Page 94: The Bible on the Battle-field; by Mrs. J.H. Hanaford--Commentary and Poem.
Page 110: Death announcement of Capt. Dawson from Battles in front of Petersburg (Crater).
Page 112: Casualty Lists of the 100th PVI after the Battle of the Crater.
PAGE 94
THE BIBLE ON THE BATTLE-FIELD
BY MRS. J. H. HANAFORD.
In an army meeting, Col. Leasure, of the famous Round head regiment of Western Pennsylvania Volunteers, said that his men, when laying off their knapsacks to go into battle, were accustomed to open them and take out their Bibles, and put them into the breast pocket of their blouse, right over the heart. Each man, thus carried his Bible in the right place, next to his heart – and never parted with it until the heart was stilled in death – The object was to have the word of God with them if they should fall in battle, to be the lamp of their feet, and the light of their path, even if called to the last march through the dark valley; and more than one of them had tested the brightness of its illuminating power in the shadow of death. While many other regiments that entered the service not earlier than the round head, and had seen no more hardship and peril, nor been in more terrible conflicts, have lost one half, two thirds, or three fourths their number this regiment
That carried the Bible in their blouses into the battle, has not lost more than one-fourth of its men. And why? A few were saved by the Bible as a shield over the heart; but by far a greater number were saved by it as a guide to their life, the shield from the fiery darts of the enemy of souls, a safe-guard from the destructive vices of army life. The Bible near the heart, the Bible in the blouse, for the battles of life, nothing can be better.
Were, take my knapsack, comrade, now
To battle I must go:
I’ve taken out one precious gift,
My Bible, George, you know.
I’ll place it where it ought to be-
This Book of all the best,
It may protect your early friend,
If they aim at his breast.
It is a pretty book, my friend,
And bound in red and gold;
And oh! It’s worth to me George,
It cannot here be told.
‘Twas mother’s gift, sweet mother, dear,
She placed it in my hand,
And bade me in its light defend
Our own dear native land.
Just over John’s sweet words, my friend
You see a lock of hair:
His words of love are sweeter still,
Now that bright lock is there.
And if I die, George, on this field
My Bible try to save.
And bear it homeward, while I fill
A far off, soldier’s grave.
Tell mother, tell my chosen, too,
I loved them to the last;
I wore their Bible on my heart,
And held it ‘s teachings fast.
It’s been a blessing in the camp,
And it may save me now,
Or prove my guide to that bright land
Where holy angels bow,
Bible Society Record, Beverly Mass.
PAGE 110
Lieut. Colonel Dawson.
It is with regret that we announce the death of this brave and patriotic officer. He had been in the service since the commencement of the war – went out in command of a company in the 100th Regt. and rose to the position of Lieut. Colonel by merit. In one of the battles before Richmond he was wounded in the arm at first it was not considered dangerous; but, it resulted in his death. His remains were taken through here for interment among his kindred in New Wilmington.
PAGE 112
Casualties in the 100th Roundhead Regiment.
The following is a partial list of the casualties in this regiment during the late battle before Petersburg:
KILLED – Capt. Walker C. Oliver, Co. B; Lieut. Richard P. Craven, Co. K.
WOUNDED – Lieut. Wm. Hammond, foot; David Johnson, K, neck; T. H. M’Connell, B, arm; Robert C. Dunwiddy, C, mortally; Thos. Offut, E, face; James Crowl, thigh; B. F. M’Clure, A, leg; Michael Currin, A, mortally; Wm. Oliver, M, foot; Charles Mitchell, K, back; Lester Jacobs, G, hip; Capt. N. Maxwell, Co. C, Capt. Fetters, Co. M.
PRISONERS – Major Thomas, J. Hamilton, Adjutant George G. Leasure, John Cannon, Co. H.
John H. Stevenson, son of ex-Sheriff Stevenson, a member of the regiment writes to his father thus:
Corporal David V. M’Allister, of Co. K, was killed; Corp. Thomas Kelty, mortally wounded, since died; Corp. Robert H. Dunfgan painfully wounded in the head – but not thought serious; Charlie Mitchell, son of James Mitchell, of New Castle, was dangerously wounded through the chest, and by some thought mortally; Addison Gilfillen was slightly wounded but will soon be right again; Capt. Maxwell was slightly wounded; Capt Charles Wilson is now in command of the Regiment. The loss of the 100th, as I learned from Capt. Wilson, was 10 killed, 15 wounded and 41 missing. I may get time to write you more tomorrow. Lieut. Craven was blown to pieces by a shell.
The Gazette says we find the following additional list of wounded in the New York Herald
Wm. Caldwell, Co. H, back; Lester Jacobs, Co. G, hip; Joseph Templeton, co. A, shoulder; H. C. Hart, Co. D, thigh; John R. Morse, Co. M, hips; David Johnston, Co. K, neck; T. H. M’Connell, Co. B, arm; Robert C. Dunwiddy, Co. C, mortally; Thomas Offut, Co. E, face; James Crowl, Co. F, thigh; B. B. M’Clure, Co. A, leg; Michael Currin, Co. A, mortally; Wm. Oliver, Co. M, foot.