54TH PENNSYLVANIA, C O M P A N Y A The Union Messenger
VOLUME IV, ISSUE II J U N E 2 0 2 1 Two 1861 Events Kick Off 2021 Season
Daniel Lady Farm, Gettysburg, That evening, while the men Army then settled in for an even- PA-Fourteen members of the joyously celebrated driving the ing of enjoyment knowing that tomorrow will bring on battle 54th participated in our first foe, we were treated to another culinary masterpiece from Miss with the rebels. reenactment of 2021. The Com- As the sun rose over the valley Leslie. The men promptly named pany voted to portray the 11th on Saturday, Captain Gallaher it Bull Stew in honor of our hard- NY Fire Zouaves for the 160th was placed in command of the fought victory. Anniversary of First Bull Run, company. He then noticed that reprising our role from the 150th The next day, following church several members of the Army Bull Run. Recruited from the call, the 54th marched out to had foraged at the local market different fire companies in New battle once more, and resumed for coffee and breakfast, so he York City, the Fire Zouaves wore our position in support of the and 1st Sergeant Beam decided distinct uniforms at First Bull Run Union artillery again. After a to investigate it for themselves. comprising of dark blue trousers, deadly artillery bombardment, in This was followed by firing and red fireman’s shirts, and a fez or which one Union gun crew un- maneuvering drill as commanded I N S I D E havelock over a kepi. leashed a secret butt cannon, the by the Colonel of the 1st Loyal THIS ISSUE: Saturday started with a bit of Confederate infantry marched Virginia Regiment. The company drill which helped knock off the onto the field. performed beautifully and look Company 2 prepared to handle anything the News rust accumulated over 2020 and We again deployed to protect the long winter. During battalion the guns, and, for a time, held rebels could throw at them. At Civilians 3 drill, it was discovered one of the the Confederates at bay. More about 1:30 pm, the men noticed Corner members of the 1st PA Reserves Confederate reinforcements that locals were mentioning that Charlotte Eliza- 3 secretly corresponded with a came on the field and slowly Confederates could be seen in beth McKay Confederate cavalry trooper. He started to drive us back. The town. A squad was sent to occu- was promptly executed for his regiment reformed behind the py the covered bridge in the Camp of 4 indiscretion. guns, charged back into the town while the rest of the regi- Instruction That afternoon, we marched out battle, but, eventually, were ment, including the FVB compa- Guarding the 4 to the battlefield and were forced off the field. ny, was sent down the railroad B&O-Pt. VII placed in support of the Union Respectfully Submitted, tracks towards the bridge in hopes of outflanking the inevita- Sutler’s Tent 5 artillery. After our cavalry drove Capt. Chris Baran off their Confederate counter- ble rebel assault. As expected, parts, Confederate infantry en- Philippi the Confederates attacked the Campaign 5 bridge, but the Union squad was tered the battle, and we de- As reports of Confeder- Schedule forced to fall back before the ployed with the rest of Second ates massing in Philippi, Virginia, Regiment. After a hard, stand up the 54th PA boarded a train and remainder of the regiment could fight, the Confederates slowly arrived about 2 hours later in a arrive. Attempts to recapture the started to give ground. Yelling small town in the hills of western bridge by successive assaults Virginia. We joined our brother our battle cry, we drove the Con- down the railroad tracks by pla- regiments of the 142nd PA and 1st federates back towards their toons led by our experienced PA Reserves and set up our first sergeants were unsuccessful artillery on Henry House Hill. campsite behind the Barbour and eventually the Union compa- County Courthouse. The Union nies had to retire. (Cont on Pg 2) P A G E 2 Treasurers Report Sgt. Kohan
Current Balance Colors Update If you would like to make a Checking: $1282.34 Three years ago, we placed donation towards the Colors, an order for a Regimental you can send PayPal pay- Savings: $247.00 Color. ments to 54thpa- [email protected] make a dona-
We also had to repair our tion at our GoFund Me page -As of April 23, 2020 National Colors. The new https:// colors should be ready soon. www.gofundme.com/54th- Deposits The company will attend pa-reenactors-battle-flags , -None Stahlstown’s Flax Schutching or can send a check to Festival, our only paid event George. Expenses this year, to help raise the Share the above information -$25-Insurance Certificate for money. A large turnout will Flax Scutching Festival with anyone you think may be greatly appreciated. like to contribute!
