| Notes |
- U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006
Name: George Pence
Service Info.: PVT F 103 PA INF
Death Date: 17 Aug 1864
Cemetery: Andersonville National Historical Site
Cemetery Address: Route 1, Box 800 Andersonville, GA 31711
Buried At: Site 5910
Andersonville Prisoners of War
Surname: George Pence
Rank: PRIVATE
Company: F
Regiment: 103
State: PA
Arm of Service: INFANTRY
Death Date: 17 Aug 1864
Cause of Death: DIARRHEA C.
Remarks: GEORGE PENCO, H 9 MN, MINNESOTA [3]
Reference: p 27 [3]; p 716 [9]; p 381 [101]
Location of Capture: PLYMOUTH, NC
Date of Capture: 20 Apr 1864
Page: 180
Notes: PENCO
More Information: NO
Code: 15910
GRAVE: 5910
- Andersonville, Georgia.
Village in Sumter county, southwest-central Georgia, U.S., that was the site of a Confederate military prison from February 1864 until May 1865 during the American Civil War. Andersonville was the South's largest prison for captured Union soldiers and was notorious for its unhealthy conditions and high death rate.
In the summer of 1863 the U.S. federal authorities ended an agreement under which Union and Confederate captives were exchanged; the resultant increased number of Union prisoners of war confined in the capital city of Richmond, Virginia, constituted a danger to the Confederacy and put serious pressure on the food supply. In November 1863, Confederate authorities selected Andersonville, through which ran a stream, as the site for a stockade encompassing 16.5 acres (6.7 hectares). Prisoners began to arrive in February 1864, before the prison was completed and before adequate supplies had been received, and by May their number amounted to about 12,000. In June the stockade was enlarged to 26 acres (10.5 hectares), but the congestion was only temporarily relieved, and by August the number of prisoners exceeded 32,000.
No shelter had been provided for the inmates: the first arrivals made rude sheds from the debris of the stockade; the others made tents of blankets and other available pieces of cloth or dug pits in the ground. By that time the resources of the Confederacy were stretched thin, and the prison was frequently short of food. Even when food was sufficient in quantity, it was of poor quality and was poorly prepared because of the lack of cooking utensils. The water supply, deemed ample when the prison was planned, became polluted under the congested conditions, and the medical staff was inadequate and poorly provisioned. During the summer of 1864 the prisoners suffered greatly from hunger, exposure, and disease, and in seven months about a third of them died. In the autumn of 1864, after William Tecumseh Sherman's Union forces had captured Atlanta, all the prisoners who could be moved were sent to Millen, Georgia, and Florence, South Carolina. Arrangements at Millen were better, and, when Sherman began his march to the sea, some 5,000 prisoners were returned to Andersonville, where the conditions also were somewhat improved. In all, nearly 13,000 Union prisoners died at Andersonville from disease, malnutrition, and other causes.
Conditions in Andersonville were utilized as propaganda material in the North, where Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton ordered retaliation on Confederates held in Union prisons. After the war, Captain Henry Wirz, commander of the prison, was tried and convicted of war crimes by a military commission. Wirz rejected an offer of parole if he would incriminate Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and he was hanged on November 10, 1865. He is the only person in the United States ever to have been executed for war crimes.
Andersonville National Historic Site (established 1970) preserves the camp area and its environs. It includes Andersonville National Cemetery, containing some 16,000 graves, including those of prisoners who died at the camp. The National Park Service has conducted archaeological excavations at the site, and a portion of the stockade wall has been reconstructed. The National Prisoner of War Memorial Museum, honouring Americans captured in all the country's wars, opened there in 1998. Pop. (1990) 277; (2000) 331.
(Source - Encyclopedia Britannic)
- Regimental History: 103rd Pennsylvania Volunteers
Comments welcomed. E-mail to EvanSlaug@aol.com.
Regimental Roster
This Regimental History, largely extracted from "History of the 103d Regiment Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry 1861-1865", is dedicated to the Soldiers of the regiment. Published in Chicago, 1910, Luther S. Dickey, Corporal of Company C wrote the original history with Sergeant Samuel Evans as Collaborator.
