Stories Retold

The History of Company G, 147th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry during the American Civil War (September, 1862 through June, 1865) By Sgt Michael S. Schroyer

An overview of the service in the American Civil War of Company G, 147th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry written by one of its own, J. A. Lumbard.

CHAPTER 1
The only company of Civil War soldiers credited to Snyder county that was sworn in for three years in that terrible war between the North and the South.

CHAPTER 2
We were placed in A tents, in messes of four in a tent, with a board floor four inches above the ground and on it a good bunch of straw.

CHAPTER 3
One of the very pathetic features of our stay in Harrisburg occurred when we were keeping a guard at Walnut Street hospital.

CHAPTER 4
We reached Harpers’ Ferry by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Later we visited John Brown’s cave, along the river, just above Harpers’ Ferry.

CHAPTER 5
This same soldier went home, recruited a company, became captain of it, and is said to have done good service for Uncle Sam until the close of the war.

CHAPTER 6
On the 12th of March we buried with military honors Samuel P. Mullen. I think it was the most solemn funeral I had attended up to that time.

CHAPTER 7
You know a company of soldiers is always composed of many different characters with as many different dispositions.

CHAPTER 8
In our Dumphries camp the first thing in the morning was reveille at 6:00 o’clock. At 6:30 roll call by our orderly, Sergeant B. T. Parks.

CHAPTER 9
It might be interesting to know just what we received from Uncle Sam, to keep us in fighting trim.

CHAPTER 10
A spy of General Geary’s, disguised as an old planter, was sent ahead of the army, rode to the bridge and engaged Confederate workmen.

CHAPTER 11
Fighting began this morning about 4 o’clock. Stonewall Jackson’s troops attacked the 11th Corps commanded by General O. O. Howard, in front, and flank. Fighting was severe.

CHAPTER 12
To describe a battlefield with all its horrors is simply out of the question. No one knows anything about it except those who participated and have learned by cruel experience.

CHAPTER 13
When we reached this camp north of the river, the drum corps of the different regiments gave us martial music, and the bugles sounded forth their beautiful calls. Every soldier in camp cheered.

CHAPTER 14
General Geary’s headquarters were some distance away. I went to headquarters and the guard directed me to the General.

CHAPTER 15
General Green’s daughter was sitting in a barouche and enjoying the movements of the troops. She said to the General: “Papa make them trot again. I like to see them trot.”

CHAPTER 16
We were called upon to witness the execution of William Gruver and William McKee. These lads were from Lewistown, Pa. They were arrested June 4th for desertion to the enemy.

CHAPTER 17
Strict orders were given forbidding foraging, but the desire for fresh pork became stronger with each longing look at the very fine shoats.

CHAPTER 18
Tuesday, June 30th, broke camp, passed thru Taneytown and shortly came to a tree upon which was posted, “Line between Pennsylvania and Maryland.”

CHAPTER 19
We were relieved this morning by the Berdan Sharpshooters and taken past General Meade’s headquarters to the kettle back of Culp’s Hill on the right of our line.

CHAPTER 20
About 300 cannons belched forth death and destruction everywhere. This was kept up for about one hour and a half. The very earth trembled during this time.

CHAPTER 21
J. A. Lumbard and the writer walked out over the battle field on July 4th, where the dead were lying around by the hundreds.

CHAPTER 22
People from all sections of the country came on horseback, afoot and in carriages to visit the battlefield. Hundreds had gathered.

CHAPTER 23
While lying in camp here the writer went to town to have a few cakes baked. We soon found a place where a lady was doing some baking for the soldiers.

CHAPTER 24
We marched in three States today: Maryland, West Virginia and old Virginia. When we entered Harper’s Ferry, the boys soon smelled in the air that a bakery was not far off.

CHAPTER 25
General Ashby’s home was one of the finest we saw in all Virginia. The house stood on an elevation with a lawn of several acres surrounding it.

CHAPTER 26
The Rebel cavalry of course advanced. Our skirmishers kept quiet and got down into the high grass. Johnny Reb’s surprise was so complete that they about faced and skedaddled.

CHAPTER 27
On the march we were not permitted (no matter how hot the weather was) to take off our coats, but had to have them buttoned up to the neck.

CHAPTER 28
Some boys played cards and carried a deck, but whenever a battle was imminent, would throw the decks away. It was not the right thing to be found dead with a deck of cards in a pocket

CHAPTER 29
Two more souls were ushered into eternity by the mandate of the cruel war. After witnessing the shooting or murdering of these men we changed our mind as to capital punishment.

CHAPTER 30
Our services in the Army of the Potomac came to a close that day, and I know that Company G left a record of which she need not be ashamed.

CHAPTER 31
The railroad stations along our route through Indiana were crowded with cheering men, women and children.

CHAPTER 32
The citizens of Ohio and Indiana were kind to us and wished us well, but in Kentucky not a smile or a kind word was given us.

CHAPTER 33
We were sitting around the fire of the camp reserve post, when the Colonel of this Tennessee regiment with several of his men came to converse with us.

CHAPTER 34
He pulled up his pantleg and from under the lining of his boot he handed over a lot of papers, which were passes from General Bragg and other Confederate Generals in the area.

CHAPTER 35
Who he was or where he came from no one ever knew. He rode a white horse and traveled as fast as anyone could travel in that dark night.

