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George Washington Cribbs Abt 1915
George Washington Cribbs, 1840-1925 (son of
George Cribbs, 1798-1866, and Jane Barr)
Company A, 83rd PVI
Private: 7 Aug 61 - 1 Sep 63
3d Corporal: 1 Sep 63 - Nov 63
2d Corporal: Nov 63 - Apr 64
1st Corporal: Apr 64 - Sep 64
Enlisted at Titusille, PA on 7 Aug 1861 for three years: Capt Morgan’s Company, Col McLane’s Reg’t Pa. Infantry (later Co A, 83d PVI)
Discharged at Harrisburg, PA on 20 Sep 1864: by reason of expiration of term of service
Compiled Military Service Record: On file National Archives Aug 61-Sep 64. George was present Aug 61-Jun 62, absent Jun 62- sick, present Aug 62-Sep 64.
Pension Records: Invalid claim on file National Archives Cert No 510017, claim based on sunstroke (followed by brain fever) sustained 16 Jun 62 at Gains Mills (Camp at Gains Farm) and partial deftness sustained by concussion of cannon shot at the battle of Yellow House at Weldon RR, 18-21 Aug 1864.
83rd REGIMENT PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized at Erie and mustered into United States service September 8, 1861. Moved to Washington, D.C., September 18-20, Attached to Butterfield's Brigade, Fitz John Porter's Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army Potomac, to May, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps, Army Potomac, to June, 1865.
Based on Compiled Military Soldier Record, George served with his Company during the following:
SERVICE.--Duty in the Defences of Washington, D.C., till March, 1862. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-15. Moved to the Virginia Peninsula March 22-24. Reconnoissance to Big Bethel March 30. Warwick Road April 5. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Reconnoissance up the Pamunkey May 10. Action at Hanover C. H. May 27. Operations about Hanover C. H. May 27-29. At Harrison's Landing till August 16. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Centreville August 16-27. Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia August 27-September 2. Battle of Bull Run (2d) August 30. Maryland Campaign September 6-24. Battle of Antietam September 16-17. Sharpsburg and Shepherdstown Ford September 19. Duty at Sharpsburg, Md., till October 30. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. Expedition to Richards <dy_1602> and Ellis Fords, Rappahannock River, December 29-30. Burnside's second Campaign, "Mud March," January 20-24. 1863. At Falmouth, Va., till April. Chancellorsville Campaign April 26-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 13-July 24. Aldie June 17. Middleburg and Upperville June 21. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee July 5-24. Duty at Warrenton, Beverly Ford and Culpeper till October. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Rappahannock Station November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. At Beverly Ford till May, 1864. Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 12. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Laurel Hill May 8; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania C. H. May 12-21. Assault on the Salient May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. Jericho Ford May 25. Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Bethesda Church June 1-3. Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864. Weldon Railroad August 18-21. Mustered out September 20, 1864.
1861-1865: Regiment lost during service 11 Officers and 271 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 151 Enlisted men by disease. Total 435.
(Note: muster rolls were ordinarily compiled to cover a two month period. They are generally accurate for the day on which the roll was filled out, but possibly not for the entire period)
83d Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (PVI)
Bartlett's Brigade--Griffin's Division--5th Corps
The Eighty-third encountered more fighting and lost more men in battle than any other Pennsylvania regiment; in fact, its loss in action was exceeded by only one other in the entire Union army. None of its losses were caused by blunders, none occurred in disastrous routs; its dead always lay with their faces to the enemy. With its "twin regiment," the Forty-fourth New York, it was assigned to Butterfield's Brigade, Morell's Division, Fifth Corps. Colonel McLane was killed at Gaines's Mill, and Vincent fell at Gettysburg while in command of the brigade. At Gaines's Mill, the regiment lost 46 killed, 51 wounded, and 99 missing; four days later, at Malvern Hill, it lost 33 killed, 115 wounded, and 18 missing--a total of 362, out of the 554 present at Gaines's Mill. At Manassas, under Lieutenant-Colonel McCoy, it lost 14 killed, 72 wounded, and 11 missing, out of 224 officially reported by McCoy as present and engaged. It had the honor, at Gettysburg, of participating in the brilliant maneuver of its brigade--Vincent's--in seizing Little Round Top at a critical moment, helping materially to save the fortunes of the day. At Spotsylvania, its casualties amounted to 21 killed, 119 wounded, and 24 missing; total, 164. General McClellan once publicly pronounced the Eighty-third "one of the very best regiments in the army."