Regimental Position
The Regimental Badge embraces the badges of the Fourth and Eighteenth Army Corps. The badge of the Fourth Corps was a triangular patch; that of the Eighteenth was a patonce cross with floriated ends. The Fourth Corps was organized under General Order 101, March 13, 1862, along with the First, Second, and Third Corps and was officially discontinued in August 1862 following the "Peninsula Campaign". President Lincoln ordered that troops in the Department of North Carolina, that included the 103rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment within the Fourth Corps be organized into the Eighteenth Corps. That corps was discontinued December 3, 1864.
Summary:
* Organized at Camp Orr, Kittanning, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania from August 1861 - February 24, 1862. The 78th Regiment had previously occupied this camp. Both regiments recruited from Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Indiana, Mercer, Venango, and Westmoreland Counties.
* Participated in Spring 1862 "Peninsula Campaign" towards Richmond, Virginia.
* Battle of Williamsburg, Virginia May 4 - 7, 1862.
* Battle of Seven Pines, or Fair Oaks May 31, 1862.
* Seven Days' Battles
White Oaks to Harrison's Landing June 26, 1862 - July 3, 1862
* Harrison's Landing July 3 - 31, 1862
* Harrison's Landing to Blackwater Reconnaissance July 31 - December 4, 1862
* Suffolk, Virginia to New Bern, North Carolina
Battles of Kinston, Whitehall, and Goldsboro December 4 - 28, 1862
* New Bern - Hyde County Raids December 28, 1862 - March 13, 1863
* New Bern - Spinola Expedition Reconnaissance to Washington, North Carolina
March 13, 1863 to May 2, 1863
* New Bern to Plymouth, North Carolina May 2, 1863
Reconnaissance Jamesville, Williamston, Edenton, Windsor
May 2, 1863 - January 31, 1864
* "Veteranized" Re-enlistments January 1, 1864
* Battle of Plymouth, North Carolina April 17 - 20, 1864
* Plymouth to Andersonville, Georgia April 20 1864 - May 3, 1864
* Andersonville Prison May 3, 1864 - September 1864
* Charleston, South Carolina September 1864
* Florence Prison September 1864 - February 1865
Major Engagements:
* May 31, 1862, Seven Pines or Fair Oaks, east of Richmond, Virginia
* December 14, 1862, across the Neuse River at Kinston, North Carolina
* April 17 - 20, 1864, Battle of Plymouth, North Carolina
Chronology:
1861
Site at Camp Orr, Kittanning, known as Armstrong County Fair Grounds, situated about a mile north of the town limits. Camp was inclosed by a high, tight board fence, and no one was permitted to leave, night or day, without a pass issued from Regimental headquarters. Many eagerly volunteered and gathered early. Much suffering occurred when the cold weather approached as the was government unable to furnish adequate clothing, camp, and garrison equipment. An appeal made to the congregation of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Pittsburgh and the surrounding country.
To hasten recruiting, Privates were given 10 furlough days with a promise of another, provided they each brought in one or more men with them for duty. A hundred were furloughed at a time. Otherwise, daily routine, confined to squad and company drill expanded to regimental drill and dress parade. Uniforms arrived in December.
1862
Recruiting improved such that by January 1862, the regiment reported for duty with one company in excess and thereby was transferred to the Second Pennsylvania Cavalry. At 10:00 a.m., Monday, February 24, 1862, the regiment left Camp Orr, marched through Kittanning to Allegheny Valley Railway station and boarded freight cars to Pittsburgh. Unboarding in Pittsburgh, they marched to old City Hall for supper; reboarded train and arrived the next day at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In Harrisburg, the following field officers were identified: Theodore F. Lehmann, Colonel; Wilson C. Maxwell, Lieutenant Colonel; Audley W. Gazzam, Major. While in Harrisburg at Camp Curtin, named for then Governor Curtin, the Regiment marched to the capitol building and during the afternoon, February 26, 1862, received their flag directly from the Governor. The regiment then traveled to Baltimore, and arrived in Washington March 3, 1862.
Assigned (Chain of Command) to the Second Brigade (Brigadier General William H. Keim who later died and was replaced by Brigadier General Henry W. Wessells), Third Division (Brigadier General Silas Casey), 4th Corps (Brigadier General Erasmus D. Keyes), Army of Potomac (Major General George B. McClellan), Regiment camped on Meridian Hill just north of W Street and between 14th and 16th Avenue now known as Columbia Heights, Washington, DC.
