H. N. Minnigh

“ Some sleep peacefully in the unmarked graves of the south-land; no tender hand wreaths flowers over these unknown graves, but the gentle zephyrs chant requiems continually, and around them the wild flowers bloom more beautiful and fragrant, because the soil was enriched by their blood. Others after a manly struggle for life, yielded to disability from wounds and disease. ”

“ We never saw so deliberate an advance by the enemy, in all our three years experience, as this was. Brave specimen of American soldiery they were, consciously facing death, they came on. Two sections of a divided battery, one on the right the other on the left, with enfilading fire, opened on them, then the infantry added their missiles of destruction; they come no further, a few turn and flee to the cover of the woods, the firing ceases and an advance is ordered, when the only enemy we find are the torn and shapeless forms, that literally cover the ground, they were "annihilated." ”

“ We cherish the memory of our fallen comrades, and as one by one we are summoned to join the great majority, we hope to meet them again, and to stand side by side, in nobler array, with the brave and true and tried who were our comrades here, and who so well performed their work on the battle-fields of this life. ”

“ Do you mind the fence, all grown up with red briars, the "durned old haversack" filled with potatoes, that you wanted to get rid of, and could'nt? Well, we all got out safe, while Harbaugh and Elden were transferred to an awful southern prison.
The Brigade now took up a new position, threw up a barricade, and awaited the advance of the enemy, who soon was seen, in a well dressed line of battle, emerging from the cover of the woods, two-hundred yards to the front. Orders were given not to fire one shot until the enemy reached the line of an old fence half-way across the open space between us. ”

“ Finally, my Comrades, let us fight valiently, on all the stern battle-fields of this life, so that, when the last tattoo is beaten, and 'lights out' forever, we shall be worthy to join the immortal ranks of the comrades on the other side, and march before the Great Reviewing officer, when time and earth and hostile armies are no more forever. ”

“ It is sad to record the sacrifice of one who lived so noble a life, for when Lieut. Sadler fell, the company we think, lost its best commanding officer. Sadler was killed by a minnie ball, in the battle of South mountain September 14. 1862, while gallantly leading the command in the final charge, which drove the enemy from the summit and gave the victory to our forces. ”

“ At day light we fell back to the line of battle composed of the division of Penn'a Reserves, who were in advance of all other troops, and awaited the onset.
Half-past two o'clock came, and then Hill with six brigades of his own and six of Longstreets command, hurled the whole force upon our front. Brigade after brigade advanced, but recoiled under the direct fire of the batteries, sustained by the infantry.
"Volley after volley streamed across our front and in such quick succession that it seemed impossible for any human being to live under it," writes a Rebel officer. ”

“ That the History of the company and of its heroes, may be put into tangible form for distribution and preservation, as well as that a book of reference may be put in the hands of the survivors and their families, is our only object. ”

“ EVER STRIKE THE SAME SPOT?
incident at Spottsylvania, will easily be recalled to memory. In some movement, in which our regiment participated, our flank was brought in range with a rebel battery, when a 20 pound shot came whizzing along. Fortunately, it was poorly aimed, and exploded as it struck the ground.
The shell tore a hole in the ground, about ten feet from our line, immediately in front of our company, sufficiently deep to bury a team of mules. Several of the boys said, "No two shots, ever strike the same spot," as they jumped into the cavity, considering it a safe place. ”

“ McPherson in a recent letter, "an assignment which was overruled by Gen'l McCall, when the regiment reached Washington. The Union guards of Lancaster, which had originally been Co. B, was thereby restored and we were made, as at first, Co. K, which position had naturally fallen to us, having been the last company of those forming the First regiment, that arrived in camp."
Well! we have the consciousness today, that as a company we were not inferior to any other command in the regiment, and Company K. never did and never will, ask for unmerited favors. ”

