John Henry Pardington
1839-1863
Born: Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England
Died: McPherson Ridge, Gettysburg, Adams, Pennsylvania, United States
1839-1863
Born: Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England
Died: McPherson Ridge, Gettysburg, Adams, Pennsylvania, United States
<p><strong>Regimental History<br></strong>MICHIGAN<br>Twenty-Fourth Infantry.<br>(Three Years.)<br><br>The Twenty-fourth was recruited mostly in Wayne County and <br>was rendezvoused at Detroit. The regiment was mustered into <br>service Aug. 15, 1862.<br><br>At organization the field, staff and line officers were as <br>follows:<br><br>Colonel, Henry A. Morrow, Detroit. Lieutenant Colonel, <br>Mark Flanigan, Detroit. Major, Henry W. Nall, Detroit. <br>Surgeon, John H. Beech, Coldwater. Assistant Surgeon, Charles <br>C. Smith, Redford. Second Assistant Surgeon, Alexander Collar, <br>Wayne. Adjutant, James J. Barnes, Detroit. Quartermaster, <br>Digby V. Bell, Jr., Detroit. Chaplain, William C. Way, <br>Plymouth.<br><br>A. Captain, Edwin B. Wight, Detroit. First Lieutenant, <br>Richard S. Dillon, Detroit. Second Lieutenant, Henry R. <br>Whiting, Detroit.<br><br>B. Captain, Isaac W. Ingersoll, Detroit. First <br>Lieutenant, William H. Rexford, Detroit. Second Lieutenant, F. <br>Augustus Buhl, Detroit.<br><br>C. Captain, Calvin B. Crosby, Plymouth. First <br>Lieutenant, Charles A. Hoyt, Plymouth. Second Lieute1lant, <br>Winfield S. Safford, Plymouth.<br><br>D. Captain, William J. Speed, Detroit. First Lieutenant, <br>John M. Farland, Detroit. Second Lieutenant, Charles C. <br>Yemens, Redford.<br><br>E. Captain, James Cullen, Detroit. First Lieutenant, <br>John J. Lennon, Detroit. Second Lieutenant, Malachi J. <br>O'Donnell, Detroit.<br><br>F. Captain, Albert M. Edwards, Detroit. First <br>Lieutenant, Asa W. Sprague, Detroit. Second Lieutenant, Jacob <br>M. Howard, Jr., Detroit.<br><br>G. Captain, William A. Owen, Detroit. First Lieutenant, <br>William Hutchinson, Detroit. Second Lieutenant, George W. <br>Burchell, Detroit.<br><br>H. Captain, Warren G. Vinton, Detroit. First Lieutenant, <br>John C Merritt, Detroit. Second Lieutenant, Newell Grace, <br>Redford.<br><br>I. Captain, George C. Gordon, Detroit. First Lieutenant, <br>Henry P. Kinney, Detroit. Second Lieutenant, John M. Gordon, <br>Redford.<br><br>K. Captain, William W. Wight, Livonia. First Lieutenant, <br>Walter H. Wallace, Brownstown. Second Lieutenant, David <br>Birrell, Detroit.<br><br>The Twenty-fourth left Detroit August 29, 1862, in command <br>of Colonel Morrow to join the army of the Potomac, and arrived <br>in Washington, D. C., September 2. The regiment occupied a <br>number of different camps and made many long marches during <br>September, October and November, and formed a part of the First <br>Brigade, First Division, First Corps. It crossed the <br>Rappahannock at Fredericksburg, December 12, and during the <br>13th and 14th supported a battery during the two days, being <br>constantly under fire of the enemy's guns and losing quite <br>heavily in killed and wounded. At Port Royal, on the 23d of <br>April, the regiment made a brilliant attack, capturing a number <br>of prisoners and driving the enemy from the place.<br><br>The Twenty-fourth again crossed the Rappahannock on the <br>29th and drove the enemy from his works, capturing a number of <br>prisoners with considerable loss to the regiment in killed and <br>wounded.<br><br>The Twenty-fourth entered upon the Pennsylvania campaign <br>and was soon to experience all the horrors and the glory of one <br>of the most desperate conflicts of the war. The Brigade to <br>which the Twenty-fourth belonged, by its steadiness under fire, <br>by its prompt obedience to orders, by its determination to hold <br>its ground under all circumstances, and its readiness to <br>assault the enemy, had gained the name of the "Iron Brigade" <br>through the army and that honorable distinction was accorded to <br>it during the war and has passed as such into history.<br><br>The First Corps, of which the Twenty-fourth formed a part, <br>marched from the Rappahannock through Pennsylvania and arrived <br>at Gettysburg July 1st, where it was immediately engaged. The <br>Division to which the Twenty-fourth belonged was one of the <br>first infantry commands to come into action in the three days' <br>battle. The first order received was to charge when the <br>Twenty-fourth, with the balance of the Division, dashed forward <br>and captured a large part of the Confederate General Archer's <br>Brigade.