I have a tremdous amout of information about the 141st PVI. You can email me at
[email protected] and you can certainly view my websites.
Lafybooks.com
141PVI.us
SilasGoreCamp.org
We, our reenacting group, are planning on recreating the 13th flag capturing scenario at the Battle of the Wilderness this coming May. Please contact me.
Kurt
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Report of Lieut. Col. Casper W. Tyler, One
hundred and forty-first Pennsylvania Infantry.
HDQRS. 141ST REGT. PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS,
August 27, 1864.
SIR: In compliance with circular from headquarters Second Brigade,
Third Division, Second Corps, dated August, 1864, requiring a report
of operations during the campaign of this command, I have the honor to
make the following:
This command left camp near Brandy Station, Va., under command of
Lieut. Col. G. H. Watkins, on the morning of May 4, 1864,
being at this time in the First Brigade, Third Division, Second Army
Corps. It marched rapidly to the Rapidan, crossing at Germanna Ford
about 6 a. m. Continued the march, and at 3 p. m. camped upon the old
Chancellorsville battle-ground. Remained here until the morning of the
5th, resuming the march at 4.30 a. m. marched to a place called Todd's
Tavern, where we halted. Remained here some hours, when we moved
toward the Gordonsville and Fredericksburg
plank road. Arriving near the Gordonsville road we moved by the left
flank into the woods, engaging the enemy. We drove the enemy about
one-half mile, w hen darkness put an end to the engagement. During the
night the line was reformed, the Twentieth Indiana on our right, and the
Eight-sixth New York on our left.
At daylight on the morning of the 6th we received orders to advance and
keep intact our connection with the right. We moved rapidly forward,
soon engaging the enemy. We drove him before us, carrying two lines
of rifle-pits.
The One hundred and forty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers,
in carrying the second line of pits, captured the colors of the Thirteenth
North California Volunteers, together with almost the entire regiment.
The prisoners were sent to the rear under guard taken from the Fortieth
New York, that regiment being in our rear as support. We received due
credit oft he capture of the colors, but not for the prisoners. At this
juncture of affairs our ammunition gave out, and our men were much
exhausted. During the entire morning's operations there had been neither
a general nor staff officer along this portion of the line. It seemed to
have been left without a commander, and each regiment acted
independently of the others. Soon the regiment on our right, the
Twentieth Indiana, moved to the right and rear. Obediently tot he only
orders we had received during the day we followed, moved to the plank
road, and, being supplied with ammunition, moved up the plank road,
formed line on the right of the road, and engaged the enemy, Gen.
Webb's brigade being on the right. The enemy being in overwhelming
numbers soon drove us from the field. We then fell back behind some
breast-works thrown up intersecting the plank road. Here our regiment
reformed, the Twentieth Indiana still on our right. By this time the
whole line, both right and left, had fallen back, and taken possession of
the rifle-pits. Soon the enemy moved upon the works, which he
succeeded in carrying on our left. The line gradually gave way, and
when all upon our left had vacated the works, the One hundred and
forty-first went also. Tallying behind the second line of works, we soon
returned to the front line, the enemy having failed to hold it. During the
remainder of the first epoch nothing of importance occurred in this
command. The One hundred and forty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers
took into the fight 16 commissioned officers and 278 enlisted men. Lost
during the first epoch 6 enlisted men killed, 2 commissioned officers
and 70 enlisted men wounded, and 4 men missing.
May 9, 10 and 11. The operations of these days consisted chiefly in
marching and countermarching with the brigade, with some unimportant
skirmishing. The night of the 11th moved to Laurel Hill, at the foot of
which the brigade was formed in two lines, the One hundred and
forty-first in the second line, with orders to move upon the enemy's
works. Soon after starting the lines became mingled together; regimental
organizations more or less broken up, the whole moving forward,
surprising and capturing the enemy's works, taking a large number of
prisoners. The One hundred and forty-first remained in the captured
works during the 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th. One the
evening of the 17th the enemy advanced a skirmish line close to our
works, which was easily repulsed, the One hundred and forty-first
taking 3 prisoners, which were sent to division headquarters under
guard. On the morning of the 18th changed position in the line of
works, moving to the
left. Remained here until early on the morning of the 19th, when the
line was abandoned, the One hundred and forty-first moving with the
brigade and going into camp. Toward night of the 19th formed line of
battle near army headquarters, the Fortieth New York on our right;
advanced across the Fredericksburg and Richmond pike, through woods
and across an open field, relieving the First Maine Heavy Artillery
Regt. Threw up temporary breast-works and remained behind them
until morning, when we advanced, connecting with the Fortieth New
York on our right. After the line had advanced about three-quarters of
a mile, halted, remained about two hours, and then returned to camp.
