Silas Cooke
(From a recent Photograph)
The names of the following recruits had been added to the roll: William A. Jackson, Florence, Pa., mustered in as a private, Feb. 29, '64; John W. Tucker, Florence, Pa., mustered in as a private, March 1, '64; James A. Cummins, Cross Creek, Pa., mustered in as a private, March 29, '64. These additions made the number on our roll, May 1, 1864, sixty-four. Excluding those on detached duty and the absent sick and Lieut. Cook, a prisoner, and we had but 47 for all duty on the battlefield.
J. Smith Graham was promoted sergeant in vacancy caused by the death of Shindle, and James C. Lyle took Graham's place as corporal. John A. McCalmont served as corporal in the Color Guard. Lieut. Ray was by detail in command of K from May 1st through May 8th. Captains Linton and Kerr and a Lieutenant of Co. E also had command of K at different times during the absence of her own commissioned officers. Corporal Cooke says that Capt. Kerr had the command at Spottsylvania C.H.
As the writer was not with the Company when the Army of the Potomac began its famous on to Richmond under Grant in May, and until the latter part of June, when the 140th was before Petersburg, he depends mostly upon what the comrades who were present can furnish for K. And he congratulates his comrades in having Corporal Cooke to aid in the matter. He speaks for K up to May 12th, when a wound laid him aside and he was no more with us. He tells us that in passing over the Chancellorsville battleground he gathered some flowers, which he sent home, and they are preserved unto this day. He tells us of the charge the 140th made in the Wilderness, when the rebels were massing to break the Union lines in a weak place. Col. Frazier, thinking we had better be doing something as the balls were falling thick about us as we lay in line of battle, received permission of Gen. Miles to go in on a charge. The Colonel gave his orders, and, it goes for the saying, they were executed. We went in on the double-quick (the double-quick of the 140th was always a run), yelling like mad, halted as we reached position beyond and over a small remnant of the Irish Brigade, then fired front, then right, then left, then front until no enemy returned our fire. Prisoners taken reported that we broke by these volleys three lines of battle, and, night coming on, they gave up their charge, thinking a large force was in their front. Gen. Hancock gave us great praise for it. So quickly was it done that but few casualties occurred. Cooke was hit on right thigh by a spent bullet, cutting clothing and breaking a pocket knife, badly bruising but not disabling him.
K took part in another charge on May 8th at Todd's Tavern, but suffered terribly there. Comrade Isaac Miller says that it was known as the "Cracker Fight," because Commissary Noble was in the act of issuing rations of crackers when the onset came. Cooke says that the 140th (except K and another Company) were on picket, under Capt. McCullough. K and the other Company were lying in the edge of a woods, along which a road ran, turning into the woods just where they lay; and the rebels came up on the opposite side of the valley and opened fire. Gen. Miles, riding along, was compelled to seek shelter. Abram Andrews of K was struck and bruised some. As Gen. Miles passed on, Col. Brady thought he would do something, and ordered part of his Regiment, lying to the right, to charge out over an open field in our front and down into the valley in open view of the rebels. Then he ordered our two companies to charge out on the left of his men, and to cheer as we went in. And there in one volley many of K fell. Cooke was first in file. The one in his rear and six to his left were killed or wounded. The killed were John Maloy and John W. Tucker. Many of the wounded were left on the field, as the Union lines were pushed back. I cannot refrain from relating what Isaac Miller told me in a letter written Aug. 19, '04. A sad story, indeed! He was severely wounded in leg and thigh. Was at the foot of the Company. John Maloy was at the head; and both fell and lay the Company's length apart. Maloy was wounded about in same place as Miller. They could not move, but could talk to each other. Miller lay there for five days, then the rebels carried him back to a barn and later to their field hospital. He plead for Maloy. But they said he was too far gone. On the eighth day he died, so they told Miller; and then, at Miller's appeal, they promised to bury him. Who could keep the tears back when told of how one of our brave comrades thus gave up his life in the service of his country? It is some relief to hear it whispered that in those long days of suffering some ladies of the farm did what they could to care for him and others like him. Let us hope it was so, and that the angels of God's love comforted him.
