Col. Welch, 16th MI

O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XXVII/1 [S# 43] -- Gettysburg Campaign
No. 198. -- Report of Lieut. Col. Norval E. Welch,
Sixteenth Michigan Infantry.

NEAR EMMITSBURG, MD.,
July 6, 1863.
LIEUTENANT: In reply to circular of this date from brigade headquarters, as to the part this regiment sustained in the action of July 2 and 3, I have the honor to report:

The regiment, under my command, lay with the Third Brigade, First Division, Fifth Corps, closed in mass, near and in rear of Gettysburg, to the left of the main road, during most of the day. The brigade was commanded by Col. Strong Vincent, Eighty-third Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers.

About 4 p.m. we moved rapidly to the extreme left of our line of battle, and went into position on the left of the brigade, at that time circling the crest of a high rocky hill. After deploying two of my largest companies as skirmishers--Brady's Sharpshooters from the left, and Company A from the right--I was ordered at double-quick to the right of the brigade, and to take my position on the right of the Forty-fourth New York. Before this could be accomplished, we were under a heavy fire of the enemy's infantry. We succeeded, however, in securing our places after some loss.

We remained in this position nearly half an hour, when some one (supposed to be General Weed or Major-General Sykes) called from the extreme crest of the hill to fall back nearer the top, where a much less exposed line could be taken up. This order was not obeyed, except by single individuals. From some misconstruction of orders, and entirely unwarrantable assumption of authority, Lieutenant Kydd ordered the colors back. None left with them, however, but three of the color-guard. They followed the brigade colors to where Colonel Vincent, after being wounded, had been carried, where they remained all night, joining the regiment in the morning with 45 men, who had left the field during and after the fight. All the remainder of the regiment retained their position until relieved.

The two companies sent out as skirmishers numbered about 50. The number of muskets taken in line was about 150; the number killed and wounded 59--21 killed.(*) Several wounded have since died.

On the 3d, we took up a new line farther to the right, at the left of the brigade, and remained on our arms for twenty-four hours.

Captain Elliott and Adjutant Jacklin behaved with their usual gallantry. Captain Partridge, Lieutenants Borgman (wounded), Woodruff, Forsyth, Cameron (wounded, with arm amputated), Swart, Graham, Salter, and Captain Chandler, behaved nobly and handled their men with coolness and valor. Lieutenants Browne, Company E, Jewett, Company K, and Borden, Company F, died, bravely defending the flag they had sworn to support and that they loved in their hearts, and emulating the bravest. I had no truer or purer officers, and their loss cannot be replaced.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
N. E. WELCH,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Regiment.
Lieut. GEORGE B. HERENDEEN,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

Note: According to the Soldiers-Sailors Registry - Norval E. Welsh would leave as a full Colonel.
Reading some of the comments about "Major" N. E. Welsh and Lt. Col. Welsh, this commander of the 16th Michigan was always being commented on bravery and loyalty. He was 'kicking the enemy' in the various battles up to Gettysburg. Butterfield was very complimentary about Major/Lt. Col. Welsh --it could be that he re-enlisted with the field generals/staff and paperwork not caught. Experienced field commanders as brave as he was cited to be--wasn't easily replaced, especially in the command area of Strong Vincent, now mortal wounded, Weed too--they were being wiped out.

Makes sense for them to keep Welsh if he wanted to stay, in my opinion.

M. E. Wolf

O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XXVII/1 [S# 43] -- Gettysburg Campaign
No. 199. -- Report of Maj. Robert T. Elliott,
Sixteenth Michigan Infantry.
August 15, 1863.
LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of this regiment, supplementary to the report of the operations during the battle of Gettysburg, Pa., made by Lieut. Col. N. E. Welch, July 6:

July 7.--Broke camp near Emmitsburg, Md., and marched in the direction of Frederick, Md., halting for the night at ----.
July 8.--Marched over the Catoctin Mountains to Middletown, Md., and bivouacked for the night, and remained till July 9, when we marched to near Boonsborough, Md., and bivouacked for the night.
July 10.--Marched to near Jones' Cross-Roads, and a detail sent out to support skirmishers, in charge of Captain Elliott. Skirmishers became engaged with enemy's cavalry vedettes, in which Company A, of this regiment, had 1 man wounded. Bivouacked in rear of pickets until morning of July 11, when regiment moved to Jones' Cross-Roads, and occupied position in brigade in close column by division, and advanced 2 miles in the direction of Hagerstown, and bivouacked.
July 12.--Moved forward as yesterday, in close column by division, nearly a mile, when, a rain storm coming on, moved to the left, where the regiment bivouacked in an open field till the afternoon of July 13, when the regiment moved to the left in the direction of Williamsport, and a detail made for picket, which was sent out in charge of Lieutenant Eddy, Company G. Bivouacked for the night. During the night considerable skirmishing by the detail from this regiment.
On the morning of July 14, the enemy's skirmishers fell back, and quite a number of stragglers were picked up by our men. Regiment moved forward to Williamsport, remaining over night in bivouac.
July 15.--Took up the line of march, passing through Keedysville and over South Mountain, halting for the night near Burkittsville.
July 16.--Moved to near Berlin, Md., where we remained till the afternoon of July 17. We crossed the Potomac into Virginia, and bivouacked for the night near Lovettsville, Va., Captain(now Major) Elliott being in command of the regiment, Lieut. Col. N. E. Welch having left us on sick leave, to go to Michigan.
July 18.--Marched to and bivouacked near Wheatland.
July 19.--Marched to near Purcellville, and bivouacked for the night.
July 20.--Moved to near Union, and remained there in bivouac.
July 22.--In the forenoon we marched to Rectortown, and bivouacked for the night.
July 23.--Moved at daylight into Manassas Gap, going to near Wapping Heights, where, in conjunction with the brigade and division, acted as support of the Third Corps. Passing through Linden, bivouacked on Wapping Heights for the night.
July 24.--Formed in line of battle, and, with the other regiments of the brigade, were thrown forward as skirmishers toward Front Royal. Were recalled about 1 o'clock, and, after a rest, moved back to near Linden, and bivouacked.
July 25.--Marched at daylight, and, after a tedious march, bivouacked for the night near Orleans, the men having marched all day without rations.
July 20.--Moved forward toward Warrenton, passing through Orleans, and encamped 3 miles from Warrenton.
July 27.--Passed through Warrenton; moved 3 miles on the Fayetteville road, and went into permanent camp. The commanding officer takes this occasion to make mention of the general good conduct of both officers and men. The line officers are deserving of all praise for the manner in which their companies were brought forward at times when the men were without food and many of them shoeless. His thanks are hereby tendered them for the invaluable services they have rendered him during the time he has been in command.

In conclusion, I have the honor to tender to the colonel commanding the brigade the assurance of the high esteem of the officers of this command, prompted not only by the knowledge of his former military service, but by the able manner he has handled the brigade.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
ROBT. T. ELLIOTT,
Major, Commanding Sixteenth Michigan Volunteers.
Lieut. JOHN M. CLARK,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Third Brig., First Div., Fifth A. C.
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O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXIX/2 [S# 49]
Correspondence, Orders, And Returns Relating Specially To Operations In North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, And Pennsylvania, From August 4 To December 31, 1863.
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.--#24
FIFTH ARMY CORPS.
Maj. Gen. GEORGE SYKES.

