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

140 FIFTY-EOUTIT E RtIGTIT. 1864
the Army of the Shenandoah. On the 26th of May, Hunter commenced his
advance up the valley, encountering the enemy at New Market, who stubbornly
contested his further progress. On the morning of Sunday, June 5th, the First
Brigade, Colonel Moore, which had the advance, met the enemy in force near
New Hope Church, where he was well posted behind breastworks, and was soon
hotly engaged. Three successive charges were made by this gallant brigade,
but was as often swept back by a murderous fire. The Fifty-fourth had been
ordered, early in the day, to the left of the line, where, from early morn until
noon, it was manceuvred in face of a destructive fire of shot and shell, holding
in check the enemy's cavalry, and protecting that wing. At one P. M. the
Second Brigade, of only three regiments, was ordered to storm and carry the
works, which six regiments, Moore's Brigade, had vainly, but well fought for.
These works, substantially built, were situated upon the brow of a hill reached
by a gradual ascent. Quickly forming, the line moved rapidly to the foot of
the hill, where it halted, while the artillery threw a well directed shower of
shells upon his lines. As the fire slackened, the order to charge was given.
With shouts, the line moved forward at double-quick, and pausing not for an
instant, scaled the breastworks. A single volley was poured in upon the rebel
mass, when muskets were clubbed, and a terrible hand-to-hand encounter ensued. With unflinching bravery this small brigade held the ground it had won
against the repeated attempts of the enemy to regain it. Finally, the rebel
leader, Jones, fell, his brain pierced by a bullet, and the rout of his forces commenced. The loss of the regiment, in this battle, was thirty killed and wounded.
Adjutant Rose was among the latter.
At Staunton, Hunter was joined by Crook, who had advanced from the Kanawha Valley. The Fifty-fourth was here transferred to Crook's command, and
formed part of the Third Brigade of the Second Division, Colonel Campbell
taking command of the Brigade, and Major Yutzy, in the absence of Lieutenant Colonel Linton, on account of the wound received at New Market, of the
regiment. Hunter now pushed rapidly forward towards Lynchburg, the enemy
steadily contesting the way. On the 11th, he defeated the rebel force occupying Lexington, and possessed the town. The Fifty-fourth was engaged, but
suffered little loss. On the 17th, Hunter arrived in front of Lynchburg, where
the enemy had concentrated in large force. Heavy skirmishing immediately
commenced, and the fighting soon became general. During two days the contest was waged with varying success, raging at times with great fury. All
this time the men of the Fifty-fourth were without rations, and were worn out
with hard service; but they never flinched from the severe duty to which they
were subjected. Fifty- four of their number were killed in the engagement in
front of the town. Among the wounded was Lieutenant Cole, of company B.
Finding the enemy too strong for him, his ammunition nearly exhausted,
Hunter withdrew, and commenced his retreat across the mountains, towards
the Kanawha. In a hostile country, short of rations, the hills and the valleys
scorched by the summer's sun, and the fountains dry, it would be difficult to
give any adequate conception of the sufferings and privations of man and
beast in this memorable march. Reaching camp Pyatt, on the Kanawha, on
the 29th, after a brief respite, the army was taken by transports to Parkersburg, and thence by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to Martinsbturg arriving
on the 14th of July.
General Early, who had been detached from Lee's army at Petersburg for a