Philippi Continued
Despite the failure of tions, but after a back and decided to assault across the the assaults, the maneuvering forth fight we drove them out bridge and catch them una- “...the locals came out and volleys of the company for good. We then joyfully wares. Just as we approached and appreciated our were far superior than could returned to camp where the the end of the bridge, the be expected of such green revelry lasted well into early Confederates came out of determination with troops. Upon arriving back in morning. their camp and attempted to gifts of gun powder, camp, the locals came out and assemble a battleline down appreciated our determination Sunday morning the road in front of us. We water, watermelon, with gifts of gun powder, wa- arrived and we were told an- leapfrogged down the road by ter, watermelon, and some- other hot, sunny day was in companies and our continuous and something they thing they called popsicles. store. Captain Black arrived on firing and pressure never al- the field and took command of called popsicles.” They then invited the company lowed the Confederates to to town for a chicken dinner the company. Captain Gallaher mount a proper defense. Our followed by an ice cream so- was transferred to another companies were then com- cial as a token of their grati- company as their commander bined and a final push by the tude. That evening the army had fled the night before. The entire regiment drove the decided to attempt to recap- Colonel informed the men that rebels out of town for good. ture the bridge again, this time due to the weather permission Following battle, the company under the cover of darkness. was granted to tear down our marched back to camp where At about 10 pm we moved out campsites and prepare our- we wished each other well and of our camp and headed to the selves for battle as we saw fit. a safe journey home knowing far end of the bridge. Follow- Around 1:30 we headed out we would soon see each other ing a fierce, deafening battle from our camp in a column of again. on the bridge, we were able to companies and headed to- reach the other side and drove wards the bridge leading into the rebels out of their posi- town. We then were told by Respectfully, tions. They mounted a valiant locals that the rebels are still Captain Darren Gallaher sleeping in their camps so we attempt to reclaim their posi-
THE UNION MESSENGER VOLUME IV, ISSUE II P A G E 3
Civilian Corner By Karen Largent
Happy Summer! We had a love- and gave us something new to Civilian Clothing Needed! ly turnout of ladies at our first do! The unit currently has loaner gear event for the year. 5 ladies As always, we are always look- for soldiers, including uniforms, attended the event at the Dan- ing for new civilians for our leathers, and rifles, but we don’t iel Lady Farm. It was so good to group. If you know of anyone have anything for civilians. see everyone and get back out who might like to try re- I’m currently leading an effort to there! enacting, just direct them to me start gathering anything civilian to Two of us (Ashley and I) got to or Chris. be part of the action during the lend out to people just entering the battle on Sunday. We were with hobby, or to use at our living histo- ries for visitors to try on. If you a group of ladies and children having a “picnic” on the battle- have anything your willing to do- “Charlotte nate, or see something for sale, field and had to run for our lives developed a when the Confederates drove please let me know! our Union boys back. It was fun reputation for the healthiest, God Life of Charlotte Elizabeth McKay, Civil War fearing, upstanding field hospital and Nurse-Part I By Ann C. Warneka was sought out by
Generals and
