History of Company K of the 140th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers (1862-'65)

by Benjamin F. Powelson; Alexander Sweeney

No.	Names.	Residence.
1.	William A. F. Stockton, Captain	Cross Creek
2.	Alexander Sweeney, Jr., First Lieutenant	Washington
3.	William B. Cook, Second Lieutenant	Candor
4.	Benjamin F. Powelson, First Sergeant	Cross Creek
5.	Milton R. Boyd, Second Sergeant	Claysville
6.	Edward S. Alexander, Third Sergeant	West Alexander
7.	Thomas C. Hayes, Fourth Sergeant	Cross Creek
8.	Samuel K. Shindle, Fifth Sergeant	Cross Creek
9.	Silas Cooke, First Corporal	Cross Creek
10.	John D. McCabe, Second Corporal	Paris
11.	Isaac Donaldson, Third Corporal	Candor
12.	William R. H. Powelson, Fourth Corporal	Cross Creek
13.	George Ralston, Fifth Corporal	Donegal Twp.
14.	William L. Pry, Sixth Corporal	Cross Creek
15.	John F. Gardner, Seventh Corporal	Paris
16.	William Hanlin, Eighth Corporal	Paris
17.	George W. McConnell, Musician	Paris
18.	Allison, James B., Private	Claysville
19.	Andrews, Abram, Private	Cross Creek
20.	Andrews, Peter, Private	Cross Creek
21.	Arthur, James, Private	Paris
22.	Berryhill, James S., Private	Cross Creek
23.	Briggs, Lazarus, Private	Dunningsville
24.	Buchanan, Benjamin B., Private	Paris
25.	Butterfoss, Daniel J., Private	Paris
26.	Carter, George W., Private	Millsboro
27.	Carter, Jesse M., Private	Millsboro
28.	Carter, Thomas J., Private	Millsboro
29.	Chester, Andrew, Private	Dunningsville
30.	Chisholm, Isaac W., Private	Candor
31.	Cochran, James E., Private	Paris
32.	Conaway, Ezra, Private	Millsboro
33.	Corbin, David W., Private	Cross Creek
34.	Corbin, Joseph A., Private	Cross Creek
35.	Cummins, Benjamin H., Private	Cross Creek
36.	Daugherty, Michael, Private	West Alexander
37.	Davis, Andrew B., Private	Paris
38.	Day, John M., Private	Morris Twp.
39.	Dickson, Henry, Private	Dunningsville
40.	Dungan, Robert B., Private	Cross Creek
41.	Earnest, Benjamin F., Private	Claysville
42.	Fordyce, James H., Private	Claysville
43.	Frazier, Joseph C., Private	West Alexander
44.	Fulton, John, Private	Paris
45.	Gardner, George, Private	Paris
46.	Geary, William M., Private	Candor
47.	Golden, Isaac, Private	West Alexander
48.	Graham, Joseph Smith, Private	Cross Creek
49.	Guess, Joseph, Private	West Alexander
50.	Hanlin, George A., Private	Paris
51.	Hawthorn, Benjamin F., Private	Millsboro
52.	Henderson, John, Private	Paris
53.	Hull, Robert W., Private	Paris
54.	Johnson, George W., Private	East Finley
55.	Lyle, Robert, Private	Cross Creek
56.	Lyle, James C., Private	Cross Creek
57.	McCalmont, John A., Private	Candor
58.	McClurg, Robert, Private	Paris
59.	McConnell, Harrison, Private	Paris
60.	McCullough, Benjamin, Private	Candor
61.	McCurdy, James K., Private	Eldersville
62.	McElfish, Owen, Private	West Finley
63.	Magill, James K. P., Private	Cross Creek
64.	Makeown, John, Private	West Alexander
65.	Maloy, John, Private	Donegal Twp.
66.	Marshall, John, Private	Claysville
67.	Meldoon, Robert, Private	West Alexander
68.	Metcalf, Norris, Private	Eldersville
69.	Miller, William H., Private	Donegal Twp.
70.	Miller, Isaac. Private	Donegal Twp.
71.	Morris, Jesse J., Private	Millsboro
72.	Morrow, George, Private	Paris
73.	Mounts, Enoch, Private	Washington
74.	Nickeson, Colin R., Private	Claysville
75.	Nickeson, John W., Private	Claysville
76.	Noah, James L., Private	Eldersville
77.	Noble, Thomas L., Private	Claysville
78.	Porter, William, Private	West Alexander
79.	Pry, David McClurg, Private	Cross Creek
80.	Pry, Rebert A., Private	Cross Creek
81.	Rea, William, Private	Cross Creek
82.	Ruffner, William A., Private	Mound City
83.	Scott, Henderson, Private	Paris
84.	Scott, William, Private	Eldersville
85.	Seese, Nathaniel, Private	Candor
86.	Sprowls, George, Private	East Finley
87.	Sprowls, Jesse M., Private	East Finley
88.	Staley, Oliver, Private	West Alexander
89.	Star, George, Private	West Alexander
90.	Stollar, William, Private	Claysville
91.	Toppin, Johnson, Private	Millsboro
92.	Virtue, Robert, Private	Cross Creek
93.	Wheeler, Ulysses, Private	Eldersville
94.	Wilkins, Thomas, Private	Cross Creek
95.	Worstell, James, Private	Paris
96.	Wright, Marshall, Private	Paris