The skirmish line, composed in part of a detail from the One hundred
and forty-first, succeeded in capturing some 500 of the enemy who had
straggled from their command. This concludes the operations of this
regiment during the second epoch. The duty imposed upon the regiment
was extremely severe and almost constant. Many of us passed four and
five successive days and nights without and hours' refreshing sleep or
rest. Most of the time we were exposed to the enemy's fire, and no day
passed without casualties occurring. The conduct of both officers and
men during this trying period was more than simply duty; it was
heroism. I regret that I am unable to particularize our movements with
more accuracy during these terrible days. But I only have such facts to
give as memory has presented, little imagining at the time that I should
ever be called upon to chronicle our operations. During the second
epoch the One hundred and forty-first lost no action 3 enlisted men
killed, 2 officers and 34 enlisted men wounded, and 8 men missing. The
missing men of this epoch were either killed, wounded, or taken
prisoners, or captured on the morning of the 12th of may, doubtless
having ventured too far within the enemy's lines.
May 21, marched all day, having broken camp late in the evening of the
20th, campaign at night some 2 miles from Milford Station.
May 22, moved out of camp and commenced building breast-works,
when Lieut.-Col. Watkins was ordered to make a reconnaissance
with his regiment toward Hanover Junction, which was successfully and
satisfactorily accomplished, the regiment returning to the brigade at dark
without loss.
May 23, marched early to near the North Anna River. The One hundred
and forty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers was one of three regiments
ordered to take a redoubt held by the enemy on the north bank of the
river. Formed line under a severe fire, both from artillery and infantry,
and advanced across an open, level field. The First U. S. Sharpshooters
deployed upon our right, the Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers
obliqued to the left behind a small hill, under cover of which they
advanced. The One hundred and forty-first advanced double-quick
across this open field, and took shelter behind the bank of a small creek
running through about the center of the lot. About 20 roads ahead the
conformation of the ground offered ample protection. To reach this
natural cover we had to run the gauntlet of the enemy's sharpshooters
and artillery in the redoubt and rifle-pits, extending both right and left
of it. The regiment, hesitating only a second, at the command "Forward!"
rushed across the field, connecting on the right with the First
U. S. Sharpshooters and on the left with the Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania
Volunteers. The impossibility of so small a force taking the redoubt was
evident. We were ordered to hold this position. Toward night, other
dispositions having been made, the line was ordered forward. Moving
forward, line deployed, the colors of the One hundred and forty-first
Regt. were the first planted upon the redoubt. We took 2 prisoners,
who were sent to the rear under guard. After holding in part the redoubt
and placing sharpshooters to cover the bridge, we moved to the left and
built breast-works.
May 24, 25, and 26 were unimportant days. During the time we crossed
the North Anna, built two or three lines of works, marched and
counter-marched several times, shelled lively, and on the night of the
26th recrossed and bivouacked upon the north bank of the North Anna
River, about 1 mile from the railroad bridge. During this epoch the loss
of the One hundred and forty-first Regt. Pennsylvania Volunteers
was 2 enlisted men killed, 2 wounded, and 2 missing. During the fourth
epoch the One hundred and forty-first Regt. was commanded by
Col. H. J. Madill, he having joined the regiment on the morning of
the 30th. The regiment was frequently under fire, though at no time
engaged with the enemy, except in some unimportant skirmishes. Our
loss was 1 enlisted man killed, 4 wounded, and 1 missing.*
I have the honor to remain, most respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. W. TYLER,
Lieut.-Col., Cmdg.
Capt. MARBLE,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Second Brigade.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 476-67 OPERATIONS IN SE. VA. AND N. C. [CHAP. XLVIII.
[Series I. Vol. 36. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 67.
]
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Personnel from the 13th NC Infantry
who were taken as POW's 5 /5/ 64 Wilderness, VA
1
M J Aldrid Rockingham County NC Priv 12/03/63
2
William Brown Rockingham County NC Priv 12/16/63
3
John Y Crouch Iredell County NC Priv 03/07/64
4
John B Haddock Caswell County NC Priv 04/10/64
5
Basely Harralson Caswell County NC Priv 04/10/64
6
Daniel C Holt Alamance County NC Priv 03/06/64
7
John M Martin Rockingham County NC Priv 22 08/05/61
8
William Wood Caswell County NC Priv 11/25/63