Beginning March 28, 1862, Regiment began "The Peninsula Campaign" by first marching across the "Long Bridge" to Alexandria, Virginia when about noon March 31, 1862, they boarded the transport "Hero" landing at Ft. Monroe, Virginia April 3, 1862. After remaining in camp a short while, near Hampton, Virginia, it moved forward and by the 16th of April, saw minimal action during the siege of Yorktown. The duty for a month was very severe for which exposure to the weather caused sickness and death. Beginning May 5, 1862, the regiment moved leading General Keim's Brigade and arrived upon the battlefield opposite the enemy forts at Williamsburg. Major Gazzam, in command, was directed to lead the regiment, by the left flank, along the Williamsburg Road, and reported to General Peck, at a point near the opening of the woods. It was immediately ordered into line and captured one of the enemy's flag. A part of the regiment had by accident, become separated from the head of the column and was soon brought up to the front. Under heavy fire, the regiment moved to the right of the road and into a thicket where it was held as a reserve to that part of the line. At dusk, it reported to General Devens and was placed on picket for the night. Early the following morning, it was discovered that the Confederates had fled, and Williamsburg became occupied. During the Battle of Williamsburg (May 5 - 7, 1862), the regiment became separated from their full complement of tents, knapsacks and blankets, and were exposed to wet and cold.
The regiment became heavily engaged in battle culminating in retreat May 31, 1862, after the Battle of Seven Pines or Fair Oaks -- same battle; two different names. Controversy occurred related to this regiment reportedly "running from enemy fire." Following departure from Williamsburg, the regiment as part of Casey's Division moved forward, ahead of the army, crossed the Chickahominy and took position at Fair Oaks/Seven Pines. A portion of the regiment was posted on the picket line May 30, 1862. As the regiment was fortifying a position, a few minutes after noon, Saturday, May 31, 1862, three Confederate cannon balls flew overhead landing 3/4 mile to the rear. As it became evident that the Confederates were present in main force, General Casey ordered General Wessells to send the 103rd Pennsylvania Regiment forward to support the advanced Union pickets (guards). These pickets were 3/4 of a mile ahead of the redoubt (fortification containing several cannons). The regiment hurriedly moved forward with the various Companies filling numerous spots along the front. Members of the 103rd Regiment who were on the front lines were the closest any Union forces had come to the Confederate capital.
Upon arriving at the designated point and failing to receive further orders, Major Gazzam posted his men north of the Williamsburg Road. Their location was in the rear of the clearing, back of and to the right of the station, behind a ditch partially filled with water. Company B and G were placed south of the Williamsburg Road to protect the Union's left flank under the command of Captain George W. Gillespie. Learning that Confederate sharpshooters were felling the trees in Gillespie's front, Captain Gillespie was ordered to advance and clear them. This order was executed and only when overpowered by numbers, and after suffering severe losses did Captain Gillespie fall back to the main line. While forming these companies on the left of his command, Major Gazzam was thrown from his horse and stunned by the falling of a tree crushed by a cannon ball. Recovering himself he regained his position in line, when a volley, from the enemy advancing in its front, was received and the flag staff severed. The Regiment maintained its position until it was discovered an attack also pressed them from the right. Lieutenant Schott was ordered to half-wheel his company to protect the left flank, but the Confederates were reinforcing making support unavailable. Because his small force was unsupported, making it impossible to hold the ground any longer, Major Gazzam ordered the Companies to fall back slowly. Retiring through the woods, it came to a stand on a small cross-road and poured in a steady fire. However, the heavy Confederate force continued to press forward plainly displaying their battle flags to the Union troops. Adding to the horrors of its situation, the Union guns, posted in the earthworks opened fire and attempting to get the range of the Confederates fired into the Union troops. Major Gazzam, seeing that his men, between two fires, were falling fast, endeavored to lead back the remnant remaining, in order, but as fast as formed they were picked off, and yielding to a stern necessity, he was obliged to allow them to retire as best they could through the slashings. As they fell back quickly, the tangled undergrowth prevented the regiment from retiring in an orderly fashion and caused them to emerge from the woods fragmented. A portion of the men was rallied to dispute the Confederate passage to the right of the road, in front of the fortifications, and others joined the 92nd New York. Late in the day, those of the regiment who were fit for duty were placed in rifle pits, to the left of the road, where they remained until nightfall.