Cooke says that Tucker fell before him at the rail fence where we stopped to fire, pierced in the temple by a ball, and there George Sprowls had his hair combed by a ball that took the cap from his head. Cooke adds, "Then came the order to fall back to main line. It was a beautiful but sorrowful Sabbath day. Then came the Po river excursion, where the whole line in the darkness fired at a dog—the artillery duel, where a number of our boys perished as we lay behind our battery. Then the all night march through the rain and mud to Spottsylvania—the massing of troops, and, at early dawn, the famous charge of the 2nd Corps, through the open fields upon the rebel breast-works, over them and along them to the right, capturing two batteries, three Generals, with Johnson's whole Division as prisoners; on down works to right, then out towards enemy's second line. Murky, foggy, no rebels to be seen, but balls flying thick as evidence of their presence; when thud! a ball took me in the right side and arm, whirling me round and down. I was just crawling toward the protection of a small earthwork in the rear of the main works when I looked up and saw George Ralston coming along. He helped me back as far as the provo-guard, passing on our way Jim Cummins, wounded through both thighs. It was the last seen of the brave recruit of 16 years. Ralston left me sitting with my back against a tree. Then a drummer boy helped me back to an empty army wagon used as an ambulance. As chance would have it, Will Powelson, also wounded, got into same wagon and rode to the Corps hospital. We kept together until we got to hospital at Pittsburg, Pa., and remained together till he went back to the Regiment. A splendid friend. That ride in an army wagon with an ounce ball grinding around near my back bone was the most excruciating experience I ever had. I have the ball yet. Can say I caught one ball and stopped another in those two innings. How many I struck out I do not know."
On receiving an intimation of a little coup de maitre on the part of Corp'l Cooke that eventful morning, I wrote him, insisting on knowing about it. I will here relate only the bare facts. Cooke was alone when he mounted a portion of the breast-works, where there were transverse sections about every 24 feet and running back about 20 feet. One of our officers had been shot down who attempted going over just before he did. As Cooke reached the top he saw about 20 Johnnies back against the muddy excavations, waving their hats and cheering vociferously. He looked as fierce as he could and yelled, "Get back here!" pointing to our rear, and those Johnnies as one man obeyed, going over the works as directed like as many monkeys; and, as he turned to look, they were going pell mell for our rear, never looking back. He says he could never devise a satisfactory explanation of their actions. But he knows of the fact, and feels confident that he helped to swell the number of prisoners that morning.
K's loss in killed and wounded that day amounted to more than one-third of those engaged. There were four killed: The Cummins brothers, Benjamin and James; Joseph Guess and John Makeown—all most excellent soldiers, as were the two killed on the 8th of May. This reduced the number on our roll to 58. Among the severely wounded was George Sprowls, who fell into the hands of the enemy. Thus our losses from the ranks on May 8th to 12th were: 6 killed, 16 wounded, and of the wounded two were prisoners—Isaac Miller and George Sprowls.
During that fearful day of struggle in the "Bloody Angle," a detail was called for from Brigade headquarters, out of the 140th—two from K—to bring off the cannon the rebels had left in their flight when Hancock charged the Salient, but which were now between the lines. Abram Andrews and Norris Metcalf volunteered from K, and they did their share of shouting when the feat was accomplished.
During the next 31 days, which brought the 2nd Corps through a number of hard marches, hotly contested skirmishes and battles to the south side of the James river, K bore an honorable part. At the time the army was withdrawn to the north side of the North Anna river, in view of a change of base, K came near having a part of its number gobbled up by the rebels. As the army was retiring, K then in command of Lieut. Kerr, was among the troops that covered the movement, and were deployed on northern bank as pickets or skirmishers. The south side bank was 25 or 30 feet higher than the north one, and was lined with old rifle pits. The rebels followed and occupied these, from which they kept up a lively fire for some time. George Hanlin says that the river was narrow, 60 or 70 feet wide, and K's line had no protection but a few trees, which they hugged tighter than they did their sweethearts as they bid them adieu when first off for war, and could only take a shot now and then. Those good old trees! We see them yet, and we'll never forget them while memory holds her throne. Late in the day the enemy ceased firing. On a reconnoitering, the true condition was found out. Earlier in the day (as ascertained later) the order had been given calling off the pickets. This was to be done stealthily. From individual to individual the word was to be quietly passed—"fall back to rear." All went well till it came to George Johnson, who was hard of hearing and did not catch the command, nor was he in a position to notice the withdrawing. So he and all those in the Company that were to his right were left. Having no orders to retire, they staid at their posts. So, near sunset, being assured by two negroes, who had crossed the river, that the Johnnies "had sure done gone," they got together, Ralston taking command. All were at sea, not knowing where the Regiment had gone. But they went directly back from the river. A few miles on they saw in camp some cavalry. Ralston approached them to ascertain whether friends or foes. Happily he found friends, and gave the "all right" signal to the boys. It was Gen. Gregg's Cavalry, and he directed the boys to remain with his command till their Regiment could be located. This was done the third day after, when the Brigade was in vicinity of Rural Plains, and they were in time for a hand in the fight at Tolopotomy Creek. Then they were, in a few days, in the battles fought at Cold Harbor. In one of these Andrew Chester was severely wounded in left leg, and was disabled from further active service.