Charlotte Elizabeth McKay (McKee) when overwhelmed with wounded away from miasmata, by building Surgeons for (nee Johnson August 2nd, 1818 - soldiers, Charlotte wore her hair timber bunks. Requisitioning a April 10th 1894) was a Volunteer neatly, adorned with jewelry from stove, Charlotte created abundant assistance” Nurse with the Army of the Poto- her late husband and faced the hot meals from meager supplies; mac Field Hospitals during the chaos by commanding cleanliness she insisted on all forms of cleanli- American Civil War. Born in Water- and medical care. In September of ness, body and soul. Quickly ford Maine into a prominent, eru- 1862 Hospital #1 was Captured by adapting to military nursing, she dite military family. Colonel Paul the Confederate troops. Charlotte increased medical supplies by cor- Dudley Sargent, her Grandfather, and the hospital staff were forced responding with Maine Associa- served under General Washington to care for Confederate Soldiers. tions. Charlotte spent 40 months during the Revolutionary War. Her Whilst prisoner, she sagaciously traveling from battlefield to battle- father, Dr. Abner Johnson served cared for all soldiers equally. Real- field. during the War of 1812. Mrs. izing that Confederate Soldiers By the Spring of 1863, after the McKay, Charlotte married William were young men, like her brother implementation Dr. Jonathan McKay, a jeweler. After only a few trying to make their way home. Letterman’s protocols, Charlotte years of marriage, she lost William In December of 1862, encour- developed a reputation for the and only child, five-year-old Julia to aged by the letters from her broth- healthiest, God fearing, upstanding illness. When the Rebellion threat- er Lieutenant Dudley Johnson, of field hospital and was sought out ened the dismemberment of the the 17th Maine; Charlotte joined by Generals and Surgeons for assis- Republic, Charlotte joined the the field hospital experiment. tance. Even then, she continued Nursing Corps. Despite receiving Charlotte traveled with Harriet the impractical search for Dudley two medals of honor, she received Sharpless to Fredericksburg Virginia no pay or pension. Serving as a to join the 1st Division 3rd Corps dedicated Christian nurse while under General David Bell Birney. silently searching for her brother. Immediately upon her arrival, Source: McKay, Charlotte E. (1876). Stories of Hospital and Camp. (Public On March 22nd 1862, Charlotte setting aside her desire to find her domain ed.). Scholar Select Claxton, joined the Volunteer Nursing brother, she began improvements Remsen and Haffelfinger Corps, under Dorothea Dix, at Hos- with the support of General Birney pital #1 Frederick City, Maryland. and his wife, Marie Antoinette Schultz, Jane E (2011). This Birthplace The following day, March 23, com- Birney. Under Charlotte's direc- of Souls; The Civil War Nursing Diary of menced Bull Run, one of the blood- tion, soldiers quickly elevated Harriet Eaton. Oxford University Press. iest battles of the Civil War. Even wounded off the damp ground, P A G E 4 Camp of Instruction-Saluting By Capt. Baran
One of the first things a soldier is to raise his hand to the toward the officer for the has to learn on entering the right side of the visor of same purpose… army is proper military deport- his cap, palm to the front, 52. ...When soldiers are ment towards his superiors in elbow raised as high as marching in the ranks, rank… the shoulder, looking at they do not salute, unless 48. Sgts...with muskets [will the same time in a re- ordered at the time. If salute] by bringing the spectful and soldier-like employed at any work, left hand across the body, manner at the officer, they are not expected to so as to strike the musket who will return the com- discontinue their employ- near the right shoulder. pliment thus offered. ment to salute Cpls out of the ranks, and 50. A NCO or soldier being 53. A soldier or NCO, when Pvts not sentries will car- seated, and without par- he addresses an officer, ry their muskets at a ticular occupation, will or is spoken to by one, shoulder...and salute in a rise on the approach of salutes; on receiving the like manner. an officer, and make the answer...he again salutes 49. When a soldier without customary salutation. If before [leaving]. arms, meets an officer, he standing, he will turn Source: Kautz’s 1865 Customs of Service
Guarding the B&O Railroad-Part VII By Chris Baran
