Jacob Loeble 98th Regiment Monument Speech

Dedication speech for the monument of the 98th regiment September 11, 1889

Address of Sergeant F. J. Loeble

Mr. President and comrades of the Ninety-eighth Pennsylvania Regimental Association, ladies, gentleman and friends: – Assembled here to-day, taking the allotted and average time of the life of mankind to be thirty-three years, a generation of the human family has almost passed away since first the cause made its appearance, which has led thousands to assemble to-day, on this glorious and renowned field of Gettysburg. It would take entirely too much of your valuable time, and would, I am afraid, severely tax your powers of endurance, were I to undertake to fully discuss the cause, the political intrigues and machinations of the leading politicians and statesman, which eventually led to the secession of the Southern States from the Union.

More eligible tongues and abler pens have discussed those questions time and again, and I am confident, that the greater majority of those assembled here to-day, are quite familiar with that subject, and it will, therefore, be sufficient for me to say that after a most exciting political campaign for the election of a President of these United States, in the fall of 1860, in which that noble and never-to-be forgotten man and martyr, Abraham Lincoln, was chosen as the executive officer of this federation of states, the country was embroiled, and stood face-to-face with the most wicked, uncalled for and unscrupulous attempt of traitors and rebels, to overthrow the government and establish slavery on a firm and everlasting foundation. Although in hi inaugural address, on the 4th of March, 1961, the President had promised not to interfere with slavery in the States where it then existed, and assurances were given by all the leading statesmen of the then dominant party to the same effect, the political leaders of the South had so worked upon the minds of their constituents the idea of establishing a separate government, with slavery for its corner-stone that State after State recalled their senators and representatives from Congress and passed acts of secession in their different legislatures.

Could they have foreseen the unity and devotion to the flag, as exhibited by the inhabitants of the Northern States when they were once fairly aroused. I feel warranted in saying, that they would have considered and deliberated considerably longer before striking the blow against the flag of our country, by firing on Fort Sumter in the harbor of Charleston, on the morning of April 12, 1961; but when the gods wish to destroy they first strike with blindness, and us the Almighty Providence and father of us all, had determined to strike the curse of slavery from this fair land of ours, he let them go on in their mad career and permitted them to still further blacken their treacherous souls in the blood of their brothers.

The war of the rebellion was now fairly opened, a war which in its accursed course of four years cost the country hundreds of thousands of lives, millions upon millions of money, breaking down the health of thousands of men, and filling the lad with widows and orphans; at the same time, however, bringing forth to full development the noblest traits of human character, unbounded charity, heavenly love and unsurpassed devotion. On April 14, 1861, the stars and stripes, that beloved symbol of our country and human liberty, ceased to float over Fort Sumter, and the President issued his first call for 75,000 volunteers to serve for the period of three months. The shots on Fort Sumter roused the slumbering fire of patriotism in the hearts of the Nation; stunned by this blow the country reeled like a man in his cups, but almost immediately recovered and exhibited such an intensity of feeling and readiness for sacrifices of all kind as astonished the people themselves and the world at large. Work of all kind seemed entirely suspended, the professional man suspended his calling, the artisan and mechanic stopped him machinery, the merchant laid aside his ledger, the laborer his pick and shovel, the farmer stopped his team in the field, even some of the boys flung their books in the corner, all vieing with each other which one would first reach the recruiting station, to inscribe his name on the roll of his country’s defenders.

The quotas of the different States were filled almost as soon as the call had been issued, and you, my comrades, well remember how eager you were to go forth, and to do and dies, so that our nation might live.

If I am allowed to do so, I would here relate to you as an illustration of the eagerness of the people to enlist, and of the surplus of men offering their services to the government, a circumstance which happened to me personally. On offering my services, the recruiting officer told me emphatically, and I thought at the time, not very politely, that he could get by far more men than he wanted, and did not propose to enlist boys.

It was at this time that our fellow townsman, John F. Ballier, a tried solider of the Mexican war, a man of sterling qualities (who has been prevented by sickness from being with us on this memorable day) considered it to be his duty toward the land of his adoption, to again unsheath his sword in defense of the flag under whose folds millions of people have found freedom from tyranny and oppression. His services being accepted, he took the field in a very short time at the head of a regiment of volunteers known as the Twenty-first Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry. The term of enlistment of this organization expired on July 29, the final discharge being August 8. The brave and loyal commander had, however, taken time by the forelock, and secured the issue of an order from the War Department, authorizing him to recruit a regiment of infantry for the term of three years or sooner discharged; this again shows to you that even at that time, no one had any idea of the gigantic proportions this unholy war was going to assume.

Many of the discharged officers and men of the now extinct Twenty-first Regiment rallied around their beloved commander, and at once commenced active recruiting, so that by the 17th of August, the first company was mustered into the service, and was thereafter known as Company I, Ninety-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry. By the 26th September, seven more companies had been mustered in the following order, D, C, F, A, E, K and B, and encamped at Camp Ballier, near Girard College, in Philadelphia. With the exception of Company A, ninety-five per cent of the enlisted men were of German birth or parentage; Company A, or as more familiarly known the Irish wing of the German Regiment, is however fully entitled to and proud of the name of German Regulars, by which one of the generals on the field designated them after the gallant and victorious battle of Williamsburg, Virginia, as well as those others who expressed their thoughts in the tongue of the Fatherland.

