1862 saw the 48th Pennsylvania encamped along the sandy shores of Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina, where the regiment "saw the elephant"--or at least "heard the elephant"--during Burnside's expedition; the year also witnessed the regiment transfer back to Virginia and attached to John Pope's Army of Virginia, suffering terribly in its first true baptism-by-fire at 2nd Bull Run; falling back into Washington, the 48th and Burnside's 9th Corps became a part of George McClellan's Army of the Potomac; heading out into Maryland, the 48th next saw action at South Mountain then again at Antietam; Lee having been repulsed and Lincoln, impatient for military action to back up his Proclamation of Emancipation, replaced McClellan with Burnside, who then led the army to Fredericksburg, where the 48th again suffered heavily in its attack against Marye's Heights. During that fateful and bloody year, scores of 48th soldiers gave their lives on these fields of battles, while hundreds more fell wounded; many others, stricken by illness, were discharged from the service. When the regiment was mustered in 1861, more than 1,000 stood in the ranks; by New Year's Day, 1863, roughly 300 remained.
On the first day of 1863--150 years ago today--Colonel Joshua Sigfried, commanding the regiment, penned a letter recapping and recounting 1862 and looking ahead to better fortunes in 1863.
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Col. Joshua Sigfried
(Courtesy of Mr. David Sigfried) |
The son of a wheelwright, Joshua K. Sigfried was born in Orwigsburg, Schuylkill
County, Pennsylvania, on Independence Day, 1832. He went to school in Pottsville, then found work
as a coal shipper in Port Carbon. As a member of Port Carbon's Marion Rifles,
Sigfried entered Civil War service as a captain in the 6th Pennsylvania, a
three-month regiment recruited largely out of Schuylkill County. Commanding the
6th was Colonel James
Nagle, and upon the
expiration of the regiment's term of service, Nagle asked Sigfried to help him raise and
recruit a three-years-or-the-war regiment, which ultimately became the 48th Pennsylvania. Sigfried
was mustered into service as the Major of the 48th, but was quickly promoted to
Lieutenant-Colonel following the November 1861 resignation of David A. Smith.
And when Nagle was
elevated to brigade command, Sigfried rose to regimental command, leading the
48th from April 1862
until April 1864, when he resigned to accept a commission as a brigade commander
in Edward Ferrero's
4th Division, 9th Corps, U.S.C.T.
On New Years' Day, 1863, from the headquarters of the 48th Pennsylvania, Lt.Col.
Sigfried wrote a lengthy letter to the Miners' Journal in Pottsville, which
essentially recapped the regiment's first full year in service. This letter is
quite lengthy, but
follows in its entirety:
* * * * * * * * * *
Headquarters 48th Regiment P.V.
Near Fredericksburg, Va., Jan. 1, 1863
Editors Miners' Journal: This
being the first day of the new year, I concluded to write a communication to the
Journal. . . .The old year is numbered with the past. To us as a nation, it has
been indeed an eventful one. Thousands of our brave sons and comrades in arms
have yielded up their lives as willing sacrifices that the nation might be
preserved.
We enter today upon the new
year 1863. What shall be its history? May we hope ere its close to see peace
restored to our now distracted country--a peace founded in justice,
righteousness and universal liberty. May all the benign influences of good
government enfold our nationality, and all the horrors cease. This day one year
ago we were stationed on the isle of Hatteras, N.C. We then numbered in this
regiment about eight hundred and fifty officers and soldiers. Today not half
remain fit for duty. We were engaged in the following memorable battles, viz:
Bull Run No. 2, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. It is due
to both officers and men who remain, as well as to the memory of those who have
fallen in battle and by disease, that I should state, I have been with the
regiment upon all marched as well as in the different battles. In August last we
arrived here from Newport News, remained a short time, then left for Bealton Station on the
Orange and Alexandria Railroad. We left here in the evening at dusk, marched all
that night until about three o'clock a.m. At daylight we started again, marched
all the day until dark, when we encamped for the night. Next morning we took up
the march again, arrived at the station at eleven o'clock a.m., remained there
several hours, when we took the cars for Culpeper. On arriving there, we were ordered to
march south of the town (about two miles), where we encamped for that night and
the next day. Thence we marched to Cedar Mountain, near the Rapidan River, where we
remained for another day, but on the following day we received orders to move
that evening at eleven o'clock. We took up the march at the hour named, marched
all that night and next day until five o'clock in the afternoon without halting
over an hour at any one time. We crossed the Rappahannock River at Kelly's Ford where we
remained two days, after we which we left for Rappahannock Station again--thence along the
Orange and Alexandria Railroad to Manassas Junction, thence to Bull Run, and
after the battle, on the night of 30th August, we left for Centreville, then to
Chantilly, where we had the second engagement. Left there about two o'clock at
night for Alexandria, where we encamped and remained for some four days when we
went a short distance beyond Washington, on the Maryland side of the Potomac, a
distance of some sixteen miles, where we again encamped and remained for several
days. We started from here toward Frederick City, Md., South Mountain. Here the
regiment was under fire from about ten o'clock a.m. until about the same hour in
the evening. At nine o'clock the next morning we left for Antietam, where we
arrived about the same hour that evening. Next day, September 16th, we remained in camp
until two o'clock p.m., the shells of the enemy constantly passing over our
heads, so you may judge the men did not rest much. Then we marched further to
the left. Upon the 17th came the battle.