Thence by cars on the Pennsylvania Central R.R., from Pittsburg, with other Companies, this Company was taken to Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, where it became an integral part of the 140th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers at the organization of same, September 8th, 1862, and received the designation of Co. K, its position in line being the center of left wing. (A. F. D. I. C. H. E. K. G. B.) Here the Company was fully equipped, and the few days of bivouac on the beautiful Susquehanna were characterized by the making of us full fledged soldiers in the Union army, the first taste of camp life, and a number of refreshing baths in the river.

On the Regiment's being assigned to the guarding of the N.C.R.R., south of York, Pa., Co. K was stationed at Monkton, Md., about six miles south and distant from Parkton Md., "Camp Seward," the headquarters of the Regiment. It had several miles of railroad to guard, the chief point being a bridge about three miles below Monkton. Its quarters were dubbed "Ambolin Barracks," consisting of a bunk building of two stories, with a shed room attached as officers' quarters, and a cook house. A flag pole stood in front of the barracks from which "Old Glory" floated gracefully. The sergeants, a train of freight cars having been wrecked a short time after our being located there, resurrected a box car which had been thrown down an embankment, and thus improvised independent quarters for themselves, near the main building.

On October 13th the non-commissioned officers, as appointed by the Captain on the organization of the Company, received their certificates.

The period of duty here covered three months, the Company participating in all the Regimental drills, inspections, etc., marching to and from Parkton on the railroad tracks. The time was well put in, in drilling, and in the usual routine of barrack duties. Nothing occurred to mar the good name of the Company. The people of the vicinity were kind and considerate, and they respected the members of Co. K as gentlemen. The homes and assemblies of the people were open to them. Many things occurred to render the service here a pleasant one. The corn husking and big dinner at Bacon's plantation, the barn-floor husking and repast at Quaker Matthews', with his many favors to the guard at the lower bridge, and like recognitions, were greatly enjoyed by all who were privileged to participate. The soldier's plain fare was abundantly supplemented by the Diffendaffer's meals at from 10 cents and upwards, with the luscious apple dumplings and peach cobblers with unstinted measure of rich cream. Even now our mouths water as we think of those baked apple dumplings and richest of cream! And as Corporal Cook has written, "Where is the one who, when on guard at the upper bridge, does not even yet have a sneaking feeling creep over him when he remembers the old Frenchman's peach orchard, and the stuffed haversacks that got over the back fence in some way and were found at the guard station?" And no one in Co. K was the worse off if a few sacks of oysters were taken from the car with broken truck, side-tracked for a day or two; for that savory article of diet was just "too tempting," when the early November snow banks afforded so good and safe cold storage. Even the Captain enjoyed the extra diet, and suggested that "no trace be left behind." And there was none. For a tracer, sent out when a shortage was reported in Harrisburg, found none.

Several of us, too, remember very gratefully the little church up in the woods, and that one east of Monkton, whereto occasionally we turned our footsteps. Those days of soldiering had much of sunshine in them, which lightened materially the burden of a rigorous but useful military discipline. While here the Company was directed by special order to serve as guard of honor in the burial of Gen. Dixon S. Miles, mortally wounded at the surrender of Harper's Ferry, Sept. 15, 1862, whose body was laid to rest in the church cemetery a few miles east of Monkton. About the same time, too, our hearts were fired a little for more stirring service by the distant booming of cannon on the battlefield of Antietam.