On September 30, the eight companies left Philadelphia for Washington, District of Columbia, where they were attached to the Fourth Army Corps under General Keyes. During the month of December, Companies G and H joined the regiment in its camp near Tennallytown, thereby competing the full regimental organization of ten companies.

On arrival at this camp, early in October, the colonel at once commenced a rigid course of instruction in the duties of a soldier, such as company and battalion drills, guard mount, picket duty, manual of arms, etc., as well as establishing a school for officers, and with pride very member of the regiment may say to-day, that when in the spring of 1862, it broke its camp, he belonged to a well-drilled and thoroughly organized body of volunteer soldiers, destined to make their mark in the hot work before them. In the beginning of March, the regiment hailed with joy the order to march on the enemy, ready to do battle in a righteous cause; it was, however, sorely disappointed, when, after a few days, the army was ordered to return across Potomac and encamp again on its old ground. Meanwhile the plan of operations against the capital of the Confederacy, Richmond, was changed, and in the later days of March the army was embarked and transported to Fortress Monroe, to begin the memorable campaign on the Peninsula The regiment bore its share of hardships in the investment of Yorktown, holding a position near Warwick Court House, doing picket duty, building entrenchments and corduroy roads during all of April, and until the evacuation and abandonment of the rebel works.

Following up the enemy closely on the 5th of May, the long-looked for moment arrived, when the regiment was destined to receive its baptism of fire, in front of the rebel Fort Magruder near Williamsburg, Virginia. The prospect of our valor and courage must have been rather a discouraging one to our commander, after the severe march over almost impossible roads, and in a drenching rain storm, and the speaker often recalls him to his mind’s eye marching down the line, uttering words of encouragement and appealing to our sense of honor and duty, to show ourselves as men who could be depended upon in the hour of trial and danger. Bravely it followed its leader, and nobly did it do it duty, so well, that after the battle was over, it was taken from the brigade, and assigned to the special hazardous and honorable duty of following up the retreating enemy, as one of the organizations composing the advance guard under General Stoneman until we reached the vicinity of Richmond. It would take me too long, and would perhaps become too tiresome to you, were I to give a detailed account of its marches and engagements, through that terrible campaign in the summer of 1862, when, in August, this noble Army of the Potomac, found itself at Harrison’s Landing on the James River, a shattered, bleeding and almost discouraged remnant of its former self, neither will I discuss the reasons for the disastrous ending of this campaign, but will simply say, that under the severest trials and experience, the Ninety-eighth was always found ready and willing to do its duty without murmuring or fault-finding.

Shortly, however, the line of march was taken up again, as the rebel forces had turned their attention to the army of General Pope, who stood between Washington and Richmond. The division to which the regiment was attached was ordered to Alexandria, and, after disembarking, immediately advanced to Centreville, where it was assigned to the not very pleasant but important duty of covering the retreat of Pope’s army which had been defeated in the second battle of Bull Run; this was successfully accomplished, and well may the members of the regiment feel proud of having had part in insuring the safety of the Capitol of the Nation at that particular time. Then followed Lee’s invasion of the north, the battle of South Mountain and Antietam, the capture of Miles at Harper’s Ferry, whom the division was sent to reinforce, but who had capitulated before it reached him, the chase after a foraging detachment of rebels, and the return of the Army of the Potomac near New Baltimore, Virginia.

Here the division was attached to the famous Sixth Corps, whose fortune became hereafter its own until the close of the war. General Burnside having assumed command of the army about this time the order was given to advance by way of Fredericksburg, where, on the 13th of December, 1862, a terrific battle was fought with disastrous results to the Union arms. The army then went into winter quarters on the north side of the Rappahannock, and, with the exception of the Burnside stuck in the mud march, remained quite until the spring of 1863.

Meanwhile the command of the army had been transferred to fighting Joe Hooker, who, on the 1st of May, crossed the river a few miles above the city with the bulk of the army, leaving the Sixth Corps under command of (that famous soldier and fatherly commander) John Sedgwick, in front of Fredericksburg, with instructions to take the rebel intrenchments in the rear of the city. This task was nobly accomplished by the corps on the 3d of May, the regiment as usual taking a conspicuous part in this action. The line of march was almost immediately taken up again towards Chancellorsville, but General Hooker having meanwhile been defeated at this point, General Lee sent heavy reinforcements against the gallant Sixth, checking our advance at Salem Church. Stubbornly fighting against superior numbers the corps steadily retraced its steps, and reached the north side of the river on the 5th sustaining a very heavy loss in its numbers. This ended the Hooker campaign and brought the regiment back to its former quarters until June 20, when it became apparent that the wily rebel leader, Lee was panning another advance into the loyal States, but shrouded his movements in such impenetrable darkness, that his army was well on its way before the Union commander had any idea of his intentions.

