Bethesda church, June 30. 1864, drank of the noblest blood, the state could afford, when these men fell.

CHAPTER III.
"On To The Front."

amp Wayne was left behind, on July 21st, when the First regiment with other Reserve troops, were ordered to rendezvous at Harrisburg, on their way to the front.

All along the way, from the latter place, the people were in the rage of excitement, owing to the disaster at Bull-run, the previous day, (21st,) and when we reached Baltimore, a delegation of the city authorities and police, waited on Col. Roberts, who was in command of all troops then moving to the front, and urged him not to attempt a passage through the city. Our commanders characteristic reply was, "Gentlemen! we have not come down here hunting for safe places, my men are thoroughly equipped, and will march through the city."

On the morning of the 23rd, we advanced through the city, the only peculiarity, noticeable, being the scarcity of Baltimore fire-eaters and plug-uglies.

Having passed through the heart of the city without any disturbance whatever, we camped on Carroll Hill, in the suburbs, and here on the 24th of July, we were mustered into the U. S. Service, for three years or during the war.

July 26th, the non-Commissioned officers were increased to 5 sergeants, and 8 corporals, A. L. C. Woods being appointed 5th sergeant, and S. A. Young, I. N. Durboraw, I. M. Brandon and H. W. Caufman, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th corporals, respectively.

On the 28th, we left this camp, and marched toward Washington D. C. but at Annapolis Junction we, with three other companies of the regiment, went into camp, while the ballance of the regiment went to Annapolis.

Lieut. Herron resigned on the 14th, and Capt. McPherson on the 24th of August; an election was accordingly held, and resulted in the promotion of W. W. Stewart, to 1st Lieut. and J. D. Sadler, to 2nd Lieut. while Lieut. Bailey was made Captain in the regular line of promotion.

On August 30th, we moved with the regiment, to camp Tennally, north west of Wasington city, and at no great distance from the same.

Here a general promotion of non-commissioned officers took place, and when finished, they stood in the following order on the company rolls.

H. N. Minnigh, Orderly Serg't, J. J. Duey, P. H. Henry, A. L. C. Woods and P. L. Houck, Sergeants in the order named. S. A. Young, I. N. Durboraw, I. M. Brandon, H. W. Caufman, C. Z. Tawney, Geo. E. Kitzmiller, H. Knox Danner and Jacob Resser, Corporals.

Eight recruits joined the company and were mustered in Sep't 3rd, beside these, only six others ever joined the company, and they came and were mustered in on Sep't 4th, 1862. (See roll.)

September 16th, the Penn'a Reserves, were fully organized as a Division, with Gen'l Geo. A. McCall as Division commander, and Gen'l Jno. F. Reynolds, in command of the First Brigade, to which Brigade our Regiment was attached.

And now followed many weary days, consisting of Company, Regimental and Brigade drill, also, daily details of men, who assisted in building Fort Pennsylvania, erected by the Reserves, an occasional review or "Fall in," which merely meant an exhaustive standing in line for hours together, "the divil knows phwat fore," said Barney, none of which was much enjoyed by the boys, who were eager to cross the Potomac, whip the Jonnies, and then go home. Many amusing things transpired at this camp, of which we may speak later on.

CHAPTER IV.
The Work of the Company.

With Chapter Fourth, we enter upon the Second division of our projected plan, viz., "The work of the company."

October 9th, we crossed the Potomac river, and entered upon the "sacred soil of Virginia," and formed a winter camp at Langley, known as Camp Pierpont.

Here we tried to be comfortable, but the severe exposure with constant camp and picket duty, wrought upon the men who never knew else, than to live under the sheltering roofs of comfortable homes, "up in the north-land."

November 26. Jesse Shank, of York Springs, Pa, and December 4, Geo. W. Myers, of the same place, died, and were sent home for burial. But the winter wore away, and weary of the monotonous routine of duty, we waited eagerly for the spring-time, and the anticipated forward movement.

March 10, we broke camp and joined in the advance of the Army of the Potomac, under Gen'l G. B. McClellan, and on the evening of the first days march, camped at Hunter's Mill, Va.

We stayed here three days, and then moved in the direction of Alexandria, where we arrived, through rain and mud, and went into camp, the advance movement having developed the fact, that the confederate army had abandoned Manasses and gone southward.

April 9th, we moved forward on the line of the Orange & Alex'a R. R. by way of Manasses and Warrenton junctions, to Catlett's station, and finally down the north bank of the Rappahannock river to Falmouth opposite Fredericksburg, where we encamped.

May 26th, we crossed the river, and took possession of that city, encamping on the heights westward.

This, and the former camp at Falmouth, were decidedly the pleasantest camps in our three years service.

On June 8th, the Division was ordered to join McClellan's forces on the peninsula. We accordingly embarked at Bell's landing on the 9th, and after a voyage of 20 hours, disembarked at White-house landing on the Pamunkey river. After various marches and counter-marches we finally encamped on June 18th, on the extreme right of the army, near Mechanicsville.

And now came the famous Seven days Battles, the very thought of which, causes an involuntary tremor to pass through the whole being, days of horror and bloodshed, of humiliation and death. We cannot even hope to give an adequate portrayal of these horrors.

CHAPTER V.
Battle of Mechanicsville.

The 26th of June, found the command on the Picket line, from which we were hurriedly recalled, only to find our camp had disappeared and our private property gone "where the woodbine twineth," but in time to take our place in line with other troops, who were ready to meet the confederates, who were reported as advancing in our immediate front. We were ordered by special detail with our Regiment, to support Cooper's battery. I need not write up this battle in full detail, for those who were there, remember well, the onward rush of the enemy, how two whole divisions under Gen'l Lee, (a fact developed more recently,) at 3 p. m. threw themselves upon our line, only to be hurled back amid great slaughter, how amid the shriek of shell and flashing musketry they still advanced, how our 58 caliber elongated balls now for the first time were sent on missions of death, and with what execution, how Craig Wisotskey fell, and in few moments expired, one limb being literally torn from the body, when Hamilton and Siplinger were wounded and assisted from the field, how at length the shades of night fell, putting an end to the conflict.

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.

We slept on our arms that night, and at the early dawn we were withdrawn, contrary to the wishes of the Reserves who had held the ground against five times their number, but we did not then know that Jackson had come from the Shenandoah with 40,000 men, and was in our rear.

The forces north of the Chickahominy took up a new position at Gaines' mill, sometimes