History of Butler County Pennsylvania - 1883

Transcribed by Jane Lahey. For an explanation and caution about this transcription, please read this page.

Because this chapter is an extensive roster of military personnel, the surnames have not been included at the front of the chapter. The following abbreviations have been made use of in compiling the several rosters:   e., enlisted; dis., discharged; disab., disability; m., mustered in service; m.o., mustered out, m.o.w.c., mustered out with company; m.o.w.b., mustered out with battery; wd., wounded; m.wd., mortally wounded; nat. cem., national cemetery; P.V., Pennsylvania Volunteers; pro., promoted; Surg. cert., Surgeon's certificate; tr., transferred; vet., veteran; V.C., Volunteer Cavalry; V.I., Volunteer Infantry; V.R.C., Veteran Reserve Corp.

[p. 112]
Under President Lincoln's call for troops, of date July 7, 1862, the State of Pennsylvania furnished 40,383 men. This number included eighteen nine-months regiments, among which was the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth. Fourth quota, Butler County was called upon to furnish three full companies, yet, notwithstanding this limit, and the fact that this was the time of gloom and foreboding, the patriotism of the citizens of Butler County made them more than equal to the emergency, for, in a little more than four weeks after the date of the call, seven companies, aggregating 700 men, were awaiting the orders of the General Government. Four of these companies were assigned to the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment, and became known as Companies C, F, G and K, while the other three were attached to the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Regiment, as companies D, F and G.

Companies C, F and G, first mentioned, rendezvoused in Butler, Penn., on the 7th of August, 1862, and, the following day, were transported to Pittsburgh in wagons and carriages, over the Allegheny & Butler Plank Road. They were most hospitably entertained at Bakerstown, en route, and at Pittsburgh a train bound eastward was awaiting them, and, during the evening of the same day, they left the "Smoky City" amid the cheers and kind wishes of thousands. Harrisburg was reached on the morning of the 9th, and these companies at once proceeded to Camp CURTISS, where they were joined by Companies A, B, D and H from Lawrence County, E and I from Beaver, and ultimately (at Washington D. C.), by Company K, from Butler County.

The advance of the enemy toward Washington in the second Bull Run campaign, created great consternation at the seat of government, and loud calls for troops were made. Consequently, before an organization was completed, the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth was hastened forward to Washington, where it arrived August 20, 1862, under the command of Capt. James McCUEN, of Company B. On the day following its arrival, it marched to the farther side of the Potomac and went into camp near Fairfax Seminary. Here the regimental organization was completed by the appointment of the following field officers, their commissions bearing date August 20, 1862: Matthew S. QUAY, of Beaver County, Colonel; Edward O'BRIEN, of Lawrence County, Lieutenant Colonel; and John M. THOMPSON, of Butler County, Major.

At Arlington Heights, the regiment was brigaded with the Ninety-first, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth and One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania volunteers, all under the command of Gen. E. B. TYLER (formerly Colonel of the Seventh Ohio). On the 30th, the brigade marched out toward the Bull Run battle-field, but did not arrive in time to participate in the fight, and, upon its return, was put into the defenses. On the 13th of September, as part of TYLER's brigade, HUMPHREY's division of MEADE's Fifth Army Corps, the regiment began its march toward the South Mountain, in Maryland, where the enemy had made his appearance. Meanwhile, just before leaving the vicinity of Washington, knapsacks and other heavy baggage had been stored, and the cumbrous, worthless Austrian rifles (to that time carried by the regiment) exchanged for Harper's Ferry muskets, smooth-bore, 'tis true, but very effective at short range. At the Monocacy, the command halted, and remained until the evening of the 17th, when it was hurried forward, and, on the morning of the 18th, after a fatiguing, all-night march, arrived on the battle field of Antietam. But the fighting had now substantially ended, though a renewal of the contest was momentarily expected, and, in supporting a battery, which was shelling the enemy, the regiment remained on the field the whole day. During the succeeding night, the enemy withdrew across the river into Virginia.