July I found the regiment at Manchester, Maryland, while other corps had already opened the ball at this renowned field of Gettysburg where we have assembled to-day, and where the greatest struggle for mastery took place between the old, well-tried opponents, the armies of the Potomac and Northern Virginia.

In the evening the corps was ordered to Gettysburg, the Ninety-eighth having the right of the line. No one of the participants will ever forget that march of thirty-eight miles with but little rest. Weary and footsore it arrived on the afternoon of July 2, and immediately went into action from the position yonder where we have just rededicated one of the monuments. Nothing daunted by their weariness, or even the retreat of their comrades of other corps, who were closely followed by the enemy, they went forward at the word of command , and, after having fixed bayonets, with a Union hurrah.

Here, again, at a critical moment, the regiment fully proved that it was composed of no mean material, for had it not stemmed the current of the rebel advance God knows what would have been the result if the rebels had captured yonder heights, but the timely arrival of the regiment proved to be the turning tide of the fortunes of war in two distinct results. The retreating Union soldiers, amazed by the outburst of confidence and devotion to duty, and seeing the line steadily advancing, halted, faced about and joined in the forward movement of their brethren of the Ninety-eighth, while, on the other had, the rebels received a check to their onward march, wheeled about and exchanged the role of pursuers to the one of pursued. The regiment drove the retreating foe beyond this stone wall into the Wheatfield, and was, later in the day, withdrawn to this position, which it held successfully until the close of the battle.

I have shown you with pardonable pride that in several important actions the regiment fulfilled its duty to the best of its ability, and would but casually mention here, that about one year later, it was again its good fortune to save the capital of the Nation, being the first regiment of the corps to drive the rebels from in front of Fort Stevens, under the eyes of the late lamented Lincoln, who personally tendered his thanks to the commander for the part taken in defeating the rebel designs, and assuring him that his services at that particular critical time should never be forgotten. For three long days the fate of the Union hung in the balance on this Pennsylvania field, thousands of her sons were engaged in this conflict, on her own dear soil, whilst thousands, aye millions, were praying for the success of our arms. At last the decision was rendered, the God of battles crowned with victory the Union army, and the highest tide of treason and rebellion had been reached on this very field. Henceforth the unholy cause entered upon its decline, which, while not as rapid as we all could have wished, at least showed itself in their efforts becoming weaker, for no offensive movement in force towards the northern states was again attempted.

Well do you remember, however, how stubbornly almost every inch of ground was contested, and thousands upon thousands of lives had yet to be sacrificed before the death blow to treason was struck at Appomattox in ’65, the Ninety-eighth being no mean factor in the struggle to the end.

But let us now look to the immediate cause of our assemblage here today. Shortly after peace was restored to our bleeding country, a spontaneous movement started up to preserve to posterity the outlines of the field of Gettysburg, proclaiming as it does to-day the valor of the citizen soldiery of the American Republic.

A commission was formed, subscriptions solicited, and section after section acquired by purchase and donation until to-day nearly the whole field of carnage is owned by the Gettysburg Battlefield Association. Regimental associations showed a tendency to commemorate the position held by each of them during the terrific struggle, in marking the spots by the erection of monuments.

One after another was raised upon the field by the survivors, and well may you feel proud, my comrade, that a few years ago you put your shoulders to the wheel, and by a united effort, and with the assistance of your friends, you placed yonder memento upon this field in memory of our fallen comrades.

The efforts of the survivors of the war induced the representatives of our beloved State of Pennsylvania to give them a helping hand in this noble undertaking by appropriating a certain sum of money for a monument, to be erected upon the spot where each Pennsylvania regiment and battery fought and bled in those memorable days. To-day we have assembled to dedicate these monuments in the presence of our wives and children, our uncles and aunts and our friends in general, many a hand has again clasped the hand of comrades after an interval of years, friendships have been renewed, past hardships and privations have been brought vividly to our mind, let us also drop a silent tear for those near and dear ones who freely gave their lives for the land they loved, as we look upon this beautiful tribute of love to them, which but a few moments ago, has been stripped of the flag that hid its beauties.

May you, my comrades, remember, that the visitors to this spot, in the years when we too shall have joined the great army above, may drop a grateful tear to our memory, and thank the Lord, that, in the hour of danger to our beloved land, there were freemen enough to stand between their loved homes and those whose aim it was to destroy the liberties of a free people. But above all else may it continue to preach to posterity for years to come, that loyalty to our country should ever be second only to loyalty to our creator, the heavenly Father of us all.

May it serve as a warning to future generations that the American citizen will allow no one, no matter who he may be, to insult his flag or attempt to wrest one single star from its place. While we welcome under its folds the oppressed of all the world, let it be decidedly understood that those who bared their breast to the murderous bullet in defense of it, are jealously guarding its interests, and will not allow it to be lowered, dragged into the dust, or used for any other but the noblest purpose of mankind.

May we so direct the education of our children, and through them again our children’s children, and that when they look upon these monuments, they may imbibe that spirit of devotion to country and flag which made their ancestors ready and willing to offer their lives in the defense of the Star Spangled Banner, the emblem of liberty, equal rights and national unity. O Lord, grant that it may wave until the end of time, over a nation of freemen enjoying happiness, prosperity and unity!