FIRST DIVISION.
Col. JACOB B. SWEITZER.
Third Brigade.
Col. JOSEPH HAYES.
20th Maine, Maj. Ellis Spear.
16th Michigan, Lieut. Col. Norval E. Welch.
44th New York, Lieut. Col. Freeman Conner.
83d Pennsylvania, Maj. William H. Lamont.
---------------------
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXXIII [S# 60]
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, AND PENNSYLVANIA, FROM JANUARY 1 TO APRIL 30, 1864.--#6
FIFTH ARMY CORPS.
Maj. Gen. GEORGE SYKES.
FIRST DIVISION.
Col. JACOB B. SWEITZER.
Third Brigade.
Col. JOSEPH HAYES.
20th Maine, Maj. Ellis Spear.
16th Michigan, Lieut. Col. Norval E. Welch.
44th New York, Maj. Edward B. Knox.
83d Pennsylvania, Lieut. Col. De Witt C. McCoy.
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O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XL/2 [S# 81]
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, FROM JUNE 13, 1864, TO JULY 4, 1864.--#22
FIFTH ARMY CORPS
Maj. Gen. GOUVERNEUR K. WARREN.
FIRST DIVISION.
Brig. Gen. CHARLES GRIFFIN.
Third Brigade
Brig. Gen. JOSEPH J. BARTLETT.
20th Maine, Maj. Ellis Spear.
18th Massachusetts, Maj. Thomas Weston.
1st Michigan, Lieut. Col. William A. Throop.
16th Michigan,(+) Col. Norval E. Welch.
44th New York, Capt. Campbell Allen.
83d Pennsylvania, Lieut. Col. De Witt C. McCoy.
118th Pennsylvania, Lieut. Col. Charles P. Herring.
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O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XL/3 [S# 82]
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, FROM JULY 5, 1864, TO JULY 31, 1864.(*)--#30
FIFTH ARMY CORPS.
Maj. Gen. GOUVERNEUR K. WARREN.
FIRST DIVISION.
Brig. Gen. JOSEPH J. BARTLETT.
Third Brigade.
Col. NORVAL E. WELCH.
20th Maine, Maj. Ellis Spear.
18th Massachusetts, Capt. Luther S. Bent.
1st Michigan, Lieut. Col. William A. Throop.
16th Michigan, (+) Capt. Guy W. Fuller.
44th New York, Maj. Edward B. Knox.
83d Pennsylvania, Lieut. Col. De Witt C. McCoy.
118th Pennsylvania, Lieut. Col. Charles P. Herring.
===================================
O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLII/1 [S# 87]
AUGUST 1-DECEMBER 31, 1864.--The Richmond (Virginia) Campaign.
No. 7.--Return of Casualties in the Union Forces.(*)
POPLAR SPRING CHURCH, VA. (OR WYATT'S, PEEBLES', AND PEGRAM'S FARMS, CHAPPELL HOUSE, AND VAUGHAN ROAD), SEPTEMBER 30, 1864--Continued.

[excerpt]
OFFICERS KILLED OR MORTALLY WOUNDED.
MAINE.'
Capt. Weston H. Keene, 20th Infantry.
Capt. Joseph S. Harlow, 31st Infantry.
MASSACHUSETTS.
Capt. Orange S. Sampson, 21st Infantry.
Capt. Charles H. Johnson, 58th Infantry.
Lieut. John W. Fiske, 58th Infantry.
MICHIGAN,
Capt..James H. Wheaton, 1st Infantry.
Col. Norval E. Welch, 16th Infantry.
Capt. Oliver Blood, jr., 20th Infantry.
Lieut. Jacob E. Siebert, 20th Infantry.
Lieut. Theodore S. Mead, 27th Infantry.
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Capt. Adams K. Tilton, 6th Infantry,.
Lieut. George W. Emery, 9th Infantry.
Lieut. William D. Rice, 9th Infantry.
Lieut. Frank S. Bean, 11th Infantry.
NEW YORK
Lieut. Frank Butler, 51st Infantry.
Lieut. James B. Bowker, 179th Infantry.
PENNSYLVANIA.
Capt. David P. Smith, 4th Cavalry.
Lieut. James P. Gregg, 45th Infantry.
Lieut. William Fisher, 99th Infantry.
Capt. Charles M. Young, 118th Infantry.
Lieut. John Conahey, l8th Infantry.
U, S. ARMY.
Lieut. Otis Fisher, 8th Infantry.
Lieut. Thomas D. Urmston, 12th Infantry.
VERMONT.
Lieut. Col. Charles Cummings, 17th Infantry.
Capt. Henry A. Eaton, 17th Infantry.
Lieut. George W. Tobin, 17th Infantry.

O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLII/1 [S# 87]
AUGUST 1-DECEMBER 31, 1864.--The Richmond (Virginia) Campaign.
No. 141.--Report of Col. Norval E. Welch, Sixteenth Michigan Infantry, of operations August 18-28.
HDQRS. SIXTEENTH MICHIGAN INFANTRY VET. VOLS.,
In the Trenches on the Weldon R. R., Va., August 28, 1864.
LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of this regiment since the 18th instant:

On the morning of the 18th, at 4 o'clock, the regiment, Col. N. E. Welch commanding, moved from camp near Norfolk railroad, and took up the line of march toward the Weldon railroad; arrived on the railroad about 8 a.m., and went into battle line on the right of the Yellow House. In the afternoon moved into position parallel with the railroad and constructed a line of breast-works. On the afternoon of the 19th moved to the right as support to the Second Division, but did not become engaged; returning in the evening, moved back to position in the works, where the regiment has since remained.