The Regimental flags nearly fell into Confederate hands since nearly all the color guard was either killed or wounded. Finally, Captain McDowell brought the colors off the field. The loss in the engagement was 84, killed and wounded. Captain George W. Gillespie and Lieutenant George D. Schott were among those killed.
Even though grossly exposed and unsupported, Casey's Division on the south bank of the Chickahominy River, just east of Richmond, Virginia held the overextended front line for three hours. They were heavily outnumbered by 20,000 to 5,000 before eventually being overwhelmed thereby permitting capture of Casey's redoubt. Nonetheless, the entire Division; the 103rd Pennsylvania Regiment in particular gained an undeserved poor fighting reputation.
General Casey described the battle appropriately: "If a portion of the division did not behave so well as could have been wished, it must be remembered to what a terrible ordeal they were subjected. Still, those that behaved discreditably were exceptional cases. It is true that the division after being nearly surrounded by the enemy and losing one-third of the number actually engaged, retreated to the second line. They would all have been prisoners of war had they delayed their retreat a few minutes longer. In my humble opinion from what I witnessed on the 31st, I am convinced that the stubborn and desperate resistance of my division saved the army on the right bank of the Chickahominy from a severe repulse, which might have resulted in a disastrous defeat."
After the battle, maintaining the left of the Union line, the brigade was posted at White Oak Swamp. There it immediately began fortifying even though they were exposed during the month of June to hot summer days and swampy conditions at night and were without blankets and but half clothed. One footnote from the Battle of Seven Pines, a Confederate Sergeant who was an aide-de-camp to Confederate General Joe Johnston was allegedly wounded in his right wrist and subsequently received a commission. That soldier, Henry Wirz, would eventually be held accountable for the sufferings at Andersonville Prison.
During the ensuing Seven Days Battle, the Regiment supported the "controlled" retreat by the Army of the Potomac from White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, to Harrison's Landing on the James River. This same regiment "had the privilege of standing in solid line of battle and witnessing McClellen's Army of the Potomac flee from an inferior force almost as badly disorganized as was the "rawest" division of the army on the afternoon of May 31, 1862. For two days, these discredited troops stood guard between the entire army and a victorious foe, and succeeded in bringing off in safety all the wagon trains of this army, and placing them at Harrison's landing two days after the battle of Malvern Hill. For 48 hours without sleep, except as it could be snatched by small groups here and there, a few minutes at a time; drenched to the skin and chilled to the marrow by the cold drizzling rain, covered with mire to the knees, though which they had waded in following the trail of the army; at times so close to the enemy that orders were communicated in whispers; this same little group of men was the last to take its position with the rest of the army, which it did about midnight July 3, 1862."
While at Harrison's Landing, reportedly, the first playing of "Taps" occurred. Also, on July 4, 1862, the Army of the Potomac was reviewed by the commanding General George B. McClellan, received enthusiastic cheers by all, except Casey's Division who remained silent as he passed. They could not cheer the man who had most unjustly heaped reproaches upon them for their part in the battle of Fair Oaks/Seven Pines. On the afternoon of the same day, the regiment marched out to the wood in front of the encampment, looking towards Malvern Hill, and began felling huge forest trees. A belt of 100 yards was made along the entire front. Behind the abattis, a breast work was constructed. The Army of the Potomac was visited by President Abraham Lincoln, July 8, 1862, for a review.
