History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

1863 MARCH TO FREDERICKSBURG. 487
On the 19th of January, 1863, the regiment was ordered to march with the
brigade, with all possible dispatch, towards Fredericksburg, as Burnside was.
concentrating his forces for a second advance. The weather was clear and
cold, the ground frozen, the marching good, except that the artillery and heavy
loaded wagons occasionally cut through the frost and sank in the mud.
Crossing the Occoquan, it marched via Dumfries to the Quintico, now swollen
by the incessant rains and filled with floating ice, which was, in conesquence,
passed with great difficulty, and reached Stafford Court House on the 25th.
The mud had by this time so deepened that the roads were impassable, and the
prospect that all further forward movements would be suspended was clear.
On the 3d of February the troops were ordered to build tents and put their
camping ground in proper condition for winter quarters. On the same day
Wm. Rickards, Jr., Captain of company I, was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel, to date from October 4th, and, in the absence of Colonel Murphy, at once
assumed command. The camp was enlarged and improved, and details of men
were kept daily at work to put it in good condition for-health and comfort. On
the 19th Captain Zulich was appointed to bring in from Camps Convalescent
and Distribution all men tit for duty belonging to the corps. During the months
of February and March little activity prevailed in the army other than that of
organizing, drilling and perfecting the discipline of the troops. In the camp
of the Twenty-ninth great improvement was exhibited in the appearance and
condition of the men, who manifested a pride in preserving a soldierly bearing,
and in presenting to the eye of the inspector faultless arms and equipments. On
the 19th of March the division was reviewed by General Hooker, now in command of the army, who met the commanders of regiments at the head-quarters
of General Slocum, and was personally introduced. He spoke of the necessity
of using all possible means for crushing the rebellion, and expressed a confidence in the efficiency of his troops, and a hope that the next movement of the
Army of the Potomac would be a successful one.
On the 21st of March an order was received transferring the Twenty-ninth
to the Second Brigade,* Second I5ivision of the Twelfth Corps. On the 10th of
April this corps was reviewed by President Lincoln, accompanied by Generals
Hooker and Slocum. The corps was drawn up in two lines of battalions by
divisions closed in mass. The President rode up and down, when the lines
were broken into columns and passed in review. Previous to the movement
General Slocum called the field officers together and explained the manner in
which the battalions would change direction by a flank to form column, and,
fearing that all might not understand the explanation without a visible representation, called for a regiment to volunteer to illustrate it. The Twenty-ninth
was offered and immediately put in motion, executing the manoeuvre to the
entire satisfaction of the General, and illustrating at the same time the efficiency
in drill to which it had attained.
The necessary preparations were made, and on the 26th of April, orders
were received to march on the Chancellorsville campaign. With three days'
Organization of Second Brigade, Brigadier General Thomas L. Kane, Second Division,
Major General John W. Geary, Twelfth Army Corps, Major General Slocum. Twenty-ninth
Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Liautenant Colonel William Rickards, Jr.; One Hundred
and Ninth Regiment Pennsylvania Colonel Steinrook; One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment
Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel George A. Cobham; One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Hawley; One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regiment
Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Higgins.