The National tribune., 1907-07-11
THE 123D PA.
A Nine Months Regiment Which Made
Good Deal Of History.

Editor National Tribune: l belonged
to the 123d Pa, which was recruited
mostly in Allegheny and Pittsburg, with
the exception of few companies from
EaSton, Pa. We enlisted in August,
1862, under President Lincoln's cali for
nine months men. We were taken to
Harrisburg, where we were given tlel
worst and shoddiest kind of clothing,
and for arms some Austrian rifles about
on par with the clothing, so l guess
they understood grating as well then
as now. We then went to Arlington
Hights, where we camped for a few
weeks, i and number of others being
detailed to Alexandria, where we were
sent to put our guns into condition TO
shoot with. but it was no good and
We were given some old Harper's Ferry
musketS which were a slight improve
ment. We left Washington about Sep:
10, and were told to leave everything
we could possibly get along without, be-
hind, as our things would be forwarded
to us at Hagerstown, but tho our Quar-
termaster sent teams at different times
we never saw any of those things
again. We were assigned to the Fifth
Corps, Humphreys Division, and
reached the battlefield of Antietam at
noon on the 18th. We were too late
for the battle, but We did not know it.
and our Colonel. John B. Clark, had us
drawn up in line and addressed rs
/
belt. The rebs withdrew during the
night Of the 18th across the river. On
Oct 80 we struck out for Virginia again
and by that time ii began to get pretty
cool, and as we had no shelter tents
issued to us we We're obliged to sleep
on the ground. i lay in furrow OF
what had been cornfield for six weeks
without any cover except my gum blan-
| ket. part of which / had under me to
protect me from the dampness of the
ground. During November we had
snow, and then shelter tents were is
sued to us and we were mighty glad to
crawl into them. In December we
started for Fredericksburg, and before
we got there could hear the cannonad-
ing, but could see nothing. However.
on Saturday afternoon. Dec. 13, we not
only heard but saw a blamed sight more
than we cared to. After dinner we
We're ordered into line, marched up the
: hill, across the top Of the hill. down to
: the river and pontoon bridge. Just
here ii was interesting, for the JohnnieS
5 got good range on the bridge from
Marye's Hights and were sending shells
: shrieking towards us with more sue
cess than pleased us. We crossed the
j, bridge, marched into the town and
s finally on to the field where we had our
baptism of fire. We Were ordered
shortly to relieve the line in front and
, it certainly was a lively time we had.
II WAS d SlduSHttI pen IoT us, sure. we
L were in an open field with the rebs be-
1 hind a stone wall or on the nights with
/ all the advantage on their side. They
e peppercd US pretty well till darkness
s stopt hostilities. In the pictorial pa
!, pers like Harpers Weekly and Frank
e Leslie which came out afterwards with
e accounts of the battle, the gallant
e charge of Humphreys Division was
c specially mentioned. We did not ac-
V complish much i'll that battle except 10
y leave behind us lot of killed and
wounded men. Before we went in we
n unslung our knapsacks and left them in
e charge of a simpleton who we thot
wasn't worth taking into the fight
When we came back both he and the
knapsacks were gone, SO we had to steal
e whatever we could to get even. We
e were kept on the field till about "a
= o'clock, then marched into town and
n drew rations of ammunition. and about
d daybreak marched again onto the field
K We were on the field all day Sunday
n but hostilities were not renewed. tho II
r was not safe for anyone TO expose him.
$ self, as the sharpshooters were on the