“ Our Brigade on the 30th of May was sent out on the Mechanicsville road, near Bethesda church, to prevent a possible surprise by the enemy from that direction. Having advanced a short distance we were formed in brigade front and ordered to throw up a barricade. Company K. soon did the work that fell to their lot, and every man soon was seeking to get what rest he could, under the shade of a convenient hedge fence. ”

“ We landed at Aquia creek, on the 19th, and proceeding thence by way of Fredericksburg, and at Warrenton junction, we fell in with Pope's forces, hurrying back toward the National capitol, with the rebel horde at his heels.
We reached Bull Run on the 29th, and found that a portion of the rebel army had beat us in the race, but by a flank movement we passed them, took up a position on the old battle ground, skirmished back and forth one whole day, and waited eagerly the coming of McClellan's army. ”

“ Minnigh, the three last named running the risk of capture, in their efforts to induce Harbaugh and Elden to run the gauntlet as their comrades had done. This they refused to do, saying "I'll not do it; and be shot down like a dog." The situation was of course an awful one, for the rebels were now in our works on both flanks, and the race for liberty must necessarily be in the range of every rebel musket. ”

“ The Picket line had been driven in, and a detail of forty men, was placed in charge of Captain Minnigh who was merely instructed to re-establish that line, which he was told curved in, bringing the rebel pickets near to our Division Head-quarters. The only portion of our line visible was on the extreme right, at a white house on an elevation of ground. He at once proceeded a short distance to the left, and soon reached Burnside's unbroken line, on its extreme right and at the point where that line was broken off abruptly. ”

“ George was as good a soldier as ever carried a musket, and he was always disposed to make the best out of every situation. Resides at Bendersville, Pa.
—Pittenger John F. was one of the original company, was a laborer by occupation, 25 years of age. He was a good soldier, and re-enlisted on February 10, '64, and at muster out of co, was transferred to the 190 P. V. Vol's.
—Rhodes Andrew H. was recruited July 24, '61; a clerk; and 21 years of age. Was discharged from Gen'l hospital at Alexandria, Feb'y 11, '63. Resides at York Springs, Pa. ”

“ In the evening I caught up, at the camping ground, sick, tired and hungry; but soldiers fare was entirely unpalatable, and I could not eat it, so I went to the village close by, (Lovettsville,) determined to secure something tasteful. I approached a house at the outskirts of the town, for the flavor of newly baked pies had been wafted toward me by the evening breeze and I decided that a pie, a fresh blackberry-pie, was just what would suit my case. ”

“ There was no movement of troops in the Union lines, the men stood in their places and poured an uninterrupted fire upon the enemy, while the artillery, fifty pieces, rained solid shot, shells, canister and sharpnell, producing great slaughter. The total Union loss in this battle was eighty killed and two hundred wounded, while the Rebel loss was three thousand. ”

“ The forces north of the Chickahominy took up a new position at Gaines' mill, sometimes called Gaines' hill, and by the rebels, Coal Harbor. Gen'l Porter is in command with 40,000 men while Gen'l Lee is coming on with 70,000, he intends to make a grand onset and sweep Porter into the Chickahominy. Three o'clock of the 27th, has come and the attack is made, amid cannonry and the angry flashes of musketry, while the battle cloud becomes thick and heavy. It would take many pages to make a full record of the terrible battle. ”

“ Sergeant M. watched the contest for a moment, but just then he noticed a movement on the part of the other Johnnie, and saw him in the act of levelling a revolver at Miller. Quick action was necessary, and with a spring and a yell he struck the arm of the rebel, with his clubbed musket, sending the pistol into the air, and breaking the arm midway between the elbow and the wrist. Minnigh picked up the revolver and sent it home afterward as a relic. Miller took the muskets, and destroyed them, letting the prisoners go. ”

“ Our position was on the Lacy farm, until ten o'clock, when we moved to Parker's store and formed line of battle, our regiment and the Bucktails being on the extreme left.
John W. Urban in his "Battlefield and Prison pen" says, "Capt. Wasson of Co. D, was ordered to take his company and move through the woods beyond for the purpose of reconnoitering the enemy's lines." This is an error. The party was made up of a special detail of twenty men, two from each company in the regiment. Captains Minnigh and Wasson were in charge, and the actual mission was entirely unknown to Capt. ”