About the 16th of October (an officer of the regiment, Maj. ANDERSON, relates), TYLER's brigade was ordered out on a reconnoissance to the south side of the Potomac. After proceeding about five miles, the enemy was met in force, well supplied with artillery. The men [p. 113] did some foraging on their own account, and not a few filled their haversacks with what they supposed to be flour, but which proved to be plaster Paris. While some of the men were thus engaged, a man wearing a dirty gray coat, but riding a handsome black horse, dashed up to the commanding officer and informed him the enemy were moving to flank and cut off the retreat of the Union reconnoitering forces. A retrograde movement began at once, though in good order, but when the command reached the river it was dark. The ambulance corps was in the advance. Some of the teams stalled on the north bank of the river, and blocking up the only available passage out of the water; the men were compelled to remain standing in the stream (the water being about three feet in depth) for nearly half an hour. The men were heated before entering the river, having marched rapidly for five or six miles, and as a result of coming out of it chilled, one-tenth of the regiment were reported ill within forty-eight hours; several died, and many others were incapacitated for duty for months. While here, Col. QUAY was stricken down with typhoid fever, and the command devolved upon Lieut. Col. O'BRIEN. Upon the return of the army into Virginia, the regiment moved by easy marches until it reached the neighborhood of Fredericksburg, where it went into camp on the 22d of November. Early in December, Co. QUAY returned for duty, but so much reduced by disease that he resigned soon after, and Lieut. Col. O'BRIEN was commissioned Colonel, Maj. THOMPSON Lieutenant Colonel, and Capt. William H. SHAW, Major.

The movement of TYLER's brigade for the battle of Fredericksburg commenced on the 12th, the battle opening on the 13th. HUMPHREY's division of the Fifth Corps, to which TYLER's brigade belonged, was held in reserve on the north bank of the Rappahannock until near the middle of the afternoon, when it was ordered across and advanced to the onset. In the formation of the brigade for storming the heights in the last grand struggle of the day, the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth had the post of honor in the brigade--the right of the first line. "As soon as the formation was complete," says Gen. TYLER, in his official report, "the order to sound the charge was given, the caution having been previously communicated to the command not to fire a gun until orders were received from me. The brigade moved forward in as good order as the muddy condition of the ground on the left of my line would admit, until we came upon a body of officers and men lying flat upon the ground, in front of the brick house and along the slight elevation on its right and left. Upon our approach, these officers commanded, 'Halt!' flourishing their swords as they lay, while a number of their men endeavored to intimidate our troops, crying out that they would be slaughtered, and the like. An effort was made to get them out of the way, but failed, and we marched over them, and when we were within a very short distance of the enemy's line, a fire was opened on our rear, which wounded a few of our most valuable officers, and, I regret to say, killed some of our men. Instantly the cry ran along the line that we were being fired into from the rear. The command halted, receiving, at the same time, a terrible fire from the enemy. Orders for the moment were forgotten, and a fire from our whole line was returned. Another cry passed along the line that we were being fired upon from the rear, when our men, after giving the enemy several volleys, fell back."

This was the last charge made. It occurred about sunset, and, before retiring, the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth had approached to within twenty yards of the enemy's first line of fortifications. In speaking of the conduct of Col. O'BRIEN in this charge, Gen HUMPHREYS, who commanded the division, said: "Under my own eye he rode in front of his regiment, and literally led it in the last charge on the stone wall at Fredericksburg, just before dark on December 13." In the brief space in which the regiment was in the conflict, it lost fourteen killed, 106 wounded and nineteen missing, many of the latter known to be wounded. Lieuts. Hugh BARNES and Zarah C. QUILLEN were among the killed, and Adjt. Alfred G. REED mortally wounded. Capts. LYON, BRECKENRIDGE, HAGUE and McCREADY, and Lieuts. St. CLAIR, WHITE, BROWN and MILLINGER were among the wounded. Maj. THOMPSON had his horse shot under him, and was himself wounded. Col. QUAY, though in a feeble state of health, unwilling that the regiment should go into battle without him, volunteered as an Aid on the staff of Gen. TYLER and served throughout the battle. Gen TYLER bears this testimany [sic] of his services in his official report:

"Col. M. S. QUAY, late of the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth, was upon my staff as volunteer Aid-de-Camp, and to him I am greatly indebted. Norwithstanding his enfeebled health, he was in the saddle early and late, ever prompt and efficient, and especially so during the engagement." During the 14th, the regiment lay in the streets of Fredericksburg, with considerable skirmishing and artillery firing going on, but no general movement. At midnight of the 15th, it recrossed the river and returned to camp.

