Col Peter H Allabach's Official Reports

Reports of April 4, 1863

[author biography]

APRIL 4, 1863.

Brig. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS.

GENERAL: I have examined all the commanding officers, and they all agree that the command was available at 10 o'clock. As regards the number of men of each regiment absent, the One hundred and thirty-third had 800 present at the first formation, and at the second formation 900; One hundred and twenty-third had 850 to 875; One hundred and thirty-first had 850; One hundred and fifty-fifth had 725. The officers in command all agree that we were at Boonsborough at sunrise, and that we were on the ground that Morell occupied at 10 o'clock. I read them the report of General McClellan and they all said at once that it was a scandal on the troops.

I am, general, truly, yours,

P. H. ALLABACH,
Colonel, Commanding Brigade.

P. S. I have ordered all of the officers to report to you in fifteen minutes.

P. H. A.

HDQRS. SECOND BRIGADE, THIRD DIVISION, FIFTH CORPS,
Camp Humphreys, Va., April 4, 1863.

Brig. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS,
Commanding Third Division, Fifth Corps.

GENERAL: My attention having been drawn to General McClellan's report of the battle of Antietam, and particularly to that portion of it which refers to your division,* and having had the honor to command the Second Brigade at that time, I felt it my duty to ask the regimental commanders to make a written statement as to the time my command passed through Boonsborough, and the halts from there to the battle field, the time they arrived on the field, the time at which I formed them in line of battle by your orders, and the strength of each regiment at that time.

I have the honor to send herewith the reports of the different regimental commanders. They all agree as to the time of our arrival on the battlefield, and I am willing to be qualified that my brigade was available at 10 a. m. of the 18th of September, 1862.

I respectfully refer you to the reports of the regimental commanders for the number of men present at the time I formed line of battle, 10 a. m. of the 18th. It will be observed that I had at that hour 3,125 men, and consequently the number of stragglers must have been comparatively small, although the men had been marched all the previous night and part of the day preceding.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

P. H. ALLABACH,
Colonel, Commanding Brigade.

[Inclosure No. 1.]

HEADQUARTERS 123d PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS,
Camp Humphreys, Va., April 4, 1863.

Col. P. H. ALLABACH,
Commanding Second Brigade

COLONEL: At your request I make the following statement on honor in regard to a part of our march from Washington, D. C., to Sharpsburg, Md.:

On the 17th of September we left Monocacy Junction about 3 p. m. We arrived at Boonsborough on the morning of the 18th between daylight and sunrise. At this place we halted about thirty minutes, then we marched, I should think, from one mile to one mile and a quarter, where we again halted, from three-quarters of an hour to an hour, by the edge of a piece of woodland. Then we were marched forward near the vicinity, I think, of Keedysville, where the Second Brigade was formed in battle line by battalion in the following order:

One hundred and thirty-first Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, first; One hundred and twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, second; One hundred and thirty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, third, and One hundred and fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, fourth. At this place they were thus formed between the hours of 9 a. m. and 10 a. m. At this precise time I have no means of determining the exact number of men present when the above line was formed. There were certainly not short of 850 enlisted men present. Such was my impression at the time. I remember distinctly that my battalion line was quite long.

September 19, our consolidated morning report shows that 899 enlisted men were present and 36 commissioned officers.

Very truly, your obedient servant,

JOHN B. CLARK,
Colonel, Commanding.

[Inclosure No. 2.]

HDQRS. 131st REGIMENT PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS
Camp Humphreys, Va., April 4, 1863.

Col. P. H. ALLABACH,
Commanding Brigade

SIR: In answer to inquiry of this date, about what time my command passed through Boonsborough, Md., September 18, 1862, would report its arrival there at 7 a. m. The column was halted at the edge of the town before passing through about one hour. Also while passing through Boonsborough our march was constantly impeded by the passing of artillery, baggage wagons, &c. A halt of half an hour was made in the town. The column was next halted at the edge of the woods about an hour. We then marched on the hill and formed line of battle on the left of the road. It being now about 10 a. m., remained here about half an hour and were then marched to the right of the road and formed line of battle under the crest of the hill in rear of the artillery. Taking the morning report of September 17, I should say I had not more than 650 men in line at the last formation.

Respectfully submitted.

WM. B. SHAUT,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Regiment.

[Inclosure No. 3.]

HEADQUARTERS 133rd PENNSYLVANIA YOLUNTEERS,
Camp Humphreys, Va., April 4, 1863.

Col. P. H. ALLABACH,
Commanding Second Brigade, Third Division, Fifth Corps

COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report in reference to the march to and arrival of my command at the battle-field of Antietam on the morning of the 18th of September, 1862:

We left Monocacy Junction on the afternoon of the 17th of September, 1862, about 4 o'clock, and marched all night, passing through Boonsborough about 7 o'clock on the morning of the 18th, and halted in the woods between Boonsborough and Keedysville, where we remained about half or three-quarters of an hour. Then marched through Keedysville, arrived on the battle-field of Antietam, and formed line of battle at 10 a. m. of September 18 on left of road and on top of hill. We remained here half an hour, when we advanced about half a mile, when we again formed line at the base of a small hill or bluff and in rear of a battery that occupied the top of the bluff. This point was reached about 11 a. m. September 18. Had at that time nine companies present, numbering about 775 effective men. The tenth company (B) was detailed at Monocacy as division rear guard. That company came up and rejoined the regiment about 7 o'clock on the morning of the 19th, it having remained with the division train during the night of 18th instant near Keedysville.

I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

F. B. SPEAKMAN,
Colonel 133d Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers.

[Inclosure No. 4.]

HEADQUARTERS 155th PENNSYLVANIA,
April 4, 1863.

Col. P. H. ALLABACH,
Commanding Second Brigade:

COLONEL: I have the honor to report that this command left Monocacy Junction about 4.30 o'clock on the evening of the 17th of September, 1862, marched all night and passed through Boonsborough about 7.30 a. m. on the 18th, and halted near woods between Boonsborough and Keedysville, and rested about half an hour. Arrived on battle-field and formed line of battle about 10 o'clock in the morning of the 18th of September. This was on the left of the road on top of hill. Remained there about half an hour, then crossed over to the right of the road, moving about half a mile from former position, when we formed in line again at the base of a slight eminence and in rear of a battery. At the time of our first formation this regiment numbered about 840 men.

Very respectfully,

A. L. PEARSON,
Major, Commanding 155th Pennsylvania Volunteers.

* See Vol. XIX, Part I, p. 32.

Source: OR1