<br><br>The Twenty-fourth was a part of the First Brigade and this <br>Brigade now changed front and formed line of battle in <br>McPherson's woods. The Confederates advanced in double lines, <br>their numbers being sufficient to overlap and flank the Union <br>forces and pouring a murderous fire into the line of blue, <br>forced it slowly back upon a new position. The carnage here <br>was frightful. The ground was strewn with the dead and <br>wounded, four color bearers were killed and three wounded in <br>holding the flag aloft. The Twenty-fourth went into action <br>with 28 officers and 468 men, and during the first day of the <br>battle 22 officers were killed or wounded, 71 enlisted men were <br>killed, 223 men were wounded, a total loss of 316. Colonel <br>Morrow received a severe scalp wound and fell into the hands of <br>the enemy. He was removed to a house in Gettysburg and when <br>the Confederates retreated he was left in that town. The <br>regiment occupied Culp's Hill, the second and third days of the <br>battle, but was not seriously engaged.<br><br>The regiment, in command of Captain Edwards, all the field <br>officers having been killed or wounded, marched from the <br>battlefield July 6, in pursuit of the retreating Confederates, <br>crossed the Potomac and reached the Rappahannock Aug. 1.<br><br>During the summer and fall, the regiment made a number of <br>long marches, occupied important positions, and came in contact <br>with the enemy at Mine Run where it distinguished itself by <br>driving the enemy into his works and capturing a number of <br>prisoners. It went into winter quarters at Culpepper, and on <br>May 3, 1864, crossed the Rapidan and took part in the desperate <br>struggle of the Wilderness.<br><br>During its engagements with the enemy in the wilds of the <br>Wilderness it captured the colors of the Forty-eighth Virginia <br>Infantry, together with a large number of prisoners, but at a <br>cost of 18 killed, 46 wounded and 42 missing. Colonel Morrow <br>was again severely wounded and the regiment passed in command <br>of Captain Edwards, who had been promoted to Lieutenant <br>Colonel.<br><br>From the Wilderness the regiment marched to Spottsylvania, <br>where it was constantly under fire until the 21st of May, <br>losing 11 killed, 39 wounded. In crossing the North Anna on <br>the 23d the regiment was attacked but repulsed the enemy with a <br>loss to the Twenty-fourth of 3 killed, 8 wounded and 5 missing. <br>In the advance upon Cold Harbor it met with considerable loss, <br>and after crossing the James River made a successful assault <br>upon the enemy at Petersburg, taking into action 120 men and <br>losing 38 in killed and wounded.<br><br>The Twenty-fourth participated in the siege of Petersburg, <br>meeting with considerable loss from the enemy's artillery and <br>sharpshooters. Several times it was called upon to repel the <br>attacks of the Confederates and obstinately held the ground, <br>driving the enemy off with great slaughter.<br><br>October 27 it was engaged in the battle of Hatcher's Run <br>and took part in several expeditions around Petersburg, and <br>though reduced in number by constant losses, still fought with <br>spirit and vigor. Its last serious engagement was at Dabney's <br>Mills the 11th of February, 1865, when it was ordered to <br>Baltimore, Md., for special duty, and from that city the <br>regiment was sent to Springfield, Ill., where it did garrison <br>duty at a camp rendezvous, and while there was escort at the <br>funeral of President Lincoln.</p><p>19th the Twenty-fourth left Springfield for Detroit, <br>Mich., where it was mustered out and disbanded June 30, 1865.<br><br>During its term of service it took part in encounters with <br>the enemy at Fredericksburg, Va., December 12 and 13, 1862; <br>Port Royal, Va., April 23, 1863; Fitzhugh Crossing, April 29, <br>1863; Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863; Westmorland, Va., May <br>23, 1863; Gettysburg, Penn., July 1, 2 and 3, 1863; Mine Rune, <br>Va., November 29, 1863; Raccoon Ford, Va., February 5, 1864; <br>Wilderness, Va., May 5, 6 and 7, 1864; Spottsylvania, Va., May <br>10, 11 and 12, 1864; North Anna, Va., May 28, 1864; Tolopotomy, <br>Va., May 30, 1864; Cold Harbor, Va., June 1, 1864; Bethesda <br>Church, Va., June 2, 3 and 4, 1864; Petersburg, Va., June 18, <br>1864; Weldon Railroad, Va., Aug. 18, 19 and 21, 1864; <br>Hicksford, Va., December 9, 1864; Hatcher's Run, Va., October <br>27, 1864; Dabney's Mills, Va., February 6 and 7, 1865; siege of <br>Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864, to February 11, 1865.<br><br>The Twenty-fourth had borne on its rolls 2,054 officers <br>and men, while its loss was 313, as follows: 12 officers and <br>118 men killed in action, 1 officer and 38 men died of wounds, <br>and 2 officers and 142 men of disease.<br><br>Total enrollment...........................................2104<br>Killed in action............................................125<br>Died of wounds...............................................42<br>Died in Confederate prisons..................................28<br>Died of disease.............................................109<br>Discharged for disability (wounds and disease)..............254<br><br><br><br>Gettysburg after battle report: <br><br>Report of Col. Henry A. Morrow, Twenty-fourth Michigan Infantry,<br>First Brigade.