Continuing our look at the Confederates never targeted The next day, Cpl. Kauffman “We were fired different locations guarded by Water Station No. 12 like they reported, “We were fired the 54th PVI along the B&O did some of the bridges guard- upon from different points by upon from different Railroad… ed by other companies of the bushwhackers; came to North Col Jacob Campbell assigned regiment. Capt. Graham kept river. The boys set fire gueril- points by Capt. Patrick Graham and his his men active by patrolling the la Captain Edwards’ barn; it men in Company E to guard surrounding area for any Con- was destroyed with its con- bushwhackers...” Water Station No. 12 along federates or bushwhackers. tents.” The patrols continued the B&O Railroad. The loca- The company also consolidat- into July. Cpl. Kauffman wrote tion is also very isolated, with ed with other elements of the on July 4, “…went on picket only a few small railroad 54th Pennsylvania when a larg- duty; nothing of importance shacks nearby. er Confederate force threat- happened, except hard duty Despite the remote location, ened other portions of the and scouting.” Water Station No. 12 served a railroad. very important role in the In June, 1862, after returning Sources: Storey, History of Cam- operation of the B&O Rail- from Company A’s position at bria County, Vol. 2. road. As the locomotives the bridge over the South made their way towrds the Branch of the Potomac, Com- western edge of the Allegheny pany E resumed patrolling. Mountains, they encountered Emboldened by Gen. Jackson’s an increasingly steep grade, recent occupation of the area, and used more fuel and water the guerilla leaders expanded than on the flatter grades their pillaging. Col. Campbell along the Potomac River. To responded by ordering the ensure their steam powered companies to patrol farther trains did not need to carry from their base camps. Cpl. extra fuel, the railroad built Kauffman wrote in his diary on several stations for their trains June 13, “Capt. Graham with to stop at as they approached 38 men started on a scout- Water Station No. 12 today looking the mountains, such as Water tour and got as far as down the remains of the RR bed. The Station No. 12. Company E Georgetown; laid over until… water station and wood shed were guarded the water station and our guide arrived, then pro- located in the tree line along the left of a large woodhouse. ceeded to the Cross Roads.” the photo
THE UNION MESSENGER VOLUME IV, ISSUE II P A G E 5 The Sutler’s Tent
Vintage Jewelry interested, contact him at: Zachary's fiance, Jessica, launched [email protected] her vintage jewelry business on Rifle for Sale Etsy and facebook. Beautiful jewel- Eric Jones is selling a defarbed 1861 ry. Just take a look! Springfield rifle for $825. If inter- Munitions https://www.etsy.com/shop/ ested, contact him at: JessicaLJewelryShop? Contact Capt. Baran [email protected] ref=ss_profile&fbclid=IwAR2CK7Tu Unit Decals [email protected] O81WqTWmb7jbjTP0w4kegTl88SY (12) 1 lb. Black Powder-$20 5VdmakaIrpIP25bHdFnOLYiE Scott Snow is producing the unit decal to the right for $4. If inter- each For Sale ested, contact him at: Percussion Caps: Andrew Collins is currently selling a [email protected] (19) 100 ct.-$10 each uniform and set of leathers. If Campaign Schedule
Gettysburg Fort Mulligan Antietam July 3-4 August 21 September 18-19
$25 Walk-On -Event is free! Just let Capt. $20 until August 10, $25 Late Baran know you would like to Registration After August 10, More information at: https:// attend and fight in a period Walk-On Higher gbpa.networkforgood.com/ for the 54th helped build! events/24728-2021-battle-of- More information at: https:// gettysburg -Free pound of powder for danielladyfarm.com/events those participating in the bat- GPS Address: 297 Stein- tle. GPS Address: 297 Stein- wehr Avenue wehr Avenue Gettysburg, PA 17325 -Free lunch for all reenactors! Gettysburg, PA 17325
-GPS Address: 115 Virginia Ave, Petersburg WV 26847
Peterburg Living History August 13-15 Flax Scutching Festival Stahlstown, PA Our brothers in the 142nd September 18-19 PVI have invited us to join them at their living history on -Event is free! Petersburg National Battle- field. -Paid event for the 54th!
The event is free. If you’re -Let Capt. Gallaher know you interested in attending let are interested in attending. Capt. Black know! GPS Address: Fort Mulligan Today 1703 Route 711 Stahlstown, PA 15687 Telegraph Office
Unit Officers Contact or follow us at: Field Commander Capt. Chris Baran E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] Website: www.54thpvi.com President Capt. Darren Gallaher Facebook: [email protected] Page- Company A, 54th PA Infantry
Civilian Coordinator Group– 54thPVI Co.A Karen Largent [email protected] Instagram: 54thpennsylvaniavolunteers
Twitter: @54thpvi
GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/54th-pa -reenactors-battle-flags Parting Shots Philippi Bull Run