New York Civil War general orders 1863 vintage rare National Guard History

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New York Civil War general orders 1863 vintage rare National Guard History:
$130.05

This sale features civil war general orders. They are general orders #5. Brooklyn, may 9th, 1863. 13th regiment. The orders concerned a parade for the 4th regiment New York volunteers commanded by colonel j.d. Macgregor. Issues by colonel John b. Woodward and William Augustus McKee. Please ask questions.

HEADQUARTER’s ARMY oR THE PoToMAC, ! July 15, 1863. Special Order, JVo. 190: The troops comprising the command of Brigadier-General W. F. Smith, are relieved from further service with the army of the Potomac, and will be reported to Major General Couch for instructions. The Major General commanding thanks Brigadier General Smith and his troops for their zeal and promptitude which, amid no little privation, have marked their efforts to render this army all the assistance in their power, and especially commends the good conduct of the officers and men that participated in General Kilpatrick\'s engagement with the enemy on the 13th inst. By command of Major General Meade. - (Signed) . . S. WILLIAMS, A. A. G. HEADQUARTERs 1st Division, DEPARTMENT ! SUsquEHANNA, July 15, 1863. Special Order, JNo —: Brigadier General John Ewen will take command of all the New York troops in this division, and proceed with them to Frederick, Md., at which point transportation will be furnished them to New York city. [Assem. No. 80.] 22

In parting with them, the General commanding must express his admiration of the courage and fortitude with which they have stood the trials and privations of their late marches. By order of Brigadier General W. T. Smith. (Signed) PRESTON F. WEST, A. A. G.

The corps embraced in the foregoing division orders of Gene. ral W. F. Smith are as follows:

13th regiment, Col. John R. Woodward; 28th regiment, Col. Michael Bennett, of the 5th brigade N. G. S. N. Y., of Brooklyn, commanded by Brig. Gen. P. S. Crooke. \' 23d regiment, Col. Wm. Everdale, Jr.; 56th regiment, Col. J. T. Adams; 52d regiment, Col. M. W. Cole: composing the – brigade, N. G. S. N. Y., of Brooklyn, commanded by Brig. Gen. Jesse C. Smith. 8th regiment, Col. Varian; 37th regiment, Col. Charles Roome, of the 3d brigade, N. G. S. N. Y. - 71st regiment, — , of the 1st brigade, N. G. S. N. Y. 11th regiment, Col. J. Maidhof; 22d regiment, Col. Lloyd Aspinwall, of the 4th brigade, N. G. S. N. Y.; and a regiment from the western part of the State, whose designation I cannot now call to mind. I immediately proceeded with these troops to Frederick, to take the cars to New York, passing through Middletown and Frederick to the vicinity of the railway station, arriving after dark, having marched 25 miles, halting one hour on the way for food and rest. - | Telegraphed arrival of this force to the Commander-in-chief at the earliest opportunity, and was desired by him to come immediately to the city; having learned from the railway superintendent that a telegram had been received from Major General Couch not to transport us until further orders; next morning received a telegram from General Couch that he had orders to detain us for the present. Telegraphed him of the urgency of our presence in New York, and was desired in reply to report to Major General Halleck, and obey his orders. Telegraphed General Halleck of the necessity of our immediate departure, and on the 17th received his authority to return to New York. We left by the cars in the afternoon, passing through Baltimore and Philadelphia, and arriving in New York on the morning of the 18th, where I reported to the Commander-in-chief at the St. Nicholas Hotel.

The gentlemen composing my staff during this brief campaign, were as follows: | Acting A. A. G.—Lieut. Col. J. Henderson Grant, of 22d reg\'t. Surgeons.—Drs. H. W. D. B. Woodhull and Pardee. Aides de camp.—Captains Henry S. Vanburen, Charles F. Kingsley. Quartermaster.—Captain Jackson. | Commissary.—Captain Farran, 37th regiment. Ordnance Officer.—Lieut Walter Edwards, 22d regiment. I am, General, respectfully, Your obedient servant, JOHN EWEN, Brig. Gen. Com. 4th Brigade, NY. S. N. G.

REPORT OF BRIGADIER GENERAL PHILIP S. CROOKE, COMMANDING FIFTH BRIGADE, SECOND DIVISION, NEW YORK STATE NATIONAL GUARD, OF SERVICE IN PENNSYLVANIA. !