During the engagement of the 21st the regiment lost 6 men wounded, and had 13 missing, though not actually engaged.
I am, lieutenant, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
N. E. WELCH,
Colonel, Commanding Regiment.
Lieut. CHARLES H. HAND,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., 3d Brig., 1st Div., 5th Army Corps.
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O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLII/2 [S# 88]
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS, RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, FROM AUGUST 1, 1864, TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1864.(*)--#45
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Peebles' Farm, September 30, 1864---4.15 p.m.
Lieutenant-General GRANT:
In accordance with your instructions, I have directed General Gregg to send a brigade of cavalry on the left of the infantry and endeavor to turn the enemy's left, the other brigade to support it, if necessary, and to keep a lookout on our immediate rear, where, from all indications, the enemy's cavalry withdrew. General Parke is advancing toward the Boydton road in a northwest direction. I should have mentioned in my last dispatch that General Ayres had taken a small work in advance and on the right of the one taken by Griffin, and also that General Griffin had secured one piece of artillery. Warren's casualties will be about 100 killed and wounded, among the former Colonel Welch, of Michigan. The number of prisoners not known, but not so large as at first supposed.
GEO. G. MEADE,
Major-General.
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O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLII/2 [S# 88]
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS, RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, FROM AUGUST 1, 1864, TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1864.(*)--#46
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
September 30, 1864--2.20 p.m.
General HUMPHREYS:
GENERAL: The charge by Griffin is one of the boldest I ever saw. His line passed full 600 yards over a clear field defended by infantry against a parapet flanked by an inclosed redoubt. One gun was captured. We lost Colonel Welch, killed on the breast-work of the redoubt. I will push up as fast as I can get my troops in order toward Petersburg on the Squirrel Level road. Parke is extending to the left. I would like to call up all Ayres' command and have his last brigade escort three batteries. Cannot General Bragg establish a picket from the Vaughan road along the road we traveled to Poplar Spring. Church If so, please direct it.
Respectfully,
G. K. WARREN,
Major-General.
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O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLII/2 [S# 88]
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS, RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, FROM AUGUST 1, 1864, TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1864.(*)--#46
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
September 30, 1864--6 p.m.
General S' WILLIS,
Assistant Adjutant-General :
We have carried the enemy's works on the Squirrel Level road, capturing 1 gun, 7 officers, and 52 men. At last accounts our troops were advancing toward Petersburg. Grifiin's division charged the works. Col. Norval E. Welch, command big Sixteenth Michigan Veteran Volunteers, was killed on parapet of the redoubt.
FRED. T. LOCKE,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
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O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLII/3 [S# 89]
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, FROM OCTOBER 1, 1864, TO DECEMBER 31, 1864.(*)--# 9
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
October 13, 1864.
Brig. Gen. S. WILLIAMS,
Assistant Adjutant-General:
In compliance with your order, I have the honor to report the names of officers who were killed in the late battle at Peebles' farm: Col. Norval E. Welch, Sixteenth Michigan Veteran Volunteers; Capt. J. H. Wheaton, First Michigan Veteran Volunteers; Capt. W. H. Keene, Twentieth Maine Volunteers; First Lieut. Thomas D. Urmston, Twelfth U.S. Infantry; Second Lieut. J. Conahey, One hundred and eighteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers.
Respectfully,
S. W. CRAWFORD,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.

FOX’S REGIMENTAL LOSSES
Chapter X.—16th Michigan Infantry.
Vincent's Brigade--Griffin's Division--5th Corps.
(1) Col. T. B. STOCKTON, W. P.
(2) Col. NORVAL E. WELCH (Killed).
(3) Col. BENJAMIN F. PARTRIDGE; BVT. BRIG.-GEN.

