Boys will be boys...148th PA Vols

Mike Serpa

Major
Joined
Jan 24, 2013
Practical jokes of the milder sort were indulged in, sparingly. The rougher kind were likely to be resented, with force of arms. The following example of a trick perpetrated on Comrade Benjamin Beck is a fair illustration of the coarser quality, which, though funny, might have ended with serious results. Comrade Beck, one of the stoutest men in the company, was in the habit of heating an old bayonet while sitting in front of the fireplace during his idle moments, and thrusting it into a hole in a log above the hearth, the smoke from which operation would fill the cabin to the great annoyance of the other boys. Returning from guard duty, at the time of this occurrence, he entered his quarters and assumed his accustomed seat at the fireplace; the other boys were reading, some sleeping, apparently. And when Mr. Beck noticed his bayonet in the fire, the point heated to a cherry red, he seized the tempting steel, pushed it with all his force into the hole, intending that time to penetrate the log. But there was a terrible explosion. Mr. Beck lay sprawling upon his back on the floor and the bayonet rattled against the farther wall of the tent. The boys had inserted the powder of several cartridges into the hole.
storyofourregime00muff_0563.jpg


"The Story of our Regiment; a History of the 148th Pennsylvania Vols., Written by the Comrades," 1904
 
That's pretty funny. The dangers of black powder! Those were illustrated to me during reenacting. Our captain was very old and absent minded. We were all gathered around the morning cooking fire making our breakfast. Our captain came over with a what he thought was an empty box of cartridge tubes. Unknown to him there were a few live blanks in the box. On the fire it goes and then.....pooooF! ash goes everywhere covering everything including breakfast. His response to that, "there, that goes to show you the dangers of black powder." We start laughing and think to ourselves "well duh, no one was doubting the dangers of black powder!"
 
Yes, Boys. Guessing every regiment had their stories. It's the only argument against whether or not there were female soldiers.

Three boys here. They never resorted to black powder and still managed to make large crashes, with a brother as victim..
 
My gggreat uncle Martin Trautman joined that regiment after he deserted the 26th Emergency P.A. at Gettysburg. About what date did that occur, and what company? That'd be funny if it was in my ancestors company.
 
My gggreat uncle Martin Trautman joined that regiment after he deserted the 26th Emergency P.A. at Gettysburg. About what date did that occur, and what company? That'd be funny if it was in my ancestors company.
Beck was in Company A. I don't know when it happened.
 
The link you provided doesn't work on my computer. It may be on my end, but I thought I'd let you know.

Martin was in Company A, that's pretty cool! I wonder if he knew about it, he was captured at Petersburg, 1864, and died in a prison camp that November.
Don't know what to tell you about the link. It works fine on my computer. Do an internet search for the book title and scroll down to the link at archive dot org.

I did a word search in the book for "Trautman" and came up empty. I did a word search for "Troutman" and found a couple things.

Listed under DRAFTED MEN
Screen Shot 2019-11-30 at 5.01.12 PM.jpg
Page 938

Listed as a POW
Screen Shot 2019-11-30 at 5.02.42 PM.jpg
Page 1070

Listed under DIED
Screen Shot 2019-11-30 at 5.04.01 PM.jpg
Page 1085
 
Back
Top