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ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SECOND REGIMENT.
In the month of July, 1862, Emlen Franklin, of the city of Lancaster, who had served as Captain in the First Regiment,
received authority from Governor Curtin to recruit a regiment for nine months' service. Establishing a camp a mile and a half
east of Lancaster, recruiting was actively prosecuted, and with remarkable rapidity fourteen companies were organized, and
assembled at the rendezvous. On the 12th of August, ten of these were organized in a regiment, designated the One Hundred
and Twenty-second, with the following field officers:
Emlen Franklin, Colonel;
Edward M'Govern, Lieutenant Colonel;
Thaddeus Stevens, Jr., Major.
The regiment was almost exclusively from Lancaster county, and with the exception of a few of the officers, its
members had little knowledge of military duty. Company drill was promptly commenced, but before it had been carried very
far, the regiment was ordered to Washington, the disasters of Pope's campaign rendering it necessary that all available forces
should be gathered about the Capital. Upon its arrival, on the 16th of August, it was reported to General Casey, then in command
of the defences of the city. After a few days' delay, it moved to Fairfax Court House, where it was assigned to General Piatt's
Brigade, which subsequently became the Third,* of the Third Division, Third Corps. While in front of Washington, it was moved
from point to point, occupying successively Fort I. Richardson, a position at Cloud Mills, at a point opposite Georgetown,
and at Fairfax Seminary, spending little time at any one place.
Upon the return of the army into Virginia from the campaign in Maryland, the brigade joined it, and subsequently went
into camp near Falmouth. On the 11th of December, Burnside, now in command of the army, put his columns in motion for an attack
on the enemy holding the heights above
Fredericksburg. Having forced a crossing of the river, he attacked on the 13th. Unsuccessful in his first assaults, he
ordered Hooker, who had held a part of his corps in reserve, to advance towards evening to the relief of his thinned lines.
One of Hooker's divisions was thrown in, and suffered severely. But the One Hundred and Twenty-second, occupying a position
on the extreme right of the line, was not involved, and hence suffered no loss in the battle. On the
night of the 15th it re-crossed the river, and returned again to camp.
In Organization of the Third Brigade, General Don Piatt, Third Division, General A. V. Whipple, Third Corps, General Stoneman,
subsequently General Sickles. Eighty-sixth
Regiment New York Volunteers, Colonel Benjamin P. Bailey; One Hundred and Twentyfourth Regiment New York Volunteers, Colonel
A. Van Horn Ellis; One Hundred and Twenty-second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Eimlen Franklin.
1863 NINE MONTHS' SERVICE.
Burnside's second attempt to move, the regiment marched,enndured the peltings of the storm as did the rest of the army,
and when the project was abandoned, on account of the depth of the mud, returned again to camp.
The regiment moved with the corps under General Sickles, on the 28th of April, on the Chancellorsville campaign, and proceeding
to a point below Fredericksburg, opposite Franklin's crossing of the PRappahannock in the
Fredericksburg campaign, halted and remained until the morning of the 30th, when it moved rapidly up to United States
Ford, and crossing, re-joined the main body under Hooker, near Chancellorsville. On the 1st of May, Sickles
occupied a position upon the right centre of the line of battle, holding Whipple's Division in reserve, his front line
throwinSg up a breast-work. On the evening of the 2d, Stonewall Jackson, who had succeeded in bringing his
command across the front of the entire Unionl army, from left to right, massed it and charged with his characteristic
impetuosity. The Eleventh Corps,
which held the right, was broken and driven in. The tide of disaster swept on towards the centre; but when it reached
Sickles, it was fortunately checked, Jackson was mortally wounded, and the rebel columns were stayed. During
the night, Sickles re-formed his lines, bringing tip the division of Whipple, and by a bold night attack pushed back the
enemy and regained a part of the lost breast-works, posting his artillery so as to sweep the open ground about
the Chancellor House.
At early dawn the battle opened in Sickles' front, with terrible earnestness, the rebels seeming determined to break through,
and by unwonted daring to avenge the fall of their leader. " In the annals of this war, " says an eye
witness. "there has been no greater manifestation of desperation than that shown by the rebels this Sunday morning.
They came through the woods in solid mass, receiving in their faces the terrible hail storm which burst like the fury of a
tornado from Berry's and Birney's lines, from Whipple's and Williams', which were at once advanced to the front. The batteries-the
forty pieces of
artillery under Best-hurled in the grape and canister. The advancing column was cut up and gashed as if pierced, seamed,
and ploughed by invincible lightning. Companies and regiments melted away, yet still they came. Berry and
Birney advanced to meet them. They were terrible shocks. The living waves rolled against each other as you have seen the
billows on a stormy sea. The enemy, as if maddened by the obstinacy of these handfuls of men, rushed up
to the muzzles of the cannon, only to be swept back, leaving long lines of dead where the grape swept through. But Sickles
could not hold out against the tremendous odds. Gradually he was driven in. A new line was taken in rear of the first, more
contracted and more easily defensible, which was fortified, and against this the fury of the storm spent itself. The loss
of the regiment in this desperate encounter, was one hundred and thirty-five in
killed and wounded. General Whipple received a mortal wound, and died on the field. His remains were forwarded to Washington,
and thither the regiment was ordered to proceed to act as escort at his funeral. At the conclusion of these sad rites, its
term of service having now expired, it was ordered to Harrisburg, where, onl the 15th and 16th days of May, it was mustered
out of service.
* Moore's Rebellion Record, Vol. VI, page 595-6,
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SECOND REGIMENT,
FIELD AND ST1AFF OFFICERS.
DATE OF MUSTER
INTO SERVICE.
Emlen Franklin..... Colonel: Aug. 15,'62. Mustered out with regiment, May 15, 1863.
Edward M'Govern..l Lt. Col. Oct. 1,'61, Pr. from Capt. Co. G, 79th regiment P. V., Aug. 12,
1862,'-mustered out with regiment, May 15, 1863.
Thad. Stevens, Jr... Major.. Aug. 12,'62, Promoted from Captain company B1, Aug. 14,'62mustered out with regiment, May.15,
1863.
Daniel- H. Heitshu.. Adj..... Aug. 11,'62, Promoted from ist Lt. company D, Aug. 14, 1862mustered out with regiment, May
15, 1863.
John T. M'Gonigle.. Q. M... Aug. 14,'62, Mustered out with regiment, I:ay 15, 1863.
William C. Lane.... Surg... Sept. 15,'62, Mustered out with regiment, MIay 15, 1863.
Washington Burg.. As. Sur, Sept. 21,'62, Mustered out with regiment, May 15, 1863.
I. C. Hogendobler.... do.. Sept. 15,'62, Mustered out with regiment, May 15, 1863.
Elim Kirlk;....C... hap'nl Aug. 11,'62, Promoted from private company G, Aug. 14, 1862I ustered out with regiment, May
15, 1863.
Win. H. H. Buckius Sr. Maj Aug. 11,'62, Promoted from Sergt. company A, Aug. 13, 1862mustered out with regiment, May 15,
1863.
Jacob Martin......... Q.M. Sr Aug. 11,'62, Promoted from private company D, Aug. 14,'62mustered out with regiment, Miay
15, 1863.
Daniel S. Bursk......Comn. Sr Aug. 11,'62, Promoted from Sergt. company C, Aug. 14, 186 —
I,, umustered out with regiment, May 15, 1863.
Andrew N. Thomas Hos. St! Aug. 11,'62, Promoted from private company A, Aug. 14,'62~~I ~ mustered out with regiment, Mlay
15, 1863.
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