through rain, mud. snow and aleel
over shoe top aud standing AROUND
Ike cattle until the next day, oul
sufferings were intense. We were
loaded on cars and proceeded on our
way down Into Old Virginia, where We
did garrison duty. protecting the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and pro
venting raids into Maryland. While
thus occupied the famous battle OF
Antletam was fought and tho rebel
forces under command Of General l.
Il. Lee were bivouacked at Winche sic :,
Va. he rebel General Imboden with
rkarge body of infantry, cavalry and
hSsral jackass howitZers, crossed the
mountains and capturing our pickets
surprised our Company and that
Of old b Company making us prisoners
III war. thus having chance to take
Richmond, va. before McClelland OF
Grant.
This fight took place on October 4th,
1852. We were placed in Libby Prison
Oh the upper floor. where we remained
until November Both, 1862 when We
were exchanged and sent to Camp Pa
role. at Annapolis. Md. In our prison
life we he'd nothing to do only to
scrub our room every day. which was
like pig.stye or cow stable. where the
nth was allowed 10 accumulate dur
ing the cold. winter months without
being removed. We then had that
wet, cold and damp floor to sleep OH
that night. Our rntions consisted OF
tin full OF bean bugs or rice and
soap euds, as l saw soap Dipped out OF
the soup at different times. There
WIS no window sash or glass In the
window, bus single and lath nailed
ucross to represent bars.
Second fight at New Market, Shenan-
doah Valley, Va, Union troops com.
munded by General Franz oiegel. and
confederates by Gen. Breckinridge,d date
May 18th, 1854.
Third at Kernstown. Va, Union
forces com mRnded by Gen. Crook,
date July 23rd. 1854. Gen. Mulligan
OH Union side killed.
Fourth at Piedmont, Va, Gen. David
Hunter commanding Union troops
and w. E. Jones and AIeCIusland the
rebel troops. Gen. Jones was killed
and 1900 prisoners taken.
Fifth at Lynchburg, Va, Gen. Hunter
in command OF Union troops. date
June 18th, 1864. The Eight at 2 eidmont
occurred June 5th, 1864.
Sixth engagement took place al
CharleStown, Va.
Seventh at Smokers, Gap Va
Eighth at Fishers Hill. Va.
Ninth at Cedar Creek, Va.
Tenth at Opequun Creek, Va.
Eleventh at Winchester, Va, UNION
forces commanded by Cons. z. n.
Sheridan, Crock, Wright. Emory,
Torbit and Ayerlll. aud Confederates
by Jubal Early, Rodes and Goodwin.
Sheridan having cleaned up the val
ley, we were then transferred to the
army of the Potomac In front of Rich.
mond. Va, AMI from there to the army
Uefore Petersburg. Va. and assigned
to Genl Ord's Corps, where l partici.
pated In the charge on Fort Gregg and
capture OF same on April end, 1865,
Next was skirmlsh with some rebel
cavalry comprising Lees advance OIL
HE memorable retreat, who were re-
pulheu thiSc HINGE, DuL btlDR rein
forced by some Infantry, the Union
troops compelled to surrender on
April 9th, 1865, being prisoner until
Lee in TURF surrendered April 9th,
1865. A strange coincidence In my
service lays in the fact that In the first
and last engagements l was tRkeI
prisoner and serving total OF one
month and twenty-six DAYS.
81 have also laid out many q nigh
with sEow two feou deep covering th'
ground and no protection from tn,
extreme cold but the clothes that wer,
on our backs. Comrades who cav an J
services at all know no " It was them
selves. but those who never were Their,
have not the siighteet idea what sacri
ices and suffering We endured tina
this great country might be handel
down 10 posterity truly tree end In
dependent one. But what of the grea
mass of OK. Union soldiers of to-day
They are as 1t were blank; only foi
the tenaclty by which they stick to
gethsr in their different unions snC
Grand Army Posts. thereby attracting
some respect from tho outside worlt
they would be forgotten altogether.
served until the 5th OF May, 1865, be
ing total of three years three month";
and four days. and participating II
thirteen different engagements. beinl
struck once by reb0l bullet which al
the time done no more damage to M
than mosquito bite. Lucky boy. S,
say we all.