At the close of the Peninsula Campaign, the regiment had lost through casualties and sickness, nearly half of its original strength. Retreating east, by August 18, 1862, the regiment again went through Williamsburg this time through Yorktown and returning to Ft. Monroe, Virginia. Their records, supplies, and other essentials were shipped down the James River, but were lost when the vessel sunk. Later, the soldiers themselves would have to pay for replenishment. The Army of the Potomac was ordered to join General Pope upon the Rapidan. Wessells' Brigade was included, but at the last moment, the order was countermanded redirecting them to embark upon transports traveling to Norfolk. The remaining majority of the Army of the Potomac left the Peninsula eventually engaging in more notable battles at Antietam, Maryland, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and Petersburg, Virginia. Some remnants of the 4th Corps including the regiment stayed at Ft. Monroe until September 18, 1862, when they headed for Norfolk and Suffolk, Virginia. The autumn of 1862 saw the regiment involved in several expeditions and minor skirmishes in the Blackwater area of southern Virginia. Eventually, they left Suffolk, December 5, 1862, marching to the Chowan River and boarding the transport "Northerner." Arriving in New Bern, North Carolina, December 8, 1862, they joined the forces of General Foster who was about to move on an expedition into the interior.
Early on December 11, 1862, they began a march westward towards Goldsboro, North Carolina; defeated the Confederates December 14, 1862, across the Neuse River at Kinston, North Carolina and "behaved in an exemplary manner." During the expedition, the regiment met Confederate resistance at Kinston who were occupying a strong position upon a little rise considered impassable. There stood a church with a swamp in front thickly set with bushes and thorny vines. Other regiments of the expedition made several attempts against the Confederate lines without success. The 103rd Pennsylvania Regiment was called upon to make one more attempt to force a passage through the swamp. Under the rapid fire of the Confederate guns, they dashed in, waded through mud and water, cut impenetrable thicket of vines, and in less than half an hour, rallied on the opposite edge for a charge upon the rebel works. Without firing a gun it rushed forward and the Confederates, unprepared for an attack from that direction was quickly routed. As General Foster came up at the conclusion of the battle, he said to Colonel Lehmann, "You have a noble regiment, sir!"
They continued to advance the next day towards Whitehall. By the morning of December 17, 1862, within 2 - 3 three miles of Goldsboro, the regiment formed a battle line overlooking the target (the railroad line and bridge). Their mission was to cutoff supplies between the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia and the rest of the South. Bridges and railroad lines were often cut and quickly rebuilt during the war. Upon successful completion of their mission, the regiment began their return to New Bern, North Carolina arriving December 21, 1862, and camping east of the Trent River until February 2, 1863.
1863
During their stay in New Bern, they engaged in several raids and expeditions as part of the US designs of preventing or disrupting the Confederates use of the North Carolina ports. While there, General Henry Wessells became assigned to command the district of the Albemarle, with headquarters at Plymouth, North Carolina. His brigade consisted initially of the 101st Pennsylvania, 103rd Pennsylvania, 85th, 92nd, and 96th New York and later included the 16th Connecticut. The 103rd Pennsylvania Regiment left New Bern, North Carolina May 2, 1863, aboard the transport "Thomas Collyer" and arrived the next day at Plymouth, North Carolina. Located on the Roanoke River near the Albemarle Sound, the town of Plymouth with a population of less than 500 had an established Customs House. Thus, it gained importance as an area for coastal trading and a shipping point. Because low grounds extending for many miles around Plymouth caused a limit on the avenues of approach with most of those being impassable, the only avenue of supply to Plymouth was by water. To keep the supply channels open one company from each regiment went to Roanoke Island.
The residents of Plymouth like many North Carolina citizens were drawn into the Rebellion by the leaders of North Carolina. They were friendly towards the US facilitating a peaceful occupation by the first Union forces who arrived in early 1862. By December 10, 1862, however, the first of three battles for Plymouth occurred when Confederate forces attacked. The battle involved significant street fighting. Resulting largely from the firings of the Union gunboats, a fire occurred which burnt much of the town leaving barely a dozen buildings. Confederate forces also caused some burning to discourage refugees from going to Plymouth.
By the time the regiment arrived, May 3, 1863, the town looked rather desolate. The regiment pitched camp and began building defensive fortifications around what remained of the town. A set of earthworks (walls built out of dirt) pretty much connected four forts. In the center, Fort Williams employed three thirty pounder cannons. Placement of the other forts, Comfort, Wessells, and Gray formed a small semi-circle around the town. While in Plymouth, the regiment conducted several expeditions often making use of the Roanoke River for transportation. August 8, 1863, the regiment received their Springfield rifles replacing their Austrian muskets.