Several of K were subjected to the ravages of fever prevailing here in the Regiment and incident to exposure and some lack in sanitary provisions. Silas Cooke, James C. Lyle, Thomas Wilkin, Wm. Porter, John Henderson, A. B. Davis and John Marshall tasted of the experiences of the hospital in the old stone church at Parkton. John Marshall was the first of the Company's losses. While in Parkton for drill and inspection he was badly hurt in going between two cars, and died Nov. 17th in the Regimental hospital from the injury and fever. Two others of the Company died in this hospital: John Henderson, on Dec. 7th, and Andrew B. Davis, on Dec. 9th. The name of Thomas L. Noble was dropped from our roll, he being on Nov. 28th transferred to the quartermaster's department by special order from Regimental headquarters. So, when the order came to leave for the army in the field, near Fredericksburg, Va., K's strength numbered but 92, and Silas Cooke, J. C. Lyle and Wm. Porter, sick, must be left behind in hospital at Little York, Pa. Our dead had been sent back for burial in their home burial places. Good soldiers they were, though they never saw much of the "grim visage" of war. On the morning of the 10th of December Co. K bid adieu to Monkton and marched with everything to Parkton, Col. Roberts having received orders to go to the front, the transportation to be ready that evening. It was with some feeling of regret that the members of K left Monkton, for they had become attached to the place and people, but the prospect of entering into more active and stirring soldier life captivated and filled everyone with enthusiasm, and the march to Parkton was made amid continuous peals of glee and cheerfulness. And so, as late in the evening the train passed down through Monkton, the generous cheering of people and soldiers showed how strong had become the ties of friendship.

Co. K shared with G a room in the Union Relief Association building in Baltimore the night of the 10th. At night on the 11th, the Regiment was crowded in old freight cars, open and destitute of arrangements for fire. The weather was cold, and the whole night was consumed on the way to the Capitol, causing no little suffering from cold, some keeping "courage up" by little fires kept burning on floor or seats from whittlings from pine benches.

Co. K was in her place as the 140th marched through Pennsylvania avenue, Washington City, with flying colors, about 4 p.m., on the 13th, setting out for Burnside's army. The first night's camping out was such a one as to be long remembered, in a wet bottom, with scarcely a redeeming feature. In K's memorandum it is styled as "Camp Misery." But the second night's lodging showed a commendable readiness for improvement in the school of experience, and Co. K was not behind in learning to accommodate itself to any conditions. So we dubbed that night's lodging amid the pines "Camp Hope." And so those days of marching, with sunshine and rain, with favorable and unfavorable news from the battle being waged at Fredericksburg, with the varied experiences on the way, were to the Company, a good schooling, for the strenuous and vigorous service upon which we were entering. From Aquia creek on to the front our illustrative lessons were those of war's desolations. The soldiers of our defeated army, returning to their former camping grounds, blackened with the smoke of battle, make an impression on the mind and heart of each of us as we march by them into a place designated for our camping ground. This was hailed as well selected, a woods where pines and oaks abounded, timely for the construction of winter quarters. This was at nightfall on the 20th of December, the closing of a week of real soldiering, testing well the men's powers of endurance. The reflections of the writer, as found in his memoranda book, express well the sentiments prevailing that Saturday night: "It seems refreshing to look out over our Company as the boys, with tents pitched, rest and commune in a spirit of contentment and good will. They sit beside blazing fires, pressed closer and closer to them by the cold wintry air. Some are crawling into their nests early—and gladly do they lay themselves down to rest, to dream of the dear ones left at home and of future happy days. Poor soldiers, rest in peace, with the consciousness that you are endeavoring to do your duty as God gives you opportunity. Remember, too, that while you are pilgrim soldiers here in this strange land, amid danger, sin and death, the prayers and good wishes of thousands follow you. Think of those loved ones in the pleasant home circle, encircled by all that makes life happy—think of your cherished institutions and sanctuary privileges; of your rich farms; of your prosperous towns and cities—your enterprising factories; your commerce; your country's religious freedom and civil liberty. Think of the cost in the purchase of this boon—the sacrifice of our forefathers—the shed blood of patriots. And think now of recreant hands uplifted to destroy our government, striking from our history its brightness, trampling under foot our glorious flag—symbol of our might. Think of these things, and feel proud of the position you occupy—soldiers for the Union."

Co. K's men showed a good degree of skill and efficiency in constructing the winter quarters, following with commendable accuracy the general instructions. So that in the remaining days of December the work was about fully done and the boys were at home in their village of booths, having in the same time become fairly well initiated in the requirements of the service, embracing all kinds of drill, in squad, Company, Regiment and Brigade, with inspections and reviews, an extensive review of the Right Grand Division (Sumner's) having taken place on the 23rd, Gen. Burnside being present. And K responded readily to her share of details for special duty, and for police, guard and picket duties. On the 18th day of January K shared in the delight of the Regiment in receiving Springfield rifles to supplant our old Austrian muskets. A glad good-bye to the old kickers!