HEADQUARTERs 5TH BRIGADE, N. G. S. N. Y. BRooKLYN, December 1st, 1863. { To the Adjutant General of the State of JNew York: General—I have the honor to report the condition and service of the 5th brigade for the present year. The inspection returns show the numbers. The 14th regiment is and has been, since May, 1861, in the United States service in the army of the Potomac; has distinguished itself for courage and endurance in many a hard fought battle field and many a wearisome march; its reputation is part of the history of the country, and all the battles of the army of the Potomac record its bravery and good service. The regiment is now under Col. E. B. Fowler, who has been in command since 1861, and has proved himself worthy. The aggregate morning report of the 29th October, 1863, shows a total of 514 in the “Brooklyn 14th.” A battalion of artillery has just been organized under the command of that experienced officer, Major Horace A. Sprague. The battalion is composed of good officers and men, and numbers about 200. It will prove a valuable corps. * The force of the brigade available for service in this State in the month of June, 1863, consists of the 13th regiment, Col. ohn B. Woodward, 28th regiment, Col. Michael Bennett, and the 70th regiment, Col. William J. Cropsy; the two first doing duty as infantry, the 70th as cavalry and artillery.\" On the 15th June, 1863, at 10 o’clock, P. M., orders were received by me from head-quarters to assemble the 13th and 28th regiments for short service in Pennsylvania. At 9 A. M. next morning they were ready and assembled at their armories. On the 20th they left for Harrisburgh. On the 22d I received orders to join them and take command. I left here on the 24th ; arrived at Harrisburgh on the 25th; reported to Governor Curtin and General D. N. Couch, U.S. army, having command of all the forces. I was directed by Gen. Couch to report to Brig. Gen. William Hall, at Fort Washington, opposite Harrisburgh. On reporting to Gen. Hall, I was informed that the 13th and 28th regiments were at Marysville, about ten miles north of Harrisburgh, on the west bank of the Susquehanna river, and was ordered to report there to Gen. Yates in command of the post. - At this time the rebel forces were in Pennsylvania and advancing up the Cumberland valley towards Harrisburgh, by way of Carlisle. The roads were filled with people, flocks and herds, flying from the advance of the enemy, and the people of Harrisburgh did not seem prepared or inclined to act on the defensive. The force then available for defence and offence seemed only to . be New York militia. On the 26th June I reported to General Yates at Marysville, and took command of the 13th and 28th regiments; my staff consisted of Major William H. Leaycraft, A. A. G.; Capt. John L. Bergen, aid; Capt. James Mooney, B. Q. M.; Dr. Thomas McAllister, brigade surgeon. * - a Major Leaycraft who was appointed by me on this duty, had seen service in the army of the Potomac, in the 87th regiment of volunteers, and to his knowledge, experience and soldierly quali. ties myself and command are much indebted, whilst his genial and kindly nature endeared him to all who associated with him. Captain Bergen, Captain Mooney and Dr. Thomas McAllister, proved themselves to be all that could have been desired. I beg leave to state that for zeal, capability of endurance and all other qualifications, mental and physical, they were equal to

the service required of them, and they have my thanks—for myself and the brigade. The post at Marysville, was in a valley on the west bank of the Susquehanna, called Fishing Creek Valley, commanding two railroad bridges, and fords, the river here was about one mile wide. The place (an important one,) was surrounded on two sides by ranges of mountains terminating at a gap near Carlisle. The garrison was 3 regiments of 2d brigade, N. Y. S. N. G., under General Yates, and the 13th and 28th. The services of those regiments will be found in their regimental reports annexed. The duties at Marysville were constant, laborious and fatiguing. The rebel forces were at Carlisle and on the south side of the mountain around us; we could hear the sound of cannon, and heard reports of skirmishing around Carlisle, and expected an attack. July 1st, at 11 o\'clock, P. M., received orders to break camp and proceed by railroad to Harrisburgh, obeyed orders, arrived at Harrisburgh July 2d, at sunrise, marched to Fort Washington opposite, the former garrison marched out. In command of the fort, garrisoned by the 13th and 28th regiments, one regiment of Pennsylvania militia and several corps of N. Y. artillery. The rebels had advanced within sight of Fort Washington, and constant skirmishing had ensued between the advanced posts of both forces. We remained thus until July 3d, 10 o’clock, when orders arrived to take the railroad to Carlisle that night, leaving everything except blankets, haversacks and arms. Colonel Bennett of the 28th, and Major Leaycraft, had been ordered to inspect pickets that evening, which was dark and rainy. At 11 o\'clock, Colonel Bennet was brought into the fort with his ankle badly broken, his horse had stumbled in the dark and fallen on him—with much sadness he was sent home—he is a good officer, a brave and kind hearted man, and his absence left a great void in the brigade- The command was assumed by Lieut. Colonel Bakee, who acquitted himself well. Major Scheppe had previously been taken very sick and sent home. . Thus Lieut. Colonel Bakee was suddenly left the only field officer in the regiment. The 13th also had but one field officer, Colonel John B. Woodward. Both regiments were fortunate in their adjutants—the 13th, Lieut. McKee, the 28th, Lieut. Dean-and I am pleased to report now that Lieut. McKee has been elected Lieut. Col. of the 13th, and Lieut. Col. Dean brigade inspector of the 5th brigade; both well earned promotions. The quartermasters—Legget of the 13th, and Duel of the 28th— had a most arduous and difficult duty to perform, and did so zealously and ably as far as was possible. Lieut. Leggett has since been elected Major of the 13th. July 4th. After midnight the brigade left by railroad for Carlisle, 21 miles. The quartermaster and brigade surgeon were left to attend to their departments; as the sun arose we arrived at Carlisle and saw the ruins of the barracks and the railroad bridge outside destroyed by the rebels. We were under command of Brig. Gen. Wm. Hall, 3d brigade, N. G. S. N.Y.; marched into the main street of Carlisle and rested in column, saw marks of shell on the buildings. Gen. Hall here received despatch from Harrisburgh ordering him to return to Fort Washington. He informed me I was left in command, I asked for orders, he had none to give.\' I telegraphed to Gen. Couch at Harrisburgh, that I was there without orders, supplies or horses. At 10 o\'clock, A. M., I received the answer by telegraph. - “HARRIsBURGH, July 4th, 1863. An order was given to take rations last night. Do troops want me to tell them to breathe ? Always have rations in your haversacks. You want no buggy, you are going in the mountains for a few days. Beef cattle go forward. Now is the time to aid your country; let trifles go; march.” D. N. COUCH, Maj. Gen. On the receipt of this paper—as the only definite information seemed that we were bound “for the mountains”—I started on the turnpike leading to the mountains south of Carlisle. All the officers, as well as men on foot, without anything except they carried it, not a wagon or pack horse, or any knowledge of route or supplies, present or future. The result proved the dispatch in one respect—we “wanted no buggy”—the roads in places were impassable for one. The dispatch was in fault as to the beef cattle; they did not “go forward” fast enough to overtake us. We were left to our own resources in a country which had been overrun and exhausted by the rebel forces. About two miles south of Carlisle, we were overtaken by a heavy rain storm, and we rested for three hours in a large barn and farm house. Here we met a few stragglers from the battle of Gettysburg, paroled Union soldiers and rebel

