Charles P. Cole, Editor of the weekly Gazette & Banner of Cortland, N.Y. was working in his office on July 2, 1863, when he received a telegram stating that on the previous day, his friend, Major Andrew Jackson Grover, had been killed in action at Gettysburg.
Grover was 32 and commanded the 76th Regiment, New York Volunteers which had been raised in Cortland and Cherry Valley in the fall of 1861. The 76th was one of the first Union infantry regiments in the field on July 1, 1863. At the time it was serving with the 2d, Brigade, 1st Division, I Corps. The brigade was commanded by Brig. Gen. Lysander Cutler.
The 76th was the extreme advance unit of I Corps and encountered Confederate Brig. Gen. Joseph Davis' brigade north of the Chambersburg Pike. Cole later learned, and reported:
"The gallant 76th, led by the dashing and lamented Major Grover, lost full three-quarters of the officers and men of the-regiment on the first day. Major Grover had his horse shot from under him about twenty minutes before he received his death wound, and was on foot, swinging his sword, and shouting and rallying the brave boys of the regiment when he fell.
"Major Grover was pierced by a grape shot just below the breast. He was also shot in the leg and in the arm, Just as he fell, the regiment was falling back, and he turned to one of the soldiers and said 'You will not go off and leave me, will you?' Immediately, Lieut. Sanders, a gallant officer of Co. G, (afterwards wounded), and three other men, took him up to bear him from the field. They had gone but a short distance with him, when he looked up and said, 'Boys, it is no use carrying me any farther, for I am dying.' He gasped and was no more.
"Just then a deadly fire and fearful charge came from the rebels, and his comrades left the dying soldier upon the battle-field where but a moment before he was cheering his men to the conflict."
Captain John E. Cook, who took over command after Grover was killed, stated in his after-action report that the 76th reached the battlefield near the Lutheran Seminary at about 10:30 a.m.
"... and while marching by the flank were opened on by the enemy, stationed in large force at a distance of about 30 rods, where they were lying down concealed from view in a wheat field. We were exposed to their fire several minutes before replying. The men were cautioned to hold their fire until the enemy appears, when orders were given to commence firing."
At this point, the 76th was engaging Davis' 55th North Carolina Regiment. "At this juncture," Cook said, Via large force of the enemy deployed upon our right flank, subjecting us to a galling cross-fire. Major Grover then ordered the right wing to change front to the rear to oppose the new force. Simultaneously with this he fell, mortally wounded, and the brigade commander ordered the regiment to fall back."
Before he died Major Grover handed his watch and badges of rank to a comrade, requesting that they be given to his wife, Sylvanus. He was also survived by three young daughters.
The 76th went into action with 348 enlisted men and 27 officers. Within a half hour, 18 officers and 151 enlisted men were killed or wounded. Other units in this action also suffered heavy casualties. The 147th New York Infantry lost 207 killed or wounded. The 56th Pennsylvania lost six officers and 72 enlisted men. "All the regiments in this advance Brigade were fearfully cut up," wrote Abram P. Smith, historian of the 76th.
At least one account states that Major Grover was the first Union regimental commander killed at Gettysburg. Smith also made a statement that has been openly refuted over the years:
"To the Seventy-sixth New York is due the credit of firing the first gun at Gettysburg, except the skirmishing done by the cavalry."
It fell upon Editor C.P. Cole to break the news to Major Grover's wife. "The terrible despatch was given to the bereaved wife and mother in as gentle a manner as possible but it proved nonetheless heart-rendering," Cole said.
Mrs. Grover then requested Cole to travel to Gettysburg to find the remains of her husband and return them to Cortland for final burial.
On the night of July 3, Cole boarded a train at Cortland, bound for the battlefield. His experiences encountered enroute and obtaining the proper credentials to get on to the battlefield are some of the most interesting ever written in a contemporary northern newspaper. Arriving in Baltimore on July 5th, he wrote back home:
"The city is filled with wounded officers, all of whom agree that our loss was at least 30,000, and many estimate it as high as 50,000. I saw a Brigadier General for a few moments, who was wounded in the arm, and who says that his brigade lost 1,200 out of 1,600 men."
Cole also learned that another upstate New York unit, the 157th Infantry, "was literally cut to pieces." Cole added "I saw an aid of General Reynolds, who saw Lt. Col. Arrowsmith fall, while leading the regiment, and he says the men fell around him like sheep."
On July 16th, the Gazette & Banner published the complete account of Cole's trip. At about the same time he arrived in Baltimore, Cole said "a large number of rebel prisoners had-just arrived from the battlefield, and were being marched to Fort McHenry. They appeared cheerful, and although they said they had just been beaten they were by no means despondent. They talked boastingly, and declared that they would 'yet clean the Yanks out before they crossed the Potomac.'"