O Officers K Killed and died of wounds.
M Men D Died of disease, accidents, in prison, &c.
T Total E Total Enrollment

--------K-------- --------D-------
Companies O M T O M T E
Field and Staff 2 · · 2 · · · · · · 18
Company A 1 34 35 · · 13 13 176
B 2 16 18 · · 10 10 174
C 2 19 21 · · 19 19 188
D 1 29 30 · · 13 13 187
E · · 19 19 · · 8 8 186
F 1 16 17 · · 19 19 148
G · · 22 22 · · 14 14 175
H · · 25 25 · · 11 11 154
I 2 29 31 · · 9 9 194
K 1 12 13 · · 10 10 139
L · · 8 8 · · 10 10 104
M · · 6 6 · · 7 7 86
Totals 12 235 247 · · 143 143 1,929
247 killed= 12.8 per cent.
Total of killed and wounded. 870; died in Confederate prisons (previously included), 15.

BATTLES. K. &M.W. BATTLES. K. &M.W.
Hanover Court House, Va 1 Spotsylvania, Va 14
Gaines's Mill, Va 78 North Anna, Va 3
Glendale, Va 1 Totopotomoy, Va 4
Malvern Hill, Va 10 Bethesda Church. Va 3
Manassas, Va 25 Siege of Petersburg, Va 22
Fredericksburg, Va 11 Weldon Railroad, Va 5
Chancellorsville, Va 1 Peebles's Farm, Va 18
Middleburg, Va 1 Dabney's Mills, Va 9
Gettysburg, Pa 29 Gravelly Run, Va 3
Wilderness, Va 7 Five Forks, Va 2
Present, also, at Yorktown; Mechanicsville; White Oak Swamp; Antietam; Rappahannock Station; Mine Run, Cold Harbor; Hatcher's Run; White Oak Road; Appomattox.

NOTES.— Organized originally as "Stockton's Independent Regiment," under authority from the Secretary of War, but it was soon included in the State service. It left the State on September 16, 1864, with ten companies, 761 officers and men; two companies of sharpshooters joined it later, making twelve companies, one joining in 1862, the other in 1864. The regiment went into winter quarters at Hall's Hill, Va., and in March, 1862, moved to the Peninsula. It was assigned to the Third Brigade, First Division, Fifth Corps, in which it remained throughout the war; at that time the brigade was commanded by General Butterfield, and the division by General Morell. The regiment suffered a severe loss at Gaines's Mill, its casualties amounting to 47 killed, 114 wounded, and 53 missing; many of the latter were killed or wounded. Under command of Captain Elliott it was hotly engaged at Manassas, where it lost 16 killed, 64 wounded, and 16 missing, out of 290 engaged. Colonel Welch was in command at Gettysburg, where it took part in the historic contest of Vincent's Brigade for the possession of Little Round Top, losing in that battle 23 killed, 34 wounded, and 3 missing. Major Robert T. Elliott was killed at the Totopotomoy, and Colonel Welch in the assault at Peebles's Farm. Welch was killed on the parapet of a redoubt, which he was the first to scale.

Mosin,

You wrote:

It appears from the Soldier & Sailor muster sheets, that he had exited by death as a Colonel.

As far as 'mustering/enlistments'--the time might be 'up' however, until the mustering officer, the paperwork and the "i" is dotted and the "t" crossed--time might be up but the duties aren't. Being a state Regiment, his men could have elected him again as their Colonel. There are many areas to explore in regard to Col. Welch.

I can't help wonder if the Michigan Regiment and Generals of that Division and Corps had the same problem as Meade..
[Reference:]
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXI [S# 31]
Correspondence, Orders, And Returns Relating To Operations In Northern Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, And Pennsylvania From November 15, 1862, To January 26, 1863.
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.--#6
HEADQUARTERS FIRST ARMY CORPS,
December 23, 1862.
Maj. Gen. WILLIAM B. FRANKLIN,
Commanding Left Grand Division:
GENERAL: I submit, for your consideration, a statement showing the present condition of the thirteen regiments of infantry constituting the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, and forming, together with two new regiments (the One hundred and twenty-first and One hundred and forty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers), the Third Division, First Army Corps. You will perceive there are present for duty 195 officers and 4,249 enlisted men; absent, by authority, 159 officers and 3,740 men; and to fill these regiments to the maximum authorized, will require 153 officers and 4,684 men. I have to observe, however, of the number reported as absent, a very large proportion are the wounded, most of whom are so maimed and disabled that no expectation need be formed of their returning to active duty. I should, therefore, say, as all estimate, that to reorganize the command there would be required the appointment of over 200 officers and the enlistment of over 7,000 men.