CHAPTER 36
Every morning when day would break upon us we could see old Lookout Mountain, just a short distance away, with the Rebel signal corps on its summit.

CHAPTER 37
The first thing we did upon taking our position was to arrange with the Rebels that neither side would shoot, as it was impossible to settle the war at that particular time and place.

CHAPTER 38
The night spent on Lookout Mountain, clinging to its rocky side in a cold, drizzling November rain will never be forgotten by those who were participants in that great battle.

CHAPTER 39
Missionary Ridge was in our possession by sundown, along with many prisoners, artillery and other munitions of war.

CHAPTER 40
Jerry was not shot, but his foot had caught in some briars and tripped him. He said something very emphatic in Dutch, which need not be mentioned here.

CHAPTER 41
While leading our brigade into action he was near his old regiment when the Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel Crane both got up on a rock, flapped their arms and crowed.

CHAPTER 42
Mouldy crackers were thrown into the horse troughs, and the soldiers would pick out the little broken pieces that were not mouldy and eat them with relish.

CHAPTER 43
Every regiment passed, hooted, hissed, and pelled until the picket line was reached, where he was hurried thru and left go. He was a rascal and deserved all he got.

CHAPTER 44
Sixteen mules in our brigade wagon train died on this march from “Camp Starvation,” virtually starved to death.

CHAPTER 45
Many interesting incidents occurred while in this camp, but the recital of a few will suffice.

CHAPTER 46
450 men with eight pieces of artillery having been detailed to make the trip down the river were loaded on this boat, in the afternoon we left with General Geary in command.

CHAPTER 47
We disembarked at once and started for the front. It being late in the day, we only marched a few miles, when night overtook us.

CHAPTER 48
When he came back to get his coffee, imagine his surprise to find that in his absence a large toad had jumped into his coffee cup and was laying on his back spread out.

CHAPTER 49
General Hooker placed himself just in rear of Company G and drawing his sword said: “This line can’t break unless it goes thru me first.”

CHAPTER 50
I want to say that men under fire work with double energy when erecting works for their protection.

CHAPTER 51
As the time set for the assault was drawing near, there was a gloomy foreboding that before the setting of the sun many of us would have answered our last roll call.

CHAPTER 52
In the afternoon a man wearing a black hat, high top boots, and a gum poncho over him, and mounted on a black horse, came from our rear along the run.

CHAPTER 53
A loaded train of cars came to Big Shanty, the locomotive detached, was run forward to a water tank within range of the enemy’s guns on Kennesaw, when the enemy opened fire on the locomotive.

CHAPTER 54
The move towards the city was now on in earnest. The entire army was now over the river, and “On to Atlanta” was the cry.

CHAPTER 55
In reply to our 32-lb cannon shells the Rebels would drop a gentle reminder (64-lb shells) into our camp, which would create quite a stir.

CHAPTER 56
We entered the city on Sunday, September 4, 1864. The siege lasted just 41 days.

CHAPTER 57
Politics now were getting hot. Lincoln, Republican, and McClellan, Democrat, were candidates for president. Many were the discussions around the camp fires.

CHAPTER 58
The torch was applied by a force of men detailed for that purpose, the black smoke rising high in the air, and hanging like a pall over the once beautiful, but now doomed city.

CHAPTER 59
As we looked back from our camp at Stone Mountain we could still see the great columns of smoke, arising from the burning city Atlanta. This all seemed hard but it was war, and war to the finish.

CHAPTER 60
The corps moved out on parallel roads and as near as possible ten miles apart. Each corps was to march a certain number of miles each day.

CHAPTER 61
We cannot realize the heart aches and fears when father or mother was separated from their families. These poor slaves could not realize what freedom was.

CHAPTER 62
At the crossing of a large swamp an alligator was killed, which was said to have measured 10 feet. The Company boys went to see him.

CHAPTER 63
General Sherman entered the city and rode down Bull Street. Company G can well feel proud of the humble part they took in the capture of the city of Savannah.

CHAPTER 64
A large bakery was opened by a Dutchman on McCallister street, and this bread was sold, baked in one pan, sixteen loaves for one dollar.

CHAPTER 65
We left the city with banners flying, bands playing and the men everywhere cheering and all seeming anxious to cross the Savannah river into South Carolina, the hotbed of secession.

CHAPTER 66
The enemy hung close to our front and rear, and foraging had become very dangerous. Six of our men had been caught and hanged on trees.

CHAPTER 67
Sherman keeps pushing the Rebels, and we march to Fayetteville and encamp. All the army corps had concentrated at Fayetteville.

CHAPTER 68
The guard who shot him was a member of the 105th Ohio regiment. The boys of our regiment were so worked up and, fearing a riot, the Colonel moved the regiment across the river.

CHAPTER 69
After leaving Raleigh, N. C., and marching toward Richmond we met hundreds of Confederates. They all looked very much distressed, and presented a very pitiable sight.

CHAPTER 70
Today we marched upon the battlefield at Chancellorsville, where just two years and twelve days before Company G was engaged in the first battle of the service.

CHAPTER 71
Orders were read today for all 65,000 men to prepare for the grand review of Sherman’s Army to take place on Thursday, the 24th.

CHAPTER 72
Today Company G was mustered out of the service of Uncle Sam, whom we had served as best we knew how for almost three long years.

CHAPTER 73
As we rounded the Island we saw a great crowd of men, women and children upon the bank of the west side of the river, cheering and anxiously awaiting our coming.