<br><br>Hdqrs. First Brig., First Div., First Army Corps,<br>Culpeper, Va., February 22, 1864.<br>Capt.: I have the honor to submit the following report of the<br>part taken by the Twenty-fourth Michigan Volunteers in the battle<br>of Gettysburg, July 1, 1863, and the events immediately preceding:<br><br>On June 28, we marched from Middletown, Md., to near Frederick<br>City, and on the 29th we marched to Emmitsburg. The latter was<br>a long march, in which the troops suffered much from fatigue.<br><br>On June 30, we marched 3 or 4 miles, and bivouacked near Marsh<br>Creek.<br><br>At an early hour on July 1, we marched in the direction of Gettysburg,<br>distant 6 or 7 miles. The report of artillery was soon heard<br>in the direction of this place, which indicated that our cavalry had<br>already engaged the enemy. Our pace was considerably quickened,<br>and about 9 a. m. we came near the town of Gettysburg, and filed<br>off to the left, leaving it on our right. We crossed an insignificant<br>branch, and were moved forward into line of battle on the double-quick.<br>The cavalry immediately in our front was hotly engaged<br>with the enemy, and the brigade was ordered to advance at once, no<br>order being given or time allowed for loading our guns. I halted<br>my regiment for this purpose, but was directed by a staff officer--I<br>think he belonged to the staff of Gen. Wadsworth--to move forward<br>immediately without loading, which I did. The order to<br>charge was now given, and the brigade dashed up and over the hill<br>and down into the ravine, through which flows Willoughby's Run,<br>where we captured a large number of prisoners, being a part of<br>Gen. Archer's brigade. The cavalry in the meantime had taken<br>position on our left flank. In this affair the Twenty-fourth Michigan<br>occupied the extreme left of the brigade, the Nineteenth Indiana<br>being on our right.<br><br>I here lost my color-bearer, Abel G. Peck (a brave and faithful<br>soldier), several of my color-guard, and many of my men.<br><br>After advancing to the crest of the hill beyond the run, we were<br>halted, and threw out skirmishers to the front and also to the left,<br>near a brick house.<br><br>We now received orders to withdraw to the east bank of the<br>stream, which was done. The brigade changed front forward on<br>first battalion, and marched into the woods known as McPherson's<br>woods, and formed in line of battle, the Nineteenth Indiana being on<br>the left of the Twenty-fourth Michigan and the Seventh Wisconsin<br>on its right. In executing this movement, my lieutenant-colonel and<br>adjutant were severely wounded, and did not afterward rejoin the<br>regiment, the former having lost a leg, and the latter being severely<br>wounded in the groin. The line of the Twenty-fourth Michigan<br>curved a little backward on the right, that wing being thrown back,<br>so as to connect with the Seventh Wisconsin. Skirmishers were<br>immediately deployed in front, and became at once engaged with the<br>enemy.<br><br>The woods were shelled, but I have no casualties to report as occurring<br>at this time. I sent officers several times to the general commanding<br>to report the condition of the line, and suggesting a change<br>of position, as it was, in my judgment, untenable. To these reports<br>of the condition of our line, I received answer that the position was<br>ordered to be held, and must be held at all hazards.<br><br>The enemy advanced in two lines of battle, their right extending<br>beyond and overlapping our left. I gave direction to the men to<br>withhold their fire until the enemy should come within short range<br>of our guns. This was done, but the nature of the ground was such<br>that I am inclined to think we inflicted but little injury on the enemy<br>at this time. Their advance was not checked, and they came<br>on with rapid strides, yelling like demons. The Nineteenth Indiana,<br>on our left, fought most gallantly, but was overpowered by superior<br>numbers, the enemy having also the advantage of position, and, after<br>a severe loss, was forced back. The left of my regiment was now exposed<br>to an enfilading fire, and orders were given for this portion of<br>the line to swing back, so as to face the enemy, now on this flank.<br>Pending the execution of this movement, the enemy advanced in such<br>force as to compel me to fall back and take a new position a short<br>distance in the rear.<br><br>In the meantime I had lost in killed and wounded several of my<br>best officers and many of my men. Among the former were Capt.<br>William J. Speed, acting major, and Lieut. Dickey, a young<br>officer of great promise. Charles Ballare, my second color-bearer,<br><br></p>