(1) Col. JOHN W. McLANE (Killed).
(2) Col. STRONG VINCENT; BRIG-GEN. (Killed).
(3) Col. O. S. WOODWARD; BVT. BRIG.-GEN.
(4) Col. CHAUNCEY P. ROGERS.
O - Officers K - Killed
and died of wounds.
M - Men
D - Died of disease, accidents, in prison, &c.
T - Total
E - Total Enrollment
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Company A
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B
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C
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D
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E
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F
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G
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H
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K
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L
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Totals
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282 killed= 15.5 per cent.
Total of killed and wounded 971; died in Confederate prisons (previously included), 23.
BATTLES
K. &M.W.
BATTLES
K. & M.W.
Hanover Court H, Va
1
Spotsylvania, Va., May 8th
57
Gaines's Mill, Va
61
Spotsylvania, Va, May 10th
2
Malvern Hill, Va
50
Bethesda Church, Va
2
Manassas, Va
26
Cold Harbor, Va
1
Fredericksburg, Va
5
Siege of Petersburg, Va
15
Chancellorsville, Va
1
Peebles's Farm, Va
10
Gettysburg, Pa
18
Dabney's Mills, Va
5
Guerrillas, Va., Dec 63
1
Gravelly Run, Va
1
Wilderness, Va
20
White Oak Road, Va
3
North Anna, Va
2
Five Forks, Va
1
Present, also, at Yorktown; Mechanicsville; Peach Orchard; Savage Station; White Oak Swamp; Glendale; Antietam; Shepherdstown Ford; Aldie; Rappahannock Station; Mine Run; Totopotomoy; Weldon Railroad; Hatcher's Run; Appomattox.
Source: Fox, William F. Regimental Losses in the American Civil War.
NOTES:
Absent: George is reported absent in June 1862, reason; sick. Invalid claim affidavit of George Kerr made in 1889 states George Cribbs sustained sun stoke at Gains Mills (Camp at Gains Farm) on or about 16 June 62 and was incapacitated until 1 August 1862. This means he was not with the Company at: Seven days before Richmond 25 June - 1 July, battle of Mechanicsville 26 June, Gains Mills 27 June, Savage Station 29 June, Turkey Bridge or Malvern Cliff 30 June, and Malvern Hill 1 July. George Kerr wrote, "I was with him (George W. Cribbs) at Gains Mills in June 1862 … when he was stricken with Sun Stroke and I helped carry him to camp he was my Tent Mate at the time and in a fever days from the time he received the Sun Stroke he was taken down with Brain Fever. There was no room for him in the Regimental Hospital (was treated by Regimental surgeon and returned to Company)… so I was detailed to care for him (Henry Fair also cared for him) he was very sick. I expected him to die any day all the shelter we had at that time was what we called dog tents. I took care of him about two weeks when the Seven Days fight opened on us (27 June) he was gathered up with the other sick and sent to the hospital. He came back to the Regiment some time about the first of August 1862."
Wounded: 8 May 1864 at Laurel Hill (Spottsylvania, Va). Source: 3d Brigade, 1st Division, V Corps Report of killed, wounded and missing dated 4 May - 30 July 1864 N0 27, index 14.
Cited for valor at Laurel Hill (Spottsylvania, Va) , 8 May 1864, in Regimental History.
Judson writes," The sun had by this time grown very hot, the men had marched all night without rest, had had no breakfast and their knapsacks were still upon their backs. The Eighty-Third filed out into the field on the fight of the road, formed line of battle, and then advanced under cover of two sections of artillery which were planted at different parts of the field. At the same time the Forty-Fourth (44th New York Volunteer Infantry) formed on the left of the road and advanced toward the enemy from that direction.