ADJUTANT GENERAL, 343

deserters, and from them heard of the great battle which was going on when they left. We then knew our route and started anxiously. We met three of the “Brooklyn 14th,” who had been taken prisoners and paroled in the battle. Their unexpected rencounter with their Brooklyn friends in the middle of Pennsylvania, was startling and strange; we left them cheered and cheering. f A little before sundown we arrived at Paperville, a village at the gorge of the mountains, with a stream of water which had overflowed our road. Here we had to ford about half a mile in places waist deep ; the drummer boys and drums were carried. We halted at Holly Springs after dark; the brigade bivouacked; next day a muddy, hard, hungry march to Laurel Furnace. \" July 5. Came up with Gen. John Ewens\' brigade, (4th N. G. S. N. Y.) who took command. Here the horses of myself and staff reached us. We were marched up a mountain road to a pass looking down upon Gettysburg about twelve miles off. Bivouacked there-obtained some bread from the inhabitants who were very kind and considerate. July 6. Some wagons met us with supplies—obtained one day\'s rations; marched on towards the south; bivouacked in the woods next morning. July 7. Arrived at Newman\'s Gap on the turnpike from Gettysburg to Chambersburg; met Gen. B. F. Smith, U. S. A., commanding army of Susquehanna; saw traces of the battle of Gettysburgh in broken caissons, &c.; marched forward on the track of Lee\'s army, turned off the turnpike to the south, bivouacked at Funkstown, terrible rain storm all night, and until 10 A.M. July 8, But little to eat; marched on to Waynesboro near the Maryland line, a considerable village, where we found the 6th army corps of the Potomac bivouacked on the hills south of the village. July 9, 10, 11. Pleasant weather, and rations just before sundown; orders to march; marched; forded Antietam creek, the timbers of the bridge burnt by the rebels yet smoking. 11 o\'clock, P. M., bivouacked at Lieterstown in a clover field. July 12. Marched to Cavetown—tremendous storm of rain, thunder and lightning; bivouacked there. July 13. Marched through Smoketown and Mount Pleasant to Boonsboro, Maryland. There we met several members of the 5th brigade now in the U. S. service. Col. Brewster, of the Excelsior brigade, Capt. E. D. Taft, commanding battery—both of whom distinguished themselves at Gettysburg. Here we were informed that Lee\'s army had escaped over the Potomac, and we were ordered home; marched to Frederick, Md.; the march was very fatiguing, and Christian Hemming, a private of the 28th, died from exhaustion. July 15th, arrived at Frederick, and bivouacked south of the city; remained there until July 17; passed by railroad to Baltimore; July 18, arrived at Philadelphia; July 19, arrived at New York. We were met on the wharf by orders from the Commander-in-chief, to report for duty in Brooklyn, and remained on duty until September 6th, in the protection of the peace and property of Kings county. In all of which the whole of my command acquitted themselves as good soldiers and citizens, and did good service. \'

The 70th regiment remaining at home were on duty guarding the State arsenal at Brooklyn, and assisting in preserving the peace during July, until Sept. 6th, faithfully and zealously, and also are entitled to the same credit. Their Colonel, William J. Cropsey, is an energetic and reliable officer, and the officers and men are of a most respectable class of citizens. It is a valuable corps for home service.

The 13th and 28th regiments had been in the U.S. service in 1861—the 13th also in 1862. Many hundreds of their members had joined the volunteer U. S. service, and their uniforms worn out in the service. Those regiments have done hard and faithful service, and are now re-forming with the prospect of much efficiency. All of which is respectfully submitted. PHILIP S. CROOKE, Brigadier General Fifth Brigade.