This paper is forwarded to you, on the eve of my giving up the command of the division, to call your attention to the necessity of some measure being immediately adopted to increase the efficiency of this command. The plan of sending officers into the State to recruit has been on three separate occasions attempted, and proved in each case a signal failure. There remains, then, two courses to adopt. One is to consolidate the existing force into a number of regiments equal to the officers and men for duty. The objection to this plan is that it destroys the organization, and the prestige which the good conduct of the corps has acquired for it. Another plan would be to withdraw the command, temporarily, from the field, say, for a period of two or three months, and return them to Pennsylvania, where, it is believed, from the great reputation the corps has acquired, the pride the State takes in it, and the enthusiasm its return would create, that in a short time its ranks would be filled, after pruning them of all useless members.

Soon after the battle of Antietam, His Excellency the Governor of Pennsylvania proposed to the general commanding the Army of the Potomac to receive and reorganize the corps, and, it is believed, the proposition was favorably received by the commanding general, but the exigencies of the moment prevented its execution. The further reduction of the corps by the recent battle, where it lost over 1,700 officers and men, and the probability that its services might at this moment be spared, together with the earnest desire I have that the organization, which has contributed so largely to its success, may be preserved, are the considerations which induced me to suggest this plan to you and recommend its adoption.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. G. MEADE,
Maj. Gen. of Vols., Comdg. 3d Div. and, pro tem., the 1st A. C.
[Indorsements.]
HEADQUARTERS FIRST ARMY CORPS,
January 10, 1863.
] concur most heartily in the recommendation of General Meade, that the Reserve Corps be returned to some place in the State where it can be reorganized, and that the system of election in the appointment of officers, now in force by the State law of Pennsylvania, be changed so as to return it to the field in more than its original efficiency. Its uselessness in its present state has been set forth in previous communications.
Respectfully forwarded.
JOHN F. REYNOLDS,
Major-General of Volunteers, Commanding.
-----
HEADQUARTERS LEFT GRAND DIVISION,
January 11, 1863.
This communication is respectfully referred to the commanding general, for his action. The Pennsylvania Reserve Corps has done excellent > service, and it will be seen from the tabular statement furnished by General Meade that it is in great need of reorganization and recruiting. It has nearly eighteen months more to serve. If the exigencies of the service will permit, I think it will be well to send the regiments home for a month, provided the Governor of the State will engage to send them back to their old corps at the end of that time, filled up.
W. B. FRANKLIN,
Major-General, Commanding Left Grand Division
----------
Medical/Surgical History--Part III, Volume II
Chapter X.--Wounds And Injuries Of The Lower Extremities.
Section V.--Wounds And Operations In The Leg.
Recoveries after Primary Excisions in the Continuity of the Bones of the Leg
CASE 703.--Private J. Hogan, Co. F, 127th Pennsylvania, aged 41 years, was wounded in the right leg, at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. Surgeon J. E. MacDonald, 79th New York, reported his admission to the field hospital of the 1st and 2d divisions, Ninth Corps, and described the injury as "fracture of the tibia," for which "resection of six inches" of the bone was performed.
[excerpt]
This filled up gradually, the patient got up on his crutches and with the aid of a starched bandage hobbled painfully about the wards. His term of enlistment expired on May 29, 1863, but he remained until October 12th, when he returned to his home.
-------

Navy O.R.-- Series I--Volume 14 [S# 14]
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
From April 7 To September 8, 1863. pp. 255-299
Letter from Rear-Admiral Du Pont, U. S. Navy, to the Secretary of the Navy, regarding contrabands whose terms of enlistment have expired.
No. 311.]
FLAGSHIP WABASH,
Port Royal Harbor, S. C., June 15, 1863.
SIR: I desire to call the attention of the Department to the contrabands on the vessels of this squadron. These persons are very useful, particularly as there is difficulty in obtaining men in the Northern ports. Many of them have been enlisted for a year, and as their times have expired, request their discharge, and to be sent on shore at Port Royal.
Though enlisted down here, I do not feel authorized to discharge them without referring the matter to the Department, and I would therefore request instructions as to their disposition.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. F. DU PONT,
Rear-Admiral, Comdg. South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
----------------
In all cases, even though enlistments were expired, they all had to be properly 'discharged.' Question remains, was Colonel Welsh properly 'discharged.' Until then, he would have been expected to do his duty.

Still worthy of more research!

M. E. Wolf