We started without bayonets fixed and endeavored to get up a yell and a double quick, but the men were too much exhausted either to run or yell. As we advanced some one suggested that the charge would be more effectively made with fixed bayonets, and so the order ran along the line and the men fixed them as they went. Company C was throw out as skirmishers to protect our right, as a few rebels had been already discovered posted behind temporary works in another body of woods on that flank. We found the rebel skirmishers lying upon the ground on the brow of the hill, and as we approached them, they sprang up and commenced firing and running to the rear. It began to appear now as we neared the woods, that we had counted without our host, and that we were about to encounter an enemy who were in larger force than ourselves. Neverless the Eighty-Third pressed on, and as we approached received a volley from their musketry. At that instant we dashed forward on a double quick, and not till we came close upon them did we discover that they behind a breastwork of logs and rails.
We found a whole brigade (from Kershaw’s Division supported by Field’s Division of Longstreet’s Corps), several times our own number, thus entrenched; and, feeling secure in their numbers and in their sheltered position, they stood their ground and commenced pouring in a murderous fire upon our ranks. Our men maddened at this display of Southern chivalry, yelled "Cowards!" at the rebels and then rushed upon them and commenced plying the bayonet. Cribbs and Ceder of Company A, Robb of Company D and Eaton, Wentworth, Berlin, Host, Prudy, Pettigrew, Baskin and Lowie of Company G, and I know not how many others, sprang over among them, like infuriated tigers, and fell to bayoneting the enemy within their own works. So terror-stricken were the rebels by daring valor to these men that they were thrown into confusion and turned to run, but their officers placed the points of their swords to their breasts and forced them back into the ranks. A score (20) of rebels fell beneath the cold steel of these heroic men; but they paid dearly for their heroism. Robb, Wentworth, Host, Baskin and Lowrie fell covered with wounds. Eaton came back with three dangerous wounds, Ceder escaped with a bullet through his thigh and Berlin was wounded and taken prisoner. The bayonet was vigorously used along the whole line. We stood face-to-face, not over fifteen feet apart, over half an hour-so close that our discharges of our muskets almost flashed in their faces-but still the enemy stood their ground. They were so posted that we received the fire from two lines, both of which were protected by breastworks. Our right flank was also exposed to the fire of their skirmishers who were posted, as we have stated, I another body of woods about fifty rods (275 yards) to our right. To contend any longer against such odds, so well protected, was madness. We had already lost heavily, and, if we had remained much longer, we should have been shot down; and so we fell back, without much regard to order, and left the ground to be disputed by the reinforcements which were already on the way to our support." (Judson, 196-198)
(1 rod = 16.5 feet)
Source: Judson, Amos M., History of the Eighty-third
Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. Dayton, OH:
Morningside, 1986. 333 p. E527.5.83d.J83.1986. Reprint
of 1865 ed.
George - description at discharge Sep 1864
Age: 24
Height: 5’9’’
Complexion: dark
Hair: black
Eyes: blue
GENERAL SOURCES:
U.S. Army Military History Institute
ATTN: Historical Reference Branch
22 Ashburn Drive, Carlisle Barracks
Carlisle, PA 17013-5008
http://carlisle-www.army.mil/usamhi/ACWUnits.html
Bates, Samuel P. History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-5. Wilmington, NC: Broadfoot, 1993. Vol. 4, pp. 1248-1306 (31 photocopied pages). E527B32.1993v4. (Brief history and roster of the regiment).
Company of Military Historians. Military Uniforms in America. Vol. 3: Long Endure: The Civil War Period, 1852-1867. pp. 72-73 (2 photocopied pages). Novato, CA: Presidio, l982. UC480M54.l974. (Sketch and description of the French foot chasseur uniform worn by the 83d Pennsylvania through Mar 1862).
Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Vol. 2. Dayton, OH: Morningside, 1979. Ref. See pp. 1601-02 (2 photocopied page) for a concise summary of the regiment's service.
Fox, William F. Regimental Losses in the American Civil War,1861-1865, Dayton, OH: Morningside, 1985 reprint.
Judson, Amos M. History of the Eighty-third Regiment Pennsylvania
Volunteers. Dayton, OH:
Morningside, 1986. 333 p. E527.5.83d.J83.1986. Reprint
of 1865 ed.
