Chancellorsville, VA after battle report:
No. 120.
Report of
Col. Henry J. Madill, One hundred and
forty-first Pennsylvania Infantry.
HDQRS. 141ST REGT. PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS,
May 12, 1863.
SIR: In compliance with a circular from brigade headquarters, to send
in a detailed statement of the movements of the regiment during the last
engagement, I have the honor to submit the following report:
We struck tents on Tuesday, April 28, at 4 p.m., and marched to a
point near the river some 2 miles below Fredericksburg, near where
this division crossed the river in the engagement of December 20 last,
where we remained until the 30th, without anything happening worthy
of note.
On Thursday, at 1 p.m., we started, for the United States Ford, and
marched about 15 miles, and encamped for the night beyond the
Telegraph road.
Started for the ford in the morning (May 1), at about 6 o'clock, and
marched to the river and crossed at 9.30 a.m., where we rested for an
hour. We then took up our line of march for Chancellorsville, which
point we reached about 1 p.m., then marched up the Plank road about
2 miles, and filed out into a field in front of Gen. Slocum's
headquarters, stacked our arms, and remained there until 5 p.m.
At 5 p.m. we were ordered to march back to a point near the Chancellor
mansion. When reaching that point, the First Brigade was ordered into
position on the right of the white house, near the Chancellor mansion.
After having formed our line, the brigade in column of regiments at 20
paces, the One hundred and fourteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers holding
the front, the enemy opened a part of a battery of artillery upon us,
when we fell back under cover of a hill. During the fire of the enemy,
I had 1 man killed and another badly wounded, who died that evening.
Lieut.-Col. Watkins had his horse killed while in the act of
morning him, and the major and myself narrowly escaped. The major
was knocked down and his face somewhat cut, but not severely, though
severely stunned by being struck in the head by a piece of shell or
some other missile. We remained during the night in this position,
nothing worthy of note happening.
In the morning (May 2), marched up the Plank or Culpeper road and
filed off to the left, and after marching half a mile went into camp and
remained there until nearly 2 p.m., when we marched across the ravine
lying below the log-house and formed line of battle on the hill, our
right resting on the road and joining the Sixty-eighth Pennsylvania
Volunteers, whose left rested on the same road. We then moved forward
by the right of companies, and formed another line parallel with the
same road, and I sent out Company B, in command of Lieut. Peck,
as skirmishers. I then changed the line a second time, moving it by the
flank, and forming it at right angles with the road.
The Third Brigade during this time lay in our front. The line was
changed, for the third, time, bringing us on a line parallel with the road,
in which position we remained until near evening, when we moved
across the valley to the farm-house on the hill, nearly a mile in front
of us.
During all the movements of the day, my regiment was not engaged
with the enemy, nor did they fire a shot, with the exception of a few
fired by the skirmishers sent out under Lieut. Peck.
During the evening I marched back to a place near the point from which
we started in the afternoon, when I was ordered to take my regiment
on picket. I posted six companies on the ground pointed out to me by
the field officer of the day, and held four companies in reserve.
By an order from brigade headquarters, I withdrew my picket when the
attack was made on the left of our line by the enemy at 2 a.m. The
attack being repulsed, I re-posted my pickets, and we remained there
until 6 o'clock on Sunday morning, May 3, when I rejoined the
division on the hill, near the old log-house. The brigade was in close
column, by regiments, my regiment being in the rear.
About 6 a.m. the enemy made an attack on our brigade. Companies
B, G, and K received and returned the fire of the enemy, and held them
in check for a few minutes until the regiments in front of me filed off.
I brought up the rear of the column. During the engagement on the hill
(the past attack), Companies B and K suffered quite severely. Company
B especially. Capt.'s Spaulding (Company I) and Tyler (Company H)
and Lieut.'s Peck (Company B) and Atkinson (commanding
Company D) were wounded at this place. Lieut. Atkinson,
although severely wounded in the arm, continued in command of his
company until the regiment reached the brick house, when he went to
the rear.
The brigade was then ordered back into the field, where it formed line
of battle behind and to the left of the white house before spoken of.
We remained in line of battle for a short time, and moved to the front.
We then doubled our column on the center, and moved across the little
valley to the edge of the woods, where the enemy were drawn up in line
to receive us. We deployed our column and marched up into the
woods, my regiment occupying the right of the line. Here we relieved
some brigade from the Twelfth Army Corps, as I understood. We drove
the enemy from their position from the first ridge, and also from the
second. After having been engaged with the enemy for nearly two
hours, we withdrew, and returned to the road behind the brick house,
from which place my regiment, with the balance of the brigade, fell
back about 1 1/2 miles on the road to the United States Ford, when the
brigade was reformed, and my regiment, with one or two others of the
brigade, was placed in front of the first line of riffle-pits, and remained
there until morning, when it was withdrawn from the front line and
placed in the third line, where it remained until Wednesday morning,
when we were ordered to fall back and recross the river, which we did
in good order and without any loss. We arrived in the old camp on
Wednesday afternoon about 5 o'clock.