I have given you a random
sketch of the marches, battles, etc, for a period of about six weeks. During the
whole of this time we were on the march with the exception of about eight days,
plodding through rain as well as sunshine, roads often very muddy, and it so
happened that when the roads were in their worst conditions, we were often not
only compelled to march by day, but all night. The greater portion of the time
(we being constantly on the advance) we were short of rations, very seldom any
meat, and if we did get it, had but scant time to cook it. We were often out of
bread for nearly a whole day and sometimes longer. In justice to Lt. Keys,
acting brigade commissary of subsistence, I must say, that he made every effort
possible to have the men fully supplied; but it was impossible for him to
succeed in doing so, owing to the long and rapid marches, and our advanced
position, the supply train being in the rear. Water very often being very
scarce. Repeatedly did I see men drink water from mud-puddles and stagnant pools
by the side of the road. At the battle of Bull Run they lost their blankets and
all their clothing except what they had on. Their shoes being worn out, some the
men walked literally barefooted from Bull Run to Washington.
Yet with all the severe
marching, lying out without tents, short rations, want of clothing and bad
roads, I am proud to say we had scarcely any stragglers. I have repeatedly seen
both officers and soldiers really staggering from sheer exhaustion, yet they
would keep up their companies, determined not to stay behind as long as it was
possible for them to keep up. They were cheerful and ever ready to do their
duties, and in the several engagements I must say, that they behaved most
gallantly. At South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg, while advancing in line of
battle from a quarter to a half mile under the most terrific fire of the enemy,
I did not observe a single one that did not march steadily to the front, obey
every command, fire deliberately when engaged, and when the ammunition was
exhausted (which was in each case sixty rounds per man) and I was relieved, they
retired in perfect order under the most severe fire from the enemy, when I could
scarcely have expected them not to break. A large number who were not severely
wounded, instead of going to and remaining in the hospitals, had their wounds
dressed and at once entered the ranks again by the side of their comrades--I
must say (and I do it not to flatter) I am proud that I have command of such
soldiers; men who will not flinch in the hour of trial and danger.
H. Hardell, hospital steward, deserves great
praise for his attention to his responsible duties. He is courteous, and always
ready to attend to the wants of the suffering, and his long experience as
hospital steward has made him very useful, indeed. Many in the regiment are
willing to be treated by him when sick, having not only confidence in him as a
steward, but as a surgeon. Dr. Morrison, our assistant surgeon, has not been
with us for any length of time yet, but I think he will prove himself what I
much hope for in the regiment--a good and efficient surgeon.
Quartermaster Sergeant J.
Wagner and Commissary Sergeant Charles Schnerr both deserve great credit for their
strict attention to their duties.
Quartermaster J. Ellis, having
been sick for a long time, resigned, not wishing to occupy the office when he
was unable to discharge the duties of the same. I was very loath to
have him leave, but could not advise him to stay when I believed that for him to
remain in the service would result in permanent disability.
Many thanks are due to
Lieut.Col. H. Pleasants, Major James Wren and Lieut. D.D.
McGinnis, adjutant,
for their assistance upon the march and in camp, and for their noble conduct in
the engagement at Fredericksburg. As to my line officers I cannot
particularize,
for all who have been in the various engagements have behaved bravely and with
great credit, proving themselves fit and competent for the positions they
occupy.
In conclusion, I would add
that I should like to see some plan adopted by which all the old decimated
regiments could be filled up. I would not be able, today, to take more than 300
men into an engagement. Other regiments are the same. It would take three of the
old regiments now to make one. If they cannot be filled by new recruits, it
strikes me that it would be a good plan to consolidate them. It would certainly
be a great saving to the Government, and at the same time would prove more
efficient.
I must not close without
naming the fact that we have not been paid since the 30th of June, a period of
six months. I am satisfied that many of the families at home are suffering in
consequence. This should not be. It should be enough, when men are willing to
sacrifice their business, leave their homes, families and friends, and, if need
be, sacrifice their lives for their country's good, without having their
families suffer by delay in payment.
To the friends of those who
have died, or fallen in battle, I would say, you have my dearest condolence, and
to those who have been wounded, or are sick, you have my sympathies in this, the
hour of your suffering.
Entering upon the new year, as
we do today, I wish you, and the many readers of the Journal, all a hearty and
happy New Year.
I remain yours, with
respect,
J.K. Sigfried, Col. commanding
Regt