Unwilling to rest content with defeat, Gen. BURNSIDE inaugurated a new campaign on the 20th of January, which was ingloriously cut short by inclement weather and the sudden deepening of the mud, rendering the movement of artillery and trains next to impossible. The advent of Gen. HOOKER to the head [p. 114] of the army soon afterward marked a new era in discipline, by which the morale and health of the troops were vastly improved. On the 27th of April, the army moved on the spring campaign, and took position between Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg, HUMPHREYS' division crossing at Ely's Ford,* and taking position on the left of the line. Fighting commenced on the 1st of May, and continued for three days with varying success. During this time, TYLER's brigade, as well as the remainder of HUMPHREYS' division, had been busily engaged throwing up earthworks, forming abattis, etc., behind which the artillery of the division was well posted. Thus situated, the men felt able to contend against treble their numbers. So secure, indeed, did Gen. HUMPHREY feel, that, when Gen. MEADE had examined the position and said to Gen HUMPHREY, "Suppose the rebels attack and press you; how will you save the artillery?" the answer, characteristic of the man, was, "When the rebels straddle those guns, they may take them."
*Of the difficulties and dangers attending this crossing, Maj. ANDERSON says: "About the 28th of April, the indicated movement was begun. The regiment started on the march for Chancellorsville, and crossed the Rapidan at Ely's Ford. There was no bridge of any kind, and the stream being deep, the men stripped, attaching whatever they could to their guns, on fixed bayonets, resorting to every expedient which suggested itself under the pressing circumstances in order to keep ammunition, clothing and provision dry. Thus prepared, the men plunged into the steam, which took the men of the lowest stature up to the shoulders. Many of the men could not swim, had it been necessary to do so, having never been in water so deep. The circumstances and scene will never be forgotten by those who witnessed or participated therein."

The sense of security felt by this division was of short duration, however, for, on Sunday morning, May 3, a little before 9 o'clock, HOWARD's Eleventh Corps (the same having been overpowered and driven from its position on the right of the Union line the day before) was brought up and placed upon the left, the position held in part by HUMPHREY's division, while the latter was moved at a double-quick to the right of Chancellorsville, near Gen HOOKER's headquarters. Here the command stood in line for a few moments (the men divesting themselves of knapsacks, etc.), when TYLER's brigade was moved forward. It crossed an open field, and, on approaching the enemy, was deployed in lines, under a heavy fire, as follows: The Ninety-first Pennsylvania on the extreme right, with no protection on its flank; the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Pennsylvania on its left; next the One Hundred and Forty-sixth Pennsylvania; and lastly, on the left of the brigade, the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania. In well-preserved lines, this gallant brigade pressed forward through the forest, driving in the enemy's skirmishers, and soon reaching his line of battle. The men were then ordered to load and fire at will, and for two hours this battle raged with unabated fury. At length the ammunition began to fail, and, finding it impossible to obtain more, the Union fire slackened, while the cartridgeboxes of the dead and wounded were searched and a small supply obtained. The enemy now began to press in front and to feel for and move in upon the unsupported flank. Bayonets were fixed, and preparations made for a charge; but, seeing the foe, in overpowering numbers, bearing down upon flank and rear, the order was given to retire to the support of the batteries, in the open ground, where a few rounds of grape and cannister brought the defiant enemy, swarming at the edge of the woods, to a halt, and sent them back to their cover in rout and confusion.

In the official report of this engagement, the following paragraph is found: "Our right wing, under Gens. REYNOLDS and MEADE, was not engaged, save the division of Gen. HUMPHREY, which went into the woods on the enemy's left flank and fought valiantly under their brilliant leaders until their ammunition was exhausted." Again, said Gen. TYLER in his report: "The One Hundred and Thirty-fourth, Col. O'BRIEN, was second in line, and no set of men could have behaved better. The officers, one and all, following the example of their Colonel, who were constantly on the alert, were very active and not a man shirked his duty." The regiment lost forty-eight in killed, wounded and missing at Chancellorsville, Capt. John BRANT, of Company B, being among the killed.

On the 6th of May, the division recrossed the Rappahannock, and marched to its old quarters, near Falmouth, where the regiment remained until the 17th, when after listening to a farewell address by Gen. TYLER, it started homeward. The regiment was mustered out at Harrisburg May 26, and two days later, the members of the Butler County companies having reached Butler, the county seat, were partakers of a sumptuous feast spread for them by the citizens, in the grove in front of the Presbyterian Church. Following is a roster of the field and staff officers of the regiment: also, a few members of Company B and the entire number of officers and men accounted for on the rolls of Companies C, F, G and K:

[End of Chapter 13a--Butler County During War of 1861-65, 134th Regiment: History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers. Waterman, Watkins, & Co., Chicago, 1883.]

Chapter 12--Butler County During War of 1861-65, 103rd Regiment
Chapter 13--Butler County During War of 1861-65, 137th Regiment
1883 Butler County History Contents
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Edited 04 Jan 2000, 14:24