beheld that but a fragment of his command remained, he exclaimed, "My God, where are my Bucktails! Would that I had died with them!" and turning aside he went away weeping bitterly. Many of his men who had been captured subsequently returned, and after the battles in Pope's campaign, the detachment under Lieutenant-colonel Kane, rejoined the regiment and increased its strength to about five hundred men. During the campaign in front of Washington, and at South Mountain, he rendered most valuable services with his skirmishers, who, on every occasion, were sent forward to find the enemy, and in no case did their searching rifles fail to discover the rebel outposts, or to develop the enemy's line of battle. On the 16th of September, at the opening of the battle of Antietam, Colonel McNeil was again sent forward to feel the enemy's position. He had not led his men far to the front, before he discovered the rebels posted behind a stone wall; the bugle sounded the charge, and away went the Bucktails running at full speed, cheering and yelling like men on a fox hunt, over the wall, and into the woods beyond; through the woods, and following the frightened rebels into the open field, but here, coming upon the second line of the enemy, protected by another stone wall, the Bucktails were exposed to a withering fire of musketry, which took deadly effect upon the men. Colonel McNeil, at the head of his command, raised his sword and ordered his men to charge, but, before the sound of his voice had expired, the brave officer fell, pierced through the lungs by a minnie ball. Sergeant J. H. Masten of his old company, and several of his men were immediately at his side, and soon discovered that their beloved leader was mortally wounded. The dying colonel motioned his men to leave him, saying, "Drive the rebels out of that," and without again speaking, he died on the field, as became a gallant soldier, ordering his men to the front. His remains were removed from the field of battle, and accompanied by Lieutenaut McNaughten, were taken to Auburn, N. Y., where they were buried with military honors at Fort Hill cemetery. Colonel McNeil was not only an accomplished scholar and a gallant soldier, but he was what is more and greater, a devout Christian. The precepts of the Bible taught him by his father, he made the rule of his life. He entered the service of his country from a sense of duty; devoted to the cause of the constitution, he laid down his life a willing sacrifice on the altar of universal liberty, and died in the defence of republican government. The army rested on the battle-field of Antietam during the night of the 17th, and on Thursday, the 18th, the hostile troops were, by a voluntary truce, on the field removing their wounded, and burying their dead. During Thursday night, General Lee silently withdrew his army across the Potomac, and retired into Virginia, and thus ended the enemy's first attempt to invade the Northern States. CHAPTER X. BURNSIDE'S CAMPAIGN-FREDERICKSBURG HOOKER'S CAM PAIGN CHANCELLORSVILLE. Camps at Sharpsburg-Effort to withdraw the Reserves-Resignation of Colonel Roberts-Colonel Potts-Major Todd--Colonels Talley -Baily-Kirk-Warner-General officers-Supplies for the soldiersMcClellan's delay-Ordered to advance-Stuart's raid-Advance into Virginia-March of the Reserves-McClellan relieved-Burnside assumes command-Plan of campaign-Organization of the armyMovement to Falmouth--Battle of Fredericksburg-Line of battleThe Reserves in the advance-Charge of the First and Third brigades -They pierce the enemy's line-Unsupported-Forced back-Casualties-General Jackson-Death of three sergeants-Captain O'RourkeGeneral Meade's report-Sumner's and Hooker's attacks- Withdrawal of the army to the north bank of the river-Second campaign-Burnside requests to be relieved-Hooker placed in command of the armyGeneral Meade promoted to the command of the Fifth corps-General Doubleday in command of the Reserves-The Reserves transferred to Washington-Hooker's administration-Condition of the armyHooker's campaign-His plans-Movements-Battle of Chancellorsville-Jackson's assault on the Eleventh corps-Desperate fightingDeath of Colonel Peissner-Generals Berry and Whipple-Sedgwick victorious at Fredericksburg-The Sixth corps struggles against Lee's whole army-Hooker retreats across the river-Loss in both armies. As soon as General McClellan had ascertained that the forces of the enemy had withdrawn from Maryland, he determined to reorganize his army, and to rest his troops. The several corps established comfortable camps, on the bank of the Potomac between Williamsport and Harper's Ferry, and in Pleasant valley below Sandy Hook. The Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, which had marched from the State fourteen months before the battle of Antie tam, a corps of fifteen thousand men, with well proportioned and thoroughly organized arms of infantry, artillery, and cavalry, was now a mere brigade, mustering less than four thousand men fit for duty. While the army was at Sharpsburg, the governors of the loyal States called on President Lincoln to confer with His Excellency on the subject of recruiting the old regiments in the field, up to their maximum strength. At the request of the President, the governors addressed him in writing, each setting forth the plan proposed for recruiting in his own State. The following is the letter from Governor Curtin: PENNSYLVANIA EXECUTIVE MANSION, SIR: I have the honor to refer to some of the topics of our conversation last week, at which time you were pleased to say, that you desired the governors of the loyal States present to put their suggestions in writing. "I proposed, at that time, to fill the regiments in service most reduced by the casualties of war, by retiring a given number from the more active service with the armies in the presence of the enemy, and having filled them and obtained a perfect re-organization, return them to the field and retire others until they were all filled to the standard established by the government, in the meantime supplying their places in the field with new regiments. I named ten regiments as the number to be retired at each time from this State. Most of our regiments that have participated in the recent battles are reduced to mere skeletons, and although we have furnished about fifteen thousand recruits for regiments from this State, no efficient strength has been given to any of them. "The Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, numbering thirteen regiments of infantry, one regiment of cavalry, and one of artillery, with a numerical strength of fifteen thousand seven hundred and sixty men, were taken into the service of the United States in July, 1861, immediately after the first battle at Manassas. The thirteen regiments of infantry did not muster four thousand men after the battle of Antietam. All of these regiments are much reduced in number, whilst many of them can scarcely be said to retain regimental organizations. The brilliant history of the Reserve Corps in the war, and the State pride which has followed them since they entered the service, together with the circumstances surrounding their organization, would, I have no doubt, prove such incentives to enlistment that the Corps could be filled to the maximum in a short space of time. "I suggest that the Corps be returned to the State, and placed in the camp at this Capital, and, if I am correct in my impression, the success would affect the minds of our people favorably and other regiments in the service could be filled in their turn promptly. "It is proper that, in this connection, I should say that the suggestions reflect the opinion of all the officers of the Corps, I take this opportunity of again renewing the sugges tions of all the governors on the occasion referred to, that so far as consistent with the interests of the public service, sick and wounded volunteers be taken to the hospitals within the State in which they were enlisted. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. G. CURTIN. To His Excellency, A. LINCOLN, President." Not receiving any reply to this communication, on the 9th of October, His Excellency, the Governor, addressed a similar letter to General McClellan, who thought favorably of the plan, but having immediate use for the troops, was unwilling to retire them at that time. Finding it impossible, therefore, to fill up the skeleton regiments by recruiting in the State, the officers commenced. the work of re-organization. Many of the regiments were commanded by captains; companies were commanded by non-commissioned officers, and the division had become so reduced in strength, that it became necessary to reinforce it by the addition of other regiments. |