and compelled him to fall back upon Chattanooga, where he was hemmed in and besieged on all sides by the rebel army of General Bragg, that your noble "Star Corps" of the Army of the Potomac and the Crescent Corps were ordered to the south to assist the Army of the Cumberland, then under the command of that old war horse, General George H. Thomas ("The Rock of Chickamauga") which was sadly in need of bread. This was in the balmy days of early autumn, 1863, the month of September, when all nature smiled, and fields, orchards and woodland contributed their offerings for man's gratification, and sustenance rewarding the labor of the husbandman, and the skill of the artisan.

The nation had been filled with joy at the success of Meade's Army at Gettysburg, and Grant's capture of Vicksburg, and were looking eagerly for grand movements of her armies towards crushing out the last vestige of the rebellion. Then came the orders to your Slocum, to prepare his men for change of location, and to break from the army with whom you had so long fought and marched, and to show your valor on other fields, win new trophies, other battle names on your banners and perchance to die, in the southland; but what mattered that,-your only desire was that your flag should wave triumphantly over every state of a restored Union, and asked for no rest until it was completely accomplished, when you would lay down your arms and return to your homes and beloved ones, to enjoy the well earned applause of a nation redeemed.

We knew not why these two corps (the Eleventh and Twelfth) were selected by the War Department for this work, but it was cheerfully obeyed, and on September 26, 1863, at Brandy Station, Culpepper county, Va., you struck your tents, packed your knapsacks, and with haversacks filled with ten days' rations of hard tack, pork, coffee and sugar, and crowded into freight cars as merry as boys going to a picnic party, soon were whirling in the direction of Washington City, and switched onto the old Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Then speeded up the Potomac, through historic "Harper's Ferry" where old John Brown opened the war, and near which place the poor old patriot was hanged by the Virginia chivalry in 1859. On through West Virginia we sped, over mountains and through tunnels until we reached the Ohio river at Bellaire, crossing it on flat boats, and on through loyal Ohio to Columbus, along which route you were treated to an ovation by the loyal men, women and children, who filled your haversacks and stomachs with the best the land afforded; and your hearts with cheer and assurance of co-operation to maintain the union of States. So on to Indianapolis, Indiana, where you stopped and were royally fed by the good people of that beautiful city. We can never forget them, and their enthusiastic kindness to us, on our route all through the loyal States, even into Kentucky, as we passed through Louisville, the Blue Grass region, and by the Mammoth Cave to Nashville, Tennessee, and finally landed at Stevenson, Alabama, and again to Bridgeport, Alabama, October 3, 1863, on the Tennessee river, and how your hearts bounded as you met the "Army of the Southwest" one thousand miles or more from your camp in "Old Virginia."

You realized your mission and knew that your old comrades of the Potamac Army would not be disappointed in your prowess, as you formed a connecting link of the Grand Armies of the Republic forged to inaugurate the last grand struggle that was to crush out the Rebellion and re-establish the national authority over all the Union, with no star missing on its banner.

The Potomac boys had not long to wait, as Thomas with the Army of the Cumberland was besieged in Chattanooga a few miles away by the Rebel army under Bragg, and were short of rations.

The first attack was made by the enemy on a portion of the Twelfth Corps, in Wauhatchie Valley, in the night, and was repulsed.

Then Hooker, "Fighting Joe," assaulted frowning Lookout Mountain and planted the flag on its crest above the clouds. The same time Sherman and Thomas were storming Missionary Ridge, driving back the enemy in disorder, southward into Georgia, and the "cracker line" was opened again along the Tennessee River, and the gateway to the south was secure in our hands.

Your winter quarters came next, as you fell back along the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad to Decherd, Tennessee, the better to get supplies and guard the railroad. You all remember well that grand old winter at Decherd, in winter quarters.

The officers' balls, your love making to the dark eyed Tennessee girls, as you raided their homes, invaded their firesides, exchanging your greenbacks for their corn bread and pies.

You remember the raids after guerrillas who infested the country, especially Lincoln county, picking up straggling soldiers, giving them their parole, returning to the regiment minus their buttons and cash.

Then came the order from the War Department offering a bounty to all who would re-enlist for three years more, or the war, with a thirty days furlough thrown in, of which nearly all of you who could, took advantage and started for home.

You know how quickly passed those thirty days with our dear friends at home, but how sad the parting again for the seat of war in Tennessee, in March, 1864, when you took up again your regular routine of duties until the order came from Sherman to move again to Chattanooga. In the meantime the old Twelfth Corps and Eleventh Corps were consolidated, forming the Twentieth Corps of the "Army of the Cumberland," under ccmmand of General George H. Thomas-Hooker commanding the corps. We took up our line of march, passing over the Cumberland Mountains and valleys of East Tennessee, to Shellmound and Nick-a-Jack Cave, and over the point of Lookout Mountain, into the Chattanooga Valley, where you soon found the enemy, and the ball was opened May 7 for the summer campaign at Snake Creek Gap, and Resaca, May 15, and at Cassville, Culp's Farm, June 22, Pine Mountain, Kenesaw, Lost Mountain, Dallas, Chattahoochee River, Peach Tree Creek, July 20; capture of Atlanta, September 4; losing in this summer campaign a very large portion of the regiment. After resting in the city of Atlanta until November 15, you

took up that grand campaign and march with Sherman to the sea, that shall forever live in song and story. Crossing the river after capturing Savannah, you drove the enemy before you through South Carolina-that hot bed of treason-and to Goldsboro, North Carolina, Raleigh and Greensboro, where Johnson surrendered to Sherman, April 26, 1865, and the war was over, thank God, after four long years of hardship and fatigue.