Topping Cole's agenda was procurement of a pass from military authorities to get on to the battlefield. "We applied to the Provost Marshal, who very unceremoniously informed us, with a very haughty air, that the Secretary of War had issued a very strict order prohibiting any civilians from visiting the battlefield.
"He seemed to take great delight in imparting this information to the hundreds who were applying for passes to go in search of their friends. He was a young officer, who evidently had got a slight attack of 'dignity on the brain!' "We left the office somewhat discouraged. We had come hundreds of miles on a mission of humanity, in quest of all that was earthly of a gallant officer, who had for the time thrown aside his clerical robes, and taken up the sword in defense of the flag of his fathers. and who had fallen while leading his men amid the carnage and roar of battle." (Grover had left First United Methodist Church in Cortland as its pastor in the fall of 1861 to help organize the 76th Regiment).
Cole was persistent. "We did not like the idea of being refused the privilege of proceeding the other fifty miles to the place where his remains were. We put what little inventive genius we possessed to work, determined to make another effort."
Cole then applied to Brig. Gen. Robert C. Schenck, commander of the Middle Department, VIII Corps. "He could do nothing more than refuse our request, and we determined to make the effort," Cole said.
At about 10:30 a.m., General Schenck received Cole at his rooms at the Eutaw House in Baltimore. "And here let us say that we do not consider the little fabrication which we told was any sin. We told him we had come several hundred miles in search of the body of our brother who had fallen on the Wednesday previous, and asked the poor privilege of visiting the battlefield in search of his remains," Cole said.
"General Schenck informed us that his orders from the Secretary of War were positive, but that if we could call again, after he had returned from church he would consider the matter in the mean time and give us a definite answer. In the course of a couple of hours we called again, and General S. told us that his military duty required him to refuse our request, but that his duty to humanity told him he should grant the application. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Mr. Cole, in this case, I will take the responsibility, and give you a note to my Chief of Staff, who will give you a pass."
"He wrote a note to Col. Donn Platt, chief of staff, whom we found to be every inch an officer and a gentleman. When we had succeeded in getting an audience with him and presented the note of Gen. Schenck, he looked at it and smiled, saying: 'Mr. Cole, you are a very fortunate man; I have refused at least a thousand on similar errands, this very day."' Col.' Platt then wrote the following order:
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE DEPARTMENT)
8TH ARMY CORPS, BALTIMORE, Md.)
July 5, 1863 )
Mr. Charles P. Cole, the bearer of this, is authorized to proceed to the battle-field near Gettysburg, in search of his brother, Major Andrew J. Grover, 76th New York Infantry.
By order of Maj. Gen. SCHENCK
DONN PLATT, Lt. Col. and Ch. of Staff
Cole continues his account:
"With this we left Baltimore on Monday morning about daylight, and proceeded by way of the Northern Pennsylvania and Western Maryland Railroad to Westminster, Maryland, arriving there about 12 o'clock P.M., from which point we were compelled to proceed by private conveyance as best we could.
"Here we found another almost insurmountable obstacle to our further progress. We were within thirty miles of the battle-field, and told by the inhabitants that the chances of procuring a horse or conveyance of any kind was out of the question. The cavalry of the rebel general Stuart had passed through there but a few days previous, and had taken everything in the shape of horse-flesh that could be found. We made several ineffectual efforts. At last we went into the office of the Carroll County Democrat, and made ourself known to the editor, Scott Roberts, Esq., and told him our errand. he informed us that it would be very difficult to procure a horse, but he would go with us and help make the effort.
"At last we were introduced to Dr. Roger, a thorough-going Union man. The Doctor received us kindly, and informed us that he and his wife had each a horse, which they had saved from the hands of the rebels by concealing them in their cellar. He could not spare his own horse, as he kept him constantly in use in his practice, and he thought it very doubtful whether his wife would let her own, as it was a favorite animal.
"However, we could see his wife and make the effort. We were introduced to her, and told her our story. At first she would not entertain the idea, but after talking with her for sometime, she finally consented, and we mounted the animal and started for the battle-field, in the midst of a drenching rain-storm."
After riding some 15 miles, Cole came to the Maryland-Pennsylvania line. He said he was halted about every half hour by federal pickets, and required to show his pass. After three our for more miles, he reined up to a farm house and asked if he could procure some refreshments. The farmer replied: "Yes, we have a couple of loaves of bread and a piece of meat left."
Cole said he and his companion, who is not identified, dismounted. Cole said: "Well, Sir, I will take a loaf of bread and a piece of meat."