1864
Re-enlistment January 1, 1864, promised large sums of money and a furlough home; many soldiers became "Veterans." The previous year included numerous rumors about a formidable ironclad boat named "Albemarle" being built on the Roanoke River. The early months of 1864 included a feeling that General Wessells, Commander at Plymouth, North Carolina and Naval Commander Charles W. Flusser would be able to "handle the boat." Most of the Union soldiers were looking forward to the promised 30 day furlough having received new clothing; a neat appearance home was of utmost concern. That spring, the Regimental flag was sent north to have battle honors added. Up the river at Tarboro, North Carolina, within supporting distance, a division of the Rebel army was posted, under General George Pickett; of Gettysburg fame.
In March a carpenter who worked on the Albemarle and deserted from the Confederate army. He reported the craft was prepared to sail supporting a large land force readying to attack Plymouth simultaneously with the ironclad attacking the Union fleet. Reported to General Peck, in command of the department, and to General Butler, in command of the army, with request for reinforcements; no aid was sent.
April 17, 1864, US General Ulysses S. Grant decreed the ceasing of prisoner exchanges. His reasoning was that exchanging of prisoners benefited the Confederacy since those soldiers would typically rejoin units and resume fighting against the Union. The Union soldiers were often broken down in health from poor prison treatment making them incapable of rejoining the fight. About 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon that same ideal spring day the weather was neither too hot nor too cool, in Plymouth, North Carolina. Soldiers who were not on duty were in their tents awaiting the call for dress parade, writing letters home, or talking about their anticipated visits home. The second battle for Plymouth, North Carolina began when a few shots were fired "in advance of" the picket lines. The US cavalry on the Washington Road (present day Wilson Road) was attacked and pushed back. It quickly became apparent this was more than an ordinary picket raid as frequently encountered.
Accompanying the initial assault was the firing upon Fort Gray, just above the town on the Roanoke River. Upon daybreak Monday, April 18, 1864, cannonading resumed on Fort Gray; continued for several hours, and then resumed in the afternoon.
On a moonlit night about 3:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 19, 1864, the Confederates again opened fire on Fort Gray during which time the ironclad Albemarle slipped by and subsequently sunk the US gunboat "Southfield" and in the process killed Commander Flusser. The remainder of the US gunboat fleet fled the Roanoke for the safety of the Albemarle Sound, leaving the Union forces at Plymouth surrounded. Upon pressing the battle, the Confederate forces caused the complete surrender of approximately 2800 Union forces by General Wessells between 10 - 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 20, 1864.
Following capture, the prisoners were corralled nearby. Within days, they began a march towards Tarboro, North Carolina passing near Williamston reaching Hamilton, North Carolina by April 23, 1864. Monday, April 25, 1864, they reached the bank of Tar River near the Tarboro Bridge. Embarking upon a train Friday, April 29, 1864, the prisoners left Tarboro, stopping at Goldsboro and Wilmington, North Carolina and arriving in Charleston, South Carolina Sunday, May 1, 1864. They stayed for a couple of hours before boarding open flatbed train cars and departing. The train went through Savannah and Macon, before reaching Andersonville, Georgia (Camp Sumpter) between 9 - 10 p.m., May 2, 1864. Officers were sent to Macon, Georgia and later employed as human shields at Charleston, South Carolina. The next morning Tuesday, May 3, 1864, Captain Henry Wirz made his appearance; by early afternoon, about 400 members of the regiment entered the stockade. Within months, the overcrowded prison would breakdown men and take many lives. "The haggard distressed countenance of these miserable, complaining, dejected, living skeletons, crying for medical aid and food, and cursing their government for its refusal to exchange prisoners, and the ghastly corpses, with their glazed eyeballs staring up into vacant space, with the flies swarming down their open and grinning mouths, and over their clothes infested with numerous lice, as they lay amongst the sick and dying, formed a picture of helpless, hopeless misery, which it would be impossible to portray by words or by the brush."
As US General William Tecumseh Sherman was advancing towards and eventually capturing Atlanta, Georgia September 2, 1864, the Confederates needed to relocate the 30,000 Union prisoners. Their fear was that General Sherman would liberate these soldiers and suddenly increase his military manpower; however weakened their condition. Some members of the regiment may have left between the 10th and 12th of September. In large the surviving members of the regiment within Andersonville "had bid adieu to Andersonville on the 10th day of September [1864]" .