I believe, sir, that this statement completes the movement in detail of
my regiment from the time we left camp, on April 28, until we
returned, on May 6.
I feel it my duty to say a few woods in relation to the conduct of the
brave officers and men of my regiment during the hard marches and
severe fire they were subjected to during the several movements of the
regiment.
I left camp on April 28 with 460 men and 24 officers. During the
march but 5 were known to straggle; yet I regret to say that some 5 or
6 men disgracefully left their companies and fell out during the march
to the United States Ford. I took 417 men into the fight on Sunday
morning. This number does not include the pioneers or musicians, who
were left behind on Saturday afternoon, the musicians in charge of the
surgeon and the pioneers in charge of an officer of the brigade. Out of
that number I lost 223 in killed, wounded, and missing, the missing, I
am sorry to say, I believe to be among the killed and those wounded
and left on the field. I think there were very few, if any, of my men
taken prisoners. Out of the 24 officers I had on Sunday morning, 12
are among the killed and wounded. Capt. Swart, Company C, and
Lieut. Tyler, Company H, were killed, and I am afraid that
Lieut.-Col. Watkins, and Capt. Mumford, of Company G, are
wounded mortally.
The officers of my regiment behaved splendidly throughout the whole
time; in fact, each one vied with the other to see who could best do his
duty, and how well they did so the large list of killed and wounded but
too clearly tells. There is scarcely an officer in the regiment who has
not a bullet-mark on his person.
Of the lamented Watkins I cannot speak too highly. He had his horse
shot under him on Friday evening and was severely stunned by the same
shell, yet he marched with the regiment on Saturday on foot and
rendered very valuable services during that time. He was again, on
Sunday morning, knocked from his horse by the explosion of a shell,
and, though badly stunned, insisted on remaining with his regiment,
which he did, and went into the woods with us. He was shot through
the breast and borne from the field about 8 o'clock. He was a brave
soldier and a true patriot. His place in the regiment cannot be
replaced.
Capt. Swart was killed while holding the colors of the regiment. He
had just taken them from the color-sergeant, who had been shot. He
was a brave officer and a good man.
Lieut. Tyler was also killed. He was a fine officer.
It would be useless for me to particularize any of my officers. They all
acted with much spirit and bravery during the five days we were under
fire.
I am under great obligations to the major and adjutant for their coolness
and bravery in assisting me during the several days we were under fire.
They proved themselves valuable and brave officers.
Of the bravery of the men under my command I need scarcely speak.
I saw no disposition in any man while under fire to shirk or avoid his
duty. The loss in non-commissioned officers was very severe. The
color-bearer and color-guard were all killed or wounded but one, who
was guarding and holding the colors.
Sergeant [George C.] Beardsly, the color-bearer, deserves particular
mention for the pertinacity with which he clung to his colors, though
severely wounded. In fact, all the non-commissioned officers and
privates deserve the highest praise in standing under one of the most
severe fires under which men could be placed.
Particular mention is made of J. B. Ellsworth, Company I; James M.
Beach, Company E, and Benjamin P. Oliphant, Company A, who
particularly distinguished themselves for coolness and bravery during the
fight of Sunday morning. I think that there can be no question of the
bravery and discipline of troops who will stand and be shot down as
they were on Sunday morning. The private soldier has nothing to gain
in particular by such particular acts of heroism--merely receive a passing
notice. To such men, then, as stood under such circumstances, too
much credit cannot be awarded. The attention evinced by my regiment
and the other regiments of the brigade deserves to be rewarded by better
results.
Very respectfully submitted.
H. J. MADILL,
Col. One hundred and forty-first Pennsylvania Vols.
Capt. F. BIRNEY,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Source: Official Records Series I. Vol. 25. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 39
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Gettysburg after battle report:
Report of Col. Henry J. Madill, One hundred and forty-first Pennsylvania
Infantry.
Hdqrs. 141st Regt. Pennsylvania Volunteers,
----, --- ---, 1863.
Sir: In compliance with circular from division headquarters, I
submit the following statement of the movement of my regiment
during the engagement of July 2 and 3, at Gettysburg, Pa.:
During the forenoon of July 2, we moved into a field beyond a
small house and to the left of a road leading from the wooden house,
near which Gen. Sickles established his headquarters, to the Emmitsburg
pike, and here, by command of Gen. Graham, we then
formed in line of battle, the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers
on the right of the line, the Sixty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers on
the left, and my regiment in the center, the One hundred and fifth
and One hundred and fourteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers supporting.
The line was doubled on the center, Clark's battery in our front.