Karle, Theodore. "Strong Vincent of the 83rd." Mil Images Mag 12 (Jul/Aug 1990): pp. 20-26 (7 photocopied pages). SpColl."Time Lapse." CWTI 30 (Jan/Feb 1992): pp. 58-59 (2 photocopied pages). Per.
Photo of and vignette on Stephen Feather of Company F.
McAfee, Michael J. "The 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry,
l86l-1862." Mil Images Mag
12 (Jul/Aug 1990): pp. 27-29 (3 photocopied pages). SpColl.
Mainly on regiment's uniforms.
Norton, Oliver W. Army Letters, 1861-1865: Being Extracts from Private Letters to Relatives and Friends from a Soldier in the Field During the Late Civil War... Dayton, OH: Morningside, 1990. 397 p. E601N88.1990. Reprint of 1903 ed.
The Attack and Defense of Little Round Top, Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. NY: Neale, 1913. 350 p. E475.53N89.
Strong Vincent and his Brigade at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. Ann Arbor, MI: Univ Microfilms, 1909. 57 p. E475.52N9.1971. Reprint of 1909 ed.
O'Brien, Kevin. "Valley of the Shadow: Col. Strong Vincent
and the Eighty-third Pennsylvania
Infantry at Little Round Top." In Gettysburg Mag 7 (Jul
1992): pp. 41-50 (10 photocopied pages). E475.53G482no7.
Pennsylvania. Gettysburg Battlefield Comm. Pennsylvania at Gettysburg: Ceremonies at the Dedication of the Monuments Erected by the Commonwealth.... Vol. 1. Hbg, PA: Wm S Ray, 1904. pp. 461-66 (4 photocopied pages). E475.53P422v1. (Addresses delivered at the dedication of the regimental monument and a photo of that monument at the Gettysburg National Military Park).
Ryan, James G. "Debunking the Myth of Butterfield's Twins." Blue & Gray Mag 13 (Jul 1996): pp. 34-39 (6 photocopied pages). Per.
Sauers, Richard A. Advance the Colors!: Pennsylvania Civil War Battle Flags. Vol. 1. Hbg, PA:
Capitol Preservation Comm, 1987. pp. 226-29 (4 photocopied pages). E527.4S38.1987.
(Brief unit history with emphasis on the regimental flags).
Smith, Wayne. "Redemption of the 83d Pennsylvania From the Depths of Gaines's Mill to the Heights of Gettysburg." CW XXII: pp. 38-43 (6 photocopied pages). Per.
Stafford, David W. In Defense of the Flag: A True War Story. Warren, PA: Warren Mirror Print, 1912. 95 p. E611S78.1912.
Stonesifer, Roy P., Jr. "Colonel (Brigadier General) John
W. McLane." Unpublished paper, 1985.
7 p. (7 photocopied pages). E473.68S86.1985a.
Waid, Seth III. The Civil War Diaries of.... Meadville, PA: Crawford County Hist Soc, 1993.
142 p. E601W35.1993.
U.S. Army Military History Institute:
Photo Archive includes images of individuals of this unit.
The following pertinent personal papers are in the Institute's
Manuscript Archive:
Arnold Family - Papers (Enlisted man and corporal's letters,
Mar 8, l864-Apr l7, l865; Diary,
Jul l-2l, l864)
Barnett, James - CWMiscColl (Enlisted man's letters,
Sep l0, l86l-Apr l4, l862)
Foote, Daniel B. - Papers (Corporal's letters, Jul 29,
l86l-Jun 25, l865)
Lytle, Henry - LeighColl Bk 42: 94 (Enlisted man's letter,
Jun 28, l863)
Middaugh, Jesse - CWTIColl (Enlisted men's letters, Oct
ll, l86l-Sep 3, l864)
Moore, Larry A. - CWMiscColl (Enlisted man's letter,
Sep 7, l862; Poem, Oct 24, l863)
Norton, Oliver - CWMiscColl (Enlisted man's reminiscences,
Jul 2, l863)
Stout, David B. - CWTIColl (Enlisted man's letters, Aug
24-Nov 23, l864)
Thickstun Family Papers (Enlisted man's letters, May
1861-Aug l5, l887)
