Henry Wilson Storey's History of Cambria County, V.II, p.325

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History of Cambria County, V.2

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. 325

Camp Humphreys, Va.,
May 9, 1863.
    General: * * * report of the part taken by this brigade in the action of Sunday, the 3d instant:
    I reached the field at 6 a. m. Formed my command in line of battle, by battalion closed in mass, in rear of battery, under cover of the woods. At 8 o'clock formed brigade in line of battle, in open field to the left of the White House. After remaining in line a short time, I received orders from you to move the two left regiments, 133d and 135th, farther to the left, in order that the batteries could take position to the front and in center of my line.
    Under this disposition of my command, I lay until 11 o'clock, when I received orders from you to throw the two left regiments perpendicular to the road, and to advance in line of battle, with skirmishers in front, as far as to the edge of the wood bordering near the Chancellor house.
    This movement was explained to me as intended to hold the enemy in check long enough for the corps of Maj. Gen. Couch and Sickles to get into another position, and not to bring on an action if it could be avoided; and, should the enemy advance in force, to fall back slowly until I arrived on the edge of the wood, there to mass in column and double quick to the rear, that the artillery might fire in this wood. I was instructed that I was to consider myself under the command of Maj. Gen. Couch.
    In obedience to these orders, at about 11 o'clock I advanced with these two regiments forward through the wood, under a sever fire of shell, grape and canister. I encountered their skirmishers when near the farther edge of the wood. Allow me to state that the skirmishers of the enemy were Negroes. Slight skirmishing going on until retiring.
    At about 3 o'clock, I retired from this wood and formed brigade by battalion closed in mass on the ground of the first formation. Shortly after, I moved to the right and rear of the regulars, as a support.
    All the officers and men behaved well. I desire particularly to mention Capt. John T. Bell, assistant adjutant general; Capt. Horatio K. Tyler, inspector general, and Lieut. Albert D. Luncy and John T. Dennison, for their promptness in carrying my orders and seeing them executed. Col. Speakman (133d) and Cain carried out their instructions with coolness and gallantry. The loss in killed and wounded were: One officer and 3 privates killed, and 1 officer and 30 privates wounded. * * *
P. H. Allabach,
Colonel, Commanding Second Brigade
    Capt. Lowman, Co. K. 136th Pennsylvania, May 1-5, 1863:
May 9, 1863.
    This division left its encampment near Fletcher's Chapel, about 1 p. m. on (Tuesday) the 28th of April, and bivouacked

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	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.	325
Camp Humphreys, Va., May 9, 1863. General: * * * report of the part taken by this brigade in the action of Sunday, the 3d instant: I reached the field at 6 a. m. Formed my command in line of battle, by battalion closed in mass, in rear of battery, under cover of the woods. At 8 o'clock formed brigade in line of battle, in open field to the left of the White House. After remaining in line a short time, I received orders from you to move the two left regiments, 133d and 135th, farther to the left, in order that the batteries could take position to the front and in center of my line. Under this disposition of my command, I lay until 11 o'clock, when I received orders from you to throw the two left regiments perpendicular to the road, and to advance in line of battle, with skirmishers in front, as far as to the edge of the wood bordering near the Chancellor house. This movement was explained to me as intended to hold the enemy in check long enough for the corps of Maj. Gen. Couch and Sickles to get into another position, and not to bring on an action if it could be avoided; and, should the enemy advance in force, to fall back slowly until I arrived on the edge of the wood, there to mass in column and double quick to the rear, that the artillery might fire in this wood. I was instructed that I was to consider myself under the command of Maj. Gen. Couch. In obedience to these orders, at about 11 o'clock I advanced with these two regiments forward through the wood, under a sever fire of shell, grape and canister. I encountered their skirmishers when near the farther edge of the wood. Allow me to state that the skirmishers of the enemy were Negroes. Slight skirmishing going on until retiring. At about 3 o'clock, I retired from this wood and formed brigade by battalion closed in mass on the ground of the first formation. Shortly after, I moved to the right and rear of the regulars, as a support. All the officers and men behaved well. I desire particularly to mention Capt. John T. Bell, assistant adjutant general; Capt. Horatio K. Tyler, inspector general, and Lieut. Albert D. Luncy and John T. Dennison, for their promptness in carrying my orders and seeing them executed. Col. Speakman (133d) and Cain carried out their instructions with coolness and gallantry. The loss in killed and wounded were: One officer and 3 privates killed, and 1 officer and 30 privates wounded. * * * P. H. Allabach, Colonel, Commanding Second Brigade Capt. Lowman, Co. K. 136th Pennsylvania, May 1-5, 1863: May 9, 1863. This division left its encampment near Fletcher's Chapel, about 1 p. m. on (Tuesday) the 28th of April, and bivouacked