They delivered a few shots, receiving but little response. The battery
then moved up the hill and a little to the left, and took a position
in the peach orchard, near the Emmitsburg pike. In the meanwhile
our line advanced up the slope and deployed in the oat-field, some 15
rods from the pike, and were ordered to lie down. At this point we
sustained a severe fire from artillery for some time, the enemy having
a good range.
After remaining in this position for some twenty minutes or more,
I received an order from Gen. Graham, through the acting assistant
adjutant-general (Lieut. [Charles H.] Graves), to move
my regiment out, and place it in front of Clark's battery. This order
was in a few minutes countermanded, and I formed my regiment in
rear of that battery, and, while supporting that battery, the Second
New Hampshire was ordered up to my support. They took position
in my rear. Here the fire from the enemy's artillery was very severe,
and we sustained a considerable loss in killed and wounded.
At this time it was observed that the enemy was advancing in
strong force from across and down the Emmitsburg pike. My regiment,
together with two others (the Third Michigan [Col. Pierce],
and Third Maine, Col. Lakeman), were ordered to the front of the
peach orchard, the battery occupying that position having withdrawn
and left the field. We advanced, the Third Maine on my right and
the Third Michigan (Col. Pierce) on my left.
The enemy was advancing in two columns, one column crossing
the pike beyond the stone barn and advancing in two lines in the
direction of the position occupied by the Second and Third Brigades,
which were to our left and somewhat to our rear. When they advanced
below the stone barn, they endeavored to extend their lines to
the left. It was at this time that my regiment, with the two others
spoken of, was ordered forward. We engaged the flank of the enemy,
and prevented him from extending his lines this side of the small
creek that runs through the field near the stone barn.
At this time the other column had advanced up to the pike and
deployed, and was marching on the point we were occupying. The
battery in position near the road and immediately to the left of the
log house withdrew. The Third Maine, after exchanging a few shots
with the enemy at this point, withdrew. Col. Pierce's regiment
(Third Michigan) withdrew about the same time, or a few minutes
before. I found myself alone, with a small regiment of about 180
men.
I continued to hold my position for a short time, when I withdrew
from that position and took a position in rear of the Sixty-eighth
Pennsylvania Volunteers, who were engaged with the enemy in front
of the barn, near the brick house. When I took this position the
Sixty-eighth withdrew, the balance of the brigade having previously
withdrawn. I was thus left alone on the hill occupied by the brigade
in the afternoon. The enemy, after the falling back of the
Sixty-eighth, advanced to the barn. I engaged them at this point, and held
them in check for twenty minutes or upward, but being overpowered
by the large numbers of the enemy, I was compelled to retire, which
I reluctantly did.
It was at this point that my regiment suffered so severely; 25 of
my men were killed here and 5 of my officers severely wounded,
besides a large number of non-commissioned officers. Among the
severely wounded, and who have since died, were the color-bearers
and all of the color guard.
In my opinion, had the Second Division maintained its position as
persistently as the First did, we would not have been compelled to
abandon that position. They gave way some time before the First
Brigade was compelled to retire. The retiring of the First Brigade,
in my opinion, was caused by the premature abandoning of their
position by the Second Division.
I took 200 men into the fight, with 9 officers. Out of that number
I lost 145 men and 6 commissioned officers, the largest proportionate
loss in the corps in that fight, and, I think, in the army, in this or
any other battle.
I would especially call attention to Sergt. Maj. Joseph G. Fell for
his good conduct on the field. The part he took in fearlessly exposing
himself during the whole of the fight, and especially during the
latter part of it, deserves to be particularly noticed; also Corporal
Berry, who carried the colors. Though wounded three times, he
refused to give up his colors, and did not yield them until helplessly
stricken down the fourth time. Such men deserve particular notice.
Of the conduct of my officers and men, I am happy to say that they
are all entitled to great credit. Not one of my men failed me under
the most trying circumstances, and to my officers I am under great
obligations for their coolness and efficiency under the circumstances.
I regret to say that Maj. Spalding received two severe wounds,
one in each leg, and that he was taken prisoner by the enemy. He
lost his left leg; it was amputated below the knee by the enemy.
The movements of the regiment on the 3d were unimportant, and
do not require a detailed statement. The brigade was gotten together
in the morning of the 3d, and during the greater part of that day occupied
a position in the second line. In the afternoon, under the command
of Col. Tippin, went to the right and near the cemetery, and
my regiment reported to Gen. Webb, and here supported a battery.
In the evening we went with the balance of the division to the front
and picketed a part of the line. Were withdrawn on the morning of
the 4th, and on the 5th left Gettysburg with the corps.
Respectfully submitted.
H. J. MADILL,
Col. One hundred and Forty-first Pennsylvania Vols.
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.,
First Brigade.
Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 27. Part I. Reports. Serial No. 43
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