Then came the march through Richmond to Washington, and the "grand review May 24th and 25th," and discharge at Alexandria, Va., July 16, 1865, and the return to our homes and loved ones again.

And now, my comrades, we have gathered here at Orchard Knob near the slope of Missionary Ridge, with Lookout Mountain soaring grandly in the distance to the clouds, the beautiful Tennessee winding its way around the hills, and peace and happiness reigning supreme.

We have come, thirty-four years after the conflict, to dedicate this beautiful monument to the memory of our noble Forty-sixth Pennsylvania Regiment. May the memory of this event go with us through life, and may it stand as a perpetual memorial to your valor and loyalty, and to the memory of our dead comrades who sleep their last sleep in this National Cemetery, and at Marietta, Ga. (where fifty-five are buried), or wherever they lay, until the last bugle calls them forth.

With these few words, my comrades, I greet you and bid you farewell, praying that God will be your guard and guide until we all meet again in that grand army above, and pass a good inspection before the Great Commander.

A

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF REGIMENT.*

Ta moment of imminent peril, in April, 1861, five volunteer companies from Pennsylvania rushed to the rescue of the National Capitol, seriously menaced by traitors-the first troops to respond to the urgent call of the Government. Among the foremost of these companies was the Logan Guards, of Mifflin county. When the three months' service was ended, this company, recruited and re-organized, was again mustered for three years, as Company A, in the Forty-sixth Regiment. Company C, recruited in Northampton county, had served in the First Regiment, under Captain Selfridge, as Company A. Company D, recruited in Dauphin county, had also served in the Fifteenth Regiment, as Company E. Many of the members of other companies, both officers and privates, had served in the first campaign, but the organizations of no other companies had been preserved. Companies B and F were recruited in Allegheny county, E in Berks, G and H in Potter, I in Luzerne, and K in Northumberland.

Rendezvousing at Camp Curtin, the regiment was organized on the 1st of September, 1861, by the selection of the following field officers; Joseph F.

Extract from Bates' History of Pennsylvania Volunteers.

Knipe, of Dauphin county, who had served during the three months' campaign on the staff of General E. C. Williams, Colonel; James L. Selfridge, from Captain of Company C, Lieutenant Colonel; Arnold C. Lewis, Major. On the 22d of September, Major Lewis, while attempting to enforce discipline in a case of insubordination, was shot and instantly killed by a private of Company I, who afterwards suffered the extreme penalty of the law for his offense. Captain J. A. Matthews, of Company A, was promoted to Major.

Upon the resignation of General Patterson, from the command of the Army of the Shenandoah, General Banks was appointed to succeed him. His forces were posted on the Upper Potomac, along the Maryland shore, in the neighborhood of Harper's Ferry. Soon after its organization, the Forty-sixth was ordered to General Banks' command. Upon its arrival it was assigned to the First Brigade, of the Second Division, of his corps. Little of interest, save the usual drill and camp duty, and an occasional skirmish with the enemy, occurred until the opening of the spring campaign. In January, 1862, Stonewall Jackson, with a well appointed force of all arms, having for some time occupied the Shenandoah Valley, had pushed out as far west as Hancock, where he was met and driven back by General Lander. Lander pursued, but soon after died, and was succeeded in command by General Shields, who continued the pursuit to Winchester. On the 24th of February, General Banks commenced crossing the Potomac at Harper's Ferry, and occupied, in turn, Leesburg, Charlestown, Martinsburg and Winchester. Shields continued the pursuit of Jackson as far as New Market, whence he returned to Winchester. In the meantime, Banks had dispatched one division of his corps to Centreville, and had himself departed for Washington. Considering himself superior to the Union force remaining, Jackson turned upon Shields, and a severe engagement ensued in the neighborhood of Kernstown. Three companies of the Forty-sixth, under command of Major Matthews, arrived upon the field in time to participate in the conflict. Jackson was beaten, and Banks returning, gave chase, which was continued to Woodstock. In this pursuit the Forty-sixth was conspicuous, Colonel Knipe manifesting his usual enterprise and daring. Jackson, who was fearful of a union of the forces of Fremont and Banks, marched hastily across the mountain to McDowell, where he encountered the head of Fremont's column, under Milroy and Schenck, and defeated it, inflicting considerable loss. Returning with his characteristic celerity of movement, and masking his progress by his cavalry, he fell suddenly upon Colonel Kenley, occupying an outpost at Front Royal, and, routing his small force, was making for the rear of Bank's army, before the latter was aware of an enemy's presence in his

#Organization of First Brigade, Brigadier General S. W. Crawford; Second Division, Brigadier General A. S. Williams Forty-sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Joseph F. Knipe; Tenth Regiment Maine Volunteers, Colonel George Beale; Fifth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, Colonel George D. Chapman; Twenty-eighth New York Volunteers, Colonel Dudley Donnelly; First Maryland, Colonel John Kenly; Eests's Regular Battery.