Cole said :
"We took a seat upon the porch, and shortly the woman of the house appeared with a loaf of bread baked in a pint basin, and about three ounces of boiled ham, the smell of which clearly indicated that it had not had the best of care while being cured. We asked for a drink of water, and for a pail of water for the horse. After we had finished this sumptuous meal, we asked what was the charge.
"The farmer replied: 'The bread will be a dollar and a half; the meat will be a dollar; the pail of water will be twenty five cents, and your drink of water will be ten cents." We looked at the man both with amazement and contempt. We said: 'Sir, is not this an outrage for you, here in this loyal State of Pennsylvania; here where three days ago the sound of the enemy's cannon shook your very hills; where the army of the Union drove the invaders from your soil.
"I have come hundreds of miles in search of the remains of an officer who fell while defending your homes and broad acres from pillage, and you have the meanness to make this demand of me.' The man replied: 'Well, if you succeed in getting the remains of your friend, the bread and meat is worth that, ain't it?' We said no more, but left the presence of the poor creature in human shape. His name is Johnson."
Cole and his companion passed Littletown, Pa., where the XII Corps, under the command of General Henry Slocum, was resting. Cole said "We saw Gen. Meade looking every inch the soldier, actively engaged in the charge of the duties which devolved upon the commanding General of the Army of the Potomac."
A little farther on, Cole reached the I Corps hospital "and soon found the wounded of the gallant 76th Regiment, where we learned many of the particulars attending the death of Major Grover. "
He said "The scenes at the hospitals were sickening in the extreme. Men wounded in almost every conceivable shape, and writhing under the most excruciating pain.";
"We had proceeded but a short distance further when. the terrible stench apprised us that we were not far from the scenes of the carnage of the first three days of July, 1863. It was nauseating in the extreme, so much so, that at times it was almost impossible for a person to breathe. Evidences of the battle-field soon became visible. Dead men and horses, pieces of shell, solid shot, grape, muskets, broken wagons, clothing, cartridge boxes, knapsacks, and everything that pertains to an army were strewn around for miles in great profusion."
Just after dark, Cole rode up to a hotel in Gettysburg. "The landlord informed us that he had nothing for man or beast. We finally got a place for our horse to remain under shelter, and procured a faithful soldier of one of the New Jersey regiments to guard him until morning." Cole and his companion each paid a dollar to sleep on the floor of a house in the village.
The next day, following directions given to him, Cole was able to locate Grover's grave, without much difficulty. He was buried on Thursday by members of the regiment who were taken prisoners. A board with his name and day of death was placed at the head of the grave.
Cole said: "After becoming satisfied that there could be no mistake as to the identity of the body, and convinced that it would be impossible to have the body removed in the condition it was then in, at this season of the year,-we returned to the town again, and made arrangements to have toe body exhumed, placed in a coffin, and buried where his friends could regain him at a more suitable season of the year for such purposes.
"He is buried in the cemetery of the Reformed Dutch Church, in the city of Gettysburg." The following October, Grover's remains were brought back to Cortland for burial.
Having done all he could in Grover's behalf, Cole then visited the hospital on College hill, where a large number of wounded rebel prisoners were being treated. To his surprise, Cole came upon the great Mississippi orator, Col. John K. Clinton, who spoke in Cortland years before during the campaign of Stephen A. Douglas. Clinton was only slightly wounded, but had been taken prisoner. He had the "Louisiana Tigers" in a desperate charge on Battery B, I Corps, at the close of the battle on July 3.
Cole said one of the most heartrending experiences he had at the hospital was his encounter with a young captain from Georgia who was lying on a blanket on the floor. He had had both arms and legs shot off. A day or so before the battle he had received a letter from his young wife, but hadn't had time to read it.
"The letter was filled with assurances of prayers and blessings for the Southern army, and urging her husband to fight gallantly for the cause of the South. Alas! he had fought his last fight! A moment after the surgeon addressed him, saying: 'Captain, we can do nothing for you; you can live but a short time.' Tears rolled down the pale face of the young man, but he had not a hand to wipe them away. We wiped the tears from his eyes and gave him some water, when he looked up, and said 'Thank God, I am going to die beneath the stars and stripes.' We could not help turning away and weeping."
Cole and his companion then mounted their horse and rode over the battlefield. "Horror of horrors! We are Unable to describe the scenes which we witnessed. We saw men rebels - piled up in heaps, who were yet unburied. Many of them were in such a state of decomposition that their appearances were nauseating in the extreme, while their bloated and blackened corpses were disgusting to the sight.