A group of 1380 prisoners packed 60 to a railway car were sent from there under heavy guard. The train arrived following morning at 2 a.m. in Macon, Georgia, then Augusta, Georgia, at 4 p.m., and finally arrived in Charleston, South Carolina on the morning of September 12, 1864. There, they were unloaded and marched into the fairgrounds (race course) and stayed until October. September 13, 1864, orders were issued prohibiting additional prisoners being sent to Charleston, South Carolina because of the breakout within their ranks of small pox, yellow fever, and widespread starvation. While confining the regiment in Charleston, the Confederates were constructing a prison site at Florence, South Carolina.
By the middle of October, the 17 usable acres at this prison held over 12,000 Union prisoners. "The great majority of them look emaciated and sickly and are full of vermin, and filthy in the extreme. Three-fourths of them are without blankets and almost without clothing. Few have a change of underclothing. As a consequence, there is a great deal of suffering these cool nights and much additional sickness must follow. Most of them have erected temporary shelters, which will protect them to some extent from rain and dew until better shelters can be constructed. The principal diseases are scurvy and diarrhea, which carry off from twenty to fifty per day".
Meanwhile, during the night of October 27, 1864, the third and final battle for Plymouth, North Carolina occurred with the sinking of the Albemarle by Navy Lieutenant William B. Cushing. Following the sinking of the Albemarle, the Navy took possession of Plymouth, November 1, 1864, and the Union held it for the remainder of the war.
1865
As US General William Tecumseh Sherman continued his march through the South, his advance near Florence, South Carolina cut the last railroad link to the area February 15, 1865. Among much confusion the Confederate officials attempted to move all able-bodied prisoners to various locations such as Salisbury and Goldsboro, North Carolina where they were paroled through the Union lines. By February 22, 1865, the fall of Wilmington, North Carolina to the Union forces permitted this town to be included as a release point. Charles Mosher, 85th New York Regiment who shared many battles and travels with the regiment "reported that the survivors of Andersonville, Charleston, and Florence, typically mere skeletons, were ordered to pack haversacks, board a crowded boxcar headed for freedom. About 3 p.m. March 1, "tears flowed freely, couldn't help it," as the emaciated veterans reached Union lines near Wilmington, North Carolina and were helped out by men of the 25th Michigan. Glimpsing the Stars and Stripes for the first time in over 300 days, some of the men found strength enough to walk towards a grove of trees, flop to the ground and savor a cup of coffee and the once detested hardtack."
February 1865: "And by the end of the month, the Florence camp was silent."
1866
In an official ceremony in 1866, the Regimental flag was returned to the regiment. It may now be viewed by appointment through the Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee, Capitol Annex Building, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Casualty Statistics:
Only seven Pennsylvania Regiments are credited in "Regimental Losses" with more deaths, during the war, than the 103rd Regiment. A greater number of the original organization of the Regiment; initially numbered slightly less than one thousand; died in the service, than that of any other regiment.
During Battle of Plymouth, 24 Officers, 461 Men were either killed, wounded, or missing (POWs).
First fatality -- Adam H. Marsh, Private, Company F fell from train between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg.
Compiled by: Evan K. Slaughenhoupt, Jr. (EvanSlaug@aol.com)
1st Lieut. James H Chambers, Company F
Sergt. John S. Moorhead, Company F
Pvt Lemeul H. Slagle, Company F
Capt. Josiah Zink, Company F
References - Main Sources:
Dickey, 103rd Regimental History
Civil War Letters
National Archives Soldier's Certificates
"To the Gates of Richmond", Stephen W. Sears, Ticknor & Fields, NY 1992
"Charlie Mosher's Civil War", Wayne Mahood, Longstreet House, 1991
"Andersonville", William Marvel, University of North Carolina Press, 1994
"The Plymouth Pilgrims", Wayne Mahood, Longstreet House, 1991
Andersonville Prison Records
"Notes on the Confederate Stockade of Florence, South Carolina 1864-1865", Walter D. Woods
"History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-65", Samuel P. Bates, Vol 3, 1869-71
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1846 - 1864 (18 years)