“ We are aware that inaccuracies and imperfections will be found in the book, for while the collecting of material has been in progress for quite a while, the editing and compiling, has come upon us in the midst of other cares and duties, in our chosen walk of life. ”

“ The whole army had now arrived, and the order war given to advance. The enemy yielded, and the first line of entrenchments was carried, and they fell back to a strongly fortified position, from which they could not be driven. Soon after our brigade made a dash upon the enemy in our front, (unauthorized, it is said,) but there being no co-operation by other troops, we skerried back again, Col. Talley commanding the brigade, and several hundred men having been taken prisoners. ”

“ Elden Henry W. C. was recruited July 26, 1861. The recruiting officer (Sergt. Minnigh) refused to accept him, being only 16 years of age, but he followed to camp, and reporting his age as 18 years, was mustered in. Though "Doc" was an excellent soldier, we must nevertheless record the fact of his being reported a deserter, not having returned to the company, when absence with leave expired. ”

“ At this, the woman commenced to cry bitterly, and said she would call the men; my reply was, that the men would be dealt with in the same way. No men appeared fortunately, and I mounted my horse and rode off.
At Emmittsburg we fed our horses and took dinner, and then we were on the road again. A few miles out on the Gettysburg road we were met by my father and brother, who came with a conveyance to aid me on my way. We reached Gettysburg about 4 o'clock, and rested until after supper, and then were off again, having still 14 miles to the end of our journey. ”

“ We accordingly bade farewell to the Army of the Potomac, and to the comrades of the company who had veteranized, who were now assigned to the 190th Penn'a Veteran Volunteers, to serve their unexpired term of service.
On the 2nd of June, we reached White house landing, and went aboard the transport George Weems at 10 a. m. on the 3rd, and at 12 m. with three hearty cheers, started northward, and landed at Washington, D. C. on the 4th, at 4 o'clock p. m.
On Sunday 5th at 11:30 a. m. we left the National Capitol, and on the 6th arrived at Harrisburg, Pa. the Capitol of our native State. ”

“ The company has now been in active service one year, and the ranks are reduced from 94 to a mere guard of 30 present for duty, not one-third of the number is left, while the Penn'a Reserves, by the fatalities of warfare are reduced from the original 15,000 to barely 4,000 for duty.
The command went into camp near Sharpsburg, where 2nd Lieut. Minnigh was promoted to 1st Lieut. and Serg't Kitzmiller to 2nd Lieut. and Capt. Stewart returned to the company from Gen'l Hospital. ”

“ Colonel, to date March 7th 1863.
Stewart had a firm hold upon the hearts and affections of the whole regiment, and as he served in a regimental capacity most of the time, he was popular in the Division. While he was qualified to command, he possessed, at the same time, excellent clerical and executive ability. He was mustered out with the regiment, June 13. 1864, and soon after was appointed Colonel, and had command of the 212th Regiment, Penn'a Volunteers, which position he held to the close of the war. Professionally, he is a civil engineer, and finds constant employment in that vocation. ”

“ On December 29. '63, he re-enlisted as a veteran volunteer.
—Danner H. Knox, was a member of the company at its organization, and was made 7th Corporal Nov. 1. '62, but on account of continued absence from the command, being sick in Gen'l hospital from July '62, to January '64, he was deposed from office. Is still suffering on account of disability contracted by a sun-stroke, during the Peninsula campaign. Was mustered out with the company and resides at York, Penn'a.
—Durboraw Isaac N. went out with the company at its original organization, and was promoted to 6th Corporal July 26. ”

“ Skirmishing, with an occasional undecisive struggle for the mastery, now continued for several days, during which we were called upon to charge on certain works in our front, but owing to the fact that every man understood that the charge was ordered as a mere feint to cover some other movement, it was not pressed. ”