"The once beautiful 'Evergreen Cemetery,' presented a sad appearance. From its commanding site, it was found necessary to post certain of our batteries on the summit of the eminence on which the city of the dead is located. It was one of the best positions we occupied, and the fire of the enemy's artillery was constantly directed upon it with a view of driving us back from the crest.
"The ground about our guns was literally strewn with shot and shell; tombstones erected over the remains of beloved relations were thrown from their positions and broken into fragments; graves were turned up by plunging shot; tasteful railings and other ornamental work work around the lots were badly shattered, and even the beautiful archway over the entrance to the sacred enclosure was splintered and penetrated. One thing remained untouched, which was the placard at the entrance reading: 'All persons are prohibited from disturbing any flower or shrub within these grounds."'
The battle took its toll on Gettysburg, and its residents "probably suffered more from the rapacity of the rebels than those of any other town in Pennsylvania," Cole said. Stores were ransacked and emptied of their contents. Anything they could not use the rebels destroyed.
"Dwellings too were entered, and where men's clothing could not be procured, that of women and children was taken into the streets and roads, torn into fragments and cast aside," Cole said. He added:
"The houses of the professors in the educational institutions shared the same fate; and from one store here even the clocks were taken out and destroyed. Everything eatable and drinkable was secured by the rebels, and such was their unlimited stealing that they did not even extend the courtesy of offering Southern shinplasters. Visitors to the battle-field will fare badly if they do not provide themselves before leaving with such articles of food and luxury as may be necessary during their sojourn in that section."
But Cole was not impressed with what he termed the "selfishness of the people" of Gettysburg. "The conduct of a majority of the male citizens of Gettysburg, and the surrounding county of Adams, is such as to stamp them with dishonor and craven-hearted meanness. And these are the unanimous sentiments of the whole Army of the Potomac - an army who fought as men never fought before, and who feel that the doors from which they drove a host of robbers, thieves and cut-throats, were not worthy of being defended. The male citizens mostly ran away and left the women and children to the mercy of their enemies.
"On their return, instead of lending a helping hand to our wounded, and opening their houses to our famished officers and soldiers, they manifested indecent haste to present their bills to the military authorities for payment of losses inflicted by both armies. On the streets the burden of their talk was in regard to their losses, and whether the government could be compelled to pay for this or that.
"One man said the stench from dead horses on his farm was very offensive, but he would not bury them himself unless some officer of the government would guarantee that he should be paid for it. On Thursday, a bill of seventeen hundred dollars was presented to Gen. Howard for damage to the cemetery during the fight.. One man presented Gen. Howard a bill of thirty-seven center for four bricks knocked off the chimney of his house by our artillery.
"Our wearied, and in many instances wounded soldiers, found pumps locked so that they could not get water. A hungry officer asked a woman for something to eat, and she first inquired how much he would pay. Another begged for a drink of milk, and the female wished to know if he had any change;
"These persons, it should be remarked, were not poor, but among the most substantial citizens of the town and vicinity, around whom, upon either hand, are fertile lands of yellow wheat pining for the sickle, and tall maize nodding obeisance to the wind and to numerous passersby."
Cole said "We saw a poor wounded soldier in the city of Gettysburg pay a dollar for a bandage about two inches wide and a yard long. Pies baked in saucers, were sold for a dollar a piece, and milk was dealt out to the wounded and thirsty defenders of the soil of Pennsylvania at twentyfive cents a quart."
In striking contrast was the hospitality shown by the people of Maryland. "No doors were closed upon the weary soldiers, nor pumps chained up against them," Cole said, adding that women and children "appeared at the doors of their dwellings with delicacies and cold spring water for the soldiers.
"We spent the night of Tuesday at the mansion of one of the substantial farmers, who was surrounded by all that wealth could give him. His family had taken every sheet and pillow case from their beds, and the wife and three daughters had taken every garment of their underclothes and tore them into bandages, and sent them to the Union soldiers, free of charge. Their supply of provisions were nearly exhausted, and their sumptuous table of ten days before, had given places to bread and bacon. But such as they had was freely provided, and no remuneration would be received."
Cole admonished his readers:
"Let us from all quarters have a little less lip - patriotism which is ready to show itself in deeds and sacrifices, too, if they are called for."
1st Lt. Uberto A. Burnham, quartermaster of the 76th, read Cole's account with great interest, but made some interesting observations in a letter dated July 31, 1863 written at "Camp at Warrenton Junction."
This article first appeared in the November, 1995, issue of the Guidon, the newsletter of the Major Grover Civil War Roundtable, Cortland, New York. For more information on the Guidon, e-mail editor Mike Brown.
Back to Major Grover's page.
Back to 76th New York Homepage.
- last updated March 9, 1999