Family Connections

Family Connections - Civil War
By Rich Henninger
Copyright 2004

One of the more interesting discoveries I made in doing family history research was uncovering our distant cousins who opposed each other in the Civil War. My wife and I had distant cousins who fought in various Pennsylvania regiments including the 153rd Pennsylvania Infantry recruited from Northampton county communities. My ancestors were primarily in Company F, recruited in Williams Township, and my wife's ancestors were mainly recruited at Easton for Company E. Additionally my wife had Southern ancestors who fought in the 10th Alabama, Company D out of Calhoun County, Alabama. Visit the Civil War Maps page to see where and when they fought on the same battlefield.

Certainly it would have made a much more interesting story if these families had fired upon each other in combat. I could find no evidence that this ever occurred though surely they would have attacked each other if placed in that position. It is a fact that they were simultaneously at Chancellorsville and at Gettysburg. At Chancellorsville it appears that their proximity was never less than about 7 miles. The 10th Alabama was to the east in a skirmish with Sedgwick's Corp near Fredericksburg. Meanwhile, just west of Chancellorsville, Jackson's Tiger Brigade put on a thorough whipping of the 153rd PA, largely due to a miscalculation by Generals Hooker and Howard. The best chance for a head to head confrontation would have been at Gettysburg were the 153rd PA and 10th AL came within 1 mile of each other.

The men in the 153rd PA had a very brief but brutal term of service. During their 9-month term they fought in two bloody conflicts and suffered heavy casualties. The men of the 10th Alabama served for several years and in that time fought in many contests. By the time the 10th AL arrived in Gettysburg they were a battle hardened veteran fighting unit. This was plainly evident to me as I conducted my research. The 10th Alabama seemed self-assured in what they were doing. Their moves were calculated and founded on a well thought out strategy. The 153rd PA seemed to be in a state of confusion when in battle. Their lack of experience got them into trouble and many times lead them to act in an unpredictable if not irrational fashion. I believe this contributed to their reputation of being a bit too eager to retreat, a reputation that would lead some commanders to refer to the largely German speaking 153rd as the "Flying Dutchmen".

Let us not forget that the men of the 153rd PA were an all-volunteer force and I think it unfair to question their bravery. A more suitable target for scrutiny may lie in their leadership. There was frequent testimonial given by men of the 153rd indicating they had tremendous admiration for their commander, Colonel Von Gilsa. Von Gilsa was said to be very fair-minded in the treatment of his Brigade. As to how well trained the men of the 153rd were and whether Von Gilsa was a smart military strategist? Well. there is evidence to suggest Von Gilsa was not up to the task. Indeed at Gettysburg soldiers were approaching the 153rd on Cemetery Hill. Von Gilsa refused to allow the boys of the 153rd to open fire because he was sure the approaching force was a Union squad. Some of the other officers pleaded with him to open fire but he refused. At the last minute Lt. William Beidelman ordered Company F to attack but it was too late. The approaching force turned out to be Avery's Brigade and they soon broke through the 153rd regiments line and commenced fierce hand-to-hand combat. During this confrontation it seemed as if anything made for a fitting weapon. Rocks, fists, and bayonets were freely wielded. Rifles were used as clubs instead of firearms. The 153rd eventually repelled the attack and defended Cemetery Hill but suffered heavy casualties. In the final analysis who among us could say that they could, with any certainty, maintain rational thinking in the midst of the madness, violent death, and destruction of the Civil War. Soon after the Gettysburg battle the men of the 153rd would return to Easton and receive a hero's welcome.

Sources for this article:

History of the 153rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry by W.R. Kiefer (reprinted by Butternut and Blue, Baltimore MD, 1996)
ISBN 0-935523-55-3

Brigades of Gettysburg by Bradley M. Gottfried (published by Da Capo Press, Cambridge MA, 2002)
ISBN 0-306-81175-8

I Saw the Elephant by Bailey George McClelen (published by White Mane, Shippensburg PA, 1995)
ISBN 0-942597-85-0

Map of the Battlefield of Gettysburg (published by authority of the Secretary of War, 1876 new edition 1883)